Saturday, August 31, 2019

Traco vs Arrow

After a bench trial, the trial court held for Arrow solely under the theory of promissory estoppel and awarded Arrow Judgment against Traco for damages in the amount of $ 75,843. 38, plus attorneys' fees and prejudgment interest. Issue Appellant supplier sought review of a Judgment from the 45th District Court of Bexar County (Texas), awarding appellee subcontractor damages, plus attorneys' fees and prejudgment interest, in an action brought for promissory estoppel and negligence for appellant's failure to supply glass doors at the quoted price.Rule The court affirmed the Judgment of the lower court in favor of appellee subcontractor, finding that promissory estoppel was a viable cause of action in a bid construction case. The court found that the award of damages based on this theory was factually supported by the evidence, and that there was statutory authority for the award of attorneys' fees. The determination of the rate of prejudgment interest also was proper. Analysis Appellan t initially argues that the trial court erred in rendering Judgment for Arrow ecause Traco's bid was revocable and properly withdrawn thirty days after it was made.Appellant primarily relies upon the argument that its sliding doors are goods as defined by the Texas Business and Commerce Code, therefore, S 2. 205 of this code is controlling. Nevertheless, appellant's arguments ignore the appellee's basic contention and legal theory under which this suit was brought. Appellee sought relief under the equitable doctrine of promissory estoppel on the premise that appellant's romises, by way of its oral bid, caused appellee to substantially rely to its detriment.Consequently, appellant's assertion that its subsequent letter confirming this bid somehow invokes the application of the Uniform Commercial Code ignores the fact that the appellee relied to its detriment when it reduced its bid based on a telephone conversation with the appellant, prior to the time appellant's confirmation letter was sent or received. Thus, any subsequent written document is irrelevant to Arrow's cause of action; appellant's first point is rejected.Having resolved that the Uniform Commercial Code does not apply under these facts, we must now resolve whether the equitable theory of promissory estoppel applies to bid construction cases and, if so, whether this doctrine applies under the specific tacts ot this case . While no Texas case has previously applied the theory of promissory estoppel in a bid construction case, other Jurisdictions have consistently applied this doctrine under similar facts, recognizing the necessity for equity in view of the lack of other remedies. Conclusion also was proper.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Dynamic Diversity: Variety and Variation Within Countries Essay

Hofstede developed National cultures model (hereafter ‘the model’) to unable one to understand the National culture of any country, which he assumed enduring, pervasive and constitutive. Using the Hofstede’s (1990, 2001) and Hofstede and Hofstede (2005) ‘the model’, McSweeney (2009) argued its incapability to explain the diversity within the countries. This research was aimed to provide an outline explanation of the retention of model within the organization studies and its future within that discipline. The paper unfolds the fallacious assumption taken up by the national culturist while studying the culture within nation. Various references from the literatures, anthropology, examples from countries, elements from novels, and anthropology are taken to convey the idea. Albeit the paper overview ‘the model’ falls in the discipline of anthropology, it outlines the three contexts1 where the rise of the model continues to persist. Although three possible development of the model in near future are presented, the conclusion indicates the quavering future of the ‘The model’. To an extent this research is investigative and result of this study provides an insight on the model’s weaknesses. However, some limitations should be considered in accepting the study’s finding. Brief summary McSweeney critically analysed the model, the fallacious assumptions used to draw the model. He reviewed the flaws and limitations of ‘the model’ in the field of organization studies. He begins by pointing to the fallacious assumptions used to draw the model. As the author himself acknowledge that some patterns do exists within the culture, so he wisely dismisses the oherence, pure and stable nature of the culture by appropriately picking the reviews from literatures. However, he backed up a good reasoning to explain independent effects of non-cultural features by citing an example of Ireland sport team and the sign language. He then goes on to unbundle the faulty measurement moves used to empirically describe the national culture such as Data unit, conflating level of analysis and invalid generalization. Further, he describes the model’s fall in the field of anthropology. Although he criticised hofstede framework mainly because of the faulty conception, he mentioned he presented the three contexts where the use of model is expected to persist. Limitations Hofstede’ framework (1980) has been highly criticised on methodological stance because it has been misunderstood and applied in inappropriate ways (Eckhardt, 2002). The definition of culture hofstede (1991) used is very different from other. Proper understanding of the context in which his model is being used is required to understand the model’s compatibility. The author seems to misunderstood Hofstede’s context and his definition and therefore pointed out four methodological limitations of the model. Two Out of four of his argument are well packed with sound reasoning and are valid, however the other two, conflicting level of analysis and invalid generalization does not relate to hofstede context because Hofstede (2001) himself acknowledge that his scores are indicative of the natural tendency of the entire nation rather than predictive of the individual behaviour. The same, as far as generalization is concerned, Chapman (1997) states â€Å"Hofstede’s work is used and admired at a very high level of generalization. Those who take country scores in the various dimensions as given realities, informing or confirming other research, do not typically inquire into the detail of the procedures through which specific empirical data were transmuted into generalization†¦his work became a fruitful agenda†¦a framework that is so general, so broad, so alluring, and so inviting to argument and fruitful disagreement†. Backed by the bond (2002) and Schwartz (1994), the author argues that the ‘individualism and collectivism’ has no explanatory power as they have no intercorrelations at the individual level. However, this thought seems to conflict with that of hofstede as he says that a country can score high on individualism (or collectivism) or masculinity (femininity) but it does not signify anything about on the individual level. Also, a person can subscribe to value indicated at the country level but that does not necessarily mean that an individual will act in general, in a way ascribed to the country (Eckhardt, 2002). Another flaw in the paper is the strong standpoint taken by the author against the model and in conclusion advising the abandonment of model by calling ‘hopelessly flawed’. This line of thought sometimes restricts one to think beyond the scope and find possible solutions. Culture is, no doubt, present at various level but as a first cut it is helpful to think of cultures at national level (Harvard business school). Lastly, generally the style, structure and tone of the paper guide the reader towards the author intention. The weakness of this paper is the unnecessary use of abrasive tone which sometime makes the reader doubt on the true intentions of the paper i. e. the model flaws or the hofstede. Despite few limitations in the paper, the author succeeded in digging out all minor, but significant and major flaws of the model relevant in the field of OS. Strengths The backbone of this paper is that it clearly explains that culture is present within countries and it’s constantly evolving (p936. Para3). Marriott uses the fourfold framework to expose the Indian diversity and concludes that similar fourfold model can be unravelled for other entities, which contradicts hofstede view that entity is so unique that there cannot be any reasonable and systematic basis of comparison between culture entity (Patel, 2007) McSweeney presents the nature of culture, which is not pure, unstable and non-coherent. Singh (1990a, b) and Bosland (1985) studies proposed that the possibility to have different scores on the four Hofstedian dimensions within the same country . Furthermore, the contradicting view is noticed under the GLOBE study. â€Å"Although both the GLOBE and hofstede study used the essentialist approach, they disagree on the scores attributed to different nations†(Koopman et al. ,1999). All the above studies imply that culture is not pure, non-coherent and the unity concept is flawed. Likewise, it is proved that culture is evolving. For instance, earlier it was acceptable to beat your wife, however now it’s no more acceptable and considered against law (Patel, lec 3). This changing view within the society points the dynamic nature of culture. The major flaw in the hofstede concept of culture is not his dimensions but the fact that he sees culture as ‘static’. With the growing technology and diverging world where every day new model is developing with a capability to explain the dynamic complex nature of culture (group-grid model, Globe, CT), the idea of static nature of culture will just hold the model backward. To sum up with another Strength of the paper, is McSweeney (2009) discussed a very critical topic of organization studies. He made the purpose of the article very clear and concise in the introduction without attempting to be comprehensive. He used appropriate text and evidence in order to make the concept clear to the intended audience. Conclusion In the summary, it must be admitted that the current study has merit but it is a bit far from being conclusive. Further studies must be done to improve the model by rectifying its current weaknesses or by adding more dimensions in the model. Despite some flaws in the reasoning, the study has provided a deep insight to the challenging limitations of the model and its alarming future. The culturist should take the critique as a recommendation to improve the model instead of criticism. Both stands of literature (National culturist and non-national culturist) should try to bridge the gap and should realize that the goal is to find the solution of the complexity of culture.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Biosensors or enzyme electrodes

Biosensors or enzyme electrodes INTRODUCTION OF BIOSENSORS:- Biosensors or enzyme electrodes invariably refer to such devices that sence and analyze biological informations. A biosensor is a device that detects, records, and transmits information regarding a physiological change or the presence of various chemical or biological materials in the environment. More technically, a biosensor is a probe that integrates a biological component, such as a whole bacterium or a biological product (e.g., an enzyme or antibody) with an electronic component to yield a measurable signal. Biosensors, which come in a large variety of sizes and shapes, are used to monitor changes in environmental conditions. They can detect and measure concentrations of specific bacteria or hazardous chemicals; they can measure acidity levels (pH). In short, biosensors can use bacteria and detect them, too. PRINCIPALS OF BIOSENSORS:- A biosensor essentially comprise of the following two major parts 1- Biological component- For sensing the presence as well as concentration of analyte. In the presence of a certain molecule the biological system changes the environment. The measuring device sensitive to this change sends a signal. This signal can be converted into the measurement parameter. Often the biological system is an actual cell. The key thing to remember is that it is an actual organism that detects the concentration change of the molecule in the media. This organism could be the same one as the one in the media or it could be different. In either case it must be kept separate from the media. This can be done with a membrane that is permeable to the molecule that is being measured but impermeable to the cells and most other macromolecules in the reactor media. 2- Physical component:- Transducer:- A device that converts energy from one form into another e.g., telephone companies use transducers to convert sound energy into electrical energy to be carried long- distance through telephone lines and then another transducer a t the receiving end to convert the electrical energy back into sound A biosensor is a sensing device that consists of a biological component coupled to a transducer that converts biochemical activity into, most commonly, electrical energy. Types of Biosensors:- There are different types of biosensors, which have different applications. These are listed below. Calorimetric biosensor Potentiometric biosensor Amperometric biosensors Optical biosensor Acoustic wave biosensors Calorimetric biosensor:- When the physical change is heat, released or absorbed by the reaction it is calorimetric biosensor. It measures the change in temperature in the solution containing analyte Separate thermistors measure the temperature of the solution before entry into the small packed bed column containing immobilized enzyme and also at the time of leaving the column. Calorimetric biosensors are most widely applicable and can be used to measure turbid and strongly coloured s olutions. Maintenance of constant sample temperature is the disadvantage of this type. At the transducer surface, an electrical potential is produced due to changed distribution of electrons and this type of biosensors are called potentiometric biosensors. They use ion sensitive electrodes, commonly pH meter glass electrodes for cations, glass pH electrodes coated with a gas-selective membrane for CO2, NH3 or H2S or solid-state electrodes. These electrodes convert the biological reaction into electric signal. Potentiometric Biosensors

