Moral psychology Essay

The articles in this special section express a common theme: the use of information technology in society is creating a rather unique set of ethical issues that requires the making of new moral choices on the part of society and has spawned special implications for its members. Technology itself is not the only, nor necessarily the most responsible, cause of these issues. All ethical questions arise initially out of human agency. Technology, due to its capability to augment mental and physical powers of human beings, does stand in the role of a coconspirator. The lure of power-enhancing capabilities makes technology an inducer of sorts, a necessary but not sufficient underpinning to many of the ethical issues we face today. An ethical issue is said to arise whenever one party in pursuit of its goals engages in behavior that materially affects the ability of another party to pursue its goals. When the effect is helpful—good, right, just—we say the behavior is praiseworthy or exemplary. When, however, the effect is harmful— bad, wrong, unjust—the behavior is unethical. This purposeful theory of ethics is reflected in the issues discussed in these articles. For example, email and being online are applications of information technology, the lure of which is based on their ability to expand the scope, range, speed, and ease of interpersonal and corporate communications. Useful as they are, the schemes and the manifold of issues addressed leave one question unanswered: What moral guidance can be provided to the agents whose behavior create these issues? And, this question leads to others: How should the many knowledge workers, systems analysts, programmers, hardware designers, authors, executives, and so forth, who set in motion the actions which bring these issues to the fore, guide their own behavior? Knowing their technology-based actions will intercede in the course of human affairs, how should they direct them? The crucial point occurs when a moral agent—one that by definition has choices—decides to change the state of information or information technology in a human system. Changes in hardware, software, information content, information flow, knowledge-based jobs, and the rules and regulations affecting information are among the many things agents do that affect others. I call these crucial juncture points moments-of-truth. If those of us who make decisions in any of these areas are to behave ethically, we must be able to identify the significant momentsof-truth in which we participate and be able to reflect on the effects of our actions. We must use our moral imagination to guide our choices so that we can contribute positively toward making the kind of ethical world in which we want to live and want to bequeath to our future generations. How can we do this? The ACM Code of Ethics [1], as well as the schemes and other articles in this special section provide initial grist for the mill. More fundamental, however, is our conscience, aided by our understanding and expertise in information technology. If we have an inkling our behavior as information professionals might in some way harm others, we probably should examine our decisions a little more carefully and from an ethical point-of-view. Getting the Morally Relevant Facts The facts of an ethical situation can be summarized by four factors. The first factor is to clearly identify the moral agent. Whose actions will bring about the technology-induced change? The frameworks and discussions presented here will be helpful because they point to a variety of possible forms of agency. The next factor is the set of alternative courses-ofCOMMUNICATIONS OF THE ACM. December 1995/Vol. 38, No. 12 55 action available to the agent. These are the realworld acts that will have an effect on the human system under consideration. Acts have consequences, hence the third factor: a delineation of the results that are expected to occur if each act is taken. Finally, it is essential to identify the stakeholders who will be affected by the consequences of the acts. A stakeholder is any individual, group, organization, or institution that can affect as well as be affected by an agent’s actions. In a word, stakeholders have an interest in what an agent does [3]. These four factors—agent, acts, results and stakeholders—are the basic facts from which an ethical analysis proceeds. Applying Ethical Theories Renowned medical ethicist William F. May refers to the method of ethical reflection as corrective vision. â€Å"Ethics supplies a type of corrective lens,† he observes, â€Å"and relies heavily on the distinction between what is and what ought to be† [4]. These four crucial factors serve to establish what is. For what ought to be we must turn to ethical theories. These theories are the prisms—the optometrist’s collection of lenses—through which we can observe reality and see the choices to make as we attempt to direct reality towards our ethical ideals. There are many, perhaps an infinity, of theories we might apply. The optics of ethics is very large indeed. We can be comforted in this effort, however, by the