Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Typical Dreams Essay Example for Free
Typical Dreams Essay Introduction            One way to study dreams is to study their content. This can be done by laboratory studies in which sleepers are awakened during REM sleep and their reports are tape recorded. Subjects can also keep a dream diary in which they write all they can remember about their dreams. These different methods have revealed some interesting facts about the nature of dream content.            What causes you to dream the things you dream? That question cannot be answered as yet (see Rados Cartwright, 1999). Research can point to individual cases where the dream content is obviously related to immediate events in a person’s life, but the reason why a lot of dreams occur is something of a mystery. One explanation of dream content proposes that during REM sleep specific brain neurons are activated, such as those involved in running or laughing or hearing. In an attempt to make sense of this specific neural activation, the brain produces a dream based on a synthesis of the stimulation present. Called the activation-synthesis hypothesis of dreaming, this view does not account for the seemingly random dream content that often occurs, and it is consistent with the neurological changes known to accompany REM sleep (Hobson McCarley, 2001). However, it does not explain the coherence, detail, and purposefulness common to many dreams. Studies of dream content must now recognize that dreamers may alter their content while they are actually dreaming.            For most people, the content of their dreams is beyond their control. How often have you gone to bed wishing you could dream about a particular someone, or afraid you might dream about an especially distressing subject? Sometimes in dreaming we think ourselves that â€Å"this is a dream.†Yet in the morning if we remember the dream and recall thinking that we knew it was a dream at the time, we find that we still accepted the content as plausible, even if events in the dream would be unlikely or impossible in real life. Some people are able to carry this awareness during dreaming a step further: they claim the ability to know when they dreaming and to actually control some or all of the content of their dreams. This is called lucid dreaming. In the past such claims have attracted little interest from dream researchers because there seemed no way to test these assertions. However, working with the sleep research lab at Stanford University, Stephen LaBerge, a lucid dreamer, was able to demonstrate his special ability. LaBerge told the researchers that during the dreams he would suddenly become aware that he was dreaming and that he could signal the researchers of this awareness by a prearranged pattern of eye movements. They agreed on a mixture of horizontal and vertical eye movements that he would use when he knew he was dreaming. The probability that the particular eye movement pattern would appear by chance was infinitesimally small. During the night the researchers watched the EEG records, and in one of the REM sleep periods, to their excitement and delight, they saw the coded eye movement pattern (La Berge et al., 2001). Other lucid dreamers have since been identified and are being studied.            It is known how many people have the ability for lucid dreaming. Surveys based in self-report provide estimates of between 15 and 28%. Laboratory studies of lucid dreaming usually design by asking people if they frequently are aware of their dreams while dreaming. Those who say that they have that ability are tested in the sleep laboratory, and most are able to demonstrate their lucid dreaming ability using some prearranged signal (typically an eye movement code, sometimes a respiration pattern). These studies have found that lucid dreamers are not lucid in all of their dreams; in fact, the majority of their dreams are nonlucid. Many subjects can become aware of their dreaming, but few can manipulate their dream content. Still, some studies have been successful in giving instructions about specific dream content to lucid dreamers and having them dream about those subjects. When lucid dreams occur, they are more likely to be in the longer REM sleep periods toward morning. Researchers hope to discover how lucid dreaming is possible because phenomenon has something interesting implications for our understanding of consciousness. For in essence, the lucid dreamer is partly in one state of consciousness, the dream, and partly in a totally different state of consciousness, the awareness of the dream. A practical application of this research might be an understanding of the process so that many dreamers could learn how to control their dream content (Galvin, 2002). Discussion Why people dream?            Although most dreams do not have overt sexual imagery, Freud nevertheless believed that most adult dreams can be â€Å"traced back by analysis to erotic wishes.†In Freud’s view, a gun, for example, might be a disguised representation of a penis.            Although Freud considered dreams the key to understanding our inner conflicts, his critics say that dream interpretation leads down a blind alley. Some contend that even if dreams are symbolic, they can be interpreted almost any way one wishes. Others maintain there is nothing hidden in dreams. A dream about a gun, they say, is a dream about a gun. Even Freud, who loved to smoke cigars, acknowledges that â€Å"sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar.†           Freud’s theory of dreams is giving way to newer theories. One of these sees dreams as information processing: Dreams may help store and remind our day’s experiences. Preceded by stressful experiences, REM sleep rises (Palumbo, 2001). What is more, there is â€Å"consistent and compelling evidence†that REM sleep facilitates memory for unusual or anxiety-arousing material (McGrath Cohen, 1999). In one experiment, people heard unusual phrases before bedtime and then were given a memory test the next morning. If awakened every time they began REM sleep, they remembered less than if awakened during other sleep stages (Empson Clarke, 2000). A night of solid sleep (and dreaming) does, it seems, have a justifiable place in a student’s life.            