The NSA program

The Controversy Surrounding NSA Program Terrorism is a rising concern that is not only bothering first world countries but also third world countries as well. Terrorist activities have spread so much in the last two decades that they now threaten countries that were previously considered immune, such countries as Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The NSA program specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The government of the United States has taken this concern and in the effort to contain terrorism formed the National Security Agency (NSA) in 1952. The program targeted calling behavior of Americans both within and without USA who â€Å"had suspected links to terrorist activities† (Fisher 199). Its would not have bee successful had it incorporated the help of American Telephone companies such as ATT while those who refused cooperation collapsed (Levy et al 5; Fisher 198). (NSA c ould not operate legally without the necessary legal requirements thus the enactment of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, FISA in 1978 (Fisher 185). The purpose of this paper is to explore how the controversy surrounding the NSA program since its enactment especially during the reign of President George bush Yale University School of Law Symposium explains that FISA initial intension was to ensure that all intelligence wiretaps were done for â€Å"a probable reason† (404). FISA statute required the establishment of FISA courts to grant permission for such wiretap. However, the New York Times revealed a gross violation of this statute by the Bush administration, which eavesdropped on thousands of telephone conversations secretly, and without permission from FISA courts (Lichtblau para 1; Yale University School of Law Symposium 404). Supporters of this move argue that FISA statutes were meant for times of peace thus did not cater for the current security threats. This beli ef lead to The President lifting some of the â€Å"legal restrictions† in the act that did not allowed warrant less electronic surveillance (Risen and Eric para 14).Advertising Looking for research paper on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Proponents continue to argue that this program not only needed implementation in full but also total privacy. Exposing classified information such as documents detailing war on terror to the public is equal to â€Å"advertising American war on terror† (Yale University School of Law Symposium 405). Furthermore collecting information on ones war enemies is an age-old practice and therefore not abnormal in the war against terrorism. This makes the â€Å"Terrorist Surveillance Program† intended to collect terrorist information thousands of citizen inside and outside USA without FISA courts approval necessary as it was also in line with the US constitution (406). F ISA statute had several loopholes especially regarding executive authority. It did not address the question of the extent of presidential powers in exercising official authority. It also does not answer the question whether the president has discretionary powers when national security is at stake and lastly legal experts question its constitutionality if in its provision too restrict executive power, limits the power of the president to act in protecting and securing Americans in dire times (Centre for Law and Security 3). However, several people have opposed this program vehemently. Opponents state that it amounted to abuse of the law by the Bush administration. They claim that unwarranted wire taps are illegal for whatever reason and that bypassing the FISA policies is unconstitutional in two ways: it amounts to making the FISA statute optional, and it is also a grave abuse of executive authority by the president (Savage and Risen para 11). Several US judges have also ruled unwarr anted eavesdropping illegal as it intrudes into peoples private phone calls without any good reason. The knowledge that phone calls could be tapped unwarrantedly makes Americans paranoid and afraid of free phone speech, which curtails freedom of speech (Holding para 4, 5). The initial intention of this program was to gain information that would help in the war against terrorism. However, the changing nature of the terrorism coupled with creative manipulation of the law has lead to what many calls abuse of the executive authority. In the meantime, controversy ranges on about the legality and necessity of the program.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The NSA program specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Works Cited Center for Law and Security. â€Å"The NSA Wiretapping Program.† For The Record. 2007. Web. Fisher, Louis. â€Å"National Security Surveillance: Unchecked or Limited Presidential Power,† in Carter, Contemporary Cases in U.S. Foreign Policy, 2011. Print. Holding, Reynolds â€Å"Why the Wiretapping Ruling Is Vulnerable† Time. 2006. Web. Levy, David, Leong, Joy, Bus, Lawrence Plunkett, Michael. â€Å"Benefits- Cost Regulation of Negotiated Service Agreements.† n.d. Web. Lichtblau, Eric. â€Å"Senate Approves Bill to Broaden Wiretap Powers.† New York  Times. July 10, 2008. Web. Risen, James and Lichtblau, Eric. â€Å"Bush Secretly Lifted Some Limits on Spying in U.S. After 9/11, Officials Say.† New York Times. December 15, 2005. Web. Savage, Charlie and Risen, James. â€Å"Federal Judge Finds N.S.A. Wiretaps Were Illegal.† New York Times. March 31, 2010.Advertising Looking for research paper on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Yale University School of Law Symposium, â€Å"Warrant less Wiretaps,† in A Loch Johnson and James Wirtz, ed., Intelligence and National Security New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print. This research paper on The NSA program was written and submitted by user Danica Rosario to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Mackinder or Mahan Essays

