Author: chris

Free and Open Source Software Social/Economic Implications

            The late 1970s and early 1980s saw the gradual but rapid invention of powerful and sophisticated computer hardwares that could support various applications, and in the late 90s, softwares that includes the ”free and ”open source” could now be tuned to perform specific tasks. In other quarters, particularly in Europe, free and open source software can also be referred as a ” Free/Libre or Open Source Software” (FLOSS). This kind of software can easily be downloaded from the internet and is usually distributed with the same source code that a programmer would normally use to maintain it, and later on redistribute the modified version to other users. The software’s license has no user restrictions and discriminations and its code can therefore be distributed, studied or modified across various fields of endeavor, with the sample licenses normally attached or included in an appendix.

Open source software is also termed free because no fee is charged upon subscribing or downloading it. The main philosophy of free software is the user freedom while its ‘open source’ centers on its peer-to-peer strengths and development model. Users and developers can both improve the quality and functionality of the software through cooperation that has created an online community. This kind of cooperation has essentially seen the utilization of the web and other internet sites as the repository for the source code, design documents, discussions, bugs and issue lists, documentation, and other artifacts that are usually associated with the open-source project. The copyright owners of the source code generally have full control of these projects and will occasionally procure the advice of the online community about its direction. Although the ad hoc nature and development of these projects may result in software failures and poor quality, the success of free and open source projects has interestingly continued to increase the usage of source codes for fully-fledged software development.  Through its interactive on-line projects, the open source projects have allowed individuals be active participants rather than a consumer.

In my opinion, I do back and encourage the use and production of free and open source software because it has changed the Information Technology world at large from the socio-economic perspective. The real opportunities brought by free and open source software have gradually continued to come from different directions.  Throughout this writing, the terms ”free” and ”open source” are going to be used interchangeably.

The Social Implications

            The free and open source phenomenon has widely affected social ties to the formation and evolution of an on-line open source community. Other developers may also join a project due to prior social ties to project initiators. FLOSS projects have virtually enabled a community of diverse members to coordinate and co-exist harmoniously with the aid of the internet technology, which has solved and handled communication difficulties and the massive decentralized projects.   This practice eventually improves socio-technical awareness for those who would like to improve their project’s effectiveness by learning from the FLOSS development teams (Li 175). These communities are generally connected by a derived goal and belief that bridges the traditional boundary of ownership. The wide social pool and individual background has also helped in the coordination and selection of project problems that best suits a person’s interests and capabilities. These conditions give a developer the chance to explore his/her talent with also the opportunity to achieve the best of his/her performance in general (Li 176).

The free and open source developers and the community at large are socially bound by rules and ethics that forms and promotes the sharing of different cultural beliefs, interests, value systems, and other work oriented ideologies that usually captivates their software development practices  and mechanisms. All these goals, beliefs, and the construed organizational rules have tied this virtual community together that any conflict that may arise is easily mitigated with a final resolution.  This kind of social interaction may prove to be an educational tour and advancement of ideologies that might help in class teaching and discussions by providing open courseware for distance learning. The open source concept can also be used to provide the necessary tools required to support academic administration, student registration and the management of library systems (Deek & McHugh 317).

The Economic Implications

            The economic effects of open source software are gradually being felt not only in the software industry, but also in the greater society. Various economies have continued to be impacted by the changing structures in the software market. Therefore, commercial companies such as the computing industry, entertainment industry, and the business community have exploited different strategies for competition purposes. The viability of open source software has also motivated and established different business models around the globe. Economic factors such as ”network effects”, ”total cost of use”, and ”vendor lock-in” have being relevant elements, which surrounds the open source market. In respect to its Windows platform, market giants such as Microsoft have hugely gained advantage and benefited from the Vendor lock-in element. While the ‘‘network effects’’ increases market, penetration through its feedback effects that levels the market share which also includes web servers, browsers, and the operating system fields. Therefore according to the large number of users using a product or service, the network effect element will also increase the value of the product or service (Deek & McHugh 15). This kind of pattern and formula has increasingly influenced the marketing choices and strategies for software products. The ”total cost of ownership” is a business metric that evaluates products and compares its proprietary to open source products that may be claimed by the proprietary provider to be initially cheaper due to it being free of charge.

