How does Owen show that even Nature has turned against the soldiers Essay

Wilfred Owen was an officer who fought throughout the war and achieved admirable accomplishments. He was not a man who was unpatriotic and he believed in the war as a whole as he thought that this was necessary to overcome the pure evil demonstrated by the opposition and achieve a greater good for the rest of mankind and future generations. He was seen as a man that did not agree with the events and suffering that occurred within the war, and believes that some of this was not necessary, although it did ultimately achieve a better world in his viewpoint. He was a strong believer in God, as is evident by his early background; the fact that he starting reading the Bible at a very young age and was raised in a typical Christian family; however during the war Owen questioned his views on religion, the war and its effects in every aspect. Although his beliefs were strong at the start, they weaken throughout the war and as he familiarises himself with the terror of war, he learns the extent in which himself and the soldiers are driven to. I am going to analyse the poem ‘Exposure’, which clearly displays all of Owens’s thoughts, doubts and fears. I will particularly focus on the fact that Owen emphasises nature as an enemy to the soldiers as well as the opposition. The poem does not only use nature in one context, it varies throughout and I will how he creates this effect and why it is so effective to express his views. Firstly, the title ‘Exposure’ can be drawn to a number of metaphorical conclusions by the reader as it is a deliberately ambiguous title. For example, it could be the physical exposure to which they are revealed, the conditions that are expressed, the uncovering of the soldiers fears and doubts, all exposed within war situations. However, another conclusion that could be drawn from this title could be the fact that they are exposed to extreme weather conditions, which in those conditions, can be more of a threat than the actual scene of the fight and waiting for the next vicious attack. By the title alone, Owen reveals that the soldiers are exposed not only physically by the weather, but also mentally as it slowly crumbles them. These views become more blatant as the poem progresses. The first line immediately captivates the readers’ attention, drawing the reader into the theme of the nature against them from the beginning. Owen relates to the weather harshly and within that line, the reader has learnt the mood of the poem. ‘the merciless winds that knife us’ refer to the wind as being very icy blowing from the east; this is then also personified as an opposition who would knife them as it draws nearer as it is in close contact with them. The gust is displayed as being ‘merciless’, which means that the weather is enjoying their suffering and does not care about the consequences the soldiers are left with and this also emphasises the brutality of the attack and the way the surroundings made their world crumble. The weather does not alter because it strives on the fact that the soldiers are hurting and the fact the defences weaken as a result. The weather is personified constantly to develop its own human-like characteristics and demonstrate its sole purpose: to attack. It ‘attacks once more’; this develops the weather as another army; another enemy, who is attacking repeatedly and obviously does not need, nor is willing to, discontinue the violence, even for a while. This is significant because as the opposition begin the attack at dawn, it is suggested that the weather takes a turn for the worse then also to add to the terror that occurs daily at that particular time. The snow is demonstrated as being ‘flowing’, which means that it is happy and is fulfilling its purpose and Owen is suggesting this purpose is to bring fear to the soldiers. In contrast to what snow is normally related with; all things that bring happiness to people, typically for example, Christmas, the scene of children running around playing and snow mans, this seems a very different image for the reader to come to terms with. The line ‘flakes with fingering stealth come feeling for our faces’ is particularly significant of this observation and the snow is given a nasty human-like characteristic and this also projects a definite strong image to the reader by the alliteration that attract the reader to this phrase. Owen then says that the flakes ‘flock, pause and renew’, suggesting that it does indeed feed off the soldier’s deep sadness. They are also described as ‘wandering up and down the wind’s nonchalance’, which again displays the image of the snow and the wind working as the opposition, uniting with one another to deepen the blanket of sadness masked over the soldier’s eyes. The mad gusts of wind are also described as men ‘among its brambles.’ This demonstrates the delusion and hallucinations by each of the soldiers’ intensified by natures’ input in the battle. However, this phrase could also be seen as portraying another of the weathers’ characteristics; the fact that it mocks them. It does this by teasing the soldiers and reminding them of the terrible events that occurred here before in Owens opinion. He also describes the wind as nonchalant, meaning that this again has a selfish and evil characteristic. Another technique that Owen uses is changing a stereotypically good thing into something that would be seen as the complete opposite. One of the examples of this is the context in which he uses dawn as a ‘poignant misery’ that begins to ‘grow’. Dawn is traditionally seen as a particularly holy time of the day, along with being seen as good and happy. However, in ‘Exposure’, it is seen as an awful time of day, this is because it reminded the soldiers of the cycle of vicious attacks they lived through and experienced day in and day out. It was a constant reminder of the way of life and a reminder that they could never go home it seemed, and they are again captured by the blanket of sadness. Owen uses this effect once more in the poem in relation to the snow. As stated earlier in the essay, snow is supposed to be a happy type of weather that brings joy to most people. However, Owen says in this poem that the air ‘shudders’ black with snow’. Although on the surface, it is established that the wind is viciously cold and this is emphasised by the fact Owen uses the word ‘shudders’, it is also noticed that the air is ‘black’. The blatant meaning of this phrase is that the war has turned the snow black because of the riots there, however, looking at the phrase from a metaphorical point a view, another perception that could be perceived is that war even drains a completely pure concept; this is highlighted by the fact that the snow is white. It is noticeable that within the poem, Wilfred Owen also allows the weather to change along with the soldiers’ thoughts, feeling and deepest hope and dreams. They tend to slip in and out of reality and the weather ultimately changes to represent these thoughts in their own wandering minds. There is a particularly noticeable and interesting phrase at the point where the soldiers are slipping in and out of reality between one line and the next. It says that Owen and his men ‘stare, snow-dazed’, which represents that their minds are at their time in with the battle surrounding them. However, on the next line, it says that the men ‘drowse, sun-dozed’. These are two key lines in the poem because not only does the sibilance draw the reader’s attention to it, the consonance allows these words to be looked further into, which then creates a much harsher effect than the traditional standard rhyme pattern. This is a very remarkable way of exploring the soldier’s thoughts because firstly, they are in contrast to one another and they instantly change, which shows the men finally crumbling. Secondly, the fact that Owen uses the weather to contradict itself is because he wants to establish the fine line between what is real to them and what is scenery is waiting in their mind. It also highlights the differences between their time and another entirely, one that doesn’t exist to their conscious mind. Another example of Wilfred Owen’s contrast in weather that exists in their thoughts is when he says that they are deep into ‘grassier ditches’, with ‘blossoms trickling’. This is a beautiful image and a deliberate contrast to how the weather was related to beforehand, but now the group are imagining themselves in warmer times, and nature is a good way of explaining this. The reader will notice that nature has a very strong impact on the soldiers’ thoughts and feelings. The men’s way of how they think and feel is a reflection of the weather and the after-effects of nature are displayed clearly throughout the whole poem. The first time the soldiers crumble because of nature is when Owen states that they only know ‘war lasts, rain soaks and clouds sag stormy.’ This shows that the war and nature have shrunken their reality down to what is their life at the moment and it seems that they have forgotten what their life was like before nature turned against them and before war affected their lifestyle. Another way in which they are affected is the fact that they obviously think that nature is much more of a threat to them than the actual war. Owen thinks this because he believes that a bullet can quickly end the pain, however nature threatens to torture you to death, which is to the extreme of unbearable for him. This is evident by the way he states that bullets are being fired, but are ‘less deathly than the air’. This also allows the reader to feel involved in the poem and creates a certain atmosphere so that they feel extremely overcome with the blanket that Owen feels saddens him. He then goes on to state how nature has affected his feelings toward religion and that they should never see a clear field with trees of fruit again; this intensifies the extremes of the weather and how it could almost drive them insane. It also shows that because since the early times God has been traditionally in unity with the weather, he is certain that God somehow does not love him and if He does, how is it possible if He has no mercy either? The last significant image that Owen displays in the poem is toward the end when he states that, referring to the men that have died, ‘all their eyes are ice’. This means that not only has death occurred, it partially means metaphorically that nature was part of the death and has taken over the body in the death process and that overall; nature is but a sign of death for the soldiers and all that is the circle of life now involves nature hunting them down, and when it finally does it will still be with their body and captivate them even when they die. It also provides a strong image of the circumstances in which they die in, and the reader learns that this is truly awful, furthermore, it is known that in religious mythology, one of the circles of Hell punishes sinners by trapping them under ice and they are open and staring, which also has an effect on the men and makes them fear death more than the situation they are in at the moment. Throughout the poem, there is a repetition of ‘†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s. This could be the length of time that the soldiers are waiting for the next event to occur, but it could also be when they are waiting for nature to attack once more. As already partly mentioned, some words and phrases are highlighted through the consonance, for example, ‘army’ and ‘stormy’, this is meant to grasp the attention of the reader and portray the key concepts and words. Alliteration and some sibilance techniques also add to discovering the key phrases, e.g. ‘streak the silence’, ‘field, or fruit’. In conclusion to this exploration of Wilfred Owens’s poem ‘Exposure’, I have looked at various aspects of the poem relating to the theme of nature, and also how and why this link is connected. In my opinion, Owen clearly states his point of view and the other soldiers’ throughout the natures input and use this as another aspect of the war to think about that wouldn’t at first come to mind when readers hear about the war initially. He also tries to show other sides of the war that wouldn’t have been revealed before, and discusses how everyone had similar thoughts and feelings to him as he relates to them almost as a unity. He always describes the events as ‘we’. I believe that altogether this poem reflects, in more than one way, how the war was harsh and the effects that this had on the groups of soldiers’ there. I think that the poem does this effectively, as described beforehand and would overall say that the war was an awful place to be, which obviously deludes the soldiers so much so that there is a fine line between the sane and the insane.

