My Life Of A Christian Home - 849 Words

Growing up in a Christian home, I attended church regularly with grandmother not always of my own free will, but it behooved me to go willingly, my grandmother â€Å"strong arm’ was my uncle frank who believe whole heartily spare the rod spoil the child and beat him and he will not die. (Tough love) So it was in my best interest to put on a happy face. I would travel with Uncle Frank to revivals all across the state, I would feel the spirit of God tugging on my heart and not truly knowing what it was. Feeling the need to be closer, I was taught that if you always have tender heart towards God their hope that he will have mercy on you! And that if you train up a child in the way, when he is old he will not depart from it. I grew into a young man and I wanted to do my own thing, which I did within limits, but there was a fear of God that was install in me not to be disrespectfully my elders and respect the house of God. During my freshmen year in college, my grandmother had a dream that freighted me and help make conscious decision to mend my way. Only after joining the Army and being in the (WR) real world as my mother called it. This is when my grandmother’s word rang loud true in my mind and heart. â€Å"The world is a cold place â€Å"and the devil is trying to destroy your life and sent you to a place of eternal damnation (HELL!), separated from God for all eternity. I realized I need God in my life, living in my barracks at fort Stewart, GA. I surrender all to Christ the bestShow MoreRelatedMy Life Of A Christian Home1432 Words   |  6 PagesBeing the small person I am in such a big world, it makes it difficult for me to understand why I am here and what I am supposed to do. Growing up in a Christian home, I was taught to follow the rules, have good morals, and to be a follower of God. However, I never know if what I am doing is the right thing. I have donated most of my free time to my church, but instead of being involved in the action, I am usually in the back, pondering about what is so good about attending. I finally realized, maybeRead MoreHow do We Say our Last Good Byes in Mexico and in India Essay968 Words   |  4 PagesTo celebrate death could sound bizarre, but in Mexico and in India celebrating death is part of the culture, religion, customs and our own beliefs. However, there are some differences between Indian Hindus and Mexican Christians as well as similarities between both countries and religions. Cooking their favorite meals on their deceased loved ones birthday, and anniversaries, is just one example of similarities they both have. Jumpa Lahiri describes that Gogol and his family prepared Ashoke’s favoriteRead MoreWe Don t Grow When Things Are Easy954 Words   |  4 Pagescalled Hope Bay in Portland, Jamaica. Life was never easy when I was a child, and I was never told to expect anything big in life. No one around me ever mentioned anything about college. College was just seen as one of those places for smart rich people, and I was told I did not fall into either category. My mother migrated to England when I was eight years old, and I had to live with Paulet my cousin, who was also my guardian. I grew up moving from one home to another, escaping the danger of a sexualRead MoreEssay about A Lifelong Calling into the Orthodox Christian Church1011 Words   |  5 PagesThe Orthodox Christian Church holds true to the teachings of Christ as given by Him to His apostles. The Orthodox Christian Church is universal and Orthodox Christians have a faith and doctrine of Jesus Christ Our Lord as Head of the Church. To date, the Orthodox Church teachings promote the central role of youth and children in the mission of the church. Being an Orthodox Christian is a lifelong calling to whoever is baptized and chrismated in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy SpiritRead MoreAna s Story Of Ana1299 Words   |  6 PagesAna arrives home in Seattle after giving birth to their newborn daughter Phoebe. Tired, Ana lays on the couch while Christian calls and orders Ana food. â€Å"Ana, I have a meeting to attend I’ll be back tomorrow morning,† Christian says. Ana knowing Christian is doing all he can with managing business and helping with both Teddy and Phoebe, doesn’t complain. â€Å"I understand Christian, call me when you arrive†, Ana says. â€Å"Of course I will Ana.† Christian reaching over to give Ana a kiss, and Teddy andRead MoreReflective Essay On Refugee Refugees1161 Words   |  5 Pagesor those with physical and mental disabilities. Since I had to flee my home and settle in America without speaking one word of English, I always tell refugees my story, which eases their frustrations. Instantly, their faces light up and they see me as an inspiration and hope for themselves and for their children’s future. Child predators and rapist are two groups of people who I do not feel comfortable working with. Because of my past experience, I do not I think I would be equipped to work withRead MoreSpiritual Life Beliefs679 Words   |  3 PagesSPIRITUAL LIFE AND BELIEFS I do not really have a defining moment in my life where everything changed and gave up drugs and drinking and turned towards God. However, I do have a moment where I turned to him but it isn’t big and grand. Sometimes I wish this was different, sometimes I wish I had some big grand story but then again. I have been immersed in God’s life for all my entire life and I can’t complain about that. I was born in a very spiritual family with parents who had very clear and strictRead MoreMy Life After The Lutheran Church886 Words   |  4 Pages Throughout my adolescence, I regularly attended the Lutheran church and was enrolled in a Christian school until the age of twelve. I grew up in a middle class neighbor located in a Suburban in Florida near downtown Tampa area. God had completely blessed this only child, who was raised in a stable household with two, loving parents. Most importantly, my Christian parents based every aspect of their lives in devotion to Christ and mentoring the youths in the community. It was important forRead MoreJessica in Ther Merchant of Venice1181 Words   |  5 Pagesas the daughter of a Jewish Merchant but the audience learns she is much more than that. As the play moves along and Jessica marries a Christian man, Jessica’s identity as a Jewish woman is challenged. Although a minor character in the play, she is important because she ma kes the audience question what it means to be Jewish and therefore what it means to be Christian. The differences between Judaism and Christianity in the play are shown through Jessica’s relationships with Shylock and Lorenzo. TheRead MoreBrief Summary On Ministry Experience792 Words   |  4 PagesExperience My ministry experience includes multiple areas of ministry. As a student minister, I was involved in preparing and leading weekly Bible studies. As a volunteer at another church, I was able to help with Vacation Bible School, as well as a week-long Bible camp, entitled â€Å"Surviving the Storm;† a theme which encompasses my feelings toward this semester. Throughout this semester, I have grown in my understanding, not only of the multiple facets of Christian Education, but also in my understanding

Capitalism Is The Most Recognized Economic System

Capitalism Capitalism refers to an economic system in which the means of production are privately owned and are run for profit. I found this to be a very important concept as capitalism is the most recognized economic system in the world today. It also plays a very fundamental role in the world politics today as both national and international policies are greatly affected by capitalism and trade between one country and another. The issue of capitalism is important to me as a political science student as it allows me to understand the how prominent business people impact of the politics of any given state. Capitalism is characterized by elements such as competitive markets, capital accumulation, and salaried labor. Within this type of an economy, those partaking in a transaction posses the power to determine the prices at which goods, services and other assets are exchanged. In the free market economy, the state is allowed to intervene in the pricing of products and it provides signi ficant services to its citizens in form of unemployment benefits, social security, and the recognition of labor laws. State capitalism refers to the form of capitalism in which the state owns the means of productions and organizes its state enterprises as commercial and profit-seeking enterprises. Mercantilism is the form of capitalism that is illustrated by intertwining state interests and national business interests. There are other forms of capitalism including the mixed economy and corporateShow MoreRelatedCapitalism And Capitalism883 Words   |  4 Pagesform Capitalism. Capitalism in essence, is a system of economic value in which private ownership is the source of production (Such as factories, and farming). Goods are produced and in return, income and profit are gained. The generally accepted characteristics of what Capitalism is, such as private property rights, specialization of jobs, profits, division of labour, did not originate around Capitalism. In actuality, these were just the stepping stones into the more known economic system we knowRead MoreThe Economic Structure Of Feudal Society983 Words   |  4 PagesEmerging, as Marx posits, â€Å"out of the economic structure of feudal society,† Capitalism quickly became a pervasive, relentless and seemingly inescapable structure. â€Å"The emancipation from serfdom and from the fetters of the guild† led, on one hand, to the unprecedented creation of various economic and social opportunities. Conversely, Marx also acknowledges that â€Å"these new freedmen became sellers of themsel ves only after they had been robbed of all their own means of production, and of all the guaranteesRead MoreEssay on The Industrial Revolution1326 Words   |  6 Pagesforces, among them capitalism, technology, globalization, and issues of equality. Describe these forces in detail and analyze their impact on the structure and culture workplace. Capitalism Capitalism is an economic system that is based on the private ownership of capital or the means of production and the creation of goods and services for profit. Some of the elements central to capitalism include capital accumulation, competitive markets and a price system. Capitalism has been dominantRead MoreIndustrialization During The Industrial Revolution913 Words   |  4 Pagesborder amongst the wealthy and the underprivileged. As a result of building trust on companies to play a role in income, Capitalism was consequently determinedly renowned as the existing economy that we still customized until this day. What is Industrialization? Industrialization is described as the development of modifying from an agriculture and artisanal social and economic system to an industrialized program. This process needs creating and implementing technological elements such as mechanizationRead MoreImperialism And Consumerism1365 Words   |  6 Pages Imperialism as a driving force behind the structures of capitalism and consumerism has stood as an extremely powerful tool taken on by many influential economic world powers. The occidentalist concept of importing goods for consumption from less developed peripheral nations, in recent history, has become a concept with heavy influence. This idea of creating a production dichotomy has become foundational to the modern and increasingly connected world and its means of efficient production by trade;Read MorePersonal Freedom And Capitalism Of The United States1417 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction. Personal freedom and capitalism go hand-in-hand in America’s rise to economic power. As Friedman (1980) states you cannot have political freedom without economic freedom and by allowing one you provide the opportunity for the other to flourish(p. 2). Early in the history of the United States, the government allowed the market to operate freely and followed The Do Nothing Policy to produce both economic prosperity and freedom for her citizens. By allowing this system to work naturally withinRead MoreChina s Impact On China1321 Words   |  6 Pages Moreover, after setting up economic institutions and an industrial base, Deng Xiaoping established various Special Economic Zones in China that allowed for increased foreign investment, helping to develop China’s commercial growth. As described before, when Deng Xiaoping came to power, his goal was for China to fulfill the Four Modernizations: modernization in agriculture; industry; science and technology; and defense. Deng believed that the only way China could keep up with Western countries wasRead MoreThe Influence of the Communist Manifesto on the Development of Industrial Capitalism1249 Words   |  5 Pagesthe dominating economic system of the twenty-first century. In the later nineteenth century, however, industrial capitalism was on the brink of ruin. â€Å"On many occasions during the past century, Marxists have thought that capitalism was down for the count . . . Yet it has always come back with renewed strength.† Industrial capitalism succeeded in the face of communism, despite numerous economic disasters. As the capitalist economists hopefully noted at the time, these economic earthquakes, temporaryRead MoreVideo Case Study Essay775 Words   |  4 PagesExplain the role of capitalism in the 100-year growth of Nederlander Concerts. How does Nederlander benefit from each of the fundamental rights of capitalism? 1.Capitalism is a free market system, based on private ownership, economic freedom, and fair competition. This economic system creates great possibilities for economic growth and wealth for businesses, countries and societies. Nedrelander Concerts is one of the companies that had successful growth during the past 100 years by operating inRead MoreThe Theory Of The Leisure Class Essay1367 Words   |  6 Pagessocial commentary and an unquestioning dogmatism of its contents in everyday academic discourse verging on the commonsensical. It was written in 1899; a place in history where late capitalism or postmodernity is seldom to be imagined by even the most gifted of social critics. The book, itself, is a treatise on economics and a detailed social critique of conspicuous consumption as a function of both social class and consumerism. It is derived from the social stratification of people and the division

