Are Human Beings Co-Creators Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 10250 words

Are Human Beings Co-Creators - Dissertation Example A theological work starts with description of a method through which analysis and discussion occurs. In the present paper the point of discussion and analysis is about the creator or co-creator status of human beings from the theological perspective. The important method necessary in this paper will be narration that makes the reader to understand the task of theology as well as addressing the human concerns of ultimate reality. According to Abdul-Masih, Marguerite (2001), opines that the scientific reasoning as well spiritual analysis is important in discussing or analyzing the topic. The philosophical reasoning should accompany the reasoning mentioned above. However, too much demanding of scientific evidence may distort theological arguments. In order to discuss the creative nature or creator status of human beings, the definition of creator is important and that decides the course of discussion and analysis. In defining creator, there exists two types of definitions; one being understood by materialistic proofs and other that is not possible to understand under materialistic or physical laws that govern the 3 dimensional worlds. Hence, let us take creator as the entity that can produce everything from nothing and the other, which can create things from some other matter that already exists. The former definition has no materialistic proof and human beings can create nothing from nothing. The understanding of truths depends on contemporary technology and thus the aspects of theology changes from time to time. The aspects of theology even depend on technical terminology that define mortal/venial sin, angels etc. The understanding of creation or creator depends at the heart and mind of the faithful people as well as their s cope of understanding. When the sensitivity of spirit comes to the fore, the foundations of faith, experience of grace etc are important and discussion as well as analysis takes the above aspects into consideration. Hence, the analysis and discussion in this paper will take into consideration the value for the creators and the utility of creation. It is better to start the paper with discussion of human dignity that is associated with creation (Pekarske, Daniel T (Author), 2002).

Footwear International Essay Example for Free

Footwear International Essay Footwear International is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of footwear with 83 companies in 70 countries with one of these locations is in Bangladesh, where John Carlson is the managing director. Bangladesh has had a turbulent history in the 20th century and over 85% of the population is Moslem (Thomas, 2003). An article in the Meillat, a newspaper with pro Libyan preferences, made reference to the design of the insole of a sandal included the Arabic spelling of the word â€Å"Allah† and since this design was on the insole of the sandal and next to the foot it is a sign of great disrespect to Moslems. The article also stated Footwear International was owned and operated by a Jewish family and was linked in the shootings of people in Palestine by Jews. This incident seemed to be escalating rapidly as youth groups began calling for demonstrations against Footwear, a lawyer had filed charges under the criminal code that forbade deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious believers. To make matters worse the prime minister had voiced his concerns in the matter as well. Public opinion towards Footwear International has now turned negative due to the erroneous claims published in the Melliat. The newspaper had stated that Footwear was under Jewish ownership which is untrue as the family that owned Footwear International was Christian. The design on the insole of the sandal was based on Chinese temple bells that the designer had purchased and was approved by her supervisor who was Moslem (Thomas, 2003). Numerous other people had seen the new logo during the design process and no one had made objections in regards to this logo either. How this logo incensed the Moslem community and more importantly how should Footwear International and especially John Carlson handle the allege claims against the company? It appears that Footwear International has two alternatives: one option is not to do anything and hope the problem will go away or the second option is to address the situation and resolve the conflict. The first option of not doing anything is not a very a good decision to make by Footwear International. The problem will not go away but will continue to grow until Footwear International ceases all operations in Bangladesh and with that the loss of revenue. Timing is the key in the second option and is more complicated as there are several major hurdles that John Carlson must address in a short period of time. It was indicated that two youth groups were planning on demonstrating against Footwear International. The first obstacle Carlson must be concerned with is for the safety of all his employees and their families especially the four other managers that were named in statement. He may wish to seclude the managers and their families in a safe location to protect them from the demonstrators. Carlson might request extra security personal from the corporate headquarters to ensure their safety. Religion and culture are very sensitive subjects to people of any country and due to the fact the opposition newspaper had printed false information about Footwear International, Carlson must use all types of media to set the record straight. Carlson will need to explain that Footwear International is owned and operated by individuals who are Christians and not Jewish as the newspaper article had