A view from the bridge Essay Example for Free

Theology Essays - Catholic Theology, Jesus, God, Sola Fide

Religious philosophy Numerous kids are raised as Catholics and remain Catholics, while numerous youngsters grow up to loathe the religion. Should guardians press their youngsters to be Catholic? Can't their kids lead great and satisfying lives without the philosophical things accomplished when one decides to get strict? What is the distinction that an ecclesial confidence in Jesus Christ makes for an individual and for the world? Having confidence in God gives individuals constant ethics, direction and something to trust in other than possibility. Ethics are distinctive in each general public and change after some time as people groups' qualities and perspectives change. Despite the fact that skeptics can have great ethics, their standards may change after some time. Rather than following what is happening in our general public, having confidence in God and his ways gives perpetual ethics that are constantly suitable and harmony everlasting. It gives Catholics security realizing that what they are doing is correct. ?Jesus utilized these invitational and provocative types of discourse ? apothegms and illustrations ? to undercut traditional methods of seeing and living, and to welcome his listeners to substitute method of life.?(Borg, p. 75) How individuals see life and what they have faith in decide how they will carry on with their life. Having set ethics imparted in them through Catholicism, youngsters might be progressively disposed to be acceptable. Being raised a specific way doesn't ensure that an individual will follow w hat they were raised to accept. Bringing up a youngster as Catholic however makes an individual increasingly inclined to having an idealistic existence. Additionally, ethics give Catholic families a grapple. At the point when everybody puts stock in similar ethics it makes solidarity and keeps harmony. Following God's ways as per Borg is ?The thin way, the manner in which less voyage, is the elective shrewdness of Jesus.? The manner in which less voyaged is life in the soul and the existence that Jesus himself knew. ?Our way of life's common knowledge doesn't avow the truth of the Spirit; the main reality about which it is sure is the noticeable universe of our conventional experience.?(Borg, p. 87) Atheists seek the material world for reason and happiness. They measure their self-esteem as indicated by how well they achieved these qualities dependent on realism, and if succeed they may discover the prizes not satisfying. Living the manner in which less voyaged is carrying on with a real existence focused in Christ in anticipation of satisfaction through Christ that did not depend on realism. Catholics feel they generally have somebody (God), somebody that will never deceive them and that will at long last make them content. Having confidence in God gives us direction. As we settle on choices regular, we now and then get befuddled on what we ought to do. At these occasions, we can go to God and figure what might Jesus do? While a few choices might be as little as whether to keep the cash when a clerk gives you an excess of progress back, different choices might be groundbreaking. ?In the message and action of Jesus, we see an elective social vision: a network formed not by the ethos and legislative issues of virtue, yet by the ethos and governmental issues of empathy.? Jesus had confidence in sympathy. He didn't feel that it was all in all correct to have a virtue framework that either made you great or downright awful. The immaculateness framework said that on the off chance that you were a gentile, not entire (uncleanliness, harmed gonads or missing penis), female, poor and so forth., you were tainted. Jesus didn't feel this was reasonable. He conflicted with this and aided those thought about tainted and even feasted with them. Having a position on empathy prompted a general public where everybody is incorporated. In spite of the fact that the greater part of society trusted in the virtue framework, Jesus settled on the choice to conflict with what he accepted wasn't right. Because something is convention doesn't make it right. Catholics can take a gander at the activities of Jesus and apply how he settled on his decisions to their own life realizing that their choice will be ethically right. While nonbelievers simply trust that things will end up being great, Catholics accept that their will is in God's grasp. Since Catholics accept this, they get a feeling of harmony realizing that whatever occurs, fortunate or unfortunate, it is in God's grasp and is for their

MindMeister Wins Best User Centered Design Award - Focus

MindMeister Wins Best User Centered Design Award - Focus Were rather proud to announce that MindMeister just won its first award the Best User Centered Design Company of the Year 2007 award by Hasso Plattner Ventures! For those of you who dont know him, Hasso is one of the founders of SAP. He was also there when we received the prize last week in Berlin, at the annual Forum on Entrepreneurship (which incidentally carried the theme Design IT this year). The jury seemed to think that MindMeister had an outstandingly intuitive and accessible user interface combined with a well thought-out feature set (we agree completely ;-)), which is why they selected MindMeister from a shortlist of 15 or so nominated tools. Not bad, eh? Get Started with Mind Mapping Try MindMeister MindMeister Wins Best User Centered Design Award - Focus Were rather proud to announce that MindMeister just won its first award the Best User Centered Design Company of the Year 2007 award by Hasso Plattner Ventures! For those of you who dont know him, Hasso is one of the founders of SAP. He was also there when we received the prize last week in Berlin, at the annual Forum on Entrepreneurship (which incidentally carried the theme Design IT this year). The jury seemed to think that MindMeister had an outstandingly intuitive and accessible user interface combined with a well thought-out feature set (we agree completely ;-)), which is why they selected MindMeister from a shortlist of 15 or so nominated tools. Not bad, eh? Get Started with Mind Mapping Try MindMeister

Naval Architecture Ship Displacement Tonnage

Displacement Tonnage, sometimes just called displacement, is just one way a ship is measured by weight. Naval architects who design all kinds of vessels have goals to build the ship as close to the designed weight as possible. This helps ensure that it performs as expected in all sorts of conditions, and can carry loads or maintain desired cruising speed. Why Is Displacement Tonnage Used? Organizations who set rules and standards for ships use displacement tonnage as a way to classify different sizes of ships. Ports and harbors use displacement tonnage as one of the criteria when determining berthing charges. To understand the concepts related to displacement we will use a simplified example. The first thing we need to know is that water has weight and for the example, were  going to say eight pounds per gallon because of its close to 3.5 kilos. In the real world, water varies a little bit if it is fresh or salt water and weighs less when it gets hot since it expands slightly. Our ship is going to be a simple box with an open top and flat bottom. Now we float the box in some water. Because it has the weight it will push some of the water out of the way as it floats. On the side, we mark a line where the water comes up the sides of the box. This Is Called the Water Line Creative, right? If we take our box out of the water and fill the inside with water up to the waterline we can measure how many gallons it takes. Then we can multiply that number of gallons by eight because we said our water weighed exactly eight pounds per gallon. Lets say it took 100 gallons to fill our box to the Water Line. The total weight of that water is 800 pounds and if we weigh our box we will see that it weighs exactly the same, 800 pounds. So displacement means; what is the weight of the water displaced by the hull of a ship up to the waterline. If the vessel is a cargo ship the waterline may change and be measured with Load Lines but displacement tonnage is always measured with a ship completely empty of cargo. Weight-in-Tons The word tonnage is just another way to say weight-in-tons. In a simple hull design called a displacement hull, the waterline is easy to place and it can change according to load. Almost all big cargo ships have displacement hull designs so they can carry the maximum cargo. Another type of hull has multiple chines, or levels, that the vessel rides on at different speeds. These hulls lift the boat out of the water to reduce resistance and increase speed. Many small recreational boats have this design but its also found on warships like the Littoral Combat Ship. In the case of these hulls, the desired waterline must be carefully calculated to achieve the desired performance and angle of attack at any speed.

Military Leadership - 1194 Words

Within the U.S. military, leadership is generally considered something of a given. It is a fundamental ingredient of warfare, without which the outcome of a combat operation cannot be assured. The leader is the brain, the motive power of command, upon whom subordinates rely for guidance and wisdom, and depend upon for good judgment. The leader must be determined, unflappable and charismatic; confident in delegation of authority; able to combine the various strands of command into a common thread; seasoned, intelligent, and thoughtful. When judging the qualities of leadership, there is a tendency to think of the gifted, or natural leader, involving some expectation that leadership is an inherent personality quality that some have, and†¦show more content†¦Army Staff College, and the Naval War College. Historical examples of military success and failure featured prominently in their curricula, on the assumption that trial†and†error under combat conditions was a poor method of inculcating leadership skills. Lessons learned in the classroom were then effected in map and field exercises. The expectation was, and still is, that non†combat training would provide a fund of practical knowledge upon which a commander could use as a point of departure under battlefield conditions. For the educational reformers, emulation was key, although they admitted that talent was also valuable. Raw talent, however, was no substitute for its disciplined application. Considering the growing complexity and lethality of war, education was regarded as the surest means of directing talent toward the desired end. Yet the question of native ability remained; could those without it become effective leaders? A problem reformers grappled with was the difference between leadership and command; they are not the same thing, for not all commanders are good leaders, and not all leaders are good commanders. During the Civil War, Gen. George McClellan, for example, was a truly inspirational leader who won the total devotion of his troops, yet consistently failed to achieve decisive victory in battle. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, on the other hand, was an excellent commander, to whom few wouldShow MoreRelatedMilitary Leadership1493 Words   |  6 PagesMilitary leadership theory brings forth the discovery of many ideas regarding the application of knowledge from a military background in a business environment. Much information was premised on business owners, managers and employees working collectively, how to improve communication skills, and how to define a goal and motivate others to follow it based on military leadership. The connection between these two worlds of business and military is apparent. Many of today’s companies derive their structureRead MoreLeadership And The Military Of The United States Military2044 Words   |  9 Pagesoxic leadership and the military The United States military has provided an integration of power to advance and defend the country’s values, objectives, and interest throughout history. Some values include training foreign military to strengthen their security forces to support their independence, responding and providing humanitarian aid such as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and protecting the globe through sustained operations in war on terrorism. The U. S. military currently has 1,341Read MoreU.s. School Military Leadership1701 Words   |  7 Pagesadvancements in leadership roles. One place that women, in the past, had not been able to take on more power is the military. In just the past few years’ women have been allowed to serve in combat roles, however little advancements have been made for them to serve in special operation forces. In just the last few weeks some this has been questioned as two women are about to graduate from ranger school. Having women graduating from ranger school, a grueling leadership course in the military, shows advancementsRead MoreThe Military Leadership By John Keegan1443 Words   |  6 Pagesmethods and resources. Professor John Keeganï ¿ ½s ï ¿ ½Mask of Commandï ¿ ½ is a far-reaching study of the military leadership through history. Keegan provides a study of the styles of 4 generals ï ¿ ½ ï ¿ ½heroicï ¿ ½ leadership of Alexander the Great, ï ¿ ½non-heroicï ¿ ½ examples of Duke of Wellington and US Grant, and a ï ¿ ½pseudo-heroicï ¿ ½ dictact of Adolph Hitler. John Keegan has done an admirable job in unmasking the great military leaders throughout the ages. His book concentrates on four major figures: Alexander, WellingtonRead MoreMilitary Leadership Styles And Philosophies1534 Words   |  7 Pagesgovernmental, corporate, or private, have structures with leadership positions at various levels and different leadership philosophies. However, the military is an organization that differs from the rest of them, because of the specific mission and complex scenario. Therefore, military leadership styles and philosophies are very different from all other kinds, and are far more special. There is no leadership position outside of the military that deals with handling hard decisions and the motivationRead MoreToxic Leadership At The Military Research Proposal3860 Words   |  16 Pages TOXIC LEADERSHIP Toxic Leadership in the Military Research Proposal PA 6601 Research Methods Troy University Lauren Maloney Toxic Leadership in the Military The strength of any organization can be found in the ability for the leaders to lead effectively. Effective leadership is essential in the military too, as toxic leadership can have a detrimental impact to those who work under them, as well as the ability for the unit to be cohesive and able to carry out their dutiesRead More Changing the Military with Servant Leadership Essay2609 Words   |  11 Pagesfor today’s military - the Global War on Terrorism or what has recently been termed the â€Å"Long War;† weapon system acquisitions and personnel draw downs. The focus of this paper is on one strategic component of the military quest—Leadership. More specifically, it will center on servant leadership and its impact on the military’s vision. This paper first explores the significance of the leadership change, followed by an examination of three notable characteristics of servant leadership and their historicalRead MorePersonal Experience On Leadership Styles in the Military2183 Words   |  9 Pagesbeen a number of people that I would consider as having had a strong influence on my life, especially throughout my working years. I encountered several effective leaders during my years in the military. Looking back on these leaders, the one constant that was present was the variety of different leadership styles they exhibited. No two leaders were exactly the same in how they approached their duties. They were all effective, but had different strengths and weaknesses, and unique takes on how theyRead MoreDifferent Kinds Of Leadership : Military Leaders2017 Words   |  9 PagesDifferent Kinds of Leadership Military leaders experience different kinds of Leadership. They must overcome all hurdles to perform their job as well as possible. The amount of people that are under a Leader s responsibility increases along with their rank or position. An NCO must be aware of the transition between the direct leadership, and organizational leadership in order to address effectively its audience, preventing misunderstandings. The way leaders transmit the message, the monitoringRead MoreCOMPARISONOF MILITARY LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE AGES2020 Words   |  9 Pages COMPARISONOF MILITARY LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE AGES No leader should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no leader should fight a battle simply out of pique. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life. Hence the enlightened leader is heedful, and the good leader is full of caution. - Sun Tzu Introduction Tommy Franks, general of the American Army states that soldeirs should have a high competance

How Historical Architecture Elements Have Been Destroyed Free Essays

string(92) " be a pelvic of the Gaza pyramids in Egypt with huge sphinxes at the front of the building\." How historical architecture elements have been destroyed in the buildings of Lass Vegas Lass Vegas is a city in the state of Nevada and the city is extremely populous and internationally known for the fine dining, gaming and shopping (Stern, Peggy and Alan 13). Lass Vegas proclaims itself as the world’s capital of entertainments due to its famous hotels combined with casinos. It may seem like all the great architecture of the world is gathered in one place: there’s Venice, Caesar Palace, Luxury, New York and Camelot Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and etc. We will write a custom essay sample on How Historical Architecture Elements Have Been Destroyed or any similar topic only for you Order Now Directly low the Eiffel Tower, cicadas buzz in branches of the Roman pines that overlook the waters of an Italian lake. Suddenly, the waters burst into song: the voices of Andrea Bacilli and Cline Don rise into the warm night air and spectacular fountains sway in time to the music. Fifteen minutes later, the fountains are dancing to Elvis. ( Hollies, Edward) All these revolution of the themed casino hotel building took place in the sass, when casino owners such as Steve Wynn and Sheldon G Delano realized that Vegas didn’t have to be Just about gambling. If they could turn Vegas into a loudly destination in its own right, they figured, then they could attract all sorts of people – folks from Out East, families, and so on, who would never have dreamed have coming before. And if they could attract those regular respectable folks, then they could attract regular money, too. But the architectural design used in the majority of the buildings in Lass Vegas is just a total replication of the ancient architectural design from various part of the world (Stern, Peggy and Alan 13). This meaner that most of its modern architectural design is a complete abstraction of the original design. The Lass Vegas hotels with the ancient architecture theme may have the similar fade of the ancient building but they are essentially still the modernism buildings. The ancient architectural buildings emphasize 3 elements like aesthetic, function and structure. All these three elements should marry together. The Lass Vegas buildings are like most of the modernism buildings which emphasize the space. Space is deified in the modernism thus replaced the position of the symbol, bringing the architect to give up the combination of architecture and painting, sculpture, images, and no longer pursuit the symbol. Modernist international style of â€Å"less is more† from Miss van deer Roe as the representative to the simple and rapid industrialization nature adapted to the needs of the times, has swept the world. (Wick) As we all know Lass Vegas is an extremely commercialese city where advertising, signs and construction of the symbol itself is as important as the position, which has also become one of the images of the city of Lass Vegas. Extensive use of neon at night makes the city showing a completely different image. This is a naked commercialism table. Billboards, similar to the trademark signs, neon signs, all this kind of exaggeration, mixed nightclub style architecture are not cohesive with the ancient style architecture. The Lass Vegas hotels mimicking the ancient style architecture buildings and at the same time mixed these entire modern commercial decorations extremely destroyed the classical style and the classical atheistic elements of the ancient architecture. In the book LEARNING FROM LASS VEGAS, the author Robert Venture divided the symbolism of the local building into two types: a Decorated Duck, or decorate shed or huts. Long Island duck, Aberdeen (designed like a duck store) is a erect symbol of the space of the building. The Duck is a building that has so reduced itself in importance that it has actually become the sign. According to Venture, most modern architecture are basically UN-admitted Ducks. The real hypocrisy for Venture was that â€Å"†¦ Odder architecture always demonstrated what it was by setting itself against what it wasn’t. † But a duck is a duck. The overall structure of the way submerged in the shape of an elephant. Decorated huts are ordinary buildings with local giant billboards and markers. He describes functional boring architecture, auteur to the point of being difficult to recall, but carries a surface with applique © ornamental symbols. The billboard is higher than the construction, in add ition to the front facade, the back facade of the building seems to be no style. These billboards has become a symbol rich architectural language of the local business, on the other hand the building seems to be reduced only with the symbols of asylum. The buildings in the Lass Vegas with the ancient building look are Just the mixed of these two types. These hotels Just used the ancient building as a symbol of the space of the alluding. In S. Maria del Priority, as Venture, Scott Brown, and Ignore wrote of Lass Vegas, â€Å"architecture is a shelter with symbols on it. † (90) The designs of the ancient architecture are Just working like a shell or out shape. The essential elements are no longer inside of these buildings. With these ancient architecture shell, the hotels added the giant billboards to the front fade which is a total conflict with the classic style made all the ancient styles buildings more liked the cartoon type of architecture. The classical aesthetics have been destroyed by these cartoon type. In the eighteenth century Europe, however, aesthetics was a discipline in formation. (Irene Small, 18) The classical styles of the ancient architecture here became only a giant decoration of the hotels. The elements of these building no longer emphasis on performance of the structure and function but on symbolic significance and the billboard, markers dominate the space. Luxury Hotel is a very prominent building in Lass Vegas strip due to its sheer size and the architectural construction design. The hotel is named after ancient city in Egypt. It was built with a unique Egyptian concept. Its structural design is perceived to be a pelvic of the Gaza pyramids in Egypt with huge sphinxes at the front of the building. You read "How Historical Architecture Elements Have Been Destroyed" in category "Papers" The interior design of the building is a copy of the Egyptian artifacts, form it golden materials to the sculptures. This is according to the Evolve Simpson who was the main architect of the Luxury building (Stern, Peggy and Alan 14) the building is Just a replica of the ancient pyramid in Egypt because its exterior design is composed of a black glass that encases the metal frame hollow structure. The inside of the building opens up to the largest open hall in the world, it’s lavishly decorate with very many productions of the Egyptian painting and artifacts which give the building a sense of ancient times. During the night, very powerful spotlights shoot straight from the building to the air. These spotlights are even visible from space (Vinegar, 28). The Luxury Hotel, which was actually opened in the 1993, had a very magnificent theme of an ancient Egypt, when compared to the original pyramid but the architectural design borrows a lot of the modern technology while still trying to maintain the structural design of the original pyramid. Paris Lass Vegas is another building with a omelet imitation of the original architectural work. The building is located at the strip of the Lass Vegas. Its theme is the city of Paris in France. It’s a 541 foot tall replication of the Eiffel tower, in a shape of a Montpellier balloon. It has a two-third size Arc De triumphed, which is a replica of the La Fontanne deer. Surging the architectural planning, the Eiffel scale model was supposed to be built to the full model. That is to the same height like original tower in Paris France. But the airport was to close and tower had to be shrunk. The Eiffel tower of Lass Vegas is in the scale f 1 in comparison to the original tower in Paris France. The Lass Vegas tower has another unique architectural difference from the original tower. The back leg of the Eiffel tower come down through the ceiling into the casino floor. The Eiffel tower has a very significant structural deviation from the original tower. The tower is only 165 meters with about 5000 tons of welded steel and stands. This is about half the size of the original which is about 320 meters tall. This is a same height as of an 81 – story building. Furthermore, the Eiffel tower of France consists of a structure that made up f puddle iron that weight approximately 7300 tones, while the rest of the structure is made of nonmetallic components, which weights a approximately 10000 tones. This demonstrates the economy of design which is much different with the Eiffel tower of Lass Vegas. Venetian hotel stands at the site where one of the famous old buildings used to stand. The Sand Building was restructured during the time when Lass Vegas was moving onwards in the field of architectural designs. The Sand buildings artistic design was altered and replaced with roman architectural design, which gave the Venetian building carved stone columns in the open lobby. Again these are Just the copy of the fade of the ancient architectural. Caesar Palace Casino in Lass Vegas was constructed in 1965. The hotel was named Caesar Palace because the owner though that the name would evoke the thoughts of the loyalty because of the roman general Julius Caesar. The architectural design of the hotel had a roman architectural touch and a theme, signaling both ancient decadence and sophistication. The roman architecture framed the entrance with spraying fountains and may replicas of detailed roman statues all around the building. The idea of replicating the ancient roman architectural design was to make every guest to the hotel feel like a Caesar. This ancient ideology is also represented by the absence of an apostrophe in the Caesar Palace, which meant that it is a place of many Caesar and not one. The Caesar Palace Just represents a fade of original architectural building design of the Romans. Lass Vegas has bee accused by critics as being uncultured, heartless metropolis with remarkably little patience with any architecturally outdated building in the city, which include its own historical building sites. Visiting the end of the Fremont Street one experience digress en walking past the hulking shell of Minneapolis. , without being aware of hope the building once represented. However the building has lost its original aesthetic value and visitors have shown little to no interest in the building. The building has been into Fremont square as a part of the revitalization efforts. The ancient beauty and aesthetic value of the building has bee replaced with an animation of the modern architectural design. The building of the Caesar palace mimic all these ancient elements like arch and column mostly in a decoration way. The ancient Rome use Arches which were made of stones or bricks and placed on top of each other in a way that it can form and an arch and hold weight upon itself. Also in the Rome the arches were used to hold the massive weight of the dome. The arches in Caesar palace’s ceiling works mostly Just as the decorating to resemble the ancient Rome building style and offer a glimpse into the ancient Roman buildings almost two thousand years ago. In fact, the hotel mainly used the columns from which originated from the Greek architecture. For the material, the ancient roman mainly used concrete and blocks. But the modern construction materials of the hotel are nothing similar to the brick and concrete walls. The hotel used the modern day technological materials and were built using the state of art architectural technology (Bourns, 1 53) same like the Luxury hotel. The pyramid is used by the totally different material from the original ancient building with the giant glass. The fancy version of the sphinx, totally different scale of the building, all made these Lass Vegas pyramid more like a children’s park like buildings while the classical architectural pay attention to building as a whole. The four cascades in addition to the roof should be carved like a sculpture. In Lass Vega’s extreme commercial environment, Buildings are made rapid, shallow and vulgar. In order to compete in this marketplace, a casino needs a virtual edge that fulfills the old role of the sign. The buildings are often renovated to get the glossy fades. In 1998, Steve Wynn transformed an image of the Italian Bellagio resort into drizzling fountains and â€Å"historic† two-story building facades, while in 1999, Circus Circus Corporation realized the Mandalay Bays Southeast Asian theme by bringing in 2700 tons of a sand. Buildings in Lass Vegas are in relentless change. The outlooks of the building are mostly concerned in these Vegas buildings but not the structure. The ancient buildings emphasize the structure and that’s how they can stand there for over thousands of year. The sturdiness is a very important character of the ancient buildings while in the Lass Vega’s buildings these elements are no longer important. In fact, Vanity and fragility of modern architecture are criticized in Xavier Delver ‘s urban forms urban forms. Lass Vegas is the modern commercial city with visual propaganda in the business repose and business needs. The benefits of social, economic, and visual impact largely affect the form and the shape of the buildings. The vision becomes an important factor of a way to attract eyeballs. Maybe that’s why they are mimicking the famous architecture in the world. But the essential elements of the architecture are totally lost in these commercial buildings in which the only logic is for the profit. The purpose of business is to make money; the purpose of commercial buildings is to service to make money. The buildings in Lass Vegas mimicking the famous architecture designs are Just the visual construction of the commercials. How to cite How Historical Architecture Elements Have Been Destroyed, Papers

Prostitution Legalization

Prostitution has been illegal in many countries in the world. Despite this fact, prostitution has continued to be practiced in every capital, and other cities in every country. This being the fact the governments need to see that they are fighting a losing battle and continuous prohibition of prostitution is like chasing wind. There are many reasons that do call for the government to change its strategy and legalize prostitution. There are numerous reasons as to why the government should legalize prostitution. Some of those reasons are as follows.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Prostitution Legalization specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More When prostitution is illegal, many of those who practice it do it secretively. This makes them be exploited by their clients. They are put in every kind of abuse, yet they are afraid to report the exploiters to the authority, as they fear they may be arrested. This makes the explo iters to evade justice. This encourages them to continue with their vice thus humiliating many innocent prostitutes. If prostitution will be legalized, prostitutes will not fear to report the clients who rape them and the exploiters will stop this menace, as they will be afraid of consequences of their actions. Legalizing prostitution will curb the spread of HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. This is because when prostitution will be legalized prostitutes can be required to be tested for those diseases. Those found with diseases can be treated or barred from trading. The government can offer treatment to them easily as prostitutes will not be afraid to seek medication. This will be extremely beneficial as it can protect the prostitutes and their clients. Legalization of prostitution will make the government put its resources in other beneficial activities. Governments do use a lot of money in campaigns to condemn prostitution. These resources can be put into other uses such as education or health provision in the country. Police spend a lot of time chasing and arresting prostitutes, whereas many criminals are harassing the public. With the legalization of prostitution, police will be chasing real criminals instead of harassing harmless prostitutes. Prostitution is a source of income to those who practice it. With the current rise of unemployment in the country, it is paramount for the government to legalize prostitution. Bearing in mind that many of prostitutes have low education profile and for them to secure decent jobs is hard, prostitution need to be legalized. This would make prostitutes be respected by members of the public. This will minimize stress faced by prostitutes, which leads to other stress related crimes. Legalization of prostitution makes the government control prostitution. The government will ensure those who practice this profession are not underage. This will assist in eliminating child prostitution. Human trafficking wi ll decrease as many of victims trafficked are meant to participate in prostitution. With this in mind, it is crucial that those who care for children should let prostitution be legalized.Advertising Looking for essay on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Ones body is a God’s gift, which one should not be controlled on how to use it as long as one is not infringing rights of others. Therefore, prostitutes has right to use their bodies as they see it fit without being stigmatized by law. Legalization of prostitution will make prostitution be carried out in conducive environments, which pose no danger to the prostitute and their clients. Since today prostitution is illegal, prostitutes are not taxed, yet they earn a lot of money from the trade. Bearing in mind that taxes are the ones used to develop every country economy it is not agreeable to ignore the contribution the taxes from prostitutes can make. The government can encourage the establishment of brothels, which would make government access the taxes from prostitutes easily. Prostitutes would be required to acquire licenses in order to commence their business. The licenses would be provided with a fee as a source of income to the government. Countries, which have legalized prostitution, are getting a lot of revenue from the sex industry. Dutch sex industry gives more than 500 million dollars annually. Countries with high population can make a lot of money from prostitution and put this revenue in their economy development. Legalization of prostitution will help to curb incest and rape crimes. This is because the perpetrators of these crimes will not fear to seek prostitute services. Many relatives are exploiting young ones, and if prostitution is legalized the relatives are provided with an alternative to seek prostitutes’ services without being intimidated or judged. Bestiality and other harmful sexual practices will come down with legalization of prostitution. Prostitution is a trade where buyers and sellers do it willingly. No one is forced to be the party in prostitution. This being the fact there is a need to legalize this practice because adult individuals who are responsible for their actions carry it out. Prostitution therefore, needs to be considered as any other profession carried out in the country. Conclusion The government has no choice but to legalize prostitution. Legal prostitution is the only remedy to end menace associated with prostitution. Prostitution is a practice, which is here to stay, and illegalizing makes, it is a black market trade exposing both the prostitutes and their clients to many risks. Legal trades are easy to control and manage, and if the government want to control this trade it need to legalize it. This essay on Prostitution Legalization was written and submitted by user Matthias Hansen 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. You can donate your paper here.

Information Strategy and Strategic Management The WritePass Journal

Information Strategy and Strategic Management Block 1 Information Strategy and Strategic Management Block 1Six elements of strategy with reference to appropriate information contentBlock 2Impact of Porter’s five forces model on the development and provision of strategically useful informationHow consensus management can help provide directed and focused organizational informationDifference between strategic, tactical and operational organization information in ArgosBlock 3Importance of strategic alignment on ArgosStrategic alignment improves the market penetration potential of ArgosLack of strategic alignment might impede market penetration by ArgosExamples of core and distinctive competence in ArgosMain problems relating to competitive advantage as may be apparent in the retail tradeBlock 4Is knowledge the ultimate competitive advantage?The growing importance of contingent work in information industries affects the development of knowledge for competitive advantageImpact of knowledge transfer on competitive advantageWhat is the impact of internal knowledge development?Discu ss why the disenfranchising of the individual during the change process is a problem for the organizationSuggest ways in which the disenfranchised might be empowered within the change scenarioContrast Kotter’s and Satir’s approaches to changeArguments for the Kotter approachArguments against the Kotter approachArguments for the Satir approachArguments against this approachPreferred approachBlock 5AdvantageDisadvantage Aspects of information systems advocated for outsourcingAspects of information systems not advocated for outsourcingDiscuss the effectiveness in combating threats to an information system of the following control mechanismsBlock 6The limits of computingReferencesRelated Block 1 Organizational development requires the use of information available to develop knowledge which can be used to enhance success and attainment of organizational objectives. Waggoner stresses the primacy of information in knowledge development in his assertion that, â€Å"One can have information without knowledge, but it is impossible to have knowledge without information.† The search and use of information can be enhanced using the building blocks of information which include tool literacy which the ability to use sources of information both print and electronic including software in the search for information, and resource literacy which is the understanding of location, form, format, and methods of access of the information resources enabling the understanding of methods of use of the information sought. These two building blocks enable the search of information and its use which is applicable to Waggoner’s assertion on information literacy which he describes as, â€Å"knowing where and how to find information sources as well as how to locate information within those sources † Also applicable is the social-structural literacy which is the knowledge of the social situation and production of knowledge including an understanding of the scholarly publishing process applicable in the determination of whether the information found is accurate, reliable, and valid. Another building block is research literacy which is the understanding and use of information technology tools including discipline-related software to carry out research and to further knowledge. Six elements of strategy with reference to appropriate information content The six elements of strategy include; direction, market/scope, advantage, resources, environment, and stakeholders. Direction is the destination the business is trying to get to and it consists of the visions and the goals of the organization, the purpose for which it exists. This is a primary consideration, a broad strategic foundation covering all aspects for the business. It includes mission and vision statements, business plans and performance projections, core and distinctive competencies, competitor and market analyses, and overall business strategy (Mintzberg 1995). Market/scope is the kind of markets that a business should compete in and the kinds of activities involved in such market. This is also a key strategy which encompasses the need that the business seeks to fill so as to gain commercial value. It includes information focusing on the market aspects or scope for the business including trends, information on competition and their activity, the company’s positioning and penetration capacity, costs, and overall expected success of strategy (Barney 2001). Advantage refers to the ability of a business to perform better than the competition it the markets and it includes a company’s distinctive competence which enables differentiation. Appropriate information content for this strategy include competitor activity, analysis of capacity and areas of differentiation, analyses of specific market needs, and customer feedback/market response (Pine 1999). Environment includes the external, environmental factors that affect a businesses’ potential to compete and influence the success of its objectives. Information relevant to this strategy would include analysis of political climate, demographics, analysis of needs and acceptance, and foregoing trends in the markets (Barney 2001). Resources are the factors that the company employs to build its capacity and ability to compete including skills, assets, finances, relationships, technical competence and facilities that a company requires to perform its activities. Information content appropriate to this strategy would include the capital requirement and availability, skills and technical competence required and availability, availability of strategic partners and relationships with the various players needed for success of objective, as well as the need and acceptance for a company’s product mix in the market. Stakeholders refer to those who have power in and around the business, their values and expectations. This strategy emphasizes focus on the various needs of the various individuals including customers, employees, investors, service providers, suppliers, government. Relevant information would include customer feedback, market regulations, availability of suppliers and service providers and their capacity, investor expectations and goodwill, and employee relations and their resourcefulness (Mintzberg 1995). Block 2 Impact of Porter’s five forces model on the development and provision of strategically useful information To strategically position itself in a market and to develop information that can be strategically useful, it is imperative that a company takes into consideration the Porter five forces which describe the forces that surround any economic venture affecting business success and potential. These include the power exerted by buyers and suppliers, the threats of substitute products and competition, and the barriers within the market that challenge the entry of new firms (competitors) into the market (Barney 2001). When developing its strategy, information on the existence of products that could be close substitutes to those offered by the firm is essential as they could be a threat to the company’s potential and profitability through the increase in the propensity of customers switching to these alternatives in response to price increases. Factors that need to be considered and monitored when considering this threat are the performance of these substitutes in the market including its strengths and weaknesses, the cost of switching to alternatives which could influence the decision to switch to the alternative, and the willingness of the buyer which can also influence the shift to the alternative (Barney 2001). Information on the presence and capacity of competition is also essential to the development of strategy as these would present a challenge to the profitability of the company. Factors that need be considered to have relevant information on this threat include the number and diversity of competitors, their differentiation, niche or quality, the industry concentration, and the costs of switching which are essential factors to consider as the company seeks its competitive advantage (Barney 2001). Also necessary to consider is the barrier to entry into the market of new competitors. Profitable markets that yield high returns will draw new entrant firms and will consequently lead to a decrease in profitability. The profit rate will fall towards a competitive level (a level of perfect competition) unless the entry of new firms can be blocked by incumbents. This threat is influenced by barriers such as time and cost of entry, the knowledge required, economies of scale, cost advantages, and technology among other barriers (Barney 2001). Upstream information from the customers to the firm, inherent in their bargaining power, is also an essential consideration as customers have the ability to put the firm under pressure, affecting their sensitivity to price changes and overall allegiance. Factors that could influence this bargaining power include the number of customers, their buying volumes, and differentiation in the market, price elasticity, incentives, the brand identity and switching costs to alternatives that could influence shift to substitutes. Downstream information also has an impact in the development of useful strategy. This is the bargaining power of suppliers which is the power that suppliers of raw materials, components, labour and services/expertise to the firm can field over the firm. With this power, suppliers can refuse to work with the firm or offer their services, or can charge exorbitantly for their unique resources. Factors that can influence this bargaining power include the number of suppliers and their size, the ability to substitute and costs of switching, and the unique service or product provided (Barney 2001). How consensus management can help provide directed and focused organizational information Consensus management consists of the agreement between various players in the market place to align their business services, share tasks, as well as pool resources in a market for mutual benefit and for effective and efficient attainment of results (Mintzberg 1995). Taking an example of the Lloyd’s of London which operates primarily in the specialist insurance market, providing insurance to their clients, there has to be consensus between the various parties in its market. These parties include clients seeking the insurance services; brokers representing the clients in seeking insurance, using their specialist knowledge to arrange insurance with underwriters at the best quality, value and price; underwriters working for syndicates with their responsibility entailing the use of their specialist knowledge to assess and accept or decline risks on behalf of the syndicate; members who provide capital required to cover the risks; and the corporation (the administrative body of the Lloyd’s market) which is the structure that oversees these processes, providing the infrastructure for the underwriters and brokers to do business. Such undertakings requiring the involvement of several players for the success of a business venture requires all the parties involved to mutually understand the terms of their agreement or reference, and providing their unique specialized input focused and directed to the overall objective of the business venture. Therefore, consensus management in such an endeavour is essential. Difference between strategic, tactical and operational organization information in Argos Strategic information includes all applications which are critical to achieving future business strategy. It consists of highly aggregated information with overall business scope and impact affecting the entire organization. It is mainly an exploration of known data from current trading and market activities in developing the organizations plan or blue-print for the future. Strategic information is subject to market variations and political constraints and is liable to change at any moment (Collins 2008). With regard to Argos, its strategic information includes its awareness of the needs of people in its market for the comfort and convenience of home selection via the catalogue. This it endeavours to combine with the closeness of high street stores and the creation of stronger presence with the opening up of additional stores to reach a greater percentage of the population in its market, its customers, with its long run target to have 600 stores (Argos case study 2004). Tactical information includes all information used to implement the plan. It consists of comprehensive information regarding overall implementation including progress, and market penetration. This information needs be precise enough to allow the tweaking and amendment of the strategy as well as to control operational decisions (Collins 2008). In the case of Argos, tactical information includes the profound impact of new technologies on the companys functions as a retailer including the collection of feedback through various communication channels, as well as, its use of technology to integrate its functions using ICT to monitor stock levels, to recognize market trends early and to avoid stock out situations, and to communicate with its customers and suppliers (Argos case study 2004). Operational information includes application upon which the organization currently depends on for its success. It consists of highly detailed performance information used to monitor the day to day impact of the strategy and tends to be restricted to departments in its requirement and use relevant to a particular area of influence (Collins 1998). Operational information in the case of Argos includes the strategies for the enlargement of its business through innovative use of evolving technologies in information, its multi-channel approach that offers greater presence to the company and a wider reach to customers unlike stores approach reliant on customers that walk in, and the outsourcing of its supply chain management in its Nominated carrier scheme and its warehousing in its Advanced inventory planning scheme, solutions that enable the company to efficiently manage flow of merchandising from its extensive base of 750 suppliers to its distribution centres throughout the UK (Argos cas e study 2004). Block 3 Importance of strategic alignment on Argos Strategic alignment is the matching up of two or more organizational strategies so as to ensure that the overall objectives of the organization are met. Entities with unique and varied specialty, for example, deliver information one to the other that is necessary in facilitating the realization of the overall organizational objective (Barney 2001). This alignment is useful as it enhances effectiveness and efficiency overall and in the case of Argos, an example of this strategic alignment is the multi-channel approach with the combined use of physical store presence and online presence both offering the capability to browse, reserve, order and make purchases, enhancing the company’s overall presence (Argos case study 2004). Another example of strategic alignment is the adoption of various solutions (including the delegation of responsibilities to service providers) so as to manage complex functions essential for its success including management of its supply chain and warehousing in its â€Å"Nominated carrier scheme† and â€Å"Advanced Inventory planning scheme† solutions delegated to UPS and Retek respectively, and its teaming up with Vodafone Live enabling customers to check stock availability and reserve goods, and to view the catalogue on their mobile phones, all linked to a home or store delivery options (Argos case study 2004). These are organizations that are themselves specialized in these particular fields. This alignment enables greater effectiveness and efficiency for Argos as it enables it to enhance its operations focusing on the key areas with these complex functions left to able providers. Strategic alignment improves the market penetration potential of Argos This strategic alignment improves market penetration of Argos as its multi-channel approach and especially its online presence enables it reach customers who might have hitherto not visited the physical stores. Another example of strategic alignment at Argos is its teaming up with Vodafone enabling customers to view catalogue and stock and to reserve goods enables its reach to the wider Vodafone’s customer base hence enhancing its market penetration more than it would have if it had focused only on its stores (Argos case study 2004). Lack of strategic alignment might impede market penetration by Argos A lack of strategic alignment might impede market penetration by Argos as it will result in uncoordinated approaches that will challenge overall efficiency and therefore success of its objectives. For a retailer such as Argos whose business involves the purchase and resale of a variety of products, differentiation and value addition involves the enhancement of efficiency in its system as its only source of advantage. Without strategic alignment and enhanced focus on overall strategy, this will not obtain limiting the company’s market penetration. Examples of core and distinctive competence in Argos Core competence is the specific skill sets or techniques that are critical to the business and which deliver value to the customer. It includes areas of expertise distinctive to the company and critical for its long term growth (Prahalad 1990). It includes areas central to a company’s business where most value is added and in the case of Argos (Argos case study 2004), they are; Its reliable and efficient delivery infrastructure covering product picking, distribution and customer satisfaction handling. Its design and delivery of a simplified online customer interface that makes shopping efficient for its customers through its various channels. Its design and implementation of an efficient supply system with supply chain management, warehousing solutions and home delivery systems that are effectively linked. Distinctive competence comprises traits unique to an organization enabling the creation of a unique value superior to those of competing organizations forming the basis for its competitive advantage (Collins 1998). In Argos’ case (Argos case study 2004), these comprise elements in its business approach that enhance efficiency in service delivery and the attainment of its overall objective such as; Its innovative use of technology to enhance its retail trade and efficiency with its use of a multi-channel approach. Its strategic integration of elements in its business model which are complementary such as warehousing, supply chain management and use of technology into its powerful business solution and to enhance its efficiency. Its use of enhanced efficiency in its business processes and good relations with its suppliers to drive down costs to the customer. Main problems relating to competitive advantage as may be apparent in the retail trade Competitive advantage for a retailer like Argos tends to be from its differentiated service and efficiency, with its major advantage coming through external elements such as innovative employment of technology and price. Its product mix cannot form a basis for its competitive advantage as retail trade entails the purchase and resale of various products which are similar to competitor products. Such a competitive advantage is not sustainable in the long term as the market evolves and competition intensifies and therefore there is always a need to tweak the company’s competencies to enhance value to the customer and ward off potential switch. The price war in a market as the retailer seeks to differentiate from its competition comes at a cost to overall profitability and therefore needs to be well designed and implemented for it to have meaningful benefit to the overall objective of the company. Block 4 Is knowledge the ultimate competitive advantage? Competitive advantage is a condition which enables a company to operate more efficiently or at a higher quality than its competition resulting in benefits accruing to the company (Prahalad 1990). Knowledge is indeed the ultimate competitive advantage as it comprises a sustainable competitive advantage, a capability which is not easily duplicated or surpassed by competitors. Taking an example from the Lloyd’s of London, its underwriters are famous for recognizing new insurance opportunities and requirements, and for meeting them using their specialty knowledge and that of their partner brokers.   The Lloyds market, for example, covers offshore wind farms of the energy industry, an area that the government is planning to expand. Knowledge, as in this case, helps in developing differentiation and value creation through the use of information available to a company and apt analysis to reach better decisions which can then be used with enhanced efficiency or unique approaches to acquire competitive advantage. Analysis and efficiency or unique approaches are subject to the availability and use of information and they can be easily duplicated and surpassed by competitors. Knowledge is therefore the ultimate competitive advantage. The growing importance of contingent work in information industries affects the development of knowledge for competitive advantage The growing importance of contingent work in information industries affects the development of knowledge for competitive advantage as the contractor often seeks to retain as much knowledge gained from their experience to themselves so as to retain the capacity to offer services they are contracted for which would not be if there were people within the company gained such knowledge and capacity. Impact of knowledge transfer on competitive advantage Knowledge transfer has a positive effect on competitive advantage if it is effective and efficient as it enhances overall understanding, consensus, and therefore helps in the realization of the overall objective of the organization. However, a negative effect could result from the unsecured transfer of sensitive information which can be obtained by the competition and used to challenge the organization’s competitive strategy. What is the impact of internal knowledge development? Internal knowledge development consists of four approaches including socialization which entails the sharing of tacit information by individuals and especially learning by doing; externalization in which individuals link the tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge; combination which entails individuals combining different explicit ideas to create knowledge; and internalization in which individuals extract knowledge from newly created organizational tacit and explicit knowledge through learning by doing. Discuss why the disenfranchising of the individual during the change process is a problem for the organization The disenfranchising of an individual in the change process can be disastrous to the organizations change objective if the individual, victim of the change process is powerful enough to influence the environment, an undesired outcome if the change is not well planned and carefully controlled. This could result from the perspective of employees of organizational change as a negative process over which they have no control. Such individuals would act as deterrents to the realization of the overall organizational objective if this objective requires their input and wholesome involvement with their resultant de-motivation, feeling of being left out, and their participation not being appreciated. This would lead to the lowering of overall efficiency and effectiveness and would therefore be a problem to the organization. Empowering the disenfranchised is therefore an important aspect of well managed change. Suggest ways in which the disenfranchised might be empowered within the change scenario To empower the disenfranchised individual, the organization should seek to keep these individuals in the loop to create an environment in which there is mutual trust and an appreciation of the overall picture and an understanding of the benefit and necessity for change. The main ways through which this can be achieved include giving them an understanding of the necessity for change and what benefits would accrue, creating a guide for the process for clarity and consistency, developing a clear shared vision and communicating it including explaining to the individual its effect on them, empowering the people to act on the vision (to be the change), splitting the process into realizable milestones and benchmarks to ease the overall process. Contrast Kotter’s and Satir’s approaches to change Kotters approach, referred to as the organizational approach as it focuses on institutional change, is a structured method through which change can be managed and followed through within an institution. It is a linear approach which comprises eight steps to follow in the management of the process including the initiation of the urgency, the institution of people to guide the process, the development of a shared vision, communication of the vision, the empowerment of the people to act on the vision, the creation of short term wins to enhance motivation, consolidation and building on the gains, and finally the institutionalization of the change, embedding it in the organization’s culture (Mintzberg 1995). This is a clarified linear approach with a destination and discrete steps to follow. Satirs approach/model, on the other hand, is referred to as the human approach and is composed of a number of stages and with highlights of key events that disturb and move an individuals experience from a position referred to as a status quo (all the usual activities of a normal day) through the change process to a new level (status quo). These key events include the foreign element and the transforming idea. It comprises a cyclical iteration of steps stimulated by the key events in the change process through a position referred to as chaos, then to integration which with time eventually develops into the new status quo (Mintzberg 1995). These steps however have several iterations depending on the stimuli of the key events and unlike the Kotter’s approach, it perceives change as a continuous process rather than linear events that are followed through. Arguments for the Kotter approach Change is seen as linear and the aim of the change can therefore be reached directly following through the various steps. Its linearity is useful in the analysis of the change process and benchmarking so as to gauge success. It provides an excellent process for the management of the change process with clear and discrete steps useful for successful realization of objectives. Arguments against the Kotter approach This approach takes an abstract approach to the change process, focusing on the process management but failing to identify the actual internal change among the individuals involved that result in the acceptance of the change. Kotter’s approach is criticized for it mainly focuses on the concerns of management rather than those of the organization as a whole. It is criticized for its view that there is the one best way in which change can happen forming the basis for the process. The style or path of change, however, may vary influenced by various factors including receptivity to the change, the change management, performance of the organization, among other factors. Arguments for the Satir approach This approach identifies the actual change process within the individual which can then be extrapolated when considering the involvement of a number of other people. It perceives change as a continuous process rather than a destination which can be reached. It takes cognizance of the fact that the change process no matter the size of organization is still an individualized process and that overall change depends on the acceptance of the change by individuals. Arguments against this approach The Satir approach comprises of several cyclical iterations which are mainly a description of the process which offer no steps towards management of the process. This approach makes benchmarking and measuring of success of the process difficult. Difficult to manage in large scale change processes entailing huge organizations. Preferred approach My preferred approach in the management of a project associated with the change would be the Kotter approach as it has a clarified and well defined process and steps to take unlike the Satir model which has a lot of cyclic iterations depending on results and influence of the key events. The Kotter approach with its linearity offers greater advantage in the management of the change process enabling analysis and recognition of the various steps, and the gauging of success at every stage, as well as, in its simplicity and forthrightness when dealing with change in large organizations comprising several individuals. Block 5 Outsourcing is the strategic use of outside resources to perform activities that are traditionally handled internally. It is a management strategy in which an organization delegates major, non-core functions to specialized service providers (Barney 2001). Advantage The main advantage of outsourcing is the enhancement of focus on core business that it enables in a company through the transfer of costly, non-core activities to service providers (Luftman 2008). This focus enables enhanced performance on core activities as there is less interruption of the main activities from the non-core activities, and also enhanced performance on the non-core activities as they are delegated to specialized providers specially organized for such activities. Disadvantage The main disadvantage of outsourcing is the abdication of control on certain activities and/or sectors of the organization that is necessitated by the delegation of tasks to external service providers (Luftman 2008). This creates a dependence on the external providers which is a potential liability to the company/organization in terms of confidentiality with these delegated functions and tasks often essential to the performance of its core activities. Aspects of information systems advocated for outsourcing Some aspects of an organization’s information system that can be advocated for outsourcing include non-critical/non-core functions that application development and maintenance, network management, customer care and helpdesk services, data centre management, among other important but non-core aspects. Aspects of information systems not advocated for outsourcing Aspects that hold sensitive information for the organization or are critical components for its competitive advantage should have tight internal control and should not be outsourced as these could become possible points of compromise in terms of leaked information or opening up the system to a variety of threats. Such aspects include; Databases containing a variety of sensitive information including customer information and sensitive data, Discuss the effectiveness in combating threats to an information system of the following control mechanisms Redundancy entails the use of more than one path to reach the destination in information transmission through the network. This is effective in combating threats of compromise in the transmission of information by providing resiliency. Anti-virus software programs form an effective method of preventing attacks on the system by viruses and other suspicious programs that could threaten the composition of the system. Passwords form an effective barrier at points of access preventing unauthorized entry to sensitive system areas and controlling and managing the use of resources. Encryption provides secrecy which is effective in deterring unauthorized use of information. Firewalls filter out dangerous transmissions blocking out unwanted and suspicious activities and thereby effectively helps in maintaining the system’s integrity. Block 6 The limits of computing The extent to which human and computer attribute overlap and differ exist as the designers of computers have made immense effort at creating a machine that mirrors brain function, or even surpasses it. However, wide differences still exist, especially with the acknowledgement that scientists have not been able to fully map the brain, its functions, capacity and potential. This unmapped potential therefore gives humans a higher capacity than machines in tasks including the capability enabling abstract thinking, a capability that challenges the computer (Chan 1992). Abstract thinking refers to the derivation of higher concepts in thought from the classification and usage of literal or concrete concepts or methods connecting any relations among various fields, a high level thought process in which the consideration of a concept is broad, general and non-specific. Human intelligence and expertise depends significantly on unconscious instincts which can hardly be measured or captured rather than conscious manipulation of symbols, with mental states such as beliefs and desires being relations between individuals and their mental representations. The variation results from a humans emotional intelligence combined with the logic and scholastic intelligence which the computer, a machine, can hardly be thought to possess in the near future (Hawkins 2005). Computers are successful in information processing as they are designed to perform iterations with a lot of effort focused on reliability. It is quite efficient in conducting processes that feature repetitive activity better than humans who have inefficiencies in this particular aspect. The challenge still remains the convergence of consciousness and computation and therefore the computer is challenged with regard to abstract thinking though it can mimic several aspects of thought and decision making (Davis 2000). References Barney, B., and A., Arikan, 2001. â€Å"The resource-based view: Origins and implications.† In M. A. Hitt, R. F. Freeman J. S. Harrison (Eds.), Handbook of strategic management (pp. 124-188). Oxford: Blackwell. Chan, Y., and S., Huff, 1992. â€Å"Strategy: An Information Systems Research Perspective.† In: Journal of Strategic Information Systems (1:4), pp. 191-204. Collis, D., and C., Montgomery, 1998. Creating corporate advantage. Harvard Business Review, 76(3):71–83 Davis, G., 2000. â€Å"Information Systems Conceptual Foundations: Looking Backward and Forward.† In: Baskerville, R., J. Stage, and J., DeGross (eds.), Organizational and Social Perspectives on Information Technology, pp. 61-82. Boston: Springer. Hawkins, et al., 2005. On Intelligence, New York, NY: Owl Books Mintzberg, H., B., Quinn, and S., Ghoshal, 1995. The Strategy Process. London: Prentice Hall. Luftman, J., and R., Kempaiah, 2008. â€Å"Key Issues for IT Executives 2007.† In: MIS Quarterly Executive (7:2), pp. 99-112. Pine, J., and J., Gilmore, 1999. The Experience Economy. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. Prahalad, C., and G., Hamel, 1990. The core competence of the corporation. Harvard Business Review, 68 (3):79–91.

Theoretical Perspective - Definition Examples in Sociology

Theoretical Perspective s in Sociology A theoretical perspective is a set of assumptions about reality that inform the questions we ask and the kinds of answers we arrive at as a result. In this sense, a theoretical perspective can be understood as a lens through which we look, serving to focus or distort what we see. It can also be thought of as a frame, which serves to both include and exclude certain things from our view.  The field of sociology itself is a theoretical perspective based on the assumption that  social systems  such as society and the family actually exist, that culture,  social structure, statuses, and roles are real. A theoretical perspective is important for research because it serves to organize our thoughts and ideas and make them clear to others. Often, sociologists use multiple theoretical perspectives simultaneously as they frame research questions, design and conduct research, and analyze their results. Well review some of the major theoretical perspectives within sociology, but readers should bear in mind that there are many others. Macro versus Micro There is one major theoretical and practical division within the field of sociology, and that is the division between macro and micro approaches to studying society. Though they are often viewed as competing perspectiveswith macro focused on the big picture of social structure, patterns, and trends, and micro-focused on the minutiae of individual experience and everyday lifethey are actually complementary and mutually dependent. The Functionalist Perspective The functionalist perspective  also called functionalism, originates in the work of French sociologist Émile Durkheim, one of the founding thinkers of sociology. Durkheims interest was in how social order could be possible, and how society maintains stability. His writings on this topic came to be viewed as the essence of the functionalist perspective, but others contributed to and refined it, including Herbert Spencer, Talcott Parsons, and Robert K. Merton. The functionalist perspective operates on the macro-theoretical level. The Interactionist Perspective The interactionist perspective was developed by American sociologist George Herbert Mead. It is a micro-theoretical approach that focuses on understanding how meaning is generated through processes of social interaction. This perspective assumes that meaning is derived from everyday social interaction, and thus, is a social construct. Another prominent theoretical perspective, that of symbolic interaction, was developed by another American, Herbert Blumer, from the interactionist paradigm. This theory, which you can read more about here, focuses on how we use as symbols, like clothing, to communicate with each other; how we create, maintain, and present a coherent self to those around us, and how through social interaction we create and maintain a certain understanding of society and what happens within it. The Conflict Perspective The conflict perspective is derived from the writing of Karl Marx  and assumes that  conflicts arise when resources, status, and power are unevenly distributed between groups in society. According to this theory, conflicts that arise because of inequality are what foster social change. From the conflict perspective, power can take the form of control of material resources and wealth, of politics and the institutions that make up society, and can be measured as a function of ones social status relative to others (as with race, class, and gender, among other things). Other sociologists and scholars associated with this perspective include Antonio Gramsci, C. Wright Mills, and the members of the Frankfurt School, who developed critical theory.

Communication Analysis Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Communication Analysis Project - Essay Example I am not a well- off student. I looked well-off because while I was waiting to be admitted to my higher education, I was lucky enough to have a job in a property management company as a secretary. Every vacation I always went to work and went back to my studies when it was over . That opportunity made me to be able to afford most of expensive staff like clothes, my hair styles even the cell phone . When I went to my lectures , I dressed the way that I would going to work. Most of all I didn’t pay for my own tuition, I had a scholarship. It was very hard to walk in to a lecture room after everybody had taken their seats. The richness of how I looked drew a lot of attention. Students cheered , made bad comments while I was blindingly walking to a sit at the back. My heart pounded so heavily and I prayed to God not to fall or collapse before I reached my seat. When finally got to my seat, those I was supposed to be sitting next to moved away. If they didn’t move, they look ed at me as if there was something wrong with me. I wasn’t older than any of them, I was starting to wonder if there was something wrong with me. I made it my habit to have my seat five minutes before lectures. I was always the first person and last person to leave. That was when I met my best friend. In the second term, it became so worse that I didn’t want to answer any questions. One wrong thing I said they made sure that it haunted me. I loved my studies and I was passionate about them but the thought of waking up in the morning was tough. Retaining my composure helped me a lot .I told myself that they were going to get over it in no

Time Warp Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Time Warp - Essay Example I realized I was in a different dimension. I have traveled back in time. So I went on with my journey. I was hired at Handheld Corp. and was given a rather comprehensive task. I was asked to review Joe Schmoe’s financial report on handheld products sales. Analysis On the PDA simulator I had a final score of 1,185,800,553. I did better than Joe Schmoe by 20,890,196. I have observed that Joe’s strategy was a â€Å"lazy† implementation of marketing. If he took the time to analyze the performance of a product and what prices were appropriate to set, he would yield higher profits. I have made numerous attempts using a simulator to prove that my strategies worked better. I followed the advisor’s analysis and used it as my guide in pricing and allocation of R&D. One strategy I used for marketing handheld products is market segmentation. This is implemented by providing handheld products in different categories (X5, X6, and X7) to serve specific needs of target cu stomers and increasing market share. Even with the discontinuation of X5 handheld in 2009, it was a strategy to market better available products to attract buyers. Pricing strategy was also what I’ve used relative to R & D allocations to generate profits. For instance, X5 sales were starting to decline. In 2008, I did not drop the price significantly or I Time Warp 2 will lose a lot of money. I was able to keep customers who purchased the X5 handheld for $240. Then, I decided to discontinue the product the following year to avoid more losses. R&D allocations were a bit tricky. I used the advisor’s analysis to manipulate the allocations. For example, when X5 was discontinued in 2009, I kept the same prices for X6 and X7 as of 2008 in 2009 and increased their R&D allocations to 30% and 70% respectively. The tremendous increase in R&D had a positive impact on revenues. However, in 2008, I decided to distribute R&D of 25% equally to X5, X6, and X7 handheld products. When I tried to reduce X5 R&D to 10%, I had a higher loss. With 25% R&D I was able to avoid the loss of -9,870,920 and reduced it to a loss of -$6,176,598. If I didn’t adjust that 10% R&D, it would affect profits for 2009. I also based my analysis on the product performance and on what level they are in terms of sales. For instance, X7 handheld was in the ‘growth phase’ in 2006 with a profit of $3,199,108. The following year, I reduced its price to $200 and allocated a higher R&D of 25%. The result was phenomenal. I had a profit of $23,555,939. Maintaining the 25% R&D and price the following year, the profit for X7 was more than doubled. Here’s the breakdown of prices, R&D allocations, and profits for X5, X6, and X7: 2006    PRICE R & D allocation PROFITS X5 255 25% $105,374,127 X6 415 30% $164,680,477 X7 215 23% $3,199,108 TOTAL       $273,253,711  Time Warp 3 I increased the prices for all handheld products and decreased their R&D. As a result, advisor y said X7 handheld was in the growth phase and potential X7 customers were new customers. X7 handheld performance was holding steady while X6 was priced the same as other competing products. Although Joe gained a higher profit of $295,185,49 in 2006, it was only temporary. 2007    PRICE R & D PROFITS X5 245 25% $98,442,902 X6 415 30% $213,598,730 X7 200 25% $23,555,939 TOTAL       $335,100,583  Since X6 performance was better than that of competition, I decided to maintain the price and R&D and it paid off as I had a higher profit. However,

Homespun to Sophisticated: Place as Transformer :: Philosophy Philosophical Papers

Homespun to Sophisticated: Place as Transformer Works Cited Missing It is common in the transcendental philosophy to associate the act of transcending with a place. Philosophers, artists, and writers fled to Niagara Falls and the White Mountains in search of sublime scenery that would connect them with God. One of the leading Transcendentalists, Ralph Waldo Emerson, states that "Nature deif[ies] us with a few and cheap elements" (Emerson, 27). The essential communion between man and nature, through something he calls the "Oversoul," enables man to transfer the world into the consciousness, thereby uniting himself with God. Ironically, as the Transcendentalists were streaming into the countryside, young women from farms surrounding New England, especially from the White Mountains, were flooding the cities looking for work in the mills. The "Lowell Girls" went into the city to earn money for themselves or for their families and to undergo a transformation from a "homespun country bumpkin" to sophisticated, respected city woman with a "sense of independ ence." These changes and improvements were part of the Lowell experience. The owners of the mills created a myth of the mills as a transformer which was then perpetuated by the mill girls via word of mouth or through their writings in the Lowell Offering. The fictions in the Lowell Offering express their desire to be seen as transformed into the ideal woman. The act of self-representation through writing, which has as its central essence the transformative power of a place, was utilized by writers such as Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau. The popularity of their writing and their ideas of the importance of the individual's relationship with God, nature and work surely influenced the Lowell women's writing and their desire to be seen as transformed. According to Transcendental philosophy, "nature is transcendental" (Emerson 197). "There was nothing in the intellect which was not previously in the experience of the senses, by showing that there was a very important class of ideas or imperative forms, which did not come by experience, but through which experience was acquired; that these were intuitions of the mind itself; and [Kant] denominated them Transcendental forms" (Emerson 197). Man experiences God and his power in the natural world. Beauty which is unavoidable in the natural world has "the presence of a higher, namely, of the spiritual element ... essential to its perfection. ... Beauty is the mark God sets upon virtue" (Emerson 28).

Todd Carnes

1. Discuss how the corporate culture at Ben & Jerry's, as described in this case, influences the daily implementation of ethical decisions in the firm. The company believes that the â€Å"product, economic, and social† aspects of its mission statement are equally important, that mutual respect from everyone in the communities in which they are part of are necessary for a socially responsible (and ethical) existence. This vision lays the groundwork in which the company operates.They espouse a somewhat fun and unorthodox culture, from the way they name their administrative positions, to their product branding. They also feel strongly about supporting the community—when they offered their initial stock to the public, it was only initially restricted to Vermont residents. The concept of â€Å"caring capitalism† is being consciously followed in such a way that the company operates not for the sole purpose of profit.Since its inception, Ben & Jerry's operated with the improvement of the lives of its employees and the community in mind—from creating charity projects, giving to environmental causes, and implementing streamlined employee compensations—Ben & Jerry’s tries to stick to its core values and always gives something back to the community. 2. [†¦] In what other ways could Ben & Jerry's demonstrate to stakeholders its commitment to ethical and socially responsible conduct? In Ben & Jerry's Social Audit, its social missions and environmental accomplishments are clearly outlined.However, there were concerns that employee morale is low, mostly because of the assumption that the company, particularly the top management, does not/would not remain committed to its values. Since employees are in the core of the organization’s mission and values (and are therefore major stakeholders in the company), Ben & Jerry's should not take this matter lightly—they should create more initiatives and opportunities to affirm their commitment to the community. 3. [†¦] How can such companies protect their core values as they grow from small firms into large ones and/or are acquired by multinational conglomerates?Companies like Ben & Jerry’s, which start out small but are ultimately acquired by conglomerates (such as Unilever) can protect their ethical and social platforms first by a legally binding pre-acquisition agreement to the effect that the constituents of the original companies top management is preserved, and that whoever are the progenitors of the company’s ethical and socially aware paradigm remain in control and thus have the ability to preserve the moral foundations of the company.Upon acquisition, said management should not allow the safety buffer of the new umbrella company to make them complacent about upholding their original goals. The company should keep up public and internal awareness of the company's ethical and social responsibilities. Public awareness, in particu lar, will be a positive driving force for the company's goals.

My Career As A Public Servant - 1670 Words

Public relations Introduction The course in public administration has prepared me for my career as a college professor. I have learned how to act responsibly, ethically, and with integrity in my career as a public servant. I now understand that a public officer is responsible for her actions and outcome of her actions. She is responsible to the public, the employees she is mandated to serve and to his superiors or the governing body that outlines the organizational policy. A public officer should be efficient and consistent. She should provide services fairly and equitably. A public officer should also display optimism, courage and flexibility. The officer should be willing to serve the public in the best way possible and with honesty (Berman 1999 p.149-166). This paper examines the concepts of integrity, ethics in public service, and professionalism and how they have influenced my career. It also examines arguments about guerilla tactics and the power of professional public officers. Public service I have learned that Public service is when public officers seek public interest and exhibit virtues of courage, integrity, prudence, fairness and rationality (Newell 2008). A responsible and professional public officer should be competent at what he does, have the courage to accomplish tasks, and remain accountable for his deeds. He should be guided by moral values. However, public officers are often influenced by competing standards, preferences, values of the governance system.Show MoreRelatedMy Definition of Success Essay examples504 Words   |  3 Pagesbe of service to others. Public service is the most honorable profession! 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