ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Initially, managers accepted diversity as a way of avoiding discrimination. However, with time, managers started viewing diversity as a tool of increasing performance, productivity, and innovation in companies. This realization rested on the premise that people from different cultures have disparate traits, which when harnessed can work for the benefit of an organization. Therefore, managers started looking at the possibility of using diversity to the advantage of their companies as opposed to using it for purposes of appeasing their troubled consciences. This aspect heralded the development of different strategies to tap into the potential presented by diversity. Consequently, numerous studies have been conducted to highlight how organizations can use workplace diversity to their advantage. This paper presents managing a diverse workforce through the article, Making differences matter a new paradigm for managing diversity, by David Thomas and Robin Ely. Making differences matter According to Thomas and Ely (1996), the 1970s and 1980s saw an increase in attempts to foster diversity in the American workplace; however, these efforts yielded zero or negative results with employees becoming tense every time confronted with the diversity issue. Organizations focused on the monetary gains that accompany diversity in the workplace, but this approach is myopic, and thus it was doomed to failure. In addition, by then, managers viewed diversity within the confines of race, class, or nationality. Thomas and Ely (1996, p.1) thus lament that such managers ended up ‘recruiting and retaining more people from traditionally underrepresented identity groups’. Unfortunately, this limited approach to diversity hindered effectiveness that comes with it. Another reason w
Description of the Situation Medtronic was established in 1957 by Earl Bakken who made a great contribution in the development of pacemakers (Christensen, 2002). The company became the leader in the sphere of pacemaker production. There were two major factors that secured the company’s leading position. In the first place, the company had a few competitors at that time. Medtronic came up with really helpful products which met consumers’ requirements and expectations. The company had a considerable portion (about 70 per cent) of the market share in 1960s. However, the company faced a lot of difficulties in 1970s up to 1986. First, many competitors entered the market. Secondly, many talented employees left the company as the company’s competitors offered more favorable conditions and were regarded as more promising. The quality of Medtronic’s product decreased. The company failed to develop new products which could fit rapidly changing demands of consumers. More so, employees argued that one of the major problems was that there were far too many ideas and projects which led to many failures (Christensen, 2002, p. 4). Finally, inappropriate communication within the company negatively affected the company’s performance. In 1986, however, the things changed. Ken Anderson managed to obtain the support of executive to launch a new product which proved to be very successful. Activitrax, the new product developed, was one of a kind as it paced patients’ hearts to “beat more rapidly when they were working hard” and, at the same time, it paced “their hearts to beat more slowly when they were asleep” (Christensen, 2002, p. 4). This made the patients feel stronger. This product made Medtronic a leader again. However, it is important to note that it is not about the product itself. Mike Stevens reshaped the company’s strategies to make it one of the world leaders. Thus, Stevens managed to improve communication within the company. He also reshaped the process of decision making. He outlined several key processes which optimized the process of product development. The major principles Stevens pursued were: speed, platform strategy, project documentation, phase definition, rhythm, and market inputs. Stevens’ actions proved to be successful as Medtronic is now one of the world leaders in the sphere. However, now the company faces a great challenge as it needs to hold the high position, which can be rather difficult. Evaluation Criteria When analyzing challenges the company faces, it is important to focus on such factors as prod
Research Proposal Aims The study under consideration aims at discussing the effects of multilingualism on Saudi Arabian children development and understanding of the world around. To be more specific, the paper discloses the multilingualism effects on children’s behaviour and language development as these two issues are considered to be the main factors that can define the quality of human relations, personal achievements, and further development of a society. The main tasks of the investigation are as follows:   * To identify the reasons of why the Saudi Arabia community is an appropriate research choice;   * To define multilingualism as an important factor in the discussion of children’s behaviour concept;   * To underline the effects multilingualism may have on children and their educational process;   * To consider social, ethical, and educational concepts in the children’s development process;   * To use the Hymes’ ethnography of speaking as the main theory to analyse the topic and prove its appropriateness. Background on the Community Saudi Arabia is one of the largest Arab states that can be found in the western part of Asia. It has a good geographical location and an ability to develop successful trade relations with its neighbours as well as with any other country around the whole. The Red Sea is on the West, Yemen is on the South, Kuwait is on the North, and the United Arab Emirates is on the East. Saudi Arabia, as the leading global oil producer and deliver, is