Mackinder or Mahan Essays Mackinder or Mahan Paper Mackinder or Mahan Paper In the modern era, geopolitics is very similar to rotational thought, which is why these theorists, in particular Amman, are arguably still applicable to contemporary geopolitics. The ideologies that are held together by Mackenzie and his concept of the Heartland Theory are out-dated and irrelevant to contemporary geopolitics. His idea of a World Island as set geographical position that is highly inflexible, is opposite to what is expected of modern thought. Walters (1975) argued the Heartland Theory was one perspective of the globe, and stated, policy is made in the minds of men; its contours may not concur with a true map of the world. As contours are a minimal factor in Mans school of thought, he has become highly popular regarding sea power. His works on Naval influence is highly relevant to contemporary geopolitics. To cater for an increasingly globalizes world, that is heavily dependent on foreign resources and trade, sea power, and navies essentially, are key to ensure that a sustained level of growth and power is achieved. The United States of America is a clear example of a major power that uses its naval capacity to adhere to Mahayana logic, that reflects his tridents and six principle conditions that are still existent today. Mackenzie and the Heartland Theory was of high relevance in the 19th and 20th century. At that time, Eastern Europe was of a favorable strategic geographic area, lying on the brink of the western and eastern world. It had an abundance of rich resources key to state superiority. However, in the modern era, geographic importance is not as fundamental to a successful nation as Dally and Total (1998:16) quite clearly explain, our conveniently conventional geopolitical imagination, which envisions and maps the world in terms of spatial blocs, territorial presence and fixed identities, is no longer adequate in a world where pace appears to be left behind by pace, where territoriality is under eclipse by dialectically, and where simple settled identities are blurring into networks of complex unsettled hybrid. Mackenzie failed to recognize the importance that lies outside the heartland, which consists of the Riemann and Offshore Islands. To conform to Mackenzie, would be to say that the US is a mere island that is dependent on situations and outcomes that occur in Eastern Europe. In fact, it is the opposite scenario if applied contemporaries. Nicholas Sparkman, a strategies, argued against Mackenzie, by stating that the Americas have the resources and power in which to prevent states inside the heartland from achieving the traditionally adhered, world dominant status. Dally and Total (1998) elaborate further, arguing that if Mackenzie and the Heartland Theory were still prevalent, the US wouldnt be the super power it is today. They identified the outside inside approach, which redeploys the shape of heartland geopolitics in favor of the Americas. Woolworth (1999) states that since the collapse of the Soviet Union, a unpopular world has been dominated by US power, which generates an additional claim that Mackenzie really is irrelevant in contemporary geopolitics. Despite other elements are equal or even greater to sustain and improve national power, the Mahayana late 19th century logic of sea power, is still existent in contemporary power domination. Mahayana theory consists of two tridents, discussed by James R Holmes (2009). The first of his tridents, logic, governs strategic and geopolitical ideas relating to sea power. There is a tripartite element that consists commercially in the sense of obtaining wealth, politically for naming national power, and militarily for allowing access to these resources and maintaining these routes while upholding and reinforcing an authoritative stance, which is a clear purpose regarding the nation of the United States. His second trident, grammar, provides the rules of preparing for warfare and naval readiness. It consists martially and operational in nature, through production and overseas markets and bases. Holmes and Yeshiva (2010) come to appreciate the relevance of Mans logic, more than his grammar. The grammar of combat is out-dated, providing that the last fleet engagement was at the Elite Gulf in 1944. An extremely relevant question regarding the United States need for an immediate fleet is extremely relevant. An interesting discussion made by Holmes and Yeshiva (2010) addresses the questionable issue about the United States needing to have high-end ships and criticizes the mindset in which the nation has regarding contemporary geopolitics and outcomes for the future of naval warfare. Amman used six principles that primarily affect a nations ability to become a powerful sea power: geographical position, physical conformation, extent of territory, size of the population, character of the people, and character of the government. Parker (2003) stated these conditions were valid requirements for national power in the late 19th century, are valid requirements for national power in the 21st century, and will be valid requirements for national power for some time to come. The United States is a clear exemplification of how these principles are applied successful in order to maintain, and increase their unpopular dominance. The first principle, geographical position is supremely fundamental to the United States Navy. Because the countries contours consist of vast coastlines and occupy hundreds of military bases overseas, its position s essential to naval dominance. The concern Amman had in his time was that the United States didnt have any ports or trade centers close to the heartland. This concern has clearly been erased through the abundance of bases around Europe. By using the overseas military bases, such as the base in Bahrain, it creates assistance in trade through the Malice Straight, which is a huge chock point in the shipping industry and is favorable to piracy. To be militarily active in a position such as this, allows for United States integration into international assistance and gives the power to deter hostile forces at sea. By having the multitude of bases, it allows the US Navy to address any situation at any time, regardless of its geographical position. In this case, the United States addressed Mans concern, allowing for a greater geopolitical influence around the world. What Amman means when discussing his second principle of physical conformation, is the physical geography that determines if interaction with surrounding foreign areas is amplified or discouraged. In favor of the United States, the ports on the east, west and Gulf coats receive relatively good climates and are all generally rich in resources. This allows for easy access, which results in the high use of the capabilities and use of resources available to the nation. An example of how rich the resources are, consist of 323 million barrels of oil and 670 billion cubic feet of gas pockets still available off the west coast of the United States as discussed by Emerson et al (2012). From this accessibility and richness, the United States clearly adheres to the second principle Amman expects from a dominant sea power. What Mans third principle of extent of territory relates to is the irrelevance that the size of a nation has, but rather the length of the coastline elevate to its size. The coast of the United States is a staggering 20,000 kilometers on length, which allows Amman to use the United States Pacific coastline to emphasis its importance it has to assist militarily to other bordering regions such as Australia and Asia. It also uses its vast Atlantic coast to interact with the European and African continents. Mans appreciation for the extent of coastline can therefore relate to the ease in which the United States has with the geographic nature of the United States. The fourth principle of number of population is another major influence that determines a nations dominant sea power. Amman emphasizes that active military personnel are key to a nations ability to act when necessary, and therefore is a highly important factor. With the use of statistics from CNN (201 1), the United States population of 318 million people is a vital component of this principle, but a rather more significant one is the focus on the 1. 4 million active frontline and 850,000 active reserve personnel around the world in 150 different countries that support Mans (1890) concept of being, readily available for employment on ship-board and for the creation of naval material. The high amount of personnel on active duty, stresses the interest and importance the United States has around the world. Competing nations such as China and India, who have a much higher population than the United States are becoming increasingly threatening. However, the United States has one of the highest amounts of military expenditure, utilizing 4. 2% of its GAP (World Bank 2012). With this high amount of spending, it allows the United States to adhere to what Amman believed to be the most important factor regarding population. As long as the resources, equipment and training and personnel are maintained at a steady, acceptable rate that could act in a time of crisis, it will suffice to threats. This goes to show that the United States is a nation that understands futuristic implications that may arise, and is seen to be ready to address these threats from a Mahayana standpoint. National character was Mans interest with industry and trade, which made up his fifth principle. Parker (2003) uses an analogy to compare how England and Holland acted in the colonial era. The author looked at Mans work in addressing the character of these nations, which seemed to then manifest their administration of colonial conquest. The nations examined seemed to use not a sword, but labor to immigrate, as discussed by Amman (1890). This is similarly seen in the United States objectives of commercial interest in the liberations of international trade in the past century, and in years to come, which again, portrays Mans relevant ideologies. The character of government is Mans final principle. He addresses this idea by deciding whether a nation is at peace or war. In peacetime, the policies can either be in favor or against the industries related to naval capacity. In the midst of war, it is fundamental for government decision making o increase defensive spending compared to peacetime budgeting. It is safe to say, the current United States government addresses international affairs and situations that they are at all times, at war. Woolworth (1999) confirms with the diminishing notion of the unpopular world, a mindset like this is essential to survival.

