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Necessity of Affirmative Action Essay - 1096 Words

It is illegal to institute quotas and to fulfill them solely based on the race or gender of the applicant in any affirmative action programs. Employers and schools are required to set goals and time frames, for hiring or recruiting women and minorities to achieve racial diversity. Due to under representation of African Americans, women and minorities, affirmative action was created. It was created to ensure the inclusion of all qualified individuals and to prevent race and gender discrimination. An employer is not required to hire a person who lacks the qualifications needed to perform the job successfully in seeking to achieve its goals, or to choose one less qualified than the other based on race or gender. There are no legal penalties†¦show more content†¦But ability is not just the product of birth. Ability is stretched or stunted by the family that you live with, and the neighborhood you live in--by the school you go to and the poverty or the richness of your surroundin gs. It is the product of a hundred unseen forces playing upon the little infant, the child, and finally the man† (President Johnson). Therefore, we should all consider taking advantage of the opportunity to obtain higher education and increase the chances of the next generations to do so as well. In fact, affirmative action is a necessity and a stepping-stone for individuals who never had the opportunity to get a great education, and a chance to prove that they would be allowed into that position of power no matter what they are in terms of race. Affirmative action policies require that necessary measures are involved to ensure that blacks and other minorities enjoy the equal opportunities for promotions, salary increases, career advancement, school admissions, scholarships, and financial aid that had been the domain of whites for many decades. Reverse discrimination turned out to be an issue, demonstrated by Allan Bakke, a white male that had been rejected two years in a row by the medical school in 1978. The University of California had separated admissions for minority groups and had set aside 16 out of 100 places for minority students as their goal for diversity. Mr. Bakke felt heShow MoreRelatedThe Necessity and Effects of Affirmative Action2602 Words   |  11 PagesT he Necessity and Effects of Affirmative Action in the United States of America * Outline Introduction Opener: A brief explanation on the Affirmative Action Policy Thesis statement: Having the Affirmative Action Policy is necessary as it has its strengths and weaknesses that affect the citizens of the United States of America. The Affirmative Action Policy was absolutely a necessity in the 1960s which was when the policy was first implemented. The policy was a necessity to overcome theRead MoreAffirmative Action : A Question Into Necessity Essay1782 Words   |  8 PagesAffirmative Action: a Question into Necessity In response to being asked about the necessity of affirmative action Maynard Jackson replied â€Å"If you don t like affirmative action, what is your plan to guarantee a level playing field of opportunity?† Affirmative action as seen in higher education has not always been around to the extent we see today, as it was originally used as a tool to prevent discrimination against women in the work force (Messerli). As time went on, though, and equality in theRead More Affirmative Action and Racial Tension Essay1691 Words   |  7 PagesAffirmative Action and Racial Tension    Affirmative action. What was its purpose in the first place, and do we really need it now? It began in an era when minorities were greatly under represented in universities and respectable professions. Unless one was racist, most agreed with the need of affirmative action in college admissions and in the workplace. Society needed an active law that enforced equality during a period when civil rights bills were only effective in ink. With so much of America ¹sRead More Affirmative Action Essay1282 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to Newman, affirmative action is a â€Å"program designed to seek out members of minority groups for positions from which they had previously been excluded, thereby seeking to overcome some institutional racism† (Newman, 536). Affirmative action made its debut with a piece of legislature passed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964 and continues to this day. However, the concept of affirmative action is a controversial issue that continues to be hotly debated. Affirmative action policies are passionatelyRead MoreDebate, Suspicion and Controversy Created by College Admission Policies1275 Words   |  6 Pagesadmission policy is affirmative action. Since whites and other non-minorities feel that this admission policy doesn’t benefit them, so they attack it and say it is unjust. But in all actuality this admission policy is miniature compared to other preference such as legacy preferences. But whites do not attack this policy and overlook its significance because it benefits them. To show the significance, merit, and validity of each, I am going to explore the impacts and need for Affirmative action and legacyRead MoreThe History of Affirmative Action1628 Words   |  7 Pages The history of Affirmative Action dates back to the days when the nation tried to rebuild its society after the civil war. Reconstruction tried to establish virtuous relations between the white Europeans black Africans that made up a giant part of the American society. The nation was torn on how to establish these relations. Lots of call Reconstruction