Kant on Suicide Essay

4. Explain and critically assess Kant’s argument that one has a duty to preserve one’s own life. As rational beings Kant believes we have a categorical duty of self-preservation to not wilfully take our own lives. Kant talks in depth about duty and believes we should act out of respect for the moral law. The will is the only inherent good, as we are only motivated by duty and nothing else. We should act only out of demands of the law, not from inclination, desires or to achieve a particular goal. Duty dictates we should never act or will something if we do not want it to become a universal law. Kant was against any form of suicide. He strongly believed that: in taking a life you treat humanity merely as a means to an end. Kant wouldn’t be interested in the suffering or pain caused to even a person who was terminally ill and wanted to end their life, nor would he take into consideration the family/friends suffering. In this essay I will be arguing that if we follow the categorical imperative it is immoral to sacrifice a life because it involves treating humanity merely as a means to an end. I will examine John Hardwig’s counter argument that we should end our own lives if more pain and suffering is caused by prolonging it/living it even if we are no longer a rational being. We must understand that Kant is saying; if I make a maxium e. g. – ‘if I am in unbearable suffering, I should take my own life’ – it must meet the universal law and be applied to everyone. Kant believes we ought to preserve our own lives because it is our moral duty (it is necessary and universal). John Hardwig however, would argue we also have the right to end our lives. Kant would dismiss this because ultimately humans are the bearers of rational life (e. g. it is too sacred to sacrifice). Suicide fails Kant’s Categorical Imperative on the following grounds: It seeks to shorten a life that promises more troubles than please, this would be killing yourself out of self-love; when in fact the real aim would be to live a life worth living, with more pleasure than difficulties. Kant isn’t claiming that it’s impossible for everyone to commit suicide or for everyone to will it (and therefore it becoming a universal law). He believes ‘it would not exist as nature; hence the maxim cannot obtain as a law of nature’. (Immanuel Kant, The Groundwork of the methaphysics of morals, Mary Gregor and Jens Timmermann, Cambridge University 2012, p45 emphasis added). Here Kant seems to be suggesting that suicide isn’t a natural path of life; that it goes against our purpose and that it’s a contradiction to end your life when your goal would be to have an enjoyable life. The idea that the destruction of life is incompatible with improvement suggests that nature couldn’t/wouldn’t allow self-love to be used in a way that is contrary to its purpose. There is surely an obviously contradiction here; in ending one’s life to prevent suffering, one is using one’s life mere means to an end, which automatically fails the categorical imperative. Take the case of Maria Von Herbert- she is clearly appealing to Kant, if under any circumstances; suicide is morally acceptable? He isn’t as blatant with her as in his writings, but let us not forget, Kant doesn’t see woman as rational beings. I agree with Rae Langton that Kant totally bypasses the reason Herbert is writing to him. He doesn’t confront her on suicide but instead reduces her problem to a moral dilemma (regrets lying or telling the truth ), which as an intelligent woman whom has read all his writings; she could work out for herself. Could this have made Kant certain that she did lie and therefore fail the kingdom of ends? Perhaps Kant is being hypocritical; he doesn’t tell Maria the whole truth of suicide merely reducing her to ‘a thing’. He tells Maria she should be ‘ashamed’ for not telling the truth to her former friend but, doesn’t this apply for himself too? Is he just avoiding the truth (states this is just as bad a lying) by not confronting her about suicide? Most likely he wants her to be autonomous and get to the reason herself. Hardwig disagrees with Kant. Take a different situation; Is a terminally ill person-needing 24/7 care, who is entirely financially reliant- only using their family as a means to an end? You can see this as a ‘two way street’ situation. Kant doesn’t look to consequences of an action; it wouldn’t matter to his philosophy that the ill person’s family suffers because they are preserving their life. But is there a flaw? (1) I ought to do my duty as long as I am alive; and (2) It is my duty to go on living as long as possible. Kant strongly believes that you can’t affirm life by taking your own. There is only one exception. Kant claims those who die in battle are ‘victims of fate’ (not simply suicide because they chose to fight). He holds the view that it is better to die in battle than to die of a wound in hospital. Kant believes it’s noble to risk our lives for others- nobody uses us as mere means and we follow our own maxium. We are no longer forced into serving for our country or deceived into joining (if this did happen it would fail the CI because we wouldn’t be treated as rational beings and would be used as mere means and not as ends in ourselves). John Hardwig strongly believes that life should be treated no differently from death. We are free to live in the way we want, so why aren’t we free to die in the way we want (when and how)? He also switches the question but Kant would simply say we have a duty to live. Hardwig has also argued that medical advances eliminate the threats of many terminal illnesses. He then concludes, if our continued existence creates signi? cant hardship for our loved ones, we have a duty to die. By continuing a live of suffering the burden that this person imposes on others is often great. One may have the duty to die in order to relieve them of these burdens. This argument seems to be based on fairness. Kant would refute this; suffering is a tool of reasoning and it ensures the development of mankind. Kant strongly believes that we should preserve our own lives. The argument though strong is flawed. 1- All duties are absolute- Kant doesn’t advise us on how to resolve conflicting duty (for example: help others vs. never kill). 2- He discounts moral emotions like compassion, sympathy, desire and remorse as appropriate and ethical motives for action. 3- Kant completely ignores the consequences of an action and is purposefully blind to following circumstances. He states that human life is valuable because humans are the bearers of rational life. We have the great capacity to think, organize, plan etc. and Kant holds this as being valuable. Therefore we should not sacrifice this for anything (as previously discussed autonomous creatures should not be treated merely as a means or for the happiness of another). There are also great issues with Hardwigs counter argument; if we agree that we have the duty to die; who has the duty to die? When do they have they duty to die? Although this argument is strong is some areas (greater burden), it is greatly flawed. It would be extremely difficult to universalize a maxium for everyone to follow so they could decide if at that moment they had the duty to die. A problem would also occur if the family disagreed with the ill person’s decision, which could cause great problems within society (though Kant would not look to consequences but they are greatly important to Hardwigs argument). I believe –and agree with Kant- that if we follow the categorical imperative it is immoral to sacrifice anyone at all (including yourself) because it involves treating the humanity in that person as merely a means to an end. I also accept and agree with his point that it seems to go against our purpose and is an unnatural path for us to take a life. I find it interesting that Kant believes suffering is a tool of development and therefore essential to us. Though John Hardwigs argument is partly convincing, if we were all given the choice of when we should die, would we find the right time? This would be very hard to govern, as people would of course take advantage of this right. I’ve found it hard to find a counter argument to Kant’s stance -without suffering there wouldn’t be cures and perhaps less happiness. Therefore I have to agree with Kant that it only allows us to grow and develop. Thus we do have the duty to preserve our own lives even if it is riddled with suffering.

A Clean Well Lighted Place †Theme and Setting Essay

A clean well lighted place by Ernest Hemingway has a few themes that stand out clearly but the one theme that stands out to me is despair. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, despair means to lose all hope or confidence. In the story, the older waiter and the old deaf man somehow share a common bond of despair. Both men are of age and like to be out, late at night, alone. Asides from the story alone, the theme of the story can be brought out by the setting. The setting contributes to the story’s theme in different ways. The setting contributes to the mood of the story, to the structure of the story, and to the lesson of the story. The cafe represents salvation for despair which is shown through the setting of the story. First, the setting contributes to the mood, from the quote â€Å"It was very late and everyone had left the cafe except an old man who sat in the shadow the leaves of the tree made against the electric light. †(107) sets a mood of a person in sadness. As a regular, at a cafe, late at night alone reveals the character’s personality with the help of the setting. The setting reveals the story’s mood because it visualizes the scene along with emotions of the story. Obviously the old man is not the type of drunk to get violent or rough because the mood seems to be calming as the setting had described â€Å"but at night the dew settled the dust and the old man liked to sit late because he was deaf and now at night it was quiet and he felt the difference. †(107) Even though the old man is deaf, the setting intensified the mood of peacefulness that the old man enjoys nice quiet drinks at a clean place. Later in the story the older waiter had no place to go for a drink so, he had gone to a bar/bodega for a drink; however, the mood of the bar/bodega compared to the cafe was not as peaceful nor comfortable. The waiter mentioned â€Å"It was the light of course but it is necessary that the place be clean and pleasant. You do not want music. Certainly you do not want music. Nor can you stand before a bar with dignity although that is all that is provided for these hours. †(109) The mood clearly shows a difference within a different setting. If the old man were to drink in that bar then the story’s mood could have been perceived in a different way. Furthermore, the setting contributes to the structure of the story, like cartilages in a human body. The cafe can be viewed as a workplace and also as a place of peaceful socialization. Each person deals with despair differently. Having the setting at a cafe where it was mentioned that it was quiet help structure the story that it is neither a depressing story nor, a happy story. The two waiters who were gossiping about the old man mentioned that he had committed suicide but, he was saved. Being in a cafe is different than rather being in a bar or anywhere else. The cafe signifies a place for space or time, depending on the person. The old man is not trying to cure his despair but rather subdue it. The setting could have taken place anywhere but it also could have affected the structure of the story differently. For example, when the older waiter was out trying to kill time due to insomnia, he went to a bar but, it was not soothing; therefore, he went home. This proves how the setting was able to support its main structure of having a cafe rather than a different place. Finally, the lesson of the story is that do not be impatient. The setting contributed to how the lesson of the story was delivered. The old deaf man was not harming anyone and the cafe was not to close ‘til two-thirty in the morning but, the young waiter wanted to close early because he wanted to go home to his wife. The setting is pleasing and comfortable for those who need a place late at night yet, it was taken away from someone who needed it. Even though the old man left quietly, it was obvious he was not done drinking. If the setting were to be elsewhere like a bar, it would mean that the old man was looking for a good time but, that was not the case. The setting contributed to the lesson like a book to a lecture. Overall, the setting contributes to the theme. The cafe represents salvation, its cleanliness and good lighting suggest peace and relaxation, whereas a bar is chaotic and loud. The older waiter describes it as a refuge from the despair felt by those who are aware of the nothingness. In a clean well-lighted cafe, despair can be managed and even temporarily forgotten. When the older waiter describes the nothingness that is life, he says, â€Å"It was only that and light was all it needed and a certain cleanness and order. †(109) The â€Å"it† in the sentence was not defined, but we can speculate about the waiter’s meaning: although life and man are nothing, light, cleanliness, and order can serve as substance. They can help counter off the despair from anyone. As long as a clean, well-lighted cafe exists, despair can be kept in check. This shows how the setting contributes to the theme through the mood, the structure, and the lesson of the story shaped by the setting.

