Supply Chain Management and Outsourcing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Supply Chain Management and Outsourcing - Essay Example The aspect of globalization therefore, highly influences various companies, especially the international companies. Apart from globalization, the cost factor and competition in the market are other pressures, which shape the operations of various companies. These among other factors have forced most companies to develop new strategies, which might help them gain competitive value in the market, in order to compete favorably, despite all the pressures in the market (Wisma, 2008). Nonetheless, most of the strategies, which companies have adopted mainly include those that will help to differentiate the companies. These include research and development, demand and customer management, and regulatory compliance, among others (Sople, 2009). In addition, in order to compete healthily in the market, companies today have invested in their supply chain management and functions, such as manufacturing, distribution, and logistics. One of the most important strategy, which companies adopt today w ith regard to supply chain management is outsourcing in the business supply chain. This is instrumental in the business, since it helps enables for goods, information, and services in the company to be distributed in an effective manner, including all processes from raw materials, manufacture, all the way to customer delivery (Sople, 2009). This paper will therefore, focus on supply chain management and outsourcing in business supply chain as a function in the overall supply chain management, and why it is important for companies. Outsourcing in business supply chain is an aspect and a function of supply chain management in a company. However, supply chain cannot be regarded as a function of a company, since this is a network, which is made up of different companies. Therefore, supply chain management mainly involves how each company implements the different cross-functional relationships between its major customers and suppliers, within that network. Nonetheless, for supply chain m anagement to be effective in a company, the company must involve each of its function in supply chain management. It is important to note that supply chain management is still a new business model, which companies started to adopt because of various pressure factors in the market (The Times of India, 2011). Today, it is demanded that companies should uphold both social and environmental responsibility. In addition, companies must adequately respond to the ever dynamic needs and demands of its customers in the market in order to remain competitive. Companies too are faced with the pressure of ensuring sufficient access to resources in order to sustain their business operations. It is also crucial for a company to maintain its profitability and grow its revenue and market share. All these factors influence and determine the success of any company in the market. Nonetheless, for a company to be successful in all these factors, it must be able to manage the different relationships, whic h emerge because of these functions. Therefore, a company should integrate these various business networks and relationships in a manner that will be ensure positive outcomes for the company. This management of the relationships between these different networks in a company, is what is entails the process of supply chain management (Sople, 2009). Different companies today practice supply chain management. However, not all of them are successful in this process. Those companies, whose management does not recognize the importance of integrating business’ network of business relationships in a

Incident Analysis and Development Plan Essay Example for Free

Incident Analysis and Development Plan Essay In my previous assignments I have attempted to shed some light on the 3 capabilities which I have identified; which were namely the Leadership skills, Knowledge skills and the Interpersonal Management skills. Each of these 3 skills is crucial for a good manager and each holds its own significance in the building of a solid character. For the purpose of this research paper, I will be concentrating on the Leadership and Interpersonal Management skills upon which I have already talked about before. Harnessing these two characteristics would help growth on the individual level and gives an insight into a person’s overall character as viewed from some external source. Incident Analysis Leadership is a value arousing skill (Heifetz, 1994). Recalling any such moment where I have taken the mantle of leadership I would most definitely have to quote of my academic experiences. Groups and teams are a fact of life during one’s academic years and in said groups and teams there are often conflicts arising which without the presence of a team leader, lead to failed deadlines, substandard work quality and overall unpleasantness among team members (Maister, 2002). I can clearly recall the last time I was part of a group and it was in said group that I got a chance to play the role of the team leader. The decision of me being team leader arose due to my past experience in the topic and when the time came to choose the leader from amongst the team-mates I had the expertise in the subject. Even though I was not experienced much in any leadership position, I was able to do a sufficient job as the group leader and it made me appreciate the tough job that it is to lead people towards a single goal so as to make the achievement a shared vision (Purpose of Leadership, 1997). However, one thing I learned was that Leadership is never static as the role of a leader keeps changing in modern times and anybody who has a proficiency in some skill would take on the leader role when work related to his area of specialization arose. Without any leadership there would hardly be any sense of where the team was headed and it would be meaningless progressing further (Kelly, 2007). Interpersonal skills are also very important in recent times as people of every walk of life have to interact with others to get their jobs done. Previously it was the belief that some jobs required very little interaction with other individuals, such as finance related jobs and other desk jobs where the employees would have minimal socializing (Hayes, 2002). But now the field has changed with people interacting with others for the exchange of knowledge, and for socializing purposes. An incident regarding where I had to demonstrate my interpersonal skills arose when while arranging for a charity event for which friends needed help, I had to visit different markets and deal with numerous people over getting sponsors and getting arrangements done. Through the course of this excursion I had to interact with numerous people and demonstrate communication skills which involved interacting with people at all levels, such as common laborers and store owners. This feature of interacting with people at all levels is beneficial in the sense that it helps later to impress employers (Seneca, 2001). Through the course of interacting with people I was able to get some good contacts that would come in fruitful for future use while also overcoming my dread of speaking to strangers and becoming more comfortable talking to people (Hargie Dickson, 2003). Self Assessment Measuring one’s leadership skills, one must first recognize the types of leaders that exist. There is some argument as to whether there are 6 types or 7 types of leaders but personally I prefer to side with the 7 types argument. Based on 5 criteria leaders are placed into the types of the transformational leader, the enforcer, the deal maker, the administrator, the visionary, the serial entrepreneur and the spin doctor (Taffinder). The five factors upon which leaders are determined are: impose context, have conviction, generate critical mass, challenge and change and they make and take risks. With respect to the definitions provided, I would rank myself as an Enforcer. This is due to the fact that I am risk averse when groups are concerned and tend to stick to tested and tried guidelines. I am highly confident when taking actions and try to motivate team members in a manner that they have the feeling to achieve something (Brill Barth, 2008). Â  I avoid taking unnecessary risks since the responsibility of leading a team in my opinion does not permit one the opportunity to take risks. If the risk pays off that’s well and good, but if the risk does not, then the leader is responsible for the outcome of events. This responsibility I believe takes away the liberty that a leader should have and should make him more serious towards leading his followers to attaining the goal (Ball, 2003). Judging anyone’s interpersonal skills is not so easy as it involves feedback from external sources. When others tell one how well they are performing, then one can be any statement regarding the success or failure of it. I would say that I am sufficiently endowed with my interpersonal skills. I would come to the conclusion taking into account the success rate when dealing with others. I have often had to conduct affairs with other external groups and so far I would say that I have done a very good job in carrying out interpersonal dealings. Researchers suggested that self analyzing when related to interpersonal skills should be avoided by researchers since the judgement would always be biased and the answer would be uninfluenced in very rare case (Rubin, Palmgreen, Sypher, Beatty, 2004). This goes back to the point mentioned that since people are unaware as to most of what they do, determining the efficiency of their success in Interpersonal Communication is very hard to do. A concept known as Self Monitoring usually leads to greater success in determining a person’s interpersonal skills. Self Monitoring is a trait exhibited by famous good public speakers, as they were very receptive of their audiences and could adapt their presentation as per the response from the audience. Many politicians such as Bill Clinton for example have been reported to have strong Self Monitoring skills. Viewing myself through outside eyes I have surmised that in the short time that I have become more pro active in interacting with others, I would say that I am quite successful in interacting with people and can easily carry forward a conversation and can entertain and communicate with others effortlessly (Corbin, Corbin, Lindsey, 2007). Â  If compared to the extent required in the managerial world and professional world, I would have to say that the skills I possess are somewhere between acceptable and need slightly more improvement. Since leadership is a situational issue, with leadership sometimes being given and other times not, only time can tell how well one has performed. Some situations require more insight and expertise whereas others are relatively simple as all you have to do is inspire your team and it successfully finishes the task on its own (Drucker, 1995)I have usually encountered the former as I haven’t yet witnessed any intense leadership role where I’d have to make decisions which would lead to greater consequences. Interpersonal skills are essential for any business activity and comparing it to the market levels I would say that some improvement, or refinement, is needed. Even though I am not hopeless with my interpersonal skills, it is still a far away from being absolutely perfect. I believe I possess enough skills to at least get the basic jobs done. Development Plans To improve upon my interpersonal skills, I have decided to listen to the suggestions stated. Smiling more often when talking to others, being more appreciative of others comments, paying more attention to others, practicing active listening (applying stuff that I have learnt through listening to others), bringing people together, trying to resolve conflicts, communicating early, and in a humorous manner, trying to see other people’s perspectives and avoiding complaining are some measures that I plan to adopt in order to improve my interpersonal skills (All Business). Following these tips I plan to become more popular in crowds and become more receptive to others when interacting with them. These tips would help me in making a more favorable impression in front of others and become a popular and pleasurable person to talk to. And that in turn would make communicating with others more easier for me and more often. Currently what I’m lacking due to inexperience with interacting with others would be resolved if I strictly follow these mentioned tips. To develop my leadership style I must first note where I fall behind other successful leaders, and in this case, I have identified that I am highly risk averse and in return wind up hindering group from reaching its full potential. Taking more risks, but with the consent and full information being provided to the group so that they can give their feedback as well, I will try to move towards becoming a Transformational Leader who not only gets the job done, but inspires the followers to think of the goals as their goals as well and have a combined motivation towards the job as well. Conclusion Leadership and interpersonal skills are very important for today’s managers as it is the manager’s job to get the tasks done while keeping a strong healthy relationship between all levels of the employees (Koellner, 2002). Currently I am more than capable of handling the simple situations which may arise on a day to day basis, but to actually handle situations which may affect a larger scale, I need to work harder to build my skills so as to become a Transformational leader (Argyris, 1976), who is the best type of flexible leader, and to have good links which can only be forged if the interpersonal relations I have with others are good. Without strong interpersonal skills, no one can actually get the full whole hearted support from others. A person should seek external opinions to actually gauge where he is standing since these are inherent qualities and people are not qualified enough to correctly identify their skills. References All Business. (n.d.). Ten Ways to Improve Your Interpersonal Skills. Retrieved April 28, 2009, from All Business: http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/careers-career-development/11134-1.html Argyris, C. (1976). Increasing leadership effectiveness. R.E Krieger. Ball, J. (2003). Managing People. Retrieved April 28, 2009, from http://www.accountancy.com.pk/articles.asp?id=54 Brill, F. S., Barth, R. (. (2008). Leading and Learning. Stenhouse Publishers. Corbin, C., Corbin, C. B., Lindsey, R. (2007). Fitness for Life. Human Kinetics. Drucker, P. F. (1995). The Practice of Management. Harper Collins. Hargie, O., Dickson, D. (2003). Skilled interpersonal communication. Routledge. Hayes, J. (2002). Interpersonal skills at work. Routledge.

