Controls for Differentiated Strategies Essay Example

Controls for Differentiated Strategies Essay Controls for Differentiated Strategies Different strategies influence management control processes, internal and external factors like size, environment, technology, interdependence and strategies forge together to what researchers call as the contingency theory. These strategies and their influences in management control systems are tendencies, not hard and fast rules. Linking controls to strategies is based on various thinking: (1) Different organizations operate in different strategic context, (2) Different strategies require different tasks, success factors, perspective and behaviour, (3) Controls are systems that influence the people behind the activities being measured and (4) Behaviour induced by the system is consistent with the strategy. Corporate Strategies Corporate strategy is about being in the right mix of businesses. It addresses are the definition of businesses where they compete and the deployment of resources to these businesses. Three categories classify companies in their corporate strategies: (1) Single industry, a firm operating one line of business, (2) Related Diversified operates in several industries with common core competencies and (3) Unrelated Diversified operates various businesses without connection except financial. Different corporate strategies imply different control structures based on organizational structures. Single industries would be functionally organized, related diversified will be structured as business units while unrelated diversified would be structured as a holding company. We will write a custom essay sample on Controls for Differentiated Strategies specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Controls for Differentiated Strategies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Controls for Differentiated Strategies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Corporate management’s familiarity with range from high to low from single industry to unrelated diversified. Functional background of corporate management starts from relevant operating experience from single industry to mainly finance for unrelated diversified. Decision making authority as a single industry is more centralized to a more decentralized authority on unrelated diversified. Corporate staff size, Reliance on internal promotions and Use of lateral transfers are high on single industries to low on unrelated diversified. Corporate culture ranges from strong on single industries to weak on unrelated diversified companies. Implications on management control also flow in relation to single industry to unrelated diversified. Strategic planning-wise single industries perform vertical-cum-horizontal planning while unrelated diversified are generally vertical only. Control of budget manager on budget formulation and importance to meeting the budget is low on single industries to high on unrelated diversified companies. Importance of transfer pricing on the other hand is high among single industry businesses and low among unrelated diversified. Sourcing flexibility for single industries are constrained while unrelated diversified gets arm’s length market pricing. Bonus criteria on single industries are both financial and non-financial while on unrelatedly diversified companies its primarily financial. Bonus determination is also highly subjective for single industries while more formula based for unrelated diversified. The bonus basis is based on both business unit and corporate performance on single industries and gravitates toward business unit performance-based for unrelated diversified companies. Business Unit Strategies Business strategy is about how to compete. With two interrelated aspects: its mission (four types: build, hold, harvest and divest) and competitive advantage (two ways: cost leadership and differentiation). The missions also constitute a continuum, pure build on one end to pure harvest on the other. Congruence between mission chosen and types of control used leads to effective implementation. Different missions also require different management control systems. Mission and Uncertainty are also correlated, build units face greater uncertainty versus harvest due to several reasons: (1) Build are usually done at the growth stage while of the product life cycle while harvest happens at the maturity stage. (2) Build units are targeted to increase market share wherein it is highly cutthroat in terms of competition versus harvest. 3) Build is also more dependent on external input and outputs, the more external dependencies the higher risk since these are outside ones control and (4) build are often in new and evolving industries where managers have less experiences. Build to Harvest strategies also is a choice of Time-span, short-term versus long-term trade-offs. Build managers are tuned at future profits while harvest managers are more concentrated on maximizing short term gains. In t erms of control systems differing across missions: The Importance of strategic planning is relatively high on build and relatively low on harvest. Capital Expenditure Decisions are less formal on build while more formal on harvest. Capital Expenditure Evaluation criteria for build units are more emphasized on non-financial data while Harvests have more emphasis on financial. Discount rates are low on build while high on harvest’s but conversely for project approval limits at the business unit level its high for build and low for harvest. Capital investment analysis is more subjective and qualitative on build and it moves up becoming more objective and quantitative for harvest businesses. Implications of different strategic missions on budget are as follows: the role of budget on build is more of a short-term planning tool while for harvest it is a control tool. Business manager;s influence on budget preparation and control limit used on evaluation against budget are high on build and low on harvest. Budget revisions are easy for build while more difficult for harvest. Informal reporting is more frequent on policy issues and less on operating issues for build and while it is the opposite when you go towards harvest. Feedback on performance versus budget is less often on build but more often for harvest. Importance to meeting the budget is also low for build but high for harvest. Behaviour control is also more emphasized in build while output control is more prevalent on harvest businesses. Strategic missions implications on incentive compensation are as follows: percent compensation as bonus is high on build and low for harvest. Bonus criteria for build is on non-financial while its more financial on harvest. Bonus is determined more subjectively for build and more formula based for harvest. The frequency for bonus payments for build is less compared to harvest where it is more frequent. Competitive Advantage can be achieved thru differentiation or low cost approaches. Differentiation is considered to be more uncertain than low cost for the following reasons: (1) Product Innovation is very critical in differentiation, it increases uncertainty due to its emphasis in producing new and unproven products. (2) Low cost have narrow lines and minimizes inventory versus broader line of differentiation to create uniqueness – the more the products, the more complex the higher the uncertainty. And (3) low cost produce simple products that are priced lower than competing products, while differentiated products are complex with more myopic approach to consumers perception that are more difficult to predict thus making it more uncertain. Top Management Style Management control is heavily influenced by the management and managers manage differently. Each manager’s management style is influenced by his background like age, education, experience and his personality such as risk appetite and tolerance for ambiguity. Management style significantly influences the operation of control systems. The executive’s preference for use of information and performance review meetings, personal and impersonal controls is also a variable of managerial style. The importance of formal budgets and reports versus informal conversations are highly dependent on the type of leadership. Some are more quantitative while others are more qualitative. The attitude of managers towards reports affect the amount of detail that they want, frequency, graphs versus tables or words, thus its best that designers of management control systems also identify these preferences and accommodate them. A manager’s style also influences the degree of tightness or looseness of controls. This degree is also correlated to style of the manager’s superior. The degree of looseness also increases at higher levels of hierarchy but might not also be generalized dependent on the style of the CEO. The style of the CEO has a great impact on management control, and as each senior manager changes so does the system change accordingly.

