ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Business environments (internal and external) have been changing constantly especially in the 21 st century. The effects of these changes are being felt across various business sectors regardless of their size, location, and market or maturity level. Apparently, the 21 st century has brought forth many challenges and opportunities and industries are starting to examine new strategies to enable them overcome these challenges as they embrace new opportunities (Nørreklit 2000, p. 65). The management team at Rainbow Lighting Ltd is in a quagmire because the company seems to be attracting numerous challenges amidst the changing business environment. The company is experiencing numerous problems across the various departments, which are threatening the business performance. To begin with, the production department is operating under capacity owing to the short production hours. In addition, the department lacks the necessary mechanism to ensure that their products adhere to quality and safety standards before they are released into the market as evidenced by the latest incident with Everlasting Halogen Spotlight (EHS) bulb. The marketing and sales department is a lagging behind in its mandate and even the rare promotional activities are executed without proper market information. For instance, an attempt by the marketers to position domestic market bulbs through packaging modification and subsequent price increment lead to a huge sales decline. Furthermore, customer satisfaction survey indicated that domestic bulb consumers were unsatisfied with the product quality and pricing, while industrial consumers were not confident about product quality though prices were reasonable. Moreover, wholesalers are complaining of late deliveries and most of them opt for supplies from competitors. Employee satisfaction survey revealed that employee motivation was at its lowest leading to high staff turnover and poor product quality. Consequently, the above problems have impacted negatively on the company’s financial performance leading to a reduction in operating profits and negative Return on Capital Employed. Theory, aims and structure of the Balanced Scorecard Following Rainbow Lighting Ltd poor performance, Eindnacht GmbH senior management has issued the management an ultimatum to turn around the company in the next two years or face dire consequences. During the management meeting, the managing director revealed that senior management advisor had recommended that they consider implementing the Balanced Scorecard concept into the company. According to Figgie et al. (2002, p. 262), performance measurement has become a necessity because it enable managers to understand how a business is performing, and it also enables business to improve their performance. Against this background, Robert Kaplan and David Norton developed the Balanced Scorecard in 1992 aimed at facilitating the performance measurement surveys within organizations (Nørreklit 2000, p. 67). The theory behind the development of BSC was based on the fact that, following the implementation of a performance m
In, the article Two Cheers for Materialism, from the book Acting out Culture , The author James Twitchel defines materialism early on as the production and consumption of stuff, and defends it with several well thought out and forceful arguments. This article delivers several references of materialism, being coupled with capitalism. The article also expounds how materialism has contributed to the general well-being of people. Although I agree with the aforementioned points, my view of materialism is in other respects, in opposition to the views James Twitchel delineated in this article. In contrast to Twitchel’s argument that we should not try to curb capitalism’s mad consumptive ways,” instances where individuals or firms are shielded from the consequences of their actions the potential for abuse exists 1 . Indeed, people in general are more likely to act irresponsibly when the negative consequences are not likely to affect them directly. Materialism can result in negative external costs that can be minimized and this optimizes the materialistic system. At many points in the article, James Twitchel stressed the fact that materialism has made life easier for many people. James also points out that in American society, it can be seen at its best. I consider this point to be conflicting because when a society consumes more it also produces more waste 2 . In some instances, small electronics for example, the price to dispose of electronic devices can exceed the initial cost of the item. Typically this results in the devices not being properly disposed of. The resulting externalities can lead to health issues within a population of people, wildlife, and ecosystems that are exposed to the resulting hazardous waste. Essentially, when a firm produces more harm than benefit it ceases to be an overall benefit and becomes a liability. The obliviousness of Twitchel’s arguments to externalities such as environmental damage, the merger of the military industrial complex with materialistic culture, the destruction of families due to excessively low wages (a la Wal-Mart), and negative health and mortality effects from calorie and fat-laden foods, and mortality from tobacco products, has contributed to our current situation environmentally and socially. These costs have been borne elsewhere than the manufacturer. Twitchel states that “most of the world, most of the time spends most of its energy, consuming more and more stuff.” The idea being that this brings more consumers and thus more producers into the market. Subsequently increasing production and acting as an overall boon to the economy. Thereby increasing in overall well-being within a population and reducing the level of suffering. However, in addition to the positive this increasing consumption raises serious concerns 3 Producers have a species of immortality, because firms, God and the economy willing, will survive long after all of us are dead and dust. This imposes on us, and corporations, as moral agents, the responsibility to make our way in the world considering the need
