Bribery - Analysis of Articles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Bribery - Analysis of Articles - Essay Example At the next level, Segon and Booth (2010) review the literature published on corruption and bribery as business phenomena; their study focuses on correction and bribery in Vietnam but reference is also made to these problems as parts of business operations in other countries internationally – for example Australia and Britain. A different aspect of bribery is examined in the study of Hunt and Laszlo (2009); the above researchers examine the level of bribery in public services of Peru and Uganda aiming to show the difference in the level of bribery between poor and rich people in the particular countries. It is noted that rich people are more likely to bribe compared to poor people; the cost of bribe for the latter seems to be higher – if taking into consideration the fact that poor people have to use almost all of their income when they have to bribe, while in rich people there is no such case. The methods used in the articles under analysis for reviewing and evaluating bribery as a business and social phenomenon, are differentiated. More specifically, the study of Martin, Cullen and Johnson (2007) focuses on the potential influence of national culture on bribery. Data have been gathered from about 4,000 firms internationally aiming to show that bribery can be influenced by culture and by institutional – drivers (Martin, Cullen and Johnson 1401). The characteristics of bribery as a social phenomenon are presented and analyzed; also, the relationship between bribery and the anomie theory is examined. Then, the hypotheses on which the empirical research developed for the study are presented. Finally, the data used for developing the paper are presented and evaluated; these data have been retrieved from the World Bank in 2000 – the sample of the countries participated reached the 80 countries; after using specific variables for choosing the material used in the article, the study’s sample has been reduced approximately by 20% (Ma rtin, Cullen and Johnson 1408). The above data are analyzed using the hierarchical linear modeling. The results of the research are presented using appropriate graphs; also the implications of the research are highlighted aiming to ensure the credibility of the study. The study of Segon and Booth (2010) focuses on the examination of bribery as a phenomenon related to developing economies; in the above study emphasis is given on corruption and bribery as developed in Vietnam and the challenges that managers in firms operating in the particular country have to face because of the above phenomena. The literature referring to corruption and bribery in developing economies is critically reviewed; effort is made so that the causes of corruption and bribery are identify; moreover, the relationship between bribery and national culture is examined. The concepts of culture, corruption and bribery are carefully reviewed – referring to the relevant literature; particular emphasis is give n on bribery and corruption as social and business phenomena in Vietnam. The above study is based solely on literature review – focusing on the issues mentioned above. Hunt and Laszlo (2009) try to identify the cost and benefits of bribery in regard to the income of poor of rich people in Peru and Uganda; in general the article aims to show the level of

Health Care Data Trends Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Health Care Data Trends - Case Study Example The organizations that are not very well prepared may find themselves exposing their clients to greater charges and costs through insurance facilities (Safran, Bloomrosen, Hammond & Labkoff, 2006). Organizations may also find themselves stifled of financial resources because of over-insurance. Many applications in smart-phones and other data devices may leak useful information about patients to healthcare providers leading to a direct insecurity. These applications may also be a platform for the spread of unwarranted personal information with third parties (Safran, Bloomrosen, Hammond & Labkoff, 2006). Strategic partnerships demand utmost good faith and the practitioners in the medical fraternity must be sure the integrity of the companies they contract to handle their specialized services associated with data management. Otherwise, such partners could be leeway through which violations of privacy may occur. Many people often lick their medical information in terms of pictures and diagnostic details. It is possible that practitioners will also share with others and the wider public patient information on the social media with extensive legal repercussion. Many litigation in the medical fraternity have been witnessed that border on class disputes and discriminatory practices. Each medical establishment needs to alert their officials in the manners of addressing the class issues that are embedded in the medical practices. The laws that govern patient security with regard to medical data are many. However, the key laws of the Hippocratic Oath forbid the practitioners from sharing or disclosing patient information with other parties (Mouratidis, Giorgini & Manson, 2005). Specific public policy regulations addressed to the fields of medical research, law enforcement and social welfare, disease control and pricing module of the heath care could be the best approaches to effectively controlling the system

