Japanese HRM Analysis and The Lessons of An Effective International HR manager

Japanese HRM Analysis and The Lessons of An Effective International HR manager Free Online Research Papers Japanese HRM Analysis and The Lessons of An Effective International HR manager Japan is a highly complex and dynamic society that has experienced great changes in the past 125 years, with conversion from a feudal state into a modern industrialized nation and an economic superpower (Selmer, 2001). The Japanese have appreciated Western technology, science, education and politics, while maintaining their unique cultural identity. The collectiveness of Japanese culture has been carried over to the companies, where a job means identifying with a larger entity through which one gains pride and feeling of being part of something significant (Selmer, 2001). Human resource management (HRM) has been argued by many as an important factor in the success of Japanese companies on world markets when it experienced significant economic growth during the 1980s (Pudelko, 2004). With these successions and growth, the implementation of Japanese HRM to other Western countries is highly regarded. However, the Japanese economy after forty years of growth entered a period of sustained economic decrease in the early 1990s, with greater global competition, rigid employment and business systems, and a banking system on the edge of collapse (Benson, 2004). With these events, Japanese HRM has evolved significantly, and is providing lessons for international huma n resource mangers today. Japanese HRM has attracted a significant degree of attention from the West over the years. With the relative rise in the economic fortunes of Japanese companies, many have pointed towards the Japanese style of HRM as a source of competitive advantage (Beechler, 1994). It was noted that Japanese organizations put emphasis on human resources which are reflected in three HRM strategies, including an internal labor market, a company philosophy that expresses concerns for employee needs, and focus on cooperation and teamwork in a unique company environment (Beecher, 1994). With these three general Japanese HRM strategies, techniques of open communication, job rotation and internal training, a competitive appraisal system, importance of group work, consultative decision making, and concerns for employees are expressed. Also, Japanese firms use careful screening of job candidates to ensure that the qualifications fit with the value system and corporate culture of the business firm. With Jap anese style HRM, there are practices of job rotation, seniority based wages, long-term employment, implicit performance evaluation, hiring of graduates that receive extensive training and socialization into the company, team based employee activities, and a relatively small gap between white-collar and blue-collar workers in terms of benefits, salary and on-the-job perquisites. A notable characteristic of the economy is the cooperation of manufacturers, suppliers and distributors in closely knit groups called keiretsu. The keiretsu system is the framework of relationships in postwar Japans major banks and major firms. Related companies organized around a big bank, such as Mitsui, Mitsubishi, and Sumitomo, who have a large amount of equity in one another and in the banks (Dedoussis, 2001). The keiretsu system has the virtue of maintaining long term business relationships and stability in suppliers and customers. The keiretsu system has the disadvantage of reacting slowly to outside events since the players are partly protected from the external market. However, keiretsu relationships have helped members to share risks while allowing Japans large-scale enterprises to achieve considerable insulation from market forces (Dedoussis, 2001). Also, keiretsus can provide significant scale economies, highly incorporated vertical relationships, networking that confines competition, considerable foreign direct investment and important governmental influence. The political power in Japan is in the command of the twenty-one government ministries, which includes the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) (Keys et al, 1994). The Japanese political elites have played a critical role in choosing, from available local and foreign cultural options, those which are best suited to their needs. The high-growth economy of postwar Japan formed a unique style of capitalism in which managers and employees, rather than shareholders, were the key stakeholders of a company (Mizutani, 2003). However, Japans greatest recession since the post-second world war has stressed relationships among keiretsu members as key firms are forced to end established links with minor companies (Dedoussis, 2001).The breakdown of the keiretsu system of cross-shareholding and favored trading among member corporations of a business group has severely harmed the safety net of supporting the long-term growth strategy of Japanese firms and their ability to protect employees from downside market risks (Selmer, 2001; Gerlach, 1992). Deregulation is another force for change and has made Japanese markets more accessible to competitors, both foreign and domestic. In protected industries such as financial services, distribution and agriculture, there are only a few firms that are prepared for the challenge of competition and uncertainty (Lincoln and Nakata, 1997). Changes have been made in the cultural aspects of Japanese human resource management. Individual performance and results-oriented performance are replacing group performance and loyalty due to the new criteria for creating salary levels, with the principle of ‘freedom and self-responsibility for the independent individual (Takashi, 2003; Sanford, 1995). In a survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers Global Human Resource Solutions in the metropolitan Tokyo, it was examined that there has been a movement from a more traditional, collective/company orientation toward more self-orientation (Brislin, 2005). This new development can be seen as one element leading to a major shift in the depths of Japanese corporate society (Takashi, 2003) .The salary systems that link annual compensation to the attainment of company targets are now found in several Japanese firms. These changes in the salary system are in line with the development of the dual-promotion system which is distinguished between management responsibilities and titles on the one hand, and status and pay on the other hand. The aim is to make a transition from time-based promotion to performance-based promotion, an evolution in the Japanese HRM practices. There have also been changes to careers, recruitment and long-term employment. Formal management and supervisory training is gradually replacing informal on-the-job training (Selmer, 2001). There have also been other changes in Japanese management practices including cutbacks in bonuses and overtime payments. However, the significant characteristics of Japanese management, such as lifetime employment and the seniority system, appear to be resistant from change. The importance of long-term employment is to allow Japanese firms to apply technological innovation, which is facilitated and supported by the long term cultivation of employee skills through cross training (Drucker, 1981). However, due to the developments, retrenchments are now included in restructuring plans of Japanese firms. The seniority system is also an issue as there are not enough positions available to accommodate employees following the economic decline during the years. Long-term employment promotes harmonious ac tion and a sense of unity with a positive effect combined with Japans cultural background, as close human relationships are formed and community awareness increases when workers are employed over long periods (Baba, 2004). If employees are uncertain whether they may be laid off or not, labor relations become unstable and cooperative relationships are difficult to establish. In societies like Japan, in which a culture of encouraging cooperation has developed, a synergistic effect works through long-term employment and major benefits can be expected (Baba, 2004). The issue of the continued existence of unique Japanese human resources management practices has regained attention as Japanese firms feel the impact of the countrys economic battles. The perspective that Japanese management is fading does not appear to be completely unsupported as few of the human resources management practices have escaped change. Firms are decreasing the number of new recruits with