the low point of race relations in the United States. This period included the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment, defining national citizenshipRead MoreDefense, Necessity Defense And Affirmative Defense933 Words   |  4 Pagesconstitution every American Citizen is entitled to a trial and an attorney. With the right to a trial and an attorney those accused also have a right to bring up a defense in justifying or excusing their actions. In this essay I will be looking at defenses such as self-defense, necessity defense and affirmative defense. This essay will serve as a guide to what these defenses really mean and when it is ac ceptable to use them. A defense is when a defendant and his or her attorney provide evidence on whyRead MoreModule 6 - Original Assignment839 Words   |  4 Pageshiring program for white males. In light of that historical reality and the dynamics that remain in our culture, evaluate the contemporary strategy of affirmative action for minorities to bring about more fairness in hiring and promotion practices. Draw heavily from the assigned readings and then explain and defend your arguments concerning affirmative action and reverse discrimination. The fact that we are still talking about job discrimination, in the 21 century is really a sad thing. We haveRead More Affirmative Action Essay1127 Words   |  5 PagesAffirmative Action Affirmative action is a deliberate effort to provide full and equal opportunities in employment, education, and other areas for women, minorities, and individuals belonging to other traditionally disadvantaged groups. As an issue of todays society, affirmative action requires corporations, universities and other organizations to establish programs designed to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly. It also places a burden of proof on the providers of opportunities;Read MoreThe Debate over Affirmative Action1307 Words   |  5 Pagesdebate over affirmative action. Although the United States has made great strides in improving race relations over the past forty years, affirmative action continues to be one of the most controversial policies in America. It has rattle the halls of higher education. It has appeared on the steps of the Supreme Court. And it has divided not only different racial groups, but even members of a single racial group. In fact, I’ve heard some of the most heated conversation over affirmative action between two

Bank of Canada Monetary Policy Free Essays

On the contrary to the policies of the United States, material about Canada’s monetary policy was easily accessible on the Bank of Canada website, straight-forward and easy to understand. It’s clear that their target audience is the average Canadian citizen. They didn’t give the ‘run-around’ so- to- speak, of what their main objectives are, and much of it was watered down so that anyone could comprehend it. We will write a custom essay sample on Bank of Canada Monetary Policy or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Bank focuses on keeping inflation low, stable and predictable in order to encourage long-term investments for citizens to contribute to lasting economic growth, the creation of jobs and increased productivity – which will ultimately improve standard of living. This strategy is encompassed by the inflation control target that was adopted by the Bank of Canada in 1991, which sets a control range of 1-3 percent, ideally with a 2 percent midpoint. And, looking at historical statistics since its inception, the Bank has been able to maintain this control effectively. For example, inflation rate for 1Q 2013 was 1. 3%. According to the Bank, this monetary policy is implemented by influencing short-term interest rates which is done by raising or lowering the target for the overnight rate. In the end, a reduction in the policy rate, or easing of monetary policy, can be expected to boost total demand for Canadian goods and services, and vice versa. In addition to this, another goal for the Bank is maintaining flexible exchange rates – which they consider best suited for achieving their inflation target. The floating Canadian dollar provides an exchange rate buffer which allows the economy to absorb and adjust to economic shocks it may encounter. Though additional factors like exchange rates and unemployment seem to be important to policy makers, they are not focused on as intently as inflation and little information is available in regard to them. Their thinking is that monetary policy cannot have a systematic and sustained effect on any other variable, thus making it senseless to adopt any other long-term targets. It seems apparent that the Canadian policy strives to remain â€Å"forward looking† in a sense. The Bank places much of its emphasis on long-lasting shocks to the economy, rather than those believed to be short lived. By attempting to keep inflation close to their target, they consider themselves better able to respond to changes in the economic environment in such a way to avoid situations of excess demand or upply. Thus, pressures of inflation rising or falling are kept to a minimum. There’s much argument surrounding whether or not Canada’s policy is really that good or if they have just been lucky over the years. Volatility has increased in the Canadian economy over the years, however, they believe that their â€Å"exceptional† economic performance was the result of an even greater imp rovement in monetary policy and the policy offset the volatile environment, resulting in greater macroeconomic performance. It’s especially important to the Bank to remain credible to the Canadian people by being open and