Development within the European Union of the Second World Countries Assignment

Development within the European Union of the Second World Countries - Assignment Example Thus, in the course of discussion on the development process of these countries, it is inevitable to tackle the history of transition of these countries from a system of planned economy to their membership to the European Union and their subsequent integration to the global free market. A brief presentation on the situation of the Second World countries during the late 1990s was presented in this paper; however, the whole discussion gives its main focus in the past ten years of the new millennium. Introduction The European Union has become one of the most influential economic and political organizations in the world since the Second World War. Starting from a membership of six countries in 1958, European Union has now a membership of twenty seven countries and still expanding. European Union was established based on the framework of Europe-wide single market that would promote peace, stability and prosperity. Economic cooperation is at the core of the guiding principles of EU country -members basis of unity. EU stands for borderless economy within Europe and strives to make Europe an accessible place to live and work for all the Europeans. It is still a glaring reality; however, that unequal development still exists within the European Union. For the last five to ten years, changes within the boundaries associated with the European regions have caused altered changes in the economy of European Union. Despite of the thrust to create a single Europe, member-countries of the European Union sill differs from each in other in terms of economy, politics and social well-being of the people in the society. Specifically in terms of economy, the differences between the second world countries within the union have created a gap in the past decade. The economic activities of the second world countries in the region have been directly affected by their membership in the European Union either positively or negatively. How do the second world countries progress as members of t he European Union? Is this helpful for them as a whole? Basically, this paper will delve on these matters. This paper will examine the economic growth of the second world countries within the European Union for the last five to ten years. This paper also tries to establish that in as much as the Second World countries need the integration within the framework of the European Union, Europe would also benefit from the accession. In the past years, Europe has been insulated in productivity, especially in terms of labor. An American worker generates 27 percent more output per dollar compared to the European workers. Employers in France and Belgium are entitled at least twenty six paid national holidays in addition to their vacations. A German worker being is paid with 14.5 months of work per year but actually works for 9.5 months (Tupy, 2003). Also, the European GDP per capita today is less that two thirds compared to that of the United States, whereas they were roughly equal before. Th e glaring reality of Europe’s economy – slow growth, generous social provisions, high unemployment rate, and high taxes on European’s citizens – raises questions on the correctness of the European economic model would be able to help the Second World countries in their thrust for prosperity (Tupy, 2003). Thus, this paper will also discuss how the status of the economy of the second world countries affects the stature of European Union as a whole. Second

Security problem in Taiwan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Security problem in Taiwan - Essay Example Remarkably lax policies have made Taiwanese nightclubs a heaven for alcohol and substance abusers and sexual offenders. It has become a favourite pastime for a large population to go to clubs late at night and abuse illegal drugs. However, there is not the growing issue of illegal drugs only which is contributing to chaos in the country. There are other dangers lurking in the shadows of nightclub culture which have more far-reaching consequences. These dangers are related to unfortunate incidents of rape, kidnapping, and assault which are becoming very common in Taiwan because a very facilitating environment is provided for such crimes in the country. This environment raises the probability rate of such crimes. In order to help resolve this issue, I propose the solution based on 12 am curfew. This curfew is already being practiced in many countries around the globe where same kind of nightclub dangers were encountered as in Taiwan. This solution is effective because Despite the media focus on drugs like ecstasy, many incidents of assault and rape have also been reported in Taiwan because of young women not being able to defend themselves in an intoxicated state. Especially in a culture where drinking is heavily promoted, violence is endemic. Taiwan is a country which comes to life late at night. It would not be an exaggerated statement if said that it is a country which never sleeps. Due to a plethora of nightclubs which remain open to visitors all hours at night, the streets glow with hedonistic abandon and are seen packed with jubilant people looking for all kinds of activities. This culture leads to two big problems, vandalism and drug abuse. The state of Springfield police statistics also serve to prove the efficacy of 12 am curfew. For example, a report compares the number of calls for a six month period before and after enforcement of the 1 am curfew. It is revealed that â€Å"the calls for service declined from 1,197 to

