Saturday, August 31, 2019

The Self management competencies education essay

IntroductionCompetences are underlying features that lead to superior public presentation in an person. They include qualities, accomplishments, properties and traits that help people to be successful. Competences are capable of being developed in people instead than being fixed. This competence development is largely developed through Personal & A ; Professional Skills. Personal & A ; Professional Development is basically an avenue of learning professionals how to develop their professional accomplishments, concentrating on what we do and how we do them. Personal and Professional Development is critical for the development professional abilities in every person and I am non an exclusion. This is because in professional development, a individual ‘s security does non lie in the occupation or administration they work for but in the accomplishments, cognition and experiences that they have within themselves ( Megginson & A ; Whitaker 2007 ) . This shows the necessity to increase o ne ‘s cognition through specialised and consistent instruction in one ‘s profession. This work will demo how the faculty Personal and Professional Development has affected my professional accomplishments. In making that, we shall discourse briefly how the five competences have affected my professional accomplishments but there will be in-depth account on ego development competences. The grounds for taking ego development competence are due to its importance in the development of my professional accomplishments and because I noticed after the survey of the faculty that I need so much betterment in the competence. In my acquisition analysis, I will critically analyze the faculty and demo how it has impacted on me positively or otherwise, identifies my countries of strengths and failings and develops action programs to better on my strengths and make off or at least better on my failing and thenceforth conclude.Analysis OF MY LEARNING ON THE MODULEBefore the analysis of my acquisition in this faculty, I will briefly define acquisition. Learning is an acquisition of cognition or accomplishment that enables us to gain something new, or be able to make something we have n't done earlier ( Diana Winstanley, 2005 ) . Learning is geting facts, accomplishments and methods ( Saljo 1979 ) and it is the procedure whereby cognition is created through the transmutation of experience ( Kolb 1984 ) . Harmonizing to Honey and Mumford ( 1986 ) , there are four different larning manners ( militant, pragmatist, reflector and theoretician ) . Learning is besides reassigning cognition into action- it is about deve loping competency and being able to set the cognition into pattern. I will besides foreground what is expected in all the five competences and associate it to my acquisition in the faculty.SELF-MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIESUnder this competence, we have larning penchants, perceptual experience, values, pull offing emphasis and personal resiliency. In larning penchant we mean how do you desire to larn best: hearing, reading on your ain or other agencies. Perception merely means the manner you see things. Valuess harmonizing to Rokeach, 1973 are desirable, trans-situational ends that vary in importance as steering rules in people ‘s lives. Personal resiliency is our ability to resile back, or even turn, in the face of force per unit areas and menaces. Stress is defined as â€Å" the mental and physical status that consequences from a sensed menace or demand that can non be dealt with readily † ( Furnham 2005 ) .INTERPERSONAL COMPETENCIESInterpersonal competence is the ability t o associate and understand others. Here scholars try to see things from other people ‘s point of position in order to understand how they think and feel. An interpersonal competent individual attempts to keep peace in group scenes and promote co-operation. An interpersonal competent individual is Self-assured, self-asserting, Influence and persuade others, grips emotions and struggles really good and above is a squad builder.SELF DEVELOPMENT COMPETENCIESWhen we talk of ego development competence, we mean competence in developing one ego. Some of the things that come to mind there are puting accomplishable ends, having feedback, motive, self revelation and brooding thought.Personal LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIESHere we talk about what is in a individual that make him or her a good leader. Its competences include power ie power to take, influence and trust ( Being able and prepared to follow a figure of ways to derive support and influence diverse parties, with the purpose of procuring betterments ) , empowerment ( endeavoring to ease others ‘ parts and to portion leading, fostering capableness and long-run development of others ) , emotional intelligence ( ‘the subset of societal intelligence that involves the ability to supervise one ‘s ain feelings and others ‘ feelings and emotions, to know apart among them and to utilize this information to steer one ‘s thought and actions ‘ ( Salovey and Mayer 1990, pp.5 ) ) and leading manner.ENGAGING WITH OTHERS COMPETENCIESIn prosecuting with others competences, we have valuing diverseness which made me gain that people are different. Valuing diverseness is of import, because the increasing globalisation in the universe requires more interaction among people from diverse civilizations, beliefs, and backgrounds than of all time before. Besides cultural consciousness comes to mind as civilization is a major beginning of single differences, which consequences in different personalities. P rofessionalism and moralss are competences that a professional can non play with. The merely means Department of State and don'ts in the profession, this faculty shows me that what keeps me in the profession aside my personal cognition and interaction, developing self, taking good is to cognize when I am either making short of what is expected of me or when I am over making it. This faculty at first seemed meaningless to me, the lone ground why I listened was that I was funny and that it is portion of my faculty, though I questioned its usefulness. But as clip goes on, it started droping, started going interesting, I started going aware of my developmental demands. The first category I attended was really deadening ab initio, but when category activity on larning penchants was given, I realise that I needed self-development and personal alteration ; which means that I had been in stage 1 of my personal and professional development ( being unconscious and unqualified ; Straangard, 1981 ) . Nevertheless, I instantly chose to develop myself because deep inside me I was motivated to larn and win ( Megginson et al. 2007 ) . In the class of my acquisition, I discovered so many things about myself that I did non cognize before. Typical illustrations are that I now know how to utilize feedback to develop myself efficaciously. I besides now know what it means to put a realizable end within realizable clip frame. Furthermore, my engagement in group work every bit far as I know has now made me whole by doing me cognize how to work in a squad with different people as the faculty boosted my assurance. The faculty has helped me to cognize my larning penchants as a reflector ( good hearer, thoughtful and analytical, adopts a low profile and likes to stall ) which I discovered after taking the trial on ‘knowing your acquisition manners ‘ . The benefit of cognizing this my acquisition manner is that â€Å" aˆÂ ¦it shifts the accent towards promoting a balanced attack to acquisition and, possibly more significantly, an expressed consciousness of the scope of attacks available to me the scholar † ( CIPD 2006 ) . What I have achieved in the manner I see things after this faculty can non be underestimated. The faculty has taught me how to see things non merely from my point of position but other people ‘s ain excessively. In footings of values, my value systems have changed. In the faculty, I saw what Kohlberg ( 1981 ) came up with as three types of personal values viz. ; Pre-conventional values -punishment, obeisance and opportunism ; Conventional values- ou tlooks and conformance ; and Post-conventional values -universal ethical rules. I besides improved on emphasis direction either my personal or people ‘s emphasis after analysing its definition by Ivancevich et Al. ( 1990 ) . They defined stress direction as â€Å" Any activity, plan or chance initiated by an organisation, which focuses on cut downing the presence of work-related stressors or on helping persons to minimise the negative results of exposure to these stressors. † As respects my interpersonal accomplishments, the group work in this faculty improved my ego assurance. We were given group work on single differences and to my extreme surprise ; my group chose to stand for the group. At first, I shivered and even said no, but after encouragement from the group members, I summoned bravery and represented. The feedback I got was really encouraging positive and I picked up from at that place. Thereafter, I have been able to speak or stand for other groups in the category in many occasions. The group work I have involved in this faculty has made me to cognize that I am non self-asserting plenty even when I know it all. It made me to understand clearly what averment ( saying clearly what I mean ) means as against entry or aggression ( coercing ) . I like taking a looking place, and this is one country I need to better on. As respects influence and persuasion, I noticed that I am non a really influential individual, I merely do my things my ain manner, b ut the faculty made me to understand that as a professional I need small of influence to win. Ironically, the faculty brought to fore my ability to manage emotion and struggle. During our category treatment on single differences, one of my group members was emotionally touch when he was told to be excessively aggressive ; I was thorough and careful to understand his emotion in other to decide his emotion. My attempt to command his emotion showed me my ability to manage emotion and struggle. In constructing my squad accomplishments, I listen carefully and avoid disrupting others. Sing the category activity on ‘Team function, self-perception Inventory ‘ , utilizing Belbin, ( 1981, 2007 ) construct of squad functions I discovered that I am a squad worker -co-operative, mild, listens, perceptive and diplomatic but indecisive in crunch state of affairss. This faculty ‘s first category group work activity made me to reflect on my squad accomplishments. I sat back and car efully listened and I merely made impact after careful consideration of other people ‘ side of concluding. One country of teamwork that gives me concern after the faculty is that I am loath to depute. This faculty has really opened my eyes on how to make squad work. As a consequence, my squad accomplishments have improved and feedback from friends and schoolmates have confirmed it. I need to work more on my end scene because it is really of import to my success in anything I do. It is truly an country of failing for me. The first group work activity in category on this faculty made me gain that. We were given a clip frame which I about missed because the end I set was non within the clip frame. Notwithstanding, I chose to develop my end scene and I set marks for accomplishment. Besides, there is demand for betterment on feedback. This is discussed in item below. The survey of PPD faculty has impacted on me how to utilize my power. My category group that I spoke for group proves that. Before that group work, I barely stand in forepart of people, non to speak of taking a treatment. Interestingly, I found out that my influential power is nil. The faculty besides gave me an penetration about my empowerment capablenesss. I found out that I have involvement in long-run development of others. My emotional intelligence ability was brought into bow with the survey of this class as could be seen in our group when person was hurt for being branded aggressive. This faculty made me cognizant of the construct of leading and I decided to cognize my leading manner by taking a leading trial online ( ‘what is your Leadership Style ‘ ) . I found out that my leading manner is participative and non-assertive. What I do is to listen more from the people I lead and speak less. My leading competence and accomplishments lies on my ability to transport everyone along by leting anybody that wants to lend to make so before I arrive at a decision. During our category treatment on attitudes and values, I was carefully and exhaustively elaborate our group points of position before my presentation. Valuing diverseness made realise that people are different when we were given group assignment. I encourage other people ‘s position, is non great surprise to me working together with my group on category treatment with careful and thoughtful mode in subject we are meant to discourse, I use the chance to set everybody together although we are from different background and civilization besides portion some similarities.COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT: SELF DEVELOPMENT COMPETENCIESThis competence is selected because of its importance in professional accomplishment development and I have needed to develop more here. Harmonizing to Wikipedia, personal/self development refers to activities that improve self cognition and individuality, develops cognition and potencies build human capital and employability, enhance quality of life and contribute to the realisation of dreams and aspiration. When we talk of this competence, the things that come to our head are puting chiseled and realistic personal ends ; exposing a high degree of inaugural, attempt, and committedness towards finishing assignments in a timely mode ; works with minimum supervising ; is motivated to accomplish and demonstrates responsible behavior. Goal scene is a powerful technique that appears to work by supplying a way for our attempts, concentrating our attending, advancing continuity and increasing our assurance ( supplying we achieve the ends we set ) . Puting ends as my scheme for self- development is worthwhile and that is why I chose this competency. Before this faculty, I usually set ends which I noticed were non accomplishable, with completion of this faculty, I realised that my ends need to be SMART in order to be accomplishable. The SMART method assumes that ends should be Specific ; Measurable ; Attainable ; Relevant and Time edge. This faculty has made me to cognize that I can put ambitious marks and has helped me to demo finding to run into the ends as set. With the SMART method, I now take necessary actions to run into my ends ; place and use steps to track and quantify accomplishment, overcome obstructions to accomplishing ends and even utilize failure as an chance to larn. Self awareness/disclosure: This is ability to self-reflect and be cognizant of one ‘s interior province of being like interior feelings, dreams, relationships with others, strengths and failings. McCarthy & A ; Garavan ( 1999 ) defines Self-awareness as, â€Å" the image that an person has about him/herself and whether or non that image is accurate in comparing with how others perceive that single † . It involves self-efficacy, self-actualisation and self-concept. Self-efficacy is the extent to which a individual believes he/she can execute the behavior required in any given state of affairs ( Arnold et al. , 1991 ; Bandura, 1989 ) , self-actualisation is an active nisus for personal development which might affect researching one ‘s endowments, educating oneself and/or honing physical accomplishments ( Rogers,1961 ) and Self-concept, as defined by Hayes ( 1994 ) is the rating that persons make about their traits and personalities and the image that they have of the mselves. My research in the faculty showed me what it means for an person to develop an image of him/herself and certain nucleus facets of it as explained by Whetten & A ; Cameron ( 2007 ) . The self revelation accomplishments I learnt from the faculty include: Acknowledging ain strengths and failings, reflecting and analysing oneself, consciousness of interior feelings, desires and dreams, measuring thought forms, concluding with oneself, A understanding function in relationship to others. However, my larning on self-awareness, prompted me to utilize the johari window by ( Luft & A ; Ingham 1955 ) to cognize more about my personality by acquiring feedback from friends. The feedback about my blind ego was flooring to me because I ne'er imagined any of them ; nevertheless, it gave me penetrations on some of my strengths and failings. I truly found out that I need to work on myself revelation after having the feedback. Receiving feedback: A PersonA who has this competence seeks feedback on strengths and failings and initiates activities to increase or heighten cognition, accomplishments, and competency in order to execute more efficaciously or heighten calling. The individual receives feedback in a constructive mode, investigations for concrete illustrations and suggestions to better ain public presentation. The individual spends clip larning new information or thoughts and using them efficaciously, keeps up to day of the month in cognition and accomplishments and learns from successes and failures Receiving feedback include confer withing relevant beginnings ( e.g. , assessments, studies, pictures, client feedback ) to acquire insight into ain public presentation. Feedback is necessary because it is a moderator of end effects in that the combination of ends ( Bandura & A ; Cervone, 1983 ; Becker, 1978 ; Erez, 1977 ; Strang, et Al. ( 1978 ) . With this faculty, I found out that I need to make much more on having feedback. Before the faculty, I ask for feedback without cognizing the strengths in having it. Completion of the faculty demo me how I can efficaciously do usage received feedback in the undermentioned ways: I will larn from both successes and failures, Initiates project debriefs to clear up learnings-both what worked good and what could be done more efficaciously in the hereafter, Seeks both formal and informal development chances, Demonstrates a desire to execute above and beyond the demands of my place, Coaches others to concentrate on self-development, builds a civilization that encourages larning and uninterrupted betterment and self-critical by placing both my strong and weak points.Brooding thought:Brooding thought involves personal consideration of one ‘s ain acquisition. It considers personal accomplishments and failures and asks what worked, what did n't, and what needs betterment ( Given, 2002 ) . It is a portion of the critical thought procedure mentioning specifically to the procedures of analysing, measuring, and doing judgements about what has happened. The faculty made me to happen out that this property was about missing in me. I of course set ends, ask for feedback and is even motivated, but this faculty made me understand that most of my failures are because of absence of contemplation. If you non sit down to analyse what went incorrect you keep on doing same errors. With completion of this faculty, I now have effectual tool of uniting contemplation with feedback to acquire my extreme consequence. Motivation harmonizing to Robbins and Judge, ( 2009 ) is a procedure that history for an person ‘s strength, way and continuity of attempt towards achieving a end. Motivation Shows finding to accomplish ends over clip ; resists any force per unit area to be deflected from this attainment. Takes calculated hazards, based on acquisition and experience, to accomplish longer-term service betterments.DecisionThe importance of this faculty to my professional development can non be underestimated. It is like an oculus opener. It shows me what to make and what non to make as a professional, It shows me where to better my accomplishments to be great in my profession. In fact, I now understand that the route to professional success is non merely based on cognizing what to make, but cognizing how best to make it to acquire extreme consequence. I am peculiarly happy about my nowadays and likely hereafter betterment on myself based on what I now know about end scene, self awareness, feedback, motive and contemplation. Conclusively, with the class in general, I am now more equipt for the challenge in front non as a pupil but as a professional.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Angle of Repose – Summary

Jordan Pye 8-12-11 Angle of Repose Written by Wallace Stegner, Angle of Repose won the Pulitzer Prize in 1972. Based on the letters written by Mary Hallcock Foote, the inspiration to Stengner’s character, Susan Ward, Stegner writes about a man, Lyman Ward, who has developed a bone crippling disease and has become dependent on others to assist him on his mission to discover his grandmother’s journey to Grass Valley. To accomplish this, Lyman went through a vast amount of letters and placed them in order of occurrence.His grandmother, Susan Burling Ward, had embarked on a journey of a lifetime with, her husband, Oliver Ward; on which they encountered many new hardships as they pioneered the West. Like many great quests, it leads him unfathomably into the murky shadows of his own life. Although people are not perfect and may face difficult circumstances in life, the noble character traits of Oliver and Susan enabled them to overcome their adversities. Born and raised in Ne w York, Susan was well educated, a fine writer, and a good painter. On the other hand, Oliver was stalwart, gifted, stoic, but most importantly, was worthy as a husband and provider.Leaving New York to pioneer the New Frontier, Susan was hoping that they would someday return as successes to reunite with her old friends. Beginning their journey in New Almaden, Oliver successfully acquired a job as a mine engineer. Also, Susan was getting a chance to be a writer for Scribner’s magazine. Lyman tells it was a time of true happiness. When an incident occurred between a fellow employee, Tregoning, and their boss, Mr. Kendall, Oliver was asked to perform a job that went against his principles and thus quit. Although he quit, Susan was delighted that he left his job than to keep it and do something immoral.While Oliver was out of work, Susan offered to use her freelance earnings to support them while he searched for a job. Refusing, he sent her to stay with friends in Santa Cruz whil e he looked for employment in San Diego. Susan and Oliver displayed admirable traits in New Almaden even though it meant that harder times were to follow. Next, when Oliver and Susan moved to Leadville, Oliver informed Susan that he would be gone a great deal of the time at the mine. Trying to be strong, she countered and said that she had book illustrations to keep her busy.Shortly after arriving, she met Frank Sergeant, Oliver’s assistant, and was impressed by his excellent looks, and wanted to draw him. As she tried to adjust to life in Leadville, she was coddled by Frank Sergeant, who went to her house every morning to build her a fire, chop and carry wood, burn her trash, run errands for her, and take her horseback riding. At the beginning of Book 5, Michoacan, Lyman revealed why he wrote about his grandparents. He explained how his mother died when he was two and how his father was â€Å"a silent and difficult man,† therefore, he was raised by his grandparnets.Wa rd recalled a time when he had to write a report on Mexico for an assignment, and his grandmother, Susan, told of her time in Michoacan. She greatly preferred it, because of its history and culture, to any of the mining camps. It was apparent to Oliver that he had given his wife an enjoyable experience. Lastly, although Oliver and Susan were similar in many ways, they had many differences as well. In an illustrative incident, Oliver was in town really late one night trying to discuss a project with a group of potential investors. When they refused his offer, he became drunk.Not knowing where he was, Susan ventured out to look for him. Upon finding him, she was concerned about helping him, not realizing that he was drunk. Finally figuring he was drunk, she became incredibly upset with him and with the news that he had failed to obtain investors, Susan demanded Oliver to sleep outside. When Lyman and his assistant, Shelly, came to this part, Lyman related the departure of his wife, El len, to when Susan took the children to Vancouver Island. During the same time, Oliver led a survey party to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.As a result, Lyman felt similar pain to Susan after Oliver left. An additional crisis that they faced in Mesa was because Oliver was so busy with the canal, he left important paper work about property to one Mr. Burns and consequently, he lost the property. Although irate at first, the two of them surmounted the mistake and moved on. Both, Susan and Oliver, had different ways of handling their adversities, but in the end, they always forgave each other. The metaphor angle of repose means it is the slope at which dirt stops sliding downhill and stays put.An example of the metaphor was Oliver Ward digging trenches†¦ first as a mining engineer, then as an irrigation engineer, and the dirt kept on falling back into the trench, making his work that much harder. Finally, he found a way to work without having the dirt back fall on top of him. When Lyman Wa rd was at Zodiac Cottage, he hoped to be able to relate the pieces of his life together the same way his grandparents did- meeting the challenges of the present by making something new out of the substance of their old lives.The story of Susan Burling Ward was really the story of her marriage and her life as a frontier/mining wife who faced hardship after hardship, disappointment after disappointment as her husband struggled to make a living in a rough, competitive world without compromising his integrity. Even though Oliver and Susan Ward had many differences, in times of misfortune, they put their differences aside and worked together.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Act Local

