The Management and Governance Structure of International Business

Introduction This research paper is a close examination of the international business. It has tacked the management and governance structure found in international business and how each relates to the success of the international business.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Management and Governance Structure of International Business specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Those structures usually depend upon many factors when it comes to consideration of diversification of goods and services. They also (structure) dictate the kind of branding a business puts into the businesses across the globe. Still those structures have their strength and weakness which has been tackled as advantages and disadvantages. International Business International business is the business which describes all the transactions which are commercial in nature between the countries or regions. These transactions may include sales investment log istics and purchases. Many governments do engage themselves in international business as a collective decision or political reason which has been reached by the government officials. The government may sell the product or service in exchange of money for the purpose of completing the commercial activities. Private company can also get involved in international business but unlike the government their main role is to get profit, private company may invest in goods and services across the boarder in form of economic resources e.g. capital. Import is simply moving of good and services among nations. Exporting is regarded as moving of goods and services to other nations. Matrix structure This structure considers the complexity of business most likely the geography the functionability of the business and the technology. Matrix structure deals with internal complexity in the business as well as external complexities this is done by reflecting those external complexities by analyzing the s tructure of the business internally. This structure realizes and considers the importance of geography functional grouping of the customer product and technology. When using matrix structure it’s more emphasize on the clarity which yield more flexibility. Matrix cannot solve the complexities in business but working together of the people in the organization dictates the success or failure of the business. Global market structure According to Zinzaro (2010), this structure reflects the global philosophy which states that world is just one homogeneous market. The philosophy sees the world as a monolithic market with tastes and preferences which are similar. In Global structure it assumes that the national tastes and preferences are not different hence standardized products are put into consideration hence the structural process are integrated so that the coordination of activities are the same worldwide i.e. production marketing and planning.Advertising Looking for essay o n business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Decision making comes from the corporate headquarters and directed to the parts of the business. Hence decisions are centralized and for this matter the importance ones. For example they are decisions which are made at corporate level and not subsidiary level. These are the issues of research, product range and branding. In some instances they are some services which should be closer to the customer but their policies still are set at corporate level. Global structure does not consider geographical aspects but focuses on products and markets and how to globally implement success of products and markets. Domestic structure This is usually fragmented into some trends. Some are talked in this research. Horizontal corporation This is directed to eliminating vertical hierarchy and it bases its structure on process instead of functions the management is usually delegated to the tea ms which has been formed in the regions (Zinzaro, 2010). It usually assists in the close contacts to the customers. Those teams do perform their tasks independently and makes sure that they include all the skills to accomplish their tasks. Dynamic Networks This is usually based on outsourcing where the hierarchy which is vertical is replaced by controls of the market as the core activities are kept by the organization.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Management and Governance Structure of International Business specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Dynamic network has got low administrative overhead and very flexible in resources allocation. It has got some of weakness which sometimes makes it impossible to define the organization and its employees do not have loyalty. Factors to consider when choosing appropriate structure for international business Governance When it comes to governance the structure to be considered should be taken into account because some business are governed by boards while some structures may require some legal restriction which requires the business to have another entity board for the diversification factors or to manage the international business. Corporate veil International business usually because of their size do separate the corporation from its owners hence owns liability is limited to the investment made by the new entity its like starting another company standing on its own so when deciding to look for the structure consideration must be into consideration. Administrative costs There is additional cost which comes hand in hand when a business has been diversified for example business taxes record keeping. Sometimes they are ventured if the international business is operating globally and from a centralized position. This factor should be considered on which structure to adapt. Capitalization Start up funds is taken into account when an interna tional business wants to be diversified. Hence some structure like matrix structure will need a lot of funds because of its decentralized nature it also requires funds to cater for numbers of manages involved (Zinzaro, 2010). So it’s the decision of the business owners to lay out plan considering the cost involved in various structures and hence adopting the promising and profitable structure. Advantages of global market structure This can enable the international business to introduce the product by using a very powerful tool called advertisement due to present of global advertising tool like internet its possible for Global market structure to do the There is presence of economy of scale due to the fact that individual needs and preferences are universal those markets produces good and services in large quantity hence the cost is reduced considerable consequently enjoying economies of scale. There is informing in practices like marketing because this structure ensures that all individual are similar hence the information required should be directed as if it was going to a single person. When it comes to branding it is consistent in the source that all the practices of branding has been centralized and all the decision comes from a single source but directed worldwide. Disadvantages of global market structure Global market structure sometimes its ‘philosophy’ doesn’t work at all instances because customers need and usage of produces is not always universal sometimes its different according to many factoring such as geographical factors cultural and many more. Sometimes customer from one region may not respond to the products as the same way others may respond. In international business the issue of competition usually occurs we find that some areas are more competitive than others in the brand and product development hence in Global structure this issue may not be put into consideration due to its philosophy. In some regions away from home market there are some administrative procedures which might be different from the one from home markets this may affect the international businesses because of trying to adapt to those procedures which might Jeopardize the success of the business. In some regions there is complexity difference when it comes to legal processes some are harsh than others for example in some regions operations of those business may be limited to a number of homes while others may be operating in 24hours system this may also be as a result of security issues environment and crime rates (Joshi, 2009). Advantages of matrix structure Matrix structure by its ability to consider the geographical set up is able to improve the access of resources across the geographical set up. This usually enhances the Organizations using matrix structure usually have better coordination when it comes to the sharing of technologies for example information technologies companies who share technologies do have bett er coordination. In matrix structure the governance is usually decentralized and this allows effective and fast decision making. This usually saves time because the consultation of each sector is put into consideration without the bureaucratic process which undermines other decisions. This structure usually allows access to skills and perspectives which are diversified because of its nature we have seen that when it comes to management and governance it usually considers many sectors such as geography technology and functions. Because of its diversification it usually improves projects which are regional and also global projects. This usually enhances the success of the business due to diversification of its resources. People who are usually concerned in those businesses which have adopted matrix structure they usually develop in skills which are broaden due to a great exposure which matrix structure gives. Matrix structure engages in decentralization of its governance this usually is very effective when it comes to communication and coordination of the business activities. Matrix structure enhances a holistic outlook upon its customers whether regional or global it makes sure that their needs are met. It also enables adaptation and responses which are instant to the complexity of the world because of the skills its participant has. Disadvantages of matrix structures Due to it decentralized nature sometimes it might be difficult to follow up the teams and their operations because decision making is independent of the sector. This form of independence may jeopardize the whole system most likely if there is a poor transition from one sector to the next. Due to creation of many project teams this also gives the need to increase numbers of managers to lead those projects which consequently leads to increase in costs. When it comes to allocation of resources and there is difference in policies between the line manage and project manages this may bring delay and c onflict to a particular international business when allocation of resources id urgent. It is also hand to reach into final decision because of number of managers involved (Joshi, 2009). If we compare with line management here we usually have double number of managers which makes decision making to delay. Sometimes it’s regarded as an outdated method to organize a company because the top most sectors may not be aware of the activities happening in regional sectors and this may compromise the success because it lacks that chain of command which in some cases scrutinizes every sector of the international business. When there is conflicting loyalties this brings about the confusion amongst the employees they do not know which policies to follow or the guiding principals in the business this can lead to failure of the business. Conclusion It’s evident that we cannot survive without international business, many companies which are universal do usually have better terms than those which are domestic in nature as indicated above there is issue of economies of scale this assist the business itself and the consumer because goods manufactured at bulk will cost less compared to goods which are produced in small quantities, this is also reflected to prices of the goods and services to the consumers since the business produces more with less they will also reduce the cost (Joshi, 2009). When it comes to management we have seen that in matrix structure there is decentralization this enable the policies which are set to favor the local because the managers on the ground have got the actual touch of reality as far as need and preferences of that region is concerned.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This also brings about good relations between regions because of universally of the management and governance of the business. On the other hand international markets also do have some negative effects towards a particular region because some of the needs and preferences might be different from what is known from the home company. Due to dynamic nature of society sometimes the international business takes time to catch up and make changes because of bureaucratic process involved. Reference List Joshi, M., 2009. International Business. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Web. Zinzaro, F., 2010. Market Global Structure. Web. This essay on The Management and Governance Structure of International Business was written and submitted by user Ronnie A. 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.

