ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
This is a description based on an observation that was carried out Intersection of Irving and Mount Pleasant St NW in Washington DC, on two typical weekdays. The intersection connects the one way Irving Street to the two way Mt Pleasant street such that the two streets join in some form of the skewed cross. The streets leading to the intersection are lined with buildings of different construction styles and which host various types of commercial and residential ventures. Because the intersection links various busy streets the first notable observation is a multitude of people in transit using the various means of transport. In the early hours of the day, the roads are virtually devoid of human traffic, but by midday, the sidewalks have a constant flow of pedestrians headed in different directions. Some of these individuals are vendors delivering commodities to stores. The pedestrians are an amalgamation of all types of races. It was easy to point out Chinese, African Americans, Caucasians, Hispanics and Ethiopians coming from their homes, walking to the stores or trying to catch
Introduction Wage disparity is used to refer to the differences in earning for two different groups of people, working in similar set up or their wages are arbitrarily different in the labour market. Wage disparity is mostly used in relation to describing the uneven spread of income across gender, race, and ethnic groups, which can lead to social inequalities and other problems in the workplace especially when the disparity is much pronounced. Various research studies have been undertaken on the wage disparities by many researchers to examine various parameters of wage inequalities since they contribute a lot to the labor-market inequalities. Majority of the studies relating to wage disparities are quantitative in nature and involve measurements and comparison of wages and salaries. These studies are mainly intersectional, trying to explain the wage inequalities using survey data to evaluate the differences based on gender, social status, and racial/ethnic groupings. Wage disparities exist due to a variety of factors and the leading contributor to these wage gaps is the fact that many women and racial discriminated people are still secluded in the low paying occupations, with more than half of the all women workers holding sales, office administration entry-level jobs, and service jobs. In addition, most female dominated jobs are low paying compared to male dominated jobs (Howard, 2004). The issue of privileges also appears to affect wage disparity in the work place. Privileges refer favors that are allowed to certain people or a particular person and are not allowed to other people in set up such as a work place. These privileges are earned through achievement or are allowed to a certain grouping of people within most organizational structures. In workplace, some organizatio
Negotiation process entails the interaction of two or more parties in order to develop an agreement out of conflicting views (Mills, 1991). In the case of multinational organizations and countries, negotiation strategies are numerous, but this report shall only discuss a dozen of the most common strategies. One strategy entails the use of threats, stating that unless the other party at the negotiating table concedes the demands of the first party, sanctions shall be administered. Another strategy is referred to as “Fait Accompli”, which eliminates certain alternatives by reducing the options available to a party. Another tactic includes non-negotiable terms, where one party states to the other that he is not under obligation to compromise on some issues. Delay is a strategy where a negotiating party maintains his position until the other party compromises and offers a more favorable suggestion. Public propaganda is another tactic employed by governments to create a public opinion through statements that arouse public sentiments of not compromising on certain issues. Another strategy is fairness and stability, where the host country persuades the MNC investor that public perception of fair terms is the basis of their negotiation. In dangerous precedent strategy, the negotiator explains that due to his obligations to other parties, he cannot concede to a particular demand. A party can cite ‘lack of authority’ as a strategy where he pretends to have less authority, so as to influence the outcome of a negotiation. Another strategy is giving pre-conditions, where a party states that some conditions have to be met in order to negotiate on an issue. Bluffing is also a strategy that involves demanding more than one expects in order to increase the possibility that the other party increases the attractiveness of his offer. Deception and lies are also strategies applied in negotiations in order for the other party to have a false impression of the situation. Finally, the “salami” tactic may be employed where an arrangement is introduced bit by bit over a long period to reduce resistance from those affected (Ocran, 1985). Negotiation strategies leading to successful negotiation The current situation in Ukraine necessitates negotiations between Ukraine, the USA and Russia. Using threats of sanctions is a strategy that can be effective to pressure Russia to stop infringing on the sovereignty of Ukraine. Inclusion of non-negotiable terms can go in handy with the threat strategy in the same case. Cultural differences in body movements and their influence on a negotiation session Cultural differences can be a hindrance to effective negotiation. For example, the “ok” sign made by touching
