I would like you to spend some time looking at images of this poster, Outline

I would like you to spend some time looking at images of this poster, and to note down your thoughts about it - Outline Example The use abstract shapes, rather than realistic shapes are also one of the ways that makes the image more effective. This is because; the different geometrical shapes that have been used can bring out different meanings only to the individuals who understand the shapes. Therefore, I believe that the abstract shapes are more effective as they inspire more individuals to view this image and dig deeper into the real meaning of the image. The use of abstract shapes also helps in keeping the image discrete. The choice of colors and shapes were well considered. The use of wedge shape due to the sharp edges brings out the perception of harm or danger as opposed to the circle which is more vulnerable to sharp objects. The use of red against white color also depicts one group being dangerous and the other being peaceful, therefore, the choice of colors and shapes have been used effectively. The shapes arrangement is also a great way of passing the message of some sort of conflict going on in the image. The smaller pieces add to more feel as they emphasize the larger wedge shape to be more dominant than the circle and other

The other characters in the play Essay Example for Free

The other characters in the play Essay Sheila is deeply affected by the Inspectors visit compared to the other characters. As soon as the Inspector enters and introduces the victim to the family, Sheila was upset and depressed because of the misery she sensed which made her feel apologetic and guilty of what she had done to Eva Smith. Nonetheless the others were not interested and thought that they were not responsible for Evas death except for Eric. Furthermore the Inspector has a mischievous attitude, with the intention of, made the rest of the family suspicious about him. Inspector Goole (as he addresses himself) is a sly and secretive individual who acts like a detective and uses his skills to make them confess the truth. The Inspector mentions society to be treated fairly and Mr Birling replies in an intolerable way, nonsense a man has to make his own way. Priestly is trying to say that everyone should be working and helping each other where everyone can be equal. As the Inspector visits the Birlings who are celebrating an engagement, Sheila looks confused and feels depressed because she is suspicious of the Inspector and feels uncomfortable; (Sheila stares at him) wonderingly and dubiously whereas the others such as Mr and Mrs. Birling enters briskly and self confidently. This demonstrates that the audience is aware of the situation and expresses she is distrustful hence it illustrates that everyone reacts differently towards the Inspector. Additionally, Eric was the only one that reacted the same way as Sheila. Mr. Birling responded differently because he knew that it wasnt his responsibility which led to Evas death; (he replies rather impatiently) Yes, yes. Horrid business. But I dont understand why you should come here, Inspector. Similarly Mrs. Birling reacts the same way because they care about their reputation and business. Also Gerald reacted in a way that seemed to make it obvious that he knew her by giving himself away as soon as the Inspector mentioned Evas other name, Daisy Renton. What D you mind if I give myself a drink, Sheila? At this point it seems clear to Sheila, the others and the audience that Gerald knew the victim and his ridiculousness excuse made it easier for

Cults And Jews :: essays research papers

Cults And Jews   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cults are becoming more and more of an issue for Jews every day. Many cults are beginning to target Jews. They say you can believe in Jesus yet remain a Jew, or many other things like that. It is important for people to educate themselves of these cults and their recruiting techniques so that they will not be taken advantage of by these cults. Cults now are very different than they were in ancient times though. The Jews, rather than being targeted by cults, were themselves a cult. In fact they were one of the first documented cults. Now, Judaism is not considered a cult, it is a religion. Back in the ancient days many aspects of the Israelites’ laws made them a cult. The Israelites had sacrifices for many occasions. Sin-offerings, guilt offering, fellowship, votive, freewill, dedicatory, and ordination are all documented reasons for sacrifices to God. These sacrifices are what made the ancient Israelites different from the modern day Jewish people. Those sacrifices are also what made the ancient Israelites a cult instead of being a religion like now. After the destruction of the second temple sacrifice was replaced with prayer and prayer still stands now.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mishna discusses the different sacrifices the Israelites made and the reasons they were made. The rabbis say that sacrifices were not a bad thing. Because the sacrifices were made to God and represented different things between God and the people, the sacrifices were allowed. Sacrifices were made for apologies to God, for holidays and many other purposes, but they were always animal sacrifices and they were always to God. These two aspects permitted the offerings. Because they were animal offerings, not human, the offerings were not too gore-filled. And since the offerings were made to God, it is not a person, but an all-powerful being. It makes sense to make offerings to God because God created the people and guided them. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate dictionary defines cult as: 1 : formal religious veneration : Worship. 2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents. 3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents. 4 : a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator . 5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion.

Love is Like Water Essay

Love is Like Water, We can Fall in it, We can Drown in it, But we can’t Live Without it Men are born inferior to women. Now I’m Sure there are many men who disagree, however it is a scientific fact. Any person born with the ‘y’ chromosome is born inferior. The conflicting views of men and women have been questioned and debated for centuries. For many years it is said that the male species are superior to women. It wasn’t until August 18, 1940 men deemed women smart enough to vote and have our own political voice. Men have always been the dominant species in most anything in society. It wasn’t until recent studies that show women actually have higher IQ’s then men. It is believed that juggling family life and building a career on top of that has made women smarter. In reality Women and men brains are just wired differently. Men differ from women with their emotions, their affection and also their communication skills. Women are said to be more emotional than men The fact of the matter women do actually communicate with through emotions and intimacy. Research shows that women use language as a way to maintain and develop relationships. Women tend to react more emotionally than men, resulting in submerging themselves, (mind body and soul) into making decisions. For example, women often ask there signficant other â€Å"are you listening† and the man replies â€Å"yes honey I’m listening† and then we reply â€Å"what did I just say† It’s because women feed off of body language. We believe that if your not looking at us, youre not listening. Men see women as less competent to making decisions that involve a lot of thought, and this is due to women’s emotions. Which is probably why a women have never been elected to be president. Women are just more emotional when it comes to, Movies, relationships, and everyday life trials and tribulations. Women use words to start and continue a relationship with a person they find special and close to their heart. They focus more on what they say and do when conversing, which explains why they also find listening an important part in a conversation. Those are the causes that affect women more then men. The difference of emotion is mostly noticed during the midst of a relationship, when a woman seems to not be understood by men and vice versa. Men on the other hand impulsively react to situations for the sake of having a reason to do so. Men tend to simplify their communication in times of  hardship, they do not ex press themselves they way women do. Many women believe that men are very simple minded with no knowledge of anything, and don’t care about anything. In reality most men can communicate and their patterns for thinking are based on logic and reasoning. Men communicate as a way of power rather than as a way of reaching out to another person. For men, conversation is the way you negotiate your status in the world and keep people from pushing you around. They use their communication skills to preserve their independence. Men tend to think that it is logical to state how important their lives are so that they would rise above other men and be seen as the â€Å"Alpha Male†. During a conversation, body language seems to play a much smaller role for men. Men tend to be less skilled at using body language to influence communication without seeming to be doing so. The male’s brain has a greater mass and more gray matter, which leads to a higher ability to process information as facts instead of their emotions like women. Women show affection in a lot of ways. Women show their affection by physical touch, holding hands, giving hugs, or rubbing our significant others back. Some women do it by saying nice things. Some do it by giving gifts. Other women may show their affection by cooking you tasty dinners. There are a lot of ways to show affection, and no two women show it in exactly the same way. â€Å"Actions speak louder than words† is actually more than a clichà ©, it’s truer of men than it is for women in regard to how they show affection. men are more likely to show affection in unspoken ways through actions. There is less subtlety with men. When a guy cares about you, he is likely to find ways to spend time with you, whether enjoying your company or sharing activities such as movies, bowling, miniature golf etc. When a man cares about a women he wants to show her off. studies show that, even if a man is not particularly confident, he will try to engage in physical intimacy with the one he loves and cares deeply about. Women relationships focus on making connections talk is crucial to this process. Sharing secrets, relating experiences, revealing problems and discussing options are essential during a woman’s development. Women generally take another approach to relationships. Their mate is not less profound, it’s just different. focusing on activities rather than conversation. Men believe communication should have a crystal clear purpose. Every conversation is suppose be problem solving or a point that needs to be made. Communication  is used to get to the root of the an issue as efficiently as possible. Women uses communication to discover how she is feeling and what it is she wants to say. She sees conversation as an act of sharing and an opportunity to increase intimacy with her partner. A women tries to dispose negative feelings to strengthen her bond with the man she loves. Although there are many diffrences between men and women. For the most part, men and women use, and prefer, the same ways of comforting their partner.

