Peace Cultures in Action Today Essay

In â€Å"Peace Cultures in Action Today†, the author argues that some small isolated societies manage to create a culture of peace that often ends or is severely modified when they begin interacting with outside cultures. The argument then is that the greater society of the world is less peaceful than these small isolated societies. This theory warrants further study, especially in the area of how these societies react when confronted with societies that do not have the same values. For example, when the Zuni and Inuit are confronted by the larger populace of the United States, do they become more competitive? The interesting question here then is, â€Å"Is competititiveness and aggression a learned behavior? † In the piece, â€Å"To Construct Peace† , Elise and Kenneth Boulding too argue that peaceable existence is a learned behavior and that it can be taught. Elise was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for this theory, but it does not seem particularly sound. Even their own pacifist leanings led to conflict. Though the conflict was in the court systems over the right to become a citizen without an oath to bear arms for the country and a battle over their refusal to sign anti-Communist statements during the McCarthy era, it was still a conflict based on their moral standing. Therefore, it is safe to believe that even in people who believe in and are taught to live in peace, conflict may be inevitable when dealing with the real world. Later the same peace cites Thomas Merton and his poetry and meditations against war and his disappointment that the church could support a â€Å"just war† theory. This again is an interesting position that requires more exploration. Should society allow tragic events to continue because of a belief in peace or should war become a tool of peace? The moral and social ambiguities are clear. If a person is being oppressed and his pacificits nature is being used to subjugate or eradicate him, isn’t there some point at which man must fight for his own survival? This is the point that all of the essayists seem to miss. Peace for peace’s sake is a good thing and being taught to attempt peaceful coexistence before immediately turning to aggressive behaviors may be appropriate. However, if the species is to survive, at some point base instincts overcome learning and the fight for survival becomes more powerful that the desire for peace.

An Information Communications Technology Solutions Essay

Unified communications (UC) is a commonly used term for the integration of disparate communications systems, media, devices and applications. This potentially includes the integration of fixed and mobile voice, e-mail, instant messaging, desktop and advanced business applications, Internet Protocol (IP)-PBX, voice over IP (VoIP), presence, voice-mail, fax, audio video and web conferencing, unified messaging, unified voicemail, and whiteboarding into a single environment offering the user a more complete but simpler and more effective experience. Gartner states â€Å"The largest single value of UC is its ability to reduce â€Å"human latency† in business processes. † Unified Messaging (or UM) is the integration of different streams of communication (e-mail, SMS, Fax, voice, video, etc. ) into a single, or, unified ‘message store’, accessible from a variety of different devices. Unified Messaging was expected by many in the consumer telecommunications industry to be a popular product, first augmenting and eventually replacing voicemail. However, UM was slow to gain consumer acceptance, and UM vendors such as Comverse were badly hit when the slowdown in the telecommunications industry in 2001 made carriers wary of spending large amounts of money on technology with little proven consumer demand. Role of UM in Present Scenario Today, UM solutions are increasingly accepted in the corporate environment. The aim of deploying UM solutions generally is to enhance and improve business processes as well as services. UM solutions targeting professional end-user customers integrate communications processes into the existing IT infrastructure, i. e. into CRM, ERP and mail systems (e. g. Phoenixnet PH, Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes, SAP, etc. ) Unified communications is sometimes confused with unified messaging, but it is distinct. Unified communications refers to a real-time delivery of communications based on the preferred method and location of the recipient; unified messaging systems culls messages from several sources (such as email, voice mail etc. ), but holds those messages for retrieval at a later time. Unified messaging focuses on allowing users to access voice, e-mail, fax and other mixed media from a single mailbox independent of the access device. Multimedia services include messages of mixed media types such as video, sound clips, and pictures, and include communication via short message services (SMS). Components of unified communications Unified communications can include a variety of elements, such as instant messaging, telephony, video, email, voicemail, and short message services, all of which could be brought into real time and coordinated. The concept of presence is also a factor – knowing where one’s intended recipients are and if they are available, in real time – and is itself a key component of unified communications. To put it simply, unified communications integrates all the systems that a user might already be using and helps those systems work together in real time. For example, unified communications technology could allow a user to seamlessly collaborate with another person on a project, even if the two users are in separate locations. The user could quickly locate the necessary person by accessing an interactive directory, engage in a text messaging session, and then escalate the session to a voice call, or even a video call – all within minutes. In another example, an employee receives a call from a customer who wants answers. Unified communications could enable that worker to access a real-time list of available expert colleagues, then make a call that would reach the necessary person, enabling the employee to answer the customer faster, and eliminating rounds of back-and-forth emails and phone-tag. The examples in the previous paragraph primarily describe â€Å"personal productivity† enhancements that tend to benefit the individual user. While such benefits can be important, enterprises are finding that they can achieve even greater impact by using unified communications capabilities to transform business processes. This is achieved by integrating UC functionality directly into the business applications using development tools provided by many of the suppliers. Instead of the individual user invoking the UC functionality to, say, find an appropriate resource, the workflow or process application automatically identifies the resource at the point in the business activity where one is needed. When used in this manner, the concept of â€Å"presence† often changes. Most people associate presence with IM â€Å"buddy lists† — the status of individuals is identified. But, in many business process applications, what is important is finding someone with a certain skill. In these environments, presence will identify available skills or capabilities. This â€Å"business process† approach to integrating UC functionality can result in bottom line benefits that are an order of magnitude greater than those achievable by personal productivity methods alone. According to the International Engineering Consortium, unified communications is an industry term used to describe all forms of call and multimedia/cross-media message-management functions controlled by an individual user for both business and social purposes. This includes any enterprise informational or transactional application process that emulates a human user and uses a single, content-independent personal messaging channel (mailbox) for contact access. The essence of communication is breaking down barriers. In its simplest form, the telephone breaks distance and time barriers so that people can communicate in real time or near real time when they are not together. There are now many other barriers to be overcome. People can use many different devices to communicate (wireless phones, personal digital assistants [PDA], personal computers [PC], thin clients, etc. ), and there are now new forms of communication as well, such as instant messaging. The goal of unified communications involves breaking down these barriers so that people using different modes of communication, different media, and different devices can still communicate to anyone, anywhere, at any time. Unified communications (UC) encompasses several communication systems or models including unified messaging, collaboration, and interaction systems; real-time and near real-time communications; and transactional applications.

