Is Human Population Growth A Threat Environmental Sciences Essay

Is Human Population Growth A Threat Environmental Sciences Essay Despite the fact that populace is frequently viewed as a delicate theme, it is getting progressively hard to disregard the idea that populace development undermines nature. The fast increment in populace development in the course of recent hundreds of years has prompted an expanding enthusiasm for, and a developing worry for populace development as one of the key dangers to the earth. A danger to the earth can be in a wide range of structures, for example, soil disintegration, environmental change, deforestation, squanders, and contamination. The point of the accompanying article is to investigate how populace development is considered to add to these issues and corrupt the earth. So as to accomplish this point the exposition will be part into two principle parts. The primary segment will plot hypotheses that contend populace development is a danger to nature. This will be upheld by Malthus and Meadows et al. So as to increase a concise examination this exposition will focus on the i ndigenous habitat, specifically investigating how deforestation is undermined by populace development. In any case, the second piece of the paper will challenge this and imply that populace development doesn't jeopardize the earth. It will contend that an expanding populace could improve ecological quality. It likewise will guarantee on the off chance that assets are overseen supportable, at that point populace development won't adversely influence the earth. This is bolstered by Tiffen and Mortimore and Fox. Neighborhood contextual investigations are utilized as miniaturized scale considers show the connection among populace and deforestation all the more obviously, as large scale contemplates are influenced by numerous different impacts. At last the ends came to are populace development isn't the underlying driver of ecological harm. In the event that assets are overseen economically and new advances are utilized, at that point populace development itself would not undermine the e arth. A positive relationship between's populace development and ecological harm Overpopulation [is] our main ecological issue (Rodnguez-Tnias 1994:1379). Since 1650 the pace of populace development has expanded. This has brought about a quick increment of the total populace which rose from 3.3 billion of every 1965 to more than 6 billion continuously 2000. Subsequently total populace nearly multiplied in only 35 years and the pace of development itself was likewise rising. In addition a billion people were added to the total populace from 1987 to 1999, an expansion proportional to the absolute total populace in 1804 (Panayotou 2000). This moderately ongoing increment in total populace has prompted a mounting worry for how populace development influences the common habitat and regular assets (Meadows et al 2005:28). There are numerous reasons with regards to why populace development is viewed as a danger to nature. For instance, human populaces go through common assets, discard ozone harming substances adding to environmental change, crush natural surroundings bringing about loss of biodiversity, and increment air and water contaminati on levels. Thus, practically all natural issues are either straightforwardly or in a roundabout way identified with populace. Besides, it is frequently announced in the media that a developing populace is an ecological danger, further expanding the worry. For instance Andrew Woodcock reports in The Independent that a blasting populace is a danger to environmental change (2006 on the web). There has been a concurrent pattern of a development in populace and a precarious decline in natural quality and an expansion in asset consumption (Panayotou 2000).Consequently, populace development is regularly viewed as the best and key danger to the earth. The discussion on the connection among's populace and the earth started more than 150 years back when old style political market analysts, for example, Malthus (1798) distinguished a connection among populace and food flexibly. He contended that populace developed exponentially, while food flexibly would just develop mathematically, bringing about significant food deficiencies. He asserted that the weight on rural land would bring about a decrease in ecological quality, compelling development of more unfortunate quality land. He scrutinized the possibility that agrarian upgrades could be made and extend with limits and guaranteed that the intensity of populace development was more noteworthy than the earths capacity to help man. Malthus reasoned that populace development must constrained to stay inside ecological limitations, as the earths assets are limited. Malthus hypothesis that the size of populace is reliant on food flexibly and farming techniques, This thought was revived in the twentieth century, by key distributions, most strikingly The Limits to Growth by Meadows et al (1972) and The Population Bomb by Ehrlich (1968). This new collection of work by contemporary creators is alluded to as neo-Malthusianism. The discussion anyway has moved from farming area to worries about the job of populace development in the consumption of other normal and sustainable assets, and the impact of populace development on environmental change and on biodiversity misfortune. Knolls et al (1972) contended that populace development can make issues in view of ecological cutoff points. They contended that populace development can't proceed inconclusively and utilized past information to anticipate future patterns in total populace, asset consumption, contamination and food creation. They asserted that the restrictions of the planet will be reached inside the following century and that populace could in this manner not continue developing. In their m ulti year update in 2005 they contended their decisions were much increasingly significant today. They asserted that there is currently land shortage and the cutoff points have been drawn closer, which is particularly genuine as populace continues rising and assets are being drained. Development in the globes populace could prompt the opportunities for a possible cataclysmic overshoot (Meadows et al 2005). Livi-Bacci (2001) calls attention to that in Bangladesh the cutoff points have just been reached, consequently populace can't continue developing. This is like Ehrlich (1968) who contended that there ought to be activity to decrease populace development in any case there would be mass starvation. The development of total populace builds the requests on common assets, making it hard to secure these assets, in this manner declining ecological quality (Sitarz 1993). Henceforth there are motivations to stress over the impact populace development will have on the earth in the long haul (Sen 1994). Therefore the accord is that there is a populace issue (Neumann 2004:817). Populace development messes up the neighborhood condition. There is no single manual for investigating the condition of the earth; in this manner the connection among populace and condition is generally assessed as far as individual assets or estimations of ecological quality (Panayotou 2000). Natural quality can be estimated by the load of timberlands or by the nonappearance of air and water contamination. The influence populace development has on deforestation has gotten impressive consideration as backwoods assume a key job in untamed life natural surroundings, the carbon cycle, and a wellspring of crude material. At the worldwide scale deforestation adds to an unnatural weather change, and at a nearby scale prompts soil debasement (Fairhead and Leach 1995, Nyerges and Green 2000). There is proof which bolsters Malthusian contentions that an expanding populace negatively affects ecological stocks. The job of populace development is especially clear in delicate conditions, for example, woods (Livi-Bacci 2001). The reason for deforestation is regularly observed because of populace pressures as populace development builds the requirement for arable land, bringing about a change of backwoods land to different utilizations (Cropper and Griffith 1994). Malthus contended populace development would bring about a more serious requirement for rural land and this outcomes in a decay of backwoods land especially in Africa and Latin America (Livi-Bacci 2001). 60% of the universes deforestation is an aftereffect of the requirement for increasingly horticultural land (Pimentel and Pimentel 1999). Every year, 70 million individuals are added to total populace, for the most part in creating nations and 15 million square kilometers of timberlands disappear(Panayotou 2000:25). Th is exploration prompted numerous individuals conjecturing that more individuals must bring about less backwoods, as the higher the populace development, the quicker this procedure will happen (Ehrlich and Ehrlich 1990, Rudel 1991). This will cause a precarious diminishing in backwoods size from year to year. Timberlands every now and again owe their roots to eradication, in this manner bringing about the end that populace development causes deforestation, particularly in poor and creating nations (Fairhead and Leach 1994). This influence is increasingly seen at the nearby level, for instance Cropper and Griffith (1994) utilized board information for Asia, Africa and Latin America somewhere in the range of 1961 and 1988 and found a positive connection among deforestation and populace development. Moreover, Fairhead and Leach (1995) recognized that there was a watched decrease in backwoods in The Ziama Forest Reserve in Guinea because of developing populaces, which have moved away fro m conventional techniques. IUCN report on Ziama states that backwoods spread in this piece of Guinea is currently just 20% of what it was at beginning' and the report underscores that the woods is relapsing quickly (refered to in Fairhead and Leach 1995:1029). Subsequently the decay of woods mirrors the populaces who cleared it (Fairhead and Leach 1994). Moreover Sambrook et al (2004) did an investigation of 450 customary hillslope cultivates in the Dominican Republic, and discovered there was sure connection between populace weight and deforestation. They found that for the whole 1987 ranch test, 52% of the variety in deforestation is clarified by populace pressures (p36). This impact can likewise been seen at the nation level, for instance in Thailand deforestation was brought about by segment pressure from relocation (Livi-Bacci 2001). Thus, populace development causes a lopsided

Intelligence Collection and Analysis Essay -- Research

Improving the Relationship This paper will detail how I would disclose to my policymaker what the mental boundaries are for knowledge assortment and investigation. Next, I will give a contention with respect to what sorts of rigors are expected to improve insight examination making it increasingly dependable. At long last, I will convince the policymaker to help my contention so as to get all the more financing so as to execute the kind of enhancements I have characterized. Policymakers need to comprehend that investigators face mental impediments in four key phases of the explanatory procedure, which are making decisions, planning decisions, standing up to authoritative standards, and considerable decisions. (George and Bruce, 2008) When an examiner makes a judgment dependent on uncertain proof the likelihood that an unexpected will happen increments. These decisions are made under some requirement that limits the expert from checking or in any event, accepting additional proof to work together or negate the present judgment. (George and Bruce, 2008) When experts organize decisions with different examiners and directors, different plans and inclinations are brought into the examination. Examiner should be educated regarding the organization’s desires for the investigation. Considerable decisions happen when an analyst’s morals power the examiner to disregard the plans of the policymakers and to be compose decisions dependent on the proof. (George and Bruce, 2008) All these mental hindrances to sound judgment are obfuscated by multifaceted nature, vulnerability, and mystery. Subjective inclinations are contortions in data handling made by perspective, belief system, or political inclination. (George and Bruce, 2008) The attitude of the examiner is the gathered information on past behav... ...s. Policymakers need to permit extra time, increment investigator staffing levels, and give better heading to experts so decisions will get sounder. By creating improved interchanges between the investigators and the policymaker the decisions will be progressively valuable. These upgrades are expected to build the quality and practicality of decisions. Works Cited George, Roger., Bruce, James. (Eds.). (2008) Analyzing Intelligence: Origins, Obstacles, and Innovations. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press. Heuer, Richards. (1999). Brain science of Intelligence Analysis. Recovered November 28, 2010 from http://www.dtic.mil/cgibin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA500078&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf ledzapp461. (2005, December 22). Orson Welles Paul Masson Commercial. Recovered November 29, 2010. From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpj0t2ozPWY&feature=related Knowledge Collection and Analysis Essay - Research Improving the Relationship This paper will detail how I would disclose to my policymaker what the mental hindrances are for insight assortment and examination. Next, I will give a contention regarding what sorts of rigors are expected to improve knowledge examination making it progressively solid. At long last, I will convince the policymaker to help my contention so as to get all the more subsidizing so as to execute the sort of enhancements I have characterized. Policymakers need to comprehend that examiners face mental impediments in four key phases of the expository procedure, which are making decisions, planning decisions, going up against authoritative standards, and meaningful decisions. (George and Bruce, 2008) When an investigator makes a judgment dependent on uncertain proof the likelihood that an unexpected will happen increments. These decisions are made under some imperative that limits the investigator from checking or in any event, accepting additional proof to work together or negate the present judgment. (George and Bruce, 2008) When examiners arrange decisions with different investigators and supervisors, different plans and inclinations are brought into the examination. Examiner should be educated regarding the organization’s desires for the investigation. Considerable decisions happen when an analyst’s morals power the examiner to overlook the plans of the policymakers and to be compose decisions dependent on the proof. (George and Bruce, 2008) All these mental deterrents to sound judgment are obfuscated by multifaceted nature, vulnerability, and mystery. Intellectual predispositions are twists in data handling made by perspective, belief system, or political inclination. (George and Bruce, 2008) The mentality of the examiner is the aggregated information on past behav... ...s. Policymakers need to permit extra time, increment expert staffing levels, and give better course to examiners with the goal that decisions will get sounder. By creating improved interchanges between the examiners and the policymaker the decisions will be increasingly valuable. These upgrades are expected to build the quality and practicality of decisions. Works Cited George, Roger., Bruce, James. (Eds.). (2008) Analyzing Intelligence: Origins, Obstacles, and Innovations. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press. Heuer, Richards. (1999). Brain research of Intelligence Analysis. Recovered November 28, 2010 from http://www.dtic.mil/cgibin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA500078&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf ledzapp461. (2005, December 22). Orson Welles Paul Masson Commercial. Recovered November 29, 2010. From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpj0t2ozPWY&feature=related

