Thursday, August 27, 2020

Deontology and Utilitarianism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Deontology and Utilitarianism - Essay Example Utilitarianism for the most part lays weight on cost-viability or money saving advantage investigations. For example, such investigation has been applied to the issue of whether creature tests are to be allowed in the United Kingdom. The main disservice related with receiving such a restricted point of view, that is exclusively focussed on the outcome prompts the acknowledgment of activities that can't be defended ethically (Purchase 309). In this manner ethically unsatisfactory activities may result from the use of this hypothesis. Utilitarianism will in general reduce the obligation of the person somewhat, and it is additionally seen to be demanding. As per this hypothesis, a person before acting or taking a choice will evaluate the general advantage that will collect to him, and whether the satisfaction of all the included gatherings will experience a net increment. As such, utilitarianism admonishes the individuals to profit those whose need is more noteworthy, by giving up what they have. This is clearly conflicting with the over a wide span of time social customs (Lawson 3). The nonappearance of a qualification among pointless and obligatory activities serves to cheapen the people who hold fast to the fundamentals of utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is of two kinds, first, act utilitarianism and second, rule utilitarianism. In both these classifications, the rightness or in any case of a demonstration is resolved based on the outcomes. In addition, in rule utilitarianism, the rightness of the standard is decided by the outcomes acquired from the standard (Loewy and Loewy 36). Correspondingly, in act utilitarianism, the rightness of the demonstration is set up by the result of the demonstration. The deontological hypothesis expects individuals to release their obligations loyally, while looking at an ethical problem.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Designing Intervention free essay sample

