The World Trade Organization Example For Free - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 16 Words: 4669 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Economics Essay Type Research paper Did you like this example? Executive Summary The World Trade Organisation represents the unifying global association that brings divergent economies, legal systems, customs, internal policies and political systems into a sphere whereby a common ground in terms of a level playing field is established for all member nations. Favouritism, special interest, and other imbalances are eliminated to bring the term globalisation into a uniform as well as universal context. As is expected, the World Trade Organization has defined rules, regulations, procedures and processes to ensure this level playing field remains level, regardless of the size, influence or resources of its differing members. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The World Trade Organization Example For Free" essay for you Create order And therein lies the reason as to why it has been effective. And while there are critics who have their individualistic opinions and comments, some well-founded, and others not, no one has proposed another forum to improve upon and or replace the WTO, which dispute its imperfections, functions! The preceding represents the organisation that the Russian Federation is seeking admission to. Such has been a process that has entailed over a decade and is still not concluded. The reasons for the aforementioned shall be examine herein, as well as the changes, modifications and other facets that the country is being called upon to modify in accordance with accession rules. Given the past history of the Russian Federation, the transition to a market economy has and does represent substantive changes with regard to internal policies and practices impacting upon all areas of the countrys economy. Such transitional changes have been successfully broached by China as well as Vietnam and other former communist states, so the challenge facing the Russian Federation has precedent. This examination shall delve into the aforementioned accession process with respect to the Russian Federation, looking into the countrys most dominant and important industrial sections to gauge the impact the process has, is having and will have in terms of impact. Chapter 1 – Introduction In order to understand the context of the World Trade Organisation as well as its impact on Russia, and its industries, notably oil, gas, and construction, one must delve into the broad area of world trade in general as a foundational understanding for this examination. Globalisation has been utilised as a format to discuss as well as explain many issues, world trade of course being a major component of the foregoing. Mann (1993, p. 9) provides a broad understanding of the complexities and context of globalisation through his statement â€Å"In major transitions the fundamental interrelations, and very identities, of organisations such as ‘economies or ‘states become metamorphosed. Even the very definition of ‘society may change.† The broad reference in terms of globalisation as provided from the preceding points to the need to clarify this catch phrase as used by academia, politicians as well as journalists, and economists concerning its reference in terms of this examination to distinguish it in the context of utilisation. In its general sense, globalisation represents a short method â€Å"†¦of describing the spread and connectedness of production, communication and technologies across the world† (Smith and Doyle, 2002). The context that we utilise globalisation in this examination refers to the processes â€Å"†¦of reducing barriers between countries and encouraging closer economic, political, and social interaction† (Tabb, 1999). Globalisation is also described as â€Å"†¦the creation of international strategies by organizations for overseas expansion and operation on a worldwide level.† (BNET, 2007). As a word, and concept it, globalisation, entails the technological achievements in the fields of travel and shipping, airplanes, communications and data transfer, production and outsourcing, marketing and communications, regional trading organisations and trade blocks as well as ec onomics that has called for the increased recognition of expanding the visions of countries, governments and multinational corporations to include the world view (Berger, 2005, pp. 33-38). It, globalisation, is the processes that refer to increased global interconnectivity as well as integration with respect to economic, social, cultural, political, technological, and ecological practices as countries and companies must utilise a common ground to make their products, goods, services, and ideals acceptable on the world stages in response to other countries and companies competing to expand their influence and economic power (Raskin et al, 2002, pp. 15-13). Theodore Levitt is generally credited with coining the phrase ‘globalisation in 1983 through his book â€Å"The Globalization of Markets† (Harvard Business School, 2006), however, the term, globalisation, can be traced as far back as 1944 with the ending of the Second World War. There are historians as well as economists who indicate that the process of globalisation is a centuries old phenomenon that tracks the process of human expansion, and civilisation which over the past fifty years has intensified dramatically, taking on a more structured foundation that is underpinned by economics, and the needs for uniformity (ORourke and Williamson, 2001, pp. 1-7). An while globalisation, and politics are interrelated, as a result of governmental involvement, Shaw (1999, p. 1) advises that â€Å"†¦politics has been seen as secondary to globalisation; political institutions, forces and ideas are generally believed to be responding to phenomena which are located primarily in other social realms†. This view is also shared by Gray (1998, pp. 34-54) as well as Hirst and Thompson, 1996, pp. 23-41). They explain that globalisation is a reflection of economy, sociology as well as culture, along with philosophy, which has been demonstrated through history in terms of expansionism in the ancient as well as medieval worlds, with politics as the secondary facet. Nicholson (1999, p. 23) amplifies the foregoing in stating that â€Å"†¦there were big population moves from Europe to America, both North and South, followed by the equally large but involuntary movements of Africans to the Americas (prior to 1770, more African slaves than Europeans went to the Americas †¦Ã¢â‚¬ , and that â€Å"†¦Europeans opened up sea routes to India and interactions began even if they were not always welcome †¦Ã¢â‚¬ . The point of the preceding as well as what follows in terms of globalisation, is to illustrate how deeply embedded it is in the global economy as an historical fact that has taken on increased intensity in the twenty-first century. The impact, in terms of increased trade, brought about by globalisation is illustrated in the decrease in poverty rates as shown by the following: Table 1 – Decrease in Global Poverty Rates (World Bank, 2006) Area Demographic 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 Percentage Change 1981-2002 Less than $1 a day 57.7% 38.9% 28.0% 29.6% 24.9% 16.6% 15.7% 11.1% -80.76% Less than $2 a day 84.8% 76.6% 67.7% 69.9% 64.8% 53.3% 50.3% 40.7% -52.00% Less than $1 a day 9.7% 11.8% 10.9% 11.3% 11.3% 10.7% 10.5% 8.9% -8.25% Less than $2 a day 29.6% 30.4% 27.8% 28.4% 29.5% 24.1% 25.1% 23.4% -29.94% Less than $1 a day 41.6% 46.3% 46.8% 44.6% 44.0% 45.6% 45.7% 44.0% +5.77% Less than $2 a day 73.3% 76.1% 76.1% 75.0% 74.6% 75.1% 76.1% 74.9% +2.18% The preceding represents a critical facet in understanding the contribution of globalisation to the increase of living standards through trade, and increased economic activity, which benefits developed as well as under developed countries. Within the context of this examination, the following points to the importance of world trade in terms of Russia in comparison with the rest of the world: Table 2 – Growth in the Val ue of World Merchandise Trade by Region, 2000 – 2005 (World Trade Organization, 2006) As shown by the above, the annual global percentage change in terms of exports during 2000 through 2005 averaged 1 percent, with Russia recording an average growth rate of 18 percent. More telling is that during 2004 and 2005, Russia recorded a percentage increase of 35 and 33 percent, respectively, while the global average increase during those years was 22 and 13 percent. The following Table provides closer insight into the foregoing. Table 3 – World Merchandise Exports by Region (World Trade Organization, 2006) Russias share of world trade between 2000, and 2005 increased by 18 percent in comparison with a global increase of 10 percent, with the countrys increases during 2004 and 2005 recording increases of 36 and 28 percent respectively compared against global trade increases during those years of 22 and 13 percent. The foregoing is the backdrop in terms if unde rstanding the importance of global trade as well as its impact on the countrys economy as shall be further discussed in following chapters. Chapter 2 – Literature Review 2.1 The World Trade Organization The World Trade Organization (WTO) sets forth governing principles and uniformity regarding â€Å"†¦ the rules of trade between nations at a global level †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (World Trade Organization, 2007a). It represents the primary international organisation to aid in the promotion of free trade through its foundation of rules governing the process on an international level to provide an equitable playing field that is applicable as well as just, and fair to all nations (Free Trade and Globalization, 2007). Organized in 1995, the WTO is the outgrowth of understandings as well as practices that began from the failed International Trade Organization in 1948 (World Trade Organization, 2007b). That attempt was a result of the ‘General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade that was created as a result of the Bretton Woods Conference representing a segment of the larger plan for economic recovery in the aftermath of World War II (Hoekman and Kostecki, 1995, p. 1). Its origin, GATT â€Å"†¦can be traced to the U.S. governments Proposals for the Expansion of World Trade and Employment †¦Ã¢â‚¬  that was subsequently forwarded to all countries (Srinivasan, 1998, p. 9). The Soviet Union represented the notable exception in terms of accepting the preceding invitation, which had also elected not to join the World Bank (Srinivasan, 1998, p. 9). The council oversaw deliberations that resulted in a total of 123 bilateral agreements covering 50,000 items that were negotiated in over 1,000 meeting, which resulted in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade being adopted on 18 November 1947, and signed by 23 countries (Srinivasan, 1998, p. 9). The foregoing was formalised in 1947 at the first meeting of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations held in Havana, Cuba, and said Proposals for the Expansion of World Trade and Employment were adopted unanimously (Srinivasan, 1998, p. 9). At that meeting the Economic and Social Council of th e United Nations â€Å"†¦appointed a preparatory committee for the conference consisting of the United States, Norway, Chile, Lebanon, and the fifteen countries invited by the United States for tariff-reduction negotiations. The Soviet Union again chose not to participate in the deliberations of the preparatory committee† (Srinivasan, 1998, p. 9). Between 1948 and 1994 GATT represented the only multilateral regulating body covering world trade in terms of uniform rules, requirements and measures, until it was replaced by the World Trade Organization in 1995 (Hoekman and Kostecki, 1995, p. 36). For the sake of clarity, GATT represented a set of rules for the conduct of international trade that operated without a solid institutional basis, having no provisional secretariat (UNESCO, 2007). In understanding GATT it is important to be cognizant that it, GATT, was a provisional agreement in terms of its legal status whereas the World Trade Organization, along with its agreements are permanent as well as mandatory (UNESCO, 2007). Another important distinction between the two is that GATT concerned itself only with the trade in goods, whereas the World Trade Organization covers trade in services, termed General Agreement on Trade of Services, trade related to intellectual property, which is called TRIPS as well as the trade in goods under GATT 1994, an updated version of the original GATT agreement of 1947 (UNESCO, 2007). In the World Trade Organization, its agreements are multilateral covering all member states, whereas under GATT the agreements were plurilateral, meaning selective (UNESCO, 2007). Finally, the World Trade Organization has a dispute settlement system that operates in a faster as well as more automatic methodology than the system under GATT, importantly, the WTO rulings cannot be blocked by any member states (UNESCO, 2007). The following provides a summarised illustrative timeline of GATT and the WTO: Table 4 – Time line of GATT and the WTO (Crowley, 2003, p. 43) Consisting of 150 member nations, from its original 23, the World Trade Organization oversees an estimated 97 percent of all global trade (Crowley, 2003, p. 42). The progress of the organisation in aiding in the increase of world trade as a result of the uniformity of its agreements, measures, and dispute resolution is shown by the following: Diagram 1 – Growth of Trade Among WTO Members and Tariff Decline, 1946 through 2001 (Crowley, 2003, p. 44) Reasons that are attributed to the foregoing success are found in the fact that the World Trade Organization represents reciprocity as well as non-discrimination. Reciprocity is the procedure in GATT negotiating rounds whereby a country offers to reduce a trade barrier, and a second country reciprocates through offering to reduce one of its trade barriers (Crowley, 2003, p. 44). Non-discrimination refers to equal treatment. The preceding means that if one country of fers a tariff concession, and or benefit to another member of GATT, said tariff concession, and or benefit must be offered to all GATT members (Crowley, 2003, p. 44). The foregoing two principles, reciprocity and non-discrimination, are termed by Bagwell and Staiger (2001) as the key reasons why the WTO has been successful in its role as the international arbiter of trade. In understanding the importance of the preceding, a brief discussion of tariffs within the WTO is in order. Tariffs are another form of tax, which raises the price consumers must pay for an item (goods), and either brings an imported item into price parity for a countrys domestically produced goods, or raises its price to make it more expensive in relationship to domestically produced goods (Adams et al, 1979, pp. 35-49). In the instance of smaller countries, they benefit from unilaterally lowering their tariffs as they are unable to affect the price of goods sold on the global market (Adams et al, 1979, pp. 35-49). In fact, raising tariffs for a small country would result in its being worse off as a result of the loss of welfare to consumers as transmitted by the higher prices resulting in a loss of efficiency in the market as a result of consumption distortion. In the instance of larger countries whereby their goods comprise a goodly share of the global market, a change in tariff pricing upward constitutes a different effect. This is reflected in the following figure: Diagram 2 Impact of a Tariff on a Large Country (Crowley, 2003, p. 45) The resulting scenario is more complicated. In the instances of a large country import demand represents a large share of the global market (Crowley, 2003, p. 45). As a result, the imposition of a tariff by a large country reduces import quantity demand, and causes global prices to fall (Crowley, 2003, p. 45). In terms of trade the preceding makes a country better off as it now can purchase imports at a lower price on the global mar ket (Crowley, 2003, p. 45). While the consumer pays a higher price on the imported good, the total welfare of the importing country is better off as government earns tariff revenues, and import competing producers thus earn higher profits (Crowley, 2003, p. 45). In terms of the preceding illustration, a key point that needs covering is the burden of the tax (tariff) resulting. The consumers in the subject large country pay a higher cost for the goods that are imported in this instance when the illustrative tariff is imposed, however they do not pay the full burden of the imposed tariff (Crowley, 2003, p. 45). The imposed tariff created a condition whereby the falling world price of the good impacts the foreign exporters who receive a smaller payment, thus the exporting country loses a portion of its purchasing power in terms of the global market in this scenario that worsens its trade (Crowley, 2003, p. 45). As a result some of the cost of the indicated tariff is off loaded onto the foreign producers in terms of the lowered price they receive (Crowley, 2003, p. 45). The foregoing is termed a ‘beggar tariff as the foreign producers suffer losses (Crowley, 2003, p. 45). The utilisation of this type of tariff by a large nation results in the importing country being better off, and thus the exporting country being worse off (Crowley, 2003, p. 45). Furthermore, the preceding produces what are termed as ‘inefficiencies in the global trading system that overall cause the net effect of said tariff to become negative as it produces inefficient distortions in production in both nations (Crowley, 2003, p. 45). The net / net of the foregoing is that the imposed subject example tariff is not good for the global economy as a whole, however, it benefits the importing country. The end of World War II provides an example of the preceding as many countries had high tariffs, which did not benefit the countries, and or consumers (Crowley, 2003, p. 4 5). Cooperative action on the part of countries as found under the WTO has increased the balance of good actions in terms of the foregoing dilemma. GATT, represented and represents the mechanism via which the short sighted self-interest equation has been balanced. GATT, and its reciprocal tariff reductions provided and provide such a mechanism (Narliker, 2003, pp. 12-14). In understanding the picture of global trade flows Hoekman and Kostecki (2001, p. 9) advise â€Å"Global trade flows are dominated by exchanges within and between the three major regions of the global economy (the so-called triad): Europe, North America, and East Asia. The principles and disciplines of the GATT helped governments to liberalize trade and to resist pressures for protection† the foregoing has aided in fostering increased integration of the worlds economy as a result of heightened trade levels. The centrepiece of the preceding is the World Trade Organization, which also works with the I nternational Monetary Fund, the World Bank as well as Regional Trading Blocks, and member government nations. The complexities of world trade, developing nations, and nations ascending to membership in the WTO brings with it economic, social, institutional, policies, and monetary ramifications whereby the WTO does not operate in a vacuum. The process of globalisation in todays terms means closer cooperation between various multilateral institutions in the critical roles of policy formulation as well as the differing elements constituting economic policy frameworks. The preceding means the participation and support along with assistance from the World Bank as well as the International Monetary fund in aiding developing, and ascension countries in meeting the rules, and policies to become a member of the WTO. In understanding the role of the World Trade Organization it is important to note that it does not define, and or specify outcomes for trade policies, it establishes a f ramework (Srinivasan, 1998, pp. 38-41). An example of the foregoing is provided by Article XXIX, Article 4 of the WTO, which aims â€Å"†¦to clarify the conditions under which a regional arrangement, free trade area, customs union or interim arrangement that, after a transition period, may give rise to a customs union or free trade area that is compatible with the GATT† (Landau, 2004, p. 88). The Article continues â€Å"†¦any preferential agreement between developed countries or between the latter and developing countries containing tariff preferences on a defined number of sectors is, on principle, compatible with the WTO. These arrangements must satisfy Article 4 of Article XXIV, in that they have been created in order to facilitate trade and not to form new trade barriers against non-member countries† (Landau, 2004, p. 88). It, Article XXIV, aims at ensuring regional trade arrangements result in the creation of trade as opposed to diverting it, and s eeing that adverse effects are reduced to their minimums (Landau, 2004, p. 88). In addition Article XXIV â€Å"†¦stipulates that customs duties and restrictive trade rules must be eliminated substantially on all sectors of trade originating from the territories of the regional area† (Landau, 2004, p. 88). The main objectives of the World Trade Organization are, 1). Transparency, 2). Coherence, and 3). Tariff Negotiation via which it guide the process. 2.2 The Russian Federation The Soviet Union, now known as the Russia Federation, represents a landmass that is four times the size of Europe, but having less than half of Europes population, and by comparison it is as large as the entire continent of North America (Summer, 1943, p. 1). The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics came into being in 1917, signalling the â€Å"†¦Stalinist revolution of planned industrialization and collectivisation †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Summer, 1943, p. 48). And while the change in regimes was dramatic, many things stayed essentially the same (Summer, 1943, p. 48): the â€Å"†¦ great centralisation of power †¦Ã¢â‚¬ , the â€Å"†¦ enormous range of state action †¦Ã¢â‚¬ , the â€Å"†¦ massive bureaucracy †¦Ã¢â‚¬ , the â€Å"†¦ extreme emphasis on the army †¦Ã¢â‚¬ , the â€Å"†¦ drastic use of force and the secret police †¦Ã¢â‚¬ , and the â€Å"†¦semi-deification of the leader or sovereign †¦Ã¢ €  In understanding the Soviet Union, one must be cognizant of four major facets that aid in the explanation of the preceding (Summer, 1943, p. 49): â€Å"†¦the problem of governing an immense area and a multitude of peoples with relatively low material and cultural standards †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"†¦ the problem of defence †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"†¦ the impossibility of a complete break with past customs, attitudes of mind and feeling, and ways of doing things †¦Ã¢â‚¬ , and â€Å"†¦ the communist view of the state †¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Lenins contribution to Russia was the doctrine of communism that provided â€Å"†¦the goal of communism and the vision of man new made and a revolutionary method the dictatorship of the vanguard of the proletariat organized through the Communist party and linked up with the masses through the soviets† (Summer, 1943, p. 49). â€Å"The idea both of party and of soviets was new to Russia in 1917, but they are the two institutional bases upon which the revolutionary regime has been built up† (Summer, 1943, p. 49). One of the outgrowths of the new Russia was the development of the largest militarised economy ever seen (Gaddy, 1996, p. 1). The preceding is important in understanding the context of the former Soviet economy, and the implications inherent in its ascension to the World Trade Organization. The military represented a â€Å"†¦process that affected the very nature of the system in both its political and economic dimensions† (Gaddy, 1996, p. 1). The foregoing is explained by Gaddy (1996, p. 1) as supported and fed by â€Å"Continual references to a military threat from without, intensified immensely by the campaigns of glorification of sacrifice and patriotism surrounding the victory in World War II, played a major role in creating and perpetuating the climate of secrecy and control that was necessary to justify unquestioning acceptance of Com munist rule†. It is important to understand that the militarist nature of the Soviet Union severely impacted, affected and underpinned the economic system within the country. The post – Soviet era in Russia has changed that underpinning, most notably the removal of restrictions on individuals (Gaddy, 1996, p. 1). The military industrial sector of the economy has been drastically reduced, with the armaments sector producing a very small portion of what it did in 1991 (Gaddy, 1996, p. 1). The importance of the preceding is that two out of three Russian workers who were engaged in military, and or weapons production in a system whereby militarisation represented the manner in which the State restricted free choice and allocated the countrys resources into its priority sectors (Gaddy, 1996, p. 1). While the foregoing is seemingly an issue of the past, the fact is in economic terms it is very much a part of the present, and thus germane to this examination of Russia s economy, and its accession into the World Trade Organisation. The foregoing understanding with regard to the lingering effects of public debt was brought forth by Shutaro Matsushita (1929, p. 5) in the late 1920s through his analysis of â€Å"The Economic Effects of Public Debts†, where he brought forth the concept of ‘forced loans or obligations. The preceding represents when the state undertakes to pursue a path of economic debt. The following reference does not specifically apply itself to the status of events in the Soviet Union, yet its implications in terms of economic consequences is apparent (Matsushita, 1929, p. 85): â€Å"When these government notes are suddenly issued, there is an increase in the medium of exchange, without any commercial necessity for such an increase, in other words, there, is an inflation of the currency. Prices will rise, commercial relations will be disturbed, and creditors will suffer severely. Prices rise because there is an augmented supply of money to carry on exchanges, without any necessary increase in the commodities to be exchanged. Commercial relations are disturbed because merchants and manufacturers must readjust themselves to the, sudden rise in the prices of goods. Creditors suffer, because the same nominal amount of money does not have as much purchasing power as before. Moreover, as is always the case in a period of rising prices, wage-earners suffer because the rise in wages always lags behind the rise in prices.† The size of the Soviet Union provides the country with a broad breathe of natural resources. At 22.4 million square kilometres the Soviet Union is almost four times the size of Europe, and only slightly smaller than North America (countrystudies.us, 2006). Given its vast expanse of land the country traverses a broad range of topography, thus providing it with exposure to differing types of natural resources as a result of the preceding. The country accounts for an estimated 20 percent of the global production of oil and natural gas, with large reserves of both (countrystudies.us, 2006). These reserves generate hard currency for the country, along with its vast reserves of â€Å"†¦ iron ore, manganese, chromium, nickel, platinum, titanium, copper, tin, lead, tungsten, diamonds, phosphates, and gold †¦Ã¢â‚¬  as well as huge timber reserves located in Siberia (countrystudies.us, 2006). This underpinning of vast natural resources is the core from which Russia is able to build its new economy in the face of the collapse of the Soviet Union. From 1927 through 1987, the economy of the Soviet Union operated under the foundational premise as set forth by Joseph Stalin, â€Å"†¦with only incidental modifications made between 1953 and 1987† (countrystudies.us, 2006). The control of the Soviet economy under Stalin represented the utilisation of the ‘Five Year Plan that represented the means for the country to mars hal its vast resources into materials for production (Ilin et al, 1931, p. 18). It was a backward country compared to Europe, primarily Britain, France, and the United States with relatively no internal infrastructure, factories, transportation systems, cities, and industry. The policies of the ‘five year plan have been argued as being one of the most effective means for pulling the then backward Soviet Union out of the eighteenth century, and into the twentieth century as it was such a vast undertaking (Ilin et al, 1931, pp. 27-31). In order to solidify their power the socialists had to find a means to implement real progress within the country as a demonstration of the vision, success, and foresight of their system in addressing the massive problems of the country In addition to the pressures from within, there were external pressures as represented by capitalists countries which were impacting upon internal pricing structures as a result of Russias inability to compe te in terms of productivity, and market efficiencies (James, 1937, pp. 197-207). The ‘five year plan represented a means via which the state could plan the progress of the country as well as administer its control policies, and solidify its absolute power. It, the five-year plan, represented â€Å"†¦the chief mechanisms the Soviet government used to translate economic policies into programs† (countrystudies.us, 2006). For over sixty years the Russian economy was controlled by the state under the principles of centralised planning, which represented virtual control over all aspects of production, investment as well as consumption (countrystudies.us, 2006). The central planning concept also served to enable the country to marshal its resources quickly, as demonstrated by the invasion by Nazi forces. But, the problems of centralised planning, and its abuses were also evident in that Soviet industry was able to purchase raw materials such as oil, coal, and nat ural gas at prices that were below the global market levels, thus encouraging waste, and inefficiencies (countrystudies.us, 2006). The appointment of Mikhial Gorbachev as the General Secretary of the Community Party in 1985 is hailed as the beginning of the demise of the Soviet Union as a result of his reform policies of glasnost, democratisation and most of all perestroika (Graham, 2007). Glasnost (1990) represented a policy that called for openness, maximisation of publicity, and transparency concerning the activities of the state, along with the implementation of freedom of information (Bettaux et al, 2004, p. 8). The preceding was put into effect by Gorbachev in an effort to reduce the internal corruption at the head of the Communist Party as well as government, and Central Committee (Bettaux et al, 2004, p. 10-14). Democratisation in Russia, as brought forth by Gorbachev, implied increased public discussions, primarily on cultural as well as economic issues, along wit h the increased interaction of leaders of the Communist party with the populace, and some liberalisation of personal freedoms and censorship relaxation (Ross, 2002, pp. 18-20). Gorbachev stated in 1989 that theâ€Å"†¦ republics rights of sovereignty were largely formal in nature. Up to now†, and he noted, â€Å"Our state has existed as a centralized and unitary state and none of us has yet the experience of living in a federation† (Kux, 1990, p. 2). Of all of Gorbachevs policies, perestroika is credited with becoming the unintended cat.