stated. Carlson must capitalize on the company’s presence in the country that began in the 1930’s, the first manufacturing plant constructed in 1962, in 1971 the managing director was a freedom fighter, in 1985 Footwear International went public and two years later spearheaded the largest private sector foreign investment in the country and employees over 1800 Bangladesh people in 81 stores and agencies (Thomas, 2003). Carlson must be very sincere as he communicates to the different media outlets on how the design used was based on Chinese temple bells and that the designer who created this logo is Muslim as well. I believe Carlson must compare the design logo to the Arabic spelling of Allah and emphasize that the design logo was not intended to offend anyone of the Muslim society. Footwear International must review the procedures they use in the design process and new policies should be implemented going forward so this type of situation will not occur again. It is important for Carlson to admit this mistake and I think he must make a bold move and announces the recall of these sandals, this may be a costly decision, however it will the show the people he is sincere in trying to remedy the problem. Carlson must also be concerned with the legal actions that a local lawyer has filed against him and if by chance the lawyer does not rescind these charges it may be necessary for him to seek legal help from the corporate headquarters. Footwear International executives should use any means available to open up dialogue with the prime minister in hopes of him recanting his remarks. If the prime minister addresses the situation and reissues a statement supporting Footwear International attempts to correct the situation this would probably pressure the lawyer in dropping the charges. If I was in Carlson’s place I would meet this situation head on and utilize all resources at my disposable to correct this honest mistake. Mistakes happen and it is how we fix these mistakes that people judge our integrity by.

Introduction to personality

Introduction to personality The manner in which a person acts and interacts is a reflection of his personality. Personality is influenced by hereditary, cultural and social factors. Regardless of how its defined, however, psychologists generally accept certain principles: Personality is an organized whole; otherwise, the individual would have no meaning. Personality appears to be organized into patterns that are to some degree observable and measurable. Although personality has a biological basis, its specific development is also a product of social and cultural environments. Personality has superficial aspects such as attitudes toward being a team leader and a deeper core such as sentiments about authority or the Protestant work ethic. Personality involves both common and unique characteristics. Every person is different from every other person in some respects, while being similar to other persons in other respects. (Sources from James L Gibson, John M. Ivancevich, Jams H. Donnelly, JR and Robert Konopaske, (2003). Organisational Behavior, Structure, Process, New Yoke: The McGraw-Hill Companies). Part of the pleasure of getting to know someone is the fascination of learning who they are and how they think. Each person has a unique pattern of thinking, behaving, and expressing their feelings. In short, everyone has a unique personality. Without doubt, personality touches our daily lives. Falling in love, choosing friends, getting along with co-workers, voting for a president, or coping with your zaniest relatives all raise questions about personality. What is Personality? Personality could be further explained by the following theories by various writers: Personality can be defines as an integrated part of an individual it is something a person does or has. People bring their personalities to situations and take them away with them when they leave (Davey, 2004). Personality defines as a stable set of characteristics and tendencies that determine commonalities and differences in peoples behavior (James, 1994). Personality defines as a persons unique pattern of thinking, emotions, and behavior (Funder, 2001). Personality defines as the structures inside a person that explain why he or she creates a particular impression on others (MacKinnon, 1969). Personality refers to the consistency in who you are, have been, and will become. It also refers to the special blend of talents, value, hopes, loves, hates, and habits that makes each of us a unique person (Coon, 2006). Personality defines as an individuals personality is a relatively stable set of characteristics, tendencies and temperaments that have been significantly formed by inheritance and by social, cultural and environmental factors. This set of variables determines the commonalities and differences and differences in the behavior of the individual (Gibson, 2003). Personality defines as the distinctive impression a person makes on others (Goldberg, 1993). Personality defines as a dynamic organisation, inside the person, of psychophysical systems that create a persons characteristic patterns of behavior, thoughts, and feelings (Carver and Scheier, 2000) (Allport, 1961). Personality defines as the combinations of the psychological traits that characterize that person (Robbins and DeCenzo, 2005). Personality defines as a dynamic and organized set of characteristics possessed by a person that uniquely influences his or her cognitions, motivations, and behaviors in various situations (Ryckman, 2004). Determinants of Personality Personality is the outcome of a continuous personal quality development process. The role of personality becomes clear in a particular situation. Personality is recognised in a situation. It is the results of personal quality interaction in