The Relative Effects Motivation and Performance Essay

The Relative Effects Motivation and Performance - Essay Example The performance bonus is defined as the form of additional compensation which is paid to an employee in the organization or a reward for the accomplishment of specific performance targets. It is an additional compensation to his regular salaries or wages and is awarded based on his performance ratings during his performance appraisals or analysis of the projects conducted by the employee. On the other hand performance of an employee can be measured both as per quantitative as well as qualitative aspects. Performance of his work can be measured in terms of the quantity of work he has delivered within a stipulated time and also the quality or standard of that work. The research seeks to bring about a relationship between the performance or productivity of the employee and the bonus paid to that employee. A positive relationship would reflect positive impacts of bonus payments on an employees’ performance and productivity at the workplace, and vice versa. Brief Summary of the Org anization or IndustryThe project analyses the HR aspects of AMZ Limited, which is a manufacturing organization in UK. It is the producer of household appliances in the country. The company provides annual bonuses to its employees based on the performance ratings of employees declared through their systematic performance appraisal structure in the organization. Ratings are provided according to the accomplishment of monthly targets set by the employees. Bonuses are directly linked with the monthly targets of employees.... The research question is as follows: Can performance bonuses in organizations bring about positive impact on the motivation level of employees and their performance and productivity in the organization, AMZ Limited? (Draper, 2004, p.4-5). Hypothesis A statistical testing of hypothesis would be conducted for the research. The null and alternative hypothesis that would be chosen for the study are provided below: H0- Implementing performance bonus in AMZ Limited enhances and improves performance, productivity and motivation level of employees. H1- Implementing performance bonus in AMZ Limited does not bring about any enhancement or improvement in the performance, productivity and motivation level of employees in the organization. Background Theory Performance bonus is defined as the form of additional compensation which is paid to an employee in the organization or a reward for the accomplishment of specific performance targets. It is an additional compensation to his regular salaries o r wages and is awarded based on his performance ratings during his performance appraisals or analysis of the projects conducted by the employee. On the other hand performance of an employee can be measured both as per quantitative as well as qualitative aspects. Performance of his work can be measured in terms of the quantity of work he has delivered within a stipulated time and also the quality or standard of that work. The research seeks to bring about a relationship between the performance or productivity of the employee and the bonus paid to that employee. A positive relationship would reflect positive impacts of bonus payments on an employees’

Ethics and Social Responsibilities of Business Essay Example for Free

Ethics and Social Responsibilities of Business Essay The emergence of management as a distinct and identifiable activity in the modern era has had an important impact on the society with which it developed (Massie 1995). Till the early days of the twentieth century, organizations were predominantly concerned with their respective profit-maximizing activities. However, this singular intention of profit maximization of business farms was protested by the social activists during the later half of the 20th century. They pointed out that, since the organizations drive their business from the society, the former must possess some obligations towards the interests and welfare of the later. The concept of business ethics and corporate responsibility gained immense importance after the publication of Bowen’s Social Responsibilities of Businessman in the year 1953. Bowen opines that business corporations should have certain responsibilities towards the society in which it operates. Often business ethics and its social responsibilities are regarded as their â€Å"science of conduct† (McNamara).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ethics is the study of morality and standards of conducts (Fred and Richard, 480). The term ‘ethics’ is, in generally, used to refer to the rules and principles that define right and wrong conduct. The study of ethics is of immense importance in international management because ethical behavior in a particular country may be considered as an unethical practice in other countries. Ethical behavior of business has become an important aspect in today’s corporate environment. Even in the United States, trading scandals, bribes etc. have gained considerable media exposures and have aroused public concern regarding ethical practices in international business management. Corporate business ethics is primarily concerned with honesty, truth and justice and should consider several aspects like the expectations of society, fair competition, public relations, consumer autonomy, social responsibilities, adherence to the rules in the operating country, and so on. An organization should be always responsible in creating an environment that fosters ethical decision-making. Corporate social responsibility is seriously considering the impact of the company’s actions on society. In the views of Andrews, social responsibility means the intelligent and objective concern for the welfare of society that restrains individuals and corporate behavior from ultimately destructive activities, no matter how immediately profitable and signifies the positive contribution to human betterment. Social responsibility contends that the business organizations are responsible to all the interest groups with which it interacts. All the interests groups such as employees, customers, suppliers, government