buy custom Alfred Green essay

buy custom Alfred Green essay In April 1861 Alfred M. Green gave out a speech in Philadelphia, the very first month that the civil war started. African Americans were not in a position to be in the Union army, although Green had the opinion that they should try to be considered in the army and to be enlisted. Green used to influence his fellow friends who were Africans to join the popular Union forces. He was one of the affected races and thus felt it was his responsibility to encourage individuals to join in the fight. Dred Scott had to endure many months of imprisonment after being charged with treason. This resulted in unfair judicial rulings that came about as result of investigations. In spite of all they endured, their pay was sympathy and concern regardless of the difficulties they survived to bring about emancipation. The most important thing that Dred preached to the people was not to complain over the mistakes that had happened in the past but to deal with the future. One is bound to act responsibly so as to achieve individual objectives. The consequences of thinking about the past encourage bitter memories and these acts as an impediment to the development of the country. The fighting spirit and enthusiasm to get back to the battle field is a disavantage because it brings about unfairness and discrimination. This is because it creates unfair playing field as not every one is in a position to enjoy the civil and religious rights. It was time for the people to unite and come together and fight the social evils and entrench vales such as patriotism, freedom and tolerance to religion and civil rights. These were the principles that were important to bring about independence and equality among the different races. Historical moment in the great Republic was evident as the world was giving birth to a race which was brave and patriotic. Individuals had to fight for the soveignity of the country regardless of whether it was an equitable and a tolerant nation. These core values are important as they are the guiding factor that encourages true patriotism. The bravery deed of the fore fathers that was started by the immortal revolutionaries of Washington in the year 1776 by Jackson, and other people in the war that took place in the year 1812 was significant. Citizens could not enjoy the privileges as their rights which were an essential part of their lives were denied. Despite the fact that the forefathers had to endure a lot of suffering to bring out independence, still the rights oof the noble people were not respected. The many scars that were left behind as a result of the war were a symbol of respect as they were part of the slave laws. It brings into focus the importance of emphasizing to hope for better future and developing the present favorable moment .Such a conducive environment creates a new just and a honorable Republic. It is important that the honor bestowed to the forefathers for bringing about change should not be tainted with shameful actions by the people in order to proclaim heroism acts. Dred brings into focus the importance of trusting in God so as to protect the righteous and bring about freedom and general political parity. People should disregard the common message preached by the howling leaders that encourages treason and secession. This system encouraged tyranny and slavery in the American Republic. Lastly, enlisting the people in the Northern troops would encourage the oppressed individuals living in the south to have the spirit to overthrow the system of government that was dictatorial. At the same time, it would restore confidence in those who believed in God as the Supreme Being and one that demands a life full of honesty, truth and equality amongst all people. Buy custom Alfred Green essay

The Life of Gertrude Bell, English Explorer in Iraq

The Life of Gertrude Bell, English Explorer in Iraq Gertrude Bell (July 14, 1868 – July 12, 1926) was a British writer, politician, and archaeologist whose knowledge and travels in the Middle East made her a valuable and influential person in British administration of the region. Unlike many of her countrymen, she was regarded with considerable respect by the locals in Iraq, Jordan, and other countries. Fast Facts: Gertrude Bell Full Name: Gertrude Margaret Lowthian BellKnown For: Archaeologist and historian who gained significant knowledge of the Middle East and helped shape the region post-World War I. She was particularly influential in the creation of the state of Iraq.Born: July 14, 1868 in Washington New Hall,  County Durham, EnglandDied: July 12, 1926 in Baghdad, IraqParents: Sir Hugh Bell and Mary BellHonors: Order of the British Empire; namesake of the mountain Gertrudspitze and the wild bee genus  Belliturgula Early Life Gertrude Bell was born in Washington, England, in the northeastern county of Durham. Her father was Sir Hugh Bell, a baronet who was a sheriff and a justice of the peace before joining the family manufacturing firm, Bell Brothers, and gaining a reputation for being a progressive and caring boss. Her mother, Mary Shield Bell, died giving birth to a son, Maurice, when Bell was only three years old. Sir Hugh remarried four years later to Florence Olliffe. Bell’s family was wealthy and influential; her grandfather was ironmaster and politician Sir Isaac Lowthian Bell. A playwright and children’s author, her stepmother was a major influence on Bells early life. She taught Bell etiquette and decorum, but also encouraged her intellectual curiosity and social responsibility. Bell was well-educated, first attending Queen’s College, then Lady Margaret Hall at Oxford University. Despite the limitations placed on female students, Bell graduated with first-class honors in just two years, becoming one of the first two Oxford women to achieve those honors with a modern history degree (the other was her classmate Alice Greenwood). World Travels After completing her degree, in 1892, Bell began her travels, first heading to Persia to visit her uncle, Sir Frank Lascelles, who was a minister at the embassy there. Only two years later, she published her first book, Persian Pictures, describing these travels. For Bell, this was only the beginning of over a decade of extensive travel. Bell