Success at Last free essay sample

It always looked so easy when my dad did it. He cutsmoothly, his shoulder leaning so close to the water that his body lookedparallel to the cool glass. I had been itching to be free of my yellow trainingskis and ski on my own. I wanted to learn to fly over the water just like my dad,but water skiing isnt as easy as it looks. I had been trying for almost a month.First I tried two skis, but my seven-year-old stick legs werent strong enough tocontrol them, so Dad suggested simplifying things by using one ski. Simplify?Slalom ski? My first attempts at slalom skiing were disasters, but Irefused to give up. When we took a family trip to a lake, I couldnt wait to tryagain. After eating a big lunch on the deck overlooking the water, we went outfor a ski. I was the last to go. We will write a custom essay sample on Success at Last or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I reluctantly slipped into the foreboding water;this lake was a lot bigger and rougher than the one back home. The frothy waterswirled around me and I was terrified. How can I get up in this mess of whitecapswhen I cant even get up in my calm little lake? I wondered. I crouched in thewater, pulled my legs to my chest and waited. After four attempts Iaccepted defeat but only for that outing. I was determined not to giveup. The next morning my dads friend suggested another way of getting meup, and I said, Sure! I would try anything to get the chance to ski.He had me sit on the lower portion of the dock, skis in the water and rope inhand as he pulled the boat away. As I sat, I thought about falling like an anchorinto the dark water and getting splinters in my butt. Ready? he asked. Yeah! I replied, shakily. Iheard the boat roar and my teeth clenched. I felt the rope gently tug my arms andsuddenly the cool air was tingling my legs and the water was splitting to let methrough. I was doing it! Success at last! I couldnt wait to get home and showoff my new skill to my friends. It took seemingly endless gallons of waterup my nose and aching, heavy arms, but now I can fly across the water almost aswell as my dad. I gained this confidence through persistence and courage -qualities I plan to apply to my life once I reach the big lake of college andeven the ocean of real life.

Explanations For Crime.