Sartres Bad Faith

Sartres Bad Faith Everyone Lies Many people have acknowledged that they have to tackle with liars. More so, one of the latest trends of the modern society is the notion popularized by the famous Dr. House: everybody lies. It goes without saying that the essence of lying has been considered by many renowned thinkers.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Sartre’s Bad Faith specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Sartre reveals a very interesting facet of lying introducing his idea of bad faith. He also provides precise examples to explain his theory. Obviously, Sartre’s ideas can be applicable in real life as it is possible to find numerous examples even in one’s everyday life. Sartre’s Philosophical Notion According to Sartre lying presupposes complete possession of the truth (48). In other words, the liar knows exactly certain facts and tries to hide them changing them or withholding them. Therefore, deceit is a p rocess which consists of two stages: knowing the truth and withholding it. Sartre calls this pattern the â€Å"ideal† lie (48). However, he also claims that people often deny the truth instead of simply substituting facts. For instance, people may (or may not) know the complete truth, and they do not try to substitute facts to deceive anyone. People’s consciousness often tries to deceive itself. In simple terms, even though people know the truth they tend to forget about it or pay no attention to it focusing on certain desirable points (Sartre 49). Sartre calls this state of negation of the truth the state of bad faith. Thus, when people are in bad faith, they focus on desirable information (though it can be untrue) denying (or simply ignoring) the truth (Sartre 49). This does not mean that people are deliberately cynical and hypocritical. Sometimes they do not notice that they are in bad faith. Sartre mentions that people often feel guilty when they acknowledge that t hey were in bad faith in this or that situation. Interestingly, Sartre also points out that sometimes people try not to acknowledge the truth at all. The philosopher states that psychoanalysis can unveil the truth, but patients often refuse to acknowledge it and even remove themselves from the psychoanalytical treatment (Sartre 52). Admittedly, people try to remain in their comfort zones. Therefore, there can be no surprise that many people lie to themselves, i.e. they are in bad faith.Advertising Looking for case study on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The concept of bad faith can be also explained with the help of such notions as facticity and transcendence. More so, it is possible to claim that these three notions are closely connected. Thus, facticity is the number of external factors that influences people, i.e. it is people’s background. Admittedly, people’s backgrounds do affect thei r perception of the world. Thus, if it had been a norm for hotel receptionists to be impolite and indifferent, the majority of these people would not have pretended to be that careful to details and that attentive to clients. However, there are norms that limit people’s freedom to certain extent. These limits are the necessary background for the development of bad faith in people. As for the concept of transcendence, Sartre also utilizes it. The concept of transcendence helps Sartre to explain people’s attitude towards each other. Sartre introduces the notion of for Sartre claims that it is possible to find many examples of people in bad faith in everyday life. For instance, he provides an example of a woman who is having her first date with a man (Sartre 55). The woman is in bad faith as she tries to focus on desirable points ignoring the truth. Thus, she tries not to think of the major aim of the date, i.e. the necessity to make her decision whether there will be oth er dates with the man. She focuses on having a good time enjoying complements and interesting conversation. The woman tries not to think (she is quite successful in that) that the man is attracted by her body. Instead, the woman tries to think the man is attracted by her personality. More so, Sartre observes the behavior of the woman and assumes that she is eager to postpone the time of decision making ignoring the man’s overt signals. For instance, when the man puts his hand on the woman’s hand, she distracts her attention (and the man’s attention) from her body speaking of some abstract things. Thus, the woman escapes the necessity to vividly accept or refuse the man’s offer, so to speak.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Sartre’s Bad Faith specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Woman Is in Bad Faith Admittedly, in the situation described the woman is in bad faith as she denies the truth focusing on something desirable. Of course, the woman understands possible outcomes of the date, i.e. either this will be the first and the last date or there will be more dates. The woman also understands that the man pays much attention to her physical appearance. Finally, she understands that there can be physical contact with the man in future. However, the woman subconsciously ignores these facts she, undoubtedly, know. She focuses on desirable points. She deceives herself trying to think of the nice conversation they are having, instead of directly responding to the man’s signal (touching the man’s hand or taking her hand away). When the man pays her compliments she tries to think they are addressed to her personal qualities rather than her appearance. Apparently, the woman is not that cynical, but she does not want to leave her comfort zone. The woman’s actions can be regarded as subconscious as she does not act in that way deliberately. Her con sciousness chooses to deceive itself to remain in the comfort zone. This state is what Sartre calls bad faith. It is important to note that the example is a bright illustration of Sartre’s concept of bad faith which is explained as the extreme freedom of choice. Thus, Sartre claims that people are always free to choose. Of course, there are certain limits. However, people (or rather people’s consciousness and subconsciousness) still have options. It is up to an individual to decide. Bad faith is one of the manifestations of this freedom. Thus, people know the truth but make their choice and deceit others and themselves. This is the choice people are ‘doomed’ to make. This is the kind of freedom people enjoy. People Live in Bad Faith To sum up, Sartre’s notion of bad faith is manifested in real life settings. People tend to deceive themselves not to leave their comfort zones. Sartre’s theory fits the modern life perfectly. It is also possible to say that it advocates people’s hypocrisy to certain extent. Sartre claims that people often live in bad faith not because they are so cynical, but because this is the very nature of the human being. Sartre, Jean-Paul. Being and Nothingness: A Phenomenological Essay on Ontology. London: Taylor Francis, 1956. Print.Advertising Looking for case study on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

Best Medical Schools in the US 2018 - Extended Review †Pro-Academic-Writers.com

Best Medical Schools in the US 2018 - Extended Review Medical education is among the most popular and prestigious areas in the United States. Medical professions are in the top rankings of the most paid specialties; training takes a long time and requires serious preliminary efforts and large investments. The standards of American medicine are recognized around the world. No surprise that many people in the USA dream to become a medical worker and become a part of the US medical sector. Do you want to engage in medicine; aim at graduating from the best medical schools? Click to read a review of the best medical schools in the US 2018, Chapel Hill and Ann Arbor, and all the nuances of studying in the United States. Harvard Medical School Average cost of the year of study: $ 55'850 It is among the best medical schools in the US 2018; over 19% of all medical workers in the country study here. It is known to produce qualified specialists that are in demand on the market. Being one of the most famed medical schools in the state, Harvard has quite tough entry requirements. The MCAT result should be no lower than 37 out of 45 points; GPA score should be about 3.93 out of 4 points, no less. Stanford University School of Medicine Average cost of the year of study: $ 52'491 Stanford Medical School is the 2nd largest school in the nation. It has over 460 students, which is less than 12% of all medical workers in the country. The university is known for a solid knowledge base provided to those studying and proficient faculty. Entry requirements in Stanford University School of Medicine are high. One should have MCAT score no lower than 37 and a GPA grade of about 3.85. No surprise that far from everyone enrolls at a school. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Average cost of the year of study: $ 48'750 Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is another top place for people acquiring education in the north of the country. Over 480 students graduate from the Hopkins School of Medicine yearly, which is over 13% in the whole country. This number is impressive. The school is one of top-rated due to the education level and conditions provided to the students. Those studying at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine are practicing in one of the country's best hospitals. Entry requirements here are tough. MCAT is 36 and more; GPA is no less than 3.91 points. Medical School of the University of California, San Francisco Average cost of the year of study: $ 44'996 Medical School of the University of California (San Francisco) is another prestigious place for students. It poses less strict requirements to entrants and provides a solid knowledge base to students.   Entry requirements set by the school are the following. The MCAT is not lower than 36, GPA is 3.85 and higher. Over 650 students enter the medical school of the University of California, which is about 15% of all medical staff in the United States. This high amount can be explained by a well-weighted balance between the education quality and fee. Perelman Medical School Average cost of the year of study: $ 52'210 The Perelman school is a separate part of the University of Pennsylvania. Approximately 653 students yearly graduate from Perelman Medical School. It is about 19% of all medical workers in the US. The entrant must provide MCAT results no lower than 38 and GPA of around 3.88 to enter the school. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Average cost of the year of study: $ 25'000 IUPUI was formed due to the merge of two leading Indiana universities and today trains over 30,000 students. A distinctive feature of the university is an extensive number of educational programs, which are offered on the basis of seventeen schools, and extensive scholarship opportunities. Among the taught disciplines are the School of Health, the School of Dentistry, and Rehabilitation, the School of Medicine, and the Nursing School. IUPUI is in the rating of the best universities with the best teaching at the bachelor's level. The university's programs in nursing are in the Top 25 US courses in this area. On the basis of the university schools, you can get specialization in almost any medical discipline, whether Anesthesia, Biochemistry, Molecular Genetics, Psychiatry, Urology, Gynecology, Surgery and much more. Students get full access to practical studies as well as research activities. In total, IUPUI attracts more than $ 336 million of investment for research, grants, and awards. Saint Louis University, Washington Average cost of the year of study: $ 20'000 St. Louis University (Washington) is a medium-sized school that trains 13,000 people. It has two campuses, in the US Missouri and Spanish Madrid. For almost 200 years, this university offers students a large selection of training courses, comprehensive support, and accommodation in an equipped campus. The University includes the Educational Dental Center, the Center for Ethics and Health, the College of Medical Sciences, the School of Medicine, and the Nursing School. Here, you can study Endocrinology, Dermatology, Pediatrics, Anesthesiology, Surgery, Plastic Surgery,   Neurology, and much more. In the course of training, it is necessary to undergo clinical practice and engage in research. University of Utah Average cost of the year of study is $ 22'500 The University of Utah is a major university in Salt Lake City that trains around 30,000 people. The school belongs to the most famous universities of the world and is famous for its quality teaching, various scholarship programs, organization of active leisure for students, and placement of students in a modern campus. The university's medical school educated most practicing doctors of Utah, and its graduates work throughout America and around the world. The school offers a variety of programs in different fields of medicine and health. It conducts research in genetics, cancer treatment, biomedicine, and modern technical medical developments. Popular specializations include Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Oncology, Pediatrics, Biochemistry, Dermatology, etc. The school boasts a College of Health and a Nursing College, on the basis of which you can get professional qualifications. How Long Is Medical School Education? Wondering how long is medical school in the USA? Acquiring medical education in the country takes about eleven-sixteen years. One has to study in an undergraduate school for four years; the next four years are in a direct school, and about eight years are to acquire the secondary specialization in a particular field. It is important to obtain all the necessary licenses and undergo constant professional development to comply with all legal regulations and news in the country. The process of obtaining a doctor's qualification in the US is as follows: Baccalaureate with a bias in biology and chemistry – 4 years. The preparatory program (pre-med) is an optional step. Passing the MCAT exam. Medical school (English Medical school) – 4 years (theoretical training - 2 years and clinical practice - 2 years). Residency – from 3 to 8 years (specialization matters). The shortest programs are for family medicine; the longest ones are for neurosurgery. Residency for general surgery takes 5 years. Specialized practice – takes 1-2 years and often includes elements of research work. The student has time to practice together with training in residency. It is an indispensable condition for a number of medical specialties. Professional certification, which includes exams for the chosen specialization. Best Medical Schools – Entering Requirements In the higher medical school, the US student spends four years. First 24 months pass in the school classrooms and are exclusively theatrical. Apart from the theoretical part, students are supposed to be involved in practical classes on Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Medical Care, etc. Clinical practice is scheduled to begin in the third year of training. The fourth year takes place in the hospital in one of the departments of Surgery, Therapy, Pediatrics, etc. Duration of residency differs depending on the specialty. By the end of the training, the graduate receives general education in the specialties Surgery, Therapy, Gynecology, etc. First Aid – 3-4 years Family practice – 3 years Pediatrics – 3 years Gynecology – 4 years Psychiatry – 4 years General surgery – 5 years Specialized surgery, plastic surgery – 5-6 years (depending on specialization) Urology – 5 years At the end of the residency, each student has the opportunity to take an exam in the specialty data (Board certification). The successful passing of such an examination provides one with certification by the American Association of Physicians in the chosen specialty. It is not necessary to take this exam; almost everyone is handed over to it. The availability of the certificate increases the prestige and helps in the further employment. Least Competitive Medical Schools On admission, those residing in the state are in preference; after graduation, they will be able to work on site. They even get a â€Å"place† in a hospital reserved for them. The high score got in high school and during the study in baccalaureate is important. The general requirements of best medical schools for applicants are as follows: Bachelor's degree with compulsory study of biology and chemistry. Some schools require the availability of hours for English, mathematics, and natural sciences. Good MCAT results – a mandatory test for admission to  medical schools in the United States. If necessary, the results of other standard tests are required. English language knowledge test results – TOEFL, IELTS, or any other. The entrant should carefully read the requirements of the school and other relevant information, which may differ from the standards. Some additional tests, examinations, and interviews may be required. In our report below, check the best medical schools and their entering requirements; find the least competitive medical schools here. College MCAT GPA TOEFL IELTS Harvard University 518 3.92 103 7.5 Johns Hopkins University 519 3.92 110 7.0 Stanford University 518 3.89 100 7.0 University of California, San Francisco 508 3.79 100 7.5 The Cornell University (Weill) 519 3.87 100 7.0 University of Virginia 519 3.9 100 7.0 The school admission committee evaluates such parameters as communication skills, computer literacy, and experience of volunteer work related to helping people or animals. References from school teachers are included in the standard set of documents for admission. Final Say! Medical school education in the USA is known for its high quality, and the standards of American medicine are well-known around the world. Those who have American diploma can successfully find employment not only in the US but in other countries. To enter American universities, it is not needed to pass the entrance exams. The selection of students is based on the results of tests, previous assessments, motivation letters, and other application documents. When submitting documents, it is necessary to take into account that education in the USA is exclusively paid. It is necessary to be very selective when choosing a school. Choose one of the best medical schools in the US 2018 right now!

