Black Widow Killers

Black Widow Killers The Baby Butcher strikes again! This could have been the heading of the local paper in the late 1800s, when a small child was found floating down the river in a small town in Great Britain. Amelia Dyer was known as â€Å"The Baby Butcher† during the nineteenth century because of her brutal killings of infants and young children. When asked why she committed these sadistic murders she, replied with â€Å"I was sending them to God† (Rattle, Vale, & Rennell, 2007). Historically serial killers have been around for centuries.Although most of these have been men, females account for the most sadistic killings. Why does society find it more likely that a man can kill then a woman? When naming a male serial killer such as Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, or Jack the Ripper, most people probably can name at least one victim. On the other hand mention the name Elizabeth Bathory who murdered more then 300 young women, then bathed in their blood with the belief that h er beauty would be restored. Maria Jager murdered a large number of children and adults for profit and thrills while held prisoner in Hungry.In 1912, Louise Lindoff poisoned her entire family for insurance money. Other victims of female serial killers ranged from small children to grown adults for a number of various reasons. Females could commit murder the same as men. Money, power, lust, revenge, pleasure, or even what they believe is higher powers are among the reasons females decide to kill. According to Peter Vronsky, the author of Serial Killers: The method and madness of monsters, â€Å"When women commit violence the only explanation offered has been that it is involuntary, defensive, or the female physiology.Postpartum depression, premenstrual syndrome, and menopause have been included among the named culprits (2007). Being an outsider or rejected by society as a child could also play a huge role concerning serial killers. A majority of serial killers both male and female s uffer from psychopathic disorders, this is currently called antisocial personality disorder or ASPD (Vronsky p52 pp5). Most serial killers begin developing daydreams or fantasies during childhood. Some of these even begin to torture or kill small animals (Vronsky p4 pp5). A stressful or unstable family life is a ajor factor in most killers. The definition of a serial killer differs from person to person. In 1998, the United States Congress passed a federal law titled: Protection of Children from Sexual Predator Act of 1998. Title 18, United States Code, Chapter 51, and Section 1111, defines serial killing as: The term ‘serial killing’ means a series of three or more killings, not less than one of which was committed within the United States, having common characteristics such as to suggest the reasonable possibility that the crimes were committed by the same actor or actors. Federal Bureau of Investigation Symposium, 2005) The psychopathy of a serial murderer is mostly the same in each crime. They lack the sense of remorse or guilt, are impulsive, feel the need for control, and display predatory behavior (FBI Symposium, 2005). In the case of female killers these traits are acquired during a life changing event or even embedded in them as children. In such cases as Amelia Dyer or Elizabeth Bathory psychopathy played a major role. Not only is psychopathy a significant reason for serial killings there are several other significant reasons as well.Serial murderers kill for various reasons. Females, however, usually have an ulterior motive in mind when they choose and act upon their victims. These motives come from a variety of sources; money is the biggest reason for women to kill. They target men as victims when it comes to obtaining money. Life insurances policies are one of the biggest reasons why the men are targeted. Women also tend to prey on their families and even small children as a sense of release or freedom. Although these crimes are grues ome and uncalled for acts of violence, the majority of them do not go unpunished.Most serial killers are caught by law enforcement and sentenced to several years in prison. A few of these criminals are sentenced to death. In the late 1800s this would mean that the criminal would be hung in the town square in front of the entire town. Some crimes remain unsolved until the murderer dies of natural causes, which means they never, get caught or punished for their crimes. Even though cases are solved and criminals are prosecuted, theses crimes come at a cost for the families of the victims. Because the victims of female serial killers range in age, their killings affect many different people.Amelia dyer, killed infants whose mothers could not care for them. Elizabeth Bathory, killed young women of teenage years, these killings affected the mother’s of the victims and their families. People such as Maria Jager or Louise Lindoff killed mostly adults that left parentless children and many families with unanswered questions. Male or female serial killers are everywhere. He/She could be the lady next door or the man down the street. Motives and reasons are unclear for most serial killings and their mental states are mostly to blame. The victims of these killers can range in age, race, and gender.Remember, think twice in who trust is placed, because she may just become the next black widow killer. References Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2005). Serial Killer Symposium. Retrieved from http://www. fbi. gov/stats-services/publications/serial-murder Morton, R. J. , & Hills, M. A. (2005, August). Serial Murders Multi-Disinplanary Perspectives for Investigators. Retrieved from http://www. fbi. gov/stats-services/publications/serial-murder Vronsky, P. (2007). Female Serial Killers How and why women become monsters. New York, NY: The Berkley Publishing Group. Rattle, A. , Vale, A. , & Rennell, T. (2007). Amelia Dyer, Angel Maker.

Getting Our Future Back On The Rails †Slowly

How does the writer use written and visual language to attempt to persuade readers to share his point of view? The use of inclusive language and personal appeals positions the reader to share the writers viewpoint that a communal garden would be beneficial in not only the sense of convenience but also health, wealth and social.Throughout the article the writer attempts to make the reader believe that a community garden would be a far more productive use of land instead of a skate park and he/she does this with an logical and passionate tone and throughout the article it evolves into a feeling of determination and importance, and this is achieved by the use of imagery and statistics which appeal to both the readers hearts and their wallets. Through repetition of the word community, the writer seeks to compel the reader into believing in the project of the communal garden.The moderate use of repetition in this argument is just enough so that the reader clearly understands that this pro ject is for the community but then not enough so that it drives away the gradual acceptance that the writer is hoping to accomplish. The reference to the Second World War creates a feeling of companionship and duty to growing our own food because during the time of the food shortage that’s what everyone had to do back then, and people don’t want to be put back into that position.Referencing to the graph from the ‘NSW Environment Protection Authority’ lends credibility to the writers argument which influences the reader that the writer certainly knows what they’re talking about and that he/she isn’t the only one concerned about this topic. The concept of having more people that agree with the argument will sway more and more people into believing what is being read and eventually they will jump on board.Statistics and graphs have to be used cautiously in any persuasive piece because if either the information is proven to be wrong it will cause widespread loss of interest and trust in the argument, also, statistics cannot just be thrown into a piece without any explanation from the author otherwise it will just cause confusion for the reader and it will defeat its own purpose, it is similar to using an irrelevant quote.In this argument the use of the graph and the proper accreditation to the ‘NSW Environment Protection Authority’ shows the reader that the writer is trustworthy and the information that he/she is relaying is accurate. By addressing the readers informally as a community, the writer establishes a sense of intimacy not only with him/herself but almost as if with the entire audience that the article was addressed to. Inclusive language is language that does not belittle, exclude or stereotype people, instead it aims on bringing everyone together.Inclusive language includes the reader by assuming that they all agree or disagree, it engages the reader and may gain sympathy or persuade the reader to e ither accept or reject the idea or topic of the article. Some examples of the inclusive language that was used in this article include the words community, our own, ourselves, ‘to you, the community’ and neighbours, these words are all synonyms of the word group.In conclusion the writers main contention was to persuade all of the readers of this article to agree to the construction of a communal garden and he/she did this by using some powerful techniques the correct way in their article, these include but are not limited to inclusive language, repetition, statistics and imagery. The main audiences that will be convinced by this article are those that care about their community and also their own health and financial benefit but there will always be people that don’t agree with what you write and these people might include the ones that would be too lazy to get up and tend to a garden every day.

Tommy hilfiger casestudy Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Tommy hilfiger casestudy - Coursework Example The CEO at Hilfiger shifted the bulk of design output to the European headquarters and this led to an overall price hike. For one thing, the costs of production in Europe are higher. Operational and distribution costs are also very high in Europe compared to the United States based on the different retail and wholesale systems. In the U.S., mid to high tier department stores are utilized to stock the merchandise and reach the customers. Due to the â€Å"mall† culture of United States, this strategy worked very well and at lower distribution costs the company could easily reach its target market. In contrast, the retail culture in Europe is very â€Å"small boutique†, where shoppers go to small, exclusive shops to buy clothing rather than bigger departmental chains. These chains, such as Galeries Lafayette in France, are costly distribution options. As a result, the associated costs spiked. To compete with European brands that are tagged at higher prices (up around $50 o n average on a single T-shirt, for example) Hilfiger merchandise was priced higher in Europe to make them competitive. Lastly, to convey the message of premium quality and compete with higher end European brands such as LV, Prada and Gucci, the company positioned the product in the top tier category and had to mark prices accordingly. In branding, the Law of Quality described by Al and Laura Ries (2009) shows that the higher the price of a brand, the greater the perception of quality. This law was seen in practice in the European Hilfiger market. The company has been able to establish a European customer base and market presence. As a result, the European market accounts for 40% of the total sales of the company. The American market has suffered due to lower pricing strategy and inability to compete on the fronts that the Hilfiger brand was traditionally known for. Competing on different price levels in different regions does not have as big an impact if the two are compared; howeve r, as standalone businesses, the European region has benefitted and North American region has suffered. 2. Hilfiger’s CEO would like to harmonise the European and U.S. collections by having Hilfiger move more upmarket in the US. What problems might the company face in doing this? What might it do to make this strategy successful? Building on the tested idea that higher prices are equated with higher quality, associations that the Hilfiger brand strives for, the company intended to move more up-market in the U.S. The major problems that might result from this strategy are mentioned below: Changes might hurt the overall brand. Branding is achieved through a consistent face of the company and its products. With standard designs in collections, it would be damaging in the long run for a brand to have a changed strategy and pricing policy in Europe and US. Resistance from the traditional buyer of Hilfiger. The traditional buyer comes to Hilfiger expecting the All-American, classic casual wear that is affordable. A higher price tag will disillusion the buyer, making him think the brand he loves to wear has changed and is not what he has always wanted. This will result in lost sales for the company. Lose the essence that made it famous. A higher price tag will demand a change in the design strategy also because charging a premium for the standard material and design will confuse the buyer. For example, when the company changed the logo design, a Hilfiger trademark, the company faced lower

