ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Although African Americans comprise approximately 13 percent of the total U.S. population, they usually represent a much larger proportion of people who are convicted of various offences and incarcerated (Mackey, & Levan, 2011, p. 99). This tendency is particularly noticeable among males whose age ranges from 25 to 29. Black males are much more likely to be incarcerated than Hispanic or non-Hispanic white people. This paper is aimed at discussing possible factors that contribute to this disparity. It is vital to examine social and demographic characteristics of these people. Additionally, one of the tasks is to look the work of criminal justice system and the way in which it can treat individuals who are either accused of convicted of crime. This discussion can show why black males may be overrepresented in American prisons. Incarceration rates among black males According to the data provided by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (2010), black non-Hispanic males have an incarceration rate of 4,749 inmates for every 100.000 of American citizens (p. 2). In turn, the incarceration rate of non-Hispanic white men is 708 convictions per 100.000 residents (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2010, p. 2). Finally, the imprisonment rate of Hispanic males is approximately 1.822 inmates per every 100.000 of the population. Overall, these findings indicate that there are significant disparities existing between black men on the one hand and white or Hispanic males on the other. As it has been said before, the percentage of African-American convicts in prisons is much large that the percentage of black people in America. Therefore, it is important to examine the factors that may increase this disparity. The problem is that it can result from the failure of governmental institutions. Its origins cannot be explained only by individual behavior. Variables that are associated with crime The researchers, who examine the origins of high incarceration and conviction rates among black males, focus mostly on the demographic characteristics of these people. These variables can throw much light on the connection between race and crime. In their study Bradley Wright and Wesley Younts (2009) identify such factors as lack of educational or employment opportunities or acceptance of illegal activities in some neighborhoods (p. 336). The majority of black people, who are incarcerated or convicted, usually come from neighborhoods that have such characteristics as high unemployment, a great number of abandoned houses, vandalism, and the availability of alcoholic beverages or drugs (Wright & Younts, 2009, p. 338). As a rule, people do not feel much attachment to these neighborhoods. In many cases, illegal activities such as drug dealing can be turned into routine and they are not properly prevented or investigated. Additionally, people frequently come from single-parent families which means they are more likely to be economically disadvantaged (Wright & Younts, 2009, p. 342). These are some of the most impo
Introduction Civilization can be defined as the process of human development. You find that in almost every culture, people have undergone a stage of development like the other culture say the Chinese civilization, western civilization, and Indian civilization among others. Civilization in one way or the other share some similarities in traits which is of course part of human nature, like they may share some characteristics in the form of worship, mode of dressing among others. Every human being participates in a culture defined by its beliefs, habits and values which actually constitute to the peoples way of life. Civilisation can also be distinguished from other cultures by their high levels of social complexity and organization and by their diverse economic and cultural values. In the early middle ages, most of the roman craft organizations formed religious confraternities. (Ali, 1978). Chinese civilization Chinese civilization is known to have taken about two thousand years old and its similar to the Indian civilization. The moral and material civilization on which the Chinese civilization was founded actually matured during the period from 1786-1223BC.The Chinese actually saw themselves as the great culture and viewed themselves as the only people who actually deserved respect and consideration in contrast to the other cultures who were seen as unworthy and deserved no respect at all. One thing is quite unique with the Chinese civilization in that it is purely Chinese and there was no influence from abroad whosoever. These people are completely Chinese and do not have any influence from other cultures and that’s why they see themselves as the only culture which should be respected. China actually fell twice under foreign domination and its first time was at the hands of the Mongols while the second time was at the European invention. It is well known that the Mongols had a deep effect in the civilization of the china. In contrast, the western influential was so brutal that it shook the traditional foundations of the Chinese social fabric. China is the biggest country with the largest population and growth and hence as a result it occupies a prominent position in the international arena. Chinese were actually interested in technological advances and that’s why actually the Chinese expanded so easily. China had two chances, to generate a continuing self-sustaining process of scientific and technological advance on the basis of its indigenous traditions and achievements and second to learn from European science and technology and this actually made them to develop. (Ali, 1978). Islamic civilization It is only Islam that is characterized by foundational ideal and a broad worldview containing them. Just like the Chinese empire, Islamic empire took 100 years to build and it is actually the shortest recorded period in history but in the process they cam
