Conducting a Literature Review Data Collection (SLP2) Essay

Conducting a Literature Review Data Collection (SLP2) - Essay Example Knowledge of the possible effects of these methods could help prevent future such tragedies. Planned Parenthood is a good starting point for determining what types of birth control exist and their effectiveness, though they cannot be considered an unbiased source. While their mission is to help provide women with good information, they do tend to push the usage of hormonal methods to prevent pregnancy. The articles on their website written by physicians and other professionals can therefore be used, but carefully. A search of the PubMed Central database for "birth control" returned an extremely large number of hits, though many were unrelated to my research topic. One possible useful result is the article "New low-dose, extended-cycle pills with levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol: an evolutionary step in birth control" by Nelson, A. which is a longitudinal study of hormonal birth control pills in the last fifty years. Many other results are similarly helpful. A final database searc h for "birth control" of MedCentral provided 297 free journal articles and numerous other resources on birth control types and their safety.

The notion of corporate social responsibility of business Essay

The notion of corporate social responsibility of business organizations - Essay Example It is evident from the study that various business organizations, ranging from small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to large corporate organizations, exist across the globe providing some service or products to their clients. Essentially, the businesses engage in some activity like production of goods or delivery of service to generate some revenue to enhance its sustainable development. This becomes the traditional economic role of the business organization. However, the operations of these business organizations are carried out in some societal context involving the human population and the environment. Thus, there is interrelation and mutual interaction between the company and the society. Besides, the business operations have to be carried out according to legislative provisions in a given country in which the organization operates. The governments and other regulatory agencies have legislation stretching across various social sectors including health, environmental, the fis cal policies, and the monetary policies among many others. Ethical considerations also need to be considered in executing the business operations by an organization. Various individuals affect, and are affected by, the operations of a given organizations. These individuals are termed the stakeholders of the organization. The interrelation has generated debates among academic scholars on the roles that business organizations need to play in the society. The societies have their interests and so do the business organizations. ... Corporate social responsibility involves performing roles that go beyond the legal obligations that prevail in a given region (Fontaine et al, 2006). It involves the organizations’ role in promoting social and economic developments in the communities while working with the employees, their families, the customers, the shareholders, the community members, and the larger society. This paper expounds the notion of social responsibility of business organizations. The rise of corporate social responsibility for business organizations Even though the notion of corporate social responsibility has come into the brighter limelight in the past three decades, the debates on this issue began as early as the 1950s (Heath & Ni, 2008) when scholars began to question the role of businesses in the society. The evaluation has since extended to non-profit and governmental agencies as well. The main point of concern in CSR is whether the business organizations add any value to the societies in wh ich they operate as they strive to achieve their mission and vision (Heath & Ni, 2008). CSR emerged and developed as a realization by the members of the public that the business organizations should no longer belong to their owners or founders (Carroll & Buchholtz, 2008, p.82). The society has developed various new expectations on the business organizations. The major characterization of corporate social responsibility in a business organization is how the organization involves its stakeholders like the customers, the stockholders, the employees, suppliers, the governments, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations in its business operations and strategy development (Fontaine et al, 2006).

