Information Technology as an Element of Competitive Advantage Term Paper

Information Technology as an Element of Competitive Advantage - Term Paper Example Another example of a company that uses IT as an element of competitive advantage is Amazon. Management thinks that it should insert new services to its Web site to draw the interest of customers habitually. Amazon constantly enhances the appearance of its Web pages and the range of products/services it offers. It advances from being a simple book seller to a sophisticated provider of â€Å"best-seller lists, readers’ reviews, and authors’ interviews† (Oz, 2008, 57); offering a remarkably wide array of consumer products/services. The continuous developments help Amazon sustain its leading position and competitive advantage in Internet retailing. Yet, every one of these features has been copied by competitors. Amazon then decided to add Web hosting services into their list of offerings.   There are two ways of exploiting information technology to attain competitive advantage: first, as an important product/service offered to customers; and, second, as an organiza tional backup for product/service which is imperceptible to the customers. With highly technological products/services, it is usually very tricky to sustain a competitive advantage, because, as repeatedly mentioned above, competitors are good imitators. This may be specifically factual in the field of IT (Zoephel, 2011). For instance, the life expectancy of products/services in numerous technology-based companies, like laptops or semiconductors, is brief. High-tech companies aim to develop a new product or a modified one.... Information technology can help an organization maintain competitive advantage if it continually changes and improves the system, building a dynamic and inimitable target for competitors (Oz, 2008). A perfect illustration is an online airline reservation site—American Airlines’ Sabre. In the 1950s, the system was created. But in the latter part of the 1970s, the system was re-created to provide a more convenient service for travel agents, online reservation. However, the company developed the Agency Data Systems-- an office computerization system for travel agents (Oz, 2008, 236). The reservation site currently includes limousine rentals, train tickets, car rentals, hotel reservations, and theater schedules. When the Internet eventually became widely accessible, the reservation site was redeveloped to give travelers the option to log in to Sabre from the comfort of their own homes or workstation. The site has been very profitable that in several years Sabre generated mo re profit from IT than from its airline services. Another example of a company that uses IT as an element of competitive advantage is Amazon. Management thinks that it should insert new services to its Web site to draw the interest of customers habitually. Amazon constantly enhances the appearance of its Web pages and the range of products/services it offers. It advances from being a simple book seller to a sophisticated provider of â€Å"best-seller lists, readers’ reviews, and authors’ interviews† (Oz, 2008, 57); offering a remarkably wide array of consumer products/services. The continuous developments help Amazon sustain its leading position and competitive advantage in Internet retailing. Yet, every one of these

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Essay Example for Free

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Essay This is the story of Okonkwo, a renowned warrior and wrestler, who lives in the Ibo village of Umuofia in Nigeria, Africa. Respected by the elders of his clan, he hopes to become an elder himself someday. Due to his relationship with his father, Okonkwo has a hardened heart and thus, his actions throughout the novel are governed by anger and fear. Okonkwo, (per African tradition), has three wives and many children. He is prosperous and successful at the beginning of the story, but his heart does not soften. As a result, he makes many mistakes and is eventually exiled from his clan for seven years. While Okonkwo is away from Umuofia, white missionaries settle in his clan’s village and begin to preach Christianity. The tribe begins to change, especially its younger members, and when Okonkwo returns from exile, he sees the changes and attempts to reverse them. He struggles against the new laws of the white man and relations between the clan and the whites deteriorate until things finally reach a crescendo. Okonkwo’s fear Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, is a story of a man whose life is dominated by his fears. There are many subtle themes throughout this book. One theme that cries out over the rest is Okonkwo’s, the main character, fear of weakness as seen through his childhood, his oldest son, and eventually his death. Since his childhood, Okonkwo was ashamed of his father, â€Å"In his day he (Unoka) was lazy and improvident and was quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow†(p.4). By the standard of his clan, Unoka was a coward and squanderer. When he was a child, a boy called Okonkwo’s father an agbala. This word means â€Å"woman† as well as a man who has no title. His carelessness left numerous debts unpaid at his death. Ashamed of his father, Okonkwo worked hard and fought well to gain a reputation of high status and influence in his clan. He acquired three wives, one whom gave him his first son. Okonkwo’s first wife, whose name is never mentioned, gave birth to his first son, Nwoye. Okonkwo saw Nwoye weak and lazy from an early age. For this, Nwoye was beaten constantly. Okonkwo was highly demanding of his family because of his obsession not to be like his father. He mistook this behavior as masculinity. He wished his son were a promising, manly son like his friend Obierika’s son, Maduka, who was also a great fighter. One night the town of Umuofia was told that someone in Mbaino had killed one of their â€Å"daughters†. The woman was Ugbeufi Udo’s wife. The blood price for the murder was a virgin and young man to Umuofia. The virgin was given to Ugbeufi Udo as his wife. They did not know what to do with the young boy, Ikemefuna. Okonkwo was asked on behalf of the clan to take care of the boy. Secretly, Okonkwo grew fond of Ikemefuna, â€Å"Even