Explanations For Crime. Free Online Research Papers There are several different explanations for crime and the reasons or motifs behind the actions of a criminal. However, in determining which school of thought; classicism, biological/psychological positivism and sociological positivism, provides the best explanation to crime, the above theories must be considered. In order to commit a crime, one must break a law set by a given government (Kohn, 2006). The classical theory or classicism emphasises the notion of individual rights, the importance of free will and the rule of law (White and Haines, 1996). It also suggests humans are essentially self-seeking and self interested, and hence will make their decisions simply by choice. Criminologists such as Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham were contributors to the classical theory (Maguire, Morgan, Reiner, 1997). The biological theories are loosely based on the scientific study of criminals and criminal behavior. The most prominent and influential biological criminologist was Cesare Lombrosso who argued that criminals are essentially born, not made. He based his concept heavily on the theories of evolution as he attempted to distinguish different types of individuals on the basis of racial and biological differences (Maguire, Morgan, Reiner, 1997). Closely linked with this theory is that of psychological positivism. Psychological positivism directs its argument to the mind of the crimin al and thus we encounter the notion of the ‘criminal mind’ (Burke, 2001). Within this theory there are three broad categories of psychological theories of crime. The first two categories are concerned with psychodynamic and behavioral learning theories, the third associated with cognitive learning theories. The likes of Sigmund Freud, Ivan P Pavlov, B.F. Skinner, Edward Tolman and Jean Piaget were all influential and prominent psychological criminologists of their time (Burke, 2001). The last theory, sociological positivism is arguably the most logical theory of the four, recognizing the social factors external to the human being, placing constraints on the given person’s choice of action. Circumstance and social pressure is taken into consideration when examining crime rather than placing reason on other factors such as biological/psychological positivism (Gibbons 1979). Prominent sociological criminologists include the work Emile Durkheim. This essay will discu ss the above criminological theories and determine which theory provides the best explanation to crime. The school of classicism or classical theory was introduced in the eighteenth century providing the first naturalistic explanation of crime (Moyer, 2001). The cruel punishments in medieval Europe were superseded by the newly implemented classical theory, which was heavily influenced by the eighteenth-century intellectual movement (Gibbons, 1979). The classical theory was the dominant perspective for around a century however; later fell into disrepute, particularly due to the new wave of American criminologists and positivism. Classical theory is however, still highly regarded, as it represented a remarkable humanitarian reform and provided fundamental rationale for many criminal codes of the western world (Gottfredson and Hirschi, 1990). The Criminologist Cesare Beccaria is seen today as the father of classical criminology. Beccaria’s career began when he joined with two friends to form a club in which discussed topics of literary and social interest. Beccaria published a crit ical essay on administrative law, known as Dei deliti e delle pene (On Crimes and Punishments). It became an immediate success, however Beccaria initially remained anonymous, as the cost of criticizing the church and state could be harsh and brutal (Gottfredson and Hirschi, 1990). His essay put forward the central principals of the classical school of criminology, which were â€Å"practically all of the important reforms in the administration of criminal justice† (Beccaria, 1767). Another well-known contributor to the theory of classicism was Jeremy Bentham, who was seen as a modern version of Beccaria (White, Haines, 1996). Bentham argued than humans are rational beings and thus implied that as humans, we all have free will. He believed that lawmaking should aim to achieve happiness for the majority of people under his idea of ‘utilitarianism’ (Moyer, 2001). The classical school represents the emergence of modern criminological thinking, dismissing earlier theor ies that crime was a supernatural phenomenon (Moyer, 2001). Classicism provides somewhat of a clear explanation to crime however, other factors should be considered when examining crime rather than simply individualistic actions, as sometimes we make choice because we have to- not because we want to. Classicism was soon out shadowed by the emergence of positivism, as science was introduced to the criminological explanations of crime. Biological positivism is based on the scientific understanding of crime and criminality and how factors and forces beyond the immediate control of the individual shape it. It assumes a biological distinction between the ‘normal’ and the ‘deviant’ (White and Haines, 1996). Cesare Lombroso who is generally acknowledged as the founder of positive criminology first popularized it, as he claimed that criminal and deviant individuals are the way they are due to their biological composition (Burke, 2001). Lombroso adopting a social Darwinian perspective, suggested that humans can be grouped at various levels of development (Moyer, 2001). He contended that certain characteristics were indicators of an atavistic person. An atavistic person is said to possess physical, psychic, or functional qualities of remote and more primitive ance stors (Moyer, 2001). He classified these individuals as ‘born criminals’ and hence came up with the theory; ‘the criminal is born, not made’ (white, Haines, 1996). Lombroso then divided criminals into four broad categories. The first category, born criminals, was distinguished by their physical atavistic characteristics (Burke, 2001). The second and third categories included insane criminals as well as criminals or criminaloids. This included those who commit crimes in response to available opportunities. However, these categories also encompass traits that predispose them to criminal behavior (Burke, 2001). The final category, criminals of passion, is based on the premise that crime is motivated by anger, love or honor. Many criminologists today however, consider Lombroso’s approach to crime to be simplistic and naà ¯ve. This theory became unpalatable for many in the context of the mid-twentieth century instances of mass systematic extermination of certain groups based on, for example, ethnicity, sexuality or their health (Burke, 2001). Subsequently biological positivism does not provide a plausible or logical explanation of crime. Linked closely to biological positivism is psychological positivism. Psychological positivism is based on the understanding that the mind is responsible for acts of crime and criminality and thus we encounter the notion of the ‘criminal mind’ (Burke, 2001). However, as mentioned, there are three broad categories of psychological theories of crime. The first category: the psychodynamic theory; was popularized by the extremely influential work of Sigmund Freud. His assertion that â€Å"sexuality is present from birth and has a subsequent course of development is the fundamental basis of psychoanalysis† and one that has provoked much controversy (Burke, 2001). Freud proposed that personality is comprised of three separate components. The first section is the id, which are the primitive biological drives that underlie behavior (Maguire, Morgan, Reiner, 1997). The id is the â€Å"unconscious aspect of personality that leads the individual to seek self-gratificationâ⠂¬  (Brown, Esbensne, Geis, 1991). Secondly, the superego or ‘the conscious’, which operates in the unconscious, yet consists of values that are internalized through one’s early interactions, usually with their parents. The superego represents the moral and ethical standards of society (Gottfredson and Hirschi, 1990). The third is the ego or the conscious personality. The ego is the mediating force that arbitrates between the pulls of the id and the superego. The ‘normal’ person was said to comprise these three components representing a â€Å"balanced conflict† (Burke, 2001). The second category: behavioral learning theories; originate from the works of criminologists Ivan. P. Pavlov and B.F. Skinner. Pavlov famously studied the process involved in simple, automatic animal behaviors, in particular salivation in the presence of food (Burke, 2001). Pavlov carried out a series of tests and found that responses that occur spontaneously to the nat ural (or unconditioned) stimulus, could be made to happen (conditioned) to a stimulus that was previously neutral. He focused on the process of turning on a light just before feeding the animal. Eventually the animal would salivate when the light comes on regardless of food being there or not. This process is called extinction (Gottfredson and Hirschi, 1990). While Pavlov’s work concerned automatic behaviors occurring in response to stimuli, B.F Skinner extended the same principal to active learning. This involved the animal having to do something in order to obtain a reward or avoid a punishment (Burke, 2001). They found that learned behaviors are far more resistant to extinction if the reinforcement has only been used occasionally throughout learning (Burke, 2001). This theory makes sense, for example, if you put money into a ticket machine but don’t receive a ticket, you simply stop using the machine, whereas many people put money into gaming machines despite their slight chance of obtaining a prize (Burke, 2001). The third category: cognitive learning theory; has it’s foundations in a fundamental critique of the predestined actor model. Edward Tolman and Jean Piaget proposed, â€Å"by observing the responses that individuals make to different stimulus conditions, it is possible to draw inferences about the nature of the internal cognitive processes that produce those responses† (Brown, Esbensne, Geis, 1991). These psychologists emphasized the importance of the organizational process in perception, problem-solving and learning. From this they proposed that individuals were predisposed to organize information in particular ways (Maguire, Morgan, Reiner, 1997). However in recent years it has been acknowledged that criminals have some degree of choice. They can choose to imitate the behaviors of others or choose not to. There also may be a number of variable factors to influence this choice and hence, it can be concluded that crime is not inevitably destiny. Consequently, psychological positivism does not provide an adequate explanation of crime (Burke, 2001). The Sociological school has been extremely influential and is considered by many prominent criminologists today as the most logical, common sense, and, if partial explanation of crime and criminal behavior (Kohn, 2004). The sociological school essentially rejects the above individualist explanations of crime. It recognizes that crime is a socially constructed occurrence, however â€Å"acknowledges the threat it places on the continuance of the given society and thus needs to be controlled† (Freund, 1969). Emile Durkheim was known as the founding father of academic sociology in France and consequently extremely influential with sociological theories. Durkheim presented two central arguments to explain the growth of crime and criminal behavior (Burke, 2001). Firstly, he suggested that such societies encourage a state of unbridled ‘egoism’ that is different to â€Å"the maintenance of social solidarity and conformity to the law† (Burke, 2001). This describes p re-industrial types of society where individuals encompass similar or the same skills, beliefs, customs, religion or even work tasks (White, Haines, 1996). From this, certain patterns or trends could be acknowledged and noted. For example, Durkheim’s famous study of suicide demonstrated empirically that suicide rates vary depending whether or not the country is predominantly Catholic or Protestant. The point he made was that suicide could not be explained based on individualist actions or psychological factors, as it is a ‘social’ phenomenon (White, Haines, 1996). The second claim suggested the likelihood of inefficient regulation is greater at a time of rapid modernization. This is because new forms of control have not evolved sufficiently to replace the older, and now less appropriate, means of maintaining solidarity (Burke, 2001). However, Durkheim’s predecessor, Auguste Comte, is responsible for much of the work interpreted as his own. The two shared very similar views, however, the essential difference between the two was their differing views on human nature. Comte believed the human being has a natural and inherent desire to reach perfection whereas Durkheim rejects this view and proposes a ‘dualistic’ view of human nature. He proposed a duality between the needs of the body and the soul (White, Haines, 1996). The sociological school highlights aspects of offending which were clearly absent from psychological and classical theories. It acknowledges that the relationship between lack of opportunity, alienation and criminal behavior is more important in the current economic climate, as youth unemployment is high and the inequalities and divisions between the rich and the poor are continuing to grow (White, Haines, 1996). Rather than simply placing the entire burden on the criminal or their individualistic actions, the sociological school considers other factors, providing a coherent and logical explanation of crim e. The four schools of thought all provide differing explanations to crime. Classicism is based on the premise of free will and places entire responsibility on the criminal. Biological positivism differs in the sense that it places the responsibility on forces beyond control of the criminal and hence, suggests that the criminal is born, not made. Similarly psychological positivism puts emphasis on the mind as their explanation of crime as we encounter the ‘criminal mind’. However, the sociological school rejects individualist explanations of crime and considers social factors surrounding the criminal providing the most common sense explanation of crime. After examining the above theories it can be concluded that classicism, biological and psychological positivism are all heavily flawed to varying degrees and it is very difficult to establish any consistency within them. The sociological school or sociological positivism is minimally flawed and consequently provides a cohere nt, realistic, logical and the best explanation of crime. Reference List Beccaria, C. (1767) An essay on Crimes and Punishments, J. Almon, London Brown. S.E, F. Esbensne, G Geis, ‘Criminology- Explaining crime and its context’, Anderson, Ohio1991 Burke. R.H, ‘An introduction to Criminal Theory’, Willan, UK 2001 Freund, S. (1969) The sociology of max weber, vintage books, NY Gibbons, D. (1979) The Criminological Enterprise: Theories and Perspectives, Prentice Hall, New Jersey Gottfredson. M.R and T Hirschi, ‘A general theory of crime’, Stanford, California 1990 Kohn. M, ‘a reason for everything’, Faber, London 2004 Maguire. M, R Morgan, R Reiner, ‘The Oxford Handbook of criminology’, Oxford, Oxford 1997 Moyer. I, ‘Criminological Theories’, Sage, California 2001 White. R and F Haines, ‘Crime and Criminology’, Oxford, London 1996 Research Papers on Explanations For Crime.Capital PunishmentThree Concepts of PsychodynamicThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andUnreasonable Searches and SeizuresGenetic EngineeringAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of Self

