Bureaucratic Practices In Educational Institutes

Bureaucracy is the structure and set of regulations in place to control activity, usually in large organizations and government. As opposed to adhocracy, it is represented by standardized procedure (rule-following) that dictates the execution of most or all processes within the body, formal division of powers, hierarchy, and relationships. In practice the interpretation and execution of policy can lead to informal influence.Of the most famous political persons responsible for the making of bureaucracy, and its effects on society would be Max Weber, the German sociologist who set the course of the field in foundations of Administration and Politics. Weber established there were three different types of authority which helped to set the stage of public administration and helped to direct the forms of government which exist today. The three types of authority that dominate the governmental and societal settings of the present are traditional, charismatic, and legal rational.The third ty pe of authority is the type which we are most familiar with. Legal rational authority dominates the modern world, and can easily be thought of as a closed system of regulations and rules forming a bureaucracy. This authority is purely devoted to impersonal and functional purposes, thus giving the perfect stage for bureaucracy, where all focuses are impersonal and functional alone. â€Å"†¦ the bureaucratic system of organization is primarily characterized by the existence of a series of relatively stable vicious circles that stem from centralizations and impersonality† (Crozier, 1964, p 193)Bureaucracy in Educational Organizations Bureaucracy manifests itself in schools in the several ways. One key feature of a bureaucratic organization is presence of a formal hierarchical structure. Each level in a bureaucracy controls the level below and is controlled by the level above. A formal hierarchy is the basis of central planning and centralized decision making. In the school setting, the school head teacher tops the hierarchy, followed by his deputy. The teachers come next, then the prefect. The students lie at the bottom of the hierarchy.A bureaucracy runs by some well defined rules. Controlling by rules allows decisions made at high levels to be executed consistently by all lower levels. In the school, there are certain rules that students are supposed to abide by. The teachers also have a general code of conduct which they are supposed to observe. In a school, there is functional specialty. Every teacher has a special subject that he/she teaches, and is not expected to venture into other subjects. This is another key feature of a bureaucracy.Another characteristic of a bureaucracy is purposeful impersonality, whereby the idea is to treat all employees equally and customers equally, and not be influenced by individual differences. In the school, a school head is not supposed to talk to his children, who attend the school, about family matters. He is s upposed to act like he does not know them in any other way apart from that they are his students. A school can therefore be said to be a typical bureaucracy. During volunteer work at Thika Primary school, I noted several cases in which bureaucratic tendencies of the school, led to compromised resultsHow Bureaucracy Causes Poor Results In Schools Bureaucracy has been hailed as an excellent system of management in the organizations. In fact, no single system of administration has been adopted more widely that the bureaucratic system. Unfortunately, the system has largely failed to impress in education institutions, especially the academic institutions. During the course of volunteer work, this fact was manifested in a number of cases. Bureaucracy in school leads to a situation whereby students find it extremely difficult to secure audience with the head teacher.This is because, for a student to report a problem to the head teacher, he has first to report to the class prefect, who info rms the teacher. The teacher informs the deputy head teacher, who consequently forwards the issue to the head teacher. In this case, addressing the problem takes a painstakingly long period of time. If the issue required fast action, the intervention might come too late. The student ends up bearing the brunt of a bureaucratic system, which reflects negatively on his academic performance.This case was evident in Thika Primary School, whereby several children admitted to have sought audience with the head teacher, with little success. Another negative consequence of bureaucracy notable is in the procurement of learning resources. The process of purchasing books for the school takes too long, since approval must be sought from the head teacher, who takes the issue to the board of governors for a final decision on whether to place a tender. The tender is advertised and awarded to a book distributor.This whole process can take more than one school term, delaying the time that the student s have to interact with the books. This consequently leads to poor results. At the time of volunteer work, several story books had been ordered for purchase, but the process was taking too long. Bureaucratic practices in academic institutions also dent school student performance, whereby students are given insufficient feedback of their performance in a term. Here, the rules oblige the head teacher to write his feedback on the student’s performance, in the report form.However, due to the large numbers of students, he is not able to follow up the individual performance of each student. What he does to fulfill his obligation is fill all the report forms with the same comment, for example, ‘fair’. The student ends up not well guided on how well or bad he has performed. In such a case, he does not know whether he is faring poorly and needs to improve, or is performing well and needs to improve. This leads to bad grades in the subsequent terms. Conclusion It is import ant that schools abandon bureaucratic tendencies that lead to poor academic performance of the students.The head teacher must ensure that he is approachable, not seated in some hierarchically elevated seat. Process of purchasing learning resources must be made faster and simpler. Once such steps have been taken to streamline how schools run, the performance of the schools will improve, and the students will be able to achieve their academic goals and career ambitions References Bureaucracy. Anti Essays. Retrieved October 23, 2008, from the World Wide Web: Crozier, M. The Bureaucratic Phenomenon . 1964. London: Tavistock Publications. http://www. antiessays. com/free-essays/1895. html www. wikipedia. org/bureaucracy

