The Patriot Act Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Patriot Act - Research Paper Example Provisions of the Act violate the Constitution and tear down the freedoms for which true patriots have fought and died. This discussion will review provide a brief history pertaining to the subject, analyze the debate surrounding the topic and consequences of the Act then offer a concluding statement. History The PATRIOT Act was enacted in response to the 9/11 attacks and as a tool against terrorist threats. The right wing has actively advocated subverting the rights contained in no less than five of the first ten amendments (the Bill of Rights) to, as they claim, ‘protect’ citizens from terrorism. The name itself, the PATRIOT Act is an acronym for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism. The label for this law was cleverly designed and packaged to enlist broad support from a nation that is generally vulnerable to patriotic propaganda but even more so at the time that it was so swiftly enacted. Citizen s and legislators were all too eager to submit to the rhetoric that suggested that sacrificing a certain amount of freedom was a small price to pay for security. Most Congressmen admit to not have reading the Act before voting to pass it but those voting in favor were overwhelming. Only one of 99 Senators (Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold) and 66 of 423 Representatives voted against the law. The PATRIOT Act, as many citizens and legal experts alike have argued, violates the fundamental rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution’s first ten amendments, the Bill of Rights (Savage, 2006). This includes the freedom of speech and assembly (First Amendment); the freedom from unreasonable search and seizure (Fourth Amendment); the right to due process of law (Fifth Amendment); the right to a speedy, public and fair trial along with the right to counsel and to confront the accuser, (Sixth Amendment), the freedom from cruel and unusual punishment (Eighth Amendment) and freedom from pun ishment without conviction (13th Amendment). In March of 2010 President Obama signed a one-year extension of three parts of the USA Patriot Act without any amendments, additions or new limitations on measures he said were essential to safeguard American civil liberties. â€Å"The provisions allow the government, with permission from a special court, to obtain roving wiretaps over multiple communication devices, seize suspects’ records without their knowledge, and conduct surveillance of a so-called ‘lone wolf,’ or someone deemed suspicious but without any known ties to an organized terrorist group.† i Analysis Libertarian organizations such as the Civil Liberties Union claim that the Bush administration had a proclivity for secrecy and rejected the concept of transparency. The PATRIOT Act has reproved its agenda for the â€Å"outright removal of checks and balances.† ii Conservatives are alarmed as well including former Republican Representative Bob Barr, who is best known for leading the attempt to impeach President Clinton. Barr had led a group named â€Å"Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances† which focused solely on challenging the renewal of the Patriot Act in 2004. iii This multifaceted PATRIOT Act modified numerous laws including the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, Right to Financial Privacy Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act and Immigration and Nationality Act among many others. iv According to the Justice Department, the PATRIOT Act gives support to and

Strategic Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Strategic Management - Assignment Example The core competencies of an organisation are focused on satisfying customer needs and demands to achieve more than average returns (Thompson, 2001). The Business-level strategies help the organisation to achieve its targets. The actions of Business level strategies provide value to customers and help the organisation to gain a competitive advantage (Kaplan and Norton, 2001). The Business-level strategies are also concerned with the position of the firm in an industry, with respect to competitors and to the five forces of competition (Hill, Jones and Schilling, 2014). A competitive advantage is a benefit which is gained over its rivals by a company by offering customers value for the products, through lower prices or by providing additional benefits and service that can justify similar or higher prices (Ansoff and McDonnell, 1990). Manufacturers or producers who are involved in niche marketing, exploring a competitive advantage, to them it means increased profit and a sustainable business and its success over the long term (Pearce and Robinson, 2000). The following categorisation defines competitive advantage better and discusses several strategies which help in building a competitive advantage of a company. Cost Leadership is a strategy by which the company makes continuous efforts to cut costs relative to its competitors (Goldman and Nieuwenhuizen, 2006). Here the company aims to compete for a wide range of customers based on price. Differentiation is a strategy by which a unique feature in the product provides value to the customers. It is created by lowering buyer’s cost, sustainability and raising buyer’s performance (Stevenson and Hojati, 2007). In Focused low cost strategy, the company selects a small segment of market to sell its products or services at a competitive price (Thompson, et al., 2008). In