Dementia in the world Essay

Alongside traditional A Levels in Physics, Chemistry and Biology, QMC offers an A Level in Applied Science. This is an ideal course for pupils who have studied the GCSE Applied Science and who are interested in a science based career. COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS General entry requirements are 5/6 GCSEs at C or above to include Double Science, English and Mathematics. WHAT KIND OF JOB/DEGREE CAN THIS SUBJECT LEAD TO? Success in the A Level will enable you to apply for work in science based companies, the NHS or apply for Foundation degrees at university such as: FdSc Applied Medical Technology FdSc Medical Imaging (Radiography Technician) FdSc Medicines Management (Pharmacy Technician) FdSc Oncological Therapies (Oncology and Radiography Technician) FdSc Paramedic Science, currently available at Portsmouth DURING THE AS COURSE YOU WILL STUDY THE FOLLOWING TOPICS: In the AS year you will be studying 3 units which cover all 3 sciences. Two of the units are assessed by portfolio with the third unit being assessed by examination. This course is therefore best suited to students who find producing a steady flow of written reports preferable to sitting several exams at the end of the year. The portfolio units look at how science is put to use in the workplace. You will visit a range of local organisations and see science in action. Back at College you will learn how to carry out some of the techniques that scientists use at work and write reports about issues relevant to the use of science. As you go you will build up a portfolio of evidence of your growing skills. The examined unit focuses on the use of science in healthcare. You will look at how the body’s circulatory and respiratory systems work, and how they can be monitored and investigated. This will include considering the ethical issues involved when diagnosing and treating illnesses. DURING THE A2 COURSE YOU WILL STUDY THE FOLLOWING TOPICS: In the second year you will be learning how to carry out an extended investigation and then choose one you would like to study in depth. This investigation, and a unit on the techniques involved in genetic engineering and biotechnology, are both assessed by portfolio. A final examined unit brings together all the skills you have developed during the course on working as a scientist, including collecting samples, developing methods for carrying out tests, working safely, analysing data, and ensuring accuracy and reliability in all you do. HOW IS THIS COURSE ASSESSED? AS Level A2 Level 3 Units. 2 units portfolio evidence, 1 unit examination 3 Units. 2 units portfolio evidence, 1 unit examination IF YOU REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION †¦ Please contact the Head of Department, Dr Eddie Grimble, on (01256) 417500

IMG Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

IMG - Case Study Example Currently, the company has diversified to include services such as stadium ownership and management, television, event ownership, modeling organization among others (Anand and Attea 1-23). Further, IMG has proved to be a successful business empire that grew from focusing only on one opportunity kind. However, this single opportunity lead to diversification and realization of other viable but related opportunities. This diversity has however been managed through the introduction of subsidiary companies to manage different interests of the mother company. As such, McCormack (or his successors) should go ahead and seek diversity since it has proved to add value into the mother company. Further, in so doing the company will be hedging itself against competition from other companies that may seek to exploit these diversities. Moreover, the company has laid down a strategy that has defined the role of any given subsidiary venture. In fact, such a subsidiary company is at liberty to manage itself as an independent company. As such, the need to engage in experts is covered by the presence of IMG itself. However, due to the dynamic unpredictable eventualities in the nature of its business dealing there may crop a situation that will call for expert’s services. For example, if IMG or on of its constituent company is faced by a legal issue, then it will be necessary to indulge the services of an equally potential law firm (Anand and Attea 1-23). Given the reputation of this organization, the concerns of engaging external consulting firms have not been a concern to it. The founder and CEO of IMG have strategically approached this situation through specialization and division of duties. The specialization calls for an independent company to manage all duties related to that field. For example, tennis duties are ran by a single company, such that the players and tennis events, tennis broadcasts as well as tennis courts will

Management Investigation and report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Management Investigation and report - Essay Example head-quarters only. At the end of the study, the project draws a conclusion on oil and gas companies and its response to the complex and urgent sustainability issues. This report will be a crucial one to understand the future energy supply-demand balance.The report is prepared on the basis of consumer view-point, the catastrophes’ caused and data analysis. Firstly, the project makes an analysis of the three companies holding the leading positions in the market. Following this the macroeconomic analysis has been provided which is a reflection of PESTEL. An analysis has also been done with regards to the present financial performance of the three companies. PESTEL demonstrates the political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, environmental and legal factors which influence the companies. Finally, an analysis of the internal strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities are some of the factors based on which the strategies have been recommended for the three companies. I ntroduction Oil and natural gas account for one of the major requirements in the daily lives of people. More than 60% of a nation’s energy is provided by natural gases and oil. ... Since 2005 February, the world supply of oil has been flat. There has been 1.4% increase in its production since December 2007 (Arup, â€Å"Introduction†). Firstly the project analyses the position of the three leading oil and natural companies namely, Shell, BP, Exxon-Mobil. Firstly the macroeconomic analysis is done using PESTEL and then based on this analysis the respective strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are determined. The three companies are analysed with respect to their financial performance and how the present global scenario has impacted that performance. Following from the research it aims to make a comparative analysis of the positions of the three companies in the market. About the Companies Exxon Mobil operates in about 41 countries and is one of the renowned Energy and Technology sources, striving to meet the increasing demand. The company claims, that it can opt for many challenges to meet the requirements of the evolving new supplies, intensif ying efficiency yet preserving the environment. Technology will play a critical role in meeting these challenges. The company keeps an eye of various magazines trend analysis that’s required to figure out the global energy demand and supply in the future years. Also, it increases the global demand and supplies, keeping in mind the environmental hazards. Thus, by energy efficiency technique one can utilise the energy obtained and diminish the greenhouse gas emissions at a very manageable cost (Exxon Mobil, â€Å"Energy & Technology†). BP is operating in almost every continent, across 80 countries. It offers a variety of products and is best known for fuel and energy. The company boasts of building a hefty and robust

Multivariate Data Analysis (Short computational exercise) Essay

Multivariate Data Analysis (Short computational exercise) - Essay Example The coefficient of linear correlation was found to be -0.154. From the frequency descriptions, the number that is willing to give at least  £75 is 39.7%. The hypothesis therefore, scores 39.7% positive response. The remaining percentage (60.3%) is the score for the willingness to pay less than  £75. There is a positive linear correlation coefficient of 0.394. This indicates that the gender group positively influences the willingness to pay is positively influenced by the gender. It therefore leads to a conclusion that females are willing to pay more than the males. This is against the hypothesis. The coefficient of linear correlation between the two variables is 0.492. This is a strong positive linear correlation, indicating that the willingness to pay increases as the net income per week increases, as per the hypothesis. The multiple regressions shows the three plots for net weekly income, occupational status and the gender factor in a single regression model. The two variable linear regression on the other hand shows a single plot between the dependent and independent

The Amyloid Formation by Amyloid precursor protein and its role in Essay

The Amyloid Formation by Amyloid precursor protein and its role in Alzheimer's disease - Essay Example y have been identified so far, with each disease having a characteristic and distinct clinico-pathological profile and each disease associated with aggregation of a specific single protein or peptide that is dominant (Chitti and Dobson, 2008). One such classical disease in which there is disordered accumulation of protein is Alzheimers disease and the protein that is accumulated is amyloid. In this essay, the role of amyloid in the pathogenesis of Alzheimers disease will be discussed with reference to its production, deposition, alteration, regulation, processing and trafficking, through review of suitable literature. Alzheimers disease (AD) is a common degenerative disease of the brain that leads to dementia (Anderson, 2010). Infact, it is the most common cause of dementia and is incurable. The disease is an acquired condition in which there is impairment of cognition and behavior of the individual that is severe enough to disrupt normal occupational and social functioning of the individual. AD is a major public health problem associated with significant morbidity, impairment and economic consequences (Anderson, 2010). More often than not, the disease is mainly diagnosed after 65 years of age, although, an early-onset variety of AD does exists which presents much early. According to Brookmeyer et al (2007), 1 in 85 people in the world are likely to suffer from AD by 2050. The course of the disease is different for different individuals and thus is the prognosis. The most common early symptom, which is often ignored as an aging feature or stress consequence is the lack of ability to acquire new m emories. Other symptoms include changes in cognition and behavior of the individual like irritability, confusion, aggression, mood swings, breakdown in language, withdrawal and long term loss of memory. As the age advances, various functions of the body are gradually lost, terminating in death. AD imposes severe burden on the caregivers and can influence various aspects of

Dystopia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dystopia - Essay Example In this urbanized society of chaos, fear is used as a way of coercing the collective will of its citizenry. Some of these fears include globalization, fear of aliens (earthly and otherwise), fear of immigrants, and a fear of loss of cultural identity. Other elements that contribute to the dystopic state are: widespread acts of violence within the working classes, and a dummy government that is utterly incapable of restoring any law and order. The escalating anarchy is related to the densely populated urban settings, the predominant of which is Los Angeles. The above mentioned characteristics of urban life in 2019 America may not have all elements of a dystopian state manifest in it. But, there is enough chaos, anarchy, disorder and violence to classify this environment s a dystopian one. On the other hand, the dystopia depicted in the movie Brazil is not so much an anarchic one as it a totalitarian one. It has resonances with the George Orwell’s dystopia of 1984 – an impotent bureaucracy, prompt action against dissenters and a highly commercialized culture where elevated human values are of no positive consequence. To top this state of civil decay, the totalitarian government is also inhuman and inefficient. The people feel hopeless and have no option other than subordinating themselves for the interests of the state. The constant surveillance of people keeps the whole society on an edge, making violent civil outbreaks a frequent occurrence. The violations against basic rights are so profound that protestation as a concept does not even arises among the people. In both the cases of fiction, the natural conditions for a psychologically healthy living are not provided to the people by the state. Hence, they resort to violent and unethical ways of finding some respite. In both the movies, terrorism is shown as a ever growing phenomenon. More disturbingly, its prevalence is so profound that the people have