Humanitarian Emergencies and role of Public Health Professional Research Paper

Humanitarian Emergencies and role of Public Health Professional - Research Paper Example Public health concepts like preventing the affected people from disease, treating injuries and wounds to prevent further complications provide health education to the people at war or without peace, application of hygienic measures and observing the environmental hazards (Ciottone, 2006). In Darfur, it is vital for the Sudanese under distress to cope up with some vital public health requirements. These public health requirements include access to clean water, treatment of injuries, disease or any other mental or physical health conditions. Public health concepts focus on improving and maintaining safe standards of public health. The emphasis of public health intrusion is solely to improve the conditions of a region under attack both politically and health wise. It aims to achieve public health through educating the public on what to do in case of such emergencies, provision of life necessities like access to clean water, medicine, treatment, vaccination and circulation of condoms to protect and control the blowout of sexually transmitted diseases (Veenema, 2013). The application of these concepts in complex humanitarian infested zones helps to save the life of innocent kids, mothers and even the unborn children. This is only possible if the government and non-governmental organizations responsible for these responses are fully equipped. Public health professionals in international health provide learners with knowledge and skills necessary to participate effectively in the exercising of international health, both in their own land and at the international based health organizations. Demonstrating skills and mastering in the program and proper management, can be designed and implemented by health programs for the purposes of curbing their budget whether small, middle-income or independent country setting. Applying a multidisciplinary tactic to examine the health structures and institutions encompassed in financing and provision, brings a

Human resource Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Human resource - Essay Example Talent management helps in the integration of different initiatives of the company (Ashton and Morton, 2005). Figure 1: Talent Management System (Source: Ashton and Morton, 2005) Some of the important components of talent management system are as follows: Need- The business need derived from the business model. Data Collection: The fundamental data needed for good talent acquisitions. Planning: Talent and people planning guided by data analysis critical for good talent decisions. Activities: The conversion of plans into integrated set of activities. Results: The cost, measures and effectiveness criteria to judge the value and impact of Talent Management (Ashton and Morton, 2005). Talent management includes organizational assessment and employee assessment focusing on important positions to be filled (Ashton and Morton, 2005).The assessment of the talent management methods include interviews and psychometric testing which are aligned to the company’s competency model. ... Recruitment and selection are a integral part of the talent management activity as the right candidate for the right position not only helps in improving the effectiveness of the companies but also helps in the reduction of administrative costs. Absenteeism of the workers and employees has become a huge concern for many organizations hence the management of the company should deal with problem effectively to reduce the operational cost. Recruitment and Selection The efficiency and quality of an organization depends upon the human resource of an organization. Hiring and selecting the right candidate for the right position becomes essential. Recruitment and selection form the process of hiring the employees. Recruitment is a strategic function of the human resource department. It is the systematic process of generating a pool of qualified candidates for the organizational post. The process of hiring the candidates starts with human resource planning which helps to determine the type an d number of employees an organization needs. Hiring is an ongoing process and not confined to the formative stages of an organization. This is because some employees leave the organization through retirement and resignation. The process stops only when the organization ceases to exist. Recruitment The process of attracting individuals on a timely basis, in sufficient numbers and with appropriate qualifications, to apply for jobs with an organization (Gusdorf, 2008, p.01). The sources of recruitment are as follows: (Source: Author’s creation) Internal Sources a) Job Posting: The traditional method to announce a job vacancy was to post notice on the HR bulletin board but presently the job notice is