structural shifts evident in recruitment as there is a growing emphasis on hiring experienced employees with specialist skills rather than inexperienced graduates from top universities. Also, external recruitment is increasing among employees indicating the removal of internal promotion, which is a development in Japanese HRM. Evolution has also taken place in areas of labor relations. In the past, Japanese enterprise based unions (kigyo-nai kumiai) have had a positive outlook in respect to salary negotiations with preference on job security for their members (Selmer, 2001). These unions would assure supportive behavior by their members, in exchange for proper behavior by companies and with the integration of the firms training, wage setting, and redundancy systems. Also, firms could depend on the role of planned business as a last option, if the union did not commit to its side of the agreement. This has now changed as there is a simultaneous breakdown of the traditional trade unions, business associations and keiretsu networks. Presently, there is much doubt as to whether either side will remain in the relationship. Middle managers are now the targets of de-layering processes who feel a growing need to defend their concerns (Selmer, 2001). In contrast, the Trade Union Law in Japan only identifies unions as representing the interests of the employers, and more groups may form inside the companies to defend the interest of the center white-collar employees and their long employment contract. The system of company based unions may be harshly destabilized if such groups extend outside companies to become horizontal regional or national white-collar unions. With this, non-union employee representation may also pose a threat to the traditional enterprise-based unions. However, Japanese firms have dedicated much effort into developing a system of participation in their management techniques by using non-union representation practices resourcefully and effectively to form and develop employee representation in deci sion making (Selmer, 2001). There are two types of employee associations with almost one-third that are voice-oriented organizations, and the remaining two-thirds that focus on recreational activities (Sato, 1997). The voice-oriented employee associations regularly converse industrial planning and working conditions with management, and managers typically value their functions of comprehensive and communicating views of employees. Also Japanese labor relations may be affected by many changing environmental forces such as the internationalization of the economy, the rapidly aging population, the acceleration of technological innovations, and changes in the values of the younger generation (Selmer, 2001). These are some developments in the evolution of human resources in Japan in terms of labor relations today. With all the developments emerged through the evolution of Japanese HRM, the lessons that have been provided to International HR managers are valuable. As Japanese HR practices are highly regarded and often taken as a reason for outstanding success in their economy, the true effect and implication of these practices is often debated when implementing the same strategies in Western countries. For an international HR manager, there are certain aspects that must be considered in order to be successful. Managers need to take into consideration the differences in culture. For example, Japanese managers make an active commitment to preserve harmony and there is a high emphasis placed on group work. However, due to the changes in Japanese HRM, managers must be aware of the shift towards a more individualist behavior. Although the reaction of Japanese and Western firms to economic difficulty may appear similar in some respects, Japanese firms appreciate considerable flexibility in the manage ment of human resources due to a more favorable environment (Clardy, 2003). International HR managers should also consider the impact of governments and labor relations when making decisions. It can be seen with Japan that the effect of these elements has greatly impacted the process of human resource management in the country as unions have changed their methods of action. The evolution of HRM practices in Japan has been seen to be quite extensive. Since the recession, there have been gradual changes in the cultural behaviors displayed by Japanese employees. Japanese employees have moved from a traditional and collective orientation toward more individualistic and self-orientation. Although special characteristics of Japanese HRM, such as lifetime employment and the seniority system, are somewhat resistant to change, there have been developments in the recruitment practices as preference is now given to individuals with experience, rather then the norm of molding graduates. Also, there has been a breakdown in the union and labor relations, with an emergence of non-union threats and division of support systems. For an International human resource manager, it is beneficial to take into considerations the lessons established by the evolution of Japanese HRM as it offers a greater quantity of information and scope into the global HR operations of Japanese firms. Also, it provides an interesting and more universal assessment of the challenges involved in managing cross-culturally and the importance of successful diversity management. These are some of the elements that make an effective international human resources manager and provide a competitive advantage. REFERENCES Baba, S. (2004). Remodelling Employment for Competitive Advantage: What will follow Japans Lifetime employment?. Asian Business Management: Japan Society of Business Administration (JBSA). Vol.3, Iss.2, p. 221-240. Beechler, S., and Yang, J. (1994). The transfer of Japanese-style management to American subsidiaries: Contingencies, constraints, and competencies Journal of International Business Studies. Vol.25, Iss 3, pg. 467, 25. Benson, J. and Debroux, P. (2004). The Changing Nature of Japanese Human Resource Management: The Impact of the Recession and the Asian Financial Crisis. International Studies of Management Organization White Plains. Vol. 34, Iss.1, p. 32-51. Brislin, R., et al (2005). Evolving Perceptions of Japanese Workplace Motivation: An Employee-Manager Comparison. International Journal of Cross Cultural Management : CCM London. Vol.5, Iss.1, p. 87-104 (18 pp.). Clardy, A. (2003). International Human Resource Management in Japanese Firms. Personnel Psychology Durham. Vol.56, Iss.1, p. 245-248 (4 pp.). Dedoussis, V. (2001) Keiretsu and management practices in Japan resilience amid change. Journal of Managerial Psychology. Vol.16, Iss.2, p. 173-188. Drucker, P.F. (1981). Behind Japan’s success. Harvard Business Review. Vol. 49, Iss.2, pp.83-90. Gerlach, M. (1992), Twilight of the keiretsu: a critical assessment. Journal of Japanese Studies, Vol. 18, pp. 79-118. Keys, J., Denton, L.T. Miller, T.R. (1994). The Japanese Management Theory Jungle-Revisited. Journal of Management. Vol.20, Iss.2, pp.373-402. Lincoln, J.R. and Nakata, Y. (1997), The transformation of the Japanese employment system. Work and Occupations. Vol. 24 No. 1, pp. 33-55. Mizutani, E. (2003). Japan: Renewing HR management via organizational values management. Benefits Compensation International. Vol.33, Iss.3, p. 3-7. Pudelko, M. (2004). HRM in Japan and the West: What are the lessons to be learnt from each other?. Asian Business Management, Vol.3, Iss.3, pp.337. Salmer, J. (2001). Human resource management in Japan- Adjustment or transformation?. International Journal of Manpower, Vol 22, Iss.3, pp.235-242. Sanford, J. (1995). Recent organizational developments in Japan. British Journal of Industrial Relations. Vol.33, Iss.4, pp. 645-50. Sato, H. (1997), Labor-management rlations in small and medium-sized enterprises, in Sako, M. and Sato, H. (Eds). Japanese Labor and Management in Transition: Diversity, Flexibility, and Participation, Routledge, London. pp. 315-31. Takashi, W. (2003). Recent Trends in Japanese Human Resource Management: The Introduction of a System of Individual and Independent Career Choice. Asian Business Management. Vol.2, Iss.1, p. 111. Research Papers on Japanese HRM Analysis and The Lessons of An Effective International HR managerPETSTEL analysis of IndiaDefinition of Export QuotasAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaOpen Architechture a white paperThe Project Managment Office SystemMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductTwilight of the UAWBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males

