Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Development of web application for Social Media Research Centre

Question: Talk about the Social Media Research Center. Answer: Undertaking Objectives The primary target of the task is to build up a web application for the web-based social networking research focus. The web application is required so as to associate individuals with the internet based life research focus. The site that is created contains significant data session different exploration ventures, directors, data about PhD undertaking and that's just the beginning. The deliverable of the undertaking is very huge for executing the site of the exploration place successfully so as to give various favorable circumstances to the individuals from the examination. The expectations of the task incorporates the undertaking sanction which contains budgetary records, supposition and imperatives, venture goals just as acknowledgment measures for executing the site appropriately. The task will give number of points of interest to the association. With the improvement of Web application individuals from the exploration place can ready to get all the subtleties related with research ventures, data, program, introduced record just as distribution which further aides in advancing the examination community. It is very significant that the undertaking must be finished inside the evaluated financial plan just as time. Quantifiable Organizational Value The principle objective of the association is to advance the media research focus by building up a web application. The improvement of site helps in giving all the significant data which is related with research, program, introduced record just as distribution to the individuals from the examination place. The advancement of task makes an ideal territory of effect in territories of procedure, client, monetary, operational just as social. Effect in regions Positioning Methodology Medium Budgetary High Client High Operational High Social Low Type Estimation of the venture Better The improvement in the venture is finished with the advancement off web application which is very noteworthy. With the assistance of web application the exploration place can advance them. The customers can get data session different tasks, distributions just as examination without any problem. Quicker The client needs to improve the effectiveness of the framework with the goal that they can utilize the framework appropriately for staying in the association of the examination place. Less expensive The web application must be created inside the assessed spending plan. This not just aides in upgrading the money related state of examination focus yet in addition helps in finishing the whole undertaking on schedule. Accomplish more The association must make new routes so as to advance their business so the customers can undoubtedly get associated with the examination place,. The fitting measurement for the undertaking incorporates: The whole undertaking must be finished with the evaluated financial plan AUD 50000.00 The length of the undertaking must be 3 months The site must be created so as to advance the media research focus All the data related with the exploration extends just as distribution must be refreshed appropriately The task must not surpass it spending plan or time. Acknowledgment Criteria The acknowledgment model of the undertaking helps in guaranteeing that the web based life research focus meets with Web application necessity are affirmed and it helps in furnishing all the data related with the examination place appropriately to the customers. Client acknowledgment testing of the venture is finished and the undertaking supervisor has closed down different reports for testing the site. David wright acknowledges all the elements which incorporate inclusion of the partners, IT prerequisites, assets just as requirements of IT staffs and the executives. Suspicions and Constraints The venture creates number of suppositions for actualizing the web application for Media research focus. The different sorts of suspicions which are made before building up the site incorporate number of representatives, spending plan required, time estimation, assets of the task and number of workers. it is distinguished that the whole financial plan of the task is AUD 50000.00 while the evaluated time is around 3 months. There are three primary limitations that are required in the usage of web application include: Cost: the undertaking must be finished inside the evaluated spending that is around AUD 50000.00. On the off chance that the task chiefs can't finish the whole venture inside the pre-expected spending then the undertaking will make a money related weight on the association. Timetable: The task must follow explicit exercises while executing the venture so as to build up the site effectively inside the assessed spending ass well as time. Extension: The extent of this venture should be illustrative enough to finish the execution of Web application inside the assessed financial plan just as time. Partner List Name of the partner and job Obligations David Wright (Official Officer) David directs all the elements of the internet based life research focus according to its crucial, just as objectives. Bruce (program chief) The program administrator deals with the task improvement for the examination place. Daniel Watson (Undertaking Manager) The undertaking administrator creates web application for the exploration place. Sonia Reed (Application Manager) Sonia will helps in refreshing all the significant data identified with research just as distributions in the site. Exercises Learned The improvement of Web application inside the internet based life research focus is very invaluable as the examination place can furnish significant data related with research, venture just as distribution. The individual from the exploration place can use this data just as task. The individuals can likewise share their paper by signing into their record. This methodology will be useful in advancing the online networking research focus all around. It is a lot of imperative to give legitimate task just as data so as to upgrade the estimation of the exploration community in the market. The site must give legitimate security with the goal that the persona data of the individual from research focus doesn't get spilled. The whole venture must be finished inside the evaluated spending plan just as an ideal opportunity to limit difficulties or budgetary dangers. Contract Sign Off Partner Mark of the partner Official Officer David Wright Program Manager Bruce Task trough Daniel Watson Application Manager Sonia Reed Correspondence Plan: Purpose The principle reason for the correspondence plan is to explain the objectives just as destinations of Social Media research focus. It helps in explaining the jobs just as obligations of the considerable number of partners of the association. The correspondence plan for Social Media research focus is given beneath: Recognizable proof of partners Data to be shared Recurrence of data trade Area of data trade motivation behind correspondence Instrument of correspondence Sort of correspondence Official Officer The data about different elements of the task is given to the official. Month to month Meeting lobby The principle motivation behind the correspondence is that the official will increase appropriate data just as information about the advantages just as elements of the undertaking. Email Upward Program administrator The exercises that are related with the advancement of the task is talked about with the program supervisor so as to build up the undertaking effectively on schedule and inside the assessed spending plan. Week by week premise Meeting Hall The gathering is orchestrated with the program chief so the exercises that are connected with the advancement f the task is finished effectively without confronting hazard. up close and personal discussion Sidelong Undertaking trough The assets, spending plan and time required for building up the web application for the exploration place is examined with the undertaking supervisors. Week after week Gathering Hall Legitimate correspondence is required so as to break down the prerequisites of the different exercises of the undertaking. The correspondence additionally helps in mirroring that the exercises of the venture are finished effectively. Email, eye to eye discussions parallel Application director Data related with the examination, venture are required to be talked about with the application supervisor Week after week Gathering Hall This conversation helps in refreshing all the significant data identified with research just as distributions in the site. Email parallel Colleague The advancement of the task and issues related with the venture are examined appropriately with the colleagues. Day by day Departmental corridor This aides in limiting the issues, which are related with the venture. Up close and personal discussions Descending Change the board The progressions that are required in the task are given in the table: Changes required Technique of making changes Effect Legitimate administration of assets The assets are overseen appropriately by reallocating them altogether and by using them ina n proper way It will help in setting aside the measure of cash that is moreover required because of ill-advised administration of assets. Extra highlights in the site. Extra component in the site is available for giving surveys to the reports that are available on the site. This is very useful just as useful for different clients. On the off chance that the surveys are sure enormous number of clients get

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Critical Analysis of Dramatic Irony in Hamlet free essay sample

Basic Analysis of Dramatic Irony in Hamlet Ophelia adores Hamlet despite the fact that we accept he doesn’t feel a similar path towards her by the manner in which he treats her at specific occasions in the play, yet he genuinely at long last shows he cherished Ophelia. This occurrence controls crowd feelings, creates character and builds up the contention of the play. It controls the crowd feelings on the grounds that it’s indicating something that the crowd has likely found as a general rule. When there’s an occurrence like this happening, all things considered, individuals will feel tragic on account of the pessimistic things that are going on to an individual. In this episode, the crowd realizes that she’s been succumbing to Hamlet, and still the crowd would incline toward witnessing the best result to Ophelia, however the crowd knows the explanation behind it to not occur, thusly the crowd feelings become controlled. This occurrence builds up the character in light of the fact that by Hamlet not feeling the manner in which she does towards him, it gives the crowd a knowledge on how Hamlet feels about ladies. We will compose a custom paper test on Basic Analysis of Dramatic Irony in Hamlet or on the other hand any comparative point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page For this situation, the crowd can see that Hamlet’s nauseate of his mother’s unexpected marriage causes him to turn into an adversary towards ladies. He thinks they’re all indistinguishable, simple to convince like his mom was convinced by his uncle and in scurry as well. It builds up the contention of the play on the grounds that all through the play, another negative sentiment of Hamlet’s, consistently gets communicated, and tails in a steady progression. It expands on to the play, which makes Hamlet state later on, â€Å"to be or not to be. Each time Hamlet feels terrible the more he doesn’t esteem his life and the more he wants to be dead. All in all, this is the way the occurrence has an effect. It does such a large number of things to the play, similar to how it draws out a character, how it contacts a group of people, and how it expands on the contention. This occurrence is one of significant pieces of the play in light of the fact that with out it, we may not see Hamlet as far as we can tell now.

Saturday, August 8, 2020

Magical Attic Flower Bouquet Coloring Page

Magical Attic Flower Bouquet Coloring Page A purrrr-fectly challenging coloring page for blooming young artists! Help children develop fine-motor skills with this fun but intricate coloring page from The Magical Attic. Decorating Crystal Cat's large bouquet requires some time, patience, and attention to detail - but the results will look amazing when tacked on a bulletin board or refrigerator! BCP Imagines BCP Imagines BCP Imagines designs and develops unique multimedia that brings children and their families creative, fun, shared experiences. Our award-winning cross-platform content encourages creative learning, expression and play while helping kids of ALL ages open their imaginations and look at their world in a new way. BCP Imagines' multi-award winning series Drawing with Mark brings the joy of learning to draw to all ages. The Magical Attic?, where anything is possible,? was created to help foster imagination and creative play while encouraging positive attitudes emphasizing the important lessons of kindness, friendship and helping others. Visit the Magical Attic store or purchase the Drawing with Mark collection!