Organizational Change Management Theory

Organizational Change Management Theory People and Organization Management in the Built Environment Organizational Change Management Theory Introduction- To understand change in an organization, it is important to study an organization and its culture. This is because, changing an organization is nothing but changing its culture which ultimately causes change in performance. An Organization can be defined as â€Å"social arrangement of consciously coordinated activities for achieving controlled performances in the pursuit of common goals†. (Price and Chahal, 2006, p. 238) Organizational culture can be defined as â€Å"characteristic, spirit and belief of an organization [†¦] generally held about how people should behave and treat each other in an organization [†¦] and attitudes to change.† (Price and Chahal, 2006, p. 238) Depending on the market requirements, an organization is setup according to- resource allocation, production capacity, technological requirement etc. This is why organizations have to constantly change to adapt to the ever-changing market while securing the organizations perspectives. Depending on the market situation, it can be a crisis change or chosen change. Organizational change can be developmental (doing better than current situation), transitional (implementation of new desired state) or transformational (evolutionary new state). (Price and Chahal, 2006) But whether it is intended or forced, the company needs to change in order to remain competent. Change management helps resist the effect that change in the market has on an organization, increasing the importance of change management over the years. (Cap Gemini Ernst Young, 2004) Changing an organizational culture affects the people involved in it in various ways like change in job profile, learning new techniques, job cut, etc. So, it becomes necessary to manage all the people involved, to successfully implement change while not disturbing the companys goal. This makes change management a complex process. Considering different orientations like planning, stake-holder management etc. change management can be defined as- A continuous aggregation of processes, instruments and techniques, to improve the efficiency of the organization in problem solving and target attainment, achieved by eliminating the causes of resistance to change, working in an organized and systematic way, from both company and employee perspectives. (Cap Gemini Ernst Young, 2004) Change process: Since the whole change process is very complex, let us consider a case-study to understand it better. We will analyze it using three models of change management, after which we will attempt to draw a strategic change management framework which can be used in any organization. Our case-study will also be critically analyzed against this framework. Case-study Aluminium Company of America (ALCOA) (1990) plant at Swansea is the company under review. (Price and Chahal, 2006) Senior managers of this company realized the need to review their plant culture and processes. They presented their case to the ALCOA board at Pittsburg, USA emphasizing on the companys present and desired state. The board was convinced about the need to change. Senior managers then established a taskforce to take the responsibility of the change program. It had 12 members ranging from employees, production managers, engineers, personnel, operators and craftsman. The task force drew the following Vision Statement- ‘To help establish ALCOA, Swansea, as a model company by developing a plant that contributes to the long-term prosperity and security of the company and its employees. (Price and Chahal, 2006, p. 245) In 1991, the taskforce drafted the internal document comprising of some important elements and strategies including vision, need to change, benefits, critical factors, resistance, etc. The ‘plan to overcome resistance was: â€Å"[] we must go forward and improve or cease to do business†. (Price and Chahal, 2006, p. 245) The taskforce reviewed and changed their manufacturing processes and procedures by benchmarking with other companies like ALCOA Tennessee, Cadburys etc. They observed no initial resistance while implementing new processes and procedures. But, later they noticed some symptoms like reduced productivity and they observed the reasons, as employee aspects like working practices, multi-tasking, pay, arising because of the old structure of organization having seniority and unionized systems. To overcome this, the workforce appointed a new team, which developed a system by analyzing the organizations present and desired state. They changed the working philosophy of the plant workforce and the basis for remuneration. They conducted a series of workshop trainings for the entire workforce. Though this entire process was difficult, they observed improved performance at the start of 2000. They were very close to their targets. The new reduced workforce was highly committed and motivated. But afte r all this success, ALCOA Swansea unexpectedly closed down in 2003. The senior management blamed overcapacity and slow market growth for failure. (Price and Chahal, 2006) Analysis: Although the senior management blamed overcapacity and slow market growth, it clearly indicates that they failed to analyze the market and adjust to it by aggressive marketing, necessary lay-offs etc. To understand the reasons for the failure, we will analyze the case-study using three models viz. The Leavitts Model (1965), Weisbords six-boxes (1976), McKinsey 7S Framework (1981-82). Leavitts Model: Leavitt focused on four variables in the organization, their interdependence and their influence on the change process. The variables considered are- * Task and subtasks- Those which are involved in achieving the target. * People- Who carry out the task. * Technology- Which is adapted to achieve the task. * Structure of the organization- In terms of authority, communication, workflow etc. Interlinking of the variables suggests that this is an interactive and continuous process. He did not take external factors into account. (Falletta, 2005) In our case-study, the first factor to vary was ‘Task. Change managers decided to change the companys plant culture and processes. Then they appointed a workforce, so the second variable changed was ‘People. Then ‘Technology and ‘Structure changed as a result of the changed plant processes and procedures that is change in the working philosophy and remuneration. But later on, an outbreak of resistance demanded a change in the human variable as well as the Structure. This resulted in the creation of a new highly motivated workforce. This increased the companys productivity and changed the sub-task, which was to win enough projects for the workforce to keep them motivated and achieve the ‘vision. But, the senior management was not a part of the task force and became an external factor leading to ignorance of vital marketing function. Considering the slow market growth, the change managers could have changed either ‘Technology or ‘People variabl e; that is they could have sold some machinery or reduced the workforce to achieve the desired productivity. Ignorance of all these resulted in failure of the change process and ultimately company closure. Weisbords six-boxes: Weisbord considered six broad categories as shown above. When compared with Leavitts model, there are three different factors considered- * Relationship- The way in which people interact with each other and with the technology. * Rewards- Given to workforce for performance. * Leadership- Common leadership tasks including the equilibrium between the other factors. External environment is also considered in this model unlike Levitts model. It also tells us about the importance of input and output in relation to the external and internal environments. It does not highlight much on interconnectivity of all the internal factors (Falletta, 2005). In our case study, Relationship between the team was maintained well, making it highly motivated. Relationship between people and technology was also maintained which was achieved through training. Provision for rewards was made by changing the basis for remuneration. But, the Leadership failed. This is because of the failure to analyze the balance between external and internal inputs and outputs like reduced market growth, less productivity and profitability. This may be the result of lack of co-ordination between senior and junior management and non inclusion of senior management in the task force. When the junior managers observed lesser productivity than expected, senior managers should have made an attempt to get more jobs by aggressive marketing or should have reduced the manpower. The ‘vision was partially achieved. Though they tried to achieve employee security by retaining them, the companys perspective of long term prosperity and security was not achieved and the proc ess failed. McKinsey 7S Framework: This model was drawn by the employees at McKinsey, who did corresponding research in business and industry. It considers seven variables which are- * Strategy- The plan in allocating resources to achieve the target. * Systems- Existing processes followed in the organization. * Staff-Different categories of personnel. * Skills- Different capabilities. * Style- How key managers behave to achieve the goal. * Shared value- The significant guiding concepts common among the organization. The interconnectivity between these is shown by the shape of the model. The author advises that the company cannot just change one or two variables to change the whole organization. In order to achieve long term benefit, variables should be changed to become more congruent as a system, suggesting that change is a continuous process. It does not consider external environment. The concept of the performance or effectiveness is not clear in the model. (Falletta, 2005) In our case-study, Shared values are the ‘vision statement as this is the common goal of all the employees. Skills were as per the requirement of the change process which was achieved through training. Production Systems were as per requirements, but Financial Systems needed more check on productivity and profitability. Staff and Style failed because of lack of coordination between senior and junior managers due to non-inclusion of the senior management in the task force, making them an external factor. As a result, they were unable to establish system to take care of shared values. Strategy failed as the company did not allocate more staff in marketing team, while production team needed lay-off. Hence, the vision was not achieved and company closed down. Strategic framework of Change management We will draw a six step strategic framework to help implement change in any organization. We will also analyze our case study using this framework. The main distinguishing characteristic of this framework is, that it considers the detailed role of all those involved in the change management process. 1. Preparing the organization This initiates the thought process. The first step is to study the organizations present state to determine its change capacity to have a realistic vision. Studying the organizations present routines gives an understanding of how the organization operates which guides about its performance in a specific routine. This will again strengthen the understanding of organizational operations and will guide about relevant performance. (Feldman, 2003, p. 729) Change managers then interact with different stakeholders to understand the need to change to achieve the right purpose and agree on the organizations desired state, considering internal and external drivers of change. This helps managers list out broad types of cultural and technological changes required. This is then conveyed to the entire workforce along with the benefits the company and employees would get through the change. This helps win their confidence and make them feel secured and involved. Care is taken not to convey informat ion about a specific group or individual to avoid the feeling of mistrust amongst the whole organization. (Price and Chahal, 2006) In our case study, this step was implemented effectively. Organizational analysis for present and future state was done perfectly and it was conveyed to people in such a way that everybody was convinced about the need to change. 2. Developing the process Vision is the guiding statement of the change process which relates the companys ultimate goal, making it the most important step of the change management process. The vision and objectives should be realistic and clear. (Cap Gemini Ernst Young, 2004) Change managers first decide three groups viz. implementation team, range of stakeholders and workforce. Feedback from step one is analyzed and used as the basis to find out different change strategies. All these strategies are then evaluated against certain questions which are * Does the option have a clear perspective and a systematic approach? * Does the option support organizational or personal goals? * Were all the working environments and source perspectives considered? (Price and Chahal, 2006) Different change strategies analyzed above are again brainstormed and evaluated within the group and a final strategic process is decided which can even be the combination of some of the options evaluated. Finally a working document is drafted. Different sections in the draft include- Background, Vision, Goal, Objectives, Design, Implementation plan, Timescales, etc. (Price and Chahal, 2006) Implementation plan should include important aspects like cultural development, employee mobilization, knowledge management, incentive systems, transformation map, and stakeholder management. It is observed that 10% to 30% of companies fail to plan for this. (Cap Gemini Ernst Young, 2004) Cost-benefit analysis is a very important aspect of change. Every change costs something which can be categorized as economic and psychological. Economic cost is related to expenditure incurred, while psychological cost is the strain caused when people try to adjust to the change. (Newstrom and Davis, 2000) So this cost-benefit analysis is required to determine the worthiness of change. Only 40% of the companies think that cost-benefit analysis is a must because all activities are investments that must pay off in the end. (Cap Gemini Ernst Young, 2004) In our case study, the vision statement was well written and the implementation plan was fairly drawn. But they failed to apply the Cost-benefit analysis at the right time and could not recognize that their resources were over assigned. Also, they failed to plan for the changing market situation, therefore could not adjust to the market growth. 3. Test support This is the phase before the final planning stage. Once the strategic process is decided, management ensures that the team is still enthusiastic about the plan. This is the last opportunity to review all the documentation and accommodate any last minute developments before the actual implementation. This stage confirms the decision about the strategic process. (Newstrom and Davis, 2000) In our case study, this step was either not taken or not mentioned in the article. But, it ultimately did not affect the process. 4. Communication Successful communication of vision and objectives at the right time, to the stakeholders and the people affected by the change is the key to success. In order to link strategic and operational change, it is necessary to communicate it ending on a warning. (Whipp and Pettigrew, 1992) Implementation team should identify the effect change has on the groups as well as on the individuals. While assigning new jobs, they should try to cooperate with the employees to the highest degree possible and make them feel involved. â€Å"When people think about what actions they are to take in an organizational routine, they are not confined to thinking about performances of the routine they are enacting but may think broadly about a wide variety of organizational performances†. (Feldman, 2003, p. 729) Change managers need to be proactive in reducing the amount of resistance by having the ‘plan to overcome resistance ready. (Price and Chahal, 2006) Personal communication, conflict management, leadership development and team building are the most important aspects of effective communication. Retention management is the most overlooked aspect observed in nearly 50% of the companies. (Cap Gemini Ernst Young, 2004) In our case study, communication with employees ended on a warning note as given in the plan to overcome resistance. Change was communicated successfully and the managers cooperated with the workforce resulting in successful restructuring of the organization; correcting all the defects. 5. Implementation This is a crucial phase of the process. Change managers follow the implementation plan and continue to do so till the end. If not done properly, there is a great risk of encountering resistance which can be recognized through symptoms like reduced productivity, gossips/rumors, etc. When recognized, its source needs to be identified and treated according to the ‘plan to overcome resistance drawn at step 4. (Price and Chahal, 2006) There are some common implementation barriers observed, such as- too many activities without prioritization, no sustained monitoring of activities (observed in more than 40% of the companies). Other barriers are- constant reorganizations of the company, inadequate support from line management, inadequate readiness to take responsibility etc. (Cap Gemini Ernst Young, 2004) In our case study, implementation of the plan was successful in the beginning. When they observed resistance, they took necessary action against it. But it was not followed till the end. The plan was to increase the productivity. When the market slowed down, necessary action should have been taken like workforce reduction or aggressive marketing to bring sufficient jobs for the highly motivated workforce. 6. Evaluation Change managers can evaluate the effectiveness of the process using Key Performance Indicators, at any stage of implementation. Generally, planning engineer or implementation team is not involved because of the obvious vested interests. Middle management can do it better, with unbiased views. This can be done with process inspections and audits. New processes can be reviewed and compared with the chosen process. After doing so, if any problem is identified, necessary adjustments need to be made to the process; this can be repeated several times. This continues and the process becomes a driver for the next change. (Price and Chahal, 2006) In our case study, this step was almost neglected by the change managers. They either failed to analyze the less productivity resulting from the slow market growth or failed to incorporate necessary changes in the process to achieve the vision. Conclusion: Change management is a very complex process because of the different factors involved in it. Though there is no globally accepted model, we can use different models in the same situation. Some models are easier to use, while others need more critical analysis according to the situation. It depends on the change manager to adapt a certain process. If all the steps are followed through, keeping the vision in mind, we can successfully implement change. Otherwise it can be as disastrous as company closure.

Impact of the Ratification of the 13th Amendment on Commerce Essay

Background Information on the Thirteenth Amendment: The 13th amendment to the United States’ constitution was introduced in order to free the slaves from slavery and make united states a free country by abolishing and prohibiting slavery. This amendment finalized the abolition of slave trade in the United States. The 13th amendment has its origin in the proposition made by Abraham Lincoln to his cabinet in relation to the freeing of all slaves in the rebellious states. It was proposed by the 38th congress of the United States and passed by the senate on 8th April 1864 before being adopted on the 6th of December in 1865 following the announcement of the secretary of state who declared it to have been adopted. President Lincoln made an emancipation proclamation which was aimed at outlawing slavery in the ten confederation states which resulted in the abolition of slavery in the confederate states. However slave trade continued on the Border States until the thirteenth amendment was formulated. This amendment ended slavery in all parts of the United States including the Border States. Section 1 of this amendment provides that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist within the United States except in conditions where the individual was being punished because of crimes committed. The ratification of this amendment was completed on 6th December 1865 following the approval by most of the states (Goluboff 1609). The ratification of the 13th amendment had a significant impact on commerce since slaves were the main source of labor in most industries, factories and agricultural plantations. After this ratification, slaves were released from plantations and factories which forced more white men to work in plantations and fa... ...y or other heavy equipments. There was a significant decline in exports in these states which was followed by the collapse of their currency and this made it difficult for these states to obtain credit (Engerman 208).Significant reduction in agricultural production across the state resulted in scarcity of agricultural commodities which in turn increased the prices of agricultural products as well as export surpluses. References Goluboff, R. (2001). The 13th amendment and the lost origins of civil rights. Duke Law Journal, 50 (228): 1609 Engerman, S.L. (1982). Economic adjustments to emancipation in the United States and British West Indies. The Journal of Interdisciplinary History, 13(2): 191 – 220 McGlynn, F., and Drescher, S. (1992). The meaning of freedom economics, politics and culture after slavery. Pittsburgh, Pa: University of Pittsburgh Press.

