Secularization Essay Example

Secularization Essay Example Secularization Essay Secularization Essay It was Voltaire who said, If God did non be, it would be necessary to contrive him . Our theory agrees. ( Stark and Bainbridge 1987, page 23 ) . These words uttered by Stark and Bainbridge back in 1987 offer a glance into the longstanding and heated debated between the antecedently dominant, the Secularization Thesis and the finishing Supply Side Theory, in academic sociology. Both theories have profound deductions for the hereafter of faith as a force in society. This essay will look at two articles published in the Sociology of Religion. First, this essay will look at the two finishing theories of the Secularization Thesis and the Supply Side. Second, a sum-up of the chief points of Starks article entitled Secularization: RIP in 1999, and Bruce s 2001 response article entitled Christianity in Britain: RIP will be presented. Looking critically at both articles, this essay will reason that Stark has won the argument for this around. The secularisation thesis day of the months from when the theory of development was at the high of its influence. The theory in its modern conjuration comes from the work of British sociologist Bruan Wilson in the sixtiess. This double thesis was based on the observation that since the Gallic and industrial revolutions in Europe in the 19th and 20 centuries have lead to a diminution in religionism. First, this theory used Modernity as an account for the issue of Christianity from the universe. Secondary, this theory, would hold the same effects on all types of societies. It saw the extinction of faith from an enlightened universe. On the other manus, Supply Side Theory came to dispute the secularisation theory in the 1980 s. This theory aims to explicate religionism. Advocates believe that there is a changeless possible human demand for spiritual goods over clip and between societies. They believe that as the supply of these goods fluctuates, these fluctuations explain the different degrees of spiritual energies in different societies. Basically, the greater the spiritual diverseness of a society, the better the spiritual energy in that society. As antecedently noted the secularisation thesis theory has come under aggressive onslaught. Rodney Stark, so learning at the University of Washington in 1999 published his article Secularization, R.I.P. in the Sociology of Religion diary. In this article, Stark clearly argues that the Secularisation theoy, is out-dated, antique and, as the rubric of his article high spots, the theory is dead and should be left to rest in peace Stark begins his article by observing, [ f ] or about three centuries, societal scientists and miscellaneous western intellectuals have been assuring the terminal of religion . Stark makes five major claims about the thesis. First, harmonizing to Stark, Modernity and modernization is seen by theoreticians to be the cause of secularisation. He notes that modernization is a long, gradual, comparatively stable process , and that if secularisation is the consequence of modernization, there will be a corresponding long-term, gradual, and comparatively changeless tendency of spiritual decline . Second, to Stark, the focal point of the anticipations is on single piousness, particularly belief, non institutional distinction. He believes that some protagonists of the secularisation thesis have changed their focal point and definition so they do non hold to acknowledge that their thesis is failed. In fact, Stark agrees faith establishments have less power and that spiritual ritual and symbols have become less common in public life. Starks 3rd statement is that in all versions of the thesis the claim that of all facets of modernisation, it is scientific discipline that has the most deathly deductions for religion . Fourthly, Secularization is irreversible. Nevertheless, Stark disagrees with this by observing Andree Greeley s 1994 remark that after 70 old ages of Soviet Union activist attempts to accomplish secularization St. Vladimir has routed Karl Marx . Finally, Stark notes that the thesis applies globally. While the theoreticians have largely focuses on Christianity, belief in supernatural powers is traveling to decease out all over the universe. Allah and Jehovah will both fall in each other as an interesting historical memory . Secularization, R.I.P. , so gets into particulars. To Stark the secularisation thesis has failed to be an accurate anticipation due to six chief grounds. First, it is a myth that there has been a diminution in spiritual belief and engagement because there has been no incontrovertible