Offshore Outsourcing

Introduction Corporations exist to make profits. One way of increasing profits is by reducing operating costs. Corporations in America have focused on reducing costs by way of offshore outsourcing. Offshore outsourcing involves hiring of companies and individuals outside America to complete tasks set by American corporations with the aim of cutting down on such costs like hourly wages, paid leave and holiday allowances.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Offshore Outsourcing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Offshore outsourcing has proved to be an effective way of cutting down on operating costs. However, offshore outsourcing has attracted proponents and opponents in equal measure. This essay seeks to explain the concept of offshore sourcing, reasons advanced to oppose offshore outsourcing and reasons for offshore outsourcing. A personal opinion will complete this essay. Offshore Outsourcing Offshore outsourcing ref ers to the process of hiring companies or employees to execute a company’s roles overseas (Wise Geek). For instance, a manufacturing company based in the United States of America may use employees outside America to handle issues relating to customer relations and technical assistance. Data entry is the most popular job outsourced overseas. The internet plays a critical role in the whole process of offshore outsourcing because it allows companies to hire freelance individuals all over the world (Wise Geek). Such overseas companies and individuals charge lower rates than employees in the mother country of outsourcing company do. There are two broad categories of offshore outsourcing. The first category, Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO) refers to outsourcing of a corporation’s information technology related jobs like software development, ecommerce, networking, as well as web development and hosting (Rose India Technologies PVT. Ltd). The second category, Busines s Process Outsourcing (BPO), involves outsourcing of services related to customer services, financial accounting practices, logistics, assets management, security as well as procurement (Rose India Technologies PVT. Ltd). Other sectors like human resources, insurance, manufacturing are emerging as popular fields of offshore outsourcing. There are various reasons advanced for offshore outsourcing. Reasons for Offshore Outsourcing Corporations opt for offshore outsourcing because it is cheaper. Most developing countries have high unemployment rates among skilled labor force. Such individuals work for overseas company and charge lower rates than citizens in the parent company’ country (Outsourcing Offshore).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, such outsourced employees do not require such benefits like holidays, paid leave, travel allowances among others. This s aves cost for an outsourcing corporation. In 2003, the average cost of Indian and Chinese software developers was over ten times cheaper than the average wage of American software developers (Outsourcing Offshore). Corporations incur huge costs related to employees who work in a country where a corporation operates. Such costs include tedious paper work relating to employees, reporting to government as well as paying for statutory and retirement benefits of such employees. It is cheaper when corporations hire overseas firms to handle issues relating to employee benefits (Outsourcing Offshore). On the same issue of cost, corporations that opt for offshore outsourcing find it easy to downsize the number of employees and streamline operations. Offshore outsourcing provides flexible labor force. Such employees usually work for long hours as well as off-hours. Employees working in the home country take weekends off and that is when offshore outsourcing fits in to compliment for lost hour s resulting from such offs. As such, labor force is available at any given time and as required (Outsourcing Offshore). Smaller companies benefit from offshore outsourcing especially when they need to hire an employee when a new task comes up. In the home country, existing labor practices like advertising for a vacancy, interviews and signing of contracts must guide the process of hiring in-house staff. Offshore outsourcing is quick and avails an employee on time (Anderson). Outsourcing enables corporations tap into qualified individuals within the shortest time possible. This arises from the fact that outsourcing companies are experts in the field of hiring and have ideas on how to recruit immediately. As much as corporations try to do in-house training, they usually lack required expertise (Anderson). Corporations that engage outsourcing companies hire employees on short-term contracts regardless of the level of expertise. Some levels of expertise in the home country require long- term hiring for such individuals. As such, hiring such employees on short-term costs a corporation extra money (Outsourcing Offshore). Corporations spread risk through offshore outsourcing. In events where employees go on strike, operations in a hiring company remain on course since employees working outside a country continue working normally. In addition, reputational issues affecting a corporation at home rarely get to overseas employees (Anderson).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Offshore Outsourcing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Offshore outsourcing enables corporations focus on their core competencies and thus enhances competitive advantage for such corporations. For instance, a financial institution may decide to focus on deposits and credits and outsource issues relating to procurement and customer relations from an overseas firm (Anderson). Offshore outsourcing has its demerits too. Reasons against O ffshore Outsourcing Unforeseen political crisis in foreign countries can lead to unprecedented disruptions to a corporation’s operations. In such times, government of the day may ban the activities of all foreign corporations and that would include those outsourced in such a country. It has happened in Cuba and South Africa and can happen in any foreign country (Outsourcing Offshore). This leads to financial losses to a corporation. Foreign workers usually suffer verbal abuse through customers who exhibit racist tendencies. This