Building Effective Teams & Daniels and Daniels

As part of determining the effectiveness of a team, the team’s performance needs to be carefully measured. However, measuring the performance of a traditional team, where all members work in the same place in a single location, is different from measuring the performance of that of a global-based team. There are many factors that need to be considered when it comes to these measurements. It is important that the differences be considered in order to create a fair measurement of each member’s performance.Daniels and Daniels (1993, p.  46) said that â€Å"establishing a global system of measuring performance allows alignment of global stages in the company so that any given individual employee knows at any given point in time how his/her performance is contributing to the global business objectives and strategy. † Being a member of a global-based team, there are certain skills that management would desire for the member to have in order to work effectively with t he team. These characteristics and skills need to be exhibited by the members and can be used to determine the performance of each member. The different skills are discussed briefly below. Diversity ToleranceGlobal-based teams would have members belonging to different races, different nationalities and culture. In short, the team is diversified when it comes to its members. For the members of this kind of team to work properly, each of them needs to understand the nature of the team and be willing to work with people from different countries. Teamwork Willingness As with any type of team, members should all be team players. Each team member should know how to cooperate and contribute to the success of the team in attaining its goals. Etiquette Work etiquette is very important especially in a team-based organization.Each member is expected to work with each other. Though the work ethics of each member may differ from the other, the general and standard rules should still be observed. Listening Skills This is a very important skill that any individual should possess, especially when working with teams. Listening to others means that you are respecting their views, thoughts and decisions. You may not totally agree with them but you are sending the message that you are welcoming the idea when you listen. This skill is also crucial for a team’s success. Stress Resistance Stress comes with any type of work.People get stressed due to pressure. But most of the people who are usually stressed are those that cannot manage their time wisely. It is important for a team and each member to have a good sense of time management in order to avoid getting stressed as it affects the performance and productivity of the whole team. Problem Solving and Conflict Handling One of the skills that a mature and experienced professional should have is the ability to handle most of the problems that may occur. Being able to make wise decisions to solve problems is desirable in any t eam structure.The diverse culture and nationalities of the members would also produce conflict more often than expected. Thus, it is important that each member of the team should be able to effectively handle these conflicts and come with resolutions that are amenable to everyone. To measure the performance of the team and its members in terms of the skills mentioned above, I would suggest having a balanced scorecard that encompasses all aspects of performance. The above skills are some of the competencies that each member should possess as an individual and would comprise 50% of the scorecard. The remaining 50% would be quantitative performance, i.e. adherence to the set metrics, and shareholder value. The first 50%, which are composed of the qualities described above, can be measured through peer feedback. Team members get to assess one another in terms of the above skills and rate each other accordingly. Of course, this is done anonymously. Feedback from other team members can re ally help in the assessment of each member’s performance in terms of the different qualities above. Other than peer feedback, managers and supervisors can also add their own observations of the member since there can be times that peer feedbacks become subjective.Another method of evaluating these skills, perhaps, is assessment through case study and defense. Members will be given a scenario, internal or external, that commonly happens in the business and the team and be asked to accomplish the goal described in the scenario. The scenario and the goal can be made to encompass all or most of the qualities stated above. Each member then submits a comprehensive answer and response to the case study. Managers can now evaluate each member’s capability based on the responses received. Each member will also be given the chance to defend his/her responses in a discussion with the supervisor.These performance measurement tools suggested may be presented to the upper management for approval. Perhaps, a sample feedback form and case assessment can be provided for the director to better appreciate the tools being suggested. Team and Individual Performance A team’s performance may be an indicating factor of how each member of the team works. Rewarding the team as a whole when a goal is accomplished is a good way to boost their confidence. However, each individual’s performance should also be rewarded accordingly. A team performing well as whole does not necessarily mean that every member is doing an exemplary job.If individual rewards are given to top performers, other members will also be motivated and be encouraged to work harder to also gain achievement and rewards. That would mean a much better performance that awaits the team. Analysis In my research for the above discussion on suggestions for performance measurement tools, I have come to realize that performance is not only measured in terms of what the member can do and how productive the member is. It is also important to assess different skills sets and competencies that relate to the way a member does the job and work with other people.Since in a global-based environment physical interaction may be very limited, the skills mentioned above would compensate for this and contribute to the overall success of the team. The skills mentioned above can actually be summarized into two major things: total respect for each other despite the differences and ability to work as a team with common goals. These things should be made known to the employees at the very start of building this kind of team. In fact, these skills should also be part of the qualifications in recruiting potential members of the team.With the skills mentioned above, there are some which are based on cultural differences such as diversity tolerance and conflict handling. These measurements can be better understood by the employees by explaining clearly to them the purpose of these measurement criteria. I t should be made clear to them that the purpose of these criteria is only to ensure that the employees are working well with each other despite of the differences and are able to resolve on their own the different conflicts that may exist among different members.These measurement tools can also assure them that there will be no bias on rewarding individuals just because of their cultural background; assessments will be done in an objective manner. References Daniels, J. L. & Daniels, C. N. (1993). Global Vision: Building New Models for the Corporation of the Future. USA: McGraw-Hill Professional. Mitchell, C. (2000). A Short Course in International Business Culture. Novato, CA: World Trade Press.

Mardi Gra Social Impact Study Essay

  Sydney has always been the destination of lesbian and gay tourists around the world to view this great spectacle at the South Pacific’s gay and lesbian capital. The Australian gay and lesbian tourism industry has always been on the go whenever the event comes into full view. The street parades and costume parties have always attracted tourists when compared to other events and affairs. Because of this, Sydney, the gay capital of the world, has changed from â€Å"an industrial port to a cosmopolitan, global capital increasingly dependent, for the last two to three decades, on an economy driven by consumption and leisure† (Markwell, 2002, p. 82). Therefore, it is evident that the Mardi Gra contributes solely on Australia’s tourism economy, as reflected in the paper that Kevin Markwell (2002) wrote. There are tensions and demands that leak from the Mardi Gras of Sydney, and the economic impacts of big events such as this cannot be completely ignored. Mardi Gras of Australia Localization as well as globalization can create a big impact on international events and issues that surround the nations. What Markwell (2002) has called localization-globalization dynamic refers to†¦ [T]he way in which a local, community event has challenged and overturned social mores and legislation at the state and national levels partly through its elevation to a national and international event. (Markwell, 2002, p. 83) This has an impact on the tourism industry, as it evades traditional mechanisms and instead, focuses more on the trend and movement of a certain population, creating an ever-increasing power while affecting government intervention and legislation. The tensions and demands of the Mardi Gras The first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gra parade happened on the 24th of June 1978 (Markwell, 2002, p. 83). However, what was supposed to be an enjoyable event became one that was close to disaster, as the celebration turned out to be a riot â€Å"with fifty-three people arrested and several alleging vicious assaults by police† (Markwell, 2002, p. 83). There was this tension of distinguishing what exactly was the purpose of that event, especially that there were records on concealed systematic oppression, homophobia, as well as discrimination (Markwell, 2002, p. 83). As of last year, there were approximately 10,000 people who joined the Mardi Gra of Sydney, marking the event as the biggest Mardi Gra event ever to be held in Australia (Organizers say, 2008, p. 1). According to AAP General News Wire, â€Å"Crowds of up to 300,000 people are expected to line the central city route to watch the procession of themed floats, drag queens and many more costumed and flesh-revealing revelers† (Organizers say, 2008, p. 1). To avoid unwanted riots and insurgencies, 80 military personnel and defense force employees marched among the crowds. As stated, â€Å"Those charged will face a range of offenses including affray, assault police, possessing prohibited drugs, assault, and resisting arrest† (Mother Nature, 2007, p. 1). The demand of cleaning human debris is another demand, in addition to the demand of controlling 4,000 gays and lesbians in the event that triggered an economic relief of about $500,000 in the local economy (Bathersby, 2008, p. 1). The economic impact of Mardi Gras In the economy of New Orleans, there is a report that the chosen event can generate more than $1 billion in annual spending, benefiting the economy and the tourism industry of the state (Mardi Gras questions and answers, 2009, p. 1). Noosa, on the other hand, will have poured about $500,000 last year as stated above (Bathersby, 2008, p. 1). By March 2009, they earned about $300,000, as stated in the report (Lander, 2009, p. 1). It is therefore, apparent that this year is approximately 60% less the earned revenue of last year. Nevertheless, it still is helpful to the economy, earning in New South Wales an amount of about $100,000 million each year in the area of tourism (Santow, 2002, p. 1). Each state or nation earns different amounts each year, depending on the state of tourism of that state or nation. According to Simon Santow (2002) however, [T]he Mardi Gras is suffering from a combination of increased costs and falling revenue, at a time when, ironically, there’s been no significant drop in public interest. Unless half a million dollars is found, the organization could place itself in voluntary administration, so the call has gone out for some emergency funding from the state and federal governments [of Sydney]. (Santow, 2002, p. 1) The government issues the permits in parades such as these, but there are economic impacts on big events, such as the Mardi Gras events. Focusing on the economic impact of big events In a paper that Larry Dwyer, Robert Mellor, Nina Mistilis, and Trevor Mules (2000) wrote, they stated that, as the state government receives requests in funding special events and conventions (such as the Mardi Gra), the government focuses mainly on the alleged positive impacts of these events, especially the overall economic impact. There is a framework developed by the state of New South Wales in Australia used to estimate the economic impacts of events and conventions. This is done by using â€Å"accurate and uniform set of events or conventions expenditure as input into the forecasting model† (Dwyer, Mellor, Mistilis, & Mules, 2000, pp. 191-192). Forecasting event-related expenditure is done by the following these steps: first is to estimate the number of inscope visitors; second is to estimate the inscope expenditure of visitors; third is to estimate inscope expenditure of organizers, participants, teams, and media; fourth is to estimate total event related inscope expenditure; fifth is to apply multipliers to estimate economic impacts; sixth is to estimate media impacts; seventh is to estimate fiscal impacts; eighth and final is the recognition of intangible costs and benefits (Dwyer et al. , 2000, pp. 192-194).Mardi Gra is a big event, and it covers some impacts on the economy and the society, as it affects the lives of people there and abroad. References Bathersby, D. (2008, March 2). Noosa set for pink invasion. Retrieved April 9, 2009, from The Daily database: http://www. thedaily. com. au/news/2008/mar/02/noosa-set-pink-invasion/. Brown, A. L. (2009, February 27). Mardi Gras boost. Retrieved April 9, 2009, from The Daily database: http://www. thedaily. com.au/news/2009/feb/27/mardi-gras-revellers-coast-boost/. Dwyer, L. , Mellor, R. , Mistilis, N. , & Mules, T. (2000). Forecasting the economic impacts of events and conventions. Event Management, 6, 191-204. Lander, A. (2009, March 9). Mardi Gras recovery on the coast. Retrieved April 9, 2009, from The Daily database: http://www. thedaily. com. au/news/2009/mar/09/mardi-gras-recovery-coast/. Mardi Gras questions and answers. (2009). Retrieved April 9, 2009, from the Compucast Interactive database: http://www.mardigrasneworleans. com/faq. html. Markwell, K. (2002). Mardi Gras tourism and the construction of Sydney as an international gay and lesbian city. GLQ, 8, 1, 81-99. Mother Nature to star Sydney gay parade. (2007, day). NSW, p. 1. Organizers say Mardi Gras will be biggest ever. (2008, day). NSW, p. 1. Santow, S. (2002, August 1). Mardi Gras in danger. Retrieved April 9, 2009, from The World Today Archive of the ABC database: http://www. abc. net. au/worldtoday/stories/s637685. htm.

African American Essay Example for Free

African American Essay Choose cite format: APA MLA Harvard Chicago ASA IEEE AMA African American (597) , African (466) Haven't found the essay you want? Get your custom sample essay for only $13.90/page ? Write a 750- to 1,400-word paper in which you consider the following regarding the religious group and racial/ethnic group you selected: Religious group:Â  How does your selected religious group differ from other religious groups (such as in their beliefs, worship practices, or values)? What has been the experience of your selected religious group with others that do not share its beliefs or practices? In what ways has the religious group you selected contributed to American culture? Provide specific examples of prejudice or discrimination your selected religious group has experienced. What were the sources of this prejudice or discrimination? Does what you’ve learned about this religious group help you understand it? In what ways? How does your selected racial/ethnic group differ from other racial/ethnic groups (such as differences in ancestry, language, or culture)? What has been your selected group’s experience with other groups? In what ways has the racial/ethnic group you selected contributed to American culture? Identify some specific examples of prejudice or discrimination that your selected group has experienced historically. What were the sources of this prejudice or discrimination? Does what you’ve learned about this racial/ethnic group help you understand it? How? Include the following as part of your conclusion: How are the prejudice and discrimination experienced by your selected religious group and racial/ethnic group similar? Can you draw any conclusions about discrimination from this comparison? Provide citations for all the sources you use. African American. (2016, Apr 15).

SUSTAINABILITY AND BUSINESS Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

SUSTAINABILITY AND BUSINESS - Research Paper Example This results in degradation of land, accumulation of waste, and depletion of water, oil, fuel, forests, fishing, minerals, and other natural resources. Hence conservation of natural resources is vital. Uncontrolled production of waste has to be reduced, and recycling of used products undertaken. Corporate social responsibility that advocates sustainable business practices is increasingly required. In the information-based environment business and government practices are becoming more transparent. The Triple Bottom Line of economical, social and environmental regeneration underscores corporate operations. Together with creating a more sustainable world, ethical behavior and sustainable business operations provide organizations with a competitive advantage, resulting in increased customer loyalty, greater productivity and profitability. Introduction Sustainability is defined as â€Å"meeting the economic, social, and environmental needs of the present without compromising the similar needs of the future generations†1. It is an ongoing process and includes the regeneration and equitable distribution of resources, awareness of the mutual inter-relationships between the economy, the society and the environment, prevention and control of environmental degradation, waste reduction, and the sparing use of non-renewable and renewable resources. Sustainable businesses replace nationally and internationally produced goods with products created locally and regionally; are responsible for the effects they have on the natural world; grow and develop without the need for exotic sources of capital; and use production processes that take into account the dignity and human rights of individuals and communities. Additionally, sustainable business practices result in durable and harmless products which have long-term use; and they convert consumers to customers by educating them on product purchasing2. Thesis Statement: The pupose of this report is to investigate the impor tance of sustainable business practices and to highlight the sustainable strategies used by contemporary global organizations to tackle the issue. Recommendations will be presented on how global businesses can improve their advocacy of sustainability. CSR Aids Economic, Social, Environmental & Business Sustainability Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is business’ contribution to sustainable development. Organizations in a global environment often play an important role beyond the creation of employment and wealth, to include responsibility for societal and ecological issues3. Sustainability of the environment and the natural resources of the earth is one of the most vital concerns underscoring corporate social responsibility. Another important force that drives corporate social responsibility is the practice of business ethics with transparency of information, and corporate accountability for actions taken4. To promote ethical business processes, new regional and bilatera l trade treaties are focusing on human rights issues such as labor rights and fair trade5. Other major trends that drive corporate social responsibility include the greater access to information by consumers on ethical and sustainability issues. Additionally, the rise of globalization creates powerful capitalist development which calls for the harmonizing of corporate interests with the larger public interests. Moreover, the failure of the public sector necessitates the private sector to resolve sustainability issues6. Corporate social initiatives are major activities undertaken to support causes and to fulfill commitments to corporate social responsibility. Six important social initiatives are: cause promotions, cause-related marketing, corporate social marketing, corpor

Management- Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Management- - Case Study Example In 1983 Benetton had sales of $351 million, from 2600 stores in Europe. The supply chain can be described as the network, covering the various stages in the provision of products or services to customers (Monks, 1996). It includes not only manufacturers and suppliers, but also transporters, warehouses, distributors, retailers, etc. The number of stages in the supply chain depends on the customers' needs, and the role each stage plays in fulfilling their needs. Supply Chain Management (SCM) integrates procurement, operations and logistics to provide value added products or services to customers. Effective management of the supply chain helps organizations meet customer requirements on time, with the desired quality specifications, in a cost-effective manner, through the coordination of different activities which transform raw materials into final products or services ((ICMR), Operations Management, 2003). Supply Chain Management can provide both tangible and intangible benefits to an organization. Tangible benefits include revenue growth, improved facility utilization, optimized inventory management, etc. Intangible benefits include improvement in quality, improvement in customer satisfaction, and enhanced customer and supplier techniques (Dilworth, 1992). Supply Chain Management has become on of the key areas that organizations are focusing on to reduce costs and improve the efficiency of the production process (Chopra, 1992). Four key drivers of supply chain performance are inventory, transportation, facilities and information. They help determine not only the responsiveness and effectiveness, but also the strategic fit of the supply chain. Inventory - Inventory includes raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods in the supply chain. Inventory exists in organizations due to a mismatch between demand and supply. Inventory is also maintained to increase the responsiveness of organizations to sudden increases in customer demand. Transportation - Organizations use transportation to move components and products between the different stages of the supply chain. Transportation decisions are made on the mode of transportation and route to use in the transfer of products from one point to another. Facilities - Facilities are the locations in the supply chain where the raw materials and finished goods are stored, and where work-in-progress materials are assembled or fabricated, and from which finished goods are distributed. Facility's capacity and location has significant affect on the performance of the supply chain. Information - Sometimes, the value of information as a supply chain driver is undermined due to its abstract quality. However, in reality, it is one of the key drivers affecting the performance of the supply chain. As the supply chain is made up of various entities, proper coordination is the key to improving the efficiency of the supply chain system. The flow of information also affects the performance of other drivers. With proper information, organizations can predict the quantity to produce, when it is needed and where it is needed. This makes the supply chain more effective and responsive to market demand. In order to service the needs of customers and fulfil their expectations and to meet the organizations'

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 39

Case Study Example Therefore, it created a barrier of entry to any other interested investors. This made it easy for the competitors to penetrate the market, an aspect that could have reduced its market share significantly. One of the major strength of Electra is its strong financial base. Since its inception, the company has accumulated a lot of money. This has enabled the firm to create a strong business empire despite having a shaky start. In addition, the finances have enabled the firm to stage a strong marketing campaign, thereby making it easy to expand its operations in different parts of Mexico. Moreover, the company has been using the money to develop new product lines that have enabled it to increase its sales and attract a diverse market. This has been instrumental in ensuring that the success of the business is base on different pillars. Electra has an experienced workforce. Through opening different subsidiaries, the employees have gained experience on how to deal with customers who emanates from diverse cultural, religious, and racial backgrounds. As a result, the subordinates have been playing an important role of dealing with varying challenges that affect the business in the market. This has ensured that the business remains stable even in tough economic conditions. Another major strength by Electra is its strong brand. Over the years, the company has been setting a huge budget towards marketing. This is to remind the customers of the existence of its products and services and to persuade new customers to purchase their products and services. Through the use of audio, visual, and print media, the company has created a strong brand name, an aspect that has played a significant role in attracting customer loyalty. Furthermore, this strategy has been significant in retaining the loyal customers. This continuity coupled with high products

Strategic Management of Human Resources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Strategic Management of Human Resources - Essay Example 1. The strengths based approach encourages people "to focus on aspects of work organization that lead to success rather than trying to correct failures" (case study). In this sense its approach to managing workforce is different from the SHRM approach. The SHRM approach focuses on types of people and skills needed, while the strengths based approach applies a wider perspective. It draws not on skills or things that people are good at, but on strengths which are defined as "pre -existing capacities for a particular way of behaving, thinking or feeling that is authentic and energising to the user and enables optimal functioning, development and performance". 2. SHRM is concerned with the contributions human resource strategies make to organizational effectiveness, and the ways in which these contributions are achieved (see Boxall & Purcell, 2000 and Delery & Shaw, 2001). The strengths based approach interpreted with regard to the SHRM model, is also a human resource strategy to increase organizational effectiveness. ... In this sense the strengths based approach can be seen as HPHRS since the focus is not on achieving a set organizational goal or being concerned with work systems or context, the idea is to change the organizational culture so that overall business performance improves (case study). However achievement of certain goals may still be targeted as seen in the case study where the board is allotted projects according to their strengths. As working on these projects is more energizing for the people since they are better matched to the types of tasks, better organization performance can be hoped for. It is about "focusing on aspects of work that lead to success". 3. The strengths based approach fits with what the SHRM scholars have suggested, for example, they suggest that certain employee behaviors and certain human resource strategies produce certain employee behaviors, and that the task of the human resource strategist is to uncover and test these linkages (Cappelli & Singh, 1992; Schuler & Jackson, 1987). Strengths based approach, does not identify behaviour but is a human resource strategy that matches strengths of people to certain tasks. Thus the SHRM strategist is needed to make these links between people and roles based on strengths assessment in a strengths based organization. 4. Interpretation of the strengths based approach according to the 5 Ps model of SHRM (Schuler & Jackson, 1987) is given below: 1. Philosophy- How the organization values and treats its employees. Essentially the culture of the organization. In the case study, BAE values its leadership team despite their apparent inability to solve certain tricky projects. Instead of classifying them as lacking in certain way, the organization shows respect for its people and changes

Gear Ratios Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Gear Ratios - Essay Example When we connect different sizes of gears, they will have to act like an axle and a wheel in order to modify the forces. Such force modification is observed clearly in the speed at which the each gear wheels turn. For instance, When a thirty teeth gear wheel is connected to a ten teeth gear wheel, it will be observed that the smaller wheel will spin faster as compared to the larger wheel in the gear system. By considering this, a machine could be slowed down or sped up through the changing of the gear sizes used, or through â€Å"changing gears.† Torque is a tendency measure of force to rotate an object about the axis (Elies and Lemarquand). A torque is known to be relevant only in regard to a given axis. In this case, torque about the motor shaft etc. In order to create a torque, the force is required to act at a certain distance from the pivot point or axis. The torque amount that is applied to a bolt or nut can determine the clamp load. The clamp load is seen to be a determi ning factor in the assembly performance. The applied torque to a fastener with compounds that are ant seize and which are reapplied to the threads will enable uniformity during the whole process but it will raise the clamp load when compared to an unlubricated bolt (Atallah and Howe,2001) In the current experiment the gear wheels were used to discover how force can be modified and transferred in the gear system which was a lifting device. In this case, to create a lifting device, several equipment were used that included battery, circuit,6 gears,2 sprockets In the experiment, a motor and great kit was used to create a lifting device. This was created from several pieces that included battery, circuit, 6 gears, and 2 sprockets. In this case the battery provided power to rotate the gears The gear and sprocket were both used to transmit power within the lifting device, or to move objects through interlocking with them. Despite a gear and a sprocket tends to be similar,

Success is Better Measured by One's Financial Attainment Essay

Success is Better Measured by One's Financial Attainment - Essay Example A smaller number of working professionals also struggle to attend graduate school and take postgraduate courses. However, because of several social economic and demographic reasons, not everyone can be in the profession of their choice. Thus, only a few can manage or afford to choose, and they inevitably pick such and like careers. Success can only be effectively evaluated by a person’s financial attainment. The one thing that most of the high-end jobs have in common is that the paychecks are much larger than what the people in lower jobs, like teachers, nurses, firefighters and police officers make. From this, we can conclude that the majority choose the jobs, not because of how fulfilling they are but how much money they earn. Bearing in mind that the society is aware of the distinction, it is evident that most of these professions are the ones who live in the best houses, drive nice cars and take their children to the high cost private schools. Society, in general, has the propensity to admire and praise those who seem to achieve notwithstanding how they got the success. Therefore, the financial attainment of an individual is a better and more suitable measurement for success than the education level. Take Bill Gates, for instance: he dropped out of Harvard without his degree and left school because he had problems with the administration for doing business in the dorm room (Times magazine, 2007). As such, his level of education at the time he was starting Microsoft, the company that made him one of the world’s wealthiest and most influential men, were the same as those of any college drop outs. However, he is not known or revered for his academic credentials of lack of them for that matter. He is known for his phenomenal wealth, and whether he made it with or without a college degree is beside the point since he is easily one of the most successful men in the world. While it may have to do with his contribution to technology, it is worth notin g that he did not achieve the feat alone yet many of his co-founders who are not as wealthy are hardly known as popular as him. Similarly, several of the greatest financial successes of the current times, including Paul Ellen, co-founder of Microsoft, the late Steve Jobs and Richard Branson, never finished schools, and they became some of the worlds fanatical giants (Carney 2009). While their success is undeniable, measuring it based on academic attainment would be impractical. Success is best measured by financial achievement since the people who have the most influence in the world are not the most educated, but the ones who wealthy financially. In order to enhance this, assume one is a professor with 10 degrees and someone else is a billionaire and a school dropout. One is limited to what he/she can achieve alone, since, without the money, one cannot reach very many people with your education. However, the dropout with money can use it to pay people with more education, hence, he is more successful in that endeavor. If success represents the achievements of a person’s set objectives, let us hypothetically visit students in class and inquire them, â€Å"What is your intention for being in class?† - â€Å"To get a degree†. If yes, does it mean that when they get the degree they have achieved their intention? We do not stop there, we ask further: â€Å"What do you intend to do with your degree?† - â€Å"To get a well paying job, so I can start a family†

Discuss the Impact that the 911 Attacks had on US Law Enforcement Research Paper

Discuss the Impact that the 911 Attacks had on US Law Enforcement - Research Paper Example This prompted many changes in the country’s law enforcement, to prevent and prepare United States for such attacks in future. This paper discusses the impacts that the September 11 attacks had on the United States law enforcement. Immediately after the attack, George Bush, the then president of the United States declared war on all forms of terrorism. This resulted to drastic measures in the law enforcement to enhance their ability of responding to real and perceived threats from terrorism and other crimes. Currently, Peterson (2005, p61) notes that police in United States have greater surveillance powers than ever before in the history of the country. The era after September 11 attacks witnessed changes in federal laws, interpretation of privacy rules and expansion of technological applications in matters related to security and law enforcement. In addition, methods and circumstances used by police to investigate the public were expanded, a development that has raised concern s that the state violates individual rights for privacy (Kegley, 2003, p13). Proponents of the changes in the law enforcement argue that police should be equipped with all powers necessary to enhance their capacity of dealing with the modern international crime and terrorism. Coupled with increasing application of technology in crime, it is imperative for law enforcers to ensure public safety under highly unpredictable situations. One of the major impacts of September 11 terrorist attack is enhancement of surveillance operations in the United States. According to Kegley (2003, pp79-82) the legal and operational measures have been enhanced to apply greater inspection to minimize threats and apprehend international criminals before they commit crimes. Abrams (2005, p29) argues that the inability of law enforcers to keep in pace with technological developments of international criminals has necessitated the need for improving on their surveillance and intelligence gathering ability. In this respect, law enforcers are increasingly incorporating private and public enterprises to access personal details of people in the country. To enhance greater access to personal information, American lawmakers and legal institutions modified civil privacy protection in response to the attack and anticipated global terrorism threats. After the September 11 attacks in the United States, Abrams(2005, pp53-57) notes that the congress made several amendments on federal laws that gave police greater search and surveillance authority in addition to greater powers of accessing private information. These legal changes initially referred as the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act became the Patriot Act later (Abrams, 2005 p73). Kegley (2003, p50) notes that the Patriot Act modified fifteen laws that mainly dealt with counter-terrorism and gathering foreign intelligence. The provisions in the Patriot Act include broadening the police search powers, consolidating police powers, expansion of domestic intelligence authority among other provisions. Broadening the police search powers provision authorized law enforcers to use enhanced surveillance techniques, search and gathering intelligence. These included allowing sneak and peek search warrants, authority to use tracking and wire tapping devices, monitoring of financial transactions, legalizing the use of investigation gag orders and authority to allow law enforcers

Geography Essay Essay Example for Free

Geography Essay Essay International trade is the movement of goods, services and ideas between countries. It is based on a country specialising in producing a surplus of the goods it can produce most efficiently in order to gain a competitive advantage. Australia trades with over two hundred countries and contributes one percent to world trade. Trade is a vital component of Australia’s economic prosperity. Reasons for international trade include employment, business and economic growth. For many years, Britain was Australia’s major trading partner but since it joined the European Union in 1973, we have increased our trading links with countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Advantages in trading products include Australia selling coal to China and Japan in high prices while in return Australia imports cheap toys produced by China and high-value products such as cars made in Japan. Reasons for international trade include employment, business and economic growth. Culture is all the knowledge and values shared by a society. The advantages of trade towards culture include a variety of products, multiculturism and offers lifestyle choice. A variety of products leads to a large variety in products and more freedom in choosing products. Multiculturalism welcomes and comforts individuals from different nations in Australia and broadens the Australian trade market. Lifestyle choices are vastly improved with exported items from different nations. In saying that, there are still many disadvantages from international trading on culture. Some impacts include competition with local markets and inferior products. Successful competition with local businesses can eventually lead to loss of jobs and broadening of export products. Economy is the system of production, distribution and consumption. Australia has had billions of dollars of economic growth since its beginning of international trade. Advantages to the economy via trade are employment, higher economic growth and source of income. Employment has been increasing in exporting industries and workers. During the tariff increase in the period 1974-1984, employment in the textiles and footwear sector decreased by 50000. The countries involved in trade have experienced rising living standards, increased incomes and economic growth. However, disadvantages still prevail to the economy. Increased domestic economic instability from international trade cycles as economy becomes dependant on global markets. For example, recession in China leads to decreased demand for Australias exports, leading to falling export incomes, lower gdp , lower incomes etc. Exploitation of labour is common in countries with a large population such as China, Japan and India. They are paid extremely low wages for hard work. Geopolitical is the combination of geographic and political factors influencing or delineating a country or regions. The advantages to Australia from trade are that it strengthens ties with other countries, producing less risk of war. It also improves border security as friendly, neighbouring countries such as New Zealand can provide border security for us. Trading also allows cooperation between countries on issues regarding asylum seekers and refugees. Islands off Australia have supported and welcomed the thousands of asylum seekers that seek refuge. Disadvantages to the geopolicy of Australia through trade include disagreements/ trade disputes between nations if obligatory roles are not full filled. Some countries can provide unfair access to trade markets. China has allowed Australia to be the first accessor to many of their exports. In conclusion, Australia has received great economic growth, multiculturism and friendly relations through its cultural, economic and geopolitical ties with other nations through trade. But we have also had inferior product, exploitation of labour and products and disagreements through such trade.

Materials and Inventory Essay Example for Free

Materials and Inventory Essay In the S, T, and P facilities, it has been identified that some of the manufacturing processes are related with one another. Due to the interrelatedness and the other problems seen from the different facilities, it is seen that a problem from one facility affects the others. This is observed to be especially true for the area of the management and inventory control. Materials management is oftentimes associated to inventory control and this is defined as the act of â€Å"managing the organization’s raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods, and products in-transit† (Griffin, 2002 as cited in Adam Sammon, 2004, p. 28). The primary focus of the materials and inventory management involve being accountable for all WIP and stock, coordination with the suppliers in order to organize production requirements, maintain a desirable inventory level, manage the processes related to physical inventory audits, establish automated forms of inventory systems, manage the condition and coding of the materials, coordinate with or manage the purchasing department, discuss with major suppliers regarding the prices and terms, choose new suppliers, ensure that the methods in existence are in sync with the changes in the environment (Charvet, 1997). The importance of these processes would lie on the need for materials and inventory in creating a long-term advantage in terms of competitive grounds (Jamal et al., 2007). Upon a review of the situation for the three facilities, there are several findings that are worth noting. First, the frequency as to when the accessory parts run out in S facility is seen to be declared on a habitual interval. The causes and implications of this could include that the T and P facilities are not able to meet the demands of the S facility because identification of the quantity is not fully carried out by the T and P facilities. Moreover, it could be that there are problems with the shipping schedule from the T and P facilities wherein the time as to when the accessories are needed in the S facilities is not clearly identified or unknown that is why shipments are not organized. Second, formal receipt of the materials needed for production in the T and P facilities is not present as well as a system in order to reflect this to have arrived at the T and P facilities in order to acknowledge the shipment from the S facility. The establishment of a system would also entail the need for the creation of a formal receiving dock where shipments pass through. It allows for the inspection of the shipments and the respective entry into the inventory system of the respective facility. Third, concerns arise, too, with the wasted productions due to malfunctioning equipment or wrong materials used. Incidences such as this could be experienced when routine maintenance on the equipment and evaluation of the materials is not carried out to ensure that errors are minimized. In light of the problems identified for the materials and inventory aspect, there are recommended measures that are used in order to resolve the problems. First, it is necessary for the facilities to have a computerized inventory system wherein the necessary parts are interrelated with one another. The benefit derived from having a computerized system for the inventory control is attributed to its ability to organize the data of the organization in an efficient manner and the reduced costs associated with inventory control (Palmer, 2005). Second, there is the need to provide for a receiving dock for the shipments wherein the materials shipped are immediately entered into the system to reflect both an acknowledgement receipt and confirmation to the other facility from which it came from. This makes inventory easier as it is done as the shipments are brought in which means that it is always update. Third, training with regard to the evaluation and maintenance of the equipment should be provided to the employees who are responsible for this. Likewise, there should be a regular schedule for assessment of equipment condition and materials to ensure that disruptions and errors are kept to a minimum. References Adam, F. Sammon, D. (2004). The enterprise resource planning decade: Lessons learned and issues for the future. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Publishing. Charvet, S. (1997). Words that change minds: Mastering the language of influence. (2nd ed. ). Authors Choice Publishing. Dubuque, IO: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company. Jamal, N. M. , Mastor, N. H. , Saat, M. M. , Ahmad, M. F. , and Abdullah, D. F. (2007). Cost and management accounting: An introduction. Johor Darul Ta’zim: Muapaat Jaya Percitakan Sdn. Bhd. Palmer,D. (2005). Maintenance planning and scheduling handbook. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Professional.

Nursing Care Plan for Asthma Management

Nursing Care Plan for Asthma Management Implement and monitor using nursing care for clients with chronic health problems PART A Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways. Asthma causes the muscles in the airways to tighten and the lining of the airway becomes swollen and inflamed, producing sticky mucous. These changes cause the airways to become narrow, making it difficult to breathe. This may lead to wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing. Most people with asthma only have symptoms when they inhale a ‘trigger’ such as pollen, exercise without the right preparation, or if they catch a cold or flu. The triggers and causes for asthma symptoms vary for different people. Some common triggers are: Allergy triggers such as house dust mites, pollens, pets and moulds, wood dust, chemicals Family history of asthma Upper respiratory tract infections Hay fever or eczema Cigarette smoke Viral infections – for example, colds and flu Cold air or changes in the weather Some medicines Exercise Foods to which the child is allergic Typical asthma symptoms include: Coughing Tight feeling in the chest Wheezing – whistling noise when breathing Shortness of breath Struggling to breathe During an asthma attack, people often experience difficulty breathing. This occurs because persons’ airways get swollen and narrower and it becomes a lot harder for air to get in and out of the lungs. Sometimes the swollen airways produce extra mucus, which may clog up the airways of your lungs which makes it even more difficult to breath. It can feel like the person is breathing through a straw. A person with asthma may also wheeze (a whistling sound when he or she Asthma can take a psychological as well as a physical toll on a persons life. Factors that contribute to the psychological effects of asthma include the severity of the illness and the extent to which activities are limited by the disease, the quality of social and family support available, the age at which the disease began the persons knowledge about the illness and the sufferers coping style, skills and overall personality. For most people, it is uncomfortable to have feelings of being different from other family members, friends or classmates. In social situations, people with asthma may feel self-conscious about using an inhaler or having to be careful to avoid triggers that can set off an asthma attack. The desire to fit in can lead people with asthma to ignore their disease or fail to take care of it properly. This is the case with Jason as he prefers not to take his ventolin in front of his classmates as it makes him feel â€Å"different†. This is an issue as he suffers from frequent severe episodes of asthma which requires him to take his medicine appropriately otherwise his health will be jeopardize. Chronic asthma doesn’t just affect the person with the condition, it also affects their family. Major changes in schedules and priorities must be made to manage the family, work and the life of child which can cause great stress. Parents may struggle with taking time off to care for Jason when he is unwell or needs to attend one of his frequent medical appointments. His activities may be limited, and, in many cases, their families must change how they live to accommodate the child. As for Jason, his school and social inclusion may be restricted. He may feel excluded from their school friends if they cannot take part in games, sports and social activities. Because of his chronic illness, Jason will feel different than other children which have caused him to not take his ventolin. If the chronic asthma is not managed properly, Jason’s quality of life will be impacted. The condition can lead to fatigue, underperformance or absence from school due to medical appointments or hospitalisation, psychological problems, including stress, anxiety and depression. PART B Nursing Care Plan (Diagnosis, Planning, Intervention) Diagnoses Goals/Expected Outcomes Intervention Ineffective airway clearance related to airway spasm, secretion retention, amount of mucus. The patient is able to demonstrate deep coughing to assist in clearing the airway. The patient’s airway is patent and free of secretions, as evidenced by clear lung sounds, and ability to effectively cough up secretions after treatments and deep breaths teachings. Patient will verbalize understanding that allergens like dust, fumes, animal fur, pollen, and extremes oftemperature and humidity are irritants or factors that can contribute to ineffective airway clearance and should be avoided 1. Airway management by freeing the airway through suction, monitoring the chest wall retraction and respiratory rate. 2. Listen to lung sounds monitor oxygen delivery. 3. Assess colour, consistency and amount of sputum. 4. Encourage deep coughing/breathing 5. Educate client on the different factors that can trigger that can cause asthma attacks Ineffective breathing pattern related to chest wall distention, and fatigue due to increased work of breathing. Demonstrates effective coughing and clear breath sounds; is free of cyanosis and dyspnoea. Patients breathing pattern is maintained as evidenced by: eupnoea, normal skin colour, and regular respiratory rate/pattern. Patient will be able to verbalize the understanding of appropriate measures to maintain a patent airway at all times by discharge. 1. Monitor the frequency, rhythm and depth of breathing. 2. Encourage deep coughing/breathing 3. Position the clients chest semi-Fowler position. 4. Distract people from thinking about the state of anxiety and teach how to breathe effectively. 5. Reassure the client and give support when dyspnoea. Activity intolerance Patient will demonstrate skill in conserving energy while carrying out activities of daily living (ADLs). Patient will have no shortness of breath, weakness and fatigue on exertion. Report/demonstrate a measurable increase in tolerance to activity 1. Energy management by determining the causes of fatigue, monitoring respiratory (respiration, dyspnoea, pallor) 2. Monitor response of breathing during activity; assess abnormal response in respiration, blood pressure, pulse. 3. Evaluate patient’s response to activity. 4.Help clients choose the activities that can be done 5. Explain importance of rest in treatment plan and necessity for balancing activities with rest. d) Evaluation Ineffective airway clearance related to airway spasm, secretion retention, amount of mucus Once all nursing intervention actions have taken place, the nurse completes an evaluation to determine of the goals for patient wellness have been met. Goals/Expected Outcomes Evaluation The patient’s airway is patent and free of secretions, as evidenced by clear lung sounds, and ability to effectively cough up secretions after treatments and deep breaths teachings. You will need to access the airway manually and note any obstructions. If patient requires suction, re-access the airway and listen to lung sounds to see whether it is clear or not. Note any breathing sounds such as wheezing as this could indicate an obstruction. You will also need to monitor the chest wall retraction and respiratory rate. Assess and evaluate changes in vital signs and temperature routinely as per require. Tachycardia and hypertension may be related to increased work of breathing. Fever may develop in response to retained secretions/atelectasis. Note presence of sputum; assess quality, colour, amount, odour, and consistency. May be a result of infection, bronchitis, chronic smoking, and others. A sign of infection is discoloured sputum (no longer clear or white); an odour may be present. The patient is able to demonstrate deep coughing to assist in clearing the airway. Assess cough for effectiveness and productivity note the technique and the position of the patient. Patient should be sitting up right to promote full expansion of the thorax. Consider possible causes for ineffective cough: respiratory muscle fatigue, severe bronchospasm, thick secretions, and others. Patient will verbalize understanding that allergens like dust, fumes, animal fur, pollen, and extremes oftemperature and humidity are irritants or factors that can contribute to ineffective airway clearance and should be avoided Ask the patient to provide examples of allergens that can irritate the airways and factors that can contribute to ineffective airway clearance. If the patient is unable to state the factors, the nurse will need to educate and provide appropriate information. Patient education will vary depending on the information stated as well as the patients cognitive level. Client Education Asthma self-management education is essential to the control of asthma and should be encouraged to all patients to take responsibility for his or her own care. If asthma symptoms are controlled, the patient should have fewer exacerbations, a higher quality of life, lower costs, slower progression of airway from inflammation, less morbidity, and lower risk of death from asthma. Patient asthma education can also improve beyond symptom control, such as patient knowledge about asthma and patient satisfaction and feeling of self-control. Other benefits include reduced school absences or work days, fewer exacerbations, restrictions on activities, and emergency-department visits. The burden of living with asthma can also result in depression and anxiety for the patient and/or family, and these psychological changes can compromise asthma control. Children will asthma are likely to feel embarrassed of their condition and may suffer low self-esteem. If the parent’s stress, social isolation, or anxiety increases, the likelihood of poor asthma control in the child increases. However with proper education, psychological factors such as low self-esteem, isolation and anxiety can also be managed. Parents can help an asthmatic child avoid embarrassment by asking the school teacher and/or counsellor to support and encourage the child. Having a school nurse, teacher or outside educator talk to the students in the class about asthma can also be quite helpful. The more informed the children are about the illness, the less likely they will be to tease a child with asthma. One other way for people with asthma to feel less anxious is to educate others about it. They can empower themselves by becoming an expert in the illness. When they share information with family members, friends, fellow students and co-workers, everyone benefits and becomes more understanding about what its like to live with asthma. Community Resources available Asthma Australia Asthma Australia and member Foundations deliver high quality support to people with asthma and their careers. They offer support, training and resources to the primary health care sector and when treatment is required they ensure patients and their careers have the skills, information and power to be actively engaged in the decision making process. http://www.asthmaaustralia.org.au/Children_and_asthma.aspx National Asthma Council Australia To improve the quality of life and health outcomes of people with asthma and their careers, reduce the social and economic impact of asthma on the community and reduce the prevalence of asthma in the Australian community http://www.nationalasthma.org.au/ The Asthma Foundation of Victoria (Support Group) Provide services to help people manage their Asthma and provide the whole Victorian community with an excellent service based on asthma advice, information and programs http://www.asthma.org.au/ The Australian Lung Foundation (Victorian Support Groups) To provide caring, support and information for those with lung disease/s and for their careers and families. http://www.lungnet.com.au/

Global Music :: Art

Global Music The global perspective of music: we live in an increasingly smaller â€Å"global village.† With advance in worldwide transportation and communication and with increasingly mobile societies, it seems not only appropriate but also necessary to develop a global perspective of music. A global perspective of music is a sense of the lifestyles, traditions, values and the music of several nations and cultures throughout the world. An awareness of the diversity within our national boundaries that has contributed significantly and beneficially to the cultural richness of our land. The diversity of musical styles that exist in the United States includes Western European â€Å"classical† music (art music) and a number of â€Å"popular† music styles derived largely from Western European ways of making music. These styles include pop, folk, country, and rock. Other styles, including jazz, blues, and various ethnic music, are the result of a blending of cultures and traditions. All these styles constitute an important part of music in American society, styles that constitute â€Å"American music.† The ethnic diversity: part of the cultural richness of our nation is derived from its ethnic diversity and its large number of ethnic groups. Immigrant groups may have partially assimilated into the mainstream of our society while retaining the songs, dances, instruments, languages (at least accent and inflection), fashion, food, and lifestyles of their native cultures. In many cases, the merging of cultural traditions has formed new styles and modes of behavior. For example, jazz evolved in the early twentieth century. Music is vocal or instrumental sounds having melody, rhythm, or harmony. Also, music is sound that you want to hear as music, sound that is not organized in some fashion typically cannot be called music. Yet the roar of a waterfall, the sound of rain falling on a tent or the chirping of birds can sense but as pleasing, and these perhaps as musical, sounds. In fact, the sounds of birds, water, and whales and other sounds of nature have been taped and used in â€Å"organized† music. Conversely, all sorts of drum, cymbals, and gongs; harsh dissonant harmonics; and abstract, totally unsingable melodies have been organized into music. Artistic qualities of Music: music maybe folk art, high art, or at any place in this continuum. Much music has attributes of both. High art includes the classical music of the Western European cultivated tradition. It also includes the classical music of other cultures.

Ludwig Van Beethoven :: essays research papers

Ludwig van Beethoven, a German composer, generally considered one of the greatest composers in the Western tradition. Born in Bonn, Beethoven was reared in to the capricious discipline of his father, a singer in the court chapel. In1789, because of his father's alcoholism, the young Beethoven became a court musician in order to support his family. His early compositions under the tutelage of German composer Christian Gottlob Neefe, particularly the funeral on the death of Holy Roman Emperor Joseph || in1790, signaled an important talent, and it was planned that Beethoven study in Vienna, Australia, with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Although Mozart's death in 1791 prevented this, Beethoven went to Vienna in 1792, and he became a pupil of an Australian composer named Joseph Haydn. In Vienna, Beethoven dazzled the aristocracy with his piano improvisations. Meanwhile, he entered into increasingly favorable arrangements with Viennese music publishers. In composition he steered a middle course between the stylistic extravagance of German composer Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach and what the public had perceived as the overrefinement of Mozart. The broadening market for published music, enabled Beethoven to succeed as a freelance composer, a path that Mozart, a decade earlier, had found full of frustration. In the first decade of the 19th century, Beethoven renounced the sectional, loosely constructed style of works such as the popular Septet op. 20, for strings and winds, and turned to a fresh expansion of the musical language bequeathed by Haydn and Mozart. Despite his exaggerated claim that he had never learned anything from Haydn, he had gone so far as to seek additional instruction from German composer, Johann Georg Albrechtsberger. Beethoven soon revealed his complete assimilation of the Viennese classical style in every major instrumental genre. The majority of the works for which he is most readily remembered for today, were composed during the decade bounded by the Symphony no. 3, a period known as his heroic decade. Beethoven's fame reached it's zenith during these years, but the steadily worsening hearing impairment that he had first noted in 1798 led to an increasing sense of social isolation. Gradually, Beethoven settled into a pattern of shifting residences, spending summers in the Viennese suburbs, and moving back to the city each autumn. In 1802 in his celebrated "Heiligenstadt Testament" a quasi-legal letter to his two brothers, he expressed his agony over his growing deafness. After 1805, accounts of Beethoven's eccentricities multiplied.

Microsoft Word 2000 :: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

Microsoft Word 2000 There are several features in Microsoft Word 2000 that makes document making simple. With features like Automatic Spell Checking, that places a red wavy line under the word that is misspelled automatically. Auto Correct, which automatically corrects commonly, made mistakes that are predetermined in Word. Inserting Clip Art adds graphics and/or pictures to make your document look better. These are just a few of the features in Word that makes document making less challenging. The Automatic Spell Checker checks your document while your typing it for possible spelling and grammar errors. If a word you have typed in is misspelled a red wavy line under the word that is misspelled. If there a grammar error there will be a green wavy line under the grammar error. To fix the error simply right click the wavy line and depending on the severity of the error there will be from one to a few choices to correct the error. If the word isn’t misspelled and it still shows up with a red wavy line under it, you can simply right click the line and choose the "add" selection and it will add the word into the Word library. Another feature in the Automatic Spell Checker is the Auto Correct {insert note here} Inserting Clip Art allows you to brighten up your documents with graphics. the clip art files contains photographs, sounds, and video clips that you can insert into your document. Clip Art is located in the Clip Gallery which contains a collection of clips, separated into sub categories such as. Favorites, academics, animals, backgrounds, borders & frames, buildings, business, button & icons, cartoons, communications, dividers & decor, downloaded clips, emotions, entertainment, flags, food & dining, gestures, government, healthcare & medicine, home & family, household, industry, lost & found, maps, metaphors, music, nature, navigation controls, office, people, people at work, photographs, places, plants, religions, science and technology, seasons, shapes, signs, special occasions, sports & leisure, symbols, transportations, travel, weather, web banners, web dividers, and web elements.

Developing an action plan Essay

The Utah Symphony has proven its ability to generate substantial sums of Revenue with both performance revenues and by securing large sums of income from governmental grants along with generous contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations. The Symphony’s ability to draw large crowds along with their demanding schedule length allows them to offer the community ample opportunities to participate. The Symphony provides sustainability for 83 full time musicians, and this allows them to concentrate on the goals of the Symphony without the worries of looking for other income opportunities. Mr. Lockhart is a very talented and experienced music director that has a personal commitment to his symphony. Mr. Lockhart’s role as the music director comes with many challenges, it is through these challenges that he has elevated the Utah Symphony to the status they enjoy today. The musicians and Mr. Lockhart have developed a relationship of trust and respect, Mr. Lockhart has publicly acknowledged how important they are to the overall success of the symphony and his success as a director. The Utah Symphony has a very demanding schedule and with it comes great expense; the symphony needs to look for cost cutting options to maintain operations. They are relying on generous governmental funding and other contributions that are simply not what the previously had been. The symphony will need to look towards the possibility of reducing its staff’s income and benefits, to overcome this shortfall, which is a hard situation to deal with. Mr. Lockhart will need to take a stronger leadership role and develop a plan to approach the musicians about the dire situation they are in and try to develop a strategy to cut cost, however his personal relationship with them present a challenge that is not easy to overcome. Another concern is Mr. Lockhart does not want be perceived as â€Å"playing second string† when it comes to his Symphony and will need to look at the bigger picture to see what is best for the Symphony. Anne will need to be as straight forward and honest as possible about the  realties that the symphony faces, with regards to budget management and cost saving techniques. She will need to gain the trust of the musicians much the same way Keith has by developing the understanding of the importance the musicians hold within the developing organization for the merger to be successful. She needs to develop a relationship with Keith and his position with the symphony that does not create tension within the merged organization. The Utah Opera has developed a business strategy that works. They are running a very profitable organization that utilizes effective methods for fundraising and obtaining other contribution resources. They have appropriated their budget to allow them to maximize what revenue they attain wisely; they will have very little reduction in governmental grants, and a projected increase in contributions for individuals, corporations and foundations in the year to come. They have a large inventory of costumes and productions sets and own the building and land they operate in. With Anne as the head of the UOC she has grown the budget from 1.5 million to almost 5 million; she’s an accomplished fund raiser for the UOC. Anne bring many talents to the UOC from stage director, to general director Anne is a very crucial part of the success of the UOC. The UOC faces a challenging future with the lack of performance revenues projected for the upcoming season and increase in production cost they may have to make adjustments to staff to maintain their level of security, however they have been running an impressive surplus of nearly half a million dollars. With the merger details made public they have had some staffing concerns and even the resignation of the Director of operations Leslie Petersen. Some members of the UOC staff feel they may be placed in the shadows of the Symphony and end up flipping the bill for the symphonies failures. Anne has undertaken a huge role within the merger of the organizations and she will need to make sure she doesn’t lose focus with the day to day operations of the UOC, since she is currently without a Director of operations. Anne has a proving record of running efficient organizations and may not be sensitive to the needs and desires of the employees from both the UOC and USO, due to her drive for efficiency. Anne needs to place a Director of operations for the UOC as soon as possible. She will need to talk with her current employees and provide the assurance they need in regards to the important role they play in a successful merger. She will want to assure that the organizations will work together as one and the UOC will not be left flipping the bills from the shadows. Anne will want to continue to meet the needs of the UOC to maintain it level of success. Analysis of Company scorecards Financially the goals of the USO and UOC are quite similar they both are concerned with financial stability with increased profitability. Fund raising is realized as being very important to maintain that profitability with the USO focused more on keeping ticket prices the same as last year and the UOC with increasing their endowment being a priority, which has one to think that the UOC is more concerned with money then the artistic exposure aspect that the USO has. Both organizations have goals of increasing profitability, with the USO planning on a significant increased goal, the UOC just wants to increase the reserve funding (there security blanket). Both organization have similar goals with respect to notoriety however due to the size and scope of the entertainment they provide, the USO has a more world vision on success with the UOC is focused on national and regional recognition. Both organizations realize their success depends on great performances and talented performers; they remain very similar in that aspect. The crowds say it all and both the UOC and USO know that feedback and attendance is very important, but they have different views on how to gauge this with the USO focused on feedback directly from exiting customer and the UOC judging this by the ability to producing sell out performances. The internal processes of the two organizations are quite different with the USO maintaining the staff of it musicians tear round, and the UOC gaining new performers for different performances, they face different sets of challenges they both negotiate salaries for the performers and talents with  profitability being a major tactic. They measure the success of the internal process differently as we with the USO depending on improving ticket sales and returning customers the UOC is depending on reviews and profitability measurements for success. With respect to learning and growth, the organizations differ slightly. They are concerned with increasing the amount of performances, with the USO focused more on gaining a younger crowd the UOC is just trying to keep sales growing. They both realize the importance of ticket sales to their success with the UOC again is concentrating on having the increase in bottom line, where as the USO wants greater returning audiences. The scorecard does address some of the strengths and weakness, I developed prior but should have a better focus on what the organizations can do to improve and assure they will be successful in the future. The balance score card may not align with all the strengths and weaknesses of an organization but it more approximately focuses on what direction the organization desires to go to meet its desired outcome. USO & UOC Balanced Scorecard Financial  ·Strategic Goal: Being Financially stable with increased profitability  ·Critical Success Factor: Maintaining highly successful fundraising efforts to maintain ticket prices and endowments.  ·Measure: Increase profits providing Surplus deficits. Customer  ·Strategic Goal: Providing Top notch performances and gain Notoriety  ·Critical Success Factor: Acquiring quality performers  ·Measure: Ticket sales and exit surveys Internal Process  ·Strategic Goal: Attracting top talent while improving profitability  ·Critical Success Factor: Negotiating contracts closely to assure profitability  ·Measure: Improved profitability, and ticket sales. Learning and Growth  ·Strategic Goal: Increase of productions to more appealing crowds  ·Critical Success Factor: Increased profitability with Larger demographic  ·Measure: Return sales and exit survey results The weakness of the merged organization with regards to the financial stability will be how to distribute the profits; they both have goals to increase profitability which is a good starting point, they will just need to develop a solid plan. With regards to the customer the organization wants to increase its overall notoriety and exposure to different demo graph’s and this is a great strength they share and can benefit from. With regards to Internal processes the current goals they share to maintain profitability while negotiating salaries is a weakness due to the inherently different classes of talents the organizations face and how they can balance that difference while maintaining peace. The organizations share the goal of increased growth and exposure to a varied age group while increasing production so this should be a strength that they both will benefit from and have little trouble adapting to. With the balance scorecard in place, the financial issue that could arise would be how the profitability of the organization should be allocated, whereas the UOC is more focused on maintaining its endowment the USO is more concerned with keeping ticket sales stagnate while keeping the musicians happy. The Humans resources department will be dealing with two very different groups of talent and with the USO musicians union to deal with they will have a very challenging task with the merger.  When dealing with customer satisfaction, due to the organizations producing very different types of productions they have a level of frustration and confusion with scheduling and production run times. The best way to educate customers on the performances will be through advertisements and customer interactions such as exit surveys and questionnaires. The new merged company executive will want to develop a detailed business strategy that will show how the organization will be able to maintain its level of profitability while achieving all the financial goals it has developed. The new executive must help the Human resources department understand their roles and assemble this department from both organizations to be successful. As with any company customer satisfactions should be a priority and by educating the public about the benefits of the newly merged company and the great performances you provide can greatly increase your exposure to a larger customer base.

Strategic Plan, Part III: Balanced Scorecard

The objectives for are derived from the mission statement together with our company aim to provide our clients and their customers with the most flexible and effective customer relations services and protecting the relationship between a recognizable brand name and the customers that are served. The mission statement clearly outlines what is important to our clients, their customers and lastly what is most important to LLC. A satisfied customer is paramount to the success of our clients. This objective is only achieved by the professionalism, caring and the understanding by the call center agents that we are the first line of customer interaction that represents the client company. Our position in the process must leave a desirable first impression upon the client customers. Our management team grasp of a body of knowledge pertaining to the call center industry will continue to nurture a work-force that is being primed to provide impeccable customer relations services to an expanded field consisting of retailers in every industry of service. The role of the call center is growing in the service industry. Our vision statement recognizes the position of call centers as technological advances are made to deliver superb customer service relations. Technology will be the deciding factor in achieving objectives. The larger customer relations firms are poised to continue out-sourcing their services which leaves a void for customer service relations opportunities in the United States. Our vision to continue to grow our work-at-home program is a strategic measure and a competitive advantage that we feel will continue to set us apart from the competition. The overall logistics of the work-at-home program must be modified to ensure the success of the candidates that desire to service client customers from home. This program is a key objective to future growth for our organization. The vision demands continual training and innovation that will formulate an already client and customer friendly service to a business model that will expand to other areas of retail industries. The SWOTT analysis showed strength in the areas of intellectual property and a business model that has a focus on work-at-home moms. These two objectives will be the driving force that will allow LLC to strengthen the profitability, efficiency and productivity of our clients. There is also an expectation for an increase in market share which will provide added incentives to our employees and management team. A key component of the SWOTT analysis is in the technological design of the latest equipment that will set the precedent moving forward for the industry. The knowledge that is required to implement the newer systems has always been an advantage for our management team. Any threats from competitors will be thwarted by the increase in market share and the ability to implement and provide training for the newer systems which will be done in-house. Any strategic advantage that can be attained must be sustained. The SWOTT analysis can not be over emphasized nor should it be downplay the threats to an organization. It has been utilized as a tool that will give our organization the best internal analysis that shows what is possible internally in light of the external factors.

Machinal as a Play Written in Anger.

Machinal was written by Sophie Treadwell, a woman attempting to make her mark in a male dominated society and in a male dominated work sphere (as an author and playwright). This was in a time when it was considered a tenet of social life to accept a woman’s role was to facilitate the life of the man to whom she belongs. To reach above the kitchen shelf and attempt men’s work or to enter the men’s world was frowned upon and was punished by the social system. A woman in the wrong field or operating socially as equal to a male would either have to work under a different, male, identity or be met by severe criticism and gender based discrimination, her works largely ignored or peremptorily dismissed as inferior. The playwright draws on her experience with and bitterness against the social machine (hence the name Machinal, French for machine like) and tells the tale of an average everywoman who spends her entire, short, life seeking freedom from the role society has cast her in. Her role as defined by society is that of what the society in question considers any decent well bred young woman. She is originally a caregiver for her mother’ working at a job that makes her feel suffocated to earn enough to take care of both of them. Next she becomes a companion, decoration (he chose her for her hands) and sexual partner for her husband who â€Å"buys her† by providing for her mother and making sure she no longer needs to work at the job she hates and finally she becomes a mother caring for her daughter not because of any sense of love but because society refuses to allow her to abandon the child. These separate roles give birth to her rage pushing her to outbursts of rage and anti-social behaviour and ironically in their climax lead to a murder based on pity, not for herself but for her husband. Based on the idea that the play was based loosely on Treadwell’s experiences in a man’s world and the infamous murderess †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. it can be assumed that the emotions that Helen (young woman) experiences are echoes, or perhaps rather intensified images of her feelings. Her mother speaks with the voice of society, having been the one to raise her to be imprisoned in a world where she will never truly experience freedom. Her mother is a symbol of how entrenched the rules of the machine are. Having in her time experienced, surely, the same suppression as her daughter she was still unable to conceive a life outside the machine or to offer that freedom to her child. Instead she denies her the slight pleasure she found in marrying a man who appealed to her insisting that she instead take the practical course of marrying the man with the highest income though what she is offered is a pampered but empty life. It is questionable if she in fact loves her daughter or simply nags her because it is her method of keeping her in line. It begins to seem as though she simply ensures that she herself will be taken care of, so that a rich husband her daughter is an opportunity to jump at, not for Helens benefit but for hers. This would indicate that within the machine all interpersonal relations are determined by such practical considerations as where the power, especially in monetary terms lies and this is always with the men. What is left to the women is only as much as they can wrest from each other by manipulation and deception. This may be what young woman realises causing her to threaten her mother; that she does not in truth love her and simply uses her in and for the purposes that suit her. This They inspire the young not particularly educated or intelligent woman to crystallize the comprehension of her condition though it is one that has been forced on her since infancy and is considered normal by the rest of the machine and her objection and opposition of it succinctly in her statement â€Å"I will not submit† which she repeats like a mantra. This is a role that truly does not inspire her, that of mother, wife and daughter. Though she must also endure her mother’s nagging. She is controlled even unconsciously by men who like her husband who do not recognise their domination She does not like or love him and resents him because she did not choose to marry him but was forced to by her mother, and through her mother, society’s expectations of her. Also at the time of the marriage she disliked his â€Å"fat pressing† hands which to her represented oppression. he viewed it as the lesser of two evils because it would provide the means to provide for her mother and escape her. It would also mean she no longer had to work, being unsuited (or so it seems) to any type of structure. She also marries him despite a strong distaste for him because it is accepted by society that a woman gets married and has children. This is possibly the first major capitulation in her life. The first time she could be said to have had a choice in the direction of her life and in her attempting to find or maintain her (relative) freedom. Machinal by Sophie Treadwell

First “Misleading” Impressions

Cypress Ranch High School Ms. Piotrowsky 3rd Period English K/Dual First â€Å"Misleading† Impression In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice the most common and concurrent theme is probably the theme of first impression. The entire novel, from beginning to end, travels around conclusions made from first impressions and how, in cases, they are wrong. In fact, the first proposition for the title of the novel was First Impressions not Pride and Prejudice. As the theme of the novel progresses, characters realize that their conclusions made based on first impressions were flawed.As this happens, new relationships develop. Jane Austen even makes the reader believe or create its own first impressions only to later realize that they were wrong. During this time period, the idea of wealth and class was predominant among society; therefore, most first impressions were based on the amount of money a person had or on his/her ancestry. The main theme of first impressions goes around à ¢â‚¬Å"Elizabeth, the heroine, and Darcy, her eventual husband, the chief obstacle resides in the book’s original title: First Impressions. (Sherry, Pride and Prejudice limits of society) At the ball, Mr. Bingley encourages Mr. Darcy to dance with Elizabeth but he refuses by stating, â€Å"she is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt him† (Austen 13); and Elizabeth’s first impression about Mr. Darcy is that â€Å" he is proud, above his company, and above being pleased† (Austen 17). The reader understands that physical appearance is not the only factor that drives Mr. Darcy towards that opinion, but her lack of wealth and her vast family are. Throughout the novel the reader experiences realizations and transformations of views.At first Austen makes the reader create false impressions, just as the characters in the novel, only to later realize that the opinions the reader had about the characters were flawed. Many critics agree that â€Å"†¦In t his novel by Jane Austen, we don’t only see how first impressions affect relationships, but we also see how the characters in this story experience transformation through their experiences of first impressions, pride and prejudice. † (Stasio, An Evolutionary Approach to Jane Austen). Ironically enough, Elizabeth realizes â€Å"that they had entirely mistaken Mr.Darcy’s character† (Austen 219). What at first was a feeling of string repulsion towards one another slowly became a feeling of attraction. As the novel progresses, different events occur that come to the final transformation of Elizabeth’s first impressions. She learns through different sources that Mr. Darcy is not the man she believes him to be; and that most of the rumors she has heard (from Mr. Wickham) are twisted truths. At the end, as the final process of her realization, she says that â€Å"†¦Vanity, not love, has been my folly.Pleased with the preference of one, and offended b y the neglect of the other, on the very beginning of our acquaintance, I have courted prepossession [pride] and ignorance, and driven reason away where either were concerned. Till this moment, I never knew myself. † Austen contrasts the theme of first impression with the relationship that develops at the beginning of the novel between Mr. Bingley and Jane. She develops a relationship based â€Å"in a vision of love in which women and men care about each other with a passionate tenderness.Jane and Bingley have a natural compatibility for one another. † (Bonaparte, Conjecturing Possibilities) In this relationship, there are no feelings of avarice or greed because â€Å"It was generally evident, whenever they met, that he did admire her; and to her it was equally evident that Jane was yielding to the preference which she had begun to entertain for him from the first, and was in a way to be very much in love. † (Austen 22). Neither of them was worried with wealth, cl ass or family heritage. On the other hand, Mr. Bingley’s sister, Caroline, and his friend Mr.Darcy believe that Jane’s family was not high enough in the social ladder and therefore she did not deserve him. They even tried to intervene in their relationship by breaking them up, but at the end they end up marrying each other. There is no doubt that Jane Austen wanted to install a sense of realization regarding first and false impressions in the readers mind. Pride and Prejudice helps society understand how it behaves through real life examples developed by fictional characters such as Jane, Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy, etc.Pride and Prejudice is a sign of protest Austen uses to rebel against her society and its dependence on first impressions. She tries to make us understand that almost always first impressions are wrong. However, she is not implying that society should eliminate them from society, but rather undermine and challenge them because they are not entirely true. WORK S CITED Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. 1813. New York: W. W. Norton, 2001 Bonaparte, Felicia. â€Å"CONJECTURING POSSIBILITIES: READING AND MISREADING TEXTS IN JANE AUSTEN'S PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Pride and Prejudice. New York: W. W. Norton, 2001. Web. ;http://content. ebscohost. com/pdf10/pdf/2005/SNV/01Jun05/17682767. pdf? T=P;P=AN;K=17682767;S=R;D=a9h;EbscoContent=dGJyMNHr7ESep644v%2BbwOLCmr0mep7FSrqm4S7OWxWXS;ContentCustomer=dGJyMOzprk%2B2qLZNuePfgeyx44Dt6fIA;. Sherry, James. â€Å"Pride and Prejudice: Limits of Society. † Pride and Prejudice. New York: W. W. Norton, 2001. Web. ;http://content. ebscohost. com/pdf25_26/pdf/1979/SLT/01Sep79/4721658. pdf?T=P;P=AN;K=4721658;S=R;D=a9h;EbscoContent=dGJyMNHr7ESep644v%2BbwOLCmr0mep7FSrq64TbeWxWXS;ContentCustomer=dGJyMOzprk%2B2qLZNuePfgeyx44Dt6fIA;. Stasio, Michael J. â€Å"AN EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH TO JANE AUSTEN: PREHISTORIC PREFERENCES IN PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. † Pride and Prejudice. New York: W. W. Norton, 2001. Web. ;h ttp://content. ebscohost. com/pdf19_22/pdf/2007/SNV/01Jun07/25902589. pdf? T=P;P=AN;K=25902589;S=R;D=a9h;EbscoContent=dGJyMNHr7ESep644v%2BbwOLCmr0mep7BSs6u4SbOWxWXS;ContentCustomer=dGJyMOzprk%2B2qLZNuePfgeyx44Dt6fIA;.

'Short and harsh'. Is this a fair description of life for the majority Essay

'Short and harsh'. Is this a fair description of life for the majority of 'ordinary' rural Scots between 1300 and 1500 - Essay Example It was essentially a pandemic which had severe social and drastic economic consequences therefore a discussion of these effects becomes very important when we are dealing with the social issues of the time. The Plague came to Europe from the East through trade routes that had ships which carried the Bubonic Plague. It hit Europe during an economic recession and only caused the economy to go down further (Bolton, 1970). Anyone struck with the plague would be dead within three to five days and some towns lost as much as 90% of their population within a matter of months. The rural areas were also affected by the plague even though the extent of the disease was comparatively lower. It was indeed a horrible experience as major European cities such as Venice and Pisa lost more than 70% of their population. Modern estimates show us that 25 million people died in Europe within a period of just five years between 1347 and 1352. The reaction to so many people dying at once was naturally one of fear and hatred. Fear of the wrath of god which started the Flagellant Movement and the fear of the outsider such as Jews who were blamed for having caused the plague. Artists also created works of art to deal with the huge number of dead and dying they saw around them and saints were made of individuals such as St. Roch and St. Sebastian who took it upon themselves to help the sick in those times. While Scotland was already in trouble before the plague, the coming of the plague only made matters worse (Hale et. al., 1965). The agricultural system in particular suffered greatly since the output was not high enough during those years to create food surpluses. In this manner, the plague only lowered the standard of living for many Scots. The church which was present in Scotland and across Europe was simply unable to deal with the disease and

Marketing Design and Innovation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing Design and Innovation - Essay Example The success of international marketing strategies strongly relates to the ways in which companies design and promote their products. Any errors in designing products to meet customer requirements and evolving market trends can lead to failure in capturing market shares and loss in revenues for the companies. The international environment provides the organization with the scope of marketing products to both local and foreign markets. Multiple strategies are adopted by companies to promote their products to these markets either through standardization of products launched in both local and foreign markets or through adaptation in design and features to match the tastes of the foreign consumers (Hill & Allen, 2007). While standardization in design and features provide the customers with a uniform image that is attached with the product, it may fail to satisfy their needs that are influenced by local environment and cultural factors. Hence localization or adaptation to local tastes and preferences is considered a feasible solution by marketers for promoting market shares and growth (Lamb, Fair & McDaniel, 2009). McDonalds – the global brand McDonalds is one of the largest chains of fast food restaurants selling burgers, French fries and host of savories since 1940. The business started with the opening of a fast food outlet in California in the year 1940 and since then the company has grown to become a household name with its presence across different countries (Roth, 2010). The success of the brand is largely attributed to its flexibility in product design and innovation in tastes that has ensured a satisfied customer walking out of its outlets. â€Å"In Germany, McDonalds serves beer with meals. In Israel, the first kosher McDonalds opened in Jerusalem in 1995. In Arab countries, the chain used Halal menus† (Paul, 2008). The respect for local tastes and cultures have earned the company its reputation and contributed to its success in global market expansion strategies. The company operates through a number of franchisees across different market regions. Innovation in product design and marketing mix are key det erminants of the success behind McDonalds. The fast food service chain gained customer loyalty and trust through its creativity in offering new range of products and flavors. McDonalds recognizes the fact that different cultures support varying customer needs and tastes. It is important to identify the distinctiveness in tastes and adapt its flavors to suit the local customer choice and preference. Market demand and competitive advantage The market demand for any product in any region is influenced by the consumer demographics of the region, industry competition, pricing, quality, and service efficiency of the companies. The competitive environment is one of the key aspects influencing market demand for any product. â€Å"Moving from a product and sales philosophy to a holistic marketing philosophy however, gives them a better chance of outperforming competition. And the cornerstone of a well-conceived marketing orientation is strong customer relationships† (Kotler, 1972). Mc Donalds operates in a highly competitive

Examples of two problems in the healthcare field that have Essay

Examples of two problems in the healthcare field that have mathematical solutions - Essay Example For example, Young’s Rule is commonly used to determine child’s dose. The formula for Young’s Rule is as follows: Rationale for the use of Young’s Rule to determine dosage for children is that there is a lot of variation in the size, weight, and tolerance level of the children. There needs to be a formula that can standardize the determination of dosage for children regardless of these factors. Young’s Rule is particularly used when the dosage has not been recommended for the children by the manufacturer. Using Young’s Rule, dosage for a child can be determined just by using his/her age as the information. For example, if 500mg of a tablet is prescribed for an adult per day, then to find the dose for a child 10 years of age, the process would be as follows: Doctors and nurses operating in the health care industry have to deal with a lot of complicated cases quite often. New procedures and operations are being realized for the treatment and cure of diseases that have so far been considered incurable. Rapid advancement in the field of science and technology has provided answers for many unsolved questions. However, it is not easy to convince a patient that needs a surgery to undergo it. This is where statistics plays its role. Doctors gain confidence of the patients by referring to past patients that have undergone the surgeries successfully. Let’s suppose an older adult needs to have a polyp in the vocal cord surgically removed. He is double-minded on whether or not to undergo the surgery because he may not survive anesthesia as he also happens to be a patient of diabetes, asthma, and few other health complications. Mathematical solution for an old patient that wants to know what are the chances of survival after being given surgery under general anesthesia is providing him with the statistics mentioning the survival rate for patients of the same age in the past. The rationale for providing the patient with the statistics is that it

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass Essay

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass - Essay Example It was Douglas’ firm belief in his abilities that empowered him to act as a revolutionary activist, who then played a key role in the abolitionist movement. The hard earned self-education also enabled Douglass to write his remarkable autobiography ‘Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave’, which details various aspects of his life as a slave and immorality of slavery itself. His escape from slavery was a major event narrated in his book that further determined the course of his life. In order to understand Douglas fight against slavery, it is important to identify the key motivations behind his struggle that will probably address how the slave became a citizen. Earlier in the story, Douglas describes a series of events in which he witnessed some acts of cruel brutality against fellow slaves in his early age. His mother passed away when he was seven but felt nothing difficult due to their forced separation a lot earlier. He saw Aunt Hesterâ₠¬â„¢s being cruelly whipped by his master till she was covered with blood. This event introduced him to the real and horrible character of slavery. In his own words, "it was the first of a long series of such outrages, of which I was doomed to be a witness and a participant. It struck me with awful force. It was the blood-stained gate, the entrance to the hell of slavery, through which I was about to pass. It was a most terrible spectacle" (Douglas, 1996). Douglas later describes of himself as being deeply affected by the singing of slaves in detail. He also narrates several events that left him with an immense hatred of slavery, including the brutal murder of Demby at the hands of Gore. Such brutal and inhumane occurrences motivated in him the utmost desire to escape from slavery. The prime event that helped him to determine his pathway and provoked in him the desire to gain knowledge occurred after he was removed from Colonel Lloyd's plantation to Baltimore, for serving the son of Hugh and Sophia Auld. It was here that he discovered the joy of learning when Sophia Auld taught him how to read a word using alphabets. However, Hugh Auld disliked his wife's efforts and forbade her by saying that, "If you give a nigger an inch, he will take an ell. A nigger should know nothing but to obey his master - to do as he is told to do. Learning will spoil the best nigger in the world. Now if you teach that nigger how to read, there would be no keeping him" (Douglas, 1996). These words deeply convinced Douglas that learning was the pathway leading to ultimate freedom of a slave. After being sent back to the country from Baltimore, Douglas was eventually lent to Edward Covey for a year. Mr. Covey fed him enough food to eat but often whipped him for his awkwardness. Covey was known to be a slave-breaker and his cruel treatment crushed his strong spirit. One day, when Covey tried to tie him up, he strongly resisted and fought back. Douglas regards his fight with Covey and hi s surprising cowardly response as one of the major turning points in his slave career. According to him, "it rekindled the few expiring embers of freedom, and revived within me a sense of my own manhood. It recalled the departed self-confidence, and inspired me again with a determination to be free" (Douglas, 1996). He became confident in his belief that no matter how long he remains a slave, he will get freedom eventually. He also planned to escape with some fellow