Coputers In Modern Society :: essays research papers

Coputers In Modern Society   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Looking around at daily life, I noticed a pattern of computer oriented devices that make life easier and allow us to be lazier. These devices are in most daily activities ranging from waking up to an alarm clock that is computerized to watching the news before going to bed on a computerized television. All of these computerized facets of our society help to increase our daily productivity and help us to do whatever it is we need to accomplish in the day. The computer age is upon us and it will continue to grow in influence until society revolves around it daily without need for improvement.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In personal computers, the industry has began to create faster machines that can store much more information. For speed, the internal microprocessor has been tweaked to perform at high rates of speed. One such microprocessor is the Intel Pentium chip that is the fastest commercial microprocessor on the market. In addition to internal speed and to allow faster hook- up to the Internet, faster telephone lines, most notably the fiber optic lines, have been added, for an extra charge, to transfer data about 4 times faster than conventional phone lines (about 28,000 bits per second has been quadrupled to about 128,000 bits per second. As speed enhances, memory and storage space is needed to hold excess information. EDO RAM is a new, faster memory module that helps transfer RAM data twice as fast as normal RAM. For long term storage of large amounts of data, hard drives have been under a constant upgrade of performance, and it is not uncommon to find hard drives about 8-9 gigabytes on the market.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Along with technology, an ease of use factor has been instilled in the modern day PC's. The most notable ease of use enhancement is a GUI(Graphical User Interface), which allows the user to see a choice instead of reading about the choice. This is accomplished by using pictures and windows to simplify the choices. Windows 95 and the Macintosh OS both use GUI to simplify use. Another change in technology has been in almost putting manufacturing of typewriters into extinction. Offices are more and more turning to computers instead of typewriters because the computers integrate many office tasks in one machine, most notably the use of word processors. With the use of word processors on a computer comes the use of spell check which is only offered on a few typewriters.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The most growing part of the computer-oriented world is the Internet. It allows users to send electronic mail (E-mail), faster and more conveniently

