Public Employees Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Public Employees - Essay Example This essay discusses the benefits of the patronage system versus the merit system for public employee. First, the patronage system refers to a system where public employees are hired or dismissed based on the support of an individual candidate or the political system. When a candidate belonging to a certain political party wins an election, they have the right to appoint a given number of individuals into public positions (Farazmand, 2007). This is the real meaning of the patronage system that is commonly referred to as the spoils system. The appointment of these individuals is based on political support rather than merit as the appointment criteria. Although the patronage system exists across the various levels in the US government, the number of positions offered through this system has reduced drastically since the 1880s. In fact, the system existed in the US until 1883 with the enactment of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883. In 1820, congress set a limit of the federal administrators to four years and this lead to an increase in the public employees’ turnover (Dautrich and Yalof, 2013). By the 1860s, the patronage system and the civil war had led to increased corruption and widespread inefficiency in the public service and had spread to low rank government positions. There are numerous benefits associated with the patronage or spoilers system. To start with, the system helps put in place a well-organized political system that rewards campaign workers. The system also puts individuals who agree with the political agenda in power thus promotion cooperation, trust and loyalty within the public service. The system ensures continuous turnover and this brings new individuals and ideas into the system. This system was replaced by the Merit system when the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 was enacted (Dautrich and Yalof, 2013). The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 specified that public jobs

Privacy and Security Issues Online Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Privacy and Security Issues Online - Essay Example Conducting business via the internet has been referred to as e-commerce or electronic commerce (Kalakota and Whinston, 1997). According to Kalakota and Whinston, â€Å"it endeavors to improve the execution of business transactions over various networks† (1997, p. 4). Ecommerce has really made business easier and enjoyable. This has resulted to more performance, better quality, greater customer satisfaction, and better decision making among the consumers and sellers (Kalakota 1997). ...The UK government believes that if e-commerce was a sector by itself, it would be larger than the sectors of utilities and agriculture (UK Cabinet Office Staff, 2011). However, apart from bringing many profits to business owners, it has brought about breaches of privacy and security to consumers and businesses. 1. Various Privacy and Security Issues experienced by Consumers and Businesses Online The ever increasing use of the internet has resulted in many consumers giving too much information wit hout even realizing it and has been viewed as a tempting treasure, especially for marketers. For example, when a consumer visits a particular company’s website, he might unwillingly provide to the company with even confidential information. If the website utilizes cookies and other tracking devices, companies usually gather even more information, which if not properly handled, results in security and privacy issues. Computerized interactions between businesses and their clients have helped in building more sophisticated businesses. As more information is being shared with others, some clients’ personal information ends up in the wrong hands and might be used in wrong ways bringing up problems between consumers and businesses (Selis, Ramasastry, Kim and Smith, n.d.). The nature of online activities has been seen to threaten the privacy of consumer’s and the businesses taking place online. Every move the consumer or a business owner makes on the internet, whether on smartphones, tablets, or laptops, turn out to be information that trackers have been able to access, and used to their advantage.

Business Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business Strategy - Essay Example t size, market growth rate, market share as well as market segmentation, clearly, all these are the strength that are enjoyed more by Merck company as compared to the competitor. The company needs to reexamine the top-down aspect in relation to bottom up perspectives as it operation strategy. The decisions that are made by the organization from the top are very important for the company (Hynes, Michael, 23). In order to be able to set general direction for the company, and ultimately influence the overall strategy of the company, then there is a need to interpret clearly the functional areas of the company, including operations, finances as well as marketing. Another very critical area that needs to be explored by the Merck Company is to balance the market requirement and the operations resources. The strategy that has been adopted by Merck needs to examine and reflect on what the company is actually doing in relation to what the market requires. From the analysis, the company is much focused on cost than any other

Introduction to social policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Introduction to social policy - Essay Example Indeed, whatever one's position in relation to globalization the concept/debate is a significant one for this field, and even 'septic internationalists' who otherwise deny the fundamental precepts of the globalization thesis would agree there is a need to address the wider global contexts and dimensions of social policy. In fact, used carefully, 'globalization' presents many new opportunities to critically interrogate social policy to think about how we construct fields of enquiry, the concepts and theories we use, the areas and issues we examine, and the types of questions we ask. (Nicola Yeates) One basic illustration of how a globalization perspective 'disrupts' the precepts of social policy is to consider how it challenges the basic unit of analysis the national welfare state. Thus, academic social policy has essentially been concerned with variations in how welfare services are financed, organized, delivered, and consumed within these political territories as well as with the effects of these services on the social structure, social relations, and quality of life of their resident populations. Whether the variations are between social groups, over time, or between countries, the nation-state and the social policies enacted within it have framed the analysis. In many ways, this is sensible: after all, most welfare services are organized, funded, regulated, and delivered by governmental and non-governmental entities based and operating within the territorial boundaries of individual countries, while the services provided are usually accessed by people living in those same countries. Yet in other ways this orientation unnecessarily restricts, even distorts, the field of enquiry by focusing our gaze on the national context to the detriment of the transnational and global ones. In particular, it presumes that the forces shaping the social structure are primarily local and national ones and that the entities involved in formulating and implementing social policy operate purely on a national basis. It obscures the various transnational sites and spaces in which social policies are formulated, and the social impacts of 'our' domestic and foreign economic and development policies on other countries and populations. In essence, it problematically assumes that social policy exists within an impermeable national container space, and that it develops with little or no reference to the global circumstances of 'our' country or its relationship to other countries, or to developments and events elsewhere in the world. (C Murray, 1984) Globalization brings new concerns and perspectives to social policy. A globalization perspective also brings new perspectives and subject matter to social policy, extending its field of enquiry. To begin with, it opens up to enquiry the ways in which the content of social policy and the distribution of welfare are shaped by: governmental and non-governmental organizations responding not only to domestic issues and sources of pressure but also to circumstances, events, and developments in other countries; the policies of foreign governments, international organizations, and financial institutions;

