Weep Not Child Essay Example

Weep Not Child Paper As I read through the novel Weep Not Child, by Ngugi wa Thiongo, I realized that there was a clear message of hope. As we progress through the novel we get an impression of a gradual loss of hope. In this essay I will discuss the possible message of hope that the book leaves us with. My first impression as I read through the first chapter is Njoroges dreams and hopes through education, Education for him, as for many boys of his generation held the key to the future. Njoroge was offered to go to school by his mother. It is a real privilege for him, because he is the first one out of his family, who is able to go to school. He knew that by going to school, he could provide a better future for himself and his family. As we read on we see that education starts to decay, and as we reach the end of this novel, Njoroge has been forced out of school, and is forced o work at an Indian Shop, which it was really bad for him, because when he was younger he said he would never work for an Indian Shop. As it was consider to be shameful. We will write a custom essay sample on Weep Not Child specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Weep Not Child specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Weep Not Child specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This demonstrates to the reader, that one of the main sources of hope has been destroyed. As we reach chapter 2, we get another sence of hope, the Prophecy. According to this prophecy, it tells us that a man will rise and give the land back, that once belonged to the black people. To the reader this seams improbible as it may not happen. And when you reach the end of the novel, you see this prophecy is very far from happening. Njoroge has very strong religious beliefs, we see this throughout the book, when he prays and asks God for help, with his problems. The rest of the African people are also religious in the way that they compare their situation with the situation of Moses and the Hebrew slaves. As we move on the novel, Njoroge starts to doubt his faith, when two military officers killed Isaaka his schoolteacher and preacher. This was the end of his education. He had lost his faith in god. Politics also gave Njoroge some hope. The strike made him along with many other black kids believe that they could gain independence. But as strike fails, Ngotho the father gets into constant conflicts with Jacobo, Father of Mwihaki. The fact that Jacobo is a traitor to the black people, gives me a feeling of hopelessness to any political solutions to the problem of freedom. Also Jomo a political leader who was fighting for black people independence, a man whom Njoroge compared with Moses, was also arrested. After we read this we get sense of despair. As they lose all their hope on independence. Most of Njoroges hopes and dreams have turned into despair. All he had was his family. But it gets slowly destroyed, Njoroges brother called Kamau has also been imprisoned for lifetime. His father Ngotho got into constant conflicts with his other Jacobo. He only had his 2 mothers which would support him, this could be said to be a glimpse of hope however I believe that the fact that Njoroge had to leave school and go to work to support the family, wipes out any possibility that this a message of hope. Ngotho would not come back. The death of Ngotho was of great shock to the whole family, and him being the piller of hope, on his death day, the hopes vanished and a feeling of despair grew.

Heart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad Essays (1096 words) -

Heart of Darkness By Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness By Joseph Conrad Main Characters Marlow - Young man who decides that it would be exiting to travel into Africa hunting ivory and does so by taking the place of a dead steamboat captain. Kurts - Famous man among the ivory seekers who has lived and hunted on the continent for a while and has exploited the savages becoming much like a savage himself. Russian fool - Man who is known by his clothes with many colorful patches making him look much like a harlequin. He works with Kurtz who proves to be poor company for him. The Intended - Kurtz's bride to be who at the end of the book still thinks that Kurtz was the great man that she remembered him to be and Marlow doesn't have the heart to tell her otherwise. Minor Characters Helmsman - Man who steers the steamboat but goes away from the wheel to fight the savages only to be killed by an arrow. Accountant - Accountant who takes care of the money matters for Kurtz and has lived on the continent for three years trying to keep his civilized nature. Settings Central Station - This is the station where Marlow meets the accountant and observes the way the whites do nothing but exploit the blacks to do pointless labor. Inner Station - This is the station where Kurtz works and where Marlow finds him being worshipped by the savages. Thames River - Marlow tells his story to various people here. Plot Marlow sits at the Thames River in the evening with several other people and begins telling the story about how he entered into the dark continent out of nowhere. No one wants to listen but he continues anyway. Marlow expressed a desire to go to Africa to his Aunt who got him a position as a captain of a steamboat of an ivory company. The previous captain Freslaven died in a scuffle with the natives and Marlow took his place. A few days later, Marlow travels to Africa and gets to the first station where he meets the accountant who keeps track of the funds in Kurtz's company. The man is interesting to Marlow since he's been on the continent for three years, yet he keeps himself clean and well dressed. Marlow finds the blacks being poorly treated and ordered to do meaningless work by the whites. Marlow continues down the river on his steamboat with a crew of several whites and about 20 to 30 blacks. As he travels down the river, he comes across this shack where he picks up wood, and a note cautioning him to travel carefully. He continues down the river and becomes surrounded by savages in the fog. Marlow is frightened but the savages don't do anything... until the fog rises. The savages attack and Marlows men fire back. The arrows of the savages have little effect on Marlow's men or his boat. And the guns of Marlow's men have little effect on the savages since they fire too high. Only Marlow's helmsman dies. Marlow blows the whistle and mysteriously, all the savages retreat in fear. Marlow shortly reaches the inner station where he is greeted by the Russian Fool who seems to survive in the heart of the continent by not knowing what's going on around him. Kurtz is very ill and needs to be taken back to England, but he does not want to go. In fact, he is the one who ordered the attack on the steamboat so that they couldn't take him back to England. Kurtz is worshipped by the natives and completely exploits them. Kurtz tries to escape to the natives but Marlow catches him and takes him back to the steamboat head back for England. While still on the river, Kurtz dies saying, "The horror, the horror." Marlow returns to England. He visits Kurtz's intended who is still in mourning a year after Kurtz's death. She still remembers Kurtz as the great man he was before he left, and Marlow doesn't tell her what he had become before he dies. Marlow gives Kurtz her old letters and leaves. Symbols Shoes - These symbolize civilization and protection. Ivory - The symbolizes the pagan God that is so worshipped by Kurtz and other whites. Whistle - This symbolizes the unsupported fear each man has. Style Conrad's prose is very descriptive and informative. He portrays terrifying images and conveys horrifying truths in a mystic voice that contrasts effectively with the true horrors of his message. Foreshadowing and suspense is used to heighten this exciting novel. Dominant Philosophy Conrad deals in this novel with the dark heart of mankind,

All-purpose Corpus

All-purpose Corpus All-purpose Corpus All-purpose Corpus By Maeve Maddox Corpus is just one of thousands of everyday Latin words that have not only outlived their original speakers, but have replicated in English like amoebas. Latin corpus means â€Å"body.† It entered Old French as cors and passed from there into Middle English. From then on the spelling and pronunciation fluctuated until the various spellings and pronunciations took on meanings other than just plain â€Å"body.† Corpus and its plural corpora proliferate in medical terminology, giving such labels as corpus callosum and corpora striata, which name structures in the brain. Apart from learned uses, the word corpus has spawned several words that everyone is familiar with and a few that occur in literature. I’m going to look at seven of these words. 1. corpus [kohr-puhs] First there’s the word corpus itself. Although no longer used to refer to a living body, corpus still means â€Å"body† in a figurative sense. A corpus is a body of literature, a body of information, or an author’s body of works. In this sense, corpus means â€Å"collection.† There’s a subcategory of linguistics called corpus linguistics that gathers and studies collections of speech and text gathered from non-literary, non-academic sources. An example of the linguistic corpora studied is the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA), an online collection of 450 million words gathered from U.S. sources, 1990-2012. 2. corpse [kohrps] Once the word for a living body, the noun corpse now means only a dead one. When it comes to choosing words for their emotional effect on the reader, corpse is probably one of the creepiest words in English. 3. corporation [kohr-puh-rey-shuhn] In 1534 a corporation was â€Å"a number of persons united, or regarded as united, in one body.† In 1611 a corporation was â€Å"a body of people legally authorized to act as a single person.† Eighteenth-century jokers called their abdomens â€Å"corporations.† I love this OED citation from Thomas Smolett (1721-1771): â€Å"Sirrah! my corporation is made up of good wholesome English fat.† In modern U.S. law, a corporation is an organization formed with state governmental approval to act as an artificial person to carry on business (or other activities), which can sue or be sued, and (unless it is non-profit) can issue shares of stock to raise funds with which to start a business or increase its capital. 4. corps [kohr] This incarnation of Latin corpus came into English a second time, again from French, this time in the expression corps d’armà ©e, literally â€Å"body of the army.† The term reflected a new way of using the army by breaking it down into smaller, more mobile tactical units. Such a unit was a corps. The word came to mean any body or company of persons associated in a common organization. In the current U.S. Army, a corps is a large unit made up of from two to five divisions. A division is made up of from 10,000 to 18,000 soldiers. Corps is also used in the name of one of the branches of the U.S. military, the Marine Corps, and government employees who serve abroad in U.S. embassies are members of the â€Å"diplomatic corps.† Corps is a popular name choice for civilian organizations that wish to suggest that their work and purpose have a military-like focus: Job Corps, Peace Corps, Mom Corps. The expression esprit de corps is used to describe the sense of enthusiasm, loyalty and devotion to a group that characterizes an organization like the Marine Corps. 5. corpulent [kohr-pyuh-luhnt] The adjective corpulent means â€Å"large, bulky, fleshy, fat.† A corpulent person has a lot of body. 6. corporeal [kohr-pohr-ee-uhl] The adjective corporeal is used to describe anything that has substance. A living person is said to be corporeal; a ghost is incorporeal. There’s a legal term, incorporeal rights, that refers to property that cannot be seen or touched, but may be owned and inherited, like copyrights, trademarks, and patents. 7. corpuscle [kohr-puh-suhl] The noun corpuscle is probably most familiar in the context of biology class. Corpuscles: Minute rounded or discoidal bodies constituting a large part of the blood.† The word comes from Latin corpusculum, â€Å"little body.† In English it can also mean â€Å"any minute body (usually of microscopic size), forming a more or less distinct part of the organism.† 8. corposant [kohr-puh-sant] This one isn’t so familiar an offspring of corpus, but it’s interesting so I’m including it. You may have heard of something called St. Elmo’s Fire. It’s a light-producing weather phenomenon. In the days of sailing vessels, sailors often saw the light playing eerily about the masts. The common name derives from the patron saint of sailors. The other name, corposant combines Latin corpus sanctum, â€Å"holy body† or â€Å"saint’s body.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:The Yiddish Handbook: 40 Words You Should KnowItalicizing Foreign Words10 Varieties of Syntax to Improve Your Writing

