Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Pressure Free Essays

Pressure Definition of Pressure Fluid pressure: Force per unit area exerted by a fluid in a solid wall. Force acts perpendicularly to the surface in contacts. Fluid is a co u d s common word for gas a d/o liquid. We will write a custom essay sample on Pressure or any similar topic only for you Order Now o od o and/or qu d Pressure is a scalar quantity. It has the units of: N/m2 or Pa (or kPa) in SI system of units psi in Imperial system of units Pressure can also be expressed in terms of height of a column of liquid List of units of pressure measurements conversion of units Pascal s Pascal’s law Scalar quantity Units of Pressure SM(2) Pressure Pressure measurements Absolute pressure Gauge Pressure †¦ divided into three different categories: 1. Absolute pressure – which is defined as the absolute value o pressure (force-per-unit-area) ac g o of p essu e ( o ce pe u a ea) acting on a surface by a fluid. su ace ud Abs. pressure = pressure at a local point of the surface due to fluid – absolute zero of pressure (see page 63 of lecture notes) 2. Gauge pressure – difference between abs. pressure and atmospheric pressure – is always positive 101. 325 kPa or 14. 7 psi Equations Pressure term relationships a –ve gauge pressure is vacuum ve vacuum. Pressure term relationships †¢ Abs pressure = gauge pressure + atm pressure Abs. †¢ Abs. pressure = – gauge pressure + atm pressure (vacuum) gt; atm lt; atm SM(3) Pressure Pressure measurements Relation between abs. , gauge and vacuum Absolute pressure Gauge Pressure gauge Equations gauge) Pressure t erm relationships SM(4) Pressure Pressure term relationships Hydrostatic pressure 3. Differential pressure – measurement of an unknown pressure minus the reference to a o e u e e e ce o another unknown p essu e o pressure. – it is used to measure differential pressure i. . pressure drop (? P) in a fluid system SM(5) Fluid systems and Fluid pressures Fluid systems Two types of fluid systems: 1. Static system – in which fluid is at rest Fluid pressures Pressure measured i thi system i called static pressure P d in this t is ll d t ti Static pressure system s stem ‘’The pressure at a given depth in a static liquid is The due to its own weight acting on unit area at that depth plus external pressure acting on the surface o the qu d of t e liquid’’ Gauge pressure = ? gh – which i d hi h is dependent j t only on fl id d d t just l fluid density ( ) it (? and distance between below the surface of the liquid h. External pressure – is generally the atmospheric pressure SM(6) Fluid systems and Fluid pressures Fluid systems Fluid pressures Example: A hydraulic pump used to lift a car: when a small force f is applied to a small area a of a movable piston it creates a pressure P = f/a. This pressure is transmitted to and acts on a larger movable piston of area A which is then used to lift a car. Static pressure p Lesson: Pressure along the horizontal line always remains the same for uniform singly fluid SM(7) Fluid systems and Fluid pressures Fluid systems Fluid pressures Example: If the height of the fluid’s surface above the bottom of the five fluid s vessels is the same, in which vessel is the pressure of the fluid on the bottom of the vessel the greatest ? The amount of liquid in each vessel is not necessarily the same. y Answer: The pressure P is the same on the bottom of each vessel. Gauge pressure =F Force/Area /A = ? (hA)g/A = ? gh ‘’For gases: the pressure increase in the fluid due to increase in height is negligible because the density (thus, weight) of the fluid is relatively much smaller compared to the pressure being applied to the system’’. In other words, p = ? gh shows pressure is independent of the fact that the wt. of liquid in each vessel is different. This situation is referred to SM(8) as HYDROSTATIC PARADOX. Static pressure p Fluid systems and Fluid pressures Pressure term relationships Two types of fluid systems: 2. Dynamic pressure system Dynamic pressure system – more complex and diffi lt t measure l d difficult to – pressure measured in this system is called dynamic pressure – three terms are defined here 1. static pressure, 2. dynamic p p y pressure 3. total pressure SM(9) Fluid systems and Fluid pressures Dynamic pressure system Pitot tube Total pressure/Stagn p g ation press. Steady-state dynamic systems – Static pressure can be measured accurately by tapping into the fluid s ea (po A) e u d stream (point ) – total pressure (or stagnation pressure) can be measured by inserting Pitot tube into the fluid stream (point B) –;gt; total pressure (or stagnation pressure) = static pressure+ dynamic pressure SM(10) Fluid systems and Fluid pressures Dynamic pressure system Pitot tube Total pressure/Stagn p g ation press. SM(11) Problems 1. The diameters of ram and plunger of an hydraulic press are 200 mm and 30 mm, respectively. Find the weight by the hydraulic press when the force applied at the plunger is 400 N. Solution: Diameter of the ram, D = 200 mm = 0. 2 m Dia. of plunger, d = 30 mm = 0. 03 m p g , Force on the plunger, F = 400 N Load lifted, W: Area of ram, A = (pi/4)*D2 = 0. 0314 m2 Since the intensity of pressure will be Area of plunger, equally transmitted (due to Pascal’s Pascal s 4 a= ( i/4)*d2 = 7 068 * 10-4 m2 (pi/4)*d 7. 068 law), therefore the intensity of Intensity of pressure due to plunger, pressure at the ram is also = p = 5. 66 * 10-5 N/m2 p = F/a = 400 / 7. 068 * 10-4 But the intensity of pressure at the = 5. 6 * 105 N/m2 ram = Weight /Area of ram = W/A = Therefore, W/0. 0314 = 5. 66 * 10-5 W/0. 0314 or W = 17. 77 * 103 N = 17. 77 kN SM(12) Problems 2. For the hydraulic jack shown here find the load lifted by the large piston when a force of 400 N is applied on the small piston. Assume the specific weight of th li id i th j k i 9810 N/ 3. i ht f the liquid in the jack is N/m So lution: Diameter of small piston, d = 30 mm = 0. 03 m Area of small piston, piston a= (pi/4)*d2 = 7. 068 * 10-4 m2 Pressure intensity transmitted to the Diameter of large piston, D = 0. 1 m large piston, 5. 89 * 105 N/m2 Force on the large piston = Pressure intensity * area of large piston 5. 689 * 105 * 7. 854 * 10-3 = 4468 N Area of large piston, A = (pi/4)*D2 = 7. 854 * 10-3 m2 Force on small piston, F = 400 N F ll i t Hence, load lifted by the large piston = 4468 N Load lifted, W: Pressure intensity on small piston, p = F/a = 400 / 7. 068 * 10-4 = 5. 