Business Systems Hoosier Burger Essay

Improving Hoosier Burger Bob and Thelma Mellankamp wanted to open their own business. They came across Myrtle’s Family Restaurant and saw a sign that said it was for sale. Bob and Thelma bought the restaurant and their own restaurant was brought to life Hoosier Burger Restaurant. The idea was one that everyone dreams of owning their own business but do not understand all the behind the scenes projects that make a business successful. Yes, they have been in business for over 30 years but even they understand that their dream needs some improvement to continue in the market they are in. Bob and Thelma have discussed the idea of a computer system but do not know where to start so Bob wants to bring in a consultant to address some of their weak areas and make suggestions to improve Hoosier Burger. They inform the consultant on how business is ran. This restaurant is behind the curve when it comes to technology. They still do paper trail on every aspect of the restaurant from deliveries, inventories, and p oint of sale (Valacich, George, & Hoffer, 2009). Even though paper was what many companies started out with, it is no longer an approved way to do business. Paper allows too many human errors to come into play where as an electronic record keeping system eliminates a majority of these errors but as with any data†¦you get out of it what you put into it. All this means that if you put inaccurate data into the system then the data you get from the system will also be inaccurate. Hoosier Burger has learned this lesson oh too well. Especially, since they did not order enough vanilla ice cream to cover their own special so they had to run to the grocery store to try to get enough for the sales they were doing on the special (Valacich et al., 2009). Bob and Thelma agreed that it would be  valuable to purchase an information system to assist them in the areas of inventory management, marketing, customer service, food preparation, and point of sale (Valacich et al.). Now that it has been decided on what needs to be addressed with thi s new information system. The systems development life cycle (SDLC) begins (Valacich et al., 2009). The four main steps of this process are (1) planning and selection, (2) analysis, (3) design, and (4) implementation and operation. The first phase is to plan the system out and then select the appropriate system for job. This situation a good point of sale system would give this company the system they need for daily operations and growth. A good POS covers all aspects of the restaurant from the dining area to the kitchen and even the storage areas. With any system, you have subsystems that are called components. Components by themselves do not make a system but when put together they make a complete system. In the case of Hoosier Burger one of the components of the system would be an inventory log or database. This subsystem would track usages and deliveries to ensure that stocks are maintain at the properly level for daily operation of the business. The project development team that Hoosier Burger selected w as based on the weaknesses of the organization. The focus of the new system will be on ways to improve inventory management, customer service, and management reporting. Any one of these weaknesses could cripple the organization. The team needs to get as much information as possible to ensure that they are building the correct system for this organization. I would use the interview process to get as much information from the staff as possible and I would use questionnaire to customer input. Also, I would gather as many reports and logs that I could for supporting documentation but with the current processes. This type of information may not be readily available or available at all. After gathering this information, the process of developing a system to correct their weaknesses begins. You would also want to find out if the company has any upgrades planned so that you could incorporate that into the system. In this case, they want to expand to delivery services and a drive through operation. These expansions do not require a lot of upgrades to the building so these will go into effect immediately to increase revenue for the company. The diagram figure 1 shows the flow of information for the new system. Fig 1. As you can see from figure, the information system that need is robust in nature but simple. The system analyst now needs to break down the different entities the company needs to store information about. These entities have particular characteristics that require information to be stored. There are rules used when attempting to place an identifier for each entity. The diagram will show the changes and specify the component’s needed for each relationship. In the text, an entity is a person, object, place, concept, or event in the user environment of which an organization wants to store data(Valacich, George, & Hoffer, 2009). Person entities are usually your employees but can be your customer. Place entities are basically the location i.e. states, regions, countries. Object entities include the machines you use, buildings your work out of, products you produce, and vehicles. Event entities can be considered sales, renewals, registrations. Concept entities include courses, accounts, or work centers. Hoosier Burger needs the ability to store information about their individual entities. The main entity is the customer that frequents the restaurant on a regular basis. They also need to store information about what products the customer is purchasing. Hoosier Burger also needs the ability to store information about the company itself and place entities which are the businesses that order meals from the company. We will now discuss attributes. Attributes according to the text are named properties or characteristics of entities that are of interest to the organization(Valacich et al., 2009). The following attributes should be used for the customer: customer name, customer address, customer phone number, customer’s number of orders, and customer specific orders. These attributes can also be assigned to the business entity by switching out customer with business. Attributes can also be assigned to the end product such as ingredients, price, and amount sold. Identifying the entities require assigning unique identifying  characteristics for the entity type. For example when dealing the with customer entity, you would use an identifier that is easy to use i.e. Customer ID, Customer Name, Customer Address, and Customer Phone. The key when dealing with identifying items is making it user friendly. Once all of these have been put into place, the system analyst now needs to build three working solutions to this company’s weaknesses. The three solutions as discussed in the text are low, medium, and high level. The difference in the three levels usually equates to cost but it also includes how much effort the user has to put into the system and the type of technology used. Time is money and if your employees are having to spend more time with the system than the customer then Hoosier Burger will lose money. All of these factors come into play when developing a system for an organization. The key to success of Hoosier Burger and the project development team is communication and cooperation. The more time these two entities communicate with each the easier it will be for the project team to address the needs of the customer and customer addresses the needs of the project team. It is a two way street. In the end, the job of the system analyst is to develop a system that addresses the wants and needs of the customer while maintaining within the budget. You do not want to sell the customer a â€Å"Corvette† when a â€Å"Camaro† would have done what is needed. Reference Valacich, J. S., George, J. F., & Hoffer, J. A. (2009). Essentials of Systems Analysis and Design (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Lord of the Flies Jacks Letter

Dear headmaster, My choir and I left Britain, to get away from the nuclear war. Unfortunately, our plane crashed on some deserted island. The only survivors we're me, my choir, and also these other boys named Ralph and Piggy. Our time here has been a disaster, due to Ralph's leadership skills. Knowing me, I am a perfect leader. I have the. strongest and bravest qualities. I know how to lead and take initiative, like i have done with our choir. Although the leadership role was given to Ralph. Instead I am the leader of our choir, in which we are in charge of hunting. I am best hunting anyways because i am the strongest one here.On the first night, the group supposedly saw a beast. I personally don't believe that their was a beast. The group are just a bunch of wimps, especially piggy. For someone who is so fat and large, he get scared very easily. Then we had made a fire on the peak of a mountain for a signal. We were all designated to keep that fire from expanding. Although I had tha t duty, my main priority was to hunting. Anyways I wasn't the only one who should be watching the fire. Therefore I went out along with the choir to go hunt for a wild pig. Supposedly, I was neglecting the fire, when Ralph knew my main priority was to hunting. he fire got out of hand and I was repremanded by our hipocritical leader. I really don't like our leader, therefore I made my own group. My group and I are dedicated to finding and capturing a boar. We are like an army trying to capture a country. It would be helpful if you can send us a sword just like the picture on the back side. First of all, it will be very useful in cutting materials and hunting. Also since im the leader of our new group, It shows that I am the most equip and that I am the strongest. Thank you for the your attention on my request. Sincerely, jack

American education Essay

I grew up in America and received an American education. I have an American wife and children and I love the life I have built for myself in America. My dilemma is that I am, by birth, beholden to become the chief of an African tribe upon the death of my father who was chief of the tribe. My loyalties are torn between my life in America and my responsibility to a tribe I have never known in a land I don’t understand, and in a role of leadership which I have never experienced. I must also consider my wife and children; I must make a decision either to shirk my responsibility to the tribe or to take my family to a very strange, possibly dangerous land and upset our lives completely. Because it seems to me that the cultural and technological changes that are impacting Africa in the twenty-first century are complicated and profound, I feel a strong sense that I should serve the tribe. It would be very difficult to give up my life in America because the life described n Africa in the film sounds demanding and very alien to the social customs of America. However, it seems that refusing to provide wisdom and knowledge and leadership to the tribe due to fear of change or personal selfishness would be morally wrong. Because I have had a good education in America, I will be able to help the African tribe in many ways. There’s no reason why I shouldn’t be able to conduct travels to America and do business on behalf of the tribe in America or work to provide opportunities for those in the African tribe who seek it to become educated in America. In some ways, the responsibility to the tribe is not only to facilitate a transition into the twenty-first century but to uphold the promise of my father who, as chief, promised the tribe that I would serve upon his death. Taking my family to Ghana will be a very difficult and very troublesome action which is a sort of sacrifice that will be necessary in order for me to do what is morally and practically the right thing to do. It would be wrong to turn my back on the tribe, but it is potentially dangerous and destructive to uproot my family and take them to a foreign land. On the other hand, the opportunity may well prove to be a good one for both myself nad my family. The land may show us mysteries and cultural differences which will make us better people, and maybe even happier people. There may be issues other than those of service to the tribe. After-all, I will be chief and me and my family will be held in high esteem by the tribe; we will be important and influential and we may find that our new roles are right for us after-all. Going to Africa will also allow me and my family a chance to find out about my ancestry and the history of the tribe. It could be that certain tribal traditions and tribal wisdoms will prove important for Westerners to understand and that my role as a â€Å"bridge† will work both ways: I may impart wisdom about modern ideas and technologies to the tribe but I may be able to use traditional tribal ideas and cultural wisdoms to elucidate problems which face the â€Å"modern† world. The final factor which weighs in my decision is the fact that the tribe has already pronounced me chief and accepted me as chief. In this sense, the tribe is also my â€Å"family’ they are simply family members which I have not yet become attached to and involved with, but it is important for me to make a self-sacrifice on behalf of the tribe. I would choose to become Chief of the tribe in order to provide a cultural ‘bridge† from the African traditions to the modern changes which are going to impact the tribe, whether they want them or not and whether or not they are prepared. I feel a sense of responsibility to my father’s reputation and to the tribe, as well as to myself and my family.

