ISMG Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

ISMG - Essay Example Atkins, and many others in the MDCM IT department were already aware of this. MDCM, Inc. Strategic IT Portfolio Management, Page 2. During the meeting there were many options made available to the IT department. The IT department would implement new strategies in an effort to cut costs, and save the company money. McMullen has found blame for the companies loss of revenue in the previous five quarters on the IT department. McMullen hired Atkins to begin an assessment of the IT department, and to help the company begin posting profits again as soon as possible. Atkins began his position with an internal audit of the IT department. Some of the options discussed in the meeting were to create a company email. Every personnel who needed to communicate would be given their own email address. With a just one email address for everyone in the company this will filter out possible important information being filtered to the junk folder by the recipients email provider. The company was going t o an overhaul the computer system within the organization. The company was going to update all computers throughout. Every computer would then operate with the same operating system. With the computers operate with the same operating system the computer would be compatible with each other. Currently there are computers with four types of operating systems. The computers are not compatible with each other. ... The company will also create a website. The website will allow customers to order products directly from the site with no need to contact a representative in the organization. The website will allow a customer to leave an email message, and to contact the company if necessary. The company will implement new strategies for the different offices too effectively, and efficiently communicate with one another. The company will cut some of the labor force. The United States division of the company currently has the largest work force. The company will begin to eliminate some of the jobs. Every position the company eliminates will help the company save money. The company wanted to assess the situation, and develop the most effective solution to the company’s current situation. The company will use the savings of cutting some of the positions and appropriate the funds to the Information Technology department. Atkins requested an increase in the budget for the IT department. The compan y found they could not increase the current budget of the IT department without cutting costs elsewhere. The company, Atkins, and the leaders of the IT department have developed the strategy to cut some of the positions and re appropriate the funds to the IT department budget. With the extra funds available to the IT department the company will be permitted to implement the strategies, and recommendations made by Atkins, and other leaders of the IT department. When the company implements one network, this will be beneficial to the company. There can possibly be a strong financial gain to incorporating one network. In having only one network, the associates in France will communicate more efficiently, and effectively. The network will be one, so there will be no compatibility

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

Homelessness - Essay Example His name is John Doe and I have seen him before near Wal-Mart about five blocks away. I have read somewhere that the homeless tend to shy away from public contact. So I was a bit hesitant to approach John. I was, hence, quite surprised and thankful that he was accommodating to my pleasantries. And so, after introducing myself and declaring my intentions, I immediately asked him about his attitudes about other people, if it’s true that they avoid contact or that if he asked for help. He replied that it was obvious: â€Å"You see us, yes? I am not exactly proud of my condition. Even if I am like this, I am ashamed to ask for help. Being homeless is bad enough but being refused help is worse. Dignity is all I have left.† He added that the other homeless he knows have experienced being driven out by relatives and friends while there are those who have simply lost contact with them or that some have simply died. â€Å"Just gone, and we’re alone. That’s the fact.† We chatted further and I found that he has a daughter living in San Diego. He was not keen on talking about her and from the most I could understand from bits of information he was willing to share was that she doesn’t know about his plight and he does not want to trouble her with the new family she’s starting. There was this faraway look in his eyes that perhaps again saw the past regrets. So I asked about more mundane things such as how they eat, sleep and socialize with other homeless people. He told me it depends. Since he is constantly on the move, there is no opportunity for friendship or socialization. â€Å"It is sad that most of the time the only relationship I have with them is driven by competition.† He was referring about food. Also, it appears that there is no social hierarchy among the homeless and that the closest to this would be the kind of territoriality that comes in foraging food and in asking for alms. The