What Are Some Effects Of Divorce Or Separation On Children

Review of Literature Research Question: What are some effects of divorce or separation on children? Introduction Divorce is defined as the legal dissolution of a marriage by a court or other competent body. Divorce and parental separation can be very damaging to children and can have adverse effects. (Anderson, 2014, pg 379) Although each family is different, divorce has been shown to cause problems in a child’s relationships with their parents, cause issues in their education, and a child may lose emotional security. (Anderson, 2014, pg 380) He or she possibly having to spend less time with each parent affects his or her relationship with the parent. (Anderson, 2014, pg 380) â€Å"Children of divorced parents are more likely to have lower grade point averages† (Jeynes, 1998). Divorce can affect a child’s emotional security because the child will have a weakened relationship with one of their parents or other relatives. (Amato and Afifi, 2006) Parent- Child Relationships Children, and their love toward their parent â€Å"are an important resource for divorced parents but at the same time, they may necessitate continued contact with their ex-spouse, which may lead to the children being thought of a symbol of disappointment from the marriage† (Cohen, Dottan, pg 82). â€Å"Amato and Booth (1996) found that if there were problems in the parent-child relationship before divorce, it predicted parent’s low affection for their children after divorce during the â€Å"stormy period† or theShow MoreRelatedStruggling with the Idea of Divorce in Constance Matthiessens Article, Harry Potter and Divorce Among the Muggles747 Words   |  3 Pages Divorce it may be an Option! New research into the effects of divorce is slowly bringing around a more common belief that with the appropriate actions the effects divorce has on children can be minimized. 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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, on average 50% of marriages result in a failed marriage. This percentage has been at it’s all time high. Not many couples have sustained a successful marriage in present days. Divorces have been around for a long time, and unfortunately kids have always been affected the most according to their age. As a result of divorce, there are many children that have to go through this situation at a very young ageRead MoreDivorce Is Becoming A Worldwide Occurrence1530 Words   |  7 PagesDivorce is becoming a worldwide occurrence, notably affecting children’s well being. It radically alliterates their future causing damaging effects. According to (Julio Cà ¡ceres-Delpiano and Eugenio Giolito, 2008) nearly 50% of marriages end with divorce. 90% of children who lived in the USA in the 1960s stayed with their own biological parents, whereas today it makes up only 40% (Hetherington, E. Mavis, and Margaret Stanley-Hagan, 1999). 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Daybreak Express free essay sample

Daybreak Express what happens with the beat of the music and the tempo? In Daybreak Express the beat and the tempo of the music is it keeps speeding up and getting more fast peace. What mode of transportation was a favorite of Elongations and is imitated in several of his songs? Elongations favorite mode of transportation would riding the train. 3. What song was the theme song of Duke Elongations band? The theme song of Duke Elongations band is Take the A train. 4.What instrument does Longtime SE to set the mood or rhythm of some of his songs, such as in Sophisticated Lady? Duke Longtime uses the piano to set the mood or rhythm of some of his songs. Longtime started sneaking into Frank Holidays Poolroom at the age of fourteen. Hearing the poolroom pianists play ignited Elongations love for the instrument and he began to take his piano studies seriously. We will write a custom essay sample on Daybreak Express or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 5. What does program music do? Program music is instrumental music that tells a story with explicit episodes or reveals facets off character. Part II 1 .Find an example of onomatopoeia In Dream Boogie and another In The Weary Blues. In Dream Boogie and example would be :Hey Pop, Re-bop, Mop Y-E-A-H and an example In The Weary Blues it would be:He made that poor piano MOAN. 2. Fled an example of assonance In Dream Boogie and another In The Weary Blues. Examples of assonance pop, re-bop, mop; lazy sway poor Plano moan. 3. Len The Weary Blues look at the format of the poem. Notice the lines which are Indented. How does this compare to call and response used In Jazz? When they say, Oh Blues, and Sweet Blues!Its similar to the responses of the congregation to a minister, when the group says, Oh, yeah! and Say It, Brother! 4. Len The Weary Blues there are several examples of personification. List at least two examples. The two examples are Plano moan sleep Like a rock. Len The Weary Blues what words set a tone for the poem? What Is the tone? Lazy, moan, sad, melancholy, troubles, weary, died. Sad, fatigued. 6. An Dream Boogie look at the beat of the lines. What happens as the poem evolves? How does this compare with Daybreak Express by Duke Longtime?They get shorter, thus faster. It makes the person sound more happy excited. 7. Compare Dream Boogie with The Weary Blues. How do the moods of the two poems differ? The mood of the first Is happy excited, the second sad tired. 1 . Find an example of onomatopoeia in Dream Boogie and another in The Weary an example In The Weary Blues it would be:He made that poor piano MOAN. 2. Find an example of assonance in Dream Boogie and another in The Weary Blues. Examples of assonance pop, re-bop, mop; lazy sway poor piano moan.

