The Lost Symbol Chapter 71-75

CHAPTER 71 Mal'akh stood naked in the billowing warmth of his steam shower. He felt pure again, having washed off the last remaining scent of ethanol. As the eucalyptus-infused vapors permeated his skin, he could feel his pores opening to the heat. Then he began his ritual. First, he rubbed depilatory chemicals across his tattooed body and scalp, removing any traces of body hair. Hairless were the gods of the seven islands of Heliades. Then he massaged Abramelin oil into his softened and receptive flesh. Abramelin is the sacred oil of the great Magi. Then he turned his shower lever hard to the left, and the water turned ice cold. He stood beneath the frigid water for a full minute to close his pores and trap the heat and energy within his core. The cold served as a reminder of the icy river in which this transformation had begun. When he stepped from the shower, he was shivering, but within seconds, his core heat emanated up through his layers of flesh and warmed him. Mal'akh's insides felt like a furnace. He stood naked before the mirror and admired his form . . . perhaps the last time he would see himself as a mere mortal. His feet were the talons of a hawk. His legs–Boaz and Jachin–were the ancient pillars of wisdom. His hips and abdomen were the archways of mystical power. Hanging beneath the archway, his massive sex organ bore the tattooed symbols of his destiny. In another life, this heavy shaft of flesh had been his source of carnal pleasure. But no longer. I have been purified. Like the mystical eunuch monks of Katharoi, Mal'akh had removed his testicles. He had sacrificed his physical potency for a more worthy one. Gods have no gender. Having shed the human imperfection of gender along with the earthly pull of sexual temptation, Mal'akh had become like Ouranos, Attis, Sporus, and the great castrati magicians of Arthurian legend. Every spiritual metamorphosis is preceded by a physical one. Such was the lesson of all the great gods . . . from Osiris, to Tammuz, to Jesus, to Shiva, to the Buddha himself. I must shed the man who clothes me. Abruptly, Mal'akh drew his gaze upward, past the double-headed phoenix on his chest, past the collage of ancient sigils adorning his face, and directly to the top of his head. He tipped his head toward the mirror, barely able to see the circle of bare flesh that waited there. This location on the body was sacred. Known as the fontanel, it was the one area of the human skull that remained open at birth. An oculus to the brain. Although this physiological portal closes within a matter of months, it remains a symbolic vestige of the lost connection between the outer and inner worlds. Mal'akh studied the sacred patch of virginal skin, which was enclosed by the crownlike circle of an ouroboros–a mystical snake devouring its own tail. The bare flesh seemed to stare back at him . . . bright with promise. Robert Langdon soon would uncover the great treasure that Mal'akh required. Once Mal'akh possessed it, the void on top of his head would be filled, and he would at last be prepared for his final transformation. Mal'akh padded across his bedroom and took from his bottom drawer a long strip of white silk. As he had done many times before, he wrapped it around his groin and buttocks. Then he went downstairs. In his office, his computer had received an e-mail message. It was from his contact: WHAT YOU REQUIRE IS NOW WITHIN REACH. I WILL CONTACT YOU WITHIN THE HOUR. PATIENCE. Mal'akh smiled. It was time to make final preparations. CHAPTER 72 The CIA field agent was in a foul mood as he descended from the reading-room balcony. Bellamy lied to us. The agent had seen no heat signatures whatsoever upstairs near the Moses statue, nor anywhere else upstairs for that matter. So where the hell did Langdon go? The agent retraced his steps now to the only place they'd spotted any heat signatures at all–the library's distribution hub. He descended the stairs again, moving beneath the octagonal console. The noise of the rumbling conveyors was grating. Advancing into the space, he flipped down his thermal goggles and scanned the room. Nothing. He looked toward the stacks, where the mangled door still showed hot from the explosion. Other than that, he saw no– Holy shit! The agent jumped back as an unexpected luminescence drifted into his field of vision. Like a pair of ghosts, the dimly glowing imprints of two humanoids had just emerged from the wall on a conveyor belt. Heat signatures. Stunned, the agent watched as the two apparitions circled the room on the conveyor loop and then disappeared headfirst into a narrow hole in the wall. They rode the conveyor out? That's insanity. In addition to realizing they had just lost Robert Langdon through a hole in the wall, the field agent was now aware that he had another problem. Langdon's not alone? He was just about to switch on his transceiver and call the team leader, but the team leader beat him to it. â€Å"All points, we've got an abandoned Volvo on the plaza in front of the library. Registered to one Katherine Solomon. Eyewitness says she entered the library not long ago. We suspect she's with Robert Langdon. Director Sato has ordered that we find them both immediately.† â€Å"I've got heat signatures for both of them!† shouted the field agent in the distribution room. He explained the situation. â€Å"For Christ's sake!† the team leader replied. â€Å"Where the hell does the conveyor go?† The field agent was already consulting the employee reference schematic on the bulletin board. â€Å"Adams Building,† he replied. â€Å"One block from here.† â€Å"All points. Redirect to the Adams Building! NOW!† CHAPTER 73 Sanctuary. Answers. The words echoed in Langdon's mind as he and Katherine burst through a side door of the Adams Building and out into the cold winter night. The mysterious caller had conveyed his location cryptically, but Langdon had understood. Katherine's reaction to their destination had been surprisingly sanguine: Where better to find One True God? Now the question was how to get there. Langdon spun in place, trying to get his bearings. It was dark, but thankfully the weather had cleared. They were standing in a small courtyard. In the distance, the Capitol Dome looked startlingly far away, and Langdon realized this was the first moment he had stepped outside since arriving at the Capitol several hours ago. So much for my lecture. â€Å"Robert, look.† Katherine pointed toward the silhouette of the Jefferson Building. Langdon's first reaction on seeing the building was astonishment that they had traveled so far underground on a conveyor belt. His second reaction, however, was alarm. The Jefferson Building was now abuzz with activity–trucks and cars pulling in, men shouting. Is that a searchlight? Langdon grabbed Katherine's hand. â€Å"Come on.† They ran northeast across the courtyard, quickly disappearing from view behind an elegant U- shaped building, which Langdon realized was the Folger Shakespeare Library. This particular building seemed appropriate camouflage for them tonight, as it housed the original Latin manuscript of Francis Bacon's New Atlantis, the utopian vision on which the American forefathers had allegedly modeled a new world based on ancient knowledge. Even so, Langdon would not be stopping. We need a cab. They arrived at the corner of Third Street and East Capitol. The traffic was sparse, and Langdon felt fading hope as he scanned for taxis. He and Katherine hurried northward on Third Street, putting distance between themselves and the Library of Congress. It was not until they had gone an entire block that Langdon finally spotted a cab rounding the corner. He flagged it down, and the cab pulled over. Middle Eastern music played on his radio, and the young Arab driver gave them a friendly smile. â€Å"Where to?† the driver asked as they jumped into the car. â€Å"We need to go to–â€Å" â€Å"Northwest!† Katherine interjected, pointing up Third Street away from the Jefferson Building. â€Å"Drive toward Union Station, then left on Massachusetts Avenue. We'll tell you when to stop.† The driver shrugged, closed the Plexiglas divider, and turned his music back on. Katherine shot Langdon an admonishing look as if to say: â€Å"Leave no trail.† She pointed out the window, directing Langdon's attention to a black helicopter that was skimming in low, approaching the area. Shit. Sato was apparently dead serious about recovering Solomon's pyramid. As they watched the helicopter land between the Jefferson and Adams buildings, Katherine turned to him, looking increasingly worried. â€Å"Can I see your cell phone for a second?† Langdon handed her his phone. â€Å"Peter told me you have an eidetic memory?† she said, rolling down her window. â€Å"And that you remember every phone number you've ever dialed?† â€Å"That's true, but–â€Å" Katherine hurled his phone out into the night. Langdon spun in his seat and watched as his cell phone cartwheeled and splintered into pieces on the pavement behind them. â€Å"Why did you do that!† â€Å"Off the grid,† Katherine said, her eyes grave. â€Å"This pyramid is our only hope of finding my brother, and I have no intention of letting the CIA steal it from us.† In the front seat, Omar Amirana bobbed his head and hummed along with his music. Tonight had been slow, and he felt blessed to finally have a fare. His cab was just passing Stanton Park, when the familiar voice of his company dispatcher crackled over the radio. â€Å"This is Dispatch. All vehicles in the area of the National Mall. We have just received a bulletin from government authorities regarding two fugitives in the area of the Adams Building . . .† Omar listened in amazement as Dispatch described the precise couple in his cab. He stole an uneasy glance in his rearview mirror. Omar had to admit, the tall guy did look familiar somehow. Did I see him on America's Most Wanted? Gingerly, Omar reached for his radio handset. â€Å"Dispatch?† he said, speaking quietly into the transceiver. â€Å"This is cab one-three-four. The two people you asked about–they are in my cab . . . right now.† Dispatch immediately advised Omar what to do. Omar's hands were trembling as he called the phone number Dispatch had given him. The voice that answered was tight and efficient, like that of a soldier. â€Å"This is Agent Turner Simkins, CIA field ops. Who is this?† â€Å"Um . . . I'm the taxi driver?† Omar said. â€Å"I was told to call about the two–â€Å" â€Å"Are the fugitives currently in your vehicle? Answer only yes or no.† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Can they hear this conversation? Yes or no?† â€Å"No. The slider is–â€Å" â€Å"Where are you taking them?† â€Å"Northwest on Massachusetts.† â€Å"Specific destination?† â€Å"They didn't say.† The agent hesitated. â€Å"Is the male passenger carrying a leather bag?† Omar glanced in the rearview mirror, and his eyes went wide. â€Å"Yes! That bag doesn't have explosives or anything in–â€Å" â€Å"Listen carefully,† the agent said. â€Å"You are in no danger so long as you follow my directions exactly. Is that clear?† â€Å"Yes, sir.† â€Å"What is your name?† â€Å"Omar,† he said, breaking a sweat. â€Å"Listen, Omar,† the man said calmly. â€Å"You're doing great. I want you to drive as slowly as possible while I get my team out in front of you. Do you understand?† â€Å"Yes, sir.† â€Å"Also, is your cab equipped with an intercom system so you can communicate with them in the backseat?† â€Å"Yes, sir.† â€Å"Good. Here's what I want you to do.† CHAPTER 74 The Jungle, as it is known, is the centerpiece of the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG)–America's living museum–located adjacent to the U.S. Capitol Building. Technically a rain forest, the Jungle is housed in a towering greenhouse, complete with soaring rubber trees, strangler figs, and a canopy catwalk for more daring tourists. Normally, Warren Bellamy felt nurtured by the Jungle's earthy smells and the sunlight glinting through the mist that filtered down from the vapor nozzles in the glass ceiling. Tonight, however, lit only by moonlight, the Jungle terrified him. He was sweating profusely, writhing against the cramps that now stabbed at his arms, still pinned painfully behind him. Director Sato paced before him, puffing calmly on her cigarette–the equivalent of ecoterrorism in this carefully calibrated environment. Her face looked almost demonic in the smoke-filled moonlight that streamed down through the glass ceiling overhead. â€Å"So then,† Sato continued, â€Å"when you arrived at the Capitol tonight, and you discovered that I was already there . . . you made a decision. Rather than making your presence known to me, you descended quietly into the SBB, where, at great risk to yourself, you attacked Chief Anderson and myself, and you helped Langdon escape with the pyramid and capstone.† She rubbed her shoulder. â€Å"An interesting choice.† A choice I would make again, Bellamy thought. â€Å"Where is Peter?† he demanded angrily. â€Å"How would I know?† Sato said. â€Å"You seem to know everything else!† Bellamy fired back at her, making no attempt to hide his suspicion that she was somehow behind all this. â€Å"You knew to go to the Capitol Building. You knew to find Robert Langdon. And you even knew to X-ray Langdon's bag to find the capstone. Obviously, someone is giving you a lot of inside information.† Sato laughed coldly and stepped closer to him. â€Å"Mr. Bellamy, is that why you attacked me? Do you think I'm the enemy? Do you think I'm trying to steal your little pyramid?† Sato took a drag on her cigarette and blew the smoke out of her nostrils. â€Å"Listen carefully. No one understands better than I do the importance of keeping secrets. I believe, as you do, that there is certain information to which the masses should not be privy. Tonight, however, there are forces at work that I fear you have not yet grasped. The man who kidnapped Peter Solomon holds enormous power . . . a power that you apparently have yet to realize. Believe me, he is a walking time bomb . . . capable of initiating a series of events that will profoundly change the world as you know it.† â€Å"I don't understand.† Bellamy shifted on the bench, his arms aching in his handcuffs. â€Å"You don't need to understand. You need to obey. Right now, my only hope of averting a major disaster is to cooperate with this man . . . and to give him exactly what he wants. Which means, you are going to call Mr. Langdon and tell him to turn himself in, along with the pyramid and capstone. Once Langdon is in my custody, he will decrypt the pyramid's inscription, obtain whatever information this man is demanding, and provide him with exactly what he wants.† The location of the spiral staircase that leads to the Ancient Mysteries? â€Å"I can't do that. I've taken vows of secrecy.† Sato erupted. â€Å"I don't give a damn what you've vowed, I will throw you in prison so fast–â€Å" â€Å"Threaten me all you like,† Bellamy said defiantly. â€Å"I will not help you.† Sato took a deep breath and spoke now in a fearsome whisper. â€Å"Mr. Bellamy, you have no idea what's really going on tonight, do you?† The tense silence hung for several seconds, finally broken by the sound of Sato's phone. She plunged her hand into her pocket and eagerly snatched it out. â€Å"Talk to me,† she answered, listening carefully to the reply. â€Å"Where is their taxi now? How long? Okay, good. Bring them to the U.S. Botanic Garden. Service entrance. And make sure you get me that god-damn pyramid and capstone.† Sato hung up and turned back to Bellamy with a smug smile. â€Å"Well then . . . it seems you're fast outliving your usefulness.† CHAPTER 75 Robert Langdon stared blankly into space, feeling too tired to urge the slow-moving taxi driver to pick up the pace. Beside him, Katherine had fallen silent, too, looking frustrated by their lack of understanding of what made the pyramid so special. They had again been through everything they knew about the pyramid, the capstone, and the evening's strange events; they still had no ideas as to how this pyramid could possibly be considered a map to anything at all. Jeova Sanctus Unus? The secret hides within The Order? Their mysterious contact had promised them answers if they could meet him at a specific place. A refuge in Rome, north of the Tiber. Langdon knew the forefathers' â€Å"new Rome† had been renamed Washington early in her history, and yet vestiges of their original dream remained: the Tiber's waters still flowed into the Potomac; senators still convened beneath a replica of St. Peter's dome; and Vulcan and Minerva still watched over the Rotunda's long-extinguished flame. The answers sought by Langdon and Katherine were apparently waiting for them just a few miles ahead. Northwest on Massachusetts Avenue. Their destination was indeed a refuge . . . north of Washington's Tiber Creek. Langdon wished the driver would speed up. Abruptly, Katherine jolted upright in her seat, as if she had made a sudden realization. â€Å"Oh my God, Robert!† She turned to him, her face going white. She hesitated a moment and then spoke emphatically. â€Å"We're going the wrong way!† â€Å"No, this is right,† Langdon countered. â€Å"It's northwest on Massachu–â€Å" â€Å"No! I mean we're going to the wrong place!† Langdon was mystified. He had already told Katherine how he knew what location was being described by the mysterious caller. It contains ten stones from Mount Sinai, one from heaven itself, and one with the visage of Luke's dark father. Only one building on earth could make those claims. And that was exactly where this taxi was headed. â€Å"Katherine, I'm certain the location is correct.† â€Å"No!† she shouted. â€Å"We don't need to go there anymore. I figured out the pyramid and capstone! I know what this is all about!† Langdon was amazed. â€Å"You understand it?† â€Å"Yes! We have to go to Freedom Plaza instead!† Now Langdon was lost. Freedom Plaza, although nearby, seemed totally irrelevant. â€Å"Jeova Sanctus Unus!† Katherine said. â€Å"The One True God of the Hebrews. The sacred symbol of the Hebrews is the Jewish star–the Seal of Solomon–an important symbol to the Masons!† She fished a dollar bill out of her pocket. â€Å"Give me your pen.† Bewildered, Langdon pulled a pen from his jacket. â€Å"Look.† She spread the bill out on her thigh and took his pen, pointing to the Great Seal on the back. â€Å"If you superimpose Solomon's seal on the Great Seal of the United States . . .† She drew the symbol of a Jewish star precisely over the pyramid. â€Å"Look what you get!† Langdon looked down at the bill and then back at Katherine as if she were mad. â€Å"Robert, look more closely! Don't you see what I'm pointing at?† He glanced back at the drawing. What in the world is she getting at? Langdon had seen this image before. It was popular among conspiracy theorists as â€Å"proof† that the Masons held secret influence over our early nation. When the six-pointed star was laid perfectly over the Great Seal of the United States, the star's top vertex fit perfectly over the Masonic all-seeing eye . . . and, quite eerily, the other five vertices clearly pointed to the letters M-A-S-O-N. â€Å"Katherine, that's just a coincidence, and I still don't see how it has anything to do with Freedom Plaza.† â€Å"Look again!† she said, sounding almost angry now. â€Å"You're not looking where I am pointing! Right there. Don't you see it?† An instant later, Langdon saw it. CIA field-operations leader Turner Simkins stood outside the Adams Building and pressed his cell phone tightly to his ear, straining to hear the conversation now taking place in the back of the taxi. Something just happened. His team was about to board the modified Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter to head northwest and set up a roadblock, but now it seemed the situation had suddenly changed. Seconds ago, Katherine Solomon had begun insisting they were going to the wrong destination. Her explanation–something about the dollar bill and Jewish stars–made no sense to the team leader, nor, apparently, to Robert Langdon. At least at first. Now, however, Langdon seemed to have grasped her meaning. â€Å"My God, you're right!† Langdon blurted. â€Å"I didn't see it earlier!† Suddenly Simkins could hear someone banging on the driver's divider, and then it slid open. â€Å"Change of plans,† Katherine shouted to the driver. â€Å"Take us to Freedom Plaza!† â€Å"Freedom Plaza?† the cabbie said, sounding nervous. â€Å"Not northwest on Massachusetts?† â€Å"Forget that!† Katherine shouted. â€Å"Freedom Plaza! Go left here! Here! HERE!† Agent Simkins heard the cab screeching around a corner. Katherine was talking excitedly again to Langdon, saying something about the famous bronze cast of the Great Seal embedded in the plaza. â€Å"Ma'am, just to confirm,† the cabbie's voice interjected, sounding tense. â€Å"We're going to Freedom Plaza–on the corner of Pennsylvania and Thirteenth?† â€Å"Yes!† Katherine said. â€Å"Hurry!† â€Å"It's very close. Two minutes.† Simkins smiled. Nicely done, Omar. As he dashed toward the idling helicopter, he shouted to his team. â€Å"We've got them! Freedom Plaza! Move!†