quickly became a bonafide adventurer, going mountaineering in Switzerland and developing fluency in several languages, including French, German, Persian, and Arabic (plus proficiency in Italian and Turkish). She developed a passion for archaeology and continued her interest in modern history and peoples. In 1899, she returned to the Middle East, visiting Palestine and Syria and stopping in the historic cities of Jerusalem and Damascus. In the course of her travels, she began to become acquainted with the people living in the region. In addition to simply traveling, Bell continued some of her more daring expeditions. She climbed Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps, and even had one peak, the Gertrudspitze, named after her in 1901. She also spent considerable time in the Arabian Peninsula over the course of more than a decade. King of Saudi Arabia, Ibn Saud, meets with British diplomat Sir Percy Cox and political advisor Gertrude Bell in Basra, Mesopotamia. The LIFE Picture Collection / Getty Images Bell never married or had any children, and only had a few known romantic attachments. After meeting the administrator Sir Frank Swettenham on a visit to Singapore, she kept up a correspondence with him, despite their 18-year age gap. They had a brief affair in 1904 after his return to England. More significantly, she exchanged passionate love letters from 1913 until 1915 with Lieutenant Colonel Charles Doughty-Wylie, an army officer who was already married. Their affair remained unconsummated, and after his death in action in 1915, she had no other known romances. Archaeologist in the Middle East In 1907, Bell began working with archaeologist and scholar Sir William M. Ramsay. They worked on excavations in modern-day Turkey, as well as the discovery of a field of ancient ruins in the north of Syria. Two years later, she shifted her focus to Mesopotamia, visiting and studying the ruins of ancient cities. In 1913, she became only the second foreign woman to journey to Ha’li, a notoriously unstable and dangerous city in Saudi Arabia. When World War I broke out, Bell tried to obtain a posting in the Middle East but was denied; instead, she volunteered with the Red Cross. However, British intelligence was soon in need of her expertise in the region to get soldiers through the desert. During her expeditions, she forged close relationships with locals and tribe leaders. Starting from there, Bell gained remarkable influence in shaping British policy in the area. Bell became the sole female political officer in the British forces and was sent to areas where her expertise was needed. During this time, she also witnessed the horrors of the Armenian genocide and wrote about it in her reports of the time. The delegates of the Mespot Commission at the Cairo Conference. The group was set up by Colonial Secretary Winston Churchill to discuss the future of Arab nations. Gertrude Bell on the left, second row. Corbis Historical / Getty Images Political Career After British forces captured Baghdad in 1917, Bell was given the title of Oriental Secretary and ordered to assist in the restructuring of the area that had previously been the Ottoman Empire. In particular, her focus was the new creation of Iraq. In her report, â€Å"Self Determination in Mesopotamia,† she laid out her ideas about how the new leadership should work, based on her experience in the region and with its people. Unfortunately, the British commissioner, Arnold Wilson, believed that the Arab government needed to be overseen by British officials who would hold the final power, and many of Bell’s recommendations were not implemented. Bell continued on as Oriental Secretary, which in practice meant liaising between the various different factions and interests. At the Cairo Conference of 1921, she was critical in discussions on Iraqi leadership. She advocated for Faisal bin Hussein to be named the first King of Iraq, and when he was installed in the post, she advised him on a wide variety of political matters and supervised the selection of his cabinet and other positions. She gained the moniker al-Khatun among the Arab population, signifying a â€Å"Lady of the Court† who observes to serve the state. Bell also participated in the drawing of borders in the Middle East; her reports from that time proved to be prescient, as she remarked on the likelihood that none of the possible borders and divisions would satisfy all factions and keep long-term peace. Her close relationship with King Faisal also resulted in the founding of the Iraqi Archaeological Museum and an Iraq base of the British School of Archaeology. Bell personally brought artifacts from her own collection and supervised excavations as well. Over the next few years, she remained a key part of the new Iraqi administration. Death and Legacy Bell’s workload, combined with the desert heat and a slew of illnesses, took its toll on her health. She suffered from recurrent bronchitis and began losing weight rapidly. In 1925, she returned to England only to face a new set of problems. Her family’s wealth, made mostly in industry, was in rapid decline, thanks to the combined effects of industrial worker strikes and economic depression across Europe. She became ill with pleurisy and, almost immediately after, her brother Hugh died of typhoid fever. On the morning of July 12, 1926, her maid discovered her dead, apparently of an overdose of sleeping pills. It was unclear if the overdose was accidental or not. She was buried at the British cemetery in the Bab al-Sharji district in Baghdad. In the tributes following her death, she was praised for both her achievements and her personality by her British colleagues, and she was posthumously awarded the Order of the British Empire. Among the Arabic communities she worked with, it was noted that â€Å"she was one of the few representatives of His Majestys Government remembered by the Arabs with anything resembling affection.† Sources Adams, Amanda. Ladies of the Field: Early Women Archaeologists and Their Search for Adventure. Greystone Books Ltd, 2010.Howell, Georgina. Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006.Meyer, Karl E.; Brysac, Shareen B. Kingmakers: The Invention of the Modern Middle East. New York: W.W. Norton Co., 2008.

