Religion and Spirituality in Native American Culture Essay

Religion amp; Spirituality in the Native American Culture When the topic of the beliefs of the Native American culture arises, most people have generally the same ideas about the culture’s beliefs: they are very strong. Being part Native American myself, from the Cherokee tribe, I was raised to know my culture pretty well and follow the same beliefs that they teach and follow. One thing f that my grandma, who is the great-granddaughter of a Cherokee Chief, instilled in me is the importance of my beliefs in God. When the Europeans came to North America and saw the spiritual practices, ceremonies, and rituals being performed, they thought of the Native Americans as barbarians and their practices pagan, and that’s when the fight to keep†¦show more content†¦Throughout the decades, United States policy in Indian affairs shifted, and eventually Congress took steps to establish certain protections for Native American religious practices. In 1978, Congress enacted the American Indian Religious Freedom Act which stated: quot;[I]t shall be the policy of the United States to protect and preserve for American Indians their inherent right of freedom to believe, express, and exercise the traditional religions of the American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, and Native Hawaiians, including but not limited to access to sites, use and possession of sacred objects, and the freedom to worship through ceremonials and traditional ritesquot; (Dill).nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; As promising as this Act appeared for Native Americans wanting to be free from governmental intrusion in practicing their native spirituality, it contained a fatal flaw: there was no provision for enforcement. The Supreme Court interpreted the Act to be merely a requirement that the government consult with the Indians about the potential devastating effects its actions might have on Indian religious practices. For the Indian people, the Act meant absolutely nothing without provisions for enforcement. Many Native Americans ended up in prison for simply practicing their spirituality in the traditional ways that their ancestors had used since time immemorialShow MoreRelatedChristianity in Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson1083 Words   |  5 PagesThe theme of spirituality takes place in many novels that we have read this semester. Natives has used spiritual guidance as a means of connecting with their past and honoring their ancestors. To Natives, spirits have always played an important ro le in their culture and everyday lives. When Natives were forced to convert to Christianity and over time have their beliefs sucked out of them, the spiritual connection was broken as generations passed. One novel that particularly spoke to me on this subjectRead MoreHow American Indians Have Adapted their Culture Since Colonization962 Words   |  4 Pagesfirst Americans â€Å"Indians† and how they’ve adapted with their religion, subsistence strategy, social organization, and material culture. Over the years things have change in the history of Native Americans, prior to the reconstruction period, Native Americans knew who they were and what they lived for. Before the Europeans came and changed their living they one with nature and the land they’ve came to know. They believe that America was there’s and they lived free. In today’s history of Native AmericansRead MoreEssay on Native American Tradition and Religion1319 Words   |  6 PagesNorth A merica, different native religions evolved to match the needs and lifestyles of the individual tribe. Religious traditions of aboriginal peoples around the world tend to be heavily influenced by their methods of acquiring food, whether by hunting wild animals or by agriculture. Native American spirituality is no exception. Traditional Lakota spirituality is a form of religious belief that each thing, plant and animal has a spirit. The Native American spirituality has an inseparable connectionRead MoreNative American Religions1160 Words   |  5 PagesOver the century Native American religions have been repressed and misunderstood. There has been little room for them to actually be able to explain their rituals and why it is important to them as a society. This ignorance’s has resulted in the loss of land, false practices with sacred objects, and a lack of education within the rituals of indigenous religions. The indigenous population deserves support to preserve their practi ces and language. Since most of these religions have been repressed forRead MoreThe Nature Of Spirituality : The Iroquois Nation Of The Eastern Woodlands1684 Words   |  7 PagesThe nature of spirituality may be difficult for someone outside of their culture to understand. Many Native Americans are visionary, dreamers, and mystic in animated worlds of spirits. Indians have encouraged the seeking of visions and dreams through various practices and beliefs. The Iroquois Nation of the eastern woodlands was one of the most highly organized civilizations that developed among Native American tribes in North America. Their religion was based off on an all power known as â€Å"The GreatRead MoreNative American Spirituality And Native Americans1374 Words   |  6 Pages For Native Americans, protecting their sacred ways was and is a matter of survival, but it is also a matter of respect for the power that is involved. Across the United States, there are more than 558 federally recognize d and several hundred state recognized Native American nations (Russell, 1998). Given the wide-ranging diversity of this population consisting of 2.3 million people, it is essential to understand that the term Native American spirituality encompasses the vastness of more than 500Read MoreCultural Influences On End Of Life Care916 Words   |  4 Pagescare providers interact with patients from many different cultures. It is important to be knowledgeable and respectable of other cultures. Health care providers will be able to improve the experience of the patient if they are more culturally. More than 500 nations of Native Americans exist in the United States with a population of over four million people. Each has their own language, culture, healers, and tribal customs and religions informed (B. Stuart, Cherry, J. Stuart, 2011). The purposeRead MoreEducation, Land Tenure, And Their Religion1521 Words   |  7 PagesThere are many aspects which changed most in the lives of Sou th Dakota’s Native American Population from the pre-contact era to the present. The three aspects that will be discussed in this paper will be education, land tenure, and their religion/spirituality. The first aspect that will be addressed is education. Indian children and Indian people did not necessarily have an â€Å"education†. They learned the ways and religion of their people. This was mainly all the people needed to know. Allotment createdRead MoreFaith Diversity and Healthcare Providers1231 Words   |  5 Pagescommunity. Christianity is still the predominant religion, but a recent survey by the Pew Forum on Religion amp; Public Life details the shifts taking place in the U.S. According to the study, 28 percent of American adults have left the faith of their upbringing for another religion, or no religion at all. The number of people that claim no affiliation with any particular faith is rising, and the number of people practicing non-Christian religions is increasing (Pew Forum 2010). For the bedsideRead MoreHealth Care Provider And Faith Diversity1563 Words   |  7 PagesHealth Care Provider and Faith Diversity The United States has always been the symbol of freedom of religion and health care today has needed to increase its knowledge in incorporating the many different religions/spiritual beliefs in order to provide a more holistic approach to care. As health care providers we should not look in validating our own practice in regards to religion or spirituality but to comprehend and learn to see the patterns of similarities and differences in order to provide holistic