The image is a parallel picture Essay Example for Free

The image is a parallel picture Essay As part of our Drama Portfolio we were asked to study the play Blood Brothers and re-enact parts of the production. Firstly, as a class we read the play/novel of Blood Brothers written by Willy Russell. The play is basically about two brothers, both separated from birth. One child was given away to a middle/upper class family and the other was kept in the natural family of a lower class. The two brothers meet up and become blood brothers by the joining of their blood, both not knowing they are real brothers. Numerous encounters put the boys in trouble and bring them closer together until an event whereupon they become estranged. Mickey Johnstone(the poorer of the pair) shoots Eddie Lyons (the richer man) following an argument about the woman, Linda, who is married to Mickey. Mickey discovers that Linda and Eddie have been conducting an affair without him knowing. The play is set in the heart of Liverpool. Mickey is a typical Liverpudlian and is attracted to the upper class lifestyle that Eddie leads. Eddie is also attracted to Mickey by the cool words and funny nature of the boy. Eddie likes the funny stories that Mickey tells and when they first meet he laughs for hours after listening to the witty but not always true tales. I enjoyed the play as it was enthralling and exciting in most places and therefore gave us the opportunity to re-enact this and pick up on the play acting in some sections of the play. We could elaborate and give good understanding of the scenes, but in small groups. To begin, we were given four still images to create entirely ourselves. All are listed below, explained and diagrammed fully. The first still image was respectably named CLASS SYSTEM. We named it, as it was basically about how people are treated when they are classed in certain money brackets. Three people are sat down in comfy armchairs whilst the cleaner is scrubbing the floor. All three upper classed people are busy reading newspapers, the cleaner is scrubbing the floor with her nails whilst being used as a footrest for all three upper class people. Following is a picture/diagram of how it actually looked: The picture shows that the cleaner is angry, depressed and basically deflated after they demand that she clean up after them. The three upper class persons however, look more angry and all seem to be looking down their noses at her. This shows how people are placed into different classes and only communicate with their friends or the people in the same class. The cleaner sees her work as grovelling, but she knows it is a job and needs the money. All of these pointers could be seen when the still image was watched and thought about. The second still image was given the title DIFFERENCE OF OPPORTUNITY. This basically means if people are generally brought up into wealth then they will live up to it and make something of their life, also they have to prove themselves to their parents and become someone who others look up to. If they are brought up into a poor family with no wealth then they have nothing to look up to and therefore become aggressive and turn to graffiti and drugs. However it also shows that both can mingle and become friends and can become either uplifted and get a good job or downgraded and go off the rails. The still image shows four people in parallel worlds, two leaving for school neatly dressed and the other two untidy. The two that want their education, laugh at the jokes made by others and basically enjoy their schooling. The other two are however the ones who make noises at the back of the class and tell the jokes but do not cherish their teenage years and make something of their life. They will become one of those older brothers who can do really cool things but generally know very little, perhaps hurting inside due to the fact they need the dole office to finance themselves, but can not keep a job if they are given one. Following is the second still image: The third still image is called DOES MONEY BRING YOU HAPPINESS. Generally it means that friends and company are better than money and no friends. Basically showing that you can be happy with or without a lot of money. However most people would rather have at least one person to share the money with and confide in. If you do not have the friends you cannot generally enjoy yourself or you can enjoy yourself but only until the money runs out. As the old poem states about Magpies- One for sorrow and two for joy A true friend sticks by you no matter what. They need not have money to be happy. Below is the still image: This basically shows three paupers scavenging for money and food. However, they have each other to confide in and can have a laugh together. The rich person on the right has a great amount of money and seems to be looking down at the poorer scavengers. In reality it is actually the other way round. The rich person would give his money to have friends and be happy, as he knows that one day his money will run out. The fourth still image is understandably named SCHOOL. It is basically about four children in school. Two children care about the school life and two despise it. The image is a parallel picture. This basically means that the two people on one side of the parallel image do not know of the relevance of the two on the other side of the image. The two on one side of the image are well-educated children brought up well with good discipline where it is needed. These two people have their hands up desperately seeking attention and trying to get in the teachers good books. The other two are also seeking attention but in different ways, they are trying to be the class clowns and make people laugh. In the future though, they are not going to get a superb job and will probably be signing on for unemployment benefits at the dole office. However they do not think that far ahead and want hits basically amongst the class. Below is the still image picture: Overall I think our still images were very teaching, touching and educational. Although a few were very similar they all told a different story. Some taught about how people are treated in different class systems i. e. poor to rich. Others taught how friends are worth more than money. All however were teaching a different story. Response phase part two In this section we devised a scene that showed the lives of Mickey and Eddie before they met and then during their friendship/brotherhood together. It shows what they have been through together throughout their lives. The scene starts out with Mickey (Simon) being in jail and Eddie (Liam) getting prepared to visit Mickey in jail. Eddie advances slowly towards Mickey and says I remember the days that we all met, They then point at each other to show that a flashback is about to occur. The flashback now shows Eddie and Mickey meeting for the first time. Adam and Charlotte both play the two characters in this section of the flashback. They engage in a conversation about each other. Mickey asks for a sweet and is given a few. Mickey now asks if Eddie is soft.