Effects of Music on the Growth of Mung Beans

CHAPTER V SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS This chapter presents the summary of finding the generalization of the conclusion and the recommendation for the further improvement of the study. I. Summary of Findings 1. Music affects the growth of Mung beans. As established in the experiment and based on the data gathered, music has a great effect on the growth of Mung beans. The varying degree of effect is dependent on the type or tempo of music to be played. 2.In general, music helps in the growth of plants. It hastens the growth of plants. As we conducted and observed our experiment, we noticed that classical music helps the Mung beans' growth. Plants exposed to rock music grew slower than those exposed to classical music; however, they grew faster than those exposed to no music. 3. The growth of the green variety of Mung beans is faster than those of the yellow variety in any of the environment they were subjected to.II. Conclusions 1. Music affects the growth of Mung beans as we observed the set-ups. The different aspects that we have observed where music was involved were the plant's height and the number of leaves produced. 2. Music helps the Mung beans' growth and does not hinder their development. 3. Music, more specifically the classic music, has effects on the growth of Mung beans especially on the growth of the green variety. III. Recommendations 1.As we have proven through the data gathered that music hastens the growth of plants, we recommend promoting the use of music in planting and other agricultural activities. This can be done through discussions in the different fora to bring to the awareness of the authorities and the agricultural sector the benefits of music in planting. 2. We recommend that in the utilization of music for plant growing, you should use classical music in order for you to grow your plants faster. 3. We recommend that further study be conducted to validate the findings of this paper.

Cultural Universals Between United States and China

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, the definition of culture is â€Å"the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group†. Every country has its specific culture and there are some obvious cultural universals between China and America. One example of such cultural universal is the directness of American versus the humbleness of the Chinese people. Another example would be the self independence of the young Americans versus the young Chinese who tend to depend on their parents.What I would like to cover are the holidays observed by United States and China, roles played in the family by husband and wife, parenting styles and conflict management. Holidays observed There are two similar holidays that are celebrated in both United States and China, New Year’s Day and Chinese New Year’s Day. In both countries, New Year’s Day is celebrated for the passing of the old year and the start of the New Year. Chines e New Year which is also called Spring Festival starts with the New Moon on the first day of the New Year and ends on the Full Moon 15 days later.It is celebrated in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household, and the family ancestors as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. During the Chinese New Year, Chinese people decorate the house with red couplets on the doors and they visit each other during this holiday. They will feast on traditional foods like New Year cake and dumplings. New Year’s Day in United States is celebrated on January 1st. It is celebrated with a resolution to get rid of bad habits and start a new one when the clock strikes 12am. Roles between husband and wifeIn United States, family is in a more nuclear and immediate interaction while family in China is larger due to its culture. The Chinese family involves uncles, aunts and other relatives. Most of the American household consist of the father, mother and the children in the sing le household, while the Chinese household is usually bigger and would consist of multiple generations under one roof. In the Chinese family, the roles of men and women are usually pretty much defined by the husband generating income for the family while the wife is responsible for running the household and taking care of the children.The father usually holds the dominant role and decision maker. According to quintessential website, it mentioned that the institution of family is the pinnacle of society. It also mentioned that the traditional Chinese family has a hierarchical order with the man as the head of the family. The father of the house is also responsible for housing and educating his children up until the time of their marriage. The American families advocate equality. The husband and the wife usually have an equality voice in decision-making, and on certain matters, family members are regarded as friend and they should treated equality in daily life.Parenting Style Yale law professor Amy Chua wrote a book named â€Å"Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother† and it talks about parenting styles between the Chinese verses the Western styles. She said that parents who set high standards tend to have kids who are more successful at school. It’s also clear that Chinese parents tend to spend more time pushing their kids to study, practice, and achieve. Her book created a huge controversial piece for the Wall Street Journal on â€Å"Why Chinese mothers are Superior â€Å". This article is about the response of Amy Chua to all the book readers that she believed took her parenting methods too serious.It explains how many Americans were shocked when they found out what she had done to her youngest daughter when it came to reciting her piano piece. It also touched on how Chua called her eldest daughter â€Å"garbage† at the dinner party they attended. She is explaining that she was just raising her children the same way her and her siblings were ra ised by her parents. She tells that her and her husband had many arguments and discussions on how to raise their children, and that he was not always against her.The Wall Street Journal article later conclude that Western parents try to respect their children's individuality, encouraging them to pursue their true passions, supporting their choices, and providing positive reinforcement and a nurturing environment. By contrast, the Chinese believe that the best way to protect their children is by preparing them for the future, letting them see what they're capable of, and arming them with skills, work habits and inner confidence that no one can ever take away. Conflict Management Chinese are more obliging and avoiding than Americans in managing conflicts.In managing conflict the Chinese are more concerned with maintaining interpersonal relationships. Just like any other situation, the rules for the polite way to handle problems are specific to a particular culture. An old Chinese sayi ng goes that â€Å"Do not talk too deep when you are not close enough with the other†, when one feels that their relationship with the other is not strong enough for conflict, he or she has should better express an opinion through someone else. If they disagree about something, they may have a direct communication for the sake of seeking a solution which is acceptable to both parties.In such a situation, Chinese always say that â€Å"we are all brothers, it is needless to argue†. In the process of negotiation, they may take various ways and ask others to â€Å"give me a face†. Quarrel makes both sides ugly; while agreements enable both to have their own shares. † In order to keep their harmonious relationship, they tend to concede and â€Å"give face† to each other. Therefore, both of them are able to walk away and compromise with other party. References * Chinese Culture Family Life. Country facts. Kwintessential. co. uk. Retrieved January 30th, 20 13. ttp://www. kwintessential. co. uk/articles/china/chinese-culture-family-life/article/China/Chinese-Culture-Family-Life/1781 * Why Chinese Mothers are Superior† The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 20 2013. http://online. wsj. com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754. html â€Å"Tiger Mom: Amy Chua Parenting Memoir Raises American Fears – TIME. † Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews – TIME. com. Web. February 10 2013. http://www. time. com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2043477,00. html

Robotspast and future essays

Robotspast and future essays Past: It was approximately 3,000 years ago when the first signs of a robot appeared. The Iliad mentions a "mobile tripod" and in the myth Jason and the Argonauts a giant sentinel by the name of Talos is talked about. These weren't real life robots, so when did the first robot appear. From what people think robots are today really is a far cry from the actual first robots. The abacus or bead-adding machine was the first computer and was used as far back as 1000 B.C.. Then there were Automatons which were scale models of creatures that moved. One of which used water to move it, it was called "Hercules Killing the Dragon. It was made about 300 B.C. by Hero. William Oughtred in 1621 invented the rectilinear and circular slide rules which were used up to when the pocket calculator was invented. Throughout the 19th century a lot of inventors started to pop up with robotic inventions. In 1801 Joseph Jacquard made an automated loom which was the first numerically controlled machine. During the 1880's railroads used automated signals that used electricity. And then in 1898 Nikola Tesla invented the Radio- controlled boat. Before the 1900's though nobody had ever used the word robot until it was dubbed by Fritz Lang in 1926 in the movie Metropolis. In 1940 Issac Asimov first used the robotics. The first programmable machine was built in 1938 by Pollard and Roseland and was used for painting. In the late 30's and early 40's the first electronic computers were produced by John Atanasoff. Then with Howard Aiken's electromagnetic calculator. These computers weren't mass produced until 1951 when Mauchy and Ecker's UNIVAC I was produced as a commercial computer. In 1956 George Devol designed what would become the first programmable computer and acquired a U.S. patent for it in'61. The father of robotics, who accompanied Devol was Joseph Engelerger, they ...

