It is over 100 years since The Principles of Scientific Management was Essay

It is over 100 years since The Principles of Scientific Management was first published. How relevant are Taylor's ideas for un - Essay Example This paper will look at the scientific management theory 100 year later and the influence that it has on understanding work organizations in the present day. Scientific management theory is part of the wider aspect of economic efficiency that was recurring theme in the late 19th century and early 20th century aimed at increasing efficiency in the way humanity carried out its activities, decreasing waste from processes and using empirical methods to make decisions rather than accepting pre existing ways of doing things (Rowlinson, 1988, p378). In political and sociological terms, scientific management can be seen as division of labour that has been done logically with its consequences being deskilling of the worker and dehumanisation of the workers and the workplace (Peci, 2009, p294). In his work, Taylor noted that some workers were more talented than others and even the best of the workers in most cases remained unmotivated, he also noted that most of the workers who were coerced to perform repetitive tasks usually worked at a slow rate, he called this behaviour ‘soldering (Jones, 2000, p640). When given a similar pay, Taylor found out that the employees were likely to do the equal quantity of work as the laziest of them all. This behaviour showed that all workers were interested in their own self benefit and they were not willing to work harder if they were not guaranteed of an additional income. Taylor concluded that they way organizations had been set in relation to work ethics was such that it encouraged inefficiency among the workers. From this observation, Taylor posited that time and motion studies combined with rational analysis and synthesis could provide one of the nest methods to perform any particular task, which could not be done by the methods that were present during that particular time. Taylor argued that the amount of compensation that was given to the employees would only equal the amount of work that the employee was willing to perfor m. The scientific management theory started at a time when automation and mechanisation existed but they were not fully applied in the production process. This is was attributable to the fact that in those days’ people did not have any idea that the scientific management process was the required ingredient that would see the shift of production as being done only by humans to production that would be supported by machines. In his scientific management theory, Taylor had a complicated view on workers. At one time, he addressed some of their concerns in terms of the remuneration that they got as a result of their works, while at another time, he compared them, especially the less intelligent ones with draft animals (Ackroyd & Bolton, 1999, 372). However, with in relation to workers, Taylor’s scientific management theory had a few shortcomings. One is that the theory did not acknowledge individual differences among the workers in the sense that the most efficient way of w orking for one worker, may be the most inefficient for another worker. Secondly, the financial interests between the workers and the management are different therefore, the measurement process and the retraining of workers did not usually get support from the workers. Taylor argued that all tasks that an employee was assigned could be organised in such a way that the productivity of the worker would increase and that his scientific theory of management was more effective than the usual ‘

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay Example for Free

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay Growing up, children are often told things that grown ups would question, as people grow they learn to question those things too. In the book The Adventures of Hucklberry Finn written by Mark Twain. Huck faces the challenge of either following what everyone is telling him is right, but he knows is wrong, or going against the grain and standing up for what he knows is right. Throughout the book Huck is unsure in what he believes and struggles to determine if what he is taught is wrong. The widow took over the role as guardian for Huck since his father and mother are both out of the picture. When Huck was being raised by his father he wasnt taught any morals or values, so the widow took this as an opportunity to make Huck into a person whose life was all about morals. In the book the widow tells Huck that hell is bad and that heaven is good, but Huck is unsure that he should believe everything that she is telling him. Huck decides that going to hell, if it means following his gut and not societys hypocritical and cruel principles, is a better option than going to everyone elses heaven. â€Å"All right then, I’ll go to hell! (245). † This is Hucks true break with the world around him. Huck faces the moral conflict of whether or not to turn Jim in because it is what society dubbed as the right thing to do. â€Å"I was paddling off, all in a sweat to tell on him; but when he says this, it seemed to kind of take the tuck all out of me (89). † Right off from the beginning, Huck wanted to turn Jim in because it was against society’s rules to help a slave escape and Huck knew it. But when Jim said that, â€Å"Huck; yous de bes fren Jims ever had; en you is de only fren; ole Jims got now (89). † helped Huck to grasp the concept that there is a friendship in the making. Even though Huck didn’t turn Jim in, he is till troubled by his conscience when the slave catchers were leaving because he knows it is wrong to help a slave. Still Huck cannot bring himself forward to tell on Jim, thus showing that his innate sense of right exceeds that of society. The con-mens attempt to pose as the brothers of the late Peter Wilks is an important part of Hucks moral development. The Duke and King try to take Peters estate, however, Huck decides to return the money to Peters three daughters. This action demonstrates further moral growth, as he does choose to abandon the two con-men. Huck learned that people can be nice and show each other that they care about one another. Women would walk up to Peters daughters and kiss their foreheads, and then put their hand on theirhead, and looked up towards the sky, with the tears running down, and then busted out and went off sobbing and swabbing, and give the next woman a show (159). Huck has never seen anything so disgusting. When Huck Finn sees one of the daughters crying beside the coffin, it makes a deep impact on him. Hucks religious beliefs and moral standards cross pathes as he handles the situation. When Huck says, All right then, Ill go to hell! (245). He has decided to go against what society tells him to do by freeing Jim. Throughout the entire book Huck struggles with separating his own moral beliefs and what society tells him is the right thing to do. From the beginning of the book Huck showed that he did not always believe what people told and went against the grain when he said he wanted to go to hell instead of heaven. The moral development that Huck shows throughout the book causes Huck to develop other traits as well, such as compassion and sincerity towards others. Huck really came out of his shell and fully developed his moral beliefs when he gave the money back that the con-men stole to the three girls. It allowed Huck to get in touch with his emotional side of his moral beliefs and it told him what th right thing to do was.

An Analysis of Class and Gender Conflict in Pygmalion Essay -- World L

"Pygmalion is a serious analysis of class and gender conflict." Bernard Shaw's play, entitled Pygmalion, transcends the nature of drama as a medium to be utilized for sheer entertainment value. Shaw's play powerfully comments on the capacity for the individual to overcome the boundaries established by systems of class and gender. Dominant assumptions and expectations may essentially prevent an individual from becoming socially mobile within a seemingly rigid hierarchical social structure. However, Liza, the protagonist utilizes language as the tool which enables the her to escape the confines of the lower class and to be regarded as a human of a certain degree of worth within society. As Liza transforms from flower girl to duchess, the audience is witness to the many ways that an individual can be dehumanised through the socialisation process. Issues of both class and gender arise from the tensions within the play that surround the interactions between Higgins and Liza and the viewer is able to openly question the values that exist within a soci ety that judges the character of a person on the basis of wealth and education. Henry Higgins represents the upper class of society, those that are expected to be both educated and wealthy. He is profoundly aware of his status and is not particularly sympathetic towards those of the lower class. This is revealed as he is first introduced to Liza and refers to her as a 'squashed cabbage leaf.' (Shaw, 2003:18) This first scene is important as it establishes the class differences that are evident within the language contrasts of each of the characters. Higgins plays an important role in establishing this theme as he places great emphasis on phonetics. He has the ability to place an i... ...e society of Shaw's time and of contemporary society. Liza is an independent woman at the closing of the play, when one takes into consideration that she possesses an assertive sense of free will and a determination to maintain her strength of character. Ultimately, Liza's insistence on remaining true to herself is a positive ramification of a transformation process, that in itself presented many moral questions to the perceptive audience. The protagonist has confronted the obstacles imposed on her by social conventions, with regards to both gender and class stereotypes, and has essentially deconstructed the boundaries that had previously prevented her from fulfilling her own capabilities and sense of self worth. Bibliography Bentley, E. Bernard Shaw, 2nd edn. London: Methuen, 1967. Shaw, B. Pygmalion, London: Penguin Books, 2003.

David Cronenberg :: essays papers

David Cronenberg The director I chose to do my Analysis/Research paper on is was David Cronenberg. After screening The Dead Zone, Cronenberg’s work impressed me. Prior to this class I had never heard his name, even though I had seen previous works such as The Fly. Since I had already viewed this movie I resorted to alternate movies he had directed. I was able to locate The Brood and Videodrome. The main reason I chose Cronenberg for my director had to do with his style. His movies are not the typical horror flick one has come used to today. When I was younger these movies were low budget and have a character such Jason from Friday the 13th running around with an ax and a hockey mask. Today the industry has progressed to Ben Wilson from I Know What You did Last Summer running around with a sharp hook for a hand. Somewhere between these two genres Mr. Cronenberg’s work fits in. He is not obsessed with the body count as many other horror directors are and is also able to develop a plot r ather rare in this type of a film. The three films I chose were able to walk a fine line between horror and science fiction, Videodrome in particular. While The Dead Zone was more of an action film with The Brood being the most true horror movie. I can tell that none of these films were high budget, they could even be considered a little cheesy leading to a cult status. Cronenberg definitely likes the use of blood, particularly when a person is shot by a gun, quite a lot of splattering. In The Dead Zone when Frank kills himself and the sheriff shoots his mother the use of blood is quite elaborate. Frank is covered in blood when he is discovered and the mother seems to almost explode when shot. In the Videodrome everyone Max shoots has the same exploding effect. And in The Brood when Doctor Raglan shoot the little freaky kids there is the same use of blood as in Videodrome. But when the freaks or creatures bludgeon Juliann and Barton to death blood is once again splattered for effect. Also there are other similarities, all three of the films were made to appear in the cold (probably to do with the fact that they were all shot in Canada) and utilized darker colors.