Governments around the world will also save millions of dollars per annum in license costs derived from the importation and replacement of expensive software systems, and will make a progress in stamping out major trade deficits associated with the IT industry. Open source softwares will also protect nations from the occasional coercion by giant corporate entities that control the ”closed-source” softwares that major governments rely on, and through this, there will be a greater control of the software from a national security perspective. Various companies within different nations will also benefit from the open source concept by developing, improving, and supporting the software without the help of external corporations.

Implications to Companies

            Many companies and information technology enterprises such as Microsoft have endlessly continued to benefit from open source software by utilizing the labor offered by unpaid volunteers. Although in some extent, such companies have ”accommodated” the labor offered in the development of the open source projects. Also during the process of the online projects, these companies have benefited from indirect sales revenues that are gained by the stimulating demand for other services and products offered by the firms (Li177). Therefore, investing in open source benefits the companies because the unpaid service offered by the programmers gives an additional value to a product they sell. This kind of open source projects therefore reduces collaboration costs, and increases the speed of development. The open source applications also turn the conventional business model by allowing by companies to customize them to suit their needs. However, the General Public License (GPL) associated with the open source has been criticized by Microsoft as viral because of its low-cost characteristic, which makes it a competitive threat in implementation as opposed to its closed-source applications (Miller 141). Despite this threat, major companies have continued to enjoy the talent pool witnessed in the online community when it comes solving problems associated with their applications. The open source community therefore serves a good forum to add in the best talent into their bandwagon. Many companies also support the open source concept because they will have an extensive knowledge and solution to a complimentary product from which they can in turn profit from it by subsidizing the open source contributions. In addition, these companies may release a proprietary code with an aim of further developing the open source project, and if it succeeds, the program will be widely used with the firms gaining market leadership an increasing their profitability through its complimentary segments(Miller148) . In some cases, most companies do engage in open source projects with an aim of learning its strengths and weaknesses as a strategy to improve their closed-source products and to better position themselves in the competitive software market. These major companies can also work with individuals towards software development without incurring licensing cost. This is due to the lack of intellectual property rights that would hinder them working together.

CBT is a form of psychotherapeutic treatment to manage psychological and emotional disorders including sleeping disorders, anxiety, drug abuse, addiction, eating disorders, depression, phobias, posttraumatic stress disorder and other maladaptive behaviors, through altering one’s thoughts and actions (Beck 2). It is meant to modify an individual’s thoughts and behavior. The therapy centers on cognitive processes in relation to behaviors and emotional troubles. CBT is advantageous since it takes place within a limited time to manage emotional problems. It could be applied fortnightly or weekly sessions depending on the problem and the aims mostly extending from six weeks to half a year (Beck 7 & 8). It involves a patient functioning collectively with the therapist to point out the problem and their strategic management. CBT incorporates cognitive as well as behavioral therapy. Cognitive therapy expounds on how individual’s thinking is able to initiate mannerisms and moods. Behavioral therapy on the other hand expounds on an individual’s interactions with problems, behavior and their thinking. CBT lays crucial emphasis on the present progress and not on the past encounters although it also evaluates on the history of the thoughts in infancy and their impact through maturity.

First, CBT persuades an individual to identify and discuss their thoughts towards self, the society and other persons through a stage referred to as functional analysis, essential in indicating the effects of thoughts & feeling on maladaptive actions.  This stage may prove hard particularly for patients with introspection difficulty though it could effectively result to self-discovery and knowledge that helps in the progress of CBT. Secondly, it persuades an individual to discuss actual personal behavior and its effect on thinking and feelings (Beck 10). Here the patient is able to learn and put to practice new procedures applicable in the actual society. For instance, addicted individuals may learn coping skills, applying them and also new manners to handle scenarios leading to relapse. Thus, the key concept in understanding the mechanism of CBT is appreciating the fact that individual’s thinking as well as feelings shapes personal behavior. For instance, negative thoughts on basic incidences such as drowning may make an individual to avoid swimming. Thus CBT allows patient to understand that they have no absolute control of the society but they have a role of in positively interpreting and perceiving such occurrences. As a result, CBT achieves a change of thoughts through cognitive therapy and the course of one’s actions thorough behavioral therapy thus, enhancing self esteem and perceptions toward the society (Beck 11).

