Contemporary ethical challenges and Leadership Essay

Contemporary ethical challenges and Leadership - Essay Example Things which people perceived as wrong in the past are now viewed as tolerable and acceptable. This change in the way people think has brought about numerous challenges which leaders have to face. Moral behaviour was initially judged on the basis of religious teachings. Irrespective of which religion an individual belonged to, the human life was focused on the religious teachings. However with the passage of time, the human focus has shifted from religion. With secular societies and nations being on the rise, religion is not viewed as the fundamental basis of how one should act. Consequently, the error theory and the meta-ethics have developed over time. In the present times, age old principles are not used as the basis of governing a situation. Be it an issue in economy or a problem faced in the business, people consider the present situation and weigh their pros and cons before terming an action as either ethical or unethical. It is believed that times have changed so immensely, th at the age old principles do not apply any longer to the issues faced by the people today (Mackie, 110). In a world, where people often do not abide by the rules of religion, it is very important for national leaders to be ethical. Similarly it is very important for business leaders and the executive managers to be ethical. Businesses are run on the basis of trust and ethics. An increasing number of business schools now teach philosophy and ethics as a part of their curriculum so as to avoid their graduates from following prey to scandals and breach of ethics in the real world (Fulmer, 308). The ethics of leadership have been analyzed time and again using the disciplines of science and humanities. While scientific scholars aim at providing people with descriptions and explanations, the humanities scholars deliver an understanding of the topic (Ciulla, 304). Every leader has to face his personal set of ethical challenges. These challenges may differ from one leader to another. In the case of national leaders, there are situations where their moral luck is to be blamed. Certain leaders are not unethical, but the situations that they have to face might lead them to make certain decisions which may look immoral. The decisions which leaders have to make on a daily basis are very sensitive and risky. At times they do not have complete information or may lack the time to gather the required information. When it comes to national decisions, leaders may often have to opt for a strategy which will cause the least amount of damage, but will cause damage nonetheless. Kant’s argument holds true in these situations. The argument was that since humans cannot guarantee the results of their actions, the judgments should be based on the right principles which a certain individual follows and not on the outcome (Ciulla, 309). The business scenario today is changing almost too rapidly. In such situations leaders have to be constantly on their toes, in order to keep themsel ves updated and be a step ahead of their competitors. Every business leader has numerous stakeholders to think about when making a decision. Every single decision made by the CEO of a company affects either the employees, vendors, consumers and shareholders or in certain cases all of them. Numerous companies today operate globally. They are not owned by a single person or family, but are publically owned companies. Multinationals like Unilever and Johnson & Johnson are

Edwin H. Sutherland Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Edwin H. Sutherland - Research Proposal Example This essay is based upon one of the most celebrated criminologists of the twentieth-century and his theories: Edwin Sutherland. He was born August 13, 1883 in Gibbon, Nebraska and died in 1950. He grew up and studied in Ottawa, Kansas, and Grand Island, Nebraska. In 1904 he received the B.A degree from Grand Island College, and after that, he taught Latin, Greek, history, and shorthand for two years at Sioux Falls College in South Dakota. In 1906 he left Sioux Falls College and entered graduate school at the University of Chicago from which he received his doctorate. (Gaylord, 1988:7-12) There, he changed his major from history to Sociology. Much of his study was influenced by Chicago school's approach to the study of crime that emphasized human behavior as determined by social and physical environmental factors, rather than genetic or personal characteristics. After completing graduate studies he was employed at the University of Minnesota between 1926 and 1929 and solidified his reputation as one of the country's leading criminologists. During this period, his focus was on Sociology as a scientific enterprise whose goal was the understanding and control of social problems, including crime (Gaylord, 1988:13). Later he moved to Indiana University and became the founder of the Bloomington school of Criminology at Indiana University. During that time, he published 3 books, including Twenty Thousand Homeless Men (1936), The Professional Thief (1937), and the third edition of Principles of Criminology (1939). In 1939 he was elected president of the American Sociological Society, and in 1940 was elected president of the Sociological Research Association. According to him, "Criminology is the body of knowledge regarding delinquency and crime as a social phenomena. It includes within its scope the process of making laws, breaking laws, and of reacting toward the breaking of laws. These processes are three aspects of a somewhat unified sequence of interactions. The objective of Criminology is the development of a body of general and verified and principles and of other types of knowledge regarding this process of law, crime, and reaction to crime." (1974: 3) He was the first twentieth century criminologist to forcefully argue that criminal behavior was learned. His theory of differential association, developed in 1934 and 1947, was that persons who become criminal do so because of contacts with criminal patterns and isolations from non-criminal patterns. Differential association theory was Sutherland's major sociological contribution to Criminology; similar in importance to strain theory and social control theory. These theories all explain deviance in terms of the individual's social relationships. Sutherland's theory departs from the pathological perspective and biological perspective by attributing the cause of crime to the social context of individuals. "He rejected biological determinism and the extreme individualism of psychiatry, as well as economic explanations of crime. His search for an alternative understanding of crime led to the development of differential association theory. In contrast to both classical and biological theories, differential asso

Problems encountered in the onion cultivation of the Dambulla area