Leadership Style Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Leadership Style - Essay Example Also it is a fact that qualities of a leadership cannot be taught at a class room or at any training centre. This study can be referred to as a reflective analysis of my leadership style. I will be making orientation with the leadership theories. After completing the study I have noticed that I show signs of situational leadership and action centred leadership but later I also observed that I show evidences of transformational leadership. Situational leadership states that there is hardly any superlative style of leadership. The most effective leadership style is that which gets adapted or adjusted according to the situation. In simple words situational leadership emerges from the environment, circumstances, place and time (Aluya, 2009, p.6). It resembles similarities with democratic style, authoritarian and laissez-Faire leadership styles. Situational leadership also emphasizes on directing, controlling, supporting and entrusting other styles according to the situation (Kloppenborg, Shriberg and Venkatraman, 2003, p.7). While on the other hand action centred leadership was developed by John Adair in the year 1960 (Reed, 2003, p.53). It can be referred to as a simple management and leadership model, which helps to apply the leadership styles according to the demand of the situation. ... type of leadership where the leader recognizes the need for change, creates a sense duty, raises learning experiences and achieves it by stimulating new and innovative ways of thinking (Griffin, 2010, p.566). In other words it tries to gauge the proper leadership style for a specific situation (Lussier, 2011, p.338). However out of the mentioned behavioural style I portray democratic style. Although since I am a follower of situational leadership, I also adopt leadership styles according to the need of the situation. Providing leadership to colleagues In an office event I was given the duty of entirely organizing a cultural event. The cultural event will have some of the eminent celebrities taking part. I knew that in the course of event I have to devote most of time towards the activities related to it. Also I could not give time to my family which is strictly against my principles. I always believe family comes first than anybody else. In the event I have authorized some individual to look after few areas. Since I thought that would not be able complete the entire process on my own. Therefore it is always better to authorize somebody else to accomplish the task. I have selected some of my colleagues whom I think has the capability of leadership. I was very much confident on them and they also relied on me. When the event was supposed to take place, I noticed that everything was in place and finally the event was completed successfully. The upper management of the organization praised me for my work. I also acknowledged it and congratulated my team mates as they were instrumental towards the completion of the project. I felt that I am also very much attached with the colleagues and remain true to myself. Working with Others I work in a small consultancy firm which

Education and Globalization

Education and Globalization Globalization brings many changes to peoples lives all over the world. There are several definitions of globalization however the Merriam-Webster meaning is as follows. Globalization is the process by which businesses and other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale. From shifting social norms around the globe to changing how countries do business, technological advances, and intensifying competition in the workforce, as well as, the educational field; effects of globalization are everywhere and far reaching (Carnoy, 2002). Globalization effects education all over the world. For example, due to intricate technological advances many jobs have been digitized. This means that the skill set thats required for jobs have changed dramatically. Subsequently, jobs that could once be sustained by someone with a high school diploma or less have disappeared. These global and economic changes cause shifts in the job market and are essentially changing what is needed from the education system. We now need to prepare students for jobs that require different skill sets. Employees must now be knowledgeable on foreign languages, cultures, and overall way of business to be successful in their career. For the most part the United States has been a leader in education compared to other countries. Being the first country to achieve mass collegiate education, the United States of America always had the highest number of qualified people in its labor force. This is how the American economy was able to thrive and take advantage of the global market. But does this globalization led to development or division in education? (Welch Mok, 2003) Well, in recent years countries around the world have refocused on expanding education, many of the smaller, more impoverished countries actually working together to do so. Since graduating high school is now the standard in most countries, many are now setting goals to increase the number of college attendees even working with the United Nations to provide education for all countries! Although the United States has a greater number of older workers that are well educated, many other countries have a greater number of young workers with college degrees. Nonetheless, with more high school graduates chasing college degrees and older people pursuing higher education after so many years of being out of school; this is changing too. People of all ages are pursuing higher education all over the world and with education standards changing as well, we are truly living in an era like never before. We are all preparing for an interconnected world that globalization has brought to us and education is just one small stepping stone for the high skill economy of the future (Young 1998, Brown et al. 2001). The growing importance of education is more than wanting our citizens to be smart. Countries are wanting their citizens to get educated in order to build for a future in which we are one global citizen class that works together economically and otherwise to grow our countries. This can help with foreign policy and international business transactions and trades. To be knowledgeable of a certain country is to be more accepting and understanding of said countries culture and beliefs. Appearing welcoming and friendly to different cultures will attract investments from foreign countries. This will boost the countrys economy (see OECD 1998, Campbell 2000). With a larger economy a countries revenue with increase and strengthen the country (ideally). This is another reason why the quality of education is so important. While education systems all over the world are working on improving and developing new ways to teach people; there is another way people are gaining more and more knowledge in today society. The internet. Not only is the use of computers and the internet now more common in the classroom it has also grown more common in everyday life (Martin Carnoy, 1999, pp.15-17). By using the internet society has access to different kinds of information instantaneously. This makes gaining knowledge for students as well as non-students easier and faster than ever before. This is great when used as a means for students struggling to comprehend course material or certain concepts, but with such a wide variety of information available, and it is important learners are able to distinguish between dependable and untrustworthy resources. However for countries such as China or Iran who have limited to no access online; this can make a learning different concepts or gaining certain knowledge difficult becau se their governments often block or edit information. Therefore citizens of those countries or countries similar may actually have a skewed since of the truth because not all information is given to them. In a way this widens the gap between the education progress of a developed country and an underdeveloped country/country who may be banned from viewing certain material. With technological advances making their way all around the globe (globalization), eventually all countries will have access to any information they desire. Globalization is a powerful and important process that influences economies, education systems, politics, and even social customs. With a growing sense of oneness; or we are all global citizens in one world outlooks, globalizations positive and increasing impact on education and societies growing desire to become more educated is obvious. REFERENCES Globalization. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2017, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/globalization Lloyd, C., Payne, J. (2003). The political economy of skill and the limits of educational policy. Journal of Educational Policy, 18(1), 85-107. Pang. N. S. (2013). Globalization in the one world: Impacts on education in different nations. BCES Conference Proceedings, 11, 17-27. Suarez-Orozco, M. (2007).Learning in the global era: International perspectives on globalization and education. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, Ltd.