Wynn Las Vegas Business Level Strategy Assignment

Wynn Las Vegas Business Level Strategy - Assignment Example Control procedures are in place. Lastly, a general sensitization will be carried with an aim to improve the work of the strategy. An audit of Wynn Las Vegas resulted in the following (Wheelen, 2008). The marketing strategy audit revealed that Wynn targets high-end customers and its product line is luxury in nature. This kind of strategy is on point for the company however they need to incorporate pricing strategies and promotion practices such as advertisements on the internet. Promotion services are also crucial. Their operations strategy has led to a choice of an advantageous location while its planning and scheduling activities ensure efficient handling of customers. Wynn also needs to include capacity planning to ensure that their full capacity is. There is also need for quality assurance to enable feedback and standards are. Information systems is also a strategic area for Wynn Las Vegas although they have disaster recovery, and information security is maintained business intelligence need to be a notch higher. There should also be in-house experts to help them avert from any disaster. Wynn financial strategy is such that they allow for capital budgeting, and an increase in shareholders returns is observed this means that financial control is, and success is guaranteed. Human resource should include recruitment for entry-level professional and allow for employee training. Innovation in Wynn should be should incorporate rewards for entrepreneurship (Strategy Audit,

Performance Review Meeting Essay Example for Free

Performance Review Meeting Essay What you have learnt from preparing for and carrying out the review I learnt how to set the meeting out, use the correct body language and how you should handle sensitive issues. It also helped me to understand motivation and focusing on strengths and weaknesses of employees and how to communicate effectively and stay in control of a situation. Overall I felt that the preparation leading up to the meeting helped in all of these areas. Studying the theories of Herzberg and Maslow helped me to understand that key areas of motivation and how to incorporate key management skills in order to get the best performance from an employee. Through watching performance management films also during the preparation process, this helped me to focus on my body language throughout the meeting and ensure that I am being perceived in a positive manner and agreeing targets on equal ground not by being too controlling of the situation and forcing decisions upon the individual. What you have learnt from the feedback you have received from your tutor and the individual whom you reviewed I have learnt that I need to ensure to take notes during the meeting. This is especially important when discussing performance plans and setting agreements. This would help me to remember after the meeting what was said so that I could write up a formal development plan for the employee but ensure that all information taken is accurate and that no details are missed. I need to also ensure that I talk slowly and clearly. It was fed back that I talked fairly quickly throughout the meeting, this may have been down to nerves because of the situation, however I need to ensure I remain focused on the task in hand and not what is going on around me to calm my nerves and ensure the employee understands fully the feedback that I am given. Overall I felt the meeting went well. I had good feedback and my body language was portrayed well. I felt I had prepared well and knew what to ask and how to approach the subject of the individual underperforming. I managed to negotiate clear targets for the individual of which we agreed by both parties and motivate the employee by also focusing on past high points as opposed to just focusing on the fact they have not met their targets. How this activity can help you at work I will take the knowledge which I have gained through completing this section into my workplace. I will be able to influence my capabilities through conducting meetings and speaking with employees on a daily basis.

Design of the The Brion Tomb by Carlos Scarpa

Design of the The Brion Tomb by Carlos Scarpa In my study I intend to explain Carlo Scarpas thinking in his design of the Tomba brion vega, his most visited work and analyse the design of each element individually and as a whole. It is a site of elegance and poetry and epitomises Carlo Scarpas use of architecture to produce meaning and feeling. Carlo Scarpa himself describes the tomb as a pathway (Unora con Carlo Scarpa The Brion Tomb is situated in the north of Italy in the village San Vito dAltivole near Treviso. It was designed for the family Brion by Carlo Scarpa after the death of Giuseppe Brion. It was commissioned by the wife of Giuseppe, Onorina Brion; together they co-founded the electronics firm Brion-Vega. Giuseppe was born in San Vito and the family owned a plot of land in the local cemetery as well as a funerary chapel which originally stood on the site. Scarpas original idea and his early work for the family was for a number of seperate tombs for different family members on the original cemetery plot. These early designs were to later incorporated in to the final design. in 1969 the family bought an L shaped plot of land wrapped around the northern and eastern sides of the existing cemetery. Acquiring this plot of land allowed Scarpa to incorporate all the family tombs into a single master plan for the Brion families resting place. Not taking with the mainline trend that with money and power when death occurs a huge shrine or monument should be erected in memorial Scarpa went the opposite way. Scarpa states I believe it is mistaken to consider the Brion Cemetery the product of a wealthy capitalist. Rather it is quite the opposite. Of course I could have just made a large statue and left the rest a lawn, but I enjoy making things doing this he avoided the narrow dictates of rationalism, choosing rather to stress inner depth, dreams, and nostalgia. In this he creates a poetic resting place as much as a sculptural memorial in a green, calming garden. In March 1970 the Plans for the site had reached their final form and planning permission was given for construction. The Cemetery was completed in 1978 and is regarded by many as Scarpas masterpiece. Below is a quote from Scarpa on his design of the Brion Tomba. I consider this work, if you permit me, to be rather good and (something) which will get better over time. I have tried to put some poetic imagination into it, though not in order to create poetic architecture but to make a certain kind of architecture that could emanate a sense of formal poetry. I mean an expressed form that can become poetry, though, as I said before, you cannot intentionally make poetry. The deceased has asked to be close to (the) Earth since he was born in this village So I decided to build a small arch, which I will call Arcosolium. Arcosolium is a Latin term from the time of the early Christians in the Catacombs. Important persons or martyrs were buried in them.) I used a more costly version I thought it (was) a good idea for two people who had loved each other to be put in such a way as to be able to greet one another, after death. Soldiers stand erect, movements are human. The Arcosolium became an arch, a bridge span, an arch of reinforced concrete and would still have looked like a bridge if I hadnt had it illustrated, I mean decorated. But instead of painting we used mosaics, A Venetian tradition that I interpreted in a different way The statement above just shows how much thought went in to the design of his lifes masterpiece. The body of the cemetery The L shaped site has 5 main focal points; the arcosolium which was of great importance was placed on the north eastern corner to in Scarpas words benefit from the best view and sunniest exposure. The arcosolium acts as a kind of visual hinge on the L shaped site joining the north and eastern sides of the site. The family graves are situated on the north wall of the site sheltered underneath a canopy which shelters them from the elements. On the south side of the L shape is a pavilion which floats over a Lilly pond. To the western end he designed square chapel which leads to a private burial ground for local priests. Another entrance way to the site was constructed close to the pavilion where the original funerary chapel stood. The site is enclosed by a 2.3m high wall. Internally the views out from the site almost become a part of the design and Looking towards the site the 60deg slope of the wall directs sight over the cemetery causing minimum obstruction of the views out from the town whilst also masking its internal parts. Scarpa acknowledged that he had captured the sense of the countryside, as the Brions wished (Scarpa 1978-84) The Arcosolium The Arcosolium in history has been situated within a catholic burial chamber. A single catacomb would contain multiple arcosolium for important people and martyrs. They are arched recesses carved from solid rock with a solid stone coffin sarcophagus to the bottom. The arch and around it were often decorated with symbolic frescoes. In the image to the left is the arcosolium which is situated in Via Latina, Cubiculum E, a catacomb in Rome. You can clearly see the arched recess to the rear and the religiously painted walls. Scarpas arcosolium is the main focal point for the whole tomb, acting as a hinge between the two perpendicular areas of the site. The two heads of the family are buried here and is therefore sited with importance and was built on the north east corner of the site. Unlike the solid arch of the historic catholic arcosolium the arch Scarpa designed is sleek and slender and is made out of concrete and bows over the sunken ground on which sit the two sepulchers. The asymetical arch has four components or visual nuances which make the whole. The arch itself is visually two parts with the vertical main arch or the backbone spanning the sepulchres and below this sits a floating plane which shelters the crypts. The backbone has four fins which run the length of the arch. These fins are closed to their underside so to shelter the occupants. The two floating planes are decoratively layered to their topside rather like the arcosolium decoration of old. These are connected to the third and fourth components of the arch by pin joints and are the two concrete plinths which sit at the two ends of the arch and ground the design and also convert the otherwise compressional structure of an arch in to a tensile structure. The plinths themselves are split in to two parts with a solid mass capping the arch and a more dynamic form ending the completed arch. The plinths are decorated not with paintings or materials but with the zig zag form which dominates the cemetary. The two concerete plinths are orthogonally stepped three dimensionally lessening with weight the further away from the arch they are. Below the arch the two sepulchres sit in a sunken circular bowl which is sheltered by the arch above. Originally this circular base plate was to be surrounded by a water channel emanating from the north pool. The tombs themselves are made out of two tone marble with the sides facing each other being ebony, the top layer a speckled, black marble and the bottom layer a more grained white marble. The ebony planks on the facing planes of the coffins give them a softer touch. The two crypts are sat side by side underneath the arch and lean to each other as though they were trying to touch. This is also reiterated on the underside of the masses. Scarpa not wanting to ground the two objects too much curved the underside of them making them seem moveable and not stuck to the ground. Scarpa described it like this It is as it should be that the two people who loved each other in life to bend toward each other in greeting after death. A sense of Scarpas romance can be seen here. In Yutak Saitos book Carlo Scarpa, he describes how the two sepulchres are perceived to float like two boats beneath the arch. This is reminiscent of the buildings of Scarpas beloved Venice. Whilst under the arch the coloured glass tiles can be seen. Yutak Saito says The ceiling of the arch is covered in glass tiles, giving the sense of celestial brilliance The glass tiles run either side of an onyx strip which runs down the middle of the four fins of the arch, these omit a milky white translucence . Brion Tomba graveyard entrance The entrance lies down an avenue of trees which run the old Village Cemetery. Upon approach the first thing noticed is the two intersecting circles which lay at the end of the small corridor and their framed picture of the lawn and the ivy covered wall beyond. The entrance is sat beside other existing tombs and its scale is as those of the existing tombs. This gives the Brion Tomb a tardis like feel once inside having entered through here. The entrance is decorated with a zigzag design like the arcosolium with horizontal slices through the mass in which the sky or in Scarpas eye the heavens can be seen. On entering the square entrance opens up like a cave and upon speaking strange echoes bounce off the zigzagged inside. Again horizontal slices allow the sight of the heavens whilst inside this dark entrance way. Four steps lead up to the corridor beyond. These are slightly offset to the left hand side giving you a sense of direction in which one should travel. This small gesture The intersecting circles at the end of the corridor are rimmed with red and blue glass tiles. They signify the earth and the heavens and the earth and the intersected section signifies the spiritual world which may lie in between. You can also see this looking through the two circles with the green grass signifying the earth the sky the havens and the grey concrete wall which splits the two the spiritual world. With these two connotations Scarpa wanted to instil a sense of how close the three worlds are and how they intersect with each other. The corridor splits left and right now. The left hand side is brighter and beckons you down, another path indicator of which Scarpa is well known for. Looking down the corridor the left hand side of the arcosolium can be seen with the countryside in the background and the corrid or opens a few metres down. It opens to the right with the left hand side continuing further. At the transitional point between open and closed a water course continues the line of the structure which runs down in to the arcosolium adjacent to the walkway. Along this walkway are a set of offset steps which lead up to the grazed area above. These steps are of different thicknesses with each possessing a different sound when treaded upon. If you turn right at the corridor the path leads you down a darkened corridor which opens up onto a floating path which leads to the raised pavilion, the pavilion sits on the pond that feeds the watercourse. The Pavillion The pavilion sits on the north side of the site above a shallow body of water. At a distance it seems to float above the water. It is supported by a set of slender steel columns which rise out of the water. The idea behind the pavilion was to create a canopy under which the souls of the dead may enter to mediate. It is accessed via the main entrance way along a thin dark corridor and then through a glass door which is opened with an elaborate system of pulleys which are visible on the other side of the wall to the glass door. The top of the pavilion is clad in timber and Yutaka Saito in his book Carlo Scarpa notes the similarities in the depth and emphasis of the design relating to the series of torri gates of the fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. Below the weathered timber box sits a thin metallic modesty panel painted green and is textured with a pattern of nails which softens the strong material making the space more comfortable. From its exterior the pavilion looks like a solid structure and a sense of weight is felt on sight but the innards are hollow which lets light pass down in to the space where underneath sits a bench on which Scarpa imagined the spirits could rest after they have had their playtime in the surrounding gardens of the cemetery. Its openness gives a connection between the spirit world and ours allowing passageway of souls in to it. Underneath the pavilion a small seating area is found for the spirits and this sits on a small jetty which seems to float a few centimetres above the pond. This may not be a piece of aesthetic design but a great knowledge of how water and construction materials react over time with staining and corrosion. This can also be seen on the back wall of the pavilion with it seeming to float just above the water level. Use of water Carlo Scarpa was of Venetian origin and this influenced his designs in that water and the effects it caused were often key elements of his designs. Bodies of water and/or water courses were elemental. He spent most of his life in Venice, wandering down its narrow gangways with buildings either floating on or reflected in water; a world changing with the ebb and flow of the tides. The brion tomb is no exception with Scarpa designing two pools at opposing ends of the site which were to be connected by thin streams that would weave inbetween the tombs connecting them with a sense of life or movement of the flowing water. A relationship between the lagoon and the canal can be envisioned here. The concept was not fully designed in but can still be seen in the form of a channel running between the pavilion and the arcosolium. Being from Venice Scarpa knew the effect of the tide and how this could effect materials and sometimes whole structures, submerging their lower floors on some occasions and the water course and pool in the cemetery were designed to avert flooding the adjacent spaces when it rains. The pools themselves are rather shallow being only half a metre in depth at their deepest point with the zig-zag pattern leading down to the lowest point giving the water a sense of volume and a place for the sun to play in, creating moving shadows and reflections of the surrounding structures during daytime hours. There are a number of water channels on the site. They all flow to the arcosolium and narrow as they get closer. This narrowing of the channels give the feeling of a sense of momentum and in essence, life. Brion Family Tomb The small family tomb is situated on the south side of the site and sits against the exterior wall giving a sense of shade for its occupants. It is a triangular shaped structure with a small entrance to the west. The entranceway is small and was designed so that to enter one must bow as a sign of respect to the deceased occupants. Internally the space is small yet the horizontal slits in the form allow the external openness to join with the internal space. The roof of the tomb narrows towards the top with a slice taken out at its peak. This was again the idea that the spirits could roam freely around the site and come back to their resting places for repose. The chapel and Sacristy The chapel sits on the east of the site and its importance is emphasised by the continual vertical planes that cut through the horizontal plane of the flat lawn. This emphasis shows its hierarchy and label the structure as being the building of most importance. There are two entrances to the chapel, one through the gardens and the second which is used for more formal occasions such as church mass. The entrance through the gardens shows this hierarchy the most, the tall walls create a strong vertical volume to travel down. Two small steps are at the entranceway and act as a transition between the less formal garden space and the more formal chapel beyond. On the left hand side wall a grid pattern of concrete lines was formed with 10mm recesses in which layers of plaster were trowelled and then polished which reflects light down the corridor. On this wall the door to the private sacristy can be found and follows the same grid patten as the walls slightly camouflaging it to identify its privacy. At the end of the corridor stands a large steel and plaster sliding lattice door reminiscent of the style of Otto Wagner of whom Scarpa was a fan and the traditional Japanese screen. Beyond the doors stands the chapel and the chinese style threshold that leads in to it which allows for the easy passage of coffins and on occasion to cope with a large numbers of people. The predominant material used in the construction of the chapel was again layered concrete. The floor is made of small cobble like stones which run at a 45deg angle to the room towards the alter. Two marble steps lead up to the alter and junctions between the materials was planned meticulously. The journey was very important in the planning of the site and all the senses were thought of when designing. Although the site is made up of lots of separate elements they are all part of the whole and are linked by pathways sometimes physical and sometimes psychological. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Brion-Vega_Cemetery.html