Utilizing Online Social Networking Sites Paper

Utilizing Online Social Networking Sites Paper Class: BSHS/352 Technology is constantly expanding and making it easier and more convenient to communicate and network with individuals and various organizations that we may not otherwise of had the opportunity to connect with. One area of technology that is growing at a fast rate and offering individuals and businesses, rather it be their professional life or personal the opportunity to make lasting connections is social networking sites. Social networking has become an excellent tool for businesses and individuals to connect and share information that can prove vital to their business.Sites like Facebook and LinkedIn are becoming popular and are an effective way to grow your business whether it is through networking with similar organizations and getting beneficial information from them or expanding your cliental by reaching out to those who may need or want your services. LinkedIn has become a vital tool used by the working profession al, assisting them with making connections or linking up with other working professional to share what work and what doesn’t work as well as connecting them with local or online support groups or networking groups.Members of LinkedIn are able to create a profile that gives a detail list of their educational background as well as their work experience. Users are able to browse the social networking site to view the profiles of other individuals, organizations, or companies within their field and follow the organization of choice and their postings. My ultimate dream is to create a nonprofit organization that is geared toward targeting at risk youth and their families.The whole concept is to help the whole family and not just focus your attention on the youth that may be having emotional or behavioral issues but offer mental and emotional support for the entire family, implementing various programs and workshops that will assist the entire family in growing, working, and playin g together. Networking sites like LinkedIn can prove to be vital as I take the steps necessary to make this dream a reality. As I was browsing through the site I came across a few groups in my local area that met up monthly for lunch to discuss the ideas and challenges of those looking to start a nonprofit.I also took the time to search for companies or organizations that were geared toward working with and advocating for children. I was really quite excited to be able to look at their profile, view their web pages and doing so helped me to get some ideas and get my juices flowing. I have considered making connections with the various organizations I have seen on LinkedIn in hope that they could link me to information, people, and training opportunities that could possibly put me one step closer to my dream.I am also interested in going to the next luncheon for nonprofit communicators in Raleigh just to get feedback regarding my idea and you never know someone at one of these lunche ons could either help me get closer to making my dream a reality or can link me to an individual or organization who can. I have found sites such as LinkedIn can prove to be extremely beneficial in making lasting connections within the business community and it gives those with businesses the opportunity to link up with other businesses to get feedback, advice, and possibly connect you with someone who can help you take your organization or company to the next level.This site also enables professionals to come together with the common ground of helping and motivating each other. Within the human service field this site can connect you to so many resources that can only assist in providing your clients with the ultimate experience. Having a site where human service workers from all fields and from all areas can come together online and share their experience, advice, and resources can prove to be helpful to the community as a whole.LinkedIn not only connect likeminded people but it o ffers an opportunity to share information regarding training and workshops that could assist organizations in staying up to date with the latest software and/or regulations. Such training and workshops can keep your organization competitive and allows you to offer your clients the best possible service. The best way to keep any business or organization growing is to continue to gain knowledge in your particular field.Always be willing and open to learning and growing, this is what the training and workshops are there for to assist businesses and organizations in improving their techniques and staying relevant and competitive. Sites such as LinkedIn can offer you the ability to gain knowledge and training from some very successful people. Human service workers who use online social networking sites such as LinkedIn can find being affiliated with professional groups and connections to offer more than just sharing experiences, advice, training, and connections to resources.Another bene fit to being a part of an online community such as LinkedIn is the ability to request referrals from the connections you met online. Users can also request sponsorships or recommendations from other users. Human service workers who are affiliated with sites such as LinkedIn may also be able to connect with local churches that could assist connecting the human service worker to the communities that need their assistance the most. Employers often look at profiles on these online social networking sites to assist them in finding employees as well.Although social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn are excellent tools to stay connected to various resources there are other technical tools that can be used to expand and maintain your connections. Smartphones have proven to be a vital tool to use as well with various applications directed at making the life of professionals easier. The goal of a human service worker is to effectively and efficiently assist the client in improvin g their lives and often times this requires connecting them to other resources.Social networking sites such as LinkedIn can assist human service workers in making numerous connections all at the touch of a mouse to various resources and training opportunities. Having online support that provide advice, training, and encouragement, of the human service worker can assist them in helping their clients meet their goals. Reference: 2012. LinkedIn. com. Retrieved from http//www. linkedin. com/home? trk_tab_home_top

Information Technology Computer Software

Information Technology Computer Software Information technology has contributed much to the modern appearance of the world. This is because, many people from diverse areas can effectively communicate instantly with the use of advanced information technology. Information technology constitutes various areas such as computer hardware, information systems, programming languages and computer software.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Information Technology: Computer Software specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Computer software differs from the hardware components of a computer because it cannot be touched. In a firm which deals with computer hardware there are more people on software programming than those in hardware design. Smaller hardware necessitates the introduction of more software applications that are required to help connect the components of the hardware. Software was initially linked to the hardware by the Original Equipment Manufacturers. This was t o enable customers to buy the smallest computer in the market, and have the Original Equipment Manufacturers’ engineers install the required software. Computer software is a set of computer programs that instructs the computer on what to do and how to do it. It uses various programming languages to come up with these instructions. These instructions are in a form of a code that automates some hardware activities. By using these codes, one is able to perform several operations and reach so many people within a short period of time. These codes are executed when a user inputs something into the computer, and the result is thereof obtained (Hally, 2005). Computer software has gained wide application from the rapidly changing technology. It has many areas and sectors using it. For instance, in the business sector, it has contributed so much. It has increased business profitability by reducing costs through the use of software in processing data, invoicing and payroll. Also it is profitable in that, it has improved distribution through online stores and thus creating new market opportunities. By the use of software spreadsheet, employees are able to concentrate on value added tasks rather than the routine tasks (Blais, 2011). Computer software has hence gained popularity in the business sector. Computer software has also contributed to effective learning as various people who are not able to travel to certain regions can access lessons that are offered online. Also, students from diverse areas are able to communicate effectively with each other, thus sharing ideas and helping each other in project development.Advertising Looking for article on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is achieved through configuration of computers in a certain geographical area so as to share resources like databases and programs. Trainers can also offer training programs online and hence reach so many trainee s without necessarily moving to where they are. This has greatly reduced costs such transport and accommodation costs. Business men are able to reach so many customers in diverse locations. They can advertise their products and also collect views from customers concerning their products. Some software enables business men to create a forum for the customers to freely express themselves as they can access the businessmen by a single execution of a command (Longley Shain, 2012). Information technology has truly contributed to the advancement of the computer software, which has so many applications in the current generation. It helps in promoting the globalization of the world to be virtually a small area that can be reached easily. Also various programming languages which have been used to automate multiple works have led to simplification of work that could have been difficult to do manually (Webster Robins1986). References Blais, S. (2011). Business Analysis- Best Practices for Su ccess. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Hally, M. (2005). Electronic brains/Stories from the dawn of the computer age. London: Granta Books. Longley, D. Shain, M. (2012). Dictionary of Information Technology 2 ed. New York: Macmillan Press. Webster, F Robins, K. (1986). Information Technology- A Luddite Analysis  (Communication and Information Science).Norwood NJ: Ablex Publishing.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Information Technology: Computer Software specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

Text to Speech Over the Internet essays

Text to Speech Over the Internet essays The technology of Text-to-Speech is among the state-of-the-art advancements brought about by computer research and studies. Aside from the visual properties that people used to enjoy while Internet surfing, such as graphics and animations, text-to-speech is an added functionality to a What is Text-to-Speech' ATRC describes text-to-speech software as a tool used to convert words from a computer document into an audible form. Nowadays, the technology of text-to-speech is used by some web sites over the Internet as additional aid to web users. It is a tool that can facilitate the presentation of information by providing audible information as supplement to the traditional text and graphic forms of information. An example of a web site that currently employs text-to-speech technology is CEC System's www.cezine.net. CEC is a computer systems company that sells Peli cases. As a company that runs an e-commerce site, it is beneficial for their business to employ a text-to-speech tool because it can serve online shoppers with product explanations that is comparable to a live Text-to-speech, as used in web related manner, is not just an embellishment to web sites by providing further useful functionality to web users. One essential benefit of using text-to-speech is that it aids users with sight impairments in using the Internet. With text-to-speech tools, web sites can become compliant to Disability Acts that look after the welfare of In today's technology, there are many text-to-speech software that is available in the market. Most of which offer similar features and benefits Text to Speech Softwares | There are many big companies, including Microsoft, which developed text-to- speech softwares. Microsoft's Microsoft Reader can bring speech technology ...

