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Monday, September 30, 2019

The Virgin and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist

Antonio Allegio was born in Correggio, a small Lombard town near Reggio  Emilo. His birth date is unknown (Around 1489). His father was a merchant. Otherwise,  Little is known of Correggio’s life or training. In the years 1503-1505 he apprenticed to  Francesco Bianchi Ferrara of Modena. He was influenced by the classicism of authors  like Lorenzo Costa and Francesco Francia which can be found in his early paintings.  In 1516 he was in Parma, where he became a friend of Michelangelo Anselmi,  one of the main Mannerist painters of the period. He remained in that city until 1530.  In 1519 he married Girolama Francesco di Braghetis, also of Correggio and died in 1529.In this period Correggio paints his beautiful painting â€Å"Virgin and child with the  young saint John the Baptist.† It is a painting on oil on panel Italian circa. 1494-1534.  The subject matter of the painting is John the Baptist as a child and his first  meeting of the Madonna and the C hrist child. Influenced by Leonardo da Vinci is  romantic with overwhelming radiance and cool pearly colors. The expressive content of  the painting is of joy, wonder and is playful. It seems to be a happy, leisurely time for all  three   people. The young Saint John Baptist’s mood is of reverence as he bows down and  looks up at the Christ child. The lines in the painting is of a symmetrical composition  arrangement with the Madonna leaning a little toward the young saint almost welcoming  her into her arms.The matter is religious for the young saint is meeting the Christ child as well as  welcomed into the arms of the Madonna. The young Saint John the Baptist’s looks as if  he is kneeling as he looks up from below to look at the Christ child. The figures are  peasants sitting on a bench in a garden underneath a vine. The Madonna is dressed in a  beautiful pale red dress and a cloak that is a rich blue on top and green underneath. The  cloak dr aped over her head is folded over and falling off revealing the green underneath  on the right side of the Madonna and the blue on her left shoulder.The color is rich in texture the brush stroke smooth and one stroke. The colors  are pale, delicate, and deep bringing out the rich color in the painting. The light and cool  pearly radiant color seems to be coming from within the people as well as behind the  Madonna. The specific effect is of symmetry in relation to each other. The work is  organized to show the Madonna in the center lovingly balancing the Christ child on her  left leg as she reaches out her left arm to welcome the young Saint John the Baptist. The  Christ child is sitting on the Madonna’s left leg he is raised above the head of the young  saint and the young saint kneel and look up. The central focus is of the Madonna inthe center and her smile as well as the Christ child balancing on the Madonna’s leg.Antonia Correggio reflected the his torical context of the renaissance by using  the periods work of religious themes found in the Madonna, the Christ Child and a young  John the Baptist. The painting is a stylized and idealized. His religious symbolism is  largely drawn from the work of Jacobus de Voragine (1260) He created dynamic  composition and perspective in his dramatic three-dimensional focused paintings. The  mythological perspective depicts movement, drama and diagonal composition  arrangement. You can find this movement and drama in the painting â€Å"The virgin and  child with the young saint John the Baptist† in the Madonna’s movement of her arm as  she welcomes the young Saint to join her and her son. Also, in the composition of the  three. The Madonna is in the center of the painting thereby catching the eye of the person  looking at the painting.Antonio Correggio was an enigmatic and eclectic painter. His art was a means to  reproduce life in its most persuasive dome stic side. Later, he initiated a style of  sentimental elegance and conscious allure with soft gestures and captivating charm by  using imaginary spaces as a replacement for reality. He used these elements of Mannerist  and Baroque stylistic approaches found at the time of the renaissance. Antonio Correggio  is considered to this day to be one of the boldest and most inventive artist of the High  Renaissance. He was revolutionary and is still influential for subsequent artists.Works Citedhttp://WWW.artic.edu/aic/collections/highlight_search?acc=1965.688&page=&1&ArtistID=310

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Henry Mintzberg Essay

Business Strategy 1.0 Introduction In the recent years the views of ‘strategic management’ has changed significantly. It has been critically studied and classified as a field of managerial practice that should have been given more thought. (Knights and Morgan, 1991) There are two essential parts to strategy, actions that are planned ahead and developed carefully according to many factors once implemented. A proper strategy created and implement to a company would give a competitive advantage over other companies. This report will address the position of the article in a wider debate as different scholars have different opinions in strategy. It will discuss about the theoretical underpinnings, strengths and weakness in Henry Mintzberg’s article â€Å"Crafting Strategy.† 2.0 Position and Theoretical Underpinnings According to Levy, Alvesson and Willmott most of the â€Å"current thinking is anchored by the work of Michael Porter and Henry Mintzberg.â€Å" (Levy, Alvesson and Willmott, 2003) Henry Mintzberg’s Crafting Strategy is based on research that was conducted over numerous years that focused on several organisations that have taken various decisions over a period of time. The decisions made by organisations were taken into account and put together as different types of strategy. His thesis was â€Å"the crafting image better captures the process by which effective strategies to come to be.† However â€Å"the planning image, long popular in the literature, distorts these processes and thereby misguides organisations that embrace it unreservedly.† (Mintzberg, 1987) The article appears to focus on an emergent approach to strategy. Mintzberg states, â€Å"a key to managing strategy is the ability to detect emerging patterns and help them take shape.† This is suggested through the fact that the role of a manager â€Å"is not just to preconceive specific strategies but  also to recognize their emergence elsewhere in the organization and intervene when appropriate† (Mintzberg, 1987). One of the earlier influential writers of strategy Philip Selznick who supported this theory wrote about the ‘character’ of an organization being separate and integrates â€Å"commitments to ways of acting and responding.† (Selznick 1957) Ghosal, Barlett et al also suggest this point by mentioning â€Å"it’s the focus in traditional strategy on value appropriation rather then value creation.† (Ghosal, Barlett et al, 1999) Mintzberg’s theory captures a mix of Richard Whittington’s classical and processual school of strategy. This is modelled in the article as the potter is characterized as a craftsman strategist. In Whittington’s model ‘developing and defining’ falls under Michael Porters classical ‘deliberate’ approach to strategy and thinking lies within Henry Mintzberg’s approach to emergent strategy. In the view of strategy Porter (1980; 1985), Andrews (1971) and Chandler (1962), the prescriptive approach to strategy is shown for its dependence on analysis and planning. This is also view is also supported by Graetz who suggests that strategic thinking is already considered necessary process closely linked to strategic planning. (Graetz, 2002) Wilson goes further by mentioning, â€Å"strategic thinking should replace strategic planning.† (Wilson. L., 1994) Heracleous proposes that strategic planning and strategic thinking is two distinct b ut related processes, strategic planning is analysis and strategic thinking involves synthesis. (Heracleous, 1998) Many scholars including Mintzberg who emphasizes heavily on the processes of learning, compromising and adjustment is that strategy is a process. He suggests that the planning and then implementing strategy is unsustainable for long term. (Mintzberg, 1990) In 1994 Mintzberg provided some evidence of the failure of planning. 3.0 Strengths Mintzberg’s does identify â€Å"there is no such thing as purely deliberate strategy or purely emergent one.† This is further emphasized when he states â€Å" all strategy making walks on two feet, one deliberate and the other emergent.† This suggest that deliberate and emergent is intertwined which is emphasized when Mintzberg mentions, â€Å"deliberate and emergent strategy form the end points of a continuum along which the strategies that are crafted in  the real world maybe found.† (Mintzberg, 1987) Mintzberg treated strategy differently from traditional literatures that only focused on one type of strategy. While other scholars associated themselves in four schools of strategy Henry Mintzberg defined ten schools of strategy. (Mintzberg, 1998) Crafting Strategy is positioned in the learning and design school. In this he suggested strategy as a ‘ploy’, which gives company a competitive advantage, as the strategy is misleading therefore, unpredictable thus competitors are unable to know what the company is planning. This is supported by Rumelt who mentions â€Å"one person’s strategies are another’s tactics – that what is strategic depends on where you sit.† (Rumelt, 1979) Crafting strategy shows flexibility and therefore makes it more prepared to implement. Henry Mintzberg states â€Å"strategies can be ‘form’ as well as ‘formulated.’ (Mintzberg 1987) It suggests that there is no standard approach to strategy thus every company or individual can use it as it is tailored to the company needs. According to Kipping as it is flexible it allows â€Å"freedom to craft their best strategy† (Kipping, 2010) 3.1 Weakness In this article Henry Mintzberg based his research on mass production companies such as Honda, Volkswagenwerk and General Motors. His conclusions about strategy derived from assessing these major companies may not be applicable to other companies as some managers are not competent to the strategy. This is mentioned by Noe who states â€Å"Emergent strategies†¦rely on the organization’s ability to learn from the actual experiences of employees at all levels† (Noe et al., 2003) Whittington states †mechanisms ensure that the strategy process remains objective rather than being captured by a particular management faction.† This suggests that managers are able to draw from extensive and less detectable sources of power. (Whittington, 1993). Mintzberg argues that the reality of strategy is not a planned organizational phenomenon but better characterized as an emergent. (Mintzberg et al., 1998) However Mintzberg fails to address these additional conditions suggested by Whittington that  are thought to be potentially vital points in strategic management. Stoney mentions that â€Å" In the strategic management model, responsibility for corporate level decision-making rests with a core or strategic elite who are discharged from the day-to-day responsibilities of operational activities, these being devolved to the lowest possible level of control.† (Stoney 1998) Supported by Anthony and Dearden mentioning that strategic planning is a function in the executive level that is designed to ensure that the direction is followed as set. (Anthony & Dearden 1976) This will help companies maintain a competitive advantage however as it is only based on executive level views lower ranked staff in the companies is ignored. This is suggested by Alvesson and Willmott who states, â€Å"broader power relations privilege the interests and viewpoints of some groups while silencing and marginalizing others. â€Å" (Alvesson and Willmott, 1996) Henry Mintzberg himself mentions this view by stating â€Å"senior management sets of broad guidelines a nd the leaves specifics to other lower down in the organization. (Mintzberg ,1974) As a few of Mintzberg’s theory is based on the processual school of strategy in Whittington’s model Levy, Alvesson and Willmott mentions it â€Å"provides a sceptical perspective on established classical and rational perspectives.† (Levy, Alvesson and Willmott, 2003) However it fails to explore in a wider perspective of domination or analyze the managerial assumptions. Alvesson and Willmott further states that in the processual school of strategy, Mintzberg’s view of power fails to look â€Å"within an intra-organizational perspective that eschews consideration of broader social and political structures.† (Alvesson and Willmott, 1966) This suggests that Mintzberg does not take into consideration many other factors that may be important to his view of strategy. 4.0 Conclusion Mintzberg does appear to focus most of his ideas towards emergent strategy however he does address that there can be no such thing as just deliberate or emergent strategy. (Mintzberg 1987) They both need to intertwine in order for the strategy to work. Crafting strategy is based on long-term learning, â€Å"errors become opportunities and limitations stimulate creativity†Ã‚  (Mintzberg 1987) This is what â€Å"causes the moulds streams of decision into patterns† as suggested by Hedbery and Jonsson. (Hedbery and Jonsson, 1977) 5.0 References Alvesson, M. and Willmott, H. (1996) Making Sense of Management: A Critical Introduction. London: Sage. Andrews, K.R. (1971) The Concept of Corporate Strategy. Homewood, IL: Irwin. Anthony, R & Dearden, J. (1976), Management control systems. Illinois: Homewood: Richard D Irwin. B. Hedbery and S. A. Jonsson, â€Å"Strategy Formulation as a Discontinuous Process,† International Studies of Management and Organisation, 7/2 (1977): 90 Chandler, A.D. (1962) Strategy and Structure: Chapters in the History of the American Industrial Enterprise. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. David Ley, Mats Alvesson, Hugh Willmott. (2003). Critical Approaches to Strategic Management. In: Mats Alvesson, Hugh Willmott Studying management critically. Cornwall: Sage Publications. 92-110. Graetz, F. (2002). Strategic thinking versus strategic planning: towards understanding the complementaries. Management Decision, 40 (5), pg 456-462. Ghoshal, S., C. A. Barlett, et al. (1999). A New Manifesto for Management. Sloan Management Review 40 (3): 9-20. Heracleous, L. (1998). Strategic thinking or strategic planning? Long Range Planning, 31 (3), pg 481-487. Kipping. M. & Caillutet, L. (2010) ‘Mintzberg’s Emergent and Deliberate Strategies: Tracking Alcan’s Activities in Europe, 1928-2007’, Business History Review, 8 (4), pp.79-104. Knights, D. and Morgan, G. (1991) Corporate strategy, organisations, and subjectivity: A critique. Organisation Studies. 12(2): 251-73. Mintzberg, H. 1987. Crafting Strategy. Harvard Business Review 65 (July – August): 66-75. Mintzberg, H. (1990) The design school: Reconsidering the basic premise of strategic management. Strategic Management Journal. 11: 171-95. Mintzberg, H. (1994) The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning. New York: Free Press. Noe, R. A., Hollenbeck, J. R., Gerhart, B., & Wright, P. M. (2003) Human Resource Management: Gaining a Competitive Advantage, 4th ed, New York: McGraw-Hill. Porter, M.E. (1980) Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors. New York: Free Press. P. Selznick, Leadership in Administration: A Sociological Interpretation (New York, NY; Harper & Row, 1957) p.47. A subsequent paper by the author (in process) on the â€Å"design school† of strategy formation shows the link of Selznick’s early work to the writings of Kenneth Andrews in the Harvard policy textbook. K.R. Andrews, The Concept of Corporate Strategy, Revised Edition (Homewood, IL: Down Jones-Irwin, 1987). Porter, M.E. (1985) Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance. New York: Free Press. R. P. Rumelt, â€Å"Evaluation of Strategy: Theory and Models,† in D.E. Schendel and C. W. Hofer, eds., Strategic Management: A New View of Business Policy and Planning (Boston, MA: Little Brown, 1979), pp.196-212. Stoney, C. (1998) Lifting the lid on strategic management: A sociological narrative. Electronic Journal of Radical Organization Theory 4(1). Whittington, R. (1993) What is Strategy – and Does it Matter? London: Routledge. Wilson. L. (1994). Strategic planning isn’t dead – It changed. Long Range Planning, 27 (4), pg 12-24.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

