The Problem of Capital Punishment Essay - 3342 Words

The Problem of Capital Punishment The issue of capital punishment is a divisive topic that encompasses many moral and empirical aspects of human justice. Ultimately, the key issue regarding the death penalty is as follows: is the death penalty an appropriate form of punishment for the United States of America’s judicial system to impose? This key issue incorporates the empirical and moral claims of the opponents both for and against capital punishment in America. The main empirical issues center on whether or not the death penalty is imposed with bias, whether it serves as deterrence for future crimes, and whether it is an economically beneficial option for the country. Moral concerns include the idea of justice as being â€Å"an eye†¦show more content†¦In the early twentieth century, during the Progressive Movement, there was a general advance towards abolishment. During the 1920’s and 1930’s, social scientists felt that capital punishment was needed to move toward a moral societ y, and as a result, executions rose during these times. In the 1950’s and 1960’s, with the decline of support for the death penalty came a decrease in executions. This was due mainly in part to the public’s questioning of the validity and fairness of the death penalty. Consequently, in the 1972 Supreme Court case, Furman v. Georgia, the Supreme Court decided—with a 5-4 vote and 9 separate opinions—that the death penalty was capriciously and arbitrarily handed down. Historically, the entire nation’s view on the death penalty has been disjointed, with the federal government allowing state governments to make laws. For a real decision to be made, the federal government has to be more involved, and make a clear concise decision on the matter. Recently, more issues have emerged in regards to the death penalty, such as cost; other issues like deterrence and prejudice have been around for the entirety of our nation’s existence (http:// www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/). There have been disagreements on whether or not the death penalty is objective. Death penalty supporters may indicate that, as of February 17, 2004, 57.2% of executed were white, and theShow MoreRelatedThe Problem With Capital Punishment857 Words   |  4 PagesThe Problem With Capital Punishment The Bible implies that â€Å"for the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you† (â€Å" Holy Bible, New International Version†). Capital punishment is an unlawful practice of the United States. It allows the government to legally execute a person for committing serious crimes such as murder, rape, and kidnapping. The Death Penalty Information Center reports that â€Å" The practice of capital punishment was firstRead MoreThe Truth About The Death Penalty973 Words   |  4 PagesKolodny believes that capital punishment has too many complications and variables that cause it be more of an issue than a real solution for capital offenses. She proposes that the death penalty should be dropped and exchanged for better programs such as Proposition 34, which replaces capital punishment for a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Kolodny’s factual claims and abundance of supportive ev idence regarding the problems with capital punishment successfully persuadeRead More Capital Punishment Essay611 Words   |  3 Pagesand chose a 30-year sentence instead because capital punishment was not enforced in the state. Broken up from the death of his 2 children, Mr. Smith said, â€Å"Me and my family are disappointed that the death penalty was not the verdict.† I am going to convince you that capital punishment has to be enforced in all states. I will tell you about the problem, the solution to the problem, and what it would be like if my solution is implemented. The problem is that the current criminals that commit theseRead MoreComparing Two Arguments on Capital Punishment Essay890 Words   |  4 PagesComparing Two Arguments on Capital Punishment In these two short essays, one by Anthony G. Amsterdam and another by Ernest Van Den Haag both authors make two very important views. Although one supports capital punishment and one is against capital punishment, both authors have good reasons to support their case. Amsterdam believes that capital punishment is a brutal process that a murderer has to go through. Amsterdam believes that the murderer should be punished for their actions, butRead MoreCapital Punishment : Imposition Of A Penalty Of Death By The State Essay1271 Words   |  6 PagesCapital punishment: Imposition of a penalty of death by the state. Capital punishment has been widely practiced ever since ancient times, as far back as 1500 B.C. From the fall of Rome to the beginning of modern times, capital punishment has been practiced all over the world. However, the problem in the justice system is that the death penalty can be wrongfully applied. This is rare but it does happen, the falsely incriminated is sentenced and executed. It is important that the government stillRead MoreCapital punishments should not be banned; people believe capital punishment is unconstitutional,900 Words   |  4 PagesCapital punishments should not be banned; people believe capital punishment is unconstitutional, that the person on death row actually committed a crime that put them there. There are complaints about the money put out for capital punishment and some think that the death penalty sends the wrong message or that our government is broken. Even though people believe capital punishment should be banned, it should not be banned due to multiple reasons. In the United States, capital punishment (also knownRead MorePersuasive Essay On Capital Punishment921 Words   |  4 PagesCapital punishment is a controversial debate in the United States. Many Americans believe that the death penalty is immoral because of its ethical complications. Still others believe that capital punishment is a cheaper and quicker way for justice to be served. When the government houses inmates, vast amounts of money are spent on food, medication, and clothing for inmates to survive in prison. Yet, the majority of America still allows for the practice of capital punishment in several manners suchRead MoreThe Controversy Over the Death Penalty Essay907 Words   |  4 PagesThe Controversy Over the Death Penalty Why is the death penalty used as a means of punishment for crime? Is this just a way to solve the nations growing problem of overcrowded prisons, or is justice really being served? Why do some view the taking of a life morally correct? These questions are discussed and debated upon in every state and national legislature throughout the country. Advantages and disadvantages for the death penalty exist, and many members of the United States, and individualRead MoreIs the he lawful infliction of death as a punishment the death penalty. Capital punishment1000 Words   |  4 PagesIs the he lawful infliction of death as a punishment; the death penalty. Capital punishment continues to be used in several countries despite controversy over its merits and over its effectiveness as a deterrent to serious crime. A sentence of death may be carried out by one of many means, through electrocution, hanging, lethal injection, gas chamber, and firing squad. The debate as to whether capital p unishment is right or not is an emotive one. Some people say it is necessary in some circumstancesRead MoreCapital Punishment Should Be Mandatory943 Words   |  4 Pagesrights when they kill other people, so capital punishment is a fair punishment for those people who definitely deserve it. In fact, capital punishment is one of the most arguable issues in our societies. However, it is a legally process of executing a person convicted of a capital crime. Capital punishment can be institutionalized by the state and implemented by final judgment of a court. It’s very important to fight premeditated murder. In addition, capital punishment should be mandatory for people who