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Angelina Jolie an icon to gay/ essays Over the last century, queer roles have transcended through numerous changes in Hollywood. On the forefront of Hollywood during the 1930s, queer roles in film were looked upon as transgressions against society and humanity. At this particular point in history, the studios took great liberty at hiding behind the newly formed Motion Picture Production Code. The code was developed due to studio heads recognition of the high trust and good judgment clause placed in their hands by moviegoers and society. Upon this recognition, Hollywood understood their responsibility to the public as demonstrating the utmost moralistic behaviors and attitudes in their films. During the rapid transition from silent films to audio enhanced pictures, Hollywood promoted entertainment in films over meaning in films that dealt with dramatic issues. This type of censored filmmaking continued into the late sixties. In reference to gays and lesbians, film studios were prohibited any sympathetic depictions of queers. As to avoid displaying any sympathetic portrayals, queer characters were often depicted as isolated, perverted, abnormal individuals. Also, it was not uncommon for queers to be subject to harsh punishment, torture or even death. Studios hoped these images and depictions of gay and lesbian characters sent a severe message to the audience about the sinfulness of homosexuality. As time has progressed queer roles have went from career threatening to trendy and now to even career heightening. Has our culture developed so rapidly over the last sixties years? This is a very difficult question to answer. Although, gay and lesbian characters and films have become more mainstream then ever, there is still a feeling of less then equality in the representation of these characters. Television has made major strides in the realm of queer characters but character developed is severely lacking. The television show, Ellen, is the most notable in t...

Data Server Technology - Database Modeling and Implementation For Essay

Data Server Technology - Database Modeling and Implementation For International Parcel Deliveries - Essay Example The paper tells that upon studying the system requirements, it was analysed that the application/business would require capturing 3 different types of details for each transaction: customer details, order details and invoice details and a look up database for obtaining the cost for the each item on the order based on the destination and the item type. Customer details would include a customer id that uniquely identifies each customer, customer name, address, postal/region code and the type of the customer (business/Private). The order details would include an order id that uniquely identifies the each order, order date, item to be shipped, destination details like name and address, destination Company and destination country, order arrival date and departure/shipped date, charge for the order, payment method and the payment status, and the order status. The invoice details would include an invoice id that uniquely identifies an invoice, invoice amount, invoice created and the due dat e and the invoice status. Using these general idea, the conceptual model or the ER (Entity Relationship) model can be created using UML (Unified Modeling Language). From the above requirement analysis, the entities are identified as customer, order invoice and cost. The ER diagram is first defined for each entity along with their attributes as shown in the below figure. Each Customer can have zero/one/more Orders, but no two customers can have same order id (one order contains information for one customer only). Customer/Invoice: Each Customer can place zero/one Invoice and no two customers can have same Invoice id (One invoice is created for one customer only). Order/Shipment: One order can be sent to one or more shipments (shipment here just means number of items but destination is same) depending upon the number of items but each shipment contains information about one order only. Cost/Shipment: One entry in the cost lookup can be supplied to one/many shipment (order id + item no combination) but no two cost entry should be available for one shipment (one shipment contains only one entry from cost entity). Assumptions: The above model is designed based on the following assumption: All the fields entered by the user in the web application are validated for invalid input errors before storing it in the database. Destination field in the web application is filled by the user from a predefined list (may employ a drop-down list) whose values for pulled up from the destination look up table and not by entering the text for destination manually. b) Relational Model: The first step in creating the relational model is normalization. Normalization is the process of eliminating data redundancy and update anomalies (the errors while inserting, updating or deleting the database due to improper relations definitions) in order to efficiently organise the data in the database. 1st Normal Form (1NF): 1NF requires that each group of related items must be stored in a separate table with a unique column (primary key) which identifies each row in the table and all occurrences of a record type

Response paper on a novel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Response paper on a novel - Essay Example It is necessary to analyze the long and short-term effects of both parties while analyzing animal rights. Alma and Dave LaJoy are interested in saving different animals while Boyle tries to highlight a person with rights over nature. The author also uses flashback with intention of highlighting development of animal rights over a distinct period. The author also provides his viewpoint through stylistic and entertaining approaches. Alma’s job includes eradicating wild pigs and black rats. Coincidentally, the black rats are similar to the animals that Alma’s grandmother encountered after the shipwreck. It is evident that Alma’s rival Dave LaJoy intends to save the animals that the park management wants to remove. This creates a disagreement between Alma and Dave LaJoy. The management decides to use poison to eliminate the rats while Dave flies to the forest to drop pellets containing Vitamin K that would neutralize the poison. The short-term effect is that rats cou ld be eliminated. However, there will reach a point when the rats would become an endangered species or face elimination. Furthermore, elimination of rats could result to over population of murrelets that is a source of food for rats. Additionally, other animals that feed on rats could get extinct. It is quite ironical for the National park to kill one species of animals to save the other. The elimination of rats could also open gates for lawsuits against the national park. Lastly, it creates enmity between Alma and Dave. As a result, Dave heckles  Alma at meetings, has her car vandalized and plants a secret agent in the office to spy on her (Boyle 100). Boyle tries to show who has right and control over nature and animal rights. It is particularly effective for author to use Alma and Dave who have different viewpoints on issue to tell the story from several angles. The most appealing character is behind the controlled execution of rats because she intends to protect the indigenou s species of the islands though she disregards animal rights. However, there are faults in her techniques because indigenous animals that depend on rats for food would be endangered. It is also evident that the food chain could be distorted. The author demonstrates that no matter how compassionate the intention, every solution has consequences especially within complicated eco systems. Boyle effectively communicates the fragility of Mother Nature’s (Boyle 150). The key highlight of her job is ensuring that Channel Islands’ original environment is restored to original environment. This will involve taking some hard decision and actions such as getting rid of wild pigs and black rats that would lead to animal rights concerns. Apparently, her grandmother had encountered some rats during her attempt to clamber into the Anacapa Island in the aftermath of the wreckage of the ship. However, Alma’s work is not going to be an easy one owing to the conflicts of interests involved. While she is determined to, get rid of the animals from the Island, Dave Lajoy, and her nemesis thinks otherwise. He thinks that saving the animals is a better idea and commits him towards this course. As a result, an atmosphere of controversy ensues. While Alma relies on her environmental consciousness, her opponent, Dave is relying on his richness. However, none of them fits into their prejudices completely. T.C Boyle argues that this is a regular situation in real life (Boyle 183). Boyle uses historical flashback because

How lifes effect the Illegal Immigrants Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

How lifes effect the Illegal Immigrants - Essay Example e like normal native people whereas illegal immigrants often use illegal channels for immigration which force them to live always under fear of the consequences. Being a secular democracy, America has opened their doors widely for most of the people from different parts of the country. Moreover, America is facing big manpower shortages in many fields which forced them to welcome more and more skilled professional from other countries. But most of the immigrants who immigrate to America through legal channels will try to bring their relatives and friends also through legal and illegal channels in order to exploit the possibilities in America. This paper briefly explains the life of illegal immigrants in America, based on two articles Tough-But-Fair Rules For Tomorrows Illegal Immigrants and When home is prison appeared on business week and T Don Hutto. Illegal immigrants always forced to live under the threats from the authorities. Many companies are giving employment to them in order to exploit them. Illegal immigrants would accept any type of jobs and they are ready to work for whatever the cheap salaries offered by the employer. Moreover, the employer doesn’t want to provide them any insurance coverage, accommodation facilities and any other incentives apart from the daily wages. In short, their living conditions would be pathetic compared to others in the society. The effects of illegal immigration are perceived differently by different people. Some people argue that illegal immigration is a blessing whereas some others are of the opinion that it is a curse to American people. â€Å"Many angry U.S. citizens rightly note that American business is rapidly legitimizing the residence of immigrants who have broken the law to enter or remain in the U.S† (Business Week). But their argument seem to be meaningless as many of the illegal immigrants are working only at the lowly paid sectors which an average American would never even think of. â€Å"Think farm work or

Should a College Education be Primarily Technical or Liberal Arts Essay

Should a College Education be Primarily Technical or Liberal Arts - Essay Example As an employer, delivering goods and services is dependent on revenue, not theoretical thinking. Yes, to a certain extent- understanding theories is quite pivotal, but it does not translate to direct revenue when no product of tangible goods is conducted. This type of mentality has hurt many students because they have failed to acquire necessary skills to be entered in the workforce. As a matter of fact, many high-end universities put students in debt but fail to teach them basic skills such as Microsoft Office. Based on a survey of several hundred employers, the report concluded that â€Å"Far too many young people are inadequately prepared to be successful.† This is even more critical regarding high school graduates who were deficient in such skills as oral and written communication, critical thinking and professionalism. As a technical student, I can attest to this because I feel that technical colleges provide double benefits as they teach these soft skills as well. When I visited a traditional four-year university in midst of making my decision, I was shocked to see that most students did not know how to utilize simple software for a criminal justice presentation. This changed my perception on how I approached education because I became more of an applicable thinking. To study for my tests, I actually began to watch videos in court room and read about popular issues trending in law forensics. My drastic approach truly was a true experience because I began to see the â€Å"overall picture† in confusing concepts. This similar perception is discussed in Pathways Ahead: Reform and Rigor and The Road to Pathways. This piece of literature is a great testament towards understanding the common issue that young... This essay declares that learning and memorizing knowledge is a fairly non-trivial challenge for the average American as it entails countless hours of drilling useless facts into one’s cognitive thinking. However, applying those concepts require specialized education and knowledge that must be harnessed. It is clear that business leaders are foreshadowing that specialized trade skill workers will be in shortage. This paper stresses that many high-end universities put students in debt but fail to teach them basic skills such as Microsoft Office. Based on a survey of several hundred employers, the report concluded that â€Å"Far too many young people are inadequately prepared to be successful.† This is even more critical regarding high school graduates who were deficient in such skills as oral and written communication, critical thinking and professionalism. many students lack the skills in a very competitive labor force,. In fact, the â€Å"forgotten half† challenge has deepened with the growing importance of post-secondary education to success in the labor market. The trend that has been emerging the modern years was the fact that more than half of the employment required an undergraduate degree. For instance, the average earning of workers with bachelor’s degrees were 65 percent higher than those of high school graduates. Technical students rectify this issue by allowin g students to have a more â€Å"hands-on† approach. These are skills that transferrable in any work environment.

