Current Grading Practices Used By Many Schools No Not...

The first thing I expolored is why current grading practices utilized in many schools no not necessarily reflect accurate student achievement. First and foremost, grading varies from teacher to teacher. So if a student gets an â€Å"easy† teacher, grades may be inflated, whereas if a student gets a â€Å"hard† teacher, grades may not look as promising. Teacher values and beliefs on education play a major factor in this variance of grades. Consequently, under most current practices where teachers can determine how the will grade students, different teachers may grade the exact same course very differently. For example, one teacher may have different categories of grades carry a different weight (ie, tests might be 50% or homework might be 10%, participation or attendance might factor in), while another teacher might grade strictly on a total points basis. Because of these, and other notable differences, I am pleased to see that schools are utilizing an approach w hich strives to eliminate extraneous factors and which puts more meaning into the grades stu dents earn (Cox, 2011). Over the years, more schools have shifted to a grading system called â€Å"standard-based grading.† This system is exactly as it sounds. Students are graded strictly on their mastery of a given set of standards for each course in secondary school, or for each subject taught by an elementary school teacher. The ultimate goal of this system is for grades to actually mean something to parents, students, andShow MoreRelatedGrading System Rationale6250 Words   |  25 PagesGrading Systems - SCHOOL, HIGHER EDUCATION Tweet students grades teachers learning ------------------------------------------------- Top of Form Search All U.S. Universities Bottom of Form ------------------------------------------------- Top of Form Bottom of Form SCHOOL Thomas R. Guskey HIGHER EDUCATION Howard R. Pollio SCHOOL Few issues have created more controversy among educators than those associated with grading and reporting student learning. Despite the many debates and multitudes ofRead MoreGrades4266 Words   |  18 Pagesgrade points a student earned in a given period of time divided by the total number of credits taken.[1] The GPA can be used by potential employers or further post-secondary institutions to assess and compare applicants. A Cumulative Grade Point Average is a calculation of the average of all of a students grades for all semesters and courses completed up to a given academic term,[2][3][4] whereas the GPA may only refer to one term. Keith Hoskin argues that the concept of grading students work quantitativelyRead MoreMarking System Is Better Than Grading System17277 Words   |  70 PagesUnderlying Issues The views expressed in the report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of SQA or any other organisation(s) by which the author(s) is/are employed. SQA is making this research report available on-line in order to provide access to its contents for those interested in the subject. Marks into Grades: A discussion of the underlying issues Executive summary Grades and grading This report was produced by Dr Mike Kingdon, Principal Education Consultant, Entity GroupRead MoreSat and Its Disadvantages5228 Words   |  21 Pagesand most widely used standardized admissions test in the United States. It measures reading, writing, and math abilities, as well as problem-solving skills. The SAT has undergone many revisions during its history, but it is currently composed of three main sections: critical reading, mathematics, and writing, with each of these sections divided into three parts. There is also an experimental or equating section that can be used in any of the three major sections. This section is used for normalizingRead MoreUnit 2 Customer Sevcie Assesment5810 Words   |  24 PagesUnit and Assessment number. Please note that this Assessment document has 13 pages and is made up of 5 Sections. Name: xxxxxxxxxxxxx Section 1 – Understand the principles of customer service in an organisation 1. In relation to your current organisation (or one that you are familiar with), use the space below to provide information on the organisation’s products / services and its customers. a) Describe the organisation’s products and / or services. xxxxx College is a collegeRead MoreEssay special education11975 Words   |  48 Pagesgenerally seek to identify impairments). Disability was defined as any restriction or lack (resulting from an impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being.   Impairment does not necessarily lead to a disability, for the impairment may be corrected.   I am, for example, wearing eye glasses, but do not perceive that any disability arises from my impaired vision.   A disability refers to the function of the individual (rather than of anRead MoreEducation in South Africa12740 Words   |  51 Pagesaround 48,000 schools – including 390 special needs schools and 1,000 registered private schools. Of all the schools, are high schools (Grade 8 to 12) and the rest are primary schools (Grade 1 to 7). School life spans 13 years - or grades - although the first year of education, grade 0 or reception year, and the last three years, grade 10, 11 and grade 12 or matric are not compulsory. Many Primary schools offer grade 0, although this pre-school year may also be completed at Nursery school. RecentlyRead MorePerformance Management and Appraisal10885 Words   |  44 Pagesthings done through people, is an essential part of every manager’s responsibility, but many organizations find it advantageous to establish a specialist division to provide an expert service dedicated to ensuring that the human resource function is performed efficiently â€Å"People are our most valuable asset† is a clichà ©, which no member of any senior management team would disagree with. Yet, the reality for many organizations are that their people remain under valued, under trained and under utilizedRead MoreStudy Guide Essay25129 Words   |  101 Pagesthis course interesting and useful throughout your career. This course was designed to meet the unique