What Is The Effect Of Mcdonalds On Society Cultural Studies Essay

What Is The Effect Of Mcdonalds On Society Cultural Studies Essay Most prominent changes came with the arrival of fast food  restaurants like  McDonalds into foreign countries, transformational have taken set which could be clearly as favorable or undignified to that culture. There are 1.5 million franchises in the US but there are about half of the total franchises are outside of the U.S. in over 120 countries. All the reputation and destiny of McDonalds, there are fear about how the broaden of standardization of the franchise is affecting culture, manner and the environment. In fact, the McDonalds has proved to the local culture to adopt their culture. The globalization of McDonalds creates many argues on equally both sides of the issue. The pro- globalization hopes are that it develops culture rather than ruin.   . McDonald does also modify its regional menus to proof to local taste. There has been a effect of traditional values with the arrival of nontraditional food items into the culture of foreign countries. The kinds of food items are representative to particular regions, religions and society. To give an example, Indian Hindus and Sri Lankan Buddhist people, believes that the cow is to be holy to their religion. Diversity can be originated in Indias food and its culture. McDonalds is viewed as American and the society away from conventional foods towards fast food is measured to be Americanization  of the diet. This perception has more far attainment effects than is seen on the surface. The Americanization of the food also shows that the culture and a way of thinking which in not acceptable to many states. Although they have done many changes in the eating habits of the nations influenced by the culture of McDonalds there has been many positive aspects. With the development of technology and communication the world it seems to be moving faster. The initiation of fast food into foreign cultures allows the opportunity to keep up with this fast development. Culture is ever changing and thus McDonalds moving to another step in the growth of culture with the changes. Now the menu has given people a new choice over the traditional foods eaten in the past. Strategies of McDonalds The companys ability to determine what consumers want and need and adapt to that is a major strategy they are using according to the culture differences of countries. Another great McDonalds strategy is, such as the delivery service offers even though in crowded cities such as Shanghai. Not only does the company make more sales by catering to the traffic-challenged, time-constrained, and lazy, it saves itself some money at the same time, because delivered meals require no table clean-up at the restaurant. Currently government around the world criticizing the fast food items because of the health issues, some countries are taken some actions to band TV advertisements of such fast food items due to the health conscious. Therefore McDonalds have done dramatic changes on their menu items with healthier salads, fruits and small portion size to encourage the balanced and healthy life style. Rather than implementing new technology to replace human labor, McDonalds is using a youthful workforce in an every country. it has beautiful appearance , brightly lit and climate control, seats ,tables , kids play materials, organized vehicle park, shiny counters creates open and cheerful environment in all country of McDonalds. Employees wear bright color and neat dress and smiles at customers while they working efficiently. Even employee has responsible for cleaning the toilets and floors work in a discipline manner. Outlet menu displays in the behind of the counter with soft backlighting and the photographic image of the food items. And open , clean, kitchen are shows to the customers how the hamburgers and fried chicken are prepared. It seems to be conveying gender equality and attracted the female consumers. And adjustment in behavior of McDonalds outlets in other country culture is a great strategy of McDonalds. Earlier McDonalds operated it services till the evening hours, bu t now days 40% of McDonalds are staying at night ours also because of the culture of night works. Culture Diversity of McDonalds McDonalds in Japan In 1971, first McDonalds was established by Den Fujita, president of Fujita Shoten in Japan in 1955. Perhaps the culture of Japan is almost like Asian culture the code of their food preparation is shows their culturally oriented society. The lunches are made by home and must be consumed quickly and entirely by sharing. Rice is so symbolically vital to Japanese culture that Japanese say they can never feel full until they have consumed their rice at a particular meal or at least once during the day. Here food preferences shows their culturally oriented. Earlier look and feel of both the products and stores of McDonalds were similar to those in the United States.   After some experimented they have done slight changes in their menu of food items according to the Japanese culture under one of McDonald guiding principles which is known as a commitment to exceeding customer expectations. And there is a wonderful culture they are having like Asian, eating together at one table, is innermost to the Japanese. It creates a sense of community. It is the essence of a food that bonds families and creates social relationships. But McDonalds hamburgers are meant to be eaten individually and cannot be shared therefore they introduced like Mc rice in Asian counties. And also their cultural physical arrangements of restaurants also changed to their expectation. Japan had neither tables nor seats; there were counters in which customers were expected to eat their meals on the  go. So they included tables in the layout, although the first floor of the restaurant is to ordering foods and others for seating areas. It is not only a place for great fast food in Japan but also a wonderful place to take a nap when they are coming from a late nights work. There are always people sleeping in McDonalds and also can see people studying over there, they most probably leave their stationery items and bags there. Often can see somebodys bag just left on a seat or a table its the owners way of saying this is my seat dont even think about it. They walk in, leave their bag where they want to sit and then go to order their food. It is look like a cafe, having comfortable seat. (Appendix-1.1). Mc Donalds of Japan is having different culture rather than other country McDonalds. Generally if you left your belongings on the tables like that, people would just leave them alone, However, I havent heard anyone sleep or study in McDonalds before. According to our culture if anybody did it will be made as a guilty thing for them, but it is happening in Japan published photographs in websites are proving that. It is showing their culture of Cinnamon melt anyone whos try them should agree they are the best, McDonalds adopting their culture and providing services according to their culture. Although McDonalds uses Australian beef unaffected by mad cow disease, the fatal brain-wasting ailment, Japanese consumption of beef and Big Macs dropped sharply at the time McDonalds in Hong Kong The first McDonalds of Hong Kong was established on 1975. Already they had the culture of fast food. They are giving more preferences to time, so other restaurants. Now eco-ethnic- pretentiousness is going out of the way. Generally Honk Kong wedding especially for the working class and the rich is a pressure and often financially crippling ordeal. Typically Hong Kong couple spends $29,000 on their wedding, and their average monthly income in Hong Kong is about $2,250. And they have the traditions, viewed as so troublesome by many young Chinese thus their wedding falls to a joyless, domestic and societal responsibility that leaves them with a heavy debt and little in the way of loving memories. Therefore they introduced Mc Wedding in Hong Kong to have a great wedding for young couples. It will be the first city in the world to roll out McDonalds wedding packages for couples introduced on January 1st, 2011.  Wedding package starts around $1,000. And the package is include with a ceremony, reception, decorations, personalized menu and catering, complete with an apple pie wedding cake, dress made out of party balloons, kiddies party favors for gu ests, and catering by McDonalds.   Now many people in Honk Kong celebrating their wedding at McDonalds, it shows they are adopting the culture of American whos celebration typically as joyful and independently. Although introduced joyful wedding celebration strictly Alcohol is banned, so newlyweds will have to toast their union with soft drinks instead to maintain McDonalds guiding principles.  McDonalds changed the young culture in Hong Kong, but it would be great impact to their culture might be create the unhealthy nature and environmental impact of fast food. It does issue for many cultures, would be effect their own culture value, rather supporting the community through improvement. McDonalds offered a rice burger a meat patty sandwiched by sticky rice molded into a bun in Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines and Hong Kong who giving preference for heavy meals. Like the Japanese, the locals in Hong Kong viewed hamburgers as snack food. The corporate culture of McDonalds has traditionally been to offer value meals but, Identifying a way to collaborate McDonalds food with the Hong Kong culture and he has been successful. McDonalds has a research centre in North Point (Hong Kong) where it studies the quality of foods.   The areas that this office focuses include Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and 37 markets of Africa.   This centre has created many new products within the McDonalds market. Today, McDonalds in Hong Kong continues to offer plain hamburgers at breakfast, but the dietary preferences of the locals are now more compatible to Americans. . Eventually concludes that the Mc World theory is somewhat do changes to exceeding customer expectations under their guiding principles. It is difficult to convincing from