Angels Demons Chapter 93-97

93 Langdon had no idea where he was going. Reflex was his only compass, driving him away from danger. His elbows and knees burned as he clambered beneath the pews. Still he clawed on. Somewhere a voice was telling him to move left. If you can get to the main aisle, you can dash for the exit. He knew it was impossible. There's a wall of flames blocking the main aisle! His mind hunting for options, Langdon scrambled blindly on. The footsteps closed faster now to his right. When it happened, Langdon was unprepared. He had guessed he had another ten feet of pews until he reached the front of the church. He had guessed wrong. Without warning, the cover above him ran out. He froze for an instant, half exposed at the front of the church. Rising in the recess to his left, gargantuan from this vantage point, was the very thing that had brought him here. He had entirely forgotten. Bernini's Ecstasy of St. Teresa rose up like some sort of pornographic still life†¦ the saint on her back, arched in pleasure, mouth open in a moan, and over her, an angel pointing his spear of fire. A bullet exploded in the pew over Langdon's head. He felt his body rise like a sprinter out of a gate. Fueled only by adrenaline, and barely conscious of his actions, he was suddenly running, hunched, head down, pounding across the front of the church to his right. As the bullets erupted behind him, Langdon dove yet again, sliding out of control across the marble floor before crashing in a heap against the railing of a niche on the right-hand wall. It was then that he saw her. A crumpled heap near the back of the church. Vittoria! Her bare legs were twisted beneath her, but Langdon sensed somehow that she was breathing. He had no time to help her. Immediately, the killer rounded the pews on the far left of the church and bore relentlessly down. Langdon knew in a heartbeat it was over. The killer raised the weapon, and Langdon did the only thing he could do. He rolled his body over the banister into the niche. As he hit the floor on the other side, the marble columns of the balustrade exploded in a storm of bullets. Langdon felt like a cornered animal as he scrambled deeper into the semicircular niche. Rising before him, the niche's sole contents seemed ironically apropos – a single sarcophagus. Mine perhaps, Langdon thought. Even the casket itself seemed fitting. It was a sctola – a small, unadorned, marble box. Burial on a budget. The casket was raised off the floor on two marble blocks, and Langdon eyed the opening beneath it, wondering if he could slide through. Footsteps echoed behind him. With no other option in sight, Langdon pressed himself to the floor and slithered toward the casket. Grabbing the two marble supports, one with each hand, he pulled like a breaststroker, dragging his torso into the opening beneath the tomb. The gun went off. Accompanying the roar of the gun, Langdon felt a sensation he had never felt in his life†¦ a bullet sailing past his flesh. There was a hiss of wind, like the backlash of a whip, as the bullet just missed him and exploded in the marble with a puff of dust. Blood surging, Langdon heaved his body the rest of the way beneath the casket. Scrambling across the marble floor, he pulled himself out from beneath the casket and to the other side. Dead end. Langdon was now face to face with the rear wall of the niche. He had no doubt that this tiny space behind the tomb would become his grave. And soon, he realized, as he saw the barrel of the gun appear in the opening beneath the sarcophagus. The Hassassin held the weapon parallel with the floor, pointing directly at Langdon's midsection. Impossible to miss. Langdon felt a trace of self-preservation grip his unconscious mind. He twisted his body onto his stomach, parallel with the casket. Facedown, he planted his hands flat on the floor, the glass cut from the archives pinching open with a stab. Ignoring the pain, he pushed. Driving his body upward in an awkward push-up, Langdon arched his stomach off the floor just as the gun went off. He could feel the shock wave of the bullets as they sailed beneath him and pulverized the porous travertine behind. Closing his eyes and straining against exhaustion, Langdon prayed for the thunder to stop. And then it did. The roar of gunfire was replaced with the cold click of an empty chamber. Langdon opened his eyes slowly, almost fearful his eyelids would make a sound. Fighting the trembling pain, he held his position, arched like a cat. He didn't even dare breathe. His eardrums numbed by gunfire, Langdon listened for any hint of the killer's departure. Silence. He thought of Vittoria and ached to help her. The sound that followed was deafening. Barely human. A guttural bellow of exertion. The sarcophagus over Langdon's head suddenly seemed to rise on its side. Langdon collapsed on the floor as hundreds of pounds teetered toward him. Gravity overcame friction, and the lid was the first to go, sliding off the tomb and crashing to the floor beside him. The casket came next, rolling off its supports and toppling upside down toward Langdon. As the box rolled, Langdon knew he would either be entombed in the hollow beneath it or crushed by one of the edges. Pulling in his legs and head, Langdon compacted his body and yanked his arms to his sides. Then he closed his eyes and awaited the sickening crush. When it came, the entire floor shook beneath him. The upper rim landed only millimeters from the top of his head, rattling his teeth in their sockets. His right arm, which Langdon had been certain would be crushed, miraculously still felt intact. He opened his eyes to see a shaft of light. The right rim of the casket had not fallen all the way to the floor and was still propped partially on its supports. Directly overhead, though, Langdon found himself staring quite literally into the face of death. The original occupant of the tomb was suspended above him, having adhered, as decaying bodies often did, to the bottom of the casket. The skeleton hovered a moment, like a tentative lover, and then with a sticky crackling, it succumbed to gravity and peeled away. The carcass rushed down to embrace him, raining putrid bones and dust into Langdon's eyes and mouth. Before Langdon could react, a blind arm was slithering through the opening beneath the casket, sifting through the carcass like a hungry python. It groped until it found Langdon's neck and clamped down. Langdon tried to fight back against the iron fist now crushing his larynx, but he found his left sleeve pinched beneath the edge of the coffin. He had only one arm free, and the fight was a losing battle. Langdon's legs bent in the only open space he had, his feet searching for the casket floor above him. He found it. Coiling, he planted his feet. Then, as the hand around his neck squeezed tighter, Langdon closed his eyes and extended his legs like a ram. The casket shifted, ever so slightly, but enough. With a raw grinding, the sarcophagus slid off the supports and landed on the floor. The casket rim crashed onto the killer's arm, and there was a muffled scream of pain. The hand released Langdon's neck, twisting and jerking away into the dark. When the killer finally pulled his arm free, the casket fell with a conclusive thud against the flat marble floor. Complete darkness. Again. And silence. There was no frustrated pounding outside the overturned sarcophagus. No prying to get in. Nothing. As Langdon lay in the dark amidst a pile of bones, he fought the closing darkness and turned his thoughts to her. Vittoria. Are you alive? If Langdon had known the truth – the horror to which Vittoria would soon awake – he would have wished for her sake that she were dead. 94 Sitting in the Sistine Chapel among his stunned colleagues, Cardinal Mortati tried to comprehend the words he was hearing. Before him, lit only by the candlelight, the camerlegno had just told a tale of such hatred and treachery that Mortati found himself trembling. The camerlegno spoke of kidnapped cardinals, branded cardinals, murdered cardinals. He spoke of the ancient Illuminati – a name that dredged up forgotten fears – and of their resurgence and vow of revenge against the church. With pain in his voice, the camerlegno spoke of his late Pope†¦ the victim of an Illuminati poisoning. And finally, his words almost a whisper, he spoke of a deadly new technology, antimatter, which in less than two hours threatened to destroy all of Vatican City. When he was through, it was as if Satan himself had sucked the air from the room. Nobody could move. The camerlegno's words hung in the darkness. The only sound Mortati could now hear was the anomalous hum of a television camera in back – an electronic presence no conclave in history had ever endured – but a presence demanded by the camerlegno. To the utter astonishment of the cardinals, the camerlegno had entered the Sistine Chapel with two BBC reporters – a man and a woman – and announced that they would be transmitting his solemn statement, live to the world. Now, speaking directly to the camera, the camerlegno stepped forward. â€Å"To the Illuminati,† he said, his voice deepening, â€Å"and to those of science, let me say this.† He paused. â€Å"You have won the war.† The silence spread now to the deepest corners of the chapel. Mortati could hear the desperate thumping of his own heart. â€Å"The wheels have been in motion for a long time,† the camerlegno said. â€Å"Your victory has been inevitable. Never before has it been as obvious as it is at this moment. Science is the new God.† What is he saying? Mortati thought. Has he gone mad? The entire world is hearing this! â€Å"Medicine, electronic communications, space travel, genetic manipulation†¦ these are the miracles about which we now tell our children. These are the miracles we herald as proof that science will bring us the answers. The ancient stories of immaculate conceptions, burning bushes, and parting seas are no longer relevant. God has become obsolete. Science has won the battle. We concede.† A rustle of confusion and bewilderment swept through the chapel. â€Å"But science's victory,† the camerlegno added, his voice intensifying, â€Å"has cost every one of us. And it has cost us deeply.† Silence. â€Å"Science may have alleviated the miseries of disease and drudgery and provided an array of gadgetry for our entertainment and convenience, but it has left us in a world without wonder. Our sunsets have been reduced to wavelengths and frequencies. The complexities of the universe have been shredded into mathematical equations. Even our self-worth as human beings has been destroyed. Science proclaims that Planet Earth and its inhabitants are a meaningless speck in the grand scheme. A cosmic accident.† He paused. â€Å"Even the technology that promises to unite us, divides us. Each of us is now electronically connected to the globe, and yet we feel utterly alone. We are bombarded with violence, division, fracture, and betrayal. Skepticism has become a virtue. Cynicism and demand for proof has become enlightened thought. Is it any wonder that humans now feel more depressed and defeated than they have at any point in human history? Does science hold anything sacred? Science l ooks for answers by probing our unborn fetuses. Science even presumes to rearrange our own DNA. It shatters God's world into smaller and smaller pieces in quest of meaning†¦ and all it finds is more questions.† Mortati watched in awe. The camerlegno was almost hypnotic now. He had a physical strength in his movements and voice that Mortati had never witnessed on a Vatican altar. The man's voice was wrought with conviction and sadness. â€Å"The ancient war between science and religion is over,† the camerlegno said. â€Å"You have won. But you have not won fairly. You have not won by providing answers. You have won by so radically reorienting our society that the truths we once saw as signposts now seem inapplicable. Religion cannot keep up. Scientific growth is exponential. It feeds on itself like a virus. Every new breakthrough opens doors for new breakthroughs. Mankind took thousands of years to progress from the wheel to the car. Yet only decades from the car into space. Now we measure scientific progress in weeks. We are spinning out of control. The rift between us grows deeper and deeper, and as religion is left behind, people find themselves in a spiritual void. We cry out for meaning. And believe me, we do cry out. We see UFOs, engage in channeling, spirit contact, out-of-body experiences, mindquests – all these eccentric ideas have a scientific veneer, but they are unashamedly irrational. Th ey are the desperate cry of the modern soul, lonely and tormented, crippled by its own enlightenment and its inability to accept meaning in anything removed from technology.† Mortati could feel himself leaning forward in his seat. He and the other cardinals and people around the world were hanging on this priest's every utterance. The camerlegno spoke with no rhetoric or vitriol. No references to scripture or Jesus Christ. He spoke in modern terms, unadorned and pure. Somehow, as though the words were flowing from God himself, he spoke the modern language†¦ delivering the ancient message. In that moment, Mortati saw one of the reasons the late Pope held this young man so dear. In a world of apathy, cynicism, and technological deification, men like the camerlegno, realists who could speak to our souls like this man just had, were the church's only hope. The camerlegno was talking more forcefully now. â€Å"Science, you say, will save us. Science, I say, has destroyed us. Since the days of Galileo, the church has tried to slow the relentless march of science, sometimes with misguided means, but always with benevolent intention. Even so, the temptations are too great for man to resist. I warn you, look around yourselves. The promises of science have not been kept. Promises of efficiency and simplicity have bred nothing but pollution and chaos. We are a fractured and frantic species†¦ moving down a path of destruction.† The camerlegno paused a long moment and then sharpened his eyes on the camera. â€Å"Who is this God science? Who is the God who offers his people power but no moral framework to tell you how to use that power? What kind of God gives a child fire but does not warn the child of its dangers? The language of science comes with no signposts about good and bad. Science textbooks tell us how to create a nuclear reaction, and yet they contain no chapter asking us if it is a good or a bad idea. â€Å"To science, I say this. The church is tired. We are exhausted from trying to be your signposts. Our resources are drying up from our campaign to be the voice of balance as you plow blindly on in your quest for smaller chips and larger profits. We ask not why you will not govern yourselves, but how can you? Your world moves so fast that if you stop even for an instant to consider the implications of your actions, someone more efficient will whip past you in a blur. So you move on. You proliferate weapons of mass destruction, but it is the Pope who travels the world beseeching leaders to use restraint. You clone living creatures, but it is the church reminding us to consider the moral implications of our actions. You encourage people to interact on phones, video screens, and computers, but it is the church who opens its doors and reminds us to commune in person as we were meant to do. You even murder unborn babies in the name of research that will save lives. Again, it is the ch urch who points out the fallacy of this reasoning. â€Å"And all the while, you proclaim the church is ignorant. But who is more ignorant? The man who cannot define lightning, or the man who does not respect its awesome power? This church is reaching out to you. Reaching out to everyone. And yet the more we reach, the more you push us away. Show me proof there is a God, you say. I say use your telescopes to look to the heavens, and tell me how there could not be a God!† The camerlegno had tears in his eyes now. â€Å"You ask what does God look like. I say, where did that question come from? The answers are one and the same. Do you not see God in your science? How can you miss Him! You proclaim that even the slightest change in the force of gravity or the weight of an atom would have rendered our universe a lifeless mist rather than our magnificent sea of heavenly bodies, and yet you fail to see God's hand in this? Is it really so much easier to believe that we simply chose the right card from a deck of billions? Have we becom e so spiritually bankrupt that we would rather believe in mathematical impossibility than in a power greater than us? â€Å"Whether or not you believe in God,† the camerlegno said, his voice deepening with deliberation, â€Å"you must believe this. When we as a species abandon our trust in the power greater than us, we abandon our sense of accountability. Faith†¦ all faiths†¦ are admonitions that there is something we cannot understand, something to which we are accountable†¦ With faith we are accountable to each other, to ourselves, and to a higher truth. Religion is flawed, but only because man is flawed. If the outside world could see this church as I do†¦ looking beyond the ritual of these walls†¦ they would see a modern miracle†¦ a brotherhood of imperfect, simple souls wanting only to be a voice of compassion in a world spinning out of control.† The camerlegno motioned out over the College of Cardinals, and the BBC camerawoman instinctively followed, panning the crowd. â€Å"Are we obsolete?† the camerlegno asked. â€Å"Are these men dino-saurs? Am I? Does the world really need a voice for the poor, the weak, the oppressed, the unborn child? Do we really need souls like these who, though imperfect, spend their lives imploring each of us to read the signposts of morality and not lose our way?† Mortati now realized that the camerlegno, whether consciously or not, was making a brilliant move. By showing the cardinals, he was personalizing the church. Vatican City was no longer a building, it was people – people like the camerlegno who had spent their lives in the service of goodness. â€Å"Tonight we are perched on a precipice,† the camerlegno said. â€Å"None of us can afford to be apathetic. Whether you see this evil as Satan, corruption, or immorality†¦ the dark force is alive and growing every day. Do not ignore it.† The camerlegno lowered his voice to a whisper, and the camera moved in. â€Å"The force, though mighty, is not invincible. Goodness can prevail. Listen to your hearts. Listen to God. Together we can step back from this abyss.† Now Mortati understood. This was the reason. Conclave had been violated, but this was the only way. It was a dramatic and desperate plea for help. The camerlegno was speaking to both his enemy and his friends now. He was entreating anyone, friend or foe, to see the light and stop this madness. Certainly someone listening would realize the insanity of this plot and come forward. The camerlegno knelt at the altar. â€Å"Pray with me.† The College of Cardinals dropped to their knees to join him in prayer. Outside in St. Peter's Square and around the globe†¦ a stunned world knelt with them. 95 The Hassassin lay his unconscious trophy in the rear of the van and took a moment to admire her sprawled body. She was not as beautiful as the women he bought, and yet she had an animal strength that excited him. Her body was radiant, dewy with perspiration. She smelled of musk. As the Hassasin stood there savoring his prize, he ignored the throb in his arm. The bruise from the falling sarcophagus, although painful, was insignificant†¦ well worth the compensation that lay before him. He took consolation in knowing the American who had done this to him was probably dead by now. Gazing down at his incapacitated prisoner, the Hassassin visualized what lay ahead. He ran a palm up beneath her shirt. Her breasts felt perfect beneath her bra. Yes, he smiled. You are more than worthy. Fighting the urge to take her right there, he closed the door and drove off into the night. There was no need to alert the press about this killing†¦ the flames would do that for him. At CERN, Sylvie sat stunned by the camerlegno's address. Never before had she felt so proud to be a Catholic and so ashamed to work at CERN. As she left the recreational wing, the mood in every single viewing room was dazed and somber. When she got back to Kohler's office, all seven phone lines were ringing. Media inquiries were never routed to Kohler's office, so the incoming calls could only be one thing. Geld. Money calls. Antimatter technology already had some takers. Inside the Vatican, Gunther Glick was walking on air as he followed the camerlegno from the Sistine Chapel. Glick and Macri had just made the live transmission of the decade. And what a transmission it had been. The camerlegno had been spellbinding. Now out in the hallway, the camerlegno turned to Glick and Macri. â€Å"I have asked the Swiss Guard to assemble photos for you – photos of the branded cardinals as well as one of His late Holiness. I must warn you, these are not pleasant pictures. Ghastly burns. Blackened tongues. But I would like you to broadcast them to the world.† Glick decided it must be perpetual Christmas inside Vatican City. He wants me to broadcast an exclusive photo of the dead Pope? â€Å"Are you sure?† Glick asked, trying to keep the excitement from his voice. The camerlegno nodded. â€Å"The Swiss Guard will also provide you a live video feed of the antimatter canister as it counts down.† Glick stared. Christmas. Christmas. Christmas! â€Å"The Illuminati are about to find out,† the camerlegno declared, â€Å"that they have grossly overplayed their hand.† 96 Like a recurring theme in some demonic symphony, the suffocating darkness had returned. No light. No air. No exit. Langdon lay trapped beneath the overturned sarcophagus and felt his mind careening dangerously close to the brink. Trying to drive his thoughts in any direction other than the crushing space around him, Langdon urged his mind toward some logical process†¦ mathematics, music, anything. But there was no room for calming thoughts. I can't move! I can't breathe! The pinched sleeve of his jacket had thankfully come free when the casket fell, leaving Langdon now with two mobile arms. Even so, as he pressed upward on the ceiling of his tiny cell, he found it immovable. Oddly, he wished his sleeve were still caught. At least it might create a crack for some air. As Langdon pushed against the roof above, his sleeve fell back to reveal the faint glow of an old friend. Mickey. The greenish cartoon face seemed mocking now. Langdon probed the blackness for any other sign of light, but the casket rim was flush against the floor. Goddamn Italian perfectionists, he cursed, now imperiled by the same artistic excellence he taught his students to revere†¦ impeccable edges, faultless parallels, and of course, use only of the most seamless and resilient Carrara marble. Precision can be suffocating. â€Å"Lift the damn thing,† he said aloud, pressing harder through the tangle of bones. The box shifted slightly. Setting his jaw, he heaved again. The box felt like a boulder, but this time it raised a quarter of an inch. A fleeting glimmer of light surrounded him, and then the casket thudded back down. Langdon lay panting in the dark. He tried to use his legs to lift as he had before, but now that the sarcophagus had fallen flat, there was no room even to straighten his knees. As the claustrophobic panic closed in, Langdon was overcome by images of the sarcophagus shrinking around him. Squeezed by delirium, he fought the illusion with every logical shred of intellect he had. â€Å"Sarcophagus,† he stated aloud, with as much academic sterility as he could muster. But even erudition seemed to be his enemy today. Sarcophagus is from the Greek â€Å"sarx† meaning â€Å"flesh,† and â€Å"phagein† meaning â€Å"to eat.† I'm trapped in a box literally designed to â€Å"eat flesh.† Images of flesh eaten from bone only served as a grim reminder that Langdon lay covered in human remains. The notion brought nausea and chills. But it also brought an idea. Fumbling blindly around the coffin, Langdon found a shard of bone. A rib maybe? He didn't care. All he wanted was a wedge. If he could lift the box, even a crack, and slide the bone fragment beneath the rim, then maybe enough air could†¦ Reaching across his body and wedging the tapered end of the bone into the crack between the floor and the coffin, Langdon reached up with his other hand and heaved skyward. The box did not move. Not even slightly. He tried again. For a moment, it seemed to tremble slightly, but that was all. With the fetid stench and lack of oxygen choking the strength from his body, Langdon realized he only had time for one more effort. He also knew he would need both arms. Regrouping, he placed the tapered edge of the bone against the crack, and shifting his body, he wedged the bone against his shoulder, pinning it in place. Careful not to dislodge it, he raised both hands above him. As the stifling confine began to smother him, he felt a welling of intensified panic. It was the second time today he had been trapped with no air. Hollering aloud, Langdon thrust upward in one explosive motion. The casket jostled off the floor for an instant. But long enough. The bone shard he had braced against his shoulder slipped outward into the widening crack. When the casket fell again, the bone shattered. But this time Langdon could see the casket was propped up. A tiny slit of light showed beneath the rim. Exhausted, Langdon collapsed. Hoping the strangling sensation in his throat would pass, he waited. But it only worsened as the seconds passed. Whatever air was coming through the slit seemed imperceptible. Langdon wondered if it would be enough to keep him alive. And if so, for how long? If he passed out, who would know he was even in there? With arms like lead, Langdon raised his watch again: 10:12 P.M. Fighting trembling fingers, he fumbled with the watch and made his final play. He twisted one of the tiny dials and pressed a button. As consciousness faded, and the walls squeezed closer, Langdon felt the old fears sweep over him. He tried to imagine, as he had so many times, that he was in an open field. The image he conjured, however, was no help. The nightmare that had haunted him since his youth came crashing back†¦ The flowers here are like paintings, the child thought, laughing as he ran across the meadow. He wished his parents had come along. But his parents were busy pitching camp. â€Å"Don't explore too far,† his mother had said. He had pretended not to hear as he bounded off into the woods. Now, traversing this glorious field, the boy came across a pile of fieldstones. He figured it must be the foundation of an old homestead. He would not go near it. He knew better. Besides, his eyes had been drawn to something else – a brilliant lady's slipper – the rarest and most beautiful flower in New Hampshire. He had only ever seen them in books. Excited, the boy moved toward the flower. He knelt down. The ground beneath him felt mulchy and hollow. He realized his flower had found an extra-fertile spot. It was growing from a patch of rotting wood. Thrilled by the thought of taking home his prize, the boy reached out†¦ fingers extending toward the stem. He never reached it. With a sickening crack, the earth gave way. In the three seconds of dizzying terror as he fell, the boy knew he would die. Plummeting downward, he braced for the bone-crushing collision. When it came, there was no pain. Only softness. And cold. He hit the deep liquid face first, plunging into a narrow blackness. Spinning disoriented somersaults, he groped the sheer walls thatenclosed him on all sides. Somehow, as if by instinct, he sputtered to the surface. Light. Faint. Above him. Miles above him, it seemed. His arms clawed at the water, searching the walls of the hollow for something to grab onto. Only smooth stone. He had fallen through an abandoned well covering. He screamed for help, but his cries reverberated in the tight shaft. He called out again and again. Above him, the tattered hole grew dim. Night fell. Time seemed to contort in the darkness. Numbness set in as he treaded water in the depths of the chasm, calling, crying out. He was tormented by visions of the walls collapsing in, burying him alive. His arms ached with fatigue. A few times he thought he heard voices. He shouted out, but his own voice was muted†¦ like a dream. As the night wore on, the shaft deepened. The walls inched quietly inward. The boy pressed out against the enclosure, pushing it away. Exhausted, he wanted to give up. And yet he felt the water buoy him, cooling his burning fears until he was numb. When the rescue team arrived, they found the boy barely conscious. He had been treading water for five hours. Two days later, the Boston Globe ran a front-page story called â€Å"The Little Swimmer That Could.† 97 The Hassassin smiled as he pulled his van into the mammoth stone structure overlooking the Tiber River. He carried his prize up and up†¦ spiraling higher in the stone tunnel, grateful his load was slender. He arrived at the door. The Church of Illumination, he gloated. The ancient Illuminati meeting room. Who would have imagined it to be here? Inside, he lay her on a plush divan. Then he expertly bound her arms behind her back and tied her feet. He knew that what he longed for would have to wait until his final task was finished. Water. Still, he thought, he had a moment for indulgence. Kneeling beside her, he ran his hand along her thigh. It was smooth. Higher. His dark fingers snaked beneath the cuff of her shorts. Higher. He stopped. Patience, he told himself, feeling aroused. There is work to be done. He walked for a moment out onto the chamber's high stone balcony. The evening breeze slowly cooled his ardor. Far below the Tiber raged. He raised his eyes to the dome of St. Peter's, three quarters of a mile away, naked under the glare of hundreds of press lights. â€Å"Your final hour,† he said aloud, picturing the thousands of Muslims slaughtered during the Crusades. â€Å"At midnight you will meet your God.† Behind him, the woman stirred. The Hassassin turned. He considered letting her wake up. Seeing terror in a woman's eyes was his ultimate aphrodisiac. He opted for prudence. It would be better if she remained unconscious while he was gone. Although she was tied and would never escape, the Hassassin did not want to return and find her exhausted from struggling. I want your strength preserved†¦ for me. Lifting her head slightly, he placed his palm beneath her neck and found the hollow directly beneath her skull. The crown/meridian pressure point was one he had used countless times. With crushing force, he drove his thumb into the soft cartilage and felt it depress. The woman slumped instantly. Twenty minutes, he thought. She would be a tantalizing end to a perfect day. After she had served him and died doing it, he would stand on the balcony and watch the midnight Vatican fireworks. Leaving his prize unconscious on the couch, the Hassassin went downstairs into a torchlit dungeon. The final task. He walked to the table and revered the sacred, metal forms that had been left there for him. Water. It was his last. Removing a torch from the wall as he had done three times already, he began heating the end. When the end of the object was white hot, he carried it to the cell. Inside, a single man stood in silence. Old and alone. â€Å"Cardinal Baggia,† the killer hissed. â€Å"Have you prayed yet?† The Italian's eyes were fearless. â€Å"Only for your soul.†

