Strategic Planning Process and Models

Just like planning to go for a trip on an unfamiliar journey, strategic planning is used in business organizations as a map to help establish ways to achieve the set goals. The process of strategic planning involves examining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the organizations.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Strategic Planning Process and Models specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More After examining, a strategic plan for future operations is developed. For an organization to get to its desired destination in growth there has to be a strategic plan to help carve a path to follow. Strategic planning helps an organization to know where it intends to go over a specific period. This also maps-out how the organization intends to get there and helps to establish whether the organization achieves its goal in the end. Strategic planning is very different from a business planning. A strategic plan fo cuses on the whole business unlike a business plan that focuses on a precise agenda (Bradford and Duncan). A strategic plan is a living and dynamic process (Bradford and Duncan). Strategic planning models include the Michael Porter’s Five Forces, the Adrian Slywotzky’s Value Migration, and the W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne’s Blue Ocean Strategy. Michael E. Porter from Harvard business school formed the porter’s five forces analysis in the late 1970s (Bradford and Duncan). Based on industrial organization economics, the five forces analysis focuses on the competitiveness and attractiveness of a market (Tracy). An attractive market therefore is one, which has high-level profitability while the opposite is true for an unattractive market. Of the five forces analysis, the first three are influenced by external competition while the remaining two are influenced by internal threats (Porter). Porter referred to his theory as the Porter’s Five Forces, â €˜micro environment’ (Porter).Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These include factors that closely influence an organization’s ability to make profit and effectively serve its customers (Porter). Nonetheless, industry attractiveness does not really mean that all organizations in that market niche make an equal profit margin. Companies apply individual business models to enable them compete with the rest in the industry. Core competencies allow companies to achieve greater profit margins than the normal industrial average. The airline industry is a low profitability industry but individual organizations apply unique business strategies that enable them go above the industry average (Porter). The porter’s five forces entail three forces that are influenced by the horizontal competition (Porter). They include the threat of substitute products, the th reat from already established rivals, and the threat of new entrants (Porter). The remaining two forces on the hand are vertical completion. These are the bargaining power of the suppliers and the bargaining power of the customers (Porter). Below is a graphical representation of the porter’s five forces (Porter). Adrian Slywotzky’s Value Migration is shifting of value-creating forces (Slywotzky). The organization shifts to designs that satisfy the clients better. Concisely, it entails creating as much value as possible for the customer. This is achieved only by providing products and services that effectively satisfy the needs of the consumers. Value migration as described by Slywotzky is in three categories. They are, value flows between companies, value flows between companies, and value flows between business models within a company (Slywotzky).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Strategic Planning Process and Models specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Value flows between industries may be shown by flows from hospitality to transport industry. Between companies, a good example is from Corel word perfect for Microsoft (Slywotzky). A good example of value flows between business designs would be from IBM mainframe computers to IBM PC’S with system integration (Slywotzky). With value migration, there are three stages involved and they are, value inflow stage, value stability stage, and value outflow stage. Value inflow is the value borrowed from other organizations or different industries. Value stability on the other hand is a situation where there is a competitive equilibrium. This means that the market share and the profit margins are at equilibrium. Lastly, the value outflow shows that the organization has lost its value in the industry through factors such as the outflow of talent and other vital resources (Slywotzky). The value chain is represented by all actions that add utility to the consumer and may be internal or external (Slywotzky). Monitoring the linkage between the value chain activities assures the organization of a harmonious chain. However, calculating or determining value is quite difficult considering that the consumers can only determine the value. This makes a value subjective (Slywotzky). To work around it, the relative market value of a firm is considered as the level of success of an organization in value creation. Blue Ocean Strategy is yet another widely used strategic planning model. A blue ocean is created when an organization comes up with value innovation that enhances the values of both the consumers and the company at the same time (Kim).Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In blue ocean strategy, competition is less imperative since it involves innovation of unexploited markets. Here the demand is created as opposed to the earlier described strategies where demand is sought after. This provides for unlimited opportunities for rapid growth and profitability (Kim). In view of the blue ocean strategic planning, competition based strategies are not sufficient for high performance sustenance (Kim). W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne acknowledge that while competition based strategies are imperative, they are not sufficient (Kim). They argue that organizations have to go beyond competing to create their own market. This will help enhance growth and enable firms to realize new profits and opportunities for rapid growth. Their model is based in contrast with the environmental determinism view/ structural view. The determinism view assumes that industrial conditions are inevitable and that firms must find ways to compete with these conditions (Kim). They argue th at with such strategies, one organization’s gain is the other loss since in competition each firm tries to outdo the other. The blue ocean strategy is opposed to the normal capture and distribution of wealth. Rather, it supports the creation of wealth. This strategy focuses on restructuring the industrial structures and market boundaries to enhance value. This view is popularly referred to as the Reconstructionist view (Kim). Organizations in W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne’s view must think outside the box and surpass the limitations of the industrial structures. This strategy assumes that out there is a large untapped demand. The only challenge is how to create the demand focusing on value innovation rather than competing (Kim). In this model therefore, competition is irrelevant (Kim). Through the expansion of the demand, there is a great deal of wealth creation, which creates a possibility for increased profits. The later model of strategic planning is of an innovat ive nature while the earlier discussed models are competitive in nature. That is the greatest difference between the blue ocean strategy and the other two. Works Cited Bradford and Duncan. Simplified Strategic Planning. Washington, DC: Chandler House, 2000. Print. Kim, Chan. Blue Ocean Strategy. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press, 2005. Print. Porter, Michael. The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy. Boston, MA: Harvard business, 2008. Print. Slywotzky, Adrian. Value Migration: How to Think Several Moves Ahead of the Competition Hardcover. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press, 1996. Print. Tracy, Brian. The 100 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Business Success. San Franscisco, CA: Berrett, Koehler Publishers, 2000. Print. This assessment on Strategic Planning Process and Models was written and submitted by user Madripoor to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Dreams of Mice and Men essays

The Dreams of Mice and Men essays "No matter how hard you try, you may never achieve your dreams." This shows that in the book, dreams don't tend to come true. In the book, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, George and Lennie, two men, are on a quest to try and achieve their dreams. George and Lennie work on a ranch where they meet others with dreams. However, all the characters soon face the reality that their dreams are never going to come true. Crook's dream to be accepted is ruined as people view him differently because of his skin color. Crooks' dream is to be accepted, to fit in and to not be lonely. One example of Crooks' dream is when Crooks was talking to George and he said, "A guy needs somebody- to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody" (69). This proves his dream because he says that a guy goes nuts if he doesn't have anyone. When Crooks refers to "a guy" he really is referring to himself. He is saying that he is lonely and he doesn't like it. That means that his dream is to not be lonely. It also means that he wants to fit in and be accepted because the reason he's lonely is because he is black. So in order to achieve his dream, he can't be black. However, Crooks dream is ruined because he is black and he can't change that. For example, when Crooks is talking to Lennie he says, "S'pose you couldn't go into the bunk house and play rummy cause you was black" (69). This proves that his dream can't come true because he is discriminated against because of his skin color and he is unable to achieve his dream because of this. Because the others won't let him play cards with them, he is unable to fit in and be accepted. In order to fit in, you need to be able to do the same things that others do, like play cards, however he is unable to do that because others won't give him the chance to fit in. Crooks' dream is to be accepted, to fit in and to not be lonely; however, that can't come true because he is black. ...