The History of the Odometer

The History of the Odometer An odometer is an instrument that records the distance that a vehicle travels. It is different from a speedometer that measures the vehicles speed or the tachometer that indicates the speed of rotation of the engine, although you may see all three on the dashboard of an automobile. Timeline Encyclopedia Britannia credits Roman architect and engineer Vitruvius with inventing the odometer in 15 BCE. It used a chariot wheel, which is of standard size, turned 400 times in a Roman mile and was mounted in a frame with a 400-tooth cogwheel. For each mile, the cogwheel engaged a gear that dropped a pebble into the box. You knew how many miles you went by counting the pebbles. It was pushed by hand, though it may never have been actually built and used.   Blaise Pascal (1623 - 1662) invented a prototype of an odometer, the calculating machine called a Pascaline. The Pasacaline was constructed of gears and wheels. Each gear contained 10 teeth that when moved one complete revolution, advanced a second gear one place. This is the same principle employed in the mechanical odometer. Thomas Savery (1650 - 1715) was an English military engineer and inventor who  patented the first crude steam engine in 1698.  Among Saverys other inventions was an odometer for ships, a device that measured distance traveled. Ben Franklin (1706 - 1790) is best known as a statesman and writer. However, he was also an inventor who invented swim fins, bifocals, a glass harmonica, watertight bulkheads for ships, the lightning rod, a wood stove, and an odometer. While serving as Postmaster General in 1775, Franklin decided to analyze the best routes for delivering the mail. He created a simple odometer to help measure the mileage of the routes that he attached to his carriage. An odometer called the roadometer was invented in 1847 by the Morman pioneers crossing the plains from Missouri to Utah. The roadometer attached to a wagon wheel and counted the revolutions of the wheel as the wagon traveled. It was designed by William Clayton and Orson Pratt and built by carpenter Appleton Milo Harmon. Clayton was inspired to invent the roadometer after developing his first method of recording the distance the pioneers traveled each day. Clayton had determined that 360 revolutions of a wagon wheel made a mile, he then tied a red rag to the wheel and counted the revolutions to keep an accurate record of the mileage traveled. After seven days, this method became tiresome, and Clayton went on to invent the roadometer that was first used on the morning of May 12, 1847. William Clayton is also known for his writing of the pioneer hymn Come, Come, Ye Saints. In 1854, Samuel McKeen of Nova Scotia designed another early version of the odometer, a device that measures mileage driven. His version was attached to the side of a carriage and measured the miles with the turning of the wheels.