Sampling and Continuous Improvement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sampling and Continuous Improvement - Essay Example United States have always been in the forefront of international trade and manufacturing and it wants to keep it that way. Since China started its mass export of goods, US had been worried that it would capture a major chunk of world's exports however US found solace in the fact that Chinese products were of lower quality. However with changing times, China has started to develop low cost and yet high quality products to challenge US in the international market. The study conducted by Industry Week magazine on the comparison of Chinese and American manufacturers have identified important developments in the inputs that largely contribute to China's inevitable success. The article "Manufacturers Like Us" by David Drickhamer gives us important insights in this subject. According to the article, Chinese manufacturers have become increasingly competitive over the past decade. Their strict management practices and performance metrics show the proof of such changes. Also US makes china's industry revolution much more prominent by referring to them as Enemy Number 1. The two basic reasons for the increasing competitive advantage of Chinese manufacturers have been described as cheap labor and much more efficient machinery. Costs of raw materials and land utilization have also been declared as important inputs to the higher quality outputs that are now being produced. To fully analyze the factors of high quality production by Chinese manufacturers, let's analyze each input factor in detail. 1) Raw Materials Raw Materials are the building blocks of the manufacturing process. These unprocessed materials are bought from the market and transformed into outputs by applying different processes. Since it is expected that the prices of the raw materials will rise in the future, some manufacturers start hoarding these raw materials. This storage is referred to as the inventory and it is kept to meet unexpected shortages in the future. The Chinese manufacturers store large amounts of inventory hence their inventory turnover rates are lower for all types of products. As most managers said that they had four or fewer total inventory turns in a year, there costs are lower since ordering and purchasing costs are not encountered regularly. Rise is raw material costs have not been met by half of the manufactures in China. And those who reported increases, 20% did not charge the customers for the increase. Because of lower raises in cost of raw material, Chinese products are of lower prices and they can maintain the quality of the products without increasing the prices. 2) Labor China has been able to maintain its low cost products primarily because of very low labor rates. According to the article, the Chinese manufacturers pay average wages of $1,450 per year, which is less than three weeks' pay in the U.S. This is how China is able to compete with any country on its cost difference. The quality of the products made by the Chinese seems to be increasing because of better skilled and better trained employees than were available in the past. The Chinese managers provide over 20 hours of training per employee per year while they spend 5% of their annual labor budget on training. The costs may

Providing Services for Human Sexuality and Well-being Essay

Providing Services for Human Sexuality and Well-being - Essay Example The most evident means in integrating an individual's sexuality is through their actual gender (Molina, 1999). Being a male or a female could already totally affect one's sexuality. Men and women are different in so many ways even from the smallest aspects to the most salient features - males and females walk, stand and sit differently from one another, both also have their own definite way in looking at something, both will have different opinions about a certain matter, both think in a very distinctive way. Nonetheless, one does not have to go into the psychological details of being a male or a female since physically, the two genders already show numerous differences, from the shape of the face to their body structure as a whole. This aspect of differences is explained by a branch of science called biology - it explains about sexual differentiation, sexual response and sex hormones. It is through sexual differentiation that not only the outer physical attributes of male and female differ but also their sexual reproduction (Bancroft, 2002). Gender is determined in this area, the X and Y chromosomes are the designated determinants of what a male or a female is (an XY chromosome suggests a male while and XX chromosome implies a female). Based on this biological sexual differentiation, the majority of the society only has two rooms form gender identity and that is for a boy and for a girl, unfortunately, it is not always that sexual differentiation and chromosome development produce what is considered as right, correct and acceptable. There have been various cases of intersex or also known as hermaphroditism which is labeled as a â€Å"sexual disorder† and â€Å"chromosome anomaly† (Fallon, Jr., 200 2).... There have been various cases of intersex or also known as hermaphroditism which is labeled as a "sexual disorder" and "chromosome anomaly" (Fallon, Jr., 2002). Consequently, sexual response referred to the sexual arousal and changes in the body physiologically (Bancroft, 2002). It is also referred to as a psychosomatic circle in which changes that occur in the genitalia affect the processes of the central brain procedures. What is sexual is different among people as what is sexual for one will not be sexual for the other; it depends on the experiences that the person has undergone or the culture that he has lived in and has been accustomed to (Bancroft, 2002). Sexual response is considered as a cognitive activity where it is both a perception and an evaluation (Walen & Roth, 1987, as cited by Molina, 1999). As a perception, it has three basic essentials which are detection - which refers to the capability of the person in identifying stimulus and differentiating it from the other of its type, labeling - which pertains to the categorizing of the stimulus occurrence by the person, and attribution - which refers to the overall articulated rationalization of the whole perception. The said three features could greatly affect the overall sexual performance of a person (Molina, 1999). Lastly, sex hormones is said to be important factor in influencing sexual behavior (Molina, 1999). The hormones that are being secreted by the different glands in the human body, it is solely responsible for why sexual differentiation exists. Male and female, though they are said to be producing the same hormones, differ in the amount of the hormones being produced. Thus, they are not the same - for example, males

