ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Service Adhesives Ltd employs up to 20% of its workforce on short-term contracts. What effect will this have on the proposed team-based working structure? The article reveals that the workforce comprises of migrant workers from Poland and the Czech Republic, which means that they are unskilled in their job description. The company would have difficulties in carrying out a team-based strategy. Migrant workers are unskilled; they work for their living and cannot comprehend the quality of work needed for the change. Thus, the management has to fire the entire 20% of migrant staff if it has to work as a team. The job description of the organization requires that each employee should be specialized in the position assigned to him or her. This would enable the organization to carry out the desired change. In considering a transition from a traditional organizational work structure to a team-based work structure what sort of barriers will Services Adhesives Ltd likely to encounter? Think about formal structures and informal structures. A traditional organizational work structure is similar to a team-based structure because the two structures require a strategic plan and the coordination of daily activities. However, the transition from the traditional work structure would encounter obstacles such as competence test. In a team-based structure, every employee is assigned to a job based on his or her competence regardless of how much time the individual had worked with the organization. Thus, some employees would lose their jobs in the process of change. The informal structures such as communication would be strengthened because the workforce would be motivated to succeed in their departments. The transition from a traditional structure to a team-based work structure would require a systematic approach (FAO Corporate Document Repository, 2003). Could a team-based work organization be the answer to their organizational difficulties? Why do you think that previous initiatives at Super Supply had failed? The organization has to overhaul all the causal staff that are unskilled; the use of unskilled labor is the reason for their failures. The level of education would influence the level of cohesion among the staff of the organization. The quality of communication among the workforce would improve when there is cohesion among them, and it depends on the organizational structure and influence
Introduction Neoliberalism and imperialism are two concepts that expound on the political and economic discourse in the world. The two are part of the many theories that theorize the functioning of the society. Therefore, the two concepts are highly related in the manner in which institutions in the contemporary globalized economy function. Neoliberalism, which was advanced from liberalism, refers to the economic philosophy that was developed in the Western world by the liberal scholars. This concept was developed in the 1930s, when the world was facing tough economic times due to the impacts of the First World War. Arguing against National Socialism and capitalism as the leading causes of the poor economic situation in the world, neoliberalism opposed the development of a market economy by putting the state at the centre of control. On the other hand, imperialism is a policy that backs the expansion of the authority of a country by pegging on economic and political tools. This paper explores the similarity between neoliberalism and imperialism. The article goes further to show the linkage of the manner in which the two concepts expound on the developments in the economic, political, and socio-cultural realms in the contemporary globalized world. In this paper, it is argued that most of the propositions that are made by the proponents of neoliberalism enhance the development of imperialist tendencies in the global economy. Understanding imperialism and neoliberalism As observed in the introduction, a deeper comprehension of the development of the philosophy of neoliberalism is rooted in the developments of the 1930s. During this period, states had absolutely lost the power to control the economy due to the nature of political and economic philosophies that were being embraced by states. The Great Economic Depression that occurred in the 1930s is one of the indicators of the inability of states to restrain the economy. It is as a result of these developments that the states sought for means of ensuring they re-established their potential to control the economies. As the western world, led by the United States, later attained the control of the world long after the Second World War, the idea of putting the state at the centre of the economic functionality in the society gained prominence. Keynesianism was highly embraced at both the national and international levels. It is as a result of the continued embraced of Keynesianism that conferences resulted in the development of international economic institutions to help in maintaining economic stability through the imposition of controls in the economy were held. The stability of national economies was guaranteed under the watchful eye of the international economic institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The guarantee of security came from the nature of financial controls, like the devaluation of currencies. However, what ought to be noted at this point is that the nature of economic policies that were developed as a result of the embrace of n