How Managing with a Global Mindset

How managing with a global mindset adequately addresses some challenges raised by managing in a globalising world. ABSTRACT The globalising world has impacted and raised new challenges for organisations and leaders. Thinking about new perspectives and reframe old paradigms are required and fundamental to leaders succeed in the global competitive environment. This essay will explore how managing with a global mindset are becoming an important competence across boundaries and how it can open doors for thriving businesses worldwide. Table of contents 1.Challenges of managing in a globalising world †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 3 2. Competencies of global leaders †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 4 3. Global versus Local †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 6 4. Global mobility †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 5. Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 9 6. Bibliography †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 10 2 Managing with a global mindset 1. Challenges of managing in a globalising world The globalisation process promoted significant changes in the businesses environment.In this context, global organisations have been the target of constant and intense transformations, which affect and require redefinitions of the leadership style adopted. These companies need global leaders, who are able to face the demands of a competitive and internationalised market (Adler, Brody and Osland 2001). Many multinational companies are facing a common challenge: the development of leaders able to manage global companies and take advantage of strategic opportunities. But do the global leaders require a set of capacities totally different from those required for national companies?What would be the main difficulties faced by global leaders when they extend their activities outside the domestic market? How does global companies can act in order to promote a global mindset among their leaders and employees? Some key traits of a leader, which can be carried out independently of the position or hierarchical level, has been considered as essential such as integrity, self-confidence, drive, desire to lead, communication, selfconfidence, and the potential to stimulate and capacitate its collaborators in the search for creative solutions and innovative alternatives, besides knowing the business (Kirkpatrick and Locke, 1991).On the other hand, global leadership, in addition to the above-mentioned characteristics, presents differentiated traits like the capacity to appreciate and deal with different cultures, as it is in direct or indirect contact with subsidiaries in other countries and even with main offices located in the same country, but with cultural differences. Additionally, inquisitiveness, self-awareness, capacity to embrace duality among others has been considered as core characteristics to lead global companies (Gregersen, Morrison and Black, 1998).The increased diversity that leaders in global roles need to confront and the challenges of operating over long distances and multiple time zones, often remotely, were seen to have particular significance for the leadership approaches and behaviours required. Higher risks, complexity and uncertainty due to constant changes in 3 Managing with a global mindset political and economic conditions are considered additional challenges that global organisations and leaders must deal with in developing th eir strategy.They need to maximise the benefits and opportunities of operating globally, manage the increased scale and scope that international operations require, build alliances across boundaries and understand international disciplines such as regulations, finance and human resources management that differ from those who operates only nationally. Furthermore, understand the business as a whole in a global context; the competition and market trends are essential for making well-informed business decisions and to stay ahead of the competitors.Managing in a globalising world also requires being innovative and having the courage to challenge the status quo (Gregersen, Morrison and Black, 1998). 2. Competencies of Global Leaders According results of a research carried out among global company leaders, successful leaders had a remarkable global mentality and they see and think about the world in a different way from those who let themselves be discouraged and disheartened in the face of global enterprise challenge. And what would be the essential trait that defines that remarkable mentality?According to Black (2006), it is curiosity and inquisitiveness. â€Å"They seek to try the local food and not international food at some five star hotels. They read the local newspaper, talk to the local residents. † Although this trend in search of new experiences may be an innate trait, and not something that is learnt, nothing prevents the companies from looking for this characteristic at the time of selecting its potential leaders and sending them to an international assignment. Although individual personality traits mould leadership capacities, the company’s culture has an equally vital role.Black (2006) describes what John Pepper, one of the leaders of Procter & Gamble who helped to make the company a global company in the 80s and 90s, did when he arrived in a country where he had never been before: he visited five local families and learned with them how the families washed their clothes, cleaned the house and dealt with the children’s hygiene in that culture. Pepper believed that the experience and real contact with local cultures makes the difference in becoming a global leader. 4 Managing with a global mindsetAccording to Manning (2003), most of the companies admit that technical competencies and organizational experience alone are insufficient criteria for the choice of a global leader. Pursuant to the studies developed by Black and Gregersen (1999), the crucial characteristic for leadership is linked to relationship skills and opening of new perspectives. The process of developing global leaders becomes a challenge, because the understanding of this movement experienced by them collides with personality traits that differentiate them from the rest.And such characteristics directly affect the work relationships and the effectiveness of the cross cultural leadership, the elements of which should be taken into consideration by the organisations for the selection and development of global leadership programs. It is indispensable for the leaders to know that in a scenario of connection and exchange of knowledge and of new management practices, functional and geographic mobility requires a global leader capable of enduring the pressures, constant uncertainties and resisting to the disruption of pre-set standards in order to adapt himself to a new reality.The global leader must have strategic worldwide vision in order to promote changes and capture the market opportunities. Additionally, they need to be adaptable, have capacity for managing uncertainty, ability to balance tensions and to understand people and fundamentally have open-mindedness, which is key for them succeed (Gregersen, Morrison and Black 1998). As Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon. com, affirmed: â€Å"We cannot let short term investors and specialists frighten us and prevent us from experimenting†.One of the most redeeming fea tures of the culture of Amazon according to its CEO is the fact that it values experimentation. Bezos believes that it is an important attitude to learn and to innovate as a global company (Business Harvard Review, 2007). Experimentation is also a fundamental competence for global leaders that should explore new ideas, products and markets without fear, even when the return is not immediate. In the past, companies entrusted innovation to a few geniuses at the main office and simply appropriated it.Today, in a globalising world multinationals value and reap the fruits of the inventiveness of their employees wherever they are. 5 Managing with a global mindset 3. Global versus Local Global leadership â€Å"is not about doing business abroad. It's about managing an integrated enterprise across borders where you encounter different cultural, legal, regulatory and economic systems,† says Stephen Kobrin (2007), a Wharton professor of Multinational Management. â€Å"It's about opera ting in multiple environments trying to achieve a common objective. â€Å"No matter what the challenges may be many observers draw the attention to the fact that managing a global company is something very different from managing a domestic company. A German company that operates solely in Germany can be managed in a certain way. However, those in charge of an international company, depending on where it operates, have to review several of their assumptions regarding many things, from the development of the marketing strategies, regulatory framework to the human resources policies. Despite globalisation, â€Å"the world is not flat†.There are many variations in basic things that require adaptations, when leaders ignore them there is a high risk of compromising the company’s performance (Kobrin, 2007). A very good strategy for the company in Germany, based on an absolute understanding of the German market, may not work in Japan. Organisations and global leaders deal wi th the challenge of determining when a global and when a local solution is the most effective way to deliver to market. They need to determine where standards, products and processes need to adhere to worldwide frameworks and where local standards are more appropriate.Kobrin (2007) formulates the question of global leadership and interprets it as a clash with a basic paradigm: the exchange between integration and fragmentation. According his experience it is important to ask: Do the company react in a different way according to the market? Or do they operate the same way no matter where? The way each one reacts to individual markets depends on the common elements to those markets, he adds. In regard to technology, for example, the environment is less important. People use computer chips in the 6 Managing with a global mindset ame way, independently from which culture they belong or the language they speak. Therefore, the problem faced by the global leader is related to the pressure of the balance to be attained when the company has to answer to different markets in a different way, benefiting from the efficiencies of scale. Sometimes tension arouse between the managers from the country of origin and the local professionals. Lack of