Organisations Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Organisations Law - Essay Example The legal aspects of managing a farm touch on areas, namely: biodiversity, chemical, management, occupational health and safety, livestock management, soil management, waste management, water management, and animal management. In most parts of the world, the commercialization of animal products such as milk remain increasingly subjected to food safety regulations that demand approval for facilities for processing such as pasteurization plants. As consumers increasingly focused on quality and safety attributes, the regulatory frameworks have become widespread, stringent and employed more frequently and rigorously. As such, is critical that the client is aware of the present food safety legislation that affects the proposed activities (Fortin, 2009). Daily processing business translates to an enterprise or activity in which dairy products entail milk, liquid milk products; cream and thickened cream; butter, butter concentrate, buttermilk; ice-cream and ice-cream mix; cultured milk and yoghurt; casein, and cheese; whey, whey cream, and concentrated whey cream. Bella Ridge Farm will manufacture homemade cheeses, yoghurt, and cream. The distinctiveness of goat milk, yoghurt, and cheeses has contributed significantly in driving the demand for goat milk. Bella Ridge Goat Farm will be located in New South Wales region of Australia. The demand for goat’s milk products has risen, mainly driven by people suffering from allergies and lactose intolerance. The goat industry is a niche market and the planned herd of 300 goats in the farm’s 75 acres. The aim of the business is to build the flock to 700 goats. The property on which Bella Ridge Farm sits was previously a certified organic goat dairy featuring a large cheese making facility on farm. The goat dairy and cheese factory are purpose-built and less than 5 years old. Other key facilities include plant and

Alzheimers Disease Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Alzheimers Disease - Research Paper Example The person who inherits genetic mutations is most likely to develop Alzheimers disease before age 65 and in worst case the person may develop Alzheimers disease as early as age 30. Genetics and advancing age contribute significantly to developing Alzheimers disease in an individual. Medications can reduce the symptoms but cannot alter the disease. Progressive loss of brain cells is known as Alzheimers disease (AD). Though the precise cause of Alzheimers disease is not known but a family history, severe head injuries, life style and increasing age could be one of the causes of getting this disease. Being a progressive disease it may get worse with age. The paper attempts to explore several aspects that surround Alzheimers disease that include its progression, symptoms, treatment regime. As such, the history of Alzheimers disease or its identification goes back to as far as over hundred years but the larger understanding about it such as its causes, symptoms, risk factors and treatment process has been developed in the last 30 years. Though the medical science has revealed much about Alzheimers disease in last few decades, it cannot describe precisely the real causes about its happening; however, it is certain that when neurons in brains die, the person is said to have the onset of Alzheimers disease (Alzheimers & Dementia, 2013). Almost 5.2 million people in the US are estimated to having Alzheimers disease in 2013. Out of this, almost 5 million persons are of age above 65. In other words, 4% of Alzheimers disease population belongs to age less than 65 and 82% are of age 75 and above. The population with Alzheimers disease will increase each coming year due to increase in ageing population of the US above age 65 (Thies & Bleiler, 2012). Alzheimers disease is a neurodegenerative disease – due to progressive brain cells death over a period of time