Essay Prison Rape - 2316 Words

Prison Rape is no secret in today’s society. The American media has portrayed prison rape as a joke (Don’t drop the soap) in countless films, television shows, and in music, but have not realized the extent of how dangerous this crime is. Some cops even use this method as a means to get a confession from a suspect. A major obstacle in solving Prison rape is the notorious under-reporting of the crime. Only 16 percent of prison rape victims report their victimization. Reasons for under reporting are fear of consequences, shame, guilt, embarrassment, and refuse to relive painful details. This paper explores prison rape and its psychological and physical harm to not only inmates, but to society as well. It also discusses recent efforts to†¦show more content†¦Contrary to popular belief sexually transmitted diseases are not the only physical harm victims of prison rape endure. Many rape victims endure broken bones, broken noses, bruises, cuts, concussions, and the obvious genital injuries. Sexual assaults also increases violent behavior in prisons because inmates who feel like they may be a future target of sexually assault, defend themselves, and lash out in these violent rages and fights to establish themselves with a â€Å"tough guy† reputation to prevent any sexual misconduct from other inmates. Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun once said, Prison rape not only threatens the lives of those who fall prey to their aggressors, but it is potentially devastating to the human spirit. Shame, depression, and a shattering loss of self-esteem accompany the perpetual terror the victim thereafter must endure. Victims do not only suffer physical consequence due to these rapes. It is very common for victims to develop psychological illnesses as well. Victims of prison sexual assault frequently suffer from rape trauma syndrome or post traumatic stress disorder. Upon release of prison some victims will turn to substance abuse to cope with the emotion and mental damage while incarceration. In some instances victims have been reported to committing suicide, which only adds toShow MoreRelatedPrison Assault And Its Mental And Physical Mischief1145 Words   |  5 PagesName: Title: Institution: Abstract Prison Rape is no mystery in today s society. The American media has depicted prison assault as a joke in movies and in music, yet have not understood the degree of how risky this crime is. A few cops even utilize this system as an intends to get an admission from a suspect. A noteworthy obstruction in settling Prison assault is the famous under-reporting of the crime. Just sixteen percent of prison assault casualties report their exploitation. Purposes behindRead MoreInformation Collection Of Prison Assault874 Words   |  4 PagesCollection Prison assault happens every day inside of the Department of Collection. Throughout the years this issue has developed, which has prompted the execution of PREA. It is exceptionally clear that something should be done, which is the reason numerous hours of examination and measurements have been concentrated on to locate the best answer for battle the issue. As should be obvious, as the years have passed more instances of prison assault have been accounted for. Before prison, assault wasRead MoreWhat Can We Do?. We All Know What Happens. We Hear It On1691 Words   |  7 PagesWhat Can We Do? We all know what happens. We hear it on TV. We see it in the newspapers. We warn our girls about the probabilities that they might be a victim too, a victim of rape. Why is it that we have a rapist in the world? Are not we taught that ethically and morally we must treat each other as we want to be treated? Who would want to be stripped of their clothing, stripped of their independence, and stripped of their sense of security and safety. Is it a natural phenomenon? Is it somethingRead MoreWomen s Consent Before Having Sex With A Female Essay823 Words   |  4 Pagesimportance of domestic violence, rape, and sexual assault, and how men need to make sure that they always have consent before doing anything with a female. Officer Dorsey also discussed how even if you re accused of sexual assault, domestic violence, or even rape that it will always go on your record book even if you were falsely accused. Every 2 minutes an American, mostly female, is sexually assaulted, this means on average there are 288,820 victims of rape and sexual assault each year in theRead MoreRapists in Arkansas Should Receive Harsher Punishments1125 Words   |  5 PagesMany families of rape victims and other citizens believe a rapist goes nearly free compared to what the victim goes through, and believe it is unfair. Although it is true that offenders don’t get the chance to better themselves before being convicted as a hard felon, they should be convicted even harsher and differently than they already are in Arkansas because: they cause their victims to go through a lifetime full of pain, worry, and stress; they currently go to jail or prison for the minimal timeRead MoreThe Seriousness Of Rape And The Crime Itself1694 Words   |  7 Pages The Seriousness of Rape Keiser University Victimology Adriana Braxton 2/21/2017 In this paper I will be able to tell you about rape and the crime itself. I will explain who the victims of this crime are, how prevalent is this crime, what are the causes of this crime, in what ways do victims contribute to the crime, methods of prevention, resources available to assist victims of this crime, and my option of any needed changes in resources, laws, and sentencing related to this crime. â€Æ' ThereRead MoreRape and Extending the Sentence for Rape782 Words   |  4 PagesRape is a crime that is committed when someone is forced to have sexual intercourse through physical force or duress. â€Å"683,000 rapes occur every year† (CVS) and the national average for people accused of rape is eight years in a federal prison. Rape is a serious crime as well as other crimes but rape is considered to be a more serious and heinous crime along with murder etc. There are also different phases of rape that the victim may go through depending on how they handle it. Eight years in prisonRead MoreThe Prosecution Of Sexual Assault1232 Words   |  5 Pagesevolution of the most serious form of sexual assault namely, rape. It also requires some understanding of the broader social, cultural and political forces that have helped shape the law. Sexual violence is one of the most serious violent crimes in Utah. Countless victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence are enduring life threatening situations and suffer impacts which seriously reduce their quality of life. Domestic violence and rape and sexual assault affect all races, ethnic groups, educationalRead MoreSexual Assault And Consent Within The State Of South Carolina956 Words   |  4 Pagesreceive up to 30 years in prison for making someone have sex with them without them given consent. In the state of South Carolina the laws for rape of a minor in the first degree is when a person has sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 11 and it carries a sentence of up to 30 years in prison according to South Carolina  § 16-3-655(cga.ct.gov. n.d.). Now second- degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor between the age of 11 and 14 carries up to 20 years in prison. Furthermore, if a personRead MoreThe Increasing Need to Reform Rape Laws771 Words   |  3 Pages Rape is one of the most widespread and ubiquitous violent crimes facing America, making laws regarding rape and the judicial processing of rape increasingly important. The judicial process itself deters both rape reports and rape convictions. Not only does the judicial processing or rape cases itself deter reports and convictions, but it also has a negative impact on the moral and mental well being of the victims who decide to pursue their cases. According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National