The First Modern War

Samuel Santiuste Ms. Engelken US History I Honors May 13, 2011 The First Modern War While reading history, we typically see that wars were typically fought with soldiers in close- order formations with a musket that would be fired in unison on command. Everything changed after the American Civil War, a conflict to determine the fate of slaves in the Union, erupted. Today many historians consider the Civil War as the first modern war because it depended on: heavy industry, fast communication and transportation. But this time all of these new technologies were used to its full potential. As a result new weapon technology was mass produced which inflicted heavy losses on both the Union and the Confederate sides and resulted in improved battlefield medicine. Years before the Civil War, soldiers would normally carry muskets that had a fire range of about 250 yards. But although this weapon had an amazing range, the musket only held and fired one bullet at a time and it hit random targets. The accuracy of the musket was from about 80 yards and this caused many of the battles to be fought at a close range. Then, in 1848 the French officer named Claude-Etienne Minie took the design of a bullet that expanded upon fired and â€Å"simplified and improved on earlier designs–including those developed by Britain's Captain John Norton (1818) and William Greener (1836)† to make the bullet that bears its name: the Minie ball (Minie Ball). This new bullet combined with the rifle made a terrific duo because the range of the weapon was from 200-250 yards with a terrific accuracy. To show the bullet’s power alone, during the Crimean War of 1853-56 â€Å"the bullet so improved the effectiveness of infantry troops that 150 soldiers using the Minie ball could equal the firing power of more than 500 with a traditional musket and ammunition† (Minie Ball). When this weapon was introduced to the Civil War, the old model of warfare became obsolete right away because the infantry along with the cavalry could not charge against the enemy as they used to. Other weapons that came into action in the Civil War were not as deadly as the Minie ball but had a big impact on surviving. Despite the fact that the Minie ball was easy to load, soldiers still had to pause in the middle of the action to reload their guns, and this made them easy targets. By 1863, there was a new weapon that solved this problem called repeating rifle because it could fired more than one bullet before the needing of a reload. The most famous type was the Spencer carbine. But like many other technology, this weapon was only available to the Northerners. Many Southerners thought that this weapon was unfair and one Union soldier once wrote: â€Å"they say we are not fair, that we have guns that we load up on Sunday and shoot all the rest of the week† (Civil War Technology). At the end of the war, the statistics showed that the Minie ball combined with the rifle did the most damage because â€Å"with more than 200,000 soldiers killed and more than 400,000 wounded, 90 percent of these causalities were caused by these weapons† (Minie Ball). On the same year that the Civil War started, President Lincoln ordered a blockade on the Confederates to stop their cotton trade and split the confederacy. So to counter attack the Union, many advances in naval warfare were flourishing which led to the built of the H. L. Hunley, which was the first ever effective submarine developed by the Confederates. This Confederate submarine was created to destroy the Union blockade wooden ships with the use of torpedoes that were attached along a long steak that exploded upon contact or by a timer. But before the submarine was ready to attack, it sank three times and on the fourth tried â€Å"it was sent out to attack the U. S. S. Housatonic, and detonated its torpedo, sinking the Housatonic and thereby becoming the first submarine to ever sink an enemy vessel† (Dutch). Despite the best efforts the submarine sank with the blast. Another incredible invention that changed the nature of warfare in the seas was when the ironclad warships came into action. This time both sides had their own version of the ironclad which was powered by a steam engine: Union had the U. S. S. Monitor and the Confederates the C. S. S. Virginia or Merrimack. Once again the Confederates tried to destroy the Union ships using an ironclad â€Å"built upon the charred remains of a burnt wooden warship, clad completely in iron plating down to the waterline and bristling with cannons† (White). This warship just went straight for the blockade in Virginia, and although it was hit by explosives and other heavy artillery the damage was minimal. And this is just a brief view of what might the battle would have been like by Professor J Rickard with the Virginia: On 8 March 1862 she steamed out of Norfolk to attack the Union blockading fleet. Her ten guns were opposed to 219 Union guns on five ships, but the Union ships didn’t stand a chance. First to go was the U. S. S. Cumberland (24 guns), rammed and sunk. The only serious damage inflicted to the Virginia was that her ram broke off and remained stuck in the Cumberland. All of this meant that the Union needed reinforcement, so they sent the Monitor to save the day. These ships battled for â€Å"several hours as their shells and shot bounced off each other's thick armor plating† and the match might have ended in a tie as there were no records telling who won (White). As the iron-clad demonstrated their power, the old wooden ships became obsolete. Even though there was fascinating technology being used in the Civil War, the only two â€Å"weapons† that President Lincoln that used the most were the train and the telegraph. Although the railroads were still a new concept because they were not used much for military purposes, they were still used to attack the enemy and replenish troops. The Union owned about 21,000 miles of railroad tracks while the Confederates only owned about 9,000 miles. Since the beginning of the war both sides used trains to transport ammunition and soldiers to the front lines faster than ever before. Because the trains played a very important role in the war, the enemy used â€Å"rail twisters and devices to blow up railroad bridges and other infrastructure and even some troops specialized in destroying railroad equipment as their sole-role in the war† (AE Aeragon) . Most of the time trains were used for transportation, but on special occasions they were used as rams. Sometimes troops would send trains at full speed to â€Å"damage an enemy train or railroad facilities, or to attack troops and even to destroy bridges† (Koenig). This experienced Confederates soldiers when they saw a train on flames aiming straight for them. Now, the telegraph was located along the railroad tracks and this meant that the North had the upper hand because they have the most railroad miles. The telegraph helped President Lincoln from the White House â€Å"to monitor battlefield reports, lead real-time strategy meetings and deliver orders to his men† (Civil War Technology). This turn out to be a great advantage for the North because they still required the technology and industry to carry out communication tasks. And by 1862 the U. S. Military Telegraph Corps â€Å"trained 1,200 operators, strung 4,000 miles telegraph wire and had sent more than 1,000,000 messages back and for† (Koenig). This alone can tell that during this war that the president was actually involved more than in past wars. Throughout the entire Civil War, diseases were killing more people than weapons because people had little knowledge about the silent killers called germs. Since the beginning of the Civil War in the spring of 1861 â€Å"medically, the United States was woefully prepared and scientists, meanwhile, had yet to come up with the theory that germs cause diseases† (Sohn). This meant that doctors did not know that they should always wash their instruments before operating and the hospital hygiene was very poor which led to disease breakouts. But problems led to many medical advances such as the protocol to treat the injuries. This system was created by Jonathan Letterman, a Union surgeon, who â€Å"created a well-organized system of care that began with triage close to the source of harm and was followed by rapid transportation to a series of clinics, hospitals and specialists† (Sohn). This medical protocol is still essential today. While there medical advancements, many improvements on neurology came about. Physicians began â€Å"the study of phantom limbs, the perception of a missing arm or leg as present and painful† (White). The American physician S. Weir Mitchell discovered phenomenon such as the shell shock and posttraumatic stress syndrome. One of the ways that physicians noticed these problems were when soldiers would freeze or started to shake wildly and many thought it was because that person was a coward. So Mitchell and his colleague, Jacob da Costa, â€Å"came into a conclusion which was that the soldiers were suffering from mental problems, stress and heart diseases† (White). To treat these problems, they said it was necessary the removal and rest from the source causing the stress. The Civil War, an event that could have or could have not being avoided, shaped the future of the entire world. The war had a great impact on anything that ranged from weapons to medicine. It also leaded to the creation of new technology such as the telephone and the improvement on the medical field. Although the war brought many innovations to the United Sates, it is still the bloodiest one in the American history because people from the same nation were being killed and it is similar to what the British Novelists Agatha Christie said about war: One is left with the horrible feeling now that war settles nothing; that to win a war is as disastrous as to lose one. Works Cited â€Å"Civil War Technology. † 2011. The History Channel website. Apr. 27 2011, 11:04 . Dutch, Steven. â€Å"The First Modern War and the Last Ancient War. † University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. N. p. , 02 Jun 2010. Web. 27 Apr 2011. . Koenig, Alan R. â€Å"Railroad's Critical Role in the Civil War. † America's Civil War 1996: n. pag. Web. 27 Apr 2011. . â€Å"Minie Ball. † 2011. The History Channel website. Apr. 27 2011, 11:03 . Rickard, J (1 May 2006), American Civil War: The Blockade and the War at Sea, . Sohn, Emily. â€Å"How the Civil War Changed Modern Medicine. † Discovery News. N. p. , 08 Apr. 2011. Web. 27 Apr 2011. . Stevens, Anthony. Roots of War and Terror. New York: Cromwell Press Ltd, 2044. 212. eBook. â€Å"The US Civil War, the First Modern War. † AE Aeragon. N. p. , n. d. Web. 27 Apr 2011. . White, David. â€Å"Born in the USA: A New World of War. † History Today 60. 6 (2010): 12. Points of View Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 27 Apr. 2011.

World War One German gULT essays

World War One German gULT essays Few historical areas can have aroused as much debate as that of the origins and causes of WW1. The thousands of documents and eyewitness testimonies collated have allowed historians to construct exceedingly detailed illustrations of what happened in the days, months and years leading to the outbreak of war. Despite having researched, in many cases, identical material, there is no end of disagreement among historians as to who, or what, caused the war. Just some of the more plausible theories include apportioning the blame to Germany; Austria; Russia; Serbia; France; Britain; everybody (collective responsibility); nobody (accidental war) and Capitalism. It is difficult to believe but (perhaps unsurprisingly considering the historical talent involved) each case is stated with such conviction and sense that, in isolation, all appear essentially unquestionable. While some of the theories can be dismissed as fundamentally flawed, a more convincing reason is needed to explain the multitude of conflicting exegeses. The above suggests that, "on the one hand (WW1) was massively over-determined and on the other that no effort to analyse the causal factors involved can ever fully succeed.1" Most previous attempts have failed to procure a satisfactory answer because they have attempted to reduce the various contributing factors to some fundamental cause. This is riddled with problems, but there arises an even greater difficulty; every cause announced has itself got a cause, ad infinitum. Therefore, any effective account, while recognising the multitude of interwoven causes, must pick a cut-off point, where causes stop being causes and start being conditions. 'Long-range factors were part and parcel of the mood and the realities of early twentieth-century Europe. This was the world in which the nations and their leaders had to operate, and the truly significant question is how well they did so.2' I contend that the problem here is one of ambiguity...

