Factors that Affect Selection of Manufacturing Process Design at Apple Inc. The WritePass Journal

Factors that Affect Selection of Manufacturing Process Design at Apple Inc. Introduction Factors that Affect Selection of Manufacturing Process Design at Apple Inc. ). In addition to the fact that outsourcing helps in reducing manufacturing costs, outsourcing of activities that are non-core also enables companies to focus more on their core activities like designing of new products (Polychronakis Syntetos, 2007). It also helps companies to share their risks. Components used to build Apple products are obtained from over 150 companies that are spread all over the world. With reference to an estimate made by Milian (2012), the costs that were incurred in the production of the iPhone 4s were at $196. Given that a unit of the iPhone 4s at the time of its production was at $649, the cost reduction strategy meant that the gross profit that was obtained from a single unit was $453 (Milian, 2012). This explains why amidst the stiff competition in the electronics and computer industry, Apple Inc has managed to maintain high profit levels. It had an annual profit of $41.7 billion in 2012, making it the second most profitable company after Exxon Mobil (The Huffing Post, 2013). Apple also further reduces the costs it incurs in manufacture of its products by ensuring that they create partnerships with many companies to encourage competition and as a result, it gets favourable deals (Milian, 2012). Even with the high success that has been achieved by the cost reduction strategy at Apple, the company has faced several criticisms. For instance, one of the companies in China that takes part in the assembly of the company’s products, Foxconn, has a bad reputation for mistreatment of its employees (Chamberlain, 2011). Quality Operation managers have the role of ensuring that the goods or services that are offered to clients are of optimum quality (Mukherjee, 2006). Apart from reducing costs to maximize profits, companies also select their manufacturing process designs based on the quality of their outcome. Manufacturing processes that do not produce products in the state that was intended by designers or fail to cater for the need of customers in the market ought to be avoided, regardless of how cost-effective they may be (David Bamford, 2010). At apple, the high levels of quality have enabled it perform well in the industry with a large number of customers often ready to purchase new products that they manufacture (West Mace, 2010).   Even though it can be argued that quality control processes ensure that any quality issues can be solved before products are delivered to clients, it is more productive if the original manufacturing process is flawless (Creese, 2013). To ensure that quality is maintained or improved, the staff members at Apple are often encouraged to be creative and innovative so as to come up with ideas of improving quality. Another approach that ensures quality of processes at apple is through carrying out constant reviews of products. According to Lashinsky (2011), Apple has a program that involves carrying out a review of products every Monday. This enables the company to make the necessary improvements or corrections in case an issue is identified. The issue of quality at Apple has been deeply embedded in the company’s organizational culture, and employees are aware of the need to pay attention to details (West Mace, 2010). The keen attention that is paid to product and process details at Apple has been among the key factors that have led to the consistency in the company’s market performance. By incurring an extra cost to ensure the manufacturing process is of the required quality, companies are able to satisf y their customers and build string brands in their respective industries of operation (Talib et al., 2011). Flexibility The dynamism that characterized the present-day business environment also means that organizational operations should be as flexible as possible so as to maintain their relevance (Merschmann Thonemann, 2011). Flexibility is the ease at which manufacturing processes can change certain aspects or qualities of products. These range from the shape, materials used to manufacture the product or the finish (Creese, 2013). Lack of flexibility in manufacturing processes may make it difficult for companies to satisfy the ever-changing needs in the market. It may also make quite expensive to replace the existent processes with newer ones (Chou et al., 2010). The need for flexibility is more intense in the computer industry because is one of the most flexible industries. With reference to Moore’s law, capabilities of many electronic devices in the market often change at least once in two years. As technological advancements increase, this pace is bound to increase (Mollick, 2006). Apple is also well known for manufacturing upgraded versions of previous products approximately on a yearly basis. For instance, between 2007 June and 2013 September, a total of eight versions of the iPhone have been manufactured by Apple (Bergmann, 2013). The improvements that are made in the Apple’s products incorporate the innovative ideas of designers as well as the feedback the company obtains from clients. The need for flexibility in the manufacturing designs also helps companies to stay ahead of the competition on their industries of operation. Apple faces competition from many companies that also frequently upgrade their product to match the market needs (Carbaugh, 2013). Other Factors Environmental Sustainability Apart from the three aforementioned factors affecting selection of the manufacturing process design, there are numerous other factors that operations managers put into consideration. One of these is the potential impact that the process may have on the environment (Vezzoli Manzini, 2008). With the current focus that the international business