Enron and Corporate Ethics Essay

On December 2, 2001, Enron Corporation, then the seventh largest publicly traded corporation in the United States, declared bankruptcy. That bankruptcy saw thousands of Enron employees and shareholders losing their jobs and their investments. Enron’s fall sent shockwaves to all corners of the business world. A Fortune 400 company with all the appearances of stability and corporate soundness, the company’s collapse was unthinkable. For here was a company who grew by leaps and bounds in so short a time – a company who came from obscurity to national prominence as the world’s largest in terms of revenue. But like anything else if it is too good to be true it probably is. Unlike most bankruptcies which are caused by poor management and stiff competition, Enron’s demise appears simple enough: individual and collective greed. It was shameless greed that motivated company officials to dupe thousands of honest individuals out of their hard earned money – money that ran up to billions (Nakayama, 2002). The scam was unearthed just like any other scam – when people start getting suspicious. Enron was generating a lot of revenues – it was a smokescreen that allowed the company to attract more investors. While revenue generation was at record highs, profit was scant and minimal – a fact many people overlooked until it was too late. Enron’s mirage was selling the same things over and over and over again. The illusion was the company was generating this much sales but the reality was there was barely any profit made. Like everything else in hindsight, it is now clear that tell tale signs were all over Enron’s 2000 Annual Report. Still questions remain as to how a company that paraded its own Code of Ethics be so shamelessly unethical, a corporation that prides itself as having a reputation for â€Å"fairness and honesty† be so downright ruthless, callous and arrogant. Beyond the dollars and cents, the Enron debacle offers a new textbook example of failed ethics in business (Berenbeim, 2002). ENRON’s 2000 Annual Report – Warning signs Most of the investigation on Enron’s finances has focused on its balance sheet—it reported an otherworldly increase in revenue: Between 1996 and 2000, Enron reported an increase in sales from $13. billion to $100. 8 billion – a 57% five-year sales growth rate. The company more than doubled its reported sales between 1999 and 2000. Looking back then, this was a sign that the company appeared too good to be true. Before it declared bankruptcy, Enron said it was on track to double revenue again the next year. Had it done so, it would have become the second-largest corporation in the world in terms of sales. According to Forbes. com, Enron’s reported revenue was based on its exploitation of a loophole in accounting rules – a tactic that may have been legal, but few investors understood it (Ackman, 2002). Forbes. com goes on to say that Enron earned more than 90% of its revenue from a business it calls â€Å"wholesale services,† Enron’s euphemism for trading. Here is how its 2000 annual report describes that activity: â€Å"Enron builds wholesale businesses through the creation of networks involving selective asset ownership, contractual access to third-party assets and market-making activities. † Yet again, another warning sign. Footnotes in the annual report for 2000, also show hints of the hidden debt that pushed the company into bankruptcy. According to Businessworld, a footnote on â€Å"preferred stock† indicates that if Enron’s share price were to fall below $48. 55–which first occurred on June 14–the company would be obliged to issue stock to a partnership called Whitewing Associates (Tergesen, A. 2002). Other footnotes reveal similar arrangements. True, Enron never put a dollar value on its potential obligations, and the footnotes did not divulge the extent of the partnerships. But enough was revealed to suggest that investors were not getting a full view of the company’s finances. Enron and its Code of Ethics Enron trumpeted its own Code of Ethics, but based upon investigation by the U. S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, it willfully and shamelessly violated the very code it promised to upheld (U. S Subcommittee on Investigations, 2002). In its decision, the Subcommittee cited, among others, the following: (1) Fiduciary Failure. The Enron Board of Directors failed to safeguard Enron shareholders and contributed to the collapse of the seventh largest public company in the United States, by allowing Enron to engage in high risk accounting, inappropriate conflict f interest transactions, extensive undisclosed off-the-books activities, and excessive executive compensation. The Board witnessed numerous indications of questionable practices by Enron management over several years, but chose to ignore them to the detriment of Enron shareholders, employees and business associates. (2) High Risk Accounting. The Enron Board of Directors knowingly allowed Enron to engage in high risk accounting practices (Thomas, 2002). (3) Inappropriate Conflicts of Interest. Despite clear conflicts of interest, the Enron Board of Directors approved an unprecedented arrangement allowing Enron’s Chief Financial Officer to establish and operate the LJM private equity funds which transacted business with Enron and profited at Enron’s expense. The Board exercised inadequate oversight of LJM transaction and compensation controls and failed to protect Enron shareholders from unfair dealing. (4) Extensive Undisclosed Off-The-Books Activity. The Enron Board of Directors knowingly allowed Enron to conduct billions of dollars in off-the-books activity to make its financial condition appear better than it was and failed to ensure adequate public disclosure of material off-the-books liabilities that contributed to Enron’s collapse. 5) Excessive Compensation. The Enron Board of Directors approved excessive compensation for company executives, failed to monitor the cumulative cash drain caused by Enron’s 2000 annual bonus and performance unit plans, and failed to monitor or halt abuse by Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Lay of a company-financed, multi-million dollar, personal credit line. (6) Lack of Independence. The independence of the Enron Board of Directors was compromised by financial ties between the company and certain Board members. The Board lso failed to ensure the independence of the company’s auditor, allowing Andersen to provide internal audit and consulting services while serving as Enron’s outside auditor. Conclusion While Enron’s officials were caught and brought before the bars of justice, many wonder how widespread the lack of corporate ethics is in the business world. Greed they say is universal. Who knows what will be the next Enron. As long as there are CEOs, CFOs who disregard the simplest form of business decorum there will always be an Enron story. Let’s hope that people will not forget that story and profit from it.

