Designing a house Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Designing a house - Essay Example The building is built on a relatively stable ground and therefore it foundation was a shallow type of foundation. The foundation is concrete mixed poured on a steel reinforcement to an averagely thick slab. The wall was constructed from locally prepared bricks that were arranged in interlocking configuration. The second slap separate the ground floor from the first floor and is concrete reinforced. The roof is joined to the 300mm thick ring beam through metallic straps. Roof is made from iron sheets joined onto the wooden struts through iron sheet nails. The roof has provision left that could be used in the future to introduce tiles. The paper therefore look into the design considerations in coming up with up with the said building using the right material and incorporating the right technical knowledge. According to Shlash (2001) the design of the foundation takes into the consideration the amount of floors the building will have, the land alignment (topography) and the type of soil. The weight of the foundation is normally taken by the soil underneath where the load is spread. Therefore the total load is transmitted to the footing where it is spread and is expected to be carried by the land surface underneath. Therefore they must have had excavated the foundation to a point where the basement rock started to get the right bearing capacity so that the overall load doesn’t have a large displacement. Apart from the natural soil stability, they had to find the right building material for the foundation which could carry the large amount of load. They had to make sure the ring needs to be able to carry the required amount of load and must: In this project the material used is concrete hence it must have the recommended thickness and strength to transfer the load top the bottom surface and the reinforcement must be properly placed to give the right construction stability and positioning (Shlash, 2001). The building is located

A View From A Bridge - analysis of act i scene 5 Essay Example for Free

A View From A Bridge analysis of act i scene 5 Essay I have chosen Nicolas cage because he is strong but not very strong and he has a good American accent. This scene is probably the most important scene of the play as there is so much action and it is the first real time you see any conflict between the characters. The scene starts when the characters have just finished their dinner and they start talking about Italy and what is like there, but it is a short lived conversation as Rodolpho and Eddie soon have a full fledged argument. After the argument Eddie offers Marco and Rodolpho some tickets to watch boxing and then offers to teach Rodolpho how to box but it looks more like Eddie is questioning Rodolpho about his sexuality. Even though Marco was on Eddie s side (You come home early now. ) before the boxing he catches on to Eddies scheme of making Rodolpho look weak and shows his supremacy over Eddie in strength by lifting a chair with one hand when Eddie could not, this is to stop Eddie making Rodolpho look like a fool. The five characters in this scene are: Eddie, Marco, Rodolpho, Beatrice and Catherine. Eddie has the most active part in the scene with fighting arguing and just talking about Italy. He starts off the scene by talking to Marco about Marcos jobs (They pay all right on them boats? ) and other things in Italy such as oranges and lemons (I heard they paint oranges to make them look orange). He then starts arguing with Rodolpho about Catherine and how late she has been staying out recently (she was never out on the street till twelve oclock at night). He then tries to make Rodolpho look bad by teaching him how to box and stunning Rodolpho briefly (he feints with his left and lands with his right. It mildly staggers Rodolpho. ). The scenes end and as Marco lifts the chair Eddie starts to look worried as Marco looks triumphant (Marco is face to face with Eddie, a strained tension gripping his eyes and jaw, his neck stiff, the chair raised like a weapon over Eddies head-and he transforms what might appear like a glare of warning into a smile of triumph, and Eddies grin vanishes as he absorbs the look). Marco seems to be a quiet but strong figure in a household and has quite a lot to do. Marco begins the scene talking about his wife and kids (Beatrice: Your wife is gettin the money alright, Marco? Marco: Oh, yes. She bought medicine for my boy. ), jobs and Italy in general, he is also reading a letter from his wife (He has been reading a letter. ). He then watches as Eddie and Rodolpho argue and box and then stands as Rodolpho staggers (Marco rises. ). Originally Marco tries to calm it down subtly, (No, Beatrice if he does wrong you must tell him. What does he do wrong? ) but by the end of the scene he obviously thinks that he needs to show to Eddie who is boss. Rodolpho begins the scene by trying and failing to enter the conversation about Italy (Once we went to Yugoslavia.), but just ends up aggravating Eddie and getting himself into a large argument with Eddie (Rodolpho: Its more strict in our town. Its not so free. Eddie: It aint so free here either, Rodolpho, like you think. ). He then gets taught to fight by Eddie and gets his own back by dancing with Catherine (Dance Catherine come), while earlier he knew there was tension and did not want to dance incase he would aggravate Eddie (Catherine: you wanna dance, Rodolpho? Rodolpho: No I-Im tired). Beatrice: right from the beginning you can tell that Beatrice is on the side of Catherine and Rodolpho (Go ahead, dance, Rodolpho. ), but she starts off the scene by joining in the conversation about Italy and Marcos life and family. She always seems to be the peacemaker (Thats enough, Eddie; he did pretty good, though. ) although she is on the side of Rodolpho and Catherine ( She watches them dance; Eddie turns his head away. ). She then looks on as Marco lifts the chair when Eddie could not (Beatrice and Eddie watch him. ). Finally Catherine: she is probably the most important character in this scene, not so much for her lines but for the reason that she is the subject that the other characters are arguing about (I have respect for her, Eddie. I do anything wrong? ). At the beginning of the scene she tries to get Rodolpho and Eddie talking (They went to Africa once. On a fishing boat [Eddie glances at her. ] Its true Eddie. ), but it just makes Eddie talk to Marco. She then is called upon to back up Rodolpho by Beatrice but seems to be shy (Beatrice: Well, you said the movie ended late, didnt you? Catherine: Yeah. ). She end s the scene by dancing with Rodolpho (Rodolpho takes her in his arms. They dance.) and then watches the fight for supremacy (Rodolpho and Catherine have stopped dancing as Marco raises the chair over his head. ). Since the beginning of the United States of America, it has been known as a unified country and as a country of with no hereditary class barrier, yet the American world has changed since the 1800s. Until 1880 anyone who had enough money to get there could get into America. Even though the government put restrictions on the amount of immigrants allowed to enter the country, 23. 5 million new immigrants entered America from 1880 -1920, most of these immigrants where Irish, Italian or Jewish from Eastern Europe. In 1920 almost 70% of New York people were immigrants or children of immigrants. This resulted in large ghettos of ethnic communities all over New York. Even though America was meant to be the land where every one had equal rights, many people were racist. The government tried to change their people instead of accepting them: Cultural Assimilation. They were forced to learn English and change from their own ways to the customs of America. In 1950 the Displaced Persons Commission enforced a huge intelligence investigation into immigrants in America. Their purpose was to try and get rid of all illegal immigrants in American society, this leads on to the question that Arthur Miller brings up in the play about loyalty and what it means to be an American and as this play was written in the 1950s this whole story is relevant to what was happening at that time in America. Immigrants were also thought to be members of fascist or communist parties in 1940, by 1950 anti-communism was so intense that members of the government such as senator Joe McCarthy and Richard Nixon took advantage of peoples strong feelings and gained power from their exploits. McCarthy had so much power that he was able to accuse anybody and get him or her sent to prison or even executed. This resulted in a witch-hunt, because anyone could be accused on the slightest excuse what so ever. Many famous people where accused of being a communist, even the author of this play, Arthur Miller, was accused but he was one of the lucky ones by getting off scot free (probably because he married Marilyn Monroe). Other famous people included many movie directors and scriptwriters who were some of the early victims, they were given the nickname The Hollywood Ten. All this anti-communism resulted in thousands losing their jobs and losing any chance of getting another one and was one of the great injustices of the twentieth century.