Module 1 Discussion Questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Module 1 Discussion Questions - Assignment Example The membership fees are payable on a calendar year basis. Corresponding and observing members are not levied any fees. The membership for AMIA has been categorized as regular, student, trial, retired, corporate, and affiliates memberships. The membership fee for each category is $300, $40, $150, $75, and $450 per annum respectively. Each of these categories attracts unique benefits. For American Medical Informatics Association (IMIA), membership for half-day members is $935 per annum. Likewise, pre-symposium members have to pay 1,035 members and student members, $1,085, annually. For the Nursing Informatics Working Groups (NIWG), each membership category has a specific membership fee. For instance, publishing members pay $2,000 so as to make their articles available on NIWG website. The International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) website offers a wide range of medical information, information about itself and its affiliates, its publications, and information on upcoming or latest developments. The website has also a portal designed to help members login to their accounts or for newcomers to open new accounts (IMIA, 2012) The American Medical Informatics Association’s website, on the other hand, contains information that relates to government affairs, healthcare industrial development, and general news items that are pertinent to AMIA. Healthcare educational programs and career information are other resources one can find on the website (AMIA, 2012). The Nursing Informatics Working Groups (NIWG) has information about itself, given that it is an organization that seeks to integrate nursing, information and knowledge on nursing and management information for the promotion of global and public health. Publications, summits, career guidance, nursing educational facilities and centers are some of the pieves of information that one finds on NIWG website (AMIA-NIWG, 2009). Both IMIA and NIWG offer great discounts to their members. For instance, while