66 * 105 N/m2 Pressure at section LL LL, pLL = F/a + pressure intensity due to height of 300 mm of liquid = F/a + ? gh = 5. 66 * 105 + 9810 * 300/1000 = 5. 689 * 105 N/m2 SM(13) Problems 3. A cylinder of 0. 25 mm dia. and 1. m height is fixed centrally on the top of a large cylinder of 0. 9 m dia. and 0 8 m h i ht B th th cylinders d 0. 8 height. Both the li d are filled with water. Calculate (i) Total pressure at the bottom of the bigger cylinder and cylinder, (ii) Wt. of total vol. of water What is the HYDROSTATIC From the calculations it may b e observed that PARADOX between the two results? the total pressure force at the bottom of the cylinder is greater than the wt. of total volume Solution: Area at the bottom, of water contained in the cylinders. A = (pi/4)*0. 92 = 0. 6362 m2 (p ) This is hydrostatic paradox paradox. Intensity of pressure at the bottom p = rgh = 19620 N/m2 Wt. of total vol. of water contained Total pressure force at the bottom in the cylinders, y P = p*A = 19620 * 0. 6362 = W = rgh * volume of water 12482 N = 9810 ((pi/4)*0. 92 *0. 8 *(pi/4) *0. 252*1. 4) SM(14) = 5571 N References †¢Transport Phenomena by Bird, Stewart, Lightfoot †¢Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic machines by R K Rajput R. K. †¢http://www. freescale. com/files/sensors/doc/app_note/AN1573. pdf (18 F 10) †¢http://www. ac. wwu. edu/~vawter/PhysicsNet/Topics/Pressure/Hydro Static. html (18 F 10) SM(15) How to cite Pressure, Papers

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Acknowledging Fatigue of tired women Essay Example For Students

Acknowledging Fatigue of tired women Essay Running head: ACKNOWLEDGING FATIGUE OF TIRED WOMENAcknowledging Unexplained Fatigue of Tired WomenThe title Acknowledging Unexplained Fatigue of Tired Women indicates a qualitative study. This study is applicable to women (aged 18 years or more) with the symptoms of fatigue, depression, sense of powerless, and body aches. The problem is stated clearly throughout the introduction. The background information illustrates that fatigue is not well understood. If the patterns associated with fatigue were better understood, diagnosis, treatment, and management of symptoms would be attainable. Justification for this study is based on the principle that no previous research has taken place focusing on the patterns of fatigue. These must be understood in order to treat accurately. The specific significance of the problem to the nursing practice is not stated within the text. One can deduce that fatigue is multi-dimensional syndrome that requires care from all members of the interdisciplinary t eam, which includes nurses. The problem can be researched using objective measures to find correlations of fatigue and related symptoms. The literature review precedes the explanation of the study. In this section, there is examination of treatment studies that have proven therapeutic for fatigue symptoms, including thyroid hormones and antidepressants. The review of the literature demonstrates that the best approach of care has not been found and there is a need to clearly define the patterns of fatigue. Classic research cited was Aaronson et. al (1999), which examined fatigue physiological, intrapersonal, and psychosocial patterns related (Dzurec, 42). Current research included in the literature review included Dzurec et al. (2000), in which the results show that anti-depressants are inadequate for long-term fatigue (Dzurec, 42). Supporting studies showed need for research in this area and opposing studies were those of pharmacological treatment. The literature review is logically organized by first stating the drug research, why it is ineffective, the need to redefine patterns to find a cause and therefore find the treatment that works. A primary resource included is Aaronson et. al (1999) and a secondary source was the American Associations of Clinical Endocrinologist website. There is no summary of the literature review, but there is an appropriate statement of purpose and research cues. The purpose is clearly stated. The statement is appropriate for a qualitative study as it emphasizes verbal description and meaning of experiences. The research method used is a quasi-experimental design with descriptive and comparative techniques. The rational for use of this design was absent from the text. Given the purpose of the study, the design deems appropriate based on the need for indicators of the symptoms. The issues of rigor are addressed by measuring questions objectively as well as subjectively. The sample was selected by convenience using snowball techniques to recruit women. Sample size was determined by alpha set of .05 with anticipation of an large effect size. This is appropriate for a general study. There were four criteria for inclusion: the participant must be generally healthy, non-pregnant, pre-menopausal, and aged 18 years or greater. General health was measured by regular participation in daily activities and school, work, or home and normal CBC, non-fasting blood glucose level test, BUN, serum creatnine, and iron tests. The tests were administered to rule out abnormalities that may cause fatigue. The steps in the data collection process were cleared stated in the text The instruments utilized was pen and paper tests including a demographic form, the MFSC, the CES-D, and the PKPCT. Appropriateness of instruments was measured by a panel, which supported the validity of the test for the specific uses of this study. All participants signed the informed consent and the procedures were approved by the International Review Board. There is no mention of anonymity or confidentiality of participants within the study. The data was analyzed using 1-tailed t tests and adjusted by a Bonferroni significance test. For significance of the symptomatic group, a Pearson correlation was administered. There is no mention of who analyzed the research or the data program used. Based on the noted tests used, one can deduce that the software used was Statview, as a Pearson correlation was used. The findings presented were that the differences between all four instruments were found statistically signific ant. Researchers note that the differences were expected, as well as, the directions were expected. The direction of the differences is not noted in the text, as well as the expected direction is not noted. This leads to unclear descriptions of the results. It is however, made clear that depression and fatigue are positively correlated, and depression