Critical Commentary of Book Ends by Tony Harrison free essay sample

Book Ends by Tony Harrison is a poem about the death of the writer’s mother, and the effect this has on the complicated relationship between father and son, who are unable to relate to each other or communicate emotionally. The tone of the poem is melancholic, reflecting on the theme of death and the breakup of family, with a bitter edge in the description of the unbridgeable rift between father and son which widens following the mother’s death. The poem is separated into two parts, each with sixteen lines, and is loosely based on an iambic pentameter metre. The rhyme scheme is ABAB throughout the poem, with the noticeable exception of the last four lines of part II, in which it changes to ABBA, reflecting a time shift in the poem’s narration. The first ten lines are made up of couplets, but the general structure is flexible and there is no strict format or line grouping to the poem – this is perhaps representative of the emotions and disjointed thought pr ocesses felt by the writer following his mother’s death. The two parts of the poem take place at different points in time. Narrated by the son from a first person perspective, part I describes his and his father’s reactions immediately after the death of the mother and introduces their problematic relationship. The first line is a sudden and mildly unsettling beginning to the poem, and juxtaposes the homely, familiar image of a homemade apple with the stark reality of death in a reminder that devastation can strike at even the most ordinary of moments. The father and son slowly chew over both the pie and the actuality of the mother’s death as they begin to come to terms with their loss. The father, ‘shocked into sleeplessness’, seems to feel the absence of his wife most profoundly, and his son accuses him of being ‘scared of bed’ and unable to face his loneliness. He reflects that the two of them have always had difficulty communicating, but now in the time when they need each other’s support most they don’t even try and share their grief. This is the first hint of the awkward relationship existing between the father and son, which becomes a central theme later on in the poem. The next two lines are spoken by the mother, who compares her husband and son to book ends. This concept, which the reader first encounters in the title, is an extended simile within the first part of the poem, and characterises the similarities and differences between the father and son. Just like book ends, which look identical but face opposite directions, they are much the same in terms of appearance and habitudes, but as we find out in the next couplet these resemblances only go so far and do not translate into a close relationship. Here we are told that while the father is ‘worn out on poor pay’ and comes from a working class background, the son is a ‘scholar’, who has had a university education. The use of inverted commas here suggests the writer is being sarcastic and somewhat tongue-in-cheek about his educational prowess, which adds a sense of irony to their dissimilarity. This contrast of circumstances means that despite their physical resemblances and close blood relations, they have very little in common – indeed, as the writer says, they are linked solely by their uncommunicativeness: ‘only our silence made us a pair’. In the next couplet, the writer tells us that blue gas fires are ‘not as good for staring in’, perhaps in comparison to a wood fire in the grate the mother described the father and son as hogging earlier on in the poem. This is evidence that time has passed and things, including technology, have moved on from the days which the mother is referring to. It is also a link to Tony Harrison’s poem Long Distance II, in which he tells us that his father kept his mother’s slippers warming by the gas even after her d eath, a habit so ingrained into his everyday life that he can’t help himself from continuing it even when the wearer of the slippers is long gone. The writer makes a point of comparing the two types of flame: this could indicate that he has a lot of time on his hands, and, without any idea of how to fill it, spends long hours staring into the fire, perhaps in his father’s silent company. He describes the blue gas flame as being ‘too regular each bud, each yellow spike’, and this criticism is perhaps evidence of his inner turmoil and a need for a chaotic emotional outlet. The next couple of lines portray the idea that it is only through the mother that the father and son are united. In life, her presence and assurances that they are alike linked them, and once she is gone, there is little to bring them together except their shared grief, which as they are so emotionally divided they find impossible to communicate. Up until this point, the narrator of the poem has clearly been the son, but it is unclear who is speaking in the line ‘Your life’s all shattered to smithereens’, or indeed whose life is being referred to in this highly effective image of broken glass, smashed into tiny shards. It could be the son talking to the father or vice versa, or the mother talking to either one of them, but equally the shattered life in question could be the mother’s, in that her life, which once combined her husband, her son and herself in one family, is now fragmented into separate pieces following her death as the father and son drift apart. Earlier on in the poem we are told that the son and father come from very different cultural backgrounds, but it is only in the last three lines of the part I that we realise that the son’s education is not merely a dividing factor but a considerable bone of contention between him and his father. In an attempt to bond with each other, t hey turn to drink to forget their grief, but it is to no avail as they revert to their perpetual silence and inability to relate to one another, communicating solely by ‘sullen looks’. Separated by the son’s academia and learning, it is not age which poses the problem, but a university degree and ‘books, books, books’. This repetition is effective in emphasising the gap between them, and concludes the extended metaphor of part I: the books, representing knowledge and education, do not only alienate the father and son, but also separate the book ends to which the two men are compared earlier in the poem, in a highly effective double metaphor. The second part jumps forward in time, to a point a while after the mother’s death when the father and son, divided in all other fields but united once more by the mother, are deciding what to have cut on her gravestone. As they come from a modest financial background, the stone is far from grand and there is little room for flowery words or description, so the wording must be concise and to the point. In the next couplet, the father expresses his anger and exasperation: he was certain that with his son’s learning and knowledge of words he would effortlessly produce something touching and eloquent for the headstone, but the son, devastated by his mother’s death, is unable to find the words needed to commemorate her in his grief. The father is incredulous, and tells him dismissively that ‘it’s not as if we’re wanting verse’, implying that it must be easier to  find the words to write on his one’s mother’s gravestone than to write a poem. The next few lines of the poem are further evidence of the father and son’s lack of common relations, as they are united once more by alcohol in their attempt to deal with their suffering. Under the influence of whisky, perhaps the only way he can express himself without inhibitions, the father says he had always been ‘clumsy talker’, and admits that he can’t come up with anything better for the headstone that ‘beloved wife’, which he seems to consider inelegant and unworthy of the emotion he would express if he had the words to do so. There is a certain bitterness in the writer’s tone when he reflects that while his father is open about his own lack of eloquence, which itself reveals hi s working class origins, his words are not so unpolished to be incapable of making a caustic remark. The phrase ‘still can’t cut’ has a double meaning, as it refers to both this and the action of cutting the words into the gravestone. The father’s anger is manifest at his son’s inability to produce an inscription for the grave, and he tells his son that he is ‘supposed to be the bright boy at description’, in an obvious jibe about his university education. The use of an exclamation mark and the word ‘fuck’ in his comment are evidence of his considerable anger and frustration, and are also evidence of a dysfunctional family situation. The line ‘I’ve got to find the right words on my own’ is another ambiguous line, as it is not clear who is speaking. The reader gets the idea that the father could be saying the words after he realises his son is incapable of producing anything better, in a kind of exasperation. However the line could also be spoken by the writer, either as a response to the father’s insistence that he come up with something beautiful and touching for the inscription, or some time afterwards, when his father has passed away and he is left truly alone to choose the words for their shared headstone. This double narrative emphasises the solitude of the two men in the face of death, and their isolation from one another. In the last three lines, the writer tells us he has found the envelope on which his father had been scribbling ideas for his wife’s headstone. He describes the words as ‘mis-spelt, mawkish’ and ‘stylistically appalling’, but admits that he cannot find a way to better express the loss he has experienced, or in other words is unable to ‘squeeze more love into their stone’. The use of the word ‘their’ in this metaphor subtly explains that the gravestone is shared, and  that the father has passed away and is now buried alongside the writer’s mother. It is in this final concluding line that the writer freely admits that despite his education and writing ability, he cannot seem to manage to write anything more honest or pure than his father’s unsophisticated words. The poem has a personal register, with intimate emotional description. The majority of the lines use informal language and syntax, such as the father’s exclamation ‘Come on, it’s not as if we’re wanting verse’, which is very much an expression of the vernacular. By avoiding overly flamboyant phrases, the poem does not lose its authenticity, and the raw emotion comes across effortlessly. Simple and unaffected, the writer’s voice relates with painfully truthful accuracy the consequences the death of a loved one can have on an already strained family situation. Tony Harrison is open and honest, and his poem uses a remarkable lack of the melodramatic imagery and ideas expressed in many poems which deal with death. In this way Book Ends shares certain likenesses with his poem Long Distance II, which is similarly written in a conversational tone and contains few grandiloquent metaphors. A major theme in Book Ends is one of pairs. Aside from the book ends of the title, the father and son are made to ‘seem a pair’ in their habits and appearances, and it is this comparison which is at an uncomfortable odds with the rest of the themes discussed, primarily the conflict between the two of them. Furthermore, the poem is structured into two parts, again reflecting the idea of pairs. The poem Book Ends is a reflection on the inadequacy of words, and that the feeling behind them is often more important than the way the idea is expressed. Tony Harrison considers what it is to be a poet, and what purpose it serves to be able to manipulate words into shapes and images if, even as a learned man with a greater degree of education than his working class father can ever hope to have, he is unable to produce a fitting tribute to his departed parents.