Technology in Sports Essay Example for Free

Technology in Sports Essay Technology in sports has been a calling topic for sometime. When will the technology get us at our least expected moment? With the resources we have today supporting each and every game why can’t the process be sped up. Technology in sports is essential to the day and age of performance for athletes. With it making the game easier to play for some individuals with disabilities is huge help. With making the People perform as well as others. Without technology in sports, the games wouldn’t be enjoyed as well as they are. Technology in most professional sports has been using instant replay to assist the referees and umpires. Football has been using instant replay for any certain occasion and basketball referees use the instant replays to make sure the time is right for each game. Disputed plays in professional sports have made fans go insane for yeas. Now with the technology, different sports are engaging in the instant replay such as soccer with the goal line technology. When getting the wrong decision by the referees they need something to determine the right factor. Some people have there other side to instant replay; HD replay serves as a judge to the most of the sports referees such as baseball and basketball. With more television coverage to capture more images to overturn a certain play, people will be enjoying more of the game rather than arguing with each other. Now with YouTube and other video websites, it makes it easier for fans to criticize the league or umpires, an embarrassing fact. â€Å"Bad Calls don’t blow games, only bad plays† (Sharp 2009) coming from Drew Sharp a sports writer for the USA Today. He is saying that pointing the finger at someone else not on the playing field will not help out any of the sports. The public harping on the referees to make better calls is just at its own judgment for the leagues. â€Å"Ask any coach and he’ll tell you–never put yourself at the mercy of an official’s error† (Sharp 2009). Replays blow a lot of games and makes life or death for any sports team (Sharp 2009). Sports technology is getting factored into so many different sports and one of the biggest sporting events every two years is the Olympics. Advances in the each one of the sports that is held in the Olympics, like how the tennis racket is constructed or in 2016 when golf will debut in the Olympics they will either have to decide if the USGA or R and A will be determining the clubs allowed to be used or what type of golf balls will be used, each golf brand has over twenty different specs for each ball or club, some legal and some not. This could be a cause for some athletes to get a head of the other competitors. The Olympic committee is investigating on weather to allow the technological advances that the modern amateur player is getting (Tenaska 2013). When the new athletes are coming from the bottom with the highest technological advanced gear and not being able to use it in the Olympics, such as a new bike frame will be 25% percent lighter than the older one. How will the Olympic committee determine it? (Tenaska 2013) Testing in sports has always been looked at for statistics and features not seen by the average person. Putting athletes on a computer and showing their results on a computer screen rather than a field changes a lot of perspectives toward an individual. The IT process of technology with sports determines the tests and the essential element of resources demanded for the technology to rise. Computer technology has dealt with change for any sport that’s looking for a technological advance. With out computers the sports industry would have a hard time developing new ideas and equipment to make the sport either easier or harder to play. (IT Sports Journal) With involving computers in technology, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are picking up on the technology end. They are not taking break on or off the practice field. The organization purchased iPads to use instead of their standard playbook. They no longer to need luge around a paper binder or DVDs to practice or home since the iPad has all of the software on it. While the NFL still has restrictions on how tablets can be use, these devices are changing the way the pro teams practice and communicate. General Manager Mark Dominik says â€Å"It was a smashing success for our players. They Loved it,† â€Å"We’re going green† While the technology is evolving for professional sports team. The Bucs and Ravens are the only teams with this technology in the NFL to have these capabilities with computer tablets. The coaches from the Bucs say they believe it has helped their study habits for learning plays, plus the overall motivation shown just by giving them a little of technology (Couwels 2011). The Australian race has always a top-performing nation around the world. Despite having a smaller population, Australians love to be outdoors and can be set up to be great athletes and dominate their favorite sports. The coaches trained Australian athletes in the later part of the 20th century, now athletes can be put on a computer and given an analysis to show how well they are performing. With technology advancing, the coach’s job is getting very easy as in goes on. Besides giving the mental game back to the athlete the coaching is just by analyzing stats. Each study is designed to look at different aspects of the athlete and give them feedback on how well they are performing. (James) Through out the history of sports technology it has been an aspect to the athletes. A few historical events in sports history have made the outcomes of todays sports a lot easier to judge and easier to participate in. In 1888 the first photo finish was introduced and changed the judging of the finish line in a race or any sporting event dealing with time (Boston Globe 2013). Electric Scoring in 1936 was an automated officiating for fencing judges and detecting the most accurate touches by a split second (Boston Globe 2013). A huge interesting fact was in 1957 a Michigan physics professor developed touch pads for swimming used for times and lapping. The