long-run diminution in European spiritual participation and in Europe levels of subjective devoutness remain high. Next, he argues that there has neer been an Age of Faith . To Stark most Europeans did non go to church during the in-between Ages and during the Renaissance. In fact, he highlights that many clergy were unqualified and that clergy were frequently absent from their parishes. In add-on, while there were periodic detonations of mass spiritual enthusiasm , this offers even stronger grounds against engagement in organized faith. As a consequence, it can be said spiritual engagement sometimes rises and sometimes diminutions. Third, he argues that neer was Europe truly Christianized. Stark believe s that although early Christianity was a mass societal motion in a extremely competitory environment, it lost its energy after it became the official faith of the Roman Empire. After Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, there was neer an effort to change over the general population of Europe. This ties in to his 4th statement. Stark notes that while some theoreticians confirm there was no Age of Faith, to them people still had high degrees of spiritual belief, even if they did non travel to church. Stark believes, utilizing secular Iceland as an illustration, this still applies today, observing that while Iceland merely has 2 per centum church attending, merely 2.4 per centum of the state are atheists. Fifthly, if secularisation is to demo up anyplace it must demo up among scientists . However, Stark discovers that many scientists report being spiritual. Evidence that there is a struggle between faith and scientific discipline is largely fictional, and scientists are non notably irreligious . Finally, Stark ends his harangue about the fails of the Secularization theory by saying that grounds from Eastern Europe, Muslim states and practicians of Asiatic folk faiths that modernness is compatible with faith. In 2001, Steven Bruce, Professor of Sociology at the University of Aberdeen, responded to Stark, with the suitably titled Christianity in Britain, R.I.P. . Bruce disagrees with Starks hypothesis that the secularization is merely a myth, based upon undervaluing the spiritual verve of the of the universe today. Furthermore, Stark argued that this myth besides exaggerated the religionism of the past age of religion. In order to rebut Starks claims, Bruce uses Britain as an illustration. First, Bruce looks back at pre-industrial Britain. While cognition of faith and its orthodoxy may hold been limited, in order for there to be no aureate age of religion we would hold to be able accept nine sociologically implausible assumptions . These scope from inquiring if the most powerful national establishment had small or no impact upon the people. To why would people let such a big sum of the wealth of Britain go to this establishment which they did non back up. To Bruce, spiritual beliefs so wer e still far more permeant and influential than they are now. Following, Bruce looks at assorted indexs of the diminution of Christianity in Britain over the last 150 old ages. Today, most Christian communities are in diminution. Even if we merely look to appraise done in 1951, 1990, and 2000 there is a clear tendency of dramatic diminution. Bruce goes every bit far to notice that utilizing the long-run stable tendency of the diminution of Church rank and attending, it is possible to do a statistical projection that by the 2030s the chief Christian denominations will discontinue to be. ( Methodist ) . Bruce clearly believes that no sum of supply side revisionism will alter the fact that Christianity in Britain is in serious problem. Bruce so takes a critical expression at supply-side theories of faith, which argue that demand is changeless and that degrees of spiritual verve hence depend on the supply, which is greatest when there is a free and competitory market for suppliers. He asks that sing Christianity has ever valued corporate Acts of the Apostless of worship, and if there is a free market place for faith and no deficiency of deficit of Christian administrations. Surly this should be expressed in some manner. Bruce notes that while the New Age motion might look to show the being of widespread informal spiritual belief, possibly of an digesting demand for faith, his scrutiny of the extent, nature, and significance of that motion suggests otherwise, observing that they are numerically all but irrelevant . The ranks of these new administrations do non sufficiently do up for those lost from the more traditional denominations, which are in danger of dwindling past the demographic point of no return.

