Operant Conditioning free essay sample

Operant conditioning can be used in the work place to help modify behavior of employees through a negative or a positive experience following their actions (___). There are a number of ways to take care of undesirable behaviors as well as enforce good behavior in the workplace. Management can use reinforcement, punishment, and extinction to try to mold their employees into performing better and being better workers all around (_____). Studies have shown that people work better and learn better when reinforcement, punishment, or extinction is used in the workplace. Managers can apply these techniques to their employees actions, rather they be positive or negative actions, which will influence the employ to react in a way that the management is wanting. It is the management’s responsibility to realize which method to use depending on the different situations that can occur on a daily basis. Its important that management is trained to deal with the different situations so that they can be sure to use reinforcement, punishment, and extinction appropriately. We will write a custom essay sample on Operant Conditioning or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page One way for managers to influence their employees would be by using a method called reinforcement after certain actions they do. Reinforcement is a way in which managers either use negative or positive consequences on an employee following a certain action the employee or employees were involved in (_______). By the managers taking away something or supplying the employee with something as a result of their actions they can begin to mold them into a better worker. For instance, management could use just a simple type of reinforcement on an employee by simply complementing the employee and telling them that they are doing a great job if they are always arriving to work on a timely basis. Sometimes when workers are just acknowledged for their work they are more likely to continue working hard. Managers could also reinforce an employee’s good behavior by offering them promotion for their dedication. Receiving a promotion could motivate them to continue performing to their best ability in order to keep advancing in the workplace and to possibly receive more promotions in the future. Management could also discipline an employee if they are constantly showing up to work late by warning them if they are late again that they will have to fire them. By using reinforcement the employee might be scared to lose their job and would no longer show up to work late. If the employee still shows up late then management would fire the worker, showing others that being late does have consequences. After losing a job the worker would be more inclined to perform better at their next job and to make sure and always be on time so that they do not risk losing their job again. Management could also offer positive reinforcement by offering the employees who always show up to work on time a pay raise. This pay raise would also be a great motivation for other employees to show up on time so that they could be rewarded for their work and dedication and possibly receive a raise as well. By management noticing the good work as well as the bad work it makes for a better environment that motivates employees to work to their best abilities. Another way management could use operant conditioning would be through punishment to their employees. Punishment is a way of discouraging undesirable behavior of an employee by following an undesirable behavior with a negative consequence or following a positive behavior with a positive consequence (_______). Management could use negative punishment on their employees by taking away a bonus that was offered for them to receive if they completed a specific goal. At times punishment can possibly cause a negative effect back onto the manager by the employee. The employee might want revenge for not receiving the raise that they believe they deserved even if they were not performing at their top ability. Sometimes when managers enforce punishment onto their workers, the workers will commit workplace deviance in a way to get back at management for punishing them. However, along with a negative effect, positive effects also occur due to management using punishment. Employees may also use the punishment as a learning experience to make sure that they complete their work tasks to their full capability and they try to work harder in order to not be punished again by their managers. Another way in which management can try to change an employee’s behavior is through a process called extinction. Extinction is used to weaken the workers behavior by not applying any consequences to their behavior (______). Using extinction may not always have as quick of results on the employees that management might want however, over time it usually is very effective. Without receiving a consequence over time the behavior will eventually weaken. Extinction is not used in all circumstances but in certain ones it is the best way of dealing with the workers behavior. Some individuals do certain things just to get a reaction out of someone else. They depending on the reaction they receive from others. Using the extinction method can revolve these actions from people. For instance, when you are dealing with someone who makes rude comments quite often you can ignore the rude comments and act as if you do not even acknowledge what they said. You can even make the extinction more noticeable by making sure complement the coworker when they make nice or constructive comments. Over time they will learn to not even say the rude comments by getting no response from others, and will stick to only making helpful comments. As long as the situation does not seem too dangerous extinction would be a good way of dealing with it. However, if extinction is still not working after some time or if the situation elevated to something dangerous management needs to be trained to know to start taking a different action to resolve the problem. Operant Conditioning is a great way of being able to modify employee’s behavior in the workplace. Operant conditioning can be used in the work place to help modify behavior of employees through a negative or a positive experience following their actions (___). By using reinforcement, punishment, or extinction management has to ability to mold their employees into better and harder workers if done correctly. Simply complementing an employee for doing a good job at work can use reinforcement. By the manager simply acknowledging the employees work they are more inclined to continue to work hard because they know that the manager is watching. Punishment could also be used by taking away a reward or supplying an employee with extra work for example. By taking away a proposed raise for instance the worker would then be motivated to work harder in the future in order to try to earn back the raise. By supplying the worker will a promotion they would be motivated to continue working hard for another promotion in the future. Extinction can take more time to see result then punishment or reinforcement. Extinction is a way to weaken the employees behavior by showing no consequences to their actions. Over time the employees would drop the actions due to getting no feedback from them. Using these three ways to modify behavior in the workplace can make work a more enjoyable environment as well as a more productive place.