and sense of power are negatively correlated. There is no use of tables or graphs to illustrate the results, a visual aid may have furthered the understanding of the results, especially in the area of correlation direction. The significant findings related to the purpose of the study in that the research objectively described the symptoms associated with fatigue, which is the goal of the study. Knowledge taken from previous studies indicted that unexplained fatigue is very complex. The lack of knowledge of this complexity facilitated the further exploration of the subject. New knowledge is gained in the current study by objectively fin ding biochemically normal women with symptoms of the hypothyroid-like nature. Conclusions are appropriately documented in that there is a complex interplay of these symptoms. This can further complicate effective diagnosis, treatment, and management of symptoms. It is now known that there are differences between women who experience fatigue and women who do not. Now the direction of further research is known; what could be the causes of these symptoms? The future research suggested to develop the answer to this question includes: more quantitative studies and sampling, increase the size and diversity of the sample, and look at exogenous issues that may contribute to the cause, such as marital status, employment status, and number of children. The limitations of this study noted in the discussion included a small sample size resulting in inadequate power of the study. The groups were not demographically identical, the asymptomatic group was significantly younger than the symptomatic group. As well as limitations of variability due to snowball sampling procedures. There was no note in the text of the relevance of this study to clinical nursing practice. .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29 , .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29 .postImageUrl , .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29 , .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29:hover , .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29:visited , .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29:active { border:0!important; } .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29:active , .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29 .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue8c9de99c7a334aaa3f6621c3268bd29:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Slaughter House Five Essay One strength of this research study was that the study had explicit rationale. The reasoning of the study was clearly stated that the patterns associated with fatigue are vaguely understood. If better understood, then care that is more effective could be administered to the women that experience these symptoms. Another strength of the study is that there is a logical progression of arguments. The lack of research in the specific area of symptoms of fatigue leads to a clear need for this study. The methods are specific to each symptom. The results showed that there is a difference in women complaining of these symptoms. Finally, there are many way s to apply this to new research and clinical practice. A weakness of the study includes poor documentation. A number of facts were absent from the text, such as the reasoning for the specific research design, anonymity or confidentiality discusses with participants, and use of tables and graphs to illustrate the results. The literature review is the second weakness, as it does not provide a solid background of the past research and framework for research design. All but one of the articles cited in the literature review are past studies of the author of this study. This is a conflict of interest. If they only reviewed and analyzed their own work, the literature review most likely does not reflect the ideas of the profession as a whole. Other citations and reviews are needed. An appropriate nursing diagnosis would be Fatigue. Works Consulted:Carpenito, L. J. (2002). Handbook of Nursing Diagnosis: Ninth Edition. J. B. Lippincott Company; Philadelphia, PA. Dzurec, L.C., Hoover, P. M. Fields, J. (2002). Acknowledging unexplained fatigue of tired women . Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 34, 41-46. Fain, J. A. (2004). Reading, Understanding, and Applying Nursing Research; Second Edition. F. A. Davis Company; Philadelphia, PA.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Article Summaries Essays - Abstract Art, Alceo Dossena, Takpr, Above

Article Summaries Essays - Abstract Art, Alceo Dossena, Takpr, Above Article Summaries Article 1- Excavating Egypt (Newsprint) This article tells of a typical working day for an archaeologist in Egypt. It tells of an experienced archaeologist named, Dr. David OConnor. He speaks of his working site, Abydos, and tells of what he has discovered since he started working on the site. In his 30 years of working there, he has uncovered 12 wooden boats, each about 60 feet long encased in 96-foot graves. He has also found the remains of an entire settlement covering about 16 acres. He annually spends up to $150,000 to pay of his fellow archaeologists and his laborers. He does receive funds from private institutions and government agencies to help support his effort in Abydos. In reading this article, I have become puzzled as to how so many people working there can split $150,000. It says that 20-25 scientists and 30-60 laborers are employed. I understand that he does receive funds from institutions, but I would not think that it would be upwards of enough money to support so many people. I have always respected archaeologists for what they do but now I have a deeper respect for Egyptian archaeologists. I do hope to visit Egypt someday though and experience what it is like firsthand. Article 2- Cosmetic Surgery Discovered on Ancient Roman Portrait (Newsprint) This article tells of artists in the modern day performing work on damaged ancient artifacts. It specifies on a head statue that was received as a gift by the Nelson-Atkins Museum. Scientists noticed some unusual features on the statues head and investigated it to discover that somebody had fixed it up before it was given to them. They used gamma-radiographs to find that somebody had fixed the heads broken neck with metal dowels and clamps. I found it pretty remarkable that some people may get away doing this without anybody knowing of it. It makes me wonder if some of the great