Another reason why we dream is because of physiological function. Perhaps dreams give the dead to the world brain with periodic stimulation. Stimulating experiences and develops and preserves the brain’s neural pathways. This theory makes sense from a developmental point of view. Infants, whose neural networks are just developing, spend a great deal of time in REM sleep.            Still other physiological theories propose that dreams occur from neural activity that scatters upward from the brainstem. According to one version, this neural activity is random, (Hobson, 2002). Psychologists Martin Seligman and Amy Yellen (1999) note that the seconds-long bursts of rapid eye movements during REM sleep coincide with bursts of brain activity, people report vivid experiences, usually dramatic hallucinations.            Given these visual scenes, our cognitive machinery weaves a story line. Mix in the emotional tone provided by the limbic system (which becomes active during REM sleep) andâ€â€voila!â€â€we dream. This helps explain many of our dream experiences, such as the sudden and bizarre changes in scene (triggered by a new visual burst). Dream reports by Seligman’s University of Pennsylvania students confirm that the most vivid dream images are the surprising, discontinuous aspects of the dream; other less vivid images we presumably conjure up to string the visual bursts together.            The function of dreams provokes vigorous debate, but the disputants all agree that we need REM sleep. Deprived of it by repeated awakenings, people return more and more quickly to the REM stage after falling back to sleep. When finally allowed to sleep undisturbed, the literally sleep like babies, with increased REM sleepâ€â€a phenomenon called REM rebound. The withdrawal of REM-suppressing sleeping medications also increases REM sleep, but with accompanying nightmares. Most other mammals also experiences REM sleep and REM rebound. Animals’ need for REM sleep suggests that its causes and functions are deeply biological. That REM sleep occurs in mammals (and not in animals such as fish, whose behavior is less influenced by learning) also fits the information-processing theory of dreams. All of which serves to remind us once again of a basic lesson: Biological and psychological explanations of behavior are partners, not competitors. III. Conclusion            The interpretation or analysis of dreams remains one of the most controversial topics in psychology. A number of disparate views on this subject exist, ranging from the notion that all dreams are interpretable in a psychoanalytic framework to the idea that dream content is essentially randomly generated from the memory stores of the brain and thus meaningless. We adopt a position somewhere in the middle of this controversy, we believe that dreams have meanings and somebody can interpret it. _________________________________________________________________ References: Rados, R., Cartwright, R.D. (1999). Where do dreams come from? A comparison of presleep and REM sleep thematic content. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 91, 433-436. Hobson, J.A. McCarley, R.W. (2001). The brain as a dream state generator: An activation-synthesis hypothesis of the dream process. American Journal of Psychiatry, 134, 1335-1348. La Berge, S. et al., (2001). Lucid dreaming: Physiological correlates of consciousness during REM sleep. Journal of Mind Behavior, 7, 251-258. Galvin, R. M. (2002). Control of Dreams may be possible for a resolute few. Smithsonian, pp. 110-117. Palumbo, S.R.  (2001). Dreaming and memory: A new information-processing model. New York: Basic Books. (p. 157). McGrath, M.J., Cohen, D.G. (1999). REM sleep facilitation of adaptive waking behavior: A review of the literature. Psychological Bulletin, 85, 24-57. (157). Empson, J.A.C., Clarke, P.R.F. (2000). Rapid eye movements and remembering. Nature, 227, 287-288. (p. 157). Hobson, J.A. (2002). The dreaming brain. New York: Basic Books. (p.158).
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
finding neverland movie review Essay -- essays research papers
Analysis of Roger Ebert's â€Å"Finding Neverland†Film Review â€Å"Finding Neverland†is a recently released motion picture starring acclaimed actors Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet, and directed by Marc Forster ("Monsters Ball†) Personally, I loved the movie and It was hard to find a critic that gave the movie a negative review, so I stopped trying to find someone to argue with and I came across the king of all critics, Roger Ebert. I usually don't agree with his reviews, so I figured we would clash on this one, but surprisingly we came to agree on many aspects. He makes a point to mention Freddie Highmore and the remarkable job he did playing the angry but sad role of Peter. A very challenging role for a child that even most adult actors couldn't portray. He can make you feel so sad for him although he is acting like a brat most of the time, but he makes you feel the pain he's going through with the tears and sadness always running through his eyes. He also commends Johnny Depp for his â€Å"widely differing roles†bringing up characters Depp has played in the past which gives you a glance at how many different roles he has not only played, but was excellent in portraying. It is obvious Ebert was impressed by Depps performance but it seams he is giving the movie credit to Depp and ignoring the director. â€Å"For Depp, "Finding Neverland" is the latest in an extraordinary series of performances. After his Oscar nomi...
