Saturday, August 31, 2019

Advantages of Being Bilingual

Abstract This essay deliberates the benefits of being bilingual. The information has been analyzed from resources dating from September 2010 through 2012. The idea put forth in this essay is to prove that the brain of a bilingual person is agile and nimble. It argues a bilingual signs in babies having the ability to distinguish between two languages as young as 4 months old. It also presents how infants show a strong preference for the language their mother spoke during pregnancy. It confirms that using two languages throughout life delays the onset of dementia symptoms by an average of four years.The research further explores how bilingualism is positively connected with many cognitive outcomes, including: metalinguistic awareness, focus attention, auto control, active memory, and abstract and symbolic representation skills. In general, bilingual speakers enjoy far nimbler cognitive commands, maintaining a continuously active and alert brain, even when only one language is in contro l. Being bilingual actually provides opportunities in many corners of life totally impossible for monolinguals speakers. Advantages of Being BilingualThe saying â€Å"less is more,† does not apply when the topic of monolingual versus bilingual language skills is concerned. This work is a recompilation of the advantages of being bilingual. It discusses how the brain of bilingual speakers is ingenious and clever. Moreover, extends how infants as young as 4-months old and children who live in bilingual environments have advantages over those living in monolingual environments. The article presents how using two languages throughout life delays the onset of dementia symptoms by an average of four years.This essay proves, through a number of studies, the cognitive outcomes associated with bilingualism. According to Flora (2010): Infants as young as 4 months who live in bilingual environments can distinguish between two languages, monitoring lip and facial movements. Babies also sh ow a strong preference for the language their mother spoke during pregnancy. We're built to acquire language, of course, but we're also built to learn and accommodate more than one. Monolinguals are essentially underutilized their abilities: Brain scans show that while monolinguals use established language centers such as Broca's rea, bilinguals employ far more of the neural landscape when expressing themselves. (p. 75). Wang (2010) uses the results of the studies performed by Dr. Bialystok and Dr. Craik (2004) on how children learn a second language. Doctor Bialystok and Craik conducted three studies that look at the cognitive effects in some 150 monolingual and bilingual people between 30 and 80 years old. They found that in both middle and old age, the bilingual subjects were better able to block out distracting information than the single-language speakers in a series of computerized tests.The advantage of bilingualism was even more pronounced in the older subjects. Compared wit h people who speak only one language, bilingual children and young adults have slightly smaller vocabularies and are slower when performing certain verbal tasks, such as naming lists of animals or fruits. Bilingualism equally doesn't just apply to the small percentage of people who are perfectly fluent in two tongues. In the same fashion, bilinguals might speak beautifully in one language without being able to read or write it. Moreover, they may have acquired their second tongue as a child, a teen, or an adult.Wang, (2010) affirms that: A lifetime of speaking two or more languages appears to pay off in old age, with recent research showing the symptoms of dementia can be delayed by an average of four years in bilingual people. Multilingualism doesn't delay the onset of dementia—the brains of people who speak multiple languages still show physical signs of deterioration—but the process of speaking two or more languages appears to enable people to develop skills to bett er cope with the early symptoms of memory-robbing diseases, including Alzheimer's.Over time, regularly speaking more than one language appears to strengthen skills that boost the brain called cognitive reserve, a capacity to work even when stressed or damaged. This build-up of cognitive reserve appears to help bilingual people as they age. Specifically, the advantages of bilingualism are thought to be related to a brain function known as inhibitory or cognitive control: the ability to stop paying attention to one thing and focus on something else, says Dr. Bialystok (2004). Fluent speakers of more than one language have to use this skill continually to silence one language in their minds, while communicating in another.People who are bilingual are often asked which language they think in, but when people are walking down the street, riding a bus, or jogging in the woods, their thoughts may not be in a particular language, points out Francois Grosjean, author of the research-based Bi lingual Life and Reality. Parker-Jones, (2012) and his colleagues used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to investigate whether neuronal activation differs in bilinguals and monolinguals during picture naming and reading aloud when only one language is in use.They found that when a bilingual person names pictures or reads words aloud, in their native or nonnative language, activation was higher by the monolingual in 5 left hemisphere regions: dorsal precentral gyrus, pars triangularis, pars opercularis, superior temporal gyrus, and planum temporale. They further proved that these areas are sensitive to increasing demands on speech production in a monolingual person. This suggests that the advantage of being bilingual comes at the price of increased work in brain areas that support monolingual word processing.By comparing the effect of bilingualism across a range of tasks, they argue that activation is higher in bilingual speakers as compared with monolingual speakers beca use word retrieval is more demanding. Furthermore, articulation of each word, by bilingual speakers, is less rehearsed. In addition, speech output needs careful monitoring to avoid errors when competition for word choice occurs between, as well as within, language.The Parker-Jones (2012) team’s conclusions offer novel insights into the effect of bilingualism on brain function. They emphasize that the advantage of being bilingual comes at the expense of increased demands on word retrieval and articulation, even in simple picture naming and reading tasks. The Parker-Jones (2012) team also has shown images of the increased activation for bilinguals relative to monolinguals during overt picture naming and reading aloud, even when bilinguals are only responding in their native language.The areas where these effects were observed are remarkably consistent with those previously associated with low- versus high-frequency picture naming in one's native language and the control of inte rference in bilinguals as they respond in a dual language context. Their findings suggest that bilinguals increase processing within a system that is also used in monolinguals (Abutalebi & Green, 2007). However, they contrast sharply with the idea of a unique and helpful bilingual system that exploits resources that are untapped in monolinguals Baker and Shalinsky (2008).By including multiple tasks, they have been able to interpret the function of the areas where activation is higher in bilinguals than monolinguals. In addition, by including multiple groups, and only testing in a single language context, they were able to control for differences between native versus nonnative language. In the final analysis, attaining fluency in two or more languages not only looks fabulous like an advantage on college and job applications, it actually presents opportunities in many corners of life completely denied to the monolingual.The advantage of being bilingual now has science behind it. My r esearch proves that the list of advantages includes, staving off dementia, improved cognitive skills, and heightened creativity. Moreover, bilingual speakers have an easier time focusing on tasks, and greater control over literacy skills which is heightened by environmental awareness. Additionally, bilinguals have an easier time switching between tasks; have denser grey matter, faster response time, and higher scores on intelligence tests.References Flora, C. (2010, October). Double Talk. Psychology Today. 70-79. Wang, S. S. (2010, October 12). Building a more resilient brain. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://online. wsj. com/article/SB10001424052748703794104575 545923443462444. html Parker Jones1, O. , Green2. D, W. , Grogan3, A. , Pliatsikas4, C. , Filippopolitis1, K. , Ali5, N. , Lee6, H. L. ,†¦Price1, C. J(2012). Where, When and Why Brain Activation Differs for Bilinguals and Monolinguals during Picture Naming and Reading Aloud.Oxford University Press. 22 (4). Retrieved from http://cercor. oxfordjournals. org/content/22 /4/892. full Grosjean, F. (2012, November). Linguistic Aspects of Childhood Bilingualism. Bilingual: Life and Reality. Harvard University Press. Abutalebi, J. , Brambati, S. M. , Annoni, J. M. , Moro, A. , Cappa, S. F. , & Perani, D. (2007). The neural cost of the auditory perception of language switches: an event-related fMRI study in bilinguals. Journal of Neuroscience, 27, 13762-13769.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Succubus Revealed Chapter 9