Anti-Semitism in Pre-World War II essays

Anti-Semitism in Pre-World War II essays Anti-Semitism had been around in Germany and the whole of Europe for hundreds of years prior to World War One. Many scholars trace German anti-Semitism back to the time of Martin Luther and even farther back into history. So is it a fair assumption to say that World War One was the turning point in the history of German anti-Semitism? In this paper, I will attempt to see views on both sides of the argument, but show you how instrumental the war was in bringing German ant-Semitism to the forefront. One question that can be raised is that of which Jews are of a race or of a religion? Anti-Semitism is not just a racial, ethic, or cultural hating of Jews, it is a hate of the Jewish idea.(Geoff Price 2003) The definition of anti-Semitism is hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group. I believe that the reason that Jews in Germany were disliked was not their religion, but rather their race. Race did however, play a part in the degrading and mistreating of the Jews during the end of World War One and on into the height of the Nazis power. The teachings of Jesus in this time were skewed to fit with the growing beliefs that Jews were not Gods chosen people, but people made from Satans own blood. The teaching that Jesus was not a Jew was an integral part of German religious education during the Nazi era.(Geoff Price 2003) So religion did play a part in the anti-Semitism, but there were many other more important factors involved. During World War One, Jews fought for Germany much like any other man that was fighting for his country. But during the war, there was a pact between Great Britain and the Jews called the Balfour Declaration of 1917, which promised all Jews land in the Middle East. Germans knew of the pact with Great Britain, and thought immediately that the Jews were no longer fighting for Germany, but for the greater...

Pantsers and Plotters Which Are You (And Why It Matters)

Pantsers and Plotters Which Are You (And Why It Matters) Two Types of Writers: Plotters and Pantsers Writing has always been a passion for the UK-based former journalist Amanda Wills, who now works part-time as a police press officer. Her latest book, Flick Henderson and the Deadly Game, was published in December last year, with a cover design courtesy of Reedsy artist Rachel Lawston. In this article, she talks about two types of writers, Plotters and Pantsers, and the pros and cons of both. Plotter or PantserDo you plan your novel to the nth degree before you type a single word, or do you sit at your computer, take a deep breath and fly by the seat of your pants? If the former, you’re a Plotter; if the latter, you’re a Pantser. Plotters plan novels to the nth degree. Pantsers fly by the seat of their pants and just write. We all know there are pros and cons to both. Knowing exactly what’s coming next means that Plotters are less likely to suffer from writer’s block. They also tend to write faster and more efficiently. Pantsers, on the other hand, have the freedom to let their characters take control, which can be both terrifying and exciting at the same time.I should say now that I am your typical Pantser. Don’t get me wrong, I am in awe of writers who spend months plotting scenes on timelines and building detailed biographies for their characters. When I start a book, I know how it begins, and I normally know how it’s going to end. It’s just the bit in the middle that’s, shall we say, fluid. I then spent about a week playing a kind of story jigsaw, rearranging the scenes until Kate’s disappearance became the main plot and the disappearing pets became the sub-plot.This kind of low-tech approach might not be for everyone, but it worked for me. It helped me spot continuity problems and holes in the story. It became blindingly obvious where I needed more action, and where I needed to slow the pace down.And once I had the scenes in the right order it was a pretty straightforward task to reassemble them on my Word document.Flick Henderson and the Deadly Game was released both as a paperback and ebook this past December, nearly three years after I had that first seed of an idea.Do I regret not plotting the book properly in the first place? Probably. I’m sure it would have saved a lot of time. I’ll definitely use the giant word jigsaw approach again. Being able to play with scenes in such a tangible way was immensely useful.Will I spend weeks planning every scene, every plot point, every nuance, every character arc, before I start writing my next book? Probably not. I’m a Pantser by nature. But one thing I have learned is that a little planning goes a long way.So that is exactly what I plan to do. As a writer, I'm a Pantser. But I've learned that a little planning takes  your book  a long way. Flick Henderson and the Deadly Game is available on Amazon in paperback and on Amazon Kindle!Are you a Plotter or a Pantser? Or, like Amanda, have you found a way to straddle both styles of writing? Let us know, and leave any thoughts, experiences, or any questions for Amanda in the comments below.

Case Study Of A Leadership Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Of A Leadership - Case Study Example Various leaders often possess different traits thereby imposing their rulings as well as operations differently. While others are born leaders, some leaders tend to use coercion as a strategy for leadership making them an enemy of the people who are left to their mercies but have to follow by default. Leaders rule based on their leadership styles that vary depending on each leader. Basing on their leadership styles, some leaders are a friend of the people and a real idol to their followers who see them as role models such as re-known African leader Nelson Mandela. On the hand, some leaders are a pain to the people as they abuse power by forcefully dictating rules making people loathe their leadership style. A perfect example of this is world’s famous African leader Idi Amini popularly referred to as Dictator Idi Amini. Leaders all over the world are governed by specific traits that determine their leadership skills and style of leadership. Bearing in mind the fact that a leader is a force behind many decisions guiding a bigger fraction of people, a good leader has to be emotionally upright so as to be in a perfect position to make wise decisions as well as straight rulings. Having been down the responsibility of ruling many people all of whom share different thoughts, perceptions, and ideologies, a good leader has to be able to put up with all their people, welcome views, suggestions, as well as ideas from all irrespective of their status in the society. A leader’s personal judgments should, therefore, be concealed and not be a reflection of their thoughts in the public domain. Leadership comes with feelings of mixed reactions and is bound to face criticism as well as opposition from various quarters hence a leader should be able to welcome critics and positively dissolve views from those i n opposition.

Impact and Outcomes of Effectual Risk Based Planning Applications Essay

Impact and Outcomes of Effectual Risk Based Planning Applications - Essay Example Broad policy alternatives and a process of restructuring the existing practices have to be adopted in order to overcome the present impasse. I advocate a local level policy shift rather than a Federal level overhaul. Public administration consists of non-profit governmental institutions that form the bulk of a country’s administrative system. The process of planning at institutional level might require a cohesive and articulate strategy with a particular focus on existing inadequacies of the system. Non-profit public sector institutions operate on the principle of public welfare at the grassroots. However, there is an imbalance in these institutions when it comes to efficient management processes and institutional structures. Ill-defined targets often serve as hurdles that have to be surmounted even before the project is started. Project risk perception and management is another such area in which both leadership and intelligence are lacking. It is imperative to question the unprivileged immunity from public scrutiny that is almost taken for granted by local level administrators whose attitudes have, over the years, been conducive to producing negative outcomes in the sphere of public adm inistration. Causal factors include a host of fallacious assumptions too. Risk has a variety of meanings and senses that defy our articulation or assessment capabilities. Therefore in risk-based planning process there can be no perfection or certainty in determining a set of variables that impact on the planning process and the eventual outcomes. Both endogenous and exogenous variables impact on these outcomes, irrespective of our hypothetical presumptions on what shape those outcomes should take. Community or county level administration might seek to exert pressure on Federal bodies to facilitate legislation that cohort principles of public choice theory. For instance the Risk-Based Homeland Security Grants Act

Personality and Employee Performance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Personality and Employee Performance - Essay Example Employee Performance The concept of employee performance is the most practical and applicable in the organizations these days. It refers to the performance or the productivity given by the employees with reference to their jobs or assigned tasks. This performance of workers, in essence, gives rise to the performance appraisals and other such measures to assess the criteria for their rewards and punishments. The concept of performance appraisal, also known as performance evaluation, pertains to a periodic and systematic procedure of assessing and evaluating the performance of employees and their productivity at jobs (Muchinsky, 2012). The performance of employees considers elements such as accomplishments, organizational citizenship behavior, weaknesses and strengths, and the future improvement potential. The concept of employee performance and the systems to measure it tend to align and manage all the resources of the organizations for the purpose of achieving a performance which is possible to the maximum. The performance management is the tool that organization largely utilize to establish the failure or success at the workplace. Thus, the highest priority of the present day organizations is to keep a track of the employee’s performance. Moreover, the performance appraisals also elaborates upon the incentives or reinforcements required for the employees regarding their output at the assigned tasks, punctuality and attendance, dependability, interpersonal relations, and needs for further performance improvement and development. Personality Traits The concept of personality entails wide perspectives within the term and belongs to the field of psychology. However, this term is widely used and applied in the scope of business as well. The term ‘personality’ can be described as an organized and dynamic array of characteristics which an individual possesses and which are capable of influencing the person’s emotions, behaviors, cognitions, and motivations in diverse situations. Personality may also pertain to the patterns of feelings, perception, thoughts and behaviours which the individuals depict with the passage of time. These patterns also have strong influences on the values and attitudes, self-perceptions, and have the ability to predict the individual’s responsiveness to the other people in the times of stress and problems. Relationship between Personality and Employee Performance The high demands and stress posed upon the employees at workplace in the present times generate a need for the employees, managers and all the workforce that deals with the everyday requirements of the organziations, subordinates and the pressure of workloads (Francis, 2007). The position of employees, specifically the middle and higher level employees such as managers and supervisors, requires a lot of stress and responsibility, as they are expected to give the outcomes which disregard elements of favourable or unfavourable s ituations. The leaders and managers are required to figure out solutions and take up variety of challenges which accumulate in the business every other day. Many of these demanding tasks inculde staff reassignment, limited budget, withdrawal of finance, reorganization of units, government policies, and lack of availability of resources which keep