Monday, January 13, 2020
Discipline and Management- Different Yet Related Essay
In this essay the goal will be to compare and contrast management as opposed to discipline as well as misbehavior as opposed to behavior. The main goal will be to define and find correlations between the terms while providing the reader with a vivid description explaining the ways these terms translate into a classroom setting. Classrooms today call for teachers to find an often elusive balance between the expectations of a teacher and practices that best meet the students’ needs to help them meet the teachers’ expectations. Management is defined as â€Å"an act of managing: supervising of something†(Management, 2013) In relation to the classroom this term describes a plan of action that a teacher employs to conduct their classroom in an organized way and support students with structure and direction. The term classroom management is often thought of as the type of discipline a teacher imposes; however, classroom management refers to taking a proactive stance that prevents unwanted behaviors before they happen. A management plan incorporates the use of routines and classroom organization by a teacher in her classroom (Charles, 2011). In contrast, discipline is defined as â€Å"a type of punishment†(Discipline, 2013). In the classroom, a better definition of discipline is the actions a teacher takes to ensure that students cooperate and participate in the learning process. Discipline involves more than just a punishment for an undesirable action, it encompasses all the methods a teacher uses in her classroom to ensure students practice self-control. Both management and discipline often are used when describing the same practices in the classroom. These concepts address the relationships between student and teacher behaviors in the classroom. Management speaks of the plan that the teacher has in place to teach student the expected behaviors whereas discipline is the plan the teacher has in place to ensure that her students meet these expectations one they understand them. Behavior is defined as â€Å"manner of conducting oneself†(Behavior, 2013); by adding the prefix â€Å"mis†it is then defined as â€Å"bad: wrong†(Misbehavior, 2013). Adding the prefix to the word behavior, misbehavior is formed and describes the manner of conducting oneself badly. In relation to a classroom setting these terms describe how a student acts in the classroom. Both behavior and misbehavior describe the actions of a student either positively or negatively. Negative and positive behaviors both have consequences in the classroom. The consequences are dependent on the type of behavior and much like the terms themselves are opposites. The terms discipline and management are used to help students understand and learn what a good behavior is and what misbehavior is. Teachers utilize management techniques as a means to provide students with the tools needed to learn appropriate behavior in the classroom. Despite the use of these techniques, students do still at times misbehave, this is when teachers utilize the use of a discipline policy to correct the misbehavior and ensure students have an understanding of what is expected. By comparing as well as contrasting behavior and misbehavior as well as discipline and management, we can better understand how these terms correlate the teacher’s policies in place to help her students succeed. References Behavior – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behavior?show=0&t=1368417645 Charles, C.(2011). Building Classroom Discipline (10th). Boston, Pearson Education. Discipline – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discipline Management – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/management Misbehavior – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misbehavior
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Analyzing The Portrayal Of Bipolar Disorder - 2253 Words
Analyzing the Portrayal of Bipolar Disorder in Silver Linings Playbook Micayla K. Freehan Boston University Anne Sullivan-Soydan HP252: Health and Disability Across the Lifespan November 13, 2014 More often than not, Hollywood films incorrectly portray mental disorders, usually by exaggerating symptoms and stereotyping individuals with a mental disorder. For example, Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film Psycho, in which man with schizophrenia murders guests in a hotel, influences viewers to believe that all individuals suffering from schizophrenia are dangerous. However, that is rarely the case (Polatis, 2014). Therefore, it is refreshing to find a movie that accurately portrays the true personality of and individual living with a mental illness. The movie Silver Linings Playbook chronicles the experiences of Pat Solitano, a man suffering from undiagnosed bipolar disorder who was recently released from a psychiatric facility. Although this paper focuses on Pat’s experiences, it is important to note that the film not only takes on the task of portraying bipolar disorder, but also mental illness in general with other major characters suffering from a mixture of psychol ogical or personality disorders. The film opens with Pat at Karel Psychiatric Facility in Baltimore, Maryland. We later learn that Pat was institutionalized for nearly beating to death the man with whom he caught his wife Nikki cheating on him. The rest of the film detailsShow MoreRelatedHow Does The United States Media Affects Mental Illness? Essay998 Words  | 4 Pageswill be analyzed to find any indication of a shift from misrepresentation of the mentally ill to a portrayal that does not represent them as incapable or unable to perform well socially in the real world, or in a job. Shows such as Grey’s Anatomy and Homeland will be evaluated based on the correct representation of disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder, alcoholism/addiction, and bipolar disorder. These shows will be compared to other television shows such as Saved by the Bell that misrepresentRead MoreVladimir Nabokovs Lolita Essay1368 Words  | 6 Pagesbelieve those who act on their immoral sexual desires will blame it on their illness and not their actual judgement. This has occurred in society before where criminals convicted