Jihadi Salafism Essays

Jihadi Salafism Essays Jihadi Salafism Essay Jihadi Salafism Essay Abstract Jihadi Salafism is an Islamic school of thought that asserts Muslims should strive to be more spiritual by protecting Islam from unbelievers by use of force. Jihadi Salafism is widely spread in Arabic countries and it has started to make a footing in the Western world. Jihadi Salafism originated in the 18th century and it was initiated by Sunni Muslims who were against European colonialism. Jihadi Salafism ideologies encourage terrorism and formation of terrorist organizations. Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIS) is the most active and powerful Jihadi Salafism terrorist organization. United States policies may have reinforced Jihadi Salafism. The paper covers definition of Jihadi Salafism, its history, United States that policies may reinforced Jihadi Salafism and beliefs about what the West would have done differently to ensure Jihadi terrorism ceases to exist. Salafi Jihadi ideology Introduction Jihadi Salafism asserts that Muslims should be highly devoted to Allah. Jihadi Salafism ideology has proved tenacious; it has been in existence for almost a century. Jihadi Salafism is associated with terrorism, exploitation of women and criminal activities. Islamic extremism subscribes to Jihadi Salafism ideals. International terrorism networks have been linked to Jihadi Salafism. Western media has created an impression to the general public that Jihadi Salafism is a contributor to religiously motivated criminal activities. The paper critically examines Jihadi Salafism, its history, modern day activities and United States policies that may have reinforced it. Jihadi Definition Jihad means striving to improve ones spirituality. According to Prophet Mohammed, Jihad is about making oneself a better Muslim by practicing self- control, being more spiritual and displaying virtues. However Islamic extremists claim that Jihad is a holy war meant to defend and protect Islam from unbelievers, with force if necessary (Cottee, 2010). Salafism is a term derived from Salafist movement; Salafi movement is a reform movement that originated in Saudi Arabia among Sunni Muslims during the 18th century with a goal of fighting European colonialism. The Salafi movement advocated for Muslims to stay true to traditional Islamic beliefs and not to contaminate their faith by embracing Christian and European values. Jihadi Salafism is associated with military action and is meant to protect Islam from perceived negative influences of Euro- Western culture as well as influences from non- believers. Jihadi Salafists view politics as un-Islamic (Armborst, 2014). Jihadi History Jihadi dates back to the crusades when Christians and Muslims were embroiled in religious fights. During the crusades, there were ferocious battles between Muslims and Christians with the aim of securing their holy places. Muslims and Christians perpetually disparaged each others religious beliefs during the crusades. The First crusade was victorious to Christians when after a long battle with Muslims, Jerusalem was returned to the hands of Christians. After defeat in the first crusade, Muslims vowed that they would pursue a holy war that would ensure they regain control of the whole region, present Middle East, North Africa, Israel, Turkey and Palestine. Muslims defeated Christians during the second crusade. During the third crusade, Muslims and Christians came into an agreement that peace should be allowed to prevail, ending the crusade. Christians and Muslims continued to fight in three subsequent crusades (Remman, 2014). Jihadi Salafism origin is Saudi Arabia and its initiators were Sunni Muslim who were distasteful of European colonialism during 18th century. The ideology believes that Muslims should return to authentic Islamic ways that were exhibited by Muslims of the first three generations. If a need arises to use force to protect their beliefs and ideologies, Jihadi Salafis should be ready to do so. Jihadi Salafism gained popularity in 1990s. Al- Qaeda terrorist group is an organization that embodied Jihadi Salafism during 1990s to early 21st century. Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIS) is the modern day leader of Jihadi Salafism. ISIS has continued to assert its power and influence in the world. ISIS is well known for using military force to assert its influence. More and more young people are joining ISIS by being converted to subscribe to Jihadi Salafism. New adherents to Jihadi Salafism are not only coming from the Arab world, young people from western countries are increasingly subscri bing to Jihadi Salafism. Modern day version of Jihadi Salafism is different from its earlier version. In present days, extreme force, slaughter and slavery of non- adherents is being used by Jihadi Salafists. Fellow Muslims have called present day Jihadi Salafists eccentric and renegades. Modern day Jihhadi Salafism ideology states that Muslims should only associate with true Muslims and distance themselves from any person who is not a true Muslim. This had made present day Jihadi Salafists very hostile to non- believers and fellow Muslims who do not subscribe to Jihadi Salafism (Emmanuel, 2014). US terrorism policies that may have reinforced Jihadi Salafism U.S war on terror policy may have reinforced the concept of Jihadi Salafism. Studies have revealed that for the last 12 years that the policy has been in operation, incidents of terror attacks orchestrated by Jihadi Salafism adherents have increased. Prior to 2001 when U.S policy on terror took effect, incidents of Jihadi Salafism terror attacks were very few, immediately the policy came into effect, the number of terror attacks took off, grew exponentially. Terrorism activities in Iraq led by Jihadi Salafists have increased steadily since the U.S war on terror policy came into effect. Terrorism activities in Afghanistan increased exponentially between 2001 and 2010. Terrorism activities orchestrated by Jihadi Salafists have increased in Asia since 2001. Terrorism activities orchestrated by Jihadi Salafistsn have increased in Africa since 2001 (Ramsay Marsden, 2015). United States Foreign policy may have reinforced the concept of Jihadi Salafism. U.S foreign policy of being the worlds watchman or commonly known as big brother has created many terrorists as never before. Toppling of Saddam Husseins government and bringing down an Afghanistan government led by the Taliban movement has been said to have contributed to an increase in terrorism activities in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Al Qaeda, Al Shabab and Islamic State of Iraq and Levant are terrorism organizations that were formed as a rebellion against the U.S Foreign policy. The United States foreign policy is committed to spreading democracy and liberty all over the world. Jihadi Salafism ideologies are against liberal ideas perpetuated by the United States. Jihadi Salafism advocates for conservatism and traditional Islamic beliefs; this is contrary to liberal ideas that are supported by the United States. The friction with regard to ideological differences between Jihadi Salafists and the Unit ed States has made Jihadi Salafism more active in the world. Al Qaeda, Al Shabab and Islamic State of Iraq and Levant are all Jihadi Salafism adherents (McGlinchey, 2016). United States imperialistic policies are likely to have reinforced the concept of Jihadi Salafism. Given that the Salafism movement was originally formed to fight European Colonialism in Arabia, modern day Salafism movements may have been formed to fight United States imperialism. The United States is very influential in the world from economic, military and cultural perspectives. U.S imperialistic policies are meant to reinforce its dominance in the world. Jihadi Salafism ideologies assert that Muslims should not allow foreign forces to have any influence on their way of life. U.S imperialistic policies also support Christianity and its spread. There is a chance that the United States imperialistic policies may have reinforced the concept of Jihadi Salafism and contributed to emergence of terrorism groups such as Boko Haram and Abu Sayyaf (Badar, 2016). Had the West done things differently, Jihadi terrorism as we know of it today would probably not be in existence. Had the West not continued with imposition of its ideas on non- Western societies, Jihadi terrorism would probably not be in existence. Imposition of foreign ideas on Muslims is against Jihadi Salafism ideologies. Had the West not continued to perpetuate its influence in the Arabic world, Jihadi Salafism would probably not be in existence. Jihadi Salafism is against influence from foreigners (unbelievers). Had the United States not introduced its policy on terror, Jihadi terrorism would probably not be in existence. Given that studies have revealed that Jihadi terrorism activities have increased since the war on terror policy came into effect; if the policy had not been introduced, things would have probably been different. Had the West stopped its behaviour of being involved in internal affairs of sovereign states in the Arab world, Jihadi terrorism would probably not be in existence. The West has developed a habit of being involved in internal affairs of sovereign Arab States such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Somali. As a matter Jihadi terrorism organization are only in existence in countries where the West has had a prior influence on their internal affairs. In conclusion, Jihadi Salafism is a growing global problem that has roots in the 18th century. It advocates for ensuring that Islam is protected from foreign influences and unbelievers. Most of the terrorism organizations from Islamic countries subscribe to Jihadi Salafism ideologies. Past and present U.S policies may have reinforced Jihadi Salafism. Some of the past and present policies that may have reinforced Salafism include U.S war on terror policy, U.S foreign policies and U.S imperialistic forces. Had the West done things differently, Jihadi terrorism as we know of it today would probably not be in existence. Had the West stopped to interfere with internal affairs of sovereign states and assert its influence in the world, Jihadi terrorism would probably not be in existence. References Armborst, A. (2014). Radicalisation and de-radicalisation of social movements: The comeback of political Islam?. Crime, Law and Social Change: an Interdisciplinary Journal, 62, 3, 235-255. Badar, M. E. (2016). The Road to Genocide: The Propaganda Machine of the Self-declared Islamic State. International Criminal Law Review, 16, 3, 361-411. Cottee, S. (2010). Mind Slaughter: The Neutralizations of Jihadi Salafism. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, 33, 4, 330-352. Emmanuel, K. (2014). Defining and Understanding the Jihadi-Salafi Movement. Asian Security, 10, 2, 188-198. McGlinchey, S. (2016). Hassan al-Banna: A Starting Point for Contemporary Islamic Fundamentalism. E-international Relations, 2016-1. Ramsay, G. A., Marsden, S. V. (2015). Leaderless Global Jihadism: The Paradox of Discriminate Violence. Journal of Strategic Studies, 38, 5, 579-601. Remman, M. A. (2014). Jihadi salafists in the era of Arab democratic revolutions: Ansar Al Sharia and the new political role. Journal of the Social Sciences,42, 2, 225-256.

Discussion 2 Week 7 New Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion 2 Week 7 New - Assignment Example Even with cooperating firms, game theory helps in safeguarding their prospects from being taken advantage of regarding own prices viz-a-viz â€Å"added value." This is a strategy used by airlines to charge higher prices for seats to travel during peak seasons, during holidays and/or during certain yearly/crucial events to certain parts of the world, for instance, the Muslims’ travel to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage. This pricing strategy often lowers the demand for the airlines tickets by limiting the number of those that can afford such expensive fares (Doganis, 2005). However, the strategy generally increases profits to such firms. In this strategy, customers are charged differently based on their willingness to pay viz-a-viz the extent of service offered. Travelling in First class seats cost usually costs more, double or multiple times the cost of other seats due to the added comfort like superior services and/or added special snacks/features (Belobaba, Odoni, & Barnhart, 2009). It is more a profit maximizing strategy than a demand related

Corporate Social Responsibility Policy of Multi National Corporations Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility Policy of Multi National Corporations - Essay Example World Business Council for Sustainable Development defines Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as "The continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large." The European Commission advocates that CSR not only means fulfilling legal expectations, but also going beyond compliance and investing more into human capital, environment and relations with stakeholders." The need for Multi National Corporations to adopt Corporate Social Responsibility and implement it in spirit is immense in the current business scenario. The competition and corporate warfare in the business environment not only makes their focus very self-centered, but also robs them off all the attention they need to provide in the social context. It is this mad race, which needs to be controlled. It is because competition can catalyze the de-structuring of the social edifice based on values, morals and a sense of social responsibility. There have been grave losses to the environment, people and their lives as more and more MNCs are diversifying their areas and reach of operation. It is this concern that triggers a major thought process to streamline this chaos. Some method in this madness can only creep in if these big corporations begin to understand their role in a larger and more responsible perspective. The gamut of this perspective should not just limit to the stakeholders a lone, but involve the society as a whole. Survey of literature There have been many researches and studies on the concept of 'Corporate Social Responsibility'. There are many schools of thought on the subject. Some studies call CSR as an extension of the brand-building effort of the companies, while others attach a serious functional connotation to the concept. The Green Paper (2001) by the Commission of the European Communities identifies two main dimensions of CSR. One is the internal dimension that relates to the internal functions and processes of a company. The external dimension involves the external stakeholders. Several research-based studies have discussed the concept of 'Corporate Social Responsibility'. The different schools of thought explain it based on different experiences and consequences. One school of thought emphasizes on the model of collective action. According to Jarusri Jiravistakul of the Kenan Institute, who conducted studies on the collective action/institution model and its implementation in Thailand, Egypt and Indonesia the concept of CSR has succeeded in terms of business practices, environmental management and capacity development. This particular perspective talks about the operations of business enterprises as they affect a wide spectrum. The resources they make use of are not limited to those of the proprietors and the impact of their operations is felt by so many people who are in no way connected to them. They affect the shareholders, the suppliers of resources, the consumers, the local community and the society at large. George Goyder in The Future of Private Enterprise argues, "Industry in the twentieth century can no linger be

International Actors in the Middle East Since 2000 Assignment

International Actors in the Middle East Since 2000 - Assignment Example The United States invasion of Iraq is one example serves as an example of the attention that the United States has lavished on the Middle East, despite the fact that the reasons they originally gave for doing so no longer appear to be true. As Stephen Zunes explains, â€Å"WITH THE MAJOR JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THE U.S.-LED INVASION OF IRAQ †¦ NOW DISCREDITED, AND CLAIMS OF WANTING TO CREATE A DEMOCRATIC IRAQ HIGHLY DUBIOUS, THIS RAISES THE QUESTION AS TO WHAT ACTUALLY MOTIVATED THE UNTED STATES† . Some theories suggest that economic factors played a role in this invasion, but another strong driving factor was to impose American interests on the country The American occupation is not without its costs. â€Å"OVERALL, THE INSURGENCY VIOLENCE BEGAN AS, AND REMAINS, A REACTION TO THE OCCUPATION† . Such violence can be compared to that during the American Civil War or the Vietnam War, simply speaking; the inhabitants of the country are trying to get the invaders to leave. Some analysts predict that if the United States were to withdraw their troops, the violence within the Middle East would significantly decrease, as motivation against the United States military decreases. Indeed, when the United States pulled out of a similar situation in Vietnam, much of the hatred and violence dissipated . Violence continues in Iraq among the various political factions, most prominent of which are the Sunni and the Shiite. The United States has primarily provided support for the Shiites, however this poses a potential problem as â€Å"THE SOUTHERN SHIITE REGION IS A POTENTIAL POWERFUL ALLY OF IRAN, WITH AT LEAST ONE MILITIA (MAHDI) FUNDED DIRECTLY BY IRAN† . Suggestions for the future outcome for Iraq include a proposal to divide Iraq into three distinct regions, which would function autonomously. However, it appears unlikely that any such decisions will be made soon . As can be seen from the above examination, the allocation of power within the

Hospitality Staff Roles, Responsibilities and Qualifications

Hospitality Staff Roles, Responsibilities and Qualifications According to Merriam-webster.com (2016) roles is defined as the function performed in a particular operation or process while responsibilities are duties or tasks that you are required or expected to do, for example the one of the roles in a hotel is a manager and his or her responsibility is the up keeping of the standards of the hotel. In this research, the roles, responsibility and the qualification requirements for the hospitality staff will be outlined then discussed. A conclusion will be drawn on the roles, responsibility and qualification requirements for the hospitality staff. The roles, responsibilities and qualification requirements for the hospitality staff are listed below Responsibility and qualifications for the role of supervisor: Overseeing Operations Train Order and manager inventory (suttle,2016) Must have good communication skill. Must have the know how. Have experience. Entry-level job for those who is educated in business management. (Kelchner, 2016) Responsibility and qualifications for the role of manager: Analyze and plan restaurant sales and profits. Maintain the standards of the restaurants. Motivate, train and hire staff. (Prospects.ac.uk, 2016) Must have a Certificate or an associate degree. Must have organizational and interpersonal skills. Must be able to move around for long periods of time. Administrative and communicational skills. (Study.com, 2016) Responsibility and qualifications for the role of apprentice: apprenticeship varies on the job Must learn and follow rules set by employer Must show interest in the chosen trade. Must demonstrate safety for self and coworkers. (brown, 2016) Must be 16yrs and over. Not in full time education. (Gov.uk, 2016) Responsibility and qualifications for the role of management trainee: Assist with daily responsibilities. Attend training programs. Must cross train in different departments. (Reference, 2016) Must have a Certificate or an associate degree. Must have organizational and interpersonal skills. Must be able to move around for long periods of time. Administrative and communicational skills. (Study.com, 2016) Responsibility and qualifications for the role of casual worker: casual worker is qualified and competent to undertake the duties to be performed says Tbs-sct.gc.ca,( 2016) Responsibilities are based on the area placed Responsibility and qualifications for the role of volunteer Support team members. Report hazards. Be punctual and reliable. Carry out your duties effectively. (no qualification needed) (Victorias Volunteering Portal, 2016) Responsibility and qualifications for the role of a full-time worker. Must be certified in the area to which they are interested in. Must sign the company contract and abide by the rules and standards of the company Responsibility and qualifications for the role of part-time worker Qualification is pending on the area in which a person applies for. Responsibility varies on the role of the part-time work. Responsibility and qualifications for the role of foreign worker Must have a work permit and certified in the area. The qualification for the hospitality staffs varies, it depends on the department and the role. It ranges from just experience needed to having diplomas and degrees to pursue these jobs. As defined above responsibilities are duties or task that you are expected to do (Merriam-webster.com, 2016). The different responsibilities might be similar like the manager and the supervisor, two different roles but their jobs are somewhat similar. Carrying out the responsibility effectivity and at the right time limit the work load and make the role less complex. Conclusion In conclusion, the roles, responsibility and qualification for hospitality staff in the UK is very clear, although the responsibilities for some of the roles are a lot, with the help of assistant it makes the work easier, for example the managers work in hand with the supervisor to carry out daily activities to take pressure off one person or body. To be qualified to work in the hospitality industry doesnt need much regarding qualification because some of the role described above are entry or skilled level jobs just need a certification like a diploma to start work in some roles like a casual or a volunteer worker, this makes it a whole lot easier for persons to get jobs.

