Piano Concert - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 1 Words: 335 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/09/19 Category Music Essay Type Argumentative essay Tags: Personality Essay Did you like this example? Michael 10-14-08 Piano Concert-10/7/08 The only performer, performing this evening was an aspiring pianist named Judy Huang. The performer had a charismatic personality, with a little bit of an accent. She gladly welcomed us and opened her recital by introducing herself. The event occurred in the Art Building, C-104 at approximately 5:00 P. M. on Tuesday of October 07, 2008. She humbly dedicated and donated her time to share her piano skills. She proudly opened her recital by presenting how honored she was to be able to perform for college students that had appreciation for the art of music. She played some fast pace and slow moving melodic classical music with accuracy and perfection. Some of the classical songs she played includes: Sonata in F Major, Op. 10, No. 2 (First mvt)- L. V. Beethoven, Carnaval, Berceuse, Op. 57-F. chopin, Etudes, Op. 10, No. 1,2,3,4,5,7,8-F. Chopin, and Op. 9-R. Schumann. After each song, Judy explained what majors were used, and what type of classical music the song can be classified. The audiences applause held until each song was successfully recited; then was followed by a gentle bow. She willingly offered to answer questions that any of us might have. Judy succeeded amazingly at the throughout her performance. All the songs she played not only hit just a perfect key note, but also a strong sense of confidence. I can almost feel her character reflected off of her precision in each tune. The song she played sounded like a story, which appealed to all my senses. During the performance, I felt really relaxed, and mellow. It was what I really needed from a long day. The songs she played were like a soothing lullaby to a babys ear. Her techniques were really astonishing to my amusement. It captivated my attention throughout the whole show. I honestly do not like that type of music, but just to see it and hear it live was a good experience for me. I have learned to appreciate other types of music a little more. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Piano Concert" essay for you Create order

Cures and Strategies for Senioritis

You may have first experienced senioritis -- that strange funk and apathy you feel your senior year, where all you can think about is getting out of school -- in high school. Senioritis in college, however, can be just as bad, if not worse. And the consequences can be more permanent and severe. Fortunately, there are several ways you can conquer your senioritis and turn your senior year of college into one of great fun and great memories. Take a Class Just for Fun Your first year or two, you were probably taking your prereqs. Then you focused on taking classes in your major. If you have the time in your schedule, try taking a class just for fun. It can be on a topic you always wanted to learn more about (Modernist Poetry?) or something you think will help you in your post-college life (Marketing 101?). Just go for a class that appeals to you because its interesting, not because of what it can add to your already rigorous courseload. Let your mind enjoy the class for what it is, not because you have to be there. Take a Class Pass/Fail This option is often underused by many college students. If you take a class pass/fail, you can relax a bit on your grade. You can focus on other things and reduce a little bit of stress on yourself. Talk to your professor, your advisor, and/or the registrar about what your options are. Do Something in the Arts Did you always want to learn how to paint? Play the flute? Learn modern dance? Let yourself splurge a little and indulge in a desire youve kept hidden until now. After all, after you graduate, taking fun classes like these is going to be much more difficult. Letting yourself do something just for fun, and because it fulfills a creative desire, can be incredibly rewarding -- and a great cure for the boredom and routine that might be coming from your other classes. Do Something Off Campus Chances are youve been in a little bubble on your campus for several years. Look past the campus walls and see how you can help the surrounding community a little. Can you volunteer in a womens shelter? Help at a homeless organization? Pass out food to the hungry on Sundays? Giving back to the community can really help you gain your perspective, will help improve the community around you, and can re-energize your mind and heart. Additionally, getting off campus at least once a week can do your body good. Challenge Yourself to Try Something New Every Week Chances are, youre feeling apathetic and suffering from senioritis because your life is very routine. Fortunately, youre on a campus where new and exciting things are happening all the time. Challenge yourself -- and some friends, if you can -- to try something new every week on campus. Go to a cultural dinner for a kind of food youve never tried before. Go listen to a speaker talking about a topic you could learn a little more about. Attend a film screening for a movie you might have otherwise passed on. Make a New College Memory Every Week Look back at your time in college. Sure, the things youve learned and your in-class education has been important. But just as important can be the memories youve made with other people along the way. Aim to pack as many as you can into your senior year. Try new things, grab some friends, and see what memories you can make with each other. Take a Mini-vacations with Your Friends or Romantic Partner Youre in college now and practically (if not actually) an independent adult. You can rent a hotel room, travel on your own, and go where you want to go  when you want to go there. So book a mini-vacation with some friends or with your romantic partner. It doesnt have to be far, but it should be fun. Escape for the weekend and let yourself enjoy life away from school for a few days. Even if youre tight on money, there are tons of student travel discounts you can use along the way. Do Something Physically Active Feeling apathetic can manifest itself physically. Challenge yourself to do something physical, like take an exercise class at the campus gym or join an intramural sports team. Youll improve your physical health, be able to work your stress out and increase your energy. (Not to mention, of course, that youll tone up and feel more confident!) Mentor a First-year Student It can be easy, during your senior year, to forget all that youve learned and what it was like as a new student on campus. Additionally, it can be easy to forget how fortunate you are to make it through -- not everyone who starts their first year makes it all the way through to their senior year. Consider mentoring a first-year student in an on-campus mentoring program. Youll regain some perspective, realize how well-off you have it, and help someone else out along the way. Start a Freelance Business Online The news is full of tiny start-ups that start in college residence halls everywhere. Consider what skills you have, what youre good at, and what you like to do. Setting up a website that advertises your services is easy and doesnt cost much money. Youll gain energy as you focus on a new project, maybe earn some extra cash, and get some experience (if not clientele) that you can use after you graduate.

Sexual Harassment Legal Memo - 3639 Words

Issues / Questions Whether or not the actions of Ms. Leslie Gonzales towards Mr. Ray Garcia establishes an act of sexual harassment. Brief Answer Yes. Ray Garcia may file a sexual harassment complaint against Leslie Gonzales. The actions of Leslie towards Ray may constitute sexual harassment based on the Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (RA 7877) and in consonance with jurisprudence. Nevertheless, with only the statement of Ray as proof and the lack of witnesses, although the presence of witnesses is not a requisite in RA 7877, the complaint may be faced with difficulties as the burden of proof lies on the claimant. Statement of Facts Ms. Leslie Gonzales is the VP for Corporate Relations of ILA Company. Ray Garcia directly†¦show more content†¦4. OVERNIGHT AT PAMPANGA From there on, for at least twice a month, Ray noticed that Leslie would always require him to drive her to Pampanga and would ask him very personal questions during the trip. On one occasion, when Leslie instructed him to stay overnight, she went inside his room, on a nightwear, bringing a wine, and ordered him to drink with her. Ray again felt that he couldn’t say no to his boss, so after pondering that he is sure he’s not doing anything wrong, he then allowed her to stay in his room. On this, Leslie expounded that since 2009, even before the permits for the project were granted, she often travel to Pampanga to attend to permitting requirements, local consultation sessions, field assessment, etc. There were many occasions before that she’d ask either Atty. Cesar Carreon, a former Corporate Legal Counsel of PLA Co., or Atty. Henry Sinyo who was then the assisting lawyer of Atty. Carreon, to drive to Pampanga having only her as a companion. 5. POST VALENTINE’S DAY After Valentines’s day, Leslie summoned Ray to her office. Upon saying that she forgot to greet him on Valentine’s day, Leslie removed her coat revealing a see-through blouse. Leslie then approached him motioning that she will give him a kiss on the cheek. When Ray avoided it, Leslie, who according to RayShow MoreRelatedSexual Harassment Legal Memo3646 Words   |  15 PagesIssues / Questions Whether or not the actions of Ms. Leslie Gonzales towards Mr. Ray Garcia establishes an act of sexual harassment. Brief Answer Yes. Ray Garcia may file a sexual harassment complaint against Leslie Gonzales. The actions of Leslie towards Ray may constitute sexual harassment based on the Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (RA 7877) and in consonance with jurisprudence. Nevertheless, with only the statement of Ray as proof and the lack of witnesses, although the presence of witnessesRead MoreEqual Employment Opportunity Commission and Electronic Reserve Readings.1455 Words   |  6 Pages | | |Details |Due |Points | |Objectives |Determine the legal issues arising out of employment practices. | | | | |Compare and contrast employment and independent contractor relationships. | Read MoreSexual Harassment Dress Code Attendance Policy964 Words   |  4 PagesIn this memo I will be addressing a several of the U-Turn company policy and procedures. Concerning Sexual harassment †¢ Dress code †¢ Attendance policy †¢ Vacation policy †¢ Discrimination †¢ Alcohol use, drug use, and smoking. I will be addressing these issues due to fellow coworkers not complying with the company policy and procedures. Everyone needs to read up on these polices to be aware of what is to be expected. Failure to comply with these rules will result in disciplinary action and can leadRead MoreRecommendation Report : Workplace Privacy Essay717 Words   |  3 PagesTo: Susan Williams, President From: Austin Dixon Subject: Recommendation Report – Workplace privacy Date: March 2nd, 2015 The purpose of this memo is to present my research and recommendations regarding workplace privacy and the monitoring of current, and new employees’ and their use of company owned equipment at work. Summary Employee privacy and the rights of employers are often debated, but to reduce an employee’s confusion and to ease the company’s potential liability, a thorough workplaceRead MoreEthics Hw Week 62207 Words   |  9 Pagesthe case, and your opinion of their potential liability.  Ã‚  Write a memo to him which states your view of whether the company is exposed to liability on all issues you feel are in play. Include in your memo any laws which apply and any precedential cases either for or against Teddys case which impact liability. Include your opinion of the worst case of damages the company may have to pay to Virginia. |    | Your Answer: | Memo to CEO: Your company is in fact in liability for negligence in protectingRead MoreCan an Employee Discriminate in the Hiring Process?1240 Words   |  5 Pagesshould an employer take to protect themselves from potential sexual harassment claims? There are multiple precautions that an employer can take in order to provide protection for themselves in the result of sexual harassment claims. To begin, it is suggested to all employers that they are encouraged to take steps necessary to prevent sexual harassment from occurring.† It is important to communicate to employees that such harassment will not be tolerated as well as provide training to all employeesRead MoreHr Assignment1659 Words   |  7 PagesYou are an HR practitioner in a medium-sized company that will soon be hiring 20 summer interns. You have been directed to provide a 1500-word briefing for all line managers outlining the legal obligations that your company has to these new employees. Write a memo that outlines the most important legal requirement that managers must know about when hiring and managing these employees. You may wish to make specific reference to your jurisdiction’s laws addressing employment standards, occupationalRead MoreEmerging Issues in Cyber and Internet Law1308 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿MEMO School Name To: From: CC: Date: Re: Emerging Issues in Cyber and Internet Law The internet has become an almost indispensable part of daily life, both personal and business, for most individuals. The law has struggled to keep up with changes in the society that have come as a result of the booming popularity of the internet. This memo will examine two areas: the use and legality of electronic signatures and cyber stalking. For years the standard in business contracts was the use ofRead MoreCeo Liability Brief2919 Words   |  12 Pages1. Teddys Supplies CEO has asked you to advise him on the facts of the case and your opinion of their potential liability. Write a memo to him that states your view of whether the company is exposed to liability on all issues you feel are in play. Include in your memo any laws that apply and any precedent cases either for or against Teddys case that impact liability. Include your opinion of the worst case of damages the company may have to pay to Virginia. (Points : 30) Dear Sir, I believeRead MoreCase Study : Genius Founder Can t Lead 1744 Words   |  7 Pagespressure from the company’s investors, the resignation of Travis Kalanick - its chief executive seemed to be the enormous, ground-breaking news out of Uber after a months-long crisis involving Uber’s tough-minded culture, executive misbehavior and sexual harassment. After the latest in a series of backfires at the lucrative firm, Travis Kalanick acknowledged: â€Å"It’s time to grow up,† and that he â€Å"Will seek leadership help† (Roose, 2017). Kalanick is the name that has taken a lot of heat for his leadership