Equal Opportunities Free Essays

In this essay I am going to explain the term † equal opportunities† in relation to early years practice. Explore this in the context of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and explain the impact the Convention on UK legislation. I am also going to suggest some steps which in my consideration can implement equality of opportunity for children in UK. We will write a custom essay sample on Equal Opportunities or any similar topic only for you Order Now Equal opportunity is a descriptive term for an approach intended to give equal access to a certain social environment or to ensure people are not specifically excluded from participating in activities such as education, employment or health care on the basis of immutable traits. The lack of access might cause poor self-esteem, respect, misunderstandings, stereotyping and discrimination. Bruce and Meggit, 2002) Also it means opening up the universe for the child and family so that they can take full benefit of the early childhood activities in school and in society. Equal opportunity does not mean treating everyone the same. The Common areas of discrimination are race, financial capability, gender and the ability of the child. Every child’s future depends on opportunities provided to it in his early years of life which usually defines the child’s outlook towards life. This will be the window through which the child will define race, gender, nationality, religion, family set-up, special needs and sexual orientation of parents in his or her own way. The teacher and parents will play the most vital role in the child’s early years of development and they will be providing all the vital elements of this process to build the child’s future. Teachers and parents have to make sure that he is in the right environment for this development to take place. To help them, the UN has played a major role and contributed immensely to this process. The UN general assembly agreed to adopt the conventions on the rights of the child on November 20th, 1989. It came into force in September 1990 after it was ratified by 192 member nations. The convention is child centric and deals with child specific needs and right to education and care. It also looks after the best interest of the child. Articles 2,3,6,7,8,11,12,13,23,28,29,30,31,32,34,35 are related specifically to the early years in respect to education and care. These articles of the policy state that the member nations will respect the rights set forth in the present convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind. (Convention on the rights of the child, 1990) The Convention on the Rights of the Child applies in the UK since ratification in December 1991, when the government agreed to make all laws, policy and practice compatible with the UN Convention. (http://www. unicef. org) Every child has certain basic rights, including the right to life, his/her own name and identity, and to be raised by his/her parents within a family or cultural grouping and have a relationship with both parents, even if they are separated. † (www. wikipedia. org) The principals outlined in the international human rights framework apply to both children and adults. I am doing to concentrate on children which are mentioned especially in many of the human rights. Standards are specially modified or adapted where the need an d concerns surrounding are distinct for children. http://www. child-abuse. com) The Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes and promotes this great link between children’s rights and responsibilities. The aims of education defined in the Article 29, include nurturing children’s respect for human rights, for their own and others cultural values and for the environment. This Article teaches us how vital it is for every child from birth to be thought tolerance and approval for people of other cultural and be able to get access to the same level and standard of education. Children need to be involved in process of learning about other cultures in order to understand them better. In this way children become familiarly with all the information, accept them and learn that everybody has equal rights and deserve approval and respect from Other people, no matter how old they are. (UN Convention, Article 29) Other articles express children’s rights in terms that stress how children’s exercise of those rights must be responsible and respectful of the rights of others. Article 15, states that children have the rights to meet with others and to join or set up association, unless the fact of their doing so would violate the rights of others. . Every child should be allowed to join those groups, in this way children learn about each other and build up their level of tolerance. Through social life children and young people meet and observe other children and learn from each other. (UN Convention, Article 15) Another example of children rights is Article 31 which again promotes the rights to rest and leisure, play and recreational activities appropriate for the age of the child. Children need to have the time to re-charge they energy, rest and play with each other or, and on their own. In many situations we learn about children who have to work long hours and very often do not get enough sleep at night. This is when we could mention children being explored, hard working children who have no time for cultural, artistic or leisure activities. (UN Convention, Article 31) In upholding the rights of children, the Convention does not infringe on the rights of parents to decide what is best for their children. Instead, it specifically states that governments shall make every effort to keep families intact and shall provide support and assistance to parents in fulfilling their responsibilities with regard to the upbringing and development of their children. The promotion of children’s rights is not a matter of placing children in conflict with the adult authorities in their lives, but of encouraging all citizens to work together for a safe, healthy and productive future for children. (http://www. unicef. org) Parents, carers, families and teachers are the most important influence on outcomes for children and young people. The Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme aims to ensure that support for parents becomes routine, particularly at key points in a child or young person’s life. (http://www. crin. ch) The UK government aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution, achieve economic well-being. The UK government aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution, achieve economic well-being. This means that the organizations involved with providing services to children-from hospitals and schools, to police and voluntary groups- will be teaming up in new ways, sharing information and working together, to protect children and young people from harm and help them achieve what they want in life. Children and young people will have far more say about issues that affect them as individuals and collectively. (http://www. cre. gov. uk) The Children’s Commissioner for England was appointed, to give children and young people a voice in government and in public life. The Commissioner will pay particular attention to gathering and putting forward the views of the most vulnerable children and young people in society, and will promote their involvement in the work of organizations whose decisions and actions affect them. The Commissioner’s role is to observe every aspect about young children and react immediately if something is acting against they rules and believes. (http://www. cre. org. uk) By agreeing to undertake the obligation of the convention, UK’s government have committed themselves to project and ensure children’s rights as they agreed to hold themselves accountable for the commitment before the international community. State parties to the convention are obliged to develop and undertake all actions and polices in the best interest of the child. The task, however, must engage not just governments but all members of society. The standards and principles articulated in the convention can only become a reality when they are respected by everyone within the families, in school and other institution that provide service for children, in communities and at all levels of administrations. (MCI protocol) The DfES (Department for Education and Slikks) works in partnership with community foundations, rural community councils, councils for voluntary service and grant making trusts to provide an experienced fund administrator in each area. Administrators ensure that outreach and support are available to support applicants. Decisions on allocating funding are made by assessment panels comprised of people with knowledge of the issues faced by children in the communities served by the funds. (http://dfes. gov. uk) New child charities have been recognised all over country helping to promote and claim children’s rights, and monitor how far their are being realised and respected. The charities collaborate with government and civil society to make progress in realising children’s rights. The UN committee welcomed a number of UK initiatives, especially new legislation such as the Human Rights Act and Adoption and Children Bill, youth participation, the available strategy for children, young people, and strategies on child poverty and teenage pregnancy. ( http://www. publication. parliament. uk). All parts of government have a responsibility to learn about, promote and implement the convention. The children, young people and families directorate within the department for education and skills co-ordinates the government’s report to the committee on the rights of the child. Beverley Hughes MP, the minister for children, young people and families, has special responsibility within the government for ensuring the convention is put into practice. The government is also meant to make sure that all new laws fit with the convention. Children’s rights groups and organisations have an important role to play in raising awareness about the convention, and referring to it whenever decisions are made that affects children and young people. By agreeing to undertake the obligation of the convention, UK overnment has committed themselves to protect and ensure children’s rights as they have agreed to hold themselves accountable for the commitment before the international community. States parties to the convention are obliged to develop and undertake all actions and polices in the best interests of the child. The task, however, must engage not just governments but all members of society. The standards and principles articulated in the convention can only become a reality when they are respected by everyone within the families, in schools and other institutions that provide services for children, in communities and at all levels of administration (Kandola and Fullerton,1998) Types of support offered could include structured parenting education groups, couple support, home visiting and  employment or training advice. All schools actively seek to engage parents in children and young people’s education, helping parents to understand what they can do at home to work with the schoolchildren’s centres and extended schools develop a coherent set of services both to support parents and to involve them properly at all stages of a child’s learning and development. (http://www. crin. ch) In conclusion, we should all apply the equal opportunities policy and each on of us should begin by him/herself. We should treat anyone an adult or a child equally regardless of his gender, race, nationality, social class and religion because he/she is an important part of the society we live in, and has a major role in it, especially children because they are the future generation, who will take our place in the society. Furthermore, we the adults should be the role model of our children because they are our mirror that reflect us wherever they go and whatever they do. Bibliography Bruce, . T and Meggitt, C. (2002) Child Care and Education, Hodder and Stoughton, London www. unicef. org UNICEF (Undated) Convention on Rights of the Child, 1990, http://www. ohchr. org/english/law/pdf/crc. pdf http://www. crin. ch Kandola, R. and Fullerton, J. (1998), The equal opportunity handbook http://www. child-abuse. com http://www. publication. parliament. uk http://www. wikipedia. org How to cite Equal Opportunities, Papers

Compensations and Benefits free essay sample

Introduction When creating a benefit package for their organization, managers must take into consideration an array of conditions that will affect both the organization and the personnel it employs. These conditions range from external factors such as laws mandated by both local and federal agencies to internal factors such as administrative requirements, cost that stem from purchasing and maintaining equipment and employee incentives. By the end of this paper, I will explain the essential role each of these factors play in the establishment of an organization’s benefit package. External Factors One of the biggest, if not the largest, challenge an organization faces when seeking to recruit the best qualified personnel in hopes of building a workforce whose loyalty keeps them from seeking employment elsewhere is to design a benefit’s package that will adhere to all lawful mandates and is perceived as being fair by all employees. As noted by the author or our text, â€Å"companies establish strategic benefit plans on the interpretation of pertinent information in the external and internal environments. †(Martoccio, 2011, p. 19) Lawful mandates, or external factors, are important because failure to follow them will result in stiff penalties for the organization. Federal laws such as the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Social Security Act and the Federal Unemployment Act were designed to ensure employees received fair treatment from employers. The Equal Pay Act (EPA) of 1963 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 were designed to prevent employers from discriminating against potential employees. â€Å"The EPA was specifically enacted to end gender discrimination in pay†¦the Civil Rights Act of 1964†¦makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discriminate against any individual†¦because of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. † (Greenlaw Kohl, 1994, p. 240) Two additional external factors to be taken into consideration or the Social Security Act (SSA) and the Federal Unemployment Act (FUA), both were designed to help personnel after they have been hired by an organization. The SSA provides that added security of an income to an employee upon retirement or in the event of being disabled and financial assistance to dependent survivors of a deceased employee. The FUA provides financial security to an employee who was released from his or her job due to no fault of their own. Having knowledge of these laws and being able to incorporate specifics within their benefits package will prove to be cost effective to any employer. Internal Factors While external factors are important, internal factors are just as important when designing a benefit plan for an organization. When implementing a benefit plan, managers must take into consideration any internal factors that might affect the organization administratively. Examples of administrative cost are establishing the pay structure within the organization, conducting wage surveys and implementing the wage structure for positions within the organization. According to Mr. Von Yeast, few people take into consideration the importance of administrative cost. â€Å"I have been in groups of experienced and knowledgeable administrators who give blank stares and refuse to comment on administrative cost. † (Von Yeast, 1994, p. 26) Another small, yet important internal factor that affects an organization’s benefit package are costs associated with purchasing, maintaining and eventually replacing equipment. The last internal factor I will use to support my claim that both external and internal factors must be taken into consideration when creating a benefit packet is the most important one to me and that is employee incentives. Employers that place high value on those with whom they employ stand a better chance of developing a loyal workforce who has a vested interest in the function of the company. The founders of Costo Wholesale Warehouse built their empire on this way of thinking. It’s â€Å"co-founder Jim Sinegal has told MMR in the past that the companys generosity regarding worker pay and benefits is not just the right thing to do but also produces dividends that benefit the business. † (Costco, 2012, pg 20) Placing the needs of its employees first, hiring from within, and tuition re-imbursement are just a few of the benefits Costco offers its employees and as a result it has survived one of our nation’s worse economic crisis. Research has shown that Costco’s employee turn-over is minimal and customer satisfaction is up as a result of employees who have a vested interest in the organization. Although I believe Costco’s founder’s understood the value of people, they did not come to this conclusion on half-heartedly. Much thought and consideration must be taken when deciding what benefits should be included within a package. Conclusion Providing additional incentives such as educational benefits, health, dental, vision and life insurance along with paid vacation is beneficial to the organization as well as the employee. With hope, the employer will be happy because they would have hired a more educated worker who is skilled in his or her profession resulting in more productivity and the employee will perform better because of the promise of better job security and benefits that protect them and their families. In short a good benefit plan, that takes into consideration both external and internal factors will result in better productivity. Reference Costco Policy of Treating Workers Well Pays Off. (2012). MMR, 29(3), 20. Greenlaw, P. S. Kohl, J. P. (1994). Thirty Years of Civil Rights: The EPA/Title VII Sex-Based Wage Discrimination Controversy. Labor Law Journal, 45(4), 240. Martoccio, J. (2011). Employee benefits: A primer for human resource professionals.

