A Users Guide to Time Phrases in Mandarin Chinese

Mandarin Chinese has time-related phrases that clarify when the action in a sentence is happening. These expressions are similar to English terms like, yesterday or the day before yesterday. Here is a list of common time expressions, which we will explore in more detail below: Days today - ä »Å Ã¥ ¤ © - jÄ «n tiÄ nyesterday - æ˜ ¨Ã¥ ¤ © - zuà ³ tiÄ nthe day before yesterday - å‰ Ã¥ ¤ © - qià ¡n tiÄ ntomorrow - 明å ¤ © - mà ­ng tiÄ nthe day after tomorrow - Ã¥ ¾Å'Ã¥ ¤ © (trad) /Ã¥ Å½Ã¥ ¤ © (simp) - hà ²u tiÄ n Years this year - ä »Å Ã¥ ¹ ´ - jÄ «n nià ¡nlast year - åŽ »Ã¥ ¹ ´ - qà ¹ nià ¡ntwo years ago - å‰ Ã¥ ¹ ´ - qià ¡n nià ¡nnext year - 明å ¹ ´ - mà ­ng nià ¡ntwo years from now - Ã¥ ¾Å'Ã¥ ¹ ´ / Ã¥ Å½Ã¥ ¹ ´ - hà ²u nià ¡n Weeks and Months The prefixes for weeks and months are as follows: this week - 這個星æÅ"Ÿ / è ¿â„¢Ã¤ ¸ ªÃ¦ËœÅ¸Ã¦Å"Ÿ - zhà ¨ gà ¨ xÄ «ngqÄ «this month - 這個æÅ"ˆ / è ¿â„¢Ã¤ ¸ ªÃ¦Å"ˆ - zhà ¨ gà ¨ yuà ¨last week - ä ¸Å Ã¥â‚¬â€¹Ã¦ËœÅ¸Ã¦Å"Ÿ / ä ¸Å Ã¤ ¸ ªÃ¦ËœÅ¸Ã¦Å"Ÿ - shà  ng gà ¨ xÄ «ngqÄ «last month - ä ¸Å Ã¥â‚¬â€¹Ã¦Å"ˆ / ä ¸Å Ã¤ ¸ ªÃ¦Å"ˆ - shà  ng gà ¨ yuà ¨two weeks ago - ä ¸Å Ã¤ ¸Å Ã¥â‚¬â€¹Ã¦ËœÅ¸Ã¦Å"Ÿ / ä ¸Å Ã¤ ¸Å Ã¤ ¸ ªÃ¦ËœÅ¸Ã¦Å"Ÿ - shà  ng shà  ng gà ¨ xÄ «ngqÄ «two months ago - ä ¸Å Ã¤ ¸Å Ã¥â‚¬â€¹Ã¦Å"ˆ / ä ¸Å Ã¤ ¸Å Ã¤ ¸ ªÃ¦Å"ˆ - shà  ng shà  ng gà ¨ yuà ¨next week - ä ¸â€¹Ã¥â‚¬â€¹Ã¦ËœÅ¸Ã¦Å"Ÿ / ä ¸â€¹Ã¤ ¸ ªÃ¦ËœÅ¸Ã¦Å"Ÿ - xià   gà ¨ xÄ «ngqÄ «next month - ä ¸â€¹Ã¥â‚¬â€¹Ã¦Å"ˆ / ä ¸â€¹Ã¤ ¸ ªÃ¦Å"ˆ - xià   gà ¨ yuà ¨two weeks from now - ä ¸â€¹Ã¤ ¸â€¹Ã¥â‚¬â€¹Ã¦ËœÅ¸Ã¦Å"Ÿ / ä ¸â€¹Ã¤ ¸â€¹Ã¤ ¸ ªÃ¦ËœÅ¸Ã¦Å"Ÿ - xià   xià   gà ¨ xÄ «ng qÄ «two months from now - ä ¸â€¹Ã¤ ¸â€¹Ã¥â‚¬â€¹Ã¦Å"ˆ / ä ¸â€¹Ã¤ ¸â€¹Ã¤ ¸ ªÃ¦Å"ˆ - xià   xià   gà ¨ yuà ¨ Clarifications The time expressions for  days  and  years  have the same prefixes except for the previous time period: åŽ » (qà ¹) for  last year  and æ˜ ¨ (zuà ³) for  yesterday.   The time expressions for  year  can also be used for events which happen every year, such as anniversaries, school years, and vacations. For example: last year’s spring vacationåŽ »Ã¥ ¹ ´Ã¦Ëœ ¥Ã¥ â€¡qà ¹ nià ¡n chÃ… «n jià   This same pattern can be used for events which follow weekly or monthly patterns, such as semesters or seasons: last summer - åŽ »Ã¥ ¹ ´Ã¥ ¤ Ã¥ ¤ © - qà ¹ nià ¡n xià  tiÄ n

Canada s Presence During The Sochi Olympics - 1127 Words

The media often helps to shape and solidify our national identity, but it also helps to challenge our view. In this paper, I will be summarizing a media narrative on the Canadian national identity and conveying the message received from this article, about Canada as a nation-state, in terms of topics discussed in this course. The article on Canada’s presence during the Sochi Olympics in 2014 shows a changing Canadian national identity. The article highlights a shift towards a more patriotic nation-state, one focused on success and pride. Canada’s success in the Olympics skyrocketed after the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, resulting in a surge of patriotism and confidence in the Canadian people. The Canadian government granted the Own the Podium program more funding, gaining $78.8 million over 8 years (Terlep Bachman 2014). Canada’s increased interest and success in the Olympics has revived Canadian national pride. Canadians have become much more present during the Olympics, over 6000 tickets to the Sochi Games were bought by Canadians (Terlep Bachman 2014). The people have also become more loud in their expressions of national identity, proudly wearing red and white, and maple leafs. The Canadian athletes displayed enthusiasm and vigour, taking selfies with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and nicknaming him â€Å"Vlad†, when he visited the Canadian House. Canadian politeness has seemingly been replaced with shameless swagger (Terlep Bachman 2014). This article gives

Instagram Term Paper Free Essays

AMA COMPUTER LEARNING CENTER COLLEGE Tagbilaran City, Bohol INSTAGRAM (Android Application) A term paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of BACHELOR OF SCIENCE in INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY by: Josie Marie Mosqueda Edralyn Tutor 2012 ABSTRACT Today the folks responsible for one of the most popular social photography apps in the world  have brought that entertainment to  Android– and here we’re going to review it! What you’ll find is that this app is extremely similar to the iOS version, it having the ability to snap photos, edit them in brief, and send them out to several social networks. This Android version is said to be superior to the iOS version in several ways by its developers. This app got extremely popular on iOS because it allowed (and still allows) you to do three different activities in one app – photography, sharing, and editing of photos. We will write a custom essay sample on Instagram Term Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now Here on Android you’ve got several of those abilities built in – the HTC One series in-particular has some pretty amazing photo editing, taking, and sharing abilities. INTRODUCTION An important application for the tech-savvy crowd, Instagrams are all about the beauty of capturing moments through man-made lenses and sharing it with your near and dear! As Will Smith says â€Å" Life is not about number of breadths you take, it is about number of moments take your breath away†. Moments like that don’t happen everyday, but can be captured and cherished for the rest of your lives, thanks to the app called Instagram! Instagrams are solely for the Apple person, that is compatible with Iphones, Ipads, Ipod Touch with an iOS version of 3. 1. 2 or above. Instagram, the popular photo sharing application which gained prominence on iOS – is now available for Android. Complete with a beautiful user interface and a full feature-set, it seems to have been worth the nail biting. It is a free photo sharing application which helps you to click pictures, apply fresh effects on them using their inbuilt filters and then post it online on any social networking site like Foursquare, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr etc. A list of the most popular filters are the Walden Filter, the X Pro II, the Lomo-Fi, the Brannan, the Hefe, the Earlybird, the Sutro, the Poprocket, the Nashville and the Gotham. HISTORY Below is a short Infographic on Instagram’s history. TIMELINE DISCUSSION Felling the walled garden Instagram and  Hipstamatic, a digital photography application for iOS devices, entered into a partnership that would allow photos from the app to be directly ported into Instagram. â€Å"I’m a huge fan of what Hipstamatic is doing and all they’ve accomplished,† Systrom  said. â€Å"They were iPhone App of the Year in 2010 and we got 2011. We have a huge amount of respect for that whole team both as fellow photographers and entrepreneurs. † â€Å"Really it comes down to this: People post Hipstamatic photos on Instagram all the time, and we just want to make that experience easier. † Pictures paint more than a thousand words Instagram already has seven million users all over the world and the number is only going to get bigger when the Android app launches. There are loads of awesome photos available on Instagram today and these photos are inspiring others to follow suit. Taking Photos with Instagram Instagram has a built-in camera function, making it easy to quickly snap a photo to share in the app. You can also pull photos directly from your iPhone photo library, so you can share older photos taken with your iPhone or photos synced from your iPhoto library on your computer. All Instagram photos are square, so after you take or select a shot you are presented with an easy interface to scale and crop it. Transforming Photos with Instagram After your photo is cropped, you can transform the look of it with a variety of filters. Most of the filters are designed to give your photo a vintage look, bringing back polaroids and old black-and-white pictures. While quick Photoshop style filters are often considered cheap tricks, people have embraced Instagram because it simply makes photo sharing fun. Photo Sharing with Instagram When you are done editing an Instagram, you can choose to share it just within the app or on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Posterous, Tumblr and Foursquare. Instagram also creates a web page with your image that you can link to, but that’s as far as the website goes. It is not the place to follow people, view galleries or submit photos. All of that functionality is reserved for the app itself, where you can view photos from your friends, see popular photos, and find people to follow and more. FEATURES OF INSTAGRAM * 100% free custom designed filters and borders The Lux: A new feature given by the makers to bring out the inner nuances in your picture with nothing but a tap on the picture! Best part in using Lux is that it can be used even without a filter. * Instant sharing to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Foursquare (Flickr coming very soon) * A new filter called the Sierra. * Interact with friends through giving ; receiving likes and comments * Works with Android versions 2. 2 and above that support OpenGL ES 2 * Full front ; back camera support SCREENSHOTS ADVANTAGES OF INSTAGRAM Instagram is great especially if you are fond of taking pictures and uploading them right away for other people to see. * It is fast like when you took a picture, uploaded it and it will automatically be uploaded or posted on your facebook account, twitter and tumblr. * It offers a lot of effects, or if you want your photo to have a frame or not. * You can be updated on your friends’ happenings or your friends’ important announcements. * A great way of making or meeting new friends. * You can also advertise your own products if you have some business or shops. You can take a photo of your products and post it on instagram and it can help you gain more customers. * Another great thing is that, there are some photo applications that you can directly upload on instagram the photos you have taken or edited. One of this is the photoshake, it’s up to you if you want to upload the photo you took directly on instagram or just save it on your mobile phone or tablet. DISADVANTAGE OF INSTAGRAM * Privacy – where in, every detail and every photo that you will be uploading, a lot of people might see it. Rumors can also start by others seeing some photos of you not being good. Your life can be at danger especially if you always takes a photo of you on where you at and what are you doing. CONCLUSION Above all, Instagram is made for us to enjoy the convenient of taking some pictures with our loved ones. And take note, important pictures with our friends, family, classmates or any special ones. Instagram is not made to make rumors of other people, to make fun at them and to invade others privacy. The team has certainly come a long way, to create a better world for its users. How to cite Instagram Term Paper, Essays

