Religious Education Coursework Assignment Essay

COURSEWORK QUESTION: a) (i) What is Hajj? (ii) Describe and explain why a Muslim would take part in Hajj and what this involves [40] b) (i) Explain the meaning and significance of the events of Hajj for a Muslim. (ii) What difficulties might there be for a Muslim performing Hajj? (iii) How might participating in Hajj affect the life of a believer? [35] c) â€Å"A true pilgrimage is really a journey within.† Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have thought about different points of view. You must refer to Islam in your answer. [25] A (i)Hajj is the pilgrimage to Makkah, a Muslim-only city. Tourists aren’t welcome to Makkah; Hajj is for Muslims to get closer to God and isn’t meant to be a tourist attraction. It is the duty of every healthy and financially stable Muslim to complete Hajj once in their lifetime. It is a deeply spiritual journey for the millions of Muslims who complete Hajj every Muslim year, between 8 and 13 Dhul-Hijjah – the final month. Some Muslims may prefer to visit Makkah on a pilgrimage at another time in the year, but this is not considered as important as Hajj, and is called Umrah. Because so many Muslims want to experience Hajj for the first time, those who have done it before often do Umrah instead. Hajj is the fifth of the five pillars of Islam; the basis of the religion. It is meant for the sane and mature Muslim mind, and it is usually considered an honour to die during one’s Hajj, as it is widely believed burial in the city of Makkah will bring Muslims clo ser to their God, and is a good indication of their dedication to Islam. A (ii)Hajj is widely considered essential in order to be a devout Muslim. It is one of the five pillars of Islam which are the biggest and main requirements of the religion. It is considered that Hajj is something of a ticket to heaven in the afterlife. The pilgrimage is to show ones self to Allah, and let him be the judge of character. With a good Hajj comes a peaceful afterlife and paradise. It is not just a physical practice, for true meaning a pilgrim must enter a whole new mindset and way of living, at least for the days of Hajj. This was of living is called Ihram, and is the first obligatory rite of Hajj. All men must wear two white unhemmed sheets so that all look alike, and wealth, age and status in general is not even considered. Whilst in Ihram, Muslims should not argue, swear, kill (even insects!) or participate in a sexual relationship even accompanied by husband or wife. Ihram creates an equilibrium and purity for Hajj. It unites every pilgrim and crates a pure mental canvas solely ready to think about nothing but God. The physical part of Hajj is all about recreating significant and very old events in Islam. First the pilgrims all run or walk quickly around the Ka’bah seven times, if close enough they will touch or kiss it. They then pray close to the Ka’bah, near Maqam Ibrahim. Next the Muslims rush between Marwah and Safa, two hills; seven times. The hills are linked now by a corridor for convenience and safety. After doing this, the pilgrims must make their way to the plain of Arafat, around 20km from Makkah. The pilgrims stand under the sun from midday until sunset praying to Allah, and asking for forgiveness. After this the pilgrims go to Muzdalifah to pray, collect stones and camp overnight. In the morning the pilgrims go to Mina to throw seven stones at three walls. After stoning the walls pilgrims make a sacrifice, often through companies nowadays. The sacrificed animal is the either frozen for future use or given to the poor Muslim community to eat. Men then shave their heads, and women cut off a lock of hair, usually a small amount; a few centimetres or a quarter. Muslims are then allowed to exit Ihram, changing into their normal clothes. They camp at Mina for three nights, and then return to Makkah to walk around the Ka’bah once again. They then drink water from the ZamZam well and their Hajj is complete. They are then a male Hajji, or a female Hajjah. B (i)Carrying out the actions of Hajj is not meaningful without a proper understanding for the ideas behind each procedure. It is all about representing the past and having empathy for Muhammad (PBUH), Ibrahim his son Ismah’il and others. The Ka’bah is a cube-shaped building supposedly first constructed for God by the first man Adam. It was washed away in Noah’s time, but Ibrahim and his son Ismah’il rebuilt it. It is covered in a black cloth called kiswah with verses of the Qu’ran stitched into it. The Ka’bah is rebuilt on the same foundations by the same method when it needs to be, and the cover is re-made every year, after it is cut up and given to some lucky pilgrims as a memento of their journey. The Ka’bah is the very first house of God and many prophets have visited it. It is for this reason that pilgrims feel such closeness and representation to God when they visit it during Hajj. Tawaf is the circling of the Ka’bah seve n times. To begin, the pilgrims can kiss the Black Stone al-hajar-al-aswad or just raise their hands towards it (on the east corner of the courtyard) and recite a prayer. After this the Pilgrims rush around the Ka’bah seven times to represent the fact that their lives revolve around God. It is the first thing that the pilgrims do when they arrive in Makkah. Tawaf is the second rite of Hajj, after Ihram, mentioned earlier. The second event is called the sa’i, where pilgrims rush between the hills Marwah and Safa, to show perseverance and patience. This is what Ibrahim’s wife Hajar did as she desperately searched for aid as her and her thirsty son came close to death in the desert. This part of Hajj can be very tiring and difficult under the blazing sun, despite there being a modern corridor built especially for sa’i. Hajar’s patience was rewarded by God with a spring of water that appeared at her son Ismah’il’s feet, which was named the ZamZam well; today it is in the courtyard of the great Mosque in Makkah. Sa’i is not a compulsory part of Hajj but is usually included in the pilgrimage, and has a deep meaning. The pilgrims travel to Mina, a city of tents near the plain of Arafat. In Ihram, the Muslims are united and equal; they sleep side by side often grouped only by language if anything. All of the pilgrims sleep in tents in their Ihram clothes, poor and rich sleep aside each other as the devout, proud and fellow Muslims of Hajj. The following day the pilgrims travel to Mount Arafat for the most important part of Hajj, where they stand before Allah and ask forgiveness for all of their sins. This is the third obligatory rit e of Hajj. Mount Arafat is also known as the ‘Mount of Mercy’ and is supposed to be where God forgave Adam and Eve for their sins and reunited them, after previously separating them for wrongdoing. Here the Muslims stand before God, the wuquf. The pilgrims stand from midday to sunset praying, weeping and meditating, all under the searing Saudi sun. The afternoon of wuquf is purely concentrated on Allah, and some pilgrims have to rush to make the stand, as without it their Hajj is invalid. Everyone is expected to stand alone and analyse every wrong doing individually, and pray to Allah for forgiveness for their sins. In this rite, repent is essential, and if pilgrims are truly sorry for their sins, it is said they will be completely purified and forgiven by Allah, and can start again, as pure as the day they were born. It is an unforgettable experience and is savoured by every pilgrim. After wuquf, pilgrims travel to camp in Muzdalifah in time for prayers