A Dolls House Reaction free essay sample

Reaction Paper on A Dolls House There has never been a shortage of literature with gender roles as a main topic, and A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen is one of the premier works on the subject. Known for being startlingly ahead of its time, this play holds a firm spot in literary history and has been adapted in live theatre countless times over the past century. The dogma of what is proper and expected of both men and women for no other reason than their gender is questioned by Ibsen in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way, and his whimsical haracters cause viewers and readers to think about how relevant the topic of gender roles are today; perhaps even more so than when this play was first written. Ibsen provokes questions as to the roles of men and women in both a social and domestic setting and leads audiences to believe there is more to this complex subject than what lies on the surface of the everyday man and woman couple. The title of the play is the first clue as to the content. Dolls are toys meant for little girls and are mainly meant to be spruced up and look pretty, which fits perfectly with how Torvald elieves his little lark or his little squirrel should be. Torvald hides his belittlement with these terms of endearment and this creates a false image of love, Just like one would see as a scene inside a doll house. Nora believes he loves her unquestioningly and completely, and her actions are motivated by this belief in his love. She says to Dr. Rank at one point: miou know how devotedly, how inexpressibly deeply Torvald loves me; he would never for a moment hesitate to give his life for me. (House pg. 795). But in reality, Torvald cares more about his own image and the false respect he gets from others than he does about the overall wellbeing of his family and wife. To Torvald, the appearance of the dolls and their house is more important than anything else. The social role of women in cultures across the world has varied greatly. Some cultures have had women leading them for many years; other more male-dominated cultures cringe at the very idea of being subservient to a woman. Torvald cannot stand the idea of owing anything of importance to a woman, even his wn wife, the one person he should be able to show vulnerability to rely on as a companion. His male-driven ego puts the import of his image above even his love for his wife, which should be paramount to all things. Torvald exposes himself as a weak and cowardly man, bankrupt of moral fiber and substance, which Nora proves to be so much more than how she is first viewed. She rises above the adversities of the play and proves to be intelligent, resourceful, and able to make difficult decisions because she believes them to be right and good even though they cause her uffering. These two characters show a complete flip in role as Nora being the truly complex and human character while Torvald is shallow, conceited, and Just an abysmal excuse for a person. Ibsen shows desirable character traits are not specific to gender, and even when the most terrible conflicts arise there is no telling for certain who will snow their true and radiant colors, regardless ot gender. Another thing to consider is Just how much Nora sacrifices by the end of the play, while Torvald Jumps ship when he is first made aware of trouble. Nora is motivated by true ove to give up fancy clothes, to risk her name and reputation, and even precious time spent with her children and husband in order to save Torvalds life even though she never thinks the time will come when he should be made aware of her efforts and sacrifices. She silently takes the extra work in stride and even manages to trick her husband to buy into her false image of being a spendthrift, all so she can save his life. She even gives up her children, whom she loves to no end, because she truly believes their caretaker will be able to raise them into better people. Nora is willing to sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of her family throughout the entire play, and this shows incredible strength of character that any person, man or woman, should be Jealous of and strive to achieve. How many people would be able to deal with the kind of responsibility and burden she does without even the luxury of telling anyone about the situation for such a long time? By the end of the play, Ibsen has effectively flipped the typical role of man and woman even by todays cultures standards, though it is much more accepted now than it was in the past. Remembering the time frame in which this play was originally written speaks for itself in showing Just how ahead of its time this literary piece was. Nora walks out of her doll house and stakes her claim to independence as a woman and a human being, not with any malicious intent in her heart, but with the desire to pursue her own happiness. She considers these duties to herself Just as sacred as being a wife and a mother (House pg. 815). Her entire view of where her place in life is changes when she sees Torvald for how he is on the inside, and she begins to realize she is ot happy and never was. It comes time for her to take her life into her own hands and experience things without the tether of what a woman should be based on the declarations of a domineering male society. Ibsens genius seems like the normal views of todays standards, but the fact remains that he wrote this play back in 1879 when the roles of men and women were much more set in stone and had distinguished forms and etiquette. Women were seen as shallow, emotional, and incapable of dealing with serious issues while men were the true accomplishers and uilders of society.