Managing and Developing Innovation Nutshell Customer Relationship Sys

Question: Discuss about theManaging and Developing Innovationfor Nutshell Customer Relationship System. Answer: Introduction In this assignment, a presentation has been reviewed as an investor. After reviewing the decision, it is required to make a decision related with investment in the proposal of Nutshell Customer Relationship System. Feasibility of innovation based on technology, engineering, management and science had been discussed. The market for the product and the purchasing power of customers also had been analyzed. The sustainability of the product and the capability of the selected team to carry forward the business successfully have also been analyzed. Based on the analysis, the investor has to take decision whether he is interested in investment in this project or not. Feasibility of Innovation It has been found that the marketing team of Nutshell always tries to provide new options the company. They always try to provide innovations that other organizations cannot provide to customers (Nguyen and Mutum 2012). It has been found that in order to distribute its products and services in the market, the company use different innovative strategies. They are such as internet, satellite, operating systems and various other smart devices. Affordability and user friendly features of Nutshell CRM software and cost effectiveness are the two major strengths of the company. Hence, Nutshell is able to gain competitive advantage over its competitors. Target Customer The company is able to develop significant amount of popularity in the market (Saarijrvi et al. 2013). The company is able to offer exclusive features of products that can help to attract more consumers. It has been found that, the tech savvy customers are the major target market of the organization. The company mainly likes to do business with friendly buyers. Hollensen (2015) stated that, this strategy is helpful as less due diligence is required. The target customers will try to preserve whatever is significant to Nutshell about the business. Hence, it can be analyzed that the target customers have enough purchasing power to purchase the product. However, some rules and regulation related with software purchasing can be considered as the major political issue for the target customers. According to Saarijrvi et al. (2013), if management team of a company purchases the business, it will be considered responsible to make the business work. Distribution Strategy It has been analyzed that the distribution channel of the company includes three major elements. They are like production end, throughout process and the receiver. Nutshell mainly deals with software development. In order achieve organizational goals; the company uses different devices such as internet, satellite and other smart devices throughout the process. It has been found that, the company mainly uses direct distribution strategy, where products are directly delivered to the end users (Mukwasi and Seymour 2016). Depending on the level of distribution, there are three types of distribution strategy used by Nutshell. They are such as selective distribution, intensive distribution and extensive distribution. In order to enhance productivity and performance of the company, it uses effective supply strategy. Supply strategies of the company include: Performance Management The company is able to improve the chances for success by managing organizational performance effectively. Nguyen and Mutum (2012) stated that in order to increase production efficiency and lower product cost, it is required to maintain consistency and stability of the workload of manufacturing assets. Evolution of the Benefits The managers of the organization revisit the supply chain frequently. Hollensen (2015) stated that, it helps managers to analyze whether it is necessary to modify the supply chain with new product introduction, new technology adoption and new business practices. Mukwasi and Seymour (2016) mentioned that in order to position the company to success, it is required to consider new opportunities Communication with Partners It has been found that the supply strategy of the company Nutshell is related with various entities. These entities are both internal and external. According to Saarijrvi et al. (2013), in order to relate the supply chain of an organization with its business strategy, it is required to develop effective communication with various stakeholders of the company and other group of people. Sustainability of the Product With the help of breakeven analysis, the financial sustainability of Nutshell can be analyzed. Mukwasi and Seymour (2016) stated that, breakeven point of a company is significant to evaluate as it can help the government and financial investors to find out the risk and evaluate the return on investment. From the financial report of the company, it has been analyzed Total expense of the company is $ 70, 000. The profit margin earned by the organization is $ 30, 000. Hence, the breakeven point of Nutshell is $ 70, 000/ $ 30, 000. It is equal to $2.33. It indicates financial stability of the organization. It is assumed that the sales volume of the company is 5000 unit. It is also assumed that per unit cost is $20. Hence, the breakeven of the company per unit is $2.33X 5000 = $ 11, 650. Hence, it has been analyzed that the business of the company will get breakeven at the point $ 11650/ $ 20. It is equal to 583 units (Nutshell 2017). Sustainability can also observe in its exit strategy as well. After achieving predetermined objective or to mitigate organizational failure, the company follows some specific strategies. They are such as liquidation and acquisition. Nguyen and Mutum (2012) stated that in liquidation strategy, the overall business ends due to the implementation of the strategy. In this strategy managers of the company do not have to think about the transfer of control (Saarijrvi et al. 2013). In the acquisition strategy, a business is sold to other companies where the price is negotiated. The company always tries to sell business to friendlier customers as less due diligence required. Capability of the Selected Team It has been found that the selected team by the presenter is capable enough to move forward the business towards success. The team is passionate about staying ahead of the curve of technology. They always try to utilize the latest tools and technologies. They are able to work virtually with a technology stack from and .NET to JAVA and everything in between. The comprehensive business software of the company can be scaled as large as required by customers. The team can accommodate all the needs to customers. If there is something specific, a customer is looking for; they can found it in Nutshell. The team can build a software solution appropriate for customers need. The technology team of the company includes code specialists for HTML 5, JSON, PHP, JavaScript, Ember JS, Knockout JS, JSP, SQL server, Oracle. It also includes specialists of technology systems such as SSRS, Jira, SSO, SOA, WordPress, SAP ERP and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Conclusion After analyzing the business proposal of the company Nutshell, it has been found that affordability and user friendly features of Nutshell CRM software and cost effectiveness are the two major strengths of the company. It has been evaluated that in order to distribute its products and services in the market, the company use different innovative strategies like internet, satellite, operating systems and various other smart devices. The tech savvy customers and large business organizations are the major target market of the organization. There are three types of distribution strategy used by Nutshell. They are such as selective distribution, intensive distribution and extensive distribution. The breakeven analysis of the company indicates the financial stability of the organization as well. Finally it can be stated that, the investor agreed to invest in the business of Nutshell. Reference List Fleisher, C.S. and Bensoussan, B.E., 2015. Business and competitive analysis: effective application of new and classic methods. FT Press. Hollensen, S., 2015.Marketing management: A relationship approach. Pearson Education. Mukwasi, C.M. and Seymour, L.F., 2016, September. Customer Relationship Management in IT Service Delivery: A Practitioner-based Inquiry in a Higher Education Institution. InProceedings of the Annual Conference of the South African Institute of Computer Scientists and Information Technologists(p. 27). ACM. Nguyen, B. and Mutum, D.S., 2012. A review of customer relationship management: successes, advances, pitfalls and futures. Business Process Management Journal, 18(3), pp.400-419. Nutshell., 2017. Nutshell CRM Tour and Benefits. [online] Available at: https://www.nutshell.com/tour/nutshell-crm/ [Accessed 7 Jan. 2017]. Saarijrvi, H., Karjaluoto, H. and Kuusela, H., 2013. Customer relationship management: the evolving role of customer data.Marketing intelligence planning,31(6), pp.584-600.

Arguments For or Against Women in Combat essays

Arguments For or Against Women in Combat essays Women should be allowed to fight in combat with infantry units and Special Forces units in a wartime environment. A number of arguments have been traditionally given against women in combat that range from women's lack of aggressiveness, the possibility that female soldiers will be raped, the familial damage caused by the absence of female soldiers, potential damage to military cohesion, and the physical weakness of women. Each of these arguments will be discussed, and revealed as inherently flawed. In addition, the historical value of women in combat suggests that women can play a valuable role in the US military in combat. Further, inability to experience ground combat seriously limits the potential career track for women in the military. Taken together, these arguments suggest a potentially valuable role for women in ground combat in the US military. The issue of women in a combat role in the US Military is one of the most hotly contested topics in the public arena today. Both supporters and detractors of women in the military seem to have deeply held, often inflexible opinions, and debate has often been emotional and heated. This paper will attempt to identify some of the key arguments of each side, and provide a reasoned, careful look at the issue of women in combat. Ultimately, the evidence and reasoning presented in this article suggests that women should be allowed to fight in combat with infantry units and special forces units during a wartime environment. Much of the opposition to women in combat seems to be based on the argument that women are not "geared" toward combat duties. This stems from a traditional, conservative view of women as nurturing and maternal, with few aggressive tendencies. Generally, I think that most people's experience would agree with the assertion that women, as a whole, tend to be less aggressive than men. After all, ...

Madonna essays

Madonna essays Who comes to mind as the creator and developer of female sexual freedom in the past 20 years? Most would answer with one name: Madonna. When Madonna was asked where she wanted to go with her career she replied I want to rule the world. Madonna meant that she wants to change things for women in America. Madonna didnt exactly rule the world but according to many aroudn the world she has made a huge impact on the lives of many women. Her power was in her arrival; he rmost important characteristic was her ambition, blonde or otherwise, and the perception that although she came with nothing-she already had it all ( Nelson 2) Madonnas drive for power, and Ambition to make females and males equal in all senses is one of the many reasons why Madonna is an excellent icon. She has shown many women that attempting to put men and women on the same level is the only way to gain equality among both sexes. This in the Madonna that teenage girls aspired to be, the funky dresser and great dancer who wrote playful, upbeat hits and relished the potential of her life. She also desired sex without concern for her reputation, and wasnt looking for a husband to fatten her bank account- no small feats for a teenager navigating towards womanhood ( Nelson 3) Madonna is promoting that all people; men, women, and kids go out into the world with an ambitious attitude. She brought a new and different voice to our otherwise quiete conservative culture. She is an ideal icon, her skillful stage act, image and music combining to make an oddly innocent pop phenomenon, harking back to the flirtatious glamour of earlier times: it was an illusion then, more so now; but she seems likely to endure one way or another. (McGregor 4) Some people today feel that the way their kids idolize teen pop stars like Britney Spears and Courtney Love is hazardous. Even experts say t...