of murder simply blame it on their Schizophrenia or Bipolar disorder. Barbara Straumann, when analyzing the relationship between young Humbert and his lover Annabel, states, â€Å"Yet, if the Annabel story is one of his fakes, it is fabricated to deceive himself...thinking about the cause of ‘the rift in my life’ giving rise, or ratherRead MoreWhy Do People Shoot Up Schools? Essay2156 Words  | 9 Pagesresult of multiple factors such as lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and genetics. There are a few mental illness that we primarily associate with people that commit these malicious acts such as; Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Depression, Dissociative Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Schizophrenia. We can investigate one tragic massacre that occurred in 2007 at Virginia Tech University. The perpetrator was a 23-year-old student, Seung-Hui Cho who moved to the UnitedRead MoreThe Sumerian Goddess Of Sexual Love And Warfare4034 Words  | 17 Pagesresponses to two primary questions: 1) how is Inana portrayed in various texts, and why is this significant? And 2) what can be learned about the nature of ancient Babylonian religion and its relationship to the people through her representation? By analyzing of a variety of primary and secondary sources, I propose that Inana is presented as a dual personality in a selection of myths and hymns, which both contributes to her part as the divine model of the undesirable by allowing her to deviate from submissionRead MoreStatement of Purpose23848 Words  | 96 Pagesfrom other forms of food restriction and obsession, namely the modern ritual of dieting and its most extreme manifestation, an eating disorder. Though not willing to evade those complicated (and controversial) parallels between modern and early modern usages of food and food symbolism to control the lives of women, I also wish to offer as an historian a nuanced portrayal of how early modern conceptualizations of female appetite were infused with contemporary, historically contingent notions of sexualityRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words  | 656 Pagesrelevance of white ethnicity in the United States, not only regarding public activities like voting but also in terms of intimate behavior such as mores and manners, childrearing practices, adolescent styles, and attitudes toward illness, psychiatric disorders, and authority, even in cases where the individuals examined were not particularly aware of their ethnicity.70 The recent waves of migration are still too new to say anything definite based on the situations of existing migrant communities. The
Saturday, December 28, 2019
The Most Feared Disorders Is Schizophrenia - 928 Words
Psychological disorders are a very serious matter and everyone needs to be aware of them. Millions of people around the world are affected by these. These disorders could happen to anybody. Several people think it would never happen to them but it still does. They are not contagious and can’t be caught or given to someone else. Many people experiencing symptoms do not even realize they have a disorder. That is why awareness of them needs to be a top priority so these people can get the help they need. One of the most feared disorders is schizophrenia (Myers, 2014, 657). Schizophrenia is a split from reality (Myers, 2013, 657). People with schizophrenia experience all kinds of symptoms. They experience â€Å"disturbed perceptions, disorganized thinking and inappropriate emotions†(Myers, 2013, 657). They began having hallucinations. They see things and hear things that aren’t really there or real. They can imagine touch and sensation too. For example, one young wo man sees cars’ headlights while driving and believes they are eyes and are trying to harm her (Standen, 2014, 1). These hallucinations can result in a person harming themselves. Sometimes these voices tell them to burn themselves (Myers, 2013, 658). This is one of the reasons that everyone fears schizophrenia because it can be harmful or in some cases even fatal to the people diagnosed with it if it’s not treated and just ignored. People diagnosed with schizophrenia also may have difficulty communicating. They areShow MoreRelatedTaking a Look at Schizophrenia729 Words  | 3 PagesWhat is schizophrenia? â€Å"Schizo†meaning split, and â€Å"phrenia†meaning mind. Schizophrenia is a disorder of the brain that has affected many individuals throughout history. Usually starting in childhood or early adulthood, it is rare for schizophrenia to start after one has reached adulthood. Before schizophrenia was discovered, those with the disorder were considered to be possessed, therefore causing them to be feared or locked up away from those that did not have the disorder. Schizophrenia is chronicRead MoreMental Health1329 Words  | 6 Pagesused to describe long-term psychiatric conditions, which may have significant effects on an individual’s functioning. Some of the most common mental health problems are; anxiety, depression, psychosis, mania, schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, OCD. A qualified clinician should only diagnose such conditions. Anxiety and depression feature as the two most common reasons for people to consult their doctor. There are two sides of mental health, which we all may experience. One side isRead MoreThe Stigma Of Mental Illness With Information1007 Words  | 5 Pagescompletely conscious, with state-of-the-art lobes, but doesn’t come without occasional issues. 