Values and Technology in Ibsens An Enemy of the People and Becketts Waiting for Godot :: comparison compare contrast essays

Values and Technology in Ibsen's An Enemy of the People and Beckett's Waiting for Godot Literature has been an outlet for authors to express the importance of human values to the literate public. However, even before a good majority of the general public was literate, there were people who learned various stories either from the bible, historical stories, etc. This gave the public a chance to see a story and take the different lessons out of the play. The public could decide whether or not to utilize the lessons in their daily lives. In two different plays ("An Enemy of the People" and "Waiting for Godot"), both authors develop very different societies that display different human values, different situations that one could face in his or her own life, and how technology has helped or hindered the new developing society of today. In Arthur Miller's adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's play "An Enemy of the People," the Stockman Family is faced with many different difficult decisions to make. Dr. Stockman tests the water at a local therapeutic spa; however, when he gets the results back, no one cares to hear the truth. Dr. Stockman represents the importance of honesty in a job. Dr. Stockman has a wealth of knowledge about the chemistry and the bacteria that is causing illness to all of the people that visit this healing place. In contrast to Dr. Stockman, Peter Stockman, his brother, shows the possible corruption that can occur in positions of power. Peter Stockman ultimately shows disloyalty to his brother and is responsible for Dr. Stockman and his family's outcast and downfall. Peter Stockman is obsessed with how he is viewed in the townspeople's eyes, his re-election. This decision to betray his brother led to his nephews fighting at school, rocks being thrown into his family member's home, and possibly the death, even though it is not specifically stated in the play, of his own family members. Where is the line drawn for personal gain and happiness when it interferes with other people happiness and well being? Ibsen shows what can happen to someone (Dr. Stockman) if he is not aware of the opposing forces that are out in the world in many different forms (Peter Stockman). Ibsen shows the importance of compromise, honesty, teamwork, knowledge, and intelligence.

