ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction The United States is considered the most developed and sophisticated nation in the world due to its democratic institutions, culture and processes. However, very few people will recall the black days and events that engulfed this nation before and after the First World War. Today, Barrack Obama is the president of this most powerful nation in the world and continues to face racial criticism despite efforts to integrate all races and adopt a non partisan approach in managing national issues (Remnick 7). This research paper explores the issue of president barrack Obama and race in politics and culture. Background America has evolved from a racist nation and is slowly embracing other cultures in its national issues. The most evident illustration of racism was when it used to allocate national positions to whites while discriminating against other racial groups. It is clearly illustrated in how blacks and red Indians used to be treated unfairly not only in national issues but also those that involved intercultural relations (Harris 71). Very few Americans allowed their family members to interact with black and this was the epitome of racism. However, American presidents like Kennedy and Lincoln tried their best to integrate all communities to participate in national issues but this was not possible. This country had architects of racism who ensured non whites were never given opportunities to use facilities meant for the elites. Slavery was also another illustration of how Africans were treated by the whites who during that time thought that the African population was inferior and used them as cheap labor. This trade led to the migration of blacks from Africa to America and later they found their ways into suburbs. It was impossible to travel back to Africa since they did not have enough money for air ticket. Secondly, it was impossible for them to board a train. This group became so agitated by the discrimination practiced by the whites. This was evident in schools, churches, public transport, churches, recreation facilities and employment (Feagin 109). The industrial revolution witnessed in America before the beginning of the First World War was an indicator that things were going to turn from bad to worse as the demand for equality and justice continued to gain momentum. Workers unions became very powerful instruments for demanding these rights and they led their members to demo0snbtrate to demand their rights and freedoms. It is important top explain that these demonstrations turned ugly when they took a racial turn. Africans and Asians were on the streets demanding the immediate inclusion of their demands in national issues while the whites were also protesting and demanding that their country should be respected. It is important to understand d that this war turned from being a demonstration of workers to racial conformations where many blacks and whites were killed on the streets. In addition, the existing government used police brutality to silence hundreds of youths who were spearheading these demonstrations. Leaders of political p0arties affiliated to the bla
Introduction Developing an effective and efficient labor force is essential in organizations’ pursuit to achieve long-term excellence. Acemoglu and Pischke are of the opinion that human capital is the engine of achieving the desired growth (112). Human resource managers should ensure that their workforce has the right skills in order to improve the organizations’ performance. The effectiveness of an organization’s human capital will play a vital role in enhancing its competitive advantage and efficiency. Organizations characterized by quality-oriented employees will outdo quantity-oriented workforce. One of the ways through which an organization can transform its labor force into being quality-oriented is by investing in apprenticeship training. Investing in apprenticeship is an effective way through which an organization can enhance employee development by instilling the desired skills and competence. This aspect increases the employees’ level of effectiveness and efficiency (Ryan The economics of training 56). Additionally, the skills acquired must be utilized effectively in order to achieve the desired growth. Acemoglu and Pischke contend that the long-term success of an organization is subject to the degree to which employees are committed in developing specific skills (112). Some of the specific skills cannot be acquired through general-purpose education. Currently, organizations are operating in a vibrant environment arising from the high rate of economic, social, political, and technological changes. Vemic asserts that the increase in the level of uncertainty, turbulence and complexity arising from the environment demands organizations to invest in knowledge (209). Subsequently, organizational managers have an obligation to invest in continuous learning, which is effectively achieved through workplace training. In an effort to achieve the desired level of efficiency, policy makers including governments are increasingly appreciating the significance of apprenticeship. For example, during his first term in office, Clinton made skills development through training a key policy issue. The objective was to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the less skilled employees. Acemoglu and Pischke are of the opinion that the “increase in the returns to a college degree and other skills experienced in the OECD countries over the past 20 years has added the sense of urgency to concerns regarding skills” (112). Considering the importance of apprenticeship in organizations’ efforts to achieve long-term survival, this paper evaluates the costs and motives of apprenticeship training on the employers’ perspective. In order to understand the significance of apprenticeship, the paper assesses its application in Germany and Switzerland. Cost analysis of apprenticeship training Mohrenweiser and Zwick are of the opinion that an “increase of the apprenticeship share in trade, commercial, craft,
