Saturday, September 7, 2019

Theories of International Trade and Investment Essay Example for Free

Theories of International Trade and Investment Essay Objectives: 1. Theories of international trade and investment 2. why do nations trade? 3. How can nations enhance competitive advantage? 4. Why and how do firms internationalize? 5. How can internationalizing firms gain and sustain competitive advantage? Mercantillism: belief popular in 16th century National prosperity results from maximizing exports and minimizing imports Nonmercantillism: today some argue nation should run a trade surplus labot unions protect domestic jobs farmers keep crop prices high manufacturers some rely on exports Free Trade: absense of restrictions to the flow of goods/services among nations ** Best because it leads to: more/beter choices for consumers/firms lower prices of goods for consumers/firms higher profits/better worker wages imported input goods usually cheaper higher living standards for consumers costs are lower greater prosperity in poor countries Competitive Advantage: foundation concept of international trade. Answers how nations can achieve and sustain economic success/prosperity Superior features of a country that provide it with unique benefits in global competition comparitive advantages are derived either from natural endowments/deliberate national policies **In a firm: Distinctive Assets/competencies/capabilities that are developed or acuired Ex: Saudi Arabia has a natural abundance of oil petroleum products Ex: France climate/soil for producing wine Absolute Advantage: country should produce only those products in which it has absolute advantage or can produce using fewer resources that another country Comparative Advantage: Beneficial for two countries to trade even if one has absolute advantage in the production of all products. **Efficiancy in which it can product the product is the most important Ratio of production costs is key This pplies to all goods shows how countried use scarce resources more efficiently Limitations of Early Trade Theories: Fail to account for international transportation costs Govts distort normal trade / selectively imposing protectionism (tarrifs) or (subsidies) Services some cant be traded. Others can be traded freely over internet Factor Proportions Theory: Factor Endowments Theory each country should produce and export products that need high production Import goods that and don’t need production ** Leontief Paradox revealed that countries can export products that use less resources and be successful International Product Life Cycle Theory Each product and its associated manufacturing go through 3 stages of evolution: introduction inventor country enjoys a monopoly in manufacturing/exports. Ex: TV Set maturity Products manufacturing becomes standardized other countries start producing and exporting the product standardization manufacturing ceases in innovator country becomes net importor of the product. Totally under globalization cycle occurs quickly New Trade Theory economies of scale are an important factor in some industries for superior international performance. Even in absense of superior comparative advantage some succeed best as their volume increases Ex: commercial aircraft industry has very high fixed costs need high volume sales to achieve profit Critical Role of  Innovation in National Economic Success Innovation is KEY source of competitive advantage Firms innovate in 4 major ways: 1. new product/improve an existing product 2. new manufacturing 3. new marketing 4. new ways of organizing Many innovative firms in a nation leads to national competitive advantage Critical Role of Productivity in National Economic Success productivity is the value of the output produced by a unit of labor or capital it is a key source of competitive advantage for firms the greater the productivity of the firm, the more efficiently it uses its resources aggregate productivity is a key determinate of the nations standard of living Michael Porters Diamond Model: Sources of National Competitive Advantage Diamond Model Factor Conditions: quality and quantity of labor, natural resources, capital, tech, know-how, entrepreneurship, other production Ex: an abundance of cost-effective and well educated workers give china a competitive advantage in the production of laptops Related Supporting Industries: presence of suppliers, competitors, complementary firms that excel within a given industry Demand Conditions at home: strengths and sophistication of customer demand firm strategy, structure, and rivalry: the nature of domestic rivalry, and conditions that determine how a nations firms are created, organized, and managed Industiral Cluster suppliers/supporting firms from the same industry located within the same geographic area strong cluster can be sxport platform for a nation Proactive economic development plan employed by the govt. nurture/support promising industry sectors with potential for regional or global dominance Tax Incentives Monetary fiscal policies Rigorous educational syst em Investment in national infrastructure strong legal regulatory systems