Waste and Pollution Essay Example

Waste and Pollution Paper More recently research has revealed that many chemical pollutants, such as EDT and Pubs mimic sex hormones and interfere with the human bodys reproductive and developmental functions. These substances are known as endocrine disrupter. See Occupational and Environmental Diseases. Pollution also has a dramatic effect on natural resources. Ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and rivers perform many important services for Earths environment. They enhance water and air quality, provide habitat for plants and animals, and provide food and medicines. Any or all of these ecosystem functions may be impaired or destroyed by pollution. Moreover, because of the complex relationships among the many types of organisms and ecosystems, environmental contamination may have far-reaching consequences that are not immediately obvious or that are difficult to predict. For instance, scientists can only peculate on some of the potential impacts of the depletion of the ozone layer, the protective layer in the atmosphere that shields Earth from the Suns harmful ultraviolet rays. Another major effect of pollution is the tremendous cost of pollution cleanup and prevention. The global effort to control emissions of carbon dioxide, a gas produced from the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal or oil, or of other organic materials like wood, is one such example. The cost of maintaining annual national carbon dioxide emissions at 1990 levels is estimated to be 2 percent of the gross domestic product for plopped countries. In addition to its effects on the economy, health, and natural resources, pollution has social implications. Research has shown that low-income populations and minorities do not receive the same protection from environmental contamination as do higher-income communities. We will write a custom essay sample on Waste and Pollution specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Waste and Pollution specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Waste and Pollution specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Toxic waste incinerators, chemical plants, and solid waste dumps are often located in low-income communities because of a lack of organized, informed community involvement in municipal decision-making processes. TYPES OF POLLUTION Pollution exists in many forms and affects many different aspects of Earths environment. Point-source pollution comes from specific, localized, and identifiable sources, such as sewage pipelines or industrial smokestacks. Nippon-source pollution comes from dispersed or uncontaminated sources, such as contaminated water runoff from urban areas or automobile emissions. The effects of these pollutants may be immediate or delayed. Primary effects of pollution occur immediately after contamination occurs, such as the death of marine plants and wildlife after an oil spill at sea. Secondary effects may be delayed or may persist in the environment into the future, perhaps going unnoticed for many years. EDT, a nondurable compound, seldom poisons birds immediately, but gradually accumulates in their bodies. Birds with high concentrations of this pesticide lay thin-shelled eggs that fail to hatch or produce deformed offspring. These secondary effects, publicized by Rachel Carson in her 1962 book, Silent Spring, threatened the survival of species such as the bald eagle and peregrine falcon, and aroused public concern over the hidden effects of nondurable chemical compounds. I A. I Air Pollution I Brown Smog Over Phoenix, Arizona I Smog is caused by industrial and automobile pollution. It is compounded by imperative inversions, which cause the air pollution to be kept in a particular area for extended periods. Continued exposure to smog can result in respiratory problems, eye irritation, and even death. Incarnate Encyclopedia Eric Camp/Photostat NYC Human contamination of Earths atmosphere can take many forms and has existed since humans first began to use fire for agriculture, heating, and cooking. During