Managing Technology Essays - Management, Marketing,

Managing Technology We define information technology (IT) to include not only computer technology (hardware and software) for processing and storing information, but also communications technology for transmitting information. Advances in computer and communications technologies have enabled firms to pursue IT investments. This will help them to gain maximum advantage from their knowledge assets-to leverage the knowledge of individual employees to the benefit of other employees and the organization as a whole. Businesses have strived to achieve a competitive advantage in the past by competing in one of two ways: 1. By Cost- by being a low-cost producer of a good and service 2. By Differentiation of a product or service- by competing on customer perceptions of product quality and customer support services. Information technology is an integral part of many companies day to day operations. By the 1990's, applications of IT were widespread and sophisticated enough to enable firms to compete in other innovative ways. Whereas in the past firms had to choose between a low-cost and a differentiation strategy, today IT enables firms in some industries to compete on both low cost and product differentiation simultaneously. Further, some firms are attempting to compete not only on both low cost and high quality, but also on the ability to make highly varied customized products. Referred to as mass customization, IT is used to rapidly link processes and work groups in order to produce customized products that are exactly what a customer wants. Evans Consoles, a Calgary based manufacturing firm, is a prime example of how, and where information technology is implemented and utilized in terms of strategic advantage and strategic plans. Founded in 1980, Evans is recognized worldwide for its expertise in the design and manufacture of technical furniture, desks and computer consoles for specialized environments such as data and control centers, trading floors, command centers, computer floors and other technology-intensive work centers. Over the years, Evans has built an international reputation for reliable project management, innovative product design and superior quality through more than 2,000 high-profile installation's. Such high profile installations include customers as NASA, FedEx, EDS, AT&T, IBM, Dow Chemical, Shell, United Airlines, FAA, and Deutsche Telekom. (See photo exhibits for examples of products and installs) Evans overall corporate strategy is to provide high quality customized products at a competitive price to customers all around the world. As a part of this, IT has been implemented in order to facilitate the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization. With Evans corporate divisions and processing plants being dispersed over 4 locations around Calgary, IT has become a necessity. Information technology can be aligned with Evans' corporate strategic plans from the first to the final step/process. To begin with, the majority of Evans existing or new clients are on a global scale and communication is vital since the products being built are on a custom basis. Evans need to stay in constant contact in order to build a rapport and ensure that what they are building is satisfactory for the customers needs. This is where the use of e-mail and video conferencing comes into play. Evans has the ability to communicate globally with little effort or cost. This can also help increase global sales and help Evans become the global leader. Being able to reduce travel costs saves Evans and its customer a great deal of time and money, and in turn enables them to produce the desired product within less time. When the projects are ordered, either FAX or e-mail depending on the size of the project receives them. This saves both the client and Evans money and time for shipping of blueprints. Plus, if there are any discrepancies or misunderstanding, it is a simple and painless procedure to rectify the situation because of the fast means in communicating and sending documents electronically. Communication is a large part of Evans IT strategic advantage. Most customers demands are on a time basis and Evans needs to fulfill these wishes to their best fashion. In doing so, Evans as a company needs to be able to communicate at high speeds so no process is held up. This would be the purpose of the Evans office automation. There are five steps involved with automation; the first is making sure that everything is coordinated.