most accurate technology ever to be put in swimming and still used today (Boston Globe 2013). These types of technology have been an impact on everyone in the sports world. Including more and more technological advances to be determined by the future of our society. Athletes today are getting the full research and statistics for their lives as high performing athlete. With eating better and the right workouts they’re getting stronger and performing at a higher rate of fire. The gear the athlete’s use is constantly getting better and the old records that were set back in the day is getting broken. Cycling, tennis and swimming are a top three where technology is advancing. Cycling, includes lighter bikes and easier to get up tougher terrain in the mountains that professional bikers are competing on. Swimmers are using computer forensics and getting better feedback on how they are performing in the pool. Tennis is the biggest aspect of technology advancing with the racket or the ball getting lighter to get it moving at higher speeds. The average for the tennis ball speed at the ATP is over 120 mph (Bulchadani 2011). This comes from a long way from the early days with out research or technology to make tennis more fun to watch and perform at a higher level. (Bulchadani 2011) In the 1970’s wood bats were getting out dated, and the baseball world wanted more action out of it. Showing how technology was advancing and more people were interested in the research of the baseball bat. The aluminum baseball bat averaged 3. 85 mph faster. The study was conducted from six highly skilled college baseball players. They hit more than a dozen batting practice sessions. Each individual hit five balls and switched bats. The average ball speed for line drives was 56. 6 mph. (Russell 2006) Each player collected 30 line drives and the line average line drive speed for wood bat was 88. 7 and the aluminum bat was 92. 5 mph. (Russell 2006) The performance metric from the each of these tests was shown that it is a four mph difference between the bats. A study was done in 1989 with a stationary test (no swing) and it showed that wood and aluminum bats were the same, but did not bring into the effect of the velocity of the hitter swinging the bat (Russell 2006). With the results generated from these two studies it shows that metal bats do out perform wood bats. Though with the controversy the Major League Baseball has kept the wood bats in order to keep the safety protocol. With injuries and players breaking records to easily they will protect the game for a long period of time (Russell 2006) (Crisco-Greenwald Batting Cage study 2002). Sports technology shows that we are in another world for sports revolution, not just on professional athletes and trainers but on the technology used in equipment, facilities, judging and recording devices (Smith 2012). The new technology includes golf balls and clubs, soccer balls, shoes, racecars and many more. Technology also uses a different in approach of training, tests that determine muscle fibers and the strengths and weaknesses of the body all put on one little computer screen. The diet of an athlete is carefully examined and the nature of the game is still kept in tact. Giving thanks to technology more and more people are enabled to play many sports than ever before. Technology involves a lot of research and time. With out sports technology some sports may have never been evolved such as golf with the evolving clubs and baseball with the research of metal bats. With the resources given to use we should se more technological advances in this day and age. Sports Technology has been constantly getting better and knowing the differences between each sport and how they perform will distinguish the manner it will be investigated in. The technology advanced into research will become a higher part of the resources used to make sports better.

Essay examples --

Health, Safety and Welfare The Safety, Health and Welfare Act of 2005 came into operation on 1st September 2005. The Safety, Health Authority is a state-sponsored body under the Department of Enterprise. The trade and employment would have the overall responsibility for the administrate side of things and enforcing the Health and Safety in the workplace. There are all protected by law. Therefore the employer must ensure a safe work environment. The work place must have a documented specifics regarding buildings for the safety inspectors on request. These places must have signage in place for the employers safety and these regulation must be carried out. Bullying in the workplace is another health and safety issue that can be challenged under the Safety, Health and Welfare at work Act 2005. The Act applies to all employers and employees both temporary, full time and self employed people in their workplace. The Acts sets out the rights and obligation of both employers and employees and as a result heav y fines and penalties for breaches of the Health and safety legislation. Both employer and employee have duties to here by in the Health and Safety Act 2007. Employers is required to carry out a risk assessment which should identify any hazards that present them selfs in the work place. The employer should also carry out an assessment in relation to pregnant employees. The employer is obliged to report any accident that results in an employee missing 3 consecutive days at work which do not include the day of accident. Protective equipment are available on site for all employees. Employment Equality Employers are legally obliged to abide to the existing equality legislation when hiring and employing staff whether full tim... ...ce Industrial, Professional and Technical union. The most common fought problem with wages. Regulations related to pay A system was set up to determine what the minimum wage would be. Each country set their own minimum wages laws as see fit. The current is â‚ ¬8.65 an hour in Ireland on July 2007. There is a minimum rate for the first year of a job is â‚ ¬6.92 per hour. On request employees are entitled to a written statement setting out their reckonable pay, working hours, average hourly rate of pay entitlement under the Act. This wage may only be paid either weekly or monthly with agreement of employer and employee. The National minimum wage act 2000 sets the minimum rate for all experienced adult employees. The payment of wages Act gives every employee in Ireland a right to a payslip showing the employees gross wages and any details of overtime or deductions.