Avon Calls on Foreign Markets Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Avon Calls on Foreign Markets - Case Study Example 62). Avon’s marketing orientations For the US market, Avon has resorted to door to door selling via saleswomen who have been marketing the products via the word of mouth and establishing personal contacts with the customers and tapping a huge customer base. Globally Avon had resorted to country specific marketing, such as naming some of its products in the local language, when taking over a local company with a goodwill Avon kept certain names unchanged. For Asian regions, as customers tend to but products which are foreign, Avon kept their foreign names and prints instructions in the local language. It has also gone forward with the Hello Tomorrow campaign to signify a brand which is looking towards the future and also associated with breast cancer awareness (Daniels, Radebaugh, Sullivan, 2010, pp 622-624). Avon’s foreign operations The predicted growth for the company in the U.S. was low, since it had no new place to spread within the country to create a market for co smetics, toiletries and fragrances. The number of companies manufacturing these kinds of products in the US being large, Avon was facing considerable amount of competition. So Avon decided to expand its operations to other potential countries where it could register growth through increased sales. Also Avon’s lady representatives were the ones who sold Avon products, tapped customers and registered orders. This was cost saving for the company as this system required smaller number of employees and helped Avon to maintain low prices, a good image and a constant customer base. In the late 90’s, when US women started working in multinational companies fulltime, Avon found it difficult to get saleswomen. When the US market dried up, Avon found new ground in countries like Brazil and Philippines, where the women are usually do not leave their home. There was sufficient number of saleswomen available to reach out to the desolate areas to sell Avon products. (Daniels, Radebau gh, Sullivan, 2010, pp 621,622) Socioeconomic and demographic changes affecting Avon Socioeconomic changes involve the way society views a product. Demographic changes include aging customers. Both of these may affect the demand. From the socioeconomic point of view, a new type of conditioner may become important, whereas aging customers may want different age specific products according to their wants and needs. Accordingly Avon will have to come out with variants of the products and introduce new ones where necessary to maintain their customer base (Klepacki, 2005, pp 55, 56). Recession, a boom for Avon Every company and industry is affected by a recession as so many international aspects are related. The fields where Avon may feel the pinch are sales, suppliers and employees. Surprisingly when the recession hit in 2008 and the world felt the crisis deepening, the company recruited many saleswomen and men for their sales jobs. This happened because the recession led to massive lay offs, which in turn meant that more people were now available to do Avon’s door-to-door selling. Avon also took in male representatives, so as to allow men to be secure with a job, although it was traditionally reserved only for women (Daniels, Radebaugh, Sullivan, 2010, pp 622; Pauline, 2009). Avon’s Competitive Advantage Avon has a major competitive advantage over its competitors. It has an unparallel reputation in the beauty products market. Its main competition area had been the direct sales area,

Should a College Education be Primarily Technical or Liberal Arts Essay

Should a College Education be Primarily Technical or Liberal Arts - Essay Example As an employer, delivering goods and services is dependent on revenue, not theoretical thinking. Yes, to a certain extent- understanding theories is quite pivotal, but it does not translate to direct revenue when no product of tangible goods is conducted. This type of mentality has hurt many students because they have failed to acquire necessary skills to be entered in the workforce. As a matter of fact, many high-end universities put students in debt but fail to teach them basic skills such as Microsoft Office. Based on a survey of several hundred employers, the report concluded that â€Å"Far too many young people are inadequately prepared to be successful.† This is even more critical regarding high school graduates who were deficient in such skills as oral and written communication, critical thinking and professionalism. As a technical student, I can attest to this because I feel that technical colleges provide double benefits as they teach these soft skills as well. When I visited a traditional four-year university in midst of making my decision, I was shocked to see that most students did not know how to utilize simple software for a criminal justice presentation. This changed my perception on how I approached education because I became more of an applicable thinking. To study for my tests, I actually began to watch videos in court room and read about popular issues trending in law forensics. My drastic approach truly was a true experience because I began to see the â€Å"overall picture† in confusing concepts. This similar perception is discussed in Pathways Ahead: Reform and Rigor and The Road to Pathways. This piece of literature is a great testament towards understanding the common issue that young... This essay declares that learning and memorizing knowledge is a fairly non-trivial challenge for the average American as it entails countless hours of drilling useless facts into one’s cognitive thinking. However, applying those concepts require specialized education and knowledge that must be harnessed. It is clear that business leaders are foreshadowing that specialized trade skill workers will be in shortage. This paper stresses that many high-end universities put students in debt but fail to teach them basic skills such as Microsoft Office. Based on a survey of several hundred employers, the report concluded that â€Å"Far too many young people are inadequately prepared to be successful.† This is even more critical regarding high school graduates who were deficient in such skills as oral and written communication, critical thinking and professionalism. many students lack the skills in a very competitive labor force,. In fact, the â€Å"forgotten half† challenge has deepened with the growing importance of post-secondary education to success in the labor market. The trend that has been emerging the modern years was the fact that more than half of the employment required an undergraduate degree. For instance, the average earning of workers with bachelor’s degrees were 65 percent higher than those of high school graduates. Technical students rectify this issue by allowin g students to have a more â€Å"hands-on† approach. These are skills that transferrable in any work environment.

Sociology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Sociology - Essay Example parted focuses on the criminal element’s ability to infiltrate law enforcement at the highest and most sensitive levels of operation in order to facilitate criminal and organized crime activities. What results, as demonstrated by the film, is the obscuring of identities, priorities, and loyalties that lead to dangerous and deadly situations for undercover operatives. Actor Leonardo DeCaprio, playing the undercover good cop, has as his counterpart actor Matt Damon, playing the undercover bad guy in the police department. DeCaprio, whose acting abilities and skills bring a superb talent and realism to the role that allows the viewer to suspend disbelief and to become engrossed in the film’s back and forth good cop versus bad cop role playing; is, in character, reduced to the role of the neighborhood thug and thief. In the film, as in reality, men of Irish descent had two options; crime and the streets, or education and law enforcement. DeCaprio’s character opts for education and law enforcement, to move away from not just the stereo-typical image of the Irish thug and hood, but the reality of it as it existed in his family. DeCaprio’s character’s family is well known in the neighborhood and within the hierarchy of law enforcement as breeding criminals. Damon’s family, on the other hand, has a less prominent family history, but nonetheless is inducted into the Irish organized crime scene early on as a child. Damon is quickly recognized as being intelligent, capable of passing the mental and physical tests for acceptance that would give him access to the highest levels of confidence and information as a law enforcement official – with the help of Nicholson’s character’s sponsorship from the outside. Damon, another skilled and talented actor, convincingly portrays the bad guy playing the good cop, and feeds Nicholson’s character inside information with which to pull off successful crime capers by the Irish thugs and thieves. Nicholson is,

The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas Essay Example for Free