Friday, September 6, 2019

Jury Trial Analysis Essay Example for Free

Jury Trial Analysis Essay Jury trial refers to a legal proceeding, whereby a panel of adjudicators makes decisions that are put into practice by the judges. A jury decides upon dubious issues of fact that can either be in a criminal or civil trial. It is a constitutional right for those charged with criminal and civil offenses to face trial by jury. However, in civil trials the defender and the offender can have a consensus of having a bench trial before a judge. Therefore, it is evidenced that jury trial takes place only in those situations where one side in a civil case, or the accused in a criminal case, have a belief that it is in their best interest. It also has an effect on the ruling of cases that never go to trial. In jury trial, there are five main steps that are keenly followed. The first step involves the selection of a jury. In this step prospective jurors show up in a courtroom. The defensive and prosecution lawyers together with the attorneys, interview them through a process called voir dire which means to speak the truth. This procedure is aimed at authenticating whether any of the jurors has a secretive interest in the case, a chauvinism or bias that may negatively influence him or her as a juror. For instance, the defensive lawyer can request to have the juror excused if he or she is afraid of guns. There are two main challenges faced at this stage, challenge for cause and authoritative challenge. Each of the side has the ability to discard a juror capriciously (Denver Criminal Attorney, 2009). Jury selection is completed and an oath is administered for those chosen in a particular case. However, they are lawyers who are specialized in jury selection and they will do excellent in this part of trial. Secondly, both sides in the case participate in an opening statement. First, the prosecutor gives a brief summary of what the trial is about, the offense that the defendant is being accused of and how they will prove his guilt. Thereafter, defensive attorney gives his opening statement in order to summarize how he will demonstrate his client is above suspicion. However, opening statements are not evidence but are only anticipation of what each side waits for the evidence to prove. The third step involves presentation of evidence and testimony of witnesses. The prosecutor takes the first step of professing witnesses and presenting various physical facts such as weapons and documents to evidence the defendant’s guilt. There is cross-examination of his witnesses by the defensive lawyers. After the prosecution is done with his presentation, the defense gets the floor and also presents its own witnesses and evidence. The prosecution gets an opportunity to cross-examine defense witnesses too. Finally, both sides ‘’respite ‘’their case. The fourth step entails closing arguments and presentation of jury instructions. The defense firstly, confirms how the prosecution did not prove its case. The prosecution goes last winding up its case. It is substantiated that the prosecution has the’’ burden of proof’’ and therefore it goes first and also last. The judge interprets the instructions of law to the jurors, defines their responsibilities, what evidence to consider and the law that governs the case. The final step in a jury trial is deliberation. The jury goes to the deliberation room to judge the case and arrive at a verdict. A foreperson is identified to ensure that every juror is given a fair opportunity to participate. In case of any need for clarification, it is written down and the bailiff presents it to the judge (Morrocco). Finally, when a judgment has been attained, jurors agree to it and sign a form then they alert the bailiff. It is then read by the clerk and the judge discharge the jurors. In a jury trial, the constitution allows for fair and impartial treatment of the accused. There are several constitutional rights of a defendant during a jury trial. For instance, the defendant has a right to remain silent, confront witnesses, represented by an attorney and also has a right to adequate and sufficient representation. This is mainly practiced in criminal prosecutions. Jury trial is in deed one of the better systems of judgment of single or a panel of judges who have a lot of bias. Every party in a jury trial is mandated to enjoy the right to a detached jury of the center where the crime shall have been committed. The legal system must use the proper and accurate means of obtaining information and evidence against a suspect (Jury Service). So as to ensure selection of unbiased jury, each of the prospective jurors is ordered an oath to speak the truth. Usually, twelve jurors are selected having two of them being chosen as alternates. Stringent instructions are given as a way to ensure fairness and impartiality as a jury. To maintain the highest standards of fairness in a jury trial, an independent jury must be appointed each year to appraise the application and also select participating juror.

