Thursday, November 28, 2019

Herbert Essays - Herbert Spencer, H. G. Wells, International PEN

Herbert George Wells Herbert George Wells was born in Bromley, Kent, a suburb of London, to a lower-middle-class family. He attended London University and the Royal College of Science where he studied zoology. One of his professors instilled in him a belief in social as well as biological evolution which Wells later cited as the important and influential aspect of his education. This is how it all began. Maybe without this professor Wells wouldn't be the famous author he is today. Most of Wells novels are science fiction and have a great deal of some kind of human society theme, or Darwinism in mind. It is a theme that is seen in his most famous science fiction writings. H.G. Wells seems to convey a sense of Darwinism and change in the future of society in his major works. Wells has been called the father and Shakespeare of science fiction. He is best known today for his great work in science fiction novels and short stories. He depicted stories of chemical warfare, world wars, alien visitors and even atomic weapons in a time that most authors, or even people for that matter, were not thinking of the like. His stories opened a door for future science fiction writers who followed the trend that Wells wrote about. His most popular science fiction works include The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, The War of the Worlds, and The Island of Doctor Moreau. His first novel, The Time Machine, was an immediate success. By the time the First World War had begun his style of writing and novels had made him one of the most controversial and best-selling authors in his time. In the story The Time Machine, Wells expresses his creativity with images of beauty, ugliness and great details. In this novel Wells explores what it would be like to travel in this magnificent and beautiful machine. "The criterion of the prophecy in this case is influenced by the theory of "natural selection." (Beresford, 424) He uses Darwin's theory in the novel and relates it to the men living in the novel. The men are no longer struggling to survive, they have all adapted and there is no termination of the weak. It had practically ceased. His fascination with society in biological terms is also mentioned, "Shows Wells horizon of sociobiological regression leading to cosmic extinction, simplified from Darwinism." (Beresford, 424) He took the idea from Darwin but instead of making it "survival of the fittest", the weak have already died off and only the fittest are left, which leads to the extinction. His fascination with Darwinism was one that had not been thought by many in that time, because there were questions of ethics and religion. "From The Time Machine on, it was generally recognized that no writer had so completely or so perceptively taken Darwin to heart." (McConnell, 442) He wasn't the first man to realize and acknowledge the importance of Darwin's theory for the future of civilization, but he is said to be the first to assimilate that theory into his stories. Concerning society with the future, The Time Machine is said to be seen as "a prophecy of the effects of rampant industrialization on that class conflict that was already, in the nineteenth, century a social powder keg." (McConnell, 438) Wells always touched upon the subject of society, the destruction of it, and how it would become in the future due to this destruction and chaos. His view on society was that the classes would clash and ultimately"they might become two races, mutually uncomprehending and murderously divided," (Suvin, 435) His predictions of future societies were all much alike, war-torn class problems, much like what is seen now a days. The narrator of The Time Machine says of the Time Traveler that he "saw in the growing pile of civilization only a foolish heaping that must inevitably fall back upon and destroy its makers in the end." (McConnell, 439) This is another reference to society's survival of the fittest, as he depicts civilization tearing at each other, and in the end, doing away with their creator. Not all of his predictions and social clashes were horrid and horrendous with violence. In some of his foretelling of what society would do, he recommended things that could be done to avoid such things and maybe in the end reach some kind of peace or togetherness. "That the human race, thanks to its inherited prejudices and superstitions and its innate pigheadedness, is an endangered species; and that mankind must learn-soon-to establish a