Problems encountered in the onion cultivation of the Dambulla area Big Onion crop was introduced to Sri Lanka by the British in 1855 and commercial cultivation was introduced by the Department of Agriculture during the 1950s and over the past years, the crop performance was evaluated in many parts of the country and it was observed that big onions can be grown economically during every Maha season in almost all parts of the country. 2. However, at present the cultivation of big onion is confined only to Matale, Anuradhapura, Puthalama, Pollonnaruwa, Mahawelli and Jaffna Districts. More than 50% of the total onion production in Sri Lanka is cultivated from the Matale District.  [1]   3. The Government strives to achieve a self sufficient stage in the production of big onions since Sri Lanka spends a significant amount of cash outflow every year on the importation of the big onions. Meanwhile, in the recent past it has been noticed that the big onion production has been affected in Sri Lanka and therefore customers are also paying a higher price for the big onions. In particular the big onion production in Dambulla area has been declining in the last few years. AIM OF THE RESEARCH 4. The Dambulla area plays an important role in the big onion cultivation in Sri Lanka. The Government has been paying less attention and support on promoting the big onion production in Dambulla. Therefore, it has so happened that the onion production in Dambulla has declined in the recent past as a consequence of the governments less support for this sector. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to promote the big onion cultivation in the Dambulla area. OBJECTIVES General Objectives 5. This research is carried out with the following specific and general objectives. a. The main general objective of this study is to identify the main problems encountered in the onion cultivation of the Dambulla area. Specific objective 6. The specific objective of this study is to give the recommendation to improve the Big onion cultivation in the Dambulla area and specific objectives are as follows. a. To study the recent history of Big onion cultivation in Dambulla area and to compare the present situation of the Big Onion cultivation. b. To identify the main issues encountered in big onion cultivation in Dambulla. c. To identify the critical contributing factors. d. To make recommendations based on the findings. CHAPTER TWO METHODOLOGY HYPOTHESIS 1. Low yield of onion industry in Dambulla is due to less assistance of the government sector STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 2. The Matale District plays an important role in the big onion cultivation in Sri Lanka in particular Dambulla provides big onions for the Sri Lankans consumption. In the recent past due to the lack of support from the government sector the big onion cultivation has been declining. 3. As a result the big onion cultivation in Dambulla will be non existence in the very near future. Furthermore, many farmers depend on the big onion cultivation as their livelihood in Dambulla. Hence, if the big onion cultivation in Dambulla is affected many families will lose their income and it will affect the survival of many families. Thus the lack of support from the government and the consequent less onion cultivation are considered as the research problem for this study. SCOPE OF THE STUDY 4. This research studies the declining stage of the onion cultivation in Dambulla. The scope covers only the Dambulla area of big onion farmers. Therefore, this research has been limited to the onion farmers of the Dambulla area. DATA COLLECTION METHODS a. Primary Data . Structured questionnaires were used to collect the data. These questionnaires consist of 2 parts they are; Part I the factors determining the big onion cultivation in Dambulla and Part II the personal profile. The first part comprises statements of two major factors which determine the big onion cultivation in Dambulla; poor quality of seeds and the lack of fertilizer support. To identify the responses the questionnaire in part I applied the Likert scale of 1 5, which ranges from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree. The second part included the personal profile of the respondents relating to; age, sex, civil status and number of years the farmer has been in cultivation. b. Secondary Data. In addition to primary data, secondary data also was collected for this research. It was collected by referring to the reports from the Agricultural Department and from the Department of Census and Statistics. SAMPLE OF THE STUDY 7. This research studies the factors influencing the decline of the big onion cultivation in Dambulla. Therefore, the responses were collected from the local onion farmers from the Dambulla area. Thus, 100 big onion farmers were considered as a sample for this study since all farmers could not be accessible within the limited time for this study. These farmers were selected in a random basis. Therefore, the simple random sampling method was applied for the selection of the sample. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY 8. The following limitations were encountered in the study. a. Time is limited, so that within the limited time the research has to be finished because of this in-depth analysis cannot be applied. b. The researcher encountered limitation of resources. c. The sample was limited only to 100 farmers. LITERATURE REVIEW 9. The big onion is an important minor crop consumed by many Sri Lankans and it has been estimated that 34,000 metric tons of onion is imported annually and Sri Lanka spends around 300 million rupees on onion importation (Gunawardena, 2009). Furthermore, it has been also estimated that 45,000 labour units are employed in the onion cultivation and production annually by Sri Lankans and therefore, it increases income and employment generation for many Sri Lankans.  [2]   10. Many countries worldwide are getting involved in the big onion production. In particular they are; Belarus, Russia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, India, Pakistan etc (Research Institute for Vegetable crops, 2006). 11. According to Shanmugasundaram (2001) there are varieties of onion and it mainly includes the sweet, red, white, yellow, brown and green etc. TYPES OF ONION Source Shanmugasundaram (2008) BENEFITS OF ONION PRODUCTION 12. Furthermore, it has been identified that the big onion production brings several comparative benefits when compared to with other crops (Autko Moisevich, 2006). Some of the benefits are given below. a. Output can be obtained in a short period of time. b. Initial costs such as; seeds costs, fertilizer costs are comparatively less. c. It does not require a set cost. d. Less technology the machines are sufficient. e. High employability of manual labourers. f. Easy to find markets. g. Less storage period. 13. The onion basically has been divided into red onions and big onions and each variety requires different eco-agricultural conditions, labour, fertilizer, weather and climatic conditions, temperature, etc. REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS NEEDED FOR THE ONION PRODUCTION 14. The literature suggests different requirements for smooth growing of the big onion production. Some of the conditions suggested by Autko and Moisevich (2006) are given below. a. Increase of fertile soil layers in the zone of plant root by 4-6 cm b. Increase of aeration and warming of soil, excluding over wetting in the period of heavy precipitation c. Decrease of fertilizer rate application by 30% d. Decrease of seed sowing rates e. Ensuring of looser soil state during the whole period of vegetation f. Possibility of soil surface copying by working organs of machines, during inter-row treatment, lowering of plant protective zone 3-5 cm, mechanical weed destruction by 70-75% and band application of pesticides that ensures the decrease of their rates by 2-3 times g. Increase of irrigation efficiency h. Diminution of nitrate content in the production j. Decrease of energy expense during harvesting by 20-40%. 