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1. Discuss how personal differences and preference can impact organizational ethics. Ethics norms for conduct are that distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Also ethics is one of the important things in any kind of organization, and there are values and principles that help individuals distinguish right from wrong. Ethics depend on personality such as every single person has their own personality which based on culture and the way person was raised. Most of the human repeat their parents’ behavior. They watch how their parents act in this or another situation and the same thing they will do in the future. On the other hand, some people refused to respond this behavior and just fallow their own personality. In the broadest sense, ethics refers to the study of moral values, principles, and rules, including the determination of standards of conduct and obligations for individuals and organizations. Although most people acquire their sense of right and wrong during childhood, moral development occurs throughout life and human beings pass through different stages of growth as they mature. Personal differences and preference can impact organizational ethics no matter where you are going to work in the world you will come across a multitude of individual differences and preferences. An individual difference does not affect the individual alone, but everyone around them in an organization. In an organization, there is no way an individual can be treated the same way as the other employees because everyone’s personality is difference. Personal differences and preference in organizations also demonstrate the standard of ethics held by those shaping the culture — whether that standard is articulated in an ethics manual or deduced from behavior, or made visible in the gap between the two. Think of an organization as another ‘being’ with its own set of ethics, which may or may not coincide with each employee’s ethics. While it’s true that organizations are run by people, organizational cultures (and market standards) often seem to take on a life of their own, thus influencing or regulating the behavior of the vast majority of people in them. Interestingly, in an InformationWeek Research survey of 250 Information-Technology and business professionals, only 54-percent say they have a personal code for evaluating the ethical and moral implications of business decisions. Of those who do, 67-percent say it’s based on their company’s code of conduct; only personal experience polled higher (70%). Other studies show that more and more  companies are appointing ethics officers, while high percentages of their employees say they routinely observe unethical behavior at work and are fearful of reporting it. 2. Discuss how organizational policies and procedures can impact ethics. Organizational policies and procedures can impact ethics because good they should be developed and based on good moral ethics. It is an organizations expectation that its employees will know the policies and abide by them. Organizational policies and procedures are usually depending on a guide of company. A guide communicates to the employees witch considered right or wrong. He or she often plays a positive role to make a strong company in ethics and behavior. However, it can also have a negative effect on employees’ behavior which follows organizational ethics. For example, most of the companies create organizational policies and procedures which help employees to do the right decisions. This kind of companies which have organizational policies inspires their employees to do better work and as a result they get a higher position in performance and profits. Also this method make employees make there goals what they planned to rich however all these benefits strengthen the relationship between the organization and all those involved directly or indirectly to its activities. On the other hand, some time in companies you meet people who try to involved organizational politics and procedures, and this kind of personality is a problem for organization. It is because they think organizational politics and procedures of company don’t impact in their personality. Individuals like this can eventually bring a company to bankruptcy. For instance, an employee that does not agree with a company’s policy on property rights may decide to communicate confidential information to a competitor. In brief, organizational policies and procedures are important for any company. It will help managers to do the job and employees will make right decisions. 3. Discuss the ethical dilemmas that Valerie is facing. Valeria Young was a marketing manager at an international cosmetics and fragrance company Wisson. Valerie did not have a U.S. green card, only a special working visa, which allows non–U.S. citizens with unique skills to work in this country for a certain amount of time. Also, the company which she was work on it sponsored her for master degree in Chicago University. The ethical dilemma what Valeria had been facing in Wisson that while she was working there, and she discovered that her boss had been receiving kickbacks from the two fragrance companies around $35.000. This situation was stressful for her because she didn’t know what the right decision. She asked herself should she sacrifice her carrier, education, status, and her coworkers’ future for unethical behavior of her boss. The decision she made would influence her co-workers lives as well as her own. What about ethics? The manager of company Wisson Lionel Waters was a constant example of how not to be ethical in handling business and employees. Instead of being a leader who would help activate ethics mindfulness in others, he was the polar opposite. Some time he canceled meetings or did not show up at all, some of the company’s money was spent for his own good. Waters had never care about his employees or their jobs, all what was he care about it his own successes. To know all of this it was a hard decision for Valeria, she wished she had never seen those papers. It would have been much easier for her to continue her work as usual. 4. Recommend what Valerie should do. Valerie situation is reminding me of immigrants and international students like me. I consider myself to strong ethical person, but if I will in the same situation like she was, I probably will do the same thing. The ethical dilemmas that Valerie was facing were not only about right or wrong, but her decision would affect her job security, interpersonal relations at work, immigration status including her stay in the country, career development including education advancement, promotion, and economic conditions.

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Professional Interview - Research Paper Example Authors such as Reilly (2012) have established a relationship between effective leadership and the success in business systems in a country. The author argues that knowledge and skills in a country, which can empower leadership, are significant to the country’s economic development. Leadership roles exist at different levels at which decision-makers offer their professionalism (Nabli, 2011). To facilitate the study of leadership capacity in Nigeria, this essay will focus on an interview response from a Nigerian professional, ‘Usman Olaide’ who is a Senior Client Service Consultant and a Business Development Executive at Field Communication Ltd. The interview focuses on the role of leadership in promoting crises and leadership strategies for preventing or managing crises when they occur in the Nigerian business environment. Consequently, it will be possible to evaluate any impacts of the leadership that exists to the business crisis in this country. Usman identifie s the role of leadership in integrating different industries in the corporate sector for accountability in management because observed crises in the Nigeria’s business environment results from negligent actions from single industries or organizations and spread to affect the entire economy. Referring to Martin Oluba’s analysis of the equity market crisis (N.d.) and her experience in sources of crises in the Nigerian business environment, Usman explains that industries are interrelated and poor leadership in one industry, leading to a crisis in the industry, affects other industry’s performance. The finance industry is the most significance because it is the center of power for circulation of money across other industries as was observed in the equity market crisis. While poor leadership in the equity market led to its crisis, Usman explains that the move by the industry’s players to seek funds from private holdings influenced businesses in other sectors t o seek similar targets for rescue and culminated into the crisis. In her analysis of the scenario that is a perfect example of the role of weak leadership in business crisis, the interviewee argues that regulatory framework, both legal and moral, should be put in place to ensure credible and competent centralized leaderships that can preempt crisis in their respective industries and develop preventive measures. She also argues that a collaborative initiative among leaders from respective industries in regulating activities and risks in each industry can also play an effective role in containing crises from spreading to other industries, should such crises occur in a given industry (Usman, O, personal communication, August 16, 2013). Usman also argues that leadership offered by relevant government agencies play a significant role in management of financial crises in the Nigerian corporate environment. Agencies whose roles relate to macroeconomic aspects such as the Central Bank of Ni geria must be explicit in their roles to guide corporate operations and regulate the economic environment for stability. She explains that poor decisions on factors such as interest rates and consequences in high inflation rates are detrimental to businesses and the central bank should develop effective strategies for economic stability. The interviewee also relates such government regulations to the sensitive finance sector that has potential effects on other sectors and industry. In agreement with John, Adaeze, Soni, and Onoriode

