Utilitarianism V. Kantianism Essay Example For Students

Utilitarianism V. Kantianism Essay Ethics can be defined as â€Å"the conscious reflection on our moral beliefs with the aim of improving, extending or refining those beliefs in some way.† (Dodds, Lecture 2) Kantian moral theory and Utilitarianism are two theories that attempt to answer the ethical nature of human beings. This paper will attempt to explain how and why Kantian moral theory and Utilitarianism differ as well as discuss why I believe Kant’s theory provides a more plausible account of ethics. Immanuel Kant’s deonotological ethical theory assesses if actions are moral based on the person’s will or intention of acting. Kant’s theory can be categorized as a deonotological because â€Å"actions are not assessed to be morally permissible on the basis of consequences they produce, but rather on the form of the agent’s will in acting,† (Dodds, Lecture 7) therefore his actions are based on duty and not consequential. Kantianism is based on three principles: maxims, willing, and the categorical imperative. Kant states that a maxim is a †general rule or principle which will explain what a person takes himself to be doing and the circumstances in which he takes himself to be doing it† (Feldman, 1999, 201). We will write a custom essay on Utilitarianism V. Kantianism specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now It is important that this principle be universalisable and that the maxim can be applied consistently to everyone that encounters similar situations, therefore willed as a universal law. The second aspect of Kant’s theory is willing. This involves the agent consistently committing oneself to make an action occur. He states that, â€Å"In general, we can say that a person wills inconsistently if he wills that p be the case and he wills that q be the case and its impossible for p and q to be the case together† (Feldman, 1999, 203). The last aspect of Kant’s theory is the categorical imperative. The importance of the categorical imperative is that one must act in such a way that they can will that the maxim behind one’s actions can be conceived as part of the universal law. The maxim has to be consistent and able to be applied to every situation, for every person. The other main point of Kantian moral theories are the differences between imperfect and perfect duties. Perfect duties are those duties that one must always perform in a particular situation, whereas imperfect duties are those that one must perform only when the situation arises. Utilitarianism is another theory in which its main objective is to explain the nature of ethics and morality. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory which is based upon utility, or doing that which produces the greatest happiness. According to a utilitarian the morality of act is found just if the consequence produces the greatest overall utility for everyone. However, if the greatest possible utility is not produced, the action is then morally wrong. This view says that a person should act as to produce the greatest overall happiness and pleasure for everyone who may be directly or indirectly affected by the action. Therefore, a utilitarian would require that for every action the corresponding consequences for every action should be thoroughly weighed and alternatives proposed before deciding whether or not to perform such an action. Kantian moral theory and Utilitarianism are similar in the respect that they both attempt to explain how one can go about acting ethically, however they differ in areas of measuring morality and their usage of rules. Both Kant and Mills measure morality in different ways. Kantianism says that an act is deemed moral for two reasons: if it done for the sake of duty and if its maxim can be willed as a universal law. If one completes an action based on their duty to perform, they do the right thing because it is what they feel they ought to do as their duty. Therefore, this act would be considered morally just. .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6 , .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6 .postImageUrl , .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6 , .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6:hover , .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6:visited , .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6:active { border:0!important; } .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6 { 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; } .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6:active , .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6 .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; } .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6 .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0dff61bd2505323a8b2e958266b775f6:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Taming Of The Shrew 2 Essay Utilitarianism, on the other hand, would only see the act as morally permissible if the consequences of that action produce maximum utility and happiness for all involved. The two theories also differ in the ways in which rules are applied. Kantian moral theory values the universal law and maxims as its guide for how people should act in a given situation. Maxims â€Å"describe some general sort of situation, and then propose some form of action for the situation. To adopt a maxim is to commit yourself to acting in the described way whenever the situation in question arises.† (Feldman, 1999, 202) Maxims are also used consistently throughout and therefore are a valued guide because they apply universally. For example, Kant made a moral rule for lying which says that if one person can make a lying-promise, then it should be said that everyone can do the same and therefore it being a universal law trust would be self-defeating. By saying that it is not a perfect duty to lie, the universal law or rule, states that no one can under any circumstance can lie. Kant has also developed similar moral rules for rusting of talents, helping others in distress, and suicide. Kantianism can therefore be seen as a rational and logical theory in which decisions can be made. In comparison, Utilitarianism has no universal set of rules on to which morality is based; therefore they judge each situation individually. Because of this, in weighing consequences to determine if an action will maximize utility this can become a lengthy, time-consuming process. Not to mention the fact that you will never clearly know if your decision will in effect truly promote the most utility. In assessing the two moral theories, I believe that Kantianism provides a more plausible account of ethics even though from the outside it seems as though Utilitarianism would be the more ethical theory because it looks to maximize utility. Utilitarianism refers to moral theories which maintain that an action is morally right if the consequences of that action are more favorable than unfavorable. Therefore, correct moral conduct is determined solely by analyzing an actions consequences. Utilitarianism requires that we first tally both the good and bad consequences of an action; we then determine whether the total good consequences outweigh the total bad consequences. If the good consequences are greater, then the action is morally proper. If the bad consequences are greater, then the action is morally improper. It seems as though this process is more subjective and can not be universally applied whereas Kantianism can be. Also, one’s person determination of what produces the greatest utility may not be consistent with another person’s, therefore this theory is inconsistent and a universal law cannot be applied from it. Kantianism is by far more consistent of a theory and can be universally applied to all beings. It is more plausible because even if the consequences of performing an action aren’t necessarily the best, the agent is still obligated to perform the action because it is there duty to do so. Therefore, ethically and morally they are doing the right thing. In conclusion, this paper has discussed two main theories regarding the ethical behavior of human beings. Kantianism is a theory based on duties, maxims, willing and the categorical imperative. Utilitarianism is based on the concept that we ought to do whatever produce the greatest overall utility and this will be the morally right action. Both theories, although similar in some ways, possess clear differences. Kantianism focuses on the motivation of actions, has clear and distinct set of universal rules, and is morally logical. On the other hand, Utilitarianism relies on the consequences of an action, has no set universal laws as each action is assessed on an individual basis, and morality is based on the results of the assessment. Because of these reasons, I believe that Kantianism is the more ethically plausible theory of the two. Philosophy