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Qualities required to be a Competent Change Agent

Qualities required to be a Competent Change Agent Change agents are leaders who cut across the organization and its business units without regard to the traditional hierarchy. Directly or indirectly, they implement new processes, train employees on new procedures, and act as role models to demonstrate new and better ways to work. A Change Agent is the direct liaison between the technical project team members and the end users [Gardner, J. W. (1991)]. The Change Agent understands the new business process being implemented and understands the impact of that process to the business. The role of an change agent is very important in an organization as it is not an easy task to manage a change in an organization. When there is any question arise to change in the organization that means that its need to make a change in a designed and organize fashion. It could be said with the situation of an IT project it has to change the edition of the project and also this edition should be managed properly. A change in the organization or the project could be started within the company or also may be from outside source. [Gardner, J. W. (1994)]. As an example, there is a product which is very popular among the people. But there need a change in the design of this product. [Budd, R. W., Thorp, R. K., Donohew, L. (1997)]. This is the example where there is a change initiate within the company. At this moment the main concern about this product is that how will the company respond to this change. This type of change is managed by the change management within the organization. Im mediate and as well as positive responses to this changes could be possible within the organization. Change agent: A change agent is a person whose presence or thought processes cause a change from the traditional way of handling or thinking about a problem [Jakobson, R. (1990).]. Management consultants are often hired as change agents for corporate organization development retreats. Role of a change agent: There are some roles that could be performed by the change agent. Those roles are as follows: The change agent should develop a definite change goal: By diagnosing, a change agent should find out the real issues in the organization and propose the exact and clear goal. By analyzing he or she will begin the following task: There may be some barrier to get the expected result of the organization and that should be found out. The organization should have ability to make the desired change and this should short out by the change agent. The expected future of the organization.   The real situation of the organization in the running time. The opportunities of the changes that are appear in the organization. There are specific target and dreams of the main stakeholders within the organization. To make a change, the change agent should also find those. There are some values of the organization. The problems and the issues which are presented in the organization.   Every organization have some future strategy that how will they operate the organization in next few years. The change agent should also take those in account. There may be some changes which may be occurred by the external environment there is some impact for this change in the organization and as well as the consumers. By applying those change agent could able to determine that which type of changes are necessary with in the organization. The change agent as a facilitator: The most difficult part of a change agent to make everyone involved in the process of change and make them dedicated to the necessary actions. The change agent should get himself concerned with [Budd, R. W., Thorp, R. K., Donohew, L. (1997)]: Identifying the key stakeholders of the change. Involving these stakeholders in the diagnostic process. This means helping them to achieve consensus on the changes the organisation needs to make. When done in a participative process, this helps create ownership for change. Helping the stakeholders to set clear goals for their change process. Educating these stakeholders about the changes they want to make and helping them to understand how the changes theyve selected will impact on the rest of the organisation. (systems thinking.) Helping the stakeholders to understand how these changes will benefit the company, their division and themselves. This in turn builds commitment to the change. Helping the stakeholders understand the costs of these changes to the company, their division and to themselves personally. the designer Designing a change process that will achieve specific change goals, is a creative process. This involves: Observing all the change tools and interventions that are available. Selecting those specific change tools and discoveries that will help the organization to achieve its change objectives. Creating additional activities and interventions to fill any gaps. Reviewing that each intervention supports every other intervention, and that all interventions support the companys values, strategies and plans. Arranging and integrating these interventions into one simple, seamless, step by step process. Deciding on the roles that need to be played to support the process. The project manager ..Many different roles are required for a change process to work. Often a change agent will play the role of a project manager and co-ordinate the activities of the different role players. Typical roles in a change process include [Jakobson, R. (1990).]: A change steering committee. The CEO of the company. The executive team. Regional coordinators (in large scale changes). External consultants. Internal consultants. Middle managers. Departmental or divisional change agents. Communications coordinators. Change web designers. Marketing professionals. Individuals within the company. The educator Those involved in managing the change, and those who will be affected by the change, often are surprised by their feelings when confronted by change. Resistance, frustration and confusion of common emotions associated by change [David, F. R. (1994)]. To teach the people about what types of changes are expected in the organization is one of the main duty of the change agent. Those tasks are as follows: They need to know that how can those types of emotions could be overcame also they have know the others feelings about this changes. The mental situation people will face when they need to walk under the process of changes. A change should know the way of overcoming the resistance and they should also help others to do that. A change agent should be creative to do his / her duty. They have to make a change process funny and there should be excitement within the changes. A change agent should help others to grow those feelings with them. So that they should not be scared about the change. A change must face the resistance and a change agent needs to overcome those resistances. Tools for making your change process successful. A change agent should have necessary tactics to make a change process successful. The change agent as a marketer: Sometimes they find it out that this change is only beneficial to the company but not for own self to develop his / her career. They think that this type of change is the additional work for them. The change agent who have enough skill to create the belief among the employee that the change is necessary for the organization and also for themselves [David, F. R. (1994)]. The employee of the organization will get the feelings that change is worthwhile and enjoyable for them. They will take the change as the chance to develop their skills and also the opportunities to learn some new skills. This is the option to the employee to grow their visibility in the organization. They will find the change as the experience of adventure where everyone will find out their personal skills. To do this a change agent has to apply some marketing technique within the organization. Those are as follows: [Gardner, J. W. (1991)]: The change agent should make the proper publicity among the employees. There should be an environment of contest within the organization. A change agent should get the help of various media as example theatre.   