Monday, November 25, 2019

Battle of Patay in the Hundred Years War

Battle of Patay in the Hundred Years' War Battle of Patay - Conflict Date: The Battle of Patay was fought June 18, 1429, and was part of the Hundred Years War (1337–1453). Armies Commanders: English Sir John FastolfJohn Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury5,000 men French La HireJean Poton de XaintraillesJoan of Arc1,500 men Battle of Patay - Background: Following the English defeat at Orleans and other reverses along the Loire Valley in 1429, Sir John Fastolf advanced into the area with a relief force from Paris. Joining with John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, the column moved to relieve the English garrison at Beaugency. On June 17, Fastolf and Shrewsbury encountered a French force northeast of the town. Realizing that its garrison had fallen, the two commanders elected to fall back to Meung-sur-Loire as the French were not willing to give battle. Arriving there, they attempted to retake the bridge guardhouse which had fallen to French forces a few days earlier. Battle of Patay - the English Retreat: Unsuccessful, they soon learned that the French were moving from Beaugency to besiege Meung-sur-Loire. Outnumbered and outgunned by Joan of Arcs approaching army, Fastolf and Shrewsbury decided to abandon the town and retreat north towards Janville. Marching out, they moved up the Old Roman Road before pausing near Patay to rest. Leading the rear guard, Shrewsbury placed his archers and other troops in a covered position near an intersection. Learning of the English retreat, the French commanders debated what action to pursue. The discussion was ended by Joan who advocated for a swift pursuit. Sending forward a mounted force under the leadership of La Hire and Jean Poton de Xaintrailles, Joan followed with the main army. Ranging ahead, French patrols initially failed to locate Fastolfs column. While the vanguard paused at St. Sigmund, approximately 3.75 miles from Patay, the French scouts finally had success. Unaware of their proximity to Shrewsburys position, they flushed a stag from along the road. Racing north it bounded through the English position. Battle of Patay - the French Attack: Spotting the deer, the English archers sent up a hunting cry which gave away their location. Learning of this, La Hire and Xaintrailles raced ahead with 1,500 men. Rushing to prepare for battle, the English archers, armed with the deadly longbow, began their standard tactic of placing pointed stakes in front of their position for protection. As Shrewsburys line formed near the intersection, Fastolf deployed his infantry along a ridge to the rear. Though they moved quickly, the English archers were not fully prepared when the French appeared around 2:00 PM. Riding over a ridge south of the English lines, La Hire and Xaintrailles did not pause, but instead immediately deployed and charged forward. Slamming into Shrewsburys position, they quickly outflanked and overran the English. Watching in horror from the ridge, Fastolf attempted to recall the vanguard of his column but to no avail. Lacking sufficient forces to deal with the French, he began retreating up the road as La Hire and Xaintrailles horsemen cut down or captured the remnants of Shrewsburys men. Battle of Patay - Aftermath: The final battle of Joan of Arcs decisive Loire Campaign, Patay cost the English around 2,500 casualties while the French sustained approximately 100. Having defeated the English at Patay and concluded a highly successful campaign, the French began to turn the tide of the Hundred Years War. The defeat inflicted significant losses upon the English longbow corps as well as was one of the first times a massed French cavalry charge had overcome the skilled archers. Selected Sources Battle of PataySiege of Orleans and Loire Valley Campaign

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Central Engineering and Research Department Essay

Central Engineering and Research Department - Essay Example Crosby believes that the only performance measurement is the cost of quality. Here, Crosby believes that the cost of quality is always a measurable item, for example rework, warranty costs, rejects, and that this is the only basis on which to measure performance. As a practical measurement of quality this might generally be considered to be useful although it cannot be seen as the only measure of business performance, rather the only measure of quality. Juran's work also focuses very clearly on measurement and specific objectives. Again, the validity of this approach must be questioned. Many aspects of quality are difficult to accurately and reliably quantify. In contrary, Deming believes in a management approach with a long-term orientation. Deming gives explicit recognition to the need to satisfy shareholder expectations, but points out that these expectations often go beyond immediate return on capital to consider the future. Deming criticizes failure to recognize and evaluate the intangible aspects of the organization, for example, the additional sales generated through satisfied customers, the benefits to productivity and quality derived from people feeling part of a success story. Deming (1986: 123) considers that managers who believe that everything can be measured are deluding themselves and suggests that they should know before they start that they will be able to quantify only 'a trivial part of the gain'. This should be seen as a belief in intangible, invisible benefits arising from good management practice. It does however conflict with his espousal of statistical methods since the reliable measurement of intangibles is notoriously difficult (Beckford, 1998). The new distribution facility should be evaluated using Deming's approach to quality management. The short-term costs may be greater than the benefits, but in the long-term, it may lead to increased customer satisfaction and sales. The same thing applies to recommendations regarding customer se rvice not being implemented due to budgetary constraints. The method to achieving quality proposed by Crosby entails forming quality improvement teams. Crosby specifically requires multi-disciplinary teams. Juran's approach has the same weakness. Management and organizational cybernetics and human relations theory has been largely ignored (Beckford, 1998). However, each department in Canbide is responsible for developing and implementing the quality program through the corporate wide Excellence through Quality (EQ) program. Drawing on the work of the statistician Walter Schewhart-his tutor-Deming urged a management focus on causes of variability in manufacturing processes. Deming believed in the use of Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts as the key method for identifying special and common causes and assisting diagnosis of quality problems. His aim was to remove 'outliers', that is, quality problems relating to the special causes of failure. This was achieved through training, improved machinery and equipment and so on. SPC enabled the production process to be brought 'under control'. Remaining quality problems were considered to be related to common causes, that is, they were inherent in the design of the production pr