Essay From Desire to Disaster Macbeth - 618 Words

In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the influence of two different forces cause the main character, Macbeth, to be torn between his desire for power and his sense of loyalty to his king and country. Macbeth already holds a place of power when the play begins, being the thane of Glamis, and later gains power as the thane of Kordor, given to him by his gracious king Duncan. However, when his fortune is told by three witches who told him he will be king, instead of being gracious for what the king has already given him, he thirst for even more power. These split in Macbeth’s desires drives the idea that seeking to much power is more harmful than good. Having loyalty to his king and country Macbeth has a hard time coming to terms of his wife’s†¦show more content†¦When Macbeth’s wife learns of the witches’ foretelling she wants Macbeth to be king as soon as possible so she can gain a better standing in society. In an attempt to sway Macbeth to kill Dunca n she insults his manliness, â€Å"When you durst do it, then you were a man;/And to be more than what you were, you would/Be so much more the man† (I.vii.49-51). By insulting Macbeth’s manhood, Lady Macbeth manages to convince Macbeth that he would not be a man if he could not kill Duncan. Macbeth with his masculinity insulted reaffirms his plots to kill Duncan to prove to his wife he is a man worthy of her. Macbeth thinks to himself, â€Å"Let not light see my black and deep desires† (I.iv.51) when pondering on his ambitions for power. Macbeth realizes that his plots are evil and should not be thought of or done by anyone, however he does not want to wait for any more power. He wants all the power he can gain as soon as he can get it even if he has to kill for the power he desires. The underlying theme of Macbeth is that being over ambitious can be disastrous. Macbeth’s loyalty to the king and his desire to obtain power lead to his over ambitions, whi ch then led to his doomed fate in the end of Macbeth. In Macbeth’s attempts to obtain his ambitions he takes actions which in turn lead to his lonely desolation, which supports the theme of being over ambitious can lead to disasters. When Macbeth disregards his loyalty to his king to fulfill his own desires is when his progression toShow MoreRelatedMacbeth-Struggle for Power999 Words   |  4 PagesIt is indeed evident that the play, Macbeth is ultimately about the struggle for power. Power is something many desire where people often change and become evil in their attempts to acquire it and during this play the characters go through many changes which lead to disaster. The two main characters mostly influenced by power in this Shakespearean play are Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is swayed by the prophecy made by the witches and also by Lady Macbeth who holds great control over her husbandRead MoreExamples Of Ethos In Macbeth Act 1 Scene 71021 Words   |  5 Pages In Macbeth’s Act 1 scene 7, Macbeth is unsure on whether he should kill King Duncan. As He begins to analyze King Duncan’s honorable character and the betrayal he’ll be known for if he executes the King, he keeps a doubtful and pitiful tone. Lady Macbeth is able to convince Macbeth to follow through with their plan by attacking Macbeth’s character and persuading him to follow his desires. She keeps a seductive and demanding tone. The appeal used in Act 1 Scene 7, is both ethos and pathos;Read MoreThe Role Of Ambition In Macbeth1208 Words   |  5 PagesMacbeth is a Shakespearean play which shows how ambition drives a person’s life and how people are constantly driven by uncontrolled ambition to better their lives. In the play, regardless of Lady Macbeth and the witches, Macbeth is responsible for his own downfall. He is driven by ambition to be viewed as a better man in the country and to be in control of his own fate. Uncontrolled ambiti on can easily turn into insanity; plans should be led through intelligence and maturity in order to achieveRead MoreExamples Of Conflicting Forces In Macbeth759 Words   |  4 Pagesand one of Shakespeare’s greatest works demonstrating this is Macbeth. This famous play is about nobleman and military man Macbeth and how his tragic choices lead to his inevitable demise. The first and most trying choice that Macbeth has to make is whether or not to kill Duncan, the king of Scotland. Macbeth has to make this decision while being pulled in different directions by two conflicting forces. The force pulling him away from murder is his loyalty and humanity towards Duncan. The other forceRead MoreHuman nature as reflected in Macbeth1553 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Human nature as reflected in Macbeth Human nature has sparked much debate throughout history. Some people think that human nature at birth is absolutely good and that all evil comes from postnatal education or the negative effects of parental or guardian interaction. This idea is evident in a Chinese saying which translates as Men at their birth are naturally good. Conversely some people argue that human nature is initially evil, and provide an example by citing the observation that when aRead More Darkness in Macbeth Essay581 Words   |  3 PagesA.C. Bradley wrote that about Macbeth: â€Å"darkness, we may even say blackness, broods over this tragedy... all the scenes which at once recur to memory take place either at night or in some dark spot.