Introduction on Charles Dickens :: English Literature

Introduction on Charles Dickens He was born in 1812, his family were very poor, his father who was a clerk in the Royal Navy based in Portsmouth, when he was five years old his family moved to Chatham which at the time was a big Dockyard. At the age of nine he moved again but this time it was to London, because his family were so poor they could not afford to send Charles to school so he taught himself. Charles started work at the age of 11 in a blacking factory helped and taught what to do by a friend named Bob Fagin (who is in Oliver Twist). As a result of being so poor his father went to debtors prison, because his mother could not afford things she joined him going to prison the bailiffs took away all there possessions. His Grandmother died and left money to the family and as a result of this they got out of prison. Charles then went to school as a day boy in Hampstead where he had a 'cane happy' headmaster called Mr Jones. Charles then got an office job for newspapers and magazines doing news reports from parliament and Law courts, soon after he started writing short stories for magazines, he then died in 1870 at an age of 58. Oliver Twist was written in 1839 by Charles Dickens and was published in monthly issues in magazines and newspapers. The first time Oliver Twist was made into a book was in 1850 this was when Charles Dickens was thirty - eight years old. This book was based on his history and about the poor who lived in London. Some characters in the book are from his history such as Fagin who was his old childhood friend or Mr. Bumble who was Dickens Headmaster. The Book Oliver Twist is an orphan who was born in a workhouse. After an unhappy apprenticeship, Oliver runs away to London where he falls in with thieves, headed by Fagin a villainous 'Jew '. Mr Brownlow rescues him but the gang kidnaps him back. Oliver discovers the identity of his parents. The gang that Fagin runs are exposed. This would be similar to the workhouse Oliver would have spent 10 years of his life in. Chapter VIII We learn a lot about the way people lived then from the way Dickens described it. In chapter eight Oliver runs away from the workhouse and from Mr Sowerberry and heads off to London. As Oliver walked away from the workhouse he was hiding behind the hedges because the fear of him being 'pursued had overtaken'. He saw a