Scandinavian Hero Beowulf Essay Example

Scandinavian Hero Beowulf Essay Scandinavian Hero Beowulf BY Rya-FreiJ Rya FreiJ Mr. Hamas English Honors 3 20 November 2013 The Undercover Wulf Beowulf, the Old-English epic poem, is characteristic of its Nordic-Germanic roots as a tale of a great Scandinavian hero Beowulf, who saves a neighboring kingdom from the wrath of the destructive, blood-thirsty monster, Grendel, and eventually becomes the king of his own people, the Geats. Closely related to modern day tribal and gang customs, it is questioned as to whether Beowulf should be considered a hero. He proves to be a great warrior and protector by killing three terrorizing beasts, a rovider by bringing back great treasures from each of his exploits, and faithful by always looking out for his tribe and fghting in their honor. The true question to be asked is, can tribal mentality produce a worthy hero? The answer is, yes. Steven Pressfield further explains what tribal mentality actually is in his article Tribes, Gangs, and Terrorists. Although Beowulf had done shameful things in the past, Beowulf is still considered a Viking hero and a modern hero because of his actions through the story such as strength, which prove that tribal culture and mentality can roduce a worthy hero. In the days of Beowulf and the Vikings, a hero was a man who was strong and courageous, willing and able to protect his tribe and provide for his people. Even today, the meaning of this word translates into the same category of definitions. A hero now is considered for the brave things they have done and selflessness that they possess. We will write a custom essay sample on Scandinavian Hero Beowulf specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Scandinavian Hero Beowulf specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Scandinavian Hero Beowulf specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The narrators portrayal of Beowulf is nothing but heroic from his first mentioning, where he is described as [The] mightiest man on earth, (97), The noble warrior, (314), and The man whose name was known for ourage, the Great leader, (340-341). Anglo-Saxon warriors had to be stoic, and they had to appear fearless at all times. This relates to Beowulf because both showed no fear or sorrow. He kept his word and did not complain, no matter how impossible their tasks seem. Also in the article Tribes, Gangs, and Terrorists explains, The foe is granted full honor as a fghting man and defender of his home soil and values. Honor is one of the main characteristics in a hero that is presented to the world today, so how is tribal mentality different than the mentality than a hero? Actions of a erson describe whether a person is considered a hero, not their mentality. In Beowulf, Beowulf fights three different monsters. The first monster he fights is Grendel, the second is Grendels mom, and the third is a dragon. When travelling to Hrothgars land to slay the beasts, it shows as to how he and his men feel towards the monsters. Tribes are hostile to all outsiders, Steven Pressfield explains. Taking into consideration that the monsters are considered outsiders to Beowulf and his men, his heroic reaction to save his allies and companions expresses how the tribal system s connected to the thought that modern tribal mentality can produce a worthy hero. Each fght shows an important part of Beowulf. The fght with Grendel and Beowulf exhibits Beowulfs sheer strength and power which is explained in the quote, The encountered in any man on the face of the earth (749-752). Beowulf survives a handgrip that is supposedly tighter than anything he had ever encountered. In the second fight, Beowulf struggles against Grendels mom. Grendels mom grabs Beowulf a lot and Beowulf struggles to escape every time. When he hit Grendels mother with his sword, it bounces off and does merely nothing. This fight shows Beowulfs weaknesses and struggles. In the third and final fight, Beowulf and a small army fight a dragon. This happens nearly fifty years after the fght with Grendel and his mom. That final day was the first time when Beowulf fought and fate denied him of glory in battle, (2571-2573) is the first battle Beowulf had ever lost. If slaying three infamous hell bound creatures was not heroic, than what else is? Tribal mentality bands together beliefs, morals and the survival of their group. They are narrow minded, irrational, and closed to outside interference. They move and respond as a group. They tend to be very basic, killing anything that threatens their closed group. The article Tribes, Gangs, and Terrorists written by Steven Pressfield explains, Tribes prize loyalty and cohesion. Beowulf valued a sense of community and camaraderie. Anglo-Saxon and tribal behavior and goals are quite similar. After Beowulf passes away, Wiglaf announces that there will not be peace or pact-keeping of any sort from the Swedes, (2922-23) because that was what Beowulf wants. He does not wish to see his empire that he made crumble into oblivion. This also represents the revenge, which is a main part in the tribal culture. Any insult to honor must be avenged, (Pressfleld, 2011, pg. 1). Swedes had been insulting and harassing the Geats for a while by then, so with Beowulf gone, it was time for the team to take revenge. Just like modern heroes today. Heroes know when to take revenge for the loved ones that they have lost but in the right way. Beowulf took the lives of the monsters out of revenge and for the safety of everyone that surrounds him and the people that he cares about. The epic poem Beowulf focuses on the hero. Throughout various generations and cultures, people have had an image of the archetypal hero. The Anglo-Saxon ideals of heroism were strength, bravery, and loyalty, which were exactly the qualities that Beowulf possessed. Beowulf, as a result, is an icon of his ancient Germanic heritage. He imitates the world around him by reflecting past traditions of heroes and mirrors their characteristics and actions. With him, his honor and pride make him not only a hero of his own time, but also a hero for generations to come. In all, tribal mentality whether centuries old compared to modern day does produce a worthy hero; heroes that can and are willing to protect the people that they love and surround them.