and society should be given importance equal to that of the shareholders of the respective companies. Thus, ethical and social responsibilities signifies that the management should pay attention to the welfare of the workers, consumers’ needs and safety, the interests and rights of creditors, government’s rules, regulations and policies, and the obligations of the organization towards society as a whole. Thus, in other words, â€Å"Corporate social responsibility indicates the management’s commitment towards upholding the interests of direct stakeholders and to behave in an economically and environmentally responsible manner† (Davis and Robert, 1975). Ethical and Social Responsibility of Corporate Organizations Corporate organizations which are concerned about business ethics and corporate social responsibility need to identify various interest groups which may influence the functioning of a firm and which, in turn, may be affected by the firm’s decisions. In fact, business enterprises are primarily responsible for the well being of six major interest groups which are discussed hereunder one by one: Protecting Shareholders’ Interests The most important responsibility of business organizations is to protect the interests of its shareholders. The shareholders provide the core resource – the capital – that enables an organization to operate and grow. They expect the management to use the capital judiciously and operate the business in an efficient way that would ensure a healthy return on their investment, both through dividends and through increase in stock value. Shareholders should be provided with adequate and timely information about the functioning of the organization. Protecting Employees’ Interests Employees are the biggest assets of the organizations. In the early days, managers regarded employees merely as one of the factors of production and denied them the right to obtain an equal distribution of income. But, with the passage of time, the situation has changed in a considerable way. Now, it is absolutely mandatory for the management to protect its employees’ interests. Government laws and regulations have now define the responsibilities of the employer – ensuring equal employment rights for men and women, offering timely pensions and other retirement benefits, and providing and maintaining a secure and healthy working environment. To protect the interests of employees, management must Treat the employees as the basic pillars of the organization. Develop administrative processes that promote cooperation between employers and employees. Foster a harmonious work atmosphere by adopting a progressive labor policy. This includes allowing the participation of workers in management, creating a sense of involvement, and improving the working conditions and living standards of workers. Provide fair wages (not merely the one determined by the market forces of demand and supply) and other financial benefits to workers to keep them motivated. Fair selection, training and promotion based on quality and merit – without any discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, religion, physical appearance and so on. Protecting Customers’ Interests In the recent times, great attention is delivered to the customers. In the age of cut-throat competition, business firms have rightly begun to realize the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with the consumers. The growth and development of consumerism has compelled the organizations to become more aware of their duties and responsibilities towards the customers. â€Å"The most successful businesses put the customer first, instead of the investors† (Mackey). Business firms should fulfill their obligations to their customers by Charging reasonable prices for their products. Ensuring the provision of standardized and quality goods and services. Ensuring the easy availability of goods and services, so that customers do not have to spend too much time and energy in procuring them. Abstaining from unethical practices like hoarding, profiteering or creating artificial scarcity, misleading advertisement and so on. Refraining from deceiving customers by making false or misleading claims. Protecting Creditors and Suppliers’ Interests All the inputs productions are provided by the creditors and suppliers in the form of raw materials and capital. Hence, the management must take proper care in fulfilling its obligations towards the former. This can be done by: Creating a long-term and healthy business relationship with them. Making prompt payments to creditors and suppliers. Providing them with accurate, relevant and needed information. Protecting Society’s Interest Organizations function within a social system and draw their resources from this system. Therefore, they have certain obligations towards society. The management of business organizations can fulfill their obligations toward society by preserving and enhancing the well-being of the members of society. Management can do so in the following ways: Using its technical expertise to solve local problems. Setting socially desirable standards of living and avoiding unnecessary and wasteful expenditure. Playing an important role in civic affairs. Helping the society in events of national calamity, famine, war, and so on. Providing basic amenities, healthcare and education facilities, thus creating better living conditions. Establishing development programmers for the benefit of economically weaker sections of  the society. Protecting Governments’ Interests In any country, the Government provides the basic requirements for the survival and growth of business organizations. Most of the rules and policies which the government imposes are mainly in the favor of the businesses. Hence, the business, in turn, must have certain obligations to the business: Be law-abiding – respect the rules, procedures and policies of the government Pay all taxes and other dues fully, timely and honestly. Not bribe government employees and officials to obtain favors for the company. Not try to use political influence in its favor for own interests. Advantages and Disadvantages of Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility In the modern era, the expectations of the consumers and the society have immensely changed and, resultantly, modern corporations have become much aware of their ethical and social responsiveness. However, opinions vary from scholars to scholars as to whether business should possess much, at least any, ethical and social responsibilities. Disadvantages The motive of any business is to maximize its profit. However, much ethical values and social responsibilities may act against this objective. Any investment (or loss) incurred by the business as a result of good social or ethical behavior are adjusted by increasing the selling of its products. Hence, â€Å"the motive would be socially less desirable than in the days before when business were concerned with social responsibilities† (Friedman 1970). Business derives immense power through its social involvements and ethical behavior. This power is generally derived from the government or through other political means. This increment in power can lead to corruption and even conflicts with customers, governments and the society as a whole in the subsequent times. Generally, business people lack the required skills to deal with the problems outside the organization. Social responsibility can be an excess burden of duty to them. Advantages Social involvements and strong ethical behavior boost up the image of the business corporations in the eye of the customers. Being socially responsive, business can increase the number of its loyal customers. A favorable public image helps the business to attract more employees, customers and investors. By being socially responsible, business organizations can easily avoid the attention of regulatory agencies and earn government’s trust; resulting in increasing flexibility and independence in their mode of operations. Businesses can increase conservation of natural resources by being socially responsible. For example, Items that were considered as waste before (like empty soft drink cans and plastic bottles) can be recycled and profitably used again. Society and business are equally benefited if a symbiotic relationship exists between the two. Instead of allowing high rate of unemployment leading to social crisis (which may ruin business operations in subsequent periods), businesses can rather be the source of employment in the economy for qualified and eligible people. Conclusion It is beyond any iota of doubt that every civil citizen must possess some moral or ethical values and responsibilities for the society in which he lives. Business organizations, considered as ‘artificial people’, therefore, should have the same values incorporated in it. Obviously, there are certain principles which is directed against this conclusion, but it is a cardinal truth that business corporations must â€Å"behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large† (Holme and Watts). References Bowen, H.R. (1953), Social Responsibilities of the Businessman, Harper Row, New York, NY Corporate Social Responsibility: Evolution of a Definitional Construct: Carroll Business Society.1999, pp. 268-295 Davis, K. and Robert, L. B. Business and Society, Environment and Responsibility, Revised   Edition, Tata McGraw Hill Book Company Inc. New York, 1975 Friedman, M. The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profit, New York   Times Magazine, 13 September, 1970 Kuhn, J.W. Issues and Analysis, Values in a Business Society, Harcourt Brace Jonanovich, New York, 1968 Holme, L and Watts, R. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development,Making   Good Business Sense† http://www.mallenbaker.net/csr/CSRfiles/definition.html Joseph, L. M. Ethical and Environmental Foundations, Essentials of Management, Fourth Edition, Thirteenth Indian Reprint, Prentice-Hall of India, New Delhi, 1995 Mackey, J. (adapted from) Rethinking the Social Responsibilities of Business, October 2005   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.reason.com/news/show/32239.html McNamara, C. Complete Guide to Ethics Management: An Ethics Toolkit for Managers http://www.managementhelp.org/ethics/ethxgde.htm Richard, M.H. and Fred, L. Ethics and Social Responsibilities, International Management, Third Edition, McGraw Hill International Editions, 1997 Stehi, S.P, Dimensions of Corporate Social Performance, An analytical Framework,   California Management Review, Vol. 17, No. 3, 1975, p. 58 64 The International Seminar on Social Responsibilities of Business: (as quoted by Mukharji, P.B. Social Responsibilities of Business, p. 9

Human Resource Roles and Responsibilities Essay -- Human Resource Mana

Human Resource Roles and Responsibilities Human Resource is a key to the success of a company by keeping in connection with the organization's objectives and business strategies. Human Resource maintains a healthy work environment between company policies and individuals. Human resource management focuses on securing, maintaining, and utilizing an effective work force, which organizations cannot survive without. Human resource management can also be described as the relationship between the employer and the employee. There are basic functions all managers perform which are planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling. These represent what is often called the management process. Staffing, personnel management, or human resource management is the function for the organization to focus on today's workforce environment. It includes activities like recruiting, selecting, training, compensating, appraising, and developing. The role of Human Resources is continuing to change. Today, H R executives are taking a more active role in meeting the competitive demands of today's corporations. This change has affected many HR executives, including the HR executive who works for PC Innovation. Human resource management role in this organization has had to increase their experience and knowledge with the increased changes. PC Innovation is a computer store with high integrity and is well known in the community. PC Innovation operates out of St. George Utah with sister compa...

