A Matter of the heart and Coach Knight Essay

Coach K and Coach Knight both achieved significant success during their college coaching careers. Both coaches possessed the knowledge, skills, and abilities to lead their teams to numerous victories. However, their approaches to this success were very different. Robert Katz and M.D. Mumford identified three skills that leaders should have to ensure their effectiveness and success. Those skills included: technical, human, and conceptual skills. Robert Blake and Jane Mouton developed a leadership grid that indicated behaviors of leaders that were based on people and results. Based on these two leadership models, the coaches were very diverse on the methods exercised to lead their teams. One coach was more concerned with human skills and development of people, while the other coach was more focused on technical skill and results. In employing the Katz and later studies of Mumford’s skills approach, Coach K is dedicated in promoting the development and growth within his team. He utilized his human skills in his ability to work with his team and other coaching staff to accomplish their goals (Northouse, p. 45). He created an environment of trust in where the team had faith in his leadership and each other. Coach K encouraged his team to rely on each other’s ideas and concepts and adapted them into his guidance of the team. He applied his technical and conceptual skills by creating a shared vision for the team and staff; while also using his knowledge and abilities about basketball to enable the team to reach victory. Coach Knight’s skills and how they related to the Katz and Mumford’s approach were slightly different. He utilized his technical skills with his team by providing them with examples of his experience and expertise of the game. Coach Knight conducted specific activities and drills that would ensure the team would be successful. He strongly believed that physical activity or the use of technical skills which involve hands on activity or processes within an organization would guarantee victory (Northouse, p. 44).  Creating a plan and a vision for his team, he pushed his players to strive for excellence. This was an example of his use of conceptual skills. However, Coach Knight lacked human skills. He has been criticized for being unconcerned about the feelings, thoughts, and concerns of others. Most people saw him as a tyrant or dictator. While analyzing the coaches using the Blake Mouton Grid, they are very dissimilar as well. Coach K exhibits the Team leadership results. He is very concerned with results, but is just as concerned about his team and their individual needs. He operates his team with encouragement and motivation for individual and organizational results. The team is driven to produce results and is satisfied or content with his leadership abilities. Yet, Coach Knight identifies with the Authority-compliance management system. He is focused on results by any means necessary. This leadership style is high on results and low on concerns for people. Coach Knight follows a strict system with emphasis on policies and procedures. He has been known to punish or terminate team members for not producing acceptable results. Although both coaches have experienced considerable success, they have two very different leadership styles used to accomplish their goals. While Coach K equally directs his attention to both task oriented and relationship based leadership, Coach Knight centers his leadership approach on only completing tasks and achieving results. Despite the distinctive natures of their leadership proficiencies, both men are respected and highly regarded in the basketball community. References Balancing task- and people –oriented leadership: The Blake Mouton managerial grid. Retrieved from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_73.html Northouse. P. G. (2013). Leadership theory and practice (6th e.d.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Snook, S. A., Perlow, L. A., & Delacy, B. J. (2005 December 1). Coach K: A matter of the heart. HBS No 9-406-044. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing Snook, S. A., Perlow, L. A., & Delacy, B. J. (2005 December 1). Coach Knight: The will to win. HBS No 9-406-043. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing

Frog Heart Lab, Animal Physiology

Chemical and Environmental Effects on the Heart Introduction The heart is the centerpiece of the circulatory system, its muscular contractions allow for the timely delivery of essential gases and nutrients to virtually all cells of the body. The pressure created by the heart also plays a vital role in eliminating wastes through organs such as the kidney, thus the heart delivers and helps maintain nutrient and waste composition throughout the body. The heart, like all muscle cells, releases ionic calcium when stimulated which binds to troponin which in turn causes tropomyosin to uncover the myosin-actin binding sites on the muscle.Temperature has effects on the metabolism and activity of all cells. Warmer temperatures increase the kinetic energy of molecules in cells, providing more energy which allows metabolic processes to proceed more quickly. Cooler temperatures, on the other hand, decrease molecular kinetic energy and cause slower metabolic rates in cells and tissues, hence when a bear hibernates, its body temperature is some degree lower than it is during the bear’s active periods.The heart is also susceptible to certain molecules for which are able to bind to its receptors or diffuse across its membrane and affect intracellular activity and consequently have effects on the overall homeostatic condition of the organism. The Sinoatrial Node (SA Node) acts as the pacemaker of the heart by providing a small, autorhythmic electrical pulses that travel to the atrioventriclar node (AV node) and through the Bundle of His and Purkinje Fibers through gap junctions at the intercalated disks which stimulate the cells of the heart to contract via calcium release.This contraction is similar to a neuron in the sense that a threshold stimulus is needed to cause a contraction, a refractory period follows contraction at which time a new contraction cannot occur. Drugs that have an effect on the tissues of the heart, especially those where the SA Node resides can hav e an effect on the frequency and strength of muscular contraction via causing a stimulus to occur and lowering the threshold needed to cause a contraction. The heart is under both nervous and hormonal control.The brain is constantly receiving information from the body such as pH, CO2 levels, and many others that the hypothalamus and medulla play a role in translating and reacting to via the release of hormones such as epinephrine which affects the SA node, either by stimulating or inhibiting contraction rate. Removal of the heart from the body would result in eventual cessation of beating as these sources are depleted from the immediate environment, not to mention the absence of the appropriate ion levels needed to maintain resting cellular electrochemical gradients.All of the aforementioned aspects of heart control coordinate with Starling’s Law of the Heart, which relates to stroke volume, contractions strength, and frequency of heart contraction. This paper is interested i n investigating what the effects of the alteration of temperature, chemical environments, and physical obtrusion have upon the strength and frequency of cardiac muscle contractions. Decreasing the temperature of the heart’s environment should hypothetically result in a decrease in both frequency and strength of contractions due to the decreased ability of calcium ion channels to open and cause contraction.Various chemicals such as epinephrine and calcium ion solutions should correlate to both and increase in frequency and strength of the resultant contractions due to direct effects on the hearts mode of activation (SA node stimulus) and increasing the levels of available calcium needed to cause a contraction. Other chemicals such as Atropine should indirectly increase heart rate via the blocking of the effects of the parasympathetic system resulting in a predomination of sympathetic activity.Acetylcholine, which acts on the muscarinic receptors of the heart, should display in hibitory effects on the heart by decreasing available cAMP levels, which results in fewer phosphorylated Protein Kinases which are needed to open the calcium channels which result in contractions of all muscles of the body. Additionally, chemicals such as nicotine should have little to no effect on the effects of muscle contraction due to lack of receptors on the heart for such substrates as well as lack of nicotinic receptors on any body tissues that indirectly affect heart rate such as the brain.Methods Procedure 1: The Heart Rate The dissected frog, whose heart was left attached and embedded in the frog, was connected to a string at the most basal aspect of the heart, and wrapped around an electrical stress sensor located 15cm above the heart to detect changes in pressure on the apparatus caused by heart contractions. Unless otherwise stated, all subsequent procedures will have the same setup to minimize variability in the results obtained. The resting heartbeat was then recorded via the described instrumentation. Procedure 2: Effects of Cold TemperatureInitially, 10mL of room temperature Ringer’s solution was applied directly to the heart and allowed to contract freely for 15 seconds. The data obtained from the contractions was recorded. The heart was allowed 1 minute to recover from exposure to the solution. Next, 10mL of chilled Ringer's solution was applied directly to the heart and allowed to contract freely for 15 seconds. This data was recorded. Procedure 3: Effects of Drugs Thirty seconds of normal heart contractions were recorded at which time 2mL of epinephrine was dropped onto the heart itself.Contractions were allowed to proceed for 60 seconds during which time data was recorded. Following exposure to epinephrine, the heart was allowed to return to its resting state determined in procedure 1. This same procedure was repeated with the following chemicals: 1) Acetylcholine, 2) Atropine, 3) Calcium solution, 4) Nicotine solution, and 5) Caff eine solution. Procedure 4: The Refractory Period of the Heart Resting heart contractions were recorded for thirty seconds until the heart rate was less than 60 beats per minute. A stimulator electrode to be used was set to the following states: Amplitude of 4. 0 Volts, a stimulus delay of 50ms, stimulus duration of 10ms, a frequency of 1. 0Hz, and a pulse number of 30. The electrode was then placed in direct contact with the heart for 30 seconds at which time the data was observed and recorded. Procedure 5: Effects of a Ligature on the Heart A 30cm piece of thread was placed around the heart at the Atrioventricular groove (AV groove) and tied in a knot but left loose so as to not interrupt the normal function of the heart. The heart was allowed to beat for about 15 seconds with no pressure.After 15 seconds the knot was slowly tightened while taking care to stay on the AV groove while tightening. Data was observed and recorded. Results Procedure 1: The Heart Rate This experiment was carried out as noted about in Procedure 1. The resting heart rate was established and used as a baseline value from which to compare all future deviations. While data could not be exported from the computer to be definitively known, the relative rate and strength of the contractions were noted on a visual basis from which to compare the following experiments.Procedure 2: Effects of Cold Temperature As noted above in Procedure 1, technical data could not be obtained from this experiment and visual analysis had to suffice for data. Upon addition of room temperature Ringer’s solution, no notable change in contraction strength or frequency could be noted. Time was allowed for the heart to recover from the effects of the initial exposure. The application of cold Ringer’s solution resulted in a clear and observable slowing of the heart rate, though no change in strength of the contractions could be detected.Procedure 3: Effects of Drugs Upon addition of epinephrine directly to the heart, the contraction rate showed a considerable increase in frequency. The strength or magnitude of each contraction also significantly increased as the heart actually was lifting itself off of its resting place. Exposure of the heart to acetylcholine had clear effect on the heart as well. A substantial decrease in heart rate was noticed upon exposure; however the magnitude of contraction seemed to remain somewhat constant.Addition of Atropine to the heart resulted in an increase in heart rate. The magnitude of each contraction showed a minor, but noticeable, increase in strength. A calcium solution was applied to the heart and showed a mild increase in contraction rate with the magnitude of each contraction seemingly remaining constant. The addition of both nicotine and caffeine had negligible effects on the rate or strength of heart contraction. Table [ 1 ]. Applied Chemical and Its Effect on Heart Contraction Rate and Strength Chemical| Heart Rate| Contraction Strength| Normal Ringers| Control Rate| Control Magnitude| Cold Ringers| Decrease| No change| Epinephrine| Increase| Increase| Acetylcholine| Decrease| Slight Decrease| Atropine| Increase| Increase| Calcium solution| Increase| No change| Caffeine| No change| No change| Nicotine| No change| No change| Procedure 4: The Refractory Period of the Heart Upon exposure to a mild electric current, the heart rate was altered from the normal resting heart rate. While it definitely slowed, the contractions were sporadic at best.The heart lost its regularity and showed random contraction intervals, some ranging shorter than normal while others had greater time gaps between contractions. Procedure 5: Effects of a Ligature on the Heart After the knot had been tied around the AV groove, no noticeable alterations were noticed to heart contraction. Upon tightening of the thread however, the heart appeared in clear distress. Beat irregularities ensued with an increase in magnitude of each pulse. The heart cease d functioning before the allotted time period had elapsed.Discussion Procedure 1: The Heart Rate The resting heart rate of the frog was perfectly normal. Steady, rhythmic contractions around 60 beats per minute were observed and used as a baseline for other experiments. The frog appeared healthy, showing no signs of beat irregularities or any other defects that may have impacted the experiment’s validity. Procedure 2: Effects of Cold Temperature The slowing of the heart in the presence of chilled Ringer’s solution was to be expected.All metabolic processes decrease in all cells upon exposure to cold due to the nature of chemical interactions. In the case of the frog heart, the cold solution probably decreased the rate at which calcium channels were able to open and thus, decrease the rate at which contractions were likely to occur since calcium entry to the cytosol initiates the cascade of reactions that leads to muscle contraction. Thus, the experimental hypothesis wa s correct given that the rate at which the heart contracted decreased and the magnitude of each contraction also lowered.Procedure 3: Effects of Drugs Exposure to epinephrine increased both the rate and strength of each muscular contraction as was expected. The heart contains many adrenergic receptors which are responsive to epinephrine, especially near the SA node, which initiates the contractions of the heart. Epinephrine acts to increase the release time of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum via a cascade of reactions. The fact that epinephrine had a positive impact on the heart indicates that the heart was healthy and responsive to normal physiological chemicals and pathways.Addition of acetylcholine predictably lowered the heart rate of the frog. Acetylcholine blocks the cAMP cascade pathway that ultimately leads to calcium release, thus the frequency at which calcium is released is lowered and as a result, the contraction rate follows suit and lowers as well which is what you would expect from a fully functional heart. This part of the experiment was a success. The presence of Atropine, a parasympathetic system inhibitor, acted appropriately and increased the heart rate of the frog.The parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system act antagonistically to one another and as a result, decreased activity in one serves to act as if an increase in the other had occurred. Addition of Atropine, in effect, should have had similar effects as the addition of epinephrine which it did. Exposure resulted in an increase in the rate of contraction and a mild but noticeable increase in the strength of contraction compared to the resting heart rate and magnitude which was what the response was predicted to have been.Neither caffeine nor nicotine had any visual effect on the hearts rate or strength of contraction. This was expected as both of these chemicals exert their effects by activating the release of neurotransmitters and hormones in the hypothalamus, specific ally epinephrine, which then affects the heart. Because these tested chemicals were applied directly to the heart and not placed in the bloodstream where they could produce an indirect effect, it is reasonable that no effect was noticed from the heart upon exposure to these chemicals. Procedure 4: The Refractory Period of the Heart The SA node is the pacemaker of heart.It is produces electrical currents that travel to the AV node and through the Bundles of His and the Purkinje fibers and stimulates the cells of the atrium and ventricles to contract. This is electrical conduction that is carried through gap junction of the intercalated disks separating heart cells and thus it is reasonable to infer that applying an electric current directly to the heart would interfere with the steady, rhythmic contractions normally observed in a healthy, undisturbed heart. Accordingly, as we applied a current to the heart, the cyclic contractions of the heart became erratic and unpredictable.No stea dy pattern was detectable in the muscular contractions. Some had longer periods between contractions while others had shorter time gaps between beats. This was expected as the heart would be receiving constant signals to contract along with the rhythmic electrical signals from the SA node itself and would result in interference and overlap of contraction signals which is exactly what was observed. This leads us to believe that both the electrical apparatus and the heart were working exactly as designed. Procedure 5: Effects of a Ligature on the HeartAfter placing the thread around the AV groove and tightening, the heart was clearly under a great deal of strength. Both the anterior and posterior segments of the heart swelled considerably, no doubt as a result of restriction of blood flow and buildup of pressure within the atriums and ventricles themselves. The AV node is a particularly sensitive portion of the heart to constriction as blood flow through the heart itself occurs at thi s junction. The heart contraction magnitude increased considerably while the contraction rate decreased substantially.Over the course of time when the thread was tightened, the heart appeared to get weaker and weaker until it finally gave out itself. Using the electrical apparatus, we tried to revive the frog and succeeded, however, a steady and consistent heartbeat was never again established and was much weaker and slower than before the thread was utilized. This indicated that heart damage had occurred and it was unlikely that any more significant and reliable data could be obtained from the frog’s heart and the experiment was finished as a result.Overall, the experiment can be considered a success as the appropriate responses to all the varying conditions were observed. While the experiment can be considered a success, the conditions with which the experiments were carried out were far from ideal. The experimental apparatus used was sufficient but hardly the equipment of choice. Far from accurate and precision, as well as the lack of ability to export numbered data from the labs computers, it is difficult to really analyze the data and produce concrete results that reflect the true magnitudes of effect each experimental variable had on the heart.

