Write an essay on the book 'The Lost Orchard' by Patrick Deeley and

Write an on the book 'The Lost Orchard' by Patrick Deeley and say why you would recommend it for use in the school classroom - Essay Example The students will be told about the time limit to read the text in the class. At the second stage of this activity, after the given time, the students of Part A in each group, will tell the students of Part B in their own groups, the first half of the story and then the students of Part B will tell the last half of the story to Part A in their own groups. Students will be given fixed time for this part of the activity too. In the end, at the third stage of this activity, the teacher will ask one of the students from each group to tell the story in his/her own words. The group, from which a member will tell the entire story correctly, will win. In this way, the reading of this book could be made interesting and exciting. The teacher will divide the students in groups of 5 or 6. Each group will be assigned the task of reading one particular chapter of the book. There will be a time limit for this reading. After the given time, the teacher will give each group the mingled up cut pieces of the summary of each chapter. Each group will be given the mingled up summary of the chapter, which was assigned to it to read. All the groups will be required to arrange the strips of the summary in sequence to make a complete story. At the end, all the groups will read the summary of the assigned chapter, arranged in sequence, aloud. Under the guidance of their teacher, the students may research on where the goldmines or coalmines have been discovered in the world and how has this discovery affected the inhabitants of the related areas. Students may conduct interviews on the issues of their own school. After interviewing, they may write down the notes mentioning the suggestions for improvement to present them to the administrator of their school. Students can write the character sketches of the main characters of the book i.e. Paul, Magpie, Raymie, etc. It could be guided writing, where the

Advertising and Promotional Culture Essay Example for Free

Advertising and Promotional Culture Essay Race and Class in Verizon TV Ads No matter what are the patterns of the ads, the ultimate purpose of ad is attracting public attentions and selling the products. Based on different consumption groups, the ads from the same brand also need to change the advertising images, backgrounds and lines, to reach as many consumers as possible. Verizon Communication Inc is one of the most famous broadband and telecommunications company in United States. Its service range is very broad, including mobile phone, TV and Internet, and its consumption groups covers low class, middle class and upper class people. In this paper, I will analysis the class and racial elements in Verizon 4G LTE commercial and Verizon Mobile Devices and Healthcare commercial. Applying multi-racial advertising talents and different story telling methods, Verizon stresses on the class segregation while pays less attention on racial differences. This advertising strategy helps Verizon divide its consumption groups based on their consumption abilities. It is not only one method to avoid the disadvantage of racial selling, which easily limits the consumption groups, but also direct the company to improve the services to satisfy each specific class better. The Verizon 4G LTE commercial is also called â€Å"Bad Idea† commercial. Just as the African American guys keep saying â€Å"Whassup† in the Budweiser ad, Verizon keep showing the bold black â€Å"Bad Idea† sign after the men in the ad say some bad ideas. The background of the ad is a group of lower class men gather together and play basketball. During the break, they chat and share informations. â€Å"You guys check it out, household bleach. † â€Å"Look Good. † â€Å"I know, right? † Then the â€Å"Bad Idea† comes out with a sting sound. I tell you what saves the gas money. My kids hitchhike to the school. † â€Å"Great Call. † Then the â€Å"Bad Idea† sign comes out again. After two more guys share their information and both have been categorized as â€Å"Bad Idea†, the fifth man comes over, says, â€Å"Surprisingly the Verizon 4G LTE is like 6 times bigger, but I am going ATT†. Instead of showing t he â€Å"Bad Idea† sign again, the voiceover tell the consumers what is the â€Å"Good Idea†, â€Å"There are good ideas and bad, with over 6 times more coverage, Verizon, is the good idea†. This ad uses a sarcastic way to impress the people of lower class and the spectacular consumption strategy to sell the service. To sell the product to a group of people, ads always build up the environment and back ground they familiar with first. Watts defined spectacular consumption as â€Å"a process through which the relations among cultural forms, the culture industry, and the lived experiences of persons are shaped by public consumption†. The group of men in the ad have economic pressure and family burden so they come up their own ideas to save the money. Maybe playing basketball on weekends is their only chance to get rid of work and family messes, so they exercise, brag and relax. The group of men in the ad is the epitome of the lower class men in the United States. Their income is limited so they hope for better quality services with reasonable prices. And this the reason that Verizon keeps telling the men in front of the TV that their 4G is over 6 times more coverage compared to ATT, which means we have better quality than ATT and fair price. People’s consumption habits can easily be effected by the surrounding people. The same situation happens in the ad. Though most of the ideas come from those guys are bad ideas, but their friends are willing to accept it. And this is the disadvantage of speculation consumption. Unless people can make right decisions, because good ideas always spread. And this is the ultimate direction that Verizon is willing to go. If the men do not want to make bad decisions and feel brighter in their peers, choosing Verizon is always a good proof. Unlike focusing on social class characteristics mostly, this ad add one African American talent to minimize the racial segregation. It cannot change the fact that even in this small group, it is still white man dominant, but the black talent definitely increase the group diversity and make this more likely in American society. The situation in the other commercial is the other way. This is the TV commercial expressing how Verizon contributed in the health care field. To create out the confidence and reliability of Verizon’s services, the talents who play doctors and nurses in the ad look tidy, calm and helpful. One of the similarities among them is they all use mobile devices to check out the medical records, 3D brian scanner pictures or drug information. The patients are the other essential consumption group that Verizon wants to attract, so Verizon states that patients can measure the heart rate and the contractions and send them directly to the clinic through mobile devices, as well as helping the patients memorize their illness history. All the advantages prove the Verizon tries to â€Å"improve collaborations between care givers and patients†. Also, instead of putting the lines into the talents’ mouth, this ad use the voiceover to tell us the benefits of the service. In this way, Verizon makes the ad more like a Public Addressing Ad instead of a commercial ad. It may makes the consumers feel that Verizon is not only one company which just care about their own profits, it also cares about the society and is willing to pay back. Compared to the former 4G ad portraying the simpleminded, funny and a little arrogant lower class men, this ads pictures doctors and nurses, middle and higher class people as warm-hearted, dedicated and smart. They are the best group to publicize the reliability of high technology. Verizon applies the graphics and the statistics to show how professional Verizon can be in healthcare field. I think the multi-racial aspect is worth mentioning in this ad. Cortese once said in her paper that â€Å"advertising images, as cultural commodities and social constructions, are sites of struggle along racial fault lines in the United States’s cultural landscape†(Cortese, 1), and I think it is a good example of the improvement of racial problem in this country. On the one hand, the white people in this ad is still more than the colored people. After all, the United States is still one white dominancy society, but at the same, it is also a big â€Å"Melting Pot†. So we can still find the Asian American and Latino/African American face from this ad. Moreover, because doctor and nursers are care givers, so they are in a powerful statues, while patients are considered as the care acceptors and they are in a weaker position. In order to show the equal presentation, the ad also categorizes the Asian American as the doctor and the Latino/African American as the patient instead of ask both of them to be the patients. Different company has various adverting strategy. Luxury brands need to show their sharp fashion taste while normal brands must present their money-saving advantage. But for brands like Verizon, which provides necessary services for almost every class people, they need to use diverse selling advertisements to hit all possible consumption groups. From the two typical Verizon ads, people can conclude that the selling strategy of Verizon is dividing consumption groups based on their social class instead of their races. It is a more realistic way to provide different costing plans to various income groups. And it can also attract all people who has this economical ability instead of blocking out of some potential consumers because racial discrimination. In this way, Verizon could possible to increase their consumer range and increase their profit.

Marcus Brutus as the Tragic Hero in Julius Caesar :: Julius Caesar Essays

Marcus Brutus as the Tragic Hero in Julius Caesar      Ã‚   There is no such thing as the perfect person.   We may dream of such a person, but sadly, everyone has flaws.   These flaws are what make us human.   Something else that makes us human is our need for heroes.   We attribute 'perfect' qualities to our heroes.   In reality even our heroes are flawed.   The closest thing to the idealized person, or hero, is the Shakespearean tragic hero.   The tragic hero is someone of high standing, good character, and a flaw.   While it may be only one flaw, it is often fatal.   An example of a tragic hero can be best seen in William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar.   Marcus Brutus is a prominent leader and noble citizen of Rome who leads in the assassination of Julius Caesar.   We see that Brutus plays the role of the tragic hero through his noble standing, fatal flaw, and legacy.      Ã‚  Ã‚   Marcus Brutus is of noble standing which adds to his appeal as a tragic hero. At one point Cassius says   "'Brutus' and 'Caesar.' What is so special about the name 'Caesar'........... yours sounds as good." (  Ã‚   )   This indicates that Brutus is held in the same esteem as Julius Caesar.   Most tragic heroes are of high standing because they are easily recognizable.   Tragic heroes are usually portrayed as prominent social figures so when they fall they fall harder.  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Brutus's fatal flaw is his trustworthy nature.   He joins the conspiracy not because he "loved Caesar less but loved Rome more."   (  Ã‚   )   Brutus joins the conspiracy under the impression that he is preventing Caesar's tyranny and saving the people of Rome.   He also trusts the motives of the other conspirators.   In entering the conspiracy he is also responsible for the death of Caesar and the movement of the plot.   The civil war is a direct result of Caesar's assassination and eventually Brutus's own death.   Brutus's fall is definitely caused by his trustworthy nature.      Ã‚  Ã‚   Through his legacy Brutus leaves the world an important lesson.   Marc Antony remembers Brutus as "the noblest Roman of them all."(  Ã‚   )   Despite his death and loss in the war, Brutus is still remembered as noble, in this he represents the moral of the play.

