Test Scores and Housing Costs by Motoko Rich Essay - 80

Test Scores and Housing Costs by Motoko Rich - Essay Example As the paper highlights schools that do not perform well on state tests will likely have a cheaper cost of living in the surrounding areas. This is because the demand is not so high for these schools and so house prices remain relatively low in order to encourage people to buy houses. Other factors of course play a role, such as poverty, but poor quality of housing is a major contributor towards academic performance. This paper declares that in looking at the reasons why housing prices and education are linked, there can be two ways to describe it: either low cost housing contributes to poor academic performance or low education results in cheaper housing. The most obvious choice would seem to be the first one, but studies say otherwise. Jonathon Rothwell, a senior research analyst in the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings, mentions that it has been proved that when students from poor backgrounds attend schools with students from more affluent backgrounds their educational performance improves as a result. This suggests that academic performance rests solely on the performance of teachers and not due to economic background. However, teachers likely choose to teach at schools in close proximity to where they live, so the better teachers will prefer to teach where the standard of living is higher.  In looking at the reasons why housing prices and education are linked, there can be two ways to describe it: either low cost housing contributes to poor academic performance or low education results in cheaper housing.  

Leadership Concepts Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Leadership Concepts - Case Study Example Organizational climate has a crucial impact on company’s performance and profitability. The main features of positive climate are the absence of pressure; involvement; management support and co-worker cohesion (Sims 2002, p. 45). Following Johnson and Johnstone (2005): â€Å"an organizational climate encourages and rewards workaholic behaviors, then workaholics are likely to develop and flourish. When high pressure and long working hours are the norms, individuals are likely to work longer hours in order to succeed† (p. 181). Moral influence personal attitude of GeneOne employees and their perception of the work and the company. It is possible to say that Don Ruiz, John Kirby and Susan Wells establish a strong corporate culture and healthy climate which help them to motivate and inspire employees. A positive climate increases productivity and efficiency. In many cases, Board Members of GeneOne use situational leadership to motivate employees and sustain strong culture a nd morale. GeneOne introduced one of the most popular and effective problem-solving techniques: win-win approach. The ‘win-win’ problem-solving skills is a conflict resolution technique which helps to reduce the conflict situations and find the best solution that satisfies the needs of everyone involved. This technique is crucial because today conflict is treated seriously as an important aspect in the proper understanding of orga ¬nizational behavior. â€Å"The ‘win-win’ approach is action-oriented and tailored to suit specific organizational needs, namely conflict resolution†.... It is possible to say that Don Ruiz, John Kirby and Susan Wells establish strong corporate culture and healthy climate which help them to motivate and inspire employees. A positive climate increases productivity and efficiency. In many cases, Board Members of GeneOne use situational leadership to motivate employees and sustain strong culture and morale. Team Problem Solving GeneOne introduced one of the most popular and effective problem solving techniques: win-win approach. The 'win-win' problem solving skills is a conflict resolution technique which helps to reduce the conflict situations and find the best solution that satisfies the needs of everyone involved. This technique is crucial because today conflict is treated seriously as an important aspect in the proper understanding of organizational behavior. "The 'win-win' approach is action-oriented and tailored to suit specific organizational needs, namely conflict resolution" (Mcnary 2003, p. 144). By agreeing at the outset the objectives against which a proposed resolution would be assessed, the decision-making is far easier. Clearly if the parties can agree on mutual objectives then the problem is far easier to resolve than if they have conflicting objectless and personal agendas. This approach is based on participative leadership which helps GeneOne teams to avoid conflicts and find win-win solut ions in the shortest period of time. Organizational Coaching In GeneOne, coaching helps to improve performance of employees and a team. Effective coaching assists job performance and training methods. According to Parsloe and Wray (2000) "coaching is a process that enables learning and development to occur and thus performance to improve" (p, 45 cited Sims 2002, p. 56). Effective

International Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

International Law - Essay Example Benin also ratified to this convention, however, there are many states that still are not part of this Contract. CISG gives exporters the ‘choice of law’ avoidance of issues. There are many rules and clauses that are in CISG that exporters can rely on. Conflict of law means that the litigation case leads to conflict in laws between different jurisdiction bodies and the outcome is to use the courts of one area to enforce the law. The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNICITRAL) developed this law and it was initiated in 1980. It became a multilateral treaty and it continuously accepted by many states. Countries that do ratify to this Convention are known as ‘contracting states’ and it is usually part of the law of the state or within the laws unless otherwise specified and it lies between the transaction of goods among different states under the contract or contracting states. Therefore it also facilitates trade. (Schlechtriem, 1998) A few countries that have ratified to the Convention are Argentina, Albania, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Turkey and USA etc. However, a few countries do not follow the Convention to the book and have certain restrictions towards it. The Nordic region countries do not allow the application of part II of the clause to be applied all over, unless the contract of the transaction made is pointed out. In place of this, Nordic council applies the local law which leads to some differences from the Convention. CISG according to part II would allow the seller to withdraw the offer but before the buyer has accepted it. However, the Nordic council believes that a period of time should be given to the buyer to make a decision when an offer is made. This is a reservation of clause 94 of part II of the Contract. (Will, 1996) The major states that are absent from this Contract are India, Taiwan, Brazil, Hong Kong, South Africa as well as United Kingdom. They have not ratified to the contract. Japan made a depository and entered the Convention by 2009. However UK is still absent from the Convention because its government doesn’t view entering into this Contract as a priority for the state and the businesses have also not given support for this ratification as well. There is also a large amount of opposition from a number of organizations in UK, as well as scarce resources for the public, and a fear that London would lose out on its edge in the world with regards to litigation and arbitration. (Huber & Mullis, 2007) Why exactly does UK not want to be under this contract? The reason is that the Ministers do not feel that it is the priority of the legislation. The Government has many other issues to deal with and this Convention would just need to stand in line and wait its attention. The parliament meeting covers issues relating to the legislation of employment, energy, civil partnerships and company la w, which are considered to be more important issues as compared to the issue of exporters. The country itself doesn’t seem interested in ratifying the Convention. There have been instances when the Ministers have circulated letters asking for ratification and why UK has not adhered to it. The lack of Convention isn’t having an impact on the economy of UK and so the people haven’t considered this issue important enough to respond to. Business is working smoothly and isn’

Management accounting is a new branch of accounting that promotes the Essay

Management accounting is a new branch of accounting that promotes the overall managerial performance of an organisation - Essay Example As scholars indicate, an organisation’s management accounting discipline can have a great influence on its other functions. Mainly, management accounting discipline defines an organisation’s managerial ethics. Hence, the concept of management accounting discipline greatly relates to the firm’s corporate governance policies. This paper will particularly discuss the evolution of management accounting discipline and its relationship with other functions in organisations. The paper will give specific focus to the ethical aspects in management accounting, performance management, balanced scorecard, activity based costing and sustainability reporting. Evolution of management accounting discipline The history of management accounting can be dated back to 19th century when the process of industrial revolution compelled firms to maintain better managerial control over their business activities. During that time, most of the firms were run by a single owner or manager usin g their personal assets. As there had been no external stockholders or unsecured debt, organisations never used to prepare elaborated financial reports. Therefore, the concept of management accounting was widely known by its cost accounting functions in olden days. The idea of management accounting has undergone tremendous changes over the last century. As per the Malaysian Institute of Accountants’ (2005) study, the development of this concept can be explained using four recognisable time phases2. Phase 1 - Before 1950, the major function of the management accounting was to determine the costs and to control financial operations using financial tools such as budgeting and cost accounting. Phase 2 - By 1965, the scope of management accounting expanded and hence its focus has been shifted to provision of information for managerial activities such as planning and control. For this purpose, business managers used tools such as decision analysis and responsibility accounting. Pha se 3 – By 1985, management accountants extensively used techniques like process analysis and cost management in order to reduce the wastage of resources in business processes and thereby improve profitability. Phase 4 – By 1995, the management accounting branch focused more on value creation through effective use of resources. For this purpose, management accountants sought help of technologies that can identify the contributing factors to shareholder value, customer value, and organisational innovation3. The emergence of the concept strategic management accounting in late 1980s notably changed the overall outlook of the management accounting4. By the end of the 20th century, increased pressures from capital markets, creditors, and governmental regulatory bodies forced organisations to pay specific attention to managerial control. In addition, increasing business needs persuaded business houses to raise additional funds from different capital suppliers5. In order to ma nage fund raising activities and to identify future fund needs, business managers had to obtain audited financial statements. Likewise, firms had to communicate its financial