the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries, however, air pollution became a major problem. As early as 1661 British author and founding member of the British Royal Society John Evelyn ported of London in his treatise Fumigants, the weary Traveler, at many Miles distance, sooner smells, than sees the City to which he repairs. This is that pernicious Smoke which fullness all her Glory, superconducting a soot Crust or Fur upon all that it lights. Urban air pollution is commonly known as smog. The dark London smog that Evelyn wrote of is generally a smoky mixture of carbon monoxide and organic compounds from incomplete combustion (burning) of fossil fuels such as coal, and sulfur dioxide from impurities in the fuels. As the smog ages and reacts with oxygen, organic and lobular acids condense as droplets, increasing the haze. Smog developed into a major health hazard by the 20th century. In 1948, 19 people died and thousands were sickened by smog in the small C. S. Steel-mill town of Donors, Pennsylvania. In 1 952, about 4,000 Londoner died of its effects. A second type of smog, photochemical smog, began reducing air quality over large cities like Los Angels in the sass. This smog is caused by combustion in car, truck, and airplane engines, which produce nitrogen oxides and release hydrocarbons from unburned fuels. Sunlight causes the nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons to combine and turn oxygen into ozone, a chemical agent that attacks rubber, injures plants, and irritates lungs. The hydrocarbons are oxidized into materials that condense and form a visible, pungent haze. I Smog over Santiago I Set in an enclosed valley between the coastal range and the Andes Mountains, Santiago, Chile, experiences high levels of air pollution. Vehicular and industrial emissions, street dust, thermal inversions and the citys location all contribute to the problem. Since 1 993 the Chilean government has been working with an agency in the United States to improve air quality in Santiago. I Incarnate Encyclopedia I Robert Fierce/Woodwind Camp and Associates, Inc. Eventually most pollutants are washed out of the air by rain, snow, fog, or mist, but only after traveling large distances, sometimes across continents. As pollutants build up in the atmosphere, sulfur and nitrogen oxides are converted into acids that mix with rain. This acid rain falls in lakes and on forests, where it can lead to the death offish and plants, and damage entire ecosystems. Eventually the contaminated lakes and forests may become lifeless. Regions that are downwind of heavily industrialized areas, such as Europe and the eastern United States and Canada, are the hardest hit by acid rain. Acid rain can also affect human health and man-made objects; it is slowly dissolving historic stone Statues and building facades in London, Athens, and Rome. One of the greatest challenges caused by air pollution is global warming, an increase in Earths temperature due to the buildup of certain atmospheric gases such as carbon dioxide. With the heavy use of fossil fuels in the 20th century, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have risen dramatically. Carbon dioxide and other gases, known as roundhouse gases, reduce the escape of heat from the planet without blocking radiation coming from the Sun. Because of this greenhouse effect, average global temperatures are expected to rise 1. 4 to 5. 8 Celsius degrees (2. 5 to 10. 4 Fahrenheit degrees) by the year 2100. Although this trend appears to be a small change, the increase would make the Earth warmer than it has been in the last 1 25,000 years, possibly changing climate patterns, affecting crop production, disrupting wildlife distributions, and raising the sea level. Air pollution can also damage the upper atmospheric region known as the stratosphere. Excessive production of chlorine-containing compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CIFS) (compounds formerly used in refrigerators, air conditioners, and in the manufacture of polystyrene products) has depleted the stratospheric ozone layer, creating a hole above Antarctica that lasts for several