What are the characteristics of the radiation emitted by a blackbody - Speech or Presentation

What are the characteristics of the radiation emitted by a blackbody - Please show me your calculations - Speech or Presentation Example Wien’s Law in particular, states that for blackbody emissions, the higher its temperature, the higher either the frequency or the lower the wavelengths of the given predominant light emitted by the blackbody (Mahmoud 568). It can, as well be stated as the wavelength of maximum emitted radiation is often inversely proportional to absolute temperature (T). Mathematically, this law is stated as Peak Wavelength (ÃŽ ») = 0.29/T, where T is in degrees Kelvin, and Peak Wavelength is I centimeters. In this respect, one characteristic of a blackbody radiation is its temperature. Stefan-Boltzmann Law, on the other hand states that the amount of energy that is given off by the black body per second per unit area is always proportional to the forth power of the blackbody temperature. E = Sigma X Temperature to the fourth power (Mahmoud 568). From this law, the second characteristic of the back body radiation is the thermal energy possessed by the radiation. Basing on the Wien’s for mula, T = 0.29/ÃŽ ». Therefore, for the hottest where ÃŽ » = 200nm, the temperature = 0.29/200nm = 0.00145 and for the less hot object whose ÃŽ »= 650nm, T = 0.29/650nm = 0.0004461539. from these results, it is clear that the hottest body is 0.00145/0.0004461539 = 3.25 times that other

Sustainable Development of Iraqi Oil and Gas in International Law Dissertation

Sustainable Development of Iraqi Oil and Gas in International Law - Dissertation Example Conclusion 47 Bibliography 50 1. Introduction During several last decades the idea of sustainability has become a major environmental policy supported by many national governments and international organisations.1 One of the most comprehensive descriptions of the notion of sustainability was made by The International Institute for Sustainable Development, who claimed that sustainability is based on â€Å"the persistence of certain necessary and desired characteristics of people, their communities and organisations, and the surrounding ecosystem over a very long period of time (indefinitely)†.2 In order to achieve progress toward sustainability, it is necessary to improve and maintain both human and ecological systems providing their welfare, but not one at the expense of the other. Thus, the idea clearly expresses interdependent relationships between people and the world around them. Institute of Advanced Studies of the United Nations University asserts that: Few global issues have been attracting more attention in recent years than those associated with sustainable development, on which impinge such considerations as the growing world population, mushrooming urbanisation, expanding rates of consumption, climate change, biodiversity, and the adverse social and economic effects these factors are having on the populations of the developing and developed world as they impact the health of mankind and the environment. 3 Relationship between mankind and the environment has started in the distant past, when human beings lived in a complete symbiosis with nature. Over the centuries people worked for their needs without any concern about environmental protection and conservation. In the course of time mastery of humans over nature has been increasing, until it has culminated in the industrial revolution in 19-20th centuries. Such prominent characteristic features of that time as material-intensive way of production, the vast expansion of intercontinental trade a nd fast growth of population caused a considerable environmental damage.4 The impact of industrialization on nature can be well illustrated as follows: ...A vast acceleration of forest cutting, mining, land development, and fishing began. Industrialised societies saw forests disappearing to fuel the factories, mass migrations of people moving to cities to work in factories, and clouds of pollution hanging over the cities. ...The environment was turned into a site of economic competition between the various industrialised nations... 5 The first reaction of the society to environmental problems was a reactive approach that is characterised by clean-up activities mainly.6 But since the early 1960s, environmental problems have been eventually recognised as a political issue, which demands proactive measures. Nowadays it is widely recognised that healthy environment is essential to sustainable development. More and more economists, state officials and researchers understand that economic policy, based on using of forests, water, soils and other critical natural resources, without taking appropriate account of its current state and future development, is not wise and successful. Thus, the more proactive approach in resource usage is being taken, ensuring â€Å"

Depends on the facility you'll choose Assignment

Depends on the facility you'll choose - Assignment Example autiful and greatly ornamented interior, complete with a carved white marble staircase; benches and counters of carved marble alongside bronze tellers’ windows, and hardware. Formerly the Crocker-Citizens National Bank (later absorbed by the Wells Fargo in the year 1980†²s), the building has extensively been remodeled (Hume et al., 2010).It initially housed an 11 story office tower above it and was enclosed in terra cotta. One of its very outstanding features is considered to be the rotunda entrance that is supported by granite pillars, and having coffered ceiling. The building was originally a â€Å"combination bank and an office building† it is currently considered to be one of the lavish banking interior within the city. By 1960 the building’s sandstone faà §ade was crumbling. So Milton Pflueger, redesigned the faà §ade for the upper floors. Again it was proposed that a new world headquarters tower alongside galleria further west on Post Street to be initiated, the city provided air space instead of the demolition of the upper floors of the building at 1 Montgomery (Robertson, 1879). The roof of this bank is currently a garden for the Crocker Galleria Shopping Center. There are little bats on both the interior and exterior of the window. Within the frieze are wolves, mountain lions and foxes. The animal sculptures look good but their meaning left to be interpreted by the designers. The steel frame building is architecturally clad in gray granite. Its massive pediment which is 38 feet high is held by six ionic columns. The designing and sculpturing of the building was done cities highly prolific sculptures of that time. At a particular time the front was graced using bronze doors. The doors comprised of the four panels designs that symbolized the â€Å"descriptive of the historical succession of the Californian races.† That is; Indian, Spaniard, American and the San Fransciscan. Though, today the doors have been replaced with glass. The inside of the

Interactive Televsion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Interactive Televsion - Essay Example This new platform enables me to connect with friends with similar interests as me in terms of sporting events, programs and movies. The main idea behind Sora iTV is Fun, Choice, Convenience, Empowerment and Control. Functionalities of Sora iTV Sora iTV will have my personalized TV guide of all upcoming events and episodes for all the shows and sporting events I like. It will also list what my friends or schoolmates are watching. Another feature of Sora iTV will be discussion board, whereby I can talk to friends about our favorite programs and events. New ideas on interesting shows will be floated around and I will later include them in the list of my shows and episodes. Users of Sora iTV will take part only in discussions that have comments from their friends about the specific shows and relevant news articles about those programs and their actors. The posts will be streamed using a Twitter-like interface and filtered by show. This will be possible because the system will look for ke ywords related to specific programs. Designing the user interface of Sora iTV The design of Sora iTV aims create a large display or work area. With this in mind the controls will be pushed to the edge of the screen. Another important factor in screen design for Sora iTV is the distance between me (the viewer) and the television set. Usually in the case of a computer, I sit with two feet of the monitor. But in the case of the TV the distance is usually four to six feet from the set. What this means for the design is that text and controls must be oversized so that they are legible from a distance. The CD-I Design Handbook Philips Interactive Media Systems emphasizes the following when choosing font and color to use for interactive television user interface design: Use simply constructed sans-serif fonts. Don’t use a font size smaller than 22 points. Don’t use red as the text color. Use anti-aliasing to increase readability. Use soft, low contrast outlining or drop shado ws on text to increase the edge definition of the letters. Navigation within the interface is another consideration to make. Historically, viewing of television has been a passive action. Interactivity was limited to browsing through the channels, varying the volume and turning off the set occasionally. One thing to keep in mind when designing the user interface for iTV applications is that there won’t be a keyboard or a direct pointing device like a mouse. Most of my iTV applications will use remote control device, with four arrow keys and a select button. When the navigation is this limited, you must take care in the arrangement of navigable objects on the screen (Shneiderman 1992). For example, functional buttons should be grouped into one column while navigational buttons should be in another group. Moving from one group to the other is one click left or right. Minimize the number of button presses that the user must make to use your screens (Luther 1989). Having done tha t here is how Sora iTV user interface design will look like. Interactivity with Sora iTV Interactivity is what sets Sora iTV apart from the other available iTVs. This interactivity will be enhanced by simplicity in controls and navigation. One of the ways of interacting with Sora iTV is the ability to communicate with my friends through discussion threads. This will be enabled through a Twitter-like interface. Friends

Assignment about Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Assignment about Leadership - Essay Example This is the case with Benes. He had not bothered to know how Madoff made all the money. Due Diligence requires that every investor undertake an investigation that aims at gathering information on the actual risks involved when one is getting into any investment. It is clear that most of these feeder funds failed to do due diligence since they had so much faith in Madoff. It is said that Madoff was a successful party player in Wall Street and thus expected to have a pool of experience in stock trading. The single thing that actually made people believe so easily in him is the fact that the people who had already invested into his Company were making a lot of money consistently even when the market was down. Madoff also allowed them to operate without paying fees for their transactions, a move that enabled them to make a lot of money from numerous investors they had in their firms. This was bait since they saw they could earn even more money from these operations. It was also easy for people not to perform due diligence because many huge companies and prominent people had invested with Madoff. This made people trust in Madoff as an expert in his field. The study of Bernie Madoff scandal brings out a number of personalities about him. To start with, it is easier to say that He had a narcissistic personality since it is evident he was absolutely convinced that he was better than everyone else was. Looking at the whole scandal, we can only conclude that Madoff was a great liar. He deceived everyone. No one knew how the company made all those funds, starting from his family to the Government. He managed to deceive everyone for around 30 years Madoff operated his illegal business. He stole from so many people and did not care the harm he caused them, both financially and emotionally. This is also seen when Bienes firm was closed down after it was said it was an illegal firm. Bienes was