Curious about ISP COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Curious about ISP COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog The International Security Policy Concentration (ISP) offers outstanding opportunities for students interested in topics such as political violence and conflict management, defense policy, military strategy, terrorism and unconventional warfare, arms control, intelligence, peacekeeping, coercion, negotiation, conflict resolution and alternatives to the use of force as an instrument of policy.  The relative flexibility of the ISP Concentration allows students to tailor their specific course of study to fit their intellectual and career interests, and they will find that Columbia offers a wider variety of courses in security studies than all but a handful of other universities in the world. ISP students go on to work in government, consulting firms, non-profit research institutes, public interest and policy advocacy organizations, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, journalism, and other areas. Many ISP courses are taught by members of the Columbia Political Science Department, one of few in the world with more than one faculty member in security studies. In addition to Political Science faculty, the Concentration draws on courses taught by full-time Columbia faculty from SIPA, the Law School, and Barnard College.  ISP also features courses taught by outstanding practitioners and other adjuncts who combine academic backgrounds and publications in public policy with experience in government, the military, and policy analysis institutes. For example, Peter Clement, a senior official in the CIAs Directorate of Intelligence, will join SIPA as a Scholar in Residence and adjunct faculty member in September 2013. Like many SIPA faculty, the ISP concentration director, Prof. Richard Betts, has experience in both the academic and policy worlds. Betts is director of the Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies at Columbia, and has taught previously at Harvard and SAIS.  He has worked at the Brookings Institution, Council on Foreign Relations, on staffs of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the National Security Council, and served on the National Security Advisory Panel of the Director of Central Intelligence and the National Commission on Terrorism. Students who are interested in conflict resolution may take classes within the International Conflict Resolution Specialization as ISP electives. The specialization is directed by Prof. Jean-Marie Guéhenno, former UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping. Outside the classroom, ISP offers many exciting activities including field trips, political-military crisis and arms control simulations, guest speakers, specialized symposia, films, and social activities.  The ISP Concentration benefits greatly from the programming of its institutional affiliate, the Saltzman Institute for War and Peace Studies, which hosts a number of high profile speakers each year.  In addition, students in the ISP concentration run the Defense and Security Student Organization, which hosts events such career panels and debates. At the beginning of each fall semester, ISP hosts a weekend retreat for ISP concentrators at a campground a few hours north of New York City.  Field trips in November alternate each year between a combination of U.S. military installations, in one year, and government offices in Washington, D.C. the next.  This year’s trip will be to Washington.  Previous Washington trips have included meetings at the level of Under and Assistant Secretary at the Pentagon, State Department, National Security Council, Office of Management and Budget, Congress, and other parts of government.  Examples of military facilities visited in past field trips include Fort Bragg (Army Airborne and Special Forces headquarters), Pope Air Force Base, Camp Lejeune (Marine Corps), Atlantic Fleet headquarters and various ships in Norfolk, Langley Air Force Base, and NATO headquarters (Brussels). The crisis simulation in the spring semester is entirely organized and conducted by the students.   Simulations in recent years have included crises in Kashmir, the Taiwan Straits, Central Asia, and Indonesia; negotiations on the North Korean nuclear program; escalation of war between Armenia and Azerbaijan; and the NPT Review Conference.

Biology Prefixes and Suffixes tel- or telo-

Do Video Games Contribute to Violence Among the Youth - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 973 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/08/02 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Youth Violence Essay Did you like this example? There are quite a few contributing factors that are considered when looking at childhood aggression. The main factors surround media violence. Violent media depicts intentional attempts by individuals to inflict harm on others. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Do Video Games Contribute to Violence Among the Youth" essay for you Create order An individual can be a nonhuman cartoon character, a real person, or anything in between (EFFECTS ON VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES). Forms of violent media are video games. Violence in games has been an ongoing social issue in our time. Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, and other well-known games have been negatively impacting the youth. Studies have supported the effects being left on children and adolescents who interact with these games. It can change mind functioning which can lead to reckless behavior and contribute to aggression. American Psychological Association argues that video games cannot cause behavior problems and that there is insufficient evidence supporting the link that extends to criminal violence or delinquency (APA CITE).With supported evidence, it will be shown that video games does contribute to violence among the youth. As video games become more popular, society spends more time engaging in these games. Grand Theft Auto grants players the ability to kill, solicit, and steal. In the games, players are reward to carry out these actions. In Call of Duty, players are rewarded for killing others. These players also acquire extensive knowledge on guns and ammunition. Iowa State Universitys study on rewarding such behaviors believe that people who play video games that reward violence show higher levels of aggressive behavior and aggressive cognition. Reward game violence might also yield more positive attitudes toward and beliefs about using aggression to resolve real-world conflicts (REWARDING ARTICLE). Playing games in excess can encourage kids and teens to act out in a violent and aggressive manner. In games where the only objective is killing, they can be trained to handle situations aggressively. It alters their cognitive thinking and if done long enough, becomes embedded into their subconcious. Repeatedly playing these games also aid in their desensitization to real life situations, as well. A study defined video games as a reduction of emotion-related physiological reactivity to real violence (DESENSITIZATION ARTICLE). Games like those stated previously contain blood, explosives, screaming, and corpses. This type of exposure can cause this desensitization. This study helped support that video games desensitize its players which makes them more likely to commit a violent act. Playing too much might convince the audience that violence is enjoyable. Kids and teens could view this type of violence as a form of entertainment which can be displayed in their daily lives. Karen Sternheimers research study after the Columbine shooting was administered to see if school shooters were playing a game called Doom excessively. Her results showed that the students that carried out the fatal shooting were habitual players of violent video games (KAREN S. ARTICLE). This study helped strengthen the link between the video games and the desensitization to real-world issues that we carry over into our daily lives. The video game, Doom, was licensed by the United States military to have their own versions called Marine Doom and Americas Army as a recruitment tool to train soldiers (Reagan). The game is a first-person shooter that consists of a team of four soldiers that have to carry out a rescue mission and destroy enemies. This game is still used in our present day in some a reas to help soldiers train. Habitual playing of these games for an adolescent or child would have a negative outcome which is shown in Sternheimers study.   Playing in abundance can negatively affect social behaviors in three ways. First, children lack empathy. They are unable to comprehend and understand another persons feelings. Second, they lack the ability to interact. Video games can be viewed as protection from the outside world. It reduces their opportunities to go out and interact. With video games being highly addicting, it makes it difficult to practice developing good interpersonal skills. In these games where your importance is defined by ranking or leaderboard placement, it becomes hard to apply that to your real life which is why children sometimes struggle. Lastly, they struggle with dealing with conflict. Due to the fact that aggressive and violent behaviors are rewarded in video games, kids might find themselves exhibiting that behavior as their first form of conflict management. The study by effect on behavior_ shows us that childrens cognitive thinking is altered which causes them to lack in these areas. Children also suffer with health issues from excessive play. Sleep deprivation and addiction are common issues among kids that play video games. Psychology Today refers to this as wired and tired. Two main factors for the sleep deprivation when playing are unnatural brightness of the screen and electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The intense brightness disturbs circadian rhythms and also does damage to the eyes. The level of EMR in the electronic devices disrupt the bodys melatonin release (Dunckley, Wired and tired). Addiction is a common result of habitual play with children. Time and effort is constantly invested in these games which cause these kids to become addicted. Aggressive behavior, poor social skills, and many others are negative results of excessive video gaming. These games reward kids for carrying out violent acts which cause kids to be more aggressive in their lives. It also desensitizes children and increases their chances of creating violent acts. With these games as forms of entertainment, kids view violence as enjoyable. Such views pose as a problem when it is carried over into the real world. Video games have been viewed as a contributing factor to school shootings. It also contributes to social and health issues among the youth. Kids are not able to develop interpersonal relationships due to addiction to these games and lack of time with others in real-life. Evidence supports that video games do contribute to violence among the youth.