Persian Wars: Cause of the 499-404 B.C.E

The Persian wars are often compared to the Trojan wars due to the effects they had on Greek history. Athenians who were cultural and politically superior to the Greek considered the wars against Persia as some of the defining and greatest moments in their history (McKay, Hill, Buckler, Buckley, & Wiesner-Hanks, 2008a). Despite the defining effects that the Persian wars had on the history of the Athenian and the Greek, their beginning was nothing big. In mid sixth century BCE, Croesus who was the king of the Lydians took control of all Greek cities along the Asian Minor coast (McKay, Bennett, Beck, Crowston, & Wiesner-Hanks, 2008a). When the Persians conquered the Lydians around 545 BCE all states that were under the Lydians came under the rule of the Persians (McKay, Bennett, Beck, Crowston, & Wiesner-Hanks, 2008b). The Persian approach to leadership was defined by close control and they appointed officials who ruled states under a system that can only be defined as tyrannical. Citizens under the system implemented by the Persians were required to pay extremely high taxes and serve in the Persian army (McKay, Bennett, & Buckler, 2003a). Many revolution in history have generally been caused by oppressions and system that are degenerate in terms of social development. The Persian approach to government bore all the classical signs of tyranny and close governance. Under such system the mechanism that will worst affect the weak are made as effective as possible and in the Persian case this was not different. Their most effective system was the tax collection system which collected taxes in a manner that had no bearing on the earning made by individuals and the failure to submit returns could even result in hanging (McKay, Bennett, & Buckler, 2003b). The rulers were imposed on the Greeks, Lydians and Athenian and the kind of rule that such leaders used was oppressive. The rulers kept close contact with the events that happened on the ground which is a characteristic of an approach to leadership that is either oppressive or concerned with the welfare of its members; in this case the former was more relevant. The pressure placed by the Persian government led to underground revolution which were propagated by the opportunism of Aristagoras. Aristagoras sought help from the Spartans and Athenians (McKay, Hill, Buckler, Buckley, & Wiesner-Hanks, 2008a). The later helped him in though by 495 BCE all rebellious Greek cities has been restored under the Persian government. This did not spell the end of war due to the attention than the Athenians had gotten from Persia for the role they played in the destruction of Ardis. The revenge mission and the expertise that the Athenians had in Hippias who had been a member of the Persian army led to what is referred to as the battle marathon (McKay, Hill, Buckler, Buckley, & Wiesner-Hanks, 2008b). By the end of the marathon Greece began an ambitious navy building project due to the influence of Themistocles which propagated the war into a war for supremacy. In summary, the war started by the need for freedom and independence catalyzed by a leaders who was out to fulfill his personal agenda. By gaining support from other states the Persians were defeated due to their lack of commitment to the war. The marathon which served to propagate the Persian war was mainly out of the need for revenge by the Persians and its ‘marathon' stature is resultant of the resistance the Persians got from the well prepared Athenians and Persians. Towards the end of the war the objective was more about gain of supremacy. In the end, the Athenians got all the glory though the role played by the Spartans in the Persian wars can never be underestimated.

