The West Point Cheating Scandal Essay -- West Point Academy Cheating E

The West Point Cheating Scandal Description: In April of 1976 it was found that there was a possibility that over half of the junior class at West Point Academy had violated the West Point honor code by cheating on a case assignment. The honor code states "A cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do." This was by far the largest violation of the honor code in West Point history and presented some unusual challenges to the administration. As the year dragged on it was found that more and more students possibly had cheated on the assignment and was also becoming a public relations nightmare in the press and internally to the Army branch of the United States military. The honor code at West Point was pointed and harsh in its dealings with violators and this case brought scrutiny, criticism as well as staunch support for the code and how violations were dealt with. To follow the honor code would be to expel all students involved and this would be a heavy hit on the academy. â€Å"At this time West Point had been having trouble recruiting soldiers because of the public attitude toward the military following the Vietnam War† The other possibility was to scrap the way the system was supposed to behave to keep the cadets in school and to reconstruct the honor code and the way it handled violations. Diagnosis: The diagnosis of the problem stems from the fact that honor code was a rigid book of rules that all cadets were expected to adhere too. All parties guilty of violations were given the harshest punishment of expulsion. They were 100% aware of what was involved and consequences of actions if violated. The Army and the military in general has always been a place of direct leaders and subordinates and takes in pride in the fact that it is a highly disciplined way of life. More so at the respective academies which were created to train and educate future leaders in the branches. The academies are based on trust of your superiors as well as obedience to their commands. There is also the possibility of disappointing your colleagues and in turn losing their respect and camaraderie. This in itself is the one of the reasons some say that the honor code and system had been so successful throughout the years. A change in the code would go against everything that West Point had always stood for and then would hold future gr... ...e, however in support of changing the honor code system in terms of the expulsion penalty at all times as well as the tolerance portion of the penalty. I feel that there are many circumstances in which expulsion is extreme and unnecessary especially when it has to do with tolerance of an honor code violation. Fallout: There is no answer that is going to satisfy all. If the code is changed those who lived and died by it are going to be upset. No matter what happens the media is going to point to different answers. The best answer is one that displays that the army and the academy are strict yet fair and understand and employ honor at all times themselves. When issues like this arise it is a good chance to update a system that could be considered outdated and it is a good time to show that a system such as this can change with the times while still reflecting the pride and honor that is so bestowed upon it. Works Cited http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1316/is_n11_v20/ai_6860628 http://www.valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_french_raven_bases_social_power.html Luthans, F. (2005). Organizational Behavior. 10th edition. New York: The McGraw Hill Companies.

Observing Argumentation

Argumentation In the 21st century, people are very set in the stereotypical thoughts that society implants in their heads. Many people don't like to step out of their comfort zone when it comes to values and stereotypes. In both stories, I personally think the theme is that everyone should step out of the thoughts that they are used to and be more open-minded about the world.In Fatima Merrill's article â€Å"Digital Scheherazade; The Rise of Women as Key Players In the Arab Gulf Communication Strategies† she Is ring divert the attention of Spanish reporters away from the stereotypical mindset that the Arab world just consists of terrorism and women in veils. Merriness is trying to get the reporters to focus on the positives of the Arab world and give women the credit that they deserve. In Richard Rodriguez story â€Å"Family Values† the author is trying to emphasize what â€Å"family values† really means and the open-mindedness of having a gay family member.Withi n different cultures there are deferent standards, expectations and reactions, but In the end It Is all about acceptance and looking beyond the customs you are used to. Fatima Merriness uses facts and statistics to tell her story about how the digital revolution, called alfalfa racial, has been a big influence in the Arab states. Merriness tries to inform the reader on how ignorant the outside world is towards the reality of the Arab community. Some citizens look at the revolution as something to be worried about when their kids are sitting at home, watching videos that they don't mind appropriate.All they want to do is find a way to ban it, when there are actually many upsides. Merriness uses real life examples, such as Maim Al-Kalmia, to emphasize how women are taking advantage of the advance in technology. She relates the story to her personal experience in Spain and how they didn't have a TV that featured the usual channels she would watch at home. Merriness shows how the Spanis h reporters are Ignorant to the reality of the Arab world because of stereotypes, but also because of lack of knowledge.In Richard Rodriguez story â€Å"Family values† he focuses on the meaning of â€Å"family values† and how it is different in every culture. He uses stories to be able to explain himself and get his point across. American culture is defined as being very independent in the way children are raised, Asian culture is described as the â€Å"whiz kids† and Hispanic culture is described as the people of family. There are stereotypes for every culture and that Is why Rodriguez explains that there Is not one set deflation for â€Å"family values†.When speaking of the gay culture, Rodriguez opens up bout his personal experiences and how gays are rejected in this world. He tries to explain the inner workings of each cultures â€Å"family values†, but ends with the statement that â€Å"family values† are acceptance. People need to step out of the stereotypes in the world and accept the change that is occurring around them. While both authors try to represent open-mindedness and acceptance throughout their stories, I believe that Merriness did a better Job getting her point across. Hill in Merriment's story she uses her personal experience, statistics and facts to inform the reader of her argument. It was easier to understand what she was trying to convey with her piece. In my opinion it was more of a straight forward piece that doesn't leave the reader thinking â€Å"what is she trying to say? â€Å". She started with the reporter's stereotypical mindset of the Arab world, went on to describe the evolution of Arab women and ended with how the outside world needs to focus on the advancement in technology. Her argument is clear from beginning to end and there is never any confusion.