A Guide for Designers on the Construction

The Construction Design and Management 2015, which is also known as CDM 2015, were enacted into place in 6 th April 2015 replacing the CDM 2007. The main requirement in this act helps to provide legal requirements for the construction industry concerning the health and safety in the industry. In this view, the act helps to define the different roles of the people in the construction industry in maintaining the health and safety during working environment[1]. The CDM 2015 offers the HSE legal series and guidance on the construction industry and helps to keep the sector accident free. The HSE official has to take care of the initial conditions of the construction status and helps to control the hazards. Several rules do apply on the triangular house due to the advancement of the different hazards, which can be found on such site considering the working height. The regulations also defines requirement to have the perfect personnel for their rights jobs and be able to cooperate and coordinate the work with others. Moreover, the CDM 2015 helps the HSE official to convey the right information concerning the risks and the way to manage them at the site, help to pass the safety and health information to the right people perfectly and on time and be able to consult and engage other workers about the available risks and help to cooperate to come up with solutions on the risks[2]. In this view, the CDM 2015 requires the people to keep the construction industry accident free by maintaining the different aspects and safety issues. Triangular house must have a lift to enhance the movement due to its location that is near the road. The lift requires proper management and check up to ensure that it is secure and safe for use. In addition, it requires one to be able to pass the information concerning the risks available and help to define the solutions well. This legislation requires proper passing of information in order to enhance its effectiveness in the construction industry. The project manager has to design the proper channel for this communication and then pass it to the HSE personnel. The triangular house has several floors and therefore passing of information from one floor to another is difficult. The workers cannot be shouting to one another considering the noise at a working site. The CDM therefore stipulates for the existence of proper channel and method of communication to enhance passing of information. Through the talks, the proper message on CDM 2015 can therefore be passed and solution concerning the risks passed to the people. This will help to minimize some of the risks such as personal injuries, which can be sustained due to lack of concentration while working. In addition, passing the information that each person should be allocated the duties they are qualified on will help to minimize the injuries and risks. In addition, in order to effect this regulation effectively, workshops and trainings to ensure that workers are conversant with the tools and machines will help to attain the goals of this regulation[3]. This will ensure that proper and qualifi ed personals are allow to operate and perform their specific function, in relation with this regulation, the measure will help to reduce the cases of personal injuries and therefore providing a safe working environment. In conclusion, the client, HSE officer and project manager have great say in the health and safety of the triangular house and any other buildings as well.   In addition, the regulation can also be effected through holding proper meetings to plan and derive solutions for the available risks and problems[4]. The project manager can arrange to have these meeting and discuss the location of the specific parts such as the lift, which help to solve the problem issues. This will help to reduce risks, which may occur due to knocks by the objects on the air. Fire safety is a key element, which need to be considered in any development of a structure. Projects and measures to curb the future incidents of fire are made in advance and taken care of and provision of the key escape route of the people in the triangular house. Considering the amount of millions inserted in the development of structure of the triangular house, the fire safety becomes an important component, which must be addressed. Since the fire can destroy the structure in few hours, the addresses of the fire safety are an economical measure, which defines the incidents of fire, can be addressed to bring on minimal losses when they happen[5]. In this connection, the fire safety regulations are practices, which are brought on board to help reduce the destruction include the provision of escape routes which are enough to ensure proper evacuation. Since these regulations are meant to control both passive and active fire incidents, the provision of guidelines and warning helps to provide the solutions to fire incidents. Ignition prevention for the uncontrolled fire is one of the major design measure which is key in provision of the fire safety[6]. In order to protect the building from such incidents, the building facility is built in accordance with the building codes. Some of these key regulations include the definition of maximum occupancy of the building, maintaining of fire exits points in the triangular house and especially on the ground floor. Correct type of fore fighting machines such as fire extinguishers is essential to ensure that in case of any incident, the firefighting machines can be accessed easily on every floor[7]. In addition, the fire safety arrangement helps in providing the required alerts through the alarm systems. This ensures that people are able to evacuate the affected areas on time and therefore it shows the reason beyond its importance. The fire safety enhances the awareness of the main actions that need to be undertaken each time an incident happens. According to building fire safety regulations 2005, the rules help to reduce the obstruction, which might happen whenever the incident of fire happens[8]. The regulation provides the procedure through which the process has to take place and therefore reducing the casualties, which might happen. In addition, the floor plan must also have enough space, which must allow the movement of the people in the triangular house. The single staircase provided in the triangular house is not sufficient to allow the evacuation in case of internal fire on all the floors and emergency exits are required to ensure proper safety in case of fire. Moreover, the fire safety regulations help to define the type of structures that will be set up according to their use. In conclusion, the triangular house requires proper fire requirement for both external and internal fires. Considering it is a high-rise building, proper fire consideration is required and equipment is placed on order. This provision is provided according to the use of the structure and helps to define the duration, which the structure can withstand during fire incidents. In conclusion, the fire safety requirements have to be met because they are able to maintain the safety of structures and procedure of ensuring that all personnel in the buildings are safe. Bone, Stephen., & Great Britain. 2000. Designing for health and safety in construction: A guide for designers on the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994. Sudbury: HSE Books. Cassidy, Kevin A. 1992. Fire safety and loss prevention. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann. Construction Industry Training Board (1963-2003). 1995. CDM: The view from here : the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations. London: CITB. Great Britain. 1995. Managing construction for health and safety: Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994. Sudbury, Suffolk [England: HSE Books. Hughes, Phil, and Ed Ferrett. 2016. Introduction to health and safety in construction: for the NEBOSH national certificate in construction health and safety. Joyce, Rose. 2001. The construction (design and management) regulations, 1994: Explained. Ludhra, Subash. 2015. Common sense guide to health and safety in construction. Construction Industry Training Board (1963-2003). 1995. CDM: The view from here : the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations. London: CITB. Rose, Joyce. 2001. The construction (design and management) regulations, 1994: Explained. Stephen, Bone., & Great Britain. 2000. Designing for health and safety in construction: A guide for designers on the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994. Sudbury: HSE Books. Great Britain. 1995. Managing construction for health and safety: Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994. Sudbury, Suffolk [England: HSE Books. Robert, Ratay T. 2012. Temporary structures in construction. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Education LLC. https://accessengineeringlibrary.com/browse/temporary-structures-in-construction-third-edition. Subash, Ludhra. 2015. Common sense guide to health and safety in construction. Kevin, Cassidy A. 1992. Fire safety and loss prevention. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann. Phil, Hughes, and Ferrett Ed. 2016. Introduction to health and safety in construction: for the NEBOSH national certificate in construction health and safety.

Applied Psychology - Mindfulness meditation as a treatment for Essay

Applied Psychology - Mindfulness meditation as a treatment for depression - Essay Example It is informative to note that Behaviour Therapy developed at a time when psychology regarded classical and operant conditioning as sufficient mechanisms in explaining human behaviour. Later when psychology took on board the mediation of thought and language (what went on inside the ‘black box’) as important in explaining human behaviour, Cognitive Therapy was born. CBT is approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the UK. However, since no one therapy (including medication) has been proved to be universally beneficial for all patients, the field of counselling and therapy is replete with many alternatives such as psychoanalysis, Gestalt Therapy, and other humanistic therapies. These are not seen as ‘scientific’, objective, and amenable to quantitative research. Increasingly, with the passage of time, it appears that ‘mind’ a concept that had been totally alien to ‘scientific’, positivistic psychology, was beginning to be accepted, at least in the form of neural activity in the brain underpinning all mental schemata as the basis of behaviour. From here, it has been quite a jump to accept ‘mindfulness meditation’, borrowed from the Hindu and Buddhist traditions practised as a religious observance for more than 2500 years as a means of reaching enlightenment. So, Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), may be seen as an innovation in therapy through an attempt at a fusion between two widely divergent fields of human endeavour separated not only by time of origin but by distinctiveness of culture as well . Even so, over the last two decades MBCT appears to have proved efficacious in treating persistent or recurring depression in psychiatric patients (Teasdale et al 2000). Meditation in mindfulness is the cultivation of awareness of the activity of one’s consciousness from moment to moment. When one is able to accomplish this, it can stop one being trapped in constant ruminations and automatisms in

Visual Rock Music Stars Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Visual Rock Music Stars - Research Proposal Example The information from the interview will be used alongside photographs of the group over the period to assess how the changes in belief may have affected the way in which they dress. An outline of the interview questions is given below. These will be posed to the group as a whole so that the opinions of all the band members may be taken into consideration. 1. Den Tandt, Christophe "From craft to corporate interfacing: Rock musicianship in the age of music television and computer-programmed music." Popular Music and Society 27, no. 2 (June 2004): 139-160. This article examines the changes which have occurred to the rock music genre in recent years. It is relevant to the research as it suggests what changes may have occurred in rock music bands as a result of music television. It is likely that music television will have affected the way in which many rock music bands choose to portray themselves. This article examines the ways in which the punk rock music industry changed after the Sex Pistols. The article is relevant to the research as it examines the ways in which political ideologies affected the way in which punk rock bands dressed and behaved. Although the research is not specifically about punk rock bands, the article is still relevant to explaining how political ideologies may affect the appearance of rock music bands in general. This article examines and define... 1 (Spring 2000): 85. This article examines the ways in which the punk rock music industry changed after the Sex Pistols. The article is relevant to the research as it examines the ways in which political ideologies affected the way in which punk rock bands dressed and behaved. Although the research is not specifically about punk rock bands, the article is still relevant to explaining how political ideologies may affect the appearance of rock music bands in general. 3. Hibbett, Ryan "What is Indie rock" Popular Music and Society 28, no. 1 (February 2005): 55-77. This article examines and defines the category Indie rock. It is relevant to the research as it examines the way in which Indie rock bands are societally differentiated and how appearance contributes to this. 4. Johnson, Fred "U2, Mythology and Mass-mediated Survival" Popular Music and Society 27, no. 1 (February 2004): 79-99. This article examines how the band U2 have successfully mass marketed themselves. This is relevant to the research as U2 is a rock music band which has been successful for many years and has a clear set of beliefs behind the band. These ideas are portrayed in the music clearly, and the article examines how they may also be presented through the image of the band. This demonstrates the ways in which ideology may be linked to appearance in rock music bands. 5. McCarthy, Kate "Not pretty girls: Sexuality, spirituality and gender construction in women's rock music." Journal of Popular Culture 39, no. 1 (February 2006): 69-94. The article examines the stereotype of the female rock star. This article is relevant to the research as it examines the ways in which ideologies and beliefs may be quashed in order to conform to

Media Influence on Body Image Essay Example for Free

Media Influence on Body Image Essay So many people today are insecure about the way they look, either thinking themselves too fat, or having bad hair, skin, or simply just not attractive enough. Of course, much of this line of thinking is encouraged by the barrage of advertisements which portray skinny women and muscular men with perfect skin and hair traipsing around in exotic spots and driving the opposite sex crazy. More than any other outlet, the media is guilty of creating a misperception of what beauty really is and the anxieties and problems in society are exacerbated by their efforts. Celebrities make regular people feel that they need to spend a ridiculous amount of money and time on external appearance, as infomercials for beauty creams, workout regimens and equipment, foods and drinks, diets and countless other means of body modification are continuously hocked as ways to achieve happiness and contentment. Very few outlets in the media, whether television, movies, magazines, or the Internet encourage people to be comfortable with their bodies, even though reason dictates that true beauty is not something that relies completely on external appeal, but rather beauty is something that comes from within and can be shared with others. Beauty is everywhere. It can be in a sunset, a work of art, or in a masterpiece of architecture. There is manmade beauty and natural beauty, and both have unique appeals that inspire people to feel good about themselves and life. However, when it comes to human beauty, we are educated from the earliest ages that it is almost completely physical. The media portrays this in the form of men and women with perfectly sculpted bodies without an ounce of fat, lustrous and clear skin, soft, flowing hair, and a perfectly symmetrical face. The images of beautiful celebrities and fashion models stare at us from magazines in the checkout line at the grocery store. It seems everywhere that the media is telling people what beauty really is, and the effect is severe insecurities in the masses. This leads to pills, creams, hair restoration, breast implants, plastic surgery, and all kinds of other drastic actions in the hopes of attaining beauty. The inundation of media images of unnaturally thin women also has a significantly negative effect on young girls. Professor of psychology and body-image researcher, Sarah Murnen, and her colleagues reviewed 21 studies that looked at the media’s effect on more than 6,000 girls, ages 10 and older, and found those who were exposed to the most fashion magazines were more likely to suffer from poor body images (Hellmich). This can also lead the young girls to adopt unhealthy eating habits such as bulimia and anorexia in hopes to maintain what they feel as the ideal â€Å"beautiful† body. However, some companies are making an effort to dispel this, like Dove. Instead of images of long locks, longer legs and incredibly lean bodies, Dove brand beauty products and American Girl are promoting their products with a message of â€Å"real beauty† by encouraging women and girls to celebrate themselves as they are — while using the products, of course (Howard). While they are encouraging women to pursue a greater beauty than physical, they are still sending the contradictory message that young women need to use their products. However, the true definition of beauty is something that goes far deeper than these profit-driven interpretations espoused by the media. It is impossible to deny that certain men and women are not beautiful, for a perfect face and body attracts many people from all around, however like the old adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, everyone else may not universally agree upon the external and physical beauty of these people. Some people make think blonds are beautiful, while others prefer brunettes; some people may like blue eyes, while others only find brown beautiful. This shows the subjective nature of external beauty, which begs the question as to whether this beauty is significant at all or merely a matter of taste. To that end, it is far more productive to pursue a greater beauty in life, and not worry about physical beauty or achieving it. I believe the greatest beauty in life comes from within; and this kind of beauty can be achieved by everyone without pills, painful operations, or costly beauty treatments. I have learned not to put too much stock in the media’s representation of beauty, because I feel it robs from the more significant beauty that can be achieved in society when people think of each other and treat each other with equal respect and consideration. I do my best to live by the golden rule, and find situations the most beautiful when others do the same. I feel that many of the popular conceptions of beauty are based on half-truths and blatant deceptions, encouraging people to hide their flaws rather than love themselves. For me, honesty is beautiful, and I am always honest, unlike the advertisers that have something to gain by creating untruths and anxiety. Life is beautiful enough without having to worry about perfecting physical attributes, and the truth is that aesthetic beauty is not nearly as lasting as emotional, spiritual, and mental beauty. These are the kinds of beauty to which I aspire and have successfully managed to cultivate. I consider myself beautiful because I am generous to others, and see myself reflected in their appreciating eyes. I love to share my time and effort with others, and do so sincerely with no expectations for recognition or reciprocity. The reward for me is simply being alive to share what I have, and I find life itself beautiful. I try my best not to get caught up in the conventional definitions of conventional beauty, because they would expect me to devote my time to working on my physical attributes rather than my spiritual and mental beauty. I know my actions make me beautiful, because when I help others I also recall all the times that others have helped me and I realize that this is one of the most beautiful things that humans can achieve, as powerful as the most perfect sunset or double rainbow. While beauty may truly be in the eye of the beholder, I feel confident in my own beauty because I treat everything in life as it is: beautiful. I find joy in everything, am compassionate, and try to make everyone share in the beauty that I possess, hoping that they can also create his or her own. I try to be truthful in all regards, and try never to feel insecure that my beliefs in my own beauty are false. I refuse to adopt the media’s perception of beauty, and prefer to find my own conceptions in what I see is true beauty: generosity, compassion, and joy. For me, this is the truth, and like the words of John Keats, â€Å"Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all/ Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know† (Keats). Works Cited: Hellmich, Nanci. â€Å"Do thin models warp girls’ body image?† USA Today. 26 Sep 2006. 29 Apr 2008. http://www. usatoday. com/news/health/2006-09-25-thin-models_x. htm. Howard, Theresa. â€Å"Ad campaign tell women to celebrate who they are. † USA Today/Dove. 8 Jul 2005. 12 Apr 2008. http://www. campaignforrealbeauty. com/press. asp? section=newsid=3073. Keats, John. â€Å"Ode to a Grecian Urn. † The Oxford Book of English Verse. 1901. Ed. Quiller- Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir. Bartleby. com. 1999. 12 Apr 2008. www. bartleby. com/ 101/625.

Language as the Key to Identity and Social Acceptance in Richard Wright’s Book, Black Boy :: Wright Black Boy Essays

Language as the Key to Identity and Social Acceptance in Richard Wright’s Book, Black Boy According to African American writer, James Baldwin, language is a â€Å"vivid and crucial key to identity† and social acceptance. Black Boy, by Richard Wright, defends Baldwin’s belief. In a selected Black Boy passage, where Richard and his friends converse, the rhetorical techniques, pathos and warrants assist to convey Wright’s own attitude toward the importance of language as a key to identity and social acceptance. The idea that language is important to identity and social acceptance is defended in the passage by the utilization of pathos. Diction largely relays the comfortability of Richard and his friends with each other by not speaking in proper English, with phrases like, â€Å"that ain’t gonna do you no good,† and words like â€Å"miz† for â€Å"miss† and â€Å"scareda† as â€Å"scared of.† Also, syntax is used to make short explanatory sentences after each blurb of dialog: â€Å"An angry grunt of supreme racial assertion.† Language as an indicator of social acceptance is also seen in the word choice, with a wide array of cuss words, like â€Å"sonofabitch†, â€Å"hell†, and â€Å"nigger†. Repetition is developed through out the passage with the word â€Å"silence,† to indicate the identity of the boys with language. Wright also incorporates personification, personifying the boys talk being able to â€Å"weave, r oll, surge, spurt, veer, swell†¦Ã¢â‚¬  showing the comfortability and social acceptance of each other because of language. Richard Wright’s use of pathos helps to defend Baldwin’s beliefs on language. Another rhetorical technique that aids as a defense for Baldwin’s views is Wright’s use of value-based assumptions, or warrants. The boys establish their black identity through diction, referring to on another as â€Å"nigger† and â€Å"we†, â€Å"naà ¯ve† and â€Å"race†. Many assumptions are made about whites with rhetorical questions like, â€Å"Man, ain’t they ugly?† and other race related questions. The conversation of Wright and his friends make the assumption that whites treat blacks poorly, which establishes identity through language. Agreeing of the other boys with the â€Å"racial assertion† further leads to social acceptance. Repetition of negative statements about â€Å"whites† also further strengthens the warrants. â€Å"The enemy is an animal to be killed on sight† is a metaphor, which illustrates the black assumptions of whites through language.

Acer Weaknesses

Acer closes in on Dell's No. 2 PC ranking By Bruce Einhorn, BusinessWeek Tuesday, January 20, 2009 11:33 AM Just a few years ago there was a clear pecking order in the PC industry, with Dell at the front and Acer way back in the queue. Dell and its U. S. rival Hewlett-Packard were the clear champions, selling far more desktops and laptops than anyone else. Meanwhile, little Acer, a Taiwanese company that had tried and failed in the 1990s to crack the U. S. market, was an also-ran, with worldwide market share in the single digits. As recently as 2003, Acer ranked just seventh in sales around the world. Lately, though, the Taiwanese have been pushing their way ever closer to the front of the line. Market-share numbers published on Jan. 14 by research firm International Data show HP is still on top, with 19. 6 percent of all PC shipments, and Dell is No. 2. But Michael Dell has reason to worry. While Dell shipments fell 6. 3 percent in the fourth quarter, Acer's jumped 25. 3 percent. That not only puts the Taiwanese company solidly in the No. 3 position worldwide, it puts Acer less than two percentage points away from Dell, with 11. 8 percent share to Dell's 13. 7 percent. And Acer is likely to keep on closing the gap, say analysts. In the next two or three quarters, you will probably see Acer surpass Dell,† predicts Daniel Chang, an analyst in Taipei with Macquarie. Gateway Was an Opening What accounts for Acer's rise? The company is benefiting from its US$710 million purchase of Gateway, announced in August 2007. At the time of the deal, Gateway was the third-biggest PC brand in the United States, and the purchase has helped Acer gain ground in a market that had long stymied the Taiwanese company. Shortly after that deal, Acer followed up with the acquisition of the Packard-Bell brand, popular in parts of Europe. According to the latest IDC numbers, Acer now ranks third in the United States, with shipments of 2 million computers in the fourth quarter. That puts Acer ahead of Apple and behind only Dell and HP. Acer declined to make any executives available for comment. Even more important for Acer's market-share rise has been its focus on the hottest new segment in the computer industry, so-called netbooks. These pint-size laptops are light, simple computers that typically cost no more than US$500 and are based on a design that Intel first developed for schoolchildren in emerging markets. The first to realize that the netbook could become a crossover hit in wealthier countries was Acer's Taiwanese rival Asustek Computer, which launched its Eee PC in late 2007. Acer quickly followed, and it soon grabbed the lead. Meanwhile, Dell, HP, and Lenovo hesitated before launching netbooks of their own. â€Å"They didn't start producing the mini-notebooks until late in the game,† says Robert Murtagh, worldwide PC tracker research analyst with IDC in San Mateo, Calif. â€Å"That has given Acer a strategic advantage. † Low-Price Trend With recession-weary consumers hunting for bargains, Acer's focus on inexpensive netbooks—and its longtime role as a lower-cost alternative to the likes of Dell and HP–have helped the company boost shipments. And while the competition in the mini-notebook business is bound to get tougher in 2009, Acer's head start should give it an important edge. â€Å"We believe Acer will continue to be the winner in the low-price trend and the netbook market,† wrote Credit Suisse analysts Robert Cheng and Jill Su in a Jan. 13 report. Moreover, one of Acer's weaknesses, its relatively poor position among corporate customers in the United States, has meant the company has suffered less than Dell and Lenovo, both of which have relied more on sales to businesses. According to IDC, Lenovo shipments fell 4. 8 percent in the fourth quarter; the company on Jan. 8 announced plans to lay off 2,500 employees, 11 percent of its workforce. Tracy Tsai, an analyst in Taipei with market research firm Gartner, says Acer won't need to make the sort of layoffs that others have. â€Å"Acer has real tight management on its costs,† she says, and it has just 6,000 workers. â€Å"The smaller size f Acer puts it in a better position. † Still, Acer faces some headwinds. Credit Suisse estimates 2008 earnings rose 7 percent, to US$353 million, on sales of US$16. 5 billion. But this year profits are likely to fall 7. 5 percent, on a 6 percent drop in sales, the bank says. Macqaurie's Chang expects a slowdown, too, and he warns that Acer's focus on building market share distracts the company from a more important statistic: earnings. As competition heats up further in netbooks, he says, Acer will face pressure to cut prices even more, drawing would-be customers away from its laptops and hurting Acer's bottom line. Everybody's netbook looks very similar now,† says Chang, so companies selling them â€Å"can compete only on price. † For its part, Dell argues against paying too much attention to market-share rankings. â€Å"When we reported our Q3 financial results, we said our focus in this challenging environment was–and continues to be–on positioning Dell for long-term profitable growth by improving our competitiveness and enhancing our leading product and services portfolio,† Dell spokesman David Frink says via email. â€Å"We're in the midst of that now. â€Å"