There should be some prizes based on the theme of change. There should be some reward and honor for those who participate in the process of change. The successful participators will treated as a role character in the organization. Change agent as an Inspiration agent: A change agent should help others to participate in the chage [Hanakawa, S. I. (1996)]: A change agent should help everyone to find out the skills they have in them. Everyone have the dream of the private magnitude. A change agent should help them to get this. A change agent should give courage to everyone to take the risks to make a change. That should be their magical power of making change. A change agent should help individual to get out from the resistance to change and make them successful. Everyones success how much small that may be, should be celebrated. A change agent should encourage others. There may be resistance to changes. A change agent should find out the systems in a creative way.   A change agent should recognize the obstacle that need to change the whole system. A change agent should identify the success and he / she should share with other employee in the organization to encourage them. Qualities required to become a complete change agent: A good agent should have the correct attitude to the resistance. They should have sufficient knowledge to make the changes. The correct approach towards the changes: Its not easy to make change. Its need to have good power of keeping own self patience with the changes. The change process is mix with the emotion of annoying and disappointed. A change agent should be determined to get out from those types of situation. A change agent should be faithful towards the change and they should have positive behavior with the projects. They have the necessary skills and knowledge to take the necessary steps to make a change successful. Mainly the resistance to the change came from the senior management of an organization. They have behaved sensitively to get the support from the senior management. A change agent need to make agreement with everyone in the organization and these types of deals mostly happened with the staffs who are senior in the organization. So a change agent has to behave tactfully with them because if they do not agree with the changes then the project becomes failed. A change agent should have also political knowledge. This is important because a change agent then able to know any types of ongoing circumstances within the organization carefully. Proper awareness about the change: In the sense of the business a change agent must be aware with the current situation of the business and a change agent should have sufficient knowledge in the field of business too. A change agent should have also the managerial skills. Not only this but also a change agent should have knowledge about the economic situation of the organization that means from where those funds come and how it is expend. They should make it sure that there should be minimum expenditure to bring the changes. A change agent should also aware with the consumer of the organization or the business and those who are closely related with the organization externally and the internally too. A good relation with the employee of the organization is necessary to make the changes successfully so, a change agent should make a good understanding with all the employee of the organization. The important skills of a change agent: To handle the situation under the stress a change agent should be expert enough. A change agent must be able to take care of such a condition successfully. A change agent should have good practical skills and they should able to understand the causes of such type of situation. A change agent should know the definite goal of the organization and they will work towards those goals and help everyone to reach that goal effectively. They should able to take all the pressures. They also need to be able to relate to the resistance of others, study it and make necessary changes if found valid. Communication skills are highly relevant in overcoming resistance. They should have also the following qualities: Common sense. And the courage to use it. Credibility and trust the ability to work at all levels in the organisation. Knowledge of change management. The ability to work with teams of people both inside and outside the organisation. This includes the ability to work with people across all departments.   The ability to do very unstructured work. Creativity. The ability to custom design processes to meet the goals of the organisation. Self confidence balanced by humility.   Facilitation skills Design skills. Coaching skills.   A love of innovation and new ways of doing things. A sense of humor and a sense of fun. A spirit of caring. The ability to inspire people. To bring out the magic within every individual and every team How to overcome the resistance as a change agent: To take advantage of resistance, a whole-system view is required as well as an appreciation for the interconnectedness of diverse symptoms and true root-cause problems. The Theory of Constraints (TOC) and the Thinking Processes that are part of the TOC body of knowledge provide just such a view and a set of powerful tools that can be used to not only address resistance but also use it to enhance the solution beyond the original concept. The TOC Thinking Processes are logical thinking and communication tools which, while they can be used in standalone situations, together form a coherent problem-solving and change management process. Their generic purpose is to translate intuition into a format that can be discussed rationally, questioned without offense, and modified to more fully reflect the understanding of a situation. They are used for the construction of solutions to problems as well as to facilitate communication, collaboration, and consensus among those that must be involved in its resolution. Conclusion: Change is much more than simply the vision thing. Implementing change is inter-related to scanning the environment, making an estimate of the situation, determining what direction the organization needs to take, knowing what the culture of the organization is, how to leverage that culture to help with change, and deciding what actions need to be taken to make the change. Effectively implementing change also is directly related to the leadership style of the organizations top leaders. Also, as one move through the decision making process, trying to assess the need for change, make sure you ask the questions about opportunity costs. It is important to assess the costs of change as well as the cost of not changing. A change process is nothing but a condition when its need to solve it. A change may be need because there may be a problem occurred in the organization. A change agent need to aware about the situation and they should help it out to solve the problem. It is their responsibility to make everything in under control in the organization. A successful change agent is he / she who can do it. A change process can be seen as a leaving the present state and entering to a new state through some organized process.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Over-diagnosis and Medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disor