community on environmental sustainability, companies ought to ensure that they select processes that have the least adverse impact on the environment (Geels, 2011). In an effort to lessen its carbon footprint, one of the strategies that Apple has used is utilization of renewable energy in the company’s operations. These include solar, geothermal, hydro and wind energy (Apple Inc., 2014). However, the company has been under criticism for ignoring the adverse environmental impacts that the company’s operations in China are causing. Quantity of products The quantity of products that the company produces for customers also determines the choice of the appropriate manufacturing process. In a situation where companies manufacture single products to fit the specifications of clients, a one-off approach may be appropriate (Jones Robinson, 2012). On the other hand, if the company deals in the manufacture of products in large quantities, the mass production approach is preferable (Jones Robinson, 2012). Since Apple manufactures products to satisfy millions of customers worldwide, the manufacturing approach that it utilizes is mass production. By September 2013 alone, Apple sold approximately 33.8 million iPhones, 4.6 million Macs and 14.1 million iPads (Apple Inc, 2013). External Regulations Standards and regulations, usually set by different governing bodies also affect the selection of the manufacturing approach. Some of the aspects that that are focused include environmental impacts and specific quality standards that ought to be delivered to customers (Jones Robinson, 2012). For instance, electronics manufacturing companies are supposed to adhere to the set standards in terms of the air emissions, solid and hazardous wastes and effluents (Multilateral Investment Guarantees Agency, 2010). These regulations are also applicable to Apple. Regardless of how cost effective and flexible a manufacturing process can be, companies have the obligation of adhering to the set standards to avoid getting into legal issues (Bamford Forrester, 2010). The factors that have been highlighted above are relevant to all companies that deal in the manufacture of products for their customers. Whereas it is impossible to optimize all the mentioned aspects of manufacturing processes, companies ought to make a comprehensive evaluation of their manufacturing processes to ensure that they deliver quality to their clients and also meet their goals and objectives. Even though Apple has had a few challenges and controversies in its product manufacturing processes, it has managed to maintain its strong position in the electronics industry. This is partly attributed to the effective selection of manufacturing process designs. B. How the main principles of project management help operation managers to introduce change Principles of Project Management Change is an inevitable issue in organizational operations, systems and processes. Therefore, effective project management always puts this into consideration to ensure a smooth transformation from one state of the organization to the other (Boje et al., 2012). Some of the principles of project management include understanding the stages that projects go through from the beginning to the end, possessing good management (controlling), leadership and communication skills and working in the interest of all company stakeholders (David Bamford, 2010). These principles play a very vital role in situations where changes are to be implemented in certain processes or systems within the organization. Possessing management skills makes project managers capable at effectively implementing the change process (Berkun, 2008). It is important to understand that implementation of change can be more successful if the employees and other organizational stakeholders are involved throughout the process. Failure to effectively communicate to them about the changes to be made may bring about resistance to the process (Vida, 2012). In addition to this, employees may also find it difficult to adjust to the implemented changes. There are several models of change management that have been previously suggested by researchers. These include the eight-step model of change suggested by Kotter (2007). Henry (2012) also points out several principles of project management, which can also help operations managers in introducing change in systems or processes in the organization. One of these is commitment. For projects involving change to be effectively implemented, managers are supposed to lead by example in showing their unlimited commitment and employees will follow. The other is referred to as the tetrad trade off principle, which is based on the principle that for a project to be implemented successfully, the scope, cost, time and quality have to be in equilibrium and attainable (Sarah Dixon, 2013). There is also the strategy principle, which defines the planning and implementation procedure. This principle is based on the fact that for a project to begin and end successfully, there are certain procedural activities that ought to be undertaken. Effective incorporation of these principles by operations managers can help in ensuring that changing processes or systems in the organ ization is undertaken smoothly (Hongjun Yajia, 2012). Introducing Change in Processes/Systems To effectively introduce change in company systems or processes, it is necessary to have a comprehensive plan (Kotter, 2007). This typically involves determining the type of change that will be effective for the company and notifying employees and stakeholders on the imminent change process. Another measure involves building awareness among employees and other stakeholders and building the capacity that will be needed in the process (Jones Robinson, 2012). Some of the measures that can be undertaken in this stage of preparation include making an announcement of the intended change and when it is