As opposed to psychotherapy, CBT centers on dealing with current problems and not on the past ones by practically drafting procedures of having a healthy state of mind every day and does not incorporate pharmacological medications (Beck 6). It is essential not in eradicating a specific problem but on managing it through positive thinking thus, effectively managing problems such as anxiety as well as depressions. CBT has recently proved acceptable among therapists, clinicians and sociologists since it is short time therapeutic treatment and inexpensive, relative to other therapeutic procedures. Its wide use is also attributed to its effectiveness in managing diversified maladaptive behaviors. CBT is gradual toward attaining great goals, which makes the process less demoralizing and easier to effectively attain the specific set goal. Its outcomes can also be determined easily. It is recommended for individuals who practice introspection at ease. However, its effectiveness depends on the patient’s cooperation and his willingness to invest time on introspection (Beck 5). Self-analysis exposes inherent aspects and their enormous effects on physical behavior and is essential in learning coping skills applicable in day to day life.

Work Cited

Beck, Judith. Cognitive Therapy: Basics and Beyond. New York: The Guilford Press, 1995

Introduction

A key objective of public leadership is to have an influence over people so that ones’ subordinates or followers perform what is required of them. The effectiveness of this leadership influence normally depend on the leader’s personality and that of people around them, the form of leadership power and how one’s subordinates perceives the involvement of the leaders towards achieving the stipulated vision (Hart & Uhr, 2008, p. 56). The nature of influence determines the form of power in public leadership; which refers to the ability of a leader to influence others. In the context of public leadership, there are three main sources of power at the expense of the leader in order to enhance organizational productivity and efficiency; they are legitimate, referent and expert forms of power (Kibe, 2010, p. 34).

Analysis of the sources of power

The three fundamental sources of power in public leadership are legitimate, referent power and expert power. Legitimate power refers to the power that a leader creates by virtue that one’s subordinates believe that the leader has a right of instructing them, and they have the obligation of following the instructions issued to them. Legitimate power is analogous to an authoritative style of leadership, whereby the leader significantly relies on the authority vested on him to get things done within the organization (Kibe, 2010, p. 45). In most public arenas that make use of legitimate power, the organizational structure is arranged in hierarchical manner, whereby each sub level has some authority to which they are answerable. In such a context, the leader’s title depicts the position of power and there is a possibility that subordinates in that particular organizational structure is influenced greatly by the opinions of the leader. It is uncommon to find a public organization structured in legitimate leadership whereby the subordinates do not take the opinions of the leader into consideration (Ramirez, 2011, p. 123). A significant characteristic of legitimate power is that it helps in the restoration and maintenance of order in a public organization. It is inferable that the lack of legitimate power causes chaos and lack of organizational efficiency, owing to the fact that chain of command will be lacking. This means that an organization cannot achieve its direction and mission if legitimate power lacks. However, legitimate power does not guarantee that employees will maximize their potentials or feel empowered by the leader. The effectiveness of legitimate power is only limited to individuals who have identified those in power and are subservient to authority. The basic argument is that legitimate power requires the support of other forms of power in public leadership in order to be fully effective.

Referent power in public leadership is normally established when followers are of the belief that the leader has the appropriate leadership qualities according to their admiration. In such a case, the followers often try to imitate their leader. Fundamentally, the effectiveness of referent power relies on the followers’ perception with respect to the personality of their leader. Referent power deploys the use of transactional leadership rather than authoritarian style of leadership. Referent power is required in order to offer the feeling of support and commitment that the leaders have towards their followers (Kibe, 2010, p. 56). Referent power is one of the most effective approaches of empowering and motivating followers towards an organizational direction, this is because it entails the leader’s involvement and commitment towards the realization of the stipulation organizational direction, mission and vision. As a result, followers are likely to be influenced by this form of leadership. A significant constraint of using referent power is that it does address diversity effectively; this is because different individuals in an organization have different personality admirations and expectations from their leaders. This implies that this form of power will only be effective on individuals who perceive the leader as their admiration, while it will be resisted by followers who have different expectations and admirations. Referent also requires supportive power frameworks to be effective

I. Describe how the Great Depression was Similar to the Panic of 1893

The Great Depression and the Panic of 1893 were both characterized by the unusual high rate of unemployment with companies that were very busy holding back on production or standing idle. In both events, most banks and companies completely went out of business with Americans losing homes or savings, and the general economy was in a state of low activity (Sherman, 2006). Also in both events, the Wall Street in New York was pivotal to the fall of the whole economy and the governments both faced political turmoil and setbacks.