Accounting 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Accounting 1 - Essay Example The organization had elaborate risk assessment about which every employee was cognizant. The organization conducted risk awareness and emergency response training regularly. Fire extinguishers were regularly checked and replaced and there were notices providing information on what do in the event of a hazard. The management routinely supplied employees with the latest information on common and emergent risks. I realized that the organization monitored and reviewed its internal controls periodically. The petty cash was checked at the end of every week and recommendations given on what to avoid and what to improve. Internal controls that were found ineffective or failing after monitoring were replaced and others were improved in order to enhance their functionality. The organization had a comprehensive yet simple way of reporting risks to the relevant officials in which everybody knew the most immediate person to approach. The organization had good information and communication system in place. The management issued memos in good time when calling for a meeting and every employee was issued with a copy of previous meeting’s minutes with the day’s agenda. The management was respectful in the way it summoned employee for disciplinary action and they did not let other employees know about it. The most outstanding element of the organization’s internal controls was its control activities. The duties of different individuals were separated and every individual knew what they were supposed to do and what to forward to the next person. This was most evident in the accounts department where duties such as approval of purchases, reception of deliveries, approval of invoices, review, and reconciliation of financial records were handled by different people. There were clear procedures for transactional authorization where there were officers entrusted with authorizing purchases and payments. No such transactions could be undertaken

Critical Thinking in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Critical Thinking in Business - Essay Example It is recommended that the Director should immediately discuss the ground reality with the local governing authorities, the authorities should be requested for taking some remedial actions, and if not, and the authorities should be warned that the company might shun their Lagos branch. A developing country, with poor infrastructure, can not afford to lose foreign investment, and it is expected that the authorities will resolve the issue, and the malpractices of the client agents will get affected and sorted out. (Saxton, 1989) The recent studies have concluded that the application of comprehensive code of conduct and ethics had significant impact on the opinion with reference to ethical behavior in organization, and Thomas should adhere by it, the company's moral reputation should not be put at stake merely for the approval and satisfaction of client agents. It is understandable that codes of ethics can't help in solving the most difficult ethical problems in business, and it is important for the director to work out certain solution without compromising on the ethical values. If the malpractice of the company gets exposed to the international community, the company will have negative impact on its growth and operations. (Barnett, 1996) It is important to evolve and portray BIM as good business firm that is financially successful and economically efficient enterprise which would combine profit-making with social responsibility. Furthermore, it is expected that the firm provide handsome and suitable remuneration to its employees to become involved in their communities and eventually to transform into good corporate citizen. Therefore, Thomas should take some relevant measures after in consultation with the company's high management, and should provide possible and sufficient incentives to the employees, so that their personal need and greed should not make them compromise over the company's value. The question is not just about the Thomas crossing the floor, but his subordinates are likely to practice the similar approach, which is also a matter of concern, and should be avoided. The two significant consequences will reference to adoption of ethical techniques include, 1. Under modern conditions, ethics can be conceptualized in two different levels, i.e. ethics with reference to actions and ethics with reference to conditions of actions, i.e. based on rules or institutions, also called institutional ethics or order ethics. It is most important to avoid any existing or expected contradiction between the two. 2. Another important aspect is with reference to ethics under pre-modern conditions i.e. the selection of evaluation and selection of the rules. It is important to understand that adherence to common values as a foundation. In the age of globalization, the practice of agreement and consensus on values has diluted. (Davis, 2003) The Director Thomas Harvey has another option i.e. adoption of strategy for mutual advantages, such technique will surely resolved the dispute, if the involvement of the local authorities is to be ignored for any reason. The client agents and the company should bring themselves to justify ethical norms in terms of mutual advantages or benefits, in this regard; three different options can be evaluated.