flexibility in dealing with local demands partly explains why some companies face a series of crisis in their global expansion.The global leaders need to be able to find a balance between the extremes. Believe that the countries are so different that any type of local intervention is impossible, and leave the management totally in the hands of local professionals is not a global strategy. It is crucial to find a balance and understand that there are differences to be respected, but might there are similarities and possible learning on both sides of the border. Empower local subsidiaries and local teams and at same time implement strategies that are globally effective is a huge challenge for global companies and leaders. . Global Mob ility Samsung Electronics, of South Korea, often mentioned as one of the most successful emerging companies, is an example of how a company can transfer world-class resources overseas. The company initially amassed solid experience in the development of products and operations globally. Being one of the most efficient electronics companies in the world used its capacities in large-scale manufacturing and its experience in innovation to launch the brand in new markets like USA and Europe.Next, Samsung invested heavily in research and development and in the global production, increasing even more its participation within the world marketplace. To make this possible, Samsung recruits people from different nationalities from different universities in the world. The company institutionalised its training and development, when it created an internal training centre and implementing a systematic approach to performance management. Moreover, Samsung encourage 7 Managing with a global mindse t transfer of capacities that requires executives who know how to apply tandard practices in diverse countries, contexts and cultures. This integration of markets, resources and talents – an essential element for global growth – does not yet occur in most of the companies, even among those who already do business around the world (McKinsey, 2007). Like Samsung, Shell re-allocates high potential managers placing them in various different positions in distinct sectors of the company, including overseas. To work in various positions overseas during several years is an indispensable part of Shell’s culture, states Mathilde de Boer, consultant of Leadership Development of Shell Learning.Though the employees are sometimes reluctant towards this policy of constant relocation — â€Å"when it comes to couples with each one having their own career, the challenge is even greater†, notes de Boer —, since willingness to travel and live overseas is a fund amental requirement for someone who wants to progress his career. â€Å"When someone decides to move into a higher position, he or she will have to face a job that implies moving to different locations†. The benefits of overseas experience are visible at the time the executives meet for more formal leadership training.As they have experience in many different situations, they quickly pick up new ways of doing things (McKinsey, 2007). According to McCall and Hollenbeck (2002), although global executives should be flexible people, sensitive to cultural differences, capable of dealing with complexities and willing to think globally, they need to develop or improve these competencies through travelling overseas, uniting with international teams, adhering to training programs focused on globalisation and or transfers to other subsidiaries. Training can contribute to global leader’s development and with the process of opening to the new.Aiming to extend the boundaries and re frame the actual mental map. Thus, training should confront the participants with the contrasts found in the world that engage most of their senses for a significant period of time (Black, Gregersen, 1999). Meanwhile, the process of global leaders’ training does not consider only their capacities and qualifications, but also the experiences lived and the lessons learn from their practical day-to-day. 8 Managing with a global mindset Diversify and amplify the leader’s cultural backgrounds may be essential for large multinational organisations that aim to keep or develop their competitive advantage.Manoeuvring across the global environment, spanning diverse countries, cultures and customers’ preferences and expectations, presents significant challenges but also opportunities. For this reason promote global mindset among the leaders through international assignments or rotations through different functions it is important to develop the leaders’ ability to d eal with uncertainty and change, gain a greater understanding of the organisation, develop networks and facilitate the transfer of knowledge across the company and beyond the borders. 5. ConclusionIt is not adequate to define a company as global based on the amount of offices it has overseas. The real measurement to define a company as global is the way in which it perceives the world. It is not only a question of the number of employees working around the world. What is important is the extent of their connection and collaboration with people in other countries. In reviewing the literature it becomes clear that there is a greater understanding about the importance of the strategic role that an effective global leadership plays in facilitating organisations’ ability to compete effectively in a very competitive globalising market.As a consequence many organisations are making particular efforts to tailor development programs to address leaders’ needs, such as encouragin g knowledge sharing and mobilising individuals and teams who have experience and expertise around the world to participate on projects where skills and best practice are transferred. Promoting multicultural training and how to manage international and virtual teams and rotating people through different functions.These methods have been applied to develop leaders’ ability to deal with ambiguity, uncertainty and change. Moreover, develop a global mindset and gain a greater understanding of the organisation to facilitate the transfer of knowledge. 9 Managing with a global mindset As companies are increasingly spreading around the world, it becomes very difficult to build an organisational culture of equally shared knowledge. Organisations need to take a proactive and integrated approach in developing global leaders.They need to be clear about the capabilities required of their global leaders, ensure that development initiatives are appropriate for their needs through regular eva luation and review, and support effective leadership practices and behaviours through all their human resources processes. On the other hand, leaders also need to focus on building their global mindset through an understanding of their own needs and focusing on self-development efforts. They need constantly practice the watching and listening attitude to able to manage potential dilemmas that arise from cultural differences.And make efforts to do not stereotype, recognising and valuing the benefits that differences bring through an open-minded approach. Seeking to bring diverging opinions together and make efforts to promote news ways of doing things. 10 Managing with a global mindset 6. Bibliography Adler, NJ, Brody, LW and Osland, JS 2001, Going Beyond Twentieth Century Leadership: A CEO Develops his Company’s Global Competitiveness Cross Cultural Management, Vol 8. Black, JS, Morrison, AJ and Gregersen, HB 1999, Global Explorers: The next Generation of Leaders, Routledge, New York, NY.Black, JS 2006, The mindset of global leaders: Inquisitiveness and duality. Advances in global leadership, Stamford, CT: JAI Press. Black, JS and Gregersen, HB 1999, The right way to manage expats. Harvard Business Review. Business Harvard Review, 2007, The institutional yes. An interview with Jeff Bezos, viewed on 10/11/11 . Gregersen, HB, Morrison, AJ and Black, JS 1998, Developing leaders for the global frontier, Sloan Management Review. Kirkpatrick, S and Locke, E 1991, Leadership: do Traits Matter, Academy of Management Executive.Kobrin, SJ 2007, What Makes a Global Leader? , The Wharton School, viewed 09/11/11, . Manning, T 2003, Leadership Across Cultures: Attachment Style Influences. Journal of Leadership an Organizational Studies, Winter. McCall, MW, and Hollenbeck, GP 2002, Developing global executives: The lessons of international experience. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. McKinsey 2007, Developing Global Leaders in Latin America, McKinsey Quarterly, viewed 09/11/11, . 11 Managing with a global mindset

Friday, September 27, 2019

Managerial Economics Individual Work1 wk3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Managerial Economics Individual Work1 wk3 - Essay Example Different employee roles and job descriptions should be considered when putting in place an organization structure. The hierarchical organization structure embraces a top-down approach relationship. It is a pyramid-like structure where the organization has few experts who delegate specific roles to the other employees. Managers are the main decision makers and act as head of the different departments within the organization. On the other hand, the contemporary organization structure, different employees are specialists in the different roles they undertake within the organization. It is more of a decentralized structure, and employees are expected to make strategic decisions within their areas of specialty. The contemporary organizational structure is very effective, especially in an organization that deals with the manufacturing of products. It encourages participative management as employees are specialists in different fields such as finance, engineering and customer service. (Hiriappa, 2009).The flow and distribution of the information throughout the organization is made easier, and the functions of the different departments are performed effectively. It in turn leads to quality production of goods and the provision of better services to the customers. Therefore, the organization can meet the demands of the market without compromising on the quality of the products and services. Decision making is paramaount in ensuring that the various departments within an organization perform their roles well and in a co-ordinated manner. In this organizational structure, decision making is fast as employees do not have to wait for others to make decisions. The employee is empowered and is expected to make strategic decisions.It also ensures that time is not wasted and that all activities are finished within the allocated time.Furthermore, there is a