† The Tragedy of Macbeth contains many instances where darkness is represented and portrayed whether it occurs at night or the actions. Many actions that were completed by Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and the prophecies told by the witches, all have corrupt intentions or outco mes. Shakespeare often will useRead MoreLady Macbeth Is Essentially the Villain in Macbeth771 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is the true villain of the play as she is evil, ambitious and eventually insane. Lady Macbeth masterminded the idea to kill King Duncan and planted the vision into Macbeths mind, she convinced Macbeth to commit such a crime, and her love for her husband was eventually overruled by her determination and lust for power. Throughout the play she starts to show her true colours and the destructive force of her ambition, which inevitably results in nothing but disaster. LadyRead MoreAnalysis Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare1659 Words   |  7 PagesHonors 9 November 2015 Macbeth Essay The theme of tragedy appears in various amounts of movies, literature, and plays which provided entertainment for people throughout the years. Movies and plays such as â€Å"The Titanic† and â€Å"Romeo Juliet† gave audiences a pang of sadness and amusement as the story line unraveled. Notably, the prevalence of the theme occurs in Shakespearean plays such as the tale of Macbeth which displays Aristotle’s definition of tragedy. The play Macbeth lives up to Aristotle’sRead MoreThe Tragic Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare Essay1479 Words   |  6 Pagestragedy Macbeth is arguably one of the most recognised literary works of William Shakespeare, centered on the idea of illegitimate power. Throughout the text, Shakespeare explores the destructive nature of power through various representations and characters, conveying an unceasing struggle for power amongst the main protagonists that causes devastating consequences. Though Shakespeare conveys m any different representations regarding the nature of power and the way it operates throughout Macbeth, inRead MoreLiterary Analysis of Macbeth Essay1310 Words   |  6 PagesLiterary Analysis of Macbeth Having a lust for power can cause a loss in many things. It’s as if you’re in a win-lose situation. In this case, the play Macbeth written by Shakespeare has scholars sayings, â€Å"The lust for power by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth led to a loss of humanity.† With that said, I totally agree with their view. Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth went out of their way to even killing King Duncan and burdening the murder on his guardsmen. Even though that’s a common human act, you

Thomas Becket Free Essays

Describe the state of the church in Chaucer’s middle ages. The king’s immediate successors paid little attention to the issue of division of power between church and state. Richard the Lion-Hearted spent his reign in France and on the Third Crusade to recover Jerusalem, and John was a tyrant who spent much of his time overtaxing and angering his subjects. We will write a custom essay sample on Thomas Becket or any similar topic only for you Order Now But from time to time, the issue of who would control the judicial system of England resurfaced and other differences between church and state arose. It was not until the rule of Henry VIII that the struggles between king and pope were resolved. Henry VIII settled the issue by separating England from the Catholic Church altogether. â€Å"Thomas Becket. † IJXL Biographies. Detroit: 2003. Student Resources in Context. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. 16. What is the Magana Carta? What historical impact did it have? The Magna Carta (a Latin phrase meaning â€Å"Great Paper† or â€Å"Great Charter†) was originally an English document issued in 1215. An army led by English barons forced King John (1167-1216) to sign it. The purpose of he document was to clarify the king’s power over the barons, the church, clergymen, and the free people of certain towns. How to cite Thomas Becket, Papers

Principles of Management Samples for Students †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Study of Principles of Management. Answer: Introduction Principles of managementcan be defined as certain guidelines, which must be followed by the managers in the course of making anymanagement related activity successful. This report outlines the fact to make an individual assignment of a particular case study of management. A brief discussion of the synopsis, symptoms, problems, causes, alternatives, proposed solutions and implementation of the case study has been attempted in this report. Synopsis The case study deals with a renowned Canadian merchandiser of consumer products-D.H.P Stores Inc, Recently, D.H.P Stores Inc has launched a credit card campaign to induce the buyers to buy more consumer goods. Unfortunately, this had created a dispute among the top-level marketing, finance and operations managers of the company. The task was later segregated among the finance, marketing and operations departments. However, later it was not implemented due to the employees irresponsible attitude. The official in charge reacted audaciously to the above waywardness, which further made the situation critical and the Vice President had to intervene. Symptoms The symptoms of the problem can be detected at the time of the executive committee meeting, where the proposal was being discussed by the President and the Vice-Presidents. There was a subtle disagreement regarding the departmental implementations of the aforementioned credit card campaign. Problems The first problem was after the meeting was held; the departments failed to keep up with their assigned tasks. As a result, the promotion of the credit card facility stood at a standstill. The second problem was the aggressive criticism of the store managers by Ray Patton. After this, the store managers had become seriously upset and the situation turned critical. Causes The cause of the problem was the inactiveness and irresponsibility of the departmental managers. They did not perform their task with the necessary zeal and eagerness. The conduct of Ray Patton is also worth mentionable. Mr. Patton was unnecessarily inconsiderate and brash in his criticism of the failure of the store managers. Alternatives The problem of departmental implementation of the campaign task- The campaign could have been allocated solely to the marketing department. Advantage- Effectiveness in the application of the campaign. Disadvantage- Over burden on the marketing department. The problem of the inactiveness of the store managers- The store managers should have been further advised and reminded of their duty on a frequent basis. Advantage- The campaign would have become top priority of the store managers. Disadvantage- The urgency of the other important tasks would have faded in comparison. The problem of the audacious conduct of Mr. Ray Patton Mr. Patton would have been patient in his criticism. Advantage- The disappointment of the store managers would have been avoided. Disadvantage- The store managers would further have taken advantage of the leniency of Mr. Patton. Proposed Solution The best solution would have been to constantly remind the store managers of their upcoming responsibility. It is the best solution because it would have efficiently captured the interest of the managers to become their top priority. Implementation The above strategy can be implemented by the marketing departmental head by frequently sending a reminder and asking for an appraisal report regarding the credit card campaign from the store managers. This would have created urgency in the minds of the store managers to follow up the task. Conclusion Conclusively, from the above analysis, it is evident thatmanagement is a tricky task. Human beings are complex creatures. In a workplace every employees have to dealt with sensitiveness and consideration. The employees are the revenue-earning source of an organization. Therefore, their sentiments must be properly valued. The principles of organizational behavior can be introduced and adopted by the organizations to mitigate conflicts and disputes.

