Kublai Khan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Kublai Khan - Essay Example As Emperor, Khan initiated a symbiotic relationship between the Chinese and the Mongols, promoting a nation of tolerance and cross-cultural interaction that allowed for a flourishing of diverse arts as well as militaristic might. He exercised both military and political savvy in his actions, which contributed to a successful unification of the two primary peoples of his empire. Kublai’s power, military and political success attests to his military intelligence and daring. He was a strong man who understood strategy and possessed the ability to command respect and obedience from his subjects and people, ruling with a strong hand when necessary and promoting tolerance when possible. It was in this latter instinct that he gained perhaps his most lasting contributions, but it is also that instinct that nevertheless led to his downfall. Although he likely would not have been as successful as he was, had he not possessed political intelligence and agility, his instincts were often t owards indulgence of this tendency. He well understood the profound importance of catering to the Chinese majority, and thus took on Chinese advisors and officials as well as made a point of upholding important Chinese traditions, cultural values, and administrative practices. He commanded all his concubines, sons, daughters, and all the royal family members to adopt the Han culture and acquire the Chinese language and customs. Thus, the new China flourished under Kublai’s rule and experienced a heavy restructuring of political configuration. However, although Kublai Khan overcame many difficulties and barriers and ultimately achieved what he endeavored to do, in the end he became a disillusioned and embattled man. Through the struggles to convince his own conservative Mongol community of the need for the tolerance he promoted with the Chinese culture, he was increasingly isolated and frustrated at the end of his life. Both his military and political strength portrays his cap acity for leadership and as well as his ability to properly run a nation and allow it to flourish, but his personal failures and ideas eventually left lonely and embittered. In this essay, his contributions and legacy will be reviewed in order to see this in more depth. Family Background and Early Beginnings Genghis Khan, Kublai’s grandfather, united many of the nomadic tribes of northeast Asia and in that way founded the Mongol Empire. As Paul Ratchenevsky writes, the nomadic tribes in their territory were loosely linked tribal groups who would make stronger but still temporary confederations whenever some regional purpose called for it. Such purposes often involve war, but these were traditionally wars of a defensive nature. The tribal bands would come together whenever an outside force posed some impending danger, but their need for mobility as nomadic peoples generally prohibited any stronger or more lasting associations because of the nature of their lifestyles. Genghis Khan, through force of personality and visionary leadership managed to unite these tribes and begin offensive wars that allowed the empire to expand across Asia. Eventually, he initiated many invasions within Eurasia, thereby extending the reach and impact of his territory. In these ways, he was to be emulated by his grandson, with a combination of imaginary and charismatic leadership that led to the establishment of greater territories. Through the influence of Genghis Khan,

Abusive Relationship Essay Example for Free

Abusive Relationship Essay Physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual abuse are some of the different types of abuse that can be found within a relationship. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of adolescent dating aggression, and to define, compare and contrast different points of view. The author of the novel Faultline, Janet Tashjian, describes a series of events in the life of Becky, the main character of the story, where she is getting involved into an abusive relationship with Kip, presenting all the warning signs that every adolescent should know. This story represents the millions of adolescents that are in this same situation. I will be presenting real cases from different sources to demonstrate that adolescent dating aggression is a serious problem for many teenagers. Yet like other forms of aggression, warning signs are often present that a young couple may be at risk. By understanding these precursors we can help adolescents avoid problematic situations and instead develop healthy dating relationships that will set in place a solid foundation for satisfying relationships throughout life. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four teenagers report being verbally, emotionally, physically or sexually abused in a dating relationship. The issue of dating violence is so critical that it was included in the 2005 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, along with the crimes of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking. Statistics indicate that males who are exposed to domestic violence as children are twice as likely to be abusive in their own relationships. Many teens use cell phones and computers as tools of control and abuse in dating relationships. There have been millions of reports of abuse in a relationship; one of these cases was reported by Nicky who was 12 when she fell in love with Richard who was 13. What Nicky has to show for their years together are a chipped tooth, a nose bent several degrees by his fist, three children â€Å"all of whom were born before their due dates because of beatings†, she says, a nd emotional scars that are hard to fathom in someone so young. She shares her story to Los Angeles Times: My earliest memory of abuse? I was 13. When he went into high school, I was still in junior high and he didnt trust me. One time I was wearing this see-through blouse. I had a slip on underneath it, because my parents taught me how to dress. [But] he got mad, and he pushed me on the ground and started calling me a bitch and everything. I thought, `Well hes just mad, I shouldnt have worn that. I couldnt go home. What was I gonna tell my mom? So I went to school and I put on my P.E. clothes and that is what I wore all day. In the last two decades, domestic violence has emerged from the black hole of taboo subjects to become highly visible. And what has long been happening between spouses or adult lovers is now recognized as a problem for teen-agers as well. Surveys show that about 28% of high school- and college-age students are in abusive relationships, roughly the same proportion as adults. But while adults have shelters and well-publicized hot lines, adolescents typically have only each other, if that. They often cannot or will not turn to adults for help and may not even talk to their peers. Young girls and women often do not know how to get out of abusive situations. More schools are providing programs to teach teens the warning signs of abusive relationships and provide them with the tools they need to leave violent and controlling partners. Some people think that dating violence is increasing because many girls are afraid to stand up to an aggressive and controlling boy. Others blame the violent and sexual content in the media as a contributing factor in dating violence. According to a New York Times article, â€Å"The high incidence of adolescent abuse distresses Barrie Levy, a Santa Monica therapist and a founder of the Southern California Coalition for Battered Women†. Levy, who edited the book Dating Violence: Young Women in Danger became aware of the problem in 1982 during a domestic violence education project in Los Angeles-area secondary schools. Our focus was on the development of an education program that would target adolescents, thinking that the way to start dealing with domestic violence was presumably before it started, Levy says. Violence in adolescent dating relationships is a large-scale problem, and may result in long-term trauma and psychological aftermath for victims. I provided some data, statistics, facts and opinion about this issue. An abusive relationship can be prevented if parents, teachers and counselors talk to the adolescents about the warning signs and how get away from that abusive relationship. The novel Faultline is a great example that can be used to teach teenagers about this serious topic.