Public shipping - marine pollution and aspects of marine environment Essay

Public shipping - marine pollution and aspects of marine environment cases - Essay Example It is observed that disputes that arise in territorial waters have seen the port states exercise their special rights on territorial waters and claim to do so for the safety and security in their national interests. Marine environment and pollution is a concern for those holding rights over the territorial waters as well as on high seas, particularly in territorial waters due to its utilization for various activities like fishing, sea-bed activities, etc. The subject of Marine environment and pollution encompasses marine environmental activities and related principles, jurisdiction of port states over ships moving in the territorial region, and other sea-bed activities by the port state. In the particular cases of Corfu Channel and Anglo-Norwegian Fisheries conflict, marine pollution and environmental issues have been raised in the political, economic and historical contexts. It also seen that the port states have a rather diligent advantage over the claimant states in both the cases wherein in Corfu Channel case, the court put the responsibility of proof on the British government which is the claimant (Kazazi, 1995, p 86), while in the case of Anglo-Norwegian Fisheries case, the courts ruled that Norwegian government has the right to exercise its sovereignty on its territorial waters keeping in view the geo-socio custom of the Norwegians in depending on sea waters for fishing as an occupation by a majority (Wise, 1984, p 70). The Corfu Channel case- In 1946, two United Kingdom's ships have been damaged with loss of life of over 40 naval staff in the ships in the territorial waters of Albania. It is alleged by the United Kingdom that Albania has violated International law and had planted or was aware of the presence of mines in its territorial waters which caused loss of life and damage to two of its ships Soumarage and Volage when they struck mines lying under the sea. Earlier in 1944 and 1945 when the British seamen along with a team of international bodies swept the territorial waters of Albania, they had acted according to the law and had promptly informed and taken safety measures to keep the ships away during the minesweeping operations. However, on 15th May 1946 and again on 22nd October 1946, the British ships were shot at by the Norwegian authorities as a defensive attack alleging that the British ships were violating their orders and regulations in the international law to inform the port of their entry. In the second attack, in October, two of the ships that were sent by the British government after informing the Norwegian government of mine sweeping operations with the permission of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), were attacked and they stuck mines that lay under the sea resulting in loss of life and damage to the ships. The British government claimed that the Albanian government deliberately laid mines in the sea to disrupt the innocent passage rights of other nations. Also, since it had sent the two ships for mine sweeping operations, it alleged that Albania had violated the regulations in International law. It cites the articles 3 and 4 of the 8th convention of Hague of 1997 noting that Albania had violated the International law and failed to inform the other nations of the impending dangers due to the mines present in the territoria

Choose a city or neighborhood and research the effects of race and Essay

Choose a city or neighborhood and research the effects of race and class on the place - Essay Example r clarification, the subject matter centers on recent situations experienced in Brooklyn’s neighborhoods, where racial diversities may explain how the outlook and evolution in overall economic and social movements in the area. Brooklyn communities in New York City are, in a way, a melting pot of diverse ethnic groups. Contrary to what most commonly perceive, the neighborhood in Brooklyn is not primarily composed of â€Å"white† citizens. Among the overall population of 85, 343 in 2000, white non-hispanic amounted only a small portion of 0.7 %, while majority are African-Americans with 78.2%; followed by Hispanic groups with 18% (â€Å"Brooklyn Community District† 5). This shows migration patterns in Brooklyn, where minority groups, particularly the African and Hispanic descent, gain the upper hand, with their workforce drive increasing economic opportunities. The significance lies on their interaction in the communities, especially in the early parts of the 19th century, where the influx of migrating races is at its peak. In spite of the excess statistics of minority groups invading the Western territory of Brooklyn, the displacement of the original white inhabitants is not as profound as formerly assumed. Class distinctions may have been a primary incident in 18th centuries, where the rich and the poor are clearly divided; however, it seems that the later century still inspires such outlook (Scherzer 6). There is still a high degree of likelihood that low socioeconomic conditions and condensed levels of minority groups are of similar specters, paving way for poor neighborhood conditions (Weintraub 3). At most, although the urban conditions in Brooklyn is not extensively impoverished, its stability is deemed unsecured for households to live in satisfaction. The availability of several educational centers in Brooklyn, New York, from preschool to university institutions, is quite generous in number--perceiving the importance of education in the future of Brooklyn

Characters personality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Characters personality - Essay Example Vonnegut believes of love as a principality to survival. He depicts that love makes an individual’s life meaningful and worth recounting. Moreover, affection that one possesses towards another can be treasured and expressed in many ways. In his short story, ‘A Long Walk to Forever’, Vonnegut portrays how conflict, sensitivity, and essential decency depict an individual’s character. This paper discusses in depth about Catharine and Newt in the short story ‘A Long Walk to Forever’. Essentially, it outlines their character traits, their perceptions, and values in life (Vonnegut 2). Newt is depicted as a shy person since although he loves Catherine, he does not confess his feelings to her until the last moment when she is about to get married in three weeks time (Vonnegut 2). Evidently, Newt is jealous since as he discovers that Catharine is getting married to another man, he quits from his job and confesses his love for her. Although he is late in making such a confession, he is determined to have Catharine for himself. He is persistent because as Catharine explains that it is impossible for them to have a life together, he still insists of an opportunity to prove his long hidden love for her. The short story uses the word AWOL to symbolize the absence Newt makes in his place of work. He sacrifices his work for the sake of love. He fails consider the consequences that will come along his illegality of quitting the army without any proper leave. Newt is also courageous since he does everything to get the love of his life. He risks his work for the sake of Catherine’s love. As a risk taker, he does not have a second thought in his actions. Catherine goes through a magazine with an aim of choosing a wedding dress. This symbolizes her vagueness in what she needs in life. She is undecided about the dress to wear on her wedding day. She is also undecided of which man to marry. On the other hand, Catharine is irresolute. For instance, she still has feelings for Newt though she is to get married to another man. Despite her denial towards Newt, deep inside her heart is immeasurable love for Newt. As they chat in the woods, Catharine bursts in tear which force Newt to ask, ‘What does that mean?’ in fear of confessing the truth about her love for him, Catharine replies, ‘If I’d loved you, I’d have let you know before’ (Vonnegut 4). Both characters are passionate since though their love is forbidden, they make are determined to realize their dream of being together. They kiss passionately and elope just a week before Catharine is to get married to another man. As evidenced from the short story, love conquers all. This is evidenced by the fact that both Catharine and Newt later find fulfillment in each other’s arms. Catharine gives up the man he is about to marry for her true love. On the other hand, Newt gives up his job for the sake of his love for Catharine. He never gives it a second thought when he quits the army. The two characters depict the triumph they endure as they walk towards their future together (Vonnegut 5). I once lost an opportunity in life when I once had feelings towards my best friend and lacked the courage to make the proposal. I felt devastated in life and lost hope in everything. I felt that I had completely lost the battle and nothing else was to be done to change things. I could not take myself face reality and express my feelings. My friend later left for another country, and I