One Day Diary free essay sample

My one day diary and its explanation Date: 18th June, 2008 The content Im feeling uneasy due to stomachache today. It may have happened due to cheap dry food in my lunch. In these days, my learning pace and study habit is decreasing, which have made me worried. Yesterday many of my friends proposed me to go to night dance bar and restaurant for new experience. Although my friends accused me saving money was my motto, I did not accept their proposal. Explanation of my diary events I begin my writing with my physical illness. My stomachache and uneasy feelings reminded me the western philosophy of mind and self. According to Thompson (2006), Plato describes the self by way of analogy with a city. Just comparing with city, he postulated, the self has three parts; the physical body with its appetites, which animates and drives it, and the thinking mind that rules it. We will write a custom essay sample on One Day Diary or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He sees the ideal human life is as integrating its three distinct elements in a hierarchy. According to Thompson(2006), Aristotle sees the self as that which gives form and purpose to the physical body . The uneasy feeling is due to the interaction of mind with the physical body. My concerns towards my physical illness reminded me self care theory. The theory is about the personal health maintenance. It is any activity of an individual, family or community, with intention of improving or restoring health, or treating or preventing disease. Self-care includes all health decisions people (as individuals or consumers) make for themselves and their families to get and stay physically and mentally fit (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/health). In this diary, I have shown eagerness about my physical illness. As Im the leader of my family, I should be caring about the health situation of family members, but my own interest or my own problem of physical body is being the most important for me. That is, it is being the first issue of my health problem in my daily lives. This situation relates to Orems self-care theory. As Orem(1991) believes that an individual or client is a biological, psychological being with the potential for self-care, meaning a capacity or willingness to provide care for themselves towards the maintenance of life, health and well being. They may or may not be dependent on others. The notes of diary cover the essential happening and its importance in everyday life. Personal heath situation is y first priority in my daily lives that relates with the vision of Goel and Goel (2005), which emphasis that to make dream happens is to pay attention to individuals real needs. 1      This  document  was  prepared  by  BALAKRISHNA  CHAPAGAIN There is close relationship between health and self-care behavior. If each individual is responsible for his own life, then the concept of health may be as a human resource enabling a person to fulfill ambition s and goals in life (Orem,1971). The ideology has influenced my attitudes as I prioritized my health issues in the first hierarchy. I remembered the eastern and western culture and found contradictory when compare with my individual behavior. More individualistic themes tend to be found in western culture but more collectivist themes in eastern culture (Friedman and Schusreack, 2003). Individualists emphasize autonomy and independence where as collectivists emphasize on interdependent and group focused. But for me, I was influenced by western culture, that emphasizes in individualism. In these lines, I was not thinking about my family members health conditions. I believe on Hinduism and I am a follower of Hindu religion. The characteristic that focuses self at first and the family members at second priority may be influenced by Hindu ethics. As Karad (2001) in Dyaneshwara, A mantra for new millennium states that Hinduism teaches us about ones duty towards oneself, family and society. It advocates pious way of living ones life with purity of mind with as sense of full devotion to God, which will ultimately lead to salvation/liberation- Moksha. It means, being a fellow of Hinduism, there I found that I was influenced by this Hindu ethics and was caring first to myself and my family members after then. This indicates that cosmos of my beliefs and my personal behavior are as shadow of Hinduism or it could be the nature of human being as Nodding (1995) states that a man is responsible for himself, it does not mean that he is responsible for his own individuality, but that he is responsible for all men. The behavior is also explained by existentialism. Existentialisms first move is to make everyman aware of what he is and to make the full responsibility of his existence rest on him (Nodding, 1995). My behavior mentioned in the diary is reflected in existentialism. The behavior is also reflected by consequentialism. Gensler (1998) emphasis that consequentialism is the general view that we ought to do whatever has the best consequences for: a) Ourselves (egoism) b) Our group (Family and society members) c) All humans and d) All sentient beings (Utilitarianism) Im guessing the causes of my physical illness due to the effect of cheap food that I used that day. Taking cheap dry food was intended to save money by reducing the costs of daily food habit. My motives for 2      This  document  was  prepared  by  BALAKRISHNA  CHAPAGAIN taking cheap food may be the ultimate desire of saving money. For me only one and single way of increase in income is to reduce the expenses in daily need materials. The amount of income will be supportive for my household expenditures and it will contribute in higher education of my sons. These individual characteristics have reminded me the life cycle theory of consumption and savings according to which the marginal and average propensities to save grow as income rises. On the other hand, the life-cycle theory maintains that the level of savings depends on the age of consumers, and hence on the demographic structure of society rather than on the level of family income. The interests of kids and the adlutts may be entirely different. Gensler (1998) argues that each person has a unique and special potentialities that may or may not be fulfilled is alien to pre modern culure. Body awareness also includes awareness of requirement of exercises and diet (Giddens,1996). My saving interest by experiencing difficulties in present day to day life is certainlty influenced by modern culture with conflicting argues. Im worried about my health situation but the expenses in my diety food is getting low priority. It is reflected in Giddenss(1996) view as: overall lifestyle patterns, of course are less diverse than the plurality of choice available in day to day and even in longer term strategic decisions. The intention of less expenses reminded me the concepts of utilitiranism. I desired to save money by less expenses, so that it would be used to fulfill the needs of my family members. Happiness of my family members became my priority. For utilitarians, happiness is the greatest and most obvious human good, and an ethic should guide us toward producting as much happiness as possible (Noddings,1995). Classical utilitirans concerns are increasing the atio of happiness over pain. Hence my sickness about stomacheache is bearable for me over the future happiness of my family members. Here my general sense says that there is happiness when people are at least able to fulfill their present needs. The physical needs are the basis for generating happiness. Utilitarians see happiness as something disti nctly human. According to Noddings (1995), happiness could require of some people acts that others might regard as mere sacrifice. It means people become happy when they find others work for their satisfaction. Thus my disguised intention to save money carries the concepts of utilitarianism. My second idea embedded in that dairy is related to theory of life long learning. The pace and styles of learning may be different for individual to individual but the tendency