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Brand Influence on the Behavior of Generation Y Research Paper

Brand Influence on the Behavior of Generation Y - Research Paper Example The paper "Brand Influence on the Behavior of Generation Y" discusses the factors of fashion brands that influence the buying decisions of this segment. Research shows that price, peer feedback, advertising, emotional value, product quality, brand identity and the physical environment influence the buying behaviour. These factors are discussed in detail in the following sections. This paper is based on the findings of qualitative research conducted on Generation Y fashion consumption behaviour. The benefit of a qualitative research is that it can accommodate a wide variety of sources and benefit from the scholarly work of several researchers. The study is based on analysis of secondary sources which includes research publications and online content. Major themes that recur most frequently in the secondary sources have been discussed in this paper. Research journals, textbooks and websites covering issues of brand management and marketing were consulted to collect data for this paper. The results of the research showed that rational factors affect brand consumption behaviour among Generation Y consumers as much as emotional factors. The consumers appear to be motivated by product quality and price based on their parental influence. At the same time, they are also influenced by peer feedback, brand identity and brand advertising. As a result, fashion brands pay equal attention to reflecting quality through tangible and intangible aspects in their product development and marketing practices.

Era of Totalitarianism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Era of Totalitarianism - Essay Example All these totalitarian regimes consequently took monumental toll, with millions of people perishing and suffering under the insistence of the political party in power to regulate and dictate all facets of economic, social and even spiritual aspects of human existence. The mobilizing power of the totalitarian regimes, their ability to foster mass movements was based on extreme interpretations of the ideologies of Marx and Nietzsche. Both Marx and Nietzsche lived during a time in the 19th century when science was on the rise and religion was on a decline as the guidepost in matters of human progress and direction. The inward aspects of human existence, the spiritual aspects were seemingly irrelevant with the unprecedented economic progress as can be seen in the West, that was albeit accompanied by the marginalization of certain sectors of society (the toiling, labor classes of Marx) as well as corruption and decadence (the nihilism, the weaknesses engendered by the Christian religion1) as observed by Nietzsche. Both philosophers stressed the ability of mankind to change their reality, Marx in his deterministic belief that the workers rise to power is inevitable and in Nietzsche's trumpeting of the morality of the master over the slave. The historical determinism of Marx and the infinite call to power of the individual with no boundaries in Nietzsche's ideas were potent brews that combined to foster the totalitar ian regimes of the 20th century. Marx, whose ideas led to left-wing totalitarianism turned Hegel's dialectics on its head, converting the latter's predominance of ideas over reality to that of the material determining ideas of reality. For Marx, man is determined by his material or economic needs, forming superstructure for which social, moral and spiritual norms are erected. If mankind could take control of his economic life, and revolutionize it so that the workers will own the fruits of their labor, then all the other aspects of life could be wiped out clean, with oppressive relations disappearing and the mankind living in communal bliss. Far from blissful, the followers of Marx took cue on the deterministic flavor of his ideology from which the communist party became rather an organ of repression of dissent and of oppression in the dogmatic insistence on the interpretation of what constitutes and what will constitute reality. Nietzsche's ideas on the will to power and master morality on the other hand, were the Nazis' ticket to avenge Germany's humiliation after World War I. Morally relativistic, Nietzsche on the one hand when seem in a good light enjoins man to freedom, the creation of what one sees as fit for his life, without the encumbrances of societal traditions. But if used by a group or party out for political power, it had the most fantastic consequences where a nation could be made to believe that one's race is superior and consequently others are inferior - with the resulting Holocaust that killed millions of Jews in the altar of Aryanism.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

INDIVIDUAL REPORT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

INDIVIDUAL REPORT - Essay Example 6 Cultural relation and community cohesion†¦.. 7 Low wage keeps inflation low†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 7 Dynamism in economic activities †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 8 Business relation †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 8 Treats of migration†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 9 Low wages keep other workers wages low†¦.. 9 Increase in criminal acts:†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 9 Use of government subsidized services without paying taxes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 9 Sending money to home country:†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 9 Increased cost on society in terms of larger population †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 10 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â ‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 10 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 11 Introduction Economic migration and its impact on the economy has scarcely been out of public debates over the past few months, with many controversies to the extent of social and economic gain to the developed, developing and under developed countries from immigration. However, economic migration has presented greater opportunities for the same countries, particularly in economic term (Marangozov, 2007). Today’s economic world is witnessing economic or labor migration rapidly mainly due to the increased demand for low-wage workers in developed countries and lack of employment opportunities in developing countries. Both men and women are pursuing to work in other countries in order to support themselves and their families back home. This piece of research presents a brief rep ort on economic migration and its impact on developed countries. This paper analyzes various benefits and threats of economic migration to an economy. Key trends and characteristics: Immigrants are classified into two distinct groups, economic migrants , who are individuals searching for high standard jobs and economic security and refugees, who are individuals fleeing persecution in their home country (Cortes 2001, p,41). These two categories do of course overlap. Higher numbers of migrant workers are from the EU accession states that is the most leading trends of recent economic migration. Immigration levels to the developed countries have increased in recent years, mainly driven by on going economic growth in the UK and by the opening of the labor market to the new EU accession states since recently (Marangozov, 2007). For example, between three months in 2007, the number of applications from the A8 countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Latvia, Slovakia, and Slovenia) has been dropped to 50,000 from 52,000. The numbers thus have been coming to decline overall- during the above mentioned three months of the previous year, 56,000 workers registered (workpermit.com, 2007). The UK was one of the few EU nations opening its labor market to the ‘A8’ countries when they joined in 2004, causing a heavy inflow of immigration to the country. In response, the UK placed restrictions on some developing nationals when their countries joined the EU on January 2007 (workpermit.com) Worldwide Immigrants Statistics: Worldwide, there is around 191 million immigrants and the last 50 years have seen an almost doubling of immigration, out of them around 115 million migrants are living in developed countries; 38 million immigrants that account to be 20% are living in the US alone. According to some estimates, around 33% of all immigrants are living in Europe and a major portion of it lives in around 28 countries. Women immigrants

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

CHILDREN'S HEALTH Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CHILDREN'S HEALTH - Essay Example Generally, children who are uninsured face barriers to obtaining healthcare services.Un-insurance rates were the highest amongst children of ethnic minorities. The percentages of children uninsured were 6% for whites, 21% for Latinos, 15% for Native Americans, 7% for African Americans, and 4% for Asians or Pacific Islanders (Flores and Tomany-Korman, 2008a). There was a greater incidence of health problems with ethnic minorities comparedto the rest of the population including obesity, asthma, emotional difficulties, speech and behavioural problems, poor dental care, no dental or medical visit in the preceding 12 months and no access to prescription medications to name a few (Flores and Tomany-Korman, 2008a). It particular, children from certain ethnic groups had issues specific only to that group both in medical conditions and in gaining access to healthcare (Flores and Tomany-Korman, 2008a). In Latinos, there were problems with overall health and getting speciality treatment. In Afr ican Americans, hearing and vision problems, skin allergies along with dental issues and speech problems seemed prevalent and in Native Americans, hearing and vision problems were widespread.

Monday, September 23, 2019

Oil prices and its effect on the global market Term Paper

Oil prices and its effect on the global market - Term Paper Example The developing countries are heavily dependent on oil exporting countries for their import of petroleum products. So if there is a rise in oil prices only the oil exporting countries benefit while bringing a destructive effect on the developing nations. What really affects the oil prices is the demand and supply of oil which we are going to look into detail later. The global market saw a recent surge in oil prices since the last two years with the most recent rate of today being $124 per barrel (forex.com). It was predicted that the production of crude oil must be increased by the oil producing countries to bring the prices down. The Arab oil exporters held a meeting in early 2011 in Cairo to discuss this issue but refused to increase oil production as they believe that the supply is sufficient in the market. The oil prices rose to $ 94.74 per barrel this year since October 2008 when oil prices were record breaking high. The forecasted trend is an increase in oil prices in the coming weeks touching up to $ 100 a barrel. After the financial crisis of 2008, OPEC or Oil Producing and Exporting Countries decreased their level of output in order to deliberately create a shortage so that prices go up. In 2010, the demand for oil increased and is expected to increase more in 2011. OPEC must release some of their stock and raise the supply of oil or else the prices can rise to unprecedented level of $ 150 per barrel. These unfavorable conditions can lead the world into another crisis. Body: The trading of oil is one of the most significant trading done in the world. Crude oil is a primary ingredient in many energy manufacturing and services industries. I certainly believe that oil should not be treated on the commodity exchange because it can have significant impact on the world economy. So if there is a fluctuation in oil prices it affects oil producers and exporters both. The market price for any product is determined by the demand and supply of it in the market. The desire to want something is defined as demand or when you realize that you want a product, can afford it, and have made a definite plan to buy it. The law of demand means that other things remaining the same, the higher the price of the good, the smaller is the quantity demanded The higher price of any product will reduce the quantity demanded for two reasons. A notable economist, Kotler has found that one of the reason is the substitution effect, that is, when the price of a product rises, other things remaining the same, its opportunity cost rises. Although each good is unique but has its substitutes, for example the substitute of oil in an energy producing plant could be water or solar energy to produce electricity. As the opportunity cost of a product rises, people have a tendency to buy less of that and more of its substitute. Another reason for change in quantity demanded is the income effect. When a price changes and all other influences on buying plans remaining the same, t he price rises relative to people’s incomes. So faces with a higher price and an unchanged income, people cannot afford all the things they previously bought. Subsequently, the demanded quantity reduces. Price has an inverse relationship with demand (Kotler, 2006). A supply is more than just having the resources and the technology to produce something but the