It wasn't until I landed in Seattle on Sunday evening that the full surreal nature of my weekend in Las Vegas hit me. Being there had felt so . . . natural. I suppose part of that was just having old friends like Bastien and Luis around. Yet I'd been pleasantly surprised at how easily I got along with my newer acquaintances, like Phoebe and Matthias. I'd even grown to like Jamie, though I never did see him after that night. Despite my efforts to find him and ask him about Milton, the imp had remained elusive for the rest of my trip. And the show . . . how had that happened? I couldn't even get a solid job here in my current hometown, yet hours after walking off the plane in a strange city, I'd landed what was, in many ways, my dream job. By the time we'd finished our second practice, Matthias was already talking about a special part he planned on creating for me, and several of the other dancers were so disappointed at me leaving for a month, you'd think we'd known each other for years. It had, in spite of my misgivings, been a fantastic weekend. Reality set in when I walked into my condo. Roman was out, with only a note reading Bowling practice tomorrow night to mark his passage. Naturally, the cats were as happy to see me as always. Scratching their heads in turn, I began to think about the logistics of moving both of them with me across state lines. I'd be taking them away from Roman, whom they loved, but there was nothing to be done for that. He couldn't come with us. As a nephilim, he was in constant danger of being hunted down by other immortals, and it was only Jerome's protection that allowed him to have a seminormal life in Seattle. Roman certainly wasn't going to give that up, and besides, Las Vegas was probably the worst place in the world for him to attempt to hide out. A vase of pink-tipped white roses sat on the kitchen table, filling the air with sweetness. I opened up the card and read Seth's scrawled writing: Welcome home. I've been counting the minutes. – S I texted him that I was back and received an answer urging me to come over to Terry and Andrea's for dinner. After leaving a note for Roman assuring him I'd be at practice, I headed out, my mind still spinning with more of the consequences of moving. The condo. I'd have to sell it. Unless I wanted to rent it to Roman? Hell would likely compensate any moving costs, but it'd be up to me to start making the actual arrangements now for things like movers and whatnot. I was good at making plans and organizing things, but all of my skills were useless against the one thing I wanted to bring with me to Las Vegas the most: Seth. I still had no solution for what to do with him. I was met with the usual outpouring of love from his nieces when I arrived, just in time for a chaotic family dinner. With the additional family members, they'd given up any pretense of eating at the kitchen table and had simply taken their paper plates and homemade pizza off to the living room. The casualties of food and furniture were ones Terry and Andrea were long since used to, but Margaret couldn't focus on her dinner for fear of constantly watching the girls and what she perceived as imminent tomato-stained disaster. I was happy to see Andrea out with the family, which wasn't something that happened very often lately. She looked tired but was in good spirits, and from the way the girls vied for position next to her, it was clear they were delighted to have her up and around too. â€Å"Seth says you were out of town,† she told me. â€Å"Anywhere fun?† â€Å"Las Vegas,† I replied. â€Å"Visiting friends.† â€Å"Man,† said Ian. â€Å"I wish I had friends in Las Vegas.† â€Å"I figured it'd be too commercial for you,† said Seth, deadpan. Ian swallowed a bite of his pizza – it apparently wasn't a vegan day – before responding. â€Å"Only if you stay on the Strip and their overpriced luxury hotels. If you poke around in some of the out-of-the-way places, you could find some really cool and obscure dives.† It took nine-year-old Kendall to say what the rest of us were thinking. â€Å"I'd rather stay in luxury. Why would you want to stay in a dive, Uncle Ian?† â€Å"Because it's nonmainstream,† he told her. â€Å"Everyone stays at the nice places.† â€Å"But I like nice things,† she argued. â€Å"Don't you?† â€Å"Well, yes,† he said, frowning. â€Å"But that's not the point – â€Å" â€Å"Then why would you want to stay at bad places?† she pressed. â€Å"You're too young to understand,† he said. Seth chuckled. â€Å"Actually, I think she understands perfectly.† Andrea decided to rest shortly after that, but not before extracting a promise that someone deliver her dessert later on. After doing dishes (which was pretty easy with paper plates), our group dispersed into separate activities. Kendall, Brandy, Margaret, and Terry started up a game of Monopoly while Kayla and the twins settled down to watch The Little Mermaid. Ian joined them, excited for the chance to show how the movie was an example of capitalism destroying America. Seth and I curled up on a nearby loveseat, ostensibly to watch the movie, but instead used the time to catch up. â€Å"How was it, really?† he asked me in a low voice. â€Å"I've been worried about you. Was it as bad as you thought?† â€Å"No,† I said, leaning my head against his chest. â€Å"It was actually . . . pretty good. Would you believe I have a job already ? Like . . . one that's not on Hell's payroll.† â€Å"You can't even get one of those here,† remarked Seth. â€Å"Yeah, the irony's not lost on me. I'm going to be a Vegas showgirl, complete with sequins.† Seth trailed his fingers through my hair. â€Å"That's actually kind of awesome. And hot. If you want to practice, I'd be more than happy to give you some constructive criticism.† I smiled. â€Å"We'll see.† There was a long pause. â€Å"So . . . it's real. This whole thing.† â€Å"Yeah,† I said in a small voice. â€Å"It's real.† I felt him tense and sensed the worry radiating off of him. â€Å"It's okay. We'll figure this out. It's still a month away.† â€Å"I know we will,† he said. â€Å"You and I have overcome crazier things than this, right?† â€Å"Crazier doesn't always mean harder,† I pointed out. â€Å"I mean, when Peter tried to make a ‘retro candle sconce' out of a Pringles can last month, that was pretty crazy – but it was also pretty easy to deal with once we found his fire extinguisher.† â€Å"You see?† said Seth. â€Å"This is what I love about you. I don't even consider that crazy. I consider that ordinary life with you, Georgina. You change all the definitions.† He pressed a kiss to my forehead. We fell silent and watched the movie, though I suspected Seth was paying as little attention as I was. We were both lost in our own thoughts, and I didn't really snap out of it until I heard Ian telling Morgan, â€Å"I like the original fairy tale better. It's pretty alternative, so you've probably never heard of it.† I glanced at the clock and sat up. â€Å"I'm going to go check on Andrea and see if she wants her dessert.† Both Margaret and Terry were quick to offer to do it instead, but I waved them off, assuring them I was fine and that they should return to their game. Andrea was awake, propped up on pillows and reading a book when I came in with the pie. â€Å"You didn't have to do that,† she told me. â€Å"You should've asked Terry.† â€Å"He's busy buying and selling property,† I told her, helping her settle the plate on her lap. â€Å"I couldn't ask him to interrupt that. Besides, he does plenty.† â€Å"He does,† she agreed, smiling wistfully. â€Å"They all do. Even you. It's so strange, having others take care of me. I'm too used to looking after everyone else.† I settled down on a chair near her bed, wondering how often it must be filled lately. Andrea always had someone watching over her. â€Å"It's just for a little while longer,† I said. That got me another smile as she chewed a bite of pie. â€Å"You're very optimistic.† â€Å"Hey, why shouldn't I be? You look great today.† â€Å"Great ‘ironically,' as Ian would say.† She ran a hand through her limp blond hair. â€Å"But I do feel better than I have for a while. I don't know. It's deceptive, Georgina. There are days I feel confident I've beat every cancer cell in my body and others when I can't believe I'm still managing to walk this earth.† â€Å"Andrea – â€Å" â€Å"No, no, it's true.† She paused for more pie, but her eyes took on a vast, knowing look that reminded me eerily of Carter. â€Å"I've accepted it, come to terms with the fact that there's still a good chance I'll die. No one else has. No one else will talk about it. I'm okay with that. If that's what God wills for me, then so be it.† I felt a knot clench in my stomach. I couldn't say much about God, but I'd seen enough of Heaven and Hell to get angry when I heard humans accept their fate as part of some higher purpose. Half the time, it seemed to me the divine powers were making up this game as they went along. â€Å"I'm not worried about me,† Andrea continued. â€Å"But I am worried about them.† That serenity faded, replaced by very real human concern, a mother's fear for her children. â€Å"Terry's strong. So wonderfully strong. But this is hard on him. He can't do it alone, which is why I'm so glad Seth's here. I don't know what we would have done without him. He's the rock supporting us all right now.† The anxiety inside me eased for a few moments, replaced by a spreading warmth as I thought about Seth. â€Å"He's wonderful.† Andrea set down the fork, finished, and extended her hand to me. â€Å"So are you. I'm glad you're part of our family, Georgina. If something happens to me – â€Å" â€Å"Stop – â€Å" â€Å"No, listen. I mean it. If something happens to me, I'll rest easy knowing the girls have you in their lives. Seth and Terry are great, but the girls still need a strong woman role model. Someone to help them through growing up.† â€Å"I'm not that good of a role model,† I said, not meeting her eyes. I was a creature of Hell, someone full of weakness and fear. What could I possibly have to offer such bright, promise-filled creatures like the Mortensen girls? â€Å"You are,† said Andrea adamantly, squeezing my hand. â€Å"They love you and admire you so much. I know they're in good hands.† I swallowed back tears that were threatening to overwhelm me. â€Å"Well,† I said. â€Å"They're in even better hands with you, since we all know you're going to get well soon.† Andrea nodded, giving me an indulgent smile that I suspected she'd perfected after weeks of listening to others insist she was on the verge of recovery. A yawn soon betrayed her, and I carefully took the plate away and asked if she needed anything else. She assured me she didn't. I crept back downstairs and returned the plate to the kitchen, where I found Brandy and Margaret eating pie of their own. I did a double take back toward the living room. â€Å"What happened to Monopoly?† â€Å"Kendall bought us out,† said Margaret. â€Å"Man, I hate playing with her,† grumbled Brandy. â€Å"No one her age should be that good.† â€Å"Don't knock it,† said Seth, strolling in. â€Å"She's going to be supporting us all in fifteen years.† He rested a hand on Brandy's shoulder. â€Å"Did you ask Georgina?† Brandy looked at her feet. â€Å"No.† â€Å"Ask me what?† â€Å"It's nothing,† she said. â€Å"Clearly it's something,† I replied, exchanging looks with Seth. â€Å"What's up?† â€Å"Is this the Christmas dance you were talking about before ?† asked Margaret. Brandy flushed. â€Å"A holiday dance. It's nothing.† â€Å"No way,† I said. â€Å"I'm a big fan of dances. But isn't school out?† â€Å"Yeah, but this is at church. It's a formal they have every year.† She was using a It's no big deal tone, but her expression betrayed how interested she was. The church part surprised me, since last I knew, the Mortensens didn't attend one. But obviously that had changed. Maybe Andrea's illness had played a role. Whatever it was, I could see faith wasn't on the line here, so much as a teenage girl's simple desire to participate in something fun with other people her age. It was a normal rite of passage, one I was guessing she didn't feel worthy of, in light of everything else going on right now with her family. No wonder she was hesitant to mention it. I wondered if maybe there was a boy involved too but certainly wasn't going to ask. She looked mortified enough to be having this discussion in front of her uncle and grandmother. â€Å"You need to shop for a dress?