Hidden intellectualism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Hidden intellectualism - Essay Example She asserts that the best method of approaching ideas, conversations is in the form of a debate. She illustrates these with examples of company news, the company that looks for the news anchors who can show extremely odd views so that they can present the two sides of the situation. She argues the way, such a culture is the day-to-day routine that the public interactions are used, and to them, they believe the way one thinks. According to her, an individual has to pose a debate so that the other individuals can agree or disagree with the point. However, moderation should also be applied when it comes to a debate. This is because even the debates have their own purpose, though they are not the only options for understanding and viewing the world. According to Tannen, people’s culture is based on the personal habits and arguments that seek the winning and losing end. She states that when it comes to the conflict, for instance, there must be an opposing and proposing side, and in this case, there must be a disagreement and agreement. According to her, it only destroys the society and sets people in the battle mindset situations whereby every battle must lead to hurting. She emphasizes that it only makes people think of irrelevant rhetorical limitations from the opposing end, instead of listening to the important issues. She argues and views agonizing response as the planned contentiousness, pre-patterned, without thinking, and involves fighting so that one can reach his or her goal.

English Crucible Coursework Essay Example for Free

English Crucible Coursework Essay In the established society of a small, Puritan town in the late 17th century, a lie by a ministers niece sparks utter hysteria throughout the town of Salem. This quite minor fabrication causes a wildfire of deceit to burn throughout the town destroying homes, families and friendships. In the centre of this saga the marriage of John and Elizabeth Proctor has been diminished to a marriage of awkward silences and great mistrust by John Proctor adulterous relationship with Abigail Williams. As the town is in havoc, the Proctors marriage is also tested. The play portrays heir struggle to prevail I a world of treachery. In this essay of The Crucible, I am going to be examining the Proctors marriage in relevance to the theme of witchcraft and study why Miler put the marriage at the centre of the play.  When we first see the Proctors in Act Two, a conventional view of home life at that period time is portrayed the husband has been working hard on the land, while his wife cared for the children and tended to her familys needs, but this scene also shows many things. I t shows the need for gratitude from each over, as if they need to please one another vastly. This is depicted many times when John begins to eat. Early on in the scene as Proctor comments on his wifes food saying It is well seasoned which we are aware is false as previously in entering the house he sampled the food and added more seasoning to it, the way this sentence is implied suggests that he is just trying to keep the peace between them. She is content with his praise and eve thrives on his delight in her and feels if she carries on pleasing him he will not go elsewhere for this gratitude, as to his previous mistress Abigail This is not one-sided as John states to Elizabeth after consulting her if she would like a cow he says, I mean to please you with her reply being, John I know. This shows he is attempting to redeem his infidelity and prove to her al he wants is to make her happy and she is aware of his numerous efforts but cannot allow herself to forget the past months.  Elizabeth is still very apprehensive of John and questions him as soon as she is aware of his presence she begins to enquire into his delay home asking him, what keeps you so late?. Elizabeth shows great suspicion towards John; this is depicted through her eagerness to know what is keeping her husband. He justifies himself by declaring in his defence he was out farming. The premature view of the scene in Act Two reveals great suspicion in this marriage, as Elizabeth is fearful that he has been visiting Elizabeth. This parallels to the witchcraft trials of Salem and the scepticism of the inhabitants as to if someone may blindly accuse them next for minor things such as an argument in the past or over land restrictions. The weariness by the community is shown later in the Act when Reverend Hale is told of the arrest of Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse to this he declares, Then nothing left to stop the whole green world from burning. This statement refers to the suspicion in the town as when one lie has started it is difficult to stop it from causing more lies to arise, this declaration can also be interpreted as the whole green world being the forest and when a forest fire is started it is almost impossible to stop the fire in comparison to the wildfire of lies spreading through the region. This leads to the lack of trust in the district of Salem and in the Proctors marriage .As we return to the early stages of Act Two we see the Proctors involved in a minor dispute as he tells Elizabeth of his moment alone with Abigail, this is where the mistrust in their marriage is exposed and laid bare Elizabeth in disbelief of what she was just confronted with, questions him and asks you were alone with her, and he discards her and tells her, only for a moment, she reads into this as a lie and suspects their liaison has been reunited and is upset he has not informed her of this moment.  Elizabeth still detects that John is concealing something from her and because of her suspicions continuously questions him as we saw at the beginning of Act Two, her frustrations at him is shown when she says, John you are not open with me which explains her distrust in John this is because she feels he is disguising a  Fabrication from her.