Electrical Engineering Essay

1. Introduction Engineers have the potential of developing technology that will be used by hundreds, thousands, even millions of people. Since so many people are using this technology, it has to be safe and it has to benefit one population without making another suffer. As the engineers design new technology, they are the ones that have an ethical responsibility to ensure that it will not endanger lives or cause any suffering. The purpose of the essay is to explore the specific issues that face electrical engineers. The primary focus in this essay will be addressing the question: how can an issue be an ethical concern if it does not directly endanger human life or society? This is particularly important as in contrast to other branches of engineering, the moral issues surrounding electrical engineering do not usually affect a consumer’s health or lead to injury or death. A civil engineering dilemma could involve a building collapsing or roads falling apart leading to direct death or injury, s uch as the â€Å"L’Ambiance Plaza Collapse†1 in Connecticut, or the â€Å"Sampoong Department Store Collapse†2 in Seoul. However, as discussed in Fleddermann (2000)3, the problems faced by electrical engineers are no less important, and that the engineers in this discipline should be aware of the particular ethical dilemmas of this field. The field of electrical engineering covers a wide range of technology from power generation and transmission lines to integrated circuits used in computers. This essay will outline, using real-life examples, three major concerns in electrical engineering and explain how they impact the world on an international scale. The current solutions to the ethical dilemmas will be evaluated using ethical analysis, and alternative solutions will be provided. The following scenarios are an excellent illustration of the ethical issues that electrical engineers have to face and opens up a unique discussion about their responsibilities in both a national and international setting. Issue 1 – Quality of product vs. commercial success Electrical engineers are involved in the manufacturing of everyday household appliances. The circuitry that is designed is used in products that are sold by the manufacturer. Manufacturer’s can prioritise the commercial success of their product over the actual quality. This can result in a conflict of interest between manufacturer and engineer since the manufacturer can be  financially motivated, whereas an engineer is supposed to hold paramount the welfare of public in their professional duties (engineering code of ethics)5. An example of this is the manufacturing of the Intel microprocessor in 19944. The microprocessor had a flaw in it that meant that a regularly used operation by users would give the incorrect results. The engineers knew of this problem, and rectified it for future version. Despite this, Intel continued selling the product. This error was found by users, and Intel decided it would only replace microprocessor with a good one to people who could demonstrate that they needed it. Should Intel have provided a replacement regardless? Since Intel was aware of the problem, was it unethical to withhold this information from the users? If this information had been given, and warnings had been included, does this solve the ethical problems for the company? According to Intel, since the error was so minor it would not affect the majority of users. However the few people would have ‘suffered’ from this flaw could have been rectified if Intel had offered to replace their microprocessor for free. This is what Intel did do and so according to utilitarianism principles their response was ethically sound. However, what was immoral was the fact that they did not bring up this issue themselves, and that they continued manufacturing and selling the product without warnings. They did not respect the dignity of their consumers enough to let them be informed consumers. By applying Kantian ethics, one can determine that Intel did not respect the dignity of their customers, and was merely using them as a means to an end. This was to maximise their profit margin by exhausting their faulty stock. There are a number of alternative solutions that Intel could have taken. Intel could have continued selling their product with a warning label so that further customer’s would be aware of flaw. A better solution would have been if Intel discontinued making this microprocessor and told their customers of the flaw straight away, whilst also offering a replacement chip. Issue 2 – experimental nature of electrical. The technology used by engineers to design equipment is complex, and outside the understanding of a majority of general consumers. In addition to this, the lasting effect of some of these technologies is unknown. Since electrical technology is designed on such a small scale, there can be  unknown effects due to our limited understanding of quantum physics. This raises an interesting issue that has sparked debate. Can we use technology that we don’t fully understand, but use on a daily basis? Is it safe to use this technology considering that there may be a potential risk that we have yet to comprehend? The nature of electrical engineering can be somewhat experimental. Transmission lines are used every day to transfer energy into our homes. There are inconclusive theories6 that suggests that these transmission lines which emit low-frequency electromagnetic radiation can be harmful to the general population. This ranges from causing headaches and muscles fatigue to an increased risk of cancer6. Is an engineer obliged to consider these potential risks in their design, even if there is little proof or knowledge into the lasting effects? Currently transmission lines are designed so that they are around 5-10 metres off the ground, this is both for efficiency as well as to remove them from the reach of the general public, avoiding electrocution. However, not many transmission lines have shielding to reduce or eliminate the effects of electromagnetic fields, as there is no quantitative evidence to suggest that shielding is necessary. If the observational theories were proven to be true, however unlikely, that would mean that the general public have been placed in a position of possible harm. In the unlikely case this was true, does the small probability of this being true outweigh the seriousness of the potential harm (cancer). An engineer should be morally responsible at all times, and so an engineer should employ some sort of safety measure. Even if there is only a tiny potential for transmission lines to have lasting negative effects, there should be methods used to combat this threat. This is applying contractualism principles. If engineers themselves believed that they could be exposed to these harmful effects, and knew that they could do something about it, they would integrate some shielding into their transmission line design. Issue 3 – sustainability and power generation, impact of cheap labour Power generation and sustainability is a key concern for all people in the world. Electrical engineers are a vital part of this global machine concerned with sustainability. Engineers primarily concern themselves with providing the most efficient means of power generation and distribution, but this can cause negative effects on the global community. Can a balance be achieved? Is it possible for an electrical engineer to be  morally responsible at all time? Our current primary energy source is dependent on a limited resource, coal and fossil fuels7. The utilisation of these materials results in emissions and waste that are harmful to the environment. Since an electrical engineer is only concerned with the production of energy and not of its disposal is this even an issue they should concern themselves with? It’s not just up to one person to be ethically responsible. An engineer is only a small part of a network of morally autonomous agents. An engineer can apply virtue ethics or kantian ethics, and create awareness of environmental issues. An engineer should have a virtuous nature and consider all areas of society that they can impact. If an engineer applies Kantianism, their actions would involve trying to tell their managers that they are using the Earth’s limited resources as a means to an end, and the environment gets negatively affected by this. If an engineer raises concern about environmental issues, then they are ethically sound. Even if the situation does not change due to the opinions of higher up people, the engineer has done all that they can be expected to. Cheap Labour: An example of our global effect is found in a youtube video8 where cheap child labour is used to break down parts in a circuit board for further use. The toxic fumes emitted from deconstructing the components are extremely hazardous and can cause lasting health consequences. Companies source labour to developing countries because it is an extremely economical alternative. This is primarily due to developing nations not having as stringent workplace health and safety requirements, and also being able to obtain workers who would work for a much lower wage. Essentially this action will achieve the same outcome, for a lesser cost. These companies clearly priorities profit margins over social wellbeing. Is this an electrical engineers concern? An electrical engineer is part of the company that makes the decision to employ cheap labour, and so they can be in a position to influence this decision. A number of options are available. Employ 1st world employees to perform the same job locally This will mean that there is a higher cost for the company. However, this will take away work from third work countries. Cheap labour will no longer  be exploited, but the people of the country will no longer have employment, which could have serious roll-over effects on the society and economy. A better solution would be: Employ 3rd world employees, and provide better wages and working conditions. The major benefit of this is that a company can still provide work for the global community, while improving the working conditions and economies of the developing nations, rather than exploiting them. The downside is extra cost put into educating employees and providing good equipment to apply process. Both scenarios involve extra money input from companies, resulting in loss of profits, but this is weighed against the safety of the people contracted to the company. Value of human life is held paramount here which satisfies engineering code of ethics. References 1. http://www.engineering.com/Library/ArticlesPage/tabid/85/ArticleID/168/LAmbiance-Plazza.aspx 2. http://www.hazardcards.com/card.php?id=8 3. http://www.ele.uri.edu/courses/ele400/f12/cases.pdf 4. B. Crothers, â€Å"Pentium woes continue,† Infoworld, vol. 16, no. 48, pp. a. 1–18, Nov. 18, 1994. 5. http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au//sites/default/files/shado/About%20Us/Overview/Governance/CodeOfEthics2000.pdf 6. http://www.mcw.edu/radiationoncology/ourdepartment/radiationbiology/Power-Lines-and-Cancer-FAQs.htm#1 7. http://www.dg.history.vt.edu/ch2/impact.html 8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeDw6yHQVbI

The Grand Theory Of Care And Its Using In Patient Care Essay

The Grand Theory Of Care And Its Using In Patient Care - Essay Example In the core circle is the patient who is under the nursing care and receiving treatments within the treatment center. Due to her independence and liberty, the core sets his or her personal goals and thus behaves in line with such goals. According to McCrae (227), patients are made of different overlapping parts that are brought together into one common aspect by the attitude, skills, and experience of nurses. The personality of the patient defined the approach adopted by the nurses in caring for them as attitude play an important role in the process of caring for patients generally. The pathologic state determined the treatment approach adopted and the number of healthcare professionals engaged in the process of providing the same (McCrae 225). McCrae also attributed proper services such as bathing, toileting, moving, dressing and undressing among others are all included in the caring role of nurses in this theory. Whenever the core is not in a place to provide care to them, it is incumbent upon the nurses to provide the same through closeness and interpersonal relationship that eliminates the feeling of loneliness. McCrae (222), approaches the 3C theory from its three major concepts which are care, core, and cure whose interaction ensure that a patient’s medical state is improved. As has been noted, the nurses must endeavor to improve the care process for the overlapping to be complete and the theory to work fully. Apart from the care part of the theory, there are also the core and the cure that is needed and applied in the process of caring for the patient and improving their physical and mental states. The core element of the theory is multidisciplinary and shared among different health professionals within the care center. Bjork (2336) states that despite the comfort provided by the nurse through the care circle, the psychological and physical being of the same person is enhanced to aptly respond to  medication and the treatment provided.