500 Word Illustration Essay Essay Example

500 Word Illustration Essay Essay Example 500 Word Illustration Essay Essay 500 Word Illustration Essay Essay A sense of humor can make a hard time easier to bear. It does not matter what type, from sarcasm to the everyday â€Å"knock-knock† joke, humor has always been a way that I have expressed emotion. Bad days are always going to be around, there is no way to change that, but Humor is always a way to make the saddest of people crack a smile. Laughter is a powerful path into peoples mind, and can relieve pain by forgetting and living in the moment. Pain can be caused by basically anything, death, bad grades, work, or family, but at the end of the day I am always smiling. Laughter is the best medicine has been able to cure people with mental and physical injuries. For me when I am hurt, I do not cry but laugh , maybe from shock of a physical injury, but I always feel better when laughing. When attending an event where something tragic has occurred or at a funeral, I hear laughter. I believe laughing is a way to remember and express feelings. The most unbearable thing I have ever done was say good bye to my team mate, Andy. Having died at the age of thirteen, it was a horrible experience to go through. My defense was humor, and being my sarcastic self relieved the pain and was the only option for me. I remember sitting at the wake feeling extremely uncomfortable, but just laughing with a friend on mine because if we weren’t laughing the pain and shock would tear at us. Math class was unbearable for me. Trying to find the the length of the arc of a circle, at ten in the morning was never fun. Usually my daily nap occurred during that forty minute period, but the constant jokes and comments kept me awake. I began to actually like the class, only because the inside jokes the class had without my teachers knowledged. Obviously Pain is unavoidable, and even though I am young, I have lived through my fair share of pain. I have seen death, and sorrow, but I always moved on with life. Pain never leaves but can be covered by happiness, which laughter creates, and which is very contagious. Living or even being around happy people always makes me smile. A joke is told and laughter explodes. Laughter makes me feel better, because it can make me feel alive, living in that moment and helping me forget the troubles. Laughter can truly cure anything. It helps me forget the pain and live my life. Making a bad situation into a bearable time is always good, Laughter is the key to move on, to smile and to be happy. If there was no humor, how would people react?

Easy Tutorial for Making Fake Wounds and Cuts

Easy Tutorial for Making Fake Wounds and Cuts Combine chemical ingredients to make fake wounds suitable for Halloween or other special events. This is a great, easy activity for kids and adults alike, and it only takes a few minutes! Materials petroleum jellyred food coloringcocoa powderdisposable tissuebowltoothpicks How to Make Fake Wounds and Cuts Use a toothpick to mix 3-4 drops of red food coloring into a dollop of petroleum jelly (e.g., Vaseline).Stir in enough cocoa (a pinch or so) to darken the red color to a deeper, blood-like tint.Separate the tissue and tear out a small rectangle (3x2 inches) from a single layer of the paper.Place the tissue at the wound site and cover it with the petroleum jelly mixture.Mold the tissue into a wound shape with the edges raised higher than the center of the wound.Add some petroleum jelly mixture to the center of the wound.Sprinkle cocoa at the edges of the wound to darken it. Add cocoa to the wound center if a scabby (as opposed to fresh) appearance is desired.Red food coloring will stain, so avoid wound contact with clothing or furniture.

Final self reflection report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Final self reflection report - Essay Example (pp.2-3). Organizational Behaviour is a social science discipline, using scientific method to establish truth and to validate its theories. (Miner, 2002, p.3). Three organizational behaviour issues that I feel I can demonstrate as enabling me to apply my knowledge of organizational behaviour, are: *Learning, *Personality and *Teams and Groups. .Experiential Learning Process: The Kolb’s Learning Cycle (1975): All learning begins with a concrete or real-world experience. Then, through reflections, the learner makes abstract generalizations about the experience and finally plans a new course of action as a result. (Cundell; Gray, 2004, pp.44-45). The following is a Self Reflection Report based on the four phases of Kolb’s Learning Cycle, which identifies how I have applied the knowledge and skills of Organisational Behaviour issues learned in the module. 1. LEARNING: The outline of a learning experience that I had recently is as follows: I had wanted to learn the art of lettering, where the letters of the alphabet are modified and presented in a stylised version, as in ornamental calligraphy. Since this art would always come in handy for using in greeting cards and other jobs, I approached a friend of mine who was knowledgable in the matter to learn how to create the lettering. My direct experience of learning by receiving sensory information on the creative procedure, combined with verbal transmission of information and the re-organisation of known information in a new configuration, resulted in my successfully learning the new style of lettering, as theorised by Dixon, 1999, (p.39). Learning is central both to bringing about the massive re-organisation that causes us to have a new sense of self in relation to the world, and to constructing a satisfactory existence within our current frame. This need to learn serves many important ends for us human beings, including survival both as individuals and as a

Leaders and Leadership Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leaders and Leadership - Assignment Example This involved operation out of a sense of calling and not self drive or willingness. God had called for Jesus to instill righteous views in people. This is also transformational leadership according to Ford (Ford, 1991, p.60). This would compel others to respond. Effective leadership involves transparency with respect to one’s individual life, family and even an institution one belongs. Leaders are inclined to form teams and such teams look for leaders and a leader like Jesus does not need followers. The leadership as modeled by Jesus was that of servant leadership. Jesus’ instructions are based upon a principle â€Å"the one who rules’ should be the like the one who serves† (Ford, 1991, p. 153). Instead of building any organization, Jesus focused on the idea of collecting people with shared vision. He spent efforts on trust building. A leader might face opposition from prominent places. Jesus experienced the same but never distanced his enemies and propagated love and harmony throughout. This showed his humility and integrity. Thus leaders cannot be dictators but should set righteous examples before others. This is unlike Hitler and Stalin who were dictators or extreme leaders without any character attributes to be followed. In fact one may call his leadership timeless and relevant even in modern times because he had all qualities one would expect from a perfect leader who maintains accountability in order to stay within boundaries and provide new direction and inspiration for an organization. Authority should be applied in order to motivate trust from people and make them follow their example (Tucker and Russel, 2004, p.103). Transformation leadership, as conceptualized by Burn involves four categories – â€Å"idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration and inspirational motivation†

Influences of My Career Choice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Influences of My Career Choice - Essay Example For one thing, having a job only means that I have an activity through which an individual can earn money. It is a regular activity in exchange of payment. It is not the same as having a career since having a career means that I would essentially be pursuing a lifelong ambition or the general course of progression towards lifelong goals. (Career vs. Job) So, I now knew that although I had a job, I may not want to be doing the same job for the rest of my life. Therefore, I needed to make plans that included developing a career plan for myself that I would follow until the day I retire. I need the career in order to give myself a sense of direction and financial motivation. By choosing a career for myself, I would finally be able to tell people that I knew what I would be doing for myself in the future. Techniques in career management Planning for my future career requires a more-or-less systematic approach, following those models and theories that management experts and practitioners have designed. While these are not hard and fast rules, they are advisory in providing a structure to how I am to plan out my career and work life. We will be using the Wheel of Life, the Greenhaus et al. Career Management Model, and Bolles’ (2008) Flower Diagram. Wheel of Life There are several conceptual tools which are helpful in defining our life goals and aspirations so that we could make a better choice among the possible career paths we could take. The diagram following provides a visual depiction of the theory. The wheel of life is made up of concentric circles showing graduated levels of each part. In applying this wheel in the course of deciding and building a career, it is important to balance our lives according to each part that makes up the wheel. I am aware that work and career, which is of such great importance to me, should also serve to balance personal growth and need for money against love life, hobbies and recreation, and of course family and friends. We must not also pursue career so intensely as to forget our health and fitness, particularly managing the stress that tends to build up at work. In my case, the overbearing influence of family, to be discussed later, has to be moderated by my desire for personal growth, earning money, and work and career. Even while growing up, due to our dire circumstances I was overly occupied with working due to our lack of money that I did not have a healthy balance between study, friends and recreation like other children. Over-emphasizing any of these aspects and neglecting the others will surely lead to my eventual frustration and unhappiness. The Greenhaus, et al. Career Management Model The following diagram depicts the Greenhaus, Callanan & Godshalk (2000) model. I find this model a good tool to use in trying to feel through what career path I choose for myself, and I believe I will continue to refer to it as a framework for gaining my bearings as I reach crucial junctures in my work life. T he model appears to be complicated, but I realize that I had been subconsciously doing the steps during my career planning. An instinctive awareness of my aspirations and capabilities and awareness of the desperation as well as opportunities in my environment have guided me to want better things and perceive a way to do them. Everytime I try out

The Role Of International Business Practice Essay

The Role Of International Business Practice - Essay Example The company's goals are to extend its position as the leading brewer internationally. This is perceived would be achieved by increasing its share in the domestic beer market and also extend its presence internationally. It is tapping thirsty markets internationally by using two-pronged strategies for growth. These two-pronged strategies include expanding the Budweiser brand globally and simultaneously strengthening equity partnerships with other large brewers around the globe. Since the company produced two-thirds of all beer in the US, it could easily be assumed that the local market was saturated with Anheuser-Busch products. It was evident that the linear growth model that the company has been following for the last so many years will have to be stretched beyond the boundaries of the United States if the company has to make its presence felt.  Anheuser-Busch is focused on its international beer sales to ensure a global footprint. It is for this reason that the company has entere d markets in China, Brazil, and Mexico. This global expansion started in the year 2004 from when the company has started entering markets with growth opportunities and profits. At that time China had the largest population in the world of around 1.3 billion but the annual beer consumption was only 18.5 liters per person. There was a huge void in that market to be filled.  Like all foreign brewers entering Chinese markets, Anheuser-Busch also used multi-pronged strategies.  