a particular condition. The major determinants of personality of an individual are given below: Biological factors Heredity: Heredity refers to those factors that were determined at conception. Physic stature, facial attractiveness, sex, temperament, muscle composition and reflexes, energy level, and biological rhythms are characteristics that are generally considered to be either completely or substantially influenced by who your parents were; that is, by their biological, physiological, and inherent psychological makeup. The contribution of heredity to personality development is vividly clear for developing external appearance, behavior, social stimuli, self inner awareness, organizing traits, etc. Environment: Exerts pressure on personality formation. Culture, religious practices, family groups, friends, social groups and experience play a part in shaping personality. Culture establishes norms, attitudes, and values that are passed over generations. Situation: Personality changes in different situations. Different situations demand different types of behavior. Situations restrict or cause us elicit certain types of behaviors. We behave differently when attending funeral. We display different behavior when attending employment interview. Personality Types Personality type refers to the psychological classification of different types of people. Personality types are distinguished from personality traits, which come in different levels or degrees. According to type theories, for instance, there are two fundamentals types of people, introverts and extraverts. According to traits theories, introversion and extraversion are part of a continuous dimension. Extraverts energy is directed primarily outward, towards people and things outside of themselves. Introverts energy is primarily directed inward, towards their own thoughts, perceptions, and reactions. Therefore, extraverts tend to be more naturally active, expressive, social, and interested in many things, whereas introverts tend to be more reserved, private, cautions, and interested in fewer interactions, but with greater depth and focus. Below Figure 1 is the characteristic of Extraverts and Introverts (Tieger Barron, 2003). Even though types tend to oversimplify personality, they do have value. Most often, types are a shorthand way of labeling who have several traits in common. One well known example of personality types is Type A theory. According to this theory, impatient, hostile people are classified as Type A, whereas calm, laid back individuals are designated as Type B. Type A In Type A personality, people belonging to such category are hard driving, ambitious, highly competitive, achievement oriented, and striving. Type A people believe that with enough effort they can overcome any obstacle, and they push themselves accordingly (Niaura, 2002). Types As seem to chafe at the normal pace of events. They hurry from one activity to another, racing the clock in self-imposed urgency. As they do, they feel a constant sense of frustration and anger. Feelings of anger and hostility, in particular, are strongly related to increased risk of heart attack (Niaura, 2002). Characteristics of Type A people are summarized in the short self-identification test presented in Figure 2 below. Characteristics of the Type A Person Have a habit of explosively accentuating various key words in ordinary speech even when there is no need for such accentuation. Finish other peoples sentences for them. Always move, walk and eat rapidly. Quickly skim reading material and prefer summaries or condensations of books. Become easily angered by slow-moving lines or traffic. Feel an impatience with the rate at which most events take place. Tend to be unaware of the details or beauty of your surroundings. Frequently strive to think of or do two or more things simultaneously. Almost always feel vaguely guilty when you relax, vacation, or do absolutely nothing for several days. Tend to evaluate your worth in quantitative terms (number of As earned, amount of income, number of games won, and so forth). Have nervous gestures or muscle twitches, such as grinding your teeth, clenching your fists, or drumming your fingers. Attempt to schedule more and more activities into less time and in so doing make fewer allowances for unforeseen problems. Frequently think about other things while talking to someone. Repeatedly take on more responsibilities than you can comfortably handle. (Shortened and adapted from Meyer Friedman and Ray H. Rosenman, Type A Behavior and Your Heart, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc, 1983). As our society places a premium on achievement, competition, and mastery, it is not surprising that many people develop Type A personalities. The best way to avoid the self-made stress this causes is to adopt behavior that is the opposite of that listed in Figure 2 above. It is entirely possible to succeed in life without sacrificing your health or happiness in the process. Type B The converse, the Type B individual, mainly is free of the Type A behavior pattern characteristics and generally feels no pressing conflict with either time or persons. The Type B may have considerable drive, want to accomplish things and work hard, but the Type B has a confident style that allows him or her to work at a steady pace and not to race against the clock. The Type A has been likened to a racehorse; the Type B, to a turtle. Type B individual appear more relaxed and easy-going. They accept situations and work within them rather fight them competitively. Type B individual are especially relaxed regarding time pressure, so they are less prone to have problems associated with stress. Still, Type B individuals can be highly productive workers who meet schedule expectations; they simply obtain results in a