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Scavenger Hunt Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Scavenger Hunt - Research Paper Example Answer: Chlamydia and Trichomoniasis Chlamydia and Trichomoniasis are both bacterial infections. In Chlamydia causes pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or epididymitis that leads to infertility whereas fallopian tube inflammation in Trichomoniasis causes the infertility. Answer: It is an infection of the intestinal tract caused by giardia lamblia. It is popularly known as Beaver Fever. The giardia lambia attaches itself to the digestive tract and hence causing the infection. Yoder, J., Gargano, J., Wallace, R., & Beach, M. (2012). Giardiasis surveillance--United States, 2009-2010. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Surveillance Summaries (Washington, D.C.: 2002), 61(5), 13-23. Answer: a smoking cessation plan seeks to have the number of smokers reduced. The best program is the Nicotine Replacement Therapy whereby people seek another activity to replace the amount of tobacco they are having and this will then help them kick out the habit. The cessation works hand in hand with the medical practitioners. Oshawa is the region that had the highest number of teenage pregnancy and this can be attributed to the high number of young mothers who move to the area because the housing is affordable and because there is a lot of support that is normally offered to the young children. durhamregion.com | Todays stories from newspapers in Durham Region . (n.d.). durhamregion.com | Todays stories from newspapers in Durham Region . Retrieved November 20, 2012, from http://www.durhamregion.com Atherosclerosis causes the conditions when the arteries that supply the heart with oxygen are blocked. When the blockage happens, the sharp pain that is initially felt is angina and when the pain continues for long and is not handled, the condition results into heart attack that is more severe and painful. More than 9 million Canadians have diabetes. About 10% have they type 1

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH LEVELS OF JOB SATISFACTION Essay

SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH LEVELS OF JOB SATISFACTION - Essay Example A relatively trend in these studies and literature works however is that not much has been studied into finding factors that bring about job satisfaction, but the gutters have been jumped into discussing the impact of job satisfaction on growth and development. In this essay therefore, the existing gap is closed by critically outlining key factors that must be put in place within various types of organisations to ensure that there is job satisfaction (Yi and Gong, 2008). This is done from the perspective of four individuals, whose stories are used as a case study. Job Design and Job Satisfaction Job satisfaction is a very qualitative and subjective labour principle, as different people seek different opportunities and factors within their work structure to make them satisfied (Yoo, 2002). But as varying and different as job satisfaction may be to different people, one fact remains that job satisfaction comes from within the job that one does and this is where characteristics of the j ob comes to play. Depending on the characteristics of a given job, employees may be more comfortable working in the premise of that job. Yoo (2002) identified two of these characteristics as autonomy and variety, all of which are exhibited in the stories of the successful people presented. Yoo (2002) was however quick to add that there is always the need to ensure that the job characteristics that prevails is defined by the job design in place for workers. These job designs include are nature of job, employee engagement, and business success. Wofford and Liska (2003) has explained that one crucial characteristic of job is variety. By this, meaning is given to the need for the workplace to present the employee with non-static but differential task scope that ensures that employees always have something new to explore at the workplace. This means that the variety of job that a person does go a long way to determine and influence the level of job satisfaction that will be recorded. Cle arly, each of these people works in top enviable organizations that have many different departments and units that offer variety and challenge to exploring new opportunities for every up and coming young executive. As stated by Clark, there are numerous people looking for the kind of job that he does. The same can be said for Kurtz and Bishop, whose jobs take them to various places of the world and makes them enjoy the luxury of travelling from one airplane to the other. Clearly, when the characteristic of the job of a person puts him or her in such a position where there is internal satisfaction as to the variety of work that is done, such person is likely to gain job satisfaction. What is more, there are very high levels of autonomy for each of these workers. The question of ‘when and how tasks are done’ have been said to be very instrumental in job design (Ramsey and Sohi, 1997). Generally, autonomy comes to play when employees are given sufficient room to operate an d manipulate the movement and direction of their jobs (Netemeyer et al, 2007). Once this is done job satisfaction can be said to be guaranteed because it makes employees feel useful of themselves and evidentially become intrinsically motivated. Meanwhile, for all four individual read about, even though they are not the owners of the business they work for, they have very high levels of autonomy and are instrumental in the way and manner the businesses should move. A typical example of this is Clark who has the pleasure of promoting MTV all across the globe. Finally, as recommended by Yoo (2002), there is evidence from the story that the characteristics of job in place have been directly linked with job design. It would be noted that job

Monday, August 26, 2019

International political economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International political economy - Essay Example Entrepreneurs, leading corporations, and even social activists are taking the step to show how this phenomenon is changing the lives of people across the world. This book forms the basis for this review as it tries to identify the realism of this phenomenon, and if the corporate world is entirely ready for it. The definition of social business in this book is that it is a sustainable business that guarantees return on start-up capital, but does not offer investors any return. It is the author’s belief that the current practices, for example; social enterprises and non-profit are what may lead to more poverty among countless individuals. Social business offers an owner a return on their start-up capital, regardless of the time it takes to get this capital back. According to the author, this phenomenon (social business) has stopped being just a theory that is discussed in corporate boardrooms, and is being introduced in some areas in Asia, the U.S., and even Europe. By introduci ng, embracing, and trying the social business theory, the author develops an idea about a new form of capitalism that is opposed to some current methods and practices present in most organizations (Yunus 2011, p. 103). Products offered by social businesses may rake in profit, but do not offer dividends (Yunus 2011, p. 229). They are also capable of satisfying the needs of the less wealthy individuals in society. All profits gained have to go back to the society in which the business is located. According to the author, the case studies are a way of showing individuals that it is possible to incorporate this in the economic world and find a way to provide everyone with their needs. This is while reducing the pressure of money among the less privileged. Something worth noting about the author is that he is the founder of the micro-credit agency, Grameen Bank. It offers services (financial) at an affordable rate of interest. The author’s economic stand is brought out in the book as it struggles to change the perception that establishments can only belong to one of two economic camps, which are; non-profit and for-profit. However, the book might fail to address some crucial elements that surround the progress of the theory of social business. Some of the issues brought out in the book offer advice on what might be the best possible way for people to start their own businesses (Bari 2011, p. 78). This is not geared toward encouraging the growth of the phenomenon in most corporate structures in the business world. A great idea might lie behind the author’s intention of getting people to know what needs to be done to start and run a successful business. Sadly, it does not delve into advising would-be business owners on what needs to be done to exactly capture all the latest trends in the economic world. The ends of the first chapters in the book talk more of the steps in the development of the Grameen. This, according to me, makes the chapters seem lack lustre in their presentation. The didactic aspect of the book leaves no room for the profit and social business aspects that most readers may want to attain at the end of the book. It is next to impossible to attain a clear perspective on the part profit aspect of a

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Macroeconomics Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Macroeconomics - Coursework Example When the relationship between demand and price is illustrated in a graphical form it is called the demand curve. The demand curve slopes downward from left to right, because the price of a product goes up the quantity demanded decreases. The demand curve is drawn with the assumption that only the price changes while other factors remain same. Besides such a demand for money in order to carry out various transactions, some people demand it for hoarding or holding wealth in liquid form. It can conveniently be used according to variations in the market conditions (Pinkmonkey.com). Keynes was the first economist to admit the role of speculative activities in modern economy and that of demand for money made by speculators. Such demand is made to invest in capital market for buying shares, bonds, securities etc. when their prices are low. But speculators quickly dispose of their securities when their prices are sufficiently high. They make capital gains from such transactions. In order to carry out this activity, speculators create demand for money on a large scale. Keeping money in this idle form is known as hoarding of money. Keynes has shown that speculative demand for money is highly fluctuating. It all depends upon fluctuating prices and market conditions for securities. Demand for money means demand to hold money on hand. Money in one’s hands earns no income. If converted into goods or other financial assets one can derive either additional utility or income. There are three motives as described by Keynes that makes people hold money on hand. They are: For instance, the working class will get their salaries only on the first of every month, while their expenditures are distributed through out the month. To cater to their day-to-day expenses, people keep aside certain part of their income. It implies that the income which the people receive is periodic while the expenditure incurred by them is continuous. Hence, the

Decision-Making Tools For Health Care Professionals Research Paper

Decision-Making Tools For Health Care Professionals - Research Paper Example The main obstacle in correctly diagnosing the prognosis of various cancer patients is the difference in patient responses to various treatment modalities. The use of computer technology takes a lot out of the guesswork by making diagnosis a more accurate endeavor. The medical world is not using computer technology as much as it should and it is high time it considers using this important resource in the fight against one of mans most intractable illnesses. This report covers the continuing fight against cancer despite the large amounts that are expended in terms of efforts and finances. In particular, the diagnosis of cancer is still largely a subjective process that is dependent on the experience and knowledge of the clinicians. The use of the TNM staging system is still considered the best tool available to the patients and the medical community alike in determining the probable outcome and progression of the disease. However, although fairly accurate in terms of describing the stage of the tumors by size and shape, it has obvious limitations because it is largely tending to the historical development of the disease rather than being forward-looking. By this, I mean a new system that considers the likely outcome in terms of treatment and prognosis is of more value to clinicians and patients. One very promising direction in the fight against cancer is the use of more powerful & precise computer technologies that provide far greater accuracy than is presently available. It is an accepted fact in medical circles that the TNM staging system based on some anatomical and morphological features of the tumors is of limited benefit in terms of prognosis. There is clearly a need for a better way of predicting the likely outcome and treatment response in the fight against all types of cancer.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Porters Model of National Competitive Advantage Essay

Porters Model of National Competitive Advantage - Essay Example This paper illustrates that in the book ‘The Competitive Advantage of Nations’ Michael Porter discussed the reasons why some nations, social groups and economic institutions advances than others. His work focused on the collective competitive advantages of the firms in the nation rather than the performance of the individual firms. The orientation of his work is positive rather normative focusing on the international patterns of competitive advantage. He developed this model by combining theories in the fields of strategies to compete and international economics and performed an inductive and deductive analysis. Porter’s model was a result of the analysis and the study of 100 industries in 10 countries which included counties from Europe, Asia, and America, regarding their competitive performance. His work showed how industrial competiveness with a different insight can be incorporated into company’s strategy. Porter used strategic management theories and a nalyzed them with international trade and economy. The book emphasizes the fact that the national competitiveness is determined by the firms rather than the nations. The theory suggests that the influence the nation has on the competitiveness of the firms depends on the firm’s competitive success that the environment built over time. The nation acts as a ‘home base’ for the firms, this home base helps in developing the firm’s strategy, culture, character of its management, the availability and quality of resources, technology and helps it in establishing prior to its expansion internationally as the firms grow domestically before they plan their expansion internationally. The theory basically analyses the characteristics, rather four variables of the national environment which are the basis of competitive advantage and determines firm’s ability to compete and sustain itself in international markets. The Porter referred these variables as ‘Nati onal Diamond’. These four variables are firm’s strategy structure and rivalry, factor conditions, demand conditions and related and supporting industries.