Disadvantages Being A Woman Entrepreneur Sociology Essay

Disadvantages Being A Woman Entrepreneur Sociology Essay Interview two women entrepreneurs find out whether they believe the tasks of being an entrepreneur any different for them than for their male counterparts. What are the disadvantage advantage of female entrepreneur? Are these different substantial or minor? When you are debating with someone, it is easy to pull out one anecdote or fact that furthers just one point of view. TechCrunch posts about women have done that of late. A recent article claimed that women dont want to run startups and that they would rather have children instead. If you consider TechCrunch, this viewpoint makes some sense. They are focused on Silicon Valley, where young white men start most of the companies and traits like aggression and arrogance are positively rewarded. These companies need to grow rapidly in order to stay ahead of the trend. In the world of entrepreneurship, there will be some women who would rather have children than run lifestyle business. Startups require ridiculous amounts of work, and most are doomed to failure. That being said many men feel exactly the same way. They dont want the stress either. Many women have had children while running startups and many others have also chosen to not have children. In recent research done into startup companies, there were some very interesting findings. It was found that the average age of a successful tech company founder is 39. Founders of these companies tend to be married and generally have two or more children. They tend to start these companies because they are tired of working for someone else and want to make their own money with which to retire. They use their work experience to their advantage. The biggest hindrance to people taking this leap is a fear of failure. The question we ask is: What is the difference between male and female founders? The findings were very surprising. There were almost no differences between male and female founders. Both males and females wanted to increase their wealth, capitalize on great ideas, were attracted to the startup culture, had wanted to own their own company for years, and were tired of working for someone else. One key difference, however business partners gave women slightly more money than men. The ages of male and female founders were on average the same too. Also, both male and female founders started their companies with similar numbers of kids. The only difference was that men were more likely to be married. There is an imbalance coming in on the tech side though. In 1985, 37% of computer science students were female. Today it is 19%. It is thought that this comes from the fact that many girls arent encouraged by their parents to pursue math and science in school and study them further. Just one percent of high-tech startups have a woman as a CEO, and there are next to no women as chief technology officers. When speaking to big players in the tech game, it came out that many of them said that their success depends on hiring the best people for the job. These companies knew they were missing out on good talent because of the stereotype that women dont make good tech people. One of the ways around this is to interview at least one woman for each open position in the company. This doesnt mean they should hire people who arent the best for the position, but it ensures that they get to see a broad range of candidates. In the experience of these companies, when those hiring had the chance to meet female job seekers, they were more likely to hire females. To level it further, all companies should also consider having at least one woman on the hiring team. These are just small ways we can change things. All thats necessary is to break down these dangerous stereotypes. Discriminating against people is always wrong, no matter what criteria we use. If we all work together we can solve a problem that we all know to exist. If you are a woman thinking about starting a business, it is important to know that you have a lot of advantages in doing so. If you are a guy, well, its time to get back in touch with your feminine side. Disadvantages Being a Woman Entrepreneur: We have a tendency to Think multi-tasking is normal and pride ourselves at being good at it. Have an Ill do-it-myself attitude. Not even consider hiring a team of helpers like housekeepers, personal assistants, accountants, virtual assistants and business coaches until its absolutely necessary. Have a problem receiving. So we either charge less than our male competitors or forget to put ourselves on the payroll. Focus almost completely on the day-to-day tasks and are reluctant to set goals or make business plans. Want our work to be perfect more than we want it to be profitable. Not really know what our business dreams are. Believe the act of self-care to recharge ourselves is selfish. Delay success by focusing more on why we are not doing something rather than pushing through the fear and just doing it. All we have to do to overcome these disadvantages is change our beliefs. Financial Barrier One of the most significant barriers to female entrepreneurship is the capital financing barrier. When starting a business, entrepreneurs need to line up capital to get the business off of the ground. According to Mai Nguyen, female entrepreneurs often get their initial funding from family loans, savings, credit cards and home equity loans. However, women can obtain capital from government startup programs, self-funding and venture capitalists, among other sources. When women have promising business ideas, it is less difficult for them to obtain startup capital. Therefore, having solid business plans with persuasive product or service ideas helps reduce the finance barrier for women. Lack of Networks Female entrepreneurs are more likely to encounter difficulty because they are less likely to be associated with networks of people who can help them launch and sustain businesses. Networks include people who provide mentorship, referrals, help and valuable information to entrepreneurs. Men tend to dominate the highest levels of corporate leadership. Therefore, there are fewer women available to provide valuable advice to female entrepreneurs. Women also face customer/supplier discrimination, which occurs when customers or suppliers discriminate against women-owned firms. In response, women business leaders can create their own networks to cultivate the success of female entrepreneurs. However, these networks should include men who can also be helpful to fund-raising, business strategy or other critical areas. Family Considerations In the United States, women are more likely to shoulder a greater share of child-rearing duties. Children may demand their mothers undivided attention, which can be a challenge for female entrepreneurs to deal with. Building and running a new business requires a great deal of time, which may conflict with ones family obligations. Women in this situation must balance their family life with their duties as entrepreneurs. For example, parents can communicate about the need to devote some time during the day solely on business, while other times can be devoted to family matters. Confidence Although both men and women can face issues of self-doubt, or lack confidence to compete in the business market, men do not suffer from the same degree of prejudgment as do women entrepreneurs. For example, male business leaders may not believe that their female counterparts can compete or innovate to the degree that men can. The basis of these views are stereotypes about women. Having female mentors and confidants can help instill self confidence in your abilities as a female entrepreneur. Advantages Being a Woman Entrepreneur: While female entrepreneurs only represent a small portion of the overall number of businesses in the country right now, make no mistake that percentage will continue to climb. The research shows that the growth of female owned businesses is growing at twice the rate of male owned ones. The more women take the leap and open their business, the more others will follow in line. And because of these advantages, among others, they should have a pretty good chance of succeeding. Below are advantages. Social Networking: Women are natural networkers. They love to talk, mingle, and rub elbows. This is the very reason why husbands rarely ever manage the social calendar. In todays business environment, mastering social media is mandatory, and the ladies absolutely have a leg up! Intuition: They call it womens intuition for a reason. Women in general can size up another person much faster than her male counterpart. In todays ultra-fast paced business environment, you need the ability to quickly identify the allies and the enemies. Regardless if you are a male or female, you need to trust your gut. Pain Tolerance: Women definitely have an advantage in this area. This is irrelevant. But while children are born, women can handle a lot more than men can. It is not just physical pain, it is emotional too. In business world, there are a lot of painful moments during work. Multi-tasking: Women are known for juggling many tasks at the same time and still being able to produce excellent results. Conversely, the guys are masters at focusing on one thing. Still, the advantage in todays distracting environment goes to women. Patience: Women inherently seem to have more patience. And in todays business environment, patience is key. Aggressive business strategies are not paying off like they once did. Slow and steady wins the race in this category. Listening: A friend of mine went to buy a new bed at a small bedding store owned by a husband and wife team. The female owner approaches my friend and asked all kinds of questions about why they needed a new bed, if they could fix their old bed, what else they were considering, etc. She asked questions and listened closely. She clearly showed that she cared about helping to meet their needs. My friend was moments away from buying any bed that she recommended. But just then, the frustrated husband on the sales team ran up and said let me handle this. Then he just tried to hard close the sale. He was pushy, telling them what he recommended and what they had to have. Guess what? The sale was lost the second he began speaking! They walked out. I am sure he blamed her, but it was him. The key is to ask questions and really listen. Quite frankly, any great sales person knows this, man or woman, it just seems that the ladies are naturally better at doing it. Common Factors Gender Discrimination Women entrepreneurs need to understand that it has always been and still is a mans business world and that the male of the species is not going to make it easier for females to get a foothold. Interestingly enough, studies show that men may be the dominant force in society not because they want to, but that their sympathy for the suffering endured by their mothers as they struggle to nurture and raise the brood brings out the males protective instincts and this ultimately translates into men dominating and subjugating women. Mothers need to coach their offspring to understand that the true value that the mother brings to the brood is much more than just nurturing the brood. They also need to understand that nurturing the family without the direct help and support of the male counterpart is as complex an achievement as starting and successfully running a small company in the business world. Women entrepreneurs need to push that concept even further along and fight to be taken seriously by their male counterparts. They need to be more assertive and also to be prepared to deal with explosive situations which women tend to want to avoid unlike their male counterparts. They need to understand that when explosive situations are managed correctly, the results are no different than managing the set of explosions that comprise a good fireworks display. Balancing Work and Family Women entrepreneurs need to balance the mix of work and family. This is nothing more than proper time management. Society has deemed that because the woman spends 9 months gestating the fetus and then because she also lactates, she is expected to provide nurture and care for the brood while the father can take a hike and hunt or farm for food which she still has to prepare so that the brood can have sustenance. I hate to say it, and some of my male counterparts and my born again Christian friends will get on my case, but if God had been a woman, she would have balanced the responsibility for nurturing and caring for the brood across both male and female by making him lactate and suffer the same emotional and hormonal changes that accompany the close bonding between a suckling infant and a lactating parent. Then and only then would the male admit to how truly powerful it is to be a mother and at the same time aspire to perform tasks outside the nest. The woman entrepreneur needs to make the male understand and accept the joint responsibility for everyday care of the brood. . She needs to strike a balance between caring for the family and working outside the nest. Self Confidence Women entrepreneurs need to believe in themselves and have confidence in the viability of the business ideas they bring to the table. They need to understand that it is not the idea that is great, but rather the execution of the business model behind the idea that leads to success and bring value to the business proposition. Women plan and execute as well as men and because they have less to prove themselves in a Jockless Culture they tend to be more productive more quickly. Our male dominated culture is driven by our captivation with sports and combat and since most sports were invented to satisfy the yearnings of the males in society we have a tendency to believe that only males can be the quarterbacks or the gladiators. Women entrepreneurs need to make the men understand that if they give the women the weapons and step out of the way, theyll see combat that they never thought possible. Network Building Lastly, women entrepreneurs need to spend time paving the way for the next generation of female entrepreneurs. Their male counterparts have been able until now to build their networks and good old boys clubs with no competition from the females. The woman entrepreneur needs to understand that shell continue to get minimal if any help from her male counterpart. She need to grab for the next rung on the ladder and pull herself up while leaving a map that her younger counterparts can easily follow. Today the woman entrepreneur is still a pioneer and she needs to come to grips with this. Conclusion Women entrepreneurs bring a different set of perspectives into decision making in the 21st century. They are an underutilized talent pool in an increasingly talent-constrained business environment and it is time they go after what they should have had from the very beginning.

Enlightened by Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye :: Bluest Eye Essays

Enlightened by Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye Over the course of our study of the American novel, we have experienced a kaleidoscope of components that help define it. We traveled back in time to learn what kinds of novels were being written and how they were being written. We were introduced to the likes of Harold Frederic's Theron Ware, Henry James's Dr. Sloper and Catherine, and Nathaniel Hawthorne's Blithedale Romance. We saw, through these novels and characters, how literature of the past affects literature of today. We also read novels from various regions of North America. We had a glimpse of northern writers and their culture such as Alice Munro, and her stories of Canada. We sampled Willa Cather who gave us a taste of the early southwest through Father's Latour and Vaillant. We read about different religious ideals, from Theron's Methodism to Father Latour's Catholicism, to Hazel Mote's The Church of Christ without Christ, to Jonah's (futuristic) Bokononism; each religion, in its own way, reflecting a different aspect of American religious zeal. And we have heard from a number of southern writers like O'Connor, Faulkner, and Porter. We begin, through characters like Miranda and Anse, to glimpse a southern language and way of living. It seems only fitting now, that we be introduced to another element of the American novel: ethnic culture. The addition of Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye is the perfect choice. Through the voices of her black characters, she reveals a broad spectrum of black culture during the 1930's and 1940's. We get a glimpse of the middle class through Claudia and her family, who maintain a sense of dignity and pride. In the first chapter, she tells us, "Being a minority in both caste and class, we moved about anyway on the hem of life, struggling to consolidate our weaknesses and hang on, or to creep singly up into the major folds of the garment" (17). We encounter the desperately poor through the Breedlove family, Cholly, Pauline, and Pecola, each choosing a different means to escape the harsh reality of their lives. For example, Pecola dreams of having blue eyes, then she would be accepted, loved, respected, and beautiful.

