James McPherson - Civil War James McPherson - Army of the Tennessee

James McPherson - Early Life Career: James Birdseye McPherson was born November 14, 1828, near Clyde, Ohio. The son of William and Cynthia Russell McPherson, he worked on the familys farm and aided with his fathers blacksmith business. When he was thirteen, McPhersons father, who had a history of mental illness, became unable to work. To aid the family, McPherson took a job at a store run by Robert Smith. An avid reader, he worked in this position until he was nineteen when Smith aided him in obtaining an appointment to West Point. Rather than immediately enroll, he deferred his acceptance and took two years of preparatory study at Norwalk Academy. Arriving at West Point in 1849, he was in the same class as Philip Sheridan, John M. Schofield, and John Bell Hood. A gifted student, he graduated first (of 52) in the Class of 1853. Though posted to the Army Corps of Engineers, McPherson was retained at West Point for a year to serve as an Assistant Professor of Practical Engineering. Completing his teaching assignment, he next was ordered to aid in improving New York Harbor. In 1857, McPherson was transferred to San Francisco to work on improving fortifications in the area. James McPherson - The Civil War Begins: With the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and the beginning of the secession crisis, McPherson declared that he wished to fight for the Union. As the Civil War began in April 1861, he realized that his career would be best served if he returned east. Asking for a transfer, he received orders to report to Boston for service in the Corps of Engineers as a captain. Though an improvement, McPherson desired to serve with one of the Union armies then forming. In November 1861, he wrote to Major General Henry W. Halleck and requested a position on his staff. James McPherson - Joining with Grant: This was accepted and McPherson traveled to St. Louis. Arriving, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assigned as chief engineer on the staff of Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant. In February 1862, McPherson was with Grants army when it captured Fort Henry and played a key role in deploying Union forces for the Battle of Fort Donelson a few days later. McPherson again saw action in April during the Union victory at the Battle of Shiloh. Impressed with the young officer, Grant had him promoted to brigadier general in May. James McPherson - Rising through the Ranks: That fall saw McPherson in command of an infantry brigade during the campaigns around Corinth and Iuka, MS. Again performing well, he received a promotion to major general on October 8, 1862. In December, Grants Army of the Tennessee was reorganized and McPherson received command of XVII Corps. In this role, McPherson played a key part in Grants campaign against Vicksburg, MS in late 1862 and 1863. In the course of the campaign, he took part in victories at Raymond (May 12), Jackson (May 14), Champion Hill (May 16), and the Siege of Vicksburg (May 18-July 4). James McPherson - Leading the Army of the Tennessee: In the months following the victory at Vicksburg, McPherson remained in Mississippi conducting minor operations against the Confederates in the area. As a result, he did not travel with Grant and part of the Army of the Tennessee to relieve the siege of Chattanooga. In March 1864, Grant was ordered east to take overall command of Union forces. In reorganizing the armies in the West, he directed that McPherson be made commander of the Army of the Tennessee on March 12, replacing Major General William T. Sherman, who was promoted to command all Union forces in region. Commencing his campaign against Atlanta in early May, Sherman moved through northern Georgia with three armies. While McPherson advanced on the right, Major General George H. Thomas Army of the Cumberland formed the center while Major General John Schofields Army of the Ohio marched on the Union left. Confronted by General Joseph E. Johnstons strong position at Rocky Face Ridge and Dalton, Sherman dispatched McPherson south to Snake Creek Gap. From this undefended gap, he was to strike at Resaca and sever the railroad which was supplying the Confederates to the north. Emerging from the gap on May 9, McPherson became concerned that Johnston would move south and cut him off. As a result, he withdrew to the gap and failed to take Resaca despite the fact the city was lightly defended. Moving south with the bulk of Union forces, Sherman engaged Johnston at the Battle of Resaca on May 13-15. Largely inconclusive, Sherman later blamed McPhersons cautiousness on May 9 for preventing a great Union victory. As Sherman maneuvered Johnston south, McPhersons army took part in the defeat at Kennesaw Mountain on June 27. James McPherson - Final Actions: Despite the defeat, Sherman continued to press south and crossed the Chattahoochee River. Nearing Atlanta, he intended to attack the city from three directions with Thomas pushing in from the north, Schofield from the northeast, and McPherson from the east. Confederate forces, now led by McPhersons classmate Hood, attacked Thomas at Peachtree Creek on July 20 and were turned back. Two days later, Hood planned to attack McPherson as the Army of the Tennessee approached from the east. Learning that McPhersons left flank was exposed, he directed Lieutenant General William Hardees corps and cavalry to attack. Meeting with Sherman, McPherson heard the sound of fighting as Major General Grenville Dodges XVI Corps worked to halt this Confederate assault in what became known as the Battle of Atlanta. Riding to the sound of the guns, with only his orderly as an escort, he entered a gap between Dodges XVI Corps and Major General Francis P. Blairs XVII Corps. As he advanced, a line of Confederate skirmishers appeared and ordered him to halt. Refusing, McPherson turned his horse and tried to flee. Opening fire, the Confederates killed him as he tried to escape. Beloved by his men, McPhersons death was mourned by leaders on both sides. Sherman, who considered McPherson a friend, wept upon learning of his death and later wrote his wife, McPhersons death was a great loss to me. I depended much on him. Upon learning of the death of his protà ©gà ©, Grant was also moved to tears. Across the lines, McPhersons classmate Hood penned, I will record the death of my classmate and boyhood friend, General James B. McPherson, the announcement of which caused me sincere sorrow...the attachment formed in early youth was strengthened by my admiration and gratitude for his conduct toward our people in the vicinity of Vicksburg. The second highest ranking Union officer killed in combat (behind Major General John Sedgwick), McPhersons body was recovered and returned to Ohio for burial. Selected Sources Sherman Loses his Right Bower by Wayne BengstonCivil War Trust: James McPherson Major General James B. McPherson

Pricewaterhousecoopers Human Resource Review - 1346 Words

PricewaterhouseCoopers Human Resource Review Prepared by: Chunming Liu Instructor: Elaine Lau 2014/12/5 Introduction PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) is a global professional service company that mainly provides assurance service, advisory service, tax planning and legal and financial business. PWC ranked third in Forbes Global Ranking, ranked first in accounting and it is one of the Big Four audit firms. PricewaterhouseCoopers has opened business in over 150 regions in the world and it owns over 184,000 employees. There are some contributors to its success from human resource management in PWC. The most information in this paper is mainly from official webpage of PWC (www.pwc.com). Recruitment and Selection Practices The PWC select their employees by considering both sides’ need and they also care about the motivation of applications. Similarly in our text book, it is mentioned, most organizations are looking for employees who are â€Å"qualified for the position but also want the job† (Ivancevich Konopaske, 2013). The culture of PWC is â€Å"We recruit top talent with a focus on diversity and inclusion†. PWC believes that their company culture is created by the people they have and it’s the core of their success. Meanwhile, PWC put credit on diversity of their employees. The chairman of PWC says: â€Å"Diversity is a key issue for us†. PWC is currently working on female millennials program, to train and develop female’s leadership to make full use of talents of womenShow MoreRelatedPresentation Of Pricewaterhousecoopers Audit Report1040 Words   |  5 PagesLisa Cohen, Kieran Kays †¢ Guests: Eric Schwartz of PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Tina Naimie of Dartmouth Hitchcock Minutes The minutes of the June 19, 2015 meeting were approved. 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Incentivizing and compensating employees through an effective performance appraisalRead MoreMU1 Assignment 2 Essay1711 Words   |  7 Pagesthe business *** identify and establish a process for collaboration on risk mitigation with other organizations and partners *** integrate Enterprise Risk Management into the organization *** focus resources on key risks in order to achieve the organization’s objectives (Source – PricewaterhouseCoopers – effective ERM) Under IAA Standard 2120 – Risk Management: â€Å"The internal audit activity must evaluate the effectiveness and contribute to the improvement of risk management processes.† Practice advisoryRead MoreLeadership Development : An Effective Leader1238 Words   |  5 Pagessurvey by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Association Resource Center showed the mean return on investment in coaching to be seven times the initial investment, with more than a quarter of respondents reporting returns ranging from 10 to 49 times their initial investment (McDonagh, 2016). The results of these initial studies on the effectiveness of coaching interventions and the return on investment are encouraging indicators of a high performing talent strategy. However, a further review of the available

New York and Nebraska Free Essays

In this world no two places can be considered to be same. All the places have a certain amount of distinctness, a certain flavor and a very dominant persona. If we consider two places, New York and Nebraska, there are a lot of similarities and contrasts, as they are the states of a same country, i. We will write a custom essay sample on New York and Nebraska or any similar topic only for you Order Now e. United States of America. Both the states have discrete histories but have common grounds on the basis of European Settlers. Nebraska became officially part of United States of America only in 1812 after Missouri Treaty bill.   New York on the other hand was dominant by the point of British and it was an important place in terms of the revolution for Independence. Comparisons between New York and Nebraska New York and Nebraska are both large states of America and have lot of importance to the country. Both the states being large on their own are blessed on natural terms. On the whole the two states have similarities on the basis of its large parks and greenery. Also both the states are blessed with the amount of voluminous rivers flowing through them. Nebraska and New York have a very good base in agriculture and have large share of their economy dependent on agricultural products. On a religious point of view too, both the states comprising have similarities in terms that both have a maximum population of Christians than any other religions. The states also are very rich in its heritage and culture and the no. of museums both have are outstanding, as both the states have a view of protecting and highlighting their culture. Contrasts between New York and Nebraska Firstly the climate of both the states is very different, and their discreetness is so high that the state of Nebraska has in fact two climates in its region. The state is grossly divided between a humid climate and a steppe climate. Also the effect of Global warming though being everywhere in the world is marginally higher in Nebraska compared to New York. This is assessed by the following: ‘Nebraska is home to an incredible diversity of native wildlife species, including 346 birds, 83 mammals, 87fish, 47 reptiles and 13 amphibians. Rising temperatures in the state will likely change the makeup of entire ecosystems, forcing wildlife to shift their ranges or adapt. Global warming could contribute to a 20-50 percent decline in forested area, particularly in eastern Nebraska, where grasslands and savanna could replace forests and woodlands’. (Courtesy: Myra Wilensky, â€Å"Global warming and Nebraska†. Retrieved on May 4, 2008 from http://www.nwf.org/globalwarming/pdfs/Nebraska.pdf#search=%22%22global%20warming%22%2C%20Nebraska%22) Both the states have a massive difference in the terms of economy as the state of New York is one of the key finance providers of the nation compared to Nebraska. One of the major contrasting feature of the two states politically is Nebraska is a religious Republican follower while the state of New York is avidly a Democratic supporter. Conclusion Both the states have their own theories of running the economy and are well blessed with flora and fauna. The comparison between the two states assesses the fact that how much ever two places might be distinct or similar, both of them are unique in their own way. Reference: 1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Myra Wilensky, â€Å"Global warming and Nebraska†. http://www.nwf.org/globalwarming/pdfs/Nebraska.pdf#search=%22%22global%20warming%22%2C%20Nebraska%22 How to cite New York and Nebraska, Essay examples New York and Nebraska Free Essays In this world no two places can be considered to be same. All the places have a certain amount of distinctness, a certain flavor and a very dominant persona. If we consider two places, New York and Nebraska, there are a lot of similarities and contrasts, as they are the states of a same country, i. We will write a custom essay sample on New York and Nebraska or any similar topic only for you Order Now e. United States of America. Both the states have discrete histories but have common grounds on the basis of European Settlers. Nebraska became officially part of United States of America only in 1812 after Missouri Treaty bill.   New York on the other hand was dominant by the point of British and it was an important place in terms of the revolution for Independence. Comparisons between New York and Nebraska New York and Nebraska are both large states of America and have lot of importance to the country. Both the states being large on their own are blessed on natural terms. On the whole the two states have similarities on the basis of its large parks and greenery. Also both the states are blessed with the amount of voluminous rivers flowing through them. Nebraska and New York have a very good base in agriculture and have large share of their economy dependent on agricultural products. On a religious point of view too, both the states comprising have similarities in terms that both have a maximum population of Christians than any other religions. The states also are very rich in its heritage and culture and the no. of museums both have are outstanding, as both the states have a view of protecting and highlighting their culture. Contrasts between New York and Nebraska Firstly the climate of both the states is very different, and their discreetness is so high that the state of Nebraska has in fact two climates in its region. The state is grossly divided between a humid climate and a steppe climate. Also the effect of Global warming though being everywhere in the world is marginally higher in Nebraska compared to New York. This is assessed by the following: ‘Nebraska is home to an incredible diversity of native wildlife species, including 346 birds, 83 mammals, 87fish, 47 reptiles and 13 amphibians. Rising temperatures in the state will likely change the makeup of entire ecosystems, forcing wildlife to shift their ranges or adapt. Global warming could contribute to a 20-50 percent decline in forested area, particularly in eastern Nebraska, where grasslands and savanna could replace forests and woodlands’. (Courtesy: Myra Wilensky, â€Å"Global warming and Nebraska†. Retrieved on May 4, 2008 from http://www.nwf.org/globalwarming/pdfs/Nebraska.pdf#search=%22%22global%20warming%22%2C%20Nebraska%22) Both the states have a massive difference in the terms of economy as the state of New York is one of the key finance providers of the nation compared to Nebraska. One of the major contrasting feature of the two states politically is Nebraska is a religious Republican follower while the state of New York is avidly a Democratic supporter. Conclusion Both the states have their own theories of running the economy and are well blessed with flora and fauna. The comparison between the two states assesses the fact that how much ever two places might be distinct or similar, both of them are unique in their own way. Reference: 1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Myra Wilensky, â€Å"Global warming and Nebraska†. http://www.nwf.org/globalwarming/pdfs/Nebraska.pdf#search=%22%22global%20warming%22%2C%20Nebraska%22 How to cite New York and Nebraska, Essay examples

Educational Philosophy free essay sample

He developed a broad body of work encompassing virtually all of the main areas of philosophy, and wrote extensively on social issues in popular publications, gaining a reputation as a leading social commentator of his time. Life Dewey was born on 20 October 1 859 in Burlington, Vermont, the third of four sons born to Archibald Sprague Dewey (who owned a grocery store) and Lucian Artemisia (ne Rich) (a devoutly religious woman), of modest family origins. He attended the University of Vermont in Burlington, and graduated in 1879.During this time, he was exposed to evolutionary theory, and the hurry of natural selection continued to have a life-long impact upon Dews thought. Although the philosophy teaching at Vermont was somewhat limited, his teacher, H. A. P. Torero, a learned scholar with broad philosophical interests and sympathies, was decisive in Dews philosophical development. After graduating in 1879, he worked for two years as a high school teacher in Oil City, Pennsylvania, but then borrowed money from his aunt in order to enter graduate school in philosophy at the School of Arts Sciences at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. We will write a custom essay sample on Educational Philosophy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Two teachers in particular had a lasting influence on him: the German-trained Hegelian philosopher, George Sylvester Morris (1 840 1 899), and the experimental psychologist, Granville Stanley Hall (1844- 1924). He received his Ph. D. In 1884, and left to take up a faculty position at the University of Michigan, which he kept for ten years, and during which time he wrote his first books. He married his first wife, Alice Chapman in 1 886, and the couple had six children (with only four surviving into adulthood) before Alice died in 1927.In 1894, Dewey joined the eely founded University of Chicago where his early Idealism gave way to an empirically-based theory of knowledge, and he started to align his ideals with the emerging Pragmatic school of thought. While at Chicago, he produced a collection Of essays entitled Thought and its Subject-Matter, and his first major work on education, The School and Society in 1899. This work was based on the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (also known as the Dewey School) which he founded in 1896, which taught according to his progressive principles of hands-on learning and exploration.In 1899, he was elected president of the American Psychological Association, and in 1905 he became president of authenticate Philosophical Association. Having resigned from the University of Chicago over disagreements with the administration in 1904, he took up a position as professor of philosophy at Columbia University in New York, and he taught there until his retirement in 1930. He developed close contacts with many philosophers working from divergent points of view in the intellectually stimulating atmosphere of the north-eastern universities, which served to nurture and enrich his thought. He published two important books, The Influence of Darwin on Philosophy and Other Essays in Contemporary Thought (1910) and Essays in Experimental Logic (1916). During this time, he traveled the world as a philosopher, social and political theorist and educational consultant, including trips to Japan, China, Turkey, USSR and Mexico. His interest in educational theory also continued during these years, fostered by his work at the Teachers College at Columbia, leading to the publication of How We Think in 1910 and, his most important work in he field, Democracy and Education in 1916.Along with fellow Columbia professors Charles Beard (1 874 1948), Thorniest Feeble (1 857 1 929) Ndjamena Harvey Robinson (1863 1936), he founded the New School for Social Research in 1 919 as a modern, progressive, free school. Dewey retired from active teaching in 1930, occasionally teaching as professor emeritus until 1939. However, his activities as public figure and productive philosopher continued unabated, including frequent contributions to popular magazines such as The New Republic and Nation, and participation in overall prestigious lecture series.He was involved in a variety political causes, including womens suffrage, the unionization of teachers and the founding Of the National Association for the Advancement Of Colored people, and he was involved in the Commission of Inquiry into the Charges Against Leon Trotsky at the Moscow Trial. In 1946, almost decades after his first wife died, he married Roberta Loti Grant, and the couple adopted two Belgian orphans. Dewey continued to work vigorously throughout his retirement, including works on Logic, Aesthetics, Epistemological Politics.He died of pneumonia in his New York home on 1 June 1952, aged 92. Work Back to Top Dews output was prodigious: 40 books and approximately 700 articles in over 140 journals. Many of his most renowned works were published after he was sixty years old. Some of his best known publications include Democracy and Education(191 6), Human Nature and Conduct (1 922), Experience and Nature (1925) and The Quest for Certainty (1929). Dewey is considered one of the three central figures in American Pragmatism, along with CharlesSanders Price (who connected term) and William James (who popularized it). However, Dewey did not identify himself as a Pragmatist per SE, but instead referred to his philosophy as Instrumentalist, a similar but separate concept. Simply put, the doctrine of Pragmatism holds that the meaning of any concept can be equated with its conceivable operational or practical consequences, and that practical consent ounces or real effects are vital components of both meaning and truth. Even more simply, something is true only insofar as it works.Instrumentalist, on the other hand, is the ethological view that concepts and theories are merely useful instruments, and their worth is measured not by whether the concepts and theories are true or false (Instrumentalist denies that theories are truth- valuable) or whether they correctly depict reality, but by how effective they are in explaining and predetermination. An important aspect of Dews philosophy is that it starts from the point of view of Fallibility, that absolute certainty about knowledge is impossible, and all claims to knowledge could, at least in principle, be mistaken.Another important aspect is his belief that humanity should be considered not just as a spectator in the world, but as an agent. Dews overall ethical stance can be described as neologism: the belief that this life is neither perfectly good nor bad, and it can be improved only through human effort. He believed that philosophys motive for existing is to make life better, and this should be approached from a practical bottom-up starting point, rather than the theoretical top-down approach of most traditional philosophy.Consistent with his view that human thought should be understood as practical problem-solving, which proceeds by testing rival hypotheses counterinsurgencies, he advocated an educational system with continued experimentation and vocational training to equip students to solve practical problems. He also emphasized learning-by-doing and the incorporation of the students past experiences into the classroom. In his Democracy and Education of 191 6, he describes in detail how an ability to respond creatively to continual changes in the natural order vitally provides for individual and community life.

Are New Media Rewiring Us Essay Example

Are New Media Rewiring Us Essay Authors Like Gunter Krebs a great writer focuses on the literacy side of the new media age that Is developing slower. As teaching a child to read Is as simple as Glenn them a Pad that has an application for children or even an adult learning about the medical field that is on the phone or Pad also with diagrams plus definition of all kinds. Without learning the fundamentals usually in anything the work will not be detailed or without errors. It is no longer possible to think about literacy in isolation from vast array of social technological or economic factors Is the truth as Mr.. Krebs expresses meaning of how being literate Is the key to everyone having a foundation. Andrew Lam is keyed on the social networks that arent usually going to benefit future satisfaction maybe momentary decision. Happiness and great friendships that last throughout college or high school but no true friend only talks online on websites like Twitter or Faceable. There are many lessons learned through talking in person and many people for that reason like Mr.. Lam understands a real conversation is one that Isnt tweeted through a computer or phone on a repetitive basis. More along the nines of dialogue from self rather than on the Internet the place were once its said there is no taking it back. ?cuff the communication of technology was created to enhance our daily lives something has dramatically changed. ?D Sherry Turtle addresses the contradiction inherent in a technology that keeps us always connected but argues very alone about how technology takes over people minds. The person cannot go without a device that Is meaning less when it comes to great Interpersonal skills or hands on work that Is needed to be done for the future things a phone or pad will not offer. We will write a custom essay sample on Are New Media Rewiring Us specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Are New Media Rewiring Us specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Are New Media Rewiring Us specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer People love their new technologies and connect easily they have made parents and children feel more secure and revolutionized business. The growth in a business can develop and prosper depending if it would be set out to be done from the start. Diagnosing the Digital Revolution by Alison Goops letting the reader understand how media devices are such an attachment. Things can get worse the more time that Is spent observing It or handling It. Physiologist suggested a person literally could not disengage from the grip. There was an automatic incapability to the device which occurs unfortunately with many and a definite reason why many should realize how New Media is Rewiring this Generation and will not get better. Just like the newspaper used to get read by families and everyone in the household would know what Is going on, now its all appeared on the Internet or a cellular device. Man authors have a certain style of writing and many have an understanding of want Is Sal a tonguing tenure topic Decease It Is statues Ana enumerators Trot ten audience if it is from a children audiences or an adult. Gunter Krebs has a great respective of what it takes to be alliterated have the basic knowledge of whats important. Andrew Lam is a focused Journalistic type of writer and understands if a topic is important there will be examples to follow along. Sherry Turtle scientific type author that relates to statistics but doesnt use basic knowledge used in some of her suggestions that are given in the writing. Alison Coping is a problem solver type of writer mainly for this article giving reason why there shouldnt be a technological addictiveness that closer than family or something that is actually has value.

Fathers Day Messages of Love

Fathers Day Messages of Love Have you read about Team Hoyt? Dick Hoyt and Rick Hoyt, the father-son duo who surmounted all odds to prove that anything is possible if you believe. Rick Hoyt, a quadriplegic with cerebral palsy and his dad Dick Hoyt are an inseparable team that competes in triathlons, marathons, and other races. Together, they have competed in over a thousand athletic activities. Their story speaks of inspiration, endurance, and love. A father who will stop at nothing to give his son a fulfilling life. A son who worships his father and enthusiastically participates in his fathers mission. The Hoyt team is truly a remarkable icon of father-son love. In everyday life, we come across many such devoted fathers. Your dad may not perform extraordinary feats to prove his fatherly love. But his simple gestures will convince you how much he loves you. He may not express his love with words or gifts. But actions speak louder than words. Notice how protective he gets about you? Watch the worry lines crease his forehead when he is unable to fulfill your desires? That speaks of love. Fathers Day Messages Help Bridge the Gap Many dads experience a strange awkwardness at expressing their feelings towards their kids. It gets tougher as kids grow up. When children attain teenage, the father-child relationship can get strained. Have you ever been given the cold shoulder, or the silent treatment, by your teenage daughter? The problem may not be you, it could be the teenage phase. Teenage can be difficult for fathers and children. Fathers need to handle this difficult phase with sensitivity. As a father, you need to express your love and support to your child. Sometimes, words may be difficult. However, these Fathers Day quotes and sayings can help express your feelings. You can reach out to your son or daughter with thoughtful, sweet quotes. Shower Your Father With Love Your father, however tough he may be from the outside, is a softhearted man. He needs your love just as much as you need his. On Fathers Day, break the barrier of awkwardness and express yourself. With a meaningful Fathers Day message, you can reach out to him. Barack Obama Above all, children need our unconditional love, whether they succeed or make mistakes; when life is easy and when life is tough. Dick Hoyt When we got home from that race that night, Rick wrote on the computer, Dad, when I run it feels like my disability disappears. So, that was a very powerful message to me. Reed Markham Being a great father is like shaving. No matter how good you shaved today, you have to do it again tomorrow. Mark Wahlberg I stopped smoking weed for my kids. One day, we were driving and you could smell it from somewhere. My daughter asked what the smell was so I told her it was a skunk. Then she said, ‘Sometimes Daddy smells like that!’ to me and my wife. So I knew I had to quit. Tiger Woods Giving my son, Charlie, a bath, for example, beats chipping another bucket of balls. Making mac and cheese for him and his sister, Sam, is better than dining in any restaurant. Sharing a laugh watching cartoons or reading a book beats channel-surfing alone. Some nights now, it’s just me and the kids, an experience that’s both trying and rewarding. Probably like the experience a lot of families have every evening around the world. Brandon Routh, Superman Returns You will make my strength your own. You will see my life through your eyes, as your life will be seen through mine. The son becomes the father and the father becomes the son. George Banks, Father of the Bride Ive always been a concerned parent. Im big on car seats, seat belts, bed times, curfews, calling when you get somewhere, never running with a sharp object. What can I say? Im a father. Worrying comes with the territory. Robert Downey Jr. Do I want to be a hero to my son? No. I would like to be a very real human being. Thats hard enough. Jay-Z I thought I would be more inspired to have all these new feelings to talk about, but I really just want to hang out with my daughter. Dave Barry For Dad, the perfect Fathers Day would be one in which he didnt even realize that it was Fathers Day, because nobody was making him appreciate gifts he didnt want, or read greeting cards filled with lame Fathers Day poetry. Lydia M. Child Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father! John Sinor It is admirable for a man to take his son fishing, but there is a special place in heaven for the father who takes his daughter shopping. Aeschylus Honour thy father and thy mother stands written among the three laws of most revered righteousness. Dan Zevin Lately all my friends are worried that theyre turning into their fathers. Im worried that Im not. Mike Sager The reward of child rearing is spending the rest of your life proudly knowing this person you helped guide. Let him be himself. Jean Paul Richter The words that a father speaks to his children in the privacy of home are not heard by the world, but, as in whispering-galleries, they are clearly heard at the end and by posterity. Louisa May Alcott Father asked us what was Gods noblest work. Anna said men, but I said babies. Men are often bad, but babies never are. Bruce Springsteen In the early years, I found a voice that was my voice and also partly my fathers voice. But isnt that what you always do? Why do kids at 5 years old go into the closet and put their daddys shoes on? Hey, my kids do it. Will Arnett I want my son to wear a helmet twenty four hours a day.

Commodum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6750 words

Commodum - Essay Example In 2008 Blair Connolly, Inc. was issued U.S. Patent Number 7,413,250 for the utility of a back support design. â€Å"Commodum† Latin for â€Å"comfort† is the first ergonomic office chair created that utilizes the patented back support design. The patent gives the company a competitive advantage over competitors because they have a novel design that cannot be imitated in the United States. The product will be strategically positioned as a high-end ergonomic office chair and promotional methods will highlight emotional benefits including: comfort, relaxation, vitality, status, and luxury. Commodum will be introduced using a skimming pricing strategy and consumers’ will most likely consider the product a high involvement purchase. Direct marketing will highlight important attributes such as service, quality and warrantee to help reduce cognitive dissonance often associated with high-involvement purchases. The ergonomic furniture giants in the U.S. primary consist o f two companies Herman Miller and Steelcase and have the two best ergonomic chairs on the market. The Herman Miller â€Å"Aeron† is considered the â€Å"gold standard† in ergonomic seating, which everything else is compared to it. The Steelcase â€Å"Leap† is more luxurious than the Aeron and has a slightly higher price. These companies have targeted the business office furniture segment and have been very successful. It would be more difficult for Commodum to penetrate the business office furniture market and would be impossible to compete in terms of price. Also, with the current economic environment businesses will be less likely to make major purchases on a new product that do not have a brand reputation established. However, home furnishings consumers are less aware of brand name and are a better market segment for Commodum to target. More specifically, Generation Xers and Baby-boomers are the best target market for the company because they spend more on ho me furnishings than any other generations. Baby-boomers and Xers are more likely to have discretionary income and home furniture purchases have been found to be discretionary in nature. Throughout history, there has been a correlation between furniture purchases and life stages, including: getting married, buying a house, children moving out and retiring. Baby Boomers and Generation Xers are experiencing life a stage associated with home furnishings consumption and makes them a powerful target market for Commodum. Additionally, recent socio-economic trends have created a growing home office furniture market and many Baby Boomers will be working longer than expected and will be using home offices more frequently. Technological advancements have led to a â€Å"hiving trend† and consumers are using their home as hub for communication. In conclusion, there is great opportunity for Commodum to succeed in the growing home office furniture Market, but will not be without barriers. H erman Miller and Steelcase may focus more promotional efforts on the home furniture consumer and may be hard to compete with. However, the novelty of the patented design makes the product unique and is the key component to strategy. With strategic positioning and promotion efforts San Diego should be a good market to launch Commodum. Historically, the housing market has been a market driver for home furnishing consumption and if the company can time the launch of Commodum with the housing market recovery it could lead to a lucrative business opportunity. 2. Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦1 2. Table of Contents†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦3 3. Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 3.1 Background of the Problem†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦

Crosspost Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Crosspost - Essay Example Importantly, Killeen and King (2007) observe that nurses should consider how to mitigate factors that could strain the mutual communication between the nurse and the client in an effort to achieve the intended goals. Such factors include age, sex, education and the sensory system of the client among others. King’s theory compares to Dr. Patricia Benner’s novice to expert theory. King postulates humans as open systems constantly interacting with the environment, a concept which Benner uses to argue that expert nurses would develop their patient care skills and understanding over time through interaction of education and experience (Treas & Wilkinson, 2014). Both theories appreciate continuous learning among nurses so as to attain the nursing objectives. However, while King argues that effective nurse-patient interaction would propagate the attainment of the desired nursing goals, Benner observes that education and experience would enable a nurse meet the intended objectives in the profession. Furthermore, it would be appreciated that while King’s goal attainment theory focused on human healthcare as the goal of nursing, Benner’s novice to expert theory focuses on becoming an expert. Killeen, M. B. & King, I. M. (2007). Viewpoint: Use of King’s conceptual system, nursing informatics, and nursing classification systems for global communication. International Journal of Nursing Knowledge, 18 (2), 51 – 57. doi:

Week 5 Discussion - INTL5645 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Week 5 Discussion - INTL5645 - Assignment Example When leaving, he further instructs the lady to use a single chalk a day since the school has no adequate facilities. The lack of the basic learning facilities further compromises the quality of education that the students I the villages setups receive. Furthermore, the film does not depict any form of government intervention to salvage the sorry state of village education. The film further develops a theme on child labor. This aggravates the already bad state of education in the country. In a bid to cater for their personal effects, the destitute children take up menial jobs in the village. Lianjiang (8), asserts that â€Å"28 PERCENT OF CHILDREN LIVING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE ARE LEFT BEHIND BY THEIR PARENTS WHO SEEK EMPLOYMNET IN THE URBAN CITIES† . Wei the small inexperienced teacher comes to discover that Zhang has quit school to look for work in the city. Zhang is a child and not within the employable age, however, due to lack effective monitoring structures he finds menial jobs in the city and soon forgets about school. This casts a dark shadow on the future of the country’s economy besides securing an ever obscure future for the rural dwellers. China has one of the largest human populations in the world. Every year during winter, many Chinese usually go back home. This usually results in a logistic problems as the railway transport system gets overwhelmed. In this case, the analysis focuses on the movie The Last Train Home. In a broader perspective, the review seeks to bring to light the predicaments that Chinese immigrant workers face. Most of these Chinese workers are separated from their families. In this case, the focus is on the family illuminated on in the documentary. At the start, it is evident that the family is separated from one of their own who is called Qin. This is evident from the fact that the mother talks to her through the phone. They discuss issues regarding her report. Besides, when the

Balance Score Card As A Performance

Balance Score Card As A Performance Leading organizations has been successfully using performance measurement to gain insight into the organization and the effectiveness and efficiency of its programs, processes, and people. However, they do not stop at collecting and analysis of data rather, these organizations use performance measurement to force improvements and successfully transform strategy into action. Therefore, they use performance measurement for managing their organizations. The balanced scorecard (BSC) is the most widely applied performance management system today. The BSC was originally developed as a performance measurement system in 1992 by Dr.Robert Kaplan and Dr. David Norton at the Harvard Business School. Unlike earlier performance measurement systems, the BSC measures performance across a number of different perspectives-a financial, a customer, an internal business process, and an innovation and learning perspective. BSC was introduced at a time when businesses were evaluating performance only through a financial scope and the different perspectives added a new dimension to the performance management concept. However over the years a number of alternatives have been introduced to replace BSC such as Applied Information Economics (AIE), Performance Prism, Results based management Model etc. This is mainly due to the changes in the environment which is beyond the four quadrants of BSC and basic implementation issues experienced in BSC. The Balanced Score Card has to go through a transformation in order to survive and revive itself as powerful performance management tool. Balance Score Card Introduction The field of performance management in todays day and age is vital to any organization. This importance can be defined through John E Jones quote What gets measured gets done, what gets measured and fed back gets done well, what gets rewarded gets repeated. John E. Jones. Performance Management can be of two main aspects. In one view, the performance of the company as a whole and further the effectiveness of the management of their capabilities of running the business successfully are looked at while in another view performance management system of evaluating employees to help them reach their respective goals and thereby ensure that the company meets the companys overall objectives. When the word â€Å"measurement† comes to our mind, it has always been through a financial scope. There by performance of an entity was always measured through measures such as Return on Investment (ROI), Earnings Per Share (EPS),Gearing Ratio, Net Profit After Tax (NPAT), and Sales Turnover etc. However when the environment became gradually more competitive and complex there were more stakeholders involved in a business. The customers were one of the main stakeholders interested in the activities in the organization. Their demand evolved and along with that how they perceive performance also too dramatic change. They were no more content with only financial evaluation of the organization; measures such as market share, customer satisfaction, productivity, and innovation etc were more appealing. It was during this transition, the balance score card was introduced by Dr. Robert Kaplan (Harvard Business School) and David Norton as a performance measurement framework that added strategic non-financial performance measures to traditional financial metrics to give a more balanced view of organizational performance. The balanced scorecard is a strategic management tool used for translating an organizations strategic objectives into a set of performance indicators distributed among four quadrants. Some of these indicators are maintained to measure an organizations advancement towards its vision and other indicators are maintained to measure the long term drivers of success. Through the balanced scorecard, an organization monitors both its current performance and its efforts to improve processes, motivate and educate employees. Balance Score Card History The balance score card has been known to be created by Kaplan and Norton however there is a historical twist to this as for my findings on www.wikipedia.com. The first balance scorecard was created by an independent consultant called Art Schneiderman in 1987.He participated in a research study in 1990 led by by Dr. Robert S. Kaplan and was able to describe his work on balanced score card. Subsequently, Kaplan and David P. Norton included anonymous details of this use of balanced scorecard in their 1992 article on Balanced Scorecard. Kaplan and Nortons article wasnt the only paper on the topic published in early 1992 but the 1992 Kaplan and Norton paper was a popular success, and was quickly followed by a second in 1993.The balances score card was widely spoken of only through their articles and journals. Kaplan and Norton researched on BSC through a project involving 12 companies. Thereby BSC became Kaplan Norton Balance Score Card and they were identified as the creators. Balanced Scorecard has been awarded a prize by the American Accounting Association as the â€Å"best theoretical contribution in 1997†. Balance Sore Card Perspectives As explained earlier BSC is a tool which monitors organizational strategies by using a combination of financial and non financial measures. It is designed to interpret strategy in to objectives and measure it across four balanced perspectives, namely Financial, Customer, Internal Business Process and Learning and Growth. The BSC directs to develop metrics, collect data and analyze as for these for quadrants in order to have an overall perspective. The pictorial view of the perspectives is as follows: The Financial Perspective This perspective reviews if the strategies of the company contribute towards the bottom line of the company. The virtue of Balance Score Card (BSC) is that it represents both leading and lagging performance measures. Traditional lagging indicators include financial measures, such as revenue growth and profitability. As it implies financial data is mostly historical data and organizations are measured based on its past performance. This perspective clearly describes how the organization looks to the shareholders. Few of the measures that can be used are : Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) Return on Investment (ROI) Market Share Revenue Growth Profitability Economic Value Added ( EVA) The Customer Perspective This aspect reviews how customers perceive the organization. And today, the buzz word in the corporate world is customer service. The importance given to this concept is immense due to the competitiveness and the buyer bargaining power. Therefore customer focus, customer satisfaction, on time delivery etc are leading indicators. Poor Performance from this perspective is a leading indicator of downfall in future business even if the financial indicators are healthy. In developing metrics for satisfaction, customers should be analyzed in terms of kinds of customers and the kinds of processes for which we are providing a product or service to those customer groups. Metrics for the customer perspective could include: No.of Complaints On Time Deliveries Repeat Purchases Customer Acquisition Customer Retention The Internal Business Process Perspective This assesses the quality of people and processes. This perspective refers to internal business processes which the company should improve in order to achieve its objectives and give customers both satisfaction and productivity. Traditional methods only looked at improving existing systems however the balanced scorecard has the ability to identify entirely new processes that the business should succeed, in order to achieve customer satisfaction. The measures for this have to be developed very carefully as understanding the business process is crucial. The measures should focus on internal processes that will have the greatest impact on customer satisfaction and achieving business objectives. Potential measures for the internal perspective include: Amount of reworking Increase in productivity % of defects Increase in capacity utilization The Learning Growth Perspective This perspective concentrates on the areas an organization must improve, on continuous improvement, and creating value in the future. The focus is on the intangible assets of the organization. The future of any organization today lies on how innovative and evolving it is, thereby this perspective encourages this aspect. Further the perspective includes employee training and corporate cultural attitudes related to both individual and corporate self-improvement. The following metrics could be used to measure success in relation to the innovation and learning perspective: No of New Products introduced No of Trainings done per period Research Development as a % of Sales Employee suggestion which were implemented Critical Evaluation of the Balance Score Card An organization without a performance management system is like a ship in the deep blue sea without a compass, not knowing if the direction it sails is correct nor knowing how to improve its direction. Therefore the purpose of measuring performance is not only to know how the entity is performing but also to enable it to perform better. The Balanced Scorecard concept measures whether the companies are aligned with its larger-scale objectives in terms of vision and strategy. It focuses not only on financial outcomes but also on the human aspect as explained earlier under the introduction and the perspectives area. Thereby the BSC provides an overall view of the organization and the business. This is contrasting to the traditional method of being only financial oriented only. The measurements used in the separate perspectives are explained in the earlier section. The balanced scorecard is not only a measurement system but is a management system as well. It enables organizations to clarify their vision and strategy to its employees and translate them in to operational goals or action plans. The evolution of BSC from its simple performance measurement framework to a strategic planning and management system is gradual. Further the BSC is also useful to communicate the expectations expected from the employees. This can be done through clearly defining the measures or KPIs to be achieved by individual or department. To elaborate this in order to achieve overall objectives of the organization of Sales growth by 10%, Employee A,B C of Production Department can contribute by keeping the lead time of goods 98% as expected or better than customer expectation. Employee D E of Sales team can target to ensure customer complaints are attended to within 24hours which is an industry norm. As explained in this, the Sales growth of 10% is expected to come through attending to customer order on time (lead time) and customer service (handling complaints). Cascading the organizational objectives to the lowest level employee will pave the way for success. As explained the balance scorecard has evolved over the years to be identified as a â€Å"strategic linkage model† or a strategy map. The strategy map enables organizations to clarify their strategy and assist organizations with creating their BSC framework and measures. A generic corporate strategy map is provided below to illustrate the â€Å"Strategy Map† concept. The balance score card has the ability to identify the key areas which can make a huge impact in an organization. The critical success factors of each perspective can be identified through the well defined measurement criteria. As for the results of the KPIs the management has the ability to identify the superior and weaker link of the organization and take action to correct the situation. A business might be performing well with increased sales, however the production team might have a ratio of increased defect rates. This might not reflect in the top line as the production team ensures the sales are not slowed down by covering up with increased production. If the internal process is not reviewed properly the production defect rates will not highlighted. This is where the BSC becomes a critical tool to identify critical success factors. The balanced scorecard approach can be used and applied at both the individual and the organizational level. It provides a balanced approach to evaluate the employees performance in a comprehensive manner. Traditionally, measuring the employee performance refers to only the comparing of their action plans and behaviors with the standards set. However the BSC actually measures the results of their actions like profits, increasing market share. It considers the progress towards achieving the goals and objectives of the organization and the effectiveness of the process. Thereby, the balanced scorecard gives the full view of the employees and the organizational performance and it helps to align the employee performance plans with the organizational goals. The Balanced Scorecard provides a stage for feedback and in turn a process for learning as well. Feedback about products, new learnings discoveries can be included in to the scorecard. Based on the measures employees can be given feedback and also training in order to improve the processes. This helps to refine the processes on a continuous basis with the use of the feedback. Thereby once a balanced scorecard system is in place, it allows for ongoing monitoring of goals and objectives. BSC benefits to maximize co-operation between teams. Employee helps one another to achieve their respective overall KPIs. This helps to build the team culture in the organization. The BSC drives a performance drive in to the business with its set objectives and continuos feedback. And if the objectives are linked to rewards, employees are very well motivated to achieve the set targets. The BSCs ability to give a wide view of the business operations makes it a formidable tool in the business world. The four perspectives of the scorecard permit a balance between short term and long term objectives, between desired outcomes and the performance drivers of the outcome, between soft measures and hard measures. However having gone through the positives of the Balanced Score Card, this tool has its negatives as well. The Balanced score card in was introduced in the early 90s and now the business environment has seen many changes. Has the Balanced Score Card got all requirements to still qualify as good performance management tool in current context? , will be discussed in detail in the following section. The organization through different elements in BSC analyzes the organizations performance and these measures are vital in creating a good balanced scorecard. Once the balance score card is implemented, you can not presume the business environment to be the same. In current context the volatility of the business environment is so rapid therefore the nature of your business can change in time, which means the BSC too has to be modified accordingly. It is a time consuming affair to maintain a scorecard but if it is not done properly the organizations ability to evaluate its employees will become an issue. The business should be able to give a considerable time to upkeep or maintain the scorecard, if not; it might not be a good solution for the business. The balance scorecard attempts to involve employees from all levels in the organization by cascading the vision and strategies. Despite inherent attempts to empower employees, the balanced scorecard is still seen to be based around a centralized, prescriptive model. Even though BSC focuses on dynamism and constant feedback it would still react slow to bottom level suggestions based on the organizational culture and background. In their book in 2007, Kaplan Norton (2007) mentioned that implementing a BSC would take a minimum time line of 26 months. Another weakness in BSC or a question which remains unanswered is how well the BSC will function in a dynamic environment. Organizations today are going through a paradigm shift. Internet and Information Technology as a whole has made the world a global market. Thereby the businesses also have to adapt to different environments, new changes in order to survive. Is BSC a model which is fast enough for this adaptation? , is a query in most peoples mind. Currently any measurement tools have to be modified taking in to account the dynamic changes in the environment in order to make it a pervasive tool. As discussed in the previous areas the BSC is designed to measure performance through four major perspectives. However questions are raised now whether these perspectives are sufficient to measure a business performance. As indicated in the BSC History this model was introduced in the early 90s, however the organizations and the environments they perform in have moved much further and there are many other concepts which are significant for an organizations long term sustainability. As an example the Green concept was only a thought in the early 90s but today its a way of life for organizations. Even customers are concerned in how respectful their brands are to the environment. Corporate Social Responsibility is another indicator that organizations have stepped out of the traditional financial performance criteria, and they are actually weighed for the contribution they make to the society. It is used as a way of marketing too. These areas have a special place in the annual report an d it is the pride of any organization to report their contribution to the society and the environment. Further ethical practices play a main role in reporting and in anything an organization does. After the Enron issue ethics have been discussed in the corporate tables and it does matter in blue chip companies to be ethical towards its stakeholders and shareholders. However these elements have not been touched upon on the balance score card. Another observation on BSC is on the weight given on the four perspectives, the standard weight given may not be applicable to all organizations. It might vary from industry to industry and even internal divisions might have varied measures, thereby based on the importance of the perspective has to be reviewed before weighs are assigned. Based on the research by Kaplan Norton (2003) it has been found that using about 20 -25 measures is the usual recommended practice. Figure 3 drawn from an article written by Dr David Norton illustrates the weights assigned for each perspective, with greater emphasis on internal business process, as it is the primary source through which the strategy of the organization is implemented. The balance score card weights should not be a pre defined and should be a management decision based on industry norms etc. At IFS which is an organization keen on research and development and learning, the emphasis on the internal process and learning and growth perspectives will be high. However if we take a bank, Financial stability, Customer service and the Internal Processes are all vital and require high weight. Thereby it is crucial on understanding the concept properly on assigning weights as it is a crucial part of BSC. The stakeholders form the main category of any organization, because they are the group of people who will be affected from the decisions made by the organization. The customers perspectives have been included in to the Balanced score card however the other main categories which I felt lacking in BSC are the suppliers and the competitors. The suppliers are key to a companys source of raw materials and supplier management can bring monetary benefits to the organization. Organization should always keep a tab of its competitors and scores should be kept to follow up on direct competitors. As adding more perspectives will complicate the BSC, I have suggested a recommended way of handling this under recommendation section. Though the balanced score card could be reward the employees it is criticized when performance evaluation and incentives are related to it. It has been found that when rewards are linked to the scorecard directly, productivity drops considerably. This is mainly due to the fear by the employee that he/she maybe made responsible for factors which is beyond their control. Thereby they may tend to keep a margin or levy when agreeing upon targets in order to achieve the targets and get the incentives in a relaxed way. However this is not critic on the BSC concept, it is an issue with the implementation. Another criticism is that the Balanced Scorecard does not provide a bottom line score. The scores are not assigned based on any proven economic or financial theory. The bottom line score does not give a unified view with clear recommendations. It acts only as a simple list of metrics and how they are interpreted will vary from organization and industry. Therefore the implementation and the management commitment and intelligence in interpreting the measures play a main role in the success of BSC. Further to elaborate on this for BSC it is not usually sufficient to use generic measures used by other organizations. Each business should strive to identify the firm specific measures that are appropriate to implement their strategies and achieve the vision of the company. This relies upon the competency of the management. Further many companies use only lagging measures which shows results of a past event. For the balance score card to be successful the business should include leading measures as well, which will indicate the future of the business. Many managers get carried away with BSC by only including non financial measures however to reap the full benefit of BSC managers have to include future indicators (leading measures) as well. A research conducted by Claude Levy, a professor at the Free University of Amsterdam reported that the failure rate of BSC implementation is 70% and this is mainly due to the many number of metrics and employees not having an understanding of the metrics. Due to its long duration in implementation many organizations use a balanced scorecard system. However this cost a lot of money in training time and additional money for any consultants that are needed during the process. Therefore the initial cost in implementing the balanced scorecard is huge. Balance Score Card Recommended Improvements Based on the evaluation above I suggest the following to improve the current balanced score card. The main stakeholders such as competitors and suppliers should also be entered in to the BSC. As including another area will complicate the score card, I suggest these stakeholders are identified under internal business process however even 2-3 measures/KPI each has to be assigned for each stakeholder under this area. Many alternative tools have been designed based on the BSC framework and the â€Å"Performance Prism† is one such customized BSC framework which takes in to account five perspectives, which includes stakeholders as well. The BSC design should be broader in order to accommodate the environmental aspect, Society and Ethics. However complicating the BSC with many perspectives will not serve the purpose either. Therefore the balanced score card should have an industry specific format with assigned measures. This standard could be used for the firm and customized if required. The measures used should be between 25-30 maximum with the newly included areas as well. Too many measures mean most of the time nothing gets measured at all. The weights assigned to the perspectives should be decided based on the firm and the importance of the processes relevant to the business. I feel that it is hard to pre-define the weights in todays context and it should be a management decision, however in order to ensure order prevail they could get audit support on assigning weightage. On implementation of the BSC it is of utmost importance that the objective of the concept is clearly communicated. Further if the measures/KPIs are discusses with line managers and staff before entering it to the scorecard the employees will feel ownership towards the KPIs. And thus can avoid any issues later arising when rewards are linked to KPIs. Linking incentives to the achievement of these KPIs is a motivator, and I feel should be an integral part of BSC. The BSC will not be successful if it does not include leading measures as well as the lagging measures. At the end of the day it is all about improving your future. Thereby there should be a specification on BSC that out of the total measures even 40% should be leading measures and that there should be even one for each quadrant. The balanced scorecard or any other performance management tool is driven by a well defined strategy of the organization. It is the understanding of the linkages between the objectives and metrics that is the foundation of the BSC. Thereby if the business is not equipped with a good strategy and competent management team, I feel the BSC is not the performance management tool for them. The balance score card with its metrics should be an automated system. In present scenario, unnecessary issues can be resolved if a balanced scorecard software is installed. The organization should also give adequate time for training the staff. Conclusion The Balanced Score Card is the pioneer tool in focusing on a range of perspectives which included financial and non-financial factors. The tool is built to focus on past and future of the business with its lagging and leading measures. However in an ever evolving business environment, the BSC has failed to evolve with time. And the balance scorecard depends heavily upon how it is used or interpreted. Therefore the management commitment towards BSC is vital for its success. The biggest critic for BSC is that its disability to be maintained in a dynamic environment. The industry specific BSC designs will be more applicable and more flexible. And these formats can include the perspectives relevant to that industry. For example for the power generation industry the environmental perspective should be mandatory. Further if the Balance Score card software is used the time factor for implementation can be reduced. The weights assigned to each perspective should also be firm specific and the KPIs should be reviewed on a constant basis in order to ensure that they are real time KPIs. The balance score card is still a popular tool among many mainly due to its simple to understand concept. All organizations are trying to gain an advantage over the other at all times, therefore if one organization takes the first step towards another performance management tool, the Balance scorecard will see a slow death.

The Medical and Ethical Perspectives of Human Cloning Essay -- Argumen

The Medical and Ethical Perspectives of Human Cloning      Ã‚  Ã‚   In our modern day world, the technology of genetic engineering and human cloning for the use of asexual reproduction has reached a point to where we must ask ourselves if it is a good practice for medical purposes, or if it presents issues of ethical and moral concern.   Human cloning is a very cmplex process; it is very multilayered in the promises and threats that are suggested by scientists (Kolata 8).   In the basic definition, cloning is accomplished by removing the nucleus of a mature, unfertilized egg and replacing it with a specialized cell from an adult organism.   The nucleus taken contains most of the hereditary material from the original human source, and it develops from the human source it was taken from.   This process makes it possible for scientists, or geneticists, to reproduce unlimited amounts of duplicates, which are known as clones (Pence:   Flesh 18).   Human cloning has reached a point wher the ethical and moral values have not been co nsidered, and we have not fully learned and understood the negative consequences of such a new and overwhelming technology.   There are, however, individual benefits of using genetic engineering for medical purposes.   Such purposes include gene therapy and asexual reproduction.   The use of genetic engineering in our society is viewed differently in two very arguable ways.   Scientists, bioethicists, doctors, lawyers, professors, and authors join in the debate over human cloning and its medical benefits versus moral and ethnical concern.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Cloning and genetic engineering ahve been ideas that scientists have explored for a long time.   "Cloning first came to public attention roughly thirty years ago, following the s... ...raise tough questions. http://www.msnbc.com/news/229707.asp Mohler, Albert R. "The Brave New World of Cloning: A Christian Worldview Perspective."   Human Cloning: Religious Responses.   Ed. Ronald Cole-Turner. Louiseville, Ky.: Westminster John Know Press, c 1997. MSNBC Staff and Wire Reports.   Korea says human clone test succeeds: Scientists claim to cultivate human embryo in experiment.   http://www.msnbc.com/news/224234.asp Pence, Gregory E. Flesh of my Flesh: The Ethics of Cloning Humans.   Lanham, Md. Rowman and Littlefield, c 1998. Pence, Gregory E. Who's Afraid of Human Cloning? Lanham, Md. Rowman and Littlefield, c 1998. Roleff, Tamara L. ed. Biomedical Ethics: Opposing Viewpoints.   San Diego, CA Greenhaven Press, Inc. c 1998. Wekesser, Carol. ed. Genetic Engineering: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA Greenhaven Press, Inc. c 1996. The Medical and Ethical Perspectives of Human Cloning Essay -- Argumen The Medical and Ethical Perspectives of Human Cloning      Ã‚  Ã‚   In our modern day world, the technology of genetic engineering and human cloning for the use of asexual reproduction has reached a point to where we must ask ourselves if it is a good practice for medical purposes, or if it presents issues of ethical and moral concern.   Human cloning is a very cmplex process; it is very multilayered in the promises and threats that are suggested by scientists (Kolata 8).   In the basic definition, cloning is accomplished by removing the nucleus of a mature, unfertilized egg and replacing it with a specialized cell from an adult organism.   The nucleus taken contains most of the hereditary material from the original human source, and it develops from the human source it was taken from.   This process makes it possible for scientists, or geneticists, to reproduce unlimited amounts of duplicates, which are known as clones (Pence:   Flesh 18).   Human cloning has reached a point wher the ethical and moral values have not been co nsidered, and we have not fully learned and understood the negative consequences of such a new and overwhelming technology.   There are, however, individual benefits of using genetic engineering for medical purposes.   Such purposes include gene therapy and asexual reproduction.   The use of genetic engineering in our society is viewed differently in two very arguable ways.   Scientists, bioethicists, doctors, lawyers, professors, and authors join in the debate over human cloning and its medical benefits versus moral and ethnical concern.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Cloning and genetic engineering ahve been ideas that scientists have explored for a long time.   "Cloning first came to public attention roughly thirty years ago, following the s... ...raise tough questions. http://www.msnbc.com/news/229707.asp Mohler, Albert R. "The Brave New World of Cloning: A Christian Worldview Perspective."   Human Cloning: Religious Responses.   Ed. Ronald Cole-Turner. Louiseville, Ky.: Westminster John Know Press, c 1997. MSNBC Staff and Wire Reports.   Korea says human clone test succeeds: Scientists claim to cultivate human embryo in experiment.   http://www.msnbc.com/news/224234.asp Pence, Gregory E. Flesh of my Flesh: The Ethics of Cloning Humans.   Lanham, Md. Rowman and Littlefield, c 1998. Pence, Gregory E. Who's Afraid of Human Cloning? Lanham, Md. Rowman and Littlefield, c 1998. Roleff, Tamara L. ed. Biomedical Ethics: Opposing Viewpoints.   San Diego, CA Greenhaven Press, Inc. c 1998. Wekesser, Carol. ed. Genetic Engineering: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA Greenhaven Press, Inc. c 1996.

How Does Poverty Affect People’s Health and Well-Being? Essay

The health and well-being of a person depends on lots of different circumstances. It is about finding a good work / life balance and feeling healthy in body as well as mind. It is about feeling good in what you do and who you are as a person, it is about achieving personal goals and accomplishing your hopes and dreams. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines Health as â€Å"a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity† A person has to be able to enjoy the things they do socially and physically, to be able to develop and sustain good relationships, whether personal or social, which makes them feel part of something and connected to others such as friends, family, colleagues and neighbours. They have to feel in control of their own lives and have a sense of belonging and meaning to their existence. This gives purpose for an enjoyable life and a good feeling about life in general. Ronald Labonte states that there are three sets of factors to health and well-being. They are Physical, Mental and Social. He shows how these are interconnected on his model of health and well-being. It shows the various outcomes from the different combinations and in what areas. Well-being can be achieved by doing things that we enjoy, developing good relationships with others, feeling good about our life and living conditions and having energy to enjoy it all. It is about having meaning and purpose to our lives. However, whole communities can be affected by good or bad health. This can be dependent on the environment and area they live in as well as their current situation and what they do. Living in an area which has a high level of deprivation can have a big impact on a persons well being and eventually it can take its toll on their health. Living in a neglected neighbourhood can change a persons characteristics as well as their behaviour. Low income, poor housing and no support can all contribute to poor health. A person’s income and education level can have an impact on their health and well-being. If a person is on low income then they may not be able to afford to live anywhere else. They may not be able to afford to keep their children in school. Relationships with your family and friends can also affect the way you feel and can have an impact on your well-being and mental health and this could be positive or negative depending on the relationship. If for example you live in an area where you have no support from family or friends you may feel isolated and alone and if the neighbourhood is not a safe one you may be afraid to go out therefore never getting to meet new people or get the relevant help you need. People who live in poverty are usually claiming state benefits to survive. Poverty is defined in two ways, Absolute and Relative. Absolute poverty has been defined as â€Å"a minimum subsistence level based on essentials for survival† These are the basic human needs, food, water, clothes, sanitation, health, shelter, education and information. Relative poverty describes your current standard of living. It is â€Å"having an income which is less then 60% of the national average Relative poverty is measured on the fluctuations in the â€Å"average† income rather then a fixed rate making it difficult to measure. Living on a low income especially with a family to raise is hard work and very stressful. This can cause tension and arguments in the family which could eventually lead to the breakdown of the family unit and create even further issues. Trying to provide for children in regards to material things such as mobile phones, televisions, iPods, laptop etc can be emotionally and physically draining. It can be difficult trying to keep up with the moving trends while still trying to put food on the table and keep your children happy. Children living in poverty may be at a higher risk of being bullied at school for not having the right shoes and latest fashions. This could cause major mental and emotional issues for the child which they could end up carrying into adulthood. They may stop performing well at school and eventually leave without any qualifications which could lead to difficulties in gaining employment. This will then re-enforce their low self esteem and self worth and perhaps they will fall into a life of crime or become addicted to drugs and alcohol. Also due to lack of education and resources they could become promiscuous and young girls may end up pregnant. They perhaps will not stay together with the father of the child and the girl will end up a lone parent claiming benefits. Poor diet can have a big impact on a person health. People may not be able to afford to purchase food that is good for them, like fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. They may have to buy cheaper alternatives which will not have the same nutritional value as fresh produce and they end up with a higher risk of suffering health issues and dying young. Due to a poor diet some pregnant woman can end up having babies that are under weight. These children may then suffer long term health issues leading all the way into adult hood reducing the amount of time that they will actually live. They are at a higher risk of developing physical conditions such as hearing and sight defects. Mental health is a main cause for concern in low income areas and money worries can lead to anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, insomnia and perhaps even suicide. Having little or no money limits the activities you can do and prevents people from taking part in leisurely pursuits like taking holidays or being able to visit family and friends in a different location. This can eventually take its toll on your mood and outlook on life. Living in poverty can also lead to social exclusion. If people are socially excluded they lack opportunities and resources. The government states that: â€Å"social exclusion happens when people or places suffer from a series of problems such as unemployment, discrimination, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime, ill health and family breakdown† People can sometimes feel trapped in their own neighbourhoods even more so if that neighbourhood has a bad reputation and you’re trying to find employment. Having to say where you live could potentially reduce your chances of securing a job. Employers may not want to hire someone from a bad neighbourhood. Living in an area with poor housing conditions or lack of facilities can have an impact on a person’s state of mind. Social problems may be an issue, perhaps there is a high level of crime in the area, underage drinking could be rife, children may have no where safe to play and parents from other neighbourhoods may not want their children mixing with children from a neighbourhood with a bad reputation. There may not be any local facilities near by like shops, medical centre, leisure areas etc From reading chapter 7 there are many examples of how poverty affects people and mainly I feel that it is the women in the community that feel the effect more. Always having to budget before going shopping, knowing precisely what they need so that they have enough money when it comes to paying for it. Not being able to do any leisure pursuits or do fun things like taking a trip to the cinema can have a negative impact on the family as a whole therefore perhaps relationships within the family break down. Many women go without so that there will be more for their children and husband. No wonder these women end up depressed about there current situation, It must be hard work always worrying about money and whether their will be enough to feed the family. It seems like a relentless situation. It must cause social and mental anxiety for a person therefore creating negative affects. These negative feelings and emotions can lead to illnesses such as fatigue, stress, high blood pressure, weight gain or loss, headaches, insomnia, loss of appetite etc. You may also feel embarrassed, disrespected and resentful. You may also feel worthlessness at times about the whole situation. Living in poverty can have a demoralising effect on your health and well-being. Not eating proper healthy food, not getting the right treatment for health issues, drinking and smoking to excess, these are just some things that will have a negative effect on your life and will reduce it considerably. If you can remove some barriers and try to make good of things and turn all the negatives into positives, then you can slowly start to change the outlook on your life and over time improve your health and well-being. Community programme’s like Thornhill Plus You programme can have a really positive effect on the neighbourhood and the people who live in it. Living in a good positive health neighbourhood will have an impact on the people who live there. In the Ronald Labonte model of health and well-being, living conditions and control over our lives are contributing factors to our well-being.

Charles Darwin and the Development and impact of t Essays

Charles Darwin and the Development and impact of t Essays Charles Darwin and the Development and impact of the Theory of Evolution by Natural and Sexual Selection Introduction It is commonly thought today that the theory of evolution originated from Darwin in the nineteenth century. However, the idea that species mutate over time has been around for a long time in one form or another. Therefore, by Darwins time the idea that species change from one type into another was by no means new, but was rejected by most because the proponents of evolution could not come up with a satisfactory mechanism that would explain this change. The most influential evolutionary theories prior to Darwin were those of Lamarck and Geoffroy St. Hilaire, developed between 1794 and 1830. Lamarck suggested that species evolve through the use or disuse of particular organs. In the classic example a giraffe that stretches its neck slightly to reach higher leaves will gain in neck length, and this small gain would be passed on to its offspring. Geoffroy, on the other hand suggested that the change was discontinuous, large in magnitude, and occurred at the production of offspring. However, these theories of evolution were based on a priori explanations that offered no demonstrated mechanism. Darwins theory of evolution differs in that it is based on three easily verified observations. First, individuals within a species vary from one another in morphology, physiology, and behavior. Second, variation is in some part heritable so that variant forms have offspring that resemble them. Third, different variants leave different number of offspring. Darwin than proceeded to elaborate on the mechanism of evolution by suggesting that in the universal struggle for life, nature selects those individuals who are best suited (fittest) for the struggle, and these individuals in turn reproduce more than those who are less fit, thus changing the composition of the population. In addition to natural selection, Darwin also suggested that species also evolve through the complementary process of sexual selection. According to Darwin, in sexual selection, one gender of a species develops a preference for individuals of the other gender who possess certain features. The individuals who possess these features will than have a reproductive advantage over others, resulting in a greater number of offspring, and thus, again, a change in the composition of the population. Therefore, it was Darwin who made the theory of evolution feasible by providing the mechanisms of natural and sexual selection. Darwins Formative Years Charles Darwin was born in England in 1809 and belonged to a wealthy and respectable family. His grandfather, Erasamus Darwin, was a noted botanical expert in his day who published two important books, Zoonomia, and the Botanic Garden. In these books, Erasamus speculated about various evolutionary ideas that were dismissed as too radical (i.e., the nose of the swine has become hard for the purpose of turning up the soil in search of insects and roots). Darwin who in his youth read his grandfathers books with admiration, later commented that his grandfather anticipated the views and erroneous grounds of opinion of Lamarck. Nevertheless, Erasamus may have unconsciously influenced Darwin in preparing the way for evolution by natural selection. In 1818, at the age of 9, Darwin entered the Shrewsbury school, which was ran by Dr. Butler. Darwin later recalled that nothing could have been worse for the development of my mind than Dr. Butlers school, as it was strictly classical, nothing else being taught , except a little ancient geography and history. The school as a means of education to me was simply a blank. He was removed from the school in 1825, and was sent to Edinburgh to study medicine. There he studied for two years before deciding that he didnt like medicine. But before he left Edinburgh, he was introduced for the first time to the theories of Lamarck. According to Darwin at the time he was not very impressed with Lamarcks ideas. In 1828, at his fathers suggestion, Darwin entered Christs College in Cambridge to become a clergyman. To Darwin a good education meant instruction in the methods and logic of thought. Therefore, Just about the only thing he enjoyed studying there was Paleys works on theology, because of their logic. For the rest, however, he judged Cambridge

Convert Your Gasoline-Burning Car to Run on Propane

Convert Your Gasoline-Burning Car to Run on Propane With the price of fuel, propane car conversions (also called LPG conversions) are attracting more attention. Propane is certainly one viable alternative fuel option: it has been used as a commercial motor fuel for more than 80 years and millions of miles. Its also less expensive to use than gasoline, even though the cost per liter is higher. Why It Can Be Tough to Convert to Propane The Environmental Protection Agency requires all vehicles to meet the same emission standards. While propane burns cleaner than gasoline, increased regulations from the EPA, means that there are very few propane conversion kits for U.S. street passenger vehicles available today. It has actually been a much more popular choice in Europe and other countries due to less stringent regulations and higher petrol prices. Even though propane powered engines offer cleaner emissions along with 10 to 15 percent less carbon dioxide, 20 percent less carbon monoxide and 50 to 60 percent fewer hydrocarbons and nitric oxide, tighter emissions regulations have changed the way conversion companies can do business. While generic propane conversions used to be common fare for a trained mechanic (generally not for the DIY-er, though), most four-stroke engines (carbureted and fuel-injected) can still be converted to operate on propane when a certified technician installs the correct kit. And propane’s minimal sooting, owing to its low carbon content, means increased engine life, fewer oil changes, and longer spark plug life. Why Conversion May Still Be a Good Idea Although it may take some legwork on your part, it can be worth converting to propane if you have a propane filling station in your area that makes fueling up easily accessible and less expensive. Unfortunately, there are relatively few U.S. propane conversion companies with an online presence that sell street-ready passenger car kits or do conversions (some have websites, many don’t). Prices for a full conversion by a qualified technician can range from $3,000 to $4,000. Hopefully, you’ll be close to one of the shops that are on RASO Enterprises’ extensive shop list (below), and they can help you go from there. Where to Find Conversion Kits Because of the scarcity of conversion companies, its unlikely that youll find one in your backyard. That said, however, these two companies may be able to provide you with what you need at a reasonable cost. Got Propane?  Based in Tempe, AZ, the eye-catching off-roading photos on this company’s website showcase propane’s ability to operate at any angle with no loss of power or fuel spillage. *Note: These kits are only for off-road vehicles, and this company does not sell kits for late model cars and trucks (1987 and newer).RASO Enterprises  In addition to selling kits, this company provides a wealth of information to help you find a certified conversion shop in the United States or Canadian conversion center. Most of these shops specialize in heavy duty/commercial vehicles with minimal offerings for passenger cars. There are links to find kits for your personal car fleet vehicles, (options are limited) or off-road  and agricultural equipment. This site also refers to TECHNOCARB, the manufacturer of many different conversion kits.

A Critical Evaluation of the Quality of Employee Relations Essay

A Critical Evaluation of the Quality of Employee Relations - Essay Example Using this theory it is possible to provide an account of the many different parts and link them together using the functions each play in keeping the whole system running (Nicholls 2003, pg. 18-19). This report critically asses the quality of employee relations that exist at Coca Cola Company. It will look at the internal arrangement of the company and specifically its Human Resource Management structure and how the company uses levels of relations to improve its productivity and reputation (Budd, 2012). The report will also look at the ethic and culture of the company and the impact of employer-employee relationship in Human Resource Management in the company. Coca Cola was invented on May 8th 1886 in Atlanta USA by Dr John Stitch Pemberton. The formula was patented by Asa Candler when he bought the formula from the inventor. In 1893, it was registered as a trade mark and shortly thereafter could be found in practically all the states in America (Hyman, 1975, pg. 25). Due to Asa Ca ndler’s aggressive marketing techniques by the late 1890s it was one of the most popular drinks in America. At present Coca Cola is present in more than 200 countries and has over 500 brands and 300 beverages. It has an associate employment population of over 92,000 worldwide and net operating revenue of over $31.9 billion (December 31st 2008) Coca Cola is the most recognizable brand in the world today. The use of systems theory in analyzing employee relations has its shortcomings. The concept implies that the subject matter is capable of description while suggesting that the realm of employment is a definite system that exhibits common values that hold it together, hence giving it the appearance of a system (Hyman, 1989, pg 25). It is also argued that to define employee relations strictly in terms of rules and regulations is a very narrow and restrictive. Nevertheless systems theory gives an important framework for describing the context of employee relations. It has created terms that have been accepted in the subject of employee relations. This approach was adopted in United Kingdom by a number of scholars. Clegg (1979) took this concept, contextualized it in the British understanding and came out with a definition. He defines it as the study of rules governing employment and the way rules are formulated, changed and administered (Clegg 1979, pg.1). Therefore; employee relations are the methods of formulating rules and regulations which governs the work place. Employee relationship is the process of managing diversity and change which necessitates maintaining employer-employer relationships that contribute to adequate productivity and motivation. The systems theory avers that there are three main broad areas that constitute employee relations. These are (i) inputs, (ii) processes and (iii) outputs. The inputs have three elements in it. The first being the actors. The actors are represented by the trade unions, management, employee associations and th e public bodies mandated to regulate employment (Clegg 1979, pg. 1). The second factor is the context or environment, which is usually complex and dynamic. The workplace is not only affected by the policies and procedures in place there, the internal environment, but also by economic, political and social developments beyond it, the external environment. The last factor is ideology. Industrial relations create a common body of ideas and beliefs regarding the role of the players which in turn helps the system to operate. The outputs are the rules and regulations which are in two parts, substantive and procedural. Substantive part deals with matters like pay, overtime, holidays and the way in which a job should be accomplished.