Essay on Obedience - 1004 Words

Erin Poulsen ACP W131 Mr. Scanlan 19 October, 2015 Comparative Critique Obedience and Disobedience has been a part of key moments in history. Many have studied forms of obedience to learn how it affects people and situations. For example, Stanley Milgram conducted a well-known experiment in which the subject, named the â€Å"teacher† must shock the â€Å"learner† every time he doesn’t remember a word pair from a memory test. The focus of this study is on the teacher, and whether they will administer killing shocks when told to by an authority figure. Another well-known experiment is the Stanford Prison Experiment conducted by Philip Zimbardo. A group of college boys were separated into two groups, prison guards and prisoners, and were put†¦show more content†¦Dalrymple then discusses the struggle to obey or disobey and that blind disobedience seems like a noble stance but isn’t always the correct way to deal with things. He then goes further in depth by examining the roots of blind disobedience an d other key aspects. Fromm states that obedience to authority is submission in certain situations, and Dalrymple expands on that idea by identifying an example where submission obedience is used. Fromm and Dalrymple oppose each other in the topic of the roots of disobedience. Fromm believes disobedience has come through history, while Dalrymple believes that disobedience begins in childhood. Fromm believes that there are various types of obedience, one of them applying to authority and power. Fromm defines these types of obedience, stating â€Å"Obedience to a person, institution or power (heteronomous obedience) is submission; it implies the abdication of my autonomy and the acceptance of a foreign will or judgement in place of my own† (Fromm 228). Fromm claims that obedience to any authority, whether it is a person or institution, is called heteronomous obedience. He claims that heteronomous obedience is submission because a person follows orders and accepts the authority ’s judgement in place of their own. The obedience is considered submission and not free will because the obedience suppresses one’s self for a higher power. Dalrymple also agrees with Fromm’s definition of heteronomous obedience andShow MoreRelatedEssay on Obedience755 Words   |  4 PagesObedience is the process by which individuals comply with the instructions given by an authority figure not to be confused with conformity. There is one similarity between obedience and conformity which is that both involved a renunciation Of personal responsibility. There is three differences between Obedience and Conformity. The first one is that in Obedience an order or an instruction is given whereas no instructions or order is given in conformity. The second one is that in obedience thereRead MoreMilgram s Research On Obedience Essay1067 Words   |  5 PagesWhy did Milgram decide to study this topic? What was the motivating factor/event that inspired Milgram to research obedience? †¢ The main reason that Milgram decided to study the topic of obedience was to better understand the extreme inhumane conditions that Jews faced during the holocaust at the hands of German soldiers. Over the 12 year period between the early 1930’s through the mid 1940’s millions of Jews died in death camps run by Germans. Since Milgram himself was of Jewish descent, MilgramRead MoreAuthority Is A Fundamental Part Of Life Essay2069 Words   |  9 Pagesuse authority to maintain order and obedience throughout communities. Parents possess characteristics of authority in order to teach children right from wrong. As well as, teachers are considered authority figures since they need to control and maintain obedience in the classroom. Authority cannot exist without obedience. Society is developed on this notion. Without authority, and its required obedience, disorder and disruption would occur. But how much obedience to authority is necessary? When isRead MoreAnalysis Of Just Do What The Pilot Tells You831 Words   |  4 PagesDalrymple, is a British physician who discusses why blind obedience is discouraged. His article, â€Å" Just Do What the Pilot Tells You†, was first published in the New Statesman. In this specific article, he touches on points in our lives when we are supposed to do what we are told. Disobedience is when a person chooses to disobey some sort of order they were directed to do. The main point that the author is trying to make is that neither obedience or disobedience should be more prominent than the otherRead MoreObedience : Obedience And Obedience1997 Words   |  8 PagesOBEDIENCE Obedience can be described as an action exhibited by an individual as a result of direct command or order from another person who is normally in position of authority. Obedience take place when an authority figure ask a person to do something, this usually entails people with status, that is, someone giving the command has to be above the person the order is being given to. Everyday Examples of Obedience Obedience plays a vital role in everyday life; it is an expectation for people to obeyRead MoreA Study On Obedience And The Obedience1178 Words   |  5 Pageswanted to do a study on the obedience to an authority figure, and the obedience is a situationist experiment that evidences what happened the real life (Badhwar, 2009). Milgram’s idea was the Holocaust situation and the Nazis who had the authority over European Jews, during World War II, when the Nazi killed thousands of people because they had power, as well as how lived Nazis enemies in the death camps. The point of the research was people behavior in the obedience situation, and Holocaust situationRead MoreHow To Train Your Dog Essay909 Words   |  4 Pagesdog, create a job for him to do such as pulling the kids around the yard in a cart. Practice Your dog is well-exercised and he understands that he needs to refer to you, so now is the time to teach commands. When you begin teaching your dog obedience commands, it will take practice. First, verbalize the command and attempt to get the dog to obey without any touching. For example, if you are teaching â€Å"sit†, you can draw the treat in a straight line form the top of the head. The dog will naturallyRead MoreDog Training The Easy Way817 Words   |  4 Pagesrecommend them, your friends can recommend them, websites such as Angie s list can recommend them. There are many questions you ll probably have for the trainer, but here are a few to bear in mind: What you want your dog to be able to do? Simple obedience is light years from therapy dog training which is a perhaps smaller journey from bomb identification and disposal. Make sure your perspective trainer has experience with your desired outcome. Can you take part? Training where you and your dog learnRead MoreThe Levels Of Obedience1224 Words   |  5 Pagesbecause there was a division of labor. Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi organizer of these mass murders, never saw the direct effects of the genocide he was orchestrating. After the Holo-caust, Stanley Milgram conducted an experiment to study the levels of obedience to authority; he used his experiment to find where evil resided in people and to discover the cause of the Holo-caust. Some people found his findings useful information, while others thought his experiment was morally unacceptable due to his useRead MoreObedience Essay744 Words   |  3 PagesObedience In this essay I am going to write on how obedience can affect individuals on how they would normally behave and integrate in society. The meaning of Obedience is a form of social influence where an individual acts in response to a direct order from another individual, who is usually an authority figure. It is assumed that without such an order the person would not have acted in this way. (McLeod, 2007) Migram (1963) conducted a study on how obedient a person would be to an authority

Analyzing Elements Of Organizational Citizenship Behaviors...

Introduction This research paper discusses components of Job Dissatisfaction (chapter 3). Based upon research, the paper will analyze elements of organizational citizenship behaviors and personality-job fit theory. In addition, the paper introduces factors that organizations and employees can consider to reduce job dissatisfaction, or improve job satisfaction. Job Dissatisfaction Job satisfaction is the positive feeling about a job in evaluating characteristics, interactions, and dynamics (Robbins Judge, 2009, p. 79). Conversely, job dissatisfaction occurs when employees have a negative feeling about a job whether it is a dislike for the organizational culture or a job-personality mismatch. Warning signs of job dissatisfaction are negative employee behaviors such as decrease productivity, increase absenteeism, and increase turnover (Stretch, 2009a, s.16). These factors coupled with withdrawn employees, reward misallocation, and poor employee attitudes can increase costs for firms (Podsakoff, Whiting, Podsakoff, Blume, 2009, p. 123). Moreover, job-personality mismatches can lead to employee dissatisfaction and higher turnover, and high customer dissatisfaction can cause employee dissatisfaction (Robbins Judge, 2009, pp. 83). To stem the tides of job dissatisfaction, employers that offer training, challenge assignments, increase auto nomy, and use predictability can enhance employee satisfaction (Robbins Judge, 2009, p. 84). In addition, firms thatShow MoreRelatedStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesOrganizational Behavior This page intentionally left blank Organizational Behavior EDITION 15 Stephen P. Robbins —San Diego State University Timothy A. Judge —University of Notre Dame i3iEi35Bj! Boston Columbus Indianapolis New York San Francisco Upper Saddle River Amsterdam Cape Town Dubai London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Montreal Toronto Delhi Mexico City Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore Taipei Tokyo Editorial Director: Sally Yagan Director of Editorial Services:Read MoreA Hierarchical Taxonomy of Leadership Behavior8131 Words   |  33 PagesA Hierarchical Taxonomy of Leadership Behavior: Integrating a Half Century of Behavior Research Gary Yukl Angela Gordon University at Albany, Tom Taber State University of New York, Albany, NY A major problem leadership research and has been lack of agreement about which theory behavior categories are relevant and meaningful. It is difficult to integrate findings from five decades of research unless the many diverse leadership behaviors can be integrated in a parsimonious and meaningfulRead MoreThe Foundation of Curriculum2572 Words   |  11 Pagesthe methods to be used in the process (English, 2000). The educative experiences learners have in an educational program. The purpose of which is to achieve broad goals and related specific objectives that have been developed within a framework of theory and research, past and present professional practice, and the changing needs of society (Parkay, 2006). †¢ 3. Concept of Curriculum A systematic group of courses or sequence of subjects required for graduation or certification in a major field ofRead MoreImpact of Rewards on Employee Performance in Banking Sector9390 Words   |  38 Pagesperformance. Review of literature will sustain and credible this study. The data will be collected through different bank branches in Lahore. The sample size will be more than hundred. Questioner technique will be used for the collection of data. For analyzing result the regression analysis will be used. Research question: 1: how do the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards influence the employee performance in banking sector? 2: To discovered banking employer’s judgment about the intrinsic and extrinsic rewardsRead MorePortfolio for Organizational Behavior17518 Words   |  71 PagesINTRODUCTION The portfolio describes the business implementations of the concepts we learnt in the Organizational Behaviour [MGMT 5100] course. The course enabled us to understand and learn how the organisations work and what key considerations a manager should take care of while managing different people. It also provided us the opportunity to understand ourselves through Concrete Experiences and Reflective Observations of various concepts. It also explains how human behaviour differs based onRead MoreTanglewood Casebook19453 Words   |  78 Pagesbe a workforce of committed, qualified individuals who will help carry the Tanglewood philosophy into the future. Competition and Industry[1] The Tanglewood Department Store chain operates in the nondurable general retail industry, which fits into industry 452100 as classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). This industry engages in the sale of consumer goods including clothing, small appliances, electronics, and other housewares. The retail industry accountsRead MoreOverview of Hrm93778 Words   |  376 Pagesto diverse audience/students, including those who are studying this as a supporting subject for their bachelor degree program. This course is designed to provide you the foundations of HRM whether you intend to work in HRM or not, most of these elements will affect you at some point in your career. Either you will be working with some organizations or having people working for you, in both cases you will be dealing with people. To be understandable and lively means that we need to communicate youRead MoreA Study on Employee Job Satisfaction11197 Words   |  45 PagesDESIGN 1.1 INTRODUCTION Job satisfaction in regards to one’s feeling or state of mind regarding nature of their work. Job can be influenced by variety of factors like quality of one’s relationship with their supervisor, quality of physical environment in which they work, degree of fulfillment in their work, etc. Positive attitude towards job are equivalent to job satisfaction where as negative attitude towards job has been defined variously from time to time. In short job satisfaction is a person’sRead MoreLibrary Management204752 Words   |  820 PagesPlanning Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Factors in Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Time Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Collecting and Analyzing Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Levels of Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Flexibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Accountability . . . . . . . . .Read MoreCustomer Is Not Always Right13057 Words   |  53 Pagesother employees about company and they are customers who always makes hurdle for company and so on and so forth, and we might encounter some of them that will scream at you or some will just be okay. Some of them will down your principle, even your personality or we can say that some of them are just over reacting to the point that they are already below their belt. They misbehave because they know that the management does not want to lose them. Customers are used to tell the famous slogan in any business