Internationalization Of Accounting Standards For Consolidation - Japan :: essays research papers fc

Internationalization of Accounting Standards for Consolidation - Japan: A Case Study The purpose of this paper will be to examine problems with internationalization of accounting standards for consolidations on methods from an international perspective - specifically, in the US and Japan. This is an especially timely topic as standardization of financial markets is a prerequisite to international free trade. Given the trends toward greater globalization, the motivations of companies for seeking a uniform accounting system are strong. If companies have to prepare their accounts according to several different sets of rules, in order to communicate with investors in the various capital markets in which they operate or for other national purposes, they incur a considerable cost penalty and feel that money is wasted. This significantly limits global opportunities for multinational businesses. Thus, it is important to understand what the differences are between accounting standards, why they exist, and what problems they pose. It is worth noting that no one nation has a set of accounting rules which appears to have such clear merits that they deserve adoption by the whole world. No one country can claim to have a uniquely correct set of rules. The United States has the longest history of standard setting. It has the largest standard setting organization which is characterized by high standards of professionalism. But, even the rules of the United States exhibit compromises between different interests of a kind which could have reasonably been decided otherwise. Furthermore, no unanimity exists among U.S. accountants about the merits of the precise details of the compromises that have been struck. For example, the recent discussion memorandum on consolidation outlines three different methods which are GAAP in the US (Beckman, 1995). No one nation has a clear right, on the basis of existing achievements, to be regarded as predominant in accounting. A great deal more work is needed by accountants from different countries before we can reach the point of having a well founded basis for uniformity. People who study differences among systems of accounting rules are inclined to group countries into two categories. On the one hand, there are countries where business finance is provided more by loans than by equity capital, where accounting rules are dominated by taxation considerations and where legal systems customarily incorporate codes with detailed rules for matters such as accounting. The effect of taxation systems can be particularly pervasive. Often, the taxation system effectively offers tax breaks for businesses by allowing generous measurement of expenses and modest measurement of revenues on condition that these measurements are used for general reporting purposes. Companies have strong incentives to take advantage of these taxation concessions as real cash

tellectual Life of the Painters of the Early Renaissance :: History

Intellectual Life of the Painters of the Early Renaissance Before attempting to answer the question it is important to consider what we mean by ‘early Italian Renaissance. Unlike many periods in history the Renaissance has no obvious start and end dates, for the purposes of this assignment I will define the approximate period within which to look as about 1390 to about 1520. 1390 represents the time when the Carrara court in Padua was gaining an intellectual reputation of excellence, as well as this being about the time that two Roman coin like medals were cast of Francesco II and his father. This represents a typically renaissance trait of looking to antiquities for inspiration, as will be discussed later. The time around 1520 represents when Raphael died this was followed closely by the death of Pope Leo X, the second High Renaissance pope. It is after their deaths that the creative and optimistic mood in Italy began to fade. The decade ending 1520 saw Leonardo da Vinci leaving for France and then dieing there in 1519. There are many other examples that could confirm these dates as significant, and also many more that would dispute them, but for the purposes of simplicity we will take these as a guide. In the beginnings of the Renaissance painting was seen very much as a craft performed by members of the artisan class and not a ‘liberal art’. In fact the term artist was not used, as it is today, as a general term meaning painter and sculptor. ‘Artista’ was a term already in use by Dante, but it was used in reference to a University level graduate of the ‘liberal arts’, it is not until the beginning of the sixteenth century that it is used in a context resembling today's usage. The lower status of painting at the beginning of the Renaissance is reflected in the fact that members of the aristocracy or learned class did not generally practice it. A member of the Milanese aristocracy, Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio’s epitaph stressed that although he was a painter, he was an amateur, because if it were thought that he made his living from painting it would significantly lower his social status. It is for this reason that few people in the early Renaissance would see painting as a method of social advancement or to demonstrate intellectual ability. This did not however stop many

New Coke Case Study

1.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When Ted Levitt posed the question, â€Å"What business is it in?† he was blurring the distinction between â€Å"industry† and â€Å"market.†Ã‚   Rather than limiting corporate scope, this question challenges companies to look beyond their immediate material product or service and examine the spectrum of ways they can (and should) target the greater public appeal. Coca-Cola is in the beverage industry and in the market of appealing to nostalgia and personal emotional connections to its international patronage.   Coca-Cola’s â€Å"business† is to offer a sweet, fun, memory-inspiring portable beverage that inspires nostalgia for a carefree time gone by.   Coca-Cola is a sense-memory product that relies on a perception of indulgence and comfort. 2.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From its beginnings as â€Å"†Pemberton's French Wine Coca,† in 1886, Coca-Cola’s brand building strategy relied heavily on appealing to the national emotion and current conviction of any given time period.   â€Å"†Pemberton's French Wine Coca† was advertised as a â€Å"nerve tonic,† good for alleviating morphine addiction.   When the nation turned to temperance, Pemberton reinvented the brand appeal by advocating Coca-Cola as a non-alcoholic enjoyable substitute.   Likewise, the ingredient cocaine was removed in response to the public sentiment.   In 1904, the name Coca-Cola appeared, in essentially the same script format as is used today.   By generally maintaining visual continuity, Coke achieves a connotation of timelessness. Coke’s meanings all stem from an emphasis on wholesomeness and small town Americana images.   This was best captured during the Great Depression, when Coca-Cola used the slogan â€Å"The Pause that Refreshes† paired with a seemingly carefree Everyman heading to work.   This contradiction in marketing and real life worked for Coke, which did not suffer a devastating economic impact as a result of the depressed country. Coke began its Santa Claus campaign in the 1920s, but it was artist Haddon Sundblom’s now classic 1931 image of a jolly old man in a bright red suit that solidified the connection between Coke and â€Å"The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.†Ã‚   The iconic figure of the generous and loving figure of comfort matched with Coke’s image as a drink for every good American citizen.   Latching onto the cultural and emotional connection of Christians to St. Nick proved critical to Coke’s attempts to forever connect with the rosy yester-year. This strategy is not replicable in today’s marketing environment.   Socially, the target audience(s) is too polarized for a specific iconic image, particularly an over-commercialized figure associated with a specific religion.   Post Cold-War America is less responsive to over-romanticized images, and given the divisive nature of religious images in the secular marketplace, the response Coke garnered in 1931 would not be the same for a new, less acculturated product. 3. Coke’s advertising stresses brand engagement, emphasizing consumer loyalty and a positive personal image that is common to â€Å"Coke drinkers.†Ã‚   The advertising capitalizes on the cultural desires for conformity, connection to a greater social idea, and purchase with a common and â€Å"more desirable† past; these impulses are satisfied by images and well-crafted slogans or jingles. Coke’s visual art/image campaign directly taps into a level of communication that transcends language barriers.   Their choices reflect strategic attempts to align with patriotic, socially commendable images, including well-known and powerful entertainment luminaries who may have commanded additional financial support. When Hollywood influences fashion, language, behavioral or religious trends, it is widely considered the natural order of the beautiful, wealthy elite modeling correct behavior for the lower, coarser classes.   In contrast, marketers are perceived to be embodying the unethical pursuit of money when they more overtly sell the same trends.   In our consumer-driven culture, however, marketers are fulfilling the edicts of capitalism more legitimately than celebrities. 4.   In contrast to Coke, Pepsi cast itself as the youthful drink: fresh, light, and savvier than antiquated Coke.   Slogans targeted a specific young adult market, and advertising featured pop stars and current sports celebrities.   It was a threat to Coke, though it became much more of a threat due to Coke’s reaction. Coke had built its reputation on core stability, and in response to a legitimate competitor, Coke radically violated the very principles that kept it at the top of the beverage market.   Coke could have reemphasized its history, it’s longevity, it’s fidelity to the taste generations of consumers appreciated and expected; consumers had proven over the years that while other products may gain popularity, Coke would remain a solid choice in the market. 5.   Both Keough and Goizueta assumed that change meant positive progress, and that if Pepsi was succeeding at any level, it was because consumers craved something radical.   The advent of calorie counting led to the boom of diet drinks, and Goizueta had already enacted a shift in corporate philosophy by green-lighting Diet Coke.   In the framework of the Coca-Cola advertising history, these assumptions were directly violating all of the brand building work.   New Coke philosophically undermined what the meaning makers intended. 6.    This case reveals that powerful brand meaning is a double-edged sword:   if a product hinges its campaign on comforting emotional continuance, there will be a logical backlash against change, even in the name of positive progress.   This case demonstrates the role of brand loyalty in the negative light; that is, the consumers’ â€Å"passion† (as Keough suggests) can work swiftly against a favored product due to years of brand meaning cultivation. 7.New Coke failed because it directly conflicted with the brand meaning that executives had worked for decades to confirm in the public consciousness. 8.   Keough is correct, but the statement is misleading to some extent.   Research demonstrated that people didn’t reject the taste of New Coke:   people resented a perceived betrayal by what they were encouraged to believe was the most moral and patriotic of beverage-producing companies.   Coca-Cola’s original, consistent and effective marketing succeeded only too well, effectively destroying the New Coke campaign. Emotional attachments may not be quantifiable within traditional statistical methodology, but Coke had significant data to support the effectiveness of their nostalgia connection to inform them of the customer’s product loyalty.   The customers were simply behaving in the way Coke had spent nearly a century urging them to. Bibliography Fournier, Susan. 1999. Introducing New Coke. Harvard Business Review.