Phase 2 Discussion Board 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Phase 2 Discussion Board 2 - Essay Example Nevertheless, we must start thinking proactively so we can identify and fix the weak systems that are occasioning the problems we are going through. Ideally, our partner could not have been involved in breach of good conduct if we had earlier taken proactive measures by, for example, formulating a tough code of conduct framework to guide our officers when discharging their duties (Hastie, 2010). Apparently, I would like to encourage the members of this committee to adopt a proactive thinking as opposed to reactive thinking. This is primarily because of the shortcomings we are likely to experience if we continue with the reactive approach. For example, you should realize that a reactive thinker will use the company’s resources to solve the immediate problems and then hope that the problem has been done away with. In some situations, a reactive thinker will tend to imagine that a problem has become less significant only to be surprised when it recurs in future with serious conse quences. On the other hand, proactive thinking involves conceiving problems as systems, which is a dynamic approach that puts into account the interaction of both human and non-human elements. For example, an introduction of compulsory integrity course in our organization will go a long way in preventing problems that have a far reaching repercussions from occurring in the future (Hastie, 2010). Defining critical steps in the decision-making process. In regards to decision making in our organization, we can apply rational model (Towler, 2010), which involves six critical steps including problem identification, generation of alternatives, evaluation of alternatives, choosing of an alternative, implementation of the decision, and evaluation of decision’s effectiveness. We should, therefore, start by pointing out the problem we are undergoing. Our problem was perpetrated by one of our partners who disregarded his contractual obligation by failing to advise the contracting team t o carry out a very crucial market research analysis on behalf of one of our long-standing clients. If we fail to take an action to address this issue, we are likely to experience dire repercussions including possible litigations for breach of contract, loss of reputation of our company as well as the loss of our esteemed and royal customers. Ideally, it is recommendable that all the stakeholders take part in scanning both the internal and the external environment with the aim of identifying problems so that next time actions can be taken proactively and on a timely basis (Hastie, 2010). Once the problem has been identified, generation of alternatives should follow. Before generating these alternatives, we should specify the goals that we want to achieve. For instance, we intend to increase the integrity level in our company so we can avoid the consequences that comes with dishonesty and lack of fulfillment of our contractual obligations. We also intend to address the mistake that ou r partner did, so our reputation is not tainted. Having identified the goals, it will be easier for us to identify the alternative, however, enough evidence must be gathered regarding each alternative. In addition, the repercussions of taking each alternative should be analyzed (Hastie, 2010). When it comes to the stage of evaluating the alternatives, we must ask ourselves questions

Analysis of Current Event at Telstra Essay Example for Free

Analysis of Current Event at Telstra Essay Management issue is a common phenomenon that an organization attempting to maximize profits must grapple with. Telecommunication as it is the case with Telstra Corporation Limited has been distinguished by highly competitive market. On the same breath, actors and competitors on the market have been seen struggling with the increasing cost of operation, production, development and mature market. In light of this, the Company faces management issue when it comes to decision making, integrating new models and working within the realm of theoretical frameworks. ResearchMoz (2013) notes that in an industry where competition is rife, analysis of a company’s management issues and current events encompass the recognition of different strategies that enable it maintain competitive position. Despite these positions, it has to be recognized that analysis of management issues of Telstra Corporation Limited must first recognize the position of the Company with regard to managing risks as postulated by the Company’s Chief Risk Office (Schermerhorn et al., 2014). Ideally, Telstra Corporation Limited has Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to undertake and as one of its management issue or strategy. Consequently, such must be conceptualised through its laid platform, structure, financial reports and annual reports. Similarly, evidence based researches have shown that the first step in understanding management of a company is to integrate its undertaking when it comes to CSR and how sustainable the Company intends to operate with regard to the environment, competitors and specific objectives (Millmore, 2007; Hubbard, 2008; Bardoel, 2012). Based on the Company’s Corporate Social Report 2014, its CSR is embedded on four critical issues; internal environment, external environment, customers and sustainability (Corporate Social Responsibility Report, 2014). That is, the commitment of the Company towards corporate responsibility starts with simple but straight forward commitments that cover its areas of operations and targeted objectives. F rom its principled perspective, the primary corporate responsibility can be summarised as follows: Provision of the country a foundation that ensures economic growth, sustainability prosperity, productivity improvement and global competitive Contributing towards resources; increasing technology, product services and people in employment to support the communities in which the Company operates and the specific needs of community at large Give a leading stewardship of environment by first and importantly, conservation, efficiency in the usage of resources, reducing and maintaining environmental footprint and reduction of operation costs (e.g. it took part in the Mobile Phone Recycling Program that was co-ordinated by the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Associations (AMTA) (Daley et al. 2014) Based on the Company’s corporate social responsibility as one of the management issues and as reported in the article, there is an integration of new management approach and that is the fact that risk management approach has been tailored to facilitate maximization of profits. Conversely, it can be established, based on its business principles and risk management approaches that the CSR has succeeded in the reduction of any adverse effects on and injury to the environment. Such is also embedded on the desire to preserve the beneficial qualities of the environment, while ensuring quality products and services in Australia (Baigh, 2014). In addition, to the above principles, analysis of the company’s management of this particular issue has also considered profits to the Company thus concluding that Telstra is revamping on this particular management strategy which is succeeding in line with its short and long term goals. To conceptualise this argument, scholars such as Hooper and Potter (2006) have drawn a thin line between CSR as a management issue and as a marketing issue. To ascertain that the CSR approach as contextualized is a management issue but financial or marketing issue, in most cases, companies always engage in pricing strategies which also depend on value pricing coupled with strategic markdowns. In such cases, this makes sales of their products to go down since it cannot compete effectively with other products. Additionally, products face what Hamlin (2012) terms as ‘a society of shifting priorities’ (p.281). Therefore there is pressure to keep up with the emerging social needs by style modification. It is for this reason that any decision to modify must be embedded on the premise to meet the needs of the targeted consumers. While the explanation above provides for what would constitute a marketing issue, what Telstra engages in is management issue. According to Johnson et al. (2011), CSR is not only management issue but a current one the sense that it deals with financial performance, top management, chief executive and shareholders. Herewith, the management issue within the context of Telstra is the responsiveness that should be taken because in a competitive environment where there are other operator s such as Huawei and Vodacom, managers are supposed to intervene in accordance with their position and power, especially where management can fail to respond to economic challenges and changes. Also related to CSR as a marketing issue is ethical decision making approaches. According to the article, the process of identification of managing risks through ethical decision making is an integral part of the Company’s governance framework and management issue which help in the realization of the success of the strategy as well as financial prospects for future operations. Telstra business ethics entails standards and principles that guide managers, individuals and work group behaviour in line with telecommunication and terms of service in Australia. Additionally, it is important to note that stakeholders of the Company make these conventions (principles) and such have been codified as regulations and laws. Contextualising this definition within the frameworks business management issue; ethical decision making help Telstra family design strategies that eliminate misconduct. According to Peng (2014) there are three significant components that sum up its ethical decision making as critical management issue; ethical decision making being individual factors, ethical decision making being Company’s relationship with others and ethical decision making being opportunities available for the Company. Basically, while this issue might to be seen as revamp on a current management strategy, it has been applied successfully since the Company bases the three components on behaviourist theory where what matters is what individuals in the Company can do rather than specific quality or