Philosophy And Practices Of Religion - 866 Words

The idea, concept, and practices of religion have never really been something that is of importance to me during my life. For the longest time I did not identify as any certain or specific religion and when asked I would simply state how I was not a religious person. It was not until high school when I discovered the religion of Agnosticism. In our English class we had to research different religions and our group received Agnosticism. Before then I had never heard of that religion, but after learning about Agnosticism it pretty much summed up how I feel and what I believe about God and religion. Basically Agnosticism entails that the person believes that the existence of God is uncertain and claims neither a faith nor a disbelief in God. I feel like this religion perfectly sums up how I feel when it comes to my faith and ideas about God and just religion as a whole. Since I am not a religious type of person, the idea of me choosing another one that I would be a part of seems like a difficult task. When I do think about the various religions that I have studied, written, and read about during the course of this semester there is one that stands out to me. If I had to choose another religion to join instead of my own, I would join Buddhism because their fundamental principles and values are those that I can agree with and their ultimate purpose in life is something I can see myself believing in as well. To begin, in the Buddhist religion there are various principles andShow MoreRelatedBuddhism Is Considered A Religion Or A Philosophy961 Words   |  4 Pagesbuddhism is considered a religion or a philosophy but I believe that it is both. According to (https://www.google.com/#q=buddhismBuddhism) is a non-theistic religion or philosophy that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. Buddhism inhabits several traits that consider it a religion and a philosophy. There is not a clear d istinction that defines buddhism as one or the other. Some practices of Buddhism display faithRead MoreSocial Philosophy Of Confucianism1398 Words   |  6 Pagesmodels of family and public interactions and setting educational standards (Biography.com Editors 2017). Confucius died in 479 B.C., but Confucianism became the official imperial philosophy of China and its influence was significant during the Han, Tang and Song Dynasties (Biography.com Editors 2017). Confucius’s philosophy and teachings started during the sixth century B.C. when the competing Chinese states destabilized the authority of the Zhou Empire, which was in rule for over 500 years (BiographyRead MoreHinduism Religion759 Words   |  4 Pageswhat makes up the Hindu religion is Sanarana Dharma, which is also known as Hinduism, an alternative label that is preferred today. Hinduism is the traditional religion of India. Sanatan Dharma is one of the oldest religions known to mankind and Hinduisms religion is still in practice today. The spiritual expressions of Sanatana Dharma range from extreme asceticism to the extreme sensuality, from the heights of personal devotion to a deity to the heights of abstract philosophy (Fisher, M.P., 2005)Read MoreWorld Religion s Project Of Buddhism1003 Words   |  5 PagesReligion’s Project Almost 6 percent of the world s population or 350 million people follow Buddhism. Although among them are varying controversies over whether or not Buddhism is a religion or a followed pathway. Buddhism, founded in the late 6th -century B.C.E , and practices the ideas of varying traditions, spiritual practices, and all beliefs focused on the ideas of Gautama or the Buddha. Gautama valued the beliefs and teachings of The Universal Truths and Four Noble Truths and successfully sharedRead MoreWhy Herd Culture Must Exist1066 Words   |  5 Pagesobjective philosophy (dogmatic philosophy) are in a way similar. Both objective philosophy and herd culture force people to think the world is set up a certain way and it will never change. Objective philosophy claims we have access to universal trusts that are ahistorical and undoubtedly true at all time. Similarly, herd culture enforces expectations and rules which, based on herd ideology, are both ahistorical and true at all times and l ocations. Nietzsche claims that objective philosophy is closelyRead MoreSimilarities Between Hinduism And Buddhism995 Words   |  4 PagesThere are more than seven billion people living across the world and about 19 major religions with about 270 subgroups. In many states and countries, there are two or more religions that are being practiced by its residents. Hinduism and Buddhism are two of the 19 major religions, that are widely practiced. Hinduism and Buddhism both have common origins, and share similar beliefs. Both Hinduism and Buddhism are religions that focus on the way to live and the different paths to gain enlightenment. ThereRead MoreThe Birth of Religions and Philosophies in the Ancient World1185 Words   |  5 PagesThe Birth of Religions and Philosophies in the Ancient World From the beginning of time, people all over the world have wondered where we come from, what our divine purpose in life is, and what we can expect after death. Questions about right and wrong, society and government, and nature and the cosmos, are some of the few wonders that ultimately created some of the earliest philosophies and religions, helping people find peace and explanation to the vast curiosity that still troubles us in modernRead MoreReligious Ideologies And Practices Behind Buddhism843 Words   |  4 Pagesinterested to learn about other cultures and ways of life. One particular religion that I did not consider myself well versed with was Buddhism. From my previous encounters with this religion, I had learned that its teachings embody the idea of karma and rebirth. As means to broaden my knowledge and learn more about the religious ideologies and practices behind Buddhism, I spoke with Professor Ann Burlein of the Religion and Philosophy Department. I had originally planned to attend Professor Burlein’sRead MorePhilosophy, Phenomenology And Comparative Approachs851 Words   |  4 Pagesthere are six different approaches to religion. One approach is the psychological or individual aspect. Then there is the sociological approach which looks at group behavior. Then there is also the anthropological approach which is looks at societies, cultures and things of that nature. Lastly there is the philosophy, phenomenology and comparative approachs. The psychological approach to religion allows us to examine the individual. The psychology of religion is to understand the personal religiousRead MoreCritique Of Hegel s Philosophy Of Right957 Words   |  4 Pagesis an active practice that involves gaining a knowledge and understanding of the past to improve its problems. A problem Marx sees in his time is the passive dogmatists that deal with abstractions such as idealism, or religion. He instead wants to offer a solution through the concrete: history and criticism, particularly that of religion, philosophy, and political economy. Beginning with Marx’s Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right, is the critique of religion. He states that

Homosexuality vs Society Free Essays

Homosexuality in today’s society In today’s society, there exists a mixture of issues which tend to raise arguments with people all over. There are a handful of topics that always seem to escalate these differences between people to the point where one who participates in debate and argument can direct their anger towards their feelings on the person themselves. An issue that has in recent years, begun to increase arguments, is the acceptability of homosexuality in society. We will write a custom essay sample on Homosexuality vs Society or any similar topic only for you Order Now Until recently, homosexuality was considered strictly taboo. If an individual was homosexual, it was considered a secret to be kept from all family, friends, and society. However, it seem that society has begun to accept this lifestyle by allowing same sex couples. The idea of coming out of the ‘closet’ has moved to the head of homosexual individuals when it used to be the exception. Homosexuality is nothing to be ashamed of and we should all come to realize this. The United States is denying good people a better life based on sexual orientation. Acceptance of homosexual marriage is a major issue in today’s society. This is a civil. issue, and the United States needs to start realizing that they are denying marriage rights to homosexuals because of moral reasons. What ever happened to separation of church and state? Opponents of homosexual marriage feel that by allowing gay and lesbians the right to marriage undermines the traditional definition of marriage. However, as society changes and the demands of the American citizens change, there needs to be changes that comply with not only the traditional society but also with modern needs of the United States people. Not only are homosexual couples being denied marriage rights but also adoption rights in several states. There would be no harm to society by allowing homosexuals the right to marriage or to legally adopt; the positive impacts it would have on society are far greater then the negative effects. Homosexuals should get the same rights as any other United States citizen. For the United States to have a functional society, allowing all citizens, regardless of sexual preference, would be in everyone’s best interest to allow homosexuals the right to arry. Looking back at history, it was not that long ago that black and white marriages were not accepted in society. Accepting black and white marriages has made the United States a stronger society. Gay and lesbian marriages would not harm anyone; however, it would improve and enhance the lives of those couples involved. Allowing gay marriage would have positive effects on children to gay couples; in addition, allowing homosexuals to mar ry and adopt would help place some children, who may never be placed into a family, find families through adoption. Homosexuals can be found in every race, religion, age group, country, state, and social group. Discrimination toward homosexuals persecute their choice of lifestyle. The issues of military employment, legal rights for couples, and acceptance within society need to resolved. Some ways to help put an end to this discrimination is to put the military services on a legislative plan prohibiting discrimination against homosexuals, allow for couples to be legally married. People need to realize that homosexuals are just like them. Homosexuals are found everywhere and are good people and need to be recognized not for their sexuality, but for who they are. The problem lies with the heterosexuals, those who establish firm opinions against gays, based solely off of stereotypical thinking, or their own feelings, rather than rational or factual information. One of these stereotypes tends to be that lesbians want to act and look like men, and vice versa. Although this may be the case in some homosexuals, it is not true for every single individual, thus a biased stereotype is formed. A stereotype such as this may cause an extreme hostile attitude, as well as discrimination, against a homosexual individual. Also, homosexual jokes are constantly made every day. As funny as this may be to a heterosexual, imagine how this single joke could damage a gay man’s self-esteem or even his social acceptance. A straight male or female could easily laugh at this joke, as many have, while a gay man hears this joke and takes it to heart. He could easily feel inferior to a straight male, or just as easily be offended by the use of the word fag. Society doesn’t realize when certain words are used, they can offend a variety of people. Not to mention, the words gay, fag and queer have found their way into our everyday vocabulary, all of which can cause different emotions to different people. For instance, when someone says â€Å"That’s so gay† a heterosexual would view the word gay as meaning strange or different, which completely changes the meaning of the word and associates homosexuals with being weird. ?Many Heterosexuals believe we must not pass any laws regarding discrimination of homosexuals. If we didnt pass the law about discrimination, the homosexual man and his lover would have to continue searching because they were denied equal treatment as a straight man. This unequal treatment is the reason homosexuals are trying so hard to gain a law against discrimination. There is also no justification to deny a specific occupation to a homosexual, because of their sexual orientation, unless there is a threat to an individual. For instance a homosexual man wants to become an accountant. What is keeping him from accomplishing this goal? A major hindrance-a state licensing law. The same goes if another homosexual would like to become a hairdresser, or perhaps even a used-car dealer. This same Law prevents people with certain sexual orientations from achieving their goals in life. This is not the American dream so many have heard about. America is supposedly the land of the free, a land of equal opportunity. There isn’t any equality found between a straight man and a gay man. ? â€Å"Queerbashing† is one of the most extreme forms of discrimination to homosexuals, and seems to be taken very lightly in court. A district of Columbia judge had listened to the story of a young homosexual male who had been stalked, beaten, stripped at knifepoint, slashed, kicked and urinated on by a couple of young queerbashers. The judge believed these queerbashers were â€Å"good boys† at heart because they attended a religious prep school, and suspended their sentences. These young men were obviously guilty for beating up another person and various other reasons, but were set free with virtually no penalty because they went to a certain ‘good’ school. This is completely unjust in the fact these boys got off the hook without paying a penalty for the physical, emotional and mental abuse they put this homosexual boy through. â€Å"Police and juries often will simply discount testimony from gays; they frequently construe assaults on and murders of gays as â€Å"justified† self-defense. ?Discrimination against homosexuals has been in existence since before our time and can be found all over our planet, yet it has only just recently become an active fight, between heterosexuals and homosexuals, over the fact that it shouldn’t even exist in the first place. Alliances between gay and straight men and women have been formed over the years and continue to grow in population. These men and women, of any sexual-orientation, joined these groups for support and help to aid in the process of becoming equal united states citizens. Together they can recruit new members and maybe one day even get rid of discrimination completely. In order to achieve equality in our nation, we must keep our mind open to new ideas and events and give homosexuals a chance to become human beings. How to cite Homosexuality vs Society, Essay examples

