The Looshaus Scandal How Adolf Loos Shocked Vienna

Franz Josef, Emperor of Austria, was outraged: Directly across Michaelerplatz from the Imperial Palace, an upstart architect, Adolf Loos, was building a modern monstrosity. The year was 1909. More than seven centuries went into the creation of the Imperial Palace, also known as the Hofburg. The grandiose Baroque style palace was a vast complex of highly ornamented architecture, including six museums, a national library, government buildings, and the imperial apartments. The entrance, the Michaelertor, is guarded by grandiose statues of Hercules and other heroic figures. And then, steps away from the ornate Michaelertor is the Goldman and Salatsch building. What became known as the Looshaus, this modern building of steel and concrete was a total rejection of the neighborhood palace across the city square. Adolf Loos Controversial Architectural Style Adolf Loos (1870-1933) was a functionalist who believed in simplicity. He had traveled to America and admired the work of Louis Sullivan. When Loos returned to Vienna, he brought with him new modernity in both style and construction. Along with the architecture of Otto Wagner (1841-1918), Loos ushered in what became known as Vienna Moderne (Viennese Modern or Wiener Moderne). The palace people were not happy. Loos felt that lack of ornamentation was a sign of spiritual strength, and his writings include a study about the relation between ornament and crime. ... the evolution of culture marches with the elimination of ornament from useful objects.Adolf Loos, from Ornament Crime The Loos House was simple all right. Like a woman with no eyebrows, people said because the windows lacked decorative details. For a while, window boxes were installed. But this did not solve the deeper problem. The dishes of past centuries, which display all kinds of ornaments to make peacocks, pheasants and lobsters look more tasty, have exactly the opposite effect on me... I am horrified when I go through a cookery exhibition and think that I am meant to eat these stuffed carcasses. I eat roast beef.Adolf Loos, from Ornament Crime A Deeper Problem Behind the Style The deeper problem was that this building was secretive. Baroque architecture such as the neo-Baroque Michaelertor entrance is effusive and revealing. Rooftop statues strike poses to announce what lies inside. In contrast, the gray marble pillars and plain windows on the Loos House said nothing. In 1912, when the building was completed, it was a tailor shop. But there were no symbols or sculptures to suggest clothing or commerce. To observers on the street, the building could just as easily have been a bank. And indeed, it did become a bank in later years. Perhaps there was something foreboding in this — as though the building suggested that Vienna was moving into a troubled, transient world where occupants would stay for only a few years, and then move on. The statue of Hercules at the palace gates appeared to scowl across the cobbled road at the offending building. Some say that even the little dogs, pulling their masters along Michaelerplatz, lifted their noses in disgust. Sources Ornament and Crime: Selected Essays by Adolf LoosThe Looshaus by Christopher Long, Yale University Press, 2012

Essay on Antigone Is a Tragedy by Aristotles Rules

What are Aristotle’s five rules that are necessary to a tragedy? The play Antigone by Sophocles is considered a tragedy. There are five rules created by Aristotle that classify a tragedy. All plays must have catharsis, a tragic hero, a change in fortune within a character, must be poetic, and happen in one location, in one day, and it is all closely related. Two main characters are the king Creon and a girl named Antigone. Antigone is a tragedy because it exhibits and follows all five of Aristotle’s rules. The first rule of Greek tragedy is it must have catharsis. Catharsis is having pity or terror. A character must scare the audience or make the audience feel bad for them. After the play audience must want to lead a better life. In†¦show more content†¦Catharsis is a big part of Antigone and also Greek tragedy. When you want to have a play that is a tragedy, a tragic hero is necessary. This tragic hero must be of high social standing. They must have a tragic f law, something bad in their character, or make a bad decision that ruins a lot of people’s lives. The tragic hero in Antigone is Creon, the king. Creon is of high social standing because he is the king of Thebes. His major tragic flaw is he is arrogant. I will bring her there the path is loneliest, / and hide her alive in a rocky cavern there. I’ll give just enough food as shall suffice†¦ / Perhaps she will win from him escape from death / or at least in that last moment will recognize / her honoring of the dead is a labor lost (833-842) In this quote Creon is making himself look like he is taking charge and punishing Antigone harshly. He is trying to amplify what he plans to do to Antigone. He is being too proud. In reality, though, he did not do these things to the degree he boasts about to Antigone. Creon makes it seem that he is cruel, but he really is not as cruel as he appears. Another time, the prophet is calling Creon out. Yield to the dead man; do not stab him– / now he is gone—what bravery is this, / to inflict another death apon the dead? I mean you well and speak well for your good. It is never sweeter to learn from a good counselor / than when he counsels to your benefit.† (1078-1083) In this quote, the prophet is callingShow MoreRelatedThe Tragic Criteria Present in Antigone by Sophocles861 Words   |  4 Pagesend a tragedy is through conspiracies, love, or hatred. In the story Antigone written by Sophocles, it demonstrates a tragedy filled with consequences to the characters. Antigone shows similarities to Aristotle’s paradigm because of the plot, characterization, and actions that were pursued throughout this story. In Aristotle’s Poetics, he puts his view of how a tragedy should be portrayed to make the concept of it more understandable towards the audience. Through the usages of Aristotle’s criteriaRead MoreAristotle and Nicomachean Ethics1382 Words   |  6 Pageshappiness. By using Sophocless Antigone, I will support Aristotles theory of virtue in which he reasons it to be a state of character between two extremes. A virtue that remains relevant today as it did during Aristotles era is that of courage. By using Aristotles account on what represents the virtue of courage, I will demonstrate how it could be applied to the dilemma the characters of Antigone encounter. Even his definition of justice is based on the notion that rule and legal doctrine should lieRead MoreEssay about Plato and Aristotles Definition of Art1274 Words   |  6 Pageson the matter. Their views were greatly influenced by their metaphysical beliefs, as were most philosophical theories at the time. In investigating the two philosophers’ conceptions, Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone will be the subject on which they’ll be examined critically. In order to grasp Aristotle’s views on art it is important to look at his metaphysics first. However, since his metaphysics are essentially a response to the theories of his teacher, it is central to our examinations to familiarizeRead MoreCreon Is The Tragic Hero Of Antigone734 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"Theres nothing, no pain, our lives are paid, in private shame, no public disgrace, nothing I havent seen in your griefs and mine†(Antigone 1-8). The Burial at Thebes is a version of Sophocles’ Antigone translated by Seamus Heaney. Antigone is a tragedy by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles written around 442 BCE. The civil war is over. After the tragic death of the Oedipus, everyone would take the throne from one year to the next. Creon orders Eteocles to be buried with full honors, whileRead MoreComparing Aristotle s The Play Antigone 1066 Words   |  5 Pageswithin the play. Aristotle believed that it took all of these elements to create a good pie ce of literature. The play Antigone by Sophocles contains all of Aristotle’s poetics in one way or another. This review will focus on the elements of plot, character, and melody. Aristotle says that a plot is essential to any story, so of course it must be reviewed. The plot of a Greek tragedy typically has a certain structure. The structure is made up of 5 parts; the prologue, the parode, the episode, theRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Antigone And Aristotles Description Of A Classic Hero864 Words   |  4 Pages The tragedy of Antigone is an amazing story of the tragedy that Thebes experienced. At the end of the story one is still left wondering who is the hero and who is the villain. This question has been asked since the story was ever told. After reading the story I am going to explain why Creon best suits the role of hero according to Aristotle’s description of a classic hero. Aristotle wrote six characteristics of a classic hero and I am going to use them to explain why Creon is the hero. TheRead More Pathetic vs Ethical1997 Words   |  8 PagesAristotle’s Poetics is a â€Å"reservoir of the themes and schemes deployed in ancient Greek tragedy and poetry† (Poetics iii). Written around 330 B.C., it was the first work of literature to make a distinction amongst the various literary genres and provide a proper analysis of them. In Poetics, Aristotle places a big emphasis on the genre of tragedy. When one hears of the word tragedy, one already assumes that something bad has occurred to an individual and an immediate emotion of sorrow occurs, butRead MoreHow Does Humanity Still Afford The Time?1422 Words   |  6 Pagesthis is Aristotle. Despite living in a time when not many means were available, he effectively constructed a definition that allows humanity to fully comprehend tragic heroes of drama. Using Aristotle’s criteria, one can identify Sophocles’s antagonist, Creon, as a tragic hero. Creon complies with Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero by possessing high status in his society and being neither all benign nor all evil. He fulfills the first of these requirements by being the king of Thebes. AfterRead MoreCreon as Tragic Hero1586 Words   |  7 PagesTragedy at its Finest In the Greek play Antigone, Creon and Antigone can both be claimed the title of Tragic Hero. Creon was made king when Oedipus Rex fled the kingship. Creon is the brother in law of Oedipus, and was giving the kingship only because Oedipus’s sons, Eteocles and Polyneices were killed trying to fight for the thrown. Antigone is Oedipus’s daughter and Creon’s niece. When it comes down to who the tragic hero is, Creon most definitely walks away with the title. A tragic heroRead MoreCreon: A Tragic Hero in Antigone606 Words   |  2 Pagestragic heros fit perfectly into both categories. In Sophocles’ Antigone, Creon is considered a tragic hero. Creon follows Aristotles definition of a tragic hero by being a noble character by choice, having important potential, and falls due to miscalculations with circumstances that are beyond control. Being noble does not always mean being a ruler, or a member of a royal family. Being noble can mean many other things. In Antigone, Creon becomes a noble character by choice when he slowly and