E-Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

E-Business - Essay Example store associates were equipped with extensive product training to assist customers on how to do things themselves while clinics were also conducted (Our history, n.d.). It expanded later to Canada, Mexico, China, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the territory of Guam with unprecedented speed (Our history, n.d.) that total more than 2,200 retail outlets (Corporate, n.d.). It was listed in NASDAQ in 1981, New York Stock Exchange three years after (Our history, n.d.), and also traded at Dow Jones and Standard & Poor’s index (Corporate, n.d.). Its inventory of home improvement needs and materials consisted of around 40,000 and can order 250,000 products for customers (Stores, 2006). E-commerce encompasses the â€Å"buying, selling, transferring, or exchanging products, services, and/or information† through the computer and the internet (Turban et al., 2005, as cited in E-business, n.d. p. 3). E-business, a broader term that includes e-commerce, means purchase and sale of goods and services as well as â€Å"servicing customers, collaborating with business partners, conducting e-learning, and processing electronic transactions† (Turban et al., 2005, as cited in E-business, n.d. p. 3). E-commerce transactions are commonly conducted through the internet but may also be done over private interconnection (e.g. value-added networks, local area networks, wide area networks) (Turban et al., 2005, as cited in E-business, n.d. p. 3). The benefits of e-commerce include: a) online search allows consumers comparison for cheaper products, b) selection of more vendors and products, c) 24 hours-7 days a week shopping from any location, d) quick access to necessary detailed data, e) allows users to avail of custom-made products at lower prices, f) enables persons to make a living or earn a degree at home, g) allows electronic auctions that provides advantage to both vendors and buyers, and h) interact and communicate with other consumers for exchange of experiences and views

Cause & Effect of Sept. 11th Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Cause & Effect of Sept. 11th - Essay Example The social effect is captured by the way the catastrophe altered the American people’s perception, behavior and interaction towards Muslims living within and outside the country. The political effect is manifested by the labeling of certain states as the axis of evil and the American-led invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. The economic effect can be seen from the increased use of resources to secure production, distribution, finance, and communication at the expense of national productivity. What caused the September 11 attacks? In retrospect the big question still is: what led to 9/11 in the first place? There is no clear answer to this question; however, numerous conjectures have been raised. Even the US government’s 9/11 commission failed to provide clarity on the real causes of September 11. The commission only gave an unqualified response on who was responsible for the heinous act. There is not a single event in modern times that has elicited as many explanations as this tragedy. According to Bergen (2006) the theories on the causes of the September 11 attacks could be categorized into three: (1) the outright absurd, which state that the attacks were orchestrated by the US government; (2) the believable but flawed that argue that the attacks were done as a response to foreign occupation in the Arab lands; and (3) the credible, which postulates that September 11 was simply a collateral damage resulting from a clash within Islam. The al Qaeda angle In its findings, the US 9/11 commission concluded that the al Qaeda was solely responsible for the terrorist attacks. Osama Bin Laden was at war unambiguously with the United States. Levingston (2010) argued that this was the case because Osama was irked by the multiple engagements of the US in the Arab lands and its unequivocal support for Israel. This theory fits the second categorization of Bergen (2006); the-believable-but-flawed argument. At this juncture, it is important to note that Osama ’s critique towards America had never been cultural. Osama was not fighting Western culture; his was a personal war against the US. Bergen (2006) stated that Bin Laden was astute enough to know that he could not wage an all-out battle against the world’s sole superpower. He therefore craftily embodied his vision inside al Qaeda and attracted similar disgruntled Islamists whom he managed to convince that America was the enemy. Osama saw terrorism as the only achievable mode of operation to wage war against the US. This argument is believable but flawed because it fails to provide sufficient reasons as to why an individual in the Middle East would be so obsessed with waging a war against the US. Western interference The second plausible root cause of al Qaeda’s attack was perpetual Western interference in the oil-rich Persian Gulf. This interference can be traced back to colonization of Arab states by France and Britain, the creation and unequivocal support for the Jewish state – Israel, and currently American hegemony that is exemplified by acts such as the Gulf War in 1990. Western interference is a broader cause than Osama’s war in that it does not merely point the finger at one Western state – America – but at the entire Western world. The heart of this argument on Western interference is that the West has slowly and steadily been eroding the Arab culture by permeating Western ideologies in the Persian

Neo-Liberals versus Social Democrats in Security and Tax