needs of students like you who are both highly motivated and capable of completing a degree program through distance learning. Our faculty and administration have been involved in distance learning for over forty years and understand the characteristics common to successful students in this unique educational environment. This course was prepared by CCU faculty members who are not only outstandingRead More THE IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN IMPROVING STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES65118 Words   |  261 PagesDurham E-Theses THE IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN IMPROVING STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES LEE, SHIUAN,EN,CHRIS How to cite: THE IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN IMPROVING STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at LEE, SHIUAN,EN,CHRIS (2009) Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/242/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal

Essay on The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien Lord Acton once said, Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely. He was probably referring to the powerful kings and queens who held power over many people. But, we could see how power is something many of the characters in Tolkiens story are trying to have and hold onto in some form or another. In The Fellowship of the Ring J.R.R. Tolkien tells us a story about Frodo Baggins who is ordered by Gandalf to destroy the powerful ring discovered accidentally by his older cousin, Bilbo. Like the rest of the hobbits, Frodo has lived quite peacefully and well, not having to worry about how dark and dreary the rest of Middle Earth was becoming under Saurons growing power. Now, Frodo,†¦show more content†¦It would possess him (70). After having said this, he tells Frodo how this ring of doom originated. Clearly, Gandalf is wise enough to know that behind all that power lies weakness and evil. Even if one might first use the ring for something good and meaningful to others , it will eventually possess that person and make that person the slave to the ring. Galadriel even knows this quite well. Frodo offers her the ring, since he believes she deserves it the most and also knows how to control it. When Frodo tells her this, Galadriel seems to be strongly tempted to take the power offered by Frodo. She tells him, For many long years I had pondered what I might do, should the Great Ring come into my hands, and behold! (431). The exclamation point reveals to us how Galadriel might be really taken in by the thought of power at this moment and how raptured she is in this thought. But, she too is wise as Gandalf is. In the end, she even tells Frodo, We will not speak more of it (431). She knows that even speaking about such power can bring about destruction. Interestingly though, Galadriel seems to be almost crazy at this moment, presenting herself to Frodo while relating to him what good she could bring to her elves. The ring is so alluring. Too much of a go od thing cannot last long. She isShow MoreRelatedEssay about J.R.R Tolkien and The Fellowship of the Ring997 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Ronald Reuel Tolkien, better known as J.R.R. Tolkien, was born on January third 1892 in Bloemfontein South Africa and was the son of Arthur and Mabel Suffield Tolkien. After his fathers death in 1896 Tolkiens mother moved herself and her two children, J.R.R (at the time called Ronald) and his younger brother Hilary to Sarehole near Birmingham. When Tolkien was twelve his mother died and he and his brother were sent to live with one of their relatives when a Catholic priest became their legalRead MoreThe Myth about Tolkien Essay1529 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The Lord of the Rings is racist. It is soaked in the logic that race determines behavior.† (Ibata 2). Many people have tried to perpetuate the myth that J.R.R. Tolkien was racist. They cite various scenes in The Lord of the Rings, in both the books and in the movies. These people are l ying or ignorant. J.R.R. Tolkien was not a racist, nor did he ever intend for his novels to be viewed as such. There is plenty of evidence to defend Tolkien from these claims such as: the themes of his novels, likeRead More J.R.R. Tolkien Biography Essay examples1521 Words   |  7 Pages J.R.R. Tolkien was born in South Africa, although he considered himself a British man throughout his adulthood. He experienced World War I firsthand in the trenches. He was a professor of Old English and other archaic languages and had a strong love for such languages. Tolkien also felt a strong tie for his homeland, England, and desired to create mythology for England. Tolkien was able to write the first modern fantasy novel through his life experiences and his love for archaic languages andRead MoreThe Lord Of The Rings2072 Words   |  9 PagesThe Lord of the Rings series is arguably John Ronald Reuel Tolkien’s (aka J.R.R. Tolkien) most notable work. J.R.R. Tolkien’s story was impactful due to his creation of rich, profound mythological worlds. His religious and moral beliefs are carefully crafted into the narrative by representation of Christian-inspired themes such as sin, salvation, redemption, etc. The series’ influence expanded past the written work into a film trilogy written by Peter Jackson. The films further explored the story’sRead MoreThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Essay1019 Words   |  5 Pagesstory The Lord of the Rings. The Lord of the Rings written by J.R.R. Tolkien has been read and loved by many and will be enjoyed by many more in the years to come. Tolkien was an amazing linguist and author. He will be remembered for his great imagination and intriguing stories. His interest in language was the spark that led to the creation of The Lord of the Rings (Hodges 33-35). Tolkien led an interesting life that influenced his books greatly. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born on January 3Read MoreThe Lord Of The Rings1383 Words   |  6 PagesLord of the Rings is an enchanting story with masterful use of setting and sensational characters that engages readers and can move them to experience life in a deeper way. As a child J.R.R. Tolkien lived in Africa until his father passed away. Then his mother moved them to England. Mrs. Tolkien made certain that her children learned literature and languages. It was probably due somewhat to his mother’s influence that Tolkien became who he was: an author and a linguist (Corday). Tolkien had a specialRead More J. R. R. Tolkien Essay1509 Words   |  7 PagesThree Rings for the Elven-Kings under the sky, Seven for the dwarf lords in their halls of stone, Nine for mortal men doomed to die, One for the Dark Lord in his dark throne. In the Land or Mordor where the shadow lies. One Ring to rule them all, One ring to find them, One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie†¦ (J.R.R. Tolkien, Rings) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;These are the most famous recognized lines in The Lord of the Rings, J.R.RRead MoreThe Tyger, The Lamb and Lord of the Rings1031 Words   |  4 PagesThere is an immense amount of symbolism used throughout both poems, and many different things can be taken away about the author’s thoughts religion, nature, and the battle between good and evil in one’s mind. In the novel, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien, there is seemingly a lot left up in the air about religion and the symbolism of nature, but when read the way the author intended, there are a few very strong themes that resemble those portrayed in â€Å"The Tyger† and â€Å"The Lamb†. ThroughoutRead MoreThe Lord Of The Rings Series845 Words   |  4 PagesIn The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R Tolkien, heroism is a prominent theme throughout. There is not one sole hero. Tolkien doesn’t present the books with just one hero, but a combined effort of many different heroes. He could have easily made the story just about Aragorn, Gandalf, Frodo, or Sam A hero is a person who overcomes adversity to achieve a quest that changes his society for good in the dramatic way. In classic literature a hero is usually portrayed as an epic hero. The epic heroRead More J.R.R. Tolkiens Lord of the Rings Essay2306 Words   |  10 PagesJ.R.R. Tolkiens Lord of the Rings â€Å"One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the Darkness bind them† (Tolkien, The Two Towers 233)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the masters of British Literature, J.R.R. Tolkien was able to create a fantasy world with an endless supply of parallelisms to reality. The fantasy world was found in the â€Å"Lord of the Rings.† Tolkien is able to create wonderful symbolism and meaning out of what would otherwise be considered nonsense.

Should the English Police Use Firearms Free Essays

string(66) " in dealing with public order and terrorism \(Reiner 2000, p67\)\." Should the English police carry and use firearms? This essay explores the debate whether the English police carry and use firearms? It is a debate that has been a focal point in the public, policing agency, government and political arenas since the formation of the police. The English police are well known for their ‘unarmed’ tactic of policing and are only a few police forces worldwide that do so. It was this model of policing that Sir Robert Peel tried to distill from when he first formed the Metropolitan Police back in 1829, which as England as a country keeps to its traditions. We will write a custom essay sample on Should the English Police Use Firearms or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, due to increase in gun crime and terrorist attacks it is perhaps maybe time that the English police force kept up with an ever sophisticated and armed criminal/terrorist. In this essay the main themes I will focus on will be the background of the police, British models of policing, for and against armed response and the level of gun crime in the UK. The term ‘police’ derived from the Greek word ‘politeia’ meaning government or state. ‘Police’ refers to a social institution that most modern societies have to ensure social control. In modern society there is an ideological assumption that the police are a fundamental part of social control and without them there would be chaos (Reiner 2000, p1), however not every society has existed with a formal police force. The role of the police in its efforts for the control of crime and maintaining order is one that has changed through history and is an area of great debate in their effectiveness and the functions the police have in modern society. The police in modern society are called upon routinely to perform a wide range of tasks from public reassurance to terrorism and respond to emergencies, critical incidents and crises, many with an element of social conflict (Grieve et al. 2007, p19). A state run police organisation is a modern form of ‘policing’ (Reiner 2000,p2), however ‘policing’ is a different idea to that of the ‘police’. Understanding the function and role of the police requires consideration to the ideology of policing. The concept of policing can be defined as ‘the function of maintaining social control in society’ (Reiner 2000, p3). Policing can be carried out by an array of people and techniques of which the modern idea of the police is one. The police as a specialised institution of social control are seen as a product of the division of labour in modern societies and can be distinguished from other types of policing by their ability to use legitimate force. In modern democracy the police are both the symbolic ‘front’ of the state’s authority and responsible for the protecting individual and collective freedoms (Neyroud Beckley 2008, p21). In the UK policing is seen to be ‘by consent’ rather than a state run military model, thus its success is dependent on public co-operation and approval than fear (Grieve et. al 2007, p19). The English police force is only a number of police forces in the world were firearms are not routinely carried by all officers. It has kept in accordance to when they were first formed in 1829 by Sir Robert Peel, after