expected to take place. It also involves recruitment of some employees that will take up some of the tasks that are involved in the change process (Kotter, 2007). In cases where training is required before the change process is implemented, the recruited employees should be provided with the adequate training. According to Vida (2012), communication skills are quite instrumental in the chang e process. Project managers need to create an avenue through which employees can give feedback, and eliminate the bureaucratic barriers that may exist to hamper the ease flow of communication within the organization (Henry, 2012). Conclusion As companies compete to strengthen their brand positions and increase their market shares, there are several underlying strategies that they use. One of these is the selection of the most ideal manufacturing or service process design that will ensure customer satisfaction is achieved while at the same time contribute to the achievement of organizational goals and objectives. This paper has provided an in-depth and critical discussion of some of the factors that affect selection of the manufacturing processes, with a reference to Apple Inc, one of the leading companies in the electronics industry. Some of the key factors that have been discussed include costs, quality and flexibility of the process. As presented in the paper, Apple Inc has managed to maintain a strong brand position partly because of the effective selection of manufacturing processes. The paper has also highlighted the ways in which the principles of project management can help operations managers to introduce change in organizations. Future research on this subject could address the challenges that project mangers undergo in selecting the ideal manufacturing or service process design. References Apple Inc, 2013. Apple Reports Fourth Quarter Results. [Online] Available at: apple.com/pr/library/2013/10/28Apple-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-Results.html?sr=hotnews.rss [Accessed 8 January 2014]. 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Introduction to Manufacturing Processes and Materials. New Jersey: CRC Press. Bamford, ‎D. Forrester, P., 2010. Essential Guide to Operations Management: Concepts and Case Notes. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. Geels, F.W., 2011. The multi-level perspective on sustainability transitions: Responses to seven criticisms. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 1, pp.24-40. Henry, A., 2012. Understanding Strategic Management. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hongjun, L. Yajia, G., 2012. Study on Chain Companies Human Resources Management. Information and Business Intelligence, 267, pp.227-32. Huang, G.Q., Zhang, X.Y. Liang, L., 2005. Towards integrated optimal configuration of platform products, manufacturing processes, and supply chains. Journal of Operations Management, 23(3), pp.267-90. Iravani, S.M., Van Oyen, M.P. Sims, K.T., 2005. Structural flexibility: A new perspective on the design of manufacturing and service operations. Management Science, 51(2), pp.151-66. Jones, P. Robinson, ‎P., 2012. Operations Management. Oxford : Oxford University Press. Kotter, J.P., 2007. Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail. Harvard Business Review, pp.1-10. Lashinsky, A., 2011. How Apple works: Inside the worlds biggest startup. [Online] Available at: http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/08/25/how-apple-works-inside-the-worlds-biggest-startup/ [Accessed 9 January 2014]. Mascitelli, R., 2004. The Lean Design Guidebook. Northridge: Technology Perspectives. Matsa, A., 2011. Competition and Product Quality in the Supermarket Industry. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 126(3), pp.1539-91. Merschmann, U. Thonemann, U.W., 2011. Supply chain flexibility, uncertainty and firm performance: an empirical analysis of German manufacturing firms. International Journal of Production Economics, 130(1), pp.43-53. Milian, M., 2012. How Apple cuts costs in building its gadgets. CNN, 7 February. Mollick, E., 2006. Establishing Moores law. Annals of the History of Computing. IEEE, 28(3), pp.62-75. Mukherjee, P., 2006. Total Quality Management. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Multilateral Investment Guarantees Agency, 2010. Environmental Guidelines for Electronics Manufacturing. [Online] Available at: miga.org/documents/ElectronicsManufacturing.pdf [Accessed 9 January 2014]. Polychronakis, Y.E. Syntetos, A.A., 2007. ‘Soft’ supplier management related issues: An empirical investigation. International Journal of Production Economics, 106, pp.431-49. Pries, K.H. Quigley, ‎J.M., 2013. Reducing Process Costs with Lean, Six Sigma, and Value Engineering Techniques. New Jersey: CRC Press. Roy, K.C., Blomqvist, ‎H.-C. Clark, ‎., 2012. Economic Development in China, India and East Asia: Managing Change in the Twenty First Century. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. Sarah, E. Dixon, A., 2013. Failure, Survival or Success in a Turbulent Environment: the dynamic capabilities lifecycle. Chartered Management Institute, 4(3), pp.13-19. Swift, K.G. Booker, ‎J.D., 2003. Process Selection: from design to manufacture. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Talib, F., Rahman, Z. Qureshi, M., 2011. A study of total quality management and supply chain management practices. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 60(3), pp.268-88. The Huffing Post, 2013. Fortune Global 500: Top 10 Most Profitable Companies in The World. Huff Post, 7 August. Vezzoli, C.A. Manzini, E., 2008. Design for Environmental Sustainability. Milan: Springer. Vida, K., 2012. The Project Management Handbook: A Guide to Capital Improvements. New York: Rowman Littlefield. West, J. Mace, M., 2010. Browsing as the killer app: Explaining the rapid success of Apples iPhone. Telecommunications Policy, 34(5), pp.270-86.