“Aladdin” Positive And Negative Essay

Would you want your child to see a film like â€Å"Aladdin,† that may be just a harmless cartoon or a dangerous brain washer? There are positive messages and negative messages about each gender, some of the messages may get mixed together in a child’s mind making right versus wrong confusing for the young child. A positive example for men is when genie tells Aladdin to tell the truth. An example of a negative message about men is when Aladdin is trying to act â€Å"macho† as the prince. For women a positive message is to stand up for your self. A negative message is the exaggerated body figures and sizes. With all the positive and negative images from â€Å"Aladdin† in a young child’s head it may be hard for he or she to figure out what is good or bad. In â€Å"Aladdin† there are messages that children should see because they promote a good idea. For example, when Aladdin decided to use his last wish to free Genie it shows that men can show affection to other men. Nowadays, you always see men fighting and battling, but never showing any love for each other it is good to see that they are showing little children it is okay to have love. It shows children that it’s okay to act â€Å"soft,† you don’t always have to wear the tough guy image. Another good message is when Aladdin finally tells the truth to Jasmine, the message is that honesty is the best policy. It tells kids that lying and lying makes it even harder to finally tell the truth. It is one of the classic lessons that says telling the truth is always best because it saves you from more trouble in the end. A great message about men in â€Å"Aladdin† is that men should respect women, like when the first thing Aladdin mentions when describing Jasmine is her smarts not something shallow like her attractiveness. It shows kids that there is more than just looks in a human being you have to go deeper than the skin to find true beauty. It teaches children that caring for people regardless of looks or appearance is important. The positive messages give a good image for children to remember to tell the truth, or treat someone with respect. With the positive messages of men there are also confusing negative messages about men for young children. When Aladdin lies to everyone about being a prince it doesn’t help him in his relationships because everyone loves him as a prince. Children believe that to get what they want all they need to do  is lie. Children will not understand that lying can get you in more trouble than telling the truth. Another negative message is when Aladdin tries to play the â€Å"cool, tough and confident† prince. It shows kids that if you really want to be something cool you must act like something you aren’t. It seems hard enough for children to find their own identity and this message doesn’t help because it gives them the idea that cool is a certain thing. One of the most absurd messages is that Jafar is shown tall, thin, dark and has a very deep voice. This is bad because kids may think that all dark people are evil which is a horrible idea of racism. Children should not see the color of an evil but just as the evil, skin color should not be related. Although there are positive messages there are negative messages about men. For the women in â€Å"Aladdin† there are positive messages that young girls should see. For example, Jasmine chooses not to marry any prince that her father, the sultan, brings to her. This shows that girls can stand up for themselves and hold their own when faced with critical situations, like forced marriage. In cartoons you usually see the women dependent on a rich male, it is good to see that in cartoons women are shown as strong characters. Another example of a positive message for women is when Jasmine trusts Aladdin and Aladdin as a prince. It shows how women are trustworthy and can be trusted. It also shows that trust is an important aspect of love. When Jasmine refuses to marry any rich handsome man that is brought to her it shows she is not shallow. This shows how a women can make a living on her own with out the help of a huge paycheck and a man. It also shows that there is more to love than good looks, there are deeper attractions than only looks. The positive mes sages are good for young girls to see. Although there are positive messages about women in â€Å"Aladdin† there are also dangerous messages. When Jasmine is to help Aladdin get the lamp back from Jafar, she uses very seductive and sexual movements to try and succeed in doing what she wants. It is scary to think that in a child’s cartoon there are messages of selling your body to get what you want. This is dangerous because a girl may begin acting sexually at a very early age and unknowingly. Although Princess Jasmine stood up for herself she is also dependent on men during certain situations. After all these years women  should be shown separately from men as individual humans. A young girl may think that the only way for her to succeed is with a man to help her. All throughout the movie all of the â€Å"pretty† girls are big eyed, have tiny feet, have full chests and are skinny as their necks while the â€Å"ugly† girls are shown gigantic. A girl always wants to be pretty and if by being pretty it means extremely skinny, then she may associate ugly with food and eating disorders may develop. This message seems as though it was made to discourage children and they may become very saddened over something that is not their fault. With all the different messages given to children through the carton â€Å"Aladdin you can see how it may be confusing to the child about negative and positive. This film shows positive messages and negative messages about men and women. Because the movie has so many descriptions of good and bad the child may get confused about what to do in real life situation.

Human Papilloma Virus in Teens Essay

Teenagers in the United States are becoming sexually active at an earlier age and have more exposure to sexually transmitted diseases. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is one of the leading causes of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States (Center for Disease Control, 2012), and the age group with the highest prevalence of HPV are teenagers. With the growing number of teenagers exposed to HPV, the incidence of cervical cancer is increasing in the US. The study of epidemiology focuses on the interventions and preventions available to decrease the prevalence and incidence of HPV, cervical cancer, and genital warts in teenagers. This paper will evaluate the role of epidemiology in HPV by utilizing the epidemiological triangle, methods and types of epidemiology, the population affected, and the levels of prevention in the HPV disease. â€Å"Epidemiology is the study of populations in order to: monitor the health of the population, understand the determinants of health and disease of communities, and investigate and evaluate interventions to prevent disease and maintain health† (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2008). Epidemiology is a science that includes both infectious and chronic diseases and influences clinical medicine and public health through research. Epidemiology focuses on evidence-based practice and the outcomes are utilized to guide a change in practice. The influence of the research is community wide and focuses on the services provided in the community. The purpose of epidemiology is to find the causes of disease, the prevention of morbidity and mortality, and to predict the occurrence of disease in the populations at risk. Nurses use epidemiology as a data tool in designing, implementing, and evaluating the health problems in the community (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2008). Human Papilloma virus is the primary cause of sexually transmitted disease among teenagers and can result in co-morbidity such as cervical cancer and genital warts. Research has indicated that the vaccines available are effective in the prevention of cervical cancer and genital warts caused by HPV. HPV in teens can be affected by lack of education about safe sex practices, and the lack of access to healthcare facilities executing medical screening. Legal consideration involving vaccine administration, in the state of Tennessee, is parental consent. The public health nurse can play a role in the community by advocating and communicating with government officials for the vaccine to be required for entrance into school. Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention have significant implications towards HPV management, cervical cancer, and genital warts. Prevention of HPV through education, screening, and vaccinations is the most effective technique to decrease the prevalence and incidence cervical cancer, and genital warts in teenagers.