15. Therefore, the above conditions can be considered as the basic requirements for the growth and survival of the big onion production. 16. The onion basically has been divided into red onions and large onions and each variety requires different eco-agricultural conditions, labour, fertilizer, weather and climatic conditions, temperature, etc. DECEASES IN THE ONION CULTIVATION 17. Shanmugasundaram, (2001) has identified the following diseases that affect the onion cultivation. He has divided these deceases into two. a. Field diseases b. Storage diseases 18. The field diseases comprises of Stemphylium blight , Purple blotch, Anthracnose, Botrytis leaf blight, Downy mildew, Pink root, Smudge, Smut and several Basal rots (Shanmugasundaram, 2001). 19. The storage diseases covers common field rots, botrytis neck rot, black mold and bacterial soft rot (Shanmugasundaram, 2001). PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE BIG ONION CULTIVATION IN SRI LANKA 20. Meanwhile it has been learned that in the recent past the onion cultivation has been reducing as a result of many factors. Some factors identified by Kulatunga (2006) are presented below. a. Lack of quality seeds b. Lack of advice given for application of seeds c. Insufficient loan facilities available to purchase high quality seeds d. Long durations taken for harvesting from seeds e. Lack of government support in providing fertilizer facilities to the onion production f. Lack of quality fertilizers available for the onion producers g. Lack of availability of fertilizer at outside and private outlets h. Absence of counselling and advice given on how to apply the fertilizers for the new variety j. Lack of storage facilities to store the onion production. 21. Though these problems are encountered in the onion production it can be divided into two major categories. These are given below. a. Lack of government support in giving seeds to the onion cultivators. b. Lack of government support to provide fertilizer to onion cultivation. LACK OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO SEEDS 22. It has been observed that big onion cultivation has been affected to greater extent by the lack of government motivation in finding required seeds. Thus; lack of quality seeds, lack of counselling and advise on applying seeds, lack of new variety of seeds, insufficient government financial support to purchase seeds, absence of assurance on harvesting duration etc are encountered under seeds (Kulatunga, 2006). LACK OF FERTILIZER SUPPORT 23. Kulatunga (2006) has also identified that there is no sufficient fertilizer support to motivate the big onion production. In Sri Lanka it has been learned that the onion farmers lack government funding and subsidies to buy fertilizers. Furthermore, fertilizer is sold at a fairly high price in the outside outlets. In addition the efficient and harvest stimulating fertilizers are not available for the onion farmers. Also the high quality and different variety of fertilizers are also not available to increase the big onion cultivation in the Dambulla area. INCREASING BIG ONION PRODUCTION 24. It is therefore important that the onion production is increased in order to protect the big onion industry and to assure the livelihood of many Sri Lankans. Hence the literature suggests that the following measures can increase the onion production. a. Involving in research and development activities in order to increase the onion production. b. Government providing support to find high quality seeds. c. Government has to give seeds of the new varieties. d. Government has to provide seeds at subsidized prices. e. Government has to provide constant counselling and advice on handling seeds. f. Government has to extend the fertilizer subsidy. g. Providing high quality fertilizer. h. Monitoring fertilizer distribution. j. Counselling on handling diseases. Conceptual model 25. From the literature review the following conceptual model has been developed. Figure 3.1 Conceptual Model Decreasing onion cultivation Lack of fertilizer availability Lack of seed availability (Source Formed for this Research Study) 26. The above figure depicts two sets of factors that determine the decrease in the onion cultivation; the lack of seed availability and the lack of fertilizer availability. This was derived from Kulatunga (2006). Each set of the major factors have sub factors. Therefore, these two are considered as the independent variables. The decreasing onion cultivation can be identified as the dependent variable. Hence, this figure establishes links between the factors and the decreasing onion cultivation. Through this research study one need to know which factor(s) cause for the decreasing onion cultivation, among the farmers in the Dambulla area. Table 2.1 Operationalization of Variables Concepts Variables Indicators Level of Measurement Question No. Factors determining the onion cultivation Lack of seeds availability Receiving high quality seeds Likert Q1 Distribution of seeds by the government Likert Q2 Provision of subsidy by the government to buy seeds regularly Likert Q3 Seeds giving the expected harvest Likert Q4 Purchase seeds from the Government Agricultural Department Likert Q5 Provision of training and counselling regarding the new seeds by the government Likert Q6 I can get new varieties of seeds Likert Q7 I can get regular counselling and advice of the diseases on the seeds Likert Q8 Lack of fertilizers availability Fertilizer subsidy from the government Likert Q9 Purchase of fertilizer from the Government Agricultural Department Likert Q10 Purchase of fertilizer from the private outlets at a less price Likert Q11 Getting high quality fertilizer Likert Q12 Getting advice and counselling for the application of fertilizers Likert Q13 Getting different variety of fertilizers Likert Q14 Getting fertilizer that can maximize the harvest Likert Q15 Storage of excess fertilizer for future use Likert Q16 (Source Formed for this research study) DATA EVALUATION 27. The mean and standard deviation were derived for data analysis. Furthermore, the criteria shown in the table below was adopted to evaluate the mean values. Table 2.2 Evaluation Criteria for Mean Values Range Degree 1 3.67 Low level Moderate level High level Source Developed for this study CHAPTER THREE DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS 1. This chapter covers the data presentation, analysis and discussion. DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS 2. This section presents mean and standard deviation of the factors affecting the onion cultivation in Dambulla. The mean values have been distributed based on Likerts Scale of one to five which represents Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree. Meanwhile, mean values were evaluated based on the already established evaluative criteria which range from low level to high level. Table 3.1 the values of mean and standard deviation (SD) of factors contributing to the onion cultivation: Statements From current staff Mean SD Lack of seed availability 1.90 .25 Lack of fertilizer availability 2.24 .41Source Survey Data 3. Table 3.1 represents values of mean and standard deviation of factors contributing to the