Sunday, September 22, 2019

A Tale of Two Cities Essay Example for Free

A Tale of Two Cities Essay Throughout well-known stories, authors tend to develop memorable characters in order to enhance the plot; although they may not always be portrayed in the most considerate manner. In Charles Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities, he also uses such characters. First, Lucie’s role of over dramatic damsel in distress. Second, Miss Pross’ participation as the over protective mother figure. And third, Mme. Defarge as the bloodthirsty crazed villain. Through these characters, Dickens portrays women in the three most stereotypical demeanors: weak and fragile, a worrisome mother and a psychotic wife. Throughout the novel, Lucie is a feeble girl who cannot stand up to the hardships of life. â€Å"Perfectly still and silent, and not even fallen back in her chair, she sat under his hand, utterly insensible; with her eyes fixed upon him and with that last expression looking as if it were carved or branded in to her forehead† (Dickens 25). This is Lucie’s reaction to the news from Mr. Lorry that her father, presumed to be dead, has been found alive after spending eighteen years in the Bastille. Instead of a normal reaction of tears and joy, she is simply so stunned that she cannot even move; her expression of shock and fear is frozen upon her face. She reacts very similarly when she goes to meet  her father for the first time. Dickens writes, â€Å"Mr. Lorry got his arm securely round the daughter’s waist, and held that she was sinking†¦ ‘I am afraid of it’ she answered, shuddering. ‘Of it? What?’ ‘I mean of him. Of my father’ † (36). Of course it would be intimidating for her to meet her father for the first time in her life but she is on the verge of fainting a second time just from thinking about her father. She also does not even see him as human referring to him as â€Å"it†, not even wanting to approach her father. Finally, when her husband is taken away to prison, again she displays weakness, â€Å"As he went out at the prisoners’ door, she turned laid her head lovingly on her father’s breast, tried to speak to him and fell at his feet† (324). Yes it horrible to have her husband sentenced to death and is taken away to prison. But, she has a 6 year old daughter, she cannot give in to self-pity and weakness, it is the time for her to be strong not only for herself but for her daughter as well. It is important for her to see her mother strong and able to be there for her, but when she faints, her hope falls alongside her mother’s body. It seems Lucie has never had to really fight or be strong for anything in her life before. She acts like she always needs to rely upon someone else; she is very dependant upon others. Miss Pross’ role in the novel, although not very large, was nonetheless very important, especially for Lucie. Miss Pross was the mother figure in Lucie’s life, always caring for her and always nurturing her. When Lucie faints at the mention of her father, it is Miss Pross who is the first to her side: â€Å" ‘Why, look at you all!’ bawled this figure, addressing the inn servants. ‘Why don’t you go and fetch things, instead of standing there staring at me?†¦if you don’t bring smelling salts, cold water, and vinegar, quick, I  will’ † (26). She quickly takes charge of the situation and gives out orders in the same urgency as if it was her own daughter. It is also always Lucie for whom she is most concerned about: â€Å" ‘O me, O me! All is lost!’ cried she, wringing her hands. ‘What is to be told to Ladybird? He doesn’t know me, and is making shoes!’ † (187). Dr. Manette has a relapse and is no longer coherent. Miss Pross’ first concern is not restoring Dr. Manette back to health, but what the impact of seeing her father like this will do to Lucie. Finally, Miss Pross demonstrates her love for Lucie because she is willing to lay down her life for Lucie: â€Å" ‘I am a Briton,’ said Miss Pross, ‘I am desperate. I don’t care an English twopence for myself. I know that the longer I keep you here, the greater hope there is for my ladybird’ † (356). This demonstrates Miss Pross’ love for Lucie, risking her life in the hope that her sacrifice will keep Lucie safe. Miss Pross means well and is always looking out for Lucie and would do anything for her. However at times her actions are a bit eccentric. Finally, there is Mme Defarge, a very angry and vengeful woman. Mme Defarge takes it upon herself to make a register of all the nobility whom she proclaims as enemies to the revolution: â€Å" ‘Knitted in her own stiches and her own symbols, it will always be as plain to her as the sun. Confide in Madame Defarge. It would be easier for the weakest poltroon that lives, to erase himself from existence, than to erase one letter of his name of crimes from the knitted register of Madame Defarge’ † (166). This is M. Defarge explaining his wife’s register to others of the revolution, and saying that any who make it onto the register; will meet certain death. Not only does she register all  nobility in her knitting, but Mme Defarge also makes a point to remember the faces of anyone who is an enemy to the revolution: â€Å" ‘His appearance; is it known?’ ‘Age, about forty years; height, about five feet nine; black hair; complexion dark; generally, rather handsome visage; eyes dark, face thin, long and sallow; nose aquiline, but not straight, having a peculiar inclination towards the left cheek’†¦Ã¢â‚¬ËœIt is a portrait!’ said madame, laughing. ‘He shall be registered to-morrow’ † (171). Just from this short description, Mme Defarge already has a mental image of this man and even commits it to her memory. Finally, once she decides to kill someone, she will stop at nothing to kill them: â€Å" ‘I have been in the streets from the first, nothing has stopped me, I will tear you to pieces, but I will have you from that door’ † (356). This is Mme Defarge when she is confronting Miss Pross, telling her that she has been fighting in the streets for the revolution since day one, and nothing will keep her from killing Lucie as well. Mme Defarge’s rage and thirst for blood did greatly help the revolution. However, it became something that ultimately consumed her and turned her in to what she set out to destroy in the first place. It is through these characters that Dickens portrays women very unjustly. Lucie as delicate and flimsy, not being able to handle life’s hardships. Miss Pross as the overprotective mother, sometimes taking her job to the extreme. Mme Defarge as the crazed wife, always full of anger and violence. Even though women display these qualities from time to time, is it really fair to say that these traits define their whole character.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Strategies to Reduce Water Scarcity

Strategies to Reduce Water Scarcity Water Woes- how can you reduce fresh water scarcity in a country? Abstract The essay can be divided into three parts. First of all, it will introduce the fresh scarcity in Israel. secondly, it will discuss some questions and methods for the water scarcity in Israel. finally, I will give my own opinion and image what will the water scarcity be in the future in Israel. Introduction The essay is going to introduce that how to reduce fresh water scarcity in Israel. The water is very lacking in this country. Not only for human, but also for the animals and plants live this country. In the other hand, the government of Israel has tried many methods to reduce the fresh water scarcity. Even they had the war for the water. But still is powerless on this way. Per capita water for the people of Israel is only 150 MCM. But in fact the capita water they used have reached 290 MCM. Otherwise, because of the pollution from the industries, the water chemistry in local river is not good. At all, the best way to reduce the water scarcity in Israel is to combine many methods like artificial rainfall, the implementation of each person to save water with reward system, the use of recycled water to solve this problem. Methodology The plan for achieving research purpose for 3 stages. They are first collect all the methods that can reduce the fresh water scarcity. Next, compare these methods and get the finally few methods which are suitable for Israel. Finally, image to put these methods to Israel and compare the data from Israel. Check whether they are suitable for Israel. The most of the information I got was form Bing. Because this website is relatively large and reliable. Furthermore, I chose the resource as possible which has the author and the date of creation. In addition, I deliberately chose the information on the websites which have different data that I want to use as the sources I used. And I think the name of website which is socialistworker.org is the best website I found. Because it got a lot of useful information. For example, it introduces the terrain of Israel, the history of the methods which the government ever used before and so on. Findings There are two issues are serious about water scarcity in Israel. One issue is the per capita water for the people who lives in Israel uses too much. In the front of the essay, mentioned the per capita water for the people of Israel is only 150 MCM. But they did not save to use water. So the result of the usage amount is far beyond the standard. If Israel wants to reduce the fresh water scarcity. They must overcome this difficulty. I think that the government in Israel can give some policies. For example, if someone save to use water reach to some standard. He can get some money like this. Another issue is because of about 80% of water in Israel has already reused many times. The quality of the water is not good. In my opinion, Israel must find the other water resource. We all know, Israel face two seas. They can make full use of this condition. In my view, they need to vigorously develop the technology that can convert seawater into fresh water. Although the cost is very high. But if they solved the water scarcity problem, they can get more money return. Now the population of Israel is about 8 million 500 thousand. And the area of Israel is about 25740 square kilometers. Compare Israel with china. We all know that there are a lot of people in china and the per capita water for per Chinese is very low. But the per capita water for Israel people are only 1/4 of chinas per capita water. The chart shows the proportionof the water resources situation in Israel. The data came from http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/brief/Water.html and http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/scarcity.html Discussion In this section, this essay will evaluate the findings in light of the hypothesis firstly. Secondly, discuss the proposed solution. I think the content I wrote in the findings section is more clearly provides the solution. Then, combine the pie graph in the findings section and think about my proposed solution that is find other water resource. Form the graph, we can know that most of the fresh water of Israel is from seawater. This means my proposed solution is working. On the other hand, the problem about the per capita water for the Israel people. This is the most important problem actually. In this issue, the government of Israel has ruled that 100 liters of water per capita per day on average for the people in Israel. Expect the Palestinians. They can only get 70 liters of water per capita per day on average. Furthermore, in some areas, the figure is as low as 20 liters per day for Palestinians. By contrast, Israelis consume up to 300 liters per capita per day. That is unfair. I n addition, the local people in Israel are using too much water. They still not pay attention to the importance of water conservation. Although the government always propagandas water conservation. we can do a calculation. Lets say one local people in Israel use 300 liters per day and expect the Palestinians firstly. There are about 8 million 500 thousand people. It is amount of 255 million liters. It is a big number for a country which is lacking of the water. Conclusions and Recommendations In conclusion, the proposed solution that the essay mentioned is suitable for Israel after the comparison of the data and in light of the background of Israel. but actually the government of Israel is doing the solution that the essay given. Just not enough for reach the point that can solve the water scarcity. So, whether can solve the water scarcity in Israel fundamentally is depend on the per capita water the Israel people using. On the other hand, if the government of Israel limits the consume of water for Israel people compulsory too much. They will be unhappy and remonstrant absolutely. So, government must give some other benefits to instead of this. Finally, according to my research, Israel also use many other methods to get fresh water. One of them is artificial rainfall. This is the easiest way. Israel is the famous country that has the lowest natural resources. So, in my opinion, they should use many methods at the same time for saving water. Like use artificial rainfall, t he implementation of each person to save water with reward system, the use of recycled water to solve this problem. Reference list       Sumaya Awad, Apartheid Israels war on water (2016). Available from: https://socialistworker.org/2016/07/28/apartheid-israels-war-on-water [Accessed 29 December 2016] Water Resources of Israel(online). Available from: http://www.gsi.gov.il/eng/?CategoryID=112ArticleID=159 [Accessed 29 December 2016] Water in Israel: Israels Chronic Water Problem (2016). Available from: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/scarcity.html [Accessed 29 December 2016] Arwa Aburawa. Water And Israel The Facts (2011). Available from: http://www.greenprophet.com/2011/08/water-and-israel-the-facts/ [Accessed 29 December 2016]   Ã‚  