Health Risks from Exposure to Phthalates

Health Risks from Exposure to Phthalates The non-profit Environmental Working Group launched the Not Too Pretty campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of phthalates, industrial chemicals that are used as solvents in many cosmetics. Most of the mainstream hair sprays, deodorants, nail polishes and perfumes that millions of people use every day contain these harmful chemicals. Phthalates are also employed as plastic softeners in many different consumer products, including children’s toys and medical devices. Why are phthalates dangerous? Shown to damage the liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive systems in animal studies, phthalates can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled. Scientists at government agencies in both the U.S. and Canada agree that exposure to the chemicals could cause a wide range of health and reproductive problems in people. It has been very difficult, however, to determine the minimum level of exposure when these problems arise. For many of us, our exposure to phthalates may be low on any given day, but we absorb these small quantities of chemicals frequently, over decades.   Manufacturers use phthalates because they cling to the skin and nails to give perfumes, hair gels and nail polishes more staying power. But a recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that five percent of women between age 20 and 40 had up to 45 times more phthalates in their bodies than researchers initially hypothesized. CDC found phthalates in virtually every person tested, but the largest concentrations 20 times higher than the rest of the population were found in women of child-bearing age. Another study, led by Dr. Shanna Swan of the University of Missouri, identified developmental abnormalities in male infants correlating to high phthalate levels in their mothers’ bodies. More studies associated phthalates breast cancer and with hormonal disruptions in young girls and women. Currently, potential links to obesity and metabolic issues are being investigated.   Industry Group Denies Risk Meanwhile, the industry-backed American Chemistry Council asserts, â€Å"There is no reliable evidence that any phthalate has ever caused a health problem for a human from its intended use.† The group accuses organizations of â€Å"cherry-picking† results â€Å"showing impacts on test animals to create unwarranted concern about these products.† EWG spokesperson Lauren E. Sucher urges people- especially women who are pregnant, nursing or planning on becoming pregnant- to avoid phthalates. EWG maintains a free online database named Skin Deep, which list lotions, creams, and polishes that contain phthalates. It also provides information on many other chemical compounds found in products beyond just cosmetics, including sunscreens, baby products, and toothpaste. Banned in Europe, Not U.S. or Canada A 2003 European Union directive bans phthalates in cosmetics sold in Europe, but U.S. and Canadian regulators have not been so proactive, despite mounting evidence of potential harm. Health advocates were temporarily relieved when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it would begin enforcing a 1975 law requiring labels on products with ingredients that havent been safety tested. But such labels remain to be seen, even though 99 percent of cosmetics contain one or more untested ingredients.

Analysing Titan Marketing Strategies

Analysing Titan Marketing Strategies Titan, a Tata group company entered the watch market in 1987. Since then it has developed into one of the most recognized brands in India. In fact, in a recent survey conducted by A the exclusive Insignia; PSI, for those turned on by technology; and Raga, which has been considered exclusively for women. Titan’s focus has always been on India. Research reveals some interesting facts and figures about this diverse market. The Indian market is estimated at 25 million watches a year, with 50 per cent being sold by the organized sector. Titan is the runaway market leader, with domestic sales of 6 million watches a year. There are 190 million watch-owning Indians; between them they own about 210 million watches. Urban India accounts for 120 million of these watches and 90 millions are on rural wrists. More men than women own watches in India, and more working women than housewives own watches. It is the rural segment within this diverse market that Titan is now looking to tap. â₠¬Å"The key to success is getting into the rural market on a larger scale. The company’s Sonata range is targeted at rural customers, and is part of a strategy where the alignment of price and reliability are crucial. The rage costs between Rs.495 and Rs.1,200 has showrooms exclusively for it, and is sold mainly in small-town India (Kelly, 2006, 144).

Christianity Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Christianity - Coursework Example Paul met Peter and James, a brother of Jesus. Paul was not acquainted with the other apostles. The main differences in Paul's ideas were the following: he did not mention anything about Miracles, Parables, Birth, Mary and Joseph, the Lord's Prayer, etc. Paul did not draw parallels between relations of a man to God's son. Graham Stanton, Professor of New Testament Studies in the University of London, explains Paul's failure as a failure of Jesus' teachings misinterpretation. He says: "Paul's failure to refer more frequently to the actions and teaching of Jesus is 'baffling'" (â€Å"What did Paul know about Jesus?† n.d.) 2.Explain the schism between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Eastern Orthodox Catholics and Roman Catholics have experienced a serious split which is known as the East-West Schism (or Great Schism) of 1054. Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne, King of the Franks, as Holy Roman Emperor in 800. The Byzantine Empire was undermined in this case. Barba rian invasions intimidated destruction of the Empire. The Eastern Church became the Greek Orthodox Church and it created different types of ties with Rome and the Roman Catholic Church (â€Å"The split,† n.d.). ... 3.What issues did each of the Protestant Reformers (Luther, Calvin, the English Reformers) have with the Roman Catholic Church? Be specific. Martin Luther proclaimed his 95 propositions against the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and he denied this false teaching. Luther undermined a strong position of the Pope. The Protestant Reformation began and there was a need to reform and return biblical doctrines. Luther initiated four major divisions of Protestantism such as Lutheran, Reformed, Anabaptist, and Anglican. Godly men in different countries had a perfect opportunity to restore churches and find out there some biblical roots (â€Å"What was the Protestant Reformation?† n.d.). John Calvin was another remarkable reformer and he participated in the Protestant Reformation. Calvin’s argument against his Catholic opponents was well-known all over the world. His movement and initiation to renovate biblical ideas and principles were the most important factors for furt her development of the Protestant movement. There are also representatives of the English Reformation, such as the English King Henry VIII, who separated from the English church and made a division between this church and the Roman Catholic Church. This split means another serious separation because the Roman Catholic Church was against English King Henry VIII’s marriage to another girl. 4.There is a wide variation in Christianity as it is currently practiced. Identify and explain at least three points of difference among Christian groups. There are many interesting modern subgroups in Christianity. The Amish are an American Protestant group that consists of 200,000 members who are rooted in the European Anabaptists originated from the USA and escaped