Essay --

In Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre both examine the thematic element of the role of women in society. In the Victorian Era, women were held to very narrow gender roles. While the era was in midst of a drastic change regarding gender equality, towards a 'modern' concept of equality, the process was not achieved (Marsh). A women's place during the Victorian Era was meant to be in the home as a wife and a mother (Abrams). Like today, a women could either be considered pure or impure. A pure women would be considered quiet, passive and loyal whereas an impure woman would be considered a disgrace and expendable (Appell). Both Jane Eyre and Dracula have many of these elements in the characters. In Bronte's novel Jane Eyre, Jane is considered the ultimate image of a Victorian Era women where Bertha is the impure woman. In Dracula, Mina is the image of a Victorian Era women, much like Jane. Lucy, on the other hand, is considered an impure character. Thr ough the main characters in Jane Eyre and Dracula, the ideas of what a Victorian women should be, and the idea of what a women should not be are shown. With the lead character in Bronte's novel Jane Eyre, there is the ultimate image of a Victorian Era women. Jane is considered to be a plain, quiet, passive, and simple minded woman; yet she is intelligent and sophisticated. "if she were a nice, pretty child, one might compassionate her forlornness; but one really cannot care for such a little toad as that" (Bronte 22). The novel begins with Jane as a rebellious young girl reading a book, and being punished. "You have no business to take our books; you are a dependant, mama says; you have no money; your father left you none; you ought to beg, and not to live here ... ...torian Era. Bram Stoker uses Mina and Lucy, like Charlotte Bronte uses Jane and Bertha, to show the Victorian Era belief about the roles of women in society. The social construct of the time involved women to be inferior to men in all areas of life, with the exception of being a mother. Through Mina and Jane, Bram Stoker and Charlotte Bronte show the ideal Victorian woman. Whereas Lucy and Bertha are shown as the opposite of ideal, and in the end die to show the restore of order. Both, Jane Eyre and Dracula, have the same aspects of what defines a Victorian Era woman. It is shown, through Dracula, women can fall from their place in society and unless there is a man to put them back there is no hope for return. Through the main characters in Jane Eyre and Dracula, the ideas of what a Victorian women should be, and the idea of what a women should not be are shown. Essay -- In Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre both examine the thematic element of the role of women in society. In the Victorian Era, women were held to very narrow gender roles. While the era was in midst of a drastic change regarding gender equality, towards a 'modern' concept of equality, the process was not achieved (Marsh). A women's place during the Victorian Era was meant to be in the home as a wife and a mother (Abrams). Like today, a women could either be considered pure or impure. A pure women would be considered quiet, passive and loyal whereas an impure woman would be considered a disgrace and expendable (Appell). Both Jane Eyre and Dracula have many of these elements in the characters. In Bronte's novel Jane Eyre, Jane is considered the ultimate image of a Victorian Era women where Bertha is the impure woman. In Dracula, Mina is the image of a Victorian Era women, much like Jane. Lucy, on the other hand, is considered an impure character. Thr ough the main characters in Jane Eyre and Dracula, the ideas of what a Victorian women should be, and the idea of what a women should not be are shown. With the lead character in Bronte's novel Jane Eyre, there is the ultimate image of a Victorian Era women. Jane is considered to be a plain, quiet, passive, and simple minded woman; yet she is intelligent and sophisticated. "if she were a nice, pretty child, one might compassionate her forlornness; but one really cannot care for such a little toad as that" (Bronte 22). The novel begins with Jane as a rebellious young girl reading a book, and being punished. "You have no business to take our books; you are a dependant, mama says; you have no money; your father left you none; you ought to beg, and not to live here ... ...torian Era. Bram Stoker uses Mina and Lucy, like Charlotte Bronte uses Jane and Bertha, to show the Victorian Era belief about the roles of women in society. The social construct of the time involved women to be inferior to men in all areas of life, with the exception of being a mother. Through Mina and Jane, Bram Stoker and Charlotte Bronte show the ideal Victorian woman. Whereas Lucy and Bertha are shown as the opposite of ideal, and in the end die to show the restore of order. Both, Jane Eyre and Dracula, have the same aspects of what defines a Victorian Era woman. It is shown, through Dracula, women can fall from their place in society and unless there is a man to put them back there is no hope for return. Through the main characters in Jane Eyre and Dracula, the ideas of what a Victorian women should be, and the idea of what a women should not be are shown.

Research on Amanda Todd: Cyberbullying Essay

Todd’s suicide received widespread, international media coverage, much of which included a link to Todd’s YouTube video and an email address provided by the RCMP appealing for information from the public. Within 24 hours of the appeal, over 400 tips were received.[9] The RCMP has stated that its investigation was hindered by the amount of false information in online postings after Todd’s death, and scams claiming to raise money for her family. Amanda Todd, a 15-year-old Canadian schoolgirl hanged herself, last week, after years of unrelenting abuse by peers and online predators, one of whom persuaded her to flash her breasts and then shared the picture around the world. In a personal video posted on the internet weeks before her death, Amanda told her story of â€Å"struggling, bullying, suicide, self-harm†. The sexual bullying of women and girls online is not a new phenomenon and Amanda’s story is not unusual. A quick search shows hundreds of simil ar videos of tormented young women across the world telling intimate tales of loneliness and abuse, often by bullies who use the internet to ogle and harass women and girls with impunity. What is unusual is that this week, a fight back began. Since her suicide, more than one million Facebook users have â€Å"liked† Todd’s Facebook memorial page.[9][33][34] Mingled among the positive support and comments are continuing attack posts and images from strangers and those claiming to be her former classmates, such as a message stating â€Å"I’m so happy she’s dead now.† [9] After one man’s derogatory Facebook comments about Todd’s death were reported to his employer, the Grafton-Fraser Mr. Big & Tall clothing chain confirmed that he was no longer an employee Of course, the problem is far bigger than a few isolated creeps. The problem is a culture that persecutes women and girls for being visible online and in the physical world. Until bullies everywhere, in schools, on the internet and in positions of power, get the message that sexual abuse and harassment of women and girls has real, tangible consequences for them as well as for their victims, vigilante e-justice will remain the only effective way for women and their supporters to hit back.

Implementing Change Paper Essay

In any organization, the manager wears many hats. Their responsibilities go beyond just managing a group of people. On top of managing, they have to be communicators, coaches, and advocates, just to name a few of the many hats. Part of being an effective communicator includes reporting and implanting changes that may come down from upper management. Change can bring out many emotions in people, like anxiety. How a manager handles the change and implements it within their department can either make their people feel good about it, or heighten their concerns (â€Å"Managers And Supervisors: Importance And Role†, 2014). What is the manager’s role and responsibility in implementing change in the department? When implementing change within a department, there are specific responsibilities that a manager must uphold. First and foremost, it is important for the manager to inform the employees of what is going on and most importantly as soon as possible. When employees sense th at there may be a change, it often causes panic. When the employees aren’t sure of what exactly is going on, it allows their minds to run wild with all the possibilities and often times they are negative. Therefore, it is important they are given all the necessary information up front before they have time to assume what is going to happen (Scott, 2014). Once all the relevant information has been relayed and the employees understand all the changes that are going to take place, the manager then needs to switch into support mode. They need to be able to support their entire team through the process that is about to unfold. For example, this is important if the change will bring a heavier workload. The manager will need to provide support to the team so that they will adjust to the change as seamlessly as possible. Lastly, overall good management techniques are important when a change is being implemented. Managers should be aware of over and under managing the situation. Also, implementing a rewards program can also help ease the stress of the change (Scott, 2014). How should a manager  successfully handle staff resistance to change? A resistance to the change is bound to happen and should be expected from at least a few employees. A manager’s skills are put to the test when this happens and it is vital that they handle this situation appropriately. Resistance can come in many different forms. For example, there may be an increased number of people quitting, hostility, and in extreme cases, strikes. Any type of resistance can be troublesome for the management teams, which is why it is imperative that it is handled quickly and appropriately. For starters, the management team needs to understand that some resistance is desirable because it will help the change to be more effective. Employees who question the change in a non-malicious manner could ultimately help to refine the plans of change. Secondly, a good manager will realize that not all of their employees will respond the same to the changes and should be treated accordingly. Sometimes the resistance may come because the employees may not understand the purpose of the changes. The fix for this could be as simple as sitting down with those employees that are having trouble adjusting and thoroughly going over everything. This would include explaining why, how, and when the changes will be taking place. Define each step of the change process: assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation The change process includes four steps, assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation. These steps can help make the change process an easier transition. According to Sull ivan and Decker (2009), â€Å"Emphasis is placed on the assessment phase of change for two reasons. Without data collection and analysis, planned change will not proceed past the â€Å"wouldn’t it be a good idea if† stage† (Sullivan & Decker, 2009, â€Å"Chapter 5, Initiating and Implementing Change, The Change Process†). Change does not have to come from only a problem, it can also come from an opportunity. Once the problem or opportunity has been properly identified, internal and external data can be collected. Many factors will have to be examined, like who would benefit from the changes and the costs associated with the changes. Once all the data has been collected, it is imperative that it gets analyzed. A statistical analysis could prove even more beneficial especially if it is presented visually, with either graphs or charts. Once a direction has been established, the next part in the process can begin. In the planning stage, the who, when, and how of the change are determined and the target area is decided. Those in the target  are should be act ively involved with the planning stage. Doing so will hopefully lessen the chances of resistance later on. In the next stage, which is implementation, the plan is put into motion. There are two different methods for change; changing an individual and changing a group. Information giving is the most common method used in changing an individuals’ attitudes and values. According to Sullivan and Decker (2009), â€Å"providing information is prerequisite to change implementation, but it is inadequate unless lack of information is the only obstacle effecting change† (Sullivan & Decker, 2009, â€Å"Chapter 5, Initiating and Implementing Change, The Change Process†). Just giving information does not give the reason for the change. Another method that can be considered to change individuals is training. This method combines information giving and actual skill practice. As for methods to change groups, â€Å"The greatest influence is achieved when group members discuss issues that are perceived as important and make relevant, binding decisions based on those discussions† (Sullivan & Decker, 2009, â€Å"Chapter 5, Initiating and Implementing Change, The Change Process†). Individual and group methods can be combined. Whichever methods are used, everyone involved should feel as though their input is important and be rewarded accordingly. The final step in the process is the evaluation. It is important to monitor the change to ensure that it the presumed benefits are being achieved financially and qualitatively. Although some outcomes may be undesirable, those too must be examined. If there are problems, they can be reevaluated and corrected. Change is never an easy process to go through. Everyone handles it differently and it often comes with feelings of fear and anxiety. This is especially true for organizations as managers play a large role when it comes to implementing the changes. There are many skills that one must possess in order to do this properly and without much backlash. It is always to be expected that retaliation will come from some in the organization, but the managers have the ability to control the extent of it. By going through the ch ange process and spending quality time on each step, retaliation can be kept to a minimum. Managers and supervisors: importance and role. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.change-management.com/tutorial-job-roles-mod4.htmNichols, V. (n.d.). How you should handle resistance to change. Retrieved from  http://www.hrzone.com/feature/people/how-you-should-handle-resistance-change/141253Scott, G. (2014). What Is the Manager Role and Responsibility in Implementing Change Within the Department?. Retrieved from http://work.chron.com/manager-role-responsibility-implementing-change-within-department-26671.htmlSullivan, E.J., & Decker, P.J. (2009). Effective leadership management nursing (7th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.

The American Revolution and Independence Day Celebration

The American Revolution and Independence Day Celebration Introduction Every Fourth of July, all Americans celebrate the Declaration of independence. Marina in his article â€Å"Only a third of Americans supported the American Revolution† wonders what exactly is celebrated on this day, especially when one considers the fact that the US is usually involved in bringing democracy in the world. He argues that he does not really understand why a country such as the US pretends to be democratic in the world when the American Revolution, in itself, was not a democratic movement.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on The American Revolution and Independence Day Celebration specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This article will help us understand the American Revolution and determine whether Americans have a reason to celebrate Independency Day every Fourth of July or not, whether all American supported the war, and whether the Revolution taints American image in its democratic inter ventions in the world. The American Revolution The American Revolution witnessed the first of many wars that ended European control of both South and North America. Many of us American celebrate the Independency Day believing that all Americans fought or supported the war to independence. This article shows that actually not every American supported the revolutionary war, or in other words, not all Americans sided with fellow Americans in the war. The author Marina shows that not all Americans favored the war. This was mostly pronounced in areas occupied by mixed races and those that had not been affected by the war. Two specific regions stood out, these were the two loyal colonies to Britain, Quebec and Florida. Records show that there were fifteen British colonies in America, meaning that thirteen colonies didn’t like the way the British was ruling with the exception of Florida and Quebec. It is also shown that many Native Americans sided with the British because the coloni al power promised to protect their land from the American settlers. One notable Native American who supported the British was Joseph Brant who worked with the British as their translator and fought alongside them in the war.[1] The author claimed that a letter written by John Adams during the war indicated that only a third of Americans supported the revolution, a third did not support it, and the other third were either neutral or indifferent to the revolution. The author further shows that the British also had the same view, a fact the compelled them to venture into the interior with the hope that they would find British loyalists there. They strongly believed that just a few rebellious Americans wanted independence from them. This letter has been held to be true by many intellectuals in America for many years. However, Marina says that a close look at the letter shows that its writer was emphatic about the neutral part, which, he said were lukewarm to the French and the British. He therefore concludes that the Revolutionary war was not just a war for independence, but it also determined the type of nation that would be formed out of the war.[2]Advertising Looking for article on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For us to understand better the American Revolution, Marina splits it into three phases. The first was the debate over the freedoms or liberties of Americans after the war. The second phase he called it the issue of independence and the ensuing war to win it. The last phase was the eventual formation of an American nation. This last phase was not achieved until after the civil war. He has also shown us that majority of the Americans were against the Stamp Act of 1765. This Act led to the British occupation of Boston, an act that led to the 1770 Boston Massacre, the 1773 tea party and many opposition acts. For a while the British thought that end of protests meant victory on the ir part, but this was just the opposite because American militias were busy organizing themselves in the villages. They eventually waged war which ended British rule in America.[3] This author has tried to answer the question as to whether all Americans supported the revolutionary war by showing that only a third of Americans supported the war. He has not conclusively tackled this issue; instead he ends by promising that this will be the subject of another article. The question on whether Americans should celebrate Independence Day or not has not been answered. He also leaves us in suspense regarding America’s intervention in the democratic process in the world. He only briefly mentions that America’s independence war was not democratic. He also alludes to it when he mentions that the British thought that the end of protests meant victory to them, just as what happened to America and the issue in the Middle East. Marina has only given us part of what happened, he has n ot resolved the issues he started with, in other words, he has just given open-ended answers that need more research to better understand what really occurred.[4] Conclusion Although, this article does not answer all the questions, it has at least raised my curiosity about the American history, whether everyone supported it, whether we should celebrate Independence Day, and whether we should be the one advocating for democracy in the world. This gives me reason to read more for a better clarification of these issues. Bibliography History, Wiz. â€Å"Native Americans and the American Revolution.† History wiz, 2008. Web. Marina, William. â€Å"Only 1/3rd of Americans Supported the American Revolution?† History News Network, 2004. Web.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on The American Revolution and Independence Day Celebration specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Footnotes History Wiz, â€Å"Native Americans and the American Revolution.† (History Wiz, 2008) Marina William, â€Å"Only 1/3rd of Americans Supported the American Revolution?† (History News Network, 2004) Marina William, â€Å"Only 1/3rd of Americans Supported the American Revolution?† (History News Network, 2004) Marina William, â€Å"Only 1/3rd of Americans Supported the American Revolution?† (History News Network, 2004)

Our Future on Mars Essays - Exploration Of Mars, Free Essays

Our Future on Mars Essays - Exploration Of Mars, Free Essays July 28, 2015 10:30 AM Our Future on Mars General Purpose: To inform Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about our future on Mars Thesis Statement: Knowing, in depth, about the Mars missions, how we are possibly planning on terraforming the planet, and our ultimate future on Mars, can open your mind to the possibilities that are out there for humanity. Introduction I. We will have to leave Earth one day. The only home weve ever known. II. My name is Daniel Beheshti and I will be instructing you all about our future Mars. III. I am a world renowned Astrophysicist. Graduated from UC Berkeley with PhD. IV. We will be going over the Mars missions, how we are developing ways of terraforming Mars, and our overall future on the planet, re-cap, Q & A (Now, lets learn about the Mars Mission) Body I. Mars Missions A.The crew will be designed a rocket by a manufacturer, and be sent into orbit. There will be six groups of four astronauts who will be sent over to Mars, in 2024. B.NASA will also be sending more and more people following the Mars One mission, starting in 2026. (Next, lets talk about possibly transforming Mars into a habitable zone.) II. Terraforming A.DARPA is creating organisms that will be able to sustain life, and further the life, over time. B.Essentially, we are picking and choosing the best genes from whatever forms of life, and creating something entirely new. (I think wed all like to know our future on the planet.) III. Our Future A.The lack of a magnetic field on Mars is the real problem. Radiation finds its way onto the surface, harming anything in sight. B.We are on path to becoming a multi-planet species. Earth will, one day, be so disastrous, if a meteor or some natural occurrence has not claimed us. Humanity has a long way to go. (I hope I have enlightened all of you on some of the really interesting plans being made at the moment.) Conclusion I.Knowing, in depth, about the Mars missions, how we are possibly planning on terraforming the planet, and our ultimate future on Mars, can open your mind to the possibilities that are out there for humanity. II.We have gone over what they are planning to accomplish when they get there, how life would be able to grow on the planet, and how our species will comply when it is tested. III.Maybe leaving Earth is for the best. We were brought up on this planet, but there is so much out there. Id say theres almost too much, really. Maybe, this will be the start of some new Star Trek space traveling species. References Des Marais, D. (2010, December) Exploring Mars for Evidence of Habitable. Proceedings of the american philosophical society, 154 (4), 400-403. 2020 Mission plans. (2014, August). Retrieved from http://mars.nasa.gov/prog rammissions/missions/future/mars2020/ Koebler, J. (2015, June 24). DARPA: We are engineering the organisms that will terraform mars. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://motherboard.vice.com/read/da rpa-we-are-engineering-the-organisms-that-will-terraform-mars Portree, D. (2001). Humans to mars fifty years of mission planning, 19502000. Washington DC: Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Rhian, J. (2011, August 10). SpaceX: Mars is our future. (n.d.). Retrieved from universetoday.com/88060/spacex-mars-is-our-future/ 5 things we need to know about the mission to mars. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV0xM8XH_bs