A Letter from Birmingham Jail free essay sample

Martin Luther King Jr. ’s â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† was written in April 1963, during the African Americans fight for equality. Martin Luther King Jr. ’s claim was not just to reply to the eight clergyman who had called his demonstrations â€Å"untimely and unwise†, but also aim his justifications at a bigger audience of religious and secular beliefs. An audience that is black and white; therefore King is able to justify his reasons and tactics of beginning immediate action using nonviolent protest to everyone. Throughout his letter Martin Luther King Jr.  demonstrates the use of ethos, pathos, and logos to help support his claim while also consistently referring to well-known philosophers and religious figures words to help support his reasoning. King was very precise with how he used his rhetorical strategies that is why he is so successful in arguing his claim. Dr. King was set on demonstrating in Birmingham because the amount of injustice that took place over the last few years there. We will write a custom essay sample on A Letter from Birmingham Jail or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Between 1957-1962 seventeen African American churches and homes were bombed in Birmingham a city whose population is 40 percent African American. King refers to these events in his letter â€Å"There have been more unsolved bombings of negro homes and churches in Birmingham than any other city in the nation. † King creates ethos throughout his letter to help strengthen his claim. â€Å"Just as the prophets of the eighth century b. c. left their villages and carried their â€Å"thus saith the Lord† far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco-Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond his home town.   King is explaining why he left his home town and came to Birmingham because there is injustice there and where ever there is injustice he should go there to help. King is using ethos when connecting himself to Apostle Paul. King gains credibility by referring to the bible a book admired by most and a book full of credible figures which he compares his actions too. This also helps King to justify his actions by showing his audience did very similar actions. Incorporating scenes from the bible, such as Paul leaving his village and carrying the gospel to the Greco-Roman empire Dr.  King is able to tie in important historical evidence. Along with using ethos, Martin Luther King Jr. uses logos to help support his argument that â€Å"they had no alternative except to prepare for direct action. † King supports his claim using several logical examples, but also proves his points using historical evidence throughout his letter. When responding to being called an extremist in paragraph 30, King makes a logical appeal while citing many historical figures. â€Å"Was not Jesus an extremist for love:† â€Å"Love your enemies bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. † Dr. King continues on naming historical figures such as Apostle Paul, Abraham Lincoln, John Bunyan, and Martin Luther who could be considered so called extremist. All of these men are considered honorable men in our history books, so by using such reason to appeal to his audience King is able to support his argument. Dr. King is brilliant in how he cites such honorable figures to show that if he is considered an extremist for campaigning equal rights then so should of they for all of their extreme ground breaking campaigns for things such as love, justice, and the Christian gospel. Martin Luther King Jr. does use some logical fallacies in his letter. King appeals to authority when he writes â€Å"Thomas Jefferson: â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal†¦Ã¢â‚¬  By citing words from one of our founding fathers King is appealing to authority because Thomas Jefferson was one of the most famous and respected Americans of all time. King establishes pathos throughout his letter to help strengthen his argument by appealing to the emotions of the reader. King mentions in paragraph seven how promises have been broken â€Å"we were victims of broken promises. † King is describing the black population of Birmingham as we in his quote and he aims at their emotions by using such passionate diction by calling them victims of broken promises. Martin Luther King Jr. continues with major uses of pathos throughout paragraph 13. Dr. King really grabs his reader’s emotions by using powerful diction such as vicious, lynch, and drown. â€Å"But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your brothers and sisters at whim;† He later uses pathos again in this paragraph and is able put a human face on the emotion by allowing the reader to imagine having a similar conversation explaining to their son or daughter how they can’t go have fun in an amusement park just because of the color of their skin. â€Å"When you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she can’t go to the amusement park that has just been advertised on television. In 1963 â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† help give the African American race a better idea of the civil rights movement and gave them a voice to follow. Martin Luther King Jr. was a man with wonderful ideas of nonviolent campaign. Through his ideas and examples in his letter the African American race was able to learn his reasoning for nonviolent campaigning and actually how to demonstrate as a nonviolent campaigner. His audience can demonstrate the right way while knowing the purpose of their actions and justifying their cause by remembering many of King’s words and ideas

Malcolm X Essays (1413 words) - African-American Muslims

Malcolm X Malcolm X, a civil rights leader in the 1960's believed that blacks and whites should be segregated. He also believed that white man was evil and were trying to brainwash all blacks and that Martin Luther King's "non-violent protests" weren't working and that violence was needed for change. Malcolm X's life was a life with a lot of conflict and violence in it. Malcolm X was born under the name of Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska in 1925. His father was a baptist minister and an outspoken follower of Marcus Garvey, the black nationalist leader of the 1920s who preached that all blacks should leave the US and go back to Africa. While Malcolm's father was away and Malcolm's mother was pregnant with Malcolm, a group of KKK members came to their house and told Mrs. Little to send out her husband. She came out of the house and stood where all the KKK could see that she was pregnant and told them that Mr. Little was in Milwaukee preaching. The KKK, disappointed, shouted threats and told them to leave town. After this they broke every window in the Little's home and left. When Mr. Little came home and heard what happened, he decided to move as soon a Malcolm was born to Lansing, Michigan. Here was where Malcolm's father died at the hand of the Black Legion (X 4-! 13). After Malcolm's father's death, his mother who had to take care of eight children and endure threats from the KKK, suffered a nervous breakdown. As a result, Malcolm and his siblings were taken by the welfare department. Malcolm was later enrolled in a reform school and did very well grade wise. He was the best student in his class and wanted to become a lawyer. When the school heads heard about this, they sent a person to talk to Malcolm. This person told and convinced Malcolm that he was black and that he could never become a lawyer because of it. As a result, he dropped out of after the eighth grade and moved to Boston, Massachusetts where he worked several different jobs. Soon, Malcolm became associated in a gang and sold and used drugs, and was involved in many other criminal activities. His gang "career" ended when he got into some trouble due to a bet with the gang leader. Since the gang wanted Malcolm killed, Malcolm hid for a while. Soon, Malcolm decid! ed to rob a house which he heard had a lot of valuables in it. Soon one night, he robbed the house, but was caught later. Malcolm was charged with burglary and sent to prison for a maximum of eight years of which he served six. This was a turning point in Malcolm's life. While in prison, Malcolm educated himself and became interested in the teachings of Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm spent his time in jail educating himself and learning more about the Nation of Islam (later known as the Black Muslims). Their belief, which was contrary to Martin Luther King Jr.'s, mainly to was to segregated whites and blacks. The Nation of Islam wanted to establish a separate Afro-American homeland in the U.S. and believed that the white person is "the Devil" who wanted to enslave all non-whites. The Nation of Islam also strictly followed the Islamic belief. When Malcolm was released from prison after in 1952, he joined a temple in Detroit, and took the name Malcolm X. He took the name X because his present last name was the last name of the slave master who freed their slave and since the slave didn't know who their ancestors were, and therefore didn't know their real last name, they often took up the last name of their master. Many Muslims kept the name "X" because in math, "X" is represented as an unknown variable like their real last name. A person was to keep the name "X" until God himself gave them a "holy name"(Encarta 2). Soon after his release from jail, Malcolm worked for his oldest brother who managed a furniture store. While working, he also gave many speeches, and went "fishing"(fishing is when someone stands out on a sidewalk and hand