An Overview of the Anheuser-Busch Company

For generations, Anheuser-Busch has been at the top of the beer industry, but they are being threatened by new brewers and the hard liquor market.   To counteract that problem, the company is in midst of globalizing and entering the hard liquor market.   Their standard concept is fresh beer done traditionally.Now it is morphing into a tailor-made brew for a region while staying true to the traditional brews.   The changes are being enacted because the company has been losing market share to new competition and consumer preferences Anheuser-Busch Inc. 2007.Budweiser is a value for its customers because the process is an old technique, yet the company considers Budweiser as a new American Classic Lager.Customers experience a crisp taste, combined with a clean, smooth, very drinkable beer.   Budweiser beer is also made with all natural ingredients to give it a crisp taste with clarity and brilliance Anheuser-Busch Inc. 2007.At the helm of Anheuser-Busch’s management team is Patrick T. Stokes, the Director of Anheuser-Busch.   W. Randolph Baker is the CEO and Vice President of Busch Properties, Inc.   August A. Busch IV is the Director, CEO, Chairman of the Board, and President of Anheuser-Busch Inc.   Douglas J. Muhleman is the Group Vice President of Brewing Operations and Technology of Anheuser-Busch Inc.August A. Busch III is the Director.   The management is not balanced financially and it could pose a threat for the company with so much power in shares held within a small concentration of people.Their salaries range from $919,000 to $4,399,516. Once a person adds in stock options, it is plain to see that the management’s salaries are broken down by seniority, with the senior management executives 60 years old or older making an average salary of $40,090,155.Compare that to the other two executives profiled here (Busch IV & Muhleman) and they receive a paltry $6,438,116.   It is obvious who wields the power within Anheuser-Busch Accelerize New Media Inc. 2007.   The problem is if there is a misstep, it falls on one person, not the board .There is a lot of power concentrated within the management sector, but the company is meeting the goals they set forth to accomplish to the shareholders Anheuser-Busch Inc. 2007.   They were honest in their assessment of their market being taken over by newer brewers and the hard liquor market taking some of their market share.They counteracted that starting in 2006, when they notified shareholders that their demographics were changing; to stop that, they would issue beer based on regional tastes, growing their core brand, and interest in expanding their portfolio with high growth, high margin products Anheuser-Busch Inc. 2007.They did reach their objectives in their Letter to the Shareholders.   On April 20, their stock was trading at 52.61 a share, close to their 52 week high of 53.32.   It is obvious that their projections and assessments about where their marke t share was going was correct Investor Guide 2007.The company’s strategy is where it needs to be for the future.   Their measures have enabled them to re-establish their competitive position as the premier beer producer in the world.   If one analyzes their stock over the past year, he or she will see that every time their stock suffered a loss, it came back even stronger Investor Guide.com 2007.   Anheuser-Busch is definitely a stock to invest in.Works CitedAccelerize New Media Inc.   22 Apr 2007 Anheuser-Busch Inc.   22 April 2007 Investor Guide.com 20 April 2007   

Character Development- Outside essays

Character Development- Outside essays Choose and Discuss a Characters Development in In the book The Outsiders by S.E. Hilton, many changes occur in Ponyboy Curtis personality, appearance and his overall view of life. He starts as a smart Greaser but through the events with the Socs and Johnnys death, he learns that there are two sides to the war between the Greasers and the Socs and that life is precious. This paper will discuss and prove its point by showing you how Ponyboy starts off as, at the start of the book, what changes occur to him in chronological order and how it affects him and what he is like after all the events that happen to him. Ponyboy Curtis is a smart, intellectual 14 year old boy that has green eyes and long, light brown hair. He is a Greaser. Greaser is a term used to describe the middle class citizens who live on the East side of town and they usually have grease (hair-gel) in their hair (hence the name Greaser) and they usually have daggy clothes like leather jackets and jeans. Although Ponyboy dresses like a Greaser and acts like one when in the presence of his fellow gang members, he rarely thinks like one. Ponyboy is described as having a high IQ and getting good grades but not using his head. He is very absent minded and he often reflects on the situation to himself after something has happened. His intelligence is described in the first few pages when he talks about how he likes to get into movies and live them with the actor. He reflects on how nobody in our gang can understand books and films the way I do on the second page. This is true, as his fellow members of the gang are not as broad minded as he is and all they really think of is what the stereotypical Greaser would think of. For example, one member of the gang, Keith Two-Bit Mathews, thinks that life is a joke and all he is described as liking is shop-lifting, fights, blondes and school (just for fun). Ponyboy is a lot deeper than that...

Definition and Examples of Paralepsis in Rhetoric

Definition and Examples of Paralepsis in Rhetoric Paralepsis  (also spelled paralipsis) is the rhetorical strategy (and logical fallacy) of emphasizing a point by seeming to pass over it. Adjective: paraleptic or paraliptic. Similar to apophasis and praeteritio. In The English Academy (1677), John Newton defined paralepsis as a kind of irony, by which we seem to pass by, or take no notice of such things which yet we strictly observe and remember. Etymology From the Greek  para-  beside   leipein  to leave Pronunciation:  pa-ra-LEP-sis Examples Lets pass swiftly over the vicars predilection for cream cakes. Lets not dwell on his fetish for Dolly Mixture. Lets not even mention his rapidly increasing girth. No, no- let us instead turn directly to his recent work on self-control and abstinence.(Tom Coates, Plasticbag.org, Apr. 5, 2003)The music, the service at the feast,The noble gifts for the great and small,The rich adornment of Theseuss palace . . .All these things I do not mention now.(Chaucer, The Knights Tale, The Canterbury Tales)We get [in Oprah by Kitty Kelley] the obligatory discussion of whether or not Oprah and Gayle King, her best friend of thirty-four years, are lesbians. There was no foundation for the rumors of a lesbian relationship, except for their constant togetherness and Oprahs bizarre teasing of the subject, Kelley writes, and then, like a conspiracy theorist squinting to see the pyramids on dollar bills, trots out unconvincing insinuations.(Lauren Collins, Celebrity Smackdown. The New Yorker, April 19, 2010) Mark Antonys Paralepsis But heres a parchment, with the seal of Caesar;I found it in his closet; tis his will:Let but the commons hear this testament- Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read . . ..Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it.It is not meet you know how Caesar lovd you.You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;And, being men, hearing the will of Caesar,It will inflame you, it will make you mad:Tis good you know not that you are his heirs;For if you should, oh, what would come of it!(Mark Antony in William Shakespeares Julius Caesar, Act III, scene two) A Form of Irony Paralipsis: a form of irony in which one gets ones message across by suggesting the outlines of the message that one is struggling to suppress. We are not going to say that paralipsis is . . . the habitual refuge of the courtroom mechanic, who abuses it in order to suggest to the jury what he can very well deny to the judge ever having said.(L. Bridges and W. Rickenbacker, The Art of Persuasion, 1991) The Paraleptic Strike-Through The so-called strike through mode of type has come into its own as a standard device in opinion journalismeven in print. . . .As New York Times blogger Noam Cohen commented a while back, [I]n Internet culture, the strike-through has already taken on an ironic function, as a ham-fisted way of having it both ways in type a witty way of simultaneously commenting on your prose as you create it. And when this device appears in print, its being used exclusively for this kind of ironic effect. . . .The paradox is that crossing something out highlights it. The ancient Greek rhetoricians had a whole vocabulary of terms to refer to different forms of mentioning by not mentioning.(Ruth Walker, Highlight Your Errors: The Paradox of the Strike Through Mode. The Christian Science Monitor, July 9, 2010) Political Paralepsis Obama characterized Clintons remarks as tired Washington politicians and the games they play.She made an unfortunate remark about Martin Luther King and Lyndon Johnson, he said. I havent remarked on it. And she offended some folks who thought she diminished the role about King and the civil rights movement. The notion that this is our doing is ludicrous.Obama went on to criticize Clintons interview, saying that she spent an hour focused on attacking him rather than telling people about her positive vision for America.(Domenico Montanaro, Obama: Clinton MLK Comments Ludicrous, NBC First Read, Jan. 13, 2008) Paralepsis (or Omission), 1823 Paralepsis, or Omission, is a figure by which the orator pretends to conceal or pass by what he really means to declare and strongly to enforce.Whatever we seem to give up, as a matter of small consequence, we generally pronounce in a higher and softer tone of voice than the rest: this is accompanied with an air of indifference that seems to make light of what we mention, and this indifference generally leads us to end the particulars with the suspension of voice, properly called the rising inflection. Thus Cicero, in his defense of Sextius, introduces his character in the following manner, with a design of recommending him to the favour of the judges: I might say many things of his liberality, kindness to his domestics, his command in the army, and moderation during his office in the province; but the honour of the state presents itself to my view, and calling me to it, advises me to omit these lesser matters. The first part of this sentence should be spoken in a soft high tone of voice, with an air of indifference, as if waving the advantages arising from his clients character; but the latter part assumes a lower and firmer tone, which greatly enforces and sets off the former.(John Walker, A Rhetorical Grammar, 1823)