realization that the evolution of ethical thinking has resulted in four major themes. These are meta-lenses through which to look at an ethical situation. One theory emphasizes an agent’s duty. This theory seeks to create a good society by having people do the right things. As Immanuel Kant emphasized, there are prohibitions against taking some acts and obligations to take others. We have a prima facie or a priori duty, for example, to respect the autonomy of others according to one principle evolving out of this theory; any acts an agent might take that would invade a stakeholder’s privacy or right to choose for themselves should be avoided. More specifically, it is reasonable to assume members have a prima facie duty to adhere to the provisions of the ACM Code of Ethics. But, and this is a significant point, we may not always be obliged to do so. Subsequent theorists in this deontological vain, W. D. Ross in particular [5], have held that while these duties are compelling they are not definitive. When two or more duties come into conflict the agent must make a reasoned choice. For example, the advantages obtained from using email may be deemed to be more important than the exposure to loss of privacy it brings about. These moral losses, however, should be made explicit in making a moral choice. The same principle applies, as we will see, among theories themselves. The second great tradition is the pursuit of happiness. Applying this theory requires that we assess the consequences of the agent’s actions and deter56 December 1995/Vol. 38, No. 12 COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ACM mine how much pleasure or pain, good or bad, happiness or unhappiness, benefits or costs they inflict on stakeholders. The guiding principle, which originates with Bentham and Mill, is that an agent should choose an act resulting in the greatest good for the greatest number. The good society is reached according to this theory by doing good for others. However, since what is good for the collective-at-large may not be good for a given individual (or may violate a basic duty or right), advice emanating from this consequentialist tradition may conflict with advice deriving from other theories. A third great tradition is the pursuit of virtue. This theory focuses on improving the character or traits of the agent. The ancient Greeks averred that a moral person should take acts that enable and enhance the agent’s courage, prudence, temperance and justice. Their predecessors focused on accumulating individual power. â€Å"Might is right† formed the basis of their concept of virtue. One of their successors, St. Thomas Acquinas, drew on the Pauline tradition to add the more spiritual virtues of faith, hope and charity to the list. And, in the industrial age, industry, honesty, and trustworthiness were added because they were necessary for commercial relationships. All of these virtueoriented guides have the effect of creating a good society by having each agent be a good person. Finally, there is the tradition of the pursuit of justice. Justice requires that every stakeholder in the system should enjoy, so far as possible, an equal opportunity to develop his or her knowledge, skills and talents, and to reach his or her potentialities. This comes from fair dealing and right action and is usually based on rules that society has made, rules that should be the same for all and applied equally. The rules are based on criteria such as merit, need, work or other agreed-upon standards. The social contract theories to which several of the authors refer have emerged as a part of this tradition. The good society according to theories of justice is achieved by doing fairly, both in the fair allocation of privileges, duties, and goods, and in the meting out of punishments. When facing a moment-of-truth, one is well advised to view the situation through each of these ethical lenses. Each provides insight into the moral complexity of the issue being examined. Frequently, however, the guidance deriving from one of these theories will conflict with that of one or more of the others. This requires a moral judgment, one that shows how one theory or principle trumps another. The reasons behind the choice made should be grounded in at least one moral theory and justified accordingly. The pitting of facts against theories is a necessary —and the most important—aspect of deciding on an ethical issue. There are also four additional considerations to take into account: Who should decide? Who should benefit? How should the decision be made? And, how can the issue be prevented from arising in the future? Who Should Decide? Presumably if you are facing a moment-of-truth you are also engaged in a decision process. Should you go it alone? Often, not. Before an agent acts he or she should take into account the answers to two questions: 1) Which other stakeholders ought to participate in the making of this decision because of their knowledge, their values, or their interests? The voices of future generations should always be considered in this determination as well as the voices of contemporaries. 