How do TV crime shows and authentic forensic analysis compare and contrast? Essay

What’s the first word that comes to mind when you think of a TV crime show? If I had to choose, it would be clue gathering, or even problem solving. TV crime shows are generally known for the murders and cases behind solving who committed the crime; because who would want to watch a show about a robbery. In these shows, the producers attempt to exaggerate and speed up the process of forensic analysis. As a result, this would contrast to the authentic, or real life process of crime scene investigations. Although I do believe that there are many great TV crime shows, I’d have to pick two specific episodes that would clearly identify a realistic and unrealistic visualization of what a forensic analysis looks like; an episode of CSI New York, as most realistic, and an episode of Bones, as the most unrealistic. First, I would like to identify a realistic visualization of forensic analysis by using the episode of CSI New York, Clue SI. To begin, the CSI’s collected evi dence and examined it in a way that exemplified how authentic forensic analyzers would collect/analyze evidence. For example, they placed some of the evidence in plastic bag in an effort to protect the evidence from possible damage, trace evidence was used, and they took pictures of evidence that was uncollectable, or easier to analyze with a photograph. This showed that they were taking into consideration the inherent problem with crime scene investigation; they knew that evidence would need to be carefully collected, to ensure the smallest amount of modification. Subsequently, the investigators used bits and pieces of forensic psychology to determine patterns in the crimes committed. To illustrate, they established connections, and reviewed potential motives of the killer. Specific to this episode, the board game â€Å"Clue† plays a part to the story; as investigators dig deeper into the crime, they notice that a specific drug was ingested by the two victims, Ellen White, the original victim, and Jane Doe, the later found victim in the series of crimes committed, and only some psychiat rists have access to this drug; the investigators find the psychiatrist, Carly and plot out the crime to find the killer. Second, I would like to establish an unrealistic visualization of a crime scene investigation, using the episode of Bones, The Memories in the Shallow Grave. Initially, I would group this episode in the unrealistic category because with the evidence they had, they came to conclusions almost instantaneously. To continue, when the investigators were  using missing persons reports to compare suspects, they came to a direct conclusion without further investigation; in other words, they knew they had the suspect without corroborating information. The team of CSI’s got the news of who the suspect was, and without deeper consideration, they just followed along. Additionally, evidence they had from the gum underneath the paintball splatter was easily identified with only one tooth impression. Bones, one of the investigators said, â€Å"That’s as good as a fingerprint!,† when one complete dental impression may not have been enough to establish who actually did the crime . With this in mind, they had evidence, but not enough to conclude the suspect as guilty of committing the crime. Finally, I would like to pose the question of â€Å"Do crime TV shows really influence jurors or legal professionals when it comes to the criminal justice system?† My answer to this question would be yes for two reasons. To start, in the article by Donald E. Shelton, The ‘CSI Effect’: Does It Really Exist, I found an interesting statement about expectations based off of TV crime shows. More specifically, â€Å"As one district attorney put it, â€Å"Jurors now expect us to have a DNA test for just about every case. They expect us to have the most advanced technology possible, and they expect it to look like it does on television.†Ã¢â‚¬  Jurors wanted more proof to guide them through the conviction process, but could there have been any other information the court could have given them? To continue, based off a survey taken from the same article mentioned above, jurors had specific apprehensions of what scientific evidence they wished to receive when certain cases were brought before them. To explain deeper, â€Å"a higher percentage wanted to see fingerprint evidence in breaking and entering cases (71 percent), any theft case (59 percent), and in crimes involving a gun (66 percent).† (Same article as credit given before.) From shows like Law & Order, and CSI, jurors thought evidence portrayed on TV crime shows, were taken into consideration in real crimes. Established from the findings, jurors overall expected evidence from TV crime shows to be used in authentic forensic analysis. Does the same word come to mind when you think of a TV crime show? Or has it changed? Depending on your original opinion, your side may have changed or it might have stayed the same. But I still believe that there are many great TV crime shows, and if I had to pick two specific episodes that would clearly identify a realistic and unrealistic  visualization of what a forensic analysis looks like, I’d choose these two episodes; CSI New York, as most realistic, and the episode of Bones, as the most unrealistic.

Biodiversity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Biodiversity - Research Paper Example On a more lofty plane of analysis, proponents of biotechnology, laud it as a triumph of human innovation, an example of humankind’s superior knowledge over other organisms in the eco-system. Some even argue that â€Å"sustainable agriculture is possible only with biotechnology and imaginative chemistry.† (Schneiderman and Carpenter, 1990). Environmental advocates, on the other hand, warn of the hazards of biotechnology on biodiversity and other life-forms. For example, environmentalists assert that the corn that is keeping pests away is also killing the Monarch butterfly. According to Wilson (1992), â€Å"the race is on to develop methods, to draw more income from the wildlands without killing them, and so to give the invisible hand of the free market a green thumb.† the central debate that underpins the biotechnology discourse: balancing the WTO principles on liberalization and the environmental concerns of biotechnology. To quote Herdegen (2010): Biotechnology on the international level, is covered by the said Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), which build their judicial content upon a precautionary approach. On the other hand, WTO trade law is deemed to focus on the abolition of trade barriers and the combating of protectionism and unjustified discrimination. Therefore there is a potential for conflict between trade law and MEAs, especially in the field of biotechnology. It is this conflict that has made the crafting of an international legal framework for biotechnology so fraught with tensions, and the road to Cartagena so bumpy. The proposal for the international regulation of biotechnology was spawned by a 1986 incident, wherein the United States tested a genetically-modified rabies vaccine in Argentina, without having informed, much less obtained consent, from the Argentine government. This raised fears that with without an international legal framework for biotechnology, developed countries would use developing countries as laboratories, thus putting citizens of the latter at great risk. (Gupta, 2000: 24). There was a pre-existing Convention on Biological Diversity that could be used to serve as a framework for the creation of a convention particularly and specifically addressing biotechnology concerns and issues. Article 8 of the CBD called on Parties to â€Å"establish or maintain means to regulate, manage or control the risks associated with the use and release of living modified organisms resulting from biotechnology which are likely to have adverse environmental impacts that could affect the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, taking also into account the risks to human health.† On the basis of Article 8, the parties to the Convention decided to form a working group to hammer out a protocol acceptable by all. Delegates from 170 nations locked heads in Cartagena to work through the contentious issues being raised and the various points of divergence between nations and stake holders. In a press release by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 1999, Klaus Toepfer, executive director of the program, was quoted as saying: â€Å"we need a widely accepted protocol that protects the environment, strengthens the capacity of developing countries to ensure biosafety, complements existing national regulations, and promotes public confidence in biotechnology and all the benefits it can offer.† This, however, proved to be easier said than done. Countries from Europe and from the developing world found themselves forming an