Community and Domestic Violence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Community and Domestic Violence - Essay Example Most gang members are pulled into the world of violence because of a number of flaws in the system. Basic essentials are denied to the youth and his concept of being caught in the same cycle as his parents frighten him into choosing any path available to escape it. It has been proven by the National Academies Press that gang violence hits the areas that are economically backward the hardest (7). These gang members are motivated by the life around them to find a way out. Thus, by joining a gang the individual ensures a sure-fire way of achieving an income. An income that is presented through shows of courage and loyalty to the gang is important as it comes with the due respect. The arms available to any gang has increased by the hundredfold. In 2001, the Boston Globe printed an article speaking of an unregistered arms dealer was sentenced to 13 years in prison for selling grenades to members of street gangs Thus revealing that in America today, it has become abundantly easy for any young gang-member to obtain arms. An individual case of this violence comes from Mario Banuelos who was a member of a gang in Morgan Hill, California. He speaks of an incident where he was beaten up by a boy. Unable to fight back he expected the boy to terrorize him but learned a lesson when after the first beating the boy returned to apologize for his actions (Morgan Hills Times).   The evidence in this story proves that Banuelos chose to fight as had been taught by the street culture but in turn forgot the basics of humanity that instill an individual to apologize when they feel they have wronged a fellow being. When the boy came back to say sorry, Banuelos was reminded that fighting was not the solution to every problem. And this self-realization allowed him to change his life.     

Self evaluation learning and action plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Self evaluation learning and action plan - Essay Example This section will offer the progress report which will be only limited to the first three capabilities. The first three capabilities are communication, team work and problem solving. Hence the identification and evaluation process will be confined to these segments only. In the first segment, I have tried to enhance my communication skills, skills required for successful team work and also expertise required for solving various problems. Now in order to develop the aforementioned factors, I believe that elements such as listening & understanding, clear speaking and sharing information, working across different ages, identification of the strengths of the team members and offering creative and innovative solutions for various problems are important as well as essential. I have developed the skills mainly by following my teachers and the persons whom I admire. Apart from those, specialized trainings also facilitated learning for me and enhanced my skills. Moreover, feedback from the tu tors has helped to serve the purpose. I also feel that my communication skills, problem solving skills and team work skills have indeed developed. In order to cite an example, a few months back, when I took admission for the masters, I used to feel the nervousness when events such as individual presentations took place. However these days I feel confident and do not undergo any kind of nervousness. A few days back I was to give a presentation on ‘stakeholder’s role on developing a brand value’ and did not sense any nervousness within myself. This demonstrates that my communication skills have developed. As an example of successful team work I will share my experience about the market survey project. I was in a group of 5 people where there were students from USA, Australia and also from Asia. I get along with them very well, irrespective of the cultural differences and we worked as a team and formulated a successful project report. Finally regarding my skills as a problem solver, I have been praised by my friends a number of times. Recently, there was an incident that took place where our college assigned us a project of market survey, which requires substantial amount of money. Being students we could not afford to spend a significant sum of money, still we had to complete the assignments for securing good grades. I took the matter to the higher authority and they provided us the money required to conduct the project. This is how I solved the problem. However I also feel development is a continuous process and it should run as a chain. In future I would like to develop these skills by applying them in professional fields. In the aforementioned categories I believe my communication needs further development in the form of establishing and using networks, independent reading and writing exactly according to the requirement of the topic. Furthermore to enhance my skills I need to interact with the teachers frequently. Hence on the basis of th e skills and expertise, I intend to become a successful businessman in the near future. I believe that using communication skill, I can interact efficiently with my clients and employees. This will also help me in the long run. Also my problem solving skills will hugely assist me in the process of

Information Technology 1-4D Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Information Technology 1-4D - Essay Example This paper will serve to address four separate questions in regards to technology and modern society, with a careful look into how the use of technology is reflected in our day to day lives. Keywords: technology, day to day lives, Web 2.0, Mark Kennedy, data mining, data collection, decision making process, change, change management, organizational skills, management Information Systems D1-4 1. Mark Kennedy said, â€Å"All of the biggest technological inventions created by man – the airplane, the automobile, the computer – say a little about his intelligence, but speak volumes about his laziness.† What do you think of this quote? Do you agree? Why? Mark Kennedy stated that â€Å"all of the biggest technological inventions created by man – the airplane, the automobile, the computer – say a little about his intelligence, but speak volumes about his laziness† and I could not agree more. While the technologies themselves have been innovative and work to show the different ways that humans are able to take a look at what is available and adapt it to a different use, it is only the generations who are already aware of the original way of doing things that are benefiting from the technology itself. The generations that grow up with the technology already set firmly in place are made lazy and, to a degree, stupid by that same technology (Shaw, 2010). Society has become more and more dependent on technology, to a degree that many members often lack the willingness to think before acting, and as a result of current technologies have become impatient in regards to how quickly information is available (Patil, 2013). While technologies offer many different benefits, and technology is the mother of invention, the current technologies have far more drawbacks than they do rewards. Patil, P. (2013). Technological advancements and its impact on humanity. Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/346486/Technological_Advancements_and_Its_Imp act_on_Humanity Shaw, S. (2010, September 16). dependence comes with technology. Retrieved from http://www.unlvrebelyell.com/2010/09/16/dependence-comes-with-technology/ 2. Textbooks define Web 2.0 as â€Å"the 2nd generation of the Web, which focuses on online collaboration, users as both creators and modifiers of content, dynamic and customized information feeds, and many other engaging web-based services.† How can these Web 2.0 tools help businesses to gain a competitive advantage? There are a large variety of different products and services associated with Web 2.0 that assist businesses in gaining a competitive advantage. If these technologies, including but not limited to, blogs, wikis, podcasts, mashups, social networks, and RSS filters, are properly deployed, they may allow companies to increase their productivity and competitive advantage in a cost effective manner (Andriole, 2010). IBM performed a study in 2005 which looked into how much Web 2.0 could truly affect co mpetitive advantage, and it showed that a sustainable competitive advantage resulted from continual innovation, increased productivity and transformation and employee learning as a result of the positive application of Web 2.0 tools (Graham & Jones, 2011). Andriole, S. J. (2010). Business Impact of Web 2.0 Technologies. Communications Of The ACM, 53(12), 67-79. doi:10.1145/1859204.1859225 Graham, M. & Jones, N. (2011). IMPROVING BUSINESS PERFORMANCE WITH WEB 2.0 TECHNOLOGIES. Journal Of Business Excellence, 2(1), 12-17. 3. As we live our everyday lives, data is collected from us, sometimes without our consent and often without our knowledge. A personal profile could be compiled from disparate sources. What’s your opinion about the secondary use of personal data for data profiling? It is my opinion that while there are other, secondary uses of personal data for data profiling that may be beneficial, such as the use of data by local and national governments to increase transpar ency in the governmental process and democratize the exchange of

Oppositional Defiance Disorder Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Oppositional Defiance Disorder - Essay Example The symptoms of Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) are observed in multiple settings with more noticeable actions at school or at home. The rate of ODD found in adolescents and school age children is 1-16 percent. The factors that cause ODD are not known however psychological, social and biological factors can play a role in the development of the disorder. Therefore it is essential to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of a child with ODD symptoms since there are chances that the child may have disorders like learning disability, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders and mood disorders (bipolar disorder, depression). A comprehensive evaluation can diagnose these coexisting disorders that require preliminary treatment before treating the child for ODD (Children With Oppositional Defiant Disorder 2009). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of American Psychiatric Association explains oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) as a recurrent process of defiant, negativistic, hostile and disobedient behavior exhibited towards authority personality that continues for a minimum period of six months. Some of the behaviors comprise arguing with adults, losing temper, actively resisting requests, purposely annoying people, refusal to obey directions and rules, being touchy, complaining others for the misbehavior and mistakes of the person, spiteful, resentful, easily angered or annoyed or vindictive. Oppositional defiant disorders can be diagnosed in a child when there is a consistent and persistent pattern of hostility and disobedience towards teachers, parents or other adults. Children with ODD show testing limits and stubbornness even their early childhood. The primary behavioral complexity of ODD is the constant pattern of refusal to follow the commands or obey the requests of adults. ODD i s substantiated when problem behaviors take place more recurrently in a child when compared to other children of the same

Platos Republic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Platos Republic - Essay Example Socrates was outspoken in criticizing the new government and after the Democrats took hold of power, Socrates’ relationship with the oligarchic set up made his enemies to find appropriate reasons to make him face trial. They charged him with corrupting the youth of Athens through immoral ways and in spite of his articulately expressed defense, Socrates was held guilty and condemned to death. In his Apology, Plato has recorded the last days of Socates’ life. Socrates continued to remain staunch and true to his belief system and was unwilling to go back on his past statements. He even refused the offer of exile and willingly ingested the cup of hemlock poison that ended his life. This paper holds that the charges against Socrates did not have strength and that they were primarily a result of the ongoing political strife amongst the varied claimants who wanted to lose no opportunity in claiming positions of authority in the newly established democracy. The defense for Socr ates will be substantiated by repeatedly referring to Plato’s Republic because there is considerable circumstantial evidence in this work to steer him clear of the charges of corrupting Athenian youth (p.36). We know that Socrates was charged of corrupting the youth through a few contemporary Greek sources; Plato, Xenophon and the playwright Aristophanes. The Republic was born in Plato’s mind in his early youth while he was hopeful of becoming a politician. At this time he was much impressed with Socrates and became his pupil informally. Following the Peloponnesian war, Athens was ruled for about eight months by the Thirty Tyrants who were an oligarchic and tyrannical power group that tried to enroll Socrates as well as Plato within their group. Although Plato did not give a clear signal, Socrates openly refused to join them and very soon became reputed for adopting anti-democratic ideas. This proved to be very dangerous for Socrates, especially after the taking over of governance by the fundamental democratic set up that had soon over thrown the Thirty Tyrants. Socrates was tried by the newly formed Athenian democracy for having corrupted the youth, introduced new gods and for ha ving adopted and encouraged atheism. He was convicted to death and subsequently executed, of which Plato was a witness. Plato was extremely disillusioned. The Athenians held that in having corrupted the youth Socrates encouraged the young to accompany him on his chosen path. Such developments made the youth of the day to confront the fundamentalist democracy of the period (p.248). In ascertaining whether Socrates had actually corrupted the youth in Athens, this paper relies on Plato’s Republic, which is a thorough analysis of the circumstances that prevailed during the time. In some ways it can be said that Socrates did teach new divinities and in some ways he did not. Socrates was ready to respect the conventional gods such as Athena and Zeus. In fact, all the available evidence indicates that he believed in polytheism. He was in agreement with Hesiod and Homer that these gods had physical characteristics and would always remain alive. However, his images of the gods were mo re illustrious as compared to the images of the gods that one understands from recitations of Homer and other groups of story tellers and god talkers that were known as muthologoi and theologoi respectively, during the period. Socrates held that the gods were wise,