Essay on Changing organizational structures

Essay on Changing organizational structures Essay on Changing organizational structures Essay on Changing organizational structuresThe organizational structure has a considerable impact on members of organizations. In fact, the impact of the organizational structure may be so strong that it can influence interpersonal relations within the organization and affect the organizational performance. This is why organizations are always concerned with the elaboration and maintenance of the organizational structure that matches the organizational culture, environment and current needs of the organization and key stakeholders.On analyzing possible impact of the organizational structure on organizations and members of organizations, it is possible to refer to the case of SAS, Google or Apple, which are quite successful companies, which though cannot avoid the impact of the organizational structure. If in case of some organizations, such as Apple or Google, their organizational structure is effective and contributes to the successful organizational performance of two companies. Th en in case of SAS, the organizational structure may be a cause of problems and cause tension in interpersonal relations between employees as well as it can deteriorate the organizational performance, especially in a long-run perspective (Chambers, 2005).The ineffective organizational structure of SAS contributed to the emergence of conflicts and tension within the organization along with the considerable downturn in its business development. In this regard, the bureaucratization was one of the main effects of SAS’ organizational structure. On the contrary, Google benefits from its flexible organizational structure and develops its business successfully since the company works on multiple projects and the best one obtain funding from the company. In such a way, the fair and tight competition within the company along with the freedom of work on diverse projects brings the company large opportunities to develop very successful projects. As for Apple, this is another case of the successful organizational structure, especially after changes introduced by Steve Jobs, which made Apple’s organizational structure efficient and successful.The problem of many organizations, including SAS is the inability of the organization to match its organizational structure to its current marketing position. For instance, in case of SAS, the company sticks to the centralized organizational structure, while the company operates globally. Therefore, the company would be more efficient, if it had a more flexible organizational structure but the company refuses to change its organizational structure so far.Therefore, the major cause of the problem of SAS and other organizations is their inability to change their organizational structure. At this point, the poor or wrong vision of top executives of the company of goals and prospects of the company may be one of possible causes of the problem. However, in its essence, the cause of the problem is systematic. What is meant here is the fact that organizations and their business environment keep progressing but organizations cannot always catch up with changes in their business development and their business environment. As a result, they retain their old organizational structure which once used to be successful and effective, but they remain unaware of the fact that this organizational structure does not work effectively anymore and changes are needed urgently.In such a situation, a possible solution to such companies as SAS and other companies that need the immediate solution of their problems through balancing their organizational structure and human behaviors. In this regard, changes have to be conducted at the organizational level. Organizations should change their organizational structure to create comfortable conditions for work of their employees and to maximize the effectiveness of their interaction in the course of their work. At the same time, there are no universal solutions concerning the organ izational structure because companies are different and they operate in the different business environment (Buhler, 2011). Therefore, one and the same organizational structure may be effective for some organizations and ineffective for others.Consequently, the possible solution that all organizations can apply to enhance their organizational structure and match human behaviors in their structure is to develop organizational structures that are the most efficient for them specifically. In this regard, organizations should assess adequately their current needs and challenges along with future prospects and goals, which they want to attain (Puffer, 2004). On the ground of their current needs and future goals, they can elaborate the strategy of changing or developing their organizational structure to maximize their effectiveness through balancing their organizational structure and behavior of their employees and other stakeholders.Thus, the development of the effective organizational st ructure is essential for the successful business performance of companies. The organizational structure influences human behaviors and may cause conflicts within organizations and deterioration of the organizational performance. Hence, organizations should develop effective organizational structures that match their current needs and future goals and help them to maintain positive behavior patterns in their employees.

ICE or Immigration and Customs Enforcement

ICE or Immigration and Customs Enforcement Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a bureau of the Department of Homeland Security, created on March 1, 2003. ICE enforces immigration and customs laws and works to protect the U.S. against terrorist attacks. ICE achieves its goals by targeting illegal immigrants, particularly those people, money,  and materials that support terrorism and other criminal activities. The HSI Division of ICE Detective work is a big part of what ICE does. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that is charged with investigating and gathering intelligence on a wide range of criminal activities, including immigration offenses. HSI gathers the evidence that makes the cases against criminal operations. The agency has some of the top detectives and information analysts in the federal government. In recent years, HSI agents have investigated human smuggling and other human rights violations, art theft, trafficking, visa fraud, drug smuggling, arms dealing, gang activities, white-collar crimes, money laundering, cyber crimes, counterfeit money and prescription drug sales, import/export activity, pornography, and blood-diamond dealing. Formerly known as the ICE Office of Investigations, HSI has about 6,500 agents and is the largest investigative division in Homeland Security, ranking second to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in U.S. government. HSI also has strategic enforcement and security capabilities with officers who perform paramilitary-type duties similar to police SWAT teams. These Special Response Team units are used during high-risk operations and have provided security even during the aftermaths of earthquakes and hurricanes. Much of the work HSI agents do is in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies at the state, local and federal levels. ICE and the H-1B Program The H-1B visa program is popular with both political parties in Washington but it also can be challenging for U.S. immigration officials to ensure that participants are following the law. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) devotes considerable resources trying to rid the H-1B program of fraud and corruption. The visa is designed to allow U.S. businesses to temporarily employ foreign workers with specialized skills or expertise in fields such as accounting, engineering or computer science. Sometimes businesses don’t play by the rules, however. In 2008, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services concluded that 21 percent of H-1B visa applications contained fraudulent information or technical violations. Federal officials have since put in more safeguards to ensure that the visa applicants comply with the law and accurately represent themselves. In 2014, USCIS approved 315,857 new H-1B visas and H-1B renewals, so there is plenty of work for federal watchdogs, and ICE investigators, in particular, to do. A Case of Visa Fraud in Texas A case in Texas is a good example of the work ICE does in monitoring the program. In November 2015, after a six-day trial in Dallas before U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn, a federal jury convicted two brothers of felony visa fraud and abuse of the H-1B program. Two brothers Atul Nanda, 46, and his brother, Jiten Jay Nanda, 44, created, established, and ran a computer company located in Carrollton, Texas, which recruited foreign workers with expertise who wanted to work in the U.S. They sponsored H-1B visas, claiming that there were full-time positions with annual salaries for the new workers, but did not, in fact, have actual positions for them at the time they were recruited. Instead, the brothers used the people as a pool of skilled part-time workers. The two were each convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud, one count of conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, and four counts of wire fraud, according to federal officials. The penalties are severe for visa fraud. The conspiracy to commit visa fraud count carries a maximum statutory penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Each wire fraud count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

Forced ranking and motivation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Forced ranking and motivation - Case Study Example It is usually done by use of periodical interviews conducted by managers or filling out questionnaires by supervisors and/or fellow subordinates. The results are afterwards analyzed and assessed (Spector, 2008). It is paramount to understand what forced ranking is with regard to performance appraisal before an individual gives an own opinion on whether it succeeds in motivation employees or not. Forced ranking is a contentious management tool that is used as an intervention of performance of organization’s employees. It is uses what statisticians refer to as a normal distribution curve to rank the employees from the highest performing to the poor performers in a given period of time. This is done after a series of periodical assessments of results using person-to-person comparisons. The premise behind this management tool is that in order for an organization to achieve its goals, they must categorize their best and worst performers. At this point, the management is left with e mployees at both extremes (Scullen, Bergey & Aiman-Smith, 2005). The next phase entails nurturing the best and rehabilitating or discarding the poor performers. In my opinion, forced ranking does not serve to improve results for any organization and does not motivate employees. To start with, whenever forced ranking results are completed, the majority of the employees fall at the mediocre level of the curve. Therefore, they feel comfortable that their jobs are still secure. This would lead to constant workers input that only saves them from being ranked as the poorest in an organization. In addition, the forced ranking does not portray the real picture of quality in any employee’s effort. When we consider motivation, forced ranking may sabotage the performance of highly rated employees. This is because, in any given appraisal activity, the method produces a normal curve irrespective of the performances staged by the employees (Pinder, 2008). In this case, an employee may have performed to the expected levels and capacity. These employees would expect to be recognized as having worked within their capacity thus providing exceptionally good results. However, they would still be ranked as a poor performer simply because some other employees have slightly better performances. According to the expectancy theory, the anticipation of the employee would affect his or her motivation towards work if the forced ranking places this kind of an employee at the poor performers’ level. The result would be a discouraged employee whose expectations of a reward do not come to be (Schultz & Nembhard, 2006). The obvious reaction after such an appraisal would lead to the employees comparing their respective performances. The poorly ranked employees would feel that the appraisal results were unfair whenever the perception of equal performances is imminent. According to the equity theory, the negative perception to unfairness would affect the employee’s complianc e to perform to their capacity. Furthermore, some employees who are ranked higher would compare their rewards to others of similar positions (Spector, 2008). If such employees think that they have been under-rewarded, they may end up underperforming in the subsequent years. Therefore, this method of appraisal does not motivate employees. As mentioned above, the premise of the equity theory is based on the perception of