Case 9-B Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Case 9-B - Assignment Example The National Enquirer is known as a tabloid focusing on celebrity gossip, news and crime stories. If a candidate who is waiting to be interviewed reads the National Enquirer instead of the company annual report, it reveals the preference of the candidate for reading materials which are unsubstantiated and without value. If a company annual report is read, instead, the recruiters would gauge that the candidate is interested to know more about the company which he/she plans to serve. Driving habits reveal an aspect of one’s personality, especially in terms of handling unexpected situations. When a person drives, his mind automatically shifts to routinary behavior and can be seen as a significant manifestation of one’s job performance. In the case, the candidate lost his temper when his car was hit by another vehicle despite it being his fault. It revealed his poor road etiquette initially and possible inability to handle conflicts and difficult situations on the job. These recruiters emphasize the need to stay focused on the recruitment process by putting everything else out of one’s mind. The ultimate objective of recruitment is â€Å"to find qualified employees who fit well into the culture of the organization† (DuBrin, 2008, 303). Therefore, graduates seeking entry-level technical and professional jobs must be at their best during the interview process and be prepared to listen and respond,

Hollifield Family Reunion Essay Example for Free

Hollifield Family Reunion Essay Every year around the last week of July my father’s family all meets for a two day reunion in the small town of Spruce Pine, North Carolina. Hollifield’s have resided in the area for over 100 years! There are many streets named after us and if you’re walking around town some people even notice you’re a Hollifield just by looking at you. Although it is only two days long, the reunion is something I cherish deep in my heart, for it’s the only time I get to see my father’s family. One night in 1974, my grandpa and a few other family members were sitting around reminiscing about their childhood. They were laughing at all the memories and good times they’ve had and all the trouble they got into. My grandpa was telling everyone he had been thinking of a way that everyone could make some time to all come together for a couple days once every year. His uncle told him that they should start a family reunion. So starting in July of 1974 the annual Hollifield reunion began. Everyone gets to the hotel Friday night and gets settled in and reacquainted a lot of hugging, kissing, laughing, and eating. My sister and I get our own hotel room so most of our cousins bring sleeping bags and stay both nights in our room. We talk about what we’ve all done that year, who’s dating who, what kind of cars we’ve bought; we pretty much talk each other’s ears off. The next morning we all get up and find somewhere to eat and walk around town. Downtown Spruce Pine is absolutely beautiful. There are flowers and pine trees growing everywhere, and you can smell all the bakeries and barbeque pits. There are little stores with antiques and instruments, florists, wedding dress shops, and candy stores. It could go from 90 degrees with the sun shining to a humid rain in a matter of minutes. When it rains you can smell it a hundred times better than in California. After we walk through town we get to a huge, long wooden bridge. It’s been there for years and underneath it flows a beautiful creek and a park filled with laughing children frolicking in the sunlight. We normally go to the park and mess  around on everything then make our way to the creek. You have to go down a steep hill made of dirt and freckled with little patches of bright green grass. The boys catch crawdads and crayfish while us girls dip our feet in the clear chilly water and wait for the train to pass. The train is large and used to transport coal and freight. Personally, the train is one of my favorite parts of Spruce Pine. It’s loud yet still soothing and controlled. After a few hours the rest of the family begins to show up at the park with fresh, good old-fashioned southern food. They unload the cars of barbeque, slaw, potatoes, mac and cheese, collard greens, green beans, pasta salads, and more desert than any amount of people should ever consume. Following our meal is the baseball game. The whole family plays and we get chosen randomly for two teams. In the end my grandpa tells us that everyone won and an MVP is chosen from each team who receives a golden trophy of a boy or girl with a tiny body and huge head, holding a baseball bat. We all clean up then head back to the hotel to get swimsuits and drive over to the pool. A few hours into swimming we decide to go to the hotel and shower then all the kids find a place to eat supper. Upon leaving the restaurant someone informs us that the annual hide-n-seek game has begun. We take off running towards the hotel to find a hiding place while the person chosen as â€Å"it† stays and counts for 5 minutes. The game involves a lot of pushing, shoving, screaming, laughing, and those little chills you get when you’ve found a place and you know that any second you could be found. After the game we all head back to my sister and I’s room and hang out. We stay up all night talking about everything that happened, who did the most embarrassing thing, which was the funniest, and other things we had encountered that day. As the night goes by we start to notice our time is almost up. Most of my cousins live in NC so they see each other all the time, but as the hours pass my sister and I notice that our time in NC is almost over; that we’ll have to wait yet another slow, California year before we get back to the peaceful happiness of NC. Around 9 in the morning our cousin’s head back to their rooms to get ready for our last meal together. For breakfast Sunday morning the whole family fills the back room of The Western Sizzler. Western Sizzler may be the best place to get breakfast ever. It’s is 3 large buffet tables covered in bacon, sausage, ham, eggs,  fruit, veggies, pancakes, waffles, biscuits and gravy, yogurt, granola, hash browns, country potatoes, varieties of juices, milks, sodas. And at the end there is a huge dessert bar. We eat and talk and talk and eat. And eat some more†¦ and then a little bit more. We catch up with some of the older members of the family and tell them what we did all weekend. My aunt Vicki walks around and takes millions of pictures with her big nice camera that has a flash that could blind the whole family at the same time. When everyone has finished my grandpa stands up and talks about all the great things that have gone on during the weekend, all the graduates and birthdays, all the births and deaths. We end the reunion by hugging and some crying (I won’t lie; Ià ¢â‚¬â„¢m one of the criers). If my family had never got the idea to have a reunion, I don’t know when I would ever see them. The reunion brings us together in a quick two day span filled with great food, laughter, and all around happiness. It seems like when we’re all together nothing can go wrong. My cousins and I have vowed that when our time comes, we will carry on the tradition of the Hollifield Family Reunion until the day we die.