The Da Vinci Surgical System Nursing Essay

The Da Vinci Surgical System Nursing Essay Imagine a situation where you have just been diagnosed with an illness requiring surgery. You have only two options: either to conduct a traditional surgery with large incisions, or laparoscopy which uses small incisions but is only available for simple procedures. However, you now have a viable option to conduct a minimally invasive surgery, many thanks to the advancement of surgical technology. Minimally invasive surgery is a concept existed prior to the inception of robots, referring to surgical procedures that are conducted by avoiding long cuts as surgeons introduce long-handled medical instruments to operate on body tissues via small incisions. The Da Vinci surgical system, also known as a telesurgical system, is currently the pioneer device in the robotic field made by Intuitive Surgical, Inc. A telesurgical system requires the surgeon to maneuver the robot during the procedure instead of allowing it to function from an encoded software. This surgical system is named such as a tribute to Leonardo Da Vinci, whom broke new ground in anatomical accuracy and the epitome of the era of Renaissance. He was highly regarded for his ability to bring life to his architectural drawings of futuristic automations. This particular device is meticulously designed to aid in complex surgery such as cardiac valve repair, prostatectomies and gynecologic surgical procedures by a minimal approach of 1-2cm incisions. Such ultimate breakthrough opens a new platform, beneficiating patients, surgeons, hospitals and the medicine field as a whole. Imagine major surgery performed with minimal incisions on the patients body. Imagine a faster treatment, better recovery rate and minimal duration spent in the hospital as well as better clinical outcomes. This is all made possible with the inception of Da Vinci surgical system. Da Vinci reforms surgery. It gives a whole new concept to surgery, omitting the painstaking experiences that patients had to face before its invention. In this proposal, we will be introduced to this bizarre medical equipment that is capable of improving the surgical field, in terms of its history, features, unprecedented benefits, criticisms, the future as well as recommendation of the latest Da Vinci surgical system. History Robot assisted surgical procedure first hit its limelight in 1985 when the PUMA 560 robotic surgical arm was used in a neurosurgical biopsy which is non-laparoscopic. The successful surgery posed greater precision which ultimately lead to the first laparoscopic procedure involving a robotic system, a cholescystecotomy, in 1987. It is then in the following year, the same PUMA system performed a transurethral resection. Consequently in 1990, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its first robotic surgical system, AESOP system, the brainchild of Computer Motion for its endoscopic surgical procedure. The Da Vinci surgery system became known in 2000 for being the first system approved by the FDA for general laparoscopic surgery. This approval became groundbreaking as the Da Vinci system is all-encompassing of surgical instruments and necessary equipments for surgery. It has been approved in urological surgeries, general laparoscopic surgeries, general non-cardiovascular thoracosopic surgeries and thoracoscopically assisted cardiotomy procedures, applicable to both adults and pediatric procedures. Da Vinci surgical system is a proud creation of Intuitive Surgery, Inc. This company is the global pioneer in robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Initially, the US Army funded Intuitive Surgical to develop a system to perform battlefield surgery. However, they realized the potential of such technology to accelerate the application of a minimally invasive surgery. Intuitive Surgical was then established in 1995 to further develop this technology to a wider range of procedures. The Da Vinci surgical system was launched in January 1999 and it became the first robotic surgical system to gain approval by the FDA for general laparoscopic surgery. Subsequently, the FDA cleared this device for chest surgery, cardiac procedures, urologic and gynecologic procedures. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Intuitive Surgical expanded its force by acquiring its principal competitor, Computer Motion, reinforcing its world monopoly in robotic-assisted surgical systems. It sustains growth excessively by 25% and has successfully expanded to more than 900 academic and community hospital sites. As of today, more than a thousand Da Vinci Systems are installed in hospitals worldwide. Problem Statement In tandem with the advent in science and technology, the field of robotic surgery is mushrooming. Robotic surgery is defined as the use of robot to assist in surgery procedures. The need for robotic surgery is subsequently demanded in the medicine field to overcome problems arise from surgery with traditional approach. Two decades ago, surgeons began developing a concept known as Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) in which microscopic cameras called endoscopes or laparoscopes were slotted into the patients body through small ports. However, MIS stumbled upon major roadblocks to advancement as surgeons were operating through standard two-dimensional monitor that lacked visualization while fixed-wrist instruments and poor ergonomic design limited the surgeons dexterity. Consequently, MIS was deemed suitable for narrow range of surgical procedures. To counter this problem while maintaining the concept of MIS, robot-assisted surgery was then make-believe. With the inception of Da Vinci sur gical system, the medical and surgical fields have revolutionized wherein surgeons and patients both benefit from it. Da Vinci Surgical System Mechanism Surgeons Console This is where the surgeon is seated in a comfortable manner while scrutinizing the bodys interior at a magnified 3D image through highly powered objective lenses. The systems three-dimensional and high resolution view screen enables the surgeon to observe the incision area in clarity. By manipulating the master controls located beneath the display screen, the surgeons hands and wrists are positioned perpendicularly to his or her eyes. The master controls consist of a pair of foot pedals and hand controllers each. The surgery can then be performed as Da Vinci translates the surgeons open-surgery hand movements from the master control, which acts like forceps, into a much precise movements of miniaturized instruments at the patient-side cart. The following illustrates a surgeons console from the Da Vinci surgical system. Patient-side Cart The patient-side cart includes three or four interactive robotic arms that function to execute the surgeons commands from the surgeons console. Two or three of the arms are designated to hold medical instruments such as scalpel, scissors and other dissecting materials; while the remaining arm is an endoscopic camera, equipped with a pair of lens, also known as the EndoWrist, provides a stereoscopic vision on the display screen. The laparoscopic arms shaft at the 1-2cm operating ports, omitting the need for using tissue of the incision walls in the patient for leverage, thereby minimizing tissue damage. Such miniaturized operating arms proven a significant advancement from earlier inventions such as the PUMA 560. Apart from that, assisting medical officers will facilitate in incorporating the right instruments for surgery, provide the 1-2cm port in the patients body and supervise the situation to eradicate errors as the tools are being utilized. EndoWrist Instruments Patented by Intuitive Surgical, the EndoWrist Instruments are another exclusive feature of the Da Vinci System that allows surgeons to operate with dexterity over a maximum range of motion. Designed after the structure of a human wrist, this device can expand beyond the capabilities of a human hand by providing a plethora of surgical techniques. Internal cables of the EndoWrist Instruments mimic the human tendons, providing specific surgical mission such as clamping, accurate suturing, dissection and tissue manipulation. This state-of-the-art device has extraordinary features, such as 7 degrees of freedom motion, 90 degrees of articulation, intuitive motion, fingertip control, motion scaling and tremor reduction. All these contribute to a smooth running surgery as surgeons operate with ambidexterity and unparalleled precision. This device is also available in a broad range of selection according to the requirement of a particular surgery. The product line includes various forceps, ne edle drivers, scissors, monopolar and bipolar electrocautery instruments, scalpels; all available in 5 mm and 8 mm diameters to heed a surgeons need. This instrument is also user-friendly in terms of recognizing different types and functions of instruments incorporated to the Da Vinci system. It detects the instruments via a unique interface; therefore it is easier to identify instruments that require replacements. Vision System EndoWrist Instruments are first introduced into the patients target anatomy through a series of dime-sized incisions to allow viewing of the bodys interior at a highly magnified three-dimensional image. These images are displayed via the vision system, designated with high-resolution three-dimensional endoscope and image processing equipments, previewing the exact condition of the body. By having image synchronizers, illuminators with adjustable intensities and camera control units, the operating images are well-enhanced, offering superior visualization of over a thousand frames of the instrument position per second. The vision system also has a built-in video processor that filters background noise. Meanwhile, the endoscope is designated prevent fogging by regulating the temperature of the endoscope tip. Surgeons are allowed to rapidly switch views on the display screen through a simple use of the foot pedal. How The Mechanism Function As A Whole In short, the Da Vinci system consists of four main mechanismssurgeons console, patient-side cart, EndoWrist instruments and the vision system. These features function as a whole in the same room under the conduct of a surgeon and few supporting medical officers. The relationship between the four mechanisms is illustrated as shown in the adjacent figure. Advantages Enhanced Visualization Target anatomy in the body interior is previewed in true-to-life three-dimensional vision, forming crisp images in immense clarity. The endoscopic camera also offers immersive view of the surgical field with superior contrast and magnification for an accurate identification of tissue layers. Such improvement enables surgeons to perform dissection or reconstruction of delicate tissues with much precision, regardless of the space allotted. Steady Movements; Take Control. The limitation of human hands is overcome by Da Vincis ability to reduce tremors and control movements via proprietary EndoWrist instruments, enhancing control and intuitive motion. This enables pervasive use of avant-garde techniques, further reducing the learning curve since complex procedures can now be handled in an open surgery approach. Solo Surgery and two-handed intracoporeal suturing can become standard practice for interns with the addition of a fourth arm from the Da Vinci surgical system. First-Class Ergonomics Surgeon need not worry about the fatigue occurring from long hour surgery as the Da Vinci surgical system is designed to allow them to operate while seated in a comfortable posture. Such clinical advantage also implies that less surgeon assistance is required because medical instruments are mounted to the robotic arms. Moreover, with the robotic arms offering extra mechanical strength that is beyond human capabilities, higher-BMI patients can be treated in a minimally invasive approach. Supreme Hospitality Inception of Da Vinci marks a historical breakthrough to hospitals worldwide by increasing productivity and operational efficiencies. Patients can enjoy diminished post-operative pain, decreased risk of infections and surgery complications, less complicated nursing care and faster rate of recovery. Hospital stays are largely reduced by half, thus decreasing hospital costs by approximately 33%. Criticism Like many things good, Da Vinci surgical system also has its drawbacks. While this evolving technology has become almost like a necessity to medical services, critics are questioning the lacking of long-term results studies to prove Da Vinci superior to laparoscopic surgery. Besides, this technology costs an average of $1.3 million, excluding the several hundred thousand dollars of annual maintenance fees. There is also no existing data to justify the increased costs and hospitals are having a hard time recovering the high cost. According to The American Journal of Surgery, 75% of surgeons claimed that they felt financially limited by any system that cost more than $500,000 Furthermore, a large portion of surgeons performed the surgery via Da Vinci surgical system on approximately 12 to 18 patients before they feel comfortable utilizing the device. Though training programs are offered by Intuitive Surgical, most surgeons find themselves intimidated by this device as they felt obstructed from grasping the texture of body tissues and ultimately, the loss of tactile or haptic sensation. The patient-side cart also occupies a large space that hinders the movement of assistant surgeons access to the patient. The safety aspects of Da Vinci surgical system remain doubtful to most people as they still do not trust the ability of a robot wholly. Though this system operates in a Master-Slave relationship, some still find it unacceptable to risk lives of patients as robots have the potential to be fatal should they malfunction. Hence, a huge amount of cost is forked out to reduce these risks by adding safety features, making them financially inaccessible to some physicians. Apart from that, surgery utilizing this device takes forty to fifty minutes longer compared to traditional open surgery. Recommendation Conclusion The Future The Da Vinci surgical system offers a surgery experience like never before to practicing physicians. Its brilliance in translating the surgeons hand movements from the console into corresponding micro-movements of EndoWrist instruments incorporated in the patients body interior has transformed the surgical fields in many aspects. A major outlook for this invention is its potential to perform remote operations, as what it was initially designed for. This long distance operation can be made possible by linking the patient and doctor through a series of ports from the Da Vinci surgical system. Say, a doctor from United States will be able to operate on a patient from across the globe, such as Africa. However this is still at its theoretical stage and will be developed in near future to globalize the surgical field. Albeit the criticisms, the Da Vinci surgical system is deemed as a mere preview of what to expect from future technology. From the high cost to the lack of touch sensation from surgeons feedback, the current Da Vinci surgical system has many hurdles to overcome before it can be wholly integrated into the healthcare system to satisfy everyones needs. To name a few, questions such as misconduct liability, credentialing, training prerequisites and licensing requirements for telesurgeons are still puzzling. However, Intuitive Surgical promises an improvement of Da Vinci surgical system in terms of size, haptic sensation and cost as their present focus before dealing with other relevant problems that are causing ambiguity to users. Although robotic surgery is still at its infancy, many of its known advantages are sustaining its progress and it has verified itself to be worth the value, particularly in areas unattainable to traditional laparoscopic procedures. For instance, the complexity of movement controls and manifold degrees of freedom by the Da Vinci surgical system offers minimal tremor and increased mobility which made it possible to go ahead of the human capacity. Robotic technology is aimed to bring surgery into the digital era and whether its advantageous usage can overcome the cost to execute it remains to be worked out. Despite being feasible to demands, further forthcoming research investigating efficacy and safety must partake for robotic surgery to take full root over conventional therapy. Appendix On the Market Two robotic surgical systems have received FDA clearance to be marketed in the United States: The da Vinci Surgical System, made by Intuitive Surgical, Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif., is cleared to perform surgery under the direction of a surgeon. The ZEUS Robotic Surgical System, made by Computer Motion, Inc. of Goleta, Calif., has been cleared by the FDA to assist surgeons. [The] da Vinci is cleared to assist in advanced surgical techniques such as cutting and suturing [sewing], says Neil Ogden, chief of the FDAs General Surgery Devices Branch in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health. ZEUS is cleared to assist in grasping, holding, and moving things out of the way, but isnt cleared for cutting or suturing. Clinical trials on ZEUS are underway with the goal of obtaining FDA clearance to assist in the performance of advanced surgical tasks in the United States, according to Paul Nolan, senior director of customer training and education at Computer Motion. Heres a profile of each system: The da Vinci Surgical System In July 2000, the FDA cleared da Vinci as an endoscopic instrument control system for use in laparo-scopic (abdominal) surgical procedures such as removal of the gallbladder and surgery for severe heartburn. In March 2001, the FDA cleared da Vinci for use in general non-cardiac thoracoscopic (inside the chest) surgical procedures surgeries involving the lungs, esophagus, and the internal thoracic artery. This is also known as the internal mammary artery, a blood vessel inside the chest cavity. In coronary bypass surgery, surgeons detach the internal mammary artery and reroute it to a coronary artery. In June 2001, the FDA cleared da Vinci for use during laparascopic removal of the prostate (radical prostatectomy). The da Vinci is intended to assist in the control of several endoscopic instruments, including rigid endoscopes, blunt and sharp dissectors, scissors, scalpels, and forceps. The system is cleared by the FDA to manipulate tissue by grasping, cutting, dissecting and suturing. In use, a surgeon sits at a console several feet away from the operating table and manipulates the robots surgical instruments. The robot has three hands attached to a free-standing cart. One arm holds a camera (endoscope) that has been passed into the patient through small openings. The surgeon operates the other two hands by inserting fingers into rings. The arms use a technology called EndoWrist flexible wrists that surgeons can bend and twist like human wrists. The surgeon uses hand movements and foot pedals to control the camera, adjust focus, and reposition the robotic arms. The da Vinci has a three-dimensional lens system, which magnifies the surgical field up to15 times. Another surgeon stays beside the patient, adjusting the camera and instruments if needed. There are 50 da Vinci systems placed in U.S. medical centers, 34 placed in Europe and five placed in Asia. ZEUS Robotic Surgical System The FDA cleared ZEUS in October 2001 to assist in the control of blunt dissectors, retractors, graspers, and stabilizers during laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgeries. ZEUS has three robotic arms that are mounted on the operating table. One robotic arm is called the Automated Endoscopic System for Optimal Positioning Robotic System (AESOP). AESOP is a voice-activated robot used to hold the endoscope. The FDA cleared AESOP to hold and position endoscopes in 1994, and voice activation was added later. ZEUS differs from the da Vinci system in that the AESOP part of ZEUS responds to voice commands. For example, a surgeon might say: AESOP move right. The positioning arm then would move right until the stop command was given. Like the da Vinci system, the other two arms of ZEUS are the extension of the left and right arms of the surgeon. Surgeons sit at a console and wear special glasses that create a three-dimensional image. Computer Motion has added a flexible wrist technology called Micro-Wrist, which is now included in FDA-approved clinical trials, Nolan says. There are currently more than 30 ZEUS units installed in North America, 15 units installed in Europe and the Middle East, and five units installed in Asia.