Response paper about what you thought about Gandhi's work and his Essay

Response paper about what you thought about Gandhi's work and his life. Be sure to include citations - Essay Example According to Francis Sejersted, Alfred Nobel is quoted in his will as having stipulated that his wealth was to be devoted to the annual award of five prizes "to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind." With regard to the Peace Prize, Nobel defined this as having "done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." (Sejersted) It is difficult to imagine how a man who dedicated his life not only to the freedom of his people but to abolishing well-established systems of institutionalized racism and religious oppression could have been overlooked for so many years. In my opinion, this oversight is one of the greatest failings of the Nobel committee in its entire history. Despite the failure of the Nobel committee to recognize the work of this great man, his legacy remains a shining example for all who wish to change the world (or even their own small corner of it) through non-violent

The Wedding Banquet, 1993 Dir. Ang Lee Essay Example for Free

The Wedding Banquet, 1993 Dir. Ang Lee Essay Winston Chao and Mitchell Lichtenstein portray Wai-tung and Simon respectively, a Manhattan gay couple whose blissful relationship start to get upside down when Wai-tung Taiwanese parents fly in ( The Wedding Banquet 2004).   Wai-tung’s parents, unaware of their sons’ sexuality, are pressuring him to settle down and give them a grandchild. To please his parents, Wai-Tung, with Simon’s consent, opts to marry Wei (portrayed by May Chin,) their tenant who badly needs a green card to stay in the US (2004).   Wai-tung’s folks fly over to have the wedding banquet, which leads to complications such as Wei getting pregnant by Wai-tung, severing his relationship with Simon and Wai-tung’s parents finally finding out the truth behind their son’s sexuality and how they deal with it (2004). In the end, Wei has the baby, Wai-tung’s parents return to Taiwan, with   his mother still despising Simon but feels a connection with Wei, his father,   accepting Simon and dismisses Wei, and Simon, Wai-Tung and Wei are left together to raise the baby.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The film depicts interracial sexuality the way interracial sexuality is commonly viewed by society- like a fish living in a fish bowl, with so much scrutiny and interest. Gay relationships, whether we admit it or not, are still viewed by others as obscene. What more with an interracial gay relationship? That will have the self-righteous raise their eyebrows. For an interracial sexuality does not just deal with sexuality per se but must also confront the consequences brought on by norms and culture. Asian culture in general is more traditional than North American culture. And that is illustrated in the film. Wai-tung’s mother, for instance, after finding out that her son in gay, still does not warm to her son’s White lover.   What is interesting is how Wai-tung’s father dealt with the situation.   He did not just accept Simon as his â€Å"other son†, he also gave him the Hanabao, to symbolize his acceptance. Work Cited The Wedding Banquet. Dir. Ang Lee. Perf. Winston Chao, Mitchell Lichtenstein,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   May Chin, Jeanne Kuo Chang. 1993. DVD. MGM, 2004.

Irish History Essay -- essays research papers

Sources: 1.) Whelan, Kevin. The Tree of Liberty: Radicalism, Catholicism, and the Construction of Irish Identity. 1760-1830. United States: University of Notre Dame Press, 1996. Irish History Tree of Liberty Paper The Protestant Landowners in the 1690’s grew tired of attempting to collect taxes from a relatively poor Irish population. Middlemen were therefore appointed to manage the lands, collect taxes, and ensure profitability. The owners of the lands may have been Protestant but the workers were often Catholic causing landlords to place a buffer between themselves and their often angry tenants. The solution came from dispossessed Irish Catholics who could conduct their business for them. These Middlemen provided the means by which they were to effectively govern the local population allowing Ireland to become a colony and not an ancien regime. This new and effective method allowed for the consolidation of property and the accumulation of wealth. â€Å"These accumulated leases laid the basis for the striking success of middlemen in the more expansionary conditions from the 1740s onwards.†(pg.4)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Catholics were not all taken from their lands; some resisted the Protestant surge and kept their holdings. These few landlords were crucial in rebuilding the Catholic influence in Ireland as they provided the base on which other Catholics could build. Middlemen even had clans with which they used to enforce their territory. â€Å"These Sullivan’s are a des... Irish History Essay -- essays research papers Sources: 1.) Whelan, Kevin. The Tree of Liberty: Radicalism, Catholicism, and the Construction of Irish Identity. 1760-1830. United States: University of Notre Dame Press, 1996. Irish History Tree of Liberty Paper The Protestant Landowners in the 1690’s grew tired of attempting to collect taxes from a relatively poor Irish population. Middlemen were therefore appointed to manage the lands, collect taxes, and ensure profitability. The owners of the lands may have been Protestant but the workers were often Catholic causing landlords to place a buffer between themselves and their often angry tenants. The solution came from dispossessed Irish Catholics who could conduct their business for them. These Middlemen provided the means by which they were to effectively govern the local population allowing Ireland to become a colony and not an ancien regime. This new and effective method allowed for the consolidation of property and the accumulation of wealth. â€Å"These accumulated leases laid the basis for the striking success of middlemen in the more expansionary conditions from the 1740s onwards.†(pg.4)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Catholics were not all taken from their lands; some resisted the Protestant surge and kept their holdings. These few landlords were crucial in rebuilding the Catholic influence in Ireland as they provided the base on which other Catholics could build. Middlemen even had clans with which they used to enforce their territory. â€Å"These Sullivan’s are a des...