Phil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Phil - Essay Example He advised the youth to be super historical and unhistorical. Additionally, he emphasized that the condition of being both upper historical and unhistorical usually allows the youth to develop a stable character in terms of religion and art (Nietzsche 60). As the youths avoid basing their lives on the past events, they will overcome a condition referred to as historical malady. This is an important process because it helps youths uphold their culture in the society. Advantages and shortcomings of history to life According to Nietzsche, every person is usually part of the task of existence. It is clear that for existence to occur, human beings need to have knowledge and truth about their past (Nietzsche 1). He still insists that without history, people will lack humanity because narrations constitute the record of self-production. History is important because retaining the culture in a society, as well as, ensuring that young generation acquires useful values such as respect and hones t is fundamental. According to Nietzsche, the historical sense stifles or limits the human creativity by ruining the people’s identity and their meaning in the society. During the process of finding truth and knowledge about the past, deadly facts are sometimes gathered. This is likely to ruin the lives of people (Nietzsche 1). As Nietzsche put it, some of the activities involved in the process of gathering knowledge are usually perverted. This is attributable to the supposition that facts obtained are not applicable in any activity that is likely to change the lives of people (Nietzsche 2). Nietzsche criticizes history because it does not promote life, but employs deadly practices. Effects of excess history Excess history refers to a process that allows an individual to gain knowledge about the past without any intention of applying it. The excess history results in a condition called modern pseudo-culture where historical knowledge is not put to any particular use. After we akening personality, this condition usually turns resourceful people into actors in the society. The excess history depletes the instincts of people limiting them from attaining a certain level of growth or maturity. Nietzsche suggests that in order to increase the capacity for growth in future, it is necessary to emphasize on the past, and connection between the present and the past. This move will tend to direct the society on the best use of the history knowledge that serves life. History should be instrumental in the growth of modernity (Nietzsche 12). Question 2 The Response of Modern Philosophy to the Genesis Account of Human life Using the outline of The Book of Genesis, Kant developed speculations about the beginning of the human history. According to Genesis 4:2, man is said to have been feeding on roots before taming animals or engaging in agricultural activities. Kant points out the slow transition of man from being a hunter to taming animals and engaging in agricultural activities. The beginning of the strife separated people according to their different ways of life. Consequently, people moved to different parts of the world. Some people engaged in farming activities that was characterized by the challenges of unpredictable weather conditions; while others still engaged in hunting because of the availability of extensive grazing land. Since the agricultural activities required the farmers to settle in specific locations, they needed to protect their cultivated land and themselves from

Describe Major Depressive Disorder, highlighting the neurochemical and Essay

Describe Major Depressive Disorder, highlighting the neurochemical and physical changes that are associated with this disease. Based on the known neurochemical - Essay Example The importance of MDD lies in the fact that it causes considerable impairment in social functioning, role functioning, employment and physical health of the afflicted person (Wells et al, 1989). Experts are of the opinion that depression is actually a heterogeneous syndrome comprised of numerous diseases of distinct causes and pathophysiologies (Nestler et al, 2002). MDD is also known as clinical depression or unipolar depression. According to the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R),  which studied the epidemiology of MDD across the United States, the prevalence of MDD for lifetime was estimated as 16.2% and that for 12-month was estimated as 6.6% (Kessler et al, 2003). There are very few studies which relate the prevalence of MDD to race or ethnicity (table-2). Infact, severe forms of depression affect 2-5% of the US population (Nestler et al, 2002). As far as age is considered, the risk is fairly low in the younger age groups (Figure-1). While major depressive disorder can develop at any age, the median age at onset is 32 (Kessler et al, 2005). It is more prevalent in women than in men (Kessler et al, 2003). MDD is comorbid with anxiety and substance use disorders (Kessler et al, 2003). Studies have shown that MDD with anger attacks are significantly associated with increased cholesterol levels and years of smoking (Fraquas et al, 2007). MDD is a debilitating and complex psychiatric disorder that involves multiple neural circuits and genetic and non-genetic risk factors (Sahay et al, 2007). Whether environmental factors or genetic factors play a major role in the pathogenesis of MDD is still debated. Exaggerated early error-detection processes have been incriminated in the etiology and maintenance of major depressive disorder and thus such processes may then recruit excessive neural and cognitive resources that manifest as symptoms of depression (Chiu and Deldin,