Question Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Question - Assignment Example He also said that death is nothing compared to injustice (48b6-7) Socrates perceive the â€Å"Laws† from the point of gratitude that Athens provided him the birthplace, raised and took care of him. He was also educated in Athens and protected him and his fellow citizens. It is therefore incumbent upon him to obey the state as it raised and took care of him. This tacit contract is enforceable for as long as one stays in Athens. If one is not amenable to follow the laws of Athens or state, one is free to leave Athens and go somewhere else. But if they chose to stay, they must submit to the laws of the state. and if they do not like what they see, they are free to take their property and go wherever they please. However, if they choose to stay in Athens, they are actively submitting themselves to the Laws of Athens, and must abide by them no matter what.   Gadfly is a harsh critic of the status quo who is already contented with how things are done even if they are in slumber. The term was used in one of the most inflammatory arguments in the Apology was when Socrates described himself as a gadfly who is stinging a lazy horse which is a state. The personalities I can think of in history that is appropriate to be called a gadfly are Luther Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. Martin Luther King is a gadfly because he went against the status quo of discrimination and removed the injustice against African American. Rosa Parks on the other hand went against the patriarchal society and asserted the equal rights of

Do Chagalls Depictions of David Reflect His Intense Religiosity Essay

Do Chagalls Depictions of David Reflect His Intense Religiosity - Essay Example Interestingly, David is one of the Biblical characters who are often depicted in Chagall's paintings. Throughout his works, Chagall was able to incorporate David's stories, as stated in the Jewish Bible, with his own interpretation of David. Chagall's understanding of David, which is influenced by his intense religiosity according to Friedman (1984, p.376), is shown by comparing the implications of his paintings to the Hebrew scripts. Hence, Chagall's depictions of David in his paintings, which is a juxtaposition of his own interpretation and David's stories in the Bible, reflect his own intense religiosity. Marc Chagall is an artist famous for his etchings which reflect interpretations of Biblical stories. He admitted the his viewing of the Bible was less as a religious text and more as an interpretation of the nature of humans and the divinity inherent in them as well as their flaws (Amishai-Meisels, 1996, p. 72). Also, he confessed that his artworks represent his effort in transmitting to canvas the echo of nature portrayed by the Bible. Hence, he chose to focus on the love the Bible tries to foster, rather than on the punitive aspect of it. The aim is to strive for that perfect love, forgiveness and mercy, without letting the retribution to be the focus of the stories. This view of Chagall... This is evident in his approach to his artworks, where he uses abstractive figures supporting a central subject. This type of painting originated from Jews (Saltman, 1981, p.44). However, the way he views the Bible is influenced by his Christian background. This can be seen in the implications of his paintings depicting stories of David, among other Biblical stories, which focuses on the themes of love and forgiveness while ignoring the themes of punishment and discipline. In this regard, the Christian influence is clear. Although the Jewish Bible is the same as the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, the emphasis on the Christian Bible represented by the New Testament is on love and forgiveness, which is amply demonstrated through Chagall's work. Chagall's painting "David and Bathsheba" depicts the affair which was shared by David and Bathsheba. The painting itself covers David's lust for a married woman named Bathsheba and this woman's conception of their child. In the Bible, the affair started when David sends for her and " she came to him, and he lay with her The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, 'I am pregnant'" (Holy Bible, 2 Samuel 11:4-5). Knowing that his act of adultery was sinful, he initially tries to cover it up by sending for her husband Uriah on the excuse of wanting news of the battle and then sending him home so that he may sleep with his wife and, therefore, claim the child as his own. When that fails, he engineers Uriah's death in order to marry Bathsheba. In doing so, he has fallen short of every standard set by God, and later God punishes him by refusing to cure the child conceived by Bathsheba, allowing it to die. The central subject of the painting "David and Bathsheba"

Pro's of distant learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Pro's of distant learning - Essay Example eo conferencing, and virtual mode) has been a mechanism that has been used to reach out into communities where individuals want to obtain an education but has not been necessarily easy to obtain using the traditional classroom setting. It has been geared to reach individuals that are at a distance and want to study but are not physically at the university campus and its surroundings and/or do not have time to take these courses using the traditional classroom setting. In today ´s day and age of information technology, distant education continues to exist and many more higher education institutions are offering these non-traditional courses. Information Technology is here to stay. There are different paradigms that are used by institutions of higher education (synchronous/asynchronous). There are forums where the students and the assessor discuss topics, ask questions, and make comments. This type of communication opened infinite possibilities in making distant education accessible to all of those individuals who want to obtain higher education recognition (diploma/degree). The visual mode within distant learning is a powerful asset. You not only communicate by writing and in some instances sound is included, but by having the visual mode incorporated into this virtual paradigm augments the possibilities given the different learning styles. According to Veenema & Gardner (1996) interactive technology could become a valuable tool in education if it takes into consideration how the human mind works. These authors stated that â€Å"†¦cognitivists argue that individuals do not just react to or perform in the world; they possess minds, and these minds contain mental representations-images, schemes, pictures, frames, languages, ideas†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p. 70) They emphasized that some mental representations that individuals have are that they are born with them or are formed at an early age, have proven to be enduring but that others are created, transformed or dissolved over time

What drives Willie Loman and sons Seeing the world through the Coursework

What drives Willie Loman and sons Seeing the world through the protagonists eyes - Coursework Example Biff considered his family and himself to be the ordinary people, which are not able to achieve the unreal dreams. Both brothers (Biff and Holly) are shown as the people, who do not wait anything special from life, though they possess different characters, as Happy is not involved greatly in the moral principles. The brothers have totally different inner worlds. The death of Willy did not change anything in the mind of his son Holly, he decided to follow his father’s steps and continue to live in the same way, making the same mistakes, while Biff saw the kind of fatuity in the death of his father. He sees it as useless as his own life and decides to live differently. The readers can understand it, when Biff says: â€Å"He had the wrong dreams. All, all, wrong!† (). Biff finds out, that during the useless rush for the unreachable dream, his father lost thousands of happy moments of the regular every day life. The theme of the play touches the questions of human self-know ledge and its importance for the life of the individual. The relationships of Biff and his father were never perfect. Biff saw his father as an example until he got disappointed in his actions and behavior. Without any idea of who he was, he tried to live the same life as his father and understood that it was the wrong one, after the numerous troubles and sorrows. He learned the sense of life through his own mistakes, though at the end of the story we cannot say that he found himself. The motivation of the play’s characters is revealed through their reaction on different events. The reaction of Holly on his father’s death gives him strength to continue his path and to show everyone that it was not in vain. Linda seeks freedom as the mean of escaping from numerous debts and achieve stability. The play possesses a deep philosophical context. The idea of â€Å"American Dream† remains the most wanted and needed among the people. The