artifacts that we have on display today have been tampered with and that they may not be 100% ancient. I dont see that there is anything wrong with this. Id rather look at a fixed up display than view one that has been badly damaged and is hard to make out. Article 3- Faking It: A Forgers Biography (Newsprint) This article tells of a modern day man, Alceo Dossena (1878-1937), and his ability to create artificial art pieces of ancient civilizations. He created sculptures in almost every style: Greek, Etruscan, Gothic and Italian Renaissance. He would sculpt them, then age them by giving them acid baths and then would proceed to bury them, allowing them to age. He was able to fool some of the greatest historians and scientists in the world. One of his art pieces was sold to a dealer who then sold it for $225,000, the highest price of any of Dossenas artworks. Dossena claimed that he did not make his art to cheat people out of their money. He then sued his dealer and won. When reading this article, I began to wonder if some of the great artworks today might be fake. Perhaps someone painted or sculpted them earlier in the century, and sold it off as an ancient work of art. I am reluctant to think that it happens more often than not. It probably doesnt work on the level of great museums, but it might work on unsuspecting dealers looking to get rich. Article 4- Joined by a Bridge This article is really interesting for it tells of a man, William Cochran, and is efforts of painting a bridge. When the subject came up of covering a small stone bridge in Frederick, Maryland, Cochran ran this suggestion by and it was approved. Many residents rejected the idea at first and would vandalize the work that had been done up to date. As soon as his efforts came to an end, the bridge was seen as a tourist attraction for the city. Since its completion, there have been many other paintings added onto the bridge by suggestion of the townspeople. Before reading this article, I had no clue that something like this could be done. I am interested in how he went about doing this. I am also interested in whether or not this bridge is allowed to have cars pass over it. Someday if I make it to Frederick, Maryland, Ill head over to the bridge and find out for myself. Article 5- Walking Encyclopedia This article tells a small town, Columbus, in Indiana and its claim to fame through architecture. The town is nationally known

Friday, March 6, 2020

Treadway Case Essay Example

Treadway Case Essay Example Treadway Case Paper Treadway Case Paper The Treadway Tire Company Brief Case Analysis Consuela Jack EDD 8100 Foundations of Educational Leadership and Management 101 Laurel Springs Dr. McDonough, GA 30253 Telephone: (404) 944-1186 Email: [emailprotected] net Instructor: Dan Wait, Ed. D Introduction The Treadway Tire Company: Job Dissatisfaction and High Turnover at the Lima Tire Plant is a brief case written by co-authors Skinner and Beckham. The case generally pertains to issues dealing with morale problems and high position turnover among those that hold the position of foreman. In this case, Ashley Wall is the Director of Human Resources charged with finding solutions to the issues within the Lima Tire Plant. Since Ashley Wall works for the Lima Tire Plant, she will have to face some political issues in regards to managing the action research project as an insider. A written replication of the key issues, contextual lens, and power relationships will offer more understanding of Ashley Wall’s charge to uncover solutions to the issues that the Lima Tire Company was facing. Key Issues There are several issues within the Treadway Lima Tire plant. The first issue deals with the morale of the employees especially those that serve as foremen. Morale is low due to the way the foremen are treated by their superiors and the lack of respect that they receive from their unionized workers. â€Å"An employee satisfaction survey conducted in August 2007 and exit interviews of departing foremen revealed solid discontent in the plant and highlighted concerns about the line-foremen position† (Skinner and Beckham, 2008, pg. 4). The foremen in the company are few in number with approximately twenty hourly unionized employees that they have to manage, as well as other duties as prescribed. Both foreman and the hourly employees are treated disrespectfully due to the constraints of the perspective positions. The foremen have a great deal of responsibilities that must be completed at the end of every 12 hour shift that they work. Production of tires is a key responsibility for the foreman; they must make sure that the employees working under their management are on time and present to make production goals/deadlines. Another issue combines hiring and the lack of training that the foremen receive before being internally promoted, externally hired, or transferred from another Treadway Tire plant into the positions of foremen. Those that are unionized hourly employees promoted to foreman lack college training and job embedded training. The line-foremen positions were â€Å"available when jobs were posted on the bulletin boards in the plant and the internet† (2008, pg. 5). The external hires are young college grads with book knowledge, but very little skill training. Both internally hired and externally hired are made to go through strenuous and grueling interviews before being deemed the right person(s) for the job. The fact that little training is offered and a sink or swim mentality is maintained by those that supervise the foremen leads to more communication issues. The communication issues caused ineffective and belittling discourse between the general supervisors and the foremen and the unionized workers. Contextual Lens Economic factors play a major role in the issues that Lima Tire Plant faces, but growth, change, performance, and training holds to a greater cause for the issues addressed. The temporal perspective is the direction Ashley Wall may want to focus on when she considers analyzing the issues of morale, hiring, and training. In reading the case, this seems to be the direction to go in, but budget constraints leave little or no room for effective on the job training to occur. â€Å"Reading through her personnel files, Ashley Wall knew the problem of turnover in the foreman position- affecting a third of the salaried work force- was a complicated issue for Lima management to address† (2008, pg. 6) Realizing that the plant was not