ASTON MARTIN BRAND AUDIT Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

ASTON MARTIN BRAND AUDIT - Assignment Example Moreover, the company holds various elements, which constitute its success factor in the highly competitive automobile industry. Such strengths define the resilience of the grand logo of the company, despite the weathering challenges in the markets. The founders of the corporation were Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, both of United Kingdom. However, over the years, it changed ownership with various parties buying shares in the company including the Ford brand among others. Today, the leading individual shareholders and owners are David Richards and Baimler AG (Dowsey, 2010). The other shareholders are companies with shares in Aston Martin. Aston Martin is a company whose existence now spans 100 years of operation. The company was established in 1914 and has been operating since its institution (Dowsey, 2010). Further, this forms a heritage factor for the company, which makes it a preferable choice for many of its consumers. Aston Martin is an automobile company whose operations focus solely on the manufacturing of vehicles and wares of vehicles. The company products feature in the motorsport industry, as well as, the personal car industry. The company also factors the production of cars for luxury purposes, a leading service that it facilitates to its consumers (Dowsey, 2013). The operational elements of its products and services entail the highly competitive automobile industry, where the company products feature as leading operator and identifiable market share leader. The company Aston Martin has its base in the UK market. The head office operations are in the UK. However, it also features its operations in other sections such as America and Asia. The notable market leader in the UK has its products across the globe; hence, its scope is global (Dowsey, 2013). The company utilizes its networking ability to venture into markets across the continent accordingly, incorporating its strategic marketing features and management

This case study is an introduction to issues of financial management Research Paper

This case study is an introduction to issues of financial management and Human Resource Planning and Budgeting - Research Paper Example The report highlights the payback period, employee turnover projection after the implementation of the machinery, the total cost of the an individual in relation to the human resource function and lastly an evaluation of the firms benefits after the implementation...... I also agree that an electronic copy of this project may be stored and used for the purposes of plagiarism prevention and detection. Copyright Acknowledgement I acknowledge that the copyright of this project and report belongs to Emirates Aviation College. Signed: Date: Acknowledgement This project is a success because of the support received from people who are special to me. I would like to acknowledge the support of my family including my brother and sister, my colleagues from this department and my project supervisor Introduction The company board of directors recently discussed of that the company dealings should be taken on by the medium sized Co- share company. Co-share is to take charge of all their fruit and vegetable packing and supply. Co-share is a small to medium sized supermarket with approximately 165 stores in Midlands and other areas (Mondy, Robert, and Mary, 2003, 140). Unlike LJC white Co-share is more established with strong business ethics and reasonable trade pr actices. The terms of trade that LJC demand indicate that Co-share Company should utilize all their reasonable trade products and the human resource should utilize their best practices in running the company, for example, the use of staff development and the policies that include the none discrimination laws and regulations. The Co-share company has a policy of auditing their suppliers to ensure that all the required practices are adhered to, and they participate in the lucrative activities including the investors in people (Mathis and John, 2003, 200). Background of report The move to engage in business with Co-share would require LCJ the family business to add more assets in order to facilitate the expansion. It

Leadership and Communication Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Leadership and Communication - Term Paper Example Each leader possesses a unique leadership style and/or philosophy and communicates in a particular way depending on numerous factors such as their individual personalities, their levels of experience, education, or training, which greatly determines how followers react to leadership (Hersey, Blanchard, & Johnson,2013). Three major leadership styles that have persisted over the years include the Authoritarian, Democratic as well as Laissez-Fair; the autocratic leader establishes clear guidelines specifying tasks and procedures for accomplishing the given tasks thereby providing guidance for his or her followers. Nonetheless, the autocratic leaders make their independent decisions without involving their followers and are viewed as controlling, bossy and dictatorial thus may undermine the motivation of the workforce in accomplishing their specific tasks. Unlike the autocratic style, the democratic style of leadership entails a consideration of group input in the decision-making process ; precisely, democratic leaders value the need to engage followers in decision-making by listening to their suggestions. Consequently, the democratic leader makes his/her followers feel more engaged, valued and respected, which eventually makes them even more creative and motivated to contribute to the success of the organization; nonetheless, this style may also undermine performance due to disagreements and long consultation sessions. Unlike the other two leadership styles, the Laissez-Fair is suitable for work environments that have responsible group members that can work productively on their own without any form of supervision.

English Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

English - Assignment Example In this song, they proudly wear the discriminatory remarks as ornaments as if saying, ‘yes! We are who we are, what are can you do about it?’ The poems ‘Rhythm Blues’ and ‘Bang Bang Outishly’ by Amiri Baraka also talk about racisms and how dangerous they are for the growth of a healthy society. One poem says that â€Å"if capitalism won’t kill me, racism will† while the other stresses on â€Å"Let it be!† These poems are just more decent and more spiritual form of repelling racism. What the rap music have portrayed in the 90s in a very raw and unedited format, these poems by Baraka do the same only in a very gentle yet powerful way with subtle but meaningful choice of words. Dear John, Dear Coltrane by Michael Harper is also a poem talking about racial discrimination in North Carolina. But what is common in all of these poetic masterpieces is the fact that they all give a message to all humanity that they need to embrace people as they are. For instance, in his poem, at one point Harper takes up a question-answer format where he asks,† Why you so black?† and the a nswer come â€Å"cause I am† then again, â€Å"Why you so funky?† and the answer is â€Å"cause I am†. This is just another way of saying that black people are who they are, it is not a disease or something that they control. Being an African American in an identity and the world needs to take this community as they

Critically evaluate the view that Changing Organisational Culture is Essay

Critically evaluate the view that Changing Organisational Culture is difficult if not impossible and requires a different approach to other types of change initiatives - Essay Example In-depth study of culture change in the corporate and organisational literature reveals it to be centered on human relations management for higher productivity. Edgar Schein (1985) believes that culture is seen as a "hot topic" within the corporate world because it is perceived that organisations can be more effective if they develop the right type of culture. Some may believe that it is possible to change dysfunctional cultures to those that are better adapted to their environments. However, according to Schein, culture is hard to define and even harder to measure, harder still to determine the effects on the corporate world. Organisational cultural change is difficult because it is difficult to assess or measure culture. Schein (1985) three level model appears to provide a meaningful option that is useful for assessing organisational culture. In the model, artifacts are placed at the highest level of the structure. The next level represents values which reflect goals and ideals of the organisation; they are the why behind what people within the organisation do. Finally, at the lowest level of Scheins model we find assumptions. The innermost core of culture, assumptions represent rarely spoken, latent, core beliefs and are therefore the most difficult to assess. It is possible for the three levels of culture to be incongruent. For instance, a company may have an open door policy (artifact) and express a value that everyones opinion is appreciated and sought, but below the surface is the knowledge that the boss is really the only one with whom to share the important information (assumption). Leaders of organisations and the consultants who work with them have learned a lot about behaviour change which is seen at the most superficial level of artifacts but not much about how to create organisational belief and value change. Behaviour change

Alfred Hitchocks Influence on the Moviemaking Essay

Alfred Hitchocks Influence on the Moviemaking - Essay Example Hitchock Alfred is one of the movie directors who have established a successful profession in the industry. He has produced a number of movies that have attracted serious popularities.His superb skills in the movie production are highly appreciated As a director, Hitchock has greatly transformed the movie making industry. He has substantially affected other film producers and his impact is evident in various present productions (Guilbaut 165). Earlier in his vocation, Hitchock worked in a German firm when the movie industry in German was promising. However, the financial challenges undermined producers from releasing quality films that could effectively challenge productions from Hollywood. To counter this condition, the producers in the Germany introduced exaggerated scenes to enhance expressions and emphasize ideas in their films (Guilbaut 195). The idea realized a positive attitude among the viewers and later this idea become very popular in Germany. This acted as the trial test f or Hitchock hence in his career at Hollywood; he sturdily believed that incorporation of the idea into American industry would be a lucrative venture. Afterward in his career, Hitchock secured a contract with the Hollywood industry. However, Hitchock’s earlier incidences in the German firm had introduced him to a style of expressionism. This style utilizes lavish sets integrating creativity, non-real and illogical scenarios which clash with the geometrical idea. This provided a cheap approach of presenting ideas in the films. These movies were irrational and horrific (Kova?cs 273). Initially, the Hollywood shows were cool and used realistic presentations. However, impacts such that propagated by Hitchock’s ideas have crept slowly into the industry and presently the industry presents a multivalent model. Hollywood producers had maintained a typical action adventure and passionate themes. However, with the influence of expressionists like Hitchock, basic themes propagate d by the group such as insanity and betrayal have navigated into the sector. Hitchock’s style has exerted a considerable impact on the movie-making industry. Extreme manifestation of the idea was so unsound hence was not encouraged by many. The viewers could dismiss the films as imaginary and illusion based productions. Therefore, the idea of extreme expressionism did not blend well with the industry’s concept and associated with rebellions. However, expressionists did not ditch the ideal instead, they minimized on exposure degrees. Incorporation of the ideas started to appear in the industry as from 1920s where minor exaggerations revisited the film industry for enhancements. Notably, Hitchock secured a contract with a London based industry in the year 1920, proving his probable influence. Hitchock background developed him a feeling that, the expressionism idea was a great mind. Therefore, at Hollywood Hitchock integrated some facets of the idea in his productions. Ac cording to Guilbaut (17), moments are identifiable where Hitchock has staged expressionist productions based on his stand and against his employer’s terms. Fortunately, Hitchock’s idea realized a welcoming response in the American market. Indeed, most of his productions that followed had some little expressionism ideas incorporated in them. A suitable example of the Director’s style is evident in the film like Psycho & Vertigo. Scenes of exaggerated shadows and irrational camera views are present in the film (Packer 173). Additionally, the film design has bases of expressionism concepts. The producer has acknowledged the incorporation of his German learnt skills in his films. The influence extended later in his productions through visual testing. For instance, his 1960s productions like The Birds, & Marnie utilizes the style extensively. Hitchock’s work has provided platform on which other directors have emerged and strongly advocated for the virtues in t he film making industry. His

Business the Richard Branson Way Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business the Richard Branson Way - Assignment Example The paper tells that Branson delegates the duty to his management staff and inspires innovation and meaningful change in the Virgin Group. The leader is approachable and accords time to everyone in the group despite being the head of many ventures. Branson influences and motivates the workforce in his group through the power of personality. The leader spurs others into action and raises the morale of the Virgin Group. Transformational leaders create an environment for others to apply the innovative skills in solving problems and developing competitive products and services. The motivated workforce and the innovative ideas have facilitated the expansion of the Virgin Group to take a strong position in the marketplace. Branson works in consultation with the management team, especially during the formative stages of a new venture. After the venture peaks, Richard Branson gives the management and the subordinate workforce the space to implement viable ideas to run the enterprise. Branson does not practice the hierarchical organizational structure. Transformational leadership style believes in the distinct set of skills that every member of workforce possesses can drive organizations to achieve success. In essence, Branson promotes teamwork. Transformational leadership style holds that leaders in the organization should realize that leadership does not imply to the positions or titles. Rather, leadership entails an interactive process between the leaders and the followers. The character is a strong foundation of the leadership, and Richard Branson has maintained charismatic attributes since the foundation of the Virgin Group. The transformational leaders should motivate and inspire their followers through assisting them to achieve the best results in different tasks within the organizations.

