Porters Five Forces Analysis Marketing Essay

Doormen Five Forces Analysis Marketing Essay Presentation The primary motivation behind applying the five powers examination is to distinguish the key factors in the mechanical condition that impact the associations capacities to situate itself so as to justify upper hand. It is a system for industry examination and business procedure advancement shaped by Michael Porter. An industry is a gathering of firms that advertise items which are close substitutes for one another (for example the vehicle business, the lodging industry).Some enterprises are more gainful than others, the appropriate response lies in understanding the elements of serious structure in an industry. Doormen Five Forces Model is one of the most persuasive logical models for surveying the idea of rivalry in an industry. Watchman clarifies that there are five powers that decide industry engaging quality and since a long time ago run industry benefit. These five serious powers are the danger of new contenders section, the danger of substitutes, the bartering intensity of purchasers, the dealing intensity of providers, and the level of contention between existing contenders. Doormen five powers chart. http://www.b2binternational.com/china/pictures/stories/segments/porters_five_forces.gif Source: www.valuebasedmanagement.net Prologue to lodging industry A lodging is an organization that gives a transient paid living arrangement. Previously, lodgings were only a little live with a bed, pantry, and a table, however now it has completely changed to something different. These days lodgings are lavish habitations that incorporate various kinds of offices. A large portion of the lodgings presently incorporate spas, pools, wellness focuses, gatherings rooms and universal eateries. Indeed, even the rooms are currently greater and incorporate many solace offices. Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH)Â was built up in 1974. It is presently being formally perceived as a National Hotel Association. Presently it sets the guidelines and least adequate levels for being a lawful confirmed inn in Malaysia. It has 2,184 enrolled individuals and 17 additional inns in the following 3 years. Table: Hotels and rooms gracefully 2010/2011 Dealing intensity of providers The term providers contains all hotspots for inputs that are required so as to give merchandise or administrations. The two key providers to the Hotel business are works and land Over all the providers in this market are characterized as land owners, engineers and land organizations, inside structure and decorations organizations, draftsmen, the board and preparing specialist co-ops, advertising organizations, industry experts and ICT producers. Classification Rating 1-10 Comments Number of providers 6 (medium) Impressive no. of nearby and Chinese contractual workers Modest number of value preparing suppliers and talented workers. Accessibility of substitute 6(medium) Substitutes for property (realtors), originators, and workers are accessible. Exchanging cost classification 2 (low) - substitute for inn are not many.. Providers danger of forward coordination 2 (low) Providers are profoundly improbable to advance incorporate into the lodging industry Industrys treat in reverse coordination 5 (high) - inns could in reverse incorporate to possess land organization. They could have their own preparation wing. Commitment to quality 5 (high) - Property improvement and land organizations add to the quality so does talented work and quality preparing Commitment to cost 2 (low) - Most providers are a lot littler organizations contrasted with lodging organizations. - Hence inn organizations have an a lot higher bartering power. providers commitment to cost is low By and large, the quantity of providers for the Hotel business is very enormous and every provider is extremely little in size contrasted with the main players in the business. These couple of ground-breaking players are essential to the providers. Substitutability of the providers is additionally very plausible and cheap. Exchanging between realtors isn't goingto influence a specific Hotel organization fundamentally. Anyway regarding quality, preparing habitats for workers and ICT producers who give IT frameworks thatfor property the executives are moderately progressively hard to supplant. Along these lines regarding substitute providers industry appeal is modestly high. Dissimilar to the provider is danger ofâ forward reconciliation, Industry is danger of backwardintegration is entirely high since enormous inn networks like ITC or IHCLÂ would have no doubts venturing into the genuine estateâ business or creating worker preparing offices in-house. Similarlythe industry is commitment to both expense and quality isrelatively high. By and large dealing intensity of providers is low and industry is engaging quality as far as provider bartering power is high (4). Bartering POWER OF BUYERS The bartering intensity of purchasers decides how much clients can force pressure on edges and volumes. The end-clients of the very good quality inn industry are:- Recreation explorer Business explorer Clients who require space for gatherings or different occasions Classification Rating 1-10 Comments - Number of Buyers 7(high) - Buyers are various and little in size.- Losing one client can't going to have any kind of effect. Their haggling power is low - Availability of substitutes: (medium) - Multiple substitutes for a given inn or brand is accessible - Informal convenience for loved ones is accessible other option - Corporate visitor houses for the business voyager - Switching cost: 2(low) - Switching costs arenegligible Purchasers are cost sensitiveexcept in the - Buyers danger of in reverse combination: 5(high) Clients are will notconstruct a lodging or purchase a position of home for each spot they visit. - Contribution to quality 2(low) Extra offices suchas spas, rec centers and so on are usedmy lodgings to improve thequality of clients remain - commitment to cost 5(high) Brand picture is veryimportant in this industry and prompts additional cost, Additional amenities,training of staff, locationrent (like near airport)etc. - Buyers productivity 2(low) Low purchasers productivity In the mid - portion, there are various purchasers, of little productivity In the exceptional fragment, purchasers are prosperous, and they have more prominent haggling power comparedto the mid-section Industrys danger of forward combination. 4(medium) - low possibilities or forward combination This industry has numerous clients who are generally extremely little in size. Loss of a solitary client has little effect on an inn organization and this drives down the purchasers haggling power. Correspondingly purchasers danger of in reverse mix is practically incomprehensible thus the business is under danger of forward joining. Anyway the business has a few substitutes, for example, outdoors and recreational vehicles for sightseers, corporate guesthouses for business explorers and other casual methods for convenience with loved ones. Exchanging cost for every one of these alternatives is low, aside from the RV. Aside from the arrangement of settlement, inns likewise give extra offices and administrations, for example, cafés, rec centers, spas, meeting corridors, ball rooms, lounges and so on. In this manner their commitment to quality just as cost for the purchaser is extremely high. Hindrances of passage Classification Rating 1-10 Comments Economies of scale 5(high) High economies of scale-Very imperative to operatea chain of lodgings in multiplelocations, particularly for the top notch portion. This diminishes thedependence on tourismtrends at some random area Item separation 4(medium) Profoundly separated Brand names and valuesare significant in pulling in and holding clients - brand personality 4(medium) Brand is significant. - exchanging cost 2(low) - low exchanging cost - capital necessity 4(medium) - capital concentrated. - staff, dã ©cor, framework e.t.c is pricey. - Access to innovation 3(moderate) - ICT is significant for property the board. - Access to crude material 4(medium) - Labor, land and different basics are anything but difficult to acquire. - government insurance 3(moderate) - The travel industry gets government. - leave hindrances 2(low) - High leave boundaries. Particular resources for the business. Brand names are significant in the inn business. Organizations utilize their solid image names to pull in new clients and hold old ones. In addition, economies of scale are likewise a colossal factor in this industry. Benefit of inn networks is definitely higher than singular activities. Another contestant can't contend with built up players as far as quality, cost and even administrations. On the off chance that they can't build up huge economies of scale.Being a capital serious industry with a lot of it secured in fixed costs, makes passage increasingly troublesome. Additionally high leave boundaries due to specializedassets make the business less attractive.The friendliness industry is emphatically impacted by movement and the travel industry patterns. Government security for the travel industry is high and this thus comes off on the inn business making it along these lines making the business appealing when all is said in done. Serious intensity of competition players This angle depicts the power of rivalry between existing players (organizations) in an industry. High serious compel results or prompts pressure on value edges and on benefit for each and every organization in the business. The accompanying table shows the examination of the competition between lodgings. factors Evaluations (5) Comments. No. of rivalries 4 (high) Modest number of huge administrators Industry development 3 (medium) Yearly development pace of 15% Fixed expense 1 (low) Profoundly capital escalated separations 4 (high) Solid brand name orders a significant expense premium. Exchanging cost 2 (moderate) Ease changing to comparable brands Receptiveness to terms of offer 4 (high) Cost, charges and so on are known Overabundance limit 2 (moderate) Just 70% rooms involved Key stakes 2 (moderate) Albeit huge lodging