Critically evaluate the organisational impact of mergers and Essay

Critically evaluate the organisational impact of mergers and acquisitions on the enlarged tourism firm - Essay Example Mergers and acquisitions need to be carefully considered, well planned and executed with great care because, although a decision to have an enlarged firm can provide an opportunity for growth, a failed execution can be costly, resulting in others attempting to takeover or control a part of the business. A merger or an acquisition is followed by a period of uncertainty in the enlarged organization as change managers try to execute plans and transform a vision into reality. It is necessary to try and pay attention to the human resources in the enlarged organization along with trying to utilize economies of scale and synergies, because those who have been interacting with the previously separate organizations can feel insecure, angry and frustrated with the change. Thus mergers and acquisitions bring about a period of uncertainty and chaos as spectators as well as share markets decide if the business decisions that were made or their executions have been sound. This brief essay presents a discussion of the organizational impact of mergers and acquisitions on the enlarged tourism organization. Mergers and acquisitions have been very popular in nearly all sectors of the economy in the past decade because corporations have felt that there is a need to utilize economies of scale and to take advantage of the strengths which have been developed in specific organizations to provide lower operating costs in order to thrive in competitive times (Andersson, 2000, Pp. 1 – 10). In the tourism sector, mergers and acquisitions have had an impact on hotel chains as well as airlines and an increasingly larger number of firms have tried to join hands in order to survive or thrive. Shocks such as the September 11 terrorist attacks as well as higher aviation fuel costs, have encouraged firms associated with the airline or hotel businesses to combine their strengths in order to become economically competitive. An example of a recent merger in the airline

Review essay on Henry Jenkins concepts Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Review on Henry Jenkins concepts - Essay Example In the contemporary world, every aspect of human life is influenced by the rapid changes in communications, storytelling and information technologies which affect the ways in which people interact with each other. As Jenkins maintains, media convergence cannot be comprehended as mere technological shift, because it alters the relationship between existing technologies, industries, markets, genres and audiences. Jenkins makes a significant contribution to the understanding of the contradictory nature of media change through the theory of media convergence which indicates sites of tension and transition in the media environment. â€Å"The American media environment is now being shaped by two seemingly contradictory trends: on the one hand, new media technologies have lowered production and distribution costs, expanded the range of available delivery channels and enabled consumers to archive, annotate, appropriate and re-circulate media content in powerful new ways; on the other hand, there has been an alarming concentration of the ownership of mainstream commercial media, with a small handful of multinational media conglomerates dominating all sectors of the entertainment industry.† (Jenkins 2004, P 33). Therefore, it is essential to comprehend that Henry Jenkins has made incredible contribution to the understanding of new media and this paper makes a reflective exploration of Jenkins as a key theorist of new media and media convergence from the perspective of its users and participatory culture. Henry Jenkins has been recognized as one of America’s most respected media analysts and he has made essential contribution to the understanding of new media and media convergence. Significantly, Jenkins makes an important attempt to expose the various cultural transformations taking place as media converge in his work Convergence