Business organizations today operate in complex societies that consist of many people with many interests, expectations, and demands regarding what major organizations ought to provide to accommodate people’s lives and lifestyles. An outgrowth of these developments is that it has become apparent that organizations must address the legitimate needs and expectations of stakeholders if they want to be successful in the long run (Harrison & Wicks, 2013). Stakeholders are “any group or individuals who can affect or is affected by the achievement of the decision-making organization’s objectives” (Friedman, 1984, as cited in Howitt & MacManus, 2012, p. 29). Examples of stakeholders include customers, suppliers, employees, government, community, and other interest groups. Stakeholders can be classified into two broad categories; primary and secondary stakeholders. Primary stakeholders can directly influence managerial decisions and must be managed for management to achieve their objectives comfortably. Secondary stakeholders are individuals who are somehow affected by the management’s decisions but may lack influence in the decision-making process. Recent studies suggest that “stakeholders should participate in both ethical and governance programs and they should make major strategic decisions together with owners, as well as supervise managerial decisions” (MacAvoy & Millstein, 2003, as cited in Howitt & MacManus, 2012, p. 30). The lack of support from the stakeholders will force managers into dismay and, in the worst scenario, being ignored by the stakeholders. Thus, managers should try to nurture trusting and cooperative relationships with stakeholders, which will give the organization a competitive advantage. Additionally, Harrison and Wicks (2013) claim that a firm is obligated to create utility for its legitimate stakeholders through its operations. Doing so helps the firm create value along with several dimensions and is, therefore, good for the firm’s performance. In our case, the company’s decision to off-shore manufacturing to a developing nation and discontinue its “Made in America” marketing strategy will affect both primary and secondary stakeholders. For instance, employees will lose their jobs if manufacturing is stopped in the USA. The employees will also feel betrayed by the company they have been loyal to for many years, thus creating detestation for the management and the company. The distress caused by the news that the company might shut down production, absenteeism, and low productivity could increase among employees. Legal battles may ensue between unions and the company because they are obligated to fight for the interests of the employees. The company’s decision will also affect the community since the company is the primary employer of all the communities around it. If the company shuts down, most people from everywhere
In connection to gender roles as portrayed in the Elizabethan culture, women had no power to do as they pleased. Power over a woman shifted hands from the father to the husband upon marriage, such that, women were not to do anything out of their own will but rather out of obedience and total submissiveness to their fathers and husbands. The feminine power was always been under men and therefore freedom of expression was limited. The patriarchal rule is put to test by Hermia going against her father’s wish of marrying Demetrius. Instead she chooses to marry Lysander, the man who she loves and this shows how she has propagating feminism by wanting her views to be considered and even tests the tradition and law by questioning that which will happen to her if she does not obey her father’s wish of marrying Demetrius (Dusinberre 24). Considering the Elizabethan times much was expected from women in terms of respect and submissiveness to the men in that society, such that a daughter going to an extent of going against a fathers choice of a partner to whom she was to get married to was an abomination of the highest order deserving the worst of all punishments. Women were allowed no voice at all in matters that concerned them and this unfair treatment rendered them helpless and tortured in all aspects for lack of attention in issues that affected them. They were always beaten to submission and therefore any form of disrespect could render them a severe punishment. The feminism theory propagates gender equality, advocates for the rights of women in making their own independent decisions, promoting women’s rights and interests. In Midsummer Night’
The impact of Apple’s mission, vision, and primary stakeholders on its overall success Apple has aimed at creating the best experience among its customers. The company believes that its “innovative hardware, software, and Internet offerings” (Apple Inc, 2012) will bring the best experiences to “students, educators, creative professionals, and consumers around the world” (Apple Inc, 2012). The mission of Apple Inc has ensured that the company produces the most preferred brand in the world. Apple has maintained a top position among many users, particularly college students in the US (Anderson Analytics, 2007). Data from Student Monitor, a research company indicated that Apple held first position among computer manufacturers as indicated by the US students who participated in the survey (see fig. 1). The survey found out that “27 percent of student-owned notebooks were Macs, compared to 24 percent for second-place Dell” (Slivka, 2010). In addition, about 47 percent of the students indicated that they would buy Apple’s new notebook (see fig. 2). These data also indicated that demands for Apple products among students were on the increase. On the other hand, products from competitors, such as Dell and HP, have experienced downward trends in demands among the US students. Figure 1: Apple Most Popular Notebook Brand among US College Students (Student Monitor, 2010). Figure 2: Students planning to purchase a new notebook (Student Monitor, 2010). These are growing trends in usages of Apple products among students in