Understanding How the Earths First Forests Developed

Understanding How the Earth's First Forests Developed The vascular plant emerged around 400 million years ago and started Earths forest-building process during the Silurian geologic period. Although not yet a true tree, this new member of the terrestrial plant kingdom became the perfect evolutionary link (and the largest plant species) with developing tree parts and considered the first proto-tree. Vascular plants developed the ability to grow large and tall with massive weight needed for the support of a vascular internal plumbing system. The First Trees The earths first real tree continued to develop during the Devonian period and scientists think that tree was probably the extinct ​Archaeopteris. This tree species followed later by other tree types became the definitive species comprising a forest during the late Devonian period. As I have mentioned, they were the first plants to overcome the biomechanical problems of supporting additional weight while delivering water and nutrients to fronds (leaves) and roots. Entering the Carboniferous period around 360 million years ago, trees were prolific and a major part of the plant life community, mostly located in coal-producing swamps. Trees were developing the parts that we immediately recognize today. Of all the trees that existed during the Devonian and Carboniferous, only the tree fern can still be found, now living in Australasian tropical rainforests. If you happen to see a fern with a trunk leading to a crown, you have seen a tree fern. During that same geologic period, now extinct trees including clubmoss and giant horsetail were also growing. Evolution of the Gymnosperms and Angiosperms Primitive conifers were the next three species to appear in ancient forests around 250 million years ago (the late Permian to Triassic). Many trees, including the cycads and monkey-puzzle tree, can be found around the world and are easily recognized. Interestingly, the very familiar ginkgo trees ancestor appeared during this geologic period and the fossil record shows the old and the new to be identical. Arizonas petrified forest was a product of the rise of the first conifers or gymnosperms, and exposed fossilized logs are crystallized remains of the tree species Araucarioxylon arizonicum. There was another type of tree, called an angiosperm or hardwood, making headway during the early Cretaceous or about 150 million years ago. They appeared at about the same time geologists think the earth was breaking up from a single continent called the Pangaea and dividing into smaller ones (Laurasia and Gondwanaland). Early into that Tertiary period, hardwoods exploded and diversified themselves on each new continent. That is probably the reason hardwoods are so unique and numerous across the globe. Our Present Evolutionary Forest Few dinosaurs ever made a meal on hardwood leaves because they were rapidly disappearing before and during the beginning of the new age of hardwoods (95 million years ago). Magnolias, laurels, maples, sycamores, and oaks were the first species to proliferate and dominate the world. Hardwoods became the predominant tree species from mid-latitudes through the tropics while conifers were often isolated to the high-latitudes or the lower latitudes bordering the tropics. Not a lot of change has happened to trees in terms of their evolutionary record since the palms made their first appearance 70 million years ago. Fascinating are several tree species that simply defy the extinction process and show no indication that they will change in another dozen million years. I mentioned ginkgo earlier but there are others: dawn redwood, Wollemi pine, and monkey puzzle tree.

Energy needs in Australia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Energy needs in Australia - Research Paper Example At the same time, there is the issue of the global climate change and its effects on the environment. These factors are likely to affect the economic activity, as well as reduce the available revenue. Also, Australia’s population is expected to be about 35.9 million people by the year 2050. This directly translates to higher energy needs. Therefore, a comprehensive research is necessary in order to determine the energy needs that Australia has and how they can be sustained in the future. B. Significance of the Study Australia is a modern technological society. This means that the country makes a considerable use of energy in order to make the lives of its citizens better and more enjoyable. With a growing population, the use of energy will also increase. The growing populations also have to live better and enjoyable lives. Most people have been dependent on oil and other fossil fuels. However, these are energy resources that will be depleted at some point or the other. Therefo re, addressing the energy needs in Australia helps in developing ways, solutions, and policies that will enable Australia to meet its future energy needs. This study is significant in providing a clear picture of the energy situation in Australia, as well as the expected energy consumption in the near future. These details are important in developing both short term and long term measures to meet the energy needs in Australia. C. Research Hypotheses Australia’s energy consumption will increase significantly in the next 10 to 20 years. Also, this increase in energy consumption will be confronted by a pressing need to decrease greenhouse emissions and reduce climate change. Australia’s energy needs will also have to move away from the polluting and diminishing... Several studies have been conducted regarding the situation of energy in various parts of the world. These studies are aimed at adopting measures that are likely to ensure energy security, as well as sustainable development. In addressing future energy needs, it is difficult to separate energy and sustainable development. This is because countries are working towards reducing carbon emissions. This means shifting focus from the burning of hydrocarbons in fossil fuels to the much cleaner renewable and more efficient sustainable sources of energy. This section seeks to perform a review of literature on previous research.In his book Our Energy Future, Justin Healey samples some facts regarding energy in Australia and the world over. According to Healey, Australia’s total energy consumption has more than doubled over the past thirty years. He also notes that the consumption of energy per person has risen by about 40 percent. Australia ushered in the 21st century as one of the worl d’s leading economies. The country has recorded high labor and general productivity, sustained economic growth, and a strong environmental record. These aspects have ensured the continued prosperity for the country. The energy sector has been a key player in this success. It is through the development of the vast energy resources that Australia boasts of, that citizens have access too low-cost energy. It has also attracted a considerable export income. An effective response to global and domestic environmental issues.

Are Social Networking (Facebook, Twitter Etc) Sites Effective Means of Literature review

Are Social Networking (Facebook, Twitter Etc) Sites Effective Means of Recruitment - Literature review Example The users of the social networking sites are able to engage in real time communication through text based or cam based or even voice based interaction irrespective of their location. The social networking sites are internet based applications that allow the users to engage into useful communication through the virtual platform that could be accessed with the use of electronic devices like computer terminals, notebooks, mobiles, etc (Zhang, Johnson and Seltzer, 2010, p.81). The social networking have brought about changes in the outlook of the society as they have inclined towards the online mode of communication due to the benefits in terms of time , cost, energy, etc. The young people of the society have shown the greatest interest towards the use of social networking sites (Henderson and Bowley, 2010, p.248). The social networking sites like the Facebook, Twitter, etc. not only form a part of their personal and private lives but also emerged as tools for fulfilling career aspiratio n. The people have started to increase their online presence in order to pursue the career that they desire (Backstrom, Huttenlocher and Kleinberg, 2006, p.42). Needless to say, the social networking sites have proved to be useful in the process of recruitment of the employers and, therefore, increase the chances of users in getting a job. The social networking sites offer the employers a wide range of information on the candidates who could be eligible for the process of recruitment according to the pre-set criteria. The availability of huge number of profiles which are easily accessible to the employers allows them to filter the apposite candidates to be called for the interview and further stages of recruitment. The social networking sites are also useful to the candidates as it provides wide range of information on the companies through the use of online media applications of Facebook, Twitter, etc (Diani, 2000, p.392). The applicants also get the opportunity to interact with th e existing employees who are available on the social networking platforms. The effectiveness of the social networking sites in the process of recruitment, its advantages and disadvantages could be clearly understood with the help of literature review. E-Recruitment The advent of the internet based applications in the form social networking sites have reinvented the ways of communication in which one engages with another and also in the way in which interaction takes place between the individuals and the organizations in the workplace. In order to keep themselves updated with the modern trend, the employers have also been required to embrace the modern communication practices and use the same in the process of recruitment. The growth e-recruitment or the use of virtual platforms in the social networking sites have taken place in order to keep up with the changing trend of communication (Pfeffer, 2008, p.67). Thus the e-recruitment methods have been adopted by the companies in order t o aid the traditional process of

Who Are the Spellbinders Identifying Personal Attributes of Assignment

Who Are the Spellbinders Identifying Personal Attributes of Charismatic Leaders - Assignment Example ll need much more; they must put in more effort and have a better understanding of the organizational behavior, which, in the long run, increases the company’s performance. The thing that inspired me about the article is the fact that the author refers charismatic leaders to spellbinders, meaning that such leaders have a magnetic personality and vibrant speaking and communication skills, which inspire the people following them to attain greater levels of success and better performance. This is a powerful article that researches more about leadership, and especially so charismatic leaders. Jung and Sosik (2006), suggest that although numerous researches have been done about leadership, not much has been done to understand fully the difference between a regular leader and a charismatic one. The research revealed that charismatic leaders are more respected. This is because they possess a kind of drive that is not found in just any leader. Such a leader is outstanding, and their performance outdoes that of many other leaders. This is true even in an organizational setting, whereby a company that enjoys the leadership of a charismatic leader attains its goals and succeeds in their endeavors. The main conclusions of this research were as follows; a comparison was made between managers who have high against those who have lower ratings of charisma in leadership. The outcome was outstanding. The results showed that the popular thought that charismatic leaders tend to work harder are self-motivated, and self-monitors are true. Jung and Sosik (2006) concluded that managers who keenly participate in impression management and had more motivation about self-actualization was regarded as a charismatic leader. On the other hand, the two groups showed a common interest in their attitude towards change. It was surprising to note that even leaders who are not termed as charismatic were seen as agents of change, because it is an attribute that has been widely associated with

Economic Injustices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Economic Injustices - Essay Example t involves exploitation of children as labor, also they are forced to work for longer hours, paid low wage rates, poor working conditions that endanger their health and they are denied their rights to education. (Liz Stuart (2005)) There are two factors that lead to child labor and they include the demand factor and supply factor, the demand factor refers to the demand by employers to employ children, firms will employ children given that the children are paid less wages, they are more obedient given that they are not members of any labor union and that these children can be coerced to work more hours. The supply factor refers to the supply of labor, children may want to work in order to support their families or even earn a living. An Article by Liz Stuart (2005) provides a good example of child labor, the article states that in 1996 it was discovered that some products that were being sold in Mark & Spencer shops were produced using child labor, it was discovered that the shops were importing cloths from a factory in morocco that employed children aged 12 years, when this was made public the girls were dismissed from the factory. (Liz Stuart (2005)) On going efforts to eliminate child labor include product boycotts, consumers refuse to buy products produced using child labor, in the above example of Mark Spencer the company was afraid of the consequences of a boycott and this is why they stopped employing children. Another effort to stop child labor is the implementation of laws by various organizations, example the UN declaration on children rights regarding child labor. (Katharine Johnson (2004)) Sweatshops refers a factory that employs labor for long hours and at the same time offering low wages, it is an economic injustice given that this is a form of exploitation whereby laborers are forced to work for more hours against their will and also are paid low wage rates. The firms earn large profits as a result of this form of exploitation, due to high

Global Leadership Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Global Leadership Development - Essay Example Wyman enumerates some of the traits that a global leader should possess(2007). He mentions that a global leader should foster growth on a global basis(Wyman, 2007). Moreover, it is essential that he understands the different cultures and must have language skills. Since most organizations now have offices and branches around the world, the global leader must be competent enough to deal with employees of different nationalities. They must be flexible enough to be able to relate with their employees with diverse ages, culture, behaviors, and beliefs. Wyman also stressed that global leaders must think beyond boundaries (2007). Furthermore, they must be able to manage people even if they do not deal with them face to face.Aside from understanding his employees, a global leader must also think the way his worldwide customers do. He must appreciate the needs and wants of his customers who come from various regions.The challenge surrounding the issue of finding global leaders is that some o f these leaders’ capabilities do not necessarily match â€Å"the current emerging business requirements† of their organizations(Wyman, 2007). Another key issue in global leadership development is how to fill the pipeline and identify employees who can work from a global perspective(Wyman, 2007). Organizations must develop the global leadership skills of their employees. Some developmental tools that companies may adopt are assigning them to different jobs, mentoring or coaching, offering international business travel, etc.xposing them to experiential or action learning assignments, introducing international cross-functional teams, giving short and long-term expat assignments, providing language and cross-cultural training and implementing a 360-degree feedback system (Callison, 2011). The challenge faced in this issue is that if these employees are not developed soon, there might be a shortage of leadership talent; thus, creating problems in meeting future business requirements (Wyman, 2007). The third issue confronting global leadership development is the management of the process of gathering relevant information on pote ntial leaders and making decisions on the new roles that will be given to them and the organizational support that will be provided them (Smith, 2007). According to Smith, there are three factors that will help manage the process, namely: 1) executive engagement and ownership; 2) process resonance and simplicity; and 3) the right tools (2007). The executive engagement and ownership means that all executives of the company should be supportive of the program for developing global leaders. Process resonance and simplicity suggests that talent management must be simple and must be aligned with the organizational culture. On the other hand, the right tools refer to the technology utilized in the management of data related to decisions pertaining to the future leaders. The challenge in this issue is top management’s all out support for the development of leaders within the organization. They should not be threatened by the existence of potential leaders and therefore must be willi ng to reinforce the development process of these future leaders.

Module 7 Crisis Intervention Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Module 7 Crisis Intervention - Research Paper Example The reasons for not reporting sexual assaults, although those violated wanted to, also included minor punishments for those military men who would be found guilty by the military court. This was the impression kept in the military. Their superiors might not even report the incident in order to seek justice for the victim. In the military, it is said that the commanding officers serve as the judge. To initiate the investigations and change policies in the military, over a dozen complaints were filed in 2011 alone. Reflecting on these widespread cases of sexual assault in the military, one would have to consider the various possible root causes. If these were not in the military, the victims can simply file their complaint by first reporting the assault to the police force, who will in turn document the incident in preparation for a legal case against the attacker. However, the assaults taking place in the military are different. If the victims complain and their superiors do nothing about it, they can become a laughing stock in the military. There were reports about sexual assaults done not by just one man but by several men. Yet nothing might be done to bring the case to justice. One probable reason could be due to the fact that the commanding officers themselves would be found partly guilty of mismanaging the behaviour of their soldiers. If the soldiers are kept busy doing some things productive, there won’t be opportunities to be idle and tempted. What the victims can do is to avail of free consultations online in order to take full control of the emotions and anger while finding ways to bring the matter to justice. This refers to getting psychological advices as well as legal advices even while in the military, with the condition that such advices are not from outside of the United States, for the purpose of keeping military matters confidential at least to foreigners. That is if the government will eventually allow military personnel to

Global Leadership Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Global Leadership Development - Essay Example Wyman enumerates some of the traits that a global leader should possess(2007). He mentions that a global leader should foster growth on a global basis(Wyman, 2007). Moreover, it is essential that he understands the different cultures and must have language skills. Since most organizations now have offices and branches around the world, the global leader must be competent enough to deal with employees of different nationalities. They must be flexible enough to be able to relate with their employees with diverse ages, culture, behaviors, and beliefs. Wyman also stressed that global leaders must think beyond boundaries (2007). Furthermore, they must be able to manage people even if they do not deal with them face to face.Aside from understanding his employees, a global leader must also think the way his worldwide customers do. He must appreciate the needs and wants of his customers who come from various regions.The challenge surrounding the issue of finding global leaders is that some o f these leaders’ capabilities do not necessarily match â€Å"the current emerging business requirements† of their organizations(Wyman, 2007). Another key issue in global leadership development is how to fill the pipeline and identify employees who can work from a global perspective(Wyman, 2007). Organizations must develop the global leadership skills of their employees. Some developmental tools that companies may adopt are assigning them to different jobs, mentoring or coaching, offering international business travel, etc.xposing them to experiential or action learning assignments, introducing international cross-functional teams, giving short and long-term expat assignments, providing language and cross-cultural training and implementing a 360-degree feedback system (Callison, 2011). The challenge faced in this issue is that if these employees are not developed soon, there might be a shortage of leadership talent; thus, creating problems in meeting future business requirements (Wyman, 2007). The third issue confronting global leadership development is the management of the process of gathering relevant information on pote ntial leaders and making decisions on the new roles that will be given to them and the organizational support that will be provided them (Smith, 2007). According to Smith, there are three factors that will help manage the process, namely: 1) executive engagement and ownership; 2) process resonance and simplicity; and 3) the right tools (2007). The executive engagement and ownership means that all executives of the company should be supportive of the program for developing global leaders. Process resonance and simplicity suggests that talent management must be simple and must be aligned with the organizational culture. On the other hand, the right tools refer to the technology utilized in the management of data related to decisions pertaining to the future leaders. The challenge in this issue is top management’s all out support for the development of leaders within the organization. They should not be threatened by the existence of potential leaders and therefore must be willi ng to reinforce the development process of these future leaders.

Women and Child Welfare and Development Ministry Essay

Women and Child Welfare and Development Ministry - Essay Example A classic use of color technique has been significantly and vigorously applied in the dresses worn by the characters in the ad to demarcate between the sexes – male and female – in a distinctive manner. However, the simple but inappropriate words used in the ad are particularly catchy (the hook). The positioning (layout) of the parents on the sides with their daughter at the center portrays a protective and guidance role bestowed upon parents to the upbringing of their young ones. The relative sizes of the images in the ad are unequal. The parents are relatively taller than their daughter (placed at the center), perhaps to reinforce their positions as the center of admiration and modeling. The inclusive features of the ad authoritatively expose (purpose) to the parents/guardians (the target audience) the likely inflicted injury to young brains impacted by what they hear around them. Children, especially those at the age of school beginners, are usually very attentive to the happenings around them. As a matter of fact, parents/guardians become the initial locus of attention to their children before spreading their wings during later stages of development. Thus, whatever they do or say has the possibility of having a lasting impact in the life of a child.   Being the target audience, the inappropriate words in the ad are specifically associated with them – adults. Indeed as expected, the perceptiveness of a young mind is clearly at work: picking and retaining whatever crosses the ear into the brain (role of the text). Through the ad, a lad pours out what is in the mind: a clear indication that what is absorbed from the surrounding environment influences thoughts. Evidently, a child is not just a passive member of a family but an active partaker of what the environment offers (message). Without a doubt, the ad calls on the parents/guardians (message) to keep watch over their utterance to avoid imparting negative traits to those under their

Study of history Essay Example for Free

Study of history Essay In studying history, the different ways to promulgate data and research in order to define a certain part of helped us recognize facts and claims that are relevant to the issues that we need to clarify. Historians usually interview the witnesses, victims, and heroes of the past to clarify and justify their thoughts and reviews on the different parts of historical accounts in the world. One of the most significant parts of history is slavery. The different kinds of slavery that emerged and developed during the period of colonization made us realize the true essence of our being as we acknowledge the facts and data of the past. Many have suffered and died during this period of struggle. Slavers have gone through different kinds of slaving – in land and water. Land slavery is almost familiars to everybody because it was a phenomenon during colonization but it was an unbelievable revelation that even in the ships of the sea contains hundreds of slaves that could not eat, drink, speak, nor move. However, how do the historians perceive the slave ships? How do they research on this issue? Are they keen to the issue as they uncover the â€Å"whole truth† by using their researchable documents and witnesses? Every person needs to study the past in order to justify the present and future. Nevertheless, are the historical data relevant and complete to signify the important details that we need? We must read and analyze those data by finding flaws and arguments that are necessary to clarify distorted cases and parts of history. Some of the Notable Philosophical Problems in documenting the Event Based on the research on the issue of Slave Ship, many researchers and historians support their materials through interviews and special communication with different witnesses and â€Å"heroes† of the past. Most of the witnesses that they used are church leaders and doctors who went through the voyage along with the slaves. The objective of the research as what I have seen is to show its reader that the research is complete and accurate source of learning from the past because they contain justification from the witness of the slave ships. In the article of the EyeWitness entitled â€Å"Aboard a Slave Ship, 1829,† they used the accounts of Reverend Walsh to show the â€Å"true situation† in a slave ship. â€Å"We join Reverend Walshs account as he boards the slave ship,† (EyeWitness, 2000). Another article stated that the research is an â€Å"original account† of the past that can be use to show the situation of a slave ship. â€Å"Here, for your perusal and research, we present an original 1860 news account of a captured Slave Ship. The Slave Ship was owned by a New York Slave Trader, It was full of Native African Men, Women, and Children, and it was delivering the Cargo to be sold in the South,† (Son of the Ship, 2003). On the other way around, an article entitled â€Å"The Slave Ship: A Human History by Marcus Rediker† showed how Rediker, an author of a significant book that discusses the life in a slave ship justify all the historical accounts that he saw and heard from his interviews and materials. â€Å"Rediker is a distinguished maritime historian whose previous books have used long-neglected primary sources to shed important new light on life around the 18th century Atlantic,† (Rutten, 2008). All the examples above were seen that the objectivity and choice of sources or references should rely on the needs of the readers. They all used people who are familiar and witnesses of the scenario so they could thoroughly define and describe the situation of the slave ship. However, they did not state the issues of the slavers, which are needed to show the side of the slobbers and not the slaves alone. Though they have reached their resolution to uncover or reveal the situation in the ship, they ignored the stand of the slavers why they come up to that kind of situation. It became a bias account in the side of the slaves. Though a reader should have pity on the slaves during those times as they read the situation in a slave ship, the authors and researchers of the document should also speak about the stand of the slavers and on how they are able to do those things. These claims are factual accounts, which is important to justify both sides. Can such problems be avoided? How? These problems can be avoided if the authors and researchers also showed the other situation to compare and contrast the thoughts and ideology of both sides. We all know that the slaves during the period are abundant but we do not know the deeper meaning of slavery. According to Kaltenbacher, Mehta, and Nahas (2008), in their article entitled Antebellum Slavery: Interstate Slave Trade, â€Å"Slaves forcefully pushed together, back to face, lay cramped and helpless on the boat. Their sweating bodies were so close to each other that it was not unlikely to feel the hot breath of another slave stinging the back of one’s neck. † The authors of the article discussed the situation of the slaves. It shows that the different documents tell us about the meaning of slavery its background, and development as years went on. However, it must also be describe in those articles to show the two sides of the situation so that people could thoroughly understand the scenario in a large perspective and concept because the authors only described the sides of the slaves and did not involved the sides of the slavers. Conclusion The hardest part of research is to document the past. Most of us say the term â€Å"past is past. † This is true in most of the time because we could not return to the past especially during the times when paper and pen was still not invented to write all the important details of a certain situation that part of historical events. If we think logically, how can we believe the books, articles, and journals that we read about history if the writers did perceive the event that they wrote? It was the hardest part I guess to educators of history to justify the claim of the past. However, this is also a challenge to discuss the historical events of human life because different perspectives and ideologies emerged as the interaction of both students and teachers are created. References Aboard a Slave Ship, 1829, EyeWitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory. com (2000) Kaltenbacjer, E. et al. (2008). Ship Life. Retrieved on January 21, 2008 from http://cghs. dadeschools. net/slavery/antebellum_slavery/interstate_slave_trade/ship_life. htm Rutten, T. (2008). The Slave Ship: A Human History by Marcus Rediker. Los Angeles Times. http://www. latimes. com/features/books/la-et-rutten2jan02,0,4348521. Son of the South. (2003). Slave Ship. Retrieved on January 21, 2008 from http://www. sonofthesouth. net/slavery/slave-ship. htm.