in the evening. Here they usually collect 49 pebbles for the ramy al-jamarat (stoning of the devil) the following day. In 2004 Saudi authorities got rid of the pillars and replaced them with long walls, to make the stoning the devil process easier and therefore safer. Hund reds of people have died in the large crowds all trying to get a good shot at the pillars. On the first day of the process, after a night in Muzdalifah, the first wall is stoned 7 times. The following days each of the three walls has to be stoned 7 times for two consecutive days. This means 49 pebbles are required, but if the pilgrims miss any shots they may need at least 21 extra pebbles to stone all three walls 7 times the following day. This seems like a strange ritual when no background is supporting it, but there is good meaning. Ibrahim was told by God one day he had to sacrifice his son Ismah’il. Ibrahim made his way to the place of sacrifice, abiding Allah’s instruction, after consulting his son who told him to do what he had to. On the way the devil appeared before him first to try and tempt him not to sacrifice his son, and the angel Gabriel, the messenger of God told him to â€Å"pelt him†. Ibrahim threw 7 pebbles at the devil and it disappeared. It soon reappeared along the way, this time representing the temptation of Hajar to stop her husband sacrificing her son to God, and Gabriel told Ibrahim to â€Å"pelt him† again. He did what he was told and threw 7 stones at the devil who once again disappeared. The devil appeared a third time along the road, to tempt Ismah’il to avoid being sacrificed. Gabriel’s order to â€Å"pelt him† was followed by Ibrahim, and the devil then disappeared for the final time. Ibrahim’s loyalty and resistance to the devil was rewarded by God when Ibrahim was told to stop as he prepared to kill his son. He was told by God to sacrifice a ram instead, and Ibrahim’s resistance to temptation paid off. Ramy al-jamarat shows the pilgrim ’s dedication to God’s wishes, and rejection to the temptations of the devil. Most Muslims make a sacrifice after stoning the devil, to recreate Ibrahim’s experience as closely as possible. Because there are so many pilgrims who want to make a sacrifice, there are special companies, who make it on their behalf and feed the poor. What cannot be used immediately to feed the poor Muslim community is frozen and used later. After making a sacrifice, male pilgrims have their heads shaven by a person who is not in Ihram and women have usually around an inch cut off. Pilgrims usually change into their normal clothes and do a single Tawaf; this is the fourth obligatory rite of Hajj. After doing this single Tawaf the Muslims are now officially Hajjis or Hajjahs as a female. They can then return home but most choose to stay and visit other places such as Medina, where the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was buried. B (ii)There are many factors to prevent Muslims going to Hajj. It is said Allah excuses these factors. It is intention or niyyah that counts with the pilgrimage, and when there is something to prevent Muslims from attending it, they will be excused by Allah. The most common circumstance is poverty. There are around 1.4 billion Muslims in the world, and many live in poverty. Lots of Muslims will save up most of their life to do Hajj, and by the time they have enough money to go, they are of old age and aren’t physically able. In this case the Muslim can pay another existing Hajji to attend on their behalf, or donate their savings for Hajj to charity. If they do this they will be blessed as fully as if they had completed Hajj themselves. For those who can’t afford Hajj, they can donate their available savings for Hajj to charity. They will receive the full Hajj benefits also. If a Muslim passes away on their way to carry out Hajj, they will receive the full blessing also, they have died making a commitment to their religion, this shows devotion and niyyah if anything does! Of course there are difficulties that could occur during Hajj. Because around two million pilgrims undergo Hajj every year, and are all dressed in near identical garments, it is very likely that groups will be separated for the period of Hajj. This may seem like a panicking time but Muslims in Ihram will be very sympathetic and helpful with each other in such circumstances, and probably take on new members into their travel groups. The overwhelming feeling of closeness to God on Hajj is enough to eliminate any feelings of worry for the meantime anyhow, so separation doesn’t cause much of a fright. Those unfortunate enough to die during Hajj are proud. It is a blessing to be buried in or near Makkah, close to God. Passing away making commitments to Islam is an honour, and a will is usually written before leaving for Hajj anyway. For those who fear the physical strain of Hajj, or are encouraged not to repeat the journey if they have already, Umrah is the lesser pilgrimage which can be carried out all year round. It involves the seven rotations of the Ka’bah (Tawaf), the Sa’i (Between Marwah and Safa) and a halq or taqsir; which is to cut the hair. Taqsir is shortening hair; halqis the complete head shave. B (iii)Hajj creates equilibrium, and a sympathetic atmosphere among the pilgrims who share the highs and lows of the journey. For most, the journey strengthens and confirms their commitment to Islam. After Hajj, a Muslim is more likely to be more courteous to people in general, and more at ease with life. Once a good Hajj is completed, the afterlife should be more peaceful and happy. Some Muslims like the experience of the pilgrimage so much they move to a Muslim country if they do not live in one already, as they like the convenience and feeling of togetherness and empathy. Hajj strengthens the belief of many Muslims, and if they weren’t a very good Muslim before Hajj, they might feel the need to be more committed to their faith, and practice Islam more regularly. Although for most the pilgrimage of Hajj is a blessing experience, some may have felt let down and disengaged during the journey. For those who could not get into a good Ihram, or feel true belief in God on the mount of mercy; their belief in Islam and Allah may have been hindered. C To me, this statement means that although all of the processes of a pilgrimage are physical, the true idea is the thoughts within the pilgrim’s mind and the intention, empathy and symbolism of what they are doing in the pilgrimage. The vast majority of Hajjis find the sacred journey to Makkah nourishing and feel they have found forgiveness from Allah. As they travel around the different rites of Hajj they cherish the experience and remember the meaning of each process, going back as far as the time of Adam and Eve. They enter a new realm as they stand before God on the Mount of Mercy, are unable to hold in their tears and are swept with emotion. On the other hand, Hajj is purely a physical process for some pilgrims. It isn’t supposed to be, but some can’t get into the frame of mind which is intended during the pilgrimage. The journey is supposed to be emotional, deeply thoughtful and soul cleansing. To some Muslims, their belief may be slightly hampered by the fact they struggle to get into a real Ihram. They will get their money’s worth on the trip and see people from all different cultures following the same rituals, but not feel truly engaged in the experience. Some people might argue that if you go on Hajj, and carry out the same processes as the prophets did, that is adequate in displaying your devotion to Allah and Islam. Some may say the fact that so much is physically required of them in Hajj, that alone shows they are a devout Muslim. Personally, I fully agree with the statement, because I would say that Hajj is a journey to Makkah to carry out the rites, and a true Hajj is a deep and thoughtful journey not only to Makkah, but to the bottom of a pilgrim’s heart. Although carrying out Hajj is a blessing experience cherished by Muslims, it is not truly meaningful unless they feel a certain dedication and spiritual enrichment on their journey.