MAJOR PROJECT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

MAJOR PROJECT - Essay Example ult, millions of visitors globally are invading the nation to view its unique natural environments and promote the spectacular views available in Asia. In addition, China has also identified and defined an agency or China National Tourism Administration or CNTA to take charge of promoting tourism both nationally and internationally and this has been effective in promoting tourism awareness locally and internationally. Like the world, China is has taken up ecotourism which encourages travelers to walk calmly or give back to the communities and environments that they visit. In China, 2009 became the ecotourism year as designated by CNTA, where travelers were encouraged to exercise green travelling and experience eco-evolution. Although the aspect of ecotourism has remained amongst Chinese people and the world for long, CNTA is actively engaged in promoting eco-tourism in China as a free arrangement of tourism, environmental preservation and bridging cultural understanding. Consequently , tourists are not just visitors but also people who actively fight to preserve the setting (Ruan). In China, regardless of the favorable conditions required for ecotourism like plenty of biodiversity and beauty, the extent of success in ecotourism development is limited but the future is brighter in the presence of CNTA agency in promoting ecotourism it attracts visitors to Asia with the aim of leaving positive impact. In this case travelers are not just involved in looking through the window of a tour bus but getting muddy under your finger nails thereby experiencing a place by involving in the issues in that place. In order to explore eco-tourism in China, the discussion in this paper focuses on one ecotourism site named Wenhai Ecolodge as one of the eco-tourism venues in the Southwestern region of China. The rationale for studying Wenhai Ecolodge is the fact that it is the first of Chinese â€Å"Green Resorts†(Fodors Travel n.p). It is located near Lake Wenhai and this contributes

Architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Architecture - Essay Example The Tama Art University Library was designed by Toyo Ito. According to Bognar (1985), Ito deals with forms which are pure and abstract. He strives to make building unique by playing with their surfaces, which, in his mind, according to Bognar (1985), â€Å"carry the meaning and the quality of space† (p. 323). The Glasgow School of Art Library was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who, having designed around the turn of the 20th Century, was considered one of the pioneers of modernism (Nuttgens, 1988). Each of these buildings have distinctive features, themes and ways of playing with light, and, in the case of Arets, sound. Each of these buildings resemble one another in critical ways, yet are different as well. This paper will explain the three buildings, their unifying principles and the way that they differ. University Library in Utrecht The qualities embraced by Arets are on display with the University Library in Utrecht. From the outside, at a glance, it appears to be box-like and black, and looks to have a strong aesthetic. The building is made almost entirely of glass, so it reflects the light and the environment. The facade, according to Beek (2005), consists of alternating opaque and transparent panels, glass and concrete. On the glass is printed jungle trees, while the jungle trees are etched, in relief, on the concrete portions of the facade. However, although the building is dark, it plays with light in different ways. McCarter (2012) explains that the building plays with light by alternating the panels of concrete and glass, and some of the glass panels are double paned and slightly off-kilter. This gives the building a three-dimensional effect, and also allows the sunlight to be filtered through and regulated. Between the panels shifting, the alternation between the concrete and the glass, and jungle patterns on the glass and concrete, the building plays with light in a way that is dynamic. Once inside, Beek (2005) describes the interio r as a contrast, as the floor is reflecting and white, and this contrasts with the dark concrete panels. Once the individual comes in through the main entrance, McCarter (2012), states that there is a gallery there, and this leads to a large staircase. The main idea is that the white reflecting floor, and the contrasting dark concrete, is repeated throughout the interior. When one reaches the first level, there is an atrium that is at full height. On the inside, one understands that there are spatial volumes which correspond with the solid outside walls. Meanwhile, the glass panels vertically close the facade line. Beek (2005) states that the interior of the library consists of lecture rooms, bookshelves and archives, all on different levels, and that each of the different levels have a different style. Some of the levels feature open terraces. Some feature rooms which are enclosed with balconies. One meeting room is cantilevered, and facing the atrium completely. There is some colo r inside, notably red, which is the color of some of the fixed furnitures. The textures and relief on the outside glass and concrete turn out to be functional, with regards to the acoustics and the light inside the building, according to Beek (2005). This is because the relief texture on the concrete absorbs the outside sounds. The glass imprintations regulates the sunlight. Therefore, the inside building is silent and open, because of this light and sound regulation. Therefore,

MAJOR PROJECT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

MAJOR PROJECT - Essay Example ult, millions of visitors globally are invading the nation to view its unique natural environments and promote the spectacular views available in Asia. In addition, China has also identified and defined an agency or China National Tourism Administration or CNTA to take charge of promoting tourism both nationally and internationally and this has been effective in promoting tourism awareness locally and internationally. Like the world, China is has taken up ecotourism which encourages travelers to walk calmly or give back to the communities and environments that they visit. In China, 2009 became the ecotourism year as designated by CNTA, where travelers were encouraged to exercise green travelling and experience eco-evolution. Although the aspect of ecotourism has remained amongst Chinese people and the world for long, CNTA is actively engaged in promoting eco-tourism in China as a free arrangement of tourism, environmental preservation and bridging cultural understanding. Consequently , tourists are not just visitors but also people who actively fight to preserve the setting (Ruan). In China, regardless of the favorable conditions required for ecotourism like plenty of biodiversity and beauty, the extent of success in ecotourism development is limited but the future is brighter in the presence of CNTA agency in promoting ecotourism it attracts visitors to Asia with the aim of leaving positive impact. In this case travelers are not just involved in looking through the window of a tour bus but getting muddy under your finger nails thereby experiencing a place by involving in the issues in that place. In order to explore eco-tourism in China, the discussion in this paper focuses on one ecotourism site named Wenhai Ecolodge as one of the eco-tourism venues in the Southwestern region of China. The rationale for studying Wenhai Ecolodge is the fact that it is the first of Chinese â€Å"Green Resorts†(Fodors Travel n.p). It is located near Lake Wenhai and this contributes

Language Seminar Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6250 words

Language Seminar - Essay Example We met as partners and decided from the list of skills which one we should focus on and the relevant test samples that we should choose. After negotiation, we agreed to focus on grammar and thus selected grammar parts of three test samples. Before embarking on the task, we did extensive literature review from textbooks and lecture notes which were to guide us inappropriately responding to the task.After this preparation, we answered then critiqued the sample tests based on six qualities of usefulness: practicality, impact, validity, reliability, interactiveness, and authenticity. The arguments were backed by relevant literature earlier identified. This critique guided us in coming up with a performance-based test that aimed at improving on the sample tests. The strengths of the performance-based test over the sample tests were given.We presented each test separately with its critique which made it simple to follow the presentation. Even though taken at the end of the presentation, qu estions were encouraged from the students with both of us responding to them to the best of our knowledge. The summarising table at the end of the presentation was an advantage in the presentation.More so, we had practiced prior to the final presentation which helped us time ourselves appropriately.Instead of each one working on a different part then combine at the end, we did the whole task together, engaging in arguments that led us to present the best-agreed responses.