Evaluate the effectiveness of logistics management as a method of Essay

Evaluate the effectiveness of logistics management as a method of gaining competative advantage within Youngs Seafood , Grimsby and how this relates to the wider supply chain - Essay Example Further, the paper also discusses how this concept relates to the Supply Chain Management. Logistics is defined as â€Å"the time-related positioning of resources†. A good logistics supply chain would include the right resources in the right place, at the right time, right quality/quantity and at the right cost. It took some time for the company - Young’s Sea Food to accept logistics as a management process. Most of their competitors have already established this sector as one of the foundation stones to deliver diverse services and products while aiming high profit margins and customer satisfaction. Today, logistics management is acclaimed as a combining process that provides information networks and necessary infrastructure essential for the development and functioning of global supply chains. The company - Young’s Sea Food has already taken various initiatives such as real time manufacturing and distribution, supply chain engineering, efficient consumer response systems and the lean models. The main aim of the company management is to search for new levels of supply chain efficiency and integration. Supply chain collaboration remained an elusive goal for the management. The company’s management has recognized that the future to competitive edge is to define internal improvements and plan far outside the frontiers of the normally envisioned enterprises. In today’s global and volatile market and with ever increasing competitors for Young’s Sea Food, the consumer demands are rising by the minute. It is now acknowledged as a strategic necessity, to forge partnerships beyond geographical and industry-vertical boundaries. Collaborative planning systems are providing the capabilities for accelerating the co-management of planning processes and effici ent sharing of information. Logistics collaboration and sharing of infrastructure needs to become a reality for the company in order gain an edge over other market

How to Break Bad Habits and Create Positive Ones Essay Example for Free

How to Break Bad Habits and Create Positive Ones Essay Everyone has one: a bad habit (or habits†¦) we wish we could break. Unfortunately, breaking a bad habit — as anyone who has ever bitten their nails, smoked, or mindlessly snacked in front of the TV knows — is not that simple. Breaking habits is hard, but with a little determination, it is achievable. There is a reason habits are hard to break. The majority of our habits are good for us, allowing our brain to complete certain tasks on autopilot which frees space for decision making, creativity, and quick action. But the brain does not discriminate between good and bad habits; once something becomes a routine, whether it’s helpful or harmful, your brain will perform it automatically, which can make it hard to stop. Step 1: Identify the habit All habits serve a purpose. Brushing your teeth first thing in the morning prevents cavities, stopping at a red light prevents car accidents, and eating cupcakes when you’re feeling low can deliver comfort. To make positive improvements, start by identifying your problem habit and its underlying cause. Step 2: Replace it Once you’ve identified your habit and its trigger, find something positive to take its place. If you eat to wind down after a long day of work, replace food with a walk or yoga. If you bite your nails, try chewing gum. If you smoke to relieve stress, try meditation. Step 3: Keep the commitment Once you’ve decided to break your habit and replace it with something positive, write it down. Keeping a journal of your progress can hold you accountable while serving as a great progress marker. If you’re truly  committed to making your new positive habits stick, complete your new habit daily for 30 days. The more consistent you are, the easier it will be to continue. Step 4: Be prepared for hiccups Through this process, it’s important to remember that habits are habits for a reason — they serve a purpose and our mind is trained to complete them with little to no effort. Be kind to yourself and be patient; all of your attempts to change habits will not be successful immediately. Expect bumps along the way but continue to push through. When in doubt, think positively. If you are at wit’s end and the only thought in your head is â€Å"I can’t do this†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , make it a positive. â€Å"I can’t do this, but it will get easier.†