Malls Are Actually a Haven for Crime Free Essays

Imagine getting out of your car to go shopping at the mall. You do not plan on staying long; you just have some more Christmas shopping that you need to do. You have your budget, your list of items to buy, and you are in a hurry to get it all done by the time the mall closes. We will write a custom essay sample on Malls Are Actually a Haven for Crime or any similar topic only for you Order Now You are proud of yourself for how organized you are. It seems that you have everything planned according to what you need, however, that is not the case.   As you walk into the first store on your list, you reach for your wallet and realize that it is gone. You dig in your pockets, but find no trace. While you were in the mall, someone had stolen your wallet. One thing that you did not plan on was to be a victim of a mall crime. Although malls seem fun and relatively safe, the rate of crime that occurs at malls is growing higher and higher. From credit card theft to sex crimes, the mall is no longer a place that you can stroll through without any worries. The mall is now a haven for crime. In this argument, we will review the amount of crimes that occur in malls, the people who are targeted, and how the crimes may be prevented. Because the rate for crimes in malls seems to be increasing with each year, many people are afraid to go out shopping anymore. Although internet shopping is growing more and more popular, the cost of shipping alone is enough to make you brave your busy mall for those single items that you need. Though the crime rate is high at malls, customers must not forgo their mall experience simply out of fear. On the contrary, they must become more aware of themselves while at the mall and must simply be careful. The amount of crimes that occur in malls is astounding. In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for example, there have been twenty-six assaults at the Monroeville mall within the last two years, eleven burglaries at the Station Square mall, nine robberies at the Monroeville mall, three-hundred-fifty-two thefts at the Monroeville mall, ten sex crimes at the Robinson mall, fifteen drug crimes at the Robinson mall and seven gun crimes at the Monroeville mall. These numbers are relatively low compared to statistics throughout the country (www.thepittsburghchannel.com). Mall security and store owners both know that the crime rate is higher when the mall has more visitors. Although large crowds often bring in large amounts of money, they also bring in a larger number of those who are up to no good. A large reason that the crime rate is so high in shopping malls is that, according to www.beverlypd.org, a website designed to prevent mall crime, sixty-five percent of malls are located in high crime areas. Twenty-five percent of malls are located in places that have almost three times more than the national crime risk. Though the statistics are unnerving, knowing who is targeted can help decrease risk of becoming a victim. When it comes to the question of who can be the victim of a mall crime, the answer would be anyone. There are, however, those who are more likely to be victimized. Consequently, according to the U.S. Department of Justice website about victim information (www.ojp.usdoj.gov), the highest rate of victimization is those who are between the ages of twelve and twenty-four. Although elderly theft seems like it would be the highest, possibly due to media influence, the amount of elderly who have been victims of theft has gone down considerably. Young people are seen as being less cautious as old people, thus they may be targeted more than anyone else. They are also less likely to report a crime than older people. Although the rate of mall crime is high with the specific age range, there are steps that anyone can practice the next time they visit the mall. Several tips for shoppers were provided by www.kevincoffee.com and www.signonsandiego.com: 1.Never put your purchases down inside of the mall. They can be snatched before you have time to react. 2.Try to put your purchases in one or two bags, so that you are not juggling them to the point that you are not paying attention to your purse or wallet. 3.Before leaving the mall, make sure that you have your keys out so that you do not have to fumble with them as you are walking to the car. 4. Avoid going to the mall at night. Daylight is your best option. However, if it is unavoidable, then before exiting the mall at night, park your car in a well lit area and when you are through shopping ask a security guard to escort you to your car. You do not know who could be lurking nearby. 5.Put your purchases in the trunk of your car. Nothing is more appealing to a thief than a pile of shopping bags that are visible in a car. While the mall has crime rates that perhaps few people know about, the key to being safe is to know the facts. Everyone deserves the basic right of shopping in the mall without having to worry about being the victim of a crime. It takes effort, however, to gain that right back.   If everyone would follow the basic steps above, a large percentage of the mall crime rate could be decreased. Although the percentages may seem like numbers, remember that every number is simply a representation of a person and that the next time, the person could be you. Read also: Snatch Theft Essay Works Cited Coffey, Kevin. â€Å"Avoiding Pickpockets.† Detective Kevin Coffey. 2006. 11 Dec. 2006 http://www.kevincoffee.com/mall/avoiding_pickpockets.htm. David, Kristina. â€Å"To Make Your Spirits Bright, Avoid Theft.† Sign on Sandiego. 25 Nov. 2006. 11 Dec. 2006 â€Å"Office of Justice Programs.† Bureau of Justice Statistics. 2006. 11 Dec. 2006 â€Å"Local Mall Crime Rates Increase.† The Pittsburgh Channel. 17 Dec. 2006. 11 Dec. 2006 http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/team4/10339095/detail.html. â€Å"Shopping Mall Crime Prevention.† Beverly Pd. 2006. 11 Dec. 2006 http://www.beverlypd.org/pdf/PRIVATE%20BUSINESS%20SAFETY%20TOPICS/SHOPPING%20MALL%20CRIME%20PREVENTION.pdf.                            How to cite Malls Are Actually a Haven for Crime, Essay examples

Corporate Social Responsebility Business Embark

Question: Describe about the Corporate Social Responsebility for Business Embark. Answer: Corporate social responsibility is a standard business practice that contemporary businesses embark on to make a statement in todays world and remain competitive. Commonly referred to as corporate responsibility, ethics or accountability, CSR refers to the manner in which companies integrate social and environmental concerns into the operations and running of their business which inevitably leads to transparency and improvement of the society as well as wealth creation for the company (McWilliams, 2000).For corporations that practice it, the major reason is to create an indelible impact on the society and the benefits reverberate back to the director of the corporation and all other stakeholders. It is no wonder then that companies that practice CSR strategies have higher levels of customer satisfaction due to the high standards of customer service, and they also perform better in the market. The idea of benefit the society in one way or another is important to any corporation since it means that the reputation of the company is at stake with the clients, shareholders ,suppliers, NGOs , employees and the community (McWilliams, 2000). According to Aguinis and Glavas, (2012) a corporate social responsibility strategy should engage stakeholders in impacting the society with the business, save cost and take advantage of available opportunities in the market. To do this efficiently he argues that all stakeholders have to be engaged and planning is key to the process. Some companies that are not keen on CSR policies and strategies claim that the shareholders should be the only ones benefit from the enterprise, forgetting that sustainability in the market is important for all corporations. CSR is important in this regard to show the public that they are valuable, they are transparent to the public and that employees are not neglected in the bid to make profits. Consequently, corporate social responsibility ensures business for the corporations that practice it, is sustained. In the short term, Lindgreen and Swaen, (2010) says that CSR aims to deliver profits through revenues generated, satisfied and occupied employees and low capital constraints even though many business critics are opposed to this idea. According to him, long term benefits of CSR are more beneficial to a corporation than short term. In the long term, such policies impact on the culture of the firm, innovation and other business changes that ensure sustainability in the future. CSR therefore has an objective to benefit the society while benefit shareholders and stakeholders of a corporation. Another importance of CSR is to create and maintain the corporations reputation and image in the eyes of the public through minding the community besides making profits. CSR efforts by a company can endear the company to people (Fisher, 2014). This is in regard to what the firm does to benefit the community. The overall effect is that the treatment a firm gives the public translates to sales, investors ,return customers , high employee engagement since people want to work there and referrals and recommendations by customers to other potential customers. Public image is important to a corporation since studies have shown that firms that practice it perform better and they access acquisitions more easily than those who do not. Lastly, they also influence policy makers and their decisions since thy benefit everyone around them (Navi, 2012) Advantages of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for corporations It is clear that the advent of social media has given the masses a voice through which they talk about ethics of businesses and though it many organizations have been accounting for any activities they do. One of the benefits of corporate social responsibility is that it brings in new business and retains the ones that the firm already has. The reason this happens is because humans are naturally inclined to be where they feel appreciated and therefore a company that seems to focus more on the society than its profits, is more likely to attract customers, and build more networks than one that is profit oriented (Aguinis and Glavas, 2012). Consequently, the reputation of the business improves. In the same breath, another benefit is that employees are happy to work in such a positive environment, and thus, they will not leave unless in retirement as employees feel loyal. The corporation also benefits from investors who want to invest and fund the activities of the corporation as a resul t of CSR policies. In addition, a corporation sets itself apart from its competitors through CSR especially when the other firms do not practice it since all stakeholders, shareholders and the public want to be associated with the corporation (Hopkins, 2012). The media also tends to favor corporations that practice CSR due to its ethical implications. Positive publicity is always beneficial to a company. Lastly, in the running of the corporation, it benefits by saving on operational costs through reducing emissions that destroy the environment and risk management of reputation. It also allows for innovation and room for new technologies and learning opportunities since the corporation develops new products from wider scope of business through CSR. Disadvantages of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for corporations There are many reasons why corporate social responsibility is deemed as a loss for corporations. According to Becchetti et al (2012).One of these is that for small corporations that are struggling to succeed financially, social responsibility is a costly activity since the attitude towards CSR is that it is charity that does not add value to the corporation. In addition, CSR strategies reduce competitiveness between small to medium enterprises. The additional costs in environmental programs and reduction in emission will cost more and thus smaller corporations prefer to back out and thus stop competing due to CSR. Thirdly, when companies practice CSR they have to consider the opinion of shareholders before embarking on it and they might be opposed to it due to the involved costs. In conclusion, there are many companies that owe their success to corporate social responsibility. One of these is Nike which has seen a rise in sales and loyalty due to implementing CSR in their operations. References Aguinis, H. and Glavas, A., 2012, What we know and dont know about corporate social responsibility a review and research agenda. Journal of management, 38(4), pp.932-968. Becchetti, L., Ciciretti, R., Hasan, I. and Kobeissi, N., 2012, Corporate social responsibility and shareholder's value. Journal of Business Research, 65(11), pp.1628-1635. Carroll, A.B. and Shabana, K.M., 2010, The business case for corporate social responsibility: A review of concepts, research and practice. International journal of management reviews, 12(1), pp.85-105. Fisher, J.M., 2014, Fairer shores: Tax havens, tax avoidance, and corporate social responsibility. BUL Rev., 94, p.337. Hopkins, M., 2012. The planetary bargain: Corporate social responsibility matters. Routledge. Kanji, G.K. and Chopra, P.K., 2010, Corporate social responsibility in a global economy. Total Quality Management, 21(2), pp.119-143. Lindgreen, A. and Swaen, V., 2010, Corporate social responsibility. International Journal of Management Reviews, 12(1), pp.1-7. Navi, S.T., 2012. Corporate social responsibility.

