ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
John Hood took over as the vice chancellor of Oxford University at a time when its competency as compared to other top world universities was dwindling. Hood had a good record of straightening up academic institutions like the University of Auckland, which he had successfully run before getting a contract at Oxford University. However, in Oxford, Hood met an organizational structure and governance style, which his employers wanted to change. This structure had made the university to “mix academics with trade” (Bloomberg Businessweek, 2005, para. 9). This ultimately led to reduction in the institution’s academic competence. Hood had many issues to address in order to streamline the governance of the university to match with the standards of the twenty first century. Hood claimed that he had no authority or power to effect the changes. He relied only on persuasive power, which the search team that employed him confirmed that he had. There are many reasons to justify Hood’s claims. Hood was in a position to bring about the changes he deemed beneficial for Oxford University. The only problem was that he could not impose these changes. There was an existing governing body that Hood had to work with. The same body is what he wanted to restructure. This body was composed “of some 3,500 academics, administrators and librarian, called Congregation” (Bloomberg Businessweek, 2005, para. 6). Without the support of this body, Hood was to do little to effect the changes. The major source of Hood’s opposition was the dons who wanted to take control of the University’s leadership (Griffiths, 2009). These dons saw Hood’s move of separating administration and academic issues so as to be controlled by two different committees as a means of letting the outsiders to take control of the university. They fought against Hood’s efforts and most of them voted against his proposals. The government also controlled the finances of the University and the admissions of students to the university’s academic programs. The lack of sufficient funds from the government to support Hood’s proposed projects also in a way acted a source of power against Hoods efforts. Even though Hood had people against him, he also had those who were for his proposals. Some of the dons and professors were a source of power for Hood’s proposals. These are among those who believed that he had the ability to bring about positive change to the university. The search team, which had given Hood the contract to serve as the university’s vice chancellor, was a source of power that supported Hood’s proposed changes. This team laid their confidence on Hood’s previou
Introduction Popular culture refers to a lot of aspects that we might encounter in our society. In this case, it can be the totality of ideas or other images that we might encounter as time goes by. Through popular culture that might be portrayed from our attitudes or perspectives, individuals are likely to come to an informal consensus that ends up being the mainstream of the society. It is undeniable that popular culture is mostly influenced by various things in the society. This can be either through media that will end up having an influence on everybody’s life as time goes by. As a matter of fact, many people are influenced by such turn of events as time goes by (Storey 12). In this case, this is possible from the happenings that might be seen or experienced. There are some people who have referred to popular culture as the culturedness of the society. As far as popular culture is concerned, it can also be used to mean mass consumption in relation to the word culture. Various people argue that popular culture is what is left behind after we have had various experiences and events that come from the totality of ideas. This therefore leads to an informal consensus based on the images that we have seen from a given encounter. It should be known that there are various forces and relations that draw people to certain things and this can be in relation to popular culture. The authentic culture of different individuals can also be defined and described as culture but this can always be problematic (Storey 34). It has been argued that popular culture is always changing because of the events and images that we will be exposed to which is acceptable. This means that it constantly occurs in a unique way over a given period of time. In this case, it implies that it is purely unptrediactable. As far as general popular culture is concerned, it can be formed from eddies and currents that occur. Most of them are always interdependent which will therefore instill certain values in the society thereby influencing it. As a matter of fact, some of the society’s institutions are also influenced in one way or the other through these events. It can be agreed that popular culture is very influential and this means that the public is likely to follow what is happening. This will therefore end up being the basis upon which certain broad spectrums in the society are looked upon. The elements of popular culture have a unique power that will always amaze the public
The MEAA code of ethics is based upon the traditional concepts of moral theories. The main concepts of the social contract theory, the utilitarian theory and the virtue theory can be used or explaining the main principles of the journalist professional code and providing a deeper insight into its basic aspects, namely truth telling, respecting the human dignity and the interests of others and taking the responsibility for the outcome of professional activity. The social contract theory which was developed by Thomas Hobbes in his work The Leviathan in 1651 justifies the existence of government as a means of protecting the community from the destruction caused by the natural conflicts of interests. Comparing the government to a mythological sea creature, Hobbes and his followers claim that in the primitive condition defined as the state of nature, humans would quarrel and destroy the whole world. [1] Every member of the community has to follow the rules outlined in the social contract for preventing the disaster and securing their survival. The principles of the social contract theory can be applied for explaining the principle of MEAA code of ethics which obliges journalists to disclose the conflicts of interests