Free Essays on Hidden Curriculum

Over the years past billions of dollars have been spent on computers for our nation’s schools. The goal was to improve and update our educational system but there is very little evidence of change through the years and taxpayers that have been paying for these upgrades in the schools want to know where the payoff is. A small Belridge school district in Mckittrick, California was proud to be the first and only in the state to provide every student with two Apple IIg computers, one for school and one for home. It reshaped its curriculum to use computers in all subject areas and they thought it was working well. The parents were shocked to hear when the annual standardized test scores came in, that the entire first grade class, along with more than a third of the 64 member student body, had scored below their grade level for both reading and math. The school’s officials argued that students had scored even worse before the help of the computer program but in fact this was just one case where the computer program had failed. Not only is there the argument of whether or not computers are necessary in the classroom, but which type of computers the children should use, the Mac or the PC. Many parents argue that school should prepare children for the workplace, where Macs are a rarity. Parents also say that it’s more convenient if their children can come home from school and pop a disk in to their home PC. There is a significant difference between how technology is used in schools and how it is used in business. In the workplace, he argues, a computer is primarily used for word processing, e-mail, and access to databases, whereas in the classroom it can be a powerful tool for collaborative learning. Also, by the time today’s fifth grader enters the work force, windows may have given way to Java or maybe even an entirely different language that no one has yet begun to speak. Still, when PC salesmen whisper that children wi... Free Essays on Hidden Curriculum Free Essays on Hidden Curriculum Over the years past billions of dollars have been spent on computers for our nation’s schools. The goal was to improve and update our educational system but there is very little evidence of change through the years and taxpayers that have been paying for these upgrades in the schools want to know where the payoff is. A small Belridge school district in Mckittrick, California was proud to be the first and only in the state to provide every student with two Apple IIg computers, one for school and one for home. It reshaped its curriculum to use computers in all subject areas and they thought it was working well. The parents were shocked to hear when the annual standardized test scores came in, that the entire first grade class, along with more than a third of the 64 member student body, had scored below their grade level for both reading and math. The school’s officials argued that students had scored even worse before the help of the computer program but in fact this was just one case where the computer program had failed. Not only is there the argument of whether or not computers are necessary in the classroom, but which type of computers the children should use, the Mac or the PC. Many parents argue that school should prepare children for the workplace, where Macs are a rarity. Parents also say that it’s more convenient if their children can come home from school and pop a disk in to their home PC. There is a significant difference between how technology is used in schools and how it is used in business. In the workplace, he argues, a computer is primarily used for word processing, e-mail, and access to databases, whereas in the classroom it can be a powerful tool for collaborative learning. Also, by the time today’s fifth grader enters the work force, windows may have given way to Java or maybe even an entirely different language that no one has yet begun to speak. Still, when PC salesmen whisper that children wi...

1.1 Revised Paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

1.1 Revised Paper - Assignment Example However, in America, the situation is different where most women have been empowered and many of them are professionals meaning that they spend little time or no time with their family. The United States being a place that is comprised of many different cultures, it is clear that growing up as a woman in this area has different meaning depending on your cultural background. For example, most Hindu women stay at home to cook for their families and tend to them while the husbands work while in the African American society the women are the most hardworking (Bloustien 110). Therefore, growing up as a woman in these different cultures has taught me many things in the sense that, I have appreciated that a woman is a diverse person regardless of where she comes from or lives. This is because she manages to embrace the different changes that are brought to her by the different cultures. Additionally, adopting and talking up all these roles in the society is not an easy task, but as a woman all a person can do is to embrace them and continue

Argument about physically disabled people. We choose a Essay

Argument about physically disabled people. We choose a subject(physically disabled people) on which to alter people's thinking - Essay Example This greatly affects the quality of life people with disability can lead. The negative attitude stemming from the society leads to denial of opportunities for the physically disabled. Physical disability is not distant from everyone of us. Personally, I underwent a major surgery at 16 on my legs which forever changed my understanding of physical disability. The surgery culminated into a rare condition called Miserable Malalignment. Eventually, matters became so complicated for me that the doctors tried to perform a correction by aligning my legs through sawing both of my legs' bones in half, twisting them to the right place and eventually using screws to keep them in place. This condition prevented me from going on with normal life and every aspect of my life was interrupted including my studies. I had become a physically disabled person. Coping with the situation was hard because I had always believed that physical disability was a condition one was born with. Therefore for me becoming physically disabled at age 16 was something I least expected. Of all facets in life, it is my schooling and social life that was worst affected. In terms of schooling I had to change from school based learning to home based schooling just because the school I had been attending had not put in place facilities for the physically disabled. This negatively affected my performance in school. During this time I came to understand how the society had been unfair to the physically disabled. The fact that my school lacked or did not have elevators or ramps dawned on me. It led me to look around and I found that very few schools had in place facilities for the physically disabled. Although the government has come up with reforms specifically those aimed at integrating special education to regular schools this has not been widespread as many schools, churches, hospitals, cinema theatres, shopping malls as well as other public places lack facilities for the physically disabled. My social life was equally affected considering the fact that prior to my surgery I had made friends. This enabled me to understand how society views people with social disability specifically how the society lacks important information on physical disability. The fact that friends deserted me was a clear indication that the society has formed very baseless attitudes towards people with disability. The mere sight of a physically disabled person in a wheelchair is enough to cause people to run away from those they are supposed to offer care to. I realized that there are very many stereotypes which have been formed by the society about physical disability. The society does not understand th at disability is not inability. Therefore it is not rare to hear cases of physically disabled people who are qualified being denied opportunities because the stereotype that; disabled people cannot perform like non-disabled people, is very rife in the community. There is even belief in some communities that physical disability is communicable or contagious and therefore if one is physically disabled, friends and foes alike tend to keep a 'safe' distance. The stereotypes formed around physical disability go in as far as making some parents or caregivers to fail to take physically disabled children to school because they hold the belief that physical

Tort Law Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Tort Law - Coursework Example According to Winfield & Jolowicz (Tort, 17th ed. ; WVH Rogers ed), in order to hold the defendant liable for defamation, the claimant has to prove the following elements: 1. The statement must be defamatory; 2. The statement must refer to the claimant; 3. It must be published i.e. communicated to atleast one person other than the claimant. The aforementioned principles as applies to the present context in the following manner: 1. The statement must be defamatory: The statements made by Alex were to the effect of degrading public image of the players and team manager. Besides causing harm to their reputation in public, the statement also tends to raise ethical questions on the players and the team manager and hence lowers them in the public eye. Vide Lord Atkin’s judgement in Sim v. Strech [(1936) 52 TLR 669], it is now the settled position of law that any statement that tends to lower the claimant in the estimation of right thinking members of the society can be defamatory. Th is position has been reemphasised in several of the recent judgements as well. Therefore, it cannot be said that the statement is not defamatory and accordingly, any defence on those lines will be valid, if at all, subject to unique situation of the present case and other factual considerations. 2. The statement must refer to the claimant: In the present context, it is undisputed and clear beyond doubt that the statement made is very specific to few players and the team manager. Hence, provided that a claim is brought by the named few, this element will apply and hold good. 3. The statement must be published: In order to ascertain whether this element can be satisfied in the present context, it is necessary to analyse how ‘publication’ is interpreted at common law over a period of time. The statement vis-vis Alex, is made only to one person other than the claimant. The question therefore is – whether such an act of sharing one’s belief with another person without knowledge of the fact that such beliefs/statements would be published, amounts to ‘publication’. At common law, the element of publication is satisfied even if the defamatory statement is made to one person other than the claimant. In Crossland v. Wilkinson Hardware Stores Ltd. [(2005) EWHC 481 (QB)], it was held that slander, which is defamatory statement made orally, made to one person can have a damaging effect. Having said that, another element that needs consideration is – the potential cause of action. It is a settled principle at common law that chain of causation breaks when a statement made is published as it amounts to repetition [Ward v. Weeks (1830) 7 Bing. N.C. 211 followed in Weld Blundell v. Stephens [(1920) A.C. 945]. Thus, in the present case, there would be two causes of action available to the claimants. The first being statement made by Alex to Barbera; the second being the article published in The Daily Truth. The implications differ depending upon the claimant’s choice of action. The defendant in such cases is not liable for the published article where she did not intend such publication/repetition [Cutler v. McPhail (1962) 2 Q.B. 292]. Thus, if the claimants’ cause of action the newspaper article only, then Alex cannot be held liable as she did not intend repetition or publication of the statements made. II TORTIOUS LIABILITY OF BARBERA A. Factual matrix material to the potential lis 1. Barbera has obtained