Writing and Communication Essay Example for Free

Writing and Communication Essay * What is the most common form of written communication in your workplace or in a workplace with which you are familiar? Is expository writing or technical writing the most common form of written communication in this workplace? Who is responsible for most of the technical writing in this workplace? I am working at an IT related firm. The most common form of communication in our organization is Mail and technical writing. Most of the time associates have to inform the managers for their updates, requirements, suggestions and grievances in form of Mail. Technical writing is also dominant in our organization as the products are technical. The technical writing responsibility is not shouldered by some individual. It depends upon the modules and team. Every team has someone to take care of technical writing as they work on different products and only the team members know better about that product. * What are some common issues you have seen with written communication in the workplace? One of the most difficult issues faced daily in our organization because of written communication is doubt clearance. It happens when we write a mail to some client or our team at different locations. If any doubt comes up, then it becomes very hard to solve it as further writing only adds to trouble. At last we have to go for voice communication which is costly. * How can an organization benefit from well-written communication? An organization can benefit very well if the written communication is effective. On of the biggest advantage of written communication is record of communication. In long term it benefits the organization. Because of written communication an organization can defend itself in case of any legal issue or problem. It also helps in having policies, rules and principles lay down properly and effectively. Also, in form of task assignment written communication appears to be handy. * How do written communication skills differ from verbal communication skills? What are the challenges a skilled verbal communicator might encounter when performing technical writing? Written communication skill differs very well from verbal skills. Written communication has to be more precise and to the point as it does not have any verbal expression to show the meaning hidden. In written communication one cannot come again to repeat or correct the sentence written in case it is perceived wrong by audiences, what we have in verbal communication. For a verbal communicator almost all its leverages become trouble in written communication. He has got to be precise and accurate. He/she will not be allowed to correct himself with facial expression. He cannot emphasize the sentence or dilute the meaning of a sentence with change in tone. In summary he has got to be precise and to the point.

The Theme Of Power English Literature Essay

The Theme Of Power English Literature Essay In both Like Water for Chocolate (LWC) by Laura Esquivel and A Woman at Point Zero (WPZ) by Nawal El Saadawi, the author shapes the readers opinion on the theme of power. The theme power is presented in both of the books protagonists, Mami Elena and Firdaus. Both characters show significant feminine power throughout the book as vigorous and bold characters. Mami Elenas power is expressed through the actions she inflicts on her daughters and the capability to control each of their fates. Firdauss power is portrayed as a prostitute; using her status to manipulate mens desire to her own advantage. Woman at point zero narrates the story of Firdaus, an Eqyptian female of the 20th century, born and raised within the misery of lower class and chauvinist Muslim society. For Firdaus her mindset of power is simple: men have power and women do not. By birth, I was lower classà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ My Fatherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Knew very few things in lifeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦How to exchange his virgin daughter for a dowry when there was still timeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦How to bend over the headmans hand and pretend to kiss it, how to beat his wife and make her bite dust each nightà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.  [2]  El Saadawi describes Firdaus as a powerless character since birth, described as being lower class; and also a description of power represented by her father beating her mother. Because of her misfortunate cultural position, the character is persecuted by sexual harassment and constrained submission to male desire. As a result, female suffering and oppression is clearly identified by the reader throughout t he novel. Thus creating Firdaus, a prestigious prostitute, whose interaction with society is confined within the basis of male persecution, acquiring power over them. Such an appalling vision of the male gender is generated by concurring experiences of obnoxious masculine behavior. Accordingly, man is intentionally portrayed by the author as grotesque and gruesome. The phrase like water for chocolate comes from the Spanish como agua para chocolate.  [3]  This phrase is a common expression in Spanish speaking countries and was the inspiration for Laura Esquivels novel title (the name has a double-meaning). In some Latin American countries, such as Mexico, hot chocolate is made not with milk, but with water instead. Water is boiled and chunks of milk chocolate are dropped in to melt. The saying like water for chocolate, alludes to this fact and also to the common use of the expression as a metaphor for describing a state of passion or sexual arousal. In some parts of Latin America, the saying is also equivalent to being boiling mad in anger. Laura Esquivel creates Mama Elena the tyrannical, widowed matriarch of the De La Garza clan revolves around the subjugation of her daughters. Her fierce dominion over her three daughters inspires fear within all of them. All my life I have been searching for something that would fill me with pride, make me feel superior to everyone else, including kings, princes and rulers  [4]  This quote refers to how Firdaus discovers how vulnerable men are when a prostitute refuses to sleep with them. With the status of prostitution she is overwhelmed with power and feels in complete control. Men will explode in fear and offer larger sums of money simply because they feel as if they are losing their power over women; however they do not realize it is the prostitute gaining power. When she possesses money of her own, she has power over people who slander her, and can give herself a respectable name. Her mindset was only changed until she met a high class prostitute named Sharifa. Sharifa is portrayed as a wealthy high class prostitute who manipulates mens desire for sex to her own advantage. She acts as a teacher to Firdaus, teaching her how to use her physical appearances as a tool to attract men. This is whe re her power had originated from; the teaching from Sharifa. Soon after she notices Sharifa treats her as a tool, she runs away to be an independent prostitute and applies to skills she had obtained. As Sharifa states; She is free to do what she wants, and free not to do it.  [5]  Firdaus is able to do anything she wants, after being handed tips, and lessons by Sharifa she is able to take her prostitution status to a whole new level. The method Mama Elena uses to gain control over her daughters is by using violence and cruelty against them, whether psychological or physical . Obey your Mommy and Dadd.  [6]  This quote refers to how the daughters of Mama Elena have no choice but to obey Mama Elena, since their father had passed away before. Mama Elena already starts with power unlike Firdaus who has slowly to gain her power. If she couldnt marry, was she at least allowed to experience love? Or not even that?  [7]  Tita being the youngest daughter of hers is unable to marry or have children because of the ridiculous tradition. Whatever signs of love Mama Elena sensed inside of Tita she would try to disrupt and sabotage. This root of her evil is from her previous lover who had left her, if she senses one of her daughters loving someone else she will feel overpowered and powerless. After Tita meets Pedro Mama Elena sees his affection for Tita so she conjures a plot against Tita; thus introducing Rosaura to Pe dro. Soon after Pedro decides to marry Rosaura to get closer to Tita because he realizes her fate is sealed. Tita does not know of Pedros intentions and is mentally hurt by losing her only chance of gaining true love. She suffers harshly and spends a lot of her time weeping about this incident. If Mama Elena suspects the slightest idea that Tita has no fulfilled her duties, such as when she is suspected of messing up the sewing on the wedding present, or the poison put inside the wedding cake, she physically abuses her. She is beaten harshly and is always left with scars, bruises and injuries: this teaches the daughters that not to make the same mistake again and displays the extreme power Mama Elena holds over them. When Tita attempts to blames Mami Elena for Robertos death she picks up a wooden spoon and breaks Titas nose leaving her no medical care and to slowly endure the pain. Mama Elena was merciless, killing with a single blow. But then again, not always. For Tita she had mad e an exception; she had been killing her a little at a time since she was a child, and she still hadnt finished her off.  [8]   Nacha! Dont say that. As my youngest daughter, Tita will care for me until the day I die. She wont marry.  [9]  The reason for her absurd vision of Duty and Responsibility is so that Mami Elena is able to gain full control over her daughters and not lose power. Eventually when Rosaura gives birth to Espranza Rosaura imposes the same fate on her daughter. Esquivel introduces the baby to show that even though Mami Elena had died Rosaura had still kept to the tradition even after all the treacherous things she had inflicted upon Rosaura. It shows how Mami Elena had polluted the mind of Rosaura and how her power even though she was dead overruled Rosauras self conscience I now knew that all of us were prostitutes who sold themselves at varying prices, and that an expensive prostitute was better than a cheap one.  [10]  As a prostitute Firdaus uses her power to command higher and higher prices simply by denying men of their wants. She was able to control the prices for her service showing her power over men. Men would crave for her; Firdaus would use this to her advantage to make them suffer. As she becomes powerful and notorious as prostitute money starts piling in for her. She gets this mind sense that as you have more money you also get more powerful which she had learnt from Sharifa. When the pimp comes into the picture, Firdaus sees him as a threat blocking her uprising. The pimp threatens to defame her or kill her, proving that no matter how much she had, Firdaus was still vulnerable to men because she had something to lose. Both Esquivel and El Saadawi present the theme of power effectively through the characters, Mama Elena and Firdaus using a variety of techniques. Like water for chocolate and Woman at point zero, with its blatantly sexist narrator are two novels written by two different female writers in totally different cultural circumstances; Esquivel being raised in Mexico, and El Saadawi being raised in Egypt. The reader therefore inevitably obtains a different level of insight of the protagonists however the theme of power still conforms with similarities between them. However no one can deny that both texts provide a fascinating view of the complexities and confusions of power. By Timothy Lui