Entrepreneurial Management In Marks And Spencer

Entrepreneurial Management In Marks And Spencer The issue of entrepreneurial management is utterly important for any organisation, as it is responsible for the realisation of strategic plans and business objectives by means of the human resources available for a company. This report discusses the perspectives and challenges of entrepreneurial management in Marks Spencer and particularly the issue of the relationship with human resources. The analysis of the problem relies on the models of organisational design context, organisational culture and entrepreneurial skills. The author explores and analyses the changes that the organisational has undergone in respects to MSs organisational structure and how their culture has been formulated. The necessary components of core managerial skills and competencies have been discussed in-line with MSs entrepreneurial activities. These factors have been evaluated and recommendations have been made. The author concludes that on the one hand, the recent reduction of the levels in the organisational structure of MS is beneficial for the company as the communication between the level, transparency and overall effectiveness increase. On the other hand, precise hierarchy and centralisation (mechanistic structure) make the company inflexible and difficult to adapt. Also tight environmental conditions and the current strategic objectives emphasise the need for organisational learning and professional development for both common employees and managers, which should be oriented to develop their existing entrepreneurial skills. The author states that MS should reward the most active and progressive managers creating motivation by all means. It is recommended that the organisational structure is flattened further, managerial control and communication should be improved to ensure better performances of MS and that the company should act in a more consultative manner. 2. Case Study: Marks Spencer The company Marks Spencer (MS) was founded by Michael Marks in 1884. Michael initially opened a stall at Leeds Kirkgate market that sold various items such as nails, screws, soap and wooden spoons for a penny each. In 1893 Michael decided to return back to his home routes in Manchester, and set up a shop downstairs from where he lived. He decided to seek a business partner; the business partner being Thomas Spencer. Today, MS is the largest UK retailer with 600 domestic outlets. Furthermore, the company is presented in over 40 other countries (294 foreign outlets). Marks Spencer concentrates predominantly of clothing and food retailing, which constitute 49% and 51% of its business respectively. The company offers stylish, high quality and great value clothing, as well as giving customers the opportunity to purchase food that is of outstanding quality that has been responsibly sourced from approximately 2,000 suppliers globally. The company has grown substantially throughout the years; the company direction and strategies have been manipulated to cater for the needs and desires of their existing and potential customer base and other stakeholders such as the employees, community, suppliers, shareholders and so forth. MS believes that their company values of Quality, Value, Service, Innovation and Trust are not newly established, and state that they are the principles that the business was founded (MS, 2010). More than 75,000 are employed by the firm all over the world. In 2009, revenue of MS was equal to  £9,062 million; net income constituted  £506 million. The companys profitability has been much higher prior to the recession. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and is included in the FTSE 100 Index (MS, 2009). The share price reached its peak in 2007, and took a dramatic fall in 2008. MS has a variety of competitors ranging from the main supermarket groups, to specialists in fashion and homeware. The competitive environment has changed in recent years due to the rise of home shopping, and more consumers purchasing products from catalogues and the Internet. MS have to compete on price, what they have to offer, the rising expectations of the consumers and on the in-store experience. MSs management recognise the need to do business in an ethical way; to provide products and services to stimulate public interest and to abide by legislations/regulations such as consumers rights, environmental rules and other Industry regulations. Management have attracted 21 million people visiting the stores each week by their entrepreneurial implementations through their decision making processes by acting competitively and innovatively, also by differentiating themselves from their competitors in the retail industry by what they have to offer and by their strong ethical stance. The organisational design, organisational culture and the entrepreneurial skills that the management possess have contributed to MSs success in recent years. Management have been able to spot opportunities first were other competitors havent, or have not been fast enough to act; such as in 2002 MS announced that it was the first ever retailer to use only free-range eggs in all of their products, in 2005 MSs Cafe Revive were the first UK Coffee chain to offer Fair-Trade tea and coffee as standard, and in 2008 by becoming the first retailer to remove all artificial colour and flavourings from their entire food and soft drinks range (MS, 2008). MS empl oyees may therefore feel a sense of satisfaction for working for a well established, strongly ethical and successful company, thus potentially improving their co-operation and motivational levels. Stuart Rose, the Chairman/Chief Executive of MS expressed that the company has a key goal in everything they do: to build a sustainable business for the long term, generating shareholder value through consistent, profitable growth whilst making sure that customers can trust them to do the right thing. Rose states that customers of MS have told us that despite the impact of the recession our commitment to the environment and trading fairly is still important to them (MS, 2009). MS have planned ambitions to satisfy the general public by challenging themselves with the implementation of Plan A, aiming to become the worlds most sustainable major retailer by 2015 that could also prove to be a factor that encourages customer loyalty and help establishing a competitive advantage. Plan A was launched in January 2007 and is a five year eco-plan which has a positive contribution to the environment and society in every aspect of how MS do business so that they grow in a sustainable way. The plan addresses challenges across five areas: Climate change, waste, sustainable raw materials, fair partner and health (http://plana.marksandspencer.com). MS has a standard centralised organisational structure that is characteristic to the majority of the UK multiple retailers. The organisation structure is vertical (Whitehead, 1994). MS has moved to a new flatter structure recently, which implies the reduction of organisational layers in the structure (Varley, 2006); this therefore makes the organisation faster to perceive any changes and respond to them. Due to the organisation having a large complex structure, MS have to ensure that managerial control and communication throughout the hierarchy is efficient and effective to try ensuring high employee morale and motivation, thus a more efficient and effective workforce to meet MSs strategic objectives. This is a key problem area that MS need to focus on. The structure of the hierarchy is complex; therefore employees attitudes and values may only be conveyed to the employees line manager. This reflects the importance of communication in MS between the vertical levels of authority. The leadership style is autocratic; the business decisions are typically made and influenced by management only with a lack of consultation of the employees. Consultation could give employees recognition, motivation and a sense of belonging/need. The recession has had direct effect on MS in terms of profitability and their entrepreneurial thinking in decision making processes, due to the serious nature and potential negative associations that can follow from such an economic downturn. In October 2008 Stuart Rose stated that Consumer confidence remained fragile and the retail environment was unpredictable (http://business.timesonline.co.uk); this enforcing company management to act in an entrepreneurial way, by being alert and acting rapidly in the best interests of the organisation and its stakeholders. MSs management realise that there is an importance of having the ability to spot any opportunities available; in the scope to improve customer loyalty and confidence in the brand to attempt to overcome the negative side effects of the recession and assisting the creation of stability/prosperity for the company. According to Morgan (2001) the corporation provides the training of technical skills and business competencies of their employees. Afterwards, the effectiveness analysis of the learning is conducted within six months (Schutt, 2006). The learning process is necessary for the management to develop entrepreneurial skills to lead the workforce in an effective, appropriate and motivational manner. In January 2009 management announced that they were to cut costs by reducing their workforce by 1000 staff members across the retail stores, head office and their support functions (www.telegraph.co.uk). This reflects the need for strict management of the workforce and certain constraints to be implemented in such a dynamic environment to meet short/long term company objectives. The company comprehend the requirement to ensure that there is a focused balance between each of the stakeholders needs and desires; sacrifices such as these cost cutting measures have been implemented in attempts to outweigh financial uncertainty. According to Stiegert and Kim (2009) the rewards and bonuses for the employees in MS have been reduced considerably with the coming of the global financial crisis; which could be detrimental for the workforces future efficiency, motivation and morale; thus potentially affecting customer satisfaction levels. MS strive to satisfy stakeholders through the utilisation of the management team and their employees. They emphasise the need for effective managerial control in-line with company objectives; for the employees to know the entailment of their job specifications to provide efficiency that may contribute to a competitive advantage being established for MS. The outcome of this process will decide the companys future competitive stance in their market. 3. Context of Organisational Design According to Ferrell (1979) and Gibson et al. (2003), the notion of organisational design is directly associated with the creation of formal relationship, roles and processes within an organisation. The researcher has chosen the model that describes the context of organisational design, since it is necessary to analyse the framework and conditions of the management process and managers roles within Marks Spencer from the very beginning. According to Stanford (2005), the model of the context of organisational design is five-fold, where all the components are mutually influenced. The context of organisational design in Marks Spencer can be presented as follows: Structure: MS has a standard centralised organisational structure that is characteristic to the majority of the UK multiple retailers. Marks Spencer does not possess any manufacturing facilities in Great Britain. This means that the success of this retail business is determined by greater centralisation. The company has a vertical structure (Whitehead, 1994). MS has moved to a new flatter structure recently, which implies the reduction of organisational layers in the structure (Varley, 2006). The composition of the second-layer management team is the following: human resources, international business, retail, IT and logistics, food, store marketing and design, merchandise, finance and operations, marketing (MS, 2009). It can be argued that such hierarchy and the reduced number or levels in the organisational structure to be an advantage (mechanistic structure). The communication between the layers is better arranged, tasks and responsibilities are clearly defined, which is the key to stability. However, it may be argued that the whole organisation is less flexible and adaptive as in the case of organic structure. This deals predominantly with the initiative of lower rank managers. Size: According to the size, Marks Spencer can be classified as a large business, since the company employs more than 75,000 people all over the world (MS, 2010). Huge size implies extensive hierarchy from the CEO to a common worker (Coe, 2004). Despite the fact that organisational structure has been flattened recently, it is complicated anyway. Huge size obliges MS to state and restate precise responsibilities on a regular basis. The fulfilment of duties raises the problem of advanced managerial control. Environment: The environment in which Marks Spencer operates can be characterised as complex. The company is to respect consumer rights, operate according to the regulations in the industry and comply with environmental rules such as waste control (Bevan, 2001). Furthermore, MS is responsible to provide timely salaries and wages to its employees (Jones and Simmons, 1990). Moreover, the company is to adjust to recent social changes, which imply that the UK residents tend to spend more time online than outdoors. It is valid to argue that such a complex environment makes the management process within MS more difficult. Better entrepreneurial skills are required from the top management. And more sophisticated strategies should be used. It can be argued that in such conditions, there is a pressing need for greater integration of the departments of Marks Spencer. Technology: The technologies implemented in Marks Spencer would be rather characterised as routine technologies. Being of a clothes and food retailer, the company faces automatic and frequently repeated processes and tasks. Very few employees are required to demonstrate a creative approach to their responsibilities (non-routine technologies) (Dobson et al., 2004). It may be argued that routine technologies in MS can be explained by the considerable hierarchal organisational structure. In such a case the presence of bureaucracy is inevitable. It is valid to argue that the existing bureaucratic organisational structure should be improved by a more creative management process. This requires better entrepreneurial skills from the managers themselves. But this will enable to upgrade the inter-level communication quality. Strategy: Corporate strategy is quite a broad notion, but it can be stated that the key objectives of MS is to accentuate its own brand, to improve the clothing segment in order to reach the balance between food and clothing retail. Furthermore, the company seeks to improve the line of Home Beauty in its retail stores, to accelerate the programme of store renewal, improve the supply chain and start to use the space in outlets more effectively (MS, 2009; MS, 2010). In May 2008 a press release stated that international sales and profits were up by 16.8% and 33% (http://news.bbc.co.uk); it could be suggested that MS are hoping to overcome some weaknesses of the UKs current economic climate with geographical diversification by increasing stores internationally. As it is seen, these business strategic issues require optimisation and rationalisation of the existing directions. This means that MS is to provide professional training and organisational learning for its employees. According to Morgan (2001) the corporation provides the training of technical skills and business competencies of their employees. Afterwards, the effectiveness analysis of the learning is conducted within six months (Schutt, 2006). It may be argued by the author that the discussed strategic orientation of MS requires more specialised training of the employees. Furthermore, the training should not be academic by nature, but it must be integrated into the practical fulfillment of responsibilities. It is supposed that learning groups should be organised within departments and the team work is to be emphasised in such learning. The model of organisational design context can be criticised for the fact that it does not take into account the dimension of industry. Retail industry, in which Marks Spencer is engaged, is attributed to numerous specific features that do matter in the aspects of organisational learning, entrepreneurial skills and competences. First of all, this industry is customer-oriented (Stanford, 2005). Second, the whole structure should be aimed to provide a stable and high-quality service. From this standpoint, culture of communication, fast reaction between the organisational layers and strong lea dership are sufficient. 4. Organisational Culture The model of organisational culture has been chosen for discussion because it embraces a wide range of management categories associated with the company. It is possible to discuss leadership styles, controls and rewards in organisational processes. Managerial ethics and inter-industry specifics are also included into the model (Pinches, 1999). As it was mentioned, the previous model lacked these industry-related issues. However, the framework was formulated on the foundation of very fundamental assumptions about how organisations work and how they are managed (Cameron and Quinn, 2006); these assumptions may not be true of all organisations in practice; the model also represents that each of the four inputs are of equal importance in prescribing culture, this may not always be the case. Organisational processes: Discussing the leadership styles in Marks Spencer it is quite difficult to generalise since different managers can choose different leadership depending on personal preferences, educational background and experience. Nevertheless, the top managers of the company have been numerously characterised in the past as having an autocratic leadership style (Williams, 1992). This means that with such state of affairs the authority of managers is high, but the autonomy of departments, groups and individuals in the decision-making process is low (Messick and Kramer, 2005; Mullins, 2007). This is partially explained by the centralised vertical structure with considerable number of layers. It is difficult to judge whether this style is the best one for MS, but it is valid to assume that it contributes to bureaucracy, lower motivation and absence of the necessity of personal development of employees. Hence, the management can be at least recommended to improve the autonomy of the creative departm ents. The employees engaged in non-routine technologies should be managed consultatively. According to Stiegert and Kim (2009) the rewards and bonuses for the employees in MS have been reduced considerably with the coming of the global financial crisis. A press release in May 2008 stated that store teams are set to share  £12.8 million; the previous year MS paid a record of  £91 million in bonuses to its 75,000 staff (http://investmentmarkets.co.uk). This could generate negative effect on the motivation and productivity of the personnel. It can be argued that the corporation should find the possibility to reward the most active and progressive managers and employees. However, Stuart Rose believes MS are expecting market conditions to remain difficult for the foreseeable future and are managing the business accordingly. Tight stock control and management of costs are priority. (http://corporate.marksandspencer.com) The company announced cuts of 1000 jobs in January 2009; this could create uncertainty in the workforce that may lead to a lack of motivation, morale and in crease absenteeism levels due to stress and anxiety. Cognitive processes: One of the strongest features of MS is that the company supports professional ethics. This characteristic refers to both the employees and customers of the company. Managerial decisions and actions cannot contradict to the existing regulations (MS, 2010). Nevertheless, the process of strategic thinking is vertical as in the case of organisational structure. It is valid to argue that lower rank managers should be involved into the process of strategic thinking. Behaviours: Group member behaviour in Marks Spencer can be described as traditional teamwork. This kind of member and manager behaviour is characteristic to centralised vertical organisational structures (Morgan, 2001). Such form of behaviour implies lower control by group members and greater control by group facilitators. Again, the company can be criticised for increased control over employees and strict frameworks in which the employees have to perform their functions. Values: The values of Marks Spencer are the following: quality, service, innovation, trust and commitment towards employees and valued people (MS, 2010). The implementation of Plan A strives to meet the environmental concerns of the company, employees and customers, encouraging people to live a greener lifestyle (MS, 2010). Human resources are among the highest values of the company. However, such direction is to be confirmed by the practical actions of the corporation. 5. Entrepreneurial Skills Another model that can be applied to characterise Marks Spencer is the entrepreneurial skills model. It has been chosen for the discussion because it vividly illustrates the necessary components of core managerial skills and competencies developing that take place within the company to contribute towards forming the organisations culture and design. However though, research to determine whether identifiable relationships exist between the performance of the firm, the learning mode of the organisation and organisational competence does not provide clear statistically significant relationships and further work is clearly needed (Chaston et al, 1999). Entrepreneurial skills- The necessary components of core managerial skills and competencies: Research and practice connected to competence is focused by the ambition to achieve superior performance, and for economic gain or business success (Spencer and Spencer, 1993). As it has been already mentioned, the personnel of Marks Spencer participate in regular organisational learning aimed to develop the core skills and competencies (Johansson, 2004). However, the researcher argues that such learning is necessary in the first place for the management of the company to develop entrepreneurial skills; Deakins and Freel (2003) proclaim that there is need for sophisticated knowledge and competencies to operate larger production runs and manage a workforce. It may be stated that the connection to the industry should be emphasised at every stage. The business should focus on the management to build a reliable customer-oriented service. An Industry opportunity has been spotted by management in the implementation of Plan A, in which MS feel has motivated employees and involved them in taking part in contributing to the good cause that they have an interest in in the community where they and the customers live. Costs have also been reduced in result of Plan A, with a  £50 million surplus in 2009/2010 (http://plana.marksandspencer.com). It could be argued that the management team implementing these changes relate to the definition of an entrepreneur as according to Schumpeter and Kirzner. Shumpeter (1934) believed the entrepreneur is a special person who brings about change, whilst Kirzner (1979) believed the entrepreneur is anyone who is alert to the profitable opportunities for exchange; who has additional knowledge which enables the recognition and exploitation of an opportunity (Deakins and Freel, 2003). The skill to recognise and exploit the positive financial, environmental and employee motivational implications of Plan A appears to be welcomed by the general public (through the knowledge gathered from customers (MS 2009) which could establish a competitive advantage). Also by the company and its employees due to the improvement of environmental issues that may affect all of the stakeholders; and by the savings that have been made that can be utilised in other means to the companys strategic advantage. Personal motivation is necessary for managers. If they possess this, it would be a transmitter to further organisational levels. According to Lussier (2009) managers have come to realise that a motivated workforce can contribute powerfully to bottom-line profits and that the poor performance of employees can be caused inadvertently by managers themselves potentially due to their lack of motivation. In this light, the bonuses and rewards for the managers are extremely important. David Michels (Deputy Chairman of MS) expressed that he believes good governance encourages entrepreneurship and innovation within a framework of accountability (http://corporate.marksandspencer.com). The general management skills and human relationship skills appear to be the fundamental competencies for managers. 6. Conclusion and Recommendation It may be concluded that on the one hand, the reduction of the levels in the organisational structure of Marks Spencer is beneficial for the company as the communication between the level, transparency and overall effectiveness increase. On the other hand, precise hierarchy and centralisation (mechanistic structure) make the company inflexible and difficult to adapt. MS can be recommended to flatten its structure even more because the number of departments and layers has remained high in spite of the restructuring that was attempted (MS, 2010). Furthermore, communication, quality control and managerial control over the fulfilment of employees responsibilities should be improved to ensure better performance in the company. Tight environmental conditions and the current strategic objectives emphasise the need for organisational learning and professional development for both common employees and managers. In particular, the professional training of common employees should be carried out in real teams (departments) and should be practical. The professional development of managers in MS should be oriented to develop their entrepreneurial skills. Marks Spencer can be recommended to concentrate on industry specifics, general management and human relationship. Furthermore, the company is to reward the most active and progressive managers creating motivation by all means. MS can be recommended to reconsider leadership styles with respect to creative workers engaged in non-routing technologies (from autocratic to consultative). In addition, lower rank managers are to be involved into the decision-making process of MS that may encourage them to act in a more enthusiastic intrapreneurial way.

