The History of Efforts Towards Islam Ecumenism Essay Example for Free

The History of Efforts Towards Islam Ecumenism Essay The discord between the Shia and Sunni has a long and bloody history. The split between these sects was a product of a political conflict which was exaggerated, if not baseless. It allowed the proliferation of wrongful assumptions which have been exploited and taken out of context. For example, the Shiites believe that Sunnis are enemies of the Ahl-e Bayt,the family of the prophet (Mazhari). On the other hand, the Sunnis believe that the Shiites regard the present day Quran has been tampered with (Mazhari) and that they abuse the companions of the prophet. While is true that there are Shiites who openly abuse the companions of the prophets, there number is relatively small. Also, Sunni scholars quote arguments from a long forgotten Shia groups which were known to uphold un-Islamic views (Mazhari). The issues could’ve been easily resolved through a dialog between the leaders of these two sects and yet, over the centuries, no serious efforts were made to address these differences. The situation has worsened and the conflict between Shia-Sunni extremist forces has become so severe that many ordinary Muslims have expressed anger and consternation against suicide bombers and terrorist acts. In a paper (Rahim) written after the November 18, 2005 bombing of mosques in Eastern Iraq, an imam was quoted speaking these words: I have said this before and I say it again, the imam said, his voice trembling with anger. The suicide bombers and their planners are murderers, not martyrs. They are the real enemies of Islam. We must confront and defeat them, wherever they may lurk. The quarrel between Sunnism and Shiism is more than just a debate on what is â€Å"true Islam†. In several countries such as Iran and Iraq, it has become a jihad, a holy war destroying the lives and futures of the very population they are part of. At present, there is now a resounding call for intrafaith harmony – a dialogue between the Shiites and Sunnis so as to allow better understanding between these two sects and ensure respect and peaceful coexistence. The beginning of efforts to resolve Sunni-Shia antagonism While the idea of Islam ecumenism is a new one, there were already efforts to resolve the Sunni-Shiite conflict in the past, though these were not widespread. A highlight in Islamic history is the victory of the Shah Ismail in Tabriz in 1501. With the ascension of the Safavids to power, Shiism became the official sect in a largely Sunni country. For Iran, this was the first time that Shiite leaders could organize without repression from their Sunni counterparts. Because of this move, Shiite leaders developed into an educated class and have accepted the â€Å"use of reason in the process of evaluating the traditions and in jurisprudence† (R. Brunner 28). The Shiite clergy began to consider their political interests when confronting with representatives of both Shiism and Sunnism. The first attempt at formal dialogue between Sunni and Shiite leaders happened in fourth and fifth decades in the 18th century, following the defeat of the Safavids to Afghan invaders (R. Brunner 28). In the meeting convened by Nadir Shah and culminated on December 1743 (R. Brunner 31), it was reported that a considerable number of scholars from both sects were present. Some of the topics discussed involved the legitimacy of the rule of the first caliphs, and the issues surrounding the prophet’s companions and temporary marriage. The meeting produced a written accord which obliged the Shiite scholars from performing activities which the Sunnis may find offensive. Unfortunately, scholars from both sects were not yet mentally ready to maintain peace and the accord failed to fulfill its function after Nadir Shah’s death in 1747. Repeated clashes and outbreaks of violence between the Sunnis and Shiites soon commenced. While the first official agreement for Islam ecumenism was a failure, this was not an indication that there is no hope for peace between the warring sects. The re-emergence of pan-Islamic tendencies happened in the later part of the 19th century, after the spreading European colonialism (R. Brunner 34). During this time, activists of Islamic descent called on the Muslim community to unite and forge against a common enemy. In order to overcome the dominance of European culture and assert the uniqueness of the Islamic world, activists such as Jamal al-Din al-Afghani and Muhammad Abduh called on â€Å"Muslims†¦to reflect on the virtues of unity and cooperation†¦the most powerful pillars of Muhammadan denomination† (R. Brunner 35). Unfortunately at this time, ecumenical dialogue was still non-existent, and there was no mention of rapprochement between the Sunnis and Shiites. As a matter of fact, there was no mention â€Å"of the two denominations by name [since activists preferred to] stress their common opposition to British politics† (R. Brunner 35). One scholar who is notable for making leading the first efforts towards dialogue and Islam ecumenism is the Sunni Muhammad Rashid Rida (R. Brunner 40). He called for the revival of â€Å"true Islam† through the adaptation of Islamic law to modern needs and its reinterpretation for Islamic jurisprudence. Unlike al-Afghani and Abduh, Rida recognized that the mutual aversion and distance between the two sects were a mistake. He called for a unified language and the creation of an Islamic society in Mecca which consisted of both Shiites and Sunnis. The recognition of the Azhar University as highest Islamic institution in Egypt also helped spread the move towards Islam ecumenism. It served both a a Sunni and Shiite authority in Egypt when it created the Council Supreme ulama which was â€Å"commissioned by law to oversee the religious standards of all other Egyptian ulama and [use] disciplinary means to enforce their decisions† (R. Brunner 48). With the success of the Azhar in Egypt came the call for the revision of the educational system in Iran. Alim Asad Allah Mamaqani and Muhsin Shahara believed that by adapting the reforms made by Azhar in training young theologians Najaf can also â€Å"master the prevailing chaos† (R. Brunner 49) in the country. If there was one scholar who created the greatest impact to Islam ecumenism, then it would be Muhammad Rashid Rida. From his philosophy came a need for greater understanding of Islam and a move towards modernization. As a matter of fact, a secret society headed by Mirza Mohammad Baqer Bawanati was setup to promote â€Å"rapprochement among Islam, Christianity and Judaism† (R. Brunner 38). As early as 1986, leaders of different religions in the world were already meeting with the Pope John Paul II, with the Catholic pope being the spokesman and central figure in these gatherings (Veith). These meetings hosted by the Pope showed the world that peace among religions is not impossible, and that peace between the Shia and Sunni sects of Islam is still within reach. Main Institutions and Personalities and their Contribution to Islamic Ecumenism It was in the Safavid Empire when openings for dialogue took place. It was when Ismail Safavi made a religious edict to make Shiism as official state religion amidst a dominantly Sunni population. By force and violence, Sunnis were compelled to convert until the Sunnis turned from majority to minority by the end of the 18th century. Although there was an element of repression involved, the discourse on Sunni and Shiite theology was pursued with the intention of converting Sunnis by giving little concessions here and there (Brunner, 2004). A major contributor to Islamic unity in history is Sharaf al-din. He is a Shiite whose correspondence with Shaykh Salim al-Bishri, who is the chief of al-Azhar Mosque which was eventually published in a book Murajaat provided the foundations of Muslim Unity. Sharaf al-din also published works for uniting the Ummah where he tackled the various issues that prevent Shi’is and Sunnis from uniting. Perhaps one of his major moves in the direction of unity is on coordinating the 12th of Rabi al-Awal to commemorate Muhammad’s birthday rather than the 17th so that it can be celebrated together with Sunni Muslims (Brunner, 2004). The Taqrib Movement from 1947 to 1960 which literally means â€Å"to bring together† is also instrumental in paving the way towards the institutionalization of the ecumenical dialogue. This coincided with the effort from different countries to form an International Muslim Brotherhood. Eventually pan Islamic associations and other scholars joined the effort culminating into the Muslim World Congress in 1949 (Brunner, 2004). A pivotal moment in Islamic solidarity happened during the Islamic Revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini. For one, he was able to neutralize the historical enmity between the Sunnis and Shi’ites by focusing on a single enemy which was the United States. Khomeini also bridged the division between Shiites and Sunnis by permitting Twelvers to pray behind Sunni imams while at the same time forbidding the criticism against the Caliphs who ruled before ‘Ali (Khan). There are other prominent figures in the ecumenical movement such as Muhammad Jawad Mughniyya who advocated for Arab and Muslim unity and supported the Islamic revolution. Together with Khomeini, they were able to merge religious and political emancipation in a single movement (Mallat, 2003). Notable also is the contribution of Shaykh Ma? mud Shaltut (1893-1963) in the history and contribution of Al-Azhar. He can be credited as a major influence to Al-Azhar’s openness, liberalism and ecumenical spirit. He is one of the first to teach Shi’a teaching in a Sunni institution teaching the Twelver of Shia Islam alongside four Sunni madhhabs (traditions of jurisprudence) (Brunner, 2004). Perhaps one the most influential institution that is paving the way for greater ecumenical dialogue and Islamic unity is Cairo’s Al-Azhar University. Considered as the most credible center of Sunni Scholarship, it is now propagating a reconciliatory stance that is aimed at mutual respect and understanding. The Al-Azhar Verdict (fatwa) on the Shia is considered to be a landmark position. To wit: 1) Islam does not require a Muslim to follow a particular Madh’hab (school of thought). Rather, we say: every Muslim has the right to follow one of the schools of thought which has been correctly narrated and its verdicts have been compiled in its books. And, everyone who is following such Madhahib [schools of thought] can transfer to another school, and there shall be no crime on him for doing so. 2) The Ja’fari school of thought, which is also known as â€Å"al-Shia al- Imamiyyah al-Ithna Ashariyyah† (i. e. , The Twelver Imami Shi’ites) is a school of thought that is religiously correct to follow in worship as are other Sunni schools of thought. (Al-Azhar) This position that recognizes the validity of Shia doctrine is a radical position that can really ease the historical tensions between the two denominations. The International Islamic Conference in Ammam (Landau) also issued the same position convening 200 Islamic scholars who all unanimously voted to recognize all 8 schools of Islam as having their own validity. Moreover they prohibited all Muslims from different denominations to call each other heretics or apostates while exposing what they see as ignorant edicts issues falsely in the name of Islam. On December 2005, the Amman Conference Statement was adopted by the Organization of Islamic Conference Summit in Mecca providing a clear legitimacy and thrust towards Muslim Solidarity. Eventually six other international Islamic scholarly assemblies adopted this position making a clear and distinct position for Muslim pluralism (Statement of the International Islamic Conference in Amman). Abdul Malik Mujahid is a modern day figure in Islamic ecumenism who is calling on all the Muslim world to unite and giving concrete and workable steps towards unity. He argues the principle of â€Å"no compulsion in matters of faith† (Quran 2:256) as well as he gives persuasive points in history as well as in actual practice (Mujahid).

Employee morale Essay -- essays research papers

NON-TRADITIONAL WORKING HOURS IMPROVE EMPLOYEE MORALE & INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY Prepared for Mr. Robert Pigg, President Lakedale Manufacturing 1 Desert Storm Drive Niceville, FL 33870 Prepared by Human Resource Department Lakedale Manufacturing 320 Ardennes Street Arabia, NC 28357 Lakedale Manufacturing Human Resource Department 320 Ardennes Street Arabia, NC 28357 Mr. Robert Pigg, President Lakedale Manufacturing 1 Desert Storm Drive Niceville, FL 33870 Dear Mr. Pigg: Here is the report on the productivity and morale study concerning working hours you asked us to conduct. As you will see we have made recommendations to support the benefits of flexibility in working hours which will increase productivity and morale in the work place. This office is confident you will see the benefits in flexible working hours at the Lakedale Manufacturing Plant in North Carolina. We really appreciate the opportunity you have given this office to conduct a study of this magnitude. If you need additional information concerning this report or in implementing our recommendations, please call us. Sincerely yours, Gary Gobble Chief, Human Resources Department Laws and Regulations Policies and Procedures When it comes to laws and regulations, we must keep in mind that the relationship between an employee and the organization is a contractual one. The employee and the organization must agree on the terms and conditions that will govern their relationship. This agreement is made at the time the employee is hired for a certain position. Any change or modification to the original agreement must be agreed upon by both the employee and the organization. The laws and regulations that govern the contractual relationship come from several different sources and place constraints on the relationship. They may be statutory federal laws or state and local laws that supplement those found at the federal level. The constraints placed on the relationship are necessary. They seek to ensure a balance of power in the relationship as well as provide specific protections to both the employee and the organization. Up to this point Lakedale Manufacturing is in compliance with all federal, state and local laws. At this time the only legislation to mandate rights to alternative working time options is the Federal Part-Time Career Employment Act of 1978. This act made reduced-time options available... ...w skills and work at different tasks? Is there any specific schedule you need? Would you be available for over-time if needed? TIME REPORTING After we make selections of the teams we need to be define how we will record hours worked by these teams. How can we simplify the documentation process without having a mountain of paperwork? Since we already use Excel, we can design a flextime spreadsheet template for keeping track of hours worked by each employee. We can also buy the software from IT Resource Services. IT Resource Services offers this software in both the Mac or PC format. This spreadsheet automates all the time-consuming calculations necessary to track actual daily time worked and the balance of time accumulated under the flextime system. The spreadsheet can be printed at the end of each flextime reporting period to be submitted as the official report to Personnel Services. RECOMMENDATION To promote these family friendly programs, I recommend that we facilitate the team work project. I also recommend we begin the survey of our employees. To save time and man hours I believe we should contact IT Resource Services for procurement of the time keeping spreadsheet template.

Is Man Naturally Good or Evil? Philosophy of Man University of Santo Tomas Essay

I. Summary All men are equal by nature, are we not? We all have the same faculties, all needing the same provisions. From this equality and needs comes the survival of the fittest. One could go to any length just to attain his ends, ends such as dominion over the majority. Now, dominance can only exist if there are people you can dominate on. If one feels that his companion is a threat, there is a possibility of him subduing this companion, or maybe looking for another company he could dominate over. The existence of these competitions could be attributed to the principle that man is inherently evil. With these competitions, comes diffidence and glory. Man is constantly in pursuit of these three, whether we are aware of it or not. Man exists in the external world as a reactive creature that senses objects and is driven to act by the constant motions of the world. These constant motions lead to man’s constant and insatiable desires and wants, which in a state of nature pits everyone against another in a perpetual state of war. Here men are equal in that anyone can kill anyone else, and as such men live in a constant state of fear and anxiety. Humans live to survive. This goes way back to our very beginnings as cave people who, would hunt and do anything to live and keep on living. Now, living consists of more than just eating and not being killed. There are ones that live in the lap of luxury, and ones that live with much lower standards. As so, selfishness also has different levels depending upon lifestyle and what makes you ‘live’. So, technically, selfishness is something that we as humans are born with, but it’s perceived differently usually depending upon how the person was brought up as a child or has learned over time. However, overtime, it can be proven that everything we do will always lead back to one point: We do it for ourselves. Man is basically good since it is a fact that man is a social animal whose existence depends on the continued physical and spiritual relations between human beings, these relations must be based either on affinity, solidarity and love, or on hostility and struggle. If each individual thinks only of his well-being, or perhaps that of his small consanguinity or territorial group, he will obviously find himself in conflict with others, and will emerge as victor or vanquished; as the oppressor if he wins, as the oppressed if he loses. Natural harmony, the natural marriage of the good of each with that of all, is the invention of human laziness, which rather than struggle to achieve what it wants assumes that it will be achieved spontaneously, by natural law. In reality, however, natural Man is in a state of continuous conflict with his fellows in his quest for the best, and healthiest site, the most fertile land, and in time, to exploit the many and varied opportunities that social life creates for some or for others. For this reason human history is full of violence, wars, carnage (besides the ruthless exploitation of the labour of others) and innumerable tyrannies and slavery. If in the human essence there had only existed this punitive instinct of wanting to prevail and to profit at the expense of others, humanity would have remained in its barbaric state and the development of order as recorded in antiquity, or in our own times, would not have been possible. This order even at its nastiest, always signifies a kind of mitigating of the despotic spirit with a minimum of social solidarity, indispensable for a more civilised life. But fortuitously there exists in man another feeling which lures him closer to his neighbour, the feeling of sympathy, of love, and, thanks to it, mankind became more civilised, and from it grew our idea which aims at making society a true gathering, all working for the common good. Reaction The topic of human nature has been debated over for years, maybe even centuries. Who wouldn’t be tempted to wonder about the logic of human behaviour? Nonetheless, the bigger question is: Is the answer a sheer ‘good’ or ‘evil’? If your answer to that is a yes, then I beg to disagree. Experiences have pushed me to the conclusion that there is no such thing as good or evil. This notion is a meagre attempt to the conception of the underpinning of an organization. We are all different; we would cease to exist otherwise. People have diverse everything: perspectives, habits, feelings, senses, and methods. God made us so. Each of us has functions vital to each society we belong in. The loss of one function would create a ripple effect that would spread all over the society that could bring it to its demise. . The good and evil that you see don’t even exist in reality, at least outside of the mind that believes in them. They are only judgments passed by the individual from their own unique perspective. What one person sees as bad or evil may seem to be the only logical thing to do from some other perspective. The ideas of both good and evil are point of view specific. To sum it all up good is the name we give to people who do things that we think we like. Evil is the name we give to people who do the things that we don’t like. This is of course based solely on our particular point of view. This ‘Good and Evil’ concept DOES NOT EXIST. It is merely an illusion. What people have is what we should call ‘diverse perceptions’. I don’t think we have to the right to judge a person ‘evil’ especially if we do not know their story. After all, we are mere human beings giving our best shot at survival.

The Crucible By Arthur Miller - 1001 Words

Today there are kids and adults that wonder why the events of the Salem witch trials actually happened because everyone was blamed for no reason and all people did was make excuses. Those types of people also wonder how the people back then were tricked into believing that witches existed and they had to deal with everything that happened in a harsh manner because everyone was in a â€Å"I can’t get in trouble let me blame someone else† type of attitude. There are many beliefs today that witches like things in the past. Many people would agree that they are no longer existent today; however Arthur Miller, author of the play, The Crucible, shows the audience that people have not progressed that far from those days when people believed during the Salem witch trials. A common belief is that witches hunt for things in the past. Many people would agree that they no longer exist today; however Arthur Miller, author of the play, The Crucible, points out that society has not co me very far from the days of the Salem witch trials. All throughout this play, Arthur used the trials to parallel to the McCarthy Era because he noticed that the events were the same from the late 1600’s. Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible to help everyone today notice that people back then weren’t going crazy they were just believing what they heard and they were all man for themselves attitude. Miller finished writing The Crucible in the 1950’s and at that time America was facing a crisis in the civil rightsShow MoreRelatedThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1269 Words   |  6 PagesAt first glance, the playwright Arthur Miller in The Crucible highlights the historical significance of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, but in fact it is an allegorical expression of his perception of McCarthyism. If the reader has some background information on Arthur Miller’s victimization as a communist, it is evident that the play is a didactic vessel illustrating the flaws of the court system in the 1950’s. The communist allegations were launched at government employees, entertainers and writersRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1681 Words   |  7 Pagesof their way to the last dying breath to make sure they leave with a good or bad reputation. In one of the recent literature study in class â€Å"The Crucible† by Arthur Miller, Miller uses characterization to il lustrate reputation throughout the play. â€Å"The Crucible† takes place in Salem, Massachusetts. It is based upon the Salem witch trails. In â€Å"The Crucible†, we journey through the life of three characters who reputations plays a major role in the play. The three characters are John Proctor, AbigailRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1333 Words   |  6 PagesAs the various characters in The Crucible by Arthur Miller interact, the dominant theme of the consequences of women’s nonconformity begins to slide out from behind the curtains of the play. Such a theme reveals the gripping fear that inundated the Puritans during the seventeenth century. This fear led to the famous witch-hunts that primarily terrorized women who deviated from the Puritan vision of absolute obedience and orthodoxy. Arthur Miller presents his interpretation of the suffering by subtlyRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller998 Words   |  4 Pagesmotivated by jealousy and spite. The Crucible is a four-act dramatic play production that was first performed on January 22, 1953. Arthur Miller used dialogue within the characters to cover the multiple themes; conflicts and resolutions, plus the few directions for the different actions of the play. The Salem Witch Trials were intended to be performed as the play however, when read, it can be more carefully examined and broken down to analyze the techniques. Miller, the playwright, uses literaryRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1145 Words   |  5 PagesUnbalance Through The Centuries In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, the author reflects the persecution of communists in America in the 1950’s through a recount of the Salem witch trials. It is often presumed that Miller based his drama directly off of events that were particularly prevalent in the years surrounding the publication of The Crucible- which was released in the year 1953, towards the conclusion of the Korean War. Although there was not a literal witch hunt occurring during this timeRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1063 Words   |  5 PagesIn the English dictionary, there are three definitions of the word crucible. One is a metal container in which metals are mixed and melted. Another is a severe test. But the third definition, and the one that I think fits the best for this book, is a place or situation in which different elements interact to create something new. In my mind, this fits because all of the characters had their little grudges and dirty secrets. But when all th ose seemingly little things interact, they formed somethingRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1285 Words   |  6 Pages Rationale, Morality, Stereotypes, Pressure, Self-Censorship, Unanimity, and Mindguards. Groupthink has also taken place in our history a a country. The play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller is about a the real-life Salem Witch Trials that happened in 1692 - 1693, in Salem, Massachusetts. Some symptoms of Groupthink found in the Crucible are Rationale, Pressure, and Self-Censorship. The Groupthink symptom, Rationale, is described as when victims of Groupthink ignore warnings: they also collectivelyRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller811 Words   |  4 Pages While The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is only a four act play, it still resembles the format of a five act play. The five-act structure evolved from a three-act structure, which was made famous by Roman Aelius Donatus. Donatus came up with three types of plays: Protasis, Epitasis, and Catastrophe. The five-act structure helped to expand the three act structure, mainly made famous by Shakespeare through his many tragedies. Even though The Crucible contains only four acts, it still has the commonRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1052 Words   |  5 PagesBuddy Al-Aydi Ms.Healy English 9 CP 14th October 2014 The Crucible Essay The Crucible was a novel written by Arthur Miller in the 1950’s. It was written in a format of the play, portraying an allegory of the Salem Witch-Hunts led by Senator Joseph McCarthy. The book is known to have a inexplicable plot. This plot is advanced by multiple characters in the book in order to ensure that the reader maintains interest with the material that is being read. The farmer, John Proctor, would be theRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller841 Words   |  4 PagesThe Crucible is a chaotic play, throughout this American classic Arthur Miller takes the reader through multiple events of terror and insanity. While creating a great on-stage play, Arthur Miller portrays his life through the events, the characters, and plot of The Crucible. Using vivid imagery and comprehensible symbolism, Miller manipulates the real personalities of the characters and events in 1600 Salem, Massachusetts to create a symbolic autobiography. Throughout this play, the reader experie nces

Critical Assessment Of The International Alliance Of Women

Critical Assessment of the International Alliance of Women The International Alliance of Women (IAW) is an international non-governmental organization that works to promote women s human rights around the world, focusing particularly on empowerment of women and development issues and more broadly on gender equality. The basic principle of the IAW is that the full and equal enjoyment of human rights is due to all women and girls. Founded in 1904 and based in Geneva, it is one of the oldest, largest and most influential organizations in its field. It’s comprised of forty-one member organizations involved in the advancement of the human rights of women and girls globally. The IAW has general consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is credited to many specialized UN agencies, has participatory status with the Council of Europe and is represented at the Arab League, the African Union and other international organizations. The IAW was formed to help the fight for women’s suffrage. The womenâ€℠¢s suffrage movement was the struggle for the right of women to vote and run for office and is part of the overall women’s rights movement. The suffrage movement in the United States gained prominence with the first women’s rights convention in the world: the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. The convention was organized by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, active members of the abolitionist movement who met in England in 1840 at the WorldShow MoreRelatedSample Of Application Essay1099 Words   |  5 PagesBelgium and New Caledonia for several years, where I was involved in literacy development in French, English and indigenous languages (i.e. Camuki), teaching and training Kanak women through a workshop approach, using self-developed teaching materials and methods. Upon my arrival in Australia, I became involved in the Alliance francaise and the promotion of French language and culture as a Vice-President of the organisation in Darwin. I started a teaching deg ree and even completed placements in variousRead MoreBiography of Susan B Anthony1496 Words   |  6 Pagesof age. When she got comfortable in her Rochester home in New York, it was here that she started her first public campaign on behalf of abstinence. This was one of the first appearances of feminism in the United States, and it involved children and women that were abused and who suffered from husbands who were alcoholic. In 1849, at the Daughters of Temperance, Susan gave her first public speech, and then helped in discovering the Womans State Temperance Society of New York. At the time, it was oneRead MoreEarly Approaches to Interantional Relations2122 Words   |  8 PagesEarly approaches to international relations can be found in the works of the Greeks and Romans. Plato and Aristotle, who wrote on the concept of war and the defense of the city-state. Partially as a result of the decline of the Greek city-states, the idealist concept of cosmopolitanism and world citizenshi p took hold. Roman scholars later developed the law of nations, which consisted of a body of legal principles and practices common to those societies associated with Rome. French writers, particularlyRead MoreGlobalization of Enterprise3966 Words   |  16 Pagessubmitted, to AIB, I have not plagiarised any other person’s work in this assignment and except where appropriately acknowledged, this assignment is my own work, has been expressed in my own words, and has not previously been submitted for assessment. | ASSESSMENT SHEET(to be completed by the examiner) | Student name: | NIGEL.S.PALTOO | | | Course name: | MBA -GENERIC | | | Subject name: | Globalization of Enterprise 715-GE | | | Assessor/marker: | | | | COMMENTS | PrinciplesRead MoreDirected Study6575 Words   |  27 PagesDirected Study #2 International Management - Managing Across Borders and Cultures Chapter 2 Managing Interdependence -Social Responsibility and Ethics Discussion Questions 3.  What does moral universalism mean?  Discuss your perspective on this concept.  Do you think the goal of moral universalism is possible?  Is it advisable? 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Some of Maiti Nepal s most trailblazing work is on surveillance of the border crosssings between Nepal and India. There young women from Maiti (former trafficking victims) work in cooperation with police - watching for suspicious activity, intervening when they see it, and rescuing over 2,000 girls this year alone, before they could be sold to brothels. In addition, Maiti NepalRead MoreEffective Discharge Teaching for Nurses1734 Words   |  7 Pageswarfarin (p. 373). Most are unaware of the consciousness and complications foods that are high in vitamin K brings to their current health status. Clinents also lack the knowledge of the need to adjust their warfarin dosing and monitoring of the International Normalization Ratio (INR) level. Although nurses do give a quick verbal instruction such as, informing patients to immediately report to provider if they observe bruises on skin, excessive gum bleeding or blood in urine, patients fail to fullyRead MoreInternational Trade And Its Effects On The World1820 Words   |  8 PagesBusiness internationally has thrived for an inordinate length of time due to its various assistance offered to different nations across the globe. International trade can be defined as the exchange of services, goods, and capital among different countries and regions, short of any barriers. Today it generates close to $18 trillion around the world annually. It contributes for a good part of a country’s G.D.P and is also one of the vital means of income for developing countries of the world. Use ofRead MorePolicy Plan For Eradicate Yellow Fever Essay2148 Words   |  9 Pagescase), and Namibia (1 case), despite International Health Regulations (IHR). WHO classified the outbreak as grade two emergencies and provided extensive support for disease surveillance, mass vaccination campaigns, social mobilization, and vaccination of travelers to control the outbreaks and prevent the global spread of the disease. This policy proposal will examine the vulnerable population, the issues of concern, evaluate existing policies, risk assessment for change, stakeholders involved, recommendations

Authority And The Canterbury Tales - 1825 Words

Authority and The Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer, widely known for his influence in medieval literature, expresses a fourteenth century literacy concept of authority and gentility in The Canterbury Tales. There are two forms of authority and gentility that will be covered in this discussion: authority and gentility in Chaucer’s personal life and the one in his two tales, â€Å"The Wife of Bath’s Tale†, and â€Å"The Clerk’s Tale†. Chaucer himself loses a sense of authority over his writing after his death, when his scribe, Adam Pinkhurst takes over as his authorial supporter. A wide speculation follows Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales because it is believed that Chaucer himself did not complete his tales in its entirety, since his death came before the publication of the book as well as the arrangement of the tales not being in order. In Simon Horobin’s article â€Å"Compiling The Canterbury Tales in Fifteenth-Century Manuscripts†, N. F. Blake raises the possibility that â€Å"some of the earliest manuscripts of The Canterbury Tales may have been written under Chaucer’s supervision, and that differences in content and tale order would therefore represent separate stages of authorial revision† (Horobin, 372). Aside from the completion of the tales, more important the authenticity of his work is greater questioned because his idea for the pilgrims are perhaps borrowed from predecessors, for example Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron that holds a similar theme. Chaucer deals with a form ofShow MoreRelatedThe Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer1582 Words   |  7 Pages Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the Canterbury tales a collection of short tales in the 14th century. The compilation of stories are told by different characters within the narrative as part of a game proposed by the host. Each individual must tell two stories on their journey and two stories on their way back. Each story tells some aspects of English life during the time and often added satire like qualities to the English life. In particular Chaucer often tells stories with elements of the relationshipRead More Character Analysis of The Wife of Bath of Chaucers Canterbury Tales1623 Words   |  7 Pages Character Analysis of The Wife of Bath of Chaucers Canterbury Tales The Canterbury Tales is Geoffrey Chaucers greatest and most memorable work. In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer uses a fictitious pilgrimage [to Canterbury] as a framing device for a number of stories (Norton 79). In The General Prologue of The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer describes in detail the pilgrims he meets in the inn on their way to Canterbury. Chaucer is the author, but also a character and the narrator, and acts likeRead MoreCourtly Love in The Knights Tale and The Wife of Baths Tale1353 Words   |  6 Pagesin his work The Canterbury Tales. Through the use of satiric elements and skilled mockery, Chaucer creates a work that not only brought courtly love to the forefront of medieval society but also introduced feministic ideals to the medieval society. At times, Chaucer even makes readers question his beliefs by presenting contrasting elements of principle in The Knight’s Tale and The Wife of Bath’s Tale, both tales told in his profound, multifaceted The Canterbury Tales. Many tales of courtly loveRead MoreEssay about Relationships in Geoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury Tales520 Words   |  3 Pagesalso be found in stories about a husband and wife. In Geoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury Tales many of the characters make this idea apparent with the stories they tell. In â€Å"The Pardoner’s Tale†, a distinct relationship can be made between the character of the Pardoner and his tale of three friends. Also, the Wife in â€Å"The Wife of Bath’s Tale† boldly declares her relationship towards her husband. Throughout â€Å"The Pardoner’s Tale†, the main character teaches about greed, gambling, desecration, and drinkingRead MoreWomen And Male Authority Figures1507 Words   |  7 Pages In the fourteenth century, women were merely seen as subject to male authority figures. A wife was not seen as a competent adult because they were seen as so dependent on their husband (Bennett 104-105). After a marriage anything she owned became possessed by her husband (Bennett 104-105). Women who manipulated their husband and gained control of his assets defied the norm of women’s position in the fourteenth century. The church was a major part of Medieval England and controlled many peoples livesRead MoreUse Of Satire In Canterbury Tales1301 Words   |  6 PagesChaucer’s Satyric Attack (An analysis of Chaucer’s use of satire to reach his intended audience in his Canterbury Tales) Satire is defined as â€Å"the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize peoples stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues† (Oxford). Another term that people would be more familiar with to describe this would be sarcasm. Language can be utilized in a nasty way, especially when wanting to demoralizeRead MoreThe Wife of Bath1145 Words   |  5 PagesThe Canterbury Tales are an accumulation of many pilgrims’ stories as they make their journey to the site of Sir Thomas a Becket’s shrine, as he was the martyred saint of Christianity. There are many stories included in The Canterbury Tales. Of these many tales, one of them is the story of the Wife of Bath, whose real name is Alisoun. From her appearance and behavior, to her political and religious views, there is much to tell about the Wife of Bath, for her prologue and tale are quite long. Read MoreCanterbury Tales Character Analysis1334 Words   |  6 PagesThe Canterbury Tales is a written work, by Geoffrey Chaucer, that is a representation of the society he lived in. His work portrays the feudal system during the medieval times and how each level of livelihood was a character, whose personalities reflect how Chaucer and his culture view them. During his time, his society regarded the Christian Church as corrupt and manipulative, with a few clergy who are honest and genuine in their exertion. Therefore, the ecclesiastical persona has the dispositionsRead MoreGeoffrey Chaucer s The Canterbury Tales868 Words   |  4 PagesChurch authority to lead by example, ideally abiding by the practices they teach in The Canterbury Tales. Through the use of bickering ironic characters such as the Friar and the Summoner, Chaucer juxtaposes these hypocritical examples with the loyal and archetypal Parson’s description in the General Prologue. The Parson is concerned with the same governing leadership practic es and responsibilities for his parishioners as Richard II’s post-revolution kingdom. Figures of religious authority emphasizeRead MoreEssay on The Portrayal of the Clergy in the Canterbury Tales1169 Words   |  5 PagesThe Portrayal of Religion and the Clergy in The Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer, in his Canterbury Tales, felt that the Churchs turmoil experienced during the fourteenth century contributed to the a declining trust of clergy and left the people spiritually devastated. The repeated epidemics that the European Church experienced weakened the church by highlighting the clergys inability to face adversity. The clergys inability to provide relief for the people during a period of suffering did

Accounting Systems in Australia Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Accounting Systems in Australia. Answer: Introduction Accounting software packages systems are used to collate data about a business and report on its financial viability. It allows you to structure expense accounts andincome, for instance, advertising expenses, rental or sales income, material costs and salaries. They also can be used to wield pay bills, bank accounts and prepare budgets. Some accounting software also permit you to handle payroll, prepare tax documents and manage project costing depending upon the system. Current Organizational Structure The hierarchy in the accounting department helps to make sure that finances are managed responsibly and effectively. The following shows the organizational structure of companies that uses accounting software. Chief Financial Officer- Also called the vice president of finance is the top most senior executive of an accounting organizational hierarchy. This office directly reports to the business owner or CEO. His/her role is to ensure that all areas of accounting are carried out in accordance with policies of the company. Financial Controller- Many firms have a financial controller that reports to the Chief Financial Officer but has more detailed accounting responsibilities. The controller manages daily expenses and ledgers, assigns duties to other accounting employees and communicates with the Chief Financial Officer to ensure companywide financial decisions are made. His/her input is considered advisory since s/he is not a member of the executive team. Division Managers- The financial controller will generally have three major reports in bigger companies, that is, the payroll manager, accounts receivable manager and the accounts payable manager. According to Aquinas, (2010), in smaller firms, one division manager can perform all these duties, or they may be carried out by the controller or Chief Financial Officer. Under any circumstances, these divisions represent the main elements of the accounting structure. Their roles are to manage salaries, expenses and incomes. Accountants and Clerks- Accountants and clerks work for the division managers. These are specialized professionals with knowledge in, managing expenses, tracking income, Human Resource policy and administering payroll. Interns- organizations of all sizes employ intern, students or young professionals to assist them in doing the daily activities of the accounting division. These young professionals can be paid or unpaid, but typically their roles will be at the lowest rank of the hierarchy. They may help in filing, research, data entry, and among other administrative duties allocated to them by their managers, who are usually either the controller or the division managers. Operational Problems A firm with a good organizational structure enjoys the advantages of enhanced communication with the ability to develop a common company message and a well-designed hierarchy. As much as the organizational structure can be efficient, it can also bring about problems that can cause internal conflict and loss of productivity. Johnson, (2012). Some of the problems encountered are; Departmental Loyalty- There can be mentality of us versus them among different groups. For instance, sales may feel frustrated with accounting because credit terms for new clients are not getting approved. New Management- The company tend to settle into a way of carrying their roles that they feel is comfortable and efficient for the existing management team, if there have been no changes for a long time. Changes in management, can put pressure on the organizational structure of a company. The new management, may lack knowledge with the way things were done and may come up with new ways on how things should be run in an organizational structure. Confusion- Without effective communication, new processes and ideas can get confused. Managers may start to put more efforts trying to claim some parts of a process as their own. Confusion can slow down production if departments fail to get their responsibilities clearly. Company Goals- If there is inadequate consultation between the upper management and other departmental managers during creation of departmental goals, the company runs the risk of not achieving its objectives. Effectiveness of an organizational structure, requires upper management to seek the input of the rest of the company employees to develop company goals and objective. System Acquisition Method The most likely system acquisition method would be commercial software. This is because it is the dominating accounting software used across the world. It is relatively configurable to the requirements of a business. It has several layers of error detection to avoid the entry of wrong information. It generates standard reports that can be customized to meet users needs. Enterprise resource planning and custom software, may not be the preferred methods because they are expensive, takes time to install, buggy and requires regular maintenance. Wahlen, Bradshaw Baginski, (2014) System Flowchart of the Sales Procedures Sales system flowchart defines a series of activities taken to achieve a particular result. It also refers to the series of actions that sales manager in an organization follows to close a deal with a customer. Control Problems and Possible Frauds in the Accounting System Computer time theft- Information generated by an individual can be claimed by another person that the data is his own and he is the actual generator. In computer systems original copy and duplicate copy terms does not exist. Macintosh Quattrone, (2009). Program manipulation- A competitor, rival or an intruder can modify, delete or manipulate one or more program parts of an organization rendering the full software unusable. Theft of information- Information stored in a computer can be transferred into external storage and could be sold to competitors. With enhancement of communication technology, employees of the company may transfer confidential data of a company to another. Hackers can tap to a network and extract data. Theft of software- This is the most experienced crime in computers systems. Company employees or staff may copy the software bought by a company and transfer it to his personal computer. Extra rules, policies and controls can be implemented to protect hardware and software from unauthorized use. Access control- The first system security should be hardware and software control. The system should be kept under lock and key to avoid theft of the hardware. Electronic and physical access control techniques including limited after-hour, keyboard locks, restricted access to systems and automatic logs should be implemented. Passwords- Provision of passwords should be made at all system security levels. Changes should be made frequently or when required to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the system resources. Backup Copies- It is recommended to perform frequent backups of all software and store them differently from the usual storage media. Backups are normally taken on external media such as disks and cloud which are later used to restore data when raw data from the system fails. It is also necessary to take backups of software programs. Development and Adoption of the Accounting Software Packages Some years ago, the demand and utilization of cloud based accounting software was minimal in Australia. Traditional forms of accounting were dominant among business firms. For instance, they