different manner. Characteristics of the Type B Person Patient Relaxes Easy-going, mellow May avoid confrontation Not quick to anger (Shortened and adapted from Meyer Friedman and Ray H. Rosenman, Type A Behavior and Your Heart, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc, 1983). Personality Traits Five specific personality traits have proven most powerful in explaining individual behavior in organizations. These are locus of control, machiavellianism, self-esteem, self-monitoring and risk propensity. Locus of Control Some people believe that they control their own fate. Others see themselves as pawns of fate, believing that what happens to them in their lives us due to luck or chance. The Locus of Control in the first case is internal. In the second case, it is external; these people believe that their lives are controlled by outside forces. A manager might also expect to find that externals blame a poor performance evaluation on their bosss prejudice, their employees, or other events outside their control, whereas internal explain the same evaluation in terms of their own actions. Machiavellianism The second personality trait is called Machiavellianism. An individual who is high in Machiavellianism is pragmatic, maintains emotional distance, believes that ends can justify means, and is found to have beliefs that are less ethical. Jobs that require bargaining skills (labour negotiator) or that have substantial rewards for winning (a commissioned salesperson), high Machiavellianism are productive. In job in which ends do not justify the means or that lack absolute standards of the performance, it is difficult to predict the performance of high Machiavellianism. Self-Esteem People differ in the degree to which they like or dislike themselves. This trait is called Self-Esteem. The research on Self-Esteem offers some interesting insights into organizational behavior. For instance, Self-Esteem is directly related to expectations for success. High Self-Esteem believed that they possess the ability to succeed at work. Individuals with high Self-Esteem will take more risks in job selection and are more likely to choose unconventional jobs than are people with low Self-Esteem. Low Self-Esteem is dependent on positive evaluations from others. As a result, they are more likely to seek approval from others and more prone to conform to the beliefs and behaviors of those they respect than are high Self-Esteems. Self-Monitoring The third personality trait is called Self-Monitoring. It refers to an individuals ability to adjust his or her behavior to external, situational factors (Snyder, 1987). Individuals high in Self-Monitoring can show considerable adaptability in adjusting their behavior to external, situational factors. They are highly sensitive to external cues and can behave differently in different situations. Risk Propensity The final personality trait is called Risk Propensity. A preference to assume or avoid risk has been shown to have an impact on how long it takes individuals to make a decision and how much information they require before making their choice. For instance, 79 managers worked on a simulated human resources management exercise that required them to make hiring decisions (Taylor, 2000). High risk-taking managers made more rapid decisions and used less information in making their choices than did the low risk-taking managers. Interestingly, the decisions accuracy was the same for both groups. The Big 5 Models The Big Five represents taxonomy (classification system) of traits that some personality psychologists suggest capture the essence of individual differences in personality. These traits were arrived at through factor analysis studies. The five factors are Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. The following are some of the important characteristics of the five factors. The factors are dimensions, not types, so people vary continuously on them, with most people falling in between the extremes (Soldz Vaillant, 1999). The factors are stable over a 45-year period beginning in young adulthood (Soldz Vaillant, 1999). The factors and their specific facets are heritable (McCrae, 1998). The factors probably had adaptive value in a prehistoric environment (Buss, 1996). The factors are considered universal, having been recovered in languages as diverse as German and Chinese (McCrae Costa, 1997). Knowing ones placement on the factors is useful for insight and improvement through therapy (McCrae Costa, 1992). The Big Five factors and their constituent traits: Openness Appreciation for art, Emotion, Adventure, Unusual ideas, Imagination, Curiosity and Variety of experience Conscientiousness A tendency to show self-discipline, act dutifully, and aim for achievement; planned rather than spontaneous behavior. Extraversion Energy, Positive emotions, Surgency, and the tendency to seek stimulation and the company of others. Agreeableness A tendency to be compassionate and cooperative rather than suspicious and antagonistic towards others. Neuroticism A tendency to experience unpleasant emotions easily, such as anger, anxiety, depression, or vulnerability; sometimes called emotional instability. (Source adapted from J. S. Wiggins (Ed.). The five-factor mode of personality: Theoretical perspectives. New York: Guilford). Openness Openness is a general appreciation for art, emotion, adventure, unusual ideas, imagination, curiosity, and variety of experience. The trait distinguishes imaginative people from down-to-earth, conventional people. People who are open to experience are intellectually curious, appreciative of art, and sensitive to beauty. They tend to be, compared to closed people, more creative and more aware of their feelings. They are more likely to hold unconventional beliefs (Buss D. M., 1996). People