Mountain Biking Is My Favorite Sport Essay

Sweat dripping into my eyes, blurring my vision. My legs feel weak, making it difficult to pedal. I pause and allow myself to take a deep breath before speeding down hill. The adrenaline rushing through my veins, and the thrilling thought of what is to come next demands my body to get ready and keep going. I speed down the hill narrowly missing a couple of big jagged stones sticking up through the trail and trees. The intensity and extremity of mountain biking make it undoubtedly my favorite sport. Furthermore, mountain biking is my favorite sport because it is great for the body and mind, it brings about a challenge, and it allows me to have a positive environmental impact. Mountain bike riding is a great way to exercise both the body and mind. It is a sport that allows you to build muscle in addition to building up your cardiovascular endurance. It targets almost every muscle in the body, particularly arms, abs, shoulders and legs. Furthermore, it is a great way to boost your energy, remain in shape, and in fact according to many studies, by biking at least three hours per week, your chances of heart disease can be decreased by approximately 50 percent. However, the biggest benefit from mountain biking is being able to exercise outdoors. It allows the mind to open up and expand its thoughts. Personally, I get a sense of clarity and I feel more in tune with details. There are also no worries, doubts or fears crossing my mind. Aside from the unquestionable benefits for the body and mind, mountain biking inspires a great sense of confidence and authority. Before and as I take on the many obstacles and hurdles in the trails, I either plan or have to think on the spot to prevent injury. While biking, I have control of my approach, performance and outcome. Facing challenging obstacles and being able to successfully beat them, builds a sense of empowerment. In the real world these feelings evolve my ability to know what I want and to act on it effectively. It further boost my leadership skills at work, in school and in everyday situations. In addition to its positive physical and mental impacts, mountain biking has a positive environmental impact. As a mountain biker, I enjoy a pollution free environment to ride in. Mountain bicycles use no fuel, do not require toxic batteries or motor oils and take less energy to make than a car. It also increases outdoor advocacy by generating a connection to nature. Many mountain bikers, including myself, are dedicated to protecting and maintaining the natural and cultural resources of where they ride. Adopting trail designs that eliminate soil erosion, avoiding sensitive habitats and protecting wetlands, are some examples of how to minimize environmental impacts. Mountain bike riding is my favorite sport because it is a way in which I disconnect my mind and soul from reality, and allow all of my senses to engage in the moment. Moreover, it is a sport in which I build strength, power, stability and agility. Also, through the obstacles and hurtles encountered in the exhausting yet exhilarating trails, I gain a stronger sense of authority and confidence that I implement in the challenges of the real world. Lastly, it is my favorite sport because it is pollution free and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Comparing and Contrast the Allegory of the Cave and the Matrix

Have you ever wondered whether, Plato, if he were alive in the 20 century, would he be a brilliant movie director, with productions that earned more than $400 million? Both Plato’s â€Å"Allegory of Cave† and Andy and Lana Wachowski’s movie â€Å"The Matrix† explore the abstruse question of perception of truth. What is truth, and how do we determine what is truth? â€Å"I know this steak doesn't exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy and delicious. This quote from the Matrix vividly illustrates the truth that how people perceive is the way they think, their realization of the truth is due to the world in which they live. Different people may have different perceptions of knowledge, which leads them to a distinct understanding of truth. It is about personal experience seeking the truth, in the process to knowledge – an image does not accurately reflect reality that is the challenge for both Socr ates and Neo, the protagonist in the Matrix.Considering one day there is a chicken that has lived with ducks since he was born, and never seen other chicken. Will that chicken ever know he is a chicken, or even when he sees other chicken, does he know it is a chicken? The prisoners in the cave have been chained together and have been separated from the outside world since birth. Consequently, their perceptions of objects are based on the shadows of those things, shadows produced by firelight in the cave as true representations. The environment where they have lived creates a world basic on their perception of things.Like Plato mentioned in the story: â€Å"To them, I said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of the images. † The prisoners form their own opinion about things they perceive as true representation. By comparison, people who live in the Matrix accept the buildings and the things around them as the truth. However, the truth they have been accepting is merely their opinion, but no necessarily an opinion formed through knowledge. â€Å"If real is what you can feel, smell, taste and see, then ‘real' is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain†.This quote identities are the result of opinions formed their brains. The tunnel in the Allegory of Cave and the red pill in The Matrix are the keys that open the door of knowledge for them. In the world of the Matrix, or the Cave, where everyone accepts objects as the truth, and real, like the shadows on the wall of the cave, this is a way to realize truth, to decide to walk through the tunnel and to pick a red pill, is a choice to enter a world of knowledge. As it is mentioned in the Matrix, â€Å"You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe.You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes. † In both the story and the movie, everyone is so c lose to knowledge of the truth that they just need to put their foot across the threshold; nevertheless, it is the hardest step to enter door in their mind. It is a leap of faith into the unknown. â€Å"And if he is compelled to look straight at the light, will he not have a pain in his eyes which will make him turn away to take and take in the objects of vision which he can see, and which he will conceive to be in reality clearer than the things which are now being shown to him? This quote amply illustrates that everything is decided in their mind, it is their choice, and although Socrates and Neo suffer some physical discomfort in making the journey, they are now in the world of knowledge, the world of real truth. The profound brilliance of the sun can provide another source of discomfort, it cannot be seen directly through human eyes due to the intensity of the power it emits. Similarly, Socrates and Neo experience some physical suffering, such as, pain in their eyes and muscle problems while witnessing at true light for the first time. Why does my muscle hurt? Because you never used it. † This conversation dramatizes the difficulty faced by people as they make the transition from the limited world they know to the real world. The process of accepting and being able to â€Å"see† the real world is arduous; and comes about as a result of enormous changing in their belief and challenging knowledge of what they have long accepted. Knowledge is a concept that many philosophers, over thousands of years, strive to experience.Knowledge can be extremely powerful, but it can be illusive as well; however, once into the world of knowledge, people can distinguish the real truth from what they help as true. â€Å"And the first he will see the shadows best, next the reflections of men and other objects in the water†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦,Last of he will be able to see the sun,†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ and he will contemplate him as he is. † Plato believed that, as long as there is a gradual process of adapting to the light, Socrates will be available adjust, and to see through the essence of things.In Plato’s Allegory of Cave, Socrates is fully aware of the truth after a process of adjusting to the light of real world, and then he returns to the cave and tries to teach to the others, the truth he has discovered. â€Å"Men would say of him that up he went and down†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ and they would put him to death. † In spite of his efforts, the chained prisoners reject the real world due to the pain that is brought to them by the lights, they prefer to maintain the illusion of the images they saw as truer representations than the objects in the real world. Similarly, Cypher, the character in the Matrix, has been freed to see the real world.Unlike people who accept the truth and try to fight the agents in the Matrix, Cypher wants to go back to Matrix without knowing anything about real world. â€Å"The Matrix isn't real. I disagree, Trini ty. I think that the Matrix can be more real than this world. † People who free themselves may not perceive reality, like Cypher, he chooses go back to the Matrix because there is less suffering than in the real world. The same as the prisoners in Plato’s story, they would rather accept the illusion they see as truth, than go to the real world due to the pain it brings to them.Knowledge is the place where people want to be but may not necessarily be able to be in there. Even for people in the world of truth, the real world, who may also be bogged down in their search for truth, as apart from what they accepted before; this takes people’s mind to accept the changes from the previous knowledge held. In the Matrix, Neo does not confirm the truth in the real world where he is, until he accepts the training offered by Morpheus. Moreover, near the end of the movie, he makes the simple statement: â€Å"My name†¦is Neo! in which he accepts himself in the real world instead of the name, Thomas Anderson, used in the Matrix – a world build by computer programs. In comparison to the Allegory of the Cave, Socrates accepts the truth after he adapts to the real world and sees things clearly in the real world. As it is mentioned in the story â€Å"Last he will be able to see the sun†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦; and he will contemplate him as he is† No one can enlighten anyone else toward the world of knowledge, people have to enlighten themselves in their own minds.What is truth? The truth itself is a personal definition and realization of things in the world around us. Truth is a concept that seeks deeply to be defined in people’s minds; everyone has their subjective opinion of what truth it is. In both the story and the movie, some people realize the real truth but others do not; there is no right or wrong, just different view toward knowledge. Even now, the truth that people are accepting is not truth; even truth itself may not be truth.