On First Looking Into Chapmans Homer

On First Looking Into Chapmans Homer John Keats On First Looking into Chapmans Homer is a sonnet in which he writes of the impact of reading Chapmans translation of Homer. Reading Chapmans Homer did more than spark Keats intellect. Chapmans Homer caused a massive explosion in Keats mind which allowed him to write as John Middleton Murray says one of the finest sonnets in the English language (Murray). In this paper I will show that Keats writes the poem On First Looking into Chapmans Homer after he had an epiphany as a result of reading Chapmans translation of Homer. George Chapman was an English poet, dramatist, and translator during the Renaissance. He is most remembered as the poet who translated the works of Homer. He was born in Hitchin around 1559. Chapman died in poverty in 1634, but left a wealthy estate of writing for all to inherit. John Keats, born in 1795, was an English Poet. He published three books of poetry. Keats lost both parents at a very young age. Keats was not born into aristocracy, he was not rich, and therefore was not very well educated. Most critics did not consider Keats to be credible poet. Because he was poor he could not marry the woman he loved and only achieved fame after his death in 1821. Andrew Motion of the Richmond Review writes: The story of John Keats is one of the best known lives in literary history. His working class origins, poor critical reception and tragically early death constitute a perfect blueprint for a popular archetype of the Romantic Poet (Motion). The poem On Looking into Chapmans Homer was written after Keats and his friend Charles Cowden Clarke was given a copy of Chapmans Homer. Michael R. Richards states: Keatss sonnet is a criticism in miniature, a capsulated criticism very much in tune with almost all the Romantic critics (Richards). Evidently, Keats used the poem as a vehicle to reveal the hidden treasure of literary wealth regarding Homer and his literary works that was not mimed by Pope. Keats uses the Italian (Sonnet) or Petrarchan form of the sonnet to structure his poem. The octet, which is the first eight lines of the poem, carries an abba abba rhyme scheme. The next six lines of the poem, the sestet, have a rhyme scheme of cdcdcd. As expected, line 9 of the poem introduces a change in the poem, formally known as a Volta, commonly called a turn. In the octet, Keats speaks of travels he experienced vicariously through his reading. Keats vivid imagination allows him to enter into the pages of the books and the words were as sparks causing his intellect to catch fire. In concert with the theme of Petrarchan sonnets, Keats uses the octet to introduce the problem when he writes: Oft of one wide expanse had I been told / That deep-browd Homer ruled as his demesne / Yet did I never breathe its pure serene / Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold. (5-8) First, it is fitting to look at the words used in the poem. Keats uses language that depicts expansive travel, major discovery, and an enriching sense of satisfaction. Using words like much, states, kingdoms, many, and islands, he successfully communicates that his travel was plentiful and varied. Next, he intimates discovery by alluding to astrologers finding new planets, and the imagery of Cortez first seeing the Pacific Ocean. Keats encapsulates the fact that he had heard of Homer and the euphoria of the vast impact of the newly acquired insight by declaring: Yet did I never breathe its pure serene / Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold / Then felt I like some watcher of the skies / when a new planet swims into his ken/ or like Stout Cortez when with eagle eyes / he stard at the Pacific. (6-11) Keats reading experiences in general, and more his specifically, reading of Chapmans Homer was so prolific, that he could only describe it in the sestet with metaphors and similes that bespeak grandeur of expanse, height and depth. The overarching metaphor is reading presented as travel. Hiliary S. Brautigam, in her essay, Controlled Passion writes: Keats dramatically establishes the narrative with the arresting first line, drawing the reader into the overarching metaphor that encompasses the poem (Bressler). A surface reading of the poem misleads the reader into believing that Keats is a man who has travelled to many places. Keats writes: Much have I travelld in the realms of gold / And many goodly states and kingdoms seen. / Round many western islands have been / Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold. (1-4) A closer inspection of the poem reveals that the word much quantifies travel that was done figuratively and not literally. So in this instance there is a twist of irony and there