Restructuring & Downsizing Essay Example for Free

Restructuring Downsizing Essay Human resource management has evolved from a largely administrative and operational role to one that plays an important part in strategic planning. This shift is more evident in its role towards downsizing. The decision to downsize is a decision that requires careful planning and consideration. It is critical to consider the long-term effects that short-term cost cutting measures can bring. Downsizing creates disruptions in the organization’s relationships with customers, suppliers and employees, organization’s structure, culture and climate. As Wayne F. Cascio says â€Å"if you must downsize, do it right, that no class of employee can be disproportionately affected. † Finding the best way to downsize is crucial, because the success of organisations that have downsized in the past has not been particularly laudable. Downsize Decision The downsizing decision is the most demoralizing and stressful aspect of the emerging Human resource managerial role. Downsizing is viewed as having a profound effect on the organization and the personnel including those who are terminated and those who survive. Yet it is the integral part of any workforce management decision. It involves understanding the tangible pitfalls of a reduction in workforce and analyzing the emotional and practical ramifications. Downsizing may occur intentionally as a strategic, proactive response designed to improve organizational effectiveness, increase productivity and cost cutting strategy. This response may involve mergers, acquisitions, sell-offs, or restructuring to better enable the organization to meet its mission or fill an environmental niche. It may involve reduction in personnel through transfers, outplacement, retirement incentives, buyout packages, layoffs, attrition, and so on or may occur in which new products added, new sources of revenue are opened up, etc. It affects work processes. Fewer employees may be left to do the same amount of work and the quality may suffer. Downsizing activities may include discounting functions, abolishing hierarchical levels, merging units, or redesigning tasks. Downsizing can impact financial well-being, health, personal attitudes, and family relationships. Before downsizing HR need to explore possible alternatives such as reducing hours across the board, introducing forced vacation, asking for layoff volunteers, compressed workweek, hiring freeze, and early retirement or implementing other cost-cutting measures. Human resource managers should weigh in on several factors that influence downsizing decisions. They need to identify the specific problems downsizing is expected to solve, consider overall financial health of the company, fiscal operating policies, and industry benchmarks before proceeding, and review all legal implications. Managing Process One key to a successful downsizing plan lies in management’s ability to clearly convey to employees the purpose behind the cost-cutting efforts. Secondly, consider any oral or implied contracts of employment, review employee files, plan for the contingencies, know the stakeholders, clearly define criteria for selection factors on which downsizing decisions will be made. Downsizing may have variety of adverse effects on layoff individuals, survivors and organizations such as loss of morale, distrust, anxiety, feelings of job insecurity, anger, job stress, physical ailments, poor mental health, decreased loyalty, lowered motivation and productivity, increased resistance to change, crisis mentality, politicised special interest groups, occupational violence, lack of teamwork, perception of unfairness, lack of leadership and overall commitment to the organization. Downsizing decision has to be a prudent one because it deals with lives of people. The managers will be faced with a work force at least partly staffed with survivors of downsizing. Providing information regarding the type of severance packages or outplacement benefits will be given to those displaced will alleviate some fears and let those who remain will know that their colleagues are being taken care of. The personnel attribute of downsizing usually involves reductions in personnel. However, downsizing is not limited entirely to personnel reductions. In some downsizing situations new products are added, new sources of revenue opened up, and/or additional work acquired. Even though some people may be added, the overall process results in fewer numbers of workers employed per unit of output as compared to some previous level of employment. Human resources must also position the company to be able to respond quickly and effectively when the economy recovers. The approach taken by the organization to the downsizing process can have an ongoing impact on the companys reputation with clients and potential future recruits. An inability to recruit critical talent later can mean an inability to rebound, so human resources must provide information openly and promptly to manage perceptions and rumors both internal and external about the fairness of any reductions and the need for additional downsizing in the future. Job placement services, employee assistance programs and financial counseling are all services that human resources should consider offering to affected employees. In the aftermath of a mass downsizing, employee morale will undoubtedly be affected. Employers should strive to be as open as possible during the process. Information should not come as a surprise to employees. If the company repeatedly assured workers everything was fine before announcing an unexpected layoff, it will be difficult to regain the trust of the workers who remain. Similarly, if the company focus has always been on meeting the needs of employees and taking active steps to motivate and encourage staff, a forced layoff may actually be more detrimental because it is so contrary to employees expectations of the organization. Management and human resources should meet regularly with employees to keep them informed, answer questions and respond to concerns. Any downsizing of the workforce is likely to result in the loss of key knowledge and critical skills. In the case of a voluntary separation program or early retirement initiative, Because turnover increases in the wake of a layoff, human resources must connect with key workers to outline their importance to the organization and provide information about how the company plans to recover. HR should also detail future career opportunities that can be realized by remaining with the business. Clear documentation, particularly regarding the layoff process itself, is important. Therefore it is vital that HR management weigh the relative costs and benefits against the negative impact downsizing has on employees and identify hazards, undertake risk assessment, consult with employee representatives, pursue compliance with legislative duties and take appropriate steps to manage any significant hazards that are identified, including psychosocial hazards. Downsizing refers to activities undertaken by management to improve the efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness of the organization by reducing the workforce size. Implications of Organisational Restructuring to HR Planning Restructuring: A Perspective Organizations and businesses today are faced with increased demands to become leaner due to global competition and rapid technology change. Many organizations have responded by corporate restructuring and downsizing or streamlining their operations and often outsourcing many functions originally assigned to permanent employees. Restructuring can lead to changes of ownership, radical changes in the internal management structure, mergers, acquisitions and significant downsizing or hiring trends. Internal factors can also include the addition or removal of a major product or service, addition or loss of a major client or the restructuring of departments. Restructuring is not a quick fix. Before restructuring we need to spell out the expectations and objectives and effectively communicate with the all the stakeholders to improve organizations ability to move through change effectively. Restructuring is a formal system of re-aligning tasks and reporting relationships that controls, coordinates, communicates, decides and motivates employees so that they cooperate to achieve an organizations goals. Restructuring may be carried out to expand and create new departments to serve growing markets or to downsize or eliminate departments to conserve overhead. Depending on the size of the organisation and type of business one may adopt a flat or tall structure and model it according to functional, divisional (product, market or geographic) or adaptive lines. Implications of Organisational Restructuring to HR Planning In the event of restructuring HR planning becomes critical because HR is typically responsible for handling all aspects of an organizations restructuring. HR departments provide or support announcements to employees regarding restructuring. HR is typically present when employees are informed of layoffs or permanent downsizing related to restructuring. Changes in employment policies, organizational structure, workforce, and location and job descriptions are announced to employees by human resources and management. HR also calculates changes in compensation and benefits resulting from reorganization. Organizations rely on human resources to provide a smooth transition during restructuring while retaining desired employees and integrating new employees into the new organizational plan. Restructuring leads to a new organization chart and HR need to reassess and alter their existing roles and responsibilities to better reflect the dynamics of the shifting workplace environment. HR departments also fulfil staffing recruitment needs including preparing job descriptions, posting and publishing available jobs, screening and interviewing candidates for employment and integrating new staff members into their assigned work areas. HR will often be called on to act in an advisory capacity salary ranges and often making changes to benefits, profit-sharing and other corporate perks. HR also institute training and educational programs and seminars and assist employees with transitions in and out of positions and in and out of the company. It may provide information, updates and job seeking resources for employees displaced from their jobs due to restructuring. HR departments are responsible for researching, recommending and implanting employee retention strategies during restructuring. Restructuring brings in changes to corporate cultures, which directly affects employees and may result in loss of identity, shrinkage in compensation, distrust, stress and conflict. HR has to ensure the internal processes accommodate the changes and the communication base is prepared to sensitize the various stakeholders.

Air Pollution and its Harmful Effects :: Papers

Air Pollution and its Harmful Effects â€Å"Air Pollution, addition of harmful substances to the atmosphere resulting in damage to the environment, human health, and quality of life.† (Encarta Air Pollution) â€Å"Damage† may be quite an understatement on this topic. I believe that mass extinction might be more than damaging to the quality of life. I seem to be â€Å"jumping the gun† here but as you will see air pollution is a very deadly environmental concern. In the United States alone, air pollution has been a serious environmental and public health problem since the early part of the 1900’s. Acid Rain, Ozone Depletion, Smog, and Global Warming are all the result of air pollution. This could possibly be the single most devastating factor in the dissipation of our Eco-system, as we know it. Acid Rain is a term that consists of acid rain, snow, fog, and particles. It is caused by sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides released by power plants vehicles and other sources such as gasses, and oils. (EPA Acid Rain) Acid rain effects trees, soil, farms, and surface waters. When the acid in rain comes in contact with an object it immediately starts a chemical reaction. A pH scale measures the acidity level of a substance in numerical order, 0-14, 0 being pure acid, 7.5 the most neutral point, and 14 being the highest alkalinity. (Encarta Acid Rain pg. 2) Acid rain eats away at the nutrients in the topsoil needed by plants and wildlife. The soils natural alkaline can sometimes neutralize the acid, but in places where the soil is thin the alkalinity is poor. In Vermont we have low alkalinity because our land is mostly comprised of granite. (Encarta Acid Rain pg. 2) Trees and plants are also at risk because of the acidic soil. It slows tree growth, as well as eats holes through the vulnerable leaves. Once acid and the metals they dissolve weaken trees, they are more susceptible to other harms like insects, drought, and cold weather. (Encarta) Higher elevations are at more risk because they are closer to the â€Å"deadly† clouds. (Encarta Acid Rain pg. 2) In the worst cases trees have physical damage to the roots and leaves, reduced canopy cover, crown dieback, a reduced growth rate and finally whole tree death. (EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN ON TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS) Crops are generally less at risk to acid rain than trees. Most farms are in thick topsoil conditions where alkalines can neutralize the acid.