25% of our population suffer from some form of mental illness (Klevorick). These disorders can range from mild anxiety to a more crippling mental illness known by many, schizophrenia. The big question here is why are mental illnesses feared? When every other part of your body gets sick, one can get sympathy, except the brain (Wax). The first step to ending the stigma is to understand the different forms of mentalRead MoreSchizophreni A Mental Disorder Essay1278 Words  | 6 PagesSchizophrenia is a mental disorder that takes over a patient’s body and mind. Schizophrenia’s causes and mechanisms remain poorly understood, and the most common treatments do little to restore patients health (Kurtz 7). Schizophrenia affects the person’s brain and ability on to think and function. People with Schizophrenia have voices inside their heads telling them to do things they don t want to. People with schizophrenia are not eligible to control the things they do or say. Schizophrenia isRead MoreSchizophrenia Article and Case Study1172 Words  | 5 Pages! NOVEMBER 11, 2011 SCHIZOPHRENIA Can You See The Voices? By Natascha Schoepl A Battle Against Himself CONNECTICUT - Ken Steele has heard voices most of his life. He was 14 years old when he started having auditory hallucinations. These voices commanded him to hurt himself and they were predicting his death. Hang yourself, the voices told him. The world will be better off. You re no good, no good at all. The voices got louder and louder everyday and he was no longer in control of hisRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of The Man In A Mans Man901 Words  | 4 Pagesproviding him the support his internal working model expected. The severity of his depressed symptoms also stems from his desire to be heard and his want for attention from his siblings. The amount of focus that went into maintaining the family business most likely prohibited a lot of self-care for the family and when Carlos hit a downward spiral after Frank’s death, he hit it hard. Carlos uses projection during â€Å"Session 5†, when asked about his wife and an interaction he had with her. Carlos initialsRead MoreNeurodevelopmental And Neurocognitive Disorders1490 Words  | 6 Pagesï » ¿ Neurodevelopmental and Neurocognitive Disorders Jackeline Rodriguez Psy/410 September 10th, 2014 Caroline Simpson Neurodevelopmental and Neurocognitive Disorders â€Å"The neurodevelopmental disorders are a group of severely disabling conditions that are among the most difficult to understand and treat. They make up about 3.2 percent of cases seen In inpatient settings (Sverd et al., 1995). They are considered to be the result of some structural differences in the brain that are usually evidentRead More Ethical Analysis of A Beautiful Mind Essay1595 Words  | 7 PagesEthical Analysis of â€Å"A Beautiful Mind†â€Å"A Beautiful mind†is a story based on the life of John Forbes Nash, who is a famous mathematician. Unfortunately, he is suffering from paranoid schizophrenia that majorly affects his personal and social life. Schizophrenia is a psychological disorder in which the patient’s ability to function is impaired by severely distorted beliefs, perceptions, and thought processes (Hockenbury, 2010). John Nash, the main character, faces many challenges in his professionalRead More John Nash, A Beautiful Mind Essay1628 Words  | 7 PagesWHAT IS SCHIZOPHRENIA? The modern definition of schizophrenia describes it as a long-lasting psychotic disorder (involving a severe break with reality), in which there is an inability to distinguish what is real from fantasy as well as disturbances in thinking, emotions, behavior, and perception (Cicarelli, p. 557). SYMPTOMS Schizophrenia includes several symptoms. One common symptom is delusions, which are false beliefs that the person holds and that tend to remain fixed and unshakable evenRead MoreSchizophreni A Devastating Psychotic Disorder1710 Words  | 7 Pages Could you imagine waking up one day realizing you not only lost everything you thought you once had, but realizing they never existed? Schizophrenia is a â€Å"Devastating psychotic disorder that may involve characteristic disturbances in thinking, perception, speech, emotions, and behavior.†(Barlow Durand, 2015, 2012). Meaning that it’s a mental disorder that completely allows your mind to be in an altered state, making it almost impossible to tell the difference between the real truth and the truth
Friday, December 20, 2019
219 Module Two Google Earth Exercises Student Essay
Amanda Horn SCI 219 Module Two Google Earth Exercises These questions include Chapters 4, 5, and 6. Fill out your answers in this document and submit your responses in Blackboard. Galapagos Islands Chapter 4. This island group is famous as the site at which Charles Darwin collected evidence for evolution of species. Because the islands are so isolated, they were free of human inhabitants until relatively recently. Most of the animals never developed a fear of humans. It is a popular ecotourist destination today because of its biodiversity and historic scientific importance. Questions: 1. Approximately how many islands can you see in this group? There are about ten islands clustered in the main group, with a couple of other minor†¦show more content†¦If you zoom in on the place marker, you can see the texture of the reefs. If you zoom out from the view shown by our place marker, you’ll see how many patches of reef make up this complex. Australia has set aside about one-third of the reef complex as a marine protected area in which all extractive activities are banned. Overfishing and other destructive practices have been halted, but other problems still threaten the reef. Warm water has been causing bleaching (For reasons we don’t fully understand, when they’re stressed by warm water or other factors, the corals expel their algae symbionts. If the bleaching is too severe, the corals die). In recent years, bleaching incidents have become increasingly widespread and severe. In 2002, between 65 and 90 percent of the corals within the 284,000 km2 of the Great Barrier Reef showed signs of bleaching. Global warming can only make this situation worse. Another serious concern is that the increased CO2 concentrations are making ocean water more acidic, which interferes with the coral’s ability to create the calcium carbonate exoskeletons that create the reef. Some marine biologists warn that if current t rends continue, all the coral could be dead within the next 50 years. Questions: 1. What term do biologists use to describe this cooperative relationship between coral and algae? Mutualism is a cooperative relationship where each member benefits the other. 2. What is the term for theShow MoreRelatedManaging Information Technology (7th Edition)239873 Words  | 960 PagesIII-5 NIBCO’s â€Å"Big Bang†: An SAP Implementation CASE STUDY III-6 BAT Taiwan: Implementing SAP for a Strategic Transition CASE STUDY III-7 A Troubled Project at Modern Materials, Inc. CASE STUDY III-8 Purchasing and Implementing a Student Management System at Jefferson County School System CASE STUDY IV-1 The Clarion School for Boys, Inc.