Friday, August 23, 2019

The Construction as a Revolutionised Industry Research Paper

The Construction as a Revolutionised Industry - Research Paper Example It is important to note that nations depend on their construction industry for their infrastructural developments making them quite important in facilitating national development. In this regard organisations offering construction work tend to be well regarded while certification requirements and procedures prove to be rigorous. In many countries like the US and UK among others, there are definite rules and oversight bodies set to regulate the actions of construction firms. This paper aims to consider the construction industry and its various facets in developing the premise that there is no single ideal organisation. PESTEL analysis of the construction industry Political/legal factors Government involvement entails the various interventions in regards to set laws and standards in the construction industry. As mentioned earlier governments have established regulations and standards for construction organisations to follow. Most of them are in regards to the safety and health of worke rs since construction entails risks that result in many accidents and fatalities in some cases (BIS 2011). In case of failure to adhere to them stiff remedial actions like fines are imposed after inspections or when an accident occurs. Taxation is another aspect where governments exert pressure in the construction industry. This is an industry whose taxation is high mostly due to their heavy-duty kind of work (Liebing 2001). The contracts also attract hefty sums of money which the governments are quite willing to tax. Regional Norms In regards to the European organisations the EU laws also affect how these construction firms operate. Regional trading blocks have become quite influential with time as the world becomes a global market place. EU, for example, aims at establishing common standards not only for the construction industry but to all (Dalby 1998). In this line, firms are being forced to follow alien laws that are not necessarily desirable for business.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

English A Language And Literature Essay Example for Free

English A Language And Literature Essay These notes to examiners are intended only as guidelines to assist marking. They are not offered as an exhaustive and fixed set of responses or approaches to which all answers must rigidly adhere. Good ideas or angles not offered here should be acknowledged and rewarded as appropriate.  Similarly, answers which do not include all the ideas or approaches suggested here should be rewarded appropriately. SECTION A Candidates are required to compare a letter from John Steinbeck to his eldest son Thom with an â€Å"advice† comic strip by Ken Cursoe, both of which explore the virtues (or not) of being in love. An adequate to good analysis will: †¢ note the commonalities of the two texts, such as Thom and Luke both seeking advice about love, the â€Å"expert’s† opinion about love, male/female distinctions, etc †¢ note some of the differences between the two texts, such as father / Tiny Sepuku, sincerity / humor, letter / advice column/cartoon, etc †¢ comment on the different text types, noting some characteristics of each. (For example, the letter observes the conventions of the form and responds to a letter on a personal level and addresses the issues it raises in a clear and logical fashion. The cartoon, posing as an advice column, opens with a brief letter of two questions answered by Tiny in a â€Å"tongue-in-cheek† fashion through seven vignettes of the â€Å"super powers† that love gives to either the male or female in the relationship) †¢ comment on the differences of context as deduced from the times and situations in which the texts were generated and from issues and references made within the texts themselves, such as the vignettes of the cartoon, the implications of the gestures and language of the cartoon characters, as well as the relationships revealed in the letter and the attitudes expressed by Steinbeck †¢ comment on the differences of audience and purpose as deduced from the two text types. A good to excellent analysis may also: †¢ consider further the differences in the attitudes to â€Å"love† †¢ consider more closely the purposes of the writers as viewed through their choice of text types, considering closely the differences between seriousness and humour †¢ offer a more in-depth analysis of both the letter and the cartoon, looking  closely at the stylistic features and showing some familiarity with terms appropriate to each †¢ offer a more careful consideration of audience and purpose, for example, the original recipient of the letter and, now, the wider audience interested in the life and writings of John Steinbeck, and, for the cartoon, those who follow the comic strip (and write in) or the general public who are amused by the cartoonist’s treatment of the subject. –4– N13/1/AYENG/HP1/ENG/TZ0/XX/M SECTION B Candidates are required to compare the poem Eyepiece by Judith Beveridge with a message from the Yahoo forum Microscope – Microscopy as a hobby or profession, which present, respectively, figurative and literal views of the world seen through a microscope. An adequate to good analysis will: †¢ note the commonalities of the two texts: the viewing of the world through a microscope, the identification of what is being looked at in each case †¢ comment on the two text types exploring some characteristics of each (the blend of personal and scientific comments in the message, as well as the nature of observation, both general and specific, the use of scientific language, the global nature of the â€Å"group,† etc as opposed to the more refined qualities of the poem: stanzas, lines, enjambment, simile, extended metaphor, alliteration, etc) †¢ comment on the â€Å"view of the world† that is offered by these writers and how distinctions between their purposes, contexts and audience shape their use of language, style and technique †¢ offer a recognition of the distinction between literal and figurative. A good to excellent analysis may also: †¢ offer a more in-depth analysis of both text types, showing how choice of text type influences both the structure and style of the content †¢ offer a careful consideration of the world view that is presented in each text: looking at the distinctions between describing an evening as though it  were a vision seen through a microscope compared with the reality of looking at water through a microscope and the impact (such as â€Å"fascinating†, â€Å"shocked and horrified†) on the observer †¢ consider more closely the two speaking voices (the scientist and the persona of the poem), how they are characterized and to what effect †¢ offer a cogent comparison of the two text types that offers a clear understanding of purpose, context, content and audience.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Causes of the 2008 Sovereign Debt Crisis in Europe