effectively training new managers was a major cause of the conditions or issues within the plant. Power Relationships According to the Coghlan and Brannick (2010) text, â€Å"Clearly any form f research in any organization has its political dynamics. Political forces can undermine research endeavours and block planned change. Gaining access, using data, disseminating and publishing reports are intensely political acts† (pg. 127). Ashley Wall may have to use extreme caution as she plans the action research project of discovering a solution for dissatisfaction and high turnover in the company. There are ten key power relationship that Ashley Wall will have to consider as she proceeds on with the in depth inquiry process at the Lima Tire Plant. Since, Ashley Wall was given the charge to delve in to this process by the plant manager Bellingham, she has already gained her relationship with her sponsor. The relationships that will be more challenging throughout this process will be the relationships between the interdepartmental, executives and organizational members, and executives and higher management. All three of these relationships deal with company employees communicating with each other and that has been part of the issues. Will there be anonymity through out this process? It will be quite difficult, but Ashley will have to keep all stakeholders in this process aware of what is at stake for the future of the Lima Tire Plant. Gaps or Unanswered Questions An unanswered question that plagues is the fact that Bellingham knows that part of the major issue is that more effective training needs to take place, but because of budget issues he can not allow the training to take place. What is he truly thinking and how does Ashley Wall convince Bellingham to make a way in the budget for foremen training? Conclusion The central concerns, in the Lima Tire Plant stem from many different sources, which are all related. Effective communication, formal training, and economic factors all play a role in the key issues. Coghlan argues the question, â€Å"Given that doing insider research seems to be so complex and can be fraught with danger, wouldn’t it be better to advise people not to select this approach†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (2007, pg. 5). The answer, absolutely; action research in the case of the Lima Tire Plant will bring about collaboration of the manager/researcher and those directly impacted by the outcomes and reflections. References Coghlan, D (2007). Editorial: insider action research. Action Research, 5, 5-10. doi: 10. 1177/1476750307072872 Coghlan, D. , Brannick, T. (2010). Doing action research in your own organization (3rd ed. ). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. ISBN: 9781848602168. Skinner, W. , Beckham, B. (2008, June). The Treadway tire company: Job dissatisfaction and high turnover at the Lima tire plant. Retrieved from Harvard Business Publishing Web site: http://custom. hbsp. harvard. edu/b01/en/implicit/p. jhtml? login=CAPE042409Spid=2189

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

A Rammstein Concert Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A Rammstein Concert - Essay Example The concert was organized in Roy Wilkins Auditotium in plain air, and I remember we had bought tickets man days ago to be able to attend. Hundreds, not say thousand people were gathered, to attend something of modern German culture. I remember I rather had good surprise; nothing was unexpectedly in a bad way, and the concert was given at Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Then I had a seat for the whole time. The concert was generally as I had expected, but much more intensive and lively. So, it was the first 20th of June 2009, when I really got to know from close the modern German culture, by a band that had set up all electronic instruments perfectly: Guitars, drums etc, and they were all dressed in shiny leather costumes, that matched to the light on the stage and made them more ‘’bright’, and impressive in terms of appearance But when also they started playing, they gave the impression of true professionals, reproducing German culture in the best way possible. The lights on the stage had flash, and some tricks that enhanced the attention of the crowd more, by really enhancing the quality of the concert as a whole. It was a splendid concert that day: Exactly same scenery as one would expect, from a band of beginning of 21st century. Lovers of the past decades also, such as 60’s and 70’s, could equally get satisfied, since the whole atmosphere included something of that era indeed! There were too many people gathered over there, and the stadium was full. Same pictures as that time, thus many little children with their parents had joined, and also may adults, who wanted to experience something new and exceptional!. The team was wonderful, not just a live band but indeed an Alive band in all means. The singers were singing too lively... This "A Rammstein Concert" essay gives a full and bright review on one of the concerts of this band. It was a splendid concert that day: Exactly same scenery as one would expect, from a band of beginning of 21st century. Lovers of the past decades also, such as 60’s and 70’s, could equally get satisfied, since the whole atmosphere included something of that era indeed! There were too many people gathered over there, and the stadium was full. Same pictures as that time, thus many little children with their parents had joined, and also may adults, who wanted to experience something new and exceptional!. The team was wonderful, not just a live band but indeed an Alive band in all means. The singers were singing too lively and in a very good mood, as this kind of cheerful music requires. The whole band was in harmony, and managed to imitate many other well known teams of music of the last decade, or the last two decades! The band was well organized, giving out and offering t real German music, of quality! It was homophone in all terms; all members seemed to participate in equal terms thus make a perfect symphony, and coordination. When the singer sang on his own, it seemed that all the rest of members were singing also, while they were just playing. The public was enthusiastic! Little by little all people participated in their own way, and everybody, was paying too much attention, by looking constantly towards the band, although this kind of music does not require such thing, like theater and cinema.