Creating a computer system Essay Example for Free

Creating a computer system Essay 1. 1 Introduction Wooten Basset Rugby Club, are a rugby club in the Swindon area, whom play 15 a side rugby union. They put out a numbers of teams each week ranging from junior levels, senior teams and womens rugby. Of my concern is the U-16s, whom would like to computerise a number of tasks and have a reference for relevant data including player and parent information. In any particular season there will be between 20 and 30 players at the club. These players are trained by the head coach and around three other coaches all of whom are made up of parents of the players. The head coach is responsible for much of the current administrative work. 1. 2 Current System Currently all tasks for the club are carried out manually. For example when organising a match against a rival team a letter is written specifically for each player. With as many as 30 players at the club, this is tiring and tedious work. Data is currently stored in files kept at the head coachs house. This system of holding information has become unreliable as over the history of the team players have moved on or changed their details. When this occurs due to time constraints, addresses for example are often added to rather than modified creating two distinct addresses complicating matters when important letters need to be sent. In the past when players have left their file has not been removed leaving large amounts of useless information. All of this complicates matters when searching for data making the process longer and increasingly unreliable. Among the squad of players, each player has his own specific needs. For example different players require different training methods such as fitness or tactics. With many players and few coaching staff it becomes difficult to organise. Currently this is organised through memory which is difficult due to the above reasons. The current system has no scope for evaluating players from teams the club faces. No data is kept on players from other teams like their scoring or disciplinary records. They can therefore not assess before a fixture which players are a danger and tactics suffer. Scoring and disciplinary data is stored on paper kept in files. This data is again not well managed and prone to being lost making analysing a players progress somewhere between difficult and impossible. Also they are unable to see which players are the top scorers or most ill disciplined. Money management is also a problem. Fees used to pay math officials are deducted form the fees paid by players. This is organised by the coaches, however often players miss this payment and the referees payment is short. Yet with at least 15 players playing in every match records of owes money are not kept and this information is simply forgotten. 1. 3 Interview Summary In order to create this system it was important that I conduct an interview with one of the end users for the system. This will give a good outline of the requirements for the system. The interview was with the head coach whom will be the predominant user of the system. From the interview this is an outline of what the new system will have to achieve: Â  Produce template letters for a number of issues. These letters include Match details, which will tell players about a match its date, venue and other relevant information. Invitation letter to other clubs inviting them to a match. Player and parent data. Store contact details about players and parents. Â  Statistics. Store statistics on players including points scored, tries and appearances. Â  Team information. Store details on rival teams such as contact details. Fixtures. Store fixture information including scores, dates and venues. Â  Ability to see reports on players from the club. Â  An ability to track membership payments. The system must indicate whether a players has paid his membership for that season. Â  Create leagues of the clubs leading scorers and those with the worst disciplinary records. Â  Store data about what type of training each player is on. For example some players may have fitness training or others forwards training. Monitor finances for each fixture. For each fixture a player has to pay a fee of i 2. Other important points taken from the interview: Â  System must be as automated as possible as user wants system to save him time. Simple user interface. Several of the coaches whom will use the system have very little knowledge of computers and will struggle with a complicated system. Â  System will be run from head coachs lap top computer and therefore not need any network capabilities. Head coach has copies of Microsoft Access already stored on his computer. IT experience consists only of use of Microsoft applications. Â  Data on fixtures and statistics only to be kept for one season at a time. After this period data will be deleted and new record will be kept. Â  Hold data relating to tournament and determine the clubs progress in these tournaments. 1. 4 Data Requirements From the interview it has become apparent that I will need to store a considerable amount of data. I have divided this data into the following groups: Players, Fixtures, Rivals, Rival Players, Players-Fixtures and Rival Players-Fixtures. A primary key will be used in every case to uniquely identify each record, these are marked by these symbols, and . PLAYERS deals with data relating to players such as membership and contact details: Membership Number A unique code used to identify each player. Each Membership code is made up of three numbers and a letter. The letter represents the age group, as this letter only deals with one age group each membership code will have the letter, E. For example, 001E Name Christian and Surname only Parent Store parents name for contact details. Address1 Store first line of a players address. Address2 Store second line of a players address where applicable. Postcode Training-What type of training the player is on. User will only be able to select from these values: Fitness, Backs, Forwards or General. Telephone Number Membership Paid Whether a player has paid membership fees for current year or not. FIXTURES handles data revolving each fixture played or to be played: Fixture Code Identifies each fixture uniquely as some fixture may be against the same team. Team Code Determines which team is to be played or has been played Team Score Score for Wooten Bassett, null if not played. Rival Score Score for rival, null if not played. Tournament Code Foreign key which identifies which tournament a fixture belongs to. Friendly fixtures will be determined by a specific code. Date Venue Select from either home or away. Round Determines which round of the competition, for example first round or semi final. RIVALS holds data on teams played by the rugby club, this includes contact details: Team Code Each team will be assigned a unique in case of two teams having the same name. Team Name Name of each rival team. Telephone Address1 First line of each teams address. Address2 Second line of each teams address if applicable. City Postcode Directions Description of how to reach rival club. PLAYERS-FIXTURES relates to the actions of players in each fixture, this includes scores and disciplinary information: Membership Number Used to identify player for which record is stored. Fixture Code Identifies which fixture record relates to. Tries Number of tries scored by a particular player in each fixture. Penalties All penalty kicks converted by a player in a fixture. Drop Kicks All drop kicks scored by a player in a fixture. Disciplinary Whether a player was disciplined in a fixture and what level of action, a yellow card for example. Fee Owed -The amount paid will be displayed from. TOURNAMENT holds data relating to tournaments the clubs plays in: Tournament Code Unique code which identifies each tournament. Winner Eventual winner of tournament. 1. 5 Entity Relationship Diagram This diagram of how data will be kept in the new system. The Players-Fixtures data store will link Players and Fixtures together. It will store data relating to what a particular player does in each game. Each record will be identified by using a players membership code and the corresponding fixture code, these two foreign keys will create a composite key. Each player may have played in many fixtures and therefore have many records in Players-Fixtures. This creates a one to many relationship between, Players and Players-Fixtures. Similarly many records in Players-Fixtures may relate to one fixture and so a one to many relationship exists between Fixtures and Players-Fixtures. The Rival Players-Fixtures data store is similar to Players-Fixtures, however it stores data about rival players as opposed to players for Wooten Bassett rugby club. Each record will be uniquely identified using the foreign keys of rival player code to determine which player, and fixture code to determine the fixture. Again a one to many relationship exists between Fixtures and Rival Players-Fixtures as one fixture may have many related records in Rival Players-Fixtures. Each Rival Player may have many records in Rival Players-Fixtures as they have played in many fixtures, a one to many relationship will exist here. Wooten Bassett will face many different rival clubs with many different Rival Players. Therefore Rivals will store data about all rival clubs and each record will be uniquely identified by team code. Rival Players will store data will store data about all the players who play for these clubs will be identified by the rival player code. To determine which player plays for which club Rival Players will have the foreign key Team code. This means many Rival Players can play for one club, again a one to many relationship will exist here. Each fixture will be against one of the teams detailed in Rivals. In order to identify which team is being played the foreign key, team code from Rivals will be used. One Rival may play in many fixtures creating a one to many relationship from Rivals to Fixtures. Tournament holds data relating to competitive fixtures. Therefore one tournament will have many records in fixtures, and again a one to many relationship is present. 1. 6 Data Flow Diagrams 2 Design 2. 1 System Design. The system will be divided into five entities described in Analysis. These are Players, Rivals, Fixtures, Players-Fixtures and Tournament. 2. 2 Attribute Design Following are description of all the attributes to be stored in the system: 2. 3 Form Design In order for the user to interact with the system, it must be presented in a user friendly interface. Within Access this is done using forms and reports, each form should allow the user to easily understand the information and be able to perform sufficient actions such as adding or deleting data. Following are the forms required by the system: 1. frmFixtures. This form will deal with all the actions relating the handling of data with fixtures. Here the user will be able to add, alter or delete any records from the Fixtures table. For example if a new fixture has been organised then the user can use the Add Fixture button to add a fixture to the schedule. Also changes to the date for example can be made. In order to maintain the consistency of data validation is being used. The FixtureCode attribute is updated automatically as an auto number preventing the user from making mistakes. Also a TeamCode will be selected from a combo box so a user cannot enter a team that does not exist. Also only two values will be able to be entered into the Home/Away attribute, home or away. To simplify the users navigation of the system a combo box at the top of the form allows the user to select any existing record quickly. 2. frmPlayers The Players form works on a similar principle to the Fixtures form. There are button to add and delete Player records and there is also a combo box to allow the user to navigate through the system. For validation the training attribute uses a combo box to ensure the user enters the correct value and an input mask controls the MembershipNumber, so that data is entered in the appropriate format. 3. frmRivals Again the Rivals form works in a similar fashion to Players and Fixtures. Buttons on the right control adding and deleting functions and a combo box is used for navigation. Validation is ensured by using an auto number data type to automatically update the TeamCode attribute. 4. frmTournament The tournament form works exactly the same as the previous forms, with add and delete buttons clearly labelled and a combo box for navigation. The TournamentCode attribute does not require input as it is an auto number ensuring validation. 5. frmFixture Statistics This form is directly different form the previous forms. In this form a user can manipulate data in the Players-Fixtures entity. The user can view specific fixtures through a combo box, when a fixture is selected it will open a sub form containing all the data about the players whom played in that match. Here new data can be added about a fixture or incorrect data can be corrected. The FixtureCode and MembershipNumber attributes will be controlled by a combo box, eliminating user error and the consistency of the data. 2. 4 Query Design For the system to perform the function required of it queries are used to extract the precise data from the database.

