This is a group work. The part which I am doing is about HP.com. Look Essay

This is a group work. The part which I am doing is about HP.com. Look at Assignment criteria, and write in the form of 12 sub - Essay Example The company’s global operations have been said to e directed from California’s Palo Alto in the US, which is its headquarters. On the other hand, its US operations have often been directed from special facility within Texas’ unincorporated Harris County near Houston. The Latin American offices to this company are situated within Florida’s unincorporated Miami-Dade County, in Medellin Columbia near Miami (Hennessey and Jeannette, 2004). In Europe, its offices are in Switzerland’s Meyrin close to Geneva. In Asia-Pacific, its offices are located in Singapore. Moreover, it possesses large operations within Plano, Texas, San Diego, Colorado, Fort Collins, California, Roseville, Idaho and Boise. Within the United Kingdom, HP bases itself on a considerably large site within Bracknell, Berkshire with the offices having been located within several locations including a landmark tower office within London’s 88 Wood Street. The company’s websites is created to be accessed by every individual within the globe without any issues, with the delivery services being executed upon order from consumers. Overall Strategy HP’s recent strategic move might be referred to have been out rightly outstanding. Its decision to do away with the hardware systems and lay focus upon enterprise software, appropriately waved the white flag, as well as ceded the dramatically changing personal computing business into Apple when it made public its intentions of jettisoning its customer hardware division together with scrapping its poorly selling mobile product line so as to concentrate on business services (Dorfler & Heuveline, 2007). According to a variety of analysts, HP’s move seems to have been an original idea of an outsourcing powerhouse IBM, having continuously bundled the hardware that it no longer owns to its outsourcing deals. This has been considered HP’s ‘appropriate correction’ within the industry, exiti ng the markets where it could be attaining a hiding and concentrating on the enterprise clients that desire for alternatives to the giant powerhouse, IBM. In case it technically rids itself off the computer business, it might offer the customers who might be wary of outsourcer, thus pushing its own hardware an impression that it is vendor-agnostic (2007). Marketing Strategy The company seems to be taking transformative, bold steps in order to drive the creation of long term value of shareholders through a concentration of fewer fronts, thus improving its capability of executing, investing in innovation and driving a higher margin business mix. However, it is clear that actual transformation within the outsourcing industry calls for more than just shifting the dollars from hardware devices to software devices. Although laying focus on software and other services might not necessarily enhance those sectors in the future, but it enables the company to concentrate on a particular consum er base and fully satisfy their desires within an industry that is less saturated and less competitive; the outsourcing industry (Burkett, 2002). However, the move to outsource its business cannot guarantee that the company would not be faced any competition. In fact, stiff competition might be posed by the Indian based companies like Cognizant, Infosys and may others. In order to fight back, the company possesses a majority stake within Mphasis, the Indian IT service provider and could

Critique Of The Film Avatar Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Critique Of The Film Avatar - Movie Review Example Using the "avatar" technology of a human being mentally projecting via computer-assisted means to assume the form and identity of a genetically grown, alien life form of a Na'vi tribesman, an 18 foot tall indigenous resident of the imaginary exo-planet Pandora. Cameron creates an entire ecology with imaginary plant species, a tribal people with their own native mythology, as well as the personal relationships and political dynamic of the story, to give the science fiction film incredible depth which is rendered in 3-D by the most advanced computer CGI and IMAX technologies. In ‘Avatar’, Sam Worthington plays the character ‘Jake Sully' who is a paraplegic marine who has lost the use of his legs but is sent to the far-away planet of Pandora for an avatar experiment being conducted to communicate with the native population. The plot and conflict revolve around a corporation which wishes to exploit the mineral resources of Pandora, and the scientists led by Sigourney W eaver's character who are studying the Na'vi people and the exo-planet of Pandora from an academic perspective. The corporation is portrayed as greedy and imperialistic, having employed a private mercenary force to clear the area of the 18-foot tall natives.The cinematography of ‘Avatar’ is truly where the innovation in filmmaking is taking place, because this environment is entirely digitally created from CGI technology, with the human movement and characters edited into the computer environment via blue-screen filming.... sted means to assume the form and identity of a genetically grown, alien life form of a Na’vi tribesman, an 18 foot tall indigenous resident of the imaginary exo-planet Pandora. Cameron creates an entire ecology with imaginary plant species, a tribal people