love in the time of cholera :: essays research papers fc

Black Death THE BLACK DEATH During the fourteenth century a horrible plague spread across Asia, Europe, and Great Britain. This plague is referred to as the black death. Many people are not quite sure why the disease was given the name. The most popular reason why it might be called the black death is because it left purplish, blackish blotches on the bodies of the sick. â€Å"But if the name of the epidemic had been derived primarily from the appearance of its victims, one would have expected it to have been used at the time. Of this there is no evidence.†(Zeiger 17). Step by step, I am going to take you on the journey the black death took, from where it started, what it did, and when it ended. Bacillus yersinia pestis is the bacteria that lived in the blood streams of medieval rats and their fleas. Some time in the late 1340’s the bacteria made its way from rats to warm blooded mammals like humans. Due to earthquakes and other environmental occurrences, medieval rats were forced to cross the paths of humans. They first got on board of ships at ports, then headed to cities where they spread the disease. It was not the rats that spread the disease, but it was their fleas that bit humans and infected them. There was three forms of the plague; bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemia. Each form had different symptoms. â€Å"The most common form, called bubonic, is characterized by the formation of egg-sized swellings at the site of the flea bite, usually located in the armpits, groin, or neck.†(Wark). Which ever form someone contracted they died a disgusting death within days. Their whole body would get covered with nasty blotches of blood under their skin, and any fluid excreted from their body contained an unbearable stench. Florence, Italy was a very hard hit area because it was located right on the Arno River where ships would dock to import and export goods. It was estimated that between 45,000 and 65,000 Florentines died from the plague. â€Å"New cemet eries had to be consecrated quickly to receive all the dead bodies.†(Carmichael 110). With so many people dieing, some tried to write their friends from other countries and warn them with what to look for. Others tried out running the it when it turns out all they were doing was spreading it. After conquering Florence, the plague moved towards England where it killed off fifty percent of the population in London.

Consumer Behaviour Double Jeopardy Essay

The theory of Double Jeopardy is described as a behavioural phenomenon which relates to the size structure of a market (Bandyopadhyay, Gupta & Dube 2005). This indicates that in any given time a smaller brand typically has fewer buyers compared to those of a larger brand as larger brands often have a higher percentage of penetration and market share (Ehrenberg, Goodhardt & Barwise 1990). A brand with more market share indicates that consumers purchase these brands more frequently compared to other brands. There are a number of reasons why this occurs. For example firms offering products that a consumer perceives as better quality and value, will grow larger (Jacobson 1988). Also, a firm that creates power advantages by introducing inferior products which competitors cannot offer to customer’s also results in a higher market share. Careful analyses of all team members’ individual purchases over the tracking period, it can be noted that a large number of different brands were consumed. By viewing the Duplication of Purchases Table for fast food, out of all the 11 types of brands, McDonalds and Max Brennars were the most frequently purchased brands resulting in a higher percentage of penetration and market share compared to other brands. This is because McDonalds and Max Brennars have multiple locations within Australia which provides better access to customers, both brands participate in extensive television and both brands provide regular promotions in order to make customers more alert and aware. These facts all enforce the theory of the double jeopardy; larger brands have more buyers and have a higher market share. To review the occurrence of the Double Jeopardy effect, Ehrenberg et al. (1990) states that there exists two market level explanations. The first market level consists of the differences in consumer exposure to the market mix efforts (price, promotion, advertising, point of purchase display, discount) of a brand. If a brand has less consumer exposure, it is more likely to suffer (Ehrenberg et al. 990) because they have fewer buyers and lower repeat purchase. Looking at the DOP tables for fast food, TGI Friday’s and Koko Black displayed as the least frequently purchased brands. A reason why these two fast food outlets were the least purchased brands is because of their location as many customers may not have close access to it. Another reason is because there is not much advertising and promotion when compared to fast food outlets such as McDonalds and Max B rennars. The second market level relies on stochastic models of buying behaviour (Ehrenberg et al. 1990) which helps predict the Double Jeopardy trends for competitive brands. This is solely based on the heterogeneity in popularity such as the market share as earlier research shows that the average customer of smaller brands buys less, have lower favourable attitude and manifest lower loyalty than the average customer of larger brands (Ehrenberg et al. 1990).

Nordstrom Case Study Essay

Answer 1: In the 1990s, Nordstrom had six co-presidents who were six cousins belonging to the family’s fourth generation. All six cousins took decisions jointly on major issues concerning the business. Thus, it was necessary that all six co-presidents agree on a decision or a plan for it to be acted upon. This was quite a difficult task as all of them often had differing opinions. Due to this many decisions were delayed or met with resistance by one or the other member. These six co-presidents were compared to a multi-headed hydra. Dismantling the hydra would prevent conflicts on future decisions and would also enable decisions to be taken quickly. It will also vest the ownership for the decisions onto one person. It will also enable a family member to be groomed for possibly leading the company one day. The possible disadvantages of dismantling the hydra is that the six co-presidents could have all contributed their knowledge and experience and have arrived at a better more informed decision. If equal power is vested in six people at the top, it enables them to share the workload.’ Answer 2: Creating departments around products will create independent profit and loss units for each product. The members of each department will have expertise on their products. They will know how to procure those products and effective sales and marketing techniques to sell those products better. This will narrow down their focus and they will concentrate only on the product that they are selling and will gain expertise on how to sell it best. The possible disadvantages of creating departments around products are that the employees will not have a complete picture of the entire business and where they stand. If in future, they are moved to another department, they will have to gain information about that product from scratch. Answer 3: The following changes prompted the move from mechanistic to organic organization. In the 1990s, the company met with stiff competition from its competitors. Its sales began to plateau. Its net income fell 2% and sales edged up only 1.9%. In the stores that had been open for a year, its sales dipped 1.1% after a 2.6% drop the prior year. Nordstrom’s shares fell from a 1999 high of 44 3/16 to under 20 in February. The customers and outsiders complained that top executives spent more time in seeking consensus of all co-presidents on issues and this was a reason for Nordstrom being slow in presenting new fashions for sales. Answer 4: In designing an organization to manage change, an additional structural change that Mr. Whitacre should consider is to start a competition among the departments. In this quarterly competition, the department that has the best sales and profits should be the winner and its members should be given some incentives. They should be asked to share the best practices with the other departments in order to help them manage change better. Employees should be rotated regularly from one department to another.

MEM Case Study Questions (Harvard Business School)

MEM Case Study Questions (Harvard Business School) INTRODUCTIONMEM Company, Inc., started up in 1883 by Mark Edward Mayer, produces an extensive range of colognes and toiletries. Sales had decreased over the year and MEM is now looking into several options to improve growth. After much extensive analysis, our team had decided to drop the option of launching Cambridge due to the stiff competition from Shulton's Blue Stratos which has a $12 million marketing budget with a fresh slogan, 'Unleash the Spirit', which we believe will differentiate Blue Stratos from the competition. Without the financial muscle and distinct product differentiation, Cambridge would languish in the shadow of Blue Stratos. Therefore, our team suggests that MEM should concentrate on repositioning itself in the market to retain and attract customers.PRODUCTBased on the data given, we found out that there are multiple products that are targeted at the same group of consumers. We found that this problem might have been caused by the process in choosing fragrance fr om the manufacturer.Mem à » Zà ®nIt is stated that most of the time, the research results turn out to be inconclusive. We feel that it is important to have a wider test market that does not belong to the employees of the company and that a clear guideline is given to them to ensure that they know what is the process about.Another suggestion we have is to remove Lime from the product line as it targets at the same consumers as Musk. Furthermore, Lime only makes up for a 2.3% of total sales and most of it is from the sale of the gift sets. By eliminating Lime, there will be more shelf space freed to display other products. The withdraw production of product Lime will provide more cash available for advertising budget. Production efficiency can also be improved. It is...

How to Pack for College Quickly and Not Forget Anything

How to Pack for College Quickly and Not Forget Anything It’s time to embark on a new adventure. You’ve already secured your room, counted down the days until move-in and figured out your class schedule. The only thing that’s left is packing up. Many students become a bit stressed looking at that long packing list and wondering how to pack for college. If you’ve already completed your back-to-school shopping you’re likely staring at a huge pile of sheets, curtains, pencils and more. Moving isn’t easy but with the right tips it doesn’t have to be a challenge either, and it doesn’t have to take days of your time to pack for college. Get Your Checklist Before you begin packing use a comprehensive packing list from online and amend it with your chosen items. There are plenty of blogs and lists on the internet telling you how to pack for college and these are great foundations, but shouldn’t be your end-all. Divide your list by: school supplies personal cleaning clothing decorative You also want to tailor this list to exactly what your college allows (some residence halls don’t like microwaves for example) and to what you need, so you’re not bringing a bunch of extra stuff with you. Keep Those Hangers One of the easiest ways to streamline your packing process is keep your clothes on their hangers. All that taking shirts off the hooks and rolling or folding them into boxes just doesn’t cut it. You’ll need to hang them up once you arrive anyway, so why not cut out a few steps. Make a list of the clothes that you’ll need and set them asidehangers included. To protect them, you can cover them with a large trash bag or garments bag so nothing spills on them or rips them during transports. And voila! You’ve got your clothes packed and ready. Protection and consolidation are keys when learning how to pack for college. Source: Instagram user manda_gee Bedding on Bedding It’s a given that you’ll have about two changes of bedding so you can swap out those sheets in between trips to the laundry room. If you’re thinking about keeping your bedding in those boxy packages from the store you probably don’t know how to pack for college. Jokes aside, here’s an awesome pro tip: use your pillowcase as a mode of transport. Take your fitted and flat sheet and any additional pillowcases and fold them inside of one pillowcase. This is especially easy if you’re bringing new sheets to college because they’re already super small from the factory packaging. This way, everything is right where you need it, the set is kept together and you can just grab and go. Pillows can be used as cushioning in the car or in certain boxes to protect more fragile items like a lamp. If there’s no need for extra padding in your current packing situation, then simply place them in a plastic bag and stuff them in those awkward spaces in the car. by Kelly Oribine Luggage is For Packing Sooo You’re most likely going to take a roll of luggage or two. Maybe a carry-on if you’ll be flying home or an entire suitcase. Use this to your advantage. Pack all of your school supplies in your backpack, that’s your notebooks, pens, mini stapler, sticky notes, etc. This way you can place your backpack on your shoulders and know that you have everything you need for school. When it comes to additional clothes or personal belongings, stuff them straight into your suitcase, that’s what it’s for after all. Using your suitcases as carriers is one of the first things you’ll be glad you learned about how to pack for college because it reduces the amount of boxes you have to find and keeps everything in once central place. Remember, it’s okay if some things are mixed up because you’ll be taking it all out once you arrive on campus. Things You Find in the Kitchen Saran wrap and sling wrap isn’t just for your kitchen. For those small items that are already neatly packed away in your home, wrap them up to keep everything in place! If you have a jewelry box or makeup case that’s already organized your precious things, wrapping them will keep it intact during the drive to your new university. DVDs already on your stand or in your favorite milkcrate? Books on a tiny shelf? No problem, simply wrap it together! Image credit: Pablo Enriquez Have a small cabinet for your school needs or alarm clock, etc? Head to the kitchen aisle, grab you plastic wrap and get to packing. You’ll never have to remove tiny items again, and you’ll have less meticulous things to put away when you arrive, which is one of the signs a student who knows how to pack for college. Ziploc bag small items like your toothpaste, deodorant, etc so you can easily pile it into your suitcase/tote bag/storage cube/container of choice without it spilling out or creating a huge muddled mess that wastes space. This is a great replacement for those nifty storage cubes that fancy people use to pack for fancy vacations (of course if you have one of those feel free to use it). Now that we’ve given you some helpful ideas on how to pack for college you’re ready for a new school year! Adopt these tips and you’ll find yourself packed up and ready to go in no time. You can reuse these techniques anytime you’re moving back and forth between school and home, including winter and summer breaks and even after your first year in college. Now that you know how to pack for college, what are you waiting for? Get up and starting packing!

Treat Self-Publishing as a Business †Interviewing Elise Kova

Treat Self-Publishing as a Business – Interviewing Elise Kova "Treat Self-Publishing as a Business" – Interviewing Elise Kova We often hear that "the golden age of self-publishing is gone", so we like to use our blog to remind authors that, no, that's not true. There are many more indie success stories than the ones you repeatedly hear about out there, and Elise Kova's is one of them. She started writing in 2013, as a hobby, on Fictionpress. She now has 5 books out in her Air Awakens Series and the first one has over 500 reviews on Goodreads. In this interview, she shares  more about her writing process, why she self-published, and some advice for newer authors.Hi Elise! It’s such a pleasure to have you join us for the Reedsy blog. I want to start off by talking a bit about how you came to write the Air Awakens series. YA fiction has captured the heart of the public in the last few years  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚  what is it about the YA fantasy genre that really appeals to you as an author?I love talking about books, so thank you for reaching out to me for this interview!I honestly didn't set out thinking tha t I was going to be a "YA Author". I've always loved writing, but I stopped doing it avidly for about four or so years during college and my MBA. When I sat down to write Air Awakens I didn't do so with the intention of being published, I just wanted to enjoy writing a story that I would want to read myself.When I began looking into publication later I toiled over if Air Awakens was "Adult" or "Young Adult" and the young adult age bracket fit better. I think there is something timeless about the "coming of age" story that we see in so much young adult fiction and many, myself included, are drawn to that. So I'm not surprised Air Awakens developed in that direction.Young adult readers can, and hopefully do, sympathize with and recognize the struggles of the protagonists. Whereas older readers remember going through those times themselves. Even more than that, I think people are constantly evolving and the questions of "Who am I?" and "What do I want?" may be more apparent during the transition into adulthood, but never really go away no matter how old we get.One of the things the series is most commonly praised for is its worldbuilding. The Solaris Empire, the Bond, the elemental magic – all of it is so well-developed! Was this a world you thought up quickly when you started actually writing Air Awakens, or had it been living and growing in your mind before that?I'm awful at planning, it's actually something I'm working on doing more in the future: pre-drafting. So much of the Air Awakens world was built as I went. As a result, there were a lot of things that didn't make sense when all was said and done; directions I thought I may take but never explored, or elements that didn't add anything.The series has gone through extensive rewrites before publication and at that point I really sat down and investigated the world and its mechanics. I cut a lot and refined the rest. 50 Book Marketing Ideas Every Author Needs to Know Read post Most indie authors struggle with getting their books discovered. What is the most important thing that you have done in terms of marketing that you think is responsible for your success?Oh, questions like this are so difficult to answer, as it's all speculation. But I think, for me, I've tried really hard to be both genuine and available to my readers. I'm constantly on my social media outlets and I'm not really shy on them when it comes to saying what I think, what I'm geeking out about, or what I'm up to. The bookish community on Twitter, Instagram, blogs, etc, is full of such amazing people that I've been so so lucky to meet.Follow Elise Kova and Reedsy on Twitter:  @EliseKova  and @ReedsyHQWhy did  you choose to self-publish? What would be  your advice for newer  authors looking to become the next "indie success story"? Do share your thoughts, or ask Elise any question, in the comments below!

Steps to Writing a Grant Proposal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Steps to Writing a Grant Proposal - Assignment Example Part of the short-range objectives is to upgrade the existing training facilities of PEACE as well as improve the knowledge and skills of its professional trainers with regards to managing traumatic situations the victims and families of the victims are currently going through whereas the long-term objective is to expand the existing infrastructure of PEACE in order to support the increasing number of victims who will be needing the social support of the said organization. To improve the quality of PEACE’s social services, a budget of one million US dollars (US$1,000,000.00) is needed wherein one-eighth (1/8) of the total expected grant will be used to financially support the further education and trainings of its professional trainers and upgrade the existing training facilities such as the improvements in training area and the purchase of new computers, projectors, and LCDs. The remaining three-eighth (3/8) of the total grant will be used in expanding the existing infrastructure of PEACE. Over the past five years, the city of Portland is experiencing an increase in domestic and youth violence, spousal and child abuse, assault, and incidents of road rage. To provide assistance to the victims of violence, the mission of PEACE Domestic Violence Agency is to reduce victim trauma, empower survivors, and promote recovery to the victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Social problems related to domestic violence can be solved by increasing the number of available service provision, education, and social awareness. By extending free educational training services, wellness support group, and shelter to the victims of domestic violence, PEACE will not only be able to promote the well-being of young men, women, and children whose lives have been affected by domestic violence but also improve the quality of life of families whose member or members are in prison. Educating the public on how to handle and protect themselves from becoming a victim

Euthanasia is Morally Incorrect Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Euthanasia is Morally Incorrect - Essay Example It is morally incorrect because it allows one human to take away the life of another; an act that should be frowned upon (Narbekovas & Meilius 2004, p.2). All human beings have to die a natural death and there should be no excuse to take the life of an individual to alleviate pain and suffering because, in the modern world, strong painkillers have been developed to ensure that pain is significantly reduced among patients. However, putting euthanasia into practice presents a moral dilemma for those medical practitioners who preside over it because it is a contravention of the Hippocratic Oath, which they take as a guarantee that they will be dedicated to preserving human life. Therefore, while the advocates for euthanasia state that it helps to end suffering, it is also a violation of the basic principles of life that have sustained societies for ages. In this paper, there will be a discussion of the ramifications of euthanasia on the society, the principles that make it a moral issue, as well as its impact on the individuals who take part in it. The discussion will be based on recent years, where euthanasia has been conducted as a means of removing the financial burden from medical expenses from families. In addition, in some cases, it has been done in direct violation of the wishes of patients and this has made euthanasia something akin to murder rather than as a means of ending the suffering of patients. Euthanasia is an act that is immoral because it goes against all the principles of life as dictated by religion; where the right to take away life belongs only to God rather than to human beings. Moreover, when euthanasia is conducted, there is often a failure to consider the emotional toll that it might take on the families of the patients because not only  might they feel guilty and be full of regret for allowing it to happ en, but it might lead to some of them falling into depression.