Information systems management in practice

Information systems management in practice DQ1 Security What information model would you choose for evaluating data security policies at the department level? Why? How would that information model be used?Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Information systems management in practice specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The information model incorporates all departmental data within the organization. Every department has its own data processing technologies, which it uses to conduct analysis. For instance, the finance department has financial data, the marketing department has data on the consumer trends and sales have data on the demand and supply of the product (McKeen, Smith 2009). The role of Data Resource Management model is to network data by providing a central point where data is controlled and regulated such that unauthorized persons cannot access it. The information model must meet the following criteria to be incorporated at the departmental level. T he first one is that the data resources management model must have back up strategies or security measures to ensure that data cannot be lost even when the machines are not in good condition. The Backup may involve having remote computer storage of data. The second criterion is that the Data resource management system must be firewalled to protect the computer systems from malicious software attacks and other encrypted messages. The data resource should be easy to use, which can be done by training the employees working in the data resource management on how to use the system (Alter, 2011). For the departments to succeed in Data Resource Management in an organization, the data resource system must be implemented in three levels. The first level is the strategic level, which involves aligning the data management system with the business strategic goals. This means that if the business plans to be global, the data resource manager must plan how to secure and process the data. The busi ness strategic plan is important when formulating and designing the information technology architecture and processes to be used in the organization. However, the Data Resource Management system may fail to satisfy the increased demand in future.Advertising Looking for coursework on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The second level of evaluating the security as well as the capability of the data resource management is the tactical level (Luftman, 2012). This level involves planning the enterprise resource software to use in data resource management. There is creation of networking infrastructure to connect various departments with in order to create a central data location. The third level of evaluation and implementing data resource system is the where the plans and the decisions made are implemented (McKeen Smith, 2009). DQ2 Value of Data How is the value of information or data assessed at the department level? Does that differ at other levels? The value of information or data in the departmental levels is assessed differently at the departmental level in comparison to the organizational level. The first reason of assessing this information differently is that it must be relevant to the functions of the department. Information that does not relate to the department directly is irrelevant. This differs from the evaluation of information at the organizational level. At the organizational level, all information concerning the organization is of value as it depicts various aspects of the organization. The management needs this information to make decisions. The decisions made by the management must have basis of selective information, that is, information from all departments such as finance, marketing sales, purchasing, and management information systems. The data is therefore valuable to the organization if it relates to the organization and valuable to the department if it relates to the department (Stanford, 2010). At the departmental level, the data assessment is in a number of ways. The first way of assessing the data is by ascertaining the origin of the information. For the information to be considered critical at the departmental level, it must have its origin from within the department. For instance, the information in the finance Data Resource System will have the information about the financial reports of the company generated by the finance department. This information will certainly be crucial to the finance department (Sprague, 2009). Apart from the information generated internally the other assessment criteria regards evaluating information related to the department but generated by other departments. For instance, the finance department may need the sales records from the sales department in order to calculate the profits as well as the cash flow of the organization. Such information is of value to the department although not generated b y the department.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Information systems management in practice specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The other criteria that assign value to information are the information released by the management. For instance, the management may release memos or other instructional policies to the department. Such kind of information is crucial to the department although not generated by the department (Kroenke, 2012). DQ3 Doctoral DNA Theories, models or frameworks that support the topic and the role they play in your research, and how might you find them? Part one The following are the relevant theories that relate to the use of information. The first relevant theory is the coding theory, which involves encoding information to create a code. This theory is the based on the premise that to transmit information from one location to another one needs to create codes or secretive information typos th at prevents the information from being read or used by unauthorized persons. The codes differ depending on the coding methodology (Fazlollah, 2010). Part two There are two types of coding. The first one is the lossless data compression where the compressed data is not lost. The other is the loss data compression whereby the information is coded into bits, which is the universal data language and then transmitted to the networks. Once it gets to the destination, the recipient can encode the data and use it. The other theory is the channel capacity theorem that emphasizes on coding information as it goes through the transmission channel such that the noise within the channel will have little or no impact on the information transmitted over the channels (Fazlollah, 2010). These theories play a vital role as the research may focus on whether they apply in the data resource management. The research seeks to identify the theory or models that data resource managers use to encrypt informat ion through the networks when sharing data. One may also establish whether these methods have been effective in protecting the information from