The Case Against Affirmative Action Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Case Against Affirmative Action - Term Paper Example However, according to many critics, such rules are not needed in today’s society and due to the rules certain issues are mandatory to be created. One such instance regarding the particular minority rules was seen in the Supreme Court some years ago. It involved the issue of admission in the University of Michigan. The regulations of that university were following the point system in which the possible applicants got rated. For a minority group, the points score got doubled to become a perfect SAT score (Fryer, 2005, p.147). As a result, three white students submitted a lawsuit on the basis of race discrimination. According to the regulators of university, we desired diversity and by applying affirmative action we can avail the real diversity. Affirmative action makes the discrimination opposite (Herring, 2012, p.630). The main reason for devising the rules under affirmative action is to prevent discrimination and biased action of the co workers, employees and students on the b asis of color but on the contrary to this, the rules produce the opposite results. White people who are in majority and work really hard to achieve the position have to follow strict regulations because they are majority. Opposite to many set stereotyping, most of the minorities lies under the middle or upper level of the society and white people having poor life style. Undoubtedly, as the set standards for the minorities has made the down trodden white majority students who believe in discipline and constant efforts will not preferred over the wealthy minority students, who lack the traits of hard work and efforts. The standard for accountability diminishes due to affirmative action, which is essential for the students and workers to give best performance. In case if a student belongs to a minority group gets admission in Harvard at 3.2 GPA then the aim of getting 4.0 GPA will not be there. Though, there are people that can motivate themselves to achieve better results however, the re are few that require a constant push from others to do so. If the standards of admission and employment will become lower, the level of accountability also gets lowered. It is important to consider harwork, achievement and discipline as the rewardful acts and a student lacking all these basic aspects should not be getting equal or preferential treatment over other students. Certain students that are preferred on such basis are most commonly ill-equipped to manage the conditions and regulations of university or school of admission. Consider the situation when a minor baseball player preferred to be the captain of a major team and when a science project participant is opted for a rocket science task in NASA. The possibility to get success in both cases is very minimum however; in both situations the individual will feel ill-educated for the needed effort. Similarly, in Harvard and Yale universities, the standard of GPA and SAT is much higher and cannot be achieved by everyone. But it is due to the affirmative action, minority individuals with less GPA and SAT score get the chance to become the part of it. The affirmative action will cause a color blind society. when an individual apply for a job for an admission in school, there is no reason to ask the skin color, height or eye color as the only parameter to judge

Is it possible for EU Multinational investment in China to benefit Essay

Is it possible for EU Multinational investment in China to benefit both the EU and China - Essay Example This, Oehler-Sincai (2011:74) notes can be attributed to the high growth rate in these economies and the high level of transformation from efficiency driven economies towards innovation driven economies. China in particular, has experienced the strongest growth among the emergent countries over the past three decades. This has been characterised with a high level of investment projects from various developed countries, the European Union (EU) the world’s leading source and host of foreign direct investment, being among them (Vanino, 2012:70). Both China and the EU are among the largest host and source of foreign direct investment in the world and the two countries have over the past years developed an integrated industrial and commercial relationship (Bustillo and Maiza, 2012: 355). Despite the continuously increasing trading relationship between the EU and China, increase investment flows between the two countries have remained limited in comparison. While the European invest ors agree and concur to the suitability of China as a desirable investment location that has high unexploited potential, there are still high concerns concerning a ‘lack of level playing field’ in the region as well as uncertainty and persistent barriers in the Chinese business environment (European Commission, 2012). In recent years, EU investment in China has reached about 20% of all foreign direct investment (FDI) in China. At the same time, China is also growing to be an active investor globally with a growing share invested in the EU market (Vanino, 2012:70). The high optimism on the growth potential within the Chinese market however does not translate immediately to EU confidence in China market as a predictable and sustainable investment environment. This is mainly because of the persistent barriers in China. Furthermore, the EU feels that China has obtained more benefits from their trading and investment relationship, as EU investment environment is more open to China, than China is to EU investors (Vanino, 2012:70; Bustillo and Maiza, 2012: 355). Taking into account the rising importance of China as an investment destination for EU investors, it is important to examine whether it is possible for EU investments in China to benefit both EU and China. Hence, this paper seeks to accomplish this purpose. Background to EU Multinational investment in China Over the past three decades since the Chinese reforms which liberalised the economy to adopt a more market based economy, China has rapidly experienced high growth rates, which has elevated economic development in the country (European Commission, 2011). Over this period, China has experienced a 9% annual average growth rates with its GDP rising exponentially to 5% of the global GDP. This growth resulted to the highest drop in poverty within a country in world history as the people living under a dollar a day reduced by 170 million between 1990 and 2000, and as the country experienced a sudden surge in middle class with a large purchasing power (Commission of the European Communities, 2006). The increased integration of China into the World’s trading system, mainly spurred by the country’s inclusion in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001, provided China with export markets that were open, hence elevating the country into a trading power. Furthermore, China became a major recipient of FDI with more than