Information Technology Outsourcing :: Globalization, Business Management

Information Technology Outsourcing   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  "Information Technology outsourcing is the contracting out of part or all of an organization's IT activities." New trends have included operations, programming, and technology planning. The main reason for information technology outsourcing is to gain immediate economic gains for the company, usually through savings. Financial motivations aren't first on businesses minds though; other strategic objectives are.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Outsourcing can make it easier to downsize. Because you are bringing in outside help, and can cut back on fixed salaries, the company becomes more variable. Outsourcing leads to tighter linking of strategy and IT. Knowledge which usually flows slowly can flow freely, and a company has more access to outside technology. Plus businesses receive information faster than other types of hierarchical communication, and the resources are endless. Outsourcing can unlock organizational structures. "The unlocked IT organization can provide a better mechanism for costing user requests, prioritizing technology initiatives and controlling expenditures." It offers the benefits of both systems involved. Another important goal that IT outsourcing takes on, is reducing technological risk. By outsourcing your needs you know that that the employee know what they are doing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some of the problems IT outsourcing may encounter are, loss of strategic control, risk of technological obsolescence, limiting of long-term flexibility, difficulty in benchmarking initial contract, hostage to additional charges, high exit or switching costs, limited choice of vendors, the fixed nature of legal contracts, legal exposure, from dissatisfied former employees, and cultural conflicts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The people doing the outsourcing for the companies are sometimes the life's-blood of that company. If the outsourcers want more money, then they are almost obligated to give that money. This is usually the case when the contractors are bringing new technology into the system.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  High exit or switching costs entail the switch-over costs the company must shoulder if they decide to end the outsourcing and hire full time employees. It is important not to put too many resources at the hands of the contractors. Limiting this will ease the switch-over costs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Legal issues also creep into the picture when a company chooses to outsource. Some companies have problems with employees that are not happy with their current arrangement or are mistreated.

History of Frogs :: essays papers

History of Frogs A Frog is a small, tail less animal that has bulging eyes. Almost all frogs have long back legs. The strong hind legs make the frog able to leap farther than the length of its body. Frogs live on every continent except Antarctica, but tropical regions have the greatest number of species. Frogs are classified as amphibians. Most amphibians, including most frogs, spend part of their life as a water animal and part as a land animal. Frogs are related to toads, but are different from them in a few ways. The giant frog of west-central Africa ranks as the largest frog. It measures nearly a foot (30 centimeters) long. The smallest species grow only 1/2 inch (1.3 centimeters) long. Frogs also differ in color. Most kinds are green or brown, but some have colorful markings. Although different species may vary in size or color, almost all frogs have the same basic body structure. They have large hind legs, short front legs, and a flat head and body with no neck. Adult frogs have no tail, though one North American species has a short, tail like structure. Most frogs have a sticky tongue attached to the front part of the mouth. They can rapidly flip out the tongue to capture prey. Frogs have such internal organs as a heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys. Some of the internal organs differ from those of higher animals. A frog's heart has three chambers instead of four. And although adult frogs breathe by means of lungs, they also breathe through their skin. The eggs of different species vary in size, color, and shape. A jelly like substance covers frog eggs, providing a protective coating. This jelly also differs from species to species. Some species of frogs lay several thousand eggs at a time. But only a few of these eggs develop into adult frogs. Ducks, fish, insects, and other water creatures eat many of the eggs. Even if the eggs hatch, the tadpoles also face the danger of being eaten by larger water animals. The pond or stream in which the eggs were laid sometimes dries up. As a result, the tadpoles die. Certain tropical frogs lay their eggs in rain water that collects among the leaves of plants or in holes in trees. Other tropical species attach their eggs to the underside of leaves that grow over water.