Marketing Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 2

Marketing Plan - Essay Example The Brighter Cleaning Company offers janitorial equipment and cleaning solutions products for furniture and floors. The cleaning products and janitorial equipment help in keeping the work places clean and free from germs. The products can be categorized into three major areas: equipment, paper products and cleaning chemicals. The specific products include brooms, brushes, dustpans, chemicals, dust mops, dusters and cleaning pads. Additional products are floor and furniture care, janitorial carts, paper products, rags and wipes. The Brighter Cleaning Company also offers receptacles, personal care, trash bags, liners, recycling equipments and replacement parts. The aim of the marketing plan is to see that the market of the products increases thus increase in profit margin. An increase in profits will ensure that the shareholders’ returns increase. The marketing plan also aims to improve the return on investment of the company. The marketing plan will aim to minimize the cost that is associated with marketing while the same time ensuring efficiency. The costs to be reduced will include those that are related to lack of customers for the company’s products. United States of America enjoys a stable political condition, thus suitable for business. Being a super power country, it also experiences a great political favor from other different countries. In return, the products manufactured in the United States of America are easy to export to other countries. The policies that control the business in the country favors young businesses and have seen them flourish. The tax laws give the young businesses a grace period to which the business can grow. The business policies in the area also promote the issuance of subsidies to the young businesses thus promoting them. The levied tariffs are also fair; therefore, the business does not struggle to pay the taxes (Kotler & Levy, 1969). The company’s

Process Approach to Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Process Approach to Project Management - Essay Example More and more executives realise that project management provides significant benefits for their businesses, for example such as those mentioned by Kerzner (2006: p.47): (1) â€Å"accomplishment of more work in less time, with fewer people†; (2) providing â€Å"better control of scope changes†; (3) making the organisation â€Å"more efficient and effective through better organisational behaviour principles†; (4) allowing â€Å"to work more closely with customers†; (5) providing â€Å"a means for solving problems†, (6) making â€Å"good company decisions† and (7) â€Å"delivering right solutions†. One can say that today project management is increasingly becoming one of the major organisational approaches in the government of enterprises. Numerous methods and managerial concepts have been proposed by PM researchers and practitioners in order to ensure effective management of projects. This paper is aimed to give an overview of the proce ss approach to project management, which represents one of the key methodologies of modern theory of project management. The remaining content of the paper is organised as follows. Section 3 introduces the main definitions and conceptions of project management theory and process approach in PM, among which the concepts of project life cycle, project stakeholders and project success are of a special importance. Section 4 discusses several issues related to the process approach in project management; the discussion is made on the basis of research of the state-of-the-art literature and real case studies analysis. The findings presented in section 4 are evaluated and the recommendations, made on the basis of evaluation, are offered in the section 5. The final section 6 provides a conclusion drawn from the study. 3.0 Introduction In 1959 Harvard Business Review published the article of Gaddis â€Å"The Project Manager†, in which a project was defined at the first time as â€Å"a n organization unit dedicated to the attainment of a goal — generally the successful completion of a developmental product on time, within budget, and in conformance with predetermined performance specifications† (Gaddis 1959: p.89). Since that, a project has been defined many times by many other scholars and organisations, for example: â€Å"A project is a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product or service. Temporary means that every project has a definite beginning and a definite end. Unique means that the product or service is different in some distinguishing way from all similar products or services† (PMI 1996: p.4). â€Å"A project is an organised endeavour aimed at accomplishing a specific, non-routine or low-volume task† (Salvendy 2001: p.1242). All definitions emphasise a project as a unique activity that has three distinctive characteristics: time (schedule, well-defined duration), cost (resources dedicated to achievement of goal s) and quality (desired outcome) defined by specification – â€Å"the nature and scope of what has to be achieved† (Harrison & Lock 2004: p.5). Demeulemeester and Herroelen (2002) mention another common element – a goal or objective of a project. Schwalbe (2010) makes an important addition that a project is always temporary and it always involves uncertainty. Soderlund (2004) agrees that the universal elements of a project are â€Å"uniqueness, task complexity and time-limitedness† (p.185). In addition, Gido & Clements (2009: p.6) assert that any project has a customer, which is â€Å"

A Overview of the Grand Canyon Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A Overview of the Grand Canyon - Research Paper Example How the Grand Canyon came into existence? No one knows. There are abundant guesses. Accept it as the one of the most beautiful area of nature. A number of processes and more than one factor must have contributed to its formation and what one sees in the Grand Canyon presently, is the outcome of the process of evolution over a very long period. â€Å"The most powerful force to have an impact on the Grand Canyon is erosion, primarily by water (and ice) and second by wind. Other forces that contributed to the Canyons formation are the course of the Colorado River itself, volcanism, continental drift and slight variations in the Earth’s orbit which in turn causes variations in seasons and climate†. (The Geology†¦.)Canyon is basically located in a desert. Heat of the sun bakes the soil in the Grand Canyon; it becomes so hard that it cannot absorb water, when rains come. The roots of the plants in the Grand Canyon cannot pierce the hard earth-bed and the root systems are very shallow and they absorb as much water as is possible during rains. These plants are unable to block the process of soil erosion. With no check on the soil and rock in place, during heavy rains flash floods occur with devastating consequences. The flood water carries down the Grand Canyon, everything on its course, spares nothing, and big boulders roll down as if they are pebbles. It assumes the shape of flowing concrete and not water. Those hiking through the side canyons must have the accurate information of weather conditions, to avoid calamities. It is a steep canyon. The ‘sculptor’ of this canyon is the Colorado River in Arizona, USA. It is 277 miles long, the maximum width is 18 miles and its depth is a stunning 6000 ft. It is part of the countless years of the Planet Earth’s geological history, and the River and its tributaries are the architects of this

Statistical Analysis Math Speech or Presentation

Statistical Analysis Math - Speech or Presentation Example The entire student population of the US has been divided into state/territories as different strata. Samples are then obtained from each stratum. The advantages of this technique are: This structure and design of the frequency table was chosen because it makes it easier to analyze data using tools such as Microsoft Excel and SPSS. It is also simple to extract data from or to do cross tabulations. As you can see the measures of central tendency: mean, mode and median have been easily calculated using MS-Excel. The section in Table 1 written #N/A shows no mode / multimodal data. From chart 2 we can conclude that Grade 12 students had the highest percentage mean of those who rarely or never wore a seat belt when riding in a car driven by someone else. This is different from Chart 3 below which shows us that Grade 9 had the highest percentage median of the same data. This implies that the data has extreme values. From charts above and below looking at the samples for gender we see we have a skewed distribution. We can see long right-tails which implies positive skewness. A normal distribution is symmetric and has a skewness value of 0. The standard deviation is a measure of dispersion around the mean. In our case the standard deviation is very high when compared to the mean, 9.066 for Male data and 9.575 for Female data. This means that our data has a very wide spread from the centre. a. Parameters are numbers that are used to describe characteristics of an entire population while statistics are numbers that describe characteristics derived from a sample that has been drawn from a larger population.   The standard deviation is a measure of dispersion around the mean. It is the positive square root of the variance. Range is the difference between the highest and lowest values in a sample or population. The inter-quartile range is got from the difference between the 3rd and 1st quartiles of the sample/population data. b.

Critique & Vanities Essay Example for Free

Critique Vanities Essay Written by an American, Jack Heifner â€Å"Vanities† is a story relating to three young girls from a little town called Texas. The lives of these three girls take a sharp turn in puzzling ways after a deeply intense period at school where they would spend good time flinging themselves into the air and making noises. The girls enjoyed their happy times and shared together but after going away from one another, they forgot everything and separately started their own means of survival. According to the playwright it seems that cheerleaders who are worshipped and envied in high school do not grow up and live charmed lives in their later years. The playwright begins by mentioning his three characters namely Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles and Anneliese van der Pol who acted as cheerleaders sometimes back when they were in high school and college. All the three beautiful girls shown in this pleasant but forgettable play must weather the storm and trouble after putting away their pullovers and saddle shoes. The play begins in a conventional and inconsequential manner; however, it comes in a series of oral plays that are arranged in a sequential order. In the beginning of the play, the three characters are revealed as having a happy life in high school, socializing with one another and even sharing their happy times together. Kathy, who is living in the apartment, plans and organizes a get-together party for the three and though the playwright does not mention the reason behind the holding of the get-together party; it is true that the party was meant to commemorate the happy times and sorrowful times that they had been sharing together. Joanne, to whom life seemed to be still an active convention, is now getting out of shape with time. She is a pretty girl and one who does not care much about the future. Kate Guyton also displays the same characters. Kate Guyton is later engaged in a marriage relationship with Ted who is revealed as the play’s most lively and puzzling characters but does not show herself. Mary as acted by Regan Thompson changes from a sex maniac young girl to a professional marketer of the same trade. She has an art gallery that deals with erotic art despite being married and one of her best customers is none other than the wandering Ted with whom she has an affair. The girls do not seem to learn anything in school. Mary wishes to be a nurse or a psychologist. Kathy does not want to be anything whereas Joanne goes on being a virgin. Ted is arguably the most active and strange character in this play, though he does not take an active role. When Anneliese van der Pol, who is a cheerleader tried to attract her friends attention to bow to the get-together party every thing does not go smoothly since the boys and other social issues keep getting in the way and as result, Anneliese van der Pol’s confidence on the success of the get-together party is rendered hopeless. However, she tries with all her effort to get back to her friends Joanne and Mary. Due to this situation, the playwright uses Kirshenbaum’s music to reflect the kind of dilemma she was undergoing. The young women appear to be in confused states of mind than there before and do not even show the character of leadership despite having been cheerleaders before. Joanne plans a wedding with her former high school sweetheart but at the same time, Mary also plans to travel to Europe in summer. Kathy still doubts the fact that her former friend and schoolmate have married a woman who is already. As a result of this she gets disappointed with men. Mary then comes in to console her friend from her disappointment. This clearly displays the obvious strained relationship of the three girls in this reunion party. The character of cheerleading learned at high school seems to have ended there. It did not go beyond the school gate. At the time the play goes to New York City, the three actresses had been completely changed in their characters from which they had when they were together. Mary who is a prostitute gets angry of her friend Joanne because of her decision to become a housewife and a mother. This problem disturbs Joanne but later reveals it when she gets drunk. The trio-actresses have strong and appealing voices. However, Ms Kennedy looks worried because she has to smoke every time. Or could she be experiencing a difficulty in relating with the others? Probably as they also do not get out of the arena during the short break and they sit at the table of vanity to have time to adjust their makeup. After watching the play I was amazed by the playwrights’ theme of misguided values as shown by the transformation of the characters of the three girls. They experienced overexcitement in high school, life of uncertainty in college and sadness in their final reunion. But is life that vain as the writer tries to show? I don’t think so but it might reflect these trends if the values that one calculates are against the norms or misplaced as the characters reveal. Works cited Heifner Jack â€Å"Vanities† 1963

Advantages and disadvantages of increasing interdependence and interconnectedness