Mayo Clinic Case Study free essay sample

Word of mouth marketing has been our strongest ally and serves as a very powerful tool. In order to create a cohesive marketing research design strategy this memorandum will outline specific key tactics that must be employed. The Mayo Clinic’s CEO and board have decided to increase sales revenues to 100 percent over the next five years and that means we have much work globally to do in order to make that a reality. There will be many facets of the marketing mix that will need to be addressed in order to achieve this goal. The purpose of this marketing research is to gather information about the brand recognition, reputation, and appeal of the Mayo Clinic globally. As a brand we must exude qualities that will appeal to people internationally. There are several fundamental facts that describe why someone should chose the Mayo Clinic. The Mayo Clinic offers over 100 years of medical tertiary and quaternary care from civilians to world leaders. We will write a custom essay sample on Mayo Clinic Case Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The Mayo Clinic was founded by globetrotting specialized physicians who were looking to establish an advanced standard of medical care by consulting with other physicians internationally. The Mayo Clinic is focused on delivering exceptional care that knows no borders. We also need to establish and position our strongest attribute in the global markets as being the experience one encounters here at The Mayo Clinic. Our brand is based on knowledge and superior care. Through explanations, listening, interpretation, multi-lingual, and listening to the consumers is what the experience here at The Mayo Clinic entails. In order to improve our sales so exceptionally in five years we must utilize specific market research strategies. We must continue to monitor patient satisfaction with studies to assess the perception of the care received. When surveying patients a high level of attention to detail should be maintained. International data collection can offer many challenges and thus the quality and structure of our satisfaction surveys must be markedly superior to ensure reliable information is returned. Word of mouth marketing has been an asset and that penetrates all cultures. Our cultural adaptability must remain a focus while conducting marketing research. The ultimate goal is to be THE choice of medical care internationally. Formal focus groups are useful in collection of in-depth information. We can learn how well the clinic is known in a specific region and how people are influenced to choose The Mayo Clinic. Health insurance that includes our care as part of their policy does not innately encourage a patient to choose us, in fact one of our studies proved that some insurance holders who had The Mayo Clinic as an included resource had no knowledge of the clinic. Face-to-face interviews with health insurance policy holders revealed the aforementioned. Telephone interviews are effective in certain countries and discounted in others, please refer to our marketing research by region listing to determine if this method is the right choice for the location you will be researching. Clinical trials and sponsorships like fundraising walks can prove to be important marketing research tools. Some things to keep in mind when conducting strategic marketing research include cultural influences, geographic location, and current awareness of the  brand. We must chose to conduct research in markets that have potential to supply patients that would benefit from services of our clinic. In this way observational research can be a tool within a tool, we can observe before we decide what method that particular market best will respond to. After identifying the market to be researched you must obtain the trust of the people you will be interacting with and communicate the advantages that The Mayo Clinic provides. Extensive research using both primary and secondary methods in target markets allow a better understanding and more reliable data to be extracted and analyzed. Generally we will conduct research both through vendors and ourselves, this is a combination of primary and secondary methods though primary research will prove more investigative and tailored to fit our needs. A mix of qualitative and quantitative data will be collected. To review the strategy as discussed in the meeting we will identify largest potential markets for international healthcare and target those markets for research. Next we must identify the most effective means of communication of the benefits our clinic offers in that area. When conducting secondary research choose reputable reports. When conducting primary research gain the trust of the community and conduct interviews and create focus groups. Finally our joint effort if done effectively will increase sales revenue as desired. Please promptly review this memo and your notes from our meeting and employ learned tactics.

The Complete Guide to Conic Sections on ACT Math

The Complete Guide to Conic Sections on ACT Math SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You will usually see one conic section question (though no more than one) on any given ACT, but just what is a conic section and how do you solve it? Luckily for us, though conic section questions are rare, they are generally straightforward and can get you an easy point if you take a few minutes to study them. This will be your complete guide to conic sections- what they are, how you'll see them on the test, and the best way to approach these types of ACT math questions. What Are Conic Sections? A conic section is any intersection of a cone (a three dimensional figure) and a plane (a flat, infinite surface). Depending on how the plane slices the cone, the intersection will create: A circle A parabola An ellipse A hyperbola Picture: Magister Mathematicae/Wikimedia For the ACT, you will only need to know about circles and parabolas. And the only parabola knowledge you'll need are covered by your quadratic functions. The ACT will never test you on ellipses or hyperbolas. What You'll Need to Know About Conic Sections The only piece of information you really need to understand to master conic sections on the ACT is the equation of a circle. Every ACT conic section question will ask you information about this equation and you must either find the proper equation from given information or identify the individual pieces that make up this equation. Equation of a Circle $$(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2$$ This is the equation of a circle. $h$ and $k$ are the coordinates for the center of the circle. $h$ stands in place of the $x$-coordinate and $k$stands in place of the $y$-coordinate. The center will, therefore, be at $(h, k)$. $r$ is the radius of the circle. â™ ª Love (and the equation of a circle) is all you need. â™ ª Picture: byronv2/Flickr Typical ACT Conic Section Questions Though you will only have to know the equation of a circle to solve your conic section questions, you may see conic section questions in a few different ways- as a word problem, as a diagram problem, and/or as a scenario problem. But no matter their form, it should be pretty straightforward to solve the problem if you remember your formula. Let's look at a typical ACT conic section problem. We can see, based on the graph, that our center coordinates for our circle are $(4, 0)$. This means that we can count from the circumference to the center to find that our radius is also 4. So if we replace these values with our $(h, k)$ and our $r$ in the equation for a circle, we would get: $(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2$ $(x - 4)^2 + (y - 0)^2 = 4^2$ $(x - 4)^2 + y^2 = 16$ This means that our final answer is G. ACT Math Strategies for Conic Section Questions Though conic sections are generally fairly simple, you will be able to solve them more easily if you use strategy (especially if you forget your key information on test day). #1: Prioritize Your Time and Energy Conic sections are one of the least common ACT math topics. This type of question may or may not show up on your ACT, and even if it does, there will only be one question on circle equations per test. Though it is not a guarantee that you will see it, it is a useful formula for you to know if you're trying for every last math point. #2: Memorize the Circle Formula If you're going for every last point, then be sure to memorize your circle formula. On every ACT conic section question, you will be given a string of answer choices that all look incredibly similar. This is to muddy the waters for anyone who only has a passing recollection (or no recollection) of the formula. Your best bet for a near guaranteed point on all conic section questions is to simply memorize the formula and quiz yourself on it before test day to make sure you have it down. #3: Alternatively, Remember Just a Piece of the Formula and Guess Strategically If you're worried for any reason that you'll forget your formula or if you would just rather spend your time memorizing more common ACT math formulas like slopes and angles, then even remembering a piece of the circle formula is better than not memorizing any part of it at all. For instance, if you don't remember the $(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2$ side of the formula, but you do remember that the other side is the radius squared (and not just the radius), you will often be able to eliminate two or three answer choices. Now you have between a 33% and a 50% of guessing the right answer, which is certainly better than a 20% blind guess. So pick just a piece of the circle formula and commit it to heart, even if you can't or won't for any reason memorize the whole thing. Ready to show 'em what you got? Test Your Knowledge So let's put your knowledge to the test on real ACT math problems about conic sections. 1. 2. 3. If a circle has a circumference that is tangent to the origin and a midpoint at $(0, -7)$, which of the following is the equation of that circle? A. $x^2 + (y - 7)^2 = 49$B. $x ^2 + (y + 7)^2 = 49$C. $(x - 7)^2 - y^2 = 49$D. $(x - 7)^2 + y^2 = 7$E. $x^2 - y^2 = 7$ Answers: E, F, B Answer Explanations: 1. For this problem, we know that our circle's midpoint is at the origin, which gives it the coordinates $(0,0)$. We can also see that the radius of the circle is 52. That means that our circle formula will be: $(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2$ $(x - 0)^2 + (y - 0)^2 = 52^2$ $x^2 + y^2 = 52^2$ Our final answer is E, $x^2 + y^2 = 52^2$ 2. For this question, we are actually working backwards, but the principle of the circle formula hold true. We must simply use the values we are given and reverse engineer them to find what we need. We know that our circle formula is: $(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2$ If our equation is then: $(x - 5)^2 + y ^2 = 38$, then we know that the radius must be the square root of 38 and the midpoint must be $(5, 0)$. Our final answer is F. 3. As usual when working without a diagram, let's draw a quick sketch of the scene. We know that the midpoint is at $(0, -7)$ and the circle is tangent to the origin, so this is the circle we're dealing with. We know that the radius is, therefore, 7 and we can plug the midpoint values into our equation. $(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2$ $(x - 0)^2 + (y - -7)^2 = 7^2$ $x^2 + (y + 7)^2 = 49$ Our final answer is B, $x^2 + (y + 7)^2 = 49$ The Take-Aways Though conic section questions are relatively rare, if you're going for every last point, it's a good idea to memorize your circle formula (or even just a piece of it) for a quick point. You will never be asked to do more than identify it when you see it or to identify its pieces, so go ahead and grab it if you can. What's Next? Want to brush up on any of your other math topics? Check out our individual math guides to get the walk-through on each and every topic on the ACT math test. You should also be sure to take a look at our articles on how to complete the square and the four different graph quadrants. Worried what the Ivy Leagues think of the ACT? Learn how some of the top schools in the United States feel about the ACT vs. the SAT. Running out of time on the ACT math section? We'll teach you how to beat the clock and maximize your ACT math score. Trying to get a perfect score? Check out our guide to getting a perfect 36 on ACT math, written by a perfect-scorer. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Math lesson, you'll love our program. Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