Cultural and Technical Metaphors Essay -- Language Linguistics

Cultural and Technical Metaphors Intro Everyday conversation is riddled with metaphoric analogies. Most often, they go unrealized by the speaker as well as the listener. Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines a metaphor as â€Å"a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them (as in drowning in money)† (Metaphor 1). Metaphors are a quick and simple way of relating a message without divulging unnecessary details that would otherwise cloud the ultimate point. This is especially useful in technically related fields and subjects such as Information System Management (IS). IS is responsible for the management of computers, networking, and data that supports different levels of decisions at different levels of the organizational hierarchy (What is IS? 1). Even as the technical functions of computer systems develop new and detailed complexities, everyday users, not familiar with the ins and ou ts of their particular system, are able to effectively communicate problems or concerns to trained professionals. Similarly, experts in the Information Technology (IT) field are able to explain to users how to manage their systems using heuristically tested metaphors such as â€Å"desktop† and â€Å"recycle bin† which have become standard jargon/usage. Just as different fields of study adopt their own list of commonly accepted metaphors, the use of metaphors crosses lines of culture and ethnicity as well. Body Common Metaphors Sitting about 400 miles south of the US mainland is the tiny island of Jamaica. Known for its beautiful beaches and clear waters, Jamaica has become a great vacationing spot. It is also the birthplace... ... â€Å"Metaphor†. Merriam- Webster's Online Dictionary. 2006-2007. Merriam-Webster.com. 4 June 2007. â€Å"Rasta/Patios Jamaican Phrases and Proverbs†. 15 June 1997. Croal Islands Associates. 4 June 2007. â€Å"Renà © Descartes†. Wekepedia.com. 4 June 2007. Wekemedia Foundation Inc. 5 June 2007. â€Å"Songs of Freedom: The Music of Bob Marley as Transformative Education†. 2005. ReligiousEducation.net. 4 June 2007. â€Å"What is IS?†. Webopedia.com. 24 April 2007. Internet.com. 9 June 2007.

Native Americans and Early American Colonists Essay

Grade school and even beginning level college history classes have taught early American exploration from a largely one sided view of the conflict between early explorers and Native Americans. The traditional image of the Native Americans as the sole victims, is an oversimplification of the conflict that existed between early explorers, settlers and Native Americans. Through the readings from Columbus, Bradford and some selected Native American writings, the traditional view of the Native American victim will be challenged and a broader view of the conflict will be presented. Columbus set out to explore a new land under the Spanish flag to bring riches and fame to Spain and the throne. In his letter to Santangel, Columbus (1493) explained how he hoped to find â€Å"great cities† and â€Å"king[s]† but instead found a primitive people and settlements he described as â€Å"small hamlets† that he viewed quite devolved from the bustling civilizations of Europe (pg. 26). One can clearly see, that Columbus’s hopes of finding rich kingdoms and cultures were dashed; instead his presence was met with resistance from the â€Å"Indians†. This relationship with the natives was described by Baym et. all (2008) as â€Å"disordered and bloody† (pg. 25). These natives were mistreated even though one could argue that they â€Å"threw the first punch† but, as Baym et. all (2008) describes earlier in the chapter, the Natives were not merely victims. They strategically used alliances with explorers and settlers to further their own interests and disputes with warring tribes and peoples. William Bradford (1897) describes quite a different account of his coming to the new world. He was part of a group of â€Å"pilgrims† seeking religious freedom. He likens their arrival to the new world, to the story in Acts were the apostles are met with such aggression from barbarians â€Å"who were readier to fill their sides full of arrows† (pg. 60). Later on in his account, he describes an attack they received from the natives he described as â€Å"enemies† (pg. 64). Later on in his account, Bradford (1897) describes some awful events surrounding early accounts of settler and native interactions in which the Native Americans treated the english as â€Å"worse than slaves† and were sent around and â€Å"ma[d]e sport with† (pg. 70). One last important viewpoint to give credence to is that of the Natives themselves. This account is unique and oftentimes not told. The first story mentioned is that of the freeing of John Smith as a ceremonial act that the natives hoped would earn them respect from the English. This instead had the opposite effect and eventually brought about an attack from the natives which killed over 500 colonists. In a speech from Pontiac (1763) he expresses concern over his people forgetting their heritage and blaming the English for the polluting of his people’s culture and beliefs. He holds the English in complete responsibility and calls for their blood. The traditional view of the natives as the sole victim is an oversimplification of the problems revolving around immigration and cultural diversity. Just from these three personal accounts from the time period we have three very different views of the issue. So, to say that one peoples are the victim is a gross oversimplification and misrepresentation of history. Columbus, C. (1493). Letter to Luis de Santagel Regarding the First Voyage. In Baym, N. (Ed. ). (2008). The Norton Anthology of American Literature (seventh ed., pp. 24-28). New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. Bradford, W. (1897). Of Plymouth Plantation. In Baym, N. (Ed. ). (2008). The Norton Anthology of American Literature (seventh ed. , pp. 57-74). New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. Pontiac (1763). Speech at Detroit. In Baym, N. (Ed. ). (2008). The Norton Anthology of American Literature (seventh ed. , pp. 208-209). New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. Baym, N. (Ed. ). (2008). The Norton Anthology of American Literature (seventh ed. , pp. 1-218). New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

buy custom Harriet Beecher Stowe essay

buy custom Harriet Beecher Stowe essay Harriet Beecher Stowe is one of the most celebrated women to have ever come from the United States. Born in early 19th century United States, slavery was a cornerstone of American trade and agriculture. This was also a period when most families did not attach much importance to educating girls and women were relegated to the role of homemakers and upbringing of children. But Harriet was luckier than most girls of her time since her family believed in providing similar education for all their children without paying much attention to gender. Her father was a devoted Christian and a clergy man and this might have influenced his decision to treat her as he would his sons and probably influenced her later efforts to restore equality of the people and the abolition of slavery. One thing is clear, her writings and teachings contributed greatly to the abolitionist movements led to the eventual emancipation of the slaves. Harriet was a very opinionated woman who did not hesitate to give voice to her views and concerns with complete disregard to the reactions her writings might evoke. Needless to say that her immense education in various subjects and the influences of great people in her life defined her intelligent discourse in diverse topics ranging from politics, nature, travel, sociology and many others (Harriet Beecher Stowe Center). This paper shall consider her view points on these topics in the hope that doing so can cast a stronger light into the mind of this great lady. Nature Harriet was propelled into international fame when she published her book Uncle Toms Cabin. But the book ws a result of the monumental success her column elicited as her writing challenged the issue of slavery with resolve and courage in a manner that no woman before her had done. She felt that slavery was inhumane and against the natural laws of justice. Slaves were treated no better than animals especially in the South and Beecher felt that anyone who had a voice should not keep quiet when people committed atrocities against their fellow human beings. She demonstrate great courage, a feat which might attest to her possible believe that we must protect the vulnerable even if we endanger ourselves in the process, when she had some slaves in her house. She felt that society cannot claim to be moral and a government cannot call itself legitimate if it sanctions the oppression of some people regardless of a constitutional declaration affirming the equality of all people. Religion There was a time that Beecher felt confusion and great turmoil regarding her beliefs in God and she questioned how committed she was to church and God. It should be noted that most of her family members were in the service of church and God and she grew in an environment where religion and devotion were areas dear to her folks. Her education and exposure to other aspects of living might have created this turmoil as adulthood brought with it questions of where her convictions stood. Nonetheless, she reconciled her thoughts and devoted her life to God after accepting salvation. But Beecher never tried to impose her convictions on any one and felt that salvation is personal and a choice people should make for themselves. This liberal stand enabled her to meet and maintain friendship with people from all walks of life regardless of their religiouus inclinations. She also wrote some books, especially Ministers wooing in her attempt to bring tolerance among the different religious denomina tions at the time. Beecher asserts that Christianity held the key to over come slavery since Christianity teaches us to embrace and love all of Gods creations (19). Fate / Law Harriet, as mentioned earlier, tackled several aspects of American society and life in general. She actually felt it necessary to write a book about her son who passed away as a result of a cholera outbreak. This death affected her and inspired her thoughts on fate and what we have to do to accept the inevitable and move on. One thing which one must consider while analyzing Beechers view point on issues is her stand on the sanctity of law. The US regime of the time passed a law prohibiting people to offer help to escapade slaves and yet Beecher disobeyed the law and assisted escapade slaves. This might be a construed to show that while she was a law abiding citizen she did not believe it ethical to blindly follow laws which went against her principles or were inhumane. There have been ladies in history who contributed to the advancement of civilization especially during periods when women were voiceless and expected to be submissive. Beecher is one of them and her contribution to the equality of mankind will be celebrated for several generations to come. It was even rumored that when she met President Lincoln, he singled out her efforts as having contributed to the civil war. Her writings will forever embody her views which remain brilliant and revolutionary even till today (Cummings, pg 7). Buy custom Harriet Beecher Stowe essay

Facilitating Workshops to Boost Your Income

Facilitating Workshops to Boost Your Income When we contemplate writing a book, we think about a novel full of mystery, intrigue and drama. But have you thought about writing a book that zeros in on your professional expertise, then packaging it with workshops to increase your monthly income? When I started a monthly workshop series four years ago, I decided to leverage decades of experience as a writer and writing coach to help beginning and professional writers. Use a Multi-Faceted Marketing Approach In facilitating workshops, you need a multi-level marketing approach to promote them. I rely on a simple, effective system that combines three marketing vehicles: 1) online newsletters (I use Constant Contact), 2) online partners, 3) public speaking. Each of these techniques serves as an important component in creating a comprehensive marketing strategy to promote my workshops. Online newsletters are a great marketing tool for workshop facilitators, but they’re only effective when paired with a database of qualified prospects (people who are interested in your subject matter). This is where having a multi-level approach comes in handy. Build your database Where Do Your Prospects Congregate? Over the years I’ve found MeetUp.com to be my best online partner to attract new workshop attendees. In fact, attendees actually find me Giving presentations to writing groups and libraries also promotes my workshops. I include a promotional offering geared specifically for my target audience – like hosting free coaching clinics. This approach builds my database (for the online newsletter) and relationships, since it’s a great way to meet writers on an individual basis to assess their goals and challenges.   I have several clients who use similar techniques. One client, Pat, is a retired nurse who’s written a book about the communication gap among doctors, nurses and caregivers for the chronically ill. As soon as her book published, Pat developed workshops centered on her knowledge and decades of service. She used her 24-chapter book to plan monthly workshops for two years in advance. The workshop reinforces the message of the book, and the book reinforces the workshops. In addition, Pat gives profiles and assessments to family members concerned about their aging parents, to discover what level of care they need. Facilitating these workshops helps Pat establish herself in the community as a local expert. Caregivers come to her for advice, and they trust her expertise because she can address everything from finding the best doctors to knowing when to sign up for Medicaid and Medicare. If you’re a writer who wants to earn more income, take advantage of your years of professional experience ### T.L. Champion is an award-winning writer and author of Earth-Shattering [Story] CLIMAXES †¦ for writers who want to go all the way (Amazon). As a writing coach, she helps writers one-on-one and facilitates the monthly â€Å"Write Here, Write Now† workshops, helping fiction and nonfiction writers (books and screenplays) achieve their dreams. She can be reached at TL@Champion-Studios.com.