Determination of Dissolved Oxygen In a Water Essay

INTRODUCTION In an alkaline solution, dissolved oxygen will oxidize manganese(II) to the trivalent state. 8OH-(aq) + 4Mn2+(aq) + 2H2O(l) ï ¼ Ã¯ ¼ Ã¯ ¼Å¾ 4Mn(OH)3(s) The analysis is completed by titrating the iodine produced from potassium iodide by manganese(III) hydroxide. 2Mn(OH)3(s) + 2I-(aq) + 6 H+(aq) ï ¼ Ã¯ ¼ Ã¯ ¼Å¾ 2Mn2+(aq) + I2(aq) + 6H2O(l) Sodium thiosulphate is used as the titrant. Success of the method is critically dependent upon the manner in which the sample is manipulated. At all stages, every method must be made to assure that oxygen is neither introduced to nor lost from the sample. Furthermore, the sample must be free of any solutes that will oxidize iodide or reduce iodine. Chemicals: Manganese(II) sulphate solution – prepared by dissolving 48 g of MnSO4.4H2O in water to five 100 cm3 solution; alkaline potassium iodide solution—prepared by dissolving 15 g of KI in about 25 cm3 of water, adding 66 cm3 of 50% NaOH, and diluting to 100 cm3; concentrated sulphuriv(VI) acid; 0.0125 M sodium thiosulphate solution; starch solution (freshly prepared). Apparatus: 250 cm3 volumetric flask, 250 cm3 conical flask, measuring cylinders, titration apparatus, magnetic stirrer Procedure: 1.Use a 250 cm3 volumetric flask to collect water sample. Fill the flask completely with water without trapping any air bubbles. 2.Add 1 cm3 of manganese(II) sulphate solution to the sample using a pipette. Discharge the solution well below the surface (some overflow will occur). 3.Similarity introduce 1 cm3 of alkaline potassium iodide solution. Be sure that no air becomes entrapped. Invert the bottle to distribute the precipitate uniformly. [Hazard Warning: Care should be taken to avoid exposure to any overflow, as the solution is quite alkaline.] 4.When the precipitate has  settled at least 3 cm below the stopper, introduce 1 cm3 of concentrated sulphuric acid well below the surface. Replace the stopper and carefully mix until the precipitate disappears. A magnetic stirrer is helpful here. 5.Allow the mixture to stand for 5 minutes and then withdraw 100cm3 of the acidified sample into a 250 cm3 conical flask. 6.Titrate with 0.0125M sodium thiosulphate until the iodine colour bec omes faint. Then add 1 cm3 of starch solution and continue adding the thiosulphate solution until the blue colour disappears. 7.Record the volume of thiosulphate solution used and calculate the dissolved oxygen content in the sample in mg dm-3. Remarks 1.If the water sample has a low DO value, it is recommended to withdraw 200 cm3 of the acidified sample into a 500 cm3 flask for the titration describe in step 5. 2.This experiment can be further developed into a project to study the extent of water pollution. (a)The water sample under investigation is divided into two portions. One portion of the sample is immediately analysed for dissolving oxygen using the Winkler method. The other portion is stored in the dark for five days. (b)Repeat the analysis with the water sample that has been stored in the dark for five days. The difference between the two measurements is the five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), measured in mg dm-3.

Homeostatic Imbalances

Homeostasis is extremely important for proper functioning of all the human body systems. When our body is not able to regulate temperature all our body functions will fail to work. Even the enzymes need a specific constant temperature to work at their optimum level. At higher temperatures the enzymes will stop working. (Steadyheatlh, 2004) Dialysis is the artificial process of getting rid of waste (diffusion) and unwanted water from the blood. This process is naturally done by our kidneys. Some people, however, may have failed or damaged kidneys which cannot carry out the function properly, they may need dialysis. Ungar, 2012) Patients with renal failure experience a lot of imbalances while receiving dialysis. Electrolyte imbalances are the most common, usually presenting with hyperkalemia. This happens when the amount of calcium is more than the kidneys can excrete. Arrhythmias may also occur during dialysis. It too causes an imbalance of electrolytes or changes in acid-base homeost asis. Severe cramping, muscle spasms, and low blood pressure are some complications experienced from dialysis. This happens because of the removal of increased volume of fluids.Net filtration pressure is damaged as a result of increased permeability of the membrane. This too causes a homeostatic imbalance. Urinary incontinence and retention, thrombosis, and sleeping problems may all occur from the use of dialysis. (Steadyheatlh, 2004) Other homeostatic imbalance health problems like dehydration, hypertension, diabetes, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, can arise. Homeostasis is extremely important for proper functioning of all the human body systems. When our body is not able to regulate temperature all our body functions will fail to work.Even the enzymes need a specific constant temperature to work at their optimum level. At higher temperatures the enzymes will stop working. Eventually, it can cause death. Proper exercise, a well-balanced diet, and adequate rest can help to achieve hom eostatic balance. (Ungar, 2012) REFERENCES Ungar, J. (2012, June 5). Kidney transplant: end-stage renal disease. Retrieved from http://www. emedicinehealth. com/kidney_transplant/article_em. htm Steadyheatlh, I. (2004, March 8). Complications of dialysis. Retrieved from http://ic. steadyhealth. com/complications_of_dialysis. html

7 Tactical Fixes for Syntactical Impact

7 Tactical Fixes for Syntactical Impact 7 Tactical Fixes for Syntactical Impact 7 Tactical Fixes for Syntactical Impact By Mark Nichol Writers often miss opportunities to push home a point or spotlight an interesting observation by ignoring or not attending to the effect of cadence and syntax on written communication. Such incidents are like a standup comedian placing a punch line in the middle of a joke. Here are some examples of slight adjustments of sentence construction for maximum impact: 1. â€Å"He argued that the court is hardly a legal entity, for a variety of reasons.† The point of the sentence is buried in its midsection, after which a modifier is tacked on, causing the sentence to stagger to a weak ending. Revise as follows: â€Å"He argued that the court, for a variety of reasons, is hardly a legal entity.† 2. â€Å"The Chinese were growing lettuce by the fifth century BC, where it represented good luck.† Because â€Å"the fifth century BC† could be treated grammatically as a location, the second clause could be misunderstood to refer to the time, not the place, which is furthermore only weakly implied by â€Å"the Chinese.† Strongly link the superstition to the people, rather than the country: â€Å"The Chinese, who considered lettuce a symbol of good luck, were growing it by the fifth century BC.† 3. â€Å"More than 600 schools or school districts nationwide have blocked the Web site, according to cofounder John Doe. Doe, who started the site . . .† â€Å"According to† attributions are often stronger at the head of a sentence. This revision also avoids the clumsy repetition of Doe’s name at the end of one sentence and the beginning of the next: â€Å"According to cofounder John Doe, more than 600 schools or school districts nationwide have blocked the Web site. Doe, who started the site . . .† 4. â€Å"Asquith recognized that the majority of his party wanted to steer clear of the approaching conflict- and, more to the point, a majority of his Cabinet.† Wait the majority of his party wanted to steer clear of a majority of his Cabinet? Huh? Well, that’s what it says. But that’s not what it means. Here’s what it means: â€Å"Asquith recognized that the majority of his party- and, more to the point, a majority of his Cabinet- wanted to steer clear of the approaching conflict.† So write it that way. 5. â€Å"Yo-yos were first used as deadly weapons, not as toys.† The mildly startling fact about the toy’s origins is best held back until the end of the sentence: â€Å"Yo-yos were first used not as toys, but as deadly weapons.† 6. â€Å"The model takes the social systems surrounding the alcoholic as crucial, most often the family.† The specification of the primary social system should immediately follow â€Å"the alcoholic,† the focus of the sentence, rather than being buffered and weakened by the additional phrase â€Å"as crucial†: â€Å"The model takes the social systems surrounding the alcoholic, most often the family, as crucial.† 7. â€Å"There, it’s become fashionable to hate Jews, as they are the proxies for Americans in the Middle East, some say puppets.† As the sentence is written, the last phrase seems a muttered aside, rather than a key component of the statement. Inserting it, enclosed in em dashes, in the middle of the sentence gives it the prominence it needs: â€Å"There, it’s become fashionable to hate Jews, as they are the proxies some say puppets for Americans in the Middle East.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:English Grammar 101: All You Need to KnowComma Before ButForming the Comparative of One-syllable Adjectives