Calculate and interpret financial ratios from financial statements Essay

Calculate and interpret financial ratios from financial statements - Essay Example In addition, you can use these ratios to compare the performance of your company against that of your competitors or other members of your industry. (Alex Auerbach) When you take profit before tax or interest (EBIT) and divide it by the difference between total assets and current liabilities, you can get a financial ratio known as return on capital employed ratio or ROCE. It is a ratio that shows the companys capital investments’ profitability and efficiency. The ROCE ratio is a measure of how well a company is using capital to generate income. A high ROCE is a sign or a successful growth company and indicates that a larger mass of proceeds can be reinvested to gain more profit. However; one year ROCE evaluation should not be the basis for reinvesting. Investors should look closely on the trend over several years to have consistency. A sudden decline in ROCE signals a loss of competitive advantage. Asset Turnover Ratio specifies the connection between assets and revenue (Revenue/Total assets). It gauges a company’s efficiency in using its resources in making sales. A higher asset Turnover is better. It also specifies pricing strategy: companies with low profit margins are inclined to have high asset turnover, whereas those with high profit margins tend to have low asset turnover. This ratio is important to settle on the amount of sales that are produced from each dollar of assets. To evaluate a companys operational efficiency, return on sales ratio is used. ROS is also recognized as a company’s â€Å"operating profit margin". It is calculated using this formula: Net Income before interest and tax divided by sales. Investopedia says â€Å"This measure is helpful to management, providing insight into how much profit is being produced per dollar of sales. As with many ratios, it is best to compare a companys ROS over time to look for trends, and compare it to other companies in the industry. An increasing ROS indicates the

Tim Hortons Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Tim Hortons - Assignment Example Training needs are assessed through group interactions and observations by the human resource departments. The methods and techniques of training must be scientifically objective. This requires appropriately scaling the individual employee's performance through scores such as "needs improving, good, and excellent" (Chapman, Alan; 2009). Teams work best when they are given specific projects to work on. The selection and structure of teams depend on the size of the project and number of qualified personnel required in each team. They are trained on the basis of the job requirements and they are appraised through tests and observation by superiors as well as the human resource departments (Chaudron, David). Our business follows various strategies. We recognize good performance with a good back pat. We also recognize good performances through cash prize, good performance certificates and promotions (Employee Motivation & Job Satisfaction, 2009). Business hires a flexible leader. The flexible leader is a manager as well as leader. He knows a leadership is not manager and manager is not a leader. At the same time, he is capable of bonding with his men on a personal and emotional level. He has business targets. He meets his business targets using personal and emotional skills (Fletcher, Douglas; 2010).

Clinical Trials Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Clinical Trials - Essay Example The investigator is also responsible for their designated treatment or intervention. After the trial, outcomes are measured. Observational studies, on the other hand, are observation only of the individuals and measuring of outcomes by the investigator. In participating to a clinical trial, human subjects must be informed of its pros and cons. Among the pros of clinical trials are the following: the participants will be able to play an active role in their health care, they will be the first one to access to new research treatments before it becomes widely available, participants will be entitled to obtain expert medical care at leading health care facilities during the trial, and they will help others by participating to the medical research. Investigator must also inform the participants of the consequences such as possible occurrence of unpleasant, serious, or life threatening reactions during experiments, ineffective experimental treatment for the participant, and protocol comple xity requiring more time and attention of participants. Although there are standard protocols for a clinical trial, ethical concerns cannot be avoided. Issues regarding confidentiality of information and beneficence might be violated.

Calculate and interpret financial ratios from financial statements Essay

Calculate and interpret financial ratios from financial statements - Essay Example In addition, you can use these ratios to compare the performance of your company against that of your competitors or other members of your industry. (Alex Auerbach) When you take profit before tax or interest (EBIT) and divide it by the difference between total assets and current liabilities, you can get a financial ratio known as return on capital employed ratio or ROCE. It is a ratio that shows the companys capital investments’ profitability and efficiency. The ROCE ratio is a measure of how well a company is using capital to generate income. A high ROCE is a sign or a successful growth company and indicates that a larger mass of proceeds can be reinvested to gain more profit. However; one year ROCE evaluation should not be the basis for reinvesting. Investors should look closely on the trend over several years to have consistency. A sudden decline in ROCE signals a loss of competitive advantage. Asset Turnover Ratio specifies the connection between assets and revenue (Revenue/Total assets). It gauges a company’s efficiency in using its resources in making sales. A higher asset Turnover is better. It also specifies pricing strategy: companies with low profit margins are inclined to have high asset turnover, whereas those with high profit margins tend to have low asset turnover. This ratio is important to settle on the amount of sales that are produced from each dollar of assets. To evaluate a companys operational efficiency, return on sales ratio is used. ROS is also recognized as a company’s â€Å"operating profit margin". It is calculated using this formula: Net Income before interest and tax divided by sales. Investopedia says â€Å"This measure is helpful to management, providing insight into how much profit is being produced per dollar of sales. As with many ratios, it is best to compare a companys ROS over time to look for trends, and compare it to other companies in the industry. An increasing ROS indicates the

Clinical Trials Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Clinical Trials - Essay Example The investigator is also responsible for their designated treatment or intervention. After the trial, outcomes are measured. Observational studies, on the other hand, are observation only of the individuals and measuring of outcomes by the investigator. In participating to a clinical trial, human subjects must be informed of its pros and cons. Among the pros of clinical trials are the following: the participants will be able to play an active role in their health care, they will be the first one to access to new research treatments before it becomes widely available, participants will be entitled to obtain expert medical care at leading health care facilities during the trial, and they will help others by participating to the medical research. Investigator must also inform the participants of the consequences such as possible occurrence of unpleasant, serious, or life threatening reactions during experiments, ineffective experimental treatment for the participant, and protocol comple xity requiring more time and attention of participants. Although there are standard protocols for a clinical trial, ethical concerns cannot be avoided. Issues regarding confidentiality of information and beneficence might be violated.

Electricity Demand and Supply Pakistan Essay Example for Free

Electricity Demand and Supply Pakistan Essay Electricity load-shedding in Pakistan is one of the biggest domestic problems faced by the country. Along with the problems that the power shortage brings for the society as a whole and for the inhabitants of the society the power failures seriously curbs the economic potential of the economy. Considering most of the medium and large scale industries of Pakistan depend on machinery that is run by electricity they are heavily dependent on the electricity supply, with the electricity supply cut their production capacity decreases dramatically as well. Since most of Pakistani manufacturing industries lack the self generation ability hence this power outage is even more harmful to their business. So eventually what ends up happening is that along with creating general distress among the public this power shortage reduces the production capacity of the firms and hence reduces the aggregate supply. Aggregate supply can be defined as the total supply of goods and services that firms in a national economy plan on selling during a specific time period. It is the total amount of goods and services that firms are willing to sell at a given price level in an economy. It is the total amount of goods and services that firms are willing to sell at a given price level in an economy. In the long run, the aggregate-supply curve is assumed to be vertical In the short run, the aggregate-supply curve is assumed to be upward sloping SRAS (Short run aggregate demand) shows total planned output when prices in the economy can change but the prices and productivity of all factor inputs e.g. wage rates and the state of technology are assumed to be held constant. LRAS (Long run aggregate supply) shows total planned output when both prices and average wage rates can change – it is a measure of a country’s potential output and the concept is linked strongly to that of the production poss ibility frontier The SRAS and LRAS can be graphically represented as follows: SRAS LRAS Now what happens is that firms will have to cut down their production process in order to effectively meet the costs incurred or it will come to a position of losses. The cutting down of the production process means  decreasing the supply of the firm. As a firm produces lesser than it did before, fewer workers will be needed because the excess labor has been made redundant since fewer employees are now needed to produce lesser output. Moreover, the firm can no longer afford to employ as many workers as it did before. Hence this will eventually give rise to over the course of time as many workers have will have to be laid off in industries due to low activity. This will invariably decrease the total consumption of the population because as the unemployment increases the purchasing power of the people also falls. They are now earning fewer wages and the income effect will lead to a drastic decrease in the consumption. Consumption is one of the major contributors in the aggregate demand function. We define aggregate demand as the total demand for all goods and services produced in the economy at a given time and price level. It is the amount of goods and services in the economy that will be produced at all possible price levels. The aggregate demand is usually described as a linear sum of four separable demand sources.[3] Where: C = Consumption I = Investment G = Government Spending (X-M) = Net Exports – Net Imports The graph for AD is as follows: It is often cited that the aggregate demand curve is downward sloping because at lower price levels a greater quantity is demanded. While this is correct at the microeconomic, single good level, at the aggregate level this is incorrect. The aggregate demand curve is in fact downward sloping as a result of the Pigou’s wealth effect. Pigou effect is an economics term that refers to the stimulation of output and employment caused by increasing consumption due to a rise in real balances of wealth, particularly during deflation. Keynes said that a drop in aggregate demand could lower employment and the price level (deflationary depression). Hence it can be  said that any decrease in the consumption would bring about a fall in the aggregate demand. Consumer demand or consumption, that is also known as personal consumption expenditure, is the largest part of aggregate demand or effective demand at the macroeconomic level. The interaction of the aggregate demand and aggregate supply gives us the market equilibrium. Now as has been previously pointed out, frequent power cuts will mean a cutting down of the production process which invariably brings about a decrease in the aggregate supply. What happens is that as aggregate supply decreases with the aggregate demand being constant (as obviously people would still be demanding the same quantity of products) inflation will increase as shown below: Now here we can see with AS moving to a new point as it decreases it is actually increasing the price level which results in inflation and as a result unemployment increases as well, because when there is inflation in the economy there is a rise in prices hence there is a fall in the demand of goods and services and the producers reduce their production level and as a result they end up decreasing the number of workers which means unemployment increases. Unemployment on the macroeconomic level is a sign that the economy is operating below its full production capacity, this is a sign of inefficiency. Here we can see that inflation is playing a key role in determining the employment level. Hence we’ll have a look at how load shedding gives rise to inflation. Inflation is conventionally defined as a general increase in the level of prices in goods and services. One of the effects of inflation is a decrease in the value of money. During the course of inflation income and prices do not increase at the same rate; the purchasing power of the nation as a whole drops. One of the reasons of inflation is surplus amount of money which causes the prices to rise at an extremely high rate. Other than that, another reason for inflation is the rise in the costs of production which in turn increases the prices of the products. Moreover inflation occurs when aggregate supply exceeds aggregate demand hence increasing the price level. In the context of load shedding though, we see that it has been a triggering stimulus for initiating inflation. The CPI inflation averaged 23.5 percent in July-February 2008-09 in Pakistan as against 8.9 percent in the comparable period of last year. The deficiency of energy sources is causing stir on the demand side of the economic picture causing an increase in the demand for energy sources as it has a huge effect on all spheres of economy of a nation having a primary influence on industry level. The insufficiency of the available energy sources is causing the people to demand more electricity to meet their needs on the individual as well as industry level which in turn when observed in the context of graphical representation shows a shift of the demand curve to the right causing a shift of the equilibrium position increasing the price level. (Demand-Pull Inflation) The increase in level of inflation has also been caused due to an increase in the cost of energy sources. The scarcity of the energy resources available to the industries is making them shift to other sources for the purpose of energy generation which in turn has caused their costs to sky rocket. Now, due to the heavy burden that everyone has to face in this state of affairs is causing a shift of the AS curve in terms of graphical representation of the scenario. The increase in the costs of production for the industries in turn affects the aggregate supply causing it to decline. This shift of the AS curve to the left also then causes the equilibrium price level to rise, in turn stirring up inflation in the society (Cost- Push Inflation). The power tariffs imposed would further increase the industrial input cost which is already very high making the products more expensive in the domestic as well as the international market. As far as the international market is concerned, the competitive edge of a country would be lost as their goods are more expensive in comparison to the other countries.

