Ralph Waldo Emerson Essay Example for Free

Ralph Waldo Emerson Essay Note: Nineteenth Century American Transcendentalism is not a religion (in the traditional sense of the word); it is a pragmatic philosophy, a state of mind, and a form of spirituality. It is not a religion because it does not adhere to the three concepts common in major religions: a. a belief in a God; b. a belief in an afterlife (dualism); and c. a belief that this life has consequences on the next (if youre good in this life, you go to heaven in the next, etc. ). Transcendentalism is monist; it does not reject an afterlife, but its emphasis is on this life. The Assumed, Presumed, or the Self-Identified Transcendentalists: Central Points of Agreement: NOTE: The Transcendentalists, in keeping with the individualistic nature of this philosophy, disagreed readily with each other. Here are four points of general agreement: Basic Assumption: The intuitive faculty, instead of the rational or sensical, became the means for a conscious union of the individual psyche (known in Sanskrit as Atman) with the world psyche also known as the Oversoul, life-force, prime mover and God (known in Sanskrit as Brahma). Basic Premises: 1. An individual is the spiritual center of the universe and in an individual can be found the clue to nature, history and, ultimately, the cosmos itself. It is not a rejection of the existence of God, but a preference to explain an individual and the world in terms of an individual. 2. The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individual self all knowledge, therefore, begins with self-knowledge. This is similar to Aristotles dictum know thyself. 3. Transcendentalists accepted the neo-Platonic conception of nature as a living mystery, full of signs nature is symbolic. 4. The belief that individual virtue and happiness depend upon self-realization this depends upon the reconciliation of two universal psychological tendencies: a. the expansive or self-transcending tendency a desire to embrace the whole world to know and become one with the world. b. the contracting or self-asserting tendency the desire to withdraw, remain unique and separate an egotistical existence. Correspondence. It is a concept which suggests that the external is united with the internal. Physical or material nature is neutral or indifferent or objective; it is neither helpful nor hurtful; it is neither beautiful nor ugly. What makes one give such attributes to nature is that individuals imposition of her/his temperament or mood or psyche. If Im feeling lousy, I may dismiss a gorgeous day; if Im feeling bright and cheerful then the most dreary of days becomes tolerable. And so, the Transcendentalists believed that knowing yourself and studying nature is the same activity. Nature mirrors our psyche. If I cannot understand myself, may be understanding nature will help. Here is Darrel Abels take on this concept: Since one divine character was immanent everywhere in nature and in man, mans reason could discern the spiritual ideas in nature and his senses could register impressions of the material forms of nature. To man the subject, nature the object, which shared the same divine constitution as himself, presented external images to the innate ideas in his soul. (American Literature, Vol. 2, 1963, 4-5. ) Transcendentalism and the American Past. Transcendentalism as a movement is rooted in the American past: To Puritanism it owed its pervasive morality and the doctrine of divine light. It is also similar to the Quaker inner light. However, both these concepts assume acts of God, whereas intuition is an act of an individual. In Unitarianism, deity was reduced to a kind of immanent principle in every person an individual was the true source of moral light. To Romanticism it owed the concept of nature as a living mystery and not a clockwork universe (deism) which is fixed and permanent. A subtle chain of countless rings The next unto the farthest brings; The eye reads omens where it goes, And speaks all languages the rose; And, striving to be man, the worm Mounts through all the spires of form. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nature, 1836 Transcendentalism was a 1. spiritual, 2. philosophical and 3. literary movement and is located in the history of American Thought as (a). Post-Unitarian and free thinking in religious spirituality (b). Kantian and idealistic in philosophy and (c). Romantic and individualistic in literature. A Brief Chronology of Events. †¢ 1832 Emerson resigns the ministry of the Unitarian Church unable to administer the holy communion. †¢ 1836 The annus mirabilis of the movement, during which Emerson published Nature (the gospel of transcendentalism); George Ripley published Discourses on the Philosophy of Religion; Orestes Brownson published New Views of Christianity, Society, and Church; Bronson Alcott published Record of Conversions in the Gospel (based on classroom discussions in his Temple School in Boston, and provoking severe criticism); the Transcendental Club, also known as Hedges Club, met for the first time. †¢ 1837 Emerson delivers his Phi Beta Kappa address on The American Scholar at Harvard, which James Russell Lowell called an event without former parallel in our literary annals. †¢ 1838 Emerson delivers his Divinity School Address at Harvard which touched off a great storm in religious circles. †¢ 1840 The founding of the Dial, a Transcendental magazine, which enjoyed its obscurity, to use Emersons words, for four years. †¢ 1841 The launching of George Ripleys Brook Farm a utopian experiment. Hawthorne was a resident there for a short time and wrote The Blithedale Romance based upon his experience there. †¢ 1842 Alcotts utopian experiment at Fruitlands. †¢ 1845 Thoreau goes to live at Walden Pond. †¢ 1846 Thoreau is put in jail for his refusal to pay poll tax. †¢ 1850 Passage of the Fugitive Slave Act. The Transcendentalists found themselves increasingly involved in abolition of slavery. †¢ 1855 Walt Whitman publishes his Leaves of Grass. †¢ 1859 Charles Darwins Origin of Species is published. †¢ 1862 Henry David Thoreau dies. Basic Tenets of American Transcendentalism: Note: This list must not be considered to be a creed common to all transcendentalists. It is merely a grouping of certain important concepts shared by many of them. †¢ 1. Transcendentalism, essentially, is a form of idealism. †¢ 2. The transcendentalist transcends or rises above the lower animalistic impulses of life (animal drives) and moves from the rational to a spiritual realm. †¢ 3. The human soul is part of the Oversoul or universal spirit (or float for Whitman) to which it and other souls return at death. †¢ 4. Therefore, every individual is to be respected because everyone has a portion of that Oversoul (God). †¢ 5. This Oversoul or Life Force or God can be found everywhere travel to holy places is, therefore, not necessary. 6. God can be found in both nature and human nature (Nature, Emerson stated, has spiritual manifestations). †¢ 7. Jesus also had part of God in himself he was divine as everyone is divine except in that he lived an exemplary and transcendental life and made the best use of that Power which is within each one. †¢ 8. Miracle is monster. The miracles of the Bible are not to be regarded as important as they were to the people of the past. Miracles are all about us the whole world is a miracle and the smallest creature is one. A mouse is a miracle enough to stagger quintillions of infidels. Whitman †¢ 9. More important than a concern about the afterlife, should be a concern for this life the one thing in the world of value is the active soul. Emerson †¢ 10. Death is never to be feared, for at death the soul merely passes to the oversoul. †¢ 11. Emphasis should be placed on the here and now. Give me one world at a time. Thoreau †¢ 12. Evil is a negative merely an absence of good. Light is more powerful than darkness because one ray of light penetrates the dark. †¢ 13. Power is to be obtained by defying fate or predestination, which seem to work against humans, by exercising ones own spiritual and moral strength. Emphasis on self-reliance. †¢ 14. Hence, the emphasis is placed on a human thinking. †¢ 15. The transcendentalists see the necessity of examples of great leaders, writers, philosophers, and others, to show what an individual can become through thinking and action. †¢ 16. It is foolish to worry about consistency, because what an intelligent person believes tomorrow, if he/she trusts oneself, tomorrow may be completely different from what that person thinks and believes today. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. Emerson †¢ 17. The unity of life and universe must be realized. There is a relationship between all things. †¢ 18. One must have faith in intuition, for no church or creed can communicate truth. †¢ 19. Reform must not be emphasized true reform comes from within. Reasons for the Rise of American Transcendentalism There was no one precise cause for the beginning of Transcendentalism. According to Paul Boller, chance, coincidence and several independent events, thoughts and tendencies seemed to have converged in the 1830s in New England. Some of these were: †¢ 1. The steady erosion of Calvinism. †¢ 2. The progressive secularization of modern thought under the impact of science and technology. †¢ 3. The emergence of a Unitarian intelligentsia with the means, leisure, and training to pursue literature and scholarship. †¢ 4. The increasing insipidity and irrelevance of liberal religion to questing young minds lack of involvement in womens rights and abolitionism. †¢ 5. The intrusion of the machine into the New England garden and the disruption of the old order by the burgeoning industrialism. †¢ 6. The impact of European ideas on Americans traveling abroad. †¢ 7. The appearance of talented and energetic young people like Emerson, Fuller, and Thoreau on the scene. †¢ 8. The imperatives of logic itself for those who take ideas seriously the impossibility, for instance, of accepting modern science without revising traditional religious views. Important ideas from: Warren, Robert Penn, Cleanth Brooks, and R. W. B. Lewis. A National Literature and Romantic Individualism. in Romanticism. eds. James Barbour and Thomas Quirk. NY: Garland, 1986, 3-24. 1. Transcendentalism was a philosophical, literary, social, and theological movement. 2. Its origin is traced to the relaxing of Puritan Calvinism into Unitarianism a belief very much like Deism. From its early liberalism, Unitarianism developed, for some of the young intellectuals, into a new orthodoxy of smug social conformity that denied the spiritual and emotional depths of experience corpse-cold Unitarianism, as Emerson was to call it. (11) 3. German and English Romanticism provided some inspiration towards the search for some deeper truth. 4. Transcendentalism represented a complex response to the democratization of American life, to the rise of science and the new technology, and to the new industrialism to the whole question, in short, of the redefinition of the relation of man to nature and to other men that was being demanded by the course of history. (11-12) 5. Influences: a. From Plato came the idealism according to which reality subsists beyond the appearances of the world. Plato also suggests that the world is an expression of spirit, or mind, which is sheer intelligibility and therefore good. b. From Immanuel Kant came the notion of the native spontaneity of the human mind against the passive conception of the 18th c. sensational theory (also known as the philosophy of empiricism of John Locke and David Hume; the concept that the mind begins as a tabula rasa and that all knowledge develops from sensation). c. From Coleridge came the importance of wonder, of antirationalism, and the importance of individual consciousness. d. From Puritanism came the ethical seriousness and the aspect of Jonathan Edwards that suggested that an individual can receive divine light immediately and directly. 6. Transcendentalism was, at its core, a philosophy of naked individualism, aimed at the creation of the new American, the self-reliant man, complete and independent. (22) 7. The achievement of the transcendentalists has a grandeur. They did confront, and helped define, the great issues of their time, and if they did not resolve those issues, we of the late twentieth century, who have not yet resolved them, are in no position to look down our noses at their effort. (23) Towards a Definition of Transcendentalism: A Few Comments: from Henry David Gray, Emerson: A Statement of N. E. Transcendentalism as Expressed in the Philosophy of Its Chief Exponent, 1917 1. The spirit of the time is in every form a protest against usage and a search for principles. Emerson in the opening number of The Dial. 2. I was given to understand that whatever was unintelligible would be certainly Transcendental. Charles Dickens in American Notes 3. I should have told them at once that I was a transcendentalist. That would have been the shortest way of telling them that they would not understand my explanations. Thoreau, Journal, V:4 4. The word Transcendentalism, as used at the present day, has two applications. One of which is popular and indefinite, the other, philosophical and precise. In the former sense it describes man, rather than opinions, since it is freely extended to those who hold opinions, not only diverse from each other, but directly opposed. Noah Porter, 1842 5. Transcendentalism is the recognition in man of the capacity of knowing truth intuitively, or of attaining a scientific knowledge of an order of existence transcending the reach of the senses, and of which we can have no sensible experience. J. A. Saxton, Dial II: 90 6. Literally a passing beyond all media in the approach to the Deity, Transcendentalism contained an effort to establish, mainly by the discipline of the intuitive faculty, direct intercourse between the soul and God. Charles J. Woodbury in Talks with Ralph Waldo Emerson 7. Transcendentalism was not speculative, but essentially practical and reformatory. John Orr in The Transcendentalism of New England, International Review, XIII: 390 8. Transcendentalism was a distinct philosophical system. Practically it was an assertion of the inalienable worth of man; theoretically it was an assertion of the immanence of divinity in instinct, the transference of supernatural attributes to the natural constitution of mankind. Transcendentalism is usually spoken of as a philosophy. It is more justly regarded as a gospel. As a philosophy it is so far from uniform, that it may rather be considered several systems than one. Transcendentalism was an enthusiasm, a wave of sentiment, a breath of mind. O. B. Frothingham in Transcendentalism in New England, 1876 9. The problem of transcendental philosophy is no less than this, to revise the experience of mankind and try its teachings by the nature of mankind, to test ethics by conscience, science by reason; to try the creeds of the churches, the constitution of the states, by the constitution of the universe. Theodore Parker in Works VI: 37 10. We feel it to be a solemn duty to warn our readers, and in our measure, the public, against this German atheism, which the spirit of darkness is employing ministers of the gospel to smuggle in among us under false pretenses. Princeton Review XII: 71 11. Protestantism ends in Transcendentalism. Orestes Brownson in Works, 209 12. The fundamentals of Transcendentalism are to be felt as sentiments, or grasped by the imagination as poetical wholes, rather than set down in propositions. Cabot, A Memoir of Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1887, I: 248 13. First and foremost, it can only be rightly conceived as an intellectual, aesthetic, and spiritual ferment, not a strictly reasoned doctrine. It was a renaissance of conscious, living faith in the power of reason, in the reality of spiritual insight, in the privilege, beauty, and glory of life. Frances Tiffany, Transcendentalism: The New England Renaissance, Unitarian Review, XXXI: 111. 14. The Transcendentalist adopts the whole connection of spiritual doctrine. If there is anything grand or daring in human thought or virtue, any reliance on the vast, the unknown; any presentiment, any extravagance of faith, the spiritualist adopts it as most in nature. The oriental mind has always tended to this largeness. Buddhism is an expression of it. The Buddhist is a Transcendentalist. Shall we say then that Transcendentalism is the Saturnalia or excess of Faith; the presentiment of a faith proper to man in his integrity, excessive only when his imperfect obedience hinders the satisfaction of his wish? Ralph Waldo Emersons lecture on The Transcendentalist, Works I: 317-320 15. (Transcendentalism was) a blending of Platonic metaphysics and the Puritan spirit, of a philosophy and a character taking place at a definite time, in a specially fertilized soil, under particular conditions. H. C. Goddard, Studies in New England Transcendentalism, 1908. 16. If I were a Bostonian, I think I would be a Transcendentalist. Charles Dickens in American Notes.

What is e-hr? An analysis

What is e-hr? An analysis Introduction The aim of the literature review on e-HR is to find out what e-HR is, to examine benefits, strengths, weaknesses, issues, and barriers, and to analyse and focus the perceptions of importance of the information technology in HR activities. What are the importance of Internet to HR practitioners and the Internet support for human resource management. How the Internet applications provide support for HRM. How are an expanded model of the factors affecting the acceptance and effectiveness of e-HR systems. And also analysed the factors of e-HRM adoption. The analyses of strategy are for enhancing the effectiveness and acceptance of e-HR systems. This review is organised by different phases, mentioned about e-HR definition and use in the first phase, e-HR strengths, weaknesses, and issues in second phase, e-HR adoption in the third phase, and finally the discussion and conclusion in the fourth phase. E-HR definition e-HR stands for Electronic Human Resource. The term e-HR refers to deal Human Resource Management transactions using an internet. E-HR aims to keep information available to employees and managers at anywhere at any time. E-HR may include organizations HR portals and web applications, Enterprise Resource Planning, HR service centers and interactive voice response. There are three identified levels of e-HR such as publishing of information (delivered by intranet medium), automation of transactions with integration of workflow (intranet or extranet used) and transformation of the HR function (redirect HR function towards a strategic one). (7, PR 36,2 278) E-HR is characterized in field of HRM as having numerous innovations in Technology and it provides wider potential in term of usages including employee self service, information sharing, functions administration and production of reports. (Pass, 2002) (6, PR 37,1 66) e-HR is developments in technology to create a real-time, information-based Self-service, interactive work environment. With e-HR, managers can access relevant information and data, conduct analyses, decision making and communicate with others and employees are able to control their own personal information like update their records when it changes and make any decision on their own without consulting with any professionals help. (4, PP 365-366) e-HR will effect both efficiency and effectiveness of Human resources function in such a way that the efficiency of the human resource process can be effected by reducing cycle time for paperwork, Improvements is data accuracy and reducing manpower requirement. In similar way the effectiveness of human resource process will be effected by improving the capabilities of both employees and managers to make a better and accurate decisions. (4, PP 365-366) e-HRM as an enterprise-wide strategy that used scalable, flexible and integrated technology to link internal processes and knowledge workers directly to the business objectives of the organization. (5, PP 515) E-HR Strength Benefits of e-HR and e-HR adoption Sharing of information with one way communication from the organization to employees or managers through the companies intranet system (reduce the expensive printing cost, users can get current information, Quick notification of any changes). Automation of transactions with the combination of intranet with different application program. The paper work is totally replaced with electronic media. (4, PP 369) The adoption of E-HR brings benefits in major areas in the HR processes such as HR planning, acquiring HR (recruitment and selection), HR evaluation (performance appraisal), communication, rewarding HR (performance appraisal, compensation and benefits) and developing HR (training and development, career management). (7, PR 36,2 278) Users can access database and able to update and search in formations and make decisions accordingly through e-profile. Allows managing of recruitment and hiring process (Job advertisement, Manage applications and interview) in a systematic manner through E-recruitment. Application and approval process of leave management and its review through e-leave. On-line submission and approval process of employees claim to Finance is possible through e-claims. Web-enabled appraisal, skills development and career mapping can be performed through e-appraisal system. Managing of payroll processing will be very systematic and fast way by e-HR system. which involves the calculation and reporting of taxes, gross or net pay and deductions, arranging or allotment of money to different cost centre. Computerized Job evaluation or performance rating system is another strength of e-HR to determine the worth of each job and to decide the correct pay rate. This is based on the points system rated against the each type of job and its nature. Computerized salary surveys can conduct among the companies to gain information about the current pay levels and pay structure. The feature of salary planning application can calculate the total salary and allocate it according to the merit or seniority of the people. (2, PP 245-247) Use and reasons for E-HR adoption Based on the research in the article, few percent of organizations do not have a web page and most of the organizations already have web page to improve customer communication, product advertisement, public relations, recruitment process, cost effectiveness, services to internal customers, and staffing procedure and communication. Based on the respondents believe that the various HR functions will become more wide spread in the future and also appears that the use of e-HR, the communication will be decreased as well. (7, PR 36,2 282-290) The use of E-HR provides more gains in time management, company image, operating-cost reduction and minimizes mistakes. However some companies not using e-HR due to less usefulness, security issues, inconsistency with practices used and other practical problems. (7, PR 36,2 282) E-HR and the role of HRM Based on the study and HR experts, the role of the HR function can be changed by e-HR adoption. The adoption of e-HR practices has a great impact on strategic goals of the organization image, alignment and cost reduction. Only few percentage of HR managers have doubtful in the relation to e-HR as no replacement for face to face communication and personal contact. Higher percentage believe that the HRM role will be upgraded with e-HR in term of strategic improvement in speed, quality and achievements of services. (7, PR 36,2 290-291) Importance of the internet to HR Practitioners In the technology points of view the HRM can be characterized as human resource information system (HRIS), electronic human resources (E-HR) and virtual human resources (VHR). HRIS gather and maintain HR data, E-HR provides employee self-service, sharing information, reports and administrative functions. VHR creates network-based structure built with partnerships through IT. Internet allows organizations to automate HR processes like various current existing HR-functions, services or applications can be transformed into web-based function. (6, PR 37,1 67) Internet support for human resource management The growing number of internet users the HR professionals can be benefited as the internet provides reductions of communication cost, information management facilities, wide range of communication through emails, information accessing from web sites searching. The intranet also helps to support HRM functions and enables activities like information search, communication and database access, and establishes company information system. (6, PR 37,1 66-67) Internet applications providing support for HRM The internet revolution helps to shift HR activities to specialized online service providers. Frequently cited useful Internet support HR applications are recruitment and selection, training and development, payroll, benefits and compensation management/administration, Performance appraisal, HR planning, internal and external communication, self-service including web-portal, and knowledge management. (6, PR 37,1 68-71) Hypotheses development In the perceptions of the relative importance for adopting the internet for HRM, hypotheses test shows that the differences between the observations of importance of the internet to human resource practitioners is not associated either with the size of organization or with the internet connectivity. (6, PR 37,1 72) E-HR Weakness An expanded model of the factors affecting the acceptance and effectiveness of electronic HR systems Technology is highly profound in the human resource management, almost most of the large organization use electronic human resource (eHR) systems to attract job seekers and provide training, manage employee performance, and admin benefits and compensation systems. The organizations values, goals and resources induce the development of organizational systems and processes to facilitate achievement. Most of the organizations implement systems and processes for convincing talented job applicant, encouraging employee to achieve organizational goals and sustaining employee with his role. This affects the organizations ability in the achievement. Similarly, individuals values, goals and skills involves the determination of intentions and behaviors. Based on the above, the combination of e-HR systems and individual factors affect the system acceptance. Organizations use e-HR systems to convey HR details, and induce individuals attitudes and behaviors. This shows that e-HR systems vary the nature of the communication media and message characteristics. the communication easies the relations between message factors, media characteristics, and system acceptance and effectiveness. (8, PP 136) Factors of e-HRM adoption E-HRM is as the application of IT to both network and support environment to perform HR tasks. The concept of e-HRM is like Virtual HRM and web-based HRM. The adoption of e-HRM takes in individual level and organizational level. The organizational level comprises of several phases such as initiation, and implementation phases of adoption. The general and contextual factors are derived and tested using a large-scale survey. (10,JMP 24,6 483) General factor In the influence of adoption, the general factor is identified as size, industry, demography, work organization, structure of employment and HRM configuration of organization. (10,JMP 24,6 486) In larger organizations the HR tasks in large quantities that can be justifiable for large investments in IT to clear out huge amount transactions using number of applications per week to save administration costs. But small organizations with few applications have difficult to justify for such a huge investment in IT. â€Å"The size of an organization reveals an effect on the adoption of e-HRM since the larger organization will more frequently adopt e-HRM.† (10,JMP 24,6 486) Industries like bank have larger stationary and clerical work can easily adopt. Industries like building construction have non-stationary and non-clerical tasks cannot adopt e-HRM. â€Å"The industry of an organization reveals an effect on the adoption of e-HRM since industries with mainly clerical and stationary tasks will more frequently adopt e-HRM.† (10, JMP 24,6 486-487) Based on research, the acceptance of employees to adopt e-HRM is crucial as individual qualification and motivation vary with different demographical attributes. Age is considered in individual adoption. Many organizations may not consider older age than younger age. In gender, female has less IT experience so many female may not be considered in the adoption. â€Å"The demography of an organization reveals an effect on the adoption of e-HRM since organizations with a high percentage of young, male, and educated employees will more frequently adopt e-HRM.† The increasing of telecommunication organization that helps HR and employees and personal interaction is effectively and time consuming. Since the telecommunication employees have basic technical qualifications and existence of basic technical equipment, e-HRM can be easily implemented. â€Å"The work organization of an organization reveals an effective on the adoption of e-HRM since organizations with a high percentage of telecommuting employees will more frequently adopt e-HRM. (10, JMP 24,6 486-488) The relation of permanent and temporary employees should bring relevant influences. The temporary employees allow non-critical HR activities, compensation should provide to agency and non-investment on training for temporary users. â€Å" The employment structure of an organization reveals an effect on the adoption of e-HRM since organizations with a high percentage of temporary employees will more frequently adopt e-HRM. (10, JMP 24,6 486-488) The configuration of HRM of an organization approaches the institutionalization of HRM(formal HR department), comprehensiveness of HRM (extent of performed HR functions) and strategic orientation of HRM (Automation HR). The automation brings more beneficial to the HR department and gains from administrative burdens. HR department should handle like quantitative and qualitative challenges of e-HRM. The extent of performed HR functions may influence the adoption. â€Å" the configuration of HRM within an organization reveals an effect on the adoption of e-HRM, since organizations with an institutionalized, comprehensive, and strategic HRM will more frequently adopt e-HRM. (10, JMP 24,6 486-488) Contextual factors The identification of contextual factors can be classified as the institutional openness of contextual influences on e-HRM and the uniformity of contextual influences on e-HRM. The institutional openness refers the fact of open concerning the employed HR methods, the covered HR functions, and the included HR actors. The uniformity of influences exemplify from National political, legal, and educational system. The institutional openness contextual factors can be identified at present. The uniform influences focus towards the adoption of e-HRM. The political, legal, and educational influences be given for IT exploitation and provide nation-wide net infrastructures, basic IT education etc. â€Å"The national business system reveals an effect on the adoption of e-HRM, since organizations located in economically developed nations will more frequently adopt e-HRM.† (10, JMP 24,6 489-490) E-HR Issues Some of the items which are very critical to be consider while implementing e-HR in any organization are given below. (3, PP 54-55) The structure of Human resource process or master planning in a company should be properly formulated. If it is not done properly, HR systems become a difficult task or frustrating for users. Ensure the availability of enough resources like computer and centralized system for each and every employees to utilize the e-HR system on regular basis. Otherwise people need to use their personal computers at workplaces and it can demoralize the users. Training of employees are an important criteria in making successful e-HR system especially when some users may be far less skilled with computer than others. The use of e-HR system had a direct impact on the bottom line and made it more competitive. So organization can get the opportunity of reducing manpower in HR. It can leads to unhappiness over the staff. HR professionals must have a good working relation ship with their companies IT professional otherwise there will be a chances of conflict between them during implementation or integration of application. Employees with little knowledge in computer may resist a move towards computer based e-HR system. So the organization may need to take special care in encouraging the users with an offer of incentives for using these programs. Security of e-HR system is another issue to be consider and make the system as non threatening as possible and keep confidence. Effective communication among employees is a necessary part of the process . Communicate and educate them about the importance of the system. The Identification of Investment required for software and hardware is one of the main issue and also the return of investment or payback period will be unpredictable and based on the estimation it will take one to three year. Strategic of e-HR There are two strategic perspectives way the HR can become more strategic .Both these can provide useful frameworks for connecting HR system to the business strategy. The first one takes an economic perspective of the organization to achieve more competitive advantage in an external market environment. The second one is based on the Resources based view and it focuses on the strategic resources and capabilities within the organization In companies perspective, more attention is always given to applying an economic perspective towards the externally focused business strategy than the resource based view. So the primary role is cost reduction and it can be achieved by eliminating all HR transactional functions though e-HR system. (5, PP 516) The primary role of HR managers spend their most of time in administrative expert role, strategic partner role and capability builder (5, PP 517) The HR functional activities like tracking of job requisitions, processing and managing payroll of employees, benefits programs etc are under the role of administrative export role. The strategic business partner role consists of planning of business, workforce and succession, business management and compensation design to support the business strategies of the company. Building organization capabilities and human capital are primary deliverable in which most of the time spending in the development of human capital and organizational capability. Automating and streamlining of administrative transactions by implementing e-HRM system make the HR function more strategic because those in the HR role can now spend more time on strategic activities in a way of reduce the cost involvement, Lead time , Increase the efficiency of HR services and communication, improve the productivity and finally able to operate at lower cost. (5, PP 518-519) Previously the cost factor was the strongest focus of e-HRM practice, but nowadays the focus is not only towards cost but also more towards the integrative consequences of deploying e-HRM in a Company. The cost reduction and transformation of all process of an HR department into a strategic unit because of the introduction of e-HRM. (1, PP 508) Strategies for enhancing the effectiveness and acceptance of eHR systems The strategies can be used in several ways for enhancing the effectiveness and acceptance of her systems. For example, organizations may allow applicants to apply for their job through web, but use web based systems to give applicants to verify the requirements. The same way, the organizations may use e-HR systems to gather performance data and enter performance reviews, but managers may have face-to-face meeting with applicant to give rating. The control perception be increased by electronic selection systems (e.g., touch screen system, kiosks) that can also used by traditional users as well. These kind of systems may allow individuals who are not very efficient with computers access. The data subjects (eg. Incumbents) have the ability to rectify invalid data in e-HR systems. This strategies decrease the extent to e-HR systems privacy. The organization should minimize the monitoring systems that could limit individuals freedom and control in organizations. The organization may enhance both productivity and employee well being and merit the way employees performed tasks. This will decrease employees stress levels. The organizations would expand definitions of performance to include incumbents which are measurable in positively. The broader definition of performance consists quantity of work performed as well as increases the welfare of the individual, group and organization. The study proves that the e-HR systems are being used increasingly by organizations. (9,PP 14, 7) Conclusion The research reviews the critical analysis of strengths, weakness and issues of electronic Human Resource Management (e-HRM) and also conducts a brief analysis of whether the e-HR can contribute towards HR to become more strategic. Based on this, some of the major implication for current issues, benefits and future improvement required in e-HR as well as in HR could be derived. e-HR may improve the employee productivity, employee morale, decision making, information sharing, enhance innovation and speed up the product launching to market. However, the cost involved in an implementation of e-HR is too high especially for the software, hardware, training etc. It will be a big investment for an organization and the return on investment will not be immediate and it is unpredictable. Finally, the e-HR is good for an employer perspective but not good for an employee as it can end up in a less work force environment. How have assembly lines helped develop economy? How have assembly lines helped develop economy? How assembly line had helped the development economy of a country and a company? Model T sold for about $800 in 1908. But the assembly line lowered Fords cost so much that he could decrease the Model Ts price to as low as $290 in 1915. A car can be made in ninety minute by using assembly line technique. The production increased from 475 cars in a nine-hour day to over 1200 cars in an eight-hour day. That year he sold up to one million cars. This is the first time that ordinary Americans is able to afford get a car. Ford had found many ways to cut cost and offer cheaper price product. He instructed his supplier the way to assemble the wood crates that were used to ship the automobile parts to him. The crates were then dismantled and used within the car. The scrapes that left over were made into charcoal and sold under the name of Kingsford. With the aid of assembly line, the cost of labor has also depreciated. This is because with the not as many labor were required as it is before th e existence of the assembly line. Furthermore, the due to the faded term of unskilled and skilled workers, there is no longer wage discrimination needed to be done by the employer upon the workers. During the 1920s, automobile had allowed more people to leave the inner city and live somewhere else without changing their jobs. More people purchased houses in new residential area as more roads were constructed to link the metropolitan centers. After one decade, these suburbs had grown and making cars to become a necessity goods than luxury goods. The other factor that has made cars no longer classified as a luxury good is due to the reduction in cost of production. The fall of cost of production has made the prices of cars to decrease as well and enabled many people to have the purchasing power. With the convenience of the car and road, people would have no trouble getting to their respective destination and this had allowed them to live at places of their choice. There will be an increase in demand of automobile during that decade due to automobile as a necessity for most people to travel to work that period of time. In 1930 almost one out of three United States citizens had a c ar in their house. The better and improved quality of road is built across America. Many states started to tax motor fuel to help build and maintain the highways. New repair shops, roadside restaurants and motels were pioneered. The assembly line that was implemented has caused not only the automobile industry to grow but tire industry also experience prosperity. In this increasing demand for car had trickled down many other industries. One of the industries that flourish is oil industry. As the number of cars on the road has rise, the demand of oil also will increase thoroughly. High demand of oil and low supply of oil will cause the oil price to rise. In order restore the economy; setting up new wells in Texas and the Southwest is necessary to increase the supply of the oil. An increase of supply of oil will enable the price to drop back to normal price, so that the economic in the oil production line can be restored. In 1918, oil price increased by 20 percent. After new well is discovered and dug, the oil price falls by 10 percent in 1922. The oil price continues to drop from year 1930 to year 1934 up to 10 percent. Many new gas service stations were established on the highways. At the outbreak of World War Two, many automobiles manufacturers shut down their assembly lines to build weapons or machines that vital to win the war. After World War Two happened, oil price struck up by 20 percent for several years due to the priority of oil consumption was for the machines or automobile on war. So, supply of oil in the market will decrease and increase in oil price level will occurs. This lead to the depression that occurs in Invention of cars and assembly line had lead to economic growth. With this new technological method, Fords companys profits increase from $30 million dollar in 1914 to $60 million dollar in 1916. Fords company profits had doubled from that period of time. The economy experienced growth of 7 to 10 percent for the first six years of 1920s. The United States total income rose from $74.3 billion dollar in 1923 to $89 billion in 1929. Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, known as The Big Three, had reached their peaks in the 1950s, when they are together; they controlled more than 90 percent of the United States market. In 1978 Ford profit for the year was $2.2billion dollar. By late 1990s the automotive industry had added $100 billion dollar in the gross domestic product to the United States economy. This can prove that the success of the idea of assembly line that created by Henry Ford. Besides that, assembly line work is extremely tedious. It leads workers to turnover and finds a new job. To reduce the amount of constant turnover of employees, Ford used a theory called efficiency wages. Efficiency wages are wages, which paid by firms that are higher than the market in that time. Efficiency wages can motive workers to work at their best effort, better paid workers eat a better diet and thus are more productive, higher paid worker is less likely to look for another job and attract a better pool of workers to apply for jobs. Ford had increased the wages of its workers to five dollar a day. The automotive industry has developed a rising standard of living for its workers by paying wages that ranked at the top of the whole industrial sector. About forty seven percent of Ford workers owned their own cars. From then, the working hours for every worker decrease from nine hours to eight hours every day. Decrease in working hours can make worker happier as they have more tim e to spend time with their family. It also helps the company to increase the productivity of individual as the worker is happy to work for the company. Technological advancements in the late 1970s and early 1980s brought a new outlook to the automobile industry. New technology is bought into that period of year. The development of the robot for manufacturing had a remarkable change in the automobile industry. With Henry Fords idea, assembly line and these wonderful machines have boosted the production even more. The robots could assemble cars and car parts at a much greater rate of precision and at a much faster speed than the average human. The duration of work for a robot compare to an average human is much longer. Robots also can work 24 hours a day and seven days a week. With the usage of robots in the assembly line, employer will not have to face trouble such as worker turnover or strikes by them. The use of robotics provided the perfect solution for large automobile producers. Robots can switch from one task to another task without any downtime. Robots have increased the supplies of car in the market since then. Since robots c ouldnt operate without the help of human. So, it requires some highly skilled technicians to monitor the process. New demand of higher paying jobs and higher skill level jobs in the automobile industry is created and filled up. These incentives led companies altering the standard method of production, which established in the Ford and Volkswagen plants. Robots has also brought along some of the negative effects that will influence the economy. Although there are new jobs created during this switch, but the downturn in demand of production. This will be the best opportunity and excuses for company to fire the entire unskilled worker, instead of retrain the workers because it cost more to retrain the workers than hire a new batch of workers. It left many unskilled workers in the manufacturing plants unemployed. This incidence leads the unemployment in the United States to rise. When most workers lose their jobs might have influenced their decision when purchasing a new car, as they dont have stable income to buy new cars. This could indirectly hurt the automobile industry because they could lose a very big market of potential buyers since robot are not human which needs car to travel around.

The Existence of Intelligent Life Essay -- Extraterrestrial Intelligen

The Existence of Intelligent Life Bertrand Russell wrote, "There are two possibilities. Maybe we are alone. Maybe we are not. Both are equally frightening (Jakosky 1)." The question of life in the universe is one that leaves many in a state of bewilderment. It becomes even more interesting when it leads to another question -- that of intelligent life in the universe. Finding other intelligent civilizations among the interstellar space would greatly affect every aspect of our existence. Conversely, not finding such a civilization would force us to examine the purpose of our own existence. To help answer the question, astronomers and scientists set up a program in search for extraterrestrial intelligence. This program, or SETI, was set up to verify, by observation that extraterrestrial life does exist. SETI tries to prove this by picking up and analyzing radio signals by means of satellites and advanced computers (Heidmann 116). The history of the SETI program is quite interesting. It started back in 1959 with the help of two famous Cornell University physicists, Guiseppi Cocconi and Phil Morrison. Both claimed that it would be possible to communicate with other potential extraterrestrial life in space by the use of techniques used in radio astronomy (Heidmann 112). Together, they voiced their belief that if other "alien astronomers" elsewhere in the universe possessed radio telescopes, that it would be possible to converse between the two (Heidmann 112-113). A young astronomer by the name of Francis Drake agreed with the theories of Cocconi and Morrison. He proposed building a radio receiver in order to listen for waves of sound being transmitted through space. It wasn't until the spring of 1960 that Dra... ...sity Press, 1992. 2. Jakosky, Bruce. The Search for Life on Other Planets. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1998. 3. Kahney, Leander. "A Search for Intelligent Searchers." Wired News (1999). 29 January 2000 *http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/*. 4. Hipschma, Ron. " The Problem -- Mountains of Data." How SETI @Home Works (1999). 29 January 2000 http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/. 5. "Project Omar." SETI Institute. 1999. SETI Institute. 28 January 2000 http://www.seti.org/science/ozma.html. 6. "History of SETI." SETI Institute. 1999. SETI Institute. 29 January 2000 http://www.seti.org/general/history.html. 7. "The Optical SETI Resource for Planet Earth." The Columbus Optical SETI Observatory. 1999. Columbus Observatory. 27 January 2000 http://www.coseti.org/. 8. Ward, Peter. Interview with Lori Stokes. The Debate Over Life Beyond Earth. MSNBC. 10 Feb. 2000.

Murder Rationale in Dostoevskys Crime and Punishment Essay -- Crime P

Murder Rationale in Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment Feodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment is a murder mystery unlike most murder mysteries. In this novel the reader knows "who done it"; the mystery lies in why the murder is committed. Throughout the story, Raskolnikov gives three main reasons why he kills Alena Ivanovna. Although these reasons seem unrelated on a superficial level, there is truth in all of them. What's more, each one builds on its predecessor. Raskolnikov's first two reasons are scrutinized by Sonya one at a time as his solitary motive for murder. These reasons are then disproved on their own, leaving one ultimate motive that essentially encompasses the other two. As readers, we sometimes tend to want a direct explanation for events that have occurred. Dostoevsky gives us explanations, but they are not direct and can be confusing if we are looking for an obvious cause and effect relationship. Crime and Punishment imitates life in that the happenings do not always fit in nice neat categories. Perhaps this is one of the elements that make it such an intriguing and acclaimed novel. Raskolnikov's first reason for murdering the pawn broker is to help himself. He claims he wanted the money. He states in his confession to Sonya, "It was to rob her" (348). It is obvious that he needed money for school. Also, if he had the money to put himself through school, his mother would not have to scrimp and borrow from others to help her son. Since the death of his father, Raskolnikov's mother and sister are greatly dependent upon him to make something of himself. His mother says in a letter to him, "You are all we have, Dunya and I, you are everything to us, our only hope and trust" (25). In this same letter, his mo... ... commoners. His last reason was accepted as his ultimate motive; "Sonya understood that this gloomy creed had become his faith and his law" (353). Raskolnikov himself does not really know why he is committing murder when the murder is taking place. It is a discovery of self and of a theory that was not yet developed. He uses excuses for his reasoning in the beginning, saying that he needs the money, and, later, that he is performing a service for the greater good. These excuses are necessary and fundamental steps of Raskolnikov's journey into self-discovery. It is human nature to rationalize, which is what he is doing. Ironically, this very need for rationalization and excuse is what fails him in his quest for proof of his superiority. Work Cited Dostoevsky, Feodor. Crime and Punishment. Trans. Jessie Coulson. Ed. Goerge Gibian. New York: Norton, 1989.