weeks each year. As a result, exposure to the Suns harmful rays has damaged aquatic and terrestrial wildlife and threatens human health in high-latitude regions of the northern and southern hemispheres. I B. Water Pollution Major Oil Spills Throughout the World I The demand for fresh water rises continuously as the worlds population rows. From 1940 to 1990 withdrawals of fresh water from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other sources increased fourfold. Of the water consumed in the United States in 1995, 39 percent was used for irrigation, 39 percent was used for electric power generation, and 12 percent was used for other utilities; industry and mining used 7 percent, and the rest was used for agricultural livestock and commercial purposes. I Polluted River in the united Kingdom I I Polluted River in the united Kingdom The pollution of rivers and streams with chemical contaminants has become one Of the most critical environmental problems of the 20th century. Waterborne chemical pollution entering rivers and streams comes from two major sources: point pollution and Nippon pollution. Point pollution involves those pollution sources from which distinct chemicals can be identified, such as factories, refineries or outfall pipes. Nippon pollution involves pollution from sources that cannot be precisely identified, such as runoff from agricultural or mining operations or seepage from septic tanks or sewage drain fields. It is estimated that each year 10 million people die worldwide from drinking contaminated water. I Incarnate Encyclopedia I Ben Osborne/Oxford Scientific Films Sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides are the main causes of water pollution. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (ERA) reports that about 37 percent of the countrys lakes and estuaries, and 36 percent of its rivers, are too polluted for basic uses such as fishing or swimming during all or part of the year. In developing nations, more than 95 percent of urban sewage is discharged untreated into rivers and bays, creating a major human health hazard. I Industrial Water pollution I I Industrial Water Pollution I Industrial pollutants that run into streams, rivers, or lakes can have serious effects on wildlife, plants, and humans. In the United States there are strict rules for the amount and composition of substances that factories can release into bodies of water. These rules are not always enforced, and much industrial water pollution comes from accidental chemical or oil spills. I Incarnate Encyclopedia I Sigma/Corgis I Water runoff, a Nippon source of pollution, carries fertilizing chemicals such as phosphates and nitrates from agricultural fields and yards into lakes, streams, and rivers. These combine with the phosphates and nitrates from sewage to speed the growth of algae, a type of plantlike organism. The water body may then become choked with decaying algae, which severely depletes the oxygen supply. This process, called transportation, can cause the death of fish and other aquatic life. Agricultural runoff may be to blame for the growth of a toxic form of algae called Pastries pesticide, which was responsible for killing large amounts of fish in bodies of water from the Delaware Bay to the Gulf of Mexico in the late 1 9905. Runoff also carries toxic pesticides and urban and industrial wastes into lakes and streams. Erosion, the wearing away of topsoil by wind and rain, also contributes to water pollution. Soil and silt (a fine sediment) washed from logged hillsides, plowed fields, or construction sites, can clog waterways and kill aquatic vegetation. Even small amounts of silt can eliminate desirable fish species. For example, when logging removes the protective plant cover from hillsides, rain may wash soil and silt into streams, covering the gravel beds that trout or salmon use for spawning. The marine fisheries supported by ocean ecosystems are an essential source of protein, particularly for people in developing countries. Yet pollution in coastal bays, estuaries, and wetlands threatens fish stocks already depleted by overfeeding.