“to the Reader” Analysis Free Essays

â€Å"To The Reader† Analysis The never-ending circle of continuous sin and fallacious repentance envelops the poem â€Å"To the Reader† by Baudelaire. The beginning of this poem discusses the incessant dark vices of mankind which eclipse any attempt at true redemption. As the poem progresses, the dreariness becomes heavier by mentioning the Devil and demons, and how Hell is the final stop of everyone’s journey. We will write a custom essay sample on â€Å"to the Reader† Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now The ending stanza says the most dangerous of all actions is boredom. This proposition that boredom is the most unruly thing one can do insinuates that Baudelaire views boredom as a gate way to all horrible things a person can do. The first thing one reads is the title, â€Å"To the Reader. † With this, Baudelaire is not just singling out any individuals or a certain group of people. â€Å"Folly, error, sin and parsimony,† (1) everyone possesses these vices, and that is who Baudelaire is addressing. A religious aspect is introduced in lines 5 through 7 stating that although we repent and confess, our sins are obstinate and our repentance feeble because soon after we are back to our wicked ways. Many religions, such as Christianity and Islam, believe that there is a joyous afterlife for those who have led a righteous lifestyle and have atoned for their sins. However, Baudelaire dismantles this comfort by implying that we repent because we â€Å"Believ[e] our base tears can wash away the stains [our sins]† (8). Even with the hint of a religious tone, Baudelaire is still talking to those without a religious affiliation, for no one is perfect and has not apologized for an act they were not sorry they committed. In class, it was argued that this poem is not actually a religious work because it has no hope and that it is, in fact, just about human nature; I believe it is about both. It is human nature to express regret towards those we have wronged, whether Christian, Muslim, Atheist, or any other denomination. However, those with a religious affiliation are hypocrites; preaching that we must all be without sin and have faith in and obey their respected deity. They, such as Christians, demonstrate hypocrisy through participating in sins themselves. They think ill thoughts against those who believe something else – judging; speak poorly of others to their friends – gossiping; confess that they did not mean what they said or did – lying. Although we may try to live better with each passing day, our evilness has a stronger resolve. Baudelaire writes â€Å"On the pillow of evil Satan Trismegistus / Cradles at length our enchanted soul† (9 10) â€Å"It is in hateful objects that we find peace / Each day, one step further towards Hell† (14 15). In these four lines, Baudelaire is suggesting that we do unholy or immoral things without noticing; continuing to entertain Gluttony, Pride, or Lust without a second thought, and that our souls are the Devil’s price. There are different levels of intensity to all sins; telling a white lie every now and again is far better than taking another’s life every now and again. For some, the thought of murdering or raping someone is atrocious, nevertheless Baudelaire believes that If rape and poison, arson and the knife Have not yet women their pleasant designs On the dull canvas of our lowly destinies It is because our soul, alas, is not yet bold enough. (25-28) The Christian religion is hinted here again by the use of women; it was Eve that introduced sin to mankind by eating the forbidden fruit, the pleasant design of sin. These lines are suggesting that appalling crimes are thought about and can be conducted by all, but only the strong willed are able to carry them out. Of all the horrible acts one can commit, Baudelaire suggests that there is one that is most heinous above all the rest, and that is boredom. Baudelaire states that Boredom is â€Å"more ugly, evil, [and] fouler than the rest† (33). Being in a state of boredom can lead to all types of malice and immoral thoughts. When you have time to think, memories of how someone wronged you may appear and you may decide to do wrong back unto him, or perhaps going to the club may seem like a nice way to meet with someone to relieve you of your boredom, etc. Boredom is not just failing to find something to do, but that you are tired of doing the same stuff over and over again. If one is bored of going to church and hearing the gospel, they could always decide to follow a different religion or drop it altogether. Who can say they are without sin, completely wholly, and truly deserving of a divine afterlife? As previously stated, some believers can be considered hypocrites. People are always preaching that one must practice a better way of living, yet they are deaf to their own sermon. Sin is practiced by all, even those who believe themselves to be above it. Unfortunately, to cast away sin is to cast away human nature, which cannot be done, and as long as boredom lingers around, sin will always follow. How to cite â€Å"to the Reader† Analysis, Essay examples

Management Issues Of A Reputed Company †Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: What Is The Management Issues Of A Reputed Company? Answer: Introduction The case study deals with the management issues of a reputed company. The company considered for this report is Dominos Pizza. The case study is entirely based upon Media investigation reports. Dominos is an US based organisation having branches in Australia. Dominos Pizza is listed on the Australian stock market. The performance of organization is best in Australian market. The organisational share price has been constantly raising and has achieved 2500% of its original IPO, ranking the organization among the best in the Australian market. Report was been stated by the organisation that it has generated a total revenue of approx $939,976,000 in 2016. This is enough for comprehending that the organisation is performing well and is earning a considerable amount of profit. Back ground The business of Dominos is been built for selling pizza at an affordable price to the common mass of people. Business model of the organisation is based on the sales growth of franchisee. The business model is not based on profit structure. As the organisation is based on franchisee therefore the head office of Dominos collects royalty from the franchisee for each sale. The organisation is selling around 1million pizzas per week. Therefore, it is the largest franchisee of Dominos. The organisation have the rights of franchising as well as operation of the brand is been conducted in Australia, France, New Zealand and in other parts of the world. The organisation is holding numerous agreements for Master Franchisee for operating the brand globally. Around 1900 stores are been operates as well as franchised by the organisation. The organisation plans for opening new stores to increase sale as well as cope up with the existing sales. The acquisition forecast is been linked with rapid exp ansion of stores. Besides, being an industry leader the organisation is gaining share in the markets of Australia and New Zealand. The organisation is having a rapid expansion plan globally. Franchisee are been selected by the organisation very carefully as they will help the company in earning more profit. The end markets are been established by the franchisee. The bottom line of the organisation is doubling on one hand and on the other hand, the price of pizza is to be decreased as high competition was faced by the organisation from the other organisation in the same industry. Meji, the CEO of the organisation having business-oriented mindset up has the goal of establishing as well as developing entrepreneurial aim for constructing innovativeness. The organisation is facing numerous challenges in form of major and minor issues. CEO believed that the negative situations can be turned to positive situations and this is the only way of sorting out the issues faced by the organisation (Hanks 2015). The organisational CEO asked the managers for focusing to objectives for long term as well as goals for short term. Challenges faced by the organisation The organisation is facing many challenges while operating the business. The challenges can be classified as the major challenges and the minor challenges. The major challenges incorporates is the leadership style of the organisation. The leadership style followed in the organisation needs to be changed. The organisation follows the style of autocracy. Therefore, the top-level management acts like dictator, which can have negative effect on the employees. According to the organisational CEO Meji, the top-level management has to act like dictator for the interests of their teams. Dictator leadership will help them in maintain the franchises as well. The franchisees are been called to headquarter of the organisation for their unlawful conduct. Dominos after auditing their franchisees stores found that some of the franchisees have dine fraud regarding the payment to their employees. The franchisee reports as the organisation is following dictatorial leadership in order to gain profit fr om their business therefore, franchisee has to suffer huge loss in their business. The franchisee therefore, chose the path of cutting the cost of employees in order to save themselves from the huge losses. The organisation for competing with the other companies in same industries is aiming to decrease their rte of products, which made the franchisee to confront difficulties in order to carry their business. Therefore, it can be said in a clear statement that the dictatorial leadership is liable for franchisees and employees a huge pile of challenges. The dictatorial style of leadership should immediately changed to transformational style of leadership in order to regain the stable position of the organisation. The other challenges faced due to the dictatorial leadership is that the organisation CEO Meji in order to change the negative situation to a positive one has imposed the increased in labour costs up to 100% as the working hours of the employees was been increased (Goons and Gallos 2013). This certainly yields in speedy delivery to the customers and efficient working of the staffs but the franchises were facing great difficulty in clearing the wages of employees. The organisation imposed legislations on the working conditions of the employees. The other major problem faced by the organisation is the de-motivation of the employees. The workers working under the franchisees were not at happy. The unhappiness is due to the wages under payment and cutting the wages of workers in an illegal way. The de-motivation of employees can be described with the help of Maslow Hierarchy of needs. Once the workers have fulfilled their fundamental needs, which are nourishment, protect then they would ensure where their occupation is secured. In the event that they are guaranteed that their employments will not be lost and the organization needs where the social requirements are been met. This implies making new companions coexisting with partners and functioning as a group together, which will take care of the issue of deferred creating and conveying to the client. Cooperating to meet the objective speedier than anticipated and get motivations from the diligent work sent into the work through collaboration. At that point, they go for regard needs, which are acknowledgment, notoriety and consideration, any some more (Niemela and Kim 2014). At that point finally is self-completion where he or she needs more obligations and needs everybody to believe him or her. The safety of the employees were also not been guaranteed and the psychological requirements of the employees were also not been satisfied. The employees have to work in front of high temperature oven for long hours and they do not receive any break within their working hours. The minor problem consists of decision-making structure of the organisation. In Dominos CEO is responsible for taking any sort of decisions. This type of decision-making structure is obsolete in recent era. Organisation should follow the transformational decision-making structure as it will help in having good leadership styles and suitable decisions can be taken (Moriano et al. 2014). Another problem is with the reward system. The reward system needs more modification in order to motivate the employees for their job. Solutions to the challenges In light of the issues recognized as stated above, Domino's pizza requires for implementing mechanism to utilise circumstance at the organization. These issues must be solved if organization needs to stay in business market. While best techniques may be absent to take care of the issues at the Domino, management may need to execute the accompanying to conquer the difficulties talked about above. Poor conditions for working, for example, inordinate heat and additionally long hours of working can be comprehended by implementing more ventilation in workplaces in different chain stores with the goal that employees can get natural air and heating level is controlled (Flamholtz and Randle 2012). Technologies, for example, fan and indoor regulator might be introduced to enhance the condition. Long hours of working for the employees and therefore poor balance of work-life can be tackled by building up adaptable working frameworks where workers can work for total number of hours for a week or month and still get their compensation in light of the quantity of hours worked. The organization should provide motivating forces like incentives other than budgetary prizes to support the confidence of employees and increment their efficiency without making everybody in organization heat and make pizza including the CEO and other staff who might not have correct learning (Moynihan 2013). Competition can be fathomed by organization through different measures and limiting on creation costs whereas augmenting on all that bottom line. It can likewise be explained by distinguishing competitive advantage e.g. utilizing of advanced technology, staff training and enhancing the nature of pizza with the goal that clients would incline toward Domino's pizza rather than the pizza made by other firms in other organisation (Rossett 2012). Recommendations The circumstance of the organisation is not the same as there pizza chain stores goes on quality worsening with the consistency. In addition, accordingly, if not rescued, the business may very well fall (He, Zha and Li 2013). After analysing the case, there are various things, which the organization should start doing appropriately to maintain their notoriety and draw in client unwaveringness without lowering the costs of pizza, which they give. Leadership style of the organizational CEO or executive is utilizing appears to be out of extent, as there exists misguidance as well as staffs and employees misleading. The authority style of practice should be altered from dictatorial style to transformational leadership keeping in mind the end goal to changes the entire point of view of the organization (Long et al. 2014). There requires benchmarks and instructional courses for top management and workers to give the pith of organization mission and vision explanations and furthermore moral conduct. The organization ought to build up a solid corporate culture that must be conveyed down to the workers to alter their reasoning and keep them for long in the organization. Basic leadership in the organization ought not to rest upon the CEO alone and should be consulted and include different pioneers, for example, the practical leaders of the divisions in the chain stores. I additionally suggest audit of the income models and general organization destinations, which can be cascaded to singular labourers in every one of the stores. Reference List Flamholtz, E.G. and Randle, Y., 2012.Growing pains: Transitioning from an entrepreneurship to a professionally managed firm. NJ: John Wiley Sons. Gonos, J. and Gallo, P., 2013. Model for leadership style evaluation.Management: journal of contemporary management issues,18(2), pp.157-168. Hanks, S.H., 2015. The organization life cycle: Integrating content and process.Journal of Small Business Strategy,1(1), pp.1-12. He, W., Zha, S., and Li, L., 2013. Social media competitive analysis and text mining: A case study in the pizza industry. International Journal of Information Management, 33(3), 464-472. Long, C.S., Yusof, W.M.M., Kowang, T.O. and Heng, L.H., 2014. The impact of transformational leadership style on job satisfaction.World Applied Sciences Journal,29(1), pp.117-124. Moriano, J.A., Molero, F., Topa, G. and Mangin, J.P.L., 2014. The influence of transformational leadership and organizational identification on intrapreneurship.International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal,10(1), pp.103-119. Moynihan, D.P., 2013. Does public service motivation lead to budget maximization? Evidence from an experiment.International Public Management Journal,16(2), pp.179-196. Niemela, P. and Kim, S., 2014. Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. InEncyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research(pp. 3843-3846). Springer Netherlands. Rossett, A., 2012.The ASTD e-learning handbook: Best practices, strategies, and case studies for an emerging field. Boston: McGraw-Hill Trade.