The Contribution Of The Chicago School Of Criminology Criminology Essay

The Contribution Of The Chicago School Of Criminology Criminology Essay To understand the contribution of the Chicago School of criminology is to understand how the confluence of geography, urbanisation, economics, immigration and the exchange of social theory between Europe and America combined to create new ways of looking at society. This essay will critically evaluate the contribution of the Chicago School, touching on these contributing factors to its development, prestige and influence. This essay will also note the limitations of the Chicago School that arise from the specificity of its location and its reliance on certain ideologies and research methods. In conclusion, this essay will argue that the same combination of factors that created the schools dominance in the field of criminology makes it vulnerable to social change. The Chicago School had its basis in the University of Chicago sociology department, which is the oldest in the United States and was established in 1892 (Lilly et al, 2007, p. 36). DEramo Thomson (2003) note this was a period of rapid social transformation. Chicago was a major railroad hub and became a huge industrial centre in its own right, notably its meat-packing industry (DEramo Thomson, 2003, p. 7). Chicago was an excellent place to carry out sociological fieldwork because it exemplified the post-industrial concentration of population in urban areas. The city grew from one million to two million people between 1890 and 1910 (Lilly et al, 2007, p. 34) providing a perfect Petri dish for the Chicago Schools study of human behaviour. The concentration of industry and therefore economic opportunity prompted an influx of immigrants and led to rapid changes in living patterns. Urbanisation was a major characteristic of the Industrial Revolution, and many cities grew very rapidly, so criminologists in other cities could easily generalise from the work of the Chicago School (Fine, 1995, p. 300). The most significant contribution of the Chicago School is the idea of social ecology. It holds that crime is a response to unstable environment and abnormal living conditions (Treadwell, 2006, p. 47). This is no longer a particularly radical idea, which is an indicator of the continued prominence of the Chicago School. For centuries, crime was viewed as a moral failure (ibid.) in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Criminals were sinners. What the Chicago School recognised was that urban life was distinct from rural life and its hectic, anonymous nature influenced peoples behaviour (Carrabine, 2004, p. 51). Chicago School criminologists were quick to draw a link between juvenile delinquency and the economic and geographic patterns of urban development. Thanks to the population boom they were able to study in detail, over a short span of time, the shifts from inner city to suburbs, and the differences in crime rates between affluent suburbs and the inner city poor (Treadwell, 2006). It is still possible to read first-hand observations in the Chicago School monographs written by sociologists such as Beirne and Thomas, on topics including hobos, prostitutes, dance halls and organised crime (Carrabine, 2004, p. 50). These books are a permanent testimony to the influence of the Chicago School, as well as offering a contemporary historical account of the development of criminology. Theories developed by the Chicago School are still central tenets of criminology whether modern researchers agree or are trying to discredit them. One of their primary assertions was that disruption, e.g. immigration, economic shifts and family instability, tends to cause crime, which has been affirmed by modern studies showing that social disorder, weak friendship networks and low community involvement produce higher crime rates (Lanier Henry, 2004, p. 214). Underlying the focus on identifying where crime is located geographically and socially is the influence of Emile Durkheim, who believed crime is an inevitable and necessary party of society (Beirne Messerschmidt, 2000, p. 97). This ideology naturally tends towards identifying crime and its causes, rather than believing it can be eliminated. The ongoing influence of the Chicago School prompted further sociological studies with a similar ethos of identifying where crime would come from. In the 1930s and 1940s sociological soc ial psychology, a study of group behaviour that emphasises group dynamics and socialisation (Siegel, 2008, p. 9), developed based in part on the Schools social ecology principles. Treadwell (2006) remarks that one of the Chicago Schools main contributions to criminology are its qualitative research methods. Robert Ezra Park, chair of the Department of Sociology, had a passion for walking the streets of the worlds great cities, observing the full range of human turbulence and triumphà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ he led a group of dedicated sociologists in direct, systematic observation of urban life (Carrabine, 2004, p. 50). Park taught his methods of direct observation to generations of students