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

River Woods Plant Manager Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

River Woods Plant Manager - Case Study Example In order for the project to be successful, the manager will be needed to come up with strategies to manage the project together with the subordinates and the expected challenges. This will be especially helpful because he will be new, with a new project and current subordinates who have been using functional lines of reporting. In this case there is an introduction of a new plant in a location away from the headquarters. Current personnel will be shifted to work at the location of the new plant and any extra staff will be taken to other branches. The new plant is viewed to be viable in the future and it will have new methods of production, manpower requirement as well as lower cost of production because it will be automated. The new plant is being used to implement a decentralized system of management signaling a move away from the centralized system where there was function line reporting. In the centralized method, marketing was under the vice president, manufacturing and other functions under senior vice president and no plant had a general manager. In the new system the general manager will take charge of personnel and all function save for sales and marketing (Whetten & Cameron, 2007). There are concerns over a shift from line reporting to plant level focus as well as upgrading the current staff to use the new plant. Use of the new plant, setting of procedures, appliance design and production plan are expected to pose a challenge. There are complaints from the current employees over moving to a smaller town who are also dissatisfied with their new roles. These are the same people who will be expected to foster unity of the plant and assist in success of the new plant and the entire company. Issues are expected between managers with regard to power sharing and teaching them on how to exercise their power with the new changes. In an organizational context, personal power of the manager

Monday, November 18, 2019

Multitasking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Multitasking - Essay Example This facility helped in improving efficiency1. With respect to computing, the term Multitasking refers to a process which facilitates undertaking of several tasks or processes at the same time, by enabling sharing of certain common processing resources such as the CPU for instance. Multitasking refers to the running of multiple independent computer programs on the same computer; giving the appearance that it is performing the tasks at the same time. The kernel of the operating system is responsible for that activity. In computing terms, kernel acts as a vital constituent of a majority of computer operating systems. Its key responsibilities include administering the operating systems resources, for instance, setting up and ensuring adequate interaction between the hardware as well as software components. One of the fundamental functions of the kernel includes administering the computer’s resources and permitting other programs to run and use these resources. Characteristically, the resources comprises of: the CPU (central processing unit), the memory of the system, as well as the I/O (Input / Output) devices. The multitasking characteristic entails the necessity to sustain simultaneous implementation of processes and to offer services for inter process communication and synchronization. Other less noticeable yet equally significant functions of the kernel comprises of management of interrupts and basic process scheduling. Furthermore, apart from the above listed functions, the kernel typically manages some ancillary actions essential for offering the services which are observable by the other Operating System layers. Examples of such internal kernel operations include system time-base management and processor allocation by means of basic process scheduling. Multitasking can be classified into two major forms: Cooperative multitasking and Preemptive Multitasking. In

Saturday, November 16, 2019

CSR IN KENYA: FACTORS THAT DRIVE and AFFECT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