II. Describe how the Great Depression differed from the Panic of 1893

The Great Depression resulted from the stock market crash while the Panic of 1893 was from the decline of U.S. gold reserves and the uncertainties on the U.S. industrial surpluses that required foreign markets. The panic of 1893 was also less severe than the Great Depression because the later had an interconnected, larger, and more complex industrial economy which affected people more directly.

III. Analyze the reasons that led to the Great Depression

Profoundly, some pivotal historical events have had an enduring impact on ensuing events and the stock market crash of 1929, otherwise known as the Great Depression stands out as such an event. The stock market crash initiated this period of vast economic, social, and political changes that altered the whole remaining 20^th century in ways that couldn’t be anticipated by anyone as the 1920s came to a conclusion. This crisis mainly hit the Wall Street in New York where most Americans actually owned stocks. The stock investors who were loaned money by various companies sold their stocks to raise the money needed for the reimbursement of these loans requested by these companies (Sherman, 2006). This action led to the market losing its value as brokers could not find buyers to keep the stock value buoyant. In October 24, 1929, the day came to be known as ‘’Black Thursday’’ as stock prices plummeted. This extreme event deprived millions of Americans of their jobs, savings, homes, security, pride, and hope, while investors went bankrupt and hundreds of banks failed. The market crash served as a warning to the Great Depression, although the economic turndown did not precisely start during this period. Lasting for a decade, the Great Depression is America’s worst economic downturn in its history.

IV. Analyze the reasons that led to The Panic of 1893

This event resulted from the turndown of U.S. gold reserves and the immense uncertainties on U.S. industrial surpluses that need foreign markets. The loss of gold brought the suspension of gold recovery seem more susceptible, and hence a diminution in the gold value of the dollar. In April 21, 1893, there was a downturn in the general economy with the pronouncement of the U.S. gold reserves falling below the 100 million dollar mark. This also led to the plummeting of stocks on the New York exchange with many banks and commercial institutions going out of business. Depositors withdrew their finances and life savings from the failed banks. Investors also turned cautious with their money due to the disquiet about the dependability of the banking system and the stability of the dollar (Sherman, 2006). Most workers were laid off and various firms held back on production due to the downturn in export trade and the slow business activities.

V. Identify what factors helped end the Great Depression and the Panic of 1893

One factor that helped end the long wave of the two historical events was the penetration of U.S. exports into new and growing world markets by major U.S. industrial giants. Businesses that wished to compete internationally and establish foreign ventures were actively supported by the government. In addition, the extensive reforms in the economic, institutional, and political systems helped end the lingering economic crisis in both events. This was specifically achieved by eradicating legal, institutional and political blockades against industrial consolidations and business combinations (Sherman, 2006).

VII. Analyze how the Great Depression changed American politics and society

The Republican Party that ruled the country when the Great Depression began suffered a political fall and hostility and the Democrats were suddenly regarded as the ‘people’s’ party from both the middle-income and lower-middle groups who formed much of  the greater population. The Democrats extensive reforms were supplemented by this majority apparition although they did not cure Depression. The Democrats ‘New Deal’ that resonated well with the public brought in legislations that regulated the banks and the stock market. The materialization of these reforms could have only surfaced from the political cataclysm caused by the Great Depression (Sherman, 2006).

Abstract

The Great Depression and the Panic of 1893 are some of the two noticeable economic downturns which had effects on both Americans and the world at large. The implications of these two events were far-fetched to major systems of the country to the ordinary Americans. The events were two time-bombs waiting to exploded despite its early warnings which were tacit until it could not be contained any more. These events brought out a wider focus and scrutiny in any changes in the Wall Street with no repose on assumptions that led to the ignorance of both events. The scenes and sights projected from these events brings in a picture of long suffering and hopelessness that defines an era and government, while political and social gains can still be achieved from these inopportune events even though the parties involved are not credible enough. Although the two events resulted from two different circumstances, it taught us all severe lessons that bring in a cautionary tone in the meticulous legislation and regulation of political, social, and economic systems that can end up being catastrophic.