The Use of Shocking and Stricking Visual Effects Essay Example for Free

The Use of Shocking and Stricking Visual Effects Essay Early seventeenth century plays often make striking use of visual effects to shock the audience. Explain the ways Ford creates striking or shocking dramatic effects in Tis Pity Shes a Whore. Plays of the seventeenth century are notoriously known for being rife with gory representations and some critics have gone as far as to suggest that Ford is a prime example of the glorification of violence and sex on the stage. However, this stylistic use and representation was not unwanted by his audience seventeenth century theatre goers of that age expected shocking scenes with the purchase of a ticket. This very apparent made it necessary for Ford to sometimes over dramatise or make more bounteous his shocking and striking scenes John Ford, many would argue, went just that one step further. Undeniably, one of the most shocking moments that Ford creates is seen fairly near to the beginning of the play in an exchange between Giovanni and Annabella. The plays main plot revolves around the two siblings and their growing love for one another, and we see this love addressed and first reciprocated in Act I, Sc 2. Giovanni is first to admit his love, offering Annabella a dagger to strike him with if she does not requite this love. This moment is extremely dramatic and shocking to the audience, as Giovannis desperate nature if revealed here; Ford establishes both his character and his characters intentions very forcefully. Later in the scene, the two kneel together, making a commitment to one another. They both say the exact same thing, except brother is changed to sister where applicable. Ford here creates a dichotomy for his audience; without our prior knowledge, this scene is strikingly beautiful, but we as an audience as ultimately repelled and shocked by their declaration of love upon our mothers dust. Ford uses the proxemics of Annabella and Giovanni as a method of shocking the audience. The kneeling suggests a greater commitment, almost a spiritual marriage between the two or giving oneself up to the other. Giovanni follows suit by kneeling by Annabella. This not only creates an effect use of the stage, but also a differentiation between normality, but a consistency and uniformity between the two. The shocking element of this scene is aided by the repetition of speech and the language used; they both start and finish addressing each other as their siblings. This reinforces the wrongness the repulsion, unsettling feeling toward the shocking situation. They also swear on their dead mother, creating more family ties and emphasising the severity of their actions, or the actions they would be willing to carry out. The two then declare, love me, or kill me; this again shows the severity of passion between the two. It is interesting to note that this proclamation of love is the only one found throughout the play that is true, deep and meaningful. In retrospect, Fords creation and portrayal of an incestuous relationship as the only one that is right throughout the play, shocks the audience and forces them to make judgements between what they believe are right and wrong.

Microsoft Office Licensing Essay Example for Free

Microsoft Office Licensing Essay The 2007 Microsoft Office Suites can be purchase under different types of licenses according to the requirements of the purchaser. These different types of licensing are Retail or Full Package Product (FPP) licensing, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) licensing, Volume licensing, and Academic and Academic-Volume licensing terms (Microsoft Office Suites, 2007). When the Office Suite is purchased from a retail outlet or downloaded from the network, it comes with a retail or FPP license. Retail licenses are comparatively expensive and come with shorter period of support from Microsoft. When the software is pre-installed in a newly-purchased computer system, it comes under OEM licensing. The OEM license is bounded with the machine and cannot be used in a different machine. The license loses its validity once the machine is non-functional or stops working. Microsoft volume licensing programs are tailored to meet the requirements of companies of different sizes starting from companies having as few as five desktops (Volume Licensing, 2007). The volume license programs offer increasing savings and other benefits with the increase in number of computer systems. Volume licenses are further classified into Open License, Select License, Enterprise Agreement and Enterprise Subscription Agreement. Microsoft Volume Licensing for educational institutions or Academic Licenses are available to educational institutions having requirements of at least five copies and mores. The academic licenses are offered at discounted prices. There are four types of academic licensing: Campus Agreement for higher educational institutions, School Agreements for K-12 schools and districts and pre-schools, Academic Open for academic institutions of any size and Academic Select for medium to large academic institutions (Education, 2007).