† I guessed. People always called me for shopping. I used to be bothered by that but then figured I should accept what I'm good at. Brandy nodded, still looking embarrassed. â€Å"When is it?† â€Å"Tuesday.† â€Å"Tuesday . . .† I frowned, thinking of my schedule. Tomorrow, Monday, was taken up with work and bowling practice. That didn't leave a lot of time. â€Å"We might be cutting it close.† â€Å"If you don't have time, it's fine,† Brandy assured me. â€Å"Really.† â€Å"No way,† I told her. â€Å"We can do it Tuesday morning.† Brandy looked down again. â€Å"My dad can pay you back†¦. I'll ask him how much we can spend.† â€Å"Forget it,† said Seth, rustling her hair. She squirmed out of his reach. â€Å"Send the bill to me. You know where I live.† Brandy protested this, but Seth was firm in his offer – as well as his urging that Brandy not mention it to her father. But once Brandy and Seth were in the other room, Margaret caught hold of my sleeve and pulled me back into the kitchen before I could follow. Our interactions hadn't exactly been antagonistic (aside from our initial meeting with the baseball bat), but they hadn't always been pleasant either. I braced myself for some admonishment about dressing Brandy like a whore. â€Å"Here,† said Margaret, shoving some cash into my hands. I looked down and found two fifty-dollar bills. â€Å"Seth's not the only with income around here. He can't keep funding the whole family. Is that enough for what she needs?† â€Å"Er, yes,† I said, trying to hand it back. I'd actually planned on cutting Seth out as well and carrying the bill myself. â€Å"Definitely. You don't have to do this.† Margaret's response was to give me another bill. â€Å"Get her shoes too.† She closed my hand around the cash. â€Å"I don't know what girls her age need when it comes to clothes, but I know you do. The money I can provide. The rest I rely on you for.† That sentiment – that faith in me – was too much, too fast on the heels of the conversation I'd just had with Andrea. â€Å"It's not enough,† I blurted out. â€Å"What I'm doing, compared to everyone else. They're all giving so much. What's a shopping trip next to that?† Margaret fixed me with a piercing gaze that bore no resemblance to the conservative, sweatshirt-wearing matron I'd categorized her as. â€Å"For a girl growing up too fast, whose life is crumbling around her? Everything.† â€Å"I hate this,† I said. â€Å"I hate that this is happening to them.† â€Å"God only gives us what we have the strength to endure,† she said. I'd always hated that saying, largely because it too seemed to go along with the idea of a universe having a plan for everyone, something I'd seen no evidence of. â€Å"They have the strength to get through this. And they have our strength to help them.† I smiled at that. â€Å"You're a remarkable woman, Margaret. They're lucky you're here.† I meant it. She and I might have different philosophies about premarital sex, but her love for them was undiminished. I wasn't the only role model in the girls' lives. She shrugged, looking both flattered and embarrassed by my praise. â€Å"Like you, I'm just trying to do enough – without wearing out my welcome at Seth's.† â€Å"He loves having you,† I said promptly. She rolled her eyes. â€Å"I'm not stupid. I want to keep helping, but I know I can't stay with him forever. He's a grown man, no matter how much I'd like to pretend otherwise.† That made me smile even more. â€Å"Don't worry. I won't tell him you said so.† Nonetheless, I went home with a heavy heart that night. Seth expected to be up late and hadn't wanted me waiting around for him. We were both conscious of how little time we'd had together recently, though, so he told me he'd join me for tomorrow night's bowling practice. As a general rule, he tried to avoid immortal goings-on, but I think he had a morbid fascination with the idea of bowling for Hellish honor. â€Å"Thank God,† said Roman, when I walked in the door. â€Å"I thought you were going to stay at Seth's. There's soup on the stove.† â€Å"No, thanks,† I said. â€Å"I already ate.† â€Å"Your loss,† he said. Judging from the way the cats were circling him for handouts as he settled down on the couch with a bowl, I guess they agreed with him. â€Å"How was it?† My mind was still on the Mortensens, and for a moment, I thought that's what he meant. Then I remembered his single-minded focus and knew he was referring to Las Vegas. â€Å"Surprisingly good,† I told him, sitting down in an armchair. His eyebrows rose. He hadn't expected that answer. â€Å"Oh? Tell me about it.† I did, and he listened attentively while eating his soup. When I'd finished the weekend's recap, he grilled me on nearly everyone I'd met there, immortal and mortal alike. In two days, I didn't have that much life history to report but gave him what I could. â€Å"Well,† he said, â€Å"isn't that lovely.† He made no effort to hide his sarcasm. I sighed. â€Å"You still think this was part of some greater conspiracy ?† â€Å"I think it's terribly convenient that this seemingly routine transfer is fulfilling every possible wish you might have.† I scoffed. â€Å"Aside from the fact that I'm being transferred in the first place. That's hardly something I wanted.† Roman straightened up, and the cats ran for his abandoned bowl. He ticked off points on his right hand. â€Å"Well, let's do a tally, shall we? When I first met you, I asked what your dream job would be. What did you say? A Vegas dancer. And wow! Look what conveniently falls into your lap. And who put it there? In a city full of conniving, backstabbing succubi, you were fortunate to find one as levelheaded as you, complete with the same sense of humor and interests. Funny thing . . . did you even run into any other succubi that entire weekend? In a city packed with them?† â€Å"Roman – â€Å" â€Å"No, no, wait. There's more. How'd you meet this wonder succubus anyway? Through your closest immortal friend, who just happened to have been coincidentally transferred to Las Vegas, hired on by your favorite boss of all time. Are you following this fantasy so far?† â€Å"But why would – â€Å" â€Å"And,† he continued, â€Å"lest you grow homesick for the wacky idiosyncrasies of your friends back here, Vegas is ready to supply you with new ones. A zany drunken imp. Seth 2.0. If you'd stayed longer, they probably would have unearthed an angel and a couple of vampires for you. And let's not discount the fact that you're going to Las Vegas in the first place! The single easiest place for a succubus to get by.† â€Å"Okay, I get what you're saying.† I threw up my hands in exasperation. â€Å"It is perfect. Maybe too perfect. But you're missing one fundamental point. Supposing this is true, that someone has set up the most perfect scenario for me ever, a situation designed to keep me happy, why would they do it at all when the thing that would make me the most happy is to stay in Seattle? Why bother with this alternative? Why not leave me as I am?† Roman's eyes gleamed. â€Å"Because that's the one thing they don't want you to have. They want you out of Seattle, Georgina. They want you out, and they don't want you to complain or look back.† â€Å"But why?† I protested. â€Å"That's what I can't figure out.† â€Å"Give me something else to work with,† he said. â€Å"Hell's not that good. Even the most picture perfect setup has to have a flaw. Was there anything, anything at all this weekend, that felt disingenuous? That smacked of a lie?† I gave him a wry look. â€Å"I was in Las Vegas, hanging out with servants of Hell. Everything was disingenuous.† â€Å"Georgina, think! Anything that seemed legitimately odd. Any contradiction.† I started to deny it but then paused. â€Å"The timeline.† He leaned forward even more. â€Å"Yes? What about it?† I thought back to my first hours in Las Vegas. â€Å"Luis and Bastien both went out of their way to act as though my transfer and Bastien's had been in the works for a while – like Jerome said. But once, Bastien slipped. He sounded like he hadn't been there for very long at all – not nearly as long as they'd said before.† â€Å"Like that maybe he was suddenly pulled in on a moment's notice – to coincide with your transfer?† â€Å"I don't know,† I said, not liking the thought of Bastien being part of some potential conspiracy centered around me. â€Å"He corrected himself, said he misspoke.† â€Å"I'm sure he would say that.† Roman leaned back now, letting all of this sink in. â€Å"Bastien wouldn't lie to me,† I snapped. â€Å"He's my friend. I trust him. He cares about me.† â€Å"I believe you,† said Roman. â€Å"And I believe that he wouldn't lie to you about something that he thought might harm you. But if his higher-ups asked him to tell a white lie – fudge a few days here and there – don't you think he would?† I nearly denied it – but then had to wonder. Bastien had been in trouble off and on with our superiors, his Seattle venture last year a desperate attempt to restore status. If he were pressured enough – threatened, even – to tell me he'd been transferred longer than he actually had, would he? Especially if he thought it was harmless and knew of no nefarious reason behind it? â€Å"But what nefarious reason would be behind all this?† I muttered, not realizing I'd spoken my thoughts aloud until Roman straightened up again. â€Å"That's what we have to figure out. We have to figure out what's happened to you that would've gotten someone's attention – and that happened recently, to spur such a fast response. We know about your slacker record. And we know about Erik looking into your contract.† I blinked. â€Å"Milton.† I quickly told Roman about Hugh's information, about Milton's secret assassin status and trip to Seattle lining up with Erik's death. I also told him about briefly mentioning Milton to Jamie. Roman leaped to his feet. â€Å"Jesus Christ! Why didn't you tell me about this sooner? I could've investigated Milton while you were gone. Shit. Now I'm trapped here under bowling duty.† Nephilim had the same travel limitations as lesser immortals. They had to physically travel to places. No teleportation like greater immortals. â€Å"I'm sorry,† I said. â€Å"I wasn't thinking. I didn't connect it. And I didn't get a chance to ask Jamie more about Milton. He wasn't around the rest of the time I was in town.† Roman was nodding along with me as he paced. â€Å"Of course he wasn't. I'm sure they made certain he was unavailable before he could tell you any more. And explain again why your initial conversation with him didn't go that far?† I shrugged. â€Å"He was drunk. He got distracted by a debate over gin with Luis.† â€Å"One that Luis initiated, no doubt.† â€Å"I – † I thought about it. â€Å"Yeah. I guess he did. But you're not saying . . . I mean, that's idiotic. Using gin as a distraction to cover up some plot?† Roman's sea green eyes were gazing off in the distance, thoughtful. â€Å"It's not the most ridiculous distraction I've known a demon to use. He could've brought up bowling.† â€Å"Not that again.† Roman snapped his attention back to me, frustration all over his face. â€Å"Georgina, how can you be in denial about this? How can you refuse to believe that Hell is playing some larger game here? After all you've seen and been a part of?† I shot up, angry at the insinuation that had been creeping along here, that I was too oblivious to see what was going on. â€Å"I know! I know they're capable of it. I know they can use means both ingenuous and simple – like gin and bowling – to get what they want. I'm not denying that, Roman. What I just can't grasp yet is the why. Show me that, and I'll get on board with any crazy scheme you want. I need to know why.† Roman came to stand in front of me, resting his hands on my shoulders as he leaned close. â€Å"That is exactly what I intend to find out. And when we do, I have a feeling we'll have blown the lid off of the biggest conspiracy Hell's had in centuries.†