Top 10 ACT Reading Tips Use These and Improve

Top 10 ACT Reading Tips Use These and Improve SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re taking the ACT and find the Reading section to be a challenge, you’re probably looking for some quick ways to improve your scores. Well, you’re in luck. Here are our top 10 tips for acing the ACT Reading section! Tips for Reading Passages Tip #1: Start with Your Most Comfortable Subject Matter The structure of the ACT Reading section is very consistent.There will be fourtopic areasin the same order every time: Prose Fiction/Literary Narrative, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science.If you know that one or two of these will be easier for you to get through based on your interest in the subject matter, you should target those ones first. If, for example, you're more of a science person and end up running out of time on the last passage, you could be missing out on some easy points.Instead, you should skip straight to the subject where you're most comfortable. That way you know you’re getting the most out of your reading section score. Tip #2: Skim the Passage First (Or Skip Straight to the Questions) It’s not necessary to read the passage in full right away, especially if youstruggle with time on the ACT Reading section. One tactic is to skim first so you get a sense of the main ideas of the passage before reading the questions.The best way to skim is by reading the introduction and conclusion along with the first and last sentences of each body paragraph.You’ll save time and be able to answer most big picture questions about the passage.You can go back and read certain parts of the passage more closely later if necessary. Another tactic is to skip the passage at first and go straight for the questions.You can answer most detail questions without reading the full passage.Later, when you move onto big picture questions, you'll already have a sense of the main ideas of the passage based on what you learned in answering other questions.You can always go back and skim the passage, paying special attention to the introduction and conclusion, if you're struggling with big picture questions. Tip #3: Get Interested in the Passage It’s easy to adopt a negative attitude about the passages and treat them as a chore you just have to get through. However, you’ll have a much better time if you persuade yourself to be interested in the material you’re reading. Some of the passages present interesting information that you wouldn’t have learned otherwise. If you think of this as a learning experience, you’re more likely to absorb the material.That means a better performance on the questions and a more pleasant testing experience overall! Wear a party hat if you think it will get you in a more festive mood. If your peers judge you, just say you're going to an awesome party after the test and THEY'RE NOT INVITED. Tips for Answering Questions Tip #4: Use Connotation and Keywords When you’re thinking about how to answer a question, look for words and phrases that will help you determine positive or negative connotation as well as keywords that provide context clues about the answer.If you can figure out whether an answer should have a positive or negative connotation, this will help eliminate at least a couple of choices. If you can find keywords that indicate a contrast or a comparison in the passage (such as "however" or "rather than"), that can also lead to logical conclusions about the type of answer you want. Here's an example where we can detect connotation and use it to eliminate answer choices: The passage indicates that at the time Frank and Sigwarth presented new evidence supporting the small-comet theory, Frank most nearly felt: A. relieved but bitter about how he had been treated.B. grateful that ridicule of his work would end.C. proud that he had been proved right.D. satisfied and filled with anticipation of glory. The passage reads that after the new evidence was presented: Rather than gloating or anticipating glory, Frank seemed relieved that part of a long ordeal was ending. "I knew we'd be in for it when we first put forth the small-comet theory," Frank conceded, "but I was naive about just how bad it would be. We were outvoted by about 10,000 to 1 by our colleagues." Here, we see the words "Rather than", which tip us off to a contrast. We know for sure that Frank was NOT "gloating or anticipating glory". This means choice D can be eliminated for sure. Choice C can also be crossed out because pride wasn't the main component of Frank's feelings (as evidenced by the fact that he wasn't gloating about his accomplishment). The words "relieved" and "ordeal" show that Frank was just happy to be less vulnerable to criticism - he didn't have the energy to throw his success in everyone's faces. For the remaining two answer choices, you can see that there is a very strong adjective in the form of the word "ridicule" in choice B. This makes choice B questionable, because it doesn't seem like Frank's colleagues actually made fun of his work. They just didn't believe his theory. Choice A fits much better, and the word "relieved" is even used in the passage to describe Frank's feelings. Based on this question, you can see that paying attention to keywords is a beneficial strategy for eliminating answer choices on the ACT. Tip #5: Predict the Correct Answer When answering a reading question, try to think of the correct answer in your own words first.This will help you to avoid pitfalls with confusing answer choices.If you already have an idea of what the answer should be, you won’t get tripped up by answer choices that seem plausible but aren’t objectively correct. If the question is confusing to you, you canrephrase it in your own words before you even look at the answers to make it a bit easier. Usually, ACT Reading questions have pretty straightforward wording, but sometimes they can be confusing. If you think you might get the question muddled, write down what it's asking in your own words before choosing an answer. Tip #6: Eliminate Incorrect Answers This is the fundamental rule of ACT Reading: There's only one absolutely correct answer, and you will be able to find concrete reasons to get rid of all the other choices. Learning to eliminate wrong answers is vital because it’s much easier to get rid of the duds than to find the correct answer right away.Instead of puzzling over a couple of answers that you think might be right, you should think about why at least one of them has to be wrong.Train your focus on finding reasons to get rid of answers - every incorrect answer has something completely wrong about it. It’s your job to find reasons to eliminate answers until you are left with only one correct choice! If it helps, you can eat a milk dud for each time you eliminate a dud answer. The horrible stomachache you get later will be a helpful reminder of just how wrong the answers were. Logistical Tips Tip #7: Skip Difficult Questions If you struggle with running out of time on ACT Reading, which is one of the major challenges of this section, this tip is super important!If you find yourself lingering on a Reading question for more than 30 seconds, skip it and move on.Sticking with one difficult question for too long can jeopardize your chances of getting to easier questions later in the section. Especially on the ACT, it’s critical to have a strong grasp on time management.Since there’s only one Reading section,you need to make sure you get to all the questions.Circle the questions you skip on the first pass so that you can come back to them once you finish going through the whole section. Also, keep in mind that the ACT has no guessing penalty! If you're still totally stumped by a question after you come back to it, pick a letter at random and bubble it in. You can miss up to ten questions on the ACT reading section and still end up with a 25, so depending on what your target score is, you can give yourself some leeway for guessing. Bonus Math Question: If the correct answer choices for all the ACT Reading questions have equal chances of being correct, and you guess the same letter for 10 questions, how many points should you get, just by guessing? (Answer: you have a 1/4 chance of choosing the right answer choice, which x 10 = at least 2 points!) Long story short: guess the same letter pair (A/F, B/G, and so on) for questions that stump you and you have no idea how to answer. Tip #8: Double Check Your Answers If you have time at the end of the section, don’t waste it!Take the opportunity to go back through your answers and make sure you’re happy with all of them.This is the best way to eliminate any silly mistakes you might have made on the test. To make sure you're doing this in the most efficient way, circle any questions you're slightly unsure about in the section as you go along (even if you end up bubbling in an answer). That way you can just double check questions that confused you instead of wasting time checking questions that were no-brainers in the first place. Tip #9: Bubble at the End You can increase your efficiency on the ACT by waiting until the end of the section to bubble in all of your answers. You'll avoid looking back and forth between the test booklet and answer sheet during the test, which saves a few seconds per question.Just circle your answer choices in the test booklet when you first go through the questions. Be careful about using this tip though! You should only do it if you already know you can get through all the questions with 3-5 minutes to spare. Tip #10: Remain Calm Since there’s only one Reading section on the ACT, it’s important to keep it together and move forward even if you come across questions that stump you.Don’t let yourself get flustered by difficult questions. If you run up against something you can’t answer, just skip it and continue with the section.You might come back to it at the end and realize it wasn’t as hard as you initially thought.Confidence is key! Stay as cool as a cucumber. Are cucumbers really any cooler than other vegetables? I mean, clearly carrots and broccoli are trying too hard. But what about cauliflower? All the flair of broccoli but with a little more subtlety. I'll have to think about this. Let’s Review! Tips for Reading Passages: Start with your most comfortable subjectSkim first (or skip the passages initially and read the questions) Get interested in the passages Tips for Answering Questions: Use connotation and keywordsPredict the answer Eliminate wrong answers Logistical Tips: Skip difficult questionsDouble check answersBubble at the end Don’t freak out Remember to focus on in-depth strategies for improvement before applying these tips. You can’t just put a bandaid on a shark bite (or whatever other mortal wound you want to envision as a proxy for ACT content weaknesses).If you can master your content weaknesses AND follow these ACT Reading tips, you’ll be on your way to a great Reading score! What's Next? Looking for more ACT Reading strategies? Take a look at our articles on how to score a 36and the best way to practice for the reading section. If you want to be super prepared for whatever the test throws at you, check out my article on the hardest questions you'll see on the ACT Reading section. Here's a link to our complete study plan for the ACT so you can get started preparing for the test! Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Reading lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

The Naked Truth About Gym and Gymno

The Naked Truth About Gym and Gymno The Naked Truth About â€Å"Gym† and â€Å"Gymno† The Naked Truth About â€Å"Gym† and â€Å"Gymno† By Maeve Maddox Our word gymnasium comes from a Greek noun meaning â€Å"place to be naked,† or â€Å"place to exercise.† The adjective was gymnos, â€Å"naked.† Greek athletes exercised in the nude. The Greek gymnasium was for more than just working out. It was also a place for bathing and having scholarly discussions. The founder of the â€Å"cynic† school of philosophy, Antisthenes, taught in a gymnasium in Athens. The name of his philosophical school is usually explained as a reference to the â€Å"biting† sarcasm practiced by its proponents. Cynic is from the Greek kynikos, â€Å"dog-like.† However, the name could have originated from the name of the gymnasium in which Antisthenes taught: Kynosarge, â€Å"Grey Dog.† The prefix gymno (gymn in front of vowels) is frequently encountered in the study of botany and zoology. gymnosperm: â€Å"naked seed† (evergreens like the pine, hemlock, and fir) gymnorhinal: â€Å"having naked nostrils† (some birds have feathers on their nostrils; some don’t) gymnogenous: â€Å"naked when hatched† (some birds are born with feathers; some aren’t) The ancient Greeks gave the name gymnosophist to a sect of vegetarian Hindu philosophers who wore little or no clothing. Some gymno words refer to attitudes towards nudity. gymnomania: The obsession of the â€Å"peeping Tom†; male voyeurism. 2. A compulsion to be naked. 3. An abnormal interest in nakedness. Note: A male voyeur is called a gymnogynomaniac. gymnoscopic A reference to a desire to see naked bodies. gymnoscopy: Sexual pleasure derived from viewing the nakedness of the opposite sex. gymnophily 1. Having a special fondness for being in the nude. An abnormal interest in nakedness. gymnophobia 1. A pathological fear of being naked. A morbid dread of seeing a naked person or of an uncovered part of the body. gymnophoria The sense that someone is mentally undressing you, or that a person is viewing you naked even though you are clothed. There’s are even gymno words you can use when talking about the Bible. gymnobiblism: The opinion that the bare text of the Bible, without note or comment, may be safely put before the unlearned as a sufficient guide to religious truth. gymnobiblical (adjective) pertaining to, or holding, this opinion gymnobiblist (noun), a believer in gymnobiblism. All the gymno words you could ever want to see. Fascinating article on the history of social nudity. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Wether, Weather, Whether11 Writing Exercises to Inspire You and Strengthen Your WritingPersonification vs. Anthropomorphism