The Effect of Conflict Towards Performance Free Essays

string(256) " Management Models Blake and Mouton \(1964\) were among the first to present a conceptual scheme for classifying the modes \(styles\) for handling interpersonal conflicts into five types: forcing, withdrawing, smoothing, compromising, and problem solving\." INTRODUCTION Businesses nowadays are operating in a turbulent environment where organisations are searching for measures that will allow them to improve their performance and competitiveness (Dodd, 2003). Conflict is generally regarded as disagreement regarding interests or ideas (Esquivel and Kleiner, 1997). In addition organisational conflict is regarded as the discord that occurs when the goals, interests or values of different individuals or groups are incompatible with those of individuals or groups block or frustrate each others in an attempt to achieve their objectives. We will write a custom essay sample on The Effect of Conflict Towards Performance or any similar topic only for you Order Now Conflict are inevitable part of organisational life since the goals of different stakeholders such as managers and staff are often incompatible (Jones  et al. , 2000). Besides that,  Loomis and Loomis (1965)  argue that Conflict is an ever-present process in human relations. That is why various organisations have changed their approaches to enable them to manage their organisations effectively to avoid conflicts at all costs. Conflict is a fact of life in any organisations as longer as people compete for jobs, resources, power, recognition and security. In addition, dealing with conflicts is a great challenge to management (Adomi and Anie, 2005). Conflicts commonly arise when employees interact in organisations and compete for scarce resources. Employees in various organisations are organized into manageable groups in order to achieve common goal, therefore, the probability of conflicts to arise is very high. Nowadays, most serious conflicts make headlines in the newspapers, which might affect the public image of the company. Conflicts have both negative and positive outcomes to the individual employees and the organization at large. There is no one source of conflicts which occurs in organisations at all levels of management (Barker  et al. , 1987). In social life, conflicts do occur but they are managed by family members, friends and relatives. The same case applies to organisations, when conflicts arise; it needs to be resolved by management for the sake of the organisational growth, survival and enhance performance. However, conflicts are rarely resolved easily, to a certain extend most conflicts are managed, as individuals work out differences (Barker  et al. , 1987). Conflict can occur within groups (intra-group conflict) or among groups (inter-group conflict). Therefore, the main aim of this study is to examine the effects of organizational conflicts towards organizational performance. It specifically tries to examine in detail, the causes, types, effects and recommend various strategies on how to resolve organizational conflicts to enhance organizational performance. WHAT IS ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT? ‘A condition between or among workers whose jobs are interdependent, who feel angry, who perceive the other(s) as being at fault, and who act in ways that cause a business problem. (Dana, D. 2001) Interdependency – each party needs something from the other and are vulnerable if they don’t get it Feeling Angry – people are emotionally upset – anger is not always visible – some people will hide their anger with a veneer of politeness – however, Dana suggests that the emotion we all know as anger is alway s present when there is a conflict. Blaming Each Other – each party sees the other as being at fault often moving from the immediate workplace issue into personal issues Causing a Business Problem – How is the conflict impacting on job performance? if it is not then it does not fall within the definition of workplace conflict. This definition includes emotions, thoughts and behaviors – psychologists consider these three the only dimensions of human experience. So conflict is rooted in all parts of our human experience. Factors of conflict in organization 1. Managerial Expectations – it is job of an employee to meet the expectations of his manager, but if those expectations is misunderstood, conflict can arise. 2. Breakdown in Communication If a department requires information from another department in order to its job, and the second department does not respond to the request this is will lead to conflict to arise. 3. Misunderstanding the information Int ernal conflict can sometimes arise as the result of a simple misunderstanding. One person may misunderstand information, and that can trigger a series of conflict. 4. Lack of accountability Organization conflict might arise from frustration. One source of frustration is a lack of accountability. If something has gone wrong, and no one is willing to take responsibility for the problem, this lack of accountability can start to permeate throughout the entire company until the issue is resolved. Factors of conflict in employee 1. Differing values Some employees have strong beliefs, which they are not willing to compromise. These beliefs can conflict with coworkers’, creating conflict. 2. Opposing interest When an employee decides to pursue her own career goal, without regard for the organizational goal and its well- being, it result in strife among coworkers. 3. Personality Conflicts One employee may have a reserved a personality while another may be more outgoing and forward. Problem arises when the two do not understand or respect each others’ inner nature. 4. Personal problems If the employee has problems outside the workplace, such as marital or parental issues, she may take them to work with her. Positive And Negative Effects Of Conflict It is often assumed that all conflict is bad for the organisation, however if managed effectively, conflict can bring benefits: Potential Positive Effects * Better ideas produced * People forced to search for new approaches Long standing problems brought to the surface and resolved * Clarification of individual views * Stimulation of interest and creativity * A chance for people to test their capacities Potential Negative Effects * Some people feel defeated and demeaned * The distance between people increased * A climate of mistrust and suspicion developed * Individuals and groups concentrate on their own narrow inter ests * Resistance developed rather than teamwork * An increase in employee turnover Models Of Conflict Management There have been many styles of conflict management behavior that have been researched in the past century. One of the earliest,  Mary Parker Follett  (1926/1940) found that conflict was managed by individuals in three main ways: domination,  compromise, and integration. She also found other ways of handling conflict that were employed by organizations, such as  avoidance  and suppression. Early Conflict Management Models Blake and Mouton (1964) were among the first to present a conceptual scheme for classifying the modes (styles) for handling interpersonal conflicts into five types: forcing, withdrawing, smoothing, compromising, and problem solving. You read "The Effect of Conflict Towards Performance" in category "Papers" In the 1970’s and 1980’s, researchers began using the intentions of the parties involved to classify the styles of conflict management that they would include in their models. Both Thomas (1976) and Pruitt (1983) put forth a model based on the concerns of the parties involved in the conflict. The combination of the parties concern for their own interests (i. e. assertiveness) and their concern for the interests of those across the table (i. e. cooperativeness) would yield a particular conflict management style. Pruitt called these styles yielding (low assertiveness/high cooperativeness), problem solving (high assertiveness/high cooperativeness), inaction (low assertiveness/low cooperativeness), and contending (high assertiveness/low cooperativeness). Pruitt argues that problem-solving is the preferred method when seeking mutually beneficial options. Khun and Poole’s Model Khun and Poole (2000) established a similar system of group conflict management. In their system, they split Kozan’s confrontational model into two sub models: distributive and integrative. Distributive – Here conflict is approached as a distribution of a fixed amount of positive outcomes or resources, where one side will end up winning and the other losing, even if they do win some concessions. * Integrative – Groups utilizing the integrative model see conflict as a chance to integrate the needs and concerns of both groups and make the best outcome possible. This model has a heavier emphasis on compromise than the distributive model. Khun and Poole found that the integrative model resulted in consistently better task related outcomes than those using the distributive model. DeChurch and Marks’s Meta-Taxonomy Model DeChurch and Marks (2001) examined the literature available on conflict management at the time and established what they claimed was a â€Å"meta-taxonomy† that encompasses all other models. They argued that all other styles have inherent in them into two dimensions – activeness (â€Å"the extent to which conflict behaviors make a responsive and direct rather than inert and indirect impression†) and agreeableness (â€Å"the extent to which conflict behaviors make a pleasant and relaxed rather than unpleasant and strainful impression†). High activeness is characterized by openly discussing differences of opinion while fully going after their own interest. High agreeableness is characterized by attempting to satisfy all parties involved In the study they conducted to validate this division, activeness did not have a significant effect on the effectiveness of  conflict resolution, but the  agreeableness  of the conflict management style, whatever it was, did in fact have a positive impact on how groups felt about the way the conflict was managed, regardless of the outcome. CONFLICT CONTROL STRATEGY| POSSIBLE ACTIONS| EXAMPLES| Avoidance| Avoid situations where conflict occurs; reduce triggering events; cooling off periods| Reduce contact between the parties; set up system for dealing with conflict subjects; adjourn meetings| Alteration| Change the form or place of the conflict| Agree not to argue in front of others, or to criticise each other without making a positive suggestion; meet before conflict situations to resolve problems| Feedback| Help parties to understand how others are affected| Other people are upset; team s losing resources or cooperation from others; loss of dignity| Help With Consequences| Provide support, more rest, more thinking time| Neutral person to listen to stressed people; time off; more social events; encourage getting away from the office at lunch time; discourage overwork| Suggestions To Overcome Conflict Management. There are many ways to overcome this problem. Here are some suggestions and tips to manage and cope with the conflict managem ent towards organization. * Build a certain and good communication. * As we know communication is a process of interact between one person to another. Communication is a tool to convey a message. A good communication can avoid misunderstanding and uncertain information and can directly solve any problem wisely. All person in any organization must know how to build a good communication and know how to react with any problem to a void conflict. If there is something that they might in argue or disagree they have to sit together and come out with a best solution that everyone satisfied. * Don’t ignore conflict. * Conflict in organization can lead a positive outcomes too. Each person in any organization must take a fairly solution and never avoid and ignore the conflict. It is very essential because it can avoid the problem become twice and become bigger and bigger. Conflict might happen in any organization because each person have a different opinion, goals, value and belief. So, everyone must support and help each other to cope the conflict in order to achieve a common goal in the organization. * Have an own conflict management skills. * Skills such us know how negotiate and know how to minimized anger can help and enhance the effectiveness of good working environment. This will make everyone in the organization can achieve a joyful in a workplace. The way everyone carry themselves in the work place can avoid a conflict and misunderstanding between each other. Everyone in any organization must have their own conflict management skills so that every single problem can be solve and minimized easily. Four ways towards organizational performance 1. PM focuses on results, rather than behaviors and activities A common misconception among supervisors is that behaviors and activities are the same as results. Thus, an employee may appear extremely busy, but not be contributing at all toward the goals of the organization. An example is the employee who manually reviews completion of every form and procedure, rather than supporting automation of the review. The supervisor may conclude the employee is very committed to the organization and works very hard, thus, deserving a very high performance rating. 2. Aligns organizational activities and processes to the goals of the organization PM identifies organizational goals, results needed to achieve those goals, measures of effectiveness or efficiency (outcomes) toward the goals, and means (drivers) to achieve the goals. This chain of measurements is examined to ensure alignment with overall results of the organization. 3. Cultivates a system-wide, long-term view of the organization. Richard A. Swanson, in  Performance Improvement Theory and Practice  (Advances in Developing Human Resources, 1, 1999), explains an effective performance improvement process must follow a systems-based approach while looking at outcomes and drivers. Otherwise, the effort produces a flawed picture. For example, laying off people will likely produce short-term profits. However, the organization may eventually experience reduced productivity, resulting in long-term profit loss. 4. Produces meaningful measurements These measurements have a wide variety of useful applications. They are useful in benchmarking, or setting standards for comparison with best practices in other organizations. They provide consistent basis for comparison during internal change efforts. They indicate results during improvement efforts, such as employee training, management development, quality programs, etc. They help ensure equitable and fair treatment to employees based on performance. How to cite The Effect of Conflict Towards Performance, Papers