Bureaucracyr & Organizational

According to Max Weber, ‘Bureaucracy’ means a centrally directed, systematically organized and hierarchically structured staff devoted to the regular, routine and efficient carrying out of large-scale administrative tasks according to policies dictated by, rulers or directors standing outside and above the bureaucracy. Such a staff, as Weber rightly saw, tends to become rule-bound, functionally specialized, elevating impersonality and esprit de corps.But ‘bureaucracy’ has also meant the opposite of organizational efficiency and effective centralized control: red tape, slowness of procedure, reluctance to take a decision, the unnecessary multiplication of people, rules and forms — a connotation achieved by singling out for attention unfavourable secondary features or tendencies of bureaucratic structures. The term ‘bureaucracy’ has been included in, but also contrasted with, the more general concept of administration.Sometimes this is done by seeing bureaucracy as a formal and impersonal mode of administration, sometimes by seeing bureaucracy as that form of administration where administrators (the bureaucrats, the officials) have become the real rulers, arrogating to themselves privilege, power and control. An Organizational structure defines how job tasks are formally divided, grouped and coordinated. The main elements to consider while designing an organizational structure are Work Specialization, departmentalization, chain of command, span of control, centralization and decentralization and formalization.The most common Organizational designs found in use are ? Simple or Flat structure ? The Bureaucracy ? The Matrix structure ? The Team Structure ? The Virtual Organization ? The Boundaryless Organization The paper discusses the major advantages of all the above designs and all are compared with bureaucracy and the real contribution of bureaucracy is arrived at the end of discussion. Then the role of bureaucracy i n improving the efficiency of the organization is elucidated. The impact of a low level bureaucracy is then discussed and its role in efficiency is discussed.Then the impacts of high level bureaucracy are discussed. Finally, the paper concludes by stating that a moderate level of bureaucracy is good for increasing the efficiency of the organization. Advantages and Disadvantages of various Organizational designs The simple structure is characterized by a low degree of departmentalization, wide spans of control, authority centralized in a single person, and little formalization. The strength of the simple structure lies in its simplicity. It’s fast, flexible and inexpensive to maintain and accountability is clear.One major weakness is that it is difficult to maintain in anything other than a small organization. The decision making becomes slow as the organization grows in size because of its low formalization and high centralization. A bureaucracy is characterized by highly rou tine operating tasks achieved through specialization, much formalized rules and regulations, tasks that are grouped into functional departments, centralized authority, narrow spans of control, and decision making that follows the chain of command.The primary strength of bureaucracy lies in its ability to perform standardized activities in a highly efficient manner. One of the major weakness of this structure is that it causes departmental conflicts and highly inflexible always following the rules. There is no room for modification The Matrix structure is characterized by dual lines of authority and combines product and functional departmentalization. IBM adopts a modified version of the matrix structure in its overall operations.The strength of this structure lies in its ability to facilitate coordination and efficient allocation of specialists. The major disadvantage lies in the confusion it creates, its prosperity to foster power struggles, and the stress it places on individuals. The Team structure uses teams as the central device to coordinate work activities. Companies like DaimlerChrysler, Saturn, Motorola and Xerox have made extensive use of self managed teams to improve productivity at the operational level. In smaller companies, the team structure can define the entire organization.For instance, Imedia, a 30 person marketing firm in New Jersey is completely organized around teams. This structure is highly unsuitable for large companies. A Virtual organization is a small core organization that out sources major business functions. Ancle Hsu and David Ji run a virtual organization. Their firm, California based Apex Digital, is one of the world’s largest producers of DVD Players, yet the company neither owns a factory nor employs an engineer. They contract everything out to firms in China. This is suitable for small and large organizations.The major advantage is the flexibility and the disadvantage is lack of managerial control in key aspects of b usiness. The Boundaryless organization is an organization that seeks to eliminate the chain of command, have limitless spans of control, and replace departments with empowered teams. The discussion of various organizational designs indicates the flexibility and adaptable nature of other designs compared to Bureaucracy. This also reveals that in most situations, Bureaucracy is good when the weaknesses of the designs are studied. Role of Bureaucracy in improving the efficiency of the organizationThe Primary strength of bureaucracy lies in putting like specialties together in functional departments results in economics of scale, minimum duplication of personnel and equipments, and employees who have the opportunity to talk â€Å" the same language† among their peers. Further more, bureaucracy can get by nicely with less talented – and hence, less costly middle and lower level managers. The pervasiveness of rules and regulations substitutes for managerial discretion. Stand ardized operation, coupled with high formalization, allow decision making to be centralized.There is little need therefore, for innovative and experienced decision makers below the level of senior executives. This drastically cuts costs for the enterprise and improves the efficiency level drastically by obtaining high levels of economies of scale and spending less on employees. The bureaucracy is efficient only as long as employees confront problems that they have previously encountered and for which programmed decision rules have already been established. Impact of a low level of bureaucracy A low level of bureaucracy results in huge lack of control.Employees are at their will and decision making becomes a very cumbersome task. There will be a lot of outstanding orders and the work schedule will be way below the expected level. This considerably decreases the efficiency of the organization. In very rare cases, employees take up responsibility and achieve targets. Impact of a high l evel of bureaucracy A high level of bureaucracy is highly detrimental to the growth of the organization. This makes the employees to develop job insecurity and they feel to be continuously monitored.High level of bureaucracy is characterized by issuing orders and a logic to follow. There will be a lot of unwanted works and precious time will be spent in duplication of the same work in various levels of the organization. This curbs innovation and creativity leading to routine jobs and eventually leads to employee boredom. There will be no sort of an employee involvement in this situation. Employees work for long hours but the output will be way below the standards and there will be no motivation mechanisms to support the employees. This finally results in employee turnover.So, a high level of bureaucracy is to be avoided as it may arouse the employees against the management of the company. Weakness of Bureaucracy One of the major weaknesses of a bureaucracy is illustrated in the foll owing dialogue between four executives in one company: â€Å"Ya Know, nothing happens in this place until we produce something, â€Å"said the production executive. Wrong commented the research and development manager, â€Å"Nothing happens until we design something†. â€Å"What are you talking about? † asked the marketing executive. â€Å"Nothing happens here until we sell something†.Finally, the exasperated accounting manager responded, â€Å"It does not matter what you produce, design, or sell. Now one knows what happens we tally up the results! † This conversation points at the fact that specialization creates subunit conflicts. Functional unit goals can override the overall goals of organization. The other major weakness of a bureaucracy is something dealing with the people who work in these organizations: obsessive concern with following the rules. When cases arise that do not precisely fit the rules, there is no room for modification. ConclusionB ureaucracy is efficient to the organization only when a moderate level exists. Both a low level of bureaucracy and a high level of bureaucracy will result in the inefficient operation of the enterprise without fully utilizing the resources of the company. A moderate level of bureaucracy will ensure that control mechanisms are in place and that employees are achieving their targets. This also allows the restriction of imposing rules and procedures to the employees and causing boredom. When a saturation point is reached, bureaucracy contributes greatly to improving the efficiency of the organization to a great level.Reference: †¢ Stephen P. Robbins, Organizational Behavior, Tenth Edition, Prentice Hall of India. Pg. 425-446, Pg. 523-535. †¢ Garry Dessler, Human Resource Management, Eastern Economy edition. Pg 465-479. †¢ Randy L. Desimone, Jon M. Werner and David M. Harris, Human Resource Development, Pearson education. Pg. 225 – 239 †¢ Cummings & Worley, Or ganization Culture and Change , 2005, page 490 †¢ Merril Ewert D and Jennifer A King Rice. 2002 October. Managing Diversity: HRM Review. †¢ http://www. hrmguide. co. uk/history/classical_organization_theory. htm