2) Which other stakeholders must take part in the decision and its implementation because of their institutional jobs, responsibilities or the resources they control? As debates on the basis of a â€Å"just war† have concluded, a decision that does not carry legitimacy or a reasonable probability of success is unlikely to lead to a satisfactorily moral outcome. Who Should Benefit from the Decision? Many stakeholders may be affected by a decision. Some of these outcomes should have been considered during the application of ethical theories to the situation at hand. Nevertheless, before enacting a choice one should assure himself or herself the benefits of the decision flow to morally justifiable parties and that no undue harm is done. How Should the Decision be Made and Carried Out? From a stakeholder’s point-of-view a decision cannot be separated from the way it is made and delivered. Whenever possible, important moral decisions should be made as the result of due process. Beyond any legal requirements, the processes by which decisions are made should be fair and they should follow established procedures when applicable. It is essential the parties who are potentially harmed by decisions, as well as those who are benefited, recognize the legitimacy of the decision-making process. This, however, is not enough. Decisions should be carried out in a humane, moral way. During the trumping process just described, some ethical principles or dictates are relegated to a secondary position. But they do not go away. A decision should be framed and fulfilled in a manner which maximizes the accomplishment of all of the ethical principles identified. All decisions should be carried out with due respect, in the sense that they should preserve the dignity of all stakeholders involved to the extent possible. How Can the Issue be Prevented from Arising in the Future? Every decision becomes a precedent in the future. A decision that resolves an acute and pressing moral issue today may not look so good in light of the passage of time. It may create worse problems than the ones it solves. Or, our moral reflection may reveal flaws in our institutions that can be—perhaps, should be—changed so the ethical issue at hand does not emerge again, at least in the same degree of intensity or severity. Thus, procedures and processes should be put in place, eliminating the root causes of this issue or handling it more effectively in the future. The essential question: In making this ethical decision, what sort of social transcript do we want to write? The last four considerations have a common thread: To be ethical, a decision-maker must think beyond just the facts and theories pertinent to the current issue. One must reach beyond the present and be sure to bring in additional voices, insure that ethical procedures are employed, adopt a humane style of conduct, and look to the future. Moving Ahead The articles in this issue form a rather gritty as well as a cerebral basis for getting on with the task of creating a good society in our information age. The ethics of being online, using tools such as email, and infusing of information technology into our lives in areas ranging from business process reengineering to installing large-scale systems are, arguably, among the most important ethical issues of our time. As good citizens in this information age we must be able to identify the crucial moments-of-truth in which our behavior as information professionals shapes the direction our society will take. By understanding the facts of each case, drawing on ethical traditions for guidance, and doing this with a concern for the broader implications of our actions, we can create the kind of ethical society we want. This is the challenge of our times [2]. C References 1. Anderson, R. E. , Johnson, D. G. , Gotterbarn, D. and Perrolle, J. Using the new ACM code of ethics in decision-making. Commun. ACM 36, 2 (Feb. 1993), pp 98–107 2. Mason, R. O. , Mason, F. M. , and Culnan, M. J. Ethics of Information Management. Sage, Thousand Oaks, Calif. , 1995. 3. Mason, R. O. and Mitroff, I. Challenging Strategic Planning Assumptions. Wiley, New York, 1981. 4. May, W. F. The Physician’s Covenant. Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1983. 5. Ross, W. D. Moral Duties. Macmillan, London, 1969. Richard O. Mason is Carr P. Collins Professor of Management Information Sciences at the Edwin L. Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Tex. Parts of this article are based on material originally developed for Mason, R. , Mason, F. , and Culnan, M. Ethics of Information Management. Sage, Thousand Oaks, Calif. , 1995. Permission to make digital/hard copy of part or all of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage, the copyright notice, the title of the publication and its date appear, and notice is given that copying is by permission of ACM, Inc. To copy otherwise, to republish, to post on servers, or to redistribute to lists requires prior specific permission and/or a fee.  © ACM 0002-0782/95/1200 $3. 50 COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ACM December 1995/Vol. 38, No. 12 57.