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Can the British Be Proud of Their Empire?

Can the British be proud of their Empire? Britain had the largest empire in the world, by 1900. They were ruling an estimated 25% of the globe, but just because Britain had the most power, it doesn’t mean that they used it for the best. For example, Rani Lakshmi, was an Indian Princess and when her husband died the British took his land, and the natives had no say in the matter. The British also tried to change their customs even though they didn’t want them changed. The Indians tried to fight against the British and drive them out of India, but they failed. They also punished survivors and fired cannon balls through them at a close range! On the other hand, Mrs Mary Calvert, was a Christian Missionary and sailed to Fuji with her husband and tried to change the native’s ways, as they would chop someone’s fingers off if they stole something, or if a woman’s husband died the woman would have been strangled. So Mrs Mary Calvert changed the natives, so as Christians they would stop their terrible ways. But there were many people and tribes that the British helped but many were taken for advantage. Like Chief Lobengula. He was an African Chief and was asked by the British if they could use some of his land for gold mining, in exchange for tools and guns. But the British took it too far and stole more land, and used it to build mines and farms. The Chief tried to fight against the British, but they were killed, and they took all of their land. Lord Dalhouse, was a British politician, tried to develop the Indians way of life by building roads, railways, schools, and postal systems. He also tried to stop bad Indian customs, for example when a woman’s husband died she would be burnt. But he also made Indians follow the British way of life. Cecil Rhodes, was a businessman and went to live in South Africa and mined for gold, diamonds and other minerals. But crushed any African Tribes that got in the way. Chief Crowfoot, a Chief of a tribe in Canada refused to fight against the British, the Queen said thanks and built them a railway. But since the railway came there were more English people coming and very few of his people were left. Mary Prince was born in the West Indies, she became a poor black slave and was sold several times. Some masters whipped her and others abused her. One master took her to England in 1828 but she ran away. But when she left and tried to get a job, she was always given the worst, just like all blacks. I think that the British should be proud of their empire in a way, but I think the should be ashamed of what they have done too, because they haven’t always treated everyone in another country with respect or their customs and assumed that others should follow the British way of living. But because of that many tribes and cultures were destroyed.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

World Hunger Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

World Hunger - Essay Example Those who victorious in this struggle became more and more powerful as the time progresses while the rest struggled even harder and harder. The declared aim of politicians or the administrators of every country is to reduce poverty or to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor. In fact no country can claim that they are free from poverty. Poverty is a condition in which a person fails to maintain adequate living standards for him and for his family members. African continent is one of the major regions in which still thousands of people die daily out of hunger. Political instability, ethnic clashes, lack of natural resources, illiteracy etc are cited as the major reasons for poverty in Africa. Africa is not alone when we consider the global statistics of poverty. Even some of the highly developed countries and developing countries like America, India, China etc also facing poverty related problems. According to Usborne (2008), â€Å"28 million people in the US will be using gov ernment food stamps to buy essential groceries in the fiscal year 2008, the highest level since the food assistance program was introduced in the 1960s† (Usborne). ... At the same time the film shows that the same plant can make a diet product for obese Americans and Europeans. In other words, Hoodia is used by the Africans to suppress their hunger whereas it is used by the Americans to reduce their obesity (Silent Killer). The above film succeeded in portraying some irritating facts about world hunger. It educates us that the same food is used differently by different people in the world. We know that overeating is one major reason for causing obesity. In other words, Americans and Europeans who consumed more than enough food are currently trying to shed some of their weight whereas Africans who consumes lesser foods are trying to suppress their hunger. The two sides of the hunger problems are beautifully portrayed in this film. It indirectly explains that the world hunger problems are still not rectified because of the over eating habits of some people at the expense of others. Even in America which is supposed to be one of the richest countries in the world, poverty is still there. â€Å"Startling official statistics show that as a new economic recession stalks the United States, a record number of Americans will shortly be depending on food stamps just to feed themselves and their families† (Usborne). Many people have the false belief that all the Americans are living in better conditions. However, the recent recession unveiled some of the darker sides of America’s social life. The photograph given below clearly shows that even in America, some people are still struggling to get adequate food. Disadvantaged Americans queue for aid in New York (Usborne) America is spending trillions of dollars for war on terror. Iraq war and Afghan war succeeded only in increasing poverty in America. Even half of the

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Financial analysis project guidelines Research Paper

Financial analysis project guidelines - Research Paper Example The first market is the Americas market segment. The second is the Europe market segment. The third is the Middle_East & Africa market segment. The last major market segment is called China/Asia Pacific (Starbucks, 2015). Starbucks’ financial statement ratios firmly describe the company’s viable two year financial performance. The above table 1 shows the abstract of the financial performance of Starbucks for 2013 and 2014. In terms of the current asset financial statement ratio, the company’s 2014 financial performance was better than its prior 2013 financial performance. In terms of the Debt to Equity or leverage financial statement ratio, the company’s 2013 financial performance was better than its 2014 financial performance. In terms of the Net Profit Ratio financial statement ratio, the company’s 2014 financial performance was better than the 2013 financial performance. In terms of the Return on Equity financial statement ratio, the company’s 2014 financial performance was significantly better than its previous 2013 financial performance. The company’s return on total assets financial statement ratio, the company’s 2014 financial performance was better than its prior 2013 financial performance. The above table 2 shows the current ratio financial statement performance of Starbucks for 2014 and 2013. The 2014 current assets, $ 4,168.70 million figure represents 137 percent of the 2014 current liabilities, $3,038.70 million. The 2013 current assets, $ 5,471.40 million amount is 102 percent of the 2013 current liabilities, $5,377.30 million. Clearly, the company’s 2014 current ratio financial performance is significantly better than the 2013 current ratio output. The two years’ performance shows there are more than enough current assets available for the payment of the current liabilities (Epstein, 2011). It is highly recommended that Starbucks branches should further increase its current ratio financial

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Project Management - Essay Example Handling the project either too early or too late is likely to compromise its success. It is, therefore, very important to organize all the procedures, processes and people required to handle the project well in advance so that the completion of the project is timely (Kerzner, 2010, p. 26). When the project is completed after its time, it serves no purpose at all and all the efforts, the time and costs expended in doing it all come to nothing. Any project requires capital to guarantee its success. The people handling the project must be motivated. Recognition of money as a principal motivator is very fundamental here. Besides, the infrastructure, procedures and all the processes leading to the successful completion of a project require capital. The success of a project is, therefore, limited by the availability of capital (Kerzner, 2010, p. 27). A project has specific scope that it has to adhere to. Any deviation from the scope of the project implies that the project does not serve its purpose. The areas to be covered with the project must, therefore, be followed successfully so that the success of the project can be

Monday, August 26, 2019

North East Referendum of November 2004 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

North East Referendum of November 2004 - Essay Example Moreover the conservative thinking of most of the English people with their reluctance to accept any changes may be another reason for the refusal to consider the development of regional governments. However the Labour government of England had a different view altogether. With disregard to the public opinion the government wanted to push the conservative policies of regionalization of the government. This, the labour government wanted to do as a measure to strengthen the operating mechanisms of the central government in the different regions. With this intention the Government held a referendum in the North East Region of England on the 4th of November 2004, for assessing the public opinion on the regionalization of the government. For whatever reasons, the referendum was rejected overwhelmingly by the voters showing their intention clearly against the formation of any regional assemblies. This paper attempts to discuss in detail among other things, the possible reasons for holding such a referendum, the campaigns made in support and against such referendum, the turnout of the voters and the details of the final results of the referendum. North East region in one of the eight regions of England, that stretches from Scotland to Yorkshire. "The region was created in 1994 and was originally defined as Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Cleveland As part of a reform of local government Cleveland has since been abolished and several unitary districts created." (All Experts) A rich natural heritage makes the region one of the unique locale with its long stretches of coast and extensive upland tracts. The capital of the region is Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The Cathedral city of Durham in this region is the city's political centre and was tipped to get the assembly housed there. Sunderland and Middlesbrough are the other cities of the North East region of England. Basically these cities were industrialized ones. "As such, wages and the standards of living in the region are the lowest in England, with high unemployment the norm" (Andrew Stevens 2004) The region has also returned to the Parliament political bigwigs like Prime Minister Tony Blair himself among others. With this background the government put forth the referendum to the people of North East England to decide on the introduction of a regional government body in the North East region of England. The voters in the region of North East England rejected the proposal for forming a regional assembly in a decisive manner, making the other two planned referenda for different regions shelved by the government at least temporarily. The referendum had a turnout of 47.8 percent, out of which 22.1 percent voted in favour of the regional assembly, while 77.9 percent voted against making their opinion explicit without doubt. 1.2 Government's Views on the Need for a Directly-Elected Regional Assembly: The government of UK had expressed its views on the necessity to have an elected regional assembly for the North East England and with these views only the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister had directed the base work far carrying out a referendum in the region as to assess the public opinion for the creation of the elected regional assembly. The North East Constitutional Convention had identified the following reasons for the North

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Is the work performance of registered nurses who are actively engaged Research Proposal