Identify and Discuss the Change of Activity and Costs Structure within Essay

Identify and Discuss the Change of Activity and Costs Structure within the Supply Chain ifLB Looked to a Third Party Logistics - Essay Example This paper examines critical issues related to Lauritzen Bulkers - LB, one of the leading dry bulk shipping firms in the world with its head quarters in Netherlands (Wolf, 2008). The paper first presents a brief literature review about SCM and then it discuses the change of activity and costs structure within the supply chain if LB looked to a third party logistics provider to supply their transport needs. The paper also examines the extent to which this would impact LB gaining ISO 14000 recognition. LB is a very large shipping company that owns a large number of carriers and it has taken up partnerships with other shipping firms and uses third party logistics. As per the annual report (LB, 2011), by 2011, LB controlled through its owned assets and with those of its network partners, 100 ships of different sizes such as Handymax, Handysize, Capesize and Panamax bulk carriers. Through its subsidiary Lauritzen Kosan, LB controlled a combined fleet of 44 semi-refrigerated ships. Gas car riers for Ethylene, fully pressurised gas carriers, and several smaller refrigerated gas carriers. The firm also controlled 2 numbers very large oil carriers, DP shuttle tankers, and 18 MR product tankers. 2. Literature Review An efficient supply chain can reduce costs, increase efficiency and help to retain customers. Organisations across the world have come to depend on supply chains to service their production lines, fill customer orders and retail shelves. Some important aspects of SCM are discussed in this chapter. 2.1. Nature of supply chains and networks A critical review of Hugos (2011), supply chain management is not merely about picking items from one point and dropping it to another. It is more about estimating demand correctly, understanding the lead-time for procurement and then placing the order for manufacturing. If the lead-time estimation is excessive, then inventory is more and lead to excessive costs while lesser lead-time means the risk of stock out. There is als o the economic order that indicates the minimum quantity required in a shipment. Shipping and logistics firms are integrated with the operations of large buyers so that efficiency is maintained, the quality of service is prompt and reliability of service is unfailing. 2.2. Cost structures in Supply Chains Supply chain analytics often focus on reducing cost structures of the supply chain. This is mainly done because in a procurement cycle, other than the basic product cost, the cost of the supply chain makes up a major component of the cost. The percentage of cost varies from 35% to 55% of the product costs. For perishable items such as dairy products, meat and poultry products, livestock, the costs are more than 67%. Much depends on the distance travelled, the nature of product, pressure for on time delivery, possibility of wastage and loss and other factors (Deloitte, 2012). A critical review of Xia (2003) shows that some of the cost structures in an organisation are inventory carr ying costs, production costs, inspection costs, logistics costs, transportation and handling costs, storage costs, onward forwarding costs and other costs due to delays in berthing, availability of shipping and so on. Some of the costs are borne by the organisation while some are borne by the

Reflection Paper 1 page about Eveline and the other page about the Essay

Reflection Paper 1 page about Eveline and the other page about the lottery - Essay Example r home.† Everybody can relate to hoping for something better, for change that might improve their life, and are often faced with difficult choices. In weighing up the possible advantages of going far away, gaining status as a married woman, looking at the bad things in her present situation, Eveline seemed to be trying to convince herself to make the changes. â€Å"She had consented to go away, to leave her home. Was that wise?† The doubts are always bubbling beneath the surface of the narrative, this is a universal dilemma when life is not ideal and something better seems to be available. The chance to travel, to have a loving husband might make a young woman happy and excited, or so I thought. Eveline’s dilemma reflects how many of us would feel and there is also a question as to whether she loved Frank. The ideal of a love that could overcome every obstacle is missing; Eveline might well be running from one controlling man to Everybody hopes their choices will lead to change for the better in their life, but sometimes fear of the unknown, and taking stock of what you already have helps to make the decision for you. This is what I think Eveline did, but I am left with the question – did she make the right choice for the right reasons? Maybe the answer is in these words: â€Å"Her eyes gave him no sign of love or farewell or recognition.† Told from the objective point of view, this story was shocking and horrific, as the tension built, and what at first appeared a positive, pleasant village custom, became something very sinister. I thought the stones were for some childish game, to be played after the lottery finished. I saw nothing significant in â€Å"..eventually made a great pile of stones in one corner of the square and guarded it against the raids of the other boys.† I believed that somebody was going to win a pot of money and life would go on, with everybody pleased at the winner’s good fortune. But this story had a darker meaning about