Middle east Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Middle east - Research Paper Example First of all, the crude form of IS (say, the Islamic State) was established in the year 1999, known as Jama’at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad. This group was formed in Jordan, under the leadership of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Axel Hunsicker stated that, â€Å"Zarqavi and his group helped finance, recruit, transport, and train Sunni Islamic extremists for the Iraqi resistance† (420). Besides, this organization played an important role in creating internal problems in the Middle Eastern context during the time of insurgency in Iraq. One can see that the presence of foreign fighters in this group proves its effectiveness, beyond its decentralized leadership. In the year 2004, this group decided to extend its influence by affiliating itself to international terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda. For instance, the group’s name underwent transformation as Taná ºâ€œim QaÊ »idat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn. One can see that the insurgency in Iraq was not over during 2000s. So, the primary aim of this group was to take an active role in the internal politics of Iraq by taking arms against the coalition forces. Again in the year 2006, this group changed its name into Islamic State of Iraq (ISI). To be specific, this transformation is important because the Mujahedeen leadership decided to co-ordinate different insurgent groups under a single leadership. Besides, the core leadership was in decentralized form to overcome unexpected deaths of important leaders.

The U.S. Economy of Euro Falls Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The U.S. Economy of Euro Falls - Research Paper Example The conclusion Teulon (2011) garnered was also accordance with that of Calomiris (1999): that the probability of the fall of euro is high. For Teulon (2011), the question is no longer whether the euro will survive, but rather on how long the euro will last. With the threat of the impending fall of the euro, one of the important questions that this leads to is its effect to the dollar. In the event the euro will fall, will this affect the economy of United States? This inquiry aims to give some answer to this question. International trade in this globalized world is highly efficient. It is through engaging in the global commerce that a local economy is affected by the economic performance of its trading partners. The exchange rate of the local to the international currency is important since this determines the prices of goods and services from abroad in terms of the local currency. Hence the exchange rate of euro to the dollar plays a significant role in the trade that occurs between them. The countries included in the European Monetary Union are also the trading partners of the United States. The members of the E.M.U. are the following: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. Table A (found in the Appendix) shows the trade in goods of the United States with each country of the E.M.U in 2011. The country imports more goods from the euro area by 87,860 millions of dollars than it exports there. This data might show that somehow, the U.S. depends a little on the products of the euro area for its consumption. As a source of income however, the country doesn’t depend there too much since it buys more from them than what it was able to sell to them. Nevertheless, this data only shows the trade of the U.S. with the euro area. Let us consider another set of data so a more meaningful analysis can be done. Table 1. U.S. Gross Domestic Product for 2011* Com ponent of G.D.P. $ Billions % of G.D.P. Consumption 10,726.4 0.71 Investment 1,914.6 0.13 Net Exports -576.9 -0.04 Government Expenditures 3,030.2 0.20 G.D.P. 15,094.4 100 Table 2. The Net Exports of the United States for 2011* $ Billions % of G.D.P. Exports 2,087.5 0.13 Goods 1,474.4 0.09 Services 613.2 0.04 Imports 2,664.4 0.18 Goods 2,238.0 0.14 Services 426.4 0.03 Net Exports -576.9 -0.04 *Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis. 2012. Gross Domestic Product and Related Measures: Level and Change From Preceding Period. GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: FOURTH QUARTER AND ANNUAL 2011 (SECOND ESTIMATE). Retrieved from http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/2012/pdf/gdp4q11_2nd.pdf Table 1 shows important information about the economy of the United States. First, the country is not dependent on international trade for its income or output. The net export is -.04 percent of G.P.D. The country spends more rather than gaining more from it. Since the data used for the trade between the U.S. an d E.M.U. countries has been on the net exports on goods only. From Table 2 we can infer that the net export on goods is equal to -763.6. The U.S. does not earn more dollars in trading with the E.M.U. countries. Instead, it is the euro area that gains more from its trade with U.S. amounting 87,860 millions of dollars in 2011. From these data we can see that in the event that euro falls, the economy of th

Business Management Tasks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Business Management Tasks - Essay Example This discussion highlights that  at the top of the structure is the CEO/President who oversees all the operations of the company he is at the top of the pyramid in decision making process. Company’s departments are categorized into either support or operations. Support include: human resources, finance, marketing, and property. Operation includes the other parts of the business.   At Pizza Hut every division plays a different function making it easier for the CEO to determine whether or not the divisions are performing as per required. This is a kind of structure that encourages specialization as each division consists of employees who have the required skills, experience, and character that are required for the function that the division serves.As the report stresses  the company is divided into departments each headed by a director. Every department has a specific function that is expected to perform a specific function the departments that are present in Pizza Hut are : marketing, human resource management, public relations, procurement, operations. This kind of organizational structure can be referred to as composite organizational structure because it is a blend of a hierarchical organizational structure and divisional organization structure. Despite the fact that the organization has various departments performing different functions there are divisions within the department with the leader of each subdivision reporting to the head of department.

The Dominican-American Convention analysis Essay

The Dominican-American Convention analysis - Essay Example In analyzing the situation it is clear that in orchestrating the arrangement the U.S. virtually secured its control over the Dominican Republic. Under the receivership agreement customs income would be distributed in the manner established in the â€Å"Modus Vivendi†: 45% for the Dominican government, 5% for the payment of the employees of the customs administration and 50% for the payment of the loan. ( The American-Dominican Convention 3-6) This â€Å"deal,† as we might call it, seems at first glance a win-win for everyone: the U.S., in that it kept European influences at bay, and the Dominicans financially and politically beholding to the U.S. For President Ramon Caceres, seeking to consolidate his power, had three million dollars to spend internally at his discretion, which certainly helped along with the U.S. guarantee for economic and military support to secure his position within the country. From a political point of view it is not surprising that some American Congressman of â€Å"anti-imperialist sentiment† (Roorda 11) would be against the move based on previous attempts to intervene in Dominican politics, as other Dominicans in the past were wary of such a close association on the basis of a weaker state being subsumed by one more powerful. In assessing the ultimate result from a political standpoint, one must see clearly the basis of their objections, since in the end, and under the agreement’s terms, officials of the U.S. War Department sent to the country to monitor its customs operations had war ships at their disposal â€Å"if local events went counter to his [Ceceres] wishes† (Roorda 15). From the main points of the treaty the results are somewhat mixed. Increased pressure was mounting from several European nations for the Dominican to pay its debt in fear of ongoing political instability. (Roorda 13) The U.S. military

Case Brief - McGurn v Bell Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case Brief - McGurn v Bell - Essay Example ons, McGurn said that a termination clause covering his initial twenty four months of service was considerable which he says Bell did not object to this. Bell extended another offer which McGurn rejected owing to its termination clause. Finally, Bell extended an offer to McGurn which said that following termination of his employment, he was to be given his basic salary over 6 months plus a lump sum amounting to forty thousand dollars or fifty percent of incentive p.a. but this cover was to last for the initial 12months of his service. McGurn signed as required but crossed out the word ‘twelve† and inserted â€Å"eleven† and didn’t inform anyone at Bell of the alteration. Bell’s HRM department received and filed the letter though they denied having viewed it on return. After approximately 13 months, Mcgurn’s employment was terminated, he advised Bell officials that he believed that his contract had a 2year termination clause; they also noted the alteration in the offer letter but refused to pay hence McGurn sued for bleach of contract. An exception to the rule that offerees who accept an offeror’s performance with the knowledge of offeror’s expectation in return for his performance have impliedly accepted the offeror’s terms. This happens where the offeree receives the advantages of the service offered with a reasonable opportunity to decline them plus grounds to recognize that they were accepted with the anticipation of recompense (Mallor, Barnes, Bowers and Langvardt, 2004). The court borrowed the procedure from two case i.e. Gateway C. v. Charlotte Theatres, Inc. and Kiddlerv Greenman. The Bell’s silence amounted to acceptance of McGurn’s counteroffer. The Bell microproducts, Inc. should to revisit the offer it wrote and signed earlier after it has been countersigned and returned by McGurn. For the first issue, the general rule of law holds that silence in reply to an offer aimed at forming a contract doesn’t add up to an acceptance of

Business communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 1

Business communication - Essay Example The primary motive of this venture is to increase the customer trust and erase the fear from the passengers. This report has also evaluated a press release to convey the current activities to their stakeholders. Malaysian airline is the major airline operator of Malaysia whose primary hub is Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Strydom, 2005). This airlines company was established in the year of 1937 with twin engine and 8-seater aircrafts. Throughout the years, the airline has grown widely to fulfil the demand of consumers from all over the world (Malaysia Airlines, 2012). During the year of 2014, the company has experienced two major crashes which have degraded the global reputation and its financial condition (The New York Times, 2014). The organization therefore needs to put in strong efforts to design a strategic plan which will help them to rebuild their global reputation and financial position. This paper will carry out a situational analysis in order to evaluate the internal and external business environment of Malaysian Airline and to assess their capabilities, resources and customers. The SWOT analysis of Malaysian Airline System will help in understanding the external opportunities and threats as well as the internal strength and weaknesses of the organization. This analysis will provide further assistance to the organization to evaluate new market strategies (Piercy and Giles, 1989). The airline has faced a financial loss of around $170 million in the year of 2012 and 2013. This reduction in profit margin of the organization has adversely affected the sustainability of the organization. In the year of 2014, the Malaysian Airlines has faced two major mishaps such as the shot down of their MH17 aircraft and disappearance of the MH370 aircraft. These disasters have decreased the reputation of this airline in the global market (CAPA Centre for aviation, 2015). Political environment of various regions has a great

Case Brief - McGurn v Bell Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case Brief - McGurn v Bell - Essay Example ons, McGurn said that a termination clause covering his initial twenty four months of service was considerable which he says Bell did not object to this. Bell extended another offer which McGurn rejected owing to its termination clause. Finally, Bell extended an offer to McGurn which said that following termination of his employment, he was to be given his basic salary over 6 months plus a lump sum amounting to forty thousand dollars or fifty percent of incentive p.a. but this cover was to last for the initial 12months of his service. McGurn signed as required but crossed out the word ‘twelve† and inserted â€Å"eleven† and didn’t inform anyone at Bell of the alteration. Bell’s HRM department received and filed the letter though they denied having viewed it on return. After approximately 13 months, Mcgurn’s employment was terminated, he advised Bell officials that he believed that his contract had a 2year termination clause; they also noted the alteration in the offer letter but refused to pay hence McGurn sued for bleach of contract. An exception to the rule that offerees who accept an offeror’s performance with the knowledge of offeror’s expectation in return for his performance have impliedly accepted the offeror’s terms. This happens where the offeree receives the advantages of the service offered with a reasonable opportunity to decline them plus grounds to recognize that they were accepted with the anticipation of recompense (Mallor, Barnes, Bowers and Langvardt, 2004). The court borrowed the procedure from two case i.e. Gateway C. v. Charlotte Theatres, Inc. and Kiddlerv Greenman. The Bell’s silence amounted to acceptance of McGurn’s counteroffer. The Bell microproducts, Inc. should to revisit the offer it wrote and signed earlier after it has been countersigned and returned by McGurn. For the first issue, the general rule of law holds that silence in reply to an offer aimed at forming a contract doesn’t add up to an acceptance of

Assignment 1-5-3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Assignment 1-5-3 - Essay Example Issues like marketing, making information available, the value of a web-page, and maintaining quality online interaction with the audience are addressed in detail. The importance of a global presence in today’s markets is underlined and the value for both, small and large businesses is elaborated upon. The organizations that are reviewed by the book are case studies that exemplify the way in which the internet can become the most powerful tool in an organization’s artillery given the global conditions of most markets. Ghosh, S., (1999). Making business sense of the internet. In William Andrews Sahlman (Ed.) The entrepreneurial venture: Readings selected. Ed. 2. (101 – 116). Harvard Business Press This chapter from ‘The entrepreneurial venture’ is designed to aid a start-up or an entrepreneur to use the internet as a tool to enhance the venture. Entrepreneurial businesses are often unique in their products and services, but lack the visibility to capt ure a significant share of the market. Given the business climate, global visibility, and distinct visibility are the hallmarks of a business that does survive the competition that can be extremely threatening to a young business that is yet to garner loyal consumers.

Southwest Airlines Essay Example for Free

Southwest Airlines Essay Southwest Airlines has employed unique operational strategies, incorporating industry revolutionizing methodologies, while developing and sustaining a strong corporate culture that has allowed Southwest Airlines to be profitable for a phenomenal 30 straight years and capture the Airline Industry Service Triple Crown five years in a row from 1992 to 1996. Southwest Airlines own success threatens whether it can maintain the strong corporate culture responsible for its prosperity while growing and adding additional routes. More pressing than the long-term strategy however were the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 that created uncertainty in the general environment of US economic trends and the task environment coping with new government security regulations that challenges whether the business model Southwest Airlines was founded on needs to adapt to continue to provide profits to stockholders. Southwest Airlines Organizational Structure Culture Southwest Airlines began in concept in 1967 and took its first flights in 1971 connecting three underserved metros in Texas: Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. Founding members Rollin King and Herb Kelleher pursued a strategy that focused mainly on cost-leadership (goal to make flight less expensive than driving between destination points) and niche strategies (business and pleasure fliers with simple itineraries and short trips) while also offering differentiation (high frequency departures to destinations via point-to-point flights) that did not demand a premium from the customer. The founding strategy drove decisions that resulted in Southwest revolutionizing the industry. Although the aviation industry is considered highly technological, much of Southwest’s organizational design dimensions reflect conscious choices to reduce complexity, partially as a result of regulatory constraints the company faced early in its existence. Southwest was first limited to intrastate routes when it began and following deregulation of the industry in 1978 Southwest was only allowed to fly directly to adjoining states from it base at Love Field in Dallas. Southwest chose to standardize on one type of jet airliner, the Boeing 737. The choice of the 737 allowed for routinization of parts ordering, inventory control, maintenance tasks, and training, significantly reducing expenses. Southwest also chose not to incorporate the hub-and-spoke system intended to increase available seat utilization. The point-to-point route system allowed Southwest to turnaround flights much more quickly gaining greater seat utilization. Other factors reducing complexity included the decision not to serve meals and limiting checked-in baggage on short flights. Early job descriptions in union contracts were not highly formalized; ground crews, flight crews, and boarding personnel were not required to adhere to subdivision of tasks and instead were asked â€Å"to do whatever else might be needed to perform the service† to get a flight off. Agents, or liaisons, with a great deal of autonomy and wide variety of resources to bear on the flight servicing process were incorporated also. Southwest broke away from the conventional boarding system of pre-assigned seats using colorful boarding passes given to patrons on a first-come, first-serve basis encouraging early arrival of customers and preventing mediation of an accidental double assignment to a seat. In yet another innovation, after being kicked out of all the major ticketing and reservation systems except Sabre in 1994, Southwest created the first â€Å"ticketless† travel program and leveraged internet technology to become the first airline to establish a home page to sell tickets on the Internet. Currently Southwest Airlines management is organized as a team minimizing horizontal and vertical differentiation. In addition to founder and chairman, Herb Kelleher, the management team also includes, Jim Parker (CEO), Colleen Barrett (COO), plus three executive vice presidents responsible for operations (Wimberly), customer service (Conover), and corporate staff services (Gary Kelly). The top management members spend a great deal of time together and serve as a cross-functional team making decisions as one. Within Southwest there is minimal hierarchy of authority although the locus of power is centralized within this team. In contrast to highly vertical organizations, the team has a wide span of control since Southwest is more heavily staffed with mangers responsible for coordinating functions at the front-line operating level. Although the organizational structure and design of Southwest Airlines are key factors to Southwest’s success and longevity, probably the most important factor is the culture that has been nurtured and firmly established by its charismatic founder Herb Kelleher that gives Southwest Airlines its sense of identity. Throughout the organization stress has been placed on the value of â€Å"family† and affects everything from the way new recruits are hired to the way union contracts are negotiated. Southwest Airlines has a very strong â€Å"Club† Organizational Culture that incorporates at least six of the seven elements of culture: innovation (first frequent flier program, ticketless flight, first Internet home page), orientation toward people (partnering with unions, acknowledgement of exceptional employees by the culture committee), results-orientation (efficiency and adherence to 15% growth strategy that maintains a strong balance sheet to manage for bad times), easygoingness (jeans for corporate attire, Texas greetings, hugs), attention to detail (winning Airline Industry Service Triple Crown 5 years in a row), and collaborative orientation (team turn-arounds, nobody saying â€Å"it’s not my job†). Clear adherence to the core values of profitability, low cost, family, fun, love, hard work, individuality, ownership, legendary service, egalitarianism, common sense, good judgment, simplicity, and altruism are expected and reinforced through rites, ceremon ies, symbols, and myths. Just being hired at Southwestern Airlines is a rite in itself that Kelleher once described as â€Å"a near religious experience†. Candidates for entry-level positions were interviewed in groups of 30 and monitored for signs of interest, concern, and empathy for the presenter. Frequent fliers were even included in the interview panel to ensure Southwest would hire people who fit in with the â€Å"Club†. Passing the six-month probationary period is one rite of passage while being nominated to the Culture Committee was definitely both a rite of passage and a rite of enhancement providing a high amount of exposure to the corporation management and employees. Advancing to the position of operations agent is a definite rite of enhancement since it could position an employee to be a prime candidate for other front-line management jobs. Ceremonies reinforcing the cultures and values of Southwest Airlines are the responsibility of the Culture Committee and it is tasked to create the Southwest Spirit and Culture where needed; to enrich it and make it better where it already exists; and to liven it up in places where it might be ‘floundering’. The annual awards banquet is the biggest companywide event of the year for which employees from all over the system are brought to Dallas and honored for their length of service. Southwest Airlines emphasis on personal relationships keeps the employee turnover rate hovering around 7%, further ensuring that â€Å"graybeards† are around to help enforce the values and culture of the corporation. In Dallas, at the corporate headquarters, employees find walls lined with pictures of other employees receiving awards for community service activities. The pictures serve as strong symbols that reinforce that the Southwest Airline culture inspires extra-role performance, specifically organizational citizenship behaviors such as altruism. No doubt the awards ceremony also provides an opportunity for many of the legends of Southwest to be told that solidify the â€Å"we vs. them† mentality derived from the Southwest’s organizational experience fighting court battles just to survive and other unique events such as organizational founder Herb Kelleher arm wrestling a competitor for the legal rights to use an advertising logo. The organizational structure and design of Southwest combined with the organizational culture that has been nurtured has served Southwester Airlines well. Southwest Airlines success is evidenced by 30 straight years of profits and being able to grow to become the fourth largest U. S. airline (in terms of domestic customers carried). However, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 resulted in a dramatic drop in airline customers and the issuance of over 200 industry regulation directives in the span of 60 days. The directives had a huge impact on the task environment Southwest and the other airlines operate within. Almost overnight, in an effort to win back airline customers, all of Southwest Airlines competitors became low-fare carriers temporarily negating one of Southwest’s marketing advantages. Security issues made the handling of passengers, baggage, and other matters more complicated and time consuming. Additionally many of Southwest’s best customers (business travelers), who due to their â€Å"last-second† arrivals at the gate, fall into the terrorist profile requiring that they be searched before being allowed to board the flight, further causing delays and threatening the validity of Southwest’s corporate motto, â€Å"you are now free to fly about the country†. Other airlines have added additional time into their flight schedules to manage perceptions of a key industry statistic that is very important to potential customers when purchasing a flight ticket; on-time arrival percentage for the particular airline. These factors have reduced profits, almost ending Southwest’s string of 30 consecutive years of profit, and placed Southwest next to last amongst major US airlines in percentage of on-time arrivals. At this point management is pondering whether changes in the fundamental business model are necessary to protect the bottom line and increase on-time performance. Proposed Solutions Analyzing post 9/11 performance in the airline industry convinces us that Southwest Airlines business model of frequent departures, unassigned seating, point-to-point flights, equipment standardization, strong family culture, and managed growth is sound. Amongst major US Airlines only Southwest and JetBlue were profitable between first quarter 2001 and first quarter 2002. In fact, cost/seat mile for Southwest has decreased in the period and revenue should increase as the US becomes more convinced of airline security and other airlines are forced out of the low-fare segment to try and earn profits. Management may be caught up in comparing its net income to its own past performance when they should be comparing it relative to its competitors who are doing far worse. Changing the business model in an environment of uncertainty would be disastrous resulting in employee turnover (feeling they no longer fit the company), huge hiring and retraining costs, and additional costs associated with attracting a new type of customer. Southwest’s business model displayed its resilience and daptability, when Southwest made the decision to increase schedules, after 9/11, and to continue to add Norfolk to its list of cities served. The decision allowed Southwest to increase market share in passenger miles flown from 7. 5% in first quarter 2001 to 7. 8% in first quarter 2002. Increased market share should increase revenue and profits when security regulation stabilizes and customers return to the airlines. The on-time arrival percentage is a skewed inaccurate statistic being manipulated by Southwest’s competitors. Although turnaround times have grown from 24 to 27 minutes this is still far superior to the industry average which is twice as much. However, to ensure last minute arrivals are boarded quickly we believe Southwest should go ahead and hire or pay for additional security in the gating areas in the short-term. Eventually new security equipment, such as high resolution x-ray scanners, will be deployed upstream of the gating areas by the US government, mitigating the need for preboarding searches. Southwest’s employees, with their strong sense of company ownership, will serve as the alarm to tell management when the added expense of federal security agents is no longer needed in the gating areas. Adding time to flight schedules increases the likelihood that a reduction of one flight departure from each city could be necessitated at a great reduction in profit ( 56 cities X 96 passengers X 500 miles avg. flight. X $. 8 profit cents/mile = $750,000 using 2002 profit data, = $3,494,400 using 2001 profit data of $1. 30 cents/mile). In order to continue growth, Southwest should first pursue adding the long flights, similar to the Oakland to Baltimore route, connecting highly serviced cities. The high seat utilization coupled with low per-flight labor costs will increase profits without requiring additional labor expenses that would be incurred if new cities were added to the service list. JetBlue is making a handsome profit on these longer flights. When the market has stabilized Southwest should once again pursue adding new cities to their service list while continuing to add longer flights. Finally the inaccurate perception by industry analysts, and potentially future customers, that Southwest service levels are declining should be aggressively attacked using one of Southwest’s legendary strengths, humor in advertising. The culture committee should be recruited to brainstorm advertising ideas pointing out that competitors cannot beat them in service levels so they have to cheat to beat the system. After all, Southwest Airlines continues to be #1 in fewest customer complaints for the last twelve consecutive years. Ads could humorously depict travelers boarding competing airlines in summer vacation attire, being passed in mid-flight by hot air balloons and hang gliders, and deboarding during blizzard conditions. The ending tag line would reassure current and future customers, â€Å"You are still free to move about the country†.

Personal Narrative: I have seen Elvis Presley :: Celebrity Actor Acting Performing Musician

I Have Seen Elvis While driving down the expressway late last Saturday night I saw the strangest thing. There on the side of the road was an old broken-down blue Cadillac. As I passed, that's when I saw it. Out of the corner of my eye; it was him. There stood Elvis Presley, the King, kicking at the flattened tire of his rusted out Cadillac. I swear it was him. He had the side-burns, the wonderfully slicked back hair, and just as he went out of sight I swear he was doing that lip thing. As I think back on that night I wonder to myself if it was really him or if I just really wanted it to be. To me he is a symbol of both a lifestyle and a generation. Even though he supposedly died a month before I was born, his image and his likeness has so much meaning for me. Was it his greasy hair, the rebellious sexuality of his gyrating hips or just that sullen look in his eye? All these years I have never really known how my obsession with him came about. Now that I am in college I am beginning to question how thi s man of relatively little talent became such a hero to me and such a legend of American pop-culture? I guess for me, I am just infatuated with his image. You could say I'm sold on it. Elvis was everything I have always wanted to be. He was a rebellious loner and also incredibly popular. Elvis was always carrying around a pretty guitar but it is rumored he could barely play three cords on it. Presley was so phenomenally talented that even after dead for more than twenty-two years, he is still making more money than the average hard working American. He was a poor southern boy who was manufactured and constructed into American royalty. It is for these reasons that I hold a special place in my heart for Elvis. It is also for these reasons that I will from now on respectfully refer to him as, The King. The King is the result of the manipulation and the marketing of the American public through the use of the mass media. The first weapon used to target the wallets of the American people was the record. Rock 'n' Roll, a rebellious new sound that was immediately embraced by the young teen-agers of the fifties was a great turning point in our American society.

The Life of Kate Chopin :: essays research papers

The Life of Kate Chopin   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Born originally as Katherine O’Flaherty, Kate Chopin came to life on February 8th, 1851 in St. Louis, Missouri to Thomas and Eliza O'Flaherty. The family she was born into was known as one of St. Louis’ wealthiest family’s because of her father’s well-known success as merchant involving the sale of boats and wholesale grocery.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1855 Thomas O'Flaherty died suddenly from a work-related railroad accident. Kate lacked male role models in her life after her father died. She was raised by three generations of women, including her maternal great-grandmother, Madame Victoria Verdon Charleville, who instructed Kate in music lessons, French lessons, and storytelling. Additionally, Kate attended the prestigious Sacred Heart Academy, which promoted intelligence and independent thinking: this helped Kate begin her lifelong love of reading and writing. When Kate was eleven, Madame Charleville died, and Kate's half-brother George was killed while fighting in the Civil War for the Confederate side.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At the age of nineteen Kate O’Flaherty married Oscar Chopin, the son of a wealthy cotton-growing family in Louisiana. The union between these two individuals produced six children (five boys and two girls). Oscar was French Catholic, as was Kate. In 1882, Oscar Chopin died of malaria also known at the time as swamp fever. Kate managed her husband's business for approximately a year and then returned to live near her mother in St. Louis. A year after her return, her mother passed away. To support herself and her family, Kate began to write. She was immediately successful and wrote short stories about people she had known in Louisiana. Her first novel, At Fault, was published in 1890 when Kate was forty. When The Awakening was published in 1899, the story created a scandal because of its portrayal of a strong, unconventional woman involved in an adulterous affair. It was inspired by a true story of a New Orleans woman who was infamous in the French Quarter.

Discuss the warrior rule in the Kamakura and Ashikaga Shogunates with specific examples Essay

