ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Background of the Study Providing new opportunities, autonomy and economic benefits is significant to the delivery on all the strategic policies of Majlis Al-Shura. While evidences reveal that organizations that promote increased equality among the employees in terms of both new prospect and benefits, there is not only increased efficiency in service delivery but also enhanced livelihood (Buvinic, Gupta, Casabonne & Verwimp, 2013; Castillejo, 2011). Addressing gender issues and empowering women remains significant in addressing most of the administrative challenges facing the organization (Kapiszewski, 2006). Institutional developments in both public and private establishments are more pertinent and sustainable when both genders are allowed to contribute fully as identical actors (Puechguirbal, 2012). Similarly, the progress plans of major institutions can only be achieved when both genders are allowed to take part fully in their design and implementation as equal actors (Melander, 2005). Yet, despite increasing evidence that women’s improved capabilities and welfare are strongly linked to the developed and improved performance in the public institutions, gender inequalities continue to be inordinately large in public institutions particularly in countries within the Arab world (Aba-Namay, 2008). At present, with few expectations, women working in administrative positions in public institutions fare worse compared to the male counterparts for which data are available (Smith, 2007). If such women have an equal opportunity to the productive outputs, increased responsibilities, participation and independence, the estimates is that the performance of the institution would increase by 20 – 30%, which in turn would increase the governance performance by 2.5% to 4% in both national and local levels (Javed, 2004). Since its establishment Majlis Al-Shura has made little efforts in allowing women to be part of its establishment until 2013 when women were allowed to take up to around thirty seats (Toumi, 2012; Al Mulhim, 2013). Since then the institution has increased its efforts in overcoming gender issues and empowering women as a strong foundation for its future work and expected improved performance (Al Mulhim, 2013). As indicated, dealing with issues re issues related to women empowerment remains critical to the implementation and achievement of the strategies that have been put established. Consequently, the Majlis Al-Shura will remain at the forefront in working on gender issues in the context of empowering women through education and offering increased opportunities (Al Mulhim, 2013). However cultural orientations and religious belief systems provide new opportunities and greater challenges towards this effort (Smith, 2007). Therefore, the problem being investigated is the lack of understanding of the impact of empowering women in their administrative roles in order t
Introduction Santa Fe College’s Service District is expected to be one of the most interesting House races this year. The incumbent Ted Yoho and his political rival Jake Rush will be battling in the republican primaries. This paper seeks to review five political issues raised by the two rivals and examine their relevance in the current political environment. The contestants have posted their political issues on their websites for the public to interrogate. This paper will discuss some of the issues posted on each contestant’s website and determine who the preferred candidate is. Jake’s Political Issues The five most dominant issues To begin with, Jake Rush has a problem with a number of issues that are critical to any American citizen. The most prominent among his issues include the National debt and spending, the straining economy and job creation, the Veterans issue, the Second Amendment right to bear arms, and illegal immigration. These are particularly very pertinent issues in the country’s political scene. However, the candidate has been under pressure over his credibility due to his alleged double life (McNeal par. 5). His political career is threatened by his past activities before he joined the political scenes. He was allegedly involved in a cult where he was role-playing as a vampire before he ventured into politics (Fuller par. 6) Government spending Many politicians and the public alike will agree with his sentiments against the government’s humongous spending since Obama took office. He puts the blame on health and social security citing Obamacare as the main reason for the inflating national debt (“JakeRushforcongress: Jake Rush on the Issues” par. 2). In his statement, he argues that the current situation is driven by the imbalances in budgeting and the country’s consumption of more than it can afford. The economy/job creation and the issue of veterans On the issue of the dwindling economy and job creation, Jake proposes a free market as a way to create job opportunities (“JakeRushforcongress: Jake Rush on the Issues” par. 4 ). He laments bitterly that the government’s stringent regulation of the economy is straining the small businesses (“JakeRushforcongress: Jake Rush on the Issues” par. 4 ). Jakes is also saddened by the poor treatment of the military veterans who come home empty-handed after a long period of service to the nation. He strongly opposes cutting the veteran’s benefits arguing that they truly deserve the honor (“JakeRushforcongress: Jake Rush on the Issues” par. 5 ). The 2nd amendment and immigration The second amendment is also an issue that Jake advocates passionately considering his past career as a law enforcement officer. He wants the Americans to be given the freedom of owning guns arguing that gun safety is learned through familiarity rather than fear (“JakeRushforcongress: Jake Rush on the Is