Images of Blood in Faulkners Light in August Essays -- Faulkner Light

Pictures of Blood in Faulkner's Light in August   â â â â â Blood is considered by numerous individuals to be one of the most significant ties between human creatures; it is in this manner as often as possible utilized as a picture that characterizes a character or a connection between characters in a novel. For instance, a sovereign may be characterized by his regal blood, or a frail man portrayed as having slim blood. Dear companions might be kindred spirits, or families may have a blood fight. In William Faulkner's Light in August, the picture of blood penetrates the subjects of sexuality, race, and religion. Blood is normal to these subjects: it is apparent in regenerative cycles and births, it is a mode for the hereditary entry of race starting with one age then onto the next, and it fills in as an image of last chance in numerous religions. Faulkner focuses these amazing pictures of blood around Joe Christmas, the principle character, whose blood, as a power giving him the will to live, is solid regardless of his wrongdoings. Christmas partners physical blood with his impressions of ladies, characterizes races and sexual orientations by the smell of their blood, and is blameworthy and cursed on account of the dimness in his dark blood. Christmas' perspective on the world and of issues Faulkner personally identifies with him, specifically sexuality, race, and religion, is tinted by the pictures of blood rotating around him.  Blood is one of the most significant components in Christmas' perspective on sexuality. He has a contorted impression of ladies and his sexual job because of his horrendous first presentation to sexuality at five years old, in which he saw the sex go about as brutal and appalling. Christmas caught a sexual ... ...ng him dead both genuinely and profoundly, however his impact endures past his years. Christmas' blended blood and blended ethnicity give symbolism to the subjects of race and religion; his origination of himself and the world is unequivocally affected by his disarray over these two issues. His standards are additionally influenced by the associations he draws among blood and sexuality: he sees blood as an intrinsic some portion of womanliness, and he considers sex to be a brutal battle for predominance. Regardless of whether it is a meaning of race, a meaning of wrongdoing or faithfulness, or a meaning of the quintessence of females, the picture of blood impacts Christmas' impression of his general surroundings.  Works Cited Faulkner, William. Light in August. 1932. Notes Joseph Blotner, Editor's note Noel Polk. New York: Vintage Books, 1990

9 Simple Ways to Deal With Stress at Work

9 Simple Ways to Deal With Stress at Work January 20, 2020 Getty Images More in Stress Management Job Stress Workplace Bullying Effects on Health Management Techniques Situational Stress Household Stress Relationship Stress According to research, the percentage of Americans who are stressed at work is high, and it’s only getting higher. According to the CDC’s National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, studies have found the number of Americans who are “extremely stressed at work” range between 29 percent to 40 percent.?? Unfortunately, work stress has significant health consequences that range from the relatively benignâ€"more colds and fluâ€"to the more serious, like heart disease and metabolic syndrome.?? But, because stress at work is so common, finding a low-stress job may be difficult or impossible for many people. A more realistic choice would be to simply  adopt more effective strategies to reduce stress at work. Here are some stress management techniques to try. Verywell / JR Bee Start Your Day off Right After scrambling to get the kids fed and off to school, dodging traffic and combating road rage, and gulping down coffee in lieu of something healthy, many people come in already stressed, and more reactive to stress at work. In fact, you may be surprised by how much more reactive to stress you are when you have a stressful morning. If you start off the day with good nutrition, proper planning, and a positive attitude, you may find the stress of the workplace rolling off your back more easily. Be Clear on Requirements A factor that contributes to job burnout is unclear requirements. If you don’t know exactly what’s expected of you, or if the requirements keep changing with little notice, you may find yourself much more stressed than necessary. If you find yourself falling into the trap of never knowing if what you’re doing is enough, it may help to have a talk with your supervisor and go over expectations, and strategies for meeting them. This can relieve stress for both of you! Stay Away From Conflict Because interpersonal conflict takes a toll on your physical and emotional health, and because conflict among co-workers is so difficult to escape, it’s a good idea to avoid conflict at work as much as possible. That means don’t gossip, don’t share too many of your personal opinions about religion and politics, and try to steer clear of colorful office humor. Try to avoid those people at work who don’t work well with others. If conflict finds you anyway, learn how to deal with it appropriately. Effective Conflict Resolution Skills Are Key to Less Relationship Stress Stay Organized Even if you’re a naturally disorganized person, planning ahead to stay organized can greatly decrease stress at work. Being organized with your time means less rushing in the morning to avoid being late and rushing to get out at the end of the day. Keeping yourself organized means avoiding the negative effects of clutter, and being more efficient with your work. How Clutter Affects Your Time, Money, and Stress Be Comfortable Another surprising stressor at work is physical discomfort. You may not notice the stress you experience when you’re in an uncomfortable chair for a few minutes. But if you practically live in that chair when you’re at work, you can have a sore back and be more reactive to stress because of it. Even small things like office noise can be distracting and cause low-grade frustration. Do what you can to ensure that you’re working from a quiet, comfortable and soothing workspace. Forget Multitasking Multitasking was once heralded as a fantastic way to maximize one’s time and get more done in a day. Then people started realizing that when they had a phone in their ear and were making calculations at the same time, their speed and accuracy (not to mention sanity) suffered. There is a certain kind of frazzled feeling that comes from splitting one’s focus that doesn’t work well for most people. Rather than multitasking, try a new strategy known as chunking. Walk at Lunch Many people are feeling ill effects from leading a sedentary lifestyle. One way you can combat that, and manage stress at work at the same time, is to get some exercise during your lunch break and perhaps take short exercise breaks throughout the day. This can help you blow off steam, lift your mood, and get into better shape. Keep Perfectionism in Check Being a high achiever can help you feel good about yourself and excel at work. Being a perfectionist, on the other hand, can drive you and the people around you little nuts. Especially in busy, fast-paced jobs, you may not be able to do everything perfectly. But striving to just do your best and then congratulating yourself on the effort is a good strategy. Your results will actually be better and you’ll be much less stressed at work. How to Overcome Perfectionism Listen to Music on the Drive Home Listening to music brings many benefits  and can offer an effective way to relieve stress after work. Combating the stress of a long day at work with your favorite music on the drive home can make you less stressed when you get home, and more prepared to interact with the people in your life. Online Therapy Can Help You Cope With Stress

Community Service and Student Volunteerism - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 1 Words: 399 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2019/05/28 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Community Service Essay Did you like this example? Reasonably, community service positively impacts an individual and the community in which he or she resides, as well as neighboring residents, but Wheatland Union High School should not make it a requirement for graduation, as it takes away the merit of the act, is unfair to students who have outside obligations, and can be an insult to those who take pride in their volunteerism. Source 4, In the Good Nameof Community Service, reports a cynical attitude of students who develop community service specifically to strengthen their college applications. Exploitation of a mandated volunteerism system could be encouraged by such a requirement. Source 5, Mandatory Volunteerism from Psychological Science, reports research that proves that requiring activities that should be voluntary discourages future involvement in such activities, making it less likely for community service to be a lifelong habit. Students, especially high schoolers, are extremely overtaxed from their already outrageous tasks at hand. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Community Service and Student Volunteerism" essay for you Create order Mandating them to maintain hours of extra workload could push them over the edge, making them even more stressed and tired. Some students have responsibilities outside of school, such as a job to support their family or a sport to release the hassle of the day. It would be unfair to those students to bar them from graduating, simply because some just dont have the time to spare or the emotional capacity to handle such consuming tasks with all that is on their plate.. Source 7, the graphs from a study by Mark Hugo Lopez, a researcher from the University of Maryland, raises further evidence against the requirement of community service. Graph 1 shows that support for mandating a requirement about such service is weakest among those currently in school and is about evenly split among those over the age of twenty-one, suggesting a positive trend of open-mindedness, or that the older students get, the easier it is to stick to an agenda. Graph 2 suggests that young people with high levels of scholarship (as opposed to those who decided not to further their education) are more likely to support a community service requirement in high schools. In conclusion this shows that requiring community service in schools like ours would not be a good idea, because although it does make a positive impact in the community, it creates a burden to students forced to fulfill hours and hours of additional workload, taking up their time to study and overall making life more stressful.

Analysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein - 1601 Words

â€Å"Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void, but out of chaos; the materials must, in the first place, be afforded: it can give form to dark, shapeless substances, but cannot bring into being the substance itself.†(Mary Shelley) An author’s personal story and background has an immense impact on literature and culture. It affects the style of the writing and ultimately the topics and themes they write about. The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is an exceptional example of how a person’s experiences influence literature and culture. Frankenstein tells the story of Victor, his monstrous creation, and the consequences both he and the monster had to live through. Mary Shelley’s traumatic early life is apparent throughout her writing and lends itself to a poignant, thought provoking novel. Mary Shelley had to deal with many hardships right from the start of her life. Her mother passed away shortly after she was born and her father, William Godwin was left to take care of her and her half-sister. The family dynamics changed when Godwin married Mary Jane Clairmont in 1801. Shelley never got along with her stepmother and Clairmont saw no need to educate Shelley (Mary Shelley Biography). In 1814, Mary met Percy and they began a relationship even though he was still married to his first wife. They struggled financially at first and suffered the loss of their first child in 1815 who died a few days after birth. Mary’s half-sister Fanny alsoShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein1411 Words   |  6 PagesIn the early 1800s Mary Shelley set pen to a paper and started to develop a novel that little to her knowledge would become world renowned. In 1818 she finished and published the novel to sell to the European public. The novel caught the world off guar d in the way that a female was able to write about such harsh, dark, and evil things in a European society whose authors like John Locke and Charles Montesquieu preached enlightenment, self exploration, and individualism all in an optimistic enablingRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein1615 Words   |  7 Pagesa whole and how accurate a depiction they might think it to be, they will miss out on many of the qualities of the painting that reside below the immediately apparent surface level. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a text dedicated to expounding upon the dangers of such superficial analysis. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley openly condemns the surface level and appearance oriented methodology under which the human mind operates. The very protagonist of the novel is inspired solely by reputation and howRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1758 Words   |  8 PagesFrankenstein was published over 200 years ago. Ever since it was published, it has been one of the most famous books known to literature. History.com Staff states that this book, by 21-year-old Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, is frequently called the world’s first science fiction novel (History.com Staff). According to Wikipedia, Shelley was an English novelist. She was born August 30th, 1797. She died on February 1st, 1951 (Wikipedia). Shelley came up with the idea of Frankenstein as she andRead MoreBiblical Analysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1376 Words   |  6 PagesLiterature 16 November 2015 Biblical Analysis: Frankenstein Frankenstein by Mary Shelley often refers to the bible on a number of occasions. However, it is worth noting that many references used by Mary Shelley in Frankenstein can often be identified in Genesis. Much like Genesis, the story of Frankenstein is a viable creation story. The book of Genesis first explains the creation of man and woman, and also recounts the fall of humanity. Unlike Genesis, Frankenstein begins with the fall of humanityRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein And Frankenstein1410 Words   |  6 Pagescompassion and sympathy through the love of a person whom cares very deeply about them. In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the three main characters Robert Walton, Victor Frankenstein and Frankenstein (The Monster) are shown throughout the story, longing and in search for a companion. Throughout the story, the characters struggle with the battle of wanting either sympathy or compassion from a person or both. Mary Shelley shows the true indication of Human Nature by showing the importance of sympathy andRead MoreAnalysis of Mary Shelley ´s Frankenstein991 Words   |  4 Pagesalive. If it can learn, eventually speak, or came about because of another, it’s a person. The Creature of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is no exception. Victor’s creation needs nourishment, education, and morals, which should be provided by it’s creator, it’s parent, just like any other child. The way that needs of an individual are met shapes the outcome of their life. In her novel, Shelley demonstrates this impact that parents have on their child’s life through the contrasting upbringing of VictorRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1701 Words   |  7 Pages Frankenstein is a novel that is practically devoid of any female presence, yet author Mary Shelley pens a story that is lush with portrayals of feminine ideology. Throughout the course of this novel, the audience is introduced to three different female characters. The first is Elizabeth Lavenza— Victor Frankenstein’s wife. She is presented as a passive and weak woman who embodies the traditional role of women in the 19th century. Caroline Beaufort is present in the novel, but her role is limitedRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1038 Words   |  5 PagesAlexi Torres English III Dr. W.W. Allman December 1, 2015 Frankenstein In Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein, she shows that good people can turn evil, but are not born this way. Humans being rude and isolating someone can make a person go insane and do things they are not proud of. Shelley shows this through the creature that Frankenstein creates and gives examples showing his evilness, but also shows that the creature tries to explain many times that he wants a friend and cannot find one becauseRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1088 Words   |  5 PagesCreature’s Argument In the novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the Creature s only need is for a female companion, which he asks Victor Frankenstein his maker to create. Shelley shows the argument between the creature and Frankenstein. The creature says: I demand a creature of another sex, but as hideous as myself (Shelley 139). Shelley shows what the creature wants from Frankenstein and what his needs are. Shelley gives us an idea of the sympathy that Frankenstein might feel for the creature evenRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 843 Words   |  4 PagesThe Wretch Frankenstein is a novel written by English author Mary Shelley about a peculiar scientist named Victor Frankenstein. Victor, who is a scientist endeavoring to make history, engenders a monstrous but attentive creature in an eccentric scientific experiment. The monster that he engenders faces abnegation and fear from his creator and society. The monster is the worst kind of scientific experiment gone awry. The creature has compassion for society but additionally wants to take revenge on

The Reasons Why the World’s Languages Are Disappearing Free Essays

The reasons why the world’s languages are disappearing Language is everything; because language is a part of culture which is inseparable with human’s life. People speak by their language regardless of what language they use. There are more than 60. We will write a custom essay sample on The Reasons Why the World’s Languages Are Disappearing or any similar topic only for you Order Now 000 languages which do exist in the world; but unfortunately nowadays every fortnight, a language dies; more than half of the world’s languages are in danger; and by the end of this century it is going to disappear completely. The pace of the languages extinctions are faster than the extinction of flora and fauna. The proof is in the last 5 centuries, an estimated half of the world’s languages have become extinct; but now language does not even need much longer period to become extinct; a century and it will be done. The primary reason as to why the world’s languages are disappearing is it has no longer speakers. Research proved that for the minor language, only a few people speak. Ironically, what research means by minor is the local languages; in fact there are much more languages that is considered as minor or local rather than the major. It means that there are lots of languages which potentially extinct. Next, the second reason is the languages are considered old-fashioned. Moreover, some societies are surrounded by people who speak more common language. Therefore, those societies decide to leave their mother tongue because it is some kind of disgrace of still speaking it in the middle of the society who speak more modern languages. The third one, it is because of natural disaster. It just disappeared instantly. People died and also the language. Therefore there is nobody who can spread the language; because they themselves as the native speakers died. Reason number four is because of the complexity. People hate learning a difficult language; lots of minor and local languages have a high complexity as of finally people do not want to learn it and by doing so, they do not speak it. Finally, there are 4 reasons why lots languages died out. All of them are the basic reasons; but not only human who has contributed to the disappearing but also the nature. Therefore to stop the disappearing, there must be something that we are suppose to do; such as try to learn the local language, learn to be proud of it and learn to keep it all the time. How to cite The Reasons Why the World’s Languages Are Disappearing, Essay examples

Star-Struck free essay sample

Morning—a host of high school students with glazed eyes stands under a streetlight; one stands apart and gazes at the stars. I am that dreamer. Every morning, I look towards the heavens, basking in the glow of the Greek and Roman gods. Orion watches as I get on the bus, Venus waves me off to a new day, and the Moon watches contentedly. I wasn’t always a student of the stars. I was once part of the group, with glazed eyes and complete ignorance of the world above me. To me, the stars were just little dots in the sky—twinkling lights with no personality and no story. The celestial world was as alien to me as I was to it. Knowledge changed this—astronomy was the medium. My baptism in astronomy came my freshman year in Science Olympiad. Wright Stuff, Fermi Questions and Practical Data Gathering were my events. We will write a custom essay sample on Star-Struck or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The path had been set, and a deviation was something to be avoided at all costs. Much to my dismay, my coach placed me on astronomy. I responded at once with a torrent of e-mails demanding the reason for this dastardly act. She simply replied, â€Å"Try something new. Even if you don’t like it, you’ll learn something.† I had no time for this cliched explanation. I was a man of science who needed focus, not another distraction. Still, quitting was not an option, and I found myself grudgingly studying stellar evolution, spectroscopic analysis, and light curves. After three months of struggle and frustration, I see the result of my work: two shiny medals on my shelf and the value of understanding. As I willed myself through the formidable stack of resources, I began to understand. There is more to the stars than a galactic connect-the-dots puzzle. There are stories, hidden secrets, and invisible mischief. Galaxies collide, forming a mass of chaotic matter. A white dwarf pilfers gas from its larger neighbor until it takes too much and explodes in a brilliant supernova. Neither star survives. Newborn stars bathe in gaseous nebulas, preparing for their celestial debut. This drama of the heavens teaches me that knowledge unleashes the extraordinary in the ordinary. The dark void of space is no longer an empty field but a template for the growth of the psyche. I take a step of the mind, and the gods materialize from the darkness. With a leap, the universe becomes my canvas—imagination is my paint. This art is a self-discovered one, and I withdraw into myself. Here, isolated within my mind, I find myself among the gods.