Sms Based E-Notice Board for College Essay Sample free essay sample

The chief purpose of this undertaking will be to plan a SMS driven automatic show board which can replace the presently used programmable electronic show. It is proposed to plan receiving system semen show board which can be programmed from an authorized Mobile phone. The message to be displayed is sent through a SMS from an authorised sender. The microcontroller receives the SMS. validates the directing Mobile Identification Number ( MIN ) and displays the coveted information. Started off as an instantaneous News show unit. we have improved upon it and tried to take advantage of the calculating capablenesss of microcontroller. Looking into current tendency of information transportation in the campus. it is seen that of import notice take clip to be displayed in the notice boards. This latency is non expected in most of the instances and must be avoided. It is proposed to implement this undertaking at the institute degree. It is proposed to put show boards in major entree points. We will write a custom essay sample on Sms Based E-Notice Board for College Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The electronics shows which are presently used are programmable shows which need to be reprogrammed each clip. This makes it inefficient for immediate information transportation. and therefore the show board loses its importance. The GSM based show board can be used as an add-on to these show boards and do it genuinely wireless. The show board plans itself with the aid of the incoming SMS with proper proof. Such a system proves to be helpful for immediate information transportation. The system required for the intent is nil but a Microcontroller based SMS box. The chief constituents of the kit include microcontroller. GSM modem. These constituents are integrated with the show board and therefore integrate the radio characteristics. The GSM modem receives the SMS. The AT bids are serially transferred to the modem through Rx-Tx connexion. In return the modem transmits the stored message through the COM port. The microcontroller validates the SMS and so expose the message in the LCD show board. Assorted clip division multiplexing techniques have been suggested to do the show boards functionally efficient. The microcontroller used in this instance is AT89s52. Motorola C168 is used as the GSM modem. In the paradigm theoretical account. LCD show is used for simulation intent. While execution this can be replaced by really display boards. The information will be displayed merely after come ining alone base on balls key. In add-on to that reference matching is done and informations can be receive merely by the dedicated receiving system. and this information is displayed on LCD. The chief focal point of the thesis is on exposing information to a dedicated LCD by the any portion of universe utilizing GSM web. which facilitate to command any message board globally from any location. Hardware USED 1. 89S52 Microcontroller2. Max 232 IC.3. Voltage regulator 7805.4. Diode IN40075. GSM Modem.6. Some other constituents to bring forth interrupt. Software USED 1. Keil u-Vision 3. 0 Keil Software is used provide you with package development tools for 8051 based microcontrollers. With the Keil tools. you can bring forth embedded applications for virtually every 8051 derived function. The supported microcontrollers are listed in the  µ-vision. 2 PRO51 Programmer Software Theory OF OPERATION In this undertaking we interfaced 8051 microcontroller with sim-com 300 modem to decrypt the standard message and make the needed action. The protocol used for the communicating between the two is AT bid. The microcontroller pulls the SMS received by phone. decodes it. recognizes the Mobile no. and so switches on the relays attached to its port to command the contraptions. After successful operation. accountant sends back the recognition to the user’s Mobile through SMS. AN Introduction TO 8051 MICROCONTROLLER: When we have to larn about a new computing machine we have to familiarise about the machine capableness we are utilizing. and we can make it by analyzing the internal hardware design ( devices architecture ) . and besides to cognize about the size. figure and the size of the registries. A microcontroller is a individual bit that contains the processor ( the CPU ) . non-volatile memory for the plan ( ROM or flash ) . volatile memory for input and end product ( RAM ) . a clock and an I/O control unit. Besides called a â€Å"computer on a bit. † one million millions of microcontroller units ( MCUs ) are embedded each twelvemonth in a myriad of merchandises from playthings to contraptions to cars. For illustration. a individual vehicle can utilize 70 or more microcontrollers. The undermentioned image describes a general block diagram of microcontroller.

Napoleon Iii Essay Example

Napoleon Iii Essay An Assessment of Whether Napoleon Bonaparte or Louis Napoleon Had More Significant Reforms in France Both Napoleon Bonaparte and his nephew Louis Napoleon Bonaparte were important rulers of France. They ruled with great power and control, they implemented many sweeping reforms and laws that greatly changed the course of French and European life. Napoleon Bonaparte and Louis Napoleon, also referred to as Napoleon III, each directed France through many reforms under their rule. However, the leader with the more significant reforms and impact on France was Napoleon III. Napoleon III had longer lasting reforms in the likes of rebuilding and modernizing Paris, constructing the French railway and heading a strong French foreign policy that included the unification of Italy. He also led France through a period of prosperity and industrialization. Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was elected the president of France at age 40, and capped a quite remarkable, and unlikely rise to power. Cavendish, 1998, para. 1). Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, named after his uncle Napoleon I, had never held a government position, nor had he even shown any sort of political capability, he rose to power solely through widespread support in France that he was the rightful heir to Napoleon I. (Cavendish, 1998, para. 1,2). In essence, Louis Napoleon rode into control of France on the coattails of his uncle and then he took his uncle’s rule and furthered the reforms and French power. We will write a custom essay sample on Napoleon Iii specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Napoleon Iii specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Napoleon Iii specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Louis Napoleon campaigned that he would return France back to the glory that they had once had under the first Napoleon, and that he, as a ruler, was destined to bring France once again to the top of Europe. (Cavendish, 1998, para. 5). His strategy successfully swept him into the office of President of France’s Second Republic. The Professional Politicians in France couldn’t believe that Louis Napoleon had won, and they were even more shocked when he did away with them. But this didn’t satisfy the ambitious ruler and he quickly took advantage of an economic slump in 1851 and posed himself to be the man that the French needed, not as president but as emperor. (Cavendish, 1998, final paragraph). Louis Napoleon Bonaparte can now be called Napoleon III, for in 1852 he declared himself the perfect fit for the job to keep France from collapse and socialism, the Emperor of the second French Empire. (Cavendish, 1998, final paragraph). The citizens of France, so scared of anarchy, and still believing in the â€Å"Napoleonic Ideals† that Napoleon I had left behind, overwhelmingly accepted Louis Napoleon as their new Emperor. The new parliamentary constitution that Napoleon III set up gave him the executive powers; it allowed him to nominate the members of the law-making council of state and the senate. (â€Å"France History-Second French Empire† n. d. , para. 1). Now that Louis-Napoleon had full control of France, he could freely implement actions and reforms that he couldn’t have easily achieved as President. One of Napoleon’s keen interests was in architecture, and it was his desire to make Paris a new modern city that ultimately turned Paris from an overcrowding, ancient, disease-ridden cluster of districts into the thriving beauty it is today. (Kirkman, 2007, para. 2). Napoleon’s interest was the foundation that would produce the plans for a rebuilding of Paris’s streets, its sewers, and all other aspects of urban planning. It would change the sight of Paris to something unlike anyone had seen. (Kirkman, 2007, para. 2). For hundreds of years, certain areas hadn’t been improved, and the daunting task of a renewal of Paris was laid on Baron Haussmann. Haussmann was a big time planner and was an advocate for beautiful sights, perfect balance and exactness. (â€Å"Paris† pg. 18). Haussmann’s desire of linear symmetry surfaced in his first step, which was to put Paris on a grid. He added streets to Paris that ran east and west, and north and south. These new streets were also wider, allowing for more public safety and safer traffic engineering. (Kirkman, 2007, para. 4). The rapid population growth mixed with fierce industrialization made some changes to Paris an absolute necessity. An example of this was shown in the growing demand for water closets, which directly led to the need to funnel the human waste effectively into the sewers. (Kirkman, 2007, para. 6). The old ways of dumping the waste in the rivers was rejected, and it was now an objective to keep the clean and dirty water separate. This new practice allowed for cleaner water, cleaner streets, cleaner people, and a much-improved healthy environment. (Kirkman, 2007, para. , and final paragraph). Under Napoleon’s constant input and watch Haussmann unified Paris with visual themes and facades that generated all around in the city. The horizontal style of Haussmann can be seen throughout Paris. (Kirkman, 2007, para. 7). Perhaps the most unifying aspect that Paris received during its makeover was the improvement of the transportation systems. The railroads underwent massive modernization as train stations were constructed in strategic locations to connect Paris with the rest of France and to the rest of Europe. (Kirkman, 2007, para. 10). These new train stations benefitted agriculture, industrial growth, international markets, employment opportunities, and they represented the overall feeling of a more modern city and nation that could be envied from surrounding countries. (Kirkman, 2007, para. 10). Napoleon III exemplified the prosperity and excellence of the time period by this complete rebuilding of Paris. With the help of grand scale designer Baron Haussmann, Paris â€Å"slashed boulevards through tangles of slums, began the modern sewer and water systems† and set the standard high for the beautiful city that still thrives today. â€Å"Paris† pg. 18) Napoleon III didn’t just focus on the improvement and his influence inside of France. Napoleon III headed a strong French foreign policy that occurred in the Second Empire. Particularly important was Napoleon III’s indispensible role in the Italian unification process. Count Camillo di Cavour was the prime minister of the Kingdom of Sardin ia, most commonly known as Piedmont, and it was his revolutionary ideals and actions that pushed Italian unification forward. But Cavour needed the help of a strong ally in order to achieve is goals; this ally came in the form of Napoleon III and France. Oracle ThinkQuest, n. d. , Section III para. 2). Napoleon III always had a specific future planned out for Italy, he even once pushing for his cousin to rule there. (Geddes, 2010, para. 2). Napoleon III attempted to influence these rising movements of unification in Italy following the Revolutions of 1848. Whatever Napoleon’s intentions were for Italy, whether it was to use Italy as an asset to serve France in the future or if it was to genuinley support the Italian unification, Napoleon saw himself as one that was obligated to be the leader of these â€Å"free peoples of Europe. † (Geddes, 2010, para. ). Without the help of the Frech army and the support of Napoleon III, Piedmont would have had no chance to unify Ital y. Napoleon III’s influence in this unification process was so extensive he alone put all of Italy together, and kept Rome out of it so as to keep the support of the Catholic church. (Geddes, 2010, final paragraph). There is also an argument that Napoleon I, Napoleon Bonaparte, had the more significant reforms in French history as opposed to Napoleon III. Napoleon I led the French, the the most powerful army in Europe, across the continent in conquerring much of Europe. History, n. d. , opening paragraph). Napoleon’s reforms included the new ‘Napoleonic Law Code’ that he implemented in France and in the countries he conquerred, a stronger army, a renewed relationship with the pope, banking and education improvements, and support for the arts and sciences. (History, n. d. The Coup of 18 Brumaire section para. 3). But Napoleon I’s reforms were self destructed when Napoleon made several key mistakes that ultimately doomed his reforms and his plan to es tablish stability back into the post-revolutionized France. History, n. d. The Coup of 18 Brumaire section para. 3). One miscue included the flop of the continental system, or Napoleon Bonaparte’s attempt the ruin the British economy but in backlash it only ruined the French economy. Another mistake was the catastrophic invasion of Russia. The Russian army destroyed French supply lines and Napoleon abandoned his army in the Russian winter where they attempted to retreat. Only 100,000 of the original 600,000 French survived. (History, n. d. Napoleon’s Downfall section para. 1). The French momentum was killed, and so was Napoleon I’s popularity. Napoleon I was then forced to abdicate the throne by the combined powers of Britain, Prussia, Russia, and Austria and he was exiled to Elba. Those same powers, in order to ensure that France wouldn’t try to do the same thing again all but eliminated what Napoleon I had long been working for and France was sent back to square one. (History, n. d. Napoleon’s Downfall section para. 2,3). Therfore, although both Napoleon Bonaparte and Louis Napoleon implemented great reforms in France, Napoleon III had the more significant reforms. Napoleon III’s reforms had more of a long-lasting effect on France and Europe. Some of these long lasting reforms included the modernization and rebuilding of Paris, improving the French railroads, and influencing the unification of Italy. Thus it is Louis Napoleon Bonaparte that deserves the credit for achieving the more significant reforms in France.