is also the masterful use of binary opposition whereby much is less in terms of Keats actual travel, but it is volumes in terms of travel through reading. The same mastery holds true for the concept of travel. As defined by Dictionary.Com to travel is: to move or go from one place or point to another(Dictionary.com). Denotatively, the word travel means moving between physical spaces; however, in Keats case, travel is not between physical spaces, but is over miles on mental projection. While Keats hero, Homer, though blind, travelled extensively, the vast majority of Keats travel was in the space of his reading. The further use of simile and metaphor makes an excellent segue for Keats use of imagery. Keats writes: Then felt I like some watcher of the skies / When a new planet swims into his ken / Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes / He stard at the Pacific and all his men (9-12). The simile watcher of the skies speaks of people who studied the science of astronomy. In the historical context, watchers of the skies or, astrologers are people who studied the skies. According to Chris Lawton, From around 3000 BC onwards, astronomy in its most primitive form had developed (Lawton). In the religious context, watchers of the skies were called Egyptian Magi, wise men, who were able to look at the skies and gain the knowledge and wisdom to predict events. The religious value of Magi can be found throughout the Holy Bible. For example, Matthew, in Matthew 2:1, 7 writes: Now when Jesus was born à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem Then Herod à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared (Matthew). Thus, Keats pronouncement that he felt like a watcher of the skies strongly implies the degree of wonder and amazement he felt when reading Chapmans translation of Homer. It was, for Keats, as though he became aware of a celestial event. Interestingly, the title of the poem On First Looking into Chapmans Homer the emphasis on Chapmans Homer alludes to the fact that Keats was aware of the interpretation of Homer as translated by the English Poet, Alexander Pope. Michael Richards writes: Keats had been previously acquainted with Homer, only through Popes translations, translations that Keats found artificial (Richards). Further, Richards claims: The Romantics criticisms of Pope and Chapman agreed with Keats in that it condemns the flaccidity, the polluted poetic diction, and the artificiality of Popes translation and praised the strength, purity, and originality of Chapmans (Richards). Until Keats read the translation by George Chapman, there was no awakening in him. Furthermore, the use of the word looking in the title employs irony and imagery masterfully. According to Dictionary.Com: look may be defined as: to investigate; to see (Dictionary.Com). It is fair to conclude that Keats reading and understanding of Chapmans Homer was so thorough that Keats could see by visualization the events, places, and people in Chapmans translation. In addition, the overarching themes of travel and discovery may very well be complimented by a theme of enlightenment or awakening. Through a theme of enlightenment or awakening, it may be argued that when Keats read Chapmans Homer, it was not the first time that Keats had heard of Homer; however, it was the first time that the life, legacy, and literary contributions of Homer united with the literary experiences and convictions of Keats, giving birth to a synergistic awakening which unleashed Keats creativity. Keats declaration of hearing Chapman speak out loud and bold is the climatic moment when he felt and understood the power of Chapmans translation. Keats believes that Chapman illuminated Homer better than any other poet. The Sestet of the poem shows an overpowering word picture. There is a picture of bewildering excitement, star-struck awe, and fulfilling silence, much like a lover anticipating a climax, then experiencing the climax, and after the climax, falling into a breathless, trance-like fulfilled silence. Keats writes: Then felt I like some watcher of the skies / When a new planet swims into his ken; / Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes / He stard at the Pacificand all his men Lookd at each other with a wild surmise / Silent, upon a peak in Darien. (9-14) As is expected of Italian Sonnets, there is a clear denouement in the sestet. The depictions of Cortez as stout and eagle-eyed are additional and effective uses of simile and metaphor that enhances the imagery. The word stout commonly evokes physical images of being hefty, round, bulky or fat. But, coupled with the expression eagle-eye, it most likely identifies with this interpretation as defined by Dictionary.Com: having endurance