Cholera: Shaping Social Attitudes and Science in Government Essay

Introduction During much of the 1800’s and the 1900’s Cholera was a disease which had many similar characteristics of the plague that affected Western civilization. Cholera had a profound affect on not only social and cultural attitudes, but religious ideas, medical thought, and the role of science in the government. Many historians, scientists, and doctors all have different views on how Cholera was spread, and where this execrable disease came from. How Cholera shaped social attitudes at that time, can still be seen in how social attitudes are shaped in modern day society. Cholera also shaped science in the government, and especially emphasized on sanitation, which can also be seen in modern day society. Without the epidemic of Cholera, how would life be different today? Would there be segregation of social classes? Would sanitation be important? Most likely, yes they would, but Cholera is an interesting case to study when looking at these questions. Social Thought During the Cholera Years Throughout the many years Cholera was prominent in many areas, social turmoil was at an all time high. Different social groups as well as social classes were experiencing feelings of distrust, anger, and fear. â€Å"†¦almost before cholera even appeared-Europeans and Americans had associated cholera with social class and economic background.†[1] Poor social classes were frightened that their traditional ways of life would be violated because there were many arguments made that Cholera was associated with the poor. For example, Rene Villerme believed that poverty was the cause of disease.[2] This led the poor social class to not be able to trust anyone. The poor especially did not have any trust in doctors. Their fear was that doctors were the agents of evoking something that could potentially hurt them. Because of their distrust and fear of doctors, the poor social class despised isolation hospitals. A quote that came from poor people in Manchester was â€Å"To the hospital, pull it to the ground.†[3] This quote clearly shows the resentment that the poor social class had towards hospitals. Threats, like the quote above, made doctors and hospitals feel that they were under attack. Next, the middle class feared Cholera as a social stability threat. They were fearful of the economy being disrupted as well as an increase of anger being provoked. Their fear was accurate considering that riots did break out in some areas. For example, in Russia, riots began to break out when there were many police enforcing isolation. [4] It is quite apparent that during the 1800’s and 1900’s when Cholera outbreaks were abundant, social attitudes were shaped in an overall negative way. Correlation of Social Thought Shaping Modern Society In modern society, most humans have encounters with many, many different people and social classes. Do you trust every person you have an encounter with? Of course not, especially if you have ever been hurt by someone you thought you could trust. That is how the poor social class felt when they were hurt by doctors. Today, trust is one of the fundamental parts to having a relationship with someone. With trust being a big issue to the poor social class during the Cholera outbreaks, it has had a part in the shaping of modern society issues of trust. When people today see that people during the 1800’s and 1900’s could not trust doctors, who are supposed to be there to help and save lives, then that gives the modern society the question of who can they trust? Today, you see a lot of trust issues between boyfriends/girlfriends, spouses, co-workers, politics, etc. There is a clear correlation of how trust in past events have shaped modern society, and possibly even made it worse. Next, anger is an issue in modern society, as well. Anger can turn into violence very easily. This was seen in the past with the riots that broke out during the years Cholera was prominent in society. Today, violence is a big issue as a whole in many different areas. Like the middle class feared anger during the 1800’s and 1900’s, it correlates with modern day people fearing anger and acts of violence. Cholera is just one of many components that has shaped social attitudes in modern day society. Although circumstances during the 1800’s and 1900’s are very different from modern society, it is clear that events from the past do have an affect in shaping social aspects of things in the future. Environmental Conditions During the Cholera Years Overall, during the years that Cholera was most prominent, the environment was revolting. The main reason for the environment being so bad was because of the lack of modern technology for sewage systems. Waste seemed to be spread everywhere; in soil, rivers, streets, etc. Water flushed toilets were not very prominent during this time. â€Å"Most human wastes found their way either into leaky cesspools or directly into street drains.† [5] The cesspools were not cleaned often enough to keep the area sanitary, which was one of the direct causes for the environment being so awful. Not only would human waste be spread throughout the environment, but trash and animal bodies, too. All of this horrible pollution would be the air that people during that time would breathe in, and it would also find its way into the water that they drank. Numerous cities were polluted with all of these foul things, and it was becoming a big problem. Along with the bad pollution, some cities were also ve ry overcrowded which would make matters much worse. Science in the Government During the Cholera Years During the1800’s and 1900’s, scientific research mainly focused on the emphasis of the cause and communication of Cholera, as well as what was the best way to treat it and stop the spreading of it. There was a central argument of miasma versus contagion, but it was clear that the majority associated Cholera as a miasmatic disease. For example, Erwin Ackerknech, believed pollution to be the foremost cause of disease for obvious reasons, and he was not the only one to believe that. John Snow focused on Cholera as being spread through water. Mainly, polluted water that contained fecal material.[6] Snow did numerous studies on Cholera being spread through water. In â€Å"On the Mode of Communication of Cholera†, Snow presents various different studies that examine the correlation between where people were receiving their water from and how many were diagnosed with Cholera depending on where their water was from. Snow presented his data in tables to show that more dea ths were prominent in areas with bad water supply. â€Å"This table shows that in the greater part of Southwark, which was supplied with worse water than any other part of the metropolis, the mortality from cholera was also much higher than anywhere else.† [7] This quote is just one of many examples that prove Snow’s theory that water was one of the main sources for the spread of Cholera. Another study that Snow conducted was on two districts in London that were very alike in social and economic compositions, but had different water supplies. His conclusion found that one of the districts suffered much more than the other with Cholera due to the water.[8] So, where does science in the government come into play? There was clearly a serious environmental problem, and who was going to make the initiative to think of something to help and propose it to the government for help? Edwin Chadwick was the answer. Chadwick was a known for how he improved public health through sanitization. Chadwick’s inquiry called The Report on the Sanitary Condition of the Labouring Population, â€Å"was the greatest classic of the sanitation movement, and one that outsold well-known novels.† [9] Chadwick’s main focus was in the sewer and water systems. He wanted a system where fresh water only was pumped to people, and that waste, sewage, trash, etc. was disposed of the correct way without seeping public areas. Because of Chadwick’s Report, A Public Health Act was approved by the British Parliament. â€Å"The 1848 Act empowered local boards of health to enforce drainage, build sewers, compel the servicing of cesspools, pave and clean streets, deal with nuisances, inspect lodging houses and burial grounds, control the water supply, and raise local taxes to pay for it all.†[10] The above quote tells how the environment was soon being changed for the better now that Chadwick was able to make an impact on the government to do something. Cholera shaped the role of science in the government by emphasizing the importance of sanitation to the government, in which in return the government would act accordingly with the people’s best interest in mind. Shaping the Importance of Sanitization in Modern Society In modern society, sanitization is a major component of life. Everywhere you go, you are subject to germs, and more and more people are taking measures of sanitization to keep themselves healthy. One example of these measures is hand sanitizer. In modern society you find this everywhere; libraries, schools, hospitals, stores, etc. If it was not for the Cholera outbreak and Chadwick’s extensive emphasis of the importance of sanitation, how would modern society be today? Dirty? There is no knowing, but sanitation in the 1800’s and 1900’s definitely helped shape society today, for the better. Another example of the importance of sanitation today can be seen in restaurants. It does not matter what restaurant you go to, every one of them has a letter on the outside indicating the cleanliness of the establishment. Also, any doctor or dentist appointment that you go to, you will always notice that the doctor makes a point to was his/her hands before and after seeing a patient. Any tools used by the doctor or dentist are either brand new or well sanitized before they come in contact with their patients. There are numerous measures of sanitation in modern society today, whether government controlled, or peoples person preferences of how they like to stay sanitary. Health is a major component to modern society, and Chadwick’s Report during the Cholera outbreak helped illuminate the importance of sanitation to where it is still being used and made better in modern society. Conclusion In conclusion, it is apparent that Cholera had an effect on many different things in many different ways. Some are positive ways: development of sanitation, and some are negative ways: social attitudes of distrust and violence. These negative and positive effects of Cholera can still be seen in modern day society which shows that Cholera helped to shape social attitudes as well as the role of science in government. Where would modern day society be today if the outbreaks of Cholera never came about during the 1800’s and 1900’s? Social attitudes could easily be very different and sanitation may not be a serious factor in most peoples lives. Events of the past are one of the main responsibilities of how society is shaped today. Cholera will be forever remembered and known for its different effects on how society is shaped today. ———————– [1]J.N. Hayes, The Burdens of Disease: Epidemics and Human Response in Western History (New Brunswick, New Jersey and London: Rutgers University Press, 1998 and 2009), 140. [2]J.N. Hayes, The Burdens of Disease: Epidemics and Human Response in Western History (New Brunswick, New Jersey and London: Rutgers University Press, 1998 and 2009), 140. [3]J.N. Hayes, The Burdens of Disease: Epidemics and Human Response in Western History (New Brunswick, New Jersey and London: Rutgers University Press, 1998 and 2009), 140. [4]J.N. Hayes, The Burdens of Disease: Epidemics and Human Response in Western History (New Brunswick, New Jersey and London: Rutgers University Press, 1998 and 2009), 139. [5]J.N. Hayes, The Burdens of Disease: Epidemics and Human Response in Western History (New Brunswick, New Jersey and London: Rutgers University Press, 1998 and 2009), 143. [6]Professor Williams. â€Å"Lecture.† September 26, 2012. [7]John Snow, â€Å"On the Mode of Communication of Cholera.† (London: Churchill, 1855). 35. [8]J.N. Hayes, The Burdens of Disease: Epidemics and Human Response in Western History (New Brunswick, New Jersey and London: Rutgers University Press, 1998 and 2009), 147. [9]J.N. Hayes, The Burdens of Disease: Epidemics and Human Response in Western History (New Brunswick, New Jersey and London: Rutgers University Press, 1998 and 2009), 145. [10]J.N. Hayes, The Burdens of Disease: Epidemics and Human Response in Western History (New Brunswick, New Jersey and London: Rutgers University Press, 1998 and 2009), 146.

Coursework: Is Chester Zoo value for money? Essay

Introduction Chester Zoo is built on an area of over 100 acres. The Zoo, founded in the early 1930s by George Mottershead, is said to be the best zoo in Britain and under Europes top 30. Because the zoo receives no government funding it is based on the foundation. The zoo is split into three separate directorates under the management of the Director General, Gordon McGregor Reid: * Conservation and Education * Corporate Services * Commercial Services In 2006 Chester Zoo had more than 1,680,000 visitors, for that it was the most visited zoo in Britain. Chester Zoo has also won the â€Å"Zoo of the Year† award more than once what supports its importance under the Britain Zoos. Chester Zoo takes care for 7602 (2006) animals representing 424 (2006) different species. Nearly half of them are endangered. The Zoo is open all year from 10.00am except Christmas Day & Boxing Day. From Sunday 28th October to 31st December (excluding Christmas Day & Boxing Day) the last admission is at 3:00 pm. Strengths In General It is very interesting issue education is a key theme for Chester Zoo. Chester Zoo supports the learning of animals for student by reading, touching and smelling. They want to encourage you to take care for the environment which has never been as important like today. Chester Zoo has great plans for the future. Chester Zoo is working on a master plan for development and expansion called ‘SuperZoo’. It will become a world-class visitor attraction. The SuperZoo will be constructed in four phases. It will cost over à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½300 million of capital investment. In the first phase it will be in the region of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½100 million, and the size of Chester Zoo is going to be tripled. The estimated completion date is 2020 and will divide the zoo into four zones representing African savannah, grassland, forest and island and wetland habitats. In the next 18 months, Chester Zoo is going to be built a new aquarium building called Origins. It is scheduled to open late 2008. Chester Zoo has a wide variety of animals and a lot of uncommon animals which number can just protected when they live with human supervision. There are children’s play areas, shops, kiosks and several picnic lawns sited around the zoo. Directions One of the strengths is the very good location the zoo has. It is very easy to reach by road, by bus or by the rail. One of the most used motor ways are going near to Chester Zoo. You can easily reach the zoo by following the brown Chester Zoo signs from M56, Junction 14 or Junction 12 on the M53. The zoo is also clearly signed on the A41 Chester road. Another opportunity is the bus or the train. Monday to Saturday the visitors can use the bus from Chester Railway Station and Chester Bus Exchange or from Ellesmere Port and Cheshire Oaks, Liverpool and Birkenhead every 20 minutes. Sundays every hour. Zoo shops All of the Chester zoo shops sell a wide range of merchandise to suit all price ranges, tastes and age groups. They offer an enormous range of animal-themed gift ideas, as well as books, videos and music. For your convenience films, batteries and other essentials are also available in the zoos retail outlets. The Ark Shop The largest shop is the â€Å"Ark Shop†. It is located at the main entrance, sells a vast range of gifts and souvenirs. Open all year round, the Ark Shop also sells useful items to help make your visit more enjoyable, such as waterproof ponchos and umbrellas, should the weather take an unexpected turn for the worst. The Fountain Shop Conveniently located in the centre of the Zoo, the Fountain Shop sells a wide range of gifts and is open all year round. The professional Face painting service, which is highly popular with the younger children, is available here during school holidays and weekends. Arara Shop Open during peak periods only, the Arara Shop sells a smaller range of popular goods and is located near to the Spirit of the Jaguar enclosure. Guided tours for groups There’s a new 90 minute guided tour exclusive to groups showing the party the zoo attractions, an insight into ‘behind the scenes’ and the zoo’s vibrant history. A maximum of 20 people can take part in each tour, at a cost of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½35.00 in addition to the admission charge. Children’s Wristbands The zoo is also able to supply groups with plastic wristbands – ideal for writing contact mobile telephone numbers on in case of an emergency. It can supply these to the visitor in advance at a charge of five pence per wristband. Events for Groups On summer evenings the zoo offers a safari adventure complete with barbeque or dinner, evening picnics and exclusive tours through its gardens. For groups of 50 or more the event team can make an exclusive evening just for the visitor. Adopt an animal The zoo has a scheme whereby people can adopt an animal of their choice. They can also become zoo members. Every three months members and adopters receive the zoo magazine, called Z, which provides updates and information about what is happening at the zoo. Anyone can join the scheme for as little as à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½50 per year. You can pick an animal from the list. Everything the adopter gives goes to a special account for animal foodstuffs. The adoption runs for a full 12 months from whenever you can start, and they send a renewal reminder. Weaknesses The high price is a weakness of the Zoo. It costs à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½13.59 from march to October. In other European zoos the admission fee is the half (for example Berlin) and you get a much more breadth variety of animals there. Because most of the areas in the zoo are not be roofed, that’s a big problem for the zoo that the visitors won’t come on rainy days and spend no money on the zoo. Opportunities A lot people are watching animal documentations on TV. You also can go to the cinema and watch animal film. Threats Our guide told us that when Greenpeace had a demonstration against the bad care for animals in Britain Zoos they didnà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½t come to Chester Zoo because they have the highest standards of welfare and the best care for all animals. Conclusion All in all Chester Zoo is a very good Zoo, but there are Zoos in Europe which can offer you a wider variety of animals and a lower admission fee. On the other hand Chester Zoo is a foundation which has to be in a plus at the end of a year most of the other Zoos are subsidized by the government. Chester Zoo also is very interested in education and wants to give the visitor a lot of knowledge to save the environment. Therefore Chester Zoo is value for money.