happens especially where a corporation hires call center services from a foreign country and such employees communicate in accents that customers find offending (Outsourcing Offshore). An outsourced company may decide to direct all foreign employees to a new entrant to the market requiring the same type of employees. This leaves a corporation in a difficult situation since operations in foreign countries discontinue without notice (Anderson). In addit ion, services and products in foreign countries may suffer boycott especially if a hiring corporation laid down workers to hire outside firms. It is risky for a corporation to outsource since the process involves sharing of critical information of a corporation with a third party (Outsourcing Offshore). In addition, a hiring corporation finds it difficult to enforce contracts and issues such a breach of contracts in foreign countries (Outsourcing Offshore). Conclusion There are various advantages as well as disadvantages accruing from offshore outsourcing. The advantages to corporations are way above the number of disadvantages. Advantages range from drop in cost of doing business, flexibility of workforce, spreading of risks as well as easy hiring of employees. With this in mind, the United States government should regulate offshore outsourcing and seek to work with foreign countries to come up with enforceable regulations pertaining to offshore outsourcing. With regulations in pla ce, corporations will maximize profits and this will grant the government more revenues.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Works Cited Anderson, Arnold. Outsourcing. 2013. Web. Outsourcing Offshore. What is Offshore Outsourcing and what’s the idea behind it? 2013. Web. Rose India Technologies PVT. Ltd. Types of Outsourcing,Types of Outsourced Services,Offshore Outsourcing and Its Type. 2013. Web. Wise Geek. What is Offshore Outsourcing? 2013. Web. This essay on Offshore Outsourcing was written and submitted by user Braeden Espinoza to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Of Mice and Men Essay on Film Adaptation Essay Example

Of Mice and Men Essay on Film Adaptation Essay Example Of Mice and Men Essay on Film Adaptation Paper Of Mice and Men Essay on Film Adaptation Paper Gary Sells made the movie with the same message as John Steinbeck; he does not change any of morals that are shown in the book. However, Gary Since did change some stuff, such as the building of the start and the end, In the beginning of the movie you see George and Leonie In weed running away, the railroad, the chase with the cowboys, dogs and horses and a lady Is running too. But In the book, George and Leonie Is already by the pool. I think the way Gary Sells did It Is better, because it starts off more dramatic and It gets the viewers more captivated, even from the beginning. Also in the ending you see a flashback right after George shoots Leonie and there are no characters involved. There are other small irrelevant scenes that are different as well. For example the scene where everybody is in town and Leonie enters Crooks room. In this scene Candy is not there, nor is Curler. Not only are the scenes differed from the book. A good example would be Slim. In the book he is represented as a divine character, while in the movie he is less heroic. Also the sense of emotions is different between the book and the movie. We see in the movie, when Curlers wife is dead, Candid anger towards her is very intense. Also is the relationship between George and Curlers wife different. In the movie, George seems to be cruel and careless towards her, whereas in the book, e seems to be at least a bit infatuated with her. These small changes makes the movie more unexpected than if everything was completely after the book. One of the big scenes Is the killing of Candys dog. There are many saltcellars such as the dialogs. But small details are different though, such as In the beginning, Candy Is already lying on his bed, but In the movie he Is walking In the room. The scene In the movie where Carlson Is getting his gun Is very detailed compared to the description In the book. The whole episode Is a lot more detailed In the movie than It Is In the book. It Is more suspenseful and you get more captivated by It. Whereas In the book they come to a conclusion a lot faster and Its less Interesting. Such small details occur, but are not taken notice of, unless studied carefully. I en scene winner George snoots Lend Is also quite Dig. I en movie makes Tanat incident very dramatic and intense. While in the book, George Just pops out of the brush, and it starts from there with the exact same dialog as in the movie. But in the movie, Leonie could not find the place where they had to meet if anything went wrong. Unlike in the book, where he already is at the place. It is a lot more suspenseful in the movie than it is in the book. Although John Steinbeck did a good job describing the place, it is still better to see exactly how it is in the movie. And it is a lot like the description in the book, which is very good, because its a beautiful place! So, its definitely very powerful cinema, while remaining true to the spirit of the book. The shooting itself, in the movie, is very sudden, which makes it intense and shocking. In the book, George checks out where to hit Leonie exactly. And he hesitates once. After that there are no characters whatsoever. Only a flashback is shown

Compare lancasters 'characteristics' approach to consumer demand with Essay