Film Classification Essay

After a long day’s work we all enjoy siting down in front of the tv screen and get lost in a movie of our choice. In that 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours we are lost in an alternative realty. Leaving all the stress of hours past and cheer on as Bruce Wayne puts on the Bat suit and kick some bad guys behind, or watch as Cameroon Diaz ignoring the guy who loves her and falls for a brat who doesn’t treat her right but in the end she ends up with the good guy and love wins. After which we feel better but go back to the real world with your land lord calling you endlessly. Films categorised in different genres depending on the theme and feel of the film. This helps to distinguish between what the film is about and we choose based on what we like. There are a number of types of films and they can be broken down to based on technics and stylistic methods used. In this I shall look at 6 major ones, Action, comedy, Drama, Musicals, Horror, and science fiction. James Bond, The Terminator, Batman, Avengers are all films that have thrilled millions of fans among other movies. This films usually are big budget have losts of stunt, explosions, car chases. They are fast passed, with a lot of gun fights, martial arts, or other forms of violent. Also you can include crime or gangster films, westerns war epics, and westerns. This films are highly charged and are best watched with popcon. Jim Carrey, Ben Stiller are but some of the comedians that have broght laughter to our homes for a while. Comedys is type of films that are funny. Usually filled with either dramatic humor or full on jokes that make as crack up. They are typically light and the plot is not that deep but all in a good time. Recommened to watch with company. Dramas on the other hand have heavy plots. The story drives the film and takes you with it. Titanic, lion King, Forest Gump are just but examples. Drama is probably the biggest type of films out there and you can name a lot of your favourite films in this genre. Recommended to watch with tissue tears might roll down. Musicals are movies that the characters sing instead of just talking through the film. Les Miserables that just came out recently is a perfect example of this types of films. They are very tenichal and fun to watch, it like watching a really long music video. Reccomeneded to watch with a date. The Grudge, Paranormal Activity, The ring, The Saw series are among some of the horror films that have kept us awake. This movies are dark in nature, they tend to provoke our worst fears. Usually very terrifying and highly captivating and deeply shooking. Reccomeneded to watch under a blanket and with the doors shut. And finally science fiction films. Movies are fantasy bassed, highly imaginative more tecknologikally advanced than our present times. Most of the time they are set in the future with projected visions of machines computers and Robots that are not there around right now. Star Wars, Star Trek, Terminator, Iron Man, and I robot are among the films in this genre. Reccomended to watch in any with an open mind. Though this are the basic film types you could break them down even further. There are too many films out there some that can fit in two or more groups. You could go on to break it down depending on style, theme, directing and many more.

The Timeless Truths of Homer’s Iliad

James Hutchinson Ms. Spicer AP Literature 20 August 2010 Homer's Timeless Truths Is Homer's The Iliad relevant to today's society? Is this work a timeless parable depicting universal human truths transcending time and context or merely a superbly-crafted epic poem to be studied and admired for its stylistic brilliance? Has the text endured simply because of Homer's dramatic verse or because of the timeless human truths it conveys?Was it written to persuade readers to question the moral implications and savagery of war or simply to provide provocative entertainment? These questions have been posed for centuries yet rarely have been sufficiently answered. However, an astute student of contemporary politics, media, and entertainment cannot fail to notice that many Homeric themes, such as the celebration of war, the corruption of power, and man's desire for personal glory are as apparent in contemporary American life as they are within the pages of The Iliad.Though it is unknown whether or not the blind Greek poet intended to create a work that would have such an enduring impact on Western man, clearly the poem's underlying themes and the ominous questions it raises remain relevant in the twenty-first century. One of Homer's primary themes, the glorification of war and violence, is clearly relevant today. The celebration of war is omnipresent throughout The Iliad. To Homer's characters, battlefield courage, skill, and savagery are seen as both the ultimate means of serving one's country and of proving personal strength and integrity.War is depicted more as an opportunity to achieve a greater good and demonstrate individual valor than as a necessary evil to gain a larger political purpose. Homer's heroes focus more on the craft of battle itself than on the geopolitical goal they hope to obtain through the protracted bloody combat. In one scene, Hector responds to his army's reluctance to fight by proclaiming, â€Å"Fight for your country! That is the best, the only omen! You, why are you so afraid of war and slaughter? † (Homer 333) As a leader and a prince of Troy, Hector has been raised to embrace war as the only true chance for glory.For Hector, war brings honor to both his soldiers and the country for which they fight. Although he regrets the possibility of not living to see his son grow up, he believes that his purpose is to serve on the battlefield. Because of his integrity and willingness to die for Troy, Hector is the pride and joy of his family and of the Trojan army. His brother Paris, however, is widely scorned as a weakling and coward for his constant refusal to kill. At a time of war, pacifism is simply not an option.On high school campuses across the United States, we celebrate aggressive football stars and wrestlers far more than intellectual artists or peace activists. The parallels between Homer's depiction of a war-torn society and our own collapsing world are both unmistakeable and highly disturbing. There is, and alw ays has been, a human fascination with violence and sadism. Just as the ancient dramatist Homer depicts carnage with vivid detail and precision, contemporary Hollywood filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, Eli Roth, and Oliver Stone, while conveying the cost of war, also appeal to their audience's unquenchable blood lust.Despite their intentions or supposed â€Å"social commentary,† there is no denying that it is ultimately the gore that sells the tickets. The internet, television news programs, newspapers, and magazines garner far more advertising revenues depicting images of violence and destruction than anything with any sort of redeeming value. It is telling that two of the events from recent history that have sold the most books are the Holocaust and the Manson murders. In short: violence sells. The reprehensible slasher film â€Å"Saw† was a blockbuster.The family-oriented comedy â€Å"The Kids Are Alright† lagged in ticket sales. Without a doubt, we live in a culture in which violence is perceived not as a necessary evil for the greater good, but as a worthy and even heroic form of entertainment. Homer's Iliad also dramatizes the timeless truth that power corrupts. The arrogant, manipulative gods pulling strings from their plush thrones on Mount Olympus bring to mind modern-day politicians. They can be seen as archetypes of today's detached bureaucrats.Zeus and his fellow gods dispassionately toy with mortals, watching with amusement as they cut one another down on the blood-soaked battlefield of windy Troy. Shamelessly, like merciless puppeteers, they create tension between the mortals for their own personal entertainment, with little regard for the inevitable mayhem and carnage that ensues. Indeed, the ten-year conflict at Troy is indirectly sparked by the vain goddess Aphrodite's desire to be recognized as the â€Å"fairest† beauty among the goddesses, yet as soon as the fighting begins, she pleads neutrality.Similarly, Ze us himself shows little concern for the rampant slaughter among mortals taking place on his watch, even though initially he aids Achilles in his revenge against the Greeks. More than a few critics of the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have decried the dispassionate way in which U. S. â€Å"chickenhawk† non-combatants such as George Bush, Dick Cheney, and now Barack Obama have heartlessly made â€Å"strategic military decisions† from the safe environs of the White House that have had mortal consequences for U. S. troops on the front lines in Kabul and Baghdad.For many observers, the U. S. political elite bears more than slight resemblance to the gods of Mount Olympus. However, The Iliad shows not only how power corrupts on the broad, bureaucratic level but on the individual level as well. In fact, the poem's most self-serving and manipulative figure is without a doubt the mortal Agamemnon, who is only concerned about his own pleasure and personal gain. At the begi nning of the epic, he selfishly steals Achilles' war prize, the maiden Briseis, when he is forced to give up his own mistress.Outraged at this act of betrayal, Achilles exclaims that Agamemnon is â€Å"armored in shamelessness— always shrewd with greed! † (Homer 82) Although Agamemnon's actions seem unbelievably boorish and arrogant by today's standards, his behavior is not unlike that of any current leader who abuses his or her position of authority to achieve personal gain. On the local level, the city manager of Bell is now accused of looting his own very poor city's treasury of nearly one million dollars annually to purchase race horses and personal luxuries.Just as politicians and corporate CEOs pull strings and manipulate workers, so too schoolyard thugs and drug lords abuse the weak. The Iliad remains an unforgettable piece of literature not simply because it is beautifully-written, but also for its stark depiction of how the helpless are trampled by the strong. The third universal, timeless theme in The Iliad that is relevant today is how far men will go to attain personal glory. The main protagonist of the story, Achilles, seeks not merely wealth or vengeance against Troy, but also to be elevated to a god-like stature and leave behind an imperishable legacy.In this, he is not unlike any entrepreneur or world leader that hopes to â€Å"make a name for himself† by turning the tide of history, for better or for worse. Christian evangelist Billy Graham once declared, â€Å"The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives. † (Graham 48) For Achilles, his legacy will be the ferocity with which he wields his sword, and the body count of soldiers he cuts down. He rejects a simple, comfortable life at home for a vicious, unpredictable life of war, serene in the knowledge that this shall earn him eternal glory and lionization – as indeed it did.The longing for men to be remembered after their deaths is not a strictly Homeric theme. We live in a culture in which martyrdom is often perceived as the greatest virtue, resulting in the iconic status of figures ranging from Jesus Christ to Che Guevara. Men like these are often praised not simply for the quality of their lives, but also because of their willingness to fight and die for a cause. In America, joining the military and dying in combat is romanticized as the greatest possible act of heroism, whether or not the war itself has any moral worth.An early death is viewed as a noble death. Even when a young man dies from simple recklessness or self-hatred, as James Dean or Kurt Cobain, we still embrace them as tragic heroes; saints of their generation. In short: this is why Achilles fights. He cares far more about how his story will be told centuries after he is gone than for his own life in the present. Though he briefly becomes disillusioned with his life as a warrior after his conflict with Agamemnon, he regains his moti vation to fight and possibly die when he feels he must avenge Patroclus.He expresses the difficulty of his choice between an obscure life and an honorable death when he proclaims, â€Å"If I hold out here and lay siege to Troy, my journey home is gone, but my glory never dies. If I voyage back to the fatherland I love, my pride, my glory dies†¦ † (Homer 265) Eventually, though it is never mentioned in The Iliad, Achilles does meet his fate, without ever living to witness the climactic sack of Troy. However, his life is indeed remembered as one of near secular ainthood, and, just as he had hoped, his name is never erased from history. In the final analysis, was the Trojan War a worthwhile conflict in Homer's eyes? No. The cause was trivial; the cost in lives was enormous. However, once the war was under way, his heroes wrested honor and nobility from the battlefield. The reason for battle is practically irrelevant, but the ferocity with which the battles are fought is leg endary. The relevance of this to today's events is indisputable.For example,when the primary reason for the Iraq war was revealed to be largely if not wholly erroneous – the alleged presence of weapons of mass destruction – many argued that it had to be waged for the sake of American â€Å"honor,† a Homeric theme if ever there were one. Overall, The Iliad's enduring appeal rests in the universal human truths it presents. Namely, Homer tells us that man honors war more than peace, power corrupts us all, and we all thirst for immortal glory. That is why even in the twenty-first century, The Iliad remains a transcendent and gripping morality tale for the ages.