or staying power (Dictionary.com). It is a widely known fact that the vision of eagles is superior to that of humans. While lauding the superior vision of Cortez to identify the Pacific Ocean, Keats also shows the precision with which he scoured Chapmans interpretation. Thus, by combining stout with eagle-eye, the poem highlights the strength, stamina and precision of not only Cortez but also that of Keats. The allusions to strength and stamina bolsters Keats strong use of metaphors, simile, and imagery. The strength of these literary elements is testament to Keats belief that Chapmans Homer is superior to that of Popes. In the poe m, Keats atttributes the discovery of the Pacific Ocean to Cortez and not Balboa. It is not clear whether Keatss attribution was as a result of a careless scholastic approach, or, whether the attribution was as a result of the deliberate use of poetic conceit which is using extended metaphors to create an image. What is crystal clear though, is the fact that with diction, imagery, the use metaphor and simile, and the application of binary oppositions and irony, Keats allows the reader to envision how he felt when the life and works of Homer as offered by Chapman touched his pysche. The impact of Chapmans Homer complimented Keats historical, social and political perspectives. In October 1816 during the Romanic Era Keats penned On First Looking into Chapmans Homer. As was fitting during the Romantic Era, Keats glorified Homer in the poem. Of course, in the neoclassic era, Homers individual heroism would be frowned upon, since neoclassics preferred people who conformed to social norms. Like Homer, Keats elevates the art of using metaphors. Again, Like Homer, Keats also combines the art of using simile and metaphor to bring to life a literary work that might otherwise be mundane. Here is a comparison of how Homer and Keats combined similes and metaphors. Homer writes: The two immortals stepped briskly as wild doves, quivering, keen to defend the fighting men of Argos. (Fagles) Keats writes: Then felt I like some watcher of the skies / When a new planet swims into his ken (9-10). It is evident that Keats discovered the value of Homers use of metaphors and immediately made use of this powerful literary tool. In summation, I submit that Keats ability as a poet and his understanding of the purpose and elements of Poetry, in particular, imagery, simile and metaphors were awakened by Chapman because Chapman captured the essence of using similes, metaphors, and imagery and gave life to writing about Homer. Apparently, after observing Chapmans use of metaphor and gaining a deeper understanding of the power of the use of metaphor and simile, Keats appreciation for them as literary elements grew. Based on his newfound understanding, it is possible to assert that Keats view of Homer, as seen through the scope of Popes translation appeared tumultuous. However, Chapmans translation depicted a much clearer view of a man whose territory is serene. Chapmans translation was the catalyst for Keats climatic epiphany. Keats was able to clearly articulate how he felt before reading Chapmans Homer and how he felt after reading Chapmans Homer. The excitement felt by Keats as he discovered new truths about Ho mer and his work, is one that is shared and should be shared by any person seeking higher learner. John Keats so brilliantly and effectively conveyed the emotions he felt as he uncovered the dynamics of Homer that readers of the poem are drawn into the excitement of travel and discovery metaphorically. The imagery of Keats first as a poet who is reading for knowledge, then as an astronomer gazing into new truths, and finally as a explorer realizing that he had discovered a new world of literary skill was very vivid. The impact of Keatss discovery fueled him to demonstrate the skill and document the experience. As a result future students, poets, writers, translators, interpreters, and lovers of the literary world have a good specimen of the effectiveness of imagery, simile, and metaphor. The words of Keats following below are a fitting conclusion to his discovery of power of the metaphor. Keats writes: Oft of one wide expanse had I been told / That deep-browd Homer ruled as his deme sne / Yet did I never breathe its pure serene / Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold. WORK CITED Bressler, Charles E. Literary Criticism. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson, Prentice Hall, 2007. Dictionary.com. 10 July 2010 . Dictionary.com. 15 July 2010 . Dictionary.com. 19 July 2010 . Fagles. Think Quest .Org. 10 July 2010 . Lawton, Chris. tcp.co.uk. 5 July 2010 . Matthew.Blue Letter Bible. 8 July 2010 Motion, Andrew. Richmond Review. 27 August 2010 .