with their own native mythology, as well as the personal relationships and political dynamic of the story, to give the science fiction film incredible depth which is rendered in 3-D by the most advanced computer CGI and IMAX technologies. In ‘Avatar’, Sam Worthington plays the character ‘Jake Sully’ who is a paraplegic marine who has lost the use of his legs, but is sent to the far-away planet of Pandora for an avatar experiment being conducted to communicate with the native population. The plot and conflict revolves around a corporation which wishes to exploit the mineral resources of Pandora, and the scientists led by Sigourney Weaver’s character who are studying the Na’vi people an d the exo-planet of Pandora from an academic perspective. The corporation is portrayed as greedy and imperialistic, having employed a private mercenary force to clear the area of the 18-foot tall natives. The teams of scientists in the avatar program entered the bodies of genetically grown Na’vi people and were able to use machines so that their consciousness transferred to the avatar bodies in a type of dream. The director Cameron filmed the actors in a digital blue-screen environment where the computers generated the characters through a very advanced, high-resolution form of animation. In this manner the use of actors to drive the shapes and sound of computer animation through virtual characters and imaginary landscapes built through CGI in production represents the talent of expression that actors such as Zoe Saldana

Management Strategies in Healthcare

Management Strategies in Healthcare 1.1 List factors under the control of healthcare managers that contribute to the decrease in the number of people applying to health professions schools. Describe the steps that healthcare organizations can take to improve this situation. The factors that contribute to the decrease in the number of people applying to health professions schools can be identified through making use of an environmental assessment. Environmental assessment is a vital element of strategic human resources management. Factors affecting the healthcare environment are as follows: increasing workforce diversity, aging workforce, shortages, different changes in terms of the values and attitudes of the workers, and advancement of technology (Fried Fottler, 2011). Managers are expected to have the knowledge both on the present and future operating environments. He or she must assess the internal strengths and weaknesses for him or her to formulate plans based from the results of the assessment. They responded to these factors through the different internal structural change, which includes the following: development of network structure, collaborating with healthcare systems, participating in mergers and acquisition, developing work teams, developing quality improvement, making use of telecommunication, leasing the employees, outsourcing work, making use of additional temporary or contingent workers, and forming medical tourism (Fried Fottler, 2011). The strategic approach to human resource management that can be used to improve this situation are as follows: assessment on both the organization’s environment and mission, formulating a business strategy, identifying the different HR requirements needed to implement business strategy, comparing the current HR inventory to future strategic requirements in terms of numbers and required skills, developing HR strategy to close the gap on both the current inventory and future requirements, and implementing appropriate HR practices to strengthen the business strategy (Fried Fottler, 2011). The seven HR managements can also be used to intervene the given situation. These includes the following: providing employment security, using different criteria during the selection of personnel, making use of self-managed teams and taking decentralization to be the basic elements of organizational design, offering a high compensation, training extensively, reducing status distinction and barriers, and sharing performance and financial information (Fried Fottler, 2011). References Fried, B., Fottler, M. (2011). Fundamentals of Human Resources in Healthcare. Health Administration Press, Chicago, IL. AUPHA Press, Washington D.C. 1.2 What are the organizational advantages of integrating strategic management and human resources management? What are the steps involved in such an integration? The advantages of integrating strategic management and human recourse management are as follows (Fried Fottler, 2011): Proactive behavior is encouraged rather than reactive behavior. Company goals are communicated explicitly. Gaps between the current situation and a vision of the future are focused on. Line managers are involved in the human resource planning process. Human resource opportunities and constraints are identified in implementing strategic plans. In addition to that, it also improves clinical outcomes, enhances service quality, increases market share, and improve financial returns (Fried Fottler, 2011). The strategic approach to human resource management steps are as follows: assessment on both the organization’s environment and mission, formulating a business strategy, identifying the different HR requirements needed to implement business strategy, comparing the current HR inventory to future strategic requirements in terms of numbers and required skills, developing HR strategy to close the gap on both the current inventory and future requirements, and