Teacher Tribute

I would like to tribute this to one of my favorite teachers throughout my years at Lawrence Middle School, Mr. Hughes. The most important teacher in my life I would have to say would be my 8th grade history teacher Mr. Hughes my 8th grade history teacher. The way he taught was perfect it was easy to intake all the information’s because he would make learning the lesson fun. For example I remember we were learning about slavery and how north and south had fought, he divided the class into two one was the south and the other the north. We had to argue and battle why we each side wanted what they want and we would have to back it up and the winning team would get money or some kid of reward. He made me look at school from a whole another perspective. If it wasn't for him I would probably not doing so good in school an not caring about graduating. If it wasn't for his teaching and his lectures he gave me I would not be the person I am now, nor would I have been close to graduating because before him I did not really care for school and learning. He told me so many things that you needed in life and how to become successful and the things you need to do to accomplish it. I remember we were selling chocolate for a school fundraiser an he bought a whole box of me just to show he cared. He was an amazing teacher who i will never forget. He was the only teacher who i liked listening lectures from because he just made them so much interesting changing his voice or the tone whatever it was he needed to do to make the class stay awake an learn he did. Mr. Hughes has past way he was sick an got injured and never got better he was a very wise man. I would just like to say R. I. P Mr. Hughes the teacher who made a difference in not my life but in many more others lives and just the way life is looked upon. He lived his life to the fullest I believe he did everything he wanted to he would always have these crazy stories he would tell us give us life lessons on what to do an the wise things. Their isn’t a day that goes by an I don’t think of him. His sense of humor which made learning so much fun. His Aphorism’s he would speak of an compare them to life. That’s why I wanted to do a tribute to him because of him being one of my favorite teachers throughout my years learning. Mr. Hughes is the most important teacher that i have had in my life.