Disneys fabled studio entertainment unit has an illustrious history in both animation and live-action features. The Lion King, released in 1994, is the highest grossing animated film of all time. More recently, Disney has enjoyed massive hits with live-action features. These include Pirates of the Caribbean and its sequels as well as classic American fare such as the TV show High School Musical. However, despite high worldwide awareness levels of the Disney brand, as of 2006 only 25 percent of the companys revenues came from outside the United States. Historically, the Disney team has created products at its headquarters in Burbank, California, and then exported them to the rest of the world. Now, as the company targets China, India, South Korea, and other emerging markets, it is departing from its one size fits all approach. One factor driving the strategy change: the first-year visitor count in Hong Kong fell short of the target figure of 5. 6 million people. This prompted company executives to step up efforts to educate the Chinese about Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and other Disney characters. As Bill Ernest, managing director, told the Financial Times, If you havent grown up with the brand, the stories, or the theme, you are not quite sure what you are walking into. In Hong Kong, Disney officials were slow to recognize that Chinese vacationers who live on the mainland often book package tours. Tour operators choose restaurants, shopping opportunities, and other destinations that generate the highest fees and commissions. At first, Hong Kong Disneyland didnt offer a tour package that included dinners. A new dining with Disney program was quickly rolled out. To round out the promotion, individual tour operators were offered a 50 percent individual discount as an incentive to visit Disneyland personally so they would have first-hand experience at the park. Disney has learned that they cant impose the American will— or Disneys version of it—on another continent. Theyve bent over backward to make Hong Kong Disneyland blend in with the surroundings. 47 Dennis McAlpine, media and entertainment research specialist We have been U. S. -centric forever. We realize that if were going to be a global network, then we need to solicit material from around the world. 48 Gary Marsh, Disney Channel Worldwide, commenting on Disneys new programming divisions in the UK and Japan Disney also went to great lengths to capitalize on an astrological coincidence: According to the traditional Chinese calendar, 2008 was the year of the rat. In Hong Kong, Mickey and Minnie Mouse wore special red costumes as Disney proclaimed 2008 to be the Year of the Mouse. Because the Chinese government tightly controls television and motion picture standards, Disney emphasized affordable consumer products such as plush toys and Disney-themed clothing to generate awareness and interest in the Disney brand. In 2009, amidst the global economic downturn and ongoing challenges at Hong Kong Disneyland, Disneys Parks and Resorts division announced plans for a new $3. 6 billion park in Shanghai. The proposed park will be owned jointly by Disney and the Shanghai municipalgovernment. Consisting of a theme park, hotel, and shops, the development would create 50,000 much-needed jobs. Shanghai Disneyland is an important element in Disneys strategy for penetrating the local market. However, the proposal does not address Disneys need for increased media exposure; company officials believe that a Chinese Disney TV channel is essential to build awareness of the Disney brand and interest in the new theme park. Disneys other divisions are also pursuing a more localized approach in key emerging markets. As Jason Reed, general manager for Walt Disney Studios International Productions, noted, Weve been very successful with our big global productions, such as Pirates of the Caribbean and National Treasure. But we think theres a natural way to supplement these films in areas like China, Russia, and India—areas that have built-in film traditions. For example, in India Disney is abandoning its go-it-alone policy and partnering with local companies such as Yash Raj Films. One new Hindi-language show, Dhoom Machaao Dhoom, concerns a girls quest for identity after living in the United States; another show, Vicky and Vetal, concerns a boys friendship with a 300-year-old ghost. The new approach is clearly paying off. In 2008, Disney released Roadside Romeo, its first animated feature developed specifically for India. The film was box-office gold, with the best opening weekend of any Disney feature in India. Disney is hoping to appeal to Indias family-oriented middle-class consumers; core themes include believe in yourself, express yourself, and celebrate your family. Because the number of cable television subscribers is increasingly rapidly, Disney launched the Disney Channel and Toon Disney. In addition, the company acquired Hugama, a childrens channel. Disney is also making Indian versions of its hit movie High School Musical. One challenge in India is the number of languages and dialects. Roadside Romeo was released in Hindi, Tamil, and Teluga. Future projects may be produced specifically for southern India where movie preferences are markedly different than in the north. Disney is going native in other emerging markets as well. 2009s Book of Masters was the companys first live-action film for the Russian market. A Russian version of High School Musical is also in the works. Next up: the Middle East. As Disneys Jason Reed says, Theres a really strong affinity between the strong family values in the region and the Disney brand. We want to go out and try to make a film that will play to families from North Africa to the Gulf States. Discussion Questions Why is it necessary for Disney to build braid awareness in China and other emerging markets? Do you agree with Disneys decision to pursue a localization approach in emerging-markets? Why is High School Musical~so successful in global markets?

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

The Epic Of Gilgamesh as Translated by Andrew George Essay

The Epic Of Gilgamesh as Translated by Andrew George - Essay Example ace in the world’s literature, wrote Nancy Sandars (1972), not only because it precedes the Homeric epic by at least one and a half thousand years, but also because of the quality and character of the story that they tell - a mixture of pure adventure, of morality, and of tragedy. (p. 7) According to Kenneth Rexroth (1986), the Epic of Gilgamesh is a highly developed fictional narrative, stressing that: It is not a myth. Even to call it an epic requires a stretching of the definition. It is more like a novel of modern, individualistic hero than it is like Homer’s Iliad. It is spiritual adventure, a story of self-realization, the discovery of meaning of the personality, of a type that would never change down the four-thousand-year-long history of human imagination†¦ It is modern because it is like a dream of a modern man. (1) This paper will examine this highly significant work and determine how it reflects the society in which it was created and in how it reveals the economic, political, cultural, religious and social structures that defined the Mesopotamian society. There are several variations to the Epic of Gilgamesh particularly in the literature of the Hittite, Hurrian, Canaanite, Sumerian and Assyrian. One could even find a hint of Gilgamesh’s repute in the Islamic Koran. The most complete chronicle of the epic was found in Assurbanipal’s library, formed just before the destruction of Nineveh in the seventh century B.C. The story is divided into several chapters or episodes: a meeting of friends, then the forest journey, the flouting of a fickle goddess, the death of Enkidu and the quest for an ancient wisdom and immortality. These episodes demonstrate a single theme that reflects the permeation of pessimism in the Mesopotamian thought, which, according to Sandars, lay partly in the precariousness of life in the city-states. (p. 22) The city-states which are dependent on the vagaries of flood and drought as well as turbulent neighbors; then on

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Hong Kong Disneyland Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Hong Kong Disneyland - Research Proposal Example The plan consists of establishing six concepts generalizing the whole theme park. These concepts include Main Street USA concept (which is the dramatic entry to the park), Fantasyland concept (which will highlight the Disney animated characters and stories), Toontown concept (that provides venue for the visitors to actually meet the Disney characters in a whimsical roller coaster), the Adventureland concept (which will highlight several of the movies produced by Disney such as the Lion King), the Frontierland concept (where the visitors will feel the breeze of the Old Western living), and the Tomorrowland concept (showcasing the world of sci-fi fantasies and adventure). The plan also includes three to four Disney - themed resort hotels offering up to 2,100 hotel rooms to be constructed adjacent to the Park. A variety of shopping and dining experiences within proposed 28,000-square-meter retail, dining, and entertainment complex is also part of the initial plan for overall Hong Kong D isneyland experience   The tourists from who visited Hong Kong Disneyland have varied feedbacks about the said tourist attraction. Some are satisfied with the theme park while there are some who thinks that this is just pure media hype. Some of the interviewed visitors revealed that: The site is very good. Having Disneyland here in Hong Kong, which is very near to my country, is a very good idea. Disneyland is very famous. Having this in Hong Kong means that we don't need to go to the US or to another country just to know what is inside Disneyland." - Akona Leh, from Shen Zhen China.

Monday, August 26, 2019

International relation's discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

International relation's discussion - Assignment Example ny, without doubt is a bad person that should be captured and face charges of crime against humanity at the international criminal courts, but his capture would come with other consequences, which might prove to be disastrous. In that case, peace and reconciliation techniques should be used especially in Northern Uganda to avoid any kind aggression between the rebels and government forces. Another key factor is African matters should be dealt by African people. There is absolute no need for putting pressure on the United States government to intervene (Peter, 21). As much as African countries appreciates the wet support in terms of foreign aid and donation they have also proved to the world that they are willing and ready to solve their own problems, some which have proved to be big challenges to the world. Therefore, the campaign for western countries to intervene in Kony’s capture is very not a good idea. The realist will not agree with the idea of going all out to capture Joseph Kony. This is because there are still other ways of coming up with a good solution to that problem. Still there are treaties between counties that must be respected. Kony is believed to have left Northern Uganda for South Sudan or Central African Republic, so attempt for invasion on Northern Uganda will be only cause harm to the healing

Choose a topic Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Choose a topic - Research Paper Example l conditions, certain pests, chemicals, or even spoilage as an example of characteristic traits that technology in genetic engineering aims to introduce in a plant. Hillstrom (2012) explains that GM crops are always generated in a laboratory, and this is through an alteration of the genetic makeup of the crops. To achieve this objective, Hillstrom (2012) explains that scientists will add one, or more genes to the genome of the plant, by using techniques of genetic engineering. Arvanitoyannis (2005) manages to explain that majority of genetically modified crops are produced through the biolistic method, or through the mediated transformation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Arvanitoyannis (2005) further denotes that crops that are modified and developed by the use of the GM technology do not have any changes that was not intended by the scientists, while producing the crop under consideration. The tobacco crop plant is the most genetically modified crop. This is because tobacco is easy t o propagate, and there is an extensive study of its genomes. On this basis, Arvanitoyannis (2005) explains that the tobacco crop plant serves as a model for other species of plants. In using the biolistic method to create a genetically modified plant, Healey (2010) explains that the DNA material is bound to a tiny particle of tungsten or gold, which are then shot to the single plant cell or plant tissue under high pressure. After this occurs, the accelerated particles are able to penetrate the membrane and cell wall of the plant. The DNA thereafter separates from the metallic substances and is then integrated into the genome of the plant, within its nucleus. This method is widely used in the genetic production of cultivated monocots, such as maize and wheat. Arvanitoyannis (2005) denotes that genetically transforming these substances by the use of Agrobacterium tumefaciens has not always achieved success. However, one of the major disadvantages of using this technique is that it can

Sunday, August 25, 2019

United States Bankruptcy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

United States Bankruptcy - Essay Example Bankruptcy is defined as a person that has been legally declared insolvent due to having a level of debt that places a person in a status in which their regular income is insufficient to pay the person’s monthly obligations (Yahoo, 2008). A bankruptcy was a solution chosen by many reached a point in which lenders were extremely mad since many people with the ability to pay were filing bankruptcy in order to eliminate debt. These con artists were willing to give up the right to have credit for seven years in exchange for a clean slate gain through the elimination of all their debt. In 2005 the US government decided to make some changes to the bankruptcy laws in order to protect the credibility of the financial / banking system in the nation and to ensure people assume responsibility for their financial mishaps. Society at large pays the price of delinquent debtors since those bank losses are factors in the interest rates people receive in their loans such as their mortgage paym ents. This report studies the new bankruptcy law of 2005 referred too as the bankruptcy abuse prevention act. The bankruptcy laws are structure under different chapters which include chapter 13, 11 and 7. Chapter 11 is a bankruptcy alternative for business owners and corporation which provides protection for the business entities so that the lenders do not drive a company out of business if it becomes insolvent. It calls for a reorganization of the corporate debt and lower temporary debt payment so a company can have cash flow to create a new business plan to continue a business going. Chapter 13 is similar to chapter 11 as far as providing temporary relief from lenders, but it applies to individuals. Chapter 13 allows a person to salvage their overall credit by entering into arrangement with creditors to pay off the debt in longer time periods, reducing interest, and holding off all payments for predetermined periods of time

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Sarbanes Oxley Act Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sarbanes Oxley Act - Essay Example The degree of disclosure of financial information is also a main reason. Mostly the corporate running bodies do not find them answerable in front of any regulatory body; therefore they keep on trying 'innovative' ideas for which others have to pay. (Maclean, 2005) Financial information in the form of audited accounts can prevent the system slipping into corruption (Sunlight is the best detergent), but it is not clear why, for example, a superior US financial reporting infrastructure did not help us detect Enron. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-204, 116 Stat. 745 (July 30, 2002), is a United States federal law also known as the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act of 2002 (and commonly called SOX or SarbOx). With the major financial reforms in most of the countries of the world the Sarbanes-Oxley Act was passed in the United states in order to deal with the issues such as establishment of the public company, the level of auditor's independence, proper monitoring of the accounting practices of the company under a board, corporate social responsibility and enhancement in the financial disclosure to the prescribed level by the act. The law is seen as the major reform in the after the New Deal passed in 1930. The act revolutionized United States securities laws. The House approved act with the majority of 423-3 and Senate by 97-0. The act increased the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission powers. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act's requires the companies to make their financial reports certify by the chief executive officers and chief financial officers. According to the act the Executive officers and directors are not allowed to take personal loans. The act prescribed the companies for the extended disclosure of the financial information in order to improve the shareholders and stakeholders accountability. The act also increased the jail sentence duration and increased the fine amount in case of violence of the securities law or misuse. The corporate executives misstating the financial information will also have to face increased sentence time duration and higher amount of penalties. The act also prohibited the audit firms to provide any services additional to that of the auditing to the companies they are working for. The compensation of the Chief executives and other higher executives are also required to be reported. The act also accelerated reporting of trades by insiders and prohi bition on insider trades during pension fund blackout periods. (Wikipedia, 2006) Reference Maclean, P., (2005). Power Play - Robert McCullough was interviewed for an article covering Enron's role in the California power crisis and its aftermath, Portland Monthly, May 2005, Retrieved 05/005/06 from Wikipedia, (2006). Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Retrieved 05/005

Friday, August 23, 2019

Organizational Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 3

Organizational Behavior - Essay Example Thus, some biased individuals cannot perform at the highest level, because of their own prejudices. Actually, biases are too powerful triggers of negative energy and emotions. Moreover, employees can be exposed to biases of the managers and employers. In the result of this type of biased context and relations, qualified people can be excluded from their future successful careers or effective performance at work. There are two main categories of biased people. The first group holds a stronger implicit bias and another group of people are less biased. It is possible to differentiate and claim that there are 2 main types of biases: a counter intentional and unconscious bias. In accordance with this classification, even the person with good intentions, reputation and many other positive traits can let his biased ideas and intentions go. Managers are responsible for prevention of biases. For example, they can motivate an employee's performance, involve a superior character of employee's d evelopments and cooperate with employees effectively at different levels. There is a famous case Thomas v. Kodak where an implicit bias was identified. The court claimed that they identified "subjective evaluations which could easily mask covert or unconscious race discrimination" (Banaji, Bazerman & Chugh, 2003). In this case we can consider a corporate liability and creation of a stable basis for prevention of potential biases in the future. One of possible ways out of dealing with biases is the Implicit Association Test. A person can reveal his hidden biased beliefs if he passes this type of test. For example, he can think about association triggered in his head, when he looks at the words connected with images of different people. Data obtained in the result of tests processed... This paper stresses that cognitive loading implies a large number of ethical issues concerning the use of the faking warning. Whether it is a breach of professional ethics or not is a challenging question. Personal issues should be considered and biases can be revealed in the process of test's application. On the basis of obtained results, it is possible for the managers of the organization to define levels of biases classification. However, it is possible to introduce a certain degree of coaching in the Company and conduct further research on various biases. In other words, even if the cases of biases in the organization are identified, it is possible to develop possible strategies to deal with them. It can be claimed that not always application of Item Response Theory may be helpful in identifying biased persons who provided faked answers. In the majority of cases, IRT is based on a mathematical model and the relationship between test-takers' levels on the personality trait being m easured and their ability to choose different types of response of a certain personality test item. This report makes a conclusion that biased prejudices exist in the modern organizations. The basic sources of prejudices and biases are racism and sexism. A person can be biased either intentionally or not. It is relevant to identify a biased nature of a potential employee to foster the organization's progress. Modern society and media pervert moral judgments of people and there is no one to be blamed for biases, but only people. We have developed the world we live in. We have created conditions for biases development and it is on our behalf to deal with social prejudices biases.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

The kite Runner Essay Example for Free

The kite Runner Essay The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini is a book many readers might appreciate. The book inflicts turmoil of emotions and leave readers in shock. The Kite Runner illustrates a heartbreaking friendship and other relationships that make the story come alive. Readers will appreciate the love, friendship and redemption. The characters are Amir, Hassan, Baba, Ali, Sohrab and Assef. Amir is selfish, Hassan is loyal, Baba is brave, Ali is dutiful, and Assef is cruel. Amir is the protagonist of the book, Hassan is a servant in Amir’s house. Hassan is loyal to Amir and Ali is another servant to Amir and Baba (Amir’s dad). The reader gets a feel for the relationship between Amir and Hassan on page 34. â€Å"Then he (Ali) would remind us that there was a brotherhood between people who had fed from the same breast, a kinship that not even time could break. Hassan and I fed from the same breasts. We took our first steps on the same lawn in the same yard. And, under the same roof, we spoke our first words. Mine was Baba. His was Amir. My name. The story is set in 1975 through 2001, Afghanistan and United States, specifically in Kabul and California. The significance of the Kabul, Afghanistan setting is that it’s when the Afghanistan monarchy is overthrown, through the Soviet military intervention and the rise of the Taliban regime. The significance of the setting’s shift from Kabul, Afghanistan to California, United States is that because the Soviet military intervenes in Afghanistan, Amir and Baba escape to Peshawar, Pakistan, and then to Fremont, California, where they settle in a run-down apartment Amir faces certain forces and pressures. Amir is having a self vs.self-problem, he has to decide whether to go back to Kabul in order to get Sohrab (Hassan’s son) from an orphanage or leave him there. He meets these forces and pressures by deciding to go back to Kabul and save Sohrab from the dangerous city. You can see this early in the story on page 300. The tension rises when Amir makes it to Kabul. Amir notices that their signs of war and destroyed villages. This might leave a reader feeling worried because readers might think that Amir will back down and not save Sohrab or that Amir will get hurt. The story climaxes when Amir goes to the orphanage, and finds out that Sohrab isn’t there but was taken by a Taliban official. When Amir finds Sohrab, he finds out that Assef a childhood bully and who raped Hassan, has Sohrab in his house. Amir has to fight Assef, but Sohrab ends up saving Amir and himself by throwing a rock in Assefs eye with a slingshot. â€Å"Dont hurt him anymore. â€Å"Put it down. Please. Put it down! Put it down! Assef let go of my throat. Lunged at Sohrab. The slingshot made a thwit sound when Sohrab released the cup. Then Assef was screaming. He put his hand where his left eye had been just a moment ago. † The falling action ultimately resolves the conflict. Amir finally takes Sohrab to the United states, where Amir raises Sohrab as his child. It’s a self vs. self-type of conflict that’s driving this story. Amir in the beginning is a selfless person and does things he regrets such as not saving Hassan from being raped and having Hassan having to leave his home. But by saving Sohrab, Hassan’s son and raising him, Amir finds a way to redeem himself.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Airline Distribution Systems in 2013 Essay Example for Free

Airline Distribution Systems in 2013 Essay Web based commerce and internet technology have dramatically transformed the airline industry throughout the past thirteen years. The internet has enabled travelers to bypass the traditional distribution pattern of travel agencies and enabled airlines to sell more directly to passengers (European Commission, 2006). Since the mid-1990s there have been some major changes to the airline ticket distribution industry which were both a result of internet technologies (GAO, 2003). Major U. S. Airlines claimed a net operating loss of nearly $10 billion in 2002 and had paid over $7 billion to distribute tickets to consumers (GAO, 2013). These distribution expenses include booking fees to global distributions system to the amount of hundreds of millions of dollars (GAO, 2003). Airlines would receive a set booking fee each time an airline ticket was purchased through a travel agent by the global distribution system used by the travel agent (GAO, 2003). Due to most U. S. carriers being largely dependent on each of the global distribution systems for distributing tickets to different travel agent and consumers and consumers having to subscribe and pay fees to each, there are concerns that the global distributions systems may exercise market ower over them (GAO, 2013). Market power would allow global distribution systems to charge high, noncompetitive fees to airlines and in turn, these costs may be passed on to consumers (GAO, 2013). Environment Two major changes have occurred in the airline ticket distribution industry since the 1990s that have produced cost savings for some major U. S. airlines (GAO, 2013). The airlines have developed less expensive internet ticketing sites that bypass global distribution systems and their fees and encourage consumers to book directly rather than through travel agencies (GAO, 2013). Between the years 1999 and 2002 the average percentage of tickets booked on-line either from airlines or travel agencies grew from 7% to 30% (GAO, 2013). (See Appendix A). The next effort to reduce costs that airlines made was the cutting the amount of commissions they would pay to travel agencies (GAO, 2013). These attempts have still not eliminated the dependence airlines have on global distribution systems. In the report made by the U. S.  Government Accountability Office (GAO), they were unable to determine the exact relationship between global distribution system booking fees and related costs and were not able to reach any conclusions towards the potential exercise of market power by global distribution systems in the airline ticket distribution industry (GAO, 2013). Despite these reports there have still been numerous complaints from airlines that the companies who distribute airline flight and fare information are stifling competition and violating federal anti-trust laws (Koenig, 2011). Government reports help airlines because they investigate claims which are made that could possibly violate anti-trust laws and act as a middleman to solve disputes. Travelport and Sabre are two large global distribution systems which have had investigations against them (Koenig, 2011). A third company, Amadeus, is another global distribution system and the three of them make up for all of the distribution systems in the U. S. (Koenig, 2011). The justice department has clearly stepped into the mix by investigating claims of monopoly power and anti-trust. Only announcements of such investigations have taken place with no more real information being handed to the public. American and US Airways have both filed lawsuits against the global distribution giant, Sabre (Koenig, 2011). Sabre was actually created by American Airlines but later spun off as a separate company (Koenig, 2011). American also sued Travelport for using monopoly tactics and burying their flight information (Koenig, 2011). With Travelport accounting for nearly $2. billion of American’s ticket sales last year, it is hard to see where the complaint lies yet American is intent of wrongdoing and is asking for government assistance through lawsuits (Koenig, 2011). Government institutions try to protect consumers and smaller companies in tourism by imposing anti-discrimination and anti-trust regulation to ensure that real information is presented and competition levels remain satisfactory (Beatrice, Cezar, Alexandra, 2013). Industry Airlines and independent travel agencies were amongst the first to take advantage of the marketing and sales opportunities the internet provided (Borenstein, Rose, 2013). Airlines saw the internet as a way to bypass the traditional sales channel of travel agents in order to gain control of lower costing electronic ticketing methods (Borenstein, Rose, 2013). The internet provided an alternative for airlines and lowered their fears of sales being blocked by ticketing agencies (Borenstein, Rose, 2013). Domestic airlines in Mumbai, India are attempting to not follow the conventional fixed commission system (Cuckoo, 2005). The issue of commission reduction has caused a huge stand-off between travel agents and international airlines (Cuckoo, 2005). Legacy airlines let by flag carrier Air-India announced in May, 2005 that they would cut commissions from 9% to 5% (Cuckoo, 2005). British Airways joined in with this plan and other European and Southeast Asian carriers were expected to follow suit (Cuckoo, 2005). Travel agents are planning to fight the commission cuts through the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) (Cuckoo, 2005). Just as many U. S. Carriers have claimed fear of, agents in India announced a plan to boycott Air-India and to stop selling their airline tickets in the event of commissions being cut (Cuckoo, 2005). Low-cost carriers have an advantage to the internet because they can start off with new models of distribution whereas legacy carriers have been using agents for decades and it is hard for them to step out (Cuckoo, 2005). Air Decan is a low-cost airline in India that sells 35% of its tickets online and has been knowingly boycotted by agents because it offers a lower price, usually around 5% less, to consumers who book directly from them (Cuckoo, 2005). An International low-cost airline, Air-Arabia, will not pay any commissions to travel agents with its India flights (Cuckoo, 2005). Air-India’s low-cost subsidiary, Air-India Express will also have their passengers pay handling fees instead of the airlines (Cuckoo, 2005). Another Airline to consider is Frontier who makes their lowest fares available on both their own website and on the big online travel agencies (OTAs) such as Priceline and Expedia (Perkins, 2012). There is a difference however, when passengers purchase from any other site or agency other than Frontier, they only earn half of the amount of frequent flyer miles, do not get advanced seating, and will face higher fees for various changes (Perkins, 2012). Marketing Strategy and Situational Analysis Some may find it peculiar that companies are now battling other companies that they themselves created. The three major GDS systems that control most airline ticket distribution worldwide, Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport provide OTAs with fare information and transact sales (Perkins, 2012). OTAs are used by most airlines in order to sell their tickets along with their own websites. In addition to providing airfares OTAs also provide hotel accommodations, rental cars, and most other popular travel services (Perkins, 2012). Airlines now want to avoid fees which were once accumulated through the use of agents and GDSs charge them anywhere between $5 and $12 to book a flight while a transaction through their own system probably costs less than $1 (Perkins, 2012). Now that the internet source is available and extremely efficient the airlines want to gain control back of their customers in order to be able to sell them additional services (Perkins, 2012). On their own sites they could have the ability to present upgraded options such as a bundled no-fee fare packages and can provide passengers with the ability to book semi-premium economy seats (Perkins, 2012). Airlines also want to avoid the easiness of price comparisons passengers have with OTAs in order to maximize their profits once again. The problem, as stated earlier in this paper, is that GDSs account for more than half of their business and to cut them out of the transaction stream completely would be extremely difficult (Perkins, 2012). Airlines are also signed into long-term GDS contracts that require that they provide the same fares to GDS that they have available on their website (Perkins, 2012). A third problem is that large buyers and managers of business travel are extremely dependents on GDS for various reasons such as fare, price, and other information that is required to control travel costs (Perkins, 2012). Attempts to move completely from GDS systems by most airlines have been unsuccessful but many have been able to find ways to shun them. Southwest is one who has managed to have their own system entirely because if you want to fly Southwest, you have to go to Southwest (Perkins, 2012). Allegiant and Spirit also provide only limited participation with GDS (Perkins, 2012). Others get around the contractual agreement of having the same fares available by offering discount promotional codes for direct bookings (Perkins, 2012). With the advantages of control of ticket distribution for the airlines stated and the various strategies used by each airline along with their strengths discussed, let us now look at the weaknesses of these distribution systems. The main weakness is that with the amount of passengers that do use OTAs, there’s a chance they will not use airlines that are not on these sites due to their popularity. Passengers want to be able to compare prices and OTAs provide just that. Passengers may not be willing to research fares on their own and may only go to their preferred airline if OTAs aren’t available. Airlines win if they are the airline of choice but if they aren’t they could be losing potential customers. Commercial Websites This study will look at two individual airlines and their websites and discuss how successful they are. According to Google Trends, the internet is the number one source for both business and leisure travel and roughly 83% of personal travelers use it as well as 77% of business travelers (The Economist, 2009). The two airlines in this review will be United Airlines and Southwest Airlines. Commercial websites need to consider what customers experience when searching for information, evaluating alternative products, and purchasing them (Peter, Donnelly, 2013). We will be reviewing these three basic areas of which web site designers should consider for each United and Continental Airlines. With information search, there needs to be ease of navigation, fast page downloads, effective search features, and frequent product updates (Peter, Donnelly, 2013). When evaluating alternatives, designers need to consider the ease of product comparisons, product descriptions, ease of contacting customer service representatives, and a status of the availability of items (Peter, Donnelly, 2013). With the purchase evaluation, designers need to consider security and privacy issues, the checkout process, payment options, delivery options, and the ordering instructions (Peter, Donnelly, 2013). United Airlines makes navigation simple by placing their flight search table right on the home page. They also include a section for members to sign in, passengers to print their boarding pass, check a flight status, and to change or view reservations right on the home page. These are some of their most used services which are placed right in plain sight on their home page making the information users are looking for easily obtainable. When searching for a flight the speed of the page downloads is quite fast especially considering that a query is being made and information has to be sorted. The results of the search used for this study came back fast and with more information than even requested. The site included many additional options to narrow the search down and was very up to date. When a search for a flight is made the results make it easy to compare similar flights available and even points to the direction of which options could/would give passengers a lower fare. The descriptions are accurate, clear, and comprehensive enough for customers to make informed decisions when choosing a flight. Customer service can easily be reached by clicking on the top right corner of the screen no matter what page of the site you are on. When a search is made unavailable flights or booked flights are not even visible making it easy for customers to view the availability of their options. When considering the purchase made on a web site, it is clear that United has all of the issues covered from security and privacy issues to ordering instructions. United airlines guides customers from the start of their home page all the way to the end purchase with ease. The steps are clear and the purchase can be made in a reasonable amount of time. Customers have various payment options such as credit card, PayPal, or buy it now as well. Southwest Airlines uses a more simplified homepage yet still has the flight search on their home screen to allow for ease of navigation. On top of providing ease of navigation they also use their home page to advertise promotions. The speed of pages downloads is quick, the returned information was effective, and the flight schedules were all up to date on Southwest’s site. They also provided multiple flights to choose from that incorporated a variety of different prices. The promotions continued through the flight selection process as well going on to add discounts if a hotel were to be booked as well. Flight comparisons and descriptions were easy to compare and were accurate, clear, and comprehensive enough to allow consumers to make informed decisions. Something I was surprised to find about the site was that the customer service phone number was not extremely easy to locate. Customers have to click through about 3 pages before a number is given and that is after they find the tiny help icon at the top of the screen. The status of availability is done the same whereas unavailable seating or options are not even displayed to customers. Southwest covers issues of security and privacy all the way to ordering instructions. Southwest Airlines guides customers from the start of their home page all the way to the end purchase with ease. The steps are clear and the purchase can be made in a reasonable amount of time. Customers have various payment options such as credit card, PayPal, or buy it now as well. Comparing the two directly, Southwest’s homepage is more simple and easier for consumers to take in whereas United has an abundant amount of options to choose from. They are both however, very effective and successful commercial websites and follow all of the guidelines mentioned above from the text with the exception of a number for customer service being more difficult to find on Southwest’s website (Peter, Donnelly, 2013).

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Components Constituting A Business Environment Commerce Essay

Components Constituting A Business Environment Commerce Essay The rapid changes in the healthcare environment have exerted significant pressures on the hospitals to pay attention to marketing strategies in general and health service strategy in particular. Therefore this research investigates the influence macro environment factors have on the health service strategy made by the hospital managers. This study proposes and tests a four factor macro environment model that explains the considerable variation in health service strategy in the hospitals. These factors include political, Economic, Social, and Technology, namely the PEST Analysis. The study goes on to conduct a SWOT Analysis of the organisation and critically evaluate how the organisation can accomplish to meet the stakeholders expectations, and the influence that specific stakeholders have on a health and social care organisation. We will critically assess the role of information management systems for improving the performance of a health and social care organisation, and the decisio n making techniques that the management uses to come up with the business strategies of an organisation. Components constituting a business environment The two broad categories that any business environment can be classified into are external and internal environments. A macro environment is thus a part of the external environment. BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT MACRO ENVIRONMENT MICRO ENVIRONMENT Figure 1: Business environment and its components MACRO ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS OF AN ORGANISATION The new environment reality affecting the operation and performance of organizations is being characterized by continuous and often unpredictable change. As a result, many calls have been voiced for organizations to build the ability to respond and adapt to changing and uncertain environmental conditions, in order to sustain their competitive situation (Cardwell Bolon, 1996; Godiwalla et al., 1997; Chung, 2008; Aapo Tomas, 2008). Macro environment has been the subject of considerable research in both business and marketing literature recently. Furthermore, it became an area of primary concern to all organizations, depending critically on a subtle understanding and analysis of both the industry within which the hospital will compete, and the competitors working in same arena. Studying macro environment factors is an important issue in terms of the increased pressure placed upon hospitals and the competition that exists between hospitals. Any attempt at conceptualizing the term macro environment should, at some stage, involve an attempt to answer certain questions, such as: 1. What is the meaning of macro environment in hospital industry? 2. What are the main factors of macro environment? And how do they influence health organizations? MACRO ENVIRONMENT Macro environment is largely external to the business enterprise. Macro environment factors are uncontrollable factors and beyond the direct influence and control of the organisation. Its factors are powerfully influence to its functions. External environment consists of individuals, groups, agencies, organisations, events, conditions and forces. These are frequently contacted by the organisation for its functions. It establishes good interaction and interdependent relations in form of conducts business transitions. Proper designing and administration of macro environment enable appropriate strategies and policies to cope with and make changes. The major forces represent uncontrollable variables that hospitals must monitor and to which they must be respond. Marketers must also pay attention to interactions among forces to identify and take advantage of new opportunities and threats. For example of the offerings are affordable (economic), they may actually change attitudes and behaviour (social cultural) (Kotler et al., 2008). Macro-environment consists of broader forces that affect the actors in the micro environment (Armstrong Kotler, 2011). There are several elements for a macro environment, a detailed picture of which is given below. Figure 2: Macro Environment Elements The importance of analyzing the macro environment arises from the critical role it plays in the growth and profitability of organizations. This fact has been clearly highlighted by Kotha and Nair (1995), and later by Wagner and Gooding (1997). Thus, by understanding an organizations external environment, Fombrun and Shanley (1992), Gimeno and Woo (1996) indicate that strategic decision-makers can not only help improve its competitive position but also increase its operational efficiency, and win battles in the field of global economy. Based on this conclusion, Hill and Jones (1998) have further argued that to succeed, an organization must either fit its strategy to the industry/sector environment in which it operates, or be able to reshape the industry/ sectors environment to its advantage through its choice of strategy. Thus, companies typically fail when their strategy no longer fits the environment in which they operate (Hill and Jones, 1998). Crucially, any study of the external environment should include the identification of four major factors, namely Political, Economic, Social and Technological. PEST ANALYSIS Political Factor: A Political environment consists of laws, government agencies, and pressure groups that influence or limit various organizations and individuals in a given society (Armstrong Kotler, 2011). The political factors that may influence the health service strategy in healthcare scenario in particular are government objectives, policies, decisions, legal restrictions, various governmental units sharing legislative authority, laws concerning taxation, and privatization decisions. The clinical governance structure has, at its fundamentals, the foundation philosophy of continuous quality improvement (CQI) and total quality management (TQM). These two philosophies were developed first in manufacturing and industry, and then adopted by health services institutions in the early 1990s (Berwick, 1989; Kitson, 1994). The overall philosophy is to generate a culture of continuous quality based on effective cooperation between staff, systems spotlight, investment in people and staff, and self-monitori ng (McLaughlin and Kaluzny, 1999; Ovretveit, 2000). The political environment is based on the uncertainty. In some countries with multiple numbers of political parties, a political party does not get clear majority to form a government. In this situation, business activities collapse due to minority supported government. The political parties are unable to formulate stable government; it affects and fluctuate the government policies. Therefore, business organisation and public need a stable government to function smoothly. Economic Factor: The economic environment consists of factors that affect consumer purchasing power and spending patterns (Kotler et al., 2011). It includes the economic conditions, economic policies, and the economic system that is important to external factors of business. Economic fluctuations in the home market and inflationary factors are also impacts that have an influence, because they can produce both positive and negative effects on the demand for goods and services. For example, they could affect the specifications of certain goods or may require workers to receive specific types of training or preparation (George, 2009; Girijasankar Bhar, 2011). The economic conditions of the country include nature of the economy of the country, the general economic situation in the region, conditions in resource markets like money, material, market raw material components, services, supply markets and so on which influence the supply of inputs to the organisation, their costs, quality, availability and reliability of supply of products and services. The application of economic analysis in healthcare decision making, however, particularly with regard to medical necessity, has proven to be highly controversial. Evidence varies regarding the extent to which decision makers actually use economic analysis. Socio-cultural Factor: Social and cultural environment is made up of institutions and other forces that affect a societys basic values, perceptions, preferences, and behaviours (Kotler et al., 2011; Armstrong Kotler, 2011). Socio-cultural trends can present both threats and opportunities for many hospitals. They are reflected in customer wants and needs in terms of a health service. Some of the constituents of the Socio-cultural factor are population, health, education and social mobility, and attitudes to these. Socio-cultural environment is an important factor that should be analyzed while formulating company business strategies. If a company ignores the customs, traditions, tastes and preferences and education, it can affect the business. It consists of factors which are related to human relationships and the impact of social attitudes and cultural values. These are bearing on the business of the organisation. Technological factors: The technology is perhaps the most dramatic force now shaping, our destiny (Kotler et al., 2011). Technological factors include impact of emerging technologies, Impact of Internet, reduction in communications costs, increased remote working, research and development activity, and impact of technology transfer. Technological factors sometimes pose serious problems. A firm that unable to cope with technological changes may not be survived. Further, the differing technological environment of different markets may be called for service modifications. Technology in health services organizations has released such good things antibiotics, robotic surgery, MRI. The technologies environment change rapidly. In the past most of healthcare managers did not know about the ever-updating technologies that they get to know of nowadays. New technologies create new markets and opportunities. Therefore, the healthcare managers should study these updating technologies around the world to adopt them in their healthcare business or hospitals. Dramatic advancements in updating technology affect not only the products and services offered by organizations to customers but also the work processes needed. They can offer opportunities to those who can take benefit of such advancements. Otherwise, expecting and responding to technological trends can prove to be costly (Kotler et al., 2008). SWOT ANALYSIS In order to determine factors both within the external environment and within the organisation, a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis have been carried out, the findings of which are enumerated as follows. Strengths: Healthcare brand in the UK is a universally known and well-respected brand. An important sector in all local economies that is a major source of skilled employment. National government prioritisation of the sector for assistance and skills development. Future employment growth on an upward trend. There is scope for greater integration and higher profile of social care There are strong links between Department of Health and the other healthcare institutions like NHS There are several dedicated communications resources working on social care There are healthcare companies with working groups with key stakeholders already set up Weaknesses: Every healthcare organisation has strong links to the Department of Health, therefore are unable to establish as an independent organisation. The complexity of the sector and its institutions. A negative public perception of the sector as being characterised by low pay, anti-social hours and working conditions. Substantial recruitment difficulties and skills gaps. The healthcare staff come from different and varied cultures and countries and need to create a common identity of working. Intensive training has to be provided yet to all the staff, in addition to communication training; everybodys still learning the job. Information collected has essentially remained the same for some time. Decreased relevance and usefulness. Perceived burden of collection among stakeholders. Healthcare branding, for example the NHS, is a barrier for social care stakeholders. Opportunities: To be seen as a source of information independent from government and Department of Health. Large-scale recruitment of new and skilled staff. Engage new stakeholders. Improved levels of service associated with a better trained and motivated workforce. Potential for improved IT systems and skills to increase patient focus of care and early reporting of medical successes and shortcomings. Radical pay reform agenda in the NHS which for the first time aligns pay and reward with knowledge and skills development. Improve the online presentation of statistics. Move from measuring activities to measuring outputs and outcomes will make information of more practical use in implementation and monitoring of services. Chance to be seen to streamline collection processes. Threats: Loss of proper skills and knowledge. Vast diversity in the cultural and communicational backgrounds of the staff and not being able to follow a single agenda. The highly politicised nature of the NHS undermining medium and long term planning. An older age profile than the average for all industries with proportionately low numbers of young employees entering the workforce. A relatively high turnover of staff in some sub-sectors and occupations. Lack of management skills. Slippage to delivery of a common initiative, and its effect on the credibility of the programme. Failure to adequately consult with and engage all stakeholders. Wider local government agenda may be obstructive. STAKEHOLDERS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR The term Stakeholders refers to everybody who has an interest in the health and well being of the local population and the delivery and development of health and social care services. They can range from individual service users and carers to service providers such as primary care professionals, other statutory organisations and local Councils as well as the voluntary and community sectors and the wider public. SERVICE PROVIDERS CARE COMMISSIONERS SERVICE USERS Figure 3: Stakeholders that constitutes core elements of health Stakeholders can be classified into four groups: Key Players Keep satisfied Keep informed Minimal effort Key Players: These are the most important Stakeholders they have high power and high interest in healthcare sector and its activities. Such stakeholders need to be involved in all relevant developments and could have a considerable influence over the future of healthcare sector. They include health commissioners, Practice Based Commissioning (PBC) Groups, the NHS, specialist commissioners (For example, Neuro), healthcare providers, local full time officers of recognised unions, patient representative groups, healthcare sector employees, public health, GPs, board members, and local trusts. Keep Satisfied: This is a particularly difficult group to deal with. In this group, we often find regional representative or legislative bodies. They behave passively most of the time, but that can exert an enormous impact on the organisation. It is therefore necessary to analyze potential intentions and reactions of these groups in all major developments, and to involve them according to their interests. This group includes MPs, Interest Groups, Health Scrutiny Committee, CFT members, local media, Local Strategic Partnerships, Health and Well Being Board, Care Quality Commission, and other professional bodies Keep Informed: Stakeholders in this group have a high interest in the organisation and its actions. However, they have limited means to influence. Despite their lower influence, such stakeholders could be valuable allies in important decisions. Therefore, it is advisable to keep them informed about the issues they are interested in. This group of stakeholders may include voluntary organisations, local communities, communities that are hard to reach, Mental Health Trust, Care givers and users, and other independent sector organisations and competitors. Minimal Effort: Stakeholders in this group have little interest in healthcare corporate plans. They also has little power to exert much impact. It is therefore appropriate to keep these groups informed, but not invest too much effort into them. They include housing, police and national media. Focused on users, carers and communities, stakeholder involvement must focus on directly accessing the views of service users and carers who are using health and social care services as well as those living in communities who are experiencing the greatest levels of health inequalities to ensure they are having appropriate influence in shaping future priorities. Following are the principles that will underpin all stakeholder involvement: Stakeholders must see that their input has a real impact on the decisions made and that they are making a real difference to how local services are being planned and delivered. It is essential that feedback from involvement processes is communicated to participants and that the reasons for why particular decisions were taken are clearly outlined. The level of involvement should be proportionate to the scale of the issue being considered. The method of involvement should be tailored to ensure that appropriate stakeholders are accessed. It is important that all stakeholders are provided with an opportunity to participate and are actively supported to become involved either at a locality level or on a specific issue basis. It is recommended that, as far as possible, across Health and Social Care organisations, involvement with stakeholders on needs assessment and strategy development be taken forward jointly by the Regional Board, the Agency and Trusts. Staff working in each of the organisations should seek to form close working relationships to ensure that there is minimal duplication in involving local stakeholders and agree joint processes for taking forward this work. By adopting a more collective approach it will maximise the use of available resources both in terms of staff and information, minimise the time required from stakeholders to contribute to involvement exercises and ensure that all sections within the health and care sector hear the same messages and can plan services accordingly. ROLE OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE SECTOR Information management systems have much to offer in managing healthcare costs and in improving the quality of care (Kolodner et al. 2008). In addition to the embedded role of information technology in clinical and diagnostics equipment, Information systems are uniquely positioned to capture, store, process, and communicate timely information to decision makers for better coordination of healthcare at both the individual and population levels. For example, data mining and decision support capabilities can identify potential adverse events for an individual patient while also contributing to the populations health by providing insights into the causes of disease complications. All types of business need robust and comprehensive quality and business management systems however this takes on added importance when lives are in the hands of the business involved. Healthcare is certainly in that category. Another hallmark of healthcare information is that it is highly personal. As a result, any transfer of information between parties via technology involves risks that the information could fall into the wrong hands. Although electronic information can be made as secure as paper records, electronic storage may be perceived as having a higher likelihood of leakage, and such fears get further compounded by media attention. Thus, patients perceived probability of compromised privacy is often higher than the actual probability. An ideal Information management system should help the clients: Provides complete data protection and privacy Meet the business improvement objectives. Provide interfaces to other existing database repositories. Strategically unite and align quality and business process information that produces reliability improvement and meets standards Enable business governance and organizational communication. Streamline access and utilization of data repositories and analytical systems needed for long-term business improvement. Provide analytics and robust search features for healthcare process performance, analysis, management review, and planning. Healthcare costs have been increasing and the demand for reasonably priced high quality services is also on the rise. Effectiveness of a hospital or nursing home depends on the efficiency of its operations and management systems. Some of the major factors determining the efficacy of a health institution include patient care management and patient satisfaction. In order to meet these requirements there has been the growing need to implement hospital information systems. The healthcare industry has witnessed an increased spending on IT with most of the hospitals and healthcare organizations shifting to electronically-based information systems. Healthcare Information management system should provide equal access to medical records throughout the country by making the diagnosis online through different digital tools. This could make sharing information among physicians for treatment and consultation much easier. It should ensure improved quality and assurance, archiving capabilities. This is is a major tool to measure clinical outcomes and control budget. It needs strong infrastructure to broadly utilize the data available online to provide continuity on database and information integration. When you take a healthcare organisation, for example a hospital, the information management system should provide decision making processes based on qualitative information and knowledge. There should be a continuity of medical data and care information. This will aid in improving and increasing the efficiency of healthcare processes. It will also help in increasing clinical safety and the quality of the results. It is with no doubt that it can be said that better Information management system can provide better documentation and better customer services. The following diagram depicts an example of what an Information Management System in a hospital should include. DEMOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS VISITS AND HOSPITALIZATION IMAGING TREATMENT INFORMATION MEDICATION INFORMATION LAB RESULTS FAMILY HISTORY MEDICAL HISTORY PATIENT Figure 4: Patient Information Management System DECISION MAKING IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE SECTOR Most decision-making techniques use a process used by leaders and managers to make decisions. This includes the following steps: Identifying and defining the problem. Gathering information, facts and assumptions. Analyzing the situation. Developing options and solutions. Comparing and evaluating these options and solutions. Select the solution that best addresses the problem, or a best alternative decision. Acting on the decision. The way in which decision making is approached is recognised as an important function of leadership and management in health care. This increasing interest in the process of decision making as a function of management is evidence of a much larger shift in management thinking among the academic community. Although we traditionally associate leadership and management in health care with individuals, the complexity of change required in the health care system means a new paradigm of management is required. Relational approaches to healthcare management offer an alternative view. Rather than being the function of an individual, leadership is considered to be an outcome of the processes that emerge when several individuals interact. Relational processes are being recognised as just as influential in changing peoples attitudes, behaviours and actions as the direct influence of a formal manager. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS In conclusion, this study mainly focuses on the healthcare sector and the external factors that affect the management of the healthcare issues. Macro environment is a very important aspect in the healthcare sector. The study assesses the macro environment and its impacts on the health service strategy with the help of analytical tool like PEST analysis. The empirical conclusions drawn from this study are multi-faceted and as a consequence it is important that healthcare managers pay attention to the influences of PEST environment elements on health service strategy. The study concludes that healthcare scenario requires new health services, for enabling the hospital to meet the needs and wants of the largest possible market. Also if medical technology worldwide is updated it helps hospitals to gain opportunities that lead to increased market share and new market penetration. This study has outlined the stakeholder management strategy for healthcare sector to support the delivery of its organisational objectives and its development. It has established the current state of understanding of stakeholder power and impact, identifies key stakeholder groups and the influence of each group on the healthcare organisation. It also identifies the how the key strategic priorities and action plan for improving stakeholder relationships will be developed. The decision making process has been shifted from the main management and doctors to a wider range of management. Some recommendations for further research in this area: The study could be replicated with other services to further examine the transferability of the macro environment in the healthcare industry. Study the proposed model in other European countries in order to gain more validation for the model and more generalised findings. Study other service sectors, like public sector, in order to develop a model that represents the service sector more generally, rather than representing the healthcare sector alone.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Urging the Acceptance of Plus Size Fashion Essay -- Health Weight Body

Throughout the centuries, history finds women doing whatever they can to fit into the current cookie cutter mold of popular, accepted society. From the whale bone corsets of the late 1800s to the psychedelic style of hippies in the 1960s and 1970s, one major trend that followed these fashions through the ages is weight. For the past fifty years or so, since the dawn of models like Twiggy and Verushka von Lehndorff, the world turned away from the â€Å"plus size† and opened its arms only to the phenomenon of thin. But what did society think of plus sized fashion in a time when thin was unaccepted? A web article from articalesbase.com sheds some light on the subject: â€Å"In the past, a big beautiful body was associated with health and wealth. As a matter of fact, up until the 1960’s, BBW and plus size women were lauded for their beautiful physiques. The plus size woman appeared in almost all of the fashion photographs, films, and paintings of the 1920’s-1950’s† (Brown). According to dictionary.com, plus size means â€Å"an extra-large size category of clothing, esp. for women.† (plus). However, recent years have shown a push towards plus size, and even â€Å"real† size fashion. This can especially be seen in the banning of very skinny models from Madrid Fashion shows, and the more liberal Full Figured Fashion Week. While the acceptance of plus size fashion continues to increase, it still does not completely conform to the wants and needs of its wearers. Full figured, curvy, big-boned - any woman who describes herself with these terms automatically finds her self categorized into the â€Å"plus size† by retailers and manufacturers. Today, plus size generally encompasses sizes 14W to 30W, however some retailers consider sizes as low as a... ...odel-ordinary-women-No-Miss-England-finalist-fat-lazy-poster-girl-ill-health.html>. Lacey, LB. "What Size Is the "Average" Woman?" Full & Fabulous Inc. - A State of Mind, Not a Dress Size! Web. 28 Nov. 2010. articles_view.asp?articleid=17064>. Morton, Camilla. "Show Report - John Galliano Spring/Summer 2006." Www.vogue.co.uk. Vogue Magazine, 8 Oct. 2005. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/show.aspx/id,2862#. The Phit. Digital image. Missphit.com. Missphit. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. "plus size." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 26 Nov. 2010. . Postrel, Virginia. "The Real Reason That Ann Taylor Hates Plus Sizes." Blog | Double X. 9 June 2009. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. http://www.doublex.com/section/life/real-reason-ann-taylor-hates-plus-sizes?page=4,0.

Dissolution of the theory of Spontaneous Generation :: essays research papers

Spontaneous generation is the belief that some life forms are created from non-living things. It was an accepted theory to explain the creation of living things since the times of the ancient Romans to the early nineteenth century, when people began to become more skeptical of this idea. By the 20th century, spontaneous generation was known to be an incorrect theory. The reason it was known to be incorrect, primarily, was because of four scientists: Francesco Redi, John Needham, Lazzaro Spallanzani, and Louis Pasteur. Francesco Redi, in 1668, started the chain of experiments that would all add up to dissolve the theory of spontaneous generation. Redi was able to do this by doing a famous experiment involving meat and flies. He covered a jar of meat so no flies could enter it and, after a few days, there were no flies. This experiment showed that flies were not created from meat. This, in turn, showed to other scientists that â€Å"larger† organisms were not created spontaneously. Redi’s experiment was monumental because it was the first time spontaneous generation had been disproved by concrete evidence. Along with that, the experiment’s result was a step for other scientists to build on in the future. Without Redi’s findings, the process of proving spontaneous generation was a false theory could have been delayed drastically. The next two scientists to make significant impacts on the theory of spontaneous generation were John Needham and Lazzaro Spallanzani. John Needham was a Scottish clergyman who, from 1745 to 1748, attempted to show that there was a life force in the molecules of all inorganic matter that caused spontaneous generation to occur. He went about doing by doing experiments which showed bacteria would form in soups. Seventeen years later, Italian biologist Lazzaro Spallanzani tried to disprove Needham’s belief. Spallanzani went about this by doing three experiments. The first experiment was done by boiling soup for an hour, putting it in a flask, and then sealing off the flask. The second experiment involved boiling soup for a few minutes, putting it in a flask, and sealing it of. The third experiment was done by boiling soup for an hour, putting it in a flask, and sealing the flask with a cork that let air in. Out of the three experiments, the first experiment was the only one which led to no bacteria forming. From these experiments, Spallanzani figured that an hour of boiling could kill the bacteria and bacteria came to substances through the air.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

History Of Communication Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since the beginning of time, people have had the need to communicate with one and other. The most common type of communication is speech, but you could not talk to someone who lived 20 miles away. Then written language was developed, people marked symbols on paper, stone, or whatever was available. Then hundreds of years passed, and people who wanted to share their ideas with people had to do allot of writing, until someone thought to make a writing machine. This machine is called the printing press.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gutenberg's invention of the printing press is widely thought of as the origin of mass communication-- it marked Western culture's first viable method of disseminating ideas and infomation from a single source to a large and far-ranging audience. The story of print is a long and complax one. It may be too much to claim that print was the single cause of the massive social, political and psychological changes it is associated with. However, print did wield enormous influence on every aspect of European culture. Some historians suggest that print was instrumental in bringing about all the major shifts in science, religion, politics and the modes of thought that are commonly associated with modern Western culture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gutenberg foresaw enormous profit-making potential for a printing press that used movable metal type. Despite their rapid growth in numbers, secular scribes simply could not keep up with the commercial demand for books. Gutenberg also saw strong maket potential in selling indulgences, the slips of paper offering written dispensation from sin that the Church sold to fund crusades, new buildings and other projects devoted to expanding its dominance. In fact, press runs of 200,000 indulgences at a time were common soon after the handwritten versions became obsolete.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There were many different innovations since the first hand operated printing press. The Stanhope press, which was widely used for many years, still used a hand-operated screw to press print and paper, but it could print up to 250 sheets an hour. A considerable improvement was the Colombian press. In this press, the typical screw method was eliminated, and replaced with powerful hand levers.   Ã‚  &nbs... ...the negative side, wars are waged more easily, the scope of human conflict has been extended along telephone lines, the multi-generational household has been broken-up as living alone is no longer an experiment in isolation, and the time-space continuum seems to be compressed faster than previously thought possible (Brooks, 1976). On the other hand, the invention of the telephone has resulted in the rapid and diffuse dissemination of technical and scientific information, saved lives through links to emergency services, made possible the modern city through telephonic connections, increased the speed and ease with which information changes place, and accelerated the rate of scientific and technological change and growth in industry (Brooks, 1976).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since the invention of the printing press, communication over distances has become much more feasable. The invention of the the telephone, computer, and the internet has made such an impact on our society. Now we are able to view tremendous multitudes of information from our own living room. The history of modern communication is still ongoing, and will continue to progress far into the future.