Is the work performance of registered nurses who are actively engaged in the leading and managing of their techs (certified nurses assistant) better than those nurses who are partially involved - Research Proposal Example ing and leading other nurses in their role of taking care of patients, and other activities of importance that the institution might be engaged in; and controlling all activities of the nurses including evaluation of their performance in the nursing work as well as performance in departmental subunits. Staffing, as one of the roles of the nursing managers, includes the acquisition of staff on full time and/or part time nursing assistants who act as the ‘eyes and ears of the registered nurses/ nurse managers’. The health institutions can decide to take on board a nurse manager to take on the role of taking charge of the full time nursing assistants and have another taking charge of the part time nursing assistants. At the same time, a nurse manager might be in charge of both the full time and the part time nursing assistants. In both cases, dealing with either category of the nursing assistants has its own challenges which must be tackled differently. This business resear ch report will undertake to explain the differences in the management and performance skills for nurse managers dealing with the full time nursing assistants and those dealing with the part time nursing assistants. The areas that will be addressed by this business report include areas where nursing management is needed; the skills needed for the profession; the differences in management that results from nursing managers taking on either part time or fulltime assistant nurses; the differences in skills required in dealing with either part time or fulltime nursing assistants; and the nature of work performed by the nursing managers. The results yielded by the study conducted included; the existence of differences in management roles as well as skills in managing fulltime and part time nursing assistants; the vast health related field in which the nursing management career has importance and is utilized; and the critical worked performed by the nurse managers which resonates around ad ministration

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Marketing Mix Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marketing Mix - Research Paper Example The products are high priced. Apple as a brand is regarded as a symbol for high status and trendy fashion. So it can be said that though being a market leader, Apple competes with itself and launches better and improved versions of its own product. Table of Contents Introduction 4 Marketing Mix 5 Product 5 Price 5 Place 6 Promotion 6 Implementation of Marketing Mix in Apple Inc 6 References 8 Introduction Apple Inc is a US based multinational organization engaged in manufacture of digital electronics and computer hardware equipments. The company was founded in the year 1976 by the name of Apple Computers Inc and since then it has grown into a mammoth organization with a formidable brand image. In the year 2007 the company renamed itself as Apple Inc. The company is presently listed on the bourses of the NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange. The company is presently headed by Tim Cook one of the most dynamic business leaders of the modern world. The company is known for its innovati ons in technology and bringing out cutting edge technology products that are unmatched by any of its competitors in the market. Apple Inc was one of the pioneers in the industry that designed computers like mackintosh (Apple, 2011). The mission and vision of the organization is to be an innovative market player that manufactures products that are unique, distinctive and highly innovative in the market. The main mission statement of the organization is an apple at every desk. The company aims to create innovations that are simple yet elegant and are highly technology intensive. The company’s mission is to provide the best quality and innovative products to customers across the globe. The company aims to be a global leader in its product category and has accordingly made a global presence by having a dedicated presence in almost all the major economies of the world. The vision and mission statements can be largely correlated with its business strategies that involved launch of products like I-phones, I-pad’s that are highly technology intensive and have attracted a huge attention from the target market audience by virtue of their innovative features. Marketing Mix Product Apple Inc has an impressive product portfolio comprised of a large array of innovative product offerings. Apart from the company’s traditional products like Mac the company also manufactures a range of other products including iPod’s, iPhone, and iTunes. IPod’s include portable music players that have a sleek design and highly attractive features that allows audio as well as video files to be run by the user. I-phone is yet another innovation developed by the organization in the lucrative mobile telephone segment. The unique product tries to amalgamate the excitement of a mobile phone with innovative features like excellent graphics and computing options. The delightful looks make it an attractive option for any individual. Apple also made a foray into the sof tware industry with the launch of the Apple I tunes. This product is essentially a music player that is compatible with both iPods as well as personal computers. In addition to this the company has also produced software’s like I sync, Mobile Me etc that are essentially in the software segments. Apple in its most recent activities has launched the

Friday, August 23, 2019

Term paper on one of the following Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

On one of the following - Term Paper Example In 1945, she was chosen by Hitler as his assistant. She had been typing his speeches, correspondence including his private testament and last will. In this book, she described how she was blinded by her boss’ activities because of his fatherly approach. Details of her luxurious life as a secretary were also included. In 1943, she married Junge, one of Hitler’s military orderlies. However, they were not married for long because Junge was killed in a combat during the war. As Germany began losing in the war, Hitler expressed he would not want to surrender to the Russian army. Thus he thought of cyanide poisoning as a better way to end his life. Towards the end of the book, Hitler shot himself in the temple with cyanide in his teeth. Traudl was later captured by Soviet armies but was never charged. Why would Hitler with such a stern character end his life that way? I cannot tell you the reason why but I will tell you what I like about the book. First, Traudle gave her readers something to ponder about Hitler especially when she mentioned the other side of his personality. Known for his tyrannical approach who killed directly or indirectly almost 30,000,000 people to pursue his cause, he has the charm and kind personality after all which is unknown to many. This was evident when Traudl mentioned he served as the father figure despite being her secretary. The father –daughter relationship was felt precisely because Hitler spent quality time with her during work and outside her work. Aside from this, Traudle also mentioned her conversations with Hitler which is unusual for leaders to have chats with their secretaries most often. Traudl mentioned that life could be boring without work because precisely she will not have a talk with Hitler. She came to realize that she misse s the monologues every night with Hitler. Perhaps, there is kindness on

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Customer Service Supervisor Training Program Essay Example for Free

Customer Service Supervisor Training Program Essay KSA requirements  Ã‚   Program Objectives   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   At the program’s conclusion participants should: Knowledge   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   * be familiar with relevant university, state and federal policies, systems, procedures and regulations to ensure customer satisfaction Skill   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   * have all personal computer skills required to effectively work in the assigned work unit * be able to diffuse a variety of hostile and unpleasant customer situations * be competent in managing staff and the customer service work unit Ability * identify and adapt to different customer communication styles and cultural backgrounds and to recognize and resolve their needs      * adopt excellent time management procedures while adhering to relevant rules, processes and directives * assume effective problem solving procedures Program Agenda    Module and rationale Goals Training Methods 1. Policies and Procedures In order for a CSS to effectively operate within the work unit he/she must first be familiar and be able to work within   required polices and procedures. understand and work within the constraints of relevant university, state and federal policies, systems, procedures and regulations 1 day workshop PPT., individual, pair and group activities. (Participants will be provided with a folio all documentation for future reference.) 2. Personal Computer Skills In order for a CSS to effectively operate within the work unit he/she must be informed and able to use university information systems and databases, together with a number of software applications. obtain a competent working knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, university information systems and databases, software applications 1 day workshop PPT, hands-on computer tuorial 4 ongoing weekly online tutorials 3. Understanding Customers and their needs Customers possess different styles of behaviour and learning how to adjust to those differing styles improves customer service and communication. understand the process of communication and the cultural differences that prevail, develop skills in overcoming barriers to communication, understand the importance of body language in communication,  ½ day workshop PPT, individual, pair and group activities  ½ day in the work unit role plays 4. Action Leadership    To be an effective leader,   a CSS needs to develop their own leadership skills and personal authority, as well as investigate tactics for building a strong and supportive team, handle difficult problems competently, and take accountability for end results. understand how to be an effective leader, understand how people are motivated, be better able to use the talents of individual members within the work unit, be able to develop realistic action plans 1 day workshop PPT, individual, pair group activities Take home ‘action plan’ assignment’ 5. Time Management    One of the biggest challenges a CSS has to face is managing their time.   They are often inundated with questions, queries and wants form all sides staff, customers and management.   The ability to identify and focus their attention on the most important tasks is often the difference between a successful or unsuccessful CSS. understand the importance of time in the role of CSS, identify priorities, allocate time between various activities, develop time schedules, deal with the unexpected . 1 day workshop PPT, individual, pair and group activities 6. Managing Conflict and problem solving    Not all customers are easy to manage and an effective CSS must develop effective conflict management and resolution skills to ensure customer satisfaction. These skills will also carry across to conflict issues within the work unit. understand the approach to problem solving, encourage prompt problem-solving through prompt personal action, evaluate the choices and choose the optimum solutions, understand the principles of negotiation  ½ day workshop PPT, individual, pair and group activities     ½ day in the work unit role plays       Evaluation    Participants will be given a series of scenarios, and at specific points they will be asked to indicate how they would respond. The scenarios will be realistic, using pictures, sound files, background information and video clips. In this was, a variety of behavioral measures will be gathered in a short period of time, and the process will not be dependent on the subjective judgments of examiners.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Precision System Inc Essay Example for Free

Precision System Inc Essay The decision that the group would take is to implement a web-based ordering system that would allow customers to configure their orders in accordance with the specification that they want. Through this the data entry error will decrease. The necessary steps for planning the implementation of a web-based ordering system are stated bellow. The first step in implementing this course of action is to determine the objectives of the company. As for our PSI it aims to reduce its error in order entry stage of the business process. The company should also take into account the customers that will be using the website so that we can better design it in accordance with their characteristics and the data information that they would provide as deemed necessary to process an order. We should also take into account the constraints of creating a website such as bandwidth so that we can properly take this into account in the design phase of the website construction. The second step is to construct metrics that will help in determining the success or the failure of the selected course of action. Such metrics for PSI includes that the incremental cost for the web-based ordering system should not be more than 15.72% of the estimated annual failure cost. This will help the company evaluate whether the investment is fulfilling its intended purpose or not. The third step is to define system specifications. PSI should identify the features that can be done through the website which comprises of the ordering features for the goods sold by the company. PSI should also specify business requirements which are as follows: customer may change or cancel their order one week from the required delivery date of the equipment after which the order is said to be final, the allowed mode of payments will also be identified, the maximum and minimum orders needed for a certain transaction, and all other policies that the company wants to implement. PSI should not forget to identify the role of the customers in this web-base ordering system which is imputing their order specifications and sending the request for the order through the said website. We can use site map or written system requirements depending on the complexity of the specifications the company aims to make. Lastly, we need to identify the infrastructure needed for the system if there is any. The forth step is building a content map. It is where we actually identify the text, pictures, sounds, database, and any data form that will be contained in the website that PSI aims to create. The data should be match with the firms’ specifications so that the content will be appropriate for its intended purpose. It is but necessary in this stage to identify the person who will be responsible for the implementation of this website. PSI should also identify the persons who has the authority to alter the data in the website. To ensure everything is in its proper place, a content plan should be develop. The fifth and final step is the identification of management and maintenance personnel. PSI should identify the person who will be responsible for the overall system so that the website operations can properly be monitored. The maintenance personnel should also be identified due to the fact that we would rather not let the website stale and lose the return on investment that we might have generated if resources were properly use. After the stated steps above, we can now operationalize the plan we have formulated above so that we can actually have a website that will be able to take the orders of our customers. The steps to be followed under the implementation phase would be stated bellow. The first thing to do is to find a vendor who will create the website for the company at the least amount of economic outflow without sacrificing its quality. In here, PSI and the vendor company should list the tasks assigned to each party so that there is no redundancy of work. The list of tasks should include the date and time of implementation so that we can ensure that the necessary task to be performed is being accomplished. The second step is preparing the company for change which is not an easy thing to do. People in the organization especially those who might lose their job or have a hard time coping with new systems being installed would naturally oppose such a change. That is why a considerable time should be spent to ensure that the people of the organization is ready for any alteration in their normal work environment. The employees of PSI which are currently in the order entry department won’t be fired but their responsibility will no longer include that of encoding the orders of the company. The third step is to inform the customers with the web-based ordering system because they are also one of the stakeholders for the change that we are going to implement. Informing them of the modifications will hopefully get them on-board with our decision which will make the implementation of the change easier on the companies part. Lastly, we should track our results and modify operations for necessary improvement. We will track the results of the project by comparing the actual from the metrics develop in the planning phase of the study. Through this, we will know where we are and where we are suppose to be. If we are far from our goals we need to check what we are doing wrong and fine-tune the operations. This cycle of improvements never ends as business of today always seeks for improvement.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Indias Media And Entertainment Industry

Indias Media And Entertainment Industry Indian Television has a rich and varied history. From black and white, subdued broadcasts 40 years ago to the colourful, sometimes flamboyant soaps and sitcoms of today, it has grown by leaps and bounds. What used to be considered a luxury most people can live without has now become such an essential part of our lives. The first experiment with television broadcasting in India involved a makeshift studio at Akashvani Bhavan in New Delhi, a low-power transmitter and 21 television sets, most of which were installed in the homes of various bureaucrats and ministers. These sets were gifts from a western European government. From these humble beginnings, television has reached a stage where every household, from a CEOs to an auto-rikshaw drivers, has a colour telelvision. Currently, there are about 160 satellite channels broadcasting in India, earning revenues of more than Rs. 79 bn from advertising alone. If one were to add all the other avenues of earning revenue, such as cable advertising, DTH subscriptions, etc, the industry becomes one worth Rs. 185 bn. This figure is also a very conservative one, proving the massive scope for the television and entertainment industry in India. Satellite television has evolved greatly over the years. From a meagre 16% coverage by area (21% coverage by population) in 1980, it extended to 66% coverage by area (83% coverage by population) in 1995. These statistics are only higher 15 years on. The first breakthrough for television in India came in 1982, when the state allowed colour televisions to be bought and sold, to coincide with the Asian Games, which were hosted in India. Due to the immense load predicted on transmitter capacity, the state also allowed private companies to install the extra transmitters. This allowed the private sector to venture forth into this industry. Secondly, when global satellite TV channels such as CNN and ESPN were allowed to broadcast in the nineties, peoples perceptions about content and coverage were revised. They became aware of the variety of programming available, and as a result, awareness and interest was sparked. Once the floodgates were opened, more and more foreign channels penetrated the Indian market. From two generic channels in the 80s, the 90s paved the way to over 50 of them. This led to a boom in the cable TV provider segment and the rise of MSOs and cable TV cartels. Currently, the world of televisions has seen another revolution : direct-to-home (DTH) and the rise of set-top boxes. Companies such as Tata-Sky, Reliance, Airtel, DD, etc. have come out with digital television experiences that have broken the back of the cable-wallahs. A small, one time deposit of Rs. 5000 is all that is needed to experience the kind of television quality that was longed for in the time of over tapped cables (as cable operators repeatedly tapped the same cable source for multiple connections, the signal got progressively worse). Another wonderful addition to the experience was the fact that the consumer could finally pick and choose which channels he/she wanted to watch, instead of having to leave that to the whims and fancies of the cable operator. TV viewership has boomed since 2005 or so, when the DTH services first set up shop. In terms of type of content viewed, the evolution is even more striking. In the days of Doordarshans two channel hegemony, the only shows watched were the limited content Prasar Bharati beamed. Entertainment programmes were few and far between. And when the solitary few soaps like Hum Log (1984), and mythological dramas: Ramayan (1987-88) and Mahabharat (1988-89) were televised, millions of viewers stayed glued to their sets. However, as happens in most cases, viewership declined with time. The need for further variety in content was deeply felt. As mentioned earlier, the opening up of foreign content in the nineties paved the way for a HUGE variety of programming. Not only was it possible to watch news that was relevant to the rest of the world, it also became possible for any viewer to watch entertainment shows that were staple in other countries. Sport also grew out of the hegemony of cricket, and football, athletics, racing, etc. gained viewership. The Indian consumer had finally come of age. Preferred Content : Presently, Indian viewership is extremely fragmented and unpredictable. A formula that works today could be absolutely worthless tomorrow. This unpredictability is every content generators nightmare. There are no past trends that can be trusted. As such, the content variety has shot up immensely. Indian viewers still love their soaps. The same stories that they grew up watching, those of families broken and reunited, love killing and giving life, crime paying and then collecting, are still a winning formula. What needs to change are the faces, and the way those messages are delivered. While old soaps such as Sansaar or Shanti would show these stories calmly and with far fewer effects, current day soaps are rife with glitter, pizzazz, sound effects and emotions. Everything in todays soaps happens at the speed of light. The stories have caught up with the times and reflect the pace of life as it stands today. A new fad in the industry is the Reality show. These are shows that involve real people, not actors, who perform for the entertainment of millions. From talent competitions to dare-devilry, the permutations for these shows are endless, and most have been explored by now. An import from the west, reality television has achieved new highs in India. Not only has this form of programming broken all records for viewership, clever marketing and commercial tie-ups have also brought in a very large amount of money in the form of mobile services revenue. Telecom operators frequently tie up with the producers of the show to provide value added services. The audience, on whose participation this entire genre depends, will vote and decide the fate of the candidates on the show by dialling/sending a text message. This call/text is charged at a premium, thus making both the producers of the show and the telecom operator a hefty sum of money. Sports have not been left untouched, either. Cricket still remains the fan favourite, but the influx of channels such as ESPN and Star Sports has opened the Indian viewers eyes to more exotic fare. Now, football viewership is on the rise. Clubs such as Manchester United, AC Milan and Chelsea have started making their presence felt, not only in the living rooms of the urban youth, but also in the football academies in tier 2 cities. Formula One racing is also racing up the popularity charts, with people now being able to differentiate between a diffuser and a spoiler. The inaugural Indian Grand Prix, to be held in 2011, is testament to the growing popularity of this sport. Other examples, such as tennis, athletics, etc. are also to be made. Another interesting trend is the rise of sexually loaded content in contemporary Indian television. Item numbers in movies, channels dedicated to showing fashion shows of underwear models and even advertisements point to this rising trend. While the world shrinks, cultures once perceived to be too foreign or too alien to ours have started becoming acceptable. Sex on TV has long been debated over, but the reality is that it is nothing more than a relic of a flattening world. What was once the property of seedy businessmen in video rental stores has become commonplace. Whether this is good or bad is for the viewer to decide. The censorship board, too, has a role to play in this debate. What lies in store : The future for Indian television appears bright indeed. There is a very large, untapped market for it in rural India. Also, per capita viewership in India is only about half that of the United States. What is uncertain, however, is the medium of viewership. Current cable technology is extremely outdated, and newer satellite TV technology is still suffering from teething issues. With the rise of broadband internet, experts believe IPTV is the future. Or, in a humorous twist, it is also possible that satellite TV can be used to offer broadband internet connectivity. The possibilities are endless. Most viewers will, however, be watching their TV mainly via cable, terrestrial and direct to home television delivered via satellite. Cable TV infrastructure will have improved. Addressability also will have made its mark and consumers will be surfing their television sets for emails and for information. Free-to-air television will, however, continue to rule the roost but tiering will have made its mark and people will be buying their pay per view programmes and choosing the channels they want watch unlike today when everything is thrown at them with a shovel.