which can affect the accuracy of their professional activity. [2] Hobbes’ explanation of the basic ethical forms as the necessary means for preserving the peaceful coexistence of all individuals is relevant to the journalists’ ethical code because of their professional role in the community. The utilitarian moral theory which was formulated by Bentham and presented in his Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation in 1789 evaluates every human action through determining the usefulness of its outcome. Using the rationale for evaluating the moral actions through measuring the pleasures and pains cause by them, this theory is also known as the utilitarian calculus. [3] Bentham’s theory was criticized as Godless and skeptical because of its rejection of more traditional moral principles. The mechanism of the utilitarian calculus can be used for complying with the principle of MEAA code of ethics which says that journalists should not exploit people’s ignorance of the media practice. [4] Thus, in every individual situation, journalists should evaluate the possible outcomes of their professional activities, taking into account all the pleasures and pains caused by their professional to all the sides of the process. The virtue theory can be regarded as one of the oldest with its roots going to the ancient Greek philosophy, for example, Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus Rex , showing the negative consequences of the main character’s moral decay. The virtue theory was developed by Aristotle, particularly in his work The Nichomachean Ethics in which he defines the main eleven virtues as the means for controlling the human desires and avoiding the negative effects of going to the extremes. [5] Treating the moral virtue as the central concept of ethics, Aristotle explains its value for defi
Early Egypt was divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper kingdoms along with other villages and tribes nearby. Eventually, they united into a single kingdom, establishing the capital at Memphis. Kingship was the primary form of Egyptian government at first, consisting of dynasties of ruling families. At this time, kings had strong power but were not yet considered absolute and godlike. Over generations, the kings usurped more power and resources as well as attempted to glorify their rule. Society was gradually transitioning into a class-based hierarchical system, of which the king was the leader. The government administrative complex housing the king was known as The Great House or Per Ao. The name eventually became adapted into the title for the king after 1400 BC, now known as pharaoh. The king sought to control the flow of resources which were collected from the provinces and peasants and channeled upward. Large palaces and symbols were erected as the king and his officials led a lavish way of life (Freeman, 2014). The transition of Ancient Egypt is extraordinary. Before the unification, the Ancient Egyptian society was agricultural and egalitarian. However, the transition created a hierarchy and aristocracy which was difficult to escape. The first leaders which emerged were actively engaged and voluntarily escaped the role. Eventually, the transition led to pharaohs becoming despots. Pharaohs were extremely powerful, both practically and symbolically due to the monuments erected in their honor as well as their status as gods. Egypt is considered to be one of the first examples of civilization where one person and his royalty accumulated such tremendous wealth and power over the nation. The rise to power of the pharaohs was based on a few factors. One was the natural growth of population density which occurs in an organized and agrarian society. With population growth, there is less availability of land and resources. Populations grow denser and people become dependent on the distribution of resources from the government. Furthermore, the location of the Egyptian civilization in the Nile River valley and surrounded by desert prevented people from massively migrating or seeking residence outside the pharaoh’s influence. Therefore, the cost of leaving was high, forcing populations into an autocratic rule of the pharaohs for centuries. Meanwhile, the government maintained its power by all means of control, preventing any mass uprisings at early stages. Religion was c
Although both Christianity and Islam share several ideas, nonetheless, the two religions also differ in several respects. They are both monotheist religions. They are both based on the teachings of leaders and the belief that they are also the teachings of God (Knitter 568). Christianity is the act of following Christ (Christ-like), and living like Christ did. On the other hand, Islam means total submission to God. Christianity began in early history as a sect among the Jews. It later spread to become a religion whose members were persecuted until Constantine came to power and allowed for toleration. About the status of women, Christian liberals and conservatives differ greatly. For example in Christianity, women may become nuns, teachers, or even pastors, in some of the congregations. On the other hand, in Islam, cultural traditions tend to impact greatly on the status of women. In some countries, women are severely oppressed. In terms of belief, Christians affirm that Christ is the chosen Messiah sent by God to redeem us from our sin so that we can be on the right path with God (Knitter 568). In Islam however, the Muslims believe that they are united by one God. The Holy Bible is the scripture of choice for the Christians and is made up of a collection of canonical books that includes both the Old as well as the New Testament. Muslims use the Hadith and the Quran. During the ancient period, Islam believers had to fight wars as it expanded. In the medieval period, wars were fewer and it had more followers. There were great developments such as in medicine, trade, and law, among others. In the modern age, Islam is fighting to rid itself of the “violent” tag that it has been associated with. Christians were persecuted in the ancient period but enjoyed freedom in the medieval ages. Modern Christianity has become more tolerating and still commands the biggest followers (Knitter 568). Works Cited Knitter, Paul F. Islam and Christianity Sibling Rivalries and Sibling Possibilities. Cross Currents , 59.4 (2009): 554-570.