Role of Asset Liability Management in Banking Industry

Question: Describe about the Role of Asset Liability Management in Banking Industry? Answer: Introduction In a country commercial bank plays vital role for the mobilization of deposits and disbursement of credit in different sectors of economy. The financial system of a bank should be efficient for maintaining the financial stability. Financial stability of a bank depends on the efficient management of all assets. It is also important to take proper strategies against the financial risks. Asset liability area is an important area for banking sector especially for those banks that provides service globally. According to different reports, banking industry is facing challenges for maintaining financial stability especially for those banks that provide service internationally. The purpose of this research is to understand the role of asset liability management in banking institutions. It is also important to identify the factors which can increase the risk of the banking sectors. Research Aim The aim of the research is to identify the role and function of asset liability management in the banking institutions. This research proposal is basically about the discussion of the importance of theoretical and practical aspects of asset liability management in commercial banking sector. It will also help to identify the role of asset liability management in reducing the risk of the management in banking industry (Coleman, 2012). Research Questions For this research proposal, researcher has selected certain questions and the entire research is based on those questions. The research questions related to this research are as follows: What is the role and importance of asset liability management in banking industry? How asset liability management can reduce the risk associated with functional activities of banking industry? What are the possible ways for managing the assets of banking industry? How the asset liability management can reduce the risk associated with functional activities of banking industry Literature Review [understanding of the background] As per the different researcher has been mentioned all are the required thoughts about the theoretical and practical aspects about the asset management activities for managing liabilities in the commercial banking sector. Asset Liability Management- Concept According to Ratnovski (2013), asset liability management is considered as comprehensive and dynamic model for determining, monitoring and managing of market risk of financial institutions. It provides such structure of balance sheet for the financial institutions through which they can increase the net earnings from interest considering the overall risk-preference (Ambira and Kemoni, 2011). This techniques also manage the different types of functions and risks such as liquidity risk, market risk, trading risk, funding and capital planning and also profit planning and growth projections (Hull, 2012). As per the opinion of Samad (2012), asset liability management can be defined as the process through which banking organizations can get the options for allowing alternative interest rate and liquidity scenarios. As it is said by Bryan (2013) that banking organizations should focus on asset liability management for overcoming the different kinds of financial risks. It is also said that this concept is not only provide the formalization of understanding, but it also provide the way for quantifying and managing the risk. On the other side, Arewa, Owoputi and Torbira (2013) opine that asset liability approach can be considered as the initial stage of long-term strategic planning procedure. So, this concept can be referred to as the planning function for financial institutions. In better way it can be said that it deals with the management of various items of balance sheet and it also help in planning and also directing and controlling of different levels due to changing in assets, liabilities and capital if financial institutions. Plan to carry out the research Research Stages Defining of research problem At the first, researcher is required to find out and defining the problem or situation on which the study will be done. In this step, researcher is going to understand the problem clearly and rephrasing the same in proper way. Review of literature After the defining of research problem, the researcher will include a brief description of past research and conceptual framework related with the current research work. Formulation of research model In the third step, researcher would formulate the different models to conduct the research. The various financial tools and theories are to be considered to role of asset liability management. Preparing of research design The step of research design contains the collection of relevant evidence with less expenditure of effort and time and money. Data Collection After the preparation of research design, researcher is going to collect the data from the different sources. Data Analysis In this step, researcher will analyze the collected and represent the results through tabulation, chart, graph, etc. Interpretation of research outcomes The last of the research includes the interpretation and preparation of report according to the outcomes of the research. Research Outline/Plan Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors Research proposal on Banking industry 38 days Mon 12/14/15 Sun 1/24/16 Selection of Topic of the research 1 day Mon 12/14/15 Mon 12/14/15 Data gathering for primary stage to select the research aim 7 days Tue 12/15/15 Tue 12/22/15 Finding sources of data 4 days Tue 12/15/15 Fri 12/18/15 2 Strengthening initial proposal 3 days Sun 12/20/15 Tue 12/22/15 4 literature review 12 days Tue 12/22/15 Mon 1/4/16 conducting research on the available journals 3 days Tue 12/22/15 Fri 12/25/15 5 Setting the appropriate theories and models for discussing 3 days Fri 12/25/15 Mon 12/28/15 7 Preparing different views in literature 3 days Tue 12/29/15 Thu 12/31/15 8 Summarizing the reviews 3 days Fri 1/1/16 Mon 1/4/16 9 Preparation of research aims 5 days Mon 1/4/16 Sun 1/10/16 Identifying the contemporary problems associated with the customer satisfaction 2 days Mon 1/4/16 Wed 1/6/16 10 Preparing the research questions 1 day Wed 1/6/16 Thu 1/7/16 12 Set the objectives of conducting the research 2 days Thu 1/7/16 Sun 1/10/16 13 Research methodologies 6 days Sun 1/10/16 Fri 1/15/16 Describing the methodologies to be applied in this research 1 day Sun 1/10/16 Sun 1/10/16 14 Tools and techniques of the research selected 2 days Mon 1/11/16 Tue 