Introduction There has been an increased level of business competition in the business environment as a result of the highly dynamic nature of the current world, as well as the rapidly changing customer needs. The advancement in technology has also been a factor that has contributed to the increase in the level of competition. Organizations find themselves under pressure because they need to maintain their high performance, despite the stiff competition facing them (Hill and Jones 10). They strive to emerge the most competitive or get the highest share of the market to maximize their sales and profitability. A business organization that needs to be in a position to compete favorably is required to have a strategic plan that is usually developed by the strategic managers. Strategic management usually constitutes the formulation of the primary objectives that a company wants to achieve in a specified period (Hill and Jones 11). The plan outlines how the objectives are to be achieved, given the available resources, internal, as well as the external environment in which the business is operating. Strategic management typically provides direction on how the organizational goals will be achieved. It also generates policies and guidelines on how the available resources should be allocated to maximize the company’s potential. In business, there could be business level strategies that generally guide the operations of that specific company. This essay will focus on the business level strategies of Alibaba. Alibaba is a company that is based in China, and it provides online business services to its clients. E-commerce has become increasingly common in organizations following the current advancements in technology. Technology has led to the establishment of organizations like Alibaba, whose core business is e-commerce. The company has adopted a generic strategy, as well as a grand strategy that has been guiding its business activities. Alibaba’s Generic Strategy The generic strategy that the company has adopted is cost leadership. It is a strategy whereby the company sells its goods at a low price. It is also a strategy that normally targets the mass market. Most customers are willing to buy goods at the lowest possible price, but they want quality products at the same time (Kozami 32). Alibaba has been able to lower its costs of operation through the use of technology. As mentioned earlier, the company’s core business is based on e-commerce. It means that technology is the major factor towards the success of Alibaba’s business. It is imperative to note that technology has been essential in the cost reduction of many organizations across th
Introduction The level of international integration has increased significantly within the past six decades. This means that different public sectors have been growing very fast. During the early years of this kind of expansion, many industrialised nations continued to record enlarged welfare states. However, past studies and analyses have revealed that the wave of globalisation has resulted in reduced welfare states in a number of developed economies. This research examines and describes the existing relationship between globalisation and the declining welfare state in the United Kingdom. Globalisation and the Decline of the Welfare State in the United Kingdom: Analysis Taylor-Gooby (2016) defines “welfare state” as a model implemented by governments to protect the well-being of every needy citizen. This approach targets persons who have financial difficulties. This support is provided through the use of social benefits, pension schemes and grants. In the recent past, many economists have focused on the potential impacts of globalisation on welfare state policies in the developed world (Beland et al. 2014). The existence of national differences when it comes to the issue of social welfare is something that has forced many researchers to relate the problem to global integration. Edgerton (2018) believes that historical analyses can offer meaningful insights in an attempt to understand how integration has influenced welfare states in different countries such as the United Kingdom. The postwar period resulted in what economists call “embedded liberalism” (Edgerton 2018). During this period, many states were able to control the amount of imports and exports through the use of policies and trade policies. The existing environment prevented many nations such as the United Kingdom from recording increased fiscal deficits (Edgerton 2018). This government could control exchange rates, influence capital transfers and monitor the conditions associated with exportation and importation. Consequently, the reduced level of international integration (or globalisation) made it easier for the UK to focus on the best practices and domestic policies that would result in economic development. This situation made it easier for the UK to shape every national system. Taylor-Gooby (2016) acknowledges that the resultant level of freedom empowered different government agencies to control or increase employment opportunities, collect