Issues To Address In The Development Of The Information System

Question: 1. What error did the Missile Defense Agency make in the development of the GMD system? 2. How do the factors that pushed the agency to release the GMD compare to those that rush the development of business software? 3. What steps can businesses take to ensure that engineers report all potential problems that arise during development? 4. What steps can IT professionals take to make business managers aware of the importance of following the complete systems development process? Answer: 1: Errors in the development of the GMD system After the attacks on the twin towers in 2001, President G.W Bush issued directive to deploy the GMD system by the year 2004. From that point the agency began deploying the missiles instead of testing and developing the technology (Weiderpass, 2013). Mainly the political pressure to deploy the system forced to neglect the different issues related to the software and other components. But in the year 2004 and 2005 the agency aborted the tests of the missiles of GMD program. The testing of the missiles was aborted since the missiles were remained stuck into their silos due to the software related issues (Kreshchuk Zyablov, 2014). Figure 1: The functionality of a interceptor missile (Source: Kelleher Dombrowski, 2015, pp-98) The previous test of these missiles in the period of 2008 to 2014 was unsuccessful, but in June 2014 the U.S missile defense agency reported the success of this program. This technology can be considered as the result of the idea of President Ronald Reagan. The following report contributes to the development and the errors that occurred in the course of the development (Hensley et al, 2015). Moreover, the report comprises discussion about the factors that pushed the agency to release the GMD. In addition to that the report also focuses on the steps that ensure that all the problems faced by the engineers are reported. Once the interceptor missiles are launched it travels toward the predicted location. These missiles are capable of destroying the ballistic missiles in their midcourse phase, i.e when they are outside of the atmosphere and at the highest point of their trajectory. The technology was designed asa mean toprotect an army base from a potential nuclear attack. It involves 30 interceptors and can be launched fromvarious locations acrossthe United States. The missile gets the inflight updates all along the way.In the year 2010 the test were failed due to the failure of the sea based radar systems. The radar system helped the missiles to calculate the trajectory of the transcontinental ballistic missiles. The GMD or the ground based mid course defense system is a ballistic missile defense system of United States. This system is mainly developed to detect and tracks long-range ballistic missiles in their boost phase (Spinardi, 2014). This radar system failed because of its problem of to detect the target with the other metal pieces that tore away from the target as it approaches to kill vehicle (Handberg, 2015). It is observed that the development of the missile was defective due to the thruster hardware used in it. Before every test launch of the missiles the engineers of the agency redesigned the defective components and the related software. It is observed that the development of the missile was defective due to the thruster hardware used in it. 2: Factors that pushed the agency to release the GMD system The factors that pushed the release of the GMD are the success of the North Korea that helps it to minimize the size of the nuclear warhead (Hensley et al, 2015). These warheads can fit to the top of ballistic missiles. It increased the vulnerability of United States against the nuclear warheads of the North Korea. Again in the same year the North Korea and South Korea exchanged fire on the issue of the disputed sea border. Again the talk between the northand SouthKorea collapsed due to the issue of leading the delegations. In February 2013, North Korea confirmed that it has conducted its long threatened and anticipated nuclear warhead test (Kreshchuk Zyablov, 2014). In order to make it sure the U.S officials tried to find out the signs that may confirm the nuclear test done by the North Korea. In the month of March North Korea declares that, it would not abide by the 1953 war truce. This truce prevented the North Korean government to cease any army drill against the United States a nd South Korea. In the same month the officials of United States stated that, they will deploy more numbers of the ballistic missile interceptors in California and Alaska. As the result of this decision North Korea shuts the military hotlines connected with the South Korea (Weiderpass, 2013). The release of the GMD is finally pushed by mission of the U.S military over the Korean peninsula. 3: Steps to be taken by the business to ensure the reporting of the engineers While developing a product, it is necessary to ensure that the engineers can report all the potential problems to the concerned authority that arise in the different processes. It is helpful in the effective development of the product. Since each and every problem related to the development process are addressed thoroughly by the authority (Handberg, 2015). If the problems during the development are not addressed properly, then the whole development process fails to deliver the required product or service. In this development scenario the problems like the defects in the components and related to software are not addressed (Kreshchuk Zyablov, 2014). As a result of it the developed missiles failed due to the inability of the missiles to detect the launch and position of the missiles fired by the rouge nation. Moreover the project was intended to develop quickly and cheaply (Mayer, 2015). Thus to complete the development the engineers over looked the different pitfalls of the missile. Therefore the businesses should encourage the open environment inside the organization so that the employees can speak up and discus the problems in the development process. This is helpful to increase the productivity of the business since they are in better touch with the clients and stakeholders of the product development. This reporting process helps in the detection of the minor problems before they emerge as the blockage to the business processes (Spinardi, 2014). More over the business organizations should encourage the open door policy. This policy helps and encourages the engineers to approach the higher authorities about the problems in the development. 4: Steps taken by the IT professionals to make business managers aware of the process The steps to make the business manager to follow the complete system development process include approvals of the design of the products before the final production is started (Kelleher Dombrowski, 2015). Moreover the managers are also important to set the stage for the development. This includes the events like informing the engaged employees about the expectation, when it is required and how to achieve that in the prescribed timeframe (Mears, 2013). It helps to clearly outline the specifications and the description of the system. By organizing the progress meetings, that includes the completion of the significant milestones in the whole development process. Moreover to asses and manage the different risks the business manager must follow the total development process. In addition to that Managers need to be responsive about their staffs progress on the predetermined goals (Hensley et al, 2015). In order to help the employees with the assistance or resources when it is required to meet the targets in the prescribed deadline the managers need to be aware of the whole development processes. More over the manager helps in providing milestones to the employees helps to create a sense of urgency to complete the development process. References Handberg, R. (2015). The symbolic politics of ballistic missile defense: seeking the perfect defense in an imperfect world.Defense Security Analysis,31(1), 44-57. Harris, M. (2015).Deterring Chinese Ballistic Missile Threats to the US Homeland.Comparative Strategy,34(5), 447-457. Hensley, T. K., Caviness, L. P., Vaughn, S., Morton, C. (2015). Understanding the Indications and Warning Efforts of US Ballistic Missile Defense.Joint Force Quarterly,78(3), 91-97. Kelleher, C., Dombrowski, P. J. (2015).Regional Missile Defense from a Global Perspective.Stanford University Press. Kreshchuk, A., Zyablov, V. (2014, August).Generalized concatenated MIMO system with GMD decoding.In2014 8th International Symposium on Turbo Codes and Iterative Information Processing (ISTC)(pp. 259-263).IEEE. Mayer, M. (2015). Strategic Uncertainty and Missile Defence: Revisiting the 1999 National Intelligence Estimate.Contemporary Security Policy,36(3), 432-452. Mears, J. R. (2013).Arms control and missile defense: explaining success and failure in US-Russian cooperation(Doctoral dissertation, Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School). Riqiang, W. (2013). China's Anxiety About US Missile Defence: A Solution.Survival,55(5), 29-52. Spinardi, G. (2014). Technical controversy and ballistic missile defence: disputing epistemic authority in the development of hit-to-kill technology.Science as Culture,23(1), 1-26. Weiderpass, E. (2013). Communicating in a Cold Climate: Moving Toward US-Russia Cooperation on Missile Defense.

The Eyes Of The Dragon Essays - Novels By Stephen King,

The Eyes Of The Dragon The book that I read was The Eyes of the Dragon. The author was Stephen King. It was published in 1987. Stephen King grew up in Maine and has lived most of his adult life there, both in Bangor and in the Portland area. He and his wife, Tabitha, have three children, Naomi, Joe, and Owen Philip. This story took place in the fairy tale times with Kings and Dragons. The kings name was Roland. He was a good king. He had two sons. Peter, the first son, was good at every thing and his father and every one else loved him. Thomas was just a reject. He had no friends and his Father didn't even care for him. Flagg was the Magician. Flagg was trying to manipulate the kingdom so that he could end up in control and after 5000 years his chance had finally come. He killed Roland and framed Peter so that he would have to go to jail for life. Thomas was then king and Flagg was his friend and teacher. Flagg taxed the town and beheaded people for anything that they did. The title of the book came from the passage that Flagg had shown Thomas that lead to the head of a Dragon head that was hanging in his fathers room. He saw Flagg poison his father and he was to scared to tell anyone. Any way, Peter excapes and kills Flagg. Thomas was just a followed of any one who would be his friend. He was stupid and he never expected to be king so he didn't pay attention in class. Peter was the perfect son. He won all of the castle competitions. Every body in the entire kingdom loved him. Flagg was just plain evil. Every thing he did, he did for the good of evil. He finally got his way with the world and he took complete advantage of it. Stephen Kings style is to keep the reader from knowing to much and in some places in the book it gets very boring and then every thing starts to pick up. I like his style because it reads very quickly and is very entertaining. I think that this is one of the better books that I have ever read. I would recommend it to any one who has a brain in their head Bibliography na

Lincoln and His Generals Book Report Essays

Lincoln and His Generals Book Report Essays Lincoln and His Generals Book Report Paper Lincoln and His Generals Book Report Paper Lincoln and His Generals Book Review Lincoln and His Generals is a book by Thomas Williams that focuses on the Civil War as being the first modern war and the way President Lincoln lead his divided nation during this dark historic time. Williams introduces the Union army as one that has no shape to it. This includes the lack of any plan of attack, as the thought of war had not been converted into any type of scheme. The armies lacked organization and communication, and existing generals were old and incompetent. The first task that Lincoln had was the immediate selection of Generals. Lincolns selection process was sometimes based on political and personal grounds, and he was in the position of selecting from a pool of generals that had no experience leading a large army. Williams tells us that even if the selection was for political reasons, Lincoln had the best interest of the nation in mind. It appears that control was an important factor in Lincolns selections, however, Williams continually argues that if Lincoln had had generals who were more competent he would not have interfered as much. In Lincoln, one sees a willing amateur, one who had the ability to bring out the best in some men, and also learn from them. Williams gives us insight into Lincolns thought process. Williams supports this with various examples and numerous interactions that Lincoln had with his Generals. One example of this is Lincolns selection of General Scott, the first General of the Union forces. When Lincoln interacted with Scott, he showed an admiration for Scotts age and knowledge. This allowed Scott to show his skills, this humility was shared by General McClellan. Lincoln later changes his approach towards McClellan, trying to boost his confidence and courage. Williams continually shows McClellan as an egotist, who eventually replaced Scott as General in chief. McClellan is depicted as unsure, indecisive, self-centered and fearful of declaring war. Lincoln continually defends McClellan but is not afraid of tactfully sending criticism his way. One could easily be lead to believe that Lincoln was more of an appeaser. Williams shows us that Lincoln never hesitated in making difficult decisions based on results. Lincolns people skills are clearly established in Williams’s writings. Lincoln seems keen at applying pressure as well as giving his generals a free hand when necessary. Williams shows that Lincolns patience does wear thin when there are no early victories and the lack of aggressiveness on the Union side. Williams shows a gradual transformation on Lincolns selection process. Initially each general was selected on characteristics such as battle experience and political backing. As the enemy holds out and there is inaction, Lincoln starts to doubt the ability of his generals and starts to seek generals who can win without excuses. Williams describes the pressure that is placed on Lincoln. The union government and the public were questioning the inactivity of McClellan and his troops. Lincoln was willing to absorb most of this pressure but eventually seeks answers to the same questions. Williams shows the desperate side of Lincoln. Lincoln starts to recklessly allow attack plans that he did not always agree with, just because he was desperate to see action from McClellan. Williams indicates that Lincoln is a misunderstood man through the eyes of his Generals. His chief general McClellan thought little of him and had doubts about Lincoln early on. Union Generals sometimes failed at getting information back to Lincoln. Often a simple suggestion was taken as a direct order. I feel that Williams fails to argue that there might have been a certain awe that people felt towards Lincoln since he was their president. This relationship of a superior officer versus a junior officer is ignored by Williams. There could have been a small amount of intimidation that Generals felt towards Lincoln, especially later on with his reputation for getting rid of officers and generals who did not perform. Lincoln is painted as an intellectual maverick, a great statesman, and yet human enough to make mistakes and feel deterred at times. Williams also shows us a pessimistic side of Lincoln; when McClellan was sick and resources were low, Lincoln confides in his Quartermaster General Meigs, about the futile future. Williams constantly points out Lincolns strategic planning abilities against the fact that Lincoln had never had any formal training in war. I believe Williams does this due to fact that Lincolns WestPoint educated generals had such large egos as compared to a simple yet assertive Lincoln. This allows the reader to truly appreciate the humbleness of Lincoln. Williams might have served the reader better if he had focused on a number of issues. Williams could have put less emphasis upon the detailed descriptions of battle plans and strategy. The book tends to bog down in this area, especially when other books have touched upon this topic in a deeper sense. Despite the use of maps and footnotes, it seemed easy to get lost in this area. There is no doubt that reference is required to the history of the war to tell Lincolns story, but the author does tend to give more detail than necessary. More information on the selection process would have provided a better story for the book. Williams has done this exceptionally, but additional information might have thrown more light on both the generals as well as Lincoln himself. Williams leaves questions as to his objectivity in his true assessment of certain Generals. Williams sometimes seems to be so fascinated with Lincoln that he occasionally takes his side when analyzing questionable war tactics taken by some of the Generals, especially McClellan. Also, he does not offer any speculations as to why McClellan withholds certain battle plans from Lincoln. This question, though a small one, seems like it would deserve some time spent on it. The portrait that Williams paints of Lincoln is that of a frustrated patriot. Time and time again he expects action. It’s here that Williams shows us the greatness of Lincoln; compassion and patience. There are a number of instances when he is really frustrated with his generals, yet he reprimands them gently. Williams brings out this characteristic of Lincoln skillfully. The private Lincoln is deeply affected by the slow movement of war, but in public he almost never criticizes a public figure. Williams gradually unfolds this private compassionate Lincoln. First as a brilliant strategist, then as the father of a broken nation. Williams says that this change is largely due to General Grant. As Grant emerges as the key Union player in the war theater, Lincoln is glad to take a lesser role. This ties in well with what Williams had originally suggested; Lincoln was willing to relinquish control to someone qualified. Williams portrays Lincoln in a very positive light, allowing the reader to realize the greatness of Lincoln, in his compassion, strategy, statesmanship and humbleness. Williams has provided numerous instances where he provides ample support to his arguments and facts. In spite of the unnecessary detail and wordiness that Williams sometimes uses, there is no doubt that this book is a remarkable insight into Lincolns character. Dawson, Joseph G. III. T. Harry Williams. Dictionary of American Biography. Vol. 17, 431-446 Williams, T. Harry. Lincoln and His Generals. New York: Dorset Press, 1952.