attribute. That is, different patterns of individual b ehaviours are linked to ethical decisions that are made by the Company and such are geared towards the realisation of the goals and objectives that have been set by the Company. To contextualise the success of the Company with its approach of ethical decision making as one the management issue, Perren and Burgoyne (2010) report that Telstra has been engaging with Communication Workers Union with a view to offering better terms of service and transparency in supply management. For instance, in 2013, the Company engaged Low-Income Measures Assessment Committee (LIMAC) (this is an example of Communication Workers Union which is viewed as independent and transparent) which made changes to the package the Company was initially giving to its workers and suppliers. In connection to this, the Company, this particular issue has successful been engaged in what Katzenbach and Smith (2005) term as ‘vertical management’ (p. 37). Vertical management within the context of ethical decision making is a case where a Company liaises with regulatory organization so as to have a common agenda and conform to the requirements of the industry. Conceptualist theorists a nd ethical formalism argue that ethical decision making process in management encompass evaluations of fairness product stewardships but with respect to firm’s overall culture. In summary, with ethical decision making process as one of the management issue, Telstra has a well-defined management and leadership structure which is focused on the achievement of defined objectives including ‘green’ managements. Lastly, this issue departs from being finance or marketing issue on the ground that the approach lacks market orientation is a model that concretizes the strategy of finance and marketing. Senge et al. (2007) define this theory (market orientation) as a strategy that ensures all products and services as undertaken by Companies are oriented towards specific demands of clients and customers. Still on ethical decision making as one of the Company’s management issue or approach, Telstra’s planning, leading, organising, controlling and functioning is based on choices made on guidelines laid. According to article, one of the important issues to not is that the Company’s risk management frameworks are aligned with ISO 31000 Risk Management (Baigh, 2014). While this is an indicator of a management strategy or practice that has succeeded, underpinnings of theories of issue management are significant to the Company additionally; technical and commercial objectives remain axis for the Company. The success in management of this issue is conceptualised with regard to audience or customer satisfaction. This is to mean that in as much as its ethical decision making remains a priority as a management issue, targeted markets shapes such prioritiesan aspect Aras and Crowther (2009) terms as ‘ascertaining the success of management strategies and policies in dow nstream and upstream relationships’ (p. 213). From Michael Patterson (Telstra’s General Manager for Tasmania) statement on the legal battle the Company had with Optus, it can be realized that the Company’s planning, leading, organising, controlling and functioning are in line with the tenet of management of telephony inputs and components that are required in the market. This is an indication that there is long term transparency and conformity to good practices. Assessing Corporate Social Report 2013 vis-Ã  -vis opening of the China’s SouFun Sensis, there is evidence that efforts are diverted to supply chain relationships with third party suppliers as well as other competitors. It is important to note that Telstra is overemphasizing on CSR strategies; an aspect that may affects its ethical decision making. If this stretches beyond what the Company can handle, strategic alignment with other sectors may be affected. Basically, this is where this strategy differs from the aspect of marketing in the sense that according to the theory of signaling, the best way to market a product is to engage a brand or product in competitive signal that are intended to pass information to potential consumers with an aim of making such consumers believe that competing products are substandard (Cole, 2012). This is exactly how Cadbury for instance has succeeded in capturing the attention of their targeted market every time they engage in marketing. Telstra, through this does management and not marketing as they do not engage in competitive signaling. As a management approach, Telstra looks at ethical decision making differently. That is as a management issue, ethical decision making is seen in terms of transparency when it comes to critical corporate accounting and statements. One of the critical goals of the Company is to attain what it terms as ‘front-line management’ (Baigh, 2014 p.26). The benefits of the people within and around have been necessitated through avoidance of misleading information. The continuum of growth in economy resonates around a transparent business operationwhich is also a recipe of what this assessment considers to be a successful management approach. Synopsis on the Management Issue From the perspective of undertakings in the Company, the aspect is a management issue in the sense that it analyses the environment issues in lieu of external factors that impact business activities. On the other hand, the purpose of the management issues as analysed is to evaluate and determinate competitive advantages as well as threats a Company has with regard to its operations. These analyses recognise stiff competitions, threats and opportunities faced by companies such as Optus, Vodafone and 3 Mobile. In as much, this analysis considers Telstra due to its cutting edge when it comes to services such as broadband, hosting, directory and pay TV which are not as extensive in other companies. Since the management issue has been a success, revamping of a current policy is twofold; first, there is need to strategize the management issue identified to an extent that the company benefits from the economies of scales and the strong relationships with suppliers, which will place it in a strong bargaining position with its upstream partners and allows leveraging the costs. Strategizing the management issue to attain this goal means that a focus on customer-relationship and loyalty creation, as well as investment in research and technical development (RD) to reduce the costs of services so as to compete with niche operators. Secondly, revamping on the current management issue must assess the possibility of working alongside its downstream partners to deliver triple-play solutions in voice, data and video services, expansion of data download quotas and continuous innovation in fixed line services, as opposed to mobile services, to offer incentives to its clients. Similarly on the question of whether Telstra is handling the identified management issue appropriately is manifold but the assessment will review two issues that offer succinct answers to the question. First, proper management of a company circles around how best a company maximizes a profit and expands networks (ResearchMoz, 2013). Through the management issue, Telstra has leveraged the risks of economic downturns by diversifying its income channels. The growing domestic market and the boost in 4G technologies enable further market penetration and help to reduce the pressure of external factors. Secondly, the Company through the management issue has pursued an investment heavy strategy to grow its existing network. However, financial indicators, outline a challenging internal environment in terms of liquidity and internal funding options. References Aras, G. Crowther, D (2009). Global Perspective on Corporate Governance and CSR. Farnham: Gower Pub. Baigh, H. (2014). Seven Strategies for Simplifying Your Organization. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from http://blogs.hbr.org/2013/05/seven-strategies-for-simplifyi/ Bardoel, A. (2012).Tool or Time Thief? Technology and the Work-Life Balance. Retrieved Cole, K. (2012). Management: Theory and practice. Australia: Pearson. Corporate Social Responsibility Report (2014): Understanding the Definition of Corporate SocialResponsibility: http://www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/download/document/csr.pdf Daley, J., McGannon, C., Ginnivan, L. (2012). Game-changers: Economic reform priorities for Australia. Melbourne: Grattan Institute from The Conversation, Future of Work: https://theconversation.edu.au/tool-or-time-thief-technology-and-the-work-life-balance-8165 Hamlin. R. (2012) Towards a Universalistic Model of Leadership: a comparative study of Britishand American empirically derived criteria of managerial and leadership effectiveness. Working paper WP005/02, University of Wolverhampton. Hooper, A. and Potter, J. (2006) The Business of Leadership. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing Company. Hubbard, G. (2008). Strategic management: Thinking, analysis, action. Australia: Pearson. James, K. and Burgoyne, J. (2001) Leadership Development: Best practice guide for organisations. London: Council for Excellence in Management and Leadership. Johnson, G., Scholes, K., Wittington, R. (2011). Exploring Strategy: Text Cases. (9th ed). London: Prentice Hall. Katzenbach, J. and Smith, D. (2005) The Wisdom of Teams. New York: Harperbusiness. Millmore, M. (2007). Strategic Human Resource Management: Contemporary Issues. Harlow: Financial Times, Prentice Hall. Peng, M. (2014). Global Strategy (3rd ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western Publishing. Perren, L. and Burgoyne, J. (2010) Management and Leadership Abilities: An analysis of texts, testimony and practice. London: Council for Excellence in Management and Leadership. ResearchMoz. (2013). Australia Telco company profiles Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Retrieved from http://www.researchmoz.us/australia-telco-company-profiles-telstra-optus-and-vodafone-report.html Schermerhorn, J.R., Davidson, P., Poole, D., Woods, P., Simon, A., McBarron, E., (2014). Management (5th ed.). Australia: Pearson Senge, P., et al. (2007). The dance of change: The challenges of sustaining momentum in learning organizations. London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing. Source document