Saturday, May 23, 2020

The Yellow Wall-Paper - 1302 Words

In the â€Å"The Yellow Wall-paper,† the author, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, writes about a struggling mentally ill woman, named Jane, trying to work through her individuality and her own depression. This story is centered around her bedroom, her mental state, and the yellow wall-paper on the walls in her room. The reader can easily feel the pain, anguish, despair, and struggles of a woman going through a depressive state. Gilman writes about the individual succession of the woman’s mental state through the disarray of the patterned yellow wall-paper. The theme of feminism is exposed by the main characters use of language, her feelings of inferiority, mental struggles, and anger. The language of the narrator in this story is repressive to†¦show more content†¦As Jane’s feelings of inferiority are expressed throughout the story, she still tries to escape her depression while locked in her bedroom. She is struggling against the constraints of her controlling husband, who just babies her, but ignores her because he thinks he knows what is medically best for her. Jane recognizes that John meant to repaper the bedroom, but once again he dismissed her request to change the wall-paper by stating, â€Å" that I was letting it get the better of me, and that nothing was worse for a nervous patient than to give way to such fancies† (Gilman 810). Her husband’s consistent reminders of being superior to her make her feel inferior to him. Throughout the story John holds the power of being the doctor who knows what is best for his wife. Susan S. Lanser indicates in her article â€Å"Feminist Criticism, â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper,† and the â€Å"Politics of Color in America,† that Jane’s feelings of intimidation come from â€Å"the phrase ‘John says’,† which â€Å"heads a litany of ‘benevolent’ prescriptions that keep the narrator infantilized, immobilized, and bored literally out of her mind† (418). Jane’s feelings of inferiority are enhanced by her sister-in-law’s ability to â€Å"work.† She is jealous and envious of Jennie. Jennie is allowed to be a caretaker, hasShow MoreRelated The Yellow Wall-Paper919 Words   |  4 Pages Falling from the Shoulders of Giants: The Yellow Wall-Paper as a Classic Example of the Dangers of Human Arrogance Progressive dementia is the process by which an individual gradually losses their intellectual capacity and personality integration. In quot;The Yellow Wall-Paper,quot; Gilman captures the essence of the journey to madness via her use of first person narration. The relationship between Jane, the narrator of the story, and her husband John provokes an uneasy curiosity in the readerRead More The Yellow Wall Paper714 Words   |  3 Pagessurroundings. In the stories â€Å"Araby† by James Joyce and â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Charolotte Gilman there are examples of their immediate surroundings taking affect in there writings. In most cases a person becomes what there surroundings are because that was the way they were raised. A person’s family, friends, neighborhood and every day things will shape and mold ones morals and character. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† the narrator is also the author. Charolotte GilmanRead MoreAnalysis Of The Yellow Wall Paper1699 Words   |  7 Pagespublished poems and short stories. One of her most famous works, â€Å"The Yellow Wall Paper† was written during a time of great change, in the early to mid-nineteenth century, when women were gaining more freedom politically, artistically and individually. Gilman’s first person narration in her short story, increasing insanity and depression, overpowering male dominance, disengaging marriage and symbolism of herself within the yellow wall paper, all portray that her personal life significantly influenced herRead MoreAnalysis Of The Yellow Wall Paper1533 Words   |  7 PagesCharlotte Perkins Gilman’s â€Å"The Yellow Wall-paper† serves as a perfect example of how women are treated in the 19th century. The distracting details both surrounding and filling the new house that the main character and her husband move into haunt her. Throughout the story, the main character, as she observes the house while in isolation, notices the true meaning in life, specifically for women. Gilman’s piece unveils the unfortunate requirements that women must meet in order to become accepted intoRead MoreThe Yellow Wall Paper By Charlotte Gilman1518 Words   |  7 PagesPerkins (Stetson) Gilman is certainly the most noticeable name in American Literature in late nineteenth century. In her remarkable writing, she uses symbolisms as a dominant instrument for fighting inequality and oppression in men’s world. The Yellow Wall-Paper as her most celebrated and intrigue piece of work, represents a spectrum of symbols that address the general concerns about a woman’s role in the nineteenth century society, particularly within the realms of marriage, maternity and domestic lifeRead MoreThe Yellow Wall Paper By Charlotte Gilman1463 Words   |  6 Pagesis treated accordingly. They are perceived as lacking essential characteristics possessed by the group. For an example, Charlotte Gilman’s short story â€Å"The Yellow Wall-Paper† portrays a woman narrator as being the Other. The gender division, an important component of the late nineteenth-century society, is exemplified in â€Å"The Yellow Wall-Paper† much more significantly than in the typical â€Å"American† literary work. It attempts to shed light on the fierce alter egos and divided selves of the dominantRead MoreThe Yellow Wall Paper And Barn Burning Essay1509 Words   |  7 PagesDespite the fact that these short stories were written almost fifty years apart, the protagonists in both Gilman’s â€Å" The Yellow Wall-paper† and Faulkner’s â€Å"Barn Burning† live in a society where they are severely conflicted because of their confinement to a patriarchal family dynamic. Although there is such a large gap in the time periods of the two short stories, with â€Å"The Yellow Wall-paper† being written in 1892 and â€Å"Barn Burning† being written in 1939, there are prevalent similarities on how these timeRead MoreSocietys Sexism in the Yellow Wall-Paper1109 Words   |  5 PagesSigns of societys sexism in The Yellow Wall-Paper The Yellow Wallpaper is a story, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Although the work is short, it is one of the most interesting works in existence. Gilman uses literary techniques very well. The symbolism of The Yellow Wall-Paper, can be seen and employed after some thought and make sense immediately. The views and ideals of society are often found in literary works. Whether the author is trying to show the ills of society of merely telling aRead MoreThe Yellow Wall Paper ( Postpartum Depression )910 Words   |  4 PagesThe yellow wall paper was written in the 1800’s during that time women were vastly expected to serve their husband as housewives, not given the right to vote, make decision for themselves, work and even make enough money to support themselves. The husband is a doctor, while the wife suffers from severe mental illness. This is a husband who loves his wife and taught he was doing what was right to get her in a stable condition but unfortunately he made her be come crazier, due to lack of stimulationRead MoreDeconstructive Analysis: The Yellow Wall Paper1357 Words   |  6 PagesDeconstructive Analysis: The Yellow Wall Paper Deconstruction or poststructuralist is a type of literary criticism that took its roots in the 1960’s. Jacques Derrida gave birth to the theory when he set out to demonstrate that all language is associated with mental images that we produce due to previous experiences. This system of literary scrutiny interprets meaning as effects from variances between words rather than their indication to the things they represent. This philosophical theory strives

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Naturalism And Evolution - 1098 Words