Marks and Spencer: Structure and Culture

Marks and Spencer: Structure and Culture 1. INTRODUCTION Marks Spencer is British institution. Opened in 1884, the company emerged as a major retailer of clothes, food, household items and financial services. By 1997, Marks Spencer was an international company with sales of over  £8 billion and very high net profit margins. However, the group experienced a shocking reversal in fortune at the turn of the 21st Century when its main customer base, women aged between 35 and 55 began to stop shopping at their stores. This posed a very serious threat to the companys survival and Marks Spencer thought hard and long about how to rectify the situation. It did so by introducing bold new moves changing its corporate culture and by strengthening existing systems and processes. By doing so, the company was able to regain its loyal customers and grow once again. Yet, the last few years have been challenging as the company was badly affected by the global economic crisis. This report outlines the changing structure and culture at Marks Spencers. It provides a comparison of the contributions of the key business functions to the organizational change. It also identifies the key stakeholders of the organization and the key issues of managing them. Finally, a SWOT analysis is done for Marks Spencer along with an assessment of its long term future prospects. 2. CHANGING CORPORATE CULTURE AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE All organizations have their own cultures, which consist of the values and beliefs shared by its members which determine to a considerable degree how managers respond to problems and opportunities. But corporate culture can become static and excessively bureaucratic over time, even among successful organizations (Huff et al, 2009). An organizational culture is powerful because it automatically shapes the way members see their world. Any culture is deeply rooted in beliefs and values that members have internalized. When beliefs and values are held without challenge for a long period of time, they are even less likely to be questioned (Robbins and Judge, 2007). The norms rarely change to accommodate those who deviate from them. Inertia sets in and employees become stuck in a rut. Employees become resistant to change and are unwilling to do things differently because they involve inconvenience and uncertainty. This could ultimately destroy the company. Like most successful organizations, Marks Spencer was a victim of its own success. Its corporate culture because inflexible, rigid and resistant to change because it was felt that since the company was successful, there was no need to change. Deeply entrenched was a sense of employee entitlement regarding remuneration and working hours. However, when it became clear that the old culture was unable to cope with changing demands of the marketplace, the top management decided on a major revamp. As a result, employees became less resistant to change and began to embrace new ways of doing things. Employees were willing to work for longer hours if it meant better pay and they were less resistant to the fact that they might lose their jobs if the company performed poorly. They were also sent for learning and education programs to equip them with new skills sets so that they were better able to cope with changes in the working environment. All these efforts contributed to the change in corporate culture which is now more dynamic and flexible. A number of major changes were also made to the organizational structure. The formal chain of command was flattened to a certain extent and in doing so the company became more agile and responsive to changes in customer demand and taste. The regional management structure was simplified to delegate more responsibility to individual store managers to give them more autonomy. 3. CONTRIBUTIONS OF KEY BUSINESS FUNCTIONS TO ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES 3.1 Finance The finance function plays a critical role at Marks Spencer in cutting costs and eliminating unnecessary expenditure. The entire value chain was examined to determine where and how costs could be trimmed. As a result, the company was able to reduce costs, provide better prices to the customers and improve its overall profitability. Ultimately, it is the shareholders who stand to gain the most from the initiatives made in terms of maximization of shareholder wealth. 3.2 Marketing To attract new customers and retain existing customers at Marks Spencer, the marketing function critically examined the cause of declining sales. The main cause negative customer perception of its main customer base women aged between 35 and 55 that the clothes sold at Marks Spencer were unfashionable and even dowdy. Therefore, the marketing function decided to split up the long-cherished St Michaels brand into a number of categories to cater for different customer needs. Consequently, the company launched three new product categories for women (www.marksandspencer.com, 2011). The first, the Perfect and Classic ranges were for basic purposes, for example jeans, sweaters and plain shirts. The second range, Autograph is for the more fashionable woman of a larger demographic group. The final range, per una, is targeted at the younger woman of ages 25 to 35 and is of average dress size. By segmenting its products for different markets, the company was able to regain most of the sales it lost. Different marketing campaigns are held for each range and this makes the companys products appear more attractive to customers. 3.3 Operations A number of critical changes were made to the companys operations. For one, the supply chain was made leaner and in doing so, the company made substantial savings. Fewer suppliers were used and this facilitated transparency and response time. The lead time was reduced and the company placed a greater emphasis on timeliness and quality. These contribute to leaner operations which lead to higher profits. 3.4 Human Resource This function is critical to the successful implementation of a strategy. The HRM function at Marks Spencer played an important role in changing employee mindset and modifying the corporate culture to be more attuned to the changes that need to occur (Hitt et al, 2004). As a result, employees were more receptive to change and aware of the sacrifices they need to make. 4. KEY STAKEHOLDERS The key stakeholders of Marks Spencer are shareholders, management, employees and customers. The following diagram shows their relative importance and power: Power of Stakeholders Meet Their Needs Key Player B, C A D Least Important Show Consideration Interest Key: A Shareholders B Management C Customers D Employees 5. MANAGING KEY STAKEHOLDERS Shareholders would like to maximize their wealth. Share maximization is through share price appreciation and dividends (Aaker, 1996). Therefore, satisfying this group would require increasing profits and the company profile. Management is concerned about maintaining control over operations. Their goals are sometimes similar to that of shareholders but in some cases they differ (Daniels et al, 2007). Hence, there is the agency problem. The employees at Marks Spencer are most concerned about job security and work conditions. Ideally, they would like jobs that pay well and have good hours. However, this may be incompatible with the goal of wealth maximization of shareholders as employee benefits will erode profits. Similarly, if employees are unionized, they may cause problems to management and reduce its influence. Hence, management must strike a balance between making employees and shareholders happy. Customers are concerned about satisfying their needs and wants. Managing them effectively would require Marks Spencer to improve its product offering to make satisfied customers who make repeat purchases. 6. SWOT ANALYSIS 6.1 (S)trengths Excellent control system for suppliers, inventory and layout of stores. Very high quality products Efficient and modern production techniques Good understanding of its core customer base. 6.2 (W)eaknesses Generic clothing that is often perceived as unfashionable An image of being boring 6.3 (O)pportunities Global expansion Utilizing more overseas suppliers to achieve cost advantage Maximize use of existing technology to obtain competitive advantage 6.4 (T)hreats Competition with premium quality clothing manufacturers Competition with discount stores Economic downturn 7. FUTURE PROSPECTS Marks Spencer is facing a very difficult time. After its successful business turnaround, it is once again facing problems due to the recession. Indeed the next few years may be a very difficult time for the company. Not only is it facing competition from high end retailers but discount stores as well. Meanwhile, the middle class is shrinking and if the company does not take bold steps, it may collapse. To succeed, the company must grow its market share by penetrating new markets or new product lines. 8. CONCLUSION Marks Spencer is a company with a long history of success. To overcome its current difficulties, it must draw on its strengths, overcome its weaknesses and revamp its strategy to stay relevant and competitive.

THEME ON EMILY DICKINSON :: essays research papers

Poems of Emily Dickinson Thesis of my paper that I am trying to prove to the reader is that Emily Dickinson is a brilliant extraordinary writer. She talks about mortality and death within her life and on paper in her poem works. Although she lived a seemingly secluded life, Emily Dickinson's many encounters with death influenced many of her poems and letters. Perhaps one of the most ground breaking and inventive poets in American history, Dickinson has become as well known for her bizarre and eccentric life as for her incredible poems and letters. Numbering over 1,700, her poems highlight the many moments in a 19th century New England woman's life, including the deaths of some of her most beloved friends and family, most of which occurred in a short period of time (Introduction, Paragraph 2). In many short poems, several readers or critics of Dickinson point out her methods of exploring several topics in "circumference," as she says in her own words. Death is perhaps one of the best examples of this exploration and examination. Other than one trip to Washington and Philadelphia, several excursions to Boston to see a doctor and a few short years in school, Dickinson never left her hometown of Amherst, Massachusetts. In the latter part of her life she rarely left her large brick house, and communicated even to her beloved sister through a door often left "slightly ajar." This seclusion gave her a reputation for eccentricity to the local towns' people, and perhaps increased her interest in death (The Belle Of Amherst, Dickinson). Some knew Dickinson in Amherst as, "the New England mystic,". Her only contact to her few friends and correspondents was through a series of letters, seen as some authors and critics to be equal not only in number to her poetic works, but in literary genius as well (Introduction Dickinson). Explored thoroughly in her works, death seems to be a dominating theme through out Dickinson's life. Dickinson, although secluded and isolated, had a few encounters with love; two perhaps serious affairs were documented in her letters and poems. But, since Dickinson's life was so private the exact identity of these people remains unsure. What is known, is during the Civil War, worried for her friends and families' lives, death increased in frequency to be a dominant theme in her writings. After 1878, the year of her influential father's death, (a treasurer of Amherst College, and a member of the Congress), this theme increased with each passing of friend or family, peaking perhaps with the death of the two men she loved (The Belle of Amherst, Dickinson).

Hrm and Employment Relationships

HRM and Employment Relationships Employment Relationship Employment Relationship can economical, social and political relationship in which employees provide manual and mental labour in exchange for reward from employers (Gospel and Palmer 1993) There are 4 Dimensions within the employment relationship * Economic exchange – Wage-effort bargain * Socio-political – Power * Legal/Contractual * Psychological contract/social exchange Contract of employment is formed when an offer of employment is made and accepted There are 3 ‘types’ of contract in the employment relationship (Schein 1980): 1. Formal – Economic and legal; 2. Informal – Reflecting the social norms in the workplace (the organisational ‘culture’) and those in wider society about how people should treat each other (‘Natural justice’); 3. Psychologrcal (implicit ‘contract’ made up of unspoken expectations and obligations). The Psychological Contract of Employment A set of unwritten reciprocal expectations between an individual employee and the organisation’ (Schein 1977) Positive psychological contract through particular configurations of HR policies and practices * Behavioural and performance outcomes such as job satisfaction, employee commitment, motivation and lowered intention to quit. The Explicit Contract of employment An agreement between two parties enforceable by law†¦ a contract of service and comes into being when an employee agrees to work for an employer in return for pay’ (ACAS) * Accumulation of rights and responsibilities for both parties * The terms of a contract can be: * Express (explicitly agreed between the parties, either in writing or orally) * Implied (not explicitly agreed but which would be taken by the parties to form part of the contract Control VS Commitment With the evolution of people management there is now more of a focus on control. The logic of control Direct control * Low trust employment relationship * Strict supervision and task specification * Subordination of labour to capital. Responsible autonomy High trust commitment relationships A degree of worker discretions and responsibility Edwards (1979) developed this analysis by identifying two ‘structural’ strategies for control: Technical control -built into machinery and technology (Fordist) Bureaucratic control -Control via internal labour markets, career structures and the position of individuals relative to one another with regard to job security, status and ‘rank’. Social control Conformity and compliance with a set of formal or informal rules Internalisation of norms and values of a group Handy (1976), referring to organisations in their broadest possible sense (not only work organisations), identifies three types of psychological contract: Coercive * Contract is not entered into freely (e. . prisons) * Majority dominated by minority who exercise control by rule/punishment * Emphasis on conformity. Calculative * Contract is entered into freely but control is maintained by management * Power is expressed in terms of their ability to give desired rewards to the individual. Co-operative * Individual tends to identify with the goals of the organisation and strive for their attainment through individual effort. * Effort is based on the degree the individual has input in the company's goals. Commitment is closely associated with motivation, but whereas motivation is focused mainly on the individual, commitment is more strongly associated with the individual’s attachment to, and identification with, the work organisation and the organisation’s goals’ (Blyton ; Jenkins 2008; 139) Employee commitment and association with the aims and values of the firm are the mediating link between HR policies and practices and enhanced individual and organisational performance Relationship reflects form of ‘labour’ involved and that can be ‘bought’ in this exchange: * Physical * Mental (‘thinking’) * Emotional (‘the act of expressing organisationally-desired emotions during service transactions’: Morris ; Feldman 1996; 987) * Aesthetic (‘looking good’ or ‘sounding right’: Nickson et al. 2003).