being accessed by unauthorized persons. The research identifies the challenges faced in implementing the data resource system based on the excellence of the company (Stanford, 2010). These two theories are imperative in assessing and implementing data management strategies because they determine the method to be used when encrypting or coding data. It is also necessary in formulating the necessary data in the organization to create a good system that will help the company receive and disseminate data between the departments. The methods used in encrypting and protecting data determine whether unauthorized persons may access it.Advertising Looking for coursework on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Review of Marine Corps Recruiting Information System department’s data security policy and recommend improvements Introduction The following discussion is about Marine Corps Recruiting Information System department’s data security policy. It examines the risks and threats related to the policy in the organization. It also looks into the data recovery plan of the organization in cases of lost data. It provides information on how the risk analysis and data recovery plan affects the information technology department and what may need improvement in future to deal with threats and challenges The Marine Corps recruiting information system department deals with the recruitment of the Marine Corps into the Marine Corps services in the United States of America. The department is critical as it has information about the recruitment of the Marine Corps staff working throughout the country. The department processes online applications about development in the country (Clemons, 20 12). This means that the department is susceptible to malware in the company. The malware are computer viruses that destroy computer programs. The computers of this department are also susceptible to the spyware especially because they deal with issues of defense. The spyware software monitors the use of computers in the department of defense. They are dangerous as they can expose vital information regarding the security issues. The malware may acquire passwords details enabling hackers to access the system and distort facts and information about recruitment (Schiesser, 2010). The spyware may also expose vital information about the staff working in the marine department to the terrorists and people with malicious intentions. It may also expose the system such that the selection system recruits incompetent people to work in the Marine Corps. The other security issue or risk in this department is the cyber terrorists where the department may be a target of cyber terrorists who disrupt Marine Corps department activities to delay recruitment. In addition, they ensure that there is a military workforce problem thereby making the country susceptible to terrorist’s attacks (Beynon, 2009). Data recovery plan There are situations where the department must have data recovery procedure. The instances that lead to loss of data make the department susceptible. For example, the department location is susceptible to the thunderstorms, lightening and other natural calamities that may lead to physical destruction of the data storage location. If there are no mechanisms to recover the data lost, there will be an absolute loss of vital defense information. The second instance relates to cyber attacks or instances where malware, virus or spyware access the data thereby destroying the programs and other vital information managed by the department. This may led to loss of data if there is no other place where data is stored and protected (David, 2010). The other risk relates to the employees working in the department as they can also hack the information system thereby accessing unauthorized information. This means that department must have policies on how to protect the data internally from access by unauthorized persons who may access private information about the department and affect recruitment of new employees. This can be prevented by having passwords and biosensor security interfaces that sense the person operating the machine such that no unauthorized person access information (David, 2010). When dealing with data resource management in the department of Marine Corps recruiting information system department’s data security policy and recommend improvements, there are several ways of recovering data. The first one is that the department has remote computers that store the data and are not in the same physical location (Sprague, 2009). Any data transmitted to the data storage computers goes directly to the remote computers for storage. Th is ensures that in case of an attack in the location of the computers or electronic systems storing data the department can recover the data stored in the remote locations (Stanford, 2010). The other data recovery mechanism involves creation of back up discs to store small amounts of data in the computers affected by viruses and malware software. This data helps the department to create a good strategy of preserving the information so that it can be accessed in future. The computers also have firewall protection to prevent dissemination of vital information from the data centers to any other unauthorized location (OBrien, 2011). The effect of the risk analysis and recovery plan on the Marine Corps Recruiting information systems The risk analysis is imperative to this department as it ensures that unauthorized person cannot access the department’s vital information. The risk assessment also creates awareness of the risks that exist concerning data management. It exposes loopho les that may serve as an opening to the malware, spyware and other malicious information programs intended to harm the operations of the department (Sprague, 2009). To deal with this problem, the recovery plan involves ensuring that the computers have firewall applications to prevent entry of unintended programs and codes that are intended to harm the computers and data storage facilities. After ensuring that there is firewall protection, the computers must have antivirus programs to delete such programs once detected. The antivirus should be updated once it expires so that it does not become virus to the computers. To ensure that there is no loss of data because of natural calamities the Data Resource Management System use automatic remote updating technology that updates additional information to the remote computer every hour. This ensures that there cannot be absolute loss of data stored in the departments’ data management system. The other strategy is to have data stored in discs that are stored in secure places such that if there is a problem that affects one computer and not the whole system, the data in the computer can be recovered from the remote data saving discs for the computer (Cabral, 2010). Conclusion Data recovery is an imperative operation of the Data Resource Management. Every manager should ensure that the data in the company is safe and can be retrieved when need arise. The creation of the data recovery department in the company ensures that there is an appropriate way to of dealing with data losses. No data would be lost if the data resource manager constantly evaluates the risks and data recovery plans. The management should be informed that any data lost in the company affect the operations as well as the output. The employees should be informed about how to maintain safety of the data to avoid any loss. References Alter, S. (2011). The work system method: connecting people, processes, and it for business results. California: Wor ks System Press. Beynon, P. (2009). Business information systems. Basingstoke: Palgrave Press. Cabral, J. (2010). Is there need for data resource management? The Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communication, 2, 5-13. Clemons, K. (2012). IS for sustainable competitive advantage. Information Management, 11, 131-136. David, C. (2010). Information theory, inference, and learning algorithms. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Fazlollah, R. (2010). An introduction to information theory. New York: McGraw-Hill. Kroenke, D. (2012). Experiencing management information system. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Lindsay, J. (2010). Information Systems – Fundamentals and Issues. London: Kingston University Press. Luftman, J. N. (2012). Managing the information technology resource: Leadership in the information age (12th edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. McKeen, J. D. Smith, H. (2009). IT strategy in action. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. OB rien, J. (2011). Management information systems. New York: McGraw-Hill, Irwin. Schiesser, R. (2010). IT systems management (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Sprague, R. (2009). Information systems management in practice (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Stanford, G. (2010). Information theory. New York: Prentice Hall.

Robert Mondavi Corp. †Executive Summary

Robert Mondavi Corp. – Executive Summary Free Online Research Papers The purpose of this report is to provide the Executive team with a series of recommendations to minimize the impact of the current production deficit of our Chilean joint venture, Caliterra, and therefore minimize lost revenue. This report also aims to provide recommendations to put in place an infrastructure that will support the Mondavi Corporation’s strategy of growth through international expansion. Since the inception of the joint venture between the Mondavi and the Errazuriz wineries, sales have been extremely positive. The outlook for Caliterra remains positive, with sales estimated to increase 20% in the coming year, it is important due to the negative impact of poor weather conditions and a phylloxera outbreak on Mondavi’s California harvest coupled with the drought conditions in Europe. Acknowledging that we cannot rely on the opening of our new winery at La Arboleda within 10 months, below are my recommendations to minimize lost revenue while putting in place the infrastructure to take advantage of increased harvest sizes predicted by the Wine Availability Reports: ? Appoint a joint Caliterra-Mondavi project team to oversee the build of the La Arboleda winery with the project goal to complete within 10 months; ? Approve financial and contractual terms with the â€Å"lost merlot† winery for the investment and implementation of modern equipment and technology to be installed within six months; ? Organize a Mondavi based team to oversee modernization of the â€Å"lost merlot† winery and subsequent fermentation; and ? Move the less premium wine to the lost merlot† winery for production replacing the higher end Merlot. Analysis Poor quality control and the â€Å"lost merlot† are two of the underlying root causes of our involvement with Caliterra. After entering into the joint venture, we quickly discovered that the focus on cost versus quality was very different. The focus was in part due to the traditional market that Chilean wine was marketed to – locals who preferred value for money over product quality and also due to the operational and cultural differences between Mondavi and Caliterra. Quality has always been critical to Mondavi and it will continue to be, even in our Chilean operations. The analysis below is aligned with each of the recommendations. La Arboleda winery is currently scheduled for completion in 2000 based on a conservative project plan. There are a number of geographical and logistical challenges that need to be addressed in progressing with the build, namely accessibility and supply of water and utilities. In order to complete the project in a 10 month period in time for the Caliterra harvest, we need to acceleration the above geographical and logistical challenges, which will increase costs in the short term. However, the cost increase (estimated at 11% compared with the current build timeline and budget) will be more than offset by the additional production capacity it will provide in the future. La Arboleda would be able not only be able to accommodate the five million liter shortfall we currently have but also the harvest projections deliver the needs from the Wine Availability reports for the foreseeable future. To successfully complete the build we need to have the correct management team in place and to motivate workforce. The ideal management team should be a mix of Mondavi and Caliterra staff, bringing the wine growing expertise and quality control procedures of Mondavi while taking advantage of local staff to bridge the cultural and linguistic challenges. A portion of the planned additional expenditure is allocated to bonuses payable to the workforce and management team upon successful completion of the winery in 10 months. Lastly, we need to understand the benefits of using the â€Å"lost merlot† winery. There is not enough time to use or to buy a competing winery that has a successful infrastructure to manufacture wine to our quality levels. Aiding the â€Å"lost merlot† winery will initiate discussions surrounding a future reduced price for wine in exchange for modern technology and processes. All of the above will help in reducing any net cost to Mondavi over a five year period. Recommendations The ability to take advantage of the growth within the Caliterra brand and the Errazuriz wines is crucial; therefore immediate additional capacity resources need to be discovered. ? Appoint a joint Caliterra-Mondavi project team, one that understands both the culture and the quality constraints needed to succeed. The construction of the La Arboleda winery project will be aimed for completion within 10 months. When completed, La Arboleda will have all the capacity to produce all the ultra-premium product while the remaining wineries handle the lower end product and overflow. ? As a long term and contingency plan we need to agree to financial and contractual terms with the â€Å"lost merlot† winery for the provision of modern equipment and technology to be installed within six months. The improved technology includes standing a team from Mondavi to oversee the modernization of the â€Å"lost merlot† winery and subsequent fermentation process. These improvements will bring the standards to the winery up par with the Errazuriz and surrounding wineries. Additionally it will be a fail safe if the La Arboleda project slips its deadline for completion and will give us additional capacity for short term and long term growth. ? Move the less premium wine to the â€Å"lost merlot† winery for production helps our business control the quality of the higher end product by keeping in within the Errazuriz wineries walls. By avoiding these risks, the higher margin product would get the attention it needed compared to the earlier â€Å"lost merlot† example and leave the lower end product for the â€Å"lost merlot† winery, where the quality will not be as crucial immediately. Conclusion In conclusion, to minimize the impact of the current production deficit of our Chilean joint venture, we need to act immediately by moving forward with the La Arboleda project as well as aiding the â€Å"lost merlot† winery by â€Å"Mondavi-izing† it. This will give us the capacity we need and will support the Mondavi Corporation’s strategy of growth through international expansion. Following these recommendations will be set up to win for years to come! Research Papers on Robert Mondavi Corp. - Executive SummaryThe Project Managment Office SystemAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanOpen Architechture a white paperIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfPETSTEL analysis of IndiaAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeLifes What Ifs

Euthyphro Concept of Holiness and Piety

Euthyphro Concept of Holiness and Piety Introduction The dialogue between Socrates and Euthyphro in front of the King Archon’s court presents two individuals in an argument on how to define and comprehend holiness. The two were to attend court hearings on different cases. During their discussion, they reveal to each other reasons why they are to appear in court.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Euthyphro: Concept of Holiness and Piety specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Burrington (n.d.), Socrates was to attend a court hearing in which Meletus accused him of distracting the attention of young people from believing in the gods that the state religion recognized. Instead, Socrates was propagating the belief in new gods. On the other hand, Euthyphro was at the court to file a case against his father, who, he argued, had caused his family and friends be unkind to him. The father had placed a servant who murdered one of the slaves in isolation t o prevent the sin from spreading around. Later, the servant died even before the messenger could report on what religious steps could be taken against the servant. Euthyphro explained that it was wrong, in line with his accepted beliefs, to protect a manslayer. In addition, he said that his actions would prevent poisoning his father’s associates. According to Socrates, it was a taboo to lodge harmful proceedings against one’s father. However, Euthyphro claimed that family relationships were not important when a man was unjustly murdered (Geach, 1966, p.369). This paper examines the attempts at providing a logically sound and universal definition of piety as they are presented in Plato’s dialogue Euthyphro. Socrates’ aims Socrates wanted to understand the interpretation of the term holiness from other people’s standpoint. This step could help him in defending himself at the court (God, 2009). Socrates wanted to gage whether his action of preaching t o the youths to accept foreign gods could be viewed as holy or not. He also wanted to know whether his act was appeasing or annoying all the gods, and whether it was right or wrong. The concept of holiness also took major position, as Socrates wanted Euthyphro to evaluate his decision of accusing his father of murder. In the dialogue, Socrates aimed at making Euthyphro back his actions with solid religious premises. According to Socrates, many people have confused religious actions that are wrong or right, as they argue from archaic religious contexts. Remarkably, these two characters were faced with cases, which required deep philosophical explanations and comprehension. The first definition Socrates requested Euthyphro to define what is meant by piety. In his first response, Euthyphro defended his ‘religious’ actions by alluding that even Zeus punished his father the same way.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your f irst paper with 15% OFF Learn More Socrates refuted this response by saying that even though it can be genuine, the exemplification cannot be part of the definition. Therefore, Euthyphro needs to understand the difference between what he considers religious, and what he considers moral. Further, Socrates adds that he had difficulties in comprehending how misunderstanding arises among the gods. The second definition In the second definition, Euthyphro suggested that pious is what pleases the gods (God, 2009). Socrates finds that this definition is much more logical since it appeals to generalization, rather than one particular example (Koukl, n.d.). He mentions that he needs to find a formulation that could serve as a standard against which people could measure all their acts, and see whether they have acted piously or not. The idea that Socrates presents is a very important one, and it lies at the core of the method that we try to use when governing our society. We n eed an objective formulation of our laws and regulations to be able to tell with confidence if someone has broken them. However, despite the fact that the definition is logically more valuable, Socrates responded by indicating that what is appealing to one god could be unappealing to another god. Therefore, this definition tells us little about the essence of piousness. The third definition Euthyphro felt frustrated and defined piety as that which pleases all the gods. This definition prompted Socrates to ask Euthyphro the question, â€Å"Is what is pious loved by (all) the gods because it is already pious, or is it pious merely because it is something loved by them?† (Burrington, n.d.). Socrates is aware that if an act is pious just because gods love it, then we know nothing about what piety in itself is. This idea is a bit difficult to grasp, but it might help if it is viewed through examples. For instance, Socrates mentions that there is nothing in the essence of a carried thing that is determined by that particular condition in which it temporally finds itself. Similarly, gods may love an action, but that action is not in its essence pious for that reason, it is rather in a state of being loved and nothing more. One might think that Socrates is chasing unimportant nuances here, but what he is really doing is indicating how precise we have to be in defining our laws and morals if we want to be able to condemn someone of breaking them. The fourth definition In an attempt of providing a better definition, Socrates appeals to logic and the relations between notions. He tries to define the notion of piety as belonging in its entirety to the notion of justice. He and Euthyphro agree that piety belongs to the domain of justice, but this does not mean that every just action is at the same time pious. They locate several types of behaviours that can be regarded as morally right, but do not belong to the domain of piety; for example, caring for other human be ings. The next thing that is necessary for a good definition, in Socreates’ view, is to differentiate pious acts from other just or ethical acts. However, he does not seem to be able to find such a characteristic that makes pious acts stand apart (Burrington, 2012, p.3). What I also find necessary when defining piety in such a way is to provide a formulation of justice or moral rightness which is an incredibly difficult task in its own right; however, Socrates and Euthyphro do not try to accomplish that.