Introduction The growing social awareness and increased attention towards sustainability and the value of public goods have resulted in a profound shift of public consciousness. Private businesses are bound to comply with numerous laws and limit their participation in the economy, in order to reduce the potential harm caused to the nature and people and avoid possible violations of the new sustainability requirements. Organizations are developing complex sustainability policies to confirm their commitment to the importance of public good; meanwhile, individuals are becoming more potent in the defense of their individual and collective rights. Unfortunately, laws and courts that govern sustainability processes in business have little to do with economics. In the meantime, any decision to limit economic production for the sake of another public good, e.g. the environment, inevitably leads to other negative externalities, for instance, the lack of essential goods in the market. According to Ronald Coase, the problem of public goods and negative externalities is reciprocal, and any decision is essentially about the proper allocation of the existing resources and not about limiting the production of one good over another. Public good: Defining the term Despite the common use of the term “public good”, few, if any, authors provide its definition. More often than not, the meaning of a public good is taken for granted. This is, actually, one of the basic reasons why economists and legal professionals face a certain degree of confusion, when dealing with various public good issues. For the purpose of this paper, the definition offered by Paul Samuelson will be used. Samuelson defined public good “as a collective consumption good; one individual’s consumption of the good does not subtract from any other individual’s consumption of the good” (McDonald & McMillen 267). However, it is not enough to say that a public good is consumed collectively; the main features of a public good should also be identified. Modern economists usually speak about the two main features of a public good. First, a public good is that which, once provided and consumed by one person, does not demand any additional cost from another person who also consumes it (Rosen 56). In other words, a public good can be consumed collectively in a manner that is nonrival: it does not really matter how many people breathe the open air or catch tan under the sun. These public goods can be consumed collectively at no additional cost for every new consumer. Second, and it follows from the first feature, no one can physically or reasonable prevent anyone from using a public good (Rosen 56). In professional terms, every public good is nonexcludable (Rosen 56). No one can forbid certain individuals to walk under the sun or breathe in the open air – the sun and the air are bo
Background I was born in India from a Sikh religious background. My grandparents moved to India from Pakistan in 1947, soon after the two countries got their independence from Britain. They lived in India as refugees after Pakistan was partitioned from India soon after independence. I have lived in the US since 2001 after I migrated here from my country, India. I have been exposed to a very different way of life since when I arrived which influenced my personality greatly. This paper will reveal my cultural identity and lineage and how it has shaped my understanding of the current environment where I live. The US is one of the few countries in the world with a diverse racial and ethnic population. It can be described as a contemporary melting point for different racial and cultural groupings. I have the advantage of being part of this diverse cultural and racial mix. I live with my parents and siblings here. My family is actively in touch with other Sikhs who live and work in the US and these connections help us cherish our culture. I attend religious Sikh lessons regularly through which I get insights into many issues that affect contemporary society. My personality has become stronger because I have learned to relate to people from other cultural backgrounds better (Oberoi, 1994, p. 39). I appreciate the positive aspects of other cultures which I have been exposed to. I have a spiritual and physical connection to India where I was born. My early experiences in life were shaped by what I saw and learned from there. This is what gives me an identity that shows who I am as a person. I am tied to the events, aspirations, and blood relations that I have in my native Punjab region. I fondly recall the folk dances that I participated in while growing up there. These dances are done depending on the occasion that is being celebrated (Oberoi, 1994, p. 43). Occasions that are mostly celebrated in Punjab are weddings, harvest, and the birth of a newborn. These dances are complemented by bright outfits worn by participants. These outfits add color and glamour to the occasion being celebrated. Exposure to Multiculturalism My connections to India and my current residency in the US have a positive contribution to my development. I am more rational in all decisions that I make depending on the circumstances and choices I am faced with. My background gives me the courage to move forward in a world that is increasingly becoming unpredictable. I look at past experiences that I have faced and learn from them. My strong faith in the Sikh religion helps me to overcome challenges that I encounter from time to time (Patwant, 1999, p. 67). My faith guides me to be more cautious in the manner I handle sensitive matters. India is a more conservative society compared to the US. The approach to issues in my native Punjab region is different from the one taken in the US. There is a clear difference in ideas, norms, and behavior between people living in India and the US. The migration of my grandparents from Pakistan occurred during a difficult time in the Indian subcontinent’s history (Butalia, 1998, p. 111). Pakistan was a part of India until the