Caterpillars International Strategy

Caterpillars International Strategy Caterpillars International Strategy The domain of international business theory contains an overwhelming array of perspectives and dimensions. International business (IB) definitions and assumptions are as diverse and ambiguous as their sources. Approaches to IB have established the fundamental perspectives as being global or organisational, but the content of these areas are immense. The development of the global approach, or more correctly labelled as ‘macro (Rugman and Hodgetts 2000. pp. 24), has recently evolved in the 1990s as a result of the mixed organisational orientated approaches, otherwise labelled as ‘micro. This discussion takes the form of analysing Caterpillar in the international business arena by highlighting issues and theories that relate initially to the wider macro environment, then specifically towards Caterpillar as an organisation. The selected definition of IB for the basis of this discussion has been taken from an opening statement. This being ‘transactions taking place across national boarders (Rugman and Hodgetts 2000 pp. 5). This simple statement is considered sufficient to incorporate its entirety, however the recognition of the multi dimensional perspectives and their interrelatedness needs to be comprehended. The aim of this discussion is to explain the international strategy of Caterpillar by using its context as a platform for applying relevant literature. Caterpillar history For clarity reasons it is considered necessary to offer a brief introduction to Caterpillar. They have been established in the construction equipment industry for over 75 years and recorded $20.45 billion turnover in 2001 (annual report 2001). Their main products are divided as machinery with 58% of sales, engines with 33%, and financial products with 9%. The mission statement of Caterpillar is to ‘be the global leader in customer value; this clearly indicates the attention to a high quality of service as being their competitive edge. This service is integrated through a sophisticated network of 1840 locations across all six continents, of these; Caterpillar has foreign direct investment (FDI) in 255 locations. The corporate strategy for the future is to bolster their leadership in the market through initiatives labelled by Data monitor (2003) and the annual report (2001) as being ‘profitable growth, championing continuous quality improvement, aggressively reducing costs, and developing an integrated e-business. In attempting to understand the reality of Caterpillars strategy, theories are applied to offer explanations behind the corporate publishings.  The critical success factors associated with Caterpillar are primarily their h3 brand; this is then supported by network and service capabilities that represent reliability and consistency. Caterpillar is also renowned for product innovation; they have continually innovated which has contributed to the brand and reputation. The international market responds to positive brand vales because the nature of the industry requires trust and relationships. The macro factors present are unlimited in the current dynamic world but the important perspectives are structured as political, economic, technological and social. The elements of these perspectives are selected according to the importance for Caterpillar; therefore they are discussed in this context with reference to relevant literature. The political climate is continuously being developed and negotiated amongst the nationalities that exercise power. The current instabilities are dominated by the differences in opinion over the Palestine conflict and the Iraqi situation. As Caterpillar is active across the globe, its operations would need to be sensitively applied so that the local governments are appreciated. The situation of Caterpillar is slightly precarious due to the fact that in political terms, the Americans are seen as the bullying nation, which is a mentality that ideally Caterpillar would like to distance themselves from. On the other hand, the American political objective may provide an opportunity as reconstruction and other Caterpillar products may experience an increase in demand as a result of the speculated war (eg. tank engines and construction products). This circumstance for Caterpillar represents a relations nightmare because in the home country it would need to communicate support in line with t he public opinion, and in the host countries it may benefit from addressing the local perspective. E.g. the activities in China would be adjusted as to address the sensitive issues to ensure sustainability, rather than inhibiting ill feelings from enforcing the ‘American way. Global political situations are important to Caterpillar because they could gain first mover advantage by moving into recently opened markets such as China. The extent that a region is privatised or Lasses-faire is of interest to Caterpillar because it would aid the process of negotiating a relationship. It would be beneficial for Caterpillar to tailor management to either foreign governments or foreign organisations. IB massively influences the macroeconomic environment. The recent conception is that IB is predominately concentrated around three regions rather than integrating the world. This can be seen through the development of trade blocs that encourages IB amongst its members. The most significant research into this economic environment highlights the triad perspective as being dominant. The triad perspective as explained by Rugman (2001) states that the world economy and FDI is based around Europe, America and Japan, this also extends to FDI clusters, namely Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Pacific rim, that are supported by the dominant triad member. The evolution of this economic environment has matured into a three way economic power base that contributes significantly to the adopted international strategy. The conclusions drawn from Rugmans (2001) research appear to dismiss the argument of a global strategy because an organisation like Caterpillar would only have to accommodate the triad perspectives as opposed to incorporating worldwide responsiveness. The analysis of the macroeconomic environment also includes a consideration of the currency markets, and in particular the value of the US dollar against Caterpillars large foreign investments. Caterpillars largest FDI is in Japan; therefore the continual decline in the economy influenced the strategic decision to operate financially in the Japanese market instead of exposing themselves to exchange rate risk. In theoretical terms this strategic decision is known as ‘currency diversification (Rugman Hogetts 2000 pp. 203). On the other hand Caterpillar has a favourable impact from the sales in other currencies, primarily trading with Euros and the Australian Dollar against the weaker US Dollar. The macro social issues relevant to Caterpillar are identified as originating from the animosity felt by the east towards the west. These issues include the resistance of the east in adopting the ‘western way, this then extends into the business sector where an international business strategy involves a high degree of managing through different social contexts. This is supported by Gesteland (1999 pp. 27) who demonstrates the concept of ‘deal first or relationship first. A relevant example of this in terms of Caterpillar is highlighted by Peppas (2002. pp. 52), which suggests that ‘differences were found in terms of attitude towards a code of ethics. Caterpillar places a heavy bias towards its ‘code of conduct, but is this sufficient to address social issues in international business. At present these publications are not enough, as pointed out by Mokhiber and Weissman (2002 pp. 12). This opinion labelled Caterpillar as a ‘bad apple because its ‘D- 9 bulldozer is used by Israeli military to carry out its programme of ‘home destruction, this is directly inconsistent with the ‘code of conduct (2000 pp. 2) which states that it ‘uses our strength and resources to improve, and in some cases rebuild, the lives of our neighbours. Another important social issue involves the rate of investment into the developing world. The recent trend has been to transfer manufacturing to developing countries, which has stimulated construction and booming economies. This suggests that the international market place is dynamic and evolving, which should influence Caterpillar to adapt in emerging markets and control in mature ones. This idea is also interrelated with the triad perspective, it could be advised that Caterpillar enter the clusters with triad adapted strategies, then encourage segmented alterations in response to market conditions. With this idea incorporated within the strategy, it would combine the economies of scale benefits through behind the scenes standardisation, and benefit from local responsiveness by empowering each of the triad bases. The technological environment is particularly significant for Caterpillar to consider. Not only does Caterpillar have to continually improve the current products but it would also be beneficial to innovate new products to overcome original construction problems. This is highlighting the need to be more advanced than the competition, when Caterpillar enters a market it must ensure that the product offerings are compatible with the geological and business needs. For example track driven vehicles are more appropriate than tyres for working on loose sand. Caterpillar must also undertake a broad view of technological developments in order to identify issues such as alternative power, through to advantages identified in the logistical operation. A recent technological innovation has been the Advanced Combustion Emission Reduction Technology (ACERT); in short this is a more environmentally friendly engine. Along with product development and product innovation, Caterpillar must also be aware of opportunities to diversify. The most recent example of this is where Caterpillar introduced financial products to encourage a struggling economy to buy Caterpillar products. Caterpillars international strategy operates within an environment that is affected by the macro factors. These factors are recognised in a global context and are normally uncontrollable; therefore their management involves negotiations rather than influencing and controlling. The strategic decisions that affect the effectiveness of Caterpillar are mainly catered towards the micro level factors. Meaning the micro level factors are at work within wider macro issues. The discussion here extends to the most important micro factors that Caterpillar must consider when structuring their international strategy. The factors in brief are competition, structure and logistics, culture, and marketing. Each of these factors is discussed using relevant theories in the context of Caterpillar and its environment. Competition within the construction equipment industry (CEI) can be described using the industry life cycle and the five forces analysis (Porter 1985). The CEI is arguably beginning to mature internationally because the competition has been shaken down to leave only 27 organisations that are considered major competitors across all product areas (Datamontior 2003 pp. 13). This information excludes the financial products because these are largely dependent on the machines and engines. Due to the maturing nature of the industry, it implies that the customers will be repeat customers as opposed to new. This increases the value of the relationship and importance of having a h3 brand. Caterpillars position is one of leadership through product quality and support servicing; this directly builds the good perception of Caterpillar in the minds of the customers. The components of the five forces model (Porter 1985) illustrate the competitive environment of the CEI. The rivalry amongst existing firms reflects the increasingly internationalised nature of the market. The basis of competition is held in the ability to offer a broad range of equipment, and build confidence through meeting changing needs. The strategy employed by Caterpillar involves creating extra value by offering an extensive range with a supporting service that provides an excuse for premium prices. The main competitors for the heavy equipment market include Komatsu Ltd, Kubota Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. These are the most powerful competitors whose strategy also includes creating value and charging premium prices. It is noted that two triad areas, namely Japan and the US, predominantly contest the makeup of this market. Although it is conceded that European competitors are significant in the industries architecture. To some extent, the internationalisati on of the industry has provided a situation that can arguably be labelled as an oligopoly (Grant 2002 pp. 71), meaning there are a few organisations that are powerful enough to be deemed sustainable. Again this is more evidence that the industry is maturing, therefore influencing Caterpillars strategic decisions. The other main product of Caterpillar is their engine. The main competitors within this industry are identified, amongst others, as Rolls Royce, Ford Motor Company and Hino Motors Ltd. These competitors are of similar size and employ a strategy of offering reliability and supporting services. However it is noted that Ford and Hino Motors do cut costs and charge cheaper prices, but they still maintain the view of being the leaders. Again the geographical base of these organisations supports the triad perspective introduced by Rugman (2001). The basis of competition is the development of quality in terms