Hillary Clinton - Position on Illegal Immigration

Hillary Clinton - Position on Illegal Immigration Hillary Clintons position on illegal immigration has shifted over time. In her campaign for president in 2016, her most recent bid for election to public office, Clinton said she supported a path to citizenship for millions of people living in the United States illegally because it would be impractical to deport them all. If we take what we  know to be the realities that we confront - 12 to  14 million people here - what will we do with them? I hear the voices from the other side of the aisle. I hear the voices on TV and radio. And they are living in some other universe, talking about deporting people,  rounding them up. I dont agree with that and I dont think its practical, Clinton has said. She has said, however, that those who have committed crimes and pose a violent threat to public safety while living in America illegally should not be permitted to stay here. Clinton has said she favors humane, targeted, and effective enforcement of the laws against illegal immigration in the United States. During the 2016 presidential campaign, she defended President Barack Obamas controversial executive action  on immigration, which would have  allowed as many as five  million people living in the United States illegally temporary,  quasi-legal status and work permits. And she opposed the idea of building a massive wall along the U.S. border with Mexico and supported the rights of a growing number of refugees and asylum seekers to tell their stories. We need comprehensive immigration reform with a path to full and equal citizenship, Clinton said in January 2016. If Congress wont act, Ill defend President Obama’s executive actions - and Ill go even further to keep families together. Ill end family detention, close private immigrant detention centers, and help more eligible people become naturalized. Obamas program, called  Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, was essentially put on hold  by a June 2016 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Clinton Opposed Banning Muslims Clinton has also voiced opposition to a policy put in place by Republican President Donald Trump to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States. Trump said his proposal was meant to prevent terrorist attacks on the homeland. But Clinton called the idea dangerous. â€Å"It goes against everything we stand for as a nation founded on religious liberty,† Clinton said. â€Å"He’s turned Americans against Americans, which is exactly what ISIS wants.† Clinton Mocked Trumps Border Wall But Supported a Fence On the campaign trail in 2016, Clinton openly derided Donald Trumps idea to build a tall wall along the length of the U.S. Mexico border. Hes talking about a very tall wall, right? A beautiful, tall wall. The most beautiful, tall, wall, better than the Great Wall of China, that would run the entire border, that he would somehow magically get the Mexican government to pay for. And, you know, its just fantasy. Clinton did, however, voter in favor of legislation to build a fence along 700 miles of the border, a bill called the Secure Fence Act of 2006. ... Where it was necessary, we did support some fencing, where it was necessary, we did add border patrol agents, Clinton said. Clinton Apologized for Saying  Illegal Immigrants Clinton apologized in 2015 for using the term illegal immigrants, which is considered dehumanizing. She used the term while speaking about securing the United States border with Mexico.  Well, I voted numerous times when I was a senator to spend money to build a barrier to try to prevent illegal immigrants from coming in, Clinton said.   She apologized when asked about her use of the term, saying:  That was a poor choice of words. As Ive said throughout this campaign, the people at the heart of this issue are children, parents, families, DREAMers. They have names, and hopes and dreams that deserve to be respected, Clinton said.   Clintons Shifting Position on Immigration Clintons position on immigrant hasnt been as consistent as it seems. She has come under fire from some Hispanics over her support of candidates who are viewed as unfriendly to establishing a pathway to citizenship.  As first lady under President Bill Clinton, she was  on record  as supporting the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which expanded the use of deportation and limited conditions under which it could be appealed. She has also opposed the idea of giving drivers licenses to people living in the United States illegally, a position that drew some criticism. They are driving on our roads. The possibility of them having an accident that harms themselves or others is just a matter of the odds, Clinton has said. Clinton said during her run for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination that she supported granting citizenship to people living here illegal if they meet certain conditions including paying a fine to the government, paying back taxes, and learning English. And she has also said children who cross the border illegally from Central America should be sent back as soon as it can be determined who responsible adults in their families are, because there are concerns whether all of them should be sent back. But I think all of them who can be should be reunited with their families. †¦ We have to send a clear message, just because your child gets across the border, that doesn’t mean the child gets to stay. So, we don’t want to send a message that is contrary to our laws or will encourage more children to make that dangerous journey.†

Organization experiencing challenges with its compensation and benefit Research Paper

Organization experiencing challenges with its compensation and benefit system - Research Paper Example This research paper describes the compensation practices undertaken in organizations have far reaching effects on the competitive advantage of the firm. In order to develop competitive advantage of a firm in the global market, the compensation plans developed by the firm must align with the strategic plans and actions of the same. Apart from the attainment of competitive advantage compensation practices also have influence over recruitments, turnover, productivity of labour, etc. in firms. Thus it is crucial that firms make thorough analysis of how people perceive about the firm’s compensation and how these perceptions consequently affect their behavior. A substantial amount of job satisfaction of employees depends on the amount of compensation that he receives as well as the benefits he derives from the organizations. The financial compensations complemented with adequate benefits such as insurances, sick leaves, paid vacations, discounts, pension plans etc. impacts on the sa tisfaction level of employees and subsequently their behavior and commitment towards the same. The American Airlines (AA) confronted with serious compensation and benefit issues due to the restricting of their compensation plans for employees. Due to the great losses incurred by American Airlines, one of the world’s largest airlines, the management had to undertake massive cost cutting and restructuring campaign with the purpose of restoring profitability. This resulted in massive job cuts of employees. The policy only invited random resistance from employees which further aggravated the amount of losses incurred by the company. ... The problem would be supported by presentation of critical literature which would include various arguments presented by researcher, practitioners and author and also empirical evidence on the subject. Thesis statement Following is the thesis statement developed for the study; Due to the critical role played by compensation and benefit plans on employees’ job satisfaction, commitment and productivity, companies need to strive to exploit full potential of their human resources through adequate compensation and benefit structures. Review of the Literature As organizations continue to be confronted with increased competitive pressures, they seek to achieve more using fewer resources. Along with the rise in emphasis on such aspects as sales volume, innovation, profits, quality etc, many cases have revealed tight control over employments with substantial employment cuts. The idea to manage human resources effectively using fewer employees has evolved over the years. Subsequently th e emphasis has shifted towards the system of employee compensation with the view to manage human resources better (Gerhart, Minkoff & Olsen, 1994, p.1). Employee compensation and benefits play a key role as it lies at the heart of employment relationships having critical importance for both employers and employees. The financial compensation paid by employers in the form of salaries and wages comprises of the main income of the employees. On the other hand benefits account for the health and other security of employees. A large proportion of employee’s job satisfaction and performance depends on the combination of both the compensation and benefits he receives. From the perspective of the employer, the compensation decisions undertaken influences the costs associated with doing the

Analyze a Business Case Study. Provide an analysis with an application Essay

Analyze a Business Case Study. Provide an analysis with an application of at least two theories relating to Ethics. They also will recommend what action should be taken - Essay Example The ethical issue is accepting the $50 bill and locating and providing a room for Liz Borden, despite eminent knowledge that no rooms were apparently available for the night. For giving a room to Liz Borden, Paige Lewis violated the duty-based ethics or deontological ethics, which was premised on â€Å"the right motive is â€Å"to do the right thing†, â€Å"to do one’s duty†, â€Å"to respect the moral law† (LaFave, 2006, p. 1). Paige Lewis has full knowledge that it is her responsibility to abide by the reservations made by customers, pursuant to the Code of Conduct and the hotel’s policies and procedures regarding reservations. As it was disclosed that the hotel was completely booked that night and there is clearly stipulated policy that states: â€Å"Honor the reservations at all cost† (Lieberman and Nissen, 2008, p. 121). Clearly, Lewis violated company policies and the hotel’s Code of Conduct under responsibilities with clients, which indicates that â€Å"members will not promise any benefit that is not within their control to deliver† (International Association of Hospitality Advisors: Responsibilites wit Clients, n.d., par. 5). Concurrently, Paige Lewis also violated trust of its employer by accepting the $50 bill, considered as a bribe to locate a potential room for Liz Borden. It itself, this is again a violation of the Deontological theory that stipulates that a bribe is morally wrong (Practical Business Ethics.com). Likewise, under consequentialist theory, the outcome of Paige Lewis’ action, displacing the young woman of a room that was rightfully hers in the first place could potentially jeopardize her position when complaints would be filed against her and the hotel. holding times (meaning, the time needed to wait for the customers who made the reservations to arrive within the stipulated time frame). If there is a hold order of say, within one hour from the time of arrival indicated, and if any guest did not call to confirm

Risk Assessment for Art Library Construction Case Study

Risk Assessment for Art Library Construction - Case Study Example This essay declares that the part of risk assessment is a major constituent of the construction plan, aimed at depicting the effects of unexpected events on the relevant stakeholders. Unexpected events have major effects on the organization, the public, owners, and the constructor. Therefore, it is vital for any project to entail risk assessment, with the aim of minimizing the damage instituted by these unforeseen events. Before the commencement of activities on the planned site, there arises a dispute among the constructors. The dispute is in relation to the number of the workforce to be hired, their salary, and the expertise needed. The dispute has a varied effect on the project, which is fully negative. The implications on the deadline for completion of the order are major, causing a 17-day delay. This paper makes a conclusion that unexpected events have major implications for a project, precise construction of an art gallery. During the process, the company incurred various risks, which consequently amounted to major losses on the aspects of time and cost. However, with a well-laid risk management design, it is possible to eliminate the dangers enacted by occurrence of these events. It helps the organization cut on costs, and if we had applied it in our organization, we would be in a position to meet the deadline. It would eliminate any losses that have been incurred, bettering our relation with the client, and allowing us proceed to other activities.