Global Operations Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Global Operations Management - Essay Example Currently the company employs 85 people at its Wagga Wagga location (Regional Development Division, n.d). This section deals with the environmental scanning of the company with regards to its expansion strategy. Thus before conducting the environmental scanning it is necessary to point out the country in which Precision would expand. Therefore the market chosen is Germany because of the following conditions. Political, social and economic stability provides a solid base for any company to start up a new plant in a new environment. Germany judiciary and its civil services allow companies to set up industries at an ease. The judiciary systems are highly professional. Agreements based on contracts are secured and intellectual properties are protected with high concern in Germany. Germany has one of the highest levels of education, economic productivity and technological development. The economic condition of Germany is stable and its economy has been regarded as the fifth largest in terms of purchasing power parity. It is one of the leading exporters of vehicles, machinery and chemicals and benefits from a high skilled labor force. In 2010 the GDP of Germany was 3.6% and was expected to grow by 2.6% in the current fiscal year (US Department of States, 2011). Germany hosts the largest OEM plants in Europe enabling the suppliers in diversification and access to nine different OEMs. With an excellent high skilled labor force, Germany has been able to achieve success in the automotive industry and thus creating more opportunities for suppliers to invest in the country. It has been a leader in technology ranging from machines, electronics to buildings. According to World Economic forum, Germany has been ranked number one in terms of infrastructure and logistics (Invest in Germany, n.d, p.4). To analyze the internal resources of an industry or a particular company

Should regional actors play a greater role in international peace Essay

Should regional actors play a greater role in international peace operations - Essay Example As Hettne and Soderbaum argue, the UN is built on a Westphalian nation-state model in which the UN sits at the top with regional actors participating with the authority and support of the UN. At the same time however, regional organizations such as the EU, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have become legitimate institutions quite capable of managing conflicts on their own.3 The UNSC has at times appointed regional peace keeping operations that were either under-resourced or ineffective or simply chose not to intervene.4 While Coleman’s global legitimacy pyramid suggests that regional actors require UNSC mandates in order to achieve legitimacy and therefore to be effective,5 the rise of regional organizations suggest that a post-Westphalian reality exists and the UNSC may need regional actors in order to achieve greater legitimacy. Moreover, Article 52 of the UN Charter calls for regional initiatives in peace keeping.6 The UNSC however, has failed to forge comprehensive relationships with regional organizations despite regional actors’ significant role in managing conflicts.7 Given the rise of regional powers8 and the soft power associated with the UNSC’s peace keeping practices9, this paper uses the theory of neoliberal institutionalism and social constructivism to consider whether or not regional actors should play a greater role in international peace operations. Traditional theories of international relations focuses too narrowly on materialism and state actors whereas neoliberalism looks more narrowly at how politics at the international level is institutionalized at either formal or informal levels.10 Social constructivism provides a theoretical framework which explains international relations in terms of security as a collective endeavor rather than self-help ambitions and thus allows a more

Renaissance Humanism Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Renaissance Humanism - Thesis Example This paper seeks to determine the nature of the humanism movement during the renaissance and how it had developed through time. In this regard, analysis of the works of humanists with special focuses on their contribution to the arts shall be conducted ascertain the movement called humanism. Scholasticism pervaded much of pre-Renaissance European society. Humanism came to be as a response to the perceived insufficiency and limitations of scholastic teachings that relied too heavily on abstract thought rather than on practical experiences. The humanists proposed to educate the whole person and placed emphasis not only on intellectual achievement, but also on physical and moral development (Ehrstine and Schade, 2004; Proctor, 1998) Francesco  Petrarca,  known as Petrarch, is considered as the first great humanist. Petrarch  believed  and hoped to better the world by the study of classical literature. To promote the study of classical literature, he collected ancient texts during his travels. He studied and imitated them in Latin writings of his own, and then attempted to extend their teachings to as many other people as possible (Kreis, 2008). Aside from Petrarch, a number of scholars in Florence collected and studied ancient works, lectured about them, imitated their style, and made the city a centre of humanistic learning. Among them were Boccaccio, the scholar Niccolà ² Niccoli, and above all the Florentine government leader, Coluccio Salutati. They applied classical literary standards to everyday writing, laying a foundation for later literary development (Steele, 2009). As humanists rediscovered classical literature, subjects of sculpture were classical figures the most prominent of which is Plato. Humanists hoped to make Plato a new guide for Western thought, just as scholastic thinkers had based many of their ideas on the work of Plato’s student Aristotle (Davies, 1997) Humanists saw Roman history as a glorious episode in their own national

Should regional actors play a greater role in international peace Essay

Should regional actors play a greater role in international peace operations - Essay Example As Hettne and Soderbaum argue, the UN is built on a Westphalian nation-state model in which the UN sits at the top with regional actors participating with the authority and support of the UN. At the same time however, regional organizations such as the EU, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have become legitimate institutions quite capable of managing conflicts on their own.3 The UNSC has at times appointed regional peace keeping operations that were either under-resourced or ineffective or simply chose not to intervene.4 While Coleman’s global legitimacy pyramid suggests that regional actors require UNSC mandates in order to achieve legitimacy and therefore to be effective,5 the rise of regional organizations suggest that a post-Westphalian reality exists and the UNSC may need regional actors in order to achieve greater legitimacy. Moreover, Article 52 of the UN Charter calls for regional initiatives in peace keeping.6 The UNSC however, has failed to forge comprehensive relationships with regional organizations despite regional actors’ significant role in managing conflicts.7 Given the rise of regional powers8 and the soft power associated with the UNSC’s peace keeping practices9, this paper uses the theory of neoliberal institutionalism and social constructivism to consider whether or not regional actors should play a greater role in international peace operations. Traditional theories of international relations focuses too narrowly on materialism and state actors whereas neoliberalism looks more narrowly at how politics at the international level is institutionalized at either formal or informal levels.10 Social constructivism provides a theoretical framework which explains international relations in terms of security as a collective endeavor rather than self-help ambitions and thus allows a more

Case study , subject HUMAN RESOURCE STRATEGIES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL Essay

Case study , subject HUMAN RESOURCE STRATEGIES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MANAGER - Essay Example This work has looked into the problems in detail using a combination of academic as well as practical perspectives so that fitting solutions can be derived. The results from this study indicate that Manners Europe will have to restructure current human resource management practises without compromising the overall framework brought in from the parent company. Measures include changes in the work schedule styles, compensation patterns as well as hiring and screening procedures. Manners Europe is experiencing visible problems with its human resource management framework being implemented in the European domain. The bulk of these problems originate from Netherlands that has comparably different norms from the American principals. The markedly different cultural attributes resound from the fact that employees expect different behaviour from management while management expects different behaviour from employees. As a result of this friction, neither employees nor management are able to solve this dilemma. It must also be borne in mind that Manners Europe derives itself and its structure from its American origins. Competitiveness and efficiency are the rule of the day for Manner Europe’s higher management who have been bred accordingly in the American organisational cultural perspective. However, for the Dutch working for the organisation, this mode of operation is opposed to cultural values that they have acquired through their socialisation process. The situation demands that the existing Americanised human resources framework of the organisation be adapted to the peculiarities of the Norwegian situation. However, while such an adaptation is being initiated it must be kept in mind that the entire framework should not be remodelled. Such a remodelling attempt would lead to multiple problems such as increased costs for remodelling as well as deviation from the principal

A Motivating Influence Essay Example for Free

A Motivating Influence Essay Life is a cycle of learning in which we learn every day by experiences, anecdotes or by someone else. Now, it is hard to find a person who really cares about us or at least someone who wants to help us to succeed in the future. However, we found that there are some special teachers that are a great example of learning how to succeed in life. In the two stories of â€Å"my favorite teacher† by Thomas L. Friedman, and â€Å"Unforgettable Miss Bessie† by Carl T. Rowan, we find two incomparable persons who made a change in their students’ life. They both were a motivating influence for their students. Carl Rowan’s teacher Miss Bessie and Thomas Friedman’s teacher Hattie Steinberg are different in background, but similar in their wisdom, enthusiasm, love and care for their students. First, we find that both teachers, Miss Bessie and Miss Hattie had wisdom. They both introduced their students to knowledge that they otherwise might not been exposed to. In Thomas Friedman’s teacher, Hattie taught Friedman a lesson that lasted throughout his life. Hattie was a journalism teacher who tries to teach her students about the ethical rules for being a journalist. She had high standards of teaching, and it leads a mark in her students. Friedman’s writes: â€Å"Hattie was a woman who believed that the secret of success in life was getting the fundamentals right† (403). This basic lesson about excellence in journalism was important to Friedman’s career, because he becomes a journalist, and he remembered decades after his High School days with Hattie. This shows that Hattie was a wise teacher because it influences Friedman’s life forever. On the other hand, Miss Bessie’s wisdom was impacting for Rowan. She was a writing teacher who loves to read and write. However, even when in those days the racism took place in the country between white and black people, and she was a black teacher, she had the pasion to impact her students’ life. Rowan writes one of Miss Bessie’s lessons: â€Å"If you do not read you cannot write, and if you cannot write, you might as well stop dreaming† (166). This showed Rowan how important her students’ future was for Miss Bessie. She tried to make the reading and writing a commandment for her students. Her wisdom and influence left a mark in her students’ heart that it will be not only for them but for their generations. Second, both teachers, Miss Bessie and Miss Hattie were similar in their enthusiasm at the moment of giving advice to their students. Rowan describes Miss Bessie as tough, no-nonsense woman who could convince her students to do anything. In one occasion Rowan and Miss Bessie were talking about Rowan’s interest on sports and how hard it was for him to read a book. But he wanted to be with his friends and continue to be respect by them. So he writes: â€Å"Boy, she responded, you will play football because you have guts† (164). This impacted Rowan’s life forever. He learned to have the courage to fight for what he wanted in his life, and never give up, even when it seems difficult to reach. Similarly, Friedman’s teacher, Hattie Steinberg pushed her students to achieve high standards and to be responsible in their work, and to be well educated. Friedman writes: â€Å"and, boy, she pounded the fundamentals of journalism into her students –not simply how to write a lead or accurately transcribe a quote, but more important, how to comport yourself in a professional way and to always do quality work† (403). The purpose of Steinberg was to make her students work as if they were already working in a journalism company. She wanted her students to be ethical and professional in whatever they do. She knew it was going to be a great lecture for them. It would make them successful persons in their work and their lives. Third, Rowan and Friedman’s teachers were from different backgrounds. Rowan’s teacher, Miss Bessie, she was from black race, lower class family and she could not afford her education as a teacher. Rowan did not know about her background until she talked about it before she died. He writes: â€Å"What you put in your head, boy, she once said, can never be pulled out by the Ku Klux Klan, the Congress, or anybody† (165). This shows that even though Miss Bessie was from a lower class, she would never like her students to suffer the same problems she faced before. After long time, Rowan admired her because of her courage to succeed in life, and her courage to be someone else with a better quality of life. In contrast, Miss Hattie was from a better economic class, she was white, and her education standards where a big help in her career. Friedman writes: â€Å"I grew up in a small suburb of Minneapolis, and Hattie was the legendary journalism teacher at St. Louis park High School, Room 313† (403). We can say that Hattie took advantages of the opportunity she had to learn, and become one of the best teachers of journalism in the city even though we do not have evidence in the story if she was from a middle class economically. Hattie was admired for her high standards of teaching and it was the most important characteristics Friedman saw on her, that serve him as an example to become an ethical person in the journalism field. In conclusion, these two extraordinary teachers make a difference on their students’ lives with their wisdom, enthusiasm, love, and care. And, as a result of their effort for making professional and ethical persons of their students, both Rowan and Friedman become great professionals with more than an ethical personality, but both being conscientious to recognize that their successful lives are thanks to those teachers who gave them advices during the process of formation as adults in the school. However, this is the time for us as students to think about someone, not necessarily a teacher, but someone who impact our lives during our formation as adults. Even when many people think that they have an unsuccessful life, there is still time to make a change in their lives. Instead of thinking what you have made wrong in life, think of the opportunities you have to repair your mistakes and move forward to become a successful person.

Developing Diversity in the Clinical Psychology Profession

Developing Diversity in the Clinical Psychology Profession The profession of clinical psychology is currently  predominately  predominantly white, female and middle class. What can  be done to ensure that we become a more diverse and  inclusive profession? Word count:1.256 The question of how the field can be made more – can be made more diverse and inclusive is one that has been much explored in the clinical psychology community in Britain as well as in other countries. This essay will examine strategies and initiatives previously put in place in order to recruit clinical psychologists from a wider pool of applicants, and look at how successful such initiatives have been. Finally, the discussion will focus on what seems to be the best way forward for the profession in its efforts to more closely reflect the disparate communities of which it serves. The skewed demographics of the profession might be at least partly responsible for the low usage rates of clinical psychology services by black, ethnic minority and male UK citizens. An influential BPS report entitled â€Å"Widening access within undergraduate psychology education and its implications for professional psychology: Gender, disability and ethnic diversity† was published in recent yearsrecently published (Turpin Fensom, 2004). The report revealed that only 5.8% of UK clinical psychologists were recruited from ethnic minorities, and that a mere 23% were men. These figures called indicated a need for greater efforts to increase the number of recruits from black and other ethnic minority (BME) and disabled communities. The report referred to the work of Davenhill et al. (1989), who made a number of recommendations to widen access of BME groups into clinical psychology training. Unfortunately, little progress was made.[RZ2] The BPS has, however, demonstrated an ongoing commitment to deal with this complex matter, such as the setting up of a ‘Race and Culture Special Interest Group’. Amongst the Group’s aims and objectives is a stated commitment to â€Å"promote strategies that increase Black and Minority Ethnic Communities to the profession of Clinical Psychology, †; [RZ3]and to â€Å"promote the view that training in clinical psychology should reflect the needs of people from Black and Minority Ethnic Communities† (Reference!!!).[RZ4] A notable contribution has also been made by the BPS s ‘Standing Committee for the Promotion of Equal Opportunities’, which amongst other valuable functions, monitors levels of minority representation within the BPS. According to the most recent available figures, these BPS initiatives have not as yet had significant impact on diversity and inclusiveness, but it is perhaps too early to condemn them as inadequate and ineffectual. Turpin and Fensom’s 2004 report (2004) gives interesting figures, showing that psychology is hugely popular as an undergraduate discipline with approximately 80,000 applicants a year, of which 79 percent are female. In the field of psychology, BME students are more highly represented at 12 percent compared with the rest of the population studying other subjects. The same study also found that out of those from a BME background, only 1.4 percent are successful in their clinical training applications, compared with 3.95 percent of those who are white, and 3.5 percent who are male. With regard to clinical training, approximately 9.4 percent of students are of a BME background, whereas only 6.2 percent of these are successful. Of the 90.6 percent who consider themselves to be white however, the success rate is 93 percent. These data point towards highly complex reasons for a profession dominated by white females of a middleclass background. Gender bias in psychology has been recognised for many years (Morris et.al, 1992). It is likely that the nature of the discipline appeals more to females than men. [RZ5]But it might also be influenced by lack of knowledge of the true nature of psychology as well as that of future career possibilities. Amongst the practical measures announced in the BPS report mentioned above, were a recruitment video to be used in schools, and an initiative to make careers advisors more aware of the employment opportunities offered by clinical psychology. [RZ6] It can be argued that the mere process of undertaking clinical training in itself is likely to exclude certain social groups. [RZ7]The ratio of applicants far outweighs the places available, 29.3 per cent in 2002 (Turpin and Fensom, 2004) and this in itself is likely to deter some people. In addition to high academic entrance requirements, s several years of relevant experience is required, Working as an assistant psychologist does not in itself necessarily give opportunities for a career, and even years of experience do not always guarantee acceptance into clinical training. This can give an impression of uncertainty in addition to the likelihood of eventually being in substantial financial debt. [RZ8] All these factors could partly explain the reduction in applications from students from a BME background. Little is known about the perception of psychology as a vocation within or across different ethnic groups and culture. Darr (1998) found that ethnic applicants to higher education undervalued allied health professions as career choice and chose more traditional careers instead.[RZ9] Research has also shown that BME students obtain fewer 2.1 and 1.st degrees than their fellow white students (Pathak, 2000). This in itself might partly explain the drop in applications to clinical training, but it does not explain why fewer applicants from BME groups are successful compared to their white peers (Turpin and Fensom 2004, Boyle et al, 1993). Turpin and Fensom doubt that an explicit discrimination factor at short listing and interview would simply account for this. But in addition to the academic criteria and the necessary working experience, applicants are also vetted through interviews and other tasks. (Phillips, Hatton Gray, 2001). It is tempting to hypothesise, building on knowledge from social psychology, that applicants from minority backgrounds may encounter greater difficulties in conveying their knowledge and personal abilities.[RZ10] The important goal of wider diversity within clinical psychology is to ensure that the Mental Health Service can offer adequate therapy for minority and socially excluded groups. More male clinical psychologists from different backgrounds might ensure that the Mental Health Service is accessible to these groups. More research is needed to give an understanding of the gender differences and how psychology is perceived as a career in different ethnic groups. Research into exactly why, or at what stage, ethnic minorities fail in the vetting process might be helpful. [RZ11] References:[RZ12] Widening access within undergraduate psychology education and its implications for professional psychology: Gender, disability and ethnic diversity, (BPS, 2004) BPS Equal Opportunities Policy Davenhill R, Hun H, Piallary H M, Harris A Klein Y (1989). Training and selection issues in clinical psychology for black and minority ethnic groups from an equal opportunities perspective. Clinical Psychology Forum,21 34-36 Darr, A. (1998) Improving the recruitment and retention of Asian students on nursing, midwifery, radiography and physiotherapy courses: A qualitative research study. Bradford and Airedale Health Related Strategy Group. Morris,P., Cheung,D. Smith,H. (1992) How and why applicants choose to study psychology at university. The Psychologist,5, Pathak,S. (2000) Research report topic, race research for the future ethnicity. In Education, Training and the Labour Market. Department of Education and Employment,UK Phillips,A.,Hatton,C. Gray,l. (2001) Which selection methods do clinical psychology courses use? Clinical Psychology,8 19-24 [RZ1] [RZ2]Can you provide a quote from the report here to illustrate why little progress was made? What are the criteria for progress in this area? [RZ3]What are these strategies? [RZ4]Yes, don’t forget to reference this quote! [RZ5]Why? Support this assertion. [RZ6]You may want to consider moving this explanation of practical measures to the previous page, where the question of strategies is raised initially. [RZ7]Why? Are certain social groups less demonstrably likely to display the work ethic necessary to complete clinical training? [RZ8]Good point. [RZ9]Does Darr hypothesise why this might be so? [RZ10]Why is it tempting? Internalized racism? [RZ11]Miid 2:2 Standard. You should consider spending less time describing the particulars of the problem and more time analyzing why the problem exists and what might be done about it. Otherwise, well-written and well-sourced. [RZ12]K c

Legalization :: essays research papers

Marijuana and other â€Å"pleasure† drug are outlawed completely under Federal Statues, banned by virtually every state as well†¦   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is not likely that excessive use of marijuana does fog the brain and causes other harm, as its enemies claim†¦   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  But this isn’t crucial point being interpreted. The key point is that if you accept the Libertarian promise that your life is your own and not the state’s, the government doesn’t have any business telling you what you can and can not do. With the exception of prohibiting you from using force or fraud against others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marijuana, the flowering tops of the cannabis plant should be legalized. Marijuana and Hemp has many benefits including medical, economical, libertarian, and political.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marijuana, or cannabis, is commonly described as a recreational drug. In the Unites States, it has been considered an illegal narcotic for the past sixty to seventy years. Cannabis presently is a political issue. The public and officials everywhere are discussing many issues, which concern it. When smoked or ingested, it produces a physical or mental psychological affect. The government considers the narcotic to be harmful to the nation. They believe that the drug causes health problems and accidents. Until recently, these laws have been unarguable in every state. In 1996 Propositions 215 and 200 were voted into effect in the states of California and Arizona. The propositions amend consisting laws allowing physicians to recommend marijuana as medicine and patients to grow, posses, and use it. Hemp is a form of cannabis that has been rediscovered as a natural resource. It was also banned in the 1930’s.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Propositions 215 amend laws to allow patients to grow and posses marijuana with doctor’s recommendation. People suffering or dying can receive a written or oral recommendation, if their doctor feels it will help them physically or mentally. In California, proposition 215 is called the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. It’s proposal won 56 % to 44% among California citizens and is beginning to take effect now. In Arizona, a similar act was passed called proposition 200. Many people, including doctors, law officials, political officials, and AIDS patients argue in favor of the proposition. They claim that cannabis is very effective in treating cancer, glaucoma, and AIDS, as well as many other illnesses. They see no reason why doctors are allowed to prescribe addictive, powerful, and lethal drugs like morphine, but are prohibited to distribute or recommend marijuana.

Management studies Essay

Introduction Since starting the DMS in September I have found the workshop programme very useful. I have learnt many styles and techniques of management and from this have applied to my workplace with very effective results, also using my workplace as an experimental ground for practising my new techniques. From this, I have learnt from my mistakes and errors and rectified them to continually improve my own performance, and thus improve the performance of my department within the business. From leaving school with four â€Å"o† levels, I started my working career as an engineer; attaining an apprenticeship at Phillips Components. After four years of completing this, along with a higher national certificate in computer aided engineering, I acquired a position of Toolmaker in the Toolroom. I then continued working as a Toolmaker for the next eleven years without ever considering a managerial position. After many years of Toolmaking I acquired the position of Improvement Technician within the Sub-components department (press shop) and after Twelve months was offered the position of Shift Leader within this department. From taking the leap from Engineering to production/people management it was recommended that I returned to college to complete a Diploma in Management Studies to gain the academic qualifications to compliment my new role. Learning Style and Teamwork Theory One of the first workshop sessions was based on learning style and teamwork theory. For this we completed questionnaires on learning style and the Belbin self perception inventory, a questionnaire based on individual’s team role profile. The learning style questionnaire was designed to understand your preferred learning style and help you pinpoint your learning preferences so that you are in a better position to select learning experiences that suit your style. The results are broke down into four different styles: Activists, Reflectors, Theorists and Pragmatists. After scoring myself on the questionnaire, the results suggested that I had a very strong preference towards being an Activist, a strong preference towards a reflector and moderate preference towards Theorist and Pragmatist. An Activist is a person who is very open-minded and enthusiastic about new ideas or experiences. They tend to act first and consider the consequences later. They tackle problems by brainstorming and thrive on the challenge of new experiences. They are gregarious people constantly involving themselves with others but, in doing so, they seek to centre all activities around themselves. With the learning style of an Activist I find it very hard work to sit down and study, I also find it very difficult reading a book as I tend to find my mind wandering off on to other activities I could be doing. Analysing my learning style within the workplace, I would tend to agree with these results. I have a reputation at work for being very enthusiastic and passionate about my department and also about the company I work for, also preferring to physically â€Å"get stuck in† with problems we encounter, rather than sitting down and discussing them. Within each learning style there is a set path we need to progress through in order to get the most out of any learning experience, these are as follows: Step one, having an experience In step one there are two easy in which we can have an experience; one is to be passive and allow the experience to happen and you needing to react, two is to deliberately seek them out in a proactive manner. Step two, reviewing the experience I tend to think this is the one we most often miss out on, we tend to jump this one and come to a conclusion before we’ve reviewed an experience in a none judgemental manner (with an open mind and no preconceptions). Time needs to be taken out to properly review any experience to gain anything from it. Step three, conclusions from the experience This involves looking at the reviewed experience step to understand and see what lessons can be learnt. Step four, planning the next step There would be little point in reviewing or coming up with any conclusions from the experience if we did not apply this newly gained knowledge to future events. The Self Perception Inventory The Belbin self perception inventory specifies nine roles for the efficient working of a team. Once the questionnaire is completed, a team role profile is then calculated for the individual and a counselling report is created. The chart below shows how I scored: Roles and Descriptions Team-Role Contribution Percentage Score Specialist 93% Plant 81% Resource Investigator 73% Shaper 69% Complete Finisher 63% Monitor Evaluator 50% Team Worker 25% Co-Coordinator 9% Implementer 2% My profile shows that I gain great intrinsic satisfaction from the nature of work in which I am engaged. For me work is like a hobby, offering me a chance to exercise my creative disposition and achieving professionalism all at the same time. As far as the outside world is concerned, I will be known and respected for my knowledge and special skills and for the fact that I am in the forefront of most new developments. My limitations I may have to accept apply to my administrative and managerial skills. I may have to make a conscious choice in terms of the direction of my career. A wider arena would offer broader prospects of advancement, but would also face stiffer competition, with the chance of me loosing some of my professional expertise. The alternative would be to build up my personal reputation in my own special area and carve out my own job within it. Reflecting on my results from the self perception inventory, I must realise that to become a better team player, I must understand my allowable weaknesses from the roles I scored high in. Also I must work on increasing the lower end scores, by becoming a better co-ordinator and implementer, also increasing my team worker skills. Residential To start the course off, our first learning experience of working within teams was the residential activity at Dove Nest. After a brief introduction (and cup o’ tea) we were soon split into four groups and given the mine field activity to complete. This being a perfect ice-breaker to the course, testing our teamwork skills and also a perfect opportunity to get to know other students. Instantly, different individual’s personalities and trends were noticed and within minutes different traits were easily recognised as some members co-ordinated whilst others problem solved or challenged ideas. Our team decided it would be an advantage to amalgamate with the adjacent team to create a synergy were by we would attain greater power due to the creation of synthetic energy, i.e. the understanding that to join forces more than twice the power of each individual team would be achieved. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Although we did manage to complete task, we didn’t a ccomplish it in the fastest time. Before to long we were soon split into other groups and given different tasks to complete with goals clearly set. One task I thoroughly enjoyed and learned a lot from was a task where all team members had to run up a hill (about 20 metres) to a square marked out on the floor (approx 3m sq.). Inside the square was 18 randomly spaced tags pinned to the ground, numbered 1 to 18. Our task was for all team members to run up to the square, then all the tags had to be touched, respectively from 1 to 18, but only one member was allowed into the square at any one time. Once this was complete, all the team then had to run back to the start point and cross this point within a specified time. We were given an allocated time to plan the task and also only given three timed attempts to achieve our target. Instantly we conducted a brainstorming session to assess all our different options. Then after heated debate about which ideas we thought would be the most efficient we then decided to perform what we thought would be the fastest trials. After timing each option we then chose the fastest and analysed this to see if we could improve on the practiced times. Once we thought we couldn’t improve any more we then attempted to reach our goal. Of the three timed events, the first one was about twenty seconds overtime, the second just under, but by the third attempt we had shaved about forty seconds off our original time, also clearly beating the goal set. We achieved this through everybody committing to the teams needs to achieve the goal set, where everybody knew their place within the team, even though everybody did not agree with some of the decisions. A great sense of satisfaction and camaraderie was achieved by the conquering of this task, with all the team thoroughly motivated and geared up, ready for the next task. Finally on day one we were given the task of running our own business, the final goal, to manufacture and sail a raft on Lake Windermere. Different roles of team members soon developed, one person accounting, another designing, whilst others negotiated with opposing teams to acquire either more money or materials. Once enough materials were obtained, the raft was ready to be manufactured. Again, different team roles were seen, as some members built the raft whilst others delegated different tasks, and others stood back, saying â€Å"that’ll never float, you’ll not get me on that†, only to be proved wrong once the race got underway. For me, there were many learning points from Dove Nest even though at this point we had not covered these techniques at college. It was an excellent opportunity to improve my listening and negotiating skills, as well as improving my delegating techniques. The best learning experiences for me were teamwork and motivation. Working within teams were nobody knew other people’s knowledge or capabilities, or what specialities they may possess created an atmosphere were by to achieve the goals set, individuals roles had to be rapidly appointed. I also found the problem solving activities very stimulating, probably through my engineering background. Dove nest was also an excellent starting point to the course as many students (myself included) were novices to the styles and theories ahead, thus giving everybody a perfect foundation to the year ahead. Reflecting on how each team member performed on the residential, I think it would be an excellent idea to perform a similar residential exercise at the end of the year to recognise the improvement of individual’s performance. Presentation Skills A great learning point for me was the workshop on presentation skills. When confronted with the task of presenting to the group I was keen to improve my ability as presentations are a key role in my position at work, whether presenting a fortnightly team brief or a project presentation to senior Management. Previous to workshop I have encountered some bad experiences in the workplace, due to inadequate planning beyond my control. After watching the video on presentations, I came away with a greater knowledge of what creates a good presentation. The key learning points for me being preparation, content and delivery. What is the purpose of the presentation and why? Know your subject – do your homework. Know your audience, the objective being to keep them interested. A good presentation should have a suitable introduction, main theme and conclusion. The delivery is also essential, confidence being the key, keep to a specified time and remember that you are the person presenting and the effect of it is upon your audience. I found it very beneficial to be able to watch and judge people’s presentation skills reflecting with the rest of the group on how to improve these skills, not feeling under any pressure whilst doing so; an option not available at work. The experience of having someone give feedback to a presentation allowed me to fully focus myself on the need to learn from, and understand my shortcomings, is also gave me the opportunity to scrutinise the way in which I should deliver a presentation. As I have a learning style of an Activist, and therefore wanting to try anything once to gain a new experience, I chose to give my presentation on a non-work related matter. I decided to give my presentation on what I labelled â€Å"The Millionaire Lifestyle Weekend† – a presentation on how to live a millionaire lifestyle for the weekend working within a budget that most people would find affordable. Fortunately I wasn’t presenting until the third week, which gave me plenty of time to plan my presentation. Also gaining more knowledge on this subject through analysing other student’s presentations and making observations as to how their presentation could be improved. A key observation from myself was never apologise when presenting as this may come across as being negative. Also, try to keep the audience interested and keep within the time specified. Provide a handout for any important information, but don’t distribute until the end of the presentat ion. When the time came to delivering my presentation, I was at first nervous, due to previous experiences, but after the first two slides I felt more at ease due to the environment in which the workshop was held and also due to the fact that I felt confident about what I was presenting thanks to sufficient planning and preparation. I think another added contribution was the fact that the first couple of slides grabbed people’s attention and instantly they were thinking â€Å"this looks interesting†, a very important learning point, grasp people’s attention on the first two slides. I realised that in doing this, people sit up and listen, thus giving the presenter more confidence in what he/she is presenting. I also learnt that the rehearsal of a presentation is extremely important; I practiced this presentation about Ten to Fifteen at home in front of the mirror, finding this to be a great benefit to delivering a good presentation. Overall it gave value to me as I now know how to structure presentations. I felt, as did the others in the group that their subject would be boring for anyone else but to the contrary, as I listened to other presentations they were entertaining, informative, and all had flow to them. This tells me that if the subject to be presented is put over in the way we have been shown then the information within it is retained by the audience. Since this workshop, I have presented to management at work and felt a lot more at ease, having greater confidence in myself by understanding the correct way to performing a successful presentation, understanding the emphasis on planning as well as delivery. I have now learnt to improve my presentation skills at work a lot more by watching and analysing others present in the workplace. Time Management The time management workshop was also of great use to me with respect to my position at work. I am responsible for the production of nine different sub-components all used in the manufacture of a cathode, with present cathode production running at 300k per day, although due to losses on automation, with some components I have to produce 160 good components to make 100 good cathodes. I am responsible for a workforce of 45 people as well as providing assistance in other departments as and when required. I find myself in a position where I am constantly fire-fighting on a daily basis, going home feeling that I have taken two steps back rather than one step forward. When we had the workshop on time management I was instantly keen to increase my knowledge on this subject as time at work is sparse. I found the video a great learning tool, by watching the situation with the manager who never seemed to have any time. I instantly related issues on the video to my workplace and started to understand the important factors of managing time efficiently. Learning to identify, and then change, any bad practices such as taking on too much work that I could possibly delegate out to others, or failing to plan and organise my day correctly, understanding the difference between efficiency and effectiveness. The key points of time wasting have stayed fresh in my mind since this session understanding that I need to prioritise, delegate, plan and communicate more effectively. From watching the video, I returned to work ready to try out my latest technique. Understanding that to manage my time for that day I must spend the first five to ten minutes planning my day a head, prioritising what jobs have to be done, what jobs should be done, what jobs need not be done and what jobs I could delegate out to others. Also deciding which jobs are important, urgent, urgent and important and so on. Once I have done this, I then write a priority list in order of which jobs I shall do when, ranging from must do to least important. Since doing this on a daily basis I have found that I get through a lot more issues at work and seem to find a lot more time to take on extra tasks without the worry of not being able to complete in the required time. This has taken a large amount of pressure of my working day. Although I am sometimes still rushed off my feet, at least I’m not leaving for home with my head in a spin. Conclusion When first discussing the DMS to work colleagues, who had once been students on the course. They described the workshop sessions to me, explaining about people’s learning styles and teamwork theory and I have to admit I was very sceptical about the whole thing, not understanding about Activists and pragmatists, etc. But since attending workshop I have realised that what we have learnt is true to life and have found very useful. I do have the opinion that people who become successful managers do have that special gift and that managers are born and not trained. My opinion is that to be successful not only must you have that gift but you must also learn the different techniques learnt on workshop and understand how and when to apply them to daily life. I have found that a lot of what I have learnt a necessity in the role I am in at work. I also realise that not all situations in the workplace are the same, as people’s attitudes and characteristics all vary, some on a daily basis, and to be able to handle any situation without causing upset to the individual or the business is a skill only acquired over time. Dealing with issues can be a very delicate and tricky art, but with the correct personality, integrity and knowledge gained from the workshop, success is a not such a fantasy as a nearby reality. Bibliography. KELLET, P. (2002) Presentation Skills Workshop lecture notes KELLET, P. (2002) Effective Teamwork Workshop lecture notes KELLET, P. (2002) Time Management Workshop lecture notes KELLET, P. (2002) How to Improve Your Learning Style Learning style questionnaire BELBIN (2002) Self Perception Inventory Mk2 BELBIN (2002) Self Perception Team Role Profile

What Contributes to Our Perceptions of the World?

â€Å"How can cultural experiences shape, impact or influence out perception of the world Being exposed to other cultures and experiences opens our mind to understanding other ways of living. If you are exposed to something different from yours, your perception would change by the way your thought process Is about certain groups of people. Many things affect our point of view of the world positively and negatively, thought I think most of the time It does It negatively. In today's world we see a lot of cultures In one place (states, city, schools, Jobs, etc. But within these places there's discrimination, racism, had other bad things that make us have a differently pollen than others. Brainstorm at least five artifacts that serve as symbols for you, your life. And your culture. What do the objects reveal about you and your culture? A calculator represents my love for math. Math is a part of my family's culture and has become a part of mine. Math is perfect. It challenges the mind. I t has the power to solve real life problems. It explains real observations, and appeals to intuitions most of the time. It produces exact answers.Its abstract, yet purely objective and absolute. Its man-made, yet all the universe is modeled by math. Its incorruptible. It can create art. It can inspire creative thinking, and in that even solving problems is an art of its own. It is the way I think. When asked why I like Mathematics, I realized that it is all down to my personality. Being a composed, explicit person, I enjoy the challenge of questions with difficult to achieve answers. The ‘&' symbol represents the type of music I listen to. ‘&' is the official symbol of the band Of Mice & Men.I sites to metal, rock, screams, or alternative music and the & symbol represents some of each. A book represents my passion for reading. Its about living a thousand lives through the eyes of your protagonist, becoming so involved in their lives, learning the lessons they learn, â₠¬Å"meeting† the most interesting (nearly real) characters that continue to stay with me long after the book is read and back on the shelf. I love picking up a put and immediately being thrown Into a different reality. I view a book as another universe, where I can escape reality, a way to relax myself.A green V In a ricer represents me being vegetarian. I have been vegetarian since I was born and It lust became a part of me. I do not have to stay a vegetarian, but my parents are. So I choose to stay vegetarian. The last symbol that represents me Is a pair of glasses, Since 1st grade I have always been seen as the ‘nerd'. I always has straight AS and the teachers loved me. I am a year ahead of my grade level In math, currently taking pre calculus. This made me more of the ‘nerd' I already was. I also happen to need glasses. What Contributes to Our Perceptions of the World? By Snazzy world? Reception would change by the way your thought process is about certain group s of thought I think most of the time it does it negatively. In today's world we see a lot of cultures in one place (states, city, schools, Jobs, etc. ), but within these places there's discrimination, racism, had other bad things that make us have a differently opinion Brainstorm at least five artifacts that serve as symbols for you, your life, and your A calculator represents my love for math. Math is a part of my family's culture and picking up a put and immediately being thrown into a different reality.

Wine Making

The differences between red and white wines include the kinds of grapes used, the fermentation and aging process, and the character and flavor of the wine. White wines are almost always made from white grapes, although they can be made from black grapes, since the juice in most black grapes is clear. When white wine is made, the skins of the grapes are separated from the juice when they are put into a crushing machine. After filtering etc, the wine is aged by storing it in stainless steel or occasionally oak containers and bottled after a few months. White wines, then, are made without skins or seeds and are essentially fermented grape juice. They have a light character and have crisp fruit flavors and aromas. They can be sweet or dry or somewhere in between Red wine is usually made from red or black grapes, although all the kinds of grapes usually have a clear juice. The process of making red wine is different from the one of making white wine. After the grapes have been in the crushing machine, the red grapes with their skins and everything sit in a fermentation vat for a period of time, typically about one to two weeks. . The skins tend to rise to the surface of the mixture and form a layer on top. The winemaker frequently mixes this layer back into the fermenting juice (which is called must). After fermentation is over, the new wine is taken from the vat. A little â€Å"free run† juice is allowed to pour and the rest of the must is squeezed into â€Å"press wine†. The wine is clarified and then is stored, usually in oak containers, for several months until it is ready to be bottled. The oak containers add additional wood tannins and flavors to the wine which help to intensify it and add richness to it. The result of this process is that red wines exhibit a set of rich flavors with spicy, herby, and even meaty characteristics. Late harvest ice wines are the exceptions in both hemispheres. The grapes are typically left on the vine to increase the sugar content and may be harvested up to a few months after the traditional harvest. An indigenous yeast fermentations starts by itself when wild yeast strains – originating in the vineyard – start fermenting. Wild yeast can take up to a week to begin the fermentation because their initial populations are small compared to an inoculated fermentation. But there is strenuous debate as to whether the wild yeast come in from the vineyard or are already present in the cellar on winemaking equipment.

Marketing plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Marketing plan - Assignment Example his has been significant in enabling the business to produce high quality products at low costs, an aspect that made it possible for the business to retain its competitive advantage in the market. The goals and objectives are in line with the firm’s mission that is to bring the best computing knowledge to students, professionals, and consumers across the world, through being innovative in a way that builds its hardware, software, and internet ads. With the increasing level of competition in the market, the company goals acts as a guide in ensuring that it satisfies the tastes and preferences of the target market. This is through ensuring that it incorporates the interests of the target market in the production process. Apple Inc is active in developing new products. This is to satisfy the varying interests of the customers. Different product lines have been developed with the aim of reducing the risks and uncertainties associated with concentrating on a single product. The company has also differentiated its products. Through innovation and branding, the company’s products are unique compared to those of the competitors. This aspect has been significant in ensuring that customers remain loyal to the products despite the market being flooded with different substitutes. It has also developed a strong brand name. This is through intensive advertising in the traditional and modern media. The company has been able to create awareness on the existence of its products and services in the market. This has been achieved through personal selling, sales promotion, public relations, direct marketing, and advertising (Hassan 12). Furthermore, the company has intensified its use of social media in order to understand different aspects that affect the consumer behaviors of the target market. This has played a significant role in enabling the firm to reach a large market at very low costs. The company uses skimming and premium pricing strategies in order to penetrate new

Current political debate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Current political debate - Essay Example But today, Syria is one of Israel’s most uncompromising opponents and will do anything to gather arms to attack against it and openly speaks against Israel. The recent unrest began in the city Deraa in March 2011. This was the wave of the Arab unrest which started with the Tunisian revolution. But in Syria, it finally arrived when the Deraa’s residents protested against torturing students for putting up a slogan fight against the government. They had written the popular slogan from the uprising in Tunisia and Egypt: â€Å"The people want the downfall of the regime† and the protestors later continued to call for democracy and freedom but not the removal of the president. This anti-government protest reached out to other cities across the country and the army besieged them as the â€Å"armed gang and terrorists† (Guide: Syria Crisis 2012). Cities including â€Å"Baniyas, Homs, Hama and the suburbs of Damascus† were involved in the protest. The debate started when it it became clear what the protestors really wanted. They needed democracy and a greater freedom because Syria is one of the most oppressed countries in the Arab world. President Assad was demanded to resign the moment the army opened fire against the peaceful protest. The situation became out of local authority’s control. It was president’s brother Maher who asked the army to â€Å"crush† the citizens of Syria (Guide: Syria Crisis 2012). The residential areas were destroyed and many people were killed. President Assad refuses to step down from his chair but he did promise reforms in April 2011 for improvement in certain eminent sectors of the country. In a referendum help in February 2012, a multi-party elections was approved by the constitution. People are still apprehensive about the promises made by the president as long as the blood-shed continues. Being a country of almost twenty million

Communication in the Nursing Profession Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Communication in the Nursing Profession - Essay Example Communication may be verbal, non-verbal, or inferred through the actions that a nurse may take or avoid. Communication may be a single sentence that begins with the sender, but the receiver is the integral part of the process where the message is interpreted and placed in context with a larger discourse. Communication is ubiquitous and pervasive. Every bit of information that is transferred from nurses to the world around them comes through some form of communication. In today's fast paced world of nursing, where accuracy and time can make the difference between success and failure, communication becomes the most critical component driving a patient's outcome. The structure of a health care setting today is far more inter-dependent than at any other time in history. Cultural and social diversity have made the communications between nurses and patients at risk of miscommunication, but has also presented nurses with the opportunity to be more articulated and meaningful. Communication skills are an area where it is sometimes difficult to measure, yet there are always issues that warrant improvement. In addition, knowledge is passed from nurses, specialists, and physicians through the act of communicating. It is one of the single most important activities that a health care worker engages in. Technology has presented nurses with new opportunities and methods of communication, though there is always some resistance to change within any group. This paper will evaluate some of the current literature in regards to communications among the nursing profession. By knowing what technologies are available, the current thinking on communication, and th e impact of culture and diversity, nurses can elevate the status of their communications and get more value for the time that they spend communicating Literature Review. Bedside Manner Some of the most prevalent and important communications for a nurse takes place between the nurse and the patient. Known traditionally as bedside manner, these may be critical instructions on self-care, or may be the casual words that offer the patient hope, support, comfort, and esteem. A nurse may be viewed as being positive and caring by being compassionate, genuine, and sympathetic, or alternately display the negative traits of arrogance, rudeness, or indifference (Person and Finch 6-7). This alters not only a patient's view of the hospital and its level of care, but may also have more lasting implications. According to Person and Finch, "the patient's perception of provider bedside manner impacts health status, satisfaction, and compliance" (Person and Finch 1). A nurse may need to communicate instructions that are necessary to maintain the patient's follow up care after they have been discharged from the hospital. This may be in a context where death, illness, and family wishes need to be considered from a cultural vantage point. The nurse may be the most vital actor in explaining and clarifying the information that the physician gave a patient during a hurried period of anxiousness (Ufema 70). The nurse can bridge the critical gap between 'cure' and 'care', and begin to communicate in terms of peace and closure, rather than the more technical language that might be expected from a physician (Ufema 70). If the

An Appraisal of Martin Parr's 'Think of England' Publication Essay

An Appraisal of Martin Parr's 'Think of England' Publication - Essay Example Residents and workers in the areas surrounding the Chernobyl Power Plant were exposed to radiation levels one hundred times higher than the Hiroshima Bomb. At the publication date of Legacy, and still today in 2009, Chernobyls menacing results are still very evident. Darwells photographs ultimately offer a thoughtful and skilled presentation of a series of polarities: the visible effects of the invisible radiation; the simultaneous presence and absence of humanity; the past and the future of the Chernobyl area. It will be thousands of years before the decaying isotopes will allow safe habitation. The inside cover of Legacy is made up of dark grey letters on light grey paper with an alphabetic SPREAD of words, such as Atom Bomb, Beryllium, Black Rain, Cancer, and Chernobyl (depicted in white). The list ends with the words The Nuclear Age, also in white. Darwell’s choice of colors, or better yet, lack of color, allows the important words to jump off the page as the reader opens the book. Turning the page, the end paper reads; LEGACY - photographs inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, and offer a kind of warning or foreshadowing of what is to come in the following pages. This definitely sets a tone for the book, and creates a mood before the pictorial tour begins. Elegantly stretching it’s metal spires upwards to the sky, the Chernobyl Power Plant towers appear graceful and architectural, like latticed works of sculpture. Set against a violet sky, its black silhouette resembles the framework of an erecting cathedral. During the race to harness nuclear energy, these towers were considered to be visions of progress and hope for the future. Darwell’s photographic distance from the subject succeeds in juxtaposing its skeletal beauty against its cataclysmic destructive force. How ironic that a structure that caused so much death and