A Feminist Analysis of Perceval, Tristan and Isolt, and Aucassin and Ni

A Feminist Analysis of Perceval, Tristan and Isolt, and Aucassin and Nicolette  Ã‚   Currently, there is a debate among feminists as to whether the demeaning portrayal of women in popular media causes or is caused by negative attitudes in modern culture. A similar debate exists among historians of the late middle ages as to whether the rise in popularity of the cult of the Virgin, her portrayal in art, and the code of chivalry caused or was caused by changing attitudes towards women. Many factors in the late middle ages coincided to create an entirely new role for women: contact with the Muslim world in Spain, the rising popularity of religious life, and the aforementioned cultural changes. All of these factors are intertwined with the new attitudes that arose around women. Virginity became exalted, femininity was lauded, courtly love turned women into objects of devotion rather than objects of desire. In short, women were placed on a pedestal. The cultural paradox of this shift in attitudes is that by being placed on that pedestal, women became objects rather than individuals. This dichotomy between respect for women as a group and respect for individual women is clearly shown in three Medieval Romances. Perceval, Tristan and Isolt, and Aucassin and Nicolette may vary greatly in plot, tone and style, but the underlying assumption is the same. In the Medieval Romance, women may be objects of devotion, but they are still merely objects to earned, won, owned and do minated. The first example of this attitude is the saga of the damsel whom Perceval boorishly assaults. This woman, never named, is utterly enslaved and abused by men. Perceval, not heeding her protests, forces her into a compromising situation and then robs he... ...band is a Muslim. The Christian king of Biaucaire, by contrast, does not honor her right to self-determination. The Muslim roots of Nicolette's relative freedom serve as one answer to the question of whether this literature is derivative of the culture or whether it shaped the culture. From this evidence, it seems that the former is true. The pervasiveness of the oppressive attitudes demonstrated in these texts show clearly the dichotomous view of women in the late middle ages. The respect of womanhood which was so central to the chivalric code did not translate into greater freedom for women themselves. Modern opponents of feminism claim that the Women’s Movement has reversed this dichotomy, namely that individual freedoms have devalued women as a group. Perhaps we should ask why our culture has a problem with valuing womanhood and valuing women concurrently. A Feminist Analysis of Perceval, Tristan and Isolt, and Aucassin and Ni A Feminist Analysis of Perceval, Tristan and Isolt, and Aucassin and Nicolette  Ã‚   Currently, there is a debate among feminists as to whether the demeaning portrayal of women in popular media causes or is caused by negative attitudes in modern culture. A similar debate exists among historians of the late middle ages as to whether the rise in popularity of the cult of the Virgin, her portrayal in art, and the code of chivalry caused or was caused by changing attitudes towards women. Many factors in the late middle ages coincided to create an entirely new role for women: contact with the Muslim world in Spain, the rising popularity of religious life, and the aforementioned cultural changes. All of these factors are intertwined with the new attitudes that arose around women. Virginity became exalted, femininity was lauded, courtly love turned women into objects of devotion rather than objects of desire. In short, women were placed on a pedestal. The cultural paradox of this shift in attitudes is that by being placed on that pedestal, women became objects rather than individuals. This dichotomy between respect for women as a group and respect for individual women is clearly shown in three Medieval Romances. Perceval, Tristan and Isolt, and Aucassin and Nicolette may vary greatly in plot, tone and style, but the underlying assumption is the same. In the Medieval Romance, women may be objects of devotion, but they are still merely objects to earned, won, owned and do minated. The first example of this attitude is the saga of the damsel whom Perceval boorishly assaults. This woman, never named, is utterly enslaved and abused by men. Perceval, not heeding her protests, forces her into a compromising situation and then robs he... ...band is a Muslim. The Christian king of Biaucaire, by contrast, does not honor her right to self-determination. The Muslim roots of Nicolette's relative freedom serve as one answer to the question of whether this literature is derivative of the culture or whether it shaped the culture. From this evidence, it seems that the former is true. The pervasiveness of the oppressive attitudes demonstrated in these texts show clearly the dichotomous view of women in the late middle ages. The respect of womanhood which was so central to the chivalric code did not translate into greater freedom for women themselves. Modern opponents of feminism claim that the Women’s Movement has reversed this dichotomy, namely that individual freedoms have devalued women as a group. Perhaps we should ask why our culture has a problem with valuing womanhood and valuing women concurrently.