Causes of the 2008 Sovereign Debt Crisis in Europe â€Å"Discuss the causes of the sovereign debt crisis in Europe since 2008 and critically analyse the proposed responses. It is important that you inform your arguments using academic literature.† Introduction The European sovereign debt crisis came to prominence in late 2009, when newly elected Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou announced that previous governments had been distorting the country’s deficit data (Nelson et al., 2012). A revision of the budget deficit forecast was revealed as 12.7% of GDP – a valuation that was almost double the previous figure of 6.0% (Gibson et al. 2012). The reaction to this was a fall in investor confidence, which caused sovereign bond yields to rise to an all-time high (see Appendix 1). This impacted not only Greece, but also other heavily indebted countries within the Eurozone – identified as peripheral nations (Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain). There is growing concern within the Eurozone that these periphery nations could ultimately default on their sovereign debt. European banks currently hold a large portion of the regions government bonds (see Appendix 2); if one nation was to default on its sovereign debt payments it would cause financial pressure throughout the Eurozone (Constà ¢ncio 2012). This is a known as financial contagion, a term described by Dornbusch (2000) as the spread of market shocks from one country to another. The fear of contagion has forced the European Central Bank (ECB) to bailout a number of the periphery nations; however, this is not viewed as a sustainable practice. The aim of this essay is to identify the causes of the sovereign debt crisis and analyse the proposed responses by the European Union (EU). Causes A complex phenomenon, such as the sovereign debt crisis, is built up of a variety of elements. Most analysts believe that the crisis was caused by structural weaknesses present both at the European and national levels, along with factors specific to (Dombret 2013). The structure of the Eurozone is a key factor contributing to the current crisis. A structural deficit exists within the Eurozone with the fact that there is a single monetary policy and decentralised fiscal policy. This creates an imbalance as the monetary policy is controlled by the ECB, whereas individual member states are trusted to set their own revenues and expenditures (Lapavitsas et al. 2010). Given this imbalance, it has led to ‘fiscal free-riding’ by the peripheral economies. These nations have had an increased incentive to borrow as the cost of debt is spread across the entire currency area. The Stability and Growth Pact was created to regulate fiscal expenditure, with one of its tenants being that annual government expenditure should not exceed 3% of GDP (see Appendix 3); however, due to a lack of automatic sanctions, these rules have been universally broken, thus setting the pathway to the current crisis (Anand et al. 2012). The mispricing of sovereign risk and subsequent misuse of capital is also a significant factor that has led to the sovereign debt crisis. As the periphery prepared to join the Euro, their sovereign bond yields began converging with those of the core nations (see Appendix 4). This allowed the periphery access to substantial amounts of low-cost credit, which traditionally, they had not experienced before. Voltz (2012) suggests that the sovereign risk of the periphery was mispriced by the capital markets, which has led to an â€Å"unsustainable accumulation of private and public debt†. In Greece, the inflow of capital financed excessive government spending, whilst in Ireland and Spain it led to creation of banking and real-estate bubbles. When capital markets tightened during the financial crisis of 2008, the unsustainability of these debts became apparent as the periphery struggled to finance its existing sovereign debt. Moreover, the governments were forced to assume private se ctor debt as national banks declined and speculative bubbles burst necessitating large bailout packages (Nelson et al. 2012). The Eurozone created an illusionary sense of prosperity. Lin (2012) explains that the sense of prosperity was illusionary as there was a progressive loss of competiveness of the periphery in relation to the core. This loss of competitiveness was partly a result of sharp wage rises in the non-core countries, leading to large current account deficits (Lapavitsas 2012). These deficits were funded by sovereign debt, with most of the debt being held by the core’s banks – a key factor in increasing contagion risk. Historically, nations running a current account deficit would devalue their currency in order to improve their position (Simkovic 2011); however, due to the monetary policy inflexibility within the Eurozone this is not possible. A culmination of the factors mentioned above has resulted in a huge fall in investor confidence, marked by a decrease in available credit (see Appendix 5). Due to the high levels of high risk sovereign debt, Standard Poor has downgraded the credit ratings of a number of Eurozone nations. To regain global confidence, the EU must provide a strategy that will tackle the underlying issues present within the Eurozone. Responses The immediate response from the EU has been to create financial firewalls. These have been in the form of rescue mechanisms, such as the EFSF (2010-2013) ESM (2012+), which have the ability to buy sovereign debt, recapitalise banks and provide bailout packages to the Eurozone nations (Thesing 2011). However, this is a short term solution to a long term problem. Regling (2012), CEO of EFSF, has stated that the mechanisms should only be used to â€Å"buy time† while the root causes are eliminated. This calls for responses aimed at reducing government debts and deficits, as well as structural reforms at European and national levels. A favoured approach by national governments to contain their finances has been an implementation of fiscal consolidation. AÄÅ ¸ca (2013) defines fiscal consolidation as policies that â€Å"cut budget deficits and reduce public debt levels†. The ECB and IMF have been aiding nations with the design, implementation and supervision of these policy reforms. Fiscal consolidation has, so far, proven to be a success, with Ireland’s sovereign bond yields falling from 11.8% to 3.5%. Undoubtedly, this route of austerity carries negative implications. As well as the social costs involved, fiscal consolidation is known to stagnate economic growth (Anand 2012). To regain investor confidence, the fiscal policies need to be coupled with national structural reforms aimed at increasing competitiveness (Dombret 2013). Ireland and Spain have both reduced their current account deficits through the use of these reforms (see Appendix 6), highlighting that the periphery must embrace this strategy. As we have discussed, the lack of fiscal control and regulation was a major factor in the birth of the sovereign debt crisis. To rectify this problem there has been major responses a European level. A new reform of the Stability Growth Pact, known as the fiscal compact, was created in 2011 with the aim of providing â€Å"enhanced coordination in fiscal and economic policy† within the Eurozone (Regling 2012). This reform ensures member states adhere to the 3% deficit and 60% debt-to-gdp rules of the Maastricht Treaty, through the creation of an automatic sanction procedure. A yearly review of Member States’ budgetary and structural policies, known as the European Semester, has also been put into effect (Bowler 2013). These structural reforms will help put government finances on track. However, it does not address the underlying issue that member states are trusted to set their own fiscal budgets. To address this issue, analysts have called for the creation of a European fiscal union. Weidmann (2012) believes that a fiscal union provides the â€Å"cornerstone of framework for the monetary union†. To achieve this, it would require deeper political integration within the Eurozone; this would necessitate legislative changes at both the European and national level. Accomplishing the required level of political integration, with the 18 member-states, would be a near-impossible task due to the conflicting agendas and ideals (Feust 2012). Hence, if they structural deficits within the Eurozone are to be fixed, these nations will need to work collectively. A current topic of debate has been to do with the potential introduction of so called â€Å"Eurobonds†, where bonds are issued on a European front and finances distributed accordingly. While the introduction of these bonds would send a statement of commitment to the Euro (Nelson et al. 2012), the incentive to increase debt would rise as the liability would be spread across the member-nations. This would result in a case of the core, again, paying for the actions of the periphery. Conclusion Nevertheless, the European sovereign debt crisis remains a growing problem for the global economy. I feel the elemental decision that needs to be made is whether the euro should be brought closer together, or whether it would be best for the future of the Eurozone to sever ties with the periphery. Although fracturing the euro is a radical response, it may be the only way to curb the threat financial contagion poses. Regardless of the decision made, the European sovereign debt crisis has exposed dangers of fiscal recklessness, and should serve as a lesson to future economists, governments and monetary unions (Sandoval et al. 2011). Reference List AÄÅ ¸ca, S. Deniz, I. (2013),Fiscal Consolidation and the Cost of Credit: Evidence from Syndicated Loans . IMF Working Paper[Online]. Available at:http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2013/wp1336.pdf(Accessed: 2th February 2014). Anand, M. R., Gupta, G. L., Dash, R. (2012),The euro zone crisis Its dimensions and implications. Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Minsitry of Finance, India.[Online]. Available at:http://mof.gov.in/WorkingPaper/euro_zone_crisis.pdf(Accessed: 10th February 2014). Constà ¢ncio, V. (2012), â€Å"Contagion and the European debt crisis†,Financial Stability Review,(No. 16), pp. 110. Dornbusch, R., Park, Y. C. Claessens, S. (2000), â€Å"Contagion: Understanding How It Spreads†,World Bank Res Obs,Vol. 15(No. 2), pp. 177-197. Dombret, A. (2011),Europes sovereign debt crisis causes and possible solutions,Available at:http://www.bis.org/review/r120111b.pdf(Accessed: 4th February 2014). Dombret, A. (2013),The European Sovereign Debt Crisis – Past, Present and Future,Available at:http://www.bundesbank.de/Redaktion/EN/Reden/2013/2013_08_26_dombret.html(Accessed: 7th February 2014). Fuest, C. Peichl, A. (2012),European Fiscal Union: What Is It? Does It Work? And Are There Really ‘No Alternatives’?. IZA Policy Paper No. 39[Online]. Available at:http://ftp.iza.org/pp39.pdf(Accessed: 3rd February 2014). Gibson, H. D., Hall, S.G. Tavlas, G. S. (2011),The Greek financial crisis: growing imbalances and sovereign spreads. Working Papers 124[Online]. Available at:http://www.bankofgreece.gr/BogEkdoseis/Paper2011124.pdf(Accessed: 1st February 2014). Lapavitsas, C., Kaltenbrunner, A., Lindo, D., Michell, J., Painceira, J. P., Pires, E., Powell, J., Stenfors, A. Teles, N. (2010), â€Å"Eurozone crisis: beggar thyself and thy neighbour†,Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies,Volume 12(Issue 4), pp. 312-373 [Online]. Available at:http://researchonmoneyandfinance.org/media/reports/eurocrisis/fullreport.pdf(Accessed: 8th February 2014). Lin, J. Y. Treichel, V. (2012),The Crisis in the Eurozone,Available at:http://www.worldfinancialreview.com/?p=2303(Accessed: 6th February 2014). Lapavitsas, C. (2012),Crisis in the Eurozone, New York: Verso Books. Nelson, R. M., Belkin, P., Mix, D. E. Weiss, M. A. (2012),The Eurozone Crisis: Overview and Issues for Congress. US Congressional Research Service Reports[Online]. Available at:http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42377.pdf(Accessed: 8th February 2014). Regling, K. (2012),Europe’s Response to the European Sovereign Debt Crisis. Anders Chydenius Free Trade Seminar[Online]. Available at:http://www.efsf.europa.eu/attachments/20120608_speech regling_anders_chydenius_seminar_kokkola_en.pdf(Accessed: 2nd February 2014). Sandoval, L., Beltran, E., Ulziikhutag, S. Zorigt, T. (2011),The European Sovereign Debt Crisis: Responses to the Financial Crisis. New Voices In Public Policy Vol. 5[Online]. Available at:www.journals.gmu.edu/index.php/newvoices/article/download/4/4(Accessed: 4th February 2014). Somkovic, M. (2011),Bankruptcy Immunities, Transparency, and Capital Structure,Available at:http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTGILD/Resources/Jan11-FC-Simkovic.pdf(Accessed: 6th February 2014). Thesing, G. (2011),European Rescue Fund May Buy Bonds, Recapitalize Banks, ECBs Stark Says,Available at:http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-22/ecb-s-stark-says-rescue-fund-may-buy-bonds-recapitalize-banks.html(Accessed: 9th February 2014). Voltz, U. (2012),Lessons of the European Crisis for Regional Monetary and Financial Integration in East Asia. ADBI Working Paper Series[Online]. Available at:http://www.adbi.org/files/2012.02.21.wp347.lessons.european.crisis.east.asia.pdf(Accessed: 3rd February 2014). Weidmann, J. (2012),Everything flows? The future role of monetary policy,Available at:http://www.bundesbank.de/Redaktion/EN/Reden/2012/2012_06_14_weidmann_everything_flows_the_future_role_of_monetary_policy.html(Accessed: 4th February 2014).

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Business Leadership Development Agenda Personal Development Essay

Business Leadership Development Agenda Personal Development Essay Current research shows that knowledge and skills are the two important elements in the field of leadership that makes people more effective leaders. I want to be an effective leader who has all the capabilities of building an efficient leadership strategy. Based on my evaluation from my observers I feel that I need to work on the areas where I can show others how their interests can be realized and how they can share a dream of their future. Based on Boyatziss intentional change model of self-Directed learning (Savage 2010) I have used this model in my own research as my individual action plan. I found that my leadership behavior ranking based on average observers score and my personal score differs. I think improving one weakness of my leadership behavior will change the hidden behavior in me that I cannot realize. Ideal Self Initially, I want to be remembered as a leader who can solve conflicts between the employees by acting as an effective mediator and thus gaining respect from them. I would hope that others recognize my interpersonal skills and being motivated and emulate such behavior. I would like to be known as someone who is more generous with praise and kind words of encouragement. I also would like to be remembered as a legacy leader who empowers the employees and the people around. I want to recognize as a person who foster power in people for use in their own lives, their communities and in their society, by acting on issues they define as important. As discussed in my leadership legacy and taking on such a leadership role, I want to garner respect and admiration from those around me. For my leadership legacy, I would want to be known as a successful leader who wants to hold onto and hold out, for everyone to see, their vision and their values. I want to create opportunities and positive influence on others to be inspired and to understand and accept leadership roles.  I want to be remembered as the leader who tirelessly advocated for the differences in people as essential building blocks to creating a learning community and consistently calibrated their journey into excellence by modeling accountability and responsibility for their leadership roles, and encouraged others to do the same. Finally, I would like to act as a mentor to my colleagues by teaching them what I have learned through my experiences. I would like to leave behind the tools for holding, creating, influencing, advocating and calibrating the solid input to make decisions about when to step up, to step back, and to step off the action which would impact future. My real self Based on the feedback I received from Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI), Influence Strategies Exercise (ISE) and essential Enneagram, I believe that I have the strong motivational power that drives the success and encouragement. In my leadership legacy statement, I stated that I always want to empower people and motivate them to foster power in peoples lives. This characteristic feature represents me as a type 3 (The Performer) on the Essential Enneagram. As a performer, I want to develop a goal ahead energy of self-deception to match the image of success and approval. In addition to this, I want to encourage people to feel good about them and show them the appreciation on something they have accomplished. Moreover in the Kolb Learning Style Inventory (LSI) 2010, I found an additional overlap between my ideal self and myself. Previously I mentioned in my leadership legacy statement that I want to be an effective mediator who is able to view concrete situations from many different points of view. In the LPI, my observers and I rated myself highly in the practice, Enable Others act. I personally believe that every individual should be treated with dignity and respect and each individual has its own strengths and weaknesses which make them different from others. The understanding of what people can do well and what they do less well is important both to the person and organization. The differences should be valued and used to the full advantage. Leadership Gap analysis: While analyzing my ideal and real self I identified some gaps that include both my strength and weaknesses. In my leadership legacy statement I would like to be remembered as a legacy leader who empowers the employees and the people around recognize my interpersonal skills and being motivated and emulate such behavior. As a type three mediator on Essential Enneagram, I tend to focus and concentrate on things to get job done. I also stated that I want to be remembered as a leader who has the ability of solving conflicts between people by acting as an effective mediator. However, I sometimes have problems in making decisions and I think I also need somebody to discuss the resolution to the problem because sometimes it appears to me equally good and important. In addition to that, I also found some gaps in the area of inspiring shared vision on the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) (Kouzes Posner, personal communication June 14, 2010). Furthermore, as I identified in my leadership legacy statement I want to create opportunities and positive influence on others to be inspired, understand and accept leadership roles. I feel I will have considerably difficulty in showing others how their interest can be realized and described as a compelling image of the future. However, as the Performer, Enneagram and Leadership (Savage, 2010). I can become inspiring example of excellence and authenticity or blindly pursue success and status but I feel I will have to struggle with the concept of pursuing things more effectively and efficiently even there is a chance failure. My ideal self allows me to admit mistakes and listen to suggestions for improvement but sometimes I feel not making any mistakes and accomplish task more efficiently. Initially, I thought I might be type 1 The perfectionist, Enneagram and Leadership (Savage, 2010) because I do believe I can change myself and my environment to fit my ideas and organize things logically but I still feel that type three is more of my style because my first priority in accomplishing my goal is to concentrate more efficiently and get things done more quickly. The last gap I noticed was related to Bargaining Influence Strategies Exercise (Hay group, 2007). The purpose of bargaining is to gain support by negotiating a mutually satisfactory outcome; exchanging favors, sharing resources, making concessions Influence Strategies Exercise (Hay group, 2007). For me I always want to make sure that I am taking everybodys decisions and needs into consideration, I may not keep my needs or agenda into my consideration while I am listening to the suggestions and opinions from people. Based on what I have heard I will create an opinion. Typically I will not avoid the situation where there is a conflict infact I will try to resolve the conflict and come up with the resolution that best fits the needs of people and their concerns. Sustaining Leadership Strengths According to the LPI my strengths are in the area of encouraging confidence, enabling diversity and modeling the values and consensus. The 10 observer groups rated me high in encouraging confidence. The other was enabling diversity which was next in line. Builds consensus around organization value was the last because my observers rated me the third highest in this area of strength (Kouzes Posner, personal communication, June 14, 2010). When it comes to organizational skills, I believe that any administration should be organized and punctual. For example, the administration of ACCESS in Ashland University, these characteristics should be present. It is my belief that having good organizational skills means a better way of doing things. We all have learning differences and find some methods easy than others but how do we go about developing those skills. Leadership by encouragement is one of my practical interpersonal skills that can help in raising Emotional intelligence. In order to create that leadership strategy within the ACCESS it is important to review the administration strategy for implications for new leadership requirements. For the development of this leadership behavior, it is a good suggestion to have a team of experts that will analyze the problem and that are familiar with the processes of acquiring, retaining and development of good organizational development. I believe that I am not still an expert with this requirement and that the university still needs people who are very adept on this. My organizational strategy shall begin with the identifications of drivers of strategy that will help me in analyzing the key choices that includes my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. These factors shall be analyzed comprehensively. It is my goal to make a unique strategy that can be used by ACCESS which can understand what the things essential to the students are. It is very important to accomplish a collective leadership for this. I should have clear implications for what a leader like me should do well in order for an organization to succeed in leadership strategies. It is therefore important that my focus should be primarily on the implications primarily on the implications in leadership strategy that has to be more specific reflecting the actual opportunities and issues surrounding the key drivers. After the implication has been identified my next step will be to develop the leadership strategy in order to assess the current leadership situation and compare it to the desired future. Once the implication has been confirmed and extracted as a team through various ways within the organization, then the leadership developmental strategy should be addressed which will then follow the specific recommendations regarding approaches to be taken to develop current and future leaders as well as the organizations leadership, in line with the leadership strategy. Other thing that needs to be taken on to consideration while developing the strategy is an iterative process involving a team. Because this process will produce a useful conversations that have never taken place before. Those conversations themselves may act as interventions that will help in dealing with the issues within the organization. In creating a leadership strategy it is important to know the leadership culture that is required to implement the strategy and also interfere with effective performance. Once again, it is not how many leaders are in place, it is what actually do they determines whether the organization succeeds or fails. Cultural change that has a negative impact on the working environment should also be addressed. This is the present condition on the ACCESS department within Ashland University. . Due to the less number of staff and with the increased number of students, students are not able to explore the new environment because they are not getting opportunities to share their views and know the different culture. Director of the International student advisor who is currently running the ACCESS department will be my mentor with whom I talk about the situation and discuss the solution of the problem. Pesek is the only person who I can talk and gather information regarding the problems and can provide me with the resources and can serve my advisor and counselor throughout the whole process. In order to diagnose the current problem, it is necessary to diagnose the current status of the problem and to evaluate the organizational change gained through the experimentation and survey feedback. Due to the absence of program Director the organizational culture within the ACCESS is not effective. The staff and faculty have no control over the conflicts and work problems that arise. My approach to the problem will be to create effective leadership strategies and change the way the organization looks currently and implement those areas which need to be focused and monitor every change that results. Leadership Development Goal My main goal in developing my leadership ability is to be more sensitive with the issues surrounding my organization. As a part of the ACCESS Department in Ashland University, it will be my task to be keen in observing what needs to be changed and improved. By doing such, I will be impartial. I shall hear both sides of the story in order for me to weigh my judgment evenly. Another goal in developing my leadership skills is to be flexible in dealing with all circumstances. By being flexible, I believe that I can be an effective leader since I know I can deal with any situation and be on top of things. Finally, I want to be leader that communicates. Communication is very important in leadership. Benefits in Attaining this Goal The first goal which I mentioned is being sensitive with issues surrounding my organization. The benefit of being able to attain this goal is that I will be keen with any issues that my organization shall face. By being such, I can be developed into a proactive leader. This means that measures are continuously done in order to prevent the rising of a crisis. This will not only benefit me but also the entire organization. Alongside with this is being an impartial leader. Being such a leader should benefit the organization as well as all members of it since a just leader earns respect and that ensures that the organization is geared towards success. The benefit of being a flexible leader is that he or she can be able to face all issues and still be on top of things. I want to be that kind of leader. Many organizations fail or drowned in issues because some of its leaders are not able to adapt in certain issues. By being a flexible leader, I believe that I can be effective since I can lead my organization in any issue that it will face. Finally, a leader that communicates is an effective leader. Good communication between leaders and subordinates ensures that messages are conveyed clearly, therefore, good results can be expected. Obstacles in Attaining this Goal There will be obstacles that I know that I will come across in attaining the goals that I have set. Some of these are external factors such as some members of the organizations are unsupportive. This is because some members may not be at ease at being handled under new leadership styles. Other obstacles may be difficult circumstances that will tempt me in utilizing old but cooked leadership styles. In this situation, it is very important to stick with my principles in becoming an effective leader. Resources and Support in Achieving this Goal The resources that I tend to utilize in achieving the goals that I have mentioned are attending trainings and workshops that will tackle the leadership characteristics which I set to develop. These trainings shall help me in developing these characteristics wherein I cam learn from a team of experts as well as peers that are leaders themselves. Support from other organization members is very important for me in attaining these goals. Knowing that my peers from the organization support that such development is necessary for the growth of the organization will give me the strength and inspiration towards achieving such goals. Action Plan Goal: To be able to develop myself as a proactive, flexible and communicating leader. By being such, I can gear my organization towards a working environment that is conducive and that is driving towards success. Table of Action Steps Action step Measurement Timeline My main goal is to become an effective leader that includes the characteristic of being proactive, flexible and a good communicator. I will ask my peers to do an appraisal for me in terms of the characteristics that I mentioned. By the end of September 2010 I will analyze the data I collected from my resources and evaluate it. I will attend trainings and workshop on being proactive. After the training, an appraisal shall be done again for this characteristic. By the end of September 2010. I will attend trainings and workshops on being a flexible leader. After the training, an appraisal shall be done again for this characteristic. By the end of September 2010. I will attend trainings and workshops on being a good communicator. After the training, an appraisal shall be done again for this characteristic. By the end of September 2010. Implement the leanings that I have gained from these trainings on the organization. I shall establish a feedback system in order to monitor the performance. By the end of September 2010. Impart the learning and leadership style by means of succession plan. Create measures and criteria on whom is qualified on becoming a next leader in the organization. Year 2011 onwards. Conclusion I want provide a positive feedback that will help me to present creative and inspirational image of the students at Ashland University. Different people have different personalities and I think I have an ability to change behavior which shows that I am type 3 on Enneagram (Savage 2010) which says I can become an inspiring example of excellence and authenticity or blindly pursue success and status. I believe that it is important to listen to the suggestions what people say about my behavior it is possible that I may not notice changes in my behavior while perceived by others. In order for me to become a successful leader I need to interact with my followers, peers, seniors, and others; whose support will help me to accomplish my goals. For gaining the support of my peers and seniors I must be able to understand and motivate them and know the human behavior. Human behavior plays an important role in leadership strategy and they behave according to certain principles of human nature. As a leader I must understand these needs because they can be powerful motivators. I have learnt multiple facets of leadership from an interdisciplinary perspective. I am investigating my leadership behaviors, to be more reflective in their responses and make plans to improve the effectiveness. I am able to determine exactly what goals I want to target and how I can strategically limit and focus my efforts and develop an individualized leadership developmental plan.

Monday, August 19, 2019

The Role of the Amygdala in Fear and Panic Essay -- Biology Essays Res

The Role of the Amygdala in Fear and Panic The definition of fear has proved to be an elusive mystery plaguing scientists. While there is much agreement as to the physiological effects of fear, the neural pathways and connections that bring upon these effects are not well understood. From the evolutionary standpoint, the theory is that fear is a neural circuit that has been designed to keep the organism alive in dangerous situations (1). How does it all work? Learning and responding to stimuli that warn of danger involves neural pathways that send information about the outside world to the amygdala, which in turn, determines the significance of the stimulus and triggers emotional responses like freezing or fleeing as well as changes in the inner workings of the body's organs and glands (1). There are important distinctions to make between emotions and feelings. Feelings are "red herrings", products of the conscious mind, labels given to unconscious emotions (2) whereas emotions are distinct patterns of behaviors of neurons. E motions can exist of conscious experiencesas well as physiological and neurological reactions and voluntary and involuntary behaviors (3). But the components of fear goes beyond feelings and emotions. It is also the specific memory of the emotion. After a frightful experience, one can remember the logical reasons for the experience (e.g. the time and place) but one will also "feel" the memory, and his body will react as such (i.e. increased heart and respiration rate, sweating). In one recent case, after a near drowining incident, the victim could not only vividly remember each detail, but when doing so, his body reacted as though he were reliving the experience. These feelings of memory are stored in an ... ... of being harmed at this particular moment. The three emotions can diffuse into one single diffuse state (5). Internet Sources: Isaacson, Robert. The Limbic System. Plenum Press, New York, NY, 1982 Thompson, Jack George. The Psychobiology of Emotions. Plenum Press, New York, NY, 1988 http://academic.uofs.edu/department/neuro/fear.html Van Goozen, Stephanie H. M. (ed.). Emotions: Essays on Emotion Theory. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, Hillsdale, N.J., 1994 Kavanaugh, Robert. Emotion: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers, Hillsdale, N.J., 1996 Muller, Jeff, "Functional Inactivation of the Lateral and Basal Nuclei of the Amygdala by Muscimol Infusion Prevents Fear Conditioning to an Explicit Conditioned Stimulus and to Contextual Stimuli". Behavioral Neuroscience, Vol. 111, No. 4, pp. 683-691, 1997

Advertising in America Essay -- Advertisements Media Essays

Advertising in America (All need revisions in italics) Are advertising companies out of control now a days? Do they play on the average Americans fears about certain events in life to sell their products? Do they try to attack events that are one and a million to sell us useless things? Advertising companies use all of those tactics to sell things to the average everyday concerned American. This is especially evident in security systems, new cars, and also in equipment. This aspect of advertising is also apparent in commercials trying to stop Americans from buying things such as cigarettes and drugs. These advertising companies have been very successful in using this tactic to sell their goods. Security systems for homes have been a big seller thanks to this tactic used by advertising big shots. ADT is a leading security system seller who uses this in every commercial they make. The fear that they play on is the fear of being attacked in the middle of the night. They show a family in the quiet suburbs with a nice home in a nice neighborhood. They show a burglar trying to break into the home which is un-successful due to the alarm system in the home. It the shows the family being woken by the sound of the alarm followed by a call from the professionals at adt who monitor all the alarms. The person on the phone tells the family to remain calm and notifies them that authorities are on the way. This is a solid example of advertising playing on American fears. They target middle class families in the suburbs because they know that they have money to install them, and know that for the most part care about the safety of their families. Scare tactics such as this one, works for th e company who sells hundreds of thousands of sec... ... you buy drugs you may be supporting the enemy. This is a strong attack that appeals mainly to older teens who understand the war. These uses of advertising are being used more and more by companies. They realize that Americans are caring about more and more. Americans are becoming more and more concerned with issues such as saftey, beauty, and bronze. This opens many doors for companies to sell their products. In conclusion I believe advertising companies do use fear to sell their products. Along with believing that they use our fears to bleed us of money for absolutely useful things, I also believe that these companies are successful and will become more and more successful as more fears accumulate in the American consumers mind. Since the seller is also a consumer he or she knows exactly which fears to play which makes it a very successful advertising tactic.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Lovely People Do Stupid Things Essay -- Essays Papers

Lovely People Do Stupid Things How is love to influence our lives? Love-struck people do crazy things to express how they care for that particular person yet it is a long and windy road to these actions. It is down this path that experience spawns and trouble and happiness are felt. Janie Crawford of Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, shows the road through the steps of her three relationships. These relationships, though not fulfilling ones, conclude in bettering Janie’s search and understanding of life. Johnny Taylor, Janie’s first kiss and gatekeeper to her future, When Janie was sixteen, she embarked on a sexual awakening. Johnny Taylor was a poor young man who lived in the Florida area. Janie allowed him to kiss her over the fence. Unfortunately, Nanny saw everything. With Nanny’s horrendous background of sinful deeds done to her, she wanted the best for Janie. As she saw the kiss, the doors of life opened for Janie and Nanny wasn’t going to have her make the same mistakes that she had. Yet, Nanny had been impregnated under the circumstances of being a slave and this was not the case for Janie. Nanny stated that â€Å"black women were the mules of the world†, but she didn't want Janie to be a mule. She wanted to see Janie in a secure situation before she died, and Logan Killicks could provide that. Janie did not want to marry Logan, but she did so because Nanny told her â€Å"that she would eventually come to love him.† Ironically, Logan wanted to force...

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Jesus as Messiah, Prophet and Son of Man

Jesus, being both divine and human, is attributed the roles of Messiah, prophet and Son of Man.   The three roles are distinct from each other but the role of Messiah is the most controversial of the three because of the difference between Judaic expectation and Jesus’ interpretation of the role.   On the other hand, the roles Prophet and Son of Man are more easily acceptable by any culture or religion as they view the historical Jesus, but each is no less important.   Jesus’ prophetic role enables him to become a direct messenger from God, and his humanity provides empathy with human attitudes and feelings.   His humanity also emphasizes that his ability to feel pain contributes to the reality of his sacrifice during his suffering, and death by crucifixion.Jesus is the Son in the Holy Trinity and this gives him the identity of God incarnate, being both human and divine.   Though through Jesus’ omniscient messianic role, the prophetic role is already ex pected, there are aspects about his ministry that distinguish the role of Messiah from the role of prophet.   Moreover, while these are divine facets of Jesus, his identity as the Son of Man, or being truly human, is equally important because it gives more importance to his sacrifices, especially his death by crucifixion.   Meanwhile, Jesus complies with the general description of the prophesied Judaic Messiah (Croatto, 2005, p. 464), having been born as a descendant of David, but the Jews   are expecting more in terms of a Messiah who will save his people from physical bondage.Jesus is recognized more as the Messiah rather than a prophet, because it is through being the Messiah that he is able to save while as a prophet he merely foretells what is to come, like many other prophets.   However, Jesus’ role as Messiah has become the most controversial of his facets.   The Jewish people are more ready to accept Jesus as a fully human prophet than being the actual Messi ah because of the different expectations attached by the Jews to the role of Messiah: â€Å"All the prophets affirmed that the Messiah will redeem Israel, save them, gather their dispersed, and confirm the commandments.But he caused Israel to be destroyed by the sword, their remnant to be dispersed and humiliated† (Wolf, 2001, p. 370).   In their great suffering, the Jews have longed for a Savior that will fight physically in order to save them, like a much more powerful version of human kings.   Jesus, on the other hand, has come to die for people’s sins, to save the soul instead of the body. His messianic role also involves healing.   â€Å"Jesus’ miraculous deeds in Matthew, therefore, are replete with eschatological significance and point to Jesus’ messianic identity† (Cousland, 2003, p. 770); people have waited for a Messiah who can heal.   There are many instances in the bible which refers to Jesus’ healing of physical afflicti ons along with spiritual ones.He has raised people from the dead, has cured life-threatening diseases and has released demons from the bodies of those afflicted both spiritually and physically.   He therefore, has demonstrated apt evidence that support his messianic identity.   Nevertheless, in a time of conflict and doubt, this is not apparent to people who have hungered for someone who can liberate them and have waited for so long for the fulfillment of a prophesied warrior who will bring about justice and peace.   As a result, Jesus has been tagged as a â€Å"Messianic pretender† (Wolf, 2001, p. 370).Jesus’ role of Prophet is prevalent in the Gospel of Luke.   Though overshadowed by his Messianic role, it is a more tangible role that is also supported by prophecy, particularly in Deuteronomy.   Jesus is described as the â€Å"new Moses† and a â€Å"Teacher† (Croatto, 2005, p. 454).   It is also important to know that Jesus has described him self as prophet in Luke 13:33, and is a healer-preacher like the prophet Elijah.   As a prophet, the historical Jesus is compared to past prophets like Moses and Elijah. â€Å"The prophet Jesus is the paradigm for the Christian prophetic mission.To see Christ, the Messiah, as heavenly king and monarch is not very suitable today, because of so many sad experiences of many monarchies in our world† (Croatto, 2005, p. 465).  Ã‚   This means that during these times, the image of Jesus as prophet is more important.   It can become a practical framework for modern prophets or missionaries intent in spreading the word of God.   In today’s world, monarchs and other political leaders are regarded with some trepidation or criticism.   The Jews of Jesus’ time may be longing for a Messiah who will rule as a king but today’s people will want to hear a preacher or to go to a healer.   Croatto’s statement can also mean that Jesus’ interpretation of his role of Messiah through his work as prophet and healer is a good manifestation of messianic identity.As has been mentioned earlier, Jesus’ role of Son of Man, or being truly human, adds to the magnitude of his works.   It is curious then to know the implications if Jesus’ come to the world of his people as a purely divine Messiah without a true understanding of the human condition, instead of becoming God turned Man.   In becoming the Son of Man, he fully empathizes with his people but it also means that he is not the warrior king that everyone has been expecting from a divine Messiah.   Furthermore, Jesus has become truly human to become a good example to his people of what it is to be truly human.   â€Å"The essence of divinity is fully realized humanity.   Therefore, only God is truly human, and the task set before human beings are to become human as God is human†¦Jesus serves as our model of true humanity† (Burkett, May 2002, p. 43).J esus is Messiah, Prophet and Son of Man, human and divine, and these aspects of his role in the world is emphasized by his preaching and healing.   Though Jesus is not the Savior that the Jewish people have expected, his Messianic role and prophetic mission are supported by the Scriptures.   His Messianic role is manifested in his healing, his prophetic mission through his teachings and his humanity through a direct understanding of the human condition.References:  Ã‚  BIBLIOGRAPHY   l 1033   Burkett, D. (May 2002). Our Man Jesus. Christian Century , 43-46.Cousland, J. (2003). Book Review: Messiah, the Healer of the Sick: A Study of Jesus as the Son David in  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   the Gospel of Matthew. Journal of Biblical Literature , 768-771.Croatto, J. S. (2005). Jesus, Prophet like Elijah, and Prophet Teacher like Moses in Luke – Acts. 451-465.Wolf, A. J. (2001). Jesus and the Jews.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Legal Age to Drink – Should It Be Changed?

Legal Age to Drink: Should it be Changed? In this day and age with more sophisticated teens and young people abusing alcohol, the issue concerning whether or not teenagers should be able to drink at a younger age is an important topic. In the article â€Å"Perils of Prohibition† Elizabeth M. Whelan argues that alcohol should be legalized at the age of eighteen instead of twenty-one. She hopes to persuade readers, parents, and educators to support her proposal for the change by successful alcohol education.Although Whelan provides valuable examples to prove that proper alcohol education is an effective solution in reducing the problems faced with alcohol abuse among American teenagers, she does not provide enough substantial evidence to justify changing the legal drinking age to eighteen years old. In the beginning paragraphs, Whelan compares alcohol consumption with American teens and their European peers. She says, â€Å"American teens, unlike their European peers, donâ€⠄¢t learn how to drink gradually, cautiously, and in moderation† (2).This is a great example because it makes the readers think about the different cultural views of alcohol consumption among youthful drinkers globally. Though the consumption of alcohol in France, Spain, and Portugal is higher than the United States per person, the rate of alcoholism and alcohol abuse is lower (4). Whelan hopes to prove that if moderate alcohol consumption and proper awareness of the use of it is instilled in children eighteen years old and up then drinking alcohol should be okay. She compares three countries to the United States in her example.We live in a pretty big world, is it the same in other â€Å"drinking† countries? The example is fairly effective but comparing drinking habits in only three countries to the United States is not enough to persuade readers. In order to gain support for successful alcohol education being a key factor in helping the problems faced with alcohol abus e, Whelan mentions an example involving her daughter. She explained to her daughter the differences in alcohol contents and the importance of not drinking on an empty stomach (8).The strength of this example is effective because it is coming from personal experience. It’s detailed and provided by a woman whose education and occupation qualifies her to make this kind of study. This type of person often makes you want to believe him or her. However, this piece of evidence uses the hasty generalization fallacy. A single personal experience or even many is not enough to convince readers. People’s personal experiences differ greatly. And how do the readers even know if alcohol education was successful with her daughter?Her daughter may not have gotten herself into trouble recently but she’s still under the legal age of drinking and who knows what would happen once she goes off to college? Because of her daughter’s age and the fallacy used, creates a weak examp le for supporting alcohol education. Whelan continues with examples to prove that proper education is the key instead of prohibiting teenagers the right to drink until the age of twenty-one. She mentions tragic accidents that occurred at the Ivy League school her daughter Christine will be attending in the fall.A student who was nearly electrocuted when, in a drunken state, climbed on a moving train. The student survived but lost three of his limbs (10). A second incident where an intoxicated student ended up in a chimney and was found three days later dead (10). She hopes to convince readers that students do not make good choices when they drink, if they’re not educated properly. The tragedies with the sick, injured students are fair because they’re emotionally appealing to the reader but weak because she fails to provide statistical evidence as to how often injuries of this kind occur.The examples are extreme and rare ones that are unlikely to happen on a regular bas is. Whelan continues supporting her claim by mentioning a study that was done at the Harvard School of Public Health by her colleagues. What they found in their survey of college students was that they drink â€Å"early and . . . often,† frequently to the point of getting ill (1). She defends her claim by appealing to authority as evidence. And readers would not be happy knowing that students are becoming sick from irresponsible drinking – the human factor.This study is included to let people know that college students are drinking irresponsibly and becoming sick from it as a result. Not surprisingly, she failed to provide statistical evidence again. That is, evidence of how many students is involved in the survey and the diversity of people in the study. These are important factors needed to be included in the survey to make it believable and convincing to the readers. Finally, two analogies are given by Whelan in hopes of her readers to accept her case. This author c reates a weak analogy when comparing sex education to alcohol education.In an attempt to change the legal age of drinking to twenty-one, she says â€Å"we choose to teach our children about safe sex, including the benefits of teen abstinence, why not about safe drinking†? (13) The only similarity is that drinking and sex can cause unsafe or unwanted events, therefore it makes sense to be educated on both subjects. However, the similarity is not relevant enough to be considered a good analogy. Safe sex education has been taught for many years to children but it has not stopped them from having sex or preventing unwanted pregnancies.If this is the case, how would safe drinking education be convincing to the readers to change the legal age to eighteen? The second analogy which is fairly significant in dealing with the unfairness of the legal age to drink, is comparing the ability for teens to be able to drive cars, fly planes, marry, vote, pay taxes, take out loans, and risks th eir lives in the U. S armed forces to drinking. She says, â€Å"At eighteen they’re considered adults but when they want to enjoy a drink like other adults, they are â€Å"disenfranchised†Ã¢â‚¬  (5).Whelan hopes this evidence will convince readers that if eighteen year olds are given â€Å"adult† responsibilities then they shall be treated as adults in all aspects of life, including drinking alcohol in moderation. She makes a great point with the comparison but when comparing voting, paying taxes, taking out a loan, and marrying to drinking, the responsibilities don’t impair your brain in a way that drinking alcohol would. Whelan presents herself as a kind-hearted woman who is a bit upset and frustrated with the current laws regarding the legal age to drink.The example she uses explaining how she educated her daughter with regards to alcohol content shows her taking a subtle approach with allowing her daughter to drink rather than making it appear to be a bad thing if you are under the legal age. (8) She shows compassion and concern. Whelan’s tone throughout the essay is fairly tolerable, but she does show some depreciation towards the government when she compares teenagers being able to â€Å"drive cars, fly planes, marry, vote, pay taxes, take out loans, and risk their lives as members of the U. S. rmed forces but laws in all fifty say that no alcoholic beverages may be sold to anyone until that magic twenty-first birthday. † (3) When she mentions â€Å"we should make access to alcohol legal at eighteen and at the same time, we should come down much harder on alcohol abusers and drunk drivers of all ages† (12) she is genuinely concerned of the welfare of all people with regards to alcohol and safety. She eagerly wants to make a difference. And as public-health scientist with a daughter heading to college, she has professional and personal concerns in regards to the dangers of alcohol.While it is obvious that Whelan’s heart is in the right place and that alcohol abuse among teenagers is a problem, her argument suffers from lack of evidence to support changing the legal age of drinking to eighteen years old. Proper alcohol education can be helpful in terms of improving the problem but that’s it. Whelan’s article indicates a need for further study on the abuse of teenage drinking. It would be helpful to see statistical results in studies done among colleges across the nation and in all areas from rich to poor. The more valid studies the better chance finding the proper solutions to the problem.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

A paper study evaluation

The main message of the paper is directed at providing enough background and research to the process of identifying user needs and to enable one to understand the various importance of collecting user needs. Requirements collection forms an essential step in system development and is one of the primary stages which need to be fulfilled well for further successful development of the system.Unless this stage is performed well and requirements are captured entirely the system would be half- built and it would not correspond to the details of the business operations entirely.2. Why this message is seen as important and worthy of research?Answer: It is quite important to identify the user’s mind and to devise the better methods for research and development. The composition of user’s reactions, their various perceptions towards cost, effort and time is very crucial to be understood so that they can be capitalized upon.The various messages would impart better formulation of th e various strategies required for fetching the requirements of the users. The composition of the primary understanding of the subject, its importance and learning the various natures would enable better communication and pave the way to smoother communication.3. What issues are addressed within the main message?Answer: The issues that are addressed in the main passage would be to understand the user problems and to capture the various mechanisms to get the job done at its best.The first message is aimed at knowing the crucial aspects of an user’s mind and their objectives which they would target. Knowing the right pattern and benefit would largely assist the development team to shape their technique for requirements gathering.The second message is towards the understanding the right tool for collection of the requirements. It largely presents the factor for the right selection of the appropriate methodology for benefit and would enable greater integration of user choices and methodology.The third message is to announce the right method for collection of requirements and its successful classification for which the system can be built around successfully. The various requirements for enabling the classification would result in knowing the user minds and acknowledging the right way for gaining the advantage of the proposed system.4. How these issues are treated/researched?Answer: The issues are placed into the research domain for getting the elaborate discussion of the facts and thus a set of questionnaires are devised for answering the issues for the paper. The composition of the various strategies result into visual set of instances through which the communication would be further smooth and understandable.The data flow diagrams and process models enriched the issues further and the very basis for making the right judgments would be at ease. The various models suggested in the research has taken effective care of the user’s understanding process a nd facilitated the right manner of fetching the requirements for its detail. The proper classification would enable right judgment of the issues and enable better modeling the framework.5. What are the major findings of the paper?Answer: The major finding is divided into large scale classified programs. The major achievement is divided into modules and user details are framed into it. The composition of the varied factors has evolved the IBIS model and the observance of a methodology to match the requirements of the enterprise.The methodologies form the large part of discussion and enable one to detail various forms of justice to match the standards. The rightful methods for getting the insight of the various strategies exercised would satisfy requirements stated.6. What is your own assessment of the findings of the paper?Answer: The assessment lies in the depth of the major challenges laid down and to make the most of the methodologies and models proposed. The models proposed for s uccessful capturing of the user requirements are yet to be tested in real life and thus cannot be predicted for its success for sure.The risk factors and the collaboration of ideas would fetch right direction for the right tapping of the user’s requirements and the dynamic nature of the changing user’s views and collaboration. The primary issue is to understand the situation and the various challenges posed by the situation. The analysis of the clients atmosphere and the risk factors for inappropriate information collection methodology is of large importance. The variety of options and the selection of the right factor would enable correct decision making for the enterprise.The cultural issues at this point must be highlighted well and must be taken into account for better understanding of the issues. The problems related to obtaining information and collection of user requirements is a major challenge. The different methods for doing work might not be understood by pe ople and would instill problems if not corrected well. The cultural issues required to be dealt well for fetching the appropriate set of user requirements and to make sure that it is taken care well.The models highlighted in the paper are not sought after and wishfully does not envelope the major emotional factors for data collection and tapping the right set of requirements. The various psychological factors are not taken into picture and are not surveyed for fetching the birds view of the process.7. Relate this assessment to some case studies or applications in the real world which you are aware of, i.e. substantiate your assessment with examplesAnswer:   The assessment can be dealt with a case study of a company where the best technique to collect requirements for their â€Å"Employee leave tracking system†. Techniques like interviewing, questionnaire, past documents and other such ways of dealing with the final collection of user requirements. The SWOT analysis of the m ethods was researched and ultimately the interviewing methods for requirements collection are established for better research and study.In our Employee leave tracking system, the interviewing method would be of great use for collecting the requirements as the diversification would be quite less. The person giving information may not cater to all departments, as leave is an organizational issue and can be addressed by the HR manager alone. All the queries regarding system requirements would be met by one person alone handling the employee leave tracking system that is the Human Resources department.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Why Quaid Left Congress