Solar Energy Consultancy

Solar Energy Consultancy Introduction In the contemporary world, human beings have identified solar power as one of the most essential sources of electricity power. Therefore, they have harnessed the radiant heat, in addition to, light from the sun in a process that uses a wide scope of technologies, which are ever evolving.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Solar Energy Consultancy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to the findings of the research conducted by Schaper Volery (2007, p. 55), it is indicated that some of the technologies largely attributed with solar energy include solar thermal electricity, solar architecture as well as solar photovoltaic among other crucial technologies. Sometimes, many regions of the world experience urgent problems relating to power but considering the solar technologies, they can be of great help during such times. With the advent of solar technology, many solar energy consultancy groups have surf aced, not only in Australia but in the entire world, as well. Solar energy consultancy groups play a key role in the solar energy industry. One of the major contributions that the solar energy consultancy groups make includes conducting household inspection and thereby giving the clients a report indicating the solar options for their particular households, in addition to sites. This can indeed range full-fledged general solar installation that generates electricity to simple solar walk away lighting (Galbraith, 2001, p. 43). Thesis Statement Due to the rising demands for alternative energy in households and factories, there is a need to establish a consultancy business in the field of solar energy. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to formulate a solar energy business model based in Melbourne, Australia.Advertising Looking for report on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For the purpose of a comprehensive coverage of all the areas required for the establishment of a solar energy consulting business, several aspects will be considered. These will include; a clear and precise of a solar energy business concept, declaration as well as an explanation of the mission statement, industry as well as market analysis, identifying the management team, development of products and services, the financial considerations, timelines and finally assumptions. Discussion The concept solar energy consultancy business Energy Saving Efficient energy use is a commonly used term and it refers to the target of attempts aimed at mitigating the energy amount necessary to offer both goods as well as services. Renewable energy such as solar energy is attributed largely to the efficient use of energy. Timmons Spinelli (2007, p. 89) indeed supported this by indicating in his research findings that energy efficiency, in addition to, renewable energy is twin pillars of sustainable energy. Solar ener gy is largely used as an alternative due to its efficiency. Households and industries in Melbourne, Australia that use solar energy can be identified as using energy efficiently because, as compared to other non-renewable sources of energy, the use of costs as well as resources is greatly mitigated. Indeed, the only cost involved is during buying and installation, in addition to maintaining the installation, which is done rarely. With many households and industries in Melbourne adopting the efficient use of energy, there is a need to provide consultancy services, which include installation, servicing among other consultancy services.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Solar Energy Consultancy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For a person intending to become a consultant in the field of solar energy in Australia, it is herculean important, to start by seeking employment in a company that deals with solar products. The rationale for this is that the person will become knowledgeable in the field of solar energy and as such, it is the start point on route to become a solar energy consultant. Once a person establishes himself as a solar energy consultant in the Australian market, it is indicated in the findings of the research conducted by Grave Zacharakis (2008, p. 77) that, one should not become affiliated with any one company or even product. Further, Grave Zacharakis (2008, p. 79) asserts that, once a person becomes a solar energy industry consultant, he must be able to recommend, not only products but options, as well, across the field of solar energy. Vision Statement The objective of this solar energy consultancy is to provide a low level cost, environmentally friendly, in addition to, an innovative energy power to consumers within Melbourne and its environs through energy generating systems which are not only highly efficient, but cost effective, as well (Horngren, 2002, p. 24). Industry /M arket Analysis The solar energy industry’s background and its present status The consultancy business will be based on the Australian energy industry. To be more precise, the business competes in the non-renewable segment of the energy industry in Australia. In the last four years, the business has had average annual sales of $ 1,000,000. The last four years have been important for the business. As such, the business has experienced tremendous growth and this has been evidenced by the amount of sales made in the past four years. Generally, the sales have been increasing each year and this is a clear implication that the company is gaining ground. Based on the current growth experience, it is being forecasted that the trend will continue as long as the current practices are not only maintained but be continuously improved, as well.Advertising Looking for report on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The consultancy business, having been established six years ago, can be identified as in the rapid growth stage. This assertion is evident considering the last four years. Currently, the management of the business has embarked on development plans where is wants to invest further in renewable power generating program. However, several issues are currently facing the business. Foremost, the competent service men are less in number. However, the management has established a viable plan through which the most competent consultancy servicemen will be recruited to form part of the team. The solar energy consultancy business can be identified as currently being dominated by Melbourne’s open markets. Competitiveness The concentration of solar energy consultancy industry Industry concentration is a term used to define the measure of the number of organizations as well as the size of the organizations, which are considered predominant in the given industry. In a more precise way, indu stry concentration describes the nature of the competition within a particular industry. In the case of Australian solar energy consultancy industry, there are a number of key players. Among the big consultancy groups include Adopt a Light consultancy group, Glowing Light Consultants LTD as well as The Renewable Consultants Limited. Considering these consultancy firms, they rule a considerable market share. According to the conclusions of the research conducted by Knight and Thomas (2012, p. 23), it is indicated that Adopt a Light consultancy group commands a 20 percent market share while Glowing Light Consultants LTD commands a 15 percent market share. In a similar research conducted by Wade (2008, p. 177), it is indicated in the findings that The Renewable Consultants Limited has taken up a massive 22 percent of the market share in the solar energy consultancy industry. Generally, there are a significant number of solar energy consultancy firms. However, these firms are perceived as not posing a significant threat to this company. Clearly, the Renewable Consultants Limited is the dominant leader in the solar energy consultancy industry. However, the other two consultancy groups as well as our company pose as a threat to the proclaimed industry leader. Competition from other products Our products as well as services are competitive in nature. However, according to a recent research conducted by this consultancy group, it was found out that there are other consultancy groups within Melbourne that offer the same competitive services as well as products that we offer to the clients. Therefore, the management of this consultancy business quickly acted on the recommendations indicated in the research by establishing measures to differentiate the business’ products and services from competitive ones in the eyes of the solar energy clients (Inwood, 2007, p. 16). As such, the top management of this group embarked on the branding differentiation strategy. Barri ers to entry Generally, there are few requirements that a company must comply with before being granted entry into the consultancy industry in Australia. Further, one must provide sufficient proof to show that he has a considerable knowledge and experience with the solar energy products and services. This implies that the entry to the industry is relatively less complicated. This is the possible reason why there are various consultancy groups in the industry. The easiness to admission favors new entrants, who are considered to be prospective competitors, as they enters the solar energy market during the periods in which high profits are being achieved and therefore expanding the capacity to produce. This is a major drawback to the existing businesses as it leads to prices of the consultancy products as well as services to be driven down and similarly, the profitability level lowers down. However, the government realized that there is a condition of unhealthy competition and as such, it has established new regulations that will ensure that the entry to the industry is complicated (Shapiro, 2002, p. 54). This implies that the competitors will find it hard to enter into the industry and as such, the profit margin of this consultancy group will remain favorable. Some of the new requirements that the government has established include; Limited access to market This will greatly favor the group as it has products as well services that are not only well branded but well established, as well. If a new competitor is lucky enough to gain entry, it will have to spend a considerable amount of time money as well as efforts in an effort towards establishing a successful product as well as the service (Barber, 2011, p. 559). Limited access to technology The Australian government has sought to limit the patent technology, in addition to, other intellectual property and as such, it is a great boost to this company as new competition is not imminent. Supply chain concentration Industry rivalry The rivalry between the consultancy groups in the Australian industry, especially in Melbourne, is intense. This means that the company must be continually vigilant on the improved practices that the competitors are engaging in and therefore establish practices that are more viable in an effort towards vending competition off (Altman, 2008, p. 600) Market Trends In the recent past, the sensitivity of the price of solar energy consultancy products as well as services has changed in a significant way. Further, the demand for a variety as well as the level of emphasis on consultancy service, in addition to, support has changed. Another relevant change that has taken place in the near past is regional trends. This consultancy group sees these changes as vital since, through them, it is easy to establish new opportunities, in addition top, threats. Key Success Factors This consultancy group has access to essential resources, which are unique. In addition to this, the gro up has the capabilities of achieving economies of scale in the solar energy consultancy industry. The group also has an access to solar energy consultancy services and products’ distribution channel. Further, the group has experienced an excellent technological progress. The company sees these as key success factors and as such, they are essential, as they will assist the company in its efforts towards achieving the marketing objectives. However, the company is aware that these key success factors will change going into the future, especially as the consultancy products as well as the service progresses through their life cycle (Mills, 2008, p. 55). Distribution Channels Existing channels of distribution The consultancy group ensures that it contacts its clients in a direct manner. Trends and emerging Distribution channels The company has recently embarked on efforts aimed at discovering new distribution channels for its consultancy products as well as services in an effort t owards developing a competitive advantage, in addition to, enhancing its market share. Channel power structure The brands that the consultancy owns have little brand equity. This implies that the consultancy group has power over the manufacturers and therefore, the company has the ability to capture higher margins. The Consultancy’s management team Foremost, the company had adopted a hierarchical structure. A hierarchical organizational structure is essential as it helps the personnel understand where they fit in the organizational hierarchy as well as where they can move after they are moved from their positions. Analysts These are junior most employees in the company. Each analyst of the consultancy holds a bachelor’s degree from a university having majored in a field, which is business related. The company acknowledges this as the entry-level position and as such, the position offers the ability to further move up within the consultancy business after a specified pe riod. In this case, the company requires that for one to be promoted, he must have been an analyst in the same company for a period of two years. Consultants According to Engestrom (2005), consultants are key elements as they form the bulk of any consultancy business. The people in this position were either former analysts or they were admitted directly to this position having met the company’s requirements for this position, that is, holding a Maters in Business Administration. Partners This is where the top management team falls. Partners are the senior most members of any particular consultancy business. In this company, the partners act as consultants, in addition to, assuming a managerial role. The most important thing is that partners are part of the owners of the consultancy business and therefore, they have a share in the revenues of the business. Below is the full list as well as the roles of the partners. The chief Executive Officer The Chief Executive Officer has b een mandated with the responsibilities of helping the households as well as the industries that use solar energy to face the unique challenges emanating from the adoption of solar power as the source of energy. He ensures this by leading in solar energy’s planning retreats, facilitates meetings, in addition to, conducting surveys of both the employees as well as the customers. The chief executive officer is involved in a number of roundtable energy saving education sessions. In addition to this, he chairs and speaks at many seminars covering solar energy industry strategies to success as well as solar methodologies suitable for energy consultancy business (Ayres, 2004, p. 28). Further, the chief executive officer of this company develops and monitors the company’s marketing strategies for the solar energy clients. Director of finance The person occupying this position is required to optimize the cash flows. Further, he is required to streamline the financial processes of the company. In addition, he is responsible with productivity enhancement, introduction of improvements in the processes as well as implementing solutions through technology. Operations Manager This docket concerns several management aspects, which include operations and implementation, management of finance, management of products and services both strategic planning and positioning and technology development, in addition to, support. Human Resources Manager The person in this position will be responsible for the management of the employees of the company. However, he will be required to focus keenly on the management of benefits, relations as well as payrolls of the employees. He will oversee the human resource functions in this company (Brigham, 2004, p. 233). Information Technology Manager A person who is considered a pragmatic technologist holds this position and as such, he is responsible with the application of technology for the sake of the company’s value, in addi tion to advantage. Business development manager This position is responsible for the performance of the sales quota, development of new businesses, founding and building strong relationships with the company’s customers, as well as, the effective management of territories, time and working teams. Service manager This position is responsible with the maintenance of a special focus on the management of information. Service Development It is made clear by Vaughan (2007, p. 55) that successive product and service development does not necessarily have to do with products. Rather, it involves the establishment of the needs, which the customer may not even be aware of and thereby developing solutions in an effort towards meeting those needs. This consultancy group will mainly dwell on service offerings. As such, the company will provide a solar energy consultancy service to its clients. For precision, the company will offer advice to the solar energy clients regarding the efficient way to save energy. As such, saving energy is the hidden need that the solar energy clients are not aware. In order to provide the best consultancy solution to this need, the company will adopt the ideation session technique. As such, the company will embark on conducting internal ideation sessions, that is, with the company employees, as well as external sessions, that is with the potential customers, in order to explore what might be possible (Krishna, 2001, p. 13). Further, the ideation session will be effective in understanding the goals of the customers as well as the most effective way to meet these goals. In addition to this, the ideation sessions will be essential, as it will be used to establish the best practices that the consultancy can apply in both the short term as well as in the long term. Further service development strategies, the consultancy business will engage in intermediary services whereby it will sell energy services from big companies at discounted rates. Ho wever, in doing this, the top management team will ensure that there is no instance the company will become affiliated with any one company. Through this, the top management team will have acknowledged the rule of consultancy, which states that; to be a consultant, it is not recommended to become affiliated with any one company or product. Financial Considerations Initial start up costs Since the company has no operating premises of its own, renting is inevitable. A team will be assigned the duty of identifying a building to set up the consultancy business premises. As such, the identified place should be rational in terms of costs, in addition to, being at strategic points where it is easily accessible. The equipments needed for this consultancy business operation includes computers, furniture, stationeries, safes, printers and photocopiers, among other equipments. These equipments will be essential in supporting the consultancy activities. The general outlay to be provided in orde r to acquire these equipments is approximated to be sixteen million dollars. In order to come up with the prices that will be charged for the services rendered to the clients, the company will establish a team to conduct an intensive research on the prices that other similar businesses charge for their services. However, during an initial research done by the company, it was established that the charges depend on the complexity of the issue at hand. Generally, the solar energy consultancy services range from as low as a hundred dollars to as high as a thousand dollars. Other costs that the clients will incur apart from the consultancy service charges will include installation costs as well as maintenance costs. As a way to market the company towards reaching a competitive advantage, the top management team will identify activities, which will be offered for free and as such, they will be considered as after sales services. Such will include clean up of the installed system among oth er activities. These events will not be included in the financial reports of the companies after the end of a financial year. Profit margin The company is targeting a profit margin of one million dollars after all the deductions have been made, that is, after considering tax on returns and interests to shareholders, among other deductions. In order to realize this budget, the financial department will be required to come up with a focused budget showing how processes will be funded. In addition to this, the financial department will have to come up with a budget that clearly outlines the sources of cash flows. The group’s future planning Time Line The essence of developing a future planning time line is to help the consultancy business focus on the prize irrespective of the stage that the company is in currently. First year After the end of the first year, the business plan of this consultancy group that it intends to start with will be re-read. The rationale behind re-readin g it in after the first year is that updates will be made, and if there is a need, the goals or even schedules of the company will be revised. In addition to this, re-reading the business plan will ensure that the management of the company is re-acquainted with the goals that were made at the starting point, which the management lost touch with during the cumbersome startup days. Going into the second year, these goals will be fixed. Second through to the fifth year Both the processes as well as the procedures that the company will have developed during the first year will be formalized in this period. In this period, the basic goal will be getting adequate information from the people and putting it on paper. Further, the procedures for operations will be written down in a manual during this period and this will prove to be of great importance. It is being considered that it will assist in helping the management of the company to think through the elements associated with the critic al tasks of the consultancy business (Hirt, 2012, p, 71). It is advisable to have a system in the organization, which is not only rational but reputable, as well. Such a system is of great value as the business plan for the first phase of sustained growth. After entering the first growth phase, that is, in the third year the company will begin the process of hiring people in large numbers that it will have done before. This process of bringing new people will be fool proofed by the management team embarking on writing down job descriptions for each and every position, whether existing or newly established. Kerzner (2009, p. 19) states that a well documented and thought of job descriptions is essential, as they help in identifying and hiring the most suitable people for the right jobs. During this period, the top management will have to consider the face that this consultancy business will present to the customers. Messages, images, in addition to other viable marketing materials wil l be codified. As such, the processes used in sales and marketing will be standardized. When the company grows too large at some particular point such that it will not be possible to manage in the hands-on way it was initially done, it will be taken as a call to bring in a management team. As the company grows during this period, it will need bigger capital and the initial sources will not be appealing. Therefore, the company will turn to banks and other lending facilities. By this time, the company will have grown larger and as such, the issue of creditworthiness will not be a problem (Matt, 2009, p. 33). As the company progresses, there will be a need for documentations. Therefore, bookkeeping procedures will have to be adopted. Further, there will be generation of not only regular but accurate financial reports, as well. These will include cash flow projections, income statements, in addition to balance sheets. Fifth to tenth year The company will embark on more sophisticated bus iness operations such as mergers and acquisitions. Assumptions The main assumption is that the accumulated funds will favor an effective entry into the solar energy consultancy business. Further, it is postulated that the current growth pattern of the consultancy industry will remain the same especially at the time this business will be making an entry. References Altman, E. 2008, ‘Strategic Management’, American Journal of Management, Vol. 2 no. 3, 589–609. Ayres, F. 2004, ‘Key Success Factors: What Managers Need to Know’, Journal of Management, Vol. 3 no. 2, 27–29. Barber, B. 2011, ‘PESTEL Analysis’, Journal of Strategic Management, Vol. 66 no. 2, 531–563. Brigham, E. F. 2004, Fundamentals of Financial Management, Cengage Learning, Belmont. Engestrom, U. 2005, Consultancy Business Manifesto. Web. Galbraith, M. 2001, Guide to Consultancy Business Planning, Masters Thesis, Oxford Digital Thesis Program 2000. Oxford Digital Thesis Program. Grave, B. Zacharakis, A. 2008, Entrepreneurship, Wiley Sons, Hoboken NJ. Hirt, G. A. 2012, Corporate Management Foundations, McGraw-Hill Irwin, London, UK. Horngren, C 2002. Market Analysis, Prentice-Hall, London, UK. Inwood, M. 2007, Heidegger; A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Kerzner, H. 2009, ‘Business Management: A Systems Approach to Planning and scheduling†, Journal of Management, Vol. 9 no. 5, 11-20. Knight, J. Thomas., P 2012, Reaching the clients: Distribution and Promotion of a business operation, Intellect Books, Bristol, UK. Krishna, P. 2001, ‘Introduction to Industry Analysis and Valuation’ Journal of Strategic Management, Vol. 6 no. 2, 9-16. Matt, D. 2009, ‘Approaches to Strategic Management’, American Journal of Management, Vol. 6 no. 6, 30-36. Mills, J. 2008, ‘Future Planning for a company’, Journal of Management, Vol. 6 no. 8, 53–61. Print. Schaper, M. Volery, T. 2007, Entrepreneurship and Small Business, John Wiley and Sons, Milton QLD. Shapiro, A. C. 2002, Foundations of Multinational Management, Wiley, London, UK. Timmons, J. Spinelli, S. 2007, New Venture Creation: Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, Boston, MA. Vaughan, D. 2007. The Challenger Launch Decision: Technology, Culture, and Management, Springer, London, UK. Wade, D. 2008, How to deal with competition, ProQuest, Michigan.