Abstract Diversity is an important element in any organization, as it determines its success in terms of achieving organizational goals. In a global village where companies source their employees from diverse cultures in terms of ethnic and religious backgrounds, diversity is important to consider. Organizations therefore need to embrace multiculturalism besides instituting measures aimed at integrating employees. This qualifies as one of the challenges facing the contemporary organizational arrangements. Lack of diversity threatens to impede the success of many organizations around the world. In this paper, a case study of a company in the multicultural region of Brazil is made followed by a deep study in its existing organizational diversity together with the problems facing it. The case study is set on a company in the Manaus Industrial District in Brazil. It establishes several challenges on the organization, which include power concentration, personalism, formalism, personal loyalty, impunity, conflict avoidance, and flexibility. The challenges are described with the consideration of how they affect organizational diversity in the organization. The theory of diversity is used in the explanation of the problems facing the organization. Recommendations are made on how to solve the organization’s problems by deploying diverse employees to prevent further recurrence. The paper therefore researches on the role of diversity in the work place describing a case study on the theory of diversity besides attempting to suggest possible measures to improve performance in the work place. Description of the Case and the Key Issues The research focuses on diversity. Discussion follows on its importance as a central element in an organizational setting. From the case, diversity is noteworthy in work places with employees coming from culturally diverse backgrounds. Embracing multiculturalism in an organization is therefore indispensable. Thus, adjustment of the organizational structures can therefore not be overemphasized with the view of accommodating diverse employees. In the case study, Bruno et al looked at the share of diversity in Brazilian companies with the goal of measuring the constitutive elements of the organizational culture (Bruno, 2009, p.1). The study done in the Manus Industrial District in Brazil focused on a single company in the region with the use of Barros and Prates model as the reference (Bruno, 2009, p.1). From their conclusions, it was clear that the company had significant flexibility and the capacity to adapt to the environmental circumstances regarding employee’s diversity. The least preponderance was shown in the area of personal loyalty, which meant that the organization’s employees taking part in the survey demonstrated a greater loyalty to the organization as compared to their leaders (Bruno, 2009, p.19). This qualifies as an advantage sinc
Academic achievement is different from any other form of achievement that involves competition. The need to perform well in the academic field is evidenced by effort and persistence on an individual part with the primary aim of laying the foundation for a better future. Some of the aims of academic achievement include a better career, higher opportunities, and a better understanding of life. In order to get a good career job, like a doctor, a person has to excel in all academic training designed to produce a doctor. Likewise, if a person desire is to be a pilot, he or she has to take aviation courses designed for would-be pilot and excel academically, the end of which he or she will get the license to search for a pilot job. In essence, one aim of academic achievement is for career purposes. Another aim of Academic achievement is to increase personal opportunities. Today world has become very competitive. Jobs are very scarce and the cost of living has risen. When a person excels in education, he or she stands higher chances of getting a better job than a person who never achieved academically. Academic achievements help a person have a better understanding of the world and the things that happen around him or her. A person who has excelled in a certain discipline will most likely be in a better position to understand what’s happening in that field than a person who has not excelled in that field. In order for a person to achieve academically, a lot of effort and determination are required on the individual part. It calls for a lot of discipline, self-drive, and motivation. It also requires a lot of support from all those a person relates with, these include parents, teachers, and even colleagues, to provide financial, academic, and moral support. Knowledge of why a person wants academic achievement is very important; this helps a person to focus on the path that he or she wants to follow. This has been made easier by the provision of various academic disciplines. Early knowledge of what aspect of academic want to achieve is essential. For example, in order to become a doctor, there are those academic subjects that one is expected to take and excel in, the same case applies in all other disciplines. Academic achievement is not a one-day affair rather it is a continuous process. Academic achievement in high school does not guarantee that you will succeed in college or university. More effort is required as one progresses from one stage of learning to the other. Academic achievement is thus not an act, but a habit in person, throughout his or her education life. The aim of academic achievement is to guarantee careers that we can enjoy in the future, increase personal life opportunities and have better knowledge and understanding about a specific field. In order to achieve this aim, we have to have prior knowledge of where we