Introduction There Will Be Blood by Paul Thomas Anderson is the most critically-acclaimed historical drama movie of 2007. In a thrillingly candid manner, the movie depicts the story of an oilman who embarks on a quest for oil riches during the Southern California oil boom. The aim of this paper is to review There Will Be Blood and provide readers with a persuasive material of sufficient weight to convince them to see the film. Review The main character of the movie, Daniel Plainview, is a prospector who in the process of mining an ore vein discovers oil and creates a drilling company. After one of his miners dies in a horrific accident, the businessman adopts his orphaned son, H.W. Daniel uses the boy in order to pose as a family man before people willing to invest in his company. Later, the businessman acquires a piece of land rich in oil and starts an incredibly lucrative operation allowing him to prosper. There Will Be Blood should be seen by those viewers who are interested in a masterful portrayal of brutal force of ruthless chicanery that goes beyond categories. The movie’s scenes of awesome scope are replete with poignant intensity of Daniel’s ambition that can be only matched by unparalleled brutality of his character. The nature of scorching brutality depicted in There Will Be Blood is on the par with a natural disaster in the sense that it is impossible to turn one’s gaze away from it. Therefore, the movie’s power to pierce its audience as a ramrod makes it what it is—a beautiful beast of cinematography. Those who are willing to feast their eyes on the magnificent creature have to remember that experience comes with a toll: it will be impossible to be indifferent to coarse and animalistic nature of capitalism after watching the movie. More than two hours of Daniel’s quest for an unholy grail in an oil-rich desert, show how crude and monstrous a drive for money can be. The movie reminds its audience of Mr. Bernstein’s argument in Citizen Kane , in which he posits that it is not hard to become enormously wealthy if it is all one wishes to become. Indeed, Daniel’s unrestrained ambition drives him to get up after each fall and without pity and regret burst into flames of greed. He would certainly be at the top of simian hierarchy if he were placed on Darwinian continuum. Not unlike a corporate CEO, whose only interest is a bottom line of their company, the businessman explores oil wells and people around him. Harmful effects and toxic nature of capitalism are especially evident in this dark, American success story when Daniel with wolfish perversity becomes a formidable opponent of his stepson, his brother impostor, and a priest. Conclusion There Will Be Blood is a consummate work of art that offers its audience a chance to glance into a dark and oily well of human consciousness. The movie opens an ocean of greed punctuated by a deep voice of the oil businessman that d
Teamwork is becoming an increasingly important concept in the business world, as many organizations move away from traditional hierarchical structures to more cross-departmental team-centered workplace designs. However, it appears that not all teams are created equal: some experience significant organizational and performance issues. Precisely this issue is the focus of a recently published book by Joe Frontiera and Daniel Leidl, who examine several teams’ transformation process with the goal of offering practical recommendations to business leaders and organizations. The book’s title is Team Turnarounds: A Playbook for Transforming Underperforming Teams, and it was published in August 2012 by a subdivision of the Wiley & Sons publishing house. It was written by two consulting specialists Joe Frontiera and Daniel Leidl whose primary focus lies on group performance and achievement (Frontiera and Leidl viii). Both being sports enthusiasts, they have grown particularly interested in how the “underdog” sports teams develop to achieve great heights – the process that the authors labeled as “turnaround.” Since the book is inspired by sports, a great deal of it is dedicated to the case studies of NFL, NBA, and NCAA teams. However, the authors have also examined the stories of government agencies, businesses, and even Broadway crews. Through a series of interviews with the management of these teams, Frontiera and Leidl aim to identify the steps necessary for a team to complete a turnaround. According to the authors, it takes six specific stages for a team to achieve success. The first step of the turnaround process – Leading Past Losing – is about, as in many other problem-solving approaches, the analysis of the current state of affairs with the goal of identifying the team’s flaws and performance drawbacks. The management needs not only to conduct an honest evaluation but to communicate their findings to the group (Frontiera and Leidl 1). During the second stage, entitled Committing to Growth , the group shifts its focus from the past to the future. This step is dedicated to crafting a powerful vision for the team, as well as supplementing it with a set of achievable goals and values (Frontiera and Leidl 29). Once the team identifies past mistakes and sets a clear vision for the future, it is time for it to start implementing the plan into reality. Thus, the third Changing Behaviors stage is about identifying the best practices, designing new behaviors based on them, and slowly integrating them into the team’s activities and operations (Frontiera and Leidl 59). Clearly, as the team adopts new behaviors, it may meet significant challenges along the way, which is the focus of the fourth chapter titled Embracing Adversity. Rather than getting blocked by these obstacles, successful teams view them as an opportunity to become more resilient and positive (Frontiera and Leidl 85). If the group manages to overcome this stage, it will be rewarded with success at the fifth stag