of learning is applied to every individual. Hurlock(1976) indicates that one of the factors for learning to happen depends upon the personality pattern. According to her, the personality pattern is composed of traits, or specific qualities of behavior, which characterize the individuals unique adjustment to life in behavior and thoughts. A person as individual is different from every person. Personal interest and habits are formed due to surrounding environment, ancestors influence, traditional culture and personal character. For me, as my profession relates to educational environment, I must involve in learning activities. The existential theme in Socrates, 3      This  document  was  prepared  by  BALAKRISHNA  CHAPAGAIN stated in N. Noddings(1995) how should we live our lives is reflected in my feelings of the particular day . The trends toward an overt concern with educational standards, and attendant measures designed to address such worries, cannot and should not be viewed in isolation from the boarder picture. If I am not able to satisfy my consumers in the field of knowledge economy, they will reject me in terms of my services, eventually imposes me for development of learning attitude. Learning events would be possible through continuous learning behavior through training events. But Jarvis, Holford and Griffin (P. 4, 1998) say: Of course, training, as a concept, carried a much lower status than education, and so the word training has been gently buried- terms like human resource development have emerged and learning is placed at the center of the process. There has been a deliberate attempt to focus on learning rather than on providers or processes. It reveals that the learning events depend upon the interest and motives of the individual as well as the environment around. They emphasize that the process of learning has generally been understood to be the process through which individuals go in acquiring their knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, beliefs, emotions and senses. Either learning has been regarded as the process of transforming these experiences into human attributes, or – as behaviorists have suggested – learning is seen as the behavior exhibited because of learning. From these concepts, I found the following ideas from my diary. †¢ †¢ Consciousness about daily routine work in the sense of learning. Eagerness of learning and change My consciousness about daily routine work in the sense of learning shows that Im serious to my job nature. This is a nature of adult learning. Theory of adult learning states that, adults are motivated to learn because of their job nature. At the same time, Im not deeply involved in reading and learning activities and I am worried about my slow pace of learning as compared to my own expectation. There may be different reason behind it.

The Issue of Workplace Equity

The Issue of Workplace Equity Introduction Work equity is a major issue affecting most organizations around the world, regardless of whether they are public or private institutions. While everybody prefers being treated equally at workplace, there are numerous cases when employees are not treated with fairness, to a level of public concern.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Issue of Workplace Equity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Such cases have prompted the formulation of laws in different countries to deal with cases of unequal treatment especially in public organizations. Such laws define the manner in which workers are supposed to be treated, without favoritism in executing leadership or managerial authority (Peetz et al. 406). This paper explores the issue of workplace equity, focusing on a wide-range of aspects like its background, benefits, disadvantages, and challenges among others. Background Workplace equity is a broad aspect of man agement, which ensures that there is fair representation of people in an organization. This therefore means that workplace equity can be described variedly, depending on parameters of representation. In most cases, workplace equity strives to ensure that the minority groups are well-considered in all aspects of employment, starting with the manner in which employees are recruited to how they perform their duties (Peetz et al. 406). In order to comply with laws and create a positive public image, most institutions offer equal chances for men and women in cases where there are vacant positions to be occupied. Even though this is the case, some countries may have cultural beliefs, which limit the opportunities of members of a particular gender. Under such circumstances, women are known to suffer most because nearly all societies limit the opportunities of women. Besides gender, workplace equity ensures that people with disabilities are treated equally with dignity and respect, regardle ss of their physical situations. Since disabled people are limited, it is important for institutions to have a fair approach, starting with recruitment, training, remuneration, and overall relationship between employees and employers.Advertising Looking for essay on labor law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More People with disabilities can compete effectively if they are provided with the physical aid that they may require (Anenson 1). This ensures that tasks assigned to them are well-done within the provided time. In other words, institutions have the obligation of providing facilities, which promote the effectiveness of disabled people with regard to hiring and performance of different tasks at workplace. Another factor which determines workplace equity is race, especially in cases where the society is made up people from different ethnic backgrounds. In order for this to happen, it is important to consider potential candidates fairly during recruitment, training, and payment. Where equality is not observed, minority ethnic groups may be disadvantaged due to poor representation in different government institutions (Anenson 1). While private organizations may have customized approaches, relating to the hiring of employees and their retention, public firms need to exercise high degree of fairness to the entire country. Although it is not easy for an entire institution to be fair to all employees in every aspect, it is the responsibility of senior managers to be the ambassadors of equity in all their decisions and actions at workplace. Theory of equity The issue of workplace equity has been discussed by various theorists and experts throughout history. Following such surveys and researches, John Stacey Adams proposed ideas, which have found significant application in the understanding of quality at workplace. In his theory, Adams mainly addressed the issue of equity in relation to motivation of emp loyees in an organization. His findings have been found to match with those of other psychologists like Charles Handy and Maslow among other experts in the field (Pravin 316). According to Adams, equity at workplace plays a major role in defining an employee’s attitude towards his or her work. In other words, the theory has a wider view of certain factors that are likely to affect the entire workforce, even though a few people might be directly affected. This can be qualified based on the fact that fairness and equity are defined in comparison with how other employees are treated under the same working conditions. Furthermore, fair treatment motivates workers, because they feel appreciated for their efforts in advancing the aims and objectives of the organization (Pravin 316). In describing workplace equity, Adams focused on what people give and receive in return as inputs and outputs respectively. Inputs may include skills and energy, which employees use in performing their tasks, assigned by the management of the organization (Pravin 316). Nevertheless, such efforts are not offered free-of-charge, especially in cases where a person has been hired to receive outputs after offering specified services.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Issue of Workplace Equity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In this context, it is equally important that to note that inputs go beyond the number of hours people spend at their workplaces. Similarly, outputs comprise of other factors beyond money, which is viewed by most people as the sole output. The main focus of the theory is the state of those we compare ourselves with in order to establish whether they are treated fairly or not. According to the theory, there are several factors within a workplace, which determine the source of motivation for most people, working in any institution. It is for this reason that people tend to establish a balance betwe en what is given and the reward received as a result of effort and skills. Through comparison with others, people develop better relationships with friends and colleagues as a way of understanding personal fairness at workplace. Most people get affected when they realize that their workmates are being treated in a different manner (Pravin 316). The response is likely to be negative in cases where their colleagues are rewarded with better terms as compared to what they earn. This can be used to understand why employees get discouraged when a section of the workforce is exempted from pay-rise or promotion. In understanding workplace equity, it is essential to note that people respond to unfair treatment at workplace differently, depending on the impact of varied treatment accorded to employees. Discouragement and total hatred are common in cases where a person learns that the kind of rewards offered are less than those given to another group yet they belong to the same professional le vel (Pravin 316). Workplace Equity in Canada Workplace equity is highly encouraged in Canada, to ensure that nobody is treated unfairly for reasons, which are not related to one’s ability. The success of equity starts with identifying various forms of discrimination in public institutions before addressing ways of overcoming them. As mentioned before, women, Aboriginals, and those with disabilities are highly prone to unfair treatment while at work (Zanko 73). In order to promote workplace equity, it is important to establish a way of dealing with the vice and the ability to accommodate people with differences.Advertising Looking for essay on labor law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Canada is one of the countries with a proud history of workplace equity. In 1970s, the country witnessed wide-spread efforts in support of human rights law, which addressed intentional discrimination. During this time, most Canadians found it hard to secure employment because of existing barriers, which they had to deal with. There was need for a proactive approach in promoting employment opportunities through change of practices and culture (Zanko 73). It was until 1978 that the government introduced an affirmative action for the private sector. Nevertheless, these efforts bore little fruits as it turned out that employers had not initiated programs to deal with workplace equity. As a result, the Royal Commission on Equity in Employment was established, chaired by Judge Rosalie Abella. The commission recommended a mandatory program known as Employment Equity, which recognized women, Aboriginals, and disabled people as the designated groups in the country (Zanko 73). The Employment Equity Act The first Employment Equity Act was ratified in 1986 before it was amended in 1995. The main purpose of the act, which is upheld to-date, is to promote workplace equity in Canada through equal employment and promotion opportunities for all citizens (Catano 80). In essence, the act ensures that there is full representation of the designated groups in public institutions, based on the needs of the market and the availability of those seeking employment. In order for the act to be effectively implemented, employers are required to eliminate all forms of employment barriers against minorities, emanating from unauthorized practices and policies. Additionally, employers are supposed to make adjustments within their systems in order to reflect equal representation within the workforces based on eligibility, geography and qualifications (Catano 80). Even though the sole purpose of establishing the Employment Equity Program is to improve the representation of designated groups in the labor force, it is worth noting that there are benefits, which employers experience as a result of implementing such programs. The following segment discusses some of these benefits. Advantages of workplace equity to employers The first benefit of promoting workplace equity is that it enhances large markets for goods and services. This is based on the fact that the success of any organization or business is based on its continuous expansion of its customer base (Bailyn 97). The rise in globalization in the 21st century has led to a significant shift in demographic trends around the world. An institution, which is committed to expansion, ought to widen its scope of customers and employees in order to take advantage of the growing market. Large markets increase the demand for what is being produced thus creating the need for higher levels of institutional production. Besides the expansion of a country’s market, workplace equity promotes an expanded labor pool to meet the ne eds of the country. For instance, when equal opportunities are given to all the citizens for specific positions, the government gets an opportunity to select the best candidates from a variety of applicants (Bailyn 100). It is paramount to note that minorities in the society may also possess relevant skills, which could be needed in a given sector. However, their skills and knowledge can only be recognized if they are considered during recruitment and equal treatment at workplace. A larger pool of talents ensures that the hiring institution gets a wide-range of options in order to meet the ever-changing needs of the market due to evolving technology and market trends. Another important benefit of workplace equity is that it promotes good public relations. Institutions, which are known for unfair treatment of its employment, are likely to develop a negative public image, which may have far-reaching effects on its performance and future expansion opportunities (Cadrain 44). In most ca ses, citizens are keen to identify with institutions, which seem to address existing employment hardships in the market by offering equal opportunities to potential candidates. As good corporate citizens, such institutions are likely to win the confidence and trust of its employees. Since public institutions carry the image of the government, workplace equity further presents a positive and likeable image of the government. Through such initiatives, citizens are able to witness the commitment of the government in promoting equity among people with different needs in the society (Cadrain 44). As a result, the public would be more patriotic and willing to defend their nation because of the equal opportunities it endeavors to offer within the labor market. Furthermore, workplace equity guarantees better legal benefits, especially in countries where employers are required by law to consider all designated groups of people during hiring and at work. Institutions, which do not comply with the legal requirements, regarding equity, are likely to pay hefty fines or face the punishment recommended by the federal government, which may include sanctions and limited operating space (Budd 2). When an institution remains committed to workplace equity, it means that there will be no complaints from employees and the public. In addition, workplace equity promotes motivation among employees. In other words, they feel recognized by their employers and remain committed to performing their tasks effectively. Besides this, institutions are able to minimize retention costs since employees will be satisfied with working conditions (Budd 2). For this reason, most of them will not have the urge to resign or seek better opportunities elsewhere. As a result, organizations minimize their turnover, thus avoiding unnecessary expenditure on hiring and training of new