Current global business environment Essay Example

Current global business environment Paper Cassandra is obviously not the only forecaster, and sadly on occasion this particular modern-day soothsayer fails to match the infallibility of his classical forebear. Say this because the England cricket team, despite my dire predictions of disappointment, has today handsomely defeated India in Iambi. So, it is in a spirit of humility that I offer these predictions for 2013 from alternative (l am 10th to say rival) forecasters, Professor Thomas Maligning of the MID business school in Lausanne and his colleague Tracey Keys of Strategy Dynamics Global. Looking down their ten trends, I find myself general in agreement (though Im not as pessimistic as they are in number 7, and we have to bear in mind that a lot of what they say is more relevant to the years well beyond 2013). And quite what they mean by the owners economy in number 2 is a bit Of a mystery Still, well worth pondering, and well worth looking at the Goaltenders website. Meanwhile, here is their potted version: The great power shift 10 trends business leaders need to watch in 2013 Thomas W. Maligning and Tracey S. Keys The great global redistribution of economic and social power will continue ever the next 12 months. Power will flow away from traditional institutions that have failed to deliver progress especially governments and banks. It will flow towards communities and individuals, and also to businesses whose leaders understand and act on the big trends shaping our future. This future looks uncertain and unstable. Hurricane Sandy was a deadly reminder of shifting climate patterns, emphasizing the need for new ways to manage the worlds resources and environment. We will write a custom essay sample on Current global business environment specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Current global business environment specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Current global business environment specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer There are growing levels of social unrest over rising inequality, austerity, unemployment, political cause they misread the future like Kodak, which invented the digital camera but filed for bankruptcy after focusing on its core film business instead. In our new Global Trends Report for 2013, we highlight 10 trends that business leaders need to focus on today. These are: 1 . Social everything: New generations and their digital world stepping forward Social technologies are now a central part of everyday life and work. The social generations are reshaping companies from the inside, helping them to build broader, more agile networks to create and deliver value to customers. Mobility and connectedness will be at the heart of the future business environment: communications and marketing are moving from a focus on one-to-one relationships, to many-to-many. 2. Redefining value: The consumer is winning the fight to own the new consumer The notion of value is being redefined for the 21st century. Consumers have choice. They want personalization, and to participate in value creation, shifting the mindset to made with me. Value will also be about shared with me as the owners economy expands. This will be driven particularly by monger generations who value experiences they can share and that also deliver benefits to society over possessions. 3. Distributed everything: Mobility in production and consumption Mobility is entering a new stage. Not only does consumption occur nap. Where, anytime, but the tools and resources to create and capture value are more broadly distributed too. Work is becoming increasingly distributed. Small scale manufacturing, including AD printing, will reshape production. Renewable technologies are distributing energy production, while mass teaching platforms are revolutionize education. Ask what cant be distributed, not what can. 4. The next industrial revolution: Robots and smart machines reshaping Smart machines and robots will redefine society. Robots are now being deployed as receptionists, banking assistants and even prison guards, while technology allows amateurs to do what professionals once did. The upside: addressing issues such as caring for ageing populations. The downside: huge job losses. Yet the next wave of smart machines will also create new kinds of jobs. The challenge will be to ensure a workforce that is ready and skilled for hem. 5. The new space race: Pushing the frontiers of technology once again? Scientific advances from national space programs have had a significant impact on how we live and work, from advanced materials to global telecommunications. Now, commercial space travel and exploration is a reality, even as a new space race hoots up, particularly between the US, China and Europe. New advances will surely result, as will questions over the ownership of space assets, and whether advances will be shared for public benefit. 6. Geopolitical wars: The fight to control the future The BRICKS and Beyond (other rapidly growing economies) will be where the fight to control future economic growth and social development will take place. Its a multipart market landscape, based on dramatically different economic, social and political systems. Politicians, along with companies, are still trying to find and control their place in the new world order, even as trust in governments falls, nationalism rises, and power shifts towards the people. The potential for radical political shifts at home and between nations is rising. . Resource wars escalating: From a world of abundance to shortage As the worlds population moves towards 9 billion by 2050, resources are under pressure, exacerbated by climate change. By 2030 we will demand twice as many resources as the planet can supply risking social unrest and conflicts as people and nations compete for ever scarcer resources. Scarcity is already driving resource price volatility and cross-border investments. New technologies and rethinking consumption will be critical in future with businesses rather than governments likely to lead the way. 8. Business stepping up: From profit to purpose Many businesses are stepping up to a new role, often with partners, to tackle social and economic challenges. Corporations are seeking to build legitimacy and the license to operate in the eyes of demanding consumers, employees and stakeholders who care about the impact and motivations of companies with whom they associate. But its also good business as companies realize mutual benefits with society. Look for more businesses redefining their corporate purpose in this way. 9. Information is power: The security challenge Cyberspace is the new frontline for security. Knowledge and information is a source of competitive advantage for organizations, nations and individuals. But its a growing challenge to retain control as mobility and the demagnification of everything (commerce, politics and societies) increases along with cybercafà © and cyber war. Look for a rising tide Of litigation, policies and regulation. Digital freedom or a big brother society? 10. Who needs banks anyway? Reshaping the financial system The financial system is broken. Regulators want change, businesses want new means of financing and consumers want alternatives.