a rich country. Still, not all Saudi Arabian people live rich and demonstrate the luxurious style of life. In fact, the World Bank reports that this country has the 10 th lowest poverty rate worldwide and continues ranking the highest among other Arabian regions regarding the necessity to minimise poverty (“Saudi Arabia has tenth lowest poverty rate”, 2013). A considerable part of the children’s rights is violated. Parents try to find out the ways to provide their children with the best educational practices, and care givers are bothered with the questions concerning children’s development and abilities to live in a bilingual society (Habtoor, 2012). Many Saudis are afraid of being westernised because of a fast spread of the English language through their communities and their inabilities to control the impact of the English use on their national identity (Al Haq & Oqlah, 1996). Still, the investigations prove that even the use of English and the necessity to live in a multilingual world do not have a considerable impact on people, but have to be taken into account at the early stages of children’s development because children usually undergo numerous impacts from various sides (Mouzan, Salloum, Herbish, Qurachi, & Omar, 2008). In spite of all challenges and difficulties, the Saudi Arabian community has to be defined as a powerful nation with an ability to demonstrate the best qualities a
Introduction Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver that causes both soreness and swelling. Chronic hepatitis can lead to fibrosis (scarring) and cirrhosis (fibrosis plus abnormal regeneration of liver cells) or even to liver carcinoma. Hepatitis is generally caused by viruses though there are other factors such as toxic chemicals, alcohol consumption, parasites and bacteria, and certain drugs that can cause hepatitis. Symptoms of hepatitis are nausea, fever, weakness, loss of appetite, sudden distaste for tobacco smoking, and jaundice (CE, 2004). There are many kinds of hepatitis named hepatitis A through E. Hepatitis C, formerly called non-A, non-B hepatitis, is transmitted through blood although in many cases there is no proven cause (CE, 2004). It is the most common form of chronic liver disease in the United States. Many of those infected have no symptoms but become carriers, and the virus may eventually cause liver damage. Blood banks conduct tests for hepatitis C as a matter of routine. The virus that causes Hepatitis C is HCV. It is a positive, single-stranded RNA virus in the Flaviviridae family (Worman, 2002). Prevalence Approximately 170,000,000 people worldwide and 4,000,000 in the United States are infected with HCV (Worman, 2002). Chronic infection is found in 55%-85% of infected persons; chronic liver disease happens 70% of chronically infected persons and mortality rate is around 1%-5% deaths from chronic liver disease (CDC, 2005). However, latest statistics show that there has been a decline in hepatitis C and new infections per year has declined from an average of 240,000 in the 1980s to about 26,000 in 2004 (CDC, 2005). Illegal injection drug use and alcohol abuse can multiply the possibilities of having chronic hepatitis C(Bean and Nemitz, 2004). There is also a decline in cases of hepatitis C caused by transfusion due to efficient blood screening practices. The CDE reports that approximately 4.1 million (1.6%) Americans have been infected with HCV, of whom 3.2 million are chronically infected (CDC, 2005). Prognosis About 85% of individuals acutely infected with HCV become chronically infected. Hence, HCV is a major cause of chronic hepatitis. Once chronically infected, the virus cann
The United States of America is one the nations that has experienced economic inequality in the recent past. Economic inequality involves technological and social changes, which produce a two-level society. The inequality in America meant that there were distinct differences between social classes. The market is no longer free because most of the people especially those in the lower social classes cannot afford most of the commodities in the market. As such, the market is left for those in the middle and upper classes. The problem of inequality has had significant impacts on the economy of the United States of America as well as other global economies. This is what provoked authors and economic analysts like Joseph Stiglitz and others to dig deep into the matter. As a result, Joseph Stiglitz has written a book titled ‘The Price of Inequality’, which is an analysis of the inequality situation in America. In the book, Joseph Stiglitz writes about the possible causes, impacts, and solutions of inequality in America. In his book, Joseph Stiglitz argues that the price of inequality in America was not by chance. He indicates that it was created by interplay of various factors. However, according to Joseph Stiglitz, the political factor is the most prevalent factor in the problem of inequality. He affirms that inequality is as a result of a political system which is money driven, thus grant more power to the most influential people in the society. Those with power in the society are given the privilege of enjoying favorable treatments on tax and the government protects their market share as well as other forms of benefits. These benefits are what economists refer to as “rent seeking.” The conservatives of a nation normally advocate for pure free markets in which every person in the nation can afford a standard lifestyle. However, this is not the case in most economies because of the conversion of economic power into political power. Those in politics tend to be the wealthy people in the society. They are the same people who run the government once elected as leaders. Therefore, when elected into the government they make policies that would favor them. For instance, in most of the countries including the United States of America, political leaders enjoy tax-free salaries. On the other hand, the burden of taxation is bestowed on the less fortunate people in the society. This is what Joseph Stiglitz notes in his book as monopolistic power. The monopolistic powers, which Joseph Stiglitz claims the political leaders have, also include the evasion of estate tax and having unrestricted campaign contributions. In the latter, the political leaders organize fundraisings and get donations from friends and well-wishers during their campaigns, but all the accumulated funds are neither taxed nor commissioned. This happens at the expense of the other members of the society especially those in the lower social classes. This is because the huge sums of money collected have economic impacts such as high inflation rates thus causing