Evaluation of usability of e-government services in Saudi Arabia Article

Evaluation of usability of e-government services in Saudi Arabia - Article Example Therefore, usability facilitates an avenue for relationship development since it creates a participatory form of governance (Reddick 2010, 484). Abanumy, Al-Badi & Mayhew (2005) in their study on evaluation of Saudi Arabia and Oman e-government websites accessibility examined accessibility guidelines, evaluation methods, and analysis tools. They together with Al-Wabil and Al-khalifa (n. d) in their study on a framework for integrating usability evaluation methods suggested that websites need considerable improvements to be accessible to all users. Andersen, Gronlund, Engers, and others (2011) in their work found out that broken links and poor designs are among many effects on poor usability of e-government (125). These have been leading to lower usage on websites hence reducing interaction. Reduced interaction has been witnessed to affect online business transactions which need redesigning if service delivery potential clients both locally and internationally has to be achieved (Gokmen 2010). A study by Katre (2007) on identifying available opportunities for further improvement explains the inadequate coverage of fundamental issues like user-centered design. This was well covered by the comparison done by Miguel, Pedrero and Teran (n. d) on advances in e-government usability in Spanish and Bolivian e-observatory initiative. They suggested that updated profile would be a good step towards establishing user problems on usability. This opinion backs up Al-Khalifa’s (2010, 238) opinion in hers heuristic evaluation of usability of e-government websites in Saudi Arabia. The study ascertained that among many usability problems, user satisfaction need to be tested since poor quality websites is directly proportional to bad usability. Eidaroos, Probets and Deanley (n. d) study on two Saudi Arabia websites and Aladwani & Palvia (2010) study on instruments for measuring usability

Week 3 student replys Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Week 3 student replys - Essay Example The post gives an enlightening account of the involvement of Tempo Air in every stage of construction, and until the home is actually occupied and being lived in by the homeowner and his/her family. It is clear that inspection and testing is undertaken, and that the ultimate results have to do with reduction of energy bills, elimination of problems involving moisture content, and enhancement of indoor air quality or IAQ. What appears vague is the particular process undertaken by Tempo Air in the course of achieving its objectives. Why is there a need for Tempo Air to be involved in the early stages of the home (or building) construction when the matter of indoor climate control is a matter that can be addressed only after the building has been constructed? Is it not just a matter of choosing the right brand of air-conditioning units and the right horsepower rating that it could deliver? The post ends with a mention of ‘segmentation’ as separating the company Tempo Air from less reputable firms. I believe ‘segmentation’ in that sense does not refer to market segmentation, which distinguishes between customer-groups. Segmentation should refer to the groups of consumers which the company distinguishes and targets for its goods and services. Neuhaus, E & Schellen, H (2006) ‘Conservatism Heating to Control Relative Humaidity and Create Museum Indoor Conditions in an Monumental Building.’ Retrieved from http://www.monumenten.bwk.tue.nl/documenten/Conservation%20Heating%20to%20Control%20Relative%20Humidity%20and%20Crea.pdf A very informed query is propounded by Kevin Gillin on the post describing St. Jude Medical, a high-tech medical devices manufacturer and distributor. The products and services of St. Jude are vital in extending the lives of people, and the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare) may have material impact on the medical devices industry (Forbes, 2013) to which St. Jude

Compare and Contrast Posner's and Ferguson's Views on the Main Causes Essay

Compare and Contrast Posner's and Ferguson's Views on the Main Causes of the Financial Crisis - Essay Example Many media outputs, including films, articles, and books have outlined various determinants of this economic disorder. One of the most prominent is Charles Ferguson’s film ‘Inside Job’, which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary for its power filmmaking and investigative practices. Another prominent text is Richard Posner’s ‘Crisis of Capitalist Democracy’. This essay compares and contrasts the views of these two individuals -- Posner and Ferguson – in terms of their perspectives on the main causes of the financial crisis. Analysis From the opening credits of Inside Job it’s clear that Posner and Ferguson agree on a number of substantial key contributing factors to the 2008 economic crisis. In these regards, both individuals identify the original spark of the crisis the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Another prominent aspect that both thinkers consider is the nature of financial deregulation as greatly contributing to the crisi s. Both the film and the text provides historical accounts – both Ferguson and Posner’s exploration of the Glass-Steagal Act and Ferguson’s exploration of early era Wall Street – in demonstrating the tremendous shift that occurred in the 2008 economic climate as compared to a bygone conservative era. ... Another of the most notable links between the two texts is the very notion that the American governmental structure may not be able to respond to the significant challenges of the crisis at hand. While Posner emphasizes that a new model of Keynesian economics is needed, he also notes, â€Å"it is not that the economic challenges that we face are insurmountable but that we may lack the governmental structures and political culture requisite for meeting them† (Poster, pg. 7). One sees this echoed in Ferguson perhaps most prominently in the film’s analysis of the links between the financial sector and academia. Ferguson makes the profound and startling insight that the very people who provide the structural education of the economy are themselves on the payroll of these financial firms. In both instances then – Posner and Ferguson’s – there is a profound nihilistic cynicism at the very structure of the American system. Still, as the film and Posnerâ₠¬â„¢s book develop it’s clear there are a number of distinguishing factors. There are a number of overarching considerations. In terms of contrasting elements, one considers the nature of the contrasting mediums. While Ferguson’s film is highly successful in articulating much of the complex process of the crisis, it lacks the in-depth and extended analysis a book can offer. As such, one considers that while the two thinkers may not necessarily stand in theoretical conflict, Posner has the luxury of offering an extended analysis on many elements of the crisis. One trend in these regards is the increased emphasis that Posner places on the citizens that participated in the housing bubble. He writes, â€Å"by pushing up the value of common stock, which made people feel wealthier because their savings were increasingly