An association advancement intercession is a succession of exercises, activities, and occasions planned to enable an association to improve its presentation and adequacy. Intercession structure, or activity arranging, gets from cautious finding and is intended to determine explicit issues and to improve specific zones of hierarchical working distinguished in the determination. OD mediations shift from normalized programs that have been created and utilized in numerous associations to moderately novel projects customized to a particular association or division. What are compelling intercessions? The term intercession alludes to a lot of sequenced arranged activities or occasions planned to enable an association to build its adequacy. Intercessions intentionally disturb business as usual; they are purposeful endeavors to change an association or subunit toward an alternate and progressively viable state. In OD, three significant rules characterize a compelling mediation: (1) the degree to which it fits the requirements of the association; (2) how much it depends on causal information on expected results; and (3) the degree to which it moves change-the executives ability to association individuals. The primary basis concerns the degree to which the intercession is applicable to the association and its individuals. Successful intercessions depend on legitimate data about the organization’s working; they furnish association individuals with chances to settle on free and educated decisions; and they gain members’ interior pledge to those decisions. Legitimate data is the aftereffect of an exact conclusion of the organization’s working. It must reflect decently what association individuals see and feel about their essential concerns and issues. Free and educated decision proposes that individuals are effectively engaged with settling on choices about the progressions that will influence them. It implies that they can decide not to take an interest and that mediations won't be forced on them. Inward duty implies that association individuals acknowledge responsibility for mediation and assume liability for executing it. In the event that mediations are to bring about significant changes, the executives, staff, and other important individuals must be focused on completing them. The second basis of a powerful mediation includes information on results. Since mediations are planned to deliver explicit outcomes, they should be founded on substantial information that those results really can be created. In any case there is no logical reason for planning a compelling OD mediation. Shockingly, and as opposed to other applied trains, for example, medication and building, information on mediation impacts is in a simple phase of advancement in OD. A significant part of the assessment inquire about needs adequate thoroughness to make solid causal deductions about the achievement or disappointment of progress programs. Additionally, scarcely any endeavors have been made to look at the similar impacts of various OD methods. These components make it hard to tell whether one technique is more viable than another. Notwithstanding these issues, more endeavors are being made to survey efficiently the qualities and shortcomings of OD intercessions and to think about the effect of various strategies on association viability. The third measure of a viable mediation includes the degree to which it improves the organization’s ability to oversee change. The qualities hidden OD propose that association individuals ought to be better ready to do arranged change exercises on their own after a mediation. They should pick up information and expertise in overseeing change from dynamic cooperation in structuring and actualizing the intercession. Skill in change the board is basic in today’s condition, where innovative, social, monetary, dry political changes are quick and relentless. Step by step instructions to plan powerful mediations: Designing OD intercessions requires giving cautious consideration to the necessities and elements of the change circumstance and creating a change program that will be predictable with the recently portrayed measures of successful mediations. Current information on OD intercessions gives just broad remedies to change. There is insufficient exact data or research about how to plan mediations or how they can be relied upon to communicate with hierarchical conditions to accomplish explicit outcomes. Besides, in light of the fact that the capacity to execute most OD mediations is exceptionally subject to the aptitudes and information on the change specialist, the structure of an intercession will depend somewhat on the skill of the professional. Two significant arrangements of possibilities that can influence mediation achievement have been examined in the OD writing: those having to do with the change circumstance (counting the expert) and those identified with the objective of progress. The two sorts of possibilities should be considered in structuring intercessions. Possibilities Related to the Change Situation: Analysts have distinguished various possibilities present in the change circumstance that can influence intercession achievement. These incorporate individual contrasts among association individuals (for instance, requirements for self-governance), authoritative elements (for instance, the board style and specialized vulnerability), and measurements of the change procedure itself (for instance, level of top-administration support). Except if these components are considered in planning a mediation, it will have little effect on hierarchical working or, more regrettable, it might deliver negative outcomes. For instance, to determine persuasive issues among manual specialists in a petroleum processing plant it is imperative to know whether intercessions planned to improve inspiration (for instance, work enhancement) will prevail with the sorts of individuals who work there. Much of the time, information on these possibilities brings about altering or modifying the change program to fit the setting. In applying a prize framework mediation to an association, the progressions may must be adjusted relying upon whether the firm needs to strengthen individual or group execution. In spite of the fact that information on possibilities is still at a simple phase of advancement in OD, specialists have found a few situational factors that can influence intercession achievement. Progressively conventional possibilities that apply to all OD intercessions are introduced beneath. They incorporate the accompanying situational factors that must be considered in structuring any mediation: the organization’s availability for change, its change capacity, its social setting, and the change agent’s aptitudes and capacities. Status for Change: Mediation achievement relies intensely upon the association being prepared for arranged change. Markers of preparation for change incorporate affectability to pressures for change, disappointment with the norm, accessibility of assets to help change, and duty of noteworthy administration time. At the point when such conditions are available, mediations can be intended to address the hierarchical issues revealed during analysis. At the point when preparation for change is low, be that as it may, intercessions need to concentrate first on expanding the organization’s readiness to change. Capacity to Change: Overseeing arranged change requires specific information and aptitudes, including the capacity to inspire change, to lead change, to create political help, to deal with the progress, and to support energy. On the off chance that association individuals don't have these abilities, at that point a starter preparing intercession might be required before individuals can connect seriously in mediation structure. Social Context: The national culture inside which the association is inserted can apply an incredible impact on members’ responses to change, so mediation configuration must record for the social qualities and presumptions held by association individuals. Mediations may must be adjusted to fit the nearby culture, especially when OD rehearses created in one culture are applied to associations in another culture. For instance, a group building intercession intended for top supervisors at an American firm may should be changed when applied to the company’s outside auxiliaries. Capacities of the Change Agent: Many disappointments in OD result when change specialists apply intercessions past their skill. In planning mediations, OD specialists ought to evaluate their experience and aptitude against the prerequisites expected to execute the intercession viably. At the point when a jumble is found, professionals can investigate whether the intercession can be adjusted to accommodate their abilities better, regardless of whether another mediation progressively fit to their aptitudes can fulfill the organization’s needs, or whether they should enroll the help of another change specialist who can manage the procedure all the more successfully. The moral rules under which OD specialists work requires complete honesty of the relevance of their insight and skill to the customer circumstance. Experts are required to mediate inside their capacities or to prescribe somebody increasingly fit to the client’s needs. Possibilities Related to the Target of Change: OD intercessions look to change explicit highlights or parts of associations. These objectives of progress are the principle focal point of mediations, and specialists have distinguished two key possibilities identified with change focuses on that can influence intercession achievement: the authoritative issues that the mediation is proposed to determine and the degree of hierarchical framework at which the mediation is relied upon to have an essential effect. Authoritative Issues: Organizations need to deliver certain issues to work successfully. Figure 9. 1 records these issues alongside the OD mediations that are expected to determine them. It shows the accompanying four interrelated issues that are key focuses of OD intercessions: 1. Key issues. Associations ne

Friday, August 21, 2020

Meet Our Latest OppU Achiever!