America in Black and White

Langston Hughes was an important and defining figure of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920’s up to the 1930’s, a decade of great activity in the African-American arts scene. Hughes was known for the rhythm, jazz and blues, of his poetry. The theme of his poetry is mostly on the life experiences of the African-American. In his Theme for English B, Hughes expresses the reality in the disparity – of being Black among Whites. In the first stanza, the professor’s assignment was specific and defined which was to write a page about oneself. It was a deviation from the usual rigid English lessons, like classical poems.Writing about oneself was more loose and relaxed. Hughes used iambic quatrain to taunt the rigidity of the instruction. Hughes made it known from the beginning that student and professor were different. The student thought the assignment over, and wondered if it was easy writing about oneself. Hughes used the free-verse style on rest of the poem to c ontrast the earlier quatrain. Alliteration and Assonance in Line 7, â€Å"I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem† had the jazz sounds of Harlem. Here, Hughes bared that the student was Black and therefore the professor was White.When he combined two vowel sounds in Line 10, â€Å"I am the only colored student in my class† Hughes indicated how strongly the student felt about being Black. Hughes used metaphors to denote Black with Harlem, 8th Avenue, 7th Street and Harlem Branch Y, places where there was heavy African-American population. There was a noticeable change in the order of the [I] from Lines 6, 7, 8 and 10, such as, â€Å"I wonder†¦ / I am twenty-two †¦ / I went to school there †¦ / I am the only †¦Ã¢â‚¬  to Lines 12-14 â€Å"†¦ then I cross †¦/ †¦ and I come †¦ / †¦ where I come †¦ /. † The [I] used to start off the lines, they now end off the lines.Such reversal was a symbolical of the place the Black took in society. The symbolism of coming from African-American places going upwards to the school on the hill and taking the elevator to his room at the Y told of the student’s efforts to reach the level of the Whites. It must be recalled in Line 6 that the student had doubts â€Å"I wonder if it’s that simple? † referring to the assignment. Now at Line 16, he was sure that â€Å"It is not easy to know what is true for you or me. † Hughes at this point now came with the â€Å"you† together with the â€Å"me.† With â€Å"I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you:† â€Å"hear you, hear me – we two – you me, talk on this page† (Lines18-19) the student was not just writing about himself but of the whole African-American people. The sound of the assonance was strong like the clamor for equality. In Lines 21-26, the student cried out that he, in many ways, was like a white man with the same wants and aspira tions in life. Hughes’ metaphors for gifts like â€Å"pipe† to mean growing old, â€Å"Bessie† for Blues, â€Å"Bop† for Jazz, and â€Å"Bach† for the classical and Baroque music.The student wrote that the African-American also wanted the things the White man enjoyed. Hughes subtly presented the issue of racism by completely leaving out the assonance, instead, the student was introspective when he asked â€Å"So will my page be colored that I write? † (Line 27). Despite the absence of the assonance, Hughes was still able to convey what the student wanted – to experience life, like the Whites do, until he is old when he smokes his pipe and listen to good music. The professor and the student were a contrast from the start, with conflicts in between.Hughes found a common ground in Lines 31-33 â€Å"You are white — / yet part of me, as I am part of you. / That’s American. † He followed it up with Lines 37-38 â€Å"As I learn from you, I guess you learn from me –† Hughes tried to make his readers see that the equalizer comes in both their being Americans. Theme for English B gives a very light treatment, being a free verse, of a compelling issue such as racism. The readers are able to internalize the poem through its rhythm. The tone of the poem is reflective as it is assertive with the use of the poetic voice of â€Å"I† coming as it is from someone who has a personal stake on the issue.Hughes was excellent in the use of a page for a composition in an English B class, where the student would use black ink to write on a white sheet of writing paper. The symbolisms accurately portrayed the issue in the poem – that Blacks and Whites despite their difference should not be opposing colors of America. They will both write history and define their future as Americans. References Hughes, L. (1951). Theme for English B. Retrieved April 25, 2009 from http://www. eecs. harvard. edu/~keith/poems/English_B. html

Regulation of the Internet and Democratic Values and Ideals Essay

Regulation of the Internet and Democratic Values and Ideals - Essay Example In the age of internet, it has already become easy for people to keep in touch with each other because online communication has become a potential information resource (McQuail and Siune, 1998, p.76). Information has become a central foundation in the technological revolution (MacKay and O’Sullivan, 1999, p.122). With this, communication has become so easy that even an individual who is in the other part of the world could still converse to the other side of it with relatives or friends via social networking sites such as Skype, Facebook, Twitter, Friendster and many more. It has become so easy to connect with other people nowadays especially in making friends and increasing the number of contacts. In fact, the recent development in communication via internet and fast speed broadband connectivity paves the way for connecting people. Internet therefore has become a social phenomenon affecting culture (Atton, 2004, p.2; Slevin, 2000, p.1). However, while connecting people remain s a significant advantage of the internet, the issue regarding safety remains an alarming priority as one of the potential arguments for the regulation of online activities. Various crimes are already committed within the internet including but not limited to physical or violent harm. Transactions could be faster if they have to be generated online. In this regard, there are bank, credit card and other related transactions already made via online deals or the internet. The purpose is for convenience and safety. However, safety could be such an understatement considering the fact that hackers are flooding over the internet plus there is a remarkable increase in the number of viral programs, malwares and strategies to secure passwords and other relevant confidential information. This is another remarkable reason and a significant argument for the regulation of the internet that at some point may also potentially concern with protecting the identity of an individual and disclosure of h ighly sensitive and valuable information. However, this only proves that censorship is essential in capitalist democracies (Petley, 2009, p.1). In the advent of terroristic attacks and their dangerous output on the public, the UK and US implemented anti-terroristic campaigns and even regulation over the use of the internet and control any activities in the virtual world. All the intentions in these related activities are in line with providing the safety which the public deserves to experience. However, behind this concern, there are other forms of issues that need also to be considered. This generally includes the consideration of democratic values and ideal

Principles of Aerodynamics Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Principles of Aerodynamics - Coursework Example 2: Coefficient of Drag = CD = 0.054 Area = S = 15 m2 Thrust = T= 1500 N Density= A = 0.5 kg/m3 For a steady and level flight, drag force is equal to the thrust produced by engines, D = T = 1500 N D = (? A V?2) S CD = (? (0.5) (V?2)) (15) (0.054) = 1500 => V? = 86.06 m/s = 8.6 E +1 m/s Question No. 3: Question No. 4: The sketches shown below illustrate the trend of variation in CL, CD, and L/D ratios with increasing angle of attack. Question No. 5: Critical Mach number corresponds to that value of Mach number for free stream flow for which a localized mach number of ‘1’ is obtained at any point around the airfoil. When this condition arises, a shock wave is created at the point where the flow reaches the sonic speed. As the speed increases, regions of very low pressure are created. This causes the flow to separate from the airfoil thereby substantially increasing the drag forces on it. The figure illustrates this phenomenon. Some of the important design features incor porated in the aircrafts in order to contain the effects of this situation are using thin airfoil and / or super critical airfoil (Anderson Introduction 763). Making an airfoil thinner increases the value of Critical Mach Number and hence the airplane can fly at very high speeds without a significant increase in drag forces on it. ... Their unique design limits the rise of drag forces even after the critical mach number is reached. Such airfoils have successfully been utilized in TACT aircraft program run by NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (Cury). Question No. 6: In the above illustration, the triangle represents the fuselage of an aircraft as seen from front. ‘’ is the angle of bank for the turn. LV = L cos  LH = L sin  The centripetal force required by the aircraft to take the turn is provided by horizontal component of lift force given by LH, equating the two; L sin  =  †¦ (a) the component LV balances the weight of the aircraft, hence = L cos  = mg From the above equation, L = mg / cos  Putting values in (a) and simplifying; g tan  =  putting values for  = 15o and r = 1500 m gives v = 62.79 m/s Load Factor = L/W = L/L cos  = 1/ cos  = 1/cos 15o = 1.035 Question No. 7: Following are the control surfaces used to control the motion of an aircraft along different axes: (1) The longitudinal axis: Ailerons (2) The Vertical or Normal Axis: Rudder (3) The lateral Axis: Elevator The figure shows the above mentioned control surfaces and the functions they perform. All the control surfaces work on the principle of creating drag for the incoming wind thereby changing the direction of the wind. Due to this change in velocity, a momentum change occurs which causes a force to act on the control surface and the desired movement of the aircraft is achieved this way. The ailerons tilt the aircraft around the longitudinal axis. They are always installed in pairs. The opposite motion of the two ailerons creates a couple which acts about the longitudinal axis to cause the desired motion. Rudder rotates the

Dow Corning Customer Value and Segmentation Essay

Dow Corning Customer Value and Segmentation - Essay Example The results of such re-evaluation are a new approach to customers and a newly formed customer segmentation. Basically, Dow Corning has classified their customers into three main categories. First, the company has clients who aim to become the first in the market to introduce certain innovative products and services. For instance, when a company wants to introduce a new product into the market, it may require the expertise of Dow Corning so as to hasten the entry of such product into the market. Such customers want specific innovations that will help them produce new products or develop new services. As cited in the case study, one such company was Reliance Industries. Through the services of Dow Corning, the said company was able to bring to the market a new fiber optic cable that that was easier to install and cost significantly less than other available alternatives in the market. The second customer segment of Dow Corning is composed of companies involved in fast-growing markets. Being involved in fast-growing markets, clients such as these require innovative solutions that will improve their own productivity and performance. These clients require Dow Corning's expertise so as to avoid being left behind by their competitors in their rapidly growing and changing industries and sectors.