James Joyce’s The Dubliners Essay

In â€Å"Araby†, â€Å"Eveline†, and â€Å"The Dead†, three short stories featured in James Joyce’s The Dubliners, the characters struggle with whether to live their lives with a structured routine or to seek opportunities, change, and adventure. These short stories center around everyday life for citizens of Dublin, Ireland in the early 20th century, when a choice between continuing the inherited tradition of routine and structure versus seeking any other form of life or adventure could be the most important decision in the peoples’ lives. With the terrible potato famine still in living memory and with Ireland seeking a new culture and identity, many of its citizens clung to their routine as means of survival. The quotidian routine of the character’s lives suppresses and dominates the characters, preventing any of the characters’ ideas and dreams of seeking adventure. In â€Å"Araby,† every aspect of the little boy’s rou tine and everyday life impedes him from his adventurous goals of visiting the annual bazaar and fulfilling his dream of a relationship with Mangan’s sister. Despite his infatuation with his friend Mangan’s sister, the boy cannot work up the courage to spark a conversation and is pleasantly surprised when she asks him if he is going to the annual bazaar, hosted in Dublin. She then says that she is unable to attend, and the boy offers to bring her an item from the bazaar. Every aspect of the boy’s routine and everyday life seems to be trying to impede the boy from his goals, from school’s boring lessons to his uncle forgetting to arrive home early enough to give him money for the train fair because he was out drinking. Despite the adversities of his everyday life attempting to ensnare him, the boy does make it to the bazaar, but his hopes about the bazaar are not fulfilled. When the boy arrives at the bazaar, he realizes that the bazaar does not live up to his expectations. The untimely distractions that caused the boy to be late to the bazaar cause the boy to show up after most of the excitement and trade has already ended. He approaches one stall that is still open, but the owner of the stall seems to be preoccupied with a conversation with several men. The woman notices him, but the boy says how â€Å"†¦the tone of her voice was not encouraging; she seemed to have spoken to [him] out of a sense of duty†. The boy buys nothing, feeling unwanted by the woman watching over the goods. With no purchase for Mangan’s sister, the narrator stands angrily in the deserted bazaar as the lights go out, with his hopes crushed as his grandiose imagination of the bazaar is disillusioned. This realization deflates the boy’s hopes and dreams of an adventurous and exotic life, ending his wishful love affair with his friend’s sister, as well as ending his ambitions for a more adventurous life, and is analogous to Joyce’s â€Å"The Dead†. In â€Å"The Dead†, the banal and reflectively melancholy party is indicative of the monotonous routine that the Dubliners live by; however, Gabriel, the protagonist, struggles with the psychological battle with his methodical approach to life versus a more acceptin g and unconventional mindset, in which he wishes to enjoy a happier outlook on life. The motif of adventure versus routine is ever-present in this short story through Joyce’s meticulous and selective diction. During a very normal routine of dinner, the food is on â€Å"rival ends† of the table, divided by â€Å"sentries of fruit†, and watched afar by â€Å"three squads of bottles†. This militaristic diction transforms a seemingly harmless dinner table into an adventurous battlefield filled with action and excitement. The â€Å"battlefield† is not the dinner table, but the story in itself. The war is not between sentries and squadrons of bottles, but between the routine of life versus the hunger for opportunity. After dinner, the guests begin to dance. The guests partake in â€Å"memorized dance steps† and fall into habit and routine, one after the other. These structured dance steps rob the dancers of their individuality and creativity as uniform seizes the dance floor. The dancers are either forced to abandon their creativity and join in on the synchronized march of the automatons or be excluded from the group. Later on in the story, Gabriel learns from his wife about a previous lover. Gabriel enters a pensive and reflective state, in which he muses on the mass snow covering all of Ireland, which most likely covers the grave of Michael, his wife’s ex-lover, as well as the graves of all future Dubliners. The snow, the culmination of millions of individual and unique snowflakes melting together to form one entity of uniformity, became a metaphor for the all-encompassing routine of the characters in Dubliners, covering them in life and in death. Gabriel’s reflections towards the end of the novel give the short s tory its name of â€Å"The Dead†, which is what all of the routine and structure does the characters in The Dubliners. Despite all of the negative occurrences that the routine of the evening and of life bring upon Gabriel, he summons the courage to change his bleak outlook on life, vowing to have a more optimistic and open view on the world. In â€Å"Eveline†, the protagonist Eveline is faced with a rare opportunity to move away from Ireland to Buenos Aires with her boyfriend, Frank, but the routines and memories of her life ensnare her and prevent her from making the choice to seek adventure and excitement. This decision is an important crossroads in Eveline’s life, to continue with a life of an abusive father or an uncertain future with her boyfriend. The story begins with Eveline reflecting upon her childhood and contemplating the difficult decision that lies before her. She first has an epiphany, realizing that she cannot stay where she is, stuck in the autonomous life of routine and then becomes sympathetic to