Keywords: economic downturn, meticulous, buoyant, market crash, market value.

What changes occurred within the anti-abortion movement as its leadership shifted from Catholics and to evangelical Protestants? How did the tactics and priorities of the movement change in this time and how did this reflect shifts in the attitudes towards women from the 1960’s to the 1980’s?

In twenty five years, the issue of abortion has triggered the attention and reaction of religious groups, which keeps on dictating the politics of the U.S.  It has generated a conflict between the conservatives and liberals and most significantly, it has generated a political as well as a cultural enlistment of evangelical America. Additionally, it formed the basis to justify disjointing of the church from the state.  Anti-abortion activism, is analyzed chronologically through the eyes of the two journalists. It can be traced to the post-Vietnam war protests of the catholic movement, which had as social concern of the issue of abortion and its role in establishing religious right. Anti-abortion movements are dated back during the catholic opposition to any act of killing during the antiwar protests of 1960s (Hauerwas 64 & 65).

The abortion extremist could bomb clinics and kill medical practitioners in order to curb abortion in America. This was an extreme violence in opposing abortion resulting to assaults and killings of abortion practitioners. The decision made by the U.S Supreme Court in January 22, 1973 by Roe V. Wade legalized abortion in every state. He argued that in the first trimester, the patient and the doctor could decide on the fate of the baby. In the second trimester, the state can decide depending on the mother’s health but in the third trimester, the state can illegalize abortion with specific exceptional (Hunt 124). His court ruling established the antiabortion movement especially in states the legalized abortion. The protests became the “America’s most volatile, most divisive and most irreconcilable debate since slavery” (Risen & Thomas 3) since 1960s antiwar- protest, which spread to the cities and compasses in America, thus initiating a national wide abortion rights policy. Roe divided America politically, religiously and historically through legalizing abortion creating pre-Roe and Post-Roe periods and also caused antiabortion extremism in The U.S, although it is not clear if a court decision would trigger large-scale protests as opposed to approval by legislature (Rise & Thomas 265).

However the battle was not successful in illegalizing abortion irrespective of its national wide status and power due to extreme radicalism characterizing the protests (Schildt 42). The movement fragmented with two distinct sides; one of which was non-violent headed by Roy O’Keefe who adhered to catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement through civil disobedience acts meant to illegalize abortion (Risen & Thomas 78). While the other side proposed violent approach led by Michael Bray, a follower of Dominion Theology and a Calvinist and very instrumental in facilitating violence through justifying it theologically resulting to domestic terrorism.  The Roy O’Keefe Catholic pacifists’ approach was out-one by the violent side of the protest. Extremists were geared at saving women thorough a process dubbed ‘operations rescue’ (Rise & Thomas 215). Violence and murder  heightened such as that which happened in 1993 through shooting of abortion practitioner, David GJunn by Michael Griffith, an anti-abortion extremist (Risen & Thomas 339).

This acts altered the perception and direction of anti-abortion movement, which triggered an open debate where activists questioned the use of violence in dealing with the issue. A new social protest based on religion was thus created by this cohesion in the United States headed by protestant fundamentalist, which was culturally isolated but became a powerful political force. According to Rise & Thomas, “a new, religion-based social protest movement was born, one that drew Protestant Evangelicals out of their churches and to the barricades. These activists set out to transform the law, but in the process they transformed themselves, transformed their theological beliefs, and ended generations of isolation” (300). This happened irrespective of the fact that the anti-abortion movement was initiated during anti-war protest led by catholic peace activists. The protestant fundamentalist triggered political ideologies for once in over half a century thorough evangelical America, which changed the cultural perception of women and that of the social protests (Chapman 458).

Introduction

Relational cultural theory preaches of having a society with growth-fostering relationship. It stresses that the main aim of development is not being independent and separated to other people, but rather to participate in relationships that foster the wellbeing of other people (Walker,2004). The theory discourages people against been isolated from other people and describes such an action as what causes human suffering.