Critical Thinking Essay Example for Free

Critical Thinking Essay There are number of situations that come to mind where critical and creative thought could have been used for a better outcome. And major disaster could have been prevented from happening just by using the critical thinking process in decision making. According to Critical Thinking Community (2012), Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. † (Critical thinkingthe awakening of the intellect to the study of itself.). The best ( or the worst) example of the absence of critical thinking is the oil spill of the Exxon Valdez. It is very obvious that the personals involve in decision making process in this situation were not bothered using the critical thinking skills while making the business decisions. It can easily be proved by looking at the certain facts such as †¢ Necessary inspections of the ships, that could have indicated any existing problem in the ship, were not performed. †¢ Number of crew that was operating the ship was way below the number of crew required to perform those operations. The reason for that was probably to save money. †¢ Due to the small number of crew the work load was way too much for the people operating the ship That is probably the reason why the Captain was sleeping deck below and a untrained crew member was at the wheel asleep controlling the ship. †¢ Collision avoidance system which could have prevent the accident was not available on the ship. This horrible situation could have easily been prevented from happening if the authorized personals had used the critical thinking skills while making the decisions. If the crew members of the Exxon Valdez had adopted critical thinking, they could have prevented the accident from taking place. Similarly, if the procedures were followed and the equipments were issued and properly maintained with the appropriate crew size on board, the accident would never have taken place. According to Dnate.com The Nexus Of Politics, Culture And Genetics (2013), â€Å"Free Will is the ability to do what you want, and pursue your interests. In other words, Free Will is the ability to pursue the object of your passions, motivations, wants, interests, and desires.†(para.1.). In simple words free will is the ability to do what we want to do. For example if a person wants to go to a football game and he made a decision to go to the game. However many philosophers say this instinct is wrong. According to their view, free will is a figment of our imagination. No one has it or ever will. There is still a big argument about the existence of free will of it’s being an illusion. The thinkers are trying to get the answers of the following questions: are the choices we make predetermined?, or do we necessarily choose what we choose?, or was it really possible for us to have chosen otherwise?. (Do We Have Free Will, 2012). According to Plato’s Theory Of Knowledge (2013), â€Å"Knowledge is justified, true belief.† (Para. 1). Knowledge is a collective set of information and facts acquired through both education and experience. There is, however, not a single definition of knowledge that all agree upon totally. Whatever the case maybe, knowledge is the that helps us in building our thoughts. Knowledge helps in making rational decisions in critical thinking based upon our experience and what we take as truth Opinion is based on a belief or view. It is basically a personal belief that can be turned into facts if supported by proof. There are three major hindrances (obstacles) in Thinking Critically Stereotyping According to Simply Psychology (2012), A stereotype is a fixed, over generalized belief about a particular group or class of people.† (para. 1). Stereotyping is categorizing the people, ideas or places based on some common elements or fixed notion. Resistance to Change Some people tend to reject new ways of doing/seeing things or new ideas. They are happy with the old routine life. This is called â€Å"Resistance to change.† Face Saving Face saving is something that prevents oneself from loss of dignity, self-esteem or prestige. It can occur when somebody has believed in a lie or an opinion and their ego prevent themselves from admitting it. There are few techniques to overcome the hindrances in critical thinking. Such as being objective in any situation, keep personal feelings and opinions separate, and gain all the information necessary to make a decision. In a world of advertising there is a message in everything hidden or obvious and sometimes even both. Perception is very important in advertising and marketing. How customers feels about a product and what kind of perception people have about it plays an important role in the success of that product. Marketers spent huge funds to create a good consumer’s perception of the product that is being advertised. Critical thinking plays an important role in decision making process. It can help to understand the pros and cons of any decision and can prevent from any misfortunate incidents. However in order to use the critical thinking effectively, it is important to overcome the three hindrances to the critical thinking process. References Critical Thinking Community. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766 dNATE.com The nexus of politics, culture and genetics. (2013). Retrieved from http://freewill.typepad.com/genetics/2009/12/what-is-free-will.html Do We Have Free Will. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.godcontention.org/index.php?qid=164 Platos theory of knowledge. (2013). Retrieved from http://laumasblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/platos-theory-of-knowledge.html Simply Psychology. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/katz-braly.html

Herrings Theory of Criminal Law

Herrings Theory of Criminal Law English criminal law entails sanction for various behaviors/actions and/or results; and these prohibitions are sprawling throughout numerous statutes and judgements. Generally speaking, the law categorizes criminal liability in two types of crimes; those whose result is prohibited; result crimes and those which carry sanction on a particular conduct, conduct crimes. Additionally, it must be remembered that although a crime may either be result or conduct, it always has two elements to it; the Actus Reus the Mens Rea. In Latin the maxim states actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea which means that an act is not criminal in the absence of a guilty mind; R v. Miller[1]. The physical actions/inactions, circumstance consequences are covered by the Actus Reus, thus each crime punishable by state sanction will prescribe a prohibited action or omission with its consequences in order to determine the guilt of the accused. On the other hand, Mens Rea refers to the defendants state of mind; and allows the court to assess whether the accused intended or was either reckless or negligent; in committing the crimes that s/he is accused of. Both these elements need to be proved by the prosecution, beyond reasonable doubt, Woolmington v DPP [2], for the accused to be held guilty of the crime. The Law Commission in its reports paid heed to the necessity of a consolidated and coded criminal law regime[3]. They procrastinated that the criminal code will style the law in a more accessible, comprehensible, consistent and certain [4] manner. However, in 2008, the Commission was finally liberated from its ever long pursuit of realizing a consolidated criminal code, in England Wales. The editors of the Criminal Law Review, expressed their profound displeasure, in their editorial named RIP: The Criminal Code (1968-2008)[5] stating that it was a sad end for a noble ideal; but, in reality, this idea of the criminal code was rather unattractive, amid several other jurists. Herring in his book, explores the idea of the criminal code, and finds that surely the code would provide certainty; as it will clearly demark the rules which provide for the determination of a persons guilt[6]. This process, was hoped, to simplify the lengthy and exuberant, common law methodology; where principles of offence are enshrined in case law; rather, sometimes ambiguously and with loose interpretations, tailored by judges as aids to justice, in particular scenarios. Although, Herring never meant that common law interpretations are inaccurately based but rather explores the idea that a codified criminal law will strengthen the principle of legality, in rather constitutional terms; i.e. it will uphold the separation of powers, by limiting the creation of the law to the Parliament, not the judiciary. Secondly, Herring acknowledges that the principal advantage that a written criminal code will serve in its accessibility; as it will serve to the members of the public, a reminder of their rights, liberties and duties. However, in Chambers[7], Toulson LJ, a senior member of the judiciary himself, criticizes the limited access to statute law, as a hindrance to access to justice. Thus, theoretically supporting the idea of a criminal code, all encompassing, and in the process providing instant access to the judiciary awareness to the general public as well. Furthermore, Smith Hogan, rightly points out that the adoption of a criminal code would figuratively deliver transparency on the states position, in relation to criminal behaviors[8]. Paul Robinson[9] in his book, proposes a code which distinguishes rules of conduct, which he proposes are aimed at the public at large and provide clarity and guidance; from those of attribution, which direct instructions to judges and juries, in determining verdict. He views rules of conduct as taking a communicative function, serving as a guidance for the public and thus must be kept as precise and clear as possible. However, his critics, point out that such rules of conduct, firstly disregard situations where crimes are a result of a prohibited action, i.e. result crimes [10] and secondly they exclude any indication of the state of the mind of the accused, i.e. Mens Rea[11]. Consequently, Antony Duff fittingly points out that the criminal code must first reflect the moral wisdom of the public; rather than focus its efforts on linguistic clarity [12]. Herring, further points out that such a code will also provide efficiency to the court system, as the code will provide clarity and accessibility, thus enabling judges to give timely verdicts. Proponents of the code also claim that the process of drafting the new criminal code will itself clear most of the contradictions and ambiguities. Thus, Herring claims that updating the code will rather extinguish old, and unsustainable laws, not practiced in todays society, he gives the example of s.36 Offences Against the Person Act 1861[13]. At the same time Herring, lists the potential pitfall of the code, primarily, he criticizes that there is no guarantee that the criminal code would become a bestseller; indicating doubts in public interest in the code[14]. Furthermore, he notes that the drafter overemphasized the benefits of the code, he points out that cases which require an examination of law morality will remain outside its scope; the notorious conjoined twins case [15]. Correspondingly, De Burca[16] states that the fascination with simplifying the code pays no heed to the fact that a particular criminal offence represents an examination of a plethora of political, ethical, and practical concerns, affecting the way a particular law develops for a particular offence. But, the final nail in the coffin, is stuck by J. Verbruggen[17] and his examination of this concern; where he asserts that a structural transformation of a judge-made norm into a codified norm would be unsuccessful. He states that it is necessary to appreciate that the Law Commission was primarily concerned with structural reforms, rather than any substantive reform; and stated that the drafters were not concerned with law reform, but rather employing codification to make the law simpler (11).ÂÂ   He draws distinction within a legal norm as having two dimensions; firstly, its organic identity, i.e. its form under which it exists. And a second dimension, he mentions, is the normative space under which a norm exists; this could range from wide-ranging legal norms to precise policy contemplations. He says that it is the combination of both these elements which makeup the structure of a norm and emphasized that the drafters aimed at altering the organic identity of judge-made norms ; i.e. the structure in which case law exists; while guarding its normative space, i.e. the common law doctrines. He claims that any effort to modify the organic identity of judge-made norms and still maintain its normative space; would be structurally impracticable. He suggests that an examination of judge made norms reveals normative considerations without any specific appointment of priority. He purports that when such norms are to be transplanted into a code, certain normative considerations will be given priority over the other; which, otherwise, would eventually lead to editorial choices amongst the drafters. He concludes that the drafters failed to realize that judge made norms are organically different to codified norms, as the latter are more restrictive in nature, than the former; and that codified norms do not in their entirety, represent the exact scope of normative considerations that exist in judge-made law. The Criminal Code as envisaged by the Law Commission was a gallant idea and a through effort, but sadly it came to a halt, amid juristical considerations. Admittedly, it must be concluded that because codification is not fundamentally capable of respecting the normative space of a judge-made norm, it creates doubts. Although, it seems fair to state that the Code does provide for accessibility, as rightly reported by Herring; but, these doubts which exist to the core of the matter of codification; effectively defeats the crucial criteria set forth by the Law Commission of consistency and certainty. [1] R v. Miller [1983] 2 AC 161, 174 (HL) [2] Woolmington v DPP [1935] AC 462 [3] Law Commission, Criminal Law Codification of Criminal Law A Report to the Commission (Law Com No 143, 1985) Law Commission, Criminal Law A Criminal Code for England and Wales (Law Com No 177, 1989). [4] Law Commission, Criminal Law A Criminal Code for England and Wales (Law Com No 177, 1989) [Para. 1.15]. [5] RIP: The Criminal Code (1968-2008) Editor of the Criminal Law Review (2009). [6] Criminal Law: Text, Cases, and Materials By Jonathan Herring, 6th Edition; [Chapter1, Para 5] [7] Chambers [2008] EWCA Crim 2467 [8] Smith and Hogans Criminal Law, p.g. 33; 14th edition. (2015) [9] P. Robinson (1997) [10] Husak (1999a) [11] Duff (2002: 69) [12] Duff (2002) [13] s.36 Offences Against the Person Act 1861- assaulting a clergyman in the discharge of his duties in a place of worship or burial place [14] Clarkson (1994). [15] Re A (Conjoined Twins: Medical Treatment) [2000] 4 All ER 961 (CA). [16] de BÃ ºrca and Gardner (1990). [17] THE CODIFICATION OF JUDGE-MADE NORMS IN THE CRIMINAL LAW: A RESPONSE TO THE LAW COMMISSION REPORTS by JACK VERBRUGGEN NORTH EAST LAW REVIEW pg.83