The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas Essay The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is about this boy that is called Bruno that’s 8 years old and his dad is a Nazi officer. Bruno has an older sister, a maid, 3 best friends that are called Daniel, Karl, Martin, and of course a mom and a dad. Bruno and his family have to move to Berlin to a new house because his dad got promoted because he had a chance to meet the â€Å"The Fury† (Adolf Hitler) to be control of a concentration camp. Bruno had to leave to a new house and his three friends. When he gets to his new home he doesn’t like it and feels homesick because there was nothing fun to do or had any friends to play with. One day when Bruno sneaked out of his house and was wondering in the wood and saw a camp that he thought that was a farm but it was actually a concentration camp. When he got closer and closer then he saw this kid that was the same age as him and was called Shmuel and a fence where separating them. Then they started talking and became friends. Then each day Bruno started bringing him food. Then Shmuel told Bruno the truth that he was imprisoned because he was a Jew and Bruno didn’t care. One day Shmuel got caught eating a cake by a Nazi officer and Bruno with him. Then Shmuel explained that Bruno gave it to him and Bruno denied what Shmuel said. Several days passed and Bruno didn’t go visit Shmuel. Until one day he went to see Shmuel and he had a black eye and Bruno apologizes for it and they become friends again. Days passed and they both planned that Bruno would be in the other side of the fence with Shmuel so they can play all day. When Bruno got to the other side of the fence some Nazi officers appeared to take the Jews to the gas chamber. Then his mom told his dad that Bruno is missing and they went to look for them. When they got to the concentration camp Bruno’s dad told him to not turn on the gas chamber. It was all too late and when they got there they found out that Bruno was already dead. The movie was based during World War II and its located in Germany Berlin most of the time. This was where some of the concentration camps where located at and that’s where the main character of the lives. The Nazi party blamed and made propagandas about the Jews that they were the fault why Germany is in the ruined. The reaction of many countries for Germany’s action was going to war with them. The Allied powers were the Americans, France, United Kingdom, and Poland. The Axis powers were the Germans, Japan, and Italy. Many of the Germans where supporting Hitler because they thought that he could make Hitler a strong country again. The War lasted between the years 1939-1945. The camp that Bruno’s dad was in charged (Auschwitz) was an actual camp during World War II. This was accurate to because the holocaust really happened. The fact that people was actually beaten up and putted in gas chamber really happened to. Somewhere inaccurate to because the Nazis would have killed people that weren’t able to work. Shmuel wasn’t old enough to work so he should have been one of the first persons to die. The concentration camps fences had electricity. So Bruno wouldn’t be able to crawl under the fence because he would have been electrocuted. I thought that the movie was really sad and really good. The sad part was that Bruno and Shmuel died at the end because they were innocent. It was really good to because it was a very well built movie with some accurate facts and at the same time inaccurate facts. This made me learn not that much about WWII because I still remembered all this stuff from 8th grade but it still refreshed my mind on how WWII was. Citation Page 1. www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/history.html 2. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allies_of_World_War_II 3. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis powers 4. www.worldwar-2.net/