Literature Review On Green Logistics

Literature Review On Green Logistics The United States consumes 20.8 million barrels of oil everyday which leads the world; China is a distance second with 7.5 million barrels per day (Oil consumption, retrieved 8 Apr 2011). The number one transportation fuel used in the United States is gasoline and that fuel is used to keep our approximately 250 million vehicles running. Today there are about 250 million vehicles on the roads that use gasoline with the average miles driven at about 12 thousand per year (Gasoline explained, retrieved 8 Apr 2011). It doesnt take a rocket scientist to understand how dependent Americans are on their vehicles and that we will only change our habits if given an affordable choice. The auto maker that provides the cheapest and most reliable options to go green is the one who will reap the benefits of profit. Even though many loyal consumers may continue to purchasing GM vehicles regardless of fuel prices, GM must change its current business model by going green to stay competitive because fuel prices are on the rise and competitors are passing them up by providing more fuel efficient options. There are many challenges facing todays automakers. A dilemma has developed in the auto industry as it pertains to profit and or moral responsibility. Auto production is not as profitable as before because of a flood of choices in vehicles. The auto industry makes money by mass producing a style of vehicle the consumer is asking for. On top of all that the government continues to introduce strict environmental regulation that auto makers must conform to. A perfect storm has developed between the auto makers and environmental responsibility in an effort to meet the challenges of producing a sustainable and profitable industry for the future (Nieuwenhuis, P., Wells, P., and retrieved 8 Apr 2011) The transition to a new business model has not come easily. In 2008 the General Motors Corporation sat on the edge of going into bankruptcy needing the United States government to bail it out with a $13.4 billion loan. President Bush expressed his concern fearing that liquidating the company would cause even more economic hardship in America (Hinton, C., 2008). In mid-2009 GM finally declared bankruptcy even after the $13.4 billion dollar loan given by the government a year before. The bankruptcy would only negatively affect a portion of the organization that would later be called the bad GM that included the undesirable parts of GM like older factories, unpopular brands, and healthcare and pension liabilities. The Good GM that included the more desirable modern factories and popular auto brands would be spared in the downsizing and reemerged in the new GM in July 2009 (McCracken, J., 2009). Most realize that supply and demand is the backbone of any for profit organization. In the case of GM or any other supplier, production is driven by the customer or consumer. If the customer wants hybrids-electric vehicles the auto manufacturer will supply them if they dont there will not be any regardless of any perceived moral responsibility of the auto maker. With that understanding the need to look into GM further to find the trigger events is necessary. Remember trigger events are the things that cause an organization to change (Spector, 2010, p.18). With General Motors some of the triggers came in the form of the commodities needed to produce the vehicles. With the increased costs of materials needed to produce vehicles like steel and aluminum GMs profit margins were reduced. The expensive material needed to produce vehicles cannot easily be replaced with a cheaper material so the auto maker is stuck. One interesting perceived trigger for change by GM is oil prices. Keep in min d that oil prices may not be a trigger in the view of GM but is a trigger in the view of the government (who now holds a large part of GMs stock) based on the U.S. oil consumption each year. So in GMs case oil prices are a direct change trigger. The fact is that oil prices affect the day-to-day cost that the consumer pays out more than it affects the auto maker who can absorb the year-to-year cost of rising oil prices. Besides the issue with production cost GM experienced a lot external change triggers through the pressure from the government and the media. With recent attention on the environment and the high cost of fuel GM just as all the other auto manufacturers are now answering the call from customers for less polluting more fuel efficient vehicles. Because GM was known for its large gas guzzling SUVs, luxury cars while other auto manufacturers like Toyota, Honda and Volkswagen were already making fuel efficient vehicles high gas prices became a change trigger for GM. Not only did GM need to make a business model change based on these triggers but they would need to do so in a catch-up mode because the before mentioned organizations already had began developing the technology needed for the change (GM Corporation, 2008). Even though some consumers may continue purchasing GM vehicles regardless of fuel prices, GM must change its current business model by going green just to stay competitive because public opinion, pressure from the government and rising fuel costs. The most important reason GM must change its current business model by going green is because their competitors will pass them by and steal their customer base if they dont. As a result of public pressure and the politics of the auto industry GM is simultaneously making progress and history. This year General Motors produced the first production version of a hybrid vehicle called the Chevy Volt. The sale will serve as a test in America to see if consumers will be willing to spend their hard earned money in the name of helping the environment. The event will also serve to test which of two marketing concepts Americans prefer, one is the before mentioned hybrid vehicle with batteries that can be plugged in at your home and recharged and two the series hybrid production car. The Volt is the first to pop through the hybrid-electric market but BMW is ready to release their version hybrid- electric concept. Later this year BMW plans to release the Fisker Karma, a luxury sports sedan (Voelc ker, J., 2011). There are many different approaches to change and just as many opinions of which change model or redesign to use. The answer to which way to go is dependent on the end goals of the organization. General Motors desperately needed to rethink and turnaround their sinking business because they were running out of money and feeling pressure from sluggish sales. As mentioned the GM organization was in need of a change based on the need to stabilize and increase its profits. Part of what GM decided to do fits firmly into the definition of a turnaround which is when an organization doesnt look to change its current business practices to meet the expectations of the stakeholders or consumers but instead reevaluates its assets in an effort to cut the fat. When an organization implements turnaround they streamline and reprioritize the areas critical to increase profits. This was displayed in the actions of GM through their decision to close out dated factories, draw downs, reducing health insur ance, and pension benefits (Spector, 2010, p.15). In many cases turnaround alone is not enough to meet the organizational goals and in the case of GM they needed to look at changing in their organizational business plan. Based on rising oil prices and political pressure from the government and the public through the media the days of gas guzzling SUVs and luxury sedans may be in the past. General Motors now must look at reducing its vehicles dependence on gasoline and branch through organizational redesign into the hybrid-electric vehicle market. One of the triggers that have motivated General Motors to make a change was pressure from the United States government based on their agreement to bailout GM. In a statement on auto industry restructuring by the new CEO of General Motors Frederick Henderson the government has given GM 60-days to come up long-term viability of the company including restructuring of the financial obligations to the bond holders, unions, and other stakeholders. Henderson went on to say General Motors was one or two generations behind in the development of green technologies. He added that hybrids will be one direction GM will go in the new business model and that GM must move quickly to catch up with Toyota and Honda while at the same time advancing the development of their electrically-powered vehicles like the Chevy Volt (WSJ Staff, 2009). General Motors is currently working with over 30 utility companies in the U.S. to work through any issues dealing with the required electrical access in anticipation to its roll out of new electrical vehicles that will be ready in about two years. The partnership includes some big players in the field include Duke Energy, Southern California Edison and the Electrical Vehicle Institute. All the main players will figure out the details such as tax and tax incentives and the locations and times an electric car owner can plug in for a charge or recharging. General Motors engineers are working towards building an enduring infrastructure for green vehicles that will be used in the future. Britta Gross a GM engineer saysWe know that when the vehicle is in the showroom and ready for sale, its got to work seamlessly with the infrastructure. Its the whole picture. We got to make sure the infrastructure is ready. General Motors is getting in on the ground floor with its partnership with the utilities. The groups will develop policies, tax incentives on the expensive green vehicles. The idea is to design electric cars that will be low demand type usage vehicle traveling only abut 40 miles between charges. Other issues GM and their partners will need to work out is the speed in which a vehicle can recharge, voltage, and amperage (Krisher, T., 2009). This month General Motors will be the first of the big three American auto makers to roll out a new electric car known as the Volt. GM is committed to ensuring the Volt is marketed well because they understand how much America needs this type of vehicle. The worlds first mass produced production electrical vehicle will be released in Boston Mass. The Volt is a hybrid-electric vehicle with a gas engine that is only engaged after about 35 miles which is the current one charge battery life. After the 35 miles the electric engine will be replaced by the internal combustion engine. For those Americans who travel the 35 miles or less in their daily travels to work will get indefinite gas mileage. Just in time to charge/track the infinite mileage the Environmental Protection Agency has developed a way to measure the energy used by electric vehicles. The EPA figures the amount of electricity needed to charge the Volts rechargeable battery gives the Volt a fuel rating of about 93 miles per ga llon. The 93 miles per gallon is the highest rating of any vehicle in history for any US car manufacturer. As far as the looks of the Volt which is very important to the American consumer the vehicle looks just like a traditional gas powered vehicle until you open the hood. Under the hood are two electric motors, a four-cylinder gas engine and a huge T-shaped battery pack that runs the vehicle. In 2009 the U.S. government bailed out General Motors and in turn they have pinned their hopes on the Volts success. The Volt is GMs future as far as its advancement in green technology (Kronenberg, J., 2011). Now that General Motors has identified the need to change through the triggers discussed earlier and they then redesigned their business model as well as made some hard choices that fit under the turnaround concept that meet their current and future needs it now time to look at if the changes have been successful. In March 2004 President Obama invested billions of dollars to assist GM and to keep the organization from falling through. The U.S. government also guided GM through a uniqueness of a divided bankruptcy that kept the good GM and cut lose the parts of GM that were losing money. Its widely accepted that GMs bailout has developed into a great success. Just in recent weeks General Motors has announced its highest returns since 1999 a $4.7 billion profit, the first time thats happened since 2004. A year ago sales were 46% lower that present day sales. The expectations are that GM will continue to increase their Market share and their profit margines even in the face of rising fuel prices. In addition to the new growth/profits GM has begun paying back the billions of dollars it owes the U.S. government. The future looks bright as well with GM producing two more new vehicles but the star is the most electric Chevrolet Volt the plug-in-play hybrid car. GM has also advertised that they have m ore new vehicles and technologies on the way (Editorial, 2011). With any organizational change the requirement to reflect objectively to the changes is a must. The importance of revisiting the changes is to ensure the changes made have stuck and that the old habits havent resurfaced. Just because an organization has developed a great strategy that should be successful doesnt mean it will be successful. One way to look back in an effort to identify successes in a winning strategy is to answer a few well thought out questions. The first question should be; does the strategy fit the organizations situation? In the case of GM the change in their business model was designed partly by their external situation in that the U.S. government forced them into developing a strategy that would sustain the organization long term. The strategy also satisfied the internal needs of GM because they needed to reduce the bad GM that was keeping them from turning a profit. The bad side of GM was of course the old factories, unpopular brands and also costly healthcare and benefits. The change satisfied both GM their customers and the U.S. government. The second question is; has the strategy yielded a sustainable competitive advantage? This question is answered in the fact that GM new strategy is innovative in respect to the development of hybrid-electric vehicles and in producing the first production car that is a hybrid. The third question is; Has the strategy produced good financial performance? The answer to this last quest ion is a thundering yes. General Motors based solely on the organizational redesign and updated business model have produced a 46% market value increase compares to pre-strategy implementation (Gamble, J., Thompson, A., 2011). General Motors was by all accounts forced to change the way they conducted business. The economy and GMs stakeholders both applied their unique pressures that included significant a bailout by the U.S. government. If not for the pressures mentioned above who knows if GM would have ever changed their organizational practices. Supply and demand will always drive organizations to change. So you can see that even although consumers may continue to purchase General Motors vehicles regardless of fuel prices, GM must change its current business model by going green in an effort to stay competitive for two main reasons. First, fuel prices are on the rise. But more importantly, GM vehicle competitors like Honda and Toyota will pass them bye if they dont change.