Tax Reform In The United States Economics Essay

Tax Reform In The United States Economics Essay This research paper discusses the theme of tax reform in the United states. Nowadays this issue is an actual one. Many Americans are interested greatly in this issue and even express their personal opinions on this topic. The research paper discusses different problems with the current tax system and represents some ideas concerning some changes in the US tax reform. Key words: tax, tax system, tax reform. 1. Introduction It is impossible to carry out new transformations for the purpose of steady development of the economy without formation an effective tax system. Tax reform is a process which changes tax policies of the government. It is known that there are different goals of this process such as reduction of the tax level of all the people, changing tax system for more progressive effect, simplification of tax system. A good tax reform can improve the life of many people. 1.1. Significance of the study This research paper discusses one of the most important issues in the development of the economical system tax reform. This issue is an actual one not only for the United States but for any country of the world because financial sector plays a key role in the present day development of the economy. Tax reform is a main tool of the governmental control. In the context of tightening business competition there is a necessity to take appropriate measures in getting over the consequences of the financial and economic crises 2008-2009. So, tax reforms have such functions which will help to stimulate economical growth and innovative activity, and to increase social protection. 1.2. Definition of terms In order to conduct a good research on tax reforms it is necessary to represent some economical terms which will be used in the process of research. They are the following ones: Taxes are payments which are made by the natural and legal persons (enterprises, organizations and citizens) for the government revenues in mandatory manner. It is a duty of everybody to pay taxes. Taxes are necessary because by means of taxes the government has an opportunity to control some economical processes in the country. They help to develop and reduce some kinds of business, to guide the development of these or those brunches of industry, to influence the economic activity of some enterprises and organizations, to balance consumers supply and demand, to regulate the amount of money in circulation. Tax system is the total of taxes, fees and other obligatory payments which are taken according to the legislative acts. The main characteristic features of any tax system include the following ones: the total of taxes fixed by the government; the complex of principles, forms and methods of their putting into operation; the system of tax authorities, forms and methods of tax control; rights and duties of the participants of tax relations; order and conditions of the tax process. (Roach, 2006) 2. Discussion themes This research paper touches upon the themes which are closely connected with the topic of the paper. It discusses issues and problems with current system in the United States. Moreover it gives some new ideas for tax reform. 2.1.Some Facts from the history of Tax Reforms in the USA According to the historical data, there were a lot of various movements in the USA which had the main goal to reform the collection and the management of taxes in the country. Thus, the Whiskey Rebellion which took place in 1799, is considered to be the first effort to carry out tax reform in the USA. From the historical sources we learn that George Washington who was the US President at that time sent about 13000 troops to the western part of the state Pennsylvania in order to put down the rebellions. Another significant movement against tax reforms took place at the end of the 19th century. Henry George, who was an outstanding American economist of that time, was at the head of that movement. The main goal of that movement was to abolish all forms of taxation other than the Single tax on land values. He offered this single tax in his book Progress and Poverty in 1879. This plan was not put into practice although it got support. This movement on tax policy was spread not only in the United States but also on Australia and New Zealand. However, the organization which is called The Henry George Foundation of America continue to promote this form of taxation reform. (Barker, 1985) It is known that several organizations in the United states are engaged in tax reform in the country among which are Americans for Tax Reform, Americans for Fair Taxation, Americans for Responsible Taxes. These and other organizations have already promoted some ideas concerning tax simplification in the United States which include Flat tax plans, Fair tax and bipartisan tax reform proposals. (Tuerck et al., 2007) 2.2 The Structure of Taxation in the United States and its meaning It is known that the system of taxation in the United states is a progressive one. It means that the percentage of income which is paid by the household will increase with the increasing income. In other words those people who earn more will pay a higher rate of taxes. Here is an example: A person earns $100,000 a year, he will pay 25% of it $25,000. A person earns $30,000 a year, he will pay only 10%tax rate $3,000. However, there may be also regressive and proportional tax systems. Some Reasons for using the Progressive tax system in the USA: Progressive tax system stands for the concept that those people who earn more should pay more tax rate because they have more opportunities to pay and they will not forego the most necessary things such as health care or education. Reduction of inequalities in the society. (Roach, 2006) 2.3. Different types of taxes in the USA There are several different types of taxes in the United States. All these taxes are collected by the Internal Revenue services. They are the following ones: Income taxes; Corporate taxes. These taxes are based on the companys income per a financial year. Investment taxes. These taxes are usually paid when a person receives some dividends and capital gains. (Smith, 2010) There are also some other types of taxes which are paid by the individuals: income tax, sales tax, property tax, social security tax, medicare tax and others. (McIntosh 2010) Taxes on business include federal which include four groups: income, self employment, payroll and excise, state which include common state business taxes (sales tax, employment tax and business income tax) and local which are collected by cities and counties in order to supplement services for this or that area. (La Rose, 2010) 2.4. Problems with the Current Tax System in the United States The US Tax System is considered to be a complex one. It has its peculiarities which differ it from the tax systems of other countries of the world. However, the US Tax system has both advantages and disadvantages. The last ones require certain changes. Here is the list of problems with the current Tax System in the United States: A fabulously complex tax system with numerous layers of taxation on the same money: taxes on income and salaries, ans savings. According to the statistical data, four of five middle-class Americans pay more in payroll taxes than in income taxes. (Walby, 2008) High rate of unemployment (about 10,3 million persons). Little of the mortgage interest deduction refer to those people who are at low and middle level of income.(Walby, 2008) About 18% of taxpayers have got out of the system. The income taxes fail to take the cash payments and other unjustified transactions concerning illegal immigrants. The income taxes assist imports over the US production by excluding imports from Us tax and it penalizes the US exports giving an opportunity to some foreign countries to impose taxes when our goods are delivered to their shops. This fact damages the US exports and even costs the Americans their jobs. (17% price advantage over the US goods.)(Tuerck et al., 2007) The income tax system puts the highest corporate tax rate enforcing companies to be located in other countries. Great problems with education, many students do not know about the financial aid which can be given to them. College education became too expensive. College graduates have debts of more than $19.000 when they leave college. A great deal of manufacturing jobs were lost due to breaking out the US manufacturing trade deficit. (Arduin, LafferMoore Econometrics, 2006) 2.5. Interview Interviewer: Hello! What is your attitude to the present day tax system? Are you satisfied with it? Mr. Brown, an engineer/49 years old: Good day! I think I pay too much in taxes. Mr. Wilson, a doctor/29: The Tax Code is too confusing! Ms. Whinthrop, a manager/41: I pay through the nose on income and payroll taxes and they say we still dont have balanced budgets! Ms. Hartcoph, a student/20: I think rich people do not pay their fair share. Mr. Carack, a worker/27: Oh, little guys like me cannot take advantage of the tax code like those people who earn much and corporations do. Ms. Curts, a pensioner/71: You know, fifteen percent of Americans do not pay any income tax any more! Mr. Bronks, a builder/38: Our current tax system taxes the poor but not the rich. The programs are all for the benefit of the rich and on the backs of the poor. Analyzing the above mentioned interview, we can say that many people are not satisfied with the current tax system. They consider it should be changed. Most Americans choose fair Tax plan. (Kotlikoff, et al., 2006) Some words about the main idea of this plan. The Fair Tax is a proposal to replace the following taxes as the federal corporate income tax, the federal payroll tax, the federal estate tax, the federal gift tax, the federal generation-skipping tax with a federal retail sales tax, assessed at a single rate. The Fair Tax guarantees a rebate to each household which will be based on its demographic composition. The main idea is that the rebate ensures that households who live at or below the poverty line in the United States will pay no taxes on net income. (Kotlikoff et al., 2006) 2.6. Some New Ideas for Tax Reform in the United States Of course, it is very difficult to judge but I think that there should be some changes in the tax system of the Unites States. Here are some ideas for tax reform: Those countries which supply the United States with their products (for example, China) should pay more for import of their products. It is necessary to replace the existing federal Tax Code of the United States into a more simplified version. It will be good to impose no taxes on export and corporate profit in order to save jobs and to make the US companies more competitive. There should be no taxes on education tuition fees. Non-filers should pay taxes when they buy goods or use services. Those who get low incomes should not pay any taxes. 3. Conclusion In conclusion, it is necessary to say that taxes play an important role both in the economy of the country and in the life of citizens. Tax money is used by the government to run the most significant activities. This money may also be invested in some projects which will be beneficial for all the citizens of the country. It is very important to have such a tax system in the country which will be appropriate for citizens of all the levels of income and will allow all of them to live a full life. That is why we need tax reforms.