Advantages and disadvantages of increasing interdependence and interconnectedness Since the 1970s the globalisation of finance has made the economic fortunes of states increasingly interdependent. Until relatively recently international finance was still considered principally to be an adjunct to trade (McGrew, 2007), a necessary mechanism that enabled the exchange of goods and services at the international level. Its phenomenal growth over the past few decades has shattered this perception. Today the global economy is characterised by the sheer volume and velocity of international financial transactions. Average daily turnover on traditional foreign exchange markets increased from $15bn in 1973 (Gilpin, 2001) to $3.2tr in April 2007 (BIS, Sep 2007). While the successes of financial liberalisation include lifting millions out of poverty in China, East Asia, and elsewhere, and improving the developing worlds access to markets, its failures have also been stark. Various crises of the 1990s showed that problems in one country or even a particular industry can fast become global. The recent financial crisis of 2007 has again generated discussion at the normative and theoretical level about the contemporary global financial architecture, its widely perceived benefits, and its increasingly evident costs. The increasing significance of the global financial system over the past two decades has been mirrored by a surge of interest from the academic field of international political economy. Its effects are now so far-reaching that commentators have drawn connections between international financial integration and such diverse developments as social turbulence in East Asia, monetary union in Europe, and failed development strategies in Latin America (Pauly, 2005). Most of this literature, however, tends to focus on specific aspects of financial globalisation, such as its implications for national economic policy or the power of transnational corporations (TNCs). This essay intends to broaden the debate, to demonstrate the apparent paradox of international financial integration while it has made states, economies, firms and individuals more intimately interconnected than ever before, it is an inherently divergent process. It will argue that the international financial system is increasingly producing a global dichotomy. The benefits of financial integration, in the main, accrue to capital-rich states and the owners of capital, those free to move their resources around the world to seek the highest returns. Developing states, and those without control of capital resources, while receiving less of the advantages of integration, are more adversely affected by its disadvantages, such as contagion and capital flight. The first section will discuss the evolution of the contemporary global financial system, and how it came to be in its current form. I will argue that advanced industrial states, following a neo-liberal paradigm of liberalisation, facilitated the deregulation and increased interdependence of the financial system through political actions. However, it has been technological and market innovation that has accelerated and expanded this interconnectedness to an unprecedented level. These origins are key to understanding why capital-rich entities are better equipped to reap the benefits of financial integration. The next two sections will put forward the principle advantages and disadvantages of this integration. The following section will provide an analysis of these, contending that the capital-poor gain less of the former, and are more exposed to the latter. The concluding section will summarise this argument and touch on its implications for the future of the global economy while glo balisation promises universal benefits, these cannot be realised under the current system, which precipitates a global dichotomy between the capital-rich and the capital-poor. Origins of the contemporary global financial system As Benjamin Cohen (1996) suggests, little consensus exists concerning the causes of financial globalisation, and many scholars have attempted to apply their own structure to the study. The critical contribution to the debate comes from Eric Helleiner (1994), who persuasively argues that the globalisation of finance was advanced by the political decisions of major states. Helleiner also, however, neglects the exponential effect that technological and market innovations have had on the financial system, a factor considered key by others such as Cerny (1993) and Strange (1998). Political actions by leading states have enabled the globalisation of finance since the 1970s. By far the most significant was the abolition of capital controls, firstly by the USA and the UK, and then other major economies. As Goodman and Pauly (2000) suggest, liberalisation became and continues to be a competitive practice, and other countries had to react to prevent mobile domestic capital and financial business from migrating abroad. By the 1990s an almost fully liberal pattern of financial relations had emerged and today market actors experience freedom in cross-border activity unparalleled since the 1920s (Helleiner, 2007). International capital mobility is the most significant, and defining, characteristic of the global financial system. It has created many of the advantages and disadvantages associated with integration, and has also been instrumental in creating and sustaining the global dichotomy. The embracing of a new neo-liberal economic ideology among the major economic powers in the 1980s was key for the international financial system, which was given a large boost by plans to remove the state from the economy and allow the market mechanism to work (Soros, 1998). This theory was less sympathetic to the Bretton Woods ideal that national policy autonomy had to be protected, and was content to let the markets impose an external discipline on governments pursuing not sound policies (Helleiner, 2007). Financial liberalisation has been successfully institutionalised as a component of several multilateral agreements (Eichengreen, 2003). As early as 1976 the USA successfully lobbied for a change to the International Monetary Funds Articles of Agreement so that the new official goal of the Fund was to preside over a regime that facilitated the free exchange of capital between countries (Watson, 2007). This regime, however, has been deepened and broadened to an unprecedented extent by technological and market innovations. The volatility of prices and exchange rates in the 1970s led to phenomenal growth in the derivatives market, particularly after the emergence of an over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives market in the 1990s. In 1990 OTC contracts totalled $3.45bn, which had risen to $18tr in 1995 and $24tr by 1996 (Strange, 1998). These new financial instruments involved an initial outlay only a fraction of the notional value of the contract, giving banks and other TNCs the means at relatively low cost to hedge themselves against losses from unpredicted changes in exchange rates, interest rates, and commodities. Huge advances in computing and telecommunications over the last thirty years have been central to the huge volume and velocity of international financial flows (Held et al., 1999). Before the 1990s only data could be exchanged instantly between corporate offices and banks. The rise of the Internet meant opinions and rumours could also be traded, contributing to dangerous fluctuations but increasing interdependency. International banks and firms transfer huge amounts of money quickly and safely due to automatic clearing systems. In 1995 the USAs Clearing House Interbank Payment System (CHIPS) became the largest international clearing system processing some 200,000 transactions a day (Strange, 1998). Today CHIPS, and its state-run competitor Fedwire, clear an average daily value of $1.5tr (CHIPS, 2010) and $2.5tr (Fedwire, 2009) respectively. The root causes of the globalisation of finance are crucial to the understanding of its advantages and disadvantages, as it is evident that major states initiated the process because of the benefits it promised to them and to the rest of the world. It is also clear that innovation in both technology and markets has accelerated the process, making the benefits more pronounced for those involved, while also increasing the potential costs. The advantages of integration The advantages of increased interdependence and the expansion of the global financial system are often championed by international institutions, politicians and international business leaders. At a fundamental level, the benefits cited are backed up by economic theory, that which is at the heart of the neo-liberal paradigm of international finance advocated by many of the worlds economies. It holds that markets allocate resources in socially desirable ways. Flows from capital-abundant to capital-scarce countries, on the assumption that the marginal product of capital is higher in the latter than the former, increase welfare on both sides (Eichengreen Mussa, 1998). International financial transactions allow economies experiencing business-cycle disturbances to smooth the time profile of consumption and investment. Free capital movements thus facilitate a more efficient global allocation of savings and resources to their most productive uses. An advantage of the expansion of the financial system advocated by the global financial institutions is the convergence of national policies. The neo-liberal programme holds as desirable the homogenisation of national policy across state boundaries. The freedom of capital is said to have enabled the European Unions single currency, tax harmonisation across national borders and the international convergence of macroeconomic policy (Frieden, 1991). This, the argument goes, is good for eradicating instability in the global financial system. The incentive for resources to evade controls and regulations is lessened if national regulations are homogenised. The problem with this argument, however, is that capital mobility breeds a competitive environment between emerging economies for investment, which will be discussed below. Some international firms now command more resources than many states (OBrien, 2005). For these firms, the development of the contemporary global financial system has brought two huge distinct advantages: higher returns on their investments, and the ability to diversify risk internationally. Higher returns have been produced by two factors the inherent volatility of the system, and the greater opportunity to exploit it. Firstly, the inherent volatility and uncertainty of the financial system leads to higher returns for investors. Firms are able to trade on the volatile prices of currencies and commodities. With vast capital resources huge sums can be made very quickly with even small fluctuations on international capital markets. The best example of how capitalists gain from this volatility is the benefit that many manage to take from the systems crises. Currency trader George Soros is alleged to have made  £1bn from the devaluation of the British Sterling in 1992. Private companies are also said to have benefitted from the Asian financial crisis of 1997. Stiglitz (2002) argues that the intervention of the IMF, a Western-backed institution, ensured that Western firms were paid back their loans, while numerous national firms in Asia were left to collapse. Most of the $ 55bn the Mexican government owed following its 1994 crisis was to private creditors (OBrien Williams, 2007). The nature of the financial system means that investors can pull money out of a currency virtually instantaneously, and move back in after a collapse making a handsome profit. This leads to self-fulfilling prophecies of currency speculation, discussed below, but the investors are protected from most of the risk involved, whereas the economies concerned can suffer decline for years. Secondly, with the opening of countries capital markets, the opportunity for investment has increased substantially. Banks, hedge funds, and international manufacturing firms have all benefitted from having a much larger global market to do business in. With the ease of transferring financial resources to emerging markets and new host states, TNCs have access to a mass global pool of cheap labour. This capital mobility means governments all over the world have to provide more attractive conditions for companies, from low capital gains tax to relaxed financial and labour regulation (Frieden, 1991). Emerging economies, deemed to be high risk, must offer attractive interest rates to attract investment. There is constant competition between economies for foreign direct investment with which to finance development, meaning better and better business environments for investors. The key advantage for the capital-rich entities is that while gaining from the volatility and uncertainty of the system, they can also protect themselves against it. Modern financial markets operate to