Alien 3 :: essays research papers

It was in 1979 that the nightmare began, when the spaceship the Nostromo landed on an unknown planet to answer a rescue message and later explore an abandoned vessel. That’s where the crew met for the first time a creature as deadly as beautiful, the Alien. This creature and it’s environment, created by the talented Swiss artist H.R. Giger, were the main antagonists from the movie  « Alien  », directed by Ridley Scott and featuring Sigourney Weaver as the only survivor of the Nostromo crew when the Alien penetrated it. This movie was the first chapter of a cult saga still active these days. From the four movies featuring the Aliens, the third one is considered as the worst one. Even though it’s visual quality was exceptional, it’s poor scenario deceived most Alien fans throughout the world, leaving not much place for improvement for a forth movie. But most people don’t know that the critically acclaimed cyberpunk author William Gibson wrote an alternative scenario to Alien ³, much more researched, focusing on future technology and human contacts rather than on explosions and gratuitous violence. Both Alien ³ and Gibson’s script have a similar opening, where the audience learns that a Face-Hugger (a crab/spider-like creature whose function is to implement an embryo inside a chest cavity from a living organism) has been able to hide in the Sulaco, the ship with which Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), Hicks (an injured marine soldier), Newt (a 12 years old girl) and Bishop (an android seriously damaged) escaped from the Alien colony in the previous movie, Aliens. But this similarity between the to scripts is maybe the only one. From now on, the two stories will take completely different courses. In Alien ³, an electric malfunction (usually attributed to the Face-Hugger) causes the ship to crash on a planet called Fiorina 161 containing a disaffected mining colony now used as a high-security prison. This leads to predictable, violent, confrontations between Ripley (the only survivor from the crash) and the prisoners. From now on, the viewers knows that the movie will be based on sexist debates and on useless violence. However, in Gibson’s version, the Sulaco does not crash on a planet but rather continues on it’s original path but with a small deviation. This deviation makes the ship enter an area claimed by the Union of Progressive Peoples, or UPP, a somewhat clear analogy to the late USSR. It is rumored that this similarity contributed to the demise of Gibson’s script. The presence of a political force in the story would have been the first apparition of any kind of political debates in all the Aliens movies. And at the same time, the audience learns that there’s not only one powerful

Comparing Platos Republic, Mores Utopia, and Gurneys Dinotopia Essay

Plato's Republic, More's Utopia, and Gurney's Dinotopia    Throughout history, mankind has struggled to lead better lives and improve their society for future generations. What do we continuously attempt to improve? What kind of changes are we trying to institute? In other words, what is an ideal society? Many people have very diversified views about a perfect civilization. In Plato's Republic, Sir Thomas More's Utopia, and James Gurney's Dinotopia, three imaginary societies are described, each with its own peculiarities and highlights. Various aspects of the nations described in these three novels, including their respective economies, governments, and social structures, will be compared and contrasted. A crucial aspect of any society would be its economy. In Utopia, business was conducted chiefly to import iron, and in many cases they traded on credit. The Utopians have no currency, though they trade their goods for gold in order to pay mercenaries in times of war. If one is in need of something, one merely has to inform the head of one's household and he will get it. Their society is arranged so that they reject many material things that our society would consider valuable, such as silver and diamonds. "The Utopians fail to understand why anyone should be so fascinated by the dull gleam of a tiny bit of stone, when he has all the stars in the sky to look at - or how anyone can be silly enough to think himself better than other people, because his clothes are made of finer woolen thread than theirs" (More 89). To minimize the importance of these materials, Utopians make everyday objects out of them, like chamber pots. In Dinotopia, people are given what they require, mu ch like Utopia, although the... ...h political and financial equality, forming the foundation for everlasting peace. This ideal society would be ruled by a government that truly represents the people and endeavors to direct its citizens on the route to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As Sir Francis Bacon said, "Man seeketh in society comfort, use, and protection." Works Cited Ferguson, John. Utopias of the Classical World. Ithaca, NY: Cornell UP, 1975. Manuel, Frank E. and Fritzie P. Manuel. Utopian Thought in the Western World. Cambridge, MA: Belknap-Harvard Press, 1979. More, Thomas. Utopia. Trans. Paul Turner. New York: Penguin Books, 1965. Plato. Republic. Trans. G.M.A. Grube. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 1974. Rice, Eugene E. and Anthony Grafton. The Foundations of Early Modern Europe, 1460-1559. 2nd. ed. New York: W. W. Norton and Co., 1994.