Cultural Tourism in Bangkok, Thailand Essay Example

Cultural Tourism in Bangkok, Thailand Essay Example Cultural Tourism in Bangkok, Thailand Paper Cultural Tourism in Bangkok, Thailand Paper Bangkok is one of the worlds major tourist destinations. Writers such as Warren (1999) reveal that Bangkok is also known as the City of Angels. Over a long period of time the attractions of this contemporary capital city of the Kingdom of Thailand have encouraged travellers to come to visit. People have been attracted to come to the Kingdom by the exotic beauty. In early times only businessmen and traders came to Bangkok. In recent times, however, it has become a mass tourism destination. A wide variety of natural and cultural attractions that suit the motivations of visitors from many countries entice people to this capital city. The tourist industry has responded to the international travel market by providing an extensive range of facilities to satisfy travellers demands. Tourism has given the Thais a reason for preserving their culture and protecting their heritage. However, since the arrival of U.S. marines, Thailand has been burden by the sex symbol which tainted the cultural rich image of the Kingdom. This essay aims to provide an analysis of Bangkok as a cultural tourism destination and to explore the efforts which the local government endeavour to change the negative image of sex tourism to cultural tourism. It identifies attractions that pull people to Bangkok and considers the motives that urge people to respond to the pull of its attractions. It also notes the ways in which the major divisions of the tourist industry supply the needs of tourists. Cultural Tourism Brokensha and Guldberg (1992 p.3) provide many descriptions of cultural tourism. The description most relevant to cultural tourism in Bangkok is mixing with and meeting local people, and learning about lifestyles and cultures. The aims of the cultural tourist can be achieved through attending cultural events, experiencing and appreciating built heritage and the natural environment, and gaining education and pleasure from these experiences. The city of Bangkok, through its natural and cultural attractions, provides many opportunities for these kinds of experiences and activities. History of Bangkok, Thailand The Thai, descendants of ancient Pamir plateau stock, are racially related to the Chinese and were one of the major peoples that migrated from southern China to mainland Southeast Asia. After entering the valley of the Chao Phraya River, they defeated and dispersed the Khmer settlers, ancestors of the Cambodians, and established the Kingdom of Thailand. People lived and traded near the Chao Phraya River. The trading and the population later expanded to other inland regions. Bangkok was established in 1782 as central city for trading. The famous story based on the diary of Anna Leonowens in Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landons. However, tourism actually began in the 1960, where U.S troops used Thailand as a base to attack Vietnam. It is likely that the soldiers told their friends about the exotic beauty of the Kingdom when they return home. Bangkok Natural Environment Bangkok is the contemporary capital city of the Kingdom of Thailand. It is located on the Gulf of Thailand coast. Bangkok has many rivers that connect the city to the sea. One of the worlds renowned rivers is the Chao Phraya River where Thailand first began. Much of Bangkoks history happened along both sides of the Chao Phraya River. Throughout history, the Thais depended on this river for their daily needs, such as cooking, laundry, swimming, fishing and as a source of drinking water. In addition, since the beginning of the Kingdom, people lived and traded along this river. This culture of trading and living by the Chao Phraya River carries on till today. The tropical climate in this region attracts tourist from Europe where the winter is extremely cold. Chon, Singh and Mikula (1993) reveal tourists generally visit Bangkok for urban life and then travel to the neighbouring suburban areas to experience the natural environment of the beach such as in Pattaya or Khor Chang. Some activities enjoyed by tourists are scuba diving, jet skiing, sun-bathing and parachuting. For tourists who want to be amid the peaceful atmosphere and observe the traditional ways of life by the water, Bangkok has much to offer. There are services which have been established to cater to tourists needs. This is in line with Smiths (1988 pp.179-190) supply-side concept. There are hotels, taxi boats, floating market, restaurants and other transportation services targeted at enabling tourist to experience the culture of the Thai. Tourists can experience the way of life that has be carried on for many generations. Tourists from other parts of the world, which are wealthier and economically advanced, can experience novelty and change as Cohen (1974 pp.527-555) suggests. Major features of Thai Society The origins of the Thai people are in the Southern part of China. The people were strongly influence by Buddhism, the central of the Thai culture, which was brought to the region by Buddhist missionaries from India. The Thais manifest their faith by building and skilfully crafting the elaborated works of arts of the temples. There are many temples in Thailand; however the glorious and magnificent ones are situated in Bangkok. Most men and women were peasants and depend their livelihood on farming rice, vegetables and fruits at minimal wages. Peieggi (1996) reveals that since the U.S troops came to Thailand, the people realised the demand for hedonistic pleasure among these soldiers. Young girls and boys were sold for money as a source of family income. After the Vietnam War, due to the influx of tourists visiting Bangkok, there have been new job opportunities opened for the Thais. The Thais perform cultural dance, sword fighting and Muai Thai (Thai boxing) for the tourists viewing pleasure. Throughout history, there have been several images of Thai society. These include images of leisure and eroticism. Gibbon and Fish (1998) compliment Thailand for its richness in culture and its hospitable people. On the contrary, Peieggi (1996) suggests that there have been high ratio of males visiting Thailand, primarily for its hedonistic appeal. Ashworth and Brian (1989) explain that such image is a challenge and the country is endeavouring to change; however, the most important image for the tourists is that Thailand is a cultural centre where everyone is kind and hospitable. The history of Tourism in Bangkok Thailand Although visitors came to Thailand many centuries ago, it was not really until the late 1960s and early 1970s that the Kingdom began its career as a major tourist destination. In the 1960s, the large US troop presence in Southeast Asia produced a surge in Thailands tourism. Since then, the boom has continued, although the large number of hotels has led to heavy competition and fairly low occupancy rates. In the 1960s, Thailand became a favoured place for the nomads from affluence (Cohen, 1973), young drifter tourists who were escaping the evils of the developed world in order to find culture and wisdom in the East. These people preferred to stay in motels or cheaper hotels to avoid the more luxurious facilities provided for the tourists. These nomadic hippies were attracted by advertisement in magazines and friends who had been to Thailand. In late 1990s, Thailand was promoted as Amazing Thailand as a paradise inhabited by a serene, harmonious people. The Hollywood movie entitled The Beach with leading actor Leonardo DeCaprio, illustrated the exotic island life. This was the period of mass tourism. Peieggi (1996) explains that Thailand emerged a popular destination due to its peaceful religion and its exotic culture. In 2001Bangkok has been named as the number one tourist city in the world by readers of the American magazine Travel and Leisure, the citys Peninsula Hotel also coming in first in their readers survey of the top hotels. It was particularly popular with Europeans and Americans. As Elliot (1983) explains the success of tourism was partly due to its natural environment, friendly people, exotic culture and a central position of the air route of the region. The Government began to focus its resources on tourism in 1982 when studies showed that tourism was the nations top foreign currency earner. In addition, during the APEC meeting in 2004, due to the fear of terrorism and the importance of the tourist industry, the government heightened the security during this period of time. The fear was greater when the President of the United States of America, George W Bush, was attending the meeting. The Impact of Tourism of the Thais Tourism has had a variety of impacts, both negative and positive, on Thai society. Hewison (1987 p9) laments that due to tourism, many of the attractions in Thailand can be manufactured for the purpose of gaining more visitors. As Peieggi (1996) suggests because of the hedonistic appeal that Bangkok offers to male tourists, Thailand has been ranked statistically the highest scoring nation for the spread of AIDS. (Leheny 1995; Ritcher 1989) explain that tourism played a major role in the expansion of sex tourism, and has transformed the nations rich culture into an embarrassing burden. (Leheny 1995; Ritcher 1989) argues that tourism has ensured the preservation of the Thai culture and has made the Thais more aware of their own culture than they might otherwise have been. Elliot (1983) points out that the money the Thais have earned through displaying their culture to the tourists has help sustain them financially. Cohen (1995 pp 225-233) explains that commodities crafted by villagers attract tourists attending due to the craftsmanship, beauty and exoticism. The villagers can sell these items to tourist for income. On the other hand, the villages much desire commodities which tourists use, such as denim jacket, T-shirt and jeans. There have been concerns reported by local media that the Thais risk loosing its unique culture by pursuing similarities with the western culture. Kontogeorgopoulos (1998) advocates that tourism increases employment opportunities for the locals. The author further explains that due to tourism, there will be construction of hotels and other facilities to service the tourists. Locals will be employed and trained in various areas. For instance, the locals can learn to speak the English language to enhance the ability to communicate with foreigners and increase their employability. Pull Factors The exotic culture of Thailand has attracted tourists from many parts of the world to experience the way of life of the Thai society. As mentioned earlier, the Thais used to live and trade along the river. Tourists can experience this way of life Ratchaburi province which is about 80 km southwest of Bangkok. There, the tourists will discover a popular floating market. There will be small boats laden with colourful fruits and vegetables which are paddled by local women wearing bamboo hats. These images are often advertised for cultural tourism of Thailand, in travel magazines and brochures. Inquisitive tourists can embark on a tour onboard these boats. Another tourist attraction relating to cultural tourism is the Songkran festival. It is an ancient festival, which is celebrated by the Thais annually and is influenced by the ancient Hindu astrological calendar. It is a common feature of the agricultural cultures of Thailand. In the old days, scented water was used mainly for blessings and paying respect to the elders. Tourists visiting Bangkok or in any parts of Thailand can join in the celebration and enjoy getting wet throughout the day. Likely Motivational Factors As tourists do not normally state their motives and wants in choosing a destination, it is difficult to know with certainty the motivation factors a tourist has in mind. Dann (1981 pp 209-211) explains that the difficulties lie partly in the inability or unwillingness of the tourists to articulate their motivations. However, tourists behaviours hint their likely motivation. Many tourists choose to visit Bangkok in order to escape from their routine to experience change and novelty as Cohen (1974 pp 527-555) or for the purpose of leisure. Tourists choose Bangkok as a destination to revitalise themselves for a period of time before feeling ready to go back to work. Tourist experience the exotic culture of the Thai society. The tourists can maximise the time they have in Bangkok, where there are many cultural activities orchestrated for tourists. Tourists can enjoy watching the Thai dance or the making of Thai handicrafts in parks and other recreation areas. Temporally, the tourists forget about the stress and pressure of work back home. The laidback or slow lifestyle of the Thai agricultural culture enables tourist to ease tension and feel more relaxing physically, emotionally and mentally. Hospitality in Thailand Esichaikul (1998 pp. 359-369) explains that tourism offers a lucrative source of income for Thailand. The author further suggests that the provision of accommodation, food and drink are important to the countrys economy. Hospitality in Thailand ranges from luxurious facilities to very affordable home-stay. Outside of Bangkok, tourists can stay in stilt hotels on the dam, resorts and hotels by the beach or huts in the forest. Tourists can relax and enjoy the tranquillity that nature offers in this tropical climate. The Thai cuisine is unique and it reflects the exotic culture of the local society. The cuisine includes affordable seafood which the Japanese particularly enjoy. During the APEC meeting, the Prime Minister of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi, indulged himself every night in various kinds of seafood. Other cuisine includes pineapple rice, papaya salad, Tom Yam soup and the Tok Tok noodles sold in the floating market. Thai cuisine is spicy and sweet in general; some adventurous tourists may be challenged to try the food, some tourists may resort to western food like McDonalds and Subway sandwiches. Nonetheless, Thai food is low in cholesterol and healthy as many dishes often incorporate fruits in the preparation stage. Transportation Due to the geographical location, tourists can travel to Bangkok by many means. The International air-port has facilities to accommodate various sizes of planes. Backpackers having visited the neighbouring Malaysia, Cambodia of Singapore can also choose to travel economically by trains and busses. Due to traffic congestion in Bangkok, other interesting modes of transport have emerged to allow people to travel efficiently. Along the Chao Phraya River, tourists can travel by express boats cross to other regions. In addition, tourists may wish to travel at a slower pace, by long-tail boats, in order to enjoy the riverside scenery. On land, tourists can travel on the elephants back, which in the past was only suited for the Kings. Travelling on elephants backs can be interesting; tourists will sway from side to side slowly high above ground level. Tourists often find this mode of transport amusing and exciting. Apart from taxis and busses, tourists can also choose to travel on a three-wheeled Tuk Tuk to zigzag between vehicles without being hampered by the traffic jam. Conclusion In conclusion, cultural tourism in Thailand provides many exotic experiences for tourists. The government of Thailand has been investing resources in advertising campaigns to change the erotic image of by emphasizing the cultural richness of the Kingdom. It is apparent that such change remains the greatest challenge to the country. Though tourism has impacted Thailand negatively; it has provided employment and other financial benefits to the Thais and the nation in many related industry.