Essay on Business Ethics part 2

Essay on Business Ethics part 2 Essay on Business Ethics part 2 Essay on Business Ethics part 2Essay on Business Ethics part 1Question 3What are the Virtues of a Capitalist Free Market System? What is the Marxist criticism of such a system as exemplified by the Capitalist system? Does it follow then that if Marxism is correct that Capitalism is inherently flawed? How does Capitalism provide a Moral defense of its system?The Virtues of a Capitalist Free Market System idealize the capitalist economic model as a system which is focused on free markets and free wage labor. Capitalism is a unique phenomenon that is associated with relatively stable economic system. Capitalism stands for the system of ownership, which is interrelated with the system of banking, as well as distant relationship that exists between markets and governments. In free market capitalism, prices are set in markets for ownership, money, labor, etc. De George states that free market capitalism is a type of economic organization or â€Å"an economic system,† which reflects the relations between people, including those relations that are â€Å"mediated by money and commodities, by prices and wages, by supply and demand† (121). Three basic characteristics help to describe capitalism and its virtues. These characteristics include the accessible accumulation of industrial capital, private ownership of production means and the existence of a free market system, according to De George.The Marxist criticism of such a system as exemplified by the Capitalist system is based on the analysis of relationships between classes of a capitalist society. Marxist philosophy provides evidence against Capitalism of exploitation and alienation. Karl Marx’s radical criticism of Capitalist society leads to the ideas of formation of the two phases of post-Capitalist society, which are Socialism and Communism. Actually, Marx assumes that capitalism is immutable and cannot ensure the natural order of human society. The moral criticism of Capitalist system by Marx is explained in De George’s book Business Ethics. De George compares wage slavery with real slavery. He states that many Marx’s ideas prove the fact that capitalism is immoral. De George argues that wage system cannot be regarded as a form of slavery; therefore, it cannot be immoral. De George not only criticizes the ideas of Marx, but also he defends Capitalism.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, De George does not follow that if Marxism is correct, Capitalism is inherently flawed. Undoubtedly, Marx has contributed to the development of economics. In his Capital, Marx represents a model of capitalism, which proved that capitalism is inherently flawed, and provides benefits to capitalists, powerful businesses through exploitation of workers. Labor has become a commodity with certain price, but it lacks soul. Marx believes that Capitalist system is crisis-prone, and will be destroyed. In general, Marx’s key message was to overthrow Capitalism, replacing it by Communism.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nevertheless, Capitalism provides a moral defense of its system, according to De George. As the capitalist free market system values freedom, â€Å"each individual within a system makes free choices in each transaction in which he enters†(De George 101). From a moral perspective, this freedom is of great importance for individuals. De George state that an argument that can be used in defense of capitalism and free enterprise stands on the â€Å"maturity, intelligence and responsibility of those operating within the economic system†(109). The key argument of De George is that Capitalist system can be valued as morally legitimate because of the nature of processes that are based on the initial equality of   human opportunities and on the eventual inequality of outcomes. Although such practices as sex discrimination and racial discrimination may have negative impact on the equality of opportunities i n Capitalist society, Capitalist system has a well-developed system of laws, which are aimed at preventing these practices. In other words, the structure of Capitalist system allows promoting equality of opportunities that is morally legitimate. Thus, De George’s argument that is based on equality and liberty is a strong argument to defend Capitalist system. Although Capitalist society generates inequalities in terms of the distribution of public goods, these inequalities are morally permissible. According to De George, taxation system can help to reduce the level of social inequality to morally legitimate limits. He writes, â€Å"The overall system can reduce the differential between the highest and the lowest paid, or it can equalize the two considerably more than it presently does through a different tax structure. Such injustices can be handled within the system† (De George 148). Nevertheless, in the U.S., there is an obvious disparity between the rich people and t he poor people. The taxation system is not effective in addressing this issue.

Education and Social Mobility Aspects in Dickens's Nicholas Nickelby Essay

Education and Social Mobility Aspects in Dickens's Nicholas Nickelby - Essay Example Dickens obviously was happy that his attack on the kind of schoolmasters of the time typified by Squeers had hit its mark, and here we have an instance of an author who has found social authority. After the success of Pickwick Papers, Dickens was secure in the knowledge that he could become an established writer, but that he wanted to become a novelist was decided at the time of Nicholas Nickleby, as Chesterton so eloquently points out: 'It must be remembered that before this issue of Nicholas Nickleby his work, successful as it was, had not been such as to dedicate him seriously or irrevocably to the writing of novels. He had already written three books; and at least two of them are classed among the novels under his name..... the Sketches by Boz, The Pickwick Papers, and Oliver Twist......Had he continued along this line all his books might very well have been note-books......We might have lost all Dickens's novels; we might have lost altogether Dickens the novelist....All his books might have been Sketches by Boz. But he did turn away from this, and the turning-point is Nicholas Nickleby'. (Chesterton, 1911) Thus, Nicholas Nickleby became the ... struggle he had to make to reach eminence as a writer, his work also became a voice that decried all that was ill with education and the issues involving social mobility during his time, and from his public activities in both these areas, we can see that he realises that power and authority, and wields it consciously in his writing. As Cairns says of Dickens and his contemporaries in his work Figures of Finance Capitalism: Writing, Class, and Capital in the Age of Dickens : 'Professional novelists became not only providers of relatively lucrative cultural products, but also voices of great social authority, and representatives of that middle-class wisdom and success ..... The novel became a locus of middle-class symbolic power....'(Cain, 2003) 2.1 Personal Background To understand Dickens's treatment of the issues involving education and social mobility in Victorian society, one needs to understand the influences on him at various periods of his life, and the environment which made him what he was. Born to a genteel family lineage, Dickens had an early encounter with poverty, and simultaneous fall in social status. In 1824, when barely twelve, he was taken away from school, separated from his family and packed off to labour in a North London shoe-dye factory as a consequence of his father's financial incompetence. Even though he could escape the squalor within a year owing to a windfall inheritance, the experience he went through during this time was to become a life-defining moment for him. The trials he went through at this factory had a profoundly psychological effect on him: 'In the entire district there was not a single boy whom the sensitive Charles could have accepted as a playmate. His own room was a miserable garret overlooking a damp, malodorous court.

Sai.m Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Sai.m - Essay Example h crises; moreover, the fact that the effects of recession on markets that are based on Islamic banking has been limited proves the effectiveness of Islamic banking scheme towards its western rival. Current study focuses on the examination of the solutions that Islamic banking can offer regarding the limitation of losses caused because of the credit crunch. In order to understand the potential solutions of Islamic banking against the credit crunch it would be necessary to refer primarily to the characteristics and the framework of Islamic banking as an alternative scheme of banking compared to the traditional (western) banking system. In accordance with Iqbal et al. (1987, p.29) ‘the central requirement of an Islamic financial system is the replacement of the rate of interest with the rate of return on real activities as a mechanism for allocating financial resources’. On the other hand, Saeed (1996) notes that ‘the investment activities of the Islamic bank would be based on the two legal concepts of Mudaraba and Musharaka, alternatively known as profit and loss sharing (PLS)’ (Saeed, 1996, p.51); in other words, the existing principles and mechanisms of Islamic banking can be used in order to control the pressure of the global market – which is based on the western banking system; in this case, an appr opriate customization of the rules of Islamic banking system would be required in order to suit to the needs and the potentials of customers worldwide (Scharf, 1983, p.18).On the other hand, Islamic banking system has an important weakness: the lack of an appropriate regulatory framework; this means that in case of failure the allocation of risk among the persons that participated in a specific investment initiative may not easy; furthermore, the recovery of damages would also face difficulties (Ledgerwood, 1999, p.56). The above problem is examined in the study of Venardos (2005); in the specific study it is noted that ‘an appropriate regulatory