Fault Analysis in Power Transmission Lines using Elliptical Behaviour of System Parameters

Mistake Analysis in Power Transmission Lines utilizing Elliptical Behaviour of System Parameters Abstraction—Power transmittal lines which form the anchor of the electrical power system may be subjected to assorted mistakes. The demand of the hr is to observe and sort the mistakes every bit rapidly as possible to guarantee quality uninterrupted power supply. This paper discusses a simple theoretical account to observe and sort mistakes based on the egg-shaped behaviour of the system. The theoretical account based on MATLAB, is user friendly even to unskilled workers. Keywords— mistake, transmittal lines, mistake types, mistake sensingI. IntroductionIn a 3 stage transmittal line, mistakes may happen at any clip. The causes of mistakes may be environmental or semisynthetic. Mistakes are loosely classified into series and shunt mistakes. A series mistake denotes the unfastened circuit status. Shunt mistakes are of assorted types based on how many lines are affected. Initially the technique of mistake location was based on the use of synchronised electromotive force measurings at the sending and having terminal [ 1 ] . The method was applied to both transposed and untransposed lines. It reduced many mistakes in mistake analysis. To better the mistake sensing distinct ripple transform and unreal nervous webs were used [ 2 ] . The nervous webs were trained utilizing MATLAB and daubechies ripple was used. The preparation clip was less in this method but was complicated. Another fresh method discussed mistake categorization based on initial current going moving ridge [ 3 ] . Wavelet transform was adopted to pull out the going moving ridge from station mistake signals. Following this, mistake analysis methods utilizing fault-feature extraction were used [ 4 ] . Besides delays were introduced to mensurate post-fault values of system parametric quantities. Mistake surveies were done in transformers besides [ 5 ] . Voltage current venue diagram was constructed and based on image processing techniques, mistakes were classified. New methods of mistake sensing use two-end nonsynchronous measurings of the line and the advantages are the usage of digital engineering and numerical relaying [ 6 ] . The new method does non depend on mistake opposition, beginning electric resistances and pre-fault currents. Similar to the mistake analysis in transformers discussed above, mistake categorization in transmittal lines can be done [ 7 ] . The method uses wavelet transform and egg-shaped behaviour of the system. The above discussed methods involve complicated analysis and calculation in assorted signifiers. The mistake sensing mechanism should be user friendly and be every bit simple as possible. Hence, it is concluded that it is necessary to develop a simplified method to observe and sort mistakes in transmittal lines. When the mistakes are detected and classified beforehand, it becomes easy for the individuals to rectify it within a short period of clip. This paper discusses a simple technique to observe and sort mistakes. The venue of the electromotive force and current signifiers an oval. Using the oval belongingss we can reason if a mistake has occurred or non and sort it.II. ELLIPTICAL BEHAVIOURVoltage and current in the transmittal line may be taken as: V ( T ) = Vmwickedness ( ?t ) ( 1 ) I ( T ) = Imwickedness ( ?t- ? ) ( 2 ) Where, Vmand Imare the peak values, ?