Word Choice Role vs. Roll

Word Choice Role vs. Roll Word Choice: Role vs. Roll Some words, such as â€Å"roll,† have more definitions than is strictly decent. And since it sounds identical to the word â€Å"role,† it is easy to get these terms mixed up. But if you check out our guide to using â€Å"role† and â€Å"roll† correctly, you can be confident your written work will be spelling error free. Role (A Position or Part) We’ll begin with â€Å"role,† since this term has fewer meanings. Its main use is to indicate a position within an organization or system. In particular, being in a specific â€Å"role† usually implies having a purpose or duty: My role as a proofreader is to check texts for errors. Proofreading plays an important role in the publishing industry. The other key use of â€Å"role† is to mean â€Å"part for an actor†: I auditioned for the lead role in the play. One thing to note here is that â€Å"role† is always a noun, never a verb. The Many Meanings of â€Å"Roll† â€Å"Roll† has several uses as a verb and a noun. As a verb, these include: Turn over to face a different direction (e.g., I rolled onto my back) Move via turning (e.g., The car rolled down the hill) Turn something into a ball or tube (e.g., She rolled the clay in her hands) Make something smooth and flat (e.g., Roll out the pastry) Make a continuous, repeated sound (e.g., The thunder rolled loudly) And as a noun, we can use â€Å"roll† to refer to the following: The act of rolling (e.g., I will do a forward roll) Something that has been rolled into a tube (e.g., A roll of carpet) An official list of names (e.g., An electoral roll) A continuous, repeated sound (e.g., A drum roll) A small bread product (e.g., A bread roll) This isn’t even a full list of the uses of â€Å"roll.† For example, a tear can â€Å"roll† down your cheek, and a ship might â€Å"roll† from side to side in rough seas. However, we have covered the main uses of â€Å"roll† above. And the main thing to take away from this is that â€Å"roll† has many definitions! Summary: Role or Roll? The key here is remembering what â€Å"role† means, as this term has fewer uses: The noun role means â€Å"position in a system† or â€Å"part for an actor.† Roll can be either a noun or a verb . Its meanings include turning over, making a low rumbling sound, a list of names, and a small bread product. In essence, then, if you’re referring to a position or part in something, the correct spelling will be â€Å"role.† In any other situation, â€Å"roll† will be correct. But if you want to make doubly sure that your writing is free from errors, you can always have it proofread by our expert editors.

Medication Administration Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Medication Administration - Case Study Example Hence, this tablet must be taken strictly according to the doctor's instructions. There is no mention about Mrs. Smith's age. If she is elderly with impaired renal function and low lean body mass, she has to take lower dose than what non-elderly patients do. Higher dose intake is known to cause dizziness, eye disorders, cardiac disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and skin rashes (Lanoxin). Frusemide is used for hypertension as well as congestive heart failure, pulmonary, renal disorder in adults, children and infants. Diuresis is induced in an hour after the intake of Frusemide. Frusemide is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The dose may comprise 20 mg to 80 mg two to four consecutive days per week, in single dose. If the response is not satisfactory, the dose may be increased by 20 mg to 40 mg after 6 to 8 hours from the first dose intake until the desired dose is established. Symptoms of headache, dizziness, dryness of mouth or visual impairment are known to occur. Patients with cirrhosis of liver are known to develop potassium deficiency. The tablet must be taken strictly under doctor's advice without any chance for overdose (Apo-Frusemide). Span K 600 mg is advised for patients with potassium deficiencies, cardiac failure and hypertension. 1 to 2 tablets are taken three times in a day, preferably during meals. This tablet must be withdrawn at once if there is vomiting or abdominal pains. Caution must be exercised for use for patients with chronic renal disease (Span K). Atenolol 25 mg Atenolol is used in treatment of angina and hypertension. It is also used in treatment to prevent heart attack. This medication must be taken with full glass of water and at the same time every day. Atenolol is only part of a complete program of treatment for hypertension that may also include diet, exercise, and weight control. In case of patients with high blood pressure, it may be necessary to take this drug for the rest of the patient's life. Atenolol can also cause drowsiness, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue. If any of these symptoms is noticed, call the doctor at once. Atenolol must be taken exactly as prescribed. Do not stop taking Atenolol without consulting the doctor (Atenolol). Celebrex 100mg SD Celebrex has been used for the treatment of osteoarthritis. It causes reduction in joint pain. Single dose of Celebrex provides pain relief within 30-60 minutes. Celebrex doses of up to 200 mg can be administered without regard to timing of meals. However, care must be taken while administering Celebrex to patients with arthritis. Start use with the lowest recommended dose. Celebrex is known to aggravate hypertension conditions. Also, sometimes, serious gastrointestinal toxicity such as bleeding, ulceration, or perforation of the stomach or intestine has been observed. Patients must stay alert for such symptoms and discontinue use of Celebrex if they occur (Celebrex). Outline if any of these

The Effects of shift work on employee's and their family Essay

The Effects of shift work on employee's and their family - Essay Example Why, however, point out the nature of shift work in such detail? When employees work these dramatically difficult hours for the sake of industry, it tends to put constant stress on the household, including the domestic marriage and, when applicable, the children as well. It is important to highlight that shift work not only affects the industrial worker, it also impacts individuals in law enforcement and various other forms of employment. Hence, problems in the home with extended shift working and rotational schedules can be cited as a widespread issue in today’s society. Shift workers and their family members experience significant domestic complications as a direct result of shift work, negatively impacting the quality of life for many households. It is relatively common knowledge that the average person requires six to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep, somewhat consistently, in order to function at their fullest potential. This includes issues of a well-adjusted metabolism, a positive immune response, and even mental health and well-being (Weiten & Lloyd, 2005). Oftentimes, when an individual works long shifts throughout the average workweek, the demands of the household make it virtually impossible to find quality time and relaxation after a difficult work day. In many instances, in households with younger children and increased family obligations, six to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep is next to impossible to achieve. Studies have suggested that sleep deprivation is often linked to the difficulties of adjusting to shift work, with larger health outcomes including depression and increased anxiety (Morris & Maisto, 2005). All of these health-related issues impact the family when tensions run high within the household o r when health matters require attention and medical expenses increase. Businesses, today, put a great deal of demands and stress on their employees as they drive them to assist in building higher productivity

Narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Narrative - Essay Example Together with teammates, Bolt recorded the world record for the 4x100m relay. Bolt is the current Olympic champion for the three sporting events; 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. In the 2012 London Olympics, Bolt won the 100m gold medal at 9.63 seconds. He thus set a new 100m Olympic record, and also defended the gold medal that he received during the Beijing Summer Olympics in 2008. The 2012 Summer Olympics was an international sporting event that illustrates the Olympics Games tradition. The Olympics Games are organized and managed by International Olympics Committee (IOC). The sporting event occurred in London, the United Kingdom. The 2012 Summer Olympics were conducted between July 25, 2012 and August 12, 2012. Approximately 10,000 athletes participated in the event, from 204 National Olympic Committees. The main broadcaster for the event was the Olympics Broadcasting Services. During the event Usain Bolt proved his position as the historically greatest sprinter, because of the effective retention of the 100m gold title (Rosner & Shropshire 454). Bolt’s win in the 2012 was very memorable due to various reasons. The win occurred during the weekend that Jamaica celebrated the 50th Independence anniversary. The 9.63 gold medal win created a celebratory mood in Jamaica because it illustrated the shortest athletic competition in the history of the Olympics Games. The two main noticeable athletes in the competition were; Usain Bolt and his fellow countryman Yohan Blake. The Jamaicans are very fierce competitors in the racing track, but Bolt emerged as the best by winning gold. Bolt accomplished another feat by retaining the 100m Olympic gold title. The athletic effectiveness of Bolt was doubted by many people, because of a season that had cases of defeat and injury. During the 2012 Olympics he performed the second fastest time ever, and thus defeated Yohan Blake and Justin