with low scores on openness tend to have more conventional, traditional interests. They prefer the plain, straightforward, and obvious over the complex, ambiguous, and subtle. They may regard the arts and sciences with suspicion, regarding these endeavours as abstruse or of no practical use. Closed people prefer familiarity over novelty. They are conservative and resistant to change (Buss D. M., 1996). Conscientiousness Conscientiousness is a tendency to show self-discipline, act dutifully, and aim for achievement. The trait shows a preference for planned rather than spontaneous behaviour. It influences the way in which we control, regulate, and direct our impulses (Buss D. M., 1996). The benefits of high conscientiousness are obvious. Conscientious individuals avoid trouble and achieve high levels of success through purposeful planning and persistence. They are also positively regarded by others as intelligent and reliable. On the negative side, they can be compulsive perfectionists and workaholics (Buss D. M., 1996). Extraversion Extraversion, also called extroversion, is characterized by positive emotions, surgency, and the tendency to seek out stimulation and the company of others. The trait is marked by pronounced engagement with the external world. Extraverts enjoy being with people, and are often perceived as full of energy. They tend to be enthusiastic, action-oriented individuals who are likely to say Yes! or Lets go! to opportunities for excitement. In groups they like to talk, assert themselves, and draw attention to themselves (Buss D. M., 1996). Introverts lack the exuberance, energy, and activity levels of extraverts. They tend to be quiet, low-key, deliberate, and less involved in the social world. Their lack of social involvement should not be interpreted as shyness or depression. Introverts simply need less stimulation than extraverts and more time alone (Buss D. M., 1996). Agreeableness Agreeableness is a tendency to be compassionate and cooperative rather than suspicious and antagonistic towards others. The trait reflects individual differences in concern with for social harmony. Agreeable individuals value getting along with others. They are generally considerate, friendly, generous, helpful, and willing to compromise their interests with others. Agreeable people also have an optimistic view of human nature. They believe people are basically honest, decent, and trustworthy (Burger, 2008). Disagreeable individuals place self-interest above getting along with others. They are generally unconcerned with others well-being, and are less likely to extend themselves for other people. Sometimes their skepticism about others motives causes them to be suspicious, unfriendly, and uncooperative (Burger, 2008). Neuroticism Neuroticism is the tendency to experience negative emotions, such as anger, anxiety, or depression. It is sometimes called emotional instability. Those who score high in neuroticism are emotionally reactive and vulnerable to stress. They are more likely to interpret ordinary situations as threatening, and minor frustrations as hopelessly difficult. Their negative emotional reactions tend to persist for unusually long periods of time, which means they are often in a bad mood. These problems in emotional regulation can diminish a neurotics ability to think clearly, make decisions, and cope effectively with stress (Burger, 2008). Individuals who score low in neuroticism are less easily upset and are less emotionally reactive. They tend to be calm, emotionally stable, and free from persistent negative feelings. Freedom from negative feelings does not mean that low scorers experience a lot of positive feelings. Frequency of positive emotions is a component of the Extraversion domain (Burger, 2008). Application The test that I had just taken is based on the Five Factor Model of personality. There is a broad consensus amongst personality theorists that this model, which describes five major domains or traits, is the best current description of the structure of personality. The five major dimensions, and my scores on them, are described below. Factor I: Extraversion (AKA Surgency) This trait reflects preference for, and behavior in, social situations. People high in extraversion are energetic and seek out the company of others. Low scorers (introverts) tend to be more quiet and reserved. Compared to other people who have taken this test, my score on this dimension (25) is about average. Factor II: Agreeableness (AKA Friendliness) This trait reflects how we tend to interact with others. People high in agreeableness tend to be trusting, friendly and cooperative. Low scorers tend to be more aggressive and less cooperative. Compared to other people who have taken this test, my score on this dimension (25) is about average. Factor III: Conscientiousness (AKA Will or Dependability) This trait reflects how organized and persistent we are in pursuing our goals. High scorers are methodical, well organized and dutiful. Low scorers are less careful, less focused and more likely to be distracted from tasks. Compared to other people who have taken this test, my score on this dimension (29) is relatively low. Factor IV: Neuroticism (AKA Emotional Stability) This trait reflects the tendency to experience negative thoughts and feelings. High scorers are prone to insecurity and emotional distress. Low scorers tend to be more relaxed, less emotional and less prone to distress. Compared to other people who have taken this test, my score on this dimension (25) is about average. Factor V: Openness (AKA Culture or Intellect) This trait reflects open-mindedness and interest in culture. High scorers tend to be imaginative, creative, and to seek out cultural and educational experiences. Low scorers are more down-to-earth, less interested