Friday, September 20, 2019

Aztecs Essay -- essays research papers

Aztec The Aztec Indians, who are known for their domination of southern and central Mexico, ruled between the 14th and 16th centuries. Their name is derived from Azatlan, the homeland of the north. The Aztecs also call themselves Mexica and there language came from the Nahuatlan branch of the Uto-Aztecan family.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Aztecs were formed after the Toltec civilization occurred when hundreds of civilians came towards Lake texcoco. Late families were unfortunate and were forced to go to the swamp lands. In the swamp lands there was only one piece of land to farm on and it was totally surrounded by more marshes . The Aztec families some how converted these disadvantages to a might empire known as they Aztec Empire. People say the empire was partially formed by a deeply believed legend. As the the legend went it said that Aztec people would create a empire on in a swampy place where they would see an eagle eating a snake while perched on a cactus which is growing out of a rock in the swamplands. This is what priests claimed they saw while entering the new land.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  By the year 1325 Their capital city was finished. They called it Tenochtitlan. In the the capital city aqueducts (piping) were constructed, bridges were built, and chinapas were made. Chinapas were little islands formed by pilled up mud. On these chinapas Aztecs grew corn, beans, chili peppers, squash, tomatoes, and tobacco. Tenochtitlan (the capital city) was covered in giant religious statues in order to pay their respects to the gods. In the Aztec religion numerous gods controlled an Aztec’s daily life. Some of these gods include: Uitzilpochtli (the sun god), Coyolxauhqui (the moon goddess), Tlaloc (the rain god), and Quetzalcoatl (the inventor of the calendar and writing). Another part of the Aztec religion was human sacrifices. For their sacrifices the priest would lay the man or woman over a convex (rounded) stone, then he would take a sharp knife and cut the victims heart out. They did this because they believed that good gods could prevent bad gods from doing evil things and they also believed that good gods got their strength from human blood and hearts so they had sacrifices in order to keep their gods strong. For major rituals warriors were sacrificed, for the warrior this was one of the greatest hon... ...eternity. The earth was thus created through fire and death; the earth mother had fallen, the moon goddess was dead, and her brothers slaughtered.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  And so is the story of the Aztec creation. They based their lifestyle on the examples set by the gods and goddesses in the story, thus they led violent lives. The Aztecs saw no wrong in torturing, maiming, and decapitating their neighbors for the gods. They were a savage people, and this savagery would be their downfall.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1519 Hernando Cortes` led over 500 men into Aztec territory in search of gold, what he found were the magnificent golden statues of the Aztec deities. The Aztecs believed him to be the representative for some white skinned god, and hence feared and respected him. It was not until they saw him melting their statues and shipping the blocks of gold to Spain that they acted. They attacked Hernanado and his men, and succeeded in driving them off. However, Cortes returned later with the support of local Indian tribes that hated the Aztecs for centuries of cruel treatment to defeat the mighty Aztecs and take the empire. This ended the Aztec civilization forever.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Kinesthesis in Science :: Graduate Admissions Essays

Kinesthesis in Science Especially to the uninitiated, learning science can be daunting. A primary contribution to this problem is the fact that too often science lectures are overly formal, and they employ a notation--namely the language of math-which ostensibly is transparent to only an elite few. The belief behind my remedy to this difficulty is that any physical problem, as well as all of the associated formalism, can be rendered not only intelligible but even pleasurable if the student first achieves a gut sense of the physical situation. Put plainly, all of the math in any science class makes sense if the student first has an intuitive mental picture of exactly what is going on. Once this physical picture is in place, it serves as a framework upon which the formal treatment can hang. And when the formal treatment flows intelligibly with a student's gut picture of the situation, the subsequent sense of insight is no less than thrilling. So how to instill this essential physical picture? I have found that getting students up out of their chairs and physically acting out a problem, though it may feel ridiculous, is an incredibly effective tool for instilling a gut-level physical intuition about any scientific situation. Need to understand tides? Link hands and form a circle to represent the Earth's hydrosphere. Pick volunteers for the sun and the moon. Distort the human hydrosphere appropriately, then let each student stand in the middle, being the Earth, physically witnessing the succession of high and low tides. Though it may appear laughable at first glance, actually acting out a given situation instills the physical sense of why behind the formalism to come. Once this instinct is in place, the rest of the discussion is well-motivated, and the formalism will make sense. Moreover, it is very unlikely that a student will forget one of these exercises. I have found that retention of material so introduced is near perf ect. As an ancillary benefit, the mere fact that the students are out of their seats during these human models, moving and laughing and bumping into each other, serves extraordinarily effectively to obliterate the impetus against asking questions in the classroom. The students have already felt silly and seen their instructor acting silly. In that respect, everyone is on equal footing, and the classroom becomes a safe environment for verbalizing concerns. Additionally, the enhanced physical and verbal interaction involved in kinesthetic modeling enormously smoothes the implementation of cooperative learning, since the "ice," so to speak, has long been broken.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Depression Essay -- essays research papers fc

People suffering from depression experience a lasting and continuously depressed mood that interferes with the ability to function, feel pleasure, and even maintain interest in life. The occasional feeling of being â€Å"blue† does not usually cause a downward spiral into depression. People suffering from major depressive episodes may feel so fatigued that they cannot go to work, school, or even do the simple things we take for granted. They may sleep day and night, have problems concentrating, and feel so deeply sad and guilty. This could lead to infinite thoughts of suicide. Thus showing that depression has an effect on a person’s mind and personal life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When depression ends, most people return to a â€Å"normal† emotional level. In some cases, however, people rebound to the opposite state, also known as, â€Å"mania.† The spectrum of manic symptoms can be quite severe, ranging from cyclothymia to severe delusional mania. Cyclothymia, which usually starts in the adolescent years or early adulthood, is also known as fluctuations of mood between mild elation and depression (Daly 1997). The most common form of manic depression is the bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is characterized by clinically marked mood swings between mania and depression (Daly 1997). These forms of manic depression are obtained in many ways. They can be passed on generation to generation within a family. It can also be obtained through the use of drugs as well as alcohol. Yet, one of the major causes for mania is neurological lesions or other states affecting the brain (Daly 1997).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When a person is diagnosed with manic depression, he or she will have certain outbreaks and episodes that range in severity and outcome. Clinical description and diagnosis of a manic depressant may begin abruptly, over the space of a few hours or days, or gradually over some weeks. The subjective experience of mania in its minor form usually includes heightened feelings of well being with increased alertness and drive, inflated self-esteem, and expansive sociability (Daly 1997). In addition to the increased sense, irritability may easily be evoked, and other mood states such as anxiety or sadness, brief but intensely expressed, may become apparent (Daly 1997). As mania deepens, over-activity and excessive talkativeness become more obvious. These are the signs of... ...tection or out of consideration for others (Gonzalez-Heydrich 1996).† As we grow older our minds expand. Depression can set in at an early point in your life or late into it. Traumatic episodes and even thoughts can play a role in the dilemma of depression. This disease can be controlled, yet think about those who cannot afford the treatment. Who do they turn to? They are going to live the rest of their lives in an altered state of depression forever. Works Cited Croghan, W. Thomas, Obenchain, L. Robert, and Crown E. William. July 1998. What does Treatment of Depression really Cost? Health Affairs. Daly, Ian. Mania. Lancet 1997:349 (9059): 1157-1160. Gonzalez-Heydrich, Joseph. The Depresses Child and Adolescent: Development and Clinical Perspectives. N Engl J Med; 334: 1410-1411. Hirschfeld, M.A. Robert, & Russell M., James. 1997. Current Concepts: Assessment and Treatment of Suicidal Patients. N Engl J Med; 337: 910-915. Partonen, Timo, & Lonnqvist, Jouko. 1998. Seasonal Affective Disorder. Lancet 1998; 352 (9137):1369-1374. Price, H. Lawerence, & Heninger, R. George. 1994. Drug Therapy: Lithium in the Treatment of Mood Disorders. N Engl J Med 1994; 331: 591-598.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Sustainable Competitive Advantage (SCA)