Conflict Resolution and Mediation Essay

be differences in opinions which inevitably lead to disagreements. Conflict exists in families, in the workplace, in churches and schools, in sports, between neighbors and between countries. Conflict is defined as â€Å"an expressed struggle between at least two interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference from others in achieving their goals†. (Wilmot and Hocker, 2001, p. 11). When there are differences in individual values, motivations, ideas and perceptions, conflicts arise. How individuals deal with conflict depends on personal history, family background and other influences over one’s lifetime. Gender as well as culture influence behavior and perceptions and play an important role in conflict resolution. Traditionally, conflict has been viewed as a destructive force which was best handled by avoiding, ignoring, or silencing it. There is a growing body of literature on the benefits of effective conflict management. Healthy conflict is now viewed as a necessary ingredient in organizational success. The ability to deal effectively with conflict is critical to creating productive relationships. Although most people continue to view conflict negatively, it is a necessary ingredient to creativity and results in healthier relationships. There are two kinds of conflict, constructive and destructive. Constructive conflict should be encouraged because it leads to creative thinking and growth. It results in high performing organizations and to enhanced relationships. Destructive conflict should be eliminated or dealt with immediately. It is costly and does not promote positive personal or organizational development. Communication is a key ingredient in conflict resolution. There are various tools available to resolve conflict. They include legal remedies, arbitration as well as mediation. Conflict resolution skills are learned and when applied, result in improved relationships. Defining Conflict There is an element of conflict in almost all relationships. Conflict has also been defined as â€Å"a social problem in which two or more persons, families, parties, communities, or districts are in disagreement with each other† ( Dzurgba, 2006). It occurs on an intrapersonal as well as an interpersonal level. If left unmanaged, conflict can lead to hostility, anger, alienation, war, inefficiency, expensive mistakes, legal battles as well as physical violence. There are five main conflict resolution styles  that individuals use depending on the situation. They are: Avoiding the Conflict – By avoiding the conflict, one or more parties pretend there is no problem. Some examples of avoiding include pretending nothing is wrong, shutting down or stonewalling. Accommodating – One party agrees to accommodate the other’s request usually for the sake of keeping the peace. This can lead to resentment. Competitive – One party stands his/her ground and competes to secure a win. In the short run, one party wins, but can lead to serious issues long term. Compromising – Both parties willingly enter into a negotiation where each gets something out of the other, but neither gets everything they want. Usually the parties negotiate on the larger issues where they have common ground and let go of minor issues. Collaboration – Both parties enter into meaningful negotiations towards a win-win solution. This style takes the most courage and involves listening to the other party and thinking creatively to resolve the problem w ithout compromising. This is the most successful and admired and respected style. Conflict Resolution Conflict resolution and mediation leads to the reduction of the conflict. Effectively addressing conflict leads to an improvement of relationships and to greater organizational and personal effectiveness. Conflict resolution entails managing stress, managing anger and managing face. When managed well, conflict can be a catalyst for innovation and creativity, leading to organizational learning. Conflict provides an opportunity for the best ideas to be shared to improve a situation or a process. Left unmanaged, conflict can have expensive legal consequences as others seek litigation to resolve the conflict. In organizations, it can lead to employee dissatisfaction, expensive turnover, decreased productivity and expensive errors. In families, unmanaged conflict can lead to violence, family dysfunction and divorce. Types of Conflict There are five types of conflicts, namely relationship, data, interest, structural and value. Relationship Conflicts Relationship conflicts are personal and result from misperceptions,  miscommunication, stereotypes, negative behavior and rumors. It affects the relationship between two people, but can impact others within the team. Work environments consist of employees from diverse backgrounds with very different value systems. There are cultural, gender and generational differences which contribute to relationship conflicts. As a result, miscommunication occurs because of differences in meaning, norms of communication and behavioral expectations. What is perceived as an ordinary conversation in one culture may be considered rude and intrusive by another culture. Spouses often have relationship conflicts that lead to divorce if unresolved. Data Conflicts Data conflicts often occur when two or more individuals are interpreting data differently. This can lead to wrong decisions, but can also lead to major disagreements. The budget conflicts which have let to the sequestration are an example of data conflicts. The Republicans and the Democrats are interpreting the budget numbers differently and coming to very different conclusions regarding what the numbers mean. As a result, they cannot agree on a budget. Interest Conflicts Interest conflicts occur when one person is trying to take advantage of another person. This may happen if an employee starts a company that provides the same services as his/her employer. Interest conflicts occur when the boss