her father, saying how he was not all that abusive to her. Soon after th is thought, Eveline hears an organ playing in the street, reminding Eveline of her mother. This recollection of her mother immediately compels Eveline to decide that she cannot live her life the way her mother did, being swallowed up and forgotten by the routines of cooking and cleaning, all but forgotten in a sad and monotonous life. Eveline decides to head to Buenos Aires with Frank. As they are about to board the ship, Eveline resorts back to her routine by praying. The familiar chanting of the prayers versus the desire to flee with Frank renders Eveline in a state of paralysis, stripped of confidence after the destructive battle raging in her head between the two waging sides of her life, fiercely battling each other for superiority of Eveline’s subconcious. Eveline is left on the docks while Frank boards the ship. Because she does not move away from her routines, she is stuck forever with them. Her momentary epiphany regarding her mother and the monotonous routines of her life will go in vain, and she will end up living the exact life that her mother did. The vicious cycle of repetitive and mundane routine leaves the Dubliners helpless and lonely. Often, the routine forces the character into a state of unrequited love. In â€Å"Araby†, the routine leaves the boy in love with Mangan’s sister, never to know whether she shared any of his feelings. In â€Å"Eveline†, Eveline is left in the abusive and vicious cycle of her life, while her love is sailing off to Buenos Aires. In â€Å"The Dead†, Michael is literally buried under the mass routine of the snow, while his lover lives on, loving someone else. These protagonists each face difficult situations, of which they are not sure how to solve. As a mechanism of coping, they seek repetition, comfort, and conformity that only the routines of their average lives can bring. Without ever taking chances, they are sure to never achieve more than an average life. The characters in The Dubliners never take a chance to succeed and triumph over mediocrity. In doing this, they never give themselves a chance to fail, but they also never give themselves a chance to succeed. These characters have an opportunity to try to lift themselves up from the routinely abusive cycle of their lives, but cannot free themselves from their shackles, simply adding a few more degrees to the circle of false hopes and adventure that defines these misfortunate and disillusioned characters. Works Cited: Joyce, James. â€Å"Dubliners.† Project Gutenberg. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. .

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland I wake up to the sun heating my cold feet under my warm fuzzy blanket. The room is filled with silence as I slide out of the coziness of my covers to look outside the window. To my delightful surprise, tiny ice crystals are falling from the sky creating a white blanket on the world. In a hurry, I put on my thick heavy jacket, slide on my hefty boots, and dress my hands with my favourite waterproof gloves. I rush onto my snow-covered yard, thinking that my favourite season, winter, is finally here.With the grace of snowfall, this winter will be beautiful to look upon, fun to play within, and fills your heart with warmth. A fresh scent of pine fills the air as the bright snow gently lands on the tip of your nose. The sight of every white pine tree around you takes your breath away. Sunlight sits in the horizon while cotton-like snow falls from the sky creating random patterns. The sun beams through the snow creating sparkles like a diamond. The true beauty of nature i s only evident when the world turns into this wintery paradise. Being surrounded by pure beauty makes me feel alive.Along with its beauty, the snow creates a festival of fun. Snow crunches under my feet when I run across the fields of white fluff. The sound of screaming kids buzzes through my ear as they make their way down slippery slopes. When you pick a hand full of snow, the warmth in your gloves prevent your hands from freezing. The cold snow crunches between your gloves as you shape it into a ball. When you snowboard down the steep hill you can feel the cool wind cresting against you. Your hair dances along your cold face and the snow slushes beneath you.Every moment in the comfort of this white snowy blanket is a moment to remember. When you finally get tired of all that fun, you run inside to a steaming cup of hot chocolate mixed with big marshmallows resting upon its surface. The aroma of the hot chocolate is like a breeze of fresh air. You can feel the warmth filling your throat. Your heart is filled with the same warmth and kindness as you comfort your hands with the heat from the sparkling fire. Snow is a blessing from heaven that completes winter. The beauty of snow sparkles in everyone eyes.Outside, you see everyone laughing and playing in the scenery of snow. Indoors, the sound of the crackling fire and the sipping of hot chocolate echoes through the room. With the grace of snowfall, this winter was beautiful to look upon, fun to play within, and filled my heart with warmth. Rippan Brar English 10 Winter Wonderland I. Introduction A. Snowy mornings give you the best feeling. B. Thesis: Snow completes winter because it's beautiful, fun, and fills you with warmth.II. Snow is beautiful. A. You can see blankets of snow. B. The smell of pine is fresh. C. Snow is pure beauty. III. Snow is fun. A. Snowballs B. Snowboarding C. Sleighing IV. Snow fills you with warmth. A. The are different ways to rest after playing in the snow. B. Hot chocolate smells, tastes, and feels good. C. Heart is filled with warmth V. Conclusion A. Snow is a blessing from heaven. B. Snow changes what you do inside and outside. C. Restate Thesis: Winter is incomplete without snow because snow is beautiful, fun, and fills you with warmth.

