Thursday, October 31, 2019

The Organizational Structure, Work Culture and Global Business Essay

The Organizational Structure, Work Culture and Global Business Strategies of Google Inc - Essay Example The study is based on the discussion of different management issues faced by Google Inc. in the China market. It will illustrate various challenges faced by the organization to properly run their operation as per the social and ethical norms of China. The main objective of any management is to achieve the ultimate goal of the organization by motivating and directing the workforce. The modern management practices influence managers to focus on different requirements of the stakeholders of various countries. There are a number of management issues faced by global organizations such as economic, political, social and technological. Recession, inflation and currency fluctuation of different countries can provide the significant effect on the business management procedure of global organizations. The difference in the political rules and regulations also affect the decision-making capacity of the managers. Management needs to cope up with the rapid development of technologies in the diffe rent market to attract more customers. International organizations need to focus on the differences in the social structure of their operating countries before introducing any product or services. The decision of product or services design can differ as per locations due to the changing preferences of local people Customized products of local organizations can provide huge competition to the standardized products of the global organizations.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Lockes Doctrine of Abstraction Essay Example for Free

Lockes Doctrine of Abstraction Essay John Locke and George Berkeley are two famous philosophers whose work found similarities in their proximity of publication, but stark differences in their beliefs. In Locke’s Essay Concerning Human Understanding, he argued passionately for his doctrine of abstract ideas. On the other hand, Berkeley, in his work, Principles of Human Knowledge, he made every effort to reject all of Locke’s claims. Although viciously attacked by Berkeley, Locke’s doctrine of abstraction holds true as a fundamentally sound and practical doctrine for the advancement of knowledge and communication. In Book II of Essay, Locke formulates theories on how knowledge is acquired. Previously in Essay, Locke establishes his position as an empiricist through his discussion of simple and complex ideas. According to Locke, simple ideas come into the mind either through sensation or through reflection. With regards to complex ideas, Locke argues that, although the mind is a â€Å"blank slate† until impressed upon by experience, he acknowledges the power of the mind to be multifaceted. â€Å"The acts of the mind, wherein it exerts its power over simple ideas, are chiefly these three: 1. Combining several simple ideas into one compound one, and thus all complex ideas are made. 2. The second is bringing two ideas, whether simple or complex, together, and setting them by one another so as to take a view of them at once, without uniting them into one, by which it gets all its ideas of relations. 3. The third is separating them from all other ideas that accompany them in their real existence: this is called abstraction, and thus all its general ideas are made. †(Essay 146) This being so, it is apparent that Locke believes in the mind’s ability to manipulate content as it is received. Locke entertains this notion by explaining that the mind subjects simple ideas to various processes such as combining, comparing, and abstraction. The most important of these three abilities is the mind’s ability to form abstract ideas. Further into Book III of Essay, Locke outlines his famous doctrine of abstraction, or rather, doctrine of general terms. Abstract ideas are formed by proceeding with particular ideas (which may either be simple and complex). As established earlier, abstract ideas are a result of the mind’s ability to manipulate. Locke further demonstrates this point by explaining that only particular things exist in the external world and can be determined by the senses. The formation of abstract ideas is reliant on the existence of particular ideas and is therefore derivative of them. General or abstract terms come to fruition as the result of subtracting away particular qualities such as color, height, weight, and size from an idea. however , at the same time, maintaining the general or similar qualities that allow the idea to be paired or grouped with others. Locke illustrates this point in his discussion of general terms. For example, a particular idea would be, as Locke states, Peter, James or Mary. Through the process of abstraction, one subtracts the qualities that are specific to Peter, James, or Mary, and instead retain the characteristics which are common to all three. Thus, the abstract or general term derived from the three, is human beings. (Essay 396) According to Locke the absence of the specific qualities and preservation of similarities is what makes the idea general or relatable to others. Thus forming the process of abstraction, a doctrine that is embraced by Locke, but wholeheartedly rejected by Berkeley. One aspect of George Berkeley that is safe to assume is that he was definitely not a fan of Locke, or Locke’s doctrine of abstraction. This is evident in the sheer fact that Berkeley devoted his introduction of Principles to the refutation of the doctrine of abstraction. However this raises the question: Why did Berkeley feel so strongly? Why does Berkeley feel the need to reject abstraction? The answer to these questions is two-fold. First and foremost, Berkeley sees Locke’s doctrine of abstraction as a detractor from the overall purpose of his philosophical work. â€Å"Philosophy being nothing else but the study of wisdom and truth.. a greater clearness and evidence of knowledge, and be less disturbed by with the doubts and difficulties of other men. yet so it is, we see the illiterate bulk of mankind walk the high-road of plain common sense. † (PHK intro 1) In this example Berkeley establishes himself as the â€Å"no nonsense† defender of common sense . Throughout Principles, Berkeley often mentions his disdain for simply verbal philosophical questions that are ultimately speculative and accomplish nothing. By disproving abstraction, he can avoid what he believes to be useless philosophy. Instead, Berkeley presents himself to be rooted more so in specifics and what can be known. An example of this exists in his discussion of mathematics, arithmetic and the natural sciences and abstraction. In this discussion, Berkeley argues that abstraction plays no part in these concepts. (PHK 118-122) Building on this, abstraction also threatens Berkeleys overarching theme of â€Å"esse este percepi,† Or rather â€Å"to be is to be perceived. † Throughout Principles, Berkeley essentially argues that specific qualities such as color, size, and odor cannot exist unless they are perceived. By this logic, abstract ideas, ideas born absent of perception and stripped of specific qualities, cannot adequately fit into the constraints of hisrequirement   for existence. This being so, Berkeley openly objects to and attacks Locke’s doctrine. Despite this effort, Berkeley is unable to accomplish his intended goal. In his introduction, Berkeley launches a three pronged attack against Locke’s abstractionism. Beginning with the â€Å"inability to abstract† argument, followed by the â€Å"inconsistent and confusing† and ending with â€Å"unnecessary† argument, Berkeley outlines what he believes to be a â€Å"killing blow† to Locke’s doctrine. However, his rejection of abstraction is rather weak. As stated before, Berkeley begins his rejection of abstraction by stating that the human mind is unable to abstract. He illustrates his point through a thought experiment, â€Å"I can consider the hand, the eye, the nose, each by itself abstracted or separated from the rest of the body. but then whatever hand or eye I imagine, it must have some particular shape and color I cannot by any effort of thought conceive the abstract idea above described. And it is impossible for me to form the abstract idea of motion distinct from the body moving. † (PHK intro 10) In this example, Berkeley demonstrates his attempt to form a general idea through the process of abstraction. He concludes that the human mind is unable to accomplish this as it is impossible not to attribute specific and particular qualities to an idea when abstracting it. This being so, when imaging an idea, one cannot view it in general terms, but instead can only view it particularly. This argument doesn’t really develop any strengths or weakness for or against Abstraction. If posed with the same thought experiment, Locke would surely answer that he would be able to form abstract ideas within his mind. Because Locke believes all human minds have the same capabilities, Locke would argue that because he is able to form abstract ideas, Berkeley must also be able to do so, thus rendering the point moot. Berkeley moves on from the psychological inability to form abstract thoughts and onto the argument that the abstraction is inconsistent and therefore inadequate as a doctrine. Holding back no punches, Berkeley directly quotes Locke in his introduction to Principles. â€Å". . does it not require some pains and skill to form the general idea of a triangle . . . for it must be neither oblique, nor rectangle, neither equilateral, equicrural, no scalenon, but all and none of these at once. †(Essay 596) Berkeley is quick to respond to this statement. â€Å"In effect, it is something imperfect that cannot exist, an idea wherein some parts of several different and inconsistent ideas are put together. † (PHK intro 13) In this example, Berkeley criticizes Locke’s doctrine as not only being impossible to achieve, but also inconsistent. In his reading of Locke, Berkeley states that Lockes’ description of the abstraction process as encompassing â€Å"all and none. † Berkeley outlines the contradiction that object or idea cannot posses both all and none of the same qualities. Because there exists a contradiction within Lockes argument, Berkeley asserts, that the doctrine of abstraction is flawed and therefore impossible. However, it is in this example it becomes apparent that Berkeley mis-interprets Locke’s doctrine. Perhaps in angst to defeat abstraction, Berkeley gets tripped up on Locke’s wording. Abstraction only deals with the subtraction of the differences, but keeps the commonalities between ideas. In fact, it appears that Berkeley is the more inconsistent of the two as he accurately describes Locke’s true position on abstraction earlier in the intro, yet discounts it later on. (PHK intro 9). The third and final argument against abstraction Berkeley outlines is the questioning of the necessity for abstraction. Berkeley argues, â€Å"from all which the natural consequence should seem to be, that so difficult a thing as the as the forming abstract ideas was not necessary for communication, which is so easy and familiar to all sorts of men. But we are told, if they seem obvious and easy to grown men. it is only because by constant and familiar use they are made so. † (PHK intro 14) In this example, Berkeley states that general are utterly useless because they fail to appropriately define an idea. Instead, generalizations are adopted because they’re easy and familiar, not because they are useful. Furthermore, according to Locke, the meaning of a general term is an abstract idea. Berkeley refutes this notion and explains that a general term denotes a range of particular ideas. As a result, Berkeley explains that abstraction is not only useless, but also confusing. Again, Berkeley refers to triangles in his description. â€Å"How can we know any proposition to be true of all particular triangles, except we have first seen it demonstrated of the abstract idea of a triangle which equally agrees to all? For, because a property may be demonstrated to agree to some one particular triangle, it will not thence follow that it equally belongs to any other triangle. † (PHK intro 16) In this example, Berkeley demonstrates that abstracted general terms lead to confusion. The abstract term for a triangle cannot adequately encompass the idea of a triangle because it can be attributed to a wide range of triangles. (Right, obtuse, acute etc. ) By using abstraction, Berkeley argues, one could be referring to a range of particular ideas without properly defining one. Simply using the general term â€Å"triangle† does not appropriately account for a triangle because it is impossible tou nderstand exactly what triangle is being talked about. Because of this, Berkeley argues, the lack of specificity in abstract terms allows for confusion which hinders human development of knowledge. While Berkeley has his moments, ultimately, Locke appears to be the more philosophically sound of the two. This is mainly because of the the application of the doctrine of abstraction and its ability to enhance human knowledge and communication. In Book III Locke notes the importance of abstract general ideas to knowledge. He explains that abstract ideas and classification are of central importance to a common understanding and communication of language. â€Å"Words ultimately derived from such as signify sensible ideas. It may also lead us a little towards the original notions how great a dependence our words have on common sensible ideas. † (Essay 388) In this example, Locke explains the purpose of abstraction. With the ability to attach commonly held and general terms to ideas, people are able better communicate ideas to each other because they hold a common understanding. For example if one attempted to explain the qualities of a cat, imagine how tedious it would be under Berkeley’s system of particulars for one to explain every perceivable quality of a cat. In Lockes system, however, ideas can be abstracted and it is commonly known that cats are felines, walk on 4 legs, and are mammals. When someone uses the general term â€Å"cat† others are able to recognize the term and know what is being discussed without further and unnecessary explanation. The ability to make this classification helps the growth of knowledge because it allows all to hold a commonly known concept. Qualities of size, color, etc are irrelevant. General terms attach an efficiency, and the ability for all to understand.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Marxist Theories of Punishment

Marxist Theories of Punishment The application of punishment is determined by the class system. Critically discuss this with reference to Marxist theories of Punishment. This essay is going to critically discuss with reference to Marxists theories of punishment whether the application of punishment is determined by the class system. In order to do this we first need an understanding of what Marxist theory is based on, how Marx differentiates the class system and how punishment fits in to his theory. At the time of Karl Marx’s work, he had witnessed many revolutions across Western Europe. Marxism tried to get people to understand the society they lived in and whilst he did only a minuscule amount of work on actual crime and criminals, he did acknowledge that there was conflict within society (History Learning Site, 2010). He recognised there was a split in society between the wealthiest and the poor. One of Marx’s main focus’ in his theory was the economy and he believed those who had wealth were the powerful and those who were poorer were the powerless. By the start of the industrial era Marx believed society to be split between two economic classes. The poorer end of society known as the ‘proletariat’ which is also known to be the working-class, and the ruling-class he described as being a more dominant class, called the ‘bourgeoisie’; these were owners of wealth that did not need to work. The control and owning of private property by the wealthiest (which was the start of Capitalism) and the exploitation of labour done by the working class was his main idea in his theory on the conflict of classes. â€Å"Marx saw conflict in society as being due to a scarcity of resources and a historical inequality in the distribution of those resources, notably power.† (Williams and McShane, 2010; 134). Marxists criminologists suggest that class struggle affects crime in three different positions. Firstly, they suggest that law is a tool used by the ruling class to control the working class. They believe that is why there is no law enforcement for the ruling class (Michalowski and Bohlander, 1976 cited in Williams and McShane, 1988: 135), they said that behaviour that is not placed under any law but instead placed under just administrative and governing laws can only be to protect themselves. Marxist think law is an abuse to general human rights and they also question the power of the law and it purpose in its application, if the working class are policing the working class (Schwendinger and Schwendinger, 1970, 1972, 1977; Platt, 1974 cited in Williams and McShane, 2010). Secondly, Marxist’s see all crime in a capitalist society as a product of class struggle. It causes the working class the need to chase to get ahead which can manifest itself it to criminal behaviour. The di vide between these two classes and the conflict, creates competition. Someone will want something and when they feel there is no other way of achieving this, criminal activity can take place (Bohm, 1982 as cited in Williams and McShane, 2010). This can be seen in Emilie Durkheim’s Anomie theory. There are other theories that also recognise a division in society. Emilie Durkheim’s anomie theory also recognised the division in society and in his book termed it as the division in labour. He studied Europe after the industrial revolution and Durkheim saw from forced industrialisation and commercialisation, a large economic crisis could define factors of causing a state of anomie. He described this as a breakdown of social norms for the working class. He stated without clear rules to guide the working class, individuals find it hard to find a place in society. He concludes that this in turn causes dissatisfaction, frustration, conflict and deviance. Durkheim’s anomie theory looks at social norms in society being broken while Merton’s Strain theory (1938) looks more at deviance who also refers to bureaucratic behaviour as well as criminal behaviour in his theory. In Merton’s theory he saw certain goals emphasised through society and used financial succe ss as an example. He said not everyone has equal access to these financial achievements or success and that some people may look for illegitimate ways to gain this success. Because of this social inequality and division in society between the working class and ruling class, he believes that certain goals are just not available for certain groups within society such as the lower social class. Merton’s anomie theory is often referred to as strain theory as this lower or working class feel a strain to achieve illegitimately ways to gain this success and those groups with the least access to achieve these goals have higher crime and deviance rates according to Merton. In his study of US societies that these higher rates of crime were amongst the lower classes (Williams and McShane, 1988: 79-83). These theories of anomie and strain theory all take the same direction as Marxist theory in that they believe there to be a division in society between working class and the ruling class. With the ruling class holding the most power and the working class trying to achieve this. The power held by the dominant class has also been termed ‘cultural capital’ (Giddens, ). Marxism influences cultural capital. Pierre Bourdieu another sociologist influenced by Marx argues that it is the education system, to blame for the failure of the working class, not the working class culture. He referred to the cultural capital as those who were in possession of the dominant culture and thought this could be translated in to wealth and power through the education system. He claimed that cultural capital in class structure was not evenly proportionate and he could see this in the class structure through the disparities in education attainment achieved by those of different classes. Bourdieu claims that middle class students succeed better than those of the working class as they are the dominant culture. He states that education attainment is directly related to those who possess the most cultural capital (Giddens – Sociology). Gramsci was a Marxist thinker in the 20th century whose work evaluated culture and political leadership. He believed that the bourgeoisie uphold control, that they developed a hegemonic culture which he saw transmitted its own set of norms and values that just became common sense values and norms of everyone. People from classes outside the ruling class acknowledged their own good with the good of the ruling class. Marxism always expected a revolution in capitalist societies but by early 20th century no revolution had occurred in such advanced countries. Gramsci’s theory suggested that capitalism maintained control not just through political and economic coercion, but also through ideology as well. (Perry Anderson, 1976. (The Antinomies of Antonio Gramsci. New Left Review). SENTENCE TO WRAP IT UP Marxism saw the creation of two different groups that were created through the rise of capitalism; the ruling class (bourgeoisie) and the working class (proletariat) and he claimed that these two classes offered nothing but â€Å"new conditions of oppression, new forms of struggle in place of old ones†. They saw that the labour of the working class needed to be exploited in order for the ruling class to gain more capital. Marxism referred to this as oppression and believed that the ruling class exercised their power over the working class in order to control them. Rusche (1980) took the same approach in his theory of punishment and social structure. He states that when wages go up because of the lack of labour that this in turn causes the ruling class to apply their power to supply the need for cheap labour. Rusche saw that the exploitation of prison labour began to be the preferred method over previous methods such as corporal and capital punishment. He claims that â€Å"When a labour surplus occurs, wages go down causing a mass unemployment resulting in extremely high penalties, such as corporal and capital punishment executed in a torturous fashion. This is thought to be needed in order to keep crime down† (Rusche, 1980:). During the industrial era the ruling class turned prisons in to workhouses which were named the house of correction. These were set up in a bid to help supply their need for cheap labour. The house of correction’s main aim and focus was there to make those that didn’t want to work and was unwilling to work, to make them work. Rusche and Kircheimer (1939) claimed that by being forced to work within this institution that the prisoners would pick up skills in the hope that they could take with them to the labour market on release. During period where labour was in excess, and the attitude changed toward the poor, it became unprofitable to force people to work and prisons became warehouses for people that he also claimed cost money. He also claimed that the attitudes towards punishment need to change when the living conditions of the working class began to get worst. In order to see that people were being punished according the conditions of the prison had to be worse than those of the prisoners conditions on the out side of prison. As Jenner (2014) stated â€Å"the conditions need to be markedly more unpleasant than the conditions of life experienced by those of the lowest strata living free in society†. This of course, had economic advantages, less food was needed and no medical assistance offered, but it came to be seen that the living conditions of the working class, did not ‘vary’ much, from those of the prison. This caused the conditions to deteriorate even worst in an attempt to deter the working class not to end up inside the prison (Rusche and Kirchiemer, 1939). Evidence to support these theories that prison is a way of controlling the working class by the ruling class can be seen in the inequalities of the prison population. According to a report by NACRO (1997a; 1997b) England and Wales have one of the highest prison populations in Western Europe which in 1997 was as high as 61,000. They reckoned this figure could rise by the year 2005 to 82,000. A national survey done by the Home Office carried out on prison population in 1991 showed that it was made up by uneducated young men, many whom had an ethnic minority background. His study found some interested figures in evidence of the theories that have been presented in this essay. This study found that 40% of the prison population to be under 25 but over 18 compared to 16% of the general population; this shows there is a huge over representation of young men between 18-25 years old, imprisoned. It found that 41% of prisoners either posed no skills or had very little, compared to 18% of the g eneral population; again a large over representation of unskilled labour force. This study also found that 15% of prisoners were from Black or Asian ethnic minorities yet these minorities only make up 5% of the general population. 40% of prisoners under the age of 25 had left school before they were supposed to, compared with only 11% of the general population. 38% of prisoners under 21 had experienced being in care whilst only 2% of the general population experience this and 13% said they did not have a place to live before they entered the prison system (Walmsley et al., 1992 cited in NACRO, 1997b). From these figures and our knowledge of Marxism with regards to class struggle and the segregation of the lower class, how the ruling class exert their power over the working class and how they use this power to control, we can see that the prison has been used in the same way. That it is a mere control of the bourgeoisie bid to control the working class. This can also be seen in the a pplication of law and how the bourgeoisie wrong doings do not fall under any law but as mentioned earlier fall under administrative and governing laws in order to protect their own. This could also be argued in the case of why white collar crime does not get much attention paid to it over criminal law. REFERENCES Anderson, P. (1976) The Antinomies of Antonio Gramsci. New Left Review. Bohm, R.M. (1982) Radical Criminology: An explanation. Criminology, 19, 565-589. Giddens – Sociology). History Learning Site (2010) Marxism and Crime [online] available at. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/marxism_crime.htm accessed on. (20th Feb 2014). Jenner, A. (2014) Assessment Workshop [SC6001 Justice, Punishment and Social Control]. 27th February, 2014. Maguire, M., Morgan, R. Reiner, R. (2007) The Oxford Handbook of Criminology (4th edt), University Press: Oxford. Merton, R. K. (1938) Social structure and anomie. American Sociological Review, 3, 672-682. Michalowski, R. J. Bohlander, E. W. (1976) Repression and criminal justice in capitalist America, Sociological Inquiry, 46, 95-106. NACRO (1997a) Information Bulletin, An occasional briefing compiled by NACROS Youth Crime Section, Issue 7, NACRO: London. NACRO (1997b) Criminal Justice Digest. No. 91, February, NACRO: London. Platt, T. (1974) Prospects for a radical criminology in the United States. Crime and Social Justice, 1, 2-6. Rusche, G. (1980) Labour Market and Penal Sanctions: Thoughts on the Sociology of Criminal Justice. In T. Platt, Takahi, P. (Edts.), Punishment and Penal Discipline (pp 10-16). Berkeley, CA: Crime and Social Justice Associates. Rusche, G. Kirchiemer, O. (1939). Punishment and Social Structure. New York: Russell Russell. Schwendinger H. Schwendinger, J. (1970) Defenders of order or guardians of human rights? Issues in Criminology, 5, 113-146. Schwendinger H. Schwendinger, J. (1972) The continuing debate on the legalistic approach to the definition of crime. Issues in Criminology, 7, 71-81. Schwendinger H. Schwendinger, J. (1977) Social class and the definition of crime. Crime and Social Justice, 7, 71-81. Walmsley, R., Howard, L and White, S. (1992) The National Prison Survey 1991 main findings. A Home Office Research and Planning Unit Report, HMSO: London. Williams, F. P. and McShane, M. D. (2010) Criminological Theory (5th edt), Pearson: London.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Free College Essays - Ideal Distraction in Knowles A Separate Peace :: A Separate Peace Essays