Martin Ritt’s Norma Rae Essay -- Capitalism Factories Essays

Martin Ritt’s Norma Rae Martin Ritt’s Norma Rae portrays the plight of the Southern factory worker during the 1970’s. As the film progresses and Norma Rae fights for her rights, it is difficult to believe that economic system under which she works is that of capitalism. Yet, the very idea that she is able to advocate for her self and for others, as workers in a factory with the support of a union organizer, demonstrates the role of the worker in a capitalist society. Norma Rae was able to form a union because the system maintained that she had the authority to do so. The formation of the factory was based in capitalism. Financial capital is used to gain access to resources. The textile factory that employed Norma Rae may not have been a purely capitalist environment, but the society in which it was constructed was fundamentally capitalist. That society permitted establishment of a union in the factory to ensure workers rights. The Textile Workers Union of America sent a representative to the factory to ensure that the company was obeying the laws of the greater capitalist society. Those laws were established with the passage of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (Wagner Act) which protects workers rights to unionize. The representative, Rueben Wychofsky, understood the provision of this law and its subsequent amendments and used his rights and the rights of the workers to create a union. This process occurred with the help of Norma Rae, an employee who rallied the other workers to exercise their rights. Society’s sanctions in the form of labor laws forced the factory to obey the conventions of capitalist society in the form of better working conditions and a fair wage. A capitalist society is rooted i... ...ervisory position, thereby attempting to buy her silence through rewards of an increased wage and responsibility. The textile factory portrayed in Norma Rae, was not a pristine example of capitalism, since the factory was steeped with bad practice. Throughout the film, the supervisors and managers manipulated regulations in order to maintain an infer-structure that maximized profits. This film is an example of the system of checks and balances that have come to exist in capitalist society. These checks and balances permit manufacturing facilities to earn a fair profit and remain in business while, at the same time, provide workers with fair wages and decent working conditions. Because competition exists, both in terms of the labor market and the market for goods, the greater society is able to demand that industry conform to certain collective standards.

the great gatsby Essay -- Literature

Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is a novel that explains the conflicts between love, sin, and death. It is a story of love and how love can be quickly lost or hidden beneath the surface. It reveals what people go through in this decade, as well as the novel’s decade. There are conflicts throughout the novel of lust, sin, and pure evil. It basically explains the way the human mind operates when the heart is completely and undeniably in love with another. The fact that the people in this novel went to the extreme to have the one they loved, innocent people tragically ended up in a realm of violence, betrayal, and their own undeserved death. The Great Gatsby is a novel that takes the reader back to the time of the â€Å"Jazz Age†. Times were simpler but love was confusing. The most explicit written by Cheever to Gatsby comes earlier in the story to alert the reader of the more subtle parallels to the novel that follow (Allen). Jay Gatsby had everything except for the one thing he desired most, Daisy. She was the love of his life, yet, unfortunately for him, she had already been married to Tom. This small predicament, however did not seem to stop Gatsby. Throughout the novel, one can see how Jay and Daisy’s love grows. What started out as a simple friendship grew much stronger. Meanwhile, while they were rekindling their love, Tom had another secret love of his own. He was seeing Myrtle Wilson, a woman who, herself, was already married as well to George Wilson. This novel is about the circle of love affairs that tie this group of individuals together. Unfortunately, by the end of this novel, no one ends up with their ‘happily ever after’. No one was truly satisfied with what they had. The way this group of friends interacted with each oth... ...e Work." The Great Gatsby: The Limits of Wonder. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1990. 11-15. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. Linda Pavlovski. Vol. 157. Detroit: Gale, 2005. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 24 Jan. 2012. Phelps, Henry C. "Literary History/Unsolved Mystery: The Great Gatsby and the Hall-Mills Murder Case." ANQ 14.3 (2001): 33. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 26 Jan. 2012. Sutton, Brian. "Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby." Explicator 59.1 (Fall 2000): 37-39. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. Linda Pavlovski. Vol. 157. Detroit: Gale, 2005.Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 23 Jan. 2012. Trask, David F. "A Note on Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby." University Review 33.3 (Mar. 1967): 197-202. Rpt. in Novels for Students. Ed. Diane Telgen. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 26 Jan. 2012.

Hard Times Essay

Mr Gradgrind says ‘ is it satisfactory to me†¦ to know that you do not come to the consideration of that question with the previous habits of mind, and habits of life, that belongs to many young women’ in reference to fancy and emotion when deciding whether to marry Mr Bounderby or not. Later on in the page we are told that Louisa was ‘ compelled to throw herself upon his breast and give him the pent-up confidences of her heart’. However this doesn’t happen because Mr Gradgrind fails to see it. This is because of the ‘artificial barriers’ that have been set up between him and his daughter and these barriers are primarily fact and his utilitarian views. It is a utilitarian view because he believes the decision should not be made based on the individual happiness of Louisa but on what will be best for everyone and therefore looking past her. It also is criticising Utilitarians and Mr Gradgrind through the use of dramatic irony in the sense that we see that Loo yearns to talk to her father but he doesn’t and we are criticising his inability to see it. The barriers being set up are metaphorical barriers he has put between himself and his daughter emotionally to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of people. The barriers are themselves blocking out ‘subtle essences of humanity’ with reference to fancy. By saying that fancy is an essence of humanity in accompaniment with Gradgrind’s will to get rid of fact we see that Dickens is showing us that utilitarian principles strip us of these essences of humanity and therefore de-humanises us. Furthermore it is a very human ideal for a daughter to confide with her father or parent in general but here Louisa has been stripped of that showing us even more then de-humanising qualities of fact. Dickens then goes on to say that these subtle essences of humanity ‘will elude the utmost cunning of algebra until the last trumpet†¦ blow even algebra to wreck’ saying to us that fancy and emotion will always beat fact. The ‘last trumpet’ is judgement day so Dickens is saying that fancy will win until the end of eternity. This passage clearly shows Dickens preferences to emotion and how he feels it is superior although he does give fact some credit when he says ‘blow even algebra’ as if algebra is a tough subject to blow. Then dickens talks about how ‘with his†¦ utilitarian†¦ face he hardened her again’ telling us that utilitarianism is hardening Loo. First of all this builds sympathy for Loo because we were told earlier that Loo wanted to throw herself upon her father but she cant because of the barriers and is hardened again and secondly builds up our dislike for Gradgrind and utilitarianism more because of its hardening qualities.

Business Buying Behavior

Business buyer Behavior| | | | In last Lesson we discussed the Consumer Buying behavior. Today We will discuss business buyer behaviour, types of buying situations, participants in the business buying process, and major influences on business buyers so our today’s topic is:BUSINESS MARKETS AND BUYING BEHAVIORThe  business market  includes firms that buy goods and services in order to produce products and services to sell to others. It also includes retailing and wholesaling firms that buy goods in order toects resell them at a profit. Because asp of business-to-business marketing apply to  institutional  markets  and  government markets, we group these together. The business marketer needs to know the following: Who are the major participants? In what decisions do they exercise influence? What is their relative degree of influence? What evaluation criteria does each decision participant use? The business marketer also needs to understand the major environmental, interpersonal, and individual influences on the buying process. A. What is a Business Market? The business market comprises all the organizations that buy goods and services for use in the production of other products and services that are sold, rented, or supplied to others. It also includes retailing and wholesaling firms that acquire goods for the purpose of reselling or renting them to others at a profit. In the business buying process business buyers determine which products and services their organizations need to purchase, and then find, evaluate, and choose among alternative suppliers and brands. Companies that sell to other business organizations must do their best to understand business markets and business buyer behavior. B. Characteristics of Business MarketsIn some ways, business markets are similar to consumer markets. Both involve people who assume buying roles and make purchase decisions to satisfy needs. However, business markets differ in many ways from consumer markets. The main differences, are in the market structure and demand, the nature of the buying unit, and the types of decisions and the decision process involved. Business markets also have their own characteristics. In some ways, they are similar to consumer markets, but in other ways they are very different. The main differences include:1. Market structure and demand. Business markets typically deal with far fewer but far larger buyers. They are more geographically concentrated. Business markets have derived demand  (business demand that ultimately comes from or derives from the demand for consumer goods). Many business markets have  inelastic demand; that is, total demand for many business products is not affected much by price changes, especially in the short run. A drop in the price of leather will not cause shoe manufacturers to buy much more leather unless it results in lower shoe prices that, in turn, will increase consumer demand for shoes. Finally, business markets have morefluctuating demand. The demand for many business goods and services tends to change more—and more quickly—than the demand for consumer goods and services does. A small percentage increase in consumer demand can cause large increases in business demand. Sometimes a rise of only 10 percent in consumer demand can cause as much as a 200 percent rise in business demand during the next period. 2. Nature of the Buying Unit:Compared with consumer purchases, a business purchase usually involves more decision participants and a more professional purchasing effort. Often, business buying is done by trained purchasing agents who spend their working lives learning how to make better buying decisions. Buying committees made up of technical experts and top management are common in the buying of major goods. Companies are putting their best and brightest people on procurement patrol. Therefore, business marketers must have well-trained salespeople to deal with well-trained buyers. 3. Types of Decisions and the Decision ProcessBusiness buyers usually face  more complex  buying decisions than do consumer buyers. Purchases often involve large sums of money, complex technical and economic considerations, and interactions among many people at many levels of the buyer's organization. Because the purchases are more complex, business buyers may take longer to make their decisions. The business buying process tends to be  more formalized  than the consumer buying process. Large business purchases usually call for detailed product specifications, written purchase orders, careful supplier searches, and formal approval. The buying firm might even prepare policy manuals that detail the purchase process. Finally, in the business buying process, buyer and seller are often much  more dependent  on each other. Consumer marketers are often at a distance from their customers. In contrast, business marketers may roll up their sleeves and work closely with their customers during all stages of the buying process—from helping customers define problems, to finding solutions, to supporting after-sale operation. They often customize their offerings to individual customer needs. In the short run, sales go to suppliers who meet buyers' immediate product and service needs. C. Business Buyer BehaviorThe model in Figure suggests four questions about business buyer behavior: What buying decisions do business buyers make? Who participates in the buying process? What are the major influences on buyers? How do business buyers make their buying decisions? a. A Model of Business Buyer BehaviorAt the most basic level, marketers want to know how business buyers will respond to various marketing stimuli. Figure shows a model of business buyer behavior. In this model, marketing and other stimuli affect the buying organization and produce certain buyer responses. As with consumer buying, the marketing stimuli for business buying consist of the four Ps: product, price, place, and promotion. Other stimuli include major forces in the environment: economic, technological, political, cultural, and competitive. These stimuli enter the organization and are turned into buyer responses: product or service choice; supplier choice; order quantities; and delivery, service, and payment terms. In order to design good marketing mix strategies, the marketer must understand what happens within the organization to turn stimuli into purchase responses. Within the organization, buying activity consists of two major parts: the buying center, made up of all the people involved in the buying decision, and the buying decision process. The model shows that the buying center and the buying decision process are influenced by internal organizational, interpersonal, and individual factors as well as by external environmental factors. b. Major Types of Buying SituationsThere are three major types of buying situations. At one extreme is the  straight rebuy,  which is a fairly routine decision. At the other extreme is the  new task,  which may call for thorough research. In the middle is themodified rebuy,  which requires some research. In a  straight rebuy  the buyer reorders something without any modifications. It is usually handled on a routine basis by the purchasing department. Based on past buying satisfaction, the buyer simply chooses from the various suppliers on its list. â€Å"In† suppliers try to maintain product and service quality. In a  modified rebuy, the buyer wants to modify product specifications, prices, terms, or suppliers. The modified rebuy usually involves more decision participants than the straight rebuy. The in suppliers may become nervous and feel pressured to put their best foot forward to protect an account. Out suppliers may see the modified rebuy situation as an opportunity to make a better offer and gain new business. A company buying a product or service for the first time faces a  new-task  situation. In such cases, the greater the cost or risk, the larger the number of decision participants and the greater their efforts to collect information will be. The new-task situation is the marketer's greatest opportunity and challenge. The marketer not only tries to reach as many key buying influences as possible but also provides help and information. The buyer makes the fewest decisions in the straight rebuy and the most in the new-task decision. In the new-task situation, the buyer must decide on product specifications, suppliers, price limits, payment terms, order quantities, delivery times, and service terms. The order of these decisions varies with each situation, and different decision participants influence each choice. c. Participants in the Business Buying ProcessThe decision-making unit of a buying organization is called its buying center: all the individuals and units that participate in the business decision-making process. The buying center includes all members of the organization who play any of five roles in the purchase decision process. †¢Ã‚  Users  are members of the organization who will use the product or service. In many cases, users initiate the buying proposal and help define product specifications. †¢Ã‚  Influencers  often help define specifications and also provide information for evaluating alternatives. Technical personnel are particularly important influencers. †¢Ã‚  Buyers  have formal authority to select the supplier and arrange terms of purchase. Buyers may help shape product specifications, but their major role is in selecting vendors and negotiating. In more complex purchases, buyers might include high-level officers participating in the negotiations. †¢Ã‚  Deciders  have formal or informal power to select or approve the final suppliers. In routine buying, the buyers are often the deciders, or at least the approvers. †¢Ã‚  Gatekeepers  control the flow of information to others. For example, purchasing agents often have authority to prevent salespersons from seeing users or deciders. Other gatekeepers include technical personnel and even personal secretaries. The buying center is not a fixed and formally identified unit within the buying organization. It is a set of buying roles assumed by different people for different purchases. Within the organization, the size and makeup of the buying center will vary for different products and for different buying situations. Business marketers working in global markets may face even greater levels of buying center influence. The buying center concept presents a major marketing challenge. The business marketer must learn who participates in the decision, each participant's relative influence, and what evaluation criteria each decision participant uses. The buying center usually includes some obvious participants who are involved formally in the buying decision. d. Major Influences on Business BuyersBusiness buyers are subject to many influences when they make their buying decisions. Some marketers assume that the major influences are economic. They think buyers will favor the supplier who offers the lowest price or the best product or the most service. They concentrate on offering strong economic benefits to buyers. However, business buyers actually respond to both economic and personal factors. Far from being cold, calculating, and impersonal, business buyers are human and social as well. They react to both reason and emotion. Today, most business-to-business marketers recognize that emotion plays an important role in business buying decisions. When suppliers' offers are very similar, business buyers have little basis for strictly rational choice. Because they can meet organizational goals with any supplier, buyers can allow personal factors to play a larger role in their decisions. However, when competing products differ greatly, business buyers are more accountable for their choice and tend to pay more attention to economic factors. Figure lists various groups of influences on business buyers— environmental, organizational, interpersonal, and individual. Major Influences on Business Buyers†¢Ã‚  Environmental FactorsBusiness buyers are influenced heavily by factors in the current and expected  economic environment,  such as the level of primary demand, the economic outlook, and the cost of money. As economic uncertainty rises, business buyers cut back on new investments and attempt to reduce their inventories. An increasingly important environmental factor is shortages in key materials. Many companies now are more willing to buy and hold larger inventories of scarce materials to ensure adequate supply. Business buyers also are affected by technological, political, and competitive developments in the environment. Culture and customs can strongly influence business buyer reactions to the marketer's behavior and strategies, especially in the international marketing environment. The business marketer must watch these factors, determine how they will affect the buyer, and try to turn these challenges into opportunities.   Organizational FactorsEach buying organization has its own objectives, policies, procedures, structure, and systems. The business marketer must know these  organizational factors  as thoroughly as possible. Questions such as these arise: How many people are involved in the buying decision? Who are they? What are their  evaluative criteria? What are the company's polici es and limits on its buyers? Interpersonal FactorsThe buying center usually includes many participants who influence each other. The business marketer often finds it difficult to determine what kinds of  interpersonal factors  and group dynamics enter into the buying process. Participants may have influence in the buying decision because they control rewards and punishments, are well liked, have special expertise, or have a special relationship with other important participants. Interpersonal factors are often very subtle. Whenever possible, business marketers must try to understand these factors and design strategies that take them into account. Individual FactorsEach participant in the business buying decision process brings in personal motives, perceptions, and preferences. These individual factors are affected by personal characteristics such as age, income, education, professional identification, personality, and attitudes toward risk. Also, buyers have different buying styles. Some may be technical types who make in-depth analyses of competitive proposals before choosing a supplier. Other buyers may be intuitive negotiators who are adept at pitting the sellers against one another for the best deal. D. The Business Buying ProcessThere are eight stages of the business buying process. Buyers who face a new-task buying situation usually go through all stages of the buying process. Buyers making modified or straight rebuys may skip some of the stages. We will examine these steps for the typical new-task buying situation. a. Problem RecognitionThe buying process begins when someone in the company recognizes a problem or need that can be met by acquiring a specific product or service. Problem recognition can result from internal or external stimuli. Internally, the company may decide to launch a new product that requires new production equipment and materials. Or a machine may break down and need new parts. Perhaps a purchasing manager is unhappy with a current supplier's product quality, service, or prices. Externally, the buyer may get some new ideas at a trade show, see an ad, or receive a call from a salesperson who offers a better product or a lower price. In fact, in their advertising, business marketers often alert customers to potential problems and then show how their products provide solutions. b. General Need DescriptionHaving recognized a need, the buyer next prepares a general need description that describes the characteristics and quantity of the needed item. For standard items, this process presents few problems. For complex items, however, the buyer may have to work with others—engineers, users, consultants—to define the item. The team may want to rank the importance of reliability, durability, price, and other attributes desired in the item. In this phase, the alert business marketer can help the buyers define their needs and provide information about the value of different product characteristics. c. Product SpecificationThe buying organization next develops the item's technical product specifications, often with the help of a value analysis engineering team. Value analysis is an approach to cost reduction in which components are studied carefully to determine if they can be redesigned, standardized, or made by less costly methods of production. The team decides on the best product characteristics and specifies them accordingly. Sellers, too, can use value analysis as a tool to help secure a new account. By showing buyers a better way to make an object, outside sellers can turn straight rebuy situations into new-task situations that give them a chance to obtain new business. d. Supplier SearchThe buyer now conducts a supplier search to find the best vendors. The buyer can compile a small list of qualified suppliers by reviewing trade directories, doing a computer search, or phoning other companies for recommendations. Today, more and more companies are turning to the Internet to find suppliers. For marketers, this has leveled the playing field—smaller suppliers have the same advantages as larger ones and can be listed in the same online catalogs for a nominal fee: The newer the buying task, and the more complex and costly the item, the greater the amount of time the buyer will spend searching for suppliers. The supplier's task is to get listed in major directories and build a good reputation in the marketplace. Salespeople should watch for companies in the process of searching for suppliers and make certain that their firm is considered. e. Proposal SolicitationIn the proposal solicitation stage of the business buying process, the buyer invites qualified suppliers to submit proposals. In response, some suppliers will send only a catalog or a salesperson. However, when the item is complex or expensive, the buyer will usually require detailed written proposals or formal presentations from each potential supplier. Business marketers must be skilled in researching, writing, and presenting proposals in response to buyer proposal solicitations. Proposals should be marketing documents, not just technical documents. Presentations should inspire confidence and should make the marketer's company stand out from the competition. f. Supplier SelectionThe members of the buying center now review the proposals and select a supplier or suppliers. During supplier selection, the buying center often will draw up a list of the desired supplier attributes and their relative importance. In one survey, purchasing executives listed the following attributes as most important in influencing the relationship between supplier and customer: quality products and services, on-time delivery, ethical corporate behavior, honest communication, and competitive prices. Other important factors include repair and servicing capabilities, technical aid and advice, geographic location, performance history, and reputation. The members of the buying center will rate suppliers against these attributes and identify the best suppliers. As part of the buyer selection process, buying centers must decide how many suppliers to use. In the past, many companies preferred a large supplier base to ensure adequate supplies and to obtain price concessions. These companies would insist on annual negotiations for contract renewal and would often shift the amount of business they gave to each supplier from year to year. Increasingly, however, companies are reducing the number of suppliers. There is even a trend toward single sourcing, using one supplier. With single sourcing there is only one supplier to handle and it is easier to control newsprint inventories. Using one source not only can translate into more consistent product performance, but it also allows press rooms to configure themselves for one particular kind of newsprint rather than changing presses for papers with different attributes. Many companies, however, are still reluctant to use single sourcing. They fear that they may become too dependent on the single supplier or that the single-source supplier may become too comfortable in the relationship and lose its competitive edge. Some marketers have developed programs that address these concerns. g. Order-Routine SpecificationThe buyer now prepares an order-routine specification. It includes the final order with the chosen supplier or suppliers and lists items such as technical specifications, quantity needed, expected time of delivery, return policies, and warranties. In the case of maintenance, repair, and operating items. h. Performance ReviewIn this stage, the buyer reviews supplier performance. The buyer may contact users and ask them to rate their satisfaction. The performance review may lead the buyer to continue, modify, or drop the arrangement. The seller's job is to monitor the same factors used by the buyer to make sure that the seller is giving the expected satisfaction. We have described the stages that typically would occur in a new-task buying situation. The eightstage model provides a simple view of the business buying decision process. The actual process is usually much more complex. In the modified rebuy or straight rebuy situation, some of these stages would be compressed or bypassed. Each organization buys in its own way, and each buying situation has unique requirements. Different buying center participants may be involved at different stages of the process. Although certain buying process steps usually do occur, buyers do not always follow them in the same order, and they may add other steps. Often, buyers will repeat certain stages of the process. E. Institutional and Government MarketsSo far, our discussion of organizational buying has focused largely on the buying behavior of business buyers. Much of this discussion also applies to the buying practices of institutional and government organizations. However, these two nonbusiness markets have additional characteristics and needs. In this final section, we address the special features of institutional and government markets. a. Institutional MarketsThe institutional market consists of schools, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, and other institutions that provide goods and services to people in their care. Institutions differ from one another in their sponsors and in their objectives. Many institutional markets are characterized by low budgets and captive patrons. For example, hospital patients have little choice but to eat whatever food the hospital supplies. A hospital-purchasing agent has to decide on the quality of food to buy for patients. Because the food is provided as a part of a total service package, the buying objective is not profit. Nor is strict cost minimization the goal—patients receiving poorquality food will complain to others and damage the hospital's reputation. Thus, the hospitalpurchasing agent must search for institutional-food vendors whose quality meets or exceeds a certain minimum standard and whose prices are low. Many marketers set up separate divisions to meet the special characteristics and needs of institutional buyers. . Government MarketsThe government market offers large opportunities for many companies, both big and small. In most countries, government organizations are major buyers of goods and services. Government buying and business buying are similar in many ways. But there are also differences that must be understood by companies that wish to sell products and services to governments. To succe ed in the government market, sellers must locate key decision makers, identify the factors that affect buyer behavior, and understand the buying decision process. Government organizations typically require suppliers to submit bids, and normally they award the contract to the lowest bidder. In some cases, the government unit will make allowance for the supplier's superior quality or reputation for completing contracts on time. Many companies that sell to the government have not been marketing oriented for a number of reasons. Total government spending is determined by elected officials rather than by any marketing effort to develop this market. Government buying has emphasized price, making suppliers invest their effort in technology to bring costs down. When the product's characteristics are specified carefully, product differentiation is not a marketing factor. Nor do advertising or personal selling matter much in winning bids on an open-bid basis. Key TermsBusiness Markets:The  business market  includes firms that buy goods and services in order to produce products and services to sell to others. Straight Re-buythe buyer reorders something without any modifications. Modified Re-buy  the buyer wants to modify product specifications, prices, terms, or suppliers. New Task Buying  A company buying a product or service. Users  are members of the organization who will use the product or service. In many cases, users initiate the buying proposal and help define product specifications. Influencers  Often help define specifications and also provide information for evaluating alternatives. Technical personnel are particularly important influencers. Buyershave formal authority to select the supplier and arrange terms of purchase. Decidershave formal or informal power to select or approve the final suppliers. Gatekeeperscontrol the flow of information to others. |