Organizational Change In Lenovo Group

Organizational Change In Lenovo Group Business organizations have to change to adapt to the changing environment. Management of change has been a hot issue in academic research for years. One popular opinion considers that nowadays corporations will go to die without change. However, how to carry out right change is a challenging question for corporations. Bland and aimless change could be a disaster causing a fast fall to the organizations. Focusing on the issue of management of change in the organization, this essay attempts to take use of the relevant concepts to research and analyze the issue of change within a real organization. The target organization is Lenovo, one of the most famous IT companies in China, where the researcher had opportunity to work. Lenovo has experienced big changes in its development road, especially in 2005, it successfully acquired IBM Personal Computing Division. This acquisition is a milestone in Lenovos history, which has also been an earthquake within the organization. In this essay, the researcher tries to identify and analyze the issues brought by the change within the organization. There are three parts in the main body of this research. Firstly, Lenovos background will be presented briefly. In the second part, an overview of management of change will be made in the first place. Based on the theories and concepts, it moves to the case of Lenovo. The nature and type of change, and the triggers for change in Lenovo will be identified respectively. Moreover, problems caused by the change and Lenovos solution will be discussed in this part. In the third part, taking Lenovo as an example, this essay will provide recommendations for Chinese corporations pursuing change in its development. Company Background The company which this essay focuses is Lenovo Group, the leading IT company in China. Its main task is the manufacture and sale of personal computer. The history of this company can be dated back to 1981. The company was founded by only 11 employees and with the name of Legend, holding the philosophy that bringing IT to more Chinese consumers and businesses. With years of efforts, this company had become the top PC manufacture in China since 1996, and carries out internationalization steps from 2000. It changes the name form Legend to Lenovo, which is the combination of the Le from Legend with novo(meaning neew) from the Latin word in 2004. And year 2005 has witnessed the most significant change of Lenovo the acquisition of IBMs PC Division. This action is considered as a milestone in history of Lenovo, because it combines the leading PC manufactures both in US and China, making a new unified international PC leader. This business decision proves to be correct by the facts. With th is acquisition, Lenovo has become one of the largest PC manufacturers in the world scope. The annual revenue of the company has reached 21 billion US dollars, with a series of brands of PCs, like Thinkpad. Nowadays, Lenovo has been an international company, operating in more than sixty countries with 23,000 employees worldwide. The company has been the third largest PC producer and the fastest growing one in the world top 5 PC manufacturers, with a world market share of 10.2% (Lenovo Official Website, 2012). Change within Lenovo 3.1 Brief Review of Management of Change The necessity of change within the organization has been widely recognized. Though the cause for changes may be different for one corporation from another, the triggers could be summarized into two types, external factors and internal factors. According to Elving (2005), the business environment is constantly changing. Corporations have to keep pace with the changing environment to achieve their business aim according to the environment. This is the external trigger for organizational change. On the contrary, the internal triggers come from the organization inside. Elving (2005) points out that technique development and personnel promotion are important internal triggers. Diefenbach (2007) considers that companies demand of development is one significant internal factor for changing, especially when performance is declining. However, change needs careful consideration. Any imprudent action could be very dangerous. Successful changes are strategic and systematic. Brian and Walter (1993) identify the changes into different types according to the strategies used. They are planned changes, small changes and imploding changes. Donaldson (2000) divided changes into structure, personnel, and technique changes. Changes always face resistance from employees. According to Morrell et al. (2004), the root for resistance against change is peoples fear for risk. Some scholars go deep into the reasons for resistance. De Jager (2001) focuses on the old employees, indicating that changes are always resisted by old employees for their worries about losing the things and interest they have owned. Robbins (2009) emphasizes the cause of refusing change is due to peoples fear of uncertainty, as change could make things from familiar to unknown. Dent (1999) thinks that some resistance may come from employees consideration about the company goal and development instead of themselves. Hence, it is necessary for enterprises to effectively communicate with their employees to make them clear about the significance, purpose and method of change. According to Altman and Iles (1998), the ways of putting forward the change should be flexible and innovative. However, in some special situation, some tough measures c ould be used to show the organizations strong determination. 3.2 Analysis on Change in Lenovo In August 2004, the chairman of Lenovo Group, has officially announced the acquisition of IBMs PC Division with a total of $ 12.5 billion (Lenovo Official Website, 2012). It is completed in 2005. It is undoubted that this business action is an enormous change within the organization. The rapid growth of Lenovo after the acquisition has proved that this decision of change is correct and well handled. The experience of Lenovo makes a good example for those who are troubled by the change within the organization. Trigger for Change of Lenovo The acquisition of IBM is a big change for Lenovo. The process of this acquisition lasts for five years from 2000 to 2005. This change is carried out with careful consideration and prudent behaviors. As mentioned above, triggers for change could be external and internal. External triggers emphasize the changing environment which enterprises have to keep pace with so as to complete their business goal, while internal triggers come from the organization inside, such as technique, personnel, etc. (Elving, 2005) Looking into the case of Lenovos acquisition of IBM, it could be found that this big change is driven by both external and internal factors. The external triggers for this change are summarized as follows. First of all, it is a necessary step for Lenovo to fulfill internationalization. Nowadays, facing competition pressure, a number of successful enterprises go abroad for more chances and bigger markets. The internationalization provides enterprises opportunities for sustained development. Lenovos choice of being internationalized is to conform the world economic development, which strengthens its competitive edge. On the one hand, before the acquisition of IBM, Lenovo has been a leading company in Chinese PC market. The company has occupied 1/3 of the segment, and the top PC company in China for 8 years. For Lenovo, the market of China is too limited for Lenovo to pursue further development, and it has the capability to go internationalization. On the other hand, with Lenovos business becoming mature, the company faces more and more challenges. After Chinas entry into WTO, a number of famous PC companies pour into Chinese market, such as IBM, Toshiba, Dell. Besides the brand advantage s, these PC giants are strong enough to provide products at attractive price. This fierce competition causes price war in Chinese PC market. Under this circumstance, Lenovo bears unprecedented competitive pressure. To Lenovo, pursuing internationalization is not only for development, but also for survival. It is proved that the acquisition of IBM is a fast rout for Lenovo to carry out international expansion, which makes it the number five top PC producer globally. Secondly, through this change, the bargaining power with suppliers has been strengthened a lot. As mentioned above, the Chinese PC market falls into a price war. Thus, the cheap price raw materials are very important. The acquisition of IBM makes Lenovo the world leading PC company. It improves Lenovos position when bargaining with the suppliers. One of the most important internal triggers for Lenovo to conduct this change is to acquire the most developed PC technology. IBM is considered the pioneer in PC producing all over the world, and the IBM PC is generally acknowledged as high-ended brand. The acquisition of IBM makes it possible to access the most developed technique. Whats more, besides technique in research and development, tactics in management, production, marketing and after service are all valuable treasures for Lenovo. The technique and management skills sharpen competitive edge of Lenovo. According to Diefenbach (2007), companies demand of development is one important internal factor for change. Following this concept, Lenovo makes the decision of change in order to acquire the brand of Thinkpad, the word-famous PC brand, and to reach more customers. In this acquisition, Lenovo makes an agreement with IBM, that takes use of the brand of Thinkpad. This agreement avoids the risks of unrecognizing the Lenovo brand in international market. It is a safe step to introduce Lenovo to international market and makes it possible for consumers to try Lenovos products. Moreover, some of the foreign consumers hold negative opinions to products made in China, which are considered as low quality and lack of technique. The use of Thinkpad brand gains the access to the new customers and tries to change their impression on Chinese PC. Problems Arising with the Change within the Organization Changes always resisted by people for the uncertainty and risks. This change in Lenovo is an earthquake to the whole company, which faces a lot of problems. The most challenging one is about people. Human resources are considered the most valuable asset for modern enterprises. Generally, the turnover of employees in acquired company is always a critical issue for the buyers, Lenovo is no exception. IBM employees have strong enterprise culture background. How to minimize the turnover and make foreign employees accept the management of Lenovo, a Chinese localized corporation, is a big challenge for the company, especially in the high-level management team in US market. In addition, this change does not only concern the overseas employees but also is closely related to the original Chinese employees. How to balance the two groups and make them harmoniously integrate together are not easy tasks. Its known that the salary and remuneration system of the US and Chinese companies are totally different. Hence, the company needs to find out an effective way to satisfy both groups of employees, making them feel equally and well treated. Moreover, problem is also shown in culture integration. Cultural differences may cause misunderstanding and conflicts within the organization. For Lenovo and IBM, the cultural differences exist not only in the level of corporation but also the nationality. Peoples behavior and form of thinking are deeply rooted in the national culture. It is inevitable that the western and eastern culture collide with each other after the change. The point is how to improve the mutual understanding and make the two groups of people working in a harmonious environment. However, as a localized company, Lenovo has no enough experiences on culture integration. 3.3 Solution of Lenovo on Problems Caused by Change Considering the problems arising from the change, Lenovo carries out a set of measures to make the change grows in a positive way. On the one hand, at the first beginning of the change, Lenovo makes a survey to investigate employees opinion to the acquisition. Data collected shows that most of the employees both in IBM and Lenovo present positive attitude towards the event, though some of the foreign staff shows worries about the future. According to the survey result, Lenovo makes guarantees to the staff in IBM that the IBM PC division is managed in international style and the salary and remuneration system is not changed. This action eliminates the biggest worries from the IBM employees, and strengthens their confidence about the acquisition, which maintains a lot of IBM original staff. On the other hand, to the Chinese employees in Lenovo, the company offers a new set of salary and remuneration scheme, which deduces the gap of the treatment so as to balance between the two groups of employees. The efforts of Lenovo are effective and efficient, which reduces the resistance in the process of change. With regards of the cultural differences, Lenovo tries to find similarities between the two in corporate culture as the starting point. In the whole process of the acquisition, Lenovo seek common ground with IBM while reserving differences, which makes the employees in both teams set up a unified identify about the future of the company. But it does not mean Lenovo evades differences. The company takes use of tactics to increase the communication between the two. For example, it holds cocktail party, sets up culture integration discussion board, and builds cultural integration committee. For the management team, special training for cross-culture management and languages is also given to the employees in the company. Recommendations on the Resistance of Change The case of Lenovo makes a good example for Chinese enterprises, which are troubled by the resistance of Change. According to the case of Lenovo, this essay gives the following recommendations. First of all, as stated by Robbins (2009), communication is an excellent way to handle the resistance. In the case of Lenovo, the company pays attention to the effective communication with its employees about the change within the organization. At the very beginning of the change, it makes survey among employees in both US and China. Though this survey, the company conveys the initiative and the importance of the change. With data collected, the company knows about employees attitude towards and worries about this change. All the worries are carefully considered by the company, and solution and strategies are made accordingly, such as the guarantee about management system and the salary and remuneration system to IBM employees, and the adjustment of Chinese employees salary scheme. The fact proves that the communication before the acquisition is effective, which guarantees the change go smoothly. In general case, the resistance comes from employees feeling of uncertainty and fear of risks. Good communication could help the employees understanding about the whole facts, thus eliminate peoples doubt and resistance. Talks and discussion are two ways commonly used in communication. Additionally, one objective of communication is to know about employees thought about the change. Therefore, it is important for company to be willing to listen to different voices and accept the suggestions about the change. Making employees involved in the decision making process is an effective way to get their support (Lawrence, 1963). It should be noticed that to make the employees involvement contributes to the development of the company, employees training and development are necessary and important Secondly, conducting a change is a systematic work, which needs a careful plan. Blind action always causes failure. It takes five years for Lenovo to complete this change. During this process, Lenovo has never stopped for adjusting the plan for the acquisition, and it involves the management philosophy, human resources, corporate culture, technique, production, marketing etc. almost every aspects in a company. Although some changes may be very small, they still need careful plan in to ensure an effective implementation. Conclusion In conclusion, management of change has been a critical issue for enterprise. This essay takes use of the relevant concepts to research and analyze the issue of change within Lenovo, the leading IT company in China. It focuses on the event of acquisition of IBM, the biggest change within the organization, going deep inside of the issues brought by the change. The triggers for change could be external and internal. Enterprises have to be adopted to the changing environment. It is the external trigger for change. Internal triggers come from the organization inside, such as the technique, personnel. Moreover, the demand for development is another important internal trigger. The triggers for the change of Lenovo are the combination of the external and internal factors. For external triggers, on the one hand, internalization is the development trend for successful enterprises. On the other hand, the company faces strong competition from international PC companies like Dell, IBM. To enhance the competitive edge, the change for internalization is necessary. One of the most important triggers for Lenovo is the demand new technique from IBM. Whats more, through this change, Lenovo can acquire the brand of Thinkpad and reach out new customers in international market. According the theories of change, organization change is always resisted by the em ployees for the feeling of uncertainty and fears of risks. The biggest problem of this change for Lenovo also comes from people. On the one hand, IBM employees worry about changing to the Chinese management style, and losing interests in salary and remuneration. On the other hand, different salary and remuneration systems make Chinese employees feel unequal and dissatisfied. Whats more, this change may also cause cultural conflicts between the Chinese and the Americans. Recognizing these resistances, Lenovo takes some effective measures which ensure the implementation of the change. Lenovo sets up a good example for organization pursuing change. Its experiences are summarized and given as recommendations in this essay. Firstly, successful change is based on the effective communication with employees. Secondly, changes either big or small need careful consideration and plan. .