Impact of Mobile Phone Technology

Impact of Mobile Phone Technology Modern Technology In the past two decades, technology has advanced and changed the manner in which people relate within family ties and social groups. Research suggests that in the 1990s, mails and letters were the most used channels for long distance communication and the postal services were very essential in fulfilling this duty. At the moment, communication has evolved from the use of land lines fixed in peoples homes to mobile phones carried everywhere to facilitate easy and quick communication. In this paper, the new possibilities unlocked by modern technology are examined and analyzed in an argumentative manner with close reference paid to mobile phones and communication. The mobile phone is a very interesting device that among all emerging trends in technology has captured the greatest number of audience with a great percentage of people owning one in reference to Elliott et al (25). The services offered by the mobile phone are so diverse from making of voice and video calls, sending text messages, to accessing social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp, and also taking pictures among many other functions. The rate at which this device has been embraced by consumers of all age has brought a controversial debate on its impacts and whether people are over relying on it. The debate majorly lies on the question of whether mobile phones have taken over real human interaction and changed the manner in which people relate. A person with a mobile handset can reach anyone they want to, despite of the geographical distance between them in an instant based on Elliot et al (85). Today, text messages and the WhatsApp application have revolutionized communication by enabling people to chat and send each other pictures and videos with a lot of ease. The current generation enjoys all these services availed by the modern technology and have a different experience from their parents and guardians who grew up in a different era. Take for instance, the manner in which people in the 1900s depended on newspapers for daily updates and every morning crowds of people could be seen grasping to get a copy. A hundred years later in the 2000s, the difference is notable as one can easily witness a mobile phone in every persons hand at any time of the day, performing different tasks with their device. In this controversial topic, there are two kinds of groups, those who would condemn the embracing of mobile phones and label them as an obsession while others label it as a necessity and defend its presence. In my opinion, the mobile phone is being misused and overused. The percentage of people owning a mobile phone in the United States is approximated to be at 70% of the entire population with the rates continuously increasing in each year. The major users of these devices range in between the age of 16 years and 30 years while those above this age bracket having a lowered dependency on their phones despite owning one. The major functions performed using the mobile phones by this dominant group include; WhatsApp chatting, taking of pictures, listening to music, playing games and accessing social media sites in the internet. According to research, individuals in the mentioned age group spend more than 50% of their time on the phone, and their subconscious mind is fixed on the functions they could be doing on their phones 75% of the time. It is practically impossible to separate some individuals from their mobile phones even at family gatherings and during outdoor activities as they remain engrossed in their handsets. This is the kind of attachment associated with the mobile phone as one of the most popular modern technology. The mobile phone is associated with the most amount of distraction based on psychological research which reveals how peoples brain responds to notifications from the phone. In most cases, people have set a notification sound on their phones which alerts them in case of an incoming message or call. The notification sound takes a minds attention from whichever activity it was performing to first respond to the incoming message or call. The amount of time taken to achieve a similar level of focus by the mind after such distractions from the phone could be significant in conclusion of the ongoing activity and thus such distractions are obstructions to progress. In the case of human interactions, mobile phones have been constantly viewed as obstructions to how people relate. In the present times, it is common to find people during a face to face conversation frequently checking their mobile phones for communication with people in other parts of the world according to research from Siemens (42). The intrusion of mobile phones in human interaction is to the extent of family set ups where teenagers and kids with mobile phones carry their handset to the table during meals and repeatedly get carried away from the rest of the family. It is such behaviors that cause parents and their kids to clash during family time as real family conversations cannot be addressed while the phones are at the table. The family bond is ruined and at times, the entire family is engrossed on their phones interacting with distant friends and ignoring family members. The vice in this act is that distant connections are nurtured at the expense of real life relations where family values and bonds should be first in the priority from Turkle (135). The mobile phone was invented to ease communication and improve peoples relations but it can be said to be doing the exact opposite. The handset created a platform for people to interact, exchange information and more importantly socialize. These functions are in relation to the positive side of using a handset as it was intended to perform. The real life facts on the immediate effect of handsets on peoples relationship suggest that mobile phones are harmful to couples relations. Technology is prevalent to introverted people who find comfort in inanimate interactions rather than personal relations. The introduction of the social media technology in the mobile handset, therefore, has caused people in the modern world to become antisocial in real life. Interactions are based online and people are more comfortable relating on the Facebook and WhatsApp platforms in comparison to personal face to face relations. The negative impact on dating couples brought by the mobile phone is the stress placed on relationships due to a diversification of attention to the distant population rather than the ones nearby. The platforms introduced by social media through the mobile phone also ruin relationships by enabling couples to cheat on each other through these avenues. The internet is a hub of all possibilities, dating sites and hook up sites have been established to connect people who may intend to find new lovers online. In this way, couples who intend to cheat are aided in this task by their mobile phones through the internet access. They are also able to hide these connections by erasing any evidence which may exist on their devices or by simply locking their phones with passwords and patterns availed in the handset during the infidelity process. Modern technology aims to make peoples lives convenient by introducing an easier way of doing things that is less stressful. A shift of attention from the mobile phone and its impacts on human relations suggests that the general incorporation of technology in individuals lives contributes to a significant percentage of laziness among people. Take a remote control for instance, it is meant to facilitate easy control of technological gadgets from distance and in the process it contributes to laziness. Research indicates that most people with remote controlled gadgets within their houses have less mobility and perform such tasks at the comfort of their seats denying themselves any physical exercise. At the moment, kids have gadgets within their houses such as play stations which they use to play games after school. These indoor games have denied the kids in the current generation from engaging in outdoor activities and games which are beneficial to their health. The importance of outdoor games has been lost due to technological games which slowly replace the physical aspect of child growth. Playing outside is very healthy to the development of kids according to medical practitioners since it offers children the chance to exercise and also interact with each other. Take for instance, kids engaging in a game of baseball with a neighboring child of the same age, this fosters new friendships and improves their physical health as well as their social skills. The games played on technological devices are also very addictive and in some instances harmful to the mind. Once a child begins playing the computer games, their minds get engaged with a sense of excitement which makes them to want to play it more. In this attachment, their brains can be harmed by an increased level of anxiety and loss of sleep when they reach this level of attachment. Technological advancements in the modern day have increased dependency on easy quick fix solutions for every human problem. The easy fix solutions to problems are beneficial to individuals who gain an easy way of performing stubborn functions such as cleaning among many other operations but the general result is negative. Take for instance, an introduction of a machine or robot which performs the task which used to be performed by a human being in the early days. The indirect result is that many people will be laid off in the process of easing a specific task through technological advancements of this kind. Modification is a superb inclusion in the modern technological world but too much embracing of technology in every service is detrimental to the jobs of some human beings. When technology is embraced in every sector, it solves some problems as it creates others. The ultimate aim of human beings is to fix their problems and not to transfer them to another field. Technology in this case offers new ventures for human beings to explore while directing them to new challenges as suggested earlier. Take the practical example of the introduction of plantation harvesting machines within a society that depends on agricultural labor as their main source of employment. The owner of the plantation enjoys a reduced labor cost solving one problem while the people of the society risk losing their jobs due to the introduction of a technological solution to their work place. The level of unemployment in such an area will definitely rise as the machine eliminates the need for physical labor. Technological solutions in such a case will solve one problem and create another one. Modern technology is creating more harm than good in other areas where their complexity is too high for all humans expected to utilize its services. There is a close difference between the ways in which modern technology should be applied and how human beings without the necessary knowledge apply it. Utilization of chemical fertilizers is an additional modern technology aimed at improving the manner in which people farm and the products grown from the farms. In the process of applying fertilizers, heavy chemicals used in its preparation require an informed procedure of application that will not be harmful to the soil or the crops themselves based on Elimelech and William (712). The wrong use of these fertilizers is the reason some crops have become extinct while the soils lose their productivity after a period of application. The inability of some farmers to follow the application instructions is responsible for the environmental degradation being experienced. The soil loses its natural fertility and is unable to sustain the growth of crops as it is required. In the long run, continued application of chemical fertilizers could lead to soil poisoning which eventually harms the health of other living organisms such as animals and even human beings. The climate on the other hand has been on the negative end of technology as pollution from companies with mechanical advancements is a common aspect in the modern world. These machines require a source of fuel to run them and in the process of operation, some produce smokes known to be harmful to the earths atmosphere. Mechanization in this essence brings a negative impact to the climate and as humans embraces its operations in their daily routines the world climate suffers the most. It would be wrong to label modern technology as a demon in the current society due to human beings obsession and wrong use of the inventions brought to them. The reliance placed by human beings is the part where vices are created and modern technology produces negative results that were not expected in the start. For instance, the mobile phones inclusion in the modern world can be a very beneficial tool in the society with its capability to connect people even in different localities. The vices of the use of mobile phones appear when people get addicted to their phones and in the long run misuse them losing sight of real life connections in reference to Elliott et al (113). According to research from Bertot et al (30), addictions are harmful to ones mental and emotional health as signs of anxiety and restlessness appear when people are detached from their items of comfort such as mobile phones. People who are used to carrying their phones everywhere display a sense of stress when they forget them at home and at times compare the feeling to being naked. In terms of couples, this may be due to insecurities of what ones lover might discover in their phones during their absence. The stress associated with the mobile phone in this case becomes negative and this solidifies the argument that modern technology should be limited according to Ayyagari et al (831). The solution to this kind of dependency on modern technology lies in replacement of the gadgets with other physical activities which can shift ones focus to social events and interactions. The elimination of modern technology in this century is an attempt close to impossible but limitation of time spent on ones devices, and restriction of how people apply mechanization in all their daily routines. References Bertot, John Carlo, Paul T. Jaeger, and Derek Hansen. The impact of polices on government social media usage: Issues, challenges, and recommendations. Government information quarterly 29.1 (2012): 30-40. Elliott, Anthony, and John Urry. Mobile lives. Routledge, 2010. Siemens, George. Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. (2014). Turkle, Sherry. Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other. New York, NY: Basic Books, 2011. Print. Elimelech, Menachem, and William A. Phillip. The future of seawater desalination: energy, technology, and the environment. science 333.6043 (2011): 712-717. Ayyagari, Ramakrishna, Varun Grover, and Russell Purvis. Technostress: technological antecedents and implications. MIS quarterly 35.4 (2011): 831-858.

Down Syndrome :: chromosome disorders mental retardation

Down Syndrome People with Down syndrome are first and foremost human beings who have recognizable physical characteristics due to the presence of an extra chromosome 21. The estimated incidence of Down syndrome is between 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,100 live births. Each year approximately 3,000 to 5,000 children are born with this chromosome disorder. It is believed there are about 250,000 families in the United States who are affected by Down syndrome. Children with Down syndrome are usually smaller, and their physical and mental developments are slower, than youngsters who do not have Down syndrome. The majority of children with Down syndrome function in the mild to moderate range of mental retardation. However, some children are not mentally retarded at all; they may function in the borderline to low average range; others may be severely mentally retarded. There is a wide variation in mental abilities and developmental progress in children with Down syndrome. Also, their motor development is slow; and instead of walking by 12 to 14 months as other children do, children with Down syndrome usually learn to walk between 15 to 36 months. Language development is also markedly delayed. It is important to note that a caring and enriching home environment, early intervention, and integrated education efforts will have a positive influence on the child's development. Although individuals with Down syndrome have distinct physical characteristics, generally they are more similar to the average person in the community than they are different. The physical features are important to the physician in making the clinical diagnosis, but no emphasis should be put on those characteristics otherwise. Not every child with Down syndrome has all the characteristics; some may only have a few, and others may show most of the signs of Down syndrome. Some of the physical features in children with Down syndrome include flattening of the back of the head, slanting of the eyelids, small skin folds at the inner corner of the eyes, depressed nasal bridge, slightly smaller ears, small mouth, decreased muscle tone, loose ligaments, and small hands and feet. About fifty percent of all children have a gap between the first and second toes. The physical features observed in children with Down syndrome usually do not cause any disability in the child. Although many theories have been developed, it is not known what actually causes Down syndrome. It has been known for some time that the risk of having

Comparing Emersons Self-Reliance and Dunbars We Wear the Mask :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