decreasing level of the onion cultivation. The mean value of the seed availability is 1.90 and the standard deviation is 0.25. Since the mean value of seed availability (1.90) is less than 2.33, it falls into the category of low level satisfaction 4. Meanwhile, the mean value of fertilizer availability is 2.24 and standard deviation for the same variable is 0.41. Thus, the mean value of fertilizer availability (2.24) is less than 2.33 and it also falls under low level of satisfaction. Table 3.2 the mean and standard deviation values for the statements in the seed availability: Statements Mean SD I get high quality seeds 1.88 .89 Government distribute seeds 1.94 .81 Government provides a subsidy to buy seeds regularly 1.74 .69 Seeds give an expected harvest 1.56 .61 We can buy seeds from the Government Agricultural Department 2.16 .86 Government provides training and counselling regarding the new seeds 2.12 .91 I can get new varieties of seeds 1.79 .55 I can get regular counselling and advice of the diseases in the seeds 1.85 .45Source Survey Data 5. Table 3.2 shows the mean and standard deviation values for the statements in the seeds availability. As presented above, all eight statements that measure seed availability for the onion farmers in the Dambulla area have taken the mean values of less than 2.33. Therefore, it can be derived that farmers satisfaction on all statements of seed availability fall into the category of lower level satisfaction. Table 3.3 the mean and standard deviation values for the statements in the fertilizer availability: Statements Mean SD I get fertilizer subsidy from the government 2.20 .92 I can buy fertilizer from the Government Agricultural Department 2.14 .85 I can buy fertilizer from private outlets at a less price 2.18 .99 I can get high quality fertilizer 2.20 .94 I get advice and counselling on the application of fertilizer 2.15 .93 I get different variety of fertilizer 2.24 .84 I get fertilizers that can maximize harvest 2.12 .96 I can store excess fertilizer for future use 2.09 .92 Source Survey Data 6. Table 3.3 reveals the values of mean and standard deviation for the statements in the fertilizer availability. Hence all statements that measure the influence of fertilizer availability of the onion farmers in the Dambulla area have taken the mean values less than 2.33. Therefore it can be stated that the farmers satisfaction towards all statements of fertilizer availability fall into the category of low level of satisfaction. Personal profile 7. This section presents data on the personal profile of the farmers in the Dambulla area. It covers age, sex, civil status and the number of years of experience in the onion cultivation of the onion farmers in the Dambulla area. Age Distribution Fig 3.1 the age distribution of the onion farmers in the Dambulla area: Source Survey Data Table 3.4 the age distribution of the onion farmers in the Dambulla area Age category Frequency Percent Less than 25 30 30 26-35 28 28 35-45 24 24 Above 45 18 18 Total 100 100 Source Survey Data 8. Fig 3.1 shows the age distribution of the respondents from onion farmers in the Dambulla area. Thirty percent of the respondents are less than 25 years and the respondents falling into the category of 26 35 and 35 45 are 28% and 24%, respectively and 82% of the respondents are less than the age of 45. Only 18% of the responded onion farmers are above the age of 45. Hence it reveals a fact that the majority of the onion framers in Dambulla are less than the age of 45. 9. Therefore it can be concluded that most of the young employees are found to be faced with a decreasing level of onion production. Sex Distribution Fig. 3.2 Sex distribution of the onion farmers in the Dambulla area Source Survey Data Table 3.5 Sex distribution of the onion farmers in the Dambulla area Sex category Frequency Percent Male 68 68 Female 32 32 Total 100 100 Source Survey Data 10. Fig 3.2 shows the sex distribution of the onion farmers in the Dambulla area. Sixty-eight percent of the responded onion farmers in the Dambulla area are male and 32% of the responded onion farmers are female. 11. This shows that most of the male onion farmers in the Dambulla area are found to be affected with a decreasing level of onion cultivation the Dambulla area. Civil status Fig 3.3 Civil status of the onion farmers in the Dambulla area : Source Survey Data Table 3.6 Civil status of the onion farmers in the Dambulla area   Civil status Frequency Percent Single 38 38 Married 62 62 Total 100 100 Source Survey Data 12. Fig 3.3 shows the civil status of the responded onion farmers in the Dambulla area. Sixty-two percent of the respondents are married and 38% are single. 13. It is clear that most of the married onion farmers in the Dambulla area are found to be facing the problem of a decreasing level of onion cultivation the Dambulla area. Distribution of years of experience Fig. 3.4 Number of years of experience in the onion cultivation Source Survey Data Table 3.7 Number of years of experience in the onion cultivation Number of years of experience Frequency Percent Less than 3 20 20 3-5 46 46 6-10 30 30 Above 10 4 4 Total 100 100 Source Survey Data 14. Fig 3.4 shows the number of years of experience in the onion cultivation of the onion farmers in the Dambulla area. Accordingly, 20 % of the responded onion farmers in the Dambulla area have less than 3 years of experience and the responded onion farmers in the Dambulla falling into the category of 3 5 and 6 10 years are 46% and 30%, respectively. Only 4% of the responded onion farmers have the experience of above 10 years. Thus, more than 95% of the responded onion farmers in the Dambulla area have less than 10 years of experience. 15. Therefore it can be stated that the most of the onion farmers in the Dambulla area who have an experience of less than 10 years are found to be encountering the problem of a decreasing level of onion cultivation in the Dambulla area. CHAPTER FOUR DISCUSSION AND ARGUMENTS 1. This chapter provides the discussion on analysis. It presents the mean and the standard deviation of the two factors contributing to the onion cultivation. Table 4.1 Mean and standard deviation values for the statements in the seed availability: Statements Mean SD I get high quality seeds 1.88 .89 Government distribute seeds 1.94 .81 Government provides the subsidy to buy seeds regularly 1.74 .69 Seeds give the expected harvest 1.56 .61 We can buy seeds from the Government Agricultural Department 2.16 .86 Government provides training and counselling regarding the new seeds 2.12 .91 I can get new varieties of seeds 1.79 .55 I can get regular counselling and advise on the diseases in the seeds 1.85 .45 Source Survey Data 2. As presented in Table 4.1 the onion farmers have expressed their lower level of satisfaction on all statements of the availability of seeds and the quality, because all mean values are under the category of 1 2.33. 3. Thus the first statement I get high quality seeds has taken a mean value of 1.88 which represents that the onion farmers are not highly satisfied with the availability of the high quality seeds. 4. Similarly the second statement Government distribute seeds has taken a mean value of 1.94 and this also comes under the lower level of satisfaction. This reflects that the government does not distribute seeds and therefore it also affects their onion cultivation. 