– Milwaukee Division: Making Information Systems Investments CASE STUDY IV-2 FastTrack IT Integration for the Sallie Mae Merger CASERead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words  | 1617 PagesData Whetten, David A. (David Allred) Developing management skills /David A. Whetten, Kim S. Cameron.â€â€8th ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-13-612100-8 1. Managementâ€â€-Study and teaching. 2. Managementâ€â€Problems, exercises, etc. Kim S. II. Title. HD30.4.W46 2011 658.40071 173â€â€dc22 I. Cameron, 2009040522 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 ISBN 10: 0-13-612100-4 ISBN 13: 978-0-13-612100-8 B R I E F TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S Preface xvii Introduction 1 PART I Read MoreProject Mgmt296381 Words  | 1186 Pagesmanaging one or more projects. This text is designed to provide project managers and prospective project managers with the knowledge and skills that are transferable across industries and countries. Our motivation for writing this text was to provide students with a holistic, integrative view of project management. A holistic view focuses on how projects contribute to the strategic goals of the organization. The linkages for integration include the process of selecting projects that best support the strategyRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words  | 1573 PagesWorkplace Bullying Are Men Attacking Women†12 An Ethical Choice Can You Learn from Failure? 24 glOBalization! Does National Culture Affect Organizational Practices? 30 Point/Counterpoint Lost in Translation? 31 Questions for Review 32 Experiential Exercise Workforce Diversity 32 Ethical Dilemma Jekyll and Hyde 33 Case Incident 1 â€Å"Lessons for ‘Undercover’ Bosses†34 Case Incident 2 Era of the Disposable Worker? 35 vii viii CONTENTS 2 2 The Individual Diversity in Organizations 39 Read More65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays 2nd Edition 147256 Words  | 190 Pagesbusiness school applications. With an abundance of qualified candidates to choose from, admissions officers can be more selective, making admission to top schools even more challenging for applicants. The Harbus, the Harvard Business School weekly student newspaper, recognizes that applicants require up-to-date materials and inspiration to match the current environment. While this book includes the latest application essays, which are updated regularly by the ad... missions committee, it retains severalRead MoreNokias Human Resources System144007 Words  | 577 Pageswill continue our development of MeeGo with increased emphasis on longer term market exploration of next generation devices, platforms and user experiences. We expect the transition to Windows Phone as our primary smartphone platform to take about two years. We and Microsoft have entered into a non binding term sheet, and the proposed Microsoft partnership remains subject to the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements. See Item 4B. â€Å"Business Overviewâ€â€Devices Servicesâ€â€New strategyâ€â€Smartphones†Read MoreLibrary Management204752 Words  | 820 Pages . 210 The LIS Education and Human Resource Utilization Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 The Organizational Framework for Staffing . . . . . . . . . 216 Job Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 Job Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 Job Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222 Recruitment and Hiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224 Filling VacantRead MoreMarketing Management 14th Edition Test Bank Kotler Test Bank173911 Words  | 696 PagesD) privatization E) heightened competition Answer: E Page Ref: 12 Objective: 4 AACSB: Reflective thinking Difficulty: Moderate 40) Industry boundaries are blurring rapidly as companies identify new opportunities at the intersection of two or more industries. This is called ________. A) globalization B) customization C) industry convergence D) disintermediation E) privatization Answer: C Page Ref: 12 Objective: 4 Difficulty: Easy 41) The success of online purchasing resulted
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Introduction For A Business Ethics Essay Example For Students
Introduction For A Business Ethics Essay Ethics in Business From a business perspective, working under government contracts can be a very lucrative proposition. In general, a stream of orders keep coming in, revenue increases and the company grows in the aggregate. The obvious downfalls to working in this manner is both higher quality expected as well as the extensive research and documentation required for government contracts. If a part fails to perform correctly it can cause minor glitches as well as problems that can carry serious repercussions, such as in the National Semiconductor case. When both the culpable component and company are found, the question arises of how extensive these repercussions should be. Is the company as an entity liable or do you look into individual employees within that company? From an ethical perspective one would have to look at the mitigating factors of both the employees and their superiors along with the role of others in the failure of these components. Next you would have to analyze th e final ruling from a corporate perspective and then we must examine the macro issue of corporate responsibility in order to attempt to find a resolution for cases like these. The first mitigating factor involved in the National Semiconductor case is the uncertainty, on the part of the employees, on the duties that they were assigned. It is plausible that during the testing procedure, an employee couldnt distinguish which parts they were to test under government standards and commercial standards. In some cases they might have even been misinformed on the final consumers of the products that they tested. In fact, ignorance on the part of the employees would fully excuse them from any moral responsibility for any damage that may result from their work. Whether it is decided that an employees is fully excused, or is given some moral responsibility, would have to be looked at on an individual