Games and Gambles

Games and Gambles Games and Gambles Games and Gambles By Mark Nichol This post lists and defines words stemming from game and gamble, both of which derive from the Old English word gamen, meaning â€Å"amusement,† â€Å"fun,† and â€Å"joy.† A game is an activity for amusement or diversion, or a scheme or a tactic, and to make game of someone is to mock that person. In the first sense, the word may refer to an activity that has little or no equipment, such as tag, or to a game of chance or skill or a combination thereof- anything from a board game (one with a playing board with a design that facilitates playing the game, such as Monopoly) or a video game (also designed to regiment the procedure of playing the game) to an athletic or intellectual contest. (The second element of backgammon, the name for a particular board game, derives from gamen.) Game also refers to various aspects of competition, such as a manner or aspect of playing (as in referring in American football to a â€Å"passing game,† which denotes a playing strategy focused on passing the ball rather than running with it). In plural form, it pertains to an organized set of competitions, as in â€Å"the Olympic Games.† Game also applies, by extension, to an activity on the analogy of amusement or competition, or as a pursuit that, like most games, has more or less established rules, such as in â€Å"the game of love.† (Game also serves as a synonym for specialty, as in â€Å"Office politics is not my game,† with the connotation that one has no interest in or talent for the referenced activity.) Endgame refers to the latter stages of a chess game or, by extension, to the final stage of an action or process, generally with the connotation of a strategic goal. As an adjective, game means â€Å"motivated or prepared to participate† or â€Å"spirited† (gamely is an adverb that applies to engaging in an endeavor with one sensibility or the other), and gamelike pertains to something resembling or suggesting a game. â€Å"Ball game† refers to a sport in which a ball is used, though, by extension, it pertains to any contest or any situation in general, as in the phrase â€Å"a whole new ball game.† (A game ball, meanwhile, is a ball used in a game and awarded to someone as a prize for their contribution to victory in the competition.) Game play refers to an established procedure for playing a particular game. A game face is an expression of concentration and determination shown by a competitor, a game plan is a strategy (the verb form is game-plan), and a game show is a broadcast program in which contestants compete in a quiz or some other activity or series of activities. A game changer (or game-changer) is an element or factor that alters the status quo. A gamer is a person who plays games, though the term almost invariably refers to someone who plays computer or video games. Game is also the basis of a number of idiomatic phrases, which will be discussed in a future post. From the notion of hunting and fishing as an endeavor carried out for amusement rather than or in addition to sustenance, wild animals hunted for both purposes, and the flesh of such animals, are called game. Terms that include game and pertain to hunting or fishing include â€Å"game animal,† â€Å"game bird† or â€Å"game fowl,† and â€Å"game fish† (any species of various types of creatures that are hunted), as well as â€Å"game bag† (a sack for carrying carcasses of birds one has hunted). A game cock is a rooster trained to engage in cockfighting, and a game hen is a small species of fowl, while a gamekeeper is a person responsible for breeding and protecting game animals on a private estate or preserve. A game cart is a small horse-drawn cart, perhaps originally intended to carry game after a hunt. The adjective gamy (or gamey) can pertain to bravery or spirit, but it more usually applies to the smell of game animals or to an unpleasant smell in general, and it can mean â€Å"corrupt,† â€Å"salacious,† or â€Å"scandalous.† To gamble is to play a game or engage in an activity in a game of chance, to bet, or to take a chance. A gamble is an act of taking a risk, or something risky, or the act of playing a game of chance; gaming also applies in the last sense. One who gambles is a gambler, and the activity of doing so is called gambling. A gambling house, also known as a gaming house, is a place where gambling, legal or otherwise, takes place. (Such a location is also sometimes referred to as a gambling den or, from the notion of the addictive allure of gambling, a gambling hell.) A gaming room, meanwhile, is a room used for such purposes, and a gaming table is a piece of furniture, often customized to accommodate game equipment and game play, at which gamblers stand or sit to engage in gambling; a gambling device is a mechanism, such as slot machine, that facilitates gambling. Gambit (â€Å"tactical move† or â€Å"topic†) and gambol (â€Å"frolic†) are unrelated, as is the sense of game meaning â€Å"lame,† as in the phrase â€Å"a game leg.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Fly, Flew, (has) FlownFlied?15 Great Word Games20 Movies Based on Shakespeare Plays