South Africa During and After Apartheid

South Africa is a land blessed with natural resources including fertile lands, metals and mineral resources such as platinum, gold and diamonds. The climate is mild which is ideal for land activities.The richness and potential of this country attracted Dutch and English in the seventeenth century. South Africa has one of the unique histories in the world. It is evident how colonial racism emanated from Europe. The whites invested power and politics which is still manifested today.In the seventeenth century, South Africa was colonized by English and Dutch. Boers and Afrikaners were the English domination of the Dutch descendants. The discovery of diamond and other mineral resources in 1900 motivated the English invasion as a result of Boer War. Racial discrimination in Africa started with the enactment of Apartheid laws in 1948.Apartheid was invented when an uneasy power- sharing between the Boers and Afrikaners held sway until 1940’s. Since Afrikaner National Party was able to gain strong majority, they established Apartheid as a means to reinforce their control over the social and economic system. Initially, the objective of the apartheid was to maintain white domination and leadership while extending racial separation (Chokshi, Carter, Gupta, Martin and Robert, 1995).The term Apartheid is from the African word for â€Å"apartness† was actually coined in the 1930’s and later used as a political slogan of the National party. The social and political custom of Apartheid was materialized under law after the primarily Afrikaner Nationalists came to power in 1948 (â€Å"Apartheid†).When Apartheid was institutionalized, racial discrimination started. Apartheid, as racism made law, consisted of numerous laws that denied basic human rights and political rights for black people. They were obviously exploited and their lives were segregated with the white people.People of mixed race like Asians and Coloureds were also exploited and terrorize.    It was a system dictated in the minutest detail as to how and where the large black majority would work, live and dies (â€Å"Human Rights, Historical images of Apartheid in South Africa†).The ultimate goal of Apartheid was to establish â€Å"racial separation legally† and to maintain the guarantee of white authority. The restrictions formulated by the Apartheid laws and effects placed the black people in the difficulties regarding land issues, living areas, jobs, personal relationship, political rights, constitutional and human rights.The Group Acts of 1950 divided the lands in which blacks and whites resided into distinct residential zones. The best urban, agricultural and industrial areas were expectedly given to whites while blacks were given only some distinct areas in South Africa. Blacks were not allowed to live and occupy areas that were named as â€Å"white zones†.Even marriage and relationships were so extensive and encompassing for blacks. It is illegal and against the law to marry a person of different race. Couples and families were strictly required by law to obtain state permission before they could live together and authorities had given any right to refuse such permission.Every black South African has their own passbook issued by the government that will determine where they could live and work which they have to carry every now and then.   In terms of Education, the Bantu Education Act of 1953 was instituted to provide black pupils with different way of learning than white students. Black students were given different orientation, expectations and future goalsWorks Cited:Chokshi, Monal., Carter, Cale., Gupta, Deepak., Martin, Tove and Robert Allen. 1995 â€Å"The history of Apartheid in South Africa†. Stanford Universityhttp://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~cale/cs201/apartheid.ethics.html  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Africa-Apartheid†Africana, The Encyclopedia of the African and African American   Experience.http://www .africanaencyclopedia.com/selections.htmlâ€Å"Human Rigths, Historical images of Apartheid in South Africa†. United Nations 2008 http://www.un.org/  Spindle, Tim., Shafer, Rachel., Joliff, Kevin.,Henderson., Sarah.,Bradford, Stephanie   and David Weigman.†Laws and Effects of Apartheid†http://home.snu.edu/~dwilliam/f97projects/apartheid/Document5.htmlâ€Å"Apartheid, South Africa†.Wander the Planethttp://www.wandertheplanet.net/SouthAfrica/apartheid.htm

Primary education Essay

Education in its general sense is a form of learning in which the knowledge, skills, and habits of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through teaching, training, or research. Education frequently takes place under the guidance of others, but may also be autodidactic. Any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts may be considered educational. A right to education has been recognized by some governments. At the global level, Article 13 of the United Nations’ 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Etymology Etymologically, the word â€Å"education† is derived from the Latin educatio from educo which is related to the homonym educo from e- and †duco . Type of education Education can take place in formal or informal educational settings. Formal education Systems of schooling involve institutionalized teaching and learning in relation to a curriculum, which itself is established according to a predetermined purpose of the schools in the system. Schools systems are sometimes also based on religions, giving them different curricula. Curriculum. In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses and their content offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults. A curriculum is prescriptive, and is based on a more general syllabus which merely specifies what topics must be understood and to what level to achieve a particular grade or standard. An academic discipline is a branch of knowledge which is formally taught, either at the university–or via some other such method. Each discipline usually has several sub-disciplines or branches, and distinguishing lines are often both arbitrary and ambiguous. Examples of broad areas of academic disciplines include the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, social sciences, humanities and applied sciences. Educational institutions may incorporate fine arts as part of K-12 grade curricula or within majors at colleges and universities as electives. The various types of fine arts are music, dance, and theater. Preschools The term preschool refers to a school for children who are not old enough to attend kindergarten. It is a nursery school. Preschool education is important because it can give a child the edge in a competitive world and education climate. While children who do not receive the fundamentals during their preschool years will be taught the alphabet, counting, shapes and colors and designs when they begin their formal education they will be behind the children who already possess that knowledge. The true purpose behind kindergarten is â€Å"to provide a child-centered, preschool curriculum for three to seven year old children that aimed at unfolding the child’s physical, intellectual, and moral nature with balanced emphasis on each of them. † This period of education is very important in the formative years of the child. Teachers with special skills and training are needed at this time to nurture the children to develop their potentials. Primary schools Primary education consists of the first 5–7 years of formal, structured education. In general, primary education consists of six or eight years of schooling starting at the age of five or six, although this varies between, and sometimes within, countries. Globally, around 89% of primary-age children are enrolled in primary education, and this proportion is rising. Under the Education For All programs driven by UNESCO, most countries have committed to achieving universal enrollment in primary education by 2015, and in many countries, it is compulsory for children to receive primary education. The division between primary and secondary education is somewhat arbitrary, but it generally occurs at about eleven or twelve years of age. Some education systems have separate middle schools, with the transition to the final stage of secondary education taking place at around the age of fourteen. Schools that provide primary education, are mostly referred to as primary schools. Primary schools in these countries are often subdivided into infant schools and junior school. In India, compulsory education spans over twelve years, out of which children receive elementary education for 8 years. Elementary schooling consists of five years of primary schooling and 3 years of upper primary schooling. Various states in the republic of India provide 12 years of compulsory school education based on national curriculum framework designed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training. Secondary schools In most contemporary educational systems of the world, secondary education comprises the formal education that occurs during adolescence. It is characterized by transition from the typically compulsory, comprehensive primary education for minors, to the optional, selective tertiary, â€Å"post-secondary†, or â€Å"higher† education for adults. Depending on the system, schools for this period, or a part of it, may be called secondary or high schools, gymnasiums, lyceums, middle schools, colleges, or vocational schools. The exact meaning of any of these terms varies from one system to another. The exact boundary between primary and secondary education also varies from country to country and even within them, but is generally around the seventh to the tenth year of schooling. Secondary education occurs mainly during the teenage years. In the United States, Canada and Australia primary and secondary education together are sometimes referred to as K-12 education, and in New Zealand Year 1–13 is used. The purpose of secondary education can be to give common knowledge, to prepare for higher education or to train directly in a profession. The emergence of secondary education in the United States did not happen until 1910, caused by the rise in big businesses and technological advances in factories, that required skilled workers. In order to meet this new job demand, high schools were created, with a curriculum focused on practical job skills that would better prepare students for white collar or skilled blue collar work. This proved to be beneficial for both employers and employees, for the improvement in human capital caused employees to become more efficient, which lowered costs for the employer, and skilled employees received a higher wage than employees with just primary educational attainment. In Europe, grammar schools or academies date from as early as the 16th century, in the form of public schools, fee-paying schools, or charitable educational foundations, which themselves have an even longer history. Alternative Alternative education, also known as non-traditional education or educational alternative, is a broad term that may be used to refer to all forms of education outside of traditional education . This may include not only forms of education designed for students with special needs, but also forms of education designed for a general audience and employing alternative educational philosophies and methods. Alternatives of the latter type are often the result of education reform and are rooted in various philosophies that are commonly fundamentally different from those of traditional compulsory education. While some have strong political, scholarly, or philosophical orientations, others are more informal associations of teachers and students dissatisfied with certain aspects of traditional education. These alternatives, which include charter schools, alternative schools, independent schools, homeschooling and autodidacticism vary, but often emphasize the value of small class size, close relationships between students and teachers, and a sense of community. Alternative education may also allow for independent learning and engaging class activities. Special. In the past, those who were disabled were often