Neo-Liberals versus Social Democrats in Security and Tax What are the different views of neo-liberals versus social  democrats with regards to social security and taxation? One of the most important features of democracy, that allows it to be such a successful form of government is the diversity of political stances. Social democracy is a political ideology that supports both economic and social interventions. Neo-liberalism however offers juxtaposing economic liberalization policies such as privatization and reduced government spending. Social security and taxation have always been a large topic of discussion, I look to explore the contrasting views held by these two ideologies focussing on the effect that has on the population in UK history. Neo-liberalism has only been around for about thirty years, liberalism refers to economic and political ideas based on the political economy of Adam Smith and neo means a new form of liberalism. Neo-liberalism is associated with laissez faire economics which follows the beliefs that the world is a self-regulating system and there is no need for the involvement of government. Government involvement, according to this economic theory, would include any type of regulation, minimum wage, taxation, or oversight. Laissez-faire economists see taxation on companies as a penalty for production. (Investopedia.com, 2003) The popularity of neoliberalism is arguable but was used in many economic policies adopted in the UK and US by political leaders such as Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Raegan in the 1980s. Their main aim is for the market to become dominant as it increases the general performance of the business which puts more money into that countries economy and reduces the role of the state. When public companies become private the general public can buy shares which creates a positive incentive and makes the general public money. In the UK, the shares rocketed in value as soon as they were issued, giving these new shareholders an instant profit of anything between 20% (British Gas) and 85% (British Telecom). (veronica, 2015) With this being the focal point of the policy, it is clear to see that neo-liberalism accentuates economic climb as opposed to social justice. It is argued that this leads to an increase in inequality as the government were selling state assets, which were owned by everyone to a wealthier subset of people which in turn increases the gap between the rich and the poor. (veronica, 2015b) The neoliberal practice of giving public wealth to a small wealthy elitist privatized group, approving tax cuts for the rich and reducing wages for the less fortunate majority is why neo-liberalism is such a controversial political stance. Social democracy was the main political standing held by the public and the government in the UK after the world wars. It supports social and economic interventions, a political movement advocating a gradual and peaceful transition from capitalism to socialism by democratic means. (Merriam-Webster, 2017) William Beveridge is one of the most influential people is social democratic history, his belief in the community and that the well-off should support those in society who are in need and less able started the creation of the welfare state. Social democratic political standing has a far-left ideology, they believe in democratic government and individual freedoms. They highlight the need for the protection of the poor and minority groups, support trade unions, free education and strive for gender equality. Social democrats believe in rewarding talent and hard work rather than privilege which is beneficial as it doesnt waste the talent of individual citizens, which in turn encourages s ociety to become more integrated. In contrast to the beliefs of the neo-liberals, social democrats do not believe that the privatized market is positive asset to the government as its undemocratic. Companies are owned by very few wealthy individuals and as it is not self-regulated which can end in economic crisis with high levels of unemployment and unreasonable inflation which many people cant afford. The welfare state is a safety net for the flaws of free market, it aims to provide a level of social security for many people by redistributing the wealth of the market by taxation. (veronica, 2015c)    Taxation is the amount of money paid to the government by citizens and businesses that is then redistributed into the wider society. The main types of taxation in the UK is: income tax, national insurance, VAT and corporation tax. A tax system that takes a higher proportion of tax from the income of rich than poor is known as a progressive system. Under a regressive system, the poor pay a higher proportion of their income in taxes than the rich. Income taxation is a progressive system, while indirect taxes e.g. VAT tend to be regressive as poorer groups spend a higher proportion of their incomes on VAT. Where social democrats would implement the funding of taxation in systems such as healthcare services and the welfare state, neo-liberals have a very different set of standing views on taxation, seeing high tax as a negative thing for the economy. One of the main goals of many neo-liberals is to privatize public companies with the belief that if privatized, citizens will not have to p ay tax towards the company and only those who use it will have to pay (e.g. privatizing the railway in 1990) making the economy fairer. The idea that cutting taxes will leave room to stimulate economic growth however often leads to public services being exploited for profit, and redesigns systems to become more elitist, something social democracy aims to avoid. In both the UK and the US during the 1980s a political movement that neo-liberalists would view as innovative was implemented. In the US Ronald Raegan reduced the top income tax rates from 70% to 50% and then a 25% reduction in income tax for everyone, in the UK income tax was reduced to 25% for lower and 40% for higher earners. (Ferrara, 2011) Whilst the intent of Mrs Thatcher, a figurehead for neo-liberalism, during this movement was to minimalize the discouraging effect of high tax to those who work hard what transpired was a huge increase in the inequality of financial divide as income tax dropped VAT rose in order to res tore balance to funding, allowing easier purchase for wealthy citizens but not the poor. This is a prime example of how neo-liberalism aims to use taxation to give more responsibility to the individuals of the public by rolling back the state, but often leads to benefiting social and financial hierarchy. Neo liberals judge state intervention as problematic and strive for it to be minimised and conceive taxation to be a burden, often critiquing the high taxes put in place by social democrats. Margaret Thatcher famously said: The trouble