In The Wild Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

In The Wild - Essay Example The narrative in both cases stems from the values and belief-systems that characterized the time period in which they were created. Thus for a proper understanding of the respective texts the contexts in which they were written as well as read must be taken into account. William Wordsworth is one of the foremost Romantic poets. The early 1790s found him in France where he imbibed much of the spirit of the revolution, which characterized much of his early writing. His work also shows the influence of the great French thinker Rousseau, who believed that those living closest to nature, were superior to those living in the heart of the jungle that is civilization. Wordsworth appears to have the same bent of thought as is evident in his idealization of nature and belief in the presumed innocence of rural life as opposed to the corruption and moral decay of urban society. His views are clearly outlined in The Prelude, (1850), " the close and overcrowded haunts of the cities where the human heart is sick." An important theme in his Solitary Reaper is Man's communion with and ultimate oneness with nature. The rusticity of the surroundings constitutes an idyllic setting for the poet, unblemished by the organized chaos of the city. Here Man exists with "The W ild" in a sublime if momentary state of purity and ecstasy. The lines, "Oh listen! For the Vale profound/ Is overflowing with the sound", reveals that the Reaper's music has intermingled with the core of Nature thus making them one. Wordsworth finds in Nature a means of escape from the mundane and vulgar realities of life. His poetry is inspired by the emotions Nature evokes in him which allows him glimpses past the opaque curtain of life that clouds one's vision of the mysterious and promising world beyond.Thus he endorses the view that through Nature, it is possible to transcend the unrewarding nitty-gritty of everyday life and soar exultantly through the realms of the universe as an essential part of it. Wordsworth reiterates the timeless and universality of the reaper's song by indicating that it appears to "have no ending" and by saying that it takes up residence in his heart, "long after it was heard no more."

America History19th Paper 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

America History19th Paper 1 - Essay Example While Smith’s religion has more of a substantial legacy, it was Prophet Matthias that made the headlines. The cult or ‘Kingdom of Matthias† the ideals of sexuality in the early 19th century. Historically the United States had a strong base in the freedom of religion and Protestantism. It was during the 1820s that smaller groups began to separate from the traditional and entered into the heretical. The Finneyites began great revivals that upended many of the long established customs regarding sexuality, religion, and politics. Theses followers shunned traditional Calvinist beliefs and strove to create an atmosphere that was governed by each individual versus a pre-ordained destiny.(23) It was not because of their beliefs, but the members of the movement that upset many. These were the middle and upper class citizens with aversion for many of the traditional beliefs. These men and women believed in abolishing many of the patriarchal beliefs and lifestyles that many Americans were living. When many started to protest against the Finneyites way of living, Prophet Matthias saw his chance. For many of the established branches, the woman’s place was in the home as a faithful servant to her husband and children. Not one to speak out or cause a stir, women were to bide by their husbands command and lead a spiritual life. It was during this time that some small groups of women started to stand up against the patriarchal beliefs and start to pursue their own religious opportunities. One such woman was Isabella van Wagenen, a servant who moved to Bowery Hill with who was James Latourette’s servant. Ms. Wagenen had been a slave and believed to have spoken with God since childhood.(53) When invited to the Bowery Hill Asylum created by Elijah and Sarah Pierson by two fellow women, she joined only to refuse the teachings. Oddly she decided to stay on with the Piersons and acted as an at will housekeeper. Women during this

Based on your analyses of The Catcher in the Rye and two films Essay

Based on your analyses of The Catcher in the Rye and two films demonstrate one lesson developed in these texts about the role of - Essay Example The characters of Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, the many characters in John Hughes’ The Breakfast Club, and Kat and Bianca Startford in Gil Junger’s 10 Things I Hate About You all struggle to maintain relationships with their parents while discovering their own identities, yielding different results in each situation. From the beginning of The Catcher in the Rye, it is evident that Holden Caulfield’s relationship with his parents isn’t quite what it is supposed to be. Holden discusses how he has been kicked out of school and yet, his parents are entirely unaware of it. He also expresses that he has no desire to come home. Right there, it was evident that Caulfield had a disconnect from his parents. Part of this disconnect may have been related to the fact that Caulfield was sent away to boarding school for so much of his life. Not only did he go to boarding schools, but he went to multiple boarding schools due to failin g out of one after the other. It is clear that he is a deeply emotionally disturbed individual throughout the novel, and yet his parents are insignificant figures in his life, as seen in the novel. Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield were not entirely to blame for this, of course. The family had gone through a great deal of emotional turmoil outside of Holden’s personal circumstances. Outside of the novel’s action, Holden’s older brother Allie, who serves as the family’s â€Å"golden child†, passed away from leukemia. Of course, this had an effect on Holden, his parents, and the relationship between them. As parents who are in mourning, their other children may not be on the forefront of their minds, as unfortunate as it may be. The consumption of their attention by the death of their child does not mean that they love their other children any less. Rather, they are preoccupied by the situation at hand. Consequently, the remaining children may feel as though th ey have been forgotten or are unimportant. In Holden’s case, he feels as though he’s living in the shadow of his deceased brother. Studies show that â€Å"Most children are resilient when bereaved, and their adaptation is facilitated by positive and authoritative parenting,† (Dowdney). Unfortunately for Holden, his bereavement process has not been facilitated. Rather, he has been in boarding school, where he has no choice but to sort things out for themselves. Coupling this with general teenage angst, it is extremely difficult for Holden to establish his own place in the world, let alone establish a healthy relationship with his parents. Each character in John Hughes’ The Breakfast Club has an intricate relationship with their respective parents. Their difference in social status also further the complexity of these relationships, as well as their behavior as a result of these relationships. In this film, the parent-child relationship is explored in a way in which we see how it effects the individual’s search for them true selves. In John Bender’s case, he adopts his tough guy persona as a way to mask the feelings he has over being physically abused by his father. Studies have shown that â€Å"Adolescents are at risk of academic failure, school drop-out, delinquency, and substance abuse. Some investigators have suggested that a history of family violence or abuse is the most significant difference between

Choosing the one you love Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Choosing the one you love - Essay Example After the completion of their college studies, both Tom and Julie started their search for employment. Tom succeeded in getting a good job in a highly reputed company located in a city around 200 kilometres away his home. It was difficult and painful for Tom and Julie to separate each other; but both of them agreed to contact each other at least twice in a day. Tom started his career as a computer programmer in that company. Initially, it was difficult for Tom to execute his responsibilities in a timely manner. Diana, another experienced programmer working with Tom, helped him a lot in managing his initial problems in that organization. Both Tom and Diana became good friends within a month. Diana was a charming girl and her mannerisms and behaviour were very much attractive to everybody. She liked modern dresses and looked pretty in her dress codes. Tom’s innocence and mannerisms were caught the attention of Diana. Tom was a strongly built, 6 feet taller handsome young man and Diana slowly started to fall in love with him. Tom realised the intentions of Diana, but it was difficult for Tom to avoid her considering the assistances, he was receiving from her in professional matters. Tom never said anything about his love affairs with Julie. He was afraid of the consequences. He never told Julie also about Diana and her intentions. But he maintained his deep love affairs with Julie. Diana started to give Tom the company on holidays. It was difficult for Tom to avoid the invitations of Diana for watching movies, shopping and spending time on parks and other public gathering places. Diana never asked Tom anything about his past life and Tom never said anything to Diana about his love affairs with Julie. As time passes, Dina’s love towards Tom strengthened and once she revealed her intentions and feelings to Tom. Tom was also started to love her; however it was difficult for him to avoid

Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Essay Example for Free

Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Essay Throughout the novel the Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Yunior tells the story of oscars family that is allegedly cursed by the Fuku. The dominican family that roots back to when Trujillo was in power has been tragical effected by the Fuku. The main character Oscar is an awkward Dominican that balms his failures on the curse of the Fuku. The curse started back in the Dominican republic when the oppressive dictator Trujillo convicted oscars grandfather Abelard who was a respected doctor for conspiracy. When oscars grandfather was put in jail he was tortured and beaten, this was the origin of the curse for the Waos. Like a gene the curse has been passed down the family to oscar. The author Junot Diaz uses the motif of the Fuku to illustrate how bani allows her awful past to dramatically affect her and children. Everyone that lived in the dominican was in some way negatively effected by Trujillo. Oscar Wao was a living example of the fuku and how not only Trujillo effected the dominican people of his time but even the people two generations later. For example (p.5)â€Å"wether I believe in what many have described as the great american doom is not really the point. You live as long as I did in the heart of Fuku country, you hear these kinds of tales all the time everybody in san domingo has a Fuku story knocking around in their family.† Yunior is expressing the fact that even if you are not a believer of the Fuku curse if you are dominican there is a good chance it has affected you or your family. When oscars mother was left an orphan she was put through unbelievably awful circumstances much like her fathers. This time in Banis life effect who she became and how she parented Oscar.(78)â€Å"From 1951 on, â€Å"hija† and â€Å"madre† running their famous bakery near the plaza central and keeping their fading, airless house in tip-top shape. (before 1951, our orphan girl had lived with another foster family, monsterous people if the rumors are to be believed, a dark period of her life neither she nor her madre ever referenced. Their very own pagina en blanco). This quotation refers to how oscars mother was effected by the Fuku. The reason she was an orphan was because Trujillo killed her parents. The events of her childhood were a direct result of Trujillo but Bani had the power to put the past in the past and parent Oscar the right way, because Bani did not do this the Fuku lives on. Many times in the book a Wao has been injured almost to the point of death. Once was when Oscar attempted suicide. Oscars Suicide attempt was not just because he lost the first girl he has ever loved it was also because of how Oscar had almost no self esteem. Even his own mother would belittle him from a young age. The suicide attempt went wrong and Oscar survived to live another day. (p.191) â€Å"Except that this one of the garden dividers that they planted shrubs on and he hit the freshly tilled loam and not the concrete.† Because he hit the fresh loam he survived with many harsh injures instead of plummeting to his death as planned. This was an incident in Oscar Waos life that was a result of his failures like his failure to love or be loved. This failure stems back to how his mother raised him with very tough love because of the her childhood. The novel clearly illustrated how the Fuku has effected all Dominican people even if they had immigrated off the island. To me this novel is not about dominican people and there history it is about how only one man effected millions of lives not only in one point it time but for generations to come. Junot Diaz shows the reader how we all have the power to stop horrible things like the Fuku from effecting the next generation but you must have the power to leave the past in the past.

Google and Search Essay Example for Free

Google and Search Essay Mission Statement â€Å"Google’s mission is to organize the world‘s information and make it universally accessible and useful.† While other companies were busy cramming the most ads possible on their homepages or squeezing every last hour of productivity out of employees, Google created an enjoyable experience for every party involved in the company including users, employees, and investors. Google’s success has come as a direct result of keeping people happy. History of Google Google was founded by two Stanford University computer science graduate students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. When the two met in 1995, they argued about every topic they discussed except for the best approach to solving one of computing’s biggest challenges: retrieving relevant information from a massive set of data. By January of 1996 the two had begun collaborating on their first search engine. It was named BackRub for its unique ability to analyze â€Å"back links† pointing to a given website, and quickly earned a growing reputation among those who had seen it. By 1998, the two had bought a terabyte of disks to create their first data center and renamed their search engine â€Å"Google†; which was a play on the word â€Å"googol†, referring to the number 1 followed by one hundred zeros, a reference to their goal of organizing the immense amount of information available on the web. Initially, Page and Brin had unsuccessfully tried to find companies to license their technology, but ended up raising an initial investment of almost $1 million when they decided to build a business on their own. And, by the end of that year, Google was answering 10,000 search queries per day and began to receive public recognition. They appeared on USA Today and were named one of the Top 100 Web Sites and Search Engines by PC Magazine. By early 1999 Google was answering over 500,000 searches per day, and their meteoric rise began. By the end of 1999, Google had raised another $25 million from venture capitalists, moved to their current headquarters in Mountain View, California, grew to answering over 3 million searches per day, and received a slew of recognition, including being named on Time magazine’s Top Ten Best Cybertech list of 1999. They also went global with the introduction of versions in ten other languages for users to search in their native tongue, and still they were just getting started. Google continued to grow, developing strategic partnerships, developing new features, developing new services, and fulfilling over 34,000 search requests per second. Ultimately, Google became the technology powerhouse that we know today. They achieved the status of having over 72% of the search engine requests in the United States. They also added a multitude of other services, including video, email, mapping, images, an operating system, an internet browser, internet protocol phone service, and many, many others. Executive Summary Google is a global technology leader focused on improving the ways people find and use information. We maintain the world’s largest online index of websites and other content and, via our automated search technology, make this information freely available, nearly instantly, to anyone with the Internet connection. Google primarily generates revenue by delivering relevant, cost-effective online advertising. Businesses use our AdWords program to promote their products and services with targeted advertising. In addition, the thousands of third-party websites that comprise our Google network use our Google AdSense program to deliver relevant AdWords ads that generate revenue and enhance the user experience. Situation Google, currently headquartered in Mountain View California, is now a strong leader in the technology sector, specifically in the â€Å"Internet Information Provider† industry. With a market capitalization of $199.88 billion, Google is almost five times larger than its nearest competitor, Baidu Inc. They produce $10.29 billion in operating cash flow each year and have $33.38 billion in cash reserves. Clearly, they are a financially strong company with extensive resources. Their business, as originally founded, remains focused on search technology with the Google search engine available on more than 150 Google domains, presented in many different languages. They have also created a tool to enable users to translate search results between languages. Other search tools included the ability to search for stock quotes, sports scores, news headlines, local addresses, images, videos, patents, maps, and much more. And, for information that is not already available online, Google is working to digitize it with projects like Google Books and the Google News Archive. Google’s dominance in the search engine field allows the company to generate the majority of its revenue through advertising. Hundreds of thousands of advertisers use Google AdWords to target potential customers as they search for terms relevant to the products and services they offer. Advertisers do this by bidding to have ads appear with search results on a â€Å"pay-per-click† basis. They can even target a specific geographic area. Another product offered by Google in the advertising genre is GoogleAdSense, which allows blog and website owners to generate additional revenue by allowing Google to place relevant ads on their sites. In order to help advertisers, Google provides tools such as Google Analytics, Website Optimizer, Insights for Search, and Ad Planner which are tools to help advertisers measure results and be more efficient. Google also offers a variety of apps that are intended to make it simpler for people to share information and get things done together. Apps like Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Docs, among others, allow users to have access to free programs and tools that are not accessed through individual computers, but are stored on internet servers. This is called â€Å"cloud computing† and it makes information portable, so that it is accessible anywhere and through any device that the user has internet access. Perhaps the most recent front of development, Google also has entered the mobile market. Through a variety of tools and partnerships, Google tries to make their products available on mobile devices so that users can access Google Maps, Youtube, and other services through any mobile phone. Taking this concept to the next level, Google has created and released the Android operating system. This is a free operating system that any developer can use and any hardware manufacturer can install on any device. This OS puts a comprehensive line up of Google products at the smart phone user’s fingertips, instantly. SWOT Analysis of Google: Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT) Analysis Strengths: * Already number one search engine has established name, in which its users trust * Dependable, reliable, and fast * Needs very little end user marketing * Has a simple interface and it gives comprehensive results without confusing users * Many products and services (desktop, Mobile, web), allowing users to meet many of their technology needs through Google * Interface with 88 different languages Weaknesses: * Dependent on search based advertising for nearly all revenue * Weak in social networking presence * Search queries only answered with 50-60% accuracy * Rising cost for data center Opportunities: * Allow vendors to pay for advertising on localized search results * Develop social networking site or integrate products with existing sites * Develop feature to enable chat between Google users, especially those using Google products to collaborate on documents * Find entry into huge gaming market Threats: * Privacy issues regarding content ownership * Competition from Yahoo, MSN, Bing, Baidu, etc. * Imposed Censorship Porter’s Five Forces Model Rivalry Among Competing Firms: Low. There are certainly other search engines, but Google is clearly the dominant player in the field. Also, while other companies offer competing options for many of Google’s products, nobody offers nearly as complete a mix of products and services. This allows Google to keep consumers engaged across a wide range of products and inspires brand loyalty. For example, someone likes the Google search engine, so they decide to try Google Docs. After coming to see Google Docs in a positive light, they decide to use Google Group to collaborate on documents. Seeing the benefit of Google Groups, they decide to use Google Calendar for their scheduling, etc. Over time, Google comes to be associated with good quality and helpful tools, so when a new product offering comes out, consumers instantly assume it is a good product and want to use it. Also, in Google’s primary revenue stream, pay-per-click search based advertising, Google has no real competition, and as long as Google dominates the search engine field they have little chance of losing advertisers to a competitor. Potential Entry of New Competitors: Low. There are few technology companies that have the knowledge and resources to mount a serious challenge of Google’s dominance. Google has developed proprietary technology that is hugely successful. It would be extremely difficult for a competitor to enter the field and duplicate Google’s technology, so unless Google loses its position on the cutting edge and is surpassed by the next technological improvement, they are a difficult target for new competitors. Potential Development of Substitute Products: Low. Some of Google’s products face possible substitutes in the market. For example, consumers could use a GPS instead of Google Maps, but Google’s primary business is based around their powerhouse search engine which is difficult to substitute. It would be nearly impossible to effectively search the vast amount of information available through the internet and retrieve relevant information without the help of a search engine. As for Google’s primary revenue source, search based advertising; it is difficult to imagine a substitute product that would allow advertisers to pinpoint their marketing to potential customers who are actively demonstrating an interest in a related topic. Targeted advertising that the advertiser pays for only when it shows a measureable result will always be attractive to businesses as long as the pricing structure remains reasonable, and with Google’s auction style approach, it is virtually ensured that the price will not exceed what the market will bear. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: Low. Since Google’s products and services are primarily technology and information based, it has very limited exposure to suppliers. Google is not buying raw materials to produce or manufacture tangible goods. Unless a massive societal shift occurs that limits Google’s access to information, Google will not be at the mercy of suppliers for their primary resource. The only aspect of Google’s business in which suppliers might exercise bargaining power would be servers. However, several manufacturers produce hard disks for storage of information and Google’s size and massive use of storage servers gives them the bargaining power. Bargaining Power of Consumers: Low. Most of Google’s products and services are offered at no cost. Google’s paying customers, namely advertisers, have no equivalent service to divert their spending to. Other search engines simply don’t have the volume of use or the supporting tracking and planning tools that Google has. Problem definition Summary statement of the problem: The primary problem that Google faces can be summed up in one word, â€Å"SIZE†. The size of Google makes it extremely difficult to maintain its past innovation and growth performance. Due to the success that Google has enjoyed in its relatively short history, it will be increasingly difficult to identify and capitalize on opportunities that are sufficient to continue to grow and develop at such an astronomical pace. At the same time, Google’s position as a dominant industry player puts it in a position to be an attractive target for competitors to emulate and challenge for market share. Summary statement of the recommended solution: In order to best address this challenge, Google must do several things simultaneously. Google must recognize and remember that its success stems from being on the cutting edge. Google cannot afford to sit on the sidelines when new technologies come to market. They must always look for opportunities to capitalize early. Similarly, Google should not only continue to seek attractive acquisition targets, but also invest in RD in order to keep the technology pipeline active. Structurally, Google must avoid a centralized control structure that views new growth opportunities from the perspective of their current size and performance, because truly great growth opportunities are not always easily recognizable in the early stages. What better example of that than Google itself?

Leadership Effects Development On Employee Performances In Pakistan Management Essay

Leadership Effects Development On Employee Performances In Pakistan Management Essay Qaiser Abbas, et al. (2009), in this study, explains that Leadership development has a great impact on employee performance. Factors that influence employee performance are coaching, training and development, empowerment, participation and delegation. These leadership factors influence 50% employee performance, other factors like commitment, motivation, trust in organization, compensation and rewards also influences employee performance. Employee performance is an important building block of an organization. Every employee contributes towards the success of the organization. Organization cannot progress by one or two individuals effort. Success depends on teamwork. Managers give input to use their abilities and innovative ideas. There are many expectations from managers; they have to work really hard to satisfy their boss. Managers are experienced enough to deal with various issues, sometimes they run to their boss for guidance. They can work effectively and efficiently when there is an effective leadership program for their assistance and to build leadership qualities in them. Leadership development is becoming an increasingly critical and strategic imperative for organizations in the current business environment (Sheri-Lynne, Parbudyal 2007) Leadership development program is aimed to assist employees in improving their skills and in doing their work effectively and efficiently. Organizations have to compete across the globe so this program is of great importance to them as they have to face business challenges. Tirmizi identified importance of leadership. The 6-L framework dimensions developed by Tirmizi are: 1. Leads and encourage change 2. Lives by example 3. Lauds achievement 4. Lends a vision 5. Leverages learning and development 6. Looks out for others The variables discussed in this paper are already mentioned in the introductory paragraph whose general relationship is shown in the diagram below: This diagram shows that coaching, training and development, empowerment, participation, delegation effects employee performance, which as a result bring about organizational change. Talking about each variable relationship briefly, the writer considers coaching as an important technique to increase performance. Training and development is to make employees more skillful and it fills the gap between actual performance and desired performance. This concept has been explained by the Bramleys Individual Model of Training as depicted in the diagram below: Bramleys Individual Model of Training Coming towards empowerment, Duvall (1999), defines success as achievement, accomplishment and attainment which is a consequence of empowerment. Participation means involving employees in problem solving. When employees come across organizational problems, they experience how to handle such situations. This creates a sense of contribution towards organizations success. They have opportunity to give ideas. Delegation means giving responsibility and authority which means that Employee exercise his authority for making decisions that are beneficial for the organization. On the basis of all these assumptions the writer considered a positive relationship between leadership development and employee performance. Talking about implications of this article in my research paper, I get to know that Training and Coaching are the learning processes in which employees learn skills whereas Participation, Delegation and Empowerment are implementation tools. Employee performance depends on leadership development factors but it also depends on other factors i.e. attitudes, commitment, motivational factors and trust in organization. A blend of all these factors influences employee performance completely which as a result bring about organizational change. Coupled effects of knowledge and leadership Shazia Akhtar (2010), in this study, draws attention towards the need to change for organizations in this highly competitive environment for long term survival. The changes help the organizations to sustain in market, achieve competitive edge and to generate profits. Organizations performance is influenced by employee productivity and job satisfaction, which are influenced by working conditions of the organization. Organizations significant aim is to find innovative employees who have that magic company is looking for. Leaders play a vital role in inspiring and influencing employees and also cultivating innovative behavior among them. The Leadership traits that shape employees innovative behavior, extracted from the study of De Yong and Den Hartog are: In innovative role model trait leaders with creativity encourage their employees to be like them and to be innovative. Leaders who acted as model of creativity promoted employees to be more creative for example in De Yong and Den Hartog study, one of front runner employee said I am always looking for ways to do things better and improve results. It stimulates some of the employees to do the same. On intellectual stimulation leaders wanted their employees to solve problems by giving possible solutions. Leaders wanted them express their opinion on different proposals. Stimulating knowledge diffusion means to diffuse ideas at all levels of organization. To share ideas with subordinates actually creates a communication network among all. Issues are resolved when problems are shared. Lack of communication and sharing declines employees motivation and eliminates ideas. Providing vision to employees i.e. showing them a straight path to move on to achieve companys goal and targets. Delegating them sufficient autonomy so that they might not face any difficulty in handling any issue. This creates a sense of contribution and motivation among employees. Sharing leadership with employees makes them work more diligently and efficiently. Leaders should support for innovation. Give sufficient autonomy to subordinates to implement ideas. Employees should not be penalized for doing mistakes as it is a part of learning process, Supportive attitude accelerates the innovation process. Previous research by Hellstrom on association between Organizing feedback and innovative behavior illustrated that employees are ready to show their innovative behavior when leaders give feedback on their proposal. Recognition is an important attribute i.e. recognize employees work through appreciation and awards i.e. certificates of achievement. Rewards; monetary compensation of employees is also very important trait that shapes an employees innovative behavior and loyalty towards organization. Providing resources to generate more productive outcomes. Availability of resources is directly related to innovative outcomes. Leaders with insufficient resources are not able to achieve their target and so is competitive advantage. Keep a check on employees time after time to check their efficiency of doing work. Monitoring and employee efficiency are correlated. Monitoring should be done to ensure p rogress. Task assignment attribute is important to check employee efficiency from time to time. Give challenging tasks to employees and then evaluate their work. Task assignment influences idea generation, the more they take interest in job the more innovative ideas are likely to flourish. Now coming towards the implication of this study to my research paper, by studying this paper I get to know that the traits in managers are not sufficient but the Knowledge level of leadership traits in middle managers is constantly changing. Knowledge and leadership have a huge impact on organizational success and a blend of both helps in achieving competitive advantage. If managers are well educated on leadership traits, it is helpful to their understandings and Leaders may exhibit these leadership traits in different ways based on situation such as leader might consult employees more than once to ensure that innovative ideas are implemented successfully. HR Practices and Leadership Styles as Predictors of Employee Attitude and Behavior: Evidence from Pakistan Khurram Shahzad, et al. (2010), in this study, talks about Human Resource Management practices and leadership styles conducted in private and public sector universities. Such practices are valuable in creating human capital. The writers have emphasized the effect of leadership styles on organizational commitment and citizen behaviors (critical determinants of organizational effectiveness by Katz, 1964) among university teachers. The results of this study were very interesting and revealed that both human resource practices and leadership styles positively predicted organizational commitment of faculty members however they were unable to predict citizenship behaviors. The writers used the Katz Framework (1964), and applied it on the situation currently prevailing in Pakistan. The findings of the interviews are summed up in table 1.1 given below: Table 1.1: Responses of the university employees as per Katz Framework Katz (1964) Frame Work for Effective Organizations Situation of Public Sector Situation of Private Sector Universities Universities Emphasis on employees on carry out their assigned roles Emphasized Emphasized Emphasis on retaining employees Not emphasized Emphasized to some extent Emphasis on employees to exhibit extra-role behavior Not emphasized Not emphasized The above results clearly revealed that the important aspect of organizational effectiveness that is extra-role behavior (organizational citizenship behavior) is clearly not emphasized in both public and private sector universities. It is also found that employee retention (through organizational commitment) is not at all emphasized in public sector universities and partially emphasized in private sector universities. Most managers of the universities were found totally unaware of the fact that organizational citizenship behavior and organizational commitment is related to organizational outcomes can be consciously managed through organizational factors like human resource management practices and leadership style. Although the mangers have some idea these concepts but application of these concepts in the area of their responsibility is not taken care of. Leadership Styles for the Five Stages of Radical Change Dr. Kathleen K. Reardon, et al. (1998), in this study, continues prior work on radical change with theory and research on leadership style. Leadership experts agree that a key challenge facing leaders now and in the future is responsiveness to radical change. Using the Leadership Style Inventory, leaders can determine which stages of radical change they are equipped to handle. Further the article explores how individual and group leadership style limitations can be dealt with to ensure radical change success. The key component of successful leadership now and in the next century is proactive and effective responsiveness to change. Experts agree that successful leaders must be flexible and capable of adapting to new conditions, open to novel alternatives, and willing to take greater risks (Kotter, 1990; OToole, 1996). The leadership styles shown in Figure below were derived from work on the Leader-ship Style Inventory (LSI) developed by Rowe, Reardon, and Bennis (1995). The inventory identifies differences in style used by leaders that are based on the following two questions: How adaptive are leaders when dealing with the issues they face? How do leaders communicate with, persuade, and energize employees in the process of change? The LSI identifies four basic styles: commanding, logical, inspirational, and supportive. One of its major strengths is that it also describes combinations of the basic styles called patterns. These patterns help to describe the complexity be-hind leader behavior and competence for radical change. Details are provided in the table below: Leader Focuses Persuades Makes Learns Style On by changes by Commanding Results Directing Rapidly Doing Logical Innovation Explaining Carefully Studying Inspirational Opportunities Creating trust Radically Questioning Supportive Facilitating work Involvement Slowly Listening Most leaders do not possess a single style, but a combination. These combinations indicate which styles leaders are pre-disposed to use. From the article we get to know that change is not an event but an extended process. Each stage of that process benefits from different leadership orientations. Strategy researchers have proposed that change involves at least three stages: initiation, formulation, and implementation (Webb and Dawson, 1991; Pettigrew, 1987; Child and Smith, 1987, Rajagopalan and Spreitzer, 1994. Another model (Rowe and Mann, 1988) proposed four factors in the change process: Decision makers style, organizational culture, employees willingness to change, and acceptance of change based on a match among values, culture, and decision style. John Kotter (1990), proposed that leading change requires: establishing direction, aligning people, and motivating and inspiring. The model shown in this article in the figure below draws upon Kotters model but adds two stages described by Kotter but not specifically stated in his model: launching and maintaining. Phase Focuses Style Planning Acquire information Logical/inspirational Creative ideas Inspirational Strategy formulation Logical Enabling Explaining plan Logical Convincing employees Logical Empowering/involving Inspirational/supportive Assisting Supportive Launching Implementing steps Logical Meeting goals Commanding Getting results Commanding Assessing progress Logical Catalyzing Inspiring Inspirational Energizing Inspirational Assisting Supportive Maintaining Overseeing progress Logical Guiding Inspirational Energizing Inspirational Assisting Supportive After talking about the variables discussed in this study I move forward towards the implication of this study to my research paper. After studying it I get to know that, leaders need to be aware of their predispositions. The LSI provides that information. By linking the LSI with the Five-stage Radical Change Model, leaders can see where their own and their peoples strengths and challenges lie. Knowing what youre best suited for and what might be more effectively led by others is critical to achieving success in todays environment of radical change. Need for Leadership: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan Mohmood A. Bodla, et al. (2010), in this study, explores the moderator effect of situational variables in leadership literature around the globe. However, this area is the most neglected area among the behavioral scientists of Pakistan. Therefore, their study seeks to find out the moderator effect of need for leadership in relation with leadership characteristics on subordinates behavioral outcomes using the need for leadership framework of de Vries (1997), in Pakistani work settings. A decade ago, de Vries (1997) suggested that need for leadership prevails in each follower and this need influences leadership efforts in predicting the subordinates work outcomes. According to author, need for leadership is a social, contextual, and quasi need (p. 92) which is linked with variety of individuals, task and organizational characteristics simultaneously that affect leadership efforts on subordinates behaviors. First, need for leadership is ascribed as a social need. The term social refers; this need is stimulated among individuals while working in a group. According to McClelland (1953), people acquire different needs as result of social interactions with others. It is clear that most of the employees work related activities are performed in a group. While working in groups, people develop strong sense of belongingness with each other and try to perform certain activities which are in interest of common goal. In these groups, some people play the role of leaders, while others act as subordinates. According to de Vries (1997), the need which is provoked by the leader among subordinates due to his position power or the need activated among individuals adhering groups goal is need for leadership. Second, need for leadership is a contextual need. Contextual refers to work environment and type of work individuals have to perform. According to House (1971), in case of highly professional jobs, where tasks are ambiguous and methodological variant and work activities are non routine, subordinates may feel insecure due to role ambiguity and have strong desire for leaders interventions which serve to reduce the role ambiguity whereas, in case of routine and dull tasks, followers may desire strong social support from their leaders. In both situations, desiring different leadership (e.g. instrumental leadership or supportive leadership) by followers reflect the situational aspects of need for leadership. Besides the work settings, followers characteristics are also important for determining the need for leadership. For example, trained, experienced, and qualified employees require less hierarchical guidance (i.e. need for leadership) than their less able and less trained colleagues (K err and Jermier, 1978). Third, need for leadership is a quasi need. Quasi refers to the position of need for leadership that it takes place. Unlike the primary needs e.g. hunger, thirst or shelter needs postulated by Maslow (1943), this need is a secondary need and mainly related to mental activities (De Vries, 1997). Coming towards the implications of this paper to my research, through it I get to know that, to what extent, the results of moderator effect in leadership research are improved using the single moderator variable and how much these results are beneficial for practicing managers. For the practitioners, the results of the study are strongly convincing them that they must understand the need for leadership of their followers before exercising their leadership practices. Moreover, for future researchers, this theory seems promising and demanding more research in the future. Leadership and Change Management June Kaminski (2000), in this study, draws attention towards adaptation to change which has become a common agenda for organizations of all types health care, business, social, governmental, educational, and cultural. Change is no longer an irregular outing, an inconvenient upheaval to be undertaken once every ten years. Change is something we have to learn to live with, to structure and to manage. Change is here to stay, and the winners will be the ones who cope with it.- (Bainbridge, 1996, p. 4) But according to the writer, the change process is not so easy and a lot of obstacles hinder your progress. Some factors that contribute towards resistance to change are: Bureaucracy Control Rigidity Functionalism and most importantly Peoples attitude towards change Change within organizations occurs on countless levels. Lewin (1951), gave his model of change in his force field model. He characterized change as a state of imbalance between driving forces and restraining forces. If these forces were balanced no change could take place. Change is inherent in every context. Change is disruptive, messy, complicated, and unpredictable but is still manageable (Bainbridge, 1996). Change is risky especially when it encompasses different sectors within an organization. Wilson pointed out that a shift from emergent models of change to planned ones has steadily occurred over the past two decades. A total shift is not advised though, since the political and economic context of the surrounding environment cannot be ignored, and must also be adapted to. Coming towards the variables discussed, the very culture of an organization needs to be reshaped to properly support the new processes introduced. Structures, reward systems, appraisal measurements and roles need redefinition (Bainbridge, 1996). Leadership styles and management procedures must shift and adapt, and ways of relating with customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders need refining. Technological advances and capabilities must be introduced, and preparation of the workforce to work with the new IT structures is needed. Change has become perpetual. In order to cope, organizations need a design process with strategies and guidelines for thriving amongst a multitude of changes. The creation and design process within an organization is role of leaders. Change process which encompasses human resources, IT adoption, and upgrades, tools and techniques as well as basic rules and controls within the organization and are mandate of leaders engaged in the management of change (Bainbridge, 1996). Leaders are responsible for bridging the gap between strategy decisions and the reality of implementing the changes within the structure and workforce of the organization. Underlying this principle is the fact that almost everything in an organizations infrastructure has an influence on some other part of it. Management style affects culture, technology affects the way staff interact with customers, internal communication methods affect how people work together, (Bainbridge, 1996, p. 37). A holistic approach to change management encourages the redesign and adaptation to change at all organizational levels. In essence, process itself can become the platform for change to occ ur, as well as the protector of the existent daily operations. Leaders are the champions of change within an organization. Adaptive leaders provide direction, protection, orientation, conflict control, and the shaping of norms while overseeing the change process within the corporate structure (Conger, Spreitzer Lawler, 1999). Transformative leaders share fundamental characteristics that allow them to enable organizational members in the change process (Conger, Spreitzer Lawler, 1999). The steps to transform an organization are: Establishing a sense of urgency Forming a powerful guiding coalition Creating a vision Communicating the vision Empowering others to act on the vision Planning for and creating short term wins Consolidating improvements and producing still more change Institutionalizing new approaches Further Bainbridge (1996), outlined a five step process of redesign for organizations undergoing planned change. The five steps included: The design stage to determine overall requirements The definition stage where the design is specified and documentation of the design stage requirements occurs The development stage, where new capabilities are cultivated through training, education and restructuring The dismantling stage, where redundant parts of the organization are removed or converted into new capabilities The deployment stage, where new capabilities are introduced into the new organizational environment, both internally and externally By reading this paper I get to know that, the leader, as a person, is the most important tool for change. The leaders spirit, insight, wisdom, compassion, values, and learning skills are all important facets in the capabilities to lead others to embrace change and redesign strategies. So, the key to successful organizational change is heroic and learned change management by competent and visionary leaders. Change can be managed in a top-down style or as a highly participative exercise from all levels of personnel. Change is context specific, meaning that no single change process is appropriate for every situation or corporate entity. Leaders are responsible for setting the context for change within an organization. A culture and vision must be cultivated that can support the planned changes, and deal with unplanned change. Leaders must be able to counsel, teach, coach, and reward employees as they adopt and move through the change process. For lasting change to occur, habits, attitudes, and values at all levels of an organization must be congruent with the vision and goals inherent in the process. Leadership and the Aging Workforce: The Impact of Leadership Style on the Motivation of Older Employees Heike Bruch, et al. (2006), in this study, examines the effects of transformational and transactional leadership styles on the goal commitment of younger and older employees. The transactional and transformational theories of leadership were developed by Burns (1978) in politics and they were applied to organizational management by Bass (1985). Transactional leadership is based on the exchange of resources to fulfill contractual obligations and is typically represented as setting objectives and monitoring and controlling outcomes. Transformational leadership goes beyond transactions and involves influences on the beliefs, needs and values of followers, eventually helping followers achieve extraordinary goals The term goal has been defined as the object or aim of an action to attain a specific standard of proficiency on a given task within a specific time frame (Latham, 2000; Locke Latham, 1990, 2002), with effective goal setting representing one of the key levers for enhancing employee motivation. After creating a proper frame work on the above mentioned variables the results of this research showed that transactional leadership is positively related to employees goal commitment, with transformational leadership augmenting this effect. Moderator hypotheses were partially confirmed, such that the relationship between transformational leadership style and goal commitment was strongly positive for younger employees, while this relationship was slightly negative for older employees. In contrast, age was not found to moderate the relationship between transactional leadership and goal commitment. Leadership Style, Organizational Politics, and Employees Performance Eran Vigoda-Gadot (2006), in this study, aims to examine perceptions of politics among public sector employees as a possible mediator between the supervisors leadership style and formal and informal aspects of employees performance (Organizational Citizenship Behavior OCB). Burns (1978) identified two basic factors in the interaction between leadership and employees. One factor stems from the leaders ability to deliver rewards and punishments (transactional leadership). The second factor is the leaders ability to rally his staff and urge them to cooperate in achieving the organizations goals (transformational leadership). The expectancy theory (Vroom, 1964), the social exchange theory (Blau, 1964), and the leader-member exchange (LMX) theory (Graen, 1976; Wang et al., 2005) supported the need for a more balanced relationship between leaders and members and the idea of fair treatment of the individual. Reciprocity, fair exchange, and a low level of organization politics appear to be influential in the context of leadership style and performance. The current study examined the relationship between two types of leadership and formal and informal performance in the light of the knowledge accumulated in recent years regarding organizational politics. The findings demonstrate that organizational politics can be considered an influential mediator between leadership and performance beyond the direct relationship already established in the literature. As previously suggested by Ammeter et al. (2002) and others, a constant tension exists between the individuals involvement in political dynamics, his/her aspiration to develop and promote self-interests, and the goal of improving organizational performance. According to this study, transformational leadership may have a positive direct effect on employees performance by structuring an environment that is perceived as less political in nature and is rooted in notions of fairness and equity. Such an environment should motivate employees to demonstrate excellent performance, both formally and informally, by higher levels of in-role behaviors and enhanced organizational citizenship behavior. A Study of the Relationship between Leadership Styles and Employee Job Satisfaction at Islamic Azad University Branches in Tehran, Iran Fatemeh Hamidifar (2009), in this research, found that the dominant leadership styles were transformational and transactional and employees were moderately satisfied with their job. The results show that different leadership style factors will have different impacts on employee job satisfaction components. Individualized consideration and laissez-faire are strong predictors of all the job satisfaction factors. The major concepts discussed by the researcher are Transformational leaders, Transactional leaders and the concept of laissez-faire. Transformational leaders do more with followers and colleagues than transactional leaders do (Avolio et al. 1991). Instead of a simple exchange and agreement, transformational leaders provide a vision and a sense of mission, inspire pride, and gain respect and trust through charisma (Bass et al. 1990). Transactional leaders communicate with their subordinates to explain how a task must be done and let them know that there will be rewards for a job done well (Avolio et al. 1991). Laissez- faire leadership is a passive kind of leadership style. There is no relationship exchange between the leader and the followers. It represents a non-transactional kind of leadership style in which necessary decisions are not made, actions are delayed, leadership responsibilities ignored, and authority unused. A leader displaying this form of non-leadership is perceived a s not caring at all about others issues. Job satisfaction may be defined as a positive emotional response from the assessment of a job or specific aspects of a job (Locke 1976; Smith et al. 1969). It is influenced by many factors such as: the working conditions, work itself, supervision, policy and administration, advancement, compensation, interpersonal relationships, recognition, and empowerment (Castillo Cano 2004). Now coming towards the relationship between the leadership styles and job satisfaction, Leadership style is an important determinant of employee job satisfaction. The reactions of employees to their leaders will usually depend on the characteristics of the employees as well as on the characteristics of the leaders (Wexley Yukl 1984). Employee job satisfaction is influenced by the internal organization environment, which includes organizational climate, leadership types and personnel relationships (Seashore and Taber 1975). The quality of the leader-employee relationship or the lack thereof has a great influence on the employees self-esteem and job satisfaction (Chen Spector 1991; Brockne

The Book Thief: Concentration Camps and Death Marches Essay -- The Boo

World War II was a grave event in the twentieth century that affected millions. Two main concepts World War II is remembered for are the concentration camps and the marches. These marches and camps were deadly to many yet powerful to others. However, to most citizens near camps or marches, they were insignificant and often ignored. In The Book Thief, author Markus Zusak introduces marches and camps similar to Dachau to demonstrate how citizens of nearby communities were oblivious to the suffering in those camps during the Holocaust. Much of The Book Thief revolved around a common German family hiding a Jew. During the Holocaust and the book, Jews and other people seen as insignificant were imprisoned in concentration camps. Max, the Jew that the Hubermanns were hiding, could cause them to get into deep trouble. However, they still hid him. The Hubermanns lived in a town close to a concentration camp and often saw marches of prisoners through town. Even with a potential prisoner living in their residence, the Hubermanns, along with most everyone else in Molching, were unaware of the events that actually happened in the concentration camp and marches. Dachau and its sub camps were awful places in general, but living as a prisoner in these camps was even worse, just as the marches were. The physical characteristics that made up Dachau and its sub camps were horrifying. The prisoners that had to face the extreme conditions of camps were certainly not oblivious to everything that was happening. Marches were a significant part of prisoners’ lives during the later parts of World War II. Lives of prisoners during World War II were horrendous throughout. This was the life Max most likely endured after he left th... ...les/Janowitz%20on%20Nazi%20Atrocities.pdf> Lowenberg, William (Bill). Interview. Holocaust Encyclopedia. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. 1993. 15 Mar. 2014. Lynch, Pat. Interview. Holocaust Encyclopedia. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. 1995. 15 Mar. 2014. Peyton, Dallas. Interview. Holocaust Encyclopedia. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. 2004. 19 Mar. 2014. media_oi.php?MediaId=4784> Sachar, Abram. â€Å"The Liberation of Dachau.† Jewish Virtual Library. The American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. Print.

Do you understand? :: Essays Papers

Do you understand? There are many bases of discrimination. Some people are treated unfairly because of gender, race, religion, language, weight, education, height, etc. Stay with me as I ask the question, "Do you understand?" Do you understand what it is like to be treated unfairly because of how you look? Do you understand how it feels to go to a restaurant to eat, only to be told that "people of your color are not allowed to eat here"? Do you understand how it feels not to be allowed to sleep in a hotel because of your color? "Kaffirs are not allowed to sleep in this hotel," said the hotel manager to my cousin Jabu. Perhaps you don't understand how it feels to be made into an issue instead of a human being. Well, I understand. I know how hurtful it felt when I was told, "Boy! People of your color do not swim in this part of the ocean. It is reserved for Whites only. Go away from here." I know what it is like to pay taxes yet be denied the right to vote. I know what it is like to apply for a job and to be told that the jobs are reserved for whites only. Dr. Verwoed, the former South African President, was once quoted as saying, "Blacks are inferior from birth to death." Don't you think it is depressing to be treated as less than a human being in your own country? You see, education for Africans in South Africa is inferior. It has made Africans slaves of circumstances instead of masters of circumstances. I know you will be astounded to learn that Africans pay more for their inferior education than whites pay for their education. If one would write a paper like this, that person would be making an open invitation to be jailed without trial. Discrimination of any kind is evil, whether it is about race, gender, religion, language, education, etc. I cannot change my color. I had no say in the matter when I was formed. I love my country. I abhor the system. I refuse to be the target of all injustices because of my color.

Ulysses by Lord Alferd Tennyson :: Ulysses Lord Alferd Tennyson

Ulysses by Lord Alferd Tennyson Lord Alferd Tennyson presents to us in the poem â€Å"Ulysses† an old sailor, a warrior and a king who is in retrospection on his experiences of a lifetime of travel. Ulysses old age and strong will causes him to be restless and unable to be comfortable at home. He chooses a life of travel over his family because that is what he knows best. Because of his faults, we identify with his character. As a result, Ulysses attempts to go on to face a new but familiar journey, not knowing if it would be his last. By connecting with Ulysses' courage he awakens the heroic spirit in all of us. At home Ulysses is unable to adjust to old age. Regardless of his physical body he feels his spirit is still longing for travel. He feels as though his wife is too old, and he governs the people with no respect, â€Å"Matched with an aged wife, I mete and dole / Unequal laws unto a savage race, / That hord, and sleep, and feed, and know not of me†(3-5). Ulysses condescends his own son by describing his timidness to rule the people and how his son is more capable of the common duties. Ulysses boasts with a sense of superiority in trying to reassure himself. This is my son, mine own Telemachus, / To whom I leave the scepter and the isle- / Well-loved of me, discerning to fulfill / This labor, by slow prudence to make mild / A rugged people, and through soft degrees / Subdue them to the useful and the good. / Most blameless is he, centered in the sphere / Of common duties, decent not to fail / In offices of tenderness, and pay / Meet adoration to my household gods, / When I am gone. He works his work, I mine (33-43). Being a life long traveler prevented Ulysses from learning any of the responsibilities of being a father and a husband. Instead, he was traveling abroad consoling with kings, generals and gods, traveling to â€Å"cities of men / And manners, climates, councils, governments†(13-14). The only thing he gained from his travels was the unending quest for more. Retiring home is an unsatisfying dull life, which is impossible for Ulysses bear. After all the battles and fame he has won Ulysses realizes his old age and feels required to â€Å"pause, to make and end, / To rust unburnished, not to shine in use! / As though to breathe were life!†(22-24) Ulysses reveals on lines 25-31, his old age and fear of dying, but rejects death’s attempt to muscle its way into his life.

The Effect of Second Wave

The consequence of 2nd moving ridge In order to cognize the consequence of 2nd moving ridge on the life’s of that clip we need to cognize what their life’s consisted of. It started with the construct of civilisation in 2000bc. Equally shortly as world discovered that they can turn their ain nutrient, and they don’t have to alter topographic points in hunt of resources. They figured out the natural resources needed to make agribusiness. Hence they started with the agricultural society. Where ab initio everyone was husbandman, but so easy alteration in their professions started. Peoples who had faith in God, claimed that they can speak to god and that the God wanted them to interpret his bid to common people, therefore they became priests. As the farms flourished in one country and in other due to natural catastrophe agribusiness failed. Hence others started occupying the well worse countries. In order to protect their resources, some physically fit people were appointed as soldiers. And some of them , who somehow lost their lands, started making uneven occupations of the society. Therefore, in this manner, profession got segregated by dramatis personae. As the society grew, the powerful became more powerful and weaker became more suppressed and increased in figure. Hierarchy in people got function in society edifice. This changed the architecture of the society bit by bit but drastically. Plan of Temple composites started germinating from one threshold to figure of thresholds. One for lower dramatis personae n upper dramatis personae, one for male monarch and common people, and one for priests n male monarchs. And the profession of all the groups of people was determined by what people used to believe of them. In this manner, those who were responsible for planing edifice and infinites became responsible for insistent signifiers throughout the timeline. In this manner, other working topographic points, common assemblage infinites, populating infinites got their signifiers due t o this civilization. This society system continued to be in laterality boulder clay a technological revolution, the industrial revolution began in Britain and within a few decennaries spread to Western Europe and the United States. The period of clip covered by the industrial revolution is approximately between 1760 and 1830. This revolution marked the passage traveling from manus production methods to machines, new chemical and Fe production processes, improved efficiency of H2O power, the addition usage of steam power and the development of machine tools. Majorly all the little graduated table manual production Stationss were converted into big industries with machines working with steam power and assembly line system doing the production procedure much more efficient and faster. Important technological development occurred in fabric industry, Fe industry, steam engines, machine tools, chemicals, cement production, paper machine, glass devising, agribusiness, mining etc. We will discourse developments which affected the architecture of the clip straight. In Fe devising industry, the major alteration was replacing of wood and other bio fuels with coal. Abraham Darby made great work stoppages utilizing coke to fuel his blast furnaces at coalbrookdale in 1709. However, the coke hog Fe he made was used largely for the production on dramatis personae Fe goods. He made the production cheaper n faster but coke hog Fe was barely used for bring forthing saloon Fe. But his boy Abraham Darby 2 built Equus caballus hay and kettle furnaces. Since dramatis personae Fe was going cheaper and more plentiful, it began being a structural stuff following the edifice of the invention Fe span in 1778. In 1824, Joseph Aspdin, patented a chemical procedure for doing Portland cement which was an of import promotion in the edifice engineering. A new method of bring forthing glass was developed in Europe during the early 19Thursdaycentury. In 1832, this engineering was used to do big sizes of glass sheets. With inexpensive and faster production of Fe, the big build infinites like industries became larger in size, now the roof spans could be big and lighter and of class much faster to build. Large undertakings like Bridgess were made possible. With the easier production of cement one can switch to much more strong building stuff, this stuff was one measure in front of calcium hydroxide and brick masonry. With the development of big glass sheets the gaps of edifices changed. Spaces like places, close fold infinites, needed Windowss for sunshine and natural position and at the same clip taking attention of air current and rain. Technological promotions which came into drama at the clip of 2nd industrial revolution like roads, Bridgess, canals, railroads affected the architecture of that clip drastically. Ships were constructed of Fe, which made the travel faster and more people could go. In present society of agricultural civilization, distances between people was big hence there was no e xchange of cognition and civilization. But every bit shortly as this revolution happened, due to promotions like ship edifice, roads and railroad paths distances were made smaller and knowledge exchange became much easier. In this manner, the engineerings like metallurgy, cement, glass, beforehand agribusiness techniques found their manner in agricultural society’s worldwide. With the approaching industries people who were of the lower dramatis personae and given less importance found their manner to these industries which provided shelter, nutrient and employment to all of them. This made an instability in agricultural society and hence clash developed between both the thought. But in some manner, this 2nd moving ridge affected the society adversely, as the increase of employment ; figure of labors came deluging over in hunt of employment. Due to this big figure of people the degree of life style of these people took the set back. They were already from lower category, big in figure ; fewer resources to utilize made the lives of these people miserable. In hostile working conditions, populating infinites became heavy. These rose a large inquiry on the wellness of these people, people used to populate so close to each other that diseases used to distribute like fire. All this affected the architecture but non in a thoughtful manner, big shaded countries were made to shelter their labors. Community lavatories, bathrooms followed them. Due to this altering life style and altering economic system, bit by bit, a in-between category emerge in industrial metropoliss, largely towards the terminal of the nineteenth century. Until so, there had been merely two major categories in society: wealthy and privilege 1s, and low-income common mans born in the working categories. However new urban industries bit by bit required more of what we call today â€Å"white collar† occupations, such as concern people, tradesmans, bank clerks, insurance agents, merchandisers, comptrollers, directors, physicians, attorneies, and instructors. In-between category were those who prided themselves on taking duty for themselves and their households. They viewed professional success as the consequence of a person’s energy, doggedness, and difficult work. And due to this category, lodging architecture took a new bend. Affluent 1s had Villas and large person houses, whereas working people used to populate in bunchs, 100s of people us ed to populate together. This new set of people couldn’t afford single Villas but were non willing to populate in hostile conditions, where working category used to populate. Hence apartment’s construct got its individuality, where single floors were owned by single household. These lead to-hygienic and comfy infinites to populate. In these undermentioned ways the 2nd moving ridge showed its feeling on the architecture of that clip: India was strictly a hub of different agricultural societies with different believes, different rites, different infinites but same hierarchy. But in 19Thursdaycentury, when Britons arrived and started trade in India, so the First World War happened. India was flooded with industrial revolution based civilization. This civilization was of fast production, assembly line, big industries with tonss of Equus caballus power in the signifier of new coal engines. Transportation, roads, railroads were introduced in India. This brought the new thoughts of edifice in India, which in bend once more affected agricultural society. After independency, the 3rd moving ridge besides found its manner to India and surprisingly spreaded in India quicker than in other parts of universe. And hence, the present India makes a really apathetic combination of agricultural, industrial, information based society.

Economic Practice Coursework Essay

My choice of article is the one relating to the oil crisis in Libya, and how it affects the economy of other countries. The article discusses the impacts of the oil cut of Libya, supplying it no more. It starts off by talking about the impact on shares and the price of oil barrels, which is the fastest and direct impact of the oil cut. As supply from Libya territory stops, supply to the entire world is crippled, as Libya is one of the countries that supply most worldwide used oil. As it stops supplying, it shifts the supply and demand graphs completely. In a short term, supply shifts to the left, as it is less. In doing so, for the same amount of oil, the price has gone to a higher figure. By doing that, the shares index of the western countries, such as European countries and the US have dropped, because of the adjustment via disposable income. That happens because of the effects of the shifting of the supply curve. As the price goes higher, the general public have less money to spend on the economy and firms, decreasing the firm’s profit, damaging that countries’ economy. That’s the reason for the index to go down, and that’s an example of mid-term effects of the oil crisis. In the midterm effect, the demand for oil will decrease, as people will cut back on the oil, and look for alternative routes. On the long term, the demand for the cars will decrease, as people will not want to buy cars, and try to sell their cars. This will affect the economy drastically, as the car companies are a big part of that countries’ economy. The general public will search for alternative routes to travel, as oil prices are higher. The car companies will have to spend much more money on researching alternatives such as hybrids and electric cars which are starting to appear. The public transport system will benefit from this situation, as more people would want to travel via train or bus, as it is much cheaper and faster. The government would get more money from this, so it would improve as much. The oil companies would want to drill and search for oil in more remote areas, causing more deforestation, and much more money spending by the companies and time. Thus some small oil companies will be closed down due to the high demand of oil, as they can’t compete with the oil monopolies. The oil monopolies will also be affected, as some major companies’ oil supply relies a lot on Libya’s supply. Regarding the oil companies, they had to pull out staff from troubled countries, not only Libya, but other countries that are getting affected by that state, and are choosing to cut off supply as well, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. As they do this, the productivity drops to zero in those countries, and there is a high chance of the companies losing contact with their oil. The unrest in Libya may affect the Saudi Arabia, and that concern is affecting a huge majority of stock holders and companies, specified before, changing the stock markets, especially the European and Asia. Relating to airlines, as the supply and demand graphs change, the oil supply for airplanes gets crippled, so more money has to be spent to get the same amount of oil, making the costs bigger, resulting in a bigger price for the customer for the same flight compared to before the whole situation. There is also a chance of investors backing out from the airline business, resulting in smaller profits for the companies and much more monetary issues.