1/12/16 16 procedure of research is prepared 1 day Wed 1/13/16 Wed 1/13/16 17 Selection of data collection method 1 day Thu 1/14/16 Thu 1/14/16 18 Selection of analysis method 1 day Fri 1/15/16 Fri 1/15/16 19 Secondary data collection method 3 days Sun 1/17/16 Tue 1/19/16 Conducting information from secondary sources 2 days Sun 1/17/16 Mon 1/18/16 20 tentative outcome of the research analyzed 1 day Mon 1/18/16 Tue 1/19/16 22 Ethical consideration 4 days Tue 1/19/16 Sun 1/24/16 23 Table 1: Outline of the research Figure: Gantt chart Research Methodology and Choice of Sources Research Approach The researcher is going to apply certain tools and techniques for conducting the current research study. The different statistical techniques and models will be applied by the researcher on basis of the requirement. The research methodology refers to the plans to examining the factors related with the problematic situation (Denicolo and Becker, 2012). The researcher needs to collect the data from different sources. Before conducting the research work, the preparing of work structure is essential. Researcher will try to focus on different ideas and information collected from different sources. As per the different researcher for the research process of finding out the different banking aspects which is based on the different policies and theories related to the research activities of the banking approaches of the organization. In this case, research approach is deductive approach because researcher does not focus on the specific model or theory (Denscombe, 2012). The focus is to apply different theories and models for identifying the role of asset liability management in banking industry. The approach of the study will be to find out the current position of managing the asset-liability in banks contrasting with the current systems and regulations. Thereby, the deductive approach will be applied in this study where we may deduce the past reviews related to asset-liability management. Research Design In this research process the ever achievement event is to understand the different strategies of the financial aspects of the commercial banking. This research work is based on the descriptive research designing process to analyze and describe the overall research process of the commercial banking system (Hieronymi and Stephanou, 2013). The overall research is on the different aspects of managerial theories to manage the commercial banking system. The entire process of research will be over at the descriptive research design of the company. The overall target of research work is about to acquire the overall knowledge related to the different practical and theoretical aspects of the techniques of the commercial banking. The research process fully depends upon the descriptive research design to understand the different diversification of acquiring knowledge about the project. Research method The method of the research is divided into two parts primary and secondary research. Primary research is useful in delivering the analysis using the raw information from the market. However, the secondary information provides the as is situation of the market or regarding any topic. In this context, the study will follow the secondary research as the data associated with this research will be secondary. In addition to this, the secondary method will allow the researcher to conduct the study analyzing the historical data to understand the trend of the ALM in the banks. The performance of the banks in managing the asset and liabilities in a long-run can be understood by analyzing the historical data only. Thereby, it is justified to use the secondary research in this study. Data Sources and Data Collection Methods Secondary data will be collected for different sources such as internet, books, journals and articles. Financial information of certain banks will be collected from the website of the banks. This research is mainly depends on financial aspect of the companies how the banking organizations manages their assets and liabilities. So, financial information is more important for the research. The research will follow the primary research too as it may find some valuable information of managing the asset-liabilities in the banks. Sample Size There are sample sizes selected for the research process with the 5 commercial banking system operators. The sample size is justified as the majority of the assets and liability distribution in the banks can be understood by following their style of ALM. Research Ethics The purpose of this is not for any commercial use. Limitations Research time scheduled and money for the different sources of the research is required which is the one of most limited constraint of this research process. Conclusion The proposal on the asset liability management in the bank may be found to be important as it holds great importance in delivering better performance for the banking institutions. Further, the study will find the requirements of asset-liability management in the banking institutions as well as the possible way to build up the managing process in the banks. In addition to this, the study will grow with the risk reduction in banking business through managing the asset and liability in single line. References Coleman, T. (2012).Quantitative risk management. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley Sons, Inc. Denicolo, P. and Becker, L. (2012).Developing research proposals. Los Angeles: Sage. Denscombe, M. (2012).Research proposals. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Hieronymi, O. and Stephanou, C. (2013).International debt. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Hull, J. (2012).Risk management and financial institutions + website. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley Sons, Inc. Liamputtong, P. (2012).Qualitative research methods. Silverman, D. (2013).Doing qualitative research. Ambira, C. and Kemoni, H. (2011). Records management and risk management at Kenya Commercial Bank Limited, Nairobi.S Afr j inf manag, 13(1). Arewa, A., Owoputi, J. and Torbira, L. (2013). Financial Statement Management, Liability Reduction and Asset Accumulation: An Application of Goal Programming Model to a Nigerian Bank.International Journal of Financial Research, 4(4). Bryan, S. (2013). Evaluation of Risk and Bank Management.Journal of Entrepreneurship Organization Management, 02(01). Ratnovski, L. (2013). Liquidity and Transparency in Bank Risk Management.IMF Working Papers, 13(16), p.1. Samad, A. (2012). Credit Risk Determinants of Bank Failure: Evidence from US Bank Failure.IBR, 5(9).