clear about their policy choices. They feel that this credibility keeps expectations to preserve future inflation close to the target and this â€Å"anchors† them to ensure that it happens. Even though Canada’s approach to communicating its monetary policy is much different than that of the United States, one could argue that they may be ‘putting blinders’ on their citizens, to avoid poor performance in other areas. Is their layman, tunnel vision approach regarding inflation control diverting the public from questioning whether or not it the best framework to utilize to drive the economy in a positive direction? The Canadian economy is still struggling to recover from the Great Recession and is trying to find ways in order to avoid the zero lower bound issue, but they put little importance communicating on how they are going to do so with the public. How to cite Bank of Canada Monetary Policy, Papers

Information and Coordination in Organizations free essay sample

Information and Coordination in Organizations In speaking of organizations I believe that how organizations communicate is an extremely key factor in success versus failure. The purpose of this paper is to talk about Communication, Information and Coordination, specifically Vertical and Lateral Coordination in organizations. I will reference the four different organizational frames we have learned about as a reference guide to explain how communication is viewed, as well as which types of organizations are best suited to use either a Vertical or Lateral Coordination methodology. When we began the term we laid down a foundation on the different types of frames that an organization can take on. I would like to briefly touch on the four frames and then show how communication is defined in each. The first frame is the Structural Frame, which, â€Å"†¦emphasizes goals, specialized roles, and formal relationships†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Bolman and Deal p. 14) In this frame the organization ultimately uses â€Å"†¦rules, policies, procedures and hierarchies to coordinate diverse activities into a unified strategy. †(Bolman and Deal p. 4) As you can see with the definition above, communication is being done through a system of symbols, signs and or behavior. The organization creates the method for information to be passed and there is an expectation that it will be followed. In the structural frame communication is used to, â€Å"Transmit facts and information. † (Bolman and Deal p. 307) You as an employee are simply taking information from the organization and using it accordingly as well as taking information you receive and passing it along. You as an individual are not analyzing the information, drawing any conclusions altering it, You are simply taking the information given to you and acting on it as given. The second frame is the Human Resource Frame. The Human Resource frame sees the organization, â€Å"†¦much like an extended family, made up of individuals with needs, feelings, prejudices, skills and limitations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Bolman and Deal p. 14) In this frame the organization is made to fit the individuals that work there. The Human Resource Frame uses communication to â€Å"Exchange information, needs and feelings. (Bolman and Deal p. 307) The Human Resource Frame uses the individual as a conduit for information gathering and dispersal and is much more flexible in the delivery of information as opposed to the Structural Frame, which is more rigidly aligned. People are the most valued asset of an organization. The Human Resource Frame seeks to develop the individual employee in the organization rather than making them one step is a core process. The third frame is the Political Frame and sees organizations as â€Å"†¦arenas, contests, or jungles†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Bolman and Deal p. 4) In the Political Frame all people in the organization are in constant competition to get ahead and one way to get ahead is to possess the power of information. In the Political Frame it is who and what you know and who you are willing to share your information with that gets you ahead. With all of the competition involved there is often conflict between those vying for power. The Political Frame sees communication as an opportunity to, â€Å"Influence or manipulate others. † (Bolman and Deal p. 307) As stated previously, Information if a powerful tool. In a Political Frame possessing information and having the ability to communicate that formation is key. The problem with Politics is that often information is used destructively rather than constructively. In an organization influencing and manipulating can and usually is a double edged sword. Finally in the fourth frame is the Symbolic Frame is a more organic frame that is seen organizationally as, â€Å"Tribes, theaters, or carnivals. It abandons assumptions of rationality more prominent in other frames. † (Bolman and Deal p. 5) This frame is not widely used because it is so free flowing and actually quite odd that it does not work well in many cases. However, the Symbolic Frame still address communication as a means to, â€Å"tell stories. † (Bolman and Deal p. 307) Telling stories is a way often used to pass along information. Many cultures use stories to educate the next generation and the stories contain information that is important for the next generations to k now and preserve. In organizations, stories, tales and fables should not be seen as appropriate sources of information. Basically, all the frames acknowledge that communication is an essential part of their make-up. The ability to