Exploratory essay

There are many students that excel in reading and writing but moieties there are writing challenges that even they come upon on. And with approaching them, are their minds in the most activeness that they can be in? This begins a question of if students were to emphasize all these habits they already have, will that achieve themselves a fuller active mind with greater flexibility in their reading and writing? And is this an idea that all students should be taking an advantage of.Every year we have all these new students entering into their college lives ready to stretch their knowledge and learn all these new techniques in school. Taking with them, everything that have learned in high school and beginning to build more on those things. Learning how to approach all these different challenges and growing towards becoming more intellectual in their writings. But before they can begin to approach these things, they need to find where they stand in reading and writing.To know how well the ir abilities are and what is it that they need to begin working on so that they are ready for the bigger writing challenges that will come before them. Knowing the habits of mind is what is going to help them understand here they stand it will help them improve and position themselves for every new writing assignment they encounter. In high school these habits of mind criteria helped me understand more about where I stand in reading and writing.The habits of mind include things like curiosity and openness where you want to know more and begin to approach things in different ways. This helps me understand that in high school, curiosity and openness is what helped motivated me to seek for answers and explore new ways to find the connections and information I needed. Having engagement and creativity is what gave me that sense to build on the new things I learned and begin to approach things differently.My ability in high school with persistence and responsibility gave me a constant nee d to keep on trying and share my ideas with others and acted upon them. And lastly, the habits of mind include habits of flexibility and metrification. Flexibility helped me recognize different situations and helped me learn how to approach them and metrification is what helped me reflect on everything to improve on the newer things. Knowing these habits of mind criteria has helped me understand what my threaten are and what are the things I need more strength in.We all have different abilities in reading and writing and there are always certain areas that we can improve in. After learning what these habits of minds are, it has shown me that I can become a great writer and I know the places I need to improve on. I do believe that these habits are the pinpoints of becoming a great writer and if we emphasize these points, then it can only bring a bigger improvement for every student in college. It's a foundation that can help people improve in their reading and writing skills and help them have a broaden mind.