The Presence of Darkness in James Baldwins Sonnys Blues...

The Presence of Darkness in James Baldwins Sonnys Blues In the story Sonnys Blues the author, James Baldwin, uses the image of darkness quite frequently. He uses it first when the older brother (main character) talks about his younger brother Sonny. He says that when Sonny was younger his face was bright and open. He said that he didnt want to believe that he would ever see his brother going down, coming to nothing, all that light in his face gone out. Meaning he had gone from good (clean and innocent) to bad ( giving into drugs like so many of the other young people). The older brother then goes on to talk about his students and how they had limited possibilities stating that all they really knew were two darknesses, the†¦show more content†¦When the old folks remember that the children are in the room feeling what the adults are thinking they turn on the lights to get back to normal but with this the child is filled with darkness. He knows that every time this happens hes moved just a little closer to that darkness outside. The darkness outside is what the old folks have been talking about. Its what theyve come from. Its what they endure. This is the evil hell have to over come by himself when hes grown and his parents arent around to look after him any longer. The next time the author uses the word darkness is when Sonny and his brother are having a serious talk about life. Sonny brings up that it can come again, meaning the drug addiction. He just wanted to tell his just to let him know it might not be all right. Just before he made these statements the author set the mood by saying that The sun had vanished, soon darkness would fall. It seems the author brings up darkness as a reference to a bad thing or situation. When darkness is brought up again it is when Sonny is going to play at the night club. They go down a short dark street to get there and are greeted in the darkness by one of Sonnys friends. The older brother was then sent to a dark corner by himself to listen to his younger brother play. It changes here, when Sonny gets on stage. The whole band is being Show MoreRelatedThe Meaning of Jazz in African American Culture Particularly in Harlem During the 1950’s2384 Words   |  10 PagesParticularly in Harlem During the 1950’s In the Baldwin’s story, Sonny’s Blues, the author portrays African -Americans in the urban life. Even though he writes about reconciliation of two brothers, who are trying to overcome their differences and to come to understand each other, the story shows the meaning of Jazz in African American culture, particularly in Harlem during 1950. The urban life in Harlem has being described by many authors, including James Baldwin. The life of an African American manRead MoreThe Light and Darkness of Suffering Depicted in Sonnys Blues2446 Words   |  10 Pagespain that defines us as individuals. The question becomes do we let suffering consume us, or do we let it define our lives? Through James Baldwin’s story, â€Å"Sonny’s Blues†, the manner by which one confronts the light and darkness of suffering determines whether one is consumed by it, or embraces it in order to â€Å"survive.† Viewing a collection of these motifs, James Baldwin’s unique perspective on suffering as a crucial component of human development becomes apparent. It is through his compassionate portrayalRead More`` Hills Like White Elephants `` By Ernest Hemingway1681 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Hills Like White Elephants† utilizes the imagery of the train station in order to produce the effect of transition between the characters, both in terms of physical location and emotional mindset. Much like Hemingway, James Baldwin’s â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† takes a similar approach, using Sonny’s passion for music to expose his deepest insecurities. Though their approaches are different, both authors use imagery to create a pathway to the character’s internal thoughts. Often, when people think of the functionsRead MoreLight and Dark in the Book Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin Essay788 Words   |  4 PagesIn James Baldwin’s short story, â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† there is a constant contrast between light and dark. Baldwin uses this theme to highlight the struggles that the Narrator and his younger brother, Sonny, both face. Light represents all of the positive aspects of life. Meanwhile, the darkness represents the constant struggle that threatens the characters in the story. Light and dark has a presence in both characters. The narrator lives his life in the â€Å"light†. He is a teacher, middleclass man, a manRead MoreEssay about James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues1028 Words   |  5 Pages In the world of Harlem, New York the cruelties of the world become incandescently prominent. James Baldwin’s â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† addresses the foreboding power of pain in a world where someone’s coping skills dictate the course of their life. The story depicts a person’s options to ignore pain, create a reason for pain, or accept pain and live within it. Baldwin explains the theme of pervasive pain and parent’s attempt to shield children from it through the characters. Their reaction to pain constructsRead MoreAnalysis Of Sonny s Blues By John M. Lee2198 Words   |  9 PagesInstructor: Dr. Kim Course: English 132 Sonny’s Blues is one of the famous stories expressing the deplorable conditions the Black community found themselves in during the struggle against racial segregation in the American history. The analysis given by John M. Reilley is to draw the attention of the readers and audience on the image of the black community, basically as expressed by Sonny’s Blues as a metaphor. Following the publication of Sonny’s Blues, James Baldwin realized he had a role in theRead MoreAnalysis Of James Baldwin s Sonny s Blues Essay2104 Words   |  9 PagesSeveral dialectics are at play in James Baldwin’s short story â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† including a dialectic between the narrator and his beloved brother Sonny involving their opposing responses to the sense of oppression and limitation that arises from living in Harlem. This dialectic and its resolution closely parallel Baldwin’s masterful use of Blues, Jazz, and Gospel music. We follow the narrator and his brother Sonny as they traverse the complexities of their individual and interconnected Harlem livesRead MoreASAM 5 Notes Essay6590 Words   |  27 Pagesas a society, we read fewer and fewer book. We play more video games, we see more movies, we are too distracted. In some ways, a class like this is to remind you why fiction novels and short stories are worthy of your time What is literature A James woods: Fiction is a creaseless experiment with uncollectable data An attempt to order data with the use of story Allows us to see the wholeness of a life we cannot see in our own life Forms: Realism, modernism, post modernism Froitzan on why he