5. Third statement Government provides the subsidy to buy seeds regularly has taken a mean value of 1.79 which represents that the onion farmers are not satisfied with the governments subsidies to buy the seeds. 6. Fourth statement Seeds gives the expected harvest has taken a mean value of 1.56 which reflects that the onion farmers are less satisfied with the amount of harvest from the seeds and this affect the onion cultivation from the Dambulla area. 7. 5th statement We can buy seeds from the Government Agricultural Department has given a mean value of 2.16 which shows that the onion farmers are unable to purchase seeds from the agricultural department and this also reduces the onion cultivation. 8. Next statement Government provides training and counselling regarding the new seeds has obtained a mean value of 2.12 which indicates that the onion cultivators do not get sufficient training and counselling from the relevant authorities on how to apply the new varieties of seeds and this affects the onion cultivation in the Dambulla area. 9. 7th statement I can get new varieties of seeds has received a mean value of 1.79 and this refers that the farmers are unable to get new varieties of seeds and therefore the onion production has come down in Dambulla. 10. The final statement I can get regular counselling and advice on the diseases in the seeds has given a mean value of 1.85 which signifies that the onion farmers do not get regular counselling and advice on new diseases affecting the onion cultivation. Therefore, they are unable to protect the onion cultivation and ensure higher growth. Table 4.2 Mean and standard deviation values for the statements in the fertilizer availability: Statements Mean SD I get the fertilizer subsidy from government 2.20 .92 I can buy fertilizer from Government Agricultural Department 2.14 .85 I can buy fertilizer from the private outlets at a less price 2.18 .99 I can get high quality fertilizer 2.20 .94 I get advice and counselling on the application of fertilizer 2.15 .93 I get different variety of fertilizers 2.24 .84 I get fertilizer that can maximize the harvest 2.12 .96 I can store the excess fertilizer for future use 2.09 .92Source Survey Data 11. As in Table 4.2 the onion cultivators have indicated lower level of satisfaction on all statements of fertilizer availability because the mean in all comes under the category of 1 2.33. 12. Thus the first statement I get the fertilizer subsidy from government has taken a mean value of 2.20 and this means that the onion farmers do not get fertilizer subsidy to buy the fertilizer and this leads towards less onion cultivation. 13. Similarly the second statement I can buy fertilizer from the Government Agricultural Department. has taken a mean value of 2.14 and this falls under the lower level of satisfaction. This reflects that the farmers are unable to purchase fertilizer from the agricultural department and has limited capacity of increasing their production. 14. Third statement I can buy the fertilizer from private outlets at a less price has taken a mean value of 2.18 stating that the onion farmers cannot buy fertilizer at a less price from other outside outlets. Therefore, it has affected their capacity of the onion cultivation. 15. Next statement I can get high quality fertilizer has taken a mean value of 2.20 which represents that the onion farmers are finding difficulties in purchasing fertilizer that can maximize their harvest and it has reduced the onion cultivation. 16. 5th statement I get advice and counselling on the application of fertilizer has given a mean value of 2.15, indicating that the farmers are unable to get advise and counselling on how to use different varieties of fertilizer. This has limited the onion cultivation in Dambulla. 17. 6th statement I get different variety of fertilizer has obtained a mean value of 2.24 which indicates that the onion cultivators are unable to find different varieties and new varieties of fertiliser that stimulate more harvest. As a result the onion cultivation has been less in the Dambulla area. 18. 7th statement I get fertilizer that can maximize the harvest has received a mean value of 2.12 and it means that the onion farmers are unable to find fertiliser that can give the optimal harvest and this has affected the onion cultivation from Dambulla. 19. The final statement I can store excess fertilizer for future use has given a mean value of 2.09 which indicates that the onion farmers do not have facilities of storage and keeping fertilizer for future use. Therefore, their fertilizer utilization is not optimal. Therefore the onion cultivation has been limited in Dambulla. CHAPTER FIVE FINDINGS/RESULTS 1. This chapter provides the findings and the discussions. It presents the mean and the standard deviation of the two factors contributing to the onion cultivation. Table 5.1 Values of mean and standard deviation

Johnson and Johnson Case Analysis Essay example -- Business Marketing

Johnson and Johnson Case Analysis Introduction: Johnson and Johnson, commonly called J&J for short, is one of the world’s well known, largest, most decentralized and most diversified health care companies. Since 1887, Johnson and Johnson has been producing, manufacturing and selling products related to human health and well-being. Today J&J has over 200 autonomous operating companies and do business globally specializing in consumer products, medical devices and diagnostics, and pharmaceuticals. Consumer products are the company’s most recognizable segment, including popular brands like Tylenol, Johnson and Johnson Baby Shampoo and Band-Aid. The medical devices and diagnostics segment manufactures products including surgical equipment and contact lenses. The largest of the three segments is pharmaceuticals. Johnson and Johnson is poised for growth on many fronts. Their short-term outlook is bright due to a lead position in the drug-coated stent market. They should also see a substantial increase in prescription drug sales from the recently enacted Medicare regulation, which will grant prescription drug coverage to more Americans. In the long run, J&J should see consistent sales growth fueled by the aging demographics in the United States. Moreover, the medical supplies and services needed by the elderly population will increase simultaneously with the aging of the large baby boomer population. While there is no doubt that J&J is a corporation that has gone a long way and due to its reliability, culture and growth will continue to do well, analyzing the effectiveness of their current strategy is still essential. The question of whether J&J should become more centralized in order to adapt to the changing hospital industry needs to be addressed. Because of the changes in the hospital secto r and because of the changes that distributors underwent in order to meet the hospital changes, J&J inevitably needs to change as well and become more centralized. While I do not think it is possible or even necessary for J&J to become completely centralized, J&J should consider the benefits of becoming more centralized. If J&J continues to be as decentralized as they are they will have a hard time adapting to change, communicating within the organization and contact within the organization will decrease as well. In the recommendation portion of this case analysi... ... Weakness With regard to the internal environment, it is important to analyze J&J’s strengths and weakness. After reading J&J’s website, I was overwhelmed with the strengths that J&J possess. J&J is one of the main competitors in the race to produce the best and most widely used stent. They produced Cypher, a device that is implanted in arteries to help keep arteries open and prevent them from getting clogged. J&J currently posses the largest portion of the coronary stent market with their Cypher stent. Approved in April of 2003 and launched in May, Cypher is the only drug-coated stent to be supported by numerous tests, including four large-scale clinical trials involving 1,800 patients. In tests, Cypher proved more effective than bare metal stents at preventing re-blockage. Another strength that J&J possesses is having high barriers to entry. Entrance into the pharmaceutical industry is difficult. Pharmaceutical companies require large fixed costs, large set up costs and large r esearch and development costs. While this does not insure that new companies will not enter their market, it does give J&J some safety measure at being able to prevent and/or compete with new entrants.