Outline The thesis presented here is an argument in favor of using genetically modified potatoes in the effective prevention of the deadly hepatitis B virus infection. Clinical trials have proved their efficacy in the prevention and hence should be speeded up to enable commercial use. It is proved that this method is effective, practical, and cost-effective. Despite some relevant but narrow counterarguments, the benefit of pursuing this process far outweighs the negative outcome if any of GM food. The process followed is given here. It starts with an introduction about the topic which ends with the research questions. It then gives a background on hepatitis B and GM potatoes. An argument with references on the effectiveness of this prevention method follows next. A counterargument against the dangers of using GM food is also included. Finally, the conclusion is given where the counterargument is refuted and the point in favor of using GM potatoes as an effective prevention measure against hepatitis B is established. Introduction Hepatitis B is an affectation of the liver caused by the Hepatitis B virus. It is considered by medical specialists to be the most common ailment in the world affecting the organ. This potentially dangerous disease which causes extreme discomfort to the affected can lead to major complications if not treated properly. The eventual outcome would be cancer or cirrhosis of the liver and even death. Fortunately, there are vaccines available that can be used to prevent the occurrence of the disease in the first place. The unfortunate part is that it is expensive and needs refrigeration for it to be effective. Recent research has shown promise in genetically modified potatoes given orally to be effective as a safe replacement for traditional vaccines. The research question is “Genetically Modified potato, which serves as an edible vaccine against Hepatitis B, would be a more affordable way to prevent this deadly liver disease for poorest countries than regular vaccine”. The main points to be argued are  1. Genetically modified potato is effective in the prevention of Hepatitis B infection when given orally.  2. This vaccine is especially useful in poor countries where the cost of traditional vaccines is too prohib
Character Similarities Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron” tells a story about a fourteen year old “child” who is somewhat of a prodigy. In a world where people are held back because of their talents, and their intelligence is marred by the social rules of all people being the same, Harrison refuses to succumb to the pressure and wants to break free (Gelder, 2009). The main character can be greatly compared to my cousin who is almost 20 years old. He is also a very talented person and likes music. His ear is very well adjusted to sounds and melodies, so when he hears some song or is creating some of his own, he is able to understand what is needed to fill in the gaps or make the melody more beautiful (Werlock, 2009). Another similarity between Kurt Vonnegut’s character and my cousin Phil is that they are both very analytical. Very often, I find Phil sitting behind his desk and writing out his thoughts. He seems to be eager to figure out what the world is, why people have lives and understanding. I find it his talent to have a “feeling” towards something. When he thinks about a problem, he does not use logic first. He comprehends the situation and listens to himself letting his inner self to tell him how he feels about a subject. It is interesting to note that he is not quite aware how this process takes place, but it is for certain that he is able to distinguish between useless and important information which later becomes key to a the problem at hand. He is also very knowledgeable of people’s psychology and inner desires, so when he thinks about someone he is able to discern the real behavior from fake one. I think that he has a gift of predicting certain things because all the problems that he encounters, he solves. As Harrison felt pushed down by the government, and prevented from reaching his goals and dreams, so does Phil. Sometimes, he engages in conversations with my father where they discuss why the government is so unwilling to allow people to reach their heights and become everything they can be. Often, they talk about conspiracies in educational institutions and work places, citing the fact that the information that is presented is purposefully faulty, and people are “dumbed down”, so that they show no resistance to the authority of the government. Phil always feels emotional and wants to change something. This is another similarity between Phil and Harrison Bergeron because they are both trying to change the world (Farrell, 2009). Phil is thinkin