Notes on Ethics and International Human Resource Management

IHRM Session 18 Ethics & IHRM Ethics Ethics may be defined as an individual’s or society’s beliefs regarding what is right and wrong, or good and bad. Ethics is about how our decisions affect other people. It is also about the rights and duties of people, the moral rules that people apply in decision making and the nature of relationships in a society. Managerial Ethics Managerial Ethics refer to the standards of behavior of individual managers in their work. Four Levels of Ethical Questions in Business Societal – At the societal level, we ask questions about basic institutions, practices and behaviors in a society. For example, is racial discrimination right? Is capitalism the just system to allocate resources in a society? Stakeholder – At the level of the stakeholders of a business, such as customers, shareholders, suppliers, etc. , the ethical issues concern, disclosing correct information to customers, insider trading, relationship and trust with suppliers, etc. Internal Policy – Ethical issues relating to internal policy concern nature f employment policies, fairness of job contracts, work rules, motivation, layoffs, etc. Personal – At the personal level ethics refers to individual behavior in an organization and covers issues of honesty, professional integrity, etc. Tools of Ethics Values – are beliefs that are Relatively few in numbers Serve as a guide for culturally appropriate behavior Enduring or difficult to change Not tied to specific objects or situations Widely accepted by members of a society Values are the answers to the â€Å"why† questions. Rights – Claims that entitle a person to take a particular action Duties – obligations to take specific steps or obey the law Moral rules – Rules for behavior that often become internalized as moral values Relationships – People are related directly or indirectly in a society, which makes ethical behavior necessary Common Morality Common morality refers to the body of moral rules governing ordinary ethical problems. Some basic principles of common morality Promise keeping Non-malevolence Mutual Aid Respect for Persons Respect for Property Approaches to Ethics In the international context, there are three approaches to Ethics Ethical Relativism – The belief that there are no universal or international rights and wrongs. So, an MNC may adopt the practices that are accepted as right in each country, regardless of whether such practices are accepted as right in the home country Ethical Absolutism – The belief that an MNC should only follow what is accepted as ethical in its home country, regardless of which country it operates in. Ethical Universalism – The belief that there are certain fundamental principles of right and wrong that are universal in nature and accepted by every culture. MNCs while operating in different countries must adhere to these universally accepted principles of right and wrong. Ethics & IHRM The existence of universal principles of right and wrong is to an extent proved by the adoption by many countries of the world of certain universal codes of conduct. For examples: The UN Declaration of Human Rights Guidelines for MNEs adopted by OECD countries Caux Round Table Principles of Business The Caux Principles The Caux Round Table believes that the world business community should play an important role in improving economic and social conditions. As a statement of aspirations, this document aims to express a world standard against which business behavior can be measured. We seek to begin a process that identifies shared values, reconciles differing values, and thereby develops a shared perspective on business behavior acceptable to and honored by all. The Caux Principles are based on two basic ethical ideals: The Japanese Principle of Kyosei – which means living and working together for a common good Human Dignity – Respecting the sacredness and value of each person as an end in itself. The Caux Principles Principle 1. The Responsibilities Of Businesses: Beyond Shareholders toward Stakeholders The value of a business to society is the wealth and employment it creates and the marketable products and services it provides to consumers at a reasonable price commensurate with quality. To create such value, a business must maintain its own economic health and viability, but survival is not a sufficient goal. Businesses have a role to play in improving the lives of all their customers, employees, and shareholders by sharing with them the wealth they have created. Suppliers and competitors as well should expect businesses to honor their obligations in a spirit of honesty and fairness. As responsible citizens of the local, national, regional and global communities in which they operate, businesses share a part in shaping the future of those communities. Principle 2. The Economic and Social Impact of Business:Toward Innovation, Justice and World Community Businesses established in foreign countries to develop, produce or sell should also contribute to the social advancement of those countries by creating productive employment and helping to raise the purchasing power of their citizens. Businesses also should contribute to human rights, education, welfare, and vitalization of the countries in which they operate. Businesses should contribute to economic and social development not only in the countries in which they operate, but also in the world community at large, through effective and prudent use of resources, free and fair competition, and emphasis upon innovation in technology, production methods, marketing and communications. Principle 3. Business Behavior: Beyond the Letter of Law Toward a Spirit of Trust While accepting the legitimacy of trade secrets, businesses should recognize that sincerity, candor, truthfulness, the keeping of promises, and transparency contribute not only to their own credibility and stability but also to the smoothness and efficiency of business transactions, particularly on the international level. Principle 4. Respect for Rules To avoid trade frictions and to promote freer trade, equal conditions for competition, and fair and equitable treatment for all participants, businesses should respect international and domestic rules. In addition, they should recognize that some behavior, although legal, may still have adverse consequences. Principle 5. Support for Multilateral Trade Businesses should support the multilateral trade systems of the GATT/World Trade Organization and similar international agreements. They should cooperate in efforts to promote the progressive and judicious liberalization of trade and to relax those domestic measures that unreasonably hinder global commerce, while giving due respect to national policy objectives. Principle 6. Respect for the Environment A business should protect and, where possible, improve the environment, promote sustainable development, and prevent the wasteful use of natural resources. Principle 7. Avoidance of Illicit Operations A business should not participate in or condone bribery, money laundering, or other corrupt practices: indeed, it should seek cooperation with others to eliminate them. It should not trade in arms or other materials used for terrorist activities, drug traffic or other organized crime. Laws Against Bribery The USA has passed the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits any US company from paying bribes in foreign countries The UN Declaration Against Corruption and Bribery in international transactions makes it mandatory for the signatories to this declaration to pass laws prohibiting bribery UN Global Compact Principles PRINCIPLE ONE Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights PRINCIPLE TWO Businesses should make sure they are not complicit in human rights abuses PRINCIPLE THREE Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining PRINCIPLE FOUR Businesses should uphold the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour PRINCIPLE FIVE Businesses should uphold the effective abolition of child labour PRINCIPLE SIX Businesses should uphold the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. PRINCIPLE SEVEN Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges PRINCIPLE EIGHT Businesses should undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility PRINCIPLE NINE Businesses should encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies. Principle 10 Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery. HR function & Ethics Studies show that HR department is involved to a great extent in drafting and implementing ethical initiatives within organizations With expertise in organizational culture, behavioral studies, change management and people related initiatives, HR is in a position to play a key role in initiating ethical conduct within organizations though everyone should be responsible for ethical conduct and behavior Ethics & MNCs For MNCs operating in widely different cultural, racial and social environments, having a self-regulatory code of ethics is even more important. The HR departments do play a key role in monitoring the ethical conduct of its PCNs, TCNs and HCNs

Internet Banking Fraud †Clive Peeters Case

One of the most common forms of employee fraud that we have been seeing for quite some time involves access to internet banking. Businesses often have two signatories for company cheques but allow full single user access to their internet banking. The result is an accident waiting to happen. An internet banking fraud of $20 million was reported today in the Sydney Morning Herald involved the payroll manager of listed white goods retailer, Clive Peeters. Full story : http://business. smh. com. au/business/employee-admits-stealing-20m-20090811-eh02. tml In that case, the payroll manager invested in proceeds of her fraud in real estate and cars, so the company is hoping to recover some or all of their monies. However in most cases that we have seen, the money is spent or gambled and their is very little or nothing to recover. Other similarities to the cases that we have seen: †¢the amount of the fraud is always larger than expected. The estimates of the Clive Peeters fraud went fro m $2 million to $7 million to $20 million. †¢the fraud was conducted over a longer period than expected. The current estimate is that the fraud was operating for 18 months. It is vitally important where a business is using internet banking that a two signatory approval for any payments or transfers is put in place. The standard internet banking software provided by the banks is inadequate for business use because it lacks the necessary internal controls. Speak to your bank about obtaining the higher security, multiple signatory version of internet banking. Unfortunately, in our experience, it is not easy to obtain and you have to speak to many people in the bank before you get someone you knows anything about it.