with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other peoples money. (Mikkelson, 2014) Social democrats believe that the state has a responsibility of its own to look after the public who are lesser abled through the funding created by tax thus showing a clear difference in view. Social security is all forms of financial support provided by the state, it is an essential part of every government however other forms of social security can include aspects not paid by the state .e.g. sick pay. In the UK, the concept was introduced in the early 1900s. It is a system put in place to insuring against the risks of particular events in life, such as unemployment and short-term sickness, relieving poverty or low income, redistributing resources across peoples lifecycles, especially from working age to retirement, redistributing resources from the rich to the poor, compensating for some types of extra cost (such as children or disability) and providing financial support when traditional families break down. (Fox, 2016) Social democrats argue that social security and state intervention is vital to reduce inequalitys and combat social injustice, the belief they hold is every person is interdependent and we will all during our lifetimes pay taxes and receive some form of s ocial security benefits. Social democrats aim to put in place a universalised system of social benefits and security which means that all services are available to all citizens, this eradicates the need for means tested benefits which can be embarrassing and bureaucratic for those who are entitled to claim them; they believe that universal benefits are easier to administer and more effective. For social democrats, the low take up of means tested benefits is an important failing of the current social security system. In 1980, no means tested benefit had more than an 80% take up. (Limited, 2015) The main figure head for social security in the UK was Sir William Beveridge, his push for the creation of a universal and compulsory welfare state and social security system to eradicate inequality by creating a shared and orderly society. There are also many negatives about universal social security the main being the high cost which is the main reason the UK implements less of a universal s ystem today. Neo-liberals have very contrasting view, they see universal provision of benefits and social security as nonsensical; it gives to those who dont need it and wastes resources. Child benefit, for example, costs nearly  £5 billion a year (1988), going to 6.8 million households with 12 million children regardless of income. (Limited, 2015) Neo-liberals ideally want the welfare state and social security to be in line with the residual model which only gives social security and welfare benefits to the deserving poor, the individuals right at the bottom of society. Means testing is a vital part of neoliberal governing, it limits the needs for goods and services by charging for things like dental checkups so will reduce the demand for these services. In the eyes of neo-liberals, poverty is seen as something that is caused by the idleness of the individuals at the bottom of society and isnt considered to be an economic problem to be combatted by the government. Welfare and soc ial security recipients tend to become welfare dependent so become complacent and do not try to earn money in the marketplace relying on the safety net of the state. The contrasting views of social democrats and neo-liberals are obvious. Neo liberals focus on the economic development of a country where as social democrats view social justice as the paramount feature of governing society. There are many drawbacks and needs for both political stances in UK history, where neoliberalism is seen to be the main driving force behind globalization producing wealth for the economy it is argued that it is also the main driving force behind inequality and treats citizens as consumers for the privatized market. Social democrats however reduced inequality by creating state run systems that act as a preventative measure for social ills but this created an economic crisis as the surplus of wealth could not fund the social security and welfare of state run systems so taxes had to be increased and the economy was severely damaged. Taxation and social security will always be a major discussion point in global politics, there will always be a need to both as they a re co-dependent in order to be effective. The only way to achieve a fair democratic system is to compromise between both neo-liberal and social democratic political stances, both considering the economy and social justice as a means to achieve a fully functioning government. References Ferrara, P. (2011) Reaganomics vs. Obamanomics: Facts and figures. Available at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2011/05/05/reaganomics-vs-obamanomics-facts-and-figures/#30c60c963a1d (Accessed: 20 January 2017). Fox, Paul (2016) Available at: https://studentcentral.brighton.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/pid-2833560-dt-content-rid-5267320_1/courses/SS407_2016/SS407%20Seminar%20taxation%20and%20the%20public%20purse.doc (Accessed: 20 January 2017). Investopedia.com (2003) Laissez Faire, in Available at: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/laissezfaire.asp (Accessed: 20 January 2017). Limited, S.Y.M. (2015) Social policy: Philosophies of welfare. Available at: http://www.s-cool.co.uk/a-level/sociology/welfare/revise-it/social-policy-philosophies-of-welfare (Accessed: 20 January 2017). Merriam-Webster (2017) Definition of SOCIAL DEMOCRACY. Available at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20democracy (Accessed: 20 January 2017). Mikkelson, D. (2014) Margaret Thatcher on socialism. Available at: http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/thatcher.asp (Accessed: 20 January 2017). veronica, risie (2015a) The advantages of Privatisation. Available at: http://www.s-cool.co.uk/a-level/economics/privatisation/revise-it/the-advantages-of-privatisation (Accessed: 20 January 2017). veronica, risie (2015b) The disadvantages of Privatisation. Available at: http://www.s-cool.co.uk/a-level/economics/privatisation/revise-it/the-disadvantages-of-privatisation (Accessed: 20 January 2017).