Sir Isaac Newton Essays -- Biographies

Isaac Newton Isaac Newton was one of the greatest scientists of all time. He is best-known for his discovery of the law of universal gravitation and the laws of motion. Much of modern science is based on the understanding and use of his laws. Isaac Newton was born on Christmas Day, 1642, in the small English town of Woolsthorpe. His father, a farmer, died shortly before Isaac was born. When the boy was three years old, his mother remarried and moved to another town. Isaac stayed on at the farm in Woolsthorpe with his grandmother. After attending small country school, he was sent at the age of twelve to the Kings School in the near by town of Grantham. At first Isaac was a poor student. He cared little for school work, perferring to paint, make kites, write in notebooks, or invent toys. He made no friends. Silent and dreamy, he was at the bottom of his class. Oddly, it was a savage kick by a school bully that caused Newton's great mind to awaken. The mild, dreamy boy flew into a rage and beat the other boy thoroughly. Isaac determined to beat the bully in school work as well. Soon Isaac was at the head of his class. In 1656 Newton's stepfather died. His mother returned to Woolsthorpe to take care of the farm left by Newton's father. But she could not manage the farm by herself. Isaac was taken out of school and brought home to help her. As a farmer, Newton proved to be a dismal failure. He neglected the necessary chores and thought only of books to study and mechanical things to make. There are many stories about him at that time that show how absent minded he was becoming. One day while he was leading a horse, the animal slipped its bridle and ran away. ... ...ly called the Principia, after its Latin title. Many scientists think its the most important scientific book ever written. It contains Newton's famous three laws of motion. It also contained his law of universal gravitation. This law applies not only to heavenly bodies. It also explains why a baseball drops from your hand to the ground and why a particle of dust settles on a bookshelf. During later years Newton served his country in Parliament, as well as in other ways. In 1703 he was elected president of the Royal Society, and in 1705 he was knighted by Queen Anne. Isaac Newton died in 1727. He was burried in Westminster Abbey, among the great men of England. His statue stands today in the hall of Trinity College, Cambridge University. Bibliography: David C. knight. "isaac Newtons, Mastermind of modern Science" Groiler inc. Canada, 1969.

Macbeth- the Destruction of Power

Within William Shakespeare’s play, ‘Macbeth’, the destructive nature of power is immensely explored. The nature of power is obliquely and inevitably expressed through Macbeth’s ambitious drive for supremacy, the unknown and distraught notion of fate and free will, as well as a personal reaction towards the concept of power. Although, the majority of the play is based on the destructive nature of power, the moral nature of power is also portrayed, in spite of the evil. Macbeth was naturally an ambitious man, who constantly desired more.However, he was greatly influenced by his wife Lady Macbeth, for in the beginning Macbeth’s nature was â€Å"too full o[f] the milk of human kindness†. Lady Macbeth’s provocation encouraged the evil residing in Macbeth and his ambition only increased â€Å"I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other. † The weird sisters we re aware of his overpowering determination and were able to manipulate him into believing he had the potential to gain â€Å"absolute power†.Via these strong influences and his unfathomable ambition, Macbeth went to great extents to retrieve ultimate power, essentially transforming into a tyrant within the process. Macbeth’s level of free will is questionable, for it seems that despite the triggers of his ferocious actions, he was an exceptionally hubris man. The witches can be depicted as advocators for fate, rather than fate itself and with the support of manipulation, they were able to convert Macbeth into an ignorant autocrat. â€Å"Fair is foul and foul is Fair. Weird sister’s prophecies were not what they seemed. Although, Macbeth received various triggers that led to his destiny, it is likely that he would have received the same fate, had the witches not interfered. â€Å"I'll make assurance double sure, And take a bond of fate. † Macbeth attempts to control fate by murdering his possible threats to power. Macbeth was ambitious at heart and clearly a power driven man, whom takes pride in his masculinity and in essence already on the pathway to destruction.Macbeth was too focused on gaining his own power and control, to comprehend the issues arising against him. As Macbeth aspired to optimum power, he gradually began to dehumanise. â€Å"What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account? † Lady Macbeth questions whether the guilt and anxiety of murdering these loyal people was worth the power or lack of it. The weird sisters manipulated Macbeth into believing he was invincible, resulting in irrational acts of terrorism against the people of Scotland.Murder, betrayal, torture and cruelty were inflicted upon all of Macbeth’s followers on a regular basis, whom were forced to obey him. â€Å"I am in blood, stepped in so far, that, should I wade no more† Macbeth went too far, to withdraw and developed into a tyrannical leader for the simple reason he had the power to do so. What he chose to do with his power lead to his corruption, although, not all choose the wrong path. There are some individuals born to lead and gain power, with the intention of goodness and then there are others who do not retain the ability to effectively control their power.Duncan and Malcolm both emanate morality, with the aspiration to improve and support their country, Scotland. â€Å"But I must also feel it as a man,† Malcolm exclaims as he understands he must feel compassion In order to become a respectable leader. The destructive nature of power is explored in many aspects throughout the play, for each individual reacts differently. Macbeth was ambitious at heart and easily influenced to commit such brutality against his own people.However, Malcolm and Duncan were able to harness and control their power with intention of supporting their country to the best of their abilities. Mac beth’s fate seemed inevitable despite the weird sister’s interference, for he already retained the qualities of an ambitious tyrant. Macbeth ultimately desired power with fierce determination and eventually received it. Once he had acquired all power, he became ignorant and apparently ‘invincible’ ultimately resulting in his destruction.