Okonkwo himself became very fond of the boy-inwardly of course. Okonkwo never showed any emotion openly, unless it be the emotion of anger†(p.28). Ikemefuna lived with Okonkwo and his family for three years until the time came when the Oracle said that Ikemefuna had to be killed. Okonkwo was warned not to have any part in killing the boy who called him father. He ignored this and upon returning sank into a deep depression which kindled the affliction inside of him. Not only the death of Ikemefuna, but also the accidental killing of Ogbeufi Ezeudu’s son, which gets Okonkwo and his family exiled for seven years, aides in his depression. To atone for the killing of his clansmen’s son, Okonkwo and his family were cast out of Umuofia and were forced to go live with his mother’s clan in Mbanta. In their second year a group of six missionaries traveled to Mbanta and tried to persuade the people from their false gods of wood and stone to the one true God. They captured Nwoye and he later joined their congregation. When Okonkwo was informed of the news he strangled Nwoye in anger. He questioned how he could have fathered such a weak son. At the end of the seven-year exile, Okonkwo was able to return home. However, the church had taken over Umuofia also. Nothing was the same. Okonkwo refused to integrate with the new visitors. He thought that the clan’s failure to remove them was â€Å"womanly†. Almost happy again, Okonkwo began to accept the new Umuofia. Then the leaders of the clan, including Okonkwo, were taken for ransom by the church. Deeply angered by what was happening, Okonkwo killed one of the leaders at a meeting. The pacification of Okonkwo’s clan is what depressed him. He knew his clan would not go to war. This desire to act violently all goes back to his father’s lack of desire. In the end the violence settled on Okonkwo, when he hung himself. In conclusion, all these aspects: his childhood, his first son and Ikemefuna, and his death contribute in explaining Okonkwo’s fear of weakness. Okonkwo’s life was controlled by his fears. He valued the success of his family and the community with his own success. If Nwoye was weak it was because he had failed as a father. The pacification of the town was a reflection of Okonkwo’s failures, he thought. Not being able to control those events, Okonkwo, out of desperation or either out of the pride in his manhood or perhaps both, killed himself. In spite of Okonkwo’s beginnings in poverty and misfortune, he has risen as one of the most respected elders of the clan. Yet others remark on how harshly he deals with men less successful than himself. For example, at a meeting to discuss the next ancestral feast, Osugo—a man without titles—contradicts Okonkwo, who in turn insults Osugo by declaring the meeting are â€Å"for men.† When others at the meeting side with Osugo, Okonkwo apologizes. Okonkwo’s hard-earned success is evident because the clan chooses Okonkwo to carry the war ultimatum to their enemy, the enemy treats him with great respect in the negotiations, and the elders select Okonkwo to care for Ikemefuna until they decide what to do with him. Once the young man is entrusted to Okonkwo’s care, the rest of the clan forgets him for three years. At first, Ikemefuna is very unhappy—he misses his mother and sister, he tries to run away, and he won’t eat. After Okonkwo threatens to beat him, Ikemefuna finally eats, but then vomits and becomes ill for twelve days. As he recovers, he seems to lose his fear and sadness. Ikemefuna has become very popular in Okonkwo’s house, especially with Nwoye and the other children. To them, he seems to know everything and can make useful things like flutes, rodent traps, and bows. Even Okonkwo has inwardly become fond of Ikemefuna, but he does not show affection—a womanly sign of weakness. He treats Ikemefuna with a heavy hand, as he does other members of his family, although he allows Ikemefuna to accompany him like a son to meetings and feasts, carrying his stool and his bag. Ikemefuna calls Okonkwo â€Å"father.† During the annual Week of Peace just before planting time, tradition permits no one in the village to speak a harsh word to another person. One day during this week, Okonkwo’s youngest wife, Ojiugo, goes to a friend’s house to braid her hair, and she forgets to prepare Okonkwo’s afternoon meal and feed her children. When Ojiugo returns, Okonkwo beats her severely. Even when he is reminded of the ban on violence, he doesn’t stop the beating. Because Okonkwo’s violation of peace can jeopardize the whole village’s crops, the priest of the earth goddess orders Okonkwo to make offerings at his shrine. Although Okonkwo inwardly regrets his â€Å"great evil,† he never admits to an error. His offensive breaking of the peace and the priest’s mild punishment are talked about in the village. After the sacred week, the farmers of the village begin to plant their harvest. Okonkwo allows Ikemefuna and Nwoye to help him collect, count, and prepare the seed-yams for planting, though he continually finds fault with their efforts. He believes that he is simply helping them learn the difficult and manly art of seed-yam preparation. Soon, the rainy season begins and the planting takes place, followed by the intense period of care for the young plants. During the resting time between planting and harvest, the friendship between Ikemefuna and Nwoye grows even stronger. Reference * Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Issues With Energy Conservation And Sustainability Environmental Sciences Essay