Current Topic in Ethics Essay Example for Free

Current Topic in Ethics Essay The article speaks about a recent incident that took place in Brazil, which brought in to light the ethical and moral values of humans. The story had a two sided approach the first one being from the church of Brazil and the second one from the government side. The incident is regarding a step father raping her 9 year old daughter. The girl confessed that she was under a sexual assault from her step father since the age of 6(Yahoo News, 2009). The man was also convicted of sexually abusing the girl’s 14 year old handicapped sister. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, head of the Catholic Church’s Congregation for Bishops said that the abortion carried out by the doctors under the decision of the girl’s mother was totally wrong and the twins that the girl carried had a right to live. On the other hand President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva had other views on the matter. He said that according to the law of Brazil where abortion is illegal and allowed only in case where the health of the child bearing women is endangered the Bishop is totally wrong. The girl had actually been brought to the hospital after several stomach cramps and it was found that she is pregnant and carrying twins. At the age of 9 doctors commented that it was impossible for the girl to bear the children and an abortion was the only viable option left. As the doctor involved in the abortion Rivaldo Albuquerque said that it was important for us to save the life of the girl(Yahoo News,2009). Ethical Issues The article raised several ethical issues regarding human rights and social rights. Firstly the rape case as the man had committed was illegal and should be punished according to the government law of the country. Secondly the issue of child abuse as an ethical issue is also being raised by this incident which is another offense of the law and needs to be punished. Third and the most important issue which has been raised by this incident are of abortion which according to the law of Brazil is illegal. The fourth issue has been raised to contradict the third one which is another face of the same law of abortion which is banned. Abortion is only allowed in case the health of the child bearing women is endangered. The fifth ethical issue is the sexual assault of the other handicapped girl sister of the girl which was actually sexually assaulted. All these ethical issues have come forward due to this incident and need to be taken care of by the Brazilian government. Ethical Theories There are many ethical theories and fields of ethics that are present but only some that are relevant would be applied to this case. We will consider each theory one by one and apply it on the case to deduct a result. Greek Philosophy Socrates emphasized that a person to be ethically correct needs to realize the importance of human life and existence. A person would act rightly and correctly if he or she is self aware and knows the importance of life. Bad deeds or evil deeds are a result of ignorance and if the person knows the consequences of doing wrong he or she would never commit that act (MacKinnon, 2008). According to the theory of Socrates the man who committed the assault was unaware of the consequences of the act to be specific he thought that he would get away with his actions but only the pregnancy of the girl brought up the matter. The case of abortion according to this Greek philosophy is a bit controversial as the importance of human life needs to be considered and in this case whether to save the girl or the twins she was carrying was a decision to be made. Normative Ethics This field of ethics focuses on the rightness and wrongness of actions to judge whether they are ethical or not. The theory says that actions were mainly judged by the intentions of a person as in whether they are right or wrong (Kagan, 1997). According to this theory the man in the case is found guilty of committing a crime and should be punished accordingly as his intention was truly wrong and hence his actions also become wrong. Then the abortion of the child was also morally ethical as the life of the girl was endangered by her pregnancy, hence according to this theory the decision of abortion is also ethically correct. Meta Ethics This approach of ethics is a bit different from other approaches as it looks at the reasons for the truth and decides up on the validity of the reasons as to whether the actions that led to the truth were ethical or non ethical (Miller, 2003). According to this theory the actions of the man were totally unethical as the man had committed an immoral act, which is the truth. The reason for this act was his uncontrollable desires, which were unethical. Abortion was performed because it was the only option through which the girl could be saved. The reason for the abortion was the fact that the doctors had to save the life of the girl and could take no risks, hence the act of abortion was morally ethical. Descriptive Ethics This is a newer field of ethics than normative ethics and focuses on the choices that were available to the person and the one he or she picked according to that his or her actions are judged to be ethical or not. According to this theory the man is still found to be guilty and should be punished as the choices he made were ethically incorrect and on the other hand the abortion done by the doctors was also morally ethical as they had limited choices and needed to save the girl. The doctors agreed on the fact that the girl who was only 9 years old could not carry the burden of pregnancy and hence had to be saved through abortion. Conclusion During this paper we looked up on different theories and fields of ethics. These fields and theories were applied on the case and the deduction of whether this ethical issue were correctly dealt or not was focused. The conclusion is not merely my own decision but the result of applying the ethical theories on the case. These theories when applied clearly highlight the fact that the man should be punished according to the law of Brazil and the decision of abortion made by the mother of the girl and carried out by the doctors was a correct one in the circumstances that were presented. References: Kagan S. (1997) Normative Ethics, Westview Press. MacKinnon B. (2008) Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues. Wadsworth Publishing. Miller A. (2003) An Introduction to Contemporary Metaethics, Polity. Yahoo News (March 8, 2009). Vatican defends Brazil excommunication. Retrived on March 10, 2009 from http://au. news. yahoo. com/a/-/world/5375029/vatican-defends-brazil-excommunication/

Essay --

Good afternoon my fellow Okhrana agents. Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Pyotr Ivanovich Rachkovsky. We are here today to discuss our current situation concerning the Bolsheviks a main irritant that stresses the hell out of all of us, and other heathens like them. As you know these past years have been quite problematic for us, for we have been dealing with the ever growing revolution and the increasing amount of traitors that take part to create our demise. I chose this job to serve my country and I swore to protect the good people that reside there, and I believe that violence is the only true answer in stopping these hell bound creatures from biting at our heels any longer. As you may all recall that fateful day on March 13, 1881 our magnificent tsar Alexander the II was assassinated on his trip down to Mikhailovsky Manà ¨ge for the military roll call that he frequently attends every year. Reports back from the chief of police that was accompanying him on his trip indicated that two members of Narodnaya Volya had done the deed. Nikolai Rysakov and Ignacy Hryniewiecki were the culpr...