of reliability and consistency; it is also an advantageous position to offer a wide range in products. Caterpillar currently offers around twenty different kinds of engine (Caterpillar Product Line 2002), there are also many variances that can be offered within these product ranges. Caterpillar is also recognised for its detailed service; an example of this is that they had temporary p ower established at ground zero hours after the September 11 events. Rugman (2001) demonstrates organisational structure theory as a series of alternative options. This approach offers a clear indication of strategies available, however it is implied that the alternatives are one-way avenues, when in fact a holistic view of organisational structure would include the facility of a hybrid approach. A significant limitation to Rugmans (2001) approach is that it failed to recognise the decision makers predisposition. Whether an organisation is categorised as either ethnocentric, polycentric, regiocentric, or geocentric (Pearlmutter 2001, Rugman 2001) would influence the extent to which it could execute a structure. Can a totally integrated transnational network structure be effective if extreme ethnocentric directors excessively control it? The majority Caterpillars board of directors are American, but the boards predisposition is known only by evidence in the companys structure. Caterpillars operations include a dealer network that is claimed to be an im portant competitive advantage, the dealer network comprises of relationships with local outlets totally integrated with private locations involving large amounts of FDI. This is arguably grouped as a ‘transnational network structure, but it obviously operates to an extent with governance from the home country. To maximise efficiencies and quality of service then the structure may need to consider the triad perspective mentioned earlier. The strategy could involve different approaches relating to sensitivity, but also incorporate the logistical economies of scale and scope. In addition to the ‘transnational network structure, Caterpillar is pursuing alliances, most recently with Ford. The aim for this partnership is to develop supply chain software based on their experience in the vehicle parts market. The American perspective dominates this strategic decision concerning the structure of Caterpillar; therefore if the alliance proves profitable then they are likely to integrate it universally. However this perspective may not be profitable in other cultures, which suggests that different locations are equipped to decide what to integrate and how. Current research by Miller and OLeary (2002) evaluated the performance of Caterpillar factories. The conclusions supported the argument of common manufacturing recommendations, these being the trend of computerisation, multi skilling, and the encouragement of an emergent approach. This new factory architecture represents the absence of control, this may be beneficial in the developed American labour market, but this would not be advisable in bureaucratic cultures such as the Chinese. Further American research is provided by Rao, Scheller-wolf, and Tayur (2000), here they intended to make recommendations for the development of a rapid response supply chain for the compact equipment. These recommendations included background theories such as the network theory, inventory theory and simulation theory, to reason their novel features like the ‘duel nodes of supply, which is to benefit dealer replenishment and customer demand in terms of service speed. The point stressed from such ar ticles is that they are only valid to the specific environment, in terms of structuring internationally then these issues would need to be addressed in each geographical location, and this would be unique in each case. Therefore the construction of an international structure is dependent on the location it chooses. Internally Caterpillar has developed a universal approach of how to operate. They have labelled this 6 Sigma. ‘6 Sigma is about success – about being better than weve ever been. Its about getting there faster (www.caterpillar.com/about), the fact that Caterpillar implement this universally suggests that there is an ethnocentric orientation towards the international management. The micro factor of international culture is a consideration that involves negotiation in order for an organisation to be efficient. Organisational culture on the international stage can be viewed as an extension from the four primary attitudes outlined earlier (Perlmutter 2001, Rugman 2001), these attitudes govern the perceptions of how a company organises its activities. Rugmans (2001) ideas outline the important issues of culture as being language, religion, values and attitudes, manners and customs, material elements, aesthetics, education and social institutions. Although the attitudes of the organisations decision makers are catered for, it is felt that this is the starting point when evaluating an international culture. The unconscious attitude of decision makers will directly affect the extent to which they can implement a strategy such as ‘polycentric. For a pure international strategy, not only do the cultural differences need to be understood, but also the drivers th at influence the culture. This opinion is supported by research undertaken by Gulbro and Herbig (1999), this conclusion states that ‘firms must be better prepared, must improve their knowledge of the other side and its culture. This implies that cultural management is a process of negotiations rather than the encouragement of a ‘one best way approach. Gulbro and Herbig (1999) emphasised the need for organisations to learn from studies that show how different cultures are, therefore this would provide the resources to negotiate effectively the desired business activities. Research into Australian construction companies in Malaysia by McGrath-Champ and Carter (2001 pp. 20) found that ‘HR policies and corporate culture are used as marketing devices, not solely for management strategy. The theory formed from this research highlighted the fact that IB in developing economies needs to provide better insights into the role of the domestic market. It is argued that interna tional business ‘is not simply driven by cost or quality but the success the transactions it has within a host country (McGrath-Champ and Carter 2001 pp.). Caterpillars use of internal and external marketing attempts to communicate culturally consistent messages. Caterpillar regularly produces documents and articles such as the ‘code of conduct, ‘corporate support programs, a magazine, and network and product information. This is evidence that Caterpillar attempts to interact with stakeholders such as the communities, customers, dealers and employees. Another suggestion that Caterpillar manages culture effectively is the resolution of the six-year strike with the United Auto Workers (UAW). However it must be highlighted that it wasnt effective management that created the dispute, or dragged it along for six years, but since its settlement Caterpillar has recorded increasing profits year on year. However an argued reason for this maybe the weak dollar and h3 growth abroad, therefore these markets are in earlier in their life cycles which would suggests that problems may arise in the future. Hopefully experience shall instruct Caterpillar to observe the problems at an early stage. Ba Banutu-Gomez (2002) provides an indication of how to manage culture in developing countries. His recommendation implies that the management of international culture ‘requires a h3 commitment to a high standard of conduct. Managing in this kind of situation requires being able to design and implement a bottom up system, which involves a two-way exc hange. (Ba Banutu-Gomez 2002 pp.39). Similar to Rugmans (2001) highlighted issues; Hofstede (1991) identified four dimensions of work related cultural differences, namely ‘power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualismcollectivism, and masculinityfemininity. This research is an extensive piece based on questionnaires; it provides validity in terms of its thoroughness and its aim is to ‘help managers to identify how to create global competitiveness from diversity (Hoeklin 1994). Caterpillars cultural situation involves the problematic issue of combining the culturally diverse network into an efficient information sharing system. The documentation to signify cultural attention is at a thin level; the vast majority of the corporate marketing is of a very directive nature. For example ‘we are placing renewed emphasis on becoming a continual learning organisation at Caterpillar, using 6 sigma as the way we work (Annual Report 2001 pp. 5). The 6 sigma itself is a continuous improvement programme designed by Americans to implement internationally, this obviously does not recognise the needs to negotiate and exchange for maximum productivity and innovation, instead of enforcing a single way. The microenvironment involving marketing tactics is fairly consistent throughout its international markets. The products that are offered are broadly the same apart from simple language adaptations and alike. The important international marketing issue is the content of the supporting service; this would need to communicate in a way that is consistent with local perceptions. The constant problem for Caterpillar is learning what to communicate and where, therefore it is obvious that it should adopt a ‘polycentric approach as identified earlier. For implementing such a strategy techniques such as Yip and Masdens (1996) ‘Global account management have been proclaimed. Benefits associated with this technique include: Establishing links across regions that carry over time to build institutional relationships Good service leading to reputable benefits that can be transferred to new strategic regions or industries. (Yip and Marsden 1996 pp. 38) There is evidence of this within Caterpillars strategy because firstly, they produce ‘supplier communications guidelines. This maybe against cultural theory but nevertheless they are an attempt to establish a link within regions. The strength of the Caterpillar brand has been utilised by extending it to products associated with the core brand values, such as heavy footwear, clothing and watches. This strategy is confirmed with Chernatory, Halliburton, Bernath (1995 pp.20), where their approach ‘argued that international branding should be based on the core essence of the brand, in terms of its added values and positioning. However it must be recognised that the associated values may need to be refined when marketing in more sensitive markets. With the product being largely standardised and economies of scale being utilised, then the marketing and servicing operations need only to appreciate the local values, instead of marketing a differentiated product. Caterpillar largely promotes a consistent message of reliability, expertise and value for money; these are the underlying assumptions that are connected to the Caterpillar brand. Internal marketing could involve more negotiations through understanding local cultures, although this may unconsciously happen it does not get promoted through the documentation. In summary Caterpillars international strategy has evolved within a market environment that demands reliability and dynamic customer requirements. Therefore their international strategy is a unique response that matches the capabilities with customer demands. The current direction of the strategy is to ‘recalibrate our focus (Annual Report 2001 pp.2), meaning to concentrate on successful products and either retain or achieve leadership. Caterpillar does, and should continue to innovate in terms of products and logistics to maintain opportunities for leadership. The brand values provide a critical advantage in supporting the services because the interrelated nature of this allows prosperity. Caterpillars brand management and marketing internationally is effective in communicating the values, but it has been hinted here that the fundamental values may be ideal for the American market, but not necessarily maximising in foreign markets. Caterpillars logistical network involves vast amounts of investment of money and time; therefore it poses as a significant barrier to entry. The critical aspects of this network are the working relationships. Caterpillar manages these by documenting the ideal personality of a networked company. However, it is concluded that Caterpillar has ethnocentric characteristics, which may be inefficient by suppressing the domestic firms. The structural design of Caterpillar resembles that of a transnational network company, this network covers a large proportion of the globe, but the development of the structure extends from a triad perspective due to early investments in Japan and Europe. A criticism of this suggestion is that Caterpillar have sufficient power to influence networked companies, therefore it could be argued that there is evidence so suggest that it undertakes a global area structure. This is based on the opinion that they have a bureaucratic nature, which works against the network structure fundamentals. The competitive forces of the environment, namely the need for reliability and support service, would suggest that the network structure is more appropriate. Caterpillars ability to develop and produce products is a major advantage, but to create total dominance of the construction industry, their logistical network would need continual maintenance. The resulting recommendation is to encourage an emergent approach that encourages communication and business development within the network.