The Universal Freckle, or How I Learned to Be White by Dalton (on Assignment

The Universal Freckle, or How I Learned to Be White by Dalton (on e-Reserve) - Assignment Example Certainly, everybody of us enjoys a privilege of one sort or the other in our lives. I, for example, have privileges over my servants, who then have many privileges over those living below in the poverty line. Likewise a woman in an Eastern society is more likely to enjoy privileges over their male counterparts since their men maintain a deeper reverence for the female genre altogether. Thus yes, I have been observing privileges around me all the time. Yes, ‘White Privilege’ is a term used to identify the advantages the white skinned people enjoy over darker one – in other words: Racism. Throughout the article the writer tries to undo the knots that hold racism and ethnicity together; something which has been validated by the UN convention that â€Å"there is no distinction between the terms racial discrimination and ethnic discrimination†. Though the world today is more evolved and mere colors do not define the privileges we enjoy today, but nonetheless the concept of racism has had a huge impact on the social structure of our society. Since every American stands equal today – as guaranteed by the constitution – the concepts of black and white had been pushed to a corner and we hardly find examples of racial discrimination today. The most contradictory products of racial discrimination came in the form of the teachers the writer had at school. At one school an African American teacher dare not cross the line and hit a white child drawing a clear border between the blacks and the non-blacks; while at another a Chinese teacher uses more productive measures and tries her best to blend the class into an equal force. Racial discrimination has always remained a heated debated and a serious problem of our society. Taking into account the writer’s experience with the German woman-shopkeeper, we all should rather pave our way towards unity and stand as one equal force. Divisions and

DX wk 7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

DX wk 7 - Essay Example he patients history, lab tests and often their brain injury studies who that there may have been stroked, untreated high blood pressure or coronary artery disease (Beidel, Bulik, and Stanley, 2010). The damage can be to a single blood vessel or to many blood vessels that will then be called an infarction in the brain (Beidel, Bulik, and Stanley, 2010). In contrast, 293.0 Delirium Due to a General Medical Condition is a "disturbance in consciousness that is accompanied by a change in cognition" (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p. 136). Delirium in this case, the cognitive disturbance has to be due to direct physiological consequence of the general medical condition (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p. 136). Generally, delirium is brought on by a serious medical illness such as a serious infection, toxic effects of medication or AIDS (Beidel, Bulik, and Stanley, 2010). Although both of these conditions are due to serious medical conditions, delirium affects the cognition because of a lengthy illness that affects the brain directly. Although Vascular Dementia also affects cognition, it is a heart problem that has to be present (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Hans is a 66 year old male who is a retired mail carrier. He did his job well until he began to have challenges with his memory. Hans retired from his job five years ago because he was not able to carry out his duties correctly anymore; in fact, he began to make mistakes as he delivered the mail. At the age of 62, Hans was hiking in an area that he knew well and suddenly he was lost and could not find his way home. Soon after, he also mislaid things and forgot appointments and could not find his way around anymore. His memory continued to fail as he was unable to recognize his friends and lost interest in watching television and newspapers. According to Biedel, Bulik, and Stanley (2010), Alzheimers disease (AD) is a "common subtype of dementia" (p. 458), than other forms of Dementia. It

China's Air pollution Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

China's Air pollution - Term Paper Example In this situation, China is faced with a major debate. The country is one of the highest contributors of environmental pollution; particularly the air. The air is an important part of human life and it is an established belief that the microscopic particles that people inhale while breathing can potentially cause serious damage to their health. The amount of damage is dependent on the level of concentration of pollutants in the air. These pollutants are emitted in to the environment through various industrial and economic activities, which in turn increases the concentration level of pollutants in the air. There are a number of factors that affect the relationship between emission of pollutants and their concentration in the air. However, it is a commonly agreed notion that the emissions are an outcome of increased level of industrial activities in the economy, or in other words, the level of development activities that take place in the economy (Matus, et al., â€Å"Health Damages from Air Pollution in China†). Among the factors affecting the level of pollution in the air, site is very important. Certain places are the key source of emission; such as the center of the cities, and exclusive industrial belts. These areas are most populous; increased proximity to these regions affects meteorological conditions more than the other areas in the country, which in turn determines the extent of environmental damage. Secondly, the characteristics of the source such as the emission temperature and the velocity of emission affect the rate at which level of air pollution increases. Thirdly, physical dimension of the pollutant particles interferes in the level of impact cast on health condition of human beings. Hence the particle size of matter is an important factor in determining air pollution in the country. Not only are the humans sufferers of this environmental condition, other animals are also adversely affected in this environmental degradation (Ho, â€Å"Ai r pollution in China†). The Economic reform China’s economy has been reflecting massive growth rates since the past two decades. During this period China has undergone economic reforms and is now considered one of the world’s fastest growing economies. The per capita income of the citizens in the country has been growing at the astonishing rate of 9% in 2011 (Mendez, â€Å"Chinese Economic Development and Pollution†). China has been ranked as the third largest country that take part in the international trade. It comes immediately after United States of America and Japan. This economic reform in the country is the main reason that has pushed China to the position in the international sphere. Increasing importance of the economy in world trade has transformed the economy into a global powerhouse. There has been emergence of new factories and overall rate of productive activities in the country has rocketed. These industries obtain their primary supply of en ergy from the reserves of coal possessed by China. Energy is produced by burning this coal, which emits huge amount of carbon particles in the air. This implies that urbanization and development of the Chinese economy has also led it on the path of making significant contribution towards degradation of the environment.