the Metropolitan Police Act was passed by parliament. Upon the forming of on Metropolitan police force (1829), Sir Robert Peel’s intention was that the police’s role was for the prevention of crime. Efforts were made so that the new police did not look like soldiers, where Sir Robert Peel tried to avoid accusations of setting up a continental system of ‘agents’ like the French model of policing. The police weaponry was limited to a wooden truncheon, though cutlasses were available for emergencies and for patrolling dangerous beats and inspectors and above could carry pocket pistols (Emsley 1996, p26). The decision not to arm the Metropolitan Police in 1829 was intentional. The use of force used by the police was only to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion, advice and warning is found to be insufficient. The aim was to convey ‘civilian’ status (a citizen in uniform), distancing the police from the military. Sir Robert Peel in his model of the Metropolitan police implemented that the police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence. The days of the ‘local bobby on the beat’ and that of a civilian in clothing seemed to be a past time view of the police force by the 1960s. A new system of policing emerged, encouraged by the Home Office, which saw the number of officers on foot and put more into cars. This new system of policing was called ‘unit beat patrol’ (UBP), together with personal radios issued to all officers to enable quicker responses and cover more area (Newburn 2008, p91). This new ystem of policing intended to improve policing and police-community relations, yet it was seen to have the adverse effects. The UBP saw changes not only to the style of policing but also the image, as Chiball (1977) described it: ‘The â€Å"British bobby’’ was recast as the tough, dashing, formidable (but still brave and honest) â€Å"Crime-Buster† (cited in Newburn 2008, p91). However, the most notably change was the model of policing, it had seemed that the original â₠¬Ëœdemocratic’ model had been replaced by a ‘military’ model of policing. A new trend of hard-liner policing of political and industrial conflict emerged as serious disorder develop in England in the 1970s to 1980s. New forces within the police force were developed, specially trained, readily mobile to cope with riots with the formation of The Metropolitan Police Special Patrol Group in 1965. This was a mobile reserve, developed with a paramilitary role in dealing with public order and terrorism (Reiner 2000, p67). You read "Should the English Police Use Firearms" in category "Essay examples" All forces produced similar units which were trained in riot control and use of firearms. The military model of policing was ever present during the miners’ strikes of the 1980s, where the police now using centrally co-ordinated police operations and officers were now routinely using riot shields, helmets with visors and long batons in public disorders and riots. The use of force by the police had reached new levels as police used new tactics to ‘disperse and/or incapacitate’ protestors, outlined from the Tactical Options Manual approved by the Home Secretary in 1983 (Emsley 1996, p184). Plastic bullets and CS gas were more commonly deployed and even used in public disorder and riots with the showing of a police force more readily and willing to use excessive force against the public. However, it was common for complaints to be made regarding excessive force by the police but only to be dismissed due to the structure of the complaints system and the legitimacy issues in accountability of the police of use of force. It is evident that the use of force by the police over time has increased and also changed as has the model of policing, tactics, technology and weaponry available to the police. However, what weapons are available to the police and how they use is a topic of public concern and often political controversy. The legal use of force, the Criminal Justice Act 1967 section 3, states the ‘any person may use such force as is a reasonable in the circumstances’ for the lawful purposes. Article 2 of the European Convention amends this provision to equire that the use of lethal force by police officers should be necessary and proportionate (Newburn 2008, p468). With the emergence of guns more readily available and used by the police, it is only necessary that such overseeing bodies like The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) are formed. Established in 1942, the ACPO function is an independent professionally led body with the aim of centralising the development of policing s trategies as a whole (Grieve 2007, p27). In the ‘Manual of Guidance on the Management, Command and Deployment of Armed Officers (2010) the guidelines for using lethal force are as stated in Article 4: ‘Law enforcement officials, in carrying out their duty, shall, as far as possible, apply nonviolent means before resorting to the use of firearms. They may use force and firearms only if other means remain ineffective or without any promise of achieving intended results’†¦Article 5 states: ‘Exercise and restraint in such use and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offence and legitimate objective achieved’. Consequently, in the UK, police officers are given the discretion to determine if the suspect poses a threat to the police officer or the public as PACE does not actually define what is ‘reasonable force’. In the pursuit of these suspects, police officers are given the power to use deadly force through probable cause of harm. The courts decide whether the use of deadly force is justified or not and in some cases, police officers are charged because their use of deadly force is considered to be unjustifiable. Hence, there is a very thin line separating the justification of the use of deadly force from an act that is unjustified. The ethical and moral dilemma of police officers therefore rests not only on the regulations of their agency but on their analytical and ethical decision. In 2008/09, there were 6,868 authorised firearms officers within the police force which was made up of 136,365 (Home Office, 2010). This is a small minority of police officers who are trained and authorised to use firearms but when considering that the English police are seen as an ‘unarmed’ force, these numbers are quite high. A debate of great concern for the public but also crime agencies and political arenas, is whether English police officers should carry and use firearms? The increasing use of guns by criminals and gun related deaths to both the public and English police officers has been a catalyst for supporters in the carrying and use of firearms by police officers. The 1960s was seen as the turning point in the arming of police officers as in Shepard’s Bush, London, three plain clothed police officers were shot dead (Newburn 2008, p473). This incident prompted the creation of the Metropolitan Police’s ‘D11’ which trained officers on firearms. However, even with the creation and training of police armed response teams such methods proved inadequate to deal with incidents like the Hungerford massacre. Michael Ryan became Britain’s first spree killer (Squires Kennison 2010 p77), when he killed 16 people. The Thames Valley Police Tactical Arms Firearms team was 40 miles away and took an hour and forty minutes to assemble; this resulted in the debate about the effectiveness of having specific armed response teams and not a general armed police force that could deal with situations more effectively and quicker. In outlining the history of the UK police force Neyroud Beckley (2008) argues that the baton-days prior 1980s was not enough to protect public safety against criminals. He cites the case of the Hungerford Shootings and the Thames Valley Police Force where an armed man killed two persons and injured one after a random shooting. The police force was heavily criticised because of the length of time it took for the police officers to respond to calls. The police was also criticised because the police use of firearms was largely focused on protecting the safety of the officers and on preventing fatal shootings, instead of focusing on public safety. Since then, the public expectations of the police and the use of force has been a dilemma for the UK police. Following the shootings, there was a call for more aggressive approach to enforcing the law. Is the use of deadly force justified? For the Thames Valley Police it is justified because it protects not only the police officers but also public security (Neyroud Beckley, 2008, p253). Security threats cannot be allowed in a society since they affect the confidence of the public on the police. In the terms of consequentialism, shooting a person who is out to massacre innocent is justified because the death of the criminal would mean sparing the lives of many others, restoring the peace and order needed by the society to properly function. The arming of police officers routinely could be considered a small step, as police officers are routinely armed already in a variety of situations, e. g. at airports and when providing security for political leaders or institutions. Already rapid-response units of armed officers are available to deal with armed criminals, but these need to be specially summoned and authorised which consumes time and lead to being ineffective in the situation. Armed police can be seen to reassure law-abiding citizens at a time when gun-related crime is increasing in most European countries and parts of North America. Much public opinion holds that something must be done to tackle this. People may feel safer when they see armed police, especially if they perceive them as a response to a heightened risk. Thus, for example, police officers at British airports and places government buildings routinely carry guns after recent terrorist attacks on England. Just as quickly as incidents brought about a feeling of approving by many of the carrying and use of firearms with deaths of police officers and public, it brought about incidents that gave the disapproval. Having armed police response may have its benefits when dealing with armed and dangerous criminals or terrorist threats; however the problem faced by armed police officers is knowing how much of a threat that suspect really poses and if they are correctly identified as carrying firearms or even the correct suspect. A notably example of these problems faced by armed response police, was the Harry Stanley shooting in 1999. The police received a call that a man believed to be Irish was armed with a shotgun and an armed response team was dispatched to deal with the situation. Upon arriving at the pub the armed response team shouted to Mr Stanley and as he turned the officers took this action as an aim at them with the suspected gun and in response shot him dead. It was revealed that Harry Stewart was in fact carrying a wooden chair leg and posed no threat at all to police officers or the public. However, it was not only the wrongful killing of Harry Stuart that was scrutinised but the events of the incident told by the police officers as it did not match forensic evidence (Squires Kennison 2010, p172). A similar incident again highlighted the problems faced with armed police officers, the shooting of Jeans Charles de Menezes in 2005. Two weeks after the London bombings, Jean Charles de Menezes was followed by a surveillance team who had mistaken him for Hussain Osman, a suspected failed suicide bomber from the previous day. As Jean Charles de Menezes boarded a train at Stockwell train station he was confronted by anti-terrorism officers who shot him seven times, certain that he was a suicide bomber (O’Driscoll 2008, p341). Initially, a discernible reluctance to accuse the acting officers of any wrongdoing. On the contrary, there was a general acceptance that their actions were both defensible and consistent with Metropolitan Police procedures for dealing with suspected suicide bombers. Viewed in this light, the shooting of Menezes was an unfortunate mistake, but nothing more. The war on terror, it is claimed, presents a novel form of war that necessitates (and therefore legitimates) a robust engagement from the relevant security forces (O’Driscoll 2008, p342). Yet this simple formulation overlooks the possibility that it was the very conditions of the war on terror that gave rise to the circumstances where such a ‘mistake’ could occur. Police violence, according to Box (1983), tends to increase in proportion to the elite’s fear of disorder, and the more fearful the elite, the more likely they are to tolerate illegal violence against potentially dangerous groups (Belur 2010, p323). Thus, in societies with extremely unequal social structures, such as those in some Latin American countries, the fate of the socially marginal is regarded with indifference by the state and the middle-class public alike. Even in strong democracies like the United Kingdom, Jefferson (1990) found that dehumanization and demonization of dissident and marginal groups seek to construct an ‘authoritarian consensus’ among the ‘respectable majority’, which allows them and the government to authorize or condone certain coercive measures (cited Belur 2010, p324). For the debate whether English police officers should carry and use firearms, it is important to look at the statistics of gun crime in England as an indication on the severity of the problem for a justification. There has been a dramatic rise in the ‘street gang’ culture within the UK, characterised by illegal gun ownership and violence (Caddick Porter 2011, p1). A new wave of gun crime has contributed to the so called ‘gun culture’ that many of the UK’s youths participate in, despite a background of increasingly restrictive legislations and better policy responses. There were 53 fatal police shootings between 1990 and 2011 (Inquest 2011). The figures for fatal shootings might be deemed ‘low’, however the police in England have an international reputation for being ‘unarmed’. Overall, there were 19,951 police operations in 2008/09 in which a firearm was authorised. The overall level of gun crime in England and Wales is very low – less than 0. 5% of all recorded crime. In 2007/8 there were 9,865 offences in England and Wales in which firearms (excluding air weapons) were reportedly used, a 2% increase on the previous year. In 2007/8 there were 455 firearm offences in which there was a fatal or serious injury, 3% lower than in 2006/07. 6. 8% of all homicides committed during 2007/08 involved the use of firearms, down from 7. 8% in 2006/07 (Home Office (2010). Sir Robert Peel back in 1829, formed the Metropolitan Police with the aim to convey ‘civilian’ status (a citizen in uniform), distancing the police from the military. Sir Robert Peel in his model of the Metropolitan police implemented that the police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence. There have been a number of major changes to the police force as well as in technology and weaponry which is certainly a necessary solution to new problems faced by the police from criminals. However, there is a reason why as early as 1829, English police officers have remained unarmed. Arming the police is an easy way of ignoring the fundamental failures of society. Guns are not a response to crime. What is actually needed is more effort in preventing crime through detective work and policing strategy rather than focussing on responding to it. Nor does arming the police offer a solution to fundamental socio-political issues which contribute to crime. Routinely arming the police is an uneven response to gun crime, as it will affect some sections of the community more than others. For example, as certain ethnic groups are often associated with particular types of criminality, police use of firearms will damage police credibility within communities which feel that they are the subject of too much police suspicion. Even if the police believe they are carrying weapons in self-defence, others will view it as an aggressive act. This is a big change, both culturally and practically. The large majority of policemen and women go through their whole career without handling firearms. Even with the special selection measures and intensive training given to the few firearms officers today, mistakes sometimes occur and innocent people are shot, either by mistake because the armed officers are acting on inaccurate information, or because they are bystanders caught in the cross-fire of a shoot-out. Arming all police officers would mean ditching the current stringent selection methods and inevitably result in less training being rovided, so mistakes would become much more common and more people would be wounded or killed. If the English police officer has managed to last from 1829 from its first formation without carrying and using firearms then it does not need them now. The current responses in place to terrorist and armed criminals in place are sufficient; although not perfect by any means it would be a devastating blow for the people of England tradition and the effects costly. There are enough replacements to the use of firearms and those options should be explored. References Belur, J. (2010). Why do Police Use Deadly Force? Explaining Police Encounters in Mumbai. British Journal pf Criminology. 50 (5), p320-341. Caddick, A Porter, E. (2011). Exploring a model of professionalism in multiple perpetrator violent gun crime in the UK. Criminology Criminal Justice. 1-22. Emsley, C (1996). The English Police: A Political and Social History. Essex: Pearson. Grieve, J et al. (2007). Policing. London: Sage Publications Hallsworth, S Silverstone, D. (2009). ‘That’s life innit’ A British perspective on guns, crime and social order. Criminal Criminal Justice. 9 (3), p359-377. Leishman, F Loveday, B Savage, S (2000). Core Issue In Policing. 2nd ed. Essex: Pearson. Lutterbeck, D. (2004). Between Police and Military:The New Security Agenda and the Rise of Gendarmeries. Cooperation and Conflict. 39 (45), p45-68. Malcolm, J (2002). Guns and Violence: The English Experience. London: Harvard University Press. McLaughlin, E (2007). The New Policing. London: Sage Publications. Mitchell, L Flin, R. (2007). Shooting Decisions by Police Firearms Officers. Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making,. 1 (4), p375-390. Newburn, T (2008). Handbook of Policing. 2nd ed. Devon: Willian Publishing. Newburn, T (2005). Policing: Key Readings. Oxon: Routledge. Neyroud, P and Beckley, A (2008). Policing, Ethics and Human Rights. 2nd ed. Devon: Willian Publishing. O’Driscoll, C. (2008). Fear and Trust: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes and the War on Terror. Journal of International Studies. 36 (2), p339-360. Reiner, R (2000). The Politics of Policing. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Sharp, D. (2005). Who Needs Theories in Policing? An Introduction to a Special Issue on Policing. The Howard Journal. 44 (5), p449-459. Squires, P ; Kennison, P (2010). Shooting to Kill. Sussex: Wiley ; Sons Ltd. How to cite Should the English Police Use Firearms, Essay examples