Texas AM University-Kingsville Admissions Data

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Playwright discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

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Contributions Of Martin Luther King

Contributions Of Martin Luther King Martin Luther was a controversial Christian theologian who made a significant contribution towards both the development and expression of Christianity. Luther questioned the widespread corruption of the Catholic Church, exceptionally prevalent during his lifetime. He preached that faith alone justifies salvation, as opposed to good works, an emphasis being promulgated by the clergy. Additionally, Luther highlighted the importance of Scripture as he believed that the message of Jesus had become misplaced amongst an overemphasis on ritual and symbolism. He quoted Romans (1:16-17) For I am not ashamed of the Good News; it is the power of God saving all who have faithà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Accordingly, Luther believed that Jesus Christ was the ultimate model for human behaviour. These three key understandings were to ultimately shape the far-reaching contribution Martin Luther would provide to Christianity. Evaluate the contribution of ONE significant person or school of thought in Christianity (6 marks) Martin Luther was a controversial Christian theologian who made a significant and far reaching contribution towards both the development and expression of Christianity. Born in 1483, Luther lived during a time of widespread corruption within the Catholic Church. Especially of concern to Luther was the sale of indulgences, simony and nepotism amongst church leadership. The impact of the Black Death had left a largely uneducated clergy in Europe. These leaders utilised many forms of corruption to ensure wealth for the Catholic Church, and promised purchasers of indulgences and relics a ticket to heaven. In response to these problems in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Wittenburg Church. Luther wished to reform the Catholic Church and to reassure Christian adherents that salvation was attainable through their faith, not through good works. Additionally, Luther highlighted the importance of Scripture as he believed that the message of Jesus had become misplaced amongst an overemphasis on tradition, ritual and symbolism. He quoted Romans (1:16-17) For I am not ashamed of the Good News; it is the power of God saving all who have faithà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Accordingly, Luther believed that Jesus Christ was the ultimate model for human behaviour. Luthers actions and consequent excommunication (1521) from the Catholic Church were to ultimately shape his contribution to Christianity. Although the 95 these would be addressed at the Council of Trent (1545-63), the Council essentially dismissed Luthers calls for reform. However, his impact remained. Luther inspired other reformers and ultimately a new Protestant variant of Christianity (and within it Luthers own denomination the Lutheran church) resulted. Assess the contribution of ONE significant person or school of thought in Christianity (20 marks) Martin Luther was a controversial Christian theologian who made a significant contribution towards both the development and expression of Christianity. Luther was concerned with the widespread corruption prevalent within the Catholic Church during his lifetime, and the subsequent failure of the Catholic Church to address these issues. Three key understandings would lead Martin Luther to devote his life to transforming Catholicism. Firstly, Luther reassured Christian adherents that salvation was attainable through their faith, not through good works. Secondly, he highlighted the importance of Scripture, as he believed that the message of Jesus had become misplaced amongst an overemphasis on tradition, ritual and symbolism. He quoted Romans (1:16-17) For I am not ashamed of the Good News; it is the power of God saving all who have faithà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ This lead to Luthers third key understanding, that Jesus Christ was the ultimate model for human behaviour. Christianity before Luther: Simony Nepotism Indulgences (Salvation) Priesthood Corruption Sacraments Papal Authority Black Death Transubstantiation (Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ) Wealth of Catholic Church inequalities and spiritual shallowness (Luther) Unethical behaviour Expression/practices over ritualised Luthers Actions: 1517 95 theses on church door Defied the Catholic Church Excommunication (1521) Ultimately, the formation of new VARIANT of Christianity (but remember this was never Luthers INTENTION he wanted to REFORM the Catholic Church). Lutheran Church based on Luthers views of what individuals need to attain Salvation Sacraments (2) Baptism and Eucharist Consubstantiation (Eucharist representative of body and blood of Christ) Salvation attainable by the individual, based on ones faith Publication of Bible in local vernacular German Scripture focus of religion Authority Jesus/God Married clergy Liturgy less formal and less ritualised Christianity after Luther: Widespread questioning of Catholic Church Birth of new Christian variant Protestantism Development of Protestant denomination: Lutheran, Calvinist Baptists, Church of England etc Whilst Luthers protests started à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦as an effort to purify the life and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, it eventually produced separate churches that grew into a third major strand of Christianity to stand alongside Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. (Living Religion text p98) Counter Reformation (the catholic Churchs response to the Protestant Reformation) Council of Trent from 1545-1563 upheld papal primacy by proclaiming that Scripture and tradition are equally important and complementary sources of Gods revelation, and by clarifying the Roman Catholic belief in the seven sacraments. The Evangelical Awakening a dramatic spiritual renewal in Western Christianity Vatican II the twenty-first ecumenical council in the history of the Catholic Church (1962-1965). Three major aims spiritual renewal in the light of the gospel, updating church teaching, discipline and organization, and the promotion of unity for all Christians (ecumenism) Describe the contribution of ONE significant person or school of thought in Islam (3 marks) Imam Al Shafi is a significant and influential person within Islamic history. Undertaking a systematic revision and organisation of the existing Muslim law, Al Shafi established a system of interpretation of Islamic jurisprudence which he termed Usul al-Fiqh. This method incorporated the already existing sources of jurisprudence, the Quran and the Sunnah, however, it dictated additional authority to both the Ijma and the Qiyas. Shafi was inspired by the teachings of Muhammad, who believed in the importance of the scholar since à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the cure of ignorance is to ask and learn. Evaluate the contribution of ONE significant person or school of thought in Islam (6 marks) Imam Al Shafi (767-820CE) is a significant individual within Islam. Shafi was born during a time when confusion and disorder over the Islamic law was creating social instability and corruption within society. Al-Shafi wished to resolve the differences between the two existing schools of thought in order to create a uniform response to situations which arose throughout the many new Islamised states, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦his historic achievement was to forestall the development