ACA Ethical Standards free essay sample

The primary use of assessment tools is to aid educational, career and clinical counselors in determining personal, emotional, social traits and behaviors of their clients. For clinical counselors, these tools are supposed to help diagnose and evaluate psychological ailments so that proper treatment will be given by qualified practitioners (Hood Johnson, n.d.). About 20% of adult females suffer from chronic depression (Scott, 2008). This psychological condition is usually diagnosed through personality inventory assessment tools. Symptoms of this problem are recurring; sometimes patients appear and feel normal which could possibly yield conflicting results if the assessment instrument selected is not appropriate and performed by unqualified practitioner. Considering the sensitivity and criticality of this problem, it is important that only qualified, highly trained counselors select, perform, evaluate and interpret the appropriate assessment instruments particularly when dealing with female adult patients suffering from chronic depression (Scott, 2008). Thus the American Counseling Association and the United States government issued safety nets to assure ethical practices in the evaluation, assessment and interpretation of psychological assessment instruments to protect individuals subjected to these tests and assure that the use will promote the people’s well-being instead of creating more problems. We will write a custom essay sample on ACA Ethical Standards or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The ACA Ethical Standards has many significant implications on the assessment of individuals particularly on our subject clients, adult females suffering from chronic depression. It sets rules on the â€Å"competence to use and interpret assessment instruments† (ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, 2006, p. 104). Only those who have the appropriate training and qualifications are allowed to perform, evaluate and interpret results of assessment tools. Different assessment tools require different expertise. The Association issues accreditation certificates or licenses for every assessment instrument used. Along with this permission is the big responsibility laid on the counselor. Because like health and medical practitioners, people’s lives are at stake and misuse and malpractices may be disastrous. Another major rule is â€Å"informed consent in assessment† (ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, 2006, p. 105). How the counselor explains and makes the client consents and understands the procedures and results of the tests is very critical. It is important to consider the value of human rights, the right of every person to know what is being done to her. Those with clinical concerns like our subject clients with chronic depression need utmost care because improper ways and choice of words may aggravate the health condition of the patients. â€Å"Diagnosis of Mental Disorders† (ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, 2006, p. 106) is another important aspect that should be considered. It is not a simple black-and-white, reveal- what-is-written situation. In cases of mental disorders and other clinical cases, particularly in our subject patients, counselors do not immediately divulge results to clients. They should have the competence to assess the condition of the patient whether these patients will be able to handle knowing their true condition. It is therefore important that the counselor weigh the value of informing and method of informing. This decision is a big responsibility to the counselor. It is also important to consider multi-cultural diversity in the selection and implementation of tests. The ethical standards stress caution on â€Å"assessment techniques that were normed on population other than that of the client† (ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, 2006, p. 109). Counselors should be concerned on social and cultural exposures of their clients, and consider differences in age, gender, ethnic groups, religion and even economic status. The logic of the ACA Ethical Standards is valuing the client as a human being and the client as a unique individual. Therefore anybody tasked to administer psychological assessment instruments bears the heavy responsibility to protect the life as well as the rights of every individual subjected to these tests. Competency and professionalism of the counselor are crucial in the effectiveness of any psychological assessment instrument. References ACA Ethical Standards Casebook. (2006). American Counseling Association. Library of Congress. Herlihy, Barbara, Corey, Gerald.   6th Edition. Hood, Albert Richard Johnson, (n.d.). â€Å"Personality Inventories† Assessment in Counseling 4th Edition. American Counseling Association. Chapter 11. Scott, Glenn. (2008). â€Å"Symptoms of Chronic Depression† Amazines. Retrieved 14 January 2009 from https://www.amazines.com/article_detail.cfm?articleid=697489

Mobile Phone Expository Essay Example