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Euthyphro: Concept of Holiness and Piety specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Final attempts at definition In the end , Euthyphro makes two more attempts at giving Socrates a satisfactory answer. Firstly, he argues that when acting piously, people look after the gods. Socrates immediately spots that such a definition would imply that in each particular action people contribute to o ne particular god which makes him stand out from the rest of the gods, which is something that gods forbid. Secondly, Euthyphro also mentions that humans act piously in order to satisfy gods so that they could pray to gods, and expect them to grant their wishes in return (Burrington, 2012, p. 3). Following Kant’s deontology, I would say that if this were true, it would move the notion of piety from the domain of morality to the domain of rationality. This is because if one performs an action in order to profit from it, then it is a merely rational action, which involves no moral value. Kant says that an action counts as moral only if a person performs it because they feel that it is their duty to act in that particular manner (Kant Pluhar 2002). When finally pressed to present overtly what is at the core of piety, Euthyphro again puts forth the idea about piety being intrinsically connected to what gods love, which means that the conversation ends with a version of the third definition. Conclusion Socrates’s objective in this dialogue was to show Euthyphro that there are different perspectives of viewing or understanding a concept. In that light, he wanted to understand the religious expert’s argument, and widen his points of argument. This was Socrates’ intention because he assumed the role of a student or learner in the dialogue. From this scenario, Euthyphro was fully  able to give his understanding of piety and morality. In the dialogue, Socrates played a passive role, so he could allow Euthyphro to respond to his questions, and then he offered suggestions to provoke further response from Euthyphro. There is no point at which Euthyphro asked Socrates questions. In my opinion, holiness refers to a state or an act that is morally right in itself and that the gods love. The definition fails to give the level or point at which an act qualifies to be morally right. Who qualifies an act as morally right? Is it not the people? Is wh at is morally right loved by gods precisely in order to make it morally right? On the other hand, is it morally right because people have accepted it to be so? In most cases morals are defined differently as each person has their own set of standards they govern themselves by. There are individual differences in people’s arguments, cultures, perceptions, and understanding.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Summary In the dialogue Euthyphro, Socrates tries to reach a universal and logically sound definition of piety which could stand as a standard against which people could measure all their actions, and be able to tell with absolute precision whether the action is pious. He does so through his famous dialectical method in which he only asks questions, and together with the interlocutor tries to arrive at truth. He points out that it is wrong to define notions through examples because such definitions are of little use in different situations. Socrates also mentions that a definition needs to be universal, and that claiming that an action is pious just because it is appreciated by one god is not enough to define piety since the same action can be hated by another god. After that, in the second definition, he claims that defining notions through their external states is also wrong since a good definition needs to capture the essence of the thing itself. The idea that one can appeal to t he relationships of superiority and subordination between notions as in the case of saying that piety is subordinate to justice is also presented in the dialogue. In the end, final definition is not reached, but the reader has learned a lot about all the different factors that have to be taken into account when trying to define an abstract concept. References Burrington, D. E. (n.d.). Guides to the Socratic Dialogues: Platos Euthyphro. Hartwick College. Retrieved from http://users.hartwick.edu/burringtond/dialogues/euthyphro.html Geach, P. (1966). PLATOS EUTHYPHRO: An Analysis and Commentary. The Monist, 50(3), 369-382. God, F. (2009, April 23). Socrates versus Euthyphro. No Double Standards. Retrieved from http://impartialism.blogspot.com/2009/04/socrates-versus-euthyphro.html Kant, I., Pluhar, W. S. (2002). Critique of practical reason. Indianapolis: Hackett Pub. Co. Koukl, G. (n.d.). Stand to Reason: Euthyphros Dilemma. Stand to Reason: Stand to Reason Homepage. Retrieved from h ttps://www.str.org/

Organisational Behaviour of Nestle Company Essay

Organisational Behaviour of Nestle Company - Essay Example The management of day-to-day activities is handled by executive board members. This report aims at giving a detailed analysis and discussion of how the organization is managed and specifically, to how it manages teams and how it makes decisions. This is to evaluate whether the company management practices are in line with management theory as pertains to teamwork and decision making. As such, the report will discuss theory on effective teams and decision making in organizations, examine how the company actually conducts those practices, establish the gap between theory and practice and finally, make recommendations on best practice. I have not worked for the company before but I have researched and obtained enough information to guide the analysis from the company website and other sources such as former employees. BUILDING AND MANAGING EFFECTIVE TEAMS IN THE WORKPLACE EXPECTED Rosenhauer (2005 p. 36) defines a team as â€Å"people who work together in close proximity with each othe r and who interact with other teams in the workplace.† A team is formed to carry out a specific goal. A team can be functional or cross-functional depending on the organization structure and also on the management principles. A functional team comprises of members of same department or who carry out similar functions while cross-functional teams are formed by employees from different functions. Whatever the type of the team, its effectiveness is very crucial in ensuring organizational success. An effective team has various defining characteristics. First, it must have clear purpose or expectations (Heathfield, 2012). While building the team, management should explain to the team what is... This essay aims at giving a detailed analysis and discussion of how the organization is managed and specifically, to how it manages teams and how it makes decisions. This is to evaluate whether the company management practices are in line with management theory as pertains to teamwork and decision making. As such, the essay also aims to discuss theory on effective teams and decision making in organizations, examine how the company actually conducts those practices, establish the gap between theory and practice and finally, make recommendations on best practice. The researcher have not worked for the company before, but he has researched and obtained enough information to guide the analysis from the company website and other sources such as former employees. At Nestle Company, most of the tasks are performed by various departments such as research and development, management, human resources and production. As such, each department works as a team in order to achieve the overall objec tive of the organization. Effective teamwork and sound decision making are key to organization success. Nestle has been successful in various areas but still more needs to be done if it needs to be recognized as a world leader in Nutrition, Health and Wellness and be trusted by all its stakeholders. Nestle has a culture of shared values which guides all its actions but sometimes it may hinder success. Nestle needs to engage employees by involving them in decision making and also train the management on team management and decision making skills.

The Effects of Global Warming on the United States and Sudan Essay

The Effects of Global Warming on the United States and Sudan - Essay Example Global warming has similar negative effects on human rights issues because of its impacts on health and water and food security in the U.S. and Sudan, but Sudan experiences a different negative effect of potentially greater conflict because of the scarcity of basic needs. The history of human rights in Sudan and the U.S. are dissimilar in values because they have different human rights conditions. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides basic guidelines for all nations regarding the establishment and protection of equal human rights. The U.S. has a Constitution and Bill of Rights that aim to promote basic human rights, as well as access to civil and political freedoms. After the Civil Rights Movement, equality laws and other laws reinforced equality and banned discrimination of any form. The U.S. also has a vision of environmental justice that is essential to environmental rights. In 1994, President Bill Clinton issued Executive Order 12898 that mandated federal agencies to pursue environmental justice (Dawson 326). Six years afterwards, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued instructions for the state agencies, so that they can handle environmental justice lawsuits (Dawson 326). This movement declined under the Bush administrati on because of the dominance of business interests, while Obama returned the importance of environmental concerns (Dawson 326). Based on the history of human rights and environmental issues in the U.S., it has been a series of ups and downs on the basis of environmental rights, although basic rights and freedoms are relatively stable since human rights and freedoms are instituted through equality and other similar laws. The U.S. generally supports the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Sudan, on the opposite, experiences a troubled human rights history. Human rights in Sudan became harder to access since 2012 because of the

The Role Of Morality In Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Role Of Morality In Society - Essay Example Among the theories used include normative or rather ethical theories while deciding on how an action is likely to implicate a society such as utilitarianism. This refers to the application of reasoning while taking use of the senses. One thus makes his own judgment based on how he’s likely to benefit from his action. Some may however be driven by greed thus implying their action may never replicate positivity to the society. The society however has its own view owing to believe that actions done ought to as well be meaningful to the wider society (Gray, 2010). Discrimination is thus rarely championed during its application. Philosophers however tried to justify their own ideologies regarding this issue rarely agreeing at some point. One would agree with this point moral decision made rarely equated or rather meant the action implemented was right. Thus the outcome realized mattered as it too had the ability to signify its intensity whether it was of merit. A lot can be derived from this theory; owing to its ability to bar men from resulting to, bad tendencies such as killing, stealing and other evil. In order to curb the vice leaders ought to be courageous while educating people on their rightful place in society on their rite thus acting as a form of empowerment. While doing so any activity likely to harm their well being is discouraged and could be useful when cautioning societies from practicing immoral behavior rarely adding value to the society (Gert, 1988). Aristotelian Ethical Virtues A cording to Aristotelian ethical virtues was likely to be made up of two distinct parts. In one of his perception he argued that the ultimate thing was to attain happiness at an individual level. This thus compelled people to embrace good behavior likely to lead to its materialization. One however needed to keep observing certain habits. People’s attitudes were also likely to dictate their behavior. During certain situations some are likely to be compelled to act differently than it could be the norm; while experiencing peace it’s unlikely to see a nation result to attacking another but could be compelled in a situation of war. Such an action is simply due to the need for security. His perception was however limited now that it rarely had the big picture of the other population in mind; rather it was based on self gratification thus leading to selfishness now that their interest were never captured (Nussbaum, 1987). Pleasure was central in his light but rarely does it add value to life owing to the plight of pleasure lovers at times dying poor while pursuing their ambition. Rules were thus rarely used while arriving at morally accepted norms when such a theory is applied. He however also spearheaded a notion on the importance of balance which in this case avoided extremes thus making it a general rule. Unrelenting effort demonstrated by players while striving at development have aided in bringing about a transformation. As a resu lt amenities are set and given a high priority while the solo aim is to ensure value addition to the surrounding communities some of which may have been disadvantaged. Factors leading to such development could be due to there being little resources yet they too ought to be well managed to facilitate a transformation. This calls for both government and the private sector cooperation while coming up with formidable policies to aid in attaining such an objective. While may be