CSR IN KENYA: FACTORS THAT DRIVE and AFFECT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY This paper seeks to address the concept of CSR within the Kenyan context and in particular the factors that affect its effective practice and the benefits to the local stakeholder community. The growth and implementation of CSR-related activities throughout the years in developing countries and in particular Kenya will also be dealt with. The research questions posed will be tackled using the mixed methods cross-sectional design as focus will be on all the sectors of the economy so as to have a better understanding of the different contributions by these businesses and organisations. Through this research, I hope to identify the precise ways in which CSR is practised in Kenya while establishing the various businesses that are committed to this cause. This paper will also highlight the major characteristics of the practice of CSR in Kenya and thus, give businesses insight into which areas need improvement and how they can do so while still turning a profit. 4. INTRODUCTION a) Area Topic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an ever evolving concept that comprises of any strategic tool that creates new opportunities for businesses while mitigating and managing the risks to the businesses. The focus of this study is on the area of CSR and in particular its practice in Kenya. The topic of choice is whether there have been any factors that have driven and affected the local businesses contributions to the stakeholder community. b) Statement of purpose The purpose of the study is to examine what key CSR drivers are present in Kenya whether there have been any factors that have prevented the business organisations in Kenya from substantially contributing to the local community through the practice of CSR. Additionally, the study will also look into spheres of possible improvement by the government and the business community. 5. LITERATURE REVIEW CSR means many things to different people institutions and as Frankenthal (2001) clearly states, CSR is a vague and intangible term which can mean anything to anybody, and therefore is effectively without meaning. These CSR interpretations have evolved over the last 30 years from being relatively focused on compliance with environmental regulations a search for eco-efficiency to a broader concept that combines and balances economic, social and environmental commitments as part of the drive towards sustainable development. Therefore, different companies have adopted slightly different interpretations as to what CSR means to them but the underlying message is always the same. Welford (2004 and 2005) has noted that CSR has been adopted in different ways in the different parts of the world. CSR concerns how organisations interact with their stakeholders, and is linked to improving sustainable development, health and wellbeing for people, as well as enhancing organisational profits (Price, 2009). This is because over the years, business organisations have come under immense pressure from their stakeholders to act in a responsible manner. Scandals such as Enron and Parmalat (Ruggie 2003: OHiggins 2005), Nikes employment practices and the very recent BP/Shell oil spill have provoked increased scrutiny into business policies and practices. Mullerat and Brennan (2005) deduced from a study carried out by the Italian Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Craft and Agriculture in cooperation with Instituto per i Valore dImpresa that the adoption of CSR-related activities by companies depends on 2 factors: The size of the business enterprise/ organisation there is a difference on CSR performance between the smaller companies and the large ones due to financial personnel differences; and The particular sector of the economy in which the business operates for example, businesses within the agro-industrial, building construction, manufacturing ICT sectors are more concerned with environmental issues arising from their production processes and product lifespan. Globally, companies that have engaged in CSR have come to the realization that their environmental and social impacts need to be managed in line with their economic or commercial performance (Little, 2003). In Africa, CSR is still in its infancy stage due to socioeconomic realities such as poverty, HIV/AIDS and ineffective public administration service delivery which have had a significant impact on the drivers, role and function of CSR for companies operating in Africa (Klins, Niekerk Smit, 2010). Thus, CSR activities and projects aspire to resolve challenges faced by communities, which governments cannot fully address. Therefore, issues such as the environment, workplace, product quality and health safety get much lower priority. CSR in Africa is most often associated with multinationals or large foreign investors e.g. Coca Cola. Visser, Matten, Pohl Tolhurst (2010) have identified some of the drivers for CSR in developing countries as: Cultural tradition where CSR draws deeply from indigenous beliefs of philanthropy, business ethics and community togetherness; Reforms in politics; Socio-economic priorities e.g. alleviation of poverty, eradication of HIV/AIDS; Governance gaps; Response to crisis such as accidents, catastrophes; Market access; International standardisation through the adoption of global CSR codes; Investment incentives; Stakeholder activism; and Business supply chains. CSR is therefore seldom related to the companies core business but rather tends to be positive payback philanthropy, with public relations benefits (Klins et al, 2010). Some priority issues covered by CSR activities in Africa are poverty reduction, health HIV/AIDS, skills development education, youth development and socioeconomic development. In Kenya, the cultural context is an important factor in defining CSR and this communal culture is captured in the indigenous concept of Harambee which embodies and reflects the strong ancient value of mutual assistance, joint effort, social responsibility and community self-reliance (Winston and Ryan, 2008). This concept simply means that collective good outweighs individual gain. According to Gathii (2008), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has been involved in drafting guidelines on CSR. These guidelines, in addition to those voluntarily adopted by companies and the current ISO standards, form a backdrop against which to measure CSR in Kenya. In Kenya, CSR is often seen as an add-on, peripheral to the core business (Imani Development, 2009). CSR departments are rare and many operate from within marketing, communications, corporate affairs, training or human resources departments (Klins et al, 2010). Furthermore, where CSR policies are established, more often than not, they refer to philanthropic approaches. CSR policy adherence is not typically evaluated in Kenya and corporate leadership involvement tends to be focused on launching community projects, supporting CSR policies and ensuring resources for these projects, rather than embedding CSR in business processes. Regulations that have an impact on CSR are often based on the ratification and subsequent domestication of international conventions which mainly focus on workplace issues and the physical environment. Examples of specific national CSR-related legislation in Kenya are: Vision 2030; Kenya National Environment Action Plan; and