Strategic Management And Leadership Semco Case Study Business Essay

Strategic Management And Leadership Semco Case Study Business Essay Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to identify the leadership and management styles adopted by Ricardo Semler and their impact on the strategic choices of Semco. This report will also explore various management and leadership theories and the resultant effect on organisational and leadership strategy. Introduction: The report intends to take a holistic view of the management and leadership styles and theories and their impacts on organizational leadership and strategy in the backdrop of Semco. Continuing further, the report will assess and evaluate the leadership requirements of Semco and formulate a suitable leadership development plan. A brief look into the evolution of Ricardo Semlers Semco is necessary to understand the organization. Semco, despite challenging the traditional style of corporate management, has continued to grow by leaps and bounds ever since the legendary Ricardo Semler took charge. The organization that was thought to have adopted a management style often termed as a recipe for disaster has been a champion of change with profits growing consistently. Semco had a manifold increase in profitability, growth and productivity, which is remarkable considering the many years of economic melt-down and the volatile political scenario it was operating in. Such an accomplishment requires full faith in employees and a commitment from the top management, but it was not always so. This progress was gradual and methodical as will be demonstrated in the following sections. 1: Leadership styles adopted by Mr. Semler and impact on strategy Ricardo Semmler The authoritarian: When Ricardo Semmler joined his fathers company in 1979, the company was involved in manufacturing equipment for the shipping industry. The revenues were shrinking and despite Semmlers insistence to diversify into other businesses, the management stuck to the same industry. When Mr. Semmler was made in charge in 1980, his first action was to fire 60% of the top management which opposed his radical ideas. An autocratic style of leadership, as theorized by Kurt Lewin, is evident from many actions taken by Semmler. This was combined with a traditional management style which involved following a strict policies and procedures framework for almost every task. Reports and manuals were a norm. The focus was on productivity and achievement of goals. The management performed the traditional roles, as described by Henry Fayol in his theory of 5 functions of management, namely; planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating and controlling the organization. This management style suited well to the fairly authoritarian style of leadership of Ricardo Semmler who held the power to decide for the organisation. Impact on strategy He changed the strategy of the organization, shifting the focus from shipping industry only to diversification into various industries. His vision was to reduce reliance on one industry only and expand into different businesses. This meant that the achievement of tasks were the focal point of the strategy while the employees felt stressed and de-motivated. Innovation seemed non-existent and steadily the staff turnover began to rise. Stress took its toll on Ricardo Semmler himself and his health condition became worse. This was the time for a change. The Change: Source: http://www.shkaminski.com/Classes/images/Managerial%20Grid.gif The management grid by Blake and Mouton perfectly describes the styles of management adopted by Semco. Initially, Semco was located in the bottom right section aiming for high production with low concern for people but gradually the shift towards Team management whereby the organization is divided into small teams operating fairly independently of others but in a coordinated way with high productivity while keeping employees motivated and satisfied. Ricardo Semmler The Democrat: This was when he turned the tables around, making the change by involving the employees in almost every decision made in the company. The change was not a drastic one, it was gradual yet steady. Ricardo Semmler had realized that employees involvement in the decisions related to the organization was essential. They must be well aware of what the organization wants to achieve. Employees should give in their 100% regardless of the skills set they possess. For these reasons, Semmler transformed himself and adopted a leadership style that was identical to Kurt Lewins participative style of leadership. Reforms such as removing the formal line of authority, discarding the organization chart, letting employees set their salaries, select work hours that suit them and even choose their managers and spiraling the organisition into one where there are no cabins and where employees are involved in all major decisions made by the organization are all evidences of the change in management style by Ricardo Semmler. Impact on strategy These actions have brought about a change in the overall strategy of the organization. The employees are aligned with the strategic objectives of the organization. The organization now operates with a strategy that promotes culture of overall openness sharing ideas and providing feedback. The strategy of Semco is now to involve employees in the organizations benefits through its unique profit-sharing scheme, motivating them to work for the growth of the company they can call their own. The organizations structure has been re-defined, moving from hierarchical to business unit approach with teams at the core. Teams mutually decide upon what needs to be done and who will be responsible for what tasks. For this to be achieved multi-tasking is pivotal and most employees are adept at majority of the tasks performed within the unit. This promotes ideas of self-governance and self-management and incorporates responsibility among employees into the overall strategy of the organization. The f ocus has shifted from being task oriented to more people oriented with high importance given to productivity. 2: Link between management and leadership theories 2.1 Leadership and Strategic Management: Leadership and management are two distinct systems that must co-exist in any organization. Managers tend to have a short-term orientation and usually solve problems as they appear. Leaders on the other hand are more forward looking and make decisions that suit the long term interests of the organization. Leadership and management both shape up the organization. While leaders decide on the direction of the organization, provide the resources and set the frame, managers ensure that the objectives are achieved within the allocated resources. Theoretically, managers and leaders are considered to be separate. However, managers will not be working alone and will be managing a team of individuals for achieving the targets set for them. This will require a degree of leadership skills too as this would call for influencing the actions and thoughts of other people. Henry Fayols 5 Functions of Management (1916) http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Leadership-Management/48673 Henry Fayol devised a theory which suggested that management is essentially a combination of stepped activities, namely; Planning: Plans are made, budgets are decided, limitations are taken into account and parameters of operations are established. This role is commonly shared by both the leader and the manager. A leader would usually be planning for the longer-term while the managers viewpoint is fairly shorter and focuses on immediate targets. Organizing: The second phase invariably includes the allocation of resources that would be consumed for achievement of objectives. Decisions about financial capital, human capital and the structure to be followed for attaining success are taken. Commanding: This ensues deriving the optimum out of the resources. Managers communicate clearly what is expected from the employees and lead by example. Coordinating: Teams will be striving for their individual targets and a balance needs to be maintained among all activities. Harmonization of activities is vital and so is management of conflicting interests. Leaders would take the driving seat. Controlling: Sizing up the benefits of activities is important. Controlling is measuring performance to be able to plan for the future. Leaders would again be looking at the long-term implications of the actions performed and decide on the future strategy. Managers on the other hand will be more concerned with what needs to be repeated and what is to be avoided. To sum it up, Henry Fayol proposed a management theory which describes the functions of management but in effect, it also categorizes the traditional role performed by the leaders as well. Peter Druckers 5 Management Processes (1954) http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Leadership-Management/48673 Peter Drucker, a renowned management theorist had a similar viewpoint of the process of management. According to him, management plays a predefined role in any context. These are: Objective Setting: Leaders provide the vision of the organization as a whole and managers, for their part, set the direction of their individual units. Motivation: Employees need to be motivated if managers want to extract their full potential. Leaders and managers have a variety of motivational tactics to use. Some could be financial incentives, while others are more humanistic in nature. Task Organisation: A manager needs to organize the task and organize the activities for the smooth operations leading to realization of objectives. Measurement: Performance needs to be measured in order to identify any divergences from the required performance and to find ways to fill any gaps in the desired and actual performance. Training and Coaching: Managers and leaders must develop their sub-ordinates. Managers and leaders have to train and coach their sub-ordinates in order for them to perform to the required level. Transactional Management and Transformational Leadership The transactional and transformational theories are another way of describing the inter-relationship and distinction between managers and leaders. According to this theory, managers are more involved with day to day activities of the organization while leaders are concerned with the strategic vision. Managers follow the set principles while leaders challenge the status quo. Leaders are more concerned with bringing about the change in the culture while managers implant that change in the organization. The primary role of a leader is to set the direction while managers ensure the organization is kept on track. Mckinseys 7S Framework http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newSTR_91.htm Source: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newSTR_91.htm The model suggests that any organization has 7 building blocks. The blocks are categorized as: Soft Elements: Shared Values, Skills, Style Staff Hard Elements: Structure, Systems and Strategy The model places highest importance to the shared values placed in the middle. It re-iterates the fact that all other elements are derived from the vision for what the organization wants to achieve. The Hard elements are determined by the leadership style chosen while the soft elements are drawn from management. Leaders would; evaluate what set of skills are possessed by the employees and what should to be developed select the staff taking into consideration their abilities and the needs of the organization; and Decide upon The style in which the organization is taken forward. The style of leadership would depend on circumstances Managers on the other hand; Shape the structure of the organization using tools such as reporting lines, organization charts etc Develop a plan, allocate resources and decide the course of action. In short, devise a strategy Craft the policies and procedures and standards on how tasks are performed. Leadership style may have profound impact on the strategy of an organization. A transformational style of leadership may stir up the enterprise, motivate and spur action. Such a leader provides an insight into the future, takes the initiative, inspires followers, involves stakeholders, improvises, thoughtful about individuals and implements successfully. This form of leadership would lead to an overhaul of the way the organization operates. A transactional leader on the other hand would have a strategy of maintaining the status quo and keep the current operations. Add Emotional Intelligence 3: Utilize appropriate techniques to review Semco leadership requirements 3.1: Use appropriate methods to review current leadership requirements In order to completely understand the requirements of leadership, it is necessary to understand the environment Semco is operates in, the phase the Semco itself is going through, what pressures are exerted from an industry sector, what its structure is and what the strategic direction it has assumed by the corporate parent. Semco strives to develop a competitive advantage. This is achived by looking at four factors according to Porters Diamond. These are: Firm strategy, structure and rivalry: strategy is what the organization wants to achieve. Structure of the enterprise should be developed to support the strategy and rivalry serves as motivation. Demand Conditions: portrays the demand of products and services. Factor conditions would be developed according to these demand conditions Related and supporting industries: an industry cannot survive without its associated industries. Semmler saw this when the shipping industry was shaking and Semco was badly hit. Factor conditions: The resources of the nation are the factor conditions. Education, mineral resources, capital goods all account for here. What we already possess and what needs to be developed. STEEPLE: Semco is primarily involved in production of heavy industrial equipment and development of intelligent systems however, it also holds stakes in an investment company and energy sector.A STEEPLE analysis is used to understand the environment that Semco operates in. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/br.html Social factors: Semco has shown high concern for social factors. It pays its staff good salaries and keeps them motivated. Semcos policy is to maintain a work/life balance evidenced by initiatives such as Retire a little bit allowing employees to do what they want. Technlogical factors: Technoloical advancement is the need of time and organizations need to identify and discover new technologies to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Economic: Semco operates in the fastest growing South American economy. It is among the emerging economies that have shown revival signs. Growth is expected to be 5% in 2010 as per the Central Bank. GDP composition by sector is: Agriculture:Â  6.1% Industry:Â  25.4% Services:Â  68.5% (2009 est.) Environmental: Brazil is the 7th largest oil consumer in the world and 10th largest when it comes to electricity. This is largely because major part of economy is related to industry. This poses a threat to environment. http://www.semco.com.br/en/content.asp?content=2contentID=548 Political: Semco operates in a political environment where, in the past, the government has often changed monetary, fiscal, taxation and other policies to influence the course of Brazils economy. Such actions are beyond control and Semco cannot predict what measures or policies the Brazilian government may take to influence the economy. Legal: The legal structure in Brazil is one that welcomes foreign investment. There are no requirements for government approvals or minimum investments. http://www.lexmundi.com/images/lexmundi/PDF/guide_brazil.pdf Ethical: Ethics is a major issue of concern in Brazil. It ranked among the 15 most corrupt countries in the world. There have been cases of corruption in the public sector. http://www.brazzil.com/cvrmar97.htm STEEPLE provides an insight into the macro environment Semco operates in. It is also important to understand the phase that Semco is going through as an individual organization. The organization has taken a strategy of diversification by entering new markets and developing new products. This has been done by revolutionizing the current practices, regular reinvention and constant renewal. Semco operates in a complex environment although the environment provides plenty of opportunities that might match its strengths. Semco needs to adopt a strategy of global companionship and to partner with international, well-reputed organizations to achieve economies, compete effectively and lead the market. It has to build strong bonding between the sister concerns and develop strong networks within the group and with parties external to the group. It needs a leadership that promotes mergers, acquisitions and alliances in order to continue its long run of success. 3.2: Plan development of leadership according to future needs: Semco needs to develop leadership that has the ability to foresee the future requirements and have a strong sense of responsibility. Semco needs to make use of the corporate parent theory to productively apply the concept of diversification through mergers and acquisitions. Strong communication skills are an essential attribute that must be developed to avoid ambiguities. The leader must be able to network well with inter-related parties and command respect so that others may give to heed his ideas. The leader should have the strength to accept his mistakes and the humility to give credit where it is due. Semcos culture is the core competency that it has developed over the years. Its competitors have been unsuccessful at adopting the culture, either because of lack of resources or lack of conviction. 4: Produce a future leadership plan for Semco

class struggles Essay -- essays research papers

Class Struggles In the Communist Manifesto Karl Marx explains his historical vision of a revolutionary class struggle between Bourgeois and Proletarians. His views are highlighted from the very beginning â€Å"The History of all hitherto societies has been the history of class struggles† (50). Focusing on the development and eventual destruction of the bourgeoisie, which was the dominant class of his day, and the rise of the working class, that of the Proletarians. I do understand that in some cases the system has a stain upon it and Marx was out to find the solution. Unfortunately he thought that by making a radical socialistic movement, and changing the a capitalist system to a communistic one that the answer would have been put in place. The idea is put in simple terms, but the complexity of actually making it a reality is not. I understand that the harsh conditions in which the Proletarians worked and lived was enough reason for a revolution. This is when Marx elaborates the social changes communists hope to effect on behalf of the proletariat. With communism they will get rid of private property, which is the primary base of the problem, "...the theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property" (67). I tend to believe that a mans property is that of value, this is a creation that is a fruit to man. In other words he is claiming that with no private property t...

My Technologically Challenged Life Essay

Monica’s parents play a huge role in limiting her access to technology. They choose to not use technology which I think is the main reason why they wouldn’t buy a computer for their daughters. Their reasoning sounds extremely familiar to me because my parents have done the same kind of thing to me. I begged my parents for a cell phone from seventh grade until my sophomore year when I finally bought my own but they would always tell me I don’t need a cell phone while my mom had one and my dad had THREE for his work. Anyways, I can relate to Monica on many levels. 2. I don’t think Monica is to blame for her technological difficulties at all. I think the main reason she is having troubles is her parents except for the lack of technology in her car which is obviously the manufacturers doing and not her parents. The lack of technology at the health-care facility is a pretty big issue if you ask me. The technology the workers could be and probably should be usin g would greatly improve the efficiency of the jobs they do. 3. Wunderlich’s reference to the weekend when terrorists were â€Å"supposed to be blowing up† the bridges in san Francisco was her way of adding some comedy to the story because there was probably a bomb threat that day and she could have potentially died simply because she didn’t have a GPS and got lost. If she had owned a GPS at the time, she wouldn’t have gotten so lost and never would have been on both of the bridges on accident.