Internal causes The internal environment of any business is critical to its long-term sustainability. Factors that shape the internal business environment include the management approach, decisions, and strategic plan. Various internal factors within Sony have contributed to the company’s decline over the years. This section will discuss two key factors that have played a major role in the company’s decline, namely, lost opportunities and mismanagement and Sony’s organizational culture. Lost Opportunities and Mismanagement Sony emerged as a pacesetter in the world of electronics by introducing new technologies ahead of the other manufacturers. Sony makes a wide range of electronics ranging from cameras to Smartphones. Sony is still making products that are desirable and of impeccable quality. Perhaps Walkman remains the most notable invention by the company. Despite being able to adopt emerging technologies to create high-quality products, Sony’s presence has continued to decline in the market of electronics. People are less excited about using the company’s products compared to the situation in the last two or three decades. Numerous scholars have explained this shift in customer away from Sony’s products. It is mostly associated with an ineffective business strategy. A business strategy refers to an organization’s long-term goals spanning between 3 to 5 years or longer. A business strategy guides a business in pursuing its goals in an ever-changing market environment. Therefore, businesses need to have a flexible strategy that will incorporate the changing trends such as customers’ preferences. One of Sony’s major failures was the company’s inability to shift from a product-centered culture to customer-centered production. The situation led to its loss of opportunities where clients were only interested in companies that provided items that could satisfy their demands. Advancement in technology has resulted in a shift in market behavior, with customers becoming more demanding and charismatic wit reference to the products they use. In other words, customers nowadays want to feel that the products they are using reflect on them, quality notwithstanding. This rationale best explains why Sony, despite continuing to churn out some of the highest quality gadgets, has continued to experience a dwindling market share. Sony failed to adjust her strategy to suit emerging customer needs, the most notable being customer experience. Competitors such as Apple’s iPhone jumped onto emerging technology to offer customers’ experience-oriented gadgets that have often caused market excitement every time a new model is being released. Sony lost this opportunity. On the other hand, it continued to focus on hardware, which, unfortunately, offered less versatility when compared to software. Focusing on software enables manufacturers to manipulate technology in creating formidable and customer-centered products. Xu and Muneyoshi observe that being a hot s
Introduction At the moment, the business environment is characterized by a high rate of dynamism as a result of technological advancement, coupled with a high rate of globalization. To survive in such an environment, firms operating in different economic sectors are increasingly considering ways through which they can develop a competitive advantage in the facing of the mounting competition. A firm only attains a competitive advantage over its rivals after the implementation of a unique competitive strategy. A competitive strategy refers to the decision regarding how a firm intends to establish itself in a certain domain. The competitive strategy entails both offensive and defensive mechanisms which are aimed at dealing with the five competitive forces (Vallabhaneni, 2009, p. 15). These forces include barrier to entry, rivalry from firms in the industry, the threat of substitute, supplier bargaining power and lastly, buyer bargaining power. There are a wide range of competitive strategies that firms may decide to incorporate in their daily operations. The main strategies include cost leadership, differentiation strategy, cost focus, broad differentiation, and low cost strategy (Schermerhorn, 2010, p.223). Firms adopt different competitive strategies depending prevailing environment in the market. For example, Fiat Motor Company integrated a broad-line competitive strategy in its operations. This competitive strategy means that the car manufacturer is a regional producer of a wide range of automobiles. Through an effective implementation of a competitive strategy, a firm is able to create value for its products. The resultant effect is that the firm attains a high competitive edge over its rivals in the market. On the other hand, to survive in the long run, it is important for firms to ensure that they implement a sustainable competitive advantage. In the 21 st century, the purchasing behavior of consumer has undergone a major change and if at all firms do not keep pace with these changes, they are likely to lose a large share of their market to their dynamic rival companies that have embrace the changes. The change in the purchasing behavior of consumers is worsened by the increase in the degree of complexity within the business environment as a result of technological advancement arising from innovation and the high rate of globalization (Hoskisson, et al., 2008, p.121). To attain a high comp