basis. The second mitigating factor is the duress or threats that an employee might suffer if they do not follow through with their assignment. After the bogus testing was completed in the National Semiconductor labs, the documentation department also had to falsify documents stating that the parts had surpassed the governmental testing standards. From a legal and ethical standpoint, both the testers and the writers of the reports were merely acting as agents on direct orders from a superior. This was also the case when the plant in Singapore refused to falsify the documents and were later falsified by the employees at the have California plant before being submitted to the approval committees (Velazquez, 53). The writers of the reports were well aware of the situation yet they acted in this manner on the instruction of a supervisor. Acting in an ethical manner becomes a secondary priority in this type of environment. As stated by Alan Reder, . . . if they the employees feel they will suffer retribution, if they report a problem, they arent too likely to open their mouths. ( 113). The workers knew that if the reports were not falsified they would come under questioning and perhaps their employment would go into jeopardy. Although working under these conditions does not fully excuse an employees from moral fault, it does start the divulging process for determining the order of the chain of command of superiors and it helps to narrow down the person or department that issued the original request for the unethical acts. The third mitigating factor is one that perhaps encompasses the majority of the employees in the National Semiconductor case. We have to balance the direct involvement that each employee had with the defective parts. Thus, it has to be made clear that many of the employees did not have a direct duty with the testing departments or with the parts that eventually failed. Even employees, or sub-contractors, that were directly involved with the production were not aware of the incompetence on the part of the testing department. For example, the electrical engineer that designed the defective computer chip could act in good faith that it would be tested to ensure that it did indeed meet the required government endurance tests. Also, for the employees that handled the part after the testing process, they were dealing with what they believed to be a component that met every governmental standard. If it was not tested properly, and did eventually fail, isnt the testing department more morally responsible than the designer or the assembly line worker that was in charge of installing the chip? Plus, in large corporations there may be several testing departments and is some cases one may be held more responsible than another depending on their involvement. A process like this can serve the dual purpose of finding irresponsible employees as well as those that are morally excused. The fourth mitigating factor in cases of this nature is the gauging of the seriousness of the fault or error caused by this product. Since National Semi conductor was repeatedly being reinstated to the listed of approved government contractors, one can safely assume that the level of seriousness, in the opinion of For the contractor approval committees, is not of monumental importance. Yet one has to wonder how this case would have been different if the lack of testing did cause the loss of life in either a domestic or foreign military setting. Perhaps the repercussions would have come faster much more stringent. The fact that National Semiconductor did not cause a death does not make them a safe company. They are still to be held responsible for any errors that their products cause, no matter the magnitude. As for the opposition to the delegating of moral responsibility, mitigating factors and excusing factors, they would argue that the entity of the corporation as a whole should be held responsible. The executives within a corporation should not be forced to bring out all of the employees responsible into a public forum. A company should be reprimanded and be left alone to carry out its own internal investigation and repercussions. From a business law perspective this is the ideal case since a corporation is defined as being a separate legal entity. Furthermore, the opposition would argue that this resolution would benefit both the company and the government since it would not inconvenience either party. The original resolution in the National Semiconductor case was along these lines. The government permanently removed National from its approved contractors list and then National set out to untangle the web of culpability within its own confines. This allowed a relatively quick resolution as well as the ideal scenario for National Semiconductor. In response, one could argue that the entity of a corporation has no morals or even a concept of the word, it is only as moral and ethical as the employees that work in that entity. All of the employees, including top ranking executives are working towards advancing the entity known as their corporation (Capitman, 117). All employees, including the sub-contractors and assembly line workers, are in some part morally responsible because they should have been clear on their employment duties and they all should have been aware of which parts were intended for government use. Ambiguity is not an excusing factor of moral responsibility for the workers. Also, the fact that some employees failed to act in an ethical manner gives even more moral responsibility to that employee. While some are definitely more morally responsible than others, every employee has some burden of weight in this case. In fact, when the government reached a final resolution, they decided to further impose repercussions and certain employees of National Semiconductor were banned from future work in any government office (Velazquez, 54). Looking at the case from the standpoint of National Semiconductor, the outcome was favorable considering the alternate steps that the governmen t could taken. As explained before, it is ideal for a company to be able to conduct its own investigation as well as its own punishments. After all, it would be best for a company to determine what specific departments