Two Main Categories of Collaboration Essay -- Collaboration Writing Cl

Two Main Categories of Collaboration The first thing I noticed about the subject of collaboration is that it is huge—there are as many styles, types, methods, rationales, theories, benefits and drawbacks as there are theorists and scholars. Additionally, almost no one appears to agree on even such simple matters as terminology (Is it collaborative writing or collaborative learning? Is it peer response, review, or editing?), let alone on actual application and practice. As Kenneth Bruffee states in â€Å"Collaborative Learning and the ‘Conversation of Mankind,’† an essay many supporters and detractors of collaborative writing hearken back to time and time again, his essay â€Å"offers no recipes† because there are no recipes for effectively adding collaborative writing to an English classroom (394). There are merely guidelines for successful collaboration and rationales supporting or denying the usefulness of incorporating collaborative writing. Kenneth Topping, director for the Cen tre for Paired Learning at Dundee University, supporting the notion that collaboration is without rules or recipe, writes, â€Å"Collaborative writing is not a single homogeneous procedure† (1). There are two main categories of collaboration: dialogic and hierarchical. Rebecca Moore Howard explains in her guide â€Å"Assigning Collaborative Writing—Tips for Teachers† that â€Å"in dialogic collaboration, the group works together in all aspects of the project, whereas in hierarchical collaboration, the group divides the task into component parts and assigns certain components to each group member† (1) George Landow, in â€Å"Hypertext: The Convergence of Contemporary Critical Theory and Technology,† identifies four basic types of collaboration, some dialogic, some hierar... ...tive Learning.† in Cross-Talk in Comp Theory: A Reader. Ed. Victor Villanueva, Jr. Urbana, Illinois: National Council of Teachers of English, 1997. 439-456. Weiner, Harvey S. â€Å"Collaborative Learning in the Classroom: A Guide to Evaluation.† The Writing Teacher’s Sourcebook. Eds. Gary Tate and Corbett. New York, NY: Oxford UP: 1988. 238-247. Yancey, Kathleen Blake, & Spooner, Michael. â€Å"Collaborative/Social Process Theory.† in Theorizing Composition: A Critical Sourcebook of Theory and Scholarship in Contemporary Composition Studies. Ed. Mary Kennedy. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1995. 37-41. Zeni, Jane. â€Å"Oral Collaboration, Computers, and Revision.† in Writing With: New Directions in Collaborative Teaching, Learning, and Research. Eds. Bleich, David; Fox, Thomas; Reagan, Sally Barr. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1994. 213-226.

Free Yellow Wallpaper Essays: National Identity :: Yellow Wallpaper essays

National Identity and The Yellow Wallpaper Gilman is an author whose writing is based on individuals making up America's collective identity. "The Yellow Wallpaper" is from the vantage points of being a woman, at a time when women were not supposed to have individual thoughts and personalities. At this time in history, the social roles of women were very well-defined: mothers and caretakers of the family, prim and proper creatures that were pleasant to look at, seen but not heard, and irrational and emotional. The identity of women were presupposed on them by men. At the time this story was written, social criticisms were on the rise and writers had more of an outlet to express themselves. Women's suffrage provided by many female writers, such as Gilman, the means to air the wrongs against women. The main character (a sort of parallel to Gilman herself) experiences post-partem depression, and at this point in time, there was no knowledge of this condition. It was generally thought that the nervous condition suffered by women after birth was caused by a weak moral/mental state. The narrator's husband, John takes her to an old, gothic house, away from all the care and stress of the world. This is supposed to be for her own good. To get some rest and to heal her "weak" mind, she lies in bed, almost locked in her room, left to stare at this ugly, yellow wallpaper. The ugliness of the wallpaper begins to consume her mind as the room turns more into a prison than a place of healing. The main character's though processes become apparent as the story progresses. When she first talks of the pattern, she only describes the pattern and the color briefly: "I never saw a worse paper in my life. One of those sprawling, flamboyant pattern committing every artistic sin... The color is repell ent, almost revolting..." But the pattern becomes more detailed-- in a sense, she has given the pattern life: "Looked at in one way, each breadth stands alone; the bloated curves and flourishes- a kind of 'debased Romanesque' with delirium tremens- go waddling up and down in isolated columns of fatuity." As she begins to pay more attention to detail, her mind starts becoming more and more unstable. However, with this deterioration comes her realization of the situation she is in. At the end of the story, it is evident that the woman trapped in the wallpaper represents the main character-- she has started to talk in first person: "'I've got out at last,' said I, 'in spite of you and Jane.

Relationships and Mechanical Processes in The Sun Also Rises Essay

Relationships and Mechanical Processes in The Sun Also Rises      Ã‚  Ã‚   Relationships are an important part of life. From general friendships to romantic encounters, almost everyone has had some type of relationship. Sometimes relationships can get confusing, especially when love is involved. Most people, such as Lady Brett Ashley, from The Sun Also Rises, feel that love and sex go hand in hand in a romantic relationship. Although it is apparent that she is in love with Jacob Barnes, the main character, since he is not able to have sex, she does not want to try having any type of romantic relationship with him. "You mustn't [touch her]. You must know. I can't stand it, that's all." (Hemingway, 34).    This idea that one is not able to love another unless there is sex involved leads Brett into many troubles. Since she is not able to have the type of relationship that she wants with Jake, she ends up going after men that are just not worth all the trouble, "she only wanted what she couldn't have."(39). She is in the process of getting a divorce from her husband, a man who has threatened her life on numerous occasions. She is engaged to another man who is habitually drunk and completely bankrupt. She even has affairs with random men that usually understand that it is nothing but a "fling" except for Robert Cohn who "wanted to make an honest woman of her." (205). Her fiancà © seems to be all right with her lifestyle and all the various men when he is sober, but once he has drunk too much it is apparent that her flings mean more to him than he tries to let on. "I gave Brett what for, you know. I said if she would go about with Jews and bull-fighters and such people, she must expect tr ouble." (207). She makes a point of not hidin... ...fe to the fullest without having to worry about relationships and not being able to have one. He understands that he is not able to have or do everything that he wants and so makes up for it by substituting other things that he can do, such as reading, playing tennis, fishing and watching bull-fighting. By having something to concentrate on, Jake does not have to worry about what he is not able to do and so can live his life the best way he knows how.    Works Cited and Consulted: Bardacke, Theodore. "Hemingway's Women." Ernest Hemingway: The Man And His Work. ed. John McCaffery. New York: Cooper Square 1969 Bloom, Harold. Ernest Hemingway. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1985. Fiedler, Leslie A. Love and Death in the American Novel. New York: Stein & Day 1966 Hemingway, Ernest. "The Sun Also Rises" Scribner Paperback Fiction, 1926

Non Communicable Diseases Essay

Health Promotion- Non Communicable Diseases Non communicable diseases are leading threat to health and development. â€Å"Non communicable diseases (NCD’s) outpace all other causes of morbidity and mortality each year, though most NCD’s have modifiable risk factors and are preventable† (WHO, 2012). Non communicable or chronic diseases are diseases of long duration and generally slow progression. NCD’s are leading causes of death worldwide and 80% of deaths occur in low and middle income countries. The four main types of NCD’s are cardiovascular diseases, for instance, heart attacks and strokes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructed pulmonary disease and asthma and diabetes. Such diseases result from genetic or lifestyle factors. Most premature deaths from NCD’s are linked to common risk factors, namely tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol and poverty also contribute to rising rates of NCD’s. Vulnerable and socially di sadvantaged people in developing countries get sicker and die sooner as a result of NCD’s than people of higher socio-economic status. Non communicable diseases represent a major and growing socio-economic burden in developing world. This places undue strain on communities and health system. NCD’s require multi-stakeholders solution. Government is coming up with non communicable disease intervention to bring about radical changes that are needed in order to reduce prevalence rate of NCD’s. Communities have right to receive appropriate information on reducing the risk of NCD’s, so that they are empowered to take the right lifestyle choices. In this assignment, the factors that contribute to the increase incidence of non communicable disease are discussed. Health promotion strategy at the community nurse’s level is discussed with the significance of the use of these health promotion strategies.

Social Security Coverage- Tanzania

SOCIAL SECURITY POLICY – GLOSSARY . ILO Minimum Standards. International Labour Organisation set an instrument which was adopted at its 35th session in June 1952, popularly known as ‘Social Security (minimum Standards) Convention No. 102. Itemised number of contingencies and benefits required in the minimum standards convention include’ Old Age, Invalidity, Survivorship, Employment Injury, maternity, medical Care, sickness, Unemployment and Death. Indexation of Benefits: It is an adjustment of pensions and other cash benefits to take account of price movements and protection against inflation to the beneficiaries.Indexes may include prevailing statutory minimum wages, yearly average earnings of the contributors e. t. c. Portability of Benefits: This is a system which ensures that members accrued benefits are not lost by a member changing employer, changing employment from one sector to another or by migrating from one country to another. The system ensures continu ity of benefit rights accrued. Means-tested Basis: It is the basis of provision and adjustment of social assistance benefits by the government depending on a person’s means of living.The most considered group of people for the provision of social assistance benefits by meanstesting include, elderly, sick, invalids (disabled), survivors, unemployed. Normally these groups of people fall out of contributory schemes. In other words assistance is provided to citizens according to their inability to meet basic needs for survival, or defending themselves against natural calamities. Three- Tier System: According to ILO framework, Three Tier system is an arrangement/system designed to cater for different needs of protection for different categories of people depending on their level of incomes.Tier one, which is financed by the government, caters for those who are not able to purchase social security services e. g. sick, disabled, elderly e. t. c. Tier two caters for those who can con tribute and is compulsory and supervised by the government. Tier three caters for those who can afford to supplement their Tier two security by purchasing commercial insurance benefits. Tier three is voluntary and privately managed. Three-Tier system is designed to reduce the government expenditure on social assistance/security programs through expansion of coverage of Tier Two and Three. . 3. 4. 5. iii 6. Actuarial Valuation: It is the process which involves assessing the current level of funding of the scheme by comparing scheme assets with liabilities accrued to the date of valuation and to determine the level of contributions that need to be paid in future to achieve the level of funding necessary to pay out the benefits promised. Actuarial reviews are conducted in intermediate periods to ensure that the fund is sustainable and this is reflected in the projections are of a long time frame e. . 25 years. 7. Social Insurance Principles: Is a social security administration where th e resources are pooled together for meeting various contingencies, every one is included regardless of the level or risk exposure and the motive is social protection as opposed to profit maximization. Defined Contribution v/s Defined Benefits: Defined contribution is a situation where benefits from a social security is not known, but depends on the contributions to be made and interests rates obtainable.Defined benefits is a situation where benefits to be obtained are known well in advance regardless of the contributions to be made, provided that the members meets prescribed minimum conditions. Defined contributions are associated with provident fund schemes, while defined benefits are associated with social insurance schemes. 8. iv FOREWORD The socio-economic and political changes, which are taking place in Tanzania, have prompted the formulation of the National Social Security Policy in order to address such changes for the benefit of its citizens and to ensure that sectoral progr ammes and activities are well coordinated.The formulation of the National Social Security Policy came at a time when Social Security Providers are reorganizing their activities to respond to the market demand as related to free market economy. Since independence to-date, some few institutions have been enjoying monopolistic status of providing social security services in the country. However under this policy social security sector will be liberalized. The National Social Security policy is a product of a series of consultations with stakeholders which started in year 2001. The policy was adopted by the government early in year 2003.The aim of this policy is to realize the goals and objectives set out in the vision 2025 by extending social security services to the majority of the Tanzanians. The structure of the Policy document provides background information of social security, status and challenges of the sector in Tanzania, and the rationale for its formulation. There are also ch apters that provide policy issues and statements, institutional frame- work and responsibilities during its implementation. With great pleasure I would like to welcome the social security policy for the development of our country. Hon. Prof. J. A.Kapuya (MP) Minister for Labour, Youth Development and Sports v CHAPTER 1 1. 0 1. 1 INTRODUCTION Background Every human being is vulnerable to risks and uncertainties with respect to income as a means of life sustenance. To contain these risks, everyone needs some form of social security guaranteed by the family, community and the society as a whole. Such socioeconomic risks and uncertainties in human life form the basis for the need of social security. Social security is rooted in the need for solidarity and risk pooling by the society given that no individual can guarantee his or her own security.Formal social security system in Africa and other developing countries is a product of colonialism. In Tanzania during the colonial era, social security coverage was extended to the few people who were in the colonial employment. Most of the people were excluded from any type of public social security scheme. The majority of the Tanzanian people depended upon the traditional social security system for their protection, which is still the case to date, though effects of urbanization and difficult economic environment have weakened the same.After independence, the Government of Tanzania introduced a series of policies and measures to reverse the situation that prevailed during the colonial era. The measures included access to free education and healthcare, provision of social welfare services to marginalized groups such as the elderly, people with disabilities and children in difficult circumstances, as well as establishment of statutory social security schemes.However, tax financed social services have proved to be unsustainable as evidenced by introduction of cost sharing in sectors such as education and health. 1 1. 2 The Concept of Social Security Social security means any kind of collective measures or activities designed to ensure that members of society meet their basic needs and are protected from the contingencies to enable them maintain a standard of living consistent with social norms.The social security concept has been changing with time from the traditional ways of security to modern ones. As societies became more industrialized as a result of industrial revolution in the 19th century and more people became dependent upon wage employment, it was no longer possible to rely upon the traditional system of social security. The negative impact of industrialization and urbanization attracted the attention of policy makers to formalize social security system that addressed the emerged social issues.Social security is defined in its broadest meaning by the International Labour Organization (ILO) as: â€Å"The protection measures which society provides for its members, through a series of public m easures against economic and social distress that would otherwise be caused by the stoppages or substantial reduction of earnings resulting from sickness, maternity, employment injury, unemployment, disability, old age, death, the provision of medical care subsidies for families with children. The ILO framework of social security is based on a three-tier structure, which seeks to utilize various funding sources for provision of better protection to the country’s population. This structure also seeks to address needs of different groups in the 2 society with respect to income and degree of vulnerability. The structure consists of the following: a) Tier One – Social Assistance Schemes This constitutes provision of services such as primary health; primary education, water, food security and other services on a means tested basis.These services are usually financed by the government and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs. b) Tier Two – Mandatory Schemes These are usually compulsory and contributory schemes financed by both employer and employee during the working life for terminal and short-term benefits. c) Tier Three – Voluntary or Supplementary Schemes The schemes under this tier include personal savings, co-operative and credit societies, occupational pensions schemes and private schemes; managed by employers, professional bodies, communitybased organizations and other private sector actors. CHAPTER II 2. O SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM IN TANZANIA 2. 1 Objectives of the Social Security Services Social security in Tanzania covers a wider variety of public and private measures meant to provide benefits in the event of the individuals’ earning power permanently ceasing, being interrupted, never developing, being unable to avoid poverty, or being exercised only at an acceptable social costs. The major domains of social security are: poverty prevention, poverty alleviation, social compensation and income distri bution.Many issues relating to social security are sensitive, as they touch on the material interests of organized workers and the unorganized poor as well as insurance industry and employer organizations. The social security system in Tanzania has the following key elements:†¢ Social assistance schemes which are non-contributory and income-tested, and provided by the state to groups such as people with disabilities, elderly people and unsupported parents and children who are unable to provide for their own minimum needs.In Tanzania social assistance also covers social relief, which is a short term measure to tide people over a particular individual or community crisis; †¢ Mandatory schemes, where people contribute through the employers to pension or provident funds, employers also contribute to these funds; 4 †¢ Private savings, where people voluntarily save for retirement, working capital and insure themselves against events such as disability and loss of income and meet other social needs. Despite the existence of this framework, service delivery has not reached the majority of Tanzanians due to inadequate financing and fragmented institutional arrangements.The estimated total population of Tanzania is 33. 