MBA leadership and organisational behaviour at W L Gore The WritePass Journal

MBA leadership and organisational behaviour at W L Gore Abstract MBA leadership and organisational behaviour at W L Gore ). Moreover, it has been emphasised that the company has implemented rules of transparency and fairness (Gore Official Website, 2014). It is apparent that teams are changing constantly, which means that the organisation adequately implements a vision of change. The operating teams are kept small because this is considered an appropriate strategy to address the individual needs of each stakeholder (Gore Official Website, 2014). Team members at Gore are free to determine their objectives that are aligned with the organisation’s core values and mission. Therefore, leadership and organisational behaviour is properly developed at this company. The innovative work organisation of Gore implies that leaders are constantly working to embrace a culture of highly innovative and flexible principles of operation (Luthans and Youssef, 2007). Each employee in the organisation has a clear perspective of assigned roles and responsibilities, and this contributes to better organisational performance. The concepts that are used to analyse the case study of Gore refer to management and leadership, motivation, groups and teams, and group leadership. These paradigms are found useful in the discussion of leadership and organisational behaviour issues within the selected organisation (Gilbreath and Karimi, 2012). The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of how the paradigms of management and leadership, motivation and group leadership can be applied in the context of Gore (Lian and Tui, 2012). A section of literature review is included in order to expand individual perspectives into essential leadership and organisational behavioural issues identified in the company. In addition, the paper critically discusses the application of these three main theories to the case of the company. In an attempt to set the context of the case study, it is important to clarify that Gore is the UK branch of a US multi-national company that specialises in the manufacturing of the Gore-Tex textile. This is the product for which the company is widely known around the world (Rehman and Afsar, 2012). Moreover, Gore indicates a commitment to developing various products for next-generation electronics, for medical implants and for innovative fabrics (Gilbreath and Karimi, 2012). The unique business strategy adopted by the company illustrates its dedication to innovation which is obvious in all organisational processes. Literature Review Management and Leadership   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the leadership development world, substantial confusion exists regarding the relationship between management and leadership. Many individuals tend to use these concepts in an interchangeable manner, while others consider them as separate categories in the business field (Lian and Tui, 2012). Researchers have emphasised the necessity that management and leadership should be balanced in contemporary organisations (Sharma and Jain, 2013). Although the two concepts do not imply the same thing, they are closely linked. While managers are more likely to focus on systems and structures as well as administer specific rules and procedures, leaders are focused on innovation and change within the organisational context. Leaders also consider the importance of people and the development of their skills in a proper direction (Northouse, 2007). In the modern business environment, employees do not simply expect that their managers should assign them s pecific tasks but they also seek a purpose pertaining to those tasks. Managers try to organise employees in order to expand organisational efficiency along with the idea to develop talent and inspire achievement (Sharma and Jain, 2013). The emergence of the ‘knowledge worker’ is a significant tendency in most organisations. Such change requires that employees should not be managed. It becomes apparent that the main objective of combining management and leadership in companies is to lead individuals, with the utmost goal to expand the strengths and knowledge of each employee (Rowe, 2007). Management and leadership are fundamental for the delivery of high quality products and services. A common rule has been identified in terms of expecting that good managers should possess adequate leadership skills, while good leaders are recognised as those professionals who need an array of management skills to increase their effectiveness (Gilbreath and Karimi, 2012). Leadership is mostly based on the concept of creating a strong sense of mission and vision, while management refers to the idea of getting things done. One of the conditions for good management practices is that both managers and team members should be selected on the basis of merit (Sharma and Jain, 2013). The balanced involvement of individuals is an important element of management and leadership concepts that are applied in modern organisations. It has been argued that management is mostly about making decisions (Rowe, 2007). Planning is an essential tool for both management and leadership, as professionals in these fields are expected to anticipate unplanned events in a relevant manner by considering the needs and interests of all stakeholders in business (Moynihan and Pandey, 2007). Motivation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Demonstrating adequate knowledge of how to motivate employees in the global business world is a fundamental managerial and leadership skill. Motivation is referred to as a set of factors that cause individuals to select specific behavioural patterns from other alternatives (Burton, 2012). In organisations, employee performance is affected by motivation and the precise work environment. It can be suggested that motivation is a significant determinant of performance. There are different historical views of motivation as presented in the management literature (Moynihan and Pandey, 2007). The premise of scientific management is that work normally emerges with inherently unpleasant characteristics for the majority of employees. As a result, their income is more important than the specificity and nature of their job. Furthermore, the human relations movement stressed the impact of social processes that occur in organisations (Gilbreath and Karim i, 2012). For instance, this management philosophy illustrates the principle that the individual need for contribution, importance and usefulness is more relevant than income in motivating employees (Mizuno et al., 2006). In line with the ideology of the human resource approach, individuals are determined to contribute to team effectiveness. Yet, organisations are required to establish a solid work environment that properly utilises all available human resources (Mizuno et al., 2006). The human resource approach is the most relevant approaches used by contemporary organisations regarding motivation. However, there are certain integrative approaches that provide a better conceptualised view of employee motivation, such as need-based, process-based and reinforcement-based models (Burton, 2012). Need-based approaches to motivation mostly focus on the aspects that motivate employees to select specific behaviours among others. Initially, a certain need or deprivation is identified in the organisational context, followed by drives to fulfil that particular need, actions and satisfaction (Morris, 2009). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is the most widely used need-based approach, according to which people’s motivation is driven by their willingness to satisfy five distinct levels of needs. These are physiological needs, sense of security, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualisation as the highest need in the hierarchy to be satisfied (Mizuno et al., 2006). Individuals usually progress in terms of determining specific objectives and thus needs to meet in the process of such hierarchical organisation. Process-based approaches to motivation focus on how exactly motivation occurs in organisations. It is important to determine the way in which employees evaluate their own satisfaction once they have achieved their goals (Moynihan and Pandey, 2007). A common process-based approach to motivation is expectancy theory which was introduced by Victor Vroom. Expectancy theory indicates that motivation along with effort leads to performance which is directly linked to outcomes (University of Cambridge, n. d.). As a result, high performance may lead to high satisfaction of employees. Another process-based approach to motivation is identified as equity theory which was developed by J. Stacy Adams (Gilbreath and Karimi, 2012). The main assumption of equity theory is that upon the selection of particular actions to satisfy employee needs, individuals tend to evaluate the equity of the expected outcome. The equity element is important to maintain principles of accountability and transparency in t he workplace. Equity emerges as the firm belief that employees are treated in a fair and transparent manner which is relative to the treatment of other individuals in the workplace (Burton, 2012). Reinforcement-based approaches to motivation emphasise the impact of rewards on causing certain changes in individuals’ behaviour. For instance, such approaches are based around understanding that behaviour which arises from rewarding factors or consequences is more likely to be repeated in the future (Mizuno et al., 2006). Reinforcement contingencies reflect the emergence of possible outcomes that individuals may experience due to their specific choice of behaviour. Employees tend to select behaviour that can bring them immediate satisfaction and motivation to work in order to meet their personal and professional goals. Moreover, there are different approaches that have been implemented to provide reinforcement which is closely associated with motivation (Morris, 2009). A fixed-interval schedule has been found useful to reinforce employees at fixed intervals of time, irrespective of behaviour. A variable-interval schedule provides reinforcement at various times (Gilbreath and Karimi, 2012). Regardless of the specific way of providing reinforcement, it may be indicated that this technique is considered a valuable method to increase employee motivation. Groups and Teams, Group Leadership   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Research shows that effective leaders are expected to manage their responsibilities of being leaders and members of a team (Wu et al., 2010). It is important to ensure throughout the process that goals are realistic and measurable. It has been indicated that when groups and teams properly integrate their actions, the final result is improved performance. They have distinct roles in organisations, as the fulfilment of each role corresponds to collective goals and success (Val and Kemp, 2012). Team processes emerge as an adequate aspect of team performance. The formation of teams is necessary to facilitate the work of the entire organisation. Groups and teams are expected to perform in dynamic business environments. Therefore, group leadership appears an essential characteristic of effective team performance. Group leadership emphasises the necessity for leaders to define a proper team direction (Wu et al., 2010). The organisation of groups and teams should be done with the objective to optimise progress at all organisational levels. Researchers have stressed the substantial amount of interdependence which exists among team members. Constant collaboration is required in the process of achieving specific team goals (Li et al., 2012). For instance, groups and teams devote their efforts and time to exchange important information and resources in companies. The adaptation of team interaction is usually flexible considering the specific conditions that are present in organisations. Highly efficient groups and teams are identified as individuals whose aim is to demonstrate dynamic collective performance (Boos et al., 2014). Promoting individual and collective flexibility is a main driver of team effectiveness. As a result, group leadership is noted for its impact on team effectiveness. This type of leadership provides a realistic framework to team members of how they can complete their collective tasks in an efficient manner (Wu et al., 2010). Leaders usually emphasise the necessity of collaboration and active communication among team members. Leader planning and coordination activities represent part of the overall concept of group leadership. Group leadership suggests a solid element of facilitating the actions of groups and teams. The group efforts mostly matter in this process in terms of shared responsibility and accountability. The laissez-faire style is a relevant approach to group leadership, as emphasised by some researchers. It is commonly described as a ‘hands-off’ method, in which the group is provided with the resources which are necessary for the completion of a particular project (Li et al., 2012). However, group members are free to complete the outlined tasks with virtually no direct involvement by the group leader. In this case, the group leader serves a major facilitating function in the sense of being available to answer appropriate questions and motivate team members (Gilbreath and Karimi, 2012). Another approach to group leadership is identified as the abdacratic style, in which the group leader has no authority over team members. Even though this model of group leadership enhances individual and group creativity in organisations, it has been considered insufficient to perform major