Mergers and Joint Mergers Essay

The following paragraphs will discuss week four’s readings that covered vertical mergers, horizontal mergers, conglomerates, and joint ventures. Companies use mergers and joint ventures to increase profitability and efficiency. The following paper will go over the three alliances as well as a joint venture and how it differs from the mergers. Each business arrangement is used to attempt an improvement for the company, the important thing to remember is which will be most beneficial and why. A horizontal merger occurs when two competing companies in the same market joins together to become one firm or one identity. The two companies could have an influence on the competitive market if the companies have a large percentage of that market. The result of the two companies combine will be an increased advantage over their competitors. If the two groups are joining together are small businesses, they could have little to no advantage over their competitors in the market. For example, if two unknown mobile cellular companies merge to increase their services and products, the affect on the existing market could be minimal. If two well-known mobile providers such as â€Å"Apple and Samsung† combine in the market of mobile cellular phones and different accessories, it would give them an advantage over their competitors because of their popularity. The companies have a larger impact on the market at this time with the latest IPhone and Samsung Galaxy.  Therefore; a competitor has a large percentage in the market would decrease barriers of entry for new competitors. A vertical merger occurs when two companies that are next to each other on the supply-chain decide to become one entity and use it as a way to gain a competitive advantage within the marketplace. For instance, a manufacturer merging with a supplier of essential components or raw materials or with a distributor or retailer that sells its products. The goal of vertical mergers is to improve efficiency or reduce costs. Vertical mergers can help to secure access to critical supplies and help to reduce overall costs by eliminating the costs of finding suppliers, negotiating deals, and paying full market prices. It can improve efficiency by synchronizing production and supply between the two groups and ensuring that supplies are available when you need them. A vertical merger can help deal with competitors by making it difficult for competitors to obtain vital supplies, therefore, weakening existing competitors and increasing barriers to the entry of new competitors. Let’s take a look at the technology advancement implemented for the creation of a new iPhone. Apple will merge with the suppliers and distributors for the benefit of having the production accessible for the company when manufacturing and distributing the product. In the world of business, there are times when companies can merge in order to expand their operations in other markets, and possibly lower the risk of the company by doing so. Combining activities, which in turn, will increase their efficiency, can eliminate redundancy between the two organizations. At times, this merger can involve corporations that offer entirely different services or products. These types of mergers are referred to as conglomerate mergers. A conglomerate is â€Å"a corporation that is made up of a number of different, seemingly unrelated activities. In a conglomerate, one company owns a controlling stake in a number of smaller companies, which conduct business separately. Each of a conglomerate’s subsidiary companies runs independently of the other business divisions, but the subsidiaries’ management reports to senior management at the parent company.† (investopedia.com). Some examples of conglomerate mergers viewed between Proctor & Gamble and Gillette, Walt Disney and the American Broadcasting  Company, and ITT, Avis Rent-a-Car, Sheraton Hotels and Continental Baking. To the typical consumer, mergers like the ones listed above do not make sense, but it the world of business; there are positive benefits for all parties involved. Unlike a merger, a joint venture does not require dissolution of their original business or change the organizational structure, but rather two business entities join forces to undertake a single project or aspect of business. The only similarity between the two is that they both include two business entities joining together. A joint merger is a short-term partnership in which the persons jointly undertake a transaction for mutual profit as well as each person contributes assets and share risks. Joint ventures can also be used by companies to gain entrance into foreign markets. Microsoft entered into a joint venture with NBC to create MSNBC. The two companies ventured to bring business news to the television and online. While the two are joins as one for MSNBC, Microsoft and NBC have their companies. Microsoft has their business market in online products and technology. NBC has their television broadcasting network. The two businesses do not affect each other. The two companies maintain ownership of the entity. When two or more companies agree to combine into one entity, it will be referred to as a horizontal, vertical, or conglomerate merger. On the other hand, when two or more businesses enter into a joint venture for a specific object will not incorporate the companies as one. The companies will be able to work together for the new entity, but their overall concept of their business will remain the same. Meaning the companies can perform their business separately from the joint venture. References: Joint venture, (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/joint_venture Mergers vs. Joint Ventures: What’s the Difference? (2012). Retrieved from http://www.brighthub.com/office/entrepreneurs/articles/82448.aspx Kim, E. (2012), CNNMoney: Retrieved by http://money.cnn.com/2012/07/16/technology/microsoft-nbc-split/index.htm Scilly, M. (2014), Houston Chronicle: Difference between Mergers and Joint Ventures, Retrieved from:www.smallbusiness.chron.com