A Plot Summary of Our Town

A Plot Summary of Our Town Written by Thorton Wilder, Our Town is a play that  explores the lives of people living in a small, quintessentially American town. It was first produced in 1938 and received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play is divided into three aspects of the human experience: Act One: Daily Life Act Two: Love / Marriage Act Three: Death / Loss Act One The Stage Manager, serving as the play’s narrator, introduces the audience to Grover’s Corners, a small town in New Hampshire. The year is 1901. In the early morning, only a few folks are about. The paperboy delivers papers. The milkman strolls by. Dr. Gibbs has just returned from delivering twins. Note: There are very few props in Our Town. Most of the objects are pantomimed. The Stage Manager arranges a few (real) chairs and tables. Two families enter and begin pantomiming breakfast. The Gibbs Family Dr. Gibbs: Hardworking, soft-spoken, disciplined.Mrs. Gibbs: The Doctor’s wife. She believes her husband is overworked and should take a vacation.George: Their son. Energetic, friendly, sincere.Rebecca: George’s little sister. The Webb Family Mr. Webb: Runs the town’s newspaper.Mrs. Webb: Strict but loving to her children.Emily Webb: Their daughter. Bright, hopeful and idealistic.Wally Webb: Her younger brother. Throughout the morning and the rest of the day, the townspeople of Grover’s Corner eat breakfast, work in town, do household chores, garden, gossip, go to school, attend choir practice, and admire the moonlight. Some of Act One’s More Compelling Moments Dr. Gibbs calmly chastises his son for forgetting to chop firewood. When George has tears in his eyes, he hands him a handkerchief and the matter is resolved.Simon Stimson, the church organist, leads the church choir while intoxicated. He staggers home drunk and deeply troubled. The constable and Mr. Webb try to assist him, but Stimson wanders away.  Webb wonders how the man’s sorry situation will end, but decided there is nothing to be done about it.Emily Webb and George Gibbs sit at their windows (according to the stage directions, they are perched on ladders). They talk about algebra and the moonlight. Their words are mundane, perhaps, but their fondness for each other is obvious.Rebecca tells her brother a funny story about a letter Jane Crofut received from a minister. It was addressed: Jane Crofut; The Crofut Farm; Grover’s Corners; Sutton County; New Hampshire; United States of America; North America; Western Hemisphere; the Earth; the Solar System; the Univers e; the Mind of God. Act Two The Stage Manager explains that three years have passed. It is the wedding day of George and Emily. The Webb and Gibbs parents lament how their children have grown so quickly. George and Mr. Webb, his soon-to-be father-in-law, awkwardly converse about the futility of marital advice. Before the wedding commences, the Stage Manager wonders how it all began, both this specific romance of George and Emily, as well as the origins of marriage in general. He takes the audience back in time a bit, to when George and Emily’s romantic relationship began. In this flashback, George is the captain of the baseball team. Emily has just been elected as the student body treasurer and secretary. After school, he offers to carry her books home. She accepts but suddenly reveals how she does not like the change in his character. She claims that George has become arrogant. This seems to be a false accusation, however, because George immediately apologizes. He is very grateful to have such an honest friend as Emily. He takes her to the soda shop, where the Stage Manager pretends to be the store owner. There, the boy and girl reveal their devotion to one another. The Stage Manager segues back to the wedding ceremony. Both the young bride and groom are scared about getting married and growing up. Mrs. Gibbs snaps her son out of his jitters. Mr. Webb calms his daughter’s fears. The Stage Manager plays the role of the minister. In his sermon, he says of the countless who have gotten married, â€Å"Once in a thousand times it’s interesting.† Act Three The final act takes place in a cemetery in 1913. It is set upon a hill overlooking Grover’s Corner. About a dozen people sit in several rows of chairs. They have patient and somber faces. The Stage Manager tells us that these are the dead citizens of the town. Among the recent arrivals are: Mrs. Gibbs: Died of pneumonia while visiting her daughter.Wally Webb: Died young. His appendix burst during a Boy Scout trip.Simon Stimson: Facing troubles the audience never understands, he hangs himself. A funeral procession approaches. The dead characters comment nonchalantly about the new arrival: Emily Webb. She died while giving birth to her second child. The spirit of Emily walks away from the living and joins the dead, sitting next to Mrs. Gibbs. Emily is pleased to see her. She talks about the farm. She is distracted by the living as they grieve. She wonders how long the sensation of feeling alive will last; she is anxious to feel like the others do. Mrs. Gibbs tells her to wait, that it is best to be quiet and patient. The dead seem to be looking to the future, waiting for something. They are no longer emotionally connected to the troubles of the living. Emily senses that one can return to the world of the living, that one can revisit and re-experience the past. With the help of the Stage Manager, and against the advice of Mrs. Gibbs, Emily returns to her 12th birthday. However, everything is too beautiful, too emotionally intense. She chooses to go back to the numbing comfort of the grave. The world, she says, is too wonderful for anyone to truly realize it. Some of the dead, such as Stimson, express bitterness to the ignorance of the living. However, Mrs. Gibbs and the others believe that life was both painful and wonderful. They take comfort and companionship in the starlight above them. In the last moments of the play, George returns to weep at Emily’s grave. EMILY: Mother Gibbs? MRS. GIBBS: Yes, Emily? EMILY: They don’t understand, do they? MRS. GIBBS: No, dear. They don’t understand. The Stage Manager then reflects upon how, throughout the universe, it may be that only the inhabitants of the earth are straining away. He tells the audience to get a good night’s rest. The play ends.

Webinars in Education

Webinars in Education A webinar is a synchronous distance education, synchronized with live instructors. Instant messaging applications like AIM, Skype, Pidgin, BigBlueButton and web conferencing are very useful in conducting webinars. The tutor, while factoring in the knowledge level of the trainees/participants, spearheads the session. This form of learning allows learners and their tutor(s) to interact in a similar way as in an actual classroom.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Webinars in Education specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Students or trainees ask questions and prompt feedback is given to them in an interactive style (Hrastinski, 2008). Students are able to make prompt clarifications that would only be made in an actual classroom set up. Therefore, the webinars are an imitation of a real classroom and they allow trainees and their moderators to interact and share information. Thematic change in synchronous learning is sudden an d usually not anticipated by trainees/students. Webinars are speedy because so much is to be achieved within a short period of time. As a result, there is usually interference as students continue to give input to old themes while a moderator is already establishing new themes (Synchronous Course Delivery, 2012). The time taken to internalize ideas and type any comment is long to the extent that moderators will have proceeded to subsequent themes. The occurrence of multiple time zones is challenging because the participants cannot participate and engage in thoughtful discussions and assignment in the same way. When it is night-time, some participants may be very exhausted and will not have the enthusiasm required to actively participate in the seminar sessions. Alternatively, the session may conflict with the busy schedules for some trainees (Synchronous Course Delivery, 2012). References Hrastinski, S. (2008). A study of asynchronous and synchronous e-learning methods discovered th at each supports different purposes. EDUCAUSE QUARTERLY, 4, 51-55.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Macaulay, L., Dyer, L. (2011, November 14). Interactive web conferencing brings big benefits to the online classroom. Faculty Focus. Web. Relearning Learning- Applying the Long Tail to Learning [MITVIDEO]. Web. Synchronous Course Delivery. (2012). Elearning Faculty Modules. Web.

ETHICAL AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF ICT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

ETHICAL AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF ICT - Essay Example Radio, television, and print media like newspapers and magazines were the main source of information and communication in the earlier days in the developing countries. However the recent decades witness the increased use of mobile phones, internet, and other new technological applications like VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol - implying the transmission of telephonic conversation over the internet) being the advanced utility of ICT. The usage of such improved applications has been found to exist in large numbers in the developing countries. The mobile phone usage can be identified as the most rapid and voluminous in the ICT growth in the developing countries. For examples the total access to telephone connection including the fixed land line and mobile connections in the developing countries has shown an increase from 2 percent in the year 1991 to about 31 percent in the year 2004. Similarly the internet usage in the developing countries has increased from a meager 0.03 percent in the year 1994 to over 6.7 percent in the year 2004. (Parliamentary POST Note) There are certain ICT ... Examples of the Contribution of ICT to the Economies of Developing Countries There are certain ICT projects undertaken in the developing countries that involve the role and contribution of international community, the Non-Government Organizations, education department, rural governments, and the industry. These projects have the objective of extending the benefits of ICT to a wide range of sectors like health, education, trade and commerce, scientific research and development capabilities, human right awareness and empowerment of women - all are closely related to the social causes of the community in general in the developing countries. However it must be noted that the benefits of ICT are not fully utilized by the developing countries for the growth and development of their economies due to inadequate infrastructural facilities and also due to lack of required human capital to support the growth of ICT. Some of the examples of ICT projects in the developing countries towards social causes are: Health Sector: The telemedicine project in Kenya has the objective of providing an online network of medical consultations for all the hospitals and health centers in Mali. The website is being used solely by the physicians while the other health care staff is also encouraged to contribute to the functioning of the telemedicine project. Women Empowerment: The Grameen Bank a non-government project in Bangladesh provides low cost loans to the ladies to set up mobile phone exchanges. With the income from the mobile exchanges the ladies are able to improve the standards of their living and educate their children. (Parliamentary POST Note) Development in Human Rights: In Zimbabwe the Kubatana Trust using Email and internet provides the human rights and civic

Cammunication Channels Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cammunication Channels - Essay Example Communication channels refer to modes of transfer of information from a sender to a receiver. Some examples of communication channels are face-to-face communication, telephone, meetings, and letters. This paper explores communication cases to determine the most appropriate communication channel for each case. Situation 1 A company’s competitor has acquired it and 15 percent of its employees will be laid off in the next three months. Best communication channel The best communication channel for the case is the use of internal memo that is selected on the following criteria. Formality Poor feedback potential Poor interpersonal warmth It is economical Justification A memo formal and develops a general perception of an organization’s official position because any employee who reads it knows that it is a communication from the organization’s authority. The legal scope of the case also requires formal communication to facilitate implementation of the acquisition. Anoth er reason the channel is its poor feedback potential. While the case requires immediate delivery, any form of feedback is not necessary and should be discouraged because they do not add value to the adopted position. Adopting a channel with a poor feedback capacity such as a memo would therefore benefit the organization’s management (Robbins and Coulter, 2007). The nature of the message, being a bad message to the employees, also requires a communication channel that is generally associated with unfriendly types of information. Memos, for instance, is poor on â€Å"interpersonal warmth† and this prepares the recipient of the possibility of some bad news (Robbins and Coulter, 2007, p. 295). This is therefore beneficial to recipients who are emotionally unstable as it allows them to prepare and adjust before receiving the exact news. Memo would also be suitable because of its relatively low cost that makes it economical to the management (Robbins and Coulter, 2007). Situ ation 2 A customer has sent an email to complain about an employee. Investigations have proved validity of the customer’s claim and the issue must be communicated to the employee. Best communication channel The best communication channel is face-to-face communication and is selected based on the following criteria. Efficient room for feedback Confidentiality Ease of encoding It is friendly Justification Face-to-face communication has efficient feedback ability and therefore allows for the employee’s response to the customer’s complaint. This is because in as much as the claim is believed to be true, a good decision making or conflict resolution requires hearing both parties to a case. Confidentiality of the communication channel that leads to protection of human resource factors such as the employee’s motivation and confidence in work also makes face-to-face communication the best channel. This is because the case could have been an isolated instance of a mistake and a personal approach would identify the mistake to the employee without causing embarrassments. The ease of encoding information in the communication channel will also ensure that the employee understand the concern and will lead to corrective measures. The involved friendliness of face-to-face communication also has a positive effect of offering leadership to the employee who may need training and guidance in the course of duty (Robbins and Coulter, 2007; Guffey and Loewy, 2012). Situation 3 The company’s founder, who is popular among members of the organization, has died of a chronic disease and information about his death needs to be communicated to the members. Best communication channel Group meeting of all members of the organization would be the best communication channel as illustrated by the following criteria. Involved time Cost Instant feedback Ease of encoding Justification The ability of group meetings to deliver a message instantly ensures delivery o f the message as soon as possible. This is because its limited time constraint makes it suitable for the situation that