Organic food Essay Example for Free

Organic food Essay We asked Food Scientists a simple question: â€Å"What foods do you avoid? Experts from different areas of specialty explain why they won’t eat these eight foods. Food scientists are shedding light on items loaded with toxins and chemicals–and simple swaps for a cleaner diet and supersized health. Experts from different areas of specialty explain why they won’t eat these eight foods. Clean eating means choosing fruits, vegetables, and meats that are raised, grown, and sold with minimal processing. Often they’re organic, and rarely (if ever) should they contain additives. But in some cases, the methods of today’s food producers are neither clean nor sustainable. The result is damage to our health, the environment, or both. So we decided to take a fresh look at food through the eyes of the people who spend their lives uncovering what’s safe–or not–to eat. † Their answers don’t necessarily make up a â€Å"banned foods† list. But reaching for the suggested alternatives might bring you better health–and peace of mind. 1. The Endocrinologist Won’t Eat: Canned Tomatoes Fredrick Vom Saal, is an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A. The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people’s body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. â€Å"You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that’s a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young,† says vom Saal. â€Å"I won’t go near canned tomatoes. † The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, likeTrader Joe’s and Pomi. Exposure to BPA Causes Permanent Damage In OffSpring 2. The Farmer Won’t Eat: Corn-Fed Beef Joel Salatin is co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable farming. The problem: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. But more money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us. A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease. â€Å"We need to respect the fact that cows are herbivores, and that does not mean feeding them corn and chicken manure,† says Salatin. The solution: Buy grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers markets, and nationally at Whole Foods. It’s usually labeled because it demands a premium, but if you don’t see it, ask your butcher. 3. The Toxicologist Won’t Eat: Microwave Popcorn Olga Naidenko, is a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group. The problem: Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize–and migrate into your popcorn. â€Å"They stay in your body for years and accumulate there,† says Naidenko, which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in laboratory animals. DuPont and other manufacturers have promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but millions of bags of popcorn will be sold between now and then. The solution: Pop organic kernels the old-fashioned way: in a skillet. For flavorings, you can add real butter or dried seasonings, such as dillweed, vegetable flakes, or soup mix. Make it organic and use coconut oil. If You’re Still Eating Microwave Popcorn, You’re Not Fully Grasping The Health Consequences 4. The Farm Director Won’t Eat: Nonorganic Potatoes Jeffrey Moyer is the chair of the National Organic Standards Board. The problem: Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil. In the case of potatoes–the nation’s most popular vegetable–they’re treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they’re dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting. â€Å"Try this experiment: Buy a conventional potato in a store, and try to get it to sprout. It won’t,† says Moyer, who is also farm director of the Rodale Institute (also owned by Rodale Inc. , the publisher of Prevention). â€Å"I’ve talked with potato growers who say point-blank they would never eat the potatoes they sell. They have separate plots where they grow potatoes for themselves without all the chemicals. † The solution: Buy organic potatoes. Washing isn’t good enough if you’re trying to remove chemicals that have been absorbed into the flesh. Budget tip: Organic potatoes are only $1 to $2 a pound, slightly more expensive than conventional spuds. 5. The Fisheries Expert Won’t Eat: Farmed Salmon Dr. David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany, published a major study in the journal Science on contamination in fish. The problem: Nature didn’t intend for salmon to be crammed into pens and fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. As a result, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT. According to Carpenter, the most contaminated fish come from Northern Europe, which can be found on American menus. â€Å"You could eat one of these salmon dinners every 5 months without increasing your risk of cancer,† says Carpenter, whose 2004 fish contamination study got broad media attention. â€Å"It’s that bad. † Preliminary science has also linked DDT to diabetes and obesity, but some nutritionists believe the benefits of omega-3s outweigh the risks. There is also concern about the high level of antibiotics and pesticides used to treat these fish. When you eat farmed salmon, you get dosed with the same drugs and chemicals. The solution: Switch to wild-caught Alaska salmon. If the package says fresh Atlantic, it’s farmed. There are no commercial fisheries left for wild Atlantic salmon. Farmed Fish vs. Wild Fish: How Healthy Is The Fish At Your Favorite Grocery? 6. The Cancer Researcher Won’t Drink: Milk Produced With Artificial Hormones Rick North is project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and former CEO of the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society. The problem: Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels of IGF-1 may contribute to breast, prostate, and colon cancers. â€Å"When the government approved rBGH, it was thought that IGF-1 from milk would be broken down in the human digestive tract,† says North. â€Å"There’s not 100 percent proof that this is increasing cancer in humans,† admits North. â€Å"However, it’s banned in most industrialized countries. † The solution: Buy raw milk or check labels for rBGH-free, rBST-free, produced without artificial hormones, or organic milk. These phrases indicate rBGH-free products. Why Do Humans Still Drink Milk? 7. The Biotech Specialist Who Won’t Eat Conventional Soy: GMO Unfermented Soy Michael Harris is biotech specialist who has directed several projects within the biotech sector including those for genetically engineered food. He has been a consultant, manager and director for companies such as Xenon Pharmaceuticals and Genon Corporation. The problem: Genetically engineered food is a cause of great concern due to the manipulation of DNA and genetic code including transfers from one species to another. Fermented Soy Is The Only Soy Food Fit for Human Consumption and since almost 90% of soy in the world is genetically modified, if you are not ensuring sources are organic, long-term health problems are inevitable, especially since soy has been found to affect hormonal balance and even cause cancer. The solution: Check labels to ensure soy is Non-GMO or organic and never consume unfermented sources. If possible contact the company to find out exactly where the Non-GMO soy was obtained. 8. The Organic-Foods Expert Won’t Eat: Conventional Apples Mark Kastel, a former executive for agribusiness, is codirector of the Cornucopia Institute, a farm-policy research group that supports organic foods. The problem: If fall fruits held a â€Å"most doused in pesticides contest,† apples would win. Why? They are individually grafted (descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains its distinctive flavor. As such, apples don’t develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently. The industry maintains that these residues are not harmful. But Kastel counters that it’s just common sense to minimize exposure by avoiding the most doused produce, like apples. â€Å"Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers,† he says. And increasing numbers of studies are starting to link a higher body burden of pesticides (from all sources) with Parkinson’s disease. The solution:Buy organic apples or apples from a farmer that you trust!