Best Learning Resources For Self-Studying French

Best Learning Resources For Self-Studying French If you dont want to or cannot study French with a tutor,  in a class or in immersion, youll be going it alone. This is known as self-study. There are ways to make self-study effective, but its essential that you pick the right self-study  method for you. After all, you want to spend your time doing something that actually works. So spend some time analyzing whats out there, and dont just take the first self-study path that comes to your attention. Audio Training Is Essential If you want to communicate in French (and not only pass exams or read in French), learning with audio is a must. Theres a huge difference between book French and spoken French, and traditional methods will not prepare you for the way French people actually speak today. French Language  Books French-language books such as childrens books, bilingual books, and audiobooks are a great and relatively inexpensive way to improve your French, in conjunction with audio courses. With Amazon delivering to your doorstep, its easy to order French-language books these days. Hard-copy paper books are still the best way to train on a specific point of grammar  and to do exercises. For all the rest, youll need audio. Childrens Books Reading Le Petit Prince is, for more advanced students, a wonderful way to expand your vocabulary. It is a myth that all French-language childrens books are easy. They are not. Children books are easier than most French books written for the French because they use short sentences, but the language is some French childrens books can be quite difficult. Consider the language used in the Dr. Seuss books. They definitely would not be an easy read for a beginner in English. Bilingual Books Most bilingual-book  series  are taken from free-copyright books and translated into English. They were not typically books written for students. So they are still very difficult and will often feature older French vocabulary and expressions: Find out  when your book  was written, and take this into account when learning the vocabulary. French Audiobooks and Audio Magazines Both of these are a fantastic resource, even though most have been created for the French student. Much of what has been developed for the French is going to be difficult for a beginning or intermediate student of French, so difficult that they could be overwhelming and discouraging. There are, however,  audio magazines that can be used to good effect by beginning and intermediate students of  French. Among the better audio magazines are  Think French,  Bien Dire,  and  Fluent French Audio (although the latter is probably better suited to high-intermediate students). There are also level-adapted French audiobooks and audio novels  with English translations,  such as the Moi Paris series and Une Semaine Paris. French Audio Courses French audio courses are the ideal tool for the self-learner. A good audio course should teach you vocabulary and grammar, if possible in context, and, of course, pronunciation. It should be fun to use, direct you through a well-proven learning path  and nurture your self-confidence. Because they involve a lot of work, these courses are usually quite expensive, so look for a 100 percent money-back guarantee disclaimer, a trial period or extensive samples. Among the good French audio courses:  Michel Thomas,  Assimil,  and French Today. Rosetta Stone language books are a great, fun tool to develop your vocabulary, but they are very light on grammar. This may be fine for other languages, but it is a true problem for French. Do Your Research and Find Whats Best for You There are, of course, still more  methods to learn French. Do your research and find out what methods best fit your needs, goals, time and budget. You wont be sorry.

Free Essays on Nazi Art

Nazi Germany regulated and controlled the art produced between 1933 and 1945 to ensure they embodied the values they wished to indoctrinate into the German people. The notion of ‘volk’ (people) and ‘blut und boden’ (soil and blood) was championed in paintings to glorify an idealized rural Germany and instill a sense of ‘superiority’ in the Nordic physicality. Highly veristic and asthetisized works romanticized everyday subjects and reiterated redundant stereotyped Nazi ideals of the human body and its purposes in the Reich. Paintings of Adolf Hitler valorized and his image to heroic status, even to the extent of deification, elevating him to a god-like status. By promoting Hitler as superior to the average person, the artist made Hitler a mythological being who, if followed with unconditional religious piety, would lead the Germanic race to an ideal future. The architecture, or so-called ‘ideology in stone’, was also a vessel for po litical ideology. The monumental buildings served to construct a pseudo-history to authenticate the stable, strong and righteous nature of the ‘thousand year Reich’. Thus, art in the Third Reich was merely a form of propaganda that insidiously promoted the superiority of the Nordic race, the need for loyalty and obedience and the invulnerability of the German nation. Images of the Nordic peasant endorsed a return to a pre-industrial idyllic rural Germany. The oil painting ‘Kalenberg Farm Family’, by Adolf Wissel, depicts an intimate domestic situation of a family relaxing, presumably after a day of ‘working the land’, in a tranquil natural setting. It is an easily accessible work, that the Dadaist Duchamp would label ‘retinal art’, as it is an aesthetically motivated and stylistically anti-modernist piece. The rich warm colours are inviting, serving to emphasize the serenity and timelessness of the scene. The composition is extreme ly ordered, controlled, and dignified, there is... Free Essays on Nazi Art Free Essays on Nazi Art Nazi Germany regulated and controlled the art produced between 1933 and 1945 to ensure they embodied the values they wished to indoctrinate into the German people. The notion of ‘volk’ (people) and ‘blut und boden’ (soil and blood) was championed in paintings to glorify an idealized rural Germany and instill a sense of ‘superiority’ in the Nordic physicality. Highly veristic and asthetisized works romanticized everyday subjects and reiterated redundant stereotyped Nazi ideals of the human body and its purposes in the Reich. Paintings of Adolf Hitler valorized and his image to heroic status, even to the extent of deification, elevating him to a god-like status. By promoting Hitler as superior to the average person, the artist made Hitler a mythological being who, if followed with unconditional religious piety, would lead the Germanic race to an ideal future. The architecture, or so-called ‘ideology in stone’, was also a vessel for po litical ideology. The monumental buildings served to construct a pseudo-history to authenticate the stable, strong and righteous nature of the ‘thousand year Reich’. Thus, art in the Third Reich was merely a form of propaganda that insidiously promoted the superiority of the Nordic race, the need for loyalty and obedience and the invulnerability of the German nation. Images of the Nordic peasant endorsed a return to a pre-industrial idyllic rural Germany. The oil painting ‘Kalenberg Farm Family’, by Adolf Wissel, depicts an intimate domestic situation of a family relaxing, presumably after a day of ‘working the land’, in a tranquil natural setting. It is an easily accessible work, that the Dadaist Duchamp would label ‘retinal art’, as it is an aesthetically motivated and stylistically anti-modernist piece. The rich warm colours are inviting, serving to emphasize the serenity and timelessness of the scene. The composition is extreme ly ordered, controlled, and dignified, there is...

Buddhism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Buddhism - Essay Example From the holy book, chapters 16–20 are devoted to nirvana and the path to enlightenment (Buddharakkhita 6–23). According to the teachings, the events that a person is subjected to are an outcome of the thoughts he or she has formed. Hatred should not lead to hatred, for it never causes hatred to cease but only by love. It is important to control one’s senses, and not only seek controlled pleasures or be immoderate in one’s food since such behavior will only cause Mara the Tempter to overthrow such person. Whether one is a monk or a householder, it is important to remove evil and sinful thoughts. Ethics seems to be a strong point in the teachings and drive home the benefits of good and sinless living, as compared to sinful living where one only has evil thoughts. The evil doer always thinks of the evil he has done, and these thoughts continue to haunt him even in his sleep, and deprive him of the simple pleasures in life since he is always thinking about ev il, retribution, and the acts that others would take on him. A person who is free from such thoughts would be free from evil intentions and subsequently be free from hatred, desire, and evil (Buddharakkhita 30–63). According to Lord Buddha, a wise man does not pass arbitrary judgements but reaches them after deep thought. To be called an elder and not just a vain old man, one must show truthfulness, restraint, self-mastery, virtue, and inoffensive behaviour, and should be free from defilements (Buddharakkhita 64–65). Lord Buddha also says that a person must be watchful in using his speech, control his mind and not commit evil. Lust, affection, and desire are bondages that tie a man to sin and wrongdoing, so they must be cut off. The evil embodiments are defined by craving, or the mother, self-conceit that is the father of evil desire, eternalism and nihilism that are the two warrior kings, and sense organs and objects that are the country. Once these evils are destroye d, the person is ready to be on the road to salvation. Disciples of Gotama are those who happy and non-violent, who practice mindfulness of the body, who have the qualities of the sangha, dhamma and Buddha, and those who constantly meditate (Buddharakkhita 66–75). A wise man must come to realize that by renouncing a lesser happiness, one can achieve a greater happiness. One should avoid being entangled by bonds of hate since cancers of the mind only increase for people who are arrogant and heedless. It is important that one always be on guard since opportunity can slip by, and it is better to walk alone if the company that one finds is not made of virtuous people. The current of craving flows everywhere and includes sensual pleasure, annihilation, and continued existence. It is essential that one free himself from these cravings (Buddharakkhita 78–87). How Do Moral Expectations of a Buddhist Monk Differ from the Morality of a Lay Buddhist? The Buddhist monk is one who has given up all worldly pleasures and seeks nirvana, or the path of salvation. The laity, or the lay Buddhist, is one who still has a family and looks after his household. While the rules for the monk are strict and need stringent self-restraint, those for the laity are more of behavioral nature. Differences are given as below. A monk must practice restraint and show extreme control in his actions and attitude. Accordingly, the monk should restrain oneself in the eye,

Human Resource Strategy in Multi-Unit Service Organisations Outline

Human Resource Strategy in Multi-Unit Service Organisations - Outline Example Then elaborate upon the roles and responsibilities of the multi-unit manager, initially in a general form and then specific to the Carabao Thai Restaurant. Obtain answers to the questions and then include the responses and their discussion. Once that is done, derive your conclusions and summarize all the findings in the concluding paragraph) Introduction: Nowadays, the hotel industry is experiencing a significant growth with a large number of hotels under construction. It is in the emerging industry stage of the life cycle as international and domestic travel continues to increase. There is immense competition as there are hundreds of hotel chains and top firms in this industry make up 20% of the entire industry (tourism-review, 2007) With the industry’s increasing growth rate, it is important to find employees, especially young workers who are very innovative and creative and come up with novel ideas of hotel management. The industry nowadays is facing a shrinking channel of workers hence; it is increasing its recruitment efforts and coming up with targeted strategies that help them make the recruitment process more effective (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2006-07 Career Guide to Industries). Roles and responsibilities of a Multi-unit Manager: The role of a multi-unit manager in an organization is very important as there is a range of tasks that have to be catered to. A multi-unit manager is an interface between corporate strategic management and the operational units where the services are being performed. This manager is responsible for unit managers across brand or district but is rarely present at the place of operation (Jones, 1999). Coordination and collaboration is difficult because multi-unit managers may well be located far from their peers and superiors. A research by Goss-Turner and Jones concludes that here are four key aspects of multi-unit management level: job scope, organizational congruence, geographic density and unit conformity. (J ones G.-T. a., 2000). These are the general questions to be asked to the Multi-unit Manager: Tell me about your background and how did you start the restaurant? Was there any motivational factor behind the launch your business? How did you recognize the market need? What were the factors contributing to it? Were you able to persuade someone to see things your way? Describe a time you were required to deliver difficult feedback to a person or peer under your leadership? Was there any time you had to drive business results without a clear goal in your mind? Describe a difficult colleague you had to work with? (Glassdoor.com, 2009) How do you resolve work place conflicts? How do you deal with bad coworkers and subordinates? (Heathfield, 2011) How important is providing the appropriate training to the staff in a multi-unit organization like yours? How many operational units do you currently control? As a multi-unit manager, how extensively do you have to travel? What do you think are th e key success factors needed for successful operation in an organization? What are the major challenges you face as a multi-unit manager? What are the technical skills required to be a successful multi-unit manager? How crucial are human resource management (HRM) practices are to the achievement of profitability in hotels? Questions specific to Carabao Thai Restaurant and steak House: What is the core competency of your business? What are the goals and vision of the organization? Wha