Often in judicial practice, lawyers are faced with cases where there is no mens rea or malicious intent in the act of murder. In such a situation, the defendant is usually accused of committing constructive, reckless, or gross negligence manslaughter, which are types of involuntary manslaughter. The punishment for involuntary manslaughter is usually less severe than for premeditated murder, which is a positive side to the fact that UK legislation gives due regard to the notion of mens rea. At the same time, the introduction of the concept of involuntary manslaughter expanded the possibilities for bringing to justice the offenders who committed a serious crime without malicious intent. This paper aims to explain constructive, reckless, and gross negligence manslaughter, using cases and evaluate the actus reus and mens rea in these types of manslaughter. Constructive Manslaughter Constructive manslaughter or unlawful act manslaughter is a type of involuntary manslaughter. In this type of murder, the offender did not have a mens rea to kill, but the death happened in the circumstances when the offender was committing an unlawful act. In addition, the offender who can be convicted of constructive manslaughter is assumed to have understood that his actions will lead to the victim’s death. In other words, the offender’s actions must be dangerous enough to be perceived by a reasonable person to cause the death of the victim. Constructive manslaughter is also called unlawful homicide. A constructive manslaughter is a form of manslaughter when unlawful homicide has been committed in which the accused did not have the mens rea of the killing. There are two types of manslaughter; constructive manslaughter occurs when a charged commits an unlawful, dangerous act resulting in death; if the accused commits a lawful act resulting in death, this may amount to gross negligence. Constructive manslaughter has three main elements – an unlawful act, which must be dangerous and cause death. Various cases detail the nuances associated with the observance of the presence of each element in the actus reus. The decisions in these cases create the basis for the generally accepted legal interpretation of the fundamental law, which describes involuntary manslaughters. R v Franklin (1883) 15 Cox CC 163 illustrates the need for the unlawful act against the criminal law, and other cases, such as R v Lamb (1967) 2 QB 981, R v Scarlett (1993) 98 Cr App 290, and R v Arobekieke (1988) Crim LR 314 detail that all elements of the unlawful act should be present in the actus reus. The R v Goodfellow (1986) 83 Cr App R 23 case also describes that such unlawful act should not be necessarily directed against a person. Constructive manslaughter must include an unlawful act that must be dangerous, as illustrated in R v Church (1965) 2 WLR 1220. In particular, the case includes the paragraph, in which the definite meaning for the ‘dangerous’ is provi
Economic Performance of the Group during the 2008- 2011 Global Financial Crisis Economic and Financial Performances of Hermès during the 2008-2011 Global Financial Crisis Economic scholars and other analysts in this field agree that the recent global economic crisis affected almost all markets and all industries in the world. These included the banking industry, the construction industry, and the real estate industry, among others. Earnings and investments in these industries were eroded by the effects of the crisis. It is noted that the fashion industry was not spared from the crisis (Pareto 41). Hermes House is one of the players in the industry with investments in luxury designs and such other products. The company was also affected by this economic crisis that hit every aspect of the global economy. Most of the luxury and fashion houses were forced to cut down on their price tags to avoid scaring the customers away. In addition to this, the players in the industry were also forced to cut down on the prices so as to maintain positive growth in the company (Pareto 45). Hermes House is an international partnership that was formed under French law with international branches. It has branches and subsidiaries in many countries around the world. It has earned itself a slot in Euro List’s compartment A (“Hermes of Paris, Inc.” [Hermes of Paris] 47). The company operates within all ethical regulations that are applicable to any given company in the world. With all these regulations in place, the company finds it necessary to make available the financial statements that show its general performance on an annual basis. Financial analysts have been attracted to this company assessing its financial performance. An analysis of the company’s financial performance will show that it has generally performed well. Some departments and sectors in the company have performed exceptionally well throughout the operations. The recent global economic crisis compelled the Hermes House’s price control units to cut down on their prices so as to lure customers to the store and encourage them