The Shawshank Redemtion-Red and a Tall Drink of Water :: essays research papers

Red and a Tall Drink of Water In a darkened room two passionate lovers eagerly embrace. Outside a destraught man sits in a truck, boozing it up. The old song " If I Didn't Care " , plays from a tinny radio. The drunk man fumbles with a gun while he tries to get out of the truck. He opens the door of the truck, stumbles, drops and breaks the bottle of alcohol, and the extra bullets spill onto the ground. The next scene is in a courtoom where a lawyer is questioning a man. " I was upset. I was confused and drunk. I mostly wanted to scare them ", Andrew Dufresne tells the lawyer that was cross-examing him. " This was revenge", the lawyer shouts in his summation speech. The verdict is guilty and the sentence is two life sentences, back to back. An older black man is sitting patiently in front of his parole hearing. The five men on the panel ask him if he thinks he is rehabilitated and he answers, yes. " It's the Gods honest truth, " says Red. " I'm absolutely rehabilitated. " His friends, ask him what happened at the hearing. Red replies, " Same old shit, different day." He had been rejected and denied parole again. Outside in the exercise yard a loud siren wails. The incarcerated men all gather together to get a look at the new prisoners that have just arrived. Reds' first impression of Andy Dufresne was, " That one looks like a stiff breeze could knock him over. That tall drink of water with a silver spoon up his ass." Little did Red know, at this time, but the two men would develop a strong bond. The mutual friendship Red and Andy would cultivate, caused them both to grow an inner strength which helped them deal with prison life. The new prisoners stand linked together with chains, scared to death, in front of the Warden. He says, " I believe in two things, discipline and the Bible. Here you"ll receive both. Put your trust in the Lord, your ass belongs to me. " That was the kind of attitude Andy would have to live with from now on, and this was just the beginning. " Andy kept pretty much to himself at first...Wasn't till a month went by that he finally opened his mouth to say more than two words to somebody.

Zara Market Share

Three generations of Data Management in Decision Support 1. Early 1970s – required a repository of data : sourced from operational system + other data (e. g. external data) – Data was customized for the specific DSS – Application-centric approach : data support a single or a few related applications used to help make the business case for the warahouse – Sprague provided the Data-Dialog-Models (DDM) paradigm 2. Late 1980s Telecommunications, retailing and financial services industries built warehouses to store vast amounts of customer and sales-related data –These industries remain leaders in terms of the size of the warehouses and how the warehouses are used – Data-centric approach : support a variety of applications 3. In 2000 – the movement to real-time data warehousing – changes in the way that warehouse data is used – different : Previous : data aims to understand what had already happened and to predict what would h appen in the future * limit to influence real-time decisions and current operations * Now : real-time data (current decisions and critical business process) such as customer-facing and supply chain applications can be significantly enhanced Real or Right Time ? –Incorrect concept applied to warehousing : real-time = instantaneous – Reason : much of warehouse data cannot be captured and entered into the warehouse in seconds or minutes. * expensive difficult to make real-time * may not be a business need for real-time data – Example : Some source systems, e. g. a legacy COBOL program, is undated once a month Continental Airlines – a leader in real-time business intelligence – won The Data Warehousing Institute’s prestigious Best Practices and Leadership Awards – Real-time data warehouse : provide the data that is required to implement real-time BI – Firms can use BI to affect current decision making and business processes by usin e real-time – Importance : especially for customer-facing applications, e. g. hose found in call centers and check-in processes, help firms become more customer-centric –Terms describe firms use real-time BI : â€Å"real-time enterprise† , â€Å"zero latency organization† – Purpose of real-time BI : * increase revenues and decrease costs => improve profitability – e. g. Continental Airlines * taken a $30M investment in hardware, software and personnel to generate over $500M in revenue, resulting in a ROI of over 1,000% – Firms must overcome both organizational and technical challenges for real-time BI successful – Organizational must be executive : * sponsorship and support * initial and on-going financial support governance processes put in place * BI and data warehousing personnel with the requisite personnel – Technical : * acquire and implement new hardware and software * establish processes and procedures for sup porting and managing real-time data feeds from source systems * data must be quickly transformed and loaded into the warehouse * data must be analyzed and made available to operational systems and personnel – briefly discuss an application that illustrates Continental’s use of real-time BI – focus on the technical issues associated with Continental’s implementation of real-time BI

Adr – Alternative Dispute Resolution

ADR is an assortment of systems in which conflicts can be resolved without litigation and the courts. Types of alternative dispute resolution are arbitration, mediation, and negotiations. Without the litigation process, alternative methods provide fast and efficient results without the high cost and long litigations (Cheeseman R. Henry). Learning Team Dispute Conflicts, disputes, or disagreements among team members will be initially settle and handle through proper communication and negotiation between team members.ADR will be exclusive for those disputes and problems that can not be resolve in a timely manner and are affecting the team to achieve goals and deliver their projects. Some conflicts are necessary to bring new perspectives and different points of view among a diverse group of people. They enhance positive productivity, responsiveness, and effectiveness in achieving goals. Disagreements that are subject to an alternative dispute clause †¢ Violation of conduct code. â € ¢ Lack of participation. †¢ Minimum communication. †¢ Poor performance. †¢ Negative attitude toward the team. Late delivery of assignments that can affect the team members. Type of Alternative Dispute Resolution for Learning Team This type of ADR will be used to resolve disagreements among the learning team members during the length of this course, and will be suitable for use by any learning team in any course of the program. Mediation This method involves an attempt by the team members to resolve the dispute with the help of a neutral third party; in this case the mediator will be the instructor. The instructor’s role will be advisory, he or she may offer suggestions but the resolution will be made by the team members themselves.Mediation proceedings will be confidential and private. The team members will be in control of the outcome for the settlement of the dispute. In mediation, the third neutral party is involved to help facilitate the teams own settl ement process. They will agree to the procedures and to the individual who will assist in the dispute resolution process (LLL, 2010).Reference: Cheeseman R. Henry 2010 Chapter 3: Judicial, Alternative, and Online Dispute Resolution ‘Lectric Law Library. (2010). A Beginner’s Guide to Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Reflectiv Wring on a Personality Development Theory

A reflective essay on self, identity, personality, and factors influencing identity based on James Marcia’s theory on personality development. People come in different shapes and sizes. Some are big while others are small, some are fat and some are slim, some are short while some are tall. People have many similarities. Unless born with a physical defect we all have one head, two eyes, two ears, one nose, one mouth, two arms with five fingers each, and two legs with five toes each. So basically we are all physically alike.What makes us each uniquely different is our personality inside of us. A personality can be described as a person’s own distinctive character or the qualities that makes someone interesting or popular. Growing up I would wonder how one’s personality could be theorized. My quest was soon over as I learnt of the James Marcia’s theory on personality development. Based on Erik Erikson’s groundbreaking work on identity and psychosocial development in the 1960s, Canadian developmental psychologist James Marcia refined and extended Erikson’s model, primarily focusing on adolescent development.Addressing Erikson’s notion of identity crisis, Marcia posited that the adolescent stage consists neither of identity resolution nor identity confusion, but rather the degree to which one has explored and committed to an identity in a variety of life domains from vocation, religion, relational choices, gender roles, and so on. Marcia’s theory of identity achievement argues that two distinct parts form an adolescent’s identity: crisis (i. e. a time when one’s values and choices are being reevaluated) and commitment. He defined a crisis as a time of upheaval where old values or choices are being reexamined.The end outcome of a crisis leads to a commitment made to a certain role or value. These are not stages, but rather processes that adolescents go through. All adolescents will occupy one or mo re of these states, at least temporarily. But, because these are not stages, people do not progress from one step to the next in a fixed sequence, nor must everyone go through each and every state. Each state is determined by two factors: * Is the adolescent committed to an identity, and * Is the individual searching for their true identity?These states include: identity diffusion, identity foreclosure, identity Moratorium and identity achievement. I went to one of the best high school in the country. I did well in all subjects I did. I thought I had it all. Paid attention to no one around me, I just ignored it all. People would say someday I would fall but who would have thought they would someday be right. But who would have thought I would have ended up like this. Working on the streets with nowhere to go, nothing to eat, nothing to wear, no money, no one to turn to in my distress.What can I do? Where can I go? I’m lost in this world like a diffused particle basking in the air. Identity diffusion this is the state of having no clear idea of one's identity and making no attempt to find that identity. These adolescents may have struggled to find their identity, but they never resolved it, and they seem to have stopped trying. There is no commitment and no searching. Growing up I was always considered by other to be a very brilliant child and I eventually developed the feeling that I was.My parents enrolled me in the finest school they could afford. In the sixth grade I did the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and attained a pass to attend one of the noblest institutions in the country. I had always had the dream of becoming a teacher but my parents and others thought differently. Everyone in my family were either nurses or doctors hence I felt like I had to follow in their pathway. In my family one would so to primary school then off to high school. During my first three (3) years of high school I was forced to focus on the sciences.Then during the fi nal two years one would have to sit all three (3) sciences in the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate along with seven other subjects. I thought that if I didn’t do well I would disappoint my parents and other family members, hence I just went along fulfilling what I thought was my obligation. Identity Foreclosure this means that the adolescent blindly accepts the identity and values that were given in childhood by families and significant others. The adolescent's identity is foreclosed until they determine for themselves their true identity.The adolescent in this state is committed to an identity but not as a result of their own searching or crisis. I have had many friends growing up. I have had many role models. I have tried doing many sports. Only to find who I am. Where I belong in this cold world? In school I tried acquiring many skills; I did many subjects and gained them all. During my years at college I did many courses changing my major over three (3) times; only to find who I really was and what I really wanted to become. I eventually graduated with a degree in medicine.But I still haven’t found what I was looking for. I am still searching for my purpose in this society. I am still searching for who I really am. Identity Moratorium this is the status in which the adolescent is currently in a crisis, exploring various commitments and is ready to make choices, but has not made a commitment to these choices yet. On the cool winter morning of January 21, 1995 an angel sent from God was born; Alexcia Anglin. At age two I started school, at an early age teachers soon realized I were a brilliant child.I started Chetwood Memorial Primary school; there I developed a passion for teaching. In the sixth grade I meet the one who turned out to be my role model; Mr. G. Atkinson. Seeing his passion for teaching I then develop a greater passion for teaching and I wanted to emulate him. I then moved on the Mt. Alvernia High School where I met man y other teachers who aided in my development and strengthened my desire to become a teacher. Church was also an integral part of my life.Going to pathfinder’s club on Sunday mornings and associating myself with children regularly I soon realized I loved being around younger children and it was during that point of my life I told myself I wanted to become a primary school teacher. During my high school years I tried my ever best to do well in all the subjects I knew I would need to attain in order to become a teacher. I thought I had everything under control and I thought I was on top but for a while things went sour. I swayed a bit and it seemed as though my dream of becoming a teacher was crushed.My grades were not at its best but a deep voice inside me kept pushing me and told me to keep holding all, life will get better soon. Soon it was time to apply for college and I sent out my application to the Sam Sharpe Teacher’s college. That was not the end I had to sit eig ht CSEC subjects. Waiting for my results and a letter of acceptance from the college I was a bit nervous. Every thing eventually worked out I attain all ones and twos in my subjects and I got accepted to the college. Here I am today embracing my dream of becoming a primary school teacher.Identity Achievement this is the state of having developed well-defined personal values and self-concepts. Their identities may be expanded and further defined in adulthood, but the basics are there. They are committed to an ideology and have a strong sense of ego identity. The core idea of this theory is that one’s sense of identity is determined largely by the choices and commitments made regarding certain personal and social traits. A well-developed identity gives on a sense of one’s strengths, weaknesses, and individual uniqueness.A person with a less well-developed identity is not able to define his or her personal strengths and weaknesses, and does not have a well articulated sen se of self. As teachers we need to be able to cope with the different personalities present in the classroom environment. Students come from different families, different communities and thus have different personalities and are taught different values. The onus is therefore on us as teachers to guide our students into developing socio acceptable values.Before we can do so, we must first know who we are, know what our values are and our personality. I am Alexcia Anglin a first year student of the Sam Sharpe Teacher’s College and as a result of the knowledge I gained in the Emerging Professional course on James Marcia’s theory on personality development, I have discovered my identity status, which is â€Å"IDENTITY ACHIEVEMENT† , as I am fulfilling my dreams of becoming a teacher. References * http://www. learning-theories. com/identity-status-theory-marcia. html * http://socialscientist. us/nphs/psychIB/psychpdfs/Marcia. pdf

Compare and Contrast Mesopotamia & Egypt

Compare & Contrast Essay Mesopotamia and Egypt By: Jessenia Carranza Egypt and Mesopotamia are similar because they share the same concept of having a single rule, although Egypt is a theocracy and Mesopotamia is a monarchy; and both are divided into social classes, the difference being that women in Egypt have more right than Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia and Egypt are both based upon a single ruler. The Akkedians, for example, had king Sargen, who formed the first empire; or even Hammurabi, the ruler of Babylonia, he created the fist code of laws, which were followed by his people.The Akkedians had to have a single ruler because an empire doesn’t form itself; it needs a leader, which is the king. Similar to this is Menes the king of Egypt, he united Lower and Upper Egypt and built the first dynasty. Although Mesopotamia and Egypt were both based upon a single ruler, Egypt was a dynasty and passed down the power to the son, whereas Mesopotamia was just a monarchy didn’t nec essarily pass down the power to the son.In Egypt the pharaohs, were believed to be gods, therefore it was a theocracy and he had total control. Unlike Egypt, Mesopotamia was a monarchy, and it was believed that their ruler descended from the gods, but they were not gods. Another similarity between these two societies is that they are divided into social classes. In both of them, the King is in the first class followed by wealthy merchants and then the farmers, unskilled workers, and all the other people.Basically the social classes in Mesopotamia and Egypt are based on power, money and skills. One difference between both of these societies is that they Egypt give women more rights then the women in Mesopotamia. In Mesopotamia women could only own property and could divorce their husbands. Meanwhile, in Egypt women could not only divorce and own property, but also they could also manage and sell properties and trade. In short, while in Mesopotamia women’s rights were restricte d, in Egypt women’s right were equal to men.

Sustainability in america Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sustainability in america - Essay Example Decrease in the availability of resources prevents anticipated growth of various economies meaning that sustainable development is a prerequisite to economic growth. The changing interest of consumers is also one of the good indicators revealing necessity of sustainability within economic growth (Figge, 2005). Sustainability is defined by considering conditions through which countries view production and manufacturing processes in relation to products, such perception leads to increased production based on responsibility. Organizations are currently considering the act of being strategic towards sustainable development while at the same time making choices on lucrative processes capable of contributing positively towards more sustainable society (Figge, 2005). The aim is to avoid the risks associated with destruction and at the same time pursue profitable dynamics. In developed nations many dynamics affecting quality of life such as the environment are not possible to measure using m arket dynamics. This is since there is possibility that ensures such parameters lose value in the occurrence of economic growth. Therefore, any initiative of sustainable development should encompass the three dimensions of environmental, economic and social aspects. There is rapid growth in environmental problems all over the world which could be attributed to rapid increase in population growth making a lot of strain within the environment as well as natural resources. Several domains contribute to environmental degradation some of which include; industrial pollution, deforestation, land degradation and urbanization amongst others. There is eminent overexploitation of the country’s resources making environmental pollution one of the biggest threats facing life on the planet earth today. Statistics given by World Health Organization Estimates that about two million people die every year out of air pollution besides those who suffer ailments and diseases caused by the same. Th e twentieth and twenty first centuries recorded considerable growth in environmental degradation activities (Figge, 2005). Part 1: How does the environmental policymaking process work? Policy making process in America depends on society’s desire for change. Every legislative action must gain public support since such action boosts political incentives within development plan. Public support can be obtained through organized groups and media. Policy cycle in the United States begins with proposal on a course of action, which is followed by law enactment and finally various actions capable of providing successful implementation of the law. Re-evaluation of the policy takes place after quite some time for purposes of assessing whether it has achieved intended goals, costs and if any change is necessary. Major environmental regulators in the US include; EPA, Interior department, USDA and Fish and Wildlife service (Figge, 2005). Organizations around the world are required to meet the needs of their current consumers without jeopardizing the ability of other generations to efficiently meet their needs. Organizations are required to adopt responsible policies for their operations following the nature of impact it can have on the entire society. At the same time there is need for business corporations to apply principles of sustainability in all their business operations. Such activities reflect organization’

Food Stamp Challenge Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Food Stamp Challenge - Assignment Example The log below shows the meals that I bought and ate during the challenge. The meals in most cases did not meet the dietary requirements due to cost constraints. When these meals were compared to dietary requirements under the ChooseMyPlate chart, diet was not met. The main food groups which include fruits, vegetables, grains and protein foods were used in assessing the dietary requirements. For instance, I did not take any dairy products during this period and essentials oils were used in cooking food. From the chart we notice that an adult requires at least 3 cups of milk in a day. Moreover, an adult requires at least 3 cups of veggies in a day and this requirement was met by 1st and 3rd days of the challenge. While at least 4 ounces of grains that are contained in food such as Pizza, donuts and sandwiches. The major food intake that the body requires is proteins and this was achieved through eating Pizza, Chinese takeout and Double Cheese Burgers (Blatt 87). During the challenge I was able to cut down on intake of proteins due to the high cost of these foods. This requirement was met during the 4 day challenge. During the period of the challenge I was not able to meet the dietary needs but I improved on eating healthy by buying fruit and veggie salads (Counihan 104). The challenge was educational and enriching since it gave me an opportunity to improve on my eating habits. I learnt a lot concerning healthy foods and which food groups I could eat from and how much was required from each food group. However, eating under a tight budget made it difficult to buy some food items and this frustrated unnecessary eating. Especially when it came to indulging in stuff like chocolates, cakes, snacks or ice cream the money was not enough. This disturbed and made it difficult to concentrate during the day especially at meal times. The challenge was quite tiring since it

Impact of Obesity on Students Grades Research Paper

Impact of Obesity on Students Grades - Research Paper Example The large potential of obesity is upsetting. The parents and teachers both must observe obese and overweight students closely. The regular method of avoiding obesity, for instance, promoting healthy food and physical activities must be continued. Extra body mass creates one of the most grave public fitness challenges of this century around the globe. At the present time obesity is not just a crisis of developed nations, but as well of developing nations. Verification is currently rising to propose that the occurrence of overweight and obesity is growing internationally on an alarming rate. Both developed as well as developing nations are affected. In addition, as the crisis seems to be growing quickly in kids and in adults, the accurate fitness results may just turn out to be completely evident in the upcoming times. Obesity has reached contagion percentages internationally and is a key contributor in the international trouble of persistent illness as well as disability. Frequently contemporaneous with developing nations with under nourishment, obesity is a difficult situation, with grave public as well as psychosomatic aspects, having an effect on almost all ages and socioeconomic factions. Increased utilization of additionally energy dense, nutrient poor foodstuffs with high amounts of sugar as well as saturated fats, together with lessened physical movement, have caused fatness rates that have increased three-fold or additional from 1990 in a number of regions of China, North America, Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Australia and Asia. The obesity outbreak is not limited to developed societies; this raise is generally quicker within developing nations in comparison with the industrial world. ... e increased three-fold or additional from 1990 in a number of regions of China, North America, Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Australia and Asia. The obesity outbreak is not limited to developed societies; this raise is generally quicker within developing nations in comparison with the industrial world. Obesity as well as overweight causes a main threat for severe diet connected persistent ailments, together with â€Å"type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and certain forms of cancer† (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 2005). The health outcomes range from bigger threat of early demise, to severe chronic situations that lessen the general quality of living. Of special worry is the rising occurrence of young person obesity. Previously taken as a crisis merely within high earning nations, overweight along with obesity are nowadays radically increasing within low- as well as middle income nations, ma inly within urban backgrounds. Despite the fact that the physical condition and health of every age group is significant, the developmental nature of teenage years causes particular contemplations and requirements for this group of people. Quick development and progress during teenage years creates fresh wants, for instance those linked with alterations within â€Å"body proportions, size, weight and image; emotional changes; new sleep patterns and needs; and social / peer pressures† (Wright et al, 2004). ‘Teenage years’ is a phase during which a lot of permanent patterns of conduct are made, together with physical condition help / ailment prevention behaviours as well as care seeking attitudes. The level, to which physical conditions as well as other services are obtainable, reachable and

Introduction to film Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Introduction to film - Movie Review Example In Bruges involves serial killings by contactors who are under a supreme authority of a single employer. Harry Waters (Ralph) is the man behind all the occurrences in the movie. He employs Ken and Ray to eliminate his enemies. These two hit men must follow the instructions of Harry before undertaking any duty. While in Dublin, Harry sends the duo for a mission which turned out to be very awry. The sole objective of the mission was to kill a priest. However, one more individual is victimized in the course of the assassination. Ray shoots the priest but the bullet passes through and hits a young boy in the forehead. The boy dies on the spot. To save this situation, Harry sends Ken and Ray to a hideout in Bruges for two weeks. He wanted the issue of killing the boy to cool down. While in Bruges, Ray is haunted by the guilt of killing an innocent boy. He just can’t get it out of his mind however much Ken tries to dissuade him. Later, he gets over it and he is ready to start a new life with friends he found in Bruges. Harry, however, is not happy with the death of the child. He wants Ray to pay for it with his own life. He wants to see him dead. Therefore, calls Ken from Dublin telling him to kill Ray as a punishment. When Ken refuses to take the orders, Harry comes to Bruges to accomplish this assignment by himself. This movie has a theme of morality. The hit men continue to kill their victims without questioning the morality behind it. Some innocent individuals are killed in the course of these brutal acts. It is only later that the hit men come to regret their evil deeds. Besides, morality has been disregarded when these two men goes to church to kill a priest. Conventionally, it is not morally upright to kill in Church. Secondly, killing a child is just very detestable. The characters in the movie have depicted as having double standards. At the beginning of the movie, the three main characters Harry,

Robots in Ophthalmology Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Robots in Ophthalmology - Article Example Sociologist Alvin Toffler may have travelled through time and witness the future when he said, "Technology makes more technology possible". He is right, as after thirty-seven years of rapid technological advancement here were are facing a what he called "abrupt collision with the future" (Toffler 1970), and practically living with these amazing technologies created to make life easier in our homes, built to run our industries, and designed to perform medical care to save lives. Technology in the medical field has come along way; molecular and biometrics, wave technology, nanotechnology, and robot aided surgery is now possible (Combs 2005). As nanotechnology makes it possible to build up materials and systems to produce new physical, chemical and biological properties out of existing common materials, robotics are all about computer controlled mechanical devices built to mimic human movements and intelligence (Woods 2007).Advanced robotic products such as surgical robots are now commo n in operating rooms of large medical centres, and it is recognized as a dynamic surgical tool for enhancing human surgeon's dexterity in less invasive surgical procedures Although their high cost prohibits general use, initial applications of these robots considerably prove their clinical benefits and surgical potential. In general, intelligent surgical robots main advantages are its ability to register medical images accurately, to move consistently without exhaustion and tremor, work in a hazardous environments unsuitable to human surgeons, and their ability to reposition instruments swiftly and precisely through complicated trajectories or on top of numerous targets. The precision and steadiness of these robots is what makes them ideal for surgical procedures particularly in delicate eye surgery (Webster and Li 2003). Although robots are precise and steady, there is no evidence that they can perform cataract removal surgery alone or perform any surgery independently. They merely serve as robotic mechanical arms for ophthalmologist performing remote surgery through a three dimensional virtual-reality console. With hands and head partly inserted inside the console, the surgeon moves his hands as if he is directly performing the surgery while the robot is simultaneously imitating the movement of the surgeons arm and physically performing the operation. Surgical robot now is more like an interventional piece of technology than a self-sufficient intelligent machine. For instance, the popular surgical robot, the da Vinci Surgical System (see Fig. 1), priced at more than one million dollar, is just a three arm (with 4th optional arm) mechanical machine equipped with a variety of electronic hardware who perform surgery by following instantaneous instructions from a surgeon while imitating his hands and ar ms movements. There is no known technology yet that is capable of virtually emulating a human surgeon's competence and senses particularly in the field of ophthalmology. Although ophthalmic surgery with a robot can increase precision, speed, and eliminate tremor, they do not have substantial or convincing advantage similar to robots in other surgical fields (Roach 2007). For instance, using the same da Vinci Surgical robot in heart surgery provides a better alternative to customary chest cracking technique, lengthy incision, bone cutting, and ripping of the ribs. Since "cutting people open is no longer the focus of modern surgery" ( Darzi 2007).The success rate of robot assisted closed chest surgery approach and less invasive surgeries shows significant positive results particularly in patient's health and quick recovery; since they do not have to endure the excruciating traditional surgery procedures with large incisions involved (Goldschmidt 2007). However, surgical robot in general is still in a transition stage and used primarily as a tool. They still do not have the capability and intelligence of a real surgeon who can perform surgery independe

A New Work Ethic Case 4.4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A New Work Ethic Case 4.4 - Essay Example As far as my experience is concerned, those with above attitude have failed to be a part of an organization for a long time as they have failed to score good in annual appraisal. In my experience I haven’t seen any thief from employee due to the culture of the society in which I live in and proper recording of the accounts where employees were thoroughly scrutinized. This culture also discouraged grouping which would hurt the business itself. I believe that employees, including me, have and will always believe that supervisors are paper-pushing functionaries who will get in the way as this is true. This discourages innovation on part of an employee and at times does not make them feel a part of an organization. Explain the implications of work ethic Sheehy describes for the future of American business. Work ethics is one of the key in any business success. In America, work ethics is more important and demanding due to its wider implications on the end beneficiary that is custo mer. First and foremost ingredient to work ethics is the hard work an employee puts into. Not only this but also a rewarding hard work which is worth every penny of the minute worked. Getting shortcuts and not making effort will not only result in downfall of the American businesses but also would result in dearth of employees on demand. Working hard just to Get big scores poisons a business environment and would get worst if that employee is given a major responsibility or is promoted up the hierarchy ladder. Explain whether it is more reasonable to expect workers, especially in a capitalist society, to be more devoted to their jobs, more concerned with quality and customer service, than Sheehy's coworkers were. Absolutely. In a capitalist society there is more thrust to be productive as capitalism brings in extra ordinary prosperity. Thus devotion to job is a must as it rewards virtue and punishes vice. More devoted to jobs, more fell employee will be paid as he/she would be seen as a resource which can not only retain but also bring in business. Sheehy’s co-workers would definitely fail in a capitalist society and would lose their jobs sooner rather than later (Thompson). A job like this depends on the customer services provided. Devotion to this job means to make a customer satisfied with the least of his requirements even and building a relationship with him which goes down to benefiting the business. Explain the reasoning behind employee theft. In frequent usage,  theft is the unlawful taking of another person's  personal belonging  with no prior permission of that person or any kind of approval.   Employee thief as a fact has been on a rise not only in developing world but also in the developed world which has been a huge strain on the businesses. Lack of maturity as an employee could be the first reason as most of them are teenagers. Some might be doing theft without any fear as most of them are from upper middle class and are not so wor ried about being getting fired. Peer pressure could be another reason where one would be treated well only if he/she will jell into the work ethics of the rest. Explain ways the culture of our capitalists society encourages attitudes like those Sheehy describes Corruption which is common in a capitalist