Synoptic Gospels Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Synoptic Gospels - Essay Example Synoptic problem†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦8 7. Faith seeking understanding†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦9 8. Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..10 9. Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..11 Introduction The first three books in the New Testament (Mathew, Mark , and Luke) are referred to as synoptic gospels. These books talk about similar subjects an d stories concerning Jesus Christ. However, these books do not cover the events about Jesus Christ in the same length and detail. The books cover the events surrounding the life of Jesus Christ in the same sequence, and in most cases, have used similar words1. Relationship between the Synoptic Gospels The book of Mathew was written about 6 years after the ascension of Jesus Christ. This is according to the chronology of gospels that are found in the crucial dates in the lives of Mary and her son, Jesus Christ. The book of Mark followed after the writing of the gospel according to St. Mathew. It was written about 16 years after the ascension of Jesus Christ. The gospel according to St. Luke was written 27 years after the ascension of Jesus Christ while John wrote about 62 years after the ascension2. ... It is important to note that the synoptic gospels have difference and similarities. The similarities cannot be explained just in terms of event sequences. These books differ in terms of language, grammar, and expression3. The first similarity among the synoptic is seen in their chronology. After Mathew’s gospel had been written and widely read by other Christians, the gospel according to Mark was written. It is assumed that Mark wrote the gospel after reading the work of Mathew. This is due to the fact that Mark could read Hebrew, the language that Mathew used in writing his gospel. The main difference between the three gospels is seen in respect of languages used by the two gospel writers were using. Mark was using Latin to write the gospel after reading the Hebrew version of Mathew4. After Mark and Mathew had written their gospels, Luke wrote his gospel. The writing of the gospel according to Luke is assumed to have been influenced by the writings of Mark and Mathew since th eir gospels had been circulated widely. However, Luke could not interpreted Hebrew language in which Mathew’s gospel was written. The difficulty in understanding Hebrew explains why Luke’s gospel is more similar to that of Mark that Mathew. John’s gospel does not fall under the synoptic gospels because the book was written several years after the synoptic gospels had been written and were in wide circulation. The synoptic had already been translated into other languages when John decided to write the gospel. The difference between the synoptic and John’s gospel is in respect of the fact that John did not want to repeat the same events that had been narrated. John knew that his gospel was directed toward the whole church unlike the synoptic that were directed to specific audiences. The

Alternative Mating Strategies of Animals

Alternative Mating Strategies of Animals Animal Behaviour Essay Reproductive success can be defined as a mechanism which allows the passing of genes from one generation to the next in such a way that the offspring will too successfully pass on these genes. When male reproductive success depends on male-male competition and aggression, as is usually the case in polygamous species, individuals who are at a competitive disadvantage sometimes adopt an entirely different constellation of reproductive behaviours. In most cases, individuals practice only a single reproduction option throughout their lifetime (Kelly R. Zamudio, 2000). However, when such alternative mating patterns are practiced as part of a developmental sequence, they can be considered parts of a single lifetime reproductive strategy (Kelly R. Zamudio, 2000). Alternative Mating strategies have long fascinated behavioural biologists. A system in which not all males are equal in physical attributes (phenotypes) and have therefore developed an alternative strategy in order to pass on indiv idual genes by producing offspring (Kelly R. Zamudio, 2000). We hear of sneakers, satellites, mate guarding and more. Alternative mating strategies shed light on fundamental evolutionary processes (Kelly R. Zamudio, 2000). How can sexual selection overcome the combined forces of natural selection on males and female who oppose it? Highly modified male phenotypes are well known to impose great survival costs upon the males that possess them (Kelly R. Zamudio, 2000). How is it that these extreme male variants, as well as the females that mate with or produce them, are not simply eliminated by natural selection outright (Kelly R. Zamudio, 2000). Alternative mating strategies invade a population when relatively few conventional individuals secure mates. There are two types of alternative strategies exist. First, phenotype differences through polymorphism and second, genetically determined alternative strategies (Kelly R. Zamudio, 2000). The side-blotched lizard, (Uta stansburianathe), is a small common territorial lizard that is widely distributed in North America. Males of this species are highly territorial and their mating system has been described as resource-defence polygyny, with large territory holders gaining access to females whose home ranges are included within their territory (Stanley F. Fox, 2003). Some populations of this species in the coastal range of California exhibit a curious combination of alternative states that has been described as a rock paper scissors game (Stanley F. Fox, 2003). Three alternative strategies interact in a system that has no single winner; instead each male has strengths that allow it to out- compete one other strategy, but weaknesses that leave it vulnerable to tactics of the third (Stanley F. Fox, 2003). Orange-throated males are aggressive, have higher levels of testosterone, and vigorously defend large territories, which presumably affords them access to larger number of females (Stanley F. Fox, 2003). Blue-throated males are also territorial but mate guarders and stay with their females after copulating. Mate guarding may prevent their female from copulating with other males, however this behaviour interferes with territorial defence, and potentially limiting access by blue males to additional mates (Stanley F. Fox, 2003). Yellow-throated males are non- territorial of other mates and copulate with their females. In order to do this sneakers not only behave surreptitiously to avoid detection, but also rely on female mimicry, their throat and dorsal coloration are most similar to patterns found in females (Stanley F. Fox, 2003). Each male has specific behavioural attributes that allow it to out compete only one of the other males orange-throated males are able to outcompete the blue-throated mate guarders through aggression (Stanley F. Fox, 2003). On the other hand mate-guarding of blue males allows them to out-compete yellow sneakers, effectively d eter sneakers from copulating. Yellow throated sneakers have been most successful at mating with the orange throated females in that territory (Stanley F. Fox, 2003). This is a genetically based system requires very specific evolutionary conditions (Stanley F. Fox, 2003). Previous behavioural estimates of fitness found that the three males exist in an evolutionary stable state. Negative frequency-dependent selection maintains each phenotype in the population and all three males may have equal fitness (Stanley F. Fox, 2003). Fitness of sneakers will be highest when orange males are present in large numbers, because this should offer sneakers ample opportunity to sneak copulation from within territories of these males (Stanley F. Fox, 2003). Long term fitness of strategies must average the frequency-dependent fitness of each morph at all stages of cycle and across the entire population (Stanley F. Fox, 2003). This requires long term paternity data sets. Analysis for local frequency-dependent processes that underlie these patterns provides a more rapid assessment of the focus maintaining alternative strategies in this population (Stanley F. Fox, 2003 ). Demonstrating frequency-dependent selection provides a better estimate of the global stability of the system is maintained by negative frequency dependence in which rare morphs have a fitness advantage (Stanley F. Fox, 2003). The scale at which these behavioural interactions occur is the level of competing groups of neighbouring males, in that the exact composition of males within a neighbourhood is expected to determine the fitness of all males within that group. For example the success of any one male should depend on the number of the other two males that come in direct competition with him (Stanley F. Fox, 2003). Another species that exhibits alternative mating strategies within species is the fallow deer. Males of this species may adopt alternative mating strategies within single populations (Thirgood, 1990). There are several explanations for this; Thirgood declared that first, a particular strategy may be optimal under certain environmental or social conditions (Thirgood, 1990). Secondly the best strategy for an individual to adopt may depend upon the strategies adopted by other males in the population (Thirgood, 1990). Third, males may simply be making the best of a bad situation, because they are incapable of competing with other males to gain maximum access to females (Thirgood, 1990). Fallow deer follow three types of mating strategies the first of which is the pursuit of a non-territorial strategy. The second strategy is to defend one single territory which may or may not contain resources desired. The last strategy is to defend multiple or what are known as lek territories (Thirgood, 1990). Lek breeding is an uncommon mating system that has only been described in five ungulate species, including the Uganda and white-eared kob and the fallow deer (Thirgood, 1990). In lek breeding species males conjugate on small clustered mating territories, which females visit solely for the purpose of copulation (Thirgood, 1990). Males do not provide paternal investment other than gametes and their territories do not contain resources required by females other than the males themselves (Thirgood, 1990). Lekking rarely appears as a pure strategy within populations, but usually as an alternative to single territory defence. Most studies of lek breeding ungulates have suggested that males holding territories on the lek have much higher mating rates than those holding single territories away from the lek, and that these latter males are simply poor competitors (Thirgood, 1990). Fallow deer in the Blackensford region of the New Forest form part of a managed population of approximately 2000 animals inhabiting an area of mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland, heartland, bogs and grasslands (Thirgood, 1990). Mating is highly seasonal, taking place largely in the half of October, although occasional copulations have been recorded before and after that time. In the New Forest population, adult male and female fallow deer are spatially segregated for much of the year (Thirgood, 1990). A small lek of three to seven mature males would be situated on the boundary of two distinct woodland habitats. A lek was observed and copulations were recorded (Thirgood, 1990). Permanently defended single territories were established in areas close to the lek. These territories occurred in a single variety of woodland habitats ranging in resources from plentiful to absent, and are representative of the great variability of single territory defence in fallow deer (Thirgood, 1990). Non-territorial reproductive behaviour has been described previously from a number of wild and enclosed fallow populations (Thirgood, 1990). At Blackensford this consisted of males simply following groups of females, or behaving as satellites by intercepting female movement (Thirgood, 1990). The estimated mating success on a single territory was higher than that reported for other lekking populations of ungulates (Thirgood, 1990). Data suggests that within a given year successful lek males attain higher mating success than single territory males, who in turn get more mating than unsuccessful lek males (Thirgood, 1990). Males are not limited to one strategy, and are capable of switching strategies as mating opportunities dictate. It was concluded that because fighting is more common on the lek, lower costs of single territory defence may result in a longer reproductive life (Thirgood, 1990). Another species that displays alternative mating strategies is a type of Bee known as Centris Pallida. Dimorphism is common in the male mating behaviour, of a large anthophorid bee (John Alcock, 1977). Bees of this genus have been relatively little studied, although previous studies have found males of various species established territories primarily by orchids or around flowering trees in tropical, central and south America and in Jamaica males of C. Pallida dig up buried females and males, mating with the former (John Alcock, 1977). Mate-location, techniques, size variation, and the fitness of mates as well as the parental investments of their mothers are intimately related to one another (John Alcock, 1977). Males of this Bee fall into one of two classes when searching for females. They are either patrollers, cruising rapidly near the ground in areas in which females are emerging, or they are however, poised at aerial stations around shrubs and trees (John Alcock, 1977). Patrolle rs search for sites at which a buried virgin female is about to emerge, upon finding such a spot, the male is capable of digging through 1-2cm of soil to the hidden female, which is usually mated by the male that uncovers her (John Alcock, 1977). Patrollers often attempt to appropriate a digging spot that another male has discovered or to separate a male from a freshly captured female (John Alcock, 1977). The second group of males, known as the hoverers, wait at sites peripheral to open emergence areas, generally by plants, whether these are flowering or not (John Alcock, 1977). Alternatively they wait at flowering shrubs or trees located well away from major emergence sites. These bees hover in the air with their hind legs dangling and held higher than the abdomen (John Alcock, 1977). They dart off rapidly in pursuit of all passing insects about their size and then almost always quickly return to their hovering station, although they may drift rather slowly over an area 1-2m in dia meter (John Alcock, 1977). These individuals do chase neighbouring and intruding however commonly but they almost never make physical contact. As a general rule, 1m or so separates hovering males (John Alcock, 1977). It is difficult to say whether this spacing stems from aggressive interactions among males avoiding one another, seeking unoccupied scanning locations (John Alcock, 1977). Hoverers will pursue females that are collecting pollen but rarely grasp these individuals, which implies that they seek to secure only virgin females and can discriminate these from already mated bees. Hovering bees apparently are waiting for virgin females that have avoided capture by patroller-diggers (John Alcock, 1977). It has long been known that males in a wide variety of animal populations practice alternative mating strategies in order to maximize their reproductive fitness. This is especially common when there is male-male competition for access to mates. In cases where such alternative strategies are as successful at obtaining mates as the predominant strategy, a coexistence of different mating strategies will evolve. The importance of alternative mating strategies is widely underestimated and often misunderstood. Polymorphic mating phenotypes provide quantifiable examples of intense frequency dependant sexual selection and its rapid evolutionary consequences. in the case of the blotched- lizard it has been shown that frequency-dependent selection arising from local competition can promote conditions that favour each individual male, and thus preserve all three strategies of the rock-paper-scissors cycle in the long term. Condition-dependent behaviour in the context of mating may result from c hanges in resource availability and intra-sexual competition for mates. When competition decreases, the expression of alternative behaviours also decreases. Changes in mating behaviours, especially among alternative males, have been documented in insects, fish, and amphibians upon removal of dominant males. Additionally, the availability of mates and resources also affects the expression of alternative strategies within a sex. The gain or loss of territory has been shown to affect mating approaches among insect species, while the receptivity and spatial distribution of mate’s impacts tactics used among insects, fish, and mammals. Mating behaviours are also affected by an individual’s size and age, as smaller or younger individuals are more likely to attempt reproduction through alternative means, including mimicry or sneak tactics. As a result, the ability to choose a behaviour that maximizes fitness under certain circumstances evolves.