A Separate Peace  Ã‚   Ideal Distraction    A Separate Peace  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"It wasn’t the cider which made me surpass myself, it was this liberation we had torn from the gray encroachments of 1943, the escape we had concocted, this afternoon of momentary, illusory, special and a separate peace,† (128) reflects Gene Forrester after his carefree outing at the winter carnival. John Knowles in a Separate Peace uses an unusual plot to give the reader an illusionary sense of peace and security, found only at Devon, during a time of great war, through isolating specific idealistic moments from the sin and evil that encompasses them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The author stresses certain events or moments in the story to deepen the illusion of peace and tranquility taking the reader further away from the real truth. Knowles uses Finny’s superior leadership skills to invent a summer game called Blitzball and conduct the winter carnival. Both of which were tools describing ideal moments used to distract the reader from reality that there is a battle being fought.   Another idyllic event Knowles uses to his advantage was when Gene found his rhythm, †Buoyed up, I forgot my usual feeling of routine self-pity when working out, I lost myself, oppresses mind along with aching body; all entanglements were shed, I broke into the clear.† (112) Utilizing this the author was able to divert the reader’s attention to the 1944 Olympic games and fool the audience into a false sense about the war.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Not only actions mislead the audience but the feelings of the students as well. Mainly because of the inseparable bond between Gene and Finny,† I hope your having a pretty good time here. I know I kind of dragged you away at the point of the gun, but after all you can’t come    2    by yourself, and in this teen-age period in life the proper person is your best pal.† (40) From this Finny formed an idealistic bond between him and Gene.   Using this high to present a low, Knowles hides the evil truth going through Gene’s mind about his friend, thus enabling him to jounce Phineas from the tree without thinking.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The author illustrated his theme by placing certain words strategically in the novel to convince the reader that there was still peace. For instance Knowles uses the word Eden to give the audience a false picturesque landscape that resembled the watery shores.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

External Environment Analysis Kraft Foods Essay

In the every changing and expanding food industry it is imperative organizations conduct strategic marketing to remain on top of their industry and make better plans for their future. Strategic marketing drives organizations to their peak of success and draws customer loyalty. The Porter Five Analysis and PEST analysis are two of the tools utilized by strategist to enhance organizational success. The Porter Five model examines the internal workings of the organization as well as the industry letting organizations know about potential threats. The PEST analysis on the other hand examines the macro-environment, looking at potential political and social threats to industry. The utilization of these two models together will better equip organizations to face ever changing industries and see potential threats. Below the author will discuss the different aspect of each model as well as provide useful web links to gather additional information. Porter Five Forces Analysis The Porter Five Analysis was developed by Michael Porter as a tool utilized by organizations to help identify the structure and competitiveness within an industry (Porter, 2008). It encompasses five different forces that shape the industry; threat of new entrants, threat of substitute products, bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers and rivalry among existing competitors (Porter). The ability to analyze and understand trends and threats within an industry is critical for â€Å"effective strategic planning† that will render organizational success (Porter). Below is an analysis of Kraft Foods utilizing the Porter Five analysis model. Buyer Power With so many different varieties of brands available to consumers it is essential that organizations research consumer needs and demands in order to remain successful. As competition increases within the industry,  organizations must â€Å"create new products that adapt to the changing lifestyles and preferences of consumers, which have shifted to a focus on health and wellness† (Hathaway, Mrak-Blumberg, Wexler-Beron, 2006). Consumers have no loyalty or obligation to stay with one brand and will easily switch as prices and nutritional labels fit their needs. Conducting analysis of competitor’s financial statements will also help paint a picture of consumer trends helping organizations to adjust their products. Below are several websites that provide different information on the power that consumers hold. 1. This website discusses some very important facts relating to the immense power that consumers possess in the food industry and how the demand for healthy food is increasing the price of raw materials resulting in organizations absorbing the overhead costs to keep prices low. It also provides some information of Kraft Foods biggest competitors. Analysis of competitors can help strategists determine future marketing strategies and how to establish brand loyalty. Monitoring competition allows for change and adaptability permitting one to stay on top of their industry by tailoring products to consumer needs/demands. 2. This website provides information that describes the growing demands of consumers and the growth of the healthy food craze. This website really demonstrates the power that consumers hold in the food industry. Consumers are mandating healthy food choices with no GMO labeling. This has caused organizations to generate new products that are healthy and cater to consumer needs if they are to stay successful. Analyzing consumer trends is extremely important as it will allow a business to better tailor their food products and draw in new consumers and maintain loyalty of old consumers. http://www.inspirationgreen.com/vote-yes-on-37.html Supplier Power Although there are only ten major suppliers for Kraft Foods they have extreme power over the food industry. Walmart is one of Kraft Foods largest clients with the most revenue generated and with so many competitors on the market Kraft Foods must absorb the additional costs of producing cheap food in order to stay competitive. An individual supplier must â€Å"offer something  special to stand out from the crowd, such as a lower price, faster delivery time, more flexible credit terms, higher product quality or volume discounts† (Sullivan, n.d.) 1. This article provides a thorough discussion and different view point on supplier power and monopoly in the food industry. It provides a discussion on how big organizations, such as Wal-Mart, exert their power over their suppliers. Different suppliers have monopolies at supermarkets and can pay for primary shelf space and promote their brands. This leads to smaller suppliers struggling in an industry dominated by large supply compani es and large retailers. http://documents.foodandwaterwatch.org/doc/RetailConcentration-web.pdf 2. Pratt provides a good discussion on how to analyze the bargaining power of suppliers. Understanding the questions he poses will enable an organization to potentially avoid competition and build quality relationships with suppliers thus enhancing chances of industry success. http://ezinearticles.com/?Understanding-the-Bargaining-Power-of-Your-Suppliers&id=4251948 3. This informative website provides a list of the Kraft Foods suppliers. Determining the number of suppliers in an industry can help strategist determine the bargaining power of the suppliers. In hard times suppliers can ration their products causing organizations to spend more money upfront and lose revenues. When an organization is able to differentiate their product from competitors it is easier for them to bargain with suppliers for fair pricing. http://www.dailytrader.com/ss-kraft-foods/suppliers.html Threats of Entrants When an industry is booming the threat of new entrants is high as everyone wants to make profits. The threat of new organizations creates competition among an industry and influences their ability to maintain profits (Wilkinson, 2013). Firms in this industry preserve market share through brand loyalty, diversification and the barriers placed within the industry to enter the market (Porter, 2008). It is therefore imperative that these brands maintain quality at a competitive price and drive off new competition. 1. The following website points out the current economy/industry sales for Kraft Foods and their top competitors. This is a good website as it will paint a picture for future companies as to the  market capital, net income, dividends, operating margin and growth revenue. All of which are great indicators as to expenses and revenue generated and allows them to determining if starting a business in this industry is worth the overhead, time and effort. It can also help determine how different products by different companies are comparing to each other. http://financials.morningstar.com/competitors/industry-peer.action?t=KRFT ®ion=usa&culture=en-US 2. This web page provides a table with Kraft Foods top competitors broken down by categories allowing easy access to different aspects of the business. This also allows potential companies to determine which industry they would have the most impact in to succeed. Additionally it provides revenue, income and market share. http://csimarket.com/stocks/competitionSEG2.php?code=KRFT 3. NASDAQ is a great reference for organizations looking at trends in the food industry as it provides information on the financial, size and growth trends as well as market cap. This information is essential to determine if an organization can compete in certain industries. http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/krft/competitors 4. This informative document discusses current economic indicators and the growth of the food industry over the last 10 years. It talks about nature of the industry, market overview, demand and annual food spending at home. Additionally it provides a discussion on the issues affecting the industry. This resource will help paint a vivid picture of the economy of the industry and help determine if a new product will succeed. http://trade.gov/td/ocg/report08_processedfoods.pdf Threat of Substitutes The growing health trends have led many companies to adapt and change products to fit consumer demands. With a variety of brands available it is imperative organizations cater to consumers in order to avoid losing their loyalty to another company. â€Å"Consumers in the industry have minimal switching costs and there is never the guarantee of brand loyalty† (Hathaway, Mrak-Blumberg, Wexler-Beron, 2006). In order to keep loyal consumers organizations in this industry must offer new and innovative  products. 1. This document provides valuable information on consumer trends, healthy eating, industry dynamic, emerging products, and success factors. This valuable information helps organizations determine current trends and how they can adapt to remain successful and ahead of their competition within the industry. http://www.pwc.com/us/en/transaction-services/publications/assets/functional-foods.pdf 2. This is a very informative website that discusses current trends in the food industry while stating growth percentages specifically relating to the healthy snacking options. This is a good site to gain a better understanding and insight to healthy alternatives that competitors may be producing as well as market trends http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/84475-snack-food-industry-trends 3. Organic Trade Association website provides information on industry statistics and projected growth trends which is can assist organizations in determining their future products based on consumer trends. http://www.ota.com/organic/mt/business.html Rivalry Among Existing Competitors In every industry there is rivalry amongst organizations to win over consumers. This can generate new and innovative products, intense sales promotions and pricing wars (Porter, 2008). On the outside this activities may appear to be beneficial but in reality it can lead to increased costs and decreased profits for organizations (Porter). 1. CSI Market online provides a nice graph detailing growth rates of the major competitors in the food industry. This is an extremely useful tool to help determine where you stand financially next to your competition. Utilizing this information may assist in determining if a new product should be launched and if new marketing tactics are needed. http://csimarket.com/stocks/competitionNO3.php?code=KRFT 2. If an organization is to remain successful and on top of their organization they must produce numerous products that cater to consumer demands, i.e healthy food choices. This innovative thinking keeps consumers coming back to the same brands and generates loyalty. http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/04/22/these-food-companies-are-the  -best-at-inspiring-bra.aspx PEST Analysis PEST analysis tool was developed by Francis Aguilar to help organization see the macro-environment of their business environment in order to make changes and maximize financial success (Mind Tools, n.d.). The ability to adapt and change business tactics to meet consumer demands can create new and improved products enhancing brand loyalty (Mind Tools). The PEST analysis focuses on political, economic, socio-cultural, and technological changes in the industry, helping organizations to determine different opportunities (Mind Tools). Political 1. This website provides information on regulations of the food industry, agricultural industry and federal regulations. Understanding the political implications and regulations of the food industry will assist with licensing and production of food products. It is imperative to know and understand these regulations in order to become and remain a successful and well respected brand. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs118 2. Harris provides a great article discussing government regulations for the food industry, to include agencies and their regulation methods. Knowing the correct process and FDA regulations will help bolster an organization while gain respect and trust from consumers. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/government-regulations-food-industry-76884.html 3. With the growing health trends the FDA has started enforcing stricter food labeling. This labeling ensures â€Å"stringent guidelines to maintain the integrity of the food label† (Philipson, 2005). Additionally this provides accurate information to consumers and allows them to make healthy educated decisions regarding the food they consume. http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/82/1/262S.full Economic 1. Yahoo Finance provides data on the economic conditions of the food industry as well as a forecast of the growth prospects. This information is valuable to organizations as it can assist in determining present and future growth trends, revenues and specific growth regions.  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/food-beverage-business-confidence-report-130100393.html 2. The FDA addresses the need for government involvement in food safety in order to strengthen consumer confidence thus enhancing food industry growth. It is also a tool that can be utilized to determine how globalization is affecting the economic environment (Mind Tools, n.d.). http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ucm326870.htm 3. Organic Trade Association provides a website with information on the economy of the growing organic food trend. The needs and demands of the consumers for healthier food options has driven many food industry organizations to reexamine their line of products and begin producing healthier food options. The demands of the consumers must be met in order for an organization to succeed. It is also important to consider the economic impact these changes can have on our environment and make sure we leave a positive footprint. http://www.ota.com/organic/mt/business.html Social 1. Over the last several years the food industry has had to adapt to the growing health conscious population and produce more healthy food alternatives. Understanding FDA regulations of labeling and marking and serving sizes on products will gain consumers trust that the products they are consumer are in line with a healthy life style. The social taboo of mislabeled or healthy food could potentially damage an organization. http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Health-News/food-labels-fda-changes/2014/02/27/id/555199/ 2. Yahoo Finance provides an article discussing the importance of meeting the demands of the consumers in order to generate profits. Consumers are not only looking for healthy alternative in the grocery store but in restaurants too. There is an increased demand for nutritious organic fresh food in restaurants. Organizations must weigh the benefits between producing fresh products and providing affordable foods. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/health-wealth-food-beverage-industry-13 2935034.html Technological 1. Emerson discusses the evolution of technology in the food industry and how is has helped organizations to produce healthier and fresher food. Utilization of technology can allow organizations to produce large  quantities and variety of products thus catering to a larger consumer population and decreasing organizational costs. http://www.insidetechnology360.com/index.php/how-technology-has-affected-the-food-industry-22970/ 2. This website discusses the importance of evolving technology to running a successful business. Improved technology and software advances over the years have allowed for food industry organizations to make reordering of food and supplier easier and more convenient. These technologies can monitor refrigeration temperatures, energy usage helping to ensure the best food is available for the consumers. When consumers know that organizations go to extra measures to ensure product quality it generates brand loyalty and increased revenues. 3. Gould presents a very informative article regarding the importance of technology in the food industry. The use of technology assists with â€Å"decision making related to consumer insight, brand and product management and pricing† allowing organizations to maximize consumer needs and wants.   4. One new technology in the food industry is the utilization of biotechnology to increase efficiency of production and reduce environmental impact with increase production. This very informative slide show discusses the pros and cons of this innovative technology. In order to meet the growing health requirements by consumers it is beneficial for organizations to understand what technology their competitors are utilizing.   Conclusion If an organization is to succeed it is imperative a thorough analysis of the industry and environment is conducted. Utilization of the Porter Five Analysis will provide organizations with information on the internal and immediate threats to their organization. The PEST analysis on the other hand provides information on the marco-environment allowing organizations to focus on new opportunities for growth and success and see potential threats to the industry. Although both of these methods have different focuses,  when utilized together a significant amount of information in generated that will guide an organization on the path to a successful and profitable future. References Hathaway, J., Mrak-Blumberg, E., Wexler-Beron, E. (2006, April 4). Strategic Report for TheKraft Foods Corporation. Pandora Group Out of the Box Consulting. Retrieved July 23,2014 fromhttp://economicsfiles.pomona.edu/jlikens/SeniorSeminars/pandora/reports/kraft.pdf Mind Tools. (n.d.). PEST Analysis. Retrieved July 24, 2014 fromhttp://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_09.htm Philipson, T. (2005). Government Perspective: Food Labeling 1,2,3. The American Journal ofClinical Nutrition, 82. Retrieved July 23, 2014 fromhttp://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/82/1/262S.full Porter, M. (2008, January). The Five Competitive Forces that Shape Strategy. Harvard BusinessReview. Retrieved July 23, 2014 from http://hbr.org/2008/01/the-five-competitive-forcesthat-shape-strategy/ar/1 Sullivan, D. (n.d.). Food Industry: The Bargaining Power of Suppliers. Chron Small Business.Retrieved July 24, 2014 from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/fast-food-industrybargaining-power-suppliers-78188.html

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Practical Demonkeeping Chapter 29-30

29 RIVERA Right in the middle of the interrogation Detective Sergeant Alphonse Rivera had a vision. He saw himself behind the counter at Seven-Eleven, bagging microwave burritos and pumping Slush-Puppies. It was obvious that the suspect, Robert Masterson, was telling the truth. What was worse was that he not only didn't have any connection with the marijuana Rivera's men had found in the trailer, but he didn't have the slightest idea where The Breeze had gone. The deputy district attorney, an officious little weasel who was only putting time in at the D.A.'s office until his fangs were sharp enough for private practice, had made the state's position on the case clear and simple: â€Å"You're fucked, Rivera. Cut him loose.† Rivera was clinging to a single, micro-thin strand of hope: the second suitcase, the one that Masterson had made such a big deal about back at the trailer. It lay open on Rivera's desk. A jumble of notebook paper, cocktail napkins, matchbook covers, old business cards, and candy wrappers stared out of the suitcase at him. On each one was written a name, an address, and a date. The dates were obviously bogus, as they went back to the 1920s. Rivera had riffled through the mess a dozen times without making any sort of connection. Deputy Perez approached Rivera's desk. He was doing his best to affect an attitude of sympathy, without much success. Everything he had said that morning had carried with it a sideways smirk. Twain had put it succinctly: â€Å"Never underestimate the number of people who would love to see you fail.† â€Å"Find anything yet?† Perez asked. The smirk was there. Rivera looked up from the papers, took out a cigarette, and lit it. A long stream of smoke came out with his sigh. â€Å"I can't see how any of this connects with The Breeze. The addresses are spread all over the country. The dates run too far back to be real.† â€Å"Maybe it's a list of connections The Breeze was planning to dump the pot on,† Perez suggested. â€Å"You know the Feds estimate that more than ten percent of the drugs in this country move through the postal system.† â€Å"What about the dates?† â€Å"Some kind of code, maybe. Did the handwriting check out?† Rivera had sent Perez back to the trailer to find a sample of The Breeze's handwriting. He had returned with a list of engine parts for a Ford truck. â€Å"No match,† Rivera said. â€Å"Maybe the list was written by his connection.† Rivera blew a blast of smoke in Perez's face. â€Å"Think about it, dipshit. I was his connection.† â€Å"Well, someone blew your cover, and The Breeze ran.† â€Å"Why didn't he take the pot?† â€Å"I don't know, Sergeant. I'm just a uniformed deputy. This sounds like detective work to me.† Perez had stopped trying to hide his smirk. â€Å"I'd take it to the Spider if I were you.† That made a consensus. Everyone who had seen or heard about the suitcase had suggested that Rivera take it to the Spider. He sat back in his chair and finished his cigarette, enjoying his last few moments of peace before the inevitable confrontation with the Spider. After a few long drags he stubbed the cigarette in the ashtray on his desk, gathered the papers into the suitcase, closed it, and started down the steps into the bowels of the station and the Spider's lair. Throughout his life Rivera had known half a dozen men nicknamed Spider. Most were tall men with angular features and the wiry agility that one associates with a wolf spider. Chief Technical Sergeant Irving Nailsworth was the exception. Nailsworth stood five feet nine inches tall and weighed over three hundred pounds. When he sat before his consoles in the main computer room of the San Junipero Sheriff Department, he was locked into a matrix that extended not only throughout the county but to every state capital in the nation, as well as to the main computer banks at the FBI and the Justice Department in Washington. The matrix was the Spider's web and he lorded over it like a fat black widow. As Rivera opened the steel door that led into the computer room, he was hit with a blast of cold, dry air. Nailsworth insisted the computers functioned better in this environment, so the department had installed a special climate control and filtration system to accommodate him. Rivera entered and, suppressing a shudder, closed the door behind him. The computer room was dark except for the soft green glow of a dozen computer screens. The Spider sat in the middle of a horseshoe of keyboards and screens, his huge buttocks spilling over the sides of a tiny typist's chair. Beside him a steel typing table was covered with junk food in various stages of distress, mostly cupcakes covered with marshmallow and pink coconut. While Rivera watched, the Spider peeled the marshmallow cap off a cupcake and popped it in his mouth. He threw the chocolate-cake insides into a wastebasket atop a pile of crumpled tractor-feed paper. Because of the sedentary nature of the Spider's job, the department had excused him from the minimum physical fitness standards set for field officers. The department had also created the position of chief technical sergeant in order to feed the Spider's ego and keep him happily clicking away at the keyboards. The Spider had never gone on patrol, never arrested a suspect, never even qualified on the shooting range, yet after only four years with the department, Nailsworth effectively held the same rank that Rivera had attained in fifteen years on the street. It was criminal. The Spider looked up. His eyes were sunk so far into his fat face that Rivera could see only a beady green glow. â€Å"You smell of smoke,† the Spider said. â€Å"You can't smoke in here.† â€Å"I'm not here to smoke, I need some help.† The Spider checked the data spooling across his screens, then turned his full attention to Rivera. Bits of pink coconut phosphoresced on the front of his uniform. â€Å"You've been working up in Pine Cove, haven't you?† â€Å"A narcotics sting.† Rivera held up the suitcase. â€Å"We found this. It's full of names and addresses, but I can't make any connections. I thought you might†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No problem,† the Spider said. â€Å"The Nailgun will find an opening where there was none.† The Spider had given himself the nickname â€Å"Nailgun.† No one called him the Spider to his face, and no one called him Nailgun unless they needed something. â€Å"Yeah,† Rivera said, â€Å"I thought it needed some of the Nailgun's wizardry.† The Spider swept the junk food from the top of the typing table into the wastebasket and patted the top of the table. â€Å"Let's see what you have.† Rivera placed the suitcase on the table and opened it. The Spider immediately began to shuffle through the papers, picking up a piece here or there, reading it, and throwing it back into the pile. â€Å"This is a mess.† â€Å"That's why I'm here.† â€Å"I'll need to put this into the system to make any sense of it. I can't use a scanner on handwritten material. You'll have to read it to me while I input.† The Spider turned to one of his keyboards and began typing. â€Å"Give me a second to set up a data base format.† As far as Rivera was concerned, the Spider could be speaking Swahili. Despite himself, Rivera admired the man's efficiency and expertise. His fat fingers were a blur on the keyboard. After thirty seconds of furious typing the Spider paused. â€Å"Okay, read me the names, addresses, and dates, in that order.† â€Å"So you need me to sort them out?† â€Å"No. The machine will do that.† Rivera began to read the names and addresses from each slip of paper, deliberately pausing so as not to get ahead of the Spider's typing. â€Å"Faster, Rivera. You won't get ahead of me.† Rivera read faster, throwing each paper on the floor as he finished with it. â€Å"Faster,† the Spider demanded. â€Å"I can't go any faster. At this speed if I mispronounce a name, I could lose control and get a serious tongue injury.† For the first time since Rivera had known him the Spider laughed. â€Å"Take a break, Rivera. I get so used to working with machines that I forget people have limitations.† â€Å"What's going on here?† Rivera said. â€Å"Is the Nailgun losing his sarcastic edge?† The Spider looked embarrassed. â€Å"No. I wanted to ask you about something.† Rivera was shocked. The Spider was almost omniscient, or so he pretended. This was a day for firsts. â€Å"What do you need?† he said. The Spider blushed. Rivera had never seen that much flaccid flesh change color. He imagined that it put an incredible strain on the Spider's heart. â€Å"You've been working in Pine Cove, right?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Have you ever run into a girl up there named Roxanne?† Rivera thought for a moment, then said no. â€Å"Are you sure?† The Spider's voice had taken on a tone of desperation. â€Å"It's probably a nickname. She works at the Rooms-R-Us Motel. I've run the name against Social Security records, credit reports, everything. I can't seem to find her. There are over ten thousand women in California with the name Roxanne, but none of them check out.† â€Å"Why don't you just drive up to Pine Cove and meet her?† The Spider's color deepened. â€Å"I couldn't do that.† â€Å"Why not? What's the deal with this woman, anyway? Does it have to do with a case?† â€Å"No, it's†¦ it's a personal thing. We're in love.† â€Å"But you've never met her?† â€Å"Well, yes, sort of – we talk by modem every night. Last night she didn't log on. I'm worried about her.† â€Å"Nailsworth, are you telling me that you are having a love affair with a woman by computer?† â€Å"It's more than an affair.† â€Å"What do you want me to do?† â€Å"Well, if you could just check on her. See if she's all right. But she can't know I sent you. You mustn't tell her I sent you.† â€Å"Nailsworth, I'm an undercover cop. Being sneaky is what I do for a living.† â€Å"Then you'll do it?† â€Å"If you can find something in these names that will bail me out, I'll do it.† â€Å"Thanks, Rivera.† â€Å"Let's finish this.† Rivera picked up a matchbook and read the name and address. The Spider typed the information, but as Rivera began to read the next name, he heard the Spider pause on the keyboard. â€Å"Is something wrong?† Rivera asked. â€Å"Just one more thing,† Nailsworth said. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Could you find out if she's modeming someone else?† â€Å"Santa Maria, Nailsworth! You are a real person.† Three hours later Rivera was sitting at his desk waiting for a call from the Spider. While he was in the computer room, someone had left a dog-eared paperback on his desk. Its title was You Can Have a Career in Private Investigation. Rivera suspected Perez. He had thrown the book in the wastebasket. Now, with his only suspect back out on the street and nothing forthcoming from the Spider, Rivera considered fishing the book out of the trash. The phone rang, and Rivera ripped it from its cradle. â€Å"Rivera,† he said. â€Å"Rivera, it's the Nailgun.† â€Å"Did you find something?† Rivera fumbled for a cigarette from the pack on his desk. He found it impossible to talk on the phone without smoking. â€Å"I think I have a connection, but it doesn't work out.† â€Å"Don't be cryptic, Nailsworth. I need something.† â€Å"Well, first I ran the names through the Social Security computer. Most of them are deceased. Then I noticed that they were all vets.† â€Å"Vietnam?† â€Å"World War One.† â€Å"You're kidding.† â€Å"No. They were all World War One vets, and all of them had a first or middle initial E. I should have caught that before I even input it. I tried to run a correlation program on that and came up with nothing. Then I ran the addresses to see if there was a geographical connection.† â€Å"Anything there?† â€Å"No. For a minute I thought you'd found someone's research project on World War One, but just to be sure, I ran the file through the new data bank set up by the Justice Department in Washington. They use it to find criminal patterns where there aren't any. In effect it makes the random logical. They use it to track serial killers and psychopaths.† â€Å"And you found nothing?† â€Å"Not exactly. The files at the Justice Department only go back thirty years, so that eliminated about half of the names on your list. But the other ones rang the bell.† â€Å"Nailsworth, please try to get to the point.† â€Å"In each of the cities listed in your file there was at least one unexplained disappearance around the date listed – not the vets; other people. You can eliminate the large cities as coincidence, but hundreds of these disappearances were in small towns.† â€Å"People disappear in small towns too. They run away to the city. They drown. You can't call that a connection.† â€Å"I thought you'd say that, so I ran a probability program to get the odds on all of this being coincidence.† â€Å"So?† Rivera was getting tired of Nailsworth's dramatics. â€Å"So the odds of someone having a file of the dates and locations of unexplained disappearances over the last thirty years and it being a coincidence is ten to the power of fifty against.† â€Å"Which means what?† â€Å"Which means, about the same odds as you'd have of dragging the wreck of the Titanic out of a trout stream with a fly rod. Which means, Rivera, you have a serious problem.† â€Å"Are you telling me that this suitcase belongs to a serial killer?† â€Å"A very old serial killer. Most serial killers don't even start until their thirties. If we assume that this one was cooperative enough to start when the Justice Department's files start, thirty years ago, he'd be over sixty now.† â€Å"Do you think it goes farther back?† â€Å"I picked some dates and locations randomly, going back as far as 1925. I called the libraries in the towns and had them check the newspapers for stories of disappearances. It checked out. Your man could be in his nineties. Or it could be a son carrying on his father's work.† â€Å"That's impossible. There must be another explanation. Come on, Nailsworth, I need a bailout here. I can't pursue an investigation of a geriatric serial killer.† â€Å"Well, it could be an elaborate research project that someone is doing on missing persons, but that doesn't explain the World War One vets, and it doesn't explain why the researcher would write the information on matchbook covers and business cards from places that have been out of business for years.† â€Å"I don't understand.† Rivera felt as if he were stuck in the Spider's web and was waiting to be eaten. â€Å"It appears that the notes themselves were written as far back as fifty years ago. I could send them to the lab to confirm it if you want.† â€Å"No. Don't do that.† Rivera didn't want it confirmed. He wanted it to go away. â€Å"Nailsworth, isn't possible that the computer is making some impossible connections? I mean, it's programmed to find patterns – maybe it went overboard and made this one up?† â€Å"You know the odds, Sergeant. The computer can't make anything up; it can only interpret what's put into it. If I were you, I'd pull my suspect out of holding and find out where he got the suitcase.† â€Å"I cut him loose. The D.A. said I didn't have enough to charge him.† â€Å"Find him,† Nailsworth said. Rivera resented the authoritarian tone in Nailsworth's voice, but he let it go. â€Å"I'm going now.† â€Å"One more thing.† â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"One of your addresses was in Pine Cove. You want it?† â€Å"Of course.† Nailsworth read the name and address to Rivera, who wrote it down on a memo pad. â€Å"There was no date on this one, Sergeant. Your killer might still be in the area. If you get him, it would be the bailout you're looking for.† â€Å"It's too fantastic.† â€Å"And don't forget to check on Roxanne for me, okay?† The Spider hung up. 30 JENNY Jenny had arrived at work a half hour late expecting to find Howard waiting behind the counter to reprimand her in his own erudite way. Strangely enough, she didn't care. Even more strange was the fact that Howard had not shown up at the cafe all morning. Considering that she had drunk two bottles of wine, eaten a heavy Italian meal and everything in the refrigerator, and stayed up all night making love, she should have been tired, but she wasn't. She felt wonderful, full of humor and energy, and not a little excited. When she thought of her night with Travis, she grinned and shivered. There should be guilt, she thought. She was, technically, a married woman. Technically, she was having an illicit affair. But she had never been very technically minded. Instead of guilt she felt happy and eager to do it all again. From the moment she got to work she began counting the hours until she got off after the lunch shift. She was at one hour and counting when the cook announced that there was a call for her in the office. She quickly refilled her customer's coffee cups and headed to the back. If it was Robert, she would just act like nothing had happened. She wasn't exactly in love with someone else as he suspected. It was†¦ it didn't matter what it was. She didn't have to explain anything. If it was Travis – she hoped it was Travis. She picked up the phone. â€Å"Hello.† â€Å"Jenny?† It was a woman's voice. â€Å"It's Rachel. Look, I'm having a special ritual this afternoon at the caves. I need you to be there.† Jennifer did not want to go to a ritual. â€Å"I don't know, Rachel, I have plans after work.† â€Å"Jennifer, this is the most important thing we've ever done, and I need you to be there. What time do you get off?† â€Å"I'm off at two, but I need to go home and change first.† â€Å"No, don't do that. Come as you are – it's really important.† â€Å"But I really†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Please, Jenny. It will only take a few minutes.† Jennifer had never heard Rachel sound so adamant. Maybe it really was important. â€Å"Okay. I guess I can make it. Do you need me to call any of the others?† â€Å"No. I'll do it. You just be at the caves as soon as you can after two.† â€Å"Okay, fine, I'll be there.† â€Å"And Jenny† – Rachel's voice had lowered an octave – â€Å"don't tell anyone where you are going.† Rachel hung up. Jennifer immediately dialed her home phone and got the answering machine. â€Å"Travis, if you're there, pick up.† She waited. He was probably still sleeping. â€Å"I'm going to be a little late. I'll be home later this afternoon.† She almost said, â€Å"I love you,† but decided not to. She pushed the thought out of her mind. â€Å"Bye,† she said, and hung up. Now, if she could only avoid Robert until she could think of a way to destroy his hope for their reconciliation. Returning to the floor of the cafe, she realized that somewhere along the way her feeling of well-being had vanished and she felt very tired.

Essay 3 Final

Essay 3 Final Essay 3 Final Stephen Hayes Minto Writing 1 Everything is Confidence Everyone has the confidence to do what he or she wants in life. This is seen with professional athletes because they gave up a lot to be where they are in their life. Athletes have the confidence they need to be great in their sport, as well as in their lives. Most athletes take what they know about themselves and their confidence, and implement it into their entire lives. If something bad was to happen to a professional athlete and they were unable to compete in their sport or function in society, they may lose their confidence, and they will not want to compete again. It is the athlete that continues to practice or help others practice, when he cannot, is someone who has enough confidence in his ability. This type of confidence is more of a physical confidence used to intimidate and get pumped up, while Frederick Douglass the author of â€Å"Learning to Read†, talks about his life as a slave and he uses his confidence more as a mental confidence which he uses to made his lif e goal a reality. Douglass describes how he is able to read while being a slave. He feels that being able to read has been more of a curse to him than a blessing. The feeling of being able to read and write has given him great strength and confidence in his life. He may not be an athlete but he is facing the same type of problem as an athlete who can’t compete is also having. Douglass wants nothing more than to read but he knows he not allowed to. He goes on learning with the thought of how suicide because of what he is learning. Confidence is found in almost everything that is done in daily lives. Confidence can be used to motivate others and help them get through a tough game or practice. Confidence can be very hard to accomplish and the consequences may be high, but it will be worthwhile in the end. Douglass showed many hardships that he experienced when learning to read and write in his work learning to read, but he never gave up on what he truly wanted. Douglass never ga ve up because he was confident in himself that he would never give up on his life goal even though he was a slave. In Douglass’s essay he envy’s those slaves who are unable to read for they are unable to understand what they can achieve while; he knows the power of reading and writing. This has tormented him because he knows what is happening to every slave out there and how he is almost powerless to stop slave owners from owning slaves. Douglas states that â€Å"As I writhed under it, I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing. It had given me a view of my wretched condition, without remedy. It opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but no ladder upon which to get out. In moments of agony, I envied my fellow-slaves for their stupidity. I have often wished a beast. I preferred the condition of the meanest reptile to my own. Anything, no matter what, to get rid of thinking! It was this everlasting thinking of my condition that tormented me. There was no getting rid of it.† (193). This quote describes how after gaining the knowledge he wants; it makes him feel uneasy about what he has gotten himself apart of. In Douglas’s quote he hints at how being a slave is a horrible thing, but by being a slave who has the knowledge to read and comprehend, it becomes an incredibly overwhelming challenge. but knowing this he still has the confidence to keep learning whenever he can. He hints at how it is easier to just live your life without knowing than to push for important pieces of knowledge such as the ability to read; while those who did push for that important piece of knowledge like Douglas then excel in that field. He knew that it was against policy for a slave to learn to read and he would be punished severely if anyone were to find out, but he still went out of his way to learn whenever he could. He wanted more than anything to be free and have the same rights as everyone.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Louis XIV Essays

Louis XIV Essays Louis XIV Paper Louis XIV Paper Louis XIV was known as one of the greatest Kings of France.Louis XIV ruled as an absolute monarch.He was a great patron of the arts in France. He is responsible for many elegant buildings in France and especially Paris.He was also involved in many wars throughout his reign of France. The reign of Louis XIV lasted an astounding length of seventy-two years.Louis XIV was born on September 16,1638.His reign started when he was only four years old when his father Louis XIII died on May 14, 1643.Louis XIV chose the sun as his emblem.The sun was associated with Apollo, god of peace and arts, and was also a heavenly body that gave life to all things.Like Apollo, Louis XIV brought peace and was a patron of the arts. Louis XIVs father Louis XIII ruled with Cardinal Richelieu, who served as First Minister.When Louis XIII died Cardinal Richelieu also died shortly after the Kings death.Richelieus successor, Cardinal Mazarin, governed the country until Louis XIV grew up.He always wanted to be able to rule alone.So when hisfirst Minister Mazarin died, he decided against ruling with a First Minister.Only a limited share of power was allowed to the able comptroller general of finances, Jean Baptiste Colbert.Colbert believed in an active economic role for the State, he promoted manufacturing and commerce, built up the navy, and developed the French colonies overseas. Louis XIV was not highly liked among the people of France.Previously the kings of France had lived rather close to their people, traveling about a good deal, in war or peace, visiting towns and their poorer subjects.When Louis XIV became a deity, the people bowed down, but felt that the king no longer belonged to them.The French, however, only really love what belongs to them.Louis XIV held a very strict court.He forced all the nobles to live with him at the Palace of Versailles.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

The Common European Asylum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

The Common European Asylum - Essay Example The European Union as established in the Treaty of Maastricht is an area which ensures freedom of movement. The treaty of Amsterdam (1997)further reformed the Maastricht treaty and all dealings related to free movement of persons; controls on external borders; asylum, immigration and judicial cooperation in civil matters were brought under the legal framework. The Schengen (Agreement 1985) signed by three countries Benelux, France and Germany was also included in this treaty which eliminated all border controls and guaranteed the free movement of citizens from participating countries. At the European Council summit in Tampere in 1999, the member states aimed for the establishment of a common EU policy on issues of immigration and asylum. Among one of its elements that it sought to achieve was the development of a common European asylum system. Point 14 of the Tampere European Council states the requirements of such a common system. This System should include, in the short term, a clear and workable determination of the State responsible for the examination of an asylum application, common standards for a fair and efficient asylum procedure, common minimum conditions of reception of asylum seekers, and the approximation of rules on the recognition and content of the refugee status. It should also be completed with measures on subsidiary forms of protection offering an appropriate status to any person in need of such protection. (tampere european council 15 and 16 october 1999 presidency conclusions) Directives This was also the first stage of establishing the common European asylum system wherein four directives were laid down in order to harmonize various aspects of asylum policies. The deadline for adoption of the first legally binding instruments was set for five years after entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam, a period which expired at the end of April 2004. 1. reception directive; regarding reception of asylum seekers 2. Dublin II regulation; regarding the country responsible for examination of asylum claim 3. qualification directive; regarding the definition and content of refugee and subsidiary protection status 4. Procedures directive; regarding procedures used to consider asylum claims. The first directive laid down in the tampere council was the reception directive. It came into force on 1st September 2003. It states the minimum standards on the reception of asylum seekers. Its objective was to provide the asylum seekers with a dignified standard of living. The reception directive defines the material conditions for the refugees once they land on the EU territory. Their accommodation, food, clothing and financial assistance is all given due care. Family reunion is also given consideration along with medical and psychological care. Finally the integration of the minor children into the education system is also prioritized. The doors of the labor market are also opened to the asylum seekers. All these material reception conditions are provided to ensure a decent standard of living for the applicants as well as their families. At the same time extra care is also to be granted to the most vulnerable applicants who have faced some forms of violence or who are disabled o r minor children and pregnant women. At the same

Friday, October 18, 2019

According to the question answer the question Essay

According to the question answer the question - Essay Example ducation makes it inappropriate to some people while Foster is of the belief that the current system of education has been able to enable to get students to have a good interpretation of their experiences. The walking journeys of Cheryl strayed in wild and Andrew Forstaffle in the â€Å"this American life† radio episode† hit the road† have some things in common. For instance, in both cases there are people who are compelled by the experiences that they are going through in life to go far places from wherever they were at first. Andrew Forsthoefel decides to go on a journey of over four thousand miles on foot after losing his job. He takes people he meets on the way with him. On the other hand, Cheryl strayed move to many cities in the process of trying to find a new life after the divorce with her former husband. The difference between the two cases is that Cheryl strayed was in search for a new life while Andrew Forsthoefel’s did not seek a new life. The views that Cheryl Strayed and Robert Bly give about the term being wild can be a little bit morally misleading. This is because they all advocate for some behaviours that are simply inappropriate morally. For instance, when someone looks at the kind of lifestyle that Cheryl Strayed leads in the name of being wild such as sleeping with strangers someone can clearly see the immoral part of it. Robert Bly, basically advocates for masculinity where female people are treated with less regard or respects. The two views can basically be said to be misleading in their description of being wild. Looking at the poem by Edward Hirsch someone can easily notice the importance that he gives to the emotional parts of human existence (Addonizio and Laux 242). This can be seen in the line where he asserts on the importance of people believing in their hearts. This can be seen in the first line. The poets urge people to believe in having better lives, even at times when they are going through the hardest parts of their

Economic Trends in an Executive MBA school Essay

Economic Trends in an Executive MBA school - Essay Example The recession would create an impact on employment and many capable firms would have a well of skills to hire from. Some firms might decide to be choosy and a graduate degree might just prove to be relevant so as to keep up with the competition for jobs. This has seen many people go for MBA which stands a better chance than having BBA only. (Kotler, Philip & Kevin, 2012)   One of the other areas affected by the recession are the accounts receivable. The customers of the companies might not fail to make payment the money owed to the company at the right time, or they may never be able to pay. This turns into a violation of the credit agreement. Moreover, delinquent or late payment reduces the valuation of corporation’s debt, bonds and its ability for financial access. This means that firms would be rendered incapable to sustain its operational costs and might just close down. Many people would lose their jobs. In the preparation of such circumstances, higher level of expertis e would deem inevitable to keep the firm running. Proper financial management measures could be employed to sustain the firm in the industry. All these expertise can be acquired by advanced training and education.  The need for increased household income has grown higher with people resorting to venturing into two or even three jobs. This requires an extended level of expertise in the different fields. The loan programs give an opportunity for people to go back for an MBA and upgrade their certificates so that they can be able to fit.... The customers of the companies might not fail to make payment the money owed to the company at the right time, or they may never be able to pay. This turns into a violation of the credit agreement. Moreover, delinquent or late payment reduces the valuation of corporation’s debt, bonds and its ability for financial access. This means that firms would be rendered incapable to sustain its operational costs and might just close down. Many people would lose their jobs. In the preparation of such circumstances, higher level of expertise would deem inevitable to keep the firm running. Proper financial management measures could be employed to sustain the firm in the industry. All these expertise can be acquired by advanced training and education. The need for increased household income has grown higher with people resorting to venturing into two or even three jobs. This requires an extended level of expertise in the different fields. The loan programs give an opportunity for people to go back for an MBA and upgrade their certificates so that they can be able to fit at the competition of the search for white collar jobs. Some universities like the University of New Mexico offers scholarships for MBA students. In Germany, education is free of charge therefore one can have no reason not to take an MBA. The loan program has attracted a lot of people to undertake further studies as its an incentive. The federal government plays a vital role in helping its employees live a stable life. As a result of the economic fluctuations in the private sector, the populace decide to search for white collar jobs to be able to earn a stable income. The government would also engage in the act of increasing

Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Oral Presentation Research Paper

Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Oral Presentation - Research Paper Example The five boroughs make up the counties. The Staten Island is in Richmond County, Brooklyn is in the King County, the Bronx is in the Bronx County. The Queens is found in Queens County and Manahattan, New York County. In 1898, the five boroughs were merged to form a single city. In area,Queens is the largest County, because it holds 108 square miles,while Brooklyn has the highest population containing 2.3 million residents as estimated by the census conducted in 1990. The 2012 census in New York estimated the population to be 8,33697 within an area of 783.8 square kilo meters. New York City is referred to the most diverse city in terms of linguistics because residents there speak over 800 different languages. The Metropolitan Area, in New York City is the most populated in The United States, with 18.9 million residents occupying an area of 17,1400 square kilo meters (Carroll, 2012). See the illustration below Retrieved on March 26, 2013, from, http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ances try.com/~genealogylinks/dmst/%20-dmstgfx/NY/NYC-5B.gif Population New York is the third greatest state in population. California and Texas take first and second place respectively. As portrayed by the 2010 census, the population of New York residents was at 19,378,102, an aggrandizement of more than 400,000 people. The 2000-2006 transition in population was as a result of natural causes such as birth and death. During that period, the total population was 601,779 persons in that; the number of births which was 1,576,125 deduct the number of deaths which was 974,346 less the residents migrating who added up to 422,481 persons. Retrieved on March 26, 2013, from, http://climatechange.thinkaboutit.eu/scripts/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/imagemanager/files/nyc_population.png Geographic New York City is situated at the meeting point of the Atlantic Ocean and River Hudson, South East of The State Of New York. The city is surrounded by three islands, Staten Island, Manhattan And Wester n Long Island. This is the reason why the city is densely populated due to the scarcity of land. River Hudson flows the Hudson Valley and enters New York Bay, resulting to a tidal bay, demarcating Northern New Jersey from Manahattan and Bronx. Harlem River, is another tidal anchorage, separating the Bronx from Manhattan. The New York City counties sprawl between two Eastern North American provinces bordering each other. Long Island, the location of Queens and Brooklyn are constituted in the plains of East Coast. Long Island, a huge ridge was formed at the Southern Borderline of the Laurentide Ice Sheet in the last glacial period. Newark Basin is an incrustation of the earth that subsided during the decomposition of the Supercontinent Pangaea in the Triassic period. The area which New York City occupies is approximated to be 831.4 square kilometers. Be that as it may, an estimation done more recently states that the area is now at 784.4 square kilometers. Todt Hill is said to be the most apical natural point situated on Staten Island at 124.9 meters above sea level. Retrieved on March 26, 2013, from, http://www.ny.com/images/nycmap-s.gif Physical Features The City Of New York has many physical features including The Broklyn Bridge, a historical landmark which has an earth bound footer and a bicycle alley set above the avenues of traffic. The bridge is used by residents and tourists to cross from one view point on the river to the other.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Corporate Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Corporate Communication - Essay Example As these different workers would try to impose their own attitudes and culture on the organisation as well as fellow employees, it could lead a different, uncommon and complex organisational culture, negatively impacting the organisation’s performance. Thus, for organisation to succeed, all its employees have to work in unison without any differences and for that a common, clear and workable organisational culture need to be implemented in the organisation. To implement a common organisational culture, organisations can even go for a organisational change. That is, as it will be difficult to force common organisational only in some segments of the organisation, it would be better, if the organisation goes for organizational change. When the organization does not perform up to expected levels due to culture issues and in other cases wanted to expand or diversify its operations, the management method has to be changed. This is where the concept of organizational change comes into the picture. That is, organizational change constitutes the structured changing or transitioning of employees, departments and the organizations as a whole from a current state to a favourable or desired future state. So, here the main need or necessity for an organisation to change is to implement a common organisational culture, thereby maximize the collective advantages or benefits for all the employees, managers and leaders working for the organization, and thereby maximize the profit and standing of the organization. So, this paper as part of literature review will discuss how implementing a common organisational culture will lead to organizational change and how leaders and managers had to be aware and importantly control these ch anges by case studying Starbucks. When an organization initiates the process of change management, the first main role the leader should perform is build an academically, technically strong and experienced workforce as part of the

Personal Interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Personal Interview - Essay Example The first question for Anne was about how women get respect and break through the glass ceiling. Confidently, she believes that education is the key to getting respect from the industry aside from experience and training. Although she has observed that nowadays, more women are given better jobs but access to top managerial jobs still remains â€Å"severely restricted†. Anne also related how much she enjoys doing her job although other people label her as â€Å"bulldog†. The reason for that is her ability to see things transparently, detect risks as well as weaknesses that makes them vulnerable. However, the labeling does not affect her at all since she knows that in the end, her suggestions would do good once a project is finished. Anne also shares her positive experience in the online courses and seminars that her company is constantly providing to its employees. The classes and seminars helps Anne to be more effective although she has already gained a reputable experience in the industry. It seems that Anne is never too old to learn and humble enough to accept new thoughts which is a good indication of an innovator. ...Well let’s see, I go to a department I know nothing about, I sit down with the manger analyze their controls and their day to day work flow. I then asked at the end of the day how do you know you have covered everything you are suppose to do, they would look at me with a blank face, and I would say do you have a checklist, and their response as always would be no. After a couple of these meetings I would have them coming up to me asking Anne how you think I can implement procedures to mitigate my risks. She admits that she does not know anything about the certain department and that her expertise is Risk Management. But because of her exposure to different positions in the industry ( Operations Control, Trading Assistant, Equity Market Risk Management, Credit Risk Management) Anne is

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Oral Presentation Research Paper

Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Oral Presentation - Research Paper Example The five boroughs make up the counties. The Staten Island is in Richmond County, Brooklyn is in the King County, the Bronx is in the Bronx County. The Queens is found in Queens County and Manahattan, New York County. In 1898, the five boroughs were merged to form a single city. In area,Queens is the largest County, because it holds 108 square miles,while Brooklyn has the highest population containing 2.3 million residents as estimated by the census conducted in 1990. The 2012 census in New York estimated the population to be 8,33697 within an area of 783.8 square kilo meters. New York City is referred to the most diverse city in terms of linguistics because residents there speak over 800 different languages. The Metropolitan Area, in New York City is the most populated in The United States, with 18.9 million residents occupying an area of 17,1400 square kilo meters (Carroll, 2012). See the illustration below Retrieved on March 26, 2013, from, http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ances try.com/~genealogylinks/dmst/%20-dmstgfx/NY/NYC-5B.gif Population New York is the third greatest state in population. California and Texas take first and second place respectively. As portrayed by the 2010 census, the population of New York residents was at 19,378,102, an aggrandizement of more than 400,000 people. The 2000-2006 transition in population was as a result of natural causes such as birth and death. During that period, the total population was 601,779 persons in that; the number of births which was 1,576,125 deduct the number of deaths which was 974,346 less the residents migrating who added up to 422,481 persons. Retrieved on March 26, 2013, from, http://climatechange.thinkaboutit.eu/scripts/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/imagemanager/files/nyc_population.png Geographic New York City is situated at the meeting point of the Atlantic Ocean and River Hudson, South East of The State Of New York. The city is surrounded by three islands, Staten Island, Manhattan And Wester n Long Island. This is the reason why the city is densely populated due to the scarcity of land. River Hudson flows the Hudson Valley and enters New York Bay, resulting to a tidal bay, demarcating Northern New Jersey from Manahattan and Bronx. Harlem River, is another tidal anchorage, separating the Bronx from Manhattan. The New York City counties sprawl between two Eastern North American provinces bordering each other. Long Island, the location of Queens and Brooklyn are constituted in the plains of East Coast. Long Island, a huge ridge was formed at the Southern Borderline of the Laurentide Ice Sheet in the last glacial period. Newark Basin is an incrustation of the earth that subsided during the decomposition of the Supercontinent Pangaea in the Triassic period. The area which New York City occupies is approximated to be 831.4 square kilometers. Be that as it may, an estimation done more recently states that the area is now at 784.4 square kilometers. Todt Hill is said to be the most apical natural point situated on Staten Island at 124.9 meters above sea level. Retrieved on March 26, 2013, from, http://www.ny.com/images/nycmap-s.gif Physical Features The City Of New York has many physical features including The Broklyn Bridge, a historical landmark which has an earth bound footer and a bicycle alley set above the avenues of traffic. The bridge is used by residents and tourists to cross from one view point on the river to the other.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Personal Interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Personal Interview - Essay Example The first question for Anne was about how women get respect and break through the glass ceiling. Confidently, she believes that education is the key to getting respect from the industry aside from experience and training. Although she has observed that nowadays, more women are given better jobs but access to top managerial jobs still remains â€Å"severely restricted†. Anne also related how much she enjoys doing her job although other people label her as â€Å"bulldog†. The reason for that is her ability to see things transparently, detect risks as well as weaknesses that makes them vulnerable. However, the labeling does not affect her at all since she knows that in the end, her suggestions would do good once a project is finished. Anne also shares her positive experience in the online courses and seminars that her company is constantly providing to its employees. The classes and seminars helps Anne to be more effective although she has already gained a reputable experience in the industry. It seems that Anne is never too old to learn and humble enough to accept new thoughts which is a good indication of an innovator. ...Well let’s see, I go to a department I know nothing about, I sit down with the manger analyze their controls and their day to day work flow. I then asked at the end of the day how do you know you have covered everything you are suppose to do, they would look at me with a blank face, and I would say do you have a checklist, and their response as always would be no. After a couple of these meetings I would have them coming up to me asking Anne how you think I can implement procedures to mitigate my risks. She admits that she does not know anything about the certain department and that her expertise is Risk Management. But because of her exposure to different positions in the industry ( Operations Control, Trading Assistant, Equity Market Risk Management, Credit Risk Management) Anne is

Abraham Lincoln Essay Example for Free

Abraham Lincoln Essay According to Abraham Lincoln, â€Å"Your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing. † (Mills 3). I was inspired by this quote that speaks of success, which I will describe as a golden star that everyone wants to reach. This quote is similar to most of the leadership quotes because it speaks of ways to reach success, but, this quote is special in a way that it could be related to the self-fulfilling prophecy. Simply put, the main road to success is the â€Å"will to succeed. † I’m sure each of us has experienced actually failing a task whenever our mind is embedded with the phrase: â€Å"I can’t do this! † If you believe that you will be successful in any endeavor you want to take, then, you have taken the first step to becoming a person who is the â€Å"king or queen of success. † I myself have noticed that whenever I put into mind that I will â€Å"win,† the outcome turns out to be truly positive. This essay can help readers realize that their goals can be achieved by first believing in themselves. If a person always expects that he/she will succeed in something specific, then his/her expectations will most probably turn into a reality as what the so-called â€Å"self-fulfilling prophecy† suggests. Rosenthal, in his book: â€Å"Experimenter Effects in Behavioral Research,† said: â€Å"Events tend to turn out as one has hypothesized, not because of some great insight but because one behaves in a manner to achieve this outcome. † Believing in this theory would mean that we would have to love ourselves more, believe that we have what it takes to win in this â€Å"game† called life, and, at the same time, because of our mind set, act in such a way that enables us to achieve our dreams. Bear in Mind: Success is in your hands, just believe! Works Cited Mills, Dawson A. â€Å"Continuing Education Offerings Abound. † The Virginian-Pilot [Virginia] 28 January 1996:3. Rosenthal, Robert. Experimenter Effects in Behavioral Research. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1966.