The History of the Roman Government Essay -- Ancient Rome Governmental

The History of the Roman Government The Romans have had almost every type of government there is. They've had a kingdom, a republic, a dictatorship, and an empire. Their democracy would be the basis for most modern democracies. The people have always been involved with and loved their government, no matter what kind it was. They loved being involved in the government, and making decisions concerning everyone. In general, the Romans were very power-hungry. This might be explained by the myth that they are descended from Romulus, who's father was Mars, the god of war. Their government loving tendencies have caused many, many civil wars. After type of government, the change has been made with a civil war. There have also been many civil wars between rulers. But it all boils down to wanting to be involved in government. When the Greeks finally entered Troy after ten long years of siege, a man named Aeneas escaped the city with his father, Anchises, and his son, Ascanius. They went to Mt. Ida, where they were to meet Aeneas' wife, Creusa, but she never showed up. Saddened, Aeneas acquired a boat and sailed around the Mediterranean. He bounced around from Asia Minor to Greece to Crete looking for a place to found a new Troy, but he couldn't find a satisfactory place. As told by Homer in the Aeneid, Aeneas was cared for by the gods. Venus, in particular, was very worried about him. She asked Jupiter, king of the gods about him, and he said this: "Since you are so consumed with anxiety for Aeneas, I shall turn forward far The hidden pages of fate and speak of the future. He shall conduct a great campaign for you. And conquer all Italy and its haughty peoples. He shall impose laws on his own people. And build walled cities for them; the third summer Shall see him rule in Latium, the third winter Of warfare see the Rutulians [an Italian tribe] subdued. But his son Ascanius... It is he who shall consolidate your power-For thirty years with all their turning months; Then shall he move his capital from Lavinium To Alba Longa, which he shall fortify To the uttermost; and there a line of kings... Shall reign and reign till Ilia [Rhea Silvia], a priestess Of royal blood, bear twins begotten by Mars; And one of these, Romulus, fostered by a she-wolf, And joyfully wearing her tawny hide, shall rule And found a city for Mars, a new city, And call his people Romans, af... ...es are Republic, styled after the Romans. The Romans are probably the most influential people of all-time. Works Cited Actium, Battle of. Computer Software. Encarta Encyclopedia, 1996 ed. Adcock, F. E. Roman Political Ideas and Practice. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, 1959. Asimov, Isaac. The Roman Republic. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1966. Burrell, Roy. The Romans. Oxford: Oxford University, 1991. Caesar. Computer Software. Encarta Encyclopedia, 1996 ed. Caesar, Gaius Julius. Computer Software. Encarta Encyclopedia, 1996 ed. Gibson, Elke. Personal Interview. 19 March 1997. Nardo, Don. The Roman Republic. San Diego: Lucent, 1994. "The Reforms of Diocletian and Constantine." CIS: Research and Education (16 March 1997). Republic. Computer Software. Encarta Encyclopedia, 1996 ed. Rise of Rome (753-44 BC). Computer Software. Encarta Encyclopedia, 1996 ed. "Rome, Ancient - the Empire." CIS: http://isdup/menu/133.html; Research and Education, Academic American Encyclopedia; Grolier's (16 March 1997) . Rome, History of. Computer Software. Encarta Encyclopedia, 1996 ed. Sabines. Computer Software. Encarta Encyclopedia, 1996 ed.