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Internal Controls Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Internal Controls - Essay Example tiveness and the efficiency of the firm’s operation deals with the basic goals of the business such as business performance, generation of profits and the safety measures taken on the company’s resources. Consistency of financial reports calls for preparation of consistent financial statements. Additionally, there is requirement for preparation of short-term and strong financial statements. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is a requirement by the US Corporation to establish and keep satisfactory systems of internal control. Since its establishment, the Act ensures that the organization’s management and board of directors maintain consistent and effective internal controls. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 also deals with the weaknesses existing in internal controls in the corporate sector. The enactment of the Act has seen the improvement of internal controls in companies which have agreed to comply with the Act (Rich 2009). Research on the effectiveness of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 shows that there has been clear understanding of the controls and their effectiveness. According to Warren et al (2013), the enactment of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has seen a reduction in fraud cases that were common before 2002. The enactment has ensured confidence to the investors, creditors and stockholders. The maintenance of internal controls as required by the act is a way of ensuring fraud cases are minimized and avoidance of deceptive financial statements. However, companies have realized that compliance to the act is costly but they have also found that benefits of application of the act in internal control is far much more that the cost. Deficiencies in internal controls in any corporate is costly because of unclear financial reports. Organizations with deficiencies in internal controls have to incur high capital investments and poor stock prices. Despite the high cost of complying with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the corporate will in future reap the benefits.

Monday, January 27, 2020

Womens Engagement in Politics

Womens Engagement in Politics Why are there relatively few women engaged in political activity? Introduction It is evident that women are underrepresented in government and in general do not engage in political activity in the same numbers as men do. Various explanations have been used to explain this phenomenon: entrenched discrimination on the part of candidate selectors, elite theory as well as the Supply and Demand Model. This paper visits each explanation in turn finding some value in each. Finally, the argument is made that another possibility is that the system has been created by men for men. When states and constitutions were created in today’s developing countries, women did not have the right to vote, own property or engage in any political activity. Therefore, one could argue that the terms of the social contract on which liberal democracies are based are male- centric and do not allow for the equal representation of women. Theoretical Perspectives: Women and Democracy Beyond the basic interpretation of democracy as â€Å"rule by the people†, scholars have noted that democracy has evolved, changing over time and space and responding to evolution in public affairs. As explained by Meny â€Å"it is commonly accepted that democracy has varied over time, evolving from a rather elitist and restrictive form to a more open and participatory form of government† (Meny, 2002, p.10). Dahl identifies three evolutionary waves, or â€Å"transformations† of democracy, from the Greek city- state to the republic and finally to the nation- state (Dahl, 1989). Furthermore, Dahl identifies the basic criteria for a democratic process as: effective participation, voting equality at the decisive stage, enlightened understanding, control of the agenda by the people, and equal opportunity (Dahl, 1989). Effective participation is the requirement for citizens to have an equal chance of expressing preference for the political outcome, and their choice should be weighed as equal to that of any other citizen. Enlightened understanding means that citizens should be informed in their choice and have an understanding of the system. At first glance, therefore, one would be surprised with the arguments posed by some Feminists that standard definitions of democracy such as the above are discriminatory against women and legitimize a gender- biased system. Waylen asserts: â€Å"democracy defined in these ways becomes a ‘political method’ simply an institutional arrangement to generate and legitimize leadership† (Waylen, 1994, p.332). To help us understand statements like these, we should consider the distinction between different kinds of â€Å"equality† and the historic inequality democratic systems have imposed on women. There is an important distinction between equality of opportunity and equality of result. If a system merely aims at equality of opportunity then giving women the right to vote and come forward as candidates would be an end in itself; but if equality of result is sought, then one would see that external factors diminish the value of equality of opportunity (Karam ed. 199 8). A historic overview of â€Å"democracy† reveals that as a system in application, it is embedded with inequality. The democrats in ancient Greece excluded women, slaves and immigrants and considered foreigners to be â€Å"barbarians† and therefore inferior to the Greeks. At a minimum, democracy requires that people have the right to vote, and this right was not given to women until recently: 1919 in West Germany, 1920 in the USA, 1921 in the UK and 1971 in Switzerland (just to name a few examples of developed and democratic states). In accounting for this inequality, Feminists emphasize the concept of patriarchy and the distinction between the public and private sphere. Patriarchy[1] means â€Å"rule by fathers† and mainstream political theory argues that this system has been obsolete and no longer n existence since more than three hundred years ago. Feminists, however, have always been pointing out that it still exists. Pateman argues that patriarchy has been replaced by â€Å"fraternity†[2] through the establishment of the social contract. Patriarchy has its foundations in the separation between the public and the private sphere, thereby keeping women confined in the private sphere, removed from politics: â€Å"The division of public and private life as one that differentiates the woman (private) from the man (public) is the overarching ideological tool of patriarchy† (Corrin 1999 quoting Eisenstein 1984). Liberal Democracy This system aims to check both the tyranny of the majority and the abuse of power by a government, usually through a system of checks and balances. The system merely aims at equality of opportunity (and not equality of result or of condition) and accountability through voting. It assumes that society consists of a plurality of interests which compete with each other over influence over political outcomes. As a result of this competition a stalemate may occur which means little or piece meal change to the system can be achieved and thus the status quo perpetuates. This model embraces the distinction between the public and private sphere. [3] Feminists therefore criticize liberal democracy and assert that inequalities between husband and wife reduce the value of political life for women. Feminists also feel that a â€Å"gender- neutral† approach to citizenship (as is proposed by liberal democracy) actually serves to exclude women. Phillips