Environmental Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Environmental Health - Essay Example Environmental Protection Agency, 2012). The definition of medical waste was effectively provided in the Medical Waste tracking Act of 1988 which aptly states its meaning as â€Å""any solid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals." This definition includes, but is not limited to: blood-soaked bandages; culture dishes and other glassware; discarded surgical gloves; discarded surgical instruments; discarded needles used to give shots or draw blood (e.g., medical sharps); cultures, stocks, swabs used to inoculate cultures; removed body organs (e.g., tonsils, appendices, limbs); and discarded lancets† (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2012, p. 1). 2. Describe the factors that contribute to its toxicity. Information from the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that as much as 20% of medical wastes are classified as hazardous which â€Å" may be infectious, toxic or radioactive† (WHO, 2011). The factors that allegedly contribute to its toxicity include presence of micro-organisms, as well as preponderance of specifically identified drug-resistant micro-organisms. Likewise, disposing of these medical wastes improperly could pose indirect risks in terms of release of toxic pollutants. As emphasized, â€Å"incinerated materials containing chlorine can generate dioxins and furans2, which are human carcinogens and have been associated with a range of adverse health effects. Incineration of heavy metals or materials with high metal content (in particular lead, mercury and cadmium) can lead to the spread of toxic metals in the environment† (WHO, 2011, p. 1). 3. Name the environmental and occupational sources of exposure to it. The environmental and occupational sources of exposure to medical wastes include landfills, which â€Å"can contaminate drinking-water if they not properly constructed. Occupational risk s exist at disposal facilities that are not well designed, run, or maintained† (WHO, 2011, p. 1). Likewise, medical wastes which are not properly incinerated pose significant hazards. 4. How is it evaluated and treated? According to the Healthcare Environment Resource Center, medical wastes were previously monitored and regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency; but currently, various states have allegedly taken control and governance. The different regulations that stipulate guidelines and monitor, evaluate and treat medical wastes include: the State Medical Waste Regulations, OSHA Regulations, the US EPA Regulations, as well as the Department of Transportation (DOT) Regulations (Healthcare Environment Resource Center, n.d.). 5. What action could you, the nurse, take to reduce exposure of yourself, your co-workers, patients, and the community? As a nurse, the action that must be taken to reduce exposure to medical wastes include adherence to safety procedures as prescr ibed by OSHA and infection control. Likewise, proper disposal in designated waste receptacles must be followed. In addition, the role of nurses in educating other health care practitioners on its hazard and possible effects, if contaminated, should be enforced as a firm advocate for promoting a safe and secure environment. 6. List at least three web sources about it. References Healthcare Enviro

Globalization in the Context of Ghana Development Prospects Essay

Globalization in the Context of Ghana Development Prospects - Essay Example Ghana’s story, like many African and South American countries, is a story characterized by a mixed fortune of charismatic leadership with a determination to bring economic prosperity within their soil. With a dream of development prospects to the western standards, the original desire of Ghana’s leadership after independence was a state of parity in a record time of ten years under ideological stewardship of Kwame Nkrumah. Even though development was never fully achieved within the period, international political influences remained fully ingrained in the country’s undertakings. From independence upfront, Ghana adopted foreign policy principles and ideals of nonalignment and Pan-Africanism enunciated by Kwame Nkrumah’s tenure. Accordingly, the adoption of nonalignment stand was a counter-strategy measure against the infiltration of antagonistic policies perpetuated by alliances of both the East and West power blocs. On the other end, Pan-Africanism was a c ooperative visionary policy aimed at liberating the continent from Western colonialism and uniting it for a more consolidated economic and political independence (Ofusu par 33). The country’s active participation in the various organizations such as the United Nations, African Union, and ECOWAS is a clear indication of its commitment to the maintenance of friendly relations and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and noninterference from other countries irrespective of ideological differences.Taking colonialism off their shoulders, the post-independence national reconstruction placed Ghana as a middle-income country by the 1960s, with its citizenry enjoying relatively stable socio-economic standards of living. As fate would have it, political instability coupled with economic mismanagement by the military juntas in the 1970s eroded the positive economic gains at independence, eventually plunging the country into severe socio-economic crisis. As the wee hours of the 197 0s approached, the country’s gross domestic product’s declining rate was alarming, pushing every sector

Women Serving On the Front Line of Battlefield Research Paper

Women Serving On the Front Line of Battlefield - Research Paper Example This is based on the limited barriers that currently limit the presence and roles of women in the field. In as much as women should be accorded similar roles in the military, as their male counterparts, it is necessary to acknowledge their limitations that significantly depart from the roles of men. Summary and explanation of issue Women have begun playing an increasingly fundamental role on especially on the frontline during battles. It is fundamental to acknowledge that the need to attain gender parity in Pentagon has led to the enacting of laws that exalt the position of women working in the military sections. Previously, American women were barred from participating in direct combat roles. However, the changes in the nature and characteristics of the war have made the soldiers to be constantly in war. This means that women are always forced to participate in direct combat regardless of the ensuing challenges. This has made pentagon to advocate for additional roles for women in th e frontline of the battles. For example, congress has been recommending the introduction of close to 14,000 jobs for women serving in the frontline during battleground. According to Gass & John (4) â€Å"persuasion is powerful, and often positive social force†. ... These leaders would eventually their concerns to congress with the intention of contributing to the policy process. It is equally fundamental to acknowledge that the women have been advancing to the front of the battle lines by themselves to assert their authority. This has been vital to their empowerment and progress. The pentagon is equally a major stakeholder because it advises the congress concerning fundamental issues affecting women fighting at the front line in the battlefields. According to Gass & John (5) these are opinion leaders are influential who shape information and ideas through persuasion. It is evident that the pentagon initiates the policies formulated by congress. Consequently, it advertises the available positions within the military and allocates several roles. It is evident that the strategies that the entity has used to advance its persuasion process include formal announcements, advertisements and holding meetings with the women working in the military. The P entagon plays a neutral position in the entire occasion because it attempts to attain the highest degree of professionalism. Furthermore, it represents the needs of several persons who are not necessarily women in the front line. This means that it has to be extremely balanced in its approach. The final category incorporates congress that formulates laws determining whether women should participate in battles at the front line. According to Gass & John (23) purse persuasion seems to apply to the congress because it assumes a neutral position by allowing various personnel to voice their concerns. However, it ultimately represents the needs of the

Linear Programming essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Linear Programming - Essay Example The applications of linear programming span providing solutions to problems involving economics, computer science, and practically any other industry that requires a production schedule or an actual scheduling process. Moreover, the optimizing feature of linear programming makes it a necessity for people in the management circle to be familiar with. Simplex algorithm A linear programming model is typically solved using a simplex algorithm, or sometimes also referred to as the linear solver (Powell & Baker, 2010). The simplex algorithm involves a series of steps which employs the use of slack and basic variables to change the inequality constraints to equations so that the derived system of equations may be solved to find a feasible solution area. The extreme points of this feasible solution area are then tested by plugging them in to the objective function in order to find out which gives the optimal solution (Singiresu, 2009). Linear Programming Models There are a number of models t hat may be used to generate the solution to a linear programming model. ... Such models are generally used in manufacturing companies or supply chain networks. Another kind of linear programming model involves the blending of a number of resources to produce desired results, hence the term blending model (Baker, 2011). A typical example of this model is the â€Å"diet problem† wherein one aims to find the optimum mix of food products that will produce the maximum nutritional value. The covering model of linear programming is quite different from the first two models in such that it aims to minimize the objective function and is presented with â€Å"greater than constraints† (Powell & Baker, 2010, p. 79). This model is commonly used when minimizing a cost function and requiring the contributions to be greater than a particular value. Finally, the network model is quite unique in nature as it â€Å"describes configurations of flow in a connected system† (Baker, 2011, p. 71). Typically, a network model would require the use of a diagram whi ch aids in the finding of the optimal solution of a given problem. In all these types of linear programming models, spreadsheets may be used to provide assistance in finding the optimal solution. Excel has a built in Solver application which allows the user to simply input the coefficients of the objective function and constraints, and automatically generates values for the feasible region and the corresponding optimal solution. Sensitivity Analysis It should be noted that the task is not yet done when the optimal solution is found. It is also necessary to conduct a corresponding sensitivity analysis on the solution generated. Sensitivity analysis provides information on how instantaneous changes in the parameters of the problem would affect the optimal solution

The Current Citibank Status Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Current Citibank Status - Essay Example One day the Dow Jones is up, the next day it plunges down. Those who are holding out for economic stability seem to be optimistic that the highly controversial and recent national cash infusion of $3.5 trillion approved by Congress is going to put at least a mild set of spare brakes on the ride. Its primary purpose is to move working people in to more updated and viable industries based on changes in today's world; and hopefully, to get them spending and borrowing again. The government is also underwriting the virtual flotation devices for lending money to cash-strapped small businesses until a stalled economy can get moving. The only remaining question is in whether or not the average consumer is going to risk borrowing (or spending freely) in order to restart the flow once a checked economy makes its next move. What was "up slightly" on March 31 became a "multi-year low" on April 1. The high road seems to be a willingness to take the middle ground approach and state that consumer confidence is "relatively pessimistic," according to Scott Andron of the Miami Herald.[1] Most important in the consideration are the investors, national and global individuals and smaller corporate conglomerates who put up the money that underwrites the tangible assets so that loans can be withdrawn and used to sustain the economy. Without them, no one wins. U.S. officials have pressed their European counterparts to spend substantially more public money in an attempt to revive economic growth and global trade. Some countries, led by Germany, have strongly resisted, predicting that such a path could lead to unsustainable debts and runaway inflation. Luxembourg's prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, who heads a coordinating body of countries that use the euro currency, said European countries had already spent enough to jumpstart their economies. "The European stimulus plans are muscular, they are demanding, they are important in volume and in quality," Juncker said Wednesday in an interview with France's Europe 1 Radio. He said there was "no question" that the European Union would reject requests from Obama to spend more.[2] As recently as March of 2009, Citibank began to predict its own demise.[3] Michael Shedlock, a registered Investment Adviser for SitkaPacific stated [paraphrased] "Citigroup is essentially telling investors to bet against thema whole slew of financial stocks have been smashed to smithereens."[4] It is hard news to bear for a company that was once considered eternally solvent, particularly with all of the assets (and debts) that it acquired

Chinese Economic Revolution Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Chinese Economic Revolution - Research Paper Example As a result there was a wide variety of goods and services to choose from. Chinese producers were also able to export their goods and expand their businesses overseas. By the late 1980’s these reforms had accomplished extraordinary results: incomes increased, more consumer products, food and housing was made available and the country experienced high growth rates. The economic reforms were Chinese government’s way to emphasize an increase production, consumption and people’s income as well as advancement in technology without it having an adverse impact on budget deficits, inflation and unemployment. The first of these economic reforms were introduced in the agricultural sector. Under the agricultural reforms, agricultural land was divided among farmers who became owners of the lands they worked on. The farmers were allowed to keep the agricultural output if they agreed to give a small share of it to the government. This was a popular move among the farmers who f ound a way to increase their incomes. The result of these reforms was a dramatic increase in production of agricultural goods and this move stimulated the growth in the agricultural industry. Farmers were also able improve their standard of living as the reforms allowed them to increase their income by producing more goods (Myers 1991). Foreign trade played a significant role to boost China’s economy once the new economic reforms were introduced. In the years preceding the economic revolution foreign trade rarely contributed more than 10% to China’s GDP as the country mostly relied on self-sufficiency. However after the reforms the contribution increased significantly and by 1986 foreign trade contributed to 36% of the... The modern world has become familiar with the phrase ‘Made in China’. Chinese goods and services are being sold all over the world. There is clearly a shift in economic power from the developed West to China and India. The remarkable growth of China can be credited greatly to the Chinese Economic Revolution that occurred in the late 1970’s. The remarkable growth of China can be credited greatly to the Chinese Economic Revolution that occurred in the late 1970’s. In 1978 Deng Xiaoping introduced economic reforms in China. There were two phases to the reforms. In the first phases focus was on the countryside. A ‘Household Responsibility System’ was introduced which made peasants, working on farms, owners of those lands. The second phase of these reforms focused on industrialization and worker welfare as well as on enterprises. One of the key changes as a result of these reforms was that control was shifted from state-owned to private enterprise. These reforms were against the communist philosophy as they supported a free-market system. These reforms helped arouse a sleeping economic giant from its slumber and take the world’s economic stage by storm. The reforms encouraged private entrepreneurship, foreign investment and foreign trade, reduced government control with focus on free-market and education of the labor force among others. The Chinese economy will continue to grow and maintain its average growth rates of 10% per annum till 2020.

Individual Improvement Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Individual Improvement Plan - Essay Example First, my intellectual skills, especially personal emphasis on mental activity worked well in this project because it required effective problem-solving skills. The complexity of the project required the team to seek alternative solutions to problems. This task matched my skills. I would apply personal reflection and introspection to gain motivation to complete the task. Further, I feel that my commanding style applied in presenting the scenarios as well as moving the team forward in moments when we would have stalled. Once we established the project goals, I developed a clear map of what I wanted achieved. Negotiations with the other team members allowed us to create synergies and complete the project in time. May contributions were to the team were exceptional because I am a competitive individual, and thus I wanted to be the best. However, this was apparent. All the individual tasks that I performed in this project related well with my inquisitive nature. A personal reflection about the activity shows that I can achieve better results by focusing more on my strengths as a programmatic learner. Therefore, I should seek opportunities for hands-on training. I would require demonstration from an acknowledged expert. Overall, this means that my personal learning style can help support growth and development activities during the proposed hands-on training activity. This is especially important because it links well with my pragmatics

Raw by Scott Monk and Hero of War by Rise Against Extended response Essay Example for Free

Raw by Scott Monk and Hero of War by Rise Against Extended response Essay ‘Institutions can change one for better or worse’ this quote is proven in the novel ‘raw’ by Scott Monk and ‘Hero of War’ by Rise Against. Through the contrasting ideas of rebellion and conformity, the responders are able to see how institutions can manipulate one and have a negative or positive impact. In ‘Raw’ by Scott Monk, Brett uses rebellion to escape from his fears and then be liberated from it; he does this as he believes it is the only way to freedom. When Brett first gets to the farm he is given trust and responsibility straight away which he is not used to as he has never been automatically trusted before. Brett is unaware of how to react to this, as he has only ever experienced negative forms of authority beforehand. Brett believes that Sam is naà ¯ve and stupid for giving Brett and the other boys at the farm trust. Sam believes in giving everyone second chances and that if people want to change then it is up to them. The institution can change one for better or worse but it’s up to the persona to allow the change, so if they refuse the tools the institution provides them with, then they will stay the same. The farm as an institution has a positive impact on Brett, because once he starts taking responsibility for his actions then he changes. â€Å"†¦He didn’t want to be here. It was a waste of time†¦Ã¢â‚¬  through the use of third person narration the responders are able to see that Brett’s attitude towards the institution as a whole is that, he believes that this institution is a waste of his time as he believes it isn’t going to help him. Later on in the novel Brett comes to realisation after Josh opens up to him, Brett realises that he shouldn’t blame his actions on everyone else, and that he should take responsibility and live up to the consequences. The responders are able to see how much Brett has changed in the end of the novel when Brett admit s that it was his fault that they broke up. â€Å"†¦I’m the one to blame!† The exclamation mark is used to emphasise that he is taking responsibility for his actions, and for once isn’t blaming it on her. Because of the tools that Sam has given Brett he now knows that rebellion is not always the viable option. Thus the institution has changed Brett for the better, as he now he takes responsibility for his choices and doesn’t blame everyone else. In contrast, the persona in ‘Hero of War’ By Rise Against, changes for the worst as a result of this institution. Throughout the film clip it shows flash backs of what he was like before he had joined the army,  which was happy and he had a good self-image. Then throughout the clip we are shown him being in a green room, where he is glowing and there is black surrounding him, as the responders we can see the emotional damage which the persona has been through. â€Å"†¦I told them to stop/But then I joined in†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This complete juxtaposition shows the audience how he is forced to conform and adhere to the institution. The effect of this is that the responders can see that even though the persona knows what h e is doing is wrong, he is forced to conform to the army. In the end of the video we are shown the persona walking the streets of America, painted in white with red glowing hands. This symbolises the guilt which he feels for conforming and taking the innocent lives. The persona no longer fits in to society’s mould. This is ironic as there is still a high camera angle on him showing that he has power, even though he doesn’t fit in. Thus this institution has changed the persona for the worst as he now has a sense of guilt within himself and doesn’t fit in to his home country which is America ‘the only flag I trust’ Ultimately through the study of Raw by Scott Monk and Hero of War by Rise Against, it is shown that institutions can have either a detrimental or beneficial impact on products of an institution. This is shown through the contrasting ideas of Rebellion and Conformity.

A Pest Analysis Of Hsbc Bank Finance Essay

A Pest Analysis Of Hsbc Bank Finance Essay The political instability that the country has suffered throughout history and still has not only affected the general conditions of Pakistan but also the foreign investors and multinational countries. Though HSBC is a foreign bank and the reporting line is in Middle East and London but the political conditions in the country affects its activities to quite an extent as ultimately the State Bank of Pakistan supervises all the activities of all local and foreign banks. As a result of the political instability, the international investors hesitate keeping their money as they are afraid of frauds and the culture of Pakistan as it is popular for its bad and unorganized trends. (Zaidi, A., 2009. Issues In Pakistan Economy. 2nd ed. Karachi: Oxford University Press.) Economical Factors: Since the world economy is moving towards a recession, so Pakistan is no exception to the economic instability and uncertainty. The GDP growth in 2007 was the fastest in Asia i.e. 7 % and was lead by growth in consumption and investments. National savings rose only slightly, indicating the slow growth in bank deposits and is low by International standards. The causes of low savings have been the low per capita income, high dependency ratio, urbanization, lack of proper infrastructure in rural areas and inflation leading to rise in prices. Inflation is high due to high food prices which offset the demand management policies and the government subsidy on oil prices. As a result of high inflation, poverty is high and the productive capacity is stressed. In the year 2007 the services sector grew by 8% with high profit recorded and an overall contribution of over 50 % in the GDP. Monetary policy was tightened but inflation was still on the rise. The expansionary fiscal policy led to central bank borrowing and concessional finance for exports and textiles. Monetary growth was accelerated due to surge in external receipts. Monetary tightening was necessary given the exceptional growth in the money supply aggregating 19.2 % percent growth that was much higher than target of 5.3 %. This growth in money supply was due to excessive government borrowings, sharp rise in NFA due to external financing of deficit through Euro Bonds, US aid and multilateral loans. The State Bank of Pakistan raised the discount rate by 50 points to 9.5 %, SBP also drained excess liquidity from inter bank market and maintained overnight rates close to discount rates. As a result the interest rates rose and this impacted the loan quality, stringent provisioning requirements, increased capital requirements, the NPL ratio to loans declined. Liquid market for short term government papers exist, but long term debt instruments need to be developed. (Zaidi, A., 2009. Issues In Pakistan Economy. 2nd ed. Karachi: Oxford University Press.) Social Factors: Since the rise in prices, the general public has become conscious towards their spendings and is facing a decrease in their disposable income. They are saving less and as a result the growth in the bank deposits has slowed down. Due to the political, economical and law order situation being very uncertain, there is lack of trust found in the people of Pakistan on the financial institutions. Another aspect that adds to it is that people are less educated and unaware of how system works so rumors create great panic that result in problems in financial sector, hence affects HSBC also. (Zaidi, A., 2009. Issues In Pakistan Economy. 2nd ed. Karachi: Oxford University Press.) Technological Factors: With the advancement in technology and the increase of its usage, it has created many opportunities to all kinds of industries. There are now automated teller machines that have replace the conventional tellers, the whole banking systems have been automated assuring transparency in the system as a result of which the trust of the consumer has been gained. The internet technology has provided new avenues to work as online banking system is a common phenomenon in the west and is gaining popularity in Pakistan too. Many mobile and telecom companies are collaborating with the bank to reach out to the customers even more efficiently and conveniently. This has raised the level of the competition thus raising the pressures to compete in unique ways to add value. (Zaidi, A., 2009. Issues In Pakistan Economy. 2nd ed. Karachi: Oxford University Press.) Law Order: The instability of the legal system and lack of freedom of the judiciary has impaired the growth of the economy as investments have slowed down. The law and order situation has become from bad to worse. The potential foreign investors have backed out and those who have already invested face threats and insecurity. The recent past is filled with the bomb blasts and attacks on foreigners and since HSBC is a foreign bank, it too has been threatened and still faces fears. Recently the government of Pakistan has enforced a law pertaining micro-financing. This law suggests that all banks must have at least three of its branches in each rural sector. (Zaidi, A., 2009. Issues In Pakistan Economy. 2nd ed. Karachi: Oxford University Press.) Industrial Analysis General Driving Force Influencing the Industry: Size Scope: The overall size of the banking sector has reached Rs 5.0 trillion by end of the fiscal year 2007. Since HSBC has only recently entered the market, its current market share is approximately around a 2-3% of the total market. The scope of the banking industry is currently limited to only a few segments that are being targeted, and that are the consumer market, the corporate segment and the small and medium enterprises. Many other segments, such as segments based on demographics, age, gender etc. exist and can be targeted upon thus increasing the scope of activities. Currently the banking sector provide facilities of deposit, with drawl, lockers, ATMà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s, issuance of pay orders, demand drafts, transfer funds between accounts, issuance of cheque books, credit card facilities, loans account, online services, currency exchanges.( Hussain, I., 2009 Banking Sector in Pakistan. Dawn. 29 April, p.7) Influences: There has been more than two-fold increase in the loan portfolio in the past three years, which is considered to be high. Even though this strong expansion is accompanied with diversification across sectors as banks have ventured into relatively new areas like mortgage financing, lease finance, project financing (traditional business areas of non-bank financial institutions), aggressive lending tendencies have implications for the asset quality of the banking sector. While on-going mergers and acquisitions are aiding the process of consolidation of the banking sector, the resulting ownership structure is posing new challenges for the regulators and supervisors. Specifically, cross ownership à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ where banks own non-bank financial subsidiaries and associated companies, industrial and brokerage companies own banks etc., has increased the complexities of the banking sector. Similarly, cross border ownership of the banking sector involve home-host regulatory and supervisory issues. Effective supervision in this environment requires a strong coordinated supervisory mechanism and strong interface with other supervisory/regulatory agencies. Fortunately, none of the above issues poses a significant threat to the stability of banking sector in the current environment. The deceleration in credit growth and the growing emphasis on internal control and risk management systems will serve to enhance banking sector stability in the future. The on-going mergers acquisitions and increased minimum capital requirements are expected to play a key role in improving the stability of banking sector. .( Hussain, I., 2009 Banking Sector in Pakistan. Dawn. 29 April, p.7) The money supply and the aggregate demand of the economy are great influences that affect the banking sector. With the increase in the aggregate demand in the previous years that took place as a result of the consumption driven economic policies of the government, the demand for money in the whole system increased. Therefore the money supply increased. This resulted into a high inflation rate and increase in the prices. As a counter result the interest rates decreased, thus allowing the investors to borrow at low interest rate. Thus borrowings increased and deposits decreased. .( Hussain, I., 2009 Banking Sector in Pakistan. Dawn. 29 April, p.7) Porterà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s Five Forces Bargaining Power of Customers: Bargaining power of customers is relatively high, as switching costs are low for customers to leave HSBC and gain banking services from other banks. Foreign banks like Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays etc have entered the market and thus add to the local banks thus serving as the current competitors. .( Hussain, I., 2009 Banking Sector in Pakistan. Dawn. 29 April, p.7) Competitive Rivalry: Foreign banks are the direct competitors of HSBC that are striving for the same market share and customers. In addition, local banks have a long-term trust relationship with their customers, which still provide them an edge. The banks that are practicing Islamic banking in the Islamic State of Pakistan are the potential competitors. Since polarity in the country is increasing, the middle class segment is vanishing leaving only a hand full of the upper class and upper middle class segment to target. This segment too has now options of other multi nationals and can switch to them at any time. With a nicheà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ segment that is being targeted it is becoming tougher to fight for market share and customer retention. .( Hussain, I., 2009 Banking Sector in Pakistan. Dawn. 29 April, p.7) The local banks are fast to imitate and since the banking system is a very transparent one, imitation is easy, thus increasing the fight between the competitors. They are trying to capture the upper middle and the middle-middle class segment that are currently the customers of the multi national banks. With their relatively low interest rates charged to the customers and higher interest payback rates compare to HSBC, they are strong threats as they have extremely lowered the switching costs to the customers. .( Hussain, I., 2009 Banking Sector in Pakistan. Dawn. 29 April, p.7) Bargaining Power of Suppliers: Since the company is a financial institution, its supply is the money supply, that is supplied by the State Bank of Pakistan. Therefore, being the sole provider and supplier, its bargaining power is extremely high. The State Bank of Pakistan often imposes various restrictions on banks. Therefore, none of the banks are independent in policy making and cannot launch any product without prior permission of the State Bank of Pakistan. The banking history is replete with the examples that either Government of Pakistan or the State Bank of Pakistan puts ban on the marketability of the most successful products. All banks are restrained to independence in making their policies provided that they are not against the law and Islamic values. .( Hussain, I., 2009 Banking Sector in Pakistan. Dawn. 29 April, p.7) Substitutes: There are not many substitutes available. Those that are, are the share in the stock market and the government schemes such as the National Saving Schemes. The NSS is on a decline as these saving instruments are to their maturity and the customers have lost interest in them. The government has not been able to come up with any innovative saving schemes to attract the general public, therefore reducing the threat to of the substitutes to the banking industry. .( Hussain, I., 2009 Banking Sector in Pakistan. Dawn. 29 April, p.7) The Customer Analysis: The customers are segmented on the basis of traditional segmentation of the income levels. The high end of the segments, that is the upper middle and the upper elite class customers are not price sensitive and are willing to take high risks to earn high returns. They focus more on long term gains and are inclined towards making huge investments. They expect and demand superior customer services and consultancy required for their businesses and investments. One of their unfulfilled needs is the demand for customized and personalized business consultancies along with portfolio management consultancy and wealth management services.The lower end of the segment is more focused towards saving and small investments after careful analysis of the financial situation. They make short term plans and investments. The long term investments that they make are mostly the pension saving schemes or life insurances to safeguard their future income. They require good customer services but do not expect a first class treatment. .( Hussain, I., 2009 Banking Sector in Pakistan. Dawn. 29 April, p.7) Industry Life Cycle: The Banking Sector in Pakistan has emerged in its present form after passing through various stages of development in the last fifty years. At the time of independence, the new country had no bank of its own and commercial banking facilities were almost minimal and very outdated. With the creation of the country, the Habib Group brought over its entire set up to Pakistan and banking operation started. The State Bank of Pakistan was established through an Act on July 1, 1948 which marked the beginning of banking sector in Pakistan. In 1974, all the local banks in Pakistan were nationalized. Nowadays, the world is going through a financial crunch due to the economic recession in US Economy, therefore the prevailing boom in the banking industry has been affected too. In the local market though there are many unfulfilled gaps in the banking sector, with the current products and services that are being offered, the banking sector is saturated, with a number of foreign banks and many local one too. The banking sector is thus at its maturity stage, with instability and financial crunch effecting its processes at present. .( Hussain, I., 2009 Banking Sector in Pakistan. Dawn. 29 April, p.7)

Morris Lapidus Miami Beach Hotels Design

Morris Lapidus Miami Beach Hotels Design Morris Lapidus was one of the most important architects of the 20st century, not because of what he built but because of the way he thought and his willingness to break rules. His architecture manifested both popular culture and the collective unconscious. Through his designs- synaggogues and large-scale housing as well as the famous shops and glamorous hotels-he had a powerful way of enhancing an experience and lifting peoples spirits. His introduction to the Miami hotel scene began when his friend the architect Charlie Spector brought him to a meeting with Ben Novak, partner of Harry Mufson, to edit plans for the Sans Souci hotel on Miami Beach. Morris was sketching various parts of the hotel that could be made more interesting. He indicated that the exterior should have imposing pylons and a circular drive to dramatize the entrance. Several days later he got a phone call from Harry Mufson, asking when he could come to Miami Beach. The two resort hotels , Fontainebleau and Eden Roc, makes us see architecture differently. We can describe the form, tectonics, content, and detail of the resort hotels different as a pedestrian or when we drive a car. Lapidus resort hotels, were stage sets for tpuristic spectacle and glamour more than built demonstrations of distinctly modernist theories and practices. Miami, was the farthest extension of North America into the Caribbean, far enough from the rest of the United States to nurture exotic tropical fantasies. There is a reason that makes both of these resort hotels more prestigious and more as an image of Miami then any other hotel. In 1952, Morris Lapidus landed the job of the largest luxury hotels of Miami Beach, the Fontainebleau and Eden Roc perhaps the most famous hotels in the world. He designed the hotel in such an artistic and symbolic way that when you pass by the hotel by car or as a pedestrian, your brain captures its style and symbols so that you can separate it from other hotels.Fontainebleau and Eden Roc are located in Miami beach, between the beach and Collins avenue, where the best oceanfront hotels are based. It is a perfect location to impress tourist who comes to the beach and sees all the luxury resorts facing the ocean. The fronts of the Fontainebleau and Eden Roc look to the Collins avenue, the architectural structure and the decoration plays a big role in this part. The strategy here is to impress and make the building prestigious and interesting. If you are a tourist and driving a car in the Collins Avenue, you will see several Miami Beach hotels next to each other, almost all of them having the same color and design. Fontainebleaus perception is different than what the other hotels have. You can enter to the hotel by taking the entrance road. You will see multiple tall palm trees aligned and white sculptures matching the color of the building that are located in front of the lobby and on the waterfall. Compared to other luxury resorts, Eden Roc can also be easily distinguished. When by pass as a pedestrian,by car or even by a plane you will be able to compare Eden Roc to other buildings. As a pedestrian you will see that right by the entrance road, there is a big text of Eden Roc with a special font that makes it more unique. As a flying passenger, if you are passing over Miami Beach, you will see that all the buildings are colored white and have almost the same structure. So if you can not distinguish the buildings by its shape which is the case for most people, Morris Lapidu put the text of Eden Roc with the same font as the one at the entrance. Fonts are really important for branding, it gives a perception depending on the type of the font and also makes people remember the brand. These two luxury resorts inside are as prestigious as their exteriors. Morris Lapidus designed a modernism based on north?south connections. His hotel environments were containing Latin designs and tropical themes.   Lapidus interiors were juxtaposing his proven idea to commercial space with regional elements such as natural stone, singing birds and tropical foliage. With the Fontainebleau and Eden Roc, he was called as the as hotel doctor and hotel designer. From the idiosyncratic pedestal base to the bold curves of the two hotels, Fontainebleau and Eden roc broke with orthodoxy and defined Lapidus signature hotel