Free Narrative Essays - Beauty is Only Skin Deep :: Personal Narrative Essays

Beauty is Only Skin Deep, Ugly Goes to the Bone I am not easily recognized, or rather, I am easily ignored. My style of dress is a cardigan and jeans, or when it's warmer, a T-shirt and jeans. Occasionally I'll wear khakis. I am a very unnoticeable 5'3'' and have eaten just enough chocolate to have a round face and figure. With all of this in mind, when I tapped the shoulder of the up-to-the-minute girl lip-locked with her boyfriend-of-the-day, I was not greeted with a warm smile. I frequently disturbed this couple, since my locker was in Make-Outville. It is interesting, however, that I am the first (technically third, I suppose) to find out what new couple has gotten together. As I was pondering why our lockers are neon orange when our school colors are red and black, I exaggerated the act of dropping each book into the metal box to enjoy the humor of the "you-only-wish-you-could-have-what-I-have" look from the heavily outlined eyes behind me. The irony is - I don't want that. No, I am not a nerd in denial; that is just not what I want. Exchanging saliva with a different guy every week and making sure I look just like Jennifer Love Hewitt or any other three-name girl is not my top priority. Sorry to disappoint you Miss "I can't believe I had to buy a size 3," but you're a little conceited to think everyone wants to be just like you. I'll tell you what I want: I want to go to college. I want to get good grades. I want everyone to be nice. I want a cure for Alzheimer's so my grandmother and my family can have Grandfather back. I want to get to my locker without being scrutinized. Oh my goodness, what an outcast I am. What a nerd! Whatever is the matter with me? I like boys. Simply because I choose to search for someone who makes me happy (and that just happens to take a while) does not automatically prove that I live an "alternate lifestyle." Sorry to disappoint you; I apologize for taking away today's lunchtime conversation. I will tell you what I want in a boy. I want him to open doors for me. Old-fashioned or not, I appreciate that greatly. I want him to be my best friend. I want to be able to go to him with anything and for him to care about what I say.

Rebuilding the Government: United States History Essay

Critical Essay One Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president, was one of the most decorated commander-in-chiefs in American History, due to his never-ending push to mend our broken nation and move to the beginning. Nevertheless, many African Americans were forced to come to America to be sold into slavery in 1619. While the treatment of slaves was very unfair and, in many cases, inhumane, and was plagued with a lifetime of hard work and humiliation, after a little more than a hundred years President Lincoln took steps to not only voice his discomfort with slavery, but to do something about it. It is because of this discomfort that Abraham Lincoln notably became known as political fgure that to end slavery. Four months after the bloody Battle of Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech that would go down in history as one of the most influential speeches in American Historyl . The famous speech given by President Lincoln, the â€Å"Gettysburg Address,† had a specific purpose. It also allowed Lincoln to have a profound effect on the American people as a whole, as well s urge each American to look at themselves critically and promote change. Because of this accomplishment, and many more, Abraham Lincoln is regarded as one of America’s best presidents2. An Analysis â€Å"Gettysburg Address† President Abraham Lincoln gave the speech, â€Å"the Gettysburg Address†, on November 19 1863 at the Soldiers National Cemetery in burg, Pennsylvania3 . There were two main purposes for him writing this speech: to consecrate the cemetery at Gettysburg and start to rebuild a torn country4. Although President Lincoln’s speech was very short, sweet, and straight to the point, it was full of vital information that ould begin to reshape the American society. Lincoln starts his speech in a very unique by using the term â€Å"Four score and seven years ago, our founding fathers brought forth this continent†¦ † 5. Lincoln acknowledges the founding fathers that had discovered America eighty-seven years prior to the day he gave the speech. Due to Lincoln’s wording, this phrase became one of the most well-known and celebrated parts of â€Å"the Gettysburg Address† Although Lincoln does not make a direct statement encouraging his audience to believe that he was talking about slavery, hrough the use of context clues, one can derive that this topic was definitely heavy on his heart while making his speech. Furthermore, one could argue that since slaves were not treated equally, Lincoln used the statement of supposed American equality to remind Americans of the true foundations that America was built upon. As Lincoln continues with his speech, he began to move on to the second reason for the speech: consecrating the cemetery at Gettysburg. He accomplished this by talking about how the battlegrounds at Gettysburg should be in honor of the thousands that had lost heir lives for the citizens of America. Dedicating the battlegrounds to those that lose their lives was the start of how America would honor troops the fallen and the soldiers left behind. This was a sign of respect and appreciation for all of the troops that fought during this battle. One last profound statement that Lincoln mentions in his speech is that â€Å"the government of the people, by the people and for the people†¦. 7† Many presidents after Lincoln have quoted this part of â€Å"the Gettysburg Address,† but have fallen short, in some instances, of taking the statement as a blueprint for heir presidency and using it to help them facilitate a more well-rounded country in which the government and the people of the country are on one accord. However, the statement was supposed to suggest that the government is a group of individuals that will stand by the American people and work for them for the better good of the country. While the speech had many technical terms and references to the government and political leaders of the country, Lincoln was actually trying to reach a very diverse audience that spanned from governmental figures, to surviving soldiers, to the general American public. Abraham Lincoln will forever be embedded in history for delivering a presidency filled with work that was geared towards the best interest of the American people. Lincoln took the seat at a very difficult time in America’s early history, which was the Civil War. Lincoln made sure that after the war, that America rebuilds itself. One thing from Lincoln’s iconic speech that is not forgotten is â€Å"all men are created equal†. In todays society, all people are granted the same freedoms and equalities. It could be said that Lincolns speech though was given in 1863 was the start of the Civil Rights movement in a sense. Even though it was only around 270 words, The Gettysburg Address was a speech with many messages8. These powerful words, spoken by an influential president, was sure to promote change and equality throughout America eventually. Critical Essay 2 â€Å"l Have a Dream Speech† by Martin Luther King There has been many influential figures in American History that have provided the American people with promising messages of hope and equality for all people. One of the most influential fgures of the twenty century was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This time period was marked by the Civil Rights Movement, which was a movement hat prompted a group of individuals to fght for the equality of African Americans. This is because â€Å"African Americans were granted better economic status after World War II but were still a disadvantaged group†. Dr. King started his non-violence approach to civil rights by first leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The purpose of the boycotts was to allow seating to be based on a â€Å"first come, first serve basis,† as advocated by Dr. King. Fueled by the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Rosa Parks refusal to give up her seat to a Caucasian passenger resulted in her arrest. After her arrest, the ourt ruled out the fact that segregated seating was not lawful according to the constitution. The next step that King took was founding the Southern Christian Leadership, which worked to stop segregation. One of Dr. Kings â€Å"ultimate goals were to unite the broken communities through bonds of Christian love. † In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. graced America with a speech that expressed a profound optimism of equality for all individuals in America and his own dreams and hopes for better days. The speech was entitled â€Å"l Have a Dream†. His speech changed the face of America orever, even though equality for African Americans did not occur over night. It is important to consider the message with respect to the time period in which the speech is given. Dr. King hoped for a better society as a whole; His speech was not solely in regards to the equality for African Americans, he wanted equality for all Americans in general. Analysis: â€Å"l have A Dream Speech† by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s speech entitled † I nave a Dream† was given in Washington DC at the Lincoln Memorial. King starts his introduction by eferring back to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburgs Address â€Å"Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow as we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. 10 King refers to Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation because it helped free slaves. However, he called out the fallacies in Lincoln’s speech by making note of the fact that Negroes still were not free, one hundred years after slavery had officially ended. ll During this time period, African Americans’ oppression came in the form of segregation and discrimination. Before delving into the heart of his speech, King mentions how the government had failed he African American population by pacifying them false promises and policies after the abolishment of slavery. King states, â€Å"America has given the Negro people a bad check; a check which has come back marked â€Å"insufficient funds. â€Å"12 This means, America did not grant Negros with the same equality and opportunities as Caucasians, or any other race during this time. Although the government policies banned slavery and poor treatment of African Americans, these policies had also failed the African American population by not making sure that the policies were strictly enforced. In his speech, King answers the critics when they asked, â€Å"When will ou be satisfied? 13 King gives a comprehensive list of things that would satisfy African Americans, as a whole. He mentions police brutalities and the unfair economic statutes of African Americans. King wanted to instill into the minds of the African American people that they should not be satisfied with these injustices, but fght against them in a non-violent way. Before King began to conduct the â€Å"l have a Dream† portion of his speech he ensured the African American people that their efforts had not taken place in vain and that they should not give up hope for better days! Dr. King began his speech by telling his audience that his dream is deeply rooted in the sought-after American Dream14. King mentions this because he wants America’s people to believe the vales, morals, and core roots on which America was established. It was important to him to continuously advocate his never-ending hope that African Americans would obtain the American Dream, Just as other American citizens of other races had done. In his speech, Dr. King mentions how all men are created equal and how the color of one’s skin should not factor into one’s ability to obtain equality. Martin Luther King Jr. phasizes that â€Å"one day little black and white children will Join hands and be as brothers and sistersl 5. † Although he refers to only two primary races, his words can be applied to children of all races. He references children because they are the future and ultimately look to them to become the generation of change. King recites the lyrics to â€Å"My c ountry Tis of Thee† because he wanted to clearly deliver the message that America is supposed to be a land of freedom and opportunities for all. By using one of America’s most prominent, national songs, King showcased that he had not lost faith in America as a whole.