corporate tasks (Morris, 2009). The autocratic approach to group leadership places importance on a central process for making decisions in companies. The main leadership responsibility in this approach is usually given to a group of managers (Wu et al., 2010). They are held accountable for the decisions they make. Employees are free to discuss any suggestions or recommendations for improvement with their managers as part of this flexible approach to group leadership. Another style associated with team performance and group leadership is the democratic approach to leadership (Mizuno et al., 2006). This approach refers to extensive freedom and flexibility granted to employees who feel empowered to initiate certain activities in the workplace. The most proper utilisation of this method is in situations where different individuals indicate a high level of group shared responsibility for the actions of team members. The key decision-maker within the group tends to act as a facilitator of team goals and effectiveness. Critical Evaluation of Leadership and Organisational Behavioural Issues at Gore   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The fact that Gore is extensively focused on innovation at all organisational levels is indicative of the presence of strong leadership skills in the company, which along with good management practices have contributed to its success over the years (Gore Official Website, 2014). Considering that leaders replace managers to deliver high levels of innovation shows a strong commitment to an innovative corporate culture which aims at expanding the potential of employees and increasing the organisation’s capacities to differentiate the products and services it provides. This is important in achieving a substantial competitive advantage (Mizuno et al., 2006). The model of blending management and leadership can help individuals clarify specific categories or practices that help businesses prosper with time. At Gore, all employees communicate in a free and open manner which is an essential requirement to maintain a flexible, innovative corp orate climate. In turn, employees are empowered to expand their knowledge and responsibility (Boos et al., 2014). They clearly know that their opinion and practical contribution to the company is highly valued, and as a result, they devote their time and resources to demonstrate their capabilities in practice. Gore’s managers and leaders work together to improve organisational efficiency and productivity which would not have been possible without adopting an integrated and holistic approach to management and leadership (Gore Official Website, 2014). The company provides adequate examples of the role played by the ‘knowledge worker’ in the organisation’s procedures, plans and activities. Such type of employees is known for being able to boost productivity in organisations. Engaging the right people at Gore is crucial for its optimal performance throughout the years (Cicero et al., 2010). The ability to make commitments and keep them is a strong differentiating factor that has helped the company maintains a solid market presence. In addition, it has been indicated that the levels of employee motivation at Gore are high considering their constant engagement in different organisational activities, with the purpose to contribute to organisational excellence and success (Li et al., 2012). The specificity of work at Gore as well as the present relationships between the company and employees shows that employee motivation cannot be identified with the principles of scientific management (Cicero et al., 2010). The impact of human relations movement is quite strong at this organisation because all employees are motivated not by monetary rewards but by the necessity to be recognised for their contribution. Based on the performance of employees at Gore, it can be concluded that process-based approaches to motivation are mostly applicable. Motivation at this company is perceived as process oriented in the sense that employees are extensively focused on how they can participate in various processes to expand their knowledge and competencies (Gore Official Website, 2014). Gore’s employees act upon certain expectations in terms of motivation. This means that they clearly know that their actions will produce important results for the company, and thus their motivation is outcome based (Gilbreath and Karimi, 2012). In addition, the company’s employees try their best to ensure that they remain flexible and open to new suggestions for improvement within the organisation. It can be suggested that Gore has succeeded in building trust through the consistent engagement of teams. Therefore, the model of teams and group leadership corresponds to the specific business environment in this organisation (Li et al., 20120. The core activities of the team are important for achieving initially set goals for organisational performance. Gore has adopted a promising philosophical paradigm because it has persistently relied on prospects of developing the people (Wu et al., 2010). The lack of strict rules in the company implies that managers and leaders are oriented to ensuring a flexible culture in which employees have an opportunity to develop and share their voice in the company’s policies and procedures (Gore Official Website, 2014). It has been recognised that the company can function better without written rules. It can be more effective when all team members are enabled to participate actively in changing certain practices within the organisation. Gore’s philosophy of sharing values has been properly developed to reflect the company’s focus on introducing successful initiatives. Trust is one of these shared values making employees function as one whole (Morris, 2009). Innovation has become the norm, and the exploitation of new information technology has led to a better understanding of the dynamic relationship among all stakeholders. Teams set specific targets themselves, and this serves as a basis for their motivation to perform better in the long term (Mizuno et al., 2006). The sense of engagement of all team members in the projects introduced by leaders is evident throughout the organisation which has maintained a competitive position in the industry. Gore has been devoted to maintaining such culture of shared values. An important norm adopted by the organisation refers to the structure of a culture that energises associates. The expected outcome is the formation of effective teams, implying that the concept of group leadership is mostly relevant to the specific circumstances in which the organisation functions (Cicero et al., 2010). Sustained business success has become achievable because the company has placed importance on developing and enhancing its culture in a flexible way. The implementation of high performance practices shows that the company is results oriented in the sense that leaders introduce a framework of change and innovation with the presumption to achieve adequate results (Gilbreath and Karimi, 2012). As mentioned, traditional management practices are not valued at Gore because of its innovative direction presented by leaders. The pursuit of group objectives indicates high levels of motivation in the company whi ch employees accept as an opportunity to prove they are capable to fulfil their responsibilities. The replacement of management directives and rules with forms of constant, open communication has become one of the determining factors for Gore’s success. Research indicates that organisational communication is interrelated to better organisational efficiency and productivity (Morris, 2009). Regular communication also facilitates associates to share their ideas and insights into the performance of the organisation. The result is the formation of a flexible corporate culture that motivates employees to grow and develop in their area of expertise (Gore Official Website, 2014). When providing employees with freedom, they tend to demonstrate an intrinsic belief that they should deserve the trust of their managers and leaders. The company is constantly seeking new improvements in order to defend its prestigious image as an innovator in the field. The valuable contribution that employees make to the company is an indicator of the successful strategies implemented by leaders (Mizuno et al., 2006). Continuous innovation and success are the two main drivers of the organisation’s performance. Conclusion and Recommendations   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This paper focused on the exploration of major leadership and organisational behavioural issues in the context of Gore Company. The main conclusion drawn from the case study of this organisation is that it has a unique form of organisation when it comes to work responsibilities and employee relations (Gore Official Website, 2014). Gore has emphasised that constant communication and employee participation in work processes are fundamental for the success of the company. The paper also illustrated that leaders have been continuously introducing a culture of innovation which contributed to the substantial success of the organisation (Li et al., 2012). Therefore, another important conclusion that was derived from the critical evaluation of Gore’s case study is that the model of group leadership has proven efficient and reliable to improve employee productivity and motivation. However, it is important to provide specific recommendations to improve the situation in the company in terms of enhancing the group leadership model. The company should analyse its strengths and weaknesses in order to explore all relevant parameters of leadership (Wu et al., 2010). Being natural and humane in practice is an important condition to improve the performance of all stakeholders within the organisation. Humanity serves as an inspiring element as well as allows individuals to base their decisions on organisational reality (Cicero et al., 2010). Understanding of corporate unwritten rules is also fundamental for the future growth of the organisation. Team discussion should be encouraged along with training opportunities that can expand individual performance. Consistency and integrity of leaders’ actions are expected in the process of improving the company’s rules and principles which are applied in practice (Li et al., 2012). Individuals should have a clear id ea of any shortcomings pertaining to leadership and organisational behavioural issues in the company so that they can act accordingly to attain better performance indicators. References Boos, M., Pritz, J., Lange, S. and Belz, M. (2014). ‘Leadership in Moving Human Groups’. PLoS Computational Biology, vol. 10(4), pp1-9. Burton, K. (2012). ‘A Study of Motivation: How to Get Your Employees Moving’. Thesis. Indiana University. Available at: indiana.edu/~spea/pubs/undergrad-honors/volumn-6/Burton,%20Kelli%20-%20A%20Study%20of%20Motivation%20-%20How%20to%20Get%20Your%20Employees%20Moving%20-%20Faculty%20Cheryl%20Hughes.pdf [Accessed: 7 August 2014]. Cicero, L., Pierro, A. and van Knippenberg, D. (2010). ‘Leadership and Uncertainty: How Role Ambiguity Affects the Relationship between Leader Group Prototypicality and Leadership Effectiveness’. British Journal of Management, vol. 21(2), pp411-421. Gilbreath, B. and Karimi, L. (2012). ‘Supervisor Behaviour and Employee Presenteeism’. International Journal of Leadership Studies, vol. 7(1), pp114-131. Gore Official Website (2014). About Gore [online]. Available at: gore.com/en_gb/ [Accessed: 6 August 2014]. Lian, L. K. and Tui, L. G. (2012). ‘Leadership Styles and Organizational Citizenship Behaviour: The Mediating Effect of Subordinates’ Competence and Downward Influence Tactics’. Journal of Applied Business and Economics, vol. 13(2), pp59-96. Li, Y., Chun, H., Ashkanasy, N. and Ahlstrom, D. (2012). ‘A Multi-Level Study of Emergent Group Leadership: Effects of Emotional Stability and Group Conflict’. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, vol. 29(2), pp351-366. Luthans, F. and Youssef, C. M. (2007). ‘Emerging Positive Organizational Behaviour’. Journal of Management, vol. 33(3), pp321-349. Mizuno, M., Yamada, Y., Ishii, A. and Tanaka, S. (2006). ‘A Human Resource Management Approach to Motivation and Job Stress in Paramedics’. International Congress Series, vol. 1294, pp167-170. Morris, R. J. (2009). ‘Employee Work Motivation and Discretionary Work Effort’. Thesis. Brisbane Graduate School of Business. Available at: http://eprints.qut.edu.au/31725/1/Robyn_Morris_Thesis.pdf [Accessed: 7 August 2014]. Moynihan, D. P. and Pandey, S. K. (2007). ‘The Role of Organizations in Fostering Public Service Motivation’. Public Administration Review, vol. 67(1), pp40-53. Northouse, G. (2007). Leadership Theory and Practice. London: Sage Publications. Rehman, M. and Afsar, B. (2012). ‘The Impact of Paternalistic Leadership on Organization Commitment and Organization Citizenship Behaviour’. Journal of Business Management and Applied Economics (5), pp1-12. Rowe, W. G. (2007). Cases in Leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Sharma, M. K. and Jain, S. (2013). ‘Leadership Management: Principles, Models and Theories’. Global Journal of Management and Business Studies, vol. 3(3), pp309-318. University of Cambridge (N. d.). Vroom’s Expectancy Theory [online]. Available at: ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/research/dstools/vrooms-expectancy-theory/ [Accessed: 6 August 2014]. Val, C. and Kemp, J. (2012). ‘Leadership Styles’. The Ontario Journal of Outdoor Education, vol. 24(3), pp28-31. Wu, J. B., Tsui, A. S. and Kinicki, A. J. (2010). ‘Consequences of Differentiated Leadership in Groups’. Academy of Management Journal, vol. 53(1), pp90-106.