Phobic Disorders

Phobic Disorders Phobic disordersClinical CharacteristicsA phobic disorder involves extreme, persistent and irrational fear with lack of control, which is strongly out of proportion with the danger.‚Â ·The feared situations are avoided or responded to with great anxiety‚Â ·Possibly recurrent, unexpected panic attacks‚Â ·Individual recognises the fear experienced is excessive‚Â ·The phobic reactions interfere significantly with the individuals working or social life‚Â ·Exposure to the feared stimulus nearly always produces a high level of anxietyDiagnosisWith panic attacks, substance abuse should be ruled out as a cause.Categories‚Â ·Agoraphobia - Fear of open spaces or public places. Panic disorder starts first; fear of having another attack makes the individual feel insecure.‚Â ·Social Phobias - extreme concern about one's own behaviour and the reactions of others‚Â ·Specific phobias -e.g. zoophobias (animals).BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS OF PHOBIC DISORDERSGenetic Twin StudiesThe "Little Miss Muffet" scenario explained by Den...Torgersen (1983) - 31% concordance for panic disorder with agoraphobia in MZ twins versus zero concordance in DZ twins. None of the MZ twins shared the same phobias.Family studiesSolyom et al. (1974) - 45% of phobic patients had a family history of the disorder compared with 17% of 'normal' controls.Ost (1989) - 64% of blood phobics had at least one close relative who also suffered from it.Evaluation‚Â ·Related individuals may acquire phobias through imitation‚Â ·Genetic explanations suggest that some individuals are predisposed to form phobias but life experiences are important too.Biological preparedness - Selligman (1971)People have an innate predisposition to develop certain fearsResearch evidenceDe Silva (1988) - 88 phobic patients in Sri Lanka tended to exhibit biologically based fears.EvaluationCan't explain fears of harmless situations or things, such as slugsPSYCHOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS OF PHOBIC DISOR DERSPsychodynamicFreud (1909) - phobias arise, when anxieties are displaced on to the phobic object. Symbolises initial...

Definition and Examples of Singular They

Definition and Examples of Singular 'They' In  English grammar, singular they is the use of the pronoun they, them, or their to refer to a singular noun or to certain indefinite pronouns (such as anybody or everyone). Also called  epicene they and unisex they. Though strict prescriptive grammarians regard the singular they as a grammatical error, it has been in widespread use for several centuries. Singular they appears in the writings of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Austen, Woolf, and many other major English authors. In January 2016,  the American Dialect Society chose the gender-neutral singular they as its Word of the Year: They  was recognized by the society for its emerging use as a pronoun to refer to a known person, often as a conscious choice by a person rejecting the traditional gender binary of  he  and  she (American Dialect Society press release, January 8, 2016). Examples When a person talks too much, they learn little. (Duncan Hines, Lodging for a Night, 1938)If anybody wants their admission fee back, they can get it at the door. (Fiddlers Dram. Spooky South: Tales of Hauntings, Strange Happenings, and Other Local Lore, retold by S. E. Schlosser. Globe Pequot, 2004)She admired the fullness of the dirty net curtains, opened every drawer and cupboard, and, when she found the Gideons Bible, said, Somebodys left their book behind. (Sue Townsend, Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction. Lily Broadway Productions, 2004)She kept her head and kicked her shoes off, as everybody ought to do who falls into deep water in their clothes. (C.S. Lewis, Voyage of the Dawn-Treader, 1952)I know when I like a person directly I see them! (Virginia Woolf, The Voyage Out, 1915)A person cant help their birth, Rosalind replied with great liberality. (William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair, 1848) Singular They and Agreement Examples of semantically singular they are given in [52]: [52i] Nobody in their right mind would do a thing like that. [52ii] Everyone has told me they think I made the right decision. [53iii] We need a manager who is reasonably flexible in their approach. [52iv] In that case the husband or the wife will have to give up their seat on the board. Notice that this special interpretation of they doesnt affect verb agreement: we have they think (3rd plural) in [ii], not *they thinks (3rd singular). Nonetheless, they can be interpreted as if it were 3rd person singular, with human denotation and unspecified gender. (Rodney Huddleston and Geoffrey K. Pullum, A Students Introduction to English Grammar. Cambridge University Press, 2005) The Growing Acceptance of Singular They The general hesitancy of grammarians towards accepting singular they is not actually matched by many of their academic colleagues who have researched the usage and its distribution (e.g. Bodine 1075; Whitley 1978; Jochnowitz 1982; Abbot 1984; Wales 1984b). Nor indeed is it matched by the lay native speakers of standard English, who show an overwhelming preference for it in contemporary spoken English, non-formal