employees frequently. Besides the retention of employees, workplace equity plays a major role in pulling qualified candidates who get attracted to the organization because of its fair treatment of employees. Talented people usually prefer working in places where they are treated with dignity regardless of their shortcomings. Additionally, they value how their colleagues are treated, in order to establish the company’s fairness in handling its employees (International Labor Organization 63). When talented people get attracted to an organization, high skilled manpower is guaranteed to drive the firm’s performance in a competitive world. This further ensures that labor needs are met with minimal expenses, which are commonly incurred in advertising jobs, hiring, and training. Through such savings, a firm gets an allowance to expand its operations and improve its services without spending a lot of money. Government Role in Workplace Equity In understanding workplace equity, it is imperative to note that it can only be achieved with collective responsibility. In other words, it calls upon the input of the government, individual institutions, and citizens to ensure that employees are treated fairly. For instance, the government’s role ranges from the formulation to the implementation of laws, which promote equity at workplaces in the country. In essence, the government drafts laws, describing the need for workplace equity, designated groups, penalties for defaulters, and the implementation process (International Labor Organization 63). Without such initiatives by the government, it would be hard for institutions to promote equity at different workplaces. Besides formulating laws, which govern workplace equity, the government is mandated to ensure that the laws are followed as stipulated in the act. In other words, no achievements would be realized if no mechanisms are instituted to enhance the implementation process (Zanko 73). In most cases, governments adopt compliance review, which allows institutions to present their progress in terms of workplace equity. Similarly, follow-up compliance review may be undertaken as a way of assessing the efforts initiated by institutions in implementing workplace equity plans. Depending on the provisions of the law, compliance reviews can take place after a definite period of time, say, after every two years or randomly, to ensure that employers remain committed to complying with the law. The government also plays a pivotal role in initiating reviews of the law, in order to address the changing needs of the labor market and the dynamic demographic patterns. Such reviews are important in addressing new issues and eliminating errors, which may have been witnessed during the implementation of the laws (Zanko 73). Moreover, through its implementation, the government takes legal action against those who do not comply with the law through court decisions or fines as stipulated by the law. Such legal actions discourage other institutions from engaging in practices, which go against the law. In addition, the government creates awareness among its citizens in order for them to understand their rights. Public education is therefore necessary in enlightening the public and the employers on the need of having a fair working environment. Through such forums, citizens also realize their responsibility in the overall process of implementing employment equity programs (Zanko 73). Importantly, this education ensures that the public is aware of the designated groups of people, and how they ought to be represented at workplace. In essence, it would be hard for an employee to realize the unfairness of the manager if the rights of workers are not known. On the other hand, an enlightened citizen can easily evaluate the performance of an institution, depending on established parameters. Workplace Equity Challenges Whilst workplace equity has a wide range of advantages, it has been found that its implementation is faced with various challenges, which may vary from one institution or country to another. For insta nce, some institutions resist equity programs because they believe that the quality of people hired is likely to be compromised. While this may be the case, it has been argued that the presence of a limited characterization of potential candidates further complicates the issue (Gottfried and Laura 256). In some cases, employers tend to ignore the immense role of employee diversity during recruitment and the manner in which the management relates with its employees. When qualified candidates do not portray fair representation with regard to existing designated groups, it becomes hard for the institution to comply with employment regulations. This is also based on the fact that one cannot be forced to apply for a given job position, merely because he or she belongs to a minority group. Another challenge emanates from the perception of most disadvantaged people who resist being considered in a special way because of their shortcomings. Others argue that such appointments and promotions are likely to promote stigma and discrimination against the minorities in the society (Gottfried and Laura 256). Since disadvantaged people may have equal needs with other groups of people, there is usually a likelihood of people thinking in terms of favoritism. In this line of thought, promotions done within such a context may be considered to be biased. Implementation of workplace equity challenges also face public and private organizations, some of which may have streamlined command structures. In particular, implementation of such programs highly require the input of senior managers, who have to be convinced exhaustively about the value of intended moves in advancing the agenda of the firm. This has been found to be hard especially in organizations, which are characterized by decentralization and cultural diversity (International Labor Organization 63). When the organization is highly diverse, a single policy on workplace equity may not be effective in promoting equal represent ation of designated groups of people. In some cases, professionals believe in their autonomy, a state, which cannot easily be changed by allowing disadvantaged people to join them. Similarly, most equity efforts around the world face intersectional challenges. For instance, a program, which is aimed at increasing the number of women, may end up recruiting more white women than black (Peetz et al. 406). Furthermore, efforts to promote gender equity face a wide-range of challenges in cases where the workplaces are dominated by men, coming from traditional societies that undermine women. In such a state, it might be hard to convince employees and other managers about the need for gender equality at workplace. Nevertheless, religious diversity equally plays a major role in implementing workplace equity in most parts of the country. This is widely common in cases where faith intersects with sexuality, thus limiting fairness in handling employees. For instance, traditional religionists co nsider homosexuality and gender non-conformity as sinful and harmful. In the event that a workplace is dominated by such employees, who strongly subscribe to religion, it would be hard to accommodate people with contradictory behavior and religious standards (Peetz et al. 406). Even though, there have been efforts to promote equality, discrimination of this nature is still common in most parts of the world. Resistance of this nature is usually strong in cases where the condemnation comes from a traditional Christian or ethno-religious minorities. Workplace Equity and Politics It is evident that politics play a major role in country, especially in making national decisions and formulation of laws. Based on this, it is important to consider the impact of politics in addressing the issue of workplace equity. Leaders of political parties may influence the kind of laws to be ratified in promoting employment equity. Importantly, politicians primarily influence the society through decision s taken by the government in implementing and reviewing workplace equity rules (Peetz et