5 million1. Out of this, 70 per cent are in the rural areas, while the rest are in urban areas. The total labour force of Tanzania is estimated at 16 million, where 5. 4% of the total labour force or 2. 7% of the total population is covered by the mandatory formal social security system. 93 per cent of the capable workforce is engaged in the informal sector in both rural and urban areas; out of that 80 per cent is in engaged in the agrarian economy2. 2. Informal Social Security System Tanzania, like many other countries in the developing world has had strong informal and traditional social security systems built on family and/or community support.In times of contingencies such as famine, diseases, and old age; individuals have depended on f amily, clan members and members of the community for assistance in the form of cash or in kind. While it is recognized that over time, traditional social security system has tended to decay and change forms in response to the forces of urbanization and industrialization, there is evidence that in Tanzania family and 2 National Bureau of Statistics, 2001 National Labourforce Survey, 1999 5 community social support system have remained as means of social security within different social groups. Overtime, socio-economic reforms have slowly resulted into disintegration of the family-based social security protection leading to the formation of self-help groupings such as UPATU, UMASIDA and VIBINDO. 2. 3 Formal Social Security System Formal social security is a regulated mechanism of protecting citizens against social contingencies.This system has existed in Tanzania well before independence; whereby various policy statements have been made and Acts passed in regard to the protection of t he population against contingencies like injury, loss of employment and old age. These include the Master and Native Ordinance Cap 78 as amended by Cap. 371, Provident Fund (Government Employees) Ordinance Cap 51, Provident Fund (Local Authorities) Ordinance Cap. 53 and the Workmen’s Compensation Ordinance Cap 262. After independence new legislations were enacted and others amended.These include the Severance Allowance Act No. 57 of 1962; the National Provident Fund Act No. 36 of 1964 amended by Act. No. 2 of 1975 which was later repealed and replaced by the National Social Security Fund Act No. 28 of 1997; the Parastatal Pensions Act No. 14 of 1978, the Public Service Retirement Benefits Act of 1999, the National Health Insurance Fund Act No. 8 of 1999 and Local Authorities Provident Fund Act. No. 6 of 2000. 6 Currently, there are five major formal institutions that provide social security protection in Tanzania.These are the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) offering soc ial security coverage to employees of private sector and non-pensionable parastatal and government employees, the Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF) providing social security protection to employees of central Government under pensionable terms, Parastatal Pension Fund (PPF) offering social security coverage to employees of the both private and parastatal organizations, the Local Authorities Provident Fund (LAPF) offering social security coverage to employees of the Local Government and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) offering health insurance coverage to pensionable employees of central government.The formal social security total coverage in Tanzania is about 871,000 members distributed as 363,000 for NSSF, 193,000 for PSPF, 180,000 for NHIF, 90,000 for PPF and 45,000 for LAPF. This represents about 85% of the persons employed in the formal employment sector. 2. 4 The Impact of Social Security System in Tanzania Efforts by the government to provide social security protect ion in the country have brought about significant development. However, due to the absence of an elaborate social security policy to guide effective functioning of the industry, there are some structural, operational and policy weaknesses inherent in the social security system. a) i) Achievements Investment of Social Security Funds 7Social security institutions in Tanzania have been investing in portfolios such as commercial loans, real estate, government securities, Loanable funds, bank deposits and equities; all of which have contributed to social and macro-economic development of the country. ii) Awareness on Social Security Matters There has been an increase in the level of public awareness on the social security system in respect of benefits offered, coverage, investments and general operations of the sector. iii) Organized Self-help Groups Informal social security scheme in the form of self-help groups has been more organized than before. (b) Shortcomings in the Current Social Security System The existing social security system in Tanzania is characterised by a number of shortcomings, which need to be addressed by this policy.Among these shortcomings are: – i) Limited Coverage Persons covered by the social security schemes are those who are employed in the formal sector estimated at 1. 0 million. This is only about 5. 4% of the whole labour force of over 16 million Tanzanians. This means the remaining 15 million labour force, engaged in informal sector and comparatively more vulnerable are not covered by the formal social security protection. ii) Inadequacy of Benefits Paid (Number and Meaningfulness) 8 The number of benefits offered by most of the existing schemes fall below the ILO Minimum Standards in terms of number, quality and indexation to the current levels of earnings. ii) Fragmentation and Lack of Co-ordination The social security sector lacks co-ordination at national level as each Fund reports to a different Ministry with differing ope rational rules and procedures. As a result, contribution rates, benefit structures, qualifying conditions as well as plans and priorities differ form one institution to another. iv) Lack of Mechanism for Portability of Benefit Rights There is no established mechanism that can allow benefit rights of a member to be transferred from one scheme to another. This results in employees losing some of their benefit rights when they move from one sector to another. v) Social Security Benefits In some of the Tanzania’s social security schemes, members’ benefits are not rights but privileges.Normally, members loose some of their benefits if they leave employment before attainment of their pensionable ages. nature of termination. vi) Conflicts in the Existing Legislations Establishing legislations of the current social security institutions have provisions that conflict in terms of operations. In other circumstances, members’ benefit rights are determined by the employers d epending on the 9 vii) Non-contributory Social Security Benefits Currently, there is a segment of salaried workers who are getting social security benefits fully financed through tax revenues; this is a strain to the Government budget. viii) Liberalization There has been a monopoly in the operation of social security institutions in the country. ix)Investment of Social Security Funds There has been inadequate guidance on investment of social security fund at national level 2. 5 i) Challenges In The Social Security System Weakening of Informal Social Protection System Socio-economic developments taking place in Tanzania have resulted into a slow but steady disintegration of the kinship or family-based social support systems on which the majority of Tanzanians have depended for protection against contingencies. Economic hardships have made it difficult for individuals, families and/or kin members to provide assistance to each other in time of crisis and need. The high rate of urbanisa tion has also taken its toll on traditional social protection systems.There has been increasing fragmentation with families becoming more dispersed thereby eroding the capacity of extended families to function as social safety nets. ii) Limited Growth of the Formal Employment 10 Public sector reforms have resulted into retrenchment of workers, freezing employment in the public sector and privatisation of public enterprises. These have led to increased unemployment, which in turn has forced more people to resort to employment in the urban informal sector where earnings are often inadequate and/or uncertain. There is however a limited growth in employment in the private sector. iii) Reduced Access to Social Services Despite the deliberate measures by the government to improve provision of ocial services to the public, considerable part of the population has either limited or no access to services. In some instances, cost sharing in the provision of social services has reduced the capa city of the people to access the services. iv) Low levels of incomeIncomes for the majority of the people in Tanzania are generally inadequate to meet their basic requirements and save for future use. v) Declaration of Low Insurable Earnings Some employers provide remunerations composed of basic salaries and allowances, while deductions for social security are based on basic salaries only, leading to lower benefits from social security institutions upon retirement. 2. Rationale For A Social Security Policy The existing social security system has many shortcomings that include low coverage of the Tanzanian Society, fragmentation of 11 legislation, lack of regulatory framework, lack of a mechanism for portability of benefits and inadequacy of benefits provided. Therefore, the need for a well-articulated national social security policy is more eminent now than ever. In view of the foregoing, there is a need for having a comprehensive national social security policy that shall address t he needs of employed people in the formal sector, self employed population in the informal sector, the elderly, people with disabilities and children in need of special protection.Therefore the social security policy is expected to: Widen the scope and coverage of social security services to all the citizens; Harmonize social security schemes in the country so as to eliminate fragmentation and rationalize contribution rates and benefit structures; Reduce poverty through improved quality and quantity of benefits offered; Institute a mechanism for good governance and sustainability of social security institutions through establishment of a regulatory body; Establish a social security structure that is consistent with the ILO standards but with due regard to the socio-economic situation in the country; and Ensure more transparency and involvement of social partners in the decision making with respect to social security institutions 12 CHAPTER THREE 3. POLICY ISSUES AND STATEMENTS The g eneral objective of the policy is to ensure that every citizen is protected against economic and social distress resulting from substantial loss in income due to various contingencies. Underlying the above–mentioned general objective, this policy shall therefore address the following specific issues: 3. 