SCM Software selection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

SCM Software selection - Essay Example Build to order supply chain with zero inventory involves production of products on demand. Starbucks application involves the implementation cost that involves training the managers and operators of the supply chain to ensure that they are able to determine the demand to ensure that they are satisfied by the available supply. The integration in the continuous replenishment involves linking the manufacturing company with the suppliers to ensure there are adequate materials to meet the production needs. Build to order system with zero inventory involves cost that are incurred in training the system operators to enable them to determine the present demands in order to direct what needs to be produced. However, the most appropriate SCM software package for Bravo Company is the Starbucks system. This is because the application will enable the company to determine the appropriate delivery dates for its customers, solve the inventory problems by determining the right inventory levels for hard drives. It will also ensure that through synchronization and communication, the problem of trucks unavailability is solved, and that the procedures for customs clearance are made easier to ensure easily supply of

The Role of the United Nations in a Collective Security Essay

The Role of the United Nations in a Collective Security - Essay Example Recent international developments, however, have proven that collective security as envisaged by the UN Charter of 1945 is inadequate to meet the exigencies of the times. In the past, the collective security function of the United Nations had often failed because it had become a battleground of the two superpowers which emerged after the 2nd World War. The UN, especially its, however, security functions, was held hostage to the power play of these two countries. Even before the dust of the war had settled, the intense competition for global supremacy between the United States (US) and the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) began to take root into what has been called the Cold War, so termed because despite the intense fighting between the two sides on all fronts it did not entail the use of weapons. This intense conflict between the two superpowers affected the UN and its collective security functions because of its inherent structural defect. It would seem that the name United Nations is not the same as ‘equal nations’ because five of its members are not only given permanent standing but a commanding veto vote. When the organization was established in 1945, the countries which fought together with the Axis powers namely, the US, USSR, the United Kingdom (UK), China, and France were accorded permanent seats in the Security Council (SC) (Krasno 2004). As members of the P5, both the US and the USSR, together with the other three countries, have the sole veto power over any draft resolution of the UN (Zhu & Hearn 1999).

Strategic management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Strategic management - Case Study Example The creation of high quality products requires a substantial investment. First, the organization needs to hire talented designers and other employees. Second, it needs to source for high quality raw materials. Third, it needs to create a process that ensures that the products that are produced are of the highest quality standard possible. IKEA has managed to adopt management practices that reduce its overhead costs. In addition, it has developed sustainable operations. As a result, it is able to create high quality furniture at competitive prices while also remaining profitable. In addition, it is costly for other furniture retailers to create high quality products with excellent design while keeping the price low. Furthermore, building the brand awareness that IKEA has built requires a consistent and expensive marketing effort. As a result, the organization has a competitive advantage over its competitors. The organization has developed an organizational culture that focuses on customer satisfaction. In addition, it has a long record of accomplishment in the furniture business. Consequently, it has developed the supply chain and distribution channel that is essential for a retailer. Furthermore, it has developed substantial industry

The Role of the United Nations in a Collective Security Essay

The Role of the United Nations in a Collective Security - Essay Example Recent international developments, however, have proven that collective security as envisaged by the UN Charter of 1945 is inadequate to meet the exigencies of the times. In the past, the collective security function of the United Nations had often failed because it had become a battleground of the two superpowers which emerged after the 2nd World War. The UN, especially its, however, security functions, was held hostage to the power play of these two countries. Even before the dust of the war had settled, the intense competition for global supremacy between the United States (US) and the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) began to take root into what has been called the Cold War, so termed because despite the intense fighting between the two sides on all fronts it did not entail the use of weapons. This intense conflict between the two superpowers affected the UN and its collective security functions because of its inherent structural defect. It would seem that the name United Nations is not the same as ‘equal nations’ because five of its members are not only given permanent standing but a commanding veto vote. When the organization was established in 1945, the countries which fought together with the Axis powers namely, the US, USSR, the United Kingdom (UK), China, and France were accorded permanent seats in the Security Council (SC) (Krasno 2004). As members of the P5, both the US and the USSR, together with the other three countries, have the sole veto power over any draft resolution of the UN (Zhu & Hearn 1999).

Three Paintings of the Baroque Period Essay Example for Free

Three Paintings of the Baroque Period Essay Three works of art—particularly painting—that was produced during the Baroque period of the 17th century, includes the painting of Alonso Cano (1652) entitled ‘The Dead Christ Supported by an Angel’; the work of art produced by Francisco de Zurbaran (1660) entitled ‘The Painter Before Christ Crucified’; as well as the painting done by Juan de Valdà ©s Leal (1661) entitled ‘Christ Bearing the Cross’.   The way they portrayed the suffering of Christ has something to do with their philosophy, as well as the nature of their environment. Main Body   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first painting done by Alonso Cano (1652) entitled ‘The Dead Christ Supported by an Angel’ portrays the spirit of Christ after His death on the Mount of Calvary.   This painting shows the spirit of Christ, sitting on a rock with his face down and an angel standing and supporting His shoulders.   The color of the sky tells that it is sunrise, and mountains are being shown with a road and a bush that are illuminated by the light.    On the ground, at the right side of His feet, is a basin of water, where light is also being reflected.   Expressing the Baroque style, this painting uses emotion as well as ambiguity, as Cano (1652) uses subtle and rounded forms, with harmonious colors that can also be described as subtle.   It uses ‘Tenebrism’, with dark colors and tones, and shades that can be described as obscure.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The second painting done by Francisco de Zurbaran (1660) entitled ‘The Painter Before Christ Crucified’ shows a painter who is standing right in front of the cross, looking upward, with an idealizing expression, at the face of Christ.   His right hand is on the middle front of his chest, and his left hand holds some kind of a red rose that is partly subdued in darkness.   With the black background, there is plainness, grace, as well as mystery in the way Zurbaran (1660) portrayed the two beings.    There is intensity and naturalism in the colors and shades that were used.   Although the picture appears to be realistic in form with a bit of parallelism in the lines and shapes, the two bodies glow in the dark, without much precision on where the light comes from.   The art uses Tenebrism, using dark shades and tones, and with obscure implications that form an emotional sense of a drama.   It shows both the excellence and imperfection of the human sight (Web Gallery of Art, n.d.).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Lastly, the painting entitled ‘Christ Bearing the Cross’ done by Juan de Valdà ©s Leal (1661) portrays Christ while carrying His cross.   With a dramatic representation of the event, a muscular man at His left whips Him down, while at the right side behind Him are the weeping women of Jerusalem.   In front of Him, at His left side, is a high priest standing and with an expression that is solemn and contented. At the back are two soldiers, rocks, and a tree—with a background that is dark, obscure, and gloomy.   The style is Baroque, as it uses dark colors, shades, and tones, with an obscure implication and a sense of drama attached to the painting.   However, it can also be an earlier representation of ‘Romanticism’ (Web Gallery of Art, n.d.), as it uses dynamic and impetuous forms, colors, and shades, with a touch of violence, energy, and the use of the asymmetry.     Colors used are dark and morose.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To define the painters’ form of art is to define the trends and their philosophies of art.   During the time of Cano (1652), his life in Andalusia, Spain brought him to the religious, Christian culture, where beliefs in Christ and the Bible made him express love and beauty by using shades and colors that dwell in harmony.   He expressed the suffering Christ in a scene that has already finished the tragic part of the death and the suffering. He dwelt more on the beauty of Christ by using smoother colors and forms, and a tranquil shade of light.   His expression of the need for harmony, smooth blending, beauty, and a naturalistic effect may have been due to the event that Andalusia was experiencing some migratory trends from the Muslim (Andalusian people, n.d.).   Having been witnessed personally how Muslims were forcibly expelled from their homeland, he rather focused on the serenity after the death and crucifixion of Christ†¦ especially that Christ Himself was expelled by His own people.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As for Zurbaran (1660), he lived in Estremadura, Portugal, and learned to portray effects that are natural, austere, with certain simplicity and a grace that clearly revealed his emotions.   The purity that is shown in his paintings may have been a personal longing for peace and harmony especially that, at the time the painting was done, The Battle of the Lines was occurring between Spain and Portugal (Battle of the lines of Elvas, n.d.)   As seen in the painting, Zurabaran (1660) is seen to be alone with Christ.   The whole scene is covered in black†¦ probably to cover all evil and violence that were taking place within the area.   As he was experiencing an inner crisis (Web Gallery of Art, n.d.), which internally made him wish for a miracle and a blessing, he focused, rather, on Christ as the sole savior of the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Lastly, when it comes to Valdà ©as Leal (1661), his being Spanish at a time when his country was becoming less and less powerful made way for expressions of pessimism, boldness, and vigor that made his painting dark, violent, and morose.   That time of Spain was full of wars, difficulties, and crisis; yet it was only the beginning of Spain’s exertion.   As a result, Valdà ©as Leal (1661) depicted the suffering of Christ at a time when His suffering is just starting to get worse†¦ and the cross is becoming heavier with each step.   Colors portray dark and gloomy shades and patterns that restate wars, conflicts, and violence of the age.   The weeping women in the painting show the middle class, who were usually the sufferers of the community.   The high priest, on the other hand, portrays the Church that did not really experience much of the difficulties.   Obscurity may be the effect of a confused emotion. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The portrayal of a painting has something to do with both the philosophy of the artist and the nature of the surrounding environment.   Despite the similarity of the theme, each painter has his or her own way of expressing the subject.   Based on what the painter would want to focus on, or how he or she would want to portray the event or emotion, philosophy and environment reflect the finished product that is solely unique, majestic, and from within. References Andalusian people.   Retrieved March 10, 2008, from the Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia database: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andalusian_people. Battle of the lines of Elvas.   (n.d.).   Retrieved March 10, 2008, from the Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia database: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Lines_of_Elvas. Web Gallery of Art.   (n.d.).   Baroque painting: the golden age.   Retrieved March 10, 2008, from its official database: http://www.wga.hu/tours/spain/p_17.html.