argues that concepts such as the individual, citizenship, rights etc are male categories (Phillips, 1991). Participatory Democracy This model requires social equality and emphasizes participation. It challenges the private- public distinction and proposes that for democracy to be meaningful in the public sphere there must also be democracy in the private sphere. Feminists agree that voting is not enough and that there must be discussion and participation. However, feminists argue that this model also creates an elite of â€Å"active† citizens. As certain categories of women such as housewives have less free time, they are less able to be â€Å"active† in public affairs and would therefore be disadvantaged. Elite Theory Elite theory assumes that throughout history there has been a group of people who â€Å"rule† and the rest who are ruled by them. Essentially this theory is about power and its distribution. Gaetano Mosca argues that the existence of the elite and its dominance depends on its organizational position and abilities. Mosca believes that the more organized minority will prevail over the less organized majority. Mosca distinguishes between an upper stratum elite (small group of political decision- makers) and a lower stratum of the elite, who perform lesser political functions. Mosca saw elite- formation as inevitable; if the mass were to rise against the elite and replace it in government, another small group would rise from within the masses and prevail over the rest. Mosca saw elite theory and democracy as compatible (Rush, 1992). Michels drew upon Mosca’s â€Å"iron law of oligarchy† and argued that like all other organizations, political parties are dominated by their leadership. Pareto diverges from the Marxist notion that the elite are defined in economic terms, and argues instead that it is human attributes such as motivation and abilities which define it (Rush, 1992). Political Recruitment The Selection Process Norris and Lovenduski identify three levels of analyzing political recruitment: a) systematic factors such as the legal system, the electoral system and the party system, which set the context for analysis, b) context- setting factors such as party organization, rules and ideology, c) factors influencing directly the recruitment of individual candidates such as resources and motivations of applicants and the attitudes of â€Å"gatekeepers† (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). The recruitment process is generally evaluated by testing whether the system is democratic (involving local activists and grassroots members), whether it is fair (treating all applicants equally), whether it is efficient (as a decision- making process) and whether it is effective in producing candidates of a high standard (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). There are six main types of selection process and these are: 1) informal- centralized, where constitutional mechanisms may be in place but in essence patronage controls outcomes and rules are largely symbolic 2) informal – regional where factions bargain in order to get good positions for their candidates, 3) informal- localized where the decision over which selection procedure will be used depends on local groups and therefore procedures vary and the system is open to manipulation by small groups 4, 5) formal- centralized/ formal- regional where party leaders at national or at regional level have the power to choose candidates and 6) formal- localized where constitutional rules and guidelines create a standard procedure and all applicants are treated equally (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). According to Norris and Lovenduski: â€Å"in the long term the main change in recruitment within British parties has been in process rather than power. There has been a gradual evolution from an ‘informal- localized’ system based on patronage in the nineteenth century towards more ‘formal- localized’ system today based on more meritocratic standards† (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995, p.5). Supply and Demand In analyzing trends in political recruitment, Norris and Lovenduski present the Supply and Demand Model : â€Å"based on a ‘supply and demand’ model, the study distinguishes between the factors influencing the ‘supply’ of candidates willing to come forward and the factors influencing the ‘demand’ of party selectors in making their decisions† ((Norris and Lovenduski, 1995, p.14). On the Demand side, selectors choose based on perceptions of the candidates’ abilities, experience etc. Such perceptions can be affected by discrimination and stereotyping either in a positive r in a negative way. Direct discrimination is judging people as members of groups instead of as individuals. Imputed discrimination amounts to selectors favouring certain categories of candidates e.g. women or racial minorities (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). On the Supply side, selectors may argue that certain categories of people such as women do not come forward as candidates. Motivation and constrained resources may affect potential candidacies. Also, demand and supply are inter-related; some may be deterred from coming forward out of fear of discrimination (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). Applied to the case of women, the Demand side proposes that women may have lower resources in terms of money and time as well as lower levels of political ambition and confidence. On the supply side, selector may employ direct or imputed discrimination against women: â€Å"the basic problem is that selectors are not enthusiastic about women candidates. They believe the electorate does not want them. They do not see women as having the same commitment as men. They do not know how to categorize them †¦ in short, they apply different standards† (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995, p.115 quoting Mitchell 1982). Party Selection In the Conservative Party, following the Chelmer Report 1972 the rules guiding procedures were revised. This slightly strengthened the role of party members at the expense of the constituency executive committee. In 1980 the Conservative Central Office introduced managerialist selection boards to scrutinize candidates on the Approved List before they could apply. These boards aimed to produce better quality candidates and fairer procedures (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). The Labour general party modernization in the 1980s included selection rules reform. Thus, there was a mandatory reselection for incumbents, a formalized selection procedure and power shifted downwards to an electoral college of all members. To encourage more women candidates the Party altered short listing rules and introduced more training programs (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). For the general election 1997 Labour introduced women-only shortlists whereby a proportion of local parties were required to shortlist only women candidates for selection. The policy was then withdrawn as it was found in breach of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. The Electoral System According to Norris and Lovenduski â€Å"the British electoral system is commonly seen as contributing towards the localism of the selection process, by strengthening the links between individual MPs and their constituency† (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995, p.28). The British first- pass- the post system is based on a 651 plurality, single member districts and opportunities are determined by the number of seats. Voters can vote for or against individual candidates, but have no say over who is placed before them as a candidate (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). The incumbency turnover