=2?f, cos ? is the power factor. The venue of the electromotive force and current signifiers an oval. The chief belongings of the oval taken for the mistake analysis is the eccentricity. As the eccentricity varies the oval size and country besides varies. Fig.1. Elliptical venue of electromotive force and current in a transmittal line with eccentricities ( a ) 0.9612, ( B ) 0.9994 III. Working The proposed theoretical account takes in electromotive force and current values and plots the oval. This oval is compared with the healthy oval on footing of eccentricity. When the eccentricity of the current oval ( TocopherolC) does non lie in the scope of healthy oval eccentricity ( TocopherolHydrogen) so a mistake is said to hold occurred. The oval is once more compared with pre-defined oval for assorted mistakes to obtain values as given in Table.1 From this tabular array mistake categorization is done and the consequence is displayed. In the tabular array values are assigned to all stages to observe multiple mistakes besides.Table.1. Look-up tabular array for mistake categorizationFAULT IN EACH PHASEType OF FAULTPhase 1Phase 2Phase 3000Normal status11012 LL01123 LL10113 LL2001-G SLG0202-G SLG0023-G SLG22012-G DLG02223-G DLG20213-G DLG222123 BTP3001 OC0302 OC0033 OC3301,2 OC0332,3 OC3031,3 OC3331,2,3 OCThis look up table aid to sort Single line to land mistake ( SLG ) , Line to line mistake ( LL ) , dual line to land mistake ( DLG ) , Balanced three stage mistake ( BTP ) and unfastened circuit mistake ( OC ) .III. SIMULATION RESULTSThe construction of the resulting eclipsiss are given below: A. Single line to land mistake A individual line to land mistake has occured in stage 2 while the other stages are healthy as shown in Fig.3. Fig.3. Single line to land mistake B. Line to line mistake A line to line mistake has occured in stages 2 and 3 while the other stage is healthy as shown in Fig.4. Fig.4. Line to line mistake C. Double line to land mistake A dual line to land mistake has occured in stages 1 and 2 while the other stage is healthy as shown in Fig.5. Fig.5. Double line to land mistake D. Balanced three stage mistake A Balanced three stage mistake has occured in the line as shown in Fig.6. Fig.6. Balanced three stage mistake E. Open circuit mistake Open circuit mistake has occured in the line as shown in Fig.7. Fig.7. Open circuit mistake V. CONCLUSION The advantage of the proposed theoretical account is that it is really simple to implement. It is based on a mathematical background and is less complex. Presents, happenings of mistakes have increased. Hence it is really of import to observe and rectify the mistakes every bit shortly as possible. Mentions [ 1 ] Sukumar M. Brahma and Adly A. Girgis ( 2004 ) ‘Fault Location on a Transmission Line Using Synchronized Voltage Measurements’ , IEEE trans. , power del.,vol 19, no. 4. [ 2 ] Chiradeja P. and Ngaopitakkul A. , ( 2009 ),‘Designation of Fault Types for Single Circuit Transmission Line utilizing Discrete Wavelet transform and Artificial Neural Networks’ , Intl. MultiConf. of Engineers and Computer Scientists vol II. [ 3 ] Xinzhou Dong,Wei Kong and Tao Cui, ( 2009 )‘Fault Classification and Faulted-Phase Selection Based on the Initial Current Traveling Wave’ , IEEE trans. , power del. , , vol. 24, no. 2. [ 4 ] Yusuff A.A, Jimoh A.A and Munda J.L, ( 2011 ) ‘Determinant-based characteristic extraction for mistake sensing and categorization for power transmittal lines’ , IET Gen. , Trans. , Distr. [ 5 ] Abu-Siada and Syed Islam, ( 2012 )’A Novel Online Technique to Detect Power Transformer Winding Faults’ , IEEEtrans. Power del. ,vol 27, no. 2. [ 6 ] Dine Mohamed, Sayah Houari, Bouthiba Tahar, ( 2012 ) ‘Accurate Fault Location Algorithm on Power Transmission Lines with usage of Two-end Unsynchronized Measurements’ , Serbian Journal of Elec. Engg. , vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 189-200. [ 7 ] Andre de Souza Gomes, Marcelo Azevedo Costa, Thomaz Giovani Akar de Faria, and Walmir Matos Caminhas, ( 2013 ) ’Detection and Classification of Faults in Power Transmission Lines Using Functional Analysis and Computational Intelligence’ , in IEEE trans. Power Del. , vol. 28, no. 3.