Globalization Essays -- Business International Globalization

Globalization is necessary in the world. Different theories on the concept of globalization provide distinct reasons on the need for globalization. The world’s advancements and technology help drive the need for globalization. Communities and organizations alike are affected by globalization, and smaller countries benefit from the generosity of larger participants in the world’s market. Globalization, in the business sense, is to make a product or service available in the global market. Any investment that is across national borders is also part of globalization. Many companies in the United States (US) have taken their product, service, or investment opportunities to other countries. This affects the global economy. Just as the economy of the US affects many Americans, the global economy affects the citizens of the world. As any company that does affects the global economy, positive or negative affects may be realized. Many different theories support the concept of globalization. Tariffs are levied on a country-to-country basis. Tariffs are duties, also known as taxes, which each country puts on the imports and exports of that country. The government of the country in question wages a tariff. The World Trade Organization (WTO) oversees all countries. Absolute advantage supports the concept of globalization, because this concept ensures that one country can produce a product better and more efficient than another country. By importing or exporting this product or good, the countries that use this product can easily trade other products or goods. This helps countries produce the things to make them more efficient. Comparative advantage happens when the opportunity cost of producing goods differs from country to country, all... ...upport the reasoning behind the need globalization. Many countries benefit from the use of products and services from other countries. In turn, the countries all benefit from each other. The markets will dictate what the driving forces are, but for now, the largest driving force in the world’s economy today is technology. The effects of globalization can be seen in many different organizations and even communities across the US. Regional trading blocs help countries that would normally not be a participant in the world market. Globalization is will only make this world’s economy stronger. References Blundel, R., & Thatcher, M. (2014). Contrasting Local Responses to Globalization: The Case of Volume Yacht Manufacturing in Europe. Web. 18 May 2015. Hill, C. (2008). International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace (7th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Monday, August 19, 2019

A Room of Ones Own :: Classics, Feminism, Womans Right, Virginia Woolf

A Room of Ones Own Hundreds of years ago, an unconscious culture diseased the female population. Similar to Shakespeare's sister, women were conditioned to conform to a feminine ideology. This concept of femininity spread through out the country essentially defining the nature of a woman and robbing them of their innate sense of self. While women may have dreamed about the day when their creative spirit could be unleashed, those dreams were quickly interrupted by the powerful grasp of male dominance. By repressing women, the feminine role of dependency and obedience was maintained. In return, society's power structure became refueled and the patriarchy was perpetuated. Through time the power structure has broken down, however, I believe Shakespeare's sister continues to exist in many women, still in search of a "room of one's own". Virginia Woolf stressed the importance of having a room of one's own or a place to discover and explore the creative self. She encourages the young women to develop the habit of freedom and the courage to write exactly what they think. More than seventy years later, Woolf's words remain applicable. Women are still struggling to confront the courage and "†¦face the fact†¦that there is no arm to cling to†¦". For, while the societal barriers have disappeared, the mental barriers have not. Though few women are expected to be submissive and obedient, the ideology of the feminine role continues to starve women's souls. The pressure to get married and have children while pushing one's personal desires and passions aside persists. Thus, when a woman's soul is in a state of

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Mexican Labor Unions and Economic Reforms Over the Past 20 Years Essay

Mexican Labor Unions and Economic Reforms Over the Past 20 Years INTRODUCTION: Since labor unions in Mexico were originally formed in the early 1900s, they have maintained a unique system of collaboration and collusion with the government of Mexico. Though many may refer to their system as one of â€Å"corruption,† it is a system that has become so deeply imbedded in the relationship between labor unions and the government, that it is now a well-understood unofficial network. Over the past 20 years in Mexico, a great deal of progress has been made toward the liberalization of the Mexican markets. Previously government-owned companies have been privatized, foreign investment has boomed, and a once one-party system has just recently produced its first democratically elected opposing party president. But how helpful have the labor unions been to this progress? Generally, labor unions would be one of a society’s greatest opponents to such things as privatization, causing many difficulties to the progress of the economy, however in the case of Mex ico, I contend that labor unions have, in fact, been a beneficial component to the progress. The unions have contributed through their collaboration with the government, their suppression of wages, their maintenance of a balanced governmental system, and their contributions to democracy. Though it cannot be claimed that all of their contributions to the economic development of the past 20 years in Mexico has been positive, it can be claimed that Mexico’s unique style of government-labor union coordination has acted in many unusually beneficial ways. LABOR UNION HISTORY: Up until 1931, no organized labor union had ever been recognized by the Mexican government. In fact, unde... ...rms in Latin America. Cambridge University Press: USA Mujica, Jorge Garcà ­a. (2002). Situacià ³n Econà ³mica y Prospectos. Resumen para la Sà ­ntesis Econà ³mica de Mà ©xico: La Ciudad de Mà ©xico. Otero, Rafael. (1999). Effects of Labor Unions on Regional Economic Development. Ph.D. Dessertation. The Universtiy of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX. Otero, Rafael, and Josà © A. Pagan. (2001). Unions and Job Queuing in Mexico’s Maquiladoras. Working Paper. The University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX. Panagides, Alexis and Harry Anthony Patrinos. (1994). â€Å"Union-Nonunion Wage Differntials in the Developing World: A Case Study of Mexico.† The World Bank, Latin America and the Caribbean, Country Dept. Policy Research Working Paper 1269: Washington DC Rose-Ackerman, Susan. (1999). Corruption and Government. Cambridge University Press: USA

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Influence of the Enlightenment

The â€Å"Century of Light,† otherwise known as the Enlightenment brought forth a strong emphasis on Reason and Knowledge. One product of the Enlightenment is the ideas and thoughts of Condorcet. Condorcet's Sketch for a Historical Picture of The Progress of the Human Mind is brought on by his strong belief in the Perfectibility of Humanity. In rational order there are certain principals and laws that the cosmos works under, in rational order there is no change. But Condorcet says that change is progress, and through progress, Humanity can be improved. According to Condorcet, the perfection of Mankind is attainable and for that reason he is impelled to reach it. According to Condorcet and the beliefs of the Enlightenment, Reason, is innate in everyone. It is just a matter of using Education to bring it out to consciousness. Condorcet firmly believes that with proper education, a man can â€Å"judge his own and other men's actions according to his own lights†. (The Tenth Stage, Pg. 182) With reason, a man will also be able to recognize his rights and the power he has with them. He wants that a man will â€Å"not be in a state of blind dependence† (The Tenth Stage, Pg. 182). But one must keep in mind that it is not the goal of education to create a smart-aleck so to speak, but a human being that is capable of Autonomy. And even then, not Autonomy of thought but rather Autonomy of Judgment: â€Å"How one should act†. When a man reaches this state, he is enlightened. He is then a responsible and respectable citizen of society and thus, perfect. To Condorcet, it is simply a matter of proper education that is necessary for such outcomes. Equality is another ideal that Condorcet mentions. Believing in the improvement of society, he questions the beginning of prejudices and divisions within the society, â€Å"are these part of civilization itself, or are they due to the present imperfections of the social art?† (The Tenth Stage, Pg. 174) Condorcet believes that we can progress beyond these imperfections and not only have equality among men, but extend this equality with, â€Å"the complete annihilation†¦between the sexes† (The Tenth Stage, Pg. 193). According to Condorcet, we must reach for equality until mankind is able â€Å"to understand his rights and to exercise them in accordance with his conscience and his creed† (The Tenth Stage, Pg. 174). With this equality Condorcet foresees a society in which pain and misery will not be the norm, but rather the exception to humanity. But to be enlightened is not the sole goal of Europe, for how can a perfect society be reached if so many others are still struggling to find the â€Å"light†? This is why Condorcet tells us in his publication, that it is the job of those that are enlightened to shed light to the others. Foreign countries are referred to as â€Å"obstacles [impeding] this revolution† (the Tenth Stage, Pg. 175). Therefore, the final step in reaching perfection would be to colonize and educate the ‘savages' so that Perfection of Mankind may be finally reached. Colonization is imperative in the eyes of Condorcet, but not for any personal or financial gain. Because the Europeans have ‘found the light' it seems irrelevant for the other countries of the world to go through trial and error to reach this same level of enlightenment. Instead, colonization should take place and the ‘savages' should be transformed from the ‘conquered' into those in ‘tutelage'. In this way, the perfection of Humanity is speeded forward towards completion.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Complex and Dynamic Business World