Excuse me!

Excuse me! Excuse me! Excuse me! By Maeve Maddox Brad K brings up some interesting questions about three words used in a variety of ways: So, what is the choice, between Excuse me and Pardon me? I am looking for an alternative to a phrase I keep misusing, Im sorry, but . . .. Â  The part that bothers me is that I use this phrase even when I have been offended and am not sorry about interrupting or contradicting . . er .. someone. excuse (verb) early 13c., to clear (someone) from blame, from O.Fr. escuser, from L. excusare release from a charge, from ex- out, away + causa accusation, legal action NOTE: the s in the verb excuse is pronounced with the /z/ sound [Ä ­k-skyÃ… «z]. The s in the noun excuse is pronounced with the /s/ sound [(Ä ­k-skyÃ… «s]. pardon (verb) to refrain from exacting due punishment from someone sorry (adjective) Pained at heart; distressed, sad; full of grief or sorrow. All three terms are used with various meanings in different contexts, but in polite conversation they have the weakened sense of expressing a courteous apology for some minor social offense. Excuse me and pardon me are uttered for offenses that range from jostling someone to belching. They are also used when addressing a stranger, or when one hasnt understood something and wants it repeated. Im sorry can express mere sympathy or apology. Like the other two expressions, it can also be used to introduce a contradiction: Im sorry, but I cant agree that cats dont show affection. Ive recently developed an aversion to the use of Excuse me! spoken belligerently in the sense of How dare you say what you just said? A character in a TV drama I was watching the other night said the expression numerous times in response to remarks that he found insulting. It quickly became tiresome. The Online Etymology Dictionary offers this information about the three words: Excuse me: use as a mild apology or statement of polite disagreement is from c.1600 Pardon: weaker sense of excuse for a minor fault is attested from 1540s. Sorry: Apologetic sense (short for Im sorry) is attested from 1834; phrase sorry about that popularized 1960s by U.S. TV show Get Smart. The overuse of Im sorry as a form of self-effacement is not a good thing. But, like the dear in Dear Sir, these words dont have to signify an emotional or truthful engagement with the person addressed. They are lubrication words like please and thank youpolite words that grease the wheels of social interaction. 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 Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Comma After i.e. and e.g.What to Do When Words Appear Twice in a RowWhen to Spell Out Numbers

Government policy - case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Government policy - case study - Essay Example In the case of country A, the government's goal is clear. They want to liberalize the agricultural markets while simultaneously choking off available credit for local farmers so as to bring greater productivity to their agriculture sector. They believe this is central to developing a modern economy. Moreover, they believe that if they bring rural workers/farmers into the cities and get them working in modern industrial positions greater amounts of investment funds would follow the low cost of industrial labor. The government also welcomes free trade with their neighbors, and even welcomes the competition from neighboring agriculture producers because of the attractive macro-economic predictions normally associated with free trade. However, the policy and those macro predictions fail on a micro level, due to insensitivity to the way the local families live. Clearly delineated, sexual roles, where men earn the money and women feed their families form the groundwork of the rural family, and have turned corn production in country A into a question of sexual and familiar identity.