Paul’s Case: A Study in Temperament by Willa Cather Essay examples --

A Symbolic Perception Imagine being entrapped in a life that you did not feel you belonged in. That is the story of Paul in â€Å"Paul’s Case,† written by Willa Cather. He lived in a suburban home where everyone seemed the same and there was a feeling of despair. Paul, who was a young man, felt that his father, teachers and classmates misunderstood him and therefore were unworthy of his company. In the story there are many symbolic elements. Flowers, for instance, symbolize Paul’s personality and life. The parallel between the boy and the flowers is made by the author many times throughout the short story. In the beginning of the story Paul has a meeting with the teachers of his school because he was misbehaving. For the meeting Paul shows up wearing â€Å"clothes [that] were a trifle outgrown . . . [with] a red carnation in his buttonhole† (49). This shows his total disrespect for authority because he is going to get disciplined; and the teachers thought this â€Å"was not properly significant of the contrite spirit befitting a boy under the ban of suspension† (49).† The flower he wore shows that he does not care about school or his teachers: his teachers felt â€Å"that his whole attitude was symbolized by his shrug and his flippantly red carnation flower† (50). The principal also noted his conceit as he left the meeting and bowed which was described to be â€Å"a repetition of the scandalous red carnation† (51). It is almost as if the flower is his strength and reminds him of his ne...

The family is the biggest piece of the pie Essay -- Social Control Th

The key writers of social control theories were influenced by the mid 19th century conservative ideals, in which people were adhering to the unchanging state of affairs. Social control theorist viewed crime as normal behaviour that resulted from "the absence of effective beliefs that forbid delinquency" (Jones, 2009, p. 228). Rather than questioning why humans deviated and became criminals, social control theorist wondered why most people conformed and did not engage in criminal activity. With elements from several theories, including anomie, social disorganization and differential association, criminologist have argued that social control theory is not new (William & McShane, 2010, p. 157). These conservative criminologist were looking for alternative ways of explaining crime and deviance from the explanations they already had (Sears, personal communication, November 2, 2010). While there are several different perspectives of social control theory, for the purpose of this paper, th e focus will be aimed at Hirschi's social bond theory. First off, by introducing Travis Hirschi's theoretical premise and specifically highlighting his main arguments. Secondly, some examples will be provided on how this theory has been implemented and discuss an authentic program created by me which applies his theory. Lastly, the focus will be directed towards the effectiveness and the limitations that his theory has. The origin of Travis Hirschi's social control theory can be traced back to Emile Durkheim, who not only came up with the idea of anomie, he also talked about forces of integration and forces of regulation (Cartwright, 2010, p. 68). Forces of integration were described by Durkheim as being informal forces, and included peoples commo... ...be that it helps to eliminate the critique that parents could be the root of the problems (Sears, personal communication, November 9, 2010). Given that the 'old' ways eventually become eliminated form society, my program would provide proper parenting skills for all individuals in which people would learn Hirschi's core elements. In contrast, one weakness that haas been argued is that social control theories "over-predict delinquency and relegate motivation to a matter of minor significance" (Jones, 2009, p. 243). Also, it has been said that these theorist have made an unjustified assumption that all individuals are bound to partake in delinquent activities. Overall social control theories, particularly Hirschi's social bond theory, have proved to provide striking effects and perhaps that is why it is popular to both the general public and the policy level.

Business Report Essays -- Business and Management Studies

This report is to show Helen Marsh and Brian Taylor the problems of their business in more detail than the report give (case study). I will outline and investigate further into the following matters: Growth Performance Management REPORT- SOFTWEAR SYSTEMS Executive Summery In this report I have given a lot of research into the relevant subjects. I think that the way I have looked at the possibilities will help Helen Marsh and Brian Taylor overcome some of the obstacles in their organisation in order to make there business successful. Suggestions on what you should be specifically looking at in order to make your business a success, in my view would be the try to improve employee attitudes and training for employees. I think I have covered all the points that you have given me in depth if I have not apologies on my behalf. Introduction- Aims of the Report The aim of this report is to show Helen Marsh and Brian Taylor the problems of their business in more detail than the report give (case study). I will outline and investigate further into the following matters: * Growth * Performance Management * Performance Appraisal Systems and Motivation * Motivation * Rewards * Employee Turnover/Retention * Training and Development * Communication Growth To consider the growth of Brian and Helens company, we will look need to examine into the PEST (Political, Economical, Social and Technological factors) and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis for this company, this will help us identify if the company should continue to grow. By understanding about the SWOT and PEST analysis this will show us key information and help us identify some of the problems with the business. SWOT Analysis: SWOT Analysis is a very effective way of identifying your Strengths and Weaknesses, and of examining the Opportunities and Threats you face. Carrying out an analysis using the SWOT framework helps you to focus your activities into areas where you are strong and where the greatest opportunities lie. SWOT Analysis is a strategic method for identifying your businesses' Strengths and Weaknesses, and to examine the Opportunities and Threats. These are just some of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats there may be more if you feel that there are, pleases do not hesitate to call me w... ...owledge. You should also try to offer recognised qualifications. * Communication- look at Appendix 2 I recommend that you try to bring in the process of complete network communication. There are numerous factors that help conclude an organisation’s ability and skill in maintaining the stability and organisation among its employees/members, one of these factors includes attaining an organisational communication process through effective communication skills. References Recommend looking at this text: ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR: INDVIDUALS, GROUPS AND THE ORGANISATION I. Brooks (1999) 1st Ed, Pub: Financial Times HUMAN RESOURCE STRATAGIES Salman, (1998) Pub: The Open University MANAGING PEOPLE R. Tompson, 2nd Ed, Pub: Institute of Management ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR: A MANAGEMENT CHALLENGE G.B.Northcroft & M.A.Neale (1990), Pub: Ronda Colour PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT GA Cole, 4th Ed (1997), Pub: Ashford Colour Press MANAGING HUMAN RESOURCES J. Weightman, 2nd Ed, (1996), Pub: Cromwell Press The following Web-Sites are useful also: www.bized.com www.hrmang.co.uk www.humanrecourses.co.uk/text/hrissues www.resourcemanage.co.uk Business Report Essays -- Business and Management Studies This report is to show Helen Marsh and Brian Taylor the problems of their business in more detail than the report give (case study). I will outline and investigate further into the following matters: Growth Performance Management REPORT- SOFTWEAR SYSTEMS Executive Summery In this report I have given a lot of research into the relevant subjects. I think that the way I have looked at the possibilities will help Helen Marsh and Brian Taylor overcome some of the obstacles in their organisation in order to make there business successful. Suggestions on what you should be specifically looking at in order to make your business a success, in my view would be the try to improve employee attitudes and training for employees. I think I have covered all the points that you have given me in depth if I have not apologies on my behalf. Introduction- Aims of the Report The aim of this report is to show Helen Marsh and Brian Taylor the problems of their business in more detail than the report give (case study). I will outline and investigate further into the following matters: * Growth * Performance Management * Performance Appraisal Systems and Motivation * Motivation * Rewards * Employee Turnover/Retention * Training and Development * Communication Growth To consider the growth of Brian and Helens company, we will look need to examine into the PEST (Political, Economical, Social and Technological factors) and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis for this company, this will help us identify if the company should continue to grow. By understanding about the SWOT and PEST analysis this will show us key information and help us identify some of the problems with the business. SWOT Analysis: SWOT Analysis is a very effective way of identifying your Strengths and Weaknesses, and of examining the Opportunities and Threats you face. Carrying out an analysis using the SWOT framework helps you to focus your activities into areas where you are strong and where the greatest opportunities lie. SWOT Analysis is a strategic method for identifying your businesses' Strengths and Weaknesses, and to examine the Opportunities and Threats. These are just some of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats there may be more if you feel that there are, pleases do not hesitate to call me w... ...owledge. You should also try to offer recognised qualifications. * Communication- look at Appendix 2 I recommend that you try to bring in the process of complete network communication. There are numerous factors that help conclude an organisation’s ability and skill in maintaining the stability and organisation among its employees/members, one of these factors includes attaining an organisational communication process through effective communication skills. References Recommend looking at this text: ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR: INDVIDUALS, GROUPS AND THE ORGANISATION I. Brooks (1999) 1st Ed, Pub: Financial Times HUMAN RESOURCE STRATAGIES Salman, (1998) Pub: The Open University MANAGING PEOPLE R. Tompson, 2nd Ed, Pub: Institute of Management ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR: A MANAGEMENT CHALLENGE G.B.Northcroft & M.A.Neale (1990), Pub: Ronda Colour PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT GA Cole, 4th Ed (1997), Pub: Ashford Colour Press MANAGING HUMAN RESOURCES J. Weightman, 2nd Ed, (1996), Pub: Cromwell Press The following Web-Sites are useful also: www.bized.com www.hrmang.co.uk www.humanrecourses.co.uk/text/hrissues www.resourcemanage.co.uk