1. Sustainable Competitive Advantage (SCA) is a corporate strategy’s focal point and it is present. SCA is facilitates the improvement and maintenance of an enterprise’s ability to of earning returns on its investment that is higher than the cost incurred in the investment. Since market competition is inevitable and keeps on increasing as businesses and technologies take a more modern avenue, an enterprise has to survive in this competition by employing a unique value-creating strategy.This survival is only achievable by the adoption of the sustainable facet of competitive advantage. Moreover, the market conditions undergo frequent transformations and as a result, development of existing and creation of new resources and capabilities by the enterprise ought to be instituted. The above constitutes the elements of sustainable competitive advantage (Thompson, Bernard, 2003). Business organizations aim at being distinct and able to reproduce in their activities. These alien ate them from their competitors in the eyes of the consumer.Since the competitors are not in a position to duplicate these values, the firm remains to be sustainably competitive. 2. Organizations ought to utilize software service providers for all their software needs because of various reasons that are very consequential to the organization in question. To begin with, these providers more often than not offer software that is genuine and free from bugs. This ensures that the outcomes realized from the use of the software are certainly correct.Guarantee is provided for the software. Besides, technical support is always available from the providers hence enables the employees of the organization make queries in areas that they find challenging through out. Updates for the software are also catered for by the providers and this lowers the maintenance cost. Software service providers beep up the security of the organization’s sensitive information since they are more secretive a nd they are obliged to compensate for any malfunctioning or failure of their product.Additionally, in choosing of the service provider, the firm ought to assess compatibility of the software with their systems, the ease to access the provider for updates or modifications and also the technological qualifications of the service providers (Thompson, Bernard, 2003). More important, the cost to be incurred in providing the service should be within the organization’s ability.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Pink-Dear Mr President Analysis

Pink wrote the song â€Å"Dear Mr. President,† on Martin Luther King Day in 2005. The song was released as a single in 2007 and became apart of her album I’m Not Dead. The song is a direct criticism of President George W. Bush and the policies of his administration. Pink addresses the major concerns of most Americans. The song begins â€Å"Dear Mr. President/ Come take a walk with me. Let’s pretend we’re just two people and/ You’re not better than me. † By stating this as an invitation Pink is directly asking the President to listen to her opinions.Through equalizing social standings, she is diminishing the respect that the President demands, Pink is stating that she will be truthful with him and not sugar coat Tanya Kaplan Song Analysis 03/10/09 her opinions. She will tell him the truth about what everyone is thinking but no one is willing to tell him directly. She states, â€Å"You have come along way from whiskey and cocaine,† addre ssing Mr. Bush’s tainted past, which the media seems to ignore. Pink asks Mr. Bush who he prays for at night. She also asks how he feels when he looks in the mirror and if he is proud of himself.These statements address that Mr. Bush forgot to make good on his promises to help people. He had the power to change society and be a positive force for society but failed to do so. Pink then asks Mr. Bush to look her in the eye, this is a sign that she is aware that he is not proud of his own and is unable to face his own actions, she is challenging him to state that he is proud of his actions. She is also addressing the political corruption that is believed to have occurred in the Bush administration.There are many policies, that were enacted, such as political detainees, which the President directly partook in, while the policy blatantly violated the principles set forth in our constitution. Pink addresses many social issues during this song. â€Å"How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye?†¦ Rebuilding your house after the bombs took them away,† this is a direct attack on the President’s Iraq war policy. There are thousands of mothers who have lost their children in the war on Iraq; some are soldiers while others are innocent children who are ystanders. During the Presidential Election of 2008, the majority of people stated that they did not support the war in Iraq; however, when this song was written it was very uncommon to have a majority of the people not support the war, let alone discuss the destruction that we are inflicting on the residents of Iraq and their infrastructure. The media did not portray the mass destruction inflicted on the country of Iraq or report the effect that the war was having on military families.There are additional hot button social issues that Pink addresses with the President through her song. She states â€Å"What kind of father would take his own daughter’s rights away? And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay? I can only imagine what the first lady has to say. † Tanya Kaplan Song Analysis 03/10/09 These statements denote George Bush’s policy of anti? abortion, his attempt to refute the Rowe v. Wade decision and to take away a women’s right to abortion.These statements also call into question the administrations anti? gay policies. Ironically Vice? President Cheney’s daughter is gay. It is near impossible to imagine how the President can instill his anti? gay rhetoric while his second in command’s child part takes in a homosexual lifestyle. One must truly wonder what the first lady does say to Mr. Bush, when such a close family friend is directly being affected by his distorted view of appropriate sexuality. Pink also address the non? action that was insinuated by the no child left behind act.The President adamantly states that he is helping the education system in the country through this act, ye t he fails to provide any sort of funding to instill his policy changes. How can one expect to implement new policies yet not provide any funds to do so, while billions of dollars are being spent to make war? Poverty is addressed when Pink explains that Mr. Bush has no idea what it is like to work from minimum wage and be pregnant, or how it would feel to sleep in a cardboard box. She states Mr. Bush knows nothing about hard work.This is a very plausible assertion considering that his own father was the President and he was raised in a more affluent segment of society. The song â€Å"Dear Mr. President† did not get large amounts of play time on the United States radio, in fact it got very little airtime. Pink was quoted as saying that she wrote the song as an attack on the President and his administration to prove that she could and what a great country that we live in to allow her to do so. The song provides for a valid attack on the policies of the Bush administration and o f President Bush himself.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Being an Outsider is Detrimental Essay

An outsider is a person who does not belong to a particular group, who is not accepted and is consequently isolated. However, to not belong can be detrimental as we all have an intrinsic need to belong. To belong implies an understanding of the needs of the individual and the group and negotiating a way towards acceptance of those needs. On the other hand, exclusion occurs when the individual and the group fails to understand one another, which can be detrimental. These ideas are demonstrated in Alex Buzo’s play â€Å"Norm and Ahmed† and in the poem â€Å"Kimberley† by Jackie Kay. Often we search for a sense of belonging to place and when we do not find it, we are not fulfilled. In the play, â€Å"Norm and Ahmed† Ahmed, an Indian, has little connection to Australian culture and therefore sees himself as an outsider. This is immediately evident in the way he dresses in his traditional Nehru style suit which is juxtaposed to Norm, an Australian, who wears typical male western style of clothing of â€Å"open-necked white shirt and grey trousers.† To remind Ahmed that he is an outsider, Norm repeats the phrase â€Å"a visitor to this country†, and he also assumes that all South Asian people are Indians, stereotyping India as an uncivilised country filled with dangerous â€Å"Bombay stranglers†. This metaphor shows that Norm makes sure that Ahmed is regarded as an outsider by talking in a superior tone and debasing India through juxtaposition and contrast of Sydney and Bombay as â€Å"this isn’t India mate, you’re in Sydney†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦you’re quite safe†. Furthermore, Norm is constantly reinforcing Ahmed’s ethnicity and feelings of being an outsider through derogatory terms such as â€Å"boong† and â€Å"chow† because he himself feels confident in being an insider of the Australian culture. Norm’s body language described in strong present participles as â€Å"prowling† â€Å"circling† and â€Å"grabbing† and stage directions reinforce Norm’s confidence and intimidation telling Ahmed that he is an outsider. Norm believes that Ahmed is not entitled to make judgements about Australia stating â€Å"I wouldn’t throw my weight around in someone else’s country.†This shows that a person of a different ethnic background will be made to feel an outsider and alienated if those of the main culture do not make an effort to include them.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Consumer Behaviour Essay