The Sucessful Developement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Essay Example

The Sucessful Developement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Essay Example The Sucessful Developement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Essay The Sucessful Developement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Essay To start off this essay, try painting a picture about a certain neighborhood. This neighborhood does not have any overarching governing body, nor is there a single overarching security force. In short, this neighborhood’s residents are left to fend for themselves. Assuming that there has been an unfortunate event in the neighborhood, whereby one house was broken into by some thieves, what could possibly be the reaction of the residents in that community? Will they seek to protect their own homes and not bother to care about their neighbors? Will they protect their homes and be malicious of their neighbors, thinking they could have been conspirators to the crime? Or will they work together and cooperate in one collective effort to solve the case and to protect themselves? This is an analogous picture of what the international realm may look like for scholars and the questions posted are classic questions that theories of International Relations seek to shed light into. In an international world that is ruled by anarchy, it has been a classic notion that states are left to fend for themselves. In this scenario, security of states is of great importance, if not the outright priority. As international events unfold, different scholars seek to explain the various international phenomena by choosing a theoretical framework that will best explain and account for the phenomenon they choose to account for Be that as it may, what this paper will aim to discuss is the recent development is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), as an association of states, by using the pertinent theoretical frameworks in the discipline of International Relations.   The first part will discuss a brief introduction of the Shanghai Cooperation and what are the recent developments pertaining to it, while the second part of the paper will discuss briefly what theories in International Relations exist that may be of use to the discussion of the recent events in SCO. Using the chosen theories, this paper will discuss how the core tenets of such theories can possibly explain the recent developments in the SCO for example, using a certain theory, why would a certain actor in the SCO story act this way and what were the interests of that actor etcetera. A lot of international organizations exist in status quo. The reasons for their establishment may vary from one case to another. And for scholars, it is interesting to take a look at this phenomenon in the context of the emerging new world order. With the end of the Cold War, it is interesting to observe how states and other emerging world players will configure themselves. In line with recent developments, the formation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is worthy of scholarly attention. Upon its formation on June 15 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has six permanent members: the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation (Brummer, 2007). It is an international organization through its founding members that cover about three fifths of Eurasia (GlobalSecurity.org, 2007). This organization or association of states, though fairly young compared to other international organizations has turned out to be an influential political, economic and security international player (Brummer, 2007). The SCO had a predecessor and it was called, the Shanghai Five mechanism, which came from the five of the, now, six members’ (except the Republic of Uzbekistan) effort to further disarmament in the border regions and to strengthen confidence-building (GlobalSecurity.org, 2007). Upon the signing of the Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions and the Treaty on Reduction of Military Forces in Border Regions by these five member states, what started off as an annual meeting of their leaders ended up to be a regular practice (GlobalSecurity.org, 2007). The coverage of their agenda soon expanded to talk about cooperation in various areas like politics, security, diplomacy and economics, and then later on extended the membership to Uzbekistan (GlobalSecurity.org, 2007). When asked in why Uzbekistan wanted to join the organization, the reply of President Karimov indicated that the primary reason was to protect the country from any possible aggressive move by the SCO (Nich ol, 2005). The Declaration on the Establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization gave birth to the organization as it is known now (GlobalSecurity.org, 2007). Recently, however, there have been some developments in the SCO and some issues have risen from these developments. Firstly, the inclusion of other states to the membership of the SCO has caught the attention of a lot of scholars and players in the international field, not so much as a reaction to its expansion but to the profile of the members that wish to be included.   Iran, as a very controversial country in terms of its relationship with the rest of the world visvis the United States of America, has been subjected to a series of deliberation (Brummer, 2007). The question of whether it will be granted membership in the SCO is something that has interested the keen observers of international relations. The main concern was what would be implications of Iran’s inclusion to the six-member association and consequently, how would the United States of America react to this inclusion. Secondly, post 9/11, the evaluation of the policies and reaction of the Shanghai Cooperation O rganization towards perceived (or otherwise) terrorist threats in their region, is something that the United States of America has concerned itself with (Nichol, 2005). The next section of this paper will juxtapose these recent events with the literature in International Relations- focusing on pertinent theories in the discipline that can explain the milestones in the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and using a comparative approach in discussing them. While it is not true that international phenomenon may only be explained by either realism or idealism, it is interesting to juxtapose discussions of different international events using the two because of the contrasts in their basic assumptions and tenets. Before this paper further discusses the developments in the SCO, it would first help to have a quick overview of the premises of each of these two theories, as these will be the tools to help understand and hopefully explain what transpired in these milestones and why they were so. Realism, as espoused by scholars like E.H. Carr, asserts that states are the main actors in world politics and that their interests lie in the pursuit of power at the expense of others (Mearsheimer, 2005). In a way, it more or less follows the logic of a zero-sum game, whereby one player’s gain is another player’s loss. The implication of this in policymaking is that decision-makers will most likely base their decisions on power calculations, as opposed to that of Idealism which focuses on the moral dimension and on liberal ideas for decision-making considerations (Mearsheimer, 2005). One of the canons of idealism, and most often cited by other scholars, is that of Immanuel Kant’s Perpetual Peace, whereby he asserts how states should act towards each other to achieve peace and prevent war (Kant, 1975). Writers, like Herz, argue that idealists believe that it is an imperative to change the world and champion the realization of a world turning into a secure global community- that would entail states abiding by international law and observing respect and recognition of each other (Hacke and Puglierin, 2007). The inception of the SCO may be seen as an idealist characterization of what international cooperation can do, whereby states seek to cooperate with each other to achieve a common goal. As stated earlier, when the SCO was established, the initial intent was to push the disarmament of the states in the border areas and to strengthen confidence-building. These reasons are liberal in nature- disarmament is antithetical to the realist push that states should be wary of other states and should protect themselves at any cost, and confidence-building is founded on trust and cooperation among partner states. While its inception is liberal in intent, as the time progresses, the developments in the SCO soon lend to realist assumptions. When it expanded membership, the intention of the new member (and even those seeking membership in status quo) may be contended to have realist bearings. As stated above, when Uzbekistan sought membership, it was not for cooperation nor was it based on trust on other states but, instead, it was to ensure its own safety by establishing ties with China and the other states in the SCO. But the annexation of Uzbekistan is not the only development that lends to realist assumptions. Lately, Iran sought membership to the SCO as well, although it was not granted, there stands a chance that it can happen (Brummer, 2007). From a geopolitical perspective, Iran’s inclusion would have been a political statement saying that between the West and Iran, China and Russia would have taken the side of Iran (Brummer, 2007). This scenario can lend to realist assumptions by focusing on the intention of Iran to gain allies, against a perceived threat and clearly this puts security above all other concerns. It can also lend to liberal assumptions by focusing on the fact that Iran has chosen to be part of a collective effort in dealing with adversaries, as opposed to a unilateral aggressive approach that will more probably lead to war and heightened conflict . The intention of China on forwarding the SCO agenda can also be explained using realism. There have been writings that talk about China’s effort to gain influence in its regional area and the intention behind the formation of the SCO may well be subsumed under this. In fact, there have been assertions that China has had the intention of challenging the unipolar order by taking on the leadership position of a anti-hegemonic coalition against the United States of America (Foot, 2006). Foot further stresses that China may well be building up its military and economic capabilities to challenge the USA (Foot, 2006). Taken from this angle, this obviously lends to realist assumptions of China using a formation of an international institution to forward its own interest- that is, to secure itself and to gain power by challenging the strength of the leading international player. But it can also be explained in a realist point of view, by showing how this is China’s way to achiev e a level of security for itself, but at the same time, it may also be a form of cooperating with the international community. Terrorism being a global problem has also been addressed by the SCO by having its members hold anti-terrorist exercises to promote common security and to gain economic benefits as well (Foot, 2006). Taken from this context, it is logical to say that the SCO has acted in favor of liberal ideas of forwarding collective cooperation. China being one of the torchbearers of the SCO has also coursed cooperation through economic ties with the United States (Langlois and Langlois, 1996). Fighting against terrorism by joining forces with other states lends to liberal ideas of aiming for peace and preventing war, even if it sounds moralistic, and forwarding causes for global security through collective action. But just as the previous discussions, the actions of China towards terrorism may also lend to realist assumptions. One particular example is in reference to the efforts of the United States of America in its fight against terrorism. Post-September 11, the members of the Shanghai Cooperati on Organization did not have a collective response to the proposal of the United States, but instead its members acted individually (Nichol, 2005). This proves the realist argument that states, despite the existence of international institutions, will still act selfishly and in favor of its own national interests. It is obvious that China did not want to lend a hand to this specific United States policy, although it was willing to cooperate with its members in dealing with terrorism in their regional area. China’s definition of its national interests, in this context, was to ensure that terrorism does not thrive in its region, and yet not give the United States the leverage to dictate or influence its policies toward security. This shows how there can be an interplay in the way realism and idealism explains a certain international phenomenon. The next question is, how does this make sense and does this not mean that one of the two theories may lose its ability to explain things if the other can explain it the same phenomenon with equal validity? In seeking to explain political phenomenon, one can use theories as tools to help account for such events. In doing so, scholars may fall to the trap of focusing too much on dichotomies the North and South, Realism and Liberalism. While mutual exclusivity increases the validity of a theory (or a school of thought, for that matter) to distinguish it from other existing theories, this does not necessarily mean that the truth of the other is the shadow of the doubt for the other. In fact, if theories are made to help us explain political phenomenon, then perhaps it pays to have a more comprehensive picture by using the lens of various theories to account for an event. Does realism and liberalism really have to be categorized as contrasts or is it possible that they can complement each other? Lucian Ashworth even asserts that the debate between these two schools of thought may have never existed, as the liberals’ (often called â€Å"idealists† by later realist writers call them) writings were not really addressed properly by realists (Ashworth, 2006). This is not to point out that liberalism has lost its capacity to explain, but what Ashworth is pointing out, is the fact that the line establishing this dichotomy is not absolute, and hence, may be blurred. There have been points raised by writers like Joseph Nye Jr.,that lend to the idea that perhaps the two can complement each other. He argues that in cases when mutual interests or a possibility in the future may suggest that there are plenty of benefits to be had for cooperating, states may actually adopt new strategies in their quest to forward their interests (Nye, 1988). This point may be used to explain why the members of the SCO chose to cooperate in their fight against terrorism in their own region, but chose not to cooperate as a group with the United States of America. This is so, because states and the associations they form can define their interests differently and their interests can also change (Nye, 1988). In this example, what happened was what the other theory cannot account for; the other can shed light to. Realism cannot fully explain how states define their interests and how these interests change, but liberalism can answer that by pushing forward the concept of co llective security, albeit this term needs more discussion as to how it can be operationalized (Nye, 1988). To be blunt about it, the true value of theories being able to explain political phenomenon rests not solely on the exclusivity of their explanations, but on the comprehensiveness of its account. Following Hacke and Puglierin’s   point, the realism in its absolute form can only offer a naked struggle for power, and hence any sound political thought must have elements of both utopia and reality (Hacke and Puglierin, 2007). To have a more comprehensive account of why members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization behaved in certain ways, in certain points in time, one must go beyond the dichotomy of what is considered realist and idealist. Instead, it pays to keep in mind that using relevant aspects of theories (as tools) can help paint a more comprehensive picture that will help account for the explanation of a political phenomenon. REFERENCES Ashworth, Lucian M. â€Å"Where are the idealists in interwar International Relations?† Review of International Studies Vol.32, No. 2 (2006): 291-308. Brummer, Matthew. â€Å"The Shanghai Cooperation Organization.† Journal of International Affairs 60 (2007): 185-199. Foot, Rosemary. â€Å"Chinese strategies in a US-hegemonic global order: accommodating and hedging.† International Affairs Vol.82,   No.1 (2006): 77-94. GlobalSecurity. â€Å"Shanghai Cooperation Organization.† Military. 2007. 15 Oct. 2007 globalsecurity.org/military/world/int/sco.htm . Hacke Christian and Jana Puglierin. â€Å"John H. Herz: Balancing Utopia and Reality.† International Relations Vol.21, No.3 (2007): 367–382. Kant, Immanuel. â€Å"Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch 1975†. 2007. 15 Oct 2007 mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/kant/kant1.htm Langlois, Catherine and Jean-Pierre P. Langlois. â€Å"Rationality in International Relations: A Game-Theoretic and Empirical Study of the US-China Case.† World Politics Vol.48 (1996): 358–90. Mearsheimer, John J. â€Å"E.H. Carr vs. Idealism: The Battle Rages On.† International Relations   Vol.19, No.2 (2005): 139-152. Nichol, Jim. â€Å"Central Asia’s Security: Issues and Implications for U.S. interests.† CRS Report for Congress. (2005): 1-49. Nye, Joseph S. Jr. â€Å"Review: Neorealism and Neoliberalism.† World Politics Vol. 40, No. 2. (1988): 235-251.

ACT Tutoring Right For You

Is Online SAT/ACT Tutoring Right For You SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You know you want tutoring, but do you go with in-person tutoring or online tutoring? Right now, I can practically hear the face some of you just made at the idea of online tutoring (yes, the face was so awful it actually made a noise). The world is full of dire warnings about the issues with online learning. â€Å"How can you possibly learn if you’re not in there in person with your teacher? Won’t you just slack off?† On the other side of the issue are people like me, whose reactions to hearing about online tutoring are more along the lines of "Woo! No travel time means I get to spend more time doing non-SAT/ACT-related things!" To help you get a better sense of whether or not online tutoring is right for you, I’ve blocked out the three areas in which there are significant differences between online and in-person tutoring. For each of these areas, I’ll explain when online tutoring is the right choice†¦and when it is not. feature image credit: Thought plus action by Ben Tesch, used under CC BY 2.0. Quality The first dimension to consider when choosing a method of tutoring is that of quality: what level of tutor do you want? This may seem to be a facetious question, since no matter the tutoring method you go with, you obviously you don't want a BAD tutor. It's important, however, when you choose a tutoring method to consider exactly what you want to get out of tutoring. We'll have an article up soon on how to find the best tutor for you. Do you want tutors to help you with new insights into test content, strategies, and more? If so, online tutoring is probably the best option for you. Why? Near, far, wherever you are in the world, online tutoring allows you to access high quality tutors. I'm going to be brutually honest: if you aren’t in a top city for education like New York or Boston, you don’t have access to the nation’s top tutors. This is even more true if you don't live near a top 5 city at all. Don't go with online tutoring if†¦ All you want is someone to monitor your test prep, making sure you're on schedule and accountable for doing your prep. In this case, you don't even really need a tutor - you need something more like a study buddy or babysitter. Or some sort of electronic surveillance. All you need is someone to explain answers to you better than answer keys can. If this is true for you, then it makes more sense for you to go with a high school student who's taken the test or understands the material. Time and Travel For online tutoring, the road not taken†¦is every road. Consider the time wasted in travel for the average tutoring session, for both parent and child: a 30 minute drive to and from tutoring for student and parent plus either an additional trip from and to the tutor and/or 1 hour of waiting for the parent. At the end of the day: 1 hour wasted for student, 2 hours wasted for parent Online tutoring also means your tutor doesn’t have to travel, which will save money for you. How? Let's say I'm a tutor, and I have to drive half an hour to and from your 2 hour tutoring session. Even if I would normally charge $40/hr to tutor students online or at my house, I'm going to have to charge you $60/hr because I'm losing an hour of potential tutoring time to travel; rather than paying me $80 for a 2 hour tutoring session, you end up paying 50% more ($120/2 hours). If I tutor online, I can charge solely for tutoring time (without having to fold in the money I'd lose from time spent traveling). With online tutoring, you only pay for the tutoring you receive. Another perk is that no need to travel means that all your study materials at your fingertips – no more forgetting things at home (not that I have extensive experience in this subject area. Nope). Finally, online tutoring lets you have more flexibility when scheduling your tutoring - you don't have to worry about when you can get a ride, or when you can fit the travel time into your busy high school schedule. Don’t go with online tutoring if†¦ You have to travel to get high-speed internet access, and a tutor will come to you/is closer by. Both parent and student have time to spare – in that case, time spent traveling may not be an issue Suburban commute by pedrik, used under CC BY 2.0. One if by land, two if by sea, three if we’re just calling to let you know we’re running late ‘cause of the after-school traffic on the highway. Technology Online video chat software and hardware have advanced substantially from just 5 years ago. Videos look sharp and are live, making online sessions equal in quality to in-person tutoring. Some presentational software even lets tutors show equations and diagrams, which in turn can make SkypeTM tutoring even more effective than in-person tutoring. Case in point: it’s way easier to draw perfect circles and diagrams and manipulate equations on a computer than on paper with a pencil and compass. Don’t go with online tutoring if†¦ You have ZERO access to high speed internet. If you live in a rural area or some area where the only internet you have is dial-up (cabin in the woods in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, for example), online tutoring will probably not work for you. You don’t have a computer and/or have never before used a webcam. Even you have the technology, but are not comfortable with it, you may want to hold off on online tutoring. Not sure if the technology is going to be a barrier? Go with online tutoring that offers a full money-back guarantee for the first session and make sure there are no hiccups. The Bottom Line There are certainly legitimate reasons to dislike online tutoring. If you... Don’t care about quality Don’t have easy access to high speed internet Aren’t comfortable with the technology used ...then it makes sense not to get online tutoring. Barring these exceptions, however, online tutoring is equally as effective as, if not more effective than, traditional in-person tutoring. We’re particularly confident of this at PrepScholar because of the quality of our tutors. What’s Next? How much should you pay for an SAT/ACT Tutor? Use our guidelines to help you form a reasonable budget. Not sure if you should go with a tutor or just do online prep? We have the article for you. For more on how to choose the best online prep, read our concise guide. Want to get serious about improving your SAT/ACT score? Our tutoring service is designed to be the most effective in the nation. We hire the best tutors from across the country. This is then paired with our exclusiveonline drillingprogramthat gives your tutor complete insight into your progress to design the most effective sessions. Think about what improving 160 points on your SAT, or 4 points on your ACT, can do for you. Learn more about tutoring now:

Software Testing Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Software Testing - Research Proposal Example ording to David-at-el (1998), software testing is complicated and expensive and sometimes considered as a more time consuming part of overall system development life cycle. In this scenario the most of testing stages and activities are overlooked to deploy the system on time. Additionally, for cost saving and delivering system on due date system development team eliminates the system testing phase by minimizing few testing phases. However, sometime this action leads to problems in overall software working and handling for instance, the developed system has hidden bugs that appear during the system working and create problems for the system user(s). This type of problems leads toward the system failure or even working malfunction (Banks et al., 1998; Taipale & Smolander, 2006). 6 According to Mihnea & Constantinescu (2008), IT managers and professionals can have different opinions regarding a lot of software development principles, however the majority of them agree on one point that software we deliver has to be correct as well as reliable. In this scenario the successful software development groups have previously recognized that efficient testing is necessary to achieve this goal. In addition, researches have shown that most of software working and operational risks are due to some testing related problems (Mihnea & Constantinescu, 2008; Gelperin & Hetzel, 1988). In this scenario there is a vital need for the effective testing. My research is aimed at offering a group of testing techniques that will effectively manage and handle the software problems. The aim of this research is to offer a comprehensive and effective set of software testing techniques, types and execution framework. 7 Gallagher (2000) stated that testing is not quality assurance. It is examined that effectively tested software that was incompetently designed, poorly conceived as well as unconcernedly programmed will end up a well-tested, bad product. Though, software testing has long been one

Totalitarian Governments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Totalitarian Governments - Essay Example Totalitarianism is an "extreme form of oppressive government with limitless power that uses ruthless force to exert absolute control over all individuals within a society (Orwell 1)." Totalitarian government comes in many forms. However, these commonly come under pretext ideologies like "internal or external enmity, national security, mass fear and common good objective (Orwell 1)." The totalitarian government in Russia before the World War II can be characterized as a communist government which took root from Marxist Socialism. Before the formation of the Soviet Union, the region was dominated by monarchist forces. However, the dissatisfaction and discontent from monarchist government ensued to civil war. The Bolsheviks who were led by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin demanded a highly disciplined, centralized, and dedicated revolutionary elite rather than a mass party. Thus, the Bolsheviks had a long and bloody fight with the monarchist forces and became known as the Communist Party. This commenced the arrival of communism in Russia. The basic ideology behind communism was the establishment of a classless, stateless, and social organization which is based upon the common ownership of the means of production. This new ideology governing Russia before the World War II gave rise to new policies especially economic reforms.

The Importance of Facilitation in Group Decision-making Essay -- Group

The need for a facilitator arises from the dynamics of group decision-making. In real and everyday life in business, management, politics, crisis conflict, education, etc. group meetings, each individual in the group does not think in the same way (divergent thinking) in real life, humans tend to go off on tangents, lose the original focus for the group meeting. Facilitators are needed to get ideas to converge in a way that reaches the decision point (Doyle and Kaner, 2007). A facilitator is a person who creates an environment which allows groups or organizations to be able to be more effective; to achieve their goals. Facilitators have to be essentially neutral in their stance and they must also not have any decision-making authority (Doyle and Kaner, 2007). The lecture addresses: a) The meaning of Facilitation b) Core Values of Facilitation c) Role of the Facilitator d) Key Facilitation Skills and Methods e) The Benefits of Facilitation A facilitator is not allowed to advocate for a specific view point during the process. The facilitator could be from within the organisation as well from outside the organisation (Schwarz, 2002), nevertheless the chosen facilitator needs to be accepted by all parties involved in the meeting. Literature also suggests that facilitators are only there to lead the process, where the process refers to the dynamics of group work like communication, making decisions, solving problems and handling conï ¬â€šict and that the facilitators do not contribute to the meeting in terms of substance. The literature also suggests that facilitators need to improve the structure of the setting in which they operate, where structure can be seen as the makeup of the group and group roles and this leads to an improve... ...e ground rules for conduct and behaviour and the group members agree to them before any meeting even begins. Effective facilitation requires a certain level of awareness or discernment of personalities during the program. REFERENCES Bono, E. (1999). Six Thinking Hats, Back Bay Books Publishers. Doyle, M., & Kaner, S. (2007). Facilitator's Guide to Participatory Decision, Jossey-Bass Publishers. Heron, J. (1999). The Complete Facilitator's Handbook, Kogan Page Publishers. Hogan, C. (2002). Understanding Facilitation: Theory and Principles, Kogan Page Publishers. Rees, F. (1998). The Facilitator Excellence Handbook: Helping People Work Creatively and Productively Together, Jossey-Bass Publishers. Schwarz, R. (2002). The Skilled Facilitator: A Comprehensive Resource for Consultants, Facilitators, Managers, Trainers, and Coaches, Jossey-Bass Publishers.

Problems Facing Leader in Multinational Organization Essay

Abstract This research suggests that there is a lack of congruence between the Iranian Institutes of Higher Education culture and the faculties desired culture. This conclusion is based on empirical data that indicate that faculties believe that they operate on a day-to day basis in a profession whose culture is characterized by an overarching desire for stability and control, formal rules and policies, coordination and efficiency, goal and results oriented, and harddriving competitiveness. Emphasizing this lack of cultural congruence, the respondents of this study also indicated that the faculties culture should be one that emphasizes flexibility, discretion, participation, human resource development, innovation, creativity, risk-taking, and a long-term emphasis on professional growth and the acquisition of new professional knowledge and skills, which is more aligned with the universities strategic external environment. One of the principal reasons for the popular interest in the study of organizational culture is to determine the linkage between it and organizational performance (Berrio, 2003). This study has reviewed a previously assumed but unverified connection between organizational culture and leadership styles. It has uncovered a lack of congruence between the dominant type of organizational culture and leadership styles. This observed lack of congruence may be inhibiting performance and unconsciously perpetuating a cycle of caution and an over reliance on stability and control. Key words: Organizational culture- Leadership styles-Higher education 1.Introduction An examination of the literature in the fields of organizational culture and leadership finds that the two areas have been independently linked to organizational performance. For example, researchers have examined the links between leadership styles and performance (see Bycio et al., 1995), and also  between organizational culture and performance (see Kotter and Heskett, 1992). Furthermore, numerous aspects of the organizational culture literature allude to the role of leaders in ‘creating’ and ‘maintaining’ particular types of culture (for example, Schein , 1992). Equally, the literature on leadership suggests that the ability to understand and work within a culture is a prerequisite to managerial effectiveness. However, despite the implicit and explicit linking of culture and leadership in many parts of organization theory, little critical research attention has been devoted to understanding the links between the two concepts and the impact that such an association might have on managerial effectiveness. The absence of critical literature exploring the effectiveness implications of the links between organizational culture and leadership is surprising given the numerous references to the importance of the two concepts in the functioning of organizations (see, Schein, 1992). The aim of this paper is to provide empirical evidence of the links between different types of organizational culture, a range of leadership styles and managerial effectiveness. This is achieved through the presentation of the results of a cross sectional survey of leadership style, organizational culture, and managerial effectiveness across nine universities in Iran. The paper begins with a brief review of the literature on organizational culture and leadership. This is followed by a discussion of the methodology adopted for the study and the presentation of the findings and analysis of responses to questionnaire exploring the links between the two concepts and managerial effectiveness. The evidence demonstrates t hat the relationship between leadership style and effectiveness is mediated by cultural congruence. In the final part of the paper, the conclusions and implications of the study are highlighted. As more and more universities enter into new arrangements in 21st century, the need to assess organisational cultures becomes more important .The term ‘organisational culture’ has proved difficult to define, but several of its important components are agreed on by most researchers. These include the norms, perspectives, values, assumptions and beliefs shared by organisational members. Due to the abstract nature of these elements, there is a considerable challenge for external researchers who want to assess organisational culture. It is even difficult for members of an organization to describe their own culture. Cameron and Freeman (1991, p.31) use the old  proverb â€Å"Fish discover water last† to illustrate the problem of assessing culture among those immersed in it. The aim of this study is to provide insight into the construct of culture and its relationship with leadership styles in the context of higher education institutions , and to discuss competing values framework as one of approaches to measurement of culture. The paper starts with a discussion on how the concept of organisational culture is understood in the setting of higher education institutions, and is followed by a brief introduction to the tradeoffs between qualitative and quantitative approaches to assess culture. Based on the basic psychometric requirements for measuring culture, this study concludes by identifying some of the implications of selecting or designing instruments for assess cultural differences in higher education institutions. 2.Organizational Culture and Leadership Styles Before attempting to describe the content of organizational culture, one should first know the concept of organisational culture. Organizational culture has been criticized as being conceptually weak, since it has been defined in many ways (Jelinek et al., 1983) and each definition emphasizes a particular focus or level. Since Schein (1992) published the book Organisational Culture and Leadership, more researchers have recognized culture as a multidimensional and multilevel concept. Schein describes three levels of culture. The first level consists of visible organisational structures and actions, such as dress code, facilities and procedures. This level of culture can be easily observed. The second level consists of espoused values manifested in the public images of organisations, such as strategies, goals, and philosophies. While not as visible as the artefacts present in the first level, these values can be ascertained by norms, the way things are done in the organisation. The third level consists of basic assumptions, or unconscious beliefs, perceptions, thoughts, and feelings. These determine both behaviour norms (the way people should behave) and organisational values (the things that are highly valued). According to Buono and Bowditch (1989, p.137-139), the visible elements created by an organization on the first level are treated as objective organizational culture, while the elements on the second and the third levels are concerned with subjective organizational culture. Most researchers agree that subjective culture is more important as a significant determinant of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours, and it thus provides a more distinctive basis for characterizing and interpreting similarities and differences among people in different organizations. On this understanding, university culture as a particular form of organisational culture can be defined â€Å"as the collective, mutually shaping patterns of norms, values, practices, beliefs, and assumptions that guide the behaviour of individuals and groups in an institute of higher education and provide a frame of reference within which to interpret the meaning of events and actions on and off campus† (Kuh & Whitt, 2000, p.1 62). While the term organisational culture is used as if an organisation has a monolithic culture, most organisations have more than one set of beliefs influencing the behaviour of their members (Morgan, 1986; Sathe, 1985). Cultural diversity appears to be more obvious in higher education institutions (Kuh & Whitt, 2000, p.161). The ‘small homogenous society’ analogues used in anthropological studies of culture is sorely strained when applied to many contemporary institutions of higher education. Large public, multipurpose universities are comprised of many different groups whose members may or may not share or abide by all of the institution’s norms, values, practices, beliefs, and meanings. Instead of viewing colleges and universities as monolithic entities, it is more realistic to analyze them as multicultural contexts that are host to numerous subgroups with different priorities, traditions, and values (Kuh & Whitt, 2000 p.161) . This study pays particular attention to academic staff and specifically those engaged at the departmental level. Therefore, from the perspective of this paper, the culture refers to values, beliefs, and assumptions developed within an academic department by academic staff and  those who manage academics through joint experiences over long periods of time. Nevertheless, disciplinary identity is not the sole source of the culture shared by academic staff members within an academic sub-unit. It is also subject to a variety of circumstances, such as national context, professional culture and organisational character (Austin, 1992; Clark, 1983, p.75; Và ¤limaa, 1998). 3.A Review of the CVF Model and the Study Methodology An Overview of the Competing Values Framework (CVF) Model The Competing Values Framework (CVF) evolved from the work of Quinn and Rohrbaugh (1981, 1983) as they attempted to circumscribe the elusive definition for a generally agreed upon theoretical framework of the concept of organizational effectiveness. This framework was chosen for this study because it was experimentally derived and found to have a high degree of face and empirical validity. Additionally, the CVF was identified as having a high level of reliability matching or exceeding that of other instruments commonly used in the social and organizational sciences (Cameron and Ettington, 1988; Cameron and Quinn, 2006; Berrio, 2003). The four quadrants of the framework, representing the four major cultural types: clan, adhocracy, market, hierarchy, provide a robust explanation of the differing orientations and competing values that characterize human behavior. The richness provided by the CVF is based on its ability to identify the basic assumptions, orientations, and values of each of the four cultural types. These three elements comprise the core of organizational culture. â€Å"The OCAI, therefore, is an instrument that allows you to diagnose the dominant orientation of your own organization based on these core culture types. It also assists you in diagnosing your organization’s cultural strength, cultural type, and cultural congruence† (Cameron and Quinn,2006, p. 33). In their research concerning organizational effectiveness, Quinn and Rohrbaugh (1981, 1983) statistically analyzed 39 indicators of organizational effectiveness as identified by Campbell, et al, (1974). Quinn and Rohrbaugh’s analysis resulted in the bifurcation of the 39 effectiveness criteria between two major dimensions. The first dimension, which is labeled the â€Å"Structure† dimension, differentiates the organizational effectiveness criteria between those that emphasize flexibility, discretion, and dynamism and those that  emphasize stability, order, and control. The second dimension, which is labeled the â€Å"Focus† dimension, differentiates the organizational effectiveness criteria between those that emphasize internal orientation, integration, and unity and those effectiveness criteria that emphasize an external orientation, differentiation, and rivalry (Quinn and Rohrbaugh, 1981 and 1983; Cameron and Quinn, 2006). Within each of these two dimensions there is also a third set of values, which produces an emphasis ranging from organizational processes, such as planning and goal setting at one end of the spectrum, to an emphasis on results, such as resource acquisition at the other end. Quinn and Rohrbaugh (1981) labeled this third set of values as the organizational â€Å"Means –Ends† continuum. The two primary dimensions differentiating between organizational values emphasizing â€Å"Structure† and â€Å"Focus† produce four clusters of effectiveness criteria as depicted in Figure 1. The â€Å"Structure† axis is represented 100 by the â€Å"Flexibility – Control† continuum, while the â€Å"Focus† axis is represented by the â€Å"People – Organization† continuum in Figure 1 . Within each of these four quadrants the relevant â€Å"Means – Ends† values are enumerated.