in art and more practical in nature. Compared to other people who have taken this test, my score on this dimension (21) is relatively low. (Sources adapted from Paul D. Tieger Barbara Barron (2000-2003) retrieved on 21 December 2009, from www.personalitytype.com). Conclusion In conclusion, personality types group people into categories on the basic of shared traits and traits are lasting personal qualities that are inferred from behaviour. People who have traits of the hardy personality seem to be resistant to stress, even if they also have Type A traits. People with Type A personalities are competitive, striving, hostile, impatient, and prone to having heart attacks. Personality variables, such as Locus of Control, Machiavellianism, are associated with behavior and performance. Although difficult to measure, these variables appear to be important personality facets in explaining and predicting individual behavior. Reference Funder D C. (2001). Personality. Annual Review Psychology Coon, D. (2006). Psychology: A Modular Approach to Mind and Behavior, (10th eth). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth. James L. Gibson (1994). Organisational Behavior, Structure, Process. USA, Von Hoffmann Press Inc. Niaura, R. (1994). Hostility, The Metabolic Syndrome, and Incident Coronary Heart Disease. Health Psychology. Meyer Friedman and Ray H. Rosenman (1983). Type A Behavior and Your Heart, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Soldz, S., Vaillant, G. E. (1999). The Big Five personality traits and the life course: A 45-year longitudinal study. Journal of Research in Personality. McCrae, R. R., Costa, P. T., Jr. (1996). Toward a new generation of personality theories: Theoretical contexts for the five-factor model. In J. S. Wiggins (Ed.). The five-factor model of personality: Theoretical perspectives. New York: Guilford. McCrae, R. R., Costa, P. T., Jr. (1997). Personality trait structure as a human universal. American Psychologist. Buss, D. M. (1996). Social adaptation and five major factors of personality. In J. S. Wiggins (Ed.). The five-factor model of personality: Theoretical perspectives. New York: Guilford. James L Gibson, John M. Ivancevich, Jams H. Donnelly, JR and Robert Konopaske, (2003) Organisational Behavior, Structure, Process, The McGraw-Hill Companies. Inc New York. Goldberg, L. R. (1993). The structure of phenotypic personality traits. American psychologist. Hall, W. B. MacKinnon, D.W (1969) Personality correlates of creativity among architects. Journal of Applied Psychology. Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F. (2000). Perspectives on personality (4th eth.) Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Paul D. Tieger Barbara Barron (2000-2003), Personality Type.com. LLC. Stephen P. Robbins and David A. DeCenzo (2005). Fundamentals of Management. Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458. Ryckman, R. (2004). Theories of Personality. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth. Jerry M. Burger (2008). Personality (Seventh Edition). Website Reference: www.personalitytype.com www.wikipedia.com

Entrepreneurship for Social Change Essay -- Social Issues, Business, O

Entrepreneurship for social change: Is the U.S. doing enough to encourage and support sustainable social innovation? Introduction: Throughout U.S. history the nonprofit and government sectors have addressed needs that are not being met by the marketplace through the provision of a variety of social goods and services ranging from health and human services to environmental conservation. In response to increased demand for these services, the number of nonprofits has grown by 59% over the past 20 years (Powell and Steinberg, 2006; NCCS, 2010). There are now over 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the U.S. which account for 5 percent of GDP, 8.1 percent of the economy’s wages, and 9.7 percent of jobs (Wing, 2008). Over the same time period, government social programs also rapidly expanded in number and per capita cost (OCED, 2010) . While the social sector contributes significantly to societal well-being, traditional approaches have proven unable to fully address critical social problems or deal effectively with increased need. In the past, good intentions were enough; however, the recent push towards increased organizational transparency and accountability left stakeholders – politicians, government contract administrators, leaders in the social sector, and service recipients – demanding more. This created a paradigm shift, both internal to and external to the sector, in the expectations for social sector providers. Not only do organizations need more entrepreneurial approaches to provide innovative and more efficient ways of tackling difficult social problems, but also a commitment to increased outcomes-based program performance assessment. In light of the current fiscal situation, the sector is also experienci... ...nefits that SEs offer because the sector still lacks sufficient government and public awareness and support. The OSICP and SIF establish a framework for federal involvement in the social innovation process; however, they are merely a launching point for continued discussion. Countries like the UK provide an example of the positive impact that government support for SE can have in building the necessary bridges between business, nonprofits, and the government. As the government gains a better understanding of the capabilities and challenges associated with social innovation, it will be better positioned to establish the institutional structures and environmental conditions for SE to flourish. When supported appropriately, SEs can provide a self-sustaining, inclusive opportunity to strengthen the national economy while simultaneously serving a social need.