Romanticism in Art History From 1800-1880

Romanticism in Art History From 1800-1880 Romanticism is precisely situated neither in choice of subject nor in exact truth, but in a way of feeling. Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) Right there, courtesy of Baudelaire, you have the first and largest problem with Romanticism: it is nearly impossible to concisely define what it was. When we talk about Romanticism the Movement, we arent using the root word romance in the sense of hearts and flowers or infatuation. Instead, we use romance in the sense of glorification. Romantic visual and literary artists glorified things ... which takes us to thorny problem number two: the things they glorified were hardly ever physical. They glorified huge, complex concepts such as liberty, survival, ideals, hope, awe, heroism, despair, and the various sensations that nature evokes in humans. All of these are felt- and felt on an individual, highly subjective level. Aside from promoting intangible ideas, Romanticism may also be loosely defined by what it stood against. The movement championed spiritualism over science, instinct over deliberation, nature over industry, democracy over subjugation, and the rusticity over the aristocracy. Again, these are all concepts open to extremely personalized interpretation. How Long Was the Movement? Keep in mind that Romanticism affected literature and music, as well as visual art. The German Sturm und Drang movement (the late 1760s to early 1780s) was predominantly revenge-driven literary and minor-key musically but led to a handful of visual artists painting terrifying scenes. Romantic art truly got underway at the turn of the century and had its greatest number of practitioners for the next 40 years. If you are taking notes, that is an 1800 to 1840 heyday. As with any other movement, though, there were artists who were young when Romanticism was old. Some of them stuck with the movement until their respective ends, while others retained aspects of Romanticism as they moved in new directions. It is not really too much of a stretch to say 1800-1880 and cover all of the hold-outs like Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1805-1873). After that point Romantic painting was definitely stone cold dead, even though the movement brought about lasting changes going forward. Emotional Emphasis The paintings of the Romantic period were emotional powder kegs. Artists expressed as much feeling and passion as could be loaded on to a canvas. A landscape had to evoke a mood, a crowd scene had to show expressions on every face, an animal painting had to depict some, preferably majestic, trait of that animal. Even portraits were not totally straightforward representations the sitter would be given eyes meant to be mirrors of the soul, a smile, a grimace, or a certain tilt of the head. With little touches, the artist could portray his subject surrounded by an atmosphere of innocence, madness, virtue, loneliness, altruism or greed. Current Events In addition to the emotionally-charged feelings one got from looking at Romantic paintings, contemporary viewers were usually quite knowledgeable of the story behind the subject matter. Why? Because the artists frequently took their inspiration from current events. For example, when Thà ©odore Gà ©ricault unveiled his gigantic masterpiece The Raft of the Medusa (1818-19), the French public was already well acquainted with the gory details following the 1816 shipwreck of the naval frigate Mà ©duse. Similarly, Eugà ¨ne Delacroix painted Liberty Leading the People (1830) fully aware that every adult in France was already familiar with the July Revolution of 1830. Of course, not every Romantic work related to current events. For those that did, however, the benefits were a receptive, informed viewership, and increased name recognition for their creators. Lack of Unifying Style, Technique, or Subject Matter Romanticism wasnt like Rococo art, in which fashionable, attractive people engaged in fashionable, attractive pastimes while courtly love lurked around every corner and all of these goings-on were captured in a light-hearted, whimsical style. Instead, Romanticism included William Blakes disquieting apparition The Ghost of a Flea (1819-20), sitting in close chronological proximity to John Constables comfortably rural landscape The Hay Wain (1821). Pick a mood, any mood, and there was some Romantic artist that conveyed it on canvas. Romanticism wasnt like Impressionism, where everyone concentrated on painting the effects of light using loose brushwork. Romantic art ranged from the smooth-as-glass, highly-detailed, monumental canvas Death of Sardanapalus (1827) by Eugà ¨ne Delacroix, to J. M. W. Turners indistinct watercolor washes in The Lake of Zug (1843), and everything in between. The technique was all over the map; execution was completely up to the artist. Romanticism wasnt like Dada, whose artists were making specific statements about WWI and/or the pretentious absurdities of the Art World. Romantic artists were apt to make statements about anything (or nothing), dependent on how an individual artist felt about any given topic on any given day. Francisco de Goyas work explored madness and oppression, while Caspar David Friedrich found endless inspiration in moonlight and fog. The will of the Romantic artist had the final say on the subject matter. Influences of Romanticism The most direct influence of Romanticism was Neoclassicism, but there is a twist to this. Romanticism was a type of reaction to Neoclassicism, in that Romantic artists found the rational, mathematical, reasoned elements of classical art (i.e.: the art of Ancient Greece and Rome, by way of the Renaissance) too confining. Not that they didnt borrow heavily from it when it came to things like perspective, proportions, and symmetry. No, the Romantics kept those parts. It was just that they ventured beyond the prevailing Neoclassic sense of calm rationalism to inject a heaping helping of drama. Movements Romanticism Influenced The best example is the American Hudson River School, which got underway in the 1850s. Founder Thomas Cole, Asher Durand, Frederic Edwin Church, et. al., were directly influenced by European Romantic landscapes. Luminism, an offshoot of the Hudson River School, also focused on Romantic landscapes. The Dà ¼sseldorf School, which concentrated on imaginative and allegorical landscapes, was a direct descendant of German Romanticism. Certain Romantic artists made innovations that later movements incorporated as crucial elements. John Constable (1776-1837) had a tendency to use tiny brushstrokes of pure pigments to emphasize dappled light in his landscapes. He discovered that, when viewed from a distance, his dots of color merged. This development was taken up with great enthusiasm by the Barbizon School, the Impressionists, and the Pointillists. Constable and, to a much greater degree, J. M. W. Turner often produced studies and finished works that were abstract art in everything but name. They heavily influenced the first practitioners of modern art beginning with Impressionism which in turn influenced nearly every modernist movement that followed it. Visual Artists Associated With Romanticism Antoine-Louis BaryeWilliam BlakeThà ©odore Chassà ©riauJohn ConstableJohn Sell CotmanJohn Robert CozensEugà ¨ne DelacroixPaul DelarocheAsher Brown DurandCaspar David FriedrichThà ©odore Gà ©ricaultAnne-Louis GirodetThomas GirtinFrancisco de GoyaWilliam Morris HuntEdwin LandseerThomas LawrenceSamuel PalmerPierre-Paul PrudhonFranà §ois RudeJohn RuskinJ. M. W. TurnerHorace VernetFranz Xaver Winterhalter Sources Brown, David Blaney. Romanticism.New York: Phaidon, 2001.Engell, James. The Creative Imagination: Enlightenment to Romanticism.Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1981.Honour, Hugh. Romanticism.New York: Fleming Honour Ltd, 1979.Ives, Colta, with Elizabeth E. Barker. Romanticism the School of Nature (exh. cat.).New Haven and New York: Yale University Press and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000.

Road user charging Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Road user charging - Essay Example has resulted in resistance from the public, for further increase in taxes.      Therefore the governments have considered various alternatives to meet this infrastructure cost, since the economic development of the country hinges on the development of the infrastructure.   There are various attributes to road transportation such as distance in traveling, size and weights of the vehicles and the loads the vehicle carry, parking, peak hour timings, types of fuel used, traffic level, etc.   Developments in technology in the meantime, made the measurement of the usage with reference to various attributes, easier.   The equipments made available to the transport development authorities, research in transport and logistics sector, development of Global Positioning System (GPS),use wireless data technology (GPRS), etc. have refined the system of measurement.   This gave way to a new system to charge based on the usage of highways by various categories of the vehicles.   The charges based on distances traveled are in vogue in many countries, as it is felt mor e relevant, easier to implement and control.   Establishment of toll gates and installation of new equipments and systems at the convenient entry points is also a part of the development.   Ã‚  Ã‚      A comprehensive study has been made with reference to levy of charges, the purpose of levy, its justifications and implications.   It is also to study the real intention of the government in introducing congestion area charging, and the efficacy of the scheme in addressing the needs or problems of the society, and to recommend the steps required to be taken to achieve the goal or objective.   Road use results in damage of the roads, congestions on account of traffic, pollution on account of emissions and accidents apart from normal wear and tear associated with the climatic conditions such as snow and rains. Pricing of road is a complex phenomenon.   Every form of

Trade Unions in Great Britain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Trade Unions in Great Britain - Essay Example Thus, by the end of 2005 the number of those, who take part in the activity of British trade unions, has reduced from 14 to 8 million people. One of the main reasons for such sharp reduction was in the fact, that British workers didn't see any benefits of collective representation. If the numbers of trade unions members are compared, it will be seen that 35.5% of the UK workers were trade unions members in 1993, while their number has declined to almost 28.8% in 2004. (Howe, 2004) This decline is reflected through both absolute numbers and relative percentage of the labour force, presented in the private sector. The number of those, who participate in trade unions in public sector, has nominally increased due to the general increase of this sector labour force, but as a percentage this membership has also fallen. The general profile of trade union members has also changed during this period, with women leaving them and middle-income earners becoming the main force of trade unions now adays. The main reason for the constant decline in the trade union membership in the UK lies in general decline of the 'manufacturing base within the UK and the fragmentation of the workplace, linked to outsourcing and private sector influence in the public sector' (Beaumont, 1992) The bigger portion of those, who are occupied in private sector, has refused from such membership, seeing no use and no protection in trade unions' activity, with 58.8% of public sector workers being members of trade unions at present time. The total number of days devoted to strikes has also reduced, which is connected with the fact, that trade unions prefer devoting less time to strikes, but solving the major problems, without going into details. It is also forecast, that the amount of time, devoted to the strikes, and thus to breaks in working process, will continue to decrease. Speaking about the other reasons membership decline, the following reasons should be taken into account: - a considerable portion of those who represent labour force in the UK is constituted by migrants, who look for jobs on temporary basis and thus have the following reasons not to join the unions: a. the temporary nature of jobs these people prevents them from joining any trade union on the constant basis; b. such workers mostly work for the agencies, and not directly for their employers, which also prevents them from joining a trade union; c. the wages these workers earn are often so low, that the subscriptions they have to pay appear to be excessive for them. Migrants often move from one factory to another and thus they are difficult to be organized. Moreover, together with those, who work on a constant basis, they become very skeptical as for the possible positive role of trade unions in their employment relations. (Howe, 2004) Thus, it is clear that nowadays workers underestimate the role of trade unions in protecting their rights, refusing from membership. As Gall (1994) writes, 'Unions are painfully aware of the need to recruit new and younger members to reverse the decline in membership that has continued for over a decade. The changing nature of the workplace, with a decline in manufacturing and an increasingly fragmented and globalized workforce, is creating difficulties for trade unions which they are finding hard to meet. The sustained declining trend is a little surprising given legislation passed in recent years

Social Movements Essay Example for Free

Social Movements Essay Social movements are created by groups of people who are connected through their shared interest of affecting social change. The United States of America was founded a social movement. Colonists used rallies, boycotting goods, violence, and protest to break away from Englands monarchy and create their democracy. It could be said that US democratic agency is a product of protest. As Donna Lieberman would agree, that democratic agency thrives when the people have the right to voice their opinions. A significant amount of social movements go on in the United States. I feel that our right to exercise freedom of speech is what creates social change. The United States was founded by revolution and continued to have social movements to bring fourth much needed change. This is demonstrated through events like Shays rebellion, the civil war, the civil rights movements, suffrage and feminist movements, prohibition, Vietnam war backlash and LBGTQ movement. The United States democracy is for the people, by the people which is translated as the people hold the power of the country. The people have the right of speech, press, religion and petition according to the first ten amendments. This is significant because when the constitution was being created there were individual who spoke up in favor of giving freedom to the citizens. The founders of the country knew that making the laws of land flexible was in the only way to keep the citizens from revolting like the colonists did to English rule. It was this dissent that created changes in the drafting of the Constitution. The first amendment is the right of speech, press, religion and petition. By being the first amendment it stresses the importance of opinion and gives the right of expressing difference. Democracy is then fueled by the first amendment because freedom of protest, speech, press and religion is how the government creates changes of policy. For example, Plessy v. Ferguson case in 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in favor segregated public facilities under the doctrine of separate but equal. Fifty Eight years later, the Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Educated overturned separate but equal and paved the way for desegregation of schools and other institutions. This is only one example but there are hundreds in through history. Events like Rosa Parks refusal  to give up her seat or individuals representing the 99% occupying Zuccotti Park are catalysts of social change and strengthens the democratic process. Donna Lieberman says that, what is vital for democracy is the freedom to protest. Only when everyone has the right to speak out can a democracy thrive. This point seems to be evident because if the people of a democracy cannot voice the opinion how could the officials know how to represent and govern in accordance with the values and needs of the people. It was the voice of Harvey Milk that gave attention to the rights of the gay community and changed a tiny portion of San Francisco legislation. Sadly, even the assassination of Milk represents opposition to the change but, also strengthens the LBGTQ community goal of political involvement and rights as citizens. Voices of the people move the government hand on creating policies that affect the country. When women rallied together for the right to vote, it caused the government to give it to them. Albeit, the government does not always listen to the people. For instance, President Bush met opposition when he decided to invaded Iraq. Some Americans believed that because of the 911 tragedy war was necessary and others believed it was unnecessary loss of lives. Regrettably war was the outcome but this gave way for the upcoming politicians to use the anti-war sentiments to get votes. Dissent why democracy works because it creates change of laws or change of political party. Donna Lieberman argues that, And the test of our democracy is the protection we offer not to the protests we like, but how we treat those we find offensive be they the Nazis in Skokie or the Klan. This is a valid point because the first amendment gives every individual the right to speech, press, religion, and petition. Any violation of the first amendment is unjust. By letting both sides express their opinion it allows people to come to their own conclusion about what it good for change. It would not be fair for only one side to be heard. Case in point, the south was allowed to voice their opinion about the rights of blacks via de-jure segregation but, it was the voice of African Americans could not be muted and this created equal rights legislation. All First Amendment exercises those that work and those that dont have shaped our history, made it better, and are crucial to how we come to understand ourselves as a people. The hateful voices of West Boro Baptist church are needed to understand and gauge the importance of LBGTQ rights. Offensive protests are useful in gaining numbers in support of the defensive. Offensive protests allow people to pick a side and start pushing for changes. Offensive protests should be allowed because it is a first amendment right. I do believe that protests whether offensive or not are the reason there are social movements. If there was not dissent how then could society move forward. Society would not be able to change. It would be stuck, it would not be the advanced society we know today. We will still have slavery, women would have no rights, children would be working in sweatshops, and homosexuals would be mass murdered. By seeing opposition, it gives rise to stronger social activism and changes for the country. It allows the government to be run for the people by the people which is the true meaning of democracy. In retrospection, it makes the country know where it comes from and maybe not to where it is heading but, it shows us that our voices can determine where we go from here.

The Cause of the Devastation of Hurricane Katrina Essay -- Natural Dis

The historical event of Hurricane Katrina, a category three hurricane with winds ranging from 111-130 mph, in August 2005 revealed major structural failures in the levee systems of New Orleans. Though not all structural failures are as catastrophic, the breeched levees led to loss of life, homes, businesses, highways, and left a trail of destruction that is still being repaired today. The result of this failure led to lawsuits, conspiracy theories, and court cases. Hurricane Katrina had a major effect upon our country and those results are still rippling on today. Though a city once devastated, major improvements to the failed system have been made and leave the city feeling safe once again. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans with its fierce intensity, the lives of its inhabitants was forever changed. The winds rose and the waves crashed upon the only security system this, below sea level, city had against the many water systems surrounding it. Most people think that the waves simply rose up over the banks and levees of the city; however, evidence proves this thought wrong. The actual reason New Orleans was flooded was due to poor engineering. According to experts, two thirds of the tragic flooding could have been prevented. Thousands of homes could have been saved if the engineers responsible for building New Orleans’s levees had followed regulatory guidelines. After the shock of Hurricane Katrina slightly diminished, the Congress ordered a congressional inspection of the federally build levee system. As they dug deeper into the cause of the levee’s failure, they began to discover flaws in the actual engineering of the levees. Three of the levees that had the most prominently negative effect on the city, and ... ...cane to protect the rich and middle class, and some blame President Bush. In conclusion, Hurricane Katrina had devastating effects on the city of New Orleans. I believe the blame was portioned correctly onto the heads of the engineers responsible for building the levees. Not enough care or attention to detail was put into the construction of the levees, and resulted in death and devastation. When it comes to the safety of people, all measures must be taken and no cost spared. This historical event learned from that, and great improvements were made to the protection system in New Orleans. Works Cited Hurricane Katrina. [online] 14 October 2010. http://en.www.wikipedia.org/wiki/effects_of_HurricaneKatrina_in_New_Orleans Parker Waichman Alonso LLP. Levee Failure. [online] 17 October 2010. http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/levee_failure The Cause of the Devastation of Hurricane Katrina Essay -- Natural Dis The historical event of Hurricane Katrina, a category three hurricane with winds ranging from 111-130 mph, in August 2005 revealed major structural failures in the levee systems of New Orleans. Though not all structural failures are as catastrophic, the breeched levees led to loss of life, homes, businesses, highways, and left a trail of destruction that is still being repaired today. The result of this failure led to lawsuits, conspiracy theories, and court cases. Hurricane Katrina had a major effect upon our country and those results are still rippling on today. Though a city once devastated, major improvements to the failed system have been made and leave the city feeling safe once again. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans with its fierce intensity, the lives of its inhabitants was forever changed. The winds rose and the waves crashed upon the only security system this, below sea level, city had against the many water systems surrounding it. Most people think that the waves simply rose up over the banks and levees of the city; however, evidence proves this thought wrong. The actual reason New Orleans was flooded was due to poor engineering. According to experts, two thirds of the tragic flooding could have been prevented. Thousands of homes could have been saved if the engineers responsible for building New Orleans’s levees had followed regulatory guidelines. After the shock of Hurricane Katrina slightly diminished, the Congress ordered a congressional inspection of the federally build levee system. As they dug deeper into the cause of the levee’s failure, they began to discover flaws in the actual engineering of the levees. Three of the levees that had the most prominently negative effect on the city, and ... ...cane to protect the rich and middle class, and some blame President Bush. In conclusion, Hurricane Katrina had devastating effects on the city of New Orleans. I believe the blame was portioned correctly onto the heads of the engineers responsible for building the levees. Not enough care or attention to detail was put into the construction of the levees, and resulted in death and devastation. When it comes to the safety of people, all measures must be taken and no cost spared. This historical event learned from that, and great improvements were made to the protection system in New Orleans. Works Cited Hurricane Katrina. [online] 14 October 2010. http://en.www.wikipedia.org/wiki/effects_of_HurricaneKatrina_in_New_Orleans Parker Waichman Alonso LLP. Levee Failure. [online] 17 October 2010. http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/levee_failure

Negotiating in China

What a coincidence that I was Just learning â€Å"negotiation in China†, but I failed in a real negotiation exactly on the point our professor asked me and my team member to work on. It's durance and The eight elements of Negotiation in China are: (personal connections), (intermediary), status), BaffinГ(interpersonal harmony), (holistic thinking), if+(face), and relentlessness) I and another classmate were assigned with the task of making presentation on â€Å"durance and relentlessness(chick nail)†.By reading the materials given, We need to understanding this element and know how it is working in Chinese negotiation, then according to this understanding, finding out the problems in another case,which is, how that general manager(American person) get into trouble in Negotiating with her Chinese counterpart. I Just read the materials and then my Job task distracted me from finishing my school assignment. There is a tender project fox+Y Million, and it's divided into two parts, X + Y million separately.I was the main negotiator for the sub-project of X. We are called by the buyer to go to the negotiation Just one night before, in otherworld, they leave us no time to prepare thoroughly. Touchstone day, early in the morning, we started from the Hamilton one, after 3 hours intensive bargain on price, they are still having big gap in their expectations, what's more, each party was still at their original position, with very shuttle move. Then we made a pause and went for lunch.After lunch, they again avian big differences in expectation. Then they made a pause again, and come to our part- the X part. Seeing that it was such a difficult negotiation for them, we wanted to do it faster and be more direct and efficient. Therefore, we made concessions on their demands much quicker. Then the problem came, due to this quick concession, we lost our position, and we were pushed again and again, and our price got lower and lower, until we get to a common resu lt, a much lower selling price than we expected!Then they came back again to Y part, another round of slow and difficult negotiation, each party standing on their own position. Finally both made concessions and got to a final result. Remembering how they were negotiating, doing the presentation on Chinese negotiation today, especially on the chick nail( durance and relentlessness) part. I suddenly understand what I missed. I was trying to get it more direct and efficient. Found out the result was not as expected. In many cases, people need to be prepared with more durance and

Reflection Journal – Identity

reReflective Practice Journal Identity GNED 500 – 120 Brandon Tito – 300637791 Professor Selom Chapman-Nyaho Identity â€Å"The aspects of individuals and groups that include: language; ethnicity; gender; experience of migration/immigration; social class; political affiliations; family influences; age; sexual orientation; geographic origin; experience or absence of experience with discrimination† (GNED 500, p. 73). Our identity is the key that grants us a representation of who we are as citizens and what we stand for. Personal identification is what separates and differentiates us apart from other individuals in our world.Identity is strongly significant in our lives because the development of personal attributes and contributions is what makes us unique and superior in our own way. Our perspectives and points on how we view the world are also based on our personal identities and how we establish that image. A. How did it affect your thinking? While acquiring an adequate understanding about personal identities, it is important to build and create a â€Å"personal brand† for one’s self in which can be recognized and looked upon by others in a positive manner. B. Has it changed your perspective on a particular issue?How? Yes, having a clear understanding of our personal identities has changed my perspective on a particular issue. As emphasized on a familiar quote, â€Å"become a leader, not a follower†, this quote indicates a great representation of personal identities as well as personal branding. An individual should be superior to their own brand as well as justifying and claiming ownership of their identity and not mirroring a representation of someone else’s identity and brand. C. Has it raised any new questions? Most definitely, the term â€Å"identity† has had many questions raised in previous times.Many of these questions were raised from many different perspectives such as political, scientific, gen etic, academic, religious, and symbolic structures. All of which are social structures in our society. D. Will anything you learned change your actions? If so, how? Of course, with the knowledge acquired about the many different social structures and ideologies in our society, I am more observant and aware of misinterpretations that are presented in our society. It’s important to understand that social structures, ideologies, and the environment we surround ourselves in play a substantial role in shaping our personal identities and brands.Course Feedback Overall, my duration in partaking in the GNED-500 course has been a great academic experience for me. It’s a great opportunity to have a better understanding of the social structures and issues/concerns that shape our society today. With also being given the opportunity to establish a more superior personal brand towards myself†¦ Knowledge and understanding is power! I recommend this course to everybody, this is a great decision to enhance your personal knowledge on current and previous events that help build and sustain our society.

Free Essays on Langston

Langston Hughes achieved fame as a poet during the burgeoning of the arts known as the Harlem Renaissance, but those who label him "a Harlem Renaissance poet" have restricted his fame to only one genre and decade. In addition to his work as a poet, Hughes was a novelist, columnist, playwright, and essayist, and though he is most closely associated with Harlem, his world travels influenced his writing in a profound way. Langston Hughes followed the example of Paul Laurence Dunbar, one of his early poetic influences, to become the second African American to earn a living as a writer. His long and distinguished career produced volumes of diverse genres and inspired the work of countless other African American writers. Although his youth was marked with transition, Hughes extracted meaning from the places and people whence he came. The search for employment led his mother and step-father, Homer Clark, to move several times. Hughes moved often between the households of his grandmother, his mother, and other surrogate parents. One of his essays claims that he has slept in "Ten Thousand Beds." Growing up in the Midwest (Lawrence, Kansas; Topeka, Kansas; Lincoln, Illinois; Cleveland, Ohio), young Hughes learned the blues and spirituals. He would subsequently weave these musical elements into his own poetry and fiction. In a Cleveland, Ohio, high school, Hughes was designated "class poet" and there he published his first short stories. He became friends with some white classmates, yet he also suffered racial insult at the hands of other whites. He learned first-hand to distinguish "decent" from "reactionary" white folks, distinctions he would reiterate in his book Not Without Laughter and in his "Here to Yonder" columns in The Chicago Defender. Seeking some consolation and continuity in the midst of the myriad relocations of his youth, he grew to love books. His love of reading developed into a desire to write as he sought to replicate t... Free Essays on Langston Free Essays on Langston Langston Hughes achieved fame as a poet during the burgeoning of the arts known as the Harlem Renaissance, but those who label him "a Harlem Renaissance poet" have restricted his fame to only one genre and decade. In addition to his work as a poet, Hughes was a novelist, columnist, playwright, and essayist, and though he is most closely associated with Harlem, his world travels influenced his writing in a profound way. Langston Hughes followed the example of Paul Laurence Dunbar, one of his early poetic influences, to become the second African American to earn a living as a writer. His long and distinguished career produced volumes of diverse genres and inspired the work of countless other African American writers. Although his youth was marked with transition, Hughes extracted meaning from the places and people whence he came. The search for employment led his mother and step-father, Homer Clark, to move several times. Hughes moved often between the households of his grandmother, his mother, and other surrogate parents. One of his essays claims that he has slept in "Ten Thousand Beds." Growing up in the Midwest (Lawrence, Kansas; Topeka, Kansas; Lincoln, Illinois; Cleveland, Ohio), young Hughes learned the blues and spirituals. He would subsequently weave these musical elements into his own poetry and fiction. In a Cleveland, Ohio, high school, Hughes was designated "class poet" and there he published his first short stories. He became friends with some white classmates, yet he also suffered racial insult at the hands of other whites. He learned first-hand to distinguish "decent" from "reactionary" white folks, distinctions he would reiterate in his book Not Without Laughter and in his "Here to Yonder" columns in The Chicago Defender. Seeking some consolation and continuity in the midst of the myriad relocations of his youth, he grew to love books. His love of reading developed into a desire to write as he sought to replicate t...

An Explication of Beowulfs Monologue About His Past

The main purpose of this anecdote, however, is to describe how and when Beowulf began his career of combat and fame. Within Beowulf’s monologue, the author utilizes alliterations and kenning to help the poem flow and to emphasize the strength and valor of Beowulf as an epic hero. One such example is the kenning used at the beginning of the episode. It reads, â€Å"Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, spoke†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (2425). Instead of the phrasing reading â€Å"Beowulf spoke,† this phrase adds vigor to the beginning. It reinforces the idea that Beowulf is seen as an extremely powerful hero that can take on anything that comes his way as opposed to â€Å"just Beowulf. If â€Å"son of Ecgtheow† were not used, Beowulf would seem almost boring compared to the magnificent, heroic image that comes to mind when this phrase is employed. Alliteration is also used to allow the poem to flow and also to provide an interesting element to otherwise bland sentences. â€Å"While I was in his ward he treated me no worse as a wean†¦Ã¢â‚¬  is referring to King Hrethel’s â€Å"adoptionâ €  of Beowulf after his father died (2432). The repetition of the W sound allows easy movement through the story that Beowulf tells, and it keeps the reader interested in what is being said. Another example of alliteration is the lines 2479-2480: â€Å"My own kith and kin avenged these evil events, as everybody knows†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Without any sound repetition, the reader would become bored with the story, but the author strategically places these examples of alliteration in the epic to provide more exciting details. Along with these rhetorical devices, this passage gives significant details bout Beowulf’s upbringing. The reader learns that Beowulf’s father Ecgtheow dies when Beowulf is only seven years old. King Hrethel takes him in, though, and treats him like one of his own sons. Later, the king’s oldest son Herebeald is accidentally killed by his younger brother Haethcyn. King Hrethel is so depressed that he lay down and dies from grief. Afterward, there is a battle between the Swedes and the Geats, in which Hrethel’s son Haethcyn, the new king, is killed in battle. Hygelac, the last son of Hrethel and now the new king of the Geats, gave Beowulf treasure and land for fighting alongside them. This battle seems to be one of the first that Beowulf participated in. He says, â€Å"I marched ahead of him [Hygelac], always there at the front of the line; and I shall fight like that for as long as I live†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (2497-2499). After that first battle, Beowulf launched himself into a life of war and fame, constantly craving the recognition and treasures that came after a successful battle or killing. Beowulf’s monologue about his past allows readers into his mind so that they can understand why he fights the way he does and where he came from in the first place. Without this episode, the poem as a whole would suffer because there would be no back story to explain Beowulf’s desire to defeat monsters and achieve the fame that he thinks he deserves. Perhaps he is making up for the fact that his father died when he was so young: he is trying to live a life that would make his father proud that Beowulf was his son. An Explication of Beowulfs Monologue About His Past The main purpose of this anecdote, however, is to describe how and when Beowulf began his career of combat and fame. Within Beowulf’s monologue, the author utilizes alliterations and kenning to help the poem flow and to emphasize the strength and valor of Beowulf as an epic hero. One such example is the kenning used at the beginning of the episode. It reads, â€Å"Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, spoke†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (2425). Instead of the phrasing reading â€Å"Beowulf spoke,† this phrase adds vigor to the beginning. It reinforces the idea that Beowulf is seen as an extremely powerful hero that can take on anything that comes his way as opposed to â€Å"just Beowulf. If â€Å"son of Ecgtheow† were not used, Beowulf would seem almost boring compared to the magnificent, heroic image that comes to mind when this phrase is employed. Alliteration is also used to allow the poem to flow and also to provide an interesting element to otherwise bland sentences. â€Å"While I was in his ward he treated me no worse as a wean†¦Ã¢â‚¬  is referring to King Hrethel’s â€Å"adoptionâ €  of Beowulf after his father died (2432). The repetition of the W sound allows easy movement through the story that Beowulf tells, and it keeps the reader interested in what is being said. Another example of alliteration is the lines 2479-2480: â€Å"My own kith and kin avenged these evil events, as everybody knows†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Without any sound repetition, the reader would become bored with the story, but the author strategically places these examples of alliteration in the epic to provide more exciting details. Along with these rhetorical devices, this passage gives significant details bout Beowulf’s upbringing. The reader learns that Beowulf’s father Ecgtheow dies when Beowulf is only seven years old. King Hrethel takes him in, though, and treats him like one of his own sons. Later, the king’s oldest son Herebeald is accidentally killed by his younger brother Haethcyn. King Hrethel is so depressed that he lay down and dies from grief. Afterward, there is a battle between the Swedes and the Geats, in which Hrethel’s son Haethcyn, the new king, is killed in battle. Hygelac, the last son of Hrethel and now the new king of the Geats, gave Beowulf treasure and land for fighting alongside them. This battle seems to be one of the first that Beowulf participated in. He says, â€Å"I marched ahead of him [Hygelac], always there at the front of the line; and I shall fight like that for as long as I live†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (2497-2499). After that first battle, Beowulf launched himself into a life of war and fame, constantly craving the recognition and treasures that came after a successful battle or killing. Beowulf’s monologue about his past allows readers into his mind so that they can understand why he fights the way he does and where he came from in the first place. Without this episode, the poem as a whole would suffer because there would be no back story to explain Beowulf’s desire to defeat monsters and achieve the fame that he thinks he deserves. Perhaps he is making up for the fact that his father died when he was so young: he is trying to live a life that would make his father proud that Beowulf was his son.