The chosen public policy is represented through the Technology Innovation Program (TIP), which main purpose is in supporting, promoting, and accelerating innovation in the United States “through high-risk, high-reward research in the areas of critical national need (NIST, 2010). The program came as a replacement to a previous program with a similar purpose, which is the Advanced Technology Program (ATP). In that regard, this paper provides an overview of TIP, its occurrence and the interests it serves, outlining such points as the effectiveness and proposed modification. The initial public policy, which started with the creation of ATP in 1988, had the main purpose of supporting technological research that “had the potential to provide broad-based economic benefits for the nation” (Slivinski, 2007, p. 8). The effectiveness of the program can be judged on the number of the project that it funded, which as of 2005 was 768 projects at the cost of at least $2.3 billion (Slivinski, 2007). Nevertheless, the ATP intuitive received a lot of criticism due to the supporting evidences of duplication of efforts, funding researches which were already supported and had no problem supporting their own research. The latter can be seen in the fact that the top beneficiaries of the ATP were multi-billion companies such as “IBM, General Electric, Honeywell, Xerox, and Dow Chemical” (Slivinski, 2007). The ATP was abolished in 2007, while the statute created TIP. In that regard, it can be stated that the rationale of TIP can be seen in addressing the controversial aspects of ATP, which can be seen in the program’s provisions, such as the restriction to small and medium businesses, the concentration on potentially revolutionary technologies, the restriction on duplicated R&D developments, and the adoption of cost-sharing as the mechanism of support (NIST, 2009). In such way the company ensures that the researches address critical national needs (NIST, 2009), rather than help keeping U.S. companies in the lead in world technology markets (Benedetto, 2005). The latter does not imply that large corporations cannot participate in the TIP projects. It just means that they will not receive TIP funding (NIST, 2009) Due to the short period in which TIP was in force, its effectiveness is still to be assessed. A list of the project funded in 2009 reveals such critical areas as development of SCANS for advanced health management, civil infrastructure health monitoring, infrastructure defect recognition and others. The sum costs by TIP might reach up-to $88 million, in which almost half, i.e. $42.5 million is potentially to be funded by TIP (NIST, 2009). Potential modification to the project might include extending the scope of research toward business of a larger scale. In that regard, preventing the initiative to turn into the cancelled ATP, several measures would be initiated such as supporting the project until it starts to gain considerable income, which then would oblige companies to repay the funding. In such way, the program will prevent the funding from being explo
The article “Race, Gender & Class in Criminology” written by Cregg Barak is devoted to such human aspects as race, gender and class in the society. The author tried to show that these aspects can function not as separate parts but as one whole; he wanted to underline the interaction of these elements with the criminal justice. Barak highlighted the “independence” of class, race and gender and “dependence” of the crime as the separate element. The article under analysis shows how these elements can be the background for the crime structure opportunities and how they can form criminal behavior. The article is aimed at the following audience:   * People, working in the sphere of criminology;   * Students studying the peculiarities of criminal justice or who are eager to work in this field in the future;   * People who are interested in law and order of the country. The article is closely related to the topic. The author managed to illustrate that race, gander and class can be an integral part of criminal law. He described how these elements are treated in their relation to the criminology in terms of four main approaches to the study: ethnographic, quantitative, social and time and place studies. The most important feature of the article is that the author managed to use contemporary data and surveys in order to show the connection with