Land Resources Land As A Resource Environmental Sciences Essay

Land Resources Land As A Resource Environmental Sciences Essay Land or soil is one of the natural bases for human life and social development. Soils are defined and characterized on the basis of their morphological profiles because the assemblage of obvious physical features represented by these units are often related to the less obvious features of their chemical composition, chemical properties, and fertility. Men have tilled the soil and irrigated and drained it for at least six millennia. This is basic to civilization. Systematic scientific study of agriculture began in the first half of the nineteenth century, along with physical studies of the soil. In its natural state, the soil is normally a three-component porous medium consisting of solid soil particles, water, and air. Much of the water involved in the hydrologic cycle is located in soil between the time of its arrival as rain at the soil surface and that of its return to the atmosphere. The processes of water movement in soil play a central part in the scientific study of the terrestrial sector of the hydrologic cycle and in the problems of dry-land and irrigated agriculture, of plant ecology, and of soil biology. These determine the transport of materials in solution such as natural salts, fertilizers, and urban and industrial wastes through the soil. Properties such as infiltration, drainage, and retention of water in the soil layers; extraction of water by plant roots; and the evaporation of water from the soil are also important. The solid phase of the soil has mineral and organic matter, which is usually highly colloidal, seldom exceeds 5-10% by weight of soil. In an agricultural context, the main interest in soil structure is in terms of soil tilth, which is related to the ability of aggregates to maintain their integrity when the soil is irrigated, tilled, or otherwise worked so that water retention and drainage and aeration are kept at favorable levels. As soil is a complex mixture of many components there is usually little value in determining the amount of a chemical element present without any indication of the fraction of the soil in which it occurs and its form of combination. Indeed, fractions that comprise only a small proportion of the total soil mass are often very important in determining its behavior. The following is a convenient classification of soil fractions: The Organic Fraction, The Mineral Fraction, Soluble in water: Simple inorganic ions, Soluble in dilute acids: Carbonates, Insoluble in dilute acids. Primary minerals mainly occur in sand and silt fractions; secondary minerals usually occur in the clay fraction ( Organic Fraction Organic materials are added to soils as dead plant and animal remains. They are decomposed by the microflora and microfauna to form humus, an amorphous material distinct from undecomposed litter. Well-humified organic matter contains about 58 % carbon, so the amount of the soil organic fraction is usually specified by determining the organic carbon content and multiplying it by 1.73. Organic contents range from zero in some mineral subsoils, through 1 to 10 % in arable topsoils, to nearly 100% (of the dry weight) in some peat and muck soils. The amounts in surface soils depend on the balance between accumulation and decomposition, and these processes in turn are influenced by temperature and moisture content. Apart from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, the organic fraction contains nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus. The proportions of these elements are often expressed as ratios compared to nitrogen taken as 10, and typical values are C:N = 80-150:10, S:N = 1.2-1.5:10, and P:N = 0.2-3.0:10. Metals such as aluminum, iron, manganese, and copper are also found in small amounts in humic complexes. The organic compounds in humus are very different. The main portion appears to consist of polymers, some of which are formed by random condensation of phenols, amino acids, and other related microbial degradation products. A large number of compounds have been isolated from humus extracts, but many of these must be artifacts. Of particular interest, apart from the polyphenols, are amino acids (implying that humus contains protein), sugars (indicating carbohydrate fractions), and amino sugars. The sulfur seems to be part of the main humus fraction, probably as sulfur-containing amino acids and organic sulphates. In some soils, much of the organic phosphorus is present as inositol polyphosphates, which appear not to be an integral part of the humus. Water-soluble Components The soluble-salt content of most soils is low so that the soil solution typically contains between 5 and 25 mmol/L of calcium and magnesium salts, mainly as nitrate. In saline soils, however, the salt content is of the order of 100 mmol/L, and although still less than 1% of the soil mass, the soluble salts dominate the behavior of the soil and include also sodium (Na+), chloride (Cl-), bicarbonate (HCO3-), and sulphate (SO4) ions. The salt content is normally determined in a saturation extract prepared by wetting the soil until it is just saturated with water and filtering off the extract under reduced pressure. The filtrate may be analyzed chemically, but a rapid indication of the degree of salinity is given by measuring its electrical conductivity. Conductivity values above 4 milliSiemens (mS) indicate that crop production may be reduced by salt damage, while above 20 mS only salt-tolerant species can survive. The approximate conductivity at 25Â °C of a 100 mmol/L solution referred to above is 8-10 mS. The reaction of soil is one of its most important diagnostic parameters. It is given by a pH measurement on the saturation extract or on a suspension of soil in water or in a dilute electrolyte solution. Strongly acid soils may have pH values down to 3.5, and strongly alkaline soils as high as 9.5, but more typical pH values of soils range from 5 to 8. Carbonates In soils formed from limestone rocks or other carbonate-containing sediments, carbonates occur mainly as calcite (CaCO3) but sometimes also as dolomite [(Ca, Mg)CO3]. They are important in the buffer system that controls the pH and cation balance of soil, and also for their reactions with anions, particularly phosphate. In their reactions with anions, the particle size and surface area of the soil carbonates are more important than the amount. Amounts of soil carbonate are estimated from the carbon dioxide evolved when the soil is treated with dilute acid, the results being expressed as a percentage by weight of the soil. In a leaching environment, soil carbonate is gradually removed by solution in carbonated water [CaCO3 + H2O + CO2 = Ca(HCO3)2] so that topsoils contain less carbonate than subsoils or the parent material. The leached carbonate may be concentrated by chemical precipitation at depth in the soil profile. Primary Minerals Soil analysis includes the separation and determination of sand, silt, and clay fractions by sieving and sedimentation. The mineral matter of soils is directly inherited from the parent material, although its composition is usually different depending on the age of the soil and the resistance of minerals to weathering. The minerals in the sand and silt fractions are mainly quartz and feldspars, plus a host of accessory minerals. Only the most resistant primary minerals remain in advanced stages of soil development, i.e., quartz (SiO2) as the major component, with smaller amounts of heavy metal oxides such as hematite (Fe2O3), magnetite (Fe3O4), and rutile (TiO2). Secondary Minerals The clay-sized ( Land Degradation Land degradation making the land unsuitable for habitat construction and agriculture has become a major problem in recent times. This has threatened the world food production as soil quality degradation results in severe reduction in crop yield. It is estimated that 15 percent of the worlds total land area has not maintained its quality due to a number of problems that include erosion, nutrient decline, salinization and physical compaction. The countries which are mainly dependent on agriculture as a national resource suffer more from the effects of land degradation. Some of the major soil degradation processes and the causes for them are given below. Loss of topsoil by erosion/surface wash. This results in a decrease in depth of the topsoil layer due to more or less uniform removal of soil material by run-off water. The possible causes are inappropriate land management especially in agriculture (insufficient soil cover, unobstructed flow of run-off water, deteriorating soil structure) leading to excessive surface run-off and sediment transport. Terrain deformation is an irregular displacement of soil material (by linear erosion or mass movement) causing clearly visible scars in the terrain. The possible causes are inappropriate land management in agriculture forestry or construction activities, allowing excessive amounts of run-off water to concentrate and flow unobstructed. Fertility decline and reduced organic matter content resulting in a net decrease of available nutrients and organic matter in the soil. This is likely to be due to imbalance between output (through harvesting, burning, leaching, etc.) and input (through manure/fertilizers, returned crop residues, flooding) of nutrients and organic matter. Soil contamination indicates the presence of an alien substance in the soil without significant negative effects and soil pollution signifies soil degradation as a consequence of location, concentration and adverse biological or toxic effects of a substance. The source of pollution may be waste dumps, spills, factory wasted, etc. The source can also be diffuse or airborne (atmospheric deposition of acidifying compounds and/or heavy metals. Eutrophication with the presence of an excess of certain soil nutrients, impairing plant growth. The possible causes are imbalanced application of organic and chemical fertilizer resulting in excess nitrogen, phosphorus; liming. Compaction resulting in deterioration of soil structure by trampling by cattle or the weight and/or frequent use of machinery. The possible causes are repeated use of heavy machinery, having a cumulative effect. Heavy grazing and overstocking may lead to compaction as well. Factors that influence compaction are ground pressure (by axle/wheel loads of the machinery used); frequency of the passage of heavy machinery; soil texture; soil moisture; climate. Sealing and crusting which is clogging of pores with fine soil material and development of a thin impervious layer at the soil surface obstructing the infiltration of rainwater. The possible causes are poor soil cover, allowing a maximum splash effect of raindrops; destruction of soil structure and low organic matter. Waterlogging that results from effects of human induced hydromorphism (i.e. excluding paddy fields). The possible causes are rising water table (e.g. due to construction of reservoirs/irrigation) and/or increased flooding caused by higher peak-flows. Lowering of the soil surface resulting from subsidence of organic soils, settling of soil. The possible causes are oxidation of peat and settling of soils in general due to lowering of the water table; solution of gypsum in the sub-soil (human-induced) or lowering of soil surface due to extraction of gas or water Loss of productive function which results from soil (land) being taken out of production for non-bio-productive activities, but not the eventual secondary degrading effects of these activities. The possible causes are urbanization and industrial activities; infrastructure; mining; quarrying, etc. Aridification, which is the decrease of average soil moisture content. The possible causes are lowering of groundwater tables for agricultural purposes or drinking water extraction; decreased soil cover and reduced organic matter content. Salinisation / alkalinization which is a net increase of the salt content of the (top)soil leading to a productivity decline. The possible causes are a distinction can be made between salinity problems due to intrusion of seawater (which may occur under all climate conditions) and inland salinisation, caused by improper irrigation methods and/or evaporation of saline groundwater. Dystrification, which is the lowering of soil pH through the process of mobilizing or increasing acidic compounds in the soil. Worldwide, almost 2,000Â  million hectares of land show at least minor signs of degradation, corresponding to approximately 1% of the ice-free surface. Around 300Â  million hectares of land surface are already seriously degraded. Soil degradation situation in India is shown in Fig. 2.10. Population growth and soil Population growth exerts enormous pressure on soils, and the soil degradation is due to additional migration and urbanization processes. The higher the rate of global population growth, the higher is the demand on the soil functions. There is already a growing disparity between growth-related demand and the availability of land. Many states are no longer capable of feeding their own populations with domestic agricultural products because they do not have enough land. Given the speed of population growth and the level of soil degradation already apparent, an increasing scarcity of soils available for meeting competing demands is expected. Two case studies of soil degradation 1. The Sahel Region The problems of soil degradation and desertification in the Sahel can be attributed to changes in nature as well as to socioeconomic causes. The nomadic groups in the Sahel are increasingly restricted in the mobility and flexibility that once provided them with a secure basis for ecological adaptation. Growing competition from other forms of land use, political measures and unclear or disadvantageous land-use rights led to their sedentarisation; they were pushed into more marginalized locations much less suitable for grazing livestock. The sensitive soils and ecosystems in the region are degraded as a result, mainly due to overgrazing. Subsistence farmers are similarly affected by displacement to marginal land that is unsuitable for farming. Greater mechanization without parallel soil protection measures (erosion protection, and suitable irrigation) has negative effects on the soils. Finally, cash crops (cotton, groundnuts) on fertile soils is not pursued in a sustainable fashion. These monocultures are farmed with the help of machines and pesticides, both of which can cause great problems. The Sahel also undergone tremendous social changes caused by internal and external conditions. Of importance is the general neglect of rural concerns and the orientation to agrarian export production through large-scale capital-intensive projects in the agricultural sector. External factors can be identified both in the global economic conditions (agricultural subsidies and/or export policies of the industrial nations, international debt) and in the practice of international development organizations, which in the past were not geared to the principle of sustainability, and which through their orientation to production technology gave too little consideration to the existing development potential. If the complex problems faced by the Sahel are to be solved, greater attention must be given to the socioeconomic causes and to organizational and financial decentralization. 