What Does À La Une Mean in French

The French expression  Ãƒ   la une  means on the front page. Its a common way to talk about the days top news headlines or the stories that make up the news in general. The words within the phrase can also be used to refer to a variety of different things. This lesson will walk you through all of it and quickly add some new expressions to your French vocabulary. The Meaning of  Ãƒâ‚¬ la une À la une is pronounced ah lah oon. Its literal translation is on the one, though it refers specifically to news coverage. La une refers to the front page of a newspaper, so the French expression à   la une means on the front page or even just in the news.  It can also become part of more definitive phrases: Un article à   la une - lead storyà ªtre à   la une (des journaux)  - to hit the papers, make the newsÀ la une aujourdhui -  Todays headlines Note that la une does not contract to lune in this expression. Part of casual conversation, the expression falls into the informal register of the French language.   Related French Expressions When you break down  Ãƒ   la une, its parts can be used to refer to other things in French. Here are the most common examples, each of which is also in the informal register. La une can also refer to table one in a restaurant.la Une used to mean channel one on television (now its called TF1).À la une, à   la deux, à   la trois! means And a one, and a two, and a three!

Is Oedipus Rex a Story of Tragedy or Fate Essay - 1272 Words

Oedipus Rex a play by Sophocles can be looked at in two ways as or as not a tragedy of fate. Author Lionel Trilling states that much ingenuity has been used to show that it is not a tragedy of fate and those critics use Poetics by Aristotle to back their claim, â€Å"the protagonist of a tragedy should be a man worthy of respect and admiration but have some discernible weakness or fault of character to which his tragic disaster may be attributed. In some important sense, that is, he is to be thought responsible for what befalls him† (Trilling 5). Although this description would seem to be accurate of Oedipus who Trilling sees as being admirable, wise, and courageous with the flaw of his pride, Trilling ultimately says that the tragic†¦show more content†¦Ultimately, Oedipus finds out about the heinous deed he has done, despite he has only killed a man he feels responsible for fulfilling the prophecy. Oedipus only acts on his emotions, had any other man been there i t would not have been a tragedy since another man would only be killing a king. Even though pride had led him to his decision in killing a man, it was by fate that Oedipus should meet his father on that crossroad. A new topic arises as to if Oedipus is really responsible for what he has done because the tragedy is actually one of fate. The question of is intent needed for culpability has been explored since 300 BCE by philosophers. The story of Oedipus embodies this question at the heart of its plot and Trilling argues in his Preface to the Experience of Literature that Oedipus is not responsible for fulfilling the prophecies. Oedipus meets a group of pilgrims on the road, and he slaughters them, when they do not move out of his way because of his pride. Oedipus at that point does not know that one of the pilgrims happens to be his father. Trilling uses Ethics by Aristotle to exculpate Oedipus from fulfilling the prophecy of killing his father, â€Å"for an act to have ethical significance, for good or bad, the person who commits it must have done so with consciousness and will. It is in these terms that Oedipus argues for his blamelessness in Oedipus at Colonus† (Trilling 4). Oedipus did not intendShow MoreRelatedOedipus Rex900 Words   |  4 PagesThe philosopher Aristotle wrote his work Poetics as a deconstruction of aesthetics approximately 50 years after the death of Sophocles, the author of Oedipus Rex. Aristotle was a great admirer of the works of Sophocles and is said to have considered Oedipus Rex to be the perfect tragedy and the basis for his thoughts in Poetics. He defines tragedy as, â€Å"an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, theRead MoreThe Three Themes of Oedipus Rex1106 Words   |  4 PagesThemes of Oedipus Rex The contrast between trust in the gods oracles and trust in intelligence and pride plays out in Oedipus Rex. Of course, the irony is, that Oedipuss and the oracles’ methods both lead to the same fallout. Oedipuss hunt for truth reveals just that, and the truth confirms the oracles prophecies. Oedipus kills his father and marries his mother. The irony is that the reader knows this from the very start of this Greek drama. There is also irony in the fact that Oedipus is theRead MoreGreek Mythology And Mythology Of The Iliad, Oedipus Rex And Others1294 Words   |  6 Pagesthey used often in their works; examples of this are seen in the Iliad, Oedipus Rex and others. The existence of Greek mythology and narratives plays a significant role in shaping the arts, most notably dance and performance. It also prompted the Aristotle Poetics that discussed the value of six specific traits in every tragedy. It has even encouraged the usage in other fields of study, the most notably t he existence of the Oedipus complex. The inclusion of different narratives, and symbolisms helpRead MoreIntrusion Is Defined As A Pushing, Thrusting, Or Forcing?1326 Words   |  6 Pagesstart conflict or end it. Oedipus for example has tons of intrusions! One of the first one’s being Oedipus himself! At the beginning of the play all the Chorus is at the foot of the palace, near the memorial for Apollo. They are all seated there, but the scene does not tell the audience why at first. Oedipus intrudes by coming out of the palace and says â€Å"My children, new-sprung race of old Cadmus, why do you sit at my shrines?† Then the Priest stands up and approaches Oedipus, and explains to him whyRead More A Comparison of Tragedy in Hamlet, The Book of Job, and Oedipus Rex1246 Words   |  5 PagesInterpretations of Tragedy in Hamlet, The Book of Job, and Oedipus Rex    For ages, man has pondered upon the roots of destiny. Is the outcome of a mans life determined by human qualities and failings, the meddling of a divine power, or simple fate? Shakespeares Hamlet made the argument that tragedy is caused by human folly. The idea that divine intervention is at the root of human suffering is put forth in the Book of Job. In Sophocles Oedipus Rex, fate is given as the root of mansRead MoreTo What Extent are ‘Othello’ and Oedipus Rex Perfect Examples of Tragedy1149 Words   |  5 Pages‘perfect’ tragedy is the idea that the tragedy is faultless; it does what is expected; so makes the audience feel empathy and sympathy for the characters who suffer. There are two different types of tragedy: classical tragedy and Shakespearean tragedy. The tragic hero in this play is the main character, Othello. Othellos misfortune comes about because of his jealousy, trust, and his pride. This essay aims to look at, and compare, how Shake speare wrote his tragedy, and how other tragedies are writtenRead MoreThe Value Of Leadership In Oedipus Rex By Sophocles1326 Words   |  6 PagesBased on evidence, Athenians valued bravery, confidence and heroic strength in their leaders. For example, the entire reason Oedipus from Oedipus Rex by Sophocles became king of Thebes is because he defeated the Sphinx that was guarding the city, saving the citizens (info from the backstory). On page 11, a senator makes the comment, â€Å"if his bosom holds a grain of fear, curses like yours he never will abide.† The reader can assume the Athenians valued bravery because the senator makes a comment againstRead More Tragedy in Oedipus Rex, Hamlet, and the Book of Job Essay examples998 Words   |  4 PagesTragedy in Oedipus Rex, Hamlet, and the Book of Job In works of literature involving a tragedy, the question of the cause of the tragedy is often raised. The play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, and the book of Job from the Bible all involve a tragedy resulting from different things. In Oedipus Rex the tragedy is a result of Oedipuss fate. In Hamlet the tragedy is caused by human folly. The divine intervention of God is what causes the tragedy in Job.Read More Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex Fulfills All of the Requirements of a Tragedy1088 Words   |  5 PagesSophocles’ Oedipus Rex Fulfills All of the Requirements of a Tragedy Throughout Poetics, Aristotle describes what traits a tragedy must have to be successful. To support these choices, he makes use of a small analysis of many tragedies, including many of Sophocles’ plays; Oedipus Rex is one of the plays mentioned in Aristotle’s Poetics. Some of these traits include a successful plot structure, recognition scenes, and a correct choice for its hero. In Oedipus Rex, Sophocles fulfills all ofRead MoreComparing Oedipus Rex And Death Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller1255 Words   |  6 Pagesa. Tragedy†¦ we all will go through this at least once in our lifetime. It is inevitable. It has been around since the beginning of time. The ancient Greek’s used it in a manner in which we still use it today in Modern times. b. Today I will be comparing the two works such as Oedipus Rex, which is a playwright written by the great Sophocles and another playwright named Death Of A Salesman written by Arthur Miller. c. Through out the years, there has been a lot of controversy on whether or not Death

Wordsworth Language vs. Experience Free Essays

Veronika Abkarian DWC 201 003 20 November 2012 William Wordsworth’s Language vs. Experience William Wordsworth, a major English Romantic poem, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature. This time period consisted of literature that had strong influences on romantic writers. We will write a custom essay sample on Wordsworth Language vs. Experience or any similar topic only for you Order Now The writers’ attitudes were different to the ordinary previous writers. Seventh and Eighteenth century writings were too difficult for the common person to understand. They were uncommon and had awkward and ornate structures. The following quote, â€Å"I have endeavored utterly to reject them [the formalized expressions of 17th and 18th century poetry] as a mechanical device of style† suggests Wordsworth’s view of the relationship between the language of his writing and the subjects, which are expressed throughout his works. He believes that language structure should not have set number of lines, rhyme schemes, or certain patterns of rhythm. Wordsworth wants to write about incidents and situations that occur in everyday life and describe them in language used by the average person, or a plain and empathic language. In Wordsworth’s belief, literature would no longer be mimetic and reflective but expressive. The readers of his works should use â€Å"gaudiness and inane phraseology†. He believes in making an emphasis of nature, not only physically but also human nature. He looks toward talking about humble and rustic life instead of focusing on royalty or the selfishness of having wealth. He believes that a language arising out of repeated experience and regular feelings is more permanent and more philosophical than that of the poets whom use fancy language to show off their writing style. The principles of Wordsworth pertain to his goal of helping readers understand complex emotional times when they have occurred. The common people are closer to finding the truth, a language closer to real true emotion and experience. Wordsworth feels as though he must address the sensations that are individual to the person at the time, but also bind us together. The relationship of the language he uses when expressing emotions and experience represent feelings in the spirit of the passions of men and are superior to fancy style writing. He is solely a poet for other men, or humanity. He believes strongly in brotherhood or a common sense of unity among humans. By writing poetry about the common people he emphasized them to be sentimentally equal, which represented his desire for equality amongst all mankind, a typical characteristic in the Romantic age of literature. Wordsworth’s language used in his poetry highlighted much about equality. He did not like to be known as better than those inferior to him. His position as a poet was solely a job to him that placed words full of emotion into the world. No matter lower or upper class, he saw the world as a whole. Hence why he wrote in the common language and to all types of people. In his preface to â€Å"Lyrical Ballads† he explains that he choses these people because they are â€Å"being less under the influence of social vanity they convey their feelings and notions in simple and unelaborated expressions. † Wordsworth states that most poets’ styles of writing are based on an overflow of feelings; although it is similar for him it is quite different. He believes poetry should be a spontaneous overflow of emotion and that our thoughts are representations of our past feelings. When we reflect on these, we can discover what is truely important to men. One of Wordsworth’s main objectives that is incorporated into his language is aspiring to the ideals of the French Revolution- Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. The emotion must be reflected in tranquility and looked at from a distance, analyzed with intellect and reason as well as felt with passion. The ultimate goal is to help us understand complex emotions which when they occurred were too much for us to articulate. As mentioned above, his poetry carries on themes of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity led Wordsworth and other romantics to romantic claims of nature and imagination. Wordsworth wrote about people, moments, and settings that represent freedom. In Cumberland Beggar, Wordsworth focuses on social classes being blend together. He writes about a beggar, a man of regular stature in society, and how he lives within nature. The beggar is very humble, and the people around him are very generous to him. The beggar is bent over and looks at the ground, this symbolizes a sort of uprising of emotion to the reader. As the beggar meets people he tends to enhance and bring out the goodness of people, which represents moments of humanity. A scene in this poem is when the boy is riding his bike and they share a sense of gentleness. Seeing the man softens the boy, and he soon realizes that he will be ancient one day. The beggar is poor but rich in experience, gentleness, and wisdom. â€Å"No–man is dear to man; the poorest poor Long for some moments in a weary life When they can know and feel that they have been, Themselves, the fathers and the dealers-out Of some small blessings; have been kind to such As needed kindness, for this single cause, That we have all of us one human heart. † Old Cumberland Beggar This represents how Wordsworth’s language exemplifies the celebration of equality and freedom, stating that even the lowest among us have so much to offer. He states that even the poorest man give blessings. The most important message from this quote in his poem is â€Å"That we have all of us one human heart† because it clearly illustrates Wordsworth’s passion of equality and how poetry should erase boundaries between genders, classes, generations, and supremely, between human beings and the natural world. Wordsworth believes that spending time in nature is a gift. This is from past experiences of his time spent in nature. In his future he keeps this in mind while he is alone, tired, and frustrated in a busy city. The beauty of his past experiences of nature will help him overcome his obstacles he is faced with in the future. When the beggar dies he is reunified in nature. Although he is alone, he is resting in peace on the green grassy field. Wordsworth’s use of the words raven, ostrich, clouds, sea-horse, and torrents in his poem, The Wandering Jew are examples of imagination and nature. In Tintern Abbey, the poet visits a church that he attended five years prior. In the poem he measures the differences, which in turn promotes universal thoughts. One who reads this poem is most likely to experience an emotional response to memories. Wordsworth is enjoying the memories but at the same time dealing with a sense of loss. As this is happening, the reader is deeply inside of their selves, trying to figure out the emotions of what they have gained/lost. Wordsworth is sad because it is obvious that he cannot get the time or memories back. As a whole, we have all experienced this, which binds us all together and makes us equal. Wordsworth is recognized to be one of the most influential poets due to his poetry standing so apart from that of his ancestors. Romantics will celebrate the subject the individual, each has an imagination but each ones’ imagination leads us to different visions. There is emphasis on spiritual awareness, which is accessible to everyone. Our emotions serve as loss and sadness from an earlier stage in our life. Wordsworth’s views on his language and subject matter helped structure the face of modern-day poetry. How to cite Wordsworth Language vs. Experience, Essays

Do Antiterrorism Measure Threaten Civil Liberties Essay Example For Students

Do Antiterrorism Measure Threaten Civil Liberties? Essay 6 April 2002DO ANTITERRORISM MEASURES THREATEN CIVIL LIBERTIESAntiterrorism measures are implemented to prevent a terrorist from being able to carry out an operation. There have been acts of terrorism throughout history and prior to the 1990s the average American citizen found comfort in knowing that at least in his or her own backyard there was a blanket of safety. Since the attack of the World Trade Center in 1993 and the Murrah Federal Building in 1995 there has been a growing threat of terrorism in America. The threat was also manifested in the 9/11 attack on America at the World Trade Center. Antiterrorism measures have been employed to stop or at least obstruct further attacks, and some complain that their rights as American citizens are being violated. Antiterrorism is not threatening civil liberties as long as the American people understand why these steps are being taken. After the 9/11 bombing, the lines at airports were known to take between two and four hours just to get baggage checked, yet there were no complaints. The media coverage of the measures that were being taken in order to protect the American travelers were enough reason to support such prolonged delays in airport lobbies. Other types of antiterrorism measures that were enacted after the World Trade Center attack in 1993 and the Murrah building bombing in 1995 were to increase the usage of wiretaps on suspected terrorists, military involvement in chemical and biological weapons, stopping contributions to international terrorist organizations, and facilitating the government to deny entry to the United States and implementing deportation policies against suspected terrorists (Bender, 126). These policies of antiterrorism have no threat to any American citizen that is not associated to a terrorist organization, but it does affect those citizens that are suspected terrorist or supporters of a terrorist organization. After the 9/11 World Trade Center attack occurred, the government was cursed for not preventing the attack and actually questioned as to why stronger laws were not already put into practice. The problem with the antiterrorism actions is that it takes a grotesque event to gain the attention of the American people in order for the government to enact policies, with the support of American citizens, which should already have been put in place. In my opinion the antiterrorism measures do not threaten civil liberties. This may be in part due to my being educated about why these measures have been employed. The rest of the American public deserves the right to know why the government is taking such measures, and after they have such knowledge; they are more apt to support the measures. WORKS CITEDBender, David. CURRENT CONTROVERSIES: URBAN TERRORISM. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven, 1996. Words/ Pages : 464 / 24

Will We Still Love IKEA

Introduction IKEA is a Swedish company that was started by a seventeen-year-old boy in 1943. This company specializes in the manufacture of home and office furniture. The company has experienced consistent growth, and is currently considered the world’s largest manufacturer and retailer of furniture.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Will We Still Love IKEA? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A number of challenges in the local market have faced this company, but it has managed to counter these challenges successfully. IKEA has expanded beyond its local market in Sweden. This firm has established a very strong market in the United States and the entire Europe. The firm is the largest retailer of furniture in the United States. Although some firms have offered it stiff competition in the American market, it remains the leading manufacturer and retailer of home and office furniture. This firm is also one of the major employers in the United States and in the world. The firm has a large plant in Virginia. The locals were happy with the fact that the firm opened a branch in this city. This was a sign that there would be an increased source of employment to the locals. The entry of this firm into this city also meant that the locals would be able to purchase the products at reduced prices. This was a reason good enough to warrant a celebration. The firm met the expectations of the locals. It offered job opportunities to the locals and the prices of the furniture in this region generally dropped. The society benefited because of the incentives that this firm offered the society as part of its corporate social responsibility. The firm was fast becoming a darling to the Americans. However, not all was well after all. The Case The employees protested against the strategy adopted by the management. This resentment spiraled in March 2011 when employees went public about the discriminatory policies that the leadership of the firm employed in Virginia.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The labor laws in the United States clearly states that employees should be given opportunity to choose whether they would like to work overtime. In this firm, the choice is not in the hands the employees, but instead it is the responsibility of the management. The management dictates whether an employee would work overtime or not. It becomes worse when employees are just informed of the overtime when they have just prepared to leave their offices. This has demoralized employees of this firm because they feel that they do not have the freedom to choose when to work overtime. The management has also been accused of careless because it does not respect the wishes of employees. Moreover, the management is accused of frustrating employees in various ways. The management of the firm has been kee n on crashing unions of the employees in its facility in Virginia. Employees do not have a voice in the firm. They are expected to act as per the wish of the management. Any disagreement with company rules leads to serious consequences on the part of employees. The treatment given to employees sharply contradicts that given to employees in Sweden, which is the home to this firm. There is clear evidence that this firm has double standards when it comes to treatment of its employees. Although it took some time to realize this, it is now clear that this firm has a high regard towards some employees and not others. For instance, Anderson (2011, p. 88) observes that IKEA is one of the best employers in Sweden. Employees of this firm are allowed to have up to three fully paid leaves per year. This is not the case in the United States. In Sweden, and a few other European nations, employees have the capacity to choose when to have overtime. This is not the case in the United States. It is a lso intriguing that this firm has been racially discriminative in some of its operative activities.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Will We Still Love IKEA? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This has raised many controversies given the fact that the founder of this firm was associated with the Nazi movement in his youth. It is a reminder that this firm is as discriminatory as the action of the founder during the Nazi terror. The firm has also been accused of discriminating women. In various firms in Virginia, women are always treated with concern, especially those who have young children. This may include releasing them early enough to be with their young children. This is not the case at IKEA. The remuneration given by this firm to its American employees is below per when compared to other regions, especially the home market in Sweden. This firm faces other controversies in its operations in this country, as wel l as other countries around the world. This is what raises the main question whether the firm will still be loved as before when these evils had not been revealed. Will the society still cherish the firm after all the revelations about its discriminatory policies? Strategic Analysis of the Case The case given above shows that IKEA has a huge responsibility of changing the perception of the society. The perception of the society is very important for a strong brand such as IKEA. In order to develop an understanding between the internal and external environment, the following SWOT analysis would be very important. SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis is one of the important tools that are very popular in analyzing a company. It helps in analyzing firms based on the existing internal and external factors. SWOT analysis would be very valuable in analyzing IKEA. In order to bring more understanding of the firm in this competitive market, a SWOT analysis would be appropriate. It would help bring m ore insight to the opportunities and threats that this firm would face in the external environment. It would also help in understanding the strengths and weaknesses that the firm has.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Strength of this firm that would translate to increased profitability is a positive image in the market due to its environmental friendly projects. The world is increasingly becoming sensitive of the impact of various business units on the environment. The concern is emanating from the fact that it has been confirmed beyond any reasonable doubt that various multinational companies are polluting the environment at a very dangerous rate (Coveney Highfiel 1995, p. 67). Various environmental conservation projects are expected to give this company a different image in the market. This company will be seen as a firm that is smarter in its environmental strategy. The market will be convinced that this company is not just interested in making profits, but also turning the society into a better place. The firm will easily attract additional customers who are determined to make a positive difference in their society. This is because they will view the firm as one that helps in conserving the environment. They will consider the purchase of the firm’s product as part of environmental conservation. Because of this, the firm will develop a strong base of loyal customers. This firm may also take this advantage to reach out to the international markets. The project would give this company a moral right to claim that it is a champion of a clean environment in the entire world. The firm has a team of dedicated and qualified staff who are able to front all the interest of the firm both in the local and regional markets (DeAnne, Gary, Hyde, Tipping 2004, p. 43). This team also supervises capital that is assigned to it in order to realize the best outcome for the organization. Despite the above strengths, this firm has some weakness. The first weakness that this firm has is the discontent customers in some region such as the United States. The fact that some of the employees are not satisfied with the way they are managed makes it very difficult for this firm to increase i ts profitability in these markets. The initiative of managing the environment is very challenging financially. It would cost this firm, large sum of money if it would sustain such projects over the years it expects to operate in this market (Daft 2009, p. 21). The members of this firm expect to work in collaboration with other firms in order to clean the environment. The team may not have the capacity to rid the environment of all the electronic wastes, unless it is supported by other agencies within the local society. The local government must be convinced to participate in such projects actively. Other environmental agencies would also be invited to take part in the elimination of such wastes as plastic materials. The fact such the projects would involve partnership with other firms; success of the entire process may be jeopardized. Success would be pegged on how determined the other partners are in fulfilling their duties. The firm has a number of opportunities in the external en vironment. In the local market in Sweden and other European countries, this firm has managed to build a large base of loyal customers. The governments of Sweden and other European countries have strongly appreciated the move of this firm to help improve the environment of these countries, a fact that has earned it a large base of customers. The Swedish government, and other governments where this firm operates, has maintained a very stable political environment. This means that the business environment is free from any political unrest that may disrupt normal business operations within the market. This has created a business environment that is very peaceful to various firms in the country. The firm also enjoys an economic growth in this region that has increased the purchasing power of the consumers. This increased purchasing power has helped the firm to increase its operations to regions beyond its borders. The emerging technologies have also helped IKEA in its operational strateg ies. The firm has adopted the emerging technologies in its operations, a fact that has helped it increase its efficiency (Kratschmer 2011, p. 101). This firm faces a number of threats in its operations. Threats may not be predictable in this industry, though the firm may try to reduce the possibility of occurrence. The first threat that this firm faces is price wars in the market. The local firms may notice the strategy of the firm to charge lesser prices for its products, especially to those consumers who have shown resolve to combat environmental degradation. There is a possibility that the competitors may consider this move as a strategy that this firm uses to charge cheap prices for their products. The impact of this is that the competitors may respond by equally lowering their prices in the market. Such price wars are always dangerous to the prosperity of a business. The initiative may fail to make any serious sense. However, this threat has been minimized by introducing other responsibilities for the project, and the invitation of the whole society to participate. IKEA stores also face the threat from the emerging technologies. The emerging technologies are beneficial to the firm. However, they can pose serious challenge to the firm if it fails to select the appropriate technology to apply. Applying a wrong technology may cause serious negative consequences to the firm. Late application of the emerging technologies may also render such a firm less competitive in the market. Revisiting the Case IKEA is still considered the market leader in this industry. It is the largest manufacturer and retailer of home and office furniture. The case presented above shows that this firm has been successful in the world market. However, it is yet to address some pertinent issues affecting it. The firm is accused of high handedness when dealing with the employees. The complaint from employees shows that there is some form of dissatisfaction on the side of employees. The f irm has failed to incorporate employees into partners other than employees of this firm (Fayol 1949, p. 127). This discontent among the employees means that the employees will not be willing to give their best to the firm. They feel that they are not part of the organization. The second accusation leveled against this firm is that the management is discriminative in its operations. Women have complained that the management does not take care of their interests. This accusation may have negative effect on this firm. It should manage this discontent in order to be successful in this industry. It should find a way of making all its employees feel part of the organization. Conclusion and Recommendations IKEA has managed to withstand the market competition that has forced various other firms out of the market. The firm has been operating in a very competitive market within Sweden, the United States and other countries where other firms have similar products. The management of this firm h as come to realize that the best way to beat the market competition is come up with strategies that can help it become unique in the market. The management has embraced the spirit of competition in the market. It has also come to realize that employees are very important in the determination of success for the firm. They are the wheel through which a firm can be able to move from one level to the next. However, the firm can improve its efficiency if it considers the following recommendations. The management should embrace the emerging trends in the market. It should use the emerging technologies such as social media marketing to reach out for the customers. The management should increase the number of young innovative employees who can help the firm manage the emerging technologies. The management should increase its corporate social responsibility, especially on environment, to improve its public image. The firm should consider increasing its partnership with suppliers to ensure t hat they constantly have the stock. The management should ensure that employees are constantly motivated in their various duties in the firm. The management should address all the needs of the employees to the best of its capacity. It should address all the complaints that are put forth by the employees of this firm. List of References Anderson, M 2011, Bottom-Line Organization Development: Implementing and Evaluating Strategic Change for Lasting Value, Elsevier, Burlington. Coveney, P Highfield, 1995, Frontiers of Complexity: The Search for Order in a Chaotic World, Fawcett Columbine, New York. Daft, R 2009, Organization Theory and Design, Cengage Learning, New York. DeAnne, A, Gary, N, Hyde, P, Tipping, A 2004, Ten Guiding Principles of Change Management, Booz Company, New York. Fayol, H. (1949). General and Industrial Management. London: Pitman. Kratschmer, P 2011, Organizational Culture is Highly Resistant to Change: Discuss, GRIN Verlag, New York. Norton, M, Mochon, D Ariel y, D 2011, â€Å"The IKEA Effect: When Labor Leads to Love†, Harvard Business School, Vol. 1, no. 4, pp 11-91. Palich, LE, Cardinal, LB, Miller, CC 2000, â€Å"Curve-linearity in the diversification-performance linkage: An examination of over three decades of research.† Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 21, no. 2, pp 155-174. Snider, J, Hill, RP, Martin, D 2003, â€Å"Corporate social responsibility in the 21st century: A view from the world’s most successful firms.† Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 175–187. This essay on Will We Still Love IKEA? was written and submitted by user Hayley T. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. 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ENL 1103 FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGLISH Essays - Nonverbal Communication

ENL 1103 FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGLISH Essays - Nonverbal Communication ENL 1103 FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGLISH Name: ID: Course: Title: GROUP PRESENTATION RUBRIC Exemplary (4)Good (3)Satisfactory (2)Need Improvement (1) Content / KnowledgePresenters possess excellent understanding on the topic.Presenters possess adequate understanding on the topic.Presenters possess general understanding on the topic.Presenters do not understand the topic at all. Non verbal elements (Intonations, eye contact, gestures, etc.) Facial expressions and body language generate a strong interest on the topic presented. Demonstrate a good effort in attracting audience.Facial expressions and body language generate some interest on the topic presented. Demonstrate an acceptable effort in attracting audienceFacial expressions and body language are rarely presented. Demonstrate a fair effort in attracting audienceFacial expressions and body language were not used. Do not demonstrate any effort in attracting audience. Language Excellent command in language used. No grammar error produced.Good command in language used. Minor grammar error produced. Fair command in language used. Poor command in language used. Too many grammar error produced. Voice Projection Volume is loud enough to be heard by all audience members throughout the presentation. Volume is loud enough to be heard by all audience members at least 90% of the time. Volume is loud enough to be heard by all audience members at least 80% of the time. Volume often too soft to be heard by all audience members. Audio Visual Aids (AVA) Use good AVA. The AVA used helps in presentation.Use acceptable AVA. The AVA used helps in some parts of presentation Use AVA. The AVA used does not really help the presentation. No audio visual aids used. TOTAL MARKS: Comments: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Name: 1)3)5) 2)4)6)

CERA - Performance Measurement Case Study Free Sample

This assignment is intended to demonstrate the individual performance measurement scheme of the CERA, which is one of the consulting companies that provide their consultation regarding the civil construction. As stated by Sanchez et al. (2015), performance management mainly includes different types of activities that ensure that the organizational goals can be consistently addressed in most efficient and appropriate manner. It is seen that CERA has achieved the competitive advantage for their qualified as well as skilled consultants who are useful in their field. Some of the senior level managers of the company are well convinced regarding their effective HR practices, but some of the managers still think that their organization do not have the effective HR practices to measure the individual performances of their employee. Therefore along with showing the limitation in the individual performance at the CERA, this assignment also provides a recommendation regarding the performance me asurement approaches by applying which the company can get an extensive and more efficient human resource. To manage performance most effectively in CERA, it is imperative to measure the employee performance with more effectiveness by facilitating the close monitoring. As per the viewpoint of Ferreira & Otley (2013), performance measurement can be defined as the process of the collection, analysis and report the evidence related to the fulfilment of the group, individual, system or the organization. Mainly an effective performance management system has five different parts such as defining the expectation regarding the performances, facilitating the performances, encouraging the employees to achieve the optimum level of performances, performance measurements and proving feedback to the employees regarding their performance. However, it is that CERA set some objective for their employees and asks them to achieve this. Therefore, they measure the employee performance by reviewing how many objectives they are achieving with quality. For example, to assess the performance level of the junior consultants they facilitate the performance appraisal by following the management by objective strategy. As per the viewpoint of Tseng (2014), management by objective is one of the model regarding management that mainly improves the performance of any organization by defining several objectives, which are agreed by both the employees as well as management. Moreover, to achieve those objectives they treat their employees like a school student because here the involvement of the senior level management is very high. They provide a brief and sufficient knowledge to their employee regarding how they can achieve those objectives, but by following this strategy, they do not get any sufficient knowledge regarding individual employee performance (Mayer& Davis, 2012). However, this strategy of them makes their organization to achieve more and effective output, but this strategy is not sufficient to produce highly effective and experienced employee. Along with that, this strategy suppressed the innovation capability and individual performances of the employee. CERA facilitates the performance management in their company to encourage the employees. The senior level managers have observed that the CERA is effective to achieve a good level of productivity, but they do not have any effective motivation technique by which they can retain their experi enced employees. Therefore, there are high levels of possibility that after sometimes depression can be generated among employees. To reduce the chances of that, they need to involve an effective level of performance management system. Moreover, after measuring the performance, they apply a wrong strategy to provide employees with a reward (Boland& Fowler, 2011). They provide more facilities or more financial reward to their senior level employees rather than their junior level employees. Therefore, this creates tremendous dissatisfaction among the employees. Therefore, it can be said that there is a misalignment among their organizational objective and their actual performances. CERA advertise their organization as one of the specialist's companies who has excellence compensation strategy for their employees. However, it has been observed in the present situation; CERA do not have any excellence in the compensation strategy, and they do not provide compensation based on the perform ances of the employees. This is because; they think that they can get more effective output from their senior level employees. Their ineffectiveness to provide preferences to their lower level employee may create a sense of de-motivation among the employee so that there is a high level of possibility that affords of the employee can be decreased gradually (Brignall & Modell, 2010). Additionally, it is also observed that CERA does not have any active feedback strategy that any company provides to their employee so that their employees can correct their performance and assists their company to achieve their pre-determined level of returns. In the case of CERA, it has been observed that they do not have any active feedback strategy. As stated by Kaplan& Norton (2013), feedback can be provided in oral or written mode and offers different advantages to both the employees as well as the company. The main benefits of effective feedback are it helps both the company and employee to improve the performances. Along with that it boosts the employee retentions and decreases employee turnover. Therefore, employee loyalty can be increased by following a feedback strategy (Folger, Konovsky & Cropanzano, 2011). Moreover, effective feedback reduces the cost due to fewer requirements of the training and development and increases the sales of a company. From the case of CERA, it is seen that they have very few employees; therefore, if they do not follow an effective strategy to handle their performances then they may face huge problems regarding employee turnover in their near future. One of the effective rationales regarding the re-bo oting of the performance management scheme of the CERA is identification and elimination of weaknesses in the traditional approaches that they mainly follow. Their performance management system must be effective to provide a timely as well as meaningful feedback to their staffs (Yahya & Goh, 2012). Another limitation in the CERA is the higher level management does not take feedback from the lower level employees because they do not have any believe that the lower level employee can provide an effective feedback that can support their company to achieve a better level of output. However, taking feedback from different sources such as customers, subordinates, and peers can develop the innovativeness of any company. It is seen that CERA only follow the management by the objective approach. Therefore, it is highly imperative for them to follow more efficient performance appraisal process by which they can judge the employee performance with more effectiveness and can provide them with the effective feedback by which they can lower their weaknesses. As the senior level management are very much effective to monitor their employees closely so that they can implement the 360-degree performance appraisal process. As stated by Levy & Williams (2014), 360-degree performance appraisal feedback is one of the processes that is utilized by any company to collect information regarding their employees from different sources to assess the work related behaviour of the employee. I order to facilitate the 360-degree feedback in the business; CERA can take the feedback from the immediate boss, supervisor and the peers. CERA can also solicit the feedback from different external sources that regularly interact with their employees. After the implementation of the 360-degree feedback in the company, CERA can assess the actual behaviour of their employees. After that, it is highly important to provide feedback to the employee regarding their performance so that their strength can boost and weaknesses can decrease. As opined by Alimo?Metcalfe (2012), the 360-degree appraisal can help the CERA to measure several things such as it helps to measure the competencies as well as the behaviour of employees. Moreover, it focuses on several areas such as character, leadership and teamwork. Along with that, it helps the upper-level management to conduct the planning and set their business related goals. As per the viewpoint of Bohl (2013), 360-degree performance appraisal also helps the employees as well as management to identify the business related objectives by improving the communication among the employee and employer. Additionally, 360-degree performance appraisal helps the organisation to focuses o n their core competencies. However, there are several issues involved in 360-degree feedback that is this tool is not customised according to the requirement of the company. It is imperative to take information from different stakeholders of the enterprise because it enriches any business with the different innovative idea that helps them to facilitate more growth. However, there is one of the disadvantages of the multisource information because it may generate the conflict in the company (Carless, Mann& Wearing, 2015). Therefore, before taking the multi-source feedback, CERA must be careful regarding that. Therefore, to make this tool more useful, it is important for CERA to customize the tool according to the need of the company. Moreover, manipulation of the employee to provide a rating to the employee may lead some biases because this process can be partial in some cases. There are enormous possibilities here that higher level manager can provide more efficient feedback regardin g those employees with whom they have the practical relationship (Brutus, Fleenor & London, 2016). Along with the 360-degree performance appraisal method, it is also important for CERA to follow the behaviourally anchored rating scale. As per the viewpoint of Murphy & Constans (2014), behaviourally anchored rating scales rate the performance of any employees based on some specific criteria. This performance appraisal process is mainly presented in the vertical mode by involving the point in the scales up to 9 from 5.As opined by Saal, Downey & Lahey (2012), this performance appraisal procedure merges the benefits of critical incidents, narratives as well as the quantified rating in the company to assess the employee performance against different criteria such as poor, good and moderate. Rather than graphically anchored rating scales, behaviourally anchored rating scales are more efficient because it helps the organization to eliminate some of the rater error. There are several advantages for which CERA must follow the behaviourally anchored rating scales which is it reduces the po tential for the biased responses in the company. Along with that, this performance appraisal process only measures the observable as well as specific behaviours. Moreover, it is effective to provide the standard as well as specific comments regarding the fulfilment of the job. As a contrast to different traditionally rating scales, this rating scale provides more accurate evaluation regarding the performances as well as the behaviour of the target persons. This effective tool also has some disadvantages that may create some problem for the managers of the CERA.As mentioned by Bernardin & Smith (2011), the main drawback is this performance appraisal process requires only effective and skilled staff. Moreover, the performance measurements tool require huge time alongside it is very complicated too. BARS are mainly dependent upon the aptness and the precision of different anchored statements. Moreover, the frequent update is mandatory along with the change of the job requirements. During designing the performance appraisal process, the HR manager of CERA must consider different types of error that are mainly occurred in any company. Rater errors are the error that took place during the performance measurement procedures. As stated by Bernardin & Walter (2013), rater error can be described as the credibility as well as the accuracy regarding the measurements of the performances. Rater errors are the human error which is very much common in any performance appraisal process because anyone cannot tell that any performance appraisal will be effective shortly. Different types of rater errors are a halo effect, leniency error, recency error, similar to me error, central tendency error etcetera. After implementing the proposed performance appraisal process, CERA may face problems due to below mentioned the reason. Halo effect error may occur in the CERA if the HR managers rate the dimensions of the performances either based on the positive or the negative rating. Thi s is one of the errors because in this method there are not any rating criteria to judge the performance of employees who have scored the middle-level performances. Due to leniency error, the manager of the CERA may give the low end of the scale if they have achieved the middle position on the range, which called the negative leniency. The manager may also provide high end of the scale to the employees whose performances is in the middle position of the scale that is called the positive leniency. Along with that, recency error in the performance appraisal process of the CERA may occur if the HR manager rates any employee based on the recent incidents regarding any employees. As opined by Borman, Hough & Dunnette (2012), central tendency error may be happened in the CERA, if the HR manager may rate the employee with higher performance by the average performance. HR manager may do an entirely wrong judgment to the subordinate employees if they can judge the lower level of employees ba sed on perspectives of other employees, which is called similar to me an error. The above facts can conclude that for achieving adequate performance, an effective performance management system is necessary. This is because effective performance management system always generates a productive organisation with efficient, skilled and motivated employees. The above fact also concludes that remuneration must be provided based on the performance so that the involvement of effective performance appraisal process in necessary. Performance appraisal process not only helps the organization to understand the capability of their employee but it also helps the employees to eliminate their present weaknesses and develops their strength. It has also becomes clear that as an innovative company, they are suppressing the innovative capability of the lower level staff. Moreover, they do not take feedback from the customers to provide consultation to them, which creates problem to understand the actual needs of the customer. In this context, performance measurement approaches beco mes evitable. The analysis in the report clears the fact that before implementing 360 degree appraisal system in their company, CERA must arrange a meeting with their employee where they should instruct their employees how they should provide feedback to a particular employee. On the other hand, it becomes clear that at present, there is not any rater error that is happening in the CERA because of the absent of their effective performance appraisal method, but it can be generated in the later time if the HR manager takes the performance appraisal process too casually. Further, it is found out that It is seen all of the modern organization provides feedback on the performances by facilitating an efficient performance appraisal method so that their employees can get a chance to understand and correct their weaknesses. Therefore, using error detection strategies might be effective in improving the overall performance of the organisation. Alimo?Metcalfe, B. (2012). 360 degree feedback and leadership development.  International Journal of Selection and Assessment,  6(1), 35-44. Bernardin, H. J., & Smith, P. C. (2011). A clarification of some issues regarding the development and use of behaviorally anchored ratings scales (BARS).  Journal of Applied Psychology,  66(4), 458. Bernardin, H. J., & Walter, C. (2013).Effects of rater training and diary-keeping on psychometric error in ratings.  Journal of Applied Psychology,  62(1), 64. Bohl, D. L. (2013).Minisurvey: 360-Degree Appraisals Yield Superior Results, Survey Stows.  Compensation & Benefits Review,  28(5), 16-19. Boland, T., & Fowler, A. (2011).A systems perspective of performance management in public sector organisations.  International Journal of Public Sector Management,  13(5), 417-446. Borman, W. C., Hough, L. M., &Dunnette, M. D. (2012).  Performance ratings: An investigation of reliability, accuracy, and relationships between individual differences and rater error. PERSONNEL DECISIONS RESEARCH INST MINNEAPOLIS MN. Brignall, S., & Modell, S. (2010).An institutional perspective on performance measurement and management in the ‘new public sector’.  Management accounting research,  11(3), 281-306. Brutus, S., Fleenor, J. W., & London, M. (2016). Does 360-degree feedback work in different industries? A between-industry comparison of the reliability and validity of multi-source performance ratings.  Journal of Management Development,  17(3), 177-190. Carless, S. A., Mann, L., & Wearing, A. J. (2015).Leadership, Managerial Performance and 360?Degree Feedback.  Applied Psychology,  47(4), 481-496. Ferreira, A., &Otley, D. (2013). The design and use of performance management systems: An extended framework for analysis.  Management accounting research,  20(4), 263-282. Folger, R., Konovsky, M. A., &Cropanzano, R. (2011).A due process metaphor for performance appraisal.  Research in organizational behavior,  14, 129-129. Kaplan, R. S., & Norton, D. P. (2013).Transforming the balanced scorecard from performance measurement to strategic management: Part II.  Accounting Horizons,  15(2), 147-160. Keaveny, T. J., &McGann, A. F. (2013).A comparison of behavioral expectation scales and graphic rating scales.  Journal of Applied Psychology,  60(6), 695. Levy, P. E., & Williams, J. R. (2014). The social context of performance appraisal: A review and framework for the future.  Journal of management,  30(6), 881-905. Mayer, R. C., & Davis, J. H. (2012). The effect of the performance appraisal system on trust for management: A field quasi-experiment.  Journal of applied psychology,  84(1), 123. Murphy, K. R., &Constans, J. I. (2014).Behavioral anchors as a source of bias in rating.  Journal of Applied Psychology,  72(4), 573. Saal, F. E., Downey, R. G., &Lahey, M. A. (2012).Rating the ratings: Assessing the psychometric quality of rating data.  Psychological Bulletin,  88(2), 413. Sanchez, H., Kuttanna, B., Olson, T., Alexander, M., Gerosa, G., Philip, R., & Alvarez, J. (2015, February).Thermal management system for high performance PowerPC/sup TM/microprocessors.In  Compcon'97. Proceedings, IEEE  (pp. 325-330). IEEE. Tseng, S. M. (2014). Knowledge management system performance measure index.  Expert Systems with Applications,  34(1), 734-745. Yahya, S., &Goh, W. K. (2012).Managing human resources toward achieving knowledge management.  Journal of knowledge management,  6(5), 457-468.

Communication, Conflict and Decision-Making Essay - 1

Communication, Conflict and Decision-Making - Essay Example This essay discusses that in every society, communication is the backbone of professional and social relationships. Communication facilitates the flow of ideas and/or concepts from one given source to the other. The best process of communication needs the existence of a message sender, as well as the receiver. Individuals share the views and ideas through the thriving process of communication. For any communication process to be regarded as thriving, the receiver must comprehend the message content in accordance with the sender’s aim. This means that certain processes of communication lead to unsuccessful ends. Thus, it is worth noting that communication process encounters some hindrances that deter efficient information delivery to the anticipated parties. No matter the effort put in to evade a conflict, it appears to always arise at the worst moments. Thus, ineffective communication leads to a conflict of views or ideas among the parties involved. During communication, confl ict begins from a merely simple flicker of emotions or varies all the way to supportive proof that one presents. While conflict may lead to both positive and negative impacts, this social disagreement may boost maturity of social abilities among the individuals involved. Conflict management involves the application of measures that promote the advancement of positive effects forms a social discord. Efficient conflict management process promotes learning among parties involved and the entire society on how to address incompatible vies in the future.

Evaluation of a Foodservice System Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Evaluation of a Foodservice System - Case Study Example Casa Brusco opened only a few months ago. The pricing of the menu is medium to high. Portions are plentiful and the General Manager feels that the menu should change with the seasons. Likewise for the dcor although to a lesser extent. The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere with dim lights which enhance the brick pizza oven. The bathrooms are well appointed. I interviewed Diana Bonsignore, the general manager who explained that because the restaurant just opened, there is a tight budget and therefore much of the work falls upon her shoulders. She is clearly exhausted and spends eighteen hours per day in the restaurant. Her salary is $100,000 per year. She is in charge of hiring however feels that the owners are employing their friends as wait staff and these employees are inexperienced. Indeed, during our interview, she continuously had to break our dialogue to answer calls. The restaurant's vendors include soft drink companies and a specific company which deals with alcoholic beverages. Although the price for these items is industry standard, the owners never pay the bills and she finds herself consistently cut off from ordering supplies due to nonpayment. Her chef has no formal training and is obstinate when a customer complains about an order.

International Change and the Social World Essay Example for Free

International Change and the Social World Essay In meeting the demands of a global economy, technological advancements especially in the field of telecommunications and information technology are key factors in making possible various transactions faster, cheaper, more reliable and convenient. Needless to say, these technological advances are important tools if companies and other business ventures are to survive in the digital economy. These technological advancements however, are evolving far too fast which consequently generate pressing problems that ought to be considered. On a preliminary note, the aforementioned rapid technological evolutions pose serious questions if our societal structures can rapidly adapt to these changes and more importantly, if we, ourselves can rapidly adapt and be able to integrate for ourselves these changes. In line with this, what follows is a discussion of how such changes affect the global economy. Within this context, the task of this paper is to discuss the effects of work transformation in society with a particular emphasis on how it affects the people management systems around the world. Weick and Quinn (1999) contend that changes in the organization of work within societies may either be characterized as â€Å"discontinuous and episodic† or â€Å"continuous and emergent† (p.361). The difference between the two lies in the emphasis on intentionality, planning, management control, and specific outcomes in the former and the emphasis on improvisation, spontaneity, and ongoing action in the latter. The two perspectives stated above have a direct effect in the formation of an organizational framework. This is another way of saying that the manner in which organizational change is perceived supports an appreciation of the multidimensional nature of organizational phenomena. The organization of phenomena stems from the human need to conceptually order reality. Such a process is ensured through the creation or adoption of a language that may account for the reality perceived by the individual or by the social group. The importance of such a process stems from its issuance of a fixed and thereby more manageable reality. Such a reality, however, is continuously distorted due to the steady input of new forms of conceptualizations that also opt to enable the manageability of reality. Such a process is apparent within the business sector in the gradual shift from an information-based economy to a knowledge-based economy. The later form of economy recognizes that knowledge occupies a focal point in relation to the function of society. As a result of this, organizations became increasingly aware of the need for a ‘knowledge focus’ in their organizational strategies as they respond to changes in their environment. ‘Knowledge focus’ refers to the deobjectifcation of knowledge in favour of the codification of knowledge into systems (Bell, 1999, p.x). Within such an economy, organizational actors and the complex social interactions that take place amongst them recreate organizations through the continuous process of change. According to Tsoukas and Vladimirou (2001), what makes knowledge organizational is it codification in the form of propositional statements set within a group’s collective understanding (p.974). It is important to note that such a process of knowledge codification requires the existence of local knowledge. Within an organization, such forms of local knowledge are evident in the company’s culture; the development of such is dependent upon the existing organizational framework. Such a point brings to focus one of the main elements of the labour market that determines the existing workforce’s productivity and performance within a particular society. The reason for such a focus is evident if one considers that the current shift in economy [from an information based economy to a knowledge-based economy] gives precedence on the role of the members of the workforce in the maintenance of an organizations overall knowledge based culture. In line with this, Davinport (1999) contends that such a culture necessitates a new mode of framing the human capital. According to Davinport, it is time to conceive of workers â€Å"not as human capital but as human capital owners and investors† (1999, p.7). Davinport argues that such a conception is not entirely new since it echoes the conception of the employee as an asset. The difference of such a view stems from the conception of the worker as the owner of the capital since workers are the ones who decide in which field they will contribute the specific talents and expertise they possess within the current market. The organization’s role thereby is fixed to the extent that its main role lies in utilizing and developing the skills offered by the member’s of their workforce. Organizations must thereby adopt new working practices or upgrade workplace skills. An example of this is evident in the content of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) of the United Kingdom which states that â€Å"in a mass customisation environment, where systems of production and distribution are readily imitated and leapfrogged, organisations must therefore continually invest in physical and human capital to keep ‘ahead of the game’†(2001, p.10). As a result of the above stated paradigmatic shift from an information-based economy to a knowledge based economy certain developments occurred within the economic, political, and technological fields. Such developments are evident in the increase in business competition and the advent of information technologies (Weatherly, 2003, p.2). Political and economic developments are evident in the increase in business competition which is a result of the globalization of trade and key economic sectors [e.g. telecommunication, electricity, transportation, financial services]. Technological developments, on the other hand, are evident in the advent of information technology which can best be seen through the continuous popularity and easy accessibility of the internet. According to Lev (2001), such developments within the above stated fields have dramatically changed the structure of organizations to the extent that intangibles [human capital] became the major value drivers of business within developed economies (p.8-14). The reason for this is evident if one considers that from a strategic perspective it has been noted that â€Å"fully one-third of the information used to justify the investment decision is non-financial† (Ernst Young, 1997, p.10). Examples of such factors are â€Å"quality of management, effectiveness of new product development, strength of market position, strength of corporation culture, and effectiveness of compensations policies† (Weatherly, 2003, p.4). Such factors have an overall link to business systems since they are partially if not fully determined by the company’s culture maintained by its overall organizational framework. Furthermore, since the above stated factors are considered in the determination of investment decisions, it also follows that they have a direct effect in terms of the economic conditions of a business organizations and hence the economic side of society as a whole. As was stated above, one of the defining factors of the current paradigm shift within the market can be traced from the shift of importance from the tangible assets to the intangible assets. Tangible assets consists of financial assets [financial capital] and physical assets [e.g. property, equipment, and other furnishing] whereas intangible assets consists of intellectual capital [e.g. patent formulas and product designs] and human capital. The focus of this paper from the onset has been to lay down the current transformations of work in the period of globalization. What follows is the specification of how these changes have affected society at large. In Work, Self, and Society, Catherine Casey specifies the manner in which changes in work have affected society. Casey (1995) argues that the current conception of work which is defined by the effects of industrialization has turned the worker into a product or a commodity of the market. She states, The convergence of work and virtue (through methodical adherence to one’s ‘calling’)†¦set in place a type of citizen-worker that would subsequently come to typify modern forms of social organization. In modern society people have defined themselves and in turn have been socially defined, by the type of work that they do in the public sphere. (1995, p.28) In other words, the results of industrialization have led to the commodification of the individual as the individual derives his value from his work. The manner in which this is enabled is further evident in the current shift from an information based economy to a knowledge based economy as the value of the worker is considered to be dependent upon his knowledge. This shows how the nature of work within a post-industrial society has changed to the extent that the market has become dependent upon the mental labour and the mental knowledge of the worker [mental labour is considered to be the core of industrial activity] (Lawson, Jones, Moores, 2000, p.99).   To a certain extent, one might note that this may prove to be beneficial for individual societies since the aforementioned paradigm shift has enabled the development of regional specialties and economies. Sabel (1999) states that the changes in the work paradigm within the post-industrial society has led to the development and growth of â€Å"twentieth century variants of industrial districts in Italy, West Germany, Japan, Denmark, Austria, France, and the United States† (p. 243). Such an assumption however may be considered as the result of a form of hasty generalization since although such developments have enabled organizations around to world to place greater focus upon the members of the workforce as well as upon the development of industrial districts around the world [the development of such is expected to pave the way for the industrialization of all countries and hence the development of these countries] such developments still place the worker in a disadvantaged position as he remains to be a commodity within the market whose value is dependent upon what the work system prescribes. References Bell, D. (1999).   The Axial Age of Technology, Foreword. The Coming of the Postindustrial Society.   New York: Basil Book. Casey, C. (1995). Work, Self, and Society: After Industrialism. London: Routledge. Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, 2001.   Raising U.K. Productivity: Why People Management Matters. Davenport, T. (1999).   Human Capital: What It Is and Why People Invest.   San Francisco: Doubleday. Ernst Young LLP. (1997). Measures that matter. Retrieved March 22, 2009 from www.cbi.cgey.com. Lawson, T., M. Jones, R. Moores. (2000). Advanced Sociology Through Diagrams. Oxford: Oxford U.P. Lev, B. (2001). Intangibles: Management, measurement and reporting. Washington, DC: Brookings Inst. P. Sabel, C. (1999). Flexible Specialisation and the Re-emergence of Regional Economies. Modernity: Critical Concepts Ed. M. Waters. London: Taylor Francis. Tsoukas, H. Vladimirou, E. (2001). What is organizational knowledge? Journal of Management Studies, vol. 38, no.7. 973-93 Weatherly, L. (2003). Human capital-the elusive asset: Measuring and managing human capital: A strategic imperative for HR. Research Quarterly, Society for Human Resource Management. Weick, C. Quinn, R. (1999). Organizational change and development.   Annual Review of Psychology, vol. 50: 361-386.

Transitioning a Child To Daycare Essay -- Child Development

When a parent leaves their child off at a daycare, they often wonder why their child who was happy and content before they arrived cries and screams when their parent leaves to go to work. This is a very hard transition for infants, which is why it's our job as infant toddler teachers to make the transition as comfortable and relaxing as possible. The reason children feel this way when their parents leave is because they are in what Piaget calls the sensorimotor stage, and are in the beginning of object permanence meaning that an infant realizes something is their even though they cannot see it. This is very important because, before an infant can experience object permanence often refereed to as separation anxiety, they only think about what is in their view at the time, therefore they think about the present rather than the future. The infant feels like the parent left them with a stranger, and they are not coming back. As a teacher you can help decrease this by communicating with the parents, and allowing the infant to get used to the environment, and asking parents not to s...

Battle of the Beers Essay

Introduction This case is about the intense battle between beer rivals in the United States, particularly between Anheuser-Busch (A-B), the world’s largest brewer, and SABMiller, the world’s second largest brewer. It discusses about how the companies used advertising in their brand positioning in order to compete with each other and increase the sales. This case starts by describing the strategies used by the both company when the battle began since the South African Breweries (SAB) purchased Miller Brewing Company in 2002. The 2 leading beer brewing companies uses different strategies to fight with each other in order to communicate how its beer differ from competition to draw in more consumers. First, Miller emphasized on the light beer, taking advantage of the health conscious trend where consumers were looking for low-carb beer by using comparative advertising campaign claiming that the Miller Lite has half the carbs than Bud Light. This prompted counteroffensives from A-B that mock Miller Lite’s low-carbs claims and challenge beer drinkers to choose on taste. To counter that, Miller then attack back by emphasizing also on the taste of the light beer. Things become worse when Miller also launched a new offensive campaign which lampooned Budweiser for its self-proclaimed title as â€Å"King of Beers† and Budweiser lashed back by labelled Miller Lite as â€Å"Queen of Carbs†. Miller filed a lawsuit against Budweiser asserting the false and misleading claims by Budweiser to Miller Light which will definitely affect the image of SABMiller. Then, Miller used blind taste tests and shifted to emphasizing taste and flavour instead of stuck with a carb positioning. In 2004, the companies used comparative advertising, where Miller launched new advertising campaign attacking Budweiser, and A-B also launched direct counterattack, and this made the battle become even more intense that others are being pulled into the fray. Television networks were refusing commercials on both sides  because their unduly disparaging or appear to contain taste claims that are unsubstantiated and misleading. While Miller continue to press on the taste issue, A-B introduced a new product promoting as having no lingering aftertaste and also emphasizing the freshness of its beer. The battle between the 2 companies goes back and forth. Questions: 1. What attributes are most important in determining beer purchasing decisions? How does this vary by market segments? There are many important attributes that need to be considered in determining beer purchasing decisions. As described in the case, these includes taste, aroma, and appearance. (i) Taste/Flavour/Aroma Taste is the most important attribute in determining beer purchasing decisions as consumers buy beer for the taste. As evident in the case, Miller spent huge amounts on advertising the taste advantage they hold over Budweiser. They held blind taste tests where consumers were seen to choose Miller over Budweiser in the tests. Their success in providing good taste led to Miller recording a 2.6 % increase in sales volume in 2003 as consumers felt that Miller beers were better in taste. Aroma is extremely important to beer’s overall taste and it determines the purchase decision of a beer. The market segments that emphasize on aroma in their beer purchasing decision are mostly experienced beer drinkers. The repeat beer purchase will takes place when the taste of the beer suit the customers. Health-conscious consumers who are looking to reduce their carbohydrate intake might opt for beer which are less sugar. Consumers who give more preference to the aroma of beer might look for strong aroma beer or beer which suit his or her taste. Some market segments might prefer beer with no lingering aftertaste. (ii) Appearance The process of purchasing a beer begins with its visual appearance. Many people make hasty judgments of taste (food or beverage) based entirely on sight alone. In terms of beer appearance, what consumers looking for are colour, clarity, and head retention. Although one colour is not necessarily better than the others, and none indicates directly how the beer will taste, but many beer drinkers will just have their own preference and perception of beer colour. Also, if a beer can’t form a head, either it’s improperly carbonated or the vessel into which it’s poured is dirty. Many beer drinkers will most probably emphasize on the appearance of the beer and are obsessed with beer clarity; if the beer is not crystal clear, they would not drink it. Some markets segments might prefer darker beers like stouts whereas others might prefer lighter beers such as wheat beers. (iii) Price Many people judge or determine a product quality based on the price. This is also true for beer purchases, and is especially true for those non-experienced beer drinkers. Higher price could have one of two effects on consumer preference: it could cause the product to seem higher in quality, or it could make the product less desirable because of the extra expense. Although most of the time price may reflect the quality of the beer (higher quality, higher price, and vice versa), but this is not all the time. For those who are emphasize on the quality of the beer, they might probably prefer to buy the higher-priced beer. Higher-income beer drinkers also might choose the higher-priced beer which they perceived that the beer has higher quality. For those market segments who just drink beers for enjoyment for example peers gathering, they might just buy the cheaper beers. (iv) Brand name Brand is the most important non-sensory factors affecting consumers’ choice  decisions of products. It seen as a promise, a guarantee or contract with the manufacturer and a symbolic mean and sign of quality. Beer drinkers will choose their beers based on their own beer brand preferences too. Researchers had found that ultrapremium beer was rated higher than inexpensive beer when brand names were unknown, hence shows that brand name do affect beer purchasing decision. In the market segments which earned a higher-income might prefer branded (usually higher-priced) beers. Younger generation might also choose those cheaper but well-known brand due to the exposure of the advertisements and they tend to follow the trend. 2. How would you construct a valid taste to determine beer buyers’ preferences? The methods used to construct a valid taste to determine beer buyer preferences based on different attributes would be as follows: Based on taste/flavour/aroma: Conduct blind-taste tests by providing the participants the cups of different beers to be tested which labelled A through E. Participants will be asked to taste each of the beers, and then spit out the beer into an empty glass. Between each beer taste, participants will rinse out their mouths with water to avoid cross-contamination among trials. After tasting all the beers, participants will rank order the five beers on the basis of the quality of their taste. Based on appearance: Conduct tests by providing the participants different beers with differences colour and level of clarity. For example by providing the participants different cups of beers with different colour and clarity labelled with A, B, C, D, and so forth without the acknowledge the participants what type or brand of the beers are. Differences in preferences across the samples will demonstrate whether consumers prefer one colour (eg. darker colour) than the others. The preference of beer based on the label colour, design, logo, or  the shape of the packaging can be tested as well. Based on price: Conduct tests by providing the participants different selections of beer with different prices to assess whether consumers use price to disambiguate taste. For example, the beers selected varied in price, from $7.99 per six-pack to $2.69 per six-pack. The prices per six-pack were as follows: Brand A: $7.99; Brand B: $5.99; Brand C: $3.99; Brand D: $3.49; and Brand E: $2.69. Participants will rank the different beers according to their own preferences and on the basis of their prior knowledge about these beers. Based on brand name: Conduct tests by providing the participants different selections of beer with different brand names. For example, different beer brands such as Anchor Steam, Samuel Adams, Budweiser, Miller Genuine Draft, and Schlitz will be provided to participants. Participants will be asked to rank the different beers according to their own preferences and on the basis of their prior knowledge about these beers. Conclusion: Consumers’ attitudes, beliefs, and feelings play important role in deciding if they are going to purchase the Anheuser-Busch or SABMiller beer brand such as Budweiser or Miller respectively. The beer marketers need to be able to identify the target markets’ shopping, purchase, spending, and consumption patterns in order to predict what consumers want from such product. Consumer intention acts as a helpful indicator to the types of marketing activities to carry so that they are able to attract the right market segment, thus leading to high profits. In conclusion, understanding consumer behaviour is significant because marketers want to attract the right consumers to purchase their brand.

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away Essay

The idiom â€Å"to kill two birds with one stone† is used to describe achieving two objectives at the same time. The term references a common hunting tool, the slingshot; slingshots continue to be used to hunt small birds, and at one point, they were very common. As you might imagine, killing one bird with a stone requires an excellent aim and control over the slingshot; to kill two could be considered even more difficult, a task for only the most skilled of hunters. This idiom dates from the 1600s, and it was initially used in a somewhat pejorative way, to describe a philosopher’s attempt to prove two arguments with a single solution. The implication was that killing two birds at one time is extremely challenging and unlikely, and that the philosopher’s attempt should be viewed with extreme suspicion. The philosopher had obviously failed to satisfy his critics, who suggested that his attempt was about as successful as a try to knock out two birds with a single s tone. Over time, â€Å"to kill two birds with one stone† has come to be used more generally to accomplishing two goals at once, and the negative connotations have largely vanished. In fact, people are encouraged to think of ways to accomplish it, thereby living much more efficient lives. This is especially true in the business world, where employers are constantly on the hunt for ways to cut costs and improve efficiency, so something that kills two birds with one stone could be quite useful. For example, someone could be flying to a city on business, and decide to visit a family member while he or she is in the city, or a company might have an employee pick up a shipment somewhere while he or she is already there. From the point of view of both the employee and the company, this can be convenient, because the employee will be reimbursed for mileage and other expenses, while the company can save a trip. Some people feel that this term is a bit negative, given the association with hunting and death, and they prefer more positive twists on the saying. Several organizations have even sponsored contests to come up with a new and more animal-friendly version of â€Å"to kill two birds with one stone.† However, the idea has become so entrenched in many societies that it is unlikely to fade from usage anytime soon, negative or not.

Civil War Tactics and Strategies essays

Civil War Tactics and Strategies essays Question: Many Europeans criticizes northern and southern generals for the way in which they fought the Civil War. Evaluate the military leadership, strategies, and tactics of either the North or the South. The civil war took place from 1861 to 1865. It was a bloody war between the North and the South. Even though the south didn't win, they had good military leadership, strategies, and tactics. The South had good military leadership. They had good generals such as Robert E. Lee, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, and Jeb Stuart. They had better skills in forming battle tactics, military knowledge, and good decision making under pressure, Lee and Jackson had graduated from West Point Academy, and had fought in the Mexican War. This fact that they had experience gave them an advantage over the North. In terms of strategies, the South's main one was "offensive-defensive."" It was one of defending all resources, stockpiling supplies and taking the offensive when the supply went down or the opportunity was provided by the enemy. The South ended up fighting a mainly defensive war. They just had to defend their capital of Richmond, Virginia from the North, while the North had to go down there to fight. They also used "interior lines" to move forces from quiet fronts through the interior to threatened fronts more quickly than the enemy could move around the military border. In tactics, infantry was mainly used. Corp commanders handled "grand tactics", the art of maneuvering large forces just outside of the battlefield and bringing them onto that field. Calvary also played a role in tactics. In the civil war, the south had good military leadership, strategies and tactics. Through generals like Lee and Jackson, and defensive strategies and tactics, they put up a good fight, although it still wasn't good enough to win the war. ...

Mathematical Thinking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mathematical Thinking - Essay Example Students are gestated to cultivate problem-solving skills that includes problem defining, prescribing inferences, and canvassing the accuracy of solutions Students should be involved in sense making. One should teach mathematics as if it were an ill-structured discipline: a domain in which multiple inferences, polemics, and controversial issues are called for and genuine. In the first step in expressing their mathematical thinking in words, they normally do not follow very specific language. Learning to think mathematically obligates some interposed strategies in order to bridge the gap between student's ordinary language and the language of mathematics. Teachers nudge in strengthen the mathematical thinking of student make a gamut, fluctuating from more direct methods in which the teacher gives an answer, a substantiation, or a leading question, to less direct methods that facilitate and simplify students to develop their thinking mechanism or to reverberate on their queries and acumen. Some examples of less direct methods to enhance mathematical thinking are non-leading questions, summarizing a discussion, connecting ideas, and prob lem-solving steps to be taken; and the use of wait-time, in which a teacher masquerade a query and gives appropriate time for the student to just go through and elaborate his or her reasoning. Each of these inferences has the potential to assist students to conclude that they have the ability to develop logic, and that they too can think and act mathematically. Even the most expedition-oriented teacher acquaints students to available provisions in order to accomplish the needs avowed by students. The teacher can posture as a connoisseur member of a collaborative learning community, one who has resources to bring to bear on an inquiry. Responsiveness is a key value to reinforce discourse. When students are steering an inquiry, the teacher can be an acting tribunal and confidence builder. Another contour of responsiveness and impressionable includes recognizing student's misbelieves related to the questions they put. In such circumstances one might give an answer, but the more constructive response may be a follow-up question that rummages the postulations or consequences that led to the misguided query. This policy has two purposes: (a) it gives the students involved a opportunity to show on their own thinking, and (b) it alludes onus for a question to the student who asked it. A student requires learning a technique to answer, "Why did you raise that query" -- and this is absolutely defiance at first, because the activity is so reflexive and the presumptions are usually taken for granted. In this type of circumstances, a carefully drafted question can give students to refresh their thinking process and ask themselves whether an answer or a procedure they have used is sensible. Such queries are part of a strategy that ministers to dodge delegations from the teacher to the student. One standard in the classroom session that can be adopted explicitly is the anticipation that students are accountable to convalesce their problem solving techniques and should be queried continuously

Assignment Prompt Compare and contrast the methods used by Spain and

Prompt Compare and contrast the methods used by Spain and France in creating their North American colonies (remember that North America refers to modern Canada, United States, and Mexico) - Assignment Example The French used the policy of assimilation. They were friendly to the locals and strived to influence a holistic culture change as they absorbed the locals. They developed schools and churches for the locals besides relating with them as their equals. They encouraged the natives to embrace education and their way of life thus becoming their equals. The Spanish on the other hand were harsh to the natives. The Spanish the natives harshly, they used the natives and the African slaves similarly thus creating animosity between them and the natives1. Additionally, the Spanish brutalized those who did not convert thus spreading their culture forcefully throughout the colony. This instigated widespread resistance and rebellion from the natives. Key similarity between the French and he Spanish was their attempt to convert the locals to their culture and way of life. They established missions to help spread their new religions to the locals since this would help harmonize the colonies. Pickett, Margaret F., and Dwayne W. Pickett.  The European Struggle to Settle North America Colonizing Attempts by England, France and Spain, 1521-1608. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co, 2011.