Human Resources Strategic Plan Essay

The Human Resources Department (HR) developed a strategic plan that tackles strategies to support the overall goals and objectives of The ABC Services Agency (ABC). In this report, the strategic HR planning process along with the mission, vision and goals of ABC will be discussed. The proposed HR strategy, which is named Diversity Program, will be explored by looking into elements including costs, benefits and outcomes. The main focus of this report is on attracting and retaining qualified direct care staff. Executive Summary ABC, founded in 1961, is a volunteer parent support group that provides support services to children and adults with disabilities. Furthermore, it provides them and their families with assistance and support from birth to senior years. ABC is committed to support people with disabilities through job placements, residential support, respite care, social activities and vocational training. ABC also tries to incorporate disabled people into the community through education and by working with many volunteers and donors. ABC’s 20-year vision is full acceptance and inclusion by the community. In addition, ABC aims to improve its services, support systems and technology. The mission is all about â€Å"achieving full community life for children and adults with disability, one person at the time.† The goals are divided into two dimensions—achieving and full community life. â€Å"Achieving† refers to ensuring individuals are given opportunities to experience their own potential. â€Å"Full community life† focuses on families, friends, colleagues and other valued relationships to create a joyful and fulfilled life. To accomplish this mission, ABC operates according to essential values that complete the heart of the organisation. Some of these values include a caring attitude, responsiveness, respectfulness, partnership, financial sustainability and diversity. ABC also has a strong belief that all people have equal rights, strengths and assets. Other beliefs include positive  difference, the same opportunities for people with disability, the difference that valuable member and motivated staff could make and the importance of family role. In the next five years, ABC will approach a leadership role in working with a broader array of community resources. It will also explore the feasibility of actively engaging volunteers. Moreover, ABC has set up goals that are based on important issues found by the previous strategic planning process. These goals are relevant to work week opportunities (e.g. employment and day supports), recreation and leisure activities, residential support (e.g. community living and participation) and family support and education. Strategic Human Resources Planning To convey ABC’s mission, HR developed the following main objectives: ABC improves its capacity to attract and retain qualified direct care staff; All staff thoroughly understands the meaning of the mission and how their job contributes to achieving it; A professional development program is implemented to strengthen and expand the supervisory and management capacity and opportunities among mid-level managers; and A professional development program is implemented to strengthen and expand the capacity of direct support staff to be community liaisons and successfully integrate the consumer they support into the community (Managance Consulting, 2015). This report focuses on the first objective, which is to attract and retain qualified direct care staff. Through a strategic planning process, HR was able to set three sub-objectives to achieve the four main objectives relative to the organisation’s mission. Firstly, HR aims to increase the organisation’s visibility in the community by updating the communication plan and utilising strategic communication to attract potential employees and volunteers and facilitate their recruitment. Secondly, HR intends to increase the number of volunteers by 50% through volunteer programs, training, leadership development and recognition. Lastly, HR plans to increase the amount of contributions that support the operating budget even  more. This will be done through fundraising, which is ultimately essential for any non-profit organisation (Managance Consulting, 2015). Strategic Human Resources Planning Process HR aims to develop a stable, highly qualified and motivated workforce that actively advocates ABC’s mission. While it remains positive about the outcomes of the plan, HR is aware of the gaps that lie between ABC’s current and future state. These gaps include significant growth that led to challenges to human resources, difficulty with supervision, lack of structure for coordination among departments and inconsistent administrative and clerical support as shown in the image below. Figure 1. Gaps between ABC’s current and future state. To address these current issues for a better future, HR is going to implement new practices. A diversity program in the forms of interest groups will be established. These interest groups include the following: Cooking Club Singing & Dancing Club Moms Club LGBTF Club Figure 2. Diversity program’s interest groups. Each of these interest groups will be discussed in the latter part of the report. PESTEL Analysis To develop a well-informed, strategic plan, the external environment that ABC operates in was analysed. With this PESTEL analysis, various external environmental factors that can impact ABC were identified and understood. Hence, HR is equipped to monitor any changes that may influence ABC’s performance. Political Analysis ABC’s day-to-day operations and future decisions can be affected by different government policies such as taxation policy and delivering community service policy. In that regard, ABC, like all other organisations, must comply with certain rules and regulations to ensure survival. While strict compliance with the law is required, government initiatives and political infrastructures also need to be taken into consideration. Government initiatives may have an effect on ABC’s performance relative to employment and unemployment rates. Some of the political ambitions of the government may provide ABC with employment opportunities, while others may lead to retrenchment or attrition. This is something that ABC needs to be fully prepared for. The same concept applies to existing and forthcoming political infrastructures in the forms of transportation systems and skyscrapers. All these political factors must be taken into account to avoid negative publicity and potential fines (Business Case Studies LLP, 2015). Economic Analysis Like other organisations, ABC aims for profit maximisation. To strive toward this particular goal, economic elements such as economic growth, banking, employment, income, general price level, interest rate, inflation and recession need to be analysed. Among all these elements, economic growth, which leads to development, is the most important one as it dictates the volume of finances that the society as a whole is earning and investing. To keep up with the demands of a diverse economy, ABC must be as proactive as possible (K, 2013). Being proactive extends toward being aware of the other economic factors. Banking, which is interconnected with money, can affect ABC in terms of borrowing capacity and purchasing power. Banking policies and facilities can  influence the borrowing capacity of both ABC and the people. Furthermore, money and its circulation can dictate the purchasing power of the customers (K, 2013). Employment density and income rate can also impact ABC’s operations. During an economic surge, the number of employment opportunities, which generate income, increases. This upturn provides people with a stronger purchasing power. On the other hand, as the economy goes downward, the purchasing power of the people also shrinks (K, 2013). General Price level is another economic factor that can influence the growth of ABC. Cost of resources, cost of production, cost of labour and cost of transportation are some of the components that dictate the general price level. An increase in the cost of any of these components will reduce the total amount of money ABC generates for products sold or services provided. Similar to general price level, the rate of interest can impact the development of ABC. Interest rates can have a direct effect on the loans that ABC takes to drive its performance improvement strategies forward (K, 2013). The Agency needs to establish strategies and contingencies to cope with the above-mentioned economic elements, along with inflation and recession. Socio-Cultural Analysis As the society evolves, there is a need for organisations like ABC to adapt to stay ahead of the game. By being aware of the societal and cultural changes, ABC will continue to operate smoothly toward success. Changing customer preferences is a socio-cultural factor that can impact ABC’s operations, especially its business decisions. In that regard, it is of utmost importance that ABC examines the lifestyles, attitudes, styles and priorities of its customers. Relative to the changes in preferences is the changes in demographics. Changes in demographics can significantly affect ABC’s operations because population rates increase, people age and gender  roles change. As the morals, values and tastes of people change, ABC needs to keep up especially in terms of advertising techniques (Richards & Media, 2015). Other socio-cultural factors that need to be considered include population health, education, social mobility, employment patterns, press attitude, public opinion and social taboos (Public Health Action Support Team, 2011). Technological Analysis The constant evolution of technology impacts organisations as it provides them with opportunities to improve. ABC must be aware of the emerging technologies to be a frontrunner in the market. Monitoring the advances in technological processes is vital to sustain any organisation. These technological innovations can be used to improve productivity, quality and efficiency. Some of the technological advances that can help improve ABC’s daily operations include online databases, shared drives, e-mails, blogs and mobile applications (Education Portal, 2015). The development of the internet can also affect ABC’s marketing strategies and activities in a positive way. By utilising the internet, ABC can reach a wider audience as youngsters nowadays are much more eager and confident to experiment with advanced technologies. Additionally, ABC can also utilise today’s technology to enhance the way it communicates with its internal and external customers. Aside from e-mails and smart phones, online meetings, web conferencing and videoconferencing can also be used for effective and efficient communication (Business Case Studies LLP, 2015). Technological advances offer a variety of advantages. However, it can also transform an organisation into a failure when it is abused or used improperly. In that regard, ABC needs to take note of its responsibilities when posting something online. Environmental Analysis ABC, like other organisations, must abide by certain environmental rules and regulations in all developmental stages. ABC’s equipment, procedures and even building expansions must conform to environmental regulations and meet regulatory requirements (Jeanty & Media, 2015). ABC also needs to be aware of its local competition. Market research can be used to create awareness relative to the day-to-day operations of the competitors. The information gathered can be used for process improvements. Other environmental factors that need to be considered include geographical location, climate and weather (Blurtit Ltd., 2015). Legal Analysis Legal changes that can impact ABC are tied up with some political changes. The key to survival is to not only anticipate but also prepare to come across future legal changes. ABC needs to ensure all the legal requirements are met. Some of the legislations that ABC needs to comply with include Equal Opportunity Act 1984, Anti-Discrimination Law, Anti-Bullying Law and Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 (Business Case Studies LLP, 2015). SWOT Analysis Conducting a SWOT analysis to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of an organisation is important to achieve success. In this report, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of HR’s proposed diversity program was analysed. Strengths The diversity program will be an ongoing program. This will give all participants a sense of belongingness for a long period of time. Although the program is innovative, it does not require a large amount of money for it to be implemented. Its implementation will be supported by different fundraising activities like garage sales. The program will advocate workplace diversity inside and outside the organisation. The diversity  advocacy will emphasise not only age and culture but also sexual orientation and physical ability. Furthermore, this diversity program will provide future participants with a variety of interest group options that will enable them to express themselves through food or music. Weaknesses The greatest weakness of the diversity