Popularizing the claim that naturalism and evolution are mutual self-defeaters, Alvin Plantinga argues, in Evolutionary Argument Against Naturalism (1993), that given unguided evolution, our beliefs have no intrinsic relation to the truth. Drawing on previous arguments made by C.C Lewis and Arthur Balfour, Plantinga claims that if humans are the product of undirected processes, then we cannot reasonably rely on our cognitive faculties. In fact, it’s just â€Å"as likely, †¦ that we live in a sort of dream world as that we actually know something about ourselves and our world.† Thus, if we cannot rely on our beliefs, then we cannot rely on our belief in naturalism and, ahem, evolution. And therefore naturalism is defeated. Well, if true, this†¦show more content†¦But, inserting a supernatural element (God) as a key fact is a circular argument. Viz. if God exists, naturalism is not true, so there’s no use invoking God as evidence that naturalism is untrue. (Prove God exists first!). Further, the Philosopher William Ramsay has observed how human faculties are, in fact, slightly unreliable – look at our impressive array of cognitive biases - and further posits that evolution and naturalism explain this better than theism. In fact, the well-established foibles in our thinking pose a considerable challenge to Plantinga’s suggestion that we are the perfect perceivers of truth one would expect as the product of an omnipotent Creator. Plantinga’s argument trades upon the philosophical knowledge-problem: the difficulty in providing a neat solution to the foundation of knowledge: how do we know we can rely on our beliefs? But this philosophical problem is not specific to either evolution of naturalism: the challenge pertains to all of our beliefs. In fact, our evolution by natural selection justifies a moderate level of trust in our cognitive faculties. The brain size of human species has increased from 400cc to 1350cc over several millions of years. In this time archaic humans developed more sophisticated stone tools, harnessed fire, developed language, and began to use symbolic thought. Natural selection seems to have been effective in providingShow MoreRelatedNaturalism And Evolutionary Theory Is Self Undermining1295 Words   |  6 PagesNaturalism in Conjunction with Evolutionary Theory is Self Undermining Naturalism is self undermining because if naturalism and evolution is true, we have insufficient reason to believe our cognitive faculties are reliable, which means that any human construct (including naturalism and evolution) is unreliable. Plantinga’s evolutionary argument against naturalism (EAAN) argues the combination of evolutionary theory and naturalism is self-defeating on the basis that naturalism and evolution is trueRead MoreThe Theories Of Scientific Naturalism1516 Words   |  7 Pagesscientific naturalism against Christianity. These worldviews are incredibly opposite, but there may be areas that the two opposing sides could meet on. Both views have valid ideas to contribute to the argument. We strengthen our beliefs through ideological conflict with others. Both view-points are strengthened when compared to each other rather than presented separately with no alternative view to oppose it. Before we start one question needs to be answered, what is scientific naturalism and whatRead MoreApologetics Application Paper Part 2 Submission Form Jeremy Story861 Words   |  4 PagesModule/Week 4. Add as much space as necessary to each section below. 1. Introduction Paragraph for Final Paper: Atheistic Naturalism an ever growing trend in the United States, and although it is not at a level to be concerned with at this point; it is an ever growing problem that needs to be addressed. The purpose of this research paper is to show that Atheistic Naturalism, when objectively examined according to the criteria for evaluating worldviews, fails and that Christianity ultimately providesRead MoreThe Age Of The Earth843 Words   |  4 Pagesit hurts the gospel message. Others have said young earth believers unwittingly damage Christianity s credibility. This is nothing more than arrogance, an ego built on trying to puff oneself up, in the philosophy naturalism. In fact, many evangelicals have started to believe in evolution, given that they believe in billions of years. I believe it hurts the church to believe in what secular science has to say about past events, since they view the world through a different set of glasses–glasses blindRead MoreJack London : An Oyster Pirate1204 Words   |  5 Pagesresponded it was for the money. Some basic themes that most of his works shared include: his life, evolution, brutality of society, socialism, and adjustment of man against elemental ways of life (Jack London Themes and Messages) 2. Many of his works were based off experiences London had in his lifetime, such as â€Å"Call of the Wild.† London was a serious believer of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and the theory of survival of the fittest can be found in everything he wrote. London was also a fo llowerRead MoreA Book Critique of The Advancement: Keeping the Faith in an Evolutionary Age1389 Words   |  6 Pagesno longer socially the majority in their beliefs regarding a world created by God and thus the civil authorities are no longer there to protect their beliefs, as in centuries past. Therefore, it is critical to have a Christian response to modern naturalism. Bush approaches this evolutionary worldview from a philosophical perspective and not as a scientist. The goal of his thesis is not to convince the reader of the scientific merits of Christianity, but to expose the erroneous beliefs found in theRead MoreGuided Evolution and Intelligent Design: A Guide to the Jewish Perspective783 Words   |  3 Pagesargues that proponents of naturalism, like Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett, tell us that, according to the theory of evolution, neither God nor any other agent has designed or created the living world, and that evolution, therefore, clearly contradicts the central tenant of theistic religion (which Dennett labels â€Å"entirely gratuitous fantasy† ). If what these experts say is true and we must understand evolution only in the context of naturalistic, unguided evolution, â€Å"then evolutionary theoryRead MoreNaturalism : The Great. Who Has Read American Literature1368 Words   |  6 PagesNaturalism the Great Anyone who has read American literature will know of the significance of naturalism as a literary genre in American literature. Merriam Webster’s definition of Naturalism is as follows: A theory that art or literature should conform exactly to nature or depict every appearance of the subject that comes to the artist’s attention, specifically a theory in literature emphasizing the role of heredity and environment upon human life and character development. Naturalism went fromRead MoreSummary And Critique Of Bush s Arguments1437 Words   |  6 Pagesconsequences of naturalistic philosophy over a theistic worldview and challenges Christians to defend and protect their religious rights (4). Bush presents how advancement has been detrimental to religion throughout history and points out the flaws of naturalism, classifying it as â€Å"internally inconsistent, empirically inadequate, and lacking in satisfactory explanatory power† (94). He presents Christianity as the true worldview, which â€Å"has passion and experience, but it also has superior intellectual†.Read MoreWhat Was The Day I Was Born?1229 Words   |  5 Pagesfascination with the past. Every day I analyze the founding documentations of our previous societal states. Through my research I have developed a deeper understanding of the previous items in our nation. These beginning organisms are referred to as the Naturalisms in the Pure State. When gathering information on our elders I began to realize the gradual creation of a cohesive society. Prior to their discovery of item interaction and the connection of beings to each other, the Naturalism’s lived in an existence

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Gender Stratification Women Free Essays

string(86) " they did not complain or disagree with their husband as they were oftentimes beaten\." Gender stratification and women in developing nations is a serious issue women struggle to overcome. They are not respected by their own husbands let alone others within their communities. Women are forced to work in deplorable conditions with no financial rewards. We will write a custom essay sample on Gender Stratification Women or any similar topic only for you Order Now They are denied jobs, education, healthcare and resources to provide good healthy homes for their children. Even in the United States where women are independent and hold many male-dominated professions there are still situation of gender discrimination. Developing† nation is a word often used to describe underdeveloped, peripheral, or less developed countries. Women constantly struggle to hold their own in these developing nations. The responsibility to care for and support their families along with the added burden of finding the resources to accomplish it makes life hard on women in these countries. In 1960 The Modernization Theory was introduced to these countries encouraging the change from traditional, technologically simple to the modern industrialized nation. The theory was to provide these nations with the technological knowledge to develop â€Å"Western-style institutions and market-based economies. † Policymakers based their theory on statistic from Europe and the United States as a basis for establishing standard economic and political policies. The developing nations found the theory to have little association with the experiences of their countries. In response to the push for modernization theory, the development of the dependency theory came about. Clearly this push for development was to come at the expense of the host country. These countries began producing their own goods so they were not dependent on the developed nations. The view of the dependency theory was that developed nations found it beneficial for these countries to remain underdeveloped. Whereas big corporations often relied on the natural resources and cheap labor, found in these countries, to maximize their profits (Wermuth Monges, 2002). The role that women play in developing nations, such as Africa, is very important. However, women are not given credit for their contribution to the development taking place. Unrecognized as full partners either in the family or in society, women have been denied equal access to education, job training, employment, health care, ownership and political power† (Anunobi, 2003, p. 62). The effects of economical and political problems in Africa make life difficult for men and women. The societal concerns of their community include the lack of opportunity, poverty, and inequality within their countries. The female is generally the main supporter of the family, she is responsible for the children and making sure they are fed and cared for. The increased establishment of commercialized agriculture has added to the burden of these women. The men were provided with commercial opportunities by selling their crops for money, and acting on their rights to land and the labor of their wives for their own benefit. In some areas men have many wives to work their land as free labor, and they are not obligated to share their profits with the family. â€Å"Gender bias is especially pernicious in African nations where most of women’s activity takes place in the non-wage economy† (Anunobi, 2003, p. 9). Womens’ work was basically for survival and not wage earning therefore they were not seen as being economically productive. The men used their wives and children as laborers in their family fields to produce crops taken into town and sold from money. The wife was forced to perform the domestic duties for her husband and yet she was not able to claim any share of his income. This gave further opportunity for men to expand their land ownership and financial stability. However, the burden of caring for the family was placed on the female. Unable to obtain jobs of their own many women resorted to selling sex, food, or other domestic services to other men to support their families. â€Å"In parts of the region, rural tribal authorities were given the right to prevent unmarried women and children from moving to the towns, and urban authorities had the power to send those who defied such restrictions back to the villages† (Anunobi, 2003, p. 67). This left women virtually helpless against the stronger more powerful men of their nation. Unable to own property or be a part of decision making for their families, these women themselves have become a orm of property to be controlled. It was purely a survival tactic for women to stay with their husbands because, if divorced, they had no rights to the wealth that she helped her husband to obtain thus further compounding her economic vulnerability. â€Å"Gender bias or gender discrimination is thus a fundamental cause of poverty in its various forms it prevents hundreds of millions of women from obtaining the education, training, health services, childcare, and legal status needed to escape from poverty† (Anunobi, 2003, p. 69). This bias against women is a major contributor to the high birth rates in the developing nations. Unable to control their family income or have access to productive resources, the children are forms of social status and economic security for these women. To reduce the number of children being born into poverty is to increase the womans’ productivity and give her control over resources. â€Å"In poor households, women and girls are generally allocated less food than men and boys; two thirds of the world’s illiterate adults are women. Women tend to be more malnourished, less educated and less involved in public decision making than men† (Alvarez-Castillo Feinholz, 2006, p. 115). It is clear to see that women in poor developing countries have very little command over productive resources. Women are not able to obtain title to land in their own name and have no legal right to the land of their husbands. Even upon the death of a husband, the widow has no legal right to the marital property. It is the combination of all these disadvantages against women in developing nations that keep them from gaining independence and self control. Women were seen and not heard, as they did not complain or disagree with their husband as they were oftentimes beaten. You read "Gender Stratification Women" in category "Essay examples" In an effort to combat these inequalities the poor and peasant women formed self help groups to aid one another in their efforts toward equality. It is these groups that provid economic assistance, credit for farming, childcare and, assistance toward business ventures. The husbands were powerless over these groups of women, unlike the power they hold over their wives. The women’s groups made huge strides in improving the lives of women and the welfare of their families and communities. The greatest problem for these groups was the lack of challenging the gender roles that kept them subordinate to males, and because of the gender division the wealth and power remained primarily to the men. â€Å"Development should encourage more cooperation between the sexes with the goal of ending poverty, reducing fertility, and securing the environment† (Anunobi, 2003, p. 74). Improving the status of women and allowing them to be a vital part of improving the economic and industrial aspects of their nation will benefit and establish an environment in which women and men can prosper together. The front line in the struggle for women’s rights appears to lie in the poorest, most patriarchal, least democratic nations† (Walker, 2005, p. 32). The Women’s rights campaign focus mainly on the underdeveloped nations. Women are beaten in the Middle East for not adorning the traditional Islamic clothing. In Afghanistan women are abused and deprived of their legal rights with or without the Taliban. The Pakistani women endure domestic violence and â€Å"honour crimes† in which they are attacked with acid. (Walker, 2005) This is a continuous struggle to establish universal women’s rights within these poor developing countries. The sad truth is â€Å"developed countries hardly offer a good example in their treatment of women – in fact they help make things worse† (Walker, 2005, p. 32). In Japan, pornography and its display is a common site in the mainstream of their society. Men are known to frequent bars offering expensive sexual service of women. These women are typically being trafficked from the Philippine nations in hopes of alleviating the poverty of their families at home. The control of men over women’s sexuality goes beyond that of social behavior and employment. Contraception was not legal for women until the availability of the pill in 1999, and still many physicians refuse to prescribe it. The Japanese nation may be a technical pioneer and one of the biggest global aid contributors but the treatment shown to the women in this nation is far less advanced (Walker, 2005). Examining the United States and its support of human rights; the United States is labeled as the world leader in this area. Women represent two thirds of poor Americans, and the majority of households living below poverty level are headed by females. Many American women are deprived of healthcare and those who do have coverage are 68% more likely to pay more out-of-pocket expense (Walker, 2005). â€Å"According to Amnesty USA, guns in American homes increase the risk of someone in a household being murdered by 41%, but for women the risk increases by 272%† (Walker, 2005, p. 33). These statistics are not that surprising as 85% of women in the United States are victims of domestic violence (Walker, 2005). Unfortunately, these instances of abuse on women’s ights are generally seen as isolated instances in the United States, unlike the widespread abuse of women’s rights in developing countries. The unbalanced relationship seen between women themselves is somewhat disturbing. This is displayed when women hire cheap foreign nannies to care for their children or buy clothing made in sweatshops. If women play a role in the gender-bias system they are just as capable of fighting to change it. The familiar image of poor women is seen as very similar, yet approached somewhat differently. The women who live in the third world are seen as victims of poverty in a developing country. The other women live in America and are referred to as the â€Å"welfare queen† (Mehta, 2009). These images both portray women of poverty and powerlessness, yet each images paints a different picture of their lives. The United States foreign policy makers and international development institutions strive to remedy this image of Third World women by encouraging them through empowerment; so they can be an asset to their families and community. Development policies have supported women’s rights and increasing their economic and educational opportunities. Local community centers were developed to provide poor women with education and job skills to start their own business. On the other hand, a completely different message is sent about the image of the welfare queen. She is seen as being lazy and unwilling to work and a burden on her family and community. The reform laws did little to build their level of education, or potential to be leaders within their communities. Instead there were limits on the single mother’s receipt of aid, family caps on additional children born while on welfare, and taking away benefits from those mothers who are attending school. The goal was to get these women into work, and it did not matter if it was a low paying dead end job, at least they were working (Mehta, 2009). It seems in the developed nation more attention should be given to pushing for higher education and building of work skills so that these women could be a beneficial part of the growing economy. â€Å"U. S. policy evinces skepticism that U. S. women could be affected by the same kinds of oppressive economic and cultural forces that keep women in poverty in the developing world† (Mehta, 2009, p. 68). American poor women are denied the potential of becoming strong leaders within their communities, unlike the opportunities for success given to their sisters in developing countries (Mehta, 2009). The negative image of the welfare queen has stunted the U. S. Welfare Policy to create laws that punish poor women. â€Å"The United States loses out on the positive effects of women’s empowerment that are already accepted and highlighted by the United States as sound policy abroad† (Mehta, 2009, p. 69). The potential that the developing nations have by empowering their women is very beneficial to their economic growth. Women always have been the strongest contributing influence on the family unit. Future development should encourage cooperation between men and women with the ultimate goal to end poverty, reduce population growth, and secure the environment. It seems obvious that not capitalizing on the talent and skills of women to protect men’s privileges is a waste of human resources (Anunobi, 2003). Hillary Rodham Clinton said, â€Å"Supporting women is a high-yield investment, resulting in stronger economies, more vibrant civil societies, healthier communities, and greater peace and stability† (USAID, 2009). How to cite Gender Stratification Women, Essay examples