A computer is an electronic device applied in general and arithmetic functions. A computer comprises a processing unit and a memory store. The processing unit performs arithmetic and logic operations based on the information stored. All the processes in a computer rely on both the hardware and software. Hardware comprise of tangible elements like a mouse, keyboard, monitor and the central processing unit. Software comprise of various programs and languages used by a computer. People use computers in most activities and it would be unimaginable how life would be if there were no computers. In the past, people considered computers to be a reserve for scientist, engineers, the army and the government. However, that has changed already as computers are now in several workstations, schools and homes. The efficiency, accuracy and ability to accomplish numerous tasks have endeared computers to people and slowly becoming a need rather than a want. Ability to access internet through computers has enhanced research and innovation. Computers touch on every aspect of modern living. The influence of computer on the living standards of people all over the world is unmatched. Banks use computers for purposes of storing information and arithmetic functions. They also use computers for speed, expediency and safety measures. Communication has been escalating since the innovation and introduction of computers. Through emails and virtual worlds in the internet, people are now communicating effectively and in a speedy manner. Computers can qualify as business tools. Computers are integral in the corporate world for they ensure easy transaction of business activities, record keeping and arithmetic functions like preparing a balance sheet. Today computers have enhanced business through online trading, settling of outstanding bills and the stock market. Use of computers in medical science exhibits their abilities and effectiveness. Diagnosis of diseases improves with the use of computers. Computers have enhanced development of the best cure for various diseases through research. Computer technology applies in various medical practices such as surgery and scanning of body organs. The role of computers in education lacks an equal among other assistive technologies. Learning today revolves around computers as teachers
Introduction The infamous Enron corporate debacle revealed the dark underbelly of corporate culture in the United States. After years of admirable economic performance, Enron boasted a stellar record of corporate responsibility, right up until the moment that it collapsed under the weight of its senior management’s hubris. Seemingly overnight, Enron becomes synonymous with “corporate misbehaviour”: rampant corruption, a near-pathological thirst for money, and a feeling of invincibility amongst its C-suite employees, even when committing brazenly criminal acts and manipulating the truth to serve the goal of profit by any and all means (Mullins, 2007; Crowther and Green, 2004: p. 88). Organizational culture, in the case of Enron, became a secret society; the consistent feeling shared by the senior management toward profit is best characterized as “win or else” (Bloisi, W. et al. , 2006; Kakabadse, Ludlow and Vinnicombe, 1988: p. 4; Maanen and Barley, 1985). Main body Numerous theorists have studied the erosion of ethical perspective displayed by Enron’s corporate culture. Sims and Brinkmann (2003) understood that the fate of Enron revealed an important tenet of organizational culture, namely that “business ethics is a question of organizational “deep” culture rather than of cultural artifacts like ethics codes, ethics officers and the like” (p. 243). The deep tissue of Enron’s corporate culture was composed of wholly self-serving material. It reflected an utter contempt for ethics and placed value solely on financial return. As Sims and Brinkmann (2003) understand, “Enron’s top executives set the tone for this culture. Personal ambition and greed seemed to overshadow much of their corporate and individual lives. They strove to maximize their individual wealth by initiating and participating in scandalous behaviours. Enron’s culture created an atmosphere ripe for the unethical and illegal behaviour that occurred” (p. 253). In the end, Enron’s corporate culture became its own undoing. Its catastrophic collapse was Greek in scale, and rife with irony. As Sims and Brinkmann reflect: The partnerships that once boosted earnings and allowed Enron to prosper became the misplaced card that caused the Enron house to collapse. The stability of Enron’s house of cards had been eroded by the very culture that had allowed it to be built. Enron was forced to renounce over $390 million in earnings from dealings with Chewco Investments and JEDI, another partnership. The company was also forced to restate earnings back to 1997, and the restated earnings totaled only $586 million, a mere 20% of the initially reported figures. The very results Enron had sought to prevent – falling stock prices, lack of consumer and financial market confidence – came about as a direct result of decisions that had been driven by Enron’s culture (p. 246) Harrison (1992) explained the distinguishing characteristics of a power culture as “strong leadership from a central power source, culture characterized by compet
The twelfth-century became a turning point in the history of England and France. It was the period of long struggles for the throne that is why the role of Henry II, the king of England from 1154 to 1189 cannot be underestimated. Henry II is considered one of the greatest governors in the history of the great Empire who managed to create a strong country with a well-developed system of courts, government, and army. Wilfred Lewis Warren, a prominent historian, devoted his book to the thorough research of historical figures, his governing, and historical situation during the king’s reign. The book was meant as a scientific and objective representation of Henry II’s epoch and its place in the history of England and France. The author of the book investigates the role of innovations that were introduced on all administrative levels. Of course, history cannot be without skillful political games and intrigues. Warren describes historical events which predetermined