written English and an ever-widening spread of non-formal written registers, from journalism to administration and academic writing. . . . Singular they, in fact, has been well established in informal usage for centuries; until prescriptive grammarians decreed it was grammatically incorrect, and so outlawed it, effectively, from (public) written discourse. The OED and Jespersen (1914) reveal, for example, that right from the time of the introduction of the indefinite pronouns into the language in their present form in the Late Middle English period, the option involving they has been in common use. (Katie Wales, Personal Pronouns in Present-Day English. Cambridge University Press, 1996) The Only Sensible Solution His or her is clumsy, especially upon repetition, and his is as inaccurate with respect to grammatical gender as they is to number. Invented alternatives never take hold. Singular they already exists; it has the advantage that most people already use it. If it is as old as Chaucer, whats new? The  Washington Post’s style editor, Bill Walsh, has called it the only sensible solution to the gap in English’s pronouns, changing his newspapers style book in 2015. But it was also the rise in the use of  they  as a pronoun for someone who does not want to use he or she. Facebook began already in 2014 allowing people to choose they as their preferred pronoun (Wish them a happy birthday!). Transgender stories, from The Danish Girl, a hit movie, to Caitlyn Jenner, an Olympic athlete who has become the world’s most famous trans woman, were big in 2015. But such people prefer their post-transition pronouns: he or she as desired. They is for a smaller minority who prefer neither. But the very idea of non-binary  language with regard to gender annoys and even angers many people. In other words, as transgender people gain acceptance, non-binary folks are the next frontier, like it or not. Who knew a thousand-year-old pronoun could be so controversial? (Prospero, Why 2015’s Word of the Year Is Rather Singular. The Economist, January 15, 2016) Origin of the Concept of the Gender-Neutral Masculine Pronoun [I]t was [Ann] Fisher [author of A New Grammar, 1745] who promoted the convention of using he, him and his as pronouns to cover both male and female in general statements such as Everyone has his quirks. To be precise, she says that The Masculine Person answers to the general Name, which comprehends both Male and Female; as, Any person who knows what he says. This idea caught on. . . The convention was bolstered by an Act of Parliament in 1850: in order to simplify the language used in other Acts, it was decreed that the masculine pronoun be understood to include both males and females. The obvious objection to thisobvious now, even if it was not obvious thenis that it makes women politically invisible. (Henry Hitchings, The Language Wars: A History of Proper English. Macmillan, 2011)

Discuss Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discuss - Research Paper Example Descartes’ inventions in philosophy and mathematics had considerable influence on the art of the 17th century. Previous accounts of the mind-body relationship had mostly been unidirectional, in that, people believed that either the body controlled the mind or vice versa. With Descartes’ dualism concept, people could now think of the relationship between mind and body as being two-way. Artists began to perceive the objects of their drawings as having a body and a mind that affected each other (94). Descartes’ discovery of the Cartesian coordinate system that enabled people to use geometric shapes in the expression of algebraic equations in 2-dimensions also impacted the world of art. Before Descartes’ discoveries, artists created their work without using geometric shapes and this only made it hard for them to achieve multiple dimensions in their artwork. However, with Descartes’ discovery, they could now use geometrical shapes to create 2-dimensional perspectives in their drawings and other artwork (105). Isaac Newton (1643-1727) is inarguably one of the most celebrated inventors in the history of mankind. He was a mathematician, physicist and astronomer from England. His most notable work lay in science and mechanics especially after his discovery of the laws of motion (Tiner 5). He enlightened people about the relationships between motion and force. He also played an instrumental role in the field of prisms. He is credited with discovering the source of colors (35). His discoveries had a profound effect on the thinking of his time, especially in relation to art. Prior to Newton’s discovery of the phenomenon of colors, people used to think that a mixture of light and darkness is what produced color. Newton, through his prism experiments, was able to determine and prove that light was the only element responsible for color. Various artists were