Outsourcing and Negotiation in Project Management

The prevailing tendency of organizations is to concentrate on core activities and opt to outsource those activities which are considered to be noncore. 1) Discuss the concept of outsourcing, reason behind outsourcing and its challenges. Outsourcing is the act of one company contracting with another company to provide services that might otherwise be performed by in house employees. Often, the tasks that are outsourced could be performed by the company itself, but in many cases there are financial advantages that come from outsourcing.Many large companies now outsource jobs such as call centre services, email services and payroll. These jobs are handled by separate companies that specialize in each service. Outsourcing is therefore, the process of contracting an existing business function or process of an organization to another independent organization and ceasing to perform that function or process internally, instead, purchasing it as a service. Reasons for Outsourcing i. Cost redu ction/Cost Savings- outsourcing cuts costs such as labour costs, regulatory costs and training costs.Most companies that provide outsourcing services are able to do the work for considerably less money as they don't have to provide benefits to their workers and have fewer overhead expenses to worry about. ii. Focus on Core Business- companies are able to focus their money and resources more towards improving the core aspects of their business when outsourced. this allows the outsourcing company to build onto its core functions that keep the business running smoothly. iii. Access to more Knowledge, Talent and Experience- outsourcing means contracting to an organization that is more specialized in a particular area, e. . , payroll services. this means that the process that is outsourced will be performed in a more efficient and effective manner hence improved services. iv. Increased profits- due to the fact that some services or processes are outsourced at a cheaper cost, it means tha t the services/products a company offers will also be provided at an affordable price hence higher revenues. Cost savings and reduction also increases the profits. Challenges of Outsourcing i. Eliminates direct communication between a company and its clients especially in instances where customer service has been outsourced.This may prevent a company from building solid relationships with their customers which can lead to dissatisfaction. ii. The danger of not being able to control some aspects of a company which have been outsourced which can lead to delayed communication and project implementation. In turn, this can cause a company to become highly dependent on its outsource providers which can cause problems or complications should the outsource provider back out on the contract for one reason or another. iii. Any sensitive information is more vulnerable as there is reduced confidentiality and also the risk of leakage.Outsourcing means that some information needs to be shared wit h the outsource provider hence confidentiality is compromised. 2) Discuss the significance of negotiation and its approaches to achieve procurement objectives, factors influencing buyer negotiations, strengths and weaknesses of negotiation styles. Negotiation is dialogue between 2 or more people or parties intended to reach an understanding, resolve point of difference or gain advantage in outcome so as to satisfy various interests of the negotiating parties. It is therefore mutual discussion and arrangement of the terms of a transaction or agreement.It is a process where each party involved in negotiating tries to gain an advantage for themselves by the end of the process. Negotiation is intended to aim at compromise. Approaches to Negotiation i. Structural Approach Structural approaches consider negotiated outcomes to be a function of the characteristics or structural features that define each particular negotiation. These characteristics may include features such as the number of parties and issues involved and the composition or relative power of the competing parties.In this approach, there's an emphasis on the means parties bring to a negotiation. Power is thus the central determining factor in negotiation. In this view, the relative power of each negotiating party affects his/her ability to secure their individual goals. However, other factors such as negotiating skills can play a key role in shaping negotiated outcomes. Therefore, victory in negotiations does not always go to the party that is more powerful. Another limitation of structural approaches is their emphasis on taking positions.Negotiators should be aware that a blind attachment to winning from a negotiation regardless of the resulting satisfaction of other parties, can be a poor long term strategy if it means that the other side will lose its will or ability to maintain its side of the negotiated agreement. ii. Strategic Approach Here, the emphasis is on the role of ends (goals) in determin ing outcomes. Negotiators are viewed as rational decision makers with known alternatives who make choices guided by their calculation of which option will maximize their ends or gains.Actors choose from a choice set of possible actions in order to try and achieve desired outcomes. It's grounded in the belief that there is one best solution