implementing appropriate HR practices to strengthen the business strategy (Fried Fottler, 2011). References Fried, B., Fottler, M. (2011). Fundamentals of Human Resources in Healthcare. Health Administration Press, Chicago, IL. AUPHA Press, Washington D.C. 2.1 Describe the process of professionalization. What is the difference between a profession and an occupation? Use what you do as an example. Professionalization is considered as a social process by which there is a transformation of any trade or occupation into a real profession. The process includes developing acceptable qualifications, a professional body, or even an association that will oversee the conduct of members of the profession. This process tends to develop the group norms of conduct and insists that the members of the profession must follow with the developed procedures and of any agreed code of conduct (Crossman, 2014). The difference between these two terms is important because healthcare continues to evolve. The terms occupation and profession are usually used interchangeably; however, these terms can be differentiated. Occupation is one’s principal activity and means of support. High skilled specialization is not required. It is usually supervised, follows to a defined work schedule, and earns an hourly wage. A person in an occupation is usually trained for a particular job or function, and because of this, they are less able to transfer from one organization to another (Fried Fottler, 2011). In profession, knowledge and training are required. They have more authority and responsibility compared with non-professionals. They follow a code of ethics. In addition to that, they have more autonomy in determining the content of service he or she provides as well as in monitoring his or her workload. Furthermore, a professional earns a salary, obtains a higher education, and works in independence and mobility compared with a nonprofessionals (Fried Fottler, 2011). In my own personal experience, I am a professional nurse. I was able to finish 4years of Bachelor of Science in Nursing. As a professional nurse, I underwent trainings, follow a code of ethics, and passed a state licensure examination to practice my profession. References Crossman, A. (2014). Professionalization. Retrieved from http://sociology.about.com/od/P_Index/g/Professionalization.htm Fried, B., Fottler, M. (2011). Fundamentals of Human Resources in Healthcare. Health Administration Press, Chicago, IL. AUPHA Press, Washington D.C. 2.2 Describe the major types of healthcare professionals (excluding physicians and dentists) and their roles, training, licensure requirements, and practice settings. The industry of healthcare is considered as the largest and most powerful industry in the United States. Healthcare professionals include the following: Nurses The focus of nurses is not only on a specific health problem but also on the totality of a patient and his response to treatment. The roles and function of a nurse are as follows: caregiver, communicator, teacher, client advocate, counselor, leader, manager, and so on. The nursing field comprises many specialties and subspecialties such as critical care, infection control, emergency nursing, surgical nursing, and obstetric nursing; certification in these areas require specialty education, practical experience, and successful completion of a national examination nonprofessionals (Fried Fottler, 2011). Registered nurses must complete an associate degree in nursing, a diploma program, or a bachelor’s degree in nursing to qualify for the licensure examination. The Associate Degree in Nursing Program takes 2years to complete and is offered usually by community and junior colleges. The Hospital Diploma Program can be completed approximately 3years. The bachelor’s degree can be completed in 4years and is usually offered by colleges and universities. Licensed practical nurses are state-licensed caregivers who have been trained to care for the sick. They must complete a state-approved program in the practical nursing and must achieve a passing score on the national examination. Advanced practice nurses have education and experience beyond the basic training and licensing required of all RNs. This includes nurse practitioners and the following: Clinical nurse specialists have training in a field such as cardiac, psychiatric, or community health. Certified nurse midwives have training in womens healthcare needs, including prenatal care, labor and delivery, and care of a woman who has given birth. Certified registered nurse anesthetists have training in the field of anesthesia (National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, 2014). Pharmacists Pharmacists dispense prescription medications to patients and offer expertise in the safe use of prescriptions. They also may provide advice on how to lead a healthy lifestyle, conduct health and wellness screenings, provide immunizations, and oversee the medications given to patients. To have the eligibility for licensure, they must graduate from an accredited bachelor’s degree program in pharmacy, successfully complete a state board examination, and obtain a practical experience or complete a supervised internship. The trend of pharmacy has broadened education to include the terminal degree doctor of pharmacy. Many pharmacy schools offer this program to those who have the interest in teaching, research, and administrative responsibilities and to those willing to be part of the patient care team This educational