Acquisition of Natwest by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS)

Acquisition of Natwest by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Corporate strategy developers have in the past and today seen Mergers and Acquisitions as an effective tool to foster future growth and create sustainable value. As a norm, companies now aggressively seek and buy compatible businesses to gain from synergetic benefits and strengthen their core business operations, whether that is the Industry of Banking, Pharmaceutical, Information Technology, Construction or Retailing etc. Expenditure on acquisitions in the UK by foreign companies increased from  £9.2 billion in quarter four 2007 to  £19.9 billion in quarter one 2008. Expenditure on acquisitions abroad by UK companies decreased from  £25.8 billion in quarter four 2007 to  £15.5 billion in quarter one 2008. Expenditure on acquisitions in the UK by UK companies increased from  £3.2 billion in quarter four 2007 to  £3.6 billion in quarter one 2008. The number of transactions reported for acquisitions in the UK by UK companies at quarter one 2008 is the lowest reported since quarter one 2003?. Source: (http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/ma0608.pdf- on 06-06-2008). In March 2000, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) acquired NatWest Bank, a bank three times its size. Shareholders were told that the merger would realise  £1.1 billion in cost savings and income gains. The acquisition of NatWest by the Royal Bank of Scotland has created a larger group which combines scale and financial strength with an innovation and growth culture, and gives us strategic options to create additional value for shareholders?. Source:(http://www.rbs.com/media03.asp?id=MEDIA_CENTRE/PRESS_RELEASES/2001/MARCH/RESULTS2000- on 02-06-2008). The perceived motivation drives for this merger and acquisition activity are generally considered to be the acquiring banks desire to increase its return by expanding geographically. This perception is similar to Stewarts premises of merger motivation. According to the Stewart; the actual motivating forces behind merger should be ones that will: Increase financial performance (net operating profits). Financial benefits through borrowing against the Sellers unused debt capacity or against an increase in the consolidated debt capacity (lending capacity for banks). Tax benefits derived from expensing the stepped-up basis of assets acquired or from the use of otherwise forfeited tax deductions or credits?. (Stewart, 1991, p 375). 2. BRIEF REVIEW OF LITERATURE This chapter aims to discuss various literatures on mergers and acquisitions in order to provide a background for subsequent analysis. The literature identifies several economic and financial theories that justify Merger and Acquisition activity. In this review, we provide an overview of the literature that we use to guide our empirical work. 2.1 DEFINITIONS The interdisciplinary nature of the MA discourse is reflected in the versatile definitions provided in the literature. Some definitions emphasize the organizational context of MA: The term ËÅ"merger has two meanings in the context of combining organizations. Merger can refer to any form of combination of organizations, initiated by different kind of contracts. The more specific meaning that separates merger from acquisition is that merger is a combination of organizations which are similar in size and which create an organization where neither party can be seen as acquirer?. (Vaara, 2000, p 82). The word merger refers to negotiations between friendly parties who arrive at a mutually agreeable decision to combine their companies. In general, mergers reflect various forms of combining companies through some mutuality in negotiations?. (Fred and Weaver, 2001, p 6). The word merger is used to mean the combining of two business entities under the common ownership?. (Arnold, 2005, p 1041). In Acquisitions a company buying shares in another company to achieve a managerial influence. An acquisition may be of a minority or of a majority of the shares in the acquired company. An acquisition is recorded on the date of the economic decision (formally agreed) even if the legal issues have not been fully finalised. If subsequent disputes, legal issues or a lack of supervisory approval were to interfere with a completion of the acquisition, it is held not to have been recorded?. (Eurpean Central Bank, 2000, p 4). 2.2 TYPES OF MERGERS ACQUISITION From the point of view of an economist, there are four main groups of Merger and Acquisition. Horizontal ­: In this one firm combines with another in the same line of business. In simple words, a horizontal merger occurs when two competitors combine?. (Gaughan, 2007, p 13). Horizontal merger reduces the number of the competitors in the market. Vertical: A vertical merger is the combination of successive activities in a vertical chain under common coordination and control of a single firm?. (Sudarsanam, 2003, p 140). In simple words, it is a merger between a supplier and the distributor company of the supplies. This is a cost saving merger as well. For example HSBC purchased JP Morgans dollar clearing business in 1996. Congeneric: This involves related enterprises but not producers of the same product (as in horizontal merger) or firms in producer supplier relationship (as in vertical merger). An example is when Lloyds Bank acquired Cheltenham and Gloucester in 1995 mostly to acquire its mortgage business, which is related to but different from retail banking?. Source: (http://www.lloydstsb.com/about_ltsb/lloyds_bank.asp â€Å" 04-05-2008) Conglomerate: A conglomerate merger is the combining of two firms which operate in unrelated business areas. Some conglomerate mergers are motivated by risk reductions through diversification; some by the opportunity for cost reduction and improved efficiency, others have more complex driving motivations?. (Arnold, 2002, p 870). For example in 1996, Royal Bank of Scotland was expected to take control of Charles Church. 2.3 LITERATURE REVIEW- THEORIES OF MA There are might a number of motives that might play a role in merger activity, like efficiency, growth , synergy, financial and tax benefits, shareholders exploration, but two of the most often cited motives for mergers and acquisitions are faster growth and synergy. All these strategic motives shall be discussed in this part of the proposal for the better understanding of merger and acquisition. 2.3.1 Efficiency Theory The efficiency theory says that mergers occur because they improve the combined firms, operations, for example, by letting superior managers assume control, by exploiting cost reducing synergies? or complementarities in the partners operations, or by taking fuller advantage of scale of economies and risk spreading opportunities, among other things in securing capital?. (Ravenscraft and Scherer, 1987, p 211). In simple words, efficiency is an improvement in the utilization of existing assets that enables the combined firm to achieve lower costs in producing a given quantity and quality of goods and services. 2.3.2 Managerial Motives or Managerial Perspectives Takeovers can also arise because of the agency problem that exists between shareholders and managers, whereby managers are more concerned with satisfying their own objectives than with increasing the wealth of shareholders. The motive behind some acquisitions may be to increase managers pay and power. Managers may also believe that the larger their organization, the less likely it is to be taken over by another company and hence the more secure their jobs will become. Take overs made on the grounds have no shareholder wealth justification since managers are likely to increase their own wealth at the expense of the shareholders?. (Watson and Head, 2006, p 317). 2.3.3 Shareholders Expropriation The important motive behind the consolidation has been maximization of shareholders wealth. In the neo-classical prospective, this mean that the incremented cash flows from the decisions, where discounted at the appropriate discount rate should yield positive or zero net present value. Under uncertainty, the discount rate is the risk-adjusted rate with a market determined risk premium for risk. Draper and Paudyal (1999) found that shareholders in the target businesses benefits substantially from takeover activity, particularly where they are given the option to receive either cash or shares in the bidder as the consolidation. It seems that the bidders shareholders do not suffer from merger. They also found that the benefits to target shareholders have declined in the recent past. Bruner (2004) argued that the approach taken by many of the studies based on US takeovers were flawed in that the research results were unduly influenced by a relatively small number of failures that involve d particularly large businesses. He claimed that all takeovers benefit target shareholders and the overwhelming majority benefit bidder shareholders as well.? (McLaney, 2005, p 395). Shleifer and Summers suggest a number of other motives for mergers and acquisitions in which shareholders may gain at the expense of other stakeholders. For example, some target firms may seek acquirers to escape financial problems or to break unfavourable labour contracts. Other firms may seek leveraged purchases of their targets to increase the surviving firms risk- return profile at the expense of existing debt holders?. (Shlfeifer and Summer, 1988, p 33). 2.3.4 Financial and Tax Benefits Whether tax motives are an important determinant of MAs. Certain studies have concluded that acquisition may be an effective means to secure tax benefits. Gilson, Scholes and Wolfson have set forth the theoretical framework demonstrating the relationship between such gains and MAs. They assert that for a certain small fraction of merger, tax motives could have played a significant role. Moreover, whether the transaction can be structured as a tax-free exchange may be a prime determining factor in whether to go forward with a deal. Sellers sometimes require tax free status as a prerequisite of approving a deal. In the U.K the rules are more strict for taxes; the losses incurred by the acquired firm before it becomes part of the group cannot be offset against the profit of another member of the group. The losses can only be set against the future profits of the acquired company. Also that company has to continue operating in the same line of business?. (Arnold 2005, p 1052). 2.3.5 Growth / Market Power Theory One of the most fundamental motives for MAs is growth. Companies seeking to expand are faced with a choice between internal or organic growth and growth through MAs. Internal growth may be a slow and uncertain process. Growth through MAs may be a much more rapid process. If a company seeks to expand within its own industry, they may conclude that internal growth is not an acceptable alternative, for example, if a company has a window of opportunity that will remain open for only a limited period of time, slow internal growth may not suffice. As the company grows slowly through internal expansion, competitors may respond quickly and take market share. The only solution may be to acquire another company that has a resource, such as established offices, and facilities, management and other resources, in place?. (Gaughan, 2007, p 117). Some mergers may result in market power which redounds to the benefits of the merging firms. George Stigler argued that such an effect might have been a primary motivation for many of the mergers and acquisitions during the last quarter of the 19th century and first half of the 20th century. He called the 1887-1904 merger wave merger for monopoly? and the 1916- 1926 wave merger for oligopoly?. (Stigler, 1968, p 23). 