Most of Japan’s political history revolved around the warrior rule or political rule of warring clans. Throughout the twelve until the nineteenth century, the governance of Japan depended on the outcomes of the continuous struggle between warring groups to take control. At the center of the warrior rule are two concepts, the bushi translated as ‘fighting men’ and the samurai meaning ‘those who serve’. Warriors practiced a code centered on loyalty and no tolerance for defeat. (Jansen, 1995) This made the warrior rule and the change in political leadership very dynamic. Kamakura Shogunate The Kamakura Shogunate exemplifies the warrior rule in Japan, with a warrior clan controlling governance and the warrior clan descending from the noble families. On one hand, the noble families maintain and secure political dominance by engaging the strongest warriors since the right to lead depended on the ability to wield the sword and defeat the ruling power and defend one’s rule from other warrior groups. On the other hand, the warriors with familial or non-familial ties with the noble families developed loyalty to these families and defended the leadership that they helped establish. This implied the overlap between the noble families and warrior groups. Noble families with strong warrior leaders often win the battle and those families without strong leaders in war became subservient to those with the ability to lead wars and defend governance. The Kamakura Shogunate is one period of warrior rule preceded by the Genpei war fought by two clans the Minamoto and Taira with both having prominent samurai capabilities. These two clans had similar military strength that the battle lasted for five years, from 1180 to 1185. The success of the Minamoto warrior clan brought about the Kamakura Shogunate. Minamoto no Yoritomo, the leader of the Minamoto warrior clan is himself of noble birth. His leadership reflected the manner that noble families gained warriors through the ability to lead. Throughout Minamoto no Yoritomo’s rule, he faced countless resistance from the other samurai clans but his decision to establish the center of government at Kamakura and refrain from extending his control over the northernmost and westernmost regions led to a longer rule. (Jansen, 1995) Warrior rule depends on territorial control and gaining the territory of one group meant extending one’s territory but adding another opponent likely to make a challenge in the future. By not expanding the territory too much, this became easier to defend and enemies minimized. Ashikaga Shogunate The Mongols became the strongest opponent of the Kamakura Shogunate so that even if storms dissipated the number of the invaders, the battle weakened the Shogunate. The exiled Emperor Go-Daigo took advantage of the situation to regain his lost power by restoring the Kemmu rule. However, this only lasted three years because of the weak military backing of the emperor. Warrior rule again emerged with the Ashikaga Shogunate led by Takauji. Nevertheless, even the Ashikaga Shogunate was weak in military leadership resulting to the assertion of independent power by the daimyo or regional warrior leaders. The strength of a warrior rule lies not only in the number of forces and degree of cohesiveness of loyalty of the forces but also in the strength of the top leadership. With a weak power at the top, warrior rule is bound to fall apart. The daimyos not only made decisions independently but also meddled in governance such as in influencing succession. With only backing from one or a limited number of regions, conflict was inevitable with other regions pushing for the shogun they preferred. All the aspiring shoguns backed-up by the regional military forces had claims over the shogunate based on either or both nobility and known samurai clan lineage. With the inability of the present Shogun to take control, this led to the Onin War, a ten-year war for leadership of the Shogunate by the different daimyos. (Jansen, 1995) The war destroyed Kyoto, claimed thousands of lives, and led to the greater overlap between leadership nobility claims and samurai lineage. Reference Jansen, M. B. (1995) (ed. ). Warrior rule in Japan. New York: Cambridge University Press.

The Hot Zone

The Hot Zone is a factual story by Richard Preston about the outburst of the Ebola virus in a monkey house located in neighborhood of Reston, Virginia. In the first half of the book, the author tells about the previous outbreaks of Ebola-like viruses in the African continent and talks about the consequent disaster. He refers to the painful demise of a French expatriate, Charles Monet and several other effected by the disease. Major Nancy Jaax, a U. S. Army personal was called upon after the Reston outburst occurs.She works in full body â€Å"space suits’’ (Preston 1999) with the most deadly viruses with in laboratories known as â€Å"Hot Zones† (Preston 1999). Nancy Jaax, a housewife and a mother, tries to keep a balance between her job and family life though the former always gets priority. Her husband and colleague, Jerry Jaax gets worried about her vulnerable exposure to such dangerous agents at Fort Detrick. The monkeys kept under observation for Ebola virus testing in the research facility at Reston starts falling ill after a certain time.By examining their tissue samples, Nancy and her colleagues concluded the illness being caused by the virus. Hundreds of monkeys in the monkey house are killed by the military and the Centers for Disease Control in order to prevent the virus entering the human residents in the area. Strict precautionary measures are taken throughout the procedure. Finally, the entire building is decontaminated and the employees go back to their normal lives. In order to discover the origin of these viruses, a U.S scientific expedition visits a place in Kenya where some of the infected people were reportedly visiting the area. Unfortunately, the mission failed but the leading doctor of the expedition was able to put away the equipment used during the mission. The decontamination project at Reston was a success. The author ends the account by reporting his visit to the suspected site that housed the Ebola carriers. Ref erences Preston, Richard. (1999). The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story. Anchor

Air Blue

Business Policy & Strategy Projects Guidelines Assignment #1 This is the first project based assignment. The students are required to identify an organization on which they are supposed to complete all upcoming assignments and final report. The first assignment is focused on the Vision and Mission statements of the organization. The group is supposed to first analyze and then recommend the Vision and Mission statements based upon the characteristics discussed in text. Assignment #2 Report on Industry AnalysisThis assignment would encompass the following components: a. Introduction and History of the allocated industry. b. PEST Analysis and conclusion on industry attractiveness. c. Industry scanning using the Porter’s five force model and conclude on prevailing competition level. d. Make a list of opportunities and threats present in the industry emerging out of PEST Analysis and Porter’s Five Force Model in relation to allocated company. e. Make EFE Matrix of the compan y and interpret its result. f. Identify and make a list of CSF’s of the industry . Identify company’s major competitors and make CPM Assignment # 3 Report on Company Analysis On the allocated company from within the respective industry, each group is required to develop: a. Perform Strategic internal audit of the company of the following departments as per the guidelines given in the prescribed text book i. Marketing ii. Finance iii. R&D iv. Accounting v. MIS vi. HR b. Complete internal audit and make list of key Strengths and Weaknesses of the company. c. Make IFE Matrix of the company and interpret its result. . Make SWOT analysis of the company and interpret its overall findings. Assignment # 4 A-Long Term Objectives In light of vision and Mission statement and SWOT analysis develop:- i. Long Term Financial Strategic Objectives of the company ii. Long Term Non-Financial Strategic Objectives of the company a B-Strategic Analysis and Choice I. Inputs stage This stage involves development of EFE matrix, CPM and IFE Matrix that has already been covered in assignment 1 to 3. (Just include findings) II. Matching StageIn this stage it is required to develop at least three out of the five matrices discussed below: i. SWOT matrix so as to develop four strategic scenarios (SO, ST. WO. WT) ii. SPACE Matrix for determining the organization’s overall strategic position. iii. BCG (If required) so as to determine the relative contribution of different divisions in terms of market share and industry growth. iv. IE Matrix using IFE and EFE scores ( done previously) v. Grand Strategy Matrix for formulating alternative strategySet of feasible strategies emerging out of matching tools which company can consider for decision stage ? FINAL PROJECT REPORT &PRESENTATION B-Strategic Analysis and Choice III. Decision Stage i. Compare all strategies included in sets of feasible strategies using QSPM of the allocated company. ii. Use excel spreadsheet for developi ng QSPM in order to evaluate the best alternative strategies set. This would require using the results from the input and the matching stage. Identify most attractive StrategiesUsing QSPM scores identify the most attractive strategies set to be followed by the company under the prevailing circumstances. Strategy Implementation i. Arrange the most attractive strategies sets in order of their priority in implementation to achieve company’s strategic goals ii. Specify the action plan that you are going to work on for implementation purpose for each strategy. iii. In order to implement any strategy you need to develop its annual objectives, policies and focus on the resources and other management issues that you may require your attentionEvaluation and Control i. Specify the steps and measures to be taken for checking the effectiveness of the each strategy set after they are implemented. ii. Specify corrective actions to be taken in case of positive or negative variances for each strategy set. Conclusion i. Write a short note (1/2 Page) on how do you see the future of this company in next 5 years down the road specially with reference to your overall analysis and Strategy set that you have recommended. ii. Write down what Lessons you have learned from this project. Special Note:If required students can easily transfer these assignments and project into final MBA project by adding more articles, updated industry and company data, and surveys about the strategies being pursued by the company. You can round up your MBA project by making a complete strategic business plan of the company for the next 3 years in light of your recommended strategies Reports format and presentation instructions IMPORTANT NOTE : ALL REPORTS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED ON DESIGNATED DAY AND TIME WHICH WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY THE INSTRUCTOR –THERE IS NO CONCEPT OF LATE SUBMISSIONStudents are advised to strictly follow these instructions while compiling their assignment or final project re ports, or making presentations (any deviation will result in deduction of marks): †¢Reports should be laser printed on A4 size (white) paper. †¢New Times Roman with font size 12 for the main body, Font size 14 bold for the sub heading, Font size16 bold for the main headings. Line spacing 1. 5 lines. Left justified †¢The title page of the report must contain: 1. Name and Logo of UCP 2. Title of the course and Section 3. Name of Industry 4. Company Name 5.Group members names and registration numbers 6. Name of the instructor 7. Date and Time of submission †¢Due references must be made where required in form of bibliography in APA style. ( Check the details of APA style of referencing on net) †¢Plagiarism would lead to negative marking or cancellation of the project. †¢Check spelling and grammar using MS Word spell check. †¢Presentation time would be 20 minutes followed by Q/A session in which each group member must participate. It should be on PPT sl ides. †¢Presentation should entail a brief summary of the industry and allocated assignments.