Compare lancasters 'characteristics' approach to consumer demand with the standard neo-classical approach. What is lancaster's c - Essay Example Take any microeconomics book and one would be able to see a lot about consumer demand and supply, pricing strategy, branding and supply chain management in detail. These theories and strategies are (Lee & Keen, 2002, p- 7) mostly framed on various concepts which evolved throughout the time for centuries. The neoclassical economic theories are the most famous among them. They are used extensively in economics till date. Neoclassical theory basically explains the output of employment. According to it, the value of the product is determined by the time spend to create it and the labor cost involved. Consumers buy the product for their pleasure(utility). Every consumer purchases a product to make their life easier or pleasurable in one way or another (Clark, n.d.). The theory emphasizes, the people who work more, earn more and hence purchase more. Every business uses neoclassical theories mentioned in these books for creating value for their products and marketing them to a certain exten t. Over the years, many strategies like the prospect theory started to evolve in the place of the neoclassical theory. Lancaster's model of consumer demand which explores the characteristics of the goods is widely applicable to the modern day businesses where no major physical entity is involved. He argues a person buys the characteristics of the product not the real product. He simply states â€Å"goods are what are thought of as goods†. According to the theory, a consumer actually pays for some characteristic of the product like the nutrient content in the milk which will be useful to them. This paper compares the Lancaster theory with the neoclassical concepts and analyzes how the former one is more suitable to the modern day businesses. Lancaster’s Concept The "New Economic Theory of Consumer Behavior" redefined the way the economists look at business. According to the theory, every product is considered as a set of characteristics that are useful to the customer ( Wierenga). This model is multidimensional and helps in maximizing the profits of modern day businesses like cloud computing and software as a service where only the characteristics of the product are utilized by the customers. The Lancaster model is not as famous as the other economic theories. Only a very few scholars have tried to prove its benefits with empirical data. Ratchford has proved the model is applicable when a customer is given a choice to choose one particular product from various alternatives. Lancaster model opposes the traditional demand theory model emphasized widely by the neoclassical theory. The main advantage of this approach is it gives us a chance to explore the technological attributes of the product in a much better way (Marcin, 1992). According to the neoclassical theory, only goods concerned with the basic needs like food, shelter and entertainment are considered as commodities of high demand. They deal with customer choice with budget constraint as the m ain factor influencing the customer behavior. The customer will choose a product that is useful to them in maximum ways and still stays affordable. The Lancaster model on the other hand insists, the goods themselves are not purchased, but only their characteristics, which are in turn shaped by observing the customer b

Funding application for homeless people Coursework

Funding application for homeless people - Coursework Example Not having a permanent roof over their heads, which is a fundamental right of all citizens, goes hand in hand with other problems associated with lack of proper food and clothing. This then causes detrimental effects on their health. And, they are further disadvantaged by not having access to any guidance or information to improve their condition. Compared to other youth who live in families in houses, they are at a disadvantage by not being able to educate themselves for immediate as well as long term benefits and future prospects. It is a deep rut of despair and a vicious cycle of no hope to be in such circumstances. One only needs to look at those who do have homes to live in to see how much of a disadvantage these homeless youth have, not being able to leave normal lives like the rest of us. The health problems that inevitably afflict homeless people cannot be understated. "Homeless people are more likely to suffer injuries and medical problems from their lifestyle on the street, which includes poor nutrition, substance abuse, exposure to the severe elements of weather, and a higher exposure to violence." (http://www.ipedia.net/information/homeless) The youth and children are particularly vulnerable groups of people in this regard. Our projects aims to cater to these disadvantaged people by providing them with what they desperately need; to feed and clothe them; to protect them from the weather, getting involved in wrong types of activities; to protect them from being taken advantage of by criminals, gangs, drug traffickers, organ snatchers, pedophiles, prostitutes etc. Instead we will provide them with decent sheltering facilities, and provision of food to stave off hunger. And, we will help resolve their personal problems through the provision of counseling and information services, then relocate them to a safe permanent abode

A Study on Kolbs Learning Cycle (1984)

A Study on Kolbs Learning Cycle (1984) David A. Kolb with Roger Fry created this famous model out of four elements: concrete experience, observation and reflection, the formation of abstract concepts and testing in new situations. The principle of Kolbs learning cycle is that we all follow the following four stages of learning as we acquire knowledge, experience and skill. He represented these in the famous experiential learning circle that involves (1) concrete experience followed by (2) observation and experience followed by (3) forming abstract concepts followed by (4) testing in new situations. All this may happen in a flash, or over days, weeks or months, depending on the topic, and there may be a wheels within wheels process at the same time. Forms of Knowledge and the Learning Cycle The four quadrants of the cycle are associated with four different forms of knowledge, in Kolbs view. Each of these forms is paired with its diagonal opposite. Four kinds of knowledge located in Kolbs scheme Kolbs model therefore works on two levels a four-stage cycle: Concrete Experience (doing/having an experience) The Concrete Experience is the doing component which derives from the content and process of the programme through attending the workshops or, in the case of the on-line module, your reading of the on-line learning materials together with your actual experience of teaching in the classroom plus your other teaching duties and practices. It may also derive from own experience of being a student. Reflective Observation (reviewing/reflecting on the experience) The Reflective Observation element stems from your analysis and judgements of events and the discussion about the learning and teaching that you