Beauty and the Labor Market

Since ancient times, man and woman alike value beauty in the same level as they value their possessions and even their family. This is easily seen in works of art, in works of poetry and other forms of literature that praise beauty. Balladeers have sung its ability to intoxicate more potent than wine and its capacity influence man and his many endeavors.The subject of beauty is very important in human history because the human race is given to marriage and it is the reproduction of children that allows the said specie to continually dominate the earth. It is therefore not surprising how much money and effort is given to the pursuit of beauty and the celebration of the same.In the late 20th century, two men, Daniel Hamermesh and Jeff Biddle were also stricken by the allure of beauty but pursued it from a unique angle. These two researchers proposed the idea that if discrimination – with regards to race, nationality, etc. – exists in the workplace then there is surely dis crimination when it comes to an employees good looks or the lack thereof.Both men went further as to say that good looks not only allowed men and women possessing of this enviable quality to get good jobs but they also are able to increase their income more successfully than those whom Hamermesh and Biddle described as homely in appearance. But before proceeding to find evidence or contradictions that will shoot down their thesis, Hamermesh and Biddle went on a lengthy discussion strengthening their position that there is indeed a way to do an empirical study of the said subject matter.MethodologyHamermesh and Biddle were right on target when they remarked in the beginning of the paper that there is no going forward without having established the fact that beauty can be measured. The first thing that they did was to look for related literature that would support their claim that beauty can be measured statistically.They went further as to say that not only does beauty a trait that c an be measured scientifically but more importantly, perception or standards of beauty is something that does not abruptly change or shift easily in a short period of time. In other words a generation or two of Europeans, Americans, and Canadians will have the same standard of beauty at least in the 20th century when the study was made.Then Hamermesh and Biddle scrutinized the methodology used in the multiple tests to determine a â€Å"beauty standard† and they were satisfied with what they learned. In fact, in Part II of their study they made the following discovery:Within a culture at a point in time there is tremendous agreement on standards of beauty,and these standards change quite slowly. For example, respondents ranging in age from seven to fifty who were asked to rank the appearance of people depicted in photographs showed very high correlation in their rankings (see Background portion of study).Now, in order to make their study reliable and the results credible Hamerm esh and Biddle made their case airtight by looking closely at their respondents and the other variables that would affect their results significantly. An example of this is the exclusion of those who have questionable health status for this would surely affect their performance and would have made the study unreliable to say the least.But both men did not stop there they also presented other factors that would have made their analysis unacceptable. They pointed to the fact that there can be other forces involved in the hiring of employees possessing above-average good looks. And these are namely: 1) there are industries that require good looking people and 2) in the case of overcrowding a manager may use the criteria of good looks to choose among the many applicants competing for limited jobs.SignificanceThe world of business is surely indebted to Hamermesh and Biddle and those who wanted to offer something new to the growing body of knowledge concerning what would increase the prod uctivity of a particular enterprise. In the beginning of this study the two proponents were correct in saying that in the area of discrimination in the workplace there is very little if at all, a systematic analysis on the effect of a person’s looks on the quality of job that he or she will get and subsequently the degree of success that will be achieved in his or her lifetime.This study is also helpful in providing more data to those seeking to resolve issues concerning an employers alleged discriminatory actions with regards to an employee unable to rise atop the corporate ladder due to the misfortune of being born with a rather homely appearance. This study would form the foundation of future inquiries as to the role of beauty in the corporate world.AnalysisThe study was a great challenge for the two researchers because they decided to tackle something as difficult as trying to catch the wind with bare hands. They aimed for the impossible – to measure beauty and ugl iness. If this is not enough their study was made more complicated by putting another hurdle and it is to understand the correlation between beauty – or the lack thereof – and productivity in the workplace.It does not need further discussion to conclude that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that what is attractive to one culture may be offensive to another. In fact a mere two hundred year gap in history is enough to totally transform standards of beauty. The researchers admitted early on when they cited that paintings made in the 17th century depicted a rather different standard when it comes to what feature makes a beautiful man or woman when being compared to what is celebrated today in the media and the arts.But they pulled off a rather convincing argument using a highly controlled study where people from all ages – 7 years old to fifty years old – where able to demonstrate that indeed for a given generation there is a standard of beauty that d oes not change even after the passage of time. Here is the beginning of their problem.They said so themselves that in the time of the famous artist Rubens beauty is measured by the plumpness of the lady and not by the reed thin supermodels that are highly esteemed in modern times. So how can they be certain that their standard does not change after thirty years or more? Moreover, they have concluded that either Canadians have a slight difference in their outlook regarding beautiful people or that they are not comfortable in being brutally frank when it comes to judging another person’s appearance. This shows subjectivity arising from differences in culture etc.Now, for the sake of argument, this paper will allow that Hamermesh and Biddle were both correct in their analysis that there is indeed a standard of beauty that is both measurable and unchanging. Then this will lead the discussion to another perceived weakness in their work which is the fact that they conducted their s tudy within European culture and there is no data to support the fact that they considered the preference of Asians.Another possible weakness in their methodology is the fact that they were not able to clearly establish the standard of beauty in a way that their study could be replicated in the future and in different regions of the world. What occurred was that in order for their results to be accepted as scientific then they would have to assemble a similar group of respondents every time they would try to replicate their study in other locations outside the U.S. or Canada.Another problematic aspect of the study is the fact that a person uses more than beauty to complete a job. Mental capabilities and social skills play a major role in the development of a person’s career. The study is not that complex to separate intelligence quotient and beauty. There is no way to just simply observe beauty in action apart from the use of mental faculties.Throughout the course of the rese arch the duo were struggling in putting together a very convincing argument that indeed beauty alone is the major factor in achieving success. There are just too many variables involved in the process of doing a job whatever it may be. In the end Hamermesh and Biddle were almost back to square one for they were not able to come up with anything that is radically new except for reinforcing the already known idea that there are some jobs that require attractive people in order to be more productive.Hamermesh and Biddle tried an escape route by saying that they do not have to demonstrate the validity of their claim because according to them people spend a lot of time and money in grooming aids and purchase of good clothes in order to enhance their physical beauty. But it can be argued that grooming and beauty are two different things. A celebrity which many considers beautiful can wear a plain shirt and still people would find her attractive.Hamermesh and Biddle were both correct in th eir final analysis that there is a need to study, â€Å"†¦relationships between looks and earning within particular narrowly – defined occupations† (see Part VIII).   Moreover there is a need to extend the timeline of their study to determine if attractive employees were able to sustain a high level of success and that their increase in income is not merely a result of a quick promotion because the manager was biased to people with good looks but soon regretted his actions when he found out about their performance.Works CitedHamermesh, D. & Biddle, J. Beauty and the LabourMarket. American Economic Review 84.5(1994): 1174-1194.