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 8

Case Study Example The proposed change of strategy has the following consequences: the fixed costs will increase to (1,053,000 + 585,000) = $ 1,638,000. Second, the new average contribution margin = (0.25*0.5) + (0.25*0.1) + (0.1 * 0.5) + (0.4 * 0.8) = 0.52. Therefore, the total restaurant sales to achieve the desired net income = (1,053,000 + 585,000 + 117,000) /0.52 = $ 3,375,000. Sales for each product lines are as follows: appetizers = (3,375,000 * 0.25) = $ 843,750; Main entrees = (3,375,000 * 0.25) = $ 843,750; Desserts = (3,375,000 * 0.1) = $ 337,500; and Beverages = (3,375,000 * 0.4) = $ 1,350,000 (DuBrin 208-212). The fixed cost will be $ 1,638,000. However, the new contribution margin = (0.15 * 0.5) + (0.5 * 0.1) + (0.1 * 0.5) + (0.25 *0. 8) = 0.375. The sales level to achieve the desired net income = (1,053,000 + 585,000 + 117,000) /0.375 = $ 4,680,000. Sales for each product lines are as follows: appetizers = (4,680,000 * 0.15) = $ 702,000; Main entrees = (4,680,000 * 0.5) = $ 2,340,000; Desserts = (4,680,000 * 0.1) = $ 468,000; and Beverages = (4,680,000 * 0.25) = $ 1,170,000 (DuBrin 208-212). This strategy increases the level of sales to achieve the desired net income of $ 117,000. A potential risk to this strategy is the failure to meet the sales level ($ 4,680,000). On the other hand, the strategy has an advantage of increasing the restaurants revenues. A company that uses manual labor in the production system experiences the following cost pool: wages to part-time and full-time employee, the contribution to a pension plan, employee recruitment costs, and moral hazard cost. On the other hand, the automated equipment system bears the following cost pools: machine acquisition costs, equipment maintenance costs, salary to IT technician, machine replacement and depreciation costs. Changing from manual labor production system to an automated equipment system changes the cost above named

Position Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Position Paper - Essay Example Due to the importance of the learning process this position paper was created to compare and contrast the learning assessment performed by Jim Evans in 1962 and two alternate ways to assess learning of students. The position of the writer is that the traditional learning assessment performed by Mr. Evans is inadequate to determine if real learning occurred. The proposed methods to assess learning which are far superior to the techniques utilized by Mr. Evans are simulation and essays. Jim Evans performed a teaching workshop to state agencies for creating effective visuals in which the teaching objectives were outstanding. As an educator Mr. Evans taught a class in which most students seemed to be satisfied until he decided to utilize a 50 item test as the only assessment of what the students had learned during the workshop course. Some students immediately complain after not doing well on the test, some of the comments included constructive criticism such as, â€Å"the teacher continue his lesson assuming everyone had learned the concept he was teaching† (Smith & Ragan, 2005, p.104). The methods Mr. Evans utilized did not truly reflect a correct basis to determine if students actually learned the basics they must have picked up from the course. Mr. Evans was teaching a short course to a group of adults. He utilized a technique more appropriate to ensure younger students learning basic skills such as intermediate math or elementary grammar. In this type of course the teachers has to ensure specific items of knowledge are learned to ensure the student learned knowledge they need for future courses. In those types of scenarios the students are taking a course that lasts a semester typically in which they are numerous class reunions and the instructor is able to teach different segments of the material and emphasize on theories and specific applications that are easy to evaluate through a series of written tests. Mr. Evans was not

Texas Gov't - Identify the potential problems with Texas's judicial Essay

Texas Gov't - Identify the potential problems with Texas's judicial system. Describe the Missouri Plan for judicial selection, and compare it with the system used in Texas - Essay Example The fact that the Texass judicial system uses only election method to select judges increases the chance low accountability of judges as they are likely to be partisan in their actions. Judges have to be partisan because it is the party that will take them to this power. This leads to judges whose allegiance is not to the justice system but to the party that helps them to get the posts. Needless to say, these positions, right from the lowest positions which is the positions of a municipal court, are important careers, not only for the judge but also for political parties. This means that when the system of selecting a judge is based on the political party system, the quality of judges will play a smaller role while the political affiliation will be