Meeting the Challenge of Sexual Harassment

Meeting the Challenge of Sexual Harassment At an office of Goldman, Sachs and Company in Boston, some male employees allegedly pasted photos of bare-breasted women on company newsletters, next to biographies of new female employees (suggesting that the photos were pictures of the new staff members). Copies of the newsletters were circulated around the office. Sexist literature such as â€Å"The Smart Man’s Creed or Why Beer Is Better Than Women† (â€Å"After you’ve had a beer, the bottle is still worth a dime†) was allegedly also distributed. Kristine Utley, a former Goldman sales associate, has made these allegations in a suit charging that the environment at Goldman, Sachs constitutes sexual harassment. Fired for refusing a transfer to a New York office, she is suing to gain reinstatement and damages and to eliminate the harassment. Joanne Barbetta has filed a similar suit seeking damages for harassment caused by an environment that she asserted â€Å"was poisoning my system. † Ms. Barbetta reports that during her tenure as a clerk at Chemlawn, male employees circulated pornographic magazines and pinup posters. She viewed a slide presentation that included suggestive pictures (e. g. , a nude woman) put there, according to management, â€Å"to keep the guys awake. † After these experiences and continual breast-grabbing by a male employee, Ms. Barbetta quit. Marie Regab, formerly an 18-year employee of Air France, has filed similar charges concerning the Washington office where she worked as a salesperson. She alleges that several characteristics of the office environment combined to create harassment, including propositions by one of her bosses, circulation of Playboy and Penthouse magazines in the office, and open discussion of sexual activity by male employees. â€Å"It was sickening and an insult to women in the office,† she claims. Ms. Regab was fired; she is suing to gain reinstatement, for $1. 5 million in damages, and to eliminate the harassment in the office. These three situations are examples of a growing number of suits being filed by women who charge that a sexist environment in the workplace constitutes sexual harassment and that their employers are therefore liable. Plaintiff actions in this area have been fueled by the Supreme Court’s ruling that sexist behavior that creates an â€Å"intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment† is sexual harassment and violates Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The Court’s ruling has spurred an increasing number of companies to act to revent sexual harassment in the workplace and to deal with if effectively when the problem occurs. Other factors have also triggered company action. Employers are realizing that the costs of harassment can be high in terms of lowered productivity, absenteeism, and turnover. One study of female employees in the federal government concluded that the government loses about $200 million each year to the effects od sexual harassment. Costs can also be high if an employee sues. Even if the plaintiff opts for an out- of-court settlement, the costs of these settlements are often in six figures, and it’s the company that pays. Companies are also realizing that sexual harassment is a very real issue in today’s workplace; from 20 to over 50 percent of working women have experienced sexual harassment (and so have at least 15 percent of male employees). Thus, companies are tackling the issue; the more effective strategies developed so far contain four primary features: Training programs the educate employees concerning the meaning of sexual harassment and the behaviors that constitute a hostile and harassment workplace: Training is especially important simply because men and women often differ in their perception of what constitutes harassment. Most training is in the form of seminars and workshops, often with films and videos. Philip Morris USA conducts a mandatory training program for its field managers that include viewing a video called â€Å"Shades of Gray†. General Motors conducts an awareness seminar for employees and offers this benchmark for judging the appropriateness of office conduct: â€Å"would you be embarrassed to see your remarks or behavior in the newspaper or described to your own family? † Du Pont has developed one of the most comprehensive antiharassment programs in business (begun in 1981). Recently, the corporation added a $500,000 course on personal safety, rape, and harassment prevention primarily for its female employees (many of whom are moving into traditionally male jobs at Du Pont such as agricultural products sales). The course offers no-nonsense advice on how to handle a harasser. For example, if a male customer fondles a women’s knee, Du Pont advises that she â€Å"firmly remove his hand . . . and then say, ‘Let’s pretend this didn’t happen. â€Å"If she receives a verbal proposition, Du Pont advises that she say, â€Å"No, I wouldn’t want our business relationship to be jeopardized in any way. About 1,600 employees have completed the course. Like General Motors, Du Pont offers its employees a guideline for evaluating their behavior. Said a Du Pont spokesman, â€Å"We tell people, it’s harassment when something starts bothering somebody. † Some other companies provide advice concerning how to handle harassmen t. One popular piece of advice: Document the incident as soon as possible by describing on paper what happened in full detail and talking to someone informally about the incident. A relatively mild case of harassment can be handled by taking to the harasser, explaining what he or she did , how it made you feel, and telling the harasser to stop. In a more serious situation, communicating these points via a certified letter sent to the harasser, with the victim keeping a copy, is often recommended (and reportedly proves to be quite effective). An internal complaint procedure: Ideally, the procedure provides for fast action and confidentiality and ensures that the employee can report the problem to a manager who is not involved in the harassment. Some companies encourage employees to report a problem to their immediate supervisor but also designate an individual (often a woman) in the HR department as someone employees can speak with in cases where the immediate supervisor is involved in the problem. To ensure speedy action, some companies require that an investigation begin within 24 hours after the harassment complaint has been reported. Ideally, the procedure also stipulates how investigations will be conducted. Speedy, corrective action that solves the problem: If the investigation supports the employee’s claims, corrective action is quickly taken. Such action can range from simply talking to the harasser to discharge, depending on the severity of the offense. One federal agency requires offending employees to publicly apologize to the individuals they’ve harassed. Staffing changes also sometimes occur. Our New York bank faced a problem of a highly talented male executive who generated much profit for the bank-and also several costly EEOC complaints from his secretaries. The bank solved the problem by assigning the executive an all-male secretarial staff. Corrective action is particularly important because it communicates to both victims and potential offenders that harassment will not be tolerated. A written and communicated antiharassment policy. The written policy is documented and distributed to all employees. The policy contains a definition of harassment, the company’s position prohibition harassment, the grievance procedure, and penalties. While a growing number of companies are implementing antiharassment policies, the courts have yet to establish consistent record concerning the issue of â€Å"hostile environment† as illegal harassment. For example, a federal district court in Michigan dismissed a claim by Vivienne Rabidue that sexual posters and obscene language in her office at Osceola Refining Co. constituted illegal sexual harassment. However, Joanne Barbetta has won the first round of her court battle with Chemlawn. The judge hearing her complaint rejected Chemlawn’s motion to dismiss the suit; he has ordered Ms. Barbetta’s case to trial. Chemlawn is expected to present a vigorous defense, asserting that the men involved in the newsletter incident have been disciplined and that the situations Ms. Barbetta cites fall far short of creating a hostile, harassing environment because they occurred â€Å"over the course of two years. † Questions Assumes that you are an HR executive for a company that manufactures and sells agricultural products (for example, fertilizers and grain feeds). The company’s workforce of 1,200 employees is 70 percent male and 30 percent female. Drawing from this case and the chapter content, develop an antiharassment policy and program. What are the major challenges you see in implementing the program? Many experts assert that reported cases of sexual harassment represent only a small percentage of the total number of incidents that actually occur in the workplace. If their assertion is true, why do so many cases go unreported? How would your HRM policy on harassment address this situation? As research indicates, people differ widely in their perceptions of sexual harassment. What is a harmless remark to one individual can be an annoying, even infuriating insult to another. In your view, what separates harmless conduct from harassing behavior? In the same vein, when does a sexist environment become a hostile, harassing one?

Pearson Custom Business Resources Essay

Carrefour is global brand whose market edge is ideal. The supermarket chain is revered across the world. It is keeping this in mind that such a brand should always seek to have and maintain this success; key aspect would be to ensure that all their potential customers are reached wherever they are in the globe. One of the ways to ensure this is achieved would be the indulgence of information systems or information technology. Carrefour prides itself in provision of quality products at convenient prices. (Caneja, n.p.)Company overview Carrefour is known to be among the leading supermarket chains in the globe. The supermarket chain is believed to have emanated from France. They have about eleven thousand outlets across the globe; these outlets serve about two billion customers worldwide. This business operates under a number of banners; there are supermarkets, hypermarkets as well as some stores that operate as cash and carry outlets. (Caneja, n.p.) Products offered by Carrefour Company and its target market Carrefour is a business that thrives mostly on the sale of consumer products. The items are the common ones used from day to day within households. Products by this outlet are set at prices that are within the range of the common citizen. At times they also offer their goods at good discounted rates which is a welcome relief to many. Carrefour targets the emerging markets that are found within Asia as well as the Latin American region. (Caneja, n.p.)The two regions offer a prudent growth and untapped area where the large populations favor the retail business set up. Asia offers an exposure to about almost one and a half billion people cumulatively while Latin America offers almost half a billion. Such untapped areas are worth the consideration for expansion; but for now they seem to be working on consolidating their existing market share before venturing out to these areas. (Caneja, n.p.) Marketing plan Carrefour is working on improving their information systems and the corresponding infrastructure. Employees especially those who are coming into contact with the customers directly seem to be the probable individuals to kick off the exercise. Improving and polishing up customer relations is another aspect that has to be worked on. Systems would have to be set out that favor the real-time and constant communication between employees and management when it comes to service delivery to customers. (Salmons, p.125)Technology is also employed when it comes to the monitoring of operations that go around the firm. For effective service delivery; their systems around the globe would have to be re-evaluated with the sole purpose of phasing out redundant ones to be replaced by functional technology. Example of Bluetooth beacons which may be set up on shopping carts is one way; this would help them in making out shopping tendencies of customers. (Swedberg, p.17)The data collected would be of use when creating future business strategies. Milestones achieved by Carrefour In 2014 Carrefour did manage post revenue collections of about one and two billion dollars; with net profit of about two billion dollars. The total asset base rose to about sixty one billion dollars. However revenues decreased by about five percent but profitability rose by close to six percent. Around the same period the retail chain had about ten thousand two hundred stores globally. This number cuts across various types of stores; about four types. (Fortune, n.p.)The financial plan Carrefour would have to post about fifteen billion dollars in sales monthly; in order to post about one hundred and eighty billion dollars as overall collection. Such revenue collection would translate into about a net profit margin of about two and half billion dollars; this would eventually be a step past the grey area they were in 2014. (Salmons, 127)For this to be achieved ICT usage and diversification within the firm would have to be enhanced. Customer relations management and well calculated expansion regime is crucial. Personnel would have to be trained and drilled in line with the future aspiration of the company. (Salmons, p.137) References BIBLIOGRAPHY Caneja, Ana-Diaz. Pearson Custom Business Resources. London: Pearson Plc , 2011. Salmons, Janet. â€Å"Global e-business and collaboration.† Salmons, Janet. Handbook of Research on Electronic Collaboration and Organizational Synergy. Hershey, Pennsylvania : IGI Global , 2012. 122-142. Swedberg, Claire. â€Å"Carrefour To Use Bluetooth Beacons to Track Carts, Baskets .† RFID Journal (2014): 17-18. Fortune,. ‘Global 500’. N.p., 2015. Web. 27 Jan. 2015. Source document