Pathways to College Essay

Pathâ€Å"Less than 17% of African-American and Latino students will finish high school and graduate from college. † (Landy, 2013) Less than 70% of students in Milwaukee graduate from high school. (Pathways PowerPoint, 2013) Only a little over 25% of the people in Wisconsin hold a four-year college degree. (O’Connell, 2014) This educational disparity leads to economic disparity which affects the entire state, not just the urban areas with a higher achievement gap since most jobs with an annual salary over $30,000 will require a four-year degree. (Winters, 2014) There is a program called Pathways to College that is working hard to change these shocking statistics. We are here tonight to show you that Pathways to College is a cause worthy of your and your organization’s time, talent, and treasure. The problem is that not enough people know about Pathways to College. We would like to take a few minutes of your time to introduce you to this exceptional program. According to Pathways director Kelly Ramirez, Pathways to College was the vision of past WLC president Tim Kriewall and the program accepted its first students in 2007. Although located on the WLC campus, Pathways to College is a non-profit organization independent from WLC. With the mission â€Å"to create a belief that college is an option for everyone (Pathways pamphlet),† the program assists lower-income college prospects who are â€Å"first-generation† students (neither of their parents have graduated from college) and have the potential to succeed in college. In this program, students develop academically, socially, and spiritually for college. The program also assists them in finding the financial resources to attend college. The ultimate goal is to increase â€Å"the number of lower income and minority students pursuing and completing a post high school education. † (Pathways pamphlet) The Pathways to College program consists of four components. First is Pathways Prospects in which families visit the WLC campus to become familiar with a college environment and prepare for the Pathways program. (Pathways pamphlet) Next is the precollege component, which is the center of the program. Students in grades 6-12 participate in the after school prep center at least once a week and also once a month on Saturday mornings. They study, receive tutoring and mentoring, attend life skills workshops, and participate in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and literacy programs. In addition, the program sponsors a summer academy for grades 6-11 which focuses on academics, sports, and fine arts such as art, dance, drama, and music. (Pathways pamphlet) Director Ramirez said that in addition, high school seniors are able to broaden their educational horizons every summer on an international trip. (This year they are going to Puerto Rico!) Freshman, sophomores, and juniors take a Civil Rights tour in the Southern states, visit colleges in California, and colleges on the East Coast on alternating years. For the first time in the coming 2014-2015 school year, Pathways to College will be privileged to implement the final component, the college program, as the first graduating class of Pathways begins college next fall! Ramirez said the directors of the program will continue to encourage and mentor these college students. They will keep tabs on the students’ grades and attendance. In addition, financial support, workshops over school breaks, and internship as well as job and career assistance will also be offered. (Pathways PowerPoint, 2013) Finally there is the parental program. Parents also attend workshops throughout the school year. These regular meetings offer help with life skills and support for guiding their child toward college. (Pathways pamphlet) It takes a special student to be accepted into the Pathways program. Ramirez informed us that at present there are 17 Pathways partner schools. Teachers at these schools identify students that they feel meet the program qualifications of a low-income, first-generation student with a minimum â€Å"C† grade average and minimum behavior problems at school. Once accepted into the program, students must sign the Pathways to College Covenant. Here they promise attend at least 80% of the activities offered, exhibit Christ-like behavior at all times, keep up schoolwork and grades, and keep an open communication with their parents and with the Pathways program. Parents must also sign the covenant and agree to attend at least 80% of the parent programs, support and encourage their son or daughter in his/her academic career, and do everything to promote a loving Christian household. As long as these commitments are maintained, the child is welcomed and encouraged to stay in the program. (Pathways to College Covenant) Besides the above commitments, there is no monetary cost to the parents or the students who are selected for the program. This is not to say that the program itself comes without a price tag, however. Pathways director Kelly Ramirez said that the annual budget for Pathways is a half million dollars. This budget is totally dependent on grants, private donors, foundation contributions, and fund raisers. She also said that even though the directors have pulled the $500,000 budget together for this year, this just covers the basic program for its 240 students. A larger staff and a more reliable long-range financial picture are needed to lighten present workloads, add a kindergarten-4th grade component, and expand this program to its maximum capacity of 700 students. We feel this is a great program, which we ourselves promote and support. We don’t want you to just take our word for it, however. We’d like you to hear from families that have already benefited from the Pathways to College program. (YouTube testimonial) (Attention Era, 2013) Better yet, come see for yourself. If you can come early to class some Monday afternoon, stop by and visit with some of the volunteers and students in the program. Drop in and talk with Director Kelly Ramirez or Executive Director Milton Cockroft in their offices in the administration building. Now you are aware of the Pathways to College program. You have seen for yourself the great work that Pathways to College is doing with these young people. That’s all well and good, but you figure, â€Å"Well, this is all far removed from me and my family and my business. I know there’s a sales pitch coming, but it really has nothing to do with me. † It has everything to do with you, your family, and the community. Successful college graduates of this program will produce dedicated, responsible, skilled workers with whom you will be working and that will be working for the companies that you own or manage. This can only mean success for you and your business! In addition, these young people won’t need help from the government and other agencies but will have great potential for a productive future. First of all there will be decreased need for WIA funding. (â€Å"U. S. Department,† 2014) As young people with STEM training at Pathways, they have excellent prospects for good paying jobs since â€Å"47% of Bachelor’s degrees in STEM occupations earn more than PhDs in non-STEM occupations. † (â€Å"The case for,† 2013) Over a lifetime, a college graduate will earn $1,000,000 more than someone who only earned a high school degree. (Pathways PowerPoint, 2013) As you can see from the following chart (Youth Indicators, 2011), it does take education to get out of poverty. Every graduate will be one more person to contribute his/her talents and skills to society. Every graduate will help and encourage the next generation of friends and family to also go to college, which will have a positive ripple effect on the community. (Some Pathways parents themselves have already been inspired to enroll in college!! ) Best of all, you will know that you had enough love and foresight to take a part in enriching the lives of these deserving young people and the lives of those they touch. Now you are convinced that Pathways is certainly a great program and worthy of your support. However, you are thinking, â€Å"Jeepers, I’m going to college. I have a family to support. You’re barking up the wrong tree, ladies. I don’t have any extra money! † Don’t you? Let’s put Pathway’s half million dollar budget into perspective. Ramirez says that it costs about $3000 a year for each child that goes through the program. If we in this room would adopt a child and split that amount up among us, and then divide that by the weeks in a year, it would cost each of us no more per week than the price we’d pay for a latte at Starbucks! If you own or manage a business there are other things you can do. Visit your company’s HR department to see what type of donation your company could make. Perhaps you could have your company or PTA make Pathways the beneficiary of its next fund raiser. There are other things Pathways can use that are just as valuable as money/treasure. Pathways can use your time and talents. If you are great at math or grammar, for example, think about tutoring a struggling student. Maybe you don’t have time to come in to tutor once a week. As a sales manager, you could lead a once-a-year workshop instructing students how to write a resume. As the assistant manager of a bank, you could offer your financial expertise by teaching a workshop on money management. As a cook and cafeteria manager you could give a nutrition workshop. These are just a few suggestions to get you started. You have seen for yourself the great work Pathways is doing for these young people! You know that the program is worthy of support in the form of your time, talents, and treasure. You are aware of Pathways to College. Please spread the word and help us make others aware! References Attention Era. (2013, March 10). Pathways to College-the story [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www. youtube. com/results? search_query=Pathways%20to%20College&sm=12. The case for STEM education as a national priority: good jobs and American competitiveness. (2013, June). Retrieved from http://www. stemedcoalition. org/wp-content/uploads/2013/ 10/Fact-Sheet-STEM-Education-Good-Jobs-and-AmericanCompetiveness-June-2013. pdf Landy, B. (June 13, 2013). Graph: U. S. college graduation rates are rising, but the rest of the world is catching up [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://tcf. org/blog/detail/graph-u. s. – college-graduation-rates-are-rising-but-the-rest-of-the-world-is O’Connell, M. (2014, February 11). The role of education in the state of the economy. Paper presented at the Wisconsin ACT Organization 2014 Annual Conference, Middleton, WI. Pathways to College. (n. d. ). [Information pamphlet] Pathways to College. (n. d. ). Pathways to College covenant [Organization contract] Pathways to College. (2013). What path are you on? [PowerPoint] Ramirez, K. (2014, February 19 and March 3). Interview by C. Ristow and R. Flagg. What are Needs of Pathways to College? U. S. department of labor employment and training administration notice of availability of funds  and solicitation for grant applications for Youth Build. (2014, February 18). Retrieved from http://www. doleta. gov/grants/pdf/YouthBuild SGA-DFA-PY-13-04. pdf Winters, D. (2014, February 11). The brutal facts about the changing labor market and the need for an educated workforce. Paper presented at the Wisconsin ACT Organization 2014 Annual Conference, Middleton, WI. Youth indicators 2011 America’s youth: Transitions to adulthood youth indicators 2011America’s youth. (2011, December 26). Retrieved from http://nces. ed. gov/pubs2012/ 2012026/figures/figure_32a. asp.