Friedrich Wilhelm Froebel Essay

Friedrich Wilhelm Froebel is said to be the â€Å"Father of the Kindergarten† for his huge involvement, and devoting his life to the development of a system of education for young children. In German, the word kindergarten means children’s garden, and he thought that this was best in the age of six and younger. He spent his entire life helping with the development of the young and early childhood development. Wilhelm Froebel was born in the Thuringia region of Germany. He had a childhood that was not so fond for remembrance because of how terrible it had been for him. This is what shaped him to be able to come up with the idea of kindergarten. Froebel lost his mother before the age of one, and this meant that he had been left with this father who had to take care of three boys because Froebel had two other brothers. Their father never had much time for any of them. As a boy that would be hard for any child, and this caused him to have to spend most of his time alone at his home. He spent a lot of that time in the gardens by his home, and would play there for most of the day (Coron 4). Exploring all day was what he loved to do the most, and this would make a major influence on what he would do for the rest of his life. He started teaching at a school when he was a young man at Frankfurt Model School, and this school was a school that was focused on the teachings of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, who was a very well respected teacher of his day. This school accepted poor children, and orphans. He believed that children needed to be involved in very active ways. As he left this school, he left it with his very hands on learning approach, and went to privately tutor children. The parents of the children that he tutored were very kind in giving him space in their garden to use to help teach the children. In 1837 Froebel founded his first school, and called it Kindergarten, or the children’s garden (Coron 4). This was a very exciting thing because before he opened this school, if you were under the age of seven, you did not attend school. At the age of seven, you then could go to school. Now that Froebel opened his school, children at the age of two were able to go to school (coron 3). Froebel was very free with the children, he allowed them to have a lot of activity time to be free with themselves, and figure things out. He believed that this was the best idea for them to have their own space, and time to figure out, as he did as a child. The mot that Froebel gave the children was a classroom, he believed that giving children a place to create, and imagine freely was the best gift anyone could have given them. Froebel wrote books, and in his book â€Å"Education of Man† he wrote â€Å"Play is the highest phase of child development-the representation of the inner necessity and impulse.† (coron 5). He thought that teachers should be friendly people who are helpers, not discip linarians. In his classroom there were blocks, pets, and finger plays. (Coron 5). He was inspirational to all. Froebel designed his classroom to have the following things as meeting a child’s needs; Physical activity, because it is important for a child to move, the development of sensory awareness and physical dexterity, creative expression, exploring of ideas, the pleasure of singing, the experience of living among others, and satisfaction of the soul. (Coron 4). These are all things we teach today to our children, and encourage our children to do. I think going back and looking at the bones of things could really help our society as a whole. Froebel was a very inspirational man to a lot of other great theorists such as Maria Montessori, who started Montessori schools. (Coron 2). I am in great belief of how much of a influence Froebel had on the early childhood education as a whole. He really was the father of kindergarten. I think that him having such an influence, really helped us shape the early education now. Froebel believed that â€Å"Humans are essentially productive, and creative† (coron 1.) I believe he is right, no matter what age you are, you are creative in your own way. It starts out at birth, even with how you relate to your mother, and father is creative, and how you interpret things as a young child is important. I know that if Froebel had not been involved, that what we call early childhood now, would not be the same as it is now. I am a firm believer in how he started to do things, letting children develop their own ideas about who they are, and how to do things in the world around them is really all a part of life.