The Values And Ethics Of The Profession Social Work Essay Essays

The Values And Ethics Of The Profession Social Work Essay Essays The Values And Ethics Of The Profession Social Work Essay Essay The Values And Ethics Of The Profession Social Work Essay Essay the service users pick can non ever be guaranteed. Utilitarianism would propose that this is because if service users ever received the services they wanted, the societal worker would non be advancing the greatest good for the greatest figure, alternatively would be taking a more Kantian attack of advancing moral good. These two philosophical attacks cause struggle within themselves. The Mental Capacity Act ( 2005 ) says a individual lacks capacity in relation to a affair if at the stuff clip he is unable to do a determination for himself in relation to the affair because of an damage of, or a perturbation in the operation of, the head or encephalon . ( s2 ) . This leads to challenges and struggles for societal workers. If the service user had capacity, there could be conflict over the manner they spend their budget which could take to the societal worker handling that single without regard. Following the BASW codification of moralss ( 2012 ) , it states that societal workers should esteem the right to self-government. Kant would back up this position as, by the societal worker back uping the person to run into their ain self-defined demands, the societal worker is advancing good actions that will in bend produce good results for the person. The societal worker demands to recognize that the person has human rights and freedom to voice their positions. Burton ( 1996 ) showed that there was a failure to recognize the unequal power dealingss between the societal worker in control of proviso of services and the service user who relies on the services. This therefore would sabotage Beistek s rules of self-government as, although the service user is voicing their sentiment, the societal worker is non listening and this could be seen as endangering the rules of personalisation and the codification of moralss that are imperative. The execution of The Mental Capacity Act needs to be reviewed to guarantee workers are following statute law and moralss. It should non be assumed person lacks capacity because they have a disablement. On the other manus, if the service user did nt hold capacity, it could do struggle between the societal worker and the paid carer and/or unpaid carers. If the service user lacks capacity, how would the societal worker or the carers be able to measure what was best for the person? A societal worker would hold to uphold and promote human self-respect and wellbeing every bit good as authorising the person. ( BASW, 2012 ) . These moralss and values are supported by Beistek s theory. Workers need to handle the service user with regard, be non -judgemental and accept the state of affairs the service user may be in. The societal worker hence would merely be able to move upon their appraisal which should include the carer s positions on what is best for the service user. Utilitarianism, an alternate statement, would reason what s the greatest good for the greatest figure? What would profit the service user more? The societal workers positions or the carer s positions? The results need to gua rantee that the maximal people are happy. The societal worker could make the maximal felicity and cut down struggle by utilizing authorization. The societal worker would esteem the demands and penchants of the service user, via the carers and household members every bit good as recognizing their ain biass to guarantee the correct services are offered. The Community Care Act ( 1990 ) promotes attention in the community and people remaining within their ain place, leting the person to utilize their personal budget and have carers to advance independency. There is grounds to propose for illustration, persons who have fractured a limb, menu better when they recuperate in their ain places. ( Pignolo, Keenan and Hebela, 2011 ) . Adjustment is a major concern for many service users ( Davis and Wainwright, 1996 ) . One facet that could do struggle is the pattern of puting immature people in immature disablement units, belongingss that are specifically designed for people with learning disablements. Although this could be seen as a solution for people to interact and hold support, there is a possible struggle as the person can non take where they want to populate and may populate a distance from family/friends. If placed in a intent built constitution, the persons are classed as being housed by the local authorization and hence do non acquire to take alternate locations ( Oliver, 1996 ) . The quandary for the societal worker is the demand to take the persons positions into history whilst equilibrating their demands and wants, peculiarly if the service user lacks the capacity to do the determination. It is improper for anyone to subscribe a occupancy understanding on behalf of an person who lacks capacity. A capacity appraisal needs to be undertaken to guarantee the service user understands how to keep that occupancy. In order to continue, an application needs to be made to The Court of Protection. This could take to conflict as the societal worker and lodging section demand to continue the jurisprudence, nevertheless many households feel they have the right to subscribe a occupancy for their handicapped household member and happen it hard to accept that this is non the instance. Harmonizing to BASW ( 2012 ) , the societal worker demands to develop professional relationships with the service user and the household, uphold the repute and values of the profession every bit good as recognizing diverseness and handling the person as a whole. Utilitarianism would urge looking at what benefits the whole household, instead than merely the service user. Challenges arise when the service user lacks capacity. Using the useful attack, it could be said that the service user should nt be given a occupancy as it does nt advance the greatest good for the greatest figure. This position is in struggle with BASW codifications of moralss. It could be seen as unethical pattern and lead to farther struggle. Beistek would back up the position of BASW in utilizing the specific value base that service users should be allowed to freely show their feelings, both positive and negative, and the societal worker should listen and do a determination in an accepting and non-judgemental manner. However, Kant would state that although the effect of non acquiring a pick in where the service user lives is a negative result, the purpose of puting them in a place, with other people to socialize is a good moral opinion that is entirely profiting the person. Another possible struggle could be older handicapped persons being forced into attention. The Sutherland Report ( 1999 ) claimed that older handicapped people were being forced into institutional attention excessively early due to the deficiency of alternate attention at place. Sixsmith and Sixsmith ( 2008 ) provided grounds that by 2008 there had been a displacement in attention proviso and that the Personalisation Agenda meant that people were staying in their place for longer and having appropriate services. However there is a farther potency for struggle when suiting people, with disablements, to remain in their places. Persons may desire to turn old at place but is this possible for people with significantly reduced mobility? Many places are unaccessible to wheelchair users and those with important mobility damages ( Burns, 2004 ) . There is a Government strategy whereby handicapped people can use for a handicapped installation grant to hold their places adapted, and certain per sons have to re-pay the Government, therefore the Government is non financing expensive attention bundles. The function of the societal worker would be to negociate, support and authorise the service user to hold their demands met in the most appropriate, coveted manner. Harmonizing to Kant s theory, holding a loan is the moral good as people will be able to stay at place for longer, advancing felicity and community attention. This would be supported by the values of BASW which states societal workers need to handle the service user as a whole and respect their right to self-government. In contrast to Kant s theory, Utilitarianism would see weighing up the effects of taking the service user from their house and into an altered and safe environment. I.e. a attention place could be seen as an easier option for handicapped people to have attention. This position could do struggle because the societal worker is traveling against the wants and desires of the service user. Utilitarianism looks at the best result for society instead than on an single degree. Therefore, by traveling persons out of the house into the attention place may supply maximal felicity for society, although it disregards the person s positions and sentiments. This is a unfavorable judgment of the theoretical account as many service users could potentially non hold their demands met in a mode that is acceptable to them due to the focal point being on the benefit to society. This could be peculiarly true e.g. for people with English as a 2nd linguistic communication or who follow a spiritual religion. However, Beistek would hold with Kant in advancing self-government. A cardinal subject running throughout this essay is respect for the single individual as a ego finding being. Both Kant and Beistek promote this and hence look to be the societal philosophical theoretical accounts best tailored towards societal work values and moralss. There are clear struggles between traditional societal work and the personalisation docket for people with disablements. These struggles have been reduced with the debut of HCPC moralss. If the societal worker systematically uses these theories whilst working with struggle and disputing service users so the BASW moralss will be maintained and the service users will have the best appropriate service available within Fair entree to care standards.

Ford Develops a Strategy for Competitive Advantage Case Study

Ford Develops a Strategy for Competitive Advantage - Case Study Example The plan created a series of moves and tactics that reduce the costs of the company, while at the same time preparing a path that would ensure medium and long term growth by emphasizing in emerging economies. Key Marketing Issues Lower sales – Since the company lost nearly a quarter of its sales in 2008 the firm has to achieve continuous growth for several years just to recover the ground it lost in 2008. Global products – the organization wants to shift its company to emphasize in economical compact cars that will be accepted by customers worldwide Marketing campaign standardization – The firm seeks to make universal commercials, but factors such as culture can affect the buying decisions in customers from different parts of the world. Customer retention rate: The organization seeks to expand into other international markets and obtain similar customer loyalty as in its domestic market. Personal Case Analysis It is my opinion that The Way Forward strategy was a success because the company eliminated waste that was draining the resources of the company. By shutting down its least profitable plants the cost structure of the organization was reduced. Ford is the most powerful automaker in America. The reputation of the company improved when Ford did not take money from the governmental bailout package. The Ford Figa was an incredible product that increased the sales volume of Ford in India by more than three times. Other cheap model like the Figa must be designed to further exploit many emerging economies. Case Questions (1-3) Introduction questions Ford Corporation is one of the Big Three automakers in the United States of America. The company has historically achieved tremendous sales growth and profit for decades. The firm in the late 1990’s was considered the most profitable companies in America. This all changed in 2008 when Ford as well as thousands of companies in the United States and abroad faced the global recession. The car industry was devastated during this recession. General Motors and Chrysler nearly went bankrupt prior to the governmental auto bailout. In January 2009 the Obama administration injected $24.9 billion of the $700 billion bailout money in the dying U.S automobile industry (Amadeo). Ford Motors was the lone company that did not take the government handouts, but the firm suffered dearly losing over 23% of its sales between 2008 and 2009. 1. During the 2008 global recession Ford Motors decided to implement a new strategy called â€Å"The Way Forward† in order to boost the firm’s sales and restructure the company. The organization knew that the only way to stay profitable during recessionary times is to decrease costs in order to offset the effect of lower sales numbers. The organization realized that this could only be achieved by decreasing both fixed and variable costs. Fixed costs refers to costs that recurring each month whose amount are fixed such as building rents, ma nagerial salaries, and business loans. Variable costs are periodic costs that vary in step with the output or the sales revenues of the company (Businessdictionary). An example of variable costs is direct labor. The Way Forward strategy included cost cutting initiatives such as closing down 16 factories and downsizing Ford’s workforce by 30,000 employees. The plan included a philosophical change in the managerial approach in order to focus more on the customer by designing cars that served their needs. The company realized that in a bad economy people are looking for gas savings. Despite the fact the company lost nearly 23% of its revenues, certain brands that were targeted as part of The Way Forward initiative had higher sales figure. The Ford Focus is

Summary on Creep Behavior of Discontinuous SiC-Al composites Essay

Summary on Creep Behavior of Discontinuous SiC-Al composites - Essay Example The first experiment tested compressed creep on SiC with 3-5 wt. percentages of Li at a temperature of 505-866k. The results showed that Li increases the strengthening power of SiC and its wetting behavior. The second experiment tested the creep behavior of SiCw and SiCp covered with aluminum alloy at a temperature of 505-644k. The results showed that both composites were steady but SiCW was more resistant to creep compared to SiCp. The results were because of the variations in the components load bearing abilities, their strengths and the applied temperatures. The conducted experiments revealed that the quality of creep rates depend on the applied temperatures and stress (Mohamed, Park & Lavernia 22). The article also used the shear lag method to test the creep rate of discontinuous composites by applying stress and geographic parameters. In this method, the composite has short fibers inserted in the creeping matrix; the shear transports the load from the matrix to fiber and this ap proach applies creep power law. This method is efficient in transferring the load from matrix to fiber and handling stress level within the fiber. ... In the experiment, the composite phase acted as a regular aligns and there was periodic array of fibers. The experiment applied the creep power law by ensuring that reinforcement phase remains elastic (Mohamed, Park & Lavernia 26). The results indicated that matrix develops higher stress, which reduces composites creep rates. It also showed that geometry arrangements affect the quality of the creep rate. Indeed, the results note that creep law favors the Ag-40wt. percentage composites only but not the composites of SiC-Al (Mohamed, Park & Lavernia 27). Considering the obtained results, the article explains the deformation models using dislocation motion. It analyses whether similar dislocation processes can be applicable for both DS alloy creep and the SiC-Al composites creep. In addition, the article also evaluates successfully the characteristics of deformation process on DS alloys and SiC-Al composites. The article highlights the strain exponent of creep and identifies the followi ng assumptions. Firstly, the high stress exponent and variations results from threshold stress. Additionally, the threshold stress and strength applied on the creep depends on applied stress and lastly, the activation energy for SiC-Al composites and DS alloys are similar (Mohamed, Park & Lavernia 30). The article concludes that SiC-Al composites and DS alloys have similar creep behaviors regardless of their stress exponent and activation energies. Importantly, the article identifies that shear log assumptions on the creep behavior of SiC-al are inconsistence. Indeed, the study offers the similarities in the creep behavior among composites, the evidential calculations and dissimilarities among activation