used manual accounting entries such as use of pen and paper in the early 1980s. However, evolvement of a number of spreadsheets and accounting software had modified accounting system function in the country. Emergence of accounting cloud based software in Australia like Quick books, Xero and among others has led to an evolution in the functions of the accounting system in the business firms. The cloud based software are integrated in nature, internet based and easy to use. These have stimulated the popularity growth of accounting software packages in the country. Accounting cloud based software packages has become a simple accounting package to a company management tool. Mageto, (2017). The Current Market Size Business accounting software market is predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.3% over the forecast period that is 2017 to 2024 globally. The world market for business accounting software was estimated at revenue of USD 3.2 Billion in 2016 and is envisioned to meet a valuation of USD 4.4 Billion by the end of prediction period. Sudden emergence of mobile application of business accounting and the need for efficient way to manage accounts of small organizations are expected to be the changing factors behind the flourishing of world business accounting software market. Deep analysis of the global business accounting software market involves the following areas: manufacturing, service and retail. Smith, (2015). Leaders in the Market and their Competitive Advantage Xero Accounting is one of the cloud-based accounting software that leads in the market. It was developed specifically for medium and small businesses. According to GRO?NFELDT STROTHER, (2006), it was first introduced in New Zealand in 2006 and became a popular buzz globally. The company further thrived mainly in Australia. Since Xero Accounting is structured to meet the basic needs of small and medium business, its user-centric interface is made easier for performing daily transactions by its developers. Some of their competitive advantages are; Its cloud based- Xero Accounting was developed up for the cloud unlike its competitor QuickBooks. Cloud computing implementation on the platform fastens the process of updating entries in real time. This henceforth yields to timely assessments and regular analysis of the present financial standing of a firm, thus accelerating its growth. Another benefit the cloud is giving is its accessibility. Accessibility of accounts anytime and anywhere by users is made possible whenever theres an internet connection. Smith, (2015). It is Simple and Intuitive UI - Xero Accounting software was built for individuals who arent much into accounting, but also good enough for accounting expertise. Its well-arranged structure makes it a fun to use. Other competitive benefits of Xero are, its great integration system, unlimited collaboration of users, it has rich features, processes are fast and easy to set up and it is reasonably priced. Challenges Encountered by Users of Accounting Software Some of the problems faced by the users include; Inadequate security- Software customers feel that the security of their data is at stake as they can be accessed by third parties. Weak reporting service- Users finds it disappointing that a system easily accepts their data but almost impossible to retrieve them yet some of accounting software solutions are powerless in assisting them.Clarke, (2008). Lack of efficiency- Some accounting software products lack capabilities, compatibility, expend abilities and some features that are not user-friendly therefore consuming a lot of time. Outdated lack of accuracy- Due to outdated of some accounting software systems, system errors happen, details tend to be inaccurate and system slows down. Recommendations To counter these challenges, the company should ensure that the following are adhered to: Install and regularly update system firewall so as to detect and prevent any third party access. Report is a very important part of any system. Therefore, an accounting system should facilitate generation of standard reports by users that ca be customized depending on the need and use of the report. Ensure that when sourcing out for accounting software should consider usability and customizability of the program. This will ensure user friendliness of the system and thus customers can interact with it easily. Accounting software should be updated gradually to deal with bugs and security threats arising due to rapidly evolving technology. Conclusion In conclusion we find that accounting software have their several advantages which include: simplicity of data entry, automated reports and analysis, speeds up processes, automated functions and reduced errors. However, it also has some disadvantages that comprises of price-its expensive, implementation-its complex and requires expertise. References AQUINAS, P. G. (2010).Organization structure and design: applications and challenges. New Delhi, Excel Books. CCH INCORPORATED. (2008).Top accounting issues for 2009: CPE course. Chicago, CCH. CLARK, M., EATON, M., MEEK, D., PYE, E., TUHIN, R., CLARK, M. (2012).Australian small business: key statistics and analysis. [Canberra], Dept. of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education. CLARKE, S. (2008).End user computing challenges and technologies: emerging tools and applications. Hershey, PA, Information Science Reference DAFT, R. L., MURPHY, J., WILLMOTT, H. (2010).Organization theory and design. Andover, South-Western Cengage Learning. DENTCH, M. P. (2017).The ISO 9001:2015 implementation handbook: using the process approach to build a quality management system HANSEN, D. R., MOWEN, M. M., GUAN, L. (2009).Cost management: accounting and control. Mason, Ohio, South-Western. HOPPER, T. (2012).Handbook of accounting and development. Cheltenham, Edward Elgar. https://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=981461. INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING CONFERENCE, RUHANITA MAELAH. (2009).Sustaining competitiveness in a liberalized economy: the role of accounting. Newcastle, Cambridge Scholars. https://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1165612 JOHNSON, M. P. (2012).Community-Based Operations Research: Decision Modeling for Local Impact and Diverse Populations. New York, NY, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. https://www.dawsonera.com/depp/reader/protected/external/AbstractView/S9781461408062 KRIZAN, A. C. (2011).Business communication. Australia, South-Western Cengage Learning. MACINTOSH, N. B., QUATTRONE, P. (2009).Management accounting and control systems: an organizational and sociological approach. Hoboken, N.J., Wiley. MAGETO, J. (2017).Accounting Softwares in Australia. An Overview. https://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:101:1-201707181686. NELSON, D. L., QUICK, J. C. (2011).Organizational behavior: science, the real world, and you. Mason, OH, USA, South-Western Cengage Learning. SMITH, H. N. (2015).Xero for dummies. https://www.books24x7.com/marc.asp?bookid=82578. WAHLEN, J. M., BRADSHAW, M. T., BAGINSKI, S. P. (2014).Financial reporting, financial statement analysis, and valuation.