English 100 is a course that is basically designed to assist the students

English 100 is a very important course as far as our college education is concerned. It is the basic foundation for our higher education. It equips us with skills which help us to cope with the challenges which we are bound to encounter as we pursue our college education.English 100 is a course that is basically designed to assist the students to develop critical writing and reading skills. It is a build up for what we learned in the high school only this time we are required to adapt to a college way of thinking.To be a successful student in this crucial course one must do things in the right way. In this paper I will take you through what you should do so that at the end of it all you can come out shining. It is based on my own experience as an English 100 student and also tips taken from the various     experts of this area.One of the biggest asset you have as a student is time, how you mange it will determine your destiny as a student as it will greatly influence your perform ance in this course and your studies in general.It is very important that you take control of your time as a student in this course. You should make a plan on how you are going to utilize your time as far as this course is concerned. You should prioritize the most urgent and important activities giving them ample time so that you can produce quality work which will earn you good grades.You will be given many assignments which will require your input, if you plan your time well late submission of papers will not affect you. Late submission is highly penalized and it is something you can easily avoid through managing your time properly.You should make a time table early enough allocating areas which you feel you are weak more time than the other to get enough time to tackle them. It is also important to allocate some time for interaction with your fellow students so that you can learn from them also. (Lannon, J 11 2006)Class attendance allows the student to have an interactive session with the instructors and the other students. You should make a point of attending the classes regularly to ensure you gain maximally .If by any chance miss any lesson make sure you ask what was covered and go through it before the next session.Through this you ensure that you at no any time   Ã‚  you lag behind in your studies. While in class you should participate actively without fear of making mistakes. It is only through making these mistakes that you will learn to be confident. We all learn from the mistakes we make now and then, just bear in mind nobody is perfect. If your fellow colleagues we perfect surely you would not be seated in the same class with them learning this course, they would be somewhere else.It is also very important that you learn to respect other people opinions; at no time should you laugh at other people mistakes as this can affect your studies negatively.This is a very interactive course where you will learn greatly from the other, that is why you sho uld at all cost try to maintain good relations with your fellow students and also with the instructors. (Lannon, J 18 2006)Instructors are there for us and we should make every effort to utilize them to our advantage. Any difficulties that you may be experiencing should be discussed with your instructor. Always book an appointment with your instructor to avoid disappointment since there are other students who require the same kind of help from them.Group work has helped me a lot in polishing my writing skills as I have been able to get some vital tips from my fellow students. It is also in group work where your work can be read by the other student and get their opinion about it. On the other hand you will have a chance to go through their piece of work and offer advice where necessary.  Always give an honest opinion about your colleagues work but at the same time bearing in mind not to hurt their feelings as this may come to haunt you later.Note taking is an essential part of thi s course; it is advisable that you develop an accurate method of taking notes which can be referred to later when revising. Aim at noting all the important points you come across either in the cause of group discussion or class lectures. (Lannon, J 39 2006)

To Kill a Mockingbird - Racism essays

To Kill a Mockingbird - Racism essays To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel rifle with references of racial prejudice and injustice. The South has never been a bastion for racial equality, and still can be seen by some to harbor the last vestiges of bigotry. Harper Lee does a great job demonstrating the effects of racial inequality, through the main characters reactions, and the overall outcome of the novel. The novel itself encompasses many of the feelings that were flying around during the time at which it was written. The first racist event that occurs in the book, is the incident that ensues at Calpurnias church. Calpurnia is a servant at the finch house, and is an African American. One Sunday when Atticus is not at home, Calpurnia has to decide what to do with the children. She does not wish to send them to church alone, because there was a mishap that occurred the last time the children went by themselves. After thinking about it, she decides to take Scout and Jem to the church she normally attends. When Calpurnia and the children arrive, a black member of the church gets irritated, and wants them to leave. Segregation at the time was normal, and the whites and blacks went to different churches. Scout and Jem, not wanting to cause any trouble, were ready to leave. Calpurnia, however, stands up for the children and as a result, the church comes to her aid. Reverend Sykes and other members of the black community accept the Finch children with open hands. This skirmish here shows that racism is not one sided. Many blacks hold a deep resentment for the white race at this time. When church is over Scout questions Calpurnia. She wants to know why Calpurnia does nigger-talk to her folks, when she knows its not right. At first Calpurnia contends that she is black, but Scout quickly brushes it off. After Calpurnia thinks for a little while, she claims it is not necessary to tell all she knows. She does not want to make her fellow blacks be...

Biography of Fulgencio Batista, Cuban President and Dictator

Biography of Fulgencio Batista, Cuban President and Dictator Fulgencio Batista (Jan. 16, 1901–Aug. 6, 1973) was a Cuban army officer who rose to the presidency on two occasions, from 1940–1944 and 1952–1958. He also held a great deal of national influence from 1933 to 1940, although he did not at that time hold any elected office. He is perhaps best remembered as the Cuban president who was overthrown by Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution of 1953–1959. Fast Facts: Fulgencio Batista Known For: President of Cuba, 1940- 1944 and 1952–1958.Born: January 16, 1901, Banes, Cuba.Parents: Belisario Batista Palermo and Carmela Zaldà ­var Gonzles (1886- 1916).Died: August 6, 1973, Guadalmina, SpainEducation: Quaker grade school in Banes, 4th grade.Spouse(s): Elisa Godinez (m. 1926- 1946); Marta Fernandez Miranda (m. 1946–1973).Children: 8. Early Life Fulgencio Batista was born Rubà ©n Fulgencio Batista Zaldà ­var on January 16, 1901, the first of four sons born to Belisario Batista Palermo and Carmela Zaldà ­var Gonzles, in the Veguitas section of Banes, in Cubas northeastern Oriente province. Belisario had fought in the Cuban war of independence against Spain under General Jose Maceo, and he was a sugar cane cutter employed by a local contractor for the United Fruit Company. The family was poor, and the relationship between Fulgencio Batista and his father was not good, and so Fulgencio took it upon himself to raise, educate and care for his younger brothers Juan (born 1905), Hermelindo (b. 1906), and Francisco (b. 1911).  Ã‚   Fulgencio began studying at the age of ten at the Quaker school in Banes when it opened in September, 1911. The mostly Cuban students were taught in Spanish, and Batista graduated in 1913 with a fourth-grade education. After he graduated, he worked in the sugar cane fields with his father, and in the off-season in a variety of small jobs in town, including as apprentice to a barber and a tailor. His mother died in 1916, and the next year at the age of 15, Fulgencio Batista ran away from home.   Joining the Military During the five years between 1916 and 1921, Batista was frequently destitute, often homeless, and traveled working an odd assortment of jobs until landing a job with the Ferrocarriles del Norte railway in Camagà ¼ey Province. He sent money home when he could, but was nearly killed in an accident at the railroad that left him hospitalized for several weeks and scarred him for life. Although there were late night parties, drinking and womanizing among the railway employees, Batista rarely attended and was instead remembered as a voracious reader.   In 1921, Batista enlisted in the Cuban Army and joined the First Battalion of the 4th Infantry in Havana on April 14, 1921. On July 10, 1926, he married Elisa Godà ­nez Gà ³mez (1905–1993); they would have three children (Ruben, Mirta, and Elisa). Batista was made sergeant in 1928, and worked as an army stenographer as General Machados chief of Staff, General Herrera. Collapse of the Machado Government Batista was a young sergeant in the army when the repressive government of General Gerardo Machado fell apart in 1933. The charismatic Batista organized the so-called â€Å"Sergeant’s Rebellion† of non-commissioned officers and seized control of the armed forces. By making alliances with student groups and unions, Batista was able to put himself in a position where he was effectively ruling the country. He eventually broke with the student groups, including the Revolutionary Directorate (a student activist group) and they became his implacable enemies. First Presidential Term, 1940–1944 In 1938, Batista ordered a new constitution and ran for president. In 1940 he was elected president in a somewhat crooked election, and his party won a majority in Congress. During his term, Cuba formally entered World War II on the side of the Allies. Although he presided over a relatively stable time and the economy was good, he was defeated in the 1944 elections by Dr. Ramà ³n Grau. His wife Elisa was the First Lady of Cuba, but in October 1945, he divorced her and six weeks later married Marta Fernandez Miranda (1923–2006). They would eventually have five children together (Jorge Luis, Roberto Francisco, Fulgencio Jose, and Marta Maluf, Carlos Manuel). Return to the Presidency Batista and his new wife moved to Daytona Beach in the United States for a while before deciding to re-enter Cuban politics. He was elected senator in 1948 and he and his wife returned to Cuba. He established the Unitary Action Party and ran for president in 1952, assuming that most Cubans had missed him during his years away. Soon, it became apparent that he would lose: he was running a distant third to Roberto Agramonte of the Ortodoxo Party and Dr. Carlos Hevia of the Autà ©ntico party. Fearful of losing entirely his weakening grip on power, Batista and his allies in the military decided to take control of the government by force. Batista had a great deal of support. Many of his former cronies in the military had been weeded out or passed over for promotion in the years since Batista had left: it is suspected that many of these officers may have gone ahead with the takeover even if they had not convinced Batista to go along with it. In the early hours of March 10, 1952, about three months before the election was scheduled, the plotters silently took control of the Camp Columbia military compound and the fort of La Cabaà ±a. Strategic spots such as railways, radio stations, and utilities were all occupied. President Carlos Prà ­o, learning too late of the coup, tried to organize a resistance but could not: he ended up seeking asylum in the Mexican embassy. Batista quickly reasserted himself, placing his old cronies back in positions of power. He publicly justified the takeover by saying that President Prà ­o had intended to stage his own coup in order to remain in power. Young firebrand lawyer Fidel Castro tried