the creation of the governmental system that became the foundation of the contemporary system of the English government. The author of the book reconsiders the role and place of Henry II in the history f England; along with positive activities which were undertaken by the king, the historian depicts disputable facts in the life of Henry II. As a historian, Warren discloses the role of Henry II in the destiny of England and France not only as a great king but also as a human being with his passions and personal problems. The author highlights that intrigues that constantly took place during the reign of Henry II could not but influence the historical developments. The historian depicts all possible details of historical events before and during Henry II’s reign. The research of Warren is highly objective and unbiased. The author reveals the cause-effect relations between the political situation and personal life of the king relying on the analysis of documented facts by the king’s contemporaries, research of other historians. He also gives his own logical reasoning and conclusions on the subject and reveals all negative and positive activities of Henry II. Yet, it is obvious that the author agrees with many experts in English history that Henry was not only a great king but also an important figure in the history of England and France. Warren logically unwinds the main and minor events during the reign of Henry II and explains Henry II’s activities from the point of view of an objective historian. The standpoint by Warren is that numerous personal crises led to real tragedies in the destiny of Henry II. On the one hand, Henry II married Eleanor of Aquitaine who was the wife of the French king, Louis
Rucol General Merchandise is opting to implement an enterprise resources planning (ERP) system that requires a superb storage solution. The organization has several branches with employees allowed to work from home two days a week. An effective storage solution for Rucol General Merchandise must meet some credentials. Such qualifications include access from multiple points, top-notch data security, affordability, and stability. As noted earlier, Rucol’s employees work from home at least two days a week. The organization operates six days a week and has over fifty functional branches. Possible storage solutions for Rucol include cloud storage, solid-state drives (SSD), and hard disk drives (HDD). Each of these options has advantages and demerits in the organization’s case. SSDs and HDDs, for example, provide cheaper storage alternatives for Rucol. The two options are readily available and do not require a constant internet connection for access. Moreover, SSDs and HDDs provide excellent offline data storage and backup solutions for organizations undertaking vulnerable processes like Rucol. Shortliffe and Cimino (2021) note that data storage solutions that can be kept away from the internet offer some of the best data management options for sensitive data. The argument makes SSDs and HDDs appropriate for the organization. HDDs come with large space at a relatively lower cost than SSDs, making the former option more appropriate for Rucol’s case. The company will thus utilize HDDs for data backup in a high-efficiency computer without internet connections. Nonetheless, the best data storage alternative for Rucol is the cloud storage system. Choosing Google Drive will allow the organization to acquire about thirty terabytes for $300 a month. The choice will offer data security, increased accessibility, and reliability (Weiland et al., 2019). Coupling the cloud option for data management during normal operations and an HDD system for backups promises the entity a better solution for the data management problem.
What is a Moral Economy in the Context of Revolutions and Protest Movements? Adeel Malik and Bassem Awadallah’s opening statement speaks volumes about the core value of the quest for a moral economy, and they said: “The real struggle for change in the Arab world will only begin when the dust from its youth revolutions has finally settled down” (2). In other words, the quest for a moral economy does not begin and end with a successful ouster of a dictator or the installation of a new form of government. The authors issued a warning that the euphoria emanating from the recently concluded Arab spring movement may end up in frustration and suffers the same fate as other revolutionary movements in the past. Consider for example the unfortunate story of oppression and economic stagnation in Cuba. Before Fidel Castro became the poster boy for coup attempts that ended up in another dictatorial rule, Castro was the leader of a revolutionary movement that was created to destroy the status quo. Nevertheless, after dismantling the old regime, Castro’s reign was not much different from that of his predecessors. The same thing can be said about the struggle for independence in African countries in decades past. At the turn of the 20 th -century African nations yearned for their independence and desired to break away from the shackles of Western colonizers. Nonetheless, when the cheers of the crowd died down and nation-building started, many were aghast to discover that the white oppressors were replaced by black oppressors. The ethnic backgrounds of the leaders transformed, but the problems remained the same. Going back to Arab spring’s ground zero, Egyptian youth succeeded in ousting Hosni Mubarak, but they were dismayed to discover that Egypt’s former dictator was simply the manifestation of the problem. At this point, it was made clear to them that corruption was rooted in the military’s stranglehold on the economy. Egypt’s military leaders “control vast economic resources, from manufacturing to real estate and services, and it’s budget envoys immunity from parliamentary scrutiny, and the military’s role as a regional peacemaker further entrenches its power” (Malik and Awadallah 2). Therefore, one can argue that when revolutionary leaders and protesters initiate calls for change, they wanted more than a change in leadership. They want to experience what experts call a moral economy in contrast to the market-driven economy that characterizes the modern world. A moral economy contains the common characteristics in an ideal world wherein the members of the community are not contending with the effect of inequality and barriers to economic growth. A moral economy goes beyond the desire for freedom and human rights, those who go after it are thinking about a more humane approach in providing opportunities for social mobility and access to government services. One of the best manifestations of a moral economy is the use of microcredit so that poor families can access capital to start a business or expand a current business venture. In a conventional market economy, borrowers coming from t