Business Level Strategy of GSK Company

Question: Discuss about the Business Level Strategy of GSK Company. Answer: Introduction This paper focuses on the dynamic capabilities of well known pharmaceutical company GSK. It also includes the analysis of capability in context of competition and high level technological environment. About Company GSK pharmaceutical company is a reputed organization in USA. It is a global health care company, which deals in research and development of new and innovative vaccines and other healthcare products for consumers. It also produces the cure for various dangerous diseases like cancer, asthma, infections and mental health. GSK is the leading healthcare company, which has generated revenue of $8222 million in year 2015 (GSK, 2014). It is delivering pharmaceutical products and services in more than 150 countries across globe. Dynamic capabilities of GSK pharmaceutical Dynamic capabilities refer to the ability of an organization to develop the new internal and external competencies to operate in the modern era or environment. Meanwhile, it can also be defined as the capacity of organization to build, adopt and change the competencies as per the competition to take a competitive advantage from the available resources (Davidjteece, 2013). At the same time, renovation in internal and external resources also creates value for the business in competitive market. Resource based view assists the company to gain the higher performance (Rehmanm and Saeed, 2015). Pharmaceutical industry experienced the innovative and modern aspect of competition trends. Meanwhile, the competition structure has been changed globally due to new technologies, strategic developments and resource based approach. Businesses are adopting innovation in the industry to build the competitive advantages in market for effective and efficient use of organizational resources. The organiza tional performance is also a dynamic capability for GSK pharmaceutical and because of it company gets additional benefit to attract potential customers in the market. GSK Pharmaceutical explores the organizational learning to develop and enhance the knowledge in dynamic and competitive era. Development of strategic asset is another dynamic capability for business. GSK pharmaceutical possess the dynamic capabilities that add value in the market performance, growth and strategic policy of the company. At the same time, key trends in pharmaceutical industry impact the business operation of company. In regard to this companys key strength capacity is its new innovation to manufacture effective cure practice of new vaccine. Further, it confers global presence and having strong employee base of approximately 100,000 employees (GSK, 2014). At the same time, GSK possess the experts who develop the innovative pharmaceutical products for curing the diseases. USA market is very sensitive in concern to the perception of consumer where consumer can move towards an efficient service provider. GSK pharmaceutical have many opportunities in the US market to expand the business of company and acquire other pharmaceutical companies. Further, Company focuses on the research and development strategy to acquire new techniques for manufacturing advance healthcare products (GSK, 2017). GSK is also having sound financial power in hand with current asset and fix assets. It generated the revenue of 3681 billion in financial year 2015 (Statista, 2015). In addition to this, it is adopting new technologies to produce new medicines for newly diseases in the environment. Further, it has excellent sales team that manages the global level force to distribute the medicine at every region. GSK has adopted an operating model to produce the product at low cost. Moreover, it has owned fully technological manufacturing laboratories for innovative research. Apart from this, GSK possess intangible dynamic capabilities such as patents of product, portfolio of healthcare and oral care. At the same time, company holds the brand image in the US market. In concern to this, GSK possess the capability to acquire pharmaceutical company to lur e the potential customers out of the market and strengthen the dynamic capability. Implications of dynamic capability in concern to the competitive advantages Dynamic capabilities are the unique capabilities of an organization, which derives values for the business in market to affect the strategy of competitive rivals. These capabilities are acquired and developed through scanning of environment and using the organizational resources. At the same time, reconfiguring the internal assets is also considered as capability of company which strengthens the ability of company. Dynamic capabilities create additional advantage for the company to build the capacity of business to sustain for long time and respond effectively to the fierce competition (Teece, 2011). Further, these capacities are developed as the trends that are moving in the environment through transforming the corresponding competencies. This era of modern business is affected by technology. Dynamic capabilities contribute in multiplying the ability of GSK pharmaceutical and it supports in creation of competitive advantages in market. In concern to pharmaceutical business, the company innovate new medicine because of its expert team of scientist. Further, it is also getting benefits from the brand recognition in the market, which helps the company in attracting new customers which ultimately explores the competition prevailing in the market. In addition to this, strategic management helps the business to analyze the competitive environment and focus on shaping a strategy to strongly develop the changes in concurrent environment. Moreover, organization seeks to grab the opportunities from the market and develop the strategy to defeat the competitors in the market. Whether, dynamic capabilities positively impact the competitive advantages. In regard to this, ability of marketing managers to renew the internal and external resources in pharmaceutical company, adds value thr ough taking effective decision, brings in new mode to face the competition. In addition to this, capacity to acquire small pharmaceutical business is a strategic ability of GSK pharmaceutical, which helps in attainment of the sustainable competitive advantages. Dynamic capabilities improve the performance of business in the market through introducing new tactics in the business model and it becomes an advantage for the firm to sustain for long time. GSK pharmaceutical is able to meet the demand of healthcare products and lure the customers, where it manufactures the medicine for effective cure of the disease. The resources are used to enhance the productivity of business in market and capabilities are better than the resource available because sensible capacity can own the resource for the organization. Intangible capabilities for GSK pharmaceutical are strong brand image, patent of drugs; trademark and intellectual property improve the effectiveness of firm in the market and gain competitive advantage. Competition in the pharmaceutical industry is a big issue for the firms, where GSK need to evaluate the volatile market and build strong position of brand in the market (Ding et. al, 2013). GSK pharmaceutical can set the new way of resource with value, rareness, Imitability and organization (VRIO) framework to capture the new resources and create new opportunities for business. Further, the company is changing with the time and getting the benefit of dynamic capabilities for instance Apple and IBM Inc. These businesses have an extension of dynamic capabilities to compete with the dynamic environment (Helfat, 2013). The dynamic abilities of the GSK pharmaceutical support the business to adopt new technology to retain the current position in the market and develop the effective brand image to experience the higher market value. In USA, market performance of GSK pharmaceutical is too improved which affectively impact the competition in business line. Therefore, it can be stated that dyn amic capabilities are the unique resource for company, through use of which an organization can gain the competitive advantages in market. Differences between Dynamic Capabilities and Resources Dynamic capabilities and resources are used interchangeable but they are different. The dynamic capabilities are drawn from the internal and external resources to create a competitive advantage. From the view point of Barney, the dynamic capabilities can be identified and developed from the SWOT analysis. In addition to this, he explored that internal evaluation of firm assists the business to understand the competitive advantages. Barney differentiated the resources and capabilities into four dimensions such as value, rareness, Imitability and organization (Faizal, Zaidi and Othman, 2011). In concern to the value proponent, strategic managers must identify the impact of gaining advantages of opportunities and neutralize the threats of company. Further, the resources add value in the new environment opportunities. In addition Author explained that the resources should be rare that creates competitive advantages for the firm. He also reviewed that Imitability of resources helps the or ganization to create competitive advantages through substitution development would build a competitive strategy. Barney stated that the capability of firm depends on the value, rareness, Imitability of available resources. He focused on organizing and utilizing competitive resources and capabilities for creation of potential competitive position in market. Implications of dynamic capabilities in context of technological advancement Technology has changed the shape of competition, because the firms are introducing innovative, affective and cost effective products in the market. Dynamic competencies are the unique ability of the company to stay in the technique efficient market (Francisco, 2015). Further, in this technology enable environment, these capacities develop the strategy for business firm to come up with new innovation and focus on tapping the market. If the organization has strategic capacity to manufacture the qualitative products through new technology, it enables the business to invent new method to retain competitive position in market. Dynamic capability specifically reconfigures the resources and creates the new technology enabled products to sustain in the competitive era (Rughami, 2013). Along with this if organization possesses different capabilities like strategic management, efficient technology usage, than it adds value in the performance of organization. Moreover, dynamic capabilities adap t the fast changing environment to develop its strategic efficiency and survive in the technology disrupted environment. It helps the business in retaining the competitive advantages for the firms in fierce competition. On the other hand, high level technological advancements compelled the pharmaceutical company to focus on the development of dynamic ability through research and innovation. It is stated that dynamic capabilities differentiate the business from other companies due to its uniqueness which assist the company to stay ahead in the technologically competitive environment. Conclusion: From the analysis of Teece and Barneys paper of dynamic capability, it can be concluded that dynamic capabilities impact the business operation of companies significantly. It can also be concluded that an organization cannot survive in competitive environment without configuring the unique abilities from the resources. References Davidjteece, (2013) Dynamic Capabilities. Retrieved from: https://davidjteece.com/dynamic-capabilities/ Ding, M., Eliasberg, J. and Stremerch, S. (2013). Innovation and Marketing in the Pharmaceutical Industry: Emerging Practices, Research, and Policies. Germany: Springer Science Business Media. Faizal, M., Zaidi, A. and Othman, S. (2011) Understanding Dynamic Capability as an ongoing concept for Technological Capability. International Journal and Business of Social Science. 2(6), pp. 1-11. Francisco, J. (2015). Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capabilities Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capabilities. Retrieved from: https://unipub.lib.uni-corvinus.hu/2171/1/VT_2015n11p50.pdf GSK, (2014). Annual Report 2014. Retrieved from: https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/g/LSE_GSK_2014.pdf Helfat, C. (2013) How Apple and IBM change with the times, Retrieved from: https://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/economic-intelligence/2013/07/02/apple-and-ibm-show-the-power-of-dynamic-capabilities Pisani, G. (2015) A Normative Theory of Dynamic Capabilities: Connecting Strategy Know- How and Competition. Retrieved from: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Publication%20Files/16-036_3be51325-1fb0-421a-afca-4571d958ebf9.pdf Rehmanm K. and Saeed, Z. (2015). Impact of Dynamic Capabilities on Firm Performance: Moderating Role of Organizational Competencies, Journal of Business Management, 2(2), pp. 1-23. Rughami, J., Aosa, E. (2013). Environmental dynamic capabilities and their effect on competitive advantage and firm performance. Prime Journal of Business Administration and Management. 3(11), pp. 1239-1243. Statista, (2015). https://www.statista.com/statistics/312366/revenue-of-seretide-advair-worldwide-by-region/ Teece, D. (2011). Dynamic Capabilities: A guide for managers. Retrieved from: https://iveybusinessjournal.com/publication/dynamic-capabilities-a-guide-for-managers/ Wadhwanim R. and Jones, G. (2016). Historical changes and the Competitive advantages of Firms: Explicating the Dynamics in the Dynamic Capabilities Framework. Retrieved from: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Publication%20Files/17-052_ce716f44-7adb-40d3-9755-bb311f04c9e8.pdf

Economic Impact of Affordable Care Act free essay sample

Impact of the Affordable Care Act† The current healthcare system over burdens the economy and is far too costly in comparison to the health benefits it delivers. The United States spends about 50 percent more on healthcare than any other developed country (as a fraction of our total national economy) and we get less for it on what matters. The human capital required to obtain these services leaves many Americans doing without or not receiving the medical treatment required. The Affordable Care Act may be the most controversial legislation in the modern era. It is marketed as healthcare expansion to about thirty million more Americans. The ACA is also designed to do away with some of the unfair elements of the current system. Health insurers currently are able to deny people coverage for â€Å"pre-existing conditions† which makes out of pocket costs out of reach for most Americans. As with any piece of federal lawmaking, the ACA was the product of political compromise among parties and interests. (Turner) However, the ACA should help to improve the GDP in the long run. In the short term period, the increase in economic security for American families will also mean an increase in consumer spending. Many uninsured consumers are forced to set aside money in low interest liquid accounts to make sure they have enough to cover unexpected medical costs. With the security provided by health insurance, they can free that money up for consumption that is much more valuable to them. When the federal government expanded Medicaid in the 1990s, the newly insured significantly increased their spending on consumer goods. (Brodwin) More purchases of consumer goods will provide short-run stimulation to the economy and more hiring. Opponents of the act have countered this theory saying it will freeze hiring in some industries. Some employers may resist hiring new workers, at least partly to avoid the high costs of the laws mandated health coverage. The health law will require all employers with more than 50 workers to provide health insurance or pay a fine of $2,000 to $3,000 per worker every year. (Yoo) These added costs could result in companies losing the money needed to grow their businesses and hire new workers. It is feared that small business, usually the nations most robust job creators, will be hit hardest and many say the requirement would wipe out their profits. It is alleged that the â€Å"slow down† in hiring has already begin in  anticipation of the ACA. The total cost for healthcare in the US is around 16 percent of Gross Domestic Product, known as GDP. What we pay to doctors and insurance companies directly are included in this, as well as what we pay indirectly to Medicare and other programs. 16 cents of every dollar spent on groceries or clothes that will go to healthcare. This i s very high in comparison to most other developed countries that pay between 9-12 percent of GDP. The difference in GDP is almost 5 percent, which works out to be more than half the annual federal deficit. The biggest fear associated to the Affordable Care Act is likely about the financing and â€Å"job-killing taxes†. There are three primary sources that the law applies new taxes to. The first is on parts of the health care industry like medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and insurance. (Turner) These areas that are receiving a new tax are being asked to â€Å"kick back† some of the newly created revenue resulted from an increase in paying customers provided by the law. These sectors should benefit on net in a large way. The second is an extension of the Medicare tax on the wealthiest Americans, those with incomes above $250,000 per year. The impact of tax changes on the highest income taxpayers will avoid some of those taxes by re-categorizing their incomes in ways that minimize taxes. There is nothing that suggests that the upper class will actually work less, invest less, or do anything which reduces their â€Å"real contribution† to the economy. The third major tax provision is a â€Å"free rider penalty† of $2000 to $3000 (per employee) on medium and large businesses that fail to provide workers with affordable coverage, forcing those workers to get subsidized insurance via the new insurance exchanges. This will indeed impose a new financial burden on businesses that, unlike competitors, do not pay their fair share of health insurance costs. But the overall impact is likely to be very small. Only 2. 6 percent of businesses will pay this assessment, and the revenue raised will amount to 1. 4 percent of existing spending on health insurance in the U. S. and only 0. 1 percent of wages. ( Turner) The ACA should raise employment numbers for the medical industry in the short run, more than any partial offsets from new taxes on that sector. The ACA should improve the functioning of our labor market in the medium run, by allowing workers to move to the positions in which they are most productive and satisfied without fear of job lock or losing health benefits. The â€Å"economic slowdown† from taxes on the upper class or the small equity payments imposed on employers should be minimal. In the long run there is a good chance the economy will improve by controlling health care cost. The choice between protecting our most vulnerable citizens and improving our economy is a false one. The ACA should do both. Works Cited Brodwin, David. How the Affordable Care Act Helps the U. S. Economy. US News. U. S. News amp; World Report, 29 Mar. 2012. Web. 03 Mar. 2013. Turner, Grace M. Proamp;Con: Affordable Care Act Will Impose New Burdens on Consumers, Businesses. SouthCoastToday. com. N. p. , 02 Mar. 2013. Web. 03 Mar. 2013. Yoo, Saerom. Mid-Valley Social Services. MidValley Social Services Economic Effect of Medicaid Expansion under Affordable Care Act Comments. N. p. , 07 Feb. 2013. Web. 03 Mar. 2013.

Things Fall Apart Essays (493 words) - Picaresque Novels

Things Fall Apart Annonymous Huck had several struggles with his conscience, whether it was right that he was helping Jim, a slave, to run away to freedom, should he leave the men on the Walter Scott to drown, and should he stop the king and the duke from fleecing the girls. Hucks biggest struggle by far was whether he should help Jim escape. This struggle can be attributed to the time-period, when slavery was accepted as a way of life. During the time, a person who helped a slave escape was considered a low-life, and Huck certainly did not want to bear that title. Huck had to wrestle with this idea two times during the story. The first time was when they were on the river, when Huck had made up his mind to turn Jim in and was rowing towards the shore when he met the two slave hunters. As Huck was rowing off, however, Jim had told him that he was Jims only friend, and that changed Hucks mind. As a result, Huck fooled the two men into not searching the raft. The second time Huck decided to turn Jim in was when he learned the king had sold him off for forty dollars. Huck wrote a letter to Miss Watson to tell her where Jim was, but recalled how Jim trusted him, so he tore up the letter. These two incidences showed that while Huck was a southern boy who was not comfortable about helping a slave escape, he still did it because he was honest and did not like to break faith with people. The incidence with the robbers on the Walter Scott showed that Huck is a sympathetic boy who does not want to see anybody hurt. Even though the ruffians aimed to kill Jim Turner by letting him drown, Huck still felt that they must be rescued and put in prison. That fact the Huck wanted to save even murderers showed that he was very altruistic. Hucks third major struggle with his conscience was when the king and the duke are taking advantage of the girls by pretending to be Harvey and William Wilks. The duke and the king aimed to steal the orphaned girls inheritance, which Huck felt was not right. However, Huck knew that if he revealed the scheme to the girls, the duke and the king would hurt him, so he had to decide between his physical well being and a clear conscience. In the end, Huck chose to tell the Mary Jane, and with some luck, escaped the wrath of duke, who in turn soothed the kings temper. All three times, Huck chose the good over the bad: helping Jim, saving the robbers, and foiling the larceny scheme, and all three times he succeeded in accomplishing what he set out to do. Mark Twain is trying show that if one follows their conscience, everything will turn out fine.

Stranger Essays (4303 words) - Literature, Fiction,

Stranger In The Stranger, Albert Camus portrays Meursault, the book's narrator and main character, as aloof, detached, and unemotional. He does not think much about events or their consequences, nor does he express much feeling in relationships or during emotional times. He displays an impassiveness throughout the book in his reactions to the people and events described in the book. After his mother's death he sheds no tears; seems to show no emotions. He displays limited feelings for his girlfriend, Marie Cardona, and shows no remorse at all for killing an Arab. His reactions to life and to people distances him from his emotions, positive or negative, and from intimate relationships with others, thus he is called by the book's title, "the stranger". While this behavior can be seen as a negative trait, there is a young woman who seems to want to have a relationship with Meursault and a neighbor who wants friendship. He seems content to be indifferent, possibly protected from pain by his indifference. Meursault rarely shows any feeling when in situations which would, for most people, elicit strong emotions. Throughout the vigil, watching over his mother's dead body, and at her funeral, he never cries. He is, further, depicted enjoying a cup of coffee with milk during the vigil, and having a smoke with a caretaker at the nursing home in which his mother died. The following day, after his mother's funeral, he goes to the beach and meets a former colleague named Marie Cardona. They swim, go to a movie, and then spend the night together. Later in their relationship, Marie asks Meursault if he wants to marry her. He responds that it doesn't matter to him, and if she wants to get married, he would agree. She then asks him if he loves her. To that question he responds that he probably doesn't, and explains that marriage really isn't such a serious thing and doesn't require love. This reaction is fairly typical of Meursault as portrayed in the book. He appears to be casual and indifferent about life events. Nothing seems to be very significant to him. Later on in the book, after he kills an Arab, not once does he show any remorse or guilt for what he did. Did he really feel nothing? Camus seems to indicate that Meursault is almost oblivious and totally unruffled and untouched by events and people around him. He is unwilling to lie, during his trial, about killing the Arab. His reluctance to get involved in defending himself results in a verdict of death by guillotine. Had Meursault been engaged in his defense, explaining his actions, he might have been set free. Meursault's unresponsive behavior, distant from any apparent emotions, is probably reinforced by the despair which he sees open and feeling individuals experience. He observes, for example, Raymond cheated on and hurt by a girlfriend, and sees his other neighbor, Salamano, very depressed when he loses a dear companion, his dog. Meursault's responses are very different, he doesn't get depressed at death nor does he get emotionally involved. He appears to be totally apathetic. Thus, he seems to feel no pain and is protected from life's disappointments. Sometimes a person like Meursault can be appealing to others because he is so non-judgmental and uncritical, probably a result of indifference rather than sympathetic feelings. His limited involvement might attract some people because an end result of his distance is a sort of acceptance of others, thus he is not a threat to their egos. Raymond Sintes, a neighbor who is a pimp, seems to feel comfortable with Meursault. Sintes does not have to justify himself because Meursault doesn't comment on how Sintes makes money or how he chooses to live his life. Even though Meursault shows no strong emotions or deep affection, Marie, his girlfriend, is still attracted and interested in him. She is aware of, possibly even fascinated by, his indifference. ---- The Sun as a Symbol/Motif in Albert Camus's The Stranger Camus' usage of the sun opposes its warmth and beauty in The Stranger. The sun is a symbol for feelings and emotions, which Monsieur Meursault cannot deal with. There is a sun motif present throughout the novel, which perniciously characterizes the usual fondness towards the sun. The sun is a distraction from Meursault's everyday life and he cannot handle it. The sun first presents a problem to Meursault at his mother's funeral procession. Even before the procession embarks, Meursault remarks of the sun, calling it "inhuman and oppressive." Meursault has shown no emotion towards

Where Evil Is essays

Where Evil Is essays This novel was a fictional story. Everything and Everyone in this story were not based on a true story. It was written by Carol Beach York. It was published in 1987 by Pocket Books in New York. There are many characters and settings in this novel. It is full of suspense and it kept me wondering. The story took place in Larrimore Hills Michigan. The main characters are Marjorie and Charlene. Marjorie goes to spend the summer at Charlene and David Kensingtons home. Marjorie found a newspaper on Charlenes table with a headline that read Inmate Escapes Asylum. That newspaper article began the suspense of this story for me. As time went on and Marjorie enjoyed her summer with Charlene and David, the people of Larrimore Hills Michigan had begun reporting a mysterious figure in the woods and they started to fear for their lives. One Monday morning something very strange had happened, Charlene had received a letter that read Ask your husband if the accident at Greenwood Lake was really an accident. Charlene told Marjorie that is where Davids first wife had drowned. Charlene thought it was very rude for someone to write that letter and suspect that David had something to do with his wifes death. The next couple days they were waiting for a second letter and finally on Thursday it had a rived. Meanwhile David is off on a business trip. This time letter was not so brief and was not easy to dismiss as a harmless joke. The letter read The accident at Greenwood Lake was not an accident. Your husband murdered his first wife, and he is going to murder you. He has already tried and he will try again. Charlene and Marjorie both had gotten a little frightened. Later on that week Charlene and Marjorie headed up to that very lake for a little vacation. One night Charlene and Marjorie spotted two men in the woods. Marjorie wanted to get out of there but Charlene said they probably wouldn&ap...

Battle of Plassey in Indian History

Battle of Plassey in Indian History Battle of Plassey - Conflict Date: The Battle of Plassey was fought June 23, 1757, during the Seven Years War (1756-1763). Armies Commanders British East India Company Colonel Robert Clive3,000 men Nawab of Bengal Siraj Ud DaulahMohan LalMir MadanMir Jafar Ali Khanapprox. 53,000 men Battle of Plassey - Background: While fighting raged in Europe and North America during the French Indian/Seven Years War, it also spilled over to the more faraway outposts of the British and French Empires making the conflict the worlds first global war. In India, the two nations trading interests were represented by the French and British East India Companies. In asserting their power, both organizations built their own military forces and recruited additional sepoy units. In 1756, fighting began in Bengal after both sides began reinforcing their trading stations. This angered the local Nawab, Siraj-ud-Duala, who ordered military preparations to cease. The British refused and in a short time the Nawabs forces had seized the British East India Companys stations, including Calcutta. After taking Fort William in Calcutta, a large number of British prisoners were herded into a tiny prison. Dubbed the Black Hole of Calcutta, many died from heat exhaustion and being smothered. The British East India Company moved quickly to regain its position in Bengal and dispatched forces under Colonel Robert Clive from Madras. The Plassey Campaign: Carried by four ships of line commanded by Vice Admiral Charles Watson, Clives force re-took Calcutta and attacked Hooghly. After a brief battle with the Nawabs army on February 4, Clive was able to conclude a treaty which saw all British property returned. Concerned about growing British power in Bengal, the Nawab began corresponding with the French. At this same time, the badly outnumbered Clive began making deals with the Nawabs officers to overthrow him. Reaching out to Mir Jafar, Siraj Ud Daulahs military commander, he convinced him to switch sides during the next battle in exchange for the nawabship. On June 23 the two armies met near Palashi. The Nawab opened the battle with an ineffective cannonade which ceased around noon when heavy rains fell on the battlefield. The Company troops covered their cannon and muskets, while the Nawabs and French did not. When the storm cleared, the Clive ordered an attack. With their muskets useless due to wet powder, and with Mir Jafars divisions unwilling to fight, the Nawabs remaining troops were forced to retreat. Aftermath of the Battle of Plassey: Clives army suffered a mere 22 killed and 50 wounded as opposed to over 500 for the Nawab. Following the battle, Clive saw that Mir Jafar was made nawab on June 29. Deposed and lacking support, Siraj-ud-Duala attempted to flee to Patna but was captured and executed by Mir Jafars forces on July 2. The victory at Plassey effectively eliminated French influence in Bengal and saw the British gain control of the region through favorable treaties with Mir Jafar. A pivotal moment in Indian history, Plassey saw the British establish a firm base from which to bring the remainder of the subcontinent under their control. Selected Sources History of War: Battle of PlasseyModern History Sourcebook: Sir Robert Clive: The Battle of Plassey, 1757History of Islam: Battle of Plassey

Get Your Goat

Get Your Goat Get Your Goat Get Your Goat By Maeve Maddox Until a reader asked me about it, I hadn’t encountered the eggcorn â€Å"to get one’s goad.† eggcorn: the reshaping of a common word or expression in a way that makes sense to the speaker. The expression is â€Å"to get one’s goat† (not goad). The earliest documentation in the OED is dated 1910. In modern usage, the usual meaning is â€Å"to annoy,† â€Å"to make angry,† â€Å"to cause someone to display emotion.† Here are examples: After Ferrer took office, when opponents really wanted to get his goat, they taunted him as â€Å"Stanley Ferrer.† The name made him seethe. Extreme left liberals and ultra-right conservatives both  get his goat. What seems to get his goat the most is that the recession seems to have knocked away people’s interest in the environment. Maitreya is famous for having subdued his temper through learning ‘patience under insult.’ You simply can’t upset him. Insults, curses, even blows will not get his goat or shake his equanimity.   The origin of the expression is, as they say, â€Å"obscure.† Various creative explanations have been put forth, including one that suggests the expression derives from the practice of giving racehorses goats as companions to keep them calm. The convoluted reasoning is that if someone were to â€Å"get† the goat before a race, the horse would be too upset to run well. If the expression does in fact derive from some connection with the animal–and not from some forgotten slang meaning for the word goat–I think it may relate to one of several associations with goats that exist in our culture. I won’t go into all of them now, but one characteristic is liveliness. The wild playful way goats jump about with sudden leaps and turns gives us the words caprice and capricious. It’s not much of a stretch to associate â€Å"to get one’s goat† with this aspect of goat behavior. I once watched someone try to get her pet goat under control. She looked like someone trying to catch a grasshopper without a net. The expression â€Å"to get one’s goat† could have something to do with comparing the struggle to control turbulent emotions to the difficulty of trying to catch a goat. I have found a quotation that bears out this explanation. It predates the one in the OED. In this example, a union president is taken by surprise when presented with a beautiful commemorative gavel: At the last meeting of No. 16 ex-President Colbert proceeded to get the goat of President Knott. [] Mr. Knott was taken completely by surprise, and it was some moments before he could get his â€Å"goat† under control and thank the members of No. 16 for such a magnificent gift. –The Typographical Journal, Volume 35 (1909). Human beings want things to make sense. Speakers who replace goat with goad are making an interesting mental leap. A goad is a pointed object used to prod animals; ergo, a person prodded with a goad would become angry. Nevertheless, the idiom is â€Å"to get one’s goat.† Related post: The Sands and Hands of Time Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Idioms About Legs, Feet, and ToesWhen to Form a Plural with an ApostropheSentence Adverbs

The History of Skyscrapers

The History of Skyscrapers The first skyscrapers- tall commercial buildings with  iron or steel frameworks- came about in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Chicago Home Insurance Building, completed in 1885, is generally considered the first modern skyscraper, although it was only 10 stories high. Later, taller and taller buildings were made possible through a series of architectural and engineering innovations, including the invention of the first process to mass-produce steel. Today, the tallest skyscrapers in the world approach and even exceed heights of 2,000 feet. Skyscraper History A skyscraper is a tall commercial building with an iron or steel framework.  They were made possible as a result of the Bessemer process of mass production of steel beams.  The first modern skyscraper was created in 1885, the 10-story Chicago Home Insurance Building.Early extant skyscrapers include the 1891 Wainwright Building in St. Louis and the 1902 Flatiron Building in New York City.   First Skyscraper: Chicago Home Insurance Building The first tall building supported by structural steel was the Chicago Home Insurance Building, which was finished in 1885. The building was 10 stories tall and reached a height of 138 feet. Two additional stories were added in 1891, bringing the height to 180 feet. The building was demolished in 1931 and replaced with the Field Building, an even taller skyscraper with 45 stories. Early Skyscrapers The Flat Iron Building, NYC. Barry Neal/Getty Images Although the first skyscrapers were relatively small by todays standards, they marked an important turn in urban construction and development. Some of the most notable early skyscrapers were: Tacoma Building (Chicago): Constructed using a riveted iron and steel frame, the Tacoma Building was designed by the major architectural firm Holabird Root.Rand McNally Building (Chicago): The Rand McNally Building, completed in 1889, was the first skyscraper built with an all-steel frame.The Masonic Temple Building (Chicago): Featuring commercial, office, and meeting space, the Masonic Temple was completed in 1892. For a time it was the tallest building in Chicago.Tower Building (New York City): The Tower Building, completed in 1889, was the first skyscraper in New York City.American Surety Building (New York City): At 300 feet tall, this 20-story building broke Chicagos height record when it was completed in 1896.New York World Building (New York City): This building was home to the New York World newspaper.Wainwright Building (St. Louis): This skyscraper, designed by Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan, is famous for its terracotta facade and ornamentation.Flatiron Building (New Yor k City): The Flatiron Building is a triangular, steel-frame marvel that still stands in Manhattan today. In 1989, it was made a National Historic Landmark. Mass Produced Steel Allows Construction of Skyscrapers Henry Bessemer. clu/Getty Images Construction of skyscrapers was made possible thanks to Henry Bessemer, who invented the first process to mass-produce steel inexpensively. An American, William Kelly, had held a patent for a system of air blowing the carbon out of pig iron, but bankruptcy forced Kelly to sell his patent to Bessemer, who had been working on a similar process for making steel. In 1855, Bessemer patented his own decarbonization process, utilizing a blast of air. This breakthrough opened the door for builders to start making taller and taller structures. Modern steel today is still made using technology based on Bessemers process. While â€Å"the Bessemer process† kept Bessemer’s name well-known long after his death, lesser known today is the man who actually employed that process to innovate the first skyscraper: George A. Fuller.  In the 19th century, construction techniques called for outside walls to carry the load of a building’s weight. Fuller, however, had a different idea. He realized that buildings could bear more weight- and therefore soar higher- if he used Bessemer steel beams to give buildings a load-bearing skeleton on the inside of the building. In 1889, Fuller erected the Tacoma Building, a successor to the Home Insurance Building that became the first structure ever built where the outside walls did not carry the weight of the building. Using Bessemer steel beams, Fuller developed a technique for creating steel cages that would be used in subsequent skyscrapers. The Flatiron Building  was one of New York Citys first skyscrapers, built in 1902 by Fullers building company. Daniel H. Burnham was the chief architect. Taller buildings were also made possible by the invention of the electric elevator in 1883, which reduced the amount of time it took to travel between floors, and the invention of electric lighting, which made it easier to illuminate larger spaces. Chicago School of Architecture Many of the earliest skyscrapers were built in an architectural style that came be known as the Chicago School. These steel-frame structures often featured terra cotta exteriors, plate glass windows, and detailed cornices. Architects associated with the Chicago School include Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan (who designed the Old Chicago Stock Exchange Building), Henry Hobson Richardson, and John Wellborn Root. Buildings in the Chicago style were built in places as far away as Florida, Canada, and New Zealand.

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 6

Project Management - Essay Example Restaurants solve this problem and provide consumers with cooked food items. The time required to obtain cooked food does decrease but the decrease depends on the type of restaurant. Fast food restaurants have cooked food that is ready to serve with minimal need for service making them the fastest food providers. In essence, fast food restaurants have greater chances of being a business success than other larger and more exquisite restaurants for two reasons. The first advantage is that the consumer base for fast food restaurants is large and the second advantage is that the initial investment is small. In addition, fast food restaurants are more environmentally friendly since the processed food requires far less raw materials than exquisite dining options. On another note, the waste produced from fast food joints is also lower since lower amounts of food items are processed and so lower amounts of waste is produced. The other major benefactors from a fast food restaurant would be th e consumers being served and the investors backing the project. The consumers would be provided with fresh varieties of fast food in order to provide a diverse eating experience. Alternatively, the appeal of new varieties of fast food are expected to bring in attractive returns for the people investing in the proposed project. Project Risks The proposed project stands to get affected from a number of internal and external risks. For one thing, a fast food restaurant is a business that faces stiff competition at start since there are a lot of different fast food restaurants already present in the market. The presence of well established competitors means that the new business will have to create a loyal customer base and then expand it while old and new competitors exist in the market. Moreover, customers in the fast food category have already developed tastes for fast foods being offered at various kinds of fast food restaurants. This is comparable to the beverage industry, where fo r example, a Pepsi customer will not ask for Coca Cola and vice versa. There is a risk that when the new fast food restaurant opens, it may take a lot of time to develop consumer’s taste in new varieties of fast food. In the short run, this could mean a prolonged principal amount recovery period but in the long run this strategy would result in a loyal customer base. Another thing that must be kept in mind is the fragile state of the overall economy. When the economy is performing well, it could be expected that new business survival would be easy since people would be spending with an open hand. In more restrictive fiscal situations, such as the current state of the economy, consumers have smaller disposable incomes and they are less willing to take risks with their money. A consumer would prefer to take fast food from a restaurant whose taste they are already familiar with rather than trying out a new fast food restaurant. The opening up of a new business also poses some mo re familiar risks such as finding the right kind of labor and ensuring retention of good workers. For a fast food restaurant, highly capable chefs would be required to churn out recipes that can be produced in no time and that would cater to the tastes of the target market. In addition, fast food requires that the business have a committed supplier base who can deliver products at the most optimal prices. Larger fast food chains such as McDonalds and KFC have the distinct advantage of ordering in bulk and having many

RETIREMENT ASSIGNMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

RETIREMENT ASSIGNMENT - Essay Example The benefit is based on the ending salary. This means that the real dollar value of the retirement benefit will reduce during retirement. Imagine the same situation as above, but now you work for two employers during your career: You work for Employer A for the first 24 years, and Employer B for the second 24 years. Everything else in the problem is the same. Calculate your retirement salary from Employer A, from Employer B, and the total of the two retirement salaries. (Note that throughout your career, you receive a raise of 5.0% every year, even if you change employers, and you never loose salary when you change employers. Is a defined benefit a good plan if you do not stay with the company for your whole career? A defined benefit is not good if you do not stay with the company for your whole life because once you leave before the benefits are they vested, you may even lose the whole benefits or part of it if you worked for less than five years. If you work at a company for a whole career, you retire on your defined benefit salary, and the firm goes bankrupt, can the firm’s obligation to retirees like yourself be lowered, i.e. can retirees be left with a lowered retirement salary by the bankruptcy judge? Once the employer decides to offer the defined befits the company has no obligation to take back the benefit since it belongs to the retirees, hence incase the company goes bankruptcy, the retirees retirement benefits will not be

Historical Perspectives in Christianity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Historical Perspectives in Christianity - Essay Example However, the Lutheran church was further divided into several denominations due to doctrinal differences. Some retained some rituals conducted by catholic faith while some did away with them altogether. Divisions continued and up to date many denominations continue to crop up. The birth of Pentecostalism however, can be attributed to the Azusa street revival led by William J. Seymour an African American preacher in 1906.2 Seymour was born in a catholic family but was later converted into born again Christian owing to his numerous travels. He believed in the baptism of individuals with the Holy Spirit and the filling of individuals with the Holy Ghost as stated in the book of Acts: 2 by Apostle Luke.3 The Pentecost was thus a renewal of the church and was referred as a revival. There are many events that led to the Azusa street revival that affected and continue to influence the church even today. These will be the focus of attention in this paper but first, a short history of the chu rch will be given. The rest of the paper will be based on the events in the life of William Seymour which led to the revival. Brief History of Christianity The early church mostly was comprised of the Jews hence was regarded as Jewish Christianity. Its roots can be traced in the New Testament where Jesus used to walk with His disciples preaching the gospel to all nations. When He ascended to Heaven, He promised the Apostles He would send them a helper in the name of the Holy Spirit to enable them to preach the gospel widely and this was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost.4 The apostles established a church and spread the gospel far and wide. However, they were all persecuted for holding on to their faith but this did not stop the gospel from spreading. These early churches practiced hymn singing and also believed in miracles such as healing. According to Noll, the Jews were attacked by Romans on 66AD and the war continued for seven years.5 This resulted in taking over of Jerusalem wh ich was the centre of Christianity’s communication, organization and authority and consequently replacing it with Rome. This according to Noll served to expand Christianity from Jewish Christianity to universal Christianity, that is, from Judaism to Christianity. The church became independent and creeds were established to â€Å"mark out boundaries of Christian faith.† 6 Christian reform did not end with transformation from Judaism to Christianity; rather, more reforms were in the offing. The Roman Catholic was the dominant denomination and followed the structure that was used by the apostles with the pope as the head of the church. However, the church entangled itself with politics and materialism leading to decay of some moral values. The congregation was supposed to pay taxes, women were not allowed to preach, indulgencies.7 Besides, some people were not happy with the doctrine of celibacy. As such, the protestant movement cropped up and led to reformation of the ch urch. In the protestant church, women were allowed to preach and clergy were allowed to marry. The doctrine of repentance or confession was done away with as people could communicate directly with God instead of confessing sins to priests.8 The protestant church also differed on several issues leading to formation of many other denominations such as Calvinists, Anabaptist, Lutherans and Anglicans.9 The ruling king decided on the denomination to be adopted by the country; some countries were

Psychology at Work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Psychology at Work - Essay Example The value of well-being programmes as an organisational investment is explored in this study. Reference is made, as an example, to the case of BGL Group. The specific firm is well established in the UK market, being involved in the provision of insurance and legal services. The firm has emphasized on the well-being of its employees so that their motivation and commitment to the organisation are secured. The review of the elements and the effects of this programme can hep to understand whether such programmes could be a good investment for organisations in the modern market. The well-being programme of BGL Group will be checked and evaluated using the concepts of work psychology as included in relevant literature, with particular reference to the work of Anna Sutton. As a theoretical framework work psychology is rather wide, being able to incorporate different themes, such as ‘psychopathology and organisational development’ (Sutton, 2014: 6-7). Various approaches have been used for describing work psychology. According to one of these views, the work psychology ‘facilitates change towards improved work and working conditions’ (Milward, 2005: 1). From another point of view, work psychology aims to provide to managers necessary information in regard to ‘the application of psychological principles to running a business’ (Hodson, 2014: 6). In any case, work psychology has to support organisational development. This fact indicates the close relationship between work psychology and organisational change (Sutton, 2014). I t should be noted that work psychology can be related to different priorities, depending on the geographical area involved: in USA the limitation of costs is of primary importance while for firms based in UK work psychology would be most related to the increase of firms’ profitability (Sutton, 2014: 10). The second approach will be

My essay of mice and mMen Essay Example for Free

My essay of mice and mMen Essay In the novel Of Mice And Mice Lenny and George are on there travels to look for work but everything seems to go wrong Because Lenny can not control his anger or his strength and George is all ways there to get Lenny out of trouble but George treats Lenny like it his is own brother. The novel is set in Weed and it is very hard to find work and live a living so Lenny and George set them selves of to look for work Lenny on his journey who has a heart of gold would never hurt any one or hurt anything finds a mouse a dead mouse he wants t play and tamper with the mouse but George says no and grabs the mouse and throws the mouse into the bushes but then Lenny gets really upsets and starts crying and shouting out load all I want to do is tamper and play with the mouse because I like tampering animals George says . Never mind Lenny I will get you a puppy you can tamper and play with no Lenny says I want a mouse ok then George says what about if we get a job on the farm you cam tamper some rabbits , can I can I said Lenny of course you can just as long as your good and dont pick up dead mousse which might have dieses and we wont want you catching something. Has Lenny and George carry on with there journey there become hungry and they settle down by the river and they drink the water and then they start a fire and has Lenny collects wood for the fire George prepares the food. Or they have is beans which Lenny starts getting angry I only want beans with tomato ketchup if we have no ketchup I dont want any but we dont have none said George you will have to do with what we have ok , but I want ketchup , we have not got none so stop moaning. George starts getting mad with Lenny and says to Lenny I bet you if I was on my own I would have a job and nice food but no I am stuck with you moaning all the time can I tamper the rabbits can I tamper the rabbits you just get on my nerves Lenny gets upset and says if you want me to go I will, I will go up in the mountains and find a cave and live in there I will be ok then I wont get on your nerves no Lenny you will never survive with out me it is best if we stick together. There one more thing I have to tell you if you get in any trouble all I want you to do is to run to this bush here and hide till I come for you ok. Lenny and George carry on with there travels they come to a farm to have a interview for a job they get there and meet up with a man called Candy who is very old and needs very good looking after and takes them to the manager to see if there have the job. They get they job and Lenny and George are very excited but the only thing that keeps coming out of Lennys mouth is now can I tend the rabbits George says if you are good. The job they are given is to pick wheat bags up and stack them on to the carriage but they are very and it takes two men to lift one bag, but then every one is stunned to watch has Lenny picks up one bag all by himself but no one knows how strong Lenny is. George lets Lenny tend the rabbits but has Lenny is tending the rabbits in the barn the managers son Curly HE goes to work and Curly wife follows Lenny into the barn. She starts talking to Lenny telling him that she hates Curly and she hates working here and that she wants to become a Hollywood star and then she asks Lenny what hw would like to do he says have a big house for him and George and have there own business and also he would love to tend the rabbits. But has she was going to reply Curly walked in and says to Lenny why are you not doing you work get out there and finish of your job then George walks in whats happening says George then Curly and his wife walks out. Lenny if you have any trouble of him or any one you tell me then they all get back to work. George gives Lenny a puppy for his hard work Lenny is very excited and goes in the barn on his own and starts tending the puppy and guess who walks in Curlys wife sorry for my husbands behavior I dont want to talk to you says Lenny why says Curlys wife , George has told me to stay away from you we dont want any trouble so go away, but im friendly I only want to make friends no says Lenny. She walks away but seconds later she comes back and then Curly walks in I have told you hundreds of times to stay away from my wife then George walks in again to see Curly hitting and arguing with Lenny, Lenny stays there and George shouts out Lenny defend yourself and has Lennys face is pouring with blood and cut eyes half way closed Curly goes to punch him and curlys little hand is trapped between Lennys big hand and Lenny squeezes his hand and hurts Curly badly. Then Lennys says to George can I still tend the puppy of course you can you did nothing wrong says George. They are getting along with there lives fine carrying on with there work keeping them selves to them selves then Lenny asks George can I tend the puppy George says yea sure, Lenny is in the barn tending the puppy and then he tends the puppy so hard he kills the puppy and then barn door opens so Lenny is frightened so he quickly hides the puppy under the hay, and Curlys wife walks in hello Lenny and she noticed he had hidden something under the hay so she removes the hay to find that Lenny had hidden the puppy and she saw the puppy was dead, Lenny says dont tell George it was an accident. I was tending it to hard she says ok then she starts to talk to Lenny and she starts to get all emotional with Lenny she goes to kiss him and Lenny kisses her back and then he hugs her but with out him knowing his own strength he was hugging her to tight and he snaps her neck and she dies . Lenny is scared and frightened so he remembers what George said if you are in a lot of trouble run to this bush and hide until I find you so Lenny runs and hides. Curly has noticed that his wife has been killed and he knows who his responsible the first name he say is Lenny and George says how you know Curly says look my wife has been killed and Lenny is know where to be seen we need to find and I am going to kill him no says George you dont know the whole story. As everyone at the works are looking for Lenny, George goes to the bush and he sees Lenny sitting there, Lenny is very upset and dont know what to say George says I know what you have done it was an accident Lenny says. George says Lenny look over the river were we was drinking and keep looking down, George pulls out a gun at the side of his pocked holding it down between his spine join and then up to his head Lenny want to go to a nice place were we have loads of money loads of food and loads of animals and a big farm were no one can hurt us and you can not hurt any one yes please says Lenny can we go now Lenny says with excitement , yea of course just keep looking at the river , ok Lenny says. Georges gut is hurting but without a word he presses the trigger BANG Lenny just lowers his body with out a noise and just lays there. George is upset for what he had done bur he knew that Lenny was safe now and that he is living the life that he has always wanted to live. George has learnt that you can not get anything that you wish for in life you just have to grab it why you have the chance. Eben if you loose the closes friend you have. THE END Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE John Steinbeck section.