Issues With Energy Conservation And Sustainability Environmental Sciences Essay Traditional sources of energy (coal, natural gas, and nuclear power) consumption present a plethora of issues related to conservation and sustainability. From a conservation standpoint, a reliable access to reasonably priced energy has long been the lifeblood of developed societies. Growing populations in impoverished nations strive for this reliable access at equally low or even more reasonably priced levels. These levels must factor in use, generation, future demand, cultural issues, growth, and a variety of other concerns. Beyond conservation, sustainability issues are also complex. The generation and use of these reliable energy sources bring about sustainability concerns for climate change, acid rain, air pollution, oil spills, strip mining, hazardous waste generation, occupational diseases, radioactivity, and a variety of other adverse environmental consequences. This section will explore the current prevalent uses of energy and the conservation and sustainability issues related to them. In terms of energy consumption, each American consumes (demands) 6.5 gallons of oil per day to heat homes and run our electrical equipment. One means by which Americans can consume less is to make the existing consumption more efficient. Recent estimates indicate that approximately 1/3 of the energy consumed per day is wasted. Turning to the supply side of the equation, coal provides 52%, nuclear energy 20%, and natural gas 16% of the conventional energy usage in the United States. There is a lot of room for energy conservation that would not necessarily require compromising lifestyles. Demand-side management involves promoting techniques that increase energy efficiency. For example, driving 55 miles an hour, turning down the thermostat from 68 to 65, and implementing equipment that is more efficient would certainly enhance energy conservation measures while generating a comparable quality of service by using less energy, thereby freeing up supply. Supply-side management involves seeking new methodologies to provide reliable low priced energy sources to consumers. Problems are involved with both sides of the equation. Social and cultural norms must be modified, a difficult proposition indeed, to manage the demand side of the equation. The supply side of the equation is equally demanding. Most notably, coal used for electric power generation provides a reliable, readily accessible, and low priced fuel source. Yet, hand-in-hand with this economic advantage is the often-unrecognized social problems of air pollution, ecosystem disturbance, and contribution to climate change. Nuclear power, initially thought to be a more environmentally palatable alternative to coal and natural gas, does provide a comparable source from the supply side of the equation. Further, if pervasively implemented, it was believed to also satisfy most of the demand side of the equation. However, there are only about 110 plants operating in the United States and no new plants have been constructed since the mid-20th century. With such promise from both the supply and demand side of the equation, why has nuclear power failed to live up to its lofty expectations? The answer lies in the potentially adverse health, safety, and environmental problems and perceptions associated with nuclear power generation and use. Three primary problems accompany the use of nuclear power generation. These three concerns must be addressed before nuclear power can achieve its real potential. These problems include meltdowns, waste management, and terrorism. Further, the heavy governmental subsidies that were initially invested in nuclear power are no longer available. Moreover, heavy governmental subsidies have been replaced with even heavier governmental controls and regulation. The use of nuclear power represents a social gamble. Estimates of cancer-induced fatalities from meltdowns have ranged from zero (Three Mile Island) to 500,000 for Chernobyl. However, people die from coal generation and pollution. On a lives-lost-per-kilowatt hour basis, nuclear power stacks up equally well to coal production. Yet it is the perception of a potential loss that stacks the deck against nuclear power. In addition, disposal of high-level waste and low-level waste from these facilities, in tandem with the NIMBY philosophy toward waste disposal siting exacerbate an already difficult problem. Finally, the public perception that nuclear reactors could somehow become terrorist weapons, in conjunction with public distrust of scientific risk assessments, has facilitated the widespread perception that nuclear energy sources are unsafe. Natural gas is also thought to be a replacement for coal. It is undeniably safer to produce electricity for both than coal and nuclear power. Moreover, it is the cleanest of the fossil fuels. It yields about 70% more energy for each unit then than coal. As you can expect, its share of the electric power generation market is likely to increase. Natural gas usage though does have its drawbacks. From a supply-side perspective, the available amount of natural gas is relatively small. Further, complicating this issue is the uneven geographic distribution. Further, if natural gas were to replace coal as the primary source of electrical production, the most recent estimates indicate that all sources would be depleted within 40 years. This would likely increase dependence on foreign suppliers. The implication here and is that the price of natural gas would become volatile and increase at a rate far exceeding that of coal or nuclear power. Not to be forgotten in this discussion of natural gas are the environmental factors related to its availability and consumption. The price of harnessing the natural gas is not inexpensive. Further, the cost of locating, capturing, storing, and distributing natural gas is also expensive. However, it stacks up favorably against both coal and is much less expensive than nuclear power. Let us also not forget that natural gas, composed primarily of methane, is a greenhouse gas. To avoid global warming, controls must be present to minimize the release of methane into the atmosphere. This too raises the price of natural gas. Governments have become increasingly involved in these most prevalent of energy options. Moreover, governments have become involved specifically in relation to the environmental aspects of energy production. In this, the government has taken a three-pronged approach. First, efficiency and environmental safety have risen to the fore as primary considerations for the future of energy policy. Governments have promoted and implemented policies to foster the use of cleaner burning, more efficient, and more environmentally safe energy sources. Often however these goals are in sharp contrast to the market forces of providing inexpensive and available energy sources. Second, policymakers have sought to equalize both the cost and demand side of the equation. This is most evident in the nuclear power supply and demand equation. The initial foray into nuclear power required governmental subsidies to assist in the construction of nuclear power plants. Further, governmental intervention demanded that societies use the sources. The current rate of federal energy subsidies is 59.8% for fossil fuels (coal and natural gas) and 28.7% for nuclear energy. The remaining paltry 11.5% is dispersed amongst the various other sources. This means government is still not inciting energy companies to research or implement new sources of energy. Finally, policymakers have begun to provide incentives for using alternative energy sources at the end-user (demand) point. This includes allowing the installation of small-scale energy efficient home heating units, hot water heaters, and hybrid and electric automobiles. Other options are available for large-scale technologies such as wind farms and solar panel arrays, but to a lesser extent. The practice of providing incentives presents particular problems. The most pressing problem is that the government or utility ratepayers still need to absorb some of the costs of capital. To counterbalance these problems, the promotion of more energy-efficient technologies and alternative energy sources must be specifically targeted and offer specific incentives to the end-user and producer alike. ___ ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY U2L1 Issues with Natural Resources Conservation Part 1 Human populations can be strained when subject to environmental stresses such as the inadequate availability of water, land, and agriculture, as natural resources. The availability of these resources is essential for the maintenance of human existence. Problems with these natural resources should be anticipated and prevented as much as possible. This section examines how economic institutions have allocated these resources in the past and how they might improve their allocation in the future. Water resources As we have discussed in previous course work, water is essential for human life to replace the continual loss of bodily fluids and to maintain the food sources upon which we depend. The problem with the existing sources of potable water is the allocation of supplies to sustain a variety of competing users. An efficient allocation of water must strike a balance between the competing users and sustaining the year-to-year availability. The concept of supply and demand is integral to this discussion. There are two problems to be address, maintaining an adequate supply of water and managing the demand for that water. This is especially relevant to groundwater resources where, when withdrawals exceed recharge from a particular aquifer, the resource will be mined over time until water supplies are exhausted. The problem is further complicated where groundwater and surface water supplies are not physically separated. For example, groundwater withdrawals from a specific region, in many areas of the United States, immediately affect the surface water flows. This is an especially tricky issue when cross-state, or cross national, boundaries are put into play. Therefore, the hydrologic nature of the water source must be taken to consideration when designing a water allocation scheme. From our previous coursework, we have discussed the concept of riparian rights. This is where the right to use water is allocated to the owner of the land adjacent to that water. Yet with population growth and the consequent rise in demand for water resources, this allocation system becomes less appropriate. This situation creates demand for a change in the property rights structure from riparian rights to one that was more transferable. A new structure developed by the government was known as usufructory rights. In this, users are accorded a right to use a common source of water. The current situation for allocating the use of water resources is embedded in the state and federal governments role in the problem. Many problems are associated with this point. The first is the restriction of free market availability of this natural resource. Diminished transferability of the use of this water resource puts market pressures on different parts of the market and in different portions of the United States. Likewise, these regulations strongly discourage conservation. Moreover, the government established preferential use which brought about bureaucratic preferences for the use of the water. Further, damage caused by overuse is not addressed in this doctrine. Possible solutions to the allocation of water are as follows. Reduce the number of restrictions on water transfers between agriculture and other uses. The current use it or lose it component that a companys most preferential use discourages conservation. Implement the use of water markets and water banks. In this, water is allowed to move to its higher valued use and buyers and sellers are brought together to negotiate its value thereby encouraging conservation. Revising the value of water is a necessity for conservation. This recognizes the efficiency associated with subsidizing the consumption of a scarce resource. Further, revenues collected can be placed into a fund to mitigate environmental damages and to allow for construction of dams for storing water. Revising the value of water seasonally. This would allow for changes in severe drought conditions and to manage water usage during times of scarcity. This would require consumers to act differently during times of drought. Encouraging the use of desalinated water in areas where appropriate. Technological advances have reduced the price of desalinized water but growth in this market has not outpaced demand. There are a number of possible means of remedying the current water situation. These reforms would promote a more efficient use of water while affording more protection to the natural resource. It is clear that charging everyone the same rate irrespective of their consumption is a strategy that deserves more attention. Land Land is another natural resource that deserves specific attention. Land conservation has specific issues related to typography, location, and characteristics. Land is typically allocated based on its highest valued use. The problem is clear. Wilderness areas are subservient to agriculture, residential