Saturday, November 30, 2019

The Spirituals And The Blues Essay Research free essay sample

The Spirituals And The Blues Essay, Research Paper The Spirituals and The Blues Book Review The book, The Spirituals and the Blues, by James H. Cone, illustrates how the slave spirituals and the blues reflected the battle for black endurance under the rough world of bondage and segregation. The spirituals are historical vocals which speak out about the rupture of black lives in a spiritual sense, stating us about people in a land of bondage, and what they did to remain united and somehow battle back. The blues are slightly different from in the spirituals in that they depict the secular facet of black life during times of subjugation and the capacity to last. James H. Cone? s portraiture of how the spirituals and the blues aided inkinesss through times of adversity and hardship has really few defects and informs the reader greatly about the importance of music in the lives of African-Americans. We will write a custom essay sample on The Spirituals And The Blues Essay Research or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The writer aims to both analyze the spirituals and blues as cultural looks of black people and to reflect on both the theological and sociological deductions of these vocals. James H. Cone was born on August 5, 1938 in Fordyce, Arkansas. He attended three little colleges, including a theological seminary, before having his Masters and Ph.D. from the esteemed Northwestern University. Cone is married and has two kids. He has held rank to many outstanding boards and organisations including the National Committee of Black Churchman ( member of board of managers ) , American Academy of Religion, Congress of African Peoples, and Black Methodists for Church Renewal. His calling includes being a professor of faith and divinity at Philander Smith College, Adrian College, and Union Theological Seminary, where he now teaches. James H. Cone is now an American reverend and writer. Cone achieved his greatest acclamation in 1969 with the ground-breaking book, Black Theology and Black Power. This book attracted a great trade of attending due to its defence of the black power motion from a Christian point of position. He has since written many theological plants including Risks of Faith, where he provides critical penetrations into American worlds and the possibilities for American divinity. Cone has been the Charles A. Briggs Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology at Union Theological Seminar in New York City since 1977. Cone? s The Spirituals and the Blues is split into two typical subdivisions, one which discusses the importance and impact of the spirituals and one which discusses that of the blues. The writer starts out by depicting the rough state of affairs slaves were put in and how the black experience in America is a history of servitude and opposition, of endurance in the land of decease. The spirituals are the historical vocals which tell us what the slaves did to keep themselves together and to contend back against their oppressors. In both Africa and America, music was straight related to day-to-day life and was an look of the community? s position of the universe and its being in it. The cardinal theological construct, which is the premier spiritual factor, in the black spirituals is the godly release of the oppressed from bondage. Further, the theological premise of black slave faith as expressed in the spirituals was that bondage contradicts God, and hence, God will emancipate black pe ople. This factor came from the fact that many inkinesss believed in Jesus, and hence, believed that He could salvage them from the subjugation of bondage because of his decease and Resurrection. The fact that the subject of godly release was present in the slave vocals is supported by three chief averments: the scriptural literalism of the inkinesss forced them to accept the white point of views that implied God? s blessing of bondage, the black vocals were derived from white meeting vocals and reflected the # 8220 ; white # 8221 ; significance of godly release as liberating one from wickedness ( non slavery ) , and that the spirituals do non incorporate # 8220 ; clear mentions to the desire for freedom # 8221 ; . The extent of enduring which the slaves endured could hold altered their religion in God. However, the black slaves? probes of the absurdnesss of human being was concrete, and it was done within the context of the community of religion. They did non inquire whether Go d is merely and right, but alternatively whether the hurting of the universe would do them to lose religion in the word of God. One of the major sorrows which the slaves went through was more of the loss of the community than the existent physical ferociousness of bondage. This is why most of the spirituals focused on # 8220 ; traveling place # 8221 ; to be reunited with their households which had been broken through bondage. Although black slaves feared decease, sing it as the antonym of life and hence immoralities, they besides accepted the inevitableness of decease, because they believed in Jesus? Resurrection and besides that decease was non ultimate. The writer besides conveys the fact that references to # 8220 ; heaven # 8221 ; non merely referred to a # 8220 ; transcendent world # 8221 ; beyond clip, but besides to earthly topographic points that inkinesss regarded as lands of freedom. These topographic points include Africa, Canada, and the northern United States. They believed that life did non stop with decease, because they thought that God would rectify the wrongs against black people and this hope in a radically new hereafter was defined the spirituals in two distinguishable ways: linguistic communication about heav en as a different kind of topographic point after decease and linguistic communication about the â€Å"last days† . In spirituals, Eden was the topographic point for the griever, the despised, the rejected, and most significantly, the black. The spirituals, nevertheless, were non the lone types of vocals which inkinesss adopted as a solution to the job of black agony. The blues represent the secular dimension of black experience, significance they are â€Å"worldly† vocals which tell us about the inkinesss? agony and lasting while being oppressed. They are secular in the sense that they â€Å"confine their attending entirely to the immediate and affirm the bodily look of black soul† . Most believe that the blues began to take signifier in the late 1800s, but it is widely agreed that the spirit and temper of the blues stretch good into the bondage yearss. The blues are closely related to the â€Å"slave seculars† , which are non-religious and show the incre dulity of inkinesss who could non take white sermonizers? spiritual religion earnestly. The blues do non reject God, but instead ignore God by accepting the joys and sorrows of life. The biggest difference between the spirituals and the blues is that merely as strongly religious the spirituals are, the blues are worldly. Another of import differentiation between the spirituals and the blues is that the blues evidences black hope in history, non in a supplication for a better life after decease. The writer tells us that the blues can best be defined as an artistic response to the pandemonium of life uniting art and life, poesy and experience, and the symbolic and the existent. They describe the world of black agony without seeking to invent solutions for the job of absurdness and, put merely, acknowledge that inkinesss have been â€Å"hurt and scared† by the ferociousnesss of white society. The Spirituals and the Blues is a really well-written and enlightening book. One strength is the fact that the writer shows distinguishable differences between two types of vocals which, for the most portion, served the same intent: reflecting the battle for black endurance under the rough world of bondage and segregation. The cardinal subject in the black spirituals is the godly release of the oppressed from bondage, whereas the blues attempt to # 8220 ; carve out # 8221 ; a important being in a really seeking state of affairs. The blues had their foundation built upon historical experience and the fact that if it is lived and encountered, so it is existent. One of the most convincing tools used by Cone throughout the book are the extracts of several spirituals and blues used to better exemplify what function these vocals played in the black community. Another converting tool Cone uses throughout are responses from musical experts of different races to these rich, originative voca ls someway discovered by # 8220 ; these half-barbarous people # 8221 ; . Although many Whites recognized the musical creativeness of these vocals, their ain cultural experience frequently precluded their brushs with these deeper degrees of human experience reflected in the spirituals and the blues. James H. Cone? s account of how these types of music were accepted by different races, usage of extracts, and conveyance of the different foundations upon which these types of music were built aid to exemplify both similarities and differences which can be found between the spirituals and the blues. The Spirituals and the Blues is a really well-written book, but as is the instance with most books, does hold its failings. One failing I observed is that the subdivision of the book which talks about the blues is really little in proportion to that which talks about the spirituals. The spirituals do hold a longer, more extended history, but it does non look that this should reflect such a big proportion of the book. The lone other failing which I found the book to hold is that the writer slightly contradicted himself, in my position, when it comes to specifying the blues. In his # 8220 ; Concluding Reflection # 8221 ; , Cone tries to unify the spirituals and the blues and provinces that the two types of music should non be regarded as one being sacred # 8220 ; and the other secular # 8221 ; . Earlier, nevertheless, Cone explained how inkinesss held God in such high regard and this was the foundation upon which the spirituals were built and besides negotiations about how blues co uld be classified as # 8220 ; a secular religious # 8221 ; . His points can still be easy understood by the reader, but I feel that he nontheless contradicts himself while doing these statements. Overall, I thought the book was really edifying when it came to the point of uncovering the cardinal subject and foundation of these two distinct but besides similar types of vocals. The spirituals were built on a firm belief in God, while the blues ignored God and accepted the joys and sorrows of life. Although they were slightly different, both partake of the same black experience in the United States. The spirituals and the blues both aided inkinesss through times of terrible adversity and agony. It was interesting to me to happen out how even through subjugation, inkinesss who were considered # 8220 ; trusters # 8221 ; and those who were considered # 8220 ; non-believers # 8221 ; remained faithful to the fact that one twenty-four hours, they would crush their oppressors and state of affairs. I liked the book most when it came to the point of placing that the spirituals and the blues are non vocals of desperation or defeated people, but represent one of the greatest victory of a peoples in the history of the universe.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Wildfire Red Flag Warning Extreme Burning Conditions

Wildfire Red Flag Warning Extreme Burning Conditions The United States National Weather Service is one major forecaster that determines a Red Flag Warning when weather conditions reach high potential for extreme wildfire starts leading to uncontrolled forest fires. It is a term used by fire-weather forecasters to call attention to critical weather conditions of particular importance that will potentially result in extreme burning conditions. It is must have continuously updated data for field foresters, wildland fire crews and equipment operators during periods of high fire hazard. A Red Flag Warning or RFW can be issued either by the state or the federal government to assist regional firefighting and land management agencies in making decisions on limiting the use of fire for a particular period of days or fighting fire when conditions suggest increased chances. Conditions that increase the chance of wildland fire starts and fire spread are monitored and a RFW is issued when a high degree of confidence that Red Flag conditions will occur within 24 hours of issuance. So, a RFW is usually issued from predictions based on drought conditions and when the relative humidity is very low. High winds and dry lightning strikes can become exacerbating factors and are included in some state and federal agencies that calculate their own warning data. These agencies will alter their staffing and equipment resources according to the data. To the public, a Red Flag Warning means high fire danger with increased probability of a quickly spreading vegetation fire in the area within 24 hours. Extreme care should be taken and the uses of outside fire suspended. Red Flag criteria also occur  whenever a region (usually a state) has been in a dry spell for a week or two, or for a shorter period under duress. It usually happens either before spring green-up or after fall color in the East or during the hot, windy summer in the West. The National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) is usually high to extreme and the following forecast weather parameters are forecasted to be met: Sustained wind averages of 15 mph or greater.Relative humidity less than or equal to 25 percent.A temperature of greater than 75 degrees F.In some states, dry lightning and unstable air are criteria. A Fire Weather Watch may be issued prior to the Red Flag Warning. Here is an example of a RFW issued by the Colorado Forest Service during a Colorado fire crisis. Note that the alert is often shouted in all caps in the daily report. The first section of the report deals with a general weather summary by zone and the expected effective time period of concern. The second section numbers and defines the actual fire weather zones affected and address dangerous firefighting conditions to watch for. It also includes instructions on distribution of the alert to fire control personnel. .................... Event: Red Flag WarningAlert: ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHTFOR DRY THUNDERSTORMS AND GUSTY OUTFLOW WINDS FOR FIRE WEATHERZONES 201...203...207...290...291...292 AND 293... .ANOTHER ROUND OF ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTEDTODAY AS HOT TEMPERATURES CONTINUE. WHILE THE CONVECTIVE POTENTIALREMAINS...MOISTURE WILL BEGIN TO GRADUALLY DECREASE AS HIGHPRESSURE STARTS TO NUDGE INTO NEW MEXICO. THIS WILL RESULT IN THEMAJORITY OF STORMS PRODUCING MINIMAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS AT THESURFACE TODAY. ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TOMIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT FOR DRY THUNDERSTORMS AND GUSTY OUTFLOWWINDS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 201...203...207...290...291...292 AND 293... * AFFECTED AREA...IN COLORADO...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 201 ROUTT FORECAST AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 203 GRAND JUNCTION FORECAST AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 207 DURANGO FORECAST AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 290 PARADOX VALLEY FORECAST AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 291 NORTHERN SAN JUAN FORECAST AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 292 NORTH FORK FORECAST AREA...ANDFIRE WEATHER ZONE 293 GUNNISON BASIN FORECAST AREA. * THUNDERSTORMS...ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILLDEVELOP FIRST OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND THEN MOVE TO THE EAST ANDNORTHEAST. THE MAJORITY OF STORMS WILL BE DRY...THOUGH SOMEWILL PRODUCE MARGINAL WETTING RAINFALL. * OUTFLOW WINDS...ALL THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCINGERRATIC OUTFLOW WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH. * IMPACTS...ANY FIRE IGNITION WILL BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROLWITH VERY HIGH RATES OF SPREAD POSSIBLE. Instructions: A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARMTEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS AND AFFECTED FIELD PERSONNEL OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING. ....................

Friday, November 22, 2019

The ADL Matrix, Gap Analysis, and the Directional Policy Matrix

The ADL Matrix, Gap Analysis, and the Directional Policy Matrix Continuation. Read the beginning of the article to see the full picture. Here are three lesser-known strategic planning tools that are primarily used for determining a  large-scale  competitive strategy for an organization or a strategic business unit. These particular tools are fairly simple environmental analysis methods, and like other better-known tools such as SWOT  or PEST analysis, do not suggest actions the business should take to reach its objectives. They are best used as a first step in strategy planning, with other more complex tools such as Balanced Scorecards or Key Performance Indicators used to develop and carry out strategic objectives. All the notions listed below may be rather confusing and you should be ready to spend much time on writing. In case you need help with  ADL Matrix, Gap analysis or Directional Policy Matrix turn to our writers and  get professional assistance. The Arthur D. Little (ADL) Strategic Condition Matrix The Arthur D. Little Strategic Condition Matrix was developed by the well-known consulting firm of the same name in the  1970s and is a life cycle-based analysis similar to the Boston Matrix. Unlike the Boston Matrix, which considers a single dimension – product or SBU competitiveness – the ADL has two: competitive position and industry maturity. It was designed mainly for use in assessing SBUs in a large enterprise, but can be easily adapted for use as an analysis covering the entire company or smaller units. The ADL Matrix Competitive position is relatively easy to identify accurately if one thinks of it in terms of product and place: What does the company or SBU offer, and how extensive and diversified are the markets in which it can offer it? Product and place together define the business unit to be assessed. This does not, however, necessarily follow the organizational structure. For example, the sales division of an auto manufacturer provides a product in terms of the cars it sells, but also provides a product in terms of the marketing message supporting the sales effort, customer relations, and value-added components such as service warranties; thus, several organizational units, or parts of them, might make up an SBU for the purposes of strategic analysis with the ADL matrix. Industry maturity is fairly straightforward, and could describe not only an entire industry but a relevant segment of it; for example, our auto manufacturer might consider different vehicle classes such as sports cars, luxury sedans, and light trucks. Once the competitive position and industry maturity are determined, the SBU is assigned the appropriate place in the matrix, from where the company can begin to make strategic decisions. In some guides to the ADL, the 20 potential positions on the matrix are identified with specific generic strategies. In general, the positive strategies involving holding and growing SBUs increase as one moves from bottom to top and right to left across the matrix; the lower-right position representing a weak SBU in an aging market always suggests abandoning or otherwise divesting from the SBU. It is important, however, not to be too strictly bound by predetermined generic strategies. The actions and choices available to the organization depend on the organization’s circumstances and available resources, and may not match generic strategy prescriptions. The biggest weakness of the ADL is that it cannot account for uncertainty about the length of industry life cycles. In an organization’s current industry conditions, it can be difficult to foresee when those conditions might change, since the life cycle is not only affected by external forces but by the activities of competitors as well. Because effective planning requires a definite timeframe, a rapid change in the industry life cycle can make a chosen course of action obsolete and harm the company’s competitive position. Gap Analysis Gap analysis is usually associated with marketing strategy planning, but it can be applied to other types of strategic planning. It is one of the simplest planning tools ever devised, which gives it some distinct advantages and disadvantages. The first step in a gap analysis is to select relevant, measurable indicators that will describe the â€Å"gap†. The fewer the indicators chosen, the less complicated the subsequent analysis and plan development will be; examples of indicators might be gross revenues, profit margin, total sales, or production figures. The â€Å"gap† is the difference between the objectives and the current situation in terms of the selected indicators. Generally, the gap is visualized as a chart: The obvious question is, â€Å"Why would anyone want to conduct a gap analysis?† because the simplicity of the tool suggests it might not be of much use. As a practical tool, it really isn’t. The steps the company needs to take are entirely dependent on the indicators it uses to measure the gap, and their underlying factors; at best, the gap analysis can only tell the company how far off the mark it is in reaching its objectives, not how to reach them. It does have some value, however, as a way to impose some structure on planning processes and give them a clear direction. For example, if the company decides net profit is the indicator that defines the gap, subsequent planning activity will be more effectively focused on factors that contribute to net profit. The Shell Directional Policy Matrix The Shell Directional Policy Matrix is a variation of the Boston Matrix, but is somewhat more detailed and provides clearer generic strategies for SBUs. It relies on two variables, the outlook for sector profitability and the company’s or SBU’s competitive capability, and is arranged in a three-by-three matrix. Knowledge is powerful; we hope that through this article, we have empowered you. If you would like an article like this written for you, we can do that for a token. Our team of professional writers  has  a track record that speaks excellence and perfection! For an article in a related area, simply  place an order here  and get your unique article in no time! At , we provide high quality and  well-written  articles.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Influence of the Western Roman Empire Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Influence of the Western Roman Empire - Essay Example Initially, Rome was a single city but later expanded to a great empire that controlled the Mediterranean coastal region. Roman period had two entities, the Republican Period and the Empire; each lasted for half a millennium. The empire was divided into Principate that lasted from 27 BCE to 180 CE and autocracy from 284 to 395CE (Damerow Web). The Roman Empire began with Augustus. Emperors were the ruler of the empire. Christianity rose during the autocracy period and replaced paganism. In addition, monotheistic belief replaced polytheist cult system. The rise of the medieval period was because of Roman influence. Furthermore, the foundation of Roman Civilization was on Roman values and existed even before the rise of Christianity. Romans people were successful in various fields such as art, government, military organization, and public. They borrowed ideas from Greeks and Hellenistic world. This paper seeks to focus on the influence of the Western Roman Empire within the period from 200 BCE to 476 C. Many aspects of society that exist today have been influenced by ancient Rome. They range from law, democratic government practices, influence in language, literature, art, infrastructure, and city planning. The Western Roman Empire had a tremendous influence in law, religion, architecture, and culture. This was largely important within the period from 200 BCE to 476 CE. This influence was usually perpetuated during the Romans territorial expansion. This influence especially was based on areas it controlled the western Mediterranean. They also established legal code that formed part of western legal code. Moreover, their institutions, technology, and infrastructure continue to influence their successors in this region. The legacy of Western Roman Empire influence on culture was great. The significance of this transformation cannot be ignored as it ushered in the medieval period of history. There was a complete change of culture from the way people married, raised t heir children, and died. Actually, it resulted in a trans-valuation of all values. The most important aspect of culture was the transmission off Greek (Hellenistic) culture to the west. The Roman's were at their peak of cultural influence between 200 BCE and 200 CE. Romans were known of copying cultures and adopting them as their own. They adopted Latin as their language and were majorly used in the western world during this period. As a result, Latin became the official language of the Western Roman Empire. Latin formed the basis for Romance language after Germanic invasions in 4th and 5th centuries. The Romance Languages composed of Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. At the time of decline of Western Roman Empire, the Catholic Church (monks) continued to preserve and transmit Greek texts and ideas. Latin also remained the language for the Roman Catholic Church and the second half of 20th century. Moreover, this language developed between 200 BCE to 476 CE continued to be us ed by the educated later in the centuries such as educated people. At this period, several other language adopted Latin words. Most of the medical, legal, philosophical, and scientific terms are based on Latin language. Additionally, Roman law dominated western side. This was based on the twelve tablets through the Corpus Juris Civils and was famous in 200 BCE to 476 CE. The Roman Catholic

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Quantitative Methods and Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Quantitative Methods and Analysis - Essay Example 190). where, Z is the value of the normal distribution table at given confidence level ? is the standard deviation and E is the desired precision For AIU, Confidence level is 95%. Z (Confidence level=95%) = 1.96 ? = $700 E = $55 Thus, it implies that the institute needs to sample 623 individuals to meet the original requirements of the sample. The sample size that is determined has a significant impact on the budget of the research. An increase in the sample size will mean that the institute will have to spend more amount for carrying out the research. If the budget of AIU is not enough to cover the entire sample of 623, the institute can reduce the sample size or lower down its conditions in confidence level or desired precision. If we see the normal distribution table, we see that the z value deceases with decease in confidence level (Levin & Rubin, 2007). In order to reduce the sample size, one option that AIU is having is to reduce its confidence level. Confidence level is a repr esentation of the surety of the data received. Confidence level can be defined as the likelihood of the true population parameter lying within the range specified by the confidence interval (Stattrek, 2011). Decreasing the confidence level will lead to decrease of the z value, which will reduce the sample size. ... crease the distance from the mean that is permissible for the mean dollars spent by each card holder to $70 at the same confidence level, the sample size becomes: We can see that a slight increase (from 55 to 70) in the marginal error that is acceptable to the researchers lead to a decrease in the required size drastically (from 623 to 385). References Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2007). Research Methods in Education, 6th ill. ed. NY: Routledge. Levin, R.I., & Rubin, D.S. (2007). Statistics for Management, 7th ed. New Delhi: Dorling Kinderseley (India) Pvt. Ltd. Stattrek. (2011). Confidence Level. [Online]. Available at: http://stattrek.com/Help/Glossary.aspx?Target=Confidence%20level [Last accessed on 20th June 2011]. Wrenn, B., Stevens, R.E., & Loundon, D.L. (2006). Marketing research: text and cases, 2nd ill. ed. New York: The Haworth Press. Part 2 Surveys are very useful tool to collect information about a population. In a research using surveys a questionnaire is admin istered on a carefully identified sample of respondents (McQuarrie, 2006). Survey questionnaires are typically aimed at identifying particular respondent’s characteristics, attitudes or perception. Surveys find extensive application in areas such as market research, psychological studies, sociology and human resources. One example of a survey can be a survey in the area of market research, where respondents are asked to respond to their opinion about a particular product or service. Such surveys can be administered through questionnaires written on paper. Another type of survey can be the one used by the HR department of organizations to assess the employee satisfaction levels. These surveys can be administered as web-based surveys. Telephonic surveys can be administered to analyze the

Saturday, November 16, 2019

African American History Paper Essay Example for Free

African American History Paper Essay Dr. Hardy’s view is that if you really want to understand slavery and know its full legacy and meaning you have to work with blacks. Dr. Hardy felt that even though slavery was so long ago we still feel the suffering and sorrow psychologically. According to Hardy, â€Å"talking about slavery may evoke feelings of shame and humiliation or anguish and rage in African Americans, while it tends to bring up shame, guilt, and denial in White people.† Dr. Hardy believes that even though slavery happened so long ago today both black and whites have negative feelings when the topic of slavery is brought up. The documentary that we watched in class called Africans in America: the terrible transformation is about slowly but surely piece by piece African Americans became enslaved in the US. Now to tie these together is very difficult. They are similar yet different subjects. The major topic that ties them together is slavery. What is most critical to understand especially when we consider the video Africans in America: a terrible transformation is that the Atlantic Slave Trade and slavery in America were invented to pull poor people, black and white people apart to keep them fighting one another making blacks and whites begin resent each other. I agree with Dr. Donald H. Matthews when he pointed out, in his book Slavery was â€Å"a violation of one of the greatest achievements of Western Civilization, namely, that one should never treat a subject as an object.† When we watched the PBS documentary Africans in America: the terrible transformation I learned about how slowly America was evolving into a country of slavery. Before life wasn’t perfect but it was decent not everyone was equal neither. Even not all white people were equal the classes were rich and poor. The blacks and the poor whites were on the same level/class and they began to fight though like I said earlier. There aren’t many differences between the documentary and the book that Dr. Hardy wrote but I can name a couple. The documentary looks at the past and how it evolved. While the book looks at the future/present and how we are affected now. Even though these very different they bring together the same idea that slavery has a big effect.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Essay --

I do not agree with the theorem that the successful brands are build on the successful products. It has been deliberate that the successful brands are built on the beliefs and not on the products. The most of the individuals don’t contemplate about underpinning the brand they develop but they necessitate offering a good product and earn a good income through selling it in the marketplace. Moreover, the thing on which most of the successful small businesses operate is the good and solid foundation of shared values and beliefs. These values go more than the attributes of the product. By communicating these attitudes and values, the company put itself on the successful way of transacting business and it helps in finding out the company’s real worth and value. The research has found that all the great companies have a common ideology of â€Å"fundamental values and a sense of persistence beyond just creating cash†. This inspires the people throughout the organization. (Vrontis, 1998) The successful brand is fundamental to a number of the factors. According to a bedrock idea or principle, every turn supports a product or a company and such a platform is known as positioning. A brand has no attraction without the element of positioning. The brand which has some sort of uniqueness and reliability, it will get the distinct advantage and attention of the people in the market. The successful brand is the result of three characteristics which are to be different, to be focused and to be relevant. The determinants of successful brands are discussed below: TO BE DIFFERENT Companies can build a strong brand by sticking out from the competition. Putting itself in the background noise is the great loss for the business. TO BE FOCUSED Being focused... ...he customers regarding the New Coke. The company returned to the old Coke following the great level of allegations from the customers. (Nicholas, 2013) WHY DO THE COMPANIES PREFER BRANDING Most of the companies rely heavily on the branding for the reason that the customers are often seen committed with brands and make repeat purchases. It is the nature of the loyal customers and even all the human beings that they do not leave the product, which facilitates them in some way better than any other product regardless of price. Nowadays, the companies are trying to cultivate the loyal customers by treating them in different way such as rewarding them and offering incentives. In this way, the companies get â€Å"the free word of mouth† marketing by making the people pleased to talk about the product positively in front of their friends and relatives. (Brand Loyalty, 2011)

Monday, November 11, 2019

The increasing problem of the destruction of the Amazonian rainforest

In the following essay I am going to describe the increasing problem of the destruction of the Amazonian rainforest. The forest lies in Amazonia, an area of Brazil, so called because of its proximity to the river Amazon. The Amazonian rainforest was once flourishing with growth and teeming with wildlife. However, due to the rapid rate at which the forest is being decimated, few trees will remain for the next generation to perceive. This crisis is so extreme that every day an area the size of Wales is demolished, and in only half an hour approximately half a million trees are pulverised. Already, half the original rain forest has been destroyed. And the reason for this catastrophic abolishment of nature? Money! One of the foremost problems is the construction of huge roads proceeding though the forest and knocking down trees and vegetation in its path. These roads often consist of thousands of kilometres of very basic, primitive, bumpy tracks carved out of the sandy soil. The most prestigious road of its kind is the â€Å"Trans Amazonian Highway. † The roads are built to connect the rain forest with Brazil's major cities, of which the majority are situated on the coast. Although the building of these roads should not contribute to the destruction of the rainforest, due to heavy machinery and the odd careless worker many trees are being damaged unnecessarily. They are cutting down far from the minimal amount of trees possible for the project. The consequence of the Amazonian rainforest being made accessible to major cities is the increasing potential of well established and prospering businesses set to make a fortune for some poor Brazilian families. As an outcome to this are frontier towns comprised from wood extracted and transported from the rainforest. Brazil is home to millions of impoverished citizens. The general domestic standards in homes often consist of no water or electricity and fairly severe food shortages. This poor standard of life encourages many families to move west in search of better conditions in which to work and live. The government issued each family with a plot of land to cultivate and occasionally this would include a house. The poor Brazilians began to rebuild their lives, however, before their land could be utilised it had to go through the lengthy but crucial process of removing all the trees from their plot. To do this they used destructive tools like axes and chainsaws then after to get rid of any remnants of life they would burn it. This was a further problem as many fires got out of hand and lead to major forest fires. After a while it became known as â€Å"slash and burn† Once the land was clear the settlers started to plant and grow their crops, corn, manioc and sweet potatoes to feed their families. Because the settlers had know knowledge of agriculture many wasted time carrying procedures to no effect. At first their crops were productive, however, because there were no trees left to shield the soil from the penetrating sun it soon dried out and the yield sunk into decline. After ten years there was nothing to harvest, so, the settlers packed up their positions and moved on to another plot to start again. After another ten years the same thing would happen and they would move to another plot. Many millions of trees were destroyed in this way. However after approximately thirty years the area the settlers had originally inhabited had re grown, so the people alternated between plots. These people were nicknamed as â€Å"the shifting cultivators. Although this did contribute to destroying the rainforest they were not major destroyers. An additional Contribution to the destruction of the rainforest is the trading of forest land to large companies who in exchange give money to the Brazilians. These companies are not concerned for the welfare of the forests and its wildlife. Their main interest is establishing their businesses so they will become a thriving success. However before they can commence with the construction work the forest trees have to be cleared quickly and therefore the most efficient method of doing this is fire. This process proves fatal to the environment in a wide variety of different ways. Firstly when trees are burned it causes an enormous amount of smoke and consequently lots of pollution. In addition, fire is extremely unpredictable, and depending on the direction of the wind any forest adjacent to the plot of land possessed by the company is under the risk of also being burned. This form of destruction is also far worse for the animals inhabiting the forest, because, unlike the chopping down of trees the animals have a minimal opportunity of survival†¦ early every living organism is slaughtered. The citizens of the forest are also endangered, many people die this way. Beef is currently in considerable demand all over the world; people just can't get enough of it. The poor people of Brazil saw this as a great opportunity to make money and consequently started purchasing large ranches in the rainforest in which to nurture and breed their cattle. However, once the cows have consumed all the grass and vegetation in one field they are transferred to another, this system goes on all the time. In consequence to huge areas of land being trodden on for many years, the soil looses its fertility and therefore no seeds or crops can survive. This system is increasingly being used around Brazil and is by far the biggest and worst destroyer. For years, areas of the rainforest have been destroyed by fire for varying causes. Subsequently, all this pollution is adding to the already horrific situation of global warming. If the pollution of are planet continues at this rapid rate in as little as 100 years many peoples lives could be ruined. Islands similar to Guernsey could be completely beneath the sea. The reason for this future disaster is the gasses which are being constantly radiated off industry and then interwoven in the Earths atmosphere, this consequently forms a warm blanket around the Earth which is starting to melt the ice at the poles, and as the ice melts the sea level rises and starts to flood flat land areas. An as a result of this many farming land will be destroyed and therefore food will become more scarce and prices near exorbitant for poor countries. The situation will be so dyer that the entire country of Bangladesh will be flooded because it is 80% flat land. It is also one of the most highly populated countries in the world. This will impact our lives as well; many areas of the British Isles will become submerged by sea. No country, person or animal will escape the effects of human disregard for the environment around us. Mining is another industry destroying the Rainforest. Large areas of land are dug up by companies wanting to make money from the precious minerals. The types of substances extracted are, tin, mananes, aluminium, iron and copper. Mining is a huge business and there are lots of additional expenses which have to be considered. For example more space is needed to provide the minors with hospitable accommodation, it is also necessary for 1000 km of railway to be dug for exporting the finished products to their required destinations. More lines are being built at an extremely fast speed. As much as 2 and a half km of the track is built a day and therefore it is not the workers priority, how they get rid of the trees and wildlife. All this construction is at the expense of the plants and animals. Charcoal making is a large occupation for many Brazilian citizens. However, because of the pollution it sends into the atmosphere it is adding to the greenhouse affect. The process of making charcoal involves baking the wood in a small mound of earth surrounded by sticks it takes a lot of time, experience and care. Charcoal is in such demand that 4 tonnes of wood only lasts for 4 minutes in a factory. Brazil is home to the 4th largest dam in the world. The purpose of these huge structures (built mostly in the 80's and 90's) is to generate cheap electricity. However, some people say they make more than can be used in Brazil, because the Brazilians don't use many electrical items. The dams function by a series of clever but complicated methods; all rivers start in hills, and therefore flow down the side of the mountain or hill into the sea or a lake. As the water is flowing down the hill inevitably gathers speed and it is this speed that can be converted into electricity by things called turbines. These turbines are comprised of a large wall built across the river. A small amount of water is let through a small gap, but the rest builds up behind the wall building up force to get through the gap. It is this force which generates the electricity; because inside the turbine there is a wheel which is being turned by the force of the water this can then be transformed into electricity. Brazil makes hydro electricity. However, there are many downsides to this method of resource preserving. Firstly due to the turbine a lot of the forest has been flooded by the water which overflows. Many animals have drowned and the smaller species which in future will prove vital in the ecosystem had no chance of survival. Even the lucky ones who were rescued appeared to be suffering. The pollution is so bad that the water has become acid and therefore unsafe. The Brazilians were promised that a certain percentage of profits would be donated to support them, however, this has not been the case. It has turned out that Brazil did not originally have the money to fund this project so they borrowed money from large companies and are still paying it back, with interest! The people in charge of the project it appears have also overlooked some simple ways of making money and at the same time utilising the forest; they could have sold the trees they flooded and in exchange received additional funding. This was an extremely expensive project with what at the end appears to be no final product. The Brazilians can't use all the electricity being generated. The flooding of the rainforest also disadvantages the Brazilian indigenous peoples. The land protected and preserved for them is being also destroyed along with its citizens. All the thousands of natives who inhabit the forest are being endangered because of the different people such as gold miners, forest workers and dam builder's bringing with them new viruses and diseases which they are not immune to and consequently can not fight off. Gold mining is the final thing which is decimating the forests, to extract the gold they blast the banks with powerful water hoses which erode the river sides. They also use arsenic, which is a poison to extract the gold. The water is consequently polluted and the fish inedible. The land becomes toxic and unusable forever. In conclusion, I strongly believe that if this disrespect for one of the most beautiful natural phenomena's of the world refuses to cease, the human race will have destroyed it before we truly recognise what cures and life saving treatment it can offer us. The Amazonian Rainforest is being sabotaged so quickly that unless some drastic action is taken quickly we will never realise the full potential of the forest. There is a lot of controversy and speculation about what to do with the forest, however, I believe the forest should be preserved for one prime reason, and that is the true and rightful owner of the forest†¦ nature.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Mirror mirror on the wall-cultures consequences in a value test of its own design Essay

The paper offers a critical reading of Geert Hofstede’s (1980) Culture’s Consequences using an analytical strategy where the book is mirrored against itself and analyzed in terms of its own proposed value dimensions. â€Å"Mirroring† unravels the book’s normative viewpoint and political subtext and exposes discursive interests in its research process. Making all this evident in the canonical book’s own terms, this paper communicates critical concerns across paradigm boundaries. It indicates the need to reconsider concepts and convictions that predominate cross-cultural research and to adopt norms of reflexivity that transcend existing notions of â€Å"cultural relativism.† Globalization, there seems to be a need to further these attempts at reevaluating its foundations. To a great extent, the knowledge produced in this field is still firmly rooted in the orthodoxy of functionalist, â€Å"normal† science—its positivist epistemology and objectivist rhetoric (see Burrell & Morgan, 1979). While there are a few interpretive, emically oriented case studies (e.g., Ahrens, 1996; Brannen, 2004), these generally remain a marginalized pursuit (MarschanPiekkari & Welch, 2004); studies are usually nomothetic and quantitative, with researchers posing themselves as discoverers of universal regularities and systematic causal relationships. Cultural relativism, when admitted, is seen to relate to the scientist—not to science Itself—and is accordingly â€Å"corrected† by rituals of confession, (rare) attempts to create crosscultural research teams, or various â€Å"bias control† techniques. In this vein, international management thought is evolving into quite a large body of thought— one that, despite its name, underrepresents many regions of the world in terms of authorship and topics of analysis (Kirkman & Law, 2005). Moreover, like other managerial disciplines that aspire to shape actual workplaces, its influence extends into the world of practice as well.   The book indeed entailed various substantive contributions. Apparently, as globalization progressed into the 1980s, crossing traditional boundaries, national culture could no longer be disregarded. What until then constituted a beast too â€Å"soft† or vague for the positivist epistemology of â€Å"normal† science became a focus of much interest. Hofstede, it can be said, tamed the beast— he divided it, counted it, tabled it, and graphed it. â€Å"Culture† was reduced to â€Å"values,† which were reduced to a limited set of questions on an IBM questionnaire. â€Å"National society† was reduced to â€Å"middle class rather than the working class† (1980: 56), which was reduced to IBM personnel from the marketing and service divisions. Answers were quantified, computerized, â€Å"statisticalized.† Things cultural could finally be said in â€Å"scientific† language. October Subsequently, the book promoted sensitivity to cultural diversity at the workplace (and beyond it). In addition, it undermined the widespread assumption that American management knowledge is universal and thus easily transferable across cultures, and challenged psychology’s long-standing refusal to acknowledge the relevance of culture as anything but an external variable (see Joseph, Reddy, & Searle-Chatterjee, 1990: 21; Triandis, 2004). Culture, Hofstede claimed, is a â€Å"mental programming† instilled in people’s minds—an internal variable, shaping behavior from the inside out. Thus, for organizational practice, management theory, and psychology, national culture is relevant; it does count. And as far as the scientific community of his time was concerned, he had the right numbers to prove it. There were, however, very serious critiques from the outset (e.g., Baskerville, 2003; Eckhardt, 2002; Harrison & McKinnon, 1999; Kitayama, 2002; Merker, 1982; Robinson, 1983; Schooler, 1983; Singh, 1990). In what appears to be one of the most damning critiques of the book, McSweeney claimed that â€Å"the on-going unquestioning acceptance of Hofstede’s national culture research by his evangelized entourage suggests that in parts of the management disciplines the criteria for acceptable evidence are far too loose† . Hofstede never failed to respond to the ongoing stream of criticism, defended his methodological decisions, and clarified the study’s claims and implications (e.g., 1990, 2001, especially p. 73). The debate that evolved was extensive, but it generally focused on a single question: Does Hofstede â€Å"really† capture â€Å"feminine-in-management† meets â€Å"globalization.† Business Horizons, 36(2): 71– 81. Calas, M. B., & Smircich, L. 1999. Past postmodernism? Re ´ flections and tentative directions. Academy of Management Review, 24: 649 – 671. Chandy, P. R., & Williams, T. G. E. 1994. The impact of journals and authors on international business. Journal of International Business Studies, 25: 715–728. Clegg, S. R., & Hardy, C. 1999. Introduction. In S. R. Clegg & C. Hardy (Eds.), Studying organization: Theory & method: 1–22. London: Sage. Cooper, R. 1989. Modernism, post modernism and organizational analysis 3: The contribution of Jacques Derrida. Organization Studies, 10: 479 –502. Cooper, R., Burrell, G. 1988. Modernism, postmodernism and organizational analysis: An introduction. Organization Studies, 9: 91–112. October Foucault, M. 1972. The archaeology of knowledge. (Translated by A. M. S. Smith.) New York: Pantheon. Foucault, M. 1977. Language, counter-memory, practice: Selected essays and interviews. (Edited by D. F. Bouchard.) Oxford: Blackwell. Foucault, M. 1980. Power/knowledge: Selected interviews and other writings 1972–1977. (Edited by C. Gordon.) New York: Pantheon. Frost, P. 1980. Toward a radical framework for practicing organization science. Academy of Management Review, 5: 501–507. Gioia, D. A., & Pitre, E. 1990. Multiparadigm perspectives on theory building. Academy of Management Review, 5: 584 – 602. Harrison, G. L., & McKinnon, J. L. 1999. Cross-cultural research in management control systems design: A review of the current state. Accounting, Organizations and Society. 24: 483–506. Hart, W. B. 1999. Interdisciplinary influences in the study of intercultural relations: A citation analysis of the International Journal of Intercultural Relations. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 23: 575–589. Hofstede, G. 1978. The poverty of management control philosophy. Academy of Management Review, 3: 450 – 461. Hofstede, G. 1980. Culture’s consequences: International differences in work-related values. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage. Hofstede, G. 1983. The cultural relativity of organizational practices and theories. Journal of International Business Studies, 14(2): 75– 89. Hofstede, G. 1990. A reply and comment on Joginder P. Singh: â€Å"Managerial culture and work-related values in India.† Organization Studies, 11: 103–106. Hofstede, G. 1991. Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind. London: McGraw-Hill. Hofstede, G. 1994. Management scientists are human. Management Science, 40: 4 –13. Hofstede, G. 1996. An American in Paris: The influence of nationality on organization theories. Organization Studies, 17: 525–537. Hofstede, G. (Ed.). 1998a. Masculinity and femininity: The taboo dimension of national cultures. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Derrida, J. 1972. Positions. (Translated and annotated by A. Bass.) Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Hofstede, G. 1998b. Masculinity/femininity as a dimension of culture. In G. Hofstede (Ed.), Masculinity and femininity: The taboo dimension of national cultures: 3–28. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Eckhardt, G. 2002. Book review of Culture’s consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations (second edition). Australian Journal of Management, 27: 89 –94. Hofstede, G. 1998c. The cultural construction of gender. In G. Hofstede (Ed.), Masculinity and femininity: The taboo dimension of national cultures: 77–105. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Escobar, A. 1995. Encountering development: The making and unmaking of the third world. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Hofstede, G. 1998d. Comparative studies of sexual behavior: Sex as achievement or as relationship? In G. Hofstede (Ed.), Masculinity and femininity: The taboo dimension of national cultures: 153–178. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Ferguson, K. E. 1994. On bringing more theory, more voices and more politics to the study of organizations. Organization, 1: 81–99. Hofstede, G. 1998e. Religion, masculinity, and sex. In G. Hofstede (Ed.), Masculinity and femininity: The taboo dimension of national cultures: 192–209. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research: 463– 477. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Hofstede, G. 2001. Culture’s consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Marschan-Piekkari, R., & Welch, C. 2004. Qualitative research methods in international business: The state of the art. In R. Marschan-Piekkari & C. Welch (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research methods for international business: 5–24. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. Hofstede, G., & Bond, M. H. 1988. The Confucius connection: From cultural roots to economic growth. Organizational Dynamics, 16(4): 4 –21. Hofstede, G., & Hofstede, G. J. 2005. Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind (revised & expanded 2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. Hofstede, G., & McCrae, R. R. 2004. Personality and culture revisited: Linking traits and dimensions of culture. Cross-Cultural Research, 38: 52– 88. Hoppe, M. H. 2004. An interview with Geert Hofstede. Academy of Management Executive, 18(1): 75–79. Jack, G., & Lorbiecki, A. 2003. Asserting possibilities of resistance in the cross-cultural teaching machine: Reviewing videos of others. In A. Prasad (Ed.), Postcolonial theory and organizational analysis: A critical engagement: 213–232. New York: Palgrave. Martin, J. 1994. The organization of exclusion: Institutionalization of sex inequality, gendered faculty jobs and gendered knowledge in organizational theory and research. Organization, 1: 401– 431. McSweeney, B. 2002. Hofstede’s model of national cultural differences and their consequences: A triumph of faith—A failure of analysis. Human Relations, 55: 89 – 118. Merker, S. L. 1982. Book review of Geert Hofstede’s Culture’s consequences: International differences in work-related values. Behavioral Science, 27: 195–197. Meyerson, D. E. 1998. Feeling stressed and burned out: A feminist reading and re-visioning of stress-based emotions within medicine and organization science. Organization Science, 9: 103–118. Jack, G., & Westwood, R. 2006. Postcolonialism and the politics of qualitative research in international business. Management International Review, 46: 481–501. Morgan, G. 1983. The significance of assumptions. In G. Morgan (Ed.), Beyond method: Strategies for social research: 377–382. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage. Joseph, G. G., Reddy, V., & Searle-Chatterjee, M. 1990. Ethnocentrism in the social sciences. Race & Class, 31(4): 1–26. Mumby, D. K., & Putnam, L. L. 1992. The politics of emotion: A feminist reading of bounded rationality. Academy of Management Review, 17: 465– 486. Kirkman, B. L., & Law, K. S. K. 2005. From the editors: International management research in AMJ: Our past, present, and future. Academy of Management Journal, 48: 377–386. Kirkman, B. L., Lowe., K. B., Gibson, C. B. 2006. A quarter century of Culture’s consequences: A review of empirical research incorporating Hofstede’s cultural values framework. Journal of International Business Studies, 37: 285–320. Kitayama, S. 2002. Culture and basic psychological processes—Toward a system view of culture: Comment on Oyserman et al. (2002). Psychological Bulletin, Knights, D., & Morgan, G. 1991. Corporate strategy, organizations, and subjectivity: A critique. Organization Studies, 12: 251–273. Kuhn, T. 1972. The structure of scientific revolutions. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Kunda, Z. 1990. The case for motivated reasoning. Psychological Bulletin, 108: 480 – 498. Kwek, D. 2003. Decolonizing and re-presenting Culture’s consequences: A postcolonial critique of cross-cultural studies in management. In A. Prasad (Ed.), Postcolonial theory and organizational analysis: A critical engagement: 121–146. New York: Palgrave. Lyotard, J.-F. 1984. The postmodern condition: A report on knowledge. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. Manning, P. K., & Cullum-Swan, B. 1994. Narrative, content, and semiotic analysis. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln Nkomo, S. M. 1992. The emperor has no clothes: Rewriting â€Å"Race in organizations.† Academy of Management Review, 17: 487–513. Oyserman, D., Coon, H., & Kemmelmeier, M. 2002. Rethinking individualism and collectivism: Evaluation of theoretical assumptions and meta-analyses. Psychological Bulletin, 128: 3–72. Parker, M. 1992. Post-modern organizations or postmodern organization theory. Organization Studies, 13: 1–17. Prasad, A. (Ed.). 2003. Postcolonial theory and organizational analysis: A critical engagement. New York: Palgrave Reed, M. 1992. Introduction. In M. Reed & M. Hughes (Eds.), Rethinking organizations: New directions in organizational theory and analysis: 1–16. London: Sage. Richardson, L. 1994. Writing: A method of inquiry. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research: 516 –529. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Robinson, R. V. 1983. Book review of Culture’s consequences: International differences in work-related values. Work and Occupations, 10: 110 –115. Said, E. W. 1978. Orientalism. New York: Random House. Schimmack, U., Oishi, S., & Diener, E. 2005. Individualism: A valid and important dimension of cultural differences between nations. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 9: 17–31. Schooler, C. 1983. Book review of Culture’s consequences: International differences in work-related values. Contemporary Sociology, 12: 167. Academy of Management Review Singh, J. P. 1990. Managerial culture and work-related values in India. Organization Studies, 11: 75–101. Sà ¸ndergaard, M. 1994. Research note: Hofstede’s consequences: A study of reviews, citations and replications. Organization Studies, 15: 447– 456. Sorge, A. 1983. Book review of Culture’s consequences: International differences in work-related values. Administrative Science Quarterly, 28: 625– 629. Spivak, G. C. 1988. Subaltern studies: Deconstructing historiography. In R. Guha & G. C. Spivak (Eds.), Selected subaltern studies: 3–34. New York: Oxford University Press. October Van Deusen, C. 2002. Book review of Culture’s consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations. Business & Society, 41: 125–128. Vunderink, M. & Hofstede, G. 1998. Femininity shock: American students in the Netherlands. In G. Hofstede (Ed.), Masculinity and femininity: The taboo dimension of national cultures: 139 –152. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Weaver, G. R., & Gioia, D. A. 1994. Paradigms lost: Incommensurability vs structurationist inquiry. Organization Studies, 15: 565–590. Triandis, H. C. 1993. Reviews on cultural phenomena— Cultures and organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly, 38: 132–134. Westwood, R. 2004. Towards a postcolonial research paradigm in international business and comparative management. In R. Marschan-Piekkari & C. Welch (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research methods for international business: 56 – 83. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. Triandis, H. C. 2004. The many dimensions of culture. Academy of Management Executive, 18(1): 88 –93. Williamson, D. 2002. Forward from a critique of Hofstede’s model of national culture. Human Relations, 55: 1373–1395. Galit Ailon (ailonsg@mail.biu.ac.il) is a lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Bar-IIan University. She received her Ph.D. from the Department of Labor Studies at Tel-Aviv University. Her research interests include organizational globalization, organizational culture, organizational theory, and managerial ideologies.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Free Essays on Operating Systems

OPERATING SYSTEMS An operating system is the program that manages all the application programs in a computer system. This also includes managing the input and output devices, and assigning system resources. Operating systems evolved as the solution to the problems that were evident in early computer systems, and coincide with the changing computer systems. Three cycles are clear in the evolution of computers, the mainframe computers, minicomputers and microcomputers, and each of these stages influenced the development of operating systems. Now, advances in software and hardware technologies have resulted in an increased demand for more sophisticated and powerful operating systems, with each new generation able to handle and perform more complex tasks. The folowing report examines the development of operating systems, and how the changing tehcnology shaped the evolution of operating systems. First Generation Computers (19451955) In the mid1940's enormous machines capable of performing numerical calculations were created. The machine consisted of vacuum tubes and plugboards, and programming was done purely in machine code. Programming languages were unheard of during the early part of the period, and each machine was specifically assembled to carry out a particular calculation. These early computers had no need for an operating system and were operated directly from the operator's console by a computer programmer, who had immediate knowledge of the computers design. By the early 1950's punched cards were introduced, allowing programs to be written and read directly from the card, instead of using plugboards. Second Generation Computers (19551965) In the mid1950's, the transistor was introduced, creating a more reliable computer. Computers were used primarily for scientific and engineering calculations and were programmed mainly in FORTRAN and assembly language. As computers became more rel... Free Essays on Operating Systems Free Essays on Operating Systems OPERATING SYSTEMS An operating system is the program that manages all the application programs in a computer system. This also includes managing the input and output devices, and assigning system resources. Operating systems evolved as the solution to the problems that were evident in early computer systems, and coincide with the changing computer systems. Three cycles are clear in the evolution of computers, the mainframe computers, minicomputers and microcomputers, and each of these stages influenced the development of operating systems. Now, advances in software and hardware technologies have resulted in an increased demand for more sophisticated and powerful operating systems, with each new generation able to handle and perform more complex tasks. The folowing report examines the development of operating systems, and how the changing tehcnology shaped the evolution of operating systems. First Generation Computers (19451955) In the mid1940's enormous machines capable of performing numerical calculations were created. The machine consisted of vacuum tubes and plugboards, and programming was done purely in machine code. Programming languages were unheard of during the early part of the period, and each machine was specifically assembled to carry out a particular calculation. These early computers had no need for an operating system and were operated directly from the operator's console by a computer programmer, who had immediate knowledge of the computers design. By the early 1950's punched cards were introduced, allowing programs to be written and read directly from the card, instead of using plugboards. Second Generation Computers (19551965) In the mid1950's, the transistor was introduced, creating a more reliable computer. Computers were used primarily for scientific and engineering calculations and were programmed mainly in FORTRAN and assembly language. As computers became more rel...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Analysis On Nike And Feasibility Of Imc Plan Marketing Essay

Analysis On Nike And Feasibility Of Imc Plan Marketing Essay Executive Summary Marketing processes as we are conversant with are an integral part of any organization and it undertaking. The sole purpose for any given business organization is to produce products and service so that it can be sold in the market and reaches consumer. Marketing is one of the process undertakings within the organization at the operational level with a purpose. Strategically speaking, any forms of marketing have their own benefits and limitations. However, in the current scheme of things, we can reasoned herein that marketing endeavor of corporation have undergone tremendous change at all level. There are also various tools and marketing tactics that organization exploit for the sole consideration of befitting organizational processes and its marketing endeavor. The purpose of this report is to discuss the central theme of ‘IMC Plan in a major organization† and to link it with the concepts and theoretical meaning of the subject. We are of the opinion th at the concept of integrated marketing communication is hugely in practiced amongst marketers for the sheer element attached to it. But what are the IMC processes at play concerning Nike? For that reason, this report also attempts to analyze the many feature and meaning fo IMC and its various tools that si at play. Besides, Nike is also considered as the organization to comprehend upon the realms of IMC and its meaning and how far the company IMC has been effective on a global scale. Besides, the report in parts also accumulates the very essence to reflect upon the entry of Nike in UAE and to identify the features of IMC at play in UAE undertaken by Nike. Introduction The concept of integrated marketing communication can be understood as a discipline of marketing communication and its planning that integrates the comprehensive values of marketing tools to the advantage of the organization and its marketing endeavor. To top it all, the practice of integrated marketing communication a lso helps companies and marketers to come out with a comprehensive and strategic outline of marketing and communication strategy that is often believed to provide clarity to messages, as well as clarity and total impact of communicated messegges that is seamless. (Yeshin, 1998, p. 68) Thus, we believe that the basis for any marketing endeavor that corporations undertake is to create a value chain internally and externally for its products and services. The creation of value chains thus requires a comprehensive integration and practices of marketing channels that is seamless across boundaries and to some extent the use of comprehensive marketing tools and communication forms. Objective of the Study & Issue in Consideration There are innumerable issues when it comes to the factor encompassing integrated marketing communication.soe of the probable issue to be identified can be looked in respect of the following: How has mass media contributed to the factor encompassing Integrated marke ting Communication? Does the factor attached to the changing aspects of communication in the current scenario have its influence on the factor encompassing how integrated marketing communication is carried out?

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Strategic Management_ Acer Computers company Essay

Strategic Management_ Acer Computers company - Essay Example d). Sony, Hewlet Packard, Dell etc are some of the competitors of Acer. Acer is not without its problems though, while market shares in Europe continue to go up, the market shares listed in North America have been slipping over the last few years (The History Of Acer, 2009). The current global financial crisis has affected the business of Acer in North America. Computer industry is one of the worst affected segments because of the recession. At the same time the business of Acer in the Asian region has increased a lot because of the comparatively less damage, the recession has done to the Asian countries like India and China. Acer is utilizing the merger and acquisition strategies to strengthen their wings across the world. In 2007, Acer announced their plans to acquire their US rivals Gateway Inc. In 2008 they have acquired more than 75% shares of Packard Bell. Acer has started to use Linux as the operating system in their notebooks and laptops from 2008 onwards in order to promote the free software Linux and also to minimize the cost of laptops. Acer and HP have recently engaged in severe law suit of patent violation which they settled amicably outside the court later. A global firm is an organization which is having multinational branches across the world. It should be remembered that a firm which produce the products domestically and market them internationally need not be a global firm. Operating in more than 100 countries and employing around 40000 people worldwide, Acer is definitely a global firm. It operates in Asia, Africa, North America, Australia, Europe, Middle East, etc. Acer, at present has 12 factories and 39 assembly centers operating in different countries. It was able to sell around 7.5 million personal computers in 1998. Moreover, Acer has an excellent global sales network with over 200agents and