Popular Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Popular Culture - Essay Example This paper outlines that the popular culture is usually observable in such area including clothing, cooking, sports and recreation and also consumption and entertainment. On recreation we can view golf playing as a popular culture practiced by the rich in the society. Today cultural activities are segregated and there exist restrictions that are formal and also informal. Restrictions apply to those that are not part of that culture and may be tempted to join that culture. This paper highlights that some cultural activities are highly restricted by the laws of the society, an example is beer drinking, beer drinking for example is prohibited in Saudi Arabia and there exist a law that will prosecute those found drinking beer. The drinking of beer therefore is a popular culture among the masses of many societies and this culture is proposed by the mass media through advertisements of these brands, the culture is restricted in some societies like Saudi Arabia formally. There also exist informal restrictions to cultural practices, these informal restrictions are those restrictions that do not exist in writing but are termed as norms in the society, and they do not exist in writing but are termed as rules governing behavior. These informal restrictions include the expected reaction by the society, the society has informal ways in which to discourage behavior example a person doing wrong may be isolated by the society, for example the case where people have tattoos all over their body, this is a popular culture among the young but in some society the making of such decorations on the skin may lead to one being isolated and disowned by the society. This is an informal way in which this popular culture is restricted by this society and it is helpful in restricting such cultures.

Apple's Strategy in the PC and MP3 Player Industries Essay

Apple's Strategy in the PC and MP3 Player Industries - Essay Example Apple made the difficult transition by having the chief elements of a successful strategy in place that allowed the company to formulate and execute the right moves: (1) high quality people such as managers, engineers, designers, marketing support, etc.; (2) a solid set of core competencies and competitive capabilities, and (3) the right company structure. These three key elements define Apple as a business organization and account for its success in launching innovative products that were profitable and that grabbed a major share of the market (Thompson & Strickland, 2006). First, Apple’s workers are among the most creative and smartest in the industry. It has managed to attract an overwhelming number of applicants for each job vacancy on the basis of its corporate image and the privilege of working for a corporate icon of the computer industry, a company package that includes CEO Steve Jobs who started the personal computer revolution. The company’s compelling vision of making technology more accessible to the masses by promising to have a beautifully designed quality technology product for almost anybody attracted these workers. Second, Apple has a core set of competencies and competitive capabilities. It has a substantial amount of brand equity, which means that the Apple brand is easily recognizable and associated with a set of attractive features that create an emotional impact on customers. Its blockbuster successes in designing products have given it an edge in product differentiation, allowing the company to command a premium price because it enjoys a first mover advantage that continuously attracts a relatively stable market to buy its products. By coming up first with products that incorporate new technological developments in an elegant and easy-to-use form, such as the graphics user interface, the mouse, the special look and feel that enchants first-time computer users and makes them loyal customers, and now the iPod and its derivative products, Apple shows how it integrates its Research & Development (R&D) function to bring innovations to market in a profitable manner.

Role of a Manager within the Functional Areas of Business Essay Example for Free

Role of a Manager within the Functional Areas of Business Essay Abstract According to the University of Phoenix MBA Overview Module (n.d.), there are 11 functional areas of business that managers play an important role. However, for the purposes of this paper, we will focus on in my opinion the four major functional areas of a business (management, human resource, finance and marketing) that managers play a key role, regardless of the company size. Each line of business have specific duties and responsibilities, however, they all come together to work for the success of the company. Management Management is the practice of coordinating and overseeing the work of others so that organizational goals can be accomplished. Managers ensure business success through efficiency and the effective use of employees, the businesss most important resource (University of Phoenix, n.d.). Managers are the first line of defense to interpret the culture and atmosphere management wants to present to the business as a whole. In addition, they must provide the tools and resources to employees for the company to accomplish the goal’s management has implemented. If the goals are not being performed employees have to work with management to address the changes and make corrective actions to maintain positive stability in the business environment. Human Resource Managers use Human Resource management throughout the employee life cycle, including hiring, training, proper compensation for work, and taking disciplinary actions to remediate, if necessary (University of Phoenix, n.d.). Managers also use human resource to address educational and health benefits, complaints about other co-workers and immediate supervisors. One of Human Resource most important role is hiring new personnel. Managers have the responsibility to hire qualified candidates for positions available in the company. According to Dobre (2012) â€Å"in order to evaluate the ability of an employee, managers  should determine whether the worker has the right skills and knowledge to perform a certain job properly†. Managers must be proactive when a person shows weaknesses in position. Manager should identify the skills or experience employee lacks and offer solutions, such as training, coaching or better feedback (Dobre, 2102). Human Resource managers handle personnel issues, which allow immediate managers in all line of businesses to focus on the departmental goals. Finance Depending on the size of a business Accounting and Finance is one line of business, however, for the purposes of this paper Finance will be focused as one line of business. Finance addresses the process of setting up and maintaining the fiscal success of the firm, including revenue (University of Phoenix, n.d.). Finance is imperative for the survival of a business. Managers determine clear, precise goals at beginning of the year for company wide budgets that cover all line of businesses. Managers also must have detailed research strategies and make sound decisions for the financial investments of the company. Marketing Managers use marketing to identify what products or services to offer, how to advertise their wares to consumers, how to ensure they are meeting the needs of their customers, and how to create a good image for the firms b rand (University of Phoenix, n.d.). There must be a consensus from upper management trickled down of a budget that will allow the company to have a chance to benefit from marketing. Managers must employ various tools to get an edge over the competition that convince consumers to buy their product (also known as a competitive advantage). SWOT (strength weakness opportunity threat) analysis can also determine company strengths and weakness and external opportunities and threats from the competition or the demographics the company targets. According to Berri, Leeds, Leeds, and Mondello (2009), the most successful managers take advantage of market inefficiencies or find previously undiscovered niches. Managers must be aware of the different factors that determine the success of the company’s marketing campaign. Conclusion The role of managers within the functional areas of business was discussed briefly in four lines of businesses. The four lines of businesses also work together to support the operations of the company. Human Resource works with Finance to set company budgets so bonuses, incentives wages according  to performances can be determined. Management works with Marketing and Finance to determine strategies to capitalize on product market area and set budgets for the year. Management works with Human Resource to make sure policy and procedures are up to date with standards. Management works with Human Resource and Finance to determine profitability of company in terms of increasing, decreasing or no change in current staff positions. These are examples of several reasons line of businesses come together although not limited. Each line of business have specific duties and responsibilities, however, they all come together to work for the success of the company. References University of Phoenix. (n.d.). MBA Overview Module. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, MGT521-Management website. Berri, D.J., Leeds, M.A., Leeds, E.M. Mondello, M. (2009, May). The Role of Managers in Team Performance. International Journal of Sport Finance, 4(2), 75-93. ProQuest database. Dobre, O.I. (2012, December). The Impact of Human Resource Management on Organizational Performance. Management Research and Practice, 4(4), 37-46.

Teenage Depression Essay -- essays research papers

Teenage Depression I. Clinical depression is a serious illness that can affect anybody, including teenagers. It can affect your thoughts, feelings, behavior, and overall health. A recent child psychologist quoted; "It (depressions) not a fleeting sadness but a pervasive and relentless sense of despair. A lack of interest in life accompanied by weight loss, loss of appetite, feelings of uselessness, and sleep disturbance are some of the more common symptoms. People with depression can't just 'snap out of it'. There can be an array of causes- it can be due to stresses in the home or at work, or it can just come out of the blue. Sometimes family history can be a major factor." We chose this topic because this case is relevant to the cognitive process in teenagers. II. Depression can be expressed through many symptoms. A common symptom is a pessimistic view of life. Life seems meaningless, and nothing good will ever happen. Another symptom is constant crying for no particular reason. When your depressed you don't feel like doing a lot of the things you used to like. Such as music, sports, being with friends, and going out. You want to be left alone most of the time. Also, it is hard for you to make up your mind when it comes to making decisions. III. Numerous studies have showed that 2.5 percent of children and up to 8 percent of teens suffer from depression. In another study, 9...

Coca Cola Marketing Mix

Coca-Cola Marketing Mix The marketing mix of Coca cola has been changing over time with more and more products being added such that today it has 3300 products, and many different ways of advertising all those products. But because of this Coca cola is the brand with the highest brand equity. The 4 P’s of Marketing: Product, Price, Place and Promotion Product This company has the widest range of beverages of 3300 products. The Beverages are divided into many groups with individual products in these groups, these are; diet category, 100% fruit juices, fruit drinks, water, energy drinks, tea, coffee and more.Coca cola is the No. 1 brand in sparkling beverages, juice, and retail packaged water. Coca cola has its market presence around 200 countries. Coca cola’s other brands are Fanta, Maaza, Limca, sprite, Thums up, Minute Maid, Nimbu fresh, Nested iced tea and more. Price Because of the availability of the many different products the pricing is done according to the marke t and geographic segment. Each different brand of Coca Cola has different pricing strategy. Their pricing strategy is based on the competitors pricing, Pepsi is the main competitor to coke.Beverage market is said to be an oligopoly market (few sellers and large buyers), that’s why they form into cartel contract to ensure a mutual balance in pricing between the sellers. Place Coca cola is the world’s most favourite brand and is available all over the world. Selling in mostly everywhere in the world, you can find all the favourite different brands of Coca Cola in every big chain super market and in most little shops like corner shops. Promotion Coca cola uses various advertising and promotional strategies to create an increased demand in the market.They do this by associating Coca Cola with life style and behaviour and mainly targeting value based advertising. You are more likely to see a coke ad being for a particular festival or in with a general positive message. Coca cola uses CSR as its marketing tool to gain emotional benefits in consumers mind. The current promotions through CSR include â€Å"Support my school† campaign with NDTV. It allows price discounts and allowances to distributors and retailers in order to push more products into the market.It employs both push strategy through promotions and pull strategy through advertisements and campaigns. Also uses children in many adverts to get children interested in their products too. One of their most successful promotion idea was with farther Christmas, before coca cola St. Nick was wearing green but because of coca cola he is now the fat jolly guy wearing red that we all know now. Coca Cola targeted the most loved worldwide celebrated day of the year and tuned that day’s idol into something they created and will always be a big promoting point to them.

Recognition and Measurement of Intangibles Generally and of Brands in Particular Essay

Q: Discuss the difficulties relating to the recognition and measurement of intangibles generally and of brands in particular. Refer to the example in Enigma plc in your discussion. According to IAS 38, an intangible asset defines as â€Å"an identifiable, non-monetary asset without physical substance† including brand, computer software, patents and copyrights. As this typical asset has no physical substance, it is really difficult to recognize and measure it. This essay mainly aims to explain the difficulties to recognize and measure generally intangible assets especially the brand and some analyze refer to the Enigma example will be shown. An item cannot be an intangible asset unless it is an asset in the first place, that is to say the intangible assets should meet the definition of the asset based on IASB Conceptual Framework which contains three main criterions: control, future economic benefits and identifiable (Sacui and PrediÈ™can, 2011). Therefore, whether the item meets the three criterions are the first requirements and the difficulties to recognize an intangible asset. Firstly, the identifiable of an asset is that â€Å"it is capable of being separate or divided from the entity and sold, transferred, licensed, rented or exchanged† (IAS38). So as the intangible assets, it also should be separable from the entity or other rights and obligations. However, the intangible assets are lack of physical substance, the requirement of â€Å"identifiable† is one of the difficulties the entities will meet. Then the accountancy standards require that the company must be able to control the item’s future economic benefits. At last, there must be an expectation of future economics and the intangible assets should be capable of attributing directly or indirectly to future net cash flow (Sacui and PrediÈ™can, 2011). Without selling the intangible asset, it is nearly impossible to determine whether the future cash flow mainly due to the intangible assets or the operating activities. Furthermore, there are still some more requirements should be met when an item will be recognized as an intangible asset, such as without physical substance, be non-monetary and be able to be measured reliably. Considering the brand, it is protected by the trademark law and can only be recognized as intangible assets if they comply with the assets definition. If the brand is acquired in a separate transaction, just like the Enigma example, the Enigma Company spent 7million purchasing the Variations brand, the price that has been paid for the brand is one of the evidence that the brand can be controlled effectively and the future economic benefit will flow to the enterprise. In addition, the cost of the brand usually can be measured reliably and in this case it is 7million. So the brand which was purchased separately in this accounting period has met the recognition requirement and can be treated as an intangible asset. What is more, there is another way to purchase the brand though the business combination. Under this circumstance, the cost of brand is the fair value on the date of the acquisition (Melville, 2011). Furthermore, the fact price that has been paid for the brand is treated as a reflection that economic benefit is expected to flow to the entity in the future. To sum up, the brand acquired in a business combination satisfied the requirements and also can be classified as an intangible asset. However, it is really difficulty to decide whether the internally generated intangible assets meet the general requirement for recognition. Moreover, the IAS38 states that internally generated brand shall not be recognized as an asset. It is mainly because the expenditure on internally generated brands cannot be distinguished from the cost of developing the business as a whole and the problem of establishing whether the item is an identifiable asset which will generate future economic benefits (Melville, 2011). As in the Enigma example, the 3 million marketing expenditure on Enigma’s internally generated brand is recognized as an expense in the 2012 comprehensive income statement instead of an intangible asset which meets the requirement of prudence. After initial recognition, the IAS38 permits the entities to choose between the â€Å"cost model† and the â€Å"revaluation model† to measure the brand. In the cost model, the intangible assets are carried at cost less accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment losses (Austin, 2007). In this case, the company needs to decide the intangible asset’s useful life objectively and choose a proper method to amortize the intangible assets. While the revaluation model measure intangible assets at a revalued amount. According to IAS38, the fair value of intangible assets must be estimated by reference to an active market in that kind of assets. Therefore, if the brand doesn’t have an active market, the recent price cannot be treated as a fair value and the revaluation model should not be applied to it as well. Compared with the tangible market, such as houses, inventories and machines, the intangible market is imperfections (Alali and Cao, 2010). Therefore, it is difficult to get a fair market value for the enterprises to use or reference at any time they need, especially the brand. The brand is a typical intangible asset whose price will change dramatically when a small scandal occurs. So when using revaluation model to measure a brand, the market is particularly important. Before considering the subsequent measurement, the intangible assets should be determined the length of useful life. Intangible assets with finite useful life will be amortized in the following years; however, intangible assets with infinite useful life will not (Melville, 2011). In general, the IASC claims that the useful life of an intangible asset is not longer than twenty years. While if there is no foreseeable limit to the period over which the brand is expected to generate net cash flow for the enterprise, the useful life of brand can be treated as indefinite (Austin, 2007). That is to say, how to decide the useful life for a brand is another problem that a company will meet in the future. Thinking about the Enigma example again, as it says no depreciation has yet been charged on any non current asset for the 2012, we assume that the Enigma plc use the revalued model to measure the brand. Then the company should make the revaluation with sufficient regularity to ensure that the carrying amount of the brand does not differ materially from fair value. In addition, if the Enigma plc chooses the cost model, the useful life of the brand and the amortization policy should be determined by the managers and we may have an accumulative amortization in our statement of financial statement. To sum up, as a special kind of assets, the intangible assets have so many typical characters and difficulties to recognize and measure, such as lack of mature market for intangible assets, hard to decide its useful life and relevant expense. In this case, we should treat this kind of assets more carefully. Reference: 1. Sacui, V. and PrediÈ™can, M., 2011. The intangible assets investments characteristics and the accounting treatment. Annals of the University of Oradea, Economic Science Series. 2. Melville, A., 2011. International Financial Reporting, Third Edition, FT Prentice Hall. 3. Austin, L., 2007. Accounting for Intangible Assets, University of Auckland Business Review Autumn. 4. Alali, F. and Cao, L., 2010. International Financial Reporting Standards – Credible and Reliable, Advances in Accounting, Incorporating Advances in International Accounting 5. Austin, L., 2007. Accounting for Intangible Assets, University of Auckland Business Review Autumn.

European Lion Facts and Figures

European Lion Facts and Figures Panthera leo, the modern lion, included a bewildering array of subspecies in early historical times. At least three of these- Panthera leo europaea, Panthera leo tartarica and Panthera leo fossilis- are referred to collectively as the European Lion; these big cats inhabited a broad swath of western, central and eastern Europe, ranging from the Iberian peninsula to as far east as Greece and the Caucasus. The European Lion probably descended from the same common ancestor as the Asiatic Lion, Panthera leo persica, the still-extant remnants of which can still be found in modern India. Cultural References Tantalizingly, the European Lion is referenced numerous times in classical literature; the Persian king Xerxes reportedly encountered some specimens when he invaded Macedonia in the 5th century B.C.E, and this big cat was almost certainly used by the Romans in gladiatorial combat or to dispose of unfortunate Christians in the first and second centuries A.D. Like other Panthera leo subspecies, the European Lion was hunted to extinction by humans, either for sport or to protect villages and farmland, and disappeared off the face of the earth about 1,000 years ago. The European Lion should not be confused with the Cave Lion, Panthera leo spelaea, which survived in Europe and Asia up to the cusp of the last Ice Age. Facts Historical Epoch Late Pleistocene-Modern (one million-1,000 years ago) Size and Weight Up to four feet high at the shoulder and 400 pounds Distinguishing Characteristics Large size; lack of manes in females

Discover William Inges Play Picnic

Discover William Inge's Play 'Picnic' Picnic is a three-act play written by William Inge, the author of Bus Stop and Come Back, Little Sheba. Set in a small town in Kansas, Picnic details the lives of ordinary Americans, from hopeful widows and embittered spinsters to idealistic teenagers and restless wanderers. The play was first performed on Broadway in 1953 and was adapted into a motion picture in 1955, starring William Holden and Kim Novak. The Basic Plot Mrs. Flora Owens, a widow in her forties, runs a boarding house with the help of her two teenage daughters, Madge and Millie. Madge is constantly admired for her physical beauty, but she longs to be acknowledged for something more substantial. Her younger sister, on the other hand, has brains but not a boyfriend. A young stranger (who at first seems like a vagrant) is passing through town, working for food at the neighbors house. His name is Hal, a strong, shirtless, sometimes shifty hero of the play. Nearly all of the female characters are entranced by him, especially Madge. However, (and heres where the conflict starts to come into play) Madge has a serious boyfriend named Alan, an up-and-coming college student who leads a life of privilege. In fact, Hal has breezed into town hoping that Alan (his old college buddy) will be able to use his connections to land him a job. Alan is happy to help, and for a short time, it seems that Hal might be able to give his aimless life direction. Although handsome, Hal isnt the most cultured of young men. During the Labor Day festivities, he feels very awkward while socializing with others. Mrs. Owens and her tenant Rosemary, an aging school teacher, do not trust Hal, maintaining their first impression that deep down he is merely a bum. The communitys perception of Hal worsens when he allows Millie to drink whiskey. (Although in Hals defense, the illegal booze is supplied by Rosemarys boyfriend, Howard the traveling salesman. While Millie is getting drunk, Rosemary (also under the influence) makes a move on Hal while dancing. When he is uncomfortable with the school teachers advances, Rosemary viciously insults Hal. Millie then becomes sick and Hal is blamed, incurring the wrath of Mrs. Owens. The Plot Thickens: (Spoiler Alert) The increasing animosity toward Hal softens Madges heart. She feels both empathy and desire. When Alan isnt around, Hal steals a kiss from Madge. Then, the two lovebirds (or lust birds?) have sex. The copulation doesnt occur onstage, of course, but a sudden natural portrait of premarital sex demonstrates how Inges dramatic work was a harbinger of the sexual revolution of the 1960s. When Alan finds out, he threatens to have Hal arrested. He even throws a punch at his ex-friend, but Hal is too fast and strong, easily defeating the book-wormish college boy. Realizing that he must catch the next train (hobo style) and leave town before the cops toss him in jail, Hal departs - but not before announcing his love for Madge. He tells her: HAL: When you hear that train pull outa town and know Im on it, your little hearts gonna be busted, cause you love me, God damn it! You love me, you love me, you love me. Moments later, after Hal has caught the train headed for Tulsa, Madge packs her bags and leaves home for good, planning to meet up with Hal and begin a new life together. Her mother is shocked and despondent as she watches her daughter head off into the distance. The wise neighbor Mrs. Potts consoles her. FLO: Shes so young. There are so many things I meant to tell her, and never got around to it. MRS. POTTS: Let her learn them for herself, Flo. The Sub-Plots As with other plays by William Inge, an ensemble of characters deal with their own squashed hopes and wistful pipedreams. Other storylines that run throughout the play involve: Rosemary and her reluctant boyfriend: By the end of the play she coerces Howard into marriage, allowing her to shed her old maid lifestyle.Mrs. Potts and her elderly mother: Surprisingly optimistic about life, Mrs. Potts is often tied down by the demands of her severely debilitated mother.Millie and Alan: After Madges relationship with Alan falls apart, Millie finds the courage to admit that she has always had a crush on the young man. (And who can blame her? The original Alan was played by Paul Newman.) Themes and Lessons The prevailing message of Picnic  is that youth is a precious gift that must be savored instead of squandered. In the plays beginning, Flo speculates that her daughter might be working at the towns dime store well into her 40s, a depressing idea for Madge. In the plays conclusion, Madge embraces adventure, thwarting the convention wisdom of older characters. Throughout the play, the adult characters envy the young. During her tirade aimed at Hal, Rosemary vehemently declares: You think just cause youre young you can push people aside and not pay them any mind... But you wont stay young forever, didja ever thinka that?