1 Policy Issue: The Structure of Social Security Sector Different social groups face different contingencies, hence calling for varied types of protection. Provision of comprehensive social security services should follow a structure that recognises different levels of needs, utilises different funding sources and reflects roles of various stakeholders.Policy Statement: Provision of social security services in the country shall be structured as follows: a) Social Assistance Programmes The Government shall enhance the capacity to attend to the social assistance programmes that constitute services such as primary health; primary education, water, food security and social welfare services to vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, the elderly and children in difficult circumstances on a means tested basis. Moreover, the government shall create an enabling environment for other institutions such as Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), charitable organisations, families and mutual assistance groups to supplement the government’s effort in the provision of such services. 13 b)Mandatory Schemes Mandatory social security institutions that shall operate under the social insurance principles in accordance with minimum acceptable standards and benchmarks. c) Supplementary Schemes Supplementary schemes shall be established to cater for different social services like health, pensions and other types of insurance over and above those provided by mandatory and social assistance programmes. These schemes shall be run by employers, bodies private and companies, professional community-based organisations (CBOs). 3. 2 Policy Issue: Coverage The existin g mandatory social security schemes currently cover only 5. 4 % of the labour force estimated at 16. 0 million.The larger part of the labour force engaged in the informal sector that includes smallholder agriculture, small-scale mining, fishing, and petty businesses are inadequately covered by self-help initiatives. Moreover, accessibility to the social welfare services by the disadvantaged groups is limited; hence the majority of the people are not covered by the formal social security schemes. Policy Statements: a) Social Welfare Service shall be improved and extended to enhance accessibility to disadvantaged groups including people with disabilities, the elderly and children in difficult circumstances. b) A legal framework shall provide for all employees in the formal sector and devise means of extending coverage to the informal sector such as agricultural, 14 ining, fishing and small businesses. c) There shall be an act to support the formation of mutual assistance initiatives b y the NGOs, CBOs and other groups operating at community level. d) Employers, financial institutions, professional associations, insurance companies, social security institutions and other organisations shall be enabled to establish supplementary schemes to provide social security benefits over and above those provided by mandatory and social assistance programmes. 3. 3 Policy Issue: Social Security as a Right According to Article 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10th December 1948; social protection is a rights issue.Likewise, Article 11(1) of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania stipulates that:â€Å"The state authority shall make appropriate provisions for the realisation of a person’s right to work, to self education and social welfare at times of old age, sickness or disability and in other cases of incapacity†¦.. †3 In view of such provision there is still inadequate coverage of social security services to the Tanzanian Socie ty. Policy Statement Efforts shall be made to enhance awareness and 3 United Republic of Tanzania (1998) â€Å"The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania of 1977† 15 sensitisation of the society regarding the important and provision of social security services as a right.3. Policy Issue: Inadequacy of Benefits offered The number and quality of benefits offered by most of the existing social security funds are not adequate to meet the basic needs of beneficiaries; in terms of the number of benefits, magnitude and indexation to the current levels of earnings. Policy Statement: Social security schemes shall have a standard minimum number of benefits offered and indexed to the current levels of earnings of contributors. 3. 5 Policy Issue: Portability of Social Security Benefits Benefit rights are not portable when a member moves from one scheme to another due to differing legislations, operational rules and procedures. As a result members loose some of their benefit righ ts just by moving from one scheme to another. Policy Statement There shall be regulated mechanisms established to enable portability of benefit rights when a member moves from one scheme to another. 3. 6Policy Issue: Lack of Co-ordination 16 The current social security institutions are placed under different Ministries with different rules and procedures, as a result there is a conflict in the administration of social security matters. Policy Statement: The social security sector shall be coordinated by the Ministry responsible for social security matters. 3. 7 Policy Issue: Reciprocal Agreements for Transfer of Benefits Labour mobility across nations has become a common phenomenon due to globalisation and foreign investment, there by require people work and live in different countries; and hence find themselves contributing to various social security institutions.Lack of a mechanism for transfer of benefit rights across nations may result into some members loosing their rights or b eing unable to qualify for better benefits. Policy Statement: Legal mechanisms shall be developed to provide for reciprocal agreements with other countries for transfer of social security benefits across nations. 3. 8 Policy Issue: Partial Withdrawal of Benefits Social security schemes do not provide for pre-mature withdrawals of benefits by members before attainment of the pensionable age. However, due to unstable employment environment, low level of income of most of the workers and little awareness on social security matters, members have a tendency of demanding total 17 withdrawal of benefits upon termination of employment before the attainment of pensionable age.Policy Statement: Legal mechanisms shall be developed to allow for withdrawal of part of the accumulated benefits; while the balance shall remain for long-term benefits on premature termination of their employment. 3. 9 Policy Issue: Financing of Social Security Services The Government has the responsibility of providin g social security services to its citizens. However, due to limited resources the Government still provides limited services for salaried employees and individuals who can afford to contribute for the services. Policy Statements: (a) Services under Social Assistance Programs shall be offered on a means-tested basis and financed by the general tax revenue and other grants. b) Mechanisms shall be established to ensure that all salaried employees and individuals, who can afford to contribute to the mandatory schemes, do so to ensure enhancement of benefits.3. 10 Policy Issue: Guaranteeing of Mandatory Schemes The Government has the responsibility to guarantee members’ benefits in the event the established mandatory social security 18 schemes become insolvent. So far there is no concrete commitment by the Government to instil contributors confidence in their membership Policy Statement: (a) (b) The Government shall continue to guarantee members’ benefits in the established mandatory schemes. The Government shall ensure that Social Security Schemes are managed efficiently. 3. 1 Policy Issue: Taxation on Contributions, Investment Income and Benefits Contributions and income accrued from investment by social security institutions are being taxed thus weakening the capacity of the schemes to offer quality benefit to members. Policy Statement: The government shall continue to review tax policies to ensure contributions, benefits and income from investments to enable mandatory schemes offer meaningful benefits to members. 3. 12 Policy Issue: Investment of Social Security Funds Investment of social security funds is an inseparable function of social security institutions. Sustainability of the schemes and improvement of benefits depend on investment income.Social security funds have often been directed to areas where there is no stimulation of economic growth. There are no clear-cut guidelines directing investments of social security funds at the national l evel. 19 Policy Statement: Guide lines will be developed based on principles of safety yield and liquidity. 3. 13 Policy Issue: Good Governance Good governance is the key to smooth functioning and efficiency in all social security schemes, as they are entrusted to manage funds on behalf of the contributors. There has been poor governance in social security services. Policy Statement There shall be guidelines to ensure that all social security schemes are transparent and accountable to the members and the public at large.3. 4 Policy Issue: Legal Framework and Minimum Standards There is fragmentation of social security system in the country with respect to different legislations and design of the schemes. These schemes also lack minimum standards to guide their operations. Policy Statement: There shall be an act to govern and standardize operations of the social security sector. The law shall also provide for the establishment of a regulatory body that shall ensure smooth and efficien t operations of the sector. 20 3. 15 Policy Issue: Liberalization of the Social Security Sector The current trend in the country is to liberalize various sectors in the economy. However, the current social sector is based on organization/institution monopoly in its operation.Policy Statements: Social security institutions shall operate in a regulated liberalized market as follows:While the existing Social mandatory Security social Services security under institutions shall operate and compete among themselves supplementary schemes shall be fully liberalized. 21 CHAPTER IV 4. 0 ROLES OF STAKEHOLDERS The different stakeholders shall have the following roles to play in the social security sector:4. 1 The Government †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ 4. 2 Coverage of the social assistance programmes Put an enabling environment for smooth operations of the social security To institute regulatory and legal framework Supervision of the sector. Guarantor of mandatory schemesSocial Secu rity Institutions †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Offering quality benefits and services Good governance of the schemes Involvement of Stakeholders Widen coverage Awareness creation and sensitisation 4. 3 Employers †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Registration of employees Timely and accurate remittance of contributions Awareness creation and sensitisation Adherence to safety and occupational health rules 4. 4 Workers’ Unions †¢ †¢ †¢ Representation of workers’ interests in the social security Awareness creation and sensitisation Support the social security industry. 22 sector 4. 5 NGOs/CBOs †¢ Complement efforts by the Government in the provision of social †¢ assistance programmes and establishment of supplementary schemes Awareness creation to the public 4. 6 Communities †¢ †¢ Responsiveness to the needs of the vulnerable persons Maintain self-help traditions 23