A Living Entity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A Living Entity - Essay Example The third and final branch of the criminal justice system is the corrections department, and in this arm includes jails, probation and parole, and prisons (Cohn, 1977). When an offender breaks the law, the police are the first aspect of the corrections department that the offender will encounter. After the arrest and investigations are completed, the person is then taken to the second arm of the criminal justice, that is the courts, where they are tried and if found guilty, are sentenced to serve a prison term, or a different penalty depending on the offense (Cohn, 1977). The court transfers the guilty person to the corrections department that may include serving a prison sentence, probation and house arrest, rehabilitation, and depending on how severe the offense is capital punishment may apply. Emotional labor It is in the background of these responsibilities and duties to a nation that the criminal justice personnel find themselves in difficult situations. One of the aspects of cr iminal justice system that make the profession more emotionally draining than a typical 9-5 job is the need to make sure that justice prevails at all times. This becomes more difficult because the law protects each individual even if the said person is a known offender to the law enforcement. Therefore, the police may find themselves in situations where a known killer or rapist walks free because they are protected by the law. In events where the police are unable to protect a civilian from the acts of a known offender, or in a case where the prosecution fails to prosecute a suspect fully due to different technicalities, such situations may cause a huge emotional turmoil on the part of the criminal justice personnel. In addition to this, members of the criminal justice system often come in contact with victims of heinous and deviant criminal acts that may cause a tremendous emotional effect on the part of the officer. Therefore, in such situations, members of the criminal justice sy stem can be said to have a high influx of emotions compared to other office jobs. Emotional labor according to the definition is a state emotional regulation that manifests itself in public through facial and other physical bodily expressions. Emotional regulation is the ability by an individual to react to different situations in a way that is socially tolerable and acceptable (Mastracci, 2012). In this manner, individuals must be able to know how to conduct themselves when reacting to a given situation or an occurrence. When police officers are involved in life threatening situations, or when arguing in courts, emotions are likely to boil, and certain people may say or act in a comportment that is not professional. An example of such behaviors may include crying, using excessive force, shouting and calling other people unpleasant names (Mastracci, 2012). In criminal justice, it is essential to train law enforcement officers on the need to regulate their emotions to avoid miscarria ge of justice on account emotional outburst. Some of the ways emotional labor can be reduced is through education and attendance seminars on how to handle and control different situations without letting the weight of the event get the better of the

Analysis of Types of Cell Organelles Coursework

Analysis of Types of Cell Organelles - Coursework Example As they contain water, they are able to make sure that the latter possibility remains in effect. The cell wall is a tough and flexible layer that surrounds many types of cells. It can be found outside of the cell membrane and plays the part of acting like a "pressure vessel," being able to prevent the cell from over-expanding when water enters it. They are found in plants, algae, and fungi - many organisms that need water as a part of their growth. The cell wall also filters what enters and exits the cell. The cell membrane can be found between the cellular machinery inside the cell and the fluid that can be found outside of the cell. The cell membrane is a permeable lipid bilayer that can be found in all cells, in all types of organisms. The cell membrane acts as a type of skin, separating the intracellular components from the environment of the extracellular components. The cell membrane helps to add shape to the cell and aids in the forming of tissue. The nucleus is the DNA provider of eukaryotic cells; in fact, the foremost function of the nucleus is to control gene expression as well as the replication of DNA during cell cycles. The structure of the nucleus allows it to control what it needs to, yet keeps itself away from the rest of the cytoplasm where it sees fit. The nucleus also contains pores that allow free movement of molecules and ions that need to pass through. The structure of the Golgi apparatus, the organelle that helps to process proteins for secretion, contains numerous membrane-bound stacks that are known as cisternae. The purpose of the cisternae is to modify the contents that enter the organelle based on where they would reside within the cell or organism. Each stack of cisternae on the Golgi apparatus contains five functional regions, each one capable of selectively modifying the contents of the organism. The endoplasmic reticulum is responsible for protein translation, the production, and storage of glycogen and steroids, transporting the proteins that are required within the cell, among many other functions. The structure of endoplasmic reticulum is made up of a number of cisternae, allowing the filtering of what goes inside the organelle and what is released.

What is the self and how can we know it, or can we know it at all Term Paper

What is the self and how can we know it, or can we know it at all - Term Paper Example Ascribing from the above definition it can be argued that the self refers to what someone perceives or thinks about himself. The self concept can be known when one becomes aware of oneself. An individual can know this concept when he belief on himself or herself and achieves a higher level of personal attributes awareness. It can be generally the self can be viewed o three strands perspective. First is the physical self who basically comprise the sense of embodiment, psychological self which is the ability to differentiate between self and others (Mitchell 56). Finally is the higher level sense which summarizes the actions attributed to the psychological and the physical self. The self can also be identified by the discourse and the conduct of the individual. In regard to this, the intentions of an individual and the actions which emanates can also be used to describe the self. The identity of the self concept of an individual is determined particularly by the distinct characteristic s and attributes of an individual (Mitchell 98). Descartes’ position on self Descartes’ position and perception of self is the ascription of the self to being the transcendent agent which can be referred to as homunculus. Descartes provides that the self is a non-natural entity citing the soul which basically determines the various human components and perceptions. On this agent causation view the concept of free is the cause of the actions which is attributed to the self and that it is free from the natural causation (Mitchell 115). This Descartes’ position on self can be referred to as indeterminism where the argument is basically based on the free will of the individuals. The argument is further based on the moral responsibility and it asserts that the existence of the self leads to existence of the free will which is responsible for an individual actions. This position in is perceived voidable because of the belief of the existence of the soul which basicall y affect the human way of thinking and how bodies react. The self of an individual is highly connected to the source of the personal identity (Mitchell 120). Descartes’ position on self ascribes to the fact that the soul is relevant in determining the identity of an individual. This is further attributed to the soul imperceptibility and being the source of the identity. The weakness of this view is the fact that the soul may change having the same memoires attributes and the doubt in regard to the change and dynamism of personal behaviors (Mitchell 146). Locke’s empiricism and the self Locke’s empiricism and the self are based on the argument which considers the self as immortal and attributes it to the personal immortality. Locke asserts that the self doesn’t know the nature it ought to have in order to be able to think. The determination of the soul identity is also ascribed since matter is basically in a continuous flux. He further argue that the key t o the self of a person is individual is memory. What makes a person attributed to the self is the ability to posses the living awareness of the personal interest which basically makes a person who he or she is. In this Locke’s view of the self the aspect of memory having substantial basis is taken into account. There is the possibility of the self having immortality without opposing anti-dogmatism. The strengths associated to this perception are that it justifies the belief of individual self, its gives a common ground of discussing the validity of the personal self (Mitchell 78). The weaknesses of this stand are that it does not clearly explain the demarcation

A Report on a Research to Identify the Best Practice to Implement in Essay

A Report on a Research to Identify the Best Practice to Implement in the Field at Electrocom Ltd - Essay Example The paper defines the concept of organisational learning and its applicability to Electrocom Ltd. Three areas have been explored and they include a review of the use of strategy by an organisation as a process of learning, the structure and systems in use at Electrocom Ltd, and teamwork and leadership roles are discussed in relation to organisational learning. According to Senge (1992), a learning organisation is â€Å"...a place where people continually expand their capacity to create results they truly desire, where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free and where people are continually learning how to learn† (p. 1). Furthermore, he developed an organisational learning framework based on five disciplines namely personal mastery, mental models, shared vision, team learning, and systems thinking. These disciplines, which served as a representation of the long term learning practice for both the individual and the organisati on, are discussed below (Senge, 1992): Personal Mastery – this is where individual employees develop their own capabilities in delivery of desired results. In addition, employees create a society in which all colleagues are encouraged to improve themselves in accordance with the organisational goals and objectives. Mental Models – through reflection, individuals continually clarify, rectify, and improve their personal view of the world as well as see how they model decisions and individual actions. Shared Vision – individuals establish workgroups within which they build a committed spirit to develop a shared image of universal desires and guiding principles and practices which will support the vision. Team Learning – this is where relevant thinking skills of different groups of people enable them develop intelligence and an ability greater than the talent of each individual member put together. Systems Thinking – this is the language used to unders tand and describe the relationships and forces that shape the system’s behaviour. This discipline helps employees and managers at the same level to develop a way to effectively change the systems and act in accordance with economic and natural processes of the world. Organisational learning is the ideal concept of coping with change in an organisation as it engages the minds and hearts of all participating staff in a continuous and harmonious change that is productive and designed to achieve genuine results wanted by the stakeholders of the organisation (Covey, 1992). This process enables individuals to be creative and learn collectively to develop and encourage innovation and ability to respond to global competition rapidly. In short, organisational learning encompasses constant smartness as the learning process is planned, systematic and in accordance with the strategic goals of the organisation. Electrocom Ltd is working towards establishing competencies that are consisten t with attributes of organisational learning. During this period of transformation, Electrocom Ltd is expected to undergo organisational change that is directed towards flexibility of the organisation in terms of responding to the competitive market changes. Emphasis has been placed on cross-functional teaming and establishment of programs to enable people to contribute greatly to the development of the organisation. Electrocom Ltd is an electronics company based in North West, employing around 700 employees. It

Discuss at least three key technology trends that raise ethical Essay

Discuss at least three key technology trends that raise ethical issues. Give an example of an ethical or moral impact connected to each one - Essay Example The above report will look at the three key technology trends which will raise ethical issues along with example of moral and ethical impact which is connected to one another. Social, ethical and political issues are correlated. The ethical dilemma of information system manager’s face is reflected in the political and social debate. Ethical issues have always been factored in while considering information technology. Information technology has raised the existing social arrangements, ethical concerns and made existing laws severely crippled or obsolete. Rise in information systems and technologies have created opportunities for criminal mischief and behavior. There are mainly four key technological trends which are responsible for ethical stresses. The first issue is the doubling of computing power which occurs every 18 months. This has made all the companies to use the information systems in their core production processes. This has resulted in excessive dependence of organizations on information systems and hence there is a chance of system errors and poor quality of data. Thus the same information system which causes the productivity level to increase has created chances of abuse. But Social laws and rules have not been able to adjust to this dependence. Standards which have ensured reliability and accuracy of the information systems have not been enforced or accepted universally. The second is the advances in the data storages techniques. This has resulted in rapid decline in the storage costs, which in turn is responsible for multiplication of databases of individuals like customers, employees and potential customers. Such advances in the field of data storage have resulted in violation of the individual privacy. Large private companies use massive data storage systems which can be used by both regional and local retailing firms so that they can target customers. For example companies like America Online, Yahoo!, Google and MSN maintain large