Customer Lifetime Value in Movie Business Essay

Unlike other industries, the marketing scenario in media and entertainment industry such as movie or music business are more unpredictable and unstable. In terms of movie industry, which differs from typical product category, nevertheless, provides a variety of interesting multiple-genres products serving different audience herds for entertainment. The diffusion is quite rapid and the product life shell is extremely short, even though reversioning or rerunning might take place. Correspondingly, the customer lifetime value is relatively low and difficult to estimate. The brand loyalty doesn’t make too much sense in this area whatever giant movie studios or indie films, the audience goes for a movie based on their personal preference or word-of –mouth communications (both online and offline). Thus a lot of customer churn happen in movie industry and â€Å"nobody knows anything† theory occupies, which leads to a unstable and insignificant retention rate. As a result, we cannot utilize the formulation II regarding retention rates in book to estimate CLV here. Instead, if we use the first formulation, a series of hypothetical figures are required. Based on database from NATO(National Association of Theater Owners), the average customer goes for movie 5 times a year. A movie fan maybe watch film every week. The average ticket price per year is around $7.5. However, the variable cost for ticketing and acquisition cost per cost are unknown. However, the concept of CLV still of great significance to movie industry that 1) It comes up with the concept of customer segmentation. We should treat different customers differently. For instance, to implement rewarding incentives or promotion to retain those diehard moviegoers that value much to the business. It is also an effective method to gathering audiences’ information and data. 2) Multiple marketing strategies are required to promote a single product( one movie) and maximize the profitable value. Besides, the entertainment industry should try to embrace the â€Å"free† model in the digital time, for instance, to create spin-off products related to the movies as another revenue stream.

Captain Top of Form

How does Duffy present the theme of time in ‘The Captain of the 1964 Top of the Form Team'? In the poem, ‘The Captain of the 1964 Top of the Form Team' by Carol Ann Duffy, many themes are frequently explored, time is a huge theme presented throughout, there are many relations and connections to time and how it changes people, affects our behaviour etc, this theme if explored by Duffy using a variety of techniques including structure, language, dramatic techniques and imagery used. Firstly time is explored in detail by the structure of the poem. The title of the poem gives us the insight that the poem is stuck in time, due to the date. Shows it must be about past tense or reminiscing. This maybe makes the poem more meaningful and personal. The poem is written in the first person as it is the â€Å"Captain that is speaking to someone. The 4 stanzas in the poem all of various lengths show the structure of the poem is disjointed suggesting that this is his trail of thought and his mind all over the place, maybe trying to understand and relive the past. This is done using pauses and short sentences, the short sentences may also show that the narrator is becoming very excited and erratic, almost childlike that he remembers so much and is excited to tell his story. There is no rhythm to the poem again showing that he hasn’t had time to collect his ideas together, almost in a rush trying to reveal all the information and just blabbing it all out without thinking, the use of no rhythm affects the poem as it makes it seem more playful, if a rhythm had been used it may seem more formal. Language is also important to show the theme of time. The poem is in an informal tone, showing a more chatty/conversation which seems more childlike and friendly. (â€Å"Oh pretty women were in the Top Ten that month†). The use of the informal chat shows he feels bubbly and happy perhaps showing that this is a happier stage in his life, and he prefers talking about the past than the present. Duffy has used a lot of past tense verbs e. g. â€Å"pulled† , â€Å"smiled†, this also shows that the story is about the past and how he keeps reminiscing over and over about the things he did. The choice of persona distances the poem from Duffy and gives her the opportunity to view the issues from a more objective perspective. However the tone of the poem isn’t dull it is very jumpy, highlighting the narrator’s energy, optimism and pride in himself. Duffy demonstrates this by using adjectives like ‘fizzing’, ‘whooped’ and ‘blew like Mick’, she also shows his confidence by using self-assured phases like ‘No snags’, ‘Come on’, ‘I smiled’. Dramatic techniques are also used frequently through Duffy’s poem to help exaggerate the theme of time. She uses music to set the scene in the first stanza,' Do Wah Diddy Diddy, Baby Love, Oh Pretty Woman' emphasizing on the widespread impact of pop music. There is a sense of a boy, cramming information, I can give you the B-side of the Supremes one. Hang on. Come See About Me? Overall the feeling is one of optimism. I think the use of the music and songs is to give the childhood and fun feeling, the use of the old pop music shows he is reminiscing on old times and not focusing on the present, the fact he is singing shows he isn’t afraid to express himself, seeming quite happy and chirpy, the poem would se em more controlled and restricted making us question whether he actually enjoyed his past. The use of these dramatic techniques make the narrator seems he has no care in the world also draws on his freedom. Imagery helps us even more see the theme of the time in the poem. In the third stanza we are presented with the image of a proud mother â€Å"My mother kept my mascot Gonk on the TV set for a year. † There is also an emphasis of British context through the use of road names up ‘Churchill Road’ and ‘up Nelson Drive'. In the second stanza the speaker describes going down a hill on his bike â€Å"I sped down Dyke Hill, no hands, famous, learning† the use of this gives the image of freedom and how children speed away on their bikes without any care in the world. This could also relate to time, like him speeding away on his bike, time seems to be going so fast, flashing before his eyes.