of independent regional systems based on Medina or Kufaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Ruthven) Shafi dedicated himself to this task in his firm belief that the purity of the faith had to be maintained. Al Shafis creation of a unified system of jurisprudence subsequently allowed greater cooperation within the Islamic world. In the Kitab al-Risala, Shafi outlined Usul al-Fiqh which emphasised the importance of the Quran, Sunnah, Ijma and the Qiyas. Of these he believed that the Quran as the divine word of Allah held the most significance. Additionally, Shafis commitment to determining the isnad, or chain of transmission of the hadith, earned him enormous respect amongst scholarly circles. Shafis interpretation of Islamic jurisprudence eventually led to the creation of the third major Sunni school of thought. This interpretation of Sharia law continues to be followed by millions of Muslims in contemporary society. Assess the contribution of ONE significant person or school of thought in Islam (20 marks) INTROUCTORY REMARKS: Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi (767-820) significantly influenced the development of the Islamic faith. Responsible for establishing the four foundations of fiqh (usul al Fiqh), Al-Shafi is considered the founder of a unified interpretation of Islamic law or jurisprudence. Furthermore, through the consequent evolution of his own school of Islamic thought, Al-Shafi continues to make a significant contribution to the development of both the belief and practices of Islam in the contemporary world. BASIC OUTLINE BEFORE Al-Shafi: Social and economic tensions problems raised by ruling and administering a diverse and rapidly growing empire Often geographic and cultural influences determined the response of the interpretation of the law Al-Shafi believed that laws which were valid in one place were not necessarily so in another and therefore required systemisation to ensure the purity of the Islamic faith. Legal decisions had come to be based on tradition of the people not Muhammad this was because Difficulty interpreting Islamic law following death of Muhammad TWO schools of law already established Imam Malik (700-767) and Imam Hanifa (716-795) Rationalists based their beliefs on the teachings of the Quran. However, Quran had little legislative material (Hanifa) Traditionalists based their beliefs on the teachings of the Sunnah. However, the model of living (Sunnah) encountered new challenges which needed to be addressed (Malik) THEREFORE: A revision and systemisation of Islamic law needed. Shariah is not a clearly articulated set of rules available for immediate reference. Instead, it includes interpretations of revealed sources the Quran and the Sunnah. Shafi insisted on an established set response to these situations which could be applied across the newly Islamised states Shafi joined the Hadith scholars to determine the chain of transmission (isnad) and therefore the authenticity of the hadith Shafi studied under Malik and combined his own interpretation, along with that of Malik and Hanafi to create a synthesised response. According to Ruthven: Despite the differences between the three principal schoolsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ they were generally agreed in accepting the system of roots developed by Shafi. For that reason his role as the greatest systematiser of early Islamic law makes him more than just the founder of one of the four madhhabs. Viewed retrospectively, his historic achievement was to forestall the development of independent regional legal systems based on Medina or Kufaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ this supreme intellectual achievement makes Shafi one of the great unifiers of Islam. RESPONSE: Shafis book Kitab al-Risala Usul al-Fiqh (or al-Risala) cited FOUR sources of Fiqh (practical application of the Sharia): Quran words of Allah Sunnah actions of Muhammad Al-Shafi puritanical view Muhammad words, not those of his companions. Isnads to be authentic (in accordance with the chain of transmission) Ijma (consensus) of the Muslim community. Previously the ijma of the scholars (ijtihad) had been consulted the Quran and the Sunnah. Shafi insisted on the ijma of the people. Qiyas (analogy) strict systematic reasoning Al-Shafi believed that because Allah had provided, in Sharia, a guide for all human life, it must be possible to extend, by use of analogy, the application of legal material in the Quran and the Sunnah so that they apply to other cases. An example of his contribution to the expression of Islam can be found in his interpretation of Sura 4:43 which claims that men are unclean for prayer if they have touched women. This was taken by Shafi to mean any physical touching including accidentally bumping into a woman. It was therefore further extended to apply to the practice of washing before prayer (ghusl). This was Al-Shafis system of determining Islamic jurisprudence. There are many different interpretations based upon the five different schools: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi, Hanbali (Sunni) and Jaffari (Shia). The School of Islamic Fiqh, established by Imam Al-Shafis students, provides interpretations of law which are used by all four Sunni schools of law. Islamic legal tradition practices pluralism that allows it to maintain that these schools may differ in their legal opinions, but remain equally valid (they have consulted the same sources to reach a legal decision). Describe one significant practice within Christianity (3 marks) The sacrament of Baptism is a rite of passage undertaken by adherents symbolising their initiation into the Christian tradition. Although not all Christians identify with the physical nature of the rite, such as the age of the initiate and the rituals utilised, all Christians are marked with the sign of the cross. Similarly, all Christians are baptised with the recitation of the words, I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The belief in the Trinity, the rejection of Satan and the forgiveness of sins are common elements in the baptism ceremony across the Christian variants. Demonstrate how one significant practice within Christianity expresses the central beliefs of this religious tradition (6 marks) Baptism begins the spiritual journey for the adherent within their faith community emphasising the importance of being in touch with, and striving to understand, the transcendent. Baptism symbolises the divine nature of the Christian tradition and makes present the central beliefs through the repetition of sacred stories and ritualistic actions. The belief in the Trinity, the rejection of Satan and the forgiveness of sins are common elements in the baptism ceremony across the Christian variants. In each of the Christian variants, baptism is the Churchs way of celebrating and enacting the embrace of God and the promise of salvation. Peter replied, repent and be baptisedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Acts 2:38-39). At the time of Christ it signified that the person being baptised became a follower of Christ and acquired a relationship with him. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I (Paul) also baptised the house of Stephanasà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (1 Corinthians 1:16) Early baptisteries (the part of the church where baptism happened) showed that a person was led down steps to be immersed in water before emerging on the other side. There was, and remains, an identification with Jesus dying and rising. The Catholic Catechism recognises that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦From the beginning, the revealed truth of the Holy Spirit has been at the very root of the Churchs living faith, principally by means of baptism. Within Orthodox Christianity the rite of baptism has four roles. Firstly, to remove original sin, to remove all other sins committed before the time of baptism if the person is beyond the age of infancy, to unite the person to the community of believers and to open the door of salvation and eternal life to him or her. Analyse one practice within Christianity explaining its significance to both the individual and the faith community (20 marks) The sacrament of Baptism is a rite of passage undertaken by believers in celebrating, symbolising and making present the central beliefs of the religious tradition of Christianity. It is an experiential religious act involving the transformation of the individual. Baptism as a rite of initiation welcomes the individual into the Christian tradition and links the individual, community and divine. However, not all Christians identify with the physical nature of the rite. Quakers believe that the whole of life is sacramental. To be a member of Christs body involves no outward rite, it requires instead an inward transformation of ones whole life. While other denominations have differences involving the rituals used and the age of the initiate. Baptism celebrates a familys and a communitys love for the initiate who is welcomed into the community of believers. The candidate (infant or adult) is provided with a god-parent/ sponsor to help them with their initiation as a Christian. Baptise first the children, and if they can speak for themselves let them do so. Otherwise their parents or other relatives speak for them. (Hippolytus in the Apostolic Tradition c.215) For Catholics, the sacrament of Baptism is the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship. It is followed by years of catechesis before being completed late by Confirmation and the Eucharist, the summit of Christian initiation. Baptism is the Churchs way of celebrating and enacting the embrace of God and the promise of salvation. Peter replied, Repent and be baptised (Acts 2: 38-39) Baptism happens not only to the individual, but also the wider Church. At the time of Christ it signified that the person being baptised became a follower of Christ and acquired a relationship with him. I (Paul) also baptised the household of Stephanas (1 Corinthians 1:16) The rite is celebrated with the community present and actively participating. It is the community, who will journey with them throughout their life. Infant Baptism is the preferred form of the rite for both Catholic and Orthodox Christians. However, adult Baptism may also occur. The Christian initiation of adults for both Catholic and Orthodox Christians begins with their entry into the catechumenate and reaches its culmination usually at Easter in a single celebration of the three sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. Baptism symbolises the divine nature of the Christian tradition. It emphasises the importance of being in touch with, and striving to understand, the transcendent. This includes comprehending the purpose of life and the nature of life after death. Early baptisteries (the part of the church where baptism happened) showed that a person was led down steps to be immersed in water before emerging on the other side. There was identification with Jesus dying and rising. On behalf of the child (infant baptism) or as an adult the ceremony of initiation occurs. This includes the symbolism of water and oil and the declaration of faith. The water represents life and recalls the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist. The Baptisimal candle symbolises Christian status as an Easter people, and signifies the passing on of faith to those being baptised. The white garment represents the Churchs belief that Baptism sets them free from Original Sin and lets them put on Christ. Immediately following the baptism of the child in Orthodox Christianity Chrismation occurs. In this practice, the Orthodox Church differs from the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches where the two sacraments are often separated. Orthodox Christians believe baptism is a personal participation in Easter the death and resurrection of Christ, and Chrismation a personal participation in Pentecost- the coming of the Holy Spirit as the children receive the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8). The child then receives new clothes. The Priest together with the Godparent and the child walks around the Font, three times. Each time he chants: As many of you as have been baptised into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia. (Galatians 3:27) The infant is then tonsured, where four pieces of the childs hair are cut in the sign of the cross. As the child is now recognised as a full member of the church he/she receives Holy Communion. Baptism makes present the central beliefs of the Christian tradition through the repetition of sacred stories and ritualistic actions. Baptism begins the spiritual journey for the adherent. The lighting of the Pascal (Liturgical Year) Candle at the Catholic ceremony, links the initiated to a life of union with the Church. This candle is light for the individual at their Baptism and again at their funeral service. The candidate is also marked with the common sign of the initiated the sign of the cross and the recitation of the words, I baptise you in the name of t he Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The belief in the Trinity, the rejection of Satan and the forgiveness of sins are all evidenced in the Baptismal ceremony. The catholic Catechism recognises that From the beginning, the revealed truth of the Holy Spirit has been at the very root of the Churchs living faith, principally by means of Baptism. Within Orthodox Christianity the rite of Baptism has four roles. Firstly, to remove original sin, to remove all other sins committed before the time of Baptism if the person is beyond the age of infancy, to unite the person to the community of believers and to open the door of salvation and eternal life to him or her. The Gospel read at the ceremony reinforces the belief in the presence of God. And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. (Matthew 28 16-20) The Baptist Church takes its name from the conviction that followers of Jesus should be immersed in water as a visible and public display of their faith. Baptists believe There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. Baptists emphasise a believers baptism by full immersion, after a public profession of faith in Christ as saviour. Unlike most Christian denominations Baptists do not baptise infants because of their belief that a person must be old enough to make a public profession of faith in order to be baptised. Therefore, the foundational sacrament of Baptism unites the community of believers. It determines the spiritual life journey of the believer and reinforces the central tenets of the faith to those who witness the initiation of the individual. Describe one significant practice within Islam (3 marks) The fifth pillar of Islam, Hajj, is seen as the ultimate expression of Muslim solidarity. Hajj draws together Muslims from all over the world forming one umma in order to worship the One God. The Quran states perform the visit and pilgrimage to Makkah for Allah (Sura 2:196) explaining that Hajj is a re-enactment of the trials and tribulations of the Prophet Abraham, his second wife, Hagar, and his son, Ishmael (linking believers to the central Islamic belief rusula). The Hajj also re-enacts the journey of Mohammad and is hence a metaphor for the journey of life. The ultimate goal of Hajj is to ensure the achievement of God consciousness (tawid).