not eligible for public education. Children with disabilities were often educated by physicians or special tutors. These early physicians set the foundation for special education today. They focused on individualized instruction and functional skills. Special education was only provided to people with severe disabilities in its early years, but more recently it has been opened to anyone who has experienced difficulty learning. Vocational Vocational education is a form of education focused on direct and practical training for a specific trade or craft. Vocational education may come in the form of an apprenticeship or internship as well as institutions teaching courses such as carpentry, agriculture, engineering, medicine, architecture and the arts. Informal education Autodidacticism Autodidacticism is self-directed learning that is related to but different from informal learning. In a sense, autodidacticism is â€Å"learning on your own† or â€Å"by yourself†, and an autodidact is a self-teacher. Autodidacticism is a contemplative, absorbing process. Some autodidacts spend a great deal of time reviewing the resources of libraries and educational websites. One may become an autodidact at nearly any point in one’s life. While some may have been informed in a conventional manner in a particular field, they may choose to inform themselves in other, often unrelated areas. Notable autodidacts include Abraham Lincoln, Srinivasa Ramanujan, Michael Faraday, Charles Darwin, Thomas Alva Edison, Tadao Ando, George Bernard Shaw, Frank Zappa,and Leonardo da Vinci . Indigenous Indigenous education refers to the inclusion of indigenous knowledge, models, methods and content within formal and non-formal educational systems. Often in a post-colonial context, the growing recognition and use of indigenous education methods can be a response to the erosion and loss of indigenous knowledge and language through the processes of colonialism. Furthermore, it can enable indigenous communities to â€Å"reclaim and revalue their languages and cultures, and in so doing, improve the educational success of indigenous students. † Education through recreation The concept of education through recreation was first applied to childhood development in the 19th century. In the early 20th century, the concept was broadened to include young adults but the emphasis was on physical activities. L. P. Jacks, also an early proponent of lifelong learning, described education through recreation: â€Å"A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play, his labour and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself he always seems to be doing both. Enough for him that he does it well. † Education through recreation is the opportunity to learn in a seamless fashion through all of life’s activities. The concept has been revived by the University of Western Ontario to teach anatomy to medical students. Open education is fast growing to become the dominant form of education, for many reasons such as its efficiency and results compared to traditional methods. Cost of education has been an issue throughout history, and a major political issue in most countries today. Open education is generally significantly cheaper than traditional campus based learning and in many cases even free. Many large university institutions are now starting to offer free or almost free full courses such as Harvard, MIT and Berkeley teaming up to form edX Other universities offering open education are Stanford, Princeton, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Edinburgh, U. Penn, U. Michigan, U. Virginia, U. Washington, Caltech. It has been called the biggest change in the way we learn since the printing press. Many people despite favorable studies on effectiveness may still desire to choose traditional campus education for social and cultural reasons. The conventional merit system degree is currently not as common in open education as it is in campus universities. Although some open universities do already offer conventional degrees such as the Open University in the United Kingdom. Currently many of the major open education sources offer their own form of certificate. Due to the popularity of open education these new kind of academic certificates are gaining more respect and equal â€Å"academic value† to traditional degrees. Many open universities are working to have the ability to offer students standardized testing and traditional degrees and credentials. There has been a culture forming around distance learning for people who are looking to enjoy the shared social aspects that many people value in traditional on campus education that is not often directly offered from open education. Examples of this are people in open education forming study groups, meetups and movements such as UnCollege. Liberal arts colleges A liberal arts institution can be defined as a â€Å"college or university curriculum aimed at imparting broad general knowledge and developing general intellectual capacities, in contrast to a professional, vocational, or technical curriculum. † Although what is known today as the liberal arts college began in Europe, the term is more commonly associated with Universities in the United States. Community colleges A nonresidential junior college offering courses to people living in a particular area. Learning modalities There has been much interest in learning modalities and styles over the last two decades. The most commonly employed learning modalities are: Visual: learning based on observation and seeing what is being learned. Auditory: learning based on listening to instructions/information. Kinesthetic: learning based on movement, e. g. hands-on work and engaging in activities. Other commonly-employed modalities include musical, interpersonal, verbal, logical, and intrapersonal. Dunn and Dunn focused on identifying relevant stimuli that may influence learning and manipulating the school environment, at about the same time as Joseph Renzulli recommended varying teaching strategies. Howard Gardner identified a wide range of modalities in his Multiple Intelligences theories. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Keirsey Temperament Sorter, based on the works of Jung, focus on understanding how people’s personality affects the way they interact personally, and how this affects the way individuals respond to each other within the learning environment. The work of David Kolb and Anthony Gregorc’s Type Delineator follows a similar but more simplified approach. Some theories propose that all individuals benefit from a variety of learning modalities, while others suggest that individuals may have preferred learning styles, learning more easily through visual or kinesthetic experiences. A consequence of the latter theory is that effective teaching should present a variety of teaching methods which cover all three learning modalities so that different students have equal opportunities to learn in a way that is effective for them. Guy Claxton has questioned the extent that learning styles such as VAK are helpful, particularly as they can have a tendency to label children and therefore restrict learning. Recent research has argued â€Å"there is no adequate evidence base to justify incorporating learning styles assessments into general educational practice. † Instruction Instruction is the facilitation of another’s learning. Instructors in primary and secondary institutions are often called teachers, and they direct the education of students and might draw on many subjects like reading, writing, mathematics, science and history. Instructors in post-secondary institutions might be called teachers, instructors, or professors, depending on the type of institution; and they primarily teach only their specific discipline.