Globalization, Unemployment, and Recession Links

Globalization, Unemployment, and Recession Links A reader recently sent me this e-mail: It seems to me that we are now engaged in an economy that may look different from any we have experienced. The Globalization of the economy has created huge firm closures in America expecially in manufacturing and forced lower wages on those employed by this sector. Typically and historically manufacturing jobs have created higher wages in this country but now we see all the rules are changing. Do you believe globalization will bring new trends to the relationship between rececession/depression and firm closures? I believe it already has begun. - Before we begin, Id like to thank the e-mailer for her very thoughtful question! I dont think globalization will change the relationship between recessions and firm closures, since the relationship between the two was fairly weak to begin with. In Are recessions good for the economy? we saw that: We do not see great differences in firm closures between periods of high growth and periods of low growth. While 1995 was the beginning of a period of exceptional growth, almost 500,000 firms closed shop. The year 2001 saw almost no growth in the economy, but we only had 14% more business closures than in 1995 and fewer businesses filed for bankruptcy in 2001 than 1995. Competition between firms in periods of growth: During a period of high economic growth, some firms still perform better than others. Those high performing ones can often squeeze weaker performing ones out of the marketplace, causing firm closures. Structural changes: High economic growth is often caused by technological improvements. More powerful and useful computers can drive economic growth, but they also spell disaster for companies that manufacture or sell typewriters. Would 0% Unemployment Be a Good Thing? Cyclical Unemployment is defined as occuring when the unemployment rate moves in the opposite direction as the GDP growth rate. So when GDP growth is small (or negative) unemployment is high. When the economy goes into recession and workers are laid off, we have cyclical unemployment. Frictional Unemployment: The Economics Glossary defines frictional unemployment as unemployment that comes from people moving between jobs, careers, and locations. If a person quits his job as an economics researcher to try and find a job in the music industry, we would consider this to be frictional unemployment. Structural Unemployment: The glossary defines structural unemployment as unemployment that comes from there being an absence of demand for the workers that are available. Structural unemployment is often due to technological change. If the introduction of DVD players cause the sales of VCRs to plummet, many of the people who manufacture VCRs will suddenly be out of work. Thats my take on the question - Id love to hear yours! You can contact me by using the feedback form.

Composite Columns From Roman Architecture

Composite Columns From Roman Architecture In architecture, the Composite column is a Roman-designed column style that combines characteristics of the ancient Greek-era Ionic and the Corinthian columns. Composite columns have highly decorated capitals (tops). Typical of the Corinthian capital, the floral ornamentation of the Composite capital is styled after the acanthus leaf. The leaf decoration elements of the Corinthian style combine with the scroll designs (volute) that characterize the Ionic style. The Composite is considered one of the five orders of classical architecture. Fast Facts: Composite Columns A composite is by definition a combination of elements.Composite columns can describe column design or materials.A Roman Composite column combines the designs of the Greek Ionic and Corinthian columns.The capital top of a Roman Composite column has scrolls (volutes) and leaf decorations.Since the Renaissance, Composite column designs have been used in decorative pilasters.Composite columns were originally made of stone, but today a composite can be a mixture of synthetic materials. Classical architecture, including columns, refers to what builders designed in ancient Greece and Roman. A column consists of a base, a shaft, and a capital at the top of a shaft. In ancient times, the capital and the entablature above it were paired with distinctive characteristics that make up what became known as the classical orders of architecture. Size and proportion of each column type was standardized, although today, most people identify column types solely by their capital design. Documenting the types of ancient columns was advanced by Renaissance-era architects like Palladio and Vignloa. In fact, the word composite meaning a combination or compound of different elements was not generally used until the Renaissance in the 15th century. In American English, pronounce composite with the accent on the second syllable - kum-POS-it. In British English, the first syllable is more often accented. The Arch of Titus (Arco di Tito), c. 81 B.C. Andrea Jemolo Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images (cropped) The Arch of Titus from the 1st century may be the first instance of the Roman composite column. Triumphal arches such as this one celebrated military victories and heroic conquerors - Titus and his Roman army returned to Rome after sacking Jerusalem and destroying the Second Temple in the year 70. World history is filled with military triumphs in one community that are sorrowful defeats in another - while the arch Titus marched beneath still stands in Rome, a more somber remembrance is observed in the Jewish religion on Tisha BAv. The Roman-type of columns can be found in the architecture of any of the regions influenced by the Roman Empire. Egyptian and Perian columns are often composites of Western and Eastern traditions. Composite columns can be found throughout the Middle East, most notably in Petra in Jordan. Bab el Siq Treasury (Al Khazneh), 1st Century, Petra, Jordan. Luca Mozzati Mondadori/Getty Images (cropped) Roman architect Marcus Vitruvius died before he could document the style of what is known as the Composite column - perhaps he would have dismissed this Roman combo column. The European architects of the Renaissance, however, noticed the beauty and practicality of this Roman design and incorporated it in many of their buildings during the 16th century. The well-known architect Andrea Palladio used Composite columns in many of his designs, including in the facade of the island Church of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, Italy. Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, 1610, Venice, Italy, Architect Andrea Palladio. Nicola De Pasquale/Getty Images (cropped) The influential Italian Renaissance architect Giacomo da Vignola incorporated Composite designs in the pilasters that adorn his work, including the 16th century Palazzo dei Banchi in Bologna, Italy. Composite designs, being a later invention within the Classical Orders, were often more decorative than structural - pilasters and engaged columns (round columns protruding like a pilaster) provide the essence of Classical design without being full columns. French Renaissance architect Pierre Lescot chose Composite pilasters in his designs for the Louvre in Paris and the 1550 Fontaine des Innocents. Lescot and sculptor Jean Goujon brought Renaissance Classicism to France. Fontaine des Innocents, 1550, Paris, France, Architect Pierre Lescot. Frà ©dà ©ric Soltan/Corbis via Getty Images (cropped) Because the combination (or composite) of the two Greek designs makes the Composite column more ornate than other columns, Composite columns are sometimes found in lavish 17th-century Baroque architecture. Pilasters were often used to ornament interiors, a decoration that provided classic, regal decoration to a room - even aboard a ship. A 19th century carved wooden Composite capital was found in the cabin of a Spanish Navy vessel captured by the U.S. Navy during the Spanish-American War. In contemporary architecture, the term composite column can be used to describe any style column molded from a man-made composite material such as fiberglass or a polymer resin, sometimes reinforced with metal. Significance of the Composite Order Its not the first type of column in Greek and Roman architecture, so what is the significance of the Composite Order? The earlier Ionic Order has an inherent design problem - how do you round the design of the rectangular volute capitals to elegantly fit on the top of a round shaft? The flowery asymmetrical Corinthian Order does the job. By combining both orders, the Composite column is visually more appealing while keeping the strength found in the Ionic Order. The significance of the Composite Order is that in its creation ancient architect-designers were modernizing architecture. Even today, architecture is an iterative process, that good ideas are brought together to form better ideas - or at least something new and different. Design is not pure in architecture. Design builds on itself by combination and elimination. It could be said that architecture itself is a composite.