is dating an employee because that may introduce favoritism and may negatively impact other employees. Structural Conflicts A structural conflict is created by the organization. It is not subjective and is not created by people’s viewpoints or perceptions, but rather by limited resources or changes that the people involved have very little control over. An example of a structural conflict is a company that has customers across the world, but only has a customer service center in Ohio. The sales force would like to have all customers served promptly regardless of location, but the service center has regular hours. The company either  has to create 24 hour shifts to accommodate its customers or open centers in other countries. Value Conflicts Value conflicts are differences in personal beliefs, preferences or priorities. This occurs between two people or within groups of people. Cultural differences usual result in different value systems which can lead to conflict. Examples of value conflicts in interpersonal relations can be a person who likes meat verses someone who is vegetarian, or, a liberal Democrat verses a conservative Republican. Each individual develops a value system based on culture, personality and the society they grow up in. There is no right or wrong in value systems, just a difference in opinion. Value conflicts are subjective because they are based on how people â€Å"feel† about each other or the situation. They are very difficult to effectively resolve. Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Power Power plays a critical role in interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts and disputes. There are many forms of power. The role of power in a conflict intensifies as the balance of power shifts. In the work environment, the power imbalance often exacerbates a conflict and often leads to resentment or anger. Power imbalance changes the communication styles used by the parties in a conflict. In conflict or dispute, one or more types of power may be used by the parties in the attempt to resolve the conflict. People in a high power position may not use their power to influence a decision out of guilt. In a conflict, one party usually possesses more power than the other. Real or perceived power imbalances make it difficult to resolve a conflict to everyone’s satisfaction. Power can be structural or personal. The extent to which one party can impose their will on another affects how the dispute is resolved. Power currency depends on the value placed on particular resources by the oth er party in the relationship. If one has what others need, they are in a powerful position and have more power currency. As needs change, the power currency may be more of less valuable. Just like actual currency, the value of the currency fluctuates and is situational. Interpersonal power currencies are: 1. Resource control: Often associated with a position within an organization and can include financial, information, equipment and rules and regulations. When a citizen visits the social security office to get disability benefits, the government holds the power for the decision to approve or not approve the benefits. The citizen has very little power and the government has the resources. 2. Interpersonal linkages: This is associated with someone’s position in the larger system. This is highly dependent on â€Å"who you know† and the relationships one has to make things happen. The Secretary of State is in a position to resolve the Mid-east conflict based on the interpersonal linkages he/she has with both Israel and Egypt. 3. Communication skills: Listening skills, leadership skills and the ability to effectively communicate is a power currency. Preachers have the ability to communicate a message to their congregation and get them to rally around a particular issue. They are often called upon to mediate disputes because of their ability to listen, be empathetic to both parties and effectively communicate both viewpoints and negotiate a resolution. 4. Expertise skills: When one has a special skill or knowledge that others find valuable, he is in a position of influence. A pilot, a surgeon or a car mechanic all possess special skills that put them in power positions during certain disputes. Power imbalances disproportionally benefit the powerful party. Power generally falls into three categories, designated power, distributive power and integrative power. Designated power is often referred to as positional power and is as a result of a position or office held. A parent, manager, teacher or policeman has power that comes from their position. Distributive power is the â€Å"power over or against the other party† (Wilmot & Hocker, 2001, p. 103). Integrative or â€Å"both/and† power comes from two parties working together to achieve a mu tually beneficial goal. This power differential has a significant impact on the substance and the process to resolve the conflict. When applied appropriately â€Å"constructive use of power solves problems, enhances relationships, and balances power† (Wilmot & Hocker, 2011, p. 103). Forgiveness and Reconciliation There is a growing body of literature on forgiveness and reconciliation. Disparate fields such as social and developmental psychology, anthropology,  political sciences, religion and legal studies have all been conducting research on forgiveness and reconciliation. There are many definitions of forgiveness. Forgiveness and reconciliation often follow other efforts to resolve a conflict and heal the relationship. As such, forgiveness is highly personal and emotional. Kornfield defined it as follows: â€Å"Forgiveness is the heart’s capacity to release its grasp on the pains of the past and free itself to go on† (Kornfield, 2001, p.236). As shown in Figure 1, there is a flow of events that lead to reconciliation. The Forgiveness & Reconciliation Cycle for Effective Conflict Resolution Figure 1 Forgiveness is a key ingredient essential for reconciliation and conflict