in his thirty-year career the University, ensuring the future study of criminology would be grounded in first-person observation. This seems axiomatic, however, it marked a shift from morally-determined ideas about crime that made assumptions based on belief, rather than observation. Sociologists such as Thresher and Shaw took to the streets, bars and juvenile courts of Chicago to observe people going about their daily lives (Treadwell, 2006). This pattern of study offered marginali sed people to report their own lives (ibid.). Subsequently research has tended to gravitate around methods pioneered by the Chicago School, such as direct interviews with subjects. This has also been construed as a weakness of the school, though, with critics arguing that the qualitative nature of its studies can result in the undue influence of the researchers personal bias (Fine, 1995, p. 139). While this inspired other sociologists to devote more attention to research techniques the subjectivist Chicago school method (ibid, p. 139) is still widely used in criminology. The structure of research in criminology has been shaped by the Chicago School in other ways, as well. It was home to some of the most influential voices in early criminology including urban sociologists such as W.I. Thomas, Robert Ezra Park, Ernest W. Burgess, and Louis Wirth (Siegel, 2008, p. 7) who pioneered social ecology. Significantly, Park, Burgess and Wirth were sociologists, teaching and conducting criminological research as part of the sociology department. As a result most criminologists have been trained in sociology, and many sociology departments are home to criminology courses (ibid. p. 162) This is more than an academic coincidence. To place criminology in the realm of sociology is to implicitly accept as a starting point the idea that criminal behaviour is rooted in society, not personal morality. This represents a radical shift from almost two thousand years of Judeo-Christian belief. In order to understand how important it is, imagine, for example, that criminology developed as an offshoot of economics. Not only would the style of research be vastly different, it seems likely the types of crime it studied would be different. White collar crime, such as fraud and embezzlement, might well be considered more serious and worthy of study than crimes against persons, such as assault or burglary. However, because criminology started with sociology the relationships between individuals, and between individuals and the larger culture, remain the primary subject of study. By focusing on relationships between people, and their environmental interactions, the Chicago School tended towards certain conclusions. Shaw McKay found that certain areas had consistently high delinquency rates despite rapid turnover of the population, this tended to support the idea that the environment itself was at least partly responsible for generating crime (Beirne Messerschmidt, 2000, p. 123). Furthermore, Shaw and McKay the first to identify what became known as white flight the phenomenon of well-off, well-educated (usually white) people moving out of urban centres to more affluent suburbs, leaving cities with concentrations of poor, less-educated citizens, often concentrated in ethnic or racial groups (ibid, p. 122). This pattern of movement and separation helps explain the observation that certain areas are more crime-prone. It is not the result of more criminals flocking to certain areas, but rather that the bad living conditions and poor infrastructure create barri ers community, and offer opportunities or even incentives for criminal behaviour. However, because of the sociological focus, what subsequent studies looked at were social concerns, rather than economic. Sutherland put forth the theory that criminal behaviour is learned, just like any other kind of behaviour (Hagan, 2007, p. 159). The learning takes place within groups, and includes learning how to commit criminal acts, and developing justifications for doing so (ibid.). This is based on the idea that if people are concentrated in areas with limited opportunity and/or close proximity to criminals, they are more likely to learn deviant behaviour. However, an equally valid line of reasoning would be all the people in a particular area are equally poor, so they turn to crime not as a learned behaviour but as an individual response to the economic conditions. Thanks to the Chicago School, though, the notion of learned criminal behaviour gained primacy. This can be seen in entertainment, like the film The Usual Suspects and TV drama Prison Break, whose plots involve groups of criminals brought together in prison who then plot and commit more crimes together. Despite making its main focus sociology the Chicago School does acknowledge that economics is the root of a great deal of criminal behaviour. Siegel (2008) argues the culture of poverty leads to apathy, cynicism and a sense of (p. 163) though again that is a sociological analysis of an economic situation. Nevertheless, the extensive Chicago School studies involving marginalised classes such as prostitutes and gangs (Carrabine, 