allow risks to be packaged and redistributed so that actors can hedge against specific risks like exchange rate fluctuations (Held et al., 1999). High-risk investments yield high returns, but if these investments do not yield, investors are protected by the profits from investments elsewhere. Market innovations such as options, futures and swaps even help protect investors from future fluctuations. There are also huge advantages associated with the development of the global financial system for less-developed countries (LDCs). The economies of East Asia, China, India and others have shown what can be achieved utilising international investment. Millions have been lifted out of poverty, economies transformed to industrial powers, and their national firms compete at the global level. These developments have been enabled by the crucial advantage of interdependence to smaller economies, access to financial markets. The opening of financial markets, as Jeffrey Frieden (1991) suggests, has strengthened labour-intensive industries, in which developing economies have a distinct advantage, through increased investment. The ease of transferring capital across national borders has increased the use of outsourcing and facilitated an explosion of FDI in the 1990s to areas like East Asia and Latin America, providing a huge boost to industries in the recipient countries. Access to financial markets also means that the governments of smaller economies can borrow to fund their development. Borrowing allows such economies to hold their currencies at preferred rates to suppress inflation and keep up debt repayments without inflicting a huge recession at home (Green, 2003). The remarkable development of the East Asian economies would not have been possible without huge inflows of capital, both in FDI and government borrowing to fund economic development strategies. The disadvantages of integration While the advantages of greater financial integration mentioned above have helped many less-developed countries expand their industries and grow their economies, their progress has been beset by financial crises, most notably in the 1990s. These crises were notable because they happened in very similar circumstances in completely different parts of the world, and spread across national boundaries and even to different regions. Contagion of financial crises is the most serious disadvantage of increased interdependence. This effect was most obviously witnessed in the late 1990s, where integration turned a currency crisis in Thailand into the Asian crisis, and turned the Asian crisis into a global recession. Thailands devaluation made Thai exports very cheap, meaning other economies selling very similar exports to the same markets were forced to devalue in order to protect demand. The crash in Asia precipitated crashes in Russia, Brazil and Argentina. As Jones (2000) explains, the contagious effects of Asia were threefold: psychological upon investors, the collapse of regional markets for Southeast Asian exports, and upon other world markets as demand collapsed. This demonstrates a key point, that due to the nature of their economies, developing countries bear much more of the cost of crises because of capital flight. As crisis spreads, investors begin to question the wisdom of their investments in, and the reliability of, other emerging market economies. Due to the Asian crisis capital was withdrawn en masse as traders sold the currencies of Russia, Brazil and Argentina for safer currencies in Western Europe, and the dollar. Capital flight also devastated the Mexican economy in 1994-5. From 1990 to 1993 $91bn flowed into Mexico, a fifth of all capital going to developing states (OBrien Williams, 2007). Higher interest rates in the USA, combined with a rebellion in Chiapas and the assassination of a presidential candidate, caused investors to doubt that Mexico could keep its peso fixed to the dollar. In December 1994 investors sold the peso in such large quantities that the dollar link was abandoned. Living standards were cut in half (OBrie n Williams, 2007), the poor suffered, and the middle class faced skyrocketing interest rates and diminished savings due to the devaluation. Some claim that these disadvantages, and their specific effect on LDCs, are not given proper consideration by advanced states and their neo-liberal programme of reform. As Barry Eichengreen (2003) attests, LDCs have specific financial problems. Their monetary and fiscal institutions lack credibility. Their regulators lack administrative capacity. Their financial markets are shallow, and they cannot borrow abroad in the domestic currency. Stiglitz (2002) protested against the liberalisation agenda being pushed too quickly on smaller states lacking proper financial institutions and banking systems, countries like Mexico and Argentina, which saw precipitous and blanket financial liberalisation (Phillips, 2005). It is now widely accepted that reform was too rapid, and the result of neo-liberal reform in Latin America has been a pattern of poor economic performance and increasing political tension. This lends weight to the argument that capital-rich states have much more to gain from the growth of the global financial system. What is important for the conclusions of this essay, however, is that it cannot simply be said that the advantages accrue to rich states and the disadvantages to the poor, as rich states, and their firms and individuals, suffer disadvantages from integration also. Advanced states, of course, also suffer from the effects of crisis and contagion. This has been evident from the fallout of the 2007 global crisis, but due to integration it is now increasingly difficult for all economies to insulate themselves against the effects of recession. Crisis in one area of the global economy means falling demand for goods and services in others, and with the scope of international firms, and the vast number of countries in which single firms do business means that collapses have far-reaching consequences. However, the biggest disadvantage in terms of advanced states is felt by their national industries and firms, those unable to shift production to areas of cheaper labour and production costs. National firms are becoming increasingly unable to compete with firms either in countries with such conditions, or international firms able to conduct business there. This is bad news for the industrial workers of advanced economies, who today can be easily replaced by cheaper counterparts around the globe. Implications the emerging global dichotomy These advantages and disadvantages show that there is a global dichotomy emerging. The principle beneficiaries of the integration brought about by the globalisation of finance are the controllers of capital, those able to move their resources freely around the global economy for the highest return and security. The principle losers are the capital-poor, whether labour or those with assets tied within national boundaries. While China has been one of the biggest beneficiaries economically from financial globalisation, its rising inequality shows that its poorest people, like many others around the world, remain subject to, rather than participants in, the global economy. The advantages and disadvantages discussed above demonstrate two critical characteristics of the global financial system. First, as internationally mobile capital has become more powerful, so have the holders of it in relation to other groups. The argument that capital now holds a structural power within the system has been advanced by scholars such as Gill and Law (1989), and Thomas and Sinclair (2002). The latter study argues that today the expectations of the resource-rich are anticipated by the resource-poor. In the modern system knowledge workers are fortunate, as they can move to wherever they command the highest salary. Others are manufacturing workers facing fierce competition from counterparts in numerous countries, and still others are subsistence workers trying to survive in a system moving towards broader commercialisation in areas like agriculture. This effect has been compounded by the tertiarisation of global economic activity (Phillips, 2005) brought about by financia l globalisation. There is a growing movement towards production and trade of services rather than goods, which produces a divergence between entities that can compete in the service sector and those that cannot. Second, the leadership role of the most economically powerful states, and the nature of the financial system they have created, has rendered alternative policies imprudent. Susan Stranges (1986) casino has many reluctant players. Capital mobility means sustainable macroeconomic policy options available to states are systematically circumscribed (Andrews, 1994); integration has raised the costs of pursuing policies that diverge from regional or international trends. The fact, as discussed, that there is so much to gain for investors means there is the same amount to lose for countries following policies detrimental to their profits, such as running budget deficits to fund welfare policies. The global financial system has been directed by an ideology of liberalisation since the 1970s, and the benefits for the capital-rich, the majority of those that lead the modern system, are too great for the direction to change. This could be the reason for the difference between the development of global trade and finance. Financial liberalisation has incredible advantages for capital-rich states, while with open trade LDCs have the advantages of cheap labour and export-led strategies. Advanced states have continued to protect their national industries with degrees of protectionism. While it is an extreme claim that rich states preserve the system because of the dichotomy this essay presents, the evidence is certainly that the major economies still believe whole-heartedly in the theory of globalisation, that its benefits justify this cost. The recent financial crisis has demonstrated that major states, particularly the USA and the UK, are willing to prop up a system that has shown significant disadvantages in contagion and volatility. This has been a stark example of the asymmetry between the capital-rich and the capital-poor in the event of crisis traders and investors regroup and take their capital to the safest location in order to resume the pursuit of high returns, while taxpayers and workers face austerity measures and unemployment as investment decreases. While the benefits for the developing world have been massive, these benefits are only received by integrating into a system whose disadvantages effect it in a disproportionate way, and which produces a dichotomy, the wrong side of which many of its people will remain. The economic theory behind globalisation still favours trickle-down development rather than bottom-up. The benefits cited by its chief proponents, such as the growth of LDC economies and global economic stability, are no doubt desirable, but they will require a truly global system with truly global markets, neither of which has yet been achieved. In the decades it will take for the global economy to become truly global and precipitate universal benefits, the gap between the capital-rich and capital-poor will continue to grow. Conclusions The global financial system has been heading in a single direction since the 1970s, towards liberalisation and the greater interdependence and interconnectedness of economies, firms and individuals around the globe. This direction was facilitated by the advanced industrial nations through political actions to free international capital, and expand and open global financial markets. Innovations in computing and telecommunications, as well as market innovations, have contributed heavily to the volume and velocity of international capital flows exploiting the volatility and uncertainty of the system. The emerging strategic interests of the USA, the UK, and later Japan, led them to promote a more open international financial order (Helleiner, 1994). The major economies interests still lie in this order, and thus they promote its advantages and push its neo-liberal agenda through international financial institutions and multilateral agreements. This enthusiasm is an indication that the advanced states, and the capital-rich firms and individuals that call them home, have much to gain from financial globalisation, but they also believe in the benefits the neo-liberal programme promises to all. The problem is that the universal benefits of financial globalisation will only fully materialise under the conditions of a truly global economy, with many more participants than there are currently. It is possible that as markets continue to expand to become truly global, more universal benefits will be seen, but the global dichotomy is likely to grow faster than financial markets and access to them. The challenge for the world economy as it moves forward is how to deal with the social aspect of this expansion.