Have our hegemonic ideas of masculinity changed Answer this question Essay

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Garbology in Marketing Strategies Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

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Marketing Plan Project Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6500 words

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Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI)

Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI) Discuss the weaknesses of the Occupational Stress Indicator. What are the alternatives? The Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI) is one of the most frequently used measures of occupational stress. Its intention is to provide practical help to individuals and their organizations (Cooper et al., 1988). It was designed to measure the key components of the stress process and work study in a wide variety of organizations. The original occupational scale contained over 200 items scored on a 6-point Likert-type scale. The Indicator consists of one biographical questionnaire and six questionnaires each measuring different dimensions of stress. For example, source of stress, moderating factor in aspects of dealing with stress and the stressors affects on the individual and situation. The sources of pressure questionnaire have six subscales and are a measure of factors thought to have a role in the aetiology of occupational stress. There are three questionnaires for assessing moderating variables: these are for type A behaviour pattern with three subscales, locus of control with t hree subscales, and coping strategies with five subscales. A further three questionnaires for mental ill-health, physical ill-health, and job satisfaction (with six subscales), assess strain or `stress effects. In simple terms, the OSI uses questionnaire statements to assess, a) how you feel about your job b) how you assess your current state of health, c) the way you behave generally, d) how you interpret events around you e) sources of pressure in your job, and f) how you cope with the stress you experience. OSI questionnaires are based on identifying three key elements of the stress process-effects, sources, and individual differences-and the scale places appraisal at the centre of the process. In particular, it is felt that it is not the demand or the source of pressure itself that is the issue; it is the perception of that pressure (Lazarus, 1966). It follows that the perception of individual differences such as coping and support and the perception of stress outcomes such as w ell-being and job satisfaction should also be measured. Pratt and Barling (1988) stated that it is as important to measure the interpretation that individuals give to an event as it is to measure the event itself. The recognition that appraisal plays a key role in the stress process makes it appropriate to use self-report questionnaires to measure stress at work. The essence behind the OSI was to provide a measurement scale, which would in turn provide a link between theoretical knowledge – in particular Lazarus (1966) Transactional Model and empirical evidence. Before discussing alternatives, it is important to evaluate the strengths of the instrument – and assess the positive attributes that the indicator has provided for future research. Although self-report mechanisms of discovering data have had criticism for its susceptibility towards experimenter bias – i.e. participants lying for socially desirable reasons, or over-playing/down-playing their answers for personal means, self report instruments are a valuable way of seeking responses from the core source themselves. Thus responses are first hand – and not an interpretation from a second or third party. In regards to work related stress – it has been found that self- reported health is a good indicator of the health status (Farmer Ferraro, 1997) and there is a positive relationship between self-reported health and self-efficacy (Parkatti, Deeg, Bosscher, Launer, 1998). Thus, this may imply that self report responses collected from a measurement like the OSI may well yield valid responses in regards to their health and how this in turn may affect how they feel about their working environment and how they perform within it. There has been a considerable body of research that has investigated self-reported health and occupational stress. It is accepted that in work situations stress due to increased psychological demands and reduced job control is related to poor self- reported health (Andries et al., 1996). Therefore, asking employee’s to complete the complex occupational stress indicator questionnaires may indicate where this stress is coming from and how the person perceives they are dealing in the situation. The major advantage of the OSI is that it is a mechanism of which may highlight a potential damaging work-related stress problem – not only high-lighting the problem, but the scale attempts to highlight its source and potential solution as well. The OSI has been used extensively since its publication in 1988. However, up until the late 1990’s, the scale has not been changed or been amended in any way. A number of studies have reviewed the design and use of the questionnaire in attempt to test the psychometric properties of the OSI, and to see if the instrument could be improved. The original OSI suffered from being developed on the basis of a very small (N = 156) sample. Therefore, it was important in any evaluation of the scale to include a vast sample to prepare the analysis from. In attempt to evaluate the scale structure and reliability, Williams (1996) analyzed the data for over 20,000 participants working in over 100 different organizations. The data was collected between 1990 and the end of 1995 from a wide variety of organizations in the public and private sector in the United Kingdom. Accounting for errors, a sample of 4,455 individuals in total adds support to a great body of literature that presents a consi stent picture of the strengths and weaknesses of the Occupational Stress Indicator. Through analyse, the scale appears strong at measuring job satisfaction, mental and physical health, and sources of pressure (Cooper Bramwell, 1992; Rees Cooper, 1992; Robertson et al., 1990). However, if the aim of the OSI questionnaires are to identify key elements of the stress process- e.g. the effects, sources, and individual differences-the indicator is somewhat flawed. The indicator is not so strong at evaluating the extend to which the individual feels in control of their situation (i.e. locus of control) or what behaviour, coping strategies people are most likely to adopt (Kirkcaldy, Cooper, Eysenck, Brown, 1994). Thus, the scales seem to lack in the ability to address the fundamental issue of individual differences in the process of stress, and how one perceives and copes with their situation. Therefore, there is strong evidence to suggest that the scale itself needs improvement or redesi gn to account for this (Williams Cooper, 1997). To discuss alternatives or improvements for the Occupational Stress Indicator – one needs to highlight how we define stress and how this definition is relevant in the work place. Stress can be regarded as the sum of total of environmental demands that tax our mental resources. For some (e.g. Lazarus, 1975), stress only has impact if we appraise it as threatening or harmful to ourselves. Symptoms of stress are varied but often present itself as some kind of strain in psychological, physiological, behavioural or physical health. Information about the individual and stress is often accumulated through self-report questionnaires. The most common (but not necessarily the strongest method) is through the use of a cross sectional design – such as the OSI. All data collected via this method is self-report and collected from the same people at the same time. There is danger in this approach – as it can often inflate the correlations observed between job-factors and the st rain outcome, and this does not accurately indicate the direction of causality. Conclusions derived from such analysis are often in terms of ‘main effects’ (of work related factors) and modifiers (moderate, mediators – variables that serve to enhance or attenuate the effect of job stress). For example, the level of control or autonomy against level of work load put upon the individual. However, this does not clearly tell us whether these two variables are related or independent of each other. It is merely assumed that one causes the other. As mentioned before, the flaws of the OSI seem to be in its ability (or lack of ability) to reliably identify how one perceives their situation and addresses coping strategies to suit. Lazarus (1975) account of occupational stress is useful here. He purposes a transactional cognitive view of stress. Lazarus believes that it is not just the environment that needs to be taken into account when considering sources of stress, but also a look at the person and how they ‘fit’ into the environment. Lazarus (1975) believes that there is a transaction between the environment and the person. This transaction is only stressful if a) the person believes the outcome of behaviour is relevant to personal goals/beliefs and b) if the person recons that the environmental demands exceed the personal resources of the individual. Furthermore, every encounter between the environment and the person involves appraisal and coping strategies. Lazarus (1975) believes that since perception of the s tressor is all important, it is pointless to pursue objective indicators of the environment. Rather it is this perception of the situation that indicators how stressed one will feel. A great criticism of the OSI is in its complexity and its length. This makes the administration of the scale a timely process. In response to this, Faragher, Cooper and Cartwright (2004) purpose an alternative, two-stage, risk assessment process. This involves an initial screening questionnaire for all employees of a given work place, and then conventional risk assessment tools are used to evaluate in detail just those individuals identified as having a potential stress problem. There are three main sections of the questionnaire which measure employee perceptions of their job, organizational commitment and employee health. This shorter version of the Occupation Stress Indicator is termed the ASSET – A Shortened Stress Evaluation Tool. Tests of just under 10,000 employees in 100 public and private sector organizations within Britain found ASSET to be quick and easy to complete, generating a high response rate. Thus in comparison to the OSI, the evaluation of the ASSET provides evidence that it possesses good reliability (a small number of reliable factors which increases the ease of interpretation) and has good reports of validity. However, it could be regarded that this shortened scale may have negative consequences for its validity. For example, the ASSET is put forward as a two stage ‘risk assessment’. This implies that the scale is administrated to assess the employee’s susceptibility to feeling stressed. Therefore, this ignores that there is an interaction between the environment and the person, but instead, puts heavy emphasis on the person’s ability to cope in a given environment. Therefore, this type of risk assessment may be perceived as more of a ‘test’ – rather than a support mechanism. Therefore, the validity of the screening scale itself is put into question – as it is highly likely that participants will want to answer in a socially acceptable manner to avoid incrimination. . Another scale that has adopted a shorter format is the Pressure Management Indicator. Williams Cooper, (1996) cite this model as more reliable, more comprehensive, and shorter than the OSI. The Pressure Management Indicator did infact evolved from the Occupational Stress Indicator. Therefore, the comparisons between the two scales here, opposed to the ASSET scale, are more valid and useful. Therefore, its inventors regard it as the replacement indicator of occupational stress. Williams and Copper (1998) examined existing measures of stress (directly