Anxiety Among Alcoholics and Non-Alcoholics Essay Example for Free

Anxiety Among Alcoholics and Non-Alcoholics Essay Abstract Alcohol is one of the most widely used drug substances in the world. For many people, drinking alcohol is nothing more than a pleasant way to relax. People with alcohol use disorders, however, drink to excess, endangering both themselves and others. In the mental health area alcoholism is caused mostly by depression, anxiety and stress, on the other hand it also leads to depression and stress. The present study aims to compare depression and anxiety among alcoholics and non- alcoholics. It was assumed that depression and anxiety may be the risk factors for alcoholism. A sample of 100 people (50 alcoholics and 50 non-alcoholics) was randomly selected from Delhi. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used to collect data on depression and anxiety. t-test was administered to compare two groups. The result of the study showed that alcoholic group was higher on depression as well as anxiety than the non alcoholic group, and it was also found that there is no clear cut casual relationship between alcoholism and depression and anxiety. Alcoholism is perhaps most strongly associated with antisocial personality disorder and drug abuse, but its relationship to other forms of psychopathology has become increasingly evident. In particular, investigations of alcoholic samples indicate a strong co-occurrence of alcoholism with diverse form of anxiety and depressive disorder (Barbor et al, 1992; Chambless et al, 1987; Hasegawa 1991; keller 1994; Nunes, Quitkin Berman, 1988; Penick, 1994; Schuckit, Irwin Brown, 1990). ______________________________________________________________________ *Associate professor, Deptt. Of Psychology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh **Research scholar, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. According to Nijhawan (1972) Anxiety, one of the most pervasive psychological phenomenons of the modern era refers to a â€Å"persistent distressing psychological state arising from an inner conflict†. Depression can be defined as â€Å"a state of mind, or more specifically, a mental disorder, characterized by lowering of the individual’s vitality, his mood, his desires, hopes, aspirations and of his self-esteem. It may range from no more than a mild feeling of tiredness and sadness to the most profound state of apathy with complete, psychotic disregard for reality.† (Mendelssohn, 1963). Alcoholism can lead people into serious trouble, and can be physically and mentally destructive. Currently alcohol use is involved in half of all crimes, murders, accidental deaths, and suicides. There are also many health problems associated with alcohol use such as brain damage, cancer, heart disease, diseases of the liver, depression anxiety and other mental disorders. Results from community surveys and epidemiologic samples indicate that substantial comorbidity also exists for depression, anxiety and alcoholism in the general population (Regier et al, 1990; Helzer Pryzbeck, 1988; Kendler et al, 1995). The high co-occurrence of these syndromes, therefore, represents a significant clinical and public health issue that is likely to affect a substantial proportion of the general population. Although the comorbidity of alcoholism with anxiety and depressive disorders has been extensively documented in both clinical and epidemiologic investigations, the specific mechanisms underlying these associations remain a source of debate. One widely accepted hypothesis is that these forms of comorbidity reflect a causal relationship of alcoholism with anxiety and depression. Support for a causal association is based partly on observations that alcohol is commonly used to self- medicate symptoms of negative affect, and so, alcoholism often develops as a secondary diagnosis to anxiety and depression (Meyer Kranzler,1990; Hesselbrock, Meyer Keener,1985; Lader,1972; Merikangas et al,1985). The 18-month follow-up of participants of the Psychiatric Morbidity among Adults Living in Private Households, 2000 survey (Singleton Lewis, 2003) provides an opportunity to determine whether excessive alcohol consumption and abnormal patterns of use are risk factors for incident anxiety and depression in the general population. The study also examined the reverse relationship, considering whether anxiety and depression are risk factors for the development of abnormal patterns of alcohol consumption. However, evidence for a causal relationship is not unidirectional as alcoholism is often observed as a primary disorder, and the presence of problem drinking itself may generate severe anxiety or depressive syndromes (Mendelson Mello, 1979, Nathan, OBrien Lowenstein, 1971; Schuckit, Irwin Smith, 1994; Stockwell, Hodgson Rankin, 1982). Heavy alcohol consumption has been implicated in the development of anxiety and depression (Schuckit, 1983). Many cross-sectional studies have identified considerable comorbidity between anxiety and depression, and alcohol abuse. For example, data from four large community based epidemiological studies (n422 000) in Europe and the USA consistently demonstrated a two- to threefold increase in the lifetime prevalence of anxiety and depression in those with DSM–III or DSM–III–R alcohol abuse or dependence (Swendsen et al, 1998). If anxiety disorders and alcoholism are casually related, there should be a high rate of alcoholism among patients being treated for anxiety disorders. Two studies (Torgersen, 1986; Cloninger et al, 1981) of the prevalence of alcoholism in patients being treated for anxiety neurosis were identified. These investigations suggest a lifetime population prevalence of alcohol abuse/dependence of approximately 14%. The survey of the relevant literature made it quite obvious that much of the studies show a prevalence of depression and anxiety among alcoholics. However, previous studies have also pointed out the possibility of alcoholism as risk factors for depression and anxiety. At the same time, literature does not provide any clear cut direction towards the casual relationship between alcoholism and depression and anxiety. Thus, despite the strong association of alcoholism with anxiety and depressive disorders, no universal consensus has been reached regarding the specific mechanisms underlying these associations. The present study aims to identify depression and anxiety among alcoholic and non-alcoholic peoples. Method: Sample: sample of the present study consisted of 100 subjects (50 alcoholics and 50 non alcoholics). The alcoholics were identified through survey from different living areas (including rural, urban and semi-urban) of Delhi and 50 alcoholics were randomly selected for the study. In the same way the non-alcoholic subjects were also selected randomly from different parts of Delhi. The age range of the subjects was between 25 to 50 years. Tools: â€Å"Beck Depression Inventory† BDI -2nd was designed by Beck, Steer Brown (1996). This self report scale has shown to document levels of depression. BDI -2nd edition contains 21 items, each answer being scored on a scale value of 0 to 3. The cut offs used are 0-13 Minimal depression; 14-19 Mild depression; 20-28 Moderate depression; and 29-63 Severe Depression. Higher total scorer indicates more severe depression symptoms. â€Å"Beck Anxiety Inventory† was designed Beck, Epstein, Brown, Steer (1988). This self report scale has shown to document levels of Anxiety symptoms in a valid and consistent manner. BAI contains 21 items each answer being scored on a scale value of 0 to 3. Each symptom item has four possible answer choices: not at all (assigned value =o); Mildly (it did not bother me much) (assigned value=1); Moderately (it was unpleasant but I could stand it) (assigned value =2); and Severely (I could barely stand it) (assigned value =3). The values for each item are summed together to yield an overall or score for all 21 symptoms that can range between 0 and 63 points. A total score of 0-7 is interpreted as a minimal level of Anxiety, 8-15 as ‘mild’, 16-25 as ‘moderate’ and 26-63 as ‘severe’. The BAI is psychometrically sound. Interval consistency ÃŽ ± =.92 to.94, for adults and test-retest (one week interval) reliability is .75. Procedure: The test for depression and anxiety were administered on the subjects individually after establishing the rapport with them. Each and every item was explained to the subject, and then he was asked to respond truly for the item. Thus data was collected for depression and anxiety from alcoholic and non-alcoholic people. t-test was applied to find out the significance of difference between the Mean scores of different groups. Results: TABLE-1 Showing comparison of Mean for depression and anxiety scores between the alcoholics and non-alcoholics Variables| Groups| N| Mean| Std.deviation| t | df| P| depression| Alcoholic Nonalcoholic| 50 50| 35.7600 17.1000| 10.17913 6.15530| 11.092| 98| .01*| Anxiety| Alcoholicnonalcoholic| 50 50| 38.0800 18.3200| 11.55261 6.18570| 10.662| 98| .01*| *Significant at .01 level of confidence TABLE-1 further shows the results obtained by the comparison of alcoholics and non alcoholic group for depression and anxiety. The obtained results show that the mean depression score (M=35.7600) for alcoholic people is higher than the mean depression score (M=17.1000) for non alcoholic people, and the difference between the two means (t=11.092) is statistically significant at .01 level of confidence. Consequently it reveals the findings that alcoholic people have higher depression than the non-alcoholics. The TABLE-1 also shows the results of the comparison of alcoholic and non-alcoholic people on anxiety. The mean anxiety scores (M=38.0800) of alcoholics is found very much higher than the mean anxiety scores (M=18.3200) of the non-alcoholics and the two means difference (t=10.662) is statistically significant at .01 level of confidence. It indicates that alcoholic people have higher anxiety than the non-alcoholic people. Discussion: The basis of the above results may safely be concluded that the alcoholics are highly depressed and extremely anxious than the non-alcoholic people. However, the high prevalence of these anxiety and depressives’ symptoms does not necessarily mean that these alcoholic individuals will demonstrate the long term course or require the long term treatments associated with DSM-III-R major depressive and anxiety disorders. The temporal nature of the association between Depression Anxiety and alcohol is difficult to determine from studies, which uncertainty arising as to whether alcohol is a risk factor or a form of self –medication. The finding of the present study support the findings of Hartka et al, (1991) that reported a significant correlation between baseline consumption of alcohol and depression at follow-up based on data from eight longitudinal studies. However, in this analysis control of confounders was limited to age, gender and interval between measurements. Overall, our findings are contradictory with those of Wang Patten (2001) who observed no excess morbidity among those who drank daily, those who drank in binges (more than five drinks), those who had more than one drink daily, and among drinkers in general. Alcohol dependence was not considered. Similarly, in a randomly selected community cohort with follow-up at 3 and 7 years, Moscato et al (1997) found no excess incidence of depressive symptoms among those with ‘alcohol problems’ (defined as a DSM–IV diagnosis of alcohol dependence or abuse or drinking more than five drinks a day on one or more occasions per week). It may safely be concluded on the bases of previous literature and result of the present study that there is no clear cut casual relationship between depressive and anxiety disorder and alcoholism. In the similar way our findings of the study show that the alcoholics are more depressive and anxious than the non alcoholics. Though it does not show any clear cut picture either alcohol is risk factor for depression and anxiety or depression and anxiety is a risk factor for alcoholism. References Babor, T., Wolfson, A., Boivin, D., Radouco-Thomas, S., Clark, W. (1992). Alcoholism, culture, and psychopathology: A comparative study of French, French Canadian, and American alcoholics. In: Helzer, J., Canino, G. (eds): Alcoholism in North America, Europe, and Asia. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 182-195. Beck, A.T., Epstein, N., Brown, G., Steer, R.A. (1988). â€Å"An inventory for measuring clinical anxiety: Psychometric Properties, Journal of Consulting and clinical Psychology; 56:893-897 Beck, A.T., Steer, R.A., Brown, B.K. (1996). Beck Depression Inventory 2nd Ed.). San Antonio. Tx; Psychological Corporation. Chambless, D., Cherney, J., Caputo, G., Rheinstein, B. (1987). Anxiety disorders and alcoholism: A study with inpatient alcoholics. J Anxiety Disord; 1:29-40. Cloninger, C.R., Martin, R.L., Clayton, P., Guze, S.B. (1981). A blind follow-up and family study of anxiety neurosis: preliminary analysis of the St Louis 500, in Anxiety: New Research and changing Concepts, Edited by Klein, D.F., Rabkin, J. New York, Raven Press, Hartka, E., Johnstone, B., Leino,V. (1991). A meta-analysis of depressive symptomatology and alcohol consumption over time. British Journal of Addiction; 86: 1283-1298. Hasegawa, K., Mukasa, H., Nakazawa, Y., HK., Nakamura, K. (1991). Primary and secondary depression in alcoholism-clinical features and family history. Drug Alcohol Depend; 27:275-281. Helzer, J., Pryzbeck, T. (1988). The co-occurrence of alcoholism with other psychiatric disorders in the general population and its impact on treatment. J Stud Alcohol; 49:219-224. Hesselbrock, M., Meyer, R., Keener, J. (1985). Psychopathology in hospitalized alcoholics. Arch Gen Psychiatry; 42:1050- 1055. Keller, M. (1994). Dysthymia in clinical practice: Course, outcome and impact on the community. Acta Psychiatr Scand; 383(Suppl):24-34. Kendler, K., Waiters, E., Neale, M., Kessler, R., Heath, A., Eaves, L. The structure of the genetic and environmental risk factors for six major psychiatric disorders in women. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1995; 52:374-383. Lader, M. (1972). The nature of anxiety. Br J Psychiatry; 121: 481-491. Mendelson, J., Mello, N. (1979). Medical progress: Biologic concomitants of alcoholism. N Engl J Med; 301:912-921. Mendelssohn, V.P. (1963). Depression in incyclopedia of mental health. Vol.II, Franklin Walts, Inc. Merikangas, K., Leckman, J., Prusoff, B., Pauls, D., Weissman, M. (1985). Familial transmission of depression and alcoholism. Arch Gen Psychiatry ; 42:367-372. Meyer, R., Kranzler, H. (1990). Alcohol abuse/dependence and co-morbid anxiety and depression. In: Maser J, Cloninger C (eds): Comorbidity of Mood and Anxiety Disorders. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press: 283-292. Moscato, B., Russell, M., Zielezny, M. (1997). Gender differences in the relation between depressive symptoms and alcohol problems: a longitudinal perspective. American Journal of Epidemiology; 146: 966-974. Nathan, P., OBrien, J., Lowenstein, L. (1971). Operant studies of chronic alcoholism: Interaction of alcohol and alcoholics. In: Roach, P., Mclssac, W., Creaven, P. (eds): Biological Aspects of Alcohol. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press;. Nijhawan, H. K. (1972). Anxiety in school children. New Delhi : Wiley Eastern Private Limited. Nunes, E., Quitkin, F., Berman, C. (1988). Panic disorder and depression in female alcoholics. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry; 49:441- 443. Penick, E., Powell, B., Nickel, E., Bingham, S., Riesenmy, K., Read, M. (1994). Comorbidity of lifetime psychiatric disorder among male alcoholic patients. Alcohol Clin Exp Res; 18:1289-1293. Regier, D., Farmer, M., Rae, D., Locke, B., Keith, S., Judd, L. (1990). Comorbidity of mental disorders with alcohol and other drug abuse: Results from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) study. JAMA; 264:2511-2518. Schuckit, M. (1983). Alcoholic patients with secondary depression. American Journal of Psychiatry, 140: 711-714. Schuckit, M., Hesselbrock, V. (1994). Alcohol dependence and anxiety disorders: What is the relationship? Am J Psychiatry, 151:1723-1734. Schuckit, M., Irwin, M., Brown, S. (1990) .The history of anxiety symptoms among 171 primary alcoholics. J Stud Alcohol; 51:34-41. Schuckit, M., Irwin, M., Smith, T. (1994). One-year incidence rate of major depression and other psychiatric disorders in 239 alcoholic men. Addiction ; 89:441-445. Schuckit, M., Tipp, J., Bergman, M., Reich, W., Hesselbrock, V., Smith, T. (1997). Comparison of induced and independent major depressive disorder in 2,945 alcoholics. Am J Psychiatry; 154:948-957. Singleton, N. Lewis, G. (2003). Better or Worse: A Longitudinal Study of the Mental Health of Adults Living in Private Households in Great Britain. London: Stationery Office. . Stockwell, T., Hodgson, R., Rankin, H. (1982). Tension reduction and the effects of prolonged alcohol consumption. Br J Addict; 77:65-73. Stockwell, T., Smail, P., Hodgson, R., Canter, S. (1984). Alcohol dependence and phobic anxiety states. II. A retrospective study. Br J Psychiatry; 144:58-63. Swendsen, J., Merikangas, K., Canino,G. (1998). The comorbidity of alcoholism with anxiety and depressive disorders in four geographic communities. Comprehensive Psychiatry; 39:176-184. Torgersen, S. (1986). Childhood and family characteristics in panic and generalized anxiety disorders. Am J Psychiatry; 143:630-632 Wang, J. Patten, S. B. (2001). Alcohol consumption and major depression: findings from a follow-up study. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry; 46: 632-638.