al. 406). It is therefore important for such leaders to understand the need for equity and existing factors to be addressed by managers in public and private institutions when recruiting, promoting and relating with employees. In rare cases, some employees or potential candidates may be discriminated based on their political affiliations. Even though this might be the case, people have the freedom to belong to a given political party without being undermined at their workplaces. The future of Workplace Equity With the changing labor needs and demographic patterns, the world is likely to experience an array of changes regarding workplace equity. This will also be determined by the growing awareness of different designated groups of people in the society and the need of treating them with dignity. For instance, governments around the world identify the classes of people who require consideration d uring recruitments, training, remuneration, and promotions (Bailyn 97). This is likely to be achieved through public awareness, which equally helps minorities to champion their rights in a competitive working environment. Monitoring of public institutions is likely to improve, especially with advanced technology. During follow-up and compliance review, better methods can be employed in order to obtain a more accurate view of how different managers consider employment equity while running public institutions (Anenson 10). A good example would be the use of the internet to carry out online surveys in order to determine the achievements realized in promoting fair treatment of workers. Online surveys may save time since the process does not involve the movement of supervisors from one place to another. Recommendations As seen from the case of Canada, legislation plays a major role in promoting workplace equity in the world. In essence, it gives expansive guidelines on how institutions a re supposed to address the issue of minorities in their labor forces. Of great significance is the need for these legislative statutes to be expanded in order to address the changing demographic patterns like the growing number of lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgendered (Cadrain 44). With regard to compliance, the review should address all questions of representation at all levels within the hierarchy of the institution. Additionally, these legislations ought to be tougher in order to compel institutions to consider equal representation of demographic constituents of a given society or country. Additionally, massive public education is highly recommended in equipping the masses with knowledge about workplace equity. Even though one may belong to a group of minorities, it might not be easy for them to push for their rights in terms of being treated by the employer (Budd 2). Through training forums, people will understand the meaning and implication of workplace equity. Besides equi pping the public, managers need to be trained in order to implement workplace equity laws effectively. This would also help them in understanding the fines and consequences of breaching the law. Conclusion From the above analysis, it is evident that workplace equity remains a debatable issue in most parts of the world. Oftentimes, workplace equity is encouraged to motivate employees and bridge the gap among employees. Of great significance is the fact that workplace equity has a wide-range of benefits, which enhance the performance and growth of institutions. For instance, organizations are able to retain employees, develop a larger market and promote cultural diversity. On the other hand, the process of implementing workplace equity has always been faced with challenges, including cultural and religious differences. Additionally, equal representation of various minority groups may be hampered by the attitude of employees. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of workplace equity can be a chieved through several approaches, including but not limited to training, public awareness, strong legislation, and compliance review strategies. Above all, the success of workplace equity requires collective responsibility for all the parties involved. Anenson, Leigh. The Role Of Equity In Employment Noncompetition Cases. American Business Law Journal 42.1 (2005): 1-63. Print. Bailyn, Lotte. Redesigning Work For Gender Equity And Work-Personal Life Integration. Community, Work Family 14.1 (2011): 97-112. Print. Budd, John. Employment With a Human Face: Balancing Efficiency, Equity, And Voice. New York: Cornell University Press, 2006. Print. Cadrain, Diane. Sexual Equity In The Workplace. HR Magazine 53.9 (2008): 44. Print. Catano, Victor. Recruitment and Selection in Canada. Connecticut: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print. Gottfried, Heidi, and Reese Laura. Equity in the Workplace: Gendering Workplace Policy Analysis. Maryland: Lexington Books, 2004. Print. International Labor Organi zation. Equality at Work: Tackling the Challenge : International Labour Conference 96th Session 2007, Report I. Geneva: International Labour Organization, 2007. Print. Peetz et al. Workplace Effects Of Equal Employment Opportunity Legislation: The Australian Experience. Policy Studies 29.4 (2008): 405-419. Print. Pravin, Durai. Human Resource Management. New Delhi: Pearson Education India, n.d. Print. Zanko, Michael. The Handbook of Human. United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing. Print.

The Impact of IT systems on the work of managers in 5 star hotels in Essay

The Impact of IT systems on the work of managers in 5 star hotels in California - Essay Example People have become more active in tourism. Hospitable industry has been doing very well. Things like 9/11 attacks do affect the rates, but then that is also on temporary basis. People have started resuming their touring activities. The responsibilities also rise on the shoulders of managers. These are just a few tasks that manager have to do when in hotel management. Illustrated below are the general tasks found in the managers of California based hotels. The above mentioned tasks are just a few jobs that are under taken by the management. Now lets see how technology has helped these managers in improving their tasks. One advantage that technology has given is that where 5 people used to be required to do a certain task, now even one person can takeover aoo those tasks with the help of technological softwares implemented. POS Systems are being used efficiently in the hotels of California. Lynne Brakeman (2006) says POS are used for taking guest orders, collecting and analyzing financial transaction information, and providing data security and accountability. Credit card skimming, handwriting recognition, consumer preference for debit cards and contactless payment devices are some of the main issues influencing the evolution POS technology in the hospitality industry. Online Reservation Systems act as management tool to handle booking, customer support, and property information and transformation arrangement. These management tools allow the managers to keep the record of customers and send newsletters or ecards. The customers can easily ask about their queries to the management staff and do not actually need to visit the premises. Management tools Pacific Plaza Hotels in California use management tools to perform the following operational tasks. (Examples of few management tools are discussed below) Prepare, implement and monitor: Business plan Purchasing and inventory controls Accounting systems, including reporting Accounts receivable and payable Forecasts, budgets and monthly variance Capital improvement schedules Recruiting, training, supervising and controlling property management and staff Establish preventative maintenance programs Property visits by corporate executives Computerized Card keys Computer Card Keys are another form of technology. They are an alternative to physical keys. Management of California hotels used to face problems like keys being duplicated. These actions resulted in stealing of objects from the rooms. Computerized Card Keys have made things a