and indirectly related to work) – these included questionnaires on mental health (e.g., Crown Crisp, 1979), job satisfaction (e.g., Warr, Cook, Wall, 1979), and locus of control (e.g., Rotter, 1966) and worked from the original OSI to produce a standardized, reliable, compact, and comprehensive instrument to measure work-related stress. The PMI incorporates three main scales; stress-outcome, stressor and the moderator factor. The stress-outcome scales measure, job and organizational satisfaction, organizational security, organizational commitment, anxiety-depression, resilience, worry, physical symptoms, and exhaustion. The stressor scales cover pressure from workload, relationships, career development, managerial responsibility, personal responsibility, home demands, and daily hassles. The moderator variables measure drive, impatience, control, decision latitude, and the coping strategies of problem focus, life work balance, and social support. To overcome the limitations of the original OSI, Williams and Copper (1998) embarked on a comprehensive analysis of the scale, ranging from analysis of the name of the scale – e.g. it was found that the mention of ‘stress’ in the title of the original scale implied there was a ‘stress problem’ in the organisation. Thus changing the name to ‘Pressure’ intended to imply a more neutral term (opposed to stress – the n egative consequence of pressure – William 1994). Through the extensive analysis of the OSI Williams and Copper (1998) revealed the main attributes of the original scale that existed as its weakness – and purposed to find solutions to these problems. For example, as stated the scale could be interpreted as threatening and time consuming. Thus a shortened version was essential. Another issue highlighted with the use of such a lengthy scale – was infact the possibility that a large number of items would increase the co-efficient alpha rating – and thus making the scale appear more reliable than it actually is. Therefore, the production of the PMI was designed to revise the questionnaires and number of items, without sacrificing its psychometric properties. Furthermore, it may be felt that the items on the OSI were bias towards white-collar or executive levels – ignoring the stress felt at lower levels of the organisation. The length and complexity of the OSI may have been bias towards workers who took on re ading activities regularly – opposed to the more manually skilled employee’s with more hands on day to day tasks. With this diversity in mind – it is essential that a vast number of employment scenarios are covered on any stress indicator scale. It may be interpreted that the original OSI was not so diligent in representing such diversity in the work-force. Williams and Copper (1996) were careful to use an extremely diverse data set representing over 100 different organisations from the public and private sectors. Incorporating diversity, it is also important to eradicate cultural boundaries in the questioning material. For example, the acknowledgement and understanding that many companies want to investigate work-related stress across national and ethnic boundaries is important. Therefore, can the OSI be regarded as a multi-cultural measure of occupational stress? It may be suggested that the mere fact it was based on a very small sample of just over 150 people , that it is impossible that is has gained a representative view of the world and the people and organisations within it. Furthermore, the consideration that the world of work is always changing means that the questions on the scales need to reflect changes in demand such as job insecurity and technology. The fact that, the original OSI scale has not been amended since its production renders it out-of-date in many respects. To combat these downfalls, William and Copper (1996), attempt to combine the questionnaires with organization-specific items, in hope of identifying sources of pressure and the use of coping mechanisms. The original scale lacks the ability to provide a cross-occupational and cross-company analysis. The solution was to develop a standardized measure covering all aspects of the stress-strain relationship that is, stressors, moderating factors, and stress outcomes (William and Copper, 1996). The new PMI questionnaires are intended also to help raise awareness of occ upational stress at the individual and organizational level, identify those individuals who need remedial help, and provide information for the design of appropriate interventions In light of the discussion above, the Occupational Stress Indictor has presented many weaknesses – in particular reference to its design, practical administration, validity and reliability. Many have questioned the length and complexity of the original self-report questionnaire. This has led to a revised version of the scales in the form of the PMI (Williams and Copper, 1996). The PMI, developed just under ten years after the original OSI, intended to combat many of its methological concerns such as shortening the administration process and taking into account cultural and occupational differences of its users. It would appear that through the quest to appeal to a wide audience – i.e. a diverse work base, the original OSI flawed due to its lack of ability to be able to offer a reliable source of stress indicator in reference to the individual’s perception of the situation and how they perceive they are coping. Although the original OSI was giving an accurate rep resentation of job satisfaction, mental and physical health, and the sources of pressure – i.e. concrete certainties that are easily measurable, the scale was not so reliable in measuring more abstract properties such as perceptional qualities. Therefore, it may seem a valuable option to concentrate on the perceptual properties of the scale itself to produce more reliable scale that measures how the individual feels, opposed to just how the individual acts in their environment– hence the development of the Pressure Management Indicator. This goes hand in hand with the theoretical assumptions that underpin the measurement scales – e.g. Lazarus transactional model of stress – purposing that there is a transaction between the environment and the person – which in turn may render the interaction as a stressful one or not. It is important to take into account that stress is an interactive process between the stressor and the moderator and the stress out come. The newly revised PMI scale is more advanced than the original OSI scale in that it takes into account this interaction. An important factor highlighted by the ASSET scale is that the administration of an Occupation Stress Indicator or Pressure Management Indicator needs to be as impartial as possible. A large weakness that needs to be overcome about any type of stress indicator is that it is not measuring the person’s ability to cope in stressful situations. For example, the scale is not intended to assess or question personality or to test the personal attributes of the individual, but instead, to provide an indication of how one perceives their working environment and how a number of variables interact to produce potentially stressful effects for the individual. The overall aim of a stress indicator scale is to identify physical and psychological areas of concern that can be highlighted to encourage an optimal balance of stress, coping strategies and support in the w ork place. References Books Cooper, C. L., Sloan, S. J., Williams, S. (1988). Occupational Stress Indicator. Windsor, England: NFER- Nelson. Lazarus, R. S. (1966). Psychological stress and the coping process. New York: McGraw-Hill. Lazarus, R.S. (1975). The healthy personality: a review of conceptualizations and research. In Levi, L (Ed). Society, stress and disease, vol 2. Oxford. Oxford University Press. Pratt, L. I., Barling, J. (1988). Differentiating between daily events, acute and chronic stressors: A framework and its implications. Cited in Hurrell, J.J., Murphy, L.R. Sauter, S.L., Cooper, C.L (1998) (Eds.), Occupational stress: Issues and developments in research. London: Taylor Francis. Williams, S. (1994). Managing pressure for peak performance. London: Kogan Page. Williams, S., Cooper, C. L. (1996). Pressure Management Indicator. Harrogate, England: RAD. Williams, S., Cooper, C. L. (1997). The Occupational Stress Indicator. In R. J. Wood Zalaquett, C. (1997) (Ed.). Evaluating stress: A book of resources. Huntsville, TX: Sam Houston State University. Journals Andries, F., Kompier, M. A. J., Smulders, P. G. (1996). Do you think that your health or safety are at risk because of your work? A large European study on psychological and physical work demands. Work Stress, 10, 104-118. Farmer, M. M., Ferraro, K. F. (1997). Distress and perceived health: Mechanisms of health decline. Journal of Health Social Behaviour, 38, 298-311. Cooper, C. L., Bramwell, R. S. (1992). Predictive validity of the strain components of the Occupational Stress Indicator. Stress Medicine, 8, 5760. Cited in Williams and Copper (1998). Measuring Occupational Stress: Development of the Pressure Management Indicator. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, Vol. 3, No. 4, 306-321 Crown, S., Crisp, A. H. (1979). Manual of the Crown-Crisp Experiential Index. London: Hodder and Stoughton. Cited in Williams and Copper (1998). Measuring Occupational Stress: Development of the Pressure Management Indicator. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, Vol. 3, No. 4, 306-321 Kirkcaldy, B., Cooper, C. L., Eysenck, M., Brown, J. (1994). Anxiety and coping. Personality and Individual Difference, 17, 681-684. Parkatti, T., Deeg, D. J. H., Bosscher, R. J., Launer, L. L. J. (1998). Physical activity and self-rated health among 55- to 89-year-old Dutch people. Journal of Aging and Health, 10, 311-326 Rees, D. W., Cooper, C. L. (1992). Occupational stress in health service workers in the U.K. Stress Medicine, 8, 79-90. Cited in Williams and Copper (1998). Measuring Occupational Stress: Development of the Pressure Management Indicator. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, Vol. 3, No. 4, 306-321 Robertson, I. T., Cooper, C, L., Williams, J. (1990). The validity of the Occupational Stress Indicator. Work Stress, 4, 29-39. Cited in Williams and Copper (1998). Measuring Occupational Stress: Development of the Pressure Management Indicator. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, Vol. 3, No. 4, 306-321 Rotter, J. B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal vs. external locus of control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs, 80 (1), 609. Cited in Williams and Copper (1998). Measuring Occupational Stress: Development of the Pressure Management Indicator. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, Vol. 3, No. 4, 306-321 Warr, P., Cook, J., Wall, T. (1979). Scales for the measurement of some work attitudes and aspects of psychological well-being. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 52, 129-148. Williams, S. (1996). A critical review and further development of the Occupational Stress Indicator. Doctoral thesis, University of Manchester, Manchester, England. Cited in Williams and Copper (1998). Measuring Occupational Stress: Development of the Pressure Management Indicator. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, Vol. 3, No. 4, 306-321 Williams and Copper (1998). Measuring Occupational Stress: Development of the Pressure Management Indicator. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, Vol. 3, No. 4, 306-321 Bibliography Hurrell, J.J., Murphy, L.R. Sauter, S.L., Cooper, C.L (1998) (Eds.), Occupational stress: Issues and developments in research. London: Taylor Francis. R. J. Wood Zalaquett, C. (1997). (Eds). Evaluating stress: A book of resources. Huntsville, TX: Sam Houston State University. Schweizer, K. and DÃ ¶brich, P. (2003). Self-reported health, appraisal, coping, and stress in teachers. Psychology Science, Volume 45, (1), p. 92-105 Williams and Copper (1998). Measuring Occupational Stress: Development of the Pressure Management Indicator. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, Vol. 3, No. 4, 306-321