Korean “Comfort Women” of Wwii Essay

â€Å"†¦Use curiosity to ask challenging questions about what appear as normal, everyday banalities in order to try and understand make visible’ the hidden gendering of the practice and theorizing of international relations† –Cynthia Enloe In times of armed conflict, women are most susceptible to violence and silencing through the sexualization, dehumanization, and stigmatization of their identities. Janie Leatherman highlights this point when stating â€Å"gender based violence often intensifies and becomes more extreme in a crisis, even escalating into a tool of war â€Å" (4). This is inevitable in a patriarchal society where hegemonic masculine values construct gender norms and gender expectations. Sexual violence during armed conflict does not develop in isolation from the society’s preexisting socioeconomic and culturally shaped gender relationships. Furthermore, the patriarchal nature of a society does not work alone in creating injustices, such as sexual violence, against women during and after armed conflict; there must be a â€Å"framework that embraces the realities, contradictions, and intersections of various global relations of power† (Kempadoo, 29). These intersections include the relationships between gender, race, class, cultural, and societal ideologies. In my paper, I take on Cynthia Enloe’s challenge of using an enquiring, gendered lens to explore the silencing of women during and after war by examining the case of the Korean ‘comfort women’ of World War II. I will analyze how the intersection of prevailing social determinants and ideologies have regulated and perpetuated the rationale and, thus, the invisibility of the Korean comfort women during and in the aftermath of World War II. Literature Review & Research Methodology Yoshiaki Yoshimi’s Comfort Women: Sexual Slavery in the Japanese Military during World War II, Margaret Stetz’s Legacies of the Comfort Women of World War II, as well as Toshiyuki Tanaka’s Hidden Horrors: Japanese War Crimes in World War II were mainly used throughout my research to gather the testimonies of surviving Korean comfort women. All three books give a comprehensive look into the phenomenon of the Japanese military comfort women system with historical background and an abundance of testimonies and documentation of the Korean comfort women. Because my research focuses on the silencing of Korean comfort women during and in the aftermath of World War II, these oral histories provide crucial supporting evidence throughout my paper. Besides two testimonies by one Japanese soldier and one Japanese military doctor, testimonies by other Japanese soldiers and government officials that have acknowledged the existence of the comfort women stations were difficult t o find. Therefore, throughout these testimonies, I specifically looked for patterns that revealed evidence of Japanese gender hierarchies through the diction and accounts that imply any dehumanization and objectification imparted by Japanese soldiers. To investigate the determinants that had cultivated the Japanese comfort station system and, more importantly, the targeting of Korean women for the system, I specifically used Cynthia Enloe’s Maneuvers: The International Politics of Militarizing Women’s Lives as well as Janie Leatherman’s Sexual Violence and Armed Conflict. Both authors give insights and analyses of the causes and consequences of sexual violence during armed conflict. They both emphasize the interplay of patriarchal systems, gender constructions/norms, and political/economic/cultural structures as large contributors. In addition to these specific determinants, I incorporate Sara Ahmed’s analysis to sexual violence by considering the â€Å"cultural intersections between gender, race, and colonialism† in my analytical approach (138). By applying and intertwining the critical approaches of Enloe, Leatherman, and Ahmed, I am able to isolate the multifaceted, yet intersecting institutions and ideologies that had fabricated the invisibility of and the rationale for the Korean comfort women. Background of the Japanese Comfort Stations The euphemism ‘comfort women’ was the name assigned to thousands of women –mainly Korean but also Burmese, Chinese, Dutch, Eurasians, Indians, Indonesian, Filipina, and Taiwanese –who were forced into the Japanese comfort station system (Japan’s military controlled whore houses or brothels) throughout World War II (Yoshimi). These so called ‘comfort stations’ were far from comforting. The conditions of the physical spaces have been described as â€Å"barrack-like facilities, rudimentary tents, [or] shacks† (Yoshimi, 25). One Japanese military doctor has testified that the women were treated like â€Å"female ammunition† and that their dehumanized bodies were reduced to the likes of â€Å"public toilets† (Wantabe, 20). The testimony of Hwang Kum-Ju, one of the first Korean comfort women to testify in public, only reveals a glimpse of the sufferings she and fellow comfort women had to endure: â€Å"There were so many soldiers. Sometimes, we had to do it with twenty to thirty soldiers a day. I think ours was the only comfort station in that area, and soldiers and officers came whenever they had some spare moments. Higher-ups came freely, and at night we usually slept with officers. Women who contracted venereal diseases were simply left to die or shot. Anyone resisting the advances was beaten† (Kim, 97). Comfort women were subjected to daily rapes, sexual diseases, torture, murder, and other forms of mental, physical, and sexual violence. The comfort stations were created during World War II as a solution to the aftermath of the Japanese military committing mass murders and rapes as they moved across mainland Asia. The catalyst for the creation of the comfort system was the most infamous massacre known as the â€Å"The Rape of Nanking† in which the whole village of Nanking was murdered after the Japanese soldiers raped approximately 20,000 village women. Because this particular massacre caused such an outcry in the international press, Emperor Hirohito of Japan ordered the creation and systematic expansion of the comfort stations. However, the purpose for which these comfort stations were created was not out of concern for the safety of local women of in the territories in which the Japanese soldiers were stationed. Naoai Murata, the Defense Agency Director of the Secretariat in 1992, claimed that they were created in order to ‘†¦maintain order [and] to ease the anti-Japanese feeling aroused by the Japanese soldier’s deeds’ (Schmidt, 88). This would restore the image of the Imperial Army by confining and concealing rape and sexual violence to military controlled facilities. Additionally, as the war progressed, these comfort stations transformed into spaces that provided opportunities for the Japanese soldiers to have sex as a means of relaxation and comfort, a boost for morale, a space to assert their masculinity, to relieve the stress and fear of combat, and an outlet from strict military discipline (Yoshimi, 53). The following interview of one Japanese soldier highlights the psychological influence and importance of the comfort women to the Japanese soldiers: â€Å"Even though we had just returned from lengthy military operations at the front, the thought of having sex made us leave immediately for the [comfort women]. When we arrived at where the women were, soldiers took their place in line and mulled over life and death while waiting for their turn. There was nothing else like the supreme feeling of completeness that the soldiers experienced when engaging in sex with the women. This was the only way for them to whole-heartedly escape from their abnormal existence† (Yoshimi, 54-55). The advocacy and rationale for the comfort women system reveal the dependency of the military on women. The comfort women system was considered an important element for the war efforts, even if only temporary. Why Korean Comfort Women? Approximately 80% of the 100,000 to 200,000 comfort women were Korean with ages ranging from 13 to mid-20’s (Yoshimi, 67). The question that can be elucidated from this statistic is simple: ‘why were the majority of the comfort women Korean?’ The answer to this question can be answered with: â€Å"†¦the military usually does not need – or want- all women to provide all these militarized services. Rather, government officials have needed women of some classes and some races and some ages to serve some of these functions†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Enloe 2000, 44). Furthermore, in order to further pinpoint the determinants to why this marginalized group was targeted, there needs to be â€Å"an engagement with the interplay of global relations of power around gender, race, nationality, and the economy (Kempadoo, 29). These underlying intertwining ideologies and institutions that have contributed to the explicit targeting of Korean women for the Japanese comfort stat ions need to be explored. Racial Ideologies: Racism The excessive usage of Korean women for the Japanese comfort system is directly linked to the elements of racism. This phenomenon can be analyzed by the intertwined relationship between colonialism, race, socially constructed gender ideologies. As Sara Ahmed emphasizes, â€Å" a consideration of cultural intersections between gender, race, and colonialism is important for two main reasons. First it demands that feminism reject any approach, which isolates the production of gender from race and colonialism. As a result, it requires us to consider how certain feminisms may themselves function as part of the colonialist culture† (138). With this framework in mind, it can be elucidated that the targeting of Korean women stems from the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 from which Korea became a protectorate of Japan and later officially colonized in 1910. Despite the fact that Korea had become a colony under Japan’s rule, the Japanese government and society’s sentiment â€Å"dictated that the [Korean] population was still considered to be racially inferior† (Tanaka, 96). While exploiting and objectifying Korean women, the Japanese military did not see it appropriate to exploit their own women to the same extent: â€Å"[Japanese] officials believed [international] laws were not applicable to Japan’s colonies, and this, combined with the belief in the superiority of Japanese women and the suitability of women of other races for prostitution, cemented to use [Korean] women from the colonies as comfort women† (Tanaka, 97) The Korean comfort women were positioned and identified as ‘uncivilized,’ inferior, subjugated, and promiscuous by the Japanese masculine colonial mindset. Derogatory and sexualized words, accompanied by violence, were used against the Korean comfort women at the comfort stations as racially discriminatory identifiers of the superior and the inferior groups. These words included ‘Ppagayor! Senpino kuseni!’ which translates to ‘Idiot! Nothing but a Korean cunt!’ (Yoshimi, 113). Enloe explains that objectifying foreign women makes it easier for military officials to marginalize them: â€Å"it was far easier for commanders to send women if they could be portrayed as rootless, promiscuous, parasitic, and generally a drag on the military’s discipline and battle readiness† (2000, 40). The images inscribed on the inferior, ‘colonized’ Korean comfort women rose from the colonialist, racial, and masculine institutions. The importance of the intersection of these institutions is emphasized by Kempadoo â€Å"a large number of women upon whose bodies and labor such constructions of masculinity depend are of nations, races, and ethnicities other than those of men is a reality that cannot be neglected or ignore† (31). These constructions of the Korean comfort women’s identities fabricated a justification that only naturalized the Japanese nation’s domination over Korean through the Korean comfort women. Gender Ideologies: Sexualized Femininity/Militarized Masculinity During World War II, the prominently patriarchal nature of the Japanese society reestablished the preexisting gendered, dichotomous construction of sexuality for both men and women in which the degree of masculinity of soldiers was greatly dependent on the comfort women. Cynthia Enloe highlights this notion by recognizing that â€Å"the women were one of the strengths, which maintained the military organization† (Enloe 1988, 187). Enloe draws attention to this dependency by stating ‘the military needs women as the gender ‘women’ to provide men with masculinity –reinforcing incentives to endure all the hardships of soldiering (Enloe 1988, 214). During World War II, within the Japanese military, there were socially constructed forms of masculinity and femininity that were reinforced by the onset of war and the military. The service of and dependency on the objectified women’s body s tems from what Carole Vance explains to be social constructions of gender and sexuality, not as â€Å"natural† and â€Å"unchanging† biologically determined notions of gender and sexuality. Socially constructed gender roles have shaped â€Å"sexuality as a form of power† (Mackinnon, 2). Catherine Mackinnon further describes these powerful gender roles: â€Å"the social beings we know as man and woman are bound by social requirements of heterosexuality, which institutionalizes male sexual domination and female sexual submission† The woman’s identity becomes inexplicably attached to her sexuality, becoming â€Å"that which is most of her own, yet is most taken away† (Tong, 111). Sexuality becomes distorted into an ideal of sexuality that reduces women to sexual objects while placing men as the dominating, sexual subject. The highly hierarchical gender system of Japan during World War II fostered an inequality between men and women in which â€Å"men create the demand and women are the supply† (Hughes, 11). The objectification of the Korean women was necessary for the militarization of men. (Enloe 2000). During times of war, the ideologies of masculinity that â€Å"their love and respect can only be met by being masculine, powerful, and ult imately violent† are fuelled (Kokopeli, 233). This is because the military as a social institution is constructed by ideals of male sexuality. The sexualization of the female body aids the military in the marginalization of women as it depicts women as objects and tools for the soldier’s sexual satisfaction. Vance states that all â€Å"social construction approaches adopt the view that physically identical sexual acts may have varying social significance and subjective meaning depends on how they are defined and understood in different cultures and historical periods† (29). Militarized masculinities are sexualized in violent forms, which was clearly the case among the Japanese soldiers. The socially constructed feminine identity at the time was one of which sexuality was merely designed to service individual men and male defined institutions. This explanation creates a foundation for the upheld rigid distinctions between masculine and feminine ideals in the Japanese society during World War II. For the Japanese male soldiers, the militarized masculine model of sexuality embodied notions of dominance, destructi on, aggression, and sexual conquest. On the other hand, the Korean comfort women subjected to this patriarchal society were merely reduced to submissive, obedient, and sexual tools. Enloe also argues that wartime sexual violence provides ‘masculinity-reinforcing incentives to endure all the hardships of soldiering’ (1988, 214). The practice of going to the comfort stations to have sex with the comfort women became a routine for the Japanese soldiers; the women were seen as a â€Å"necessary evil† (Tanaka, 67). Whereas on the battlefield, the Japanese soldiers had little control, having sex with women against their will gave the men the masculine power of dominance and self-assertion. In battle, Japanese soldiers were merely seen as military ammunition for combat, but they were able to reinforce their own masculine subjectivity