This research paper will include strict academic research. It will begin by introducing the existence of an over diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and describing the many plausible reasons behind this diagnostic inflation. Although the reasons mentioned in the paper cannot be scientifically tested to provide a direct answer, factual evidence shows a valid correlation. Moving forward, the paper generally addresses the presence of mental disease within the American youth. However, one will see how mental disorders such as ADHD are classified in such broad terms. The format of the education system is examined as it creates a lack of sleep within the American youth. Education within America and inconsistent sleep patterns are looked at as possible links to an over diagnosis of ADHD. Think back to the days of elementary school and high school, did waking up half past the crack of down wear you down throughout the school day? Did your fatigue prohibit you from maximizing your potential? The latter reasons that link to an over diagnosis of ADHD are socio-economic factors. The main point of this research paper is to demand change within society. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder stands as America's capitalistic disease of choice. Abbreviated as ADHD, this mental disorder is prescribed to individual's who display a lack of focus and noticeably restless behavior. The diagnosis of the disorder is targeting the American youth and adolescents at a rapidly alarming rate. Treated with intense speed-like stimulants such as Vyvanse, Ritalin and Adderall, the qualifications and testing required to obtain these medications are becoming less stern. Leon Eisenberg discovered ADHD over a century ago; ... ...p and Student Achievement. Eastern Economic Journal 38.4 (2012): 512-24. ProQuest. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. Giedd, Jay N. "Linking Adolescent Sleep, Brain Maturation, and Behavior." Journal of Adolescent Health 45.4 (2009): 319-20. Print. Huelskamp, Robert M. "Perspectives on Education in America." Phi Delta Kappan. 74.9 (1993): 718-21. Print. Katel, Peter. "Teen Drug Use." CQ Researcher. 3 June 2011: 481-504. Web. 8 Feb. 2014. Koch, Kathy. "Rethinking Ritalin." CQ Researcher 22. Oct. 1999: 905-28. Web. 8 Feb. 2014. Mantel, Barbara. "Mental Health Policy." CQ Researcher. 10 May 2013: 425-48. Web. 8 Feb. 2014. Rogers, Ann E. "Sleep and Health." Healthy Sleep. Harvard Medical School. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. "What You Need to Know about ADHD." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Public Health Institute, 24 Oct. 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