are responsible rather than having a court of law impose a burden on every employee in its corporation. Yet, since there are ethical issues of dishonesty and secrecy involved, National Semiconductor should have conducted a thorough analysis of their employees as well as their own practices. It is through efforts like these that a corporation can raise the ethical standard of everyone in their organization. This case brings into light the whole issue of corporate responsibility. The two sides that must ultimately be balanced are the self interests of the company, with main goal of maximum profit, and the impacts that a corporation can cause on society (Sawyer, 78). To further strengthen this need, one could argue that there are very few business decisions that do not a ffect society in way or another. In fact, with the plethora of corporations, society is being affected on various fronts; everything from water contamination to air bag safety is a concern. The biggest problem that all of us must contend with is that every decision that a business makes is gauged by the financial responsibility to their corporation instead of their social responsibility to the local community, and in some cases, the international community. This was pointed out on various occasions as the main reason why National Semiconductor falsified their reports. The cost that the full tests would incur did not outweigh their profit margins. Their business sense lead them to do what all companies want . . . maximum profit. In the opinion of the executives, they were acting in a sensible manner. After all, no executive wants to think of themselves as morally irresponsible. (Capitman, 118). The question that naturally arises, in debating corporate responsibility, is what types of checks and balances can be employed within a company to ensure that a corporation and all of its agents act in an ethical manner. Taking the example of the National Semiconductor case, one can notice many failures in moral responsibility. National Semiconductor would have to review its employees, particularly the supervisors, for basic ethical values such as honesty. example, ultimately it was the widespread falsification of the testing documentation that caused the downfall of National Semiconductor, not the integrity of their components. In the synopsis of the case it is never mentioned that the employees initiated this idea, it would seem that it was the supervisors that gave the order to falsify the documents. In order to accomplish this, the company executives would have to encourage their employees to voice their concerns in regards to the advancement of the company. Through open communication, a company can resolve a variety of its ethical dilemmas. As for the financial aspe cts of the corporation, it has to decide whether the long term effects that a reprimand from the government can have outweighs their bottom line. In other words, corporations have to start moving away from the thought of instant profit and start realizing both the long term effects and benefits. These long term benefits can include a stronger sense of ethics in the work force as well as a better overall society. To conclude, I must say that I agree with the use of mitigating factors in determining moral responsibility. A company, as defined by law, is only a name on a piece of paper. The company acts and conducts itself according to the employees that work in that entity. I use the word employee because in ethical thinking there should be no distinction of rank within a company. There are times when executives can be held directly responsible and at the same time, there are cases where employees are acting unethically without the executives knowing. Neither title of executive or emp loyee equates to moral perfection. Therefore, when a company has acted irresponsibly, its employees must be held liable in a proportionate amount. As for the future of ethics in business I would speculate that if employees started to think more in long term benefits and profits, many of the ethical dilemmas that we face today would be greatly reduced. As mentioned before, businesses today uses the measuring stick of profitability. There needs to be a shift to the thinking of total utility for the social community in order to weigh business decisions. Opponents would argue that this is a long term plan that require too many radical changes in the face of business. Also, there is no way that an industry wide standard can be set since there are too many types of corporations. Plus, companies have different needs and every moral rule is subjective according to the type of business that everyone conducts. In response, I would argue that although there are no industry standards that are f easible, it is possible for every company to examine their practices as well as the attitude of their employees. There will be companies that find that they are doing fine with employees that are aware of their moral values. Yet other companies will find that they do have areas that need improvement. It is steps like these that start implementing changes. Once a few companies start to see the benefits of changes, it can help to encourage other companies to follow suit. After all, as seen in the case of National Semiconductor, mistakes in one department can cause the deterioration of an entire corporation. When the costs that are possible are taken into account, the changes required to rectify this are small in comparison. Bibliography Capitman, William. 1973. Panic In the Boardroom. New York: Anchor Press-DoubleDay Publishing Harris, Kathryn, Chips Maker Feels Attack on Four Sides Los Angeles Times April 4, 1982. Pg. B1 Pava, Moses. 1995. Corporate Responsibility and Financial Perf ormance. London Quorum Books Reder, Alan. 1944. In Pursuit of Principle and Profit. New York: G.P. Putnams Sons Publishing Sawyer, George. 1979. Business and Society: Managing Corporate Social Impact. Boston Houghton Mifflin Publishing Schuyten, Peter. To Clone A Computer. New York Times February 4, 1979. Pg. 1 Velazquez, Manuel. 1992. Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases. New Jersey Prentice Hall PublishingBibliography: America In Gilded Age Essay
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