Comparing Emerson's Self-Reliance and Dunbar's We Wear the Mask      In Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson condemns false appearances. Paul Laurence Dunbar's We Wear the Mask also supports this belief. However, there is a difference in the views of these two works. Emerson believes that people can shed their false social appearances and live a life true to themselves and others. Conversely, Dunbar thinks these pretenses are necessary. The authors' word choices and images support this argument. Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self-Reliance" expresses his striving for individuality, rebellion against authority, and rejection of false social appearances. This is shown through his non-conformist writing style and ideas. On page 1034, Emerson states "Society is a joint-stock company in which the members agree for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater." To me, this image is of people giving up what they believe so they can protect themselves. "Securing" is making something safe or free from risk of loss, so "securing of his bread" could symbolize a person protecting their feelings or place in society. The price for this is "to surrender the liberty and culture." So, in order to protect themselves people must surrender or give up their liberty (freedom) and culture (beliefs).    Emerson also states that "virtues are penances...Their works are done as an apology or extenuation of their living in the world"(p. 1035). Virtue is righteousness while a penance is an act to show sorrow for a wrongdoing. "Works" refer to chores or efforts at righteousness. "Apology" means regret and "extenuate" can mean to cover up. "Living in the world" could be symbolic of the lying and deceit that people do in everyday life. Therefore, people labor to appear righteous in order to make up for, or cover up, the bad things that they do.    On page 1036 Emerson says, "We come to wear one cut of face and figure." This sounds symbolically like putting on a mask or false appearance. Later, on the same page, Emerson talks about "the forced smile which we put on in company." "Forced" means to strain or produce with effort. Consequently, this "smile" we put on in public is not easily shown, as true emotions would be, but produced difficultly as if it was fake or not true.    Emerson does not subscribe to this outward falseness or the desire to appear righteous. Comparing Emerson's Self-Reliance and Dunbar's We Wear the Mask :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays Comparing Emerson's Self-Reliance and Dunbar's We Wear the Mask      In Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson condemns false appearances. Paul Laurence Dunbar's We Wear the Mask also supports this belief. However, there is a difference in the views of these two works. Emerson believes that people can shed their false social appearances and live a life true to themselves and others. Conversely, Dunbar thinks these pretenses are necessary. The authors' word choices and images support this argument. Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self-Reliance" expresses his striving for individuality, rebellion against authority, and rejection of false social appearances. This is shown through his non-conformist writing style and ideas. On page 1034, Emerson states "Society is a joint-stock company in which the members agree for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater." To me, this image is of people giving up what they believe so they can protect themselves. "Securing" is making something safe or free from risk of loss, so "securing of his bread" could symbolize a person protecting their feelings or place in society. The price for this is "to surrender the liberty and culture." So, in order to protect themselves people must surrender or give up their liberty (freedom) and culture (beliefs).    Emerson also states that "virtues are penances...Their works are done as an apology or extenuation of their living in the world"(p. 1035). Virtue is righteousness while a penance is an act to show sorrow for a wrongdoing. "Works" refer to chores or efforts at righteousness. "Apology" means regret and "extenuate" can mean to cover up. "Living in the world" could be symbolic of the lying and deceit that people do in everyday life. Therefore, people labor to appear righteous in order to make up for, or cover up, the bad things that they do.    On page 1036 Emerson says, "We come to wear one cut of face and figure." This sounds symbolically like putting on a mask or false appearance. Later, on the same page, Emerson talks about "the forced smile which we put on in company." "Forced" means to strain or produce with effort. Consequently, this "smile" we put on in public is not easily shown, as true emotions would be, but produced difficultly as if it was fake or not true.    Emerson does not subscribe to this outward falseness or the desire to appear righteous.

Poverty in America: A Global Epidemic

A Global Epidemic Ben Sims Sociology 445: Contemporary Social Problems Professor Shannon Sellers August 2, 2014 Of all the social problems that exist within America today, poverty Is undoubtedly the most prevalent . The stigma of poverty Is no longer solely the plight of third world countries, but rather an epidemic that has vigorously manifested itself in the united States at an alarming rate. Yes, in America, the country teeming with an abundance of natural resources and the patents to the most pioneering technological advances f modern time, Indisputably faces an unprecedented burden of poverty.It is estimated that more than 46 million Americans live in poverty in the US (Tighten 157). American families are increasingly finding themselves struggling to make ends meet, and with the continuing rate of unemployment and the rapid increases to the cost of living more and more families are left to choose between the very basic necessities of life such as food, shelter and healthcare. Po verty has also had a profound impact on education and crime, predominantly in inner-city communities where the wealth inequality is most apparent.With all the carnage caused by poverty being distinctly obvious In America why Is nothing being done about It? Does anyone care? Sadly, the most egregious aspect of the epidemic of poverty in America is that it doesn't have to exist at all. The US ultimately has the resources and means to eliminate poverty altogether, if only it was placed as a high enough priority. To truly comprehend the profound impact that poverty has had on America, there must first be an understanding of what poverty essentially means and how It was caused.Webster dictionary describes poverty as â€Å"the state of one who lacks a usual 1 OFF Dictionary). The textbook however, offers a more in-depth perspective on the term stating that poverty is â€Å"a standard of living below the minimum needed for the maintenance of adequate diet, health and shelter† (Tigh ten 181). This definition implies that the poverty threshold is based on those who can make the minimum amount of money required to maintain a decent level of life and those who cannot. Although these particular descriptions of poverty are not necessarily wrong, they are also not entirely accurate.When most people think of poverty the assumption may be that the core percentage of those actually living in poverty are the homeless or unemployed, but relative to popular belief most of the people living in poverty actually work. They are classified as the working poor. According to US Census data over 2. 6 million full-time workers lived below the poverty line in 2010 (Tighten 161). How is this possible? First and foremost, the federal minimum wage requirement in the United States is $7. 25. So for an employee who works 40 hours a week their total monthly salary would be $1 , 165. 0 before taxes. Now let's analyze how much it would cost for an average American earning a minimum wage sal ary to pay for the 3 most Asia necessities in life: food, shelter and health care. The average percentage that Americans pay in housing costs is approximately 28 to 35 percent of their take home pay (Curmudgeon, 2010). 28 percent of $1,160. 00 is $324. 80. According too 2010 survey conducted by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Americans spend roughly $1 51. 00 a week on food, equaling a whopping $604. 00 a month (Mended, 2012).If we add the average monthly cost of healthcare under Beam's Affordable Care Act, which is $328. 00 (Persuade, 2014), the total monthly expenses for Just the basic necessities alone is a staggering $1 ,256. 0. The basic necessities alone total more than the average worker, earning minimum wage, in America makes in a month and that figure still doesn't account for utility bills, transportation and other miscellaneous expenses. Not to mention the addition of a spouse or children. It is important to understand that poverty is a very complex social dilemma, with a variety of unfounded stereotypes that persist about its causes.One of the most common misconceptions about poverty is that the poor inherently cause their own poverty, alluding to the poor having a lack of drive and ambition necessary to change heir financial status. This perception is often referred to as the person-blame approach . This means that social problems such as poverty are the result of the pathologies of individuals (Tighten 163). Although this notion is credible, in this particular instance, it is slightly off kilter due to that fact that even though 2. Million people go to work and log over 40 hours a week they still won't surpass the threshold of even half of the nation's median salary. And therein lies the problem. The issue is not whether members of society are willing to work, because not only are a majority f the poor willing and able to work hard, they do so when given the opportunity. The real root of the problem is the minimum wage requirement in the US and the lack of access to adequate education and training necessary to acquire better-paying Jobs.The system-blame approach is more fitting in this instance because there is no shortage of people willing to work but rather a shortage in the amount that is being paid out for said work. There is also no shortage in people willing to procure and utilize the sufficient training and education needed to attain better employment but underprivileged. Although the government has in fact tried to implement programs to solve the problem of poverty in America, many of these programs contained crucial flaws and in many cases made the predicament worse. Welfare is the most notable of these programs.Welfare was established to assist underprivileged families and individuals get out of poverty (Tighten 165), but have ultimately led to a disturbing rate of dependency. Instead of assisting families welfare had essentially enabled them in many ways, with a vast majority of recipients not feeling the need to work. Provisions thin the program even made it easier to stay on welfare than to seek employment and encouraged unmarried woman to have children. Thus, the enactment of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996. This bill was established to reduce the number of families and individuals dependent on government assistance.These institutional changes helped to reduce welfare dependency by mandating that recipients actively seek work while receiving government assistance, increasing the level of accountability for those in need of financial aid. The government also developed several other programs in an effort to curve poverty such as the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program (TANK) which provides financial assistance to low-income families but also requires them to work at least 20 hours a week to receive benefits (Saddler, 2012).Addition services such as Medicaid, Food Stamps and WICK were all established to essentially assist low-income families achieve financial stability while pro gressively becoming independent of all government aid. Although these programs and institutional amendments have been extremely valuable in assisting the poor and underprivileged maintain a sustainable level of life, unfortunately they haven't been enough to end or even cut the poverty level in Alfa.These programs have ultimately helped sustain the global threshold of poverty in many ways by serving to only assist low-income families get through financial difficulties instead of helping them get out. The only way for members of the underprivileged society to rise above poverty is to provide the means to earn more than the nation's median income. This goes back to the need for programs that assist individuals in acquiring the knowledge and training necessary to acquire higher paying Jobs and also for the government to raise the minimum wage requirement.Perhaps the most compelling explanation for the persistence of poverty is the remarry of private profit. The basic principle of capit alism is – who gets what is determined solely by private profit rather than collective need (Tighten 173). By private corporations emphasizing the theory of maximizing profits they ultimately end up endorsing poverty. This is done by companies paying their workers the minimum amount possible including benefits and pocketing the wealth that was created by laborers and distributing it among the owners instead of the working class.Primacy of profit also endorses poverty by employing a bevy of uneducated and desperate laborers who are eager to work for low wages. Many of these laborers are illegal immigrants and don't view having benefits as a necessity. This in turn makes it extremely profitable for owners of businesses and large corporations to hire these workers because of the amount of money that they will be able to save while still being able to employ laborers full time.Poverty is supported and maintained through my belief that the US government has made attempts to curve the impact of poverty, I believe that the United States has the power to end poverty all together. This can be accomplished by making poverty a top priority. The United States spends roughly 712. Billion dollars of our nation's defense each year (Tighten 177). A percentage of that figure can be deducted and contributed to combat poverty without Jeopardizing our nations' defense at all.This extra money could be used to provide adequate schooling and fund programs that promote academic advancement in inner-city communities. Those funds could also be used to provide training seminars for individuals with limited education who seek higher paying Jobs and wish to be more competitive candidates in today's Job market. Most importantly however, those funds could be used to raise the federal minimum wage requirement to a level that allows ore people to earn above or at least earn wages comparable to the nation's median salary.

A History of Arabian Music

Henry G. Farmer illuminating book â€Å"A History of Arabian Music† seeks to provide readers with insight of the historical influences that shaped Arabian music and the culture that nourished and gave rise to variances and interpretations dealing with the theory of music and the practices that further consolidated and supported these theories. The book was published originally in 1929 and covers musical work over several centuries. The book starts with the factors that helped to shaped Arabian music culture. These include political and social factors which were instrumental in shaping Arabian music theory.The book starts with a look at the â€Å"Days of Idolatry† in the 6th century (Farmer, 1929). According to Farmer, this was a time which was referred to by Muslims as â€Å"Days of ignorance† based of the fact that at that time much of the knowledge relating to Arabian civilization and the attending economical, political and cultural practices, was lost. Farmer argues that there were many musical instruments in this Islamic time, whose development were linked to Southern Arabians and these instruments include Mi’Zaf (Barbiton) and the Kus (A Large Kettledrum) (Farmer, 1929).Factors Migration of people from the southern region to Al Hijaz resulted in a melting pot of the Arts and musicians and poets flourished and shared their talents with others. Farmer also stated that the Musicians and poets in Ukaz competed fiercely for ascendency in their respective arts and this may have helped to shaped the music of the times. Farmers reports that singing girls were famous during that time and musicians gained further recognition from singing at the courts (Farmer, 1929).The author states that during the time of Idolatry, music was found in all areas of society; and pervaded, religious, public and private lives. Arabians were known to sing while at work and play and they often express joy by enagaging in music. Dispite the many musicians and s ingers of that time, only a few names have been preserved for modern society. Farmer states that with the advent of Islam during the time of Mohammed the Prophet and subsequent to his death, legists have been debating if music was lawful although there is no reference in the Quran as to any opposition.Farmer argue that the opposition to music may have developed by those theologians who decryed the attention being paid to music and popular musicians of the time (Farmer, 1929). Arabian music would also be influence by the Khalif, Mu'awiya who during his reign in the 7th century eventually gave recognition and a present to a musician in his court and this was in direct contrast to what were popular expressions of disapproval of musicians at the time.Yazid II (720-24) a ruler, was also said to have been instrumental in bringing back music to the courts and public life because he enjoyed the arts Farmer illuminatingly states that eventually during what he termed the â€Å"Orthodox Khali fate† there arose serious competition between the musicians of two major Arabian cities; Mecca and Al Medina and he argues that it was Mecca that gave the Arabians the musician Ibn Misjah who was stated to be the first schooled person in Arabian music.Farmer stated that Arabian music was influenced by both Greek and Persian musicians and composers and the Greek influence gained ascendancy with the work of Greek theorists such as Ptolemy, Aristoxenos and Euklid prominently taking center stage to shape Arabian music. Farmer also looks at two Khalifs who were avid supporters of music and these were Al-Amir (1101-1131) and Al-Musta'H (1094-1101). Farmer argues that the later Khalifs helped to support and shape musical development and enjoyment.In Farmers’ eyes the development and growth in appreciation of music in the Arabian culture was not without opposition and controversy. In his eyes, and based on his research, it was the Khalifs, especially those from the 8th to the 1 2th centuries that brought back music to public and private lives and encouraged a growing appreciation of this art form. He viewed the work of the great philosopher, Al-Ghazali, as being enormously influential pertaining to musical development and cites the Principal of the Two Nizamiyya colleges in Baghdad and Nisapur as being one who came out in defense of the music.Farmer has been able to shed light on a period in Arabian history that shows how music development evolved and developed and the forces that acted to restrain the emergence of musical theory. His book shows the triumph of those who overcame adversity and opposition to music in public and private citing religious teachings and the book ends with a look at the work and lives of those who actively sought to make music a part of daily lived of Arabians.Farmers work shows that the development of the music did not happen overnight, but was a result of centuries of struggle and erudite contemplations. No single individual ca n lay claim to the developing theories of music for the Arabian people and the development was due to a multitude of music lovers who defended the art and practices and eventually left a rich heritage. References Farmer, H. G. (1929). A History of Arabian Music. Luzac.

A Weak Fiscal Lever

Economic management is The basic aim of any government in the world and its main policy objectives includes management of low and stable inflation, reduction in unemployment, maintain economic growth and to secure a favorable balance of payments.Fiscal lever is one of the main policy tools available to government to tackle economic downturn. According to Dornbusch, Fischer, and Startz, fiscal policy is the policy of the government with regard to the level of government purchases, the level of transfers, and the tax structures (Dornbusch, Fischer, and Startz 199).With all its significance, Fiscal lever should be very strong for stabilization of economy.High sensitivity of investment to interest rates and misunderstanding of policy makers to anticipate the need of particular crisis makes a fiscal policy weak and ineffective.A weak fiscal lever is the recipe to create inflation and retard private investment by higher interest rates that leads to arrest growth and development because low er investment means, the capital stock is also lower that leads to lower future incomes. Â  That is the condition of total breakdown of the structure of any economic system.A weak fiscal lever also creates social unrest by manipulation of resource allocation in the hands of government to fulfill their political priorities. It is well evident fact that if civil society will be dissatisfied by the policies the process of growth can not be carried out rather the crisis management can not be achieved. In other words weak fiscal lever can not help economy to get out of recession with all its traditional tools.Work CitedDornbush, Fisher, and Startz. Macroeconomics: McGraw-Hill, Singapore. 1999. Print

Mental Disturbance essays

Mental Disturbance essays In the film Falling Down, the main character D-FENS, played by Michael Douglas, deals with many ongoing social pressures that ultimately lead to his demise. At the start of his day, D-FENS' long-accumulated personal problems hit a boiling point and carry the man to a severe mental breakdown. He abandons his grid locked car during a traffic jam and decides to walk to the place he calls "home." Viewers are later opened to the fact that the place he would like to call home no longer welcomes him, nor does the wife and child he left behind. Throughout the day, his goal to reach his x-wife and daughter's residence in Venice Beach, California, acts as his motivation. This circumstance brings him in contact with many people who add to his already perturbed mental state. Inflated prices at a Korean-owned quickie-mart, a run-in with gang members on their "piece of shit hill" (Schumacher, Falling Down), and a modern day Neo-NAZI are some of the many factors that contribute to the character's i rrational behavior. After sitting through the entire duration of this 1 hour 53 minute film, it is apparent that the main character suffers from Antisocial and Borderline personality disorders and mood and stress related psychological disorders. Motivation, the "cause of an organism's behavior, or the reason that an organism carries out some activity" (Huffman, 410) drives D-FENS on his journey homeward. Motivation involves a need, a drive, and a goal. The character's need is one for "love and feelings of belonging," (Huffman 410) which is defined by American psychologist Abraham Maslow in his hierarchy of motives. D-FENS, who viewers can assume, has been split from his wife and daughter for sometime, felt that the place he once called home is where he could find this sense of love and belonging. Since his divorce, D-FENS had been residing with his mother who fulfilled his "primary level of motivation," (Huffman, 410) whereas his basic needs such as "...

Pestel and Porters Five Forces in the Freight Industry Essay Example

Pestel and Porters Five Forces in the Freight Industry Essay Example Pestel and Porters Five Forces in the Freight Industry Essay Pestel and Porters Five Forces in the Freight Industry Essay Money is anything which people are willing to accept in exchange for goods and services. Barter involved exchanging or swapping goods or services which people already have for something else they need. For example a pig in exchange for a pair of shoes. This system was very complicated. Not only did you need to find someone who had what you needed, but he/she had to be willing to accept whatever you had to offer. To overcome this problem money was Introduced. For example how many pairs of shoes for one pig? Legal tender is the name given to the notes and coins which shopkeepers are obliged by law to accept in payment for goods and services. Currency is legal tender but cheeses and cards are not. Money today comes in three forms: * Notes and Coins known as currency (Euro). * Cheeses to write cheeses you need to have a current account In the bank. * Cards credit cards, charge cards and ATM card. These are known as plastic money. Ireland along with eleven other countries formed an Economic and Monetary Union MME) which created a single currency, the Euro, to be used as currency in all twelve countries. However each country has its own special symbol on the back of their coins, and the front of each coin Is identical in all the countries. The Euro zone The twelve countries that Joined the single currency are Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland. Italy, Luxembourg. Portugal and Spain. It Is expected that sometime in the future other members will join. Advantages of a single currency. The main advantages to Ireland of having a single European currency are: * Firms that import or export goods between Euro zone countries can trade without exchange rate changes. The firms know how much goods cost and will receive In payment. * No more commission for changing currencies. * Irelands Interest rate should stay relatively low. * Irelands inflation rates should stay relatively low. Questions at the end of the chapter answered. 1 (a) Explain what s meant by bartering. Bartering Is the exchange of one good or service for another. The Euro (b) List two possible advantages of the Single European Currency to Ireland? * Trade between member states is easy as no commission is charged. * If trade happens within the single member currency then the trading company will know how much he will get when he exchanges his goods. (c) Name all the countries that have the Euro as their national currency? The twelve countries that Joined the single currency are Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain.

Free Essays on Indian

GERONIMO - A Warrior No More Among famous Native American chiefs, Geronimo’s name is synonymous for bloody raids and fierce battles. Although there were no records kept of his birth, he was probably born in 1829 in the mountains of Arizona. His Indian name was Goyahkla [One Who Yawns] and his early years were spent as a typical youth of the Apache tribe. As an adult he married and started a family but when Mexican soldiers killed his wife and children in 1858, he vowed revenge. His ferocious attacks earned him the nickname of â€Å"Geronimo† and his vengeance continued for decades. When the Americans came to the Southwest, they became his new enemy and he fought them until his surrender in 1886. For the next twenty-three years, until his death in 1909, he remained a prisoner-of-war. Geronimo’s life has been the subject of numerous books and a recent movie but they rarely focus on his last decades as a prisoner-of-war of the American Army. When he surrendered in 1886, the Americans promised to eventually return him and his people to their home land. Instead, Geronimo spent the rest of his life in various military camps. He tried to learn the ways of the Americans and he would, in his own way, become a successful businessman. But he would never see his native Arizona again. After Geronimo’s surrender in 1886, the army moved his Apache band to Alabama, where they lived for several years. But the climate of the South, very unlike the mountains and deserts of their native Arizona, was unsuitable for them and in 1894 they were relocated to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. This was considered a positive change because the Apache people had expressed a desire for a drier climate and for land to farm. [Martin, Geronimo, p.151] Geronimo’s arrival in Oklahoma stirred considerable controversy because the stereotype of the â€Å"savage Indian† was still co... Free Essays on Indian Free Essays on Indian GERONIMO - A Warrior No More Among famous Native American chiefs, Geronimo’s name is synonymous for bloody raids and fierce battles. Although there were no records kept of his birth, he was probably born in 1829 in the mountains of Arizona. His Indian name was Goyahkla [One Who Yawns] and his early years were spent as a typical youth of the Apache tribe. As an adult he married and started a family but when Mexican soldiers killed his wife and children in 1858, he vowed revenge. His ferocious attacks earned him the nickname of â€Å"Geronimo† and his vengeance continued for decades. When the Americans came to the Southwest, they became his new enemy and he fought them until his surrender in 1886. For the next twenty-three years, until his death in 1909, he remained a prisoner-of-war. Geronimo’s life has been the subject of numerous books and a recent movie but they rarely focus on his last decades as a prisoner-of-war of the American Army. When he surrendered in 1886, the Americans promised to eventually return him and his people to their home land. Instead, Geronimo spent the rest of his life in various military camps. He tried to learn the ways of the Americans and he would, in his own way, become a successful businessman. But he would never see his native Arizona again. After Geronimo’s surrender in 1886, the army moved his Apache band to Alabama, where they lived for several years. But the climate of the South, very unlike the mountains and deserts of their native Arizona, was unsuitable for them and in 1894 they were relocated to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. This was considered a positive change because the Apache people had expressed a desire for a drier climate and for land to farm. [Martin, Geronimo, p.151] Geronimo’s arrival in Oklahoma stirred considerable controversy because the stereotype of the â€Å"savage Indian† was still co...

