Thursday, October 31, 2019

Battle Of Chickamauga Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Battle Of Chickamauga - Research Paper Example With the help of operation process the commander implemented mission of command. In this battle both the commanders gave direction, support and guidance to the army working under him. As per ADRP 5-0, during this war MG Rosecrans was unable to describe, understand and direct his army properly. The main roles of a commander are to analyze its operations, utilize its resources and communicate effectively with the army for implementing decision properly. MG Rosecrans used cavalry for delivering messages and establishing courier lines which failed miserably. He focused more on La Fayette Road for reaching Chattanooga. But if he had used Dry Valley and Vittetoe roads then he could have gained various opportunities to win the battle. MG Rosecrans was highly involved in managing different small issues of army. He was not concerned about the end result and was generating feasible options. He did not understand the operational environment of the war. Moreover MG Rosecrans failed to deliver his command properly on 20th September which made his army weak in the war. Calvary was used in the war for delivering message and developing courier line. MG Rosecrans used cavalry for managing the army during the war. The misuse of cavalry made the Army of the Cumberland weak. The commander was unable to important information through cavalry. If the commander used cavalry for gathering intelligence then he could have gained strong position in the war. The commander should have focused on exploring various routes for conducting surveillances by using cavalry1. MG Rosecrans relied mainly on couriers for communicating information. He did not used Signal Corps effectively for communicating with its subordinates. There was a need for improved communication in the war. But lack of planning and inefficient use of assets made the communication process weak.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Project Management Essay Example for Free

Project Management Essay Let’s consider finding a new house as our personal project since we can’t sustain to live in our current residence. We will take the traditional technique of project management for this personal project. A traditional technique involves a series of steps or stages that has to be completed. For this technique, there are five different phases during the development or until the project is completed. The first phase of the traditional technique is the project initiation stage. During this stage, we have to map all our current scenarios or our current situation to our future situation. In this phase, we have to gather all the information about our current situation (i.e. rent, size of place, location, etc). We should also be able to quantify the scope of our project. We must know what our limitations are (i.e. budget, location, etc) and other relevant information. Then we have to gather information for our future home. We have to use the same set of questions (present and future situation) to set the same point of comparison when we compare, or in project methodology terms, when we match and map our current scenario to our future scenario. After matching and mapping, it is now time for us to plan for our future residence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The second phase of the traditional technique is the project planning or the design stage. Now, in case the future residence needs a few repairs (i.e. adding another bedroom, installing a new telephone line, painting the fence white, buying more curtains for the several windows, etc) since it was picked because it has the most number of pros than the rest and is marginally better than the current, then this phase will make the future residence better suit our needs. After repairing, the future residence can now be tested if it is already safe to live at. It is now time for our next stage.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The project execution or production stage is where we initially move in to our place to test how we feel about our new house. We must be able to deliver everything that was set as our scope or our task-to-accomplish even before the initiation stage. Now, to make this efficient and measurable or quantifiable, we have to list down a set of questionnaire or a set of steps to do and test our new house against it. This phase is called the project monitoring. In this phase, processes are performed to anticipate and correct the potential problems that may arise upon project completion before it happens. To make our personal project quantifiable, we must subject it to a series of questions where it can pass or fail. Questions should be targeted about the changes that we made during the design stage (i.e. if the future scenario served its purpose, etc). For this stage, if there are some questions that our future house was not able to resolve, these will be treated as issues which should be resolved before we will be able to move on to our completion stage. For our project to be quantifiable, profitable, or justifiable, the future scenarios should be subjected to questions that are based, but not limited, to the changes that the current scenarios were subjected to. And the future scenarios should be able to remedy most, if not all, of the remiss of the current scenario. In short, our future scenario should be able to pass all monitoring stage questions in order for our project to be a success. After all issues are closed, or all problems are resolved, we can now move on to our project completion stage. For the project completion stage, our project passed the monitoring stage and all issues are already resolved. Our future residence is finally ready to be moved in and called a home. Reference: LEWIS, James. 2002. Fundamentals of Project Management. New York: AMACOM

Sunday, October 27, 2019

SWOT Analysis: Small Business Plan

SWOT Analysis: Small Business Plan Small Business Plan The Toddler Warehouse will be afull-service child care/development facility in the city of Perth that caresfor toddlers from age three to five. The Toddler Warehouse will beconcentrating on the upper end of the market, two income professional parents.These personally ambitious parents are typically eager in terms of theirchildrens development and are willing to pay to have their children attend thebest facilities. Through specialized training of the supportstaff and innovative learning systems, The Toddler Warehouse is cutting edge interms of child development. This curriculum, coupled with a custom designedfacility and a low teacher/student ratio ensures a top-shelf service for thechildren and the parents. The Toddler Warehouse expects to become profitable bymonth 11, and has projected $43,000 as the revenue for year three. Situation Analysis The Toddler Warehouse is a start-upbusiness. A comprehensive marketing plan and effort will be instrumental indeveloping visibility and generating sales. The Toddler Warehouse offers Salem, Ore. a full-service child care and child development facility for toddlers. Theseservices will be differentiated from the competition through advanced trainingand learning systems [1]. Market Summary Through a lot of research, The ToddlerWarehouse has accumulated good information regarding the market and is aware ofmany common attributes of key customers. The Toddler Warehouse will leveragethis information to continue to study who is served, their needs, and how TheToddler Warehouse can best communicate with them. Market Demographics The Toddler Warehouses customers can bedescribed by the following factors: Geographic The immediate geographic areais the city of Salem which has a 130,000 person population base. A 20 mile radius is in need ofthe offered services. The total targeted populationis 12,000. Demographics Primarily two parent household. Two incomes household. Professional parents. Household income of at least$70,000. Parents have at least a collegeeducation, typically one of the parents have a graduate degree. Behaviour Factors Have high expectations fortheir child development and child care. Are willing to pay forhigher-quality services. Have chosen to work instead ofraising their child full time, however, this by no means implies neglect ion ofthe child. Market Needs The Toddler Warehouse is providing Salem parents with a full-time child care service that utilizes a sophisticated learningdevelopment system. The Toddler Warehouse will fulfill the following benefitsthat are important to their customers: Selection: A complete serviceoffering of child care and learning development for toddlers age three to five. Accessibility: The facility iscentrally located and is open from 6 a.m. 7 p.m. Customer service: Treating thecustomer like they are the most important customer that The Toddler Warehousehas is reinforced in all employee training programs. Competitive pricing: The pricingis reasonable relative to the services offered [1]. Market Trends The market trend in child care is anincreased utilization of child care by parents. This is fuelled by the parentsdesire/need to go back to work generating income for the family. While thistrend fuels the need for more general child care facilities, it also generatesdemand for facilities that offer child development. As the parents are spendingless and less time with the children, they have less time to help them develop.The trend is moving demand away from solely babysitting child care to childdevelopment care. This will benefit The Toddler Warehouse because they offerstate of The art learning systems. SWOT Analysis The following SWOT analysis captures thekey strengths and weaknesses within The Company, and describes theopportunities and threats facing The Toddler Warehouse. Strengths A sophisticated and effectivelearning system. Excellent training programsthat all employees must participate in. An educated customer base thatrecognize the benefits that The Toddler Warehouse offers. Weaknesses A lack of visibility due to thenewness of the operations. The ability to attract and keepwell trained employees. The inability to perfectlyforecast demand of services relative to the number of employees on staff at anyone time. Opportunities A growing market with a largepercentage of target customers not yet aware of The Toddler Warehouse. Increased revenue as more andmore people is working, thereby unable to care for their children during theday. As the number of childrenserved grows, fixed costs are spread thinner over a larger customer base. Threats Competition from alreadyestablished facilities that improve their service offerings to be more competitiveto The Toddler Warehouse. Unfounded publicscares regarding child care. Legal liability issues, eitherone large suit against The Toddler Warehouse, or significant increases inpremiums due to changes within the operating environment of the industry. Marketing Strategy The Toddler Warehouses marketing strategywill be based on an advertising effort as well as strategic alliances withorganizations related to the care of children. Advertisements: The Toddler Warehouse willrun advertisements in The Yellow Pages, The Marion County Community ResourceNewsletter, and Statesman Journal, The local newspaper. These advertisementswill be used to raise visibility regarding The Warehouse and its services toprospective customers who are otherwise unaware of it. Strategic Alliances: The goal of thisinitiative is to create an alliance or perceived partnership between TheWarehouse and a number of organizations that are a resource base forinformation regarding raising children. Two of The main organizations are TheOregon Midwifery Association and Birth to Three. Both organizations are wellrespected and wonderful sources of information. The Warehouse will be tappinginto this organizations customer base. The alliances will create a sense oflegitimacy for The Toddler Warehouse [2]. One way the alliance will be created is byco-sponsoring parent education seminars. By sharing insight, research, andsystems that The Warehouse uses, it will have a good source of information thatwill be attractive to parents, as well as to the organization themselves. While networking can be effective, TheToddler Warehouse recognizes that it must offer something of value to theorganizations to create an incentive for them to form an alliance and theco-sponsoring of educational events is just one method. Mission The Toddler Warehouses mission is toprovide top-level child care. We exist to attract and maintain customers. Whenwe adhere to this maxim, everything else will fall into place. Our serviceswill exceed the expectations of our customers. Marketing Objectives Grow the number of customers by10% annually. Build customer loyalty throughsuperior service and educational/development systems. Build the Toddler Warehousebrand to the point where it becomes a household brand synonymous with superiorchild care/development in The Salem area. Increase the referral rate by5% per quarter. Marketing Mix The Toddler Warehouses marketing mix isassembled from the following approaches to pricing, distribution, advertisingand promotion, and customer service. Pricing: The pricing structureis based on an hourly rate. Distribution: All services willbe offered at The Salem facility. Advertising and Promotion: Twodifferent campaigns will be used. The first will be a multifaceted advertisingcampaign; the second will be the formation of strategic alliances. Customer Service: Customerswill be pleasantly surprised at how attentive The Warehouse is in regards totheir needs. The business operates on the assumption that it will do whateveris reasonably necessary to keep the customer happy. This reflects the notionthat if the customer is kept happy, long-term profits is ensured. Financials, Budgets, and Forecasts This section will offer a financial overviewof The Toddler Warehouse as it relates to the marketing activities. The ToddlerWarehouse will address break-even analysis, sales forecasts, expensesforecasts, and how those link to the marketing strategy. Conclusion Childcare considerably affects businesses.An enough delivery of choice childcare gives working families more and betterchoices. It makes available secure, safe care so that parents can work, andhelps employers to attract potential workers with families [2]. Without safe,dependable care that they can rely on, employees may be compulsory take timefrom work because of childcare troubles or use time at work managing child careapprehensions. Their efficiency can have adverse experience as a result, andprized human resources may leave their jobs because of childcare problems. End Notes 1. city of Perth, officialgovernment website retrieved on 15 December 2007 from the linkhttp://www.cityofperth.wa.gov.au/ 2. Sample Business Plan, day Care,retrieved on 15 December 2007 from the linkhttp://www.realbusinessplans.com/members/free_sample_plan.htm

Friday, October 25, 2019

Description of The Beach Essay -- Personal Narratives, Descriptive, Ob

The waves are crashing. The sun is setting. People are laughing and embracing under the sunset. I feel the sand squish slowly through my toes as I gaily walk down the shoreline of the Outer Banks. My all time favorite place to be is the beach. The weather at the beach is the most quarreling of all places in the world. One minute you are relaxing lazily on the sandy seashore reading a most invigorating book. I sit engrossed and allow the foamy mist from the rampant ocean spray your face lightly as though it was the touch of a feather. Off in the distance the sun begins to set in a sleepy unhurried fashion. It is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. The colors swirl together in a muddled mass across the sky. Crash! Flash! The sky turns wild. Lightning hurls itself across what was once the tame uncaring heaven. Thunder booms while the atmosphere relieves itself of unwanted moisture. A violent explosion of heavenly emotion has replaced my peaceful evening. What could be more exciting than living in a place where your plans could be intruded upon so abrasively by a cause you cannot control? Sand castle building is the most enjoyable and childish activity available to people over the age of ten. Building sand castles is a very creative process. First, I have to decide what type of architecture I am going to construct my castle around. The architecture can be old-fashioned, contemporary, or even imaginary. Next, I mus...

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Third Gender

In society, the biological difference between men and women is used as a justification for aligning them with different social roles which restrict and mold their attitudes and behavior. Merriam-Webster defines gender as the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with one sex. Narrow minded society of today is not satisfied with the natural difference of sex, but each insist on adding a cultural difference of gender to it. The unsophisticated, ideal physical facts always become associated with the complex psychological qualities (Holter).It is not enough for a male to be a man; he must also be masculine. A woman, in addition to being a female, must be feminine (Magner). In a more evolved and accepting society, men and women will not be judged based on physical attributes and passing judgement on those whose beliefs and physical and mental make up do not agree with that of their own. This new age society will redefine gender thus creating three genders, fem ale, male, and androgynous. As previously stated, gender is defined as the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with one sex (Volume Information).Gender has a major impact on how our identity is developed through many interactions such as with parents, media, and peers. How people are raised in society reflects how they act and mature. Our society changes our attitudes and views on life more than our biological make-up. By establishing a new society, one where people are more accepting, will create peace amongst the sexes. Gender is a combination of what is seen, as well as how people think, feel, act and react to various situations.This blend of biological, psychological, and sociological features is developed based on how an individual is raised and influenced by the society in which they live and are apart of (Holter). Gender has a major impact on every aspect of a person's life. It has a strong impact on the way people set goals, how they feel about themselves, and making work related decisions. It also has major impact on they way people dress, religion, relationships, and how they express feelings and emotions. Gender roles determine and directly affect how an individual thinks, speaks, and interacts within society (Guastello, 665).Gender schemas are deeply embedded cognitive frameworks regarding what define masculine and feminine (Guastello, 665). Social agents such as parents, teachers, peers, television, music, and books, demonstrate and reinforce gender roles throughout the lifespan of a person (Woodhill, 17). By developing a new society, the distorted definition of manhood and womanhood will be changed and seen in a more philosophical way. What is the role of the â€Å"female† in society? From decade to decade raising children and doing all the household chores belong to the female domain.Currently women are perceived as more communal (selfless and concerned with others) than men (Magner). These beliefs were hypo thesized to stem from perceivers' observations of women and men in differing social roles: (a) Women are more likely than men to hold positions of lower status and authority, and (b) women are more likely than men to be homemakers and are less likely to be employed in the paid work force. This newly developed definition of gender will re-construct the image of the ideal woman. Women will be liberated and will have the ability to do multiple tasks without judgement by men being passed upon them.The newly liberated woman will have a positive impact on society by showing that gender does not determine success. Women will be accepted and will defeat inequality. The male and androgynous perception of women will not create a sense of oppression by means of exploitation. It is also imperative to ask what is the role of the male in society? Society uses masculinity to define a man. In â€Å"Society and Sex Roles† by Ernestine Friedl, Friedl supports the the idea that suggests that â €  although the degree of masculine authority may very from one group to the next, males always have more power† (261).The traditional roles of a man was established to ensure the power of the head of household. From a historical stand point, it was always assumed that the head of the household was always the male. Today's society have groomed people to believe and expect a man to be brave, industrious and domineering, whereas a woman is suppose to be submissive and nurturing (263). Men have also been raised to believe that their feelings and emotions are suppose to be hidden from others and should be dealt with internally.With creating this society, men will be able to express themselves without ridicule. Men will be able to continue to provide for their families, as well as maintaining a clean image without being labeled as â€Å"queer. † Men will have an overall promising and positive impact on society by creating a community where children will have positive male figure in their lives. This new type of man, one who is sensitive, caring and not afraid to vent his feelings will still be able to carry the burden of taking care of the household and the children in the event there is absence of the mother.The female and androgynous perception of a man will eliminate the dominance of a male's ego. Androgyny is a word made up of two Greek roots. â€Å"Andro† which means males; whereas, â€Å"gyn† means female (Woodhill, 18). Androgyny is the state or condition of having a high degree of both feminine and masculine traits (18). Under these circumstances, human beings have loosely defined impulses and are free to express nontraditional values. Androgyny is not synonymous with any biological distinctions. According to D. D Guastello, sexual behavior or preference has nothing to do with gender identity (663).Androgyny, viewed as a balance between positive feminine and positive masculine traits, it blends the virtues of the male and femal e. There are two definitions for androgyny: physical (intersexual) – born with both male and female genitals; and psychological – combining both masculinity and femininity as traits of a unified gender that defies social roles and psychological attributes(664). The common usage of the term androgyny in society refers to the latter description (665). As to the sexual orientation, an androgynous person can be heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual.Androgynous individuals tend to behave in ways that counteract conventional gender stereotyping. With the constant change of American culture, the resiliency of androgynous individuals helps society deal with societal pressures. Individuals do not adhere to the same standards that gender-typed individuals do. As a result, they exude higher levels of self-esteem and psychological well-being (665). With creating this third gender, androgynous individuals will be able to live a life without ridicule from men and women who are differ ent from them.Androgynous individuals have dealt with bullying, scolding, and ridicule and are not accepted because of what has been taught through one's life. This new society will encourage androgynous individuals to feel more comfortable and live a healthy and satisfying life without being categorized as different. Today's society does not embrace the idea of androgyny. These individuals will be the quintessential form of existence. They are an all encompassing gender which will make these individuals the ideal mate. These individuals will be able to contribute to the successes of the work place as well as domestically.An androgynous person will also be given the opportunity to hold political positions and well as lead congregations in worship services. The appeal of accepting the idea of adding androgynous gender to society will transcend and eliminate judgement based on physical attributes. It has been proven that gender roles in society have changed over the past decade and wi ll continue to change as the next approaches (holter). Although these roles are ever changing, there are still entirely too many stereotypes and boundaries placed on each gender which cause a rift in relationships.These boundaries keep males and females from exploring their full capacity, completely accepting the idea of androgyny, and evolving into a society of equals across the board. This goes to show that people are easily manipulated through various sources into commonality. Society does not embrace individuality or differences, however; constantly being defined by sex, color, and race through gender prevents unity amongst the masses. Those stereotypical groups are also assigned attitudes, intelligence as well as work ethics.Currently, should people run across someone who doesn't conform to their beliefs and ideas, the likelihood of them being congenial is substantially reduced. Furthermore, men and women have the same emotions but their gender behaviors are conditioned by soci al norms varying from culture to culture. By discarding the imposed restrictions and inhibitions, one would discover the natural androgynous self and learn to accept individuals for who and what they aspire to be. Citation: Citation: please fix the citations i did them off the top of my head don't have ]many internet resources APPLE blocks a lot of stuff. eel free to add what needs to be added more of your opinion that will support your stand on this issue. also cite the article u gave me that you found as well Holter, H. (1970), Sex Roles and Social Structure (Oslo: Universitet for Laget). Magner, Lois N. â€Å"Nineteenth-Century Views of the Female Body and Their Impact on Women in Society. † 2005. Web. â€Å"Volume Information. † Journal of Marriage and Family 47. 4 (1985): 1082-100. Print. Guastello, D. D. & Guastello, S. J. (2003). Androgyny, gender role behavior, and emotional intelligence among college students and their parents. Sex Roles, 49(11), 663-673.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Information Technology Essay

A technologically enabled organization is a technologically capable company. Data and information will be at the heart and information re-use shall be constant. In other word, everything is integrated, finance, services, customer files, support database, helpdesk, quality management, customer satisfaction, email, attachments†¦ The information both flow in and out where you can get an holistic view of every information, communication, exchange concerning a specific project that might affect multiple customers, or every bits and pieces of information that pertain to a specific customer. It is a an organization where you have a symbiosis between the customer, who request and the customer who contribute, again, idea bounce in and out and might potentially be shared among interest group, much like a social network, the organization being the enabler between various customers with similar issue, reason why they are the customer of organization XYZ. The information is on the ecommerce site, in the corporate portal, in the intranet, on the mobile phone, the communications are interactive and customers share whiteboard, desktop, files, document management with the organization. Every relation the organization have with its customer contact is managed through a unique ID assigned to each of those contact, nothing complex, maybe an OpenID since so many people already have them or a simple challenge response via SMS, Text Message, Email to login your customer/employee experience center†¦ I hope this will help you understand my perspective of a technologically enabled enterprise, it is a only a vision for now, but it might be the future, who knows 🙂 For now, to me, any subset of those features with integration within a specific business workflow would classify has a technology enabled organization. 2. How does an Organization acquire & disseminal knowledge? First respondent meant from technical perspective . data 1s and 0s .knowledge can be acquired by working in a domain . no other legitimate shortcut. both for a business and anindividual. it is the collective experience that resides in a non physical plane of existence.it can be imparted/propogated to others in the form of a processor documentation( paper or electronic ) or it will be ingrained in the team members even without documentation.this process or documentation should not be dependent on a single person. ie nobody should be indispensableincluding top leadership. many business entities thrive as leaders even without proper documentation of theirworking knowledge . it is ingrained in their employees& stakeholders.There are a number of ways, but all are connected with a common link-experienced workers need to share bestpractices. Formal Mentor programs encourage face to face meeting where mentors can monitor and validate theirprotege’s progress. Another method that we are implementing is wikis where we ask very specific questions andmonitor the responses. This has been a good way for the organization to share the collective knowledge anddefines our corporate culture. 3. Why do you suppose inquiry – only applications were developed instead of fully on lines system? Participation constraint – a participation constraint determines whether relationships must involve certain entities. An example is if every department entity has a manager entity. Participation constraints can either be total or partial. A total participation constraint says that every department has a manager. A partial participation constraint says that every employee does not have to be a manager. Overlap constraint – within an ISA hierarchy, an overlap constraint determines whether or not two subclasses can contain the same entity. Covering constraint – within an ISA hierarchy, a covering constraint determines where the entities in the subclasses collectively include all entities in the super class. For example, with an Employees entity set with subclasses Hourly Employee and Salary Employee, does every Employee entity necessarily have to be within either Hourly Employee or Salary Employee? Weak entity set – an entity that cannot be identified uniquely without considering some primary key attributes of another identifying owner entity. An example is including Dependent information for employees for insurance purposes. Aggregation – a feature of the entity relationship model that allows a relationship set to participate in another relationship set. This is indicated on an ER diagram by drawing a dashed box around the aggregation. Role indicator – If an entity set plays more than one role, role indicators describe the different purpose in the relationship. An example is a single Employ ee entity set with a relation Reports-To that relates supervisors and subordinates. 4. What kind of technology is least flexible? Most flexible? I would say that it is dependent on the licensing. The most flexible being that which comes from the Open Source family. At the root of it all, Open Source software allows any to read edit and redistribute any technology they encounter(based on the licensing). The closed source model, is exactly that closed, you can not even view the code usuallywithout first signing a non-disclosure agreement, if you can even see it at all. This means you can not audit thecode that may be entering your environment, nor can you make any real modifications or taylor it to your own specific needs. In the Software Industry an example of this is the adoption of Unix (Free BSD) by Apple to develop their Softwareon. The BSD licensing has been a favorite of big business due to its flexibility. However it would seem Apple hasshot themselves in the foot by alienating the open source community, the lack of support from Apple for theOpenDarwin project resulted in its end of life. This was a community who was actively contributing to the core of their Operating System for free. There is still a wealth of portable code that is available to anyone looking todevelop on their platform, however the closed source elements within due definitely inhibit growth. Linux is often deemed the champion of Open Source Software, however since its inception it has been a mixed bagof software licenses. This has been brought to light by the influx of lawsuits over the years, its licensing GPL may beless favorable for the corporate developer. 5. How does strategic planning differ between a firm that offers services & one that manufacturers a product? Is there a difference in the impact of technology on strategy in any two types of firms? The Strategic Planning Process So let’s step back and take a look at what an end-to-end product planning cycle might look like when integrated with the company’s strategic planning cycle. Assuming that a company resets its corporate strategy, financial plans, and product plans once per year, the planning process would ideally occur during the 3rd and 4th quarters of the fiscal year in preparation for the upcoming year. The five basic steps in the planning process (as depicted in figure 1) are: 1. Market review.  2. Financial review. 3. Corporate strategy. 4. Product strategy. 5. Product Roadmap and Release schedules. During the first step, product management presents a market review to executive management sharing facts on market trends and opportunities, key customer needs, and competitor moves and positions. Though product management will keep tabs throughout the year on many of these items, this is the opportunity to update the information to make sure it is complete and current. Other functions may be invited to provide their perspectives on the market and customers as well. During the financial review phase, the finance organization presents results on the financial performance for the company overall, for its sales channels and for its products. Providing revenue and profitability by product is critical to making good product decisions and developing effective strategies. The next step is where the company’s executive team outlines its corporate strategy in terms of its vision, financial goals and its plan for achieving those goals. The corporate strategy should be explicitly presented to the product management team to facilitate development of a product strategy. For some smaller businesses, steps 3 and 4 may be combined into a single step. During step 4, product management develops its product strategy considering market dynamics, customer needs, financial goals, and corporate strategy. It specifies what changes to the products are needed and indicates the financial plan for each product area. The product strategy should be reviewed by the executive team to ensure alignment with the corporate strategy before proceeding to the next step. The final step involves the development of a product roadmap and more detailed release plans for the coming quarters consistent with the product strategy. This roadmap becomes the official â€Å"product plan of record† and should be managed with formal change control procedures. This step is executed at the conclusion of the annual planning cycle and is repeated every 3 or 4 months to allow responses to changing market conditions and deployment schedules and should be re-approved by executive management.

s Speech To Achilles In The Iliad

in hopes that he will see the foolishness of his actions and the toll it has taken on the forces. Achilles appreciates the spirit of the men behind the arguments, but finds that the negotiations fail in the unwillingness to persuade him. His response to Phoenix is that the idea that someone could have a shared loyalty to both him and Agamemnon is completely unacceptable to him. Ajax has the greatest affect on the w... 's Speech To Achilles In The Iliad Free Essays on Analysis Of The Embassy\'s Speech To Achilles In The Iliad Analysis of the speeches of the Embassy to Achilles (Book 9) The Greek word hubris, when translated to English, means an exaggerated pride. Achilles’ greatest flaw is completely exposed in Book 9 when Agamemnon sends forth humble terms in an attempt to heal the damage that has been done to his kleos. The result of Agamemnon’s desperate meeting with his assembly results in the decision, put forward by Nestor, to send Odysseus, Phoenix and Ajax on an embassy to convince Achilles to return to the Achaean forces. Of the three men Odysseus, known for his great skills as an orator, is the first to plead their case. Odysseus uses morality as the basis of his argument by appealing to Achilles through the words of his own father who urged him control his temper while in battle. He then goes on to list the gifts Agamemnon has offered in an attempt to show the king’s newly emerged growth as a leader; seeking the interest of his men over that of himself. Phoenix, an old tutor of Achilles, is able to relate the story of Meleager and Cleopatra to a tee because he shares a similar relationship of love with Achilles. He uses the parallels of the personas of Meleager and Achilles to show that the capacity to be loved can bring any man to sanity. He asks him to consider that it is better to return now and receive some glory than waiting too long and receiving no glory at all. The final argument is given by Ajax who speaks through emotion from one warrior to another. He tries to mirror Achilles’ rage through his words in hopes that he will see the foolishness of his actions and the toll it has taken on the forces. Achilles appreciates the spirit of the men behind the arguments, but finds that the negotiations fail in the unwillingness to persuade him. His response to Phoenix is that the idea that someone could have a shared loyalty to both him and Agamemnon is completely unacceptable to him. Ajax has the greatest affect on the w...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

How to Study for an Open Book Test

How to Study for an Open Book Test Open book tests teach you how to find information when you need it, and under a significant amount of pressure.   Even more importantly, the questions are designed to teach you how to use your brain. And contrary to popular belief, you do not get off the hook when it comes to studying for an open book exam. You just need to study a little differently. Open Book Test Questions Most often, the questions on an open book test will ask you to explain, evaluate, or compare information from your textbook. For instance: Compare and contrast the different views of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton as they pertained to the role and size of the government. When you see a question of this nature, dont bother scanning your book to find a statement that summarizes the topic for you. Most likely, the answer to this question will not appear in a single paragraph in your text- or even on a single page. The question requires you to have an understanding of two philosophical views that you could only comprehend by reading the entire chapter. During your exam, you will not have time to find enough information to answer this question well. Instead, you should know the basic answer to the question and, during the test, look for information from your book that will support your answer. How to Prepare for an Open Book Test If you have an upcoming open book test, take the following steps to prepare. Read the chapters ahead of time. Dont expect to find quick answers during the test.Know where to find everything. Observe headings and sub-headings and make your own outline. This reinforces the structure of the text in your mind.Mark all important terms with sticky notes and flags. If the teacher allows it, mark your texts with these removable tags wherever you notice important concepts and terms. Be sure to ask first!Review lecture notes for themes. Your teachers lectures usually provide an overview of the themes and concepts that appear on tests. You wont always get this by reviewing the book alone.Make your own notes if allowed, and write down important formulas or concepts that you’ve covered in class. What to Do During the Open Book Test First, evaluate each question. Ask yourself if each question requires facts or interpretation. The questions that require facts may be easier and faster to answer. Fact-based questions will begin with expressions like: List five reasons . . . What events led up to. . .? Some students like to answer the fact-based questions first, then move on to the interpretation questions, which require more thought and concentration. As you answer each question, you will need to quote the book when appropriate to back up your thoughts. Be sure to quote only three to five words at a time- otherwise, you may find yourself copying answers from the book, which will result in a loss of points.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Cultural Activity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Cultural Activity - Essay Example Each painting had a certain charm all its own. Perhaps one of the most famous paintings of all time was the Mona Lisa. Currently, the Mona Lisa is available for viewing at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Interestingly enough, there are many copies of the Mona Lisa in art galleries all over the world, as was the one that this writer viewed. According to Leonardo da Vinci’s Life (2012), â€Å"The mastery of the painting lies in its subtle detail, including the faint smile, and Mona Lisas distinctive gaze. The work [might] have been commissioned by†¦Francesco del Giocondo, who hired Leonardo to paint [his wife’s portrait], and this is why The Mona Lisa is sometimes referred to as La Gioconda† (pgh. 1). Of course, as has been mentioned before, it is Mona Lisa’s slight yet very distinct smile which has drawn people near and far to see her famous face. Since many artists lived off of their commissions from paintings, Da Vinci most likely wanted to ensure that he painted a very nice piece for Francesco del Giocondo—because creating a great painting, versus just a â€Å"good† one, might be the difference between him getting paid the full sum he was owed by Del Giocondo, who most likely commissioned this one particular painting. The interesting link that this painting has to today is that it was rumored that another painting was actually found hidden under the painting of the Mona Lisa. This was just found recently, and it is believed that this other painting was also done by Da Vinci. Of course, new discoveries are happening all the time in the art world—with many more surprises to come in the future as we all know. There is no limit as to how many surprises might be in the rafters, just waiting to be discovered. Perhaps we will realize that there are many more surprises hidden within and outside of famous commissioned Renaissance paintings. Arguably, one of

Friday, October 18, 2019

The Requirement and Concept of Professionalism Essay

The Requirement and Concept of Professionalism - Essay Example However, according to Vener (1780), professionalism can loosely be defined as the skills and competence required or held by a person regarded as professional. It is thus a status of practice capability (Vener 1780). In order to comprehensively understand the concept, there is only one effective way to use, and that is to understand the attributes that constitute professionalism. The desirable attributes include altruism, honesty, compassion, accountability, social responsibility, the ability to read and communicate effectively as well as dress and act appropriately-just to mention, but a few (Vickie 131). It is the integration of such attributes and many other desirable attributes that create the aura of professionalism that practitioners and institutions should possess so as to guarantee improved healthcare outcomes. This paper reviews my research study period, and how the events of the period and involved people displayed professionalism in practice. Working on the morning shift greatly differed in the facility from what I had observed on night shifts. The night shifts were busier and everyone was either in a hurry to prepare the patient room for the next coming patient or preparing already admitted expectant mothers for delivery. I arrived at the facility at 7.00 a.m. and waited for Mrs. Susan, who is the obstetric patient safety nurse, and she arrived at around 8.00 a.m. Upon her arrival, we went through the observation tool that I had created for the study with additional help from Carey. This was in line with the professional need to align the study tool the study goals and objectives so as to achieve informative outcomes that would inform better practice. After a three-hour review, we all decided to have the tool completed prior to 11th December. The earlier completion was meant to help me have more time working with the unit.

The political situation on the African continent, associated with Term Paper

The political situation on the African continent, associated with pipeline attack - Term Paper Example The purpose of this study is to review the pipeline attack for pointing out the necessary details. This was not the only attack. The militants group attacked the pipelines, kidnapped and threatened employees of the company since 2006. The reviewed attack was another sabotage that had several aims: †¢ Attracting attention †¢ Showing power †¢ Threatening and increasing the terror level for the company and its employees †¢ Pursuing the aims of freedom and equity Moreover, the militants claim that Nigerian Government send crude oil to the southern regions of Nigeria. In accordance with their words, this will help to fight with poverty, as southern regions stay poor due to unwillingness of the government to develop and expand the economic and industrial potential of these regions. In accordance with the research outcomes by Renner, military groups, terroristic bands, sects, and other groupings have protectors, who have a particular influence level on the political arena, as well as sufficient financial reserves for sponsoring these groups. As it is stated by Associated Press, Lt. Col. Timothy Antigha claimed, that any organization had not taken responsibility for this particular attack, however, most of the attacks are performed by militant groups of MEND (Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta). This extremist grouping is aimed at fighting against exploitation and oppression of the Nigerian people. The federal Government of Nigeria is t he enemy #1 for the MEND, and the key aim is to overthrow it. ... Political Background In accordance with the research outcomes by Renner (2002), military groups, terroristic bands, sects, and other groupings have protectors, who have a particular influence level on the political arena, as well as sufficient financial reserves for sponsoring these groups. As it is stated by Associated Press (2010), Lt. Col. Timothy Antigha claimed, that any organization had not taken responsibility for this particular attack, however, most of the attacks are performed by militant groups of MEND (Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta). This extremist grouping is aimed at fighting against exploitation and oppression of the Nigerian people. The federal Government of Nigeria is the enemy #1 for the MEND (Bello, 2011), and the key aim is to overthrow it. Considering the basics of the Conspiracy Theory, a political force must be standing behind the MEND. However, its leaders prefer staying faceless (Faucon, 2012). Since the Federal Government is not able to reach an agreement with the aggressors, the amnesty program was initiated in the Niger delta region (Faucon, 2012). On the one hand, this program shows willingness to begin negotiations; on the other hand, this reveals lack of opportunity and support to fight against aggressors. Moreover, some researchers claim that the conflict is not beneficial for the government, as essential powers may stand behind the militant groups. Social Background The social aspects of these attacks are not obvious, nevertheless, in the light of the fact that the MEND is supported by at least 20 million of Nigerians, the social resonance is high enough (Eberechi, 2009). The key social factor that

Social media and employees and employers Research Paper

Social media and employees and employers - Research Paper Example Individuals started to build online persona. In reality, some information is very confidential to the extent no one would want to share with their family and certainly not with a professional hiring manager. Individuals are using this new data base in of personal information in questionable ways ethically. The lack of regulations, clear guidelines, has led to dissemination of information across the internet for a purpose other than that intended. Employment screening is one of the more infringements to the rights to Facebook users. To understand fully the current ethical issues on Facebook, it’s vital to comprehend history and evolution of social networking website (Engler & Tanoury, 2011) Facebook evolved in the month of February 2004 by a scholar of Harvard. Its main purpose was to enhance communication among students through an easy access on online network. Surprisingly in just weeks almost half of Harvard undergraduate’s class were signed in as members. Zuckerberg who created Facebook took on the help of two of his friends, so as to expand Facebook for it looked like a profitable venture. They established its headquarters in Palo Alto in the same year. Facebook received a large amount of investment capital, which enhanced its, rapid growth across the country to hundreds of colleges and millions of member’s. Initially Facebook was only for college students at select universities. Due to its small target group it left a large market space for other social networking sites, particularly, MySpace to attract and incorporate those excluded (Engler & Tanoury, 2011) These automatically helped MySpace gunner more users than Facebook. In order to increase their users, Facebook introduced high school users, which boosted their increase in membership. Still Facebook was experiencing marketing problems. Its users at the completion of college would feel out of place and transfer their account to a more appropriate network such as work network. Press ure mounting on then from capital banker’s lead to them allowing not only scholars but anybody who wanted membership. These saw their users rise rapidly universally. Facebook and MySpace are two competitive media networks. MySpace is seen as having a more chaotic appearance due to its pages being business oriented and customizable features. Facebook, on the other hand, is viewed as a more private network compared to MySpace. In Facebook users are more open in giving their biography. Contrary, to that, MySpace users use fictions names rather than their real identity. Facebook had a reputation of baring unwanted viewers as compared to MySpace. However new policies have made it possible for employers to access valuable information of the applicant that was once unavailable to them (Engler & Tanoury, 2011). This article notes why potential employees, as part of hiring background check, monitor current employee’s social media sites. It also explores if an employee should be made aware of his information being accessed before it takes place. Finally, this note will propose a solution for the competing interests of individuals, Individuals desiring freedom and the employers desiring quality employees. Employers dig information about an applicant to ensure the best candidate is selected. One fit for the vacant position, in that he is capable to meet the organizational goals. To obtain such information, a variety of

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Comprehensive analysis of yourself as a reader and writer Essay

Comprehensive analysis of yourself as a reader and writer - Essay Example After going through ENGL 101 and ENGL 102, I would consider myself more open minded to reading and types of reading because I am now able to approach reading objectively. Through the skills acquired in ENGL 101, I am now able to effectively respond to essays and from ENGL 102 I am able to develop research papers. I am able to confidently assert that I developed structure and exposition skills that I can use to systematically include evidence in research projects. From the experiences of both ENGL 101 and ENGL 102, I would define a good reader as one who exhibits the capacity to pay attention, memorize, sequence and process the content being read fast, accurately and efficiently. According to Berninger (186), reading may wrongly be thought of as a visual skill that builds on associating letters to sound. However, the definition I have of a good reader now differs from what I had before of the English courses because I consider the ability to read to be the foundation of reading to lea rn. Essentially, the English courses have developed in me an analytical and critical reading culture. On one hand, ENGL 101 taught me the application of strategies to generate writing ideas by basically organizing and planning material as well as identifying and considering the audience and purpose of writing. More significantly was the acquisition of intentional revising skills. Through ENGL 102, I now understand academic reading as a continuous inquiry process. However, on the other hand, some occasions bought out my worst and also best writing. On my worst writing, one of them was Barbie Doll by Marge Piercy mainly because it was from a genre I am unfamiliar with. Essentially, I could not relate most of the content of the poem to my personal experience, which resulted in numerous mistakes. My best writing experience was A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner in which I could predict the end. Therefore, through a comprehensive analysis

Companies entering into contract Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Companies entering into contract - Case Study Example Right before signing the contract, there was no proper consultation by the client for proper requirements of the project; this was the first cause of the failure. Also contributing to the failure were the poor mechanisms to track the progress of the project by both parties. Furthermore, there was no clause to cater for arising issues and amendment of the contract. This resulted in lack of proper measures to solve many issues that were arising, leading to eventual failure of the project. Before signing contracts, there should be thorough consultations between concerned parties to avoid making errors that may result in losses to the companies involved. All employees should know the laws guiding professional ethical and ensure that they honor them for their own benefit, as well as that of the company as a whole. Keywords: Contract, Guilt, Agreement, Sign, Project, Measures, Consultation, Client, Developer Legal Directions that the Involved Parties should have Adopted The failures that h ave been associated with this contract provide enough evidence that the agreement between the software developer and the client company was incomplete. The various evidences of inappropriate conduct by either party symbolize the lapse in honoring the contract. There were also a lot of gaps left during the initial formulation of the contract, which encouraged the misconduct. It is important to define users’ requirements during the signing of contract. Right from the onset, the client should have involved the IT department in the process of issuing out the contract, since the product that was to be developed falls under their area of specialization; therefore they understand the requirements better. For example, the IT department could have challenged the vendors on various issues relating to the software that was to be developed, and were best suited to probe the developers on all matters relating to the operation of the software. Another failure caused by the client is the fa ilure to involve operational performance in the contract; this should have been the main aim of the software. This is because the contract was too open. Each party failed to know the real role of the software. In particular, any payment should be based on the performance of the item, and the various stages of payment should go hand in hand with functionality of the project. To handle this well, the contract should involve a clause to demand the vendor to provide the software design, so it could act as a guideline during each phase of the software development. Action taken towards the Two External Contractors Following the unlawful conduct of the employees whose employment was contract based, the company should have taken stern disciplinary action, because their conduct led to loss of confidence on the company by the client. This happened soon after the two contracted employees met with the client. Though it may not be clear what they discussed, actions speak louder than words. The c lient company pulled out of the contract and as a result, Dag Brucken (DB) incurred a lot of losses, including the loss of time and finances invested in the project. The greatest offence that these two employees are held liable for is revealing a company’s secret, whose result was loses to the company. Legal action that could be taken against them includes being taken to a court of law, so that they would face prosecution in reference to employee’s code of conduct and mode of conduct; their conduct was in contrast to the company’s policies. Ethical actions comprise the termination of their employment, and subsequent charges made upon them to repay the losses incurred by the company, due to their gross misconduct. DB Company

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Social media and employees and employers Research Paper

Social media and employees and employers - Research Paper Example Individuals started to build online persona. In reality, some information is very confidential to the extent no one would want to share with their family and certainly not with a professional hiring manager. Individuals are using this new data base in of personal information in questionable ways ethically. The lack of regulations, clear guidelines, has led to dissemination of information across the internet for a purpose other than that intended. Employment screening is one of the more infringements to the rights to Facebook users. To understand fully the current ethical issues on Facebook, it’s vital to comprehend history and evolution of social networking website (Engler & Tanoury, 2011) Facebook evolved in the month of February 2004 by a scholar of Harvard. Its main purpose was to enhance communication among students through an easy access on online network. Surprisingly in just weeks almost half of Harvard undergraduate’s class were signed in as members. Zuckerberg who created Facebook took on the help of two of his friends, so as to expand Facebook for it looked like a profitable venture. They established its headquarters in Palo Alto in the same year. Facebook received a large amount of investment capital, which enhanced its, rapid growth across the country to hundreds of colleges and millions of member’s. Initially Facebook was only for college students at select universities. Due to its small target group it left a large market space for other social networking sites, particularly, MySpace to attract and incorporate those excluded (Engler & Tanoury, 2011) These automatically helped MySpace gunner more users than Facebook. In order to increase their users, Facebook introduced high school users, which boosted their increase in membership. Still Facebook was experiencing marketing problems. Its users at the completion of college would feel out of place and transfer their account to a more appropriate network such as work network. Press ure mounting on then from capital banker’s lead to them allowing not only scholars but anybody who wanted membership. These saw their users rise rapidly universally. Facebook and MySpace are two competitive media networks. MySpace is seen as having a more chaotic appearance due to its pages being business oriented and customizable features. Facebook, on the other hand, is viewed as a more private network compared to MySpace. In Facebook users are more open in giving their biography. Contrary, to that, MySpace users use fictions names rather than their real identity. Facebook had a reputation of baring unwanted viewers as compared to MySpace. However new policies have made it possible for employers to access valuable information of the applicant that was once unavailable to them (Engler & Tanoury, 2011). This article notes why potential employees, as part of hiring background check, monitor current employee’s social media sites. It also explores if an employee should be made aware of his information being accessed before it takes place. Finally, this note will propose a solution for the competing interests of individuals, Individuals desiring freedom and the employers desiring quality employees. Employers dig information about an applicant to ensure the best candidate is selected. One fit for the vacant position, in that he is capable to meet the organizational goals. To obtain such information, a variety of

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Companies entering into contract Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Companies entering into contract - Case Study Example Right before signing the contract, there was no proper consultation by the client for proper requirements of the project; this was the first cause of the failure. Also contributing to the failure were the poor mechanisms to track the progress of the project by both parties. Furthermore, there was no clause to cater for arising issues and amendment of the contract. This resulted in lack of proper measures to solve many issues that were arising, leading to eventual failure of the project. Before signing contracts, there should be thorough consultations between concerned parties to avoid making errors that may result in losses to the companies involved. All employees should know the laws guiding professional ethical and ensure that they honor them for their own benefit, as well as that of the company as a whole. Keywords: Contract, Guilt, Agreement, Sign, Project, Measures, Consultation, Client, Developer Legal Directions that the Involved Parties should have Adopted The failures that h ave been associated with this contract provide enough evidence that the agreement between the software developer and the client company was incomplete. The various evidences of inappropriate conduct by either party symbolize the lapse in honoring the contract. There were also a lot of gaps left during the initial formulation of the contract, which encouraged the misconduct. It is important to define users’ requirements during the signing of contract. Right from the onset, the client should have involved the IT department in the process of issuing out the contract, since the product that was to be developed falls under their area of specialization; therefore they understand the requirements better. For example, the IT department could have challenged the vendors on various issues relating to the software that was to be developed, and were best suited to probe the developers on all matters relating to the operation of the software. Another failure caused by the client is the fa ilure to involve operational performance in the contract; this should have been the main aim of the software. This is because the contract was too open. Each party failed to know the real role of the software. In particular, any payment should be based on the performance of the item, and the various stages of payment should go hand in hand with functionality of the project. To handle this well, the contract should involve a clause to demand the vendor to provide the software design, so it could act as a guideline during each phase of the software development. Action taken towards the Two External Contractors Following the unlawful conduct of the employees whose employment was contract based, the company should have taken stern disciplinary action, because their conduct led to loss of confidence on the company by the client. This happened soon after the two contracted employees met with the client. Though it may not be clear what they discussed, actions speak louder than words. The c lient company pulled out of the contract and as a result, Dag Brucken (DB) incurred a lot of losses, including the loss of time and finances invested in the project. The greatest offence that these two employees are held liable for is revealing a company’s secret, whose result was loses to the company. Legal action that could be taken against them includes being taken to a court of law, so that they would face prosecution in reference to employee’s code of conduct and mode of conduct; their conduct was in contrast to the company’s policies. Ethical actions comprise the termination of their employment, and subsequent charges made upon them to repay the losses incurred by the company, due to their gross misconduct. DB Company

The aims, methods and achievements of MLK and Malcolm X Essay Example for Free

The aims, methods and achievements of MLK and Malcolm X Essay Compare the aims, methods and achievements of MLK and Malcolm X. Which man do you think was most successful at achieving civil rights for African Americans in the 1960s? I would suggest that Martin Luther king was the more successful man in terms of achieving civil rights for African Americans in the 1960s. While this may seem a choice influenced by public image, I would suggest that there were issues with Malcolm Xs image and methodology that made it unlikely that he would ever be accepted (and thus, respected) by White America. I think that Martin Luther King, while viewed by some blacks with contempt for his relatively moderate attitude, genuinely evaluated the situation in which he was operating and suited his modus operandi to make it as beneficial as possible. As a result of this, I think that Martin Luther King made it easier for himself to achieve his aims of bringing about equality for African-Americans in the 1960s in America. I will, however, examine in greater detail the differences in the methodology of the men later on. Put simply, Martin Luther King aimed to ensure that black people were equal in America in the 1960s. Inequality was made manifest through segregation, whether in the guise of schooling, buses, or whites only benches. This stemmed mostly from Kings childhood and experiences as a young adult, one of which led to him being threatened with a gun for demanding service in a segregated restaurant. Kings aims were not all this simple, however. First, he had to factor in the point that he would need to reach the greatest number of people possible with his message, and make them receptive to it. I would suggest that this was a battle between the fight for civil rights and the dangers of playing Uncle Tom to Washington politicians. While King did liaise with President Kennedy, I would suggest that this was an accomplishment of Kings rather than one of his aims. This is because Kings main objective, I feel, was to influence Washington into passing civil rights laws, and talking with the Kennedy brothers was only a means to this end. Second, King aimed to influence politicians through grassroots movements rather than the dealings of smoke-filled rooms. I think that this can be observed in King choosing to demonstrate the plight of African-Americans through initiatives such as the 1961 freedom rides and the 1963 March on Washington. I would suggest that these activities exhibit essential differences in the aims of King and Malcolm X- that is to say that whilst Xs objectives were dependent on black on white hostility, Kings were rooted in egalitarianism. I would suggest that this made King more accessible, and thus helped his plight through the participation of many moderate blacks and white student activists. Kings methods were ones designed to capture the attention of Kennedy, and later Johnson, but whilst exercising caution and maximising participation. However, I think that King was not so much a true crusader as a brand for the Civil Rights Movement. As the US today is personified by its President, I think that the CRM needed an effective, moderate face that was not too black for White America. I would suggest that this is one of the few instances in which one could justify a comparison between Martin Luther King and current US President Barack Obama. For example, in the instance of the 1963 North Carolina sit-ins organised by the SNCC, King was effectively chosen as the face of the movement, a movement that was in fact initiated by educated students desperate for change. As this movement led to the desegregation of Atlantas schools, one could argue that King was in fact not the true leader of the Civil Rights Movement, but more like Orwells poster of Big Brother: omnipresent; benevol ent- a brand. One method used by King was the use of non-violent protest. Utilised in its earliest form in the Montgomery bus boycotts, I think that non-violent protest was the most effective manner with which black and civil rights activists could champion their cause. This is because non-violent protest did not provide white America with the ammunition to vilify Civil Rights activists (though many tried). This is because non-violent protest raised awareness while making it hard for police to use violence to disperse protesters. Also, I believe that such mass action made it difficult for politicians to ignore the plight of African-American people in the 1960s. While the NAACP may have taken on the Supreme Court through litigation, I think that if they had failed there would be no attention paid to the case. It would have been, I feel, business as usual. But the mass action used in initiatives such as the March on Washington in 1963 made black issues impossible to ignore, and helped black people experience solidarity and ubiquity in their anonymity and numbers. King himself proclaimed: The Negro is shedding his fear, and while this is something King was worried about, I think that this is something that was in fact brought about by King. Black people in America could now see that it was acceptable to feel insulted; angry and bitter about the injustices of slavery. Because of this, I would suggest that Martin Luther King succeeded in his aims as I would suggest it was his methodology of mass action that inspired black people to rise up, and the White House (and people) to sit up and listen. However, there was to be another character with what some today would consider a more direct influence on the position of black people in 1960s America. Malcolm X approached the Civil rights struggle in America in the 1960s in a very different manner to King indeed, and I would suggest that in spite of his iconographic status, he largely failed in his aims. X aimed to rail against the whole idea of demanding Civil Rights, suggesting that black and white men could never be truly equal. X regarded black people as Africans who just happened to be in America, and as such X took up a position described by Cornell as The basic aim to counter white supremacy, better known as Black Power. X advocated violence, and I would suggest that this was to result in a short term failure for X. This is because Xs white rivals, segregationalists and racists, would now find a legitimate excuse to be opposed to black people- violence reminiscent of a modern day terrorist group. I would draw parallels with terrorism because terrorist groups are not evil- they merely seek to advance an aim through violence, and are despised by the majority for it. Malcolm Xs methodology, I feel, caused short-term failure, yet it would be unwise to dismiss his efforts out of hand. In the late 1960s disaffected black youths flocked to Malcolm X because they felt King was playing Uncle Tom (especially following Kings poorly judged discussions with Chicagos Mayor Daley in 1966 that resulted in King appearing naive and ineffectual), and I think that this was the central tenet of Xs early philosophy- that of the angry young man. I think that Xs involvement with the Nation of Islam also helped Xs relations with disenchanted blacks, his rebellious and extremist views being ones that the frustrated and the angry could latch on to. However, I would suggest that the Nation of Islam was poor with regards to black/white relations and thus Malcolm X actually achieved little towards the real accomplishment of black Civil Rights (though I do indeed believe that X inspired a host of activists who may not have otherwise campaigned for them). In addition, I think Xs anti-integrationalist stance would do little to affect any sort of white-dominated legislation for the better. Indeed, X-inspired groups such as the Black Panthers were labelled as dangerous by the US government, particularly due to their McCarthyist-frightening beliefs, but also due to their advocacy of violence and separatism. One could draw parallels to Rastafarianisms call of back to Africa that I think equally alienated White contemporaries, who were- like it or not- the Kennedys; the Mayor Daleys, the Bull Connors- the people in power. I think this central lack of appeal to the white man was what made Malcolm X, in my eyes, largely a failure. I also th ink it regrettable that this appeal needed to have occurred, but it was truly required in this case. The methods used by Malcolm X, I feel, were in reality not so far removed from Kings as hypothesised by some. I would suggest that both King and X had relatively non-violent campaigns. While X advocated black supremacy, he in reality did similar things to King: suggested blacks join voter rolls; participated in sit-ins. Whilst the Black Panthers were inspired by X, I think he was always more of an orator than an activist, and that his easily attacked espousals of violence and his belief in the Doctrine of Yakub (which suggested that an ancient black scientist named Yakub created white men, and slavery was Allahs punishment for this) made him likely to fail in affecting mainstream white society. I would contend that a policy of non-violence was to prove crucial in the 1960s, and that a period of education of white America such as that seen in the cultural expansion of the 1920s Harlem Renaissance was important in the meeting of the target of Civil Rights. To conclude, I would suggest that while both Martin Luther King and Malcolm X had flaws which, ultimately, crippled the growth of the Civil Rights Movement, they both contributed in significantly different ways to the fight for black Civil Rights. While I would contend that the theological and occasionally violence beliefs of Malcolm X made him seem unacceptable to white America, I think that his effective martyrdom resulted in disaffected black youths returning to political activism after they felt shunned by what they perceived to be Uncle Tom behaviours on the part of King. One could, I feel, successfully argue that Xs increased appeal also came from his everyman upbringing in Harlem, and that black youths could not truly identify with a Southern minister. In addition,one could argue that Kings campaign depended on violence as much as Xs. If Kings activists and followers were not viciously suppressed, I doubt that moderate America would have eventually got round to championing their cause, evidenced by the fact that approximately a quarter of participants in the March on Washington 1963 were white. However, I would suggest that Kings populism was to raise a number of black activists and student dissenters that would result in white America being cowed by the influence of millions of African-Americans, and, finally, result in the Civil Rights that black America had been fighting for.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Technological Advancements On The Film Industry Media Essay

Technological Advancements On The Film Industry Media Essay Abstract There are mainly three parts when it comes to the impact of technology on the film industry. The first part is how the new tools has benefited or harmed the film industry. These tools include the camera technology, video editing software, adding special effects etc. The second part is how technology has affected the marketing and the audience of the film makers. How the rise of social networks and Web 2.0 world has affected the communication, advertising and distribution of their products with their audience. This will also include the new HD media distribution methods like Blu Ray and HD-DVD that provide better quality for their audience. The third part is about how technology has actually hurt the film industry. The main focus of this area will be about how different technologies have violated the copyright laws. Introduction The film industry has benefited a lot from the ever growing new technology. With the rise of digital filmmaking over the years motion pictures are once again going through a reinvention. One of the biggest benefits the film industry has had with technology is camera technology. With the cheap digital cameras available these days it has been relatively easier for small film companies to produce films. Also more films are produced these days because it is faster to produce films. Now it is also easier and less expensive these days to communicate and share media with the audience with the rise of multimedia mobile phones. Also the audience feedback is given faster and easier. Another biggest benefit of new technology is that it has saved a lot of time in making documentaries and movies. This is because of the new compact digital cameras with ample space. The internet has also had a very big effect on the film industry. Web 2.0 sites like YouTube and other video sites have enabled film makers to interact with their audience more easily. This has also enhanced the relationship with the audience. Article Cited From: (How Digital Technology has Changed) Plan of action My primary medium of research will be the internet. I think there is a plenty research material available on the internet that will be helpful in my research. There will be several case studies that will focus on how technology has helped the film industry. One of the leading case studies will be of recently released movie by James Cameron Avatar. This film is entirely based on animation and special effects. Next I plan on contacting some of the animation and small film businesses and find out their views on how new technology has affected how they produce films. Media Distribution Methods In the past media distribution methods were limited to video tapes and cassettes where the quality of the video was not as good as today and they used random access. This meant that it was not possible to skip directly to a scene. The most common media distribution method currently is the DVD. New technologies like Blu-ray and HD-DVD are also becoming famous. DVDs are one of the cheapest ways to distribute films and the this has been the standard distribution method for films for quite some time. Over the past year Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are becoming more famous and could soon replace the older method like DVD. The reason they are becoming more famous is because of the quality they offer. Users can now enjoy movies on very high definition which is upto 1080p, the highest definition available. The introduction to these new media distribution methods has had both, a good and a bad effect. The advantage the film industry had with this is that they were to charge a premium price for higher quality movies compared to standard quality DVDs and this, in many cases, resulted more profits for them. On the other hand, since people now have access to high quality movies from the comfort of their homes, visit the cinemas less often. Film Animation Tools Autodesk Maya And Film The leading animation software today comes from Autodesk. The two very famous softwares they make are Autodesk Maya and Autodesk 3ds Max. These two have been used in numerous movies to edit and animate characters. Some animated movies like Monsters Vs Aliens and Avatar. The latest development in digital camera and computer graphics (CG), stereoscopy, is becoming more famous in films these days. Stereoscopic technology uses the characteristics of the human vision which can make characters or objects appear at the front or behind the cinema screen. This creates an illusion of depth. Autodesk Maya enables users to view, create and edit stereoscopic content and enables film makers to uses stereo as a powerful way to help in story telling. The advantage this has is that the audience were drawn more deeply into the movie experience because of the new standards it sets in stereoscopic 3D production using Autodesk tools. (Autodesk Film AVATAR) Fully Featured Animated Film Using Autodesk 9 On 9th September 2009, the movie 9 was released. This was a fully featured animated film with every frame featuring Computer generated inages and characters. All this was matched up with multilayered computer generated images and advanced 3D lighting and camera effects. This whole animated film was made using Autodesk Maya animation software and Autodesk mudbox a sculpting software. With these two tools, all the creative and technical demands this animated 3D film had were met. Autodesk To The Rescue During the making of this movie, animators faced quite a few challenges. The very first challenge faced by the animation team was the timeframe that the work had to be completed in. 14 months. This included everything from start to finish the way the characters looked, the storyline itself, how they would move and the animatics. For the team this seemed an impossible task within the timeframe given and the level of detail and complexity required. During the movie there were a lot of scenes where the characters that dynamically interacted with each other at the same time. There were a lot of virtual stunts done in the movie with characters that had very fine, stretchy burlap mesh with a rigid zipper in front and visible stitching. These mesh textures were really a challenge for the animation team, especially when the characters moved and the animation was difficult. It was a challenge but Autodesk Maya had the capability to accomplish these tasks although it did put Maya to test. All these challenges were met by both Autodesk Maya and Autodesk MudBox. Maya handled most of the challenges like the asset creation, virtual camera and the multilayered 3D animation and all the effects. MudBox helped alongside with Maya to make the highly detailed shapes and models and the ground texture. Animation software like Autodesk Maya has helped the film industry to create movies like these. Without the use of such software, making of such movies would have been impossible. One of the members of the team, Adams, said that Maya is a very robust, fast and it has enabled us to make highly complex 3D structures, a lot of camera moves, explosions and lighting effects. He also states that Autodesk Maya was the best solution that they could have used to make a movie such as 9. (Autodesk Starz Animation) Case Study: The Technology behind The Making Of Avatar Performance Capture While CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) and motion capture is not very new to the film industry, performance capture is something that was just recently invented specially for this movie. As mentioned earlier that Motion Capture is done by placing reflecting markers all over an actors body and these are then interpreted by the computer and converted into CGI. However the difference between a real human expression and computer generated is quite noticeable. Performance capture is something different. In performance capture actors are supposed to wear special head gear which has a camera attached to it which records each and every muscle movement and converts them into digital media. Stereoscopic 3D Fusion Camera System After seven years of research and hard work James Cameron, the director of Avatar, along with his partner, Vince Pace, came up with the most advanced 3D lightweight camera that can shoot both in 2D and 3D mode. Before this invention 3D cameras were very big and weighed about 450 pounds. Digital Animation For this movie the digital animation was done by Peter Jacksons company, Weta Digital. Very professional artists turned the basic renderings into photo-real images using new breakthrough techniques in lighting and shading. Virtual Camera/Simul Camera For this movie two new kinds of cameras were also invented. The virtual camera and the simul camera which work together. The virtual camera isnt a real camera at all but it stimulates another camera that was transmitted computer generated images by super computers. What the simul camera did what fed real time computer generated images to the 3D fusion camera system. Use of Autodesk Digital Entertainment Creation Tools For this movie, James Cameron and his team developed a new way to develop innovative visual effects using advanced virtual cinematography techniques. Using the software a virtual stage was created in which the performance of actors would be captured, applied to computer generated characters and also the ability to view the results in real time. The uncanny valley, which is the noticeable difference between real life human characters and computer generated characters, was overcome by using advanced performance capture and visual Source: (Avatar Behind The Scenes) Motion Capture Motion Capture has been used in the film industry very often. The most basic definition of motion capture is recording the movement and translating that movement into a digital model. To achieve this actors in movies wear reflective markers all over their body which are then interpreted by a computer and turned into digital 3D models. Advantages Of Motion Capture Very fast and it is possible to achieve real time results. Because of this the cost of keyframe animation can be reduced. Very complex movements can be recreated. The amount of animation data that can be gathered is very large. This saves a lot of time. Disadvantages Of Motion Capture Special hardware and software is needed to execute motion capture Movements that do not follow the law of physics can generally not be captured. (Motion Capture) Film Industry and Web 2.0 The amount of users using the Internet these days have grown dramatically over the past years. This has allowed the film industry to reach their audience more easily through online advertising and by the use of social networks such as Facebook, YouTube. Search Engines The internet revolves around Google. The term search online these days means using one of the major search engines. These are either Google, Yahoo or Bing. Search engines also have an impact on the film industry. New movies coming out have their own websites and these are found mostly by search engines showing the relevant results and showing the movie website when users search online for it through search engines. This is the way the relevant websites of movies are found and they reach wider audience. Facebook With over 500 million users on Facebook, this has become an enormous platform to advertise on for film makers of their latest upcoming movies. One of the main reasons Facebook is a huge marketing advantage for film makers is because of the ability for information to be spread virally on it. Facebook groups and fan pages are liked by thousands of Facebook users daily and these are very viral in nature. It is not very uncommon to see a Facebook Fan Page having liked by millions of Facebook users. The above mentioned marketing methods are in fact free and it doesnt cost anything for film makers to create a these pages and they eventually become viral. Facebook also has a paid advertising program that can be used to market just about anything. Fanpages are a great way to know your audience better. Facebook is all about conversation and interaction with people which is why film makers can interact with their audience more easily, ask for their opinions and get to know what they want. There is one main advantage to why paid advertising on Facebook is the best. The reason is because you one can get ultra-targeted audience from Facebook due to all the information that users put on their profile. (Facebook Stats) Above is a screen shot of information from a Facebook users profile. All the information put is put here by the user itself and it contains information about the users location, college/school, sex, martial status, their likes and interests and hobbies. Facebook uses this information to target the right audience through their advertising program. Whenever an advertiser wishes to create an advertising campaign with Facebook he/she is presented with a number of targeting options. These options include the following: Age Location Sex Marital Status Education And Work Likes And Interests Advertisers on Facebook can target their audience based on all of these above criteria which enables them to target only the kind of people that might be interested in what they are advertising, which in this case are movies. YouTube Now owned by Google, YouTube is the most famous video sharing site on the Internet. YouTube has both good and bad effects on the film industry. According to the stats from YouTube.com itself and other sites like website-monitoring.com YouTube exceeds 2 billion views per day. An estimated number of 24 hours of video is uploaded to YouTube every single minute and an average person spends about 15 minutes per day on YouTube. Film Makers know this and have had an enormous marketing advantage and have reached a more wider audience because of this. YouTube has made a separate page especially for movie trailers where they can be uploaded and then made public. YouTube, like most other Web 2.0 sites engages conversation among the viewers and visitors that come and watch videos and movie trailers. This is yet another advantage to the film industry as they can know the opinions of their viewers and get their feedback. Another great feature of YouTube is its ability to share the video virally on other social network sites like Facebook MySpace and others. An estimated number of 46.2 years of video is watched a day from Facebook itself. One important aspect of these Web 2.0 sites is that most of them are interlinked. For example you can use your Facebook account of sign in to several Web 2.0 sites. This makes information on the internet very viral in nature which is a benefit for advertisers. The disadvantage of YouTube is that currently there are about 7,000 hours of movies and TV shows that are put up on YouTube for users to watch for free. Some of these videos uploaded do break the copyright law. These videos are continuously being uploaded on YouTube and there is little that can be done about this. This is just one of the several video sharing sites. There are also others like Vimeo also where copyrighted material are being uploaded every single day by users. (Youtube Facts) Social Bookmarking Social bookmarking is when users bookmark a certain website or web page that they have found interesting and this is then publically viewable to all the other users on that social bookmarking website. Two of the very famous social bookmarking websites online today are Digg and Delicious. These social bookmarking websites are again a great way for information on movies, film to go viral and reach a lot of people. It is again possible to sign into most of these social networks using your Facebook account. One such social bookmarking site is Digg. Disadvantages Of Web 2.0 Broadband Internet Ever since broadband internet was introduced, internet users have been able to enjoy higher speeds in downloads and uploads. This has given a rise in piracy. It is said that one inn four people have illegally downloaded a film. The film studios say that piracy on the net has cost them billions of dollars in losses. The estimated figure as of the year 2006 is $20 billion. It is said that film piracy is going to increase as more people shift to broadband and can download files at higher speeds. (Online Film Piracy Set To Rise) (Film Piracy Cost The Economy $20 billion) File Sharing Sites The main disadvantages when it comes to the internet and Web 2.0 are copyright issues. Since digital data can be easily copied it is very common to see movies being shared on File sharing sites and discussion boards. A lot of these file sharing sites have their servers off-shore, in some other countries where copyright laws dont apply to them. This means that it is possible for them to have lot of copyrighted material on them and users from anywhere in the world is able to download them simply with the click of a mouse button. Peer 2 Peer Networks P2P and torrent sites have become a very common way to share files on the internet. All that is needed is a small piece of software installed on a computer that allows a user to share files directly from their computer. This way millions of users can openly share whatever is on their hard drive with other users on the peer to peer network. This makes it very easy to share pirated movies across the internet. File Sharing Message Boards The term Warez refers to copyrighted material being shared for free and this term is very famous on the internet. A lot of forums and message boards are specially made for this purpose and millions of users download movies and tons of other copyrighted material for free which does a significant harm to the film industry. Portable Digital Cameras Recent portable digital cameras and camcorders have given a rise to piracy. It is now very easy for users to take a portable camcorder or camera into a cinema and record the movie during the runtime. This recording is then sold on DVDs and/or uploaded on file sharing sites and/or peer to peer networks. Conclusion And Evaluation The leap in Digital Animation software has helped the film industry in making more detailed, 3D animated films. Web 2.0 has played a major part in the success of the booming film industry that is present today. With the help of social networks and its viral features, the marketing of new movies have become very easy and also cost effective. Although film piracy is on the rise and more people are using camcorders in theatres and copying off DVDs and posting them on the internet, the film industry has shown a significant amount of growth. Film piracy has cost them millions of dollars but yet film revenues have tripled over the last 25 years. Newly developed CG techniques like performance capture have started a new era to the film industry which is going to lead them into making more better films. It is clear from the above information presented that the advantages of what then new technological advancements have done for the film industry clearly outweigh the disadvantages. 3D cameras and state of the art animation and editing have lead todays movies to be more enjoyable and fun to watch. (The Fact And Fiction Of Camcorder Piracy)

Sunday, October 13, 2019

‘Bouncers 1990s Remix’ by John Godber and ‘Shakers-Restirred’ by John Godber and Jane Thornton :: Drama

For my Coursework I studied ‘Bouncers – 1990s Remix’ by John Godber, and ‘Shakers-Restirred’ by John Godber and Jane Thornton. For my Coursework I studied ‘Bouncers – 1990s Remix’ by John Godber, and ‘Shakers-Restirred’ by John Godber and Jane Thornton. Originally set in the 1980s but later adapted for the nineties, the plays are often performed together. They tell stories about urban nightlife from the points of view of nightclub bouncers and cocktail waitresses. Each play only involves four actors, and they play all the parts. I enjoyed studying the plays as they use comedy, melodrama and music to portray some very different characters. I also noticed that sometimes, beneath the comic aspects of the play, there were more serious messages about life. Area of Study 1 – Character and Context Our play was similar to ‘Bouncers’ and ‘Shakers’ as we worked in groups of four too. Our characters were police officers, as we felt that the police see just as much of the things that go on in nightclubs and bars as Bouncers do. As well as being police officers, we also played all the parts of the smaller characters in the bars and clubs. We took this idea of playing multiple characters from the plays we read. My main character was a female police officer called Karen Smith. She comes across as a very strong, blunt and confident character, from a rough background, but she hides a secret. When Karen was younger her dad was really violent to her, her mum and her sisters, and it was years before he was finally caught and arrested. It was as a ten year old, seeing her dad taken away, and feeling so relieved, that she decided to be a Police officer when she grew up, so she could help other people. (See Role on the wall) I wanted to show the hard and soft side of Karen’s character, and so I tried really hard to show the reason for her harshness. At one point she speaks directly to the audience about her past; this is when her true character is revealed. The others in my group played the following roles: Matt – Tom Rivers – a police officer who has only recently joined the force. He is gay, and is worried that people will find out. He tries to seem extra tough. Sam – Ron Brown - he has been a police officer many years and thinks he knows everything. His wife died a year ago and now all he has is his work. Anna – Marie Graves – a young policewoman who is very pretty and

Saturday, October 12, 2019

The Powerful Character of Pearl in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

The Powerful Character of Pearl in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter      Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the most significant writers of the romantic period in American literature was Nathaniel Hawthorne.   Hawthorne wrote stories that opposed the ideas of Transcendentalism. Since he had ancestors of Puritan belief, Hawthorne wrote many stories about Puritan New England.   His most famous story is the Scarlet Letter.   This novel tells of the punishment of a woman, Hester Prynne, who committed adultery and gave birth to Pearl.   A minister of Boston, Arthur Dimmesdale, had an affair with Hester while believing that her husband, Roger Chillingworth, had died.  Ã‚   However, Chillingworth did not die and appears during the early stages of Hester's punishment.         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The purpose of this paper is to analyze the character of Pearl in the Scarlet Letter.   Her whole life had many difficulties while living in Puritan New England.   Furthermore, Pearl displays much parallelism to the scarlet letter that Hester must wear.   Finally, Pearl's birth intensified the conflicts in the novel.  Ã‚   Clearly, Pearl becomes the symbol of all the other major characters' tragedies.         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The character of Pearl in the Scarlet Letter lived a very difficult life.   Before the novel begins, Hester Prynne gives birth to Pearl after having an affair with Arthur Dimmesdale, a Puritan minister.   Pearl's birth proves that Hester cheated on her husband Roger Chillingworth provoking the stories action. The novel opens with the people of Boston staring and laughing at Hester holding Pearl while standing on the town's scaffold.   At this time, Pearl is three months old. Years later Hester gets released from jail and lives with Pearl in the outskirts of town.   Since Hester becomes alienated from Boston, Pearl turns into "her mother's only treasure!" (Hawthorne 76). Hester makes bright red clothes for Pearl that parallel the scarlet "A."   At age three, Pearl endures many laughs and jokes from other Puritan children but chases them away with stones. Since Pearl's birth resulted from broken rules, she does not feel the obligation to follow rules. Although her life is an outcast of Puritan society, Pearl's language shows a high level of intelligence.  Ã‚   Later, Hester receives word that the magistrates want to take Pearl away from her. Hester takes Pearl to the governor's house where the child meets her father, Arthur Dimmesdale.