Fortune 500 Companies And Communication Systems And Strategies Business Essay

Fortune 500 Companies And Communication Systems And Strategies Business Essay This paper will compare six Fortune 500 companies in their ability to communicate and their current strategies: Nike, Microsoft, Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, Walgreens and Home Depot. Nike has been successful with the new communication system known as Polycom ® SpectraLink 8000 Wireless Telephones. Microsoft has just launched their new communication system known as Lync 2013 and has not had the opportunity to evaluate the performance analysis yet. Wal-Mart has been praised for their successful communication systems as well as their ability to enhance continuously to benefit both the business and employees. Coca-Cola is attempting to align their business goals with their supply chain goals to enhance productivity and also diminish current communication barriers. Walgreens has been successful in maintaining traditional communication systems of regular newsletters and other printed communications. Home Depot uses different types of communication systems to communicate with their employees and their customers such as a business satellite network by reaching out to their customers using social media. Communication systems and strategies are essential to the success of a business and the economy. Knowing how important communication systems and strategies are, we have decided to evaluate a few companies in regards to their ethical systems. This evaluation will focus on six Fortune 500 companies, Walgreens, Home Depot, Coca-Cola, Wal-Mart, Nike, and Microsoft. This process will include general information about each company focusing primarily on their communication systems and strategies, and how it is put into practice within the company. This paper will also compare and contrast these companies and assess a conclusion on how effective or ineffective each company operates using their communication systems and strategies. The first company that we will discuss is Walgreens. Walgreens is a company that understands than typical illogical organization can and will face challenges within a company. Thus, they have chosen to continue to push the envelope of traditional drugstore retailing that seems to be working so well for them. According to an article on Walgreens website, this traditional growth strategy focuses on three areas of opportunity that puts them in a position for achieving long-term growth. Those areas are as follows: Delivering a complete Well Experience by transforming the customer experience across all of the companys touch points, channels and formats; Transforming the role community pharmacy plays in health care by offering unparalleled access to innovative, high quality and affordable health-and-wellness services; and Creating an unprecedented and efficient global platform through its strategic partnership with Alliance Boots GmbH. However, Walgreens is also focusing on their environmental sustainability. They are doing this by working on implementing a few other strategies in the future. These strategies differ depending on the location. They include geothermal energy systems, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, using electrical vehicle charging stations, and running on solar power. In terms of communication, Walgreens uses technology to enhance their communication systems. They do not have a specific name for their system but its incorporation plays a major role in the company. Therefore, they created a variety of corporate communications. These communications includes press releases, white papers, marketing materials, web site content, company correspondence, and sales presentations. And even though these forms of communication are the usual forms that companies use, they are consistent with Walgreens traditional stance. Most importantly, these various means of communications work for Walgreens and enables the company to communicate effectively and directly to their customers and employees. Overall, the communication system and strategies that Walgreens use are what allows the company to continue to grow and forge ahead. They are a successful company because of their traditional stance but willingness to adapt their strategies when needed in order to maintain customer satisfaction. Walgreens strives to be a company that lives up to their mission: To be the most trusted, convenient multichannel provider and advisor of innovative pharmacy, health and wellness solutions, and consumer goods and services in communities across America. A destination where health and happiness come together to help people get well, stay well and live well. Keeping that in mind, Walgreens communications and strategies have led them to become a successful company amongst other top fortune 500 companies in their industries. Home Depot has a dynamic way of how they use their communication system to communicate information to their employees and to the homeowners and the small business owners the server. Founded in 1978, the Home Depot since then has morphed from an up and coming business into a dominant do it yourself fortune 500 company. Debuting on the NASDAQ in1981, Home Depot crossed over to the New York Stock Exchange in 1984. The owners Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank developed a business satellite network in 1990 in an experiment to see if they were able to broadcast live meetings to all of their stores. This idea became a huge success. The satellite network helped for management to connect to the Home Depot employees and boost morale within their stores. Home Depot also invests heavily into their work force. They allow their employees to get the necessary training they need, which helps the employee feel more comfortable with their knowledge of the store and its items. Training increases employees morale which leads to communication lines being open from the employee to his manager because the employees feel that the company wants them to succeed. Just a couple of years ago in 2011, Home Depots Vice President of corporate communications Brad Shaw, launched Home Depots first social media page. With a lot of competitors reaching out to customers using social media, Home Depot uses social media to talk about current sales they may be having, and also to sale their products. Using Facebook for an example, customers who are friends with the Home Depot Facebook page can share certain items they have used that they feel was a great buy from the Home Depot. After the customer has shared the item, everyone who is friends with the customer will see that post on his time line exposing people to Home Depot products. This is why social media targeting and communication is so critical. If only one customer can share a product they like with their friends, out of all of their friends one is bound to also like it which would start the cycle illustrated above all over again. Coca Cola is more complex in their communication systems. The beverage retail giant operates more mechanically but keeps direct communication with the distribution supply chain to maintain quality products. The top brand in consumer beverages is the Coca-Cola Company in the current marketplace. Cokes global supply chain is a vastly complex network of plants, bottlers, warehouses and customers, along with multiple product lines following multiple supply chains with differing objectives. The Coca Cola Company is the worlds largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. The company operates a franchised distribution system dating from 1889 where the Coca-Cola Company only produces syrup concentrate which is then sold to various bottlers throughout the world who hold an exclusive territory (Valluri, 2010). Coca-Cola is the manufacturer and distributor of its own products. Most of the supply chain is automated to create quick and efficient products. The product is not final until the distribution process, where they add the carbonated water and other required ingredients to make the final product. All production is done in-house and final products are distributed all across the globe. A major setback Coca-Cola is currently working on resolving is the aligning the company objectives with the supply chain strategies. In fact, the Coca Cola Company does not actually produce soda. The company produces the concentrate or syrup, and then sends it to the distributors. The distributors add the carbonated water and all other ingredients to make the final product. The process to create each beverage is extremely mechanized in order to achieve quick and efficient production (Valluri, 2010). Therefore, communications regarding quality standards are directly communicated throughout the supply chain. In November, 2010, Coca-Cola rolled out a new supply chain strategy by combining SAP Business Objects with ITCs Supply Chain Performance Management. The implementation completed in cooperation with SAP Consulting has been rolled out across the North American region and is a key milestone for Coca-Cola, allowing it to effectively align supply chain goals with business goals, providing visibility into end-to-end supply chain processes to help drive process consistency (Hochfelder, 2011). Coke established a set of supply chain guiding principles it wanted implemented: Focus on metrics needing no manual intervention Focus on metrics to drive profit consistency and metric consistency across the supply chain Focus on industry standards that are not Coke specific Develop a robust system for reporting hierarchies that change when business changes Aligning the company goals with the supply chain goals will ultimately make the business more successful by providing the accurate information throughout the company. Coca-Cola remains the top beverage retailer concluding the success of the new communication strategy. Unlike Coca-Cola, Wal-Mart is less complex in their communication systems. Wal-Mart is one of the largest public corporations and retailers in the world. What could make a corporation so successful? First, there has to be a business plan in which an effective strategy is applied to. This creates a basis on which everyone understands what direction the company is going towards. Communication systems are used to disperse the information through different channels. Whether its from a manager to an employee or the company to the consumer, communication is a very important factor of success. One variable for Wal-Marts successful communication strategy was the implementation of their satellite communication system. The 24-million dollar satellite was established in 1987, which at the time, was the worlds largest private satellite communication system. This network allowed multiple communications between all levels of the company: distributors, headquarters, stores, and suppliers. The main idea for implementing the satellite is to provide a quick ordering with their key suppliers. Also, it was used within the company to help communication from managers from different stores and to get direct feedback. The satellite has also been implemented for customer satisfaction. On November 17, 1999, Wal-Mart broadcasted an exclusive concert by Garth Brooks via satellite to all of the locations. While being a major communication resource for the company, the satellite system cut costs by saving time and effort, resulting with consumers morale is boosted, card transactions are processe d quicker, and the overall shopping experience is more efficient. Next, Wal-Mart works with over 200 companies worldwide. They are determined to make sure that communication between each and every company is amazing. Wal-Mart has asked multiple companies to move or place a main office in the Northwest Arkansas area. This creates an easy communication from the Wal-Mart Home Office and the other companies employees. It also creates a face to face environment for communication. Forcing companies to move their offices to Arkansas has opened the field for residents in Arkansas to obtain jobs there. Just imagine each company that Wal-Mart has brought into Arkansas has about fifty or more employees. That could be thousands jobs offering for residents. The key thing is to make sure that companies working with them are on the same path as them. Wal-Mart has become a company that is looking more into being environmentally friendly and work force. They have gone so far to ask companies to make sure that everything from the labels are environmentally friendly and that the people making them are in good working environment. For example, Bud Light is a beer company and Wal-Mart would examine their product by the beer, bottle, bottle cap, box, and the label. Having explained the importance of a successful company is to make sure that if you are working with other companies that they are on the same pathway as you are. Last, it is very critical that Wal-Mart develops a good communication system within the headquarters and stores. Inside the headquarters, there are televisions located all around the building. The televisions are constantly on and the management team goes over key points and the current goals for each department. Every Saturday, there is an open executive board meeting. They are open for every associate to bring their suggestions in and bring in famous people. In each department, they are required to do a weekly meeting, produce a goal list and suggestion list on something that they can improve on. The main communication goal is to make sure that each store is doing their part. The Northwest Arkansass stores are inspected monthly and changing the layouts to see what would work best. Worldwide, members of the management team are travelling to inspect stores unexpectedly to make sure that each stores are doing their duties twenty-four seven. The latest advancement to Wal-Mart in their communication system is to help the associates more. They have implemented on hiring more than 300 human resources managers to work world-wide to make sure that the training needed is done correctly and policies are implemented correctly. They have created an ethic hotline to help employees anonymously discuss any issues and to make sure each issues are dealt with correctly. Due to high critics, they have implemented that the senior management are connected to issues on the spot and have a section on their daily updates about anything about Wal-Mart coming out. The senior management team will deal with each issue and will now speak out more, so that the world will understand the issue and how the company is dealing with it. This new communication is issued to help increase the employees satisfaction and the overall recruiting process. The Nike Distribution center in Memphis, Tennessee had a dilemma: they had to figure out a way to improve communications within the one million square foot facility. The center was relying on an overhead PA system to contact employees. The center restricted their phones to only inbound calls. There was no reliable communication and it was delayed at best. The company needed a way to eliminate the seven minute walk from administration to the warehoused each time a call was received. In 2002, a solution to the problem was reached. Nike implemented a system using Polycoms SpectraLink 8000 Wireless Telephones. This system not only eliminated the constant running around or PA system intercom, it also worked off of the warehouses existing Wi-Fi, eradicating the need for an outside service. Where the old system of cat and mouse was very expensive, Polycoms SpectraLink 8000 was very cost effective. It allowed for the communication between management and employees quickly, efficiently, and easily, and increased their productivity tremendously. Senior Telecommunication Technician Carol McSparrin quoted, Employees are able to communicate with one another so much more quickly. Thats the benefit we were looking for all along. Now, employees dont need to have cell phones and pagers, so we do see a cost benefit. Plus, we are using the same Wi-Fi network we have in place for our handheld scanners and other mobile data applications. But most importantly, we have our employees working more efficiently. Nike successfully launched a new system within their folds with the use of the Polycom SpectraLink 8000 Wireless phone system that practically remade the way they communicated with each other. The new system allows employees to directly communicate with the right person every time without having to stop production, allowing the business to be more efficient. Microsoft, however, is just now launching a new communication system known as Lync 2013 which is said to be more successful than the previous system. Microsofts communication system is Lync 2013. The system was introduced less than a month ago, so it is too soon to tell how Lync 2013 will perform. Lync 2013 users can connect to anyone anywhere using Skype which enables hundreds of millions of people to interact across international borders making expenses less. The basic name of the system is the unified communications system. Microsoft developed this system. Apparently they were not happy with the other systems that were out there so they wrote their own. Lync can be integrated with other systems without large outlays of capital. This allows other companies to compare Lync to other communication systems and weigh the pros and cons of Lync to see if it would be beneficial to them. Microsofts communication strategy is to provide rich, presence-based, person-centric tools that make communications easier and productive; next is to integrate IP-based communications modalities including e-mail, instant messaging (IM), VoIP-telephony, SMS, and audio/video/web conferencing into a seamless and intuitive experience next is to make communications available on PCs, phones and innovative mobile devices, at work/home/on-the-road, on federated enterprise-consumer networks, and as on-premise and hosted service solutions. To enable communications from within everyday applications Microsoft Office, portals, line of business (LOB) applications, etc. To make available information, agent software,, and services, to improve connectivity with relevant parties despite the overload of incoming communications. To lower TCO for communications solutions by leveraging existing IT infrastructure to enhance manageability and security; and to provide interfaces and APIs that enable partner s to extend Microsoft core offerings. Microsofts UC strategy is primarily targeted at its enterprise customer base. Similarities All of the companies implemented their new systems to try and alleviate communication problems within each company. All of the companies had issues that weighed heavily on the production side of the company, and all of them implemented solid plans to improve their communications, and all of them implemented the systems to expand both their data bases and consumer contacts. The improvements that the companies made will have a great impact on Differences All of the companies were different types of companies. We researched a retail store, a software giant, a mega hardware store, a legendary soft drink company, a megawatt shoe company, and a pharmaceutical mogul. Obviously, the needs for all of the companies were different. Each used a system unique to their business needs. For example, Nike needed better communication in order to contact employees, so wireless phones were their solution; however, Microsoft needed a system to connect all different types of communications, so it developed Lync. The consumer base or the data base would not be the same as it would be had these all been the same type of company. Each company has different standards, and each company managed a successful communications strategy launch for their companies. Companies ability to communicate can have a direct impact on the quantity and quality of service. Without communication, nothing can move forward, only backward. Implementing systems of communication allows each company to both move forward and allow rapid adaptation to any changes it encounters. Each company lives up to their mission statements, and tries to stick to their traditions. The hopes to keep their companies strong, and promote fairness and excellence have become a part of each and every company. They have developed strategies that allow for the growth and prosperity of their respective companies. Each company may have applied their system differently, but each and every one of them has worked extremely hard toward a common goal: You, the consumer.