Nonprofit-Business Partnerships as a Means of Implementing CSR Essay

Nonprofit-Business Partnerships as a Means of Implementing CSR - Essay Example As a result, there is always the danger that an organization’s CSR model might either focus too profoundly on one cause or interest group while alienating another. It therefore follows that organizations are actively looking for alternative methods of implementing CSR into their business plans. Partnerships between business firms and non-profit organizations is one method of implementing CSR with little difficulty and without the problems associated with the cost and challenges implicit in implementing CSR so that it is integrated into existing business plans. Partnerships between business firms and non-profit organizations or causes are increasingly becoming methods by which business entities are implementing CSR (Seitanidi & Crane, 2009). This paper explores and analyses the nature of nonprofit business partnerships and explains why it can be a successful and effective method for businesses to implement CSR. The first part of this paper examines and analyses traditional CRS models within the corporate governance constructs of a company. The second part of this paper analyses the conceptual basis of nonprofit business partnerships and demonstrated how it can be used to successfully use by a company to discharge its CSR agenda and thus represent the successful implementation of CSR. Traditional CSR as a Part of Corporate Governance Shareholder maximisation theory dictates that business organizations exist for the mere purpose of maximising profits for the benefit of their shareholders. However, corporate scandals and collapses have turned attention toward the issue of satisfactory corporate governance, accountability, transparency and trust. Although maximising shareholder value remains a significant objective for businesses worldwide, an intensification of social activism and renewed expectations have turned attention toward the manner in which corporations conduct their respective businesses (Jamali, Safieddine & Rabbath, 2008). Stakeholder theory has been making gains in corporate governance reflecting the perception that corporations are no longer viewed solely as â€Å"mere contributors to the global economy†, instead, corporations are expected to: Reconcile and skilfully balance multiple bottom lines and manage the interests of multiple stakeholders (Jamali, Safieddine & Rabbath, 2008, p. 444). Increasingly, corporations are compelled to adopt corporate governance strategies that implement accountability, ethics, fairness and transparency in all of their business operations. While implementing CSR in corporate governance strategies, corporations are expected to generate profits (Jamali et. al., 2008). Freeman (1984) argued that corporations and all business entities regardless of size and value are required to ensure that business decisions are consistent with the interests of various stakeholders both inside the business and outside of the business. Thus stakeholder theory of corporate governance is just as relevant, if not more so, than shareholder value maximization theory. The emphasis on stakeholder theory marks a dramatic shift in corporate governance models. Previously, corporate governance was viewed as a technique utilized for specifying the regulations of a corporation’s business decisions relative to how the internal organs of the business operatio