Abstract Past research does not explain exactly what influences the pursuit of various foreign policies by states. Divergent views by researchers have tended to propose a variety of variables as influences in formulating foreign policies. This research was conducted to determine the role of various variables in influencing formulation of foreign policies. The researcher reviewed research by other researchers in the field of study. The case study design was used to research and test the validity of the hypotheses that were formulated. The research questions to be answered sought to determine relationships among a variety of variables and the formulation of foreign policies. These variables included governmental level variables such as; democracy, public opinion, and political parties. International policies variables such as polarity, anarchy and leadership were also examined and tested. Answers to these questions assisted in confirming the stated hypothesis. Data for the study was collected through review of secondary sources of information. These included; books, journal articles and other material available on the internet. A longitudinal analysis was conducted on the data to come to conclusive results. The Iraq war was selected as a case study for the research. The research was based on neoconservative realism as a theoretical framework. This framework was useful in explaining America’s involvement in the Iraq war. The researcher found that neoconservative realism was a significant influence in America’s foreign policy towards Iraq. it was also found that governmental variables such as democracy, public opinion and political parties have exceeding influence on a state’s foreign policy formulation process. International policy variables such as anarchy and polarity also have significant influence on the process. Military spending in a state is influenced by both public opinion and political parties’ ideologies. Introduction In the formulation foreign policies, states are usually guided by national interests. National interests are understood in different ways by various theorists. The interests of a given state could lie in economic, political or military gains. In establishing relationships with other states in the international arena, states are most often influenced by what they stand to gain. Gains could be in terms of military power, increased influence in decision-making, economic gains or improved security. Various variables, however, come into play when these policies are made. By carrying out this research, the researcher intends to answer the following questions;  1. Does governmental politics affect foreign policy making given that political parties and pressure groups have a stake in the formulation process.  2. Does regime type matter in foreign policy formulation? Does the behavior of leaders affect the quality of decisions made at the international level?  3. Does military spending affect the GDP of a state? Is it factual that military spending drains resource that would
Reflective Statement In this study, there are a number of practical lessons and values learnt that are of the essence to a manager. Firstly, performance management is a process that is geared towards achieving objectives set by a business plan in order to realize success. This work thus gives a manager an insight onto ways and methods that he or she can use to steer an organization towards performance. In this process, a manager learns soft skills in team management, team structure and team social relations as a creation of a “family setup” in business. This can only guarantee success if properly utilized. Secondly, in performance management, there is a need to develop objectives and goals. Goals and objectives are developed using certain measures and strategies in order to get the organization on top. These are skills that a manager learns that they give the right approach to the business. In this process, a manager gets certain knowledge, experience and practice to develop what right, recognize what is above of below the actual requirements of the organization. In terms of team management, this assessment helps in the future appreciation on values embedded in human relations in the work place. As a manager one can develop the right environment in order to nurture different human perspectives, qualities and concerns. The lesson is that as a manager one is needed to take the role of an evaluator of the interconnection of many systems and how effective they are. In case something goes wrong, a manager can take actions to provide solutions. This may include disciplinary measures as well performance appraisals for an effective organization. Performance management recognizes the use of modern technology that is appropriate in the work place. The lesson for a manager lies in choosing what works where and how does it impact to an organization. This helps a manager in the future to determine the best technology to incorporate in the most efficient and effective manner. Introduction Performance management goes beyond the simplistic approach towards the employees only. In the book, “Field Guide to Leadership and Supervision in Business”, McNamara and McNamara (2002) argue that successful management focuses on the organization, departments processes, programs, products projects and teams (Bayazit and Mannix, 2003). Performance is not about being busy; however, it involves delivering results in line with the survival of the business. A business has no choice, but to ensure that strategic processes opted for are only those meant to increase the effectiveness of the organization. This paper will take a detailed analysis method to explain performance management under the given highlights of this assignment. Performance Management Background information The definition of performance management includes various components, which are linked together in a cycle. In this cycle, business strategy forms the starting point of which the summary of the organization is outlined in fair details. Business strategy allows personnel in the org