Video Game Violence Essay -- Legal Issues, Violent Video Games

â€Å"Video Game Violence Does Not Cause Violent Tendencies† An In-Depth Look at Video Game Violence and its Positives Effects â€Å"On Tuesday, November 2, while the rest of the country was voting, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in Schwarzenegger v. EMA, the landmark case in which the state of California is petitioning for the re-instatement of a California law banning the sale of deviant or morbid violent video games to minors† (Macris). This case is a current example of the opponents of video games trying to prove video games are a bad influence on children and teenagers. Violent video game opponents have always tried to disprove the positive effects of video games. They also have been known to make up and mislead with tales of terrible side effects. This essay will prove to the reader that many of these various statements against video games and their creators are false. Contrary to opposition arguments, video games actually present benefits to gamers by reducing stress, providing entertainment, and helping to develop motivation that could not otherwise be achieved through conventional means. This essay will attempt to prove, that statements made regarding the inappropriateness of video games are untrue. The advantage of playing video games can be proven in their ability to enhance learning, hand-eye coordination, and this in turn can enable children and teenagers to do better in school. Violent video games can help overcome anxiety by providing entertainment without leaving the house, taking everyday stresses out on the characters in the game instead of real life, takes the adolescent’s minds off worries and stress of the outside world, and encourages children to stay out of trouble. Video games c... ... methodologies and the intrusion of ideology and scientific dogma† (Ferguson 11). Violent Video Games do not cause increased violent tendencies in youth and adolescents due to the fact violent video games have been around for years and in those years violence caused by teens have actually been dropping rather than increasing. Also, violent video games have been shown through research that the negatives are highly outweighed by the positives. Also, with the introduction of interactive gaming there are a new range of possibilities for violent video games. Such as sending a message to children about healthy activities by getting them off of the couch. So hopefully in five years violent video games will have moved to full interactive gaming so that it looks more real-life, but more importantly that it will still be a form of media that helps to relive personal stress. Video Game Violence Essay -- Legal Issues, Violent Video Games â€Å"Video Game Violence Does Not Cause Violent Tendencies† An In-Depth Look at Video Game Violence and its Positives Effects â€Å"On Tuesday, November 2, while the rest of the country was voting, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in Schwarzenegger v. EMA, the landmark case in which the state of California is petitioning for the re-instatement of a California law banning the sale of deviant or morbid violent video games to minors† (Macris). This case is a current example of the opponents of video games trying to prove video games are a bad influence on children and teenagers. Violent video game opponents have always tried to disprove the positive effects of video games. They also have been known to make up and mislead with tales of terrible side effects. This essay will prove to the reader that many of these various statements against video games and their creators are false. Contrary to opposition arguments, video games actually present benefits to gamers by reducing stress, providing entertainment, and helping to develop motivation that could not otherwise be achieved through conventional means. This essay will attempt to prove, that statements made regarding the inappropriateness of video games are untrue. The advantage of playing video games can be proven in their ability to enhance learning, hand-eye coordination, and this in turn can enable children and teenagers to do better in school. Violent video games can help overcome anxiety by providing entertainment without leaving the house, taking everyday stresses out on the characters in the game instead of real life, takes the adolescent’s minds off worries and stress of the outside world, and encourages children to stay out of trouble. Video games c... ... methodologies and the intrusion of ideology and scientific dogma† (Ferguson 11). Violent Video Games do not cause increased violent tendencies in youth and adolescents due to the fact violent video games have been around for years and in those years violence caused by teens have actually been dropping rather than increasing. Also, violent video games have been shown through research that the negatives are highly outweighed by the positives. Also, with the introduction of interactive gaming there are a new range of possibilities for violent video games. Such as sending a message to children about healthy activities by getting them off of the couch. So hopefully in five years violent video games will have moved to full interactive gaming so that it looks more real-life, but more importantly that it will still be a form of media that helps to relive personal stress.

Essay on Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart: Spiritual and Traditional A

Spiritual and Traditional Aspects of Things Fall Apart  Ã‚   Chinua Achebe describes in his book Things Fall Apart (1958) some interesting features of what life could look like in an African village during late 19th century. The society that the Nigerian author presents is in most ways considerably different from our western society of today. Life in the African village of Umuofia was, among many other things, spiritual and traditional. The spiritual aspect of life in Umuofia is well illustrated by the episode where Okonkwo and one of his wives finally have a child that does not die at a young age. After having had to bury several of their children, Okonkwo and Ekwefi are told by a medicine man that all the children actually are one so-called ogbanje; a child that repeatedly dies and returns to its mother’s womb to be reborn. The parents are also told that it is almost impossible to bring up an ogbanje without it dying unless its iyi-uwa is first found and destroyed. An iyi-uwa is a special kind of stone which forms the link between the child and the spirit world. And so, aft...

The British-German naval rivalry as a contributing factor to the start of World War One