Eassy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Eassy - Essay Example Globalization has significantly changed the dynamics of social structure and provided it with socio-cultural diversity that is indeed diverse in its application of ideas, ideologies and competencies across people coming from different race, culture, color and nationality. In such conditions, the role of HRM is crucial in creating a diverse workforce whose competencies are judiciously exploited for increasing organizational productivity (Gillham, Wood & Somerville, 2007). Indeed, in the transforming societal norms, cultural competencies can provide the organizations with unique competitive advantage that would be difficult to imitate. Thus, treating workforce as human capital is not only desirable but also essential in the changing environment of high competition. Moreover, environmental changes like globalization and technology are also intrinsically linked to other paradigms of business which have considerable impact on the overall performance of the firm. Computer and internet have redefined communication and provided people with huge entrepreneurial opportunities to expand their business across globe. They have diminished the geographical distances and increased the challenges for HRM. The job specifications have become more stringent and jobs less secure due to new trends of outsourcing in non-core areas of business. HR’s contribution to the human capabilities through training and development become vital facilitator of motivated workforce that generates job security and inculcates higher sense of self-worth (Zapata-Cantu et al., 2007). HRM is also responsible for creating an organizational culture that highlights cross cultural understanding, mutual respect, shared goals and strong teamwork. This is important in current times as diversity in workforce necessitates understanding of cross cultural values to inculcate mutual respect and strengthen teamwork

How Does the American Public School Philosophy address the concept of Research Paper

How Does the American Public School Philosophy address the concept of Democracy aad the individual - Research Paper Example In this case, before undertaking to explore the role that American schools play in educating children in about democracy, it is crucial to attempt explaining the relationship between the two concepts of education and democracy. Thus, from a contemporary point of view, democracy can be considered to be that which results from and is reflective of modern day societies political and market economy, it personified by activities such as choosing political representatives and an autonomous judicially (Loflin, 2008). In these premises, school provides education to the minority future political figures, the majority to fit into their future role as consumers and producers in the society, and ultimately the decision makers in the society. Hence, such an education, will ideally involve educating them by practical activities so that they can experience democracy in their own personalized setting such as participating in their student centered committees and organizations, in their schools. This paper is an introspection of the role played by public schools in perpetuating the concept of democracy and individual through pedagogy by discussing the rationale; examining the objectives of teaching democracy in schools, the methods and implementation as well as the challenges that are encountered in the endeavor. The culture of democracy should be taught to schoolchildren for a number of reasons; prominent among them is the need to create self-awareness to them, which is instrumental in helping them take responsibility for their lives and the country’s destiny. This is because when children understand democracy, they will appreciate its importance and can easily apply it in their lives as students. This is concerning activities such as voting for prefects and student leaders as well as in simple things like solving a dispute on where to eat lunch among friends or which bus to take home (Rosenthal and Burroughs, 2003.). While these might seem like minor considerations, th ey set ground for bigger issue that the students will have to make in their adult lives, and it helps socialize them into democratically sensitive individuals. Although it is hailed and praised for facilitating legitimate governance, democracy can only be as strong as those who practice it. As a result, in America, students should be taught about democracy in order to ensure they are able to make judgments for themselves on what is democratic and what is not democratic. The process of democracy in America is often fraught with conflict and can often be messy, thus, teaching schoolchildren democracy is crucial since it helps them to appreciate the potential for conflict that result even with democracies, in order to develop democratically acceptable ways of dealing with these conflicts. In addition, youths might mistakenly assume that what happens in congress, and in national politics, is the epitome of democracy due to its lofty position. Nonetheless, the truth is that democracy is frequently abused and overstepped by politicians in their search for political mileage. Therefore, education about democracy provides learners with wisdom enabling them to contemplate the political climate and happenings critically so that they do not get mislead by these populist shenanigans. Electronic and print media has failed miserably in their attempt to convey to