the US. Apple enjoys pure loyalty among its consumers, who have become brand-centric fan groups. As a result, Apple Inc has developed a brand community among students and other consumers all over the world. The Apple brand community has grown out of consumers’ own fanaticism for the product rather than sly marketing efforts. In some cases, a brand community of Apple has resulted from the necessity among customers who want to be a part of a group and show that they have understood the essence of their Apple brand. Apple Inc has learned to keep its brand community to anticipate for new products and features. This can fuel any form of fanaticism among users. This is usually the cases with any product of Apple, which users have transformed to lifestyle products. According to consumer psychology studies, Apple has created a brand that is more than just a set of attributes but a core part of a consumer, i.e., Apple brand defines its consumers by symbolically reflecting their lifestyle. The five (5) forces of competition: how they affect Apple Inc Threat of entry Apple Inc has created a competitive global brand. It requires high-levels of creativity, invention, and resources to develop products that Apple Inc has developed. Thus, threat of new entrants may not be a problem for Apple. However, new, small companies have emerged to develop software apps and competitive products. They will take away market shares from Apple Inc (Porter, 1998). Bargaining power of suppliers Many c
Introduction Virtual logistics service provision entails organizing logistical systems in an efficient and easy to use manner. When using the system, it is important to note that the ‘information’ element of it is separated from its physical element. In this regard, what makes virtual service provision unique is the fact that ownership and control of the logistical resources happens online (Clarke, 1998, 1). With this analysis in mind, this study seeks to analyze and point out areas of improvement in the way Wal-Mart utilizes its virtual logistics service system. This will be done in two phases as observed below: Assessment Considering Wal-Mart has over 3,800 stores in the US alone and an even greater number overseas, the company has found it increasingly important to manage its growth (Kuehne-Nagel, 2010, p. 3). For this purpose, the company has put in place a number of fourth party logistics (4PLs) providers. The fourth party logistics providers give it a flexible nature to enable it manage growth and handle large inventories (Kuehne-Nagel, 2010, p. 3). The organization particularly decided to put in place the virtual logistics service because it needed the system to help it quickly start up operations; give it the flexibility it needed to accommodate massive operations; estimate its distribution costs; create an infrastructure which could enable it properly manage seasonal demand and finally improve its inventory systems to be more efficient and reliable. These areas also define where the systems is applied. Improvement Phase Though Wal-Mart enjoys immense advantages from its 4PLs, it does not mean the system does not have any room for improvement. Actually, Khosrowpour (2005) has observed that the system can be effectively improved through increasing the use of ICT tools in the organization. In this regard, Wal-Mart can improve the input of more progressive information into its logistic systems to ultimately make it develop more sophisticated logistic networks which will ultimately improve the efficiency of the system and the overall security of the system. It would even be more beneficial for the organization to further use appropriate ICT tools such as multimedia telebridges, virtual integrated services systems, and other similar tools which would also improve the speed and overall efficiency of the system (Kuehne-Nagel, 2010, p. 4). From this analysis, we can see that the efficiency of improving the logistics system does not only rest on the handling on the information but rather on the use of the latest ICT tools. This means that Wal-Mart will benefit more from the adoption of the latest ICT tools in the market. Also, considering the efficiency of the information depends on its input, its timing, preciseness and reliability, Wal-Mart can further improve the efficiency of its four party logistics (4PLs) by making sure the information fed into its logistics system is up to the minute (Khosrowpour, 2005, p. 260). Conclusion Wal-Mart has been a practical beneficiary of the advantages 4PLs logistic service gives to organizations. The system has been able to empower the company to control most functional areas of its operations. Howeve
Money has always been known as the symbol of wealth, the key to happiness, and the backbone of livelihood. There is also a widespread opinion that money positively affects the growth of happiness. However, with this drastic growth comes a severe decline, and this is because of the human instinct to be acquisitive. The current essay discusses happiness and argues that the veritable happiness and satisfaction with life come not from money but self-actualization and positive thinking. One of the fundamental explanations of why happiness is not about money lies in flawed human nature. In the book Leviathan , the prominent philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1651) described the state of nature where people live before the government appears and argues that every person wants to possess as many goods as possible. However, the number of goods is finite, and, therefore, people enter into the state of war of all against all in pursuit of wealth (Hobbes, 1651). Thus, it becomes apparent that even though money gives people access to numerous goods, services, pleasures, and opportunities, they are not always a synonym for joy or health. Some people might argue that richness is a synonym for happiness because it allows one to actualize oneself through helping people in need. For example, in 2000, Bill and Melinda Gates grounded a foundation aimed at fighting inequality, poverty, and