Information Technology And Some Infrastructure Challenges Information Technology Essay

Information Technology And Some Infrastructure Challenges Information Technology Essay To successfully implement an information technology infrastructure into an organization, it is critical that all levels work and plan together, and that the planning performed be proactive and strategic. Some components of the infrastructure may require an upgraded or be deleted; however, some components may not. Certain information about information systems, interaction, and processes, once collected, organized, and comprehended, can form an essential component of infrastructure which will outlive many of the upgrades to equipment and software. The focus of this paper is to explain what managerial roles does information system support, how has the Internet improved supply chain problems, list and describe the components of IT infrastructure that firms need to manage, name and describe the management challenges posed by IT infrastructure, and finally define Open-Source software. Management Roles Managers continue to perform critical roles in todays organizations. They have a wide variety of responsibilities ranging from decision making, compiling data, making reports, to coordinating meetings. To understand managerial role better, we must look at both the classical and contemporary models of managerial behavior. Classical Model Henri Fayol was one of the most significant providers to modern concepts of management, having stated that the five primary functions of management were planning, organizing, coordinating, deciding, and controlling (Rushing, 2010). Fayol believed management theories could be developed and then taught. Henri Fayol proposed that it is important to have unity of command. This concept that suggests there should be only one supervisor for each person in an organization. Fayol also suggested that management is a common human activity that applies equally well to and organization as it does to a family. This type of management theory was basically unchallenged from the 1920s through 1990s. The terms associated with Fayols management theory were of a formal nature rather than describe what a manager actually does in the performance of his job (Laudon Laudon, 2006). Contemporary Models The contemporary behavioral scientists had discovered that managers do not typically behave as the classical models had first implied. Behavioral models state that actual behavior of managers appear to be less systematic, more informal, less reflective, more reactive, less well organized, and much more frivolous than students of information systems and decision making generally expected it to be (Laudon Laudon, 2006, p. 87). Analyzing managers daily behaviors, Henry Mintzberg discovered that these actions could be classified into 10 managerial roles. Managerial roles can be described expectations of duties that should be performed by a manager in an organization. Mintzberg discovered that these roles could be broken down into three categories: interpersonal, informational, and decisional. Interpersonal Roles In general, interpersonal roles will be established by the type of position you hold in an organization. For example, lower level managers will have dissimilar interpersonal roles than middle management. The Interpersonal roles of a manager can be broken down into three categories: figurehead, leader, or a liaison. Figureheads within an organization speak for their companies to the outside world and carry out symbolic duties such as passing out awards to employees (Rushing, 2010). Additionally, there are numerous administrative tasks and they are also in the public and professional limelight. As a leader you are responsible for ensuring a safe and productive environment for your employees. The development of your department and your employees lies on the figureheads shoulders and they must be able to promote growth while at the same time steering clear of conflict. As a liaison you must be prepared to correspond with others. Liaisons not only report to upper management but will have to work with peers from other factions within an organization such as vendors, and even clients. The liaison is responsible for knowing who to get in touch with to get to the bottom of any situation. Informational Roles A monitor, disseminator, and spokesperson are the three informational roles that a manager may assume (Hartman, n.d.). These informational roles are created as a result of enacting the set of interpersonal roles already described. A network of interpersonal contacts with both subordinates and individuals outside the work unit serves to establish the manager as an informational nerve center of the unit, responsible for gathering, receiving, and transmitting information that concerns members of a specific department. A manager takes on the monitor role by constantly scanning the environment for information or activities and events that may identify opportunities or threats to the organization. Much of the managers gathering of information is accomplished through the network of contacts established through the interpersonal roles. The information a manager gathers as a monitor must be evaluated and transmitted as appropriate to members of the organization. The transmittal of information by a manager activates the disseminator role. Privileged information may be disseminated to subordinates, peers, or superiors in the organization. Occasionally, a manager must take on the role of a spokesperson by speaking on behalf of the department to people inside or outside the organization. This might involve lobbying for critical resources or appealing to individuals who have influence on activities that affect the work unit (Wren, 2005). Decisional Roles Both interpersonal and informational roles are really preludes to what are often considered to be a managers most important set of roles: the decisional roles of entrepreneur, disturbance handler, resource allocator, and negotiator (Laudon Laudon, 2006). The entrepreneur role comes into action when the manager seeks to improve the work unit (Rushing, 2010). This can be accomplished by adapting new techniques to fit a particular situation or modifying old techniques to improve individual or group activity. Managers usually learn of new or innovative methods through information gathered in the monitor role. Whereas the entrepreneur role establishes the manager as the initiator of change, the disturbance handler role establishes the manager as a responder to change. Organizations, unfortunately, do not run so smoothly that managers are never called upon to respond to unwelcome pressures. In these cases, the manager is required to act quickly to bring stability back to the organization. When a manager is placed in the position of having to decide to whom and in what quantity resources will be dispensed, the resource allocator role is assumed. Resources may include money, time, power, equipment, or people. During periods of resource abund ance, this role can be easily performed by a manager. In most cases, however, organizations operate under conditions of resource scarcity; thus, decisions on the allocation of resources can be critical for the success of the work unit, division, or organization. As a decision maker, the manager must strive not only to appropriately match resources with subordinates but also to ensure that the distribution of resources is coordinated to effectively complete the task to be performed (Rushing, 2010). In addition to decisions concerning organizational changes, disturbances, and resources, the manager must enact a negotiator role. The process of negotiation is possible only when an individual has the authority to commit organizational resources. Hence, as managers move up the managerial hierarchy and obtain control over more resources, they become more involved in the negotiator role. Supply Chain Management Supply chain management (SCM) combines the art and science that goes into improving the way an organization discovers the components it needs to make a product or service and deliver it to its customers (Laudon Laudon, 2006). The idea of Supply Chain Management is built around two principal ideas. The first is that just about every product that reaches a customer represents the collective effort of multiple organizations. Together these organizations are referred as the supply chain. The second idea is that although supply chains have been around for a long time, many organizations have only paid attention to what was happening within their own organization. Few businesses understood and managed the entire chain of procedures that eventually delivered products to the final customer. The result was disorganized and often ineffective supply chains Internet and Supply Chains Supply chains in almost every business are at the start of a startling reinvention produced by the growth of the Internet. The change extends beyond performance advancements and efficiencies acquired from computerization and communication to incorporate brand new possibilities to create value. This new value results from coordinated supply chains that can extend to larger markets and shape goods and services to meet the customers needs and new products and services that adjust to the highly competitive and increasing environmental needs. The Internet alters the way in which supply chains are managed, designed and controlled. The information, choices and practices that form Supply Chain Management are shifting to the Internet, breaking old ideas and widening company boundaries. This common ground will be where entire supply chains truly can be synchronized. New unknown specialist providers of both virtual and physical activities will create their own exclusive roles in the new infrast ructure. In this ever changing environment, supply chain capabilities will be essential. But gaining those crucial competitive resources will not take place through the typical supply chain ideas of today (Challenges facing supply chain management, 2008). Internet Technology for Integrating Business Processes Information technology (IT) has always been utilized to handle exchanges of goods, services, and information between organizations. With the arrival of Internet-based business-to-business (B2B) electronic markets, on the other hand, real opportunities for online transactions have begun to open up (Samson, 2010). The emerging internet was definitely an unpredictable development. All the same, important operating criteria such as reliability, local structures and robustness always came to the fore. As a result, users had the opportunity to get access to a highly available international data network that stays operative even in case of a breakdown of some single nodes. One important aspect of globalization is concentration. As a logical consequence, international companies have to merge or to collaborate with each other to meet the requirements for a global distribution of their goods and services. In a networked economy, these enterprises are bound to unseal some parts of their IT infr astructure to allow the engaged parties an exchange of product and accounting data as well as current status information in order to sustain the supply chain. Furthermore, employees need improved business applications with enhanced functionalities to manage their all-day work. These applications replenish existing legacy systems by degrees. Long-ranging, these enhancements result in a heterogeneous network of computers and applications, as all those components require each other and have to be consolidated. In the context of integrating distributed business application systems, the vision of redundancy and robustness was not resumed consequently: A changing business environment results in new technical developments and increasing demand of IT supported execution of business processes (Needle, 2009). IT Infrastructure Information technology infrastructure can be defined as the tangible hardware used to link computers and users (Laudon Laudon, 2006). Infrastructure may include transmission media and other instruments that direct transmission paths. Infrastructure can also consist of the software that is used to send, receive, and manage transmitted signals. Additionally, infrastructure can refer to interconnecting hardware and software and not to computers and other devices that are interconnected. On the other hand, to some IT users, infrastructure is regarded as everything that maintains the continual flow and management of information. IT infrastructure today is comprised of seven major components: computer hardware platforms, operating system platforms, enterprise software applications, data management and storage, networking/telecommunications platforms, internet platforms, and