Acupuncture is a unique medical practice constituting a revolutionary approach to health care. Yet it is a medicine with a history thousands of years old and has enriched the lives of millions of people. The benefit of acupuncture is that in just a few simple treatments, health problems can be reversed completely, freeing an individual from disease and pain. Acupuncture will also help ensure against relapse or developing future illnesses. Thousand of years ago, physicians discovered that if they placed a needle just under the skin at certain points on the human body, predictable changes occurred. These points became the inventory of acupuncture points, and they lined themselves into pathways. With training, a practitioner could locate any desired point, needle it, and bring about desired change (Deadman et al 23). Chinese scientists discovered that the pathways not only traced themselves on the surface, but also interpenetrated all the layers of the body–the skin, muscles, tissues, organs, and bones. Such a system of multiple, intricate channels, weaving into and out of one another, can be thought of as a three-dimensional electrical circuit, like that in a house. When a doctor places the needles in the front, a patient feels a slight tingling. After about twenty minutes, the procedure is repeated (Kidson 49). In general, acupuncture works for nine out of ten people. When it fails, the reasons can only be guessed at. The limitations of acupuncture are generally person-specific and cannot be established until needling has been tried and failed. Most often, it is likely that failure occurred because not enough time was allowed to complete a course of treatment, or patients may have taken drugs that have a cumulative blocking effect on acupuncture. For the 90 percent of us who respond positively to acupuncture, the results are marvelous. If you are ill, if you suffer from any chronic degenerative disorder, then you should consider acupuncture (Firebrace 45) If you are basically healthy, and yet are bothered by vague, seemingly unrelated symptoms that come and go unaccountably, then you too are a candidate for acupuncture. And if you are fit and free from all diseases, then acupuncture can play an important role in maintaining your energy level and keeping you vital for the rest of your life. The role of acupuncture in pain management is being reexamined in the light of new knowledge about the nervous system (Deadman et al 87). The time lag between needling and various stages of pain relief suggests that a neurotransmitter mechanism such as endorphin release is a better explanation than any other current hypothesis. Acupuncture-stimulated sensations travel through both the large and small fibers. Both nerve fiber sets end in the central nervous system at the spinal cord, in an area rich in opiate rece
Introduction Stonehenge ranks among the English prehistoric monuments situated in Wiltshire County, to the North of Salisbury. It consists of earthworks, which form a perimeter around large vertically positioned stones, making it one of the most illustrious old-fashioned locations globally. The exact time they came about is unknown; although, several proposals have been fronted by scholars. It is noteworthy that the ownership of this monument is reserved for the crown. This places it under the supervision of the English heritage. The contiguous land is possessed and managed by the National Trust. Despite enormous efforts, being plowed into studies on the same, little has been discovered concerning the actual age, placing it among the mysteries of the world. Discussion Studies reveal that the original sculpt featured a rounded ravine having a band of 56 holes in the region of its boundary. This was done by the semi-nomadic tribes that inhabited the plains of Salisbury. Several stones used in this construction were sourced from the Welsh coast and ferried upstream on rafts. It is believed that this was still a work in progress, given that the arrangement of the stones was altered to create space for new ones. Summarily, experts assume that they were constructed in the course of the Neolithic era, which dates back to the application of bronze technology. The foremost phase is believed to be a work of the native Neolithic populace, who dug out circular trenches using crude materials. The resulting rubble was utilized in the construction of steep bank circles. Lastly, parallel stones were put up at the doorway to the site, where one is still in place to date. Several other stones erected at the time are still in existence, showing proof of their industry and architectural astuteness. Evidence shows that it was used for half a decade before it was discarded. The second phase saw the creation of a semicircle composed of granites often referred to as blue stones. The spectacle brought about by this feature emanates from the fact that these giant rocks were brought in from foreign lands, which are far away from the construction site. It should be noted that all stakeholders and other interested persons have not yet worked their way around this mystery. A subsequent gateway exists, and it is arranged in a line with the position of first light in midsummer. It also had channels and banks like the previous circle, with two stones denoting the entry point. The third and final phase of construction is still perceptible to date. Estimates place the time of construction at 2000 BC, a feat that involved the placement of vertical stones in pairs topped with curved horizontal capstones. This created a circle at the top. Seventeen stones are still in place out of the initial 30 that were put up. Within the ring, a horseshoe formation, which opened towards another slaughter stone, was in alignment with sunrise at the summer solstice. It was established using 10 uprigh