diseases all over the world (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, n.d.). Nonetheless, this case is rather an exception from the common rule. Novack (2008) mentions statistics provided by the Internal Revenue Service revealing that “rich are evasive when it comes to taxes” (para. 1). Indeed, richness and greed seem to be closely related. As 18th-century Scottish economist Adam Smith (1776) famously said, “it is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest” (p. 30). World War II is an amplified example of how one persons strive for money and power led to 60 million casualties all around the world. Besides, the modern case of the trade war between China and the US, initiated by the Trump administration in 2018, shows what the ruling elites are capable of destroying the lives of citizens of other countries if financial gain is at stake. Many people believe that money is the key to happiness because money buys us tangible property such as cars, houses, and gadgets. Furthermore, money is used to pay tuition fees, electricity and water bills, purchase food and clothes, and, therefore, they are the primary means of survival. From this, one might fallaciously infer that money buys happiness. Still, one should not forget that money is incapable of purchasing the desire to learn or live. For instance, prominent actor Robin Williams, Linkin Parks singer Chester Bennington, and coal billionaire Dmitry Bosov committed suicide even though they were not poor and enjoyed fame and public acclaim. The reasons for suicide are another topic for discussion. Nonetheless, the previously mentioned examples should be used to remind us that money alone is not a guarantee of happiness, s
Introduction Leadership is part of society and encompasses daily living and interactions. It is one of the concepts which elicit some mental picture in different people depending on what they perceive it to be. While the term is used daily, the definition is not universally agreed thus different researchers, analysts and common people justify their own definitions with application to the context under consideration. Researchers in the field of leadership tend to also narrow their scope to limit the universal applications of the definition. Leadership applies in almost every facet of life. Entrepreneurship is a subject area of concern especially due to its ability to drive economic growth and development. The concept of management and leadership in the entrepreneurial field thus creates an opportunity for review in order to explore entrepreneurship leadership. Analysis of “Understanding Leadership” Leadership has been explored from different perspectives due to its broad nature to increase understanding and since it covers the foundation of systems as organizations, companies, business, schools, families, governments among others (Fairholm & Fairholm, 2008). The field has attracted researchers who have sought to explore it for better understanding with application in their respective fields. It is worth noting that in order to understand concepts, definition is crucial. The definition of leadership is founded on the application areas. It is ironical that the term is used daily yet it is difficult to truly define it objectively. Summary of Assertion by Avery Avery, a keen researcher of the field of entrepreneurship, asserts that comprehending leadership is a big challenge due to the lack of consensus about the meaning of the term and the focus on narrow elements of the concept by researchers (Avery, 2004). It is agreeable that defining leadership would foster better understanding. The definitions of leadership are very diverse just as the scope it covers. These definitions normally vary to a great extent creating lack of clear understanding of the subject. The issues that come up in the definitions of leadership include the place and perspectives of followers, interpretation of influence, ethics in leadership, values, inspirations, motivation, personality traits, behavioural attributes, cultural orientations, approaches, purpose of such leadership among others (Ghoshall & Bartlett, 1998). In evaluating the definition of leadership, the questions of what attributes to look for differ from one context to another. In justification of the assertion by Avery, leadership requires different attributes in different contexts. For example, in entrepreneurship, leadership is perceived as motivation of the followers as well as care for customers, yet in other fields as military, leadership is about power and influence (Ebner, 2006). The lack of a generally accep
The article presents an appeal of a young man to Mr. Dugan, the father of his presumed girlfriend, Samantha. The objective of the young man’s argument is to convince Mr. Dugan to allow his daughter to help him transfer his couch into a new apartment. The decision-maker in this situation is Samantha’s father since she appears to have already agreed to participate. The young man claims that he wants Mr. Dugan’s daughter beside him when he is relocating his sofa and cannot see a future for himself “that does not involve a moving day with Samantha” (Aldrich, 2017). While he admits that moving the couch will not always be easy, he wants to be with Samantha “through it all”, promising that however difficult the process might get, they will eventually succeed (Aldrich, 2017). He also claims that he wants Samantha’s parents to be with them that day since it will make him grateful and happy. He finished his appeal mentioning that Samantha is already two months pregnant, so the decision has to be made as soon as possible. Though compliments and the courteous manner of the young man may please her father, his argumentation is primarily based on his emotions, and his happiness, therefore, can be easily refuted. On the other hand, the pregnancy argument might be more convincing. The article clearly parodies the tradition of asking a father’s blessing before marriage, and the moving day alludes to a wedding day with Samantha’s parents being present to witness the happy occasion.