Existentialism and The Plague Essay

Jean-Paul Sartre once said, â€Å"Man is condemned to be free; because once he is thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does. † Sartre speaks in accordance with the values of Existentialism, which is defined as a philosophical theory that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will. Existentialists like Sartre rejected the existence of a higher power and the over arching influence of an unnatural conformist society, citing instead the importance of individuality and acts of one’s own free will. According to the doctrine of Existentialism, life is not satisfying yet has meaning. The singular purpose of life is to drive forward into the infinite macrocosm of the universe, searching for one’s own particular meaning of life. Additionally, Existentialists propose that there is no god; there is no big man in the sky creating destinies for the humble earthly beings below. Thus, random instances of elation, violence, and tragedy do not hold a greater significance with a supposed higher power or with the universe itself. Life is an experience specific to man alone. Albert Camus, in relation to this philosophy, delivered to the literary world his existentialist work, The Plague, a novel based on the central theme of the inanity of human suffering and the deep individuality of the human experience. In the pages of this novel and through his characters and themes, Camus paints a picture of a mundane community thrust into an almost illogical, if tragic, state of disease and disaster. His unremarkable town of Oran, that in no way deserved such a virulent visitation of plague, sets a perfect stage for the exemplification of existential teachings. â€Å"The unusual events described in this chronicle occurred in 194- at Oran. Everyone agreed that considering their somewhat extraordinary character, they were out of place there. For its ordinariness is what strikes one first about the town of Oran†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Camus, 3). So begins Albert Camus’ gripping achievement, The Plague. From its very origin, the novel admits itself to be set in a small, dull town, unremarkable in every way. And yet, in the randomness of life, the placid town of Oran is inexplicably bombarded with an attack of plague so malignant it is compared to the plague outbreaks of centuries before, which wiped out entire European villages. The typically overlooked literary element of setting, in this instance that of an ordinary North African coastal village, lies a sense of some of Albert Camus’ greatest genius. In a way that seems almost too subtle, Camus relates one of the basic tenets of Existentialism, that which emphasizes the absence of a higher powers’ influence on human life, to the unfathomable curse on an undeserving town. â€Å"Treeless, glamorous, soulless, the town of Oran ends by seeming restful and, after a while, you go complacently to sleep there. † (Camus, 6). Thus, the town of Oran is classified as a sleepy, typical village, one unaccustomed to the despair and pestilence that is rained upon it during the months of the forthcoming plague. One would assume that in a world ordered by a God, a town that had committed no crime wouldn’t have received such an exemplary form of capital punishment. In such a world, one could argue that the town of Oran should have escaped into happy obscurity. One could also argue the fairness of the fabled destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, towns famously steeped in sin. â€Å"Not so! † would cry the existentialists, as one of the basics ideals of existentialism is the randomness of life. Good and evil in the context of life are simply subjective statements; there is no ultimate reward for those who live as saints, just as there is no ultimate retribution for those who live in sin. In this way, the terror visited on Oran perfectly perpetuates this existential idea. A town so typical and seemingly so ineligible of a tragedy such as the plague is, instead of protected from it, decimated by it. Perhaps Camus’ random devastation of his little town is a result of his involvement in the European anti-Nazi resistance. During this time of unexplained evils: the systematic decimation of the Jews and other undesirables and the horrors inflicted upon occupied France, among other instances of randomized human terrorism, Camus is said to have developed his existentialist perspective. In a world overseen by a benevolent, just maker, where is there room for the murders of innocent millions, or for that matter, the infestation of plague in a sleepy little town? One of the reoccurring themes of Existentialism is the importance of the individual finding meaning in a life that’s ultimate result is death. Another facet of Camus’ The Plague that supports this particular aspect of Existentialism is his host of cast and characters. The townsfolk at large can initially be described as hardworking but self absorbed, if not entirely self centered. Theirs is a community of particular habits and