program is the ageing employees. The program will depend on the existing staff to facilitate the interest groups efficiently. As some of the existing younger staff can perform the tasks well, the old staff can become a liability. This weakness leads to another weakness which has something to do with technology. The program will be facilitated by old people and this people are not technology savvy. This unfamiliarity with advanced technologies can impact the implementation of the program. Because ABC is a non-profit organisation, it has limited function rooms. This room insufficiency can create conflicts among the different interest groups in terms of meeting or activity schedules. Opportunities This diversity program offers various opportunities such as motivated workforce, wider audience, awareness, visibility, recognition and more volunteers. The sense of belongingness that the staff will get out of the program will motivate them to deliver a high performance. HR plans to update ABC’s official website by adding a page that talks about workplace diversity in general. The proposed diversity program as well as the interest groups will also be posted. This update will give ABC an opportunity to reach a wider audience. In addition, it will create awareness on workplace diversity. This will provide ABC with an opportunity to expand its visibility in the community, which may also lead to several recognitions. An increase in the number of volunteers is another great opportunity. Threats Since the program will be open to people with different backgrounds and even  to those whose first language is not English, a communication gap due to language barrier is a possible threat. There is also a possibility of the workforce not willing to work extra hours. This is a threat because if there is an issue with the number of facilitators, the program will be unsuccessful. In relation to that, potential volunteers may only be involved in the program for a short period of time. Lastly, ABC’s team managers who will be the facilitators of the interest groups may get overwhelmed with all the duties and responsibilities that will be given to them. Selected Human Resources Strategy Diversity Every organisation consists of individuals and each of these individuals is unique. This individuality calls for workplace diversity. Workplace diversity refers to the differences among people in an organisation. These differences can include age, gender, race, sexual orientation, family status, religion, physical ability and experience. In totality, diversity encircles acceptance, understanding and respect (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2015). Workplace diversity is important as it is increasingly being considered an asset to organisations. Establishing a positive, diverse work environment will lead to motivated workforce and improved services for the customers. Moreover, research states that the most engaged employees are those working in a diverse environment (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2015). Diversity Program This diversity program aims to attract and retain qualified direct care staff by providing them with a welcoming, inclusive and supportive workplace. The program consists of different interest groups namely the cooking club, the singing and dancing club, the moms club and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender employees and straight Friends (LGBTF) club. Basically, these interest groups will be formed to support identified groups such as people with disability, indigenous Australians, aged people, people with caring,  family or relationship responsibilities, people from other countries and cultures and people whose first language is not English (Australian Public Service Commission, 2012). This diversity program was inspired by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The AFP is an organisation that provides its employees with equal opportunities while complying with relevant government legislations. It acknowledges that workplace diversity does not only encompass language and culture but also age, gender, sexual orientation and attitude (Commonwealth of Australia, 2015). The AFP advocates diversity in the workplace through the following ways: the Employee Assistance Program which provides external support for members and their families the Malunggang Indigenous Officers Network which supports the recruitment and career development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people support for community events and celebrations such as Harmony Day, Disability Day and NAIDOC Week Gay and Lesbian Officer Network which provides support to its members and advises management on strategies and initiatives relevant to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) communities the Women’s Network which aims to support, encourage and network by providing leadership to women in the organisation and developing and implementing strategies to meet a wide range of interests and needs the internal network of Harassment Contact Officers and Confidantes which provides support to anyone who may need it the Workforce Diversity Plan, which aims to encourage managers and employees to value diversity the Employee Management Pla n through which managers are accountable for work/home/life balance strategies for themselves and their team the appointment of staff with key roles in building relationships within the AFP and the broader community, including GLBTI and Indigenous community officers (Commonwealth of Australia, 2015) Human Resources Plan Interest Groups The cooking club will be open for food enthusiasts. While people who love to cook will be highly encouraged to join the club, people who do not cook but want to learn how to cook will also be welcomed as cooking classes will be provided once in a while. The singing and dancing club will be open for music aficionados. People who are interested to join this club will be given an option to become a member of either a choir or a dance group or both. The moms club will be open for all the mothers who like to mingle with other mothers. This club will be beneficial for the new mothers as they will learn a lot of things relative to being both a good mother and a good wife. LGBTF Club Gender and sexual preference impact not only organisations but also laws and attitudes in different ways. The treatment of people toward this issue varies from country to country and culture to culture. The positive thing about the modernised societies all over the world is they now provide the LGBTF community with a favourable treatment (University of Michigan, 2015). Because of the acceptance, understanding and respect the society is currently demonstrating, HR intends to form the LGBTF club not only to celebrate diversity but also to create a workplace culture that is welcoming and accommodating (Australian Public Service Commission, 2012). Through this club, HR aims to achieve the following: Treat all employees and volunteers with dignity and respect Take advantage of diverse backgrounds, ideas, beliefs, circumstances and needs relative to operational methods, work systems and leadership styles Include all employees and volunteers in business decisions Utilise available resources in making reasonable, objective decisions (Australian Public Service Commission, 2012) Aside from the AFP, Thomson Reuters, a multinational organisation that provides businesses and professionals with intelligent information, also  supports the LGBTF community. As a matter of fact, Jan-Coos Geesink, the Managing Director of Thomson Reuters UK and a straight guy, is backing gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights in the workplace. He believes in these people and their power to create a better place to work. â€Å"But one global aspiration that Pride At Work has is for people to be able to celebrate who they are at work, regardless of their sexuality or gender-alignment, and for them to be accepted,† he added (Geesink, 2015). Other places around the globe that support the LGBTF community include Africa, the United States of America, Asia, Europe and Middle East (University of Michigan, 2015). Plan Implementation Fundraising The diversity program will be backed up by different fundraising activities such as food selling, clothes selling and garage sales. The proceeds together with the 25% increase in the amount of money acquired from donations will be used to support the interest groups. The fundraising activities will be conducted by ABC’s volunteers along with the existing staff and those people with disability. The interested individuals will be asked to bake cookies, cupcakes and the likes and produce crocheted clothes and accessories. The goods will be sold inside and outside the organisation. This initiative will be implemented once or twice a month. The volunteers will not only be able to frequent any of the interest group activities but also get a chance to be part of the organisation. Figure 3. Fund raising methodology. Website The existing official website of ABC will be updated by adding a new page that tackles workplace diversity. The update will also include information  about the proposed diversity program as well as a detailed description of each interest group. Procedures on how to join the clubs will also be posted. In addition, the page will allow visitors to post testimonials about people with disability from all over the world. The write-up can be based on their own experience or someone else’s. There will also be a section on the page for announcements or updates regarding the interest groups. The update will be done by the previous web designer for free. This project will be completed within a month. However, the website will have to be updated regularly. Figure 4. Updated website methodology. Mothers as Volunteers With the help of the updated website, HR anticipates to attract volunteers, potentially the mothers of children with disability, to help facilitate the diversity program. A series of training sessions every Saturday morning in a span of two months will be given to the volunteers. The volunteers will be encouraged to take their kids to ABC to participate in any of the activities. One of the existing team managers will conduct the training sessions. While available resources will be utilised, the cost of additional resources will come from the budget provided by the government. Figure 5. ‘Mothers as volunteers’ methodology. Outcomes The expected main outcome of this entire program is ABC’s improved capacity that leads to attracting and retaining qualified direct care staff. Other expected outcomes include motivated workforce and patients, wider audience, diversity awareness, greater visibility in the community, more volunteers, recreation and leisure activities and family support. Through this diversity program and all the social activities that come along with it, ABC’s staff will be motivated to perform their responsibilities. The interest groups will allow them to do the things they are passionate  about. It will also give them an opportunity to express who and what they are through food, music and so many other things. Not only that, even the people with disability will also be motivated to do the things they are good at despite their physical condition. Because of the sense of belongingness they will get out of the interest groups, these people will be more willing and enthusiastic to participate in the fundraising activities. One of the expected outcomes of the updated website is awareness on workplace diversity. This awareness is expected to reach a wider audience which can possibly lead to more volunteers and donations. An increased visibility in and a full acceptance by the community are also expected to happen after updating the official website and implementing the program. The other positive outcomes of this diversity program are new recreation and leisure activities and family support for both the ABC’s direct care staff and patients with disability. Barriers There are several issues that may hinder the success of HR’s strategy, which is the diversity program. These barriers include insufficient function rooms, insufficient funds and work overload. Since the program will offer four interest groups, ABC needs more rooms to facilitate every activity that will be conducted. Furthermore, additional budget to sustain all the interest groups will be necessary. Another important issue that may exist is work overload. The staff may get overwhelmed with the extra tasks that they will need to perform to implement the program. Action Plans To avoid the above-mentioned potential barriers, HR came up with several action plans. A systematic way of reserving meeting or function rooms will be implemented to address the issue about insufficient rooms. To ensure the budget is enough to sustain the interest groups, a selection of fundraising activities will be conducted. To prevent the staff from getting overwhelmed with additional tasks, more volunteers will be acquired. Bibliography Australian Public Service Commission. (2012). Australian Government Australian Public Service Commission. 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