Draft guidelines (recently developed) by Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) Ponnu and Okoth (2009) in a study done on CSR disclosure in Kenya found that Kenyan companies are relatively small if compared in the international standards. These companies participation in social activities may not be pegged on their financial capability rather, their willingness and desire for strategic positioning within the society for future economic advantages. Some organisations business committed to practising CSR in Kenya are: The Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) which fights against HIV/AIDS is a signatory of the Global Compact and is also involved in Kenyas Vision 2030; The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has established the Centre for Energy Efficiency Conservation (CEEC) and has been the focal point of the Global Compact Local Network in Kenya since September 2009; The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) is promoting the UN Global Compact and is active in the field of anti-corruption; East African Breweries Ltd (EABL) founded the EABL Foundation in 2005 which deals with the supply of water, environment, health, education training and other special projects, aimed at improving the lives of the people in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania; Safaricom Ltd a leading mobile service provider that has greatly contributed to the Kenya community since 2007 through its sponsorship of various projects under the spheres of community, environment, health, sports and education; Intex Construction Ltd. a Kenyan company that deals in construction, civil engineering and real estate development and is committed to CSR, environmental impact management and Corporate Social Investment (CSI); Unilever Tea Kenya Ltd. as part of its CSR agenda is involved in health care, employee welfare (housing), community participation (educational scholarships, training of farmers) and environmental care (is a corporate member of WWF and encourages sustainable agriculture); and Equity Bank the Equity Group Foundation focuses on eradication of poverty, hunger and the provision of humanitarian aid, education, gender equality and women empowerment, health, environment sustainability and voluntary service to society by the banks leadership. Kivuitu, Yambayamba Fox (2005), argue that the CSR agenda needs to be locally owned if its to make a significant contribution to the local development priorities and it must be relevant to local enterprises, whether large or small. Many scholars agree that in order for CSR and its policies to produce substantial gains within the Kenyan local community, it needs to be tailored to suit the business practices of the organisations that operate in Kenya. 6. RESEARCH QUESTIONS i) General Questions Has the practice of CSR in Kenya been successful overall? What are issues that have benefited from the practice of CSR? How much more can be done by the relevant authorities and businesses? ii) Specific Questions What are main drivers of CSR in Kenya? How many companies in Kenya practice CSR? How many of these companies are listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE)? Does the Kenyan Government participate in CSR-related activities? Are there any state policies or laws that regulate or steer CSR in Kenya? What are the various ways in which CSR is practised in Kenya? What are the critical success factors that have led to implementation of successful CSR projects in Kenya? How have local issues benefited from CSR-related activities? Are the gains substantial and/or should more be done? 7. RESEARCH METHODS i) Design (Strategy Framework) The research questions will be answered using the mixed methods cross-sectional design with a pragmatic worldview which consists of collection of both quantitative and qualitative data sequentially. This approach is based on the assumption that the collection of diverse types of data best provides a deeper understanding of the research problem posed. The study will commence with a broad survey in order to generalize the results from a sample of the businesses to the population. Then qualitative open-ended interviews will be used to collect detailed views from the participants. The strengths of both quantitative and qualitative research will provide the best understanding of this particular study. ii) Sample Sampling is an important part of the research study and this is because its cheaper, faster, practical, and more confidential in nature and lastly it has more in-depth analysis of the research problem. The research will be located in Kenya as this is the topic of the area under study. The population from which the samples will be selected will be the companies operating in Kenya (both national and foreign internationals). This is because these companies CSR practices are the major focus point of the research study. Sampling will be done through the sequential mixed methods sampling procedure, whereby the results from the QUAN strand will influence the methodology subsequently employed in the QUAL strand. The first sample will be generated through stratified random sampling where businesses will be surveyed and from these results then simple random sampling will be applied so as to investigate the issues that have benefited from CSR-related activities in Kenya. The first sample will consist of 30 companies randomly selected from: The Nairobi Stock Exchange; Foreign internationals companies operating in Kenya; and Medium-sized companies not listed on the NSE. The second sample will comprise of 20 issues that have benefited from CSR-related activities and the size of this sample will be inclusive of institutions, individuals or group of individuals, the environment and other local causes. iii) Data Collection This will be done in 2 stages as the quantitative data collection will build on the qualitative one. Quantitative data on the factors that drive and affect CSR performance by businesses will be through a cross-sectional survey using: Close-ended Online Questionnaires Advantages are: There is greater flexibility when displaying the questions in mind e.g. through check boxes, pull down menus; It allows a quicker response from the participants; Its cheaper to administer due to the absence of costs of purchasing paper, printing and postage; There is no prior arrangement to be done; They avoid any embarrassment to the respondents; There is no bias from the researcher; Reduction in the time needed for analysis as the data is collected in a central database; and Its easier to correct any errors made on the questionnaire thus no need for reprinting. Disadvantages are: There is a limited response rate because some people may not have access to the internet; They assume that the respondents are literate; There are people who are not receptive to completing questionnaires online; and There is a bias as the demographic that generally responds to online questionnaire invitations are usually younger people. Structured Telephone Interviews Advantages include: Relatively cheaper and speedier than personal interviews; There is a high response rate which is also spontaneous ; Interviews can be aided where necessary; The researcher can tape the interviews; Has accessibility to a wide geographical area; and Has more anonymity than personal interviews. Disadvantages include: The participants can terminate the interview at any