Relationship Between Business and IT Strategies at PRASA

Relationship Between Business and IT Strategies at PRASA 1 Introduction 4.1 BACKGROUND TO THE RESEARCH PROBLEM For almost three decades practitioners, academics, consultants, and research organizations have identified â€Å"attaining alignment between IT and business† as a pervasive problem, Luftman and Kempaiah (2007). Gutierrez,Nawazish,Orozco,Serrano and Yazdouni (2007) add that despite the wide acceptance of strategic alignment (the strategic use of Information Technology), there is no consensus on how to achieve alignment and with few references that detail the process, there is no common agreement on the term alignment. Terminology such as linkage Henderson and Venkatraman (1993) harmony, integrated, linked, and synchronocity Luftman and Kempaiah (2007) have been suggested and used. Steiner (1979b) points out that there no consensus as to the meaning of strategy in the business world. An example of the definitions which he uses include the following Steiner (1979a): Strategy is that what executives do they that empower the organization. Strategy is the direction the organization takes which is aligned with it’s purposes and missions. Strategy consists of the important activities necessary to realize these directions. Strategy answers the question: What should the organization be doing to achieve success? Strategy answers the question: What are the means to end? Mintzberg (1994), says that people use strategy in several different ways, the most common being: Strategy is a plan, a how, a means of getting from here to there. Strategy is a pattern in actions over time; for example, a company that regularly markets very expensive products is using a high end strategy. Strategy is perspective, that is, vision and direction. Strategy is position; that is, it reflects decisions to offer particular products or services in particular markets. Porter (1998) states that strategy positioning attempts to achieve sustainable competitive advantage by preserving what is distinctive about a company and that strategy, is the creation of a unique and valuable position, involving a different set of activities, requires that trade-offs be made in competing, to chose what not to do and involves creating â€Å"fit† among a company’s activities. Fit has to do with the ways a company’s activities interact and reinforce one another. To improve the strategic management of information technology, Henderson and Venkatraman (1993), developed a framework which they called the Strategic Alignment Model (SAM). This model was defined in terms of four fundamental domains of strategic choice namely business strategy, information technology strategy, organizational infrastructure and processes and information technology infrastructure and processes. The model is defined in terms of two fundamental characteristics of strategic management namely the strategic fit (the interrelationship between external and internal components) and functional integration (integration between business and functional domains). Luftman (2001) improved on the Henderson and Venkatraman (1993) SAM model by developing the Strategic Alignment Maturity Model (SAMM). The model measures IT–business alignment maturity. Six interrelated components for assessing alignment maturity are identified. These are communications, value, governance, partnership, scope and architecture and skills. The scores an organization achieves for these six components of maturity are then compared to a five-level maturity model to denote the organization IT-business alignment maturity Luftman (2001).The levels range from level one to level five where level five is the highest level of maturity. A higher alignment maturity correlates with higher firm performance measures Luftman (2001). Tying performance measures to strategic goals is a critical step Fonvielle and Carr (2001). A tool to measure performance and to align strategic goals within organisations is the Balanced Scorecard (BSC). The BSC was developed by Kaplan and Norton (1992) to overcome the business’s reliance on financial measures. They contend that reliance on only financial measures does not give a complete overview of the organisations measures. The BSC provided a framework to look at strategy, used for value creation from four different perspectives these being financial, customer, internal business process and innovation and learning Kaplan and Norton (1992).One of the principles recommended by the authors, is that for an organization to be focused on strategy, there needs to be alignment among departments to the strategy of the organisation. The alignment sequence recommended by Kaplan and Norton (2006) starts when the corporate headquarters articulates enterprise value proposition that wil l create synergies among operating units, support units and external partners. This sequence includes aligning IT strategy with the business strategy. 4.1 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM Business and IT strategies at PRASA need to be better aligned. 4.1 What is passenger rail agency of south africa (PRASA)? Appendix A, gives a comprehensive overview of the historical context and the introduction of PRASA taken from the companie’s business plan. Following is a summary of the key issues PRASA was created by Government to advance its agenda for the transformation of the public transport system into a vibrant, efficient one, As part of its strategy, PRASA (2009), to secure the future of its business, PRASA will focus its resources and energies during the current medium term expenditure framework (METF) on the following three Strategic Priorities: Service Excellence within Metrorail, Shosholoza Meyl and Autopax Property and Asset Development, and Technology Upgrade or Modernization of its key transport systems The key objectives identified by Government in addressing the challenges of passenger rail transport moving forward PRASA (2009) are as follows: Sustainable passenger rail service delivery; Improved performance of passenger rail services in terms of the quality and levels of services to passengers; Improved efficiency in the delivery of services; Improved effectiveness of asset management; Effective targeting of subsidies to achieve desired socio-economic transport objectives; Improved oversight by Government; and Improved accountability to the users. 4.1 Why prasa? PASSENGER TRANSPORT CHANGE IMPERATIVES 1..1 The Public Transport Challenge After many years of neglect, the existing commuter transport system, inherited from the apartheid past, has reached saturation levels and is unable to satisfy passenger demands while its infrastructure is not able to meet the requirements of a rapidly changing and modern society. The dysfunctional institutional arrangements have meant poor accountability in the provision of public transport services, which were found to be largely disempowering. Government’s socio-economic and transport policies could not be supported adequately by such institutional arrangements. The country is seeking to move away from the current commuter-based transport provision into a more integrated public transport system that meets growing and changing passenger demands in an efficient, effective and sustainable manner. The twin challenges for public transport is to simultaneously transform through meaningful integration whilst at the same time enhancing capacity through upgrading and modernization to meet long-term need PRASA (2009). 1..2 Inadequate Passenger Service Provision Passenger rail in South Africa faces many challenges as a result of a long history of inadequate investment in rail rolling stock, infrastructure and operations as well as the loss of appropriate managerial and technical (engineering) skills within the industry. The shortage of such critical skills has a direct negative impact on the delivery of services. In the urbanising metropolitan areas the provision of new rail corridors has not kept pace with the rapidly changing urban landscape resulting in limited coverage in key areas of urban expansion with the consequential loss of significant market share. Over time, commuter rail services have continued to fail to respond adequately to changing passenger demands PRASA (2009). 1..3 Customer-Centric Delivery A dynamic and customer-centric public transport system is required where passengers contribute to and shape the service delivery agenda. The need for a Passenger or Quality Charter and the emergence of strong, vibrant structures championing both the interests of passengers and public transport transformation are vital to the development of a public transport system that will effectively respond to the travelling needs of passengers. The past few years has seen the emergence of vibrant, community-based structures championing public transport transformation and demanding quality services from Government and transport service providers. This movement seems to be growing and shows the determination of South Africans to participate in the construction of a transport system that will effectively respond to their demands PRASA (2009). 4.1 PRASA Vision, Mission Values Vision A provider of integrated public transport solutions for improved mobility Two fundamental principles underpin the vision:- Integration – PRASA should facilitate integrating individuals and communities, enabling a better quality of life through access to socioeconomic opportunities Mobility Solutions – PRASA should connect individuals and communities through the provision of public transport solutions that are founded on an integrated network of mobility routes PRASA (2009) Mission Sustainable Public Transport Solutions through Service Excellence, Innovation and Modal Integration PRASA (n.d.) The mission reflects four key intentions:- Service excellence – superior performance that is safe, reliable and affordable, that makes a lasting impression, and builds brand loyalty – both internally (employees) and externally (customers) – that adds benefit to the passenger. Sustainability a focus on sustainable development in business that considers not just the financial ‘bottom line’ of prosperity and profit, but also the other ‘bottom lines’ of environmental quality and social equity. Mobility solutions – reframing the basis of business delivery, favouring innovation, integration and partnerships Integration – safe, seamless dignified travel experiences across all modes of public transport, PRASA (n.d.) Values The values that will guide PRASA, which will underpin the performance ethos of the organization derived from and are guided by the fundamental and progressive human values of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa:- Service Excellence, Participation, Integrity, Fairness and Innovation, PRASA (2009) 4.1 OPPORTUNITY FOR Passenger Services 1..1 Commuter Rail Services The provision of efficient and affordable public passenger transport services is integral to Government’s drive to create employment opportunities, stimulate economic development and reduce levels of poverty. Enhanced mobility will facilitate greater access to socio-economic opportunities for the urban and rural poor whilst contributing to an efficient transport system to the benefit of all South Africans – highlighting the need for a vibrant public passenger transport network to support sustainable growth and development PRASA (2009). Commuter rail has the potential to be the most efficient, affordable and safe mode of travel. It plays a significant role in key Metropolitan areas such as Cape Town and has the potential to become an important public transport player in all metropolitan areas, significantly contributing to an efficient and reliable public transport system in these areas. Despite the acknowledged increase in the growth of car-ownership and usage, public transport and walking continue to dominate the mobility needs of the majority of South Africans and this is likely to continue for the next decade. Metropolitan areas in South Africa are experiencing rapid urbanization. Rail is in a unique position to facilitate greater integration between land use planning and transport infrastructure provision, and providing security, to private and public sector investment, of stable long-term public transport provision. This is vital to creating sustainable communities where peoples access to economic and social o pportunities is improved. In this context, railway lines need to be positioned, located, aligned with evolving spatial developments and formalised within the statutory planning processes undertaken primarily by local government. The creation of PRASA and the integration of rail and road-based transport services will, over time, provide the user with public transport choices – moving away from a market of captive users to one where dignified travel choice is a real option PRASA (2009). 1..2 Inter-City / Regional Passenger Services Historically, long distance rail and road based services have not received the attention required to make them demand responsive in key market areas including migrant workers, students, tourists and occasional travellers. The Department of Transport’s Public Transport Strategy Action Plan notes that: There is a significant potential for the growth in migrant worker long distance public transport provision. The dominant generators of migrant movement are Gauteng and KZN The increase in tourism provides opportunities for segmenting the market that build upon the strengths of both long distance rail and coach operations. Rural areas in South Africa are undergoing a process of economic and social restructuring with a shift in emphasis towards rural trade and agro-processing. These factors reinforce the need for a public transport service sector that responds to the emerging needs of these rural / regional development nodes since transport links between the rural trade areas and t he rural regions (hinterlands) remains unreliable, rendering access to services and emerging economic opportunities extremely difficult. This lack of access will continue to trap many in the poverty cycle. Government’s decision to consolidate passenger rail entities and road-based long distance bus services into a single entity, PRASA, reporting to the Department of Transport are underpinned by a number of key drivers. The recognition by Government that rail consolidation was required to deal with the under-performance of rail passenger services as well as the historical under-investment in the passenger rail business. Institutional arrangements did not promote efficiency and accountability and significant change was required to overcome the inherent institutional dysfunctions that had been created. Confusion existed between the contractor and regulatory functions implicitly embodied in the SARCC/Transnet relationship PRASA (2009). The critical need for sustainable funding to reverse the decline in commuter rail levels of service being experienced by commuters has been identified. This funding profile was captured in the National Rail Plan, which was accepted by Cabinet in December 2006, where the funding and investment requirements were identified for passenger rail over the following ten years PRASA (2009). 4.1 PRASA Objective PRASA (n.d.) primary objective is: To ensure that at the request of the Department of Transport, rail commuter services are provided within, to and from the Republic in the public interest; and To provide, in consultation with the Department of Transport, for long haul passenger rail and bus services within, to and from the Republic in terms of the principles set out in section 4 of the National Land Transport Transition Act, 2000 (Act No.22 of 2000)†.. 4.1 Strategy of prasa PRASA (2009) objectives are supportive of the Board of Control’s (BOC) key performance areas as seen in figure 2 below Figure 2 Key Performance Area and Strategic Objectives 4.1 CHALLENGES FACING PRASA 1..1 Consolidation / Turnaround / Restructuring The sequential amalgamation, in quick succession, of the SARCC, Metrorail, Shosholoza Meyl and Autopax bring with it the normal challenges that are posed when merging disparate organizations in related but different operational arenas. A key driver in Government’s decision to consolidate these entities into a single delivery arm of the DOT was to effect operational and asset â€Å"turnaround† of what were acknowledged to be declining businesses, albeit, some with the potential for growth. Linked with both these processes is the need to internally restructure the various businesses to align them with the new mandate given to PRASA through the amendment to the Legal Succession Act that was promulgated on 23 December 2008 PRASA (2009). 1..2 Sustainable Funding The ability to provide the requisite level of funding (substantial) to address both the investment capital and rapidly expanding operational requirements to affect the mandate is fundamental to the successful performance of PRASA. The integrated passenger transport plan requirements will need to be developed. Fully motivated funding requirements, covering both operations and investment capital, in line with the 5-year financial plan requirements of the various Integrated Transport Plans (ITPs), will be developed to begin to align the funding requirements with statutory plan requirements. The approved funding base makes no provision for two key activities that need to be accommodated: The incorporation of Autopax, an operating company that is currently materially dependent upon Transnet Limited for funding to re-capitalize and sustain the business going forward. The acquisition of new rolling stock. Analysis has indicated that the rolling stock refurbishment and upgrading programs are not maintaining pace with the requirements to buy time before the inevitable purchasing of new fleet becomes unavoidable. While the profile reflects a rising trend in investment funding support, the allocation of these funds to the different asset classes (Rolling Stock Infrastructure) will need to be reviewed. A careful balance needs to be struck to ensure that the sustainability of the asset base is not compromised PRASA (2009). 1..3 Ageing Rolling Stock and Infrastructure PRASA (2009) reports that the prolonged under-investment in passenger rail of almost thirty years is manifestly experienced in the deterioration of the general rail asset i.e. Rolling Stock and Infrastructure (Signalling and telecommunications, electrical systems, perway). This has resulted in a situation where services are experiencing continued decline, primarily due to poor availability and reliability of rolling stock and ageing infrastructure. The lack of investment in the asset base has also had a negative impact in the skills base of the passenger rail industry over a period of time. For example, the average age profile of commuter coaches is 40 years and has been left behind by international advancements in rail technology over the past few decades. The life expectancy of railway rolling stock is of the order of 54 years. The railway industry norms are that the coaches will be upgraded at half life (27 years) and overhauled every 9 years, so as to ensure the structural and su b-systems integrity is not compromised by metal fatigue, age, wear and tear or environmental condition. Thirty-three percent (33%) of the commuter rail fleet is already above 36 years and therefore would be uneconomical to upgrade. 1..4 Human Capital Development Human capital development is generally understated and under-rated in supporting the development of an organization. It is a multi-faceted process that requires clear understanding to enable human capabilities to be built that will support the key performance drivers of the business and ultimately the business results that can be expected from that performance. The key challenge for PRASA is to formulate human capital development processes that facilitate and fast-track the appropriate human capital capabilities at all levels within the organization that will enable delivery on the key drivers of which, in the case of PRASA are : increased productivity (operational efficiencies), improved service quality (service excellence), customer focus and innovation in the provision of integrated public transport solutions The nature of the various operational divisions, while related and providing synergistic opportunities for service co-operation and delivery, are by their very nature, different business environments, each requiring a specific set of human capabilities to perform optimally. PRASA needs to provide guidance in the process framework that delivers this requirement PRASA (2009). 1..5 Change Management The finalisation of the PRASA consolidation process, the turnaround and restructuring necessitate that a number of parallel change management processes are undertaken. Numerous change management processes will be identified that are needed to combine the five organizations into a consolidated organization. The very ability of PRASA to ensure effective implementation of such processes becomes critical as is the capacity of the organization (including divisions and subsidiaries) to manage them successfully PRASA (2009). 1..6 Leadership Skills Development There is currently an acknowledged shortage of key skills as well as a lack of depth of skills in critical areas within the organization. For PRASA to meet the expanded mandate of supporting government’s socio-economic and transport objectives in both urban and rural contexts, the organization will need a focused approach to human capital development, on leadership development, talent management and the progressive training of a strong base of key skills that will lay the foundation for sustaining rail passenger transport sector PRASA (2009). 1..7 Rail Technology Development PRASA, of necessity, will need to become a technology based organization that blends best practice policies with intelligent asset management philosophies to leverage organisational productivity and efficiency gains to provide shareholder value. PRASA recognises that technology upgrade is critical to the modernisation of South Africa’s railways and is well aware that the capacity for technology upgrade may not be immediately available in South Africa or the African Continent as a whole. Technological obsolescence is a major factor that will inhibit PRASA from delivering on its mandate. A rail technical strategy that guides technological renewal, upgrading, replacement and development over the next 30 years is a critical requirement. The average age of the metropolitan rail commuter networks/system in South Africa ranges between 60 80 years and still supports 1940/50’s technology. The system in SA is showing serious age related condition decline with increasing systemic risks and technological obsolescence. Railway systems are designed for an extended economic life, but it is acknowledged that the current ad hoc investment flows into the ageing system in South Africa are not productive in terms of future demand, operational performance requirements and escalating maintenance costs. Global technology advancement in rail has moved beyond the limited application of heavy rail, regional and long distance passenger rail. Various new rail based technologies of alternative applications have evolved globally to ensure the competitiveness and attractiveness of rail solutions. If South Africa is serious about ensuring environmentally friendly and energy efficient transportation for its cities to counter growth in private vehicle travel, congestion and spiralling cost of fossil fuels, a selective conversion of appropriate new and improved rail based and mass transit technologies needs to be evaluated, introduced, and established in South Africa ensuring that these take their place in the hierarchy of public transport service provision. The technological needs of PRASA over the next 30 years need to be clearly articulated and incorporated into PRASA’s long-term planning if passenger rail is to be sustained over the longer-term. The development of a rail technology strategy, together with the appropriate migration requirements over this period will assist in guiding decision-making in much critical technology upgrade or replacement areas within the organisation. The phased implementation of the strategy will be captured in each of the Business Plans roll-outs over time PRASA (2009). 4.1 RESEARCH AIM, QUESTION, SUB-QUESTIONS AND OBJECTIVES Research Aim The aim of this research is to understand to what extent alignment between Business and IT strategies exists, at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). Research Questions The research question derived from the problem statement is What can PRASA do to improve business and IT strategies, alignment? The sub questions to answer the main question are: What are business and IT strategies? What is alignment between business and IT strategies? What factors contribute to an alignment gap between business and IT strategies? What factors contributes to an improved alignment between business and IT strategies? Objectives of the research Based on the sub questions the objectives of the research are to 1. Analyse the Business’s and IT strategy 2. Carry out a literature review on the alignment between Business and IT strategies. 3. Analyse the factors that contribute towards Alignment Gap 4. a. Establish strategic alignment best practice. b. Formulate a methodology for aligning Business and IT strategies. c. Propose recommendations to improve PRASA’s Business and IT strategies alignment. 4.1 CURRENT STATUS OF THE RESEARCH AREA The literature review will be based on the research into alignment of business and IT strategies. There is a plethora of research available on the alignment of business and IT strategies. Chan and Reich (2007) have carried out comprehensive research on this topic. 4.1 Business and IT strategies 1..1 Business Strategies Croteau and Bergeron (2001) define business strategy as â€Å"the outcomes of decisions made to guide an organisation with respect to the environment, structure and processes that influence it’s organisational performance†. Hambrick (1980) states that business strategies may be textual, multivariate or typological. Henderson and Venkatraman (1993) architects of the SAM model, view strategy as involving both strategy formulation (decisions pertaining to competitive, product market choices) and strategy implementation (choices that pertain to the structure and capabilities of the firm to execute it’s product market choices).The SAM model presents two business strategy perspectives where business strategy is the driver namely strategic execution, and technology transformation. figure 3 presents the key attributes of these perspectives. Figure 3 Attributes of Business Strategy perspectives (Henderson Venkatraman 1993) One of the six components of the SAMM Luftman and Kempaiah (2007), is partnership which includes IT’s role in defining the business’s strategies. Both of these models (SAM and SAMM) are about aligning business and IT strategies and can be criticised because it does not define what business strategy is. Kay (1996) says that there is much debate on the substance but that

Comparing Women in The Bell Jar and Enormous Changes at the Last Minute

Exploitation of Women Exposed in The Bell Jar and Enormous Changes at the Last Minute      Ã‚  Ã‚   In their manifesto, the Redstockings argued that the relationship between men and women was a class relationship, and that the men repressed and controlled the women. The women were objects, and the men owned them. They said that, as a class, women "are exploited as sex objects, breeders, domestic servants, and cheap labor" by the male class(Bloom, Takin' it to the Streets, 486). Many of the women characters in The Bell Jar and Enormous Changes at the Last Minute give us examples of this repression and exploitation.    In both The Bell Jar and Enormous Changes at the Last Minute, we often see women as being subordinate to men. For example, in "Debts", one of Grace Paley's characters is happy because she has found "a husband to serve"(Paley, Enormous Changes at the Last Minute, 11). Her life has no meaning apart from her role as wife. She is defined by her husband. The idea that women are defined by their husband is so pervasive that we even find it in the language of the stories. In "The Burdened Man" there is a newspaper article describing the shooting of a wife and her lover by her husband. The husband and the lover are called by name, Sgt. Armand Kielly and Alfred Ciaro, respectively. The wife is only referred to as Mrs. Kielly. In The Bell Jar, when Buddy Willard proposes to Esther, he asks her "How would you like to be Mrs. Buddy Willard?"(Plath, The Bell Jar, 75). In both these instances, the language used defines the women in terms of their husband. This casual indication of dominance says a great deal about the culture.    The exploitation of women as sex objects is also easy to find. Both works contain extreme i... ...(Bloom, 486). As a class, men exploit them for personal use, both economically and sexually. They do everything they can to keep women in an inferior position. This repression is so pervasive that it is even found in the language of the women themselves. Correcting this problem is not a matter of changing individual relationships within the society. As the manifesto says, "the conflicts between individual men and women are political conflicts that can only be solved collectively"(486). In order for things to improve, there must be some change in society at a base level.    Works Cited Bloom, Alexander and Wini Breines, eds. Takin' it to the Streets. Oxford University Press, New York, 1995. Paley, Grace. Enormous Changes at the Last Minute. Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux, New York, 1974. Plath, Sylvia. The Bell Jar. Harper and Row, New York, 1971.   

Race and Crash Essay

The writer of Crash shows racism, prejudice, discrimination, and attitudes of different ethnic groups in the movie. Crash shows societies racial-discrimination through schemas on how stereotypes and the primary effect influence the characters, and their processes of social perception. Paul Haggis showed the hatred and racial-discrimination portrayed by individuals based on their ethnicity. Every ethnic group has certain stereotypes known about them; these stereotypes influence others views about them. In Crash, individuals who are white, African American, Latino, Iranian, Asian, and Mexican crash together. Each character was linked to all the others through an event. The setting is in Los Angles where many races collide together in a series of nonviolent and violent encounters. Crash begins by showing the lives of the main characters and the psychological issues they go through each day, because of the prejudice based on the stereotypes that prevent each individual from seeing the other person for who he or she is, consequently showing the terrible expanding of the self-fulfilling insights. Many of the characters have been through some king of experience, which led to the way they are. Perception in my definition is a person’s ultimate view of the world. The movie Crash touches on the ideal of perception in America. It also deals with racist relations that some people don’t realize. Crash forces you to look at what we think we know about these issues and forces you to look at them from a point of view that may not have previously considered. The movie gives me the perspective that life isn’t about different races coming together and trying to live in one world but life is all about perception. When I was watching the movie Crash, I realize that some of the views that they portrayed, I hear them and sometimes see them every day. Everyday people judge others on how they look and how they speak. People don’t realize how much others judge people and how we build relationships. Some of the views that were in Crash happen in life around the world. For example at the end of the movie when the police officer was driving the African American and they got into an argument. He then tries to pull out a figurine of a saint to show a young police officer, the officer mistakes the gesture for Peter pulling out a gun and shoots him. Our perception is usually shaped by culture. If a person gets robbed by a Latino person, they most likely will be scared of that race. Or they will probably think that all Latinos are robbers. If you meet an African American male or female, and they talk in Ebonics or slang, some people might categorize him or her as a thug and a criminal.