What is a small power Is international development a different issue Essay

What is a small power Is international development a different issue for small powers - Essay Example China's economy, culture, science and technology and navigation had reached a peak that was unequaled anywhere else in the world. Its skilled navigators and the "Silk Road" linking western China with western Asia had introduced advanced Chinese technology and civilization to Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, the Middle West Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Years of war and long periods of centralized ruling and a closing down of borders have slowed down China's development. China re-emerged recently as the fastest growing economy in the world. The development goals of China are not without its challenges and this paper seeks to explore different challenges facing China with regard to challenges. Cultural Revolution began in the mid-1960s in China. With the start of this revolution many people started having radical leftist thinking. Initially, intellectual achievement and foreign ideas, and the professions, including management, were not considered important. Formal management education was hard to find in China and those having a yearning for managerial education were discouraged. Social, political, and economic changes have brought about new development in the republic of China. Initially problems like poverty, illiteracy, and premature mortality haunted China because of the feudal structure of the society. Progress and development were not the key features of this society. Land reforms started in the 1950s and 1960s brought some changes in the society with the help of modernization. Class and gender inequalities that existed before started diminishing with the passage of time. Though China opened up itself to many Western concepts but the way different concepts have been adopted and used in China differ a lot from the West. The change was initiated but it could not be sustained at the level it was initiated. The Chinese Communist Party has not been able to shun the values and influence of feudal background. Population & Development In any discussion of the world population problem, China is usually first country mentioned, along, perhaps, with India. As the first nation with more than 1 billion people, China's impact on its own as well as global economy and environment promises to become larger with each passing year. Population explosion has been the biggest concern of China with respect to its development. As the population increased the demands on the infrastructure and the environment also increased. It has been estimated that China's population will increase to 1.5 billion by 2030 causing extra strains on the capacity of the environment and natural resources. "China's population will continue to grow in the next 40 years as a result of its huge base of fertile population. It is well known that the dynamics are determined not only by the current levels of fertility, mortality and migration, but also by previous levels of these components of change, which effect the current age-gender structure" (Shen, 1998). Problems of living space for families, access to potable water resources, health, education and many other issues come up as a result of unbridled population explosion. Pace of modernization has been greatly affected by population pressure. The immense employment pressure also results because of increase in the working population. Unemployment thus becomes another challenge. Despite growing population efforts have been made to curtail the problems that crop

Leadership in a Police Organization Research Paper

Leadership in a Police Organization - Research Paper Example By calling the attention of the harassing officers, I will also show that I do not condone the improper behavior and hope that my subordinates will adopt my example. Because the people in a police organization depend on each other, at times, even for their lives, there is a strong bond of loyalty tying one to the other which discourages them from speaking about each other’s misconducts. The whistleblowers broke this bond. As their leader, I will publicly applaud their courage to stick to their principles and go against the norm. By doing so, I am subconsciously sending a message to the harassing officers that upholding the law should start amongst those enforcing it. Hopefully, this loyalty to principle will end the harassment and encourage the rest to behave appropriately. (Mullen, A., 2000)Â  It is difficult to be a new leader in an environment such as a police organization. The relationship among its members is bound by a certain sense of devotion that can sometimes cause one to act unethically. However, it is a trait of a good leader to be able to assess the situation and take appropriate action which would serve as an inspiration.