and agency through the sexual objectification of Korean comfort women. This can be comprehended through the account of one Korean comfort woman, Yi Sunok: â€Å"There were many times when I was almost killed. If I refused to do what one man asked, he would come back drunk and threaten me with his sword. Others simply arrived drunk, and had intercourse with their swords stuck in the tatami. This left the tatami scarred, but this sort of behavior was more of a threat to make me accede to their desires and give them satisfaction† (Tanaka, 56). The Korean comfort women provided an environment where the men could reinforce militarized masculine at the expense of the women’s dehumanization as well as their mental and physical health. The Korean comfort women not only suffered enforced sex, but sex routinely accompanied by routine violence and torture. Although the comfort women station system was blatant throughout World War II, it was rationalized by socially constructed, yet biologically justified, notions of male sexuality. Vance would call this justification as â€Å"biological determinism,† which is the belief that biology determines fundamentally all behavior and actions. The belief that the comfort women were needed because of the male Japanese soldiers’ biologically determined, uncontrollable sexual needs can be perceived in the secret report by a psychiatrist of the Konodai army hospital in 1939: â€Å"The army authorities established comfort stations†¦because they assumed that it was impossible to suppress the sexual urge of soldiers. The main purposes of setting up comfort facilities were to relieve soldiers of daily stresses by giving them a sense of sexual satisfaction and to prevent rapes which would damage the reputation of the Imperial army from happening† (Yoshimi, 1992, 228). This understanding of male sexuality inadvertently reduces the rationale for the comfort station system to a biological one. It justifies the creation of the comfort women system as unavoidable and inevitable as though there was no other solution. The biological determinism argument is a legitimizing tool for it positions this constructed masculinity as outside of human control. The trope of ‘uncontrollable military male sexuality’ rooted in the ‘nature’ rationale only suspends moral and legal restrains on the comfort women system while perpetuating and justifying the women’s objectified, subordinate position. Socioeconomic Status The majority of the Korean women that were targeted in the comfort station system were from a low socioeconomic class. Hughes reiterates this point by pointing out that recruiters of areas in the sex industry â€Å"take advantage of poverty, unemployment and a desire to emigrate to recruit and traffic women into the sex industry† (11). Hughes also includes a report from the Women’s NGO which states, â€Å"†¦economic hard times has lead to a depression of women’s psychological state with a loss of self esteem and hope for the future. Women accept unlikely offers of employment in unskilled jobs at high salaries with the resignation that ‘it cannot be worse’ than their present lives. Recruiters for the sex industry target the most economically depresses areas† (12). The Korean women of low economic status and class were vulnerable to the deceitful recruitment methods of the Japanese. For example, the Korean population in the Japanese colonized territories was very poor during World War II because Japan had taken any available means of production of food and clothes for the war effort (Argibay, 378). This left most of the young Korean women and girls living in poverty and starting menial labor at a very early age in order to support their families. ‘Recruiters’ would encourage compliance by convincing the women that they would obtain high paid jobs as seamstresses and nurses or working in a hospital or a factory (Stetz, 10). One comfort women named Suntok Kim recalls that when she was being ‘recruited,’ the prospects of being a ‘comfort woman’ for the Japanese seemed promising because she came from a poor family and had no education. Working in a factory was far better than her current working and living conditions (Stetz, 10). Furthermore, the U.S. Office of War Interrogation Report No. 49 reports that when being recruited â€Å"Korean women assumed that comfort service consisted of visiting wounded soldiers and generally making the soldiers happy, and that many Korean women enlisted on the basis of these misrepresentations† (Arigbay , 378) Another means of recruitment that targeted Koreans of low socioeconomic class was through the method of debt bondage, indenturing the Korean comfort women to the Japanese military. Economically destitute rural families were deceived into thinking that they had a choice of whether or not to sell their daughters to the Japanese military; however, in reality, they were being coerced with violence and had no agency in this matter. Many reports have indicated that families who refused to sell their daughters were killed and girls taken to the Japanese military bases after. The Japanese would also threaten to destroy â€Å"the whole village, kill the elders and children and commit other violent measures† (Arigbay, 278). Many Korean comfort women did not have the agency, autonomy, or the economic option to oppose Japanese forces. Offering a payment was simply a customary ruse by the Japanese military to justify their methods in taking these powerless Korean women. Continuum of Injustice & Invisibility in the Aftermath Stigmatization: Cultural & Social Institutions In the aftermath of World War II, the experiences of the comfort women were silenced for approximately 50 years. This silence was finally broken in the early 1990s when the issue was brought to light as former comfort women began to release their testimonies to the public. When this issue began to gain public attention, the Japanese government immediately declared that the comfort women system did not exist in the Japanese military and thus â€Å"there could be no question of any apology, memorial, or disclosures by the Japanese government† (Uncomfortable Truths). To this day, comfort women are still waiting for an apology for the violation of their human rights and for the objectification of their bodies and identities from the Japanese government. Many grassroots organizations and feminist groups have been created since the early 1990s to draw attention to issue of the comfort women. These include the Korean Research Institute for Chongsindae and the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Sexual Slavery by Japan. Since the early 1990s over one hundred women in South Korea have registered with the Korean government as former comfort women (Kim, 74). However, despite these efforts, the stark question of ‘why’ the surviving Korean comfort women were silenced for so long still remains. The surviving women have not only suffered from mental and physical injuries, but also had to suffer from additional social injuries. Many of the surviving Korean comfort women have had to live a stigmatized and isolated life as they tried to assimilate back into the communities. They were â€Å"condemned to live out their lives as social, pariahs, shunned by their families, tortured by injury and illness, some sent mad by their ordeal†¦some committed suicide, others became insane† (Askin, 13). This stigmatization can be attributed to the Confucian societies in Korea for the Korean comfort women were products of this culture. The Confucian definition of the traditional feminine identity highlights docility and emphasizes chastity as a woman’s most important virtue (Stetz, 13). As Iris Chang reiterates: â€Å"Asian Confucianism-particularly Korean Confucianism- upheld female purity as a virtue greater than life and perpetuated the belief that any woman who could live through such a degrading experience and not commit suicide was herself an affront to society] This cultural ideology demanded that unmarried women must be virgins and blamed the women for not being able to prevent any forms of sexual violation (53). With high moral value attached to chastity and purity, the comfort women â€Å"invariably emerged from their wartime experiences defiled, yet unable to accuse their abusers† (Askin, 25). The fear of isolation and stigma from their defilement only silenced them, leaving these sexual atrocities in the dark for 50 years. The internalization of this feminine identity caused Korean comfort women to lose self-respect, to live in shame, and ultimately perpetuate their own stigmatization. Furthermore, the social stigma and shame attached to rape and sex were fostered by Korean society and the Korean comfort women’s own families. Patty Kelly explains this stigma as â€Å"a blemish of individual character that [the] women cannot escape†¦the stigmatized person is perceived as possessing weak will, unnatural passions, and treacherous beliefs† (192). The stigma of rape and sex embody has implications on community, family, and responsibility. Kelly asserts that stigma associated with sex work â€Å"circumscribes one’s social relations†¦causes fear and shame†¦creates inauthenticity in daily life† (194). Keith Howard describes the lives that the surviving Korean comfort women had to endure in their communities: â€Å"When they returned to Korea†¦they were neither faithful nor chaste. They were not exemplary women. The families of the comfort women feared the ostracism they would suffer if the shameful past were discovered; the women became an extra burden, and there was little chance to marry them off† (7). This social stigma and discrimination oppressed the surviving Korean comfort women. As Kelly points out, social relations with the family were tainted. Some of the Korean comfort women were seen as a disgrace to their family by their own family and by the rest of society. One Korean comfort woman by the name of Tokchin Kim has revealed that the honor of her family and the relationship with her family hindered her from publicizing her experience, which only allowed the comfort station system to remain invisible. Tokchin Kim had tried to register at the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan as a former comfort woman. However, her nephew expressed â€Å"You will only bring trouble on your family and your children will be traumatized† (Yoshimi, 4 9). Because of the stigmatization, humiliation, and disgrace that inevitably arose from their past as comfort women, the Korean comfort women’s experiences had unjustly remained hidden for an inordinate amount of time. Conclusion The Japanese comfort stations during World War II completely disregarded comfort women’s rights and silenced their past as a product of the rationale for the system. Leatherman explicates that the silences and justifications â€Å"undergird[ed] the economic, social, cultural, and political power structures of patriarchy. Patriarchy is a hierarchal social order centered on dominant or hegemonic forms of masculinity† (4). The justifications and invisibility stem from the intersection of socially constructed gender, cultural, racial, and socioeconomic institutions. Comfort women have had to unjustly bear the â€Å"shame, ostracism, and dishonor that should be imputed to the perpetrator of sexual violence† (Askin, 31). There has been a continuum of this disregard into the present day as the Japanese government has failed to give an official apology for their wartime atrocities after 50 years of ignoring the existence of comfort women. This untiring neglect reproduces injustice and invisibility of the comfort women to this day. As of right now, there are only 63 registered Korean comfort women in South Korea waiting out their last years to be fully recognized as comfort women by the Japanese government. In order for there to be any strides in this movement, it is imperative that the social and gender hierarchies encumbering Japanese and Korean societies be deconstructed and reevaluated. Additionally, the vast gap between the value of the female and male’s experience and rights in the patriarchal nature of Japan’s society needs to be closed. Bibliography Ahmed, Sara. â€Å"Construction of Women And/in the Orient.† Women, Power, and Resistance: An Introduction to Women’s Studies. By Tess Cosslett, Alison Easton, and Penny Summerfield. Buckingham [England: Open UP, 1996. 225-32. Print. Argibay, Carmen M. â€Å"Sexual Slavery and the â€Å"Comfort Women† of World War II.† Berkeley Journal of International Law 21.375 (n.d.): 375-89. Print. Askin, Kelly D. â€Å"Comfort Women- Shifting Shame and Stigma from Victims to Victimizers.† International Criminal Law Review 1 (2001): 5-32. Print. Chang, Iris. â€Å"The Rape of Nanking.† The Law of War, a Documentary History. By Leon Friedman. New York: Random House, 1972. N. pag. Print. Enloe, Cynthia H. Bananas, Beaches & Bases: Making Feminist Sense of International Politics. Berkeley: University of California, 1988. Print Enloe, Cynthia H. Maneuvers: The International Politics of Militarizing Women’s Lives. Berkeley: University of California, 2000. Print. Howard, Keith, and Young Joo. Lee. True Stories of the Korean Comfort Women. N.p.: Cassell, 1995. Print. Hughes, Donna M. â€Å"The ‘Natasha’ Trade: The Transnational Shadow Market of Trafficking in Women.† The ‘Natasha’ Trade: The Transnational Shadow Market of Trafficking in Women. Journal of International Affairs, 2000. Web. 13 Dec. 2012. Kelly, Patty. â€Å"The Secrets We Keep: Sex, Work, and Stigma.† Lydia’s Open Door: Inside Mexico’s Most Modern Brothel. By Patty Kelly. Berkeley: University of California, 2008. N. pag. Print. Kempadoo,. â€Å"Women of Color and the Global Sex Trade: Transnational Feminist Perspectives.† Meridians: Feminism, Race, Transnationalism. Indiana University Press, n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2012. Kim, Hyun S. â€Å"History and Memory: The â€Å"Comfort Women† Controversy.† Positions: East Asia Cultures Critique 5.1 (1997): 73-108. Print. Kokopeli, Bruce, and George Lakey. â€Å"More Power Than We Want: Masculine Sexuality and Violence.† Reweaving the Web of Life: Feminism and Nonviolence. By Pam McAllister. Philadelphia, PA: New Society, 1982. N. pag. Print. Leatherman, Janie. Sexual Violence and Armed Conflict. Cambridge: Polity, 2011. Print. MacKinnon, Catharine A. Feminism, Marxism, Method and the State. N.p.: University of Chicago, 1987. Print. Schmidt, David A. Ianfu, the Comfort Women of the Japanese Imperial Army of the Pacific War: Broken Silence. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen, 2000. Print. Stetz, Margaret D., and Bonnie B. C. Oh. Legacies of the Comfort Women of World War II. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2001. Print. Tanaka, Toshiyuki. Hidden Horrors: Japanese War Crimes in World War II. Boulder, CO: Westview, 1996. Print. Tong, Rosemarie. Feminist Thought: A Comprehensive Introduction. Boulder, CO: Westview, 1989. Print. â€Å"Uncomfortable Truths.† Trouble and Strife RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2012. â€Å"United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.† What Is Human Trafficking? N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2012. Vance, Carole S. â€Å"Social Construction Theory.† An Introduction to Women’s Studies: Gender in a Transnational World. By Inderpal Grewal and Caren Kaplan. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2006. 29-32. Print. Varga, Aniko. â€Å"National Bodies: The ‘Comfort Women’ Discourse and Its Controversies in South Korea.† Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism 9.2 (2009): n. pag. Print. Watanabe, Kazuko. â€Å"Trafficking in Women’s Bodies: Then and Now: The Issue of Military â€Å"Comfort Women†Ã¢â‚¬  Peace & Change 20.4 (1995): 501-14. Print. Yang, Hyunah. â€Å"Finding the â€Å"Map of Memory†: Testimony of the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Survivors.† Positions: East Asia Cultures Critique 16.1 (2008): 79-107. Print. Yoshimi, Yoshiaki, and Suzanne O’Brien. Comfort Women: Sexual Slavery in the Japanese Military during World War II. New York: Columbia UP, 2000. Print.