Public Relations and Strategic Marketing at BMW Essay -- Business Mark

Public Relations Opportunity Public Relations or PR for short can help launch a new products sells and promotions or destroy it before a company can move it from the shelf. New companies and consumers tend to mistake Public Relations as advertising when in fact they are polar opposites. When a company advertises they pay to promote the products on TV, radio, or some type of media support. Public Relations, however the company may reap the benefits of the PR but not have to pay for it. Public Relations is defined in the following ways: â€Å"A form of communication directed at gaining public understanding and acceptance† (Learnthat, 1998-2004). â€Å"A promotion intended to create goodwill for a person or institution† (Wordnet, 2010). With all this said a company that has a good Public Relations team or person has a good chance of its product reaching the targeted market. When conducting Public Relations the company needs to understand the consumer need and show how the product will meet their needs compared to its competitors, by doing this the PR must give selling points that show why the Jabber 7 is the car that will meet his or her needs. Base on the statistical data obtain through our market research, BMW has picked the most opportunistic time to launch the Jabber 7. With the United States gas, crunch people are looking for better way to help protect the environment and save money in the process. BMW going green will not only produce a better running car not depended on harmful pollutants but will also create new jobs for thousand American to build these cars. With BMW’s quality rating over the years consumer can expect a smoother riding vehicle that comes in the BMW 600 coupe style or the luxurious style of the BMW 545 providing up t... ...BMW dealers’ car lots. The second phase of the strategic marketing plan is promotion. The marketing team will use the four principle elements to promote the Jabber 7. Public relationship, word of mouth, advertising, and point of sale are the four elements the marketing team will use to promote the Jabber 7. The marketing team will celibately race car driver to promote the car at race tracks during race days. The celebrity will attract old and younger drivers to the Jabber 7. The company will also offer free test dives at the race track and BMW locations. Marketing team will have television commercial to promote the car during sports event like football games, and basketball games. The marketing team will offer interviews to some test drivers to receive information Jabber 7 driving performance. The interviews will be use for word of mouth promotion for the company. Public Relations and Strategic Marketing at BMW Essay -- Business Mark Public Relations Opportunity Public Relations or PR for short can help launch a new products sells and promotions or destroy it before a company can move it from the shelf. New companies and consumers tend to mistake Public Relations as advertising when in fact they are polar opposites. When a company advertises they pay to promote the products on TV, radio, or some type of media support. Public Relations, however the company may reap the benefits of the PR but not have to pay for it. Public Relations is defined in the following ways: â€Å"A form of communication directed at gaining public understanding and acceptance† (Learnthat, 1998-2004). â€Å"A promotion intended to create goodwill for a person or institution† (Wordnet, 2010). With all this said a company that has a good Public Relations team or person has a good chance of its product reaching the targeted market. When conducting Public Relations the company needs to understand the consumer need and show how the product will meet their needs compared to its competitors, by doing this the PR must give selling points that show why the Jabber 7 is the car that will meet his or her needs. Base on the statistical data obtain through our market research, BMW has picked the most opportunistic time to launch the Jabber 7. With the United States gas, crunch people are looking for better way to help protect the environment and save money in the process. BMW going green will not only produce a better running car not depended on harmful pollutants but will also create new jobs for thousand American to build these cars. With BMW’s quality rating over the years consumer can expect a smoother riding vehicle that comes in the BMW 600 coupe style or the luxurious style of the BMW 545 providing up t... ...BMW dealers’ car lots. The second phase of the strategic marketing plan is promotion. The marketing team will use the four principle elements to promote the Jabber 7. Public relationship, word of mouth, advertising, and point of sale are the four elements the marketing team will use to promote the Jabber 7. The marketing team will celibately race car driver to promote the car at race tracks during race days. The celebrity will attract old and younger drivers to the Jabber 7. The company will also offer free test dives at the race track and BMW locations. Marketing team will have television commercial to promote the car during sports event like football games, and basketball games. The marketing team will offer interviews to some test drivers to receive information Jabber 7 driving performance. The interviews will be use for word of mouth promotion for the company.

Nothing Gold Can Stay Essay

The poem â€Å"Nothing Gold Can Stay,† by Robert Frost, uses a abcb rhyme scheme to cleverly explain natures downfall, due to gold, in the world. The author begins by showing that nature’s true color is green, however, due to man’s greed they only see gold. Being that nature supplied the earth with gold, man should respect it and give back. Instead the author depicts that nature is stripped of her importance and sad therefore the dawn goes down to day meaning instead of the weather staying beautiful, like it does in the morning, it turns to the hot, muggy afternoon. On the last line the author says, â€Å"Nothing gold can stay† (914), because mans inability to let go of greed is destroying our planet. The author also uses figurative language to reveal the poem’s meaning. In the beginning of the poem he personifies nature into a female so that the audience better understands natures pain and suffering due to humans greedy ways. Also, he uses imagery to paint the picture of the garden of Eden sinking to grief meaning that nature is in duress and even the first garden known to man is on the verge of destruction unless we change our ways. Lastly the author uses a metaphor comparing green to gold by saying â€Å"Natures first green is gold† (914), explaining that green is the symbol of life and prosperity. For example money is green and when nature is described green typically comes to mind. But he says gold is the first green because all humans care about is gold and as a result they are giving it greater importance than nature, our source of life.