Illegal Street Racing Essay -- essays research papers fc

One of the fastest growing sports in the world is racing. Racing in general can consist of many different types such as: Drag Racing, NASCAR, Indy, Motor Cross, Truck Rally. The topic of racing that I am chose was street racing. Street racing originated from drag racing on the quarter-mile strip. The concept of drag racing is when two racers in different cars would line up at a white line, and in the middle of the two cars would be a light post, called the Christmas tree for its red, yellow and green bulbs. The tree does what a stoplight does, except backwards, it starts from red, then to yellow, then to green. On the quarter-mile strip, when the light hits green, the two racers are supposed to try to go as fast as they can before the end of the quarter-mile, which would then set off a electronic board showing their electronic times (E.T.) and their speeds. As the sport of street racing began to boom around the early ‘90s, people couldn’t really afford to go to a legal track and race their cars, because of the price that it cost and the rules that they had. So there was a street track that was created on Terminal Island, called the Brotherhood Raceway. The Brotherhood Raceway or Brotherhood for short was basically a quarter-mile drag strip that was put down on a closed off street, where street racers could go and find out their quarter-mile times and speeds for the price of nothing. This was a quarter-mile drag strip to keep racers off of normal streets and highways. Around time of the mid-90s, the Brotherhood was then closed down, forcing street racers to take their racing to another legalized track, or to the streets and highways. People say that street racing is bad, illegal and dangerous to everyone. There is another side which thinks that street racing is ok, and safe. All street racers know that street racing is illegal and can be dangerous, but in their minds they will think they won’t hurt people around them but accidents do happen. When it comes to racing on streets, racers an open or deserted street and line two cars up, and basically race off of the line and see who stays ahead of the other person, this set-up is basically like racing on a drag strip, just without lights and tech and safety people around. There is a person that acts like the lighting tree, who stands in the middle, and is called the â€Å"flagger.† This person puts his/her arms up, ... ...he track. That is why my opinion stands that they should re-open the Brotherhood Raceway, so racers can go and be safe while doing what they do. Street racing is a dangerous sport, but it’s a life and love that people have and are not willing to give up. I believe that as long as racers do what they can to keep street racing, that it should be legal. It all racers do their part in trying to keep it safe and not dangerous, then I think the government or city or whoever, should give street racers respect and allow them a place to have fun and do what they do best. Works Cited Atwood, Kathy. â€Å"Red Flag For The Racing Crowd.† Hearld Net. 2 January 2002. 13   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  April 2002 . Brown, John, Adam Jensen, Pat Silla, David Wong. â€Å"Streetracing: On The Inside.† 14 April   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2002   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  . Fontana, Aaron M. â€Å"The Fast and the Furious.† Entertainment Today. 10 April   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2002 .

Assess Whether Pericles Was a Good or Bad Leader Essay

Pericles (C. 495-429 BC) was a very influential politician and general in Athens. He is said to have brought about a very important time in Athenian history known as ‘The Golden Age of Athens’ where he brought about or placed focus on certain things like art, which gave Athens the reputation as the cultural and educational centre of Ancient Greece, architecture, where he created a project to beautify the city and provide work for Athenians with most of its products like the Parthenon still surviving and giving us an idea of the glory of Athens. He also made valuable contributions to drama, the bringing about of democracy and the establishment of the Greek empire. Democracy, which allows all citizens to influence and be involved in the running of the state was a concept reaffirmed by Pericles. This is why he made sure he played a major role in the ostracizing of Cimon who was characterized as being a tyrant. Other historians may argue that Pericles’ ulterior motive for doing that was to ensure that he came into power with his main opposition out of the way but for a man who made so many important advancements for the Athenians, I strongly believe he did it not with the intention of capturing power but helping give the Athenians a voice. This made him a very great political leader as he was able to rid the state of the many problems of dictatorship and oligarchy like corruption which was further emphasized by one of his ancient admirers, Thucydides who said, ‘he kept himself untainted by corruption, although he was not altogether indifferent to money-making’ He ‘excelled all his fellow citizens in skills of oratory’ (Diodorus Siculus) The art of oratory has been a rare skill possessed by very few people who turned out to deliver some of the most well known speeches in history. Oratory has been a very influential tool for some of the world’s greatest leaders and Pericles falls in that category of leaders with exceptional skills. People such as Abraham Lincoln who’s famous speech, the Gettysburg Address gained parallels to Pericles’ great funeral oration by the American Civil War scholar, Garry Wills which leads many to believe that one of the greatest modern speakerâ€⠄¢s drew inspiration from Pericles. This gesture alone shows the great oratory skills of a great man in Athenian history. This extraordinary ability is attested to by Thucydides who once again was full of praise for the famous Athenian when asked about whether he or Pericles was the better fighter by the Spartan king, Archidamus. Without hesitation Thucydides said Pericles was better and justified it by saying that even when he was defeated, he managed to convince the audience that he had won. This shows how he was able to persuade and influence the Athenians which even though some may say was manipulative and defeated the concept of democracy gave the simple Athenian citizen thought provoking ideas to make an informed choice. His speaking skills, which were able to draw the exact emotions got from the Athenian people was however criticized by people like the poet, Ion, who says that Pericles had an arrogant and somewhat big-headed manner of talking, and that into his pride there entered a good deal of disrespect and d islike for others. This is highly debatable as we are supposed to believe a person who says Pericles had a good deal of disrespect and dislike for others, the same Pericles who put the true Athenian people first and made sure they had a say in how their home state was ruled. By that observation alone I believe Ion’s quote about Pericles should be discarded as total rubbish and the ranting of a person simply envious of his (Pericles’) ability. Plutarch mentions in his criticism of Pericles about the strange occurrence in Agariste’s (Pericles’ mother). He says, ‘She, in her dreams, once fancied that she had given birth to a lion and a few days thereafter bore Pericles.’ I do not believe this is actually counts as a criticism of him because even though a lion may be a dangerous animal, its traditional symbolism of greatness should be taken into account. Other symbolic attributes for a lion are strength, courage, power, royalty, dignity, authority, dominion, justice , wisdom and ferocity which I believe are all attributes displayed by Pericles in both his political and military career. Ancient Greek symbolism for a lion is the protector of the home and Pericles really showed that in the battles protecting his beloved home, Athens. There is also the argument of whether Pericles was actually a leader or just got carried away by the masses. Plutarch said, ‘he was no longer the same man as before, nor alike submissive to the people and ready to yield and give in to the desires of the multitude as a steersman to the breezes.’ Here, Plutarch suggests, Pericles had no leadership over the Athenians and that he put the city in chaos to do as they could do what they want which is supported by others saying he made the Athenians idle, talkative and greedy (Plato). This motion would however have to be rejected with strong evidence against it in his speeches and oratory skills. Thucydides offered the correct leadership style of Pericles by arguing that Pericles ‘was not carried away by the people, but he was the one guiding the people.’ The evidence, as said in the last paragraph is in his great speeches and his ability to draw a certain reaction from the Athenian people and so though some may argue that he left the Athenians with no authoritative leader which could only be gained through other methods of governing like dictatorships, he offered a better alternative as he served more as a sort of ‘guardian’ for the Athenian people and guided them to make predominantly good choices like getting rid of the tyrant, Cimon. Pericles, for more than 20 years was involved in the military. He led many expeditions mainly naval ones. He was a wise and cautious military leader and he never went into battles that were mostly likely a wild goose chase for the Athenian people. This was a great attribute for a military leader because he did not just march his men on to grounds when the odds were not in their favour to have them killed or running back to Athens with their tails between their legs. He avoided the high risk of losses and instead chose each battle wisely and as such there are no major criticisms of his Periclean Grand Strategy which sought to preserve, not expand, the empire, this strategy could not reach completion however as his successors changed everything and lacked the military abilities and character that caused it to work under Pericles. Pericles’ legacy cannot be understated as most of it still survives till today. The concept of democracy practiced by all free states in the modern world and used as a measure of a country’s justice and fairness is one of them. His most visible legacy however is found in the artistic and literary works of the Golden Age and The Acropolis, though in ruins, is still a great symbol of modern Athens and a remembrance of a great man that once roamed those very streets. I believe Pericles was a great leader both in politics and in the military and I also support the idea that his abilities in both areas caused the famous bust statue of him around to have a helmet sitting on top of his head to show the two equally talented faces of the great leader that is Pericles. In the movie ‘The Dark Knight’ (2008), the character Harvey Dent famously says to the lead, Batman, ‘You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.’ I believe it’s the latter that caused the ostracizing of Pericles because there is no evidence that he did anything major to deserve that sort of punishment but even if his story with the Athenians should end on a bad note, I believe he still is one of the greatest leaders in Ancient History and even if he wasn’t perfect, I mean, who is? and had a few flaws and bad traits, he still ensured that Athens was a major part in history and the effect he had is still present today in modern day Athens.

Asbestos Removal †Essential for Healthy Living Essay

For all those who spend most of their time indoors, whether it is their home or office, the environment of these living spaces has a straight affect on their health. Therefore, it is essential for individuals to ensure that atmosphere in which they and their family members live, is secured and healthy. In most commercial and residential buildings, asbestos is used quite extensively. With high tensile strength, it is a highly heat resistant material that comes with good insulating properties. Asbestos is mostly used in manufacturing building materials such roofing, ceiling tiles, insulators and many other building supplies. It is considered a harmless material provided that the building supply in which it is used is undamaged. However, with the depletion of these building products, it becomes necessary to remove them as it starts releasing minute asbestos fibers into the air. Generally, most of these building supplies are labeled to indicate whether they comprise asbestos or not. If there is no such label, it becomes very essential to opt for asbestos testing Toronto to verify any presence of asbestos. Such tests help to ensure that the home is safe and free from exposure to asbestos. Asbestos may have harmful effects on the health as minute particles might get breathed into the lungs that can be cause of lung diseases. For this reason, asbestos removal Barrie is so important. As asbestos is commonly used in the manufacture of building materials due to its high insulating qualities thus it is crucial to test asbestos when individuals renovate or shift into a new house. It is always a good choice to hire experienced professionals expert in the technique of asbestos removal as they are aware of the set rules and regulations. One the most common organic contaminations that might occur indoors are the molds, which are mostly seen in places that lack proper ventilation and have presence of any damp areas inside the home or office. Molds can be found mostly in ceilings, wallpapers, underneath carpets, basements, bathrooms, kitchens, and places near a wet area. Even though it is very minute and can be hardly seen with naked eyes, it can be cause of various health issues. Mold inspection Toronto becomes apparent, if individuals happen to detect any signs of molds at their home or office. Molds can be easily removed with help of mold removal Barrie services. The presence of molds would not only affect the health but also damage the house, making it unsafe and unhealthy for the occupants. In such circumstances, mold testing Toronto helps to identify the type of mold, the degree of damage and the techniques required to remove them. When individuals hire services of professional experts, they can be assured that mold would be completely removed and that no place in the home or office is left out. Molds can affect health of those persons trying to remove molds on their own. Thus, it is necessary that this task is carried out by someone who has knowledge and experience to perform the work efficiently and effectively. The most vital thing is to take act immediately whenever there is any indication that the home or office has been attacked by molds.

Prime Marks

Prime Marks Prime Marks Prime Marks By Maeve Maddox A reader commenting on a recent post about the En Dash introduced me to a punctuation term that was unfamiliar to me: â€Å"the prime mark†: Heres one for you: teaching about the apostrophe versus the prime or foot mark. Same with the quote marks versus the inch marks. I can only guess that this reader must teach students in specialized fields like mathematics, science, or linguistics, in which prime marks serve important purposes. Like the apostrophe, the prime mark (or two or three) is placed at the upper right of a number or other symbol. Unlike the apostrophe- which is vertical- the prime slants in the direction of the French accent aigu in the word à ©levà ©, but it doesn’t lean as far to the right. Now that I know what a prime mark is and how it differs from an apostrophe, I plan to continue using apostrophes and quotation marks on the rare occasions I want to abbreviate feet, inches, hours, or minutes. I can think of only two common uses of prime marks that one might see in a general publication: 1. To indicate feet and inches, as in this example from a feature in The Telegraph: At 6’5† [sic] Gareth May is no stranger to the giant jibes.   2. To note latitude and longitude, as in these coordinates for the city of San Francisco, California: Latitude: 37 °46†²29†³ N Longitude: 122 °25†²09†³ W A third use that I am familiar with is to indicate hours and minutes. For example, when timing a speech, I use the notation 1’15† to indicate â€Å"one hour, fifteen minutes.† In this context, seconds don’t concern me. Then there’s the ditto mark. Apparently it differs from the double prime in some way because Unicode defines them differently, but most people use quotation marks when they want to use ditto marks to repeat items in a list: Item 1 ream paper red blue green In specialized contexts, distinguishing between apostrophes, quotations marks, prime and double prime may be crucial. In general usage, however, apostrophes and quotation marks work just fine. One concession a writer can is to use straight apostrophes and quotation marks instead of the curly ones. For all you can possibly want to know about the significant uses of the prime mark, explore the Wikipedia article â€Å"Prime (symbol).† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Examples of Passive Voice (And How To Fix Them)3 Types of HeadingsPlurals of Proper Names

Patagonia Business Analysis

Patagonia Business Analysis Free Online Research Papers Patagonia is outdoor equipment and clothing company that began as a group of climbers and surfers who were trying to find a better way to do what they love. They began by creating climbing equipment but they quickly became set apart from their competition by their overwhelming concern for the environment. Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis (Patagonia). This is their mission as a company and is what has set them apart by leading the green movement in the business world. â€Å"Patagonia grew out of a small company that made tools for climbers. Alpinism remains at the heart of a worldwide business that still makes clothes for climbing – as well as for skiing, snowboarding, surfing, fly fishing, paddling and trail running. These are all silent sports. None requires a motor; none delivers the cheers of a crowd. In each sport, reward comes in the form of hard-won grace and moments of connection between us and nature. Our values reflect those of a business started by a band of climbers and surfers, and the minimalist style they promoted. The approach we take towards product design demonstrates a bias for simplicity and utility. For us at Patagonia, a love of wild and beautiful places demands participation in the fight to save them, and to help reverse the steep decline in the overall environmental health of our planet. We donate our time, services and at least 1% of our sales to hundreds of grassroots environmental groups all over the world who work to help reverse the tide. We know that our business activity – from lighting stores to dyeing shirts – creates pollution as a by-product. So we work steadily to reduce those harms. We use recycled polyester in many of our clothes and only organic, rather than pesticide-intensive, cotton. Staying true to our core values during thirty-plus years in business has helped us create a company were proud to run and work for. And our focus on making the best products possible has brought us success in the marketplace† (Patagonia). It is apparent that they do things different than the traditional organization but that is what makes them such a successful company. Patagonia’s strategy is based on the philosophy of â€Å"Let my People Go Surfing†. They have created a work environment of self management that allows employees to work when and how they please as long as they get their work done. At Patagonia’s office in Ventura, California there is no dress code or shift work. There is an on site day care and the owner, Yvon Chouinard, has the same desk as all the rest of the employees. Their strategy is to create a work environment that their employees enjoy being a part of and they have found that it works very well. Their pay structure is relatively flat and wages are lower than the industry average but their turnover rate is only 4.5 percent. Their strategy of a family workplace and an environment that is conducive to the products that they promote is an innovative idea that has led them to the top of the industry. According to the O*NET summary of the job, the task section consist of many different aspects. The tasks section can be summarized by several major groups. The first task would be to establish and maintain relationships with other agencies and organization. They also must manage activities of professionals and technical staff member as well as volunteers. Also with this job comes the task of research in order to stay up to date on the environmental movement. Finally there are many public speaking tasks involved with this job, both internally and externally. The knowledge required for this job is more than just traditional education. It is required to have an understanding of the English language as well as the ability to research new topics and then educate them to others. One of the most important requirements of this job deals with psychology and being able to understand and interact with other people. You will need to educate others as well interact with many organization leaders both corporate and social. The final knowledge needed for this job is the ability to manage people, both individually and in a group setting. The skills and abilities needed for this position consist mostly of listening and speaking skills. The environmental campaign is an ever changing field and it is very important to be able to listen to these environmental groups and then have the ability to relate the information back to the organization. Other required skills consist of time management skills, social skills, monitoring, and critical thinking. The specific work activities for this job consist of: establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships, making decisions and solving problems, communication with supervisors, working directly with public, organizing and planning work, thinking creatively, and negotiating with others. The Alabama summary of the job is to plan, organize, or coordinate the activities of a social service program or community outreach organization. Oversee the program or organizations budget and policies regarding participant involvement, program requirements, and benefits. Work may involve directing social workers, counselors, or probation officers. The major difference between the Alabama summary and the national summary of the job is that in Alabama the job is mostly based on social work as apposed to environmental work. This summary consists of creating activities for community outreach organizations as apposed to working with the environmental campaign. The Environmental Grants Manager for Patagonia works mostly with people, but the purpose is focused on the environment rather than community outreach. The pay in Alabama is ranked 35 in terms of this job nationally and pays significantly lower wages than the national average. The position in which I am the most interested within Patagonia is the Environment Grants Manager. The Environmental Grants Manager is responsible for the management, marketing (internally and externally) and successful implementation of the Company’s environmental grants program. They coordinates all aspects of the US grants program, including: grant giving, creation of annual Environmental Initiatives Booklet, and implementation of non-cash services, such as the Tools for Grassroots Activist Conference and the employee environmental internship program. They will assist the Director of Environmental Programs with the development and implementation of corporate environmental campaigns and programs, environmental advertising, and public affairs related to the Company’s environmental efforts. (Patagonia) The specific functions of the job consist of: managing and developing the structure of the company’s environmental grants program, strategy and mission, performin g environmental research, educating the company’s customers on the grants program, managing and developing the employees understanding of environmental campaigns, and networking with other foundations and corporate grant workers. The knowledge, skills, and abilities for the job consist of: a degree in environmental studies, minimum of six years experience in the environmental movement, leadership experience as a project manager, extensive public speaking and public relation skills, excellent writing skills, and proficiency in Microsoft word, excel, and access (Patagonia). The former EGM, Jessica Clayton, is the person who I had the opportunity of interviewing. Although there are many specific job task for this job, the actually work that they do is very interesting. Patagonia co founded 1% For the Planet, which is the program the this position is responsible for. This is how Patagonia gives back to the earth by donating 1% of sales to small environmental campaigns (Chou inard). Jessica’s job was to travel around meeting different representatives for these environmental groups and seeking the best way that Patagonia could help. She acted as the liaison for the company and chose which organization they could best serve. Her other major responsible was to educate the organization on the current environmental issues and research the best ways to help. Patagonia is different than any other company in the industry because not only to they give to these organizations they seek to educate and find innovative ways to cure these problems. As the Environmental Grants Manager I would have the opportunity to meet people all over the world and work as one in order to help save our world. There are several supervisors for the EGM position but the person is really responsible for the environmental work at Patagonia is Rick Ridgeway. He has been with Patagonia for over 30 years and has been leading the environmental group for quite some time. As a supervisor of the environmental campaign he oversees all the operations but is still very active in the actual campaign. The unique thing about Patagonia, is the way the organization is set up. If you were to walk into their headquarters in California, upon first sight you would be able to tell the difference between the CEO and the mail man. This is how they have designed their organization to have a family feel and encourage everyone to work together to accomplish their overall goal. So in terms of performance appraisal and evaluation, everything is very informal and all employees are evaluated by their performance on a daily basis (Chouinard). Because Patagonia is a private company, I couldn’t find out any inf ormation about the pay structure, but I don’t know that they are paid below the industry average and have a very flat organization. Patagonia was founded in Ventura California and has been located there for over 30 years. The average pay this position in the state of California is $56,500 compared to Alabama is $44,500. I think the biggest reason for the difference in pay between the two states is based the job description. The state of Alabama is a little behind on their environmental campaign so this job is based more on people with in the community and is considered social. Due to this change in the jobs throughout the states, the pay is quite flexible. The development plan is based on training and mentoring its employees to live the Patagonia lifestyle. In his book, Let my People Go Surfing, Patagonia’s founder admits, â€Å"We are still not doing a good enough job of training and mentoring† (Chouinard). He says this because there are still people driving SUV’s to work everyday so they are lacking some aspects of a sustainable life. Patagonia is a decentralized organization, with Chouinard’s involvement in day-to-day managing delegated to others. Employees appear to have considerable autonomy under a system of â€Å"management by absence,† reflecting his trust in employees. Nonetheless, he admits to having a deep personal attachment to the firm (Kinnear). This exemplifies Patagonia’s development plan of one that is not only training the employee for the job, but training the individual for life. â€Å"To live well is to work well, or display a good activity† (Chouinard). This is the foundation of the development plan and is what they seek to development in all of their employees. This is what sets Patagonia apart from all the other companies in the industry and is what has made them the company that they are today. Presentation Notes Imagine working for a place where there is no dress code, shift work, or required number of work hours a week. A place where the founder and CEO speaks with you everyday as he walks to his desk after a great morning surf. A place that not only trains you for the job that you are doing, but equips you to live a sustainable life with unity with our environment. Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. This is the mission statement of Patagonia, and is the reason that they are at the top of their industry. Background information – tell about pitons which made them the company they are today and how the started the green movement Business Strategy Left my people go surfing Self management with daily performance monitoring Flat organization (yvon sits in the same desk as everyone else) Pay is below industry average, but only 4.5% turnover Development Plan Laid back Evaluate performance on a daily basis Build relationships and work together Job Environmental Grants Manager 1% for the planet Liason with org and environmental groups Educates employees on environmental issues Pay : 55000 california, 44000 in Alabama, different jobs make for different pay â€Å"To live well is to work well, or display a good activity† References Chouinard, Yvon. Let My People Go Surfing. Penguin Group; 2005. Kinnear, Terry. WCU Book Review; April 15, 2008. www.citizen-times.com Patagonia.com/companyinfo Research Papers on Patagonia Business AnalysisMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaOpen Architechture a white paperTwilight of the UAWBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfDefinition of Export QuotasPETSTEL analysis of IndiaRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceThe Project Managment Office System

A Vietnam Country Review History Essay

A Vietnam Country Review History Essay Vietnam as we know is approximately 331,688 km ² in area but it does not include the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa islands, it is larger than Italy and almost the same size as Germany. Vietnam is located in South East Asia, bordered to the north near China, to the west near Laos and Cambodia and to the east, by the Pacific Ocean. The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi, it is located in the north and is the second largest city in Vietnam, as the capital of Vietnam for almost a thousand years now, and Hanoi is considered to be one of the cultural centres of Vietnam, where most of the Vietnamese dynasties had left behind their imprint. After that I will summarize some culture of Vietnam. First of all, the Culture of Vietnam, or in particular the culture of the Kinh ethnic origin in the northern Vietnam, is one of the oldest cultures in the Pacific region. Although so, the major influence is China, Vietnam’s culture had created a lot of features, quite similar to the other people of East Asi a and other countries in the Pacific Ocean (such as Cambodia , Laos and Thailand) that have suffered a major cultural influence by India. Nowadays, the culture of Vietnam has changed from time to time, it is a special blend of the many ancient cultures with the indigenous culture of the Vietnamese. Other than the influence of China, the cultures of the Vietnamese people are also influenced by the Western culture. Some examples of the Vietnamese culture are: food, apparel, religion, and the cultural territory. Body Climate First of all I will talk about the climate in the south of Vietnam, it is located in the tropical monsoon equatorial so it has a very high temperature throughout the year and it only has two seasons, which are rainy and dry. The rainy season begins from the month of May to November and dry season will begin from the month of December to April the following year. Because the south rainy season is longer than the dry season, so this has some sort of influence in the change of culture I ways of food to the culture in the south, the central, and the north of Vietnam. As we know the cuisine of Vietnam is very famous around the world, Ho Chi Minh City’s cuisine is also partly reflected by the cultural life and natural minerals, its cuisine is influenced by the French cuisine, Cambodian cuisine and the Thai cuisine. Today, the specialties are easily found at Ho Chi Minh, it is a combination of the food from the North, Middle, South and international cuisines, for example: sour soup is a combination of the sour salty of the north, spicy peppers of the central, and sweet fresh of the south. Another example is the beef steaks which are thinner and more mature and it is also spicier vegetables served with it compared to France. By contract, the nature of the part middle of Vietnam is it has a very hard climate, it is influenced by the sea breezes as well as the mountain winds. The people living here are austere and rich energetic. The Central Foo d has food that are very spicy, very spicy-hot, as positive (for the cold when it comes to soaking in water and odor resistant nature of the seafood capital nature-sound welding) and it is very salty. The food materials are often simple, but if you ever have the opportunity to really enjoy, it will be an experience that will never be forgotten.

Jet Blue Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Jet Blue Case Study - Essay Example In this case, it is necessary to analyze human resource strategies, policies and practices directed toward the provision of best services within the airline industry. The following paper will examine and make an analysis of resource strategies, policies, and practices and their relation to one of the well-known low-cost U.S. carriers, JetBlue Airways. In terms of hiring practices, JetBlue follows the Equal Employment Opportunities laws through its Corporation Affirmative Action Policy, which impedes any ways of discrimination and harassment against any candidate, employee, suppliers, and customer. As one of the key company’s values, Caring and Integrity in following EEO rules is doubtless (O’reill & Hoffer Gittell, 2001). According to the Corporation Code of Conduct (2014), JetBlue respects individuals in a non-discriminatory manner and without regard on race, gender identity, sexual orientation and religion, age, citizenship, disabilities and such status as veteran. These are all the regulations of the company based on such laws as Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, Americans with Disabilities and Rehabilitation Act of 2008 and Fair Labor Standards Act of 1958 (EEO Laws, n.d.). The process of recruitment should be aimed to not only filling with certain organizational gaps, but be focused on searching for specific skills and experiences of people to build an organization. The recruitment process at JetBlue, according to O’reilly and Hoffer Gittell (2001), is the most important thing as it means to search for those who would fit company values. For internal sources, employees are at the highest concern within the company, as they know the requirements of various positions and are able to take full responsibility on such knowing and desire to hold a new job. JetBlue motivates talented crewmembers in different ways, developing its reputation for special treating of

Writting assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Writting assignment - Essay Example Contrary, gender roles in tribal society are defined by the individual’s capability. Although women have the primary responsibility for domestic roles, other tribes allow women to take part in subsistence food production. Men are involved in the tough task, such as hunting and gathering which is occasioned during drought (Scupin Chapter 8). At times, both genders participate in agriculture making it a shared responsibility. The gender roles in the two societies are based on food production. In the band society, the role of the women is valued so much that they are not allowed to participate in dangerous assignments. Because of this, their roles revolve around domestic duties and caring of home gardens, which the society perceives to be safe. Similarly, the home gardens are next to their houses that they can easily manage. Similarly, the inadequacy of food supplies during dry spells makes men resort to other avenues other than farming. They resort to gathering food through hunting. This is a hard duty, which women are not performing (Erickson 16). Therefore, availability of food also play a role in reinforcing gender roles. On the other hand, tribes are not involved in gender role specialization as in the case of the band. Women play attention to food production because of the sedentary life that this society lives. They take actions towards preserving what they have (Otte). Similarly, any of the gender can take part in food production since they are all available for the task. In the band society, there is a division of labor where women play different roles in the food production. There are some roles such preparing the fields for planting that women do not do. This is left for men because it is a task, which demands a lot (Otte). Because of this, there is inequality in terms of gender. Both genders are not equal and participate in different levels in food production. On the other hand, tribal society has a relationship

The Substance Abuse Treatment Program in North Dakota Assignment

The Substance Abuse Treatment Program in North Dakota - Assignment Example As such, DCS does not have the instruments of coercion with which to handle violent outbreaks and acts of lawlessness which characterize incarceration. Offenders facing drug charges are to be treated immediately they are established to be addicted to hard drugs such as narcotics and are brought under prison custody. What informs this proposition is the need to foster public and prison health and safety. It is dangerous to have cocaine addicts in prison. The addict may have a violent predisposition or die because of the inability to access the drugs. Drug treatment for hard-drug addicted offenders will also help win the war on drugs. Drugs such as cigarettes may not fall within this rubric due to their relatively mild effects. Ideally, people facing drug charges are to be incarcerated when they are: peddling the hard drugs and substances; engaging in and abetting criminal activities such as forceful conscription into drugs; proven to be dangerous to others and to public order. From a personal standpoint, the most effective drug treatment method is the administration of psychosocial therapy. This is because psychosocial therapy factors the role of the individual and the strength of his will in defeating addiction. According to Gladding, and Wallace, psychosocial therapy in drug rehabilitation is vindicated by the fact that most people have recovered from drug addiction on their own and that the success or failure of any drug rehabilitation program pivots on personal will (Gladding and Wallace, 22, 23).  Ã‚  

Water Provision Methods For Abu Dhabi In UAE Research Paper

Water Provision Methods For Abu Dhabi In UAE - Research Paper Example It is also comparatively cheaper in terms of fuel consumption and this means that the cost reflected on the consumers water bill is affordable which is in line with the government’s efforts to improve the living standards of people at affordable cost. From the cost data on the pipeline project that has been supplying water, Pipeline is fairly reliable since it cannot be affected by changes in weather as it could be in other alternatives. It is worth to note that pipeline supply originates from one point of processing and this means that all the volumes in supply are fresh and not subject to any additional treatment. This explains the case of the ongoing project managed by Lindenberg-Emirates of pipelines meant to supply water to a group of islands in Abu Dhabi (Jeffreys, 2011, pg72). This is preferred due to the large volumes that can be provided by pipe for expansionary industrial and residential policies. An alternative method of providing water that has been floated for imp lementation by the ministry in charge of water and the local government is construction of desalinization plants. This concept will require much technology and this means it is capital intensive hence costly. It has various features that include recycling sections that help in reducing the amount of water that is discharged as wastage and this is environmentally friendly. Decentralization has been realized to help in reducing the cost of supply network and enhance chances of flexibility in response to changes in population and consumption in addition to technological advancement that may be required for adjustments. Desalinization plants are to be located near... On the basis of cost/benefit analysis, the need to reconcile cost against environmental factors in respect to water provision, pipeline has been proved to be efficient with plans to install recycling and other water saving mechanisms. The exponential expansion of population means the need for more and reliable water supply to cater for domestic consumption and industrialization. This is in line with the efforts of the local authority to cut down costs of providing public essential commodities like water and electricity. Desalinization should be regulated to produce water for only domestic use so that cost is considerably reduced to affordability and effectiveness. The best way to counter the environmental issues and costs associated with the pipeline, the water providing agencies need to develop a mechanism that will capture the left over from different points of use for recycling (Wilde, 2011, pg 24). This may be coupled with cutting down on the daily consumption rate per household by installing water use reduction technological systems. Such techniques include the imposition of water tariffs that will promote consumption efficiency, sophisticated water meters that update the consumers on their rate of use and smart meters that will enhance elimination of leakages across the supply system. Water remains an essential item for the survival of the city and it is important that the government and other stakeholders strategize with consideration of environment care since UAE is already in a harsh climate region.