Free Essays on Handmaids Tale By Attwood

of Aunt Lydia, or more likely, is she silent to create emphasis on the horrific deed? The answer is easily satisfied when the reader finishes the novel. Offred must realize the injustices if she feels compelled to reveal her story on the tapes. She must grasp the importance of conveying the atrocities that were executed during the Gileadian area. Offred is representative of an average women also because she has experienced no great traumas. She isn’t just ambivalent because of her tendencies but because she has been abruptly interjected int... Free Essays on Handmaids Tale By Attwood Free Essays on Handmaids Tale By Attwood The creation of Offred, the passive narrator of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, was intentional. The personality of the narrator in this novel is almost as important as the task bestowed upon her. Atwood chooses an average women, appreciative of past times, who lacks imagination and fervor, to contrast the typical feminist, represented in this novel by her mother and her best friend, Moira. Atwood is writing for a specific audience, though through careful examination, it can be determined that the intended audience is actually the mass population. Although particular groups may find The Handmaid’s Tale more enjoyable than others, the purpose of the novel is to enlighten the general population, as opposed to being a source of entertainment. A specific group that may favor this novel is the women activists of the 1960's and 1970's. This group, in which Offred’s mother would be a member, is sensitive to the censorship that women once faced and would sh ow interest to the â€Å"possible future† that could result. Offred is symbolic of â€Å"every woman†. She was conventional in prior times, married with one daughter, a husband and a career. She is ambivalent to many things that may seem horrific to the reader. On page 93, Offred is witness to Janine’s confession of being raped. She doesn’t comment on how the blame is placed on Janine. Is this because Offred has begun to accept the words of Aunt Lydia, or more likely, is she silent to create emphasis on the horrific deed? The answer is easily satisfied when the reader finishes the novel. Offred must realize the injustices if she feels compelled to reveal her story on the tapes. She must grasp the importance of conveying the atrocities that were executed during the Gileadian area. Offred is representative of an average women also because she has experienced no great traumas. She isn’t just ambivalent because of her tendencies but because she has bee n abruptly interjected int...

Free Essays on Thin Line Between Love And Lust Sonnet 128

written are flattering. Yet the poet turns the flattering to lust when the compliments are more gratifying for his sexual desire than any love that may be present. The sonnet is full of compliments of this sort. Ten of the fourteen lines that make up the sonnet are devoted to compliments. Except the compliments, instead of being gratifying are obsessive and sexual. â€Å"I envy those jacks that nimble leap to kiss the tender inward of thy hand† (128.5-6). He is addressing his wish to be the keys on the virginal she is playing exhibiting his over obsessiveness. The sexual desire found here is also evident in line 12 â€Å"Making dead wood more blessed than living lips†. By finding the keys that touch her hand more blessed than his lips that stand alone the line simultaneously shows his vulgar want of the woman’s body. Clark 2 â€Å"Since saucy jacks so happy are in this† (13). He is in a sense putting down her in a vulgar manner by telling the woman playing the instrument that her keys are irrelevant to the situation. As if she needs to quit the playing that she is enjoying doing and pay attention to him. Along with the obscene vulgar ness he displays an unfulfilled longing for the woman he feels the need to control and jealously of the keys that get the chance to touch her body. â€Å"Whilst my poor lips, which should that harvest reap... Free Essays on Thin Line Between Love And Lust Sonnet 128 Free Essays on Thin Line Between Love And Lust Sonnet 128 There is a Thin Line Between Love and Lust In Shakespeare’s sonnets the idea of love is a frequent topic. The love he normally speaks of is disclosing a sense of purity. However in sonnet 128 Shakespeare proclaims a pure love that can be viewed as promiscuous and lustful. At first sight sonnet 128 seems to contain an unalloyed love and desire for someone else. Nothing in the sonnet seems to have a negative tone intently. Actually the words written are flattering. Yet the poet turns the flattering to lust when the compliments are more gratifying for his sexual desire than any love that may be present. The sonnet is full of compliments of this sort. Ten of the fourteen lines that make up the sonnet are devoted to compliments. Except the compliments, instead of being gratifying are obsessive and sexual. â€Å"I envy those jacks that nimble leap to kiss the tender inward of thy hand† (128.5-6). He is addressing his wish to be the keys on the virginal she is playing exhibiting his over obsessiveness. The sexual desire found here is also evident in line 12 â€Å"Making dead wood more blessed than living lips†. By finding the keys that touch her hand more blessed than his lips that stand alone the line simultaneously shows his vulgar want of the woman’s body. Clark 2 â€Å"Since saucy jacks so happy are in this† (13). He is in a sense putting down her in a vulgar manner by telling the woman playing the instrument that her keys are irrelevant to the situation. As if she needs to quit the playing that she is enjoying doing and pay attention to him. Along with the obscene vulgar ness he displays an unfulfilled longing for the woman he feels the need to control and jealously of the keys that get the chance to touch her body. â€Å"Whilst my poor lips, which should that harvest reap...

A report on Five Internet Sites related to Language Development Essay

A report on Five Internet Sites related to Language Development - Essay Example Responses of growing children at specific age ranges are well defined in this chart. The first section deals with children below six months of age when vocalization and cognition of vocal stimuli begin to manifest. The child is able to discern between friendly and angry tones. In the next six months and by the end of first year children begin to use fragmented or whole monosyllables for communication and begin to comprehend the social value of verbal communication. After the elapse of another six months the child has a vocabulary of approximately 5-20 words, develops the habit of repeating words over and over and starts following simple commands. Vocabulary increases in the subsequent months although volume and pitch of the voice are often not well controlled. By the end of three years the child starts making intelligible use of verbs as well and develops reasoning ability. Cognitive ability is enhanced as the child attains the age of 5 years and can speak about things not present in its immediate environment. Speech at this stage is usually grammatically correct and the child comprehends the concept of time. Subsequent years result in dramatic developments and by the age of 8 years the child is expected to read and write as well. At this stage pitch and volume of the uttered sentences are well developed and can carry out healthy conversations. The site provides further links to parents to develop better communication with their off springs and handle speech and language problems at the right stage. It highlights the role of parents as instruments in assisting their children to develop better language skills. The site hosted by the popular search engine ‘About.com’ has a scholarly article on language development in the early years by Kimberly L. Keith, under the major title of Child Parenting. It focuses on the psychological aspects of the

Principles of Quality Management Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Principles of Quality Management Systems - Essay Example Total quality states the culture and attitude of an organization with the sole purpose of satisfying its customers with its products and services. The culture element in quality control is all pervasive in a company’s operations, removing the faults at first notice to achieve total quality control standards set in the principles of quality management systems. TQM is essentially customer-driven. It is run by top management, where improvement is a continuous process to satisfy customer needs as fast as possible. Products and services are improvised on the basis of collected data and its analysis. The employees participate in the best of team spirit feelings to attain a TQM culture and environment. All departments of an organization work for customer satisfaction – becoming internal customers first by operating as customers to some functions so that any loopholes may be checked and rectified before the product is Okayed for supply to venders. Thus, different parts of a company first become customers of its own products for some functions, then supplier to venders, who play a positive role in the process of total quality management for customer satisfaction. Products are developed in a TQM environment, where attention is paid to enhance and add quality and value to a product by checking errors instead of negative criticism. In a proce ss-oriented atmosphere, team members interact with their internal customers to attain total quality. Venders, who are external customers, become a part in the process of fulfilling customers’ demands, expectations, wishes and needs. Another important principle of Quality management systems is its â€Å"process approach†. This stress on process approach is fundamental to Quality Management Systems BS EN ISO 9001:2000.This standard is the "granddaddy" of global quality management system standards, and is designed to be used by any organization as the foundation for a QMS. It

Exploring Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Exploring Learning - Essay Example These approaches are important as they give an idea of what different students go through when learning. The approaches have been described by scholars as being able to give a clear distinction between the different learners. Thus, it is mandatory for a teacher to learn and understand these approaches so as to make their students excel and make the most out of themselves (Cooper, 2009). Deep and surface approaches were postulated through in the nineteenth century. These approaches were first carried out by Marton and Saljo in 1976. The two scholars carried a study on a number of students and their learning approach. They gave the sample study a particular task, to read a particular text. After they had all read the text, they were asked questions based on what they had read. The students adopted different methods to understanding the text. Different groups adopted different methods of learning. One group adopted the deep approach and another adopted surface approach of learning. This was evident by how the questions were answered after the students had read the text (Murdoch & Wilson, 2008). In answering the questions, the first group displayed that they had understood fully the text while the second group had a vague understanding of the text. This showed a clear distinction. ... Deep learning approach as the word suggests involves the process of having a critical understanding of what is being taught. The students that fall under this category critically analyze concepts and principles, leading to proper understanding that is used in the long-term. It has been noted that for this approach to work, a student needs to be dedicated for a long time. They need to start reading early in advance so that they can understand better what they need to cover. It is the best method that learners should use (Cooper, 2009). This method ensures that the learning method is effective as learners will have benefitted fully from the learning process. Surface learning approach on the other hand is meant for short term retention of information. It mainly involves memorization of facts. The approach does not promote use of knowledge in the long term. The knowledge or information is only crammed briefly. This particular approach is used normally during examinations, especially when the student is not prepared. They want to quickly learn enough information to help them pass the examination. When the reader has done the examination, he or she usually forgets quickly what they have learnt. This learning approach is not advocated for as students do not grasp the knowledge for long (Jarvis, 2005). There are however some instances where it is embraced. An example is when a person is doing a presentation; it applies once the presentation has been done and in case the idea has been rejected, they can quickly switch to a new idea. The third learning approach is the strategic approach. This method is applied whenever necessary. It is a combination of both methods. However, the learner makes a decision on which method they should apply. This all depends on the