JAPANESE AND GERMAN WARFARE :: essays research papers

JAPANESE AND GERMAN WARFARE   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Germans and Japanese were working on taking over the World in the Second World War and had it not been for the intervention of the allied nations, they very well could have picked off the nations one-by-one until a worldwide settlement was established. The Americans would not have entered the war if Germany would have stayed within it’s own compounds. The Nazi party possibly could have survived, although the German citizens would have eventually tired of Hitler’s ideas. The problem was the extermination of citizens and taking over of other national territory. The Japanese could have possibly had a few properties in the Pacific without the United States’ intervention had they not bombed Pearl Harbor. The problem with both of these countries was that they were practicing a total takeover of the world, which has lead to post-World War II doctrine that no nation will force the takeover of another nation. Prior to the 1900s, the rest of the wor ld probably would not have taken a second look at the Iraqi takeover of Kuwait, but it is seen now that this policy will lead to further actions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Germans sought to gain back some recognition that was lost in the First World War, and the Nazi party promised that status. Many good things have come out of Germany, like the satellite technology that spawned the Corona Projects and eventually moved the United States ahead in the â€Å"Space Race†. But the Total Warfare policy is what forced the allied intervention and also the reason why the United Nations moves to oversee and limit warfare today. The method of the total extinction of all opposition can not be tolerated, and although Clausewitz taught us this method of war, it must be limited because if practiced to the end, there will be no opposition for a political agreement.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Imperial Japanese were a country behind the times. The allied global forces that are now in control will not allow for another â€Å"Alexander the Great† or â€Å"Julius Ceaser†. The world now has grown into one organization, well almost one. The frontiers of the mankind are no longer the sea, the other side of his known land, or even the skies for that matter; and most of the world, at least most of the free-trade world, finds it of great economic value to avoid war.

Monday, September 2, 2019

Evansville Sewer Replacement Project Essays -- sanitary sewer, indoor

In researching decision making topics, I chose to investigate the decisions that went into implementing the Evansville Sewer Replacement project and the impacts it had to consumers and local government officials. In order to understand and research the decisions made, I also had to explore the details of the project and what made up the initiative, its purpose, and its effect on consumers. Throughout research, it was determined that this project came about because of many factors over a period of time and the timeline of the project was based on and affected by decisions made by the city government. The purpose of the Evansville Sewer Replacement initiative is to eliminate the use of Combined Sewer Outflows (About CSOs) in the City of Evansville within twenty years (Martin). This initiative was directed by the government and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA enforces the Clean Water Act of 1972, which mandates the control of these CSO’s across the United States and demands that the city prepare a long-term plan in line with appropriate water quality standards (Program Facts). Due to the city’s decision throughout history to underinvest in their sewer system, they now are faced with having to address a significant issue of updating an aging system that requires many updates in order to comply with these federal mandates at a substantial cost (Evansville Water and Sewer Utility). CSO’s are combined sanitary sewers that carry both sewage and storm water and the overage exceeds the capacity of the infrastructure (Program Facts). Around 100 years ago, many cities such as Evansville began building storm sewers to carry wastewater away from homes, businesses, and the streets. Then, with the installation of ind... ...ht Banks. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. . Evansville Water and Sewer Utility. Funding Our City’s Sewer Improvements. N.p.: Evansville Water and Sewer Utility, n.d. www.evansville.in.gov. Renew Evansville. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. . Martin, John. "City, Feds Working to Finalize Plan to Curb Combined Sewer Overflows." Courier and Press. Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group, 22 Mar. 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. . "Program Facts." Evansville.IN.Gov. Renew Evansville, 01 May 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. . 2012 Combined Sewer Overflow Operation Plan (CSOOP) Update. Evansville: Evansville Water and Sewer Utility, 12 Nov. 2012. PDF.