Uber Management and Business Context

Question: Discuss about the Uber for Management and Business Context. Answer: Introduction As technology has attached itself with every aspect of daily life even with transportation, several companies have come forward with the innovative idea of building global cab service network with the help of Smartphone and internet. Among all of them, Uber is probably the most preferred brand of cab service and food delivery at present. With its quick and efficient service, Uber has established its identity in all the prominent cities across the world and holds maximum share of the transportation market in countries like United States and Australia (Uber, 2017).Looking at its pioneering position in the market, the report attempts analysis of its internal and external contextual factors along with domestic and international contextual factors as well as the issues related to Ubers business and management context is to be critically analysed (Cannon Summers, 2014). Ubers market segmentation, positioning and targeting is of great importance to be analysed in this context. Uber covers personal transportation market, especially for the people who travel to different places. The target consumer group for Uber is the section of people who need cabs on urgent basis and particularly who are business professionals. The people who have to travel at odd times of a day mostly prefer to use this kind of cab service. Presently, Uber holds a stable position of the market principally because it has showed signs to evolve with the rapid market changes. The service of Uber has made the journeys in the cities more convenient and accessible at any point of day (Tamberino, 2015). The most approved way of analysing Ubers internal contextual factors is to attempt a SWOT analysis on it. This analysis involves evaluation of an organizations strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats; alongside this, it discusses about the potential competitors of the chosen company (Uber, 2017). Commencing with the strengths, Ubers widespread global presence in more than 50 countries and over 200 cities is its greatest strength. Besides, the brand image that Uber has already developed even in the developing countries certainly serves as an advantage. High customer satisfaction rate with the application of supreme technology has been strengthening Ubers customer base for more than seven years (Thomas, Le Masson Weil 2017). In addition, Uber has less amount of fixed investment since it serves as a market place. Among fewer of its weaknesses, the most problematic aspect of Uber is that its image is entirely dependent on its drivers and that the smallest deviation in their pro fessional mannerism can sabotage the brand image of the company (Uber, 2017). However, if this has to be considered as a weakness, it will not be wrong to say that all the cab companies around the world suffer from this. Another limitation of this company is that in contrast with the huge demand and cash burning, monetization is really complex at present. However, Uber has boundless opportunities especially in the developing countries where unorganized market has a large share in the economy. Since Smartphone and internet usage is ever rising, Uber being a digitally hired transportation medium sees numerous opportunities in this context. In addition, the disposable income rate is rising as well as the consumers are becoming more inclined towards convenience of this kind of cab service (Singh, 2013). On the other hand, the external contextual factors are to be examined by PESTLE analysis of the global company. The political and legal factors include significant questions of government licenses, whereas in some countries this license process can take time. Besides, the laws deciding minimum wage for taxi drivers may affect the profit margin of this industry. The economic factors across the world, however, mostly go in favour of Uber as the growing level of profit in corporate sectors have been increasing demand for the convenient cab transportation. In contrast, the inflation and growing maintenance cost is likely to reduce profit margin of Uber (Dua, 2013). Being a technology-based company it is highly in favour of Uber that mobile apps usage is rapidly rising and that the market is always open for innovation and technological up gradation. The social factors include increasing population in the cities and their demand of cab transportation facility. Environmental factors propose the trend of electrical and hybrid cabs towards forming a more promising, eco-friendly and sustainable environment. The cabs used by Uber are in line with this view of sustaining a green environment (Shontell, 2017). The contextual factors aim to analyse the key organizational factors that define the internal environmental forces like the strategy and goals of the organization as well as its business environment, size, organizational culture, resources and technological aspects (Uber, 2017). The internal contextual factors are preferably discussed with Mckinsey 7S model that discusses the structure, system, skills, strategy, staff, and operational style and shared values of the chosen organization. Uber, from a start-up has speedily grown rather than its competitors and