Mobile Phone Expository Essay Example Mobile Phone Expository Essay Mobile Phone Expository Essay Essay Topic: Expository Mobile Phone – Friend or Foe? Mobile phones are a mixed blessing for many of us. While some of us may miss the days of going out in public without hearing phones ringing all around us, most people do not miss being stranded on the side of the road with no way to call for help. The allure of having a convenient way to communicate has resulted in an increase in mobile phone usage over the years. Mobile phones have given rise to new rules of etiquette, and even new laws that regulate their use. Concerns about public safety and mobile phones are often in the news, making some people wonder if mobile phones are a good idea. Should you buy a mobile phone, or continue to use one? One advantage of having a mobile phone is free long distance. One of the big reasons for the rise in mobile phone usage is that you can call anywhere in the country for the same price that you can call your next-door neighbour. This lack of long distance charges has led to many people getting mobile phones who ordinarily may not have been interested. Also, many people now use their mobile phones exclusively, after cancelling their home phone service. Having one less bill to pay is definitely a positive. However, mobile phone bills, let alone the cost of the phone itself, are very expensive. If you get a very basic mobile phone plan with only a few minutes allocated for calling time, you will not pay very much every month. However, if you are like most people, you may choose a plan with several hundred or even thousand minutes and will include extras, such as text messaging. These plans can run well more than 100 dollars per month, and may come with a one- or two-year contract, limiting your choices if a cheaper plan becomes available. Woe to those who go over their allotted minutes. Mobile phone bills can easily become 1,000 dollar nightmare. Having said this, mobile phones have other advantages too. With the popularity of mobile phones growing faster than ever, it is a lot easier to keep in contact with friends and family. Never before has it been easier to call your husband or wife on the way home from work and ask to pick up a litre of milk on the way home. Parents everywhere are enjoying the ability to call their child at midnight and find out why he or she isnt home yet. Worried people everywhere are able to gain a degree of reassurance because of the mobile phone. Some people are enjoying the GPS capabilities that some phones have, enabling them to track the location of their friends and family as they go about their daily lives. This makes it easier for people to know exactly where they are and who theyre with. As helpful as the mobile phone is to helping us to keep track of others, this unfortunately means that others can constantly keep track of us. A girlfriend might call her partner incessantly to check up on him. If limits are not quickly set, this behaviour can become a serious case of harassment. The GPS capability of mobile phones is also something that can be abused. It opens the door for controlling individuals to give full rein to their stalker tendencies. Sometimes its a good thing for people not to know exactly where you are at every moment. As irritating as this may be, mobile phones can be useful in other ways. Mobile phones can provide a degree of safety that previous generations only dreamed of. These days, you can go anywhere in the world with a mobile phone, and with the proper service, be able to notify someone if you are in trouble, even if you are on top of a mountain in Nepal. Most people arent mountain climbers, but cars do break down and when they do, its nice to have a mobile phone to call the mechanic. Mobile phones also come in handy when you are meeting someone for the first time. If you feel threatened in any way, you have an emergency number right there in your hand. The GPS capability that some mobile phones possess also has enabled trackers to find people who have become lost. However, in order for this service to be active, the application must be activated. Mobile phones can help us in many different ways, but they do also contain serious safety concerns. People like to carry their mobile phones with them in the car in case of emergency, but they also like to have them in case they get a call they dont want to miss. Many accidents have been caused by people talking on mobile phones while driving. So many, in fact, that legislation has been passed prohibiting conversation on mobile phones while driving in Australia. Another safety concern is that mobile phones could increase the risk of brain tumours or other diseases. Studies have shown that radiation given off by mobile phones can damage cells, leaving cells susceptible to cancers and tumours. While mobile phones can be annoying, expensive and sometimes hazardous, they can also be very helpful, whether it be helping us to communicate with family and friends, to help us feel safe or immediately know the whereabouts of a loved one. Mobile phones are seen as a must have accessory to some, while others believe they are completely unnecessary. Whatever the case, mobile phones have their pros and cons. It’s up to you to decide who outweighs who. By Jeff Burr