resolution. It is recognized in religion and social science literature as an important element in healing conflicts. For healing to occur and normal trusting relationships to be formed, both sides need to stop blaming each other and move past the conflict. An apology is a catalyst and a key ingredient leading to forgiveness and reconciliation, and ultimately to conflict resolution. While conflict resolution is focused on resolving substantive issues in a dispute, reconciliation focuses on addressing personal and relational issues and restoring relationships. William Faulkner was quoted by journalist Bill Moyers as saying â€Å"Forgiveness is giving up the idea of a better past† (Wilmot and Hocker, 2011, p. 297). Forgiveness is concerned with healing the hurt, disappointments and sins of the past, and improving relationships in the future. Mediation and Organizational Conflict Resolution A mediator is defined as â€Å"a neutral third party who has no decision-making power regarding the outcome of the mediation† (Abigail & Cahn, 2011, p. 197). The advantages of mediation are: 1. Cost – Mediation is much less expensive than the alternative of either having the situation go unresolved or resolve legally 2. Flexibility – Mediation can be conducted anywhere as long as it is neutral ground. 3. Informal – It can be adapted to accommodate cultural, personal, structural and other differences. 4. Effectiveness –  Mediated solutions tend to last because the parties come to a mutually agreed solution. 5. Preserves Relationships – Parties tend to have stronger long term relationships because they feel they were heard and have the other’s commitment. Effective organizations have mediation as part of the conflict resolution process. This is an effective way to resolve conflicts while both parties maintain control and ownership of t he issues. Conclusion Effective conflict resolution is important to building productive relationships. The importance of conflict resolution has been reinforced by the disparate fields focused on studying the subject. Organizations must provide the right structure for effective conflict resolution to be effective. Effective conflict resolution requires a health balance of power and promotes a health organizational culture. When all stakeholders have a voice, decision making is enhanced, engagement improves, and innovation increases. Maintaining a balance of power should be a high priority for any organization to be competitive and reach maximum productivity. Diversity is a consideration when creating conflict resolution processes. Gender, ethnicity and culture have to be considered to create an effective process. Although power is complex and maintaining a balance of power is fraught with difficulty, process design, effective communication, and a culture that encourages open dialogue will ensure that all parties effectively negotiate in their own interest to bring about fair outcomes. Archbishop Desmond Tutu who chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) said that â€Å"there can be no future without forgiveness†. Forgiveness is an intrapersonal as well as an interpersonal activity. Forgiving someone can be done with or without the other person’s consent, making it a relatively easy process intrapersonal. It is much more complicated interpersonally since it requires another party to either apologize, or accept an apology and forgive. As research is finding, â€Å"Apology and forgiveness have the potential to foster reconciliation and encourage peaceful coexistence among groups and nations† (Asby et al, 2010, p. 25). Conflict should be treated as an essential ingredient for healthy relationships both at home and at work. In health care organizations such as MaineGeneral Health, empowering employees with skills to handle conflict was critical to creating a culture  where employees felt comfortable speaking up (Bullock, 2011, p. 82). By speaking up, the hospital was able to avoid medical errors. References Abigail, R. A.., & Cahn, D. D. (2011). Managing conflict through communication. 4th Ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. ISBN: 9780205685561 Ashy, M., Mercurio, A. E., & Malley-Morrison, K. (2010, March). Apology, forgiveness, and reconciliation: An ecological world view. Individual Differences Research 8 (1), 17-26 http://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=psyh&AN=2010-05622-003&site=ehost-live Bullock, S. (2011, July/August). Empowering staff with communication. Healthcare Executive 26 (4), 80-82 http://search.proquest.com.proxy1.ncu.edu/docview/875635837?accountid=28180 Chetkow-Yanoov, B. (1997). Social work approaches to conflict resolution: Making fighting obsolete. Binghampton, NY: Haworth. Deutsch, M., & Coleman, P. T. (Eds). (2006). Handbook of conflict resolution (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Dingwall, R., & Miller, G. (2002). Lessons from brief therapy? Some interactional suggestions for family mediators. Conflict Resolution Quar terly, 19, 269-287. Dubler, N. N., & Liebman, C. B. (2004). Bioethics mediation: A guide to shaping shared solutions. New York: United Hospital Fund. Eddy, W. A. (2003). High conflict personalities: Understanding and resolving their costly disputes. San Diego, CA: William A. Eddy. Eller, J. (2004). Effective group facilitation in education: How to energize meetings and manage difficult groups. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Lee, J. (2010, July). Perceived power imbalance and customer dissatisfaction. Service Industries Journal doi:10.1080/02642060802298384 30 (7), 1113-1137 http://www.tandfonline.com.proxy1.ncu.edu/doi/abs/10.1080/02642060802298384 Maroney, T. A. (2009). Unlearning fear of out-group others. Law and Contemporary Problems Journal. 72(2), 83-88. Sloan, W. M. (2011, March). What did you say? Curtail conflict with effective communication. Education Update 53 (3), 3-5 http://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=58834574&site=ehos t-live Wilmot, W., & Hocker, J.