Free Essay Home Depot History and Business Case Analysis free essay sample

First of all, I would like to thank you for giving me the honor to analyze your well organized and developed company. In this memo, I am going to discuss the strategic factors facing Home Depot, the strategies that the company has been following for the past years, and the distinctive competency Home Depot attain. Also, I am going to give my recommendations and opinion. Some of the strategic factors that Home Depot faces are related to product quality, price, advertising, store capacity, competitors, and customers independency and satisfaction. Most of these strategic factors helped in the growth and popularity of Home Depot. Home Depot offers good quality products such as home improvement products, lawn and garden supplies. Installation services for these products are offered too. Home Depot like Wal-Mart Company offers low prices everyday. Operational efficiency had been a crucial part of achieving these low prices while still offering a high level of customer service. We will write a custom essay sample on Free Essay Home Depot History and Business Case Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The company assesses and upgrades its information to support its growth, reduce and control costs and enable better decision-making. From the installation of computerized checkout systems, to the implementation of satellite communications systems in most of the stores, the company had shown that it has been and would continue to be innovative in its operating strategy. In year 1994 Home Depot introduced a prototype store format that offered about 32,000 more square feet of selling space and a significantly broader and deeper selection of products and services, as well as a more convenient layout than the traditional stores. These Type (V) stores were designed around a design center, which grouped complementary product categories. Therefore, this wide store capacity enabled Home Depot to stock like 40,0000 to 50,000 products in each store. I think that this is a very good strategic factor that enables the store to offer a wide variety of products. Lowes is the main competitor against Home Depot. Both companies have big stores, and many products. But Home Depot is still number one. Mike Brune from the Rainforest Action Network declared that Its been a busy month for us all as we attempt to find out the implications of the Home Depot victory on the entire DIY (do-it-yourself) industry, get the all important details of Home Depots new policy, and actually determine to what degree the new policy is a victory at all. The short answer is that there is a lot of good news, with some large question marks. Home Depots announcement, and the extensive press coverage it earned, sent shockwaves through all of Home Depots competitors. (Mike Brune. Important Update on Home Depot and Competitor Policies. Retrieved October 5, 1999, from http://forests. org/archive/america/compdebo. htm). Home Depot has stores all over the map nationally, and is expanding worldwide. It recently put competitor Hechinger out of business, and before that Builders Square. (Rob Landley. A Case for Home Depot. Retrieved January 14,2000, from http://www. fool. com/portfolios/rulemaker/2000/rulemaker000114. htm). Congratulations on being number one in your industry. I would like now to discuss the reasons behind this success for year 2002 . I think that the strategies that you and your employees are following and the great customer service are leading to the growth and success of your company. Home Depot uses a clustering strategy to locate new stores closer to existing ones. The short-term effect is to lower same-store sales. On the other hand, this strategy can create a strategic advantage by raising the barrier of entry to competitors. It reduces overcrowding in the existing stores. It also allows the company to spread its advertising and distribution costs over a larger store base. I think that this strategy led Home Depot to have fewer competitors, and lowered the distribution cost. On the other hand, opening too much stores increase the expenses from equipments, products and employees. Even if, the company can afford to open all these stores, I do not think that the company should open many stores in one area. Another strategy that your company is following is focusing on customer service and satisfaction or what is referred to customer cultivation. Customer cultivation is the result of the provision of highly qualified and helpful employees, professional clinics and in-store clinics. When the company was faced with clogged aisles, endless checkout lines, and too few salespersons, it sought creative ways to improve customer service. Workers were added to the sales floor, shelf stocking and price tagging were shifted to nighttime, when the aisles were empty. Therefore, the availability of sales personnel to attend to customer needs was one clear objective of the Home Depot customer service strategy. It gave the DIY (Do It Yourself) customers the support and confidence that no home project was beyond their capabilities. Home Depot attitude of complete customer satisfaction has led the company to constantly seek ways to improve customer service. I think that this strategy is great and was worth all the expenses because the employees were free to sell during the day and focus more on the customers needs. It the good experience that brings the customer again and its the word of mouth that brings other new customers, therefore, customer satisfaction is the most important strategy that any company shall follow. The third strategy that you company is following is focusing on extensive advertisement. In year 2002, Home Depot spent $895 million on advertising, 9. 5 percent more than the $817 million it spent in 2001 and 24 percent more than the $722 million it spent in 2000. Home Depot is one of the nations largest retail advertisers and spends far more on advertising than comparable stores. Home Depot spent nearly eight times as much on advertising in 2002 than its nearest competitor, Lowes Cos. Lowes, which has just half the annual sales of Home Depot, spent about $114 million on advertising in year 2002. Jim Lovel. Home Depot ad spending $895M. Retrieved April 25, 2003, from http://www. bizjournals. com/atlanta/stories/2003/04/28/story1. html). Therefore, extensive advertising is giving Home Depot a distinctive competency against other companies in the same industry. These strategies are implying higher expenses in order to be achieved, especially the huge expenses on advertising. I would l ike to make a comparison between two most growing companies in the USA (Home Depot and Wal-Mart) . In 2002, Home Depot spent 32 percent more than Wal-Mart Stores Inc. , the worlds largest retailer. Wal-Mart with annual sales almost five times higher than Home Depots spent $676 million on advertising last year. (Jim Lovel. Home Depot ad spending $895M. Retrieved April 25, 2003, from http://www. bizjournals. com/atlanta/stories/2003/04/28/story1. html). Therefore, the more money you spend on advertising, does not lead to increase in annual sales but it leads to increase in expenses. Even though, the extensive advertising made this company have a distinctive competency against other companies but Home Depot spent $ 895 million on advertising and Lowes company spend only $114 million. It is true that the annual sales of Home Depot were more than half than Lowes but Home Depot can lower its expenses of advertising to 5 times and can still be able to compete with Lowes company. So, the main question for you is that can you plan a strategy that does not require higher expenses? I am not implying that these strategies are not working but I think that there should be a strategy that keep the company growing but at least lower the expenses. Net Sales had increase 10. 5% year 2003, comparing to year 2002.

Mans Search for Meaning essays

Mans Search for Meaning essays There are definitely three characteristics that place me out of the ordinary. The first is my drive. I believe that if I want something that motivation is the key. I feel that my determination to conquer the obstacles in my life is the only salvation that has rescued me from my own mistakes. While my drive may not be as strong as most, it has saved me from the worst and granted a way out of the dark. Such as poor decisions like quitting school to pursue other cities for the possibility of another wonderful life somewhere else. I have made this mistake, but when it came down to it I found the path to return and fix the mistake where others cannot even bare the thought of returning a failure. By making such an error I educated myself and still found my way back to the light to make right what I have made wrong. My character has also been a savior in my life for some time. My personality has always been a nice one. This trait has an extreme up considering that when an individual has th e capability to meet new people, they open many doors. These doors can hold windows of opportunity that can benefit your life in many aspects. The people in my life have opened many job opportunities that have exceeded my expectations of what I can achieve. This characteristic leads me closely into another trait, versatility. The ability to adapt to ones surroundings is a key element in survival. Many people are unable to change there personality around to suit the environment. This is one trait that has saved me under many circumstances. For instance, I have been unable to maintain just one single social circle for my entire life. My friends and acquaintances have come from many different social groups. None of the people that I know from these groups can socialize amongst my other friends due to the clash of personalities. I can suit to my personality to the environment to get along with everyone rather than just one group. This versatility has given me ...

The Issue of Animal Rights In the Modern World Essay

The Issue of Animal Rights In the Modern World - Essay Example This essay stresses that the man has a high intellect and capacity for reflective activity that cannot be observed in animals. However, this representation is associated with a conflicting situation. Let us imagine a mentally ill person or a person who suffers from mental retardation. In fact, they are not much different from animals because they lack the ability to think properly. This paper makes a conclusion that the analysis of the problem of equality around the world allows one to see that equality is seen only as the equality between people. However, this notion of equality is not fair. Animals also have their moral rights, because they are able to suffer like humans. The capacity for suffering is the foundation that makes it possible to take into account the moral rights of animals. Intelligent differences between humans and animals are not a valid reason to deny the moral rights of animals. Otherwise, people who have problems with mental activity should be deprived of their moral rights, but this is not happening. Fair equality is the equality that takes into account the interests of not only people but also animals. Animals, in turn, have a moral right to protection of their life and the creation of decent conditions for its existence. If human society wants to be called a fair society, it is necessary to strive for a just equality. Cruelty to animals that are seen as soulless machines is a road to nowhere.

Importance of Good Communication Skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 22

Importance of Good Communication Skills - Essay Example Huge tasks were easily achieved through team work proper cooperation amongst individuals. Lack of teamwork resulted into a series of disagreements and the struggle for superiority which slowed down progress. In addition to the two lessons I have mentioned above, I also learnt on the importance of proper leadership skills especially for the managers of the organization. Poor leadership skills, such as lack of rules and regulations in the organization can sink down an organization like it attempted to in this organization. Personally, I have added value to my organization through learning the foreign language Spanish for 60 hours in three months, hence enabling me to communicate effectively with Spanish speaking clients. Many Spanish speakers therefore feel a sense of belonging to the organization (Tovey, 1998). My professional development as a sales agent through the learning of Spanish has spiraled me to higher levels. I was, six months ago appointed to be the regional supervisor for sales agent for six states with a major on the states populated with Mexicans, with a salary that is twice what I got as a sales agent. Besides my organization and my clients gaining from my development, my family has also gained. This is because, my monthly income has improved, and I can afford a better house, and a better school for my children. To identify my learning and professional needs, I look at the needs of the clients and the organization at large. For example I identified the need to study Spanish to communicate with the increasing number of clients of Mexican Origin. In the next one year, I seek to advance my skills in the sales industry by acquiring a Masters degree in Sales and Marketing. Secondly, I would also like to develop my team functioning skills by enrolling for classes with the human resource department.

US army leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

US army leadership - Essay Example Perhaps, it is these values, principles, and system that make the soldier have the respect that is accorded him everywhere he goes. ‘An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot’. The implementation of the structures however depends largely on the functions of personnel in the army. The military institution is made up several officers whose duties are to ensure that there is orderliness with within the rank of soldiers put under his control and that the structures and systems are well implemented. One of such indispensable figures in the implementation of military structures is the non-commissioned officer. The non-commissioned officer however does not work untamed: for the non-commissioned officer to succeed in his role as a leader, he needs to be guided by basic military principles. This is to say that the non-commissioned officer cannot rule within his own discretion but needs to be guided by principles such as the application of the FM 6-22, c ounseling and the seven Army Values. Roles of Non-Commissioned Officers Who is a non-commissioned officer? A non-commissioned officer is a military officer who is given authority through a commissioned officer, but he or she is not technically considered to be in command. Non-commissioned officers rise up through the enlisted ranks, generally with several years of experience to their names before they reach positions of nominal power.The rank an officer has to reach to be accorded the position of a non-commissioned officer varies from country to country and from military force to military force. Also among the ranks, there divisions such as Junior NCOs and Senior NCOs depending on which nation is in question and which military force, be it the Navy, Army or Air Force. In the United States for instance, all ranks of Sergeant in the United States Army, United States Air Force and United States Marine Corps are termed Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) as are Corporals in the Army and Ma rine Corps. However, the rank of Corporal (E-4) in the US Army is known to be a junior NCOs whereas Corporals in the grades (E-7, E-8, and E-9) are referred to as senior noncommissioned officers. The non-commissioned officer can however be generalized to be ‘an enlisted member of the armed forces, such as a corporal, sergeant, or petty officer, appointed to a rank conferring leadership over other enlisted personnel’ (The Free Dictionary, 2003). What are the roles of the non-commissioned officer in the army? The role a non-commissioned officer is supposed to play simply refers to the leadership functions of the officer that is focused on maintaining army values. ‘NCOs must maintain fundamental soldiering at the forefront of everything we do. And that means we must focus on the basics, maintain Army values and facilitate the transformation’ (Anthony, 2001). Even though all roles performed by non-commissioned officers are geared towards enhancing administratio n in the army force, there are varying roles and these roles cut across different areas of operation; defining who may be under the orders or authority of the non-commissioned officer and who may not. In a generalized system however, the role of a particular NCO depends on his rank. The FM 7-22.7 makes a list of five (5) major categories of non-commissioned officers and what their roles are. These categories are classified according to ranks of officers and they are Sergeant Major of the Army, Command Sergeant Major and Sergeant Major, First Sergeant and Master Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant and Sergeant First Class, and Squad, Section and Team Leaders. The Sergeant Major o

Internal Auditors Report On Goodner Brothers

Internal Auditors Report On Goodner Brothers Internal Auditors Report on Goodner Brothers Inc 1.0 Internal Control is a system of checking balances and it is designed to provide a reasonable assurance that assets are protected. Then, accounting data must be accurate according to the information of accounting. Operations should be efficient and also law and policies are compiled with. For this company (Goodners Brothers), We noted that weaknesses in internal control of this company make employee of this company, Woody Robinson was in serious financial trouble. So, the employee took advantage of his companys weak internal controls by stealing a large of inventory, which employee then sold to other parties. We identify that the act of Woody Robinson was a form of major fraud. However, We have stated below that the main key internal control objectives for Goodners Huntington sales office. We also stated that the key internal control weaknesses and its implication that were evident in Huntington units operations and control policies or procedures to alleviate the key internal cont rol weaknesses. On the other hand, We also stated that other parties besides Woody Robinson who partially responsible for inventory losses in the company together with few fraud risk management strategy that could be implemented by this company. 2.0 From this case, we have found that Sales Representative(Woody Robinson) in Goodners Huntington sales office took as an advantage of Goodner Brothers Inc weak in internal controls by stealing a large amount of inventory. So, We believe that this are the following key internal control objectives should be maintain in Goodners Huntington sales office. Firstly, Sales offices staff need to ensure that the every transaction should have a proper authorization to prevent this kind of fraudulent use of resources. For example, Sales offices staff should get the approval from the management or manager for very transactions. By apply this first objective, the shortages of inventory can be minimized and makes all the transactions going very smoothly. Secondly, Physical safeguards and security should have been the key internal control objectives. For example, sales offices staff need to ensure that access to physical assets and information systems need to be controlled and properly restricted to authorized personnel. On the other hand, validity also should have been the key internal control objective. So, sales offices staff need to ensure that all recorded transactions fairly need to be represent the economics events that actually occurred and also should be executed in accordance with managements general authorization. Next, Error in handling also should have been the key internal control objective. So, sales offices staff need to ensure that whatever errors detected at any stage of processing receive prompt corrective action and also should reported to the appropriate level of management. Next, Completeness also should have been the key internal control objective. So, sales offices staff need to ensure that no valid transactions should have been omitted from the inventory records. This five objectives that we stated overall can minimum the bad debts. Furthermore, good control can minimized or maintain of the inventory records. 2.1 On the other hand, we have identify the key internal control weaknesses and that were evident in the Huntington units operations. Firstly, there is lack of sufficient workers in the company to perform the much needed various task because we identify that the company have 14 sales outlets with skeletal crews of 10 to 12 employees. Then, a sales manager supervised the other employees at each outlet and also working a sales district. The remaining staff typically included two sales representative. Furthermore, a receptionist who having double job as a secretary and also as a bookkeeper and seven employees who delivering the tires and working in the units inventory warehouse. So, this shows clearly that one of the major key internal control weaknesses is insufficient of workers is working in the company. Next, another key internal control weaknesses in the Huntington units operations is the failure to coordinate an up-to-date accounting system used to provide an actual or accurate ac count of inventory because we was identify that each goodner sales outlet maintaining a computerized accounting system. These systems also typically made according to a standardized format and not develop for specialized for the company. These systems is ready made. Beside this, we also found that the units sales manager and two representatives had unrestricted access to the accounting system. So, since the large volume of sales and purchase transactions always swamped the bookkeeper . Then, sales representatives also frequently entered transactions directly into system. Furthermore, another key internal control weaknesses in the Huntington units operations is the lack of security needed to safeguard the assets sold. Company failure to restricted the security. We have identify that the sales representative (Woody Robinson) taking an advantage and routinely stole the inventory and kept the proceeds. Woody Robinson also continuing stole in various ways. In some cases, Woody Robinson c harged merchandise that he was sold for his own benefit to the accounts of large volume customers. So, this techniques makes inventory balance in the Huntington facilitys accounting records. We also identify that Woody Robinson charged the customers for merchandise they had not purchase. Goodners customers frequently returned tires for various reasons. We found that Woody Robinson completed all the credit memos for sales transactions voided by his customers and at the same time, Woody Robinson not returning the tires to Goodners inventory. Then, Woody Robinson also routinely sell some of the tires to other customers for cash. So, because of company lack of security needs to safeguard the assets sold. This makes the quantity of stealing tires made Woody Robinson was increasing very high. Next, another key internal control weaknesses in the Huntington units operations is the company failure to make sure that all the accounting information was correct or not. We have identify that the sales representative themselves routinely accessed, reviewed and updated their customers account and also completing purchase orders. Sales orders, credit memos and other accounting document on the timely basis, Furthermore, the sales representative passed all the documents on to the bookkeeper and also use them to enter the transactions directly into the accounting system. We also have identify that sales representative had direct access to the inventory storage areas and during heavy sales periods, sales representative always loaded and delivered customers orders themselves. So, this makes easily errors occurred in the accounting information. So, we have stated those key internal control weaknesses and its implication with the evident in the Huntington units operations. 2.2 This are the following control policies or procedures to alleviate the key internal control weaknesses . Firstly, Proper authorization of transactions. Creating and using budgets is a form of authorization. This makes easier for Huntington units operations. The purchase of goods and services should be requested by one person and approved by another. Individuals that handle cash should be bonded. Secondly , another policies or procedures is Segregation of duties. This includes assigning different people the responsibilities of authorizing transactions, recording transactions, and maintaining custody of assets. The person collecting cash should not be the person who records the cash receipt. If there is enough staff, a rotation of duties can eliminate employee manipulation of records or assets. The approval of purchases should not be made by the person who has access to the checks. Furthermore, another policies or procedures is design and use of adequate documents and records to help ensure the proper recording of transactions and events. Sales representative should always pre- numbered checks, receipts and purchase orders should be used and sequence should be accounted. Then, cancelled checks, vouchers, and receipts should be maintained. Voucher packages (invoices, purchase orders and receiving reports) should be cancelled (stamped paid) after payment to prevent duplicate payments. The invoices should be matched to receiving reports and receiving reports should be matched to purchase orders to ensure that sales representative received, ordered and only pay for what we received. At the same time, journals should be kept for all transactions. Next, another policies or procedures is adequate safeguards regarding access to and use of assets a nd records. Then, access to blank checks, signature plates, and purchase orders should be restricted. Computers should have passwords to access and change information and working area also should be visible to supervisors. However, voided checks should be defaced by tearing the signature line off or writing void on the face of the check and also all voided checks should be maintained. If the company apply all those policies or procedures that we stated. The weaknesses of key internal control will be improved. 2.3 Furthermore, We also identify that besides Woody Robinson, there is few parties were partially responsible for inventory losses goodners suffered. Customers is one of the parties responsible for inventory losses because when customers complained to Woody Robinson for being charged for merchandise they had not purchased, Woody Robinson usually apologized and corrected their account balances but if some of the customers sometimes paid the illicit charges, so this shows that customers unknowingly helped Woody Robinson sustain his fraudulent scheme. Next, We identify that Felix Garcia, the Huntington sales manager is also one of the parties that responsible for inventory losses because Felix Garcia stated that he was not discussed the customers complaints with Woody Robinson or the sales representative. Normally, when Felix Garcia received a customer complaint, he just simply passed it to the appropriate sales representative and was allowed that individual to deal with the matters. F urthermore, We also found that Felix Garcia maintain a file of customer complaints only because he was told to do so by the previous sales manager whom was replaced three years earlier. So, We found that previous sales manager also partially responsible for inventory losses. Next, Al Hunt is owner of Curcio tires and also Woody Robinsons friend is also one of the parties responsible inventory losses because Al Hunt just continue purchase the tires even though another sales representative told that the company only sold closeout merchandise directly to wholesalers. Al Hunt also know that Woody Robinson was incredibly selling the tires at lower price. This shows that Al Hunt really responsible for inventory losses. We also identify that Al Hunt one of the major parties among the other parties who responsible for inventory losses. 2.4 However, there is a various forms of fraud risk management strategy that could be implemented by Goodners Brothers Inc. One of the fraud risk management strategy is communication and training. So, raising employees awareness of their obligations concerning fraud and misconduct control begins with communications and training. While many organisations take an approach, careful planning behind this effort can help send employees a clear message to take their control responsibilities seriously. Secondly, another fraud risk management strategy is audit and monitoring. Because since it is impossible to monitor every fraud and potential misconduct risk, management should develop a comprehensive auditing and monitoring plan that is based on the organizations fraud risk assessment process. Then, another fraud risk management strategy is employee and third-party due diligence. An important part of an effective fraud and misconduct prevention strategy is using appropriate due diligence in t he hiring, retention and promotion of employees, agents, vendors and other third parties. Such due diligence becomes especially important for those employees with authority over the financial reporting process. Furthermore, another fraud risk management is code of conduct. That is actually a well -written code of conduct is one of the most important mechanisms to communicate with employees about acceptable business standards. It sets the organizations tone on control culture, raises awareness of managements commitment to integrity and provides the resources to help employees achieve managements compliance goals. All those fraud risk management strategy that we stated that could implemented by Goodner Brothers Inc. 3.0 Finally, we come with conclusion that the management or the board of this company is mainly responsible for the design of internal control and conveying to staff their internal control responsibilities. Peoples is the one who make internal controls work. Everyone in the company plays an important role. As problems are noted, staffs should be communicated, so that adjustments or corrections can be made. There is few benefits of internal control mainly for employees is actually to help prevent errors and irregularities from occurring. If they do occur, Internal controls will help ensure they are detected in timely manner. By this report, we believed that the board of Goodner Brothers Inc is should be able to overcome the internal control weaknesses. It makes the fraudulent in the company will be reduced and particularly Huntington sales office can be maintained or sustained consistently ranked as Goodners second or third most profitable sales outlet.

concept of consciousness :: essays research papers

An individual is somewhere in space-time, and not somewhere else. Except for God, of course, who was invented to instantiate all contradictions in blessed harmony. He's everywhere and everywhen, though at the same time, as it were, not in time or space[3]. But the upshot of this is that every individual has a point of view, a perspective, and apprehends the world, so far as it can apprehend the world, from somewhere and not nowhere[4] (Nagel 1986). If taken in isolation, the feature of being somewhere in particular affects all kinds of individuals, not just humans. But only those individuals that can view something can presumably have a point of view. Thus Searle again: Subjectivity has the further consequence that all of my conscious forms of intentionality that give me information about the world independent of myself are always from a special point of view. The world itself has no point of view, but my access to the world through my conscious states is always perspectival. (ibid. 95).[5] In itself, however, that could be true of any other living thing. Nor is it a requirement to be alive: an artificial eye has a point of view. More generally, as shown in the excellent discussion of this subject in (Proust 1997), aspectuality can be seen as a consequence of mere differences of informational channels, and doesn't therefore require any level of consciousness. Perspective might itself be of two kinds. This can be seen by asking: Does a still camera have a genuine point of view? One reason to deny this is that for a still camera there is nothing that corresponds to the difference between locality in time, and locality in space. For a living individual, these pose slightly different problems. For there are different ways in which we might care about the effects of our actions in distant space, and in different times. Time is asymmetrical in this sense (among others): we care more, or quite differently, about what happens in the future than about what happened in the past. But although the things we care about may, of course, be unevenly distributed, space has no uniformly privileged direction. So temporal perspectivity appears seems to constitute a more serious species of subjectivity than the spatial kind. Now perspectivity is sometimes equated with subjectivity in general, as suggested in the last quotation from Searle above. Yet subjectivity is also associated with the self, and the temporal form of perspectivity actually causes problems for the view that my self is my subjectivity.

Gay And Lesbian Children

The current estimates of children who live with bisexual parents, either the gay or the lesbians in United States of America are in the tune of between six to ten million. The census conducted in the year 2000 treated these children as single parent children. At the moment, over twenty percent of the existing gay as well as lesbian relationships have a child in their homesteads. In the American society, the families of gay as well as lesbians forms a fundamental element of the daily life. Introduction It has already been established that partners of the same sex ran their households almost in the entire county. It is also true that the homes led by the gay as well as the lesbians are in the tune of 600 000 in the entire nation† (Leff). It therefore implies that, the numbers of the children with transgender, bisexual, gay or lesbian parents are always on the increase. This category of the children may hail in families of mixed race, adoptive families or even families that are si ngle parent. There is also likelihood that the children are biologically fathered or mothered by one of the parents. This is out of the fact that majority of the gay as well as the lesbians commit themselves in gay or lesbian relationships at the time of being parents. The other fact holds that the gay and the lesbians had children in their earlier life of heterosexual relationship but later got involved in their current sexual status (Leff). Literature review The documentary film that talks about what it is like to grow up with gay or lesbian parents that I have chosen for the purpose of this paper is entitled DADDY & PAPA and from the context as presented, Johnny Symons, who is the film maker played the part of Papa, while William Rogers, who was his partner, played the part of Daddy. The two couples were committed for a period of about ten years although in an informally accepted union. They later got married officially in 2004 at a ceremony highly cheered by their sons (DADDY & PAPA). There are some general ideas that are worth reflection. It is therefore upright in as far as the video is concerned to conclude that multiple and diverse ways exist in which a family can be composed. The existing families assume varied and diverse sizes as well as diverse configurations. There exists ordinary aspect among the variety of families in existence. The existing families have their kinds considered normal. However some kinds of a family may be numerous in relation to others. All of these families once in a while experience conflict of some kind which is part and parcel of the family. It is not practical for the families to be happy at all times. If teasing is a common occurrence in the family, hurt feelings as well as low self-esteem is most likely to be the repercussion to the offended member (s) of the family. It is also a possibility for the interruption of teasing to be done by members of the family who the become allies in as far as the other members are concerned. It is possible for families to experience a transformation just as it is with the people. Families of different kinds are potentially gifted to support one another for the purpose of their individual strengths more than any particular kind of family existing independently of any other (DADDY & PAPA). According to Judith, â€Å"The fact that the child is from a straight family with both mother and father does not warrant that the child will always be happy, safe and have a secure environment at home to allow the child a chance to grow into a productive individual who is properly adjusted. Parents of the same gender as well as parents of opposite gender have the same reaction in as far as stings are concerned, the scraps, the shorts as well as and the joys together with the heartaches affecting childhood in a similar manner as their children† (Judith, 12). According to Elias â€Å"Parents who are open about their sexual orientation, who exhibit mentally healthy behavior and provide supportive communities for their kids, tend to have the most resilient youngsters† (Para 9). Further, paragraph. point number 2 states that â€Å"Gay parents share child care and chores more evenly than heterosexual couples. Both men assume mommy/daddy roles. They're coaches and cooks,† (Para 6) Judith further asserts that â€Å"The potential to become great or otherwise in as far as the parent is concerned has no any relationship to the sexual orientation of a person. Adults who are nurturing are reliable whether they are male or female; they have the potential, and are usually excellent parents† (Judith, 33). She further summarizes the issue with a comment that â€Å"The physical appearance of the family is not actually a reflection of the particular family type† (Judith, 37). The most significant thing is the shared love among the members of that particular family which actually brings about the difference in existence among the members of the family. Taken from the perspective of Levy â€Å"the health as well as the development of the child, there is no significant difference among the child of the heterosexual family and a child from a gay or a lesbian family† (Para 1). The organizations with a strong devotion to the health as well as welfare of the children are in no compromise as far as the health is concerned. The adjustment of the child of couples of the same gender is no different from those ones of children from families of heterosexual nature (Lev). According to Elias, There exists no scientific evidence that sexual orientation determines the parenting effectiveness; any parent can provide supportive and healthy environments for their children. Elias says, â€Å"The children will benefit if their parents are able to marry† (paragraph 1). The only shortcomings facing the children of same-sex marriage is the failure of the efforts by the schools to meet their needs in as far as being more inclusive. This situation is compounded by the teasing and the mockery that they face from children of normal families (Elias). According to Lev â€Å"Much of the research describes four general outcomes for cross-gendered children. One, they grow up to be normatively gendered, heterosexual people. Two, they grow up to be feminine men or masculine women. Three, they grow up to be lesbian or gay† (Para 6). Four, they grow up to be transsexual or transgender. The most common outcome seems to be that gender-variant boys grow up to be gay. Treatment—in the form of behavioral modification programs geared at eliminating cross-gender behavior—are the standard recommendation† (Para 6). Chapter 9 of the same website suggests that â€Å"Something is very wrong here, but I’m not sure it is Kyle who has the problem. In order to decide if something is ‘wrong’ with Kyle, we need to define what we mean by wrong. Do we think it is wrong to be a sensitive heterosexual man? Do we think it is wrong to be a gay man? I suspect most of us will respond to those questions with a resounding No! † (Chapter 9). But the minority group has had to encounter great challenges due to discrimination. According to the article Liberation Was For Others â€Å"Latest research estimates that approximately 10,000 – 15,000 men were sent to concentration camps solely for being homosexual the same article stresses that Some lesbians, as well as feminists, were considered A-Socials† by the Nazis and were sent to the camps in limited numbers. Many served their time in camp brothels servicing the Nazis as well as some camp inmates† (Chapter 3). Conclusion The fact of the matter is that shapes as well as the sizes of various families are also diverse. All types of parents are gifted to raise their children, whether they are married, unmarried, grandparents of the children, single parents, widowed, members of an extended family and foster parents among many others. There are high chances of the possibility that children from gay or lesbian parent enjoy a happier life in comparison to a child from a normal family. The family is a care giver of primary importance and a central focus for the strength as well support in as far as the children are concerned. The security given to a child out of a setting of a stable family is the necessary ingredient responsible for the healthy future of the child. The gay as well as the lesbians have been involved in child rearing from the past, a trend that will continue into the future.

Romeo - A Character Profile From Romeo and Juliet

Romeo - A Character Profile From Romeo and Juliet One of the original star-crossd lovers, Romeo is the male half of the ill-fated pair who drive the action in Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet. Much has been written about the origins of the character, and the influence Romeo has had on other young male lovers throughout Western literature. But Shakespeares Romeo is an enduring representative of young love gone tragically wrong.   What Happens to Romeo Most interpretations of Romeo and Juliet estimate him to be about 16 years old, and Juliet to be about 13.  The heir of the House of Montague, Romeo meets and falls in love with Juliet, the young daughter of the House of Capulet. For reasons unexplained, the Montagues and Capulets are bitter enemies, so the young lovers know their affair will anger their families.  But the titular couple isnt interested in family feuds, and quickly fall in love.    Romeo and Juliet secretly marry with the help of his friend and confidant, Friar Lawrence. But the two are doomed from the start; after Juliets  cousin Tybalt kills Romeos friend Mercutio; Romeo retaliates, killing Tybalt. He is sent into exile, only returning when he hears of Juliets death. But Juliet has only faked her death unbeknownst to Romeo, who kills himself in a fit of grief. She awakens to find him dead and takes her life, this time for real.   Was Romeos Death Fate? After the young lovers die, the Capulets and Montagues agree to end their feud. Shakespeare leaves it mostly to his audience to decide whether this means that Romeo and Juliets deaths are fated. Could the feud have been ended any other way?   Questions long debated among Shakespearean scholars: Is the outcome of the play the result of bad luck? Or were Romeo and Juliets deaths predestined as part of the legacy of their families feud? Origins of the Romeo Character Most Shakespeare historians trace the origin of the Romeo character back to Greek myth. Ovids Metamorphoses  tells the story of Pyramus and Thisbe, two young lovers in Babylon who lived next to each other and communicated through cracks in the walls, their parents having forbid them meeting because of an ongoing family feud. The similarities to Romeo and Juliet dont end there: When the pair arrange to meet finally, Thisbe arrives at the predetermined spot, a mulberry tree, to find a menacing lioness. She runs away, but accidentally leaves her veil behind. Pyramus finds the veil when he gets there and believes the lioness has killed Thisbe, so he falls on his sword (literally). Thisbe returns and finds him dead, then kills herself with his sword.   While Pyramus and Thisbe may not have been Shakespeares direct source for Romeo and Juliet, it was certainly an influence on the works from which Shakespeare drew. Romeo first appeared in Giulietta e Romeo, a 1530 story by Luigi da Porto, which was itself adapted from Masuccio Salernitanos 1476 work Il Novellino. All of those later works can, in some way or other, trace their origins to Pyramus and Thisbe.

The Poetry of Anne Bradstreet and Her Writing Style

The Poetry of Anne Bradstreet and Her Writing Style Most of the poems included in Anne Bradstreets first collection, The Tenth Muse (1650), were quite conventional in style and form, and dealt with history and politics. In one poem, for instance, Anne Bradstreet wrote of the 1642 uprising of Puritans led by Cromwell. In another, she praises accomplishments of Queen Elizabeth. The publishing success of The Tenth Muse seems to have given Anne Bradstreet more confidence in her writing. (She refers to this publication, and to her displeasure with being unable to make corrections to the poems herself before publication, in a later poem, The Author to Her Book.) Her style and form became less conventional, and instead, she wrote more personally and directly - of her own experiences, of religion, of daily life, of her thoughts, of the New England landscape. Anne Bradstreet was in most ways quite typically Puritan. Many poems reflect her struggle to accept the adversity of the Puritan colony, contrasting earthly losses with the eternal rewards of the good. In one poem, for instance, she writes of an actual event: when the familys house burned down. In another, she writes of her thoughts of her own possible death as she approaches the birth of one of her children. Anne Bradstreet contrasts the transitory nature of earthly treasure with eternal treasures and seems to see these trials as lessons from God. Ann Bradstreet on Religion From Before the Birth of One of Her Children: All things within this fading world hath end. And from Here Follows Some Verses upon the Burning of Our House July 10th, 1666: I blest His name that gave and took,That laid my goods now in the dust.Yea, so it was, and so twas just.It was His own, it was not mine....The world no longer let me love,My hope and treasure lies above. On the Role of Women Anne Bradstreet also alludes to the role of women and to womens capabilities in many poems. She seems especially concerned to defend the presence of Reason in women. Among her earlier poems, the one extolling Queen Elizabeth includes these lines, revealing the sly wit thats in many of Anne Bradstreets poems: Now say, have women worth? or have they none?Or had they some, but with our queen ist gone?Nay Masculines, you have thus taxt us long,But she, though dead, will vindicate our wrong,Let such as say our Sex is void of Reason,Know tis a Slander now, but once was Treason. In another, she seems to refer to the opinion of some as to whether she should be spending time writing poetry: I am obnoxious to each carping tongueWho says my hand a needle better fits. She also refers to the likelihood that poetry by a woman will not be accepted: If what I do prove well, it wont advance,Theyll say its stolen, or else it was by chance. Anne Bradstreet largely accepts, however, the Puritan definition of proper roles of men and women, though asking for more acceptance of womens accomplishments. This, from the same poem as the previous quote: Let Greeks be Greeks, and Women what they areMen have precedency and still excel;It is but vain unjustly to wage war.Men can do best, and women know it well,Preeminence in all and each is yours;Yet grant some small acknowledgment of ours. On Eternity In contrast, perhaps, to her acceptance of adversity in this world, and her hope of eternity in the next, Anne Bradstreet also seems to hope that her poems will bring a kind of earthly immortality. These excerpts are from two different poems: Thus gone, amongst you I may live,And dead, yet speak and counsel give.If any worth or virtue live in me,Let that live frankly in thy memory.

Motivational Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Motivational Theories - Essay Example The X and Y theory The theory X and theory Y formulated by Douglas Mc Gregor in the year 1960 positions previous negative perceptions about employees (Theory X) against a positive outlook towards employees and mindset of individuals (Theory Y) eg: Theory X- People inherently dislike work. Theory Y - People view work as being as natural as play and rest. Motivator- Hygiene factors theory : The hygiene factors theory by Frederick Herzberg in the year 1966 is another path breaking concept which clearly listed the factors of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Most accurately explained as Motivator factors that increase job satisfaction and Hygiene factors whose absence can create job dissatisfaction. The essence of the theory is that hygiene factors are the essentials of any employee or an individual at work they are - Security, Salary, Supervision, Company policy, Working conditions and Peer relationship. On the other hand, motivator factors are - work itself, Responsibility, recognition, achievement, advancement and growth. However, the first two theories give a general insight about an individual's needs and perceptions to understand a human's psychology about work was the theory of Frederick Herzberg that clearly lists the requisites of any given job for an individual. The three needs theory -... The highlight of the theory is direct relation it draws to the relevance to the word "Motivation' or factors that motivate. In this case factors that motivate individuals to perform and succeed. The needs theory includes all factors that come from within an individual. Eg: Competitiveness, influence that one exerts on another, need for achievement, acceptance and friendship. Goal Setting theory and Equity theory: The goal setting theory by the Stacey Adams in the year 1965 states that specific goals set by any organization for an individual increases performance in the of sales the goal is monthly target of sale on products to be achieved. The theory further goes on to explain that acceptance of a difficult goal only results in higher performance, even when compared to a goal that is easily achievable. The equity theory is nothing but the simple equation that any individual draws between the efforts and rewards an individual is constantly trying to match both sides by reducing efforts or increasing the same depending on the rewards and recognition expected. Eg: If a sales representative sees the reward or recognition is receives after he meets the required monthly target is unequal to his effort or sincerity he is bound to under perform the following month. Expectancy Theory: This theory by Victor Vroom in the year 1964 aims to substantiate the motivation theory more accurately for any sales unit. Victor Vroom explains the theory in three simple questions: 1. How hard will I have to work - Effort 2. What is the reward - Reward 3. How attractive is the reward - Attractiveness of reward. Thus the above mentioned theories in one way of or the other help in understanding the various factors of

Smoking Tobacco Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Smoking Tobacco - Essay Example Parker’s article accounts for credibility in a number of ways. To start with, the article considers tobacco trade within the international market setting. In so doing, the text is characteristic of diversified perspectives surrounding tobacco trade and the underlying behaviors by the global population. In addition, the article reports progressive developments and trends that were observed across the globe for over a decade in regards to tobacco smoking. These observations make Parker’s insights relevant and credible to the study of tobacco-related topics. Finally, Parker’s text is a reliable source of information as far as tobacco smoking is concerned. In the final paper context, the insights shed by Parker will come in handy in the assessment of global tobacco use. Most importantly, the text will be useful in capturing local, regional, and international variations in tobacco smoking and related practices and/or behaviors. This is because the article has adequate statistics, data, and information relevant to the prospects of the final

Dreaming Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Dreaming - Research Paper Example The dreams can last from a few seconds to even thirty minutes. Typically, normal human beings experience an estimated three to four dreams, however, in some instances, even seven dreams. Dreams are extremely pictorial and frequently illogical in nature. This paper explains the historical, psychological and the science behind dream reasoning. Human being have strived to understand dreams for the centuries about 3000-4000 B.C., In some aboriginal societies, participants were incapable of differentiating between the real world and the dream world. Members of these primal societies could easily opt not to make the differentiation. These primal societies perceived that the dream domain was a very strong world and moreover an extension of real world (Dreammoods, 1) In the   Roman and Greek epoch, dreams were perceived in a religious perspective. Dreams were thought to be undeviating messages from the dead or from the gods. The people of that era relied onto their dreams for clarifications what course of direction to take or on what action to do. They had faith in dreams predicted and forewarned the upcoming events. Special worship places were even constructed where individuals can visit there to sleep in the belief that a message in the form of a dream could be delivered to them. Their faith in the strength of dreams was so powerful that it even controlled the deeds of both army and political leaders. Actually, dream translators even escorted army leaders into wars to assist with war line of attack (Dreammoods, 1).  Ã‚   In ancient Egypt, priests also mediated on behalf of a dream translator. The Egyptians documented their dreams in hieroglyphics. Individual with specific vibrant and noteworthy dreams were alleged to be consecrated and were regarded as special. Individuals who had the capability to interpret dreams were highly regarded and seen as exquisitely talented.  Dreaming can be observed as a tangible dwelling where your soul and spirit

Philips Maps Out a New Direction - Case Analysis Essay Example for Free

Philips Maps Out a New Direction Case Analysis Essay Philips, the electronics manufacturer, has developed a plan to increase profits, shareholder value, and market positioning by 2010. The first step in the process is CEO Gerard Kleisterlee. Upon taking the top position, Kleisterlee was able to affect an immediate 4% rise in share prices by simply announcing the marketing make over plan. He believes that a focus on innovating and branding will be the key to the plan’s success. The strategies that Kleisterlee is employing are consolidating six operating units into three, acquiring similar or enhancing technology companies, and entering into emerging markets. The six existing units will merge into three divisions, Consumer Lifestyle, Philips Healthcare, and Philips Lighting. Each division will be run by a CEO recruited from within the other existing Philips operating units. The rationale for the consolidations is to ‘save on logistical and back-office costs,† and to increase revenues by 5-6% for each unit. Philips will also acquire existing technology companies that deal with a specific technology, most likely incorporating those acquisitions into one of the three divisions. Philips is also penetrating emerging consumer markets like China to build brand recognition and create a dedicated market base. Strategic Issues: Problems and Opportunities Philips has some issue to overcome, particularly name or brand recognition, and stagnate earnings and profits. As stated the name Philips is associated with laxatives and tools. The parent company Royal Philips Electronics produces a wide range of products from light bulbs, to electric shavers, home medical devices, and semiconductors. Even though stock prices rose quickly when Kleisterlee took over, sales and earnings have not increased significantly. Kleisterlee’s goal of increasing pre-tax margins by 10% will require an increase in sales along with the decrease in operating expenses which is the goal of consolidating operating units. According to the case study, Philips has no debt on their balance sheet. This financial position is a great investment opportunity. As noted, it makes cash available for acquisitions of other technology companies whose operations can provide immediate revenue growth to Philips’ bottom line. Second, it allows Philips to invest marketing dollars into the newly created divisions and into emerging markets creating the sought after name and brand recognition. Analysis and Evaluation Philips as a whole has enhanced its rankings in important areas as brand rankings, brand value, and innovations. Consolidated and highly targeted operating divisions allow Philips to focus on marketing three different product lines in the same market. Philips has an opportunity to saturate any one or all of three unique markets. Operating as individual units allows each division to operate as an independent company with independent marketing strategies. However, by building on the parent company’s brand name, Royal Philips Electronics, each division can enhance their market positions by taking on the reputation that has been developed. The challenge for Phillips, and the continuing opportunity, is to try maintain a virtually debt free balance sheet. This will help not only in acquiring exiting technology companies, but will allow Philips to invest in technology companies in the emerging markets that they want to target. As is pointed out, in China, local technology firms can reclaim a certain market share. However, Philips can invest in the local technology market buying technology specific firms, and adding their market reputation to a local manufacturing partner. Conclusion Royal Philips Electronics, simply known as Philips, is developing into a global marketer of different but related products. The key to Philips’ success so far is to consolidate operations, acquire existing technologies, remain debt free, and penetrate emerging markets. The key to Philips’ continuing success is to invest in emerging markets as a way of enhancing the market positioning of each operating unit while drawing on and maintaining the parent company brand and name reputation.