consulting and system integration services (Samson, 2010). Computer Hardware Platforms The physical part of the computer is referred to as the computer hardware. This includes the digital circuitry, which is different than the computer software that executes within the hardware (Laudon Laudon, 2006). The hardware of a computer is rarely changed as compared to the computer software and data, which are soft in the sense that they are quickly created, tailored or deleted from the computer. The microprocessor is the core of any computing device. The two major companies that manufacture most microprocessing chips are Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). Standard tests of the AMD chip alongside the Intel Celeron chip have shown that the AMD chip was better in performance. Operating System Platforms An operating system is the program that, after being initially loaded into the computer by a boot program, manages all the other programs in a computer. The other programs are called applications or application programs. The application programs make use of the operating system by making requests for services through a defined application program interface (API). In addition, users can interact directly with the operating system through a user interface such as a command language or a graphical user interface (GUI) (Greer, 2009). Enterprise Software Applications The goal of enterprise software applications is to integrate applications into seamless processes throughout an organization. The two most popular applications in this group are customer relationship management and supply chain management systems. Business processes that have traditionally been optimized for internal efficiency can now add the element of superior customer service, tailored to each customer, inspiring the skills of trained agents in the call center. Back office processes are greatly improved with better information from the customer. Additionally, agents can slowly decrease the flow of paper, in favor of more efficient communication avenues such as e-mail and the web (von der Weth Starker, 2010). Data Management and Storage Organizations are collecting increasingly more data on its customers, employees, and even the organization itself. Being able to manage and storing the data so that it is readily accessible and supply meaningful information to the organization is developing into a discipline in and of itself (Laudon Laudon, 2006). Storage area networks (SANs) provide an organized, cost-effective way to combine data from across any system within the organization. Online users want direct access to data and SANs help organizations with a way to provide it. Networking/Telecommunications Platforms As we continue towards a completely digital world, networking and telecommunications platforms will begin to merge together. Instead than having a platform for networking computers and devices and a separate platform for telecommunications, we will begin to see businesses providing a combination of computers and peripheral devices, handheld PDAs telephone services, cell phone services, and wireless services all packaged together into one. A myriad of telecommunications companies have already merged with Internet service providers to provide complete digital service packages (Eren, Subasi, Coskun, 2008). Internet Platforms The Internet and subsequent technology continue to develop the services businesses are able to offer their employees, customers, suppliers, and other business partners (Laudon Laudon, 2006). Intranets and extranets constructed on Internet technologies provide businesses an easy and economical way of providing services that were extremely expensive just a few years ago. Many small and medium-sized businesses are using Web hosting services instead of purchasing new hardware necessary to support Web sites, intranets, and extranets. Its more cost effective and easier to have these service-providers manage hardware, software, and security issues, leaving the organization to concentrate on its primary processes. Consulting and System Integration Services Systems used in many large organizations are so complicated that its almost impossible to manage them by alone. Integration services offered by the companies like IBM and Hewlett-Packard are essential in keeping up with all the changes. In various ways it makes more sense for a company like Nike to focus on its core processes of making sports apparel and let a company like IBM take care of the technology issues. These services become more vital as many organizations combine their old legacy systems with newer technologies such as wireless networking. The old legacy systems merely cant be thrown away but must work flawlessly with todays newest technologies. Some organizations prefer not to completely replace legacy systems because its not cost effective, requires large amounts of training, and causes too much change in the organization. Its simpler to use middleware and other technologies to combine new and old systems (Schmidt, Otto, Osterle, 2010). Management Challenges Developing and managing a sound IT infrastructure raises multiple challenges: making wise infrastructure investments, coordinating infrastructure components, dealing with scalability and technology changes, and management and governance. Infrastructure Investments Just like investments in home remodeling often fail to provide a significant return on investment (ROI), it is frequently the case with investments in superior IT infrastructure components. IT Managers are constantly under the gun to decrease costs in order to fund new projects or to meet cost-reduction goals. Managers should make decisions to prevent overspending on component parts of the organizations computer systems. For example, high reliability storage, will offer little value if matched with servers or network connections of lower reliability. A string of high reliability components may surpass the necessities of the service they support. Any time the performance of any component notably goes above the requirements the incremental savings is pointless (Laudon Laudon, 2006). Coordinating Infrastructure Components Todays organizations develop IT infrastructures by choosing a variety of wholesalers, people, and technology services and fit them together so that they work as a whole (Samson, 2010). Because each part of the whole IT infrastructure has its own priorities, managing them collectively can be quite difficult. Some components of infrastructure will need to be upgraded or are subject to upgrade or replaced, as is with most components of computing systems. However, some components are not. Specific information about information systems and associated processes can form an essential component of infrastructure which will outlive many upgrades of equipment or software. Dealing with Scalability and Technology Changes In general terms, scalability refers to the ability of a system to maintain, if not improve, its average performance as the number of clients grows (Laudon Laudon, 2006). As an organization continues to grow, it can quickly out grow its infrastructure. On the other hand, if an organization downsizes, they may be stuck with an infrastructure that is too big and expensive to keep running. Every component of the infrastructure has some kind of management or operational overhead associated. Therefore, it is imperative that the organization recognizes these changes and takes appropriate actions to keep the organization moving forward. Management and Governance One of the most vital tasks for successful information management is developing the business governance over its program and related projects (Wren, 2005). Governance will apply a priority to the often-conflicting organizational pressures. It will take organizational plans and goals and help to form them into bounded endeavors. However, many organizations battle to get their governance programs up and running. They cant acquire interest, and they are in need of ideas to discuss after the initial objective is created. Information Systems and Ethical Issues Information systems introduce new and often complex ethical issues (Carroll Buchholtz, 2006). This is very true today because of the challenges created by the Internet and e-commerce to the safeguard of privacy and intellectual property. New ethical issues caused by vast use of information systems include creating accountability for the consequences of information systems, establishing standards to safeguard system quality that look after the safety of individuals and society, and upholding values and establishments considered vital to the quality of life in an information world. Whether you manage your own company or work in a large business, youll be facing these issues, and youll need to know how to handle them. Open-Source Software Open-source software (OSS) is computer software that is created by a cooperation of several thousand programmers worldwide (Chan Husted, 2010). Some open source software is accessible within the public domain. The term open-source software was derived as part of a marketing campaign for free software. Open-source software is based on the premise that it is superior to commercially produced proprietary software because thousands of programmers around the world working for no pay can read, perfect, distribute, and modify the source code much faster , and with more reliable results , than small teams of programmers working for a single software company (Laudon Laudon, 2006, p. 209). Advantages Open-source software experts have identified several advantages and disadvantages. The key advantage for an organization is that open-source software is an excellent way for companies to attain better market penetration. Organizations that present open-source software are able to create an industry standard and, therefore, gain an advantage over its competition. Additionally, it has helped create loyalty to the developers. In turn, the developers feel a sense of empowerment and ownership of the end product. Furthermore, less marketing and logistical services costs are required for OSS. Also, it helps organizations to keep up on of all technology developments. Another advantage is that it is an excellent tool to market an organizations image, incorporating its commercial products. The open-source software development method has produce reliable, high quality software rapidly and at a much lower cost. Likewise, it offers the promise for a more adaptable technology and quicker improveme nt. The mix of different perspectives, business objectives, and personal goals helps speed up innovation. Additionally free software can be developed in concurrence with entirely technical requirements. Open-source software does not entail considering about commercial demands that tends to degrade the software quality (Chan Husted, 2010). Disadvantages On the other hand, it can be argued that the open-source development process may not be as clear and that some system testing and documentation may be overlooked. Nonetheless this is usually only true for smaller jobs. Bigger, successful jobs tend to define and impose, as a minimum, some rules because they are needed to ensure good teamwork. In the most complex projects these rules may be as strict as reviewing even minor change by two independent developers. Even though many companies like IBM and Sun Microsystems support open source software there are no great financial interest involved.   A majority of the developers and advocates of free source software tend to believe in an unrealistic society that does not involve intellectual property rights   Therefore most of the applications are not dependable and you cannot run essential business operations on them. Another disadvantage is that once you choose to use open-source software you are on your own.   Although there is a lot of help available on the Web, there is no real skilled support available.   Basically, you have to learn how to install and use applications on your own, without damaging your data and hardware. There are no documents and manuals made available to help you since the software is being constantly being changed (Chan Husted, 2010). An additional drawback is that most of the open-source applications are not compatible with some of todays devices (Chan Husted, 2010). For example, there is no such thing as plug and play hardware when you are using open-source operating systems.   Occasionally it is hard to get modems to work with open source operating systems. Finally, technical support is more expensive compared to commercial software (Chan Husted, 2010). People who offer support for open-source software count on earning lots of money to provide support and in fact this is the only income model alleged in support of the open source software movement.