Meet Our Latest OppU Achiever! Meet Our Latest OppU Achiever! Meet Our Latest OppU Achiever!Name:  Laura BrasseauxSchool:  South Louisiana Community CollegeConcentration:  Clinical Laboratory TechnicianDegree:  Associate of Applied ScienceExpected Graduation Date:  Spring 2019Cue the drumroll, because we’re thrilled to announce the latest recipient of the OppU Achievers Scholarship: Laura Brasseaux! Laura attends South Louisiana Community College (@southlacc) and is studying to become a clinical lab technician. When she graduates in 2019, she’ll be the first in her family to receive an undergraduate degree.The OppU Achievers Scholarship recognizes hard work and demonstrated achievement, two things that Laura knows a lot about. To put herself through school, she wakes up at 3:30 in the morning to get to her job at 4:00. After that, she heads to class so she can be in her seat by 9:00.OppLoans believes in the power of individuals to create opportunity for themselves and others. We award the OppU Achievers Scholarship four times a year, provid ing a total of $10,000 for education expenses. (Interested in applying? Submit an essay here!) We also know that financial literacy is critical to success, so we built OppU, which offers free, standards-aligned courses that cover topics such as spending, budgeting, credit, and debt.Want to know what makes Laura an Achiever? Here’s what she had to say.OppLoans: What challenges have you faced as a first-generation college student?Laura: The most difficult aspect of being a first-generation college student for me has mainly been a knowledge gap. I do not have the advantage of having someone to guide me through effective time management or study practices, or someone to inform me about what to expect in regards to socializing on campus or how to make connections that can be utilized later on in my professional career.OppLoans: How have you overcome these challenges?Laura: Being required to take a first-semester experience course (and taking the assignments seriously) helped me become aware of the many resources available to me on campus. (In fact, it is how I found and applied for this scholarship!) I have decided that I have to be willing to step outside of my comfort zone and reach out to faculty and other students on campus. I took part in a student leadership conference this April that South Louisiana Community College hosted. Through the course of the day, I attended workshops, some of  which included presentations about networking, and how to plan for my academic and professional careers in the long term. Through my refusal to sit on the sidelines for my college experience, I have already opened up avenues to participate in campus organizations next semester. In the process, I realized that the faculty truly wants me to succeed, but ultimately, it is up to me to seek out the resources they have made available.OppLoans: How did you learn to be financially responsible?Laura:  Growing up and living  below the poverty line made it easier in one sense, since I never felt the need to compete with anyone materialistically. This means that most of the debt that I carry is due to school and credit cards that were used during a short period of unemployment last year. At the same time, this has fueled me to escape the cycle of poverty that my family has been trapped in for multiple generations. Any financial literacy that I have gained, I picked up through online research and from bits and pieces of advice from friends concerning building and maintaining good credit. I decided to enroll  in a “Fundamentals of Finance” course next semester just to expand my knowledge so that when I have earned my degree, I will be more financially literate and better able to manage the greater income that will come with having a degree.OppLoans:  In what ways have you been financially responsible in school?Laura: First and foremost, attending a community college will greatly minimize the amount of debt I will be taking on while I earn my degree. I am fortun ate that I qualify for the Pell Grant and federal loans. I have been able to avoid taking out any private loans that require me to begin paying them back immediately, but I do make it a point to put a small amount of money towards my federal loans every month in order to minimize the amount of interest that I will be required to pay on them once I graduate. I also applied for multiple scholarships and I have roommates in order to relieve the burden of living expenses.  I avoid using my credit cards unless it is necessary, and I am sure to make at least the minimum payment each month so as not to incur additional charges. At the beginning of the semester, I split up the total amount of money I receive  from loans and grants into a monthly sum, and then I dedicate an amount to each expense that I am responsible for; any extra money I have gets tucked away for time in between semesters, and I pick up seasonal jobs to have extra income. I am also using the skills I acquired from an Exce l spreadsheets course I took during the spring semester to plot out a budget using the tools and templates available in the program. This helps me visualize my budget and I can actually see where my money is going; from there, I can tweak my budget.OppLoans: How do you plan to use your degree after you graduate?Laura: After earning my Associate of Applied Science degree, I hope to attend Louisiana State University  to pursue a bachelors degree in clinical laboratory sciences with a focus in oncology. I have lost multiple family members to various forms of cancer, and I  would love to work as a research scientist studying cancer and how it affects our bodies.Congratulations, Laura! OppLoans wishes you continued success at South Louisiana Community College!Visit OppLoans on YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIN

Monday, May 25, 2020

Essay on Western Influence on Chinese Music - 1222 Words

Western Influence on Chinese Music China has long been the cultural hub of Asia, and has had the longest amount of contact of any Asian country with other Western countries. Ever since the Silk Road was established, China has been trading with other Western countries and exchanging aspects of their cultures with one another. One of these aspects is music. But how exactly has Western music influenced Chinese music? In order to understand this, we must look at the history of Western encounters with China in terms of music. European music was first introduced into China during the thirteenth century, which was part of the Yuan dynasty of China. Catholic missionaries introduced Western music to the Chinese imperial court. Soon, the†¦show more content†¦She and the Chinese pop music industry flourished in China until the 1950s, when the Communist regime led by Mao took over. Pop music was replaced with revolutionary music with government propaganda, which caused the pop industry to move to Taiwan and Hong Kong. This new musical presence in Hong Kong indirectly led to the creation of Cantonese popular music, also known as Cantopop. Cantopop is a style of popular music that emerged during the 1970s. It was influenced by Western folk rock music of the 1970s, and is set up in a rock band layout with heavy use of electronic instruments, such as the electric guitar and synthesizer. Perhaps the most famous Cantopop singer of all time, Teresa Tang, emerged during the 1980s. Her music touched the hearts of people all over the world, and caused the Communist regime in China to shift their policy of music from just supporting government propaganda to include expressing individual emotions. Since then, many Cantonese pop singers have emerged and this genre remains famous even today. While some musicians used Western genres, such as Western pop music and jazz, as the basis of their music, other musicians stuck with the traditional Chinese music style while adding Western elements to it. Due to the popularity of Western music in China, the popularity of traditional Chinese music diminished, and many traditional Chinese musicians were afraid that traditional music would eventually fade away. Their solution to this problemShow MoreRelatedJay Chou and his Chinese Pop Style Essay1082 Words   |  5 PagesJay Chou and his Chinese Pop Style Stepping into the new century, a name came into people’s ears in mainland China, Jay Chou. Jay is a famous Taiwan musician, whose songs impact the new generation in the recent twelve years all over the world significantly. From young to old, a lot of people can sing his popular songs, or they can hum, whistle some parts of Jay’s songs at least. According to the official statistics, Jay produced his eleven albums that sold an amazing record of 28746167 copies inRead MoreEssay on Chinese Music631 Words   |  3 PagesChinese music is described as a unique form of art. Even today, the Modern Chinese music has a Western Modern Music style. The music has its own characteristics and is very much distinct. History Chinese music dates back to 1000 BC. A man named Ling Lun created the first of the musical instruments in China. Ling Lun developed a set of 60 bells. From these bells, he created a mathematical method for creating pitch pipes to tune the bells. One of the first instruments created was a bamboo pipeRead MoreThe Development Of Chinese Popular Music And The Legend Pop Star Jay Chou1627 Words   |  7 PagesDevelopment of Chinese Popular Music and the Legend Pop Star-Jay Chou Name: Zichao Lan Instructor: Erica Jones Teaching Assistant: Dhiren Panikker Course Title: Popular Music of the World Date: 7/24 /2015 Introduction When talking about China, people from other countries associate China with the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors, the Summer Palace, other landmarks. Chinese music is as an important part of Chinese historyRead MoreMusic Integration : Balance Between Western Music Culture And Other Music Cultures Essay1496 Words   |  6 PagesMusic Integration: Balance between western music culture and other music cultures Introduction Nowadays, with the development of the transportation and network, people can be easily exposed to different cultures from all over the world. It leads to a problem that how to set some criterions when different cultures has their own ways to measure. The culture also includes music culture. Michael B. Bakan states in his book that the term music is inescapably tied to Western culture and its assumptionsRead MoreThe Japanese Culture Of Japan1532 Words   |  7 Pagesconnected to their past. They retain strong ties to their early legends, religions, and traditions while continuing to progress with the rest of the world. With these ideas that have been passed down and preserved, there have also been forms of dance and music that have been influenced by other countries, made uniquely Japanese, and continued through today. The Japanese people as we know them today were not the original inhabitants of the land. The native people, the Ainu, were hunters and fishermen closerRead MoreChina s Culture During The 20th Century1364 Words   |  6 PagesChina’s culture saw some drastic changes during the 19th and 20th centuries, from the influx of new influences from the West to the more culturally sterile regime of Mao Zedong. In the early 20th century, Shanghai was a top cultural center in the East, and its achievements, although almost lost due to decades of conflict and political struggle, were preserved and built upon in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Following the social reforms, post-Mao China was ripe for reintroduction of culture, and Taiwan’s closeRead MoreHistorical Aspects Of Ancient China1685 Words   |  7 Pages As with all oracular processes, chance remains a pivotal aspect of divining the future. The use of divination in the context of Ancient China is a way of explaining the unknown. Known in the Western sphere as The Book of Changes, the Yijing/I Ching–conversely known as Zhouyi–is a document that was incepted during the Bronze Age for the purposes of divination. The contents of the Yijing holds â€Å"sixty-four short chapters, each consisting of three elements: a hexagram, a hexagram statement, and sixRead MoreShould Television Programs Be Banned?1743 Words   |  7 PagesTV programs broadcasted in Malaysia are mainly imported from the USA and other Western countries, and the values are different from the values in Malaysian communities. The government argued that the media had negative influences on the education, attitude, and morality amongst Malaysian youth. With TV programs such as Baywatch, Friends, and several reality shows being popular amongst the youth, a lack of Malaysian values are being expressed. Malaysian TV stations even adopted some of the conceptsRead MoreThe Superior Parenting Style Of Parenting1578 Words   |  7 Pagesthe differences between opposite techniques utilized by Chinese and Western parents. However, neither the Chinese nor the Western style of parenting provides the maximum amount of happiness and structure in a child’s life. Rather a fusion of the two parenting styles designs an environment where the child has freedom while still maintaining a level of discipline. One common question that occurs in the world with parenting, is how do Chinese children almost always succeed. Well the answer definitelyRead MoreChinese Literature And Culture Of China1497 Words   |  6 Pages Chinese Literature and Culture Literature has a very important role to play in society and in the lives of all the people. It is an immeasurable realm and its influence is far beyond the reaches of people and one’s own comprehension of mind. It is such an enormous expanse that one would begin to articulate some form of response. Chinese literature, to many westerners, has not been easily accessible as it had remained hidden in the higher strata of the society â€Å"shi da fu (Ã¥ £ «Ã¥ ¤ §Ã¥ ¤ «)† in Chinese culture

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ( Ptsd ) - 928 Words

PHM302: Neuropsychiatry Evidence-Based Clinical Question Report Submitted by: Ryan Co Student #: 999388522 CASE JD is a 30-year-old male diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He was involved in active combat during his 10 year career with the military and he is haunted by incidents that replay in his mind. He finds that scenes from battle run through his mind and disrupt his day-to-day functioning. He finds himself avoiding socializing with his military buddies, as this frequently triggers his PTSD. JD has been on several antidepressants with limited success and is not currently taking any medications. He is feeling hopeless and he has gone to see his psychiatrist for help. His†¦show more content†¦SEARCH METHOD A PubMed search was used with the terms â€Å"ketamine† and â€Å"chronic PTSD† in order to find studies relating to the topic. SELECTION OF LITERATURE The article â€Å"Efficacy of Intravenous Ketamine for Treatment of Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder† was selected out of all the papers found. The patient fits the inclusion criteria for the trial and the purpose of the trial answers the clinician’s question. ANALYSIS OF LITERATURE The trial was performed to compare the efficacy of ketamine against anxiolytic medications in patients with chronic PTSD. The study was a randomized, double-blind crossover trial – patients were around 25-45 years of age and suffer from chronic PTSD for years with moderate to severe symptoms. Some participants also previously received antidepressants with partial or no response. Trial results showed that 24 hours after the ketamine infusion, the patient’s IES-R (impact of event scale – revised) score was significantly improved compared to when patients were on midazolam. (mean difference = 12.7, P = 0.02) In addition, patients who were on ketamine first retained symptom reduction when switched over to midazolam. Secondary outcomes studied looked at the effects of the medications on the patient’s CAPS and QIDS-SR scores, but these did not differ significantly. The study also looked at the effects of ketamine on depression in this population and showed that it was

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Crucible By Arthur Miller - 1474 Words

Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible in 1953. He wrote this because he wanted to give out a central message to people all around the world. In the play, Miller presented many issues like how individual freedom was being taken away because of how society sets their laws and standards for what they believe was right or wrong. Also, he shows that there many people who do not believe in the same ideas or practices as anyone else and are forced to deal with the external pressures from society. Around the time Miller wrote the play, a lot of people in America were being accused of anything that society believed was wrong. Most people were being accused by Senator Joseph McCarthy, of being a communist and Miller was one of them. McCarthy was a man who led investigations to find unwanted communists. He accused Miller because of the political atmosphere in the 1950’s and the witchcraft that was going on in Salem. Eventually, Miller had to go to the House Committee on Un-American Activities and was forced to give up the names of the other communists. In The Crucible, there are two symbolic terms; crucible and witchcraft. A crucible is a receptacle that is used to melt down metals with the heat and separate them from whether it’s valuable or less valuable. Whereas, witchcraft is when people cast spells to conjure up spirits so that it can make bad things happen. The title of Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible is symbolic of both of these terms. In act 1 of The Crucible, Abigail was theShow MoreRelatedThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1269 Words   |  6 PagesAt first glance, the playwright Arthur Miller in The Crucible highlights the historical significance of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, but in fact it is an allegorical expression of his perception of McCarthyism. If the reader has some background information on Arthur Miller’s victimization as a communist, it is evident that the play is a didactic vessel illustrating the flaws of the court system in the 1950’s. The communist allegations were launched at government employees, entertainers and writersRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1681 Words   |  7 Pagesof their way to the last dying breath to make sure they leave with a good or bad reputation. In one of the recent literature study in class â€Å"The Crucible† by Arthur Miller, Miller uses characterization to illustrate reputation throughout the play. â€Å"The Crucible† takes place in Salem, Massachusetts. It is based upon the Salem witch trails. In â€Å"The Crucible†, we journey through the life of three characters who reputations plays a major role in the play. The three characters are John Proctor, AbigailRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1333 Words   |  6 PagesAs the various characters in The Crucible by Arthur Miller interact, the dominant theme of the consequences of women’s nonconformity begins to slide out from behind the curtains of the play. Such a theme reveal s the gripping fear that inundated the Puritans during the seventeenth century. This fear led to the famous witch-hunts that primarily terrorized women who deviated from the Puritan vision of absolute obedience and orthodoxy. Arthur Miller presents his interpretation of the suffering by subtlyRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller998 Words   |  4 Pagesmotivated by jealousy and spite. The Crucible is a four-act dramatic play production that was first performed on January 22, 1953. Arthur Miller used dialogue within the characters to cover the multiple themes; conflicts and resolutions, plus the few directions for the different actions of the play. The Salem Witch Trials were intended to be performed as the play however, when read, it can be more carefully examined and broken down to analyze the techniques. Miller, the playwright, uses literaryRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1145 Words   |  5 PagesUnbalance Through The Centuries In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, the author reflects the persecution of communists in America in the 1950’s through a recount of the Salem witch trials. It is often presumed that Miller based his drama directly off of events that were particularly prevalent in the years surrounding the publication of The Crucible- which was released in the year 1953, towards the conclusion of the Korean War. Although there was not a literal witch hunt occurring during this timeRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1063 Words   |  5 PagesIn the English dictionary, there are three definitions of the word crucible. One is a metal container in which metals are mixed and melted. Another is a severe test. But the third definition, and the one that I think fits the best for this book, is a place or situation in which different elements interact to create something new. In my mind, this fits because all of the characters had their little grudges and dirty secrets. But when all th ose seemingly little things interact, they formed somethingRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1285 Words   |  6 Pages Rationale, Morality, Stereotypes, Pressure, Self-Censorship, Unanimity, and Mindguards. Groupthink has also taken place in our history a a country. The play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller is about a the real-life Salem Witch Trials that happened in 1692 - 1693, in Salem, Massachusetts. Some symptoms of Groupthink found in the Crucible are Rationale, Pressure, and Self-Censorship. The Groupthink symptom, Rationale, is described as when victims of Groupthink ignore warnings: they also collectivelyRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller811 Words   |  4 Pages While The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is only a four act play, it still resembles the format of a five act play. The five-act structure evolved from a three-act structure, which was made famous by Roman Aelius Donatus. Donatus came up with three types of plays: Protasis, Epitasis, and Catastrophe. The five-act structure helped to expand the three act structure, mainly made famous by Shakespeare through his many tragedies. Even though The Crucible contains only four acts, it still has the commonRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1052 Words   |  5 PagesBuddy Al-Aydi Ms.Healy English 9 CP 14th October 2014 The Crucible Essay The Crucible was a novel written by Arthur Miller in the 1950’s. It was written in a format of the play, portraying an allegory of the Salem Witch-Hunts led by Senator Joseph McCarthy. The book is known to have a inexplicable plot. This plot is advanced by multiple characters in the book in order to ensure that the reader maintains interest with the material that is being read. The farmer, John Proctor, would be theRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller841 Words   |  4 PagesThe Crucible is a chaotic play, throughout this American classic Arthur Miller takes the reader through multiple events of terror and insanity. While creating a great on-stage play, Arthur Miller portrays his life through the events, the characters, and plot of The Crucible. Using vivid imagery and comprehensible symbolism, Miller manipulates the real personalities of the characters and events in 1600 Salem, Massachusetts to create a symbolic autobiography. Throughout this play, the reader experie nces

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

J.C. Penney Gift Certificate Concerns Essay Example For Students

J.C. Penney Gift Certificate Concerns Essay J.C. Penney Gift Certificate ConcernsJ.C. Penney Company, Inc. has recently introduced a new point of sale (POS) system developed by NCR Corporation into their stores. In the first six months of operation, it has become apparent that there are unanticipated problems with the accounting and control functions pertaining to gift certificates. The new POS system does not provide for adequate tracking or control of the certificates on the sales floor, store level sales audit has inadequate procedures or data capture capabilities in place to track sales accurately and assign responsibility for missing certificates, and corporate accounting has no control over the gift certificate accounting on the store level and are constantly struggling to reconcile gift certificate information. Problems on the Sales FloorAt the POS terminals on the sales floor, gift certificates are being stored underneath the cash register in a drawer with no security or control. The security and control of gift certificates has been overlooked during the drafting of the procedures for the new POS system. As a result, the security and control on gift certificates on the sales floor that had been in place with the old system has simply stopped. Employees are purely on the â€Å"honor† system. When sales associates ring up a gift certificate sale they have to key 1) the appropriate twelve-digit SKU from a list of 3 choices, and 2) a dollar value for the gift certificate shown on the face. For example, SKU #1 represented the $25 gift certificate, SKU#2 represented the $50 gift certificate, and SKU #3 represented the $100 gift certificate. After the sales transaction is complete, the sales associate must manually record the dollar value of the gift certificate on their cash audit report. During times of high volume, sometimes this final step is overlooked. Typically, the cashiers are just keying SKU #1 for any gift certificate sale and keying in the appropriate dollar value from the face of the gift certificate. The SKU’s are not electronically tied to a dollar value. This is a limitation of the previous POS system that was not addressed during the testing stage of the new system. Therefore, the error rate is very high and discrepancies in gift certificate sales are common. At the close of the shift, an electronic cashier report is generated on the register that just shows a total dollar amount tied to a SKU. This electronic cashier report is returned to the cash room along with the receipts and the hand-written cash audit report. Problems in Store Level Sales AuditWhen the cash audit report comes back to the office with the bag of receipts and the electronic cashier report, calculations are performed on the manual cash audit report to identify the amount of gift certificates sold. This is compared to the electronic cashier report. If there are discrepancies, sales audit clerks are required to use the electronic cashier report as the â€Å"correct† report for auditing purposes. The dollar amount of the gift certificates sold is recorded on a monthly gift certificate log and a new running monthly balance is calculated. Any new gift certificates received from the corporate office are recorded on another log and the acknowledgement of receipt (from inside the book) is signed by a member of management and returned to corporate accounting. At the end of the month, records of gift certificate receipts (disbursements from corporate), records of gift certificate sales, and other accounting records are forwarded to corporate accounting for verification after an attempt on the store level for reconciliation. Problems in Corporate AccountingStore managers are responsible for calling and authorizing a book of gift certificates to be dispersed for their store. When this occurs, the gift certificates are retrieved from the vault, the book number is logged, and the dollar value of the book is tentatively charged to the store. When the acknowledgement of receipt from the store is received, it is compared against the store’s records, the charge for the gift certificates is confirmed, and then the acknowledgement is filed away. Once a month, corporate accounting receive sales audit information from the stores and attempts to reconcile, but typically have no better luck than the store level audit clerks. .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711 , .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711 .postImageUrl , .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711 , .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711:hover , .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711:visited , .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711:active { border:0!important; } .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711:active , .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711 .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2ad8daf666c266f06b2184b32955d711:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: PCs are Better than Macs for Home Users EssayAnalysis of ProblemIt is very evident that there needs to be a drastic change in the J.C. Penney gift certificate tracking procedure from corporate accounting all the way down to the sales floor. Lax security and control, poor procedures, and inadequate testing of the hardware and software involved has created a very unstable situation with potentially large ramifications. Without quick remedy, potential financial losses could be staggering. In looking at this project, it is important to prioritize the underlying problems that are creating the unstable environment. The areas that need to be addressed are point of sale, sales aud it, and corporate accounting respectively. First, and perhaps the most important, is to look at your sales floor and gain control of your gift certificates. These items are the same as cash and should be treated as such. Gain immediate control of your POS to track sales and establish accountability. Modify your POS, Sales Audit, and Corporate Accounting Procedures to implement tightly coordinated controls over the sale, sales audit, and accounting functions. Second, the inadequacies in the hardware and software need to be addressed. Can minor changes in the configuration of the hardware or minor changes in your software code eliminate potential methods of shrinkage? If not, can there be changes made to the gift certificate design to help eliminate shrinkage? Maybe it would take a combination of both. A definite audit trail of every transaction is a necessity. Give yourself the ability to audit each register transaction by transaction. Once control is achieved on the sales floor, the majority of problems in the back office sales audit area will take care of themselves. It is imperative, however, that a tight control on cash, as well as, gift certificates be maintained. When looking at possible hardware and/or software modifications on the sales floor, be sure to keep in mind that the back office sales audit area might benefit from having the ability to look at information in real time. After attacking the back office sales audit area and getting them lined out procedurally, things should also begin to shape up in the corporate accounting area. If the procedures pertaining to gift certificates on all three levels have been coordinated, cooperation between the different levels will be easier to foster. The gift certificate area of corporate accounting should only be in the business of procuring and dispersing gift certificates to retail stores, verifying sales audit information pertaining to the certificates, and reporting to upper management and other areas, information concerning gift certificate sales and redemption. After reasonable control over the immediate financial instability has been achieved, focus on each individual level that has been identified in the order of importance in more detail. Initially, the focus should have been on creating some security and control, clear lines of communication, consistent procedures and definite audit trails. Now the focal point should be on minute parts of each area of distress and priorities should be established to handle those items. Possible AlternativesIn the point of sale area, the general idea is â€Å"the simpler it is, the harder it is to make a mistake†. The entire POS process should be reviewed in its entirety to identify any areas that can be streamlined. After all, the shorter the line is, the happier the customer is. Can any changes be made in hardware or software configurations that would speed up the process? In this case, a change in software code coupled with a change in the design of the gift certificates to incorporate bar codes that tied a SKU number and a dollar value would certainly seem to make a huge difference on the error rate and make sales audit on the store level and the corporate level much easier. The number of keystrokes required per transaction on the sales floor could also be reduced with this change. The use of real-time POS information would also be beneficial to store management as well as management on the corporate level. .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7 , .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7 .postImageUrl , .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7 , .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7:hover , .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7:visited , .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7:active { border:0!important; } .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7:active , .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7 .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8e1f45f368afa128821f0f8f5c1765b7:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Plastic surgery EssayFor the store level sales audit clerks, the sales audit process should be reviewed to see if software code changes (already suggested for POS) could be modified even further to automate the sales audit procedure where gift certificate information would simply be verified on the store level and passed on electronically to the corporate office eliminating the manual accounting. Receiving new gift certificates on the store level would be a simple matter of scanning the new book verifying receipt. No more manual logs. On the corporate accounting level, there would be very little paper generated during the sales audit process. Procurement of gift certificates could be enhanced reducing the on-hand inventory of gift certificates because management would be able to establish trends in gift certificate sales and order accordingly. Security and control would be significantly enhanced, and, theoretically, every gift certificate in circulation could be tracked individually allowing the company to know, at any moment in time, their gift certificate liability. The important thing to remember when you tackle a problem, regardless of the type, size, company, etc., is to involve the people directly affected by the problem in its resolution. Give them â€Å"ownership† of the problem and they will give you all the answers you need to make the most rational and logical decision. Business Essays