communicate, whether through rules and procedures, meetings and networks or stories is very important in the day-to-day operations of your organization. I now offer a definition of communication as found in Webster’s Dictionary and I will use the definition to further explain the importance of communication and more specifically the communication of information through a coordinated effort. Webster’s Dictionary defines Communication as: : an act of instance of transmitting 2 a: information communicated b: a verbal or written message 3 a: a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior b: personal rapport 4 a: a system for communicating b: a system of routes for moving troops, supplies, and vehicles c: personnel engaged in communicating 5 a: a technique for expressing ideas effectively b: the technology of the transmission of information. Since the beginning of time man has attempted to communicate and as a result communication has constantly been improved. Thoughts, events and information have been recorded and passed along in some form or another for centuries, so you can see how communication is an essential part of everyday life. Knowing this you have to wonder how do we effectively communicate with each other? The above question has become and will always be a huge topic in society. People spend millions of dollars a year on counseling and learning techniques to better communicate with each other. Many people have capitalized on this quest for better communication skills and have become supposed experts in the field of communicating. You hear everyday how you need to be able to communicate better in your relationships, with your friends, peers and in general with everyone. So I look to the above definition to better clarify what exactly is meant by the various definitions of communication as I interpret them. I will use three of the definitions above and concentrate eon how they tie in with the theme of the paper, which is coordination. 2 a: Information communicated. 3 a: a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs or behavior. Finally, 5 b: The technology of the transmission of information. I chose the above three definitions because they tie into a repetitive theme within communication and that is the passing of information. We have discussed in this class, throughout the term, that information is power and those who have information have a definite advantage. In an organization information is key to success. The organization that is able to establish a free flow of information will always be in a better position to succeed because they are in a position to be able to adapt more quickly in times where change is necessary. I am not suggesting that information always leads to change, because the information you receive could very well be that you need to continue what you are doing without changing. In particular I’d like to look at the second definition I chose which talks about information being exchanged through a common system of symbols, signs or behavior and I’d like to focus on behavior because the way your organization is aligned can ultimately affect your communicative behavior. In chapter three of Reframing Organizations we look see two types of coordination, which determine how information is passed and who processes it. The two types of coordination are Vertical and Lateral. Organizations that operate in stable markets and use a product that has little need for change are best suited for a Vertically coordinated organizational system. Organizations that operate in a turbulent environment and require constant change are best suited for a laterally coordinated organization. I will address both types and give an example of each below. In Vertical Coordination we see that the higher levels of management maintain control of information and regulate communications through establishing clear lines of authority, implementing rules and policies, and putting in place planning and control systems. By establishing authority the hierarchy appoints people such as executives, managers and supervisors to be in charge. This core group of people selected to have authority are, â€Å"†¦officially charged with keeping activities aligned with goals. They control by making decisions, resolving conflicts, solving problems, evaluating performance and output, and distributing rewards and sanctions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Bolman and Deal p. 51) I can use my own situation as an example of this. Working in Law Enforcement I fall under a chain of command. In the chain of command I have been appointed a Sergeant. As a Sergeant I am charged with the tasks explained above. I communicate and pass information and orders to my subordinates. I receive my orders form my Commander, who in turn reports to a Captain and it goes right up the chain until it reaches the Sheriff. Information is communicated vertically through the ranks. Our organization aligned very closely with a Structural Frame Format. Not much emphasis is given to the Human Resource Frame, as the needs of the individual are not as much of a concern over the needs of the organization. The Political Frame is limited because the information is coming from the top and being disseminated down the ranks. Information obtained in Law Enforcement is normally transcribed in report format and given out. Information that is important and not given out could result in legal action. There is no chance for the Symbolic Frame to exist because we do not communicate organically nor are we allowed to report in a story fashion. In our private lives we can tell stories and relay information, however on an organizational