Comparing and Contrasting Economic Ideas Essay Example for Free

Comparing and Contrasting Economic Ideas Essay Introduction – As individual leaders in modern economic thinking and attitude, economists Milton Friedman and John Maynard Keynes was hailed and criticized by many different individuals and institutions because of their contribution to global economy attitudes as well as because of the sometimes very radical ways that the two required of economic leaders to resort to so that they can follow the economic model that either Friedman and Keynes designed. Both are right and wrong when it comes to understanding economy and providing a solution which can be used to unlock the mysteries of the changing economic dilemma that the world experiences which requires the input of economists. And during their time, Friedman and Keynes enjoyed the god-like loft from which they stood, one at a time, when the world was bowing to the economic thoughts that they made. Similarities: Friedman and Keynes economic thoughts meet in the middle While Friedmans and Keynes thoughts and focus on economics have inherent differences, some observers believe that the two economic ideas espoused by Friedman and Keynes also have some similarities. For one, the two economists and their ideas are in agreement when it comes to the stable growth rate of money supply and its role in fluctuation and employment[1]. Also, the two were inherently economist in inclination they stand on similar grounds even if it means digging and building that ground using different shovels and different strokes. Second, the economic ideas of the two individuals share the similar characterisitcs of being popular and widely used and regarded before the ensuing change in political landscape made the idea of obsolete and useless; for Keynes and his economic idea about the role of the state in economic leadership, the flowering of his idea came after the world, particularly the US, felt the squeeze to the economy after the two world wars and the occurrence of the Great Depression, his idea ultimately subsiding by the time the world came closer and closer to the 80s. For Friedman, his economic idea got its turn after it proved having the solution to the problem the Keynes model cannot answer, and after enjoying his moment in the spotlight for some years, the global crisis that engulfed the world pushed Friedman’s ideas closer and closer to the trash bin. Friedman and Keynes and their ideas share the similar pace when it comes to public acceptance, as well as the same characteristic that their ideas each are pets of US presidents; former US president Richard Nixon was a Keynesian while another former US president, Ronal Reagan implemented a Friedman approach in economics[2]. Another similarity in the economic idea of Friedman and Keynes is that their ideas allowed for the identification of an entity or institution or idea that was the reason for the failure of the economy. Take for example the Great Depression, for those adhering to the Keynesian belief in economics, they are inclined to believe that there is someone or something at fault why such occurrence happened, and that is the idea of free market. Friedman thinking will also lead the individual towards the same belief of having someone or something at fault, and that is the Federal Reserve, so far as Friedman economic thinking is concerned. Another similarity shared by Keynes and Friedman and their attack and pattern in developing economic thought and assuring the audience needed for the establishment of the popularity and acceptance of their particular economic thought is the manner by which their economic thoughts and ideas were built and spread around those who will either criticize or embrace it. Wood (1991) explained, â€Å"The most surprising aspect of Friedman’s achievements is that he has not to a greater extent earned the gratitude of the profession. To a large degree this is due to the sharply critical form in which he has presented his ideas.†[3] In his attacks on the positions of other he has at times tended to depart from the more careful and guarded way in which he typically presents his own results. This has assured him of a wide audience, because it is often easier to attract adherents to a revolution in thinking even a counter-revolution than to a less dramatic evolution of a hypothesis. This is a characteristic which Friedman shares with Keynes and explains why both have been at the same time highly controversial and highly successful in the development of economic thought. Economists in a head-on collision – Despite the similarities found in Friedman and Keynes and their thoughts and the pacing and social acceptance lifespan of their ideas, Friedman and Keynes and their ideas in economies are more accepted, criticized and reviewed because of how the two ideas find contrasting points against the other. They and their ideas have significant differences that they are described sometimes as the great polarizers of the economy and the economic belief and attitude. For Friedman, Keynes was incorrect about the idea of the state and its active role in dictating the economy. For Friedman, the more suitable solution is for the state to know that its role in the economy is focused on ensuring the growth of money supply. Friedman stressed the importance of monetary policy versus the idea of Keynes and the role of state spending. Friedman also challenged the manner by which Keynes explained the behavior of the consumer especially during the cases of inflation and the ensuing unemployment[4]. The Keynes-Friedman Showdown While it is understandable how there will be purely separate groups that support the thoughts of Keynes and the economic thinking of Friedman, there are instances that the two modern day economic thinkers figure in colossal showdowns (which is not of their doing, of course, but the doing of other people and institutions particularly award giving bodies that set out to identify who is the best between the two). An example of these instances is the during the time globally popular and highly respected weekly glossy magazine TIME undertook the task of naming the recipient of the Economist of the Century honor to wrap up the end of the twentieth century[5]. Skousen (2001) wrote about how the members of the selecting group were torn between Friedman and Keynes, and how Friedman ultimately bested Keynes despite the fact that some TIME magazine staff, including editor in chief Norman Pearlstine, believed that the award should go to Keynes. Pearlstine believed that the manner by which Keynes articulated the importance of free markets as well as the significance of the undue government intervention that will resort to the creation of danger in the economic landscape[6] is an important modern day economic idea that will benefit not just one country but the world, especially now that the world is experiencing global trade and economics. Cambridge University in 1970, during the time Friedman faced a highly partisan, pro Keynes crowd who rooted for their favorite Nicholas Kaldor which Friedman soundly defeated during the debate[7]. Some would say that the surprising Friedman win in that particular debate (which silenced the murmuring crowd of infidels) was due largely because of the absence of Keynes himself, but it may also point to the fact that Friedman and his economic ideals holds true in some aspects. Conclusion – Many scholars, critics, new economists, political analysts and historians until now continually debate about the similarities and differences of Keynes and Friedman and their economic ideas. More importantly, they debated about how each economist and each idea they gave to the world helped in shaping world economy as it is today. Some say that Milton was unlike Friedman, while some think they are the same. Some believe that Friedman was better than Keynes, while others feel otherwise. Others go to the extreme, considering that the two lived in an interconnected life, that one completes the other, as DeLong believes that Friedman was not a competitor to Keynes, but more of the man that completed Keynes[8]. The issues and points arising in the debate focused on the person and their ideas bring about immense complexity that the end is always hard to see, predict and achieve. But for the differences of Friedman and Keynes, it is no doubt that both economist contributed immensely in the field of economics, and because of that, they were showered not just with official honors but with very flattering commentaries by critics and observers. Mark Blaug was quoted by Skousen in his book as attributing to Friedman and his great ability for debating and fighting for his position in economic ideologies[9] that resulted to his earning the respect of even his most critical and previously unimpressed adversaries. Skousen (2001) believes that Friedman is the most famous economist alive, but he was quick to counter his proposition by reminding the readers that Friedman was not a giant at first in the circle of economic thinkers, owing largely to the fact that Friedman and his economic ideas (i.e. his monetarism beliefs) were heavily criticized early in his career as an economic thinker. [10]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Truly, both Keynes and Friedman created such economic ideals that went to the extent that it became antagonistic with each other. But professionals knew that underneath it all, the more important thing to consider is the fact that the differences and similarities found in Keynes’ and Friedman’s works gave the world what it can used to manage changing economic difficulties. Works Cited: DeLong, J Bradford. â€Å"Friedman Completed Keynes.† Project Syndicate. 2006. 23 May 2008   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   www.project-syndicate.org. Heuser, Uwe Jean. â€Å"The Underrated Power of Economists.† Indymedia.org.uk. 28 June 2007.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   23 May 2008 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/06/374612.html. Macesich, George. â€Å"World Economy at the Crossroads.† Greenwood Publishing Group,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Incorporated, November 1997. Skousen, Mark. â€Å"The Making of Modern Economics: The Lives and Ideas of the Great   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thinkers.† Sharpe, Me., Inc., March 2001. Wood, John Cunningham. â€Å"Milton Friedman: Critical Assessments† Vol. 14. Taylor   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Francis, Inc., August 1990. [1] Macesich, George. â€Å"World Economy at the Crossroads.† Greenwood Publishing Group,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Incorporated, November 1997. p. 12. [2] Heuser, Uwe Jean. â€Å"The Underrated Power of Economists.† Indymedia.org.uk. 28 June 2007.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   23 May 2008 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/06/374612.html. [3] Wood, John Cunningham. â€Å"Milton Friedman: Critical Assessments† Vol. 14. Taylor   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Francis, Inc., August 1990. p. 465. [4] Heuser, Uwe Jean. â€Å"The Underrated Power of Economists.† Indymedia.org.uk. 28 June 2007.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   23 May 2008 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/06/374612.html. [5] Skousen, Mark. â€Å"The Making of Modern Economics: The Lives and Ideas of the Great   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thinkers.† Sharpe, Me., Inc., March 2001. pg 379. [6] Ibid. [7] Skousen. pg 380. [8] DeLong, J Bradford. â€Å"Friedman Completed Keynes.† Project Syndicate. 2006. 23 May 2008   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   www.project-syndicate.org. http://webdiary.com.au/cms/?q=node/1757. [9] Skousen, p. 380 [10] Ibid.