Executive Summary In this consumer behavior assignment, I used report formal. Besides that, the product that has given me the highest satisfaction when I purchased is Sony Xperia S, and I had to decide and choose Sony Xperia S this product for my consumer behavior assignment. In this consumer behavior assignment, I have introduced the product history, product background, criterias or features of product and the consumer behavior theory that relevant to my purchasing. Meanwhile, I have provided some picture of Sony Xperia S to make my explanation more distinct. Introduction of Sony Xperia S and consumer behavior theory related with Sony Xperia S and me. 1.0 Sony Ericsson’s History Sony Ericsson was established by two companies, which are Sony Corporation and Ericsson, founded in 2001 (Telford, 2008). Lars Magnus Ericsson is the creator and the director of the Ericsson Company, and he is the first person who mended telegraph equipment and opens telegraph repair workshop in Sweden, founded in 1876. After two year, he started worked with his employee to design and manufactured out the first telegraph called â€Å"electrical speech machine’’ in Ericsson Company (Nilsson, 2001). Following figure 1.1 shows the electrical speech machine. Figure 1.1 Japan country is the first created Sony product. Formerly, all Sony products are under by Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Company. In 1958, the name of company was officially changed to Sony Corporation and established in Nihonbashi. In 1968, Sony product was a famous technology product in global technology market. Meanwhile, Sony Corporation succeeded as one of the best consumer electronic brands in the world. In 2001 October, Sony Corporation and Ericsson agreed to cooperate and create a Sony Ericsson brand phone, meanwhile Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB was established from 2001 until present. Sony Ericsson C1002S is the first phone released from Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB. Following figure 1.2 shows the Sony Ericsson C1002S. Figure 1.2 Beside that, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB vision statement is to become the communication entertainment brand and mission statement is to provide quality end to end communication services to small and medium sized corporate business (coolpatil, 2010). 2.0 Sony Xperia S Background In this era, smartphone is a very popular electronic phone for all people, such as Iphone, Sony Xperia, Samsung galaxy, HTC and so on. Besides that, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB was released and created many different model, different design, and different specifications of phone. For example, the first generation Sony Ericsson mobile phone was keypad phone. Next, in second generation, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB used Walkman and Cybershot camera combine it together with Sony Ericsson phone and released to consumers. The second generation mobile phone is to attract consumers, who likes to take photo and likes listen music or song. Furthermore, in third generation, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB released and manufactured smartphone to consumer like Sony Xperia S. As a result, we can see Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB was created every new phone depend on future generation. 3.0 Nature of Sony Xperia S The product I choose for this assignment is Sony Xperia S. In 5 March 2012, Sony Xperia S was emerging to all country (McCann, 2012). Sony Xperia S is an Android Gingerbread device, which is upgradable to Android ICS. Sony Xperia S just one simple squares, curves, and vogue look external design. Meanwhile, Sony Xperia S possesses the transparent strip below the display and display screen of the phone is 4.3-inch with Sony’s Bravia HD technology wide and it has a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels and measurement was 128 x 64 x 10.6mm. The weight of Sony Xperia S is 144grams and it is only 10.6mm thickness. Furthermore, Sony Xperia S just available two colours, that is black and white (Diangson, 2012 ). Following figure 3.1 shows the introduction of Sony Xperia S. Figure 3.1 After that, figure 3.2 shows Sony Xperia S having a 3.5mm headphone jack and unlock buttons or power on the top. Besides that, figure 3.3 shows on the right side having a volume buttons, a dedicated camera button, a HDMI out socket (the cable came in our box) and figure 3.4 shows flap-covered Micro USB on the left side (Savov, 2012). In figure 3.5 shows the front of the phone possesses the front facing 1.3megapixel camera. Moreover, figure 3.6 shows the rear cover possess camera 12-megapixel lens, LED flash light, secondary mic, loudspeaker and at the bottom of the phone are present Sony Ericsson logo (Lavelle, 2012). Figure 3.2 Figure 3.3 Figure 3.4 Figure 3.5 Figure 3.6 4.0 The criterias or features of Sony Xperia S The criteria or features of Sony Xperia S that I felt most satisfying are Sony Xperia S’s specification because there are many different types of specification available and inside Sony Xperia S. Which are, PlayStation Certified, high-definition display, HD Video playback, great camera capture, and android application system (Warman, 2012). In this era, I believe most teenage (especially male), prefer to play video game with their computer, phone and game consoles. Besides that, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB used and applies PlayStation Certified and install into Sony Xperia S (Bell, 2012). The role of PlayStation Certified inside the Sony Xperia S is showing out the fantastic HD game display and able to connect to television and enjoy a wide range of games on the big screen. Meanwhile, PlayStation certified also able to receive 3D games and high graphic game like Need for Speed Shift by EA (Bell, 2012). Moreover, PlayStation Certified inside the Sony Xperia S are being a lot of convenient to me, because I can save more money to buy Play Station 2 or Play Station 3 and CD game. Besides that, I can free download some of game via internet. Following figure 4.1 shows the Sony Xperia S possesses PlayStation Certified. Figure 4.1 Besides that, I believe many of consumers same as me prefer high-definition display on their own mobile phone. Meanwhile, Sony Xperia S possesses 342 pixels per inch and 4.3†³ screen with Mobile BRAVIA Engine to present out the performance of extremely sharp images and HD screen (Savov, 2012). Mobile BRAVIA Engine also able to present out more than 16 million colors, in order to the video games, picture or images and video display present more clearly with high performance detail. This Mobile BRAVIA Engine is to fulfill consumers, who like to seek for ultimate visual crispness (Savov, 2012). Meanwhile, I feel that, Sony Xperia S’s screen is clearly than Iphone and Samsung galaxy’s screen. Following figure 4.2 shows the screen performance of Mobile BRAVIA Engine. Figure 4.2 Furthermore, I am most satisfying in Sony Xperia S HD Video playback, because I like recording video with clear graphics in the celebration of birthday with friends and family or other interesting of event (Lavelle, 2012). When I playback any of the video, it is able to play in HD videos and streaming, because Sony Xperia S possesses HD video recording and can be done at 1080p and 30 fps. Besides that, Sony Xperia S having a great HD Video playback means having a great deep impression for me (Lavelle, 2012). Following figure 4.3 shows the performance of HD Video playback. Figure 4.3 Besides that, I also prefer to use Sony Xperia S to capture any picture and scenery, because Sony Xperia S camera features an impressive 12 MP camera that can take pictures with HD clarity (Lavelle, 2012). After pictures is taken, Sony Xperia S able to improve the image quality. Sony Xperia S also possesses ready to shoot in short order, it mean that, Sony Xperia S able to take 2 or 3 picture in one second (Warman, 2012). Furthermore, I were pleasantly surprised during under bright conditions, Sony Xperia S’s Exmor R sensor will automatically focus in bright conditions to capture out a picture still in great clarity (Diangson, 2012 ). Refer to figure 4.4 Sony Xperia S’s camera also possesses special features like a self timer, autofocus, scene recognition and 3D sweep panorama to view picture on the multi-angle 3D display (Savov, 2012). Following figure 4.5shows the performance of capture image. When I compare Sony Xperia S and Iphone, I feel that Iphone are possess seldom features. For example, Iphone not provide landscape mode, night scene mode, and beach or snow mode. Figure 4.4 Figure 4.5 Lastly, I also like android application system in Sony Xperia S, because it’s convenient to me download any apps like games, entertainment, news, music, media and video via android. Besides that, most apps are free download like angry bird, temple run and draw something. Moreover, all the android apps are easy to download, high speed, convenient and download according to your tastes (Diangson, 2012 ). Furthermore, it helps me done the work early, save time, and many of apps to fulfill me. Following figure 4.6 shows the Sony Xperia S using android application system. Figure 4.6 5.0 Consumer behavior theory that relevant to my purchasing The first theory was influence me with Sony Xperia S is opinion leadership. The definition of opinion leadership is a one person influence and persuades the buying behavior of others. After that, I felt the celebrities or spokespeople influence and persuade me to purchasing Sony Xperia S is Daniel Craig, who is the character of James Bond in 007 movie and Skyfall movie. Opinion leadership theory that linked to me is high esteem by those that accept Daniel Craig opinions. High esteem will give me a boost of strong confidence, because Daniel Craig in character of James Bond is a strong man and smart. Daniel Craig is a main Sony’s consumer innovator. Following figure 5.1 shows the Daniel Craig represent Sony smartphone. Figure 5.1 The second theory I was learn is learning theory. Learning theory is a model of psychology that explains human learning about purchase product or service, gain wisdom and experience for future use. I felt my mind just only focus on Sony Xperia S, because I believe everybody same as me know Sony products is reliable and famous brand in global’s electronic product. The learning theory that linked to me is knowledge. Knowledge will improve my wisdom. Besides that, that, more Sony’s product advancement, more knowledge and experience I received. Following figure 5.2 shows the famous brand name Sony. Figure 5.2 The third theory was involving Sony Xperia S and me is perception. The definition of perception is the process of acquiring, selecting, interpreting and organizing sensory information. I felt all Sony products like Sony Xperia S was attracted me to purchase, when I watched Sony Xperia S advertisement. Perception theory that linked to me is sensation. A good Sony Xperia S advertisement, influence me to buy and try Sony Xperia S. Furthermore, information inputs also involve in my sensation. For example, sight, hearing and touch. When I sight on Sony Xperia S advertisement and I felt that, Sony Xperia S is a new product. Moreover, when I hear introduction of Sony Xperia S and I felt that, Sony Xperia S is a good specification smartphone. Lastly, when I go to Sony shop and I try to touch Sony Xperia S and I felt that, Sony Xperia S is a high quality smartphone. Following figure 5.3 shows Sony Xperia S’s advertisement poster. Figure 5.3 The fourth theory was involving Sony Xperia S and me is personality. Personality is a set of internal traits and distinct behavioral tendencies that result in consistent patterns of behavior in certain situation. I felt my personality is just only like Sony product, because I’m also a Sony’s fans. Personality theory that linked to me is self-concept. Self – concept give me a boost of decision making, because I will follow my personality to make a decision. For example, I see most of my friend like to use Iphone, but I want to different with them, so I decide to choose Sony Xperia S. Besides that, I like android application system more than apple store application system. Following figure 5.4 shows android application system available in Sony Xperia S. Figure 5.4 The last theory was involving Sony Xperia S and me is reference group. The definition of reference group is individual identifies with the group to the extent that he takes on many of the values, attitudes or behaviors of the group members. Reference group theory that linked to me is families and friends. Families are a one group influences me to choose Sony Xperia S, because my father and mother also like to use Sony’s product. For example, my mother always buys Sony’s music speaker and my father like to use Sony’s laptop. Besides that, friends also influence me, because most of my friends like to purchase Sony walkman, Sony camera, and Sony laptop. When having this reference group, I prefer to follow brands that my families and friends choose. Conclusion In conclusion, Sony Xperia S is a great smartphone for us, because Sony Xperia S provides a lot of convenience to us. For example, improve our standard of living, save time, and solve a lot of problem. Besides that, several different type of consumer behavior theory related Sony Xperia S and me. Each type of consumer behavior theory will explain and describe the definition. Meanwhile, consumer behavior is related with our human life, and human’s perception. Moreover, different people have a different type of personal behavior.