American Sign Language Essay

For years psychologists have debated and tried to find out how our individual behaviour is gained- are we born with it or do we gain it through experience? Many psychologists have tried to find ways in which they can measure if our behaviour is learnt or inherited but these psychologists have encountered problems while doing so.  One problem that psychologists have when investigating whether behaviour is learned or inherited is actually finding a task that can be given to all of the different participants. Psychologists carrying out an experiment to find out about behaviour usually have participants which are different in some way, for example different sexes, different cultures, different levels of intelligence. Deregowski conducted a cross cultural experiment to see if people from different cultures perceive pictures the same. He found that the African children spent a lot of time looking at the pen and paper as they had never before seen or used them in their life. The same task has to be given to all of the participants as the same dependant variable is being measured and this is a big problem as it decreases the reliability of the results. Another problem is that it is very difficult to separate genetics and our experience as we begin learning from the moment we are born. This makes it hard to find a task that can measure just the intelligence we are born with because as long as we are on this planet, we are constantly learning new things that make us more intelligent. Gould carried out an experiment to measure people’s native intellectual ability (the intelligence we are a born with which is unaffected by culture and educational opportunities). The experiment clearly didn’t measure native intellectual ability, as you needed to know about American culture to answer the questions. Even thought the experiment was biased and favoured Americans, it is still a good example of how difficult it is to measure our native intellectual ability because Gould’s aim for the experiment was to measure this but this obviously proved to be very difficult. Other psychologists have tried to measure the intellectual ability we are born with but many have began to question whether we can ever make a task that measures our native intellectual ability. The only way we come very close to separating our learned and inherited ability is if we separate two identical twins at birth and put them into different environments. We could put one into an environment where a very minimal amount of behaviour is learnt from experience. For example we could put the twin into an empty room with no contact with the outside world and hardly any human contact (somewhat like a prison). The other twin can lead a normal life by going to school, interacting with other people etc. We can then observe the two twins in later life and if their behaviour is very similar or the same, it proves that behaviour is inherited. If the twin who lived in the outside world is more developed that the twin who was shut away from the world, it would prove that our behaviour is gained through experience. This is the only ideal way to investigate whether behaviour is learned or inherited but is this method ethical? Gardner & Gardner wanted to see whether a chimpanzee could communicate in American Sign Language and the only way they could investigate their aim was to treat a chimpanzee like a human and take it out of its natural habitat. They proved that a chimpanzee could communicate in ASL but the experiment was criticised by many people who thought it was unethical.