Cialis Case Study Marking Scheme Essay Example for Free

Cialis Case Study Marking Scheme Essay Question 1 (25 Marks Total): According to information provided in the case, identify 3 main ED market segments. Describe each segment’s characteristics, including opportunities and barriers for adoption. Focus on key ED segments essential for future marketing campaign, as opposed to all possible segments. If sufficient information is provided in the case, identify potential size of the segment. -Correctly identifying demographics/age as a segment (2 marks) -Discuss main each age sub-group 20-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+ segments (2 marks) and main barriers/opportunities to Cialis adoption: ED as a normal part of aging vs. waiting for condition to go away (2 marks); reasonably justified additional factors (up to 2 marks) -Correctly identifying Viagra usage status as a segment (2 marks) -Estimating size of Current Viagra Users/Viagra Drop-outs/Never tried Viagra segments – (1 mark) -Describing main barriers/opportunities to Cialis adoption by each sub-group: focus on willingness to try Cialis dimensions (2 marks); possible reasons for dropping Viagra use (2 marks); reasonably justified additional factors (up to 2 marks) -Correctly identifying Benefit of Duration as a segment (2 marks) -Describing main barriers/opportunities to Cialis adoption by each sub-group of prior Viagra users drop-outs vs. current users and those who have not tried Viagra (4 marks); reasonably justified additional factors (up to 2 marks) -Partial marks awarded for ED market segments not mentioned above and a convincing argument/description for such segment’s importance (up to 6 marks) Question 2 (10 Marks Total) – Discuss evolution of the Viagra brand, how it is positioned on the market vs. public’s perception of the brand and resulting opportunities for Cialis -Discuss early endorsement by Bob Dole and positioning (ie ED is a serious disease, targeting older age segment) (3 marks), followed by Mark Martin and change in targeting/brand messaging (associating Viagra with success and excitement, targeting younger age group) (3 marks) -Discuss the image of Viagra in popular culture and opportunities for Cialis (ridiculing public images creating barriers for men to overcome; partner perceives that her husband’s desire is a result of taking the pill, not genuine desire) (4 marks). Question (3) (20 Marks Total): Describe Pro’s and Con’s of positioning Cialis (1) vertically based on duration of benefit and (2) horizontally based on attitudes toward sex. For this question, consider potential success with each market segment described in Question 1 and discuss differences in profiles of Cialis vs. Viagra. Consider whether each positioning increases demand in general or converts Viagra users. -Pro’s and con’s of Vertical positioning based on ’36 hours vs. 4’ hours. Should include the following: oConvenience/Spontaneity/Week-ends (1 Mark) oEconomics/Frequency (1 Mark) oPotential safety concerns (1 Mark) oNo interaction with high-fat meals (1 Mark) oOr other factors, justified (up to 2 Marks) oEffective use of information provided in the case, particularly in-depth interviews to justify position (2 Marks) oEffective analysis of appeal to each segment (3 Marks) oEffect on demand (1 Mark) -Pro’s and con’s of Horizontal Positioning based on attitude towards sex for Cialis vs. Viagra. Should include the following: oRomantic lifestyle (1 Mark) oExcitement/success (1 Mark) oMore natural sex dynamics for couples (1 Mark) oHero-enabler/Man is the hero vs. the pill being hero (1 Mark) oOr other factors, justified (up to 2 Marks) oEffective use of information provided in the case, particularly in-depth interviews to justify position (2 Marks) oEffective analysis of appeal to each segment (3 Marks) oEffect on demand (1 Mark) QUESTION 4 (35 Marks Total) – By answering each of the sub-questions 1 through 5, discuss how you would launch Cialis into the market, paying careful attention to the fact that incumbent may create certain barriers to overcome; consider benefits for Cialis market share vs. the entire category and fit with each market segment. 1)Briefly state your marketing strategy (horizontal vs. vertical); summarize your product positioning and launch strategy (5 Marks Total) 2)Describe your chosen product attributes in the context of your positioning (hint: describe only attributes you can control: color, packaging, name, etc) (5 Marks Total) 3)Describe your pricing strategy and provide annual per customer revenue estimate (13 Marks total) -Analysis pricing target and market segments (5 Marks) -Analysis for pricing above/below Viagra (5 Marks) oFactors that should be covered: ï‚ §Price image effects ï‚ §Economic benefit to patient ï‚ §Consumer willingness to pay ï‚ §Impact of coverage by Health Plans -Per Customer Revenue Estimate (3 Marks Total): oEstimate revenue based on patient pills per year and proposed price (2 Marks) taking into account dropouts (1 Mark) or other relevant factors (up to 1 Mark) 4)Describe primary aspects of your launch strategy with respect to Pull vs. Push marketing (7 Marks Total). -Analysis should include the following factors: oAnalysis of relevant physician behavior – urologists vs. generalists; doctors may refuse prescriptions and do not initiate treatment oAnalysis of relevant consumer behavior oRole of partners oProduct promotions, other means to encourage trying Cialis oSales force requirements oConsistency with each target market and positioning 5)Describe your Communication Strategy (5 Marks Total) oAnalysis should include the following factors: ï‚ §Communication to each market segment ï‚ §Communicating to patients, partners, Viagra users, and physicians ï‚ §Which mediums should be deployed ï‚ §Who should be featured in adds, what age group(s), gender ï‚ §Event sponsorships and/or endorsements QUESTION 5 (10 Marks Total): Given your responses in Question 4 and by responding to sub-questions 1 and 2, discuss how Pfizer may respond to your Cialis positioning and how this may be addressed post product launch (7 marks); Discuss how Cialis could anticipate and respond to introduction of Levitra by GSK (3 marks). 1)Discuss how Pfizer may respond to Cialis positioning (7 marks) oAnalysis should include the following factors: ï‚ §Most likely response(s) from Pfizer ï‚ §Viagra’s long presence in the market ï‚ §Promotions/discounts on Viagra ï‚ §Thoughtful argument how Cialis camp might respond oDiscuss how Cialis could anticipate and prepare introduction of Levitra by GSK (3 marks). oAnalysis should include the following factors: ï‚ §Levitra profile ï‚ §Most likely positioning by GSK ï‚ §Response, if any, by Cialis camp