Voices of Freedom Critique

This selection, Letter by a Female Indentured Servant, really gives you incite as to what life was like in the 1700s as an indentured servant. (Foner, 2011) The reader can really feel the pain she is going through while she was in America trying to pay her dues for passage to what they thought was the promise land. She wanted to ensure her father really knew what kind of horrible life she was living because of the details she included like she was whipped to the degree that she now serves the animals. Apparently, you didn’t speak of the horrible things that would occur as an indentured servant because she writes to her father that she hopes he will pardon the boldness of her complaints and she also hope that he will take pity on her. I feel like she would have been an indentured servant for a very long time because she writes to her father that she is banished forever from his sight and is practically begging for sympathy. Also read this  Critique of Stuff Is Not Salvation However, I am surprised that she was even allowed to write to her family because she describes her life as working very hard almost day and night and often in the horse’s drudgery with the slave masters saying that she doesn’t do half enough work. She also feels that this is the type of work she needs to do for the respect of her father, uncles, aunts, and all friends. On the complete and opposite side of the spectrum, the Letter by a Swiss-German immigrant to Pennsylvania shows that this immigrant was very content with his decision to come to America. Foner, 2011) He now lives in a free country where one can settle anywhere he wants when the land is bought or leased. He thinks a free country is where a person has the right to own property and he focuses on this one freedom and doesn’t even think about the other statues. This immigrant really feels he has in fact found the promise land and that he wants his family to come and join him. In my opinion, I think he c omes from a wealthier family, so maybe he didn’t have to work as an indentured servant because he could just pay for his travel to America. He also states he can buy things like shoes for more reasonably in Pennsylvania than in Germany. These two letters are taken from two very different perspectives and shows you how some people were treated inhumane and some were treated very kindly depending on their social statuses in the 1700s. In the except from The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, he did not talk about the horrible treatment of a slave like beatings they would receive or how they were not fed but rather how they were ripped away from their family and friends. (Foner, 2011) The author wanted the reader to realize that they were parted from family and friends because of the greed of the white man and that this is the new refinement in cruelty during those times. He made it known that the only positive aspect of being a slave was at least they were able to be with their friends and family, but now the white man had taken that away. He is asking the white men to liv e up to their perceived belief in liberty and that all men are created equal according to their god. He also is asking, why the African people should give up their comfort of being together because the white men want their luxuries. In the excerpt taken from Pontiac, Speeches the author makes it known that the Indians were not backing down from the Englishmen because they were before the Englishmen and their ancestors had passed down the land to them. . (Foner, 2011) The Indians followed the Great Spirit which was like their idea of a god. The Great Spirit had told Neolin that the Indians had forgotten their customs and traditions and now had become more comfortable with the Englishmen which shamed their ancestors. Their god is basically trying to inform the Indians that if they get too close to the enemies then they will take all the land and food that they had worked so hard for and once they eliminated the English then they would be back in good graces with the Great Spirit. The moral of the story is to not let your guard down for a second, or the enemy will consume you and everything you own. From the article Petition of Committee in Behalf of the Freedmen to Andrew Johnson shows the author of the letter is pleading with the President not to take away their land that they worked so hard to keep after they were freed. (Foner, 2011) The freedmen are saying that they were abused and oppressed on the land and now should be allowed to purchase any land. Basically the freedmen now wanted equal rights because every other free person were allowed to purchase a home in their hometown so why shouldn’t the freed slaves be allowed to purchase land also. They felt like President Johnson was not upholding President Lincoln’s proclamation. Even though the freedmen tried so hard President Johnson did not change his policy. A Sharecropping Contract, shows that few former slaves were allowed to acquire land but not without completing hard labor on their part. Foner, 2011) Essentially, the former slaves were still working in the same capacity as they were before except this time they were able to sell some of the crops. They also had to pay for any damages made to the stock and had to supply everything that was needed to harvest the crops. The Freed men were the land owner’s employees instead of slaves. They also had to harvest one half of the crops for the land owner. This contract is very one sided, and I’m not sure that this is any better than being a slave.

Assignment- Final Paper Essay

These last five weeks in EXP 105 has really helped me learn a lot about learning in general, and also it has helped me to understand myself as a learner. If I had to explain the concept of learning to someone who has not yet taken this class, I would tell them that it is simply knowing who you are as learner and knowing what are your intentions are when it comes to learning. Intentions alone play a big part in learning because that is the ultimate goal; becoming an intentional learner. An intentional learner knows how to approach learning by developing skills to read, write, and think critically. I always felt that learning itself was a full time job, but this class changed that view by teaching me how to learn, and also what my weak and strong points were. This helps you to manage time, and learning no longer feels like it takes forever. In this class we were given a learning connections inventory (LCI). It was a short survey to help us identify our learning patterns. My LCI scores were as follows: Sequence 27, Precision 28. Technical Reasoning 20, and Confluence 17. Sequence and precision are my two use first learning patterns. I use these patterns on the regular. I am a very organized person and I like to make sure that I have all the information that is necessary before I perform a task. I use technical reasoning as needed, and then I avoid Confluence. Confluence requires a lot of creativity and that is the area I lack in the most so I try to stay away from it as much as I can. No matter how we use our learning patterns though, it always comes a time where we must use them all whether we realize it or not. Sometimes it is necessary to combine all of the learning patterns to get a full understanding of what is happening, or supposed to happen. The benefits of knowing your unique learning patterns are for one you already know how you should approach different tasks to get them done. It takes the guesswork out and saves you time to go back and finish something you did not  understand later. While learning patterns are strong tools to have in your tool box by themselves, sometimes it is necessary to have strategies to go along with them. When it comes to sequence I do not always think that a strategy is necessary because it is always important for things to be organized for them to look neat and flow smoothly when it comes too writing at least, and that is how I tried to think about every learning pattern and assignment in this class. My strategy for mu use first precision is to keep it at a minimum without being boring, less really is more sometimes. Technical reasoning will remain as it is since it is use as needed. I definitely know that my strategy for confluence was to intensify it a little more so that I can try to warm up to it and try to incorporate it into more of my assignments. The way that I took advantage of my strengths in this course was actually using them when I was completing assignments. The biggest challenge of my learning patterns was figuring out when and how to use them. It gradually got better once we discussed FITing and decoding assignments. It did not take long for me to grasp those concepts and after that everything became clear and it all made sense on hoe it all fit together. That solved the problem of the learning patterns being hard to understand when it came to using them to complete assignments in the course. I didn’t get to use the FITing concept until the end, but I wish I would have known about it earlier. I definitely plan to use it in my future courses because it makes everything easier to understand and I enjoyed doing it. I didn’t think of it as extra unnecessary work. It was more like a map to me to tell me what I should do. In the future I will also use more of the library and student resources to help me with FITing. The thing that I enjoyed the most about this class w being given the opportunity to learn about myself and who I am as a learner. I definitely feel different about learning and I plan to use everything I learned in this course in future courses. My favorite assignments to do in this class were the LCI and then the FITing and decoding assignment. To make the class a little better and more fun I think at least another variation of the LCI should be included. I had taken online courses before so all of my expectations were met. I enjoyed this class overall.