personal needs. Seemingly, the only unifying factor of these citizens seems to be in commerce, or as Camus puts it, â€Å"Our citizens work hard, but solely with the object of getting rich. †(Camus, 4). The masses of Oran find meaning in their businesses, card playing, and cafe going. Though the act of death is described as â€Å"difficult and discomforting† (Camus, 5), the people of Oran seem to accept it in its natural courses. The citizens are entirely resigned to their tedious way of life; in fact hardly a soul stirs at the curious sight of rats dying in masses in the streets. Incredibly, beyond the initial panic of the plague, the citizens seem to resign themselves to that as well. â€Å"There was the same resignation, the same long-sufferance, inexhaustible and without illusions. † (Camus, 184). A great many of the prisoners of Oran had embraced Nihilism, a philosophy in which nothing has any value or any meaning, and pursuit of finding either is futile. Interestingly, the attitude of those in Oran and Nihilism itself run conversely to Camus’ actual beliefs. Influenced by the early death of his father and his childhood poverty, as well as a terrible bout of Tuberculosis, Camus’ actual theories involved a complicated correlation between the lack of hope and despair in a life that exists without any intrinsic meaning. Camus’ philosophy can best be described as a daring experiment in optimism without hope; a life that resists the illusion of a predetermined good outcome without succumbing to despair. In accordance to his personal beliefs, an existential hero designed by Camus resists the despair of a life hurtling toward death and instead rises above death to do good works in the manner of a painfully cautious optimist. One such hero is Dr. Bernard Rieux, narrator and chronicler of the plague. Rieux shows his existential spots early on in his narrative, frequently questioning the conformist ways of Oran society and continually distancing himself from the hypocrisy of their half-formed lives. His choice of profession is a prime example of choosing to rise above death to do good, instead of worshipping â€Å"the god of business† like his peers, he is instead a physician. By their very nature physicians fight an existential battle of healing the sick against an all too present possibility of death. Though separated from his wife, Rieux fights on through the plague, administering serums, seeing to the afflicted, and organizing sanitary squads with the help of other active citizens. Rieux is ever mindful of his responsibilities to others, remarking that â€Å"the essential thing was to save the greatest possible number of persons from dying and being doomed to unending separation. And to do this there was only one resource: to fight the plague. There was nothing admirable about this attitude; it was merely logical. † (Camus, 133). In this passage, Rieux clearly exhibits Camus’ own deeply felt obligations towards society, choosing to fight an inevitable evil rather than resign himself to it. Over the course of his life, Camus’ spoke out against many social injustices, including: the genocides of the Second World War, trade union discrepancies, the death penalty, and injustices within the communist party, which he had formerly been associated with and which cost him many friendships, among them Jean-Paul Sartre. In a case of art imitating life, Rieux’s consistency with himself and with his beliefs caused him much personal hardship and endangered his life. However, his commitment to others made him less despondent and more aware of himself than the rest of the town, giving him a strength that not many shared and allowed him to find his â€Å"true-self†, which is the ultimate goal of Existentialism. In his admirable struggle, Rieux clearly demonstrates the most idealistic goals of Existentialism and in turn represents Camus’ interpretation of the philosophy. Speaking on the attitude of futility that is sometimes associated with Existentialism, Albert Camus said, â€Å"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. † In the very heart of his philosophy, Albert Camus accepted that life is merely a vehicle for death, that there is no higher power pulling the strings, and that the meaning of life is attributed to the individual. However, at his core, Camus believed that life was an opportunity to rise above death to accomplish more and do better. The greatest sin was a resignation to death and despair, an indifference to the opportunities afforded to you by free will. In the randomness of life, â€Å"things happen†. Small coastal towns suffer a swift, arbitrary attack of bubonic plague, and Algerian authors die in car crashes when they should have been taking the train. The ultimate question of Existentialism is, â€Å"does life have any meaning? † Ultimately, the key question of Existentialism is answered by that philosophy’s’ very tenets. Life is afforded meaning by the individual, a meaningful life is lived through one’s specific actions to the â€Å"things that happen† in the randomness of one’s existence.