level we deal strictly with fact. I derive my Authority from the chain of command and am regulated largely by the Policies and Procedures manual that my organization has constructed. The policies and procedures manual gives detailed instructions how to carry out tasks, how to monitor employees performance and conduct investigations. So in my personal career I can see that my organization is Vertically aligned. Information is communicated up and down the chain of command in clear-cut lines. Lateral communication and withholding information is discouraged and can lead to sever punishment. Although new technology is often introduced, the mission of Law Enforcement stays the same. As a result Law Enforcement uses vertical alignment to get information out as quickly and uniformly as possible. The opposite of the vertical form is the Lateral Form of Coordination. In Lateral Coordination several different methods are used to communicate and pass information. Lateral Coordination involves meetings, task forces, coordinating roles, matrix structures, and network organizations to communicate and pass on information. The above listed structures are more flexible and fluid than that of a rigidly defined Vertically Coordinated organization. I will briefly touch on the different methods used in the laterally coordinated systems. Meetings are described as, â€Å"informal communication and formal meetings form the cornerstone of lateral coordination. † (Bolman and deal p. 53) Formal meetings are the normal way stable organizations go about communicating. Simple meetings can used be used to pass along large chunks of information as well as to address new business. As the organization grows in complexity and size, Task Forces are utilized. Task Forces are formed when, â€Å"†¦problems or opportunities require collaboration of a number of specialties or functions. † (Bolman and deal p. 54) Collaboration requires cooperation and cooperation can only exist when there is communication. A Task Force gets a group of specialized people together to accomplish an organizational goal. Coordinating Roles take the talents of individuals and spread them out to help persuade others to accomplish goals. An individual can monitor several different areas to help tie all componets together to make a finished product. Matrix Structures are used when the organization grows very large and crosses several different sectors of the business world. Matrix Structures are very complex and can add a lot of confusion to your organization, which is why they have been used so sparingly. Finally, Networks are now a very common communicative form in organizations. Networks have always been in existence and have grown in usage since the advent of computer technology. Computer networks have the capability of transmitting almost limitless amounts of information immediately to a large-scale group of people. Computer Networks are now one of the most valuable tools an organization can use to communicate. Since an organization that coordinates laterally is generally one that operates in a turbulent and often changing environment it is easy to see why communication is essential. Information must be gathered, analyzed, processed and disseminated as quickly as possible to ensure that you will be able to keep up. An example of an organization that suffered because it failed to properly communicate and respond is the Digital Corporation. Digital Corporation was a leader in the minicomputer industry, however when the market shifted form minicomputers to PC’s they were too tied up in a non-productive coordination system. As a result they wasted valuable time in making the transition to the new technology. The company began to fail and was subsequently bought out by Compaq computers. The technology field, computers in particular, is changing on a daily basis. If you are not able to communicate the need for change based on the information received form current market trends then you are doomed to failure. Digital is a prime example of this concept. All of the above methods of Lateral Coordination are effective, however as with any system there are weaknesses. You must ensured that your resources are being used appropriately and efficiently in order to successfully maintain a more loosely coordinated method, as seen in the Lateral Coordination methodology. When you are not strict and rigid in your controls you run the risk of giving people too much freedom in their actions. Lateral Strategies are effective, however they must be monitored. In Conclusion, the coordinated communication of information within an organization is a key determinate of success versus failure. An organization, even one in a stable environment, must be fluid when it comes to communication. A lack of communication has been shown to result in the untimely delivery of crucial information and since we have identified that information is power, a lack of information will then render you powerless. By employing sound coordination methodologies and organization can better respond to it’s environment. As the environment changes so must the organization. The best way to know if your environment is changing is by properly gather and processing information form the various areas you deal in. Once processed and analyzed the information must quickly be communicated through the appropriate channels to ensure that necessary changes can be made. A breakdown in any one of these areas can and normally will have devastating effects. Many companies have experienced this firsthand. Coordination, Communication and Information are three keys that an organization must embrace in order to survive.