Reflective Essay: Reflection Techniques and Incidents

Reflective Essay: Reflection Techniques and Incidents Mohammed Islam Reflective Report Strategic Perspectives EXECUTIVE SUMMARY- This paper will provide a reflective analysis of personal experience from a MEGA learning exercise. The MEGA business simulation was undertaken by students from October 2014 to December 2014. It consisted of eight official game weeks with an initial two weeks provided as a practice period. Students were given the opportunity to form groups in order to complete the weekly strategic decisions within the simulation (see appendix). The report will incorporate relevant theories and concepts in relation to reflective analysis and discuss how reflective practice techniques can be useful in analysing the Mega Learning team experience. Moreover, three critical incidents (positive or negative) which have affected the team will be discussed. 1.0 INTRODUCTION- Reflective writing is a regular topic of conversation within academic literature. This is because the idea of reflection itself provides various benefits regardless of the context in which you decide to use it. By deciding to reflect on something an individual is able to look back at the scenario and analyse the situation. This provides the opportunity to determine what happened, why it happened and how it can be changed in the future if the scenario was repeated. Gibbs (1988) postulated that It is not sufficient simply to have an experience in order to learn. Without reflecting upon this experience it may quickly be forgotten, or its learning potential lost. It is from the feelings and thoughts emerging from this reflection that generalisations or concepts can be generated. And it is generalisations that allow new situations to be tackled effectively. Reflective writing enables an individual to critically analyse a scenario and highlight experiences in a structured format. The writer is able to obtain further insights from a range of perspectives including academic literature and self-evaluation. By writing something down an individual has the opportunity to take into account further considerations and provide a deeper reflection of the experiences that have occurred (Schà ¶n, 1987). Thus, reflective writing will provide the ideal process in analysing the Mega Learning team experience. 2.0 Reflective Practise Techniques 2.1 CRITICAL INCIDENT TECHNIQUE- The Critical Incident Technique was developed in 1954 by John Flanagan with the assistance of various other collaborators. The model of reflection which was originally designed for job analysis purposes is an ideal process in analysing the Mega Learning Team experience. It is suggested that the technique consists of a set of procedures for collecting direct observations of human behaviour. This is done in such a way as to facilitate their potential usefulness in solving practical problems and developing broad psychological principles (Flanagan, 1954: 327). I feel the critical incident technique will provide a simple yet effective method in analysing the team performance within the Mega Learning simulation. Predominantly it will enable myself and others in the group to identify significant incidents whether positive or negative that occurred during the course of the simulation. By having the opportunity to reflect on the simulation through this process, individuals will be able to foc us on specific incidents and therefore critically analyse each situation. Thus, providing a deeper understanding and outlook on what situations occurred, why they occurred and how the scenario can provide a basis to learn from if the scenario where to repeat itself. 2.2 LOGBOOK- The logbook/dairy provided group members the opportunity to record weekly entries throughout the simulation (see appendix 1). This consisted of information regarding the discussions that took place in relation to the simulation and the weekly results. Group members kept a record of what was discussed, who was designated what role and what the strategy/action plan was. I feel the logbook will prove to be an essential and effective tool in analysing the Mega Learning Team experience. It provides a precise verification of a process and assists in reflection of past actions, thus ensuring better decisions can be made in future situations (Schon, 1987). Moreover, it allows students to identify specific critical incidents and refresh our memories on when it occurred and what exactly happened. It provides a source of evidence which cannot be altered or tampered with. Therefore, an individual could not possibly say a situation did or did not occur if it is not listed within this document. Fu rthermore, the logbook required group participation which provided the opportunity for team members to communicate with each other. By taking part in the creation of the logbook, it will help me analyse the Mega Learning team experience more effectively. 3.0 Group Formation Group formation consisted of individuals writing down personal strengths and weaknesses on a piece of paper. This was done in order to form groups of individuals who possess a range of strengths and characteristics. However, initial groups were formed through familiarity as students chose to work with people they knew or had previously worked with. I chose to work with two other individuals who are studying the same course as me because I knew how they operate. I wanted to achieve the best grade possible and I knew that the other two individuals would place maximum effort into achieving this goal. The other team members were attracted through the use of the strengths and weaknesses technique. Our group were on the lookout for individuals with Finance and Human Resources as key skills in order to gain a competitive advantage within the simulation. After reflecting upon this, I feel the method of group formation was justified as there was mix of familiarity along with new additions. Th rough random selection of individuals you are not familiar with it is not guaranteed which type of individuals you will be working with. Therefore, you might have to work with people who do not intend to contribute or place maximum effort into achieving the best grade. Conversely, you may also be placed with brilliant individuals who bring a range of skills and maximum effort to the group. After initial struggles with clarity of individual roles within the team, specialist tasks were delegated to each member of the group. Each team member had a specific task which they had to complete every week. Myself and the rest of the group thought it would be best if everyone had their own task to focus on in order to achieve the best result within the simulation. After reflecting upon this, it is interesting to note that the delegation of roles links significantly to Dr Meredith Belbins (1981, 2012) team roles theory. By reflecting back at the scenario, I am amazed at how each individual un-intentionally falls into specific categories of Belbins team roles. No method was used by our group to match the delegation of tasks/individuals to the roles within Belbins theory. 4.0 Critical Incident 1 (Negative to Positive) Initially, along with the other team members I was very annoyed. I felt that the individual was not attempting to contribute at all in completing the simulation. The team member did not provide any ideas or come to the meetings having looked at the following weeks results. They would just agree with the ideas of the rest of the group but have no opinion themselves. This persisted for a few weeks until I decided to say something to the team member in question. Moreover, I decided to take it upon myself to ask them to contribute more to the group and assist in completing the simulation. I took on the role of the leader and delegated a specific role to the individual and advised them not to be afraid to voice their opinion. This situation correlates with Tuckmans (1965) theory of performing team development model. It relates to the forming stage, which suggests that there is a high dependence on a individual to become a leader for direction and guidance (Tuckman, 1965). Furthermore, this stage highlights the lack of clarity of individual roles and reliance on a specific individual for direction (leader). After delegating the role to the individual the team member blossomed to be a vital part of the team. The individual came to meetings prepared with answers and solutions and started to voice a opinion rather than just agreeing with the rest of the group. After reflecting on this incident and how the outcome came to fruition I would change my approach in future. I would look to intervene as early as possible to reap the rewards of the individuals contribution at a earlier stage. This will provide significant benefits for team and individual morale and therefore increase productivity and improve the results of the simulation. 5.0 Critical Incident 2 (Negative) Initially, I did not mind taking a leading role within the simulation as I found it to be challenging. However, analysing the results and trying to decide the correct strategy became time consuming as well as stressful. Other team members were providing opinions and suggesting changes but were doing so without looking at previous results. Thus, providing random solutions which does not follow a strategy and may not result in a positive outcome. After the team meetings I also had to finalise the changes and submit the final decision. At the time the incident occurred I was attempting to make a decision which was challenging, I was unsure on why certain negative results had been occurring. I over-reacted and decided to make my feelings which I had been holding back for a number of weeks clear to the rest of my group. This was done in a unprofessional and aggressive manner as it was a heat of the moment response. After taking time to reflect upon this and although my team members were over reliant on me, I should not have reacted in the manner I did. I was getting frustrated of having to complete the majority of the workload myself and at the moment in time was struggling to understand a certain aspect of the simulation. However, I should have advised them of the way I feel in a considerate and professional manner. By doing this, I would have avoided the need for confrontation with the rest of the group. Through the use of Gibbs (1988) model for reflection (see fig 1), I have been able to reflect upon this incident and identify the things that I could have done differently. If the scenario arose again, I would approach the situation in a different manner to result in a positive outcome for the group. From this experience I have learnt that at times I can over-react or say something in a aggressive manner which may be taken in the wrong context by others. 6.0 Critical Incident 3 (Negative) I was extremely frustrated when I realised that someone had replicated my work and decided to complete the task that I was designated to do. Other members of the group all believed that they had completed the work which was delegated to them and the opposite person did the wrong task. This resulted in a group confrontation which caused friction between the group. I was adamant that I completed the correct task and I made this very clear. However, after reflecting on the scenario I have come to realise that the delegation of roles was not clarified or done clearly, Thus, causing confusion between the team members about who is doing what task. Before actually looking at what was discussed and designated the previous week, all group members including myself decided to jump to conclusions and become defensive. The whole group were very vocal that they had completed the correct task and therefore had no intentions in finding out how this occurred or if a solution can be identified. Looking back at this, I should have tried to control the situation instead of contributing to it and letting it get out of hand. By taking the time to reflect on this particular scenario I have come to realise that patience and understanding are key principles of effective team work. Everyone makes mistakes and by neutralising the situation a potential solution can be found in order to resolve the original issue. If I am faced with a similar situation again, I will look to my leadership skills to analyse and take control of the situation. This will allow me to turn a negative scenario into a positive outcome by providing a positive influence and sense of direction to the rest of my team members. Leadership is defined as being a process whereby one individual influences other group members towards the attainment of defined group and organisational goals (Barron Greenburg, 1990). Another definition of leadership is provided by Rollinson and Broadfield (2002) who postulates that leader ship is a procedure that enables a leader and other members of a group interact in a way which provides the significant individual (leader) to influence the actions of the rest of the group in a non-coercive manner. Thus, directing the team towards the achievement of specific aims or objectives (Rollinson Broadfield, 2002). 7.0 Conclusion In conclusion the Mega Learning simulation has developed a range of transferable skills including effective teamwork, strategic development and implementation and also reflecting thinking. I have improved my ability to work as part of a team, taking into consideration other individuals strengths and weaknesses and using them as a basis to achieve positive outcomes. Moreover, I have significantly improved my communication skills throughout the process which will benefit me greatly in future organisational and team activities that I undertake. The experience of the Mega simulation correlates to Kolbs Learning Cycle (1984), the first three elements consist of Concrete Experience, Observations and Reflections and Abstract conceptualisation (development of ideas) (Kolb, 2014). The influences of my learning experience will assist me significantly in future scenarios and this relates to the fourth element of Active Experimentation (Kolb, 2014). The ability to learn from experiences is an im portant life skill which contribute to the shaping of a individual. David Kolb postulates that Learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience† (Kolb, 1984, p. 38). 8.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY Baron, R, A and Greenberg, J, (1990). Behaviour in organisations: understanding and managing the human side of work. Allyn and Bacon Belbin, M, (2012). Management Team: Why they succeed or fail. Second edition. Routledge, 2012 Belbin Associates. (2012).Belbin Team Roles.Available: http://www.belbin.com/rte.asp?id=8. Last accessed 1st Feb 2015 Buelens, M, Sinding, K., Waldstrom, C., Kreitner, R., and Kinicki, A. (2011) Organisational Behaviour, 4th Edition: McGrawHill Higher Education Flanagan, J.C. (1954). The critical incident technique. Psychological Bulletin, 51(4): 327–358. Gibbs, G, (1988), Learning by Doing. A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods. FEU Kolb, D, A. (2014). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development(Vol. 2). FT Press, 2014 Kolb, D. A. (1984).Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development(Vol. 1). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall Luthans, F. (2011) Organisational Behaviour: An Evidence-Based Approach, 12th Edition: McGrawHill McLeod, S, A. (2010) Kolb Learning Styles. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/learning-kolb.html McShane, S. L. and Von Glinow, M. A. (2012) Organisational Behaviour: Emerging Knowledge, Global Reality, 6th Edition: McGraw-Hill Rollinson, D Broadfield, A, (2002).Organisational Behaviour and Analysis: An Integrated Approach. Financial Times Prentice Hall. Schà ¶n, DA, (1987),Educating the reflective practitioner, Jossey-Bass. San Francisco. Tuckman, B, (1965). Development sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin 63: 384-399. APPENDIX 1: Log-book / Diary The aim of this is to give you guidance as to how to plan working together in your team for your first assignment. Develop an action plan by answering the following questions: What are we supposed to be doing? What action needs to be taken? By whom? What time scale? What support is needed from the rest of the team? What to do if a team member has a problem in completing his/her task? What to do with someone who will not do any work or will not work as part of the team? Time chart Team Members: a) Nisbah Marta Mohammed Lucio James If the following sheet is not enough – please use additional notes on black page per week – example is available on page 7 (The titles of the columns will be explained in the lecture/seminars.) Reflective ReportPage 1