Difference between Management and Leadership

Difference between Management and Leadership What is the difference between leadership and management? The question that is often asked nowadays. Read an article below to know the main differences between these two notions. What Is the Difference between Leadership and Management? The definition of management we can find in literature: management is the ability to identify, develop and support people so that individual contributions and contributions as a group promote organizational prosperity. Leadership is defined as an activity or set of attributes which is capable of producing a change and releasing innovation and development. Although the definition of the leadership may seem much the same as that of the management, these two notions differ. Usually, management is meant to plan, forecast, budget, and control. Leadership has very little to do with planning, budgeting and controlling. A leader and a manager are playing quite different roles. MANAGING CONFLICT IN GROUPS Leaders Are Special, Aren’t They? Those who hold a leadership role know that leadership based on human trust is a profitable way to run a company. If there’s no one to lead a team the employees will hardly care about the mission that may be the reason in a further fracturing of the team and losing its steam. Managers are considered to be a part of the machine. The manager’s job is to run a machine, a company etc. while that of the leader is to give an energy to his or her team to achieve the mission. Here are the main differences between a leader and a manager: 1. Managers create aims leaders create visions. Leaders activate people to work together in order to accomplish the tasks set. Managers set and measure the goals. 2. Leaders deal with changes, managers are a part of a system. Even if things are working well, leaders aim at changing them in such a way to make them work better, sometimes making waves. Managers try to make processes and structures work better. 3. Leaders take risks, managers control them. Leaders are not afraid of failures as they know that any failure may lead to success. Managers work to control and minimize the risks. 4. Leaders are constantly learning something new, managers rely on their skills and experience. Leaders know that it’s rather important to learn something new to succeed, they seek for people that will expand their mind and thinking. Managers mostly improve their existing skills. Managers are considered â€Å"rational†, â€Å"analytical†, â€Å"structured†, â€Å"persistent†, and â€Å"tough-minded†. Good leaders inspire creativity and are good motivators. Good managers inspire competence and discipline. Leadership as a Matter of Perception The difference between leadership and management is a contrived one, and we could perhaps dismiss the problem with that except for one troubling little fact: in real-life organizations, there are clearly people who are more effective in positions of authority than others – who are actually better leaders than other people in exactly the same clearly-defined organizational roles. The position of authority is perceived – by both the person having it and by his subordinates – as conferring some special qualities on the leader so that even very ordinary activities are considered somehow special. For example, small talk among coworkers is just small talk; small talk between the â€Å"leader† and â€Å"follower†, however, is â€Å"inspiring† or â€Å"motivating†. provides an academic assistance on a variety of subjects, including leadership and management. In case you need assistance with drafting your â€Å"management† or â€Å"leadership† essay, feel free to contact us or place an order.

Inventory Management and Logistics Control at Pfizer Research Paper

Inventory Management and Logistics Control at Pfizer - Research Paper Example   Pfizer has an effective supply chain system to reach even the remote corners of the world. Pfizer is currently implementing a new supply chain management strategy all over the world. Instead of increasing internal networks, Pfizer is currently trying to reduce it. However, this strategy doesn’t mean that Pfizer’s logistics operations are causing problems to it. Pfizer is trying to reduce its own internal networks; at the same time, it increases its cooperation with local partners to maintain better records in logistics operations. It should be noted that globalization brought many changes in business management principles. Since Pfizer is operating globally, it needs the cooperation of the domestic partners to operate successfully in overseas countries. Since local partners have better knowledge about the local markets, it is better for Pfizer to give the responsibility of supply chain operations to local partners instead of doing it in its own ways. Pfizer is an Am erican company which knows American business climate, culture and environment properly. However, same thing cannot be said about Pfizer in other countries. For example, being the most heavily populated countries in the world; India and China are huge markets for Pfizer. It is impossible for Pfizer to manage supply chain operations in these countries using its own capabilities. Since these markets are extremely diverse geographically and culturally, Pfizer needs the support from local partners to maintain good inventory all the time.  

Cars corrosion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cars corrosion - Essay Example ( Shaw Barbara and Kelly Robert, 2006) Even though corrosion was still prevalent in the 1950’s the main criteria for a car manufacturer was the strength and durability of the body. Cold rolling of low carbon sheets was the accepted practice during those times. Later on, when the shape and features of the automobile underwent changes steels that were more ductile and could be drawn easily was incorporated into the design. Currently various advanced methods of steel fabrication with the use of alternative materials are being followed which are both cheaper and also have a lower weight to volume ratio. ( Hamilton Bruce and Macauley, 1998) This method of using salt to melt the ice on roads was introduced following World War II which led to an increase of corrosion, affecting the functional and structural integrity of the vehicle. The general appearance of the vehicle was also affected. Some of the common pitfalls of corrosion due the presence of salts were formation of holes on body panels, corrosion of brake linings, wear and tear of the frame and bumper supports, discoloration and pitting effects on surfaces of vehicles. Alternate materials were designed to take care of this type of corrosion; however this led to another form of corrosion called galvanic corrosion which occurs when two dissimilar metals are in contact. In the late 1970’s it was noticed that corrosion was taking place to a large extent on the floor panels, exhaust systems, fuel and brake systems which were less visible from outside. Dust control chemicals like calcium chloride and pollutants like nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide combined with rain to form acid rains. This prevented the formation of the natural protective layer formation on vehicle surfaces. (Effects of road salt on Motor Vehicles and infrastructure, n.d) The corrosion due to these severe environmental effects was noticed to be maximum during the mid-1970. Customer dissatisfaction forced leading auto manufacturers to