Effect of Labour Turnover on Organisational Productivity Essay Example

Effect of Labour Turnover on Organisational Productivity Essay Example Effect of Labour Turnover on Organisational Productivity Essay Effect of Labour Turnover on Organisational Productivity Essay EFFECT OF LABOUR TURNOVER ON ORGANISATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY 1 INTRODUCTION The practice of human resource management (HRM) is concerned with all aspects of how people are employed and managed in an organisation (Armstrong, 2009). The strategic business function organ of the organisation sees to the inflow and outflow of employees in the organisaiton. The HRM function of directing the organisation system to ensure that human talents are used effectively to accomplish desired goals is very crucial, thereby not left ignored. Organisations zealous about growth would always intend to develop their respective current human capital and other potentials. But in this world of frequent upgrade and innovations in the business environment and the technological ways of doing things, organisations would commit themselves towards bringing their workforce to the task requiring intellectual and manual growth and development. The idea behind this would be to intensify the additional productivity generated by extra employee hired. All these put together would amount to organisations being cost conscious in making sure that employees with high human capital do not leave their organisations. But in order to be realistic, organizations cannot be everything to all people. No matter how great your company is, it is likely that some of your employees will eventually move on to other opportunities. That may be costing you a lot and affecting your well enjoyed stabilized organization productivity. Labour or worker or employee or staff turnover has it is often referred to, is the number of permanent employees leaving the company within the reported period versus the number of actual Active Permanent employees on the last day of the previous reported period (physical headcount). According to Business Dictionary (2011), the ratio of the number of employees that leave a company through attrition, dismissal, or resignation during a period to the number of employees on payroll during the same period makes up what is referred to as Labour Turnover. An employee leaving the organization either voluntarily or involuntarily is certain to have positive or negative effects on the organization. This as well would reflect on the productivity of the organization concerned. In other words, high turnover can be harmful to a companys productivity if skilled workers are often leaving and the worker population contains a high percentage of novice workers (Open Forum, 2011). This is especially the case if those leaving are either key to its success and continuity or do so because they think you have treated them unfairly, which could result in tribunal claims (Business Link, 2011). This means maintaining the satisfactory level of productivity might be threatened. Therefore curbing turnover to its optimal level for the organization is a major challenge. However, the research on the consequences of labour turnover is inconclusive, and provides little guidance on how much turnover, if any, is optimal (Siebert, 2006). It hereby leaves us wondering what optimal number is needed for the organization’s best productivity. As turnover even poses to be a major and widely studied organizational behavior phenomenon, it fosters why researchers are becoming interested in it more. It is a phenomenon that not just affects a company, occupation or industry, but an issue tackled by organizations all around the world. This is because at one employee’s voluntary or involuntary time they would have to leave the organization. (Abelson 1987; Campion 1991). 1. 2 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM Labour turnover as noticed, if not looked into, could eat deep into the profitability and threaten the sustainability of any organization. As a global challenge as well mandatory confrontation of the technological and environmental diversities which organizations have to face, many brows are raised on its persistence. The Nigerian insurance sector has not been left out as labour turnover has been disrupting their services and relatively their organization productivity. The Human Resource Managers and the executives of these organizations have always been on their toes to proffer solutions to labour turnover. The consciousness of hiring, monetary and time cost recorded when highly frequent labour turnover occurs; thereby affecting productivity which makes this a problem that begs for answer. Organizations lose not just financially, or in productivity when they have an employee with huge human capital permanently departing from their organization. This could have been due to avoidable or unavoidable reasons. The technological and business demands of electronic dealings have also affected ways in which operations are carried out in the Nigerian insurance industry. Some new fresh ideas have been witnessed with the opportunities for new transfers and promotions, but those still have to be compared to the contributions or reductions which are now available. This study would look into how the effects of the voluntary or involuntary labour turnover have impacted on the productivity level of the organization observed. As well to what extent, the organizations need to plan in anticipating an optimal level of labour human capital that can yield the needed productivity in the Nigerian insurance sector which is becoming labour shortages. 1. 3 LITERATURE REVIEW Employee turnover has benefits and costs for organizational performance (Ableson Baysinger, 1984). But a study is not just being carried out to have the positive sides analysed. The human resource management literature has traditionally viewed labour turnover in a negative light. Human capital theories of labour turnover point to loss of firm-specific human and social capital (Dess and Shaw 2001). This negative view is supported by the results of several empirical studies. For example, Huselid (1995) finds high labour turnover negatively linked to labour productivity in his sample of 968 U. S. firms. Also Baron, Hannan and Burton (2001) find turnover to be â€Å"disruptive† in their study of hi-tech start-ups in California in the early 1990s. Many studies have concentrated on quits specifically, and have found a negative impact of quits on firm performance, as in Batt (2002) for U. S. call centres, McElroy, Morrow and Rude (2001) for branches of a U. S. financial company, etc. But some have since been reporting the optimistic side of the coin. Job matching theory (Jovanovic, 1979) predicts that workers less suitable for the organisation would result into leaving it earlier; hence, there is room for labour turnover to improve performance (productivity) by clearing the workforce of poor worker-job matches. In the same vain, McEvoy and Cascio’s (1987) meta-analysis of twenty-four reported correlations between performance and turnover concluded that ‘good performers are †¦ less likely to leave †¦ than are poor performers’, which supports the main prediction of job matching theory (p. 758). Williams and Livingstone’s (1994) further meta-study of turnover supported McEvoy and Cascio (1987) and proved an even stronger negative relationship between worker individual performance and voluntary turnover when pay is contingent on the organisation’s productivity. Ilmakunnas, Maliranta and Vainiomaki (2005) report a positive impact of turnover on total factor productivity growth in Finnish manufacturing. However, the Nigerian insurance sector may be faced with such ups and downs as regards to impact of labour turnover on organisation productivity. But relatively unlike most of the research on the topic, Bingley and Westergaard-Nielsen (2004) look at hires and quits simultaneously in their study of personnel policies and profit in a panel of 7,118 Danish organisations over 1992-95. In contrast to the popular result, they conclude that quits increase profit and hires reduce it. They argue, consistently with job matching theory that the least productive workers are more likely to leave. The finding on hires is interpreted in terms of turnover costs, since hires incur recruitment and training costs. Thus, reconciliation of job matching and human capital theories of labour turnover is assisted by distinguishing between quits and hires a path we will follow. Those were observed by W. Stanley Siebert, Nikolay Zubanov, Arnaud Chevalier, Tarja Viitanen (2006). The case of a firm in the Nigerian insurance sector on the impact of labour turnover on productivity may take along the practice of the HRM. Guthrie (2001) found a dichotomy in the impact of turnover on productivity depending on the type of human resource management (HRM) system in the organisation. Glebbeek and Bax (2004) using data from offices of a temporary employment agency in the Netherlands over 1995-98 indeed find an inverted U-shape relationship between worker turnover and productivity. The same relationship between labour turnover and productivity is reported in a study of 2,435 workplaces in Australia over 1995-97, by Harris, Tang and Tseng (2002). However, Shaw, Gupta and Delery (2005: 61) report the opposite result for U. S. and Canadian concrete plants and U. S. transportation companies, where they conclude that the relationship between voluntary turnover and workforce performance is ‘negative but becomes attenuated as turnover increases’. This particular study, however, would look into ups and downs earlier known to rock an organisation’s productivity if it has employee turnover. Particularly, an organisation in the Nigerian insurance industry being studied if the earlier affirmations can be upheld or restructured to show our society’s diversified business environment. 1. 4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The purpose of this study is to achieve the following: i. To affirm the relationship between labour turnover and organization productivity. ii. To investigate the impact of business diversities requirement like technology amounting to organization productivity on labour turnover. iii. To investigate how organisations can reduce unfavourable labour turnover on productivity. iv. To examine labour turnover impact on MBLA 1. 5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS The following are the research questions developed for the course of this study. They are: i. Does Nigerian insurance sector witness labour turnover? ii. Is labour turnover a challenge to organization? iii. Is organization productivity disrupted when organization labour turnover takes place? iv. Does an organization have any positive productivity advantage when labour turnover occurs? v. Are there measures of curbing labour turnover when organization sees it could halt productivity? 1. 6 STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESES The hypotheses to be used in validating this study project are stated as follows: H0: There is no significant relationship between the labour turnover and organization productivity of MBLA. H0: There is a significant relationship between labour turnover and organization productivity of MBLA. H0: There is no impact on labour turnover and organization productivity of MBLA H0 : There is an impact of labour turnover on organization productivity of MBLA. . 7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The significance of this study is tailored towards the evaluation, analysis and addition to the current existing body of knowledge. It would assist the human resource managers in capturing adverse labour turnover effect which could halt their organization’s effectiveness and efficiency. Knowing the costly effect of an unchecked labour turnover on the organization productivity, t his study would help HR managers on other logical steps to militate against employee turnover. The recommendations can be used in helping organizations not just in the Nigerian insurance sector but as well other sectors of the economy. By using this study different organization can reduce the rate of employee turnover and increase their productivity and profitability. 1. 8 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 1. 8. 2 Population of the Study Due to the uneasy access to the entire population of this study, a sample would be drawn up. According to Levin and Rubin, (2002), a population is the whole collection of all elements that a research is studying and from which generalization will be drawn from. The study would make use of a branch of MBLA and a generalisation would be utilized. However the organisation has about 500 staff with about 15 of them taking charge of the executive functions of the company. Also the administrative functions are run by over 60 of their staff. Besides, the other population are either their marketers or ther junior workers. 1. 8. 3 Sampling and Sampling Techniques With application of a stratified sampling, the employees of the organisation would be unbiasedly picked. This would be enforced among both the senior and junior employees of the organisation. All these effort is to have a reasonable conclusion from which generalisation would be ascertained. 1. 8. 4 Strategy for the Collection of Data The primary data generation would be through dissemination of quesstionaires and some other additional interview briefs. The other earlier publications would be added to have a concrete information. These would be used in getting the necessary source of data in generating findings on the impact of labour turnover on organisation productivity in the Nigerian insurance sector. 1. 8. 5 Data Presentation The new advancement in statistical analysis, SPSS, would be utilized in presenting the data generated. The mean, median, mode, frequency and percentiles would be explored for a clearer data presentation 1. 8. 6 Test of the Conjuctural Statement With the use correlation, regression and t-test, the hypotheses of the study would be put to test. 1. 9 SYNOPSIS The outline of this five-study would wear the face of having the first chapter introducing the topic and its subject matter of labour turnover and its corresponding effect on organisation productivity. Also, the second chapter of the study would contain the prior knowledge and study done on this topic. From this some theories and standings of previous scholars would be incorporated into this particular present topic. Besides that, the third chapter would have the methodology to apply in carrying out this study. The instruments and sources of data that would be applied at MBLA in assuring that the right information are gathered within the confinement of the ethical stands, in other to have a good research work in the study. However, the fourth study would look at the data presented and analysed in the format that is generally acceptable. This would enhance the genuineness of this study. Also, the fifth chapter would see to the conclusion and recommendation of the project. This is where the findings and results of the study would be concluded and any recommendation suitable for MBLA and other organisations of its kind would be issued for their discretional adoption. REFERENCES businesslink. gov. uk/bdotg/action/detail? itemId=1074411249=RESOURCES penforum. com/idea-hub/topics/money/article/the-high-cost-of-employee-turnover-scott-allen Batt, R. 2002. Managing customer services: Human resource practices, quit rates, and sales growth. Academy of Management Journal, 45: 587–597. Batt, R. , Colvin, A. J. S. , Keefe, J. 2002. Employee voice, human resource practices, and quit rates: Evidence from the telecommunications industry. Industrial and Labour Relations Review, 55: 573–594. Becker, B. , Huselid, M. 2006. Strategic human resource management: Where do we go from here? Journal of Management, 32: 898–925. GHAURI, P. GRONHAUG, K. (2002),†Research Methods in Business Studies: a practical guide, London, Prentice Hall† GREEN, F. , FELSTEAD, A. , MAYHEW, K. PACK, A. (2000),†The impact of training on labour mobility: individual and firm-level evidence from Britain† British Journal of Industrial Relations, 38, 26 1-275. James K. Harter, Frank L. Schmidt, Theodore L. Hayes (2002),† Business-Unit- Level Relationship between Employee Satisfaction, Employee Engagement, and Business Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis†, Vol. 7, No. 2, 268–279 Judge, T. A. , Thoresen, C. J. , Bono, J. E. , Patton, G. K. (2001),† The job satisfaction–job performance relationship: A qualitative and quantitative review†, Psychological Bulletin, 127,376–407. K. Morrell, J. Loan-Clarke and A. Wilkinson (2001), â€Å"Unweaving Leaving: The Use of Models in the Management of Employee Turnover†, Business School Research Series, Loughborough University. M. Armstrong (2006), Human Resource Management, Kogan Page, United Kingdom