The theory comes with some assumption about human life. The most basic one is that people stand a chance of thriving once they get themselves involved in the growth-fostering relationships. The theory focuses on establishing a relational unit, which comprises all people working together and success being the resultant. A model is derived from this that stresses on the connectedness among the individual involved. The relation culture theory also assumes that some experiences in life for example isolation are violations of relations and that cause human suffering as well as threatening the human survival.

The relation between men and women is treated different from the old psychology as compared to the relational cultural theory. In the Relational Cultural Theory (RCT) it stresses of the importance of having a growth- fostering relationship where ensuring the well been of everyone is put into considerations. An RCT relationship call for a scenario where everyone is treated with respect and there is no degrading any one due to such factors like culture and sexual orientation. The treatment of men and women is so different in old psychological theories: men were treated as superior to women in the old psychology. On the other hand, women intelligence was not considered and were viewed to be dependent on men. There were assigned the role of taking care of the children and what was considered “childish things” were relegated to them. The roles of women were despised by men and they were made to feel worthless and as just subordinates to men. RCT relationship on the other hand has brought out a relationship that equality among everyone is the main driving force. Discrimination of any kind is discouraged and men and women are treated of equal importance.

Critically RCT is a type of relationship that enhances mutual empowerment among the people in it. Aspects that may lead to its failure are greatly discouraged to ensure the success of this relationship. It is relationship where growth of people is of importance and people are judged by the characters they portray not by their sexual orientation or the race they come from. A cohesive society is likely to arise due to the existence of an RCT relationship since everyone is treated as an equal partner in the society.

There are many similarities between the ideas brought out in RCT and underlying values of social work. Social justices as well all equal provision of opportunities are two values that are upheld in social work. RCT on the other hand emphasizes on the need to create a society where everyone is treated as an equal to each other. The two relate in the sense that they campaign for equality in provision of services as well as treatment of people and stress that it is the only way success can be achieved. Integrity among individuals is also greatly upheld in both relations. The success of RCT depends on the parties involved in the relations bearing integrity in treating others in the relation, the same is necessary in social work, upholding integrity in the social work brings about success and accomplishment of success in people’s lives (Dominelli,2004). The sole reason of involving in social work is to ensure that people rights are not deprived but are greatly upheld: the same is preached in a RCT relation as people are expected to work together without discriminating each other for whatever reason and equal rights are provided.

Great guidance can be offered by incorporation of RCT values in our social work theory. The spirit of working together that is greatly emphasized in RCT can be of importance in ensuring that the rights that have been deprived off the people in the society are given back to the people. The service of social work is of taking responsibility of other people needs; by working with the less fortunate among us a RCT relation is formed. RCT also stresses on the importance of ensuring that there exist no disconnection among the society: this can act as a guide in social working ensuring that the togetherness amongst the people in the society is held out and there is no incidences of people been left out due to lack of anything (Dominelli, 2002).

RCT discourages a scenario of showing power dominance amongst the people since it lead to less interaction and loss of self-esteem among the people in the society. Practitioners of social work can borrow this trait since it ensures there is a maximum interaction between them and the people they are working for. Moreover, there will be no incidences of people feeling left out, also the society will feel free to share with them their needs and expectations (Walker,2004). A growth-oriented relationship as the main importance of creating an RCT relationship: the social workers can ensure that they establish this kind of a relation in their work to ensure that they are in knowledge of the needs of the society and can establish of the way better to solve this needs.

The old psychology of women is a notion that woman had about themselves and also what they were made to believe of themselves. For a long time, women were made to believe that they were weaker than men. Women were viewed as dependant beings that needed men in their lives in order to live. Taking care of the children and bearing them was their main responsibility any other task that was less valued. Cleaning of the house was another of their responsibility as well as taking care of their husband’s needs. Their worth was not appreciated and they were just subordinates of men. In return, a feeling of worthlessness and low self-esteem grew in them as they were viewed less important. It is also notable that they were expected to put the views of others before their own needs. On the other hand, the old psychology of men is a notion that men are superior beings to women. Their intelligence is deemed high and are also viewed as powerful beings. They do most of the thinking and they are not involved in any childish things. They are deemed of high esteem and they are the decision makers in all scenarios: what they consider right is right and they are of a higher class than women.