Parkinsons Disease Essay -- Brain Aging Diseases Papers

Parkinson’s Disease (from hereon PD) is an extrapyramidal disorder characterized primarily by massive idiopathic degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in greatly decreased levels of dopamine in the striatum. The diagnosis, which is essentially a clinical judgment due to the lack, thus far of a simple diagnostic test, has historically been on the basis of the presence of at least two of the three main features of PD: bradykinesia (or akinesia or hypokinesia), rigidity, and resting tremor. In addition to these symptoms, most PD patients also show postural disturbances, impaired righting reflexes, and abnormal ocular movements. The extent of the disease and its symptoms can be quantified by one of a few similar scales, including the motor examination of the Unified Rating Scale for Parkinson’s Disease, in which each of 14 motor aspects are scored from 0 to 4 and the scores totaled. The items in this particular scale are as follows: 1) spee ch; 2) facial expression; 3) tremor at rest; 4) action or postural tremor of hands; 5) rigidity; 6) finger taps; 7) hand movements; 8) rapid alternating movements of hands; 9) foot agility; 10) arising from chair; 11) posture; 12) postural stability; 13) gait; and 14) body bradykinesia or hypokinesia. In addition to the typical idiopathic PD, PD-like symptoms may be seen in a variety of other disorders, such as striatonigral degeneration (which I will mention later), Parkinsonism-dementia complex on Guam, supranuclear palsy, and occasionally Alzheimer’s Disease. The resting tremor usually seen in PD primarily affects the digits, hands and arms, head, and lips, and ceases during voluntary movement and sleep. This tremor characteristically has a high amplitude a... ...n Implants on Primate MPTP-Induced Parkinsonism. J Neurosurgery; 72: 231-244. 19. Apuzzo, M. L. J. et. al. (1990). Utilization of Unilateral and Bilateral Stereotactically Placed Adrenomedullary-Striatal Autografts in Parkinsonian Humans: Rationale, Techniques, and Observations. Neurosurgery; 26: 746-757. 20. Lieberman, A. et. al. (1989). Adrenal Medullary Transplants as a Treatment for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease. Acta Neurol. Scand.; 126: 189-196. 21. Nakai, M. et. al. (1990). Autologous Transplantation of the Superior Cervical Ganglion Into the Brain of Parkinsonian Monkeys. J. Neurosurgery; 72: 91-95. 22.Wolff, J. A. et. al. (1989). Grafting Fibroblasts Genetically Modified to Produce L-Dopa in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease. Proc. Nat’l. Acad. Sci., USA; 86: 9011-9014. 23.Carpenter, M. B. Core Text of Neuroanatomy (?). Scattered pages. Parkinson's Disease Essay -- Brain Aging Diseases Papers Parkinson’s Disease (from hereon PD) is an extrapyramidal disorder characterized primarily by massive idiopathic degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in greatly decreased levels of dopamine in the striatum. The diagnosis, which is essentially a clinical judgment due to the lack, thus far of a simple diagnostic test, has historically been on the basis of the presence of at least two of the three main features of PD: bradykinesia (or akinesia or hypokinesia), rigidity, and resting tremor. In addition to these symptoms, most PD patients also show postural disturbances, impaired righting reflexes, and abnormal ocular movements. The extent of the disease and its symptoms can be quantified by one of a few similar scales, including the motor examination of the Unified Rating Scale for Parkinson’s Disease, in which each of 14 motor aspects are scored from 0 to 4 and the scores totaled. The items in this particular scale are as follows: 1) spee ch; 2) facial expression; 3) tremor at rest; 4) action or postural tremor of hands; 5) rigidity; 6) finger taps; 7) hand movements; 8) rapid alternating movements of hands; 9) foot agility; 10) arising from chair; 11) posture; 12) postural stability; 13) gait; and 14) body bradykinesia or hypokinesia. In addition to the typical idiopathic PD, PD-like symptoms may be seen in a variety of other disorders, such as striatonigral degeneration (which I will mention later), Parkinsonism-dementia complex on Guam, supranuclear palsy, and occasionally Alzheimer’s Disease. The resting tremor usually seen in PD primarily affects the digits, hands and arms, head, and lips, and ceases during voluntary movement and sleep. This tremor characteristically has a high amplitude a... ...n Implants on Primate MPTP-Induced Parkinsonism. J Neurosurgery; 72: 231-244. 19. Apuzzo, M. L. J. et. al. (1990). Utilization of Unilateral and Bilateral Stereotactically Placed Adrenomedullary-Striatal Autografts in Parkinsonian Humans: Rationale, Techniques, and Observations. Neurosurgery; 26: 746-757. 20. Lieberman, A. et. al. (1989). Adrenal Medullary Transplants as a Treatment for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease. Acta Neurol. Scand.; 126: 189-196. 21. Nakai, M. et. al. (1990). Autologous Transplantation of the Superior Cervical Ganglion Into the Brain of Parkinsonian Monkeys. J. Neurosurgery; 72: 91-95. 22.Wolff, J. A. et. al. (1989). Grafting Fibroblasts Genetically Modified to Produce L-Dopa in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease. Proc. Nat’l. Acad. Sci., USA; 86: 9011-9014. 23.Carpenter, M. B. Core Text of Neuroanatomy (?). Scattered pages.

Digging by Seamus Heaney, Catrin by Gillian Clarke, Little Boy Lost, :: English Literature

Digging by Seamus Heaney, Catrin by Gillian Clarke, Little Boy Lost, Little Boy Found by William Blake and On My First Son by Ben Jonson. POEMS The four poems that I have chosen to study are Digging by Seamus Heaney, Catrin by Gillian Clarke, Little Boy Lost, Little Boy Found by William Blake and On My First Son by Ben Jonson. All of theses poems express an issue of love and are all indirectly linked by some way or another on the issue of love. Digging is a poem about admiration, how Seamus Heaney as a young boy looks up to his predecessors and how he has; â€Å"No spade to follow men like them† (Line 28 digging) Catrin has a basic structure of love that is becoming more and more common in today’s world, and that is emotional love. Catrin doesn’t show love for her child but it is still a bond between them and can never be broken. There are two lines in catrin which dispute this idea. â€Å"From the hearts pool that old rope, tightening about my life† (lines 25-26 catrin) The emotional love shall never be broken despite there being no apparent love. The other quote being lines â€Å"Our first confrontation, the tight red rope of love which we both fought over.† (Lines 7-9 catrin) The umbilical cord holding the two together. Little Boy Lost Little Boy Found, this poem has love within the family and the desperation of a father to find his son again, eventually he does and he is metaphorically spoken of as god. â€Å"But god ever nigh appeared like his father in white.† (Lines 3-4 Little boy found) On my first son is about a child growing up and ‘leaving the nest’ for the father is upset that his little boy has grown up and he can no long be with him all the time. This is made clear by line eight. â€Å"And if no other misery, yet age!† (Line 8 On my first son) This comments on the only misery being age and explains the whole poem. I have chosen Digging and Catrin because I feel I understand both the poems much better. Digging is a poem about childhood. The whole poem is triggered by a few senses, these being the sound and smell of a spade slicing through the earth. It is as if the poet Seamus Heaney is sat at his window and is stuck on what to write. There is a physical tie of respect in his family. He loves and admires his grandfather and father and remembers little things such as carrying out tasks as simple as carrying him

Authur Miller Essay -- essays research papers

With the Death of a Salesman during the winter of 1949 on Broadway, Arthur Miller began to live as a playwright who has since been called one of this century's three great American dramatists. He has also written other powerful, often mind-altering plays: The Crucible, A View from the Bridge, A Memory of Two Mondays, After the Fall, Incident at Vichy, and The Price. And who could forget the film The Misfits and the dramatic special Playing for Time. Death of a Salesman was not Arthur Miller's first success on Broadway. Two years before, when All My Sons opened at the Coronet Theater, Brooks Atkinson of the New York Times wrote: "The theater has acquired a genuine new talent." The play also won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award and the Donaldson Award (voted upon by Billboard subscribers). Since the debut of All My Sons he has noted: "The success of a play, especially one's first success, is somewhat like pushing against a door which is suddenly opened that was al ways securely shut until then. For myself, the experience was invigorating. It suddenly seemed that the audience was a mass of blood relations, and I sensed a warmth in the world that had not been there before. It made it possible to dream of daring more and risking more." He did however push the limits when he released his controversial piece Death of a Salesman. And, he gained even more acclaim. Soon he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. He was qui...

Medieval romance

In The â€Å"Monkeys paw† a family Is Just trying to get money to pay if their house. C. In The â€Å"Most Dangerous Game† General Croft Just wants to feel the excitement off dangerous hunt. D. Finally In â€Å"The Story of an Hour† a 17th century women Just wants to be tree trot her husbands control. Ill. 2nd body paragraph a. All of the stories use lots of in depth imagery to show characters motive for their actions. B. â€Å"The Monkeys Paw† shows imagery when the soldier takes out the paw and tells the story. This impels Mr.. White to want to use the monkey's paw. . â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game† Shows it through General Croft telling his story. He descriptively shows how me began to hunt humans, and how he needed to be challenged again. D. â€Å"The Story of an Hour† uses loads of imagery to show how Mrs.. Mallard came to her realization that she would be better off without her husband controlling her. That is why she is so happy. IV. 3r d body paragraph a. All three stories are similar in that they all end the same way. B. The main character gets what he wants, but has to pay the price. C.In † The Monkeys Paw† Mr.. White get his 200 pounds, but his son dies for it. D. In â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game† Croft gets the hunt he wanted, but Rainstorm kills him. E. Finally in â€Å"The Story of an Hour† Mrs.. Mallard ends up free, but only because she died. V. Conclusion that in every story characters get what the want, but not in the way they wanted it. C. D. Though they all differ in the way that each person in each story wants a different a. While the stories all end up almost the same they each end for completely efferent reasons. . In The â€Å"Monkeys paw' a family is Just trying to get money to pay the excitement of a dangerous hunt. D. Finally in â€Å"The Story of an Hour† a 17th century women Just wants to be free from her husbands control. Actions. B. â€Å"The Monkeys Paw' s hows imagery when the soldier takes out the paw and tells the story. This impels Mr.. White to want to use the monkeys paw. C. â€Å"The ‘V. 3rd body paragraph character gets what he wants, but has to pay the price. C. In † The Monkeys Paw' Mr..