Business notes: Creative problem solving

Business notes: Creative problem solving 1 Unit 1 – Creative problem solving 1.1 Introduction A business leader is expected to identify problems, implement solutions and find business opportunities. To do so, they must learn to plan, analyse situations, identify and solve problems (or potential problems), make decisions, and set realistic and attainable goals for the business/unit. These are the fundamental thinking/creative requirements for leadership, and these set direction to a successful future. Without this critical competence, you will have to rely on others to do your thinking for you, or you will simply have to learn to nurture your creative thinking skills which will help you on your journey towards successful business. Creative thinking forms part of this continuous problem solving process, and is the fundamental basis for facilitating in the development of solutions, new initiatives, products or services. In an entrepreneurial context, the end result of this process should be directly linked to a feasible opportunity in the market environment. Quote – What lies behind us and what lies before us, are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us. – William Morrow The creative problem solving process consists of the following four steps: ‘ Problem analysis ‘ Solution analysis ‘ Decision analysis ‘ Solution implementation 1.2 The process The creative problem solving process consists of an important core process, namely the idea generation process see figure 1. This is an important step, especially if you need to come up with creative ideas for products, services, and processes, to solve a consumer problem. The idea generation process consists of the following four steps: ‘ Step 1 – Generating ideas ‘ Step 2 – Developing ideas into a concept ‘ Step 3 – Converting a concept into a tangible or intangible product ‘ Step 4 – Finally protecting the tangible or intangible product Figure 1 – The process of creative thinking (idea generation) Initially you need to understand the problem and find the root cause of the problem. Many techniques are available to find the causes of problems, you can use the 5 Why technique in this case, if you are familiar with it. The more advanced courses will describe how to use the major problem identification techniques, but this course will focus on the idea generation process. 1.3 Where to start In the entrepreneurial phase, the best way to start the idea generation process is when you are required to come up with a new product or service, to identify a potential consumer problem. Initially, focus on identifying problems in the area of your expertise (your knowledge base). If you have no knowledge of the problem, the product development stage could be a challenge for you. You will learn in the next section that not all problems are opportunities, and entrepreneurs should be careful as to how they approach this stage, when generating ideas in trying to identify a new product or service. 1.4 Problem versus opportunity In most cases, the idea-generation phase in the creative problem solving process is neglected. Individuals normally identify a problem or an opportunity (which may seem like an opportunity, but is actually just an idea), and then develop a new product in line with the new assumed idea or opportunity. It is therefore important to distinguish between an idea and an opportunity. Resources may be wasted if a mere idea is incorrectly perceived as an opportunity. Any opportunity is initially problem based (e.g. a coffee shop in a destination where there is a lack thereof, this creates several problem situations and potentially feasible opportunities for the entrepreneur). The creative thinking (idea generation process) involved, is the means to solving these problems, and bring forth solutions to the market problems, which create further opportunities. 1.4.1 Difference between problem and opportunity There is, however, a critical difference between a problem and opportunity. Consider the following: ‘ Is it an idea or an opportunity to develop a high speed train between two major cities which are not far from each other? Some may say it is a great idea, but when you need to pay R200 a day to make use of it, it is simply not an opportunity. Only a few people would make use of the service, resulting in a negative impact on the market. ‘ If it is possible to transport people between the two cities for a lower cost, say R10, it would possibly be a more feasible opportunity. Here is a good example of an opportunity – Around the turn of the twentieth century, a shoe manufacturer sent a representative to Africa, to open up a market in the undeveloped area in that continent. After exploring the culture for a month, the rep sent a telegram to the home office shouting, ‘Disaster! Disaster! These people do not wear shoes. Bring me home immediately!’ A short time later, another shoe company sent their agent to Africa for the same purpose. A month later his home office also received a telegram: ‘Opportunity! Opportunity! These people do not wear shoes! Triple production immediately!’ Quote – Every situation contains the potential for disastrous problems or unprecedented success. The event is what we perceive it to be. Unknown Now the question arises: How do I distinguish between an idea and an opportunity? Looking at above examples, every problem is not an opportunity, and it really depends at how you are looking at the problem. If you see a viable opportunity in a problem then you are looking at the problem with a different perception than most people (the glass is half full or half empty). From a business perspective all opportunities are not necessarily a viable opportunity, the market determines the available opportunities. Without the knowledge to interpret the market conditions, you could miss it totally in terms of your opportunity analysis. Table 1 shows the different industries in South Africa, the level of entrepreneurial activity, and how the same opportunity differs in each of these market areas. 1.4.2 The global entrepreneurship monitor The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor ‘ specifically identified the entrepreneurial activity in the various industries of South Africa. It can be generalized to state that an industry with a high level of entrepreneurial activity, gives away more business opportunities (e.g. manufacturing, retail, hotel, restaurant and business services), while one with a lower level will indicate far less opportunities (e.g. agriculture, forestry, hunting, fishing, finance, insurance, real estate and health, education and social services). If we analyse just one ‘high-opportunity’ industry, for instance manufacturing, it may be an opportunity today to manufacture a final product, and export it to an international market. A ‘low-opportunity’ industry, for instance insurance (especially in the market entry phase), may be negative as having an extremely high crime rate and insurance companies have to pay out claims at an alarming rate. It is also evident that low-opportunity industries may create feasible opportunities. An entrepreneur should therefore be wary of following a fad, (latest trend) and exploiting assumed opportunities in a ‘popular’ industry. Percentage of Entrepreneurs ISIC Category Start-ups New Firms Total Agriculture, forestry, hunting, fishing 1,3 2,6 1,6 Mining, construction 9,7 5,0 4,1 Manufacturing 14,3 19,1 13,8 Transport, communications, utilities 9,8 0,7 8,0 Wholesale, motor vehicle sales, repairs 6,0 6,5 6,3 Retail, hotel, restaurant 40,8 47,7 43,5 Finance, insurance, real estate 0,3 5,2 1,4 Business services 10,1 7,9 9,4 Health, education, social services 2,6 0,7 2,3 Consumer services 11,0 3,5 9,7 Source: Driver. Wood, Segal Herrington, 2001 Table 1 – The percentage of entrepreneurs in the different industries in South-Africa 1.4.3 What is an opportunity? What exactly is an opportunity and how does an entrepreneur exploit a feasible opportunity? According to Hesrich Peters (2002), an opportunity is the process whereby the entrepreneur assesses whether a certain product, service or process, will yield the necessary earnings based on the resource inputs that are required to manufacture and market it. ‘ The nature of opportunities needs to be assessed – thus, what leads to the existence of an opportunity? The following factors may result in an opportunity: ‘ General and specific problems faced by consumers ‘ Market shifts ‘ Government regulations ‘ Competition There are two equally important criteria in the assessment of an opportunity. Firstly, the size of the market – will the number of customers reward the input and energy required, to create and deliver the product? Secondly, the length in terms of the frame of the opportunity (window of opportunity). For example, is the demand for this product only a short fashionable phenomenon or is it based on sustainable business, or how long will it take before someone else (a competitor), to grab the opportunity? These two aspects should also link directly to the personal skills and competence of the entrepreneur. For example, entrepreneurs with no skills or interest in information technology will not necessarily achieve their personal goals. They should rather venture into an opportunity which suits their experience and personality. 1.4.4 Transform opportunity into a business Table 2 shows how the development of a business plan links to the identification and evaluation of opportunities, the determination of the resources required and the eventual management of the enterprise. All of these factors play a significant role in the correct assessment of the business opportunity. This means that the business plan must explain in sufficient detail how the business will exploit the situation, to transform the opportunity, into solving a problem for the consumer, which generates extraordinary profits for the people involved. ‘ Identify and evaluate the opportunity Develop the business plan Determine the resources needed Manage the enterprise Creation and length of opportunity Real and perceived value of opportunity Risk and returns of opportunity Opportunity versus skills and goals Competitive situation Title page Table of contents Executive summary Description of business Description of industry Marketing plan Financial plan Production plan Organisational plan Operational plan Summary Appendices Existing resources of the entrepreneur Resource gap and available supplies Access to needed resources Management style Key variables for success Identification of problems and potential problems Implementation of control systems Source: Hisrich, R.D. Peters, M.P. 2002: 40. Entrepreneurship. Boston: Irwin/McGraw-Hill. Table 2 – Link between Opportunity and business plan 1.5 Instruction Exit and resume to your current page.