Why Does Billy Pilgrim Become Unstuck in Time in...

In the book Slaughterhouse-Five the character Billy Pilgrim is a reflection of the author Kurt Vonnegut. He is said to become unstuck in time. But what does the author really mean by â€Å"unstuck in time?† The story begins after the bombing of Dresden, which caused PTSD that is very common in many people after being at war. PTSD is a very common aftermath of war, or even during war. PSTD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is very common in deployed troops of all ages. It occurs after an event that is, basically, life changing. It can be triggered by many horrific accidents such as, road accidents, a deployment, a personal assault etc. When people have this disorder it can leave them feeling depressed, unattached to daily†¦show more content†¦A reason for Billy being so unattached would be PTSD. PTSD leaves people feeling alone and depressed. He is having flashbacks of parts of his life and at the end of the book he is reliving his moments during the war. Kurt Vonnegut, the narrator, creates Billy Pilgrim as himself. Mr. Vonnegut went through the war himself and is the main character of this story. However, he has named the main character as Billy Pilgrim simply to be able to write about the events he has been through easier than what it would be if he were writing it directly as him. It is a way of making the story like seem a little bit more of a story. The reality in this novel is about how real it is to Billy Pilgrim (Kurt Vonnegut). He is never really time travelling it is just a part of his stage in life that he keeps replaying. Due to the devastation he had to watch it is hard for him to live everyday as a normal person. And again this all relates to PTSD. It is not a given fact that Billy had PTSD, however as you read the novel you understand more about his life and why he is the way he is. The reason, behind the readers of Slaughterhouse-five, believing that Billy had become â€Å"unstuck in time† was simply the way he moved back and fourth in time. But as the reader reads on, Billy’s illusions become stranger. For example he believes that he is taken the night of his daughters wedding to a different planet with the Tralfamadorians. It all begins for this part of time travelling when he could notShow MoreRelatedSlaughterhouse Five By Kurt Vonnegut Essay1560 Words   |  7 Pagesenlisted into World War II. His experiences in World War II shaped his anti-war novel Slaughterhouse-Five. Slaughterhouse-Five was published â€Å"during the peak of protest against American involvement in the Vietnam war† (Notable Biographies). Slaughterhouse-Five appears to be semi autobiographical because it includes events that Vonnegut himself experienced, but is written instead about a character named Billy Pilgrim. Pilgrim, also a soldier in World War II, experiences the same firebombing of Dresden thatRead MoreSlaughterhouse Five By Kurt Vonnegut1381 Words   |  6 Pagesportray the protagonist of Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy Pilgrim, much like himself, a war participant and truth seeker. In the novel Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut characterizes Billy Pilgrim as a war survivor with PTSD(Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). In doing so, Vonnegut uses tone to reveal the extremely violent and unruly nature of war and flashbacks to show how war causes Pilgrim to lose touch with reality. Throughout the story, Pilgrim goes back and forth through time, giving the book a feelRead MoreKurt Vonnegut s Slaughterhouse Five1246 Words   |  5 PagesIn Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy Pilgrim becomes â€Å"unstuck† in time. The question here is, why? The fact of the matter is that he does not actually begin to time-travel. Billy â€Å"becomes unstuck† as a coping mechanism to deal with his traumatic experiences during the war. Billy attempts to reorganize his life’s events and cope with a disorder known as post traumatic stress (PTSD). â€Å"Post traumatic stress disorder is a debilitating condition that follows a terrifying event† (Marilyn 8)Read MoreSlaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut1560 Words   |  7 Pages Slaughterhouse-five strives to remember the tragedy of the bombing of Dresden. Kurt Vonnegut constructs his novel around a main character who becomes â€Å"unstuck in time† (23). Billy Pilgrim’s life is told out of order, which gives him a different perspective than the rest of the world. Billy lives through his memories, and revisits events in his life at random times and without warning. Vonnegut introduces Billy Pilgrim to the Tralfamadorian way of thinking about memory and time so that he can copeRead MoreDeath and Time in Slaughterhouse-Five823 Words   |  4 PagesDeath and Time in Slaughterhouse-Five We all wish we could travel through time, going back to correct our stupid mistakes or zooming ahead to see the future. In Kurt Vonneguts novel Slaughterhouse-Five, however, time travel does not seem so helpful. Billy Pilgrim, Vonneguts main character, has come unstuck in time. He bounces back and forth between his past, present, and future lives in a roller coaster time trip that proves both senseless and numbing. Examining Billys time travelingRead MoreDeterminism in Slaughterhouse-Five by Billy Pilgrim Essay1460 Words   |  6 PagesDeterminism, particularly pre-determinism, states that the origin of creation controls when and why all events of the past, present, and future occur, which decisively contradicts the belief in free will of the majority of humans in today’s society. Slaughterhouse-Five follows the life of Billy Pilgrim, a young man who has become â€Å"unstuck† in time. The novel traces Billy’s experiences during the bombing of Dresden i n World War II, an encounter with extraterrestrials, called Tralfamadorians, and throughoutRead MorePoststructuralist Analysis Of Slaughterhouse-Five. Poststructuralism1603 Words   |  7 PagesPoststructuralist Analysis of Slaughterhouse-Five Poststructuralism is a form of psychoanalytic theory. It is the study of the natural development of the psyche to structure. In this critical analysis, Lacanianism will be the focus. â€Å" Lacan’s psychoanalytic work is often evoked to explain how power works, why the individual - the subject - is so extraordinarily susceptible to power† (Bertens, 161). What this form of poststructuralist psychoanalysis can do is explain someone’s behavior by deconstructingRead MoreSlaughterhouse Five, By Billy Pilgrim2024 Words   |  9 Pagesassumed that Billy Pilgrim relives his war-time experiences on a near daily basis. Another thing is that Billy avoids connections with people like his mother, and even his own fiancà ©. The conclusion of this analysis as a whole must therefore be that Billy Pilgrim became â€Å"unstuck† in time (in his own world) due to the events of which he witnessed and/or participated in during World War II. The horror of what was occurring around him, and due to the confusion he felt during the occurrence of theseRead MoreA Sardonic Novel, Kurt Vonnegut’s â€Å"Slaughterhouse Five736 Words   |  3 PagesKurt Vonnegut’s â€Å"Slaughterhouse Five† is a sardonic novel chronicling the experiences of Billy Pilgrim, a World War II veteran, survivor of the Dresden firebombing, and protagonist of the novel. Billy is a very unreliable narrator who has become â€Å"unstuck in time†. Billy is constantly journeying through time; at one moment he’s a flourishing optometrist and the next he’s a prisoner of war in Germany. Billy is forced to deal with an existential crisis presented forth by the great destruction he witnessesRead MoreTick To ck.. or Tock Tick? in Vonnegut ´s Slaughterhouse-Five804 Words   |  3 PagesTick-Tock.. or Tock-Tick? In Slaughterhouse-Five, Vonnegut’s message is, people are more worried about time, and have more of an obsession with chronological order, that they sometimes forget to embrace the highlights. The illusion of chronological time is a key theme in Vonnegut’s novel because it gives prime examples and scenarios where chronological time is important to the characters. Since the beginning, humans have worked with time. Humans have gradually become more and more â€Å"obsessed† with