engage in with your mentor and colleagues. This might be termed common-sense reflection. For example this might be through your own self-reflections or evaluations after the event through keeping a log or journal. It may also include student feedback, peer observation of teaching (e.g. comments made by your mentor or colleague), moderation of assessments, external examiner comments, and discussions with your mentor. All of these can be brought together to give an overall reflection on your practice. Reflection in itself, though, is insufficient to promote learning and professional development. Abstract Conceptualisation (concluding/learning from the experience) In order to plan what we would do differently next time, we need in addition to our reflections on our experience to be informed by educational theory e.g. through readings of relevant literature on teaching and learning or by attending staff development or other activities. Reflection is therefore a middle ground that brings together theories and the analysis of past action. It allows us to come to conclusions about our practice Abstract Conceptualism. Active Experimentation (planning/trying out what you have learned) The conclusions we formed from our Abstract Conceptualisation stage then form the basis by which we can plan changes Active Experimentation. Active Experimentation then starts the cycle again when we implement those changes in our teaching practice to generate another concrete experience which is then followed by reflection and review to form conclusions about the effectiveness of those changes. Four-type definition of learning styles, (each representing the combination of two preferred styles, rather like a two-by-two matrix of the four-stage cycle styles, as illustrated below), for which Kolb used the terms: Diverging (CE/RO) Combination of Concrete Experience and Reflective Observation Feeling and Watching Like to gather information, good at brainstorming, interested in people, see different perspectives, prefer group work, open minded. Assimilating (AC/RO) Combination of Abstract Conceptualization and Reflective Observation Watching and Thinking Concise logical approach, ideas and concepts more important than people, prefer lectures, reading, time to think Converging (AC/AE) Combination of Abstract Conceptualization and Active Experimentation Doing and Thinking Solve practical problems; prefer technical tasks, like experimenting and simulation, less interested in interpersonal issues. Accommodating (CE/AE) Combination of Concrete Experience and Active Experimentation Doing and Feeling Hands on, attracted to new challenges and experiences, rely on others instead of doing own analysis, action oriented, set targets work hard in teams to achieve tasks. Kolbs learning styles matrix view Its often easier to see the construction of Kolbs learning styles in terms of a two-by-two matrix. The diagram also highlights Kolbs terminology for the four learning styles; diverging, assimilating, and converging, accommodating: Doing (Active Experimentation AE) Watching (Reflective Observation RO) Feeling (Concrete Experience CE) Accommodating (CE/AE) Diverging (CE/RO) Thinking (Abstract Conceptualization AC) Converging (AC/AE) Assimilating (AC/RO) Thus, for example, a person with a dominant learning style of doing rather than watching the task, and feeling rather than thinking about the experience, will have a learning style which combines and represents those processes, namely an Accommodating learning style, in Kolbs terminology. The Kolb Model and Subject Disciplines Broadly speaking, David Kolb suggests that practitioners of creative disciplines, such as the arts, are found in the Divergent quadrant. Pure scientists and mathematicians are in the Assimilative quadrant. Applied scientists and lawyers are in the Convergent quadrant. Professionals who have to operate more intuitively, such as teachers, are in the Accommodative quadrant.ÂÂ  There are also differences in the location of specialists within the more general disciplines This would suggest that different subject areas call for different learning styles, and raises the usual chicken and egg question as to whether the discipline promotes a particular learning style, or whether preferred learning style leads to adoption of a discipline, or of course, both. (All of the above assumes that there is some validity in this conceptualisation of learning styles.) Simply, people who have a clear learning style preference, for whatever reason, will tend to learn more effectively if learning is orientated according to their preference. My learning style is the converging and accommodating one. I think I have the ability to find solution to practical issues. I can solve problems and make decisions by finding solutions to questions and problems. I like challenges and carry out plans. I like experiment with new ideas and work with practical application. Studying is not just gaining greater knowledge and understanding of subjects but also more confidence, broader interests and more purpose in life. Well Im studying because I do have an objective in life which I want to achieve at any cost. It is very hard to study and to work at the same time which unfortunately I have to do, no choice! Kolb learning cycle is actually very effective way to study which just need to be followed. I like groups works, when discussing with other people I get different point of view for the topic discussed. One of the main problems I have is how to manage my study time. In fact I have two kinds of problems with time: finding enough of it and using it effectively. I do make plan about my time but its hard to stick to it, almost impossible. The only thing I need is to improve my time management skill and should take it serious now. Conclusion Kolbs learning cycle is a key model in current use relating to adult learning and development. Knowing your own and your teams learning style allows you to grow and develop more effectively, building skills and experience which allow you to meet your life goals. Thus the learning cycle can begin at any one of the four points and that it should really be approached as a continuous spiral. However the learning process depends on how the person is carrying out a particular action and then seeing the effect of the action in this situation.

Murdock and Talcott Parsons Views on Family

Murdock- George Peter Murdock  (1949) wanted to know if the family was not just cultural but universal (he claimed that it was universal). * Common residence * Economic co-operation * Adults including both sexes * At least two have socially approved sex * One or more children * Biological or adopted This he thought was the  universal minimum. Which adults had sexual relations depended on the  culture. He believed the nuclear family was the universal core of the world's large variety of kinship systems. From this a  family could be extended  vertically (with upper generations) or horizontally (with brothers and sisters of those with offspring).A criticism of Murdock was that to claim something is universal, it only needs one exception to falsify it. Kathleen Gough falsified Murdock’s theory with her study of the Nayar Women of India. Before reaching puberty, Nayar women in India were married to a man according to the Talikettukalydnam rite. This three days of actual o r mock defloration might be their last living contact. From then on, as â€Å"mother†, each woman would take up to 12 sandbanham husbands, who visited her one at a time at night. A man could have an unlimited number of wives.The woman kept her room in the house, and it was first come, first served to supper and bed, so a man too late would sleep on the verandah of the house. So women getting pregnant could have any one of up to 12 as the father. So one of them of equal sub-caste (social class) declared as the father (whether he was or not) and gave a present of cloth and/ | | Clearly women getting pregnant could have  any one of up to 12 as the father. So  one of them  of equal sub-caste declared as the father (whether he was or not) and gave  a present of cloth and/ or vegetables to the attending midwife.A frequent visitor might send luxuries at festivals. That was it. The men weremercenary warriors  and gave  no attention to raising children  or staying with t he woman. | Support for the women instead came from  brothers, sisters, and children of the sisters and daughters. The matrilineal family provided all her essentials. The  eldest male was leader of each kin group. So the women lived not in families, but in kinship groups (mothers, sisters and brothers), and she had her place for sexual activity with the men over which she had considerable personal cotrol.Descent was down the stable female line in terms of charting the source of children, given that any man could be the father. | The important point here is that:| * There was  no economic unit  regarding husbands and wives. * There was  no sharing of the residence  between husbands and wives. * Only the  women within their supporting kinship groups lived with children. * Any relationship affection from the man  was taboo  and resisted by the kinship group. | There are two possibilities here, then, regarding Murdock and his definition of the family. It is  too narr ow, or * It is  not universal. It is the  single parent family, especially female-headed, that is the  most direct criticism  of Murdock. Yet this is a minority, and the family may at least have begun as a two sex nuclear family and, furthermore, the nuclear family is preferred by him. The  nuclear family may simply function better as a family  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ but this is unproven. Nevertheless there are varieties of arrangements for raising children that  stretch Murdock's definition to breaking point. TALCOTT PARSONS-The pre-industrial society is pictured as one where people are divided into kinship groups called lineages each of which is held to be descended from a common ancestor. Another form of family in pre-industrial society is found in traditional peasant societies such as the Irish farming community studied by C. M. Arensberg and S. T. Kimball in their work Family and Community in Ireland. This traditional Irish family is a patriarchal extended family. It is also pa trilineal since property is passed from father to son. According to Talcott Parsons the isolated nuclear family is the typical form in modern industrial society.It is isolated from the extended family, and there is a breakdown of kinship. The development of the isolated nuclear family is, in his opinion, the product of a process of structural differentiation – the process by which social institutions become more and more specialized in the functions they perform. The isolated nuclear family is functionally necessary and contributes to the integration and harmony of the social and economic system as a whole. The family needs to be isolated because of its functional role in ascribing status. Status in industrial society as a whole is achieved and not ascribed.However, within the nuclear family status is ascribed rather than achieved, thus reversing the pattern that exists outside the family. What this means is that within the family the father has status as the father, whilst o utside the family his status might be very different. His achieved status economically does not affect his status as a father. However, if the family was extended then a conflict could arise. Another way of putting this is that the family ascribes particularistic values whilst society ascribes universalistic values.The conflict between the two sets of values is minimized by the isolation of the nuclear family. William Goode in World Revolution and the Family also argues that industrialization undermines the existence of the extended family. He claims this is because (a) movements of individuals between different regions; (b) higher levels of social mobility; (c) the erosion of the functions of the family, these being taken over by external organizations such as schools, businesses and the state; (d) the greater significance of achieved status undermining the value of status within the family and in kinship groups.According to Goode members of a family engage in role bargaining. What this means is that they will maintain kinship relationships if such relationships bring them rewards commensurate to their efforts to maintain them. In fact, developments in communication and transport make it feasible to maintain kinship relationships, but in practice modern industrial society means that individuals gain more by rejecting kinship relationships than by maintaining them.He supports this point by noting how extended family patterns are more frequent among members of the upper classes since for individuals in the family maintaining family connections can bring economic benefits. The main Functionalist theorists of the family are G P Murdock and Talcott Parsons. Murdock argued on the basis of his studies that the nuclear family was a universal social institution and that it existed universally because it fulfilled four basic functions for society : the sexual, reproductive, economic and education functions.Other non-Functionalist sociologists have argued, however, that the existence of the Nayar, the single matrifocal families common among Afr0 Caribbeans and increasingly common more generally and the small number of gay and lesbian families are suggest that the nuclear family is not in fact universal. The Functionalist perspective on the family has been further developed by Talcott Parsons whose theories focus heavily on nuclear, heterosexual families to the exclusion of other family forms.The main aspects of Parsons' theory as developed in the USA in the 1950s were as follows: 1. industrialisation led to the gradual replacement of extended families by nuclear families because industrialisation demands greater geographical and social mobility; 2. industrialisation leads also to processes of structural differentiation which implies that new more specialised social institutions such as factories, schools and hospitals develop to take over some of the functions previously performed by families; 3. his means therefore that the nuclear family loses s ome of its functions but it remains crucial in relation to the two functions which it does retain: the socialisation of the young and the stabilisation of adult personalities; 4. within nuclear families roles are allocated between husbands and wives in accordance with the assumed instrumental characteristics of males[ which makes them more suited to paid employment outside of the home] and the assumed expressive characteristics of females [which makes them more suited to childcare and domestic work. Ronald Fletcher also analyses the family from a Functionalist perspective but he denies that the modern nuclear family has lost functions to the extent suggested by Talcott Parsons. Thus Fletcher argues that even if the family is no longer a unit of production , it is a unit of consumption which can be appealed to by advertisers keen to sell a wide range of household appliances so as to maintain profits.Also parents do supplement school education by providing advice and help more effecti vely than in the past; greater understanding of diet and exercise may mean that the family can play a greater role in health maintenance; and also given the limitations of the Welfare State, the family, and especially women within the family may continue to play a major role in the care of elderly relatives some of whom may not wish to enter old peoples homes. The Community Care initiatives of Conservative Governments [1979-97] may have increased family responsibilities in this respect. * Marxism and The FamilyThe main elements of the Marxist approach to the analysis of the family may be listed as follows. 1. Whereas according to Functionalists the socialisation process as it operates within the family (and elsewhere)   is seen as encouraging conformity with desirable norms and values which contribute to overall social stability, according to Marxists the socialisation process in the family and elsewhere results in the transmission of a ruling class ideology whereby individuals ar e deceived into accepting the capitalist system and the dominance of the capitalist class more or less without question.Especially children are encouraged to accept parental authority more or less without question in the family which prepares them to accept authority more or less without question in the work place in later life. 2. The growth of the home centred privatised family encourages concentration on family concerns, relatively orthodox interests and relatively, moderate mainstream political views at the expense of wider   loyalty to ones work mates   and more active and radical engagement with political issues which thereby reduces the likelihood of meaningful political action to challenge the capitalist system. . Insofar as the family operates as a unit of consumption it can be targeted by advertisers to encourage the increasing purchase of goods and services upon which the continuing profitability of capitalist industries depends. 4. It has been argued by some Feminist s in criticism of Marxism that it concentrates excessively on    exploitation of the working class and not enough on the exploitation of women. 5. However Marxist Feminists do give more attention to the exploitation of women within the family.For example   the family produces labour at low cost to the capitalist system in that wives are not paid directly for bearing the children or for their upkeep. 6. Also wives also provide a range of services for their husbands at far less than their market value. If wives were paid fair wages for all of these services, employed husbands would also have to be paid much more which would reduce the profitability of capitalism. 