Electric cars Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Electric cars - Essay Example The concept of electric cars is non-conventional in Ontario as those which are working on the fuel efficiency theorem in the region are dragging up with the hybrid school of thought. The Ontario manufacturer is onto the challenge of producing electric cars, which will be new to the market and require a comprehensive strategy to get accepted in the market. The need here is to bring a strong workable marketing plan in order to make the thought of the manufacturer successful in the market (Chan & Chau, 2001). This paper is focusing on the commercialization plan of the electric cars to be produced by a regional Ontario manufacturer, which is presently producing 75 cars per month and looking onto producing 200 cars per month in 2014. The plan will be asserting the strategies to make the idea successful in the market. The primary aim is to make the plan attentive to the market- a plan that can most attract the market consumers and developers. Commercialization Plan The first stage of the c ommercialization plan of electric cars is to bring a conductive demonstration of the idea of electric cars (Barnes & Brumfitt, 2001). The demonstration is to state potencies of the technology, the design and the concept to be introduced by the manufacturer in the Ontario market. After the plan is well asserted, the next stage is of execution which will endorse the plan into real means and in real outcomes (generation of market feedback). Here is how the demonstration of the plan engages the market of Ontario: Technology (Describing the Product) Electric cars are concept cars based on electro-mechanical function. The technology is derived from hybrid cars which are aimed to fuel efficiency and intake the combination of multiple fuels (gasoline or diesel) during operation (Jolly, 1997). The Canadian company is up on launching fully electric car in Ontario- a design that is a passenger car with space of 4 passengers at a time. Similarly, the design is ranging a speed range of 200 kilom etres with high economical fuel consumption capability (Rafinejad, 2007). The design is basically a zero fuel emission design as there are fuel cells placed instead of internal combustion engine to become a green fuel supply for the car. Apart from all, the three major components of the car, the fuel cells power supply unit, fly wheel power storage unit and electric motor propulsion unit further adds to the efficiency and value of the car. Such valuable components are to balance out the electro-mechanical load on the car especially at the time when the car is at the higher torque rate (Battery University, 2013). Key Success Factors The manufacturer is aiming for an electric car that is vibrant to address city driving needs. Ontario which is a busy state and where drivers are usually on moderate speeds, this electric car is going to touch the basic state driver’s requirements (Survant, 2013). The electric car will maximize to a speed capacity of two hundred kilometres as the f uel cells placed in the car are highly power driven. This makes the car a complete electric drive, meeting the basic purpose of driving in highly efficient ways. Customer attraction for car has remained important for the manufacturer and for which it is going to come up with multiple attracted color ranges. The car will appear in market with blue, red, white, sterling metallic and black exterior