Developing Corporate Entrepreneurship

Developing Corporate Entrepreneurship Introduction Todays economy is experiencing its ups and downs very quickly: rising competitiveness and fast changing technologies create pressure to the companies that want to stay at the top of their markets. This is not going to slow down, so the need for tools of success is arising. At the same time we are moving away from the Morris and Kuratko (2002) belief that entrepreneurs are born, not made. That is why the wanting, believing, hoping, planning must be followed by doing. As already Confucius said: When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, dont adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. It is time for action and one form of it that suits different businesses nowadays is Corporate Entrepreneurship (CE). As it was stated by Sharma and Chrisman (1999), corporate entrepreneurship is the process whereby an individual or group of individuals, in association with an existing organization, create a new organization or instigate renewal or innovation within that organization. There are lots of definitions for CE nowadays, but all of them do not change the fact that CE is a tool for differentiation and competitive advantage in todays economy. In order to make a go of this phenomenon, organizations have to develop their strategies how to implement the entrepreneurial spirit in the everyday practices. In this way corporate entrepreneurship spontaneous or induced by the company itself will be not rare and unexpected, but in contrary, become a tool of overcoming inside issues, as well as external pressures. Corporate Entrepreneurship and Human Resource Management A lot of researches, studies were conducted in order to discover the inevitable truth that CE positively affects the performance of a company: it creates competitive advantages, helps to differentiate, adapt to new or quickly changing markets, and deal with external and internal challenges. As CE is seen as a multifaceted tool, the intensity of CE in an organization can be described by five different dimensions identified in a meta-analysis by Saly (2001): innovativeness, risk propensity, proactiveness, corporate venturing and self-renewal. When creating an organizational structure, as well as inside culture, these dimensions should be a scale measuring the future success of a company. Dealing with the globalization and fast moving changes, a company must take risks, be proactive and strive for innovation. Nurturing these traits, adapting to the environment (self-renewal) and fostering creation of something valuable that generates returns are CE key success factors in the economy of today. Of course no CE can be fostered without Human Capital (HC). In order to become an innovative, entrepreneurial organization needs the knowledge, skills, experience the HC can provide. This is why HC should be one of the most important and valuable assets for every organization. Investing in HC should be a first step towards building and encouraging the entrepreneurial direction of the overall company. As from the employee-organization relations (EOR) literature (Rhoades and Eisenberger, 2002), the strongest influencers of employee affect are the organizations leaders. Their Human Recourse Management (HRM) practices can valuably contribute to effective enhancement of CE. Different HRM techniques can create a suitable inside culture for an organization to become innovative, flexible and more entrepreneurial. Each HRM practice can be addressed to different employee characteristics and in this way design the employee-organization relationships towards a collective entrepreneurial collaboration. Therefore EOR strengthened with HRM practice can become an efficient tool for creating a collective entrepreneurial atmosphere inside any organization. As organizations nowadays become living entities, diving into the trend of organizational learning, there is less fear that it will develop a strategy and become stagnant. That is why the HRM practices also evolve during the life of a company. Introducing new projects, renewal of the staff with different KSAOs (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics) needed at the time, allocating resources needed for development and inside learning all this organizational support is now more a necessity than luxury. So, understanding that without a learning attitude and readiness to change according the situation, any HRM practices will not be able to influence the companys corporate entrepreneurship level, is vital. Following the idea of George Bernard Shaw: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¾Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. HRM practices fostering CE inside the company HRM practices should be an important driver of CE because it involves organizational learning driven by collaboration, creativity, and individual commitment (Kaya, 2006). To foster CE in a company the first task is the set up of internal culture and environment (studies show there have to be available resources, management support and a reliable organizational structure right at the beginning in order for a company could start entrepreneurial activities). Following different studies conducted on the topic of CE and HRM practices, how to establish a suitable internal environment for intrapreneurship seems to be based on these organizational arrangements/managerial tools: Staff selection the objective of staff selection is to form an appropriate resource base of HC to foster entrepreneurial activity. As the HC of any company is one of the most important facilitators of CE, selective hiring can be a tool for influencing the CE level. The selection criteria should fit the organizations culture, be in line with the CE dimensions and reflect the needs of the company. During the process of selecting staff it is beneficial to think about the skills needed in the industry the company operates, how the employees could work together and create a brain trust. Emphasizing the team spirit is very important, because the prominence of collective entrepreneurship is growing. New members should have new ideas and complement the staff by being different and experts of their own sphere. New management staff should have relevant KSAOs, be creative, strive for action and be supportive. Finally, a possibility to grow in ones own career should also be seen during this process, because it will serve as a motivation tool and foster better environment in the company. Management support the positive attitude as well as encouragement of the higher hierarchy levels of the company for generating and developing new business ideas. Management support is important because it indicates the willingness of the managers to facilitate, promote and institutionalize the entrepreneurial spirit and activity within the organizations system and processes (Hornsby et al., 2002) which would encourage the intrapreneurs to engage in innovative projects. If the organization provides support and some autonomy it can then count on the commitment coming from employees. Still coordinating the use of resources, contributing to the fulfillment of the separate individual suggestions or efforts will end up with an increase of overall efficiency. Management support for problem solving and conflict resolution in the intrapreneurship process is required in the idea generation, development, and particularly implementation (execution) stages of the ideas (Damanpour, 1991). This will positively influence a corporations entrepreneurial behavior and enhance potential intrapreneurs perceived trustworthiness to their corporations in terms of detecting opportunities and willingness to develop novel or useful ideas, and/ or projects, and to take risks to actualize them (Stevenson and Jarillo, 1990). Internal supportive environment, tolerance for risk taking to their intrapreneurs, and a high quality HC will contribute to the innovative performance. Companys 3M approach could be taken as an illustration of the management support importance. This firm understood and experienced that capable and motivated employees can turn the company into a profitable, innovative and successful organization. That is why the management was trying to create an environment that supports individual entrepreneurship: a climate that stimulates ordinary people to produce extraordinary performances. Allocation of free time provision of sufficient time to work on developing novelties without any burden of routine workload. Delivery of free time inevitably encourages employees to take risks for putting their novel ideas into practice. When given time for convincing the management level about your project success, employees are not so distracted from their main duties and usually show more commitment towards the company. But this creates a necessity for additional control that the allocated free time would be used for purposes that benefit both sides. Here it comes out that before any significant changes there is a need of HRM practices that boost mutual understanding, better ties between employees and the organization, and make sure their values and visions are on the same path. Organizational structure should be convenient concerning decentralization level or decision-making autonomy. Employees should have the opportunity to express and suggest their ideas easily. The suitable decentralization level differs among every company, but it is a tool to become more flexible, innovative, and active suit the dimensions of CE. If organization provides autonomy for employees who actually carry out the work, this will stimulate their commitment to act in the best way for the company. Having a balanced relationship between autonomy and discipline creates an environment where employees can act, take weighted risks and innovate towards successful outcomes of the company. Companies that are becoming rigid really slow down all the innovative processes as well as cannot implement all of the possible improvements. When thinking about new ventures, projects in order to boost the competitive advantage and profitability of the company it is important they fit the organization in terms of context and organizational structure. There is a possibility to foster integrated or separate CE. For better understanding of the importance of these practices some companies can be taken as an example. Analyzing the case of the company Polaroid, one can see that the impact of bureaucracy, biases and downsizing was a big obstacle for nurturing inside entrepreneurship. The company was big-sized and stagnant, becoming a market follower. The entrepreneur in this company (Joline Godfrey) experienced difficulties to introduce her project because of the hard-to-reach attention of the managers, not flexible organization culture. The inside culture was also not women-friendly and did not show enough interest in projects that were not fully in the area the company operated. In such cases, when an organization becomes rigid, does not answer market needs mostly because of the compilation, slow processes CE must be fostered and implemented. One of the first steps should be an entrepreneurial-oriented structure that allocates the power of decision making not to the higher level employers, but takes into account the employees who know the most about the projects being undertaken. In the case of Lucent (a telecommunication equipment manufacturer), their New Venture Group formed a separate organizational entity. This entity was operating as a base of research for new opportunities, products, and businesses. Being separate has its advantages, because in this way the formed CE device does not suffer from the bureaucratic rules of the parent company, still can use the support needed, creates its own inside environment and culture that can foster CE more easily. That is why, when forming new entrepreneurial project each company has to evaluate its fit in the organization. Usually small projects are of better use inside the company: they can be accessible for all employees, motivate them to work on their projects too, but at the same time not to be too distracted from the mainstream of the company. An example of such an approach would be the case of the company Ohio Bell. The program ENTER-PRIZE (Excellence Through Employee Innovation) was designed in order to support, reward the employees who had ideas how to cut operating costs or generate revenues. This program was an implemented cultural change of the Ohio Bell company. Being nurtured inside the company and connected with all employees, this project had the best place inside the company, fitting the mainstream operations and concept. Fostering innovative ideas, this program was also a good example of the power of rewards towards CE growth. Incentives and rewards availability of a performance based reward system encouraging innovativeness is a way to foster entrepreneurship among employees. If the management tries to convince the employees to act like intrapreneurs, it must also be willing to pay them as entrepreneurs (Thornberry, 2003). Having trust in the rewarding system boosts the employee commitment, willingness to take risks and reveal the projects that could benefit both sides. A reward system that is based on achievements in innovation projects, may lead the brightest and most ambitious players to avoid innovation projects with uncertain outcomes. Building a reward system shows a positive attitude towards the employees and can significantly increase their motivation to benefit the organization. It is important to see the reward practices as a long-term thing, make resources available and not punish the employees straight after the first failure of an entrepreneurial project. Failure or errors tolerance in case of creative undertakings or risky project implementations. Such showed tolerance together with managerial support is a strong tool creating positive environment for CE. A conservative managerial attitude will block the willingness to innovate and cause lack of confidence of the employees. In order to overcome the possible frustration, organization should support the HC even during failures and continue investing in the projects that have high potential. Taking failures as an inevitable step towards success will help to maintain the level of confidence for further innovations and profitable ideas. Of course, in order not to lose control and take healthy risks, companys should build an organizational mechanism to decide which innovation projects are likely to bear fruits and which should be cast aside without having trial-errors. For example, a well known company 3M implemented a more disciplined approach to defining, selecting and funding projects. Instead of running 100 of them as earlier, the process shifted to 12 projects from which 10 are expected to be successful. In this way companies are more oriented, quickly reacting and can create true competitive advantages through expedient CE. Training and development appropriate abilities can be acquired through training and development strongest results towards boosting CE. Training can overcome the factors that decrease employees job performance and satisfaction. Staff development seen as activities that increase employees qualifications and performance at all hierarchical levels through education, career management, and work structure. All these practices can promote entrepreneurial behavior and improve the environment in the company. Training programs should be oriented towards building useful CE skills, fostering the dimensions of it inside the company: change acceptance, willingness to take risks, assume responsibility, and the value of teamwork and shared achievements. Training activities that enforce interpersonal skills should be fostered. Also training that supports creativity will strengthen innovativeness and potentially strengthen self-renewal and new business development. Finally, training on how to transf er new ideas into business will lead to higher intensity for risk propensity and proactiveness. For effective training, programs should fit the companys strategy and work process. To unfold their full effect on CE, expert knowledge, social competence, creativity, and methodical expertise are especially important to be considered. Specialist assignment specialists can anticipate and estimate specific problems earlier and thus identify needs for modifications more quickly. As CE is more often seen as a collective process, instead of putting the emphasis on one individual, firms must encourage cooperation among specialists to increase successful innovation processes. This is stressed because as environment impacts on organizational behaviors it is also seen in change of relationships between employees and employer or managers inside the organization. In order to become competitive and innovative, firms have to adopt new strategies, as well as different employee-organization relationship (EOR) patterns. The importance of this is significantly growing, because corporate entrepreneurship involves not only product innovation, risk taking or proactive responses to environmental forces, but also organizational learning, driven by collaboration and commitment. Here the collaboration of specialists could be seen as a link between employees, managers and their potential to foster corporate entrepreneurship together. As it can be observed in the Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG (SNI), a company that confronted financial and inside environment problems with a program called Change Agent Program, managerial support, concentrated staff selection and employee training and development are the tools that foster corporate entrepreneurship spirit and help to overcome the downturn a company can experience. The Change Agent program looked to replace Siemens Nixdorfs rigid corporate hierarchy with a more flexible and entrepreneurial attitude that would be more responsive to market demands. The company operated in a very competitive European market, was undermanaged and over consulted. As the employees at SNI experienced restructuring at the company during the early 1990s and four years of losses, the inside culture was far away from a company one could call innovative and lead thinking (as the ones operating in IT industry in US). The program though was focused on employees, emphasizing the importance of the people at the company and expanding the opportunities open to them. The goal of the 13 week program was to build an understanding of business fundamentals and business change along three dimensions: customer, competitiveness and culture. It combined presentations, discussions, workshops, case studies, best practice site visits, internships, and coach research. An important goal was to provide participants with new perspectives about their projects and give them the know-how to implement them upon return to the company. The programs aimed to have the sponsors (each member had two of them) provide leadership, guidance and support in order to help them achieve their project goals. This is also an example that specialists assistance is a tool fostering corporate entrepreneurship and improving the employees input. It was also aiming to help find innovative ways to approach and implement their projects. Each participant of the program had a project drawn from the area that concludes the most important challenges the company faces which were fostered by the program and implemented upon the employees return to SNI. Although the 21 Change Agents had varying degrees of success, it was clear that they played a role in driving SNI to profitability in the 1994 1995 fiscal year (for the first time in the companys history). That was reflected in the decision by the SNI Executive Board to perpetuate the Program on an annual basis. Such training and development programs foster collective and individual entrepreneurship inside the company. This example shows how important it is that such tools would fit the aim and strategy of the whole company. By addressing the right problems, training the right people (at SNI they were thoroughly selected) this training program helped the company to enhance the communication within the company, improve its international operations, flexibility and determine new possible directions. The employees felt the more entrepreneurial spirit of the companys culture and were able to channel their enthusiasm for changes and revitalization, feel more responsibility, and support what opened the ways for their projects. Conclusions Having the goal of being visible, active in todays global economy requires established companies to become more and more entrepreneurial in order to handle uncertainty and environmental dynamism. As the importance of CE is growing, more scholars are interested to define the specific tools that help to create and benefit from the CE inside the company. Different studies provide positive relationships between HRM practices and CE. As knowing the importance of qualified HC, so the management practices become a source of sustained competitive advantage for organizations. CE-related HR practices are unique to the extent that competitors cannot imitate them. Nevertheless the support from HR practices must be in line with that particular organizational culture and consistent with what is needed from employees. Considering the combined effects of all the OS factors, managerial support and tolerance for risk taking have still exerted significant effects on innovativeness. That is why firms should invest to build such an organizational environment where first, support and tolerance exist to a large extent. On the other side, organizations should spend more time on recruiting and training managers to be supportive and hold a philosophy that failure is a stepping-stone to success. As seen, HRM practices play a significant role in fostering and maintaining high levels of CE. Having a CE-friendly environment, companies should focus on the HRM practices of staff selection, staff development and training, and staff rewards that align employee motivation and entrepreneurial firm development. These practices show the highest correlation with innovative outcomes and positive CE results. Learning from the previously discussed real life examples it is obvious that CE is a complex phenomena to handle for different organizations. But the conclusion, that corporate entrepreneurship is a success factor in todays dense economy, stays the same. In order to foster the entrepreneurial culture inside the company it is important to maintain the focus on all possible sources and adapt the HRM practices to use them beneficially. LITERATURE: Employee-organization relationship in collective entrepreneurship: an overview. Domingo Ribeiro-Soriano,   David Urbano.   Journal of Organizational Change Management.  Bradford:2010.   Vol. 23,   Iss. 4,   p. 349-359 Boosting corporate entrepreneurship through HRM practices: Evidence from German SMEs. Ralf Schmelter,   RenÈ Mauer,   Christiane Bˆ rsch,   Malte Brettel.   Human Resource Management.  Hoboken:Jul/Aug 2010.   Vol. 49,   Iss. 4,   p. Organizational support for intrapreneurship and its interaction with HC to enhance innovative performance. Lutfihak Alpkan,   Cagri Bulut,   Gurhan Gunday,   Gunduz Ulusoy,   Kemal Kilic.   Management Decision.   London:2010.   Vol. 48,   Iss. 5,   p. 732-755 L.A. Hill, N.A. Kamprath and M.B. Conrad (1992), Joline Godfrey and the Polaroid Corporation (A), Harvard Business School Case, 9à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ 492à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ 037. Chesbrough, H.W. and Massaro, A. (2001) Lucent Technologies: The Future of the New entures Group, Harvard Business School Case, 9à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ 601à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ 102 : 1à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ 19. Bartlett, C.A. and Mohammed, A. (1995) 3M: Profile of an innovating company, Harvard Business School Case, 9à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ 395à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ 016 : 1à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ 20. Kanter, R.M., McGuire, J.F. and Mohammed, A. (1997) The Change Agent Program at Siemens Nixdorf, Harvard Business School Case, 9à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ 396à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ 203 : 1à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ 17.