Tesco Organisational Change

Introduction: This assignment is based on the concept of Organization change and it will discuss around various concept of change within an organization. It is based on the selection of an organization that has undergone through a change and in which people has adopted or resist the strategies of change. Aims and Objectives: This assignment will be comprise of the below mentioned objectives that will actually analyze all the changes that an organization has actually faced. * To identify the processes and model of change and what are the strategies that might help in encourages people to positively respond to that change. To identify the main drivers that has actually triggered the need for change in the organization. * To analyze the organizational change with the help of EFQM model. * To evaluate how people will react to that change and will survive within that change. * To identify the ways that can help in dealing with the resistance towards that change. * To evaluate the strategi c change initiatives and what recommendation can be made in order to gather good data and avoid biasness. What is change? According to Potter, Mark (2011) change is an activity that takes out the organization or a person out of their comfortable zone. It is sometimes positive and sometimes negative and takes time for the adjustments. According to Chhabra et al (2007) states that Organizational change is the change that comes in the overall working environment of an organization and sometimes cause discomfort to the people initially. Organizational change: According to Potter, Mark (2011) Organizational change is a state that an organization undergoes from one state to another. This change can be in the policy, strategy, technology and culture of an organization. This change can be sudden or preplanned and requires wise strategies towards the management of people working in an organization. Change management: According to searchcio-mid market. tech target. com Change management is a methodical term which deals with change both at the individual and organizational level. It deals with three different aspects. 1. Controlling change. 2. Effecting change. Tesco: According to the Tesco website it is the Britain’s foremost retail company which is dealing with 37,000 stores all over the world and have employed over 440,000 people. Tesco is dealing with 30 countries outside the United Kingdom. Tesco is actually working on the concept of change and all the employees are striving hard to respond to those changes. The name Tesco has first appeared on a shop in Edgware in 1929 and since that time this company has developed and grown up with so many new innovations and opportunities for the business and for the people as well. By the early 1990s Tesco has faced so many strong competitors and for staying at the competitive edge they need to have new strategies according to the new situations so here concept of change occurs. Sir Terry Leah was very wise in making decisions. He was the Chief executive in 1997 so he decided to find out where they are actually lacking so that they can easily work on those areas. So he found the root cause on which they need to work. He came up with the statement that we are good in buying and selling but we have actually forgotten the needs of our customers so he decided to pay much more attention to their customers. So he started this activity with the simple question asked by the customers what are we doing wrong? After this question they actually started investing in those areas that matters to customers e. g. the loyalty scheme such as club cards, Tesco. com, our internet home shopping service. He further illustrates his concept with giving ease to the customers and giving them a reason to come back to Tesco again and again. Tesco Mission Statement: â€Å"Creating values for customers, to earn their life time loyalty†. Values behind Tesco business: * No one tries harder for customers. * Treat people how we like to be treated. Objectives of the company: The main objective of the company is to better understand their customers than any organization. Tesco not only considers their customers much more important but they are also very much conscious in terms of the innovation of their products and services. Their concept behind best customer service and introducing best products are to attract their shareholders and gain the growth in sales, profits and returns. Tesco actually work around these three objectives. * To gain growth in sales, profits and returns. * To satisfy the needs of the customers by proving them best services and products. To satisfy its shareholders. Organizational change in Tesco: There is a marketing statement mentioned in ivy thesis . type pad. com that success breeds failure so it shows that nothing else is constant in business and in order to stay at the competitive edge business should respond to the changing demands of the world. Tesco has focused on these demands so that they can stay competitive and can resp ond to their competitors. The following difference can show their attention towards the demands of the world. Tesco in Past: According to Finch, Julia (2010). Tesco in the past was just like a typical traditional food retailer company that only focused on the substantial assets of the business like products, place and money. They had not paid any attention towards the intangible assets of business like customers satisfaction, services providing ease to the customers. This has actually given hard times to Tesco in the past and very soon this thing was realized by Tesco that the older methods will not work for the business as the concept of Globalization was spreading very fast so Tesco started responding to the changes required. Tesco in Present: Tesco in present has moved its attention towards more innovative and intangible things. This was the first step of Tesco towards innovation and working beyond its limits as in 1995 they introduced club cards which are now offering air miles and club card points in 5000 different venues in the UK. Rowley (2005) states that the club cards has given good opportunities for customer interactions and engaging large number of corporate partners in delivering and earning rewards. These club cards are actually building up a strong relationship among customers and Tesco. Another innovative step of Tesco is the use of internet for their customer’s i. e. Tesco. com. It has actually strengthened the communication between consumers and Tesco as people can inquire through Tesco website regarding grocery, music books and so on. According to Tesco. com (2005) customers can enter their complaints on the same website where the problem list are already present and customer’s needs to fill in the right area. These complain can be related to quality of food, out of date products and so on. For making the life easier for the customers Tesco has given more in store facilities, long opening hours, shorter queues trained staff. Topic 1 Drivers for Change: In order to find out the competitive position of an organization firstly I company need to check what factors are actually triggering for change. So what that reason lots of information is required which can tell the position of the company where it is standing at the present and where it will be in the future so making these predictions more clearer Porters 5 forces model can be used that will tell each and every aspect of that organization. Porters 5 Forces: Porter 5 forces helps in analyzing the external environment of an organization and provide beforehand preparations so that company can gets ready for any kind of pitfalls that may arise in business. It covers the following steps. * Rivalry. * Substitutes. * Buyers. * Suppliers. * Barriers to entry. Rivalry: Rivalry is the central force that involves other forces as well. Tesco has many rivals in the market so for making its position stronger and giving tough competition to its rivals Tesco always keep its position up-to-date and respond to the changing demands of the world. So the launch of club cards and other internet websites are the steps taken to stay at the competitive edge and be a strong contender for its rivals. Substitutes: Rivalry actually makes the profits zero as it is a threat. As the market has many supermarkets so they can be the substitutes for Tesco so in order to avoid missing their customers they need to provide them with extraordinary customer service. So Tesco has made that possible by giving Club cards and showing that the customers are at the heart of Tesco has actually won the loyalty of their customers. Tesco has substitute like Sainsbury which has got the similar products and has decreased the prices of products in both companies. Buyers: Power of buyer is another cause of decrease in the prices as if the cost of floor is more in Tesco buyer can easily switch over to Sainsbury. But Tesco is fortunate in this case as there are not lot big markets that makes the markets more discipline and stops them of pricing war. Supplier: Tesco has an advantage over the suppliers as they quote the price to the suppliers and suppliers have to admit that as Tesco has a strong position and they can quote on their own. If suppliers do not fulfill the demand they will have no one to sell their goods so Tesco takes a good advantage over their suppliers. Barriers to entry: Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury are the barriers to entry for the new supermarkets. As they have an advantage over the suppliers in the economy of scale as they can buy large volume of goods on less prices whereas the new entrants needs to buy small quantities very expensive. Process for change: Source: www. google. com (Kurt Lewin,1951) Unfreeze: Tesco has used the concept of unfreezing by telling their employees and realizing them the needs of their customers. They gave them the image that Tesco needs to stay at the competitive edge and for that they need the loyalty of their customers. For getting that loyalty they need to pay full attention towards the satisfaction of their customers. So they have to done some sort of technological, social and cultural changes that will increase their publicity among their customers. So they ensure the readiness of their employees towards the change in their working schedules. Change: Tesco has started the club cards in 1995 by giving full training to their employees that they always need to ask the customers â€Å"have you got a club card† this was the way of giving promotion to the club cards. Employees were also provided with the information that this strategy of launching club cards will give competitive edge to Tesco and the company can stay more in touch with the loyal customers so they just need to scan and offer the club cards to their customers who will definitely give rise to the profits. For making the employees ready for the extra work load Tesco has given them the information that they will also get 10% discount with their staff privilege card on their purchasing from the store which makes the employees happy that at least they are also getting benefits out of it. Employees were also informed of the Tesco. com and that the customers will do shopping online so they need to be more efficient and with the same thing they were given proper training that how to deal with online shopping and it will give rise to the business and the business will give them promotions and bonuses for their hard work. Refreeze: The launch of Club cards and Tesco. com has actually given rise to the Tesco sale as it makes easier for the customers that even while sitting at home they can shop whatever they want to have. It has actually increased the customers for Tesco as the slogan of Tesco says â€Å"Every little helps† so they are actually working on that as they have kept an eye on even the little needs of their customers. According to Harvey, Oliver (2007). , The UK has stated that Tesco is the most developed online grocery market in the world with more than 1. million people shopping online. ( Daily Record, 2004) Organizational change for context: According to Pagano, Margareta (1987) cultural web analysis was given by Gerry Johnson and Kevan Scholes in 1992. It can help in make observing and then making some changes in an organizations culture. It helps in exposing cultural hypothesis and practices and aligns the work with organizations elements and the strategies used within an organiz ation. As mentioned above different changes in Tesco which has given a positive rise to the business. Here in this cultural web analysis the change of introducing club cards has increased the work loads of people so what initiatives should be made in order to support the already occurred change. There are six elements which can help in making those changes stronger. Stories: Whenever a change occurs in any organization it comes with lots of previous stories like it will increase workloads without any benefits. It will give different type of job specifications so in order to avoid all these stories the employees will have in advance trainings and incentives so that they can welcome the change positively and should be ready for new challenges. Rituals and routines: The daily routine will show the change in behavior so the reward system and the bonuses should beforehand introduced so that people can work more energetically without showing any kind of negative attitude towards the increase in work. Symbols: Before implementing a new change there should have a lot of publicity as in Tesco they advertise the club cards and even the employees have got the uniform with Tesco club cards. Organizational structure: As in the case of Tesco the employees were well defined of their goals and the consequences that they will have after achieving those goals and objectives so the objectives will be clearly defined in order to support the implemented change. Control system: It is usually measure by the top management team and before implementing any sort of change all the strategies and policies are prepared beforehand. It is regarding the financial system and reward system so Tesco has also given the opportunity to its employees as 10% discount on their cards which can urther enhance their performance and strengthen the implemented change. Power structure: As the name indicates Power structure which is hold by the executives and other seniors so the steps taken like discounts for employees, Trainings regarding club cards and internet has strengthen the change so far. Topic 2 Creativity and Improvement Creativity: Creativity is the thinking up of new ideas. It is actually the dreaming up of new ideas. Whereas according to   Lorna Martin (2006). , Innovation is doing new things so it is the practical term for creativity. Source: www. google. co. uk According to Walker, Gaelle (2006). EFQM is the most widely used model with over 30,000 businesses to increase performance and increase their bottom line. It takes a holistic view of an organization and gives a diagnostic tool for the specific area of an organization which will provide strength and enhance that area with innovation and creativity. This model is divided into two parts the first one is enabler and second one are the results that can be earned through the employees efforts, the policies and strategies implemented, and the stakeholders or shareholders involved and the resources within that organization. So in the case of Tesco their strength is their team, their products. While talking about their employees they can engage their employees in more trainings and give them chances to think out of the box as the Human capital is the main asset of any company so Tesco needs to invest more on their employees and give them chances to learn more and work accordingly. So as they have got an Intranet within their organization that is the actual chance for their employee’s promotions and gives them more chances to enhance their performance by learning more and then implement their knowledge in their organization. Well Tesco has already taken a step towards innovation and creativity as they have implemented Tesco. com so in this way thousands of minds are included in Tesco and Tesco can take suggestions from the people around. By their club cards they are not only providing good saving to the customers but they are also doing surveys by checking in which area which product is selling more so in this way they are increasing the productivity of that product. So Tesco. Com is a step towards innovation. Surviving change: Surviving change is actually the concept regarding those changes that an organization has implemented. It checks whether those changes are well accepted by the organization and employees. Do those changes have given a positive rise to the business. According to Buckley, Neil (1995). , there are some steps that manage and deal with change appropriately which are as follows. 1. Acceptance for the change should be there by training and awareness. 2. Readiness for change to be happens at workplace. 3. Should have enough strategies to tackle that change. 4. Adapt to that change. 5. Feel free to go with the change. 6. Enjoy the change. 7. Always try to be ready for the change. So change is actually surviving in Tesco as they have also used the before hang readiness for the change to occur and now getting desired results as a part of business profits. Transition curve: According to   Savill, Richard (2001). Transition curve is a three stages of transition that involve ending, neutral zone and beginning which helps in assessing people that what difficulties they might face during the implementation of change. Ending: This seems to be the ending of the confidence of the employees when they deny the acceptance to change. They might think that their workplace or their work will be different so this is the ending of their hard works and acceptance to work loads. Neutral zone: This state will be the confusion state as the staff will be in between the current and the desired state. They will be uncertain about the present and the future. This can have the negative impact on the activities. Beginning: The beginning state is that state in which the employees are ready for the change and work accordingly with a positive set of mind. As in Tesco case employees are ready for the work. Conclusion and Recommendations: Change is a positive activity and it always brings about something healthy to an individual or an organization. So in the case of Tesco change was the ultimate desire of the modern time and has actually give Tesco a strong position. Club cards and Tesco. com Com are the positive changes for Tesco and has increased its sales. Staff is also very efficient in implementing and working on the change so it has given positive rise to the business. Recommendations * Although the change has been successfully implemented in company but there is still need to eradicate the perception and attitude of being one or monopolist views. The development opportunities should be offered to the front line staff for further improving the customer service. * Variety of methods should be used to training the staff and through providing them different platforms the company can fetch the creative ideas from their staff * There must be online and offline (virtual; over the web) feedback or comment section where the customers can record their feedbacks regarding the products services and their performance or further improvements. Teamwork culture, support from the management and empowerment are the necessary mediums to motivate the workforce and maintain their motivation for better productivity. * An efficient performance appraisal system is required to be implemented for judging the performance of both contract based and permanent employees and similarly compensation should be based on this fair appraisal of employees. * Further communication should be improved through extensively advertising the products to the target market and internal communication should have to be improved through making the flow of information on right time. References: * Potter, Mark (16 February 2011). â€Å"Tesco to outpace growth at global rivals – study†. Reuters. Retrieved 25 February 2011. * Finch, Julia (2 February 2010). â€Å"Tesco opens its first zero carbon store†. The Guardian  (UK). Retrieved 1 September 2010. * O'Grady, Sean (16 December 2001). â€Å"Shirley Porter: Rich, flashy and corrupt with it. 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