2. The Leipzig-Halle-Bitterfeld region The soils in the Leipzig-Halle-Bitterfeld region are contaminated, in some cases alarmingly, by depositions of airborne pollutants through deliberate depositing of inorganic and organic substances. A prime cause of this contamination was the concentration of chemical industries, mining and energy production, all of which used outdated production methods. Since the turn of the century, there have been five brown coal mining fields, and large-scale chemical plants developed in Bitterfeld (paints and dyes), Leuna (methanol, nitrogen) and Buna (synthetic rubber). For economically and environmentally sound development of the region, soil remediation and the removal of contaminated soil are a matter of urgency, which requires considerable support from the state or from outside the region. Fig. 2.10. Soil degradation in India Landslide In a landslide, masses of rock, earth, or debris move down a slope. Landslides may be small or large, slow or rapid. They are activated by: storms, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, fires, alternate freezing or thawing, and steepening of slopes by erosion or human modification. Debris and mudflows are rivers of rock, earth, and other debris saturated with water. They develop when water rapidly accumulates in the ground, during heavy rainfall or rapid snowmelt, changing the earth into a flowing river of mud or slurry. They can flow rapidly, striking with little or no warning at avalanche speeds. They can travel several miles from their source, growing in size as they pick up trees, boulders, and other materials. Landslide problems can be caused by land mismanagement, particularly in mountain, canyon, and coastal regions. In areas burned by forest and brush fires, a lower threshold of precipitation may initiate landslides. Land-use zoning, professional inspections, and proper design can minimize many landslide, mudflow, and debris flow problems. Protection from a landslide or debris flow (a) Guidelines for the period following a landslide: Stay away from the slide area. There may be danger of additional slides. Listen to local radio or television stations for the latest emergency information. Watch for flooding, which may occur after a landslide or debris flow. Floods sometimes follow landslides and debris flows because they may both be started by the same event. Check for injured and trapped persons near the slide, without entering the direct slide area. Ask for rescuers and give them correct locations. Help a neighbor who may require special assistance infants, elderly people, and people with disabilities. Elderly people and people with disabilities may require additional assistance. People who care for them or who have large families may need additional assistance in emergency situations. Inform appropriate authorities about damaged roadways, railways, electricity lines and other utilities. Reporting potential hazards will get the utilities turned off as quickly as possible, preventing further damage. Check building foundation, chimney, and surrounding land for damage. Damage to foundations, chimneys, or surrounding land may help assess the safety of the area. Replant damaged ground as soon as possible since erosion caused by loss of ground cover can lead to flash flooding and additional landslides in the near future. Seek advice from a geotechnical expert for evaluating landslide hazards or designing corrective techniques to reduce landslide risk. A professional will be able to advise you of the best ways to prevent or reduce landslide risk, without creating further hazard. (b) During a Landslide or Debris Flow What one should do if a landslide or debris flow occurs: Stay alert and awake. Many debris-flow fatalities occur when people are sleeping. Listen to radio or television for warnings of intense rainfall. Be aware that intense, short bursts of rain may be particularly dangerous, especially after longer periods of heavy rainfall and damp weather. If you are in areas susceptible to landslides and debris flows, consider leaving if it is safe to do so. Remember that driving during an intense storm can be hazardous. If you remain at home, move to a second story if possible. Staying out of the path of a landslide or debris flow saves lives. Listen for any unusual sounds that might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together. A trickle of flowing or falling mud or debris may precede larger landslides. Moving debris can flow quickly and sometimes without warning. If one is near a stream or channel, he should be alert for any sudden increase or decrease in water flow and for a change from clear to muddy water. Such changes may indicate landslide activity upstream, so be prepared to move quickly. Dont delay! Save yourself, not your belongings. Be especially alert when driving. Embankments along roadsides are particularly susceptible to landslides. Watch the road for collapsed pavement, mud, fallen rocks, and other indications of possible debris flows. (c) What to do in case of Imminent Landslide Danger Contact your local fire, police, or public works department. Local officials are the best persons able to assess potential danger. Inform affected neighbors. Your neighbors may not be aware of potential hazards. Advising them of a potential threat may help save lives. Help neighbors who may need assistance to evacuate. Evacuate. Getting out of the path of a landslide or debris flow is your best protection. Curl into a tight ball and protect your head if escape is not possible. (d) Before a Landslide or Debris Flow Protect yourself from the effects of a landslide or debris flow: Do not build near steep slopes, close to mountain edges, near drainage ways, or natural erosion valleys. Get a ground assessment of your property. Contact local officials, geological surveys or departments of natural resources, and university departments of geology. Landslides occur where they have before, and in identifiable hazard locations. Ask for information on landslides in your area, specific information on areas vulnerable to landslides, and request a professional referral for a very detailed site analysis of your property, and corrective measures you can take, if necessary. If you are at risk from a landslide talk to your insurance agent. Debris flow may be covered by flood insurance policies. Minimize home hazards Have flexible pipe fittings installed to avoid gas or water leaks, as flexible fittings are more resistant to breakage (only the Gas Company or professionals should install gas fittings). Plant ground cover on slopes and build retaining walls. In mudflow areas, build channels or deflection walls to direct the flow around buildings. Remember: If you build walls to divert debris flow and the flow lands on a neighbors property, you may be liable for damages. Recognize Landslide Warning Signs Changes occur in your landscape such as patterns of storm-water drainage on slopes (especially the places where runoff water converges) land movement, small slides, flows, or progressively leaning trees. Doors or windows stick or jam for the first time. New cracks appear in plaster, tile, brick, or foundations. Outside walls, walks, or stairs begin pulling away from the building. Slowly developing, widening cracks appear on the ground or on paved areas such as streets or driveways. Underground utility lines break. Bulging ground appears at the base of a slope. Water breaks through the ground surface in new locations. Fences, retaining walls, utility poles, or trees tilt or move. Faint rumbling sound that increases in volume is noticeable as the landslide nears. The ground slopes downward in one direction and may begin shifting in that direction under your feet. Unusual sounds, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together, might indicate moving debris. Collapsed pavement, mud, fallen rocks, and other indications of possible debris flow can be seen when driving (embankments along roadsides are particularly susceptible to landslides). Desertification The most critical and increasing threat to sustainable land use is desertification. It is estimated that desertification affects one-quarter of the total land area of the world, or about 70 percent of all dry lands, and threatens the livelihoods of over 1 billion people in more than 100 countries. Desertification is closely linked with rural poverty and hunger. It exacerbates conditions leading to famine, migration, internal displacement, political instability and conflict. Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various climatic variations, but primarily from human activities. Current desertification is taking place much faster worldwide and usually arises from the demands of increasing population that settle on the land in order to grow crops and graze animals. A major impact of desertification is loss of biodiversity and productive capacity, for example, by transition from grassland to perennial shrubs. The change in vegetation induces desertification. In the Madagascar, 10% of the entire country has been lost to desertification due to zoom agriculture by indigenous people. In Africa, with current trends of soil degradation, the continent will be able to feed just 25% of its population by 2025 according to one estimate. Deserts may be separated from the surroundings by less arid areas, mountains and other landforms. In other areas, there is a gradual transition from a dry to a more humid environment, making it more difficult to determine the desert border. These transition zones have very fragile, delicately balanced ecosystems. Desert fringes are a mosaic of microclimates. Small hollows support vegetation that picks up heat from the hot winds and protects the land from the prevailing winds. After rainfall the vegetated areas are distinctly cooler than the surroundings. In these marginal areas human activity may stress the ecosystem beyond its tolerance limit, resulting in degradation of the land. By pounding the soil with their hooves, livestock compact the substrate, increase the proportion of fine material, and reduce the percolation rate of the soil, thus encouraging erosion by wind and water. Grazing and collection of firewood reduce or eliminate plants that help to bind the soil. In large desert areas, sand dunes can encroach on human habitats. Sand dunes move through wind. In a major dust storm, dunes may move tens of meters. And like snow, sand avalanches, falling down the steep slopes of the dunes that face away from the winds, move the dunes forward. Droughts by themselves cannot cause desertification. Drought is just a contributing factor. The causes are social and economic, having to do with access to resources, power and economics. Droughts are common in arid and semiarid lands, and well-managed lands can recover from drought when the rains return. Continued land abuse during droughts, however, increases land degradation. Increased population and livestock pressure on marginal lands has accelerated desertification. In some areas, nomads moving to less arid areas disrupt the local ecosystem and increase the rate of erosion of the land. Nomads are trying to escape the desert, but because of their land-use practices, they bring the desert with them. Some arid and semi-arid lands can support crops, but additional pressure from greater population or decreases in rainfall can lead to the disappearance of the few plants present. The soil becomes exposed to wind, causing soil particles to be deposited elsewhere. The top layer becomes eroded. With the removal of shade, rates of evaporation increase and salts become drawn up to the surface. This is salinisation, which inhibits plant growth. The loss of plants causes less moisture to be retained in the area, which may change the climate pattern leading to lower rainfall. The degradation of formerly productive land is a complex process. It involves multiple causes, and it proceeds at varying rates in different climates. Desertification may intensify a general climatic trend toward greater aridity, or it may initiate a change in local climate. Desertification does not occur in linear, easily mappable patterns. Deserts advance erratically, forming patches on their borders. Areas far from natural deserts can degrade quickly to barren soil, rock, or sand through poor land management. The presence of a nearby desert has no direct relationship to desertification. Unfortunately, an area undergoing desertification is brought to public attention only after the process is well under way. Often little data are available to indicate the previous state of the ecosystem or the rate of degradation. Combating desertification is complex and difficult. Over-exploitation of the land and climate variations can have identical impacts, which makes it very difficult to choose the right mitigation strategy. Measures like reforestation cannot achieve their goals if global warming continues. Forests may die when it gets drier, and more frequent extreme events could become a threat for agriculture, water supply, and infrastructure. Current desertification Overgrazing and to a lesser extent drought in the 1930s transformed parts of the Great Plains in the United States into the Dust Bowl. During that time, a considerable fraction of the population abandoned their homes to escape the unproductive lands. Improved agricultural and water management have prevented a disaster of the earlier magnitude from recurring, but desertification presently affects millions of people with primary occurrence in the less developed countries. Desertification is widespread in many areas of the Peoples Republic of China. The populations of rural areas have increased along with an increase in the livestock; the land available for grazing has decreased. Importing of European cattle, which have higher food intakes, has made things worse. Human overpopulation is leading to destruction of tropical wet and dry forests, due to widening practices of zoom cultivation. Deforestation has led to large scale erosion, loss of soil nutrients and sometimes total desertification. Overgrazing has made the Rio Puerco Basin of central New Mexico one of the most eroded river basins of the western United States and has increased the high sediment content of the river. Overgrazing is also an issue with some regions of South Africa such as the Waterberg Massif, although restoration of native habitat and game has been pursued vigorously since 1980. The Desert of Maine is a 40-acre dune of glacial silt near Freeport, Maine. Overgrazing and soil erosion exposed the cap of the dune, revealing the desert as a small patch that continued to grow, overtaking the land. Ghana and Nigeria currently experience desertification; in the latter, desertification overtakes about 1,355 square miles of land per year. The Central Asian countries, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, are also affected. More than 80% of Afghanistans land is subject to soil erosion and desertification. In Kazakhstan, nearly half of the cropland has been abandoned since 1980. In Iran, sand storms were said to have bur