Private Passions and Moral Responsibilities: Hamlet Essay

Many great works of literature often focus on personal tragedy and ways of overcoming it. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, however, the inability of the main characters to confront their problems properly leads to the destruction of all. The antagonist of the play, Claudius, allows his personal ambition for power to overshadow the will of his conscience. Hamlet opens at the royal castle of Elsinore where a ghost bearing the visage of the recently deceased King Hamlet is seen walking the halls in battle gear. Later it is learned that his brother, Claudius, has taken to the throne with King Hamlet’s ex-wife, Gertrude, after only two months since the King’s passing. The son of the deceased King, Hamlet, sees the marriage as a travesty stating, â€Å"(Oh God! A beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourned longer) married with my uncle; My father’s brother, but no more like my father than I to Hercules.† (Shakespeare 13) Clearly, Hamlet sees the marriage as incestuous in the beginning ; but he doesn’t take action until he is visited by the apparition of his father who proclaims that Claudius killed him in lust for power. Hamlet is asked, â€Å"If thou didst ever thy dear father love – oh God – Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.† (27) Here begins Hamlet’s quest to avenge his father by laying ruin to King Claudius. To be certain of the King’s guilt, Hamlet puts on a play bearing a resemblance to how the ghost described the murder. When King Claudius views it, he feels a sudden pang of conscience and abruptly leaves. This flinch provides a first glance by the reader, and Hamlet that Claudius is guilty and is at odds with himself for his foul actions. From a soliloquy after storming out of the play, the reader becomesaware of the personal anguish Claudius possesses. â€Å"O, my offense is rank, itsmells to heaven; It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t, A brother’s murder! Pray can I not, though inclination be as sharp as will. My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent.†(84) For Claudius the act of killing his brother was a grievous one that he now regrets. His strong intent and ambition for  the throne has caused him turmoil in heaven’s eyes. The primary  consequence of Claudius’s actions on his character is that he will now have to make a huge decision as is delineated further into the soliloquy. â€Å"But, o, what form of prayer can serve my turn? Forgive me my foul murder? That  cannot be; since I am still possessed of these effects for which I did the murder – My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen. May one be pardoned and retain offense?† (84) Will he give up the worldly things he now possesses for forgiveness or will he keep on, undaunted by his guilt  and remain stained by his ultimate sin? It seems that the king cannot give up his precious power, but instead asks others to join him in an attempt to oust Hamlet and retain the crown. Claudius asks Laertes, † Will you be ruled by me (†¦) I will work him to an exploit now ripe in my device under which he shall not choose but fall; and for his death no wind of blame shall we breath.† (116) Power hungry and greedy, King Claudius has rejected the notions of morality by attempting to kill his nephew and has sealed his fate in the eyes of God. Shakespeare’s Hamlet pivots on the theme of mastering passionbefore it is too late. Although Claudius confronts his sins committed in search of title and authority, he never takes the steps needed to achieve absolution. Instead, the King opts to use violence to solve his dilemma  which results in both the downfall of his royal family and the turning of his â€Å"envenomed†(144) blade upon him.