preparation also requires one to have a successful completion of the state board of examination and even other practical experience as needed by state laws nonprofess ionals (Fried Fottler, 2011). Allied Health Professionals The allied health professions are a huge group that consists of therapists, medical and radiologic technologists, social workers, health educators, and other ancillary personnel. These professionals may work in the areas such as disease prevention, dietary and nutrition services, rehabilitation, or therapy. Educational and training programs for the allied health profession are sponsored by a variety of organizations in different academic and clinical settings. Their practice settings include hospitals, clinics, community health, homecare, and so on. The National Commission on Allied Health divides allied health professionals into two categories: therapists/technologists and technicians/assistants. The former represents those with higher-level professional training and who are responsible for supervising those in the technician/assistant category nonprofessionals (Fried Fottler, 2011). Healthcare Administrators Health administrators are leaders. They are usually assigned in the hospitals, physician group practices, nursing homes, and home health agencies. They direct the operation of hospitals, health systems, and other types of organizations. Healthcare administrators also take responsibility for facilities, services, programs, staff, budgets, relations with other organizations, and other management functions, depending on the type and size of the organization. They also have an opportunity to work in the public sector and private sectors. They do not deal directly with patients on a day-to-day basis. Rather, they help to shape policy, make needed changes, and lead our nations health-related organizations in a way that serves individual patients by helping to improve the healthcare system. To be eligible, many higher-level healthcare administration executives have a masters degree in a field such as public health or business, hospital, or nursing administration. A bachelors degree is often sufficient for entry-level positions or for employment with smaller facilities when coupled with relevant healthcare experience. Certification and Licensing: Healthcare administrators who work as nursing home administrators must also pass the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards Exam and obtain state licensure. Healthcare administrators in other sectors are not required to be licensed; however, voluntary certification is available through the American College of Healthcare Administrators (American College of Healthcare Executives, 2014). References American College of Healthcare Executives. (2014). Early careerist question. Retrieved from http://www.ache.org/carsvcs/CareerFAQ/early.cfm Fried, B.J., Fottler, M.D. (Eds.). (2011). Fundamentals of Human Resources in Healthcare. Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press. National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. (2014). CNS FAQs. Retrieved from http://www.nacns.org/html/cns-faqs.php 3.1 Why is sexual harassment so prevalent in the healthcare environment? What can be done to break this pattern? Sexual harassment is prevalent in the healthcare environment as a result of feminism, the women’s movement, increasing societal attention, and equal accommodation in the workplace. In addition to that, the growth of women in the workplace is also one of the factors. Several factors also explain why it is prevalent in healthcare organizations. First, sexual harassment always includes an element of power and control. Most hospital employees are women, but those in the authoritative position are men. Second, intimacy among healthcare providers has been the nature of healthcare work—having a strong collegial relationship established under a high-stress environment of healthcare and having sexual jokes and off-color humors that will later on lead to an abusive, suggestive language (Fried Fottler, 2011). To break this pattern, putting in place a sexual harassment policy must be implemented; this includes the following (Fried Fottler, 2011): Having a strong definition of what is sexual harassment and developing a strong statement that it will not be tolerated. Conducting an extensive training among all employees on the policy, focusing on employees with management and supervisory authority. Giving instructions on how to report complaints, including procedures to bypass a supervisor if there is the involvement of a supervisor. Providing an assurance on confidentiality, protecting against retaliation, and having a guarantee of prompt investigation. Forming a statement that disciplinary action will be taken against harassers up to and including termination. References Fried, B.J., Fottler, M.D. (Eds.). (2011). Fundamentals of Human Resources in Healthcare. Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press. 3.2 Under what circumstances would you use a progressive discipline process? When would you choose not to use such a procedure? Progressive discipline is a process that deals with job-related behavior that does not meet an expected standard. Assisting the employee in understanding that a performance problem or opportunity for improvement is the primary purpose (Heathfield, 2014). It is most successful when a person is able to perform effectively in an organization. Steps in a progressive discipline include the following (Heathfield, 2014). Counseling the employee about performance and ascertain his or her understanding of requirements. Verbally reprimanding the employee for poor performance. Providing a written verbal warning in the employees file, in an effort to improve employee performance. Providing an escalating number of days in which the employee is suspended from work. Starts with 1day and escalate to 5days. A healthcare administrator would not use this process when he or she sees that there is already a serious unlawful involvement such as theft, alcohol or drug intoxication at work, misconduct behavior, and any acts of violence that are ground for immediate termination. References Heathfield, S. (2014). Progressive discipline. Retrieved from http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryd/a/discipline.htm