“Philadelphia” is the film that appeared on the screens at the end of the 20th century. At that time, it turned into the first big-budget Hollywood movie, which made it rather significant for the sphere of cinematography. This film focuses on the issues faced by people who have AIDS. It reveals them in the framework of medicine, politics, and society (Ebert, n.d.). The main character of the movie is Andrew Beckett. He is a lawyer, who copes with his duties easily and is known as one of the best professionals. Being homosexual, the man contacts other males and contracts AIDS one day. However, being afraid of other people’s reaction and possibility to be fired, Andrew does not inform the firm about his condition. At this time, his partner, Charles Wheeler, asks the man to take a case that deals with their main customer. He starts working hard but is actually dismissed as soon as his skin damages caused by AIDS become visible (Rovi, 2017). Andrew thinks that these events are connected, so he makes up his mind to fight the firm in court, which turns out to be almost impossible because of the firm’s reputation. Finally, he hires Joe Miller. He is an African-American lawyer who is experienced in personal injury cases. Even though homosexuals do not appeal to him, he is satisfied with the offered conditions. After trying to reach company’s management, Miller realizes that he faces discrimination similar to Andrew’s (Brenner, n.d.). Analysis on Discrimination The main ethical issue discussed in the movie is discrimination. For example, “Philadelphia” shows that the representatives of the general public live with a range of prejudices regarding people with AIDS (Gordon, 2013). This condition is treated as something people should be ashamed of, which also prevents them from looking for help when it is really needed. Fortunately, Andrew turns out to be strong enough to realize that he deserves equality and should not be stigmatized. Miller, his lawyer who is African American, is also treated poorly by society. He needs to take a job that allows him to earn at least some money instead of working on serious cases that can provide him with an opportunity to become a well-known professional known in this sphere. What is more critical, the director emphasizes the fact that even though two individuals are discriminated because of some issue, it does not mean that they will be willing to cooperate and share information. For instance, both characters had to deal with employment discrimination (Film International, 2015). But this common feature does not prevent Miller from having a negative attitude towards homosexuals even though he tried to get used to it and was a victim of discrimination and social prejudice himself. In a similar way, Andrew approached Miller as the last party. “Philadelphia” shows the lives of minorities and issues they face on different levels. It attracts public’s attention to the things they rarely discuss now. Currently, the representatives of the general public fight for their rights on a regul
Born in Llandaff, South Wales 1916, Roald Dahl, the most successful children’s writer in the world, was a British novelist, short story writer, poet, screenwriter, and fighter pilot who received his education at Repton School in Derbyshire (“About Roald Dahl”). Dahl worked for Shell Petroleum Company in Africa who trained him in the United Kingdom (Howard) and then joined the Royal Air Force as a fighter pilot during World War II. First published in 1975, the book “Danny, the Champion of the World” was inspired by the Buckinghamshire countryside Roald Dahl lived in as a child. His characters involve adult villains (eg the teacher and Mr. Hazell) who hate and mistreat children and often feature one “good” adult (eg Danny’s father and the doctor) to counteract the villains. These characters and experiences might be a reference to his unhappy memories of Dahl’s boarding days. The writer makes the reader believe in his dream world where children become champions and where, unlike the real world, the good always wins over evil. It can be suggested that this novel also features class-conscious themes such as the villainous wealthy landowner that looks down on Danny and his father but also growing up, honesty, bravery, kindness, friendship, the delightful father-son relationship and what is right and wrong (“Roald Dahl”). These themes encourage children to think critically and draw their conclusions about right and wrong, fairness, and justice (Wood 124). The ability to identify strongly with a protagonist keeps readers engaged. Dahl translates related experiences through his writing techniques such as using the original language, e.g., “scrumdiddlyumptious” meaning very delicious food (Dahl 144). The author also uses onomatopoeia, e.g., “uckyslush” which is not good to eat and similes “ “ to create humor. The writer expects the good to win over evil and prompts the readers to believe in the kind-hearted warm sentiment. Works Cited “About Roald Dahl.” Roald Dahl , 2015. Web. Dahl, Roald. Danny the Champion of the World . Puffin Books, 2007. Howard, Philip. “Dahl, Roald (1916-1990).” Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , Oxford University Press, 2004. Web. “ Roald Dahl. ” Encyclopedia Britannica , 2017. Web. Wood, Chip. Yardsticks: Children in the classroom ages 4-14. Northeast Foundation for Children, 2007.