The Effects of Globalization on Social Work Practices Essay -- human t

Globalisation is a broad term that is often defined in economic factors alone. The Dictionary at merriam-webster.com describes globalisation as â€Å"the process of enabling financial markets to operate internationally, largely as a result of deregulation and improved communication.† Also due to deregulation on the financial market, multi-national companies are free to trade and move their businesses to areas where a higher return or profit can be achieved. New technology also enables companies to relocate to areas where labour costs are lower, for instance movement of call centre jobs from the UK to India. Lyons (2006) suggests that globalisation creates push and pull factors. Pull factors may include the recruitment drive of highly skilled migrants to developed countries, in return for better pay and working conditions. Push factors may force individuals to migrate due to poor living and working conditions in their native country. Political factors which infringe human rights and fear of persecution may cause individuals to flee also. Globalisation has increased modern technology all over the world enabling more people, such as globally separated families, to maintain contact. Increased media coverage also draws the attention of the world to human rights violation which can lead to an improvement in human rights. This is not a reflection of all marginalised groups. In Australia, the detention of unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) contravenes the United Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), however the media are prohibited to enter detention centres and report on this issue (Cemlyn and Briskman, 2003). Globalisation often affects the structurally oppressed within society, including women and m... ... Home Office (2007) Glossary- National Refugee Integration. http://nrif.homeoffice.gov.uk/Glossary/index.asp?letter=u. Accessed on 6th November 2010. The Scottish Government (2003) Asylum Seekers in Scotland. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2003/02/16400/18349. Accessed on 9th November 2010. The Scottish Government (2007) Refugees and asylum seekers. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Equality/Refugees-asylum. Accessed on 5th November 2010. The Scottish Government (2003) Refugee Integration Forum: action plan. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2003/02/16364/18141. Accessed on 10th November 2010. The United Nations Refugee Agency (2010) Definitions and Obligations. http://www.unhcr.org.au/basicdef.shtml. Accessed on 9th November 2010. United Convention of Human Rights (1951) United Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)

Ponder the Meaning of Life With 1984 and The Matrix Essay example --

The film The Matrix, directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski, may seem to be a unique, original storyline to the untrained viewer, but the story of a totalitarian government and a hero who attempts to save the people is far from this. In reality, there are so many similarities that can be seen in other texts that were written and filmed before that it cannot be ignored. In particular, George Orwell’s 1984 has a similar government that controls its people and a â€Å"hero†, Winston, who is also searching for the truth. Winston lives Oceania where Big-Brother and â€Å"The Party† schedule your entire lives telling when to sleep, eat, and work and keep you under constant surveillance. This is similar in The Matrix, where most of the humans lived in a computer-programmed world which is also constantly surveyed by government authorities. The Wachowski siblings’ film, The Matrix, connects with the concept of dystopia as expressed in George Orwell’s novel, 198 4, by referring to a totalitarian government and the lack of choices, which it accomplishes through the introduction of new surveillance technology, comparing two worlds, and a hero’s journey to liberate the people. The use of new surveillance technology in both 1984 and The Matrix helps to make a world in which people are truly living under complete control believable. In The Matrix, it is possible to hack into the Matrix world, but the government is easily able to detect where the hack is happening and catch up to the hackers. One example in the film is when Neo goes with Morpheous and his crew back to the â€Å"Matrix† world and the government agents quickly catch up with them, breaks into their â€Å"warehouse†, and nearly stops them from leaving to go back to the real world. The government is an omn... ... point that the Wachowski’s are making: freedom and choices give life meaning. We can easily see how the Wachowski’s drew from similar ideas as Orwell in 1984, but has a more hopeful ending. Both texts use surveillance to show how the people are under complete control and show us a world where people believe the lies and are trapped in. The one major difference is that one text does not give us hope and belief that things can be changed, while the other one does. The Matrix does that latter. They give us hope by showing characters that live in a real world with freedoms and are happy. Neo’s life does have a meaning and a purpose. Without seeing the same conclusion in 1984, but with a depressing ending, one would not be able to see as clearly in The Matrix that having freedom and choices is what gives life meaning and we must strive to always keep our freedoms. Ponder the Meaning of Life With 1984 and The Matrix Essay example -- The film The Matrix, directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski, may seem to be a unique, original storyline to the untrained viewer, but the story of a totalitarian government and a hero who attempts to save the people is far from this. In reality, there are so many similarities that can be seen in other texts that were written and filmed before that it cannot be ignored. In particular, George Orwell’s 1984 has a similar government that controls its people and a â€Å"hero†, Winston, who is also searching for the truth. Winston lives Oceania where Big-Brother and â€Å"The Party† schedule your entire lives telling when to sleep, eat, and work and keep you under constant surveillance. This is similar in The Matrix, where most of the humans lived in a computer-programmed world which is also constantly surveyed by government authorities. The Wachowski siblings’ film, The Matrix, connects with the concept of dystopia as expressed in George Orwell’s novel, 198 4, by referring to a totalitarian government and the lack of choices, which it accomplishes through the introduction of new surveillance technology, comparing two worlds, and a hero’s journey to liberate the people. The use of new surveillance technology in both 1984 and The Matrix helps to make a world in which people are truly living under complete control believable. In The Matrix, it is possible to hack into the Matrix world, but the government is easily able to detect where the hack is happening and catch up to the hackers. One example in the film is when Neo goes with Morpheous and his crew back to the â€Å"Matrix† world and the government agents quickly catch up with them, breaks into their â€Å"warehouse†, and nearly stops them from leaving to go back to the real world. The government is an omn... ... point that the Wachowski’s are making: freedom and choices give life meaning. We can easily see how the Wachowski’s drew from similar ideas as Orwell in 1984, but has a more hopeful ending. Both texts use surveillance to show how the people are under complete control and show us a world where people believe the lies and are trapped in. The one major difference is that one text does not give us hope and belief that things can be changed, while the other one does. The Matrix does that latter. They give us hope by showing characters that live in a real world with freedoms and are happy. Neo’s life does have a meaning and a purpose. Without seeing the same conclusion in 1984, but with a depressing ending, one would not be able to see as clearly in The Matrix that having freedom and choices is what gives life meaning and we must strive to always keep our freedoms.

The Yellow Wallpaper as an Attack on Radical Feminism -- Yellow Wallpa

The Yellow Wallpaper as an Attack on Radical Feminism  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚   â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† explores mental illness and, through this exploration, presents a critique of the place of women in a patriarchal society. Interestingly, Charlotte Perkins Gilman never intended the latter. The primary intent of her short story is to criticize of a physician prescribed treatment called rest cure. The treatment, which she underwent, required female patients to â€Å"’live as domestic a life as possible’† (Gilman). This oppressive treatment, however, parallels the oppression of women. As such, â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† has been interpreted as a feminist work. In the story, Gilman comments on the status of women, the nature and source of their confinement and the possible modes of escape. Afflicted by hysteria and â€Å"nervous depression,† the narrator in this story, symbolic of all women, is confined. The condition of the narrator is such that she is â€Å"absolutely forbidden to ‘work’† and unable to â€Å"relieve the press of ideas† through creative endeavours. The narrator makes continued reference to immovable objects and thereby, creates a sense of confinement. â€Å"Hedges and walls and gates that lock† seem to enclose the colonial mansion and hereditary estate. The garden is â€Å"full of box-bordered paths.† Everything is structured, rigid and restrictive. The windows of the nursery are barred. The narrator sleeps on a â€Å"great immoveable bed† which â€Å"is nailed down.† Yet, the nursery is a paradox of images; the images of confinement are contrasted with descriptions of the nursery. The nursery is â€Å"a big, airy room† that has â€Å"windows that look all ways, and air and sunshine galore.† and was, at one time, a â€Å"playroom and gymnasium.† The use of contrasting image... ...front her confinement the wrong way. It is through these events in the story that Gilman does seem to be criticizing women for seeking their freedom at the expense of men. Gilman, while attacking the repression and oppression of women, seems also to attack radical feminism by pointing out that contempt for the opposite sex does nothing to further the feminist cause. Feminists, therefore, should be examples of proper conduct. They should continue to strive for equality but in a manner, that does not alienate men and other women.    Works Cited Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper.† The Harbrace Anthology of Literature. Eds. Jon Stott, Raymond E. Jones, Rick Bowers. 2nd ed. Toronto: Harcourt Brace, 1998.    Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. â€Å"Why I wrote the Yellow Wallpaper† [reprinted article]. URL: http://fmc.utm.edu/~lalexand/reply.htm   