further constrains opportunities to enter parliament. The rise of â€Å"careerism† whereby MPs enter parliament at a younger age and see their position as a career further supports this proposition. The party system is a further constraint; traditionally the UK was considered a two- party system, but this has gradually been weakened in the post- war period (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). Conclusions: Accounting for Women’s Under representation The Discrimination Argument Some feel that women are discriminated against by part selectors: â€Å"discrimination by gatekeepers is probably one of the most common explanations of the social bias in our parliament† (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995, p.123). However, it is difficult to establish proof of this discrimination. Others feel that at present the system is open to women and explain the under representation in terms of structural constraints such as lack of confidence or the difficulty to combine family life with a career in politics (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). There is also the argument that selectors may not be biased themselves, but may feel that the electorate has biased perceptions. Therefore, to avoid ‘losing’ they do not select ‘risky’ candidates such as women or ethnic minorities. In general, ‘winning’ candidates are perceived as local, white, middle class and male: â€Å"perceptions of anticipated electoral gains and losses reflect, and thereby reinforce the dominant class and racial biases within parliament† (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995, p.136). The Elite Theory argument An application of elite theory to liberal democracies at present, confirms the validity of this model. Electoral systems may mean that the voters do not have a genuine choice and that this lies in the hands of the selectorate, usually party officials: â€Å"studies in a number of countries show that in socio- economic terms the differences between successful and unsuccessful candidates are not great and that the selection of candidates is often in the hands of a small group of party leaders and activists† (Rush, 1992, p.66). The Social Contract Revisited Nadezhda Shvedova identifies the difficulties women face in achieving equal representation in government: political, socio-economic, and ideological/psychological obstacles (Karam ed. 1998). Political obstacles include: the type of electoral system ( Shvedova believes proportional representation is better for increasing women’s representation), prevalence of the â€Å"masculine model† of political life e.g. the â€Å"predator mentality† that is supposedly alien to women, and lack of party support. Arguments of socio-economic obstacles usually stem from the theory that higher development brings more democratization; Ideological/psychological obstacles are the traditional social roles assigned to women and men, women’s lack of confidence, the perception of politics as a â€Å"dirty†, and the way in which women are portrayed in the mass media. In newly democratized countries mechanisms such as quotas have been devised to ensure equal representation. Quotas are introduced to make sure that women constitute a certain percentage of the members of a public body such as a candidate list, committee, parliament assembly, or government. They usually aim at achieving at least a â€Å"critical minority† of 30-40% for women (Karam ed. 1998). The three most common forms of these mechanisms are: constitutional quotas which reserve seats in the national parliament for women, election law quotas which are written in national law, and political party quotas which are adopted by political parties to achieve a certain percentage of women as candidates. According to Dahlerup, â€Å"History seems to prove that the implementation of a quota system is made easier in a new political system than in an older one, where most seats might be ‘occupied’, and consequently a conflict may arise between the interests of new groups versus those of the incumbent† (Karam ed. 1998). Countries that have implemented quotas for women are : Uganda, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Eritrea, Tanzania, Belgium, Italy and Namibia (Karam ed. 1998). An example of a newly democratized state where women played an important role in creating the institutions and the foundations of the state is South Africa. According to Seidman â€Å"During the South African transition women activists played a surprisingly important role in the negotiations, in the elections, and in designing the new state. Women’s participation is already leading to new approaches in policy making and, I will suggest, to the construction of a new vision of gendered citizenship† (Seidman 1999, p. 288). This illustrates the ambiguous relationship between development and democracy, and the relationship between the role played by women in freedom or independence struggles and their subsequent role in the new state. . However, it is more difficult to implement such mechanisms in older democracies where rules of procedure and systems are entrenched. Another reason is that the liberal democratic model creates systems that are less â€Å"gendered† than the participatory democracy model, for example, would. This may not have been done to purposely discriminate against women; it may be more about the general ideology of liberal democracy. A good illustration would be the case of the USA where the founding fathers of the American Constitution aimed at creating a â€Å"free† society. â€Å"Free† however, does not imply equal in resources or in condition. Liberal democracy can be therefore criticized because the state will strive to achieve the equality of disadvantaged people; it is more likely to act as a neutral mediator or even observer in the free, pluralist system, where the strongest group/ elite will prevail. It therefore follows that in such a system, reforms to improve the r epresentation of women in political activity will be piece-meal and gradual. References Corrin, C. (1999). Feminist Perspectives on Politics, Essex, Pearson Prentice Hall. Karam, A. (ed) (1998). Women in Parliament: Beyond Numbers, Stockholm, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). Waylen, G. (2003), Gender and Transitions: What Do We Know?, Democratisation, 10 (1), p. 157- 178. Waylen, G. (1994), Women and Democratisation: Conceptualising Gender Relations in Transition Politics. World Politics, 46 (3), p. 327- 354. Seidman, G. (1999), Gendered Citizenship: South Africa’s Democratic Transition and the Construction of a Gendered State, Gender and Society, 13 (3), p.287-307. Phillips, A. (1991), Engendering Democracy, Cambridge , Polity. Pateman, C. (1988), The Sexual Contract, Cambridge, Polity. Meny, Y. (2002), De la democratie en Europe: Old Concepts and New Challenges, Journal of Common Market Studies, 41 (1), p. 1-13. Dahl, R. (1989), Democracy and Its Critics, New Haven; London, Yale University Press. Rush, M (1992), Democracy and its Critics, Harvester Wheatsheaf, Prentice Hall. Norris, P. and Lovenduski, J. (1995), Political Recruitment: Gender, Race and Class in the British Parliament, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. 1 Footnotes [1] Adrienne Rich defines patriarchy as â€Å"a familial- social, ideological, political system in which men by force, direct pressure, or through ritual, tradition, law and language, customs, etiquette, education, and the division of labour, determine what part women shall or shall not play† (Corrin 1999, p.8 quoting Rich 1997). [2] Fraternity means â€Å"rule by brothers† and is seen by Feminists such as Pateman as equally discriminative against women as patriarchy [3] Plato and Aristotle had made this distinction in their writings (Phillips, 1991)