Selecting Patient Escorts Essay Example

Selecting Patient Escorts Essay Example Selecting Patient Escorts Essay Selecting Patient Escorts Essay City Hospital is located in the heart of a large midwestern city. It is one of major hospitals in the area and has recenfly built a small addition for treafing well- known patients, such as professional football players, top company execufives, and singing stars. Visiting or local celebrities always choose City Hospital if they need treatment. City Hospital has about 1,200 hospital beds and employs 4,500 individuals, including about 40 patient escorts. The job of patient escort is a rather simple one, requiring only minimal training and no special physical talents. When patients need to be moved from one location to another, patient escorts are summoned to assist in the move. If the move is only a short distance, however, a nurse or orderlycan move the patient. Of particular importance is the fact that patient escorts almost always take patients who are being discharged from their hospital room to the front door of the hospital. A wheelchair is always used, even if the patient is able to walk unassisted. Thus, the typical procedure is for the nurse to call for a patient escort. The escort then gets a Wheelchair and goes to the patient’s room, assists the patient into the wheelchair, picks up the pauent’s belongings, wheels the patient down to the hospital’s front door or to his or her car in the parking lot, and retnrns to the work station. The job of patient escort is critical to the hospital since the escort is always the last hospital representative the patient sees, and hence has a considerable influence on the patient’s final perception of the hospital. Of approximately 40 escorts, about three- fourths are men and one- fourth are women. Most are high school graduates in their early twenties. Some, particularly those on the early morning shift, are attending college at night and working for the hospital to earn money to pay college expenses. Pour of the escorts are older women who had previously served as hospital volunteers and then decided to become full- time employees instead. Turnover among patient escorts is quite high and has averaged 25 percent in recent years. In addition, upward mobihty in the hospital is quite good, and as a result, another 25 percent of the escorts transfer to other jobs in the hospital each year. Thus, about half of the patient escorts need to be replaced The hospital a standard procedure When hiring patient escorts. When a vacancy occurs, the human resource department reviews the file of applications of individuals who have appfied for the patient escort job. Usually the file contains at least 20 applications because the pay for the job is good, the work is undemanding, and few ski]ls are required. The top two or three applicants are asked to come to the hospital for interviews. Typicafly, the apphcan’ts are interviewed by the human resource department and then by the patient escort superviser. The majority of those interviewed know some other employees of the hospital, so the only reference check is a call to these employees. Before being hired, apphcants are required to take physical exams given by hospital doctors. Every new escor’t attends an orientation program the day on the job. This is conducted by a member of the hospital’s human resource department. The program consists of a complete tour of the hospital; a review of all the hospital’s HR policies, including a description of its promotion, compensation, and disciplinary policies; and a presentation of the hospital’s mission and phflosophy. During this orientation session, employees are told that the hospital’s image in the community is of major importance and that all employees should strive to maintain and enhance this image through their conduct. After orientation, all patient escorts receive on-the-job training by their immediate superviser. During the last two years, the hospital has experienced a number of problems with patient escorts, which have had an adverse effect on the hospital’s image. Several patients have complained to the hospital administration that they were treated rudely, or in some cases roughly, by one or more patient escorts. Some complained that they were ordered around or scolded by an escort during the discharge process. Others stated that their escorts were careless when wheehng them out of the hospital to their cars. One person reported that an escort carelessly tipped him over. AH escorts are required to wear identification tags, but patients usually cannot remember the escort’s name when lodging a complaint to the hospital. Additionafly, the hospital has difficulty determining which escort served which patient because escorts often trade patients. even when the hospital can identify the offending escort, the employee can easily deny any wrongdoing. He or she counters that patients are generally irritable as a result of their illness and, hence, are proue to complain at even the slightest provocation. At the hospital admhfistrator’s request, the human resource manager asked the chief supervisor patient escorts, the head of the staffing section within the human resource depaflment, and the assistant human resource director to meet with her to review the entire procedure used to select patient escorts. It was hoped that a new procedure could be devised that would efiminate the hiring of rude, insulting, or careless patient escorts. During the meeting, a number of suggestions were made as to how the selection procedure might be improved. Criticisms of the present system were also voiced. The chief superviser of patient escorts argued that the problem with the hospital’s present system is that the application form is void of any useful information. He stated that the questions that really give insights into the employee’s personality are no longer on the application form. He suggested that applicants be asked about their hobbies, outside activiues, and their personal likes and dislikes on the application form. He also suggested that each applicant be asked to submit three letters of recommendation from people who know the applicant well. He wanted these letters t0 focus on the prospective employee’s personality, particularly the applicant’s to remain friendly and polite at all times. The assistant human resource director contended that the hospital’s interviewing proce- dure should be modified. He observed that, during the typical interview, little attempt is made to determine how the apphcant reacts under stress. He suggested that if applicants were asked four or stress-producing questions, the hospital might be in a better position to judge their ability to work with irritable patients. The head of the staffing section noted that patient escorts require little mental or physical talent and agreed that the crucial attributeescorts need is the ability to always be courteous and polite. He wondered whether an attitude test could be developed that would measure the apphcant’s predisposition toward being friendly, helpful, sensitive, and so on. He suggested that a job analysis could be donc on the patient escort position to determine those attitudes that are critical to being a successful patient escort. When the job analysis was complote, questions could be developed that would measure these critical attributes. The test questions could be given to the hospital’s present patient escorts to determine whether the test accurately distinguishes the best escorts from the worst. The head of the staffing section reahzed that many of the questions might need to be eliminated or changed, and if the test appeared  to show promise, it would probably need to be revaudated in order to meet govemment requirements. He felt, however, that a Wefl- designed test might be worth the effort and should at least be considered. The meeting ended with all four participants agreeing that the suggestion of trying to develop an attitude test was probably the most promising. The assistant human resource director and chief superviser of patient escorts stated that they would conduct a thorough job analysis covering the patient escort position and develop a list of attitudes that are critical to its success. A second meeting would then be scheduled to prepare the actual test questions. QUESTIONS Critique each of the alternative approaches suggested for solving the problem of selecting patient escorts at City Hospital. Recommend a procedure for recruiting and hiring patient escorts. Besides improving its selection procedures, What other actions could the hospital potentially take to improve the behavior of the patient escorts?

Advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power

Advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power Do the advantages of using nuclear power outweigh the disadvantages and thus making it a safe and economical method of generating electricity? At this time it is believed that there are far more disadvantages than advantages when it comes to the use of nuclear power. This report will list the advantages and disadvantages and prove that nuclear power is the next stepping stone in technological advancements and a cleaner future. HYPOTHESIS The advantages of utilizing nuclear power will by far demean the disadvantages and therefore prove that it will be beneficial to make use of nuclear power as an energy source. DISCUSSION ADVANTAGES One of the main advantages of nuclear power is that it does not emit a large quantity of green house gases such as CO2 [1] [2] and thus does not contribute to global warming. In turn this allows for a cleaner global environment. As seen in the below diagram, Coal-fired power stations release 5912000 tons of CO2 per year. Nuclear power stations use less th an a twenty-fifth of that because they only release 230000 tons of CO2 per year. Therefore in the environmental aspect, nuclear power is safe and beneficial for the world s future. Figure 1: A graph of the CO2 Emission by Each Power Source Another advantage of nuclear power is that it has relatively low costs involved in its production [5]. It yields much more electrical energy for each unit of nuclear fuel (uranium rods) used than the conventional fossil fuel power stations (coal) [1] [2]. Due to this it will also cost less to ascertain the resources needed to produce the same amount of energy as fossil fuels as is made evident in the below graph. This results in nuclear fuel costing much less per kilowatt hour for a consumer than any other method of producing electricity [fig. 2]. Therefore nuclear power will be economically beneficial for the world s electricity consuming population. Figure 2: A graph showing the US Electricity Production Costs for 1995 – 2008 An organizat ion known as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is in place to ensure that all nuclear power stations and nuclear activity which occur anywhere in the world is done without error which ultimately makes the use of nuclear power a safer option [7]. They implement standards and regulations which must be adhered to by all nuclear facilities [7]. One of their main tasks is to oversee the installation of the nuclear systems and transportation of nuclear materials to insure safety and security [7]. These monitoring protocols allow the usage of nuclear energy to be safe and secure. Over time improved designs have come about for nuclear reactors such as the advanced reactor in Japan which has been operating since 1996 [6]. The major safety feature in this reactor is its passive safety system. In the event of a malfunction, no intervention from an operator is required thus eliminating the chance of a human error [6]. If this type safety feature was to be implemented in all the curr ent and future nuclear reactors, it would significantly enhance the safety of the nuclear plants. There is a variety of safety features for nuclear reactors one of which is the three barriers between the fuel rods and the environment [6]. The fuel rods are in a solid ceramic pellet which forms the first barrier [6]. These pellets are inside a closed zirconium tube, which forms the second barrier [6]. The final barrier is the containment of the fuel rods. They are stored in a steel pressure vessel and this vessel has walls up to 30cm thick therefore preventing all radioactive radiation from escaping. Other than those safety barriers the whole containment structure has one meter thick reinforced concrete walls [6]. Thus in the event of a human error there are provisions in place to minimize the severity of the error. These measures will increase the safety of using nuclear power plants even more.