Development of Organizational Architecture

Development of Organizational Architecture Venter and Louw (2006, pg 394) describes organizational architecture is an integrated strategic response, which draws together key dimensions of the organization (such as organizational structure, leadership, organizational culture, policies and strategies and the to guide strategic formulation, alignment and implementation. This report will seek to critically discuss organizational architecture as a cohesive framework that will bring about change within PPC. Venter and Louw (2006, pg 394) says that the ability of an organization to facilitate the effective and efficient implementation of strategy is almost entirely dependent on its internal functioning, for it is the internal organization which is seen to comprise those elements that are pivotal in translating the strategy into tangible outcomes and actions. We will do this by exploring the notions of PPCs alignment and implementation with particular reference to the architecture developed by Lee et al (2004). Stakeholders The main driver of PPC strategy as described in the case study is to enhance stakeholders relationships. PPC Stakeholders are shareholders, customers suppliers, the broader community and its employees. These different employees are affected differently by PPC strategy. During the strategy formulation phase, PPC was able to establish that the main hindrance to achieving consistency was that their 4000 employees were demotivated. So PPC embarked on a strategy to motivate its employees. Cameron (2003) defines motivation as the force that drives behaviour in a particular direction. Mitchell (1982) defines motivation as those psychological processes that cause the arousal, direction and persistence of voluntary actions that are goal oriented. Both Cameron and Mitchell point out that motivation is goal oriented however Mitchell (1982) further defines this force as a psychological processes in his definition of motivation. This distinction by Mitchell is important in that it realizes motivation as a process (i.e. consisting of a number of steps) and psychological. This distinction reveals that for a manager to be able to motivate he has to identify the psychological needs of his employees and then devise a process of meeting those needs. PPC was able to identify that motivation of employees was one of the factors that it needed to improve in order to improve its goals. So it looked at how this can be achieved. Capabilities Louw and Venter (2006) describe capabilities as those different deliverables provided to the stakeholders by the organization and dependent on the nature of the organization. From the case study PPC seems to be following a low cost structure for its cement business and a differentiation strategy for its PPC Lime and Afripack business. These different capabilities have implications on PPC stakeholders. For example, for shareholders, the low cost strategy has high returns through streamlined, more cost effective operations and proved by the increase in share price from R78 to R122 by the end of September 2003. So the above combination of strategies has the benefit of drawing elements from both capabilities. Processes Processes can be seen as drivers of capability. Veasey (2001, pg 423) cited on Louw and Venter (2006) categorizes processes as management, operational and support. Management Processes: Describes the role of PPC managers, their work methods, goals and tasks that they aim to achieve and lastly knowledge, skills and level of performance required by the job. The Kumbuku project seemed to be aimed at reducing the performance as the responsibility of only the managers but to spread it amongst all employees. Operational Processes: This is merely concerned with the conversion of inputs into outputs. Heizer and Render (1999, pg 228) cited on Louw and Venter says most goods are produced using one of three strategies, namely, process focus, repetitive process and product focus. PPC produces many units of cement a year with very low degree of variety, so it follows the continuous process. Support processes: These are the processes that support the core business e.g., HR, marketing, sales. These processes are still very important in ensuring efficient and effective running of the business. Organisational structure/systems The main purpose of an organizational structure is to clear and precise roles and responsibilities for all employees as per their department and hierarchy in the structure. This ensures order and maintains a systematic procedure of doing things, which ensures performance and efficiency. At PPC, the strategy is aimed at flattening the structure and shortens the decision making hierarchy. This in turn can improve efficiency and motivate employees. Systems, Policies and procedure Policies and procedures are useful in guiding and aligning the organizations members in their activities and their behaviors at work. Reward Systems. Performance management systems Performance management includes activities that ensure that goals are consistently being met in an effective and efficient manner. These could include: Ongoing observation and measurements to track performance conducted by supervisor. Ongoing feedback about the performance to be given. Quarterly formal performance reviews. This could entails a formal documentation of the progress towards achieving expected results, comments on how these were achieved and suggestions on how to improve performance. If performance meets the desired performance standards, rewards should be given. Policies and procedures Knowledge, skills and abilities With the Kumbuku project, one of the main aims of the project is to achieve a good match between the requirements of the job and natural capabilities of individual employees. This could also have the impact of motivating the employees and lead to job satisfaction and loyalty. Technology Technology is the key to implementation of processes that lead to outputs at PPC. PPC has evaluated its manufacturing technologies and is similar to the best in the industry. However it also must ensure that its office technologies and service technologies are also of a benchmark standard. For PPC this has meant a big investment in order to achieve highly skilled employees. Organisational culture Collins and Porras (1994 in Clegg et al 1996) showed that it is strikingly evident that organizational culture lies at the centre of what differentiates visionary companies from comparison companies (and significantly greater economic performance over the long-term). Culture, how we do things around here in order to succeed (Schneider, 1994, 1997), is an organizations way, identity, pattern of dynamic relationships, reality. Nel et al (2001, p.397) on Harris and Moran (1979, p.32) describes culture as a communicable knowledge for human coping within a particular environment that is passed on for the benefit of subsequent generations, whilst Wilson and Rosenfeld (1990, p.229) defines culture as the basic values, ideologies and assumptions which guide and fashion individual and business behavior. The above definitions both speak to me about the communicable knowledge which Wilson and Rosenfeld explains it to be basic values, ideologies and assumptions. Stapleton (2003) on Trice and Beyer (1984) identifies 4 symbol categories in which this communicable knowledge manifests itself namely; practices, communications, physical forms and common language. These categories are best summarized to prove Deal and Kennedy (1982) definition of the way things get done around here. The way things get done around here can be seen through these 4 categories. Practices This refers to common practices at PPC e.g. Awards etc. Communications Common stories that are generally heard at PPC. Physical forms Some of the notable physical forms could be for example different dress manner between operators and professionals. Other examples include allocated parking spaces and offices. Common Language Refers to the common language during meetings, notice boards, procedure and policies. QUESTION 2 Employees are at the center of organizational change initiatives (Tetenbaum 1998).For PPCs Kumbuku project to be successful, employees need to be able to realize that a good organizational culture and climate would as McNabb and Sepic (1995) says bring about lasting change though the developing of working conditions in which employees can operate more effectively. Should the reason for change be not understood, the following sources of resistance to change could be experienced: Resistance due to organizational culture: Some of the difficulties with change initiatives may be attributed to deeper, more critical sources, such as the pervasive culture of the organization and the operating climate (McNabb and Sepic 1995). An organizations culture is the deep-rooted set of values and beliefs that provide norms for behavior (Deshpande and Webster 1989; Schein 1992). An organizations climate refers to the ways organizations operationalize routine behaviors and the actions that are expected, supported, and rewarded (Schneider and Rentsch 1988). These two characteristics combine to determine organizational readiness for change (McNabb and Sepic 1995). Resistance due to a lack of a holistic perspective: Another long-known reason for lack of change success is the propensity for organizations to implement piece-meal solutions rather than taking a systems perspective (Ackoff 1974). Stakeholders may be resistance to the Kumbuku project due to the fact that they might not have a clear understanding of the direction and holistic implication of the strategy the company is pursuing. Resistance by managers: People have a natural fear of change and when change is mandated they feel a loss of control (Evans 2001). For many people in an organization, change initiatives imply a loss of the security that goes with a specific job. Senge and Kaeufer (2000) note that change efforts can induce fear. The management team at PPC could be threatened by the introduction the allowance of employees in decision making processes. They might feel redundant and not adding value. Also the change in the PPC management structure putting management at the bottom might result in demotivated management team who does not take pride in its role. Resistance by white employees and managers: The fast promotion of black employees could be resisted by white employees, who might feel unfairly discriminated and not valued. Existing white managers might also feel unsecured and can also undermine the newly appointed black managers, who they might not attribute their promotion to good performance. Resistance due to poor communication: Should the Kambuku project not be properly communicated to relevant stakeholders, it could result in poor buy in and failure in implementation. Dawson (1994) discusses the idea of communication and employee involvement being central to the process of change as a crucial consideration in overcoming the natural resistance that most employees feel. QUESTION 3 Johnson (1988) cited on Signal-Horn (2004), defines strategic drift as when gradually, perhaps imperceptibly; the strategy of the company will become less and less in line with the environment in which the organization operates. This definition is the same as that of Charles Handy (1989) which describes strategic drift as the subtle changes of the organisations strategy that leads the organization away from its intended destination to a destination that is unintended. This means that an organization must continuously review its environment and change its strategy in relation to the change in environment as has PPC in the past five years. The organizations response to the changing environment is often associated with its culture. Culture in this instance is seen as a contributor to resisting change (keeping the organization in equilibrium as suggested by Lewin force field model) as it stifles innovation and performance, leading to a drift in strategy. This means that for organization to properly implement change they must undergo an appropriate cultural change. For PPC, it might take many more years for it to start experiencing strategic drift but it is important for PPC Chief Executive to look out for the symptoms of strategic drift which could include: Declining performance. Highly homogenous culture. Little toleration for questioning and challenging of status quo. Reliance on price/cost /competition. Strong power blockages to change. When some of the above mentioned symptoms are identifies Lewin three stage process of change could be used as interventions to prevent the danger of strategic drift: Unfreezing current attitudes This means that old behaviours and ways of doing things must be seen to be unsatisfactory by the organisation and changed and prohibited. Also the need and the benefits for change must be well communicated. Those resisting change must be confronted and addressed. This could be done by involving them to participate and communicating the value of change. Change to a new level This is a period of shifting the equilibrium. Here PPC could embark on a search for new solutions which could include information on new values, organisational culture and structure. Refreezing attitudes at the new level When the organisation has found a solution, it can embark on reinforcing and supporting the new strategy through it structure, policies and systems. REFERENCES Kreitner, R. and Kinicki, A. (2004) Organisational Behavior. New York, McGraw-Hill Nel, P.S., Gerber, P.D., van Dyk, P.S., Haasbroek, G.D., Schultz, H.B., Sono, T., Werner, A. (2001) Human Resource Management. 5th edition. Oxford University Press Southern Africa. Stapleton T (2003) The Context of Management -Sessions 1-7.OU Business School. Wilson, D.C. and Rosenfeld, R.H. (1990) Managing Organisations: Texts, readings and cases, New York, McGraw-Hill. Cameron, S. The Open University (2008). B713 Fundamentals of Senior Management, Block1; Session 14 page 125. Mitchell, T.R. (1982) Motivation: New Direction for Theory, Research and Practice, Academy of Management Review, pg 81. Clegg et al. Palmer, G. ed. 1996. The Politics of Management Knowledge London. Sage Publications. Schneider, B. Leadership at the Edge of Chaos. Strategy Leadership Magazine, Sept. 1997. Dawson, P. (1994). Organisational Change A Processual Approach Newcastle upon Tyne. Athenaeum Press Ltd. K. G. 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