the main issue determining who will get these positions (Cheek & Champagne, 2005; 99). The judges require a lot of money for campaign and this may interfere with their integrity. The amount of financial investment needed for the campaign is too high for most of these judges to afford from their pockets and they have to be funded by outside sources. So the question is, how will a judge be able to be neutral and fair in cases where he finds himself or herself having to preside over case involving one of his main funders? This brings in an integrity issue and in this scenario it may not be possible for this system to offer the state a good team of judges. The electorate doesn’t know these judges personally and have to depend on partisan lines to vote them. Although the electoral vote system of selecting judges is hinged on the argument that people should be able to decide who judges them, the fact is that a major part of the population of these people don’t know the judges they are supposed to elect (Maxwell, Earl & Santos, 2013; 158). The work of a judge is not public and therefore unlike politicians whose leadership can be detected in the public arena, there is no way for the electorate to know the

Marketing communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marketing communication - Essay Example Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) is a simple and modern concept used by organisations to ensure careful and effective linkage of all forms of communication. The concept of IMC enables organisation to effectively co-ordinate and integrate all of its marketing communication tools and functions. This management tool has been developed to ensure the integrated working of all aspects of promotion including advertisements, direct marketing, sales promotion techniques, and public relations. Promotion is one of the Ps in the marketing mix and it has a distinct set of communications tools. Since the tool of promotion plays a pivotal role in determining the sales volume of a business, IMC concept can significantly affect business profitability. This paper will discuss different aspects of integrated market communications and will provide reasons for licensing the importance of IMC perspective. Simply, IMC is a management process of maintaining customer relationships by way of communic ation efforts in order to promote brand value. Such efforts may include cross functional processes which are strategically designed to maintain profitable relationship with different stakeholder groups by effectively controlling all messages sent to them with the application of different communication tactics. The IMC techniques promote integration of different marketing operations and this process in turn affects the firm’s business to business, customer oriented, and internally directed interactions. Advertising tools, promotional tools, and integration tools are some of the major components of the IMC. Advertising tools add value to brand and firm image; and they include advertising designs, selection of advertising channels, execution strategies, and advertising management. Promotional tools comprise of direct sales, trade promotions, customer oriented promotions, public relations, and sponsorship projects whereas integrations tools mainly include online promotion techniq ues and other integrated marketing programmes. The internet has changed products/services promotion strategies and the way marketers and customers interact with each other. Researchers argue that a comprehensive IMC plan would enhance harmony between marketers and customers. According to Kenneth (2007, p. 31), all IMC strategies are centred on a master marketing plan, which consists of six well defined phases such as situation analysis, marketing objectives, marketing budget, marketing strategies, marketing tactics, and evaluation of performance. IMC ensures uninterrupted flow of messages and effective use of media through the application of online and offline marketing channels. Online marketing channels embrace e-mail, pay per click, blog, podcast, and internet TV whereas offline marketing channels include newspapers, magazines, flex boards, industry relations, and television. In modern days, use of IMC has become essential for organisations to ensure success; and companies consid er all the elements of the marketing mix while designing an integrated marketing communication programme. Some professionals claim that IMC is a critical thinking approach that can accurately identify consumer insights and effectively responds to them. It must be noted that selection of right communication tools is an important aspect of an IMC plan as every communication tool would not fit the size and nature of every business. Even though the scope of an IMC plan is broader than an advertising campaign, the lion’s part of the marketing budget is spent on the design and circulation of advertisements. Evidently, personal selling is the most common type of integrated marketing communication technique. Generally, personal selli