7. Wives may also absorb the frustrations of their husbands which otherwise might be turned against the capitalist system.Marxists argue that it is the frustrations of working in the capitalist system which are the main, even if indirect cause of domestic violence. 8. Since many women see themselves as mainly housewives i f they are actually in paid employment and become unemployed they are often more prepared to return to their housewife role without criticism. According to Marxists they are a part of a Reserve Army of Labour which can be hired when demand for goods and services is high   and work is plentiful but dismissed relatively easily when economies fall into economic recession.The capitalist system is strengthened by this flexibility to hire and dismiss workers as economic circumstances change. * Structural  Functionalism, Marxism, â€Å"the† Family and Socialisation: An Exercise Let us use the following exercise to illustrate the differing approaches of Structural Functionalists and Marxists to the socialisation process as it operates in the family. [a] According to Structural Functionalists capitalism   is: democratic, economically efficient, unequal but fair and meritocratic.Because the capitalist system works well in the interests of all of its members there will limited con flict in society and a consensus that the capitalist system is working well and should be continued in the future. To promote the continuation of capitalism individuals will be socialised in the family and elsewhere to accept norms and values which will promote the continued existence of capitalism which , as stated is beneficial to all. b] According to Marxists capitalism   is   : dominated both economically   by the Bourgeoisie and at the expense of the exploited proletariat; grossly unequal as a result of which many members of the proletariat live a rotten existence with little chance to develop their potential; dominated politically by the Bourgeoisie whose political influence is hidden by the â€Å"sham institutions of a pretend democracy†.In such a situation you might expect the Proletariat to rise up in revolt but they do not do so partly because they are socialised to accept not a set of norms and values   which operates to their own advantage but a ruling cla ss ideology which is a set of ideas which prevents the proletariat from realising the causes of their exploitation and encourages them to accept the very capitalist system which is actually the source of their discontents. Assignment:   Complete the following table. [The sections marked ** are already â€Å"complete† although you might like to extend them further. Aspects of Family Socialisation| Implications for Individual and Society| For Talcott Parsons the key functions of the nuclear family are the socialisation of the young and the stabilisation of adult personalities. Children are socialised to accept the authority of the parents and to accept the key values and norms of their society. | For Functionalists this means that children begin to learn that legitimate authority should be accepted in school and workplace which will enhance learning capacity and economic efficiency.Marxists believe that when children are socialised to accept authority this can have adverse co nsequences for the individual in later life because†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ | The Functionalist Talcott Parsons argues that in the 1950s and 1960s the core values of US society are beliefs in meritocracy and individual achievement so that career progress is possible if sufficient efforts are made: this is the so-called â€Å"American Dream. † Children are socialised within the family to accept these values| For Functionalists such values are functional for the system [i. e. ontribute to the stability of the system] because†¦. For Marxists it is quite simply a myth that US society is organised on meritocratic principles but belief in the myth inhibits criticism of the system. Also preoccupation with one's own achievements detracts from consideration of the direction which society as a whole is taking. | The above point may be taken to imply that children will also be socialised to believe in the necessity of a competitive spirit and to measure their progress and even their happines s in terms of their income, wealth and possessions. For Functionalists such attitudes are beneficial because  Marxists are critical of such attitudes because| **  Children may be socialised to accept that family loyalties are more important than loyalties to other groups   i. e. they are socialised to believe that â€Å"blood is thicker than water† or that â€Å"charity begins at home. â€Å"| For Functionalists such values strengthen the family and help it to fulfil its functions. For Marxists family solidarity may weaken social class solidarity and /or dissuade children from consideration of wider issues related to the inequities of capitalism. According to Parsons traditional gender roles are appropriate because they are in accordance with the â€Å"instrumental† characteristics of men and   the â€Å"expressive† characteristics of females. Children are socialised in various ways to accept these traditional gender roles. Note that Feminist sociologi sts[ including Marxist Feminists} are especially critical of the Functionalist analysis of gender roles. | For Functionalists this is beneficial for the individuals concerned and for the society as a whole because†¦Marxists and Feminists are critical of the Functionalist approach to gender roles socialisation because†¦.. | Children may be socialised to accept the general political attitudes of their parents which