The North Atlantic Run The Submarine War And The Allied Response Duri

The North Atlantic Run: The Submarine War And The Allied Response During Ww 2 The North Atlantic Run: The Submarine war and the Allied Response in the Second World War In September 1939, with the beginning of World War II, German U-boat operations got under way against allied forces; the allies responded to the U-boat threat with a number of counter measures. The combined affect of protection of ships by convoys, harassment of U-boats by airplanes, and other anti-submarine warfare measures, reduced the ability of the U-boats to cut Britain off from her suppliers in North America. In order to assess the effectiveness of the allied response, it is first necessary to look at the U-boats. In looking at the U-boats it is not only necessary to look at the various types of U-boats and their deployment, but also to look at the German's goals and the tactics that they employed in an attempt to reach those goals. The Treaty of Versailles ending world war one prohibited Germany from having any U-boats. When the treaty was changed under The Anglo-German Naval agreement, one of the things that the Germans did to rebuild their navy was to rebuild the U-boat wing. Their first U-boats were for general sea-going and coastal abilities, the U-boats first built for this purpose were types I and II. The type I had a surface speed of 17.75 knots and 8.25 knots submerged on electric engines, for armament it had 4.1 inch and 22 mm. anti-aircraft guns and six torpedoes. In comparison, the type II had speeds of 13 knots surfaced and 7 knots submerged with three torpedoes and one 20 mm. anti-aircraft gun. The type II was smaller than the type I. The Germans developed other U-boats between types III and VII, but the most popular model came with the type VII. The type VII had a displacement of 500 tons and with about 700 built, became the German's main U-boat. It was equipped with a 3.5-inch anti-aircraft gun, four bow torpedo tubes, a single stern torpedo tube, and carried 14 torpedoes; it had a surface speed of 16 knots. The Germans also built several other U-boat types, the most popular being the type IX with a displacement of 750 tons and 150 being constructed. The type IX had a 4.1-inch anti-aircraft gun, 4 bow torpedo tubes, 2 stern tubes, and carried 19 torpedoes; it had a surface speed of 17 knots. Along with these main U-boats the Germans also had 10 supply U-boats built for refueling their other U-boats to extend their range. The type XIV U-tanker had a displacement of 1688 tons and had no torpedo tubes, instead the room was used to carry 635 tons of fuel, which could be used to resupply about twelve other U-boats. A ll of these U-boats were, as with the types I and II, slower under water as they had to switch to their electric engines, their speed was thus reduced to about 6 or 7 knots. These U-boats used, or tried, several different tactics against the allies during World War II to meet their war aims, which was to attack . . . Britain's supply lines . . . for the achievement of our naval strategic aims . . . to cut her off from her suppliers in North America. Militarily, the Germans tried to use the U-boats in support of other operations. The most famous of these was the invasion of Norway in April 1940. The Germans had planned to use the U-boats to protect their landing vessels against British attack while troops were dropped of in Norway and the vessels returned to Germany. During the invasion the Germans used all the U-boats that were available, assigning them primarily defensive roles. Thirteen U- boats were used to prevent the British from interfering in the landings in Norway and another four U-boats were then used to protect German communications lines between Germany and Norway. Another thirteen were used to attack the British Home Fleet if the British decided to send them to interfere with the invasion. The use of the U-boats in the invasion was basically a failure because their torpedoes were adversely affected by the high latitude as

An Introduction to the Human Services essayEssay Writing Service

An Introduction to the Human Services essayEssay Writing Service An Introduction to the Human Services essay An Introduction to the Human Services essayThe human services field requires special education and training as this professional approach is focused on providing assistance to individuals, families and communities. It is not a secret that the growing number of human problems faced by individuals in modern society requires adequate response. According to researchers, â€Å"a growing number of people feel alienated and isolated from their neighborhoods and communities†(Woodside McClam, 2014, p.7). Human services is aimed at providing individuals and groups of individuals sufficient support and assistance to allow them to help themselves (Neukrug, 2012). Human services helper encourages clients to be self-confident and independent in order to gain control of their lives as soon as possible. Helpers use the proper strategies to assist their clients gain belief in themselves.I have learned much throughout this course about myself as a helper. I realize that if I want to become a h uman service professional, I should be self-sufficient. Self-sufficiency enhances the individual’s self-esteem (Corey Corey, 2010).   I realize that my clients should feel that they are understood. As a helper, I should demonstrate empathy, be focused on collaboration and consensus, and develop an effective therapeutic assistance. I have developed effective listening skills in order to provide high quality communication, addressing the needs of my clients. Within my role as a helper, it is not acceptable to give advice. I will be able to use the technique â€Å"reflection of feelings† in order to explain my clients their feelings and help them to find the right solution. In addition, I have improved my non-verbal communication skills, which help to better understand the problems of other people.I believe that human services management skills could help me to become a professional in human services field. I have the following qualities that would make me an effective manager or supervisor: good communication skills, leadership skills, the ability to adapt to changing environments, honesty, self-confidence, patience, self-control, persistence, goal-orientation, responsibility and other skills. As a helper, I should be focused on moral conduct and ethical decision making. I know that human services professional code of ethics will help me to become an effective human services helper (Poindexter Valentine, 2010). An According to researchers, â€Å"many proponents of the humanistic perspective believe that effective helpers have a deep interest in other people and a desire to help, which allows them to receive satisfaction in promoting the growth and development of others† (Burger, 2013, p.200). I have enough skills and abilities to demonstrate the best traits of my character as a helper. I believe that people should help one another. I am ready to devote my time and energy to helping other people improve their lives. Moreover, I have the b asic helping skills, including â€Å"listening, communicating, the ability to give feedback, observing, confronting, clarifying, problem solving, interviewing, and report writing† (Burger, 2013, p.200).Thus, my thoughts and feelings about entering the human services field are positive. I hope that my desire to help other people and my belief that people can change their lives are two major characteristics while entering the human services field. As a helper, I have the proper skills and abilities to provide my clients’ development and personal growth.

Creating a Culture of Professionalism among Students, Faculty and Research Paper

Creating a Culture of Professionalism among Students, Faculty and Staff - Research Paper Example It is mainly known as a historically black university comprising of a unique culture and ethnicity. It also comprise of a Carnegie Classification of Institutions for Higher Educational requirements like: research activity (Howard University, n. d.). It is such a type of institution comprising of experienced and dynamic faculties presenting quality education since 1867 to its students so as to retain its image worldwide. Along with this, they also desire to maintain a professional relationship within its students and faculties so that a professional bounding can be maintained. Moreover, the aim of the university is to connect the life of the students with their minds, the heart of a tradition, and the soul of a students and staffs (Howard University, n. d.). Key objective of this study is to highlight the positive impacts of professionalism culture among students, faculties and staffs so as to improve organizational performance and image. Apart from this, it also tries to highlight th e effectiveness of finance and operational decisions regarding the enhancement of the University in long run (Howard University, n. d.). Road Map of the plan of implementing computer training program in Howard University Source: (Kasar &Clark, 2000). ... Not only this, it might also help to create such a friendly type of environment that may be best for the students of all castes and creeds (Kasar &Clark, 2000). Stakeholder Analysis The stakeholders that might get engaged in such a planning program of developing a professional environment within all the staffs, faculties and students of the Howard University are foundation members, board of trustees, staffs, teachers, parents and students. Such type of a planning might become successful only with proper coordination and communication among them in order to fulfill the objectives. For example: Orientation program in the university for the introduction of computer trainings for the students performing researches to improve their technical knowledge and skills on the relevant topics. However, it might be possible only if the relevant teachers offer high level of guidance to these students. With the help of such coordinated efforts, the culture of professionalism may be visualized within all the members and faculties (Kasar &Clark, 2000). Project Requirements In order to implement the computer training program for the research associates, varied types of hardware and new software are essential. Apart from this, an efficient teacher is also essential to guide the students in the proper way. So that it might lead to successful result in the long run. For example: If the students comprising of laptops bring them, at the time of coaching classes, then it might prove effective in reducing the purchase of computers for the university. Then it might be extremely helpful in reducing the financial cost of the organization thereby enhancing its image among other rival colleges. However, this may be possible only if the students and faculties of the university of

Office Elegance E-business Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Office Elegance E-business Plan - Assignment Example Year 1 period of OfficeElegance clothing line will be made of great design, high-value fabrics, elegant styles that have not been seen in the market before. OfficeElegance elegance will no longer be a one-city business but will be able to reach young men and women from most cities in America who are in search of elegant and unique office wear and shoes. This is attributed to the huge advancements and developments in internet technology as well as in radio programming and cable television of the last decade. The expectations of customers and their demand for products that represent the rapidly changing fashion industry have been increased as result of these huge advancements telecommunications technology. The owners of and mangers of OfficeElegance have a lot of experience in the fashion industry, particularly in the outdoor apparel industry. In fact, for the past four years, they have been involved in the design of office wear, both men, and women clothes, and are thus very apprised of the current fashion trends and consumers preferences and tastes. One thing that sets OfficeElegance and other clothing e-commerce websites that deal in men and women clothing that it only deals, specifically in office wear and shoes, for both men and women aged between 18 and 24 years old. Additionally, OfficeElegance will not maintain clothing inventory and thus will work in contract with Ted Clothing Company located in Boston, Massachusetts, which will produce and deliver/ship all the garments for office elegance. Additionally, OfficeElegance will also work in contract with Lambretta Shoes Company, also based in Boston, Massachusetts, which will produce and deliver/ship all the shoes for Office Elega nce.

Ethical issue in Costa Coffee Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethical issue in Costa Coffee - Research Paper Example Costa Coffee, one such profitable venture by Whitbread (PRATLEY, 2011).To understand the ethical issue affecting Costa Coffee, it is first imperative to look into detail into the ethical issues that affect the coffee industry in general. The coffee retailing industry is haunted by what is known as the coffee paradox. Coffee production for the larger part takes place in developing countries. According to statistics, 90 percent of the world’s coffee production takes place in developing countries, the leading coffee producers being Vietnam, Brazil and Columbia (BUSINESS INSIDER). However, the world’s greatest coffee consumption takes place in industrialized and developed countries like the United States of America and the United Kingdom. This gives rise to a situation what Benoit Daviron and Stefano Ponte call the coffee paradox. The coffee paradox refers to the existence of a coffee crisis in the countries that produce it, and a coffee boom in the countries that consume i t (DAVIRON, 2005). Low wages, poor living standards and poor infrastructure is a regular feature of countries that supply the world with a commodity with a high demand. The producers get low prices, while the same coffee is sold at a substantially higher price. To offset the negative impact of the coffee crisis, coffee retailing firms consider it a part of their business ethics to employ measures that ensures prosperity for the producers of coffee in the developing countries as well. According to Geoff Riley, it is fair-trade that has helped in reducing the widening gap between the producer and consumer prices in the coffee industry (RILEY). Coffee production in the international market is increasingly pressurized by social activists to abide by fair-trade regulations. Fair-trade refers to the social movement whereby producers in developing countries are encouraged to trade their produce at terms that favor their own economy. Another feature of fair-trade is encouraging sustainabili ty in order to conserve resources for the generations to come. In the field of coffee productions, fair-trade coffee refers to coffee selling companies that comply with the standards of sustainable coffee production and distribution. Companies certified as fair-trade coffee retailers may charge a slightly higher price than those coffee retailers who do not comply with fair-trade regulations. According to the ethical consumer’s guide, Costa Coffee has been rated at 9.5 on a scale of 20, while Starbucks, its direct competitor has been rated at 6.5. The ratings give an insight of the top (SHOPPING GUIDE TO COFFEE SHOPS). (2)Produce a report about how that company could improve the ethics of its operations while meeting its objectives and making sure there are good employer/employee relations Costa Coffee does not abide by the fair-trade standards, however, the company can look into alternative ways of fulfilling its objectives as well as improving the ethics of their business op eration. The issue of Costa Coffee’s commitment to its business ethics however is not as simple as whether the company chooses to abide by the laws of fair-trade coffee. While consumers all over the world recognize the fair-trade logo as synonymous to ethical business operation, Costa Coffee has adopted a different, yet less known approach to responsible and sustainable coffee distribution (WELCH, 2011). Costa coffee reportedly joined the Rainforest Alliance in 2008, an ethical trading body

Estimation Importance In Project Management Information Technology Essay

Estimation Importance In Project Management Information Technology Essay Objective of the report: The objective of this report is to investigate the use of Estimation of project parameters like project cost and time, in Project Management. The report starts with the definition of the estimation and its use for a successful project management. A brief description of project estimation process is explained in the report, along with the basic classification of the types of estimates that can be performed for a successful project management. The issues involved in estimating the project parameters in real-time are investigated in a detailed manner. Then critical evaluation of various estimation methods is performed. A complete analysis of the methods evaluated in the report is performed. Finally, the report is concluded with the suggestions on selecting a particular Project Estimation process for a successful Project Management. Importance of Estimation in project management: The four major parameters that control the software projects are time, requirements, resources (people, infrastructure/materials and money), and risks. This is one of the reasons why making good estimates of these variables like time and resources required for a project is very critical. But if the estimation is lower than the project needs it will affect the progress of the project due to the lack of enough time, money, infrastructure/materials, or people. At the same time even if the estimation is over estimated then the company will have to face losses due to the extra expenses or even if the project is sanctioned other projects dont go on since there is less to go around. For any successful project management, estimation is a vital part of project methodology. Estimation has numerous applications like justification of project which has to be applied in the initial stages of the project where in we need to anticipate the benefits which is compared with the costs incurred as well as to decipher comparisons and conclusions that has to be made with technical and functional teams involved in the project. The other additional applications of the estimation are to implement the disciplines required, to protect the resources required to deliver the project successfully, to ensure the support impact of the project is fully understood, to inform and improve the software development process. This document describes the techniques used to produce reliable estimates for the work required to complete projects and tasks. Estimation process: Definition: Project estimation is a process of forecasting or approximating the project parameters like cost, time, effort etc., for a successful completion of the project deliverables. Overview of the Estimation Process: The first point to be remembered about estimation is that it does not finish until the completion of project and is a process of a slow and gradual refinement. For many software projects a project manager can assist the team to create successful estimates by using sound techniques and understanding about what makes estimate more accurate. The team chosen to produce an estimate are typically drawn from IS, customers and/or service partners who have relevant experience of similar previous projects or tasks in the business area. When we want to start a project we need to know basic parameters required in advance like how long it will take, how many people it will require, how much effort it will require. In such cases it is hard to estimate because in many cases projects overrun or project go over budget. Always a good estimation practices keep the project on track and even can earn some time for the tricky, interesting areas. Our estimation process is based on three components: Expert judgement, Consultation with qualified experts from within business and service partners. This is supplemented, where required, by expert input  from software suppliers and consultants.   Experience,  i.e. comparison of the proposed project or task with previously completed work. Task Decomposition, i.e. decomposing the project into components, i.e. a Work Breakdown Structure, and estimating each component individually to produce an overall estimate. This will also reduce the chances of error occurrence. When to estimate: A rough estimate is needed at the initial stage of the project or probably even before the actual project starts. This is because, the final negotiations should be made with the customer, which needs the rough estimate of the cost, time and quality of the project. Also, Estimation is a process of gradual refinement. It should be performed in parallel with the project development, in several phases. Each estimate will be refined to give a converged estimate towards the end of the project. Estimation should be carried out until the completion of project deliverables. There are basically two approaches for estimating project parameters. They are; Top-down estimation approach Bottom-up estimation approach Top-down estimation approach: Top-down estimation approach is usually used at the initial stages of the project. This estimation is usually carried out by the top managers who have little knowledge of the processes involved in the completion of the project. The input to this estimation is either information or the experience of the manager carrying out the estimation. These top-down estimation methods are often used to evaluate the project proposal. In most cases, the best results can be achieved in estimation only when one used both top-down and bottom-up estimation methods. However, it is practically not possible to carry out bottom-up methods until the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) are clearly defined. In such cases, top-down estimates are used until the WBS becomes available. There are many methods in top-down approach listed below: Consensus methods: This estimation method uses experience of a group of people to estimate the project parameters. This method involves project meetings, a place where these people can discuss, argue and finally come to a conclusion from their best guess estimate. The Delphi method comes under this category. Ratio methods: These estimation methods use ratios to estimate project times and costs. For example, in a construction work, the total cost of the project can be estimated by knowing the number of square feet. Likewise, a software project is estimated by its complexity and its features. Approximation methods: This estimation method is very useful when the project to be estimated is closely related to any of the previous projects in terms of its features and costs. By using the historical data of the estimates, good estimates can be approximated with very little effort. Function point methods: Many software projects are usually estimated using weighted macro variables called function points. Function points can be number of inputs, number of outputs, number of inquiries, number of data files, and number of interfaces. These function points are weighted again with a complexity level and summed up to get the total cost or duration estimates of the project. Bottom-up estimation approach: Top-down estimation approach can usually be put in practice once the project is defined or once there is some progress in the project. This means, this estimation is more into work package level, which are responsible for low-cost estimates and efficient methods. It is often recommended that this estimation is usually carried out by people most knowledgeable about the estimate needed. The cost, time, resource estimates from the work packages can be checked with the associated accounts to major deliverables. Also, these estimates in later stages can be consolidated into phased networks, resource schedules, and budgets that used for control. Additionally, customer will get an opportunity to compare the low-cost, efficient method with any imposed restrictions, using bottom-up approach. There are many methods in top-down approach listed below: Template methods: If the project to be estimated is similar to any of the past projects, then estimates of the past projects can be used as starting point estimates for the new project. This is similar to approximation estimation in top-down approach. Parametric procedures: These parametric procedures are same like ratio methods in top-down approach. However, here the parametric procedures are applied on specific tasks. Detailed estimates for WBS work packages: This is usually most reliable method of all estimation methods. The reason for this is that here the estimates are performed by people responsible for the work packages in Work Breakdown Structure. These people have prior knowledge or experience upon the tasks they perform specified in WBS, because of which the estimates are usually most reliable. In addition to the top-down and bottom-up approaches, there is another kind of estimating which is a hybrid of the above two approaches. This is called as Phase Estimating. When there is unusual amount of uncertainty is surrounded by the project, people go for phase estimating. In this approach, two-estimate system is used over the life-cycle of the project. The whole project is initially divided into phases. Then a detailed estimate is developed for the immediate phase, and a macro-estimate is mode for the remaining phases of the project. Difficulties in Estimation: There are two major cases where Estimation problems almost always boil down to estimates that are either too high or too low. Padded estimates, where the team members intentionally over estimates in order to give themselves extra time to work, are a chronic source of estimates that are too high. Other case arises when senior managers give unrealistic deadlines that are a chronic source of estimates that are too low. Both the cases can lead to morale problems. Estimation Tools: Software tools are very important for estimation. Estimation tools are the software packages implemented using any of the estimation methods as its algorithm, to make project managers life easy. These estimation tools help from skipping important tasks in a method. These tools are useful to organise, update and store the results of the estimates. Also, Estimation Tools are useful to: Estimate project size using Function Points or other metrics. Derive effort and schedule from the project estimates using various algorithms and techniques. Perform analysis with staffing, duration etc. and appreciate how realistic they are. Produce and update results like Gantt charts and other tables easily. Maintain and exploit a database of historic data. Import data from other projects run in organisations with which you have no connection. However, one should very carefully select the estimation tools for a particular project. Principle: Required functional capabilities of estimation tools should match the needs and desired capabilities specific to the project. In selecting an estimation tool, one should match the available tools with the overall requirements of the project. In general, estimation tools should: Be very adaptive to any projects development environment, so that one can customize the tool according to the project needs. Be comparatively easy to understand, learn and use. Be able to produce some early project estimates without waiting for the whole project to be completely defined designed. Be able to provide estimates for different phases and activities in the project, if it is classified so. Understand and support wide range of languages and applications, as it is really important for a tool to provide estimates specific to the applications. Be able to provide accurate schedule estimates, whose purpose is not only to predict task completion given task sequence and available resources, but also to establish starting and ending dates for the associated work packages and life-cycle phases. Be able to provide maintenance estimates separately, which includes correcting errors, modifying the software to accommodate changes in requirements, and extending and enhancing software performance. Critical evaluation of the estimation tools: There are many tools in the market for project estimation. However, I am investigating a few and very efficient tools in the current market. PROBE: The name PROBE is derived from Proxy Based Estimating, introduced by Watts Humphrey (of the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University). Principle: If a component being built is similar to one built previously, then the effort it takes would be about the same as it did in the past. It mainly helps individual software engineers monitor, test, and improve their own work. Each component in the database is assigned a type (calculation, data, logic, etc.) and a size (from very small to very large). Also, a database is used to store history of size and effort details of these individual components. Later on, when a new project must be estimated, it is broken down into tasks that correspond to these types and sizes. A formula based on linear regression is used to calculate the estimate for each task. Additional information on PROBE can be found in A Discipline for Software Engineering by Watts Humphrey (Addison Wesley, 1994). COCOMO: The COCOMO is the most used estimation tool in the market for cost and schedule estimating. The COCOMO is derived from Constructive Cost Model, developed by Barry Boehm in the early 1980s. Principle: The model developed empirically by running a study of many software development projects and statistically analyzing their results. There by developing a database of the analysed details. Boehm developed COCOMO empirically by running a study of 63 software development projects and statistically analyzing their results. COCOMO II was developed in the 1990s as an updated version for modern development life cycles, and it is based on a broader set of data. The COCOMO calculation incorporates 15 cost drivers, variables that must be provided as input for a model that is based on the results of those studied projects. These variables cover software, computer, personnel, and project attributes. The output of the model is a set of size and effort estimates that can be developed into a project schedule. Additional information on COCOMO can be found in Software Cost Estimation with Cocomo II by Barry Boehm et al. (Prentice Hall PTR, 2000). The Planning Game: The Planning Game is the software project planning method from Extreme Programming (XP), a lightweight development methodology developed by Kent Beck in the 1990s at Chrysler. It is a method used to manage the negotiation between the engineering team (Development) and the stakeholders (Business). It gains some emotional distance from the planning process by treating it as a game, where the playing pieces are user stories written on index cards and the goal is to assign value to stories and put them into production over time. Unlike PROBE, COCOMO and Delphi, the Planning Game does not require a documented description of the scope of the project to be estimated. Rather, it is a full planning process that combines estimation with identifying the scope of the project and the tasks required to complete the software. Like much of XP, the planning process is highly iterative. The scope is established by having Development and Business work together to interactively write the stories. Then, each story is given an estimate of 1, 2, or 3 weeks. Stories that are larger than that are split up into multiple iterations. Business is given an opportunity to steer the project between iterations. The estimates themselves are created by the programmers, based on the stories that are created. Finally, commitments are agreed upon. This is repeated until the next iteration of the project is planned. Additional information on the Planning Game can be found in Extreme Programming Explained by Kent Beck (Addison Wesley, 2000). Critical analysis: In order to have the best estimates of a project, make some rough top-down estimates initially, develop the WBS, using which make bottom-up estimates, and develop schedules and estimates and finally, reconcile the differences between top-down and bottom-up approaches. Also for ideal results, the project manager should allow some time to carry out top-down and bottom-up estimates, there by reliable estimates can be offered to the customer. This will in turn reduce the false expectations for stakeholders. Phase estimation approach is much useful in the projects, whose final nature (shape, size, features) is highly uncertain. COCOMO II can be used for the following major decision situations Making investment or other financial decisions involving a software development effort Setting project budgets and schedules as a basis for planning and control Deciding on or negotiating tradeoffs among software cost, schedule, functionality, performance or quality factors Making software cost and schedule risk management decisions Deciding which parts of a software system to develop, reuse, lease, or purchase Making legacy software inventory decisions: what parts to modify, phase out, outsource, etc Setting mixed investment strategies to improve organizations software capability, via reuse, tools, process maturity, outsourcing, etc Deciding how to implement a process improvement strategy, such as that provided in the SEI CMM Conclusion:

The Count of Monte Cristo :: essays research papers

The Count of Monte Cristo Journal In the beginning of the book The Count of Monte Cristo we meet Edmond Dantà ¨s; he comes across as a model of honesty, ability, and innocence. â€Å"He was a fine tall, slim young fellow, with black eyes, and hair as dark as a ravens wing; and his whole appearance bespoke that calmness and resolution peculiar to men accustomed from their cradle to contend with danger (pg 4).† Regardless of his youth, he is a useful leader to his sailors. He was also very devoted to his father and fiancà ©e. Dantes was capable of looking into the good side of the people that disliked him like Danglars â€Å"a man of twenty-five or twenty –six†¦of unprepossessing countenance, obsequious to his superiors, insolent to his inferiors (pg6),† Caderousse â€Å"a man of twenty-five or twenty-six years of age (pg17),† and Fernand â€Å"tall, strapping, black eyed Catalan, with a red complexion, brown skin, and fierce air (pg21).†Even thought they were mean to Dantes he always treated them fairly and civilly Alexander Dumas shows us that when Morrel asks Dantà ¨s to evaluate Danglars’s work on the ship, Dantà ¨s could easily ruin his enemy’s career with a mean word but he chooses to put aside his personal feelings and honestly evaluates Danglars on a professional level. â€Å"If you mean as a responsible agent that you ask me the question, I believe there is nothing to say against him, and that you will be content with the way in which he has performed his duty (pg12).† Similarly, rather than reproach Caderousse for mistreating his father, Dantà ¨s politely welcomes him into his home and offers to lend him money. Dantà ¨s even manages to control his will toward Fernand, his rival for Mercà ©dà ¨s feelings. Dantà ¨s is loyal to those he loves and sees the best in those who are flawed. While Dantà ¨s sits atop the pedestal of honesty and generosity, his three enemies could not be further from it. Unaware of Dantà ¨sâ₠¬â„¢s kindness and tolerance, they have convinced themselves that he is very mean. When Dantà ¨s takes pride in his good luck, the other men feel injury to their own egos. There are only two enemies of Dantes, Caderousse and Danglars, actually dislike Dantà ¨s at this point; Fernand’s hatred of Dantà ¨s, by contrast, does not stem from any will of Dantà ¨s’s character. Fernand simply dislikes Dantà ¨s because he is the main obstacle to his own happiness with Mercedes. The Count of Monte Cristo :: essays research papers The Count of Monte Cristo Journal In the beginning of the book The Count of Monte Cristo we meet Edmond Dantà ¨s; he comes across as a model of honesty, ability, and innocence. â€Å"He was a fine tall, slim young fellow, with black eyes, and hair as dark as a ravens wing; and his whole appearance bespoke that calmness and resolution peculiar to men accustomed from their cradle to contend with danger (pg 4).† Regardless of his youth, he is a useful leader to his sailors. He was also very devoted to his father and fiancà ©e. Dantes was capable of looking into the good side of the people that disliked him like Danglars â€Å"a man of twenty-five or twenty –six†¦of unprepossessing countenance, obsequious to his superiors, insolent to his inferiors (pg6),† Caderousse â€Å"a man of twenty-five or twenty-six years of age (pg17),† and Fernand â€Å"tall, strapping, black eyed Catalan, with a red complexion, brown skin, and fierce air (pg21).†Even thought they were mean to Dantes he always treated them fairly and civilly Alexander Dumas shows us that when Morrel asks Dantà ¨s to evaluate Danglars’s work on the ship, Dantà ¨s could easily ruin his enemy’s career with a mean word but he chooses to put aside his personal feelings and honestly evaluates Danglars on a professional level. â€Å"If you mean as a responsible agent that you ask me the question, I believe there is nothing to say against him, and that you will be content with the way in which he has performed his duty (pg12).† Similarly, rather than reproach Caderousse for mistreating his father, Dantà ¨s politely welcomes him into his home and offers to lend him money. Dantà ¨s even manages to control his will toward Fernand, his rival for Mercà ©dà ¨s feelings. Dantà ¨s is loyal to those he loves and sees the best in those who are flawed. While Dantà ¨s sits atop the pedestal of honesty and generosity, his three enemies could not be further from it. Unaware of Dantà ¨sâ₠¬â„¢s kindness and tolerance, they have convinced themselves that he is very mean. When Dantà ¨s takes pride in his good luck, the other men feel injury to their own egos. There are only two enemies of Dantes, Caderousse and Danglars, actually dislike Dantà ¨s at this point; Fernand’s hatred of Dantà ¨s, by contrast, does not stem from any will of Dantà ¨s’s character. Fernand simply dislikes Dantà ¨s because he is the main obstacle to his own happiness with Mercedes.

Barbara and Electra Case Study

Question(1):How might top management have done a better job changing Elektra Products into a new kind of organization? What might they do now to get the empowerment process back on track? Analysis of the case study Main issues – 1. Declining of Market shares 2. Few new product ideas or far between 3. Poor staff relationship 4. Low staff morale Weaknesses- 1. approach in change management 2. Organizational culture 3. creating problem solving team 4. the process of employee involvement and empowerment 5. the facilitation by Martin GriffinThe attempt to do staff empowerment is a nice try but it alone is not the complete solution for the root cause of the problems. In order to reach to the solution of all these issues, they have to find out what are the underlying causes of these issues. The newly hired Martin Griffin mentioned in the opening speech that â€Å"As we face increasing competition, we need new ideas, new energy and new spirit to make this company great. And the sourc e for this change is you—each one of you. † Though he mentioned that each of the staff is important, he failed to allow everyone actively participates and play important role in the program.He neglected the importance of each and everyone’s contribution and effort to the program. He should have made understand what does it means by employee involvement and empowerment; how it will help the company solves the issues and, the ways to do and requirements for the staff involvement and empowerment program. It was worsen when the main facilitator, Martin Griffin, had excused from the session at the time Barbara and team enthusiastically presented their innovative ideas to department heads. The facilitator also fails to aim what kind of outputs he expects at the end of the session.For the successful empowerment program, the organization structure and its enabling environment is very critical. Trust building is very important part of the program especially in this situat ion where staff relationship and morale is poor. It is not only important for the top management level but also the department heads or managers from all other departments are important to accept the concept of staff involvement and empowerment. As the company is on its way of changing to a new era, every staff will have different perspective of interest on how it will affect their current roles, responsibilities and job security.All of which are worth to take in consideration in managing the change process. The managers are not so sure why they require these changes as they have been doing well in the past and they believe they can do it again. On the other hand, every staff has a different management theory and surely they are not on the same page with other management staff or with the company’s current management. It is quite critical to ensure that every management staff equipped with relevant knowledge and skills that will contribute the company’s strategic goals .The staff must have a common understanding of the organizational value, culture, strategic goals and how the empowerment process will add on the success of the organization. Instead of creating problem solving team with managers selected by top management, allow all managers to voluntarily work as cross-functional teams and come up with innovative ideas and opinions. By doing so, each team will have a representative from each specialized departments who has his or her own perspective and issue on the ideas.Contribution from different expertise and background will provide the ideas reach wider scope and reality. Then, each team should discuss the ideas with other teams which may require some modification and negotiation process. If everyone satisfies with the ideas, the staff involvement will be improved and the ideas will become action. It is natural that someone could resist the ideas or changes made by others. But if they are put in a position to be part of a cross-functional tea m that needs to come up with an innovative idea, the discussion environment among the team will tend to be more constructive.In addition, since the company is to undergo a big change, the top management should have implemented a good change management strategy and plan. They should also prepare a communication strategy and plan to inform the staff accordingly. So that it will be clear what is going to happen, why, how and who will be responsible in the change process. The communication strategy and plan is also important as the staffs are very concerned with the change and restructuring process.If the staffs are not well communicated about the changes, the restructuring with many rumors will encourage the staff leaving the organization and looking for a new job which will be a lost the trained and skillful human resources of Elektra. Recommendation to top management in changing Elektra to a new kind of organization and to get back empowerment process on track: * Ensure all staff und erstands what are the vision, mission and strategic goals of Elektra. * Recruit or train staff to ensure the organization is equipped with necessary skills for change management. For eg.Hire a skillful and experienced facilitator who can give time and have a sound facilitation plan. A good facilitation plan must aim some specific objectives, processes of facilitation and expected results * Make sure that everyone understand what empowerment is and why it is important and how it will contribute to the vision, mission and long-term strategic goals * Remove the process of selected problem solving team in an attempt to change Elektra and instead make them voluntarily participate in the cross-functional team which includes representative from each department, different backgrounds etc. Facilitate the department heads/managers to address the underlying causes of each problems in their sector from their perspective and reflect their past experiences * Group the causes and brainstorm all th e managers what should they do to reach a solution to these problems so that they understand and practically involve in the change process * Create an organization structure that will encourage enabling environment and culture for the staff so that they can use their abilities and energies which can then lead to job satisfaction, motivation, commitment by employee. Implement a change management strategy and plan that will ensure the process is on track ( what, why, how and by who throughout the change process) and how it will be sustained. * Identify the transformation leadership team to steer the change and operational leadership team to manage the day-to-day deliverables. * Set a time frame for the change process to reach its goal as to ensure the urgency of the change and effectively response to the continuously evolving environment and available opportunities. * Make your strategy and plan be flexible, daptable, acceptable by all stakeholders and suitable for your company and op erational environment so that the plan will be realistically implemented. * Implement a communication strategy and plan to ensure staff received relevant information with regards to the changes which will reflect their interests. * Ensure that the road map and milestones are carefully prioritize and aligned to reach strategic goals so that the manager can monitor and manage the success or failure in each step towards the strategic goals. Set your operating values in trying to achieve the goals that employee understand what the organization expect and values what kinds of behavior and attitude. * Organize programs and trainings that could enhance the leadership, shared value, cooperate culture and trust building * Build capacity of the staff to gain necessary skills and knowledge in implementing staff involvement and empowerment program Questions (2): Can you think of ways Barbara could have avoided the problems her team faced in the meeting with department heads?The problems with th e department heads are due to the lack of cross-functional contribution, communication, mind-set, role and planning. It could be possible for Barbara to handle the situation by; Barbara and her team should have considered the impact of their ideas and possible response by concerned departments. If Barbara has carefully analyzed what could be the challenges of their ideas, she would have prepared for a back-up or contingency plan to negotiate the departmental heads. By this way her team will have full confident on their own ideas and the department heads will feel confident that the plan was crafted carefully.Barbara should open her mind by accepting for their active feedback with thanks as this is a good opportunity to turn the different department heads in the process. She should have faced the resistance and brought up the concern from each department heads. So that and she can start a cross-functional team to brainstorm the more realistic ideas looking from different perspective. Barbara should explain that the ideas shared by her team are only part of the solution to these problems within their scope and the team requires feedback and opinion in a wider scope from other departments.And before Martin Griffin leaves the workshop, she has to confirm with him that when will be the next workshop to hear feedback from Martin griffin about her team’s presentation. So that when the department heads resist and debate on the new ideas, she can note down the issues raised and let that the feedback from the department heads will be thoroughly discussed in next workshop. By doing so, the department heads will feel they also have a role in the process and Barbara got time to do a plan and consider possible solution to the issues so as to move forward the process.Questions (3): If you were Barbara Russell, what would you do now? Why? If I were Barbara Russell, I will work out to keep motivate my team. I will appreciate the team for their effort and contribution to ward the company. I will make sure the team understands that for our ideas to be stronger, more realistic and practical for all of us, we need to look our ideas from various aspects as we have experienced that various departments have their own issues on our ideas.So, in order to successfully implement our ideas, we need collaboration and commitment from all other departments that we must find ways to solve the concerns of other departments. As working within our own team will limit our expertise and other resources, we require contribution of expertise from different sectors. We must find out a way to get support and collaboration from different departments. I will encourage my team to revisit our ideas, gather information from all departments, try to open our mind to accept, and respect the others’ perspective and ideas.I will discuss with Top management and Martin griffin about our team’s ideas, several issues raised by the department heads. I will reflect my experi ence during the presentation of our team’s ideas, expectation of other staff, feeling and concerns of other departments. I will discuss ways to allow all departments to work together as a whole and discuss what specific strategy and plan should we implement to manage the change process to ensure achievement of our strategic goals.

6 Tips for Renegotiating Your Salary

6 Tips for Renegotiating Your Salary Whether you’re seeking more than a standard cost-of-living bump or have seen your job responsibilities increase over the past year, this may be a great time to open salary negotiations with your boss. The holidays are over and everyone’s settling in for the year ahead- so why not do everything you can to increase your bottom line? 1. Pick your timingIf your company’s year-end financial report just came out and it’s bleaker than an outdoor swimming pool in January, know that this might not be the best time to approach your boss about a raise. It’s not necessarily a dealbreaker, but definitely be wary that your request might not be met with an open checkbook.Knowing how the company is doing in general can help you frame your request. If things are a little lean, open with an acknowledgment that you know things are tough, but that you’d like to open a dialogue on your salary for [reasons xyz].2. Be realisticBefore you even bring up a salary chan ge with your boss, do the legwork by researching what the salary range is for your role within your industry. This can help you figure out a reasonable dollar figure, but can also show you where you stand on the compensation scale. If your salary is currently on the low end of the standard range for your job title and experience level, that gives you leverage when you talk to your boss.3. Don’t make threats/demandsSalary negotiation is a dialogue. Just as you’ll have a preferred outcome in your head, so will your boss. It may take some time to get to a middle ground that works for both of you, so you won’t do yourself any favors by going in guns a-blazing and asking for a particular number or else. That will only put your manager on the defensive, and will not make him or her likely to accommodate your request, however overdue or reasonable it might be at heart. At this point, the company holds the power- being overly aggressive at the start gives you fewer opti ons later on.4. Don’t forget benefitsWhile this is a chance to increase your base salary, it’s also a chance to revisit your benefits and perks, as well. If you seek more vacation time, comp time, or a flexible work-from-home arrangement a certain number of days per week or month, it puts more chips on the table. It could also help provide some middle ground if your employer is unable to meet your top salary goal.5. Document everythingWhen you ask for a raise, you’ll need backup to help justify the increase to your employer. Before you start any kind of negotiation, get these in order. Have a list of specific bullet points ready that you can bust out either in an email or in conversation with your boss. Successful projects that you’ve spearheaded, revenue increases, times when you’ve gone above and beyond†¦get ‘em all in that list. Remember, you’re offering a case as to why you deserve more. General comments like â€Å"I’m a hard worker† or â€Å"I’m good at my job† don’t offer specific enough reasons to give you more money.6. This time, it’s (im)personalKeep personal relationships and needs out of it. This negotiation process is about getting compensation you feel you deserve as a worker- not about how you need more cash for your speedboat down payment. Make sure you limit the discussion to your professional accomplishments, your worth in the workplace, and your relationship to the company.Also, if you’re friendly with your boss, remember that during your salary talks he or she  is no longer the friend with whom you share cat videos. This is the professional colleague who likely wants the best for you, but also has to keep the company’s best interests in mind, too. It’s unfair to expect special treatment based on personal BFFness- not only unfair to your boss, but to your other colleagues as well. You never want there to be even a hint of impr opriety, so keep things straightforward and professional. Then celebrate together later with a cat video.As with just about everything else, the motto for salary renegotiation is â€Å"be prepared.† Knowing your worth and having as much information as possible at your fingertips once you open the dialogue will give you a strong platform. You may or may not get the exact dollar figure you want, but going into the process with confidence and concrete reasons is the best way to start.

Free Essays on Against Gun Control

Throughout history, there has always been certain issues that not only spark debate, but also bring in arguments based on peoples’ moral and emotional values. These types of issues are known as controversial issues, because it is difficult to come up with a single correct answer because solid arguments can be made for both sides of the issue. Today’s controversial issues are debated by two sides based on opposing political ideals. These two opposing sides are the liberals and the conservatives. Conservative idealists are those who favor traditional views and values and tend to oppose change. Conservatives are often wealthy white males, and conservatives are often members of the Republican political party. Those who oppose conservatives in debates are referred to as liberals. Liberal idealists are those who favor proposals for reform, are open to new ideas for progress, and are tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others. Liberals are often poorer minorities, an d are usually members of the Democratic political party. Members of these opposing political ideals are constantly debating on a number of controversial issues, most of which will never be settled. There are a number of extremely controversial issues today that are frequently revisited due to new information and new statistics that often arise on the subjects. A common issue that is often discussed is gun control. Conservatives are against gun control, using the second amendment to help advocate free gun rights. Liberals are for stricter gun control, thinking that stricter gun laws will prevent violent crimes. On this issue, I feel I am conservative. I believe that stricter gun laws only affect those who only wish to own guns to protect themselves, and have proven themselves to be ineffective at stopping violent crime. Guns make it easier to kill and injure people. Therefore, it is obvious to the most casual observer that reducing the prevalence of guns will ... Free Essays on Against Gun Control Free Essays on Against Gun Control Throughout history, there has always been certain issues that not only spark debate, but also bring in arguments based on peoples’ moral and emotional values. These types of issues are known as controversial issues, because it is difficult to come up with a single correct answer because solid arguments can be made for both sides of the issue. Today’s controversial issues are debated by two sides based on opposing political ideals. These two opposing sides are the liberals and the conservatives. Conservative idealists are those who favor traditional views and values and tend to oppose change. Conservatives are often wealthy white males, and conservatives are often members of the Republican political party. Those who oppose conservatives in debates are referred to as liberals. Liberal idealists are those who favor proposals for reform, are open to new ideas for progress, and are tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others. Liberals are often poorer minorities, an d are usually members of the Democratic political party. Members of these opposing political ideals are constantly debating on a number of controversial issues, most of which will never be settled. There are a number of extremely controversial issues today that are frequently revisited due to new information and new statistics that often arise on the subjects. A common issue that is often discussed is gun control. Conservatives are against gun control, using the second amendment to help advocate free gun rights. Liberals are for stricter gun control, thinking that stricter gun laws will prevent violent crimes. On this issue, I feel I am conservative. I believe that stricter gun laws only affect those who only wish to own guns to protect themselves, and have proven themselves to be ineffective at stopping violent crime. Guns make it easier to kill and injure people. Therefore, it is obvious to the most casual observer that reducing the prevalence of guns will ...

Management - Operations Decision Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Management - Operations Decision - Assignment Example These professionals converge as a team to develop and enhance production outcomes to achieve the required level of profitability. Business organizations require outside research to estimate the demand for products and services and will have to entailing information to explore access and capture market places. My role here is as managing consultant to this company, to offer advice that will help them to arrive at a decision as to whether it should shut down totally or continue its operations. The plant operation sector is extremely fragmented in nature, characterized by a large number of small and micro companies. The capacity to react rapidly to emerging opportunity is an absolute necessity to achieve success in the sector. In a swiftly altering atmosphere, it can be complex for small and medium sized companies to cope up with market developments Current Environmental Scan Factors: Current â€Å"environmental scan† (Environmental Scan, 2005, Pg.1) factors of this company inclu de an analysis of both internal and external environmental factors that affect the overall functioning of the company, as experienced below: Internal Factors:  · Organization of equipment and machinery  · Capacity of the technological  · Culture of the organization  · Management systems  · Worker morale  · Financial management External Factors Competition Behavior of the customer Economy Political interference and movement Social atmosphere Technological alterations General environmental alterations All these factors have great impact on plant operations and the management’s decision to continue or discontinue their operations. Both internal and external environment are the foundation in which the organization operates. Environmental scanning also concerns the gathering of relevant information about conditions that affect the business. Appropriate information about internal and external factors of the company will help in understanding the overall performance of t he company. It is also a process of using information of the environment in decision making. This has to be seen from the perspective of improving the overall organizational capability to deal with quick changes. The external environment of plant operation company refers to both its operational atmosphere such as competition, consumers and suppliers, and general atmosphere such as regulatory, economic, technological, and socio-cultural aspects. A firm scans the environment in order to recognize the external factors of change so that they may build up effective responses, which can improve or secure their position in the future. Scan will also help in avoiding surprises, recognizing opportunities and threats, increasing competitive advantage, long-term and short-term planning of performance. The organization's capability to adapt to its outside atmosphere is dependent on knowing and understanding the external alterations that are taking place. Environmental scanning forms a primary m eans of organizational learning. Evaluate the financial performance of the company using the information: The firm presently employs 100 workers to produce 6,000 units. The daily wage is $70, and the price of the firm's output is $32. If the firm continues to work in this capacity, its total revenue will be $192000 = $32 times 6000 units of output. This is the advantage of operating the facility. The price of operating the

Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 8

Research Paper Example This paper explores attitude and concentration as two main elements that constitute professionalism in the hospitality industry. Attitude is a key factor in professionalism, and auspiciously, it is controllable. It denotes a person’s opinion towards a profession, and it is from this opinion that the character of a person is confessed. Every activity a person executes in the course of his hospitality career is a reflection of his or her attitude, such as the manner in which one relates with guests, coworkers, and customers. Being in control of one’s attitude is beneficial since one can develop a healthy attitude and sincere respect for the people one serves or works with, rather than seeing them as a necessary evil. A positive attitude will make the customers to respond positively, as well. In addition, the concentration of a person on a given task is a sure way of exhibiting professionalism. Concentration refers to being adept on what to do and at what time. Intrinsically, effective concentration involves the garnering of knowledge on what it takes to get a given task done. As Longstreet maintains, â€Å"There is no question that concentration takes practice† (Longstreet, 2013, P. 43). Practice is required to ensure that the actions and the decision making of a person are in harmony with each other. Naturally, the mind has the ability of carrying out several tasks simultaneously and hence causing a person’s concentration to disperse. However, through practice, a professional gets to learn on how to control his or her attention, which leads to effective self-control, a requisite skill in professionalism. In conclusion, each person working in the hospitality industry should be committed to being a professional and hence instancing growth in the industry. Through effective management of the controllable intangibles, such as attitude and