2.3.6 Synergy Theory This refers to the fact that the combined company can often reduce duplicate departments or operation, lowering the costs of the company relation to the same revenue stream, thus increasing profit. The two main types of synergy are operating synergy and financial synergy. Operating synergy comes in two forms: revenue enhancement and cost reduction. These revenues enhancements and efficiency gains or operating economies may be derived in horizontal or vertical mergers. Financial synergy refers to the possibility that the cost of capital may be lowered by combining one or more companies?. (Gaughan, 2007, p 124). Financial synergies result in lower cost of capital by lowering the systematic risk of a companys investment portfolio through an investment in an unrelated business?. (Trautwein, 1990, p 283). Below the list of reasons has been provided that are initiating consolidation in the form of merger and acquisitions in the U.K banking industry. Competition from building societies. New entrants into saving markets. New technology and the internet. Competition from the overseas banks. Government Policies. Economies of scale scope. Managing branch networks. 2.4 MERGER AND ACQUISITIONS: BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS Lumby and Jones identified four key benefits and five draw backs of mergers and acquisitions as follows: 2.4.1 BENEFITS 2.4.1.1 Speed: An acquisition allows the companys newly formed strategy to be implemented rapidly. Through organic growth it will take the company much longer to reach the same level of business activity. 2.4.1.2 Critical mass: The Company is able to immediately achieve the critical mass of assets and activity levels that might be needed to obtain the operating economies of scale that exist in the chosen business area. At the early stages of organic growth into a new business area, the operating economies enjoyed by large competitors will not be achievable; so putting the developed business activity at a significant competitive cost disadvantage, from which further progress may not be possible. 2.4.1.3 Own-paper financing: An acquisition can be made without impacting on the companys cash resources or on its liquidity, by financing it with an issue of new equity called the companys ËÅ"own-paper. In contrast, organic growth will require the expenditure of the companys cash and credit resources. 2.4.1.4 Intellectual assets: In addition to the tangible assets of the acquired company, an acquisition will also bring with it intellectual assets such as the ËÅ"know-how, and business contacts of the management team, the skills of the workforce and its trading reputation. With organic growth, these may have to be developed ËÅ"in-house over time. In spite of the identified benefits, mergers and acquisitions have the following significant drawbacks as stated by Lumby and Jones: 2.4.2 DRAWBACKS 2.4.2.1 Risk: Mergers and acquisitions have a significant risk of high-cost failure attached. This is because an acquisition represents a single, very large investment, which if it turns out to be a mistake, then the business will have lost a substantial amount of its value. 2.4.2.2 Acquisition premium: Most acquisitions require the payment of an acquisition premium in order to persuade shareholders of the target company to sell their shares. This means that the acquiring company will be paying more than the economic worth of the company. 2.4.2.3 Steep learning curve: The acquiring company will have to rapidly learn how to manage an unfamiliar business and they may not necessarily be successful in doing so. In contrast, the slower pace of organic growth allows the management far more time in which to learn the range of new skills required to successfully manage the new business area. 2.4.2.4 Post-acquisition problems: Acquisitions could lead to a clash of management cultures between those of the acquired company and the acquiring company. This will often lead to key members of the acquired company leaving post-acquisition, resulting in the loss of vital intellectual capital. This may not be the case with organic growth. 2.4.2.5 Coinsurance effect: In an acquisition where either the predator company or/and the target company has debt financing, then there is the risk of a post-acquisition wealth transfer from the shareholders to the debt holders. (Lumby, 2003). 3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This Proposal has been built upon the analysis of the mergers and acquisition of banks in the U.K, like the acquisition (takeover of NatWest by Royal Bank of Scotland) in 2000. In this research my effort is to attempt and cover all important issues related to Mergers and Acquisition, like what causes, and initiates a merger or an acquisition, the benefits accrue to the company, its employees and customers etc, and native aspects of MA. This research investigates into the roots and causes of ever increasing consolidation activity and tries to critically evaluate merger and acquisition. Another aim of the proposal is to study the expectations of the stakeholders of the banks in the U.K, and the effect a merger or an acquisition has on them. Three stakeholders, namely, shareholders, employees and customers shall be studied in detail with the help of the case study. As according to the Schweigher: MAs basically aim at enhancing the shareholders value or wealth, the results of several empirical studies reveal that on an average, MAs consistently benefit the target company shareholders but not the acquirer company shareholders. A majority of corporate mergers fail. Failure occurs on average, in every sense, acquiring firm stock prices likely to decrease when mergers are announced; many acquired companies sold off; and profitability of the acquired company is lower after the merger relative to comparable non-merged firms. Consulting firms have also estimated that from one half to two-thirds of MAs do not come up to the expectations of those transacting them, and many resulted in divestitures. (Schweiger, 2003, p 71). The conclusion from this case study support my hypothesis that, whether stakeholders benefit from the merger and acquisition, because on the one hand, sometimes the merger and acquisition is beneficial for shareholders of the merging /or acquiring bank. On the other hand, employees are left worse-off following job cuts and redundancies. 4. STATEMENT OF DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY In order for the aims and objectives of the research to be fulfilled, it is essential to expand an understanding of the reason for growing tendency amongst banks in United Kingdom to pool together and the advantages of this pooling. The design of this project shall follow the deductive approach, like questionnaire, and the inductive research or the internal research will focus on interviews with the Managers and staff and customers of Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest. In this regards, it is not an easy task to get an interview from the managers or the members of staff, but I shall try my best to do so. The external research will be carried out through the readings of books, journal and published data. Another difficult thing was access to annual reports, but I have already got the annual reports of both banks. The theory, annual reports and different analysists reports on the concepts of mergers and acquisitions shall be critically reviewed and thereafter compared and contrasted wi th facts gathered from the case study to confirm or disprove existing knowledge. Finally, both qualitative and quantitative data shall be analysed to make desired recommendations and conclusion. (UWIC Guidelines, Red Book is read carefully). 5. SOURCES AND ACQUISITION OF DATA Research can be done through books, as everyone knows, as only some knows; it can be done by letters. It can also be performed through Conversation?. (Watson, 1999, p 52). Sources of data adopted for this project include both secondary and primary data. A secondary data source enables a better understanding and explanation of the research problem. The literature review is a type of the secondary data, it involves the review of earlier studies on and around the research topic. Other secondary data includes the books on Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions, Strategy, journals, annual reports, analysists reports and different online resources like web pages of Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest bank, should be used. In addition to the secondary data stated above, primary data sources shall equally be utilised to gather data directly from the key players in the merger and acquisition process. This shall include the use of questionnaires and personal interviews with managers and members of staff of RBS and NatWest. The interviews must be focused on the research area and not delve into alternative areas. (UWIC Guidelines, Red Book is been studied thoroughly). METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS Data analysis is the most difficult part of the project. Data analysis is the process of applying statistical, systematic and logical techniques, comparing the data and managing it. During the project both the qualitative and quantitative data will require analysis. In order to determine how well a company has performed in delivering stakeholders value, we need to make a comparison with its past performance. The first annual figures for The Royal Bank of Scotland Group following the acquisition of NatWest show the enlarged Group made a profit before tax, goodwill amortisation and integration costs of  £4,401 million on a pro forma basis for the year to 31 December 2000, an increase of 31 per cent. The period analysed would be broken into following categories. 1999 The Pre-acquisition period. 2000 The Announcement and bidding period. 2001 The Post acquisition period. The analysis shall cover some expense ratios, profitability ratios and balance sheet ratios. The expense and profitability ratios shall be used to analyse efficiency and profitability during the pre- and post-acquisition periods, while the balance sheet ratio shall be used to analyse changes that may have occurred that might have affected efficiency or profitability. REFERENCES Books: Arnold, G, 2005, Corporate Financial Management?, 3rd edition, England, Prentice Hall, p 1041 1052. Arnold, G, 2002, Corporate Financial Management?, 2nd edition, Great Britain, PrinticeHall, p 870. Fred W. J and Weaver S. C, 2001, Merger and Acquisition?, 1st edition, Los Angeles, McGraw-Hill Professional, p 6. Gaughan P. A, 2007, Merger, Acquisition, and Corporate Restructurings?, 4th edition, New Jersey, John Wiley Sons, Inc, p 13, 117 124. Gilson R, Scholes M. S and Wolfson M. A, 1988, Taxation and Dynamics of Corporate Control?, 1st edition, New York, Oxford uni press, p 273. McLaney, E, 2005, Business Finance, Theory and Practice?, 7th edition, U.K, Pearson Education, P 395. Ravenscraft D. J and Schere F. M, 1987, Mergers, Sell-offs, Economic Efficiency?, Washington D.C, Brookings Institution Press, p 211. Red Book, UWIC Guideline. Stewart, G.B, 1991, The Quest for Value, A guide for senior Manager?, New York, Harper Business, p 375-382. Sudarsanam, S, 2003, Creating Values from Mergers and Acquisitions-The Challenges?, England, Pearson Education Limited, p 140. Watson, G, 1999, Writing A Thesis?, 1st edition, New York, Pearson Education Ltd , P 52 Watson, D and Head, A, 2006, Corporate Finance, Principles and practice?, 4th edition, U.K, PrinticeHall, p 317. Journals: Stigler G, (1968) Monopoly and Oligopoly by Merger?, American economic Review (1968) by the organisation of industry, Vol 40, No 2, May, p 23-34. Trautwein F, (1990), Merger Motives and Merger Prescriptions?, Strategic Management Journal (1986-1998), Vol 11, No 4, May/June, p 283, by John Wiley sons. Shleifer. A and Summer, L. H (1988), Breach of Trust in Hostile Takeovers; from Corporate Take over: Causes and Consequences, P 33-67, The University of Chicago Press. Vaara, E, (2000), Constructions of Cultural differences in post-merger change process: a sense making perspective on Finnish-Swedish cases?. [emailprotected]@gement Vol 3, no3: p 82. Schweiger, D.M, (2003), MA Integration: A Framework for Executives and Managers,? Book Summary by Niranjan Swain, in The ICFAI Journal of Applied Finance, Vol 9, No 2, p 71-79. Articles (Electronic): European Central Bank, (2000), Mergers and acquisitions involving the EU banking industry?, Available from, (www.ecb.eu/pub/pdf/other/eubkmergersen.pdf -accessed on 12-05-2008. Powell, C, (2008), Mergers and acquisitions involving UK companies?, First Release, P 1, Available from (http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/ma0608.pdf, accessed on 06-06-2008). Websites: http://www.rbs.com/media03.asp?id=MEDIA_CENTRE/PRESS_RELEASES/2001/MARCH/RESULTS2000- accessed on 02-06-2008 http://www.lloydstsb.com/about_ltsb/lloyds_bank.asp- accessed on 04-05-2008.