â€Å"The business world has become more complex and more dynamic. Planning tools are designed for stable environments. Therefore, planning should be abandoned. Please, comment on this statement. † 1035 Words 2 I. Introduction In today’s increasingly dynamic and complex business world, it is important to decide whether to use and trust in planning tools or if one should abandon them because they are made for more stable environments. This essay will give an overview of the planning tools and techniques that exist for assessing the environment. It will discuss the use of planning tools in a complex and dynamic business world.The statement that planning should be abandoned in a complex and dynamic business world will be discussed in the following. II. Main Body â€Å"A plan describes the chosen solution to a problem and lists what has to be done to achieve the goal† (Landau, 2012). We can categorize planning into three parts. During the first part goals have to be defined. In the second part the corresponding strategies have to be established. The third part focuses on finalising the plans. â€Å"Managers use planning tools and techniques to help their organizations be more efficient and effective. (Robbins & Coulter, 2009) In a volatile and dynamic environment managers should not rely on planning. They should use planning as an indicator of what could potentially happen in the future and consequently try to restructure their organization in order to cope with market uncertainty. To do so, the managerial establishment has developed several techniques. One technique to assess the business environment is environmental scanning, which fundamentally consists of competitor intelligence and global scanning. Environmental scanning helps to foresee and decode changes in the environment via screening a lot of information.By applying this technique organizations are more likely to predict issues and concerns that could affect their current or planned activities right. Research results show that organizations that use this technique have a higher performance (according to Robbins & Coulter, 2011, pp. 276f. ). One part of the environmental scanning is competitor intelligence. In this process organizations gather information concerning their competitors. The information will be compiled by asking questions about their competitors such as â€Å"Who are they? †, â€Å"What are they doing? and â€Å"How will what they are doing affect us? †. 3 â€Å"Competitor intelligence experts suggest that 80 percent of what managers need to know about competitors can be found out from their own employees, suppliers, and customers. † (Robbins & Coulter, 2011, p. 277) Although this statistic indicates that collecting competitor intelligence can be achieved through the utilization of an organisation’s extended network, competitor intelligence can be seen as a problematic subject as it often features a fine line between e thical and unethical.Another part of environmental scanning is global scanning, which is important for organizations with global activities. In a complex and dynamic environment managers broaden their view to gather global information. â€Å"For instance, they can subscribe to information clipping services that review world newspapers and business periodicals and provide summaries of desired information (Robbins & Coulter, 2011, p. 277). One can say that this technique is very suitable for an unstable and dynamic environment, because it helps to foresee the environment and consequentially helps to realign, if necessary, the organizational goals and plans.On the other hand, gathered information can be interpreted wrongly, which can trigger a chain-reaction from wrong forcasting to wrong goals and plans. A second technique to evaluate the environment is forecasting. Forecasting is a prediction of outcomes, which will help to identify events that will happen in the future. The common consent about this method is that is effective and time efficient. The ultimate goal of forecasting is to facilitate decision making through gathering information. There are two different forecasting techniques.One is quantitative forecasting, which is preferred when sufficient and hard data is given. It is based on historical data and tries to predict outcomes. The other one is qualitative forecasting, which uses personal judgment and knowledge to predict outcomes. This technique is used when hard data is limited or hard to gather. â€Å"First, it’s important to understand that forecasting techniques are most accurate when the environment is not rapidly changing. The more dynamic the environment, the more likely managers are to forecast ineffectively. † (Robbins & Coulter, 2011, p. 79) 4 However, forecasting lacks the ability to effectively predict events like recessions or the actions of competitors. That leads to the assumption that organizations shouldn’t re ly on a single forecasting method, but should use several models to be on the safer side. But the challenge for managers is to interpret and then implement the information into the planning decisions. Finally organizations must remember that forecasting, as a marginal skill, can be trained and improved. A third technique to assess the environment is benchmarking.Benchmarking is a tool to improve an organizations performance by adapting outstanding practices from the top organizations within the environment. Studies verify the statement, â€Å"that users have achieved 69 percent faster growth and 45 percent greater productivity† (Robbins & Coulter, 2011, p. 279) when using benchmarking. Benchmarking can be seen as a four step approach. It starts with the forming of a benchmarking planning team. The second step continues with the gathering of information and external data. Thirdly, when all data is gathered the analysis to identify performance gaps takes place.The last step is the preparing and implementing of an action plan. (Based on Y. K. Shetty, â€Å"Aiming high: Competitive Benchmarking for Superior Performance,† Long Range Planning, February 1993, p. 42) Managers use benchmarking as a tool to approach the leading position of their competitors without overtaking them. And if all organizations work inefficiently it won’t be revealed. So this technique should not be followed in a dynamic environment, because it increases the likelihood that a manager will ‘copy’ the mistakes others make.So one can say â€Å"Plans serve as a road map, although the destination may change due to dynamic market conditions† (Robbins & Coulter, 2009, p. 170). III. Conclusion To sum up, one can say that planning is very helpful and necessary but it can be misleading. No matter how many planning tools managers use, they can only plan effectively if they understand how planning in dynamic environment works. They have to keep in mind that plann ing should only be used as an indicator of what could potentially happen in the future.I believe that planning should not be abandoned, but improved. 5 IV. References Robbins & Coulter, S. P. R. & M. C. , (2009). ‘Planning'. In: Pearson International Edition (ed), Management. 10th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.. pp. (133-174). Robbins & Coulter, S. P. R. & M. C. , (2011). ‘Planning'. In: Pearson Global Edition (ed), Management. 11th ed. : Pearson Education, Inc.. pp. (204-276). Prof. Dr. Christian Landau, Principles of Management, 24. Sep. 2012 (Session 2), EBS Universitat fur Wirtschaft und Recht, Oestrich-Winkel Complex and Dynamic Business World â€Å"The business world has become more complex and more dynamic. Planning tools are designed for stable environments. Therefore, planning should be abandoned. Please, comment on this statement. † 1035 Words 2 I. Introduction In today’s increasingly dynamic and complex business world, it is important to decide whether to use and trust in planning tools or if one should abandon them because they are made for more stable environments. This essay will give an overview of the planning tools and techniques that exist for assessing the environment. It will discuss the use of planning tools in a complex and dynamic business world.The statement that planning should be abandoned in a complex and dynamic business world will be discussed in the following. II. Main Body â€Å"A plan describes the chosen solution to a problem and lists what has to be done to achieve the goal† (Landau, 2012). We can categorize planning into three parts. During the first part goals have to be defined. In the second part the corresponding strategies have to be established. The third part focuses on finalising the plans. â€Å"Managers use planning tools and techniques to help their organizations be more efficient and effective. (Robbins & Coulter, 2009) In a volatile and dynamic environment managers should not rely on planning. They should use planning as an indicator of what could potentially happen in the future and consequently try to restructure their organization in order to cope with market uncertainty. To do so, the managerial establishment has developed several techniques. One technique to assess the business environment is environmental scanning, which fundamentally consists of competitor intelligence and global scanning. Environmental scanning helps to foresee and decode changes in the environment via screening a lot of information.By applying this technique organizations are more likely to predict issues and concerns that could affect their current or planned activities right. Research results show that organizations that use this technique have a higher performance (according to Robbins & Coulter, 2011, pp. 276f. ). One part of the environmental scanning is competitor intelligence. In this process organizations gather information concerning their competitors. The information will be compiled by asking questions about their competitors such as â€Å"Who are they? †, â€Å"What are they doing? and â€Å"How will what they are doing affect us? †. 3 â€Å"Competitor intelligence experts suggest that 80 percent of what managers need to know about competitors can be found out from their own employees, suppliers, and customers. † (Robbins & Coulter, 2011, p. 277) Although this statistic indicates that collecting competitor intelligence can be achieved through the utilization of an organisation’s extended network, competitor intelligence can be seen as a problematic subject as it often features a fine line between e thical and unethical.Another part of environmental scanning is global scanning, which is important for organizations with global activities. In a complex and dynamic environment managers broaden their view to gather global information. â€Å"For instance, they can subscribe to information clipping services that review world newspapers and business periodicals and provide summaries of desired information (Robbins & Coulter, 2011, p. 277). One can say that this technique is very suitable for an unstable and dynamic environment, because it helps to foresee the environment and consequentially helps to realign, if necessary, the organizational goals and plans.On the other hand, gathered information can be interpreted wrongly, which can trigger a chain-reaction from wrong forcasting to wrong goals and plans. A second technique to evaluate the environment is forecasting. Forecasting is a prediction of outcomes, which will help to identify events that will happen in the future. The common consent about this method is that is effective and time efficient. The ultimate goal of forecasting is to facilitate decision making through gathering information. There are two different forecasting techniques.One is quantitative forecasting, which is preferred when sufficient and hard data is given. It is based on historical data and tries to predict outcomes. The other one is qualitative forecasting, which uses personal judgment and knowledge to predict outcomes. This technique is used when hard data is limited or hard to gather. â€Å"First, it’s important to understand that forecasting techniques are most accurate when the environment is not rapidly changing. The more dynamic the environment, the more likely managers are to forecast ineffectively. † (Robbins & Coulter, 2011, p. 79) 4 However, forecasting lacks the ability to effectively predict events like recessions or the actions of competitors. That leads to the assumption that organizations shouldn’t re ly on a single forecasting method, but should use several models to be on the safer side. But the challenge for managers is to interpret and then implement the information into the planning decisions. Finally organizations must remember that forecasting, as a marginal skill, can be trained and improved. A third technique to assess the environment is benchmarking.Benchmarking is a tool to improve an organizations performance by adapting outstanding practices from the top organizations within the environment. Studies verify the statement, â€Å"that users have achieved 69 percent faster growth and 45 percent greater productivity† (Robbins & Coulter, 2011, p. 279) when using benchmarking. Benchmarking can be seen as a four step approach. It starts with the forming of a benchmarking planning team. The second step continues with the gathering of information and external data. Thirdly, when all data is gathered the analysis to identify performance gaps takes place.The last step is the preparing and implementing of an action plan. (Based on Y. K. Shetty, â€Å"Aiming high: Competitive Benchmarking for Superior Performance,† Long Range Planning, February 1993, p. 42) Managers use benchmarking as a tool to approach the leading position of their competitors without overtaking them. And if all organizations work inefficiently it won’t be revealed. So this technique should not be followed in a dynamic environment, because it increases the likelihood that a manager will ‘copy’ the mistakes others make.So one can say â€Å"Plans serve as a road map, although the destination may change due to dynamic market conditions† (Robbins & Coulter, 2009, p. 170). III. Conclusion To sum up, one can say that planning is very helpful and necessary but it can be misleading. No matter how many planning tools managers use, they can only plan effectively if they understand how planning in dynamic environment works. They have to keep in mind that plann ing should only be used as an indicator of what could potentially happen in the future.I believe that planning should not be abandoned, but improved. 5 IV. References Robbins & Coulter, S. P. R. & M. C. , (2009). ‘Planning'. In: Pearson International Edition (ed), Management. 10th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.. pp. (133-174). Robbins & Coulter, S. P. R. & M. C. , (2011). ‘Planning'. In: Pearson Global Edition (ed), Management. 11th ed. : Pearson Education, Inc.. pp. (204-276). Prof. Dr. Christian Landau, Principles of Management, 24. Sep. 2012 (Session 2), EBS Universitat fur Wirtschaft und Recht, Oestrich-Winkel