The assigned reading is based on a review of Latin America

The assigned reading is based on a review of Latin America’s Banking system and how it has been able to grow over the period of time due to policies which have radically changed the competitive landscape for the banks in the region.The writer has argued that the due to decrease in interest rates, increased maturities of long term liabilities as well as prudent fiscal and monetary policies, the banking system of Latin America has greatly benefited and is contributing to the overall growth of the Region.The article cites the example of Chile as a model for change in the region through adopting more robust and flexible economic policies. The article also discusses some of the implications for the local banks in the region also as more and more international banks are making entry into the market. This phenomenon is not only making competition tougher but also forcing local banks to be the target of the forced takeovers.Three Questions What the article however failed to account fo r is the fact the Brazil is the most progressing country in the region however; its banking sector is still under the Government control and is largely protected[1] and have shown considerable growth therefore the assumptions of the writer that the Latin America’s banking sector has shown growth because of less government intervention may not be acceptable? (South American Business Information , 2001).Further, the strategic choices offered to the local banks can only be achieved in long term therefore insulate themselves in short run, such local banks may need government protection to further allow them to grow in size therefore the strategic objectives offered by the writer may not be wholly practical? The article has further discussed the possibility of cross-border transfer of best practices due to similarities in culture however it failed to ignore the political and regulatory landscape of the region?Bibliography 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   South American Business Information . (2001). Brazil: Banking sector has good performance. Retrieved Feb 18, 2009, from www.allbusiness.com: http://www.allbusiness.com/banking-finance/banking-finance-overview/9709591-1.html[1] Brazil’s banking sector has witnessed consolidation which was largely local in nature as local banks merged with each other.

Private Security Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Private Security Industry - Essay Example Their job description is private in nature, that is, they serve only under the benefit of their employees. Police officers, on the other hand, have limitless task that range from patrolling in the streets to the prosecution of case of arrested violators. They play a vital role in the administration of the Criminal Justice System as the first pillar of the system. They help enforce the fundamental duty of every state to serve and protect the lives and properties of its people. Police officers are far better trained than security officers. They are even receiving better salaries and benefits since. They received their salaries directly from the treasure box of the government they serve. Despite of these differences with the police service, security services are a booming industry nowadays. Because of the spiraling crime rate in the society, many people now are security conscious. Businessmen, politicians, and other high profile individuals are those that usually engage the services of security agencies. There is a limit as to what police agencies can do. One of these limitations is that police agencies cannot serve at the pleasure of private persons since they serve the public in general. Security agencies, on the other hand, capitalize much on these limitations. ... Since said activities is usually conducted in a business matter, operators and owners recruit and employ only to obtain high profit with fewer expenses. This is because of the absence of strict laws that regulate the business. Operators and owners have the freedom to select and employ their security guards. That is why they often end up with security guards who are unlicensed, less educated, inexperienced, untrained, and incapable of performing security task. With the concept of self-regulation of these industries, security guards also received meager salaries and less benefits which to not equate to the long hours that they render service. The Private Security Industry Act of 2001 In the recent developments, many states had already adapted means and measures within which to improve the status of their security industry. One of these means is the passage of laws or acts which are primarily aimed in enhancing and regulating this booming industry. The United Kingdom, for instance, passed a regulatory act entitled "Private Security Act of 2001" that received Royal Assent on 11 May 2001. As explained in the Explanatory Notes (2001), The Act sets out a system for the statutory regulation of the security industry. It aimed to raise standards, ensure greater consistency, and introduce arrangements that vet people working in the industry to exclude criminal elements who tarnished the image of the industry. It also aimed to provide recognition to companies who can provide a satisfactory service measured against relevant agreed standards and who are able to demonstrate such recognition to costumers through voluntary scheme. To achieve realized these objectives, the Act created the Security Industry Authority, referred through