currently has 9 subsidiaries and 80 executives. The CEO Travis Kalanick heads the company and under him, four directors along with the CEO form the managing board. Ubers operational system depends on the customer rating system and digital media booking (Cannon Summers 2014). Ubers strategy of combining modern network orchestrator model with capital-intensive framework of service providing has been providing the company with larger profit margins, consistent growth opportunities and has enabled it to respond quickly to user complaints and to evolve with market changes. Although Uber initially did not show any interest in having shared values in the organization, in 2015 the company declared its elaborate 14 corporate values that are to be strictly adhered by the organization. The company emphasizes on the hiring of the staffs, especially drivers as technically are the face of Uber that users experience (Wirtz Tang, 2016). The external contextual factors are explained by Porters five forces model that analyses the external environmental forces of bargaining power of the suppliers and the buyers, the threat faced by the entry of new ones, threat for the already existing substitute services and the competitiveness among the existing companies in the market in case of Uber (Uber, 2017). Uber mostly hires cars from different sources on contractual basis and in this case, the suppliers tend to bargain and try to gain the most out of their cars given on rent. However, on the other hand, there is no such scope for the consumers of Uber to bargain; rather Uber itself surges price whenever the situation demands. Since it is quite a profitable market, more companies are likely to invest in this field and the threat of new entrants always remains. Moreover, Uber faces tough competition from its rivals like Lyft, Ola Cabs, Sidecar, Didi Dache, Curb and the like (Singh 2013). This innovative and emergent form of cab services have greater target market base that helps in developing the brand in spite of its several takers (Cannon Summers 2014). This analysis of Uber reveals several risks that the enterprise is dealing with at present. The foremost risks that lies before Uber is about Uber IPO; initially, there was a talk on this but it seems that poor condition of the market, poor performance and revenue generated and most importantly weak economic condition of a country can highly affect the business and can delay the proposed IPO. There is also a battle on whether Uber drivers are contractors or employees and if the drivers are to be accepted as full time employees, this can cause a huge money-suck for the company. In addition, the increasing competition between Uber and other cab service companies like Didi and Lyft creates the need for Uber to raise its expenditure (Thomas, Le Masson Weil 2017). The study about Uber should entail the appropriate mitigation strategies for the number of risk factors that are faced by the organization. The contextual theory of services provided by Uber can be improved by incorporating better client service experience and employing practices that will effectively regulate the operations and management of all the conveyance function. Moreover with a purpose of making public transport more feasible, Uber operates with strategic an infrastructural amenity which makes optimum use of technology along with service operation. Since Smartphone and internet usage is ever rising, Uber being a digitally hired transportation medium sees numerous opportunities in this context. In addition, the disposable income rate is rising as well as the consumers are becoming more inclined towards convenience of this kind of cab service (Uber, 2017). Therefore in regards to the challenges that take place in their services can be effectively solved with the help of a successful operating plan. In fact the sound design structure and innovation policies of Uber reflect the congruency within the applied model and business processing (Wirtz Tang, 2016). Therefore, this analysis can be concluded on a brighter note which has efficiently employed and analysed all the contextual factors and resources which are the significant constituents of Uber. The essay entails and is an account of the strengths, weakness along with the relative opportunities and threats that allows determining the business statistics of the cab service organization (Uber, 2017). References: Aversa, P., Haefliger, S., Reza, D. G. (2017). How to assess the value of a business model portfolio?.Mit Sloan Management Review. Cannon, S., Summers, L. H. (2014). How Uber and the sharing economy can win over regulators.Harvard business review,13, 1-4. Dua, T. (2017). Brand crises on steroids: Why Uber is the Trump of brands - Digiday. Digiday. Retrieved 14 April 2017, from https://digiday.com/marketing/brand-crises-steroids-uber-trump-brands/ Dobbs, M. (2014). Guidelines for applying Porter's five forces framework: a set of industry analysis templates.Competitiveness Review,24(1), 32-45. Shontell, A. (2017). Here's are the biggest threats to Uber according to Morgan Stanley, the bank that's helping the $62 billion startup raise its next round. Business Insider. Retrieved 14 April 2017, from https://www.businessinsider.in/Heres-are-the-biggest-threats-to-Uber-according-to-Morgan-Stanley-the-bank-thats-helping-the-62-billion-startup-raise-its-next-round/articleshow/50583413.cms Singh, A. (2013). A study of role of McKinsey's 7S framework in achieving organizational excellence.Organization Development Journal,31(3), 39. Tamberino, R. (2015). Uber: A Winning Strategy Technology and Operations Management. Rctom.hbs.org. Retrieved 14 April 2017, from https://rctom.hbs.org/submission/uber-a-winning-strategy/ Thomas, M., Le Masson, P., Weil, B. (2017). How easy it is to reproduce Uber Business Model?analyzing the design logics behind Business Model Innovation. Uber. (2017). Uber.com. Retrieved 14 April 2017, from https://www.uber.com/en-IN/ Wirtz, J., Tang, C. (2016). Uber: Competing as Market Leader in the US versus Being a Distant Second in China.SERVICES MARKETING: People Technology Strategy, 626-632.