Knowledge management approach Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Knowledge management approach - Essay Example Knowledge management implies any activity regarding the capture and the diffusion of knowledge within the organization. A key component of KM is to provide access to stored knowledge components in order to improve decision-making and facilitate knowledge acquisition by the user. The present essay is an attempt to introduce this innovative capital of modern organisations in a simple and lucid style. In the essay, the writer first, tries to distinguish the related concepts in the area of knowledge such as data, information etc, which are often misunderstood (used interchangeably with) as knowledge. In addition, an attempt is made to introduce the two approaches to knowledge management that capture and utilize knowledge. The essay prepared to examine the different of these two approaches. Specifically, it attempts to narrate the definition of these approaches and portrays both advantages and disadvantages of these two approaches. Finally, rather most importantly the report demonstrates how to apply theoretical concepts of knowledge management to NASA's JPL case study. One of the essentials of an effective knowledge management system is that the system must be able to distinguish knowledge from data and information so that information overload can be reduced/eliminated and its efficiency can be improved. An efficient knowledge management system accepts only those data that are relevant, timely, reliable and accurate. In the words of Liew (2002) data means the collection of facts or events and it is comprised of the basic, unrefined and unfiltered information, which are mostly useless. But, information is more refined data that is useful and meaningful for an analysis and decision making. In contrast, knowledge resides in the human brain and it happens when human experience is applied to data and information, therefore, knowledge is internalized which absorbed and understood by the human mind. In the modern business context, knowledge management can have a lot to perform to attain a competitive edge and thereby create value to the organisation. Knowledge management There are many interpretations as to what exactly knowledge management is all about. The definition put forward by Quintas P., Lefrere P. and Jones is worth notable in this context. They define knowledge management as "a continuously process of managing knowledge in order to ensure that knowledge is available when and where needed and can be acquired both from external sources and internal sources" (Quintas et al, 1997). It is worthwhile here to mention the definition developed by NASA for knowledge management. NASA defines "knowledge management as getting the right information to the right people at the right time and helping people create knowledge and share and act upon information in ways that will measurably improve the performance of an organization and its partners" (NASA, 2009). The procedures by which the objectives of KM can be accomplished include the following: As far as possible, everyone connected with knowledge management system should disclose what he/she knows and thereby facilitates knowledge sharing and its reuse. This will allow others to know when and where knowledge is available. Knowledge is made available at the time of decision making and it is the duty of the concerned personnel in an organisation that knowledge is

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

Planning - Essay Example It is simply identifying the objectives of a company and finding the best ways of how to achieve them. Strategic planning starts from the desired end and its steps go backwards to get to the current status. On the other hand, long term planning begins with the current status and moves forward to meet the desired future needs. According to Adekola et al 2007, strategic planning looks at the big picture, and is flexible in determining its means as compared to other types of planning. At Michal Jones & Company strategic planning has been practiced in various ways. These ways include: pure planning and financial planning. Planning determines where an organization will be in the future, how it will get there, and how the organization will establish itself if it got there or not. Planning serves different functions in Michal Jones & Company. It has provided a clear focus for the organization, therefore, producing effectiveness and efficiency (Burtonshaw-Gunn et al 2009). Planning has also been the reason why the productivity of the organization has increased significantly due to increased effectiveness and efficiency. Planning has also been used in the solving of major problems in the organization. This is because a predetermined problem is solved before its occurrence due to effective and strategic planning. Moreover, at Michal Jones, planning has enabled the creation of a base for the company’s hence all deviations have been corrected to avoid major blows occurring in the organization. For effective planning to be established, the management at Michal Jones & Company has identified the purpose, which happens to be the key objective of the company. Lusthaus et al 1999 argues that, through the use of the organization’s mission statement elaboration has been made to the public and the potential buyers as a whole on what Michal Jones & Company seeks to achieve. The situation has been analyzed and is now an already existing program. Its defects are amended and the viable changes made. Alternatives present at Michal Jones & Company have been identified leading to a variety of ideas, activities, and solutions (Michael Jones & Company 2010). Creativity reigns in an effort to enhance brainstorming and members’ involvement in the formulation of the plan. The resources have been reviewed, and they have been listed down with regard to available time, money, human and physical resources (Paladino 2010). This ensures that the plan formulated conforms to the ability of Michal Jones & Company and not based on mere assumptions. Some of the impediments that have been witnessed at Michal Jones & Company with regard to effective planning are that planning leads to rigidity. This is because the set conditions may change, and this may contrast prevailing conditions at that particular time. When such a point comes by, flexibility is encouraged in an effort to negate the rigidity. Moreover, strategic planning is not easily facilitated in dynamic environments. Strategic planning also entails finances. No company or organization can be able to plan about the future without the knowledge of where to get the finances from (Reading 2004). In essence, finances go hand in hand with the planning strategy. At Michal Jones & Company, finances were solicited from the Banks as loan payable back in interest rates within a period of one year. Financial statements are very important in every

Literature Review of US Foreign Policy

Literature Review of US Foreign Policy Background America’s 1930s foreign policy was based on the realist school of thought. It emphasised international trade in order to achieve economic rejuvenation, whilst its security strategy demonstrated the practical restraints of Hans Morgenthau’s classical doctrine of realism through withdrawing its military’s international presence. Post-WW2 America’s role within the world hierarchy altered significantly as a direct result of internal structural and technological developments that led it to being a world superpower. American foreign policy encompassed both realism and liberal internationalism in its attempt to defeat communism. The 1970s signified a dramatic change in the foreign policy decision-making process; no longer were Presidents able to operate imperialistically making policy decisions without consulting Congress. Despite being internationally recognised as the victor of the Cold War, America lost its international footing somewhat. Political analyst Kenneth Waltz supports this assertion and argues in the article ‘Is Anybody Still a Realist?’ that foreign policy in a pre-9/11though post-Cold War era, aside from the widely accepted notion that States â€Å"at a minimum, seek their own preservation,† (Waltz, Kenneth. 1999: P.14), realism no longer played a leading role in foreign policy and national security decision-making. Roger Burbach and Jim Tarbell argue that US foreign policy and National Security Strategy since 9/11 has mirrored that of former powers on a colonisation mission. A key example used to demonstrate this was Bush’s desire to install a National Missile Defence (NMD) system in Europe. They ascertain that it was part of the regimes neoconservative, imperialistic agenda to impress upon the world American exceptionalism through attempting to colonise the globe by having a military capability world-wide under the notion of ‘national security.’ (Burbach, Roger Tarbell, Jim. 2004). The US government opposes such a claim maintaining that its actions are part of an assertive-realist security strategy seen previously within the Cold War era which confronts threats to America. They argue that like America’s proactive response to the attack on Pearl Harbour, the last time America had suffered such devastation on US soil, that 9/11 warranted a similarly aggressive response. Benjamin Frankel supports this and argues in ‘Realism: Restatements and Renewal,’ that it is neo-realism, not neo-conservatism which recognises â€Å"the ultimate concern of states is not for power but for security†¦states seek maximum security not maximum power.† (Waltz, Kenneth. 1988. in Frankel, Benjamin.1996: P.91). President Roosevelt’s description of the attack on Pearl Harbour as a â€Å"date which will live in infamy,† (Roosevelt, Franklin D.A Date which will live in infamy: FDR ask for a Declaration of War), have been echoed since 9/11. Bush proclaimed the â€Å"world has changed† (Cramer,Jane K. Thrall, A. Trevor. 2012: P.30) as a direct result of 9/11 and therefore had to adapt his leadership style and policies accordingly. Literature Review This dissertation has used many sources to gain valuable information such as facts, figures, diagrams and the opinion and analysis of distinguished politicians, historians and authors. US foreign policy is a broad and complex subject which can be approached from multiple angles. Due to the restrictive word limit, this thesis has confined itself within certain boundaries which specify what direction this thesis is going to approach the title. Through critically analysing these sources, it has been possible to develop a deeper understanding of the topics examined and have helped greatly in contextualising the arguments found within the background and contemporary research. This has played a crucial role in the final conclusion reached. These boundaries are that the time scale used will be between the 1930s to the end of the George W Bush presidency. This time frame has been selected because of the opposing military policies that were used and the economic, social and international implications that such directions were to have; one being isolationist and the other being expansive. Chapters two and three have also been divided in a two-part manner. Chapter two addresses the mentality behind the decision-making process as well as the actions taken in the years preceding Bush’s presidency. Chapter three examines the mentality and actions taken during Bush’s reign. These boundaries have been drawn up in such a wa y that allows for analysis of events in a chronological order. Additionally, the ‘mentality’ has been chosen because it allows for the thesis to address multiple arguments and through thorough analysis determine if the mentality behind the decision-process has been altered and if so, has this affected the actions taken. These boundaries provide a clear sense of structure which is augmented with the aid of the many sources examined. There are a select few sources which will now be addressed due to their crucial role in initiating key arguments and theories throughout the thesis. In his article ‘The Stability of a Unipolar World,’ William Wohlforth provides an important analysis regarding the impact of the structural and technological advancements experienced in the US. Wohlforth argues that it is’ because of â€Å"a decades-old policy of harnessing technology to the generation of military power†¦The US combination of quantitative and qualitative material advantages is unprecedented, and it translates into a unique geopolitical position.† (Wohlforth, William C. 1999: P.17-18). This thesis supports this assertion and uses it as a key argument throughout to provide explanation behind America’s actions and the mentality with which such actions were conducted with. This dissertation comprises a variety of theoretical debates, all attempting to provide clarity and reasoning behind America’s actions both pre and post 9/11. Richard Rose’s ‘The Postmodern President: The White House Meets the World’ is used to provide support and elaborate on this thesis’ suggestion that after 1991 the â€Å"United States has lost its former position of dominance in the international system.† (Rose, Richard.1988:P.237). This was primarily because it could no longer justify having an expansive foreign and security policy to develop its sphere of influence through either hard or soft means as there was no longer an apparent enemy. Craig Snyder provides support for this assertion and further adds a theoretical argument in his book ‘Contemporary Security and Strategy’ that the influence of realism endured a significant decline during this period of relative peace in its use in international relations as well as national foreign policies. (Snyder, Craig A. 1999: P.65). No thesis which incorporates political theories and realism in particular, would be academically justifiable without the thoughts of world-wide acclaimed political analysts Kenneth Waltz and Hans Morgenthau being examined. Morgenthau’s work has been used when analysing the traits of classical realism to see how, if at all they relate to Bush’s actions. This thesis has paid particular attention to the work of Waltz, the founder of the concept of neo-realism, to argue that as opposed to the realist based expansive foreign policy agenda that existed during the Cold War era, States have since pursued neo-realist policies in which they aim to achieve: a sense of continuity in long-term goals, policies which are compatible with the ever-globalising international arena, clear objectives with simple directions to achieve them whilst maintaining a certain degree of flexibility to allow for adaptation to the fluid nature of the international stage. (Waltz, Kenneth.1999). Post-9/11, US foreign policy has often been interpreted as some of the most controversial around the globe. This is because they have been perceived as part of America’s apparent neoconservative agenda devoted to establishing an Imperial America. Roger Burbach and Jim Tarbell are two academics who support such a notion and argue in their ‘Imperial Overstretch: George W Bush the Hubris of Empire’ that the impact of 9/11 provided Bush’s regime with the fuel to pursue his extreme neo-conservative goal of creating a US Empire. The critical and negative wording of the title is such that even without reading any of the actual book, Bush is already portrayed as a leader who has been corrupted by the desire to create an empire. Therefore, in order to maintain academic legitimacy, this thesis recognised that Burbach and Tarbell are obviously biased against the Bush administration. This is not to say that their work should be dismissed, because it shouldn’t, but rather caution should be – and has been – applied when selecting what information to use from their book in this dissertation. Particular attention has been given to George C. Herring’s ‘From Colony to Superpower: US Foreign Relations since 1776.’ This is because this book provides a great insight into US foreign policy history and does so whilst exhibiting thorough analysis of events throughout this time. It has helped this writer significantly in developing a deeper understanding of events that have occurred and placing them in the relevant context. Articles, quotes, resolutions and speeches by Bush’s administration and even himself are all examined in this thesis. This is because they provide raw clarity and reasoning behind the decisions made post 9/11.As president of the world super-power, the American people looked to Bush to act and respond to this terrorist assault. In an address to the nation on 9/11th he stated that America â€Å"will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbour them.† (Bush, George W. quoted in Kean, Thomas H. 2004. P.326. The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.). Such a statement sets the rigid and uncompromising tone with which Bush was to significantly adjust his foreign and security policies to deal with the situation. Understanding the mentality behind Bush’s decisions is of vital importance to this thesis because if the mentality is proven to have affected the manner in which foreign policy was decided a nd implemented, and if this is different to the various American administrations, then this will playing a determining role in answering the dissertation question. It is for this reason that Bush and his teams’ speeches, articles and resolutions are analysed in great depth throughout this thesis.