Counseling: My Personal Evolution Essay -- Counseling, Therapy

As with any academic venture there are times when a student is engulfed in self doubt and is distressed by the inevitability of change. Although these factors present themselves throughout many parts of the educational process, there remains a sense of purpose rooted in the belief of true compatibility. Nestled within this attraction is the opportunity to develop an external character that mirrors the beauty of the internal. It is this congruency in which one is motivated to continue on the journey to become a counselor. Throughout this journey I have been afforded the opportunity to become aware of the strengths and growing edges that I possess. When I consider the time I have spent in the counseling program thus far, I am reminded that in such a short amount of time I have evolved from an individual who was guarded and very much afraid of change and the efforts of social interaction, to a man exhilarated by human interaction and the opportunities provided to further my personal evo lution. In order to expand on this idea of growth I will reflect upon my current strengths and weakness, my personal reservations, and current interpersonal factors as they relate to intentional interviewing skills. Strengths and Areas of Improvement As I reflect upon the counseling relationship, I am drawn to the idea of genuine human interaction, an interaction characterized by openness to communication and a general setting free of judgment. It is within this relationship that I will be able to offer the ability in which the universe has gifted me. It’s within this true interaction in which I my true strength reside. Throughout the time I have been provided to learn and study the art of counseling, I have come to the conclusion that attending t... ... peace has grown, and the capability of recognizing my growing edges has allowed my evolution to them to a more enlightened individual. A reflective tool such as this paper has allowed me to delve deeper into what becoming an effective counselor really means. It has allowed me to understand a part of myself that I have neglected, a part of me that is an essential part of who I am, but I have shunned due to fear of acceptance. It has been through this process that I have come to the conclusion that although I may possess moments of weakness, it is the manner in which I react to these moments, in which I will be judged and the substance that I take from having them in which I will succeed. Having considered myself in counseling and the strengths in which I possess, I aspire to enrich the lives of others by assisting them to overcome barriers to true happiness.

Defining Post-Modernism Essay -- Definition post Modernism

Defining Post-Modernism In trying to define exactly what post-modernism is I shall firstly briefly consider some of the events and thinking that led up to the development of this particular school of social theory. I shall then consider some of the common strands of thinking in postmodernism concentrating mainly on the writings of Jean-Francois Lyotard and Jean Baudrillard. I shall then consider the view of David Harvey, a Marxist many consider to be writing in the postmodern tradition, who argues that post-modernism is just another form of capitalism. Having analysed his argument I shall conclude by giving my own personal view of post-modernism and by showing that by its very nature it is virtually impossible to come up with one single all encompassing definition. The term postmodernism was first used in relation to architecture. Modern architecture, namely the high rise tower blocks of the sixties, were becoming more and more unpopular. Charles Jencks (1977) traces the death of modernist architecture to the demolition of the Pruitt-Igoe housing project in St. Louis, and other writers (Lemert (1990)) have seen this as a symbol of the end of modernity. Society was reacting against modern architectural ideas having lost faith in the modern ideals. Although modern architecture might have been scientifically advanced using the latest and cheapest materials, people rejected it, preferring to return to a variety of styles from the past. Examples of this can be seen in the rejuvenation of the Albert Dock in Liverpool, and 'mock'; medieval squares. Similarly in Sociology postmodernism rejects the theories of the past, and represents a break from the 'modern'; way of thinking. For example, Marx envisaged society evolving through social change into the 'perfect'; communist society, where there are no issues of class or general inequality. Postmodernists would refer to his theory, and those of other sociologists, as a metanarrative and writers such as Lyotard (1984) have seen the rejection of such theories as central to postmodernism: 'Simplifying to the extreme, I define postmodernism as incredulity to metanarratives'; People have lost faith in the metanarratives of the past and Lyotard sees social life being organised around 'language games', which serve to justify people's behaviour in society. In these games a person endeavours to persuade others t... ...is impossible to apply one all encompassing theory. A range of theories must be considered and all viewpoints listened to. Only by adopting such an approach and by welcoming different points of view can we further understand the world in which we live. References Harvey, D. (1990) 'The Condition Of Postmodernity'; Oxford:Blackwell Kellner, D. (1990) 'Postmodernism: Jameson: Critique'; cited in Ritzer, G. (1992) 'Sociological Theory'; (third edition) New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc. Lyotard, J.F. (1984) The Postmodern Condition. Minneapolis : University of Minnesota Press Ritzer, G. (1992) 'Sociological Theory'; (third edition) New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc. Bibliography Adams, D.J. Toward a Theological Understanding of Postmodernism http://aril.org/adams.htm#TEXT20 Cuff, E.C., Sharrock, W.W., and Francis, D.W. (1998) 'Perspectives in Sociology'; (fourth edition) London: Routledge. Mizrach, S. Talking pomo: An analysis of the postmodern movement http://glidare.isp.his.se/isp/~andreas/pomo.htm Ritzer, G. (1992) 'Sociological Theory'; (third edition) New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc. Ritzer, G. (1996) 'Classical Social Theory'; (second edition) New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.

Provisions And Contingencies Essay

Under IFRSs IAS 37, a provision is recognized for a legal or constructive obligation arising from a past event, if there is a probable (more likely than not) outflow of resources and the amount can be estimated reliably (IAS 37.14). In contrast, according to FASB ASC 450-20-25-2, a contingency (provision) is recognized if it is probable (likely) that a liability has been incurred and the amount is reasonably estimated. Scenario 1 (1) Under IFRSs: According to IAS 37.22, the contamination of the land gives rise to a legal obligation for Energy because it is virtually certain the legislation that requires cleanup will be enacted. Also, it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required. Thus, a provision is recognized for the best estimate of the costs of the cleanup. (2) Under US GAAP: In the context of environmental remediation liabilities, it is probable that a liability has been incurred if an assessment related to a environment law has been asserted on or before the financial statements are issued and it is probable that the outcome will be unfavorable (FASB ASC 410-30-25-4). It is virtually certain that the draft law that requires cleanup will be enacted shortly after the year-end. Thus, a liability/contingency is recognized for the reasonably estimate the cleanup costs. Scenario 2 (1) Under IFRSs: The land contamination gives rise to a constructive obligation because the conduct of the entity has created a valid expectation in other parties that the entity will clean up the contamination (IAS 37.17). Also, it is probable that payments are required. Thus, a provision is recognized for the best estimate of the cleanup costs. (2) Under US GAAP: An environmental remediation liability should be recognized if an entity is a potentially responsible party to clean up the contamination and the entity has a record to determine that it is associated with the site (ASC 410-30-25-15). Thus, a liability/contingency is recognized for the best estimate of the cleanup costs. Scenario 3 (1) Under IFRSs: Under IAS 37.81, a restructuring provision does not include retraining or relocating staff costs because these expenditures relate to the future conduct of the business and are not liabilities for restructuring at the end of the reporting period. No retraining staff cost has taken place