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Operations Management in a Petrol Station- myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theOperations Management in a Petrol Station for Production. Answer: Introduction Operations management can be defined as the process by which an operations manager plans, organizes the process of production and manufacturing. The responsibilities of the manager is to ensure that the business process is efficient and the functions of the business can be performed with the use of as much less resources possible (Heizer 2016). The manager in this case takes care of the process of converting the inputs into outputs in the most feasible way possible. Operations management is one of the most important functions of a business. The manager has to take a number of decisions in the process of operations management which include, operations strategy, design of the product, designing the process, quality management, planning the production and inventory control (Krajewski, Ritzman and Malhotra 2013). This report is a discussion regarding the operations management process in a petrol station. The discussion will be regarding the various processes and aspects of managing the operations in a petrol station from the point of view of the manager of a petrol station (Khanna 2015). Discussion Responsibilities of Petrol Station Operations Manager The responsibilities of a petrol station has modified a lot from the duties they had before. In the early time the duty of a petrol station manager was only to fill the petrol, diesel or gas and that was all. On the other hand, in todays environment the manager has to take care of a lot more duties (Brown et al. 2013). (a) The petrol stations usually have less employees. Many petrol stations are self service, but the operations manager in this case has to take care or activate the pumps from inside their units and also process credit card transactions. The managers also need to check the IDs of the customers if needed (Bell et al. 2012). (b) In the recent times the petrol stations sell a lot of other products including snacks, beverages, cigarettes. The managers have the duty to count the products and merchandise that are there for sale and accordingly place orders for the same. The managers always need to keep a check that the products do not go out-of-stock as this can cause a huge loss to the company (Mahadevan 2015). Presently, the systems of tracking stocks has been automated and the managers need to keep a check on the reports made by the automated systems (Hill and Hill 2012). (c) The petrol station managers have other duties which include merchandising. This refers to the preparation of displays which will feature high selling items, promotional banners. Managers can also give these duties to their subordinates, but it is the responsibility of the manager to keep a check of the progress of their work (Rosendahl 2012). (d) Another duty of a petrol station manager includes supervising their employees. The manager has the duty to hire and train the employees regarding the various operations in a petrol station. It is the responsibility of the manager to make sure that the employees working under him are properly regarding the various processes as well as the safety procedures of the station (Brown, Bessant and Lamming 2013). (e) Operations managers in a petrol station are also responsible for increasing sales and also managing expenses for the company. The managers can apply the process of suggestive selling to increase sales and also build strong relationship with the customers so that the customers return to the same station (Evans and Lindsay 2013). Retail Forecourt Control for a Petrol Station In the recent times, fuel industry has become a low margin and sales volume based business. It is important for the operations manager to have a clear view of their retail forecourt. This helps the operations manager of a petrol pump to manage all the aspects of petrol management. Gilberco Veeder-Roots Retail Solutions have been designed to look after the security, performance and efficiency of the petrol station forecourt (Gilbarco.com 2017). These solutions help in establishing connections with different aspects of the operations of a petrol station which include dispensers, tank gauges, card payment systems and supplier systems. The different solution models designed are, Passport, POS, BOS, PSS 5000, Delivery Information System. (a)Passport This system helps in the analysis of historical data of the station. The structure of the Passport system suggests that the station needs to purchase the resources which are required at that point of time and expand the purchase as the business grows. The solution enables easy maintenance and helps in managing stock levels and stock orders. The Passport interface has superior touch screen facility and easy user interface which reduces the time required for training the employees. This helps the system to connect easily with all the different components of the petrol station. Management of retail stock and order generation for stock has been made easier with the use of this solution. The fuel stock can also be managed with the help of this software. Multiple payment options are also provided by this solution to make the modes of payment secure and more easier. Congestion in the forecourt of the petrol station is also reduced as this solutions provides the facility to deal with six transactions on one dispenser. Communication also improves with the help of this solution. Additional business can be achieved with the help of promotional activities and enhancement of the customer experience. (b)POS POS or Point of Sale solution is an user-friendly and highly efficient sales product or tool. This solution takes care of both fuel and shop sales of the petrol station to simplify the process of selling. The retail POS is used by the petrol stations to provide high level of performance, security and efficiency in the forecourt transactions. This system provides with tools required for business growth which includes discounting fuel prices, merchandises and promotional activities. This solution provides flawless integration of all the systems, the power to increase revenue from sales and this is the reason why the POS system is considered to the most important part of a petrol station forecourt. The system has an easy to use interface. It is affordable for the stations. It requires a minimum amount of training for the employees to use this interface. The system is built to tailor the business needs of the particular organization for which it is built. (c)BOS BOS or Back Office System is a system which is built for low end automation purposes as well as for high end solutions with the instructions from the forecourts or petrol stations. This system is an powerful and easy to use interface which provides solutions for site automation, management of stock and editing the promotion purposes of the petrol stations. This system is adaptable to the needs of the petrol stations and their customers. The technology used is always up to date. The BOS system works on a centralized database and does nit require any further checking. The system is flexible and efficient. The reports provided by this system is mostly accurate. The promotional activities of the station can be monitored centrally the manager of the station. (d)PSS 5000 The PSS 5000 provides the petrol station with ability to mix Point of sale system and forecourt components of any brand. It helps the station to increase its connectivity. This solution reduces the difference between the forecourt of the petrol station and the retail environment. All types of forecourt equipment can be controlled centrally. (e)Delivery Information System(DIS) The DIS solution helps in increasing flexibility of deliveries. This saves time and money for the organization. This system provides accurate information to the drivers about the level of the fuel tank. This helps in reducing the chances of delivering the wrong product into the tank (Gilbarco.com 2017). Conclusion The retail solutions are developed to increase automation in the system of the petrol stations and also increase accuracy and flexibility in the systems. This helps in the fruitful interaction and collaboration within the forecourt equipments and retail management. This in turn is a helpful system for the operations manager of the petrol station. The manager has to supervise the automated systems and keep a track on the functions of these systems. This makes it easier for the manager to provide training to the employees and reduces the time and costs associated with the same. This also helps the manager to easily track the sales, inventories, stocks and all other aspects of the retail forecourt of the petrol station. References Bell, D., Wilson, G., Mcbride, P. and Cairns, N., 2012.Managing quality. Routledge. Brown, S., Bessant, J.R. and Lamming, R., 2013.Strategic operations management. Routledge. Brown, S., Blackmon, K., Cousins, P. and Maylor, H., 2013.Operations management: policy, practice and performance improvement. Routledge. Evans, J.R. and Lindsay, W.M., 2013.Managing for quality and performance excellence. Cengage Learning. Gilbarco.com. (2017).EPOS Solutions, POS Integration | Gilbarco Veeder-Root Europe. [online] Available at: https://www.gilbarco.com/eu/products/forecourt-control/POS [Accessed 20 Sep. 2017]. Gilbarco.com. (2017).Petrol Station Forecourt Management and Control Systems | Gilbarco Veeder-Root Europe. [online] Available at: https://www.gilbarco.com/eu/products/forecourt-control [Accessed 20 Sep. 2017]. Heizer, J., 2016.Operations Management, 11/e. Pearson Education India. Hill, A. and Hill, T., 2012.Operations management. Palgrave Macmillan. Khanna, R.B., 2015.Production and operations management. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.. Krajewski, L.J., Ritzman, L.P. and Malhotra, M.K., 2013.Operations management: processes and supply chains(Vol. 1). New York, NY: Pearson. Mahadevan, B., 2015.Operations management: Theory and practice. Pearson Education India. Rosendahl, T. ed., 2012.Integrated Operations in the Oil and Gas Industry: Sustainability and Capability Development: Sustainability and Capability Development. IGI Global.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

