Designing The Fashion Industry ( Mcalpine 14 ) - 1330 Words

According to scratchhard.com, the fashion industry generates an average of $20 billion each year. Fashion designers are the heart of the fashion world. Designing is a form of art that is translated into clothing. Inspiration for the designs comes from trends, art, culture, places, and the media. Fashion designers create ideas which they turn into clothing to sell. The first step of designing is researching current fashion trends and predicting future trends. Trends determine the success of the fashion industry (McAlpine 14). Designers choose a speciality to design. Swimwear, bridal wear, children’s clothing, footwear, and men’s wear are a few examples of design categories. Sketching the original design is the next important step of†¦show more content†¦Fashion designers can create apparel for numerous people or for a select few. Haute couture designers create clothes specifically for a customer. One outfit could cost thousands of dollars. Ready-to-wear designs are produced in large numbers but sold at high prices. Mass produced clothing is constructed in large numbers and sold at reasonable prices. This is where most designers work. Boutique designers work alone or in groups to create their own designs and find outlets to sell their clothing. In 2012, twenty-five percent of the designers were self-employed. Large apparel companies usually consist of a team of designers headed by a creative manager. Very few designers work for high fashion brands. High fashion designers earn the most money and are the most well-known. Many different outlets of design are available as career options (McAlpine 14). Formal education fro fashion designers is not required, but it is recommended. Preparing to become a fashion designer can start in high school by taking art, home economics, math, and chemistry (Morkes 324). When an employer is seeking to hire a designer, a person with a fashion degree, an impressive portfolio, and experience or an internship will be the most likely to receive the job. Many universities offer various degrees pertaining to fashion. Baylor University in Waco, Texas is one of the top twenty schools for

Essay about Cultural Conformity - 1473 Words

By definition, discrimination is the cruel treatment towards a person of a specific group, according to his or her classification or status. For centuries, discrimination has been a big issue in many countries over race, socioeconomic status, appearance and ethnicity. Racism continues to exist primarily not only in the United States, but also in Europe and South America, with attempts to block minorities from any opportunities. In Rick Bragg’s memoir, All Over but the Shoutin, Bragg reveals the influence of racism on the modern world. The effects of these unjust social practices can be felt throughout humanity today. Rick Bragg’s memoir, All Over but the Shoutin, explores his journey to find his identity. Raised in Piedmont, Alabama,†¦show more content†¦This conception eventually influenced the phrase â€Å"White Trash,† a derogatory term in which affluent white men describing the poor whites living in the United States under a substandard lifestyle. Later in his memoir, Bragg provides an account where a local fraternity from Jacksonville State throws a celebration for the children of poor families. Initially, Rick extends his gratitude for the fraternity’s kindness, but then has trouble relating to them because their cultural differences. Bragg describes them as affluent people, not â€Å"rich by Manhattan standards, but Possum trot ones,† (Bragg 97). He finds himself embarrassed and bitter at the ignorance of the individuals who live with their backs turned to society. Bragg wished to capture the â€Å"degree of meanness, degrees of hatred, and of ignoranc e,† that plagued the world (Bragg 62). Just like him, thousands of citizens in United State experience prejudice and social prejudice at least once in their lifetime. What makes it more upsetting is that the dehumanization and ridicule involved due to one’s current condition greatly impacts a person’s likelihood to succeed. To an extent, society has learned to embrace cultural differences. For example, countries like England and China share some common interests such as in music artists like Michael Jackson and Ray Charles. However, this isn’t always the case for everyone. People, like Bragg, lived in a world where those around him would not accept him,Show MoreRelatedCultural Conformity and Race Essay1549 Words   |  7 Pagescitizens in United State experience prejudice and social disparity at least once in their lifetime. What makes it more upsetting is the dehumanization and ridicule involved due to one’s current condition. To an extent, socie ty has learned to embrace cultural differences but that’s not always the case. People, like Bragg, lived in a world where those around him would not accept him, poverty left him with virtually nothing, and his family was forced to make sacrifices to survive. Bragg grasped the discriminationRead MoreThe Effects of Cultural Assimilation: Conformity vs. Unorthodoxdy2124 Words   |  9 PagesThe Effects of Cultural Assimilation: Conformity vs. Unorthodoxdy â€Å"Cultural assimilation is a complex and multifaceted process that first involves immigrants learning the language, cultural norms, and role expectations of the absorbing society, and further changes in attitudes†, or so it is explained by Dejun Su, Chad Richardson, and Guang-zhen Wang, in their article, â€Å"Assessing Cultural Assimilation of Mexican Americans: How Rapidly Do Their Gender-Role Attitudes Converge to the U.S. MainstreamRead MoreA Typology Of Fashion Violence Essay1692 Words   |  7 Pagesincludes diagrams,statistics, and experimental results to prove the impact of luxury brands on adolescence. Klucharev,Vasily, Kaisa Hytonen, Mark Rijpkema, Ale Smidts, and Guillen Fernandez. â€Å"Reinforcement Learning Signal Predicts Social Conformity.† Neuron 61.1 (2009): 140-51. Web. This article published in the Neuron, one of the most influential journals for neuroscientists, explores the brain to figure out why humans conform to society. The authors, a group of scientists from the DondersRead MoreThe Social Influence Of Minority And Minority Influence1491 Words   |  6 Pageswhy people conform and the factors that make them more likely to conform. Conformity is defined as â€Å"a form of social influence in which a person yields to group pressure in the absence of any explicit order or request from another person to comply, as in the Asch experiment† (Colman, or Dictionary of Psychology, 2009). Conformity encompasses majority and minority influence. Kelman (1958) proposed three types of conformity for influence of a majority; Compliance, internalisation and identificationRead MoreA Sorority Is A Subculture Or A Segment Of Society s Population1452 Words   |  6 Pagesbanned the sororities on campus because some of the hazing has gotten so bad on thei r campus. Sororities have become high and pop culture all around the world on many college campuses. High culture are the â€Å"cultural patterns that distinguish a society’s elite† while pop culture is â€Å"cultural patterns that are widespread among a society’s population† (Macionis 63). Sororities are known for only accepting one type of girl into their sororities and they are usually the elite group of girls on campusRead MoreEssay on Conformity and Political Control1353 Words   |  6 Pagesto others. Although there are many explicit forms of conformity, there are also implicit forms of conformity that affect the attitudes and behavior of people on a subconscious level. The major problem with the modern bi-partisan political system is that it is fundamentally built on the idea that people will conform to others that are associated with them socially. Chartrand and Bargh completed one of the more famous experiments on conformity in 1999 where they were able to illustrate that peopleRead More Teen Conformity in Sinclair Lewis Babbitt and in Society Today3030 Words   |  13 PagesTeen Conformity in Babbitt and in Society Today      Ã‚   In society today, people feel the need to belong. They feel as though they have to be a part of something in order to feel special. At times, they will go so far as to lose their individuality and submit themselves into complete ignorance just to be able to know that there is someone or something to which they can always fall back on. Conformity is one of the most common and most apparent forms of Babbittry in the twenty - first centuryRead MoreSocial Influence On Social Psychology1870 Words   |  8 PagesPsychologists focus on the situation. They study the social influences that describe why the same person will act inversely in different situations. Theorists have typically distinguished between three types of social influence which are compliance, conformity, and obedience. Compliance is often referred to as an active form of social influence in that it is usually intentionally initiated by a person where they may choose to comply or not to comply. Yet, the thoughts of social reward and punishmentRead MoreSocial Influence Refers To Changes In An Individual’S Own1776 Words   |  8 Pagesattitude and behaviours in accordance with other individuals or groups thoughts and feelings (Moussaid, Kammer, Analytis Neth, 2013). There are three main forms of social influence, these includes conformity, compliance and obedience which has an impact on the daily lives of people in the society. Conformity can be referred to as when a person changes their attitudes to fit into the social norms of different groups. The concept of obedience takes place when an individual follow the instructions of othersRead MoreConformity And How It Affects People Today2207 Words   |  9 Pagessociety must uphold to. My group decided to conduct experiments on conformity and how it affects people today. So, what exactly is conformity? Our book â€Å"Psychology Perspectives and Connections† defines conformity as the tendency of people to adjust their behavior to what others are doing or to adhere to the norms of their culture. To go along with conformity, social norms are rules about acceptable behavior imposed by the cultural context in which one lives. †¨A couple of weeks ago when the students

Vocational Education Policy of Australia

Question: Discuss about theVocational Education Policy of Australia. Answer: Introduction The students are enabled to achieve qualifications for employment of all types and certain skills with the help of Vocational education and training (VET). VET, as a result contributes in the performance of the workplace on the part of the students. Technical and further education (TAFE) institutes, private providers, community organizations etc. are some of the providers of VET in Australia. In addition to it, some schools and universities are also the providers of VET. Hence this assignment will deal with the aspect of VET in Australia and further emphasize upon the territory governments and eight states network, and the Australian Governments with the help of which VET is provided. 1970s-1980s As already mentioned, with the help of VET in Australia, it acts as a contributing factor for the achievement of all kinds of employment on the part of the students along with certain skills that helps them in terms of functioning in the workplace (Asqa, 2016). As a result of this, it plays a vital role in terms of economy of Australia, in terms of both the national development and for export industry of the nation as well. To get in depth of the matter, with the help of territories governments, eight states network and Australian Government, in addition with providers of private and public training and industry VET is provided in Australia. The main purpose of VET is to provide training nationally consistent in nature. The providers with the help of which VET is offered in Australia are adult and community education providers and agricultural colleges, commercial and enterprise training providers and industry skill centers, technical and further education (TAFE), private providers, centers for industry skills and industry community organizations. Here, it becomes essential to discuss upon the origin of VET in Australia. A vigorous training system was absent in Colonial Australia. In 1971, Australia joined the OECD. In 1974, like various aspects in vocational training and education, research in VET started in Australia. It is further mentionable here that, in 1974, Australia commissioned the OECD study of the transition from school to work. The initiative began with the help of Kangan Committee report of 1974 (Rauner and Maclean, 2008). In 1973, by the Whitlam Federal Government the committee was established. The main purpose for the formation of the committee was to providing with advice to Mr. Kim Beazley, the then Minister of Education, regarding enhancement of technical and higher education in Australia. There were number of arenas on which the proposal made by Kangan emphasized upon. Firstly, establishing Australian Technical and Further Education (TAFE) was recommended by Kangan. Hence with the help of this the significa nce of TAFE as a contributing factor in terms of implementation of social and economic change was recognized. The main purpose put behind the formation of TAFE was adoption of technology in terms of vocational research and education, produce and enhance learning and related other education aids with the help of itself or others (Studiesinaustralia, 2015). Some of the purpose as mentioned in the initial conceptual thinking regarding enhancement of a coordinated national research capacity in relation to VET in Australia were- training researchers, journal publication etc. However, when with the help of the recommendation made by Kangan, no fruitful result could be derived, five years later; with Committee of Injury into Education and Training it was revived. The establishment of National Centre for Research and Development in TAFE was recommended by the inquiry. In this regard it was mentioned that in areas like courses accreditation, the job of conducting projects will be allotted to it. In June 1980, National Centre for Research and Development in TAFE was established. It is mentionable here that in the time period of, 1970s to 1980s the Commonwealth support increased drastically. It was observed, increased pressured in terms of enhanced funding in association with technical education on Commonwealth was prevalent in the beginning of 1970s. As a response to Commonwealth report, TAFE in Australia: a report on needs in technical and further education 1974, for the purpose of new libraries and buildings, curriculum development, staff development and re search the Commonwealth granted significant funding to TAFE (Federation, 2015). A number of labor market programs that bought training at TAFE institutes, was introduced by Commonwealth. These labor market programs bought training at TAFE institutes on the basis of fee-for-service, with the intention to address increasing concern regarding unemployment of the youth. A major factor that promoted Commonwealth to get engaged with the help of National Apprenticeship Assistance Scheme for the first time in the year 1963 was apprenticeships systems criticisms in addition with issues regarding tradespeople skill shortage. Financial assistance was provided by it in order to encourage employers, in terms of allowances for living away from home to country areas apprentices, in addition to taking on first-year apprentices. 1990s In the following period in 1990s, a national VET system was agreed upon on the part of the Commonwealth and States and Territories. A new economic strategy was put forward by the Commonwealth in the year 1992. The purpose of this new economic strategy was to promote growth and employment, named, One Nation. It included an offer with the motive to assume complete funding responsibility for TAFE. The basis of the offer of Commonwealth was the perspective that in the one level of government aspects like educational and efficiency is required to be vested instead of segregating it between the states and the Commonwealth. On the part of the States and Territories the offer was rejected as they wanted to maintain a local control of the systems. However, it is mentionable here that, in establishing a national VET system, the agreement reached a conclusion. It became possible with the help of joint responsibility in terms of funding under the support and sponsorship of the Australian Nationa l Training Authority (ANTA) (Training, 2016). It is a Commonwealth statutory body that started operation in 1994. It was approved that, the joint investment in VET would be facilitated by ANTA by the States and Commonwealth, with the help of synchronized, national approach in terms of funding and planning. The inception of a period of enhanced public investment in national training and VET was marked by the creation of ANTA. Under the agreement of ANTA, it was agreed upon by the Commonwealth to give to the Territories and States an additional amount of $70 million/annum for a period of three years. The purpose behind the fund was expansion of the system. During this period, the foremost features of a national training system were introduced. The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is included in this. In 1995 it integrated the quality-assured qualifications that were available across Australian schools, higher education and VET (Federation, 2015). In the process of progressing introduction of other features, it was agreed by the ministers to introduce a new National Training Framework (NTF) in the year 1996. It was introduced as a section of implementation of an industry-driven system. 2000-2013 Nationally-equivalent training packages were included in NTF which was developed with the help of industry and the Australian Recognition Framework (ARF). The Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF), later replaced ARF. It is a nationally consented quality framework intended towards VET system of Australia, which was developed in the year 2001 with the help of National Training Quality Council. The main aim of AQTF was providing the edifice for nationally equivalent, enhanced quality VET system. It also included regulatory standards for the purpose of State and Territory recognized bodies and registered training organizations. ANTA was abolished by the Commonwealth in the year 2004. In its place, the responsibilities were transferred to Commonwealth department, in order to ensure continued effective functioning of national system. In 2009, the National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development came into force, as a portion of the new Intergovernmental Agreement which was as sociated with Federal Financial Agreements (IGA FFR). Following it, the association with SPP became effective. It is mentionable here that, it was a national agreement. In 2012, the agreement was further updated, wherein a new National Partnership Agreement on Skills Reform was agreed upon. The purpose of it was to formulate and execute reforms of the national training system. It also included entitlement of national training and demand-driven contestable funding of the market. The income dependent loan scheme (VET FEE-HELP) was introduced by Commonwealth in the year 2009. Its purpose was to provide the students with VET in Diploma and Advanced Diploma full-free qualifications. The regulatory presence on the part of the Commonwealth was also improved with the help of establishment of Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) which acted as the national regulator (Asqa, 2016). The establishment of ASQA was the aspiration of maintaining VETs quality reputation, the consequence of wh ich was national accord to its establishment. With the help this agreement, all Territories and States other than Victoria and Western Australia, to the Commonwealth, referred their regulatory powers. 2014-Current On May 2015, Australian Industry and Skills Committee (ASIC), was established by COAG Industry and Skills Council. The purpose of its establishment was to provide industry with a formal and vast role in the arena of decision making and policy direction for the purpose of VET sector. On 1st January 2016 new arrangements for the purpose of boosting training products became effective. In this new model, a leading role is given to industry in terms of national CET system (Education, 2016). It also entitles industry to prioritize the review and enhancement on the training packages. The basis of it would be aspects like demand of skills of the industry along with regulatory and technological changes. Basing on new Industry Reference Committees (IRCs), AISC forms on the advice. The advice provided on the part of IRCs ascertains the fulfillment of the training requirements on the part of the modern economy and employers. This recent amendment associated with VET ensured, Trade Support Loans establishment as of July 2014. According to the budget 2015, the allocated budget in association of Trade Support Loans was up to $ 20,000 (Miller, 2015). Conclusion In the conclusion it can be stated that the aspect of VET in the context of Australia, it has undergone a number of evolutions and gradual development. In this process of development Kangan Committee report, Technical and Further Education, Australian Qualifications Framework, Australian Quality Training Framework are some of the major path breaking dimensions that contributed to the development of VET. References Asqa.gov.au. (2016).Agency overview | Australian Skills Quality Authority. [online] Available at: https://www.asqa.gov.au/about/agency-overview/agency-overview.html [Accessed 24 Sep. 2016]. Asqa.gov.au. (2016).Australia's VET sector | Australian Skills Quality Authority. [online] Available at: https://www.asqa.gov.au/about/australias-vet-sector/australias-vet-sector.html [Accessed 24 Sep. 2016]. Education.gov.au. (2016).Australian Industry and Skills Committee | Department of Education and Training. [online] Available at: https://www.education.gov.au/AISC [Accessed 24 Sep. 2016]. Federation.dpmc.gov.au. (2015).1970s to 1980s: Commonwealth support increases | Reform of the Federation White Paper. [online] Available at: https://federation.dpmc.gov.au/1970s-1980s-commonwealth-support-increases [Accessed 24 Sep. 2016]. Federation.dpmc.gov.au. (2015).The 1990s: A national VET system | Reform of the Federation White Paper. [online] Available at: https://federation.dpmc.gov.au/1990s-national-vet-system [Accessed 24 Sep. 2016]. Miller, D. (2015).National Scene. [online] cmd.act.gov.au. Available at: https://www.cmd.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/738588/1_NationalScene_DavidMiller.pdf [Accessed 24 Sep. 2016]. Rauner, F. and Maclean, R. (2008).Handbook of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Research. Springer Science Business Media, pp.32-40. Studiesinaustralia.com. (2015).Technical and Further Education | Study in Australia. Study Abroad with Studies in Australia. [online] Available at: https://www.studiesinaustralia.com/types-of-education/technical-and-further-education [Accessed 24 Sep. 2016]. Training.com.au. (2016).Australian National Training Association - Training.com.au. [online] Available at: https://www.training.com.au/anta/ [Accessed 24 Sep. 2016].

The Rising Production of Oil by Non

Introduction Since its establishment in 1960, the Organization of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) has dominated the global oil markets and prices. However, the rising production of oil by non-OPEC countries has become the biggest threat to OPEC’s power. The powerful OPEC was established to safeguard the interest of member oil exporters, a role that the organization had managed to sustain until recently when its market share declined from over 50% to 40%.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Rising Production of Oil by Non-OPEC Countries is the Biggest Threat to OPEC’s Power specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Oil extraction by non-OPEC countries has been on the rise until the recent mid-2014 fall in oil prices. Countries such as the US have intensified their oil extraction in the shale fields. Russia has also increased its oil extraction to the extent of becoming a major non-OPEC oil producer. A s the paper confirms, the increase in oil production by non-OPEC countries has led to the witnessed non-cooperation among OPEC members, disparity in technology and innovation between OPEC and non-OPEC countries, and the issue of non-OPEC countries taking over the role of swing oil producer and price marker, and hence the biggest threat to the power of OPEC. Non-cooperation among OPEC Members The increased production of oil by non-OPEC countries has resulted in reduced oil prices across the globe. According to Yergin (2006), the power of OPEC has been sourced from its ability to regulate oil prices in the world markets by managing the supply and access of oil by other countries. Birol (2007) affirms that the mechanism that OPEC used to cling to this power as a cartel was the cutback in oil production by the dominant Saudi Arabia if oil prices went down. According to Guidi, Russell, and Tarbert (2006), Saudi Arabia accounts for approximately a fifth of all the oil reserves in the worl d. A cut down in its oil production means low supply in the market. Hence, the demand for oil goes up, followed by price increment, which in turn results in high asset prices in the US and other OPEC countries (Ahmadian, Hassan, Regassa, 2013). Since Saudi Arabia accounts for more than half of all the OPEC oil reserve capacity, it acts as the swing producer and regulator of oil prices (Portman, 2007; Guidi et al., 2006). Hence, it can reduce its oil production to raise prices. However, this trend has been threatened by the recent increase in oil production by non-OPEC countries. For instance, Braml (2007) observes that an increase in oil production by non-OPEC countries has resulted in increased oil supply in the market, hence reducing oil prices. Therefore, OPEC members have called for meetings to deliberate on their position concerning the falling world oil prices.Advertising Looking for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, the meetings have ended in disarray after members fail to agree. OPEC remains a divided organization, owing to competition from non-OPEC countries in terms of oil prices (Birol, 2007). For instance, OPEC members within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that include countries such as Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia have been willing to let world oil prices fall for them to increase their market share in the world. On the other hand, member countries of OPEC such as Venezuela and Iran have opposed the policy that allows oil prices to fall. They have advocated higher oil prices in the world markets (Mann, 2012). Such countries have also advocated lower oil production, which is opposed to the GCC OPEC members. This deadlock within OPEC saw the November 2014 summit unsuccessful. The impact of the increased threat to the power of OPEC because of the amplified oil production by non-OPEC members became more evident when Saudi Arabia declined to reduce its oil production alone unless other oil producers such as Russia (a non-OPEC member) also reduce their production. Ahmadian et al. (2013) confirm how such intimidation to the OPEC members threatens to split its power and make oil prices shift in terms of regulation. For example, immediately after the failed November 2014 OPEC summit, oil prices fell rapidly (Colgan, 2014). The power to control oil prices is slowly slipping away from the OPEC since Saudi Arabia is even more likely to flood oil markets with cheaper supplies to increase its market share and/or maintain its old markets. Morse and Richard (2002) maintain that OPEC fears that the increased oil supply from non-OPEC countries such as Russia, Canada, and the US will take over the market with lower prices. The increase in oil production from non-OPEC countries has threatened the power of OPEC members by putting the interest of individual countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE ahead of that of OPEC as a body (Webb, 2013). Innovation and Technology Issues by OPEC Members Apart from having the highest oil reserves, Saudi Arabia (a dominant member of OPEC) also has the cheapest oil production technology (Yergin, 2006). This situation, which seems to have worked to the advantage of the other 12 member countries in the OPEC since Saudi Arabia is the leader, has led to the adoption of even cheaper expertise by non-OPEC members. Birol (2007) observes that through its cheap production cost, Saudi Arabia has managed to regulate oil supply in the world market since it shields the other members to maximize their profits.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Rising Production of Oil by Non-OPEC Countries is the Biggest Threat to OPEC’s Power specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, the increase in oil production by non-OPEC countries is a threat to the existence of this dominant power syst em. For instance, Braml (2007) asserts that both the US and Canada have employed cheaper technologies in their extraction of oil in the recent past. Since oil prices have been high until mid-2014, these countries have also managed to supply oil to the world markets at lower prices compared to those floated by OPEC members. As a result, OPEC members have no choice but to reduce their oil prices in the world market to secure their traditional markets and/or increase their business share (Dullieux, Ragot, Schubert, 2011). Mann (2012) observes that the efforts to maintain the OPEC member countries’ markets have ended up in more splits than unity in the organization as their market domination powers are threatened. The only way to save the decline of OPEC power will be through increased oil production by countries that have higher oil reserves such as Saudi Arabia and/or reducing oil to out-win the non-OPEC oil producers (Guidi et al., 2006). Critics such as Braml (2007) argue th at this move will work only if the cost of production of oil by non-OPEC countries such as Russia, the US, and Canada is higher than the market prices floated by OPEC members, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE. However, Colgan (2014) observes that although a reduction in oil extraction activities was witnessed after November 2014 when OPEC summit failed to reach an amicable solution to the falling oil prices, modern technology seems to maintain oil production by non-OPEC members afloat. Non-OPEC countries, for instance, the US, Canada, and Russia have used modern technology in their extraction of oil (Morse Richard, 2002). Innovation and the increased technological expertise have made the extraction of oil in non-OPEC countries more efficient and cheaper (Guidi et al., 2006). This situation has threatened the OPEC markets even more. For instance, Saudi Arabia has vowed not to reduce its oil supply in the world market, unless non-OPEC countries such as Russia also r educe their supply formation. This case illustrates that the efficiency of oil production is a threat to the power and existence of OPEC. The use of innovative technology by non-OPEC countries in oil extraction and production means that major non-OPEC oil producers such as Russia will take over global oil markets that were traditionally dominated by OPEC members (Siddiqi, 2002). The existence of countries such as Venezuela and Iran in the OPEC is pegged on the benefits of being safeguarded by dominant members, including Saudi Arabia, in oil export (Ahmadian et al., 2013).Advertising Looking for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The fact that Saudi Arabia, which has been the dominant market swinger and dominant regulator, is opting out of its traditional role in OPEC is a threat to its power. Instead of cutting back its oil supply to raise oil prices, the country has opted to increase its oil supply to the global markets with the view of securing and increasing its market share. This case will leave smaller OPEC members exposed to global competition for oil markets with major producers in the non-OPEC countries such as Russia. Portman (2007) asserts that the cost of oil extraction and production has been very high. Countries have opted to let states with high oil reserves such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE supply them with oil. However, Yergin (2006) affirms that modern technology and innovation in oil extraction has made it cheaper and more efficient. Therefore, the power of OPEC in dominating world oil prices is likely to be split or worse still taken over by non-OPEC countries. Non-OPEC Countries taking ov er the Role of Swing Oil Producer and Price Marker An OPEC member, namely Saudi Arabia, has dominated the role of price marker and swing producer (Siddiqi, 2002). Saudi Arabia has managed to play this role, owing to its large oil reserves and its willingness to preserve the reserves for future generations. Saudi Arabia has kept world oil prices high through limiting its output (Birol, 2007). Since it has huge reserves, it has set prices that are followed by the other small members, thus enabling them to maximize their profit through their output at a given price. Since OPEC has failed to set limits on output per member country, most of the smaller countries take advantage and produce above the quotas allocated in an effort to make more profits. Saudi Arabia has also used its large oil reserve that has been spared over the years for the prosperity of future generations as a way of controlling oil prices (Colgan, 2014). For instance, it voluntarily limits its output of oil to the worl d markets with an aim of saving it for the future generations. However, this privilege of being the market swinger is threatened by the increased oil production by non-OPEC countries. Although dominant countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait have no need for immediate revenue that comes from high prices of oil, their market share has been threatened. Citing a similar occurrence in 1986, critics of this school of thought such as Ahmadian et al. (2013) have argued that the increased oil production by non-OPEC countries is not a threat to OPEC power today. However, contrary to the fall of oil prices from $50 per barrel to $30 per barrel in 1986 when Saudi Arabia maintained its position as the oil price marker by letting the oil prices fall as it increased its production and supply, Guidi et al. (2006) assert that the current situation has other factor to consider: innovation and technology. Although the 1986 fall in oil prices was seen as a threat to the power of OPEC count ries just as it is today, Saudi Arabia emerged victorious as a dominant power where it saved the power OPEC for more than two decades (Guidi et al., 2006). It is required that for a country or an organization to remain a cartel or the price marker, its cost of production must be lower than that of its competitors. OPEC and Saudi Arabia have to contend with this major and new factor if their plan is a replica of the 1986. There has been a heightened innovation and technological development in oil and gas extraction technology by non-OPEC countries such as the US (Braml, 2007). According to Webb (2013), oil extraction and production at the shale by the US has managed to reduce the operation cost, thus making the US and other non-OPEC countries remain competitive amidst the falling oil prices. The reduced cost of oil extraction by the US, which is a non-OPEC country, owing to innovations and modern oil production technology is the biggest threat to the power dominance of OPEC (Webb, 20 13). According to Yergin (2006), it is even projected that the US may take over as the new world oil price marker with the fall of OPEC. This outcome has a high likelihood of succeeding since other smaller member countries in OPEC may not sustain high profits, especially when the dominant Saudi Arabia gives in to the fall in oil prices against OPEC members’ will. Colgan (2014) asserts that although Saudi Arabia may remain afloat as a powerful oil producer and supplier and increase its market share, its price marker position is likely to crumble with the fall of OPEC. In fact, the relevance of OPEC is already crumbling, with members having divided opinions as GCC countries go for a fall in world oil prices for them to increase their market share while smaller countries such as Venezuela cling on the traditional high oil prices. Conclusion As evident in this discussion, the rising production of oil by non-OPEC countries is the biggest threat to OPEC’s power. Although Sau di Arabia and the other 12 OPEC member countries have controlled oil prices since 1960, developments such as the current increase in oil production by non-members and the fall in oil prices threaten OPEC’s power. Previous strategies applied by OPEC to control oil prices by having the dominant member reduce its production while allowing smaller members to maximize profits and production have been overtaken by innovation and technology. Countries such as the US, Canada, and Russia have made Saudi Arabia change its traditional role in OPEC, thus resulting in divisions between GCC and non-GCC members within OPEC. The use of modern technology and innovation has resulted in reduced operation cost by the US. This situation has threatened the traditional strategies that OPEC countries have been using to retain their power. Reference List Ahmadian, A., Hassan, A., Regassa, H. (2013). The Impact of Oil Price Fluctuations on the Automobile Industry. International Journal of Business E conomics Perspectives, 8(2), 35-43. Birol, F. (2007). World Energy Prospects and Challenges. Asia-Pacific Review, 14(1), 1-12. Braml, J. (2007). Can the United States Shed Its Oil Addiction? Washington Quarterly, 30(4), 117-130. Colgan, D. (2014). The Emperor Has No Clothes: The Limits of OPEC in the Global Oil Market. International Organization, 68(3), 599-632. Dullieux, R., Ragot, L., Schubert, K. (2011). Carbon Tax and OPEC’s Rents under a Ceiling Constraint. Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 113(4), 798-824 Guidi, M., Russell, A., Tarbert, H. (2006). The effect of OPEC policy decisions on oil and stock prices. OPEC Review: Energy Economics Related Issues, 30(1), 1-18. Mann, Y. (2012). Saudi Arabia’s Policy Toward non-OPEC Countries. Diplomacy Statecraft, 23(2), 381-391. Morse, L., Richard, J. (2002). The Battle for Energy Dominance. Foreign Affairs, 81(2), 16-31. Portman, C. (2007). High commodity prices are here to stay. Economic Outlook, 31(4), 21-29. Siddi qi, A. (2002). OIL: The threat of war underpins world oil markets. Middle East, 329(1), 44-45. Webb, T. (2013, Jan. 17). OPEC stranglehold ‘will be broken by shale revolution’. The Times, p. 12. Yergin, D. (2006). A Great Bubbling. Newsweek, 148(25), E14-E18. This research paper on The Rising Production of Oil by Non-OPEC Countries is the Biggest Threat to OPEC’s Power was written and submitted by user Daphne Rush to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

GSW, Georgia Southwestern State University Admissions

GSW, Georgia Southwestern State University Admissions Georgia Southwestern State University Admissions Overview: Applications to GSW include standardized test scores from the SAT or ACT, high school transcripts, and an application form that can be filled out online or on paper. The school has an acceptance rate of 68%, making it largely accessible to those who applystudents admitted to GSW tend to have solid grades and test scores, although the school does take other factors into consideration.   Admissions Data (2016): Georgia Southwestern State University Acceptance Rate: 68%Test Scores 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 440 / 540SAT Math: 430 / 520SAT Writing: - / -What these SAT numbers meanACT Composite: 19  / 23ACT English: 18 / 23ACT Math: 17 / 23What these ACT numbers mean Georgia Southwestern State University Description: Georgia Southwestern State University is a four-year, public university located in Americus, Georgia. Atlanta and Tallahassee are each about two-and-a-half hours away. The universitys 3,000 students are supported by a student/faculty ratio of 18 to 1. GSW offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees between the School of Business Administration, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, School of Nursing, and School of Computing and Mathematics. Campus life is active with about 60 student clubs and organizations including the Artist Association, the Outdoor Adventure Club, and GSW Gaming. The university also has an active Greek life with four fraternities and two sororities. On the athletic front, students will find plenty of intramurals including Indoor Soccer, Flag Football, and Blitz Ball. For intercollegiate sports, GSW competes in the NCAA Division II Peach Belt Conference (PBC) with a variety of sports including men’s golf, women’s cross coun try, and men’s and women’s tennis. Enrollment (2016): Total Enrollment: 2,954  (2,558 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 38% Male / 62% Female69% Full-time Costs (2016 - 17): Tuition and Fees: $5,262  (in-state); $15,518 (out-of-state)Books: $1,400 (why so much?)Room and Board: $7,672Other Expenses: $6,044Total Cost: $20,378 (in-state); $30,634 (out-of-state) Georgia Southwestern State University Financial Aid (2015- 16): Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 95%Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 86%Loans: 58%Average Amount of AidGrants: $6,539Loans: $5,505 Academic Programs: Most Popular Majors:  Accounting, Business Administration, Elementary Education, Nursing, Psychology Transfer, Graduation and Retention Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 70%Transfer Out Rate: 33%4-Year Graduation Rate: 14%6-Year Graduation Rate: 32% Intercollegiate Athletic Programs: Mens Sports:  Basketball, Soccer, Golf, Tennis, Baseball  Womens Sports:  Soccer, Softball, Basketball, Tennis, Track and Field, Cross Country Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics If You Like Georgia Southwestern State, You May Also Like These Schools: University of Georgia:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphMercer University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphColumbus State University:  Profile  Clark Atlanta University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphEmory University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphSpelman College:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphGeorgia Institute of Technology:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphFlorida State University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphArmstrong State University:  Profile  Valdosta State University:  Profile  Savannah State University:  Profile  Auburn University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT Graph

Italian Adult Slang Words Starting With the Letter C

Italian Adult Slang Words Starting With the Letter C As with any language, there are many ways to talk about seduction, flirtation, a little naughtiness, and sometimes get downright raunchy in Italian. Below is a list of Italian slang words and phrases not found in standard texts that range from suggestive to downright vulgar. Many native speakers wont admit to being familiar with all of these phrases, but chances are most of them have heard or used at least one. A word of advice: Before you unleash the somewhat shocking words and phrases on your new Italian friends, at least get to know each another with some basic introductions. C cacare  v.t./i.  (vulgar) to defecate;  cacarsi addosso  to defecate in ones pantscacarella  f.  (vulgar) diarrheacacasenno (un/una)  n.  a know-it-all, a smart-ass; (lit.): one who [defecates] wisdomcacasentenze  m./f. inv.  one who likes to moralize, one who acts like he/she is very smart, a smart ass; (lit.): one who shits sentencescacasodo  m./f. inv.  an arrogant person, someone who thinks his/her [feces] doesnt stink; (lit.): one who defecates hard (from the verb  cacare, meaning to [defecate] and the adjective  sodo, meaning tough or hardcacasotto  m./f. inv.  a very fearful person; (lit.): one who [defecates] down belowcacatoio  m.  (vulgar) john, loocacchio  m.  (vulgar) peniscafone  s.m. (f. -a)  (pejorative) boor, ill-mannered personcavolo  (vulgar)  non me ne importa un cavolo!  I dont give a damn about it!; (vulgar)testa di cavolo  blockheadcazzata  (vulgar) bloody nonsensecazzo  (vulgar) term for peniscazzone  (v ulgar) term for penisceffo  m.  jerk; (lit.): big dickcesso  m.  (vulgar) public washroom chiavare  v.t.  (trivial) to have sexual intercoursechiavata  f.  (vulgar) to have sexual intercoursecioccie  f.p.  (vulgar) breastsciucca  m.  (vulgar) drunkennesscoglione  m.  (vulgar) testicle;  rompere i coglioni a qualcuno  to break someones [testicles]cornuto  m.  (vulgar) deceived partner; (generic insult) cuckoldedcosina veloce (una)  f.  a quickie; (lit.): a quick little thingculata  f.  (vulgar) shove or bump with the behindculo  m.  (vulgar) buttocksculone  m.  (vulgar) one with a big fat [buttocks]

Inventions & Discoveries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Inventions & Discoveries - Essay Example It has also been attributed to numerous facets of life putting an end to the differences on social, economical, political, and cultural relations. Coca-Cola Company has highly prioritized the global community throughout its operations, which is in accordance with social expectations. Therefore, the Company makes necessary arrangements regarding business processes in order to alleviate necessary risk, which may have adverse effects to the public in terms of health and safety (Coca-Cola Company, 64). Nevertheless, due to significance of this phenomenon in the life, globalization is considered to be a factor for development, which enhances integration and ensures that the benefits reaped are distributed to all persons across the globe. One of the main phenomena to which societies are confronted and that has influenced all aspects of social life of people living in the earth is globalization, which is attributed to association to Coca-Cola Company. Globalization is a multifaceted phenomenon, which leads to disappearance of the borders between economic, social, cultural and political relations and shapes a modern relation and communication between nations (within countries and among countries (Dreher, Noel and Pim, 32). Given that Coca-Cola is a multinational company which employs people from different parts of the world and these employees are transferred to other counties based on the need for talents in various countries in which they operate. Therefore, this contributes to globalization based on culture, whereby people learn things from other counties and they also consume the same products from this company (Dreher, Noel and Pim, 32). Consequently, consumers have developed a high interest for the Companyâ€℠¢s social, ethical, and environmental performance as a result of dynamic social-cultural and economic conditions and high

Relationship between technology and progress (or 2 other topics), Essay

Relationship between technology and progress (or 2 other topics), based on documents from book Thomas Edison and Modern America - Essay Example Therefore it has become necessary to ask this age old question once again. What exactly is the relationship between technology and progress? Is the change that is brought about by technology always positive? Is it at some point inevitable that once we accept the positive developments of technology we have at the same time have to accept its negative accompaniments? These are some of the questions that this paper shall seek to answer. There shall be a special focus on the book Thomas Edison and Modern America by Collins, Lisa and Gregory. There are three areas that I have identified in which the relationship between technology and progress is evident and straightforward. These areas are; an improvement in the quality of life, wealth creation, unemployment, the environment and transport and communication. I shall seek to discuss how technological inventions have brought about changes in the five named areas. This shall of course be done within the context of this book. Because it is ob vious that the perspective to be gained here is mostly from Edison’s day, I shall also include a few sentences to provide the modern context. This shall make up for an all rounded understanding of this relationship (Changing Times, p2). The first area to be looked at is the area of quality of life. This is also the most controversial area as far as the relationship between technology and progress is concerned. The reason that there is a controversy at the centre of this area is because there are varying views on what quality of life means. What constitutes an improvement in the quality of one person might be an unnecessary vexation to another (Not Just An Idea, p 28).. There are several inventions made during Edison’s time that improved the quality of life of the people then. The light bulb for instance comes to mind. Before Edison invented the light bulb, many people used other rudimentary forms of lighting like oil lamps. These were known for the chocking fumes they produced and also obviously because there were not bright enough. It can’t also be ignored that oil came at a cost (Edison's Sparks of Interest noted in the New York Sun). The other lighting that was used in the day was gas lighting. It was however seen a dangerous. Edison used his skills to homes located in a square mile around Pearl Street, Manhattan. It is important at this point to however state that Edison did not invent the light bulb. The light had been scientifically and technologically available half a century earlier. He merely made it commercially available. He also built an electrical system around which it could operate (pg 60). There are many technologies in the present day that have affected the lives of people as much as the light bulb and the electrical system did the. The most important thing about the light bulb is that it allowed people to have the access to lighting and energy in general. The electrical system on the other hand, was the basis for several other inventions. It provided inventors with a source of light and energy from which other inventions were made (Notice from the Edison Company for Isolated Lighting, November 1885). Today, there is one technology that I can think of that has made as much impact. It is the computer. The computer by itself has been an amazing invention. We can use it for typing documents e.t.c. However, that is not where the main significance of the computer is to be found. The

Bharti Enterprises Essay Example for Free

Bharti Enterprises Essay Ensuring that the look and feel of the store is as per guidelines/standards Ensuring/ reporting Inventory and Stock availability as per the norms to prevent stock-outs Provide suggestions /feedback to improve store productivity People Development / Team Management: Acting as a mentor and trainer for store staff To ensure daily roistering briefing to inbound outbound store staff Customer Experience: Manage staff allocation based on demand at point in time Personally step in to handle demanding customers Provide suggestions for improvements in CE 4. A. On Diversity and Cultural spread in Africa, As Africa consists of 53 countries, to operate successfully it is important to understand the dynamics of each country, including differences in culture, language and especially regulations. Bharti would do well to put in place as few expatriates as possible and have most of its top management from Africa. b. On Infrastructure sharing and cost / capital issues, The biggest driver of network sharing will be the shift in approach of the biggest operators, who had been unwilling to share network to sustain competitive advantage. There is visible network sharing in the markets of Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa, and that this is likely to pick up in other markets. c. On Bharti Airtel’s Minute Factor Model, Network sharing and IT outsourcing would help operators bring down costs. While costs could trend down, however they will be higher than in India because of some of the structural costs caused by power shortage and poor infrastructure. 5. Bharti Airtel has a history of making first moves and emerging as the winner just because of that. This is what built the company’s success in India, where it remains the top MNO and second-largest fixed-line operator. In fact, thanks to the massive market it serves at home, at the time it acquired the Zain portfolio in March 2010 Airtel was reckoned to be the fifth largest mobile operator in the world on a proportional subscriber basis, putting it behind the likes of China Mobile, Vodafone Group, American Movil and Telefonica, but ahead of China Unicom. As has been widely covered for over a year now, Airtel has been looking at Africa as a new growth market. While it has a deal with Vodafone for the Channel Islands, Africa is the only other territory outside the Indian subcontinent (including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka) that the company has entered. The commonalities are compelling: similar markets, needs and infrastructure. The realities on the ground are somewhat more challenging: logistics, legislative compliance and serious local competition being foremost. The logistics of infrastructure in Africa are an equal challenge for all MNOs. That is a given. Where Airtel might have been overly optimistic is in hoping its Africa model would run similarly to its success in India, based on a first-to-market approach and having some leverage to overcome legislative obstacles. Unfortunately, while Airtel has a 30-year history of being first in India (with pushbutton phones, cordless phones and then mobile), they were not first in Africa. There were major EU, Middle East and South African players there ahead of them. In fact, Airtel’s African expansion is largely thanks to its takeover of Kuwait’s Zain mobile operations in 15 countries. This was a beachhead, not a conquest. Zain only held dominant market share in a few countries. Going up against market leaders such as MTN of South Africa, Airtel applied a strategy of extensive cost cutting. This followed on what it achieved in India, cutting a deal with Ericsson for per-minute fees (rather than upfront payment) that enabled very low-cost call rates from the outset. Airtel has an all-Africa, five-year deal in place with Ericsson for network management that offers similar advantages. Elsewhere, Airtel is engaged with Nokia Siemens Networks and Huawei, not keeping all its eggs in one basket, of course. As a Plan B, possibly following on the indecisive outcome of Airtel’s low-cost invasion, the company has previously been negotiating a takeover of or (maybe) a joint venture with MTN itself. How this putative deal is described depends on which company is talking. This has been going on for some four years without a definitive ending. Even if it never happens, it is a signpost of just what Airtel would consider to get its Africa operations truly established.

Uncle Toms Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe - Misery of Slavery Exposed :: Uncle Toms Cabin

Misery of Slavery Exposed in Uncle Tom's Cabin  Ã‚  Ã‚   Harriet Beacher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin addresses the issue of slavery in close accordance with the style of Frederick Douglas' narrative. A theme that Stowe impresses strongly upon the reader is the degenerative effects of slavery upon both the slave and the master. Frequently in the novel the issue is raised . Even Mrs. Shelby recognizes the depravity and admits that slavery, "is a bitter, bitter, most accursed thing- a curse to the master and a curse to the slave!"(45). The injustices of slavery are frequently identified in the novel but, of course, the practice is continued. Many of those involved in holding slaves are sensitive to the problem. Mr. Shelby, for instance, is not contented by the idea but enjoys the benefits out of what he deems necessity. The inherent problem of slavery is again stated when John Van Trompe is being described. His worn appearance is attributed to the ,"workings of a system equally bad for oppressor and oppressed,"(105). The novel also dexterously demonstrates the absurdities and contradictions of slavery. For instance, Mr. Shelby's actions are strongly contradictory to his statements. He believes himself to be a good Christian man with a genuine respect for his slaves. Yet the fact that he holds slaves opposes all that he says and although his treatment of slaves is better than most master's, he still is not respectful of them. For example, in the first chapter when Shelby and Haley are discussing the ensuing trade, H arry enters the room and Shelby has him dance around like a clown and then tosses raisins at him. Also, Mr. Harris, a slave owner, in defense of his relocating George asserts that, "it's a free country sir; the man's mine,"(24). It is also ironic that after George invents a machine to clean hemp the employer congratulates not George, but George's master for owning such a fine slave. Another example that effectively illustrates the strong contradictions and absurdities of slavery and slave owners is the philosophy of Haley concerning the proper treatment of slaves. Haley, whose practice is to buy and sell people asserts that, "its always best to do the humane thing,"(16) and that it is good to have a conscience, "just a little, you know, to swear by,"(13). Another topic often addressed in the novel is exclusion of blacks in the law and the injustice of the entire condition.

Marriages are made in heaven Essay

â€Å"Marriages are made in heaven†, so it is said, but they are solemnized here on earth. This is a great occasion that comes in our only once and therefore, calls for a celebration anywhere in the world. In our country this is a very solemn occasion, accompanied with numerous customs associated with it, making it all more exciting and memorable. It a wonderful mixture of traditions blended with modernity that is even admired by foreigners. Last month my best friend Alex, who lived in my neighborhood got married to her fiancee, a software engineer in the United States. I being her best friend was assigned the responsibility of looking after the bride and chaperoning her at her wedding. On the appointed day since morning there was hectic activities beginning from the Haldi ceremony, vermillion was applied on her followed by ladies sangeet. Then I applied mehendi on her hands. By the time this was over, it was already lunch time. Immediately after lunch, we had to go to the market to collect her bridal wear that had been given for some last minute alterations. Thereafter we went to the bridal beauty parlour, where we spent some time. By the time they were finished, it was difficult to recognize Alex, and for so striking was her beauty, that even tinsel heroines would have had a complex. It was now getting late; we rushed home to find our family members anxiously waiting for us. The barat was on its way and we could hear the drum beats. We all rushed outside to see the barat as it approached the gate. The bridegroom was astride on a horse bedecked with flowers. His tall figure with a golden sehra on his head, made him look like a proverbial prince. There was the ‘Dwar Puja’ at the gate followed by religious ceremonies performed by the pundit. Thereafter the groom was escorted to the dais†¦

Photography Merge Into Art Essay

Photography is traditionally regarded positioned at the lightweight end of photographic practice and on the fringe of a true art-form. â€Å"Its close relationship to the economic imperatives of turnover makes the art photograph the transitory image par excellence. † However photography has emerged as a ubiquitous representational form, â€Å"with us from sunrise to sunset, in the privacy of our homes and on public streets, in a format we can hold in our hands and one that towers over us on billboards the size of buildings. Early criticisms of Photography as an art form described the new technique as one that directly reproduced reality. â€Å"However, the disparity between the photographic record and perceptual experience reveals the artistic, political, and representational potential of Photography. The photographic image maintains a privileged place in the pantheon of visual consumption. † The argument is ever present that the entire history of photography has been the chronology of a medium at the secondary border of art. Nineteenth-century amateur photographic societies and photography journals were arenas for protracted debates between those committed to Photography’s status. As a scientific recording tool and those determined to establish Photography as a fine-art form, the opportunity existed for accomplishment and establishment. Certainly gender and sexuality have been implicated in art Photography since the early twentieth century. But during the 1970s there was a marked shift of emphasis in the way that the female body was represented as a fetishistic object of desire in the work of photographers like Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin, Chris von Wangenheim and Deborah Turbeville. The long struggle to establish photography as a legitimate art form still continues today. There is a clear and obvious tendency of the art establishment to exclude and to narrowly restrict the boundaries of admissible photographic art. The established arts have all contributed to the formation of peripheral spheres of photo activity on the margins of art. † Many questions from the audience addressed the impact of digital technology on the art: of photography yet, the unstated. Understanding that they were, indeed, discussing photography as â€Å"art† spoke directly of the philosophy of Stieglitz, a philosophy that served as the driving force of his life’s work. The collection brought the symposium into perspective, confi rming the power and beauty of Stieglitz’s photography, as it reinvestigated his reputation. The exquisite print quality and the inclusion of various versions of well-known photographs expanded the viewer’s experience of the work. A beautiful photogravure print on tissue of The Steerage (1915) is unparalleled in its beauty and the extensive collection of the â€Å"Equivalens† (1923-31) series brings to mind the collected haystacks of Claude Monet. The collection spans Stieglitz’s career, offering the viewer an unprecedented opportunity to contemplate his development as an artist while recognizing the Modernist elements of his work. Art Venues and Exhibition Halls, Suitable? Photography is entering into the commercial galleries and, most recently, the art business is a growing source of economic aid for the arts. The burgeoning crossover between the worlds of art and art is increasingly apparent – contemporary work is instill with concerns about gender identity, Since the beginning of the â€Å"contemporary age,† there have been countless major photography exhibitions at New York City’s Guggenheim Museum alone, as well as other international events that interweave art and art. The work and philosophy of Alfred Stieglitz is experiencing a: resurgence of interest. The recent retrospective of Stieglitzs gallery exhibitions at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D. C. , â€Å"Modern Art and America: Alfred Stieglitz and his New York Galleries,† reinforces his pivotal position as the â€Å"champion† of American modern art. â€Å"But this view of Stieglitz, more myth than man, has always loomed above his personal work and consequently the work’s relevance to the development of a modern aesthetic. The question is– what does a century Told Modernist like Stieglitz have to say to a post postmodern America? † Researchers demonstrated that in contemporary Western contexts, allusions to other influences, i. e. Africa, through adornments and images such as those found in colonial-era postcards and photography still carry the weight of colonization and its aftermath. Hence some of the profound work in Hine and Sekula. The African body has for centuries been an object of much fascination to Western observers, who framed it to fuel many misconceptions about the continent’s peoples and cultures. The colonialist image of the â€Å"naked savage† long poisoned the relationship between African and Western peoples; the forced or coerced abandonment of indigenous attire in favor of Western dress was for much of the past two centuries a symbol of the â€Å"civilizing† process. Throughout Africa today, deliberate revivals of â€Å"traditional† forms serve as symbols of political and cultural movements, often coexisting with Western styles that have been modified to suit local tastes. † Alfred Stieglitz, his Own Vision. Turn-of-the-century reactions to photography as an art form were vehemently negative. Because the photograph so closely resembled reality, photography was considered by many people, especially establishment painters and critics, to be a reportorial medium exclusively. Even the early Photo-Secessionist–the group of photographers headed by Stieglitz Stieglitz, committed to having the artistic merit of his work recognized—deliberately used soft-focus lenses, or darkroom tricks (including brushing or penciling the negative) to make their photographs look like paintings. In 1890, Stieglitz brought America a message. Photography, he said, is capable of more than factual recording. It can become a personal expression of one’s emotional reactions to life, a potential art. But it is not painting; any more than painting is sculpture. â€Å"He began a life-long fight for the recognition, particularly within artistic circles, of photography as an independent medium. He organized the few workers sympathetic to his ideal, first in the Society of Amateur Photographers and then in the Camera Club, whose magazine Camera Notes he founded and edited, making it the first periodical to respect fine photography. † One enduring feature of photography is its identification with art. In a recent analysis of photography, artists contrasted ‘glamour’ with ‘sophistication’. This format found that in the art press photography was described as youthful, dynamic and pleasure-seeking, On the other hand sophistication is seen as: mature, poised, restrained and introvert. It is no accident that they have coincided with the revival of figurative painting and the rise of conceptual art, of what is called photography as a high art forms, of video, alternative film practices, performance art – all of which have worked to challenge both the humanist notion of the artist as romantic individual ‘genius’ (and therefore of art as the expression of universal meaning by a transcendent human subject) and the modernist domination of two particular art forms, painting and sculpture. The Steerage (1907) The exhibition juxtaposes such iconic images as Alfred Stieglitz, The Steerage (1907). The show surveys photography’s thematic and artistic riches from the mid-1880s to the present, from one great era of technical and social change to another. Monumental innovations in the late 19 th century, such as dry-plate technology, hand-held cameras and halftone reproductions, greatly increased the medium’s applications and made it increasingl y integral to American life. All the while he has been photographing, using the camera as a means of personal expression. His prints are simple and direct: they are lyrics that penetrate beneath the surface. The Terminal is more than a record of a vanished scene; it is the essence of Winter in New York. In The Steerage (below) a moment is transfixed which is vitally important to all those travelers to a new land.

Nutrition essays

Nutrition essays Throughout the history of mankind science has searched into the realms of the unknown. Along with it bringing new discoveries, allowing for our lives to become healthier, more efficient, safer, and at the same time, possibly more dangerous. Among the forces driving scientists into these many experiments, is the desire to preserve the one fuel that keeps our lives going; FOOD. As early as the beginning of the 19th century, major breakthroughs in food preservation had begun. Soldiers and seamen, fighting in Napoleons army were living off of salt-preserved meats. These poorly cured foods provided minimal nutritional value, and frequent outbreaks of scurvy were developing. It was Napoleon who began the search for a better mechanism of food preservation, and it was he who offered 12,000-franc pieces to the person who devised a safe and dependable food-preservation process. The winner was a French chemist named Nicolas Appert. He observed that food heated in sealed containers was preserved as long as the container remained unopened or the seal did not leak. This became the turning point in food preservation history. Fifty years following the discovery by Nicolas Appert, another breakthrough had developed. Another Frenchman, named Louis Pasteur, noted the relationship between microorganisms and food spoilage. This breakthrough increased the dependability of the food canning process. As the years passed new techniques assuring food preservation would come and go, opening new doors to further research. Farmers grow fruits and vegetables and fatten livestock. The fruits and vegetables are harvested, and the livestock is slaughtered for food. What happens between the time food leaves the farm and the time it is eaten at the table? Like all living things, the plants and animals that become food contain tiny organisms called microorganisms. Living, healthy plants and animals automatically control most of these microorganisms. But when the pla...

Qué es affidavit of support y obligaciones al firmar

Quà © es affidavit of support y obligaciones al firmar En Estados Unidos, la firma del affidavit of support es uno los requisitos que se piden para que un ciudadano o un residente pueda reclamar con à ©xito la tarjeta de residencia permanente para un familiar. Este documento del affidavit of support tambià ©n se conoce entre los migrantes como declaracià ³n jurada de sostenimiento, mantenimiento o solvencia econà ³mica. Puntos clave: affidavit of support o declaracià ³n de sostenimiento econà ³mico Los ciudadanos o residentes permanentes que piden la tarjeta de residencia para un familiar deben firmar un affidavit of support o declaracià ³n de sostenimiento econà ³mico.Es un contrato que garantiza al gobierno de EE.UU. que el migrante patrocinado no se va a convertir en carga pà ºblica. Esta obligacià ³n est vigente durante aà ±os.El monto de ingresos y/o patrimonio mà ­nimo para firmar el affidavit of support depende del estado en el que reside la persona que presenta la peticià ³n, del nà ºmero de miembros de la familia y de si el solicitante es militar.Si no se tienen ingresos o patrimonio suficiente se puede solicitar la ayuda de un co-patrocinador.  ¿Quà © es el affidavit of support o declaracià ³n de solvencia econà ³mica? Es un documento que las leyes migratorias de EE.UU. exigen que firme el solicitante de una tarjeta de residencia permanente para un familiar. Si no se firma, la peticià ³n de la green card ser negada. El affidavit of support sirve para asegurar al gobierno que la persona que se reclama para emigrar  no se va a convertir en una carga pà ºblica.   En realidad, el affidavit of support es un contrato que obliga al ciudadano o al residente que lo firma o, en su caso, a los co-patrocinadores o co-firmantes, a responder econà ³micamente por la persona patrocinada. Por ello es fundamental entender bien y sin dudas quà © es lo que se firma. Ingresos mà ­nimos para firmar el affidavit of support Los ciudadanos americanos y los residentes permanentes legales que patrocinan a un familiar deben demostrar, por medio del affidavit of support, que tienen necesitan ingresos o patrimonio superiores al 125 por ciento de la là ­nea de la pobreza. Cabe destacar que la là ­nea de la pobreza, que actualiza cada aà ±o el gobierno de Estados Unidos, es superior en Hawaii y Alaska que en el resto de los 48 estados de la Unià ³n Americana o el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico. Asimismo, el monto de la là ­nea de la pobreza cambia segà ºn el tamaà ±o de la familia. Y es que el ciudadano o residente que patrocina tiene que demostrar ingresos para mantener: a sà ­ mismoa la/s persona/s que se patrocinaa las que se ha  patrocinado, mientras el affidavit of support sigue vigentetodas las personas que dependen del solicitante,  segà ºn asà ­ conste en el  tax returns (hijos, esposa/o, etc). Sin embargo, para los militares en activo que piden a sus cà ³nyuges, hijos solteros menores de 21 aà ±os y padres es suficiente ingresos o patrimonio por el 100 por cien de la cantidad fijada por los datos del umbral de la pobreza.   Por otro lado, en los casos extraordinarios en los que el emigrante padece de una enfermedad crà ³nica seria o es una persona de edad avanzada es posible que las autoridades migratorias pidan acreditar  recursos econà ³micos superiores al 125 por ciento de la là ­nea de pobreza. Ingresos y patrimonio que se puede incluir en la declaracià ³n de solvencia econà ³mica. Cabe destacar que a la hora de calcular si se llega al mà ­nimo exigido por el gobierno para patrocinar se puede incluir adems de los ingresos, como es por ejemplo la nà ³mina (payroll, en inglà ©s), sino tambià ©n el patrimonio, si se puede  vender fcilmente en el plazo de un aà ±o. Por ejemplo, se considera patrimonio la vivienda despuà ©s de descontar lo que se debe de la hipoteca, o el auto o inversiones en bonos del tesoro, etc. Sin embargo, del valor resultante sà ³lo se puede contabilizar un quinto de su valor de mercado para todos los patrocinios excepto cuando se trata de un ciudadano que reclama a su cà ³nyuge o hijos menores de 21 aà ±os (child), en cuyo caso se puede computar un tercio de su valor de mercado. Por ejemplo,  si se tiene  una casa cuyo valor de mercado es de $200.000 pero tiene una hipoteca de $130.000, eso quiere decir que, en realidad, el patrimonio es de $70.000. Los ciudadanos patrocinando al cà ³nyuge o hijos solteros menores de 21 aà ±os podrn calcular para el affidavit of support un tercio de esos $70,000, es decir $23.333. Por el contrario, si el ciudadano patrocina a los padres, hijos casados o mayores de 21 aà ±os o hermanos sà ³lo se computa un quinto de esos $70.000, es decir, $14.000. Lo mismo ocurre para todos los casos en los que el solicitante es un residente permanente.  ¿Quà © hacer cuando ingresos y patrimonio no llegan al mà ­nimo que se pide para el affidavit of support? Se puede buscar a un co-patrocinador, es decir, a una persona que se obligue tambià ©n  a patrocinar econà ³micamente a la persona que se quiere  reclamar. Por ley, el co-patrocinador debe cumplir todos los requisitos siguientes: Ciudadano americano o residente permanente legalVivir habitualmente en Estados Unidos o en uno de sus territorios, como por ejemplo, Puerto RicoMayor de edad Si reà ºne estos tres requisitos, pueden darse dos opciones. En primer lugar, la persona que se brinda a colaborar es un miembro de la familia del patrocinador y vive en el mismo hogar. Por ejemplo, el padre o la madre del patrocinador principal o un hijo mayor de 18 aà ±os. Adems, en el caso de que el cà ³nyuge que se quiere reclamar vive ya en Estados Unidos y pueden ajustar su estatus, se pueden utilizar sus ingresos y unirlos a los de su patrocinador para alcanzar asà ­ la cantidad mà ­nima que se requiere para patrocinar, siempre y cuando vivan ya en el mismo hogar y la fuente de sus ingresos (trabajo) sea legal desde el punto de vista migratorio. Estos co-patrocinadores, a los que muchas veces se les llama co-firmantes, deben firmar la planilla I-864A.   En segundo lugar, el co-patrocinador puede no ser un miembro del hogar.  En otras palabras, es un familiar con su propio hogar o un amigo. En estos casos el co-patrocinador tiene que acreditar tener ingresos suficientes como si patrocinara solo y debe rellenar y firmar el affidavit of support de la planilla I-864. Si se firma un affidavit of support,  ¿cules son las obligaciones que se contraen? La declaracià ³n jurada de sostenimiento es un contrato legal. La persona que lo firma es responsable, en primer lugar, frente al gobierno. Y, en segundo lugar, ante el propio patrocinado. Como consecuencia de ello, los nuevos inmigrantes no pueden recibir dinero de ningà ºn beneficio federal, local o estatal calificado como means-tested. Por ejemplo: TANF, Medicare, Medicaid, cupones de alimentos, etc. Si el gobierno detecta que se recibià ³ incorrectamente uno de estos beneficios, pedir la restitucià ³n del dinero a la persona o personas que firmaron el affidavit of support. Si se tuviera que ir a Corte, se le pedir tambià ©n el pago de los gastos. Adems, tener conocimiento de que el migrante  patrocinado ha colectado beneficios del gobierno a los que no tenà ­a derecho es suficiente para ser multado con $5.000.   Adems, el migrante que, sin tener derecho, solicite estos beneficios puede ser multado por un mximo de $10.000 e incluso pena de prisià ³n. Por otro lado, la persona que firma el affidavit of support se compromete al mantenimiento del migrante pedido. Esto es asà ­ de tal modo que puede ser demandado por este à ºltimo. En el caso de los matrimonios resaltar que el divorcio no supone el fin de esta obligacià ³n. Los contratos privados firmados entre los cà ³nyuges relevndole de esa obligacià ³n no son ejecutables en corte. Es decir, son como papel mojado.   Vigencia de la obligacià ³n por firmar el affidavit of support La obligacià ³n de ser responsable del mantenimiento del nuevo migrante se extiende desde el momento en que  ha obtenido la tarjeta de residencia hasta que ocurre cualquiera de las siguientes circunstancias: el migrante se convierte en ciudadano americano por naturalizacià ³nel migrante regresa a su paà ­s, abandonando Estados Unidos y su estatus legalel migrante falleceel migrante ha contribuido 40 crà ©ditos a la Seguridad Social, lo que aproximadamente suelen ser 10 aà ±os, habiendo variedades para el cà ³mputo. Quà © documentos hay que completar para firmar el patrocinio econà ³mico Dependiendo del caso, estos son los documentos para el affidavit of support: I-864Z, cuando no se utiliza co-patrocinador y sà ³lo se patrocina econà ³micamente a una persona.I-864, en todos los dems casos.I-864A, para el co-patrocinador  vive en el mismo hogar familiar que el ciudadano o residente permanente que reclama la tarjeta de residencia para uno o varios de sus familiares. En el caso de peticiones mediante ajuste de estatus, al aplicar por este beneficio es cuando se presenta la planilla del sostenimiento econà ³mico. Pero cuando la peticià ³n de la green card va a travà ©s del procedimiento consular, seguir las instrucciones del Centro Nacional de Visas cuando se pone en contacto para los trmites finales. La importancia de notificar los cambios de domicilio Todos los que firman un affidavit of support debe notificar al Servicio de Naturalizacià ³n y Ciudadanà ­a (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglà ©s) los cambios de domicilio en el plazo de 30 dà ­as a contar desde la mudanza. Utilizar la  la planilla I-865. El castigo por incumplimiento puede ser multa de $250 a $2,000. Adems, si el firmante del affidavit of support es un residente permanente, debe tambià ©n notificar el cambio de direccià ³n con el formulario AR-11, que se puede completar en là ­nea en la pgina oficial del USCIS. Conclusià ³n importante sobre el affidavit of support Firmar un affidavit of support es un requisito imprescindible en la tramitacià ³n de peticiones de tarjeta de residencia por motivos familiares. No es posible no cumplir con esta obligacià ³n. Pero al hacerlo, el firmante se est comprometiendo a responder por el migrante patrocinado. Es por ello que hay que pensarlo bien, particularmente en el caso de matrimonios por conveniencia. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

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

Analyze - Essay Example The retro fad is brought too far, if it only represents a replication of the past, but this paper believes that modern retro is not about reusing old styles, but a revival of retro thinking that severely distrusts changing social, economic, and political conditions, and clamors for a need to redefine the relationship with the past, by modernizing its aspiration for authentic identities and depicting nostalgia for vibrant cultural norms and socioeconomic stability. The ongoing retro fad reflects the deep distrust of its users in changing social, economic, and political conditions, so the past helps them feel secure and hopeful. Retro, in this case, is not merely being â€Å"in† by being old. Retro stands for the values and goals of its original consumers. Guffey describes that retro signifies a skeptical perspective in life: â€Å"†¦retro attitude†¦carries a darker suspicion that recent social, cultural, and political developments are profoundly corrosive† (10) . In the post-2008-global-recession and post-9/11 times, some people are beginning to doubt basic social institutions. Marriage rates are inversely related to divorce rates. More people are divorcing and delaying marriage and having children. Many people complain of their depressed socioeconomic statuses, despite the efforts of Obama to revitalize the U.S. economy. Some people harbor fear for other minorities because of racial prejudice and their opinions regarding illegal immigration. All around and inside them, instability expands. The only way that people can feel secure again is to go back to the recent past, where values and conditions are more stable and reliable. On the contrary, Reynolds denigrates the pretensions of the retro fad and calls it an â€Å"emblem of the poverty of abundance† (115). This paper believes otherwise because the retro signifies not only material possessions, but the desire for social stability. Several people want to live in the past where they can expect what they expect, and not be troubled by uncertainties. In addition, the retro helps people feel positive. This is not the same as being idealistic, but looking forward to better times. Thus, retro style emphasizes retro attitudes that distrust the present and looks back at the past for hope and growth. By going retro, people do not only feel more confident about their present conditions, they also aspire to redefine their relationship with the past by appropriating retro values with modern demands for authentic identities. In the article â€Å"Dressed in History: Retro Styles and the Construction of Authenticity in Youth Culture,† Jen? argues that the youth uses retro styles to give authenticity to their sense of self. The youth, in particular, employs retro as part of the formation of their identities: â€Å"Authenticity is especially important to young people and is used as a tool in constructing identities through consumer behavior† (Jen? 388). Some of the youth think that the world is more artificial now than in the past because of its obsession with wealth and social prominence. By going retro, they seek to be more authentic and truer to their identities that are far from the superficial material norms of their society: â€Å"Appropriated as a tool of self-performance, the supposed authenticity of the object merges with the subject† (Jen? 396). They aspire to explore and to develop their identities by finding something that represents

The Strategic of Zara Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Strategic of Zara - Essay Example The company is also endowed with experienced human resources beginning with the company’s chief executive officer. For instance, the company boasts of a 200 person strong innovative team that is inspired by customers’ need for value and quality. Moreover, the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability is a boost to its image given that there has been a push for environmentally friendly products in the recent years due to climate change concerns worldwide. The company’s product portfolio is full of a variety of apparel and accessories for women, children, and men from all corners of the globe. The company has a good product positioning strategy with its stores adopting different outlook and setups that vary with the respective countries or regions of operations. The company has adopted best practice for its daily operations. For instance, the company uses the just in time inventory management technique to ensure that it effectively manages the lev els of inventory in its storage facility and deliver the products according to demand. This technique has helped the company to eliminate the wastes associated with inappropriate inventory management. It is also notable that the company’s internationalization strategy has been advantageous for its completion. The company has been aggressively involved in expansion in the recent years with the approach taken including the use of franchises and licenses in far-flung markets. As a result, the company has positioned itself as a global leader in the design, manufacture.... Internal Environment One of the common methods of evaluating a company’s internal environment is through the use of SWOT analysis (Henry, 2008). Zara Company has various strengths and weaknesses. To begin, some of the strengths of the company as depicted in its relative strength in the market include: Originality of the company’s products that has distinguished it from its competitors. The company’s products are distinct in terms of design and this has made them identifiable. The company has dedicated staffs that are committed to personalized customer service. With experts in the fashion and design industry led by the CEO, the company’s human resources is unmatched. The stores and outlets across the globe are fully managed by the company as opposed to licensees and franchises used by other industry players. This has helped the company control the quality of products sold in the outlets. The company has also an admirable production line that is able to prod uce new products within short timelines. Technology use has been enhanced in the manufacturing segment for efficiency. Costs of the company’s products are relatively lower attracting many buyers. With relatively lower prices, the company’s attract high sales volumes. A well managed supply and value chain that ensures distribution of products required standards. The centralised warehouse acts a is within good regulator in the company’s revolutionalised distribution system. Apart from the company’s numerous strengths, the company still has weaknesses as outlined below: The company is yet to have a good advertising campaign that has had a negative impact on its brand recognition

MENTAL STATUS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MENTAL STATUS - Essay Example The MSE is a systematic collection of data gathered from a patient while the patient is in full view of the psychiatrist in order to detect signs and symptoms of a mental disorder. It is structured like an interview or an informal inquiry to put the patient at ease in order to be able to obtain good answers to both closed and open-ended questions. It can be supplemented with a structured written test to further test the patients mental capacity and cognition. All the data that can be gathered will be recorded under specific headings known as standard domains. In psychiatry, domains are the specific classifications of a mental state characterized by the following factors which clinicians use to analyze a mental patient: appearance, attitude, mood & affect, thought process, thought content, perception, cognition, insight and judgment. All these domains are observed in the patient to fully determine the mental status. The other domains include behavior or activity, speech and language (Gehlert & Browne, 2006, p. 215). The MSE tries to elicit a patients perspective and also incorporates the observations made by the clinician. Domains indicate a specific mental function (Frankel & Myatt, 2003, p. 28). Awareness of a mental patients cultural background can help to establish rapport and trust right at the outset of the interview process. This is because cultural factors can influence the outcome and results of the data-gathering exercise so it is important clinicians know about a patients specific culture. For example, some cultures can emphasize the avoidance of any eye contact for prolonged periods of time which may be misinterpreted by the psychiatrist if he is not aware of a patients cultural background (Hersen & Turner, 2003, p. 22). A patients culture may also consider avoiding eye contact as a sign of deference to a higher authority and so people got accustomed to not looking a person straight in the eye which in

Effects of Psychological Contract on the Work-Life Balance

Effects of Psychological Contract on the Work-Life Balance A contemporary analysis of the concept of work life balance and the effects of the psychological contract within the business Aimed towards Retail Terms of Reference To define, explore and critically analyse the extent to which contracted work in the retail business is affected by psychological contract theory Establish from primary and secondary sources the factors which impact on the work life balance for employees, and if any policies and practices are effective. Examine the various ideas from the literature around organisational culture and the psychological contract, in order to determine how Toys R Us fits with these definitions. To draw conclusions around the extent to which Toys R Us has managed to achieve a suitable work life balance for all of their employees without the use of a psychological contract; and to examine possible future changes/ recommendations which could be implemented to create said contract. Literature Review The journal Management Research News (2007) provides a useful starting point, as it looks to review the literature around the psychological contract in order to help develop an understanding around the various unique agreements and the work environment that underlies modern working. As such, the paper is a conceptual paper, and its main aim is to categorise the existing knowledge around the psychological contract in the workplace, as well as to provide practical direction for future research. The results of this investigation indicated that the context of the psychological contract must be reconsidered, due to the nature of the flexible modern working environment where jobs are not always seen as being long term commitments. As such, it is important to consider the impact of organisational justice, rather than looking at potential relationship development (Management Research News, 2007). This is particularly relevant for retail organisations such as Toys R Us, where a large number o f their staff may be students or other short term casual workers. Unfortunately, there has been little research into the levels of job security felt by temporary employees and contract employees, and how this impacts on any psychological contract which may exist. This is addressed to some extent by De Cuyper and De Witte (2006), who examined how perceptions of job security, as well as job satisfaction and organisational commitment, varied from permanent employees to temporary ones. This research was based on the claims of psychological contract theory, which holds that a lack of job security only arises if the psychological contract is violated, and that permanent employees tend to feel stronger psychological contracts that temporary and contracted workers. Their results support this argument, showing that the temporary staff tended not to create strong psychological contracts with their employers, and hence their perceptions of job security did not impact on their overall performance. In contrast, for permanent employees job security was a key pre dictor of both job satisfaction and organisational commitment, indicating that the psychological contract is of greater concern for permanent staff (De Cuyper and De Witte, 2006). Indeed, George (2003) found that the use of temporary and contract workers in an organisation could actually harm the psychological contract which existed between the permanent workforce and the organisation. These finding are based on a detailed study of 256 permanent employees across three organisations, and showed that the extent to which contracting and temporary workers were used, combined with the duration of their use, had negative impacts on permanent employees’ trust in the organisation, as well as the psychological contract with the organisation. These results are explained by the fact that permanent workers see the increased use of temporary and contract staff as indicating that their organisations do not have a strong commitment to their permanent employees. As such, permanent employees begin to see themselves as being less attached to the organisation. The grounded theory approach taken by George (2003) indicates that this is consistent with theoretical prediction s that the use of contract staff acts as a violation of the psychological contract for permanent staff, since contracting makes it harder to permanent workers to advance in the organisation. As such, when attempting to manage this, organisations should look to show strong levels of commitment towards their permanent employees, as this will help counter the perceived violations from the use of contracted staff. Whilst George (2003) claims that this can be achieved through making permanent employees supervisors and trainers of other employees, there is little empirical data to support this, hence it is not clear if this would be a valid method for countering the negative impacts of contracting. Another useful empirical study in this area comes from Ellis (2007) who used the theory of psychological contracting to develop a framework exploring employee reactions to the various promises and contract violations they received from their employer. This is based on the hypothesis that an employee’s status within the organisation may affect their perceptions of promises and contract violations, but this will depend on what the promise is about. This hypothesis was tested using a survey of 163 full time employees working for 25 different organizations. The results supported the hypothesis, showing that supervisory and managerial employees placed more value on promises and violations that their manual labouring counterparts. This indicates that, not only will contracted employees have a less significant psychological contract but, in industries where contracted workers are often used for manual labour, this effect will be pronounced by the lower value manual workers assign to organisational promises and violations (Ellis, 2007). When considering the work life balance, Watson (2001) discusses a lecture given by Ewart Wooldridge, the director of the Civil Service College, who claims that many employees are now moving towards a more flexible approach to work. This is in contrast to prior situations, in which work tended to be the dominant feature in many workers’ lives. This is claimed to be largely due to factors such as recession; the reduction in the power of the trade unions; and the rise of a new psychological contract, which is focused on individual employees more than on organisations. As such, Watson (2001) claims that employees will tend to offer less loyalty to their existing employer, whilst attempting to improve their overall employability in an attempt to find a better job with another employer. Whilst they will continue provide their current employer with effective results during this period, they will be less likely to fully commit themselves to their employer. As such, unless their employ er promotes the work life balance they require, there is a chance that the employee will lose faith in the organisation, reducing their effort and hastening their departure (Watson, 2001). However, it should be noted that Watson’s (2001) article is entirely based on theoretical arguments, with not empirical backing. This may reduce its relevance and validity to all situations. In contrast, Conway and Monks (2008) exploration of the relationship between HR practices and employee commitment is based on a case study analysis of three health service organisations in the Republic of Ireland. This research examines how employees perceive HR practices such as work life balance, and how these perceptions affect employee level commitment and perceptions of the psychological contract. These findings indicate that there is a disparity between the HR practices which are valued most highly by employees, and the practices detailed in the HR literature and those which are practiced by organisations. This indicates that organisations need to consider the basic factors underlying the employment relationship and the psychological contract, rather than simply introducing the latest HR practices (Conway and Monks, 2008). However, this research is somewhat limited by the fact that it is only based on one industry, and includes just three organisations. Sturges and Guest (2004) conducted a much larger survey into the factors which affected the perceptions of the work life balance amongst new graduates who had recently started working. They found that the main factors affecting perceptions were conflicts between work and non-work priorities; the number of hours worked; and the degree of organisational and personal commitment shown by the graduates. As such, whilst most graduates tended to look for a good work life balance, their desire for long term career progression tended to lead them to work increasingly long hours in an effort to progress earlier. However, this tendency led to a worsening relationship between the graduates’ perceptions of work, which ultimately acted to harm the psychological contract. As such, Sturges and Guest (2004) argue that organisations need to introduce policies and practices designed to promote a healthy work life balance, showing support for their employees’ lives outside of the workplace , in order to avoid any negative impacts on performance. In addition to this, Sutton and Griffin (2004) argued that the degree to which employees’ expectations prior to starting work were supported by their experiences in the job had a significant impact on their perceptions of their work life balance and the psychological contract. This argument was assessed through a longitudinal study of 235 occupational therapy students who were about to start work, and compared with their views 14 months later. The results showed that if their experiences of work after entering a job were not consistent with their expectations, the employees were more likely to perceive psychological contract violations, and hence lower job satisfaction. In particular, the expectations around work life balance were found to be driven by the recruitment and selection process (Sutton and Griffin, 2004). This indicates that policies aimed at improving work life balance need to take account of, and control, employee expectations at the recruitment stage in order to be effective. Unfortunately, as before, the narrow nature of this study, which only examines one occupation, makes it of limited relevance to the case of Toys R Us. Another factor found to be relevant to the psychological contract, and violations of the contract, is employee personality. Raja et al (2004) carried out a survey of personality types and responses to the psychological contract, finding that personality characteristics such as extraversion, neuroticism and self-esteem were all related to employee perceptions of the psychological contract. In addition, personality characteristics tended to predict employee perceptions of breaches of the contract, as well as when these breaches were perceived as violations. This indicates that, when designing policies, organisations need to pay attention to employee personality characteristics, and their potential impact on the psychological contract. In addition, when considering the nature of the psychological contract, it is important to realise that the contract is a dynamic thing, which can grow and develop over time. As such, organisations need to consider the need to display a level of commitment to shared values, as well as the welfare of their employees, if they are to develop the contract and the level of organisational commitment shown by the employees. Indeed, Barnett and Schubert (2002) claim that a developing psychological contract and employment relationship can have significant benefits for employees and employers alike. Their survey of 194 employees working in a large retail organisation showed that employees valued their employers having strong principles, and showing concern around their employees’ welfare. This indicates that these are key factors to be considered when developing policies and practices aimed at strengthening the psychological contract. Further research in the retail sector comes from DAnnunzio-Green and Francis (2005), who examined how managers’ view of an emotion management leadership programme acted on their perceptions of the psychological contract. The results of this study indicated that the programme led to a shift in perceptions away from a transactional psychological contract, and towards a relational one. This in turn influenced managers’ perceptions around what the organisation’s expectations of them were, as well as what the organisation offered them in return. This effectively led to the construction of a new, ‘trial’ psychological contract, where managers agreed to believe that the leadership programme would create a more favourable work environment, both for the managers and their subordinates. The managers then internalised and tested the contract to determine whether the organisation’s actions lived up to the promises contained in said contract. This indicate s that organisations need to be sure that any new policies enacted do not create unrealistic expectations, as then any benefits from the policies will be undone by the resulting breaches of the trial psychological contract created by the policies (DAnnunzio-Green and Francis, 2005). Finally, Porter et al (1998) carried out a significant study into the extent to which these perceptual gaps between the promises of the contract and the actual behaviour of the organisation had significant explanatory power over and above measures such as employee satisfaction. This was based on a study of 48 executives and 339 employees over four organisations, in an attempt to determine the promises made to the employees, the employees’ perceptions of these promises, and the employee’s perceptions of the actual benefits provided. This showed that the larger the gap between the perceptions of the promises and the perceptions of the actual benefits, the lower the level of employees’ overall satisfaction with the organisation. This effect was found to be significant even after considering factors such as employee satisfaction with their job and their performance. As such, it appears that employee perceptions of organisational promises can have a more significant e ffect than many other factors, including the nature of the employee’s role and their performance within the organisation (Porter et al, 1998). References Barnett, T. and Schubert, E. (2002) Perceptions of the Ethical Work Climate and Covenantal Relationships. Journal of Business Ethics; Vol. 36, Issue 3, p. 279-290. Conway, E. and Monks, K. (2008) HR practices and commitment to change: an employee-level analysis. Human Resource Management Journal; Vol. 18, Issue 1, p. 72-89. DAnnunzio-Green, N. and Francis, H. (2005) Human Resource Development and the Psychological Contract: Great Expectations or False Hopes? Human Resource Development International; Vol. 8, Issue 3, p. 327-344. De Cuyper, N. and De Witte, H. (2006) The impact of job insecurity and contract type on attitudes, well-being and behavioural reports: A psychological contract perspective. Journal of Occupational Organizational Psychology; Vol. 79, Issue 3, p. 395-409. Ellis, J. B. (2007) Psychological Contracts Does Work Status Affect Perceptions of Making and Keeping Promises? Management Communication Quarterly; Vol. 20, Issue 4, p. 335-362. George, E. (2003) External Solutions and Internal Problems: The Effects of Employment Externalization on Internal Workers Attitudes. Organization Science; Vol. 14, Issue 4, p. 386-402. Management Research News (2007) Understanding the psychological contract: a direction for the future. Management Research News; Vol. 30, Issue 6, p. 432-440. Porter, L. W. Pearce, J. L. Tripoli, A. M. and Lewis, K. M. (1998) Differential perceptions of employers inducements: implications for psychological contracts. Journal of Organizational Behavior; Vol. 19, p. 769-782. Raja, U. Johns, G. and Ntalianis, F. (2004) The Impact Of Personality On Psychological Contracts. Academy of Management Journal; Vol. 47, Issue 3, p. 350-367. Sturges, J. and Guest, D. (2008) Working to live or living to work? Work/life balance early in the career. Human Resource Management Journal; 2004, Vol. 14 Issue 4, p5-20. Sutton, G. and Griffin, M. A. (2004) Integrating expectations, experiences, and psychological contract violations: A longitudinal study of new professionals. Journal of Occupational Organizational Psychology; Vol. 77, Issue 4, p. 493-514. Watson, B. (2001) Report: A New Deal? Understanding the Psychological Contract. Public Money Management; Vol. 21, Issue 3, p. 57.