The Roles of Greek and Roman Women Essay -- Greek, Roman, Women, femin

Greek and Roman women lived in a world where strict gender roles were given; where each person was judged in terms of compliance with gender-specific standards of conduct. Generally, men were placed above women in terms of independence, control and overall freedom. Whereas men lived in the world at large, active in public life and free to come and go as they willed, women's lives were sheltered. Most women were assigned the role of a homemaker, where they were anticipated to be good wives and mothers, but not much of anything else. The roles of women are thoroughly discussed in readings such as The Aeneid, Iliad, Sappho poetry, and Semonides' essay. Most women in ancient Rome were viewed as possessions of the men who they lived with. Basically they were handed from their father to their new husband at the time of their marriage and submitted any property they owned, or dowry they were given, to their husband. There were however two types of marriage in ancient Rome, Manus and sine Manus. Under the first type, Manus, the woman and all of her property and possessions were placed under the control of her husband and he could do with them how he pleased. Under the second type, sine Manus, the woman remained under the control of her oldest male relative, usually her father or brother. This type of marriage gave women a lot more freedom because they could carry out their own cash businesses, own their own property, and accept inheritance money (Gill, 5). Aside from the two different forms of marriage that was allowed, marriages in ancient Rome were very similar to those of the ancient Greeks. Girls married young, usually in their early teens, and many marriages were arranged by the family, usually the male head of the home. ... ...literature I couldn’t help but compare my lifestyle to the woman in the stories. Women today are no longer looked upon only to supervise over their home and family, they are not forced into marriages, and they are not blamed for all the world’s problems. Today’s society is not a patriarchal one; in fact today men and woman appear to be equal to one another. Works Cited Virgil. "The Aeneid" Book IV (lines 254-257, and lines 654-656) Gill, N.S. "Comparisons Between Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome", pages 1-8 Homer. â€Å"The Illiad† by (Book I, IV) Frost, Frank J. "Greek Society in the Age of Polis" (5th Edition) Pages 92, 93 Semonides of Amorgos (c. 625 B.C.) An Essay on Women ( lines 10-12) Semonides of Amorgos. â€Å"Women.† c. 7th cent. B.C.E. Trans. Diane Arnson Svarlien. Web. 7 Oct. 2014 The Roles of Greek and Roman Women Essay -- Greek, Roman, Women, femin Greek and Roman women lived in a world where strict gender roles were given; where each person was judged in terms of compliance with gender-specific standards of conduct. Generally, men were placed above women in terms of independence, control and overall freedom. Whereas men lived in the world at large, active in public life and free to come and go as they willed, women's lives were sheltered. Most women were assigned the role of a homemaker, where they were anticipated to be good wives and mothers, but not much of anything else. The roles of women are thoroughly discussed in readings such as The Aeneid, Iliad, Sappho poetry, and Semonides' essay. Most women in ancient Rome were viewed as possessions of the men who they lived with. Basically they were handed from their father to their new husband at the time of their marriage and submitted any property they owned, or dowry they were given, to their husband. There were however two types of marriage in ancient Rome, Manus and sine Manus. Under the first type, Manus, the woman and all of her property and possessions were placed under the control of her husband and he could do with them how he pleased. Under the second type, sine Manus, the woman remained under the control of her oldest male relative, usually her father or brother. This type of marriage gave women a lot more freedom because they could carry out their own cash businesses, own their own property, and accept inheritance money (Gill, 5). Aside from the two different forms of marriage that was allowed, marriages in ancient Rome were very similar to those of the ancient Greeks. Girls married young, usually in their early teens, and many marriages were arranged by the family, usually the male head of the home. ... ...literature I couldn’t help but compare my lifestyle to the woman in the stories. Women today are no longer looked upon only to supervise over their home and family, they are not forced into marriages, and they are not blamed for all the world’s problems. Today’s society is not a patriarchal one; in fact today men and woman appear to be equal to one another. Works Cited Virgil. "The Aeneid" Book IV (lines 254-257, and lines 654-656) Gill, N.S. "Comparisons Between Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome", pages 1-8 Homer. â€Å"The Illiad† by (Book I, IV) Frost, Frank J. "Greek Society in the Age of Polis" (5th Edition) Pages 92, 93 Semonides of Amorgos (c. 625 B.C.) An Essay on Women ( lines 10-12) Semonides of Amorgos. â€Å"Women.† c. 7th cent. B.C.E. Trans. Diane Arnson Svarlien. Web. 7 Oct. 2014