Ethical Reasoning to Determine the Course of Action

Ethical Reasoning to Determine the Course of Action Developing software that controls the autopilot system on a prototype of a commercial airplane is highly recommendable for safety reasons. Testing the system suitably is equally imperative. Hurrying up the testing to meet the publicly announced testing deadline may lead to compromising the reliability and safety of the entire aircraft system.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ethical Reasoning to Determine the Course of Action specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Various theories recommend different methods of handling the moral dilemma.  The managers, travelers and professional bodies have the right to obtain trustworthy information about the security system installed in the aircraft. Bodies such as the Global Agenda Council on Space Security and Department of Defense Space Management have legal and moral responsibilities for ensuring space safety. An engineer also has the responsibility to model an autopilot that recei ves data from the Global Positioning System software installed in the aircraft. The GPS receiver should be able to calculate the aircraft’s position in space. Equipped with such positioning information devices, an autopilot helps keep the plane straight. Moreover, it helps efficiently execute the flight plans. Performing the right task is essential. It would be morally challenging to decide whether to implement the universal professional demands or those of the boss or not. There are two alternative actions for solving the dilemma. The first possible action is implementing the demands.The other option is objecting to implement them. Objecting to implement the unprofessional demands is the best course of action to take since it would guarantee the safety of those on-board. The decision to object to the demands obeys the rules of Kantianism theory. The theory states that what an individual desires to accomplish and what he/she should accomplish are often incompatible. This mean s that an individual may make decisions that result to immediate discomfort and unhappiness. However, the decision should ultimately lead to satisfaction. The entire rationale of morality is taking the right course of action just for the sake of it. The manager’s appreciation of the intention to test the aircraft appropriately should have no impact on the decision to turn down his/her request. The short-lived feeling of displeasure should not also have an impact on the decision made. Therefore, I would take the decision to comply with the correct rules and procedures and save lives of people and the aircraft.  Certain groups of people may disagree with the decision. This may be due to their inability to determine independently what is either wrong or right.Advertising Looking for essay on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Kant states that an individual determines his/her behavior by making use of the l aw of autonomy. Therefore, a decision is either wrong or right depending on the intention of the action. In addition, morality is never relative. An individual is either morally upright or not. This happens because morality is not determined by the outcome of the decision but by the intention of the action. Since it is impractical to predict accurately the consequences of human actions, I would adopt the Kantianism theory in order to save the situation. This means that the task is accomplished professionally. The action would ensure that the stakeholders incur no losses. However, if they incur losses due to the decision, I would remain contented that the intention was non-malicious and the consequences were beyond my control. Alternatively, one would prefer to act based on the theory of Consequentialism. The accuracy of this theory is determined by two ethical principles. The first principle states that the consequences of an act establish whether an action is morally right or not. The other principle affirms that the degree of superiority of the results determines the scale for measuring the morality of the action. The problem with this theory is that it is difficult to accurately predict the outcome of an action. A person who adopts this theory can choose to comply with the demands of the boss and keep details of their action secret. They may comply with unprofessional requests and hope that no evil would befall the stakeholders. Another group of people may prefer to adopt the theory of Virtue Ethics. The hypothesis deemphasizes rules, consequences, and particular acts. It greatly focuses on the personality of the actor. The important factor, according to this hypothesis, is whether the person who is acting is articulating excellent personality or not. Therefore, an act is considered to be right when performing this act, the individual exercises, demonstrates or builds up an ethically virtuous character. Any one undergoing through similar challenges can rely on the theory, evaluate the moral character of the boss, and comply with the demands, particularly if he/she is convinced that the boss is morally upright. Conclusively, the right decision should not be based on general assumptions. The character of the boss has no direct influence on the consequences of the decision. Similarly, the theory of Consequentialism may be irrelevant since outcomes of decisions are influenced by a myriad of factors. Some of the factors are beyond human control. I, therefore, prefer the Kantianism theory because it requires an individual to take control over his/her decisions.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ethical Reasoning to Determine the Course of Action specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