Prop, Props, and Props To

Prop, Props, and Props To Prop, Props, and Props To Prop, Props, and Props To By Maeve Maddox Facebook postings often educate me in current usage. A recent discovery comes from this comment about a television show called Shark Tank: Georges’ caring nature steals the show and the hearts of the judges.   It goes to show that character can never be undervalued or underestimated†¦Props to Paul Mitchell cofounder John Paul DeJoria for recognizing that. I was familiar with props as a shortening of several different English words, but this usage left me bewildered. NOTE: This post is for readers who, like me, have managed to remain ignorant of the expression â€Å"props to† until now. It is also for ESL learners who may not be familiar with other uses of prop. First of all, the word prop exists as a complete word in its own right, both as a noun and as a verb. The noun came first: prop noun: A stick, rod, pole, stake, or beam used as a temporary support or to keep something in position; in extended use, anything that serves to support something or keep it in place. A fruit-laden plant may need a wooden prop to hold its branches off the ground. Shakespeare used prop in its figurative sense in The Merchant of Venice. When the character Gobbo is told that his son is dead, the old man exclaims, â€Å"Oh no, God forbid! the boy was the staff of my old age, my prop!† From the noun came the verb: prop verb: To support or keep from falling by or as if by a prop; to keep in position with a prop, or with something used as a prop. A gardening site advises, â€Å"Learn to prop up your plants before they flop.† An op-ed writer asserts, â€Å"Government should not prop up greyhound racing.† The verb is often used with the particle up, but not always: â€Å"1 Billion IMF Loan Props British Pound.† The clipped form prop is used to represent different words. Proposition In the context of political writing, a proposed law, called a proposition, is often referred to as â€Å"a Prop†: â€Å"Opponents argue that Prop 47 will put thousands of criminals back on our streets without first ensuring they have been rehabilitated.† â€Å"Proposition betting† is a wagering term. A â€Å"prop bet† is placed on some contingency related to the game but it has nothing to do with which side wins or loses. Here are some prop bets that were made on the Super Bowl XLIX: Will Idina Menzel forget or omit at least one word of the official US national anthem? What will Katy Perry be wearing when she begins the halftime show? What color will Bill Belichick’s hoodie be? Proprietor An old-fashioned way to display the name of a shop owner on a sign or business card was to precede or follow the name with the abbreviation Prop. for proprietor: â€Å"H. W. Jones, Prop.† The abbreviation came to be used as a word to mean owner, as in â€Å"Who is the prop of this establishment?† Proprietary This is a Wall Street idiom. When a trader uses the firm’s own money to trade for currencies and commodities- as opposed to using depositors’ money- the operation is called â€Å"proprietary trading.† The term is often shortened to â€Å"prop trading† and the agent who does it is a â€Å"prop trader.† Here’s a recent headline from Business Insider: â€Å"A Prop Trader Explains His Work, His Salary, And Why Everyone Is Wrong About His Profession.† Propeller The word propeller to mean a device for propelling a machine dates from the 18th century, but the shortening prop for propeller dates to World War I when pilots started referring to airplane propellers as props. Nowadays, the word is more frequently used attributively to describe a certain kind of plane: â€Å"Angelina Jolie is well known for her love of aviation. And the mother-of-six indulged in her favourite pastime on Friday with a trip in the pilot seat of a small prop plane.† Property In the context of putting on a play, a prop is â€Å"an object used in a performance. Prop and props in the context of theater derives from property and properties. A prop usually seen in a performance of Macbeth is a cauldron. By extension, a prop can be any kind of accessory, as in this example from the OED: â€Å"Interspersedwere the other props of a traditional Jewish homea Purim megillah.† The props in the expression â€Å"props to† differs from all of these shortenings in that it telescopes a phrase: proper respects. In the quotation that introduced me to this expression, â€Å"Props to Paul Mitchell† means is â€Å"Congratulations to Paul Mitchell,† or â€Å"Good for Paul Mitchell.† The use of props in the sense of â€Å"due respect† appears suddenly on the Ngram Viewer in 1992 and shoots upward in a vertical line on the graph. The OED labels this use of props as slang, â€Å"originally in African-American usage,† and provides a citation from 1990: â€Å"I was one of the first female rappers, but Ive always gotten my props.†- Chicago Tribune Merriam-Webster defines props as â€Å"something that is said to publicly thank and give special attention to someone for doing something; credit or recognition.† Although props in the sense of recognition seems to have moved up from slang to colloquial, it is still not considered to be standard. In time, however, it may replace worn-out kudos. Related posts Word Clipping Kudo vs Kudos 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 Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Types of Language50 Types of PropagandaA "Diploma" is not a "Degree"

Individual wiki Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Individual wiki - Essay Example Lexington Books, 2011. Print. The authors reveal the way social media such as Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, MySpace and others have increased at an alarming rate for the past ten years. These media sources have become significant in the current business, learning environment, political campaigns and public relations industries. The authors offer a comprehensive and social analysis on the way social media impact the society, as well as, explore the emerging roles of media. The book examines the way social media have impacted and at the same time played significant roles in varied environments such as learning, public relations, legal and strategic communications (Noor and John 23). Media, Culture, and Technology. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012. Print. The Media Now is a book that empowers one to think critically on the way media creates an impact on culture, contributes to violence and antisocial behaviors, which is contrary to the prevailing norms for social conduct (Straubhaar and Robert 421). The book offers a comprehensive introduction to the current global media environmental impacts and continuing technology development, culture and varied theories for transforming the rapidly evolving media industry. The authors offer a clear understanding on the way media technologies develop, converge and impact the society. The book prepares one for varied encounters through expanding the field of Internet, social networking sites and traditional media industries. The authors employ varied theories, concepts and technical knowledge significant for enabling the reader to understand the roles and media impacts in the society. Web 2.0 Technologies. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2011. Print. The author argues that despite the recent global disaster resulting from the social media aspects, it is significant to unleash and teach emergence management to curb

Internatinal Business Management - Risk Analysis of Brazil Essay

Internatinal Business Management - Risk Analysis of Brazil - Essay Example The article has emphasized the need for FDIs in the agricultural sector of Brazil, and how with the proper flow of finance into this sector will help agriculture of Brazil reach the unfathomable heights. â€Å"Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) occurs when an investor based in one country (the home country) acquires an asset in another country (the host country) with the intent to manage the asset.† (Graham Jeffery P, 2005) Over the years FDI has helped a great deal in the globalisation and internationalisation of business ventures across the globe especially in the developing countries. According to a source from the UNCTD, in the developing countries annual FDI flow has increased from less $10 billion to $636 billion in the span of three decades that is from 1970 to 2004. (U.S. Dept of States, Jan, 2009) This huge increase in the flow of FDI was driven by the industrial mergers, acquisitions and globalisation of businesses. One of the main aspects of FDI is that it enhances the flow of capital and technology into the developing countries. This is generally beneficial to both the parties, the home ground and the host ground, that is, the country which makes the investment and the country which takes in the investment, respectively. It also presents the smaller and the medium sized industries with the opportunity of becoming more actively involved in business on the international level. To sum it up th e FDI assists in the internationalisation of small business, harnesses a spirit of cooperation between the different nations and different firms within the nations and overall speeds up the growth and economic development of the participating nations and firms. (Graham Jeffery P. and Spaulding R. Barry, 2005). The Federative Republic of Brazil, geographically situated on the Latin side of America and with a work force of 99.23 million is one of the fastest growing economies in the sphere of developing countries of the world, with an

Sheila Bair's Bank Shot Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sheila Bair's Bank Shot - Essay Example She sounded the warning bell on an impending crisis, she lead FDIC in managing troubled financial institutions and provided one of the most significant arguments in the policy reform at the aftermath. From Nocera’s perspective, Bair’s position on FDIC’s role on regulation and several policies in the financial industry has been effective and correct, but often left unheeded and unappreciated. Two of the most significant of these is: 1) her insistence on greater regulation long before policymakers and experts started to preach it; and, 2) her position that banks in trouble are not necessarily needed to be bailed out. The article, hence, underscore the importance of listening to this lady in the context of averting possible reoccurrence of similar crisis in the future. Charles Kindleberger’s theory and analyses of financial crises are descriptive and it provided the general basis for Nocera’s agreement with Bair’s position on regulation and the 2008 financial crisis. Kindleberger’s model describes an exogenous shock to the system also called as displacement. The causes of such displacement are varied and could provide diverse degree of crisis severity. The tendency to speculate as well as the inevitable complacency that comes with a stable and growing financial economy on the part of regulatory bodies are crucial elements in aggravating such displacement. These run parallel with actions taken by Bair before the 2008 crisis struck. She has started warning about the explosive growth of subprime mortgages, demonstrating traces of the principles behind the Kindleberger model on financial crises. One of the most important contributions by Bair, which could enhance the Kindleberger’s model, is in the area of crisis cont rol. One of her most forceful positions was that banks do not necessarily need to be bailed out in order to stop the onslaught of the financial crisis. This is contained in her position on the larger issue about the too-big-to-fail financial institutions. For instance, Bair vehemently opposed the federal government’s rescue of Bearn Stearns. The article’s focus on FDIC inevitably tied it with the theme of lender-of-last resort. The organization is mandated to rescue and manage failed financial institutions and regulate banks’ soundness, among other functions by virtue of its mandate to safeguard the interests of depositors and of consumers. With Bair at the helm of FDIC during the financial crisis of 2008, these functions had been highlighted and that the manner by which the organization is and should function as a lender of last resort has been clearly defined. Bair’s traditionalist position has played a significant part, particularly in reinforcing FDIC ’s power and influence today, which in the early years of her tenure as chairperson, appeared to have been largely symbolic, with weak regulatory power, clipped by the federal government, with low budget allocation. In my opinion, Bair’s position on the financial crisis is sound, with particular emphasis on the crisis management and the reforms that should take place afterwards. For example, if a huge financial institution fails, the government could further aggravate the economic landscape by infusing more funds that come from taxpayer’s money. The too-big-to-fail policy does not make sense in the long-term. First, failing financial institutions mean bad management, structure and practices. Rescuing them is more painful than having the market start over with another better managed institution rather than dumping money and implementing reforms that may never really be effective considering the sheer size of the institution. In addition, it seems to be unfair to

Organizational Change Management Theory

Organizational Change Management Theory People and Organization Management in the Built Environment Organizational Change Management Theory Introduction- To understand change in an organization, it is important to study an organization and its culture. This is because, changing an organization is nothing but changing its culture which ultimately causes change in performance. An Organization can be defined as â€Å"social arrangement of consciously coordinated activities for achieving controlled performances in the pursuit of common goals†. (Price and Chahal, 2006, p. 238) Organizational culture can be defined as â€Å"characteristic, spirit and belief of an organization [†¦] generally held about how people should behave and treat each other in an organization [†¦] and attitudes to change.† (Price and Chahal, 2006, p. 238) Depending on the market requirements, an organization is setup according to- resource allocation, production capacity, technological requirement etc. This is why organizations have to constantly change to adapt to the ever-changing market while securing the organizations perspectives. Depending on the market situation, it can be a crisis change or chosen change. Organizational change can be developmental (doing better than current situation), transitional (implementation of new desired state) or transformational (evolutionary new state). (Price and Chahal, 2006) But whether it is intended or forced, the company needs to change in order to remain competent. Change management helps resist the effect that change in the market has on an organization, increasing the importance of change management over the years. (Cap Gemini Ernst Young, 2004) Changing an organizational culture affects the people involved in it in various ways like change in job profile, learning new techniques, job cut, etc. So, it becomes necessary to manage all the people involved, to successfully implement change while not disturbing the companys goal. This makes change management a complex process. Considering different orientations like planning, stake-holder management etc. change management can be defined as- A continuous aggregation of processes, instruments and techniques, to improve the efficiency of the organization in problem solving and target attainment, achieved by eliminating the causes of resistance to change, working in an organized and systematic way, from both company and employee perspectives. (Cap Gemini Ernst Young, 2004) Change process: Since the whole change process is very complex, let us consider a case-study to understand it better. We will analyze it using three models of change management, after which we will attempt to draw a strategic change management framework which can be used in any organization. Our case-study will also be critically analyzed against this framework. Case-study Aluminium Company of America (ALCOA) (1990) plant at Swansea is the company under review. (Price and Chahal, 2006) Senior managers of this company realized the need to review their plant culture and processes. They presented their case to the ALCOA board at Pittsburg, USA emphasizing on the companys present and desired state. The board was convinced about the need to change. Senior managers then established a taskforce to take the responsibility of the change program. It had 12 members ranging from employees, production managers, engineers, personnel, operators and craftsman. The task force drew the following Vision Statement- ‘To help establish ALCOA, Swansea, as a model company by developing a plant that contributes to the long-term prosperity and security of the company and its employees. (Price and Chahal, 2006, p. 245) In 1991, the taskforce drafted the internal document comprising of some important elements and strategies including vision, need to change, benefits, critical factors, resistance, etc. The ‘plan to overcome resistance was: â€Å"[] we must go forward and improve or cease to do business†. (Price and Chahal, 2006, p. 245) The taskforce reviewed and changed their manufacturing processes and procedures by benchmarking with other companies like ALCOA Tennessee, Cadburys etc. They observed no initial resistance while implementing new processes and procedures. But, later they noticed some symptoms like reduced productivity and they observed the reasons, as employee aspects like working practices, multi-tasking, pay, arising because of the old structure of organization having seniority and unionized systems. To overcome this, the workforce appointed a new team, which developed a system by analyzing the organizations present and desired state. They changed the working philosophy of the plant workforce and the basis for remuneration. They conducted a series of workshop trainings for the entire workforce. Though this entire process was difficult, they observed improved performance at the start of 2000. They were very close to their targets. The new reduced workforce was highly committed and motivated. But afte r all this success, ALCOA Swansea unexpectedly closed down in 2003. The senior management blamed overcapacity and slow market growth for failure. (Price and Chahal, 2006) Analysis: Although the senior management blamed overcapacity and slow market growth, it clearly indicates that they failed to analyze the market and adjust to it by aggressive marketing, necessary lay-offs etc. To understand the reasons for the failure, we will analyze the case-study using three models viz. The Leavitts Model (1965), Weisbords six-boxes (1976), McKinsey 7S Framework (1981-82). Leavitts Model: Leavitt focused on four variables in the organization, their interdependence and their influence on the change process. The variables considered are- * Task and subtasks- Those which are involved in achieving the target. * People- Who carry out the task. * Technology- Which is adapted to achieve the task. * Structure of the organization- In terms of authority, communication, workflow etc. Interlinking of the variables suggests that this is an interactive and continuous process. He did not take external factors into account. (Falletta, 2005) In our case-study, the first factor to vary was ‘Task. Change managers decided to change the companys plant culture and processes. Then they appointed a workforce, so the second variable changed was ‘People. Then ‘Technology and ‘Structure changed as a result of the changed plant processes and procedures that is change in the working philosophy and remuneration. But later on, an outbreak of resistance demanded a change in the human variable as well as the Structure. This resulted in the creation of a new highly motivated workforce. This increased the companys productivity and changed the sub-task, which was to win enough projects for the workforce to keep them motivated and achieve the ‘vision. But, the senior management was not a part of the task force and became an external factor leading to ignorance of vital marketing function. Considering the slow market growth, the change managers could have changed either ‘Technology or ‘People variabl e; that is they could have sold some machinery or reduced the workforce to achieve the desired productivity. Ignorance of all these resulted in failure of the change process and ultimately company closure. Weisbords six-boxes: Weisbord considered six broad categories as shown above. When compared with Leavitts model, there are three different factors considered- * Relationship- The way in which people interact with each other and with the technology. * Rewards- Given to workforce for performance. * Leadership- Common leadership tasks including the equilibrium between the other factors. External environment is also considered in this model unlike Levitts model. It also tells us about the importance of input and output in relation to the external and internal environments. It does not highlight much on interconnectivity of all the internal factors (Falletta, 2005). In our case study, Relationship between the team was maintained well, making it highly motivated. Relationship between people and technology was also maintained which was achieved through training. Provision for rewards was made by changing the basis for remuneration. But, the Leadership failed. This is because of the failure to analyze the balance between external and internal inputs and outputs like reduced market growth, less productivity and profitability. This may be the result of lack of co-ordination between senior and junior management and non inclusion of senior management in the task force. When the junior managers observed lesser productivity than expected, senior managers should have made an attempt to get more jobs by aggressive marketing or should have reduced the manpower. The ‘vision was partially achieved. Though they tried to achieve employee security by retaining them, the companys perspective of long term prosperity and security was not achieved and the proc ess failed. McKinsey 7S Framework: This model was drawn by the employees at McKinsey, who did corresponding research in business and industry. It considers seven variables which are- * Strategy- The plan in allocating resources to achieve the target. * Systems- Existing processes followed in the organization. * Staff-Different categories of personnel. * Skills- Different capabilities. * Style- How key managers behave to achieve the goal. * Shared value- The significant guiding concepts common among the organization. The interconnectivity between these is shown by the shape of the model. The author advises that the company cannot just change one or two variables to change the whole organization. In order to achieve long term benefit, variables should be changed to become more congruent as a system, suggesting that change is a continuous process. It does not consider external environment. The concept of the performance or effectiveness is not clear in the model. (Falletta, 2005) In our case-study, Shared values are the ‘vision statement as this is the common goal of all the employees. Skills were as per the requirement of the change process which was achieved through training. Production Systems were as per requirements, but Financial Systems needed more check on productivity and profitability. Staff and Style failed because of lack of coordination between senior and junior managers due to non-inclusion of the senior management in the task force, making them an external factor. As a result, they were unable to establish system to take care of shared values. Strategy failed as the company did not allocate more staff in marketing team, while production team needed lay-off. Hence, the vision was not achieved and company closed down. Strategic framework of Change management We will draw a six step strategic framework to help implement change in any organization. We will also analyze our case study using this framework. The main distinguishing characteristic of this framework is, that it considers the detailed role of all those involved in the change management process. 1. Preparing the organization This initiates the thought process. The first step is to study the organizations present state to determine its change capacity to have a realistic vision. Studying the organizations present routines gives an understanding of how the organization operates which guides about its performance in a specific routine. This will again strengthen the understanding of organizational operations and will guide about relevant performance. (Feldman, 2003, p. 729) Change managers then interact with different stakeholders to understand the need to change to achieve the right purpose and agree on the organizations desired state, considering internal and external drivers of change. This helps managers list out broad types of cultural and technological changes required. This is then conveyed to the entire workforce along with the benefits the company and employees would get through the change. This helps win their confidence and make them feel secured and involved. Care is taken not to convey informat ion about a specific group or individual to avoid the feeling of mistrust amongst the whole organization. (Price and Chahal, 2006) In our case study, this step was implemented effectively. Organizational analysis for present and future state was done perfectly and it was conveyed to people in such a way that everybody was convinced about the need to change. 2. Developing the process Vision is the guiding statement of the change process which relates the companys ultimate goal, making it the most important step of the change management process. The vision and objectives should be realistic and clear. (Cap Gemini Ernst Young, 2004) Change managers first decide three groups viz. implementation team, range of stakeholders and workforce. Feedback from step one is analyzed and used as the basis to find out different change strategies. All these strategies are then evaluated against certain questions which are * Does the option have a clear perspective and a systematic approach? * Does the option support organizational or personal goals? * Were all the working environments and source perspectives considered? (Price and Chahal, 2006) Different change strategies analyzed above are again brainstormed and evaluated within the group and a final strategic process is decided which can even be the combination of some of the options evaluated. Finally a working document is drafted. Different sections in the draft include- Background, Vision, Goal, Objectives, Design, Implementation plan, Timescales, etc. (Price and Chahal, 2006) Implementation plan should include important aspects like cultural development, employee mobilization, knowledge management, incentive systems, transformation map, and stakeholder management. It is observed that 10% to 30% of companies fail to plan for this. (Cap Gemini Ernst Young, 2004) Cost-benefit analysis is a very important aspect of change. Every change costs something which can be categorized as economic and psychological. Economic cost is related to expenditure incurred, while psychological cost is the strain caused when people try to adjust to the change. (Newstrom and Davis, 2000) So this cost-benefit analysis is required to determine the worthiness of change. Only 40% of the companies think that cost-benefit analysis is a must because all activities are investments that must pay off in the end. (Cap Gemini Ernst Young, 2004) In our case study, the vision statement was well written and the implementation plan was fairly drawn. But they failed to apply the Cost-benefit analysis at the right time and could not recognize that their resources were over assigned. Also, they failed to plan for the changing market situation, therefore could not adjust to the market growth. 3. Test support This is the phase before the final planning stage. Once the strategic process is decided, management ensures that the team is still enthusiastic about the plan. This is the last opportunity to review all the documentation and accommodate any last minute developments before the actual implementation. This stage confirms the decision about the strategic process. (Newstrom and Davis, 2000) In our case study, this step was either not taken or not mentioned in the article. But, it ultimately did not affect the process. 4. Communication Successful communication of vision and objectives at the right time, to the stakeholders and the people affected by the change is the key to success. In order to link strategic and operational change, it is necessary to communicate it ending on a warning. (Whipp and Pettigrew, 1992) Implementation team should identify the effect change has on the groups as well as on the individuals. While assigning new jobs, they should try to cooperate with the employees to the highest degree possible and make them feel involved. â€Å"When people think about what actions they are to take in an organizational routine, they are not confined to thinking about performances of the routine they are enacting but may think broadly about a wide variety of organizational performances†. (Feldman, 2003, p. 729) Change managers need to be proactive in reducing the amount of resistance by having the ‘plan to overcome resistance ready. (Price and Chahal, 2006) Personal communication, conflict management, leadership development and team building are the most important aspects of effective communication. Retention management is the most overlooked aspect observed in nearly 50% of the companies. (Cap Gemini Ernst Young, 2004) In our case study, communication with employees ended on a warning note as given in the plan to overcome resistance. Change was communicated successfully and the managers cooperated with the workforce resulting in successful restructuring of the organization; correcting all the defects. 5. Implementation This is a crucial phase of the process. Change managers follow the implementation plan and continue to do so till the end. If not done properly, there is a great risk of encountering resistance which can be recognized through symptoms like reduced productivity, gossips/rumors, etc. When recognized, its source needs to be identified and treated according to the ‘plan to overcome resistance drawn at step 4. (Price and Chahal, 2006) There are some common implementation barriers observed, such as- too many activities without prioritization, no sustained monitoring of activities (observed in more than 40% of the companies). Other barriers are- constant reorganizations of the company, inadequate support from line management, inadequate readiness to take responsibility etc. (Cap Gemini Ernst Young, 2004) In our case study, implementation of the plan was successful in the beginning. When they observed resistance, they took necessary action against it. But it was not followed till the end. The plan was to increase the productivity. When the market slowed down, necessary action should have been taken like workforce reduction or aggressive marketing to bring sufficient jobs for the highly motivated workforce. 6. Evaluation Change managers can evaluate the effectiveness of the process using Key Performance Indicators, at any stage of implementation. Generally, planning engineer or implementation team is not involved because of the obvious vested interests. Middle management can do it better, with unbiased views. This can be done with process inspections and audits. New processes can be reviewed and compared with the chosen process. After doing so, if any problem is identified, necessary adjustments need to be made to the process; this can be repeated several times. This continues and the process becomes a driver for the next change. (Price and Chahal, 2006) In our case study, this step was almost neglected by the change managers. They either failed to analyze the less productivity resulting from the slow market growth or failed to incorporate necessary changes in the process to achieve the vision. Conclusion: Change management is a very complex process because of the different factors involved in it. Though there is no globally accepted model, we can use different models in the same situation. Some models are easier to use, while others need more critical analysis according to the situation. It depends on the change manager to adapt a certain process. If all the steps are followed through, keeping the vision in mind, we can successfully implement change. Otherwise it can be as disastrous as company closure.

Feudal society in Champagne :: essays research papers

The fundamental institutions of medieval feudal society are something that many historians have researched at great length. One of the best existing windows into medieval institutions, society, culture, and other matters, is Feudal Society in Medieval France: Documents from the County of Champagne; One of the sections contained in this compilation of documents is on the Crusades. The documents contained in this section are of correspondence between various parties all pertaining to the Crusades.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Contained in this subsection, there are eighteen different compositions pertaining to the crusades, their subjects vary widely as do the motivations of the authors. 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Work by William of Tyre describing the Templars, a group of Knights whose sworn duty was to protect pilgrims to the holy land and keep the routes safe for travel, also known as the Knights of the Temple. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Letter by Bernard of Clairvaux, in this letter he justifies the need for a â€Å"monastic military order† to protect the holy land and all pilgrims. He also writes this to show the benefit of knights who were out for nothing but protection of Christianity, instead of the usual Knights who were out for material gain and used protection of Christianity as an excuse. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Letter by Bernard of Clairvaux, to the Byzantine Emperor, Manuel Comneus, requesting that Henry, the son of Count Thibaut II of Champagne, be granted a Knighthood by the Emperor. He makes this request to make an impression on Henry and most likely also in an effort to strengthen ties between the two powers. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Letter from Louis VII to Count Thibaut II, praising his son Henry. This letter was written as a peace offering to Thibaut, with whom Louis had had extensive prior conflict. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Letter by Bernard of Clairvaux, to Abbot Suger of Sait-Denis, reminding him of the Church’s prohibition of tournaments and alerting him to an upcoming one staged bye Robert, Louis’ brother, as a direct provocation that could lead to an attempt to seize the throne. Bernard wants Suger to stop the tournament before it can happen. 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Letter from Henry, son of Thibaut, to Abbot Suger, requesting a meeting to arrange the release of Anseric Lord of Montreal. 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Letter by Bernard of Clairvaux, to Countess Mathilda, in response to her son Henry the new successor for Count of Champagne’s behavior towards her. 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Statement by Josbert of La Ferte-sur-Aube giving his property to Clairvaux as part of his preparations for going on Crusade this also serves as a document proving title to the land.

A Christian Perspective on Nudity in Art Essay

The Association of Classical & Christian Schools John is a Christian who enjoys the arts and finds them edifying. He is particularly fond of the art of painting. Desiring to expand his art history knowledge, he visits the best, closest art museum he can find. Going from gallery to gallery, John begins to become discouraged and more than a little embarrassed because of all the nudity shown in the paintings. He finds himself wondering if he should leave the museum in a state of disillusioned protest. As a Christian, John understands the need to shun pornography; but what he is seeing is not Hollywood at its X-rated worst, it is Western Civilization. These are the paintings that make up the canon of art. What is he . what are Christians . to do with nudity as it is often shown in art? To answer the overriding question, one must first understand the difference between nudity and pornography. Nudity is nothing more than a human figure without clothing. There is no overt intention of sexual arousal. When nudity is used in art, it is often (but not always) with the goal of eliciting an admiration on the part of the viewer for the handy-work of his Creator. The Greeks believed that man was the measure of all things; as such they sought to find the perfect human form and show it in their art. The resulting nudes are not pornographic; rather, they are the outworking of the Greek ideal. As Christians, we rightly reject their philosophy, but we should not make the mistake of mislabeling their art. There has been much written on the beauty of the human body and it does not need be rehearsed here. It is clear that we are, indeed, fearfully and wonderfully made. When an artist shows nudity with this in mind, he is showing it to the praise and glory of the Creator. Pornography, on the other hand, has sexual arousal as its sole intention. It seeks to debase and lower both its subject, the person being looked at, and its object, the person doing the looking, to the level of mere animals. It is meant to feed our lusts, with the full understanding that they can never be sated. Sexual lust . like all other lusts . perates according to the Law of Diminishing Returns; the more a person feeds his lust, the harder it is to get even temporary satisfaction. This forces him to go back for increasingly more and more stimulation until it is almost impossible to derive any pleasure from his vice, no matter how much he indulges. It would be irresponsible to say that no part of Western Art leans to the pornographic side of things; for some of it does (much of Klimt, Schiele, some Courbet, etc. ); however, the difference is usually reasonably obvious with sober thought (if it. s not, then the artist has not done his job! ). There is also art that is quite charged with erotic content that doesn. t show so much as an exposed ankle. These paintings rely on context and subtlety to convey the true meaning of the work. For example, Gustave Courbet. s painting, Demoiselles on the Banks of the Seine of 1856, is widely understood to be a depiction of two lesbians in post-coital sleep . an obviously unacceptable situation for the Christian. There is no crass sexual imagery to suggest this relationship; however, when viewed in light of some of his other paintings, and when the painting is looked at carefully the relationship between the two women becomes clear. This is far from the only example of subtle erotic imagery, but it is illustrative of the issue. Like so many situations in life, context is the key to making a decision about whether or not to show or look at imagery like this. Song of Solomon (among other passages in scripture) is very explicit in its description of a sexual relationship between a man and a woman. It speaks quite openly of physical desire. We know from the context of the whole book that this is not a sinful desire and that it is proper for us to read about it and learn from it. So it is with art; when we properly understand the context of a picture we can make decisions on whether it is sinful to look at or not. We have to decide what our aim is in looking at it: are we indulging in an unlawful desire, or are we confronting an opposing worldview? If it is the former, then by no means should the image be viewed; however, if our education is to have any value we must confront opposing worldviews. To what are we objecting in pictures like this? It is obviously not the depiction of an unclothed human body. It is the representation and the implicit approval of promiscuity. This is what breaks the Law of God in Scripture . the sin does not necessarily occur when we look at such material, it happens when we approve of it. Things are rarely one dimensional; there are many reasons for showing nudity in art. We do a disservice to our students (and ourselves) when we teach them to be reactionary instead of thoughtful and discerning. There is a long tradition of depicting the nude human form in Western Art. I mentioned above that appreciation of the human form is one reason for showing nudity in art. However, it is not the only reason. Realism is another; nudity in varying degrees is a part of life, even public life at many times in the past and in different parts of the world. Many times artists were showing only what they saw as a part of everyday life. In the past there were public baths and public toilets that did not afford the same privacy that we, as 21st century Americans, have come to take for granted. There were even times when public nudity was accepted (for example, Peter worked in the nude while he fished (John 21:7). As such, people would have come to understand the concept of modesty as opposed to prudishness. Modesty reserves the exposure of the body to appropriate times and places, whereas prudishness sees the body as sinful in and of itself. As Christians, we must reject prudishness in light of the fact that God has given us many good gifts that are to be enjoyed in their proper context, our bodies being one of them. Since the Fall, nakedness in many situations has become shameful to us. Artists throughout history have recognized this fact and have used it in their art. For example, there are many depictions of the Last Judgment in art history (Rogier Van der Weyden, Hieronymous Bosch, Petrus Christus, the van Eycks, etc. ), many of which show those to be judged completely naked; the blessed are usually given a robe while the damned are sent into hell naked. This is done to emphasize their state before God; they have no covering, either physical or metaphorical to shield them from their Creator. The image of nakedness is used in the Scriptures to highlight our condition before God (Hebrews 4:13). God describes Israel as having been naked before He found her (Ezekiel 16, Hosea 2:1-5). He also uses literal nakedness when he commands Isaiah to go without clothing for three years as a sign of impending judgment (Isaiah 20:1-6). Whether in Scripture or elsewhere, a literary image of nudity is not really that much different from a literal image; both give the mind pictures of naked bodies to think about. It is the intended goal of depicting nudity (whether in words or pictures) that carries the weight of moral responsibility. If e take into account the Scriptures. use of nudity, it seems that it is proper . even edifying . at times to show nudity in art if it is done for the same reasons as the Scriptures. Many times in art the baby Jesus is shown quite openly nude. This is done for a very serious reason. His genitals were shown so that the artist might emphasize the very real human nature of the Christ. The artists wished to refute various Christological heresies (Nestorianism, Mo nophysitism, various forms of Gnosticism, etc. ) by showing that Jesus was both God and man. The attributes of Divinity are obvious and well known (the halo, lamb, and cross) but the tradition of depicting Jesus. humanity through showing His genitals is often misunderstood. At the other end of the spectrum of representing Jesus during His life on Earth is the cross. He would have been completely naked on the cross. The loincloth that we commonly see in paintings is a piece of pure fiction. Would it have been sinful for Him to be naked in public? Of course not, this was not a sexual context, nor was it meant to be. Was it sinful for Jesus. emale followers to be there and see Him in such a state? No. Again, context is the key. A common example of public exposure (albeit mild exposure) that many of us will encounter is breastfeeding. This is a context in which a woman’s breasts are not meant to be seen as sexual, but as motherly. If a man is aroused by the sight of this, does that not point to the sin in him and not in the act of breastfeeding? God ordained this method o f nourishment for children and alludes to it many times in Scripture as a good and proper thing. Again, context is the key to discerning the nature of this situation. Likewise, it is exceedingly rare for a medical doctor to be accused of being a pornography addict for giving physical exams to members of the opposite sex. The context of the examination room is not a sexual one. However, if a doctor mistreats his position and does look at a woman in a lecherous manner, does that mean that all physicals are pornographic and we should stop having them? There are other examples where images of nudity do not and should not elicit sexual arousal: childbirth, war pictures, anatomical charts and books, images from other (often indigenous) cultures, etc. The age at which it is acceptable for children to begin seeing paintings with nudity in them is a matter of debate. It seems that children should be exposed to nudity in art from an early age with the understanding that it is proper in some contexts and improper in others (many of which have been discussed above). If this is done, many aspects of the question of pornography will have been answered at an early age. Furthermore, if this approach is taken, children will gain an understanding of modesty and prudishness and know the difference between the two before it becomes an issue of practice for them (e. . skirt length, bathing suits, movies, etc. ). Of course there are many things that are perfectly good and right in and of themselves that are inappropriate for children. It is the responsibility of the parents to know their children and use their discernment in this question. The above arguments show that things are rarely as simple as nude = bad, clothed = good. This is not an exh austive treatment of the issue by any means; however, it should shed light on different perspectives on how a Christian is supposed to view nudity in art.

The Startup of Chupa Chups †Business Essay

The Startup of Chupa Chups – Business Essay Free Online Research Papers The Startup of Chupa Chups Business Essay Chupa Chups, founded in 1985, is a leading manufacturer of sweet worldwide. With a market share of 34 percent in the lollipops market and 0.9 percent in sweet, Chupa Chups is among the top 25 sweetmakers globally and has been popular among many children in the world. It was in 1954 that Matt Williams, Chupa Chupss founder, stuck to revive the sweet manufacturer Granja Asturias (the previous name of Chupa Chups). In the following years till 1985, in order to concentrate on new Chups lollipop, Mr. Williams bought all Granja Asturiass shares and dropped its entire product range. The effects of the restructuring efforts are obvious: Chupa Chups has manufaturing sites in up to five countries, numerous royal customers and a complete sales network. In addition to the traditional flavors of lollipops (focus on children), Chupa Chups is currently building an extensive adult customer base as well as providing aged customers with new flavors. It in deed draws marvelous attention from various segments of parties. Recently, Chupa Chups’s launch of highly-colored â€Å"tongue-painter† lollipops had taken the market by storm. On the other hand, its spectacular surge on sales also gained credit from the clear diversification into a unique flavor: sugar-free mints with Smuit range. Inevitably, all this led to a direct result of Chupa Chups’s revenues growth. The company generated sales volume (in lollipops) of 4 billion in its most recent fiscal year, which ended January 31, 2005. Research Papers on The Startup of Chupa Chups - Business EssayMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaDefinition of Export QuotasThe Spring and AutumnNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NicePETSTEL analysis of IndiaOpen Architechture a white paperInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesTwilight of the UAWEffects of Television Violence on Children

What to Do and Not Do to Make More Money When the Work Dries Up

What to Do and Not Do to Make More Money When the Work Dries Up As I close in on 14 years of full-time freelancing, I find that now and then work can suddenly dry up. Whether the high-paying kind of work that I enjoy offers returns depends on how I respond to these lulls. I used to panic and go after any and all work that I could find. This so-called work included the cheapest lowball offers in and outside my niche, accepting any style, genre and subject matter. I was desperate and looked and acted it. I attracted the worst side of this business. I lost much of my confidence in getting high-quality, high-paying work again. After about two or three weeks of this behavior, my plate would fill with bad, low-paying gigs. Then, as luck would have it, a flood of my normal, high-paying work would come in too. Now I had twice the work I could handle, half of which I didnt want. I couldnt turn the good work down, and I couldnt ignore my responsibility to complete the other work I had committed to. I have since learned to spend those two- or three-week periods calmly, patiently and confidently going after the best work I possibly could. I did so with patience, not letting anyone know my situation, not acting or appearing desperate. Now at the end of such periods, there is no crap to deal with when my luck turns around. I now live and work with the confidence that every time such periods come along, if I respond in a confident manner, in lieu of fearful and desperate, everything will return to normal in a few weeks. Let me elaborate on what I do during those typically two- to three- week periods to bring a rush of new work in. First, I approach existing editors, asking them as to how they are doing and taking a genuine interest in them, both personally and professionally. I drop them an email with tips and leads or open up a discussion on topics that interest them. If that doesnt lead to an assignment, I re-read the publication and competing publications, and I look for unanswered questions and other material that may be the impetus for new pitches. Then I write longer, better and more detailed pitches than I typically do for these editors I already know. I think they respect the additional effort and commitment to the project. And the more they can see upfront, the more convincing my argument that I can finish a great story. I do likewise with new-to-me editors, but again only those with the best work and pay rates. I put together well-considered letters of introduction and samples to go with great story pitches. The more excited I am about a story, and the more research I have done to develop it, the easier it is for editors to become interested. Here is the critical theme in all this: The more you need the work, the more serious and committed you have to be. You have to make your biggest investment, your strongest commitment, and demonstrate extensive preparation in your proposals in order to get the work. More than that, show your best creative writing chops in the process. Write things that are genuinely profound in unique ways. Speak about subjects in a manner no one has ever done before. Dont be afraid to cut against the grain a little bit. But dont let them smell your fear. That does nobody any good.

Corporate governance in Islamic banking Assignment

Corporate governance in Islamic banking - Assignment Example Moreover, Islamic finance is one of the ways to accommodate Islamic value in finance, it insists on the importance of the accountability, transparency, and trust. Islamic banking refers to a system where all banking behavior is consistent with Islamic law and guided by the economics of Islam. Since the introduction of Islamic banking, the number of Islamic financial institutions has increased globally. This is because of the increase in Islamic population and the economic development of Islamic nations. Today, there are more than 300 institutions in more than 75 countries. In addition, there is the development of many Islamic financial products used in financial market activities, for example, trading, and investment. Corporate governance in Islamic finance entails the institutions abiding by the Islamic rules also known as Shariah. The rules govern the bank’s operations, according to Islamic principles that are derived from Quran and Hadith. Islamic financial institutions operate in the same space as the conventional banks and perform all functions expected from a financial institution. In addition, savers are able to collect deposits for the purpose of reward from both types of institutions. However, the difference comes in when agreeing on the reward. Under the conventional system, the reward is normally predetermined and fixed while in Islamic system, the reward is variable and the deposits are acceptable through Musharaka (Lewis, 2001). Additionally, the returns under conventional banking are usually higher on long-term deposits and low for short-term deposits. On the other hand, higher profit sharing is assigned to long-term deposits available for investing in long term projects, earning high returns and low weight for deposit that are short-term that cannot be spent in long term projects. Under Islamic banking, the risk and rewards are

Are citizen journalists and bloggers real journalists What does it Essay

Are citizen journalists and bloggers real journalists What does it mean to be a real journalist - Essay Example Due to introduction of technologies that are digital in nature, individuals have unrestricted access to various tools of production and distribution. Citizen journalism is a field that consists of reviews regarding a particular motion picture that are generated by individuals and then submitted all over the internet and it even comprises of news that are based on wikis (Poynter 414). Currently a conflict between traditional journalism and citizen based journalism has been taking place, though this conflict can result in an evolution of journalism through the internet. The profession of journalism has not experienced tremendous amount of alterations, but it has experienced certain kind of expansion. Traditionally, journalism used to be conducted in a linear manner, nowadays; journalism has become more connected and networked (Peters 95). Karp states that journalism in traditional era used to be conducted by a few individuals, today it is conducted by a huge number of people (Coombs, 2013). Under certain situations, there is hardly any difference between both traditional and citizen journalism, an in-depth analysis reveals that there are several aspects that differentiate between traditional and citizen journalism (Siapera 108). One of the underlining difference between two forms of journalism is that, professional journalist are paid for all the work they perform, while the citizen journalist might be doing their form of journalism as a hobby or they may get paid in accordance to the number of visitors or the number of viewers they have attracted (Anderson 124). When academic journalist are conducting research, they use the views and opinions of the common population (citizens) in order to create and prove that their findings are objective in nature and they were not biased towards the subject matter or the issue (Herbst 122). Blogging is even considered as a professional or valid type of journalism as in this