to every negotiation problem hence look for best solutions from all perspectives of a negotiation. iii. Behavioural Approach Behavioural approaches emphasize the role that negotiators' personalities or individual characteristics play in determining the course and outcome of negotiated agreements. It explains negotiations as interactions between personality types. It therefore, highlights human tendencies, emotions and skills.It may emphasize the role played by arts of persuasion, attitudes, trust, perception or misperception, individual motivation and personality in negotiated outcomes. iv. Integrative Approach Negotiations are viewed as interacti ons with win-win potential. It looks for ways of creating value so that there is more to share between parties as a result of negotiation. Uses objective criteria, looks to create conditions of mutual gain and emphasizes the importance of exchanging information between parties and group problem solving. It thus calls for participants to work jointly to create win-win solutions.It involves uncovering interests, generating options and searching for commonalities between parties. Objectives of Negotiation for Procurement 1. Obtain the quality specified- through negotiation, buyers and suppliers are able to reach a consensus on quality required for the products/services. 2. Obtain a fair and reasonable price. 3. Create a long term partnership with a highly qualified supplier- through negotiation, an organization is able to identify which supplier it best relates with hence creating a long term relationship. 4.To get the supplier to perform the contract on time- delivery date schedule fo r quantity and quality specified should be realistic. It's important that buyers negotiate delivery schedules which suppliers can realistically meet without endangering other requirements of the purchase. 5. To exert control over the manner in which the contract is performed- buyers need to negotiate for controls which will assure compliance with the quality, quantity, delivery and service terms of the contract. Factors Influencing Buyer Negotiations 1. Type of Buyer All buyers are not equal.Buyers have different acquisition objectives, growth and competitive pressures, availability of capital and the attendant costs, risk tolerance and adeptness at negotiating deals that will impact the amount they are willing to spend on procurement. 2. General Attractiveness of the Company Naturally, an asking price that is below market valuation will make a supplier more attractive. Also, an asking price that is in close proximity to a company's fair market valuation is also attractive. Therefor e, factors that make a supplier attractive include: †¢ Strong management A strong balance sheet †¢ High growth rate †¢ Leadership or dominance in the market Such factors will attract buyers since the supplier will be viewed as dependable or reliable. 3. Financial Parameters A buyer's financial parameters that determine what to be paid include: internal cash available for procurement and the amount they are willing to invest in a single procurement deal. 4. Relative Negotiation Skill and Bargaining Leverage of the Parties As a buyer, the amount of money you will pay will be influenced by your negotiation skills, bargaining leverage and time constraints.For example, if the products/services are required urgently, then you might not have enough time to bargain for a good deal. Ultimately, the greatest power possessed by both the buyer and seller is to walk away or end the negotiation process. 5. Buyer's Experience with Prior Suppliers The amount of money that a buyer is willing to pay is influenced by prior experience. If the buyer paid a high price in the past and the supplier failed to deliver, they will think long and hard before offering an overly generous price and vice versa. 6. Inherent Risk Factors and the Buyer's ToleranceRisk can be defined as the possibility of a bad outcome or the uncertainty of a desired outcome. Tolerance of risk is a buyer's willingness to accept and manage risks that can come about say due to a delayed or even failed delivery. When it comes to negotiation, the biggest risk is overpayment then the product/service procured does not meet the specifications or is not even delivered. 7. General Market and Economic Conditions Economic and market conditions strongly influence buyers. Favourable economic conditions means that buyers are willing to spend more; unfavourable economic conditions means that buyers will reduce on their spending.

Critical Aspects Of Social Work Essay - 1496 Words

One of the key things that stood out for me while doing this course and before has made me realize that social work is harder than I thought it would be. There are many critical aspects of social work that help us work with clients. One of the biggest things that have stood out for me was that helping people is more complicated than I thought there are so many critical things in the process that work to help others. Therefore it is not as easy as I expected it would be. The main reasons that I wanted to do this course was because I ultimately wanted to do to help people. I have learned that many factors come into play in the field of social work, including levels of practice, ethics and critical reflection and self-care. 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