American Bungalow Essays - Bungalow, The Aladdin Company

American Bungalow Essays - Bungalow, The Aladdin Company American Bungalow The article Manufacturing and Marketing the American Bungalow by Scott Erbes discusses the effects that The Aladdin Company had on the American Bungalow. The Aladdin Company was a main manufacturer of these mail order homes. By intense marketing and propaganda the Aladdin Company, along with several others, was able to promote and sell these precut homes by mail. The Aladdin Company was founded in 1906 in Bay City, Michigan by William and Otto Sovereign. William and Otto started their firm having had no architectural experience at all. They were inspired by a friend who was in the business of selling precut boats by mail so they decided to venture into selling precut homes by mail. In order for William and Otto to get their company started and up to the level that they wanted, it became necessary to use mass-marketing as a ploy to draw people into the idea of homes through the mail. Their way of enticing people to buy these homes was through their catalogue. They portrayed the homes by mail, bungalows, as an escape from lifes worries: A place where one could commune with nature. By taking the promotional aspect to such a high level the bungalow became very prominent in the America in the early 1900s. By 1917, William and Otto were selling more than three thousand homes per year. They had homes spread all over the United States and included in that array of owners were several large- scale companies such as the Dupont Company. Their success continued for the next two decades and William and Otto were able to broaden their product line from not only the houses but also the furnishings in the houses. However, the companies momentum was nearly depleted during the Great Depression. Aladdins output dropped drastically during the Great Depression but in the decades following the Depression, it was able to regain some of their profit but they never reached the level that they were at before the Depression. Finally, in the 1980s the company had to shut down because of the lack of profit. The author, Scott Erbes, focuses heavily on the different types of the bungalow and on their origin. The word bungalow comes from the work Bangla, which is a hut-like dwelling from the region of Bengal, India. This origin design was greatly altered by the time it reached the United States. The interpretation of the Bangla into what Aladdins designers felt it needed to look like was drastically different. The design went from something portable to something that was permanent and used for seasonal outings. People used their bungalows as their vacation homes and eventually the bungalows became the year round residents for some of the lower middle class people. It becomes very obvious that a creation as largely accepted as this one, would attract a large amount of attention from the media. The bungalow received both good and bad reviews depending on the person. Some were crazy about the idea while others were very critical of the use of these dwellings for permanent use. They claimed that the structure had no architectural creativity at all and that they were boring. It is very intriguing that something as petty as a mail order home could be as popular as it was for the time period that it was. For William and Otto to think of this idea and to actually be able to make a profit off of it is very praiseworthy. They took a risk when they ventured into the business but it paid of when they were able to promote an ideas that spawned so many other companies to do the same thing. Also, to be able to overcome the overwhelming disapproval of some critics is admirable. Aladdins idea for the bungalow was very versatile and therefore it appealed to the middle class. The middle class would be able to buy a home like this and be able to change it around as they saw fit for what they needed. The way that the author compares the bungalow to the log cabin becomes very intriguing. He says that the bungalow is the modern day log cabin. The way that the author relates these two allows you

Are Prison Sentences The Best Way To Deal With Criminals Essay

Are Prison Sentences The Best Way To Deal With Criminals - Essay Example Adding even more prisoners is not in the best interest of this nation’s people because they must pay more in taxes to build more prisons, support a increasing inmate population and are in the end less safe as a consequence. The economy is also hurt as this tax money is basically thrown away unnecessarily instead of being spent within the community. For more than two decades, lawmakers have frequently updated sentencing guidelines by enacting mandatory minimum sentences. Of these modifications, the predetermined prison terms ordered by politicians have been the most prevalent by far. The movement toward more severe sentencing reforms has had adequate time to be thoroughly studied and specific conclusions obtained. The initial determination has been that the broadly held viewpoints on which these ‘tougher’ sentencing laws were legislated via the public through their representatives were for the most part wrong. The sentences for violent crimes were not as relaxed as commonly assumed prior to this period of substantial reforms nor were they softer than sentences imposed in other developed nations for similar offenses. Distorted facts used by political groups combined with the media that focused sensationalism such as showing uncharacteristic examples of light sentences given to violent offenders. During the past quarter century, the U.S. has seen an unmatched proliferation of federal and state and prison inmates.

Biodiversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Biodiversity - Essay Example The biological wealth has been threatened by the need for development leading to the interference with the ecosystem. The process of conservation takes the form of in situ and ex situ. The ex situ approach is the one in which the threatened species are conserved by being removed from their natural habitat. In situ approach entails saving the entire ecosystem to ensure all levels of biodiversity are protected (Andre?e 29). Special settings are established where special care is given. Biodiversity goes beyond political boundaries (Pearson 17). Therefore, nations are expected to cooperate in the biodiversity conservation. The operationalization of biodiversity by definition refers to the need to have the diversity of biodiversities (Pearson 17). Biodiversity is a humongous concept whose success is dependent on a pluralistic approach. Governments are turning to the use of technology to enhance agricultural productivity. Food production demands a conclusive commitment to biodiversity thro ugh addressing climatic change, genetically modified interventions and their impact and the role of bio-fuel in dealing with sustainability. Effective governance and research is expected to ensure soil and competencies of a farmer are properly utilized in the process. Biodiversity is vital for human survival and offers both direct and indirect benefits (Alkemade, Shrestha, and Trisurat 13). ... The diversity of biodiversities can be illustrated through the multiple endangered species in the aquatic habitat, land and even air. This demands cooperation among multiple stakeholders in conserving biodiversity and ensuring that effectiveness (Alkemade, Shrestha, and Trisurat 13). Conserving biodiversity calls for international commitment in terms of taxation, controlling poaching and sale of illegal animal products (Pearson 17). This can only happen through protection of some areas, regular environmental assessments and stakeholder participation. Biodiversity is related to global food production. The concept of food production is related to the weather patterns, global warming and its effect on ecosystem and biodiversity. Some of the inherent difficulties of dealing with biodiversity include the role played by international stakeholders in enhancing developmental prosperity. Biodiversity is eliminated when food production is low. Some of the solutions involve dealing with climati c changes which are affecting food production (Pearson 17). In order to ensure is adequate food production, there is an urgent need to have increased stewardship on the current natural resources. In includes protecting wetlands and cropping intensity (Alkemade, Shrestha, and Trisurat 13). The potential for food production is expected to growing in the developing countries that invest in political stability and economic growth. This includes agricultural research that shall lead to a better understanding of biodiversity ad productivity. Intense agricultural research is being cited as a major cause for consideration of genetically engineered organisms (Pearson 17). This can be referred to the artificial transfer of genetic material