Physiological manipulation in novel Essay

Aldous Huxley is a visionary in every sense of the word, as he paints a vivid picture of the future that is second to none. His imagination is almost prophetic as he boldly presents his idea of futuristic society and the direction of mankind. Huxley’s imaginary society in the ‘Brave New World’ controls citizens through physiological manipulation during birth, psychological conditioning while growing up and a hallucinogenic drug called ‘Soma’ to provide instant gratification (Huxley 15). Although these techniques are said to eradicate class discrimination, religion and unhappiness, it paves the way for a lackluster, grey world deprived of any real life and creative ideas. Huxley’s visions of technology of the future such as genetic engineering, mind-altering drugs and bio-technological advances are quite startling. In spite of having classic science-fiction traits, there is a Shakespearean character as well as weak-minded and strong-spirited human characters in the book that one can relate to. The ‘Brave New World’ is a book with several subtle layers that is entertaining and enlightening at the same time. Although the subject matter of the book is quite dense, it is presented in satirical fashion. Huxley’s Ford analogy explains how technology is also an illusion to exercise control, which has been put in place to replace previous control mechanisms such as religion. Huxley’s political commentary describing an anti-utopian society controlled by a totalistic government is relevant, even in today’s context. Although the centralized world government’ claims technology to be advancing, it merely improves upon existing technologies and fails to make any new breakthroughs in science, thereby keeping people ignorant. The manipulative government also restricts reproduction and promotes polygamous physical relationship, thereby killing meaningful family values and moral gratification. One of the most intriguing issues raised by Huxley’s work is the true meaning of happiness. It makes one reexamine life and realize that happiness is not merely avoidance of pain, conforming to societal norms and amassing wealth. Huxley, through the depiction of the totalitarian government, tries to explain the evils of people losing power and one body exercising absolute control over the masses. Although the book is over seventy-five years old, it is still very relevant in our contemporary political scenario. Huxley’s work also seeks out to enlighten the world about the importance of individuality and freedom of thought. It ultimately makes a statement that blind conformity backed up by fear will only lead to complete surrender of the human mind and soul. On careful analysis, one would come to realize that the fictional society portrayed in Brave New World is not merely a work of Huxley’s fantasy, but actually an extrapolation of our degrading societal values such as greed, meaningless relationships and hyper- consumerism. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein tells us about the consequences of technology over-stepping the nature’s boundaries. It shares recurring themes with Brave New World such as scientists creating life by going against the laws of nature. In both the books, the characters try to use technology to better mankind, but eventually end up making things worse. Both the authors feel that unchecked growth of technology could lead to dire consequences. In the book ‘On the Genealogy of Morals`, Nietzsche reveals the moral crisis that industrialization had brought to the lives of people. Though he believes that human life would be better without religion, he feels human beings need a moral frame of reference to be disciplined. Nietzsche and Huxley share a common view on religion keeping down humans from realizing their true potential. Again, nihilism of established standards and belief systems to enhance human life are common in both the authors’ works. Fyodor Dostoevsky in ‘The Grand Inquisitor’ portrays the return of Jesus Christ and his arrest by the Spanish Inquisition. God is blamed for bestowing freedom upon human beings and thereby making them suffer (Dostoevsky 249). The Church starts to work with the devil to end human suffering, wherein only a few posses freedom while the rest live and die blissfully in ignorance. This theme in Dostoevsky’s parable parallels the Brave New World’s totalitarian government ruling over the ignorant people of the world who are free from pain. I believe our world is moving towards Huxley’s prediction of universal singularity. We are witnessing our freedoms being taken away right under noses by the government, under the pretense of security and progress. We are seeing the decline of families and a blind urge for physical gratification running rampant driven by mindless television entertainment. We are also observing alarmingly higher levels of consumption as well as production, while original thought is gradually deteriorating. Technology is growing exponentially and becoming more and more pervasive by the day. However, in spite of all this, people do not seem to be enjoying true ‘happiness’ and are turning towards anti-depressants to relieve stress, thereby reiterating Huxley’s vision again. Works Cited Page Dostoevsky, Fyodor. â€Å"The Grand Inquisitor†. The Brothers Karamazov. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2000. 246-264. Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. Harper & Row Publishers, 1969. Nietzsche, Friedrich. On the Genealogy of Morals. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Pocket Books, 2004.

Air Forces Northern incident awareness and assessment playbook Essay

Ethics Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) is the combatant command that is responsible for security and defense. They conduct Defense of the Civil authorities through providing capabilities to the DOD, Department of Defense from their land, air and sea components in support of the leading federal policies geared towards responding to any homeland security threat.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Among the capabilities that the DOD brings to their operations is the ISR and IAA. There is no difference between these two terms only that the term IAA has just been coined by the USNORTHCOM to denote the application of ISR when it is applied domestically to support the homeland security. The ISR operation mainly consist of flying both manned and unmanned platforms which are set to revolve over the battle field top provide a clear picture of the situation underneath. During the wartime, this picture could include the location of roads and deposition of the enemy and also the information that may be required so as to target the enemy. ISR provides a clear picture of situational awareness that could not only be used strategically to gain the full picture but also tactically to gather intelligence information that are useful in engaging individual targets. The situation awareness that is provided by the IAA/ ISR becomes a significant force m ultiplier which the commanders have been known to highly rely on.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are many obstacles to realizing full potential for the ISR in homeland security. Currently there is statutory, doctrine, ethical and policy obstacles that exist to prevent ISR from reaching their full capacity for the homeland security provision.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Improved doctrines will see the department of Defense improve their ability to deliver IAA capabilities to the local, tribal, state and also the federal entities. The consumers all over the country and also the whole world will benefit from improved IAA capabilities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The most significant ethical issues come secondarily where IAA capabilities are employed domestically. This is because it is known that all the American citizens enjoy freedoms of privacy, expression and they expect this to be fundamental and be respected in the best way possible. The American citizens highly value their freedoms and hence loath ideas that seem to threaten their constitutional protection.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In publicizing the use and purpose of IAA, I think there is a big ethical consideration in it because the citizens will get to know the function of IAA and how they function. They will not think that their freedoms are being infringed on but know that this is a military operation and that is how they are and should be carried hence in so doing, there will be no blame game between the government and the citizens. Reference USAF. (2007). Air Force doctrine document 2-9; Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations. Washington, D.C.: United States Air Force. Air Forces Northern. (2010). Air Forces Northern incident awareness and assessment playbook. Tyndall AFB, FL: USAF. USNORTHCOM Public Affairs. (2008, September 18). Hurricane response. Retrieved from United States Northern Command: http://www.northcom.mil/news/2008/091908I.html Source document