The Theoretical Approach To Innovation Business Essay

The Theoretical Approach To Innovation Business Essay It is difficult to imagine nowadays business world without innovation. Many enterprises simply depend on their ability to be innovative for achieving and sustaining competitive advantage (Frishammar, Parida, Westerberg, 2012). Moreover, it is important to note that not only theoretical but also conceptual understanding of innovation has developed significantly since the early 1980s (Hong, Oxley, McCann, 2012). Hence, it is essential to understand the importance of linking innovation to new markets. In this paper the following will be discussed: Models of innovation; Types of innovation; The importance of anticipating market needs and connecting them with a new technological capability in the cases of radical and incremental innovations; Ways to empower people to innovate. Theoretical Approach to Innovation Innovation undoubtedly became the engine of the progress, competitive ability and economic growth. Baumol (2002) even regards innovation as a life-and-death matter for a firm. However, paradox is that still some difficulties remain in understanding what exactly the innovation is and how important it is in nowadays world. Despite the fact that there are many definitions of processes of innovation, Gordon and McCann (2005) suggest that, generally, all innovations contain three underlying elements: newness (1), improvement (2) and the overcoming of uncertainty (3). Newness is probably one of the most important parts of innovation, although such newness could be understood as something novel to the form or industry as a whole (McCann, Oxley, 2013, p.54). Improvemet is related to the fact that firms need to find the superior quality to those products which currently exist in the market. Overcoming uncertainty means that such improvement is determined by the market and that market need have to be clarified. In addition, it is esential to remember that all these elements are driven by the technological advance. So it is clear that the process of innovation is complex, involving many different variables to consider. Models of Innovation When talking about innovation and its importance it is substancial to understand the models, concepts and types of innovation. Many models have been developed throughout all these years. However, no model appears to be capable to being utilized as a generalised model of innovation (Forrest, 1991). In this paper the following 5 models will be discussed: Linear model Technology push Linear model Market pull Interactive Network System Linear Models Technology Push and Maket Pull In 1960s and 1970s the new approach to the models of innovation has come. Concentration was focused on the idea that specific processes can generate new technologies and the learning involved in technological change (Shavinina, 2003). The first linear description of innovation was called technology push. The main idea of this model is that innovation is based on the advance in both science and techology because, at the same time, it can lead to the technological development and rise of new products in the market. The step sequence is as follows (Shavinina, 2003): Basic Science à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Applied Science and Engineering à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Manufacturing à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Marketing à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Sales Another linear model was developed afterwards the technology push model and was called market pull. The main focus in this model was orientated into the importance of marketplace and existing demand. Hence, innovation is the result of the demands of potential customers. The step sequence is as follows (Shavinina, 2003): Market Place à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Technology Development à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Manufacturing à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Sales Both linear models were comparatively simple and rational so they were widely adopted until 1980s. However, the growing compexity of innovations and market made both models hardly adaptable to the future innovations. Interactive Models After the linear models the need to create a more detailed model arose. Interactive model was very important step in the progress of conceptualizing innovation because it was an attempt to bring together the technology push and marketing pull approaches into a comprehensive model of innovation (Shavinina, 2003). Rothwell and Zegveld (1985, p.50) suggest that the overall pattern of innovation process can be thought of as a complex net of communication paths, both intra-organisational and extra-organisational, linking together the various in-house functions and linking the firm to the broader scientific and technological community and to the marketplace. The key fact in the interactive model is that the innovation is no longer the end product of a final stage of activity and the process is more circular then sequential. The interactive model is relevant even in nowadays as the original model has been extended to make it specific to particular situation. System and Network Models As the process of innovation is getting more complex in the course of time, the importance of systematic approach to the innovation is growing. In addition, such complexity requires interaction not only from agents within the firm but also from cooperation amongst firms (Shavinina, 2003). Synergy, interactions and crossing between organisational boundaries are the most descriptive features when talking about system and network models. All the models described above are very important in understanding the process of innovation and its importance. One models lack of some important elements, others are more elaborate but still lacking some important points (e.g. taking into account the post-innovation stage, including different environmental variables or such external factors like trade unions, goverments, social interest grouos, etc.). Hence, it is clear that it is impossible to adjust only one particular model as the best one. The research and understanding of the particular innovation have to be included in every innovative organisation. Types of Innovation The same important is to consider the different types of innovation. Generally, innovations are classified according to the market that the innovations are aimed at (product innovations; process innovations) or according to the technical knowledge and investment to the development. Mainly, there are 4 types of innovations: Type of Innovation Explanation Incremental innovation The intention of incremental innovation is to use the insights from customers or others to develop better solutions that are attractive and would add to the profits from the existing products (Pavitt 1998; Xin, Yeung, and Cheng 2008). Radical innovation The core idea of the radical innovation is the development of a completely new technology, which can provide a product which has never been available before (Nasirpourosgoei, Coles, 2006). Product innovation A product innovation is the introduction of a good or service that is new or significantly improved with respect to its characteristics or intended uses (OECD, 2005). Process innovation A process innovation is the implementation of a new or significantly improved production or delivery method (OECD, 2005). Table 1. The Types of Innovations. Source: Authors Consruction. The data was taken from OECD and research papers. In this paper the incremental and radical innovations will be discussed in greater detail. Radical and incremental innovations are fundamentally different. In the main, radical innovation represents the ability to develop products that are completely new to the world or particular industry, while incremental innovation refers to the ability to develop products that are new to the firm (Frishammar, Parida, Westerberg, 2012). In other words, incremental innovations are usually thought to enhance the capabilities of the firm, whereas radical ones are thought to undermine it (Holck, Mahnke, Zicari, 2008). Moreover, radical innovations are ground-breaking development that requires significant resources to materialize. For that reason, such innovation has longer time lags to profitability compared with incremental innovations (Chaney, Devinney, and Winer 1991; Veryzer 1998). Radical innovations, in comparison with incremental innovations, are more noticeable and visible. What is more, radical innovations are more likely to arise in large corporate or networked ventures. Hence, there is a long list of radical innovation examples that have changed the market, its structure and understanding: penicillin, X-rays, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, personal computer, cell phones, laser, etc (Ruben, Slocum 2008). Example of Radical Innovation. The Case of Amazon.com One of the latest examples of radical innovation is the case of amazon.com and its approach to sell books via the Internet. Amazon successfully emerged from the dot-com bubble and demonstrated significant results of growth from $4 billion in 2002 to $20 billion in 2008. One of the main reason why Amazon successfully survived the Internet bubble was the firms ability to anticipate the changing market needs and customer values. Amazon started to sell wide range of books that upended the staid book industry that led to a number of the traditional book stores going out of business. A few years later, the company offered another completely new field a commission-based brokerage service to buyers and sellers of used books. Then Amazon moved forward again developing a model to serve an entirely different customer: third-party sellers (Johnson, 2010). Jeffrey Preston, the founder and CEO of Amazon.com, Inc., says: If you want to continuously revitalize the service that you offer to your customers, you cannot stop at what you are good at. You have to ask what your customers need and want, and then, no matter how hard it is, you better get good at those things (Johnson, 2010). It is obvious, that Amazon.com, Inc. is one of the best examples how important is to understand and anticipate market needs and connect them with a new technological capability. Example of Incremental Innovation. The Case of MySQL All the differencies between radical and incremental innovations has shaped the common belief that only radical innovations can bring more tangible results and recognition. However, the following example of the incremental innovation can break that stereotype. Jesper Holck, Volker Mahnke, and Roberto Zicari (2008) presents the case of the MySQL AB as a proof that it is possible to win and succeed through the incremental innovation. MySQL is a SQL  [1]  database management system. Despite the fact that the genesis of this system is dated in the late 80s the most important advance has been made with the beginning of 21st century when www.MySQL.com was formed to maintain the database. MySQL gained a sound position in the Web service community. Another advantageous feature was the fact that MySQL understood and anticipated the market need in the late 1990s when business and new ventures were trying to join the Internet and exploit the WWW revolution. The key point why MySQL was successful in that was the firms strategy to to follow the 15 minute rule, stating that it should be possible to get MySQL up and running in less than 15 minutes (Holck, Mahnke, Zicari, 2008). This was very attractive, especially for the Internet start-ups, because it was simple, quick and reliable way to use Relational DataBase Management Systems. Moreover, MySQL databases did not require any specific IT eduction to install those system s, the users were less considered with the missing features of MySQL and they needed the basic functionality of MySQL as a data store for customers, goods, etc. MySQL was attractive even for the great enterprises, because of the free availability and possibility for the computer departments to test it without asking for financial resources to do this (Holck, Mahnke, Zicari, 2008). In addition, MySQL had a strong superiority in demanding comparatively very little computer resources and can run efficiently even on inexpensive PCs. After the burst of the Internet bubble, MySQL AB consisted of 20 people who were focusing on technology and the managerial issues played secondary role in the firm. To enhance organisational efficiency a number of highly professional people for the top management were recruited. Therefore, MySQL AB showed significant results in the growth of employees, operating income and profits (Holck, Mahnke, Zicari, 2008). Another important issue that was faced was the battle of the storage engines (Holck, Mahnke, Zicari, 2008). Storage engine is the program that handles how data are read from and written to the files etc. where the data are stored. MySQL AB chose the InnoDB as a promising and copetitive storage engine. However, afterwards one of the MySQL competitors, Oracle, made a strategically important movement and bought Innobase OY, the company behind InnoDB. My SQL felt a pressure and increasing competitors. In response, in 2007 MySQL released its first own open source storage engine: Fa lcon (Holck, Mahnke, Zicari, 2008). So what strategy has empowered MySQL AB to achieve significant results and become serious competitor to giant companies like IBM, Microsoft, Oracle? Jesper Holck, Volker Mahnke, and Roberto Zicari (2008) suggest that success was determined by small incremental innovations and ability to anticipate the market. The following 7 principles of MySQL strategy were the basis of the firms strategy (Holck, Mahnke, Zicari, 2008): Commitment to existing standarts. MySQL chose to rely on existing application programming interface and data storage technology. That enabled users of to easily switch to MySQL and so the switching costs were reduced. Ability to distinguish and prioritize must-to-have features from nice-to-have features. MySQL concentrated on a key features of the product, like speed, simplicity to install and size of the memory footprint. Ability to link the development of both commercial and non-commercial product versions. MySQL chose to let both the Community and the Enterprise version build on the same code base, i.e. the exact same source code files (Holck, Mahnke, Zicari, 2008). The most important thing by linking the development of both commercial and non-commercial product versions was the fact that it helped to realize the economies of scale. Upbringing and coordination of user communities. MySQL undertsand the importance of paying attention to various groups of users that are involved in the development process, e.g. MySQL employees, developer community (active users, contributing with interfaces, forum answers, blog entries, etc.), user community. MySQL created a coherent community that are interested in the product. Such cohesiveness enables not only to understand users, collect the feedback but also to motivate community members to develop the product. Product testing with communities. Despite the fact that majority of MySQLs open source development community do not generate revenue directly, community members are great supporters. In other words, they provide valuable testing, error-reporting, and bug-fixing information that allows to reduce the costs of testing and even marketing. Implementation of dual-licensing strategy. MySQL offers different licensing arrangements for different user groups. Jesper Holck, Volker Mahnke, and Roberto Zicari (2008) note that Dual licensing is an important element in benefiting from an incremental innovation based business model for software products that are embedded in other products. Linking the power of market and communities. One of the main reasons why MySQL was successful in incremental innovation is the fact that the firm was capable to combine community and markets. Important feature is that MySQL can offer enterprise customers extra value, like more functionality, better performance, new features and fewer errors, while community users provide very valuable testing and feedback that delivers error-reporting and bug-fixing. Empowering People to Innovate Talking about the need for innovation and the main drivers of innovation, there are many factors that can determine it. According to the Canadian Innovation Centre (Canadian Dairy Commission, 2010), these factors can be divided into both internal and external drivers: Internal Factors External Factors Competition Improve Profitability Lower Costs Improve Return on Investment New Entrants Improve the Cash Flow Market drivers: Demand Economic Forces Social Changes Demographics Improve Quality Table 2. External and Internal Drivers of Innovation Source: Authors Consruction. The data was taken from Canadian Dairy Commission However, this list of factors is not limited and could be expanded. For example, Canadian firms (Canadian Dairy Commission, 2010) from the food industry responded that they were engaging in innovation projects because they wanted: To introduce new products to the existing line of products; To increase market share; To meet buyers standarts and requirements; To improve productivity; To reduce production costs. Innovation seems to be an engine of every organisation and its progress. However, some companies are not successful in innovating. In 2010 Strategyn, an innovation management consulting firm, conducted an independent study to measure the success rate of traditional innovation processes. The study averaged the success rates cited in 12 sources, including the Harvard Business Review, the consulting firm Frost Sullivan, the professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Product Development Management Association and the Corporate Strategy Board. The results were surprinsingly low innovation success rate was calculated at only 17 percent (Strategyn, 2010). Hence, it is extremely imporant to know, how encourage people to participate in innovation. OECD (2010) suggests that there are 7 determinants which can influence peoples capabilities to innovate: Basic scientific skills. Education is very important factor in supporting innovation because knowledge-based societies rely on a highly qualified and flexible labour force in all sectors of the economy and society. Innovation requires the capacity to continually learn and upgrade skills (OECD, 2010, p.46). Tertiary education. Well-developed higher education system is another important factor. High graduation rates in universities can foster the development of a highly skilled workforce. Doctorate holders. Doctoral graduates are the most promising innovators. They have been specifically trained to conduct reasearch and are considered best qualified to create and diffuse knowledge (OECD, 2010, p.48). International mobility. It plays an important role in creating and diffusing knowledge, especially tacit knowledge. Entrepreneurial talent. It provides with a broader skill development, employment opportunities as well as greater possibility to innovate. Innovative workplace. Effective management is a crucial factor. It is highly important to ensure that the talents of individuals are being tapped. Ability to motivate and organisational culture can also determine the success of innovation. Consumers demand for innovation. Users and consumers play inevitable role in the innovation process. Hence, it is extremely important for companies to understand and anticipate market needs and connect them with a new technological capability. Users and consumers have a power to stimulate and encourage the process of development. It is visible that despite the list of benefits and drivers of innovation, some firms might be reluctant to innovate. For that reason, it is extremely important to know how to empower people to be more innovative. Considering the OECD research, it is obvious that probably the most important role goes to the educational system, consumers demand and workplace. Conclusion There are many different models of innovation (linear, interactive, network, system, etc.). However, the complexity of the process of innovation determines that it is impossible to adjust only one particular model as the best one. For that reason, the success of the firm highly depends on its ability to find and adapt the best model according to the nature of the company, its strategy, product, size, etc. The types of innovation can also vary. However, the general types are as follows: incremental innovation, radical innovation, product innovation and process innovation. The common belief that incremental innovation can be less tangible than radical innovation is disproved by the example of the case of MySQL AB. The set of incremental innovations became a reason of success and enabled company to gain a competitive advantage amongst the market leaders. The cases of Amazon.com and MySQL AB proved the importance of anticipating the market needs. Both companies were successful in understanding its costumers: Amazon.com found a completely new niche, while MySQL paid high attention to user communities, tried to gather feedback and nurture its potential customers. Understanding the market needs was successfully connected with the new technological capabilities in both Amazon.com and MySQL cases. Hence, despite the fact that both firms used different type of innovation, they achieved significant results by understanding the consumers need and developing new technological approach. Innovation is extremely important for every company that seeks to achieve the progress. Hence, there are list of external and internal drivers that have a power to motivate firms to innovate. However, even in nowadays business world, some companies remain reluctant to be innovative. For that reason Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development identified a need to give some indications about what can actually empower people to innovate. The most important factors that can determine peoples willingness to innovate are educational system, consumers demand and workplace. All in all, innovation is an endless process. Companies need to have a clear strategy and vision, undersand the market and pay attention to the processes of research and development. However, despite its complexity, innovation is the key to the success and continuous progress.