Free Essays on Intro To Psychology

Writing Assignment: Compare and Contrast For Introduction to Psychology I chose to use the article â€Å"Genes, Fears, Phobias, and Phobic Disorders† by Gregory Carey. I thought that this particular article would be interesting because I would like to know about fears and phobias that are pasted genetically. I personally have unfortunate experience of anxiety or â€Å"panic attacks†, and my mother and my sister have suffered from this disorder also. My mother has been taking medication for her anxiety for about twenty years now, but mine was never that serious. I have always believed that my anxiety was past on to me through my genes. My only problem with this assignment is that I do not really like to read, and especially medical type of information. I chose a subject that was interesting to me, so that made it a little easier. But I do prefer to write personal experience or opinion papers. I did like that we were giving good instructions and that helps me know how to complete my assignment correctly. We also were given plenty of time to turn in this assignment and that made it less stressful. In the text book it briefly talks about how phobias focus on dangers faced by our ancestors and our compulsive acts typically exaggerate behaviors that contribute to our species survival, and also how some people more than others being genetically predisposed to fears and high anxiety. The original author, Gregory Carey, goes more into examining the history of fears and phobias and defining different phobic disorders. The text used an example taken from the original author’s material of identical 35-year-old female twins who were raised separately and both developed claustrophobia and a fear of water. I thought that this story was very interesting. The text also explain that anxiety, panic attacks, and obsessive and compulsive disorders are biologically measurable as an over arous... Free Essays on Intro To Psychology Free Essays on Intro To Psychology Writing Assignment: Compare and Contrast For Introduction to Psychology I chose to use the article â€Å"Genes, Fears, Phobias, and Phobic Disorders† by Gregory Carey. I thought that this particular article would be interesting because I would like to know about fears and phobias that are pasted genetically. I personally have unfortunate experience of anxiety or â€Å"panic attacks†, and my mother and my sister have suffered from this disorder also. My mother has been taking medication for her anxiety for about twenty years now, but mine was never that serious. I have always believed that my anxiety was past on to me through my genes. My only problem with this assignment is that I do not really like to read, and especially medical type of information. I chose a subject that was interesting to me, so that made it a little easier. But I do prefer to write personal experience or opinion papers. I did like that we were giving good instructions and that helps me know how to complete my assignment correctly. We also were given plenty of time to turn in this assignment and that made it less stressful. In the text book it briefly talks about how phobias focus on dangers faced by our ancestors and our compulsive acts typically exaggerate behaviors that contribute to our species survival, and also how some people more than others being genetically predisposed to fears and high anxiety. The original author, Gregory Carey, goes more into examining the history of fears and phobias and defining different phobic disorders. The text used an example taken from the original author’s material of identical 35-year-old female twins who were raised separately and both developed claustrophobia and a fear of water. I thought that this story was very interesting. The text also explain that anxiety, panic attacks, and obsessive and compulsive disorders are biologically measurable as an over arous...