The major goal of the study was to investigate how members of a group respond in a situation whereby one member, referred to as the deviant, is wrongly mistreated or misunderstood by the group. In the study that specifically espoused aspects of group dynamics and conformity, a deviant is not considered as a social misfit but rather as an individual who stands strong and sticks to his or her beliefs in the face of considerable pressure from the group (Chan et al 1104). The study made use of two hypotheses, namely (a) group member’s negativity towards the deviant member would be ultimately eliminated if it is perceived that the deviant was right, and (b) group members’ negativity towards the deviant member may persist even if the member was perceived as wrongly accused. While the major independent variable concerned the treatment of the deviant by the group, it is evident that this independent variable was divided further into two novel independent variables namely “(a) whether the group rejects changes to its own opinion, or embraces a deviant’s opinion; and (b) whether the group continues to punish and marginalize the former deviant, or reintegrates him or her” (Chan et al 1104). The major dependent variables included in the study concerned the extent of negativity towards the individual considered as deviant, as well as the effects of the perceived negativity on group conformity and identification. The study made use of two experiments to prove or reject the hypotheses mentioned above. While the first experiment recruited 73 first-year psychology students at a large Australian university, the second experiment recruited 94 first-year Catholic participants, also from the university. In the first experiment, participants were recruited for an experiment apparently on thinking styles and academic performance, before been provided with information on deductive and inductive thinking styles and afterwards supposed “to complete a computerized word and number associations for the group induction task” (Chan et al 1005). In the second experiment, the information about Galileo’s dispute with the Catholic Church (that the earth moves around the sun) was introduced to participants to test the opposing predictions versus siding up with the accused. Both experiments were largely quantitative in method as empirical data was sought using a seven-point Licket-type scale (“1 = strongly disagree to 7 = strongly agree”). Data for the study was collected using these scales and statistical models (e.g., descriptive means, analysis of variance) used to analyse t
Introduction For the last six decades, Canada and Columbia have had comprehensive political relations. Colombia has an embassy in Ottawa while Canada has its embassy in Bogota. The countries enjoy full-fledged bilateral relations. These include intimate economic ties resulting in free trade agreements. These agreements have enabled Canada to import coffee from Colombia. Main Body Coffee is among the main agricultural products globally. Many people all over the world irrespective of age, gender, class, religious affiliations, or race prefer it to other beverages. In this respect, coffee is a principal source of foreign earning after oil for majority of developing countries, ensuring the sustenance of their economies. Simultaneously, it impacts the global economy considering that it is among the key primary products in global trade. Coffee, therefore, supports the livelihood of the cultivators. Unfortunately, for the producers, the product’s price is extremely volatile because of natural causes, supply and demand variances. Consequently, countries that produce the commodity founded the Association of Coffee Producing Country (ACPC) to augment the International Coffee Organization. The organizations facilitate the maintenance of a stable coffee market. Despite this move, there exist numerous hurdles that producers require overcoming. Colombia is the second largest coffee producer (Joho, 2014). This study explores different aspects of coffee produced and exported by Columbia. It pays special attention to coffee trade between Colombia and Canada. General Information Colombian Coffee History Colombia has a magnificent coffee producing history. It mainly grows Arabica coffee, favored by the country’s distinctive geography. The variety is regarded the highest quality bean globally. The location and the weather are ideal for the production of a tasty, high quality beverage. The country’s outstanding growing environment coupled with vigorous marketing campaigns has seen the coffee gain attention in the international coffee market. Established in 1950s, the National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC) has worked relentlessly towards this end. Geographical conditions The 100 percent washed Arabica variety grown in the country requires particular climatic conditions. The variety initially grew in the mountains of East Africa where it continues to thrive including Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania. The growth of the variety also requires specific soils, warmth, rain, and altitude above sea level. The perfect conditions for the growth of the variety in the country are found between 1200-1800 meters above seal level. In these areas, the temperature ranges between 17 and 23 degrees centigrade. The amount of rainfall ranges at 2,000 millimeters annually. The country is bisected by the Andes Mountains. The mountains divide into 3 parallel mountain ranges, running from south to north. Colombia is geographically small. It prides itself with two of South Americas 5 biodiversity hotspots. These include the