The Employment Non Essay Example for Free

The Employment Non Essay On Wednesday November 7, 2007, a landmark bill was passed in the house. A bill that will guarantee equal treatment of gays and lesbians in the workplaces. This bill is referred to as the Employment Non discrimination Act and is a climax to the aspirations pursued by gays and lesbians since 1974(www. alternet. org/workplace/67650/). It is indeed a journey that has taken over two hundred years, since the ratification of the United States constitution, which categorically guarantees every individual in the United States equal access to facilities regardless of gender, race, creed or any other basis, whatsoever. The human rights commission in its creeds vows to champion for equality in the society by rooting out all forms and manner of discrimination. Despite the key statements by the constitution and Human Rights Commission, inequality still thrives in our midst. The different societal norms and orientation have shaped peoples minds such that they are dead set against people who may display certain different characteristics from them. Inequality in the society is not only based on gender, race or creed but it also extends to sexual orientation. Discrimination against homosexuality has raged on for years and the debate on the topic is as thorny as they can get. Past legislations against discrimination have not been categorical when it comes to homosexuality. This is a fact that emerges from deep down in the society and from the conservative nature of the values that are closely guarded by people. Despite the massive campaigns conducted by human rights and gay movements, the society is yet to reconcile that gays and lesbians are normal and that they deserve equal rights just like the so called â€Å"straight people. † Homophobia thrives in the society and despite any legislation it is bound to rage on for long till the sexual stigma wanes gradually (Gerald H, 38). The public is mindset about gays and lesbians such that anything close to respecting their rights is not easily taken. There are a number of reasons why homophobia thrives in the society and why people will discriminate against them in the workplaces, friendships and even in the family. There is a common belief among most heterosexuals that homosexuality is not natural. They believe that it is a weird trait that only befits animals. People do not accept the fact that this sort of orientation has been there deep in history even in the biblical times. Homosexuals are believed to be sexual perverts who should be avoided at all costs. It is hence hard to find heterosexuals in the society who accord equal treatment to those that they suspect having a homosexual orientation. Very few heterosexuals will employ people they believe of possessing homosexual tendency no matter their credentials (Ronni L. Sanlo, 17). Religious fanatics are the ones that mostly have been dead set against gays. Despite their being a separation of state and religion, rarely will you find those in authority appreciating the sexual orientation disparities that exist in the society and champion for equality along those lines. Religion has played a great role in imparting a negative sentiments and treatments against its own rank. The Catholic Church and the Anglican have failed to embrace unanimity on the issue of ordaining gay priests despite the practice being evident among priests. Africa has nigh broken away from the Anglican mother church and mainstream for its ordination of gay priests. Most religions in spite of their liberal nature preach hatred against gays and lesbians in the belief that their teachings prohibit same sex relationships. Followers of these religions become fanatically set by the religious dogmas and cease to see the gay and lesbian as their equal. They believe that homosexuality is against Gods commandments as His first creations were of both gender rather than unisex. This is the root cause of all forms of discrimination and sexual orientation inequality in the society, as these values further shape both social and professional relations. Discrimination against lesbians in the belief that they are disgusting is rife and it mainly originates from schools. In most learning institutions, it almost escalates to a point of turning physical. Verbal harassment however is the most prevalent. A poll for example conducted by CBS in 1999 indicated that over 28% of all those polled admitted to making remarks that can be considered offensive and discriminatory to the gay community (Michael B and A. W. Brown, p31). Societal norms and cultures are passed on from one generation to another. These values include the long held beliefs and prejudices held in regarding to the core issues affecting the society. For example a look at the history of inequality and discrimination of the African American and the Hispanics population reveals that the negative sentiments expressed against these two races in the United States have their root to the early times. Slavery was perpetrated and perpetuated as a way of life. It was not unusual for people to own slaves and yet claim that they respected and stood for equality. U. S is full of such past leaders who were great and led the nation to greater heights but they still owned slaves. This is because slave ownership was the norm and failure to own one was an exception. Blacks and women in America took long before they could get an equal footing to their white males counter parts. The struggle for blacks civil rights lasted for two centuries before law could grant them equal access to public facilities in terms of employment and other vital services. This culture of discrimination against the blacks had taken root and become entrenched deeply into the way of life. The same case is happening today only this time discrimination is not along racial or religious backgrounds, it is based on sexual orientation. Majority of the people are dead set that heterosexual is the only way of life, it is the only acceptable norm and any deviation from such a norm is frowned upon. People are not open minded enough to accept other ways of living. This form of discrimination and unequal access to opportunities is imparted in children in their formative stage. Schools are the most important agents of socialization. It is where positive or negative values are imparted. Beliefs and attitudes towards various topics life are shaped in schools (Donald Moss, 22). Learning institutions and families have a long impact on how people view various subjects in life. Homophobia is one such subject that becomes sensitive in schools. Discrimination against gays and lesbians starts early in childhood especially in high schools where the students suspected to be gays are verbally and physically attacked. This discrimination may later extend to the teachers and staff who might be dismissed on mere suspicious of being lesbians or gays hence making it clear to the students that such a sexual orientation is unacceptable in life (Bruce Galloway, 22) Homophobia has also been further perpetuated by the school curriculum. Most sex education syllabuses ignore homosexuality, describing it using negative connotations. In a sex education class; sex is only taken to mean intercourse between a man and a woman while disregarding any form of sexual interactions between people of the same sex. This develops a negative attitude in people, meaning that homosexuality is a form of an abnormality or disability. Intense studies have not been conducted to get to the root cause of the negative attitude and the hostility for people who are homosexuals. Most research conducted focuses on how it can be avoided rather than how the society can be taught to integrate such a community. Homosexuality is seen as a psychopathological case as most of those who exhibit homosexually traits are advised to seek psychiatric help (John P, 2). The gays and lesbian movement also experiences problems when trying to meet and consult with each other. Some gay organizations decry lack of conference halls whenever they would want to meet. They experience open rejection, as not many people would want to be associated with them. This means that there are few forums through which the public can be taught on how to relate with homosexuals (Samantha W, P. 16). As mentioned before about socialization in schools as one source of discrimination even the educators themselves conform to this notion, viewing and accepting that homophobia is the right attitude and then imparting on the students. (Ronnil S. , 13). Homophobia is a culture that has been imparted from one generation to the next deeply entrenched into our social organization systems. It emanates from the belief that is an act of perversion that should not be tolerated by heterosexuals and hence the prevalent discrimination against those suspected or known to be gays or lesbians. Discrimination is a way of societies reaction towards people they view as outcasts. There are no enough forums through which heterosexuals, homosexuals and bisexuals can interact with each other to create more understanding due to the preconceived ideas held against each other. Works cited Deb Price, Gay? U. S houses that’s okay creators syndicate.November 12, 2007. Retrieved on 13/11/2007 from http://www. alternet. org/workplace/6760 Bruce, Galloway. Prejudice and pride: discrimination against gay people in modern Britain. Rout ledge, Taylor and Francis Group. 1984: 19-34 Gerald Hunt, Laboring for rights. Unions and sexual diversity across nations. Temple University Press 1999 32-42 John P. De Cero, Homophobia an overview, Haworth Press Inc. 1984;2 Samantha Wehbi: Community organizing against homophobia and heterosexism the world through rainbow colored. Glasses, Haworth Press. 2004; 16-24 Gail Mason, The spectacle of violence: Homophobia, Gender and Knowledge. Rout ledge 2001; 17-32 Warren J. Bluefield. Homophobia: how we all pay the price. Beacon press, 1992: 46-9 Ronni L. Sanlo, Unheard Voices: The effects of silence on lesbian and gay educators. Bergin Goerly Greenwood. 2004; 13-24 Donald Moss, Hating in the first person, plural: psychoalytic essays on racism, homophobia misogyny and terror. Other press LLC . 2003; 20-29

Music Gives Me the Blues Essay -- Music History

Music Gives Me the Blues â€Å"The Blues are the roots; everything else is the fruits†-Willie Dixon. The blues has deep roots in American history, particularly African-American history. How can something so simple become a massive tree whose roots transcended through different genres? According to Biography.com, W.C. Handy, â€Å"the father of the Blues,† brought the Blues to the mainstream in1912 with the hit â€Å"Memphis Blues.† After the public heard the twelve note structure with the deep bass lines, the tree began to bear fruit. The Blues tree produced pioneers in all forms of music, from the haunting sound of Robert Johnson to the â€Å"King of the Juke Box† Louis Jordan. After all, where would other forms of music be if the â€Å"Carter Family† did not hook up with Lesley Riddle, Jelly â€Å"Roll† Morton did not get the message, and the â€Å"King† did not have the Blues? Art Menius said, â€Å"The African-American music of the rural south provided the source for gospel, jazz, and blues, while the often ignored black contribution to country music and hillbilly music went far beyond providing the banjo and Charley Pride.† In 1928, A.P. Carter, the patriarch of the legendary Carter Family, the first family of country music, met a blues guitarist by the name of Lesley â€Å"Esley† Riddle. Lesley Riddle had created a unique picking and sliding technique on the guitar while he was recovering from an accident on the job. The Carter Family was looking for a new sound of music, and they were so overwhelmed by the sound that Lesley produced, they wanted him to teach them how to play that way. Lesley Riddle influenced Maybelle Carter’s style of guitar playing called the â€Å"Carter Scratch,† which became legendary. According to birthplaceofcountrymusic.org, Riddle’s influe... ...ey cannot deny that the Blues has influenced different genres from the cotton fields to the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame. Works Consulted â€Å"African American Roots.† Birthplaceofcountrymusic.org Web. 14 Nov. 2010 â€Å"A History of Blues Music.† Scaruffi.com. Web. 14 Nov. 2010 â€Å"Rock ‘n’ Roll Timeline 1877 to 1959.† Digitaldreamdoor.com. Web. 28 Nov. 2010 â€Å"Jazz/Blues Crossover.† Allmusic.com. 28 Nov. 2010 â€Å"Jelly Roll Morton.† Redhotjazz.com. 28 Nov. 2010 â€Å"Jazz History Lyrics-Jazz History.† 28 Nov. 2010 â€Å"The History of Rock and Roll.† History-of-rock.com. 28 Nov. 2010 Newfield, Jack. â€Å"Who Really Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll?† New York Sun. New York Sun, 21 Sep. 2004. Web. 28 Nov. 2010 Berlin, Edward A., A Biography of Scott Joplin. Scott Joplin International Ragtime Foundation, 1998. Web. 28 Nov. 2010 â€Å"The Classic Blues, 1900-1920s.† Calliope.org.Web. 28 Nov. 2010

Han and Roman Empires Essay -- History, Huan Tan

From the 2nd century BCE through the 1st century CE, both the Han and Roman empires were dealing with the production of advancement in technology. Since the empires were from separate time periods each empire had different attributes when it came to creating technology and what they built with their technology. In the Han Empire, technology had been a luxury part of their empire because it was essential to their wealth and productivity. In the Roman Empire, their thought on technology had been it is a necessity to build their empire and to conquer land wherever they saw weakness. Technologies in both empires were not only used as tools to fight in war and to build but in the Roman Empire they were used to collect mineral wealth in silver mines. As for the Han Empire they had used their technology for tilling soil to collect salt. In the Roman Empire, people had believed that technology was necessary to gain further control and they also thought it was informative for them, while in t he Han Empire it had been a way to show off their civilization. A Han government official felt that technology is such an important part of their empire for its new creations, that it should be maintained by other government officials and engineers. During 20 CE in (Doc 1) the Han government official had said â€Å"there should be one high official and one on duty with just enough workers to meet the need†. This clearly shows that as a government official he felt that in the best interest for technology and the people the government should have some control. As well as putting experienced workers to do the task of maintaining their technology and city as an over all to keep a presentable empire. So other empires will start to borrow and use there means o... ...ked at the use of there technology in different ways. Such as the Roman Empire used their technology to their advantage, by conquering different people to gain more control. As for the Han Empire had used their technology for improvements within there empire and they let other regions use there ideas which showed off there empire. But in some cases both empires had used technology to improve economic growth for trading, like roads or the water power blowing engine. Both of the empires have had different emperors that have ruled. During each empire they both were able to gain control and pass on tools to other regions. The Roman’s thought more of the tools as weapons and building supplies. As for the Han believed the tools to be a creation that had been invented by a person with a sharp mind, and the tools were a luxury for the empire because it made work easier.

Hilti cut or Fasten? Essay

This case review was executed about a case study that was discussed in class on the operations of Hilti and its surroundings – Hilti is a global corporation based in Lichtenstein that is a market leader in drills, saws and fastening products. The analysis looks at the development of Hilti ever since it was founded, and the different strategies which have been implemented to get them to where they are now. For a company that has been very successful which is now going through a period of recession, with sales decreasing which has been caused by a global financial crisis – a question for the CEO whether to hold fast and risk an investment loss, or cut costs to reduce the impact of a drop in profits. This report will provide an idea of Hilti’s current strategies and will look at the key strategic issues both internally and externally, and in conclusion will provide recommendations for what the CEO at Hilti should do moving forward. Hilti’s Business Strategy – Current The Current Business Strategy for Hilti has been quite successful since Michael Hilti took over from his father. Michael introduced the Champion 3C’s (Customer, Competence and Concentration) strategy in order to measure performance both internally and externally and saw the importance for a focus on the customers (external) and the product ranging (internal). â€Å"Hilti has set itself the goal of being a great company. The priorities set to achieve it are growth, differentiation, productivity and employee development† (Hilti Annual Report 2008) After conducting a Porters Generic Value Chain Analysis (Appendix C) it can be seen that the HR strategy in place at Hilti is very strong and must be working well. This finding can lead to assume that this strategy allows the company successfully look after their customers needs, being able to attract the right employees into the firm who bring along a positive attitude, good values and knowledgeable expertise. Eventually this will allow them â€Å"†¦to convert distinctive competence into competitive advantage† (Andrews, 1987). Hilti is known for utilising the most innovative technology and makes this a key focus during its R&D phase on emerging particular products. This helps Hilti to meet the company’s value proposition when the 2 pillars of ‘Customers’ and ‘Competence are also met (See Appendix 2). Looking at the analysis from Appendix 2 – It is highlighted that there are a number of resources that the company can influence to strive a competitive advantage. The value is added to the firm by aligning its strong value proposition with its strategy Strategic Issues (Internal/External Analysis) Unfortunately Hilti is currently challenged with a few strategic issues as the company is confronted with the current economic downslide. To identify the strategic issues both internal and external analysis was conducted by using the Business system tool (De Wit & Meyer 2010) which breaks down the resources and capabilities, activity system and their product offering (Appendix 1); Barneys VRIE model was used to assess the value, rareness, imitability and exploitation of key resources/capabilities (Barney 1995), Porters Five Forces model (Porter, 1985) was used to view the competitive environment and lastly a value chain analysis was conducted by means of Porters Generic Value Chain Analysis (Porter, 1985). Looking at the VRIE model (Value, Rareness, Inimitability & Exploitable) shown in Appendix 2 – although there are many resources and capabilities that Hilti does capture well for a competitive advantage, however when a closer look is taken you are able to see that there are many resources and capabilities which can be easily copied by a similar firm within the industry which leads to suggest that Hilti may possibly be able to be more competitive in its strategy. The findings from the VRIE are reinforced from Porters Supply Chain Analysis and the Business System Tool Model; as Hilti has built long-lasting customer relationships from being within the industry over a long period of time. From Porters Five Forces analysis in Appendix 3, it is evident that Hiltis’ surrounding environment is ever-evolving and fast moving and to stay and remain competitive in this field Hilti must keep up and with its research and product development to keep improving with innovation and technology. By staying ahead, continuously evaluating and improving Hitli can outperform competitors within the industry. Hilti is confronted with the following issues: Without a stable economy the value created may not be as effective within the industry – See Appendix 1) because if consumers don’t have the financial capacity to spend, then value to the consumer may change. Hilti must keep up or ahead with the innovation and technology that competitors are using within the industry – by looking at a sales approach from a social media sense, moving into E-business and shop-in-shop) as the current direct sales method is becoming out-dated. Hilti must look at aligning its Internal and external strategies as the economic crisis caused a decline in sales because customers were not confident to spend during this period (external), for this reason Hilti must work on improving its internal strategies such as HR, R&D, Sales etc Strategic Options and Recommendations The misfit gap between Hilti’s internal and external strategies increases over time and this gap needs to be reduced. For this to occur, Hilti must go through a process of strategic renewal. The below chart illustrates how strategic drift increases over a period of time, and only when strategic renewal strategies are implemented can this gap be decreased. Strategic Renewal Process De Wit & Meyer, 2010 Due to the changing nature and constant fluctuations within the strategic drift, regular strategies must be implemented to minimise the size of this gap. The Strategic integration Model (Fuchs et al, 2000) states the desire to make sure that all strategies complement each other. Many internal and external factors affect the strategic drift, such as competitors. These factors require Hilti to utilise and capitalise on techniques which are evolutionary, else the decline or delayed absence will be detrimental. After reviewing the above analysis the following recommendations are made; New innovative networks with the introduction of E-Business sector to make sure the sales strategy is getting out to as many potential customers as possible Authorise management to be able to make small changes immediately (revolutionary) – this will in order to keep costs down and increase profits Keep evolutionary changes to a low when it comes to the activity system to maintain the key attributes Keep employee levels at where they are now – disrupting this will affect the morale. The idea is to maintain a positive work culture and relaxed environment. The HR strategy should change to make sure no additional people are hired, instead the attention should be on growing and improving the current employees – this is to set the company up, so when the market recovers the company is in a better position. If these above recommendations are applied – Hilti can increase its competitive advantage and in turn alleviate the effects of the current Global Financial Crises. This will set Hilti up so eventually when the market does recover, the company will be stable and ready. Appendix 1: Business System Model Appendix 2: VRIE – Value, Rareness, Imitability & Exploitable Appendix 3: Porters 5 Forces Analysis Source: Porters 5 Forces: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_08.html Appendix 4: Value Chain Analysis The Generic Value Chain (Porter, 1985), (De Wit & Meyer, 2010) Primary Activities Support Activities Hilti Annual Report 2008, De Wit & Meyer 2010. Reference List Andrews, K, 1987, The Concept of Corporate Strategy, McGraw Hill, Chapter 2. Barney, JB, (1995), Looking inside for competitive advantage, Academy of Management Executive, 9 (4), 49-61. De Wit, B. & Meyer, R.J.H. (2004), Strategy – Process, Content and Context: An International Perspective, 3rd edition, London: Thomson De Wit, B. & Meyer, R.J.H. (2010), Strategy – Process, Content and Context: An International Perspective, 4th edition, London: Thomson Fuchs, P., Mifflin, K., Miller, D. & Whitney, J. (2000). Strategic integration: competing in the age of capabilities. California Management Review, 42 (3), pp.118-147 Hilti Annual Report 2008 – Viewed online 30th July 2013 http://www.hilti.com/fstore/holcom/LinkFiles/Unternehmensbericht_2008_en.pdf Porter, ME (1985), Competitive advantage: creating and sustaining superior performance, Free Press, New York Porter Five Forces model – Viewed online 31st July 2013 http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_08.html