Health Matters :: Healthy Lifestyle Essay

Health Matters In 1991, fewer than one percent of Americans felt that health care was an important issue. Just two years later, President Clinton urged Congress to help him fix a health care system that "is badly broken" (Collins 78). Is the health care system badly broken? The health care reform debate has captured the attention of all Americans. What brought health care reform into the public spotlight? Although our medical care in this country is of the highest quality, our access to that care is waning due to higher and higher costs. Our health care system needs fundamental reform. Currently, there are dozens of reform packages in Congress, yet three packages offer significant recommendations toward health care reform: President Clinton's Health Security Act, Representative Jim Cooper's Managed Competition Act, and Senator John Chaffee's Health Equity and Reform Access Today Act. The final health care reform package must include the choice aspects of all three of these proposals. One aspect which must be included in health care reform is the elimination of insurance bias. Too many Americans are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions. Insurance providers should no longer be allowed to cover only the healthiest persons. Never again should an employer feel the need to fire a worker because of an illness which raises health insurance premiums. There are two important steps toward eliminating insurance bias. The first step is making portability of insurance a reality. Right now in this country, 28% of working Americans are unable to change jobs because they would lose their coverage and be denied coverage with another company due to pre-existing conditions (U.S. Health 56). For example, Marcia and Mark Callendar both had good jobs with good benefits. They thought their family was well-protected by the insurance provided by Mark's employer. Then their son, Matthew, got sick. Mark lost his job, and the Callendars lost their insurance. When they tried to apply for coverage through Marcia's job, they were turned down because of Matthew's pre-existing condition. Matthew finally qualified for coverage through disability, but Mark had to take a lower-paying job to be eligible for coverage (Health Security 6). Hence, increasing portability of policies is fundamental to reform. No longer should an individual lose health insurance coverage with the loss of employment. Secondly, insurance providers must stop cherry-picking individuals. People should not be denied health care coverage because they have been sick. Denial of insurance coverage only forces these patients to use expensive emergency room services rather than obtaining regular treatment.

Feed: Dystopia

This progress was most present in the chapter â€Å"A Day in the Country' (139) when characters Titus and Violet visit â€Å"Filet Mignon† a meat farm in which there Is no livestock but rather plantations of synthesized meat growing, with blood filled tubes running In and out of the factory. Titus' narration explains â€Å"we could see all these miles of filet mignon from where we were sitting, and some places where the genetic coding had gone Furthermore this sense of arbitration is shown again while Titus' father is describing his most recent whaling trip.He explains how whales are forced to be encased in a synthetic form of protection, as described earlier the seas have become highly toxic due to ignorance f the damages of pollution. In many ways Anderson demonstrates qualities of an artificial society that has resulted in the elimination of natural components of a modern functional world. In Feed, society depiction of human Interaction/communication was through the insta llation of the computer software known as the feed.The purpose behind this new product was merely a corporate opportunity for companies to market their advertisements geared toward the user's emotional state, recent thought topics and for the government to send information. It provides access to any online resource: hopping, television and most often used in the novel â€Å"M Chatting†. A form of communication similar to instant messaging via a cellular device, except from within the feed in the brain.Character Violet was one of the first to express her feelings toward the new era of the Feed installation, she showed resistance to the one product 73% of Americans had been consumed with. She was subject to malfunction after the group had been hacked by Euro-tourists on the moon, which then caused her to develop a theory that if she were to create a fake customer profile on the feed that the corporations wouldn't be able to market to. Violet