The Effects Of Violent Video Games On Children - 1074 Words

Video Games. Anderson et al. (2008), Anderson et al. (2010), Browne and Hamilton-Giachritsis (2005), Erwin and Morton (2008), Gentile and Stone (2005), and Jason et al. (2005) revealed a correlation between violent video games with immediate and later aggressive behavior. All of the research for the effects of violent videos games are conducted on older children and current research has not yet studied young children or preschoolers. It is important to note what research exclaims about the long-term effects violent video games can have on children later in life during adolescence (Anderson et al., 2008; Gentile Stone, 2005; Kirkorian, Wartella, Anderson, 2008). Anderson et al. (2008) and Gentile (2014) reported, 90% of American†¦show more content†¦This perspective causes a link between the child to the violent character. Gentile and Stone (2005) stated, people are exposed to a greater amount of violent content when spending a larger amount of time playing video games. Similarly, both Anderson et al. (2008) and Milani et al. (2015) studies agreed with the habitual violent video game usage being significantly linked to higher levels of aggression in children. Anderson et al. (2008) conducted a study which included three different population-based samples of children, from the U.S. and Japan, ranging from third grade to senior year of high school. The study investigated whether habitual violent video game use early in the school year could predict aggression later on even after controlling other factors, such as sex or prior aggression. The children completed a self-report about the video games used, amount of time spent, physical aggression along with a teacher and peer report. Despite the samples ranging differently from culture and ages, the results still concluded a strong correlation of habitually playing violent video games and an increase in physical aggression months later for both the children and adolescence. This study determined not only a significant longitudinal effect and the powerful effect of violent video games on a child’s development but also contradicts previous research stating, â€Å"that only highly aggressive children (either byShow MoreRelatedViolent Video Games Effect On Children1654 Words   |  7 Pagessamples of the dialog talked between kids who play games such as like â€Å"Call of Duty† or â€Å"Halo†. In today s age, kids frequently boast about the quantity of players they figured out how to kill while playing these video games. Two decades ago, this would not be the typical waste of time of an eleven year old, yet now kids are seeing this kind of brutal movement as simply one more approach to take a break on a Saturday morning. Since the video game market is blasting at this moment because of progressiveRead MoreViolent Video Games Effects On Children934 Words   |  4 Pagestodays’ society is Violent video games effect negatively on youngsters. This issue is gro wing because many of these games are featured aggressive elements that lead youngsters towards violence. For most players, video games are fun but also violent games take over the lives of some player. Since the world of video games was started in the 1980s, the video games still getting new level of popularity in this world. Most people are getting really addictive of these violent video games. The first importantRead MoreViolent Video Games and Their Effect on Children2104 Words   |  9 PagesProfessor Colbert English 128-03 7 April 2010 Violent Video Games and Their Effect on Children Ever since the creation of the first video game, they have had a certain effect on the individuals who play them. As video games have become more advanced and elaborate, children’s interest is at an all time high. With the degree of violence that has been a part of video games since the early 1990’s, parents and activists have claimed that these games are affecting children negatively. This claim only seems toRead MoreThe Effects Of Violent Video Games On Children1359 Words   |  6 PagesKhan, Mohammad Salman English 1001 Rebekah Barton 5/4/2015 Effects of Violent Video Games â€Å"Boom! Headshot† â€Å"Time to kill that commie bastard† these are not from some war movies or documentaries. These are the dialogues of some recent games in market. In modern age, children often feel proud about the number of people or enemy they managed to kill when they are playing these games in various console. While even a decade before, this would not be the normal past time of an eleven year old teenage kidRead MoreThe Effects Of Violent Video Games On Children Essay1558 Words   |  7 Pages† Studies has shown that children that play violent video games desensitize players to real-life acts of violence, the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology says that it is a reduction in emotion-related physiological reactivity to real violence. It is also proven that people who are desensitized to violence are likely to commit a violent crime of some type. In 2011 there was a study that resulted in the finding of a link between the exposure of violent vide o games and an increase in aggressionRead MoreThe Effects Of Violent Video Games On Children2016 Words   |  9 PagesMaisonneuve Professor Haynes CENG 102 04 December 2015 The Effects of Violent Video Games On Children Newton N. Minow once said, â€Å"Children will watch anything, and when a broadcaster uses crime and violence and other shoddy devices to monopolize a child’s attention, it’s worse than taking candy from a baby. It is taking precious time from the process of growing up†.The media is a powerful tool that in a very influence on children. There are many things that the youth in today s society isRead MoreThe Effects Of Violent Video Games On Children1258 Words   |  6 Pagesminutes into playing a violent video game the average person becomes desensitized to the fact that they are killing someone. Now it it may seem like nothing when you play these games. But when people, especially children play them often it starts to become the only thing that they think about. Even if it is â€Å"just a character† in a game it becomes so to them to pull that trigger. I’ve witnessed this happen in my own household and I don’t hesitate to say: violent v ideo games are poisonous to the brainRead MoreThe Effects Of Violent Video Games On Children1790 Words   |  8 PagesGaming the Violent Life Throughout recent years there has been many stories, well, more like excuses that adolescents have blamed violent video games for their violent behaviors. Can children truly use this as their excuse anymore? Many studies on this subject have recently been in the spotlight over the concern of young violent offenders, with numerous governing leaders and child developmental specialist concerned whether violent video games are the true cause of violence in children. With the growingRead MoreThe Effects Of Violent Video Games On Children902 Words   |  4 Pagesrestless minds. Violent video games are a conflict in modern day society because children are witnessing harsh behaviors that are conditioning them to believe it is acceptable to commit these actions displayed before their eyes. There are many health effects that are involved with participating in these products of entertainment such as an increase in aggression, poor social skills and the formation of terrible habits. The ideas that will be discussed in this essay will pertain to how children are becomingRead MoreThe Effects Of Violent Video Games On Children Essay1670 Words   |  7 Pagestoday’s society are adamant about their teenagers refraining from playing violent video games. Specifically, parents worry about their children playing mature-rated video games that feature blood, gore, vulgar language, use of drugs, and intense violence. Quite a few of these parents believe that their children can be heavily influenced by these brutal video games, which will in turn raise their teenagers to become violent, aggressive, and criminal minded individuals. In hindsight, these parents