Sustainability in Entrepreneurship, Innovation

Discuss the relationship between entrepreneurship, innovation and economic development. What role does sustainability play in this relationship? Refer to both theory and examples from the business world to support your discussion. In today’s economy, entrepreneurship is an important subject and entrepreneurial abilities have become a pivotal requirement both nationally and globally. However, enterprises that succeed mostly do so as they are capable of change for the better, through innovation. So for an enterprise to be successful innovation is required.Creativity and innovation is at the heart of the 21st century. For example in the United States alone, more than 16,000 firms operate their own research labs! These successful enterprises and their advancements in innovation as a result lead to a country’s economic development. Economic development has become a focus of attention by governments around the world. As the UK Office of Science and Technology (2007) put it, à ¢â‚¬Å"Innovation is the motor of the modern economy.. † Thus there is no doubt that a connection between entrepreneurship, innovation and economic development prevails.The three factors are complementary because innovation helps any form of entrepreneurship to prosper, thereby increasing its economic value, thus contributing to economic development. This paper will examine this relationship of entrepreneurship, innovation and economic development, and explore the extent of its connection. To begin, it will define these terms, and then connect them accordingly, using economic literature and real life examples for evidence. Secondly, the essay will look at what sustainability is, types f sustainable innovation, whether it’s a threat or opportunity for enterprises, and its effect on economic development.The term entrepreneurship can take numerous definitions. Simply put, entrepreneurship is the act of an entrepreneur, and that is someone who assumes the risk for and organi zes a business project. Economist Richard Cantillon first used the term entrepreneurship in his book Essai Sur La Nature de Commerce en General (1959) where he explains that an entrepreneur is one who buys things at a lower price, and sells them at a higher price, undertaking the risk factor. More recently, Joseph Shumpeter provided a thorough description, where he divided entrepreneurship to two types: allocating and catalytic.Further, Shumpeter (1934) stressed on the importance of an entrepreneur to be innovative, â€Å"Whatever the type, everyone is an entrepreneur only when he actually carries out a new combinations and loses that character as soon as he has built up his business†. This leads into the connection of entrepreneurship with innovation. Mintzberg (1983) defined innovation as â€Å"the means to break away from established patterns. † Innovation is the creation of something new; and in the business world, it would be for moneymaking benefit. According to Shumpeter, it can be the creation of a new product, opening a new market and so on.Thus, it can be stated that innovation is required for an enterprise to succeed, so is a factor contributing to the process of entrepreneurship. Innovation can take two forms, incremental or radical. A radical innovation can be stated as a â€Å"gap-filler† as economist Harvey Leibenstein (1968) put it, which is a novel creation that fills a â€Å"gap† in the market. Radical innovation is a vital for economic development as the problem is missing markets is solved. There we see the connection of innovation with economic development.Economic development can be defined as a positive progress in an economy, usually through government expenditures to promote the wellbeing of the economy and society as a whole. It can be measured by taking into account a country’s standard of living, economic health, environmental sustainability and other factors. According to Harvey Leibenstein in his book The American Economic Review (1968 p77), there is no universally accepted theory of economic development, but there are two important elements that contribute to development, one of which is the â€Å"Interaction between the creation of economic capacity and the related creation of demand [.. The entrepreneur is probably the prime mover of the ‘capacity creation’ part of these elements of the growth process. † In addition, as said in the Hamilton Project (2012), â€Å"Innovation has transformed the American economy through the development of automobiles and highways, airplanes, telecommunications, and the internet, all of which have made it progressively easier for businesses to market their products.. † which as a result, help the business enterprises. Thus, it is undeniable that there is strong connection between entrepreneurship, innovation and conomic development, as has been stated in literature time and time again. It can also be proven with th e use of real life examples, for instance in the software industry, which today is globally worth $489 billion. Microsoft, â€Å"the worldwide leader in software technology†, an innovation founded by Bill Gates, had a revenue of $28. 37 billion in the year 2002, and employed more than 50,000 employees in 78 countries as said in Andriopoulos and Dawson’s, Managing Change, Creativity & Innovation Textbook (2009 p94).Microsoft’s software is an example of an incremental innovation, and a successful enterprise, which thus became a major contributor to USA’s economic development. An example of a radical innovation that majorly contributed to economic development was Henry Fords simple invention of the assembly line method of production in the 1920’s. Its application to the production of Ford cars reduced the time to produce the Model T Ford by 68%, thereby increasing efficiency, and reducing its cost by 62%, thereby increasing the demand for the car.This a result increased employment in America, increased travel around the country, helped all businesses reduce costs, and raised the standard of living of the middle-class American family who could now afford a car, which had once been a luxury. All these factors contributed to of economic development of the US economy, which was booming at the time. Therefore, it can be firmly stated that a strong connection between entrepreneurship, innovation and economic development does exist, and that they are often times co-occurring.A change in one can have an effect on the other; however, they are not dependent upon on another. For example, economic develop does have other factors contributing to it, aside from entrepreneurial gain. Secondly, I believe that entrepreneurships can succeed without innovation. This is where I disagree with Schumpeter’s theory of Creative Destruction. In this, Shumpeter claims that an entrepreneur has to do something novel to be successful, however in world of business there have been instances that prove his theory wrong.For example, in the 1990s’s, a team of entrepreneurs from the US implemented a set of multi screen cinemas in Mexico City called Cinemax, which was a well-known and established business model in the US. This was very successful in Mexico City, and the chain of cinemas was sold for $300 million ten years later. This is very entrepreneurial, but not innovative. Therefore I believe that whilst innovation and entrepreneurship go hand in hand, an entrepreneur does not necessarily need to be innovative in his/her thinking to be successful.Hence, I agree with Schumpeter’s theory only to an extent, in that they are strongly related, but disagree with the fact that an entrepreneurship has to be novel in order to be successful and contribute to economic development. Almost all economies today are growing rapidly, China and India for example. Though this is a primary objective of all countries, governments and oth er environmentally friendly organizations are far more concerned on ensuring that this development occurs without excessive damage to the environment.The aim is to ensure human needs are met; but also conserved for the needs of the future generations, and as a result conserving the environment. This is also known as sustainable development. According to the Brundtland report (1987), sustainable development is â€Å"Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. † Sustainability can take many forms, including economic, social and environmental. This essay will look at sustainability in the economic form and understand sustainability from the business point of view.The implementation of government regulations, such as UK’s DEFRA, which look at conserving and protecting the environment, and fine or reprove businesses that do not, may initially seem as a problem for many companies. But in actu ality, in can help the businesses and even be an opportunity for innovation. The need to be sustainable has created environmentally friendly inventions, an internal driver of sustainability, boosting economic growth accordingly. Sustainability in business encourages enterprises to cut down on its costs and produce more with less. Companies today reduce, reuse and recycling waste material.In addition, it gives way for invention of environmentally friendly products, such as the Panasonic’s Rhythm eShower for water conservation and Toyota’s invention of the Prius, an electric car, which would in turn reduce fuel consumption. Toyota even won the title of â€Å"Best Global Green Brands 2012† (BusinessWeek, 2012) for the second time in a row. Further, it has resulted in the invention of renewable energy methods such as solar photovoltaic cells and tidal stream generators, a new industry in the market. British company, Lunar Energy has decided to build the worlds first tidal energy farm deep sea, providing energy for 5000 homes.As a result, creating employment too. The requirement for businesses to be sustainable has created employment, promoted innovation and has even opened up a whole new industry in renewable energy, thereby contributing to economic growth. The contribution sustainable development makes to the economy is clear in the long run, as the economy is sure to sustain in the future as well. The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change (2006) explains how there is a negative impact on economic growth if governments and businesses are not environmentally friendly.Economist Nicholas Stern stated that if we don’t act in a sustainable manner, the impacts that occur would cost damage worth of 20% of a country’s GDP. Whereas in contrast, investment in greener and more sustainable development today, would only cost 1% of global GDP each year. I believe that while sustainable development may result in some businesses to lo se out, overall it opens new industries, encourages innovation and also works in favor of the economy in the long run.To conclude, It can be stated that sustainability can play an important role in economic development, and can encourage enterprises to innovate environmentally friendly technology, cut costs, and thus be more successful. It also helps a country’s economy in the long run as it would not have to heavily spend on the damages caused by global warming. As said by Schumpeter, (1934 p367) â€Å"The entrepreneur is the prime mover in economic development and his function is to carry out new combinations. † This is true in the sense that through innovation, enterprises can succeed and contribute to an economy’s development.Thus, it is clear that businesses and innovation have a positive effect on economic development are strongly connected. But again, I do not believe that all enterprises must be innovative to succeed, and that for a new business to open, a current one must be eroded. Therefore in conclusion it can be stated that entrepreneurship, innovation and economic development are complementary in real life, and are at often times co-occurring, but are not dependent on one another. And encouraging businesses to be sustainable will only have a positive impact on the economy, when taking the long run impacts into account.Bibliography The American Economic Review Harvey Leibenstein. (May 1968) Page 77. Volume 78, No. 2, American Economic Association. Entrepreneurship and Small Businesses Paul Burns. (2007) 2nd Edition, Palgrave MacMillan, New York Stern Review of the Economics of Climate Change Nicholas Stern. (October, 2006) The Theory of Economic Development Joseph A. Shumpeter. (1983) Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, New Jersey Our Common Future (The Report of the Brundtland Commission) United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development. 1987) BusinessWeek Bloomberg. (July 2012) Power In and Around Organizati ons (The Theory of Management Policy) Henry Mintzberg. (January 1983) Published by Prentice Hall, College Division Hamilton Project Michael Greenstone, Adam Looney and Leslie B. Samuels. (May 2012) Managing Change, Creativity & Innovation Constantine Andriopoulos and Patrick Dawson. (2007) Published by TJ International Ltd. Padstow, Great Britain Essai Sur La Nature de Commerce en General Richard Cantillon. (1959) Published by Frank Cass and Co. , London