development, commercial use, etc. There are particular problems with our current use and allocation of land. Urban sprawl is when land use in a particular area is inefficiently dispersed. Another issue is leapfrogging where new development continues not on the very edge of current development but further out. Both bring particular problems with development. These include longer trips to work, home, or leisure activities. This brings about increased energy demand and increased opportunities for pollution. Incompatible land usage is another particular problem with our current use and allocation of land. As an example, the particular costs associated with land use may not accrue exclusively to the landowner. An example of this occurs to neighborhoods near landfills, toxic waste facilities, CAFOs, or large industrial complexes. Undervaluing environmental preservation is just another particular problem with our current use and allocation of land. As an example, if the owner of a large farm near a scenic preservation area, sells to a residential developer, the benefits of their large open space to wildlife, travelers, and leisure activities is not typically a basis for different decisions affecting its land use. A final issue is the confluence of taxes on land use relative to conservation. Typically, property taxes in the United States are imposed on land for its current market value. Environmental factors are not typically included in that valuation model. One way to deal with the many particular problems associated with the current use and allocation of land is to implement innovative market-based remedies. The first innovative remedy is the separation of property rights. A property rights system can mitigate or avoid the problems of overexploitation that can occur when land is merely allocated on a first-come, first-served basis or sold to the highest bidder. By establishing secure enforceable claims, the efficient transfer and maintenance of the valuable use of the property can be directly allocated. Another way is to establish transferable development rights (TDR). TDRs establish areas where development is prohibited and areas where development is encouraged. If done in the local level, communities will determine the best allocation and use of lands. Another way is the establishment of land banks. For example, wetlands banking is a means of promoting economic benefits of wetland preservation. These mitigation banks allow for the use of lands around wetlands, streams, or other aquatic resources to preserve, enhance, or replace sensitive wetland areas. A similar program is present for conservation banking. Safe harbor agreements are a new means of conserving endangered and threatened species on privately owned land. These provide for new restrictions of land based upon the threat to the endangered species. Grazing rights has also been away to deal with the problems associated for overgrazing on public lands. This too is a means of dealing with the particular problems associated with the use of grazing on federal lands, which has been allowed since 1934. Finally, conservation easements and land trusts are means by which legal agreements limit the use of land in order to protect its intrinsic value. This intrinsic value might be to preserve a surface water resource, scenic vistas, or to promote eco-tourism. Agriculture The efficient use of agricultural land is a requirement for sustenance around the globe. The problems associated with a lack of efficiency includes starvation, hunger, hunger related diseases, malnutrition, and a variety of ancillary adverse effects. As an example, cereal grain is the worlds cheapest supply of food and is a renewable resource if managed effectively. Further, this could be sustained as long as we receive energy from the sun. Yet the current agricultural practices are neither sustainable nor efficient. Further, the recent trend has been to increase the scale (size) of the average farm and a reduction in the overall number of farms thus raising questions of future sustainability. The problems intrinsic to this argument are as follows. While technological progress provides the main source of support for optimism, concerns are present regarding the ability of industrial nations to achieve productivity gains. This includes a declining share of land allocated to agricultural use, the rising cost of energy, and increased environmental costs (i.e.: overuse of fertilizer, deforestation, soil completion, soil erosion, etc.). An interesting twist in this argument is imbedded in the example of corn. While this is a relatively stable and useful food source, the expansion and the use of ethanol has decreased the amount of corn available for food. There are sources for optimism in this discussion. Technological advancements in genetics have produced food crops that are more resistant to diseases and pests, hardier crops capable of surviving in marginal soils, and increasing crop yields. In addition, the growth in organic food sources has minimized human disease after upta ke. The economic gains in past several decades have created depletion to our agricultural resources. The past role of government has been complicit in this debacle. Historically, governments have subsidized the use of fertilizers and pesticides, guaranteed prices for outputs, given marketing loans based on crop prices, and implemented trade barriers. Recently however, the role of government in implementing effective agricultural policies has been on the rise. Governments have begun to encourage sustainable agriculture. Further, they have required that farmers consider energy and environmental costs. Subsidies for some agriculture have been removed and replaced with subsidizing possible technological advancements. Conclusion As we have seen from the above, human populations can be strained when subject to environmental stresses such as the inadequate availability of water, land, and agriculture, as natural resources. The availability of these resources is essential for the maintenance of human existence. Problems with these natural resources must be managed. As regulators cope with the myriad of issues related to conservation, they must consider the advancement in technology and the maintenance of a sustainable supply of natural resources.

Global Look at Internet Censorship Essay -- Internet Censoring Censors

Global Look at Internet Censorship Introduction Many Americans take for granted the freedom that living in the United States allows us. As we go through our days, we whine about our bosses, the governor’s latest political agenda, or read commentary about how the war in Iraq is morally wrong. Whether we are sending e-mail, posting on message boards, or reading the news online, we are guaranteed the same freedom of self expression that we enjoy offline. In other countries, the mere act of accessing websites that criticize the government is an offense that can land you in prison. Within this paper, we will explore Internet Censorship as a global issue as well as an ethical issue. The Internet The Internet, while relatively young, has made its way into the everyday life many in the United States. It allows for instantaneous communication with others around the world and not just person to person communication but mass communication. The Internet has become a popular medium since it incorporates characteristics of several other media and communication systems, i.e. print, broadcast, and postal systems.[1] Despite being such a powerful tool, the Internet is now affordable for most of the world’s population. Internet cafes have sprung up in nations around the world, providing people with a quick, easy and cheap way to interact with the Internet. â€Å"The Internet has the potential to be a tremendous force for development by providing quick and inexpensive information, by encouraging discussion rather than violence, and by empowering citizens †¦Ã¢â‚¬ [2] It has facilitated the flow of information, has no national boundaries. While the Internet as a whole can not be controlled by any one country, or even a group of countries, nation... ...ralia, Internet Censorship: Law & policy around the world [7] Sorensen, 16 [8] Electronic Frontiers Australia, Internet Censorship: Law & policy around the world [9] Bowman, Lisa M., â€Å"Report seeks U.N. help in Net case,† CNET News.com(2003), 17 April 2004, [10] Human Rights Watch, â€Å"Freedom of Expression and the Internet in China: A Human Rights Watch Backgrounder,† www.hrw.org (2001), 17 April 2004 [11] Human Rights Watch, â€Å"The Internet in the Mideast and North Africa: Free Expression and Censorship,† www.hrw.org (1999), 17 April 2004 [12] Electronic Frontiers Australia, Internet Censorship: Law & policy around the world [13] International Freedom of Expression eXchange, â€Å"Saudi Arabia: Ban on Gay websites Lifted,† www.ifex.org (2004), 17 April 2004 [14] International Freedom of Expression eXchange, â€Å"Saudi Arabia: Ban on Gay websites Lifted†

Review of literature on vision, personal and organisation Essay

A vision answers the question â€Å"What do we want to become?† It calls for the skills, talents, and resources to make future happen. A vision is different from a mission, goal or objective as it must have a clear and compelling imaginary way that offers an innovative way to improve ourselves. Simply stated, a vision is a realistic, credible, attractive, and it inspires one’s future. Walt Disney for example understood the meaning of vision, he knew that dreams are wishes the heart makes and if one can dream it, one can make it happen (Nanus & Dobbs 1999). Each person must have their own personal vision in their life, as an example, one would dream to be the first female pilot in Malaysian Airlines but that dream will not come true because at the moment Malaysian Airlines is not prepared to employ a female as one of their pilots. They are not ready to change their traditional mind that pilots are meant for males. Their commercial advertisements reflect this attitude; it showed from the beginning of their operation their pilots have all been males. For that reason, if people want to realise their vision, they will need to relate or share it with the organisational vision. In a way, it gives people a sense of common ownership that enables them to cooperate with and support each other in pursuit of their common destiny (Nanus & Dobbs 1999). A shared vision authorizes and legitimates the activities of all who commit to it and act accordingly. It sanctions people, encouraging them to advance the common effort. As they do so, the vision also enables them to prioritize their efforts and improve their ability to serve their own needs and the needs of the organisation. As noted by Nanus and Dobbs (1999), there are several fundamentals where individual and organisational visions are linked. First, the organisation needs to verbalise with their employee where they (the organisation) are trying to take them; they must show the employee what they like to see this organisation hopes to become; and why it is important for the employee to move towards making his/her vision fulfil the organisation’s vision. Subsequently, the organisation’s vision and its passion must excite the employee and persuade the employee that by moving in towards the same direction, the employee will make a strong contribution and realise their own deepest needs for a sense of accomplishment, meaning and recognition in their own lives. Finally, if the organisation is willing to do all the above, and the employee find the vision firmly compelling and in accord with their own vision, they will commit to it and make it their own. Then they will see themselves not as the organisation’s followers but as colleagues and allies, working together on the same team with a common cause. Thus, when employees shape the vision of the organisation, it can reflect the personal visions that they have in their hearts and minds about their own futures (David 1998). Good personal and organisational visions are needed (Hills and Jones 1988), it creates a sense of direction and purpose for the individual as well as the organisation; it helps to drive decision making and resource allocation and finally to assess same significant improvement in the way they run their lives or the organisation. In addition, Nanus and Dobbs (1999) also indicated that personal and organisational visions provide focus, guiding decisions and actions, and enables them to filter the many issues competing for their time and attention. According to Nanus (1996), a shared vision between the individual and the organisation will result towards a long-term goal measurement, gradually accepting some major changes and has a more proactive planning style. In contrast, if the vision is not shared, it will only result in short-term goals with minimal resistance to change. However, a drawback for having individual and organisational visions linked together is either one of the entities must sacrifice their time or attention. For example, after 15 years of devoting myself working with a firm, I may think of retiring and start my own business within 3 years. However, in order to postpone my retirement and continue to serve the organisational vision, the company will now be required to top up my salary and entice me with all sorts of benefits which in my mind will compensate my desires for having my business. Having to say all that, many times we have heard some organisations failed to achieve their vision. This is true because a good vision will give a great impact towards the effectiveness of team and individual actions in the workplace. These few major points that I will elaborate later has proven the reasons that sometimes individual and organisational visions cannot be linked. As previously discussed, a vision is like making our dreams become a reality. In order to make it real, we must be prepared to accept changes and sacrifices, but not all are prepared to do that. We know that for organisational vision to be effective, it relies increasingly on employees’ discretion to change and adapt. If they are not willing to accept changes in their life plan, then the end result will not be so great. Employees whose careers connect to their life plans are more effective at work (Gillen 1996). Another reason that makes the organisational vision ineffective is due to the vision’s vagueness. If the vision is so grandiose it becomes clearly unattainable and when the employees know that it is impossible to achieve the vision, they will no longer work towards it. Finally, the biggest challenge of organisational vision to be effective is to understand cultural diversity (Hellriegel, Jackson & Slocum 1999). For example, although diversity can enhance a team’s ability to solve problems creatively because of different ways of looking at a problem and finding a solution; creativity may also heighten conflicts within a team causing more problems instead of providing solutions.

Lemon Lovin’ Life Essay

Introduction The company, Lemon Lovin’ Life, is a lemonade stand that is in the beverage business. Being that it is a popular drink and the low cost of starting a lemonade business, there is competition making it quite competitive in the market. This report outlines the company’s branding strategy, identification of possible new locations, promotional plans, and employee training opportunities. Branding Strategy To create a branding strategy for Lemon Lovin’ Life it will also consists of the marketing mix, namely, product, place, and promotion. Lemon Lovin’ Life has a reasonable size and will be priced competitively. It will be known for its healthy, natural, delicious, and well-known taste. A focus of the drink is to get it to be appreciated not only during the summer months, but rather, the whole year round. Highlighting its health benefits with increase consumer’s interest into the product. If this investment is success, Lemon Lovin’ Life could expand by adding a twist to the lemonade drinks. For instance, a lemonade drink can have a combination of lemon and strawberry, lemon and pineapple but always focusing on lemon as the main flavor. Ideally the lemonade stand will be placed in front of the owner’s house perhaps near a tree for shade. Attracting more consumers, being that they won’t have to stand under the blazing sun. For marketing purposes, flyers and posters will be distributed in various strategic places in the neighborhood along with calling friends and family. Creating a page on Facebook, a Twitter account, and Instagram, among others, will also heavily use social media sites. Opportunities for New Locations Lemon Lovin’ Life’s goal is to reach as many customers as possible in order to address the changing lifestyle choices that mainly aim to have healthy living. The new locations must consider that the target market has access to the lemonade whenever they’d like. This strategy will already tap a number of customers ranging from children, mothers buying for their families, health buffs, and young people who can already make their own purchases (Bovee & Thill, 2013, p. 346). Promotion Plans Usually local residents support new business ventures and Lemon Lovin’ Life has $10,000 to spend for advertising. Considering the product theme various marketing vehicles will be utilized to communicate the message, image, and presence of the business. Bovee & Thill (2013) asserted that there are different ways to promote products, including the use of print media (magazines, local newspapers and student publications) (p. 382), broadcast media (local TV shows, radio programs), hotel guides (Chamber of Commerce newsletters, brochures, flyers), direct mail (subscriber lists, inserts in newspapers, office mail delivery) (p. 374), social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) (p. 382), and others (attendance in charity events, sponsorships, press conferences) (p. 382). Employee Training In hope that the company shall grow, it will be necessary to hire more people in order to help run the lemonade stand. It is also important for the company to invest in training the staff to continue to offer quality lemonade. To do this, the company should always check whether employees are engaged, satisfied, committed, and rooted (Bovee & Thill, 2013, p. 220). Providing employees with job security through a strong salary is the first step. Secondly, provide employees with health insurance and retirement plans that can be extended to their families. Finally, the company must ensure that employees have a clear career path, especially for those who have leadership qualities to allow them to have the feeling that what they are doing is â€Å"worthwhile and satisfying in itself† (Bovee & Thill, 2013, p. 223). When these needs are met, employees are will actually view the job in a different manner. Their attitude toward working there will be a positive one. Conclusion Starting a company is not only about having the money and hiring employees. There are other aspects that should be considered, including the viability of the product, the target market, demographical considerations, the location, and marketing the product. References Bovee, C. L., & Thill, J. V. (2013). Business in action. (6th ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Response to Robert Frost’s “Education by poetry” Essay

In his address Education by Poetry given at Amherst College in 1930, Robert Frost introduces the two roles of poetry in education. The first role is that through poetry we cultivate our taste. The second role, which is said to be more crucial, is that poetry teaches us how to discern and understand metaphor in our life. Having read that poetry helps us with our handling metaphor, I naturally reached one simple question. Why is it important to have an ability to identify and comprehend metaphor in our life? In the next paragraph, I would like to give my answer to this very question, simultaneously demonstrating Frosts view point on the importance of the ability. Then, in the third paragraph, from my viewpoint on metaphor, I would like to go further deeper to examining the strengths and weaknesses of one metaphor. To show why it is important to recognize metaphor in our life, the connection between metaphor and thinking on which Frost sheds fresh light in his address is the key. In general, metaphor is a word or phrase used to describe something or somebody else. More specifically, metaphor expresses one thing in terms of another, therefore creating relative values and a certain association between them. According to Frost, this conception of metaphor is the same as that of thinking. To think of one object is to explain that object in terms of another object, and so is to think of a person, an event, and so on. Hence, an amazing thought, which Frost similarly reasons, can be reasoned; metaphor binds everything in this world together. For when you think of something, you are associating it with other thing, which means creating a metaphor, and this applies to all objects, persons, and events that have been recognized in the world. In other words, we construct the world in the form of collection of metaphors. In the world full of metaphor, why can it be petty to handle metaphor well? To correctly understand relative values and kinds of associations among metaphors in the world, to discern metaphor in our life, is vital because, as Frost also implies, accurate understanding and recognition of metaphor mean correct conception of the world around us and, thus, our safety. In this paragraph, I would like to examine one metaphor, especially its strengths and weaknesses, from my viewpoint on metaphor. As explained in the  second paragraph, there are relative values and a certain association between two things involved in metaphor. These values and association are crucial and have to be rational and appropriate in creating a sound metaphor. Yet, there is one decisive factor that changes the rules of metaphor, that is, for whom the metaphor is created. Depending on for whom, metaphors relative values, association, strengths and weaknesses vary drastically. Lets take a look at the metaphor the war on terrorism. Suppose that this is created for America, as in reality, its strengths are, first, that the word terrorism gives right and justice to those who are fighting against it. Second, the word terrorism represents vice in those who have been considered terrorists. Third, the word terrorism can point to any states, to which Americas high places seek its way. On the other hand, its weakness is that because of depersonalizing, though meaning the Middle East countries, the word terrorism can offend any states with which America currently has friendship. All these strengths and weakness do not have to be necessarily right or fair and so may be irrelevant to proper relative values and associations. As Frost cynically says, the devil can quote Scripture.As a conclusion, we live in the world built upon metaphor, the world full of metaphors whether they are good or bad. Hence, to correctly comprehend metaphor is to correctly comprehend the world around us and to ensure our safety. After all, no matter where and how you live, we have to learn metaphors mounted with poetry. Bibliography -Probert Frost Education by poetry