Introduction One the main arguments that have been presented in order to understand the reasons for the beginning of World War One revolves around the growth of military capabilities in the European continent in the period leading up to the start of the conflagration. Among the immediate causes cited for the beginning of hostilities was the naval rivalry that unfolded between the United Kingdom and Germany, particularly in the 1960-1914 period (Churchill, 1923: 119). Upon the establishment of the German Kingdom in 1871, Britain was in possession of the biggest naval forces in the world (Kelly, 2011: 20). In order to entrench the position of Germany in the European political order, Emperor Wilhelm II launched a strategy that was centred around extending the projection of power of the German High Seas Fleet (Clark, 2012: 116). This policy was seconded by the German Imperial Naval Office which, under the stewardship of Admiral Alfred Von Tirpitz, became an influential force in expanding the countryà ¢â‚¬â„¢s naval fleet to 2/3 of the size of the Royal Navy (Von Tirpitz, 1920: 134). This essay argues that the British-German naval rivalry contributed the advent of the First World War due to the fact that it compelled London to enter the conflagration in order to maintain the balance of power in the European political order and to preserve its commercial interests in the wider world. These became seriously threatened by the expansion of German naval capabilities. The first part of the essay outlines the historical and geopolitical circumstances involved in the British-German naval rivalry. Particular attention is given to the way in which the United Kingdom reacted to the decision of the German Empire to extend its sea power to the wider world as well as the geopolitical implications involved in the decision to resist the expansion of Germany’s naval capabilities. The second part of the essay examines the way in which those considerations were brought to bear in the decision to enter World War One.The British-German naval rivalry during the period leading u p to the First World WarThe plan for the expansion of German naval capabilities responded to the geopolitical situation that was taking place in Southern Africa in the context of the Boer War (Weir, 1992: 81). When British forces invaded Transvaal at the end of the nineteenth century, plans were put in place in order to place a blockade on Germany, catering for the possibility that the imperial forces may try to intervene in the conflict (Kelly, 2002: 1048). This move would have potentially resulted in severe dislocations to the German economy, which depended on foreign raw materials and markets for its continued expansion (Kelly, 2011: 29). The extension of German naval capabilities was therefore geared towards securing the conditions for the country’s long term economic growth (Grey, 1925: 17). From a technical standpoint, the launch of HMS Dreadnought in 1906 exacerbated the intensity of the German-British naval race. The Dreadnought became the first battleship that opera ted a synchronised main battery (Churchill, 1923: 188; Weir, 1992: 39). In addition, it also possessed the highest speed of any other vessel commissioned for military service due to the fact that it ran on steam engines (Wilson, 1985: 55; Lambert, 2002: 22). It is worth mentioning that the naval hegemony possessed by the United Kingdom became a more costly exercise with the rise of Germany and other revisionist states in the late nineteenth century (Neilson, 1995: 99; Kelly, 2011: 46). This state of affairs had prompted the United Kingdom to adopt the ‘Two-Power standard’, which provided that the British naval forces had to be at least as powerful as the next two strongest navies (France and Russia) (Clark, 2012: 122; Steinberg, 1985: 59). In the period leading up to the advent of the First World War there was a great deal of popular support in both countries for a continuation of the policy of naval expansion. It is worth mentioning that in spite of the race for expanded naval capabilities, British sea power had been severely curtailed by the eve of the First World War. (Von Tirpitz, 1920: 136) There are a number of observations that can be made in order to explain this occurrence (Kelly, 2002: 1055). To begin with, Britain was under severe financial constraints due its ever decreasing share of word trade and political unrest at home, marked by the demands for social justice exerted by the trade union movement and the Labour Party (Weir, 1992: 33; Kelly, 2011: 190). In addition, the expansion of the American Navy as well as the efforts of the German Naval Office to extend the country’s sea power contributed to the diminished capacity of the Royal Navy to project its capabilities in the wider world. In spite of these developments, it is safe to argue that the United Kingdom had the greatest naval power upon entering World War One (Grey, 1925: 23). Furthermore, the country ensured the continuation of its relative superiority in the sea by entering into an alliance with Russia and France, geared towards counterbalancing the emerging central bloc constituted by Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy (Wilson, 1985: 59). The Entente Cordiale, signed between Britain and France in 1904, came about as a result of the willingness of the German Empire to enlarge their commercial reach to the wider world, particularly in Africa where both nations had substantial colonial interests (Von Tirpitz, 1920: 130; Clark, 2012: 124). The establishment and preservation of a German colonial system was to be carried out through the expansion of the nation’s naval capabilities (Lambert, 2002: 25). The British Foreign Office was aware of the grand geopolitical designs of the German Empire. Some of its most prominent members distinguished a distinct revisionist stance on the part of Germany, which they likened to the hegemonic drive of France’s Napoleon a century earlier (Grey, 1925: 44). The preservation of naval superiority and the establishment of political alliances with like-minded nations were conducive to abandoning the policy of neutrality in European affairs and to engage in an act of balancing agai nst Germany (Clark, 2012: 144). The threat of a German revisionist drive was outlined by Eyre Crowe, an official at the Western Department of the British Foreign office, in his famous memorandum of 1907. Crowe emphasised the need to maintain naval supremacy in order to preserve the freedom of the seas and international commerce, ‘In proportion as England champions the principle of the largest measure of general freedom of commerce, she undoubtedly strengthens her hold on the interested friendship of other nations, at least to the extent of making them feel less apprehensive of naval supremacy in the hands of a free trade England than they would in the face of a predominant protectionist Power’ (Crowe, 1907). The British diplomatic establishment was aware of the dangers of a revisionist Germany for world peace. At the same time, there was an expressed preoccupation with the possibility that the extension of German naval resources may result in a diminution of British sea power (McDermott in Kennedy (ed.), 1979: 81). This is what transpires from a statement made to the House of Commons in 1911 by Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign Secretary, ‘Germany is rightly proud of her strength. She is building a big fleet. Surely it is natural and obvious that the growth of that fleet must raise apprehensions, or at least make other nations very sensitive to apprehensions, lest the Power which is becoming strong should have aggressive designs towards themselves. I do not believe in these aggressive designs. I do not wish to have it interpreted in that sense, but I think it must be realised that other nations will be apprehensive and sensitive, and on the lookout for any indications of aggression. All we or the other neighbours of Germany desire is to live with her on equal terms’ (Grey, 1911). The geopolitical implications of the rise of Germany were tied to the establishment of a naval network capable of sustaining the growing commercial influence of the nation in the wider world. However, it should be mentioned that in 1912 the German Chancellor, Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg, approached the British authorities in order to put an end to the naval race between the two countries (Kennedy, 1983: 120). The Chancellor’s approach might have been motivated by the need to overcome the increasing isolation of Germany in the European political order. The British authorities responded by sending Richard Haldane, the Secretary of State for War, to negotiate the terms of the detente with Imperial Germany (Grey, 1925: 33). However, this mission failed due to the German proposal to accept the naval dominance of the United Kingdom in return for London’s neutral stance in the case of a general conflagration and the assurance that the Berlin would not be branded as the aggre ssor (McDermott in Kennedy (ed.), 1979: 86). The visit of Lord Haldane to Berlin revealed some of the geopolitical concerns regarding the revisionist stance adopted by Germany (Kennedy, 1980: 60). Winston Churchill, who had been a member of the Liberal Cabinet, argued that whilst for Germany the maintenance of naval capabilities was a ‘luxury’, for Britain it a was a ‘necessity’ (Churchill, 1923: 144). Here we see an attempt by a prominent British politician to downplay the importance of the construction of naval resources on the part of Germany (Kennedy, 1980: 67). This was done in order to reinforce the notion that British naval superiority was a feature of the European and international political order that was not to be challenged (Kelly, 2011: 173). As we will see in the next section, the geopolitical considerations pertaining to the possibility of German supremacy in the continent constituted a significant factor in the British decision to enter into the First World War (Epkenhans, 2008: 122). The impact of the British-German naval rivalry in London’s decision to enter into the First World War In regards to the outbreak of hostilities, it should be argued that the arms race that took place between the United Kingdom and the Germany drove both nations to enter into the war (McDermott in Kennedy (ed.), 1979: 99). Additionally, the inimical interests of the Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires in the Balkans made their participation in the war inevitable. France embarked upon the pursuit of war as a consequence of the invasion by the German forces and its alliance commitments to Russia (Kennedy, 1989: 91). It could be posited that one of the most salient aspects of World War One is constituted by the British participation in the war in order to balance the revisionist drive of the German Empire. From this perspective, the British entry into the war may be regarded as an attempt to maintain an equilibrium of forces in the European political order. This balance of power was tilting towards Germany in a decisive manner, since the country adopted the decision to build up its nava l resources that severely threatened British supremacy at sea (Clark, 2012: 132). There is an established consensus on a segment of the scholarship that is centred on the idea that the United Kingdom had become increasingly wary about the intention of the German imperial government to increase its naval capabilities (Massie, 1991: 20). The Reichsflotte Doctrine, propounded by Admiral Tirpitz, revolved around the notion that Germany was impelled to prop up its naval resources in order to be able to inflict damage to the Royal Navy in case of a war (Kelly, 2002: 1037). However, it should be mentioned that in 1912 the German Chancellor, Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg, approached the British authorities in order to put an end to the naval race between the two countries (Kennedy, 1983: 120). The Chancellor’s approach might have been motivated by the need to overcome the increasing isolation of Germany in the European political order. The British authorities responded by sending Richard Haldane, the Secretary of State for War, to negotiate the terms of the detente with Imperial Germany (Grey, 1925: 33). This would force the United Kingdom to enter into an alliance with Germany. However, it may be stated that the position of the United Kingdom was one of the defiance, preferring the option of entering into the First World War in order to prevent the possibility that Germany may achieve geopolitical supremacy in the European continent and a broader projection of power into the wider world (Epkenhans, 2008: 101). During the decade that preceded the advent of World War One, the United Kingdom made considerable preparations in order to cater for the eventuality of hostilities against Germany (Kennedy, 1980: 109). In addition to the signing of diplomatic treaties with France and Russia, the United Kingdom also entered into an alliance with Japan, in order to devote their attention to the emerging geopolitical scenario in the European theatre (Modelski and Thompson, 1988: 19). The acceleration of the naval race that took place during the 1908-12 period left an indelible impression on the mindset of British foreign policy makers (Clark, 2012: 141). The shift from a naval to an army doctrine by Germany in 1812 did not assuage tensions between the two countries, as it became another instrument to exert potential domination over the British allies: France and Russia (Massie, 1991: 50). Some alternative explanations to Britain’s entry into World War One gyrate around the idea that London did no t just seek to contain the naval prowess of Germany but to attain a situation in which the other competitors would see their sea power diminished (Kennedy, 1989: 133). For example, the Russian Empire, which had experienced significant economic growth in the last two decades before the war, could have potentially threatened British interests in India (Kennedy, 1980: 11). The British Raj could not have been defended by its tiny armed forces in case of an overland Russian invasion. This prompted London to seek an alliance with Russia, which was duly effectuated in 1907 (Steinberg, 1973: 201; Kennedy, 1983: 50). From this perspective, confecting a German naval threat would be conducive to reassuring France and Russia that only the Royal Navy could provide an equilibrium of forces in the seas (Massie, 1991: 56). Therefore, the British-German rivalry also has to be assessed in the context of British diminution of power due to the rise of revisionist powers such as Japan and Germany (Kelly, 2002: 1036). In addition, the rise of the United States as the largest economy in the world also played into the geopolitical considerations of British foreign policy makers on the eve of World War One (Modelski and Thompson, 1988: 21).The antagonism regarding the naval race between the United Kingdom and Germany has to be appraised in the context of the actual erosion of British power (McDermott in Kennedy (ed.), 1979: 93). Consequently, British policy revolved around the principle of avoiding the rise of a naval competitor that could threaten its imperial possessions, rather than a revisionist power that could attain supremacy in the continent (Epkenhans, 2008: 55). It could be stated that the strategy that led to British entry into World War One was centred around the maintenance of naval supremacy through the introduction of ships that would be able to rise to the challenge of an attack against any of Britain’s imperial possessions (Kennedy, 1989: 139). It was known at the time that Germany did not pose an immediate threat to British Empire. However, the United Kingdom was compelled to enter into World War One in order to prevent a situation in which a victorious Germany would be in a position to reconfigure the geopolitical map through the accumulation of naval forces with France and Russia (Steinberg, 1973: 199; Neilson, 1995: 55). G erman supremacy in the European continent would have eventually resulted in naval dominance by an entente between Germany and the vanquished powers (Kennedy, 1983: 88). The British-German naval rivalry was a significant factor in Britain’s entry into World War One due to the potential ramifications of a German victory in the continent, rather than as a response to its potential supremacy over the European continent (Kelly, 2002: 1034). Conclusion By way of conclusion, it should be noted that the naval rivalry between the United Kingdom and Germany exerted a significant amount of influence in the decision to enter into the First World War. Prompted by Berlin’s accumulation of naval resources, the United Kingdom attempted to preserve its relative superiority in the sea by forging an alliance with Russia and France (Clark, 2012: 155; Steinberg, 1985: 59). This was geared towards counterpoising the looming threat constituted by the associative framework between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. The Entente Cordiale originated from the need to counterbalance the German Empire’s to commercial and military reach into the wider world, especially in regions where both France and the United Kingdom had substantial colonial interests (Churchill, 1923: 213). The British political establishment was well aware of the geopolitical constructs of the German Empire, which was compared to the hegemonic drive instigated by Napoleon in the early part of the nineteenth century (Steinberg, 1973: 196; Kennedy, 1989: 129). It may be argued that the motivations that led to British entry into the First World War were centred around the need to preserve naval supremacy through the retrofitting of the Royal Navy’s capabilities in order to fend off the challenge of an attack against any of Britain’s imperial possessions (Epkenhans, 2008: 81). For all the reasons to be cited above, it could be concluded that the United Kingdom entered into the First World War in order to avoid a situation in which German supremacy in the European continent would result in an eventual naval alliance between Germany and its former enemies (Neilson, 1995: 61). Consequently, the British-German naval rivalry was an important factor in London’s decision to enter into World War One, as the potential geopolitical implications of a German victory would have involved an eventual threat to British possessions overseas. These were to be defended at all costs. Even at the expense of entering into a war that diminished the standing of the United Kingdom in world affairs and which did not manage to sort out the position of Germany in the European political spectrum. Bibliography Churchill, W. (1923) The World Crisis, 1911-1914, T London : Thornton Butterworth Limited Clark, C. 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