Ten-Year Period of U.S. Economic History Overview When discussing the 1980-1990s, several events characterize it. Reagan’s presidency is one of them. Being often referred to as Reaganomics, this doctrine reduced tax rates and government’s involvement in the life of the private sector (Tyler, 2013). In the beginning, these actions led to the bankruptcy of many companies, lower GDP rates, and speeded the country’s entrance to the recession stage in 1982. Thus, the actions of the Federal Reserve and favorable economic conditions helped the country encourage economic growth characterized by the financial prosperity and low inflation rates in 1983 (Tyler, 2013). Nonetheless, there were some problems that the government left unsolved. For instance, the agricultural sector was not as productive as it was before, and this issue led to high levels of deficit, stock market failure, and lower GDP growth rates in 1986-1989 (Tyler, 2013). Overall, this period of the U.S. history provides a clear support to the theory of the economic cycles, as the country experienced growth and recession phases with the ten-year timeframe. GDP In the first place, GDP has to be analyzed. In this case, the changes in GDP were positive. Nonetheless the country experienced the peak of the economic growth in 1981, 1984, and 1990. These changes comply with the theory of the economic cycles. At the same time, various events were the reasons for these dramatic changes in GDP. In the first place, the start of Reagan’s presidency was one of the historical events that affected the economic output. In this case, employing the theory of laissez-faire implied free market economy and the absence of control (Tyler, 2013). Despite having beneficial intentions, this theory led to failure in the beginning, as it took some time for Reagan to gain authority and make changes to the national economy. It is reflected by the start of the recession stage in 1981-198
Introduction Voluntary organisations engage in the delivery of public services for various reasons in different nations across the globe. One such reason is to ensure that services are brought closer to the communities. Communities and voluntary sector organisations are critical since they help in “reforming public services and reinvigorating civic life” (Ponikiewski 2002, p.91). This argument implies that, within a nation, such organisations are pivotal in linking operations and repairing gaps in service delivery within communities. They boost the mechanisms of available services through petitioning the government to improve ways of delivering public services and goods that help to advance the lives of its people. From this line of thought, voluntary organisations have important roles to play. However, while playing their roles, they encounter a myriad of challenges. This paper aims to examine and discuss how voluntary organisations may participate in public service delivery. The article first discusses the roles of voluntary organisation in the delivery of public services followed by the challenges encountered by such organisation while executing their roles. These challenges include accountability issues, policy formulation and implementation, collaboration, and the pulling together of resources, improvement in working conditions for paid staff, and better means of funding practices. Role of Voluntary Public Sector Organisations in Public Service Delivery In the UK, there are about half a million voluntary and community-based organisations. These organisations range from “small and local community-based groups to large, established, national, and international organisations” (Billis & Harris 2006, p.35). Although some of these organisations have their mechanisms for raising income, others largely depend on voluntary members for their operation. In reality, paid professionals manage most of the larger voluntary organisations, thus necessitating a significant sourcing of income, which presents major challenges. In scholarly discussions of the roles of voluntary organisations in the delivery of public sector services, one dominant matter that attracts discussion is whether voluntary organisations have any purpose in charity work. This subject culminated in a conference entitled Charity Law Conference held in London in 2006. The main concern raised in the conference was a discussion of the role of voluntary organisations in the delivery of public services. Some issues identified could affect an organisation in a negative way. From the research findings of a survey conducted by the Directory of Social Change (DSC) in London, 68 percent of respondents surveyed thought that voluntary organisations do not play any roles of charity in the societies within which they are established (Directory of Social Change 2006). In the Public sector, modes of service delivery can be described as being benevolent and socially responsible. Voluntary organisations need to deliver services from this theoretical point of argument.