The Dangerous Combination of the Media and the Weight-Loss Industry Es

The Dangerous Combination of the Media and the Weight-Loss Industry    Abstract: Excessive use of diet pills by American women stems from the idea that thinness is ideal. This ideal is unlikely to change in the near future, so the use of diet pills and other unhealthy fat diets is likely to increase. If women remain unaware of the health risks associated with the use and abuse of these unregulated drugs, rates of illness and even death are also likely to increase. In 1997, the use of diet pills directly caused seventeen deaths (Cohen). Medical professionals speculate that many other deaths are indirectly related to weight-loss drugs. FDA regulation of 'natural' substances such as ephedrine and caffeine would alleviate widespread use of diet pills. Without such regulation, advertisement of these drugs will continue to entice young women to unintentionally abuse their bodies and risk their health. Depictions of women in the media have expressed thinness as perfect for the past few decades, and the thin ideal is becoming more extreme. The 'waif model' is common in magazines, on television, and on the runway. Although these individuals are considered underweight by medical evaluation, their appearance has become desired by the average American woman. Oddly, even as Americans have aspired to weigh less, our average weight has increased by more than ten percent since the early 1970s (Berg 29). This weight gain probably results from the high fat content in popular, condensed foods. This inadvertent weight gain, coupled with increasing desire for thinness, has created an enormous market for 'fad diets.' One variety of these diets is the use of diet pills. Despite the dangers of weight-loss drugs, they were used by an approximate... ...s associated with the use and abuse of these unregulated drugs, rates of illness and even death are also likely to increase. In 1997, the use of diet pills directly caused seventeen deaths (Cohen). Medical professionals speculate that many other deaths are indirectly related to weight-loss drugs. FDA regulation of 'natural' substances such as ephedrine and caffeine would alleviate widespread use of diet pills. Without such regulation, advertisement of these drugs will continue to entice young women to unintentionally abuse their bodies and risk their health. Works Cited Berg, Frances M. Health Risks of Weight Loss. Hettinger, ND: Healthy Weight Journal, 1995. Cohen, Elizabeth. "FDA Wants Warning Labels for Some Herbal Supplements." CNN 3 June 1997. CNN Interactive. Online. Internet. 11 Oct. 2001. "Ephedra." TNP. Online. Internet. 17 Oct. 2001.

Julia Child

Julia Child interview Me: How did you get involved in World war II? Julia Child: In 1941, at the onset of World War II, I moved to Washington, D. C. , where I volunteered as a research assistant for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a newly formed government intelligence agency. In this position, I played a key role in the communication of top-secret documents between U. S. government officials and their intelligence officers. My colleagues and I were sent on assignments around the world, holding posts in Washington, D. C. , Kumming, China; and Colombo, Sri Lanka. In 1945, while in Sri Lanka, This is where I began a relationship with fellow OSS employee Paul Child. Me: How come after World War II, did you and your husband Paul move to Paris, France? Me: Why did you and your husband move to Paris, France after the war? Child: Well after the war Paul was reassigned to the U. S. Information Service at the American Embassy in Paris. We both looked at is as an opportunity to begin a new life, meet new people, and discover our passions. When we moved here the very first day Paul took me to a restaurant where I had my first French cuisine. If it wasn't for us moving here I would have never had a penchant for French cuisine and attended the world-famous Cordon Bleu cooking school . Me: How successful were your cook books in your culinary career? Child: The original publisher rejected the manuscript, however, due to its 734-page length. Another publisher eventually accepted the 3-lb. cookbook, releasing it in September 1961 under the title Mastering the Art of French Cooking. The book was considered groundbreaking, and remained the bestselling cookbook for five straight years after its publication. It has since become a standard guide for the culinary community. Me: How did your television career begin? Child: One day I promoted my book on the Boston public television station near my Cambridge, Massachusetts, home. I went on the air demonstrated my trademark forthright manner and hearty humor, by preparing an omelet on air. The public's response was enthusiastic, generating 27 letters and countless phone calls—†a remarkable response,† a station executive remembered, â€Å"given that station management occasionally wondered if 27 viewers were tuned in. Me: Why were you sometimes harshly criticized on your show? Child: Occasionally I would fail to wash my hands, as well as what they believed to be poor kitchen demeanor. â€Å"You are quite a revolting chef, the way you snap bones and play with raw meats,† one letter read. I can't stand those over-sanitary people! Others were concerned about the high levels of fat in French cooking. My advice was to eat in moderation. I would rather eat one tablespoon of chocolate russe cake than three bowls of Jell-O.

Christine de Pizan reflect traditional

Pizan explains that a noble lady controls her heart, behaves â€Å"respectfully and softly†, and displays a kind, gentle demeanor to all (Pizan 19). As a princess, Pizan argues that a noble lady should listen patiently and attentively to her ubjects as well as listen to advice from the wise gentleman counselors (Pizan 21).It is these behavioral qualities which tie into the traditionally accepted cultural norms for women. The ideal woman, the perfect princess, is an honorable lady who is in control of herself constantly. She is dignified and wise with the help of good advice from those advisors. Rule 12 describes how a wise princess' life should be ordered. Prudence rules all, Pizan argues, and everyday begins with addressing God first (Pizan 32). There is a great deal expected of princesses and women in eneral, but society still considers men far superior.Even with a responsibility in government, a woman must still hold herself with the highest of dignity and listen to the wis est of men in order to seem wise herself. Another example of prudence in a woman's life is her conduct towards her husband – she must love her husband and always be at peace with him (Pizan 36). She should always humble herself towards her husband and obey without complaining – it is in this way that Pizan explains the traditional role of women in the household.Wives are expected, in that time, to watch carefully over their husbands, take everything in stride, and stay a noble lady by being true and loyal to her husband (Pizan 38-39). The welfare of her children also defines what a lady should be – a woman is expected to be naturally motherly and want her children to be honorable (Pizan 42). It is her Job, Pizan argues, to discipline and keep her children respectful (Pizan 43). Last, a woman's household duties, according to Pizan, truly define the traditional women roles expected by society Pizan 129).She must always keep her husband contented, discipline her ch ildren, ensure the husband and household are kept decent and clean, and be cheerful to her husband all the time (Pizan 130). The ways of the wise housewife, values of a noble lady, and prudence all define how Christine de Pizan reflects traditional roles for women in her society.