stated â€Å"I'm not going to let t hem catalog me. I'm going to become Invisible. (98) Earth as described In the novel leads readers to believe that this generation Is being controlled by the feed, a product approved by the government. Technology has changed modern society drastically, it lead characters like Titus to a state where he does not remember life achieving. Lincoln â€Å"Link† Reworked one of Titus' best friends is perhaps the best example of the advancement in technology that society has reached. His parents went to a clinic where they were able to choose desirable traits from one of the most influential men n American history, Abraham Lincoln.Growing up in a gated community unlike Violet's or Titus', Links family is very wealthy, they were able to afford this form of genetic selection in which the government provides. This clone is ironic actually since Link is far from ‘Honest Abe' other than being quite tall, Link is not very intelligent, makes hasty decisions and could not be more opposit e than the man who freed the slaves. This error in the genetic cloning system reveals a flaw that society has yet to overcome, malfunction. As said in the feed Mimi can't spell ‘danger' without DNA. â€Å"(28).Malfunction has been present in the characters feed when they were hacked, when Violet's efficiency decreases and when the group engages in consuming alcohol and their system slows down. It proves that the technology created is not perfect, this society does have flaws and these flaws are a direct translation to the decay of human nature. In contrast to Part 3: Utopia (73), Feed is about two teenagers Violet and Titus living in a dyspepsia society full of malfunction, hackers, feed broadcasts and trademarked franchises. With houses that have their own weather/season, their own sun and drop bubs.Up-cars that can take you on vacations to the moon, synthesized meat factories and little of what's left of nature. â€Å"Earth† as the feed users know it is far from Utop ia. A perfect world is not defined by success in technology, but the overall bliss and happiness that is not ideal; unachievable. The resistance towards the feed is a clear reflection of how modern society has changed. This future world as described in Feed might become a reality if we are subject to consumption. â€Å"The natural world is so adaptable†¦ So adaptable you wonder what's natural. † (191)

Imposing the Affirmative Action

â€Å"Affirmative action was originally designed to help minorities, but women-especially white women-have made the greatest gains as a result of these programs†(Gross, 1996). Affirmative action is a growing argument among our society. It is multifaceted and very often defined vaguely. Many people define affirmative action as the ability to strive for equality and inclusiveness. Others might see it as a quote-based system for different minority groups. I agree and support affirmative actions in that Individuals should be treated equally. I feel affirmative action, as an assurance that the best qualified person will receive the job. Is affirmative action fair? In 1974, a woman named Rose was turned down for a supervisory job in favor of a male. She was told that she was the most qualified person, but the position was going to be filled by a man, because he had a family to support. Five years before that, when Rose was about to fill an entry-level position in banking, a personnel officer outlined the woman†s pay scale, which was $25 to $50 month less than what men were being paid for the same position. Rose was furious because she felt This was discriminating to her. She confronted the personnel officer and he saw nothing wrong with it. Thanks to affirmative action today things like these situations are becoming more rare and/or corrected more quickly. Affirmative action has definitely helped women and minorities in their careers, but it has yet to succeed in the goal of equality to the fullest for the business world to women and minorities. Some observers argue that women have made huge strides! With the help of affirmative action. They now hold 40 percent of all corporate middle-management jobs, and the number of women-owned businesses has grown by 57 percent since 1982†³(Blackwood, 1995). â€Å"Affirmative action was designed to give qualified minorities a chance to compete on equal footing with Whites† (Chappell, 1995). Equal opportunities for the blacks, for the most part, have remained more wishful thinking than fact. Black students are continuing to struggle to seek an education, black business owners are still competing against their White counterparts, and black workers are experiencing an unemployment rate twice that of Whites and hold dead-end, labor-intensive, low-paying jobs. â€Å"Few can argue that racism is still rampant in awarding jobs and educational opportunities, even though it†s been proven beneficial to have people of different races with different ideas and different experiences working toward the same goal† (Chappell, 1995). The employment outlook for minorities is grim, but not hopeless. We definitely need affirmative action to overcome the disparities of employment that exist in his country. A recent Urban Benchmarks† study found that of 71 metro areas surveyed nationwide, Pittsburgh had the highest rate of employment-related problems among non-Hispanic whites between the ages of 25 and 54 and the sixth highest rate among African Americans in the same age group. We have a lot of problems with basic education here and