2004, p. 52) offered rich data and established patterns for further study. The methodology, if not the ideological starting point, remains extremely relevant to thinking on the causes of crime. That is not to overstate the importance of the Chicago School. As previously noted, Chicago in the early twentieth century underwent rapid change thanks to a combination of geographic and economic factors that is unlikely to ever be repeated. The result is that some of the conclusions of the Chicago School, while interesting, are clearly limited in their usefulness. For example, the concentric rings theory of urban growth (Hagan, 2007, p. 154), which is based observations about Chicagos development with an industrial centre with layers of the poor, and then the increasingly affluent, around it. That development pattern applies to many American cities but, Beirne Messerschmidt note, is not equally valid in Europe (2000). Major European cities such as London, Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam have extremely rich, desirable neighbourhoods close to the heart of the city, with poorer neighbourhoods scattered randomly around the outskirts. The Chicago School, working from its specific historical vantage point, failed to take into account different urban growth patterns. Even more critical is the consideration of innovations in technology and communications, which has important implications for how environment is defined. The Chicago School offered a strong counterpoint to explanations that blamed individuals for their criminality (Lilly et al, 2007, p. 34) and focused on the influence of environment. However, they were studying an urban area before the age of mass communication. Contemporary application of Chicago School ideas has to take into account that the nature of technology and therefore the social ecology has changed. Urbanisation is still a powerful driving force and there is still extensive economic migration, but it does not occur at the same rate as in turn-of-the-century Chicago. Modern technology allows people to constantly network and communicate with people outside their physical environment which necessarily changes the definition of what constitutes their community. A migrant living in London might be isolated from their own cult ural group which the Chicago School would argue is a risk for increased criminal behaviour but they can go to an internet cafà © and video-chat with friends in the country of origin. So in an important way they are maintaining a community bond, and they are not disrupted in the same way a 1930s immigrant would have been. Where the influence of the Chicago School can still be felt is that it continues to define terms of study, such as environment, even if the nature of what is being studied has changed. Another area where the Chicago School is less useful is in terms of drawing up plans for preventing crime. Based on the belief that crime is a learned behaviour, caused by environment, it argued that it can in large part be prevented by social programmes (Carrabine, 2004, p. 52). However, Lanier and Henry (2004) note the Chicago School observed that one of the factors in social disorganisation, and therefore crime, was a lack of respect for authority and little faith in social organisations. This presents a catch-22. Social organisations cannot effectively combat crime if people them. The Chicago School does not offer any firm solutions for this problem. Informal social organisations such as churches, parent-teacher associations and sports programmes suggest one way of reaching communities, and these groups are seen to play a major role in reducing criminal behaviour (Lanier Henry, 2004, p. 218). Lanier Henry (2004) note, however, that formal social control in the form of policing is also essential to prevent crime, however this is observational rather than prescriptive. In conclusion, Chicago was a powerhouse of social and intellectual study throughout the twentieth century. Cassidy notes Chicago thinking greatly influenced policymaking in the U.S. and many other parts of the world (Cassidy, 2008, p. 28) however he is talking about the Chicago School of economics, rather than criminology. Cassidy writes about the upheaval within the economic school due to the global recession, and the discrediting of many of the Chicago School of Economics fundamental financial beliefs (ibid). This shows that even the most respected, established schools of academic thought can be critically undermined by social changes. By definition, it is only possible to study what already exists. Though the theories drawn up by the Chicago School regarding criminology make important observations and predictions those are subject to revision based on changes in society. The usefulness of theories and ideologies is ultimately rooted in the real-life. When a culture undergoes radic al changes there are inevitably challenges to accepted ways of thinking and to long-standing academic disciplines. For almost a century the Chicago School has held its place in criminology, but as society changes and its needs change this long tradition could also be displaced.