In 1913 the Quaid-i-Azam joined the All India Muslim League without abandoning the membership of the Congress of which he had been an active member for some years. But this membership of the two organizations ended in December 1920. On the occasion of the special session at Nagpur the Congress adopted a new creed which permitted the use of unconstitutional means and decided to resort to non-violent non-co-operation for the attainment of self-government.The new policy and programme in essence envisaged withdrawal of the students from schools and colleges, boycott of law-courts by lawyers and litigants as well as the impending elections to the legislatures under the Government of India act 1919 either as voters or as candidates. 1 The new philosophy of the Congress had been shaped almost entirely under the influence of Gandhi who had, by then, emerged as a commanding figure in Congress politics. Although there were many prominent Congressmen such as C. R.Das and Lala Lajpat Rai who did not subscribe to the programme of non-co-operation2, Jinnah was the only one in a crowd of several thousand people who openly expressed serious disagreement. A constitutionalist by conviction he was unable to endorse, what he called, a sterile programme that the Congress intended to pursue. He was not opposed to agitation or, even putting stronger, pressure on the Government but he distrusted the ‘destructive methods which did not take account of human nature, and which might slip out of control at any time’3.He was convinced and he did not hesitate to tell Gandhi directly that ‘your way is the wrong way: mine is the right way – the constitutional way is the right way’4. But his voice of practical statesmanship was not heeded and Jinnah walked away not only out of the Congress session but from the Congress Party as well. Commenting on Jinnah’s courage as the solitary opponent of the Boycott resolution Col. Wedgwood, who was present in the Con gress session as a fraternal delegate of the British Labour Party, observed that if India had only a few more men of Jinnah’s convictions she would not have to wait for long for her independence. Jinnah’s rupture with the Congress has been variously interpreted. Jawaharlal Nehru in his Autobiography is of the view that â€Å"Temperamentally he did not fit in at all with the new Congress. He felt completely out of his element in the Khadi-clad crowd demanding speeches in Hindustani†. 6 In a later work he has reiterated that Jinnah left the Congress ‘because he could not adapt himself to the new and more advanced ideology and even more so because he dislike the crowds of ill-dressed people talking in Hindustani, who filled the Congress’7.This is hardly a convincing explanation of Jinnah’s breach with the Congress. During his fourteen year old8 association with the body he had freely mingled with the ‘Khadi-clad’ and ‘ill-dres sed’ crowd at its meetings. This criticism, moreover, does not appear to reckon with the fact that the people whom Jinnah led in later years – the Muslims – were even poorer and less educated than Hindus who swelled the Congress gatherings and felt completely at home among them.It is of course true that the wilderness of unconstitutionalism had no appeal for him. There was nothing mealy-mouthed about it. He was convinced that Gandhian methodology for the solution of political problems would do great harm than good to India and especially the Muslims, as indeed it did. The Moplahs, the descendants of Arab sailors living along the Malabar Coast, rose in revolt against the British in August 1921 as partners in the non-co-operation movement and lost no less than 10,000 lives9.The Chauri-Chauri tragedy in the district of Gorakhpur, in February 1922, where twenty two policemen were overpowered and brutally burnt alive in the adjoining police station by a frenzied mob was also a sequel of Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement. Whether it was on account of excess such as these or some other unexplained factors, Gandhi realised his mistake at this stage; calling it a Himalayan blunder he called off the movement. Another Hindu writer would have us believe that Jinnah was a ‘misfit in the Indian National Congress after its assumption of a new complexion of agitation against the British Government’. 0 Writing in defence of the Nagpur Resolution, a British biographer of Gandhi has likewise suggested that the Congress demand for Swaraj ‘within the British Empire if possible or outside it if necessary’ was the clause which ‘killed the alliance with Jinnah and the Muslim League’. In his opinion ‘the suggestion that India might quit the Empire was too much for him – having talked himself into total inefficacy he deserted Congress for ever’11. The proposition that Jinnah was in league with the forces of British Imperialism is manifestly ncorrect. Any one who has made a dispassionate study of Jinnah’s political career and his public utterances inside as well as outside the Legislative Assembly would not fail to see that he was the bitterest critic of British rule throughout his public career. Immediately after the stormy session of the Congress at Nagpur, Jinnah explained the reasons for his dissociation from the Congress. Talking to a Hindu journalist he said ‘I will have nothing to do with this pseudo-religious approach to politics.I part company with the Congress and Gandhi. I do not believe in working up mob hysteria. Politics is a gentlemen’s game’12. Speaking several years later, he charged Gandhi with destroying the ideal with which the Congress was started. He was the one man responsible for turning the Congress into an instrument for the revival of Hinduism’13. These words are neither a mere accusation nor a revelation. ‘Ga ndhi’, in the words of Jawaharlal Nehru ‘was essentially a man of religion, a Hindu to the inner-most depths of his being14.His oft-expressed desire to live for 125 years was an old Hindu aspiration which ‘according to Hindu tradition was the full span of human life’15. Even the political terminology he coined and the weapons he used to fight his political battles were characteristically Hindu. In an article, entitled, ‘The Doctrine of the Sword’, written in 1920, he proudly proclaimed: ‘I have therefore ventured to place before India the ancient law of self-sacrifice. For Satyagraha and its off-shoots, non-co-operation and civil resistance, are nothing but new names for the law of suffering.The Rishis who discovered the law of non-violence in the midst of violence were greater geniuses than Newton. They were themselves greater warriors than Wellington’16. Despite his frequent professions that he was equally dedicated to all religi ons17, Gandhi left no one in doubt as to what his own religious beliefs were. In a language free from all ambiguity he said that he was Sanatani Hindu ‘because I believe in the Vedas, the Upanishadas, the Purana and all that goes by the name of the Hindu scriptures, and therefore in avatars and rebirth’18.It was his religion and not politics which appealed to his Hindu followers. In the words of Subhas Chandra Bose, ‘when the Mahatma speaks, he does so in a language†¦of the Bhagvat Gita and the Ramayana. When he talks to them about Swaraj†¦he reminds them of the glories of Ramarajya (the Kingdom of King Rama of old) and they understand. And when he talks of conquering through love and ahinsa (non-violence) they are reminded of Buddha and Mahavira and they accept him,19.In spite of ‘Himalayan’ miscalculations that he made and the obvious political blunders that he committed his popularity among the masses hardly ever waned. The explanation of this curious phenomenon lies in the fact that ‘he played cleverly on the religious superstitions of the ignorant and poverty-stricken millions of India and got away with it’20. It was this approach to politics which repelled Jinnah and his departure from the Congress may be regarded as the starting point of a long process of self-examination.He was therefore to look more and more to the needs of his own community. It may be mentioned in the passing that Gandhi and Jinnah were each other’s antithesis in beliefs and ways of life and furnished an interesting study in contrast. There was hardly anything in common between them which could hold them together on one political platform for any length of time. Gandhi had been active in politics since his return from South Africa in 1915 and had consistently waged battles against the British Government on the question of political and constitutional future of India.But an accurate knowledge of facts and their details was not one of his otherwise numerous accomplishments. He himself admitted to Chimanlal Setalvad during the second session of the Round Table Conference that he had never read the Government of India Act of 1919. 21 In 1942 he wrote to Viceroy Lord Linlithgow that ‘he had been reading for the first time the Government of India Act of 1935’ and added ‘that if only he had studied it carefully†¦the course of Indian history might well have been different’22.He was an enigma and a sort of mystic who seldom spoke directly and mostly acted on impulse which he conveniently descried as his ‘inner voice’. Even his closest associates like Nehru found him to be ‘a very difficult person to understand’ because ‘sometimes his language was almost incomprehensible to an average modern’23. Lord Wavell at the end of one meeting with him complained that ‘he spoke to me for half an hour, and I am still not sure what he meant to tell me. Every sentence he spoke could be interpreted in at least two different ways.I would be happier were I convinced that he knew what he was saying himself, but I cannot even be sure of that’24. He was quite capable of interpreting and reinterpreting his own statements and was ‘perfectly prepared to go back at any time on anything he had said earlier’25. He could assume that role of a dictator in the Congress Party when it suited him while on other occasions when he believed that Hindu interests could be better served by his silence he would withdraw and innocently plead that he was not even an ordinary member of that Party.Jinnah, on the other hand was a down right political realist. True to his legal profession he would prepare his brief only after he was sure of his facts. There was a great deal of political idealism in him which was to grow with years but it was always based on the stark realities of the situation. He honoured his pledged word and as Lord Pe thick Lawrence said, ‘a man of very firm resolution, a man who when made a promise always kept it and if he felt any body else with whom he was negotiating failed to keep his promise he reacted very strongly’26.To say that the two-nation theory was the only ‘wall between Gandhi and Jinnah’27 is to oversimplify their mutual differences. It was a clash of two strong personalities, two distinct value systems and two irreconcilable ideologies and it were these differences what were ‘to dictate the course of the pen that wrote the history of India’28. Gandhi was a ‘strong man’ and he wanted complete submission not only from his followers but also from his co-workers. To expect Jinnah to offer unconditional acquiescence to any one and least of all to person like Gandhi was to hope for the impossible.This was completely alien to his way of thinking. The surprising thing is not that Jinnah left the Congress in 1920 but that he did not quit it earlier? It is therefore not a far-fetched assumption that Jinnah would have given up the Congress even if he had not voted for non-co-operation at Nagpur. It may have come about a little later but to expect that he would have continued to work in the Congress, in spite of Gandhi’s ascendancy with Hindu philosophy as the guiding star of his politics, appears highly unlikely.