time they want; Questionnaire will be required so as to guide the researcher on what to ask; There is the inevitability of repeat calls; Respondents have very little time to think; The researcher must have phone etiquette; The questions presented must be straightforward; Non-verbal cues cannot be read (visual aids cannot be used); The interviews have to be short so as to avoid irritation; and There is the danger of contacting obsolete telephone numbers while omitting unlisted ones. While qualitative data on the contributions to the local issues will be collected through: Document Review The advantages include: The information contained the documents can be verified independently; The review process can be done independently without relying on other sources extensively; and Its cheaper than other data collection methods. The disadvantages include: The information uncovered may not be in line with the requirements of the research study; The documents may be difficult to locate obtain; The information may not be available for public viewing; The documents may be located in a distant archive thus requiring the researcher to travel; It can be a time-sensitive process; and The researcher does not have control over the quality of data unearthed and thus relies on the information provided in the documents so as to assess the reliability of the sources. Open-ended/in-depth interviews Advantages are: They provide more detailed information than the other methods; and Information is collected in a more relaxed atmosphere thus interviewees are more open. Disadvantages of this method are: The respondents may be biased in order to prove a point; These interviews are time-sensitive due to transcription and analysis of this data; and They produce results that are not easily generalized due to the small samples chosen. Audiovisual materials Some advantages of this type of data collection are: Its easier for people to relate to images; They provide a gateway for participants to share their perceptions; and They provide extensive data on real-life situations. Disadvantages include: Due to the amount of extensive data collected, they are difficult to analyse; and Data collected could be easily influenced by the researched thus theres bias. iv) Data Analysis Research Question Data Source Analysis Plan What are the main drivers of CSR in Kenya? Books, dissertations, periodicals, journals research reports Content/ document analysis of the identified paper-based sources. How many companies in Kenya practice CSR? Company websites, annual reports, periodicals journals Web content analysis of the relevant company websites. Document analysis of the relevant company-related documents. How many of these companies are listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange? Nairobi Stock Exchange website Web content analysis of the NSE website. Does the Kenyan government participate in CSR-related activities? Government reports publications Content/ document analysis the accessible and relevant government sources. Are there any state policies or laws that regulate or steer CSR in Kenya? Government statutes Document analysis of government statutes dealing with CSR in Kenya. What are the various ways in CSR is practised in Kenya? Questionnaires, books, journals, research reports conference reports. Use of constant comparison (grounded theory) to analyse questions. Document analysis of the obtained documents. Use of SPSS to collate responses to the questionnaires issued. What are the critical success factors that have led to implementation of successful CSR projects in Kenya? Periodicals, dissertations, journals, books, research papers Document analysis of the books, journals, periodicals, dissertations and research papers unearthed during the research. How have local issues benefited from CSR-related activities? Interviews, company websites, questionnaires, journals, periodicals Document analysis of journals, periodicals. SPSS analysis of the interviews questionnaires issued. Web content analysis of the various companies identified. Are the gains substantial and/or should more be done? Interviews, questionnaires, research papers conference reports. Document analysis SPSS analysis Therefore, due to the mixed methods research design formulated, the research will undergo the following 5 stages in order to fully answer the research questions posed: Data Reduction It will involve the use of memoing, descriptive statistics and cluster analysis. Data Display This will be done through charts, graphs and tables. Data Consolidation Both sets of data will be combined to create new ones. Data Comparison Comparison of data from the quantitative the qualitative data sources will then be done. Data Integration Lastly, integration of both types of data into one whole will reveal the final picture. v) Assumptions The following will be made in relation to this study: That respondents will answer the questionnaires truthfully; That the samples represent the population; and The instruments used have validity and are measuring the desired constructs. 8. SIGNIFICANCE This research study is important as it will examine deeper an area that has not been fully explored by previous scholars while paying homage to them. This is due to the fact that CSR is an ever-growing phenomenon that Kenya as a developing country needs to improve on so as to catch up to its developed counterparts. This study is important to the businesses operating in Kenya as it will enable them to gauge themselves and identify areas of improvement at the same time. 9. LIMITATIONS DELIMITATIONS Limitations The study will be limited by time constraints because of the length of time provided for completing the research. It will also be limited by the number of businesses, institutions willing to participate in the study. Delimitations This study will be delimited to companies, institutions operating in Kenya that have participated in CSR-related activities in the last 10 years. 10. ETHICAL ISSUES The following ethical issues will be taken into consideration during this study: Informed consent and the participants understanding of their rights. These consents will be both written and oral in nature; Confidentiality of any information collected from the participants; and Anonymity of the interviewees before, during and after the interviews. 11. REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY ALKathiri, N.S. (2010) Collecting Qualitative Data [Online] http://www.slideshare.net/highness85/collecting-qualitative-data [Accessed on 22nd November 2010] Amaratunga, D.; Baldry, D.; Sarshar, M.; and Newton, R. (2002) Quantitative and Qualitative research in the built environment, Work Study, Vol. 51(1), pp.17-31 Baker, M. (2010) The Business in Society, Corporate Social Responsibility What Does It Mean? [Online] http://www.businessrespect.net/definition.php [Accessed on 21st November 2010] Boyce, C.; and Neale, P. (2006) Conducting In-depth Interviews: A Guide for Designing and Conducting In-depth Interviews for Evaluation Input in Monitoring and Evaluation 2, Watertown, MA: Pathfinder International, pp. 1-12 Business in the Community (2010) The CR Academy [Online] http://www.bitc.org.uk/cr_academy/index.html [Accessed on 22nd November] Chanimal (2004) Quantitative Research Considerations [Online] http://www.chanimal.com/html/quantitative_research.html [Accessed on 19th November 2010] Clarke, R.J. (2005) Research Models and Methodologies, HDR Seminar Series, Faculty of Commerce (Spring Session) Crane, A. (2008) Corporate Social Responsibility in developing countries in The Oxford handbook of Corporate Social Responsibility, Oxford University Press, pp.480-484 Creswell, J. (2009) The Selection of a Research Design in Research Design: qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches (ed.), Newbury Park, Cal.: Sage Publications, pp. 3-21 Creswell, J. (2009) Research Questions and Hypotheses in Research Design: qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches (ed.), Newbury Park, Cal.: Sage Publications, pp. 129-143 Creswell, J. (2009) Collecting Data in Mixed Methods Research in Research Design: qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches (ed.), Newbury Park, Cal.: Sage Publications, pp. 110-127 Dobers, P.; and Halme, M. (2009) Editorial Corporate Social Responsibility and developing countries, Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, Vol. 16, Wiley InterScience, pp. 237-249 Driscoll, D.; Yeboah, A.A; Salib, P.; and Rupert, D. (2007) Merging Qualitative and Quantitative Data in Mixed Methods Research: How to and Why not, Journal of Ecological and Environmental Anthropology, Vol. 3 (1), pp. 19-28 East African Breweries Ltd. [Online] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_African_Breweries [Accessed on 20th November 2010] Equity Bank [Online] http://www.equitybank.co.ke/about.php?subcat=9 [Accessed on 20th November 2010] Fairbrass, J.; ORiordan, L. and Mirza, H (2005) Corporate Social Responsibility: Differing Definitions and Practices?'[Online] http://www.crrconference.org/downloads/fairbrass.pdf [accessed 25th November 2010] Family Health International (nd.), Qualitative Research Methods: A Data Collectors Field Guide Federation of Kenya Employers [Online] http://fke-kenya.org/download/hivaidsworkplace.pdf [Accessed on 20th November 2010] Frankenthal, P. (2001) Corporate Social Responsibility- a PR invention? in Corporate Communication, An International Journal, Vol. 6(1) PP.18-23 Gathii, J.T. (2008) Kenya: What does CSR really mean?, Business Daily Nairobi, 6 May 2008; http://allafrica.com/stories/200805061150.html [Accessed 25th November 2010] Imani Development (2009) Corporate Social Responsibility in Sub-Saharan Africa Built In or Bolted On? A Survey on Promoting and Hindering Factors (Eschborn, Germany: Deutsche Gesellschaft fà ¼r Technische Zusammenarbeit [GTZ] GmbH/BMZ/British High Commission SouthAfrica) Intex Construction Ltd. [Online] http://www.intexafrica.com/howwedobusiness.htm [Accessed on 20th November 2010] Kenya Association of Manufacturers [Online] http://www.kam.co.ke/?itemId=17newsId=265 [Accessed on 20th November 2010] Kenya Private Sector Alliance [Online] http://aquaya.org/wp-content/uploads/Kevit_Desai.pdf [Accessed on 20th November 2010] Kivuitu, M.; Yambayamba, K.; and Fox, T. (2005)How can Corporate Responsibility Deliver in Africa? Insights from Kenya and Zambia, Perspectives on Corporate Responsibility for Environment and Development, Issue 3, pp.1-5 Klins, U,; Niekerk, J. and Smit, A. (2010) Africa in The World Guide to CSR: A Country-by- Country Analysis of Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility, Sheffield, Greenleaf Publishing Limited Little, A. (2003) The Business Case for Corporate Responsibility [Online] http://www.bitc.org.uk/resources/publications/cr_business_case.html [Accessed on 20th November 2010] Mullerat, R. And Brennan, D. (2005) Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Policy in Corporate Social Responsibility: the Corporate Governance of the 21st century, Kluwer Law International pp.79-80 Muthuri, J.; and Gilbert, V. (2010) An Institutional Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility in Kenya, Journal of Business Ethics, Springer (August) Neill, J. (2007) Qualitative versus Quantitative Research: Key Points in a Classic Debate [Online] http://wilderdom.com/research/QualitativeVersusQuantitativeResearch.html [Accessed on 19th November 2010] OHiggin, E. (2005) Ireland: Bridging the Atlantic in Habisch, A and Jonker,J. (ed.) Corporate Social Responsibility, Berlin, Germany: Springer Verlag Onwuegbuzie, A.; and Leech, N. (2006) Linking Research Questions to Mixed Methods Data Analysis Procedures, The Qualitative Report, Vol. 11 (3), pp. 474-498 Ponnu, C.H.; and Okoth, M.O.A. (2009) Corporate Social Responsibility disclosure in Kenya: The Nairobi Stock Exchange, African Journal of Business Management, Vol.3 (10), pp.601-608 Price, T. (2009) Corporate Social Responsibility and Stakeholders in Sustainable Risk Management, Faculty of Advanced Technology, University of Glamorgan Ruggie, J. (2003) The New World of Corporate Social Responsibility [Online] http://www.hks.harvard.edu/m-rcbg/CSRI/publications/workingpaper_10_kytle_ruggie.pdf [Accessed on 20th November 2010] Safaricom Ltd. [Online] http://www.safaricom.co.ke/index.php?id=388 [Accessed on 20th November 2010] Teddlie, C.; and Yu, F. (2007) Mixed Methods Sampling: A Typology with Examples, Journal of Mixed Methods Research, Vol. 1(1), Newbury Park, Cal.: Sage Publications, pp.77-100 Ufadhili Trust (2004) Corporate Social Responsibility and Development in Kenya, Ufadhili; Nairobi Unilever Tea Kenya Ltd. [Online] http://www.eastafricancsrawards.com/downloads/shortlisted/SC_Unilever%20Kenya%20HIVAid.pdf [Accessed on 20th November 2010] Visser, W.; Matten, D.; Pohl, M.; and Tolhurst, N. (2010) Corporate Social Responsibility in developing countries in The A to Z of Corporate Social Responsibility Visser, W.; McIntosh, M,; and Middleton, C. (2006) Lessons from the past: Paths to the future in Corporate Citizenship in Africa, Sheffield, Greenleaf Publishing Limited Welford, R. (2004) Corporate Social Responsibility in Europe and Asia: Critical Elements and Best Practice, Journal of Corporate Citizenship, Issue 13 Welford, R. (2005) Corporate Social Responsibility in Europe, North America and Asia, Journal of Corporate Citizenship, Issue 17 Winston, B., and Ryan, B. (2008) Servant Leadership as a Humane Orientation: Using the GLOBE Study Construct of Humane Orientation to Show that Servant Leadership is More Global than Western, International Journal of Leadership Studies 3.2: 212-222. World Bank Institute Education Group (2007) Document Review in Needs Assessment Knowledge Base, World Bank Organisation [Online] http://siteresources.worldbank.org/WBI/Resources/213798-1194538727144/11Final-Document_Review.pdf [Accessed on 21st November 2010] World Bank Institute (2003) CSR Launch in Kenya in CSR Update, Vol.1 (2), pp.1-8 12. APPENDICES C:UsersLynResearch Methodsbusiness in society diag..gif Appendix 1 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY QUESTIONNAIRE QUESTION YES NO N/A COMMENTS Does your organisation have a CSR structure? Have targets been set? Who has overall responsibility for CSR in your organisation? Does your organisation report on CSR? Has your organisation undertaken any type of activity that has aided the community or protected the environment? Has management received training on CSR issues? Has your organisation tried to reduce its environmental impact in terms of: a) Pollution Prevention? b) Waste minimisation recycling? c) Protection of the natural environment? Does your organisation supply clear accurate environmental information on its activities to the local community? Does your organisation have open dialogue with

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Essay --

Hannah Ricks Ricks, 1 Mrs. Miller English 12 11 November 2013 Rosa Parks How important are rights and equality? How many would walk 20 miles a day in rain or snow just to get the point across that bus segregation, among other forms of segregation are unjust or how many would be willing to give up their lives, jobs, protection for their families, homes, friends and others for change that is deserved? Rosa Louise McCauley Parks among many other civil right activists did just that. Rosa went through many struggles and trials in her life for the fight for freedom. She was an amazing example to all people, not just African Americans. Even though she wasn't well educated she still made a huge impact in society. By Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus, she changed society in many ways: she gave hope to those races that wanted change and equal rights for themselves. Rosa got her high school diploma at age twenty thanks to encouragement of her husband Raymond: she dropped out in eleventh grade to take care of her mother and grandma. As children the black students had to walk to their school, which was often inadequate while the whites had school buses that took them to their brand new school. As long as she could remember, there was a black world and a white world, the bus was among the first ways she realized it. Parks recalled a time when the Ku Klux Klan marched down the street in front of their house while her grandfather guarded the front door with a shotgun, she could not ignore the racism of her society. Ricks, 2 Rosa suffered many things in her life but some... ...t to accomplish this goal: "President Barack Obama unveiled a statue honoring Parks in the nation’s Capital building. He remembered Parks, according to The New York Times, by saying "In a single moment, with the simplest of gestures, she helped change America and change the world. . . . And today, she takes her rightful place among those who shaped this nation’s course." Rosa Parks helped shape society into what it is today. Not all racism is gone but she made a huge impact, and tried her best to for equal rights to the oppressed. She gave so much in order for blacks to have a little bit of freedom. It took quite a while to make an impact but it had to start somewhere, and that somewhere was in the heart of Rosa Parks, it was on that bus when she decided she had had enough, it was in all the Negros that joined in a gave their lives for equality and civil rights.