Employment law in UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Employment law in UK - Essay Example The author has rightly presented that procedures of termination of employment in terms of poor performance vary from country to country, state to state around the globe. In the United States of America, it is very convenient for an employer to terminate the employee without taking into consideration any specific pre termination procedure. However, in the case of an expatriate employee who is on an assignment in the UK, the employer has to comply with the pre termination procedures irrespective of the fact that the pre termination procedures are in existence in the host country of an employee or not. In the UK believe that the relationship between the employer and the employee is always contractual in nature whether written contract between the employer and the employee exists or not. The other distinctive factor is that in the UK employer is bound to serve show cause to an employee as a first step of pre termination process. In the American law there is no concept of serving any noti ce to an employee before termination of employment. In England notice is a pre requisite of termination process. The employment of contract should contain the notice mutually agreed upon by the stakeholders of a contract employment. If contract of employment lacks notice period then the competent court of law comes forward to determine that period. Usually it should be at least one weak for each and every completed year of employment that culminates up to twelve weeks at a maximum. (Holland and Burnett, 2008). As per UK law, termination or dismissal of employment of an employee without any cogent reason and without serving any notice may attract penal action / damages claim against the employer. The damages claim depends on the length of service of an employee. If the period is longer the claim is bigger and if the tenure is shorter the claim would be shorter. Under the mentioned situation the employee should knock the door of the competent court of law to claim compensation (Taylor and Emir, 2009). Unfair Dismissal In England, if an employee performs satisfactorily the whole year he or she may have the statutory rights. It means that he or she cannot be dismissed or terminated. The burden of unfair dismissal lies on the shoulder of an employer. The deficiencies of an employee which may lead to his or her dismissal are a) incapable b) less qualified c) misconduct and d) breach of statute (Holland and Burn

How much I like the film and reccommend it to others Movie Review

How much I like the film and reccommend it to others - Movie Review Example Depression and loneliness further segregate them. If this is the state of the normal individuals, the plight of the physically and mentally disabled people is even harder to imagine. Looking into the lives of the characters of the movie "the heart is a lonely hunter" we can understand how hard it is to live with various physical and psychological abnormalities. Disabilities differ for each and every character in the movie. Some are deaf-mute, while some are mentally impaired. I like the movie and recommend it to others as it portrays the struggles and sufferings of the disadvantaged. Comparing the disabilities and the struggles of the characters help us understand the lives of the people who are afflicted with different abnormalities. The movie also criticizes the various forms of inequalities like handicapped man vs. normal man, black vs. white, rich vs. poor and so on. I love this movie for all these reasons. The movie is centered on the admirable character John Singer who is a dea f-mute. Several other characters with other sorts of disabilities pass along his path, each striving to locate their own path of self-discovery. The physically challenged Singer however has invaluable help for each and every one of them. ... John Singer is the first example from the movie who is with a disability. John Singer the main character and the focal point of all other characters is a deaf-mute. He lives with his close friend Antonapoulos who is also a deaf-mute. Singer puts all his efforts in his friendship with Antonapoulos. When Antonapoulos is taken to an asylum Singer becomes depressed and lonely. This makes him change his residence to a rented room. Singer's devotion and love to his deaf-mute friend Antonapoulos reveals the human desire to be expressed and loved by someone. This also reveals the desperate plight of Singer who thirsts to find some love in Antonapoulos. His disability of being deaf-mute helps us understand the world of deaf mute people who live in their own isolated world with the heavy desired to give and take love. Losing the company of Antonopoulos made Singer look for another source of friendship. Singer later creates a circle of friendship where his friends are people who are disabled, l onely and afflicted. We find him surrounded by four other main characters of the movie who are also struggling with weaknesses of their own. Singer cannot speak and cannot express his thoughts or desires. This makes him helpless to disillusion or refute them. Even though Singer pour out his life to widen the world of his disabled friends, they take it for granted for Singer is a deaf-mute who cannot present his thoughts. In spite of offering the best companionship for these characters Singer’s devotion and love is less recognized by other for he is unable to express it being a deaf mute. Though he offers solace to the hearts of his friends there is none to