Martin Guerre essays

Martin Guerre essays During the period of the Renaissance in France in the sixteenth century, people had renewed interest in learning and values. Writers began rejecting accepted religious beliefs and focused more on human nature. This brought about a new way of life for people in France. In Natalie Zemon Davis The Return of Martin Guerre, an account of a man, Arnaud du Tilh, impersonating Martin Guerre shows us first hand the way of life during this time. An imposter, at this time, would be particularly frowned upon in society and would face rather harsh consequences. Davis proposes many possibilities regarding the story of Martin Guerre. Firstly, had the two men met? Davis proposes that Guerre and du Tilh had, indeed, met in their travels, whether it had been brief or extensive. Had they conspired? Perhaps Guerre trained du Tilh to be like himself. Yet, it seems to Davis, Guerre had never met du Tilh. As Davis says, a man du Tilh met who mistook him for Guerre sparked his eccentric idea to forge the identity of a somewhat well-off peasant with an estate left to him. Whatever the case may have been, du Tilh went along with this scheme. Regardless of the answers to the previous stated questions, people in the town took this imposter in as the real Martin. Perhaps this was because he told his accounts of the past so accurately, so precise, that no one could truly deny it was him. With that in mind, Davis also presents the perplexing question as to how his own wife didnt detect he was a phony. Another credible and realistic point is made by Davis. Most likely, Bertrande knew he was not her real husband, as Davis believes she is a somewhat intelligent woman, yet she did not care. For many years, there was a missing role in their family as a father, husband, brother, son, and nephew. Now that he returned this void is filled. Life is made easier on Bertrande, and the rest of the family as well. Davis th...

5 Parallelism Problems in In-Line Lists

5 Parallelism Problems in In-Line Lists 5 Parallelism Problems in In-Line Lists 5 Parallelism Problems in In-Line Lists By Mark Nichol Constructing an in-line list a series of items in a sentence seems like a straightforward task, but writers frequently err in their attempts to produce parallel structure. The following sentences illustrate some of the pitfalls of parallel construction and how to fix them. 1. â€Å"You can pay using your bank account, debit, or credit cards.† This list refers to two types of financial resources: a bank account and a card (two types of which are mentioned). The sentence structure mistakenly suggests that the list consists of three elements, rather than two (â€Å"your bank account† and â€Å"a debit or credit card†), one of which is a compound item one consisting of two or more nouns or noun phrases. The following revision reflects the correct organization: â€Å"You can pay using your bank account or a debit or credit card.† 2. â€Å"Her writing was accurate, complete, and demonstrated attention to detail.† Of the three items in this list, two are accompanied by verbs, but the writer has erroneously assumed that complete can share the verb that precedes accurate. It can do so, but only if accurate and complete are linked with a conjunction rather than separated by a comma: â€Å"Her writing was accurate and complete and demonstrated attention to detail.† 3. â€Å"It’s free, secure, and takes no time at all.† This sentence suffers from the same slight but clumsy error as the one in the preceding example. It can be solved in the same way (â€Å"It’s free and secure, and it takes no time at all†) a comma is required before the conjunction in this case because the pronoun’s presence makes the second clause an independent one. Alternatively, each item in the list can be assigned its own pronoun: â€Å"It’s free, it’s secure, and it takes no time at all.† 4. â€Å"The pension system divested in firms doing business with apartheid-era South Africa, avoided oil and energy investments in Iran, and it dropped tobacco companies from its portfolio in 2008.† Here, too, the problem is of inconsistency of structure, but because the subject is a noun and the sentence is more complex, the simple error might not be apparent. Basically, each segment of the sentence needs a subject noun or a pronoun as if it were a distinct sentence, or, better, all segments must share the subject: â€Å"The pension system divested in firms doing business with apartheid-era South Africa, avoided oil and energy investments in Iran, and dropped tobacco companies from its portfolio in 2008.† (Alternatively, the comma following Africa could be replaced by and, but the lengthy sentence is better served by a rest-stop comma rather than another move-along conjunction.) 5. â€Å"There’s the Coke bottle and the old glove and sailboats gliding along the bay.† This sentence (referring to iconic features at a baseball stadium) almost works in its relaxed state, unhindered by internal punctuation. But the lack of a comma suggests that all three things glide along the bay. A comma after â€Å"old glove† will catch that noun phrase and the preceding one, reserving the gliding action for the sailboats alone: â€Å"There’s the Coke bottle and the old glove, and sailboats gliding along the bay.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Math or Maths?Excited ABOUT, not "for" How Do You Determine Whether to Use Who or Whom?

Encryption of data in transit and data at rest Research Paper

Encryption of data in transit and data at rest - Research Paper Example Encryption in the field of computer security is a process that allows users to encode their data using a certain key or a certain algorithm. Through the use of encryption a user is able to enhance the security of his or her data. Even though encryption of data does not necessarily restrict the access of data it however does ensure that a hacker is not able to interpret encrypted data and hence use it for personal benefit. Encrypted text is usually referred to as cipher text whereas unencrypted text is referred to as plaintext. Encryption is usually made use of for two basic data types, data in transit and data at rest. Data in transit usually refers to data that is on the move, whereas data at rest refers to stored static data that is used on a few numbers of machines. Encrypting data in transit is usually carried out through the use of private and public keys. Private keys are usually made use of to encrypt the main data that is important to a particular organization or to a particular user. The sender usually makes of an encryption key that only the receiver is aware of. The receiver then makes use of the same key to decrypt the information that is provided by the sender (Salomaa, 1996). Public key on the other hand, is used to facilitate the exchange of the private key. Public key is made use of to encrypt the private key. The sender of the data asks the receiver to provide him or her for an encryption key. The key is then used by the sender to encrypt the message. Once the message is encrypted, its decryption can only be carried out by the receiver (Salomaa, 1996). When it comes to securing data at rest, there are two basic process that can be used, encryption and authentication. Encryption to data at rest can be applied at a small scale, such as to a sensitive file, or it can be applied at a large scale, for example to the complete contents of a device (Scarfone et al., 2007). The type of encryption technique that is

How Does the American Public School Philosophy address the concept of Research Paper

How Does the American Public School Philosophy address the concept of Democracy aad the individual - Research Paper Example In this case, before undertaking to explore the role that American schools play in educating children in about democracy, it is crucial to attempt explaining the relationship between the two concepts of education and democracy. Thus, from a contemporary point of view, democracy can be considered to be that which results from and is reflective of modern day societies political and market economy, it personified by activities such as choosing political representatives and an autonomous judicially (Loflin, 2008). In these premises, school provides education to the minority future political figures, the majority to fit into their future role as consumers and producers in the society, and ultimately the decision makers in the society. Hence, such an education, will ideally involve educating them by practical activities so that they can experience democracy in their own personalized setting such as participating in their student centered committees and organizations, in their schools. This paper is an introspection of the role played by public schools in perpetuating the concept of democracy and individual through pedagogy by discussing the rationale; examining the objectives of teaching democracy in schools, the methods and implementation as well as the challenges that are encountered in the endeavor. The culture of democracy should be taught to schoolchildren for a number of reasons; prominent among them is the need to create self-awareness to them, which is instrumental in helping them take responsibility for their lives and the country’s destiny. This is because when children understand democracy, they will appreciate its importance and can easily apply it in their lives as students. This is concerning activities such as voting for prefects and student leaders as well as in simple things like solving a dispute on where to eat lunch among friends or which bus to take home (Rosenthal and Burroughs, 2003.). While these might seem like minor considerations, th ey set ground for bigger issue that the students will have to make in their adult lives, and it helps socialize them into democratically sensitive individuals. Although it is hailed and praised for facilitating legitimate governance, democracy can only be as strong as those who practice it. As a result, in America, students should be taught about democracy in order to ensure they are able to make judgments for themselves on what is democratic and what is not democratic. The process of democracy in America is often fraught with conflict and can often be messy, thus, teaching schoolchildren democracy is crucial since it helps them to appreciate the potential for conflict that result even with democracies, in order to develop democratically acceptable ways of dealing with these conflicts. In addition, youths might mistakenly assume that what happens in congress, and in national politics, is the epitome of democracy due to its lofty position. Nonetheless, the truth is that democracy is frequently abused and overstepped by politicians in their search for political mileage. Therefore, education about democracy provides learners with wisdom enabling them to contemplate the political climate and happenings critically so that they do not get mislead by these populist shenanigans. Electronic and print media has failed miserably in their attempt to convey to

Explore Anita Desais intensely evocative, descriptive style in Studies in the Park Essay Example for Free

Explore Anita Desais intensely evocative, descriptive style in Studies in the Park Essay Anita Desai is a world renowned, Indian novelist and short-story writer. Studies in the Park is merely one of her vast collection of short-stories, however, it is one of the most expressive stories, and it also conveys Anita Desais immensely communicative style of writing. Studies in the Park is set in the late 1970s, in contemporary India. It talks about a young boy, Suno, who is determined to do well in his exams that are a few months away. He is frequently pressurised by his parents, to study hard, and do well. However he is constantly disturbed by the repeated noise, and cannot study. He decides to go to a nearby park, which turns out to be an ideal location for him to study. The pressure that is mounted on him slowly starts to rise as the exams approach, this in turn, results in him becoming a workaholic: eventually his whole life revolves around his studies. He then sees a life changing vision that completely transforms his perspective of life. Studies in the Park contains various descriptions, and images that enables the true message of the story to be brought out. The story begins with the line -Turn it off, turn it offWhat next, my god this line evidently depicts the irritability that Suno is experiencing. This example is a perfect case in which Desai uses a very evocative stream of consciousness to illustrate emotion. This story is written in first person, and because of this Anita Desai is able to express true emotion and sentiment, as shown in the example above. In the line So I raced out of my room, Anita Desai indicates that Suno, the protagonist, is annoyed and cannot bear his surroundings anymore. This example is a typical instance where Anita Desai utilises first person, to portray an emotion. Diction is an essential component of Anita Desais style of writing, she uses a diverse collection of words to indicate the precise feeling that the protagonist is experiencing. For example, in the line rest of them standing and peering in the word peering is accurate as it portrays the curiosity and the nosiness of the brothers and sisters. Another example is in the line snarled at him The word snarled, in this context, implies that Suno is very irritable and ill-tempered at this moment. The word is precise, and specific, and thus, it makes the line more communicative and expressive. Anita Desai uses imagery as well, at many occasions, in an attempt to invoke vividness and clarity in the story. For example, in the line Bag-like women in grey and fawn saris with their sackcloth backs to the rails This description of the park is very clear and vivid, it is a description of one instant in the park: it talks about the children falling, the women screaming and the madmen prancing. The description allows the reader to infer many details about the park such as: it is very active, there many people present there, etc. These sorts of descriptions are present all over the story, hence it makes the story more understandable and suggestive. Desai also uses imagery to elaborate on one point, for example, the description The afternoons would be quietbazaars and slums This paragraph talks about the serenity and tranquillity present in the park in the afternoons, and early evenings. Anita Desai stresses on this point with help of various images. The use of imagery and diction has been used extensively in the story. However it is most effective, when the protagonist experiences the vision, in which he realises the importance of the aspects of life. The line Just then she lifted her veilDivine, I felt, or insane indicates a new revelation that takes place in Sunos mind, and with the use of imagery Anita Desai is able to depict this more vividly. During this phase, Desai uses many similes to describe the lady in the epiphany, and hence depict the new revelation. For example, in the line her borkha, like a flower This line compares the ladys face to a wax-white, lifeless flower that shows importance of health in life. Studies in the Park is very communicative and expressive; there are various descriptions and accurate diction that are essential components in the story. These have made the story more understandable and comprehensible, thus the central theme and message of the story has been portrayed competently. Anita Desais descriptive writing style is extremely graphic and illustrative: it focuses mainly on descriptions, images and precise diction to portray a particular point. Thus she has been able to depict the importance of everything in life: health, religion, family and love.

Creating a Philosophy of Life Essay -- essays research papers

In his recent research, Pierre Hadot calls our attention to the original vocation of the philosopher: not as scholar but as sage. Hadot attempts to recapture the early understanding of the study of philosophy as an entry into a mode de vie, a way of life richly satisfying and personally rewarding. The challenge for us today, he claims, is to rediscover the unity between two different visions of philosophy: philosophy as scientific discourse and philosophy as way of spiritual enlightenment. As scientific discourse, philosophy cannot exist as a reality in and for itself. It is only the expression of the experience and reflection of the philosopher. As a way of spiritual enlightenment, philosophy is closely linked to the discourse within which it is expressed. (Qu’est-ce que la philosophie antique? pp. 19-21). For our students today, philosophy is neither scientific nor a way of life. For them, it is either a tiresome activity of word-haggling or a discussion which never settles questions to anyone’s satisfaction. In the contemporary atmosphere of Post-Modernism, such a perspective engenders either cynicism or frustration. Hardly ever does it promote the sort of humility before the truth which can be the first step of the philosophical journey. Even less often does it promote in the student the conviction that they do, indeed, have moral stars by which they can navigate in life. In my ten years of university teaching, I have noticed an increase in student energy and attention ...

Implementation Plan Research Essay

Founded in 1899, Harrison Keyes has been a leader in publishing business, scientific and technical information. Due to recent changes in the industry, and an attempt to revamp its former successes, the company is in the process of redefining itself in the market. One major change is transforming the sales market from a printed version of books to an e-book platform. (University of Phoenix, 2007) Primary focus is on developing a full service site. This paper will identify companies that have faced specific issues related to those identified in the Harrison Keyes scenario (University of Phoenix, 2007) and related to the concepts of enter concepts. For each company the paper will: discuss the following the issue identified in the scenario that is also facing the company, how the company responded to the issue, and outcomes of the company’s response to the issue. Additionally, the paper will provide an analysis that synthesizes the key findings. The analysis will identify the key course concepts and compare and contrast the practices of each company related to those concepts Research Summaries NASA NASA, being a government agency that utilizes the expertise of private firms  for many of its projects, has developed a very articulate request for proposal (RFP). Requirements and features must be in enough detail that contractors have a clear description of the final deliverable that will meet the customer’s needs. In most cases the RFP also specifies an expected format for the contractor’s bid proposal so the responses of different contractors can be fairly evaluated. (Gray & Larson, 2005, p 52) This is to avoid ambiguity and provide an even ground to start from. When comparing the utilization of a RFP with NASA and Friar Tuck (FT), one may note that if FT had implemented a RFP, many of the issues the organization is facing could have been alleviated. With FT, a RFP delivered to all vendors involved would have provided the starting blocks of the project. Each company would have an opportunity to bid on a project that best suites their needs and expertise. This way, when the selected project is under way, the involved parties have an active, vested interest in the success and outcome of the project. HKIA Hong Kong International Airport was built with the expectation that there would be a large volume of travelers and goods going in and out on a daily basis. As demands increased, the airport authorities had the competence to create a work breakdown structure (WBS). The early stages of developing the outline serve to ensure that all tasks are identified and that participants of the project have an understanding of what is to be done. Once the outline and its detail are defined, an integrated information system can be developed to schedule work and allocate budgets. This baseline information is later used for control. (Gray & Larson, 2005, p.99) If Friar Tuck had implemented a WBS, there would have been a clearer understanding of the deliverables, the costs associated with each deliverable, when each deliverable was due and who was responsible for ensuring that his or her assigned work was completed within the allotted timeframe. Because budget and tasks appeared to be important, FT found itself with the goal but lacking details of how to execute. Because HKIA  realized that their greatest assets are the passengers and cargo, the organization took great lengths to ensure that the daily business transactions were not disrupted and that the airport was able to meet the demands placed upon it by its customers, which include passengers and cargo. Project planning at Harrison-Keyes has progressed to develop a WBS which is being worked within their existing functional organizational structure. A status check on Harrison-Keyes’s tact to project management demonstrates difficulties with task completion and employee behaviors. Organizations that choose to manage projects within their current functional structure face uphill battles between the functional silos. Project management within existing functional organizational structures has known advantages and disadvantages. Advantages are no changes, flexibility, in-depth expertise and easy post-project transition. Disadvantages to managing projects in this manner are lack of focus, poor integration, slow, and lack of ownership (Gray & Larson, 2006, p. 58). Harrison-Keyes has alternatives to consider provided the pros and cons of managing projects within their existing functional structure and the United States Department of Defense provides a benchmark for consideration. Conflict with the authors at H-K has to be addressed for a successful transition to an e-publishing company. As a benchmark examination for H-K, the DOD is commonly faced with large and complex project implementations which are riddled with differences of opinion between the functional branches of the service, the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Three types of conflict were identified by the DOD case along with effective measures to counteract the friction. The DOD recognized three types of conflicts which hindered project implementation in a functional organization, which are 1) interpersonal-based conflict, 2) task-based conflict and 3) process-based conflict (Sutterfield, et al, 2006). In response to identifying three broad-based conflict classifications the DOD case study created effective strategies to address them while managing projects. Interpersonal-based conflicts within projects at the DOD are addressed with a strategy to compromise and build collaborative relationship to create win-win discussions between functional areas (Sutterfield, et al, 2006). Task-based conflict resolution relies on an effective project manager navigating aspects of stakeholder’s position, power or influence. As a project manager evaluates these factors a determination can be made to deploy a competing, collaborating, or compromise strategy to effectively manage the project (Sutterfield, et al, 2006). Process-based conflict resolution is more clear-cut due to the sequential requirements of projects. A heavier-handed approach towards stakeholders is required as less flexibility can be allowed in order to move the project forward. If flexibility is allowable within the project step a more collaborative approach can be considered (Sutterfield, et al, 2006). A second case study of Honeywell, Inc. provides H-K the possibility of determining is a process breakdown structure (PBS) is better suited than the currently developed work breakdown structure (WBS). First let us look at 10 lessons learned by Honeywell in the use of PBS and contrast the potential into Harrison-Keyes’s situation. It is important to note that both Honeywell and H-K are faced with a dramatic shift in their business strategy. Honeywell’s experience yielded 10 lessons when attempting to make radical change in an organization. The 10 lessons learned were (Paper, et al, 2001): People are the key enablers of change Question everything People need a systemic methodology to map processes Create team ownership and a culture of dissatisfaction Management attitude and behavior can squash projects Bottom-up or empowered implementation Redesign must be business-driven and continuous IT is a necessary, but not sufficient, enabler Set stretch goals Execution is the real difference between success and failure Similar to Harrison-Keyes’s competitive requirements to change from print publishing to e-publishing, Honeywell faced competitive pressures to reduce defects by 1000% and production cycle-time by 500%. Honeywell dramatically changed its method at project implementation within the organization to accomplish successful results. Honeywell eliminated project management by tasks and details (WBS) in favor of managing them by process-orientation (PBS). Honeywell learned two key lessons in project implementation of radical change. The first lesson learned through Honeywell’s project execution through PBS was execution separates high performers from less successful PBS projects. The second lesson learned by Honeywell involved the identification of the difficulty of change not being sufficient enough. A critical step was to change the vision of the organization to reflect the radical change (Paper, et al, 2001). In addition to these two lessons, Honeywell experiences the behavioral aspect of project management as H-K. Honeywell found that successful execution is dependent upon behavioral change. Behavioral change was found to be extremely difficult and required time to be successful. The need for time is often in conflict with the need for quick profits (Paper, et al, 2001). Middle management was found to be the most resistant to change because of their dedicated knowledge skill-set versus process skill-set. Strong training programs coupled with pay for performance plans to provide financial incentives helped Honeywell overcome this hurdle. PayPal and YouTube are two of the biggest success stories since the dotcom bubble burst sometime after the year 2000. For all of the companies’ success there has been a well publicized and scrutinized series of shortcomings and fallbacks that could have been avoided. Risk management practices would have prepared these companies for growth and expansion while building their brand and could have possibly eliminated the issues they face today. PayPal burst onto the ecommerce scene in 1999. The public was just beginning to embrace the idea of shopping for everyday goods and services online but were weary about giving personal information to strangers or having to repeatedly enter credit card information online. PayPal was able to offer consumers a simple web interface and piece of mind by storing that sensitive data and allowing buyers and sellers to seamlessly complete online transactions. The thought that the website would explode and be the defacto payment solution on the Internet did not cross the designers mind and the risk was not properly assessed. PayPal has lost many customers and has had to fight many lawsuits due to poor planning. Even now PayPal is struggling to catch up while meeting the demand for their service. This same lack of a contingency plan could doom H-K as they search for a firm to perform the digital formatting. YouTube has become one of the most visited websites on the Internet in just a few short years. While the designer can be proud for creating a forum for all things video, he too can be blamed for not creating a risk management plan. Allowing users to upload their own videos has opened the door to copy righted material being available on the website. The networks and studios are slow to embrace the sight as a way to increase brand awareness and have instead blamed YouTube for declining revenues and ratings. Entire movies have been made available on the website the same day they were released in theaters providing some credence to the argument against the site. Had YouTube made alliances with the studios and networks prior to allowing users to upload videos they could have avoided the problem altogether. This is another case of a business that did not properly mitigate and assess the risk and now face the threat of lawsuits. General Electric and Siemens have successfully dealt with the issues of a corporate culture that negatively affected their ongoing project structure as well as a culture that fostered individuality among the various departments. HK faces similar problems in that its culture is one of individualism and lack of accountability that has led to a lack of consensus among its leadership as to project management structures, organizational culture, and creating and communicating that culture throughout the organization. GE has created a corporate culture that is not individualized by department like HKs, but instead involves all members of the GE community, its management, its employees, and its customers. GE has also created a corporate culture that dismisses politics as a means to an end. Through the changes to culture and GE’s team approach they were able to organize projects as dedicated teams within functional organizations. Culture has a considerable affect on the success rate at HK as well. Their organization’s culture has affected their projects. HK has hired a new CEO, Meg McGill, to move them into the strategic direction of â€Å"all things digital.† However, nowhere in her emails and correspondence among HK’s leadership did she address the change in culture in order to affect her strategic business objectives. Meg needs to implement a change in corporate culture like that of the CEO of Siemens Klaus Klenfeld, who changed the corporate culture to one where â€Å"Everyone, including the boss, is accountable. We commit to something, and we deliver† (Ewing, Jack, 2007). In order to affect this, Klenfeld has had to deploy hard tactics. By implementing a changed culture that emphasizes accountability, project management structures will become more thorough and thought out. Organizational culture and structure influence project management more than HK realizes. Addressing the culture of HK to one of accountability will go a long way in formalizing project management structures such as organizing those projects through dedicated teams; organize projects within the functional organizations of HK; organizing projects within a matrix; or organizing projects within their network organizations. GE organized their projects through dedicated teams, Siemens’ organized by  deploying hard tactics within their functional organizations, and both implemented these project structures by changing their corporate culture. HK must take similar steps in order to realize their business objectives. When University of Phoenix decided to implement e-books into the on-line learning system, the management knew that they needed a corporate strategy and high quality project management. The lack of the above mentioned items meant costly lawsuits because a great deal of authors opposed the idea of e-books due to possible fraud and copyright violations. The company was not able to avoid lawsuits, but it was able to protect itself from future legal issue and establish ground for strong digital contend on the learning websites. It was made possible by clearly defined corporate strategy and project management: In the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, Patrick G. McKeown, alleges that the Thomson Corporation and two of its subsidiaries sold a customized electronic version of his book Information Technology and the Networked Economy, to the _UNIVERSITY_ of _PHOENIX_ , which in turn has sold more than 23,000 copies to its students. (Mr. McKeown says an updated royalty statement he recently received shows that the actual number of copies sold by _PHOENIX_ is now about 45,000.) Thomson did not return telephone calls seeking comment. In a written statement, _PHOENIX_ said that it it honors intellectual-property rights of others, adding, â€Å"the _UNIVERSITY_ licensed its rights to use the textbook from a reputable, well-known publisher, that represented it had the appropriate rights to the book. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 2007). OnStar OnStar represent an example of Risk Response Development. OnStar provides wireless access to emergency and security services from General Motors vehicles. A great number of opponents were claiming that OnStar collect personal information and might use it for marketing and other purposes. The company did not try to refute the statement since the information is indeed collected: â€Å"You start [collecting] individual pieces of information that  seem benign,† he says. â€Å"But when you begin to combine bits of information it becomes less and less so.† White says OnStar, in storing data only in aggregate, is walking a fine line. â€Å"It is disingenuous to talk about aggregate data when you have the ability to differentiate it,† he says. There may not be a business case for creating individual profiles today, White adds, but there may be someday, and that’s when potential privacy violations will become a concern,† (CIO, 2006). The response of General Motors to the risk of having the idea of OnStar shot down due to the information collection, provoked the company to issue the results of the survey which indicated regardless of the above fact, a great number of drivers still choose OnStar: â€Å"It’s clear from the survey responses that women are looking for ways to enhance their peace of mind when driving — whether it’s a long-distance solo car trip, the daily commute to work, or simply ferrying kids to and from after school activities,† notes Chet Huber, OnStar President. â€Å"Ninety four percent of female subscribers say that OnStar provides peace of mind when they’re traveling alone; 87 percent of female subscribers say that OnStar provides that peace of mind when loved ones are traveling. And more than 70 percent of OnStar’s female subscribers tell us they prefer or will only purchase an OnStar equipped vehicle,† (OnStar, 2006). Researched Company Synopses Since its inception in 1958, NASA has accomplished many great scientific and technological feats in air and space. (NASA, 2007) With its continued research and development programs, the agency has provided a renewed interest in space, the planet and the environment in general. _Identified Issue_ NASA, in its quest to improve manned space exploration, began the Ares project. The project was initially created to develop a rocket that would enable astronauts to travel to the moon and eventually to the planet Mars. The organization needed assistance from private firms in the creation of the avionics unit that crew members would use to control navigation, guidance and other hardware (NASA, 2007). The organization needed to implement a process that would ensure that the winning contract go to the most qualified company. _Response to the Issue_ In order to ensure that the organization brings in a highly qualified private firm that knows exactly what NASA is looking for, the project team created a request for proposal. The issues covered included, but not limited to: 1. Synopsis of requirements and request for action 2. Statement of work (SOW) detailing the scope and major deliverables 3. Deliverable specifications/requirements, features, and tasks 4. Responsibilities–vendor and customer 5. Project timetable 6. Costs and payment schedule 7. Type of contract 8. Experience and staffing 9. Evaluation criteria (Gray & Larson, 2005, p. 52) _Outcome_ The organization, after interviewing and investigating several well qualified firms, hired the Boeing Company to provide support for both design and  production. Crew transportation to the International Space Station is planned to begin no later than 2014. The first lunar excursion is scheduled for the 2020 timeframe. (NASA, 2007) In 1998, the Hong Kong International Airport was opened. The construction took 6 years and cost upwards of $20 Billion USD. Although constructed under British Colonial rule, the airport began operations under Chinese law. As the world’s fifth busiest international passenger airport and most active worldwide air cargo operation, HKIA sees nearly 800 aircraft take off and land every day. (Hong Cong Airport, 2002) _Identified Issue_ As business increased at the airport, the ramp-handling operations began to experience delays. Aircraft ramp handling refers to services on the ramp for an aircraft. It includes loading and unloading of baggage, air cargo and air mail onto the aircraft, and transportation between the aircraft and the passenger terminal, air cargo terminals and the air mail centre. In addition, ramp handling services cover preparation for delivery onto aircraft of bulk baggage and baggage containers, aircraft loading bridge operation, and passenger stairs operation. (Hong Kong Airport, 2002) The airport needed a solution that would not impact the daily operations of the facilities. _Response to the Issue_ The HKIA leadership team decided to implement a wireless-enabled ramp management solution, which would enables control room staff to monitor the entire airport using computer terminals, links to airport-specific databases and existing IT infrastructure, as well as covers finance and accounting. (Hewlett Packard, 2003) In order to roll out the project, a work breakdown structure needed to be implemented. This allowed the team to align itself with the scope, define deliverables, create work packages, and assign specific duties to all involved. _Outcome_ The wireless-enabled ramp management solution integration was completed without incident, as far as daily airport activities were concerned. The ability to apply the technology into the existing wired network infrastructure meant that employees had options in accessing data, and performing their duties. Ramp workers are able to receive current operational information, more efficient utilization of employees throughout the facility, increase security through more accurate recording, and the ramp-handling operations has been able to keep up ith demands. (Hewlett Packard, 2003) _Identified Issue: Defining the elements of a project – Process Breakdown Structure (PBS)_ When an organization faces projects to produce tangible outcomes, such as design and building, WBS is an ideal way to attack them. When radical change in an organization is needed through a series of steps or phases, PBS is best suited to complete the project (Gray & Larson, 2006). Harrison-Keyes is striving for a radical change in transitioning the operation from print publishing to e-publishing. Honeywell, Incorporated serves as an example for Harrison-Keyes to benchmark as a similar radical change faced Honeywell in 1989. Harrison-Keyes should note that to drive transformational change as Honeywell accomplished then a PBS approach over a WBS should be considered. Honeywell began to experience lagging performance results in its industrial automation and control (IAC) business unit. Global competition was requiring manufacturing firms to operate more efficiently than ever before while maintaining high levels of quality. Customers from around the world ranging from refineries, chemical plants and paper mills purchased Honeywell’s TDC 3000X system to achieve world-class process control capability. Defects, production cycle-time and materials management had to be improved to remain competitive (D. Paper, J. Rodger & P. Pendarker, 2001). _Response to the Issue_ As a result of lagging performance a world-class -manufacturing (WCM) program was undertaken over a three-year period. Radical improvement measures were established to reduce defects by 1000% and production cycle-time by 500% (Paper, et al, 2001). To accomplish these revolutionary results Honeywell focused on processes and not detailed tasks. Multi-skilled workers in charge of building entire products or modules were favored over individual workers in a functional department. Resources were assigned to processes over individual tasks and factories were shut down for an intensive 6-hour training session with the need for radical change emphasized (Paper, et al, 2001). Employee motivation was instituted through pay for performance plans which were tied to salaried workers performance reviews. Through Honeywell’s PBS experience 10 key lessons of success were identified but two of them were identified as most critical to the outcome. _Outcome_ The two most critical lessons learned the Honeywell’s adaptation of radical change through PBS were 1) execution separates high performers from less successful PBS projects and 2) identification of the difficulty of change is not sufficient enough. The vision of the organization must change to reflect radical change (Paper, et al, 2001). The Honeywell PBS experience found that execution that is dependent upon behavioral change is extremely difficult and requires time to be successful. This is often in direct conflict with an organization’s requirements for quick profits and impatience (Paper, et al, 2001). Honeywell found the largest obstacle to successfully implementing via a PBS method was middle management resistance. Employees in middle management positions were notorious for being experts in their specific areas and the transition to a process expert over a specific functional area proved difficult to accomplish. With strong training programs and incentives, Honeywell overcame this hurdle and was eventually successfully in transforming the organization. _Identified Issue – Project Management Structure within a Functional  Organization_ Organizations often approach project management through their existing functional hierarchy and Harrison-Keyes is no different as it proceeds towards its adaptation to e-publishing. When organizations choose to adapt project management within their existing hierarchical structure they accept the disadvantages of this choice, which are lack of focus, poor integration, slowness, and lack of ownership (Gray & Larson, 2006). Similar to Harrison-Keyes, the Department of Defense (DOD) operates project management within a functional hierarchy with a dedicated project manager coordinating traffic. In a case study of the DOD project, Light Amphibian Heavy-Lift (LAMP-H), the disadvantages parallel Harrison-Keyes’s situation. The DOD’s experience serves as a benchmark for failure of project management within a functional organization and proposes a model to offset the issues that are encountered. _Response to the Issue_ Managing projects in the DOD has been described as the most complex process and the most difficult to manage under the best circumstances (J. Sutterfield, S. Friday-Stroud & S. Shivers-Blackwell, 2006). The Navy, Army, and Air Force compromise a formidable functional structure to navigate when coordinating projects. In the case of the LAMP-H project, three types of conflicts were identified in hindering the project, 1) interpersonal-based conflict, 2) task-based conflict and 3) process-based conflict (Sutterfield, et al, 2006). In response to identifying three broad-based conflict classifications the DOD case study created effective strategies to address them while managing projects. _Outcome_ Interpersonal-based conflict within the LAMP-H project was addressed with a strategy to compromise and build collaborative relationships. When the Army, Navy, and Air Force created win-win discussions all details of the LAMP-H project were agreed upon which resulted in a successful outcome of the  project (Sutterfield, et al, 2006). Task-based conflict resolution strategy is dependent upon the project manager and stakeholder’s position, power or influence. As a project manager evaluates these factors a determination can be made to deploy a competing, collaborating, or compromise strategy to effectively manage the project (Sutterfield, et al, 2006). Process-based conflict resolution cannot be influenced by a project manager because of the sequential requirements of a project. In other words, a step has to occur in its proper order for the project to proceed. This affords a heavier-handed approach towards stakeholders as less flexibility can be allowed in order to move the project forward. Because of this constraint, a competitive strategy to resolve conflict can be deployed. If flexibility is allowable within the project step a more collaborative approach can be considered (Sutterfield, et al, 2006). Successful conflict management within a project managed within a functional structure increases the likelihood of a project meeting with success. The Project-Conflict Management Framework developed from the DOD LAMP-H project provides Harrison-Keyes a methodology to resolve the current e-publishing project issues. Risk Management YouTube is a popular website that allows people to post, watch, and share video clips at no charge. While the site was initially created so the designer could share home movies with family members in other states, the website quickly caught on with the public and was soon a household name. In October, â€Å"2006 web juggernaut Google purchased YouTube for 1.65 Billion dollars in stock. Some analysts considered this a risky investment despite the 100 million plus page views YouTube receives daily† (Wood, 2006). In an article written by Daniel Wood of the Christian Science Monitor â€Å"many users cannot get enough of the idea and love the service because it is entertaining, informative, and a community of sharing things; but some concepts are too good to be true† (Wood, 2006). At any given time there are thousands of copyrighted videos illegally being shown on YouTube. â€Å"YouTube completely missed the boat by not immediately identifying the risk with  allowing user s to upload videos and making deals with television and movie studios prior to launching their service† (Wood, 2006). As news of lawsuits and boycotts spread YouTube has taken the stance that they have done everything in their power to remove copy written material from their site and are also quick to remove any videos that receive a complaint from a studio. Some users have received â€Å"cease and desist† letters from attorneys and are facing the threat of a lawsuit if copyrighted material is not taken down immediately (Wood, 2006). Recently Viacom announced a one billion dollar lawsuit against YouTube while accusing the company of â€Å"massive intentional copyright infringement† (Cashmore, 2007). Although consumers seem to enjoy the unlimited access to copyrighted work, other stakeholders are not dealing with the risks as well. â€Å"YouTube board members are becoming increasingly skeptical and worry that impending lawsuits and copyright issues will eventually do them in since they are not making a large profit† (Cashmore, 2007). In their defense the creator of YouTube obviously did not recognize the scope of this type of service in when it was created but Google knew exactly what it was getting into when they purchased the upstart company. Prior to Google purchasing YouTube members of the media predicted that the lack of a business model and persistent problems with copyright would eventually bankrupt the company (Murray, 2006). Analysts were comparing YouTube to Napster and imagined the company would soon suffer the same fate as the former king of peer to peer file sharing. Google undoubtedly recognized the risk involved with their purchase of YouTube but due to their deep pockets they can afford to take that risk while working on a solution that can appease copyright holders. â€Å"What Google ultimately wants to do is work with the companies that have their material posted by others on YouTube and give them a share of the profit from the add revenue† (Taylor, 2006). In order to do this, Google will have to create a suitable formula for  projecting profit amounts and will then have to negotiate with outside companies for agreements to avoid future legal issues. The explosion of YouTube has excited consumers and led some to predict the end of television reign, but has caused issues for almost everyone else involved. There was no legal and/or contractual consideration involved during the design or implementation stage and a strategy was never identified along with the project details. Paypal eBay Incorporated is an online auction site that provides buyers and sellers a place to trade goods and services for a fee. The site has made billions of dollars as the world’s largest online marketplace without the use of warehouse space, inventory or salespeople. â€Å"Pierre Omidyar initially launched Auction Web during the infancy on the Internet in 1995 as a market to sale collectible and rare items. Auction Web incorporated and changed its name to eBay in 1996 as the site was becoming more popular with everyday users† (Marketline, 2006). â€Å"PayPal was launched in 1999 under the name Confinity. The idealistic vision of the company was one of a borderless currency free from governmental controls. However, PayPal’s success quickly drew the attention of hackers, scam artists and organized crime groups, who used the service for frauds and money laundering† (Grabianowski, 2007). The payment system also caught on with the online auction community who found it was a safe and easy way to make and receive payments for goods without having to exchange sensitive information. â€Å"The site grew far too quickly for PayPal to handle and as a result the customers suffered† (Marketline, 2006). PayPal was able to work out some of the issues associated with their system but for the most part were always one step behind the criminals and scammers that were a threat to their system. When dealing with money it is essential that the risk is evaluated prior to taking the first transaction. In July of 2002 eBay announced they were purchasing PayPal for 1.5 billion dollars and phasing out their own fledgling payment section. While some buyers and sellers assumed PayPal is a bank, PayPal is actually an â€Å"account based system that services approximately 96 million total accounts which are available to users in 55 markets. The 96 million total PayPal accounts include approximately 19 million business and 77 million personal accounts† (Marketline, 2006). With the deep pockets of eBay behind the company, analysts assumed the security issues that were prevalent in the early days of PayPal would be quickly shored up. In fact fraud was occurring on the PayPal system in record amounts and the payment system soon caught the eye of government regulators who were forced to step in and investigate. â€Å"Regulators and attorney generals in several states, including New York and California, fined PayPal for violations and investigated the company’s business practices. Some states, such as Louisiana, banned PayPal from operating in their states altogether† (Grabianowski, 2007). PayPal has since received licenses to operate in those places but lost millions of dollars in revenues while playing catch up. Security issues were not the only problem that PayPal faced. In October of 2004, PayPal experienced five days of power outages. The Sudbury Star reported â€Å"continued intermittent service outages despite furious attempts to repair the ailing online payment service† (2004). There was a possibility that due to the system setup and lack of redundancy across the network that many accounts could be lost forever or profoundly affected by the power losses. PayPal had been playing catch up since 1999 and it looked like time was catching up to them (Grabianowski, 2007). The power outage allowed some but not all users to complete online transactions which resulted in a very frustrating situation for PayPal users and caused some long time account holders to close their PayPal account altogether. General Electric Co. – Robert Reimer _Similar Issue Facing GE/Harrison-Keyes Publications, Inc._ Harrison-Keyes is faced with a corporate culture that is different for every  department. Corporate politics has become the norm for any decision that needs to be made. The corporate culture that fosters a self-centered approach to results, coupled with their lack of project structure, has led them to failure to implement a successful plan. General Electric (GE) has faced similar issues in its long and illustrious history and has dealt with them in such a way as to build GE into a recognized global business leader. Specifically, GE has the following issues that they have confronted and that currently face Harrison-Keyes: 1. Aligning organizational culture with project structure to achieve their corporate strategies, 2. Create a corporate culture that does not tolerate corporate politics and in fact breeds a cooperative environment between management, employee, and the customer/authors, and 3. Identifying managers that are talented and that will perform. _GE’s Response to the Issues_ The former CEO of GE, Jack Welch, the recognized business leader of the twentieth century, has stated that â€Å"If you ran a baseball team, who would you want to hang out with? The head of player personnel or the chief accountant?† (ABA Banking Journal, 2006) Mr. Welch’s point is that in business, as in sports, â€Å"the whole game is about talent-whoever fields the best team wins. Nothing you do is more important as building talent. Spend at least half your time developing people† (ABA Banking Journal, 2006). GE has developed managers by encouraging their input and to take chances and by allowing them to take on leadership roles at young ages. GE has relied on performance based initiatives and rewards risk takers. As Mr. Welch has stated, â€Å"give people chances to try new things and run things when they’re 30, not 50. If you’re spending all your time developing good people†¦they can’t wait for you to grow. If you want new things, take care of the people who try things. When they make mistakes, praise them, or they’ll become afraid to make mistakes† (ABA Banking Journal, 2006). GE has also created a corporate culture that dismisses politics as a means to and end and encourages a culture that involves all members of the GE community, its senior management, its employees, and its customers. GE’s success has developed based on defining a corporate culture that is not individualized  by department but practiced as an organization. GE’s success is based on the acronym LATIN. Leadership in that they make sure they have the right leaders for the job and at the right time; Adaptability by developing flexible strategies; Talent by investing in high potential people; Influence by being a company that is proactive instead of reactive, and ; Networks wherein expectations are met by maintaining discipline and consistency (PR Newswire, 2007). This creates a corporate cult ure that advances the overall goals of GE, involves the entire company, and results in not only the creation, but the communication of this culture that results in projects that are structured for success. _Outcomes of GE’s Response_ The result of these corporate strategies and the resulting project structure has been that GE increased production and has empowered its employees by adopting a program called Work-Out (D’O’Brian, Joseph, 1994). This program was created following a â€Å"town meeting† format wherein employees at all levels are asked to gather and solve problems, ultimately coming up with solutions to specific problems. When they are done they pass these along to senior management. This program has changed the relationship between management-employee in several ways, the most significant being that it has â€Å"horizontalized the company to some degree: Individual accountability for specific products and functions is maintained, but it is easier for any employees to take a hand in improving the making or doing of any specific thing† (D’O’Brian, Joseph, 1994). As to identifying managers that are talented and will perform, Jack Welch, former CEO of GE advocates the policy of firing the worst performing staff on a yearly basis. Although controversial, this tactic has not harmed GE’s performance (MacAskill, John, 2007).

New Product Management

1. INTRODUCTION Apple has recently decided to launch a new idea by offering home-automation system based on the new iPhone technology, called â€Å"electronic butler†. The company is hoping that, based on the brand’s reputation, the home-automation system will be very well received by the customers. The air conditioning begins cooling, lights adjust to people liking, curtains open and the stereo plays soft, soothing jazz. Home-automation system is a new life experience. The '60s and '70s were the decades of the mainframe, the '80s made up the decade of client-server computing, and the '90s were the Internet years.Now Apple is entering the decade of the home-automation system. The home-automation system will have a good business prospects. COMPANY’S BACKGROUND Apple, founded in 1976 by Steven P. Jobs and Steve Wozniak, is not just the world’s largest technology company; it is the world’s most highly valued public company. Over the last decade, Apple has redefined the music business through the iPod, the cellphone business through the iPhone and the entertainment and media world through the iPad. Although, Apple already boasted the largest market value of any public company, on Aug. 0, 2012, it became the most highly valued public company ever. According to numbers from the World Bank, there are only 18 countries that have a GDP above $500 billion, while Apple’s market cap stands at approximately $506 billion. COMPANY’S MISSION STATEMENT It was widely reported that a famous quote from Steve Jobs in the 1980's was the Apple company mission statement: â€Å"Man is the creator of change in this world. As such he should be above systems and structures, and not subordinate to them. The â€Å"official† mission statement on the Apple corporation website, however, is not really a mission statement at all, but rather a list of products and past accomplishments. â€Å"Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad. †(3) Technology services to the life.I would say that the Apple’s mission statement is in accordance to the new product they want to bring into the market. New product’s purpose is to offer very good quality services that improve the lives of the world’s consumers. 2. OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS POTENTIAL SIZE OF THE MARKET Apple Inc. ‘s success selling consumer gadgets has pushed its share price above $500, cementing its place as the U. S. ‘s largest company, with a market capitalization of $475 billion. Home-automation system is based on the company’s new technology and iPhone, such a large sales and market share will bring new product a good potential size of the market.COMPETITION Apple is pursuing a broad differentiation strategy. Apple differentiates by offering high-quality, exceptional design, and personalized service. The scope of their strategy is broad targeting customers ranging from unsophisticated beginner users to specials needs power-users. Home-automation system is a new market and area, Apple intends to differentiate itself from the competitors by offering brand new home-automation system service that most competitors are not currently offering.Apple can use the new technology and the contact between the system and iPhone to increase competitive advantage. Apple had $127. 8 billion in sales during the 2012 calendar year, putting it neck-and-neck with Hewlett-Packard, the nation's largest tech company by revenue. This year, Apple is on pace to become the biggest technology company in the world, measured by revenue, outpacing current global No. 1 Samsung. These two companies are the main competitors o f Apple. (1) COMPANY’S RESOURCESApple’s most important resources and capabilities are Steve Jobs, the CEO, and the integrated system of hardware and software that the firm has developed and successfully marketed to derive value. While Apple’s designers, programmers, and engineers each represent key resources the ability of the firm to exploit their abilities to create their entire software/hardware ecosystem is the firm’s key capability. (1) The Apple stores have provided the company with an important physical presence to act as both a sales location and an advertisement. The stores allow Apple to ightly control the image of the brand and provide excellent customer service. Apple tops many retailers in in-store sales, generating $4,032 per retail square foot per year, beating other retailers like Tiffany & Co. at $2,666 and Best Buy at only $930. This is a great display platform for the new product. A good product needs professional design and production. Apple’s incredible industrial design capability is a function of their innovative design teams, led by Jonathan Ive, senior vice president of industrial design, and the firm’s prioritization of design and outsourced production.CORPORATE POLICY The new service needs a good social environment. Although companies worldwide are facing the possibility of restrictive carbon emissions regulation, Apple is uniquely positioned to lead the electronics industry in promoting ‘green’ production, while taking full advantage of opportunities arising from new technological trends and sociocultural preferences concerning the fully-integrated, mobile digital lifestyle. (3) 3. SWOT ANALSIS AND OBJECTIVES S. W. O. T. ANALYSIS Strengths: Relationship with OEMs – Apple has outsourced all of its manufacturing processes to OEM partners in China, like Foxconn and Hon Hai Precision Industry while focusing on design internally. * Apple store – New product needs a nice sale place. The Apple stores have provided the company with an important physical presence to act as both a sales location and an advertisement. * Industrial Design Capability – Apple’s incredible industrial design capability is a function of their innovative design teams, and the firm’s prioritization of design and outsourced production. 2) Weakness: * Price – Having premium products means that those products can be expensive for many consumers. The expensive of products is a major turnoff for consumers who are looking for a product of minimal quality standards. The new product needs to control the price. Opportunities: * International Expansion – Apple’s product sales all over the world, it will bring a large market for new product. Strong international presence and expansion should increase growth and profits. New – Home-automation system is a new service for the market and customer, it can also extends to new office automation te chnology. Threats: * Global Slowdown – A global slowdown or recession will hurt all companies, but mostly those whose products sell in economies that experience the worst declines. Especially multinational corporations like Apple. * Currency Volatility – As the US dollar changes in value, this creates uncertainty in contract negotiations. If the dollar were to change after a contract was signed, then one party to the contract would lose out on gains and the other party would win. . MARKETING OBJECTIVES Home-automation system’s main and most important objective is to establish a new, effective, and has not been developed over market, while increasing Apple’s brand awareness. REFERENCE 1. http://www. scribd. com/doc/24134877/Strategic-Analysis-of-Apple-Inc-Brian-Masi 2. http://www. wikiwealth. com/swot-analysis:aapl 3. Apple Inc. Apple and the Environment Apple Inc. , 2009. Web, 28 Nov. 2009. . New Product Management

Famine, Affluence and Morality Peter Singer Essays

Famine, Affluence and Morality Peter Singer Essays Famine, Affluence and Morality Peter Singer Essay Famine, Affluence and Morality Peter Singer Essay Explain and critically assess Singers argument for our obligation to relieve suffering in the third world. Why does the argument erode the traditional distinction between duty and charity? How would deontological and utilitarian theories of ethics view Singers argument?Singers main contention in Famine, Affluence and Morality, the article under consideration, is that our way of conducting ourselves morally ought to be revised. He thinks that if it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without sacrificing anything else of moral importance, or without making another bad thing happen, then we have a moral obligation to do it. What Singer means is that each one of us has the power to prevent what is bad and affect the rest of the world, however disparate and remote. Let us say that we are in a situation where we can, and should, prevent something morally bad from happening but we let it pass us by and do not try to prevent it.For Singer, this is not just laziness or co wardice, but moral wrongdoing. We ought morally to prevent it. I agree with Singers point here; it is true and uncontroversial (although his argument doesnt remain that way when he develops it further). He goes on to say that although everyone in their right mind would agree with this ideal, few people put it into practice by for example helping the people of Bengal. If people acted out their principles, Singer says, then todays worldwide society would be fundamentally changed.Singer then adds to this argument by saying that the existence or not of proximity, and the number of people prepared to help, should not make any difference to our moral obligations, namely, the fact that the Bengali refugees are tens of thousands of miles away should not lessen our obligations to them. Secondly, the fact that millions of others around a person are doing nothing to help is no excuse for one person not doing anything. One may feel less guilty about doing nothing to help if one can point to oth ers in the same situation, yet this cannot make a real difference to ones moral obligations. Therefore, inaction in the face of a problem like this for whatever reason is morally indefensible.My argument against these points is that one would very naturally feel a stronger connection with someone closer to one than with a person further away. This would lead one to feel a stronger responsibility to help that person if they were in need of assistance, and would mean that help would be more likely to take place in the first place, rather than not at all. Also, one would be in a better position to decide how precisely to help someone near to one than if that person were far away. Singer defends his position by arguing (using the Kantian theory of universalizing an idea) that we have no excuse to discriminate against a person merely because he is far away from us. The development of the world into a global village where transport and communication are almost immediate has made moral res ponsibilities less limited.Singers argument raises an interesting point about the difference in definition between duty and charity; nowadays charity is not generally considered a duty, whereas Singer is saying that it should be. Not enough people think or say that we are under a moral obligation to donate money to charity. A person may be praised for their generosity if they donate money to charity, but they are not condemned if they do not. People may give money to charity because it is a good thing to do, or because it gives them a sense of wellbeing, but they probably do not give it away because they think that they would be guilty of wrongdoing.Singers argument erodes this traditional distinction by stating that we ought to give our money away and it is wrong not to do so. We spend our money on clothes we do not necessarily need, so would not be sacrificing anything of moral importance if we were to give that money to charity and keep enough clothes to stay warm. Singer is sayi ng that most people would prefer to save a Bengali child from famine by donating money to charity while at the same time sacrificing some of their own luxuries. On the other hand, choosing to spend that money on unnecessary clothes and goods, whilst being aware of the Bengali childs situation, seems immoral. In the way we live our everyday lives, we are choosing the latter, and are thus seriously guilty of moral wrongdoing, according to Singer.However, if thought through, Singers ideal still encounters problems; one only has to think about the consequences of his ideal to see how meaningless it would become. If Singers argument was consistently applied, and we gave away everything apart from that which we needed for basic necessities no one would have any money to give to charity, because no one would have a job. No one would have a job because anyone who might have supplied one is now living at subsistence level, having donated his money to the Bengali people.Also, earned income ha s a value in a moral sense. When everything else seems unsure, an earned luxury is the certain, concrete assurance of your power to obtain good things. It may also be a reward you pay yourself for goals that you have reached. It offers evidence to your senses that your life is good. As a result, although giving most of your money away to the relief fund might be the right thing to do in Singers eyes, probably not many people would jump for joy at the idea. Furthermore, since Singer holds to his argument so strongly, I wonder if he actually gives away all of his money apart from that which he needs for basic necessities. If not, maybe he is waiting for the rest of the world to sacrifice harder before he starts to worry about his own hypocrisy.Singers main point in this article is that the whole way we look at moral issues our moral conceptual scheme needs to be altered, and with it, the way of life that has come to be taken for granted in our society. This is a major argument he is putting forward, and would be true if his basis for this point was valid, which I do not think it is. I agree with Singer on most of the points he makes in this article; it cant be argued against that if one is able to prevent something bad from happening, one has a moral obligation to do it. Nevertheless, whether or not your action or duty is determined to be moral or immoral depends on how you go about solving the problem at hand.Singer cries out at the end of the article, pleading that it is not enough for us to agree with him and discuss this problem; we have to act upon it, and change the way we look at moral issues. However, I do not think that his practical solution of donating our money to charity and sacrificing some of our luxuries is the most advantageous solution to the Bengali people.Singer concentrates his whole argument on one part of the problem in Bengal: people are suffering and need to be assisted. When trying to find a solution to the problem, though, Singer pro poses a solution to the fact that the Bengali people are suffering, rather than trying to solve the cause of their suffering. I say that you can either give enough of your income away so that a Bengali child has enough money to buy one bowl of food, or you can ask yourself why the political and social system in Bengal is not working as well as ours does.I think that his hypothetical thought experiments, for example the child drowning in the pond, are misleading and irrelevant to the real problem that he is discussing. His thought experiments only let you think of the solution in a linear way; the only possible right thing that you can do is to save the drowning child. Also, it is irrelevant to the real problem because one needs to ask oneself why the Bengali people are in the situation that obtains. Singer has twisted his thought experiments so that they only deal with the here and now; it seems absurd to ask why the child is in the pond in the first place, which is what we should d o.Singer declares that constant poverty, a cyclone and civil war were the reasons why the people of Bengal were suffering so much. Nowadays the country is ruled with an iron fist, and the rights of individual Bangladeshis, including the right to own property, are denied. Wealth cannot be accumulated in Bangladesh because those who would create it know that it will be taken from them by force. Large-scale, long-term trade is nearly impossible, so no one benefits from the sale of goods, luxury or otherwise. As a consequence, millions die and millions more barely subsist. If this is happening today, it is interesting to think how much worse the situation was in 1971, when Bengal was in the middle of civil war with Pakistan.The situation in Bengal will not get worse if you buy some nice clothes or go to the cinema. Our wealth is beside the point. What we can do to help is ask ourselves if the social system of Bengal would benefit if it were more like ours. This leads to an interesting q uestion as to whether it is better or not to create more capitalist societies. Singer, being a bio ethicist and a strong anti-war and animal rights protester, would probably think that a capitalist society would not benefit anybody. Maybe that is why he has fashioned a way to make the fact of the Bengali peoples suffering an excuse to ignore the cause of their suffering.This is where a consideration of a utilitarian viewpoint might be useful. If you were to give money away, whilst sacrificing some of your wealth-acquired luxuries, to the Bengal Relief Fund, maybe you would make one Bengali less hungry for a week, but you would not make him any less poor. Perhaps you would be happy at the thought of helping someone in a dire situation, and a few Bengalis might be happier but for no longer than a week or so. Also, you would of course be less happy as you would be sacrificing some of your luxuries. To promote the greatest happiness among the greatest number of people, as the utilitaria n theory goes, one would have to find a way to satisfy the Bengalis long term needs. What Bengal needs more than anything else is a regime change which will take care of the countrys long term needs. This is best left to governments and politicians rather than individuals. The question of how this idea impinges on the Coalition invasion of Iraq is an interesting one.In conclusion, I think Singer means for the best, although I cannot see how his solution is the best possible one. Help the Bengalis, but not by self-sacrifice. Is Singers real purpose to use self-sacrifice in order to help the Bengalis, or is it to use the Bengali people as a means to effect self-sacrifice? Self-sacrifice seems to me to be the ends, not the means. We could help Singer to achieve his goal by burning money in a bonfire equally as well as by donating money to Oxfam.

The Best, Most Famous Plays by Harold Pinter

The Best, Most Famous Plays by Harold Pinter Born: October 10th, 1930 (London, England) Died: December 24th, 2008 â€Å"I’ve never been able to write a happy play, but I’ve been able to enjoy a happy life.† -Harold Pinter Comedy of Menace To say that Harold Pinter’s plays are unhappy is a gross understatement. Most critics have labeled his characters â€Å"sinister† and â€Å"malevolent.† The actions within his plays are bleak, dire, and purposely without purpose. The audience leaves bewildered with a queasy feeling – an uneasy sensation, as though you were supposed to do something terribly important, but you can’t remember what it was. You leave the theater a bit disturbed, a bit excited, and more than bit unbalanced. And that’s just the way Harold Pinter wanted you to feel. Critic Irving Wardle used the term, â€Å"Comedies of Menace† to describe Pinter’s dramatic work. The plays are fueled by intense dialogue that seems disconnected from any sort of exposition. The audience rarely knows the background of the characters. They don’t even know if the characters are telling the truth. The plays do offer a consistent theme: domination. Pinter described his dramatic literature as an analysis of â€Å"the powerful and the powerless.† Though his earlier plays were exercises in absurdity, his later dramas became overtly political. During the last decade of his life, he focused less on writing and more on political activism (of the left-wing variety). In 2005 he won the Nobel Prize for Literature. During his Nobel lecture he stated: â€Å"You have to hand it to America. It has exercised a quite clinical manipulation of power worldwide while masquerading as a force for universal good.† Politics aside, his plays capture a nightmarish electricity that jolts the theater. Here is a brief look at the best of Harold Pinter’s plays: The Birthday Party (1957) A distraught and disheveled Stanley Webber may or may not be a piano player. It may or may not be his birthday. He may or may not know the two diabolically bureaucratic visitors that have come to intimidate him. There are many uncertainties throughout this surreal drama. However, one thing is definite: Stanley is an example of a powerless character struggling against powerful entities. (And you can probably guess who is going to win.) The Dumbwaiter (1957) It has been said that this one act play was the inspiration for the 2008 film In Bruges. After viewing both the Colin Farrell movie and the Pinter play, it is easy to see the connections. â€Å"The Dumbwaiter† reveals the sometimes boring, sometimes anxiety-ridden lives of two hit men – one is a seasoned professional, the other is newer, less sure of himself. As they wait to receive orders for their next deadly assignment, something rather odd happens. The dumbwaiter at the back of the room continually lowers down food orders. But the two hit men are in a grungy basement – there’s no food to prepare. The more the food orders persist, the more the assassins turn on each other. The Caretaker (1959) Unlike his earlier plays, The Caretaker was a financial victory, the first of many commercial successes. The full-length play takes place entirely in a shabby, one-room apartment owned by two brothers. One of the brothers is mentally disabled (apparently from electro-shock therapy). Perhaps because he isn’t very bright, or perhaps out of kindness, he brings a drifter into their home. A powerplay begins between the homeless man and the brothers. Each character talks vaguely about things they want to accomplish in their life – but not one of the characters lives up to his word. The Homecoming (1964) Imagine you and your wife travel from America to your hometown in England. You introduce her to your father and working class brothers. Sounds like a nice family reunion, right? Well, now imagine your testosterone-mad relatives suggest that your wife abandon her three children and stay on as a prostitute. And then she accepts the offer! That’s the kind of twisted mayhem that occurs throughout Pinter’s devious Homecoming. Old Times (1970) This play illustrates the flexibility and fallibility of memory. Deeley has been married to his wife Kate for over two decades. Yet, he apparently does not know everything about her. When Anna, Kate’s friend from her distant bohemian days, arrives they begin talking about the past. The details are vaguely sexual, but it seems that Anna recalls having a romantic relationship with Deeley’s wife. And so begins a verbal battle as each character narrates what they remember about yesteryear – though it’s uncertain whether those memories are a product of truth or imagination.

Leadership Self-Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leadership Self-Assessment - Essay Example Of importance to me has been to find time after reading for reflection. This way, I am able to gain insights and understanding to what I have read. However, I still face limitations in certain crucial areas. I seem to be more focused on developing relationships; seeking to please my followers at the expense of exuding the legitimate power and authority of being a leader. My leadership style would best fit the style approach of the 1940s as documented by Buchbinder and Shanks (2012). Therefore, I would have to work on the use of leadership legitimate power to influence action on my followers. This would be crucial for leading followers to delivering organisational goals without being compromised. Different situations would call for different strategies. This, perhaps, follows the situational theory documented by Rubino et al. (2014) which postulates that leaders adopt different styles for different situations. I do not evade from responsibility and would accept the consequences of my action. Where I lack knowledge, I always consult other sources, accepting ideas from others. In case of undesirable situations, my guide would be to seek the necessary change to realize the desired outcomes. However, there are crucial circumstances when I seek to hide behind vocabularies. Such are the times when I am faced with a need to immediately respond to certain concerns whereas I do not have ready response. By using complex vocabularies, I leave my audience perplexed and get away with the issue. Just as in other organisations, conflicts are also bound to occur in healthcare. As a leader, it would be important to appreciate the argument by Rigolosi (2013) that conflict resolution has no single static approach. Even so, I appreciate that as a leader, I am compromising, accommodating and avoiding, key aspects of conflict resolution cited by the scholar. I take responsibility for my actions and would always be open to ideas from other people.