Introduction The contemporary world has seen many philosophers relating the trends in international relations to the ideologies of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Popularly known as Marxism, the concept entails the development of laws that propagate a balance of power between states while brewing anarchy. The inclination of international laws is also highlighted by the political and economic imbalances that foster the development of laws to accommodate the changes. Marxism is also a materialistic philosophy that has been used to highlight the role of capitalist and communist policies in international law. The concept is particularly useful in providing criticism to both economic models by revisiting the sociological and historical aspects of the models. Basically, international law, from the perspective of Marxists, is an attempt of the nations across the world to strike a balance of power based on their respective production power. One of the most interesting aspects of Marxism is that it tends to view society as a totality, and the contradictions within the society are responsible for the changes that people witness in international law. This implies that from a Marxist perspective, international law is an attempt of the international community to adapt to the contradictions that exist in the world. This paper looks into Marxism and international law with a close focus on the four discourses of Marxism, which include imperialism, dependency, hegemony, and the empire. Marxism is the core of international law in the contemporary world. Imperialism Imperialism refers to the process of enhancing a state’s power over other nations through the application of diplomatic approaches or the use of military power. Marxist imperialism is a concept that has recurrently been linked to Western Power because it is the foundation of the capitalist economic model that drives it. Imperialism, in the eyes of Marxists, is a concept that can either be viewed systemically or structurally (Ozsu & Marks, 2010). However, regardless of the perspective one takes, it is apparent that imperialism and capitalism go hand-in-hand. The current international laws can be linked to the need for the Western states to expand their productivity and power over the rest of the world. The expansion of imperialism is dependent on the centralization of capital, and the necessity of social changes to facilitate political and economic growth to the states instigating imperialism. A critical view of the current international laws reveals that imperialism has been a major driver of the treaties and policies developed between various nations. It is only by viewing capitalism from a historical perspective that one gets to understand the role of Marxist imperialism in the development of contemporary international laws. For instance, the WWI and WWII were based on the need for respective nations to expand their power through military power (Ozsu & Marks, 2010). Diplomacy followed, and the results were numerous tr
Culture is an important element of diversity at the workplace. As a result, cultural awareness at a company of 1000 employees is crucial because of business globalization and the need to celebrate and appreciate diversity. A good cultural understanding among employees of the same company promotes unity, productivity and good communication at the workplace. Different ways can be used to increase cultural awareness at the company. One of the ways that can be used is to conduct research. Employees can do research about the culture of their work mates during their free time in order to enhance their cultural knowledge and understanding. This can be achieved by reading books and looking for information from the internet about different cultures. Although most of the knowledge acquired might not be used, it helps employees to understand their work mates better. Another method that can be used to learn about the culture of other employees is through presentations. Presentations help employees to teach their work mates the positive and negative attributes about their culture. This helps in building good relationships at the workplace because employees acknowledge and appreciate the cultural backgrounds of their colleagues. Cultural awareness therefore plays an important role in enhancing diversity at the workplace.
Films noirs concentrate on tormented characters who appear doomed to run in circles without the hope of finding a solution. Their actions cannot be accommodated in the rural areas because the societal rules are very strict. The characters are said to be alienated from the other members in the society, who have meaningful lives (Naremore 23). The films use characters who suffer for other persons’ mistakes. The society does not take into account that the fall guy is cheated by the cunning people in the city. The city, which is regarded as the labyrinth, is the main location used as the setting. The urban settings are used in films noirs to portray the cities as dangerous places where all kinds of illegal activities take place. Within the city, the various locations used for actions are bars and gambling dens (Naremore 27; Dimendberg 24). The characters in such places could be unethical detectives, immoral policemen, corrupt writers, femmes fatales, and unfaithful husbands. The urban settings are shown to be complex in terms of their architectural designs. The actions in films noirs take place at night, characterized by darkness. The emotions of the main characters are reflected by the darkness and complexity of the urban settings. This is typical of urban settings where most crimes are committed at night (Naremore 45). The urban settings used in films noirs therefore parallel the main characters’ emotional state (Dimendberg 56). The city life is so cruel and unforgiving. It does not support good citizens who are morally upright. The immoral, corrupt, and unethical characters thrive in the city (Naremore 56). The characters spend time in bars and gambling dens where all illegal activities in the society are committed. The illegal activities include murder, theft, adultery, and bribery. On the other hand, the law abiding citizens who are hard working are destroyed in the city. The tormented characters are determined to kill all those they find good in the urban settings. These could be people they feel are hindering them from achieving their selfish immoral and corrupt goals (Porfirio 77). Thus, the city is full of immorality and corruption perpetuated by tormented characters at night. Urban settings in neo-noir films evoke modernity in towns. This feature is contrary to the traditional urban settings that characterize films noirs (Dimendberg 16). The positioning of the u