Introduction The success of a firm’s productivity depends on the organization of the human resource management. Reflectively, labour as a factor of production, determines the gross output, performance, and goal achievement at optimal resource use. The Company ‘Cockpit for you’ has been struggling with human resource management problems that range from competition, labour structure, and financial constraints. Budget constraints for ‘Cockpit for you’ are represented by a production possibility frontier curve which is dangerously skewed towards deficits in productivity. The curve shows the limitation of available factors of production, especially on optimal labour use and employee motivation. Thus, this reflective treatise attempts to explicitly analyse thematic areas that have negative influence on the company’s labour use and display them as part of a mind mapping plan. Besides, the paper presents a comprehensive theoretical backup for one of the identified thematic area as part of a remedial case study. In addition, the paper develops a personnel evaluation system using a project management plan that targets to restore human resource efficiency. Mind Mapping of Challenges at ‘Cockpit for you’ Company Current budget of the ‘Cockpit for you’ firm may not allow it to utilize all factors of production in the economy. Therefore, there is always need to maximize use of obtainable resources. ‘Cockpit for you’ Company faces several limitations in its operations after the sudden restructuring. First, the uncertain working conditions greatly impacted on employees’ confidence and performance patterns. As employees’ incomes remain unstable, and relatively low, it was natural to witness an underperformance and low morale at work. The trading conditions continued to remain a challenge especially for this company. These adversely influenced the ability of ‘Cockpit for you’ to achieve the forecasted sales and consequently, the overall budget was affected. Increase in prices of factors of production directly affects budgeted cost of production, and thus low income earned by employees. In addition, in
Introduction Climate change is one of the many factors that have caused negative effects in the urban areas of many countries (Hunt & Watkiss 2011). This essay outlines three problems that are caused by climate change and also evaluates the effectiveness of mitigation, adaptation, and planning strategies in addressing the problems. Three Problems of Climate Change in Urban Areas Climate change has caused a number of problems in urban areas. According to the Asia-Pacific Human Development Report ( Building Greener Cities n.d), one of the problems due to climate change is the threat to urban social services such as food supplies, flow of electric power and sanitation. The process of climate change has been linked to rises in sea levels, a situation that has negatively impacted the lives of people living in coastal areas ( Building Greener Cities n.d). In this case, flooding results in the breakdown of power and water supplies, and also destroys infrastructures, thereby leading to a scarcity of some resources ( Building Greener Cities n.d). This is exemplified by the seasonal hurricanes in the USA and the surrounding regions, the hurricanes of which have destroyed houses and roads in the past (Hunt & Watkiss 2011). Asian cities have been shown as some of the examples of how climate change and other incidentals negatively impact urban areas in coastal regions. The other problem of climate change in urban areas is the lack of food supplies, which mostly come from rural agricultural regions (Hunt & Watkiss 2011). Due to climate change, it is increasingly becoming difficult to predict rainy seasons, so that planting of food crops can take place at appropriate times (Hunt & Watkiss 2011). This scenario has consequently resulted in reduced food production activities. Since food supplied to urban areas come from the rural regions, a reduction in its production can only lead to a shortage of it in the urban areas, to which most people migrate in search of a better life (Hunt & Watkiss 2011). The last urban problem arising from climate change is a consequential outcome of the damages it causes within the urban and rural areas. In this regard, it is argued that it results in a broad range of negative economic effects within different industries (Hunt & Watkiss 2011). For instance, when climate change causes a shortage in food production, prices are likely to go up. Alternatively, when it causes damages to roads, the supply of food to urban areas is hampered, and people suffer the consequences (Hunt & Watkiss 2011). The Effectiveness of Mitigation, Adaptation and Planning Strategies With respect to the problems of food supplies, the flow of electric power and sanitation, cities have adopted adaptation measures such as the use of plinths, courtyards and landfills ( Building Greener Cities n.d). The city residents also have detachable roofs, which can be removed quickly in times of floods ( Building Greener Cities n.d). These adaptation measures are less