if you don†t have basic education, you have no chance of getting a good job because competition is increasing for everyone. We must make sure that we educate our potential work force, including minorities, or our competitive edge, if we have one, will continue to decline in global markets. Many jobs today are in the technician and technologist area. â€Å"Jobs require more than a high-school diploma, but less than a four-year degree–such as an associate degree or certificate from a vocational or trade school† (Kovatch, 1996). As more and more women faced discrimination in large firms, more decided to strike out on their own. In conclusion, most Americans know that the deck is stacked against poor kids. They also realize that, because of past discrimination, an extraordinary number of those facing unequal opportunities are black. So, while 75 percent of Americans oppose racial preferences, according to a 1995 Washington Post/ABC poll, two-thirds with to â€Å"change† affirmative action programs rather than â€Å"do away with them entirely†. But the public also realized that, in real life, the legacy of discrimination is not always so neat. It is diffuse, and it requires a broader remedy. Imposing the Affirmative Action â€Å"Affirmative action was originally designed to help minorities, but women-especially white women-have made the greatest gains as a result of these programs†(Gross, 1996). Affirmative action is a growing argument among our society. It is multifaceted and very often defined vaguely. Many people define affirmative action as the ability to strive for equality and inclusiveness. Others might see it as a quote-based system for different minority groups. I agree and support affirmative actions in that Individuals should be treated equally. I feel affirmative action, as an assurance that the best qualified person will receive the job. Is affirmative action fair? In 1974, a woman named Rose was turned down for a supervisory job in favor of a male. She was told that she was the most qualified person, but the position was going to be filled by a man, because he had a family to support. Five years before that, when Rose was about to fill an entry-level position in banking, a personnel officer outlined the woman†s pay scale, which was $25 to $50 month less than what men were being paid for the same position. Rose was furious because she felt This was discriminating to her. She confronted the personnel officer and he saw nothing wrong with it. Thanks to affirmative action today things like these situations are becoming more rare and/or corrected more quickly. Affirmative action has definitely helped women and minorities in their careers, but it has yet to succeed in the goal of equality to the fullest for the business world to women and minorities. Some observers argue that women have made huge strides! With the help of affirmative action. They now hold 40 percent of all corporate middle-management jobs, and the number of women-owned businesses has grown by 57 percent since 1982†³(Blackwood, 1995). â€Å"Affirmative action was designed to give qualified minorities a chance to compete on equal footing with Whites† (Chappell, 1995). Equal opportunities for the blacks, for the most part, have remained more wishful thinking than fact. Black students are continuing to struggle to seek an education, black business owners are still competing against their White counterparts, and black workers are experiencing an unemployment rate twice that of Whites and hold dead-end, labor-intensive, low-paying jobs. â€Å"Few can argue that racism is still rampant in awarding jobs and educational opportunities, even though it†s been proven beneficial to have people of different races with different ideas and different experiences working toward the same goal† (Chappell, 1995). The employment outlook for minorities is grim, but not hopeless. We definitely need affirmative action to overcome the disparities of employment that exist in his country. A recent Urban Benchmarks† study found that of 71 metro areas surveyed nationwide, Pittsburgh had the highest rate of employment-related problems among non-Hispanic whites between the ages of 25 and 54 and the sixth highest rate among African Americans in the same age group. We have a lot of problems with basic education here and if you don†t have basic education, you have no chance of getting a good job because competition is increasing for everyone. We must make sure that we educate our potential work force, including minorities, or our competitive edge, if we have one, will continue to decline in global markets. Many jobs today are in the technician and technologist area. â€Å"Jobs require more than a high-school diploma, but less than a four-year degree–such as an associate degree or certificate from a vocational or trade school† (Kovatch, 1996). As more and more women faced discrimination in large firms, more decided to strike out on their own. In conclusion, most Americans know that the deck is stacked against poor kids. They also realize that, because of past discrimination, an extraordinary number of those facing unequal opportunities are black. So, while 75 percent of Americans oppose racial preferences, according to a 1995 Washington Post/ABC poll, two-thirds with to â€Å"change† affirmative action programs rather than â€Å"do away with them entirely†. But the public also realized that, in real life, the legacy of discrimination is not always so neat. It is diffuse, and it requires a broader remedy.