The Olympic Games Essay Example for Free

The Olympic Games Essay Introduction: The Olympic Games is one of the earliest Pan-Hellenic festival as well as its modern revival. The Games as held today, is the largest showcase and competition of the world’s best athletic skills and sportsmanship. It embodies and promotes nationalism, politics and commerce among competing nations. The coming together for participation promotes unity among nations while national pride upholds the competitive spirit. The existence of such opposing elements during Olympic Games can be found not only today but could also be traced during its early versions. Their high ideal, as opposed to commercialism and politics has been observed even from its ancient celebrations. The origin of the early games is obscure but the date of the first festival is traditionally 776 B.C. at Olympia. This was the year from which the Greeks dated their chronology in Olympiads and about the same year that Homer was born. Thereafter, the festival was held in quadrennials in celebration of each new Olympiad (or every after four years). The festivities were closely related with religious rites but it also includes athletic contests, oratory, music, poetry, and other art forms. It was during the late 19th century that the Olympic Games were revived as an international athletic contest, retaining the ideals of the original Olympian festival and some of the events in its modified form. Although its initial revival was successful, it was not spared from a few hurdles. Over the years, the Games continued to attract international participants. About 203 countries are now involved in the Olympics, as compared to 14 participating countries way back in 1896. The current numbers of participating countries are markedly higher than the recognized 193 countries by the United Nations. Reason of which comes from the International Olympic Committee’s regulations, which allows nations that had not been duly recognized by the United Nations to participate and compete. Consequently, colonies of other member nation are allowed to organize their own Olympic teams and make representations even though their athletes hold the same citizenship of another competing nation. Taiwan for example, used to compete as â€Å"Republic of China†, causing conflict with the People’s Republic of China, which refused to participate until 1980. Taiwan thereafter, competed with the official name â€Å"Chinese Taipei†. In fact, the next Olympic Games will be held in 2008 at Beijing. China is now busy in its preparation as 2008 Olympics host. Countries vying to host the Games have to accommodate large numbers of athletes, tourists, and journalists. The growth of the number of people involved in the Games’ celebration is one of the major concerns that organizers continually face. Nevertheless, the Olympics are one of the most awaited and popular major world events today. Ancient Olympics: As the world looks on with anticipation as the years draw nearer (and with great preparation) for the coming of the next Olympic games, one cannot but help to look back from its origin. Despite its popularity, its ancient origins had been shrouded in obscurity. The ancient festivities are quite different compared to the modern version of the Games. It had lesser number of events to compete on.   Foremost criteria for athletes are having the ability to speak Greek, and that only free men were allowed to compete.  Ã‚   Olympia is the official site of every festivity of the ancient Olympic Games, in contrast to the current practice wherein hosts countries differ from every celebration. Despite the accepted tradition that 776 B.C. marked the first Olympiad, it seems reasonably certain that the Olympic Games were instituted prior to that time. But there are various stories about the origin of the Olympics. It is probable that the Olympian festival developed from the custom of holding athletic contests in honor of a god or dead hero. Some believed that the Games might have been closely associated with funeral rites, such as those at the funeral of Patroclus, as described by Homer in the Iliad. Achilles, Patroclus’ best friend, held games for  Ã‚   Patroclus’ honor as part of the funeral service. It included boxing, wrestling, a chariot race, and footrace. Later, they may have been held at regular intervals to honor all who had died within that period. According to the poet Pindar, in the 15th century B.C., Heracles instituted the Olympic Games as a celebration for his victory over Elis and killing King Augeas. Another legend has it that when dissension ravaged Greece, Iphitus was ordered by an oracle to restore the Games. Pausanias, a Greek traveler, tells of a bronze desk in the Heraeum at Olympia, inscribed in the rules of the Games and with the names of Lycurgus and Iphitus. Pausanias also relates that according to ancient archives of the people of Elis, the Game’s founder was attributed to Idean Heracles and was responsible for giving the name to the Olympian contests. The Games started when he challenged his brothers to a footrace at Olympia. Another account, according to Pausinias, relates that Zeus himself initiated the first Olympiad when he contended with his father Cronus for the sovereignty of heaven and control of the world; and that Zeus proclaimed the Games after his victory. Another legend states that the Games was established after the Greek hero Pelops won against King Oenomaus in a chariot race in a bid to marry Oenomaus’ daughter, Hippodamia. Although it is uncertain as to who is truly responsible for the initiation of the Games, Olympia had always been the consistent site where the Games’ events were held. This is not surprising since even before 776 B.C., Olympia had been the site of cult worship for Zeus. It is located far from human residences, majestically overlooked by a hill, and the River Alph flowing through it (a river considered sacred by the Greeks). It was held in midsummer at Olympia in the northwest part of the Peloponnesus where a stadium and a temple to Zeus were built on the eastern and northern banks of the rivers Alpheus and Claudeus. During the Hellenic era this sanctuary became the symbol of the Greek’s devotion to physical beauty and the training of mind and body to the highest state of coordination. The ancient Olympics had four types of races. First type of race requires runners to sprint the full length of the stadium, about 192 meters long. This is called a STADION. The second type is called a 2-STADE race, about 384 meters. Then there were races, which entail its competitors to run wearing armor in 2 or 4- STADE. It is good to note that a standard armor at this time could weigh as much as 50 to 60 lbs. Though this might seem ridiculous for modern standards, but the Greeks were particularly concerned with improving its chances over battles. Greeks have made use of the Games as an opportunity to help build the speed and endurance among its men when they are called to render military service (â€Å"Ancient Olympic Games†). By 724 B.C., diaulos was introduced. Later, the dolichos was added which require 12 laps. Perhaps one of the major reasons for emphasizing running in the events could also be related to the Greek’s idea that excellent soldiers possess good speed and stamina. An all-power race, called Pancreaton, combines all kinds of physical attack. The tremendous importance of the Olympic Games dates from the sixth century B.C. when Sparta attained preeminence among the Greek states. At first Pisa, a city-state was in control of the Olympic Games, but Elis, a neighboring city-state to the North, had usurped control by 572 B.C. In time, Olympia became the center of a federation, and the Games began to achieve a more than local significance. Powerful Sparta formed an alliance with Elis; and thus it came about that Elis controlled the religious aspects of the Olympic festival, while Sparta was the official â€Å"protector† of the Games, spreading its own fame and prestige. It was the political supervisor, enacting and enforcing the â€Å"sacred truce†, which even during wars permitted Hellenes to come from all parts of Greece and the Greek colonies to compete in the great Olympic Games. The Games came to constitute the one international bond that held through all wars and differences. From 776 to  Ã‚   721 B.C., the list of the victors included only the names of Eleans and their neighbors. Later, Megarians, Corinthians, Athenians, and others appear as winners. Religion The ancient Olympics always had a religious element; not only that a myth considered Zeus as the initiator of the Games every festivity was held in his honor. Moreover, Zeus was believed to have a hand over the results of the Games: those he favored were believed to become the victors while athletes who did not will ever have any chances for winning on the competition. Pindar’s victory-ode credits victory among champions to their talents and through the unseen influence of the gods. Cheating and bribery were not alien even those early times, and so those that were caught were fined. The money goes for building projects such as a cult statue of their chief god, Zeus. Grand celebration in Zeus honor is done all throughout the Games. The people would offer sacrifices and Zeus is petitioned to keep off flies from the meat, Zeus being considered the â€Å"averter of flies†. While burnt offerings were given, the temple priest would examine the sacrifices. The priest pronounces great oracles in Zeus honor and continues to give ambiguous prediction of the things to come. Athletes base their chances of winning over the competition through these oracles. As an expression of the Greek’s idea, the Olympic games continued to thrive as a Pan-Hellenic institution. While it would seem distant for modern man how a religious festivity came to be expressed through athletic competition, it must be remembered that Zeus was honored by the Greeks through the harmonious blending of mind and body. Surviving the independence of the Greek states, they continued through Macedonia and Roman times. Cedrenus, a Greek writer of the 11th century, declared that the Olympic festivals ceased to function after A.D. 392. The Tempe of Zeus was destroyed by the Christians or Goths during the reign of Theodosius II, early in the fifth century, being rebuilt as a fort. The statue of Zeus was carted away to Constantinople, where it was ruined in the fire of 476. Prizes The prizes awarded to the victors of the events in Olympic games the crown of olive and the palm branch. These were only of symbolic value. The victors were treated as heroes on their return home; statutes were erected in their honor both in the Altis at Olympia and at home, and they were given a place of honor at all public spectacles. Athletic champions of today are still treated with great honor in their own country as well as earn the respect of others. Pindar of Thebes composed odes in honor of victors, giving adulation even to the point of bringing them close to divine level. Though statues may now be fewer in number, but commercialism of the Games had substituted statues with billboards, magazines, television, and print images of celebrated athletes. They occupy a special place of honor in society and adoring fans ‘idolize’ them. Origin of Prizes Pausanias relates, in his Itinerary of Greece, the origin of the prizes at Olympia: â€Å"In the marketplace, which is in shape very like a brick, is a temple of Aphrodite called the Brick Aphrodite, and a stone statue of the goddess. And there are two pillars, on one of which are effigies of Antiphanes, Crisus, Tyronidas, and Pyrrhias, who are held in honor to this day as legislators for Tegea, and on the other pillar Iasius, with his left hand on a horse and on his right hand a branch of palm. They say he won the horse race at Olympia, when Hercules the Theban established the Olympian Games†¦A crown of wild olive was given to the victor at Olympia†¦Most games have a crown of palm as the prize, and every where the palm is put into the right hand of the victor†¦When Theseus was returning from Crete, he instituted James, they say, to Apollo at Delos, and himself crowned the victors with palm. This was, they say, the origin of the custom, and Homer has mentioned the palm in Delos in that part of the Odyssey where Odysseus makes his supplication to the daughter of Alcinoǘs.†   (â€Å"Olympics†). Politics:    Ancient and modern Olympics have the main purpose of promoting peace, unity among the people of different nations. Messari, an Olympic historian, that the games had played an important role in attaining more unity among nations (D.K. Tandon, noted it. â€Å"The Politics of the Games and the Games as Politics†). However, such good intentions are marred by politics. Politics continue to creep into the Games, even during earlier times. As the Greeks struggled to keep politics out of the Games with little success, so do current Olympic organizers. While the Games was purposed to bring an end or ceasefire all over Greece, and allowing competing participants to travel safely, this was usually not the case. Thucydides gives an account in 420 B.C. when Spartans broke a truce when they attacked a fort and sent off hoplites. The Spartans were castigated by being banned from competing in the Games. During the fifth century, the Sicilian dictators were said to have boosted their political grip by participating in the equestrian event of the Olympic competition. Athletes would try to gain media mileage by commissioning well-known poets to recite odes in their honor, recounting their victories (Dr. S. Instone. â€Å"The Olympics: Ancient versus Modern†). When the Arcadians and Pisatans conquered the Altis, they took it upon themselves to be in charge for the 104th Olympiad. But it was proclaimed invalid by the Eleans when they regained control. Pantarces of Elis was credited not only for winning in horse-race but made a peace treaty with the Achaeans and Eleans, seizing the opportunity to negotiate the release of prisoners on both sides of the war. Herodotus also relates how a wealthy but exiled aristocrat bargained his way back in to his homeland and property by giving his victory over the displeased ruler. Cultural Achievements Through the Games: The Greeks celebrated the excellence of the fusion of mind and body, a reason why ancient Olympics contain not only events whereby participants try to outdo one another through physical strength. Ancient Olympics gave opportunity for Greeks to create long-lasting cultural achievements in various fields such as poetry, sculpture, architecture, and mathematics, a contribution in which the world will always be indebted. Early Greeks had designed and built magnificent structures, which still continue to inspire present-day builders. One of the largest Doric temples in Greece was the temple of Zeus. Designed by the Greek architect Libon, he attempted to create the right proportions between the temple’s height and the distance between columns. This ‘ideal ratio’ can be found in the book Elements, by Euclid. Since part of celebrating Olympic victories usually done by erecting statues of champions, Greek sculptors honed their craft. Their works depicted the natural shapes and muscles of the body in motion. The Discuss Thrower is one of the famous statues made showcasing athletic activity. Poetry flourished through the Olympics as poets express their own admiration towards victors or as some were commissioned to do. Popular poets during this period were Pindar, Simonides, and Bacchylides. Amazingly, the poems outlasted the sculptures and its inscriptions. The poems were recited over and over the passing generations, allowing past victories to be known and remembered (â€Å"The Context of the Games and the Olympic Spirit†). Transition:    The Olympics had ceased to be a religious festival. Originally observed as an honor to Zeus by giving of dedicatory offerings, the people have moved their focus from religious practices to honoring Zeus through athletic feats. There are several factors attributed to this change. One of which is the growth of Greek city-state or ‘polis’. As city-states emerged in various locations, each polis wanted to prove their excellence over the others and consequently, would send their own representatives to prove their supremacy. Such attitude prevailed up to this day as national pride. Countries send off their athletes, and their victories are considered as bringing great honor to their own people. Another cause for the transition is closely related to military training. The Games motivated the men to be physically fit. Furthermore, the Greek’s traditional view that the gods have a hand in helping the victors; the Greeks were claiming the supremacy of their own god, Zeus.    Modern Olympics The reinstitution of the Olympics in modern times is usually attributed to Baron Pierre de Courbertin of France. He proposed the modern Olympic Games in 1892 and in 1894 had helped organize the International Olympic Committee, which has governed the Games ever since. Courbertin became the first secretary-general of the organization. The first modern Games were held in 1896 in Athens, Greece. During the first modern Olympics, medals were awarded to only the top two finishers: a silver medal to the winner and a bronze medal to the runner-up. The winner also received a crown of olive branches, and the runner-up a laurel crown. Competition was in nine sports, and all the athletes were male. In 1900 in Paris the Games were part of the Universal Exposition festivities. For the first time, women took part in the competition, with 11 of the total field of 1,330 athletes. Women competed only in golf and tennis. Britain’s Charlotte Cooper won the tennis singles to become the first woman top medallist. Pres. Theodore Roosevelt used his influence to have the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis to coincide with its World’s Fair. Very few foreign athletes competed because of the difficulty of travel towards the city host. Other than the inaugural Games in Athens in 1896, those in St. Louis drew the smallest number of competitors in modern Olympic history. In 1906 a special tenth anniversary of the modern Olympics was held in Athens, Greece. The large crowd helped bolster the enthusiasm of the host country. However, the Interim, or Intercalated, Games, as they were called, was later declared unofficial, and the results were not retained in official Olympic history. The 1908 Games in London were marred by controversies. It was the 1912 Olympic games in Stockholm, Sweden, which was the most successful in renewing the prestige of the Olympics. The 1st World War interrupted the Games but was reinstated by 1920 in Belgium. Countries that were enemies of Belgium were not invited to participate. Nazi leader Adolph Hitler orchestrated the 1936 Summer Games amidst protests from other countries, especially the United States (â€Å"Olympics†). The political overtones of the Olympics did not lessen with the fall of nazi Germany. In 1956, Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon boycotted the Melbourne Games to protest the Anglo-French seizure of the Suez Canal, and the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland boycotted as well to protest the USSR’s invasion of Hungary. In Mexico City in 1968, two American black used the victory pedestal to publicize their disdain for U.S. racial policies. In Munich in 1972, Palestinian terrorists massacred 11 Israeli athletes. And in 1976 in Montreal, 33 African nations, to be presented by about 400 athletes, boycotted the Games to protest South Africa’s apartheid policies. The most serious disruptions to the modern Olympics, however, came in 1980 and 1984. Under strong pressure from the Carter administration, the U.S. Olympic Committee voted to boycott the Summer Games in Moscow to protest the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. About 40 nations followed, including West Germany, China, and Japan, depriving the Soviets of the chief athletic competition and raising doubts about the future of the Olympic movement. Post September 11 attacks had also created greater security problems that organizers and the United States had to contend with. This would entail stricter measures of checking athletes, spectators, and the media as they gather at the event. The Secret Service has employed a tactic of pairing off a local law enforcer with a federal secret service. Local officers would be in-charge of disciplining local troublemakers, while the secret service agent is responsible for looking out for terrorists (B. Howell. â€Å"New Security After 9-11†). As one views over the history of modern Olympics, it is easily noticeable that as the Games bolstered national pride, it also helped to foster politics. The two elements had become inseparable from affecting the Games. References: â€Å"Ancient Olympic Games†. http://www.wucho.com/Ancient%20Olympic%20Events.doc â€Å"Olympics†. Cited in Collier’s Encyclopedia. Vol. 18. 1990. Tandon, D.K. â€Å"The Politics of the Games and the Games as Politics† http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011118/spectrum/main2.htm Instone, S. â€Å"The Olympics: Ancient versus Modern†. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/greek_olympics_01.shtml â€Å"The Context of the Games and the Olympic Spirit†. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/spirit.html â€Å"Olympics†. Encyclopedia Americana. Vol. 20, 1994. Howell, Brennan. â€Å"New Security After 9-11†. Tiger Times. Issue Five. http://www.chagrin-falls.k12.oh.us/CFHS/newspape/m02_issu/metro/metro18.html