Fordist And Taylorist Production Systems Cultural Studies Essay

Fordist And Taylorist Production Systems Cultural Studies Essay Fordism, named after the Henry Ford from US, who refers to a variety of communal theories about production, assembling and related socio-economic phenomena  [1]  . Although Henry Ford was not the inventor of the automobile but he developed extraordinary methods of production and marketing that allowed the automobile to become reachable to the American working class. Ford always wanted to make cars that his team workers could afford easily. So, the mass production began in Detroit in 1914, when Ford discovered that a moving assembly line using interchangeable parts which could completely reduce the cost of making motor cars. After that he created the Ford Motor Company, which was one of a dozen small automobile manufacturers that emerged in the early 20th century. Mass production was really an unpleasant work, with high turnover because new production system must be oriented towards multi-skilling and rapid re-skilling workers; in order to hold the search for shifting a newly form ing market in a post mass production (cf. Piore, M. and Sabel, C., 1984). Just to retain his unskilled workforce, Ford doubled their wages to $5 per day justified by higher productivity  [2]  . After three years of production, he introduced the Model T, which was simple and light yet sturdy enough to drive on the countrys very elementary road system. He sold 18m Model T Fords, transforming to America into the first car-owning democracy, at a low price that dropped from $600 to $250 over 15 years. Henry Fords success and revolutionary techniques of production were then termed Fordism  [3]  . The scale of mass production is hard to understand. Fords River Rouge plant in Detroit, completed in 1928, he extended for a mile along a tributary of the Detroit River and employed 100,000 men workers. Raw materials like iron ore and rubber were unloaded at one end, and finished cars emerged from the other end, 72 hours later. But Fords system proved less efficient than GM  [4]  , which produced a range of models for different pocketbooks. Labour relations were troubled, sit-down strike, at the big automakers in the 1930s with layoffs and speed-ups, the end of organized capitalism has a tendency to become dis-organized in that the labour-employer relationships are fracturing (cf. Lash, S. and Urry, J. 1987) . GM was the first company forced to recognize the UAW  [5]  union after a sit-down strike closed its plants in Flint, Michigan in 1937. After more battles, the workers won higher wages and benefits, sharing in the American Dream. Unions also negotiated rigid work rules to protect workers from exploitation by foremen. Ford was even more determined to oppose unions than GM, and Henry Ford employed 3,000 service department personnel to prevent them taking hold. In 1937 they beat up key UAW union organizers attempting to hand out leaflets near the River Rouge factory. But in 1941, even Ford was forced to yield to union power, to ensure industrial peace during wartime. But the legacy of bitter industrial relations e ndured. The decline of mass production is due to Post Fordism; small scale batch production in small medium plants not mass production in large plant, only customized not standardized products, using multi-skilled workers with flexible work roles not fixed job descriptions, robots and computerized work teams instead of moving assembly lines (cf. Murray, R. 1989). Car manufacture ceased with the outbreak of World War II, but the auto manufacturers made good profits helping with the war effort, producing everything from jeeps to aircraft engines. The mass production helped the Allies win the war, and led to further consolidation in the industry. The war also brought new social groups, like women and black people, into the auto industry, but also increased social tensions in Detroit. Unemployment disappeared, and the UAWs power grew. The end of the war released an enormous surge of pent-up demand, especially for cars and houses, and Detroit boomed as never before. Car workers wages soared and many became homeowners. The Big three car companies dominated production as never before. In 1955 GM became the first company to make $1bn profit. Big cars predominated, promoted by sexy adverts  [6]  . The first signs that all was not well with Detroit was the 1973 oil crisis, when Middle East producers declared a boycott. Queues formed at petrol stations, and consumers for the first time switched in large numbers to smaller, more economical cars-often made by the Japanese; which they found more reliable. The Detroit-made cars had more defects, and Detroits attempts to build a successful small car failed. The auto industry now is much better prepared to withstand the effects of an oil crisis and meet consumer demand for highly fuel-efficient vehicles than it was during the Middle East oil crisis of the 1970s, Ford Motor Company Chairman Harold A. Poling said  [7]  . Imports of Japanese cars soared in the 1980s as consumers gradually grew to prefer the smaller, more reliable cars. The unions and the US companies reacted to the threat by trying to get the US government to block imports, and by the mid-1980s had succeeded in getting Japan to agree intended export chains (cf. Womack, J., P., Jones, J.T., Roos, D., 1990). But the move backfired as Japanese firms became more profitable and moved up market, launching cars like the Lexus. The US companies determined that they could make more money by selling sports utility vehicles, built on a truck chassis. In the 1990s sales of SUVs  [8]  and minivans soared. Imported SUVs attracted a higher tariff rate, blocking Japanese rivals. They were not very fuel-efficient, but with oil prices at $18 a barrel, no one seemed to mind. As imports flooded in, the car market became increasingly dominated by foreign producers, who imported millions of cars from overseas factories. Companies also increasingly relo cated production to Canada and Mexico after the Nafta free trade agreement. GM, Ford and Chrysler thought that the Japanese had an unfair advantage due to an undervalued (low) currency. They also believed that oil prices would return to lower levels. Lean production, Japanese manufacturers like Toyota and Nissan were also building more factories within the US to escape import controls, threat from Japan,(cf. Womack, J., P., Jones, J.T., Roos, D., 1990) in the response to eliminate waste by introducing this method. These factories were based on a new and more efficient production system, and they also allowed the transplants to develop new models more quickly. They also developed closer relationships with suppliers, using just-in-time methods. Soon they were competing across the whole range of vehicles, from trucks to compact cars. Green cars, in the last year many Americans have accepted the reality of global warming, and the demand for green vehicles has grown. Toyota sells 100,000 Prius hybrids a year and is rolling the hybrid technology out across its entire range. Both Ford and GM exposed electric-powered concept cars at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show, but they may be years away from mass production. Taylorism, a system of production devised by F. W. Taylor (1911), and characterized by the division of factory work into the smallest and simplest jobs while closely co-ordinating the sequence of tasks in order to achieve maximum efficiency, as, for example, on a production line. As a result, skilled managers and technicians oversee semi-skilled or unskilled workers who are engaged in simple, repetitive chores. This system of production has had profound spatial implications, as large firms often allocate skilled and unskilled jobs to different locations, creating a division of labour  [9]  . Taylorism is often mentioned along with Fordism, because it was closely associated with mass production methods in manufacturing factories. Taylors own name for his approach was scientific management  [10]  . Applications of scientific management sometimes fail to account for two inherent difficulties: Individuals are different from each other: the most efficient way of working for one person may be inefficient for another. The economic interests of workers and management are rarely identical, so that both the measurement processes and the retraining required by Taylors methods are frequently resented and sometimes sabotaged by the workforce. Both difficulties were recognized by Taylor, but are generally not fully addressed by managers who only see the potential improvements to efficiency. Taylor believed that scientific management cannot work unless the worker benefits. In his view management should arrange the work in such a way that one is able to produce more and get paid more, by teaching and implementing more efficient procedures for producing a product. Although Taylor did not compare workers with machines, some of his critics use this image to explain how his approach makes work more efficient by removing unnecessary or wasted effort (cf. Parker M. and Slaughter, J., 1988). However, some would say that this approach ignores the complications introduced because workers are necessarily human: personal needs, interpersonal difficulties and the very real difficulties introduced by making jobs so efficient that workers have no time to relax. As a result, workers worked harder, but became dissatisfied with the work environment. Some have argued that this discounting of worker personalities led to the rise of labour unions. It can also be said that the rise in labor unions is leading to a push on the part of industry to accelerate the process of automation, a process that is undergoing a renaissance with the invention of a host of new technologies starting with the computer and the Internet. This shift in production to machines was clearly one of the goals of Taylorism (cf. Berggren, C., 1989), and represents a victory for his theories. It may not be adaptive to changing scenarios; it overemphasizes routine procedures, i.e. strictly following a given set of rules and regulations, work procedures, production centeredness etc. However, tactfully choosing to ignore the still controversial process of automating human work is also politically expedient, so many still say that practical problems caused by Taylorism led to its replacement by the human relations school of management in 1930. Others (cf. Braverman, H., 1974) insisted that human relations did not replace Taylorism but that both approaches are rather opposite: Taylorism determining the actual organization of the work process and human relations helping to adapt the workers to the new procedures. However, Taylors theories were clearly at the roots of a global revival in theories of scientific management in the last two decades of the 20th century, under the moniker of corporate reengineering or business process re-engineering (cf. Milkman, R., 1997). As such, Taylors ideas can be seen as the root of a very influential series of developments in the workplace, with the goal being the eventual elimination of industrys need for unskilled, and later perhaps, even most skilled labor in any form, directly following Taylors recipe for deconstructing a process. This has come to be known as commoditization, and no skilled profession, even medicine, has proven to be immune from the efforts of Taylors followers, the re-engineers, who are often called derogatory names such as bean counters. A complex division of labour  [11]  and the expansion of economic interdependence accompanied the emergence of industrial capitalism. The division of labour reached its logical conclusion in the emergence of Taylorism and its mass production partner, Fordism. These had their weaknesses including high start-up costs and a relatively rigid production process. Such low-trust systems can be contrasted with high-trust systems, where workers operate with greater autonomy and cooperation. A whole series of techniques and initiatives are described by the term post-Fordism including group production and mass customization. These are epitomized by the Quality Circle, a concept alien to Taylorist assumptions that workers need to be stripped of opportunities for creative input. Such systems tend to be marked by high skill levels and rapid turnover of product designs. The decline of manufacturing industry as an employer can be explained both by competition from the Far East and the increasing rate of technological change. Global production systems have also contributed to the movement of industry around the world. These processes have led to a steady decline in trade union membership since the 1970s. The separation of home and work contributed to the marginalization of women from paid employment, a pattern gradually reversed during the twentieth century. Within the economy women remain concentrated in poorly paid routine occupations  [12]  . Either work becomes recreated as womens work, or heartlands of female employment slowly have their status eroded over time. Labour-force participation is higher among childless women, though many more females now return to their full-time jobs after childbirth than they did a decade ago. Women dominate part-time employment, though their reasons for remaining in such jobs remain the source of controversy  [13]  . The most notable change in working life in developed countries has been the expansion of female participation in the paid labour market and resulting erosion of the male breadwinner model within families. Among men, the trend has been away from manual work and currently also away from routine non-manual labour. These trends have levelled off in recent years, with women remaining over-represented in routine white-collar jobs and men over-represented in skilled manual work. Despite womens advances across the economy, the top posts remain the preserve of men. Women in the most recent generation have benefited from the legislation passed in the 1970s, but the pay divide remains substantial over a lifetime. Debates on skills in the workplace have tended to become polarized between those, (cf. Braverman, H., 1974), who see capitalism as continually deskilling the workforce as new machines and technologies replace crafts and creativity; who argue that it is not technology but the way this i s used that is most important  [14]  . Unemployment has a long history and has ebbed and flowed throughout the twentieth century. There are significant effects for individuals, communities and the wider society. These are disproportionately borne by the young and ethnic minorities. A key task for individuals will be to find ways of forging long-term life plans in a society that privileges the short-term. In 1990s the the new industrial relations associated with the introduction of HRM, also seeks to create an atmosphere and a framework for union-management collaboration (cf. Guest, D., 1989, Storey, J., 1992). From the above it is possible to deduce some conclusions. First of all, there are changes in the way by which work is done and controlled. The Fordism model is dictatorial, with rigid discipline, technical and specific personnel training, taking man as a simple addition of the machine and separating the intellectual from the manual work. Classical management control is performed by rigid supervision procedures. The number of problem with general post-Fordist paradigm has implication for the potential embedding (cf. Kelly, J., 1998) The post-Fordist model presents flexible authority and control systems by which conformism and passivity open spaces for dynamism and creativity (according to the management model established earlier). However, when this analysis is centred on the objects and ideology that guide the productive process, one can conclude that no evolution has occurred. Management, yesterday and today, aims toward maximum rationalization of the production system, greater increase in productivity, profitability and competition, maintaining together the older way of production (cf. Sparrow, P. and Marchington, M., 1998). When that concentration is measured in employment terms, aggregate data for the mid-70s to the mid-80s show that larger firms in all three societies have been shedding labour, even though disproportionately. This fact must be analysed also by the quality of employment, the quality of life and the security of economic recovery, and not just from the point of view of job creation in terms of head-counts. The de-centralization of decision-making and flattening of managerial hierarchies in post-Fordist has led to a de-centralization of managerial control, or whether Fordist centralized management control is being maintained, even in spatially decentralized units, through the development of new control technologies (cf. Lane, C., 1995). In fact, there is not, in either model, a proposal that guarantee the autonomy of the worker. In both, Taylor and Ford, task obligations are reached through rigid control and supervision concerning the worker. In the post-Fordism model, task obligations occur by way of a rigid management scheme. Direct supervisory control is inhibited, assuming either the form of auto-control or control by complex technological procedures; nevertheless, it continues to exist. Beyond the work strengthening and capital concentration, the post-Fordism model maintains the division of work, although on more ample bases. If in Taylorism-Fordism the tasks were broken down into simple and routine movements, in post-Fordism the division into fractions of work happens with the attribution of responsibility to the groups that fulfil a set of specific tasks (activities). There is widespread agreement in the literature that due to the need for more flexible and speedier reaction to changing market demands, de-centralization of decision-making and flattening of managerial hierarchies has occurred (cf. Lane, C., 1995). However, there is little systematic evidence as to what form that de-centralization has taken and which hierarchical levels have been affected. To the post-Fordism is like Fordism as well as post-modernism is like modernism. Postmodernism is another version of that historical amnesia characteristic of American culture the tyranny of the new. According to the Green (cf. Green, A., 1997), postmodernism should be seen not as a development beyond modernism but rather as a continuation of a certain idealist current within it. One can make the same statement about Fordism and post-Fordism. Finally, it seems opportune to repeat the words of Ford from back in the 40s (cf. Ford, H., 1991): We are not living in a machine age; we are living in the power age. This power age of ours has great possibilities, depending upon how we use it. Of course it can be mistreated. But, it can also be used greatly to benefit mankind. If this sentence were true during that period of time, today it seems even more adequate. References

Film Adaptation of Antigone :: essays research papers

The film adaptation of Sophocles’ Antigone portrays the text substantially well in several ways. The filmmaker’s interpretation encourages the audience to be discerning as their perception of the Greek tragedy is enhanced. The play becomes profound and reverberant because of the many interesting elements of production. These include musical score, set design, and the strategic costuming – all of which advocates an improved comprehension of Antigone.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The musical score proficiently provides the viewers with a sense of what is happening in the scene which could not be communicated through text. Dramatic music is played for Creon’s entrance; this immediately communicates to us that he is a man of great importance and power. When Antigone enters after being arrested, the music is dynamic and tense. This conveys the seriousness and desperate atmosphere of the scene. The score is also a representation of the varying moods of the characters. An example of this is when Antigone is anxiously trying to appeal her sentence. The music makes the audience drawn is drawn to feel sympathy and pity her when she is preaching her views on death. For instance, a solemn melody is played when Haemon’s dead corpse is brought to King Creon. Creon grieves by himself as he is overcome with devastation caused by his foolish actions; his emotions are intensified by the sorrowful and sombre background music. The music is abl e to complement the play, while accentuating the more significant events.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The design of the set is the most essential element of the production because it serves as the backdrop for the entire play. When the film starts, there is a wide shot of the Theban palace. There are two very large portraits of Creon hanging from the ceiling; this instantly establishes that Creon is the ruler of the state. The set depicts the castle’s massive foyer which contains a large staircase. Either than that there are hardly any props; this is advantageous because the presence of props and ornate decorations would divert the audience’s attention away from the dialogue and happenings of the play. Furthermore, the ambience in the palace becomes dark and bleak the moment Antigone commits suicide. This reflects the despondent mood and foreshadows Haemon’s suicide. The set of the play is successful in generating a suitable atmosphere and is reflective of the chaos that will occur.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A significant aspect of the play is the acting and wardrobe, because it helps demonstrate the personalities of the characters.

When do we have time to consider time? :: Business and Management Studies

When do we have time to consider time? Timing is Everything†¦Culturally Speaking We never have enough time. It’s flying, wasted, or spent. In marketing, we strive to be punctual for meetings and deadlines. So when do we have time to consider time? For culturally sensitive marketers, time is key. When we look to establish an emotional link with a Hispanic consumer, we must consider the elements of culture that control values, thoughts, and behaviors; and time is one of these â€Å"dimensions [that] provides the nesting place for archetypes to take root.†[1] Westerners tend to view time as linear. We see events in a straight line, with each successive action following another. Many other cultures see time not as monochronic, but polychronic, which is characterized by events occurring simultaneously. The famous anthropologist, Edward T. Hall, conducted extensive research of monochronic and polychronic cultures found that cultural miscommunication is often the result of not understanding the different structures of scheduling or managing time. Hall concludes that monochronic cultures (primarily North America and Northern Europe) â€Å"emphasize schedules, punctuality, and preciseness.† Monochronic cultures emphasize â€Å"doing† things, productivity, and getting things done â€Å"one time.† Time should be managed and planned and not wasted.[2] A polychronic view of time, according to Hall, is primarily in Latin American, African and Native American cultures.[3] When considering other Hispanic archetypes, this is logical. Hispanic cultures â€Å"are more likely than Anglos to believe that nature and the supernatural control their lives.†[4] Therefore, time is associated with natural rhythms, the earth, and seasons. It is not manipulated, but with a higher power, and therefore it can be spontaneous or sporadic. â€Å"There is more valued placed on â€Å"being† than on â€Å"doing†.†[5] Now of course this view is over-generalized and simplistic. Levels of assimilation, occupation, and general demographics may all effect the degree of truthfulness in this assumption. Time can be a very individualized concept, which I proved arriving late to an interview with my Hispanic friend, Juan. He was born in Costa Rica, and immigrated to the United States when he was fourteen. He is now twenty-one and a college student. I sought to find out how he viewed time in Latin American versus the United States. Juan told me he was not offended by my tardiness, and asking why, he replied, â€Å"Maybe you were talking to friends or family.† This underscores another important dimension, the importance of interpersonal relationships in the Hispanic culture. Juan explained that when Americans travel to Costa Rica, they adjust to â€Å"Tico time†, or the timing of Costa Ricans. He described â€Å"Tico time† as much more laid back, and without rush. He made a clear distinction, however, between this attitude and procrastination.