Advanced Project Management unit 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Advanced Project Management unit 1 - Essay Example According to British Standards, projects are a unique set of coordinated activities, with definite starting and finishing points, undertaken by an individual or organisation to meet specific performance objectives within defined schedule, cost and performance parameters (Maylor, 2010). Project management can be defined as â€Å"leading a team to achieve project success through team spirit and skills development, in a constrained environment, leading to value creation through appropriate use of tools and techniques†. This definition has been based on several requirements and parameters in achieving project success. Team spirit suggests that the success of the project depends upon the people involved in it. The team members must have certain abilities such as soft skills. They must have the ability to work in teams, be full of enthusiasm and possess good communication skills (McConachy & Caine, 2003). This indicates that organizational culture should be supportive of projects without which it can result in project failure. Other significant elements in the success of projects are interpersonal relationship, management commitment and results-orientation. Skill development is an essential part of any project. Project teams comprise of a unique group of individuals who come together to work in a controlled environment towards a common goal (Atkins and Gilbert, 2003). If the members are brought together at the earliest possible stage, they could be flexible and adaptable, thereby enabling timely decisions, with quicker response to market and technology. The members’ strengths, contributions and interests have to be given due recognition. They must also be encouraged to develop further skills. If top performers are included in the project team, performance will meet or exceed expectations (Hacker, 2000). All projects operate in a

Financial problem in a country or organization of your choice Essay Example for Free

Financial problem in a country or organization of your choice Essay Discuss the causes of a financial problem in a country or organization of your choice and suggest some solutions. Specify the problem and the City/Country and relate to a particular study. Zimbabwe is an agricultural based economy previously known as the ‘bread-basket’ of Southern Africa. In the past decade, the country experienced a drastic economic disintegration due to wide range of factors including: unconstitutional land redistribution, health, decline in foreign investment and hyperinflation. The Zimbabwean economy is strongly intertwined with politics; therefore the political instability subsequently offset the economy. In 2000, the government embarked on ‘the land reform programme’ which removed white commercial farmers from arable lands so that it could be redistributed among black farmers. The experienced farmers were replaced by mostly black subsistence ones, with no farming knowledge, equipment and capital and therefore could not produce at a commercial scale. There was no agricultural export, meaning there was a loss of foreign currency being injected into the economy on a regular basis. This marked the beginning of economic downfall. Richardson (2004:307). The failure of the agricultural sector which is the backbone of the economy led to the economic crisis. This meant that the government could not generate enough revenue to sustain its infrastructures such as the health sector. Health conditions are directly related to the poor economy. Sick workers were not able to work as much or as productively as healthy ones. Labour markets were less efficient and the market was not able to produce as much. Consequently, the economy produced far less per-worker than a similar healthy economy. This was evident in Zimbabwe by the low participation rate that at just over 35 %, as opposed to 51.08 % in the U.S. or 51.97 % in Japan. Richardson (2004:289). Another contributing factor was that foreign investors also fled, due to insecurities and the government policies dictating that 51% ownership of their businesses should be locally owned. Foreign direct investment fell to zero by 2001, and the  World Bank’s risk premium on investment in Zimbabwe shot up from 4 % to 20 % that year as well. Hill (2003: 109). Furthermore, the Zimbabwean economy was brought down by the illegal sanctions (an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with it. Merriam-Webster dictionary 2012:198) imposed by the American and European superpowers. This meant that no trade was to be done with Zimbabwe. There was a sudden death of foreign currency and investment influx to the country. The U.S. and Britain have partially withheld financial support for Zimbabwe and there would be no access to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) because they could not pay their debt and the prevailing hyperinflationary conditions. Hill (2003: 102). The causes of Zimbabwe’s financial problem can be mitigated by first achieving a ‘political breakthrough’ that will depoliticize the economy. Then, land should be re-redistributed among experienced commercial farmers and train the less experienced ones to ensure a more sustainable output. There must also be a liberalisation of foreign investment regulations to attract the foreign investors. In conclusion, these suggested solutions will help to rebuild the economy and restore Zimbabwe as the bread basket of Southern Africa. References: Richardson, C,J. 2004. The Collapse of Zimbabwe in the Wake of the 2000–2003 Land Reforms. New York: Edwin Mellen Hill, G. 2003. The Battle for Zimbabwe. Cape Town: Zebra