Political Effectiveness Essay

7. 1 How far is the elected government able to influence or control those matters that are important to the lives of its people, and how well is it informed, organised and resourced to do so? Rating M The elected government in the Philippines has a long way to go to fully fulfill and succeed in turning the philippines around. Although, it does show promises. With organizations like the league of provinces where it aims to â€Å"ventilate, articulate, and crystallize issues affecting provincial and metropolitan government administrations. It likewise serves to secure, through proper and legal means, solutions to problems confronting the locales†(â€Å"league of provinces†, n. d. ). Some of its programs include expand revenue base which is an activiy that taps funds that may be used as grants to calamity affected provinces. (â€Å"league of provinces†, n. d.). Another government project that is trying to improve the quality of life in the philippines include the Diversified Farm Income and Market Development Project (DFIMDP) with aims to ensure the availability of financial resouces to help the department of agricultue develop market to promote competition for agriculture and fisheries(â€Å"Philippine LGU Assistane Portal† n. d. ). 7. 2 How much public confidence is there in the effectiveness of government and its political leadership? Rating L. The funny thing about the philippines is that even though the public protests a lot the there is really little that they can do(excluding the edsa 1 and 2 incident) but nonetheless the philippine citizens are unhappy about the government elect. Various scandals like the ZTE scandal have tainted philippines politics. Protests are happening left and right protests like the one last april 2008 marking the 61st birthday of PGMA(â€Å"the earth times†, 2008. ). A clear sign that the people have lost faith in her as a leader. 7. 3 How effective and open to scrutiny is the control exercised by elected leaders and their ministers over their administrative staff and other executive agencies? Rating L For several years now the philippines has been experiencing extrajudicial/political killings clear sign that the government and people in power are not open for criticism and objection. The year 2006 was a bad year in the philippines in terms of political killings and disappearances. Researched conducted by the human rights watch confirms that countless victims were killed in 2006 and that the military had a hand in most of the killings(â€Å"the human rights watch†, 2007.). 7. 4 How extensive and effective are the powers of the legislature to initiate, scrutinise and amend legislation? Rating L I rated this low because during the 13th sentor angara criticized that the 13th congress has passed the lowest number of laws in the last 20 years in an article by Ron Pelovello the senate in the last two years has passed only nine bills that were signed into law and only a couple of public works-related bills from the house of representatives it is also said that it has been the worst congress in 20 years(Pelovello, 2006. ). 7. 5 How extensive and effective are the powers of the legislature to scrutinise the executive and hold it to account? Rating VL This was clearly seen when the legislature failed to bring down gma after her alleged cheating in the 2004 elections (Del Pilar and Alpha Company, n. d. ). Also legislature failed again after the ZTE scandal (Einhorn, September 26). We can only hope that after 2010 we will have a better and more powerful legislature. 7. 6 How rigorous are the procedures for approval and supervision of taxation and public expenditure? Rating L 7. 7How comprehensive and effective is legislation giving citizens the right of access to government information? Rating VH Information today is very accessible with the internet and the effectiveness of the press and media nothing stays hidden and this is true with the very public case of the ZTE scandal where PGMA cancelled a controversial $330 million deal (Einhorn, September 26). This was a very open scandal and a very public trial. 8. 0Civilian control of the military and police 8. 1How effective is civilian control over the armed forces, and how free is political life from military involvement? Rating L I think the politics in the Philippines will never be free from military involvement several coup d’etat have struck the Philippines over the years the most recent would be that of trillianes. This would be his second coup attempt the first was in 2003. A clear example that the military is not as controlled as we would want them to be, the civilian control has to be improved. 8. 2 How publicly accountable are the police and security services for their activities? Rating L An article Romero and the AFP stated that the police is viewed by Filipino respondents as the most affected by corruption. Also globally the police are viewed as the most affected with petty bribery (Romero, 2007. ). 8. 3 How far does the composition of the army, police and security services reflect the social composition of society at large? Rating H 8. 4 How free is the country from the operation of paramilitary units, private armies, warlordism and criminal mafias? Rating VL The country has a long way to go before being completely free from private armies and paramilitary units. Events like the Oakwood mutiny that occurred 5 years ago (Remollino, 2006.) remind us that we are still a very unstable country in terms of paramilitary units. As for private armies the manila times published last year an article stating that the PNP admitted that there are 93 private armies nationwide (Manila Times, 2007), an alarming number that has to be brought down in order for our country to reach its full potential and take its place as a developed country. 8. 5 What measures, if any, are being taken to remedy publicly identified problems in this field, and what degree of political priority and public support do they have? Rating VL.

Adolescence

Adult Development: Early passions and long-term development The Journey through infancy, childhood, and adolescence significantly impacts the development that takes place during a person's adulthood. There are many aspects in a person's early life that will carry on to further characterization and identity. Patterns and themes begin to evolve at a young stage in a person's life and they will often carry on to be their dominant characteristics. A dominant characteristic can often be an indication of what someone will be like upon full maturity or adulthood.This explains why it is often beneficial to research a person's personal background before Judging their future. Judging by my dominant characteristics during my childhood combined with the influence the people whom I am close to am I able to make educated guesses to what I will accomplish in the future. When reflecting on my childhood, I am reminded of the lessons I have learned and each on in its appropriate time. Upon my reflecti on, I have found that my passions during my younger days have developed into more matured ideas and dreams now.Theorist Erik Erikson contends, â€Å"each stage of life has its own psychosocial task, a crisis that needs resolution† (Myers, 2010, p. 196). During a person's life, their adolescence is vital in properly maturing. The mind of a youth is constantly questioning where they came from, what is their purpose, and who are they meant to be in the future. Erikson discusses the problems that may have already occurred before someone's years of adolescence: Trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. doubt, initiative vs. guilt, and industry vs. inferiority.If these problems are not addressed before adolescence it ay have a serious toll on that person's long-term future. I strongly believe that a child's environment will greatly influence the way they view both the world and themselves. â€Å"Some adolescence form their identity early, simply by adopting their parents' values and expect ations† (Myers, 2012, pg. 197). Without moral stability in their early years, it will not be able to provide a smooth transition from adolescence to adulthood. What enters the brain as a child has been shown to remain with who they will come to be in their matured character.If it is not stable, it will continue on n their life to more inner conflicts that Erikson presents: Intimacy vs. isolation, generativity vs. stagnation, and integrity vs. despair. It is beneficial for a person to learn the necessary lessons at the appropriate time rather than learning it throughout a different life phase where it may not come as easily. Throughout my childhood I had an ability to notice the injustice in the world yet have a deep desire to change it and pursue truth. I have been a dancer since the age of three.I competed at a very high level and I had achieved top rankings in the world hampionships by the time I was eleven. Over the years of my dancing career, the idea of constantly being J udged would scare me. As a young girl, I would cave under any pressure outside of the dance studio due to the slight chance that I would not be good enough. This has always led to me to wonder how others must feel. Do those who are less fortunate feel this way? From an early age I developed a heart for those who teel worthless. I was blessed to nave the confirmation ot those who loved me that they would support me no matter what I did.The influence that my parents had n me taught me that you must love someone for who they are and not what they do; I learned this lesson very early on and it has been extremely beneficial to my adolescent years. Regarding my future, I believe God has called me to be a youth justice lawyer. I want to be a voice to a young broken heart that feels as though they are only being Judged on their actions. I firmly believe that passion for troubled youth comes directly from my childhood heart to seek Justice, truth, and acceptance. Childhood neglect is a very large problem in todays households.