The Free Market System essays

The Free Market System essays The free market system has been praised by many as the answer to the world's economic problems. It is the economic equivalent of democracy; every merchant is free to sell goods or services at a price determined by him- or herself. According to this system, the ideal is for an individual to pursue his or her own self-interest, which then culminates in a result that is also of benefit to society as a whole. The above view is fairly idealistic, and of course in reality circumstances often deviate from the ideal. Among the factors contributing to free market failure then include inapt government intervention, external factors, and a lack of relevant information. There has been considerable disagreement regarding the extent of government information that is proper for the free market system. This appears to be linked to political philosophy. Free market economists for example feel that government intervention should be minimized, while socialist economists feel that more state intervention is necessary. When government intervention is not optimized, the market outcome itself is less than optimal, and failure occurs, especially in terms of environmental exploitation. A potential solution could be government intervention by means of taxes, as well as education. Externalities include the cost to parties outside of the direct producer or consumer of goods. When these costs become too high, the market fails. Here proper monitoring practices can be implemented to ensure that the minimum impact occurs when a good is produced. It is also important to educated the public regarding the possible impact of production or consumption. When there is a lack of information regarding impact, the market may fail due to the consequent lack of resources. The solution in this case is appropriate education. With the correct strategies, is thus possible to optimize the free ...

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Implications to Operations for Chryslers' Introduction of the Fiat Essay

Implications to Operations for Chryslers' Introduction of the Fiat - Essay Example Chrysler’s plants immediately began working on the new Italian models as part of the deal, and the United States treasury loaned the organization 4.7 billion dollars to begin the project. The Canadian government was also included in the contract and controls 10% of the company. Asa result, Fiat was owned up to 35% of its production, and the United Autoworkers Union owned 55%. The introduction of the Fiat 500 into the United States market was not expected to move adequate units and make a considerable effect on the 1.57 million-unit aim. The Fiat label will have its activities carried out in its individual amenities, making its novel subcompact make additional foot travel to contracts. Another implication of the merger on the operations of Chrysler is the introduction of improved models and the come back of the Fiat label in the United States, on top of new merger brands. The company plots on using up 68% more expenses on promotion and marketing the financial year. This develop ment was evident when Chrysler spent millions of dollars to come up with the longest commercial in Super-bowl history (Bennett, 2011). The renewal of Chrysler provides Fiat with a cushion for Italy’s decline and poor reputation caused by its chief executive. Marchionne's revitalization of the corporation has intensified the company’s anguish in the European markets (Bennett, 2011). In the United States, the dominating development and management assets of Chrysler group have left Fiat with old models. The position has made Italy’s biggest car producer become in need of traditionally unpredictable Chrysler profits. Chrysler might also have to report profits made prior to interest, duties and occasional items worth 1.18 billion dollars during the second half of 2011. In comparison with 629 million dollars from Fiat’s long-established activities, earnings from Ferrari and Maserati models were included in accordance with the standard approximations of six comp any analysts. Trading earnings for the United Chrysler group were consistent with Fiat’s findings from June. Such results were expected to arrive at 2.6 billion dollars by the end of the coming year. In 30 April 2009, Chrysler recorded and proclaimed a merger with Fiat, while filing for insolvency. Independently, the proclamation made the Financial Accountings Standards alter the â€Å"mark-to-market† accounting decree to offer commercial banks more discretion in reporting worth of capital. In Brazil alone, the Fiat group automobiles sustained its management status, delivering a sum of 761, 400 passenger cars and light commercial automobiles. These figures and position of the company will stand for a year-on rise of 1.6% of profits. When the market is taken as a whole market, Chrysler group merger with Fiat marketplace is developing 10.6%; FGA accomplished a 22.8% share of the year, which is a negative 1.7% of percentage points in the market share (Bennett, 2011). The revitalization at Chrysler has assisted Marchionne to triumph over financial speculators to his advantage and make a worldwide automobile group rivaling Volkswagen. The shares have decreased by 40% in the past three months. This was recorded as one of the worst performances in the Bloomberg European automobiles guides, behind France’s PSA Peugeot Citroen. The Chrysler group has been managed under three diverse leaders in the past four years,

Monday, February 3, 2020

The Most Pressing Environmental Problems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Most Pressing Environmental Problems - Essay Example For the last several years, ocean acidity has increased by about 30%. In the next century, scientists expect the acidity to increase by 150%. The acidification is a threat to sea creatures and can result in the extinction of some species (Harris 2012). Population increase is perhaps the most disturbing environmental issue. In the last 70 years, the world’s population has tripled placing stress on all other aspects of the environment. Forests occupy more than 30 percent of the land and play a significant role in cleansing carbon emissions. They are also home to wildlife and protect us from flooding and sandstorms. For the last century, deforestation has been on the rise, and its effects are profound. Cutting trees threaten wildlife and contribute to the greenhouse gas emissions. The last stress is climate change that arises from the adverse use of natural resources by man (Harris 2012). Business should help solve the problems by promoting environmental friendly production methods. They can, for example, minimize water usage to avail it for human consumption. Businesses in the industrial sector can treat wastes released into the oceans to prevent water pollution. To curb climate change, manufacturing companies can reduce their carbon dioxide emissions. In other words, putting regulations and the use of best practices in business operations can provide effective solutions to the environmental problems.

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Arguments on Artificial Intelligence

Arguments on Artificial Intelligence We live in an extraordinary time. Improvements in technology seem to be accelerating at an unbelievable rate. Every time they think Moores Law has reached its limits, tech companies come up with a new level of capability. No less is the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI). Our every day lives are already deeply immersed in AI, and we dont even know it. It controls much of the financial markets, performs law enforcement tasks, and makes our internet searches more useful. Most AI today is weak AI, designed to perform a very specific task (Tegmark, n.d.). But the goal of all research and corporate investment is always more; what else can we know or do? Often, these entities are creating things in a vacuum, with limited moral, ethical, or legal boundaries. When is it too much? The driving force that makes us want to always explore further is what makes the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) a risky course of action. Why is this a risky course of action? Because giving control of systems to artificial intelligence could have seriously negative results. Take, for example, researchers working with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. In this case, they develop a neural network that returns suggestions for treatment of pneumonia patients. Using a historical database with the solutions and results of methods of treatment, the AI is supposed to provide suggested solutions to treat patients. In one solution, it recommended that certain high risk patients be sent home (Bornstein, 2016). This solution had high probability of resulting in death. When working with and complex task, accomplished by human or machine, the law of unintended consequences must always be considered. No matter how well someone thinks they have thought a system through, it is nearly impossible to consider every possible outcome. Certainly, unintended consequences are not all bad, many drugs have side effects that are beneficial and completely not what the drugs was designed to do. On the other hand, many drugs have very negative side effects. Certainly, they are not intended to cause any adverse symptoms, but many have severe unintended consequences, including death. Some would argue, AI is currently in use and benefits everyone with no negative effects. Singularity cannot happen. While we certainly use some types of AI currently and have had minimal negative effects. It is also true we have not reached singularity. It is the height of hubris to believe that we have total control over anything or that we have considered all possibilities. Consider Fukishima or Chernobyl, all possibilities were not covered and resulted in huge disasters. Even NASA, the standard for careful scrutiny of complex systems and procedures has had some catastrophic failures in the form of space shuttle crashes due to hubris of the organization and/or individuals. How many people died on the Titanic? A ship that was unsinkable was sunk by a simple iceberg, or was it hubris? The shoddy steel used in the construction of the hull, the poorly designed bulkheads that didnt reach to the top deck, and the pressure to go as fast as it could are what sunk the ship. And not enough life boats on the unsinkable ship killed the passengers. Hubris lead them down the path to destruction. We are at the point that we have the capability to combine AI to create autonomous military machines. Some are even in the testing phase of development. Machines that make decisions of life and death on their own (Russell, 2015). Absent human intervention, what is to keep one of these machines from deciding the wrong person is a target. A machine knows no morality, no ethical code, only its programming, its goal or reason to exist. Given a powerful enough computational system, it could decide to use everything at its disposal to achieve its goals (Anderson, 2017). Things like taking control of infrastructure, or even humans. So, what do we do? Is there risk? Even captains of industry and experts like Gates, Musk, and Hawking suggest there is (Holley, 2015). It is clear we are already on the path to creating ever more complex and capable AI. We must recognize that we all make mistakes and constantly be on guard against mistakes and, more importantly, hubris. Most expansion of knowledge has risk. When confronted with a discipline that has catastrophic possibilities, we must fight the desire to run forward as fast as we can with no concern for the consequences. Methodical deliberation is the only course. We must consider the ramifications of each step and ensure safeguards are in place should we need to terminate or isolate any AI that develops goals counter to those of humans. If we manage to be conscientious enough and adhere to ethical principles, we might, just might, keep from developing the instrument of our own demise. References Anderson, J. (2017, February 16). Googles artificial intelligence getting greedy, and aggressive. Activist Post. Retrieved from http://www.activistpost.com/2017/02/googles-artificial-intelligence-getting-greedy-and-aggressive/ Artificial Intelligence. (2015). In Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/apps/doc/PC3010999273/OVIC?u=embryxid=415989d5 Bornstein, A. (2016, September 1). Is artificial intelligence permanently inscrutable? Holley, P. (2015, January 29). Bill Gates on the dangers of artificial intelligence: I dont understand why some people are not concerned. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/01/28/bill-gates-on-dangers-of-artificial-intelligence-dont-understand-why-some-people-are-not-concerned/ Russell, S. (2015, May 28). Take a stand on AI weapons. Nature, 521 (7553), 415-416.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Assess critically the contribution Essay

Taylorism is a form of job design, which stresses short, repetitive work cycles; detailed, set task sequences; a separation of task conception from task execution; and motivation linked to pay. Taylor argued that the principal objective of management should be to secure the maximum prosperity for the employer, coupled with the maximum prosperity for each employee (1911). Fredrick Taylor’s five principles of scientific management: 1. A clear division of tasks and responsibilities between management and workers. 2. Use of scientific methods to determine the best way of doing a job. 3. Scientific selection of the person to do the newly designed job. 4. The training of the selected worker to perform the job in the way specified. 5. Surveillance of workers through the use of hierarchies of authority and close supervision. Taylor proposed this by measuring what workers did against the time taken, to develop ‘one best way of working’ (1911). By using quantitative methods a workers output could be accurately measured. At the time of its inception Taylor found that firms who introduced scientific management as he prescribed became the worlds most meticulously organised factories (Nelson, 1980). Managers are responsible for identifying the best cost efficient work practices and training workers to become highly productive and affective in their specific work task. Taylor argued that it stands to reason that an employee becomes more productive when working at their speciality and concluded with stating that there are more benefits gained for both employees and employers from dividing workers. With linking pay to each task performed, Managers can thus control the workforce and output and consistently achieve desired goals. The piece rate pay system  pays workers in parallel to number of items each worker has produced, hence also providing employees with an incentive to work. Henry Ford’s theory (Fordism) referring to mass production in industry (Marcouse, 1996) united the idea of assembly line and Taylor’s theory of division of labour and payment. Fordism focused on dividing jobs into unskilled and semi-skilled tasks. Whilst managers at Ford vehemently opposed any relation to Taylorism, it can be said that Fordism retained the faults of Taylorism of an autocratic work environment with little room for creativity as well as the benefits of the piece rate system relying on financial motivation. Criticisms of Taylorism: 1.Assumed that the motivation of the employee was to secure the maximum earnings for the effort expended; and neglected the importance of other rewards from work (achievement, job satisfaction, recognition), which later research has found to be important. 2. Neglected the subjective side of work-the personal and interactional aspects of performance, the meaning that employees give to work and the significance to them of their social relationship at work. 3. Failed to appreciate the meaning that workers would put on new procedures ad their reaction to being timed and closely supervised. 4. Had inadequate understanding of the relation of the individual incentive to interaction with, and dependence on, the immediate work group. Taylor did attribute ‘underworking’ to group pressures, but misunderstood the way in which these worked. He failed to see that these might just as easily keep production and morale up. 5. Ignored the psychological needs and capabilities of workers. T he one best way of doing a job was chosen with the mechanistic criteria of speed and output. The imposition of a uniform manner of work can both destroy individuality and cause other psychological disturbances. 6. Had too simple approach to the question of productivity and morale. It sought to keep both of these up exclusively by economic rewards and punishments. Incentive approaches under the scientific approach tended to focus on the worker as an individual and ignored their social context. Pay system may result in a worker valuing quantity over quality. 7. Functional foremanship was deemed to be too  complex and an unwieldy mode of supervision. (Huczynski, 2013) Ways to alleviate the negative effects of Taylorism especially to worker motivation and performance and find new ways to job designs came about following the introduction of the American psychologists Fredrick Hertzberg two factor theory of motivation. Hertzberg had the idea that there were two sets of factors that affected motivation and job characteristics: Motivators: These factors refer to the extent to which a job offers opportunities for achievement, creativity, responsibility, opportunities for personal growth. These are intrinsic to the job itself. Hygiene factors: These comprise issue as the nature of supervision and supervisory style, the level of pay, working conditions, and interpersonal relations. These are extrinsic to the job. For Hertzberg it was only the motivator factors that have the potential to generate satisfaction and motivation. If hygiene factors are improved, they do not result in improved motivation, but if removed, will result in demotivation. To raise levels of motivation and therefore performance, following Hertzberg theory of motivation, companies needed to ensure that the hygiene factors were in place, and to also ensure that the ‘motivator factors’ (i.e intrinsic motivators) were incorporated into the jobs. In particular, jobs needed to be designed in such a way that workers could be given opportunities for achievement, responsibility and personal growth. Criticisms of Hertzberg two-factor theory: Can job characteristics fall neatly into two categories of motivators and hygiene factors? Can a job characteristic be both? (Example can pay be a motivator as well as a hygiene factor-?) Blunt and Jones (1992) They point out that some studies from Nigeria have indicated that hygiene factors, in particular pay, supervision and working conditions, acted as motivators. Machungwa and Schmidt (1983) reported on a study conducted in Zambia and found that material rewards and the physical conditions of work appeared to have both motivating and demotivating effects. This was interpreted by Blunt and Jones in the following way: if material rewards were inadequate they were demotivating, but they acted as motivators if they were perceived as reasonable. This appears to directly contradict Hertzberg’s theory, but Blunt and Jones consider that this is only likely to be the case in less developed countries, as Hertzberg (1987) himself appears also to argue. However, one study does not refute a theory. Hertzberg did his original work on qualified professionals, such as engineers, whereas the people surveyed in the study above were manual workers. This in itself might be enough to account for the difference. In general, we can expect professional or managerial workers everywhere to be more intrinsically motivated than ma nual workers given the different nature of the work that the two groups undertake, but as we shall see the way work is organized may compensate for such differences in the relative interest value of different types of work The theory is regarded as a Universalistic theory; that it will impact all individuals in the same way in all work situations. It does not take into consideration that some people may not have a desire for personal growth, and are therefore unlikely to be motivated by job enrichment initiatives that give them higher levels of autonomy and responsibility. Hertzberg theory was superseded by Richard Hackman and Greg Oldham ‘the Job Characteristics Model’; which argued in a similar respect to Hertzberg theory, that if jobs are enriched this will lead to improvements in attitudinal outcomes (increased satisfaction and motivation) and improvements in behavioural outcomes (higher productivity and lower rates of absenteeism). Three critical psychological states: Hackman and Oldham argued that jobs should be designed in such a way that they are focused on the achievement of three critical psychological states: Workers must experience work as being personally meaningful-something that  they care about. Workers must experience personal responsibility for their work- accountability for their work. Workers must know if their work performance is effective-they must have knowledge of the results of their work activities. If these 3 critical psychological states are achieved, higher levels of satisfaction, motivation and performance will result from the worker. However this theory too has had its criticisms. Current literature now argues the importance and focus on team working, however one should acknowledge that the interest in team working is not something that is new to current times. Autonomous and semi-autonomous work groups were central to earlier theories of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Team working has now re-emerged as part of the lean production & flexible working debates. An American Theorist, Harry Bravemen thesis known as the ‘Bravemen thesis argues to counter the popular view in social science and management literature that Taylorism has been superseded by human relations and other more sophisticated approaches; that there is in fact a tendency for workers and their jobs to become de-skilled through fragmentation, rationalisation and mechanisation. This argument of deskilling workers and jobs was continued in the context where it became known as McDonalization a term that came about after the publication of a book by Georg Ritz. McDonalisation is a form of work design aimed at achieving efficiency, calculability, predictability and control through non-human technology, to enhance organisational objectives by limiting employee discretion and creativity. He used the term to refer to the processes used at the growing number of fast food restaurants dominating the American market. McDonalds is a modern example of the Taylorised way of work. The tasks are de-skilled and simplified for an employee at McDonalds and limited by the  sophisticated technology of fast food preparation. Hamburger grilling instructions are detailed and precise, cooking times and the sequence of events dictated to make a burger. Drinks dispensers, French fry machines, programmed cash registers all limit the amount of time required to carry out a specific task and leave little room for the employee to do as they wish, little room for creativity or innovation to processes. This way of working ensures the aims of the organisation to achieve greatest efficiency, calculability, predictability and control all of the key elements described by the Ritzer’s ‘Mcdonalization’. Regardless of the fact that the de-skilling may lead to de-motivated employees, which may result in high absenteeism and high staff turn over; its ability to integrate new workers into the production processes and dismiss employees without losing knowledge form the organization allows the model to still be successful. Taylorism can also be illustrated in modern day call centres. A case study on a customer service call centre run by two British Companies, Martin Beirne, Kathleen Riach and Fiona Wilson found strong continuities with Taylorism, in relation to work design and operation. They found the work to be pressurized and highly paced with managements focus on productivity and cost minimisation. Most of the jobs were narrowly defined and closely monitored. The time duration of each call taken; the content of the conversation with each customer; and the advise also given to the customer was prescribed (from Beirne et al 2004). But modern day illustrations of Taylorism don’t end there. It is also seen in relation to ‘scientific selection & training’. We’ve now moved away from an industrial economy towards a knowledge –based economy where an organisations competitive success depends on its talent. Much effort is devoted by contemporary organisations to select and recruit the right person for a role. Taylorism also placed importance and the introduction of scientific selection criteria by management to do a particular task. In line with his emphasis on scientific approach to selection, Taylor advocates scientific training as he argues that â€Å"it is only when business systematically cooperate to train the competent man†¦that it shall be on the road to national efficiency†. (Taylor, 1911: p 98). In the context of the knowledge  economy, organisations are generally encouraged to develop employees’ skills and knowledge. ‘Now one of the very first requirements of man who is to handle pig iron as a regular occupation is that he shall be so stupid and so phlegmatic that he more nearly resembles in his mental make-up the ox than any other type. The man who is mentally alert and intelligent is for this very reason entirely unsuited to what would, for him, be the grinding monotony of work to this character. Therefore the work man who is best suited to handling pig iron is unable to understand the real science of doing this class of work’. (Taylor 1911/1997 pg 59) â€Å"The task is always so regulated that the man who is well suited to his job will thrive while working at this rate during a long term of years and grow happier and more prosperous, instead of being overworked†. (Taylor 1911) Thus scientific management matched the worker to the job and in the process separated the conceptualization of work from its execution. It also provided safeguards against personal bias and individual favoritism, which is something that can still be applied to the current context of contemporary organisations. Taylorism is also found in the Saudi Educational system, for example metaphorically describing students as the ‘raw material’ of schools; controlling the movement of teachers & students through class bells; conceiving of the curriculum as a product; dividing students into grades or dividing curriculum into units and individual lessons; describing the school facilities as a ‘plant’ are a result of a ‘factory model’ schooling that has its roots in the adoption of scientific management principles by educational administrators. Contemporary schools in Saudi are still largely influenced with its teaching and learning deeply rooted in ‘scientific management’ as seen with the following: 1. Schools are large and bureaucratized. 2. Students change teachers every year. 3. Teachers plan and teach alone. 4. Curriculum is fragmented. 5. Tracking students by ability levels. 6. Deskilling of teachers through alignment of teaching mandated curriculum and standardized tests. 7. Emphasis on monitoring /surveillance & bureaucratic activity-scripted curriculum and scripted tests. Taylorism does not permit autonomy in work. Input by production workers in the organisation, planning, and direction of the manufacturing process was not allowed, requiring workers to do exactly what they were told to do and no more. This authoritarian approach to work can been illustrated in the schooling: That student’s are excluded from the planning, organisation and direction of the educational process. De-skilling of the teachers as their work is conceptualised by others (Ministry of Education who agrees the standard curriculum to be used in schools) and enforced by the bureaucratic outcome of accountability systems implemented in schools. The other way that Taylorism continues to influence the education system is through the use of individual rewards for individual effort (example the focus on a students individual test results). Taylor developed wage-incentive schemes emphasizing piecework and historically assembly line foremen attempted to stop any sort of worker inter action. Elton Mayo who introduced Human Relations theory based on his research at the Hawthorne electrical factory was to see how productivity will improve if the lighting condition changes and he followed Taylor’s scientific principles by testing the changes against a control, with part of the factory lighting being unchanged, (Kelly 1982). This lead him to conduct further experiments which vast doubts on Taylors assumptions about the importance of money in motivation (Marcouse, 1996). According to Huczynski and Buchan, the conclusions which can be drawn from Hawthorne studies are: 1. People at work are motivated by more than just pay and conditions. 2. Their need for recognition and sense of belonging are very important. 3. A person’s attitude to work is shaped strongly by the group in which that individual  belongs within the company. 4. The ability of the informal group or clique to motivate an individual at work should not be underestimated. (Huczynski and Buchanan 1991) . Another contributor to the Human Relations approach is Abraham Harold Maslow, an American psychologist who was best known for creating Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. They range from physical & social to psychological needs. Maslow (1943, 1954) stated that human motivation is based on people seeking fulfilment and change through personal growth. Self-actualized people as those who were fulfilled and doing all they were capable of. The Human Relations models have changed management and how workers are in fact valuable employees and stakeholders of an organisation. The key difference between scientific management and the human relations model is highlighted when analysing the motivational techniques to increase productivity. Scientific management emphasises the use of financial measures in order to secure employers objectives whereas the human relations model argues that management should acquire the insight into the skills that will manipulate social factors in order to harness their employees social needs to managerial ends (Fincham & Rhodes, 1999). Thus, behavioural science; motivation theories in combination with the humanistic theories of management, have added to Taylors principles and allowed for contemporary organizations to succeed where scientific management alone failed. Taylorism was an influential management theory of the late nineteenth century. Despite its relevance to its time the influence can still be seen in todays twenty first century: educational institutes, service sector and the manufacturing industries. Though there are limitations to his method, this principle has a considerable profound and lasting influence to all contemporary organizations because of  Taylor’s â€Å"preoccupation with the efficient use of resources†. This philosophy can almost apply to every organization, despite its work structure, such as structures of team working or job enrichment; one of the ultimate goals should be improve efficiency. As Braverman says, â€Å"the principle of scientific management is not a failed system, but a set of guiding principles which continue to inform and influence the role and function of modern management†. Some of the methods he advocates, such as division of labour, scientific selection and training, have become the features of modern society. More primarily, as efficiency is one of the enduring needs of all organizations, his preoccupation with the efficient use of resources thus becomes the driving force behind the evolution of subsequent management theories and the root of management practice. References: Huczynski, A. and Buchanan, D: Organisational Behaviour. Eighth Edition. Pearson 2013. Huczynski, A. and Buchanan, D.,1991. Organizational behaviour An Introductory Text. Second edition. London: Prentice Hall International (UK) Ltd. Hertzberg,F., B.Mausner and B.Snyderman: The motivation to work (New york: Wiley 1959). Taylor F.W (1997): The principles of scientific management. Mincola, NY (original work published 1911). Braverman, H (1974): Labour and Monoploy capital: The degradation of work in the twentieth century. New York Monthly review press. Kelly, John. (1982), Scientific Management, Job Redesign, & Work Performance. Academic †¨Press. Marcouse, I. et al. (1996), The Complete A-Z Business Studies Handbook, Hodder & †¨Stoughton. Ritzer, George. (2000) The McDonaldization Of Society. Sage Publications Inc. Taylor, Frederick W (1911) The Principles of Scientific Management, Harper Bros. Fincham, R & Rhodes, P (1999) Priniciples of Organisational Behaviours, Oxford Univeristy Press. Nelson, David (1980) Frederick W Taylor and the Rise of Scientific Management, The University of Wisconsin Press. Maslow, A. H. (1943). A Theory of Human Motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370-96. Maslow, A. H. (1954). Motivation and Personality. New York: Harper and Row.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Global Warming Fact or Fiction Essay

Throughout their history, humans have witnessed all the environmental imbalances they have created in the world. The unstoppable technological advances of the world have greatly contributed to the enhancement of economic progress and improvement of the quality of life. However, the phenomenal growth of the economy and the increase of the standards of living are achieved at the expense of environmental destruction that is pressing the contemporary society. Hence, as human beings are the ones responsible for taking care of and preserving nature, they should impose certain limitations in their attempts to acquire economic progress in order to protect the environment. The pivotal change in the composition of the earth’s atmospheric condition gave birth to the term global warming, leaving the whole world unnerved of the damages it is currently causing and will continue to cause. However, we should consider if global warming is true or a mere product of our imagination. Some scientists argue that what we are experiencing right now is a natural occurrence and is a part of the earth’s climate cycle. Theorists believed that the earth is currently undergoing climate cycle, wherein the planet cools then heats up. Scientists pointed out that 75 million years ago, the earth experienced ten degrees higher than today’s temperature, but still, life was sustained. On the other hand, there is a strong evidence that global warming is not a natural phenomenon but is a result of human activities. Global warming is progressing at a rapid pace, with its damaging effects leading the world more and more to its destruction (Hopwood and Cohen). Thus, this paper aims to present information that supports the claim that global warming is a fact and is threatening human life. Global warming is considered as the worst dilemma faced by humans as a result of their constant neglect of the environment. Global warming developed through the increased emissions of the noxious greenhouse gases resulting in an increase on the temperature of the earth’s surface (SciDev. Net). Global warming renders a variety of changes that affects the environment and the quality of life. As a result of humankind’s neglect and carelessness, the Earth is now experiencing extreme shifts in temperature which result in heat waves, irregular weather conditions, and rapid unfreezing of icecaps and glaciers located at the two opposite poles of the earth. As the ice caps and glaciers melt, the sea level rises, resulting in occurrences of coastal flooding. Causes of Global Warming The main cause of global warming is the widespread emission of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are the natural blanket of the Earth located in the atmosphere. It traps some of the light to keep the surface warmer. Over the century, the Earth’s surface temperature increased by . 5 degrees Celsius and it was believed that this was due to the increased on the concentration of the main greenhouse gases, which are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorocarbons (Hopwood and Cohen). The natural phenomenon was named â€Å"greenhouse effect† because it has a similar effect created by the glass panes of a greenhouse. The greenhouse traps the heat inside preventing large amounts of heat to go outside. The greenhouse gases selectively transmit infrared rays emitted by the sun. It traps some of the waves and permits some to travel in space. The greenhouse gases then bounce the infrared rays back on the lower atmosphere causing the increase in temperature (Hopwood and Cohen). Carbon dioxide is one of the main components of the greenhouse gases. It is produced and emitted in the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide is emitted when humans exhale, when fossil fuels burn for energy, and through the deforestation of the planet (Hopwood and Cohen). The release of carbon dioxide is a biological function among humans and other animals which have a similar respiratory system. Fossil fuels are formed through the decay of the plants and animals a thousand years ago. People utilize these fossil fuels in the form of coal, oil, and natural gas to create a supply of electricity, to heat their homes, and to run their cars. The fossil fuels contain carbon which, when burned, mixes with oxygen, resulting in the formation of carbon dioxide (Hopwood and Cohen). Other greenhouse gases accumulate in the earth’s atmosphere due to the negligence of people. As they continue to strive for economic progress, they reinforce the causes of the environmental dilemma that can lead the planet to its destruction (Hopwood and Cohen). Deforestation is another cause of the production of carbon dioxide. Deforestation occurs though logging for lumber, pulpwood and fuel wood. Another factor contributing on deforestation is farming new land, which involves developing forests into farmlands and pastures. Deforestation takes away trees that absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. The less number of trees in the forest, the less carbon dioxide will be processed and made available in the atmosphere (Hopwood and Cohen). Thus, global warming is caused by humans’ unstoppable emission of noxious gases on the earth’s atmosphere and the denuding of forests. At present, the status of global warming is progressing, rendering detrimental effects to the planet and its inhabitants. Effects of Global Warming The increase of the amount of greenhouse gases present in the earth’s atmosphere has negative implications on the earth’s environmental mechanism. These effects only signify the existence of the environmental dilemma. Due to global warming, the planet is experiencing imbalances our environmental processes. The earth is suffering from heat waves, sudden unusual shifts in weather, and changes in precipitation patterns. The odd patterns of precipitation reinforced by the rise of the sea level result in coastal flooding and take away the land where people live. This circumstance induces migration, causing the population of the inland cities to escalate (â€Å"Global Warming: Early Warning Signs†). Global warming also has a direct effect on our earth’s hydrosphere. The increase in temperature contributes to the rise of sea level. The rise of the earth’s waters results from the expansion of water due to heating and the melting of glaciers and ice caps in the North and South poles (Raper and Braithwaite 311). Global warming also affects the daily lives and lifestyle of the people. It also causes a chain of events that raises extreme concern from environmentalists who are anticipating the worst scenarios resulting from this environmental issue (Hopwood and Cohen). Global warming renders both negative and positive effects in our agriculture. As for its benefits to agriculture, global warming helps to increase food production. Since one of the determinants of agriculture is climate, it is suggested that heating is better than cooling. Moreover, carbon dioxide is one of the essential factors needed by plants in making their own food. As the temperature rises, more farmlands will be available on the poles and the length of the growing season will be prolong. However, extreme rise in the temperature will cause drought that affects our crops. Extremely hot temperatures also prevent some of the crops to be planted due to the adherence of the climate (Hopwood and Cohen). Global warming also raises various health concerns. One of the most obvious effects on health is directly through heat. As the temperature of the earth continues to increase, more people will suffer from heatstroke, heart ailments, and other illnesses exacerbated by heat (Hopwood and Cohen). In addition to this, it was stated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that climate change develops a wide array of adverse effects on human health, resulting in significant loss of human lives. As temperature increases at the earth’s poles, pests and insects migrate toward these areas. Some of these insects and pests carry diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever, which could lead to an increase in the number of cases documented each year (Hopwood and Cohen). Thus, if the current situation will not be addressed, global warming is foreseen to create a chain of negative implications such as the spread of diseases, occurrence of droughts and fires, heavy rainfall, flora and fauna range shift, and population changes (â€Å"Global Warming: Early Warning Signs†). Conclusion The environment is continuously violated and destructed as people strive to achieve industrialization, economic progress, and improvement of the quality of human life. As a result, global warming has emerged as an alarming dilemma that stems from our negligence and exploitation of the earth’s natural resources. Thus, global warming is not a product of our imagination but a product of our continued destruction of the environment. Global warming is brought about by the escalated concentration of greenhouse gases, causing the earth’s temperature to increase as the gases trap infrared waves and bounce them back to the earth. The increased concentration of the greenhouse gases result from the neglectful emission of components that comprise the noxious greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide, the main component of the greenhouse gases, accumulates in the atmosphere as the amount of carbon dioxide recycled is reduced. Deforestation is one of the causes of the increased in the concentration of the harmful gases on the earth’s atmosphere. Global warming brings about various effects on the environment, human health, and people’s lifestyle. Although global warming has some advantages, such as prolonging the growing (of plants) season, it produces more negative implications. For instance, it can cause the spread of various diseases, the occurrence of droughts and wildfires, the unusual patterns of precipitation, and considerable shifts on the flora and fauna distribution. The sad truth is that global warming exists and continues to progress as we constantly neglect our environment. The current rate of its development causes concerns to arise, and the effects we are currently experiencing are proof of its threatening presence. Hence, as global warming continues to threaten human lives, attention and action are extremely needed not only to resolve the growing problems caused by global warming, but also to prevent further damages to the planet and its inhabitants. Works Cited Global Warming: Early Warning Signs. 1999.Retrieved May 8 2008 from http://www. climatehotmap. org/. Hopwood, Nick and Jordan Cohen. â€Å"Greenhouse Gases and Society. † University of Michigan. 1998. 18 July 2008 . Raper, Sarah C. B, and Roger J. Braithwaite. â€Å"Low Sea Level Rise Projection from Mountain Glaciers Icecaps under Global Warming. † Nature 439 (19 January 2006): 311-313. SciDev. Net. â€Å"Global Warming. † Climate Change and Energy. 2008. May 8 2008 .

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Stag Beetles, Family Lucanidae

Stag beetles are some of the biggest, worst bugs on the planet (at least they look bad!). These beetles are so named for their antler-like mandibles. In Japan, enthusiasts collect and rear stag beetles, and even stage battles between the males. Description Stag beetles (family Lucanidae) do get quite large, which is why they are so popular with beetle collectors. In North America, the largest species measures just over 2 inches, but tropical stag beetles can easily top 3 inches. These sexually dimorphic beetles also go by the name pinch bugs. Male stag beetles sport impressive mandibles, sometimes as long as half their body, which they use to spar with competing males in battles over territory. Though they may look threatening, you dont need to fear these enormous beetles. Theyre generally harmless but may give you a good nip if you try to handle them carelessly. Stag beetles are typically reddish-brown to black in color. Beetles in the family Lucanidae possess antennae with 10 segments, with the end segments often enlarged and appearing clubbed. Many, but not all, have elbowed antennae as well.​ Classification Kingdom – Animalia Phylum – Arthropoda Class – Insecta Order – Coleoptera Family - Lucanidae Diet Stag beetle larvae are important decomposers of wood. They live in dead or decaying logs and stumps. Adult stag beetles may feed on leaves, sap, or even honeydew from aphids. Life Cycle Like all beetles, stag beetles undergo complete metamorphosis with four stages of development: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Females usually lay their eggs under the bark on fallen, rotting logs. The white, c-shaped stag beetle larvae develop over one or more years. Adults emerge in late spring or early summer in most areas. Special Adaptations and Defenses Stag beetles will use their impressive size and massive mandibles to defend themselves if needed. When it feels threatened, a male stag beetle may lift its head and open its mandibles, as if to say, Go ahead, try me. In many parts of the world, stag beetle numbers have declined due to forest defragmentation and the removal of dead trees in populated areas. Your best chance of seeing one may be observing one near your porch light on a summer evening. Stag beetles do come to artificial light sources, including light traps. Range and Distribution: Worldwide, stag beetles number around 800 species. Just 24-30 species of stag beetles inhabit mostly forested areas of North America. The largest species live in tropical habitats. Sources Borror and Delongs Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th Edition, by Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. JohnsonInsects: Their Natural History and Diversity, by Stephen A. MarshallStag Beetles of Kentucky, University of Kentucky Entomology Department