Tennessees Political, Economic, and Social Development Essay

Tennessees Political, Economic, and Social Development - Essay Example It is this program that replaced Medicaid coverage for about 1.5 million uninsured Tennessees. In 2002, Phil Bredesen was elected as the governor. He is the one who spearheaded economic growth. In 1992, the Tennessee legislature approved school reform laws. It is in 1993 that the state allowed a healthcare package that paved way for the creation of TennCare. It is this program that replaced Medicaid coverage for about 1.5 million uninsured Tennessees. In 2002, Phil Bredesen was elected as the governor. He is the one who spearheaded economic growth in Tennessee. The conviction of Jacob Butcher and Ray Blanton in 1982 for conspiracy and fraud enhanced economic development. Manufacturing industries continued to expand throughout the 1980s.Rebirth of Republic Party in 1970s b.  Conviction of Jacob Butcher and Ray Blanton in 1982 c.  Expansion of manufacturing industries in 1980s d.  Creation of employment opportunities in 1982 and 1990s e.  Approval of school reform laws in 1992

Financial accounting Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Financial accounting - Research Proposal Example Asset Liabilities Equity Income Expenses. UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS Two core assumptions applied while making financial statements are: 1. Accrual Basis: Accrual basis of accounting record the revenues when realized and incur expense when they occur. All the income and expenses are recorded in the accounting record when they actually occur not at the time when cash has flown in or out of the business activity. Therefore in accrual base accounting all the records are reported in the financial statements in the period to which they relate to. Example: Following example adopted from Gibson, Charles H., 1998. Financial Statement Analysis: Using Financial Accounting Information, 7th Ed. South Western. Slight numerical values have been altered. Suppose: 1. Manufacturing concern sold merchandise for $15,000 on credit this year. This merchandise cost $900 when purchased last year. 2. It purchases inventory this year in the amount of $20,000 on credit. 3. Paid to suppliers f merchandise $13,000 this year. 4. Collects cash sales $7,000. Accrual Basis Cash Basis Sales $ 15,000 COGS $ 9,000 Income $ 6,000 Receipts (inflow) $ 7,000 Payment (outflow) $ 13,000 Loss ($ 6,000) It is seen that accrual basis shows a profitable position where else cash basis indicates a loss. Cash basis doesn't indicate the time period for the recognition of revenue and occurrence of cost. It shows the cash inflows and outflows. For this purpose separate statement is prepared whish shows the cash position and named as Statement of Cash flow. When using accrual basis of accounting,...The end users of the financial statements can be customers, investors, suppliers, government agencies, student body, economist or general public. The International Accounting Standard Board, a privately owned body based in London presented a document in July 1989 which became framework for the preparation & presentation of financial statements. On this framework all the IAS are based and determine the financial statