Managing Change in Complex Environment Essay

History and Background Introduction The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent government organization that generates income through mail services. It is currently the second largest civilian employer in the United States. Its primary task is to deliver mail around the country, at a standard price, regardless of geographic location. Over the last two centuries, the USPS has evolved into an efficient organization that financially sustains itself through its delivery operations. With a monopoly on the delivery of non-urgent mail, the USPS provides delivery service of about 40 percent of the world’s mail, or approximately 200 billion pieces of mail annually. Starting in the 1990s, the USPS faced increased competition from rival package delivery and courier services, as well as the Internet. Presently the USPS is facing a financial collapse. The USPS needs to undergo an essential and systematic change in order to maintain its significance in the 21st century. History/Background On July 26, 1775, members of the Second Continental Congress appointed a Postmaster General giving birth to the Postal Department of the United States. The mission of the U.S. Postal Department was much the same as today, process and deliver first class and non-urgent mail to individuals and businesses within the United States. Congress passed various laws that grant the post office a â€Å"statutory monopoly† on non-urgent First Class Mail and the exclusive right to put mail in private mailboxes. Although these laws grant the USPS a market advantaged they also restrict its ability to compete with rival package delivery and courier services, as well as the technological innovations. How it got started The Post Office Department has origins in America dating back to the 17th century, when there was a need for mail between colonial settlements and intercontinental exchange of information with England. In 1775, the Continental Congress named Benjamin Franklin as the first postmaster general and chairman of a committee empowered to make recommendations for the establishment of a postal service. On September 22, 1789 the post office became a new government branch of the United States. At this time there were 75 post offices and approximately 2,000 miles of post roads. The USPS was critical to national welfare and pivotal in facilitating communications for military, congressional representation and newspapers. From the very beginning, the USPS financed operations from revenue it earned and Congress gave it a monopoly to be the only courier service to deliver mail. Key points in evolution The main focus and the efforts of postal officials from the foundation of the Post Office to the present day have been finding the best methods of transporting information and directing mail. For example, in 1791 George Washington stated that that the importance of the postal routes had increased because the country wanted to distribute knowledge of governmental laws. Also, between 1791 and 1861, the U.S increased from 3.9 million to 31.4 million square miles and postal roads grew from 1,875 to 240,595 miles. The Board of Governors of the USPS sets policy, procedure, and postal rates for services rendered. Of the eleven members of the Board, nine are appointed by the President and confirmed by the US Senate. The nine appointed members then select the Postmaster General, who serves as the board’s tenth member, and who oversees the day to day activities of the service as Chief Executive Officer. The ten-member board then nominates a Deputy Postmaster General, who acts as Chief Operating Officer, to the eleventh and last remaining open seat. The USPS is often mistaken as a government organization but it is legally defined as an â€Å"independent establishment of the executive branch of the Government of the United States.† Environmental context The external environment elements that significantly influence the USPS are the United States political system, workforce unions, changing technology and market forces. United States Political System In 1970 the U.S. Postal Department evolved into the USPS through the implementation of the Postal Reorganization act. This act required the USPS to be a â€Å"self-sufficient organization within the U.S. Government†. It also added an additional regulatory body into its chain of command, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), but did not make any modification to the Postal Department’s Board of Directors or regulatory congressional statutes. The USPS Board of directors is charged with directing the USPS through the control of expenditures, reviewing practices, long term planning and setting policies and service standards. The PRC has 5 commissioners, appointed through the executive branch and confirmed by the Senate, who have the authority to reject, modify and approve any USPS initiated congressional recommendations. Since congress alone retains the authority to change USPS’ rates, service frequency and employee benefits, any market related changes from the Board of directors is routed through the PRC and congress for consideration. Pressure from Unions There are 4 unions representing around 90% of the USPS workforce: National Association of Letter Carriers, American Postal Workers, National Rural Letters Carriers Association and National Postal Mail Handlers Union. These organizations have successfully contracted collective bargaining agreements for its members for compensation and benefits that have come to exceed the USPS’ ability to maintain with its current revenues. These labor unions are very influential in weighing in on most of the decisions that affect the well-being of the USPS labor force. Presently USPS employees enjoy 79% coverage of their health care costs; the most of any federal agency. Strategic challenge Over the years the USPS has transformed its operating model and is now set up and mandated to operate like a business entity generating its revenue through the sale of postal products and services. The largest issue with the current business model of the postal service is its lack of flexibility essential for a business in a dynamic market. Specifically the USPS has not been able to organizationally adjust to a large decrease in the demand for first class mail service has resulted in decreasing net revenue in recent years. Congressional Influence The USPS congressional charter came with both benefits and operating constraints. Among the constraints the USPS is obligated to provide a uniform price for its services regardless of the geographic location and dispersion of its customer base. The USPS is obligated to deliver six days a week to every mailing address regardless of its mail volume. Additionally the USPS is required to provide free mailing service to the blind and facilitate voting for overseas military personnel. A significant amount of the USPS’ operating costs comes from its requirement to pre-fund retiree health benefits (RHB) for future retirees. Key Issues The USPS is suffering from the combined effects of declining mail volume from new technology and increasing labor costs resulting in a loss of net revenue. These declines are projected to extend into the future. The addition of a significant number of new addresses in the United States each year increases the USPS’ operating costs although volume is decreasing. Business Model – While the USPS has enjoyed the benefits of the monopoly on first class letter mail services that congress has bestowed, it has a stagnant business model that prevents the USPS from being able to adapt in the face of technological innovation and other market forces that affect its bottom line annually. The major source of revenue for the post office is the postage it charges for first class and non-standard mail. The advance of modern information systems such as email, smartphones, online banking, and other digital communications decreased the demand for traditional mail services. Compounding this issue is the basic economic principle of supply and demand. New technologies offer cheaper substitutes for the services that the post office provides. Stakeholders Postal Workers – The USPS employs more than 500,000 employees making it second only to Wal-Mart as the nation’s largest civilian employer. While every employee is represented by a labor union, employees are legally restricted from striking. Labor Unions – The USPS unions are old, influential and politically connected. Collectively, these unions continually fight for increased employee pay, living allowances and health care benefits. Postal Regulation Commission (PRC) – The PRC serves as the middleman between the USPS board of governors and congress. The PRC can reject or modify requests before they reach congress for final approval. Congress – Members of Congress exercise control over many aspects of the USPS operations including approving the markets for which it competes as well as representing the interests of its constituents whenever the USPS requests changes to its business model. Public Consumer – One of the mandates of the post office is to provide mail service of all addresses. The number of addresses has increased by nearly 18 million nationwide in the past decade and continues to climb as the country recovers from the past recession. A vast majority of the consumers are congressional constituents to whom member of congress are responsible. Competitors The USPS monopolizes, via congressional mandates, the delivery of first class mail, non-urgent mail and small packages. As such it faces very little direct competition from other businesses. However, the USPS has seen significant decreases in its mail volume over the years. The decreased volume of mail is directly related to the global acceptance of technology and use of digital communications which displaced traditional USPS services. Market Forces The USPS full time workers cost the USPS 80% of its revenue. Although they still enjoy a monopoly on first class mail, they are in direct competition with smaller, more efficient, companies who deliver large packages and urgent letters. Strategies Used What it Does Now – The USPS has improved its efficiency and effectiveness through both technology and reorganization. The USPS made significant investments in the late 1990’s in fuel efficient vehicles and new facilities as well as a $15 million advertising campaign to improve its image as a progressive and modern organization. A decade ago it took 70 employees one hour to sort 35,000 letters. Today in an hour, only two employees process an identical volume of mail. Though the number of addresses in the nation has increased by nearly 18 million in the past decade, the number of employees who handle the increased delivery load has decreased by more than 200,000 (Potter 2010a). It launched delivery confirmation service and priority mail in order to compete with competitors. The USPS now operates more than 31,000 post offices and the largest vehicle fleet in the world, with an estimated 218,684 vehicles. What They Want to Do – Concerned with increasing costs and decreasing revenues, the USPS petitioned for the following changes: * Stop Retiree Health Benefits prefunding – in 2011 the prefunding amount exceeded net operating losses. * Retirement System Overpayment – In 2010 Government Accountability Office disputed overpayment freezing approximately $6.9 billion. * Delivery Frequency – Shifting from six to five days weekly delivery would save approximately $3 billion annually. This measure is supported by 75% of USPS consumer base. * Change prices – Mandates currently cap the USPS ability to adjust to market conditions dynamically. * Restructure labor costs – Current collective bargaining decision do not consider the USPS financial health yet mandate compensation and benefits to be paid at levels comparable with private sector organizations with the burden falling on the taxpayers. * Consolidate infrastructure – A proposal in 2009 to close 3,000 postal outlets to reduce excess capacity yielded only a closure of 157 following consumer complaints and congressional intervention. Part II Diagnosis Lewis (2011) states that the USPS’ problems are a result of a restrictive business model and its inflexibility to operate in a dynamic market place. As stated earlier, the USPS response to this problem is a direct plan to cut expenses and increase revenues to overcome their mounting deficit. Although this plan does address the USPS’ immediate insolvency concerns, it fails to address their underlying issues. Through the use of Senge’s system approach and the McCaskey’s Organizational Design model, this paper will expose USPS’ root problems. Strategic Issues/Strategies/Goals-Objectives The USPS’ strategic issues are a loss of revenue due to declining mail volume, extensive costs due to a bloated and expensive unionized-workforce and the use of an outdated-legislatively constrained business plan. Their proposed strategy to mitigate these issues centers on cutting their expenses, consolidating infrastructure, renegotiating labor cost/employee benefits and increasing rates. In addition, the USPS intends to evolve their business plan to incorporate technological innovations. This strategy aligns with their long term goal of providing a â€Å"trustworthy, dependable, reliable and secure means to communicate on a national level† (Lewis, 2011), by implementing a long term sustainable business model that promotes flexibility and economic growth in a dynamic market. Environment In FY11 the USPS’ total revenues were $65 Billion dollars while their total expenses were $75 Billion dollars. Under congressional law the USPS is required to be a â€Å"self-sufficient government agency†. Under this direction the USPS is obligated to cover its costs without government assistance. The USPS does this by generating revenues from a monopoly market while operating more like a private business then a government agency. Its government backed monopoly advantage comes with extensive congressional restrictions on rates, delivery procedures and labor benefits. The USPS’ monopoly restricts the direct competition in the delivery of first class mail, use of specific delivery routes and personal mailboxes. It does not protect the delivery of urgent mail and large packages. FedEx and UPS are direct competitors in this market and have a competitive advantage due to their efficiencies, technological innovations and ability adapt to market needs. Key Success Factors The USPS’ key to success is their ability to meet their customer’s needs, generate enough revenue to cover their costs , maintain the flexibility to adjust in a dynamic market and optimize a scalable infrastructure that facilitates the efficient and economic delivery of their services. Task Requirements There are multiple ways that mail is accepted into the delivery process. For the purpose of observing the USPS organizational structure, the simple method of customers placing the mail in their residential, or post office, curbside mailbox will be examined. In either case this process begins and ends with the customer sending or receiving mail at a mailbox. The mail item is received by the postal carrier, and then consolidated at the local post office, where it is inspected manually or automatically checked for correct postage. It is then routed to a hub for delivery to a particular region in the country. The mail is then sent to a final processing plant where it is sorted for the specific route for delivery. Finally the mail is sent to the distant end post office for delivery to the end customer. The mail is moved in a linear manner between each node in the process chain. Along the interdependency continuum of the USPS’ functional units we observed a sequential relationship. Throughout the process each entity produces an output that is a necessary input for the next link in the chain. The USPS’ key to success in this linear process is the secure delivery of mail for a nominal fee. For their part, the workers must be honest and ensure mail is properly safeguarded as it makes its way through each step in the chain. The workers only have to be ‘good enough’ for their specific task in the process. This means that there is very little incentive for them to innovate or make improvements to the process from within. Any efficiencies gained, in any one link in the process, are not readily propagated throughout because of the sequential nature of the process. Because of the nature of change within the organization, and the employee compensation structure, their only incentive is to maintain the status quo. This analysis is represented in the interdependency/coordination mechanism model below. The analysis shows a misalignment between the levels of interdependence between the functional units and the coordination mechanism used. The USPS coordinates through rules and regulations. Using the systems approach of focusing on successes rather than the failures of the organization, we compared the USPS current coordination level to its closest successful competitor, FEDEX. As depicted FEDEX has a coordination level that aligns with it level of interdependency. The preferred and optimal approach is to align the organization’s level of interdependency horizontally with the coordination mechanism. The USPS needs a higher coordination mechanism to match the current level of interdependence in order to facilitate efficiencies in the system. Process/ Systems Snowfall and showers may not be able to stop postal carriers from their appointed delivery routes, but their financial problems may halt at least 50% of all postal offices. The U.S. Postal Service, weakened by a public turning to digital communications, is down 22 percent in volume from just five years ago, a decline which is expected to continue, driven in part by rigid competition from carriers such as FedEx and UPS. The Postmaster General has responded with a list of cost-cutting proposals, such as eliminating Saturday delivery and closing up to 3,700 local post offices which would be replaced with automated centers operating out of local businesses. The Postmaster General has also proposed laying off as many as 120,000 workers, and pulling workers out of more costly federal pension plans. Pre-funding retiree benefits has cost the Postal Service $21 billion in the last three years. The underlying issue is that all those moves cannot be made without congressional approval. In order to make these immediate and dramatic changes, the Postal Service would require access to its own funds as well as the authority to act as its own corporation. The transition from a government ran entity to a privatized organization requires Congress to give the USPS flexibility to take action and make changes without all the bureaucracy. The below modified Senge Model (Limit to Growth) demonstrates how the USPS is constrained from making changes. In short, the USPS is limited by congress to making quick and reactive changes that focus on the problem rather than the underlying issue. Creating change and making it work are all resisted by a condition called the â€Å"Status Quo† and the USPS is no exception. USPS employees feel protected under the current unionized culture. They feel threatened by the prospect of losing benefits and are unwilling to pay the high personal price necessary for change. We have demonstrated that this change is necessary for the long term health of the organization. The real question is, â€Å"does the current status quo fit the new change requirements?† An organization in dire need to make radical adjustments to become current cannot be fixed with antiquated congressional imposed constraints. PART III Change Management Plan The USPS acknowledges its need to cut costs and increase revenue. It believes this will fix the problems. USPS starts to address this by taking reactionary measures, but fails to take the necessary steps to address the root issue. We argue that there is a more fundamental problem within the USPS organization which requires a systems approach to identify and solve. Senge says â€Å"it is impossible to change the system from inside the system.† By â€Å"complicating up† the USPS management structure we identify the core problem and faults in its system. Due to the short time needed to enact this change we propose a top down approach that pushes change while mitigating assumed employee resistance such an approach will generate. Our plan uses the Lewin and Kotter models to shape the USPS organizational transition. Through the Lewin model we identify a three phase approach to address changes that simultaneously focuses on employee and organizational issues. Throughout each p hase an information plan is propagated to employees to facilitate transition to the next phase. Conclusion The bottom line is that the USPS current costs of doing business outweigh its current methods of productivity. Without changing the strategic management model, the USPS will continue to lose revenue and be unable to react effectively to market demands. Its proposed cost cutting solutions only scratches the surface of the underlying problem of restrictions on organizational management and coordination. Our uses validated organizational change models. We justify our plan which uses the Lewin model and shows a close association to Kotter’s organizational change model. Our plan leads the USPS to long term success, maintains its relevance in today’s market and allows it to make appropriate changes through periodic reevaluations. References Lewis, T., Montgomery C., Shuler, J. , (2011), The US Postal Service , Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA. Senge, P., (1990), The Fifth Discipline, Doubleday Publishing, New York 15May 2012: http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2011/pr11_124.htm> 15 May 2012: http://www.cato.org/pubs/journal/cj31n1/cj31n1-9.pdf 19 May 2012: http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/industries/Transportation-Communications-Utilities/United-States-Postal-Service.html

Learning and Development Practice Essay

1. Directive: Is where the coach offers the coachee solutions, tools and techniques for moving forward. The coachee may like to be offered solutions however the danger is that the solution may not be appropriate for the coachee’s situation and consequently may not feel fully committed to the solution provided. 2. Non-Directive: Is coaching in the true sense of the word where the coach simply asks the coachee questions to allow the coachee to find your own solutions. A non-directive coach will not offer the coachee advice and rarely even give the coachee suggestions, although through skilful questioning they will help the coachee to see their situation from a different perspective, gain clarity, uncover options, challenge inconsistencies and hold the coachee accountable to their actions. ‘Directiveness’ Scale Directive ———————————————————————— Non-Directive – I know how – You know how – I tell you – You tell me – You follow instruction- You decide Starr, J. 2008. The Coaching Manual. Person Education LTD. Pg20. Although I have given an idea of what directive and non-directive coaching styles are. These styles can be seen on a sliding scale. A tool for the coach to use, dependent on the situation and where the questioning leads. The coach my not always use one style over another but can slide up and down the scale to enhance the coachee’s answer and gain clarity where needed, or dependent on the experience of the coachee. With the ultimate aim that the coachee leaves empowered to move forward with action points to achieve goals. 1.2 How coaching differs from other L&D methods Counselling Counselling a therapeutic intervention usually around a personal deep rooted issue from a person’s past that is affecting a person in the present. Counselling provides intervention strategy’s to cope with the personal issue by delving into the persons past. Coaching although can bring out emotions from the coachee, tends to be forward looking and is based around  performance related issues and not personal. (Beevers, 2010). 1.3 How coaching can meet organisational objectives Coaching can meet organisational objectives by  Staff engage and have a greater awareness of organisations objectives. Implemented agreed actions during coaching process show recorded outcomes which means the organisation has measurable results of learning within staff PDP’s. Shows an organisation has a learning culture – investing in their people. If coach is line manager they will enhance management capabilities within the organisation. 1.4 Coaching roles The Coaches role Establishes the boundaries, e.g. Frequency and length of sessions as well as the session structure. Explains what coaching is and is not, and asks permission to explain when issues go beyond what is permissible in coaching. Helps the coachee set goals through questions. Showing interest, activity listening, being non-judgmental. Shows confidence in coachee to find own solutions. Helps coachee gain insight through questioning, listening and challenging them. Encourages forward movement and thinking. Helps coachee set SMART goals and feedback on those goals. Holds coachee accountable for his/her own progress and does not own the actions. The Coachee role Commits to the coaching process and be an active part. Takes ownership of their progress. Is honest, open and shares information with the coach. Willing to discover more self awareness. Takes ownership and willingness to move forward with agreed actions to achieve goals. Understands that the coach is only human and that mistakes from both the coachee and the coach may be made along the journey. 1.5 The benefits of coaching Individual Increased Confidence and self awareness from developing own solutions and goals (ILM,2007). Dedicated time to discuss own performance and ownership on how to improve it. Better understanding of their contribution within their role related to the organisations objectives. Organisation Motivated staff leading to better staff retention throughout the organisation. Improved communication and relationships between management and staff. Improve business knowledge and skills in specific areas related to the organisation (ILM, 2007). 1.6 How to implement a coaching culture within an organisation Bringing in external coaches would be dependent on cost– External coaches are costly, although may be more dependent and more reliant to complete agreed actions, but are more likely to be used short term and small scale (Beevers, 2010). External coaches are more likely to be brought to coach executive level management (Beevers, 2010), or to train up in-house coaches who can then coach at lower levels of management and/or line managed staff within the organisation as part of the development process (Harrison, 2009). 1.7 Developing in-house coaching Advantages Coach will have existing knowledge of the organisation and understands the organisations objectives. Can be more cost effective when coaching a large workforce in comparison to bring in an external coach. As a manager/coach – can offer immediate coaching to team members when issues arise. Disadvantages Coachee may not be willing to open up to coach about issues, especially is coach is their line manager due to lack of trust of confidentiality. Conflict of interest if coach is a manager – They have their own targets to achieve which might affect the aims or outcome of the coaching session. Costs of training, supervising and time from normal workload to coach if internal employees are trained to become coaches (Harrison 2009). References Beevers, K and Andrew, R., 2010. Learning and Development Practice. CPID. Harrison, R. 2009., Learning and development. 5th edition. CIPD. ILM. May 2011., Creating a coaching culture. ILM. Starr, J. 2008., The Coaching Manual. Person Education Ltd. Advantages and disadvantages of different types of coaching relationship [Online] Available at [Accessed 31/09/13].

Do Law Enforcements Practice Racial Profiling - 983 Words

Do Law Enforcements practice Racial Profiling in Street-Level Crime in the country? This inquiry persists to be the main deliberation by the experts, and it is the question that convoys the research. In â€Å"The Reality of Racial Profiling†, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights shows absolute statistical report evidences from Department of Labor’s Bureau of Justice that proves the existence of Racial Profiling on the country’s highways. The year 2005 data resulted that Black and Hispanic Drivers and Motorists have larger percentage that is more likely to be arrested by the police compare to Whites. Further, a study from Arizona that has similar results and supports this statistical data. The Arizona study proves that Racial Profiling is â€Å"counterproductive and a misallocation of scarce law enforcement resources†. Included in this report, an African-American Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree stated â€Å"If I m dressed in a knit cap and hooded jacket, I m probable cause† (Leadership Conference, 33). Opposing experts have identical definitions and opinions of what Racial Profiling really is. Heather Mcdonald, author of Are Cops Racist? In her article â€Å"The Myth of Racial Profiling† has two meanings to it. As McDonald explains, there is â€Å"hard† profiling which uses race as the only factor in assessing criminal suspiciousness and â€Å"soft† profiling is using race as one factor among others in gauging criminal suspiciousness: the highway police, for example, haveShow MoreRelatedShould The Color Of One’S Skin Subject Them To A Higher1684 Words   |  7 Pagesscrutiny from law enforcement? This is a very controversial topic in today’s society and leaves many confused. There are many arguments from all sides, some saying that this practice has helped catch many criminals and that people would not have to worry if they are not doing anything wrong. Others deny it all together and say that racial profiling simply does not exist and police off icers are just trying to do their job. These arguments are both wrong. Not only does racial profiling exist, but itRead MoreRacial Profiling And Its Impact On Society1209 Words   |  5 PagesCases of Racial Profiling There are tons of cases of Racial Profiling. Now a days many people are being targeted or attacked by racial profiling. Laws are being passed but not every police officer is following up with it. And because of this more and more people are becoming irritated with the government system. Just because a particular person from a particular race does something wrong, everyone from that race is being discriminated by so-called other races. 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Racial profiling acknowledgement in America has grown rapidly over time and has really been on the rise since the September 11, 2001 bombings of the Twin Towers in New York City and of the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. But is racial profiling defensible to the American public policy? Some people think like Scott JohnsonRead MoreEssay On Racial Profiling1514 Words   |  7 PagesRacial profiling is a very important issue that individuals in society face every day. This problem occurs in low income or poverty-stricken areas throughout cities and communities across the nation. Hundreds of anecdotal testimonials allege that law enforcement officials at all levels of government are infringing upon the constitutional rights and civil liberties of racial and ethnic minorities through a practice called â€Å"racial profiling (Ward, 2002). So what is racial profiling? According to theRead MoreAnalysis : The Rodney King Incident Essay935 Words   |  4 Pagesmalfeasance and, by using the five contextual themes as a guide, identify administrative concepts that could have prevented these situations. Racial profiling in law enforcement is the criminal justice malfeasance I chose it is safe, it is a hotbed topic and in law enforcement we are walking down a very slippery slope in discussing it. As a law enforcement officer is it safe to say the preponderance of the officers are committed to protecting and severing others and for the most part are very nobleRead MoreRacial Profiling in Canada Essay examples1300 Words   |  6 Pagesis dispute regarding what defines racial profiling. Critics ask Is it racist, or is a necessary part of law enforcement. Racial profiling is identified by Adele Cassola in her article as unjust whereas Denyse Coles argues that racial profiling is necessary and is not considered racism. According to the Ontario Human Rights Commission â€Å"Racial profiling is based on stereotypical assumptions because of one’s race, colour, ethnicity, etc.† whereas criminal profiling â€Å"relies on actual behaviour or on

The Black Plague - 608 Words

The Black Plague What is the Black Plague? The Black Plague first was found in Europe around the 1300’s, killing roughly about 25 million people. The disease was often carried by rats and their fleas. People contracted the plague when they were bitten by a flea that carried the plague bacteria from a rodent. The cause of plague was not discovered until the famous outbreak in China, in 1855. The first breakthrough came in Hong Kong, when researchers secluded the rodent bacteria, known as,Yersinia pestis. Symptoms of the Black Plague Symptoms of the Black Plague appear usually after 2 to 5 days of exposure or contact with the bacteria. Symptoms often include: chills, fever, headache, muscle pains, seizures, swelling of lymph glands, commonly found in the groin or armpit area, usually where the infection began. ( swollen lymph nodes) Prognosis and Treatment Many tests need to be done once an individual has contracted the Black Plague. Tests such as, Blood cultures, lymph node aspiration (fluid taken from an infected lymph node), and spuctrum cultures (secretions from the lungs and bronchi). Once these are completed then treatment begins. Treatment such as the use of Antibiotics, known as Streptomycin, Gentamicin, Doxycycline, or Ciprofloxacin are. Intravenous fluids, oxygen and respiratory support are often used as well to treat the plague. Without any treatment about 50% of infected individuals die. Today’s Black Plague The black plague has not been fully extinct norShow MoreRelatedThe Plague Of The Black Plague1624 Words   |  7 Pageswhat became known as the Black Death of the fourteenth century, possible death to most, spread by measly fleas and rats. Because of the rapid outbreak of this terrifying disease, death defying symptoms, and resulted in the death of 25 million people, the Black Plague is considered the greatest catastrophe ever.†¯ †¯Ã¢â‚¬ ¯Ã¢â‚¬ ¯Ã¢â‚¬ ¯Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ The Black Plague started in Italy. 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The disease was made famous by the outbreak in Europe, however it did not originate there. The origination of the Plague, History of the Plague, Strains and Symptoms, as well as effects of the Plague are essential ideas, important to understand the Black Plague. The Black Plague is said to have originatedRead MoreThe Plague Of The Black Plague Essay2352 Words   |  10 PagesABSTRACT The Bubonic Plagues a highly lethal infection caused by the microbe Yersinia pestis. This plague is most commonly associated with the plague of the 14th century, when it wiped out nearly half of the entire European population. The Bubonic Plague spread rapidly throughout Europe and was an often fatal illness, characterized by enlarged lymph nodes with pus filled buboes, gangrene, septicemia, and severe lung infections, followed by the quick onslaught of death. The Black Plague is the worstRead MoreBlack Plague1589 Words   |  7 PagesThe Epidemic is Here The Black Plague, one of the most devastating out breaks in history, is an historical event brought about with a great depression throughout Europe. This plague brought out the worst in mankind during the time the plague ran its course. How do people behave, when there environment becomes life threatening? (Herlihy, 18). The Black Death accounted for nearly one third of the deaths in Europe. Due to the death of many people there were severe shortages in labors, duringRead MoreThe Black Plague1207 Words   |  5 Pages The black plague, the foremost severe epidemic in human history, ravaged Europe from 1347-1351. This plague killed entire families at a time and destroyed a minimum of 1 village. Greatly causal to the Crisis of the Fourteenth Century, Not only did the black plague take a devastating toll on human life, but it to boot contend a major role in shaping European life among the years following. The black plague consisted primarily of plague; but plague was to boo t gift among the epidemic. SymptomsRead MoreBlack Plague And The Black Epidemic1337 Words   |  6 PagesBlack Plague The Black Plague outbreak was one of the scariest events in human history. The people were afraid to do everyday activities and carry on with their normal routines. This plague is known to almost every person on Earth. Even as a kid, teachers tell their students about this plague. Even the thought of an outbreak like the Black Plague makes people’s skin crawl. I am included in that category. It has gotten to the point that when any outbreak of any type or kind of disease happensRead MoreBlack Death : The Black Plague1048 Words   |  5 Pagesbody: without employment, is a disease- the rest of the soul is a Plague, a hell itself† (Smiles, Samuel). The Black Death, also known as the Bubonic Plague, came to existence in the Fourteenth Century. It was transferred from Asia in the late 1340s and caused a mass eruption in Europe. It was a very dark time period of history, which changed the way people viewed religion, fellow citizens, and life. In the 1300s, the century of the Plague, there were many poor conditions. One example was the home itselfRead MoreBlack Death : The Black Plague768 Words   |  4 PagesThe Black Plague is known as the most fatal disease in the worlds history! The disease killed nearly one-third of Europe’s population in the fourteenth century. The Black Plague is also known as the Black Death and was transmitted to humans by rodents such as rats and spread due to extremely unsanitary living conditions. European cities such as Paris and London were most devastatingly affected by the Black Plague The Black Plague is transmitted from fleas to rodents such as rats or mice to humansRead MoreDeath by the Black Plague1017 Words   |  4 Pages The plague was the most devastating pandemic in human history, killing around 80-200 million people mostly throughout Europe, leaving most people back then wondering how they and others got sick and died. â€Å"Evidence available from rural continental Europe suggests a slow spread of human mortality across trade and travel routes, patterns consistent† (Carmichael 3), until after multiple inventions such as printing, word spread of this murderer, preventing more deaths and to treat those affected. This

Should Minimum Wage Be Increased - 1691 Words

Should Minimum Wage be Increased? Introduction The term, â€Å"minimum wage† refers to a lowest payment that an employer is bound to pay to its workers. Today minimum wage is made compulsory in more than ninety percent of nations including Canada where workers are demanding to increase minimum wages for a long time. Minimum wages are revised by governments in order to met growing needs of workers. There is a difference of opinion on the issue of increasing minimum wages among people of Canada. Employers and employees also have difference views on the issue of increasing minimum wage. This paper intends to discuss the issue of minimum wage along with discussing pros and cons of increasing minimum wages. Background Workers have been demanding to increase minimum wages in different parts of Canada. Several Workers’ unions have accelerated their demands and demonstrated with full force on the roads of Ottawa and Ontario in last few months. Since this issue is directly related to masses, political parties have also jumped in the issue and gave it a new dimension by fueling it. Mr. Mulcair, a senior leader from National Democratic Party vows to increase minimum wages by fifteen dollar per hour. Mulcair says, â€Å"We think it’s important to send a signal,† he adds â€Å"It is a good idea economically to put money in people’s pockets† (McParland). Corporations have different views on the issue. They have started fear mongering on the issue. They say that any increase in minimum wages would compelShow MoreRelatedMinimum Wage Should Be Increased1057 Words   |  5 PagesRebecca Nevins Meredith Sides English 101 16 November 2015 Minimum Wage Should Be Increased Congress enacted the federal minimum wage in 1938, during the Great Depression. Congress had two goals; keeping workers away from poverty and boosting consumer spending for economic recovery. Today, there is a debate, whether we should increase the minimum wage again. Increasing the minimum wage is useful for several reasons. First, the current minimum wage has failed to keep up with inflation. Second, a higherRead MoreMinimum Wage Should Be Increased?1472 Words   |  6 Pagesdifficult if you are living on minimum wage. Of course it’s more difficult for some people than others depending on their situation and their living conditions. Americans and working class people who do come to America for a â€Å" better opportunity† and for the famous American dream struggle. Minimum wage should be increased because of the overqualified, educated, and experienced Americans who are relying on minimum wage jobs as a result of the struggling economy. Raising minimum wage will hel p employees sustainRead MoreThe Minimum Wage Should Be Increased1289 Words   |  6 PagesThe National Minimum Wage Should be increased to a Living Wage. Back in 1998 Labour s’ Tony Blair introduced the national minimum wage (NMW). It was created in aid of employers not valuing their workforce, often giving them very little wages. When it was first introduced the rate was set at  £3.60 and has slowly risen to  £6.70. However this is not enough to live on. It has been estimated that you need no less than  £7.85 an hour, rising to  £9.15 in London, to survive on. There is a clear differenceRead MoreThe Minimum Wage Should Be Increased976 Words   |  4 Pagesthe federal minimum wage. The post may have a picture of a soldier, a disheveled EMT in the back of an ambulance, or a waving American flag with overlying text stating something to the effect of ‘â€Å"Burger flippers† think they should be paid as much as these minimum wages workers? No way!’ If my experience on social media is any indicator, the most popular posts always contain â€Å"burger flipper† or â€Å"baconator.† Posts like the ones described above make moral judgements about the minimum wage with littleRead MoreMinimum Wage Should Not Be Increased1669 Words   |  7 PagesFederal minimum wage is a huge controversy around the world and especially in the United States today. It is the lowest wage that employers can legally pay their employees. The world’s first minimum wage law was passed in the year eighteen ninety-four in New Zealand. New Zealand’s minimum wage experiment caught the attention of other countries. It made them start considering the law for their own countries. The United States passed their federal minimum wage law in nineteen thirty-eight. The federalRead MoreThe Minimum Wage Should Be Increased Essay1758 Words   |  8 Pagesincrease the minimum wage in California from ten to fifteen dollars by the year 2022. The minimum wage will be increased by one dollar each year until 2022. This will give businesses enough time to meet state requirements to raise wages for em ployees. The bill was created to help people who are making less than minimum wage but it will disable California’s economy system and cause negative effects for people who are living on the current minimum wage system. The rise of the minimum wage will causeRead MoreShould The Minimum Wage Be Increased?1169 Words   |  5 Pageslarge scale over the State of Michigan’s plans to increase the minimum wage from seven dollars and fifty cents to ten dollars. Although increasing the minimum wage may seem beneficial to some, possibly stimulating the economy or increasing the standard of living for those who live below the poverty line, when looking at the economic issue through a larger lens and placing it into its context, one finds that by increasing the minimum wage, not only is the State of Michigan not addressing the most criticalRead MoreEssay on The Minimum Wage Should Be Increased1048 Words   |  5 Pagesfederal minimum wage in 1938, during the Great Depression. Congress had two goals; keeping workers away from poverty and boosting consumer spending for economic recovery. Today, there is a debate, whether we should increase the minimum wage again. Increasing the minimum wage is useful for several reasons. First, the current minimum wage has failed to keep up with inflation. Second, a higher income level reduces employee turnover and increases efficiency and ultimately, raising the minimum wage doesRead MoreFederal Minimum Wage Should Be Increased911 Words   |  4 PagesThe question that ponders many people’s minds is whether the federal minimum wage should be increased or not. The current U.S. minimum wage is $7.50 and this wage has not increased since 2009. Families with minimum income wages are suffering due to the fact that they cannot provide everyday needs for their families. This is the reason why many people are rioting. They are frustrated with the government’s nonchalant attitude towards the hard situations i n which they are living in. A final decisionRead MoreFederal Minimum Wage Should Be Increased1180 Words   |  5 Pagesto come to conclusions that the federal minimum wage is excessively low. The government can stand to help people gain more money, resulting in a less poverty-stricken country. The cost of living or gaining has increased significantly over the past twenty years, and the minimum wage, for most isn t enough for them to support themselves. There have been efforts to increase the federal minimum wage, but none has succeeded in getting approved. Minimum wages are too low for a human, to provide for

Beowulf As Christian Allegory Essay Example For Students

Beowulf As Christian Allegory Essay Beowulfs story is somewhat of an allegory in which he is depicted as the Christ figure. The theme of Beowulf is a contrast of good and evil which is manifest in both Christian and pagan elements; Beowulf represents good, while Grendel, his mother, and the dragon represent evil. The first monster our hero, Beowulf, faces is Grendel. Grendel is said to be a descendant of Cain. Unhappy creature (Grendel), he lived for a time in the home of the monsters race, after God had condemned them as kin of Cain (Norton, 28). Cain is the son of Eve, the woman who bore sin into the world. A connection, however vague, can be made between the maternal relations of Eve and Cain and Grendel and his mother. Grendels mother can be considered to personify mans fall from grace and Grendel himself might embody sin. Furthermore, the dragon Beowulf battles can be said to be a picture of Satan: the smooth hateful dragon who flies at night wrapped in flame (56). When facing Grendel, Beowulf relies on God alone to protect him, saying, may wise God, Holy Lord, assign glory on whichever hand seems good to Him (36). When Beowulf tears off Grendels arm, Hrothgar remarks, I endured much from the foe, many griefs from Grendel (39). It could be said that the Christian foe is sin, which causes much grief. Against Grendels mother, original sin, Beowulf becomes the Christian soldier. When Beowulf struggles against Grendels mother, God grants him a precious gift: The Wielder of Men granted me that I should see hanging on the wall a fair, ancient, great-sword most often He has guided the man without friends that I should wield the weapon (Norton, 48). This great sword is further described as a victory-blessed blade, an old sword made by the giants the work of giants (Norton, 47). The sword used to slay Grendels mother is work of her ancestral giants, who were godly until they fell from grace. From (Cain) sprang all bad breeds, trolls and elves and monsters likewise the giants who for a long time strove with God (Norton, 28). Therefore, the sword was god-forged and godly. Here the hero is using the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God to prevail (The Book of Ephesians 6.17, Bible). In his battle with the dragon (which may represent Satan) Beowulf is martyred, losing his life in the of the killing the dragon. Beowulf is the Christ figure; the monsters are sin personified; and, moreover, the work Beowulf effectively becomes the sword of the Spirit and the word of God. It is important to note that, while there are many references to Cain, the devil, and God (Christian elements) there are also several mentions of fate and destiny, pagan elements. Beowulf believes in predestination and feels that destiny is mortally unchangeable, saying, Fate always goes as it must (33). This idea propels him into many battles even though the competition seems overwhelming. Yet, in apparent disregard for fate and destiny, Beowulf prays to God for help and thanks God for victory and protection. Category: English

Social Constructivism an Example of the Topic Psychology Essays by

Social Constructivism BACKCROUND Need essay sample on "Social Constructivism" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Social constructivism can be regarded as both a sociological and at the same time, a psychological theory. It is one of the theories of knowledge. It attempts to describe how social phenomena develop in certain social contexts. In order to further elucidate this, it is pertinent to define what a social construct is. A social construct is a concept that seems to be natural and vivid to those who chose to accept it. However, in the real sense of it, it is an invention of a particular culture or society. Social constructivism emphasizes the ways by which meanings and understandings grow out of social interactions. Social constructivism is based on assumptions about REALITY: that it is constructed through human activity and that it is non-existent prior to social invention. KNOWLEGE: that it is a human product, socially constructed and that inpiduals create meanings through interactions with others and the environment. LEARNING: That it is a social process, and that meaningful learning takes place when inpiduals are engaged in social activities. with these assumptions, it was believed that young children developed their thinking abilities by interacting with adults. Children Social constructs are generally accepted to be by-products of numerous human choices as opposed to the laws resulting from pine will (0r nature). Students Frequently Tell EssayLab professionals:I'm don't want to write my paper online. I don't have the timeSpecialists advise:Help With Essay WritingCustom Essay Company Cheap Essays Online Pay To Write Essay Cheapest Essay Writing Service In general, social constructionism is at odds with essentialism. Essentialism identifies specific phenomena in terms of transhistorical essences that are independent of the conscious beings which specify the categorical structure of reality. Social constructionism basically focuses on the uncovering of the ways by which inpiduals and groups take part in creating assumed social reality. Social constructivism entails examining the ways by which social phenomena are brought forth, institutionalised and finally made to tradition by people. This is seen as s process in flux, changing from time to time. Reality, in this sense, is produced by people when they act on their interpretations of it. Constructionism was made prominent in the United States by Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann's 1966 in the book: The Social Construction of Reality. Berger and Luckmann (1966) argued that all knowledge, including the most basic, taken-for-granted common sense knowledge of everyday reality, is derived from and ultimately maintained by social interactions. As people interact with one another, they do so with the understanding that their respective perceptions of reality are similar. They act upon this understanding and therefore their common knowledge of reality becomes reinforced. Since this common sense knowledge depends on people, human typifications, significations. Institutions come to be presented as part of an objective reality.It is in this sense that it can be said that reality is socially constructed. Marvin Carlson is one of the few researchers to work on the theory initially. He believed that peoples lives are structured according to repeated socially sanctioned modes of behaviour and this raises the possibility that all human activity could potentially be considered as performance. This is the deviant way in which people act in public society to conform. In sociology of knowledge, what seems real to members of a social class arises from the position of the class, such as the capitalist or working classes, especially with respect to the economic fundamentals which affect the particular social class. According to the theories advanced by Karl Mannheim, who formulated the classic theories of sociology of knowledge, intellectuals occupy a special position which is to some extent free of the intellectual blinders imposed by the social position of other classes. HISTORY. The history of social constructivism dates back to the 16tn century when Giambattista Vico published a treatise on the construction of knowledge in the year 1710. This treatise brought to limelight (rather than invented) the idea that knowledge can be constructed by the knower. Vico's concepts death mostly with the relationship between truth, knowledge and the origins of language. It also touched on the desire of the human mind to create knowledge (Lo 1996). It is through his work that we take the term 'constructivist'. His slogan, according to von Glasersfeld, was, "The human mind can only know what the human mind has made. Vico is credited with coining the term 'constructivist,' Piaget is seen as the original constructivist. His theory of knowledge, published in 1954, portrayed the child as a 'lone scientist' creating his or her own sense of the world. Piaget felt that biological development is a process that goes through organization and adaptation to the environment. This same thing happens in the case of cognitive development. Piaget visualised that this occurred in a social context. He maintained his focus on the inpidual learner. Vico and Piaget, in their time were not known as constructivists. They however, through their extensive work, initiated study into the theories of knowing and creating realities. The study of their work gave rise to different theories of constructivism. Constructivism can be pided and sub-pided into a number of related categories of the main principles. Radical constructivism, whole theme constructivism, social-cognitive constructivism, idea-based social constructivism - all arise from the original concepts of constructivist theories which they propounded, yet varied in the approach to defining how the knower constructs his or her knowledge. A primary pision of the constructivist theory comes between the view of the knower as an inpidual - interacting within social structures, but creating his or her own view of reality independent of others, and the knower gaining his or her view of reality through a socially-mediated process. Where the earliest proponents of constructivism concerned themselves with the inpidual, later philosophers saw knowledge construction as part of, and arising from, social interactions. Dewey and, later, Vygotsky, recognized that the construction of knowledge was rooted in a group context (Oxford 1997). American philosopher and educator, John Dewey is often classified as constructivist. His beliefs about education and ways of knowing included the premise that knowing is not done by an outside spectator but is instead constructed by a participant, with society providing a reference point or theory for making sense of the experience. Dewey exposited on the notion that all knowledge is constructed by the knower, by including the idea that there is a relationship between the inpidual, the community, and the world mediated by socially constructed ideas. This brand of constructivism is sometimes referred to as social constructivism. Unlike those philosophers before them, social constructivists believe that knowledge construction takes place, and is enhanced, by social interaction. Another proponent of the Social Constructivist ideology was Jean Piaget. Piaget was the pioneer of the constructivist approach to cognition in the 20th century. Piaget created a theory of cognition and developed an approach to epistemology. Because of his work with children, in studying the development of their knowledge, much of Piaget's work has been categorized, mistakenly, according to von Glasersfeld, as child psychology rather than philosophy. Another scholar that contributed to the field of constructivism is Lev Vygotsky. He was prolific writer in Russia. His works were suppressed and are only recently became available for translation and distribution. Von Glasersfeld calls Vygotsky the "founding father of Social Constructivism". Vygotsky perceived that thought evolved from both the experiences and maturation process of an inpidual. Significantly, he also believed that constructs have social origins and that they are learned through interaction with others. Vygotsky's views perge from Piaget's in this respect. While both of them would agree that learning occurs in the activities and experiences of the learner, Vygotsky emphasises on the interaction within social groups. He put much of his efforts into studying the relationship of speech and communication with learning in a social context. In Mind and Society, he writes, "children solve practical tasks with the help of their speech, as well as their eyes and hands" Social Constructivism today is often mistaken by educators as an approach to teaching and learning, rather than a philosophy on how knowledge is created or obtained. Obviously, this has a great impact on the teaching and learning process. Constructivism has been adopted as a learning and teaching philosophy insofar as its central themes deal with the concept of how students know and learn. There is still a lot of ongoing research on Social constructivism. The concept will continue to take shape as more and more researchers delve into the subject in a view to creating a generally acceptable concept. Also, it will continue to receive attention as people find more practical uses for the concept. References. Troelstra A.S. History of constructivism in the 20th century. Bella J. T (2008). Social Constructivism: A History. Microsoft Encarta. Microsoft Corporation. Podosky I. T (1968). Essays on Constructivism. PowerHouse Publishing Co. Ltd pp 68 72.