10 Tips to Avoid Tick Bites

10 Tips to Avoid Tick Bites Finding an engorged tick on your body is never fun.  Ticks  carry diseases, which might make you think twice before your next hike into the woods. You dont have to avoid the outdoors, though. Your first line of defense is avoiding their bites. Follow these 10 tips to avoid ticks- and, more importantly, tick bites- when you head outdoors. Why Ticks Pose a Serious Health Danger   Unlike chiggers, cockroaches, and bedbugs, ticks are much more than a nuisance. They can carry and transmit several serious diseases that, untreated, can be debilitating or, in rare cases, even deadly. Not all ticks carry all tick-borne diseases, but of course, its better to be safe than sorry. If you are in areas with brush or grass at temperatures above freezing, you are at risk of tick bites.   According to the CDC, many different types of ticks located all over the United States carry disease. Tick-borne diseases include but are not limited to: Lyme disease- a disorder that can cause a wide range of serious symptoms ranging from joint disorders to heart issuesHeartland virusRocky Mountain heartland feverTick-borne relapsing feverTularemia Once you have a tick-borne disease, it can become chronic. Even after treatment, many people have residual symptoms from tick-borne diseases. About Anti-Tick Pesticides and Repellents DEET and permethrin are the two most effective pesticides against ticks. In combination with long pants, socks, and long-sleeved shirts, they can help protect you from ticks. Its important to know that: DEET is a completely different chemical compound from DDT. It has been tested and found to be safe when used according to instructions. It is very important, however, that it not be ingested.Permethrin is a potent pesticide but does carry some risks. Typically, permethrin is used on clothing, boots, and other outerwear. It should not be used on the skin.Veterinary products such as Advantage and Frontline can be applied monthly to cats and dogs and do a very good job of minimizing pest infestations (including ticks). Pet shampoos and coat treatments are likely to be less effective and much messier. Tips for Avoiding Tick Bites 1. Use a product with 20 percent  DEET or higher on both skin and clothing. Carefully apply the repellent by hand to your face, neck, and ears, avoiding your eyes or mouth. Adults should apply DEET products to young children, and its important to warn children not to touch their skin. You may need to reapply DEET products after several hours. 2. Apply permethrin to clothing, hiking boots, tents, and camp chairs. Permethrin products should never be used on skin. It remains effective on clothing through several washings. Permethrin is sold under the names Permanone and Duranon. You can use permethrin on your own clothing, but if youre expecting to need tick-proof clothing on a regular basis you may want to invest in pretreated clothing such as the line of gear sold by Ex-Officio. The treatment lasts up to 70 washings.​ 3. Wear light-colored clothing. Youll have a better chance of seeing a dark tick crawling on you before it makes its way to your skin. 4. Wear long pants and tuck them into your socks.   Tuck your pant legs into your socks, and keep your shirt tucked into your waistband. In areas where ticks are abundant, consider using rubber bands or even duct tape to create a tick-proof barrier at your cuffs. 5. Dont forget to treat your pet. Dogs often accompany their humans on the trail, and they are just as likely to attract ticks as you are. Fortunately, once-a-month treatments such as Advantage can keep ticks at bay with relatively little fuss. 6. Stay on the trail. Ticks are usually found in brush and high vegetation, waiting for a passing host. When your leg brushes through the vegetation, the tick transfers to your body. Walk on designated trails and avoid blazing your own trail through meadows or other grassy or brush-covered areas.   7. Avoid tick-infested places. In some places, ticks may be too abundant to avoid, even with the best repellents and long pants. If you venture a few feet into a wooded area or field and find your legs covered with ticks, turn around. 8. Be vigilant- do a daily tick check. Strip down and search all those places that ticks love to hide: in your hair, under your arms, between your legs, behind the knees, and even in your belly button. Remember that some ticks are tiny, so you will have to look carefully. Ask a friend to check your back, neck, and back of your legs. 9. Put your clothes in the dryer, and tumble them on high heat. Research shows many ticks can make it through the washing machine, even when you wash in hot water. Most ticks will die during a cycle in the hot, dry air of your clothes dryer, though. 10. Check your pets and your kids before letting them loose in the house. Ticks can easily drop off of pets and children onto carpets or furniture. Then they can wait there for days for a human being or pet to come along. Be sure to check both pets and children after time outdoors.

Judaism is, for Levinas, a religion for adults. What does he mean buy Essay

Judaism is, for Levinas, a religion for adults. What does he mean buy this - Essay Example Theodicy implies a vindication of the divine in spite of the manifestation and existence of wickedness; this concept of suffering has troubled many because they believe that it is a contradiction to be a good God and still let one’s creation suffer. Levinas explains that atheism would be the most obvious reaction to such a phenomenon, but this would be taking a simplistic path in understanding the matter (145). Persons who hold such a view may come to this resolution because they had a perception of God that is also simplistic; that is, of a creator who treats men like children. This God gives prizes to those who have been good and then punishes them for failing to play by the rules; in other words, he regards the human race as one with an infantile state of mind (Katz and Trout 144). However, if one were to conceive of God as a being that is more complex than the above assumption, then it is likely that one will be better able to understand the notion of suffering. Levinas adds that the God who is found in the Torah is one who hides his face in order to allow man to rely on his conscience in order to find him (145). He requires a responsible subject who would not need to depend on certain physical aids or manifestations in order to get to this level; this means, he would have to be mature. Levinas goes on to affirm that theodicy is actually not a fact but is really a product of mythic thinking that has been perpetuated over the years. When understanding such a monstrous act like the Holocaust, where 6 million Jews were killed, this scholar believes that people have to take responsibility for human behaviour. Trying to rely on theodicy to explain away these atrocious acts it to deflect human responsibility to a divine being, and this is what children would do (Katz and Trout 145). The God of the Torah is a God of adults because he requires man to

Darwin's Dangerous Ideas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Darwin's Dangerous Ideas - Essay Example That the human mind and brain are products of evolution is tough to contest, although some noticeable persons like the renowned linguist Chomsky seemingly disagree. Dennett also has an objectively conservative but at times confusing argument of the meme impression and the inferences of human learning ability. When Dennett gets into deliberations of his positions on the strong AI theory of mind and the nature of meaning, I don't think his suggestions of evolutionary theory are very strong and several of his arguments appear based more on equivalence than anything else. The book determines with a set of chapters on ethics. Part IIThe writer focused on the general evolutionary theories and comments about the theories rather than on the content of the videos. The writer focused on the arguments posed by the crusaders of other theories, for example the Christians who are strong advocates of the creation theory.   I agree with the writer’s explanation of natural selection and evol ution. The writer gives conclusive examples on the subject and goes on to compare it with the Christian belief. The writer’s understanding of the subject matter is irrefutable as he touches on all the aspects of Darwin’s work. The writer however could have focused more on the content of the videos to make his work totally conclusive. Dennett tries to raise evolutionary theory in an exertion to support his previous claim that the human is a "strong artificial intelligence (AI)" sort of architecture, a notion that has been battled dynamically.