Technology Assisted Reproduction Essays -- Research Reproduction Essay

Technology Assisted Reproduction Introduction Reproduction is fundamental for the perpetuation of a species and therefore is a trait all species possess. Human reproduction is usually not viewed in this context. Extinction of humans is not considered a threat, but the ability to reproduce is an issue of meeting social expectations. Psychologist Dr. Helen Fisher states that society tends to pressure women into feeling that motherhood is their sole connection to being female (Rutter, 1996). Likewise, men are influenced by society into feeling that they need to perform their part by "planting the seed" (Rutter, 1996). Fisher's insight may only represent parts of the reason humans feel the need to reproduce. However, it is evident that the ability to conceive a child is an important issue for most married couples. Unfortunately, complications occur when couples are infertile. Recent developments in reproductive technology have provided alternative methods of reproduction that can greatly enhance an infertile couple's chances of conc eiving. However, there are ethical and legal issues that accompany the use of these reproductive technologies. It is the responsibility of everyone, especially Christians, to become informed of the options reproductive technology can provide as well as the legal and ethical issues involved with their use before taking appropriate action. Background Beginning at puberty, the human male makes millions of sperm a day and continues to do so for about the next 50 years. On the other hand, the human female is born with approximately one million eggs, which are all that she will ever have (Infertility, 1996). The onset of menstruation during adolescence signals the beginning of a cycle in which hormo... ...win births soar with popularity of fertility drugs." Discovery. http://detnews.com/1997/discover/9702/20/02170076.htm. (September 24, 1998). Nelson, J.B. (1973). Human Medicine: ethical perspectives on new medical issues. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House. "Reproductive Medicines." (1998). Organon. http://www.fertility-net.com/medicines.html. (September 23, 1998). "Reproductive Technology." (1996). Better Health and Medical. http://www.betterhealth.com/HK/ArticleMain/0,1349,178-496-488,00.htm. (September 23, 1998). Rutter, V. T. (1996, March). "Who stole fertility?" Psychology Today. pp. 46-49. Thomasma, D. C. & Kushman, T. Eds. (1996). Birth to Death. New York: Cambridge University Press. Youngkin, Dr. (1997). "Fertility Drugs." Texas Medical Association. http://www.texmed.org/news_events/radio_spots/ne_may0697_30.htm. (September 24, 1998).

College Admissions Essay: Its Time to Make Children a Priority :: College Admissions Essays

It's Time to Make Children a Priority Much of society judges the relative importance of an occupation by the size of the income or the associated fame. In fact many people judge themselves in the same way. To me, this is a male way of seeing the world. It's all about status and mating rights when you get down to it. I am prepared to concede that at some point in humanity's past this was a fair measure of a job's importance. But in a world that is clearly overpopulated it no longer makes sense to judge solely based upon the propogation of the species. Our focus should now move to the quality of the next generation rather than it's quantity. It is therefore my opinion that the most important job in the world is child raising. Those people that contribute to the healthy mental and physical development of children into adults, are performing a vital service to society. Imagine what the world would be like if children were truly our top priority, as some politicians so glibly pronounce. We are so far from that point that my imagination struggles with this concept. Why are teachers amongst the lowest paid people in western society? Why is it next to impossible to find a good creche? Why are there more laws to protect the rights of criminals than to protect those of us that choose to give up career to tend to home and family? Why is it that the educational standard of high school graduates is dropping faster than gravity should allow? Now some people will be nodding their heads at this point and saying, "Yes, the government should be doing something about this." Well I say, what are YOU doing about it. Take back responsibility for the upbringing of your own children.

The Importance of Securing equipmen Essay

The ability to be accountable of army equipment is a task given to all Service members. It starts when we first enter basic training. We receive our first issued items from CIF in order to complete all of our task during basic training. We are responsible to inventory and maintain our gear until we are finished with basic training. It is expected that we turn in item that were received in a clean and serviceable condition. After Basic training we move on to AIT and later to our first Unit. As we progress with our military career we become responsible for more gear. Our Platoon leaders and commanders entrust us with more sensitive as we sign not just for our personal gear. We sign for radios, vehicle, Blue Force Trackers and many other items that cannot fall into the hands of the enemy. The loss of any equipment is costly, not only does it cost money but it take time away from the mission while you are waiting for much needed gear. The inability to maintain your equipment potential causes a mission failure or missing a movement. The best method to keep equipment secure is to always have it on your person. The problem with this method is it’s not always possible. Caring around everything would be a very tedious and inefficient process. The next best method is to keep your equipment under lock and key. Keeping that in mind the equipment should be left in a place where security is in place to guard those items. Of course some item will need different levels of security such as weapons. The loss of any equipment can lead to a loss in operational security. You don’t want information much less equipment to fall into enemy hands. This could potentially lead to a loss of life.