are often [but not always] likely to involve some support for existing liberal democratic institutions, voting for one of the main political parties and a general absence of political radicalism| For Functionalists such political views are beneficial because†¦ Marxists are critical of such political attitudes because†¦ | **  The Family and the stabilisation of adult personalities. Functionalists argue that men and women can lead happy and fulfilling lives as a result of the deep personal relationships which are forged within families and, in addition,à ‚   family life helps to remove some of the tensions which arise out of work conditions and relationships. Marxists agree that family life can be happy and fulfilling but they emphasise that capitalism results in exploitation and alienation which are likely to create tensions within many families. Although in some cases family life can make capitalism bearable , only the ending of capitalism can result in human emancipation. |

Yeast Pre-Lab

Yeasts’ capability of undergoing ethanol fermentation, its ability to ferment other sugars and artificial sweeteners, and how lactase influences yeasts ability to use lactose as a food source Kristina Naydenova Father Michael Goetz Purpose Part A: To investigate whether yeast has the ability to ferment glucose to produce carbon dioxide gas and ethanol. Part B: To investigate whether yeast has the ability to ferment other sugars and artificial sweeteners and how lactase influences their ability to use lactose as a food source. QuestionPart A: Does yeast have the ability of undergoing ethanol fermentation? Part B: Does yeast have the ability to ferment other sugars and artificial sweeteners? Does lactase influence the ability of yeast to use lactose as a food source? Hypothesis Part A: If yeast produces carbon dioxide gas (the solution will turn cloudy due to carbon dioxide presence) and ethanol after fermenting glucose then it has the ability to undergo ethanol fermentation bec ause ethanol fermentations reactants consist of glucose and the products consist of carbon dioxide gas and ethanol.Part B: If yeast has the ability to ferment other sugars and artificial sweeteners then the products of the solution will consist of carbon dioxide gas and ethanol because the products of ethanol fermentation are carbon dioxide gas and ethanol. If lactase influences the ability of yeast to use lactose as a food source then the yeast will be able to use lactose to produce carbon dioxide gas and ethanol because the yeast will be capable of breaking down lactose into glucose and galactose. Materials * Safety goggles| * Lab apron| 4 flasks (100 mL) and 1 stopper| * Wax pencil (for making test tubes)| * Ruler| * 6 large beakers (400 mL)| * Thermometer| * Stopwatch| * 50 mL glucose suspension (10%)| * 50 mL yeast suspension (I package per 100 mL of water)| * Cotton batting| * Limewater| * Warm water (35  °C)| * 10 mL of each of the following solutions: glucose, sucrose, lac tose, and artificial sweetener (10%)| * 10 mL of a suspension of lactose (10%) with a pinch of lactase| * 10 mL of distilled water| * Graduated cylinder| * 6 test tubes (15 mL) with 1 hole rubber stoppers|Variables Procedure 1. The safety goggles and lab apron were put on. 2. Three flasks were labeled as â€Å"yeast and glucose,† â€Å"yeast,† and â€Å"glucose. † 3. 10 mL of glucose solution and 5 mL of yeast suspension were added to the â€Å"yeast and glucose† flask. 4. 10 mL of distilled water with 5 mL of yeast suspension to the â€Å"yeast and glucose† flask as a control. 5. 5 mL of distilled water with 10 mL of glucose solution were added to the â€Å"glucose† flask as a second control. 6. Cotton batting was placed in the mouth of the flasks to reduce air turbulence. . The cotton batting was removed carefully after 24 hours and the contents of each flask were smelled. A slight alcohol odour was detected. 8. Each flask was tested for t he presence of carbon dioxide.The invisible gas mixture was slowly poured into a flask that contains 25 mL of limewater. The limewater flask was stoppered and the contents were swirled to mix the limewater with the gas. Observations were recorded. The flask was rinsed. 25 mL of fresh limewater was added before testing the next gas sample. . A ruler was used to place graduation marks at 0. 5 cm intervals along the sides of the test tubes. 10. Six beakers of warm water (35  °C) were prepared. The beakers were two-thirds full of warm water. 11. The six test tubes were labeled as â€Å"glucose,† â€Å"sucrose,† â€Å"lactose free milk,† â€Å"artificial sweetener (Splenda),†lactose free milk and lactase,† and â€Å"distilled water†. 12. 10 mL of the appropriate solutions to each test tube were added. 13. 5 mL of yeast suspension to each test tube were added.The test tubes were filled. 14. The test tubes were scaled with one-hole stoppers after the mixtures are placed in the test tubes. 15. One test tube was held. The holes in the stopper were covered, and the test tube was inverted and placed into a beaker of warm water. The process was repeated for all six solutions, using a different beaker for each solution. 16. The amount of gas produced after 1, 5 and 10 minutes was recorded using the graduation marks on the test tubes. Observations Table 1.Before and after observations of yeast and glucose, yeast and glucose Solution| Before| After| Yeast and glucose| | | Yeast| | | Glucose | | | Table 2. The amount of gas produced by glucose, sucrose, lactose free milk, artificial sweetener, lactose free milk and lactase, and distilled water after 1, 5 and 10 minutes Solution| Time (1 minute)| Amount of gas| Time (5 minutes)| Amount of Gas| Time (10 minutes)| Amount of Gas| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |