Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Philosophy questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Philosophy questions - Assignment Example Also, in a utilitarian context, the outcome of prop 30 will be propitious in the sense that the proposed increase in taxes will not impact the high income segments that drastically, since they will yet be left with much money to support their lifestyle, and will still lead to an outcome that will be favorable and good for the entire society that is the best possible outcome (Scarre 126). Answer 2. Given the context that a CEO decides to lay off 10 percent of the workforce to restore profitability of a firm that has shown looses for two consecutive quarters; Gandolfi will certainly disagree with this strategy. In the vast body of literature produced by Gandolfi on the concept of downsizing, he has immaculately proved beyond doubt that the firms opting for large scale layoffs in response to constrained financial and economic scenarios are not only very rarely able to outperform financially, but layoffs also lead to debilitating consequences, which negatively impact the moral of the left over employees and managers (Gandolfi 3). Yet, most of the CEOs prefer to opt for downsizing, which though registers favorably in the financial statements in the short run, leads to unfavorable long term consequences like lose of the trained and skilled labor, creation of distrust and apprehension in the human resources, depletion of moral, shaking of the investor confidence, falling of stock prices and unemployment. This viewpoint will certainly be supported by Aristotle, who held that the highest good was desirable for itself and all the other goods were subservient to it (Peters 10). Hence, retaining the workforce during tough times is a good that brings within its fold many other goods like employment, investor confidence, high moral and profitability in the long and the short
Monday, October 28, 2019
Business Process in The Wedding Planning
Business Process in The Wedding Planning Introduction: The report focuses on the business process associated with the wedding planning which ultimately proves to be very helpful in establishing the business in this field. Wedding planning is considered as the emerging business area due to the busy lifestyles of people; people themselves have limited time due to their vocations and thus require an institution which can manage all the activities associated with the wedding event. The report thoroughly identifies the information regarding the wedding planning and its functions, business description of the wedding planning, requirements of customers regarding wedding event, scope of business, targeted customers, market analysis, porters 5 forces model, marketing strategies, and financial feasibility associated with the business of wedding event. The report proves to be very helpful in identifying and implementing the strategies for the commencement of wedding planning business. Wedding Planning: Wedding planning may be regarded as formulating plans associated with the wedding for their effective implementation in the event so as to ensure its success. The business pertaining to the wedding planning includes: Conducting the interview of the couple and their family in order to recognize their requirements regarding wedding event. Preparation of budget for the wedding related expenses. Formulating the elaborated checklist near about one year before the event. Preparation of the guest list. Recognizing various venues for the event like hotels, marriage gardens, wedding manor etc. Planning associated with the decoration as per the customers requirement. Recognizing and recruiting various wedding service providers and professionals like photographers, videographers, caterers, florists, decorators, beauticians, musicians, bakers etc. Preparing and executing various contracts with all the parties. Management of various services and deliveries on the day of wedding event. Preparation of a alternative back up plan in case of any emergency or disaster. Managing the schedule of wedding with the help of software. Preparation of legal translations and documentations for the destinations of the event. Planning associated with the gift distribution to the guests. Providing various honeymoon packages to the couple (Lets Get Planning !). Business Description: Wedding Planning business in the recent time is considered as the most innovative and growing business in the world. In todays scenario, due to busy nature of engaged people no one is able to plan marriage in systematic manner. For overcoming this problem the business of wedding planner came into light. The United Arab Emirates is the place where people are rushed for marriage purpose and for these emirates has become a world class destination for tourists (UAE Customs and Traditions). Requirements: The United Arab Emirates is the best place for tourism. This country is a corporate hub in the world. As a tradition in the UAE, the beginning of wedding starts with the setting of wedding date. This event requires lots of preparations and planning and for this purpose Wedding Planning business facilitates means to the groom and bride to make their marriage memorable (UAE Customs and Traditions). Scope of Business: The wedding planning business has enormous scope in the todays existing world similarly it also plays significant role in the UAE economy. The scopes of wedding planning business in the UAE are as follows: One of the advantages of having wedding planner is, it facilitates everything that we want for wedding. It organizes and plan wedding in accordance to clients desire. It facilitates best deal with money because they are experienced in the searching of best wedding deals and also easily deal with vendors. Although wedding planners are also able to handle emergencies in the wedding. The main advantage of having wedding planner is it saves lot of time. They are responsible for each planning such as contacting vendors, budget, selection of wedding items etc (Wedding Planning Scope Statement ; Benefits of having a Wedding Planner). Target Consumers: The target customers of wedding planner are people who are living in United Arab Emirates. Wedding planning business is aimed for facilitating services to the consumers by offering various facilities at optimum cost and time. The targeted group of customers is between the age group of 18 to 40 years. Market Analysis: A thorough market analysis and research is required for the establishment of wedding planning business, market research will helpful in the systematic identification of customers need and requirement associated with the wedding event compliance with the latest market trends. Market analysis helps the business in following ways: Identification of tastes and preferences of customers regarding the wedding event so as to provide customized services. It helps in deliverance of augmented services as per the latest market trends. It helps in gathering the information associated with the competitors in the same business field and which ultimately assist in having competitive advantage over others. It helps in formulation of various marketing strategies associated with the business like pricing, promotion, location, enhancement of services etc. It helps in expanding the market intermediaries of the business. It helps in target market, market positioning and market segmentation of the business. 5 Forces Model: Porters five forces are applied to business strategy and then analyzed the needs of indusial sectors. These forces are competitive factors and comprises of suppliers, substitute products, rivalry within an industry, customers or buyers, and new entrants. These forces have significant effects on the wedding business. The model of five forces is shown below: http://www.smartkpis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/5-Forces-Model1.png Source: http://www.smartkpis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/5-Forces-Model1.png Industry Competitors: Rivalries strategies in the market have significant impact. They use means such as advertising, more attractive customer service, prices competition, introduction of new products etc. before establishing wedding business there is need to analyze industry competitors. Pressure from Substitute Products: Substitute products are the results of industry competition and involve identification of other products that can perform same function. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: Suppliers have a significant influence over an industry because they influence the product quality and prices also. Bargaining Power of Buyers: The bargaining power of buyers forces for prices down with the demand of high quality services and products and that resulted as loss of business. There is need to set prices of services by keeping in mind about the price strategy according to the buyers bargaining power. Potential Entrants: The existing entrepreneurs are responsible for the new entrants and it depends on the barriers to entry. If the existing businesses are not satisfying their consumers need and with this they are not updating according to the market needs then there is possibility of entering new entrants (Porters 5-Forces Model). Marketing Strategies: Marketing strategy ensure the marketing activities remain associated with the business goal and maximizing the returns through the marketing efforts. http://www.easy-marketing-strategies.com/images/Mktg-Strategy-Process.jpg Source: (The Marketing Strategy Process) The marketing strategy of wedding associated with the understanding of customers needs and on the basis of these needs market and competitors analysis are performed. Marketing strategies in wedding planning business comprises of several strategies such as bridal segmentation, competitor research strategies, market research for bridal wedding, development of new business, planning for wedding media, strategies for networking etc (Wedding Marketing Unveiled; The Marketing Strategy Process). Financial Feasibility: The financial plan for a business comprises of estimated sales forecasting in order to evaluate estimated pricing, sales and menu etc. This financial plan gives ray for establishing business by arranging all expenses within budget. Financial plan for a business comprises of following heads: Summarize the financial needs. Forecasting sales through the analysis of market. Specify profit margin. Plan for income statement. Balance sheet Forecasting for flow of cash. Planning for capital spending (Weinberg). Conclusion: Wedding planning business is the emerging field, due to the time constraints. In todays era people are too busy in their vocations and business and thus could not get time to plan and execute the wedding event. This leads to creation of wedding planning business. Wedding planning includes the identifying and formulating the strategies associated with the event as per the requirement of the customers. It covers arrangements of all the activities along with the market and financial aspect. Wedding planners are very helpful in making the event successful and memorable.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Essay --
Sarah Miller Mr. Maltby Senior Project 3-11-14 The History of Interior Design Think about the things that make a home look nice. Think about the specific components that pull the whole place together. The paint or wallpaper on the walls, the hardwood or carpet on the floor, the furniture, and even the paintings or decoration on the walls. All of these important characteristics make up interior design. Interior design has been around for as long as the very first homes were built. But, what many people don’t know about are the continuous changes in interior design throughout history. From the looks of the early 17th century home, or the introduction to neoclassicism in the 18th century, to the move towards modernism in the 1900s..Interior design is an ever changing feature. Technology played a key part in the 17th century home. The introduction of the 17th century inventions such as the internal/external brick, house partitions, and stone walls substantially changed how the average interior was used and exposed. After the Great Fire of London in 1666, the fear of fire was huge in the homes of 1700. The brick, partitions and stone not only created more effective protection against fire, but they allowed for better structural strength, improved insulation, and created opportunities for greater and more elaborate use of interior plasterwork. (Parissien 18) The use of coal in Northern Europe began to increase, making many innovations in fireplace technology. People began to realize that the size of the fireplace didn’t necessarily mean more heat and the bigger the chimney piece opening meant the more heat was wasted up the flue. Therefore, the fireplace opening was made smaller and the chimney piece began to serve as a decorative,... ... more spacious kitchen environment. (Ferebee 116). In conclusion, interior design has seen its fair share of changes throughout history. The looks of the early 17th century home with its emphasis on the chimneypiece, the introduction to neoclassicism in the 18th century which stressed principals and proportion, or the first steps toward modernism in the 1900s when hygiene was the main focus. Interior design would not be the same today without the ideas of designers throughout history. I believe that our current style of interior design with its extremely modern look was a result of those very first steps toward modernism way back in the early 1900s. Next time you are admiring how wonderful your home looks, give a silent thank you to those early designers who planted the seed of interior design in many minds that has been passed down, time to time to our generation.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
The Far Horizon convention centre
1.0   IntroductionThe 4 Ps of marketing are in more than one way interdependent. They together help customers in making purchase decisions. If planned properly, 4Ps can also help companies identify the right segment of customers.A product must satisfy a consumer’s need. It comes with a cost. Production costs must be kept in check and at the same time quality should not be compromised on. A brand must keep its consumer’s interest in mind always.Price is next. Price escalation takes place when a product moves through the distribution channel.  A manufacturer's selling price becomes a distributor's cost price. This hurts dealers who end up paying more to the distributor. Ultimately, this affects competition and sales. This escalation in prices forces many consumers to look elsewhere. There are many strategies employed by companies to beat competition. There are some who find it hard to offer at reduced price because of brand. There are others who reduce their price in the face of stiff competition. Then there are those who, while retaining their image, launch products that are branded but service a different segment of demographic. Thus, price plays an important role in a consumer’s behaviour.                                                                                                                                                                                                    Place can also determine price. Factors like who the final consumer will be and what he or she looks for must be considered. Where does a consumer look for in a convention centre? Are the major needs of the client met by the infrastructure available? Distance is also considered to be an issue that determines choice. No client would think of going beyond his/her convenience to book a hall. Distances also determine transportation costs, which could cause price escalation for the client. Distribution gets affected, and time and money is lost. So, choice of place is also important.Promotion relates to publicity. Promotion can take many forms: advertising in various media, events, press releases, trade shows, brochures, flyers, internet and so on. This is where a company focuses on projecting itself and its product. Promotion creates awareness, the first step to sales.Thus, branding and 4Ps play a vital role in consumer buying rationale (Volker.M, 1998).2 .0   AnalysisIn any business the marketing environment, production costs, logistics, distributor/dealer margin and the manufacturer’s margin are considered before a product is priced to the consumer. All these are directly influenced by the 4 Ps of marketing. Far Horizon, a well structured organisation is in the process of expanding its activities to incorporate a convention hall that can accommodate 850 people in a single sitting; a first of its kind in that community.Far Horizon already has a full-fledged catering wing that is operational and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner to the local inhabitants. The idea of the proprietorship organisation is to project Far Horizon as a one-stop solution for any activity like weddings, business meetings, conferences, trade shows and so on. Once the convention centre becomes fully operational, it will enjoy complete ascendancy in business against a rather tame competition. However, there are factors that can determine the success of a business in any environment; the factor of the 4 Ps.Product StrategyIdentify three factors that influence product strategy decisions: Size, Facilities, and Availability. The size of the convention centre will be bigger than any existing hall available in the community, and can cater to any kind of programme. The availability of a full-fledged restaurant and bar makes food and beverage ordering convenient, without requiring external catering services. The hall is large enough to accommodate any number of people in one sitting and its availability round the year will make it a very attractive proposition to time-conscious customers.Place StrategyIdentify three factors that influence place strategy decisions: Proximity, Location, and Connectivity. Far Horizon is located close to the airport and is thus a little far from the commercial hub of the community. However, because of its existing restaurant and bar, it has its share of regular customers, for whom distance may not be an issue. The idea to tie-up with the local transport authorities may be short-sighted, but customers who require larger halls with more facilities will be inclined to travel a little more to minimize responsibilities.Promotion StrategyIdentify three factors that influence promotion strategy decisions: Word-of-mouth communication, events and media presentations. Far Horizon will get that distinct advantage that its competitors lacked from their regular customers. Customer’s feedback is a sound way to project an organisation for its products or service. How many times have one seen friends influence the buying behaviour of others. The same principle applies in this case too. Events taking place at such venues as Far Horizon will attract immediate attention, because it is located close to the airport for one, and because many people visit this place for refreshments or drinks frequently. Media advertisements are very convenient to attract those people who have never venture d to Far Horizon previously. The sparsely populated community will get to know a lot more through media coverage.Pricing StrategyIdentify three factors that influence pricing strategy decisions: Logistics, Quality and Quantity. Far Horizon will beat competition through its sheer size and facilities. None of its competitors come close enough to even challenge it for its facilities. Because it is close to the airport, the convention centre can attract outsiders to it instantly. The price for organizing shows, events, weddings, conferences are minimized because of its volume of intake. The logic behind such a move to make a big hall is to minimize prices through volume sales. Catering costs will come down drastically as well, and so too would the cost of beverages. Far Horizon will be able to capitalise on the service of space, food and beverages. The client will benefit immensely; enjoy better facilities at lower costs and maintenance.3.0   ReferenceVolker.M, Business basics for Engineers, Marketing & 4Ps of Marketing, www.sfu.ca, Referenced on 09.05.2007
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Descartes vs St Augustine Essay
To examine life, you must first determine existence . I will attempt to determine if their really is existence and then examine two of the most impostant factors in peoples lives; love and religion. Everyone has tried to come to a conclusion on what is love and whether their is a God and people have dedicated their lives to both of these subjects Their are an infinite number of ways of examining love and religion but none of them can be taken as fact and none of them can be guaranteed as false. In this paper, I will examine the ways that Rene Descartes and Saint Augustine examine their lives and what they feel makes their life worth living. In the Meditations, Descartes attempts to doubt everything that is possible to doubt. He is uncertain of the existence of many things from God and himself. Then he goes on to start proving that things do exist by first proving that he exists. After he establishes himself he can go on to establish everything else in the world. Next he goes to prove that the mind is separate then the body. In order to do this he must first prove he has a mind, and then prove that bodily things exist. I do agree with Descartes that the mind is separate from the body. These are the arguments that I agree with Descartes. In his six Meditations, only four contain his argument about corporeal things and establishing himself as a thinking creation. Meditations three and four discuss the existence of God and the matter of true and false. Concerning Meditation three, Descartes proves God’s existence and that He is not a deceiver, thereby allowing us to be sure that we are not deceived when we perceive things clearly and distinctly. The rest of the Meditations deal with him proving himself as a thinking thing and proving that the mind is separate from the body. In Descartes’ first meditation, he goes on to prove that nothing exists. He establishes that knowledge is built upon a foundation; each piece of knowledge rests upon some other part of knowledge. Over the course of ones life, a person establishes one piece of knowledge and builds upon that. Descartes goes on to doubt every particular set of knowledge he has. Descartes says that the most basic set of knowledge we have is our senses. He continues that the senses give us false information. For example, when we look at the sun, we cannot tell how big it is. The same is true for dreams. Senses appear to be real in dreams, but how can one tell whether or not we are dreaming or not. So if we can never determine we are dreaming or awake then we can’t rely on our senses. He believes that a supreme God has created us and has the power to deceive us. If God is perfect then he cannot deceive us. So we must assume that an evil demon is the source of our deceptions. Therefore Descartes has reason to deny the validity of his senses. From this, Descartes assumes if there is a deceiver and he can be deceived then he must exist. In general it will follow from any state of thinking, whether it be imagining, sensing, feeling, or reasoning, that he exists. Since he can only be certain of the existence of himself insofar as he is a thinking thing, then he has knowledge of his existence of only a thinking thing. After he has established himself as a thinking creation, he then goes on to argue that the mind is more certainly known then the body. He goes on to say that it is possible that all knowledge of external objects, including his body, could be false as the result of the actions of an evil demon. It is not, however, possible that he could be deceived about his existence or his nature as a thinking thing. This is true because if he can be deceived about anything, then he can be certain, as he is a thinking thing. Even corporeal objects, such as his body, are known much more distinctly through the mind than through the body. It seems that Descartes finds it necessary to first establish the existence of a non-deceiving God before he can be assured of the existence of anything beyond himself and his mode of thought. He does this by the rationalization that his perception of God is that of a perfect being. In order for a being to be perfect, it must exist. Since he himself is an imperfect being, he cannot conceive the idea of perfection on his own. Therefore, it must have come from some other faculty that must be perfect, which is God. It is after his proof of the existence of God that Descartes comes to accept that clear and distinct ideas can be trusted. Since he proved that God does exist he can says that God can bring anything into existence. But we also seem to know they exist through imagination, which seems to be â€Å"an application of the knowing faculty to a body intimately present to it, hence, a body that exists. †Now he attacks the notion of bodies existing. He says, â€Å"The way of thinking that I call ? sense’ give us a reason to think bodies exist? †Descartes attacks this the answer of this question in three ways: to repeat what was formerly believed and the grounds for them, to consider why they were brought into doubt, and to determine what must now be believed. He relies on the existence of a non-deceiving God to ensure that an external world exists after calling it into doubt by the invocation of the dream argument. In this argument, Descartes suggests the possibility that none of our ideas are caused by external objects and therefore, such objects may not exist. He also raises the idea of a demon that may deceive us and allow us to perceive what is not really there. Although he assures himself of his own existence by his modes of thought, he remains uncertain of the reality of an external world. He doubts whether there is anything of material substance that provokes thought within him rather than it being conceived in his mind completely independent of anything else. Regarding the first point, a long list of beliefs is given: my body, pleasurable effects, appetites, primary and secondary qualities, and different bodies. He then goes on to say that since it seemed impossible that they came from him, it remains that they came from other things, and the only kind that to his mind are those that resemble the ideas themselves. He also says the one’s own body seems in a privileged position, in that one can never separate one’s self from it, and it is the seat of appetites, feelings, pleasure and pain. There is no evident connection between feelings of hunger and the nourishment of bread. He says that he has only been taught by nature. Regarding the second point, Descartes advances the problem of â€Å"perceptual relativity†. That means the judgments of the external senses have deceived him and pains in amputated limbs deceive internal senses. There are two more reasons to consider why the statements in the pervious paragraph may be brought into doubt. He says that dreams fool him about the existence of external objects, waking states might as well. The second on is the he might have been made so as to be deceived. So he concludes that it is possible that there is some faculty in him that produces those perceptions. Regarding the third point, what God can make separately is different from something else. God can make what he clearly and distinctly understands, so if they can be separated in thought, they are distinct. Descartes says he is distinct from him his body because he thinks of himself as distinct from it. His essence is only as a thing that thinks and not as an extended thing. The last thing Descartes goes into is the argument for the distinction of mind and body and the existence of material objects. He starts off with the argument from knowledge. If he clearly and distinctly understands one thing as one thing as distinct from another it is so. He is also certain that he exists as a thinking thing, while he isn’t certain of the existence of his body. Therefore, he is a thinking thing and nothing else. His mind is distinct from his body. He is a thinking thing that thinks and not an extended thing. He has a distinct idea of body as an extended thing. Therefore, his mind is distinct from his body. The body is like a machine. The mind and body are distinct. Only the brain effects the mind, so all signals from the body must travel up into the brain. Signals travel to the brain from the periphery of our body by means of animal spirits, so the system is like a cord running to the brain, which can be pulled at any point along its length. Thus we can get signals in the brain that do not originate in our senses, but which we perceive as doing so. I agree with Descartes proofs of the mind being distinct from the body. He has convinced me with his arguments from above. He has shown that mind operates separately from the body. He proves this point when he talks about the phantom limb. He says that the senses can deceive him with pain from the phantom limb. The senses can deceive him where as his imagination is of intellect and knowledge. He has also stated that he is a thinking thing while he isn’t certain of the existence of the body. The mind and body do interact with the body in some ways. Descartes says that the mind imagines things; you see things in your mind. These things do not just come from anywhere. You get these images from your senses. Say if one sees something with their eyes. Then turns away and closes their eyes. The image is still there. Descartes Meditations does clearly show the distinction of mind and body. He proves himself as a thinking thing. A thinking thing something that can only think and is not associated with corporeal things. Since he knows that one thing is clearly distinct from another, he knows that the mind is clearly distinct form the body. The wax proves this point. Thinking is essence and the body is extension. If you mutate and move your body around it is going to change shape. Essence cannot be changed or mutated in any way. Augustine started out in childhood with a restless heart because he had to live in two different worlds. These worlds consisted of that of his mother’s religious faith, and the world of everything else. These two worlds confused and disturbed Augustine as a child. In his mother’s world, talk consisted of Christ the Savior and about the mighty god who helps us especially to go to heaven. In the other world, talk was about achieving. It seems as if Augustine felt that if he were to live in both of these worlds, his life would turn out to be nothing. He believed he would not accomplish anything he would be remembered for. He became unhappy with the idea of his life amounting to nothing. This is why Augustine turned to love. He felt that love might help him have a direct purpose in life and would help him through his conversion. Love should not be that of evil. Saint Augustine searched for the answer of a question that asked if love reaches out hopelessly and harmfully, how can it turn around to be productive and wholesome to the human soul? Love became a necessity for all people. For Augustine, the answer to this question was love. The first love must be for the love of God in Augustine’s mind. It must come before all other forms of love. Augustine finds many ways in which he can find peace in God. He is genuinely sorry for having turned away from God, the source of peace and happiness. Augustine is extremely thankful for having been given the opportunity to live with God. Augustine uses love as his gate to God’s grace. Throughout The Confessions, love and wisdom, the desire to love and be loved, and his love for his concubine, are all driving forces for Augustine’s desire to find peace in God. The death of his friend upsets him deeply, but also allows him to pursue God to become a faithful Christian. Augustine often experiences darkness, blindness, and confusion while attempting to find rest in God, but he knows that when he eventually finds him his restless heart will be saved. Despite all of the negative aspects of his education on which Augustine focused, it is obvious that his schooling was an essential part of his character. Other than Christianity, his education was the most important factor that shaped his early life. Augustine would have been a different man without this education, and without it his conversion would also have been different. His circuitous route to his final acceptance of God would have been far less significant were it not for this long and difficult intellectual struggle. It is clear that his education in rhetoric provided him with the skills necessary for shaping Confessions into a highly persuasive work. Confessions is not only a self-analysis, but also a testimony to the power of the Lord. Augustine wanted his readers to be fully convinced that the ultimate and only Truth was what he had discovered after his years of conflict between philosophy and faith. â€Å"I believe in order that I may understand,†said much about his attitude towards the relationship between faith and reason. Augustine’s decision of conversion was not easy for him. It came after a long time of thinking and soul searching. When Augustine made the decision to fully convert to Christianity in Book VIII, it was truly a â€Å"leap of faith. †He knew then that he had to leave part of his philosophical pursuits behind and commit himself fully to Christ. â€Å"For I felt that I was still the captive of my sins, and in my misery I kept crying ? How long shall I go on saying, â€Å"tomorrow, tomorrow†? Why not now? Why not make an end of my ugly sins at this moment? ‘†But, adhering to God as love’s priority proved a more extended way than he had imagined. It helped to shape his life, his mind and his beliefs. He never realized until now what a huge difference it makes in one’s life when it is opened up to love and love of Christ. The answer lies in God’s grace for Augustine. These answers are to his utmost difficult questions on life and faith. The subtle and cunning loves of the heart had defined Augustine’s journey from the first. At no time in his life had he been without love, but he had loved in scattered, hidden, and conflicting ways. He had loved Monica. He had loved the image and name of Christ, he even at one point loved evil which scared him. Augustine felt the need to redirect his love and this redirection would lead him in the way and light of God. Augustine seems to be dissatisfied with himself and his need for God. Through The Confessions he leaves himself and his past to praising God and loving him. Augustine hopes to teach others about that love which God placed in him that led him to an eternal relationship with God. All of Augustine’s loves in turn became love of Christ. Although Augustine might not have realized this, it is obviously true. At first he was redirecting his loves directly to Christ, but finally he realized all his love WAS for Christ. Augustine found a place in God that he had never imagined could happen. His guilty restless heart finally found rest in God. Augustine had always believed in God. Yet there is now a love and a passion behind this belief. His love was no longer blind. In fact now it was guided by his newfound feeling of self worth. He finds himself through all of this. His quest to know himself has come to a conclusion. His chooses to forgo the pleasure of sexual relationships and become celibate. Augustine feels that through his celibacy he will show God his efforts to lead a continent life. His love for God has grown and prospered much from his days of youth. Saints are usually looked at as God’s holiest servants, people who have centered their lives around God and the teaching of the Church. Saints are seen as if they are without sin. If these things are true then how does one explain the sainthood of Saint Augustine? Augustine in no way fits the traditional mold of a saint. Quite the contrary, his life was full of sin. People can find it very easy to sympathize with Augustine’s story because of his humanity. He does not place himself above anyone. He shows his life, as it was, a very confused and sinful life. But through his conversion he sets himself apart from the rest. Augustine was affected by many outside factors that lead to his change in a point of view. The outside forces drove Augustine to look inward and see what exactly he was made of. Whether positive or negative his theories of faith were reinforced. The result was a total change in a point of view bringing him closer to God. Friendship played a crucial role throughout all of Augustine’s life. He loved having friends, and he loved being people’s friend. Augustine was always concerned that his friendships were equal in nature. There was always a perfect balance between give and take. His friendships and other love relationships were vital in his conversion and his final evolution.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Supply Shock Essays
Supply Shock Essays Supply Shock Paper Supply Shock Paper Supply Shock Name: Institution: Lecturer: Course: Date: Supply Shock Definition A supply shock is that event that exerts a sudden change to the market price of a given commodity or service. This abrupt change can be because of an increase or a decrease in the supply of that particular commodity or service. This sudden change hence has a changing effect on the equilibrium price, either positive or negative (Thornton, 2003). Source: Emerald Group Publishing Limited When the output towards a commodity is increased or decreased, the price of the commodity will decrease or increase respectively. This can be attributed to a rightward shift of the supply curve. The diagram above represents an increase in the price of a commodity because of a decrease in its supply (Fisher, 2007). A supply shock can result from an abrupt event that limits output or causes disruption of the supply chain. Beneficial and Adverse Supply Shock Beneficial or adverse supply shocks have a major difference exhibited by their effect on a product or commodity’s price. A beneficial supply shock results to economic forces that exert a downward force causing the price of the affected commodity to decline. On the other hand, an adverse supply shock results to economic forces that have an upward pushing effect on the prices of the affected commodity. In both cases, the assumption held is that demand will be considered constant (Thornton, 2003). Reference Fisher, B. (2007). The supply and demand paradox: A treatise on economics. North Charleston, S.C: Book Surge. Thornton, J., University College of North Wales. (2003). Money supply shock and the demand for money: A test of alternative hypothesis. Bangor: University College of North Wales, School of Accounting, Banking and Economics.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Factors that Limit School Effectiveness
Factors that Limit School Effectiveness Districts, schools, administrators, and teachers are continuously in the spotlight and rightfully so. Educating our youth is an essential part of our national infrastructure. Education has such a profound impact on society as a whole that those responsible for educating should receive extra attention. These people should be celebrated and championed for their efforts. However, the reality is that education as a whole is looked down upon and often mocked. There are so many factors beyond any one person’s control that can strip school effectiveness. The truth is that the majority of teachers and administrators do the best they can with what they are given. Each school is different. There are schools that unquestionably have more limiting factors than others when it comes to the overall effectiveness. There are several factors that many schools deal with on a daily basis that strip school effectiveness. Some of these factors can be controlled, but all will likely never entirely go away. Poor Attendance Attendance matters. A teacher cannot possibly do their job if a student is not there. While a student can do the makeup work, it is likely that they learn less than they would have by being there for the original instruction. Absences add up quickly. A student who misses an average of ten school days a year will have missed an entire school year by the time they graduate high school. Poor attendance severely limits a both a teacher’s overall effectiveness and a student’s learning potential. Poor attendance plagues schools across the country. Excessive Tardiness/Leaving Early Excessive tardiness can be hard to get under control. For elementary and junior high/middle school students, it is difficult to hold them accountable when it their parent’s responsibility to get them to school on time. Junior high/middle school and high school students who have transition time between classes have multiple opportunities to be tardy each day. All of this time can quickly add up. It minimizes effectiveness in two ways. First a student who is routinely tardy misses a lot of class when you add up all that time. It also disrupts the teacher and student each time a student comes in tardy. Students who routinely leave early also minimize the effectiveness in the same way. Many parents believe that teachers do not teach the first fifteen minutes of the day and the last fifteen minutes of the day. However, all of this time adds up, and it will have an impact on that student. Schools have a set start time and a set end time. They expect their teachers to be teaching, and their students to be learning from the first bell until the last bell. Parents and students who do not respect that help strip school effectiveness. Student Discipline Dealing with discipline issues is a fact of life for teachers and administrators for every school. Each school faces different types and levels of discipline issues. However, the fact remains that all discipline issues disrupt the flow of a class and take valuable class time away for all students involved. Each time a student is sent to the principal’s office it takes away from learning time. This interruption in learning increases in cases where suspension is warranted. Student discipline issues occur on a daily basis. These continual disruptions do limit a school’s effectiveness. Schools can create policies that are rigid and strict, but they will likely never be able to eliminate discipline issues altogether. Lack of Parental Support Teachers will tell you that those students whose parents attend every parent teacher conference are often the ones whom they do not need to see. This is one small correlation between parental involvement and student success. Those parents who believe in education, push their kids at home, and support their child’s teacher give their child a better opportunity to succeed academically. If schools had 100% of parents who did those three things listed above, we would see a surge in academic success in schools across the country. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many children in our schools today. Many parents do not value education, do not do anything with their child at home, and only send them to school because they have to or because they view it as free baby sitting. Lack of Student Motivation Give a teacher a group of motivated students and you have a group of students in which the academic sky is the limit. Unfortunately, many students these days are not motivated to go to school to learn. Their motivation to go to school comes from being at school because they have to, participating in extra-curricular activities, or hanging out with their friends. Learning should be the number one motivation for all students, but it is rare when a student goes to school primarily for that purpose. Poor Public Perception The school used to be the focal point of every community. Teachers were respected and looked at to be pillars of society. Today there is a negative stigma associated with schools and teachers. This public perception has an impact on the job that a school can do. When people and the community talk negatively about a school, administrator, or teacher it undermines their authority and makes them less effective. Communities that support their school wholeheartedly have schools that are more effective. Those communities who do not provide support will have schools that are less effective than they could be. Lack of Funding Money is a crucial aspect when it comes to school success. Money affects key issues including class size, programs offered, curriculum, technology, professional development, etc. Each of these can have a profound effect on student success. When there are educational budget cuts, the quality of education each child receives will be affected. These budget cuts limit a school’s effectiveness. It does require a significant monetary investment to adequately educate our students. If cuts are made teachers and schools will figure a way out to make do with what they have, but their effectiveness will be influenced in some way by those cuts. Too Much Testing The overemphasis of standardized testing is limiting schools in their approach to education. Teachers have been forced to teach to the tests. This has led to a lack of creativity, an inability to implement activities which address real life issues, and has taken authentic learning experiences away in virtually every classroom. Due to the high stakes associated with these assessments teachers and students believe all their time should be devoted to preparing and taking tests. This has had a negative impact on school effectiveness and is an issue that schools will find it difficult to overcome. Lack of Respect Education used to be a well respected profession. That respect has increasingly disappeared. Parents no longer take a teachers word on a matter that occurred in class. They talk terribly about their child’s teacher at home. Students do not listen to teachers in class. They can be argumentative, rude, and discourteous. Some of the blame in a case like this falls on the teacher, but students should have been raised to be respectful to adults in all cases. A lack of respect undermines a teacher’s authority, minimizing, and often zeroing out their effectiveness in the classroom. Bad Teachers A bad teacher and particularly a group of incompetent teachers can derail a school’s effectiveness quickly. Every student who has a poor teacher has the potential to fall behind academically. This problem has a trickle down effect in that it makes the next teacher’s job that much harder. Like any other profession there are those who should not have chosen teaching as a career. They simply are not cut out to do it. It is essential that administrators make quality hires, evaluate teachers thoroughly, and remove teachers quickly which do not live up to the school’s expectations.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Adjective Placement Patterns for English Learners
Adjective Placement Patterns for English Learners Adjectives describe nouns. Often, writers use only one adjective to describe a noun either by placing the adjective in front of the noun or by using a stative verb and placing the adjective at the end of the sentence, as in: Hes an interesting person, or, Jane is very tired. Knowing where to place adjectives in relation to nouns is a key part of learning to speak and write English fluently. Multiple Adjectives In some cases, you might use more than one adjective- even as many as three or more- to describe a noun. In thee cases, the adjectives need to follow a pattern based on their type or category. In these and the following examples, adjectives are listed in italics. Hes an excellent, older, Italian teacher.I bought a huge, round, wooden table. Adjective Order When more than one adjective is used to describe a noun, English speakers use a specific adjective order when placing each adjective. If they do this in written form, they sometimes separate each adjective with a comma when the adjectives are coordinate, notes Purdue OWL. That is, they have equal weight and could be reversed without changing the meaning of the sentence, as in: He drives a big, expensive, German car.Her employer is an interesting, old, Dutch man. In other cases, when using adjectives that are not coordinate to describe a noun, place the adjectives in the following order before the noun. Opinion: an interesting book; a boring lectureDimension: a big apple; a thin walletAge: a new car; a modern building; an ancient ruinShape: a square box; an oval mask; a round ballColor: a pink hat; a blue book; a black coatOrigin: ​Italian shoes; a Canadian town; an American carMaterial: a wooden box; a woolen sweater; a plastic toy Other Examples These examples of nouns modified with three adjectives in the correct order follow the explanations from the previous section. Notice that in the sentences, adjectives are not separated by commas. The types of adjectives are listed in parentheses and in order following each example. A wonderful old Italian clock (opinion - age - origin)A big square blue box (dimension - shape - color)A disgusting pink plastic ornament (opinion - color - material)Slim new French trousers (dimension - age - origin) Adjective-Placement Quiz Once youve reviewed adjective placement, have students check their understanding by placing the three listed adjectives in the correct order before the noun. The noun is listed on the left, followed by a colon and then the three adjectives. The correct answers follow the quiz questions. Book: interesting - small - SpanishPicture: modern - ugly - rectangularOpinion: old - boring - AmericanApple: ripe - green - deliciousSuit: woolen - large - blackHouse: beautiful - modern - smallMagazine: German - slender - strangeCap: cotton - funny - green When students have completed the quiz, review the correct answers with them. An interesting small Spanish bookAn ugly modern rectangular pictureA boring old American opinionA delicious ripe green appleA large black woolen suitA beautiful small modern houseA strange slender German magazineA funny green cotton cap If students struggle to answer correctly, review the correct placement of adjectives as discussed previously.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Leaderless Resistance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Leaderless Resistance - Essay Example The concept of leaderless resistance is also based on the idea that the participants must individually acquire the skills and information required. Based on my understanding of resistance, I find this impossible. It is challenging for a large group of individuals each operating independently to have the same knowledge and information on a given issue. Whereas such persons might have a common goal and the same philosophy, the rate at which each acquires information and the quality of such information may differ, and this might compromise the operations of the group. As a result, it might be difficult for the members of such groups to react to situations in the same way. Finally, in my understanding of resistance, the need to have interpersonal contact allows the group to grow since new members can be recruited, and in some cases, incentives provided. However, with the concept of leaderless resistance, such contact does not take place. This is likely to make it difficult for the group to grow its numbers and enhance its presence in a given region. It is likely that at some point, the group will die due to lack of
Friday, October 18, 2019
Compare and contrast Burkes narrative of the scientific revolution Essay
Compare and contrast Burkes narrative of the scientific revolution with Merchant's - Essay Example gency of scientific revolution was a means of upward progression by humans that could witness them gain power in order to control, rule, and manage the earth while searching the lost Garden of Eden. In both narratives, scientific revolution brings scientific inventions, technological advancements, as well as capitalism. These scientific tools would enable humans reinvent the lost garden, subdue or rather dominate nature, and deliver people from the wilderness or desert to the safe place perceived as the garden (112). In this case, both narratives are similar in the manner they contemplate recovery of the lost garden in the modern world, the way humans use their power in a series of historical events regarding scientific revolution in view of improving their environment with the help of science and technology. In conclusion, both scientific revolution narratives of Burke and Merchant have contrasting aspects regarding science and its evolution. Burke argues a computer scientist can control computerized technology as well as computerized communication. Furthermore, availability of computers can revolutionize the world through internet where people can exchange ideas regardless of their locations. Merchant on the other side writes people are idealizing nature with a point of making profit out of it. The appeal of finding the lost garden is no more (169). Therefore, people are capitalizing on their interests such as intrepid economic based adventures that are popular with tourists and expanded civilization of people and nature exploitation is rapidly diminishing the wilderness making environmental issues become centre of
Aspects of Visual Images Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Aspects of Visual Images - Essay Example As the discussion declares representational art is not only fascinating but also thrilling given the fact that it started back in history. Besides, representational artwork presents the biggest amount of artwork done over the years. Notably, representational art majorly deals with ideas, styles, reality and impression hence distinguishes actual subjects from reality. The ease with which people identify representational artworks makes them like the aspect. Some of the representational artwork determined from the provided pieces of artwork includes Les Demoiselles d’Avignon by Pablo Picasso, and the rocky Mountains by Albert Bierstadt.This study stresses that abstract artwork concentrates more on geometry and shapes hence it is not easy to recognize objects depicted by the artwork. Artists who embrace abstract artwork argue that the aesthetic value of a painting is more attracting than representational characteristics. They support their arguments by stating that use of geome try for instance figures, color, shapes, and circles make a piece of work more attractive. Abstraction gained momentum in the 19th century when artists started to view artwork in a more intellectual manner. Abstraction artists see artwork as a profession just like any other hence, the application of aesthetics enhances quality work. However, due to many similarities between abstract and non-objectivity many people usually fail to distinguish the two.
Electrica lab report about flip flops Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Electrica lab report about flip flops - Essay Example ............7 1.4 Procedure............................................................................................. 8 2.0 DISCUSSION...................................................................................13. 2.1 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................15 2.3 LEARNING EVALUATION.............................................................17 3.0 STUDENTS DECLARATION..........................................................18 4.0 REFERENCES..................................................................................19 5.0 GLOSSARRY...................................................................................20 6.0 APPENDIX.......................................................................................21 Abstract As far as electronics is concerned, a latch or flip-flop is a type of circuit that is characterized by having two stable states and serves as a storage device for state information Any circuit can easily be made in such a wa y that it alters the state by having signals applied to control inputs so that there become one or two outputs. A flip-flop is fundamentally a storage tool in a sequential logic. A latch and a flip-flop are fundamental building blocks in any digital electronic systems. They have common application in communications, computers alongside other types of electronic systems. This experimental set up is about flip-flops. ... Introduction. Both the latches, as well as flip-flops store data that are used for state storage (Cotten, 2001). When the latches and flip-flops are used in finite-states machines, both the output and the next state relies on both the current output and the state of current of the flip-flop in use (Earl & Gates, 2000). Moreover, flip-flops are used in counting of pulses, as well as in synchronization of the variably-timely input signals to a certain reference timing signal. There are various models of flip-flops (Earle, 2003). There are the clocked, edge-triggered or synchronized types, and the simple, or transparent types. The clocked devices are what are often referred to as flip-flops, while the word latch refers to the storage elements (Earl & Gates, 2000). The ordinary flip-flop can easily be build at a pair of cross-coupled inverting elements. In many occasions, the bipolar transistors, inverters, the vacuum tubes, the inverting logic gates, and the field effect transistors hav e been used in the practical circuits (Roth, 1995). Theory The clocked devices are often designed specifically for synchronous systems. These clocked devices are common in ignoring the inputs except where there is a transition of a dedicated clock signal. Clocking may lead to a case where the flip-flop retains or changes its output signal basing on the input signal values at the transition (Roth, 1995). Certain flip-flop does change the output upon the rising edge of a click while other flip-flops change on the falling edge. Now that the elementary amplifying stages are always inverting, the two stages can easily be connected as cascade in succession forming the required none-inverting amplifier (Mano & Charles, 2004). In such
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Asian Business - Case Study of Mitsui Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Asian Business - Case Study of Mitsui - Essay Example The prevailing procedure during that era was that products were made to order, and Mitsui defied common business sense by making products first and then selling them. Mitsui’s initial foray into the banking and finance industry came in the late 17th century. Moving money between cities during that feudal era was extremely risky, so Mitsui established â€Å"money exchanges†in Edo. Much like a primitive precursor to a Western Union, these establishments accommodated the transfer of funds and reduced the amount of risk involved in the transaction( Shinjo, 1962 11) By 1876, the company had established Mitsui Bank, which was the nation’ first private bank. Running up to the early 20th century, the company came to be known as one of the largest zaibatsu in Japan. A prominent feature of pre-World War II Japan, a zaibatsu can be loosely defined as â€Å" a business entity composed of several diversified enterprises owned and exclusively controlled by a single family â €Å"( Morikawa, 1970:62) These ironclad monopolies enabled the company to be a central business figure in pre-war Japan. Picking up the pieces after the war, the remnants of the companies from the dismantled Mitsui zaibatsu reformed themselves into the so-called economic miracles of the postwar era, the keiretsu. Resembling the functional equivalent of a western conglomerate, the reformed business group was launched with a capitalization of 195,000 yen and roughly 35 employees. Its forays into foreign trade greatly furthered the country’s post-war economic rebirth. In the 1960’s Mitsui took advantage of rapid trade liberalization, and was successful in securing a stable supply of food, oil, and coal for domestic use coursed through its overseas holdings. An investment into natural gas resources in the 1970’s shielded the company from the decade’s oil crisis, and helped blunt the effects of the worldwide economic downturn. (Mitsui,
Arabic News Channels Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Arabic News Channels - Essay Example "They're challenging the hegemony of the American media." Al Jazeera broadcasts 24/7, and is becoming increasingly present and important throughout the Arab world. It is Qatar-based and reaches out to over 45 million people that live in Arab nations. It also was the center of controversies during the Iraqi War. The first controversy accused Al Jazeera for broadcasting views of the conflict going on that were very different than media and news stations that resided in the United States (Sharkey, 2003). According to Sharkey (2003, pg. 1),"While U.S. television news media focused on military operations, Al Jazeera was "presenting something of the violence, the effects, the emotion" of the conflict, says Leila Hudson, assistant professor of Near Eastern studies at the University of Arizona, who monitored war news on U.S. and Arab networks. This led to charges by U.S. officials and conservative commentators that Al Jazeera was airing propaganda. Untrue, says Lamis Andoni, a journalist who has worked for print and broadcast media in the Middle East and the United States. Al Jazeera broadcast statements from U.S. government officials, showed the Central Command briefings and had a reporter embedded with U.S. troops, Andoni says. The network showed "a broader picture" of the conflict than U.S. news organizations, she says, because it also showed civilian casualties and the destruction of water, electrical and hospital facilities." Skeptics believe that neither Al Jazeera nor the United States demonstrated an accurate portrayal of the war in Iraq. They failed to analyze it properly, including the causes and reactions to it. People are concerned that Arab satellite stations are too busy broadcasting the prospective of the Iraqis without pretending to be objective, and that this in turn harms their own audience (Sharkey, 2003). According to Sharkey (2003, pg. 1), "Media analysts say television news operations in the Arab world and the United States would never present events or issues from the same perspective, because they are trying to reach audiences with different cultural experiences and frameworks. The fact that Al Jazeera offers "a different perspective than CNN" should not be regarded as a problem, says Mohammed el-Nawawy, a Stonehill College professor who has written about coverage of the Middle East. "Each network is trying to appeal to its audience." U.S. network executives say the different perspectives offered by Al Jazeera and other Arabic-language networks are valuable in their deliberations about how to cover events in the Arab world." News media stations in the United States keep a watch on Al Jazeera 24/7. He says this is done to remind them how other people in the world perceive the same news and stories. Believe it or not, Al Jazeera works with CNN and other United States networks. The same sort of scenario is present in the Arabic world. Footage from both sides could be seen on television for each area of the world. According to Sharkey (2003, pg. 1), "Although U.S. government spokespersons have disparaged Al Jazeera's coverage, it has been an intelligence tool for the United State
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Asian Business - Case Study of Mitsui Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Asian Business - Case Study of Mitsui - Essay Example The prevailing procedure during that era was that products were made to order, and Mitsui defied common business sense by making products first and then selling them. Mitsui’s initial foray into the banking and finance industry came in the late 17th century. Moving money between cities during that feudal era was extremely risky, so Mitsui established â€Å"money exchanges†in Edo. Much like a primitive precursor to a Western Union, these establishments accommodated the transfer of funds and reduced the amount of risk involved in the transaction( Shinjo, 1962 11) By 1876, the company had established Mitsui Bank, which was the nation’ first private bank. Running up to the early 20th century, the company came to be known as one of the largest zaibatsu in Japan. A prominent feature of pre-World War II Japan, a zaibatsu can be loosely defined as â€Å" a business entity composed of several diversified enterprises owned and exclusively controlled by a single family â €Å"( Morikawa, 1970:62) These ironclad monopolies enabled the company to be a central business figure in pre-war Japan. Picking up the pieces after the war, the remnants of the companies from the dismantled Mitsui zaibatsu reformed themselves into the so-called economic miracles of the postwar era, the keiretsu. Resembling the functional equivalent of a western conglomerate, the reformed business group was launched with a capitalization of 195,000 yen and roughly 35 employees. Its forays into foreign trade greatly furthered the country’s post-war economic rebirth. In the 1960’s Mitsui took advantage of rapid trade liberalization, and was successful in securing a stable supply of food, oil, and coal for domestic use coursed through its overseas holdings. An investment into natural gas resources in the 1970’s shielded the company from the decade’s oil crisis, and helped blunt the effects of the worldwide economic downturn. (Mitsui,
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Conflict, violence and humanitarianism Case Study
Conflict, violence and humanitarianism - Case Study Example Nevertheless, the government has been trying to implement new laws on victims through compensation It has been in the forefront in fighting the rebel groups. It has been helping in settling the indigenous people who have been replaced by the war (Drake & Hershberg 2006). It has been asking for external help in order to overwhelm the group of rebels. Poor financing from the government has been making it very hard for it to face the guerilla groups. It has been compensating victims of violence in order to overcome extreme poverty. In addition, it has been in the forefront in pushing the government to sign the Victims and Land Restitution Law (Ballentine & Sherman 2003). The initiative aims at compensating four million people. Furthermore, it provides support to the affected people through building heath centers and schools (Fouskas 2007). The body has also been liaising with the private sector in order to encourage the organizations to participate in corporate social responsibility with the aim of improving the lives of the local population which has been mainly affected by the war (Öberg & Strà ¸m 2008). It entered Colombia in 1997. It has been supporting the victims of war through providing basic necessities (Bouvier 2009). In addition, it has been pressuring the government to sign peace deals and compensate the victims. Many of the people have been displaced, an aspect that has increased the demand for aid (Flämig & Leiner
Monday, October 14, 2019
Training And Development Play An Important Role Management Essay
Training And Development Play An Important Role Management Essay Training and development is a system, a set of activities or process designed to help expand and improve a persons skills and knowledge which are related to his or her job scope. It is also a good way to help to improve the attitudes and competencies of employees. Training focuses more on current and present jobs, whereas development emphasizes more on long term and future jobs. Training and development programs can enhance the capabilities of employees to achieve organizational goals and effectiveness and efficiency of the operations within the organization. Trainings make better for business development and help the company to become more competitive and profitable. Training and development plays an important role in human resources management. One of the reasons is due to the significant changes of technologies in this modern era, where some business functions are becoming older and outdated. If the organization does not introduce new methods of accomplishing tasks and make changes to its existing business functions, the organization will fade out from its market eventually. Therefore, it is of paramount importance for an organization to implement training and development strategies to ascertain that the employees possess the skills and knowledge needed to operate the latest technologies. In addition, training and development programs will help to save cost for a company in the long run. An organization can launch training and development program to train and improve the skills of existing employees instead of hiring new employees to handle a project as the cost of training existing employees will be cheaper than hiring a new employee. Besides reducing the turnover rate of employees, effective training programs will help to increase job satisfaction, motivation and morale of employees. This is because employees will feel that the company cares for their welfare and appreciates their contributions, thus they will be loyal and work for the company for a long period of time. When a company gives its employees an opportunity to learn and develop new skills, they will feel that they have value in the company and try their best to contribute in building a stronger and more competitive organization. In short, training and development programs are essential for increasing pro ductivity, effectiveness and efficiency of an organization besides enhancing the image of the company. The major aim and objective of training and development is to add value to a firms human assets. These programs raise the capacity level of the company and help the company to overcome the rapid changes of technology in the globalized business world. Furthermore, it tends to increase the power of a company to compete with its competitors in the global market. Training and development programs also act as motivational tools to boost the enthusiasm of employees in performing their jobs. This will reduce the requirement for close supervisions and improve the effectiveness, efficiencies and performance of employees in the organization. Content Theories and Concepts Training and development is a set of planned programs and procedures aimed to improve employees capacity and organizational performance. The performance of employees in terms of ones attitude, behavior, skills and knowledge can be improved through the training programs implemented by an organization. Therefore, training and development programs can effectively improve the overall performance of the business. Trainings are normally targeted at technical staff, lower level management, middle and also senior level management. Normally, when programs are applied to lower and middle level management, they are known as trainings whereas when applied to senior level management, they are called development programs. Some general purposes of training and development are to enhance employees growth, improve the quality of workforce, bridge the gap between planning and implementation and help new comers. There are few relevant theories which are associated with training and development, namely the sensory stimulation theory, the reinforcement theory, the action theory, the experiential learning and the adult learning. Sensory theory states that when multi-sensory stimulation effect is great, learning takes place. In order words, efficient training will occur when the senses are inspired or stimulated. Some research found that 75% adults knowledge is learned by seeing, hearing and the other 13% is by other senses like smell, taste as well as touch. Reinforcement theory can be further classified as positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. In positive reinforcement, trainee will repeat the desired behaviour; in negative reinforcement, trainee can strengthen behaviour when a negative condition is stopped. This theory focuses on the significance of experience, meaning, the development of insight and problem-solving skills. For instance, many trainers believe that trainees will develop problem-solving abilities when they are exposed to various situations and varied experiences. Action learning is a dynamic process that involves a group of people solving real-life problems. But at the same time, they must concentrate on what they are learning and how the learning can benefit the group members, the group itself as well as the organization as a whole. Nowadays, action learning becomes one of the key training and problem-solving tools for some large companies such as Nokia, Motorola, British Airways, US Department of Agriculture and Marriott. (Michael, 2004) Experiential learning defines learning as a process of creating the trainees knowledge via the transformation of experience. There are four stages in experiential learning. Firstly, the experiential learning is through concrete experience, which is putting something into practice. Secondly, it is through observation and reflection, in which one objectively analyzes the outcome. Thirdly, it is through abstract conceptualization, in which one review your conceptual understanding. Lastly, it is through active experimentation, which is experimenting to find solution. The diagram below shows the experiential learning cycle and the basic learning styles. stage.jpg Lastly, adult learning is a theory that holds six assumptions about how adults learn and this theory emphasizes on the value of the process of learning. There are six assumptions of adult learning, which are adults need to know why they need learning, readiness to learn, self-concept, motivation to learn, orientation to learning and learners experience. This approach is problem-based and collaborative rather than precept and also focus on more equality between the trainer and trainee. (Benefits and Problems, n.d.) In addition, there are two dimensions of training and development processes, which are the degree of formality and the balance between self-directed as well as other-directed learning. These two choices of the dimensions result in 4 overall methods. For instance, one can take a formal training to self-directed or other directed learning, likewise one can take informal training to self-directed or other directed learning. Trainers make decision about what approach to be taken into training depending on several factors, such as the amount of money which can be invested for training, timeliness of training needed, specificity and complexity of the skills and knowledge needed as well as capacity and motivation of the learner. Undeniably, formal and other-directed learning and development programs are more expensive than other approaches. However, through this approach learner can achieve the desired skills and knowledge in a timely basis. This form of learning is mostly used in colleges, universities and training centres, which normally grants diplomas and certificates. Employee development plans is another form of formal and other-directed training. Employee development plans help to identify performance goals, the ways to achieve the goals, by when and whom to verify their result. Besides, in formal and self-directed training, learner should set his or her own learning goals, methods and means to verify the accomplishment. For example, supervisors and employees work together to achieve formal and self-directed learning in the workplace, at the same time they collaborate to accomplish continuous learning for continued productivity and learning. Informal training and development is more casual and incidental. Normally, there are no specific training goals and ways to evaluate their level of accomplishment of goals. Make an example of informal and other-directed training, supervisors send their employees to training regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. Informal and self-directed learning can be very low cost and this training approach may take longer time than other-directed forms. However, the learner must have the capacity and motivation to pursue their own training. For example, there are informal discussions among employees on a certain topic or organizations sending their employees to attend talks by famous speakers, as long as the learners select the activities and topics by themselves. (Carter Mcnamara, n.d.) Contributions and Significance Training and development programs can contribute to an organization by helping it to save cost. Normally, a successor will be trained by someone who is an expert in a particular field to refill a position if there is a sudden vacancy within the organization. This can help the company to save recruiting cost, training cost, and keep the organization operating smoothly. By this way, the company need not hire someone outside the company to train since the training is easily attainable by present employees. Training the successors is better than recruiting people from outside of the organization. In addition, recruiting professional with high skills is much more expensive than training current employee to acquire those skills. Secondly, training and development can improve the relationship between bosses and subordinates. Training programs will involve different levels of employees in an organization and this increases communication among each other. When the communication breakdown between bosses and subordinates, the business will suffer, the tension will increase and cause other negative consequences to happen. Through training and development process, they can understand their jobs better; therefore some accidents and misunderstanding can be avoided. At the same time, productivity of employees may increase. Thirdly, training and development will lead to an increased profitability and more positive attitude towards an organizations goals. These can be done by enhancing employees knowledge and polishing their skills at all levels within an organization. When the satisfactions of customers are fulfilled by well-trained employees, this will increase the number of repeated business. At the same time, the reputation of the company is also enhanced because of good services performed by the employees. Therefore, training and development helps an organization to achieve competitive advantage over others in the industry. Case Development Companys Background Resorts World Sdn Bhd was a private limited company established in year 1980. In year 1989, the company was listed into the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange market to become a public listed company on 14 July. It was subsequently renamed as Resorts World Bhd, in which this company name had been used from year 1989 to 2009. Resorts World Bhd then changed its name again to Genting Malaysia Berhad on 18 June 2009 and this name has been used until today. As everyone knows Resorts World Genting is built in the high mountain areas; the cool and refreshing air is an indispensable factor in attracting visitors. Besides, Resorts World Genting excels in offering full-of-fun entertainment attractions and the luxurious international class destination, in order to satisfy different cultures and needs of tourists. Generally, Resorts World Genting has established six hotels, namely the First World Hotel, the Theme Park Hotel, the Awana Hotel, the Maxims Genting, the Resort Hotel and the Highlands Hotel. The First World Hotel with a total of 6,118 rooms was the Worlds Largest Hotel according to Guinness World Records (Knowles, 2011). In addition, Resorts World Genting also offers close to 200 distinctive dining outlets and shopping stores, business convention facilities and mega shows. The most attractive features of the company are the two theme parks with more than 40 rides and non-stop entertainment. Adult Bumper Car, Flying Dragon, 4D Motion Master, Ride de Paris and other entertainment facilities are provided in indoor theme parks. Moreover, outdoor theme parks provide more fun rides than indoor, such as Pirate Ship, Spinner, Flying Coaster, Corkscrew, Boating, Dinosaur land and Rodeo Rider, which have successfully attracted visitors from all walks of life. Resorts World Genting also monopolizes the legal gambling market in Malaysia as it operates the one and only casino in Malaysia. Many locals frequent the casino to gamble. The casino offers international gambling games such as Tai Sai, Baccarat, Roulette, Blackjack, slots and Pokers. Resort World Genting not only operates the entertainment facilities but also the longest cable car system in Southeast Asia, named as Genting Skyway. The cable cars are crossing 3.38km from the hillside to Highlands Hotel at the peak. Therefore, it is obvious that Resorts World Berhad focuses its businesses in entertainment and tourism industry. Training and Development Practices, Advantages and Disadvantages of the Practices Resorts World Genting supports and promotes employee development and organizational effectiveness by pursuing personnel policies in training and development, which is in line with the organizational culture, mission and vision. The organization has been actively involved in providing high quality trainings, development programs and opportunities for career development of individual workers. In fact, Resorts World Genting recorded more than 8,500 employees attending internal and external training programs in year 2009. The various training programs carried out to produce competent workers include etiquette, grooming and personal impact, customer service and service delivery aimed at front-line employees and consistent departmental team-building activities. To improve productivity and effectiveness within the organization, Resorts World Genting offers internal trainings such as on-the-job training and job rotation from time to time. As an effort to support the Skim Latihan 1Malaysia (SL1M) launched by the Prime Minister in year 2011, Resorts World Genting has gone all out to provide on-the-job placements to unemployed or underemployed graduates with appropriate qualifications. This scheme requires candidates to achieve a minimum CGPA of 2.5 for a degree from any recognized tertiary institution and possess the ability to converse in Bahasa Malaysia and English. Shortlisted trainees will be given 2 to 3 months soft skill trainings and 9 to 10 months on-the-job training. During the training period, trainees will assist in organizational projects and departmental functions and involve in departmental or organization-wide planning and decision making. Subsequently, trainees are evaluated on their suitability for vacancies in Resorts World Ge nting. There are several advantages that can be yield through the on-the-job training. Resorts World Gentings effort has actually helped to enhance the employability of unemployed graduates to compete for jobs that match their qualifications. Through SL1M, trainees acquire necessary soft skills such as communication skills, critical thinking and organizational adaptability to increase their competency in the job market. As the organization usually customizes the learning to fit business purposes, trainees will be well-prepared to perform real job tasks because they will be taught to master the tools needed to perform their specific roles. Therefore, SL1M improves the quality and helps fresh graduates to be more marketable in the labor market. On the contrary, there are also certain drawbacks towards Resorts World Genting through the implementation of SL1M on-the-job training. This scheme lacks of consistency as the training is closely dependent on experienced senior workers to give out instructions that are purported to be essential in completing a task efficiently and effectively. As the instructions vary with each trainer, there is no standardized learning carried out across the organization. It is also insufficient for a trainee to learn the skills and knowledge from only a trainer. Besides, when there is no structured guidance on training lessons, trainees will only learn about the routines and solve daily problems that arise in the normal course of working. They will face difficulties and feel humiliated in the future when they are confronted with complex and rare problems which are not taught during the SL1M scheme. Under close supervision by a trainer, the trainee can be easily influenced by the trainers habits and attitudes towards various aspects of the job such as management and interaction techniques. They can quickly adopt lazy habits and take shortcuts in performing their tasks, which in return will bring unfavorable consequences towards Resorts World Genting. Resorts World Genting also offers Management Trainee Program which provides job rotation opportunities to potential employees. Its purpose is to discover and develop the next generation of leaders to hold higher managerial positions in the future by equipping them with the required skills, judgment and qualities of an effective manager. Under the Management Trainee Program of Resorts World Genting, trainees will be given the chance to conduct cross-functional assignments and special projects to develop leadership skills. The 18-24 months program allows trainees to explore different areas of the corporation such as Casino Operations, Theme Park Operation, Theme Park Technical and Human Resource. Successful trainees will be posted to Senior Executive or Assistant Manager positions. According to the official website of Resorts World Genting, 19 management trainees successfully graduated and recruited as permanent employees in year 2009. The Management Trainee Program has benefited Resorts World Gentings employees in many ways. Selected trainees will have good prospects in their career advancement as they are exposed to all facets of the business, from marketing to customer service, to human resource and operations. Thus, they can be easily promoted to a managerial position once a vacancy comes up within the organization. Besides, the program helps to identify and develop potential talents as a means of providing a good succession planning and enhancing morale in the organization. It helps to foster teamwork within the organization, promote good camaraderie and improve communication among teams because trainees usually collaborate with different team members at different levels. A major disadvantage of the Management Trainee Program is that successful trainees tend to be more self-centered and expect preferential treatment such as higher compensation and benefits from the organization. They might think high of themselves with the qualifications possessed. As the management trainees undergo job rotation, there is a tendency that the trainees could not master the operations and have an in-depth understanding of the functions in a department before switching to another department in just a few months. Consequently, they will become Jack of all trades and a master of none. The result might be harmful to the organization as these future-to-be managers might not be good managers. In addition, off-the-job learning is conducted by Resorts World Genting. Scholarships were awarded to 21 high-performing employees in the year 2009. Deserving employees received scholarships to further their studies at MAHTEC, Kolej Antarabangsa Genting Inti and Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). In year 2011, 22 scholarships worth RM1.7 million were awarded under the Genting Malaysia Education Fund to outstanding employees and other external recipients. Moreover, the organization partners with colleges and universities and professional associations such as Genting INTI International College (GIIC), ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW to provide the opportunity for employees to enhance their qualifications. For instance, Resorts World Gentings Finance Department has been recognized by professional accountancy bodies such as ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW to provide trainings to accounting fields employees to become qualified accountants. One of the advantages of Resorts World Genting offering further studies opportunities is that the employees with higher qualifications and professionalism can contribute more to the organization in various aspects of the organization. These professionals such as accountants, risk management experts and investment analysts can make better planning, professional evaluations and decisions for the organization in the business dealings. This will in turn help Resorts World Genting to minimize cost, maximize profits and penetrate into more profitable markets in various countries. When the organization has a good reputation of offering scholarships to high-performers, there will be a larger pool of qualified unsolicited candidates for the organization to make selection for a vacancy. Therefore, Resorts World Genting is less likely to face the problem of lack of qualified candidates for selection process. However, offering scholarships might be costly to Resorts World Genting as the organization has to fork out a whopping amount to support the increasing cost of living and tuition fees of scholarship recipients. This is much more expensive compared to other internal training programs. The organization also faces the risk that it might lose its high-quality employees after they have finished their studies. This is because when the high-performers have completed their duration of work as stipulated in the scholarship agreement, they might be poached by Resorts World Gentings competitors by being offered a higher compensation and more benefits. Furthermore, Resorts World Genting has also organized many seminars and conferences to help develop the professionalism of the senior management. For example, in October 2011, the organization carried out the 23rd Genting Malaysia Senior Managers Conference in Awana Kijal, Terengganu to encourage workers to be passionately committed to achieving the organizations goals and core values. Last but not least, besides organizing departmental team-building activities, Resorts World Genting emphasizes on work-life balance programs which improve employees wellbeing. To highlight holistic development of all levels of employees, the organization has also organized sports events and self-improvement activities. Some of the programs involved in inculcating team-spirit and lifelong learning include Coaching Leadership A Future for Women in Leadership, Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, Labour Day celebration and Genting Employee Carnival. The conferences organized by Resorts World Genting have benefited the organization as the senior managers and top management have the chance to exchange various viewpoints regarding the course of businesses run by the organization. This encourages communication and collaboration among all levels of managers of different departments within the organization instead of emphasizing on only one department. As a grand decision made by one department affects another, it is essential that all departments involved discuss and analyze a matter before making a final decision. Besides, the programs and activities carried out help to drive the behaviors and personal goals of employees to be in line with the organizational purpose, which in turn contributes to a highly-productive working environment. These activities are effective motivators for the employees to perform better and achieve organizational objectives. In contrast, attending various seminars and programs may be a loss of productivity and a waste of time for the employees of Resorts World Genting. Discouraged workers tend to take these activities as distractions to escape from work. There are also times that the information presented during seminars or the activities organized do not interest a particular individual. Moreover, the information presented by external parties may be incorrect, flawed and biased. The information cannot appeal to all the needs of the employees from different departments in the organization and it may be just a reiteration of what the employees have known. What the speakers provide are mostly theoretical and these theories cannot be applied in real-life situations due to various factors. The above are the human resource practices implemented by Resorts World Genting to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the employees. There are advantages and disadvantages for each activity organized by the organization. The top managers should look into the boon and bane of a practice before implementing it to maximize productivity within the organization. Critiques of Practices on the Effectiveness of the Company There are several critiques on the effectiveness of training and development practices implemented by Resorts World Genting on the normal course of business. The first method used by Resorts World Genting is on-the-job training, which is Skim Latihan 1Malaysia (SL1M). This method mainly helps the unemployed or fresh graduates to brush up their qualifications so that they have the capacity to meet the skills and knowledge needed by the jobs. This scheme is actually less effective to the operations of the organization as there is no structured and detailed handbook or guidelines to follow. Since this scheme has so many disadvantages such as inconsistency in training, too subjective and only dependent on one senior worker for each trainee, it would be cost-consuming to retain workers which are not well-trained. In long-term, this method will reduce the productivity of the company. Therefore, SL1M might be useful in decreasing the unemployment rate in the country but this scheme is unfavorable towards Resorts World Genting as it reduces the effectiveness of the organization. The second method applied by Resorts World Genting is job-rotation trainings that are offered to train potential employees to hold managerial positions in the future. Overall, the management trainee program increases the productivity and effectiveness of the organization. The disadvantages of the management trainee program are minor as they can be easily eliminated through some modifications of the program. This program usually has a higher requirement from its trainees as the trainees must be able to work under high pressure. Since they will be exposed to the functioning of every department within Resorts World Genting, they will be able to master all the operations when they have completed their training. Thus, the high-performing and well-trained employees will be able to manage high positions effectively and meet the organizational goals. In addition, Resorts World Genting also provides off-the-job learning by offering scholarships and opportunities to further studies to high-performing employees. This will be cost-saving in a way that the actual amount spent on scholarships is much lower than the cost of recruiting and selecting a new employee. The organization will have low turnover rate as this increases the job satisfaction of the employees. It will also be able to retain its pool of talents, and this human asset will provide comparative advantage to the organization to compete with other competitors. Professionals trained by the organization could make better professional analysis and decisions which in turn will increases the effectiveness in the business dealings. Therefore, off-the-job training increases the effectiveness and efficiency of Resorts World Genting in the long-run. Seminars and talks organized by Resorts World Genting appear to be less effective in training the employees as majority of these seminars involve only theoretical presentation. It is also not cheap to invite external speakers to give talks to the employees which will then be considered as a waste of time. As it is difficult to control human behavior, the company also cannot avoid the fact that some lazy employees take this chance to escape work. In short, organizing seminars and talks would decrease the effectiveness and productivity of the operations in Resorts World Genting. Recommendation There are some recommendations for Resorts World Genting to improve their training and development programs. First and foremost, there are few recommendations to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of on-the-job training, which is Skim Latihan 1Malaysia (SL1M) implemented by Resorts World Genting. The organization can set a standardized and structured on-the-job training scheme, alongside with clear and detailed handbook for every trainer and trainee. Trainers can follow the scheme and handbook which detail all workplace procedures to train the new employees and make sure that the trainees fully understand their jobs. Besides, Resorts World Genting has to choose the trainers carefully. Trainers must achieve the level of qualification required to train the new employees and the organization must make sure that they do not show bad habits or examples. This is because a good trainer will influence a trainee to become a good employee in the future. Besides teaching the trainees on how to solve their daily problems, the experienced trainers should also emphasize on rare and potential probl ems that might happen in the future, or at least the trainees are taught about these problems using theories. Furthermore, Resorts World Genting can assign more supervisors to observe how trainers and trainees work in their positions and require weekly report from the trainers. Trainers and trainees will then concentrate and pay more effort on their jobs because they do not wish to obtain bad comments in their report. Secondly, there are some recommendations for Management Trainee Program. Resorts World Genting can first try to observe the characteristics of potential employees and then decide which department is suitable for the individuals. Besides, managers can also interview the potential employees and tests their abilities in each and every sector. This can help to enhance the skills and knowledge that the management trainee lacks in a particular sector. Furthermore, Resorts World Genting also can set the period of job rotation longer. Potential employees can learn and discover more on a post before they change to another position if the job rotation duration is longer. Since these potential employees are going to handle managerial positions in the future, it is important for them to practice job ethics. Therefore, Resorts World Genting should show their employees that the organization emphasizes ethical ways of doing jobs. This will influence the employees and may change their decisions and actions to become more ethical in performing their job. In addition, to achieve cost-effectiveness, Resorts World Genting can offer their employees scholarships to further studies in local educational institutions instead of overseas. The tuition fees in local educational institutions are much cheaper compared to those abroad. Furthermore, the cost of living is also lower than staying overseas. Resorts World Genting can also plan to set up their own educational institution instead of partnering with other colleges. By taking this initiative, Resorts World Genting can save much cost for scholarships and attract more students to study in
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