to bring Batista to court to answer for the illegal takeover, but was thwarted: he decided that legal means of removing Batista would not work. Many Latin American countries quickly recognized the Batista government and on May 27 the United States also extended formal recognition. Fidel Castro and Revolution Castro, who would likely have been elected to Congress had the elections taken place, had learned that there was no way of legally removing Batista and began organizing a revolution. On July 26, 1953, Castro and a handful of rebels ​attacked the army barracks at Moncada, igniting the Cuban Revolution. The attack failed and Fidel and Raà ºl Castro were jailed, but it brought them a great deal of attention. Many captured rebels were executed on the spot, resulting in a lot of negative press for the government. In prison, Fidel Castro began organizing the 26th of July movement, named after the date of the Moncada assault. Batista had been aware of Castro’s rising political star for some time  and had once even given Castro a $1,000 wedding present in an attempt to keep him friendly. After Moncada, Castro went to jail, but not before publicly making his own trial about the illegal power grab. In 1955 Batista ordered the release of many political prisoners, including those who had attacked Moncada. The Castro brothers went to Mexico to organize the revolution. Batista’s Cuba The Batista era was a golden age of tourism in Cuba. North Americans flocked to the island for relaxation and to stay at the famous hotels and casinos. The American mafia had a strong presence in Havana, and Lucky Luciano lived there for a time. Legendary mobster Meyer Lansky worked with Batista to complete projects, including the Havana Riviera hotel. Batista took a huge cut of all casino takings and amassed millions. Famous celebrities liked to visit and Cuba became synonymous with a good time for vacationers. Acts headlined by celebrities such as Ginger Rogers and Frank Sinatra performed at the hotels. Even American Vice-President Richard Nixon visited. Outside of Havana, however, things were grim. Poor Cubans saw little benefit from the tourism boom and more and more of them tuned into rebel radio broadcasts. As the rebels in the mountains gained strength and influence, Batista’s police and security forces turned increasingly to torture and murder in an effort to root out the rebellion. The universities, traditional centers of unrest, were closed. Exit from Power In Mexico, the Castro brothers found many disillusioned Cubans willing to fight the revolution. They also picked up Argentine doctor  Ernesto â€Å"Chà ©Ã¢â‚¬  Guevara. In November of 1956, they returned to Cuba  on board the yacht Granma. For years they waged a guerrilla war against Batista. The 26th of July movement was joined by others inside Cuba who did their part to destabilize the nation: the Revolutionary Directorate, the student group that Batista had alienated years before, almost assassinated him in March of 1957. Castro and his men controlled huge sections of the country and had their own hospital, schools and radio stations. By late 1958 it was clear that the Cuban Revolution would win, and  when Chà © Guevara’s column captured the city of Santa Clara,  Batista decided it was time to go. On January 1, 1959, he authorized some of his officers to deal with the rebels and he and his wife fled, allegedly taking millions of dollars with him. Death The wealthy exiled president never returned to politics, even though he was still only in his fifties when he fled Cuba. He eventually settled in Portugal and worked for an insurance company. He also wrote several books and died on August 6, 1973, in Guadalmina, Spain. He left eight children, and one of his grandchildren, Raoul Cantero, became a judge on the Florida Supreme Court. Legacy Batista was corrupt, violent and out of touch with his people (or perhaps he simply didn’t care about them). Still, in comparison with fellow dictators such as the Somozas in Nicaragua, the Duvaliers in Haiti or even  Alberto Fujimori  of Peru, he was relatively benign. Much of his money was made by taking bribes and payoffs from foreigners, such as his percentage of the haul from the casinos. Therefore, he looted state funds less than other dictators did. He did frequently order the murder of prominent political rivals, but ordinary Cubans had little to fear from him until the revolution began when his tactics turned increasingly brutal and repressive. The Cuban Revolution was less the result of Batista’s cruelty, corruption, and indifference than it was of Fidel Castro’s ambition. Castro’s charisma, conviction, and ambition are singular: he would have clawed his way to the top or died trying. Batista was in Castro’s way, so he removed him. That’s not to say that Batista did not help Castro greatly. At the time of the revolution, most Cubans despised Batista, the exceptions being the very wealthy who were sharing in the loot. Had he shared Cuba’s new wealth with his people, organized a return to democracy and improved conditions for the poorest Cubans, Castro’s revolution might never have taken hold. Even Cubans who have fled Castro’s Cuba and constantly rail against him rarely defend Batista: perhaps the only thing they agree on with Castro is that Batista had to go. Sources Argote-Freyre. Fulgencio Batista: The Making of a Dictator. Vol. 1: From Revolutionary to Strongman. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 2006. Batista y Zaldivar, Fulgencio. Cuba Betrayed. Literary Licensing, 2011.   Castaà ±eda, Jorge C.  Compaà ±ero: the Life and Death of Che Guevara. New York: Vintage Books, 1997. Coltman, Leycester. The Real Fidel Castro. Kindle Edition, Thistle Publishing, December 2, 2013. Whitney, Robert W. Appointed by Destiny: Fulgencio Batista and the Disciplining of the Cuban Masses, 1934–1936.  State and Revolution in Cuba: Mass Mobilization and Political Change, 1920–1940. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2001. 122–132.