Education in Wuthering Heights Essay

Education of the 18th and 19th century connects closely to the gender association of this period. Men from wealthy families were the only persons provided the opportunity to be educated at the university level. Just as many men use golf to prove their status and superiority today, these gentlemen pursued cricket and rugby. Another similarity with society today involves the importance of personal connections to further your education possibilities and business opportunities. Social standing was extremely important during this time. â€Å"Manners, money, birth, occupation and leisure time were crucial indicators of social standing, determining not only one’s place in society but one’s freedom to act, speak, learn, and earn† (Longman p. 1886). (alternate view on Victorian society) In the Victorian Era, social class was not solely dependent upon the amount of money a person had; rather, the source of income, birth, and family connections played a major role in determining one’s position in society. And, significantly, most people accepted their place in the hierarchy. In addition to money, manners, speech, clothing, education, and values revealed a person’s class. The three main classes were the elite class, the middle class, and the working class. Further divisions existed within these three class distinctions. The struggle between social classes roughly resembles a real-life conflict during this time. The book was published during the Industrial Revolution, a time of great economic change in which laborers fought for fair conditions in the workplace, and employers fought to defend themselves. People formed groups to work for their own benefit, thus, causing the separation of classes THE GENERAL EFFECT THAT STRESS ON EDUCATION AND THUS SOCIAL CLA SS BRINGS OUT IN THE NOVEL: Education is the one of the central themes in Wuthering Heights, it brings about social status and class distinction in the novel, one of the major differences that we witness between Class struggle is a central theme found in wuthering heights. Class determines hatred, marriage, financial situation and occupation in Wuthering heights. The strict guidelines of class structure break hearts, bring about marriages without love and affect the physical and emotional wellbeing of every character. Even the two main houses in Emily Bronte’s novel reflects the difference education imparts on the character’s dispositions and behaviour. The setting of the story at Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange provides a clear example of social contrast. While the Heights is depicted as simply typical and â€Å"domestic† and associated with uneducated characters: (Nelly, Heathcliff, Hareton, Zillah and Joseph) the Grange is described as a â€Å"scene of unprecedented richness† (80). Each house is associated with behaviour fitting the description. For example, when Catherine is taken into the Grange, she experiences drastic changes, thus going from a â€Å"savage† to a â€Å"lady† (80). While at this house, she rises in status, learns manners, and receives great privileges such as not having to work due to being acquaintances with the educated Isabella and Linton. Heathcliff, on the other hand, learns to classify himself as a member of the lower class, as he does not possess the education of those at the Grange. THE EFFECT OF EDUCATION (OR LACK OF EDUCATION) ON THE CHARACTERS IN WUTHERING HEIGHTS: *MY IDEA IS THAT THE THEME OF CLASS AND EDUCATION ARE INTERLINKED. EDUCATION BREEDS CLASS AS SEEN IN THE CHARACTERS OF EDGAR LINTON, ISABELLA, CATHERING EARNSHAW (TO SOME EXTENT) AND CATHERINE LINTON HEATHCLIFF: †¢Education in Wuthering Heights leads to a better understanding of class and society. The fact that Heathcliff is deprived of an education, immediately lowers his class and ranks him among the servants of Wuthering Heights, emphasized when Catherine Earnshaw returns to Wuthering Heights after her stay at the Lintons. (chapter 7) :† why how very black and cross you look!and how- how funny and grim! But that’s because I’m used to Edgar and Isabella Linton.† †¢Even though Wuthering Heights’ two families live out in the middle of nowhere, they still abide by the constraints of class. Brontà « lets us know through Catherine’s aspirations to marry Edgar Linton that Thrushcross Grange is a far superior manor to the sprawling farmhouse at Wuthering Heights. Now, the Lintons and the Earnshaws are both members of the middle class – between the working class and the elite – as they have servants running the house. But marriage to Edgar Linton is still the means through which Catherine becomes the â€Å"greatest woman of the neighbourhood† (9.59) while, as she tells Nelly, â€Å"Did it never strike you that if Heathcliff and I married, we should be beggars? whereas if I marry Linton, I can aid Heathcliff to rise and place him out of my brother’s power† (9.99). Being an orphan with no family ties and no land, Heathcliff is the lowest on the totem pole. That Hindley denies Heathcliff an education implies that he is trying to force him to become a servant (which is how he, in fact, refers to him several times). So it makes sense that Heathcliff’s revenge is tied directly to the novel’s class issues, because property ownership is one of the privileges of the middle class and above. :† He drove him from their company to the servants, deprived him of the instructions of the curate, and insisted that he should labour out of doors instead; compelling him to do s o as hard as any other lad on the farm. (6.9)† †¢Heathcliff is brought up in a middle class environment with the earnshaws and then into a working class when Hindley takes over custody of Heathcliff. Heathcliff originally was of low working class, being a gypsy (a poor nomadic race of people) and had dark skin. His ethnic disposition worked against him when being judged by the Earnshaws and Linton’s. This leads to the constant belittling of Heathcliff by Hindley and the Lintons ultimately resulted in his loss of Catherine and his motivation in bring about the downfalls of the Earnshaws and Lintons. †¢Heathcliff is an orphan; therefore, his station is below everyone else in Wuthering Heights. It was unheard of to raise someone from the working class as a member of the middle-to-upper middle class. Even Nelly, who was raised with the Earnshaw children, understood her place below her childhood friends. When Mr. Earnshaw elevates the status of Heathcliff, eventually favoring him to his own son, this goes against societal norms. This combination of elevation and usurpation is why Hindley returns Heathcliff to his previous low station after the death of Mr. Earnshaw, and that is why Heathcliff relishes in the fact that Hindley’s son Hareton is reduced to the level of a common, uneducated labourer. †¢Due to the fact that Heathcliff is uneducated Catherine begins to prefer Edgar Linton’s society simply because Edgar is able to discuss more intellectual topics than Heathcliff, thus due to his lack of education and class distinct he lost the love of his life, Catherine. †¢Only after he becomes educated and more genteel does he garner more respect in the novel. †¢When Heathcliff returns, having money is not enough for Edgar to consider him a part of acceptable society, as he is not educated. Heathcliff uses his role as the outcast to encourage Isabella’s infatuation. The feelings that both Catherine and Isabella have for Heathcliff, the common laborer, cause them to lose favor with their brothers. Hindley and Edgar cannot accept the choices their sisters make and therefore, withdraw their love. When a woman betrays her class, she is betraying her family and her class — both unacceptable actions. †¢It should be noted that Heathcliff uses the Victorian’s obsession with class distinct and education against his enemies. They are tools of his revenge. CATHERINE: †¢Social class and education must be the reason Catherine marries Edgar; she is attracted to the social comforts he can supply her. No other plausible explanation exists. Catherine naively thinks she can marry Edgar and then use her position and his money to assist Heathcliff, but that would never happen. †¢The fact that her own brother Hindley deprives her true love, Heathcliff of an education makes Catherine realize the fact that Heathcliff would never be of any consequence to society as in Victorian times education and class distinct ran hand in hand. This is what broadens the chasm between Catherine and her childhood companion Heathcliff as she comes back from her stay at the Lintons. †¢It is Heathcliff’s lack of education that drives her into the society of the Lintons. †¢The fact that Hindley deprives Heathcliff of an education cements Cathy’s view of Heathcliff as a tyrant and causes a chasm between brother and sister. †¢The fact that education is such an important part of Victorian society is emphasized by Catherine’s choice to marry Linton rather than Heathcliff. Catherine’s decision to marry Edgar Linton rather than Heathcliff, and this decision widens the gap between social classes. Edgar Linton is a wealthy man of high status and education, and Heathcliff is poor and possesses no assets. Catherine does not consider personal feelings, but instead, she focuses on her outward appearance to society. â€Å"Edgar Linton will be rich and I shall like to be the greatest woman of the neighborhood whereas if Heathcliff and I married, we should be beggars (81).† It is obvious that wealth justifies social class, and Catherine strives to achieve high status. HINDLEY: †¢Out of all the characters in the novel, Hindley seems to be the most worldly, from a young age he is sent off to college, mainly due to his father’s deference to Heathcliff. This causes us to believe that he is more exposed to Victorian class distinction, more than the other characters of the novel as he is sagacious enough that he discovers that by depriving Heathcliff of an education he ultimately separates him from Catherine as he is then ranked among a servant. †¢Due to Heathcliff, in a cyclical turn of events, Hindley’s own son due a combination of his own neglect and Heathcliff’s cruelty is deprived of education. The fact that he is deprived of education deprives him of any social consequence and his own birthright, emphasizing Emily Bronte’s theme that class and social standing can’t exist without education. EDGAR LINTON: †¢Edgar Linton is a wealthy and well-educated with a noticeably higher ranking than the tenants of Wuthering Heights. †¢Although his rank has made him rather weak- willed and effeminate in character. (Emily Bronte seems to associate the genteel class with slightly effeminate characteristics) he is well educated and this leads him to win the heart of Catherine. †¢His high social status and education make him dislike Heathcliff whom he regards as a ‘gypsy’, his wife and sister’s regard for a man with such low education is a cause for his extreme dislike towards Heathcliff †¢Edgar embodies Victorian society’s idea of a well- educated. Cultured gentleman. Emily Bronte uses Edgar to depict the value of education in such a society, he is a complete contrast to the character of Heathcliff. HARETON: †¢while Hareton’s outward behaviour might suggest a lack of character, he responds to Cathy’s beauty and love by striving to improve his mind. Hareton realizes the importance of education in Victorian society. †¢Heathcliff’s revenge on him is to make Hareton a double of a younger Heathcliff, by denying Hareton his right to an education he makes Hareton less than a servant in Victorian society. This is emphasized by Linton Heathcliff and Catherine Linton’s treatment of him. CATHERINE LINTON: †¢Wuthering heights is famous due to Emily Bronte’s use of doubles or ‘shadowing’ both mother (Catherine Earnshaw) and daughter (Catherine Linton) share a distate for those characters with a lack of education, emphasizing the Victorian era’s obsession with education and the important role it played in class distinction. †¢Catherine Linton shows distaste and even disgust towards her uneducated cousin Hareton, she is shocked that they are related and mocks him with her more cultured cousin Linton Heathcliff †¢It is Catherine’s distaste at Hareton’s lack of education that prevents her from seeing the aid Hareton was attempting to provide when she is forcibly taken to Wuthering Heights by Heathcliff. Isabella: †¢Isabella’s regard for the ‘gypsy’, Heathcliff who she pays no mind to as a child only grows when he returns from his expeditions as an educated man. †¢When Isabella marries Heathcliff she betrays her cultured and educated upbringing leading to estrangement from her brother this emphasizes the chasm that Heathcliff’s lack of education creates throughout the book, separating characters and damaging relationships. It also shows the social unacceptability of being uneducated in England in the Victorian era. QUOTATIONS REPRESENTING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EDUCATION IN THE NOVEL: (the quotes are cited chapter.paragraph) †¢He drove him from their company to the servants, deprived him of the instructions of the curate, and insisted that he should labour out of doors instead; compelling him to do so as hard as any other lad on the farm. (6.9) ïÆ'ËœHindley’s project to punish his father’s favorite begins as soon as the old man dies. To make Heathcliff a farmhand, bereft of education (instructions), is to put him in the lowest possible position. The gentry never work with their hands. †¢[Hindley] wished earnestly to see her bring honour to the family by an alliance with the Lintons, and as long as she let him alone she might trample on us like slaves, for aught he cared! (9.152) Hindley has designs on the Lintons’ social status. Nelly resents the treatment she receives from Catherine. Nelly (who is speaking here) may not be a slave, but she is a servant – yet more often than not she acts like a family member. †¢Ã¢â‚¬Å"but he yielded completely and there was no prevailing on him to take a step in the way of moving upward, when he found he must necessarily sink beneath his former level† chapter 8 †¢:†what good do I get- what do you talk about†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦or for anything you fo either!† chapter 8 †¢:†and he will be rich and i†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..husband† chapter 9 †¢:†and the curate doesn’t teach you to read and write,†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..Heathcliff had promised that† chapter 10 †¢:†papa is gone to fetch†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.relationship with such a clown† chapter 4 volume 2 †¢:†he has satisfied my expectations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.he takes pride in his brutishness† chapter 7 volume 2. †¢:†he does not know his letters†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.dunce?† †¢:†Mr H areton is not envious†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..in a few years† chapter 16 volume 2 †¢:†and tell him if he’ll take it†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..never tease him again.† Chapter 18 volume 2 EDUCATION IN THE COLOR PURPLE: Walker also makes it evident to readers the level of education many of the blacks in the novel had received, which is representative of the black community in the South as a whole in those days. As Walker shows, many females did not finish school, and were instead married away at early ages. Also, many young males were not able to attend school long, considering they were needed to help farm the land. Because of this, most of dialogue in the book is written as if an uneducated person was trying to speak English. For example, many sentences appear to have not only spelling, but grammatical errors as well, such as â€Å"Where us going? ast the oldest girl.† In one of the main character’s, Celie, letters to her sister Nettie, she comments on how two women are trying to teach her how to â€Å"talk†. She states, â€Å"She say us not so hot. A dead country give-away. You say US where most people say WE, she say, and peoples think you dumb. Colored peoples think you a hick and white folks be amuse.† However, in Nettie’s letters to Celie, Walker uses correct grammar and spelling. This is because Nettie was more educated than most of the black people in the South, going to school for many years. Therefore, Walker is using the two sister’s English to show a direct contradiction in the way most blacks in the South at that time spoke, and the way a few that were schooled well spoke. Thus, the reader is able to gauge the education level of the characters in the book by their dialogue. This level is in direct correlation with the level of education of the blacks that really did exist in the South after the Civil War, due to lack of school funding and time for learning. Celie’s point of view is particularly interested. Unlike Nettie, Celie is an uneducated woman, having been forced to drop out of school around the age of fourteen when she became pregnant by her Pa. Her lack of education is apparent from her poor spelling and grammar. Nettie, however, is educated. Her spelling and grammar are correct, and her letters discuss more complex topics, such as women’s rights, civil rights, religion, politics, and more. However, it isn’t only Nettie that has an interesting story to tell. Despite Celie’s poor educational background, Celie tells a powerful story. In this sense, Walker’s chosen narrator shows that all people, including poor, uneducated, victimized black women have an important story to tell. QUOTES ABOUT EDUCATION IN THE COLOR PURPLE: †¢Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Olinka girls do not believe girls should be educated. When I asked a mother why she thought this, she said: A girl is nothing to herself; only to her husband can she become something. What can she become? I asked. Why, she said, the mother of his children But I am not the mother of anybody’s children, I said, and I am something.† †¢Ã¢â‚¬Å"She say us not so hot. A dead country give-away. You say US where most people say WE, she say, and peoples think you dumb. Colored peoples think you a hick and white folks be amuse.† †¢Why do they say I will be a wife of the chief? asks Olivia. That is as high as they can think, I tell her. He is fat and shiny with huge perfect teeth. She thinks she has nightmares about him. You will grow up to be a strong Christian woman, I tell her. Someone who helps her people to advance. You will be a teacher or a nurse. You will travel. You will know many people greater than the chief. Will Tashi? she wants to know. Yes, I tell her, Tashi too. (62.13-18) †¢Tashi is very intelligent, I said. She could be a teacher. A nurse. She could help the people in the village. There is no place here for a woman to do those things, he said. Then we should leave, I said. Sister Corrine and I. No, no, he said. Teach only the boys? I asked. Yes, he said, as if my question was agreement. There is a way that the men speak to women that reminds me too much of Pa. (63.14-20)