Sunday, September 1, 2019

Examine the View That the Nuclear Family Is Universal

Examine the view that the nuclear family is universal /25 Sociologists are fascinated by how society is changing, they believe to some extent the family enables them to see how order has come about. Murdock suggested that the nuclear family is universal. He defined the nuclear family as ‘a social group characterised by common residence, economic, cooperation and reproduction. It includes adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship, and one or more children, own or adopted, of the sexually cohabiting adults. This is because it fulfils four basic functions that help society and its individual members these functions being sexual, reproductive, economic and educational functions within the family. Murdock’s view on the family being universal has been challenged by various sociologists as they argue Murdock’s definition of the nuclear family cannot be applied to families around the world due to it being restrictive.In 19 49, Murdock took a sample of 250 societies in his study Social Structure. Murdock was writing in the 1940’s and therefore the view of the family being universal was most acceptable as it had fit to the norm of society at that time. Two people of opposite sexes who lived together to support their family and provide the emotional and financial needs was the nuclear family seen to be a universal socially accepted view.The sexual function within the family provides stability for the adults, husband and wife have the right of sexual access with each other, allowing the family to strengthen and provide sexual gratification for spouses. The reproductive function of the family is the family being able to produce the next generation of individual’s s for society. The economic function means the mother and father are able to provide the essential needs for the family which include of food and shelter.Lastly, the educational function within the nuclear family, this is when the fa mily socialise the young into accepting the shared norms and values within society. Kathleen Gough disagreed with Murdock’s theory of the nuclear family and defined marriage as a relationship between a woman and one or more persons in which a child born to the woman ‘is given full birth-status rights’ common to normal member of society. In 1959, Gough researched into the Nayar society. Nayar girls were ritually married to a suitable Nayar man according to the Tali rite.According to this rite husbands did not live or take responsibility for the wife and children, the woman’s only responsibly to the man however was to mourn for his death. Men were allowed to have an unlimited number of sandbanham wives whilst the woman was limited to no more than twelve. Gough’s study can be seen as reliable to an extent that nuclear families are not in fact universal, the sandbanham husbands have no duty to their wives and children and therefore do not play the †˜fatherly’ role and therefore do not help socialise the child.This would mean Murdock’s educational and economical functions of the family are not universal functions. Therefore Gough concluded from her study that the Nayar society was a matrilineal family meaning that the name of the family follows your mother’s  family tree  rather than the fathers. However, it still challenges Murdock’s view of the nuclear family being universal due to there being many different family groups around the world with different cultural views.Matrifocal (female-headed) and one-parent families are becoming more common in Britain today. Yanina Sheeran said that the female-carer core is the most basic family unit â€Å"the female-carer unit is the foundation of the single-mother family, the two parent family, and the extended family in it many forms. † Tiger and Shepher (1975) say that the active life of the family household is controlled by the women. Father-chil d interaction is often ‘managed’ by the mother.This is because the mother plays a bigger role essentially in the family household because women have the biological ability to have children, and also due to there being ideologies about motherhood such as the mother nurtures for the child and does everything she can to provide for her child. Gonzales in 1970 argued that the female headed families were a well organised social group which represented a positive adaption to the circumstances of poverty.Some households may not contain adults of both sexes; this is known as the gay or lesbian families. Lesbian families are more common as opposed to gay families this is due to the difficulties that gay men will have to adopt or be granted custody of the children whereas for the lesbian household, the woman is able to conceive a child and will have the mother’s right to look after her child. Callaban (1997) argues that gay or lesbian household should be seen as families r egardless of not being a male and female based parental family.The child either way will be educated and therefore socialised into the norms of values of society. However, the gay and lesbian household do represent a minority of families. Though there are many different cultural norms and values, the nuclear family can be said to be universal. Essentially the majority of countries within the world there are people of opposite sexes who live together and support each other and their family by providing the emotional and financial needs.