John Locke is attributed to be the most famous philosopher to have live an era where England was in conflict. These conflicts were between the English politics and scholars in England. These battles turned England into a battle field where the Crown and parliament were in constant war. Rivalry among the Protestants, Anglican and Catholics was at its peak too. These conflicts would later lead to Civil war in 1640. Locke being a philosopher at the time attributed the cause of this war was a result of man’s luck of knowledge and understanding of his rights as a human being. He was encouraged to come up with principles(Locke 2). This could then help shape man’s way of thinking. The main reason was to help end the war in England. The philosophies that John Locke came up with are still in use in the present time. He is credited to be the most famous and influential philosopher in the world. Born in Wrington, Somersetshire, England in 1632 John Locke attended Westminster School in London . He studied natural science and philosophy. He excelled well in his education to attain a doctorate philosophy (Locke 5). Locke was lucky to have a friend who introduced him into medicine. He did extremely well in this field to achieve a doctorate in this field. Due to his influence in many areas, Locke was introduced to politics. He entered into the political scene and appointed to different political offices. Through his participation in politics he made many allies. He was able to visit France where he met and made allies with other political leaders in the French culture. Here, he was able to expand his knowledge on philosophy that could later make him the author of liberalism. John Locke had many influences in England and to the English people. Being a politician in an era where conflicts and rivalry was at its peak. He could not fathom the fact that people were suffering due to lack of knowledge. He began opposing the administration of the Crown and the Anglican Church. This brought many skirmishes that threatened him and his life. He was forced to go into exile in Holland where he participated in political movements. While in exile he played a big role in enlightening his fellow countrymen to fight for their rights and country. He discoursed of ways that could help in overthrowing the then present leader out of the crown. His efforts did not go to waste as James II was expelled from the crown. In turn, William of Orange was appointed as the leader in England. Having campaigned and a big supporter of William of Orange, Locke had to come back to England and opted for a private life. He devoted himself to studying philosophy. He died peacefully in 1704 having been a physician philosopher, politician and a teacher. Locke was a philosopher with a difference as he was a man who walked his talk. As a philosopher, John Locke came up with many philosophies that are more applicable to the present day. Among the many philosophies that he came up with was human nature. In this thesis he urged that human beings were so
The process of good management in an organization is called corporate governance. Corporate governance is the live wire of an organization (Acemoglu 1995). With the growing pressure on a firm’s competence, the director’s quest for the right approach to governance involves transparency, organizational culture and an effective governance scheme. To balance investment strategies, with the aspirations of the entire stakeholder’s of the organization, the rules, procedures and processes must be managed and controlled. The management of these processes and controls are called corporate governance. Previous literatures examined the processes of business organizations and their objectiveness in running daily transactions. This report will focus on variables that enhance performance in the organization. The fundamental variables are the owners and managers. Owners of industries hire capable managers to conduct the affairs on their behalf. Each theoretical framework of corporate governance provides a platform for measurement. The cost of management increases when the owners employ quality hands to manage their investments. Sometimes, a clash of interests reduces the growth of the organization (Adams 2002). When managers tailor a firm’s investment strategy to his or her interest, it will encourage friction between the owners and the managers. However, corporate governance can reduce the friction in corporate organizations thus, monitoring the performance of the organization (Roche 2005). This report x-rays the relationship between corporate governance characteristics and the firm’s performance. The relationship can be shown with a diagram: Table 1 This report correlates the impact of good governance on the firm’s stock value and the cost of auditing and management. The sample size was reduced to 20 UK firms thus, removing firms not documented in UK, firms without valid annual reports and financial firms in the UK. 20 firms were selected from the FSTE100 between 2004 and 2008. The variables of analysis were divided into dependent and independent variables. The dependent variables include: Return of Equity (ROE), return on assets and the profit margin of the listed firms (Agrawal & Knoeber, 1996, p. 387). The independent variable include: the board size, board composition, the composition of the audit committee, the status and composition of the Chief executive to mention a few. Descriptive analysis Table 2: Descriptive statistics of Corporate Governance in 20 UK Firms           2004   2005   2006   2007   2008   Mean      57.34  59.95  61.88  67.10  2.62   Median    57.00  60.00  62.00  66.22  2.00   St. Dev.  8.35   7.87   7.79   9.06   4.08   Min       33.00  37.00  41.00  45.50  -10.00 Max       82.00  86.00  82.00  96.00  21.00   The report analysis reveals that the sco
Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird , centers on Scout, a young girl, and the trial of an innocent man that forces her to grow up even faster. Scout doesn’t realize the severity of many of the events of the book as they are taking place, and as such she is an innocent. We can see her develop through the loss of this innocence as events effect Tom Robinson, a man who is innocent in a very different way. While the first part of the book portrays the Southern town in which she lives in a mostly positive light, the second half exposes the extreme ugliness of the townspeople that is exposed through their prejudice. The novel’s main theme is to show the destructiveness of prejudice and how this destroys the innocence found normally in children. Out of this prejudice, Scout’s father, Atticus, acts as the moral hero who is a model to strive for. Because Scout‘s father is the defense lawyer for Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman, Scout and her brother Jem are the target of racial prejudice of the townspeople, and this by extension includes their family. Ideally one would hope that the ties of family would exclude being discriminated against by family, but this was simply not the case. When visiting family, Francis tells Scout what the whole family has been saying about the situation: “Just what I said. Grandma says it’s bad enough he let’s you all run wild, but now he’s turned out a nigger-lover we’ll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He’s ruinin’ the family, that’s what he’s doin’” (Lee 86). Their own family was unable to look beyond their own prejudice; they simply saw this as shameful and hurtful to themselves. Considering how even her family discriminated against her because of the trial, Scout is forced to realize how widespread and ugly racism can get. Because of this, she realizes how much they have in common with other people who are discriminated against: “They begin to realize their own connection with the community’s outsiders, and they observe one man’s heroism in the face of community prejudice” (Johnson 2). The mob scene is yet another example of how innocence can be lost in the face of prejudice and discrimination. Scout does not fully realize what is happening in this scene, and so she acts like a young child would in a situation in which she isn’t in danger. As such, she spots somebody in the crowd and attempts to talk to him like she would if she simply saw him on the street: “Don’t you remember me, Mr. Cunningham? I’m Jean Louise Finch. You brought us some hickory nuts one time, remember?” I began to sense the futility one feels when unacknowledged by a chance acquaintance. “I go to school with Walter,” I began again. “He‘s your boy, ain‘t he? Ain‘t he sir‘” (Lee 153). It is her innocence that is evident in her questioning of Mr. Cunningham that forces the mob to examine what it is that they are doing. While one way to look at this scene would be to say that Scout didn‘t know what she was doing and didn‘t understand her actions, another way to l
Introduction In the article “Clinical Governance Breakdown,” Cleary and Duke (2019) focus on the cases of willful blindness and whistleblowing in two Australian hospitals. Whistleblowing is a process that involves identifying an incompetent, unethical, or illegal situation and reporting this situation to the authorities (1, p. 1039). This process is rare among nurses due to willful blindness and hostility toward whistleblowers. Willful blindness can be defined as a process “by which the brain filters and edits what it takes in, only admitting” information that makes a person feel good about themselves and filtering information that may unsettle their egos and beliefs (1, p. 1040). The authors examine two cases of whistleblowing and willful blindness that occurred in Bundaberg Base Hospital (BBH) and Macarthur Health Service (MHS) in 2003-2004. In both cases, patient safety was under hazard due to the clinician’s incompetence and willful blindness of the supervisors and managers. The Primary Causes for the Systemic Risk for Patient Safety In the first case, the primary cause for the systemic risk for patient safety was surgical incompetence. The BBH could not find adequate and competent surgeons and did not check the overseas-trained medical practitioner Dr. Patel’s background. As a result, many patients suffered from post-operative complications and died from complications. Although the nurses reported Dr. Patel’s negligence and incompetence to higher executives, their complaints were ignored. This case is an illustration of willful blindness and motivated reasoning, as well as systemic inaction. Thus, the BBH Director of Medical Services only acknowledged positive information about Patel’s practice and was willfully blind to the surgeon’s failures and complications (1, p. 1043). The Director’s willful blindness was caused by his desire to avoid complaints that might directly affect funding and the reputation of the hospital. The second case examines the systemic inaction of the hospital supervisors and their unjust management of the cases reported by nurses. Several nurses of the MHS reported their concerns about the safety precautions that needed to be taken before proceeding with an operative procedure on a 10-year-old child (1, p. 1044). However, their complaints were willfully blinded. Moreover, supervisors claimed that the nurses filed the case not due to patient safety breaches but due to the conflict that occurred between them and other nurses (1, p. 1045). Hence, the primary cause for the systemic risk for patient safety was willful blindness and systemic inaction in the MHS. Critical Analysis of Why These Risks Occurred and Resulted in Patient Morbidity and Mortality Having reviewed both cases represented in the article, one can assume that the risks occurred due to the hospital managers’ and supervisors’ willful blindness and unwillingness to argue and have conflicts. Their disinclination to investigate, critically analyze, and address the cases can be ex