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Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 37

Leadership - Essay Example I think I need to encourage my team to participate more in decision making and implementing ideas. I should also encourage them to be creative while coaching them on new procedures. I can achieve these goals by taking initiative, doing more critical thinking and learning the art of effective listening (Montana & Charnov, 2008). Taking initiative will involve going beyond my position and picking on skills I can develop further. Working closely with people and sharing ideas is a good start. By critically thinking out situations, I can foresee problems before they actually occur. Apart from problems, potential opportunities can also be noticed and taken advantage of for the whole team’s benefit (Zweifel, 2008). Finally, listening will enable me to point out each team member’s strong point and be able to give feedback, while am also adviced on how best to incorporate my ideas into common projects. Listening creates an open communication platform that facilitates effective flow of information. I believe becoming a good team leader is more than my personal effort. It will take the whole team to drive me there (Zaccaro,

The Odyssey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Odyssey - Essay Example The second stage is "a road of trials". For Odyssey, his journey consists of: love of Calypso and building of a ship to escape; trials with the Cyclops and the Phaeacian princess, love with Circe and journey into Hades, and battle with Scylla. The third stage is "achieving the goal or "boon". It means new world perception and views created during the journey. Odyssey understands that faith is the foundation of morality which cannot be removed by new impressions and temptation. He feels that, as morality is created by God, those who reject faith are in turn rejecting individualistic way of life. The forth stage is "a return to the ordinary world". From the very beginning Odyssey fails this trial, because nobody recognized him but his old nurse, Eurycleia. Penelope suspects that it could be her husband and organized a competition won by Odyssey. She promises to marry a winner, when Odyssey won this contest they reunite. The fifth stage includes "application of the boon". At the end, Od yssey visits his father and stops vendetta. His father kills Antinous's father and peace is maintained. In sum, The Odyssey displays the many qualities that archetypal heroes had in common.

Analysis of Decline and Rise of Various Business Activities in the U.K. Essay Example for Free

Analysis of Decline and Rise of Various Business Activities in the U.K. Essay In this task, I will need to decide what the core activity is in each of my two businesses and whether they are dealing with products, services or both. In the UK some of these business activities are becoming more common and others are becoming less common. I will need to find out the broad trends for these business activities and how they affect the businesses that I am investigating. The legal status of Freelance Audio Productions is an equal partnership between Martin and Nikki Rider. The company was set up in 1986, but has only been trading as Freelance Audio Productions for four years. The company doesnt make a product, the service it provides is audio production based which includes performance arts, supplying of equipment and supplying of production services and facilities. FAP falls into the category of the Tertiary Sector. There are many departments that operate within FAP, but there are two departments that control most of Freelance Audio Productions. These are Stage sound and Showbiz. Stage Sound. FAP Stage Sound has been in operation for fourteen years but has only been working under Freelance Audio Productions for the last four years. FAP Stage Sound specialises in renting out sound equipment and educating young trainees. FAP Stage Sound is a continuously growing business which is also shown in the trend of the tertiary sector. Showbiz. FAP Showbiz controls all of the private singing and dancing lessons and the Pop School. FAP Pop School is the newest addition to Freelance Audio Productions. The main target of this is to educate people, mainly children, form the ages of two upwards in the field of music and dance. Girls and boys of all ages learn to sing and dance and put together routines. Shows are then put on as large events where many tickets are sold but little profit is made. Graph showing the Tertiary sector total. (See Appendix 1) FAP and connections with the sectors. Freelance Audio Productions works under the tertiary sector in the departments of other services and education. The Stage Sound aspect of FAP comes under other services, and the private lessons and Pop School comes under education. (See Appendix 2) Freelance Audio has no direct connections with any of the other sectors, but, the other departments in the Tertiary Sector play a large part in the success or failure of FAP. Martin Rider has a community web site on the Internet, and does a lot of theatrical work. As the Internet industry is doing very well at the moment, and FAP is hoping to spread all over the UK, communications help a lot to promote this business. The best way to promote the business locally is while shows are going on. The department leisure includes theatre and public events, and locally, FAP is involved with all theatrical work and most public events. Leisure is one of the fastest growing industries in the tertiary sector which gives an indication on how well FAP should be doing. (Appendix 4) FAP can be affected by the secondary sector. The only way that FAP is affected by any other sectors is the fluctuations in manufacturing of electrical goods in the secondary sector. This can cause problems when attempting to purchase specialised equipment for shows or upgrading the current range of products. Conclusion. Although currently small, Freelance Audio Productions is growing very fast as a result of the tertiary sector departments that it is part of. Over the next few years, new contacts with other businesses in the UK will be made, and maybe other sectors will come as a part of the company. The legal status of Lantra is a charitable limited company. Lantra is owned and run by a board of directors. If Lantra goes bust or bankrupt, each director has a liability of one pound. Lantra has a very complicated range of services. Most of the services is education, training and policy work for the government. Most of the work is in the land based sector, which is to do with farming, agriculture and environmental conservation. Lantra sets the standards that the GNVQs are set upon. The GNVQs for land based studies is set by Lantra. There are three operating Companies which work under the umbrella company, Lantra. These are called, Lantra Awards, Lantra National Training Organisation and Lantra Agenda. These are explained in depth in the following text. Lantra Awards. Lantra Awards is a new organisation within the Lantra. The aim of this company is to provide an innovative and responsive awarding service. Lantra Awards assesses trainees, and if the needed standards are met, appropriate awards are rewarded to them. The awards given are recognised by the government and can help acquire a job or an apprenticeship. Lantra Agenda. Lantra Agenda training specialises in management training and consultancy services and the co-ordination of work based training. Agenda courses range from increasing personal dynamics and communication effectiveness to waste management and include a range of health, safety and quality assurance courses. Below are some of the services that Lantra Agenda Provide. Although some are training, they are referred to as a product as they are sold to external agencies also. Management training and business consultancy Business development consultancy Benchmarking Management and supervisory training Train the trainer programmes Vocational Programmes National Traineeships Modern Apprenticeships (Skillseekers in Scotland) Approves centre for N/SVQs Assessment and certification in key skills, hazardous operations and safety training and management. Lantra National Training Organisation (Lantra NTO). Lantra NTO has a wide ranging selection of activities which spans from conducting labour market research to supporting local training providers. The key role of Lantra NOT is to link government and industry. There are eleven industry groups that work in Lantra NTO. These are: agricultural crops agricultural livestock production horticulture landscaping environmental conservation game conservation fish farming agricultural and garden machinery fencing floristry professions allied to veterinary science Graph showing the Tertiary sector total. (See Appendix 1) Lantra and connections with the sectors. Lantra is a peculiar organisation as it is based in not only the tertiary sector, but the primary sector also. Lantra is primarily based in the tertiary sector as it deals with training, education, and the selling of a product, retail. Previously, Lantra was a primary sector, land based organisation. As recent trends show, the primary sector is in rapid decline (Appendix 3) so the company had to think up a new idea to save the business. This is when selling training courses as a product and the company Lantra Awards came into play. These two ideas brought Lantra into the Tertiary sector which is an overall higher earning sector (Appendix 1). This would have both increased the companies value and broadened the types of customers. If the Primary sector decreases, Lantra will be injured as the company still relies mainly on the land based agricultural departments. If the need for more farms arrives, this would be perfect for the training aspect of Lantra as the business would rocket. Conclusion. Even though Lantra is in the primary sector, which is decreasing, the departments which are in the tertiary sector provide a safety net and a higher income. I think that Awards and Agenda will take over and NTO will slowly disappear as the need for agricultural based activities is in decline.