Environmental Ethics Assignment 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Environmental Ethics Assignment 2 - Essay Example 111). From this description, the major functions of zoos are to maintain the animal species contained therein for safeguarding, learning, or display to the general community. Therefore, it is from such a definition that the immorality or morality of the issue can be weighed. As such, one of the issues that make zoos be viewed as immorality is the fact that the animals kept there are taken out of their natural habitat. This means that as much as the zoo management may try to replicate the natural environment of any of the species, it never really recreates it in the exact manner especially due to space constraints. This results in the animals being confined in a small area, thereby making it more like a form of imprisonment. Additionally, the care provided at the zoo may not be what the animal actually needs (Lee and Holder 2007, p. 189). There are certain elements of the wild that are never fully met. Despite these drawbacks that tilt zoos towards immorality, the establishments have helped in the study of numerous species. This has been essential in tackling elements such as diseases that may threaten animal existence. From this, therefore, the immorality of zoos, or otherwise, is subject to the perspective from which it is viewed. Tree Huggers is a term that is generally used to refer to individuals who are highly passionate about the environment to the point that they can literally do anything towards its conservation. The term originated from a past where individuals could actually hug trees so that they could prevent them from being cut down. They would achieve this by hugging the tree at precisely the point where the lumberjack’s axe is about to strike (Lee and Holder 2007, p. 267). Since then, the term â€Å"tree hugger† has been used to refer to people who are passionate about the environment. This act of tree hugging culminated into movements aimed at environmental conservation, extending well into the contemporary society. As

The Foreign Exchange Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Foreign Exchange Market - Essay Example For example, the desire to purchase a foreign automobile or to travel abroad produces demand for a currency in which these goods or services are produced. Second reason maybe to acquire foreign currency is to purchase financial assets in a particular currency. The desire to open a bank account, purchase foreign stocks or bonds or acquire direct ownership of real capital would fall into this category. A third reason that individual's demand foreign exchange is to avoid losses or make profits that could arise through changes in the foreign exchange rate. Individuals acquire that currency today at a low price in hopes of selling it at a profit later at a high price and thus make a profit. Such risk taking is activity is referred to as speculation in a foreign currency. Others who have to pay for an imported item in the possibility that the foreign currency will become more valuable in the future and would associate with the changes in the exchange rate is referred to as hedging. The tot al demand for a foreign currency at any one point in time thus reflects these three underlying demands: the demand for foreign goods and services, the demand for foreign investment and the demand based on risk taking or risk avoiding activity. It should be clear that the demands on the part of a country's citizens correspond to debit items in the balance-of-payments accounting framework. SUPPLY SIDE Participants on the supply side operate for similar reasons (reflecting credit items in the balance-of-payments). Foreign currency supply to the home country results firstly from foreigners purchasing home exports of goods and services or making unilateral transfers or investment income payments to the home country. For example, U.S. exports of wheat and soybeans are a source of supply for foreign exchange. A second source arises from foreign purchases of U.S. stocks and placement of bank deposits. Japanese joint ventures in U.S. automobile or electronic plants are all examples of financial activity that provides a supply of foreign exchange to U.S. Finally, foreign speculation and hedging activities can provide yet a third source of supply. The total supply of foreign exchange in any time period consists of these three sources. The foreign exchange market in the figure below is presented from a U.S. perspective and, like any normal market, contains a downward sloping demand curve and an upward sloping supply curve. The price on the vertical axis is stated in terms of domestic currency price of the foreign currency, for example $/franc and the horizontal axis measures the units of Swiss francs supplied and demanded in at various prices (exchange rates). The intersection of the supply and demand curves determines simultaneously the equilibrium exchange rate and the equilibrium quantity of Swiss francs supplied and demanded during a given period of time. An increase in the demand of Swiss francs on the part of the United States will cause the demand curve to shift out to D' and the exchange rate to increase to e'. Note that the increase in the exchange rate means that it is taking more U.S. currency to buy each

Environmental Ethics Assignment 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Environmental Ethics Assignment 2 - Essay Example 111). From this description, the major functions of zoos are to maintain the animal species contained therein for safeguarding, learning, or display to the general community. Therefore, it is from such a definition that the immorality or morality of the issue can be weighed. As such, one of the issues that make zoos be viewed as immorality is the fact that the animals kept there are taken out of their natural habitat. This means that as much as the zoo management may try to replicate the natural environment of any of the species, it never really recreates it in the exact manner especially due to space constraints. This results in the animals being confined in a small area, thereby making it more like a form of imprisonment. Additionally, the care provided at the zoo may not be what the animal actually needs (Lee and Holder 2007, p. 189). There are certain elements of the wild that are never fully met. Despite these drawbacks that tilt zoos towards immorality, the establishments have helped in the study of numerous species. This has been essential in tackling elements such as diseases that may threaten animal existence. From this, therefore, the immorality of zoos, or otherwise, is subject to the perspective from which it is viewed. Tree Huggers is a term that is generally used to refer to individuals who are highly passionate about the environment to the point that they can literally do anything towards its conservation. The term originated from a past where individuals could actually hug trees so that they could prevent them from being cut down. They would achieve this by hugging the tree at precisely the point where the lumberjack’s axe is about to strike (Lee and Holder 2007, p. 267). Since then, the term â€Å"tree hugger† has been used to refer to people who are passionate about the environment. This act of tree hugging culminated into movements aimed at environmental conservation, extending well into the contemporary society. As

Marriage Imprisons Essay Example for Free

Marriage Imprisons Essay Lectric Law Library defines marriage as, A contract made in due form of law, by which a free man and a free woman reciprocally engage to live with each other during their joint lives, in the union which ought to exist between husband and wife. By the terms freeman and freewoman in this definition are meant, not only that they are free and not slaves, but also that they are clear of all bars to a lawful marriage (Marriage). Unfortunately, this written definition doesnt always seem to be working in everyday life. In the short stories, The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin, An Adventure in Paris by Guy de Maupassant and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber, a reader may find many examples that demonstrate how marriage imprisons people. In the vey first sentence in The Story of an Hour a reader finds out that the main character, Louise has heart trouble and may not be able to handle shock or surprise. At the same time, her heart problems symbolize her heartbreak over her role in life. From almost the beginning, the reader is given a clue that Louise has wanted to free herself from her marriage. Mrs. Mallard reacts to the news about her husbands death with sudden, wild abandonment and locks herself in her bedroom (Chopin 123). The narrator notes that her reaction is not usual for a woman who has just lost her husband. She does not feel paralyzed or unable to accept his fate. She is able to quickly abandon her role as a wife. Ironically, her husbands death makes Louise to feel alive for the first time. The author describes the beautiful change from winter to spring. The new season is a symbol of the transformation of Louises character. The open widow symbolizes all the possibilities that are now available to her. The storys springtime setting also symbolizes her rebirth as an independent person. Now that her husband is dead, she will be free to assert herself in ways she never before dreamed while she was married. She states that she had loved her husband sometimes, but that now she would be Free! Body and soul free! (Chopin 124). The major irony of the story comes with the surprise at the end. Louise thought her freedom would come from her husbands death. Instead, she gains freedom from his domination only in her own death after she finds out hes alive. Unfortunately, long fee life she imagined lasted just for an hour. Another great example of imprisoned by marriage woman is the main character of An Adventure in Paris by Guy De Maupassant. In the story the author reveals a story of a married woman who has spent a great portion of her life at home raising her two children. Obviously, she neither had the chance to experience much excitement nor adventure through these years. Thus, she felt that she was growing old without having known life (De Maupassant 512). She often thought of the exciting life of Paris, wishing to free herself from the dull life she led, and to get the chance to experience some pleasure on her own. One day, she finds a pretext to get out of the house and goes for a journey to Paris (De Maupassant 512). She meets a well-know man, Jean Varin who shows her the way he lives in Paris. They go together for a walk, for a dinner, she even stays at his house for the night. Unfortunately, all she experiences next to his side is nothing comparing to what she dreamed of. She realizes that those well-known men in Paris arent any different than her own husband. Just like her husband Varin snores and sleeps on his back. Lying next to Varin in bed, she was heartbroken (De Maupassant 515). Surprisingly through out the story a narrator never reveals the womans name, she is referred to the reader as a she (De Maupassant 512). This is not an accident of a narrative. De Maupassant shows that while the woman is married, she cease to exist as her own person. The woman is simply controlled and imprisoned by her family and all the responsibilities as a mother and wife. In contrast, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber illustrates that not only women may experience a feeling of being imprisoned by marriage. The main character in the story, Walter Mitty is fully controlled by his wife and seems to be unable to stand up for himself. Mitty is trapped in a world that is full of dull responsibilities and offers few possibilities for adventure. He spends much of his time escaping into fantasies in which it is him who is in control, and in which his life is full of excitement and adventure. Mitty dreams of flying planes in hazardous conditions and causing scenes in courtrooms, but his life consists of buying overshoes and waiting for his wife to have her hair done. His wife obviously worries about Walters health and welfare; she observes that he is nervous, suggests a visit to a doctor, notes that she intends to check his temperature when they return home, and reminds him to wear his gloves and buy overshoes. Unfortunately, at the same time she is breaking the spirit of the man in his life which makes him feel imprisoned. Mitty keeps escaping into fantasies to forget at least for few minutes about his miserable life. Many people recognize marriage with happiness and joyful life. Unfortunately, as we learn from the three stories above, married people often find their life more dull than enjoyable. Lack of excitement and pleasures in marriage, make spouses life unhappy and thats why they often look for a way to escape from it. Thus, in reality marriage differs from its written definition and in fact imprisons people. Works Cited Baush, Richard and R.V. Cassill, eds. The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction. New York: Norton, 2006. Chopin, Kate. The Story of an Hour. Baush and Cassil123- 125. De Maupassant, Guy. An Adventure in Paris. Baush and Cassil 511- 516. Marriage. The Lectric Law Librarys Lexicon On. 2007. Lectric Law Library.15 Nov 2007. http://www.lectlaw.com/def2/m087.htm Thurber, James. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Baush and Cassill 720- 724.

Change Management Processes in Business

Change Management Processes in Business Task 1 | Creative and Innovative Change Management Tasks  (Jump to) a) Identify and describe management processes in the organization that have led to successful innovation. b) Explain how management in your selected organization would lead staff to accept and implement innovation c) Evaluate the influence of the organizations vision and mission on supporting innovation. d) Use appropriate tools and techniques to identify at least two potential creative and innovative ideas e) Assess at least three risks and three benefits of the ideas identified above f) Describe at least two appropriate change models to support the implementation of the creative and innovative ideas identified above in the organization Task 2 | Influencing change  (Jump to) a) Identified and describe the characteristics of the main groups of stakeholders. Produce a rationale to persuade stakeholders of the benefits of a creative and innovative idea b) Create a plan to communicate a creative and innovative management idea to the stakeholders identified above, persuade them of its benefits for the organization, and generate stakeholder feedback. c) Show how you would use feedback from stakeholders to identify key goals and priorities for the innovation. Task 3 | Overcoming barriers  (Jump to) a) Identify at least four possible barriers to the implementation of change in an organization b) Plan a strategy to overcome these identified barriers. c) Explain how the strategy plan will help overcome resistance. d) Create a PowerPoint presentation to communicate the strategy plan to at least five groups of stakeholders CREATIVE INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT Task 1: Innovation management processes Identify and describe management processes in the organization that have led to successful innovation. The good organizations become best by adopting innovation. It is more than an invention as it also includes an attitude that encourage new concepts and risk attach with that new concepts. Excessive investments are not needed if a company has awareness about innovation and can use it to create products with unique features. So they create a friendly behaviour for new concepts, ideas, risk, change and even failure (Fortune, March 3, 1997). Managerial innovations are those adjustments in the process of management that gives ideas of products and services and than help in their production and delivery to the customers. It is not essential that effectiveness and efficiencies of product or services get effects from innovations by management (http://tumipc.info). Product versus Process Innovations: Innovations in processes and products are very significant classifications of technical innovations. Product innovations either generate entirely new products with distinct features or may help in increasing the performance and physical features of old products and services. Process innovations are changes in the way products or services are manufactured, created, or distributed. Whereas managerial innovations generally affect the broader context of development, process innovations directly affect manufacturing (http://tumipc.info), the implementation of robotics. Thus product innovations are particularly important during these beginning phases. Later, as an innovation enters the phases of growth, maturity, and decline, Vodafones ability to develop process innovations, such as fine-tuning manufacturing, increasing product quality, and improving product distribution, becomes important to maintaining economic return (http://tumipc.info). Explain how management in your selected organization would lead staff to accept and implement innovation The Human Energy of Innovation Innovation is difficult. Its hard not to be constrained by organisational history, politics and budgets. Its even harder to think of innovation as a human energy and not a process (www.10again.co.uk). Lead the Way to Successful Innovation in Vodafone The collaboration necessary, general cultural differences that can influence the process and the importance that organizational culture has on creating an environment that supports innovation, after these presentation keynotes, I often get a few people who approach me with their stories about innovation in their organizations. They tell me how great the information was and wished they could apply it into their own organizations, but they know that it would never be supported (www.bia.ca). It seems that while individuals are given the necessary time in their jobs to generate ideas, they are not given the time that is really required to explore them through a proper process for innovation. This therefore makes it difficult, if not impossible, for true innovation to happen. Now I realize that those who asked me the question may not necessarily be in positions to change their organizations cultures but maybe they could start to create change within their own spheres of influence, such as a department, plant, location, store, etc. Sometimes Vodafone need to think on a smaller scale and then demonstrate to the organization the value of what they are doing, demonstrated success will help greatly to sell the idea. Implementing innovative cultures and processes into organizations they have found that executives often ask themselves, Why are not they better at innovation? There are lots of examples out there and lots of advice. But in reality innovation challenges differ from one organization to another. Just as each innovation is unique, so is Vodafones culture. The process of innovation that works in one place will not necessarily work in another. They must consider the culture (www.bia.ca). Vodafone India further demonstrates their commitment to innovation when they build innovation into performance management. They measure managements performance on the basis of their ability to create new value-added products, services and ideas. As well, they assess the extent to which managers undertake this jointly with staff, rather than independent of their staff, because this demonstrates a clearer understanding of the use of an innovation process versus simply the result of management directive. Vodafone managers can demonstrate this in their regular department meetings by focussing on the exploration of new ideas. They can train employees in the innovation process. They can allow time for employees to explore their ideas. They apply an aggressive effort to build new opportunities based on the development of new services and products (www.bia.ca). Evaluate the influence of the organizations vision and mission on supporting innovation. In todays fast moving economic situation, mostly category breaking business environments meet their mission, vision and objectives. Only such companies meet their estimate growth, gain profit, out run their competitors and show excellence in execution. They achieve by the culture of innovation. In every industry, the leading companies are the innovators. However the cadre of innovators keeps changing (www.scribd.com). Companies may seize upon a good idea that gives them an advantage for a while, but sooner or later, they cede this advantage to a competitor who has found an even better idea. As Nicholas Stein (2000) correctly mentioned, Innovation is at the heart of sustaining Vodafones competitive advantage. This holds very true as long as they wants to stay on top of their competitors and win the innovation game. Innovation is very important criterion for success in the future, (Horibe, Frances Dale Emy, 2001) an important study done on the rate of return of 17 successful innovations shows a mean return of 56% in comparison with an average Return on Investment (ROl) of 16%. It is clear that organizations need to innovate to survive and achieve good profit figures. What to innovate? Now we understood the importance of the role that innovation plays in Vodafone. The next important question now arise is where and which things to apply innovative ideas in Vodafone India. Suggestion and recommendation for where to apply innovations are as follows (www.scribd.com): Innovation can be applied to products, services, design, invention, development, process, and systems. To make a product or service compete with the new economy. This is essentially to educate organizations to move out of their traditional old habits1 to the new innovation culture. To avoid high risks: Avoiding high risks involving money, staying ahead of competition and high pay off opportunities are the essence of the innovation To gain long term market focus, as a result the Vodafone can save money. Use appropriate tools and techniques to identify at least two potential creative and innovative ideas Creative and Innovative Culture, Change Management: Three Easy Tests Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation and innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation. From this simple definition, it is clear that certain cultural characteristics ought to be prevalent if creativity and innovation are to be maximised. And maximisation of these ought to be a priority for senior leaders, as those organisations that take them seriously, tend to be leaders in their field, tend to maintain their leadership position longer and are quicker to bounce back when competitors leap frog (http://ezinearticles.com). There are many blocks that prevent expression of problems and hinder idea generation. Some solutions include (http://ezinearticles.com): An environment of psychological safety and freedom accepting an individual as unconditioned worth; recognising that the individual is capable of producing but that their value is not based on producing; understanding empathetically; understanding the individual from their point of feeling and view (Vernon, 1970). Tolerance of failure Accepting that many ideas will fail before one worthwhile one will surface and reach commercialisation; recognising that there are benefits to failure, such as competency expansion Blade Runner was initially a commercial failure yet Ridley Scott went on to make some very successful movies. Though senior leaders pay lip service to the above, the reality is often much different. Below are some easy and simple tests to gauge how well Vodafone is performing in practice. Employee interviews. Are interviewees expected to conform to the prevalent norm of not contradicting the interviewer? If they do so, are they less likely to be selected? Interviewees who throw up many ideas and challenge existing methodologies at this stage are more likely to be expressive when they find problems in Vodafone and more likely to bring them to the attention of decision makers. They are also more likely to persuade others to do the same. Thought leaders are good drivers of change and prevent complacency though as a result it is not unusual to find that they cause friction with senior leaders who for some reason or other may be resistant to change. Remember, todays thought leaders can easily become tomorrows established bureaucracy (http://ezinearticles.com). Are senior leaders confident enough to leave themselves open to evaluation from all others in Vodafone? Status deference has many negatives including (http://ezinearticles.com): Higher status individuals tend to dominate the session and reduce the participation of others, People allow higher status individuals to do all the idea generation People place higher value on ideas produced by higher status individuals and People have a greater tendency to allow higher status individuals to get away with bad ideas. Assess at least three risks and three benefits of the ideas identified above There are a number of reasons why creative ideas fail to become innovations. Sometimes it is because the idea, which seems brilliant in concept, is flawed in application. More often, the problem is that organisations invest in creative ideation initiatives (often called innovation initiatives), such as brainstorming events, idea management, ideas campaigns and the like, but fail to invest in implementing the most creative ideas that come from those initiatives. Indeed, they have probably experienced this typical scenario: Vodafone invests in generating ideas via brainstorming events that involve a lot of highly paid managers and researchers. A number of promising creative ideas are generated. Sometimes business plans are developed. Sometimes prototypes are built, sometimes not, but, at some point between the identification of a promising idea and beginning to implement that idea, the idea is killed (www.jpb.com). There are many reasons why creative ideas are killed however almost all of them have to do with risk. Implementing a new idea is perceived as risky and people in the Vodafone do not wish to undertake that risk. So, the idea is killed. Needless-to-say, investing in a creative idea generation initiative in order to generate creative ideas they will never implement is an expensive method of accomplishing absolutely nothing (www.jpb.com). Unwillingness to implement creative ideas is not only a weakness with companies, individuals have the same problem. Imagine a young person applying for a job with Levi Strauss Co and having the idea to write her CV on a pair of Levis jeans and sending it to her perspective employer. Such a creative approach to applying for a job would almost certainly stand out and grab the attention of the hiring person. It could very well result in an interview particularly if the Vodafone values creativity as Levi Strauss does. Or it could result in the CV imprinted jeans being promptly rubbished as ridiculous. In my experience, most people who had such a creative idea would be unwilling to risk carrying it out (www.jpb.com). Such a waste of creative time, energy and money does no one any good and makes the world a more boring place than it could be. The Idea Before Vodafone implement their idea, they need to describe it in detail. Separately, they should describe what makes the idea special, that is: what is the unique selling point (USP)? Once Vodafone have done this, ask their self how they might push the USP even further in order to make their idea even more special. Benefits and Risks The next step is to do a simple risk versus benefits analysis. That may sound complex, but might simply be a matter of drawing up a table with a column labelled benefits and one called risks. Then simply lists the benefits and risks in their appropriate columns. If the risks are greater than the benefits, they need to rethink their idea and focus on greater benefits (www.jpb.com). Describe at least two appropriate change models to support the implementation of the creative and innovative ideas identified above in the organization Integrated Innovation Process Management Vodafone as an innovative organization, however, should not have a single innovation process cycle in operation. Rather it should have many of them! Large cycles are suitable for enterprise-wide innovation. Meanwhile, business units can run somewhat smaller innovation process cycles in order to manage their own ideas (although it should be noted, collaborative groups need not be limited to employees of that business unit). Teams, departments and any other group can also run their own innovation process cycles (www.jpb.com). However, these innovation process cycles should not be in isolation. Rather they should inspire and feed other cycles elsewhere in the organisation. For instance, the implementation of a new product idea should inspire innovation cycles in the marketing, sales and customer service divisions as well as at the enterprise level (www.jpb.com). Managers should watch their colleagues innovation process cycles and ruthlessly copy ideas as inspirations for their own cycles. Task 2: Influencing change Identify and describe the characteristics of the main groups of stakeholders. Produce a rationale to persuade stakeholders of the benefits of a creative and innovative idea Thomas Edison had all the characteristics of a risk taker innovator. He was a divergent thinker, making observations about the natural world. He was not afraid of failure. The lessons learned in one of his failures led to success in another project. In addition to the light bulb, his 1,093 patents included familiar ones such as the microphone batteries (The Creativity Handbook, 1994). Creative leadership must facilitate positive relationships in organizations to produce profitable growth through innovation. They now know that creativity is not a personality trait that is available for geniuses. Everyone has unique knowledge and experiences that can be tapped, given the proper environment. This environment must be freed flowing and non-judging to take people through the mental block they learned in early childhood. These blocks are associated with the risk of being wrong (www.aiu.edu). The motivation for innovating comes largely from the joy of doing something that has never been done before. It is like going on an expedition and risking everything to be the first person to climb a mountain or sail around the world. It taps the same drive that exists within a composer or an artist who wishes to create something forever. Create a plan to communicate a creative and innovative management idea to the stakeholders identified above, persuade them of its benefits for the organization, and generate stakeholder feedback. Open Innovation or expanding the pool of brains thinking about their business problems outside of Vodafone is a concept that has gained significant and recent traction. The concept is very sound (http://blog.thinkforachange.com): Open innovation is a paradigm that assumes that firms can and should use external ideas as well as internal ideas, and internal and external paths to market, as the firms look to advance their technology. The boundaries between a firm and its environment have become more permeable; innovations can easily transfer inward and outward. The central idea behind open innovation is that in a world of widely distributed knowledge, companies cannot afford to rely entirely on their own research, but should instead buy or license processes or inventions (e.g. patents) from other companies. In addition, internal inventions not being used in a firms business should be taken outside the company (e.g., through licensing, joint ventures, spin-offs) It used to be that innovation was something that happened deep in the bowels of corporate RD departments. Secretive folks lurked there and lived by the code of NIH or Not Invented Here. A motto that held that if RD didnt think of it, then it didnt exist or wouldnt work or should be ignored. Except a funny thing happenedthe ideas started drying up. Game changing ideas became few and far between. More of the same survived and less of the unexpected was developed. Then one day, some very smart innovation management consultants showed these organizations that there is no such thing as an all or nothing approach to innovation. Open innovation is but one branch of a well-rounded and comprehensive innovation management program. And for open innovation to truly work, they need to have their internal house in order first as it relates to idea and innovation management. Vodafone must have a solid and well managed internal innovation capability before seeking ideas from the outside world (http://blog.thinkforachange.com). That means: Having a strong executive sponsor engaged in the innovation strategy of the organization Having a proven set of processes, tools, techniques and training for moving ideas into prototypes and, eventually, products Having enough resources (human, financial, time, space and capability) to adequately support the idea and innovation management system Vodafone are putting into place Treating innovation and idea management, not as some singular event, but as a true business discipline and strategy for growth Developing a list of problems and/or opportunities that the organization wants to invest money and effort into finding solutions Developing a strategy for seeking ideas from inside and outside of the organization Developing a clear and communicated set of selection and filtering criteria for idea submission and consideration to ensure the idea pool is manageable Determining the utilization of the closed innovation system for the research, development, prototyping, portfolio management and launch planning that Vodafone dont want their competitors finding out about Developing a workable system for protecting the intellectual property rights of all parties in the process Show how you would use feedback from stakeholders to identify key goals and priorities for the innovation. Focusing on Customers Executives acknowledged that business has had to learn these lessons many times, and the need to create a culture where innovation can thrive is not new. A big part of the leaders role is to distract the organization away from itself and its own inner workings and dynamics, and shift the focus to customers, creating the openings where innovative ideas become possible (www.poststone.com). Allow enough time The rapid pace of business tends to create an overload of initiatives and a rush to complete projects as quickly as possible, and creates a significant barrier to sustainable progress. Business moves too fast; you need tenacity to innovate One approach recommended is for leaders to lengthen the time for goal achievement, and encourage staff to spend the necessary time thinking deeply about a problem, gathering data, and moving forward in a thoughtful way (www.poststone.com): People tend to give up when they cant get results quickly. You need to give longer goals, give people time, and ask them to do it slowly and thoughtfully. Generating good ideas is not always the issue: prioritization and resourcing of a few key initiatives is often more important in making significant progress. Task 3: Over coming barriers Identify at least four possible barriers to the implementation of change in an organization De-bunking the Myths of Innovation The executive panel saw little merit in much of the conventional wisdom about innovation, and de-bunked the myths for Vodafone India: The new product myth There is a strong tendency to focus on product innovations, however executives generally see this type of innovation as highly visible, but not necessarily critical to business success (Levitt, et. al. 2005). The breakthrough idea myth While creating the environment where Vodafone staff will speak and tell them their ideas received considerable emphasis, the idea itself is rarely sufficient. Canada was noted as the home of many good ideas that have not had enough sustained effort, persistence and resources to achieve results (Soto, Hernando de, 2000). The creative chaos myth Many business processes support innovation better when they are consistent and measurable. With a consistent and known process, ideas for change can be implemented in a way that employees can understand and execute successfully. The new process can then be integrated into routine and evaluated (Collins, Jim, 2001). Without a consistent baseline to build on, its difficult to see if a new idea would work, and just as difficult to implement successfully. The creative individual myth The power of creative individuals with insight is rarely enough to move the organization, regardless of the level of seniority. High-potential young managers cannot sally forth as ambassadors for a new order and meet with success. The whole organization needs to be mobilized, through accountability at all levels (www.poststone.com). Plan a strategy to overcome these identified barriers. Most approaches to strategic planning put an emphasis in answering the question What should the organization do? The answer to this question is very important for Vodafone. However it does not ensure that the organization is enabled to create value and to make the right strategic decisions. Strategy execution and monitoring of success have been identified as characteristic problem areas in organizational practice (Avila, et. al., 1995). Putting the proposals into practice, the Vodafone can address a more comprehensive set of issues related to fundament, execution and funding (Deloitte, 2005): Fundament:  Why should the organization choose this way? What are the underlying assumptions, the tradeoffs, and the risks? How should the organization respond if one of these assumptions turns out to be flawed or changes? Execution:  How does the organization do it? What are steps for implementation? Who is accountable for this process? How does the organization keep track of execution and success? Commitment:  How can the organization achieve commitment among the management team and all employees? How can the organization inform employees? Funding:  What will the outcome of the strategic planning cost in total? How will the organization fund the planning results? What is the expected return and will it meet the internal hurdle rates for return? Taking into account the broad perspective for strategic planning and considering execution, monitoring and funding issues, the organization and its managers can gain a clear view of where they are going and why. They will also know how to monitor the progress and can assess the payoff. Monitoring of both market data and operational data against planning assumptions as well as sustaining organizational flexibility represents another field of strategic planning improvements (www.themanager.org). Due to consideration of capital allocation and funding issues it is also clear, which other critical corporate processes will be influenced from the strategic planning outcome. Summarizing and bundling this outcome in so called strategic campaigns or strategic initiatives helps the organization to focus and improves intra-organizational communication (Dye et. al., 2007). Explain how the strategy plan will help overcome resistance. Hitchhiking creates ideas that combine the best ideas of everyone on the team. It can also help during implementation if all members see a piece of their idea in the final solution (www.aiu.edu). Creating an environment that is tolerant of mistakes is difficult. It must be made clear that mistakes are acceptable if they are based on solid thinking, enhance learning of what will not work, and are caught early before damage is severe. There must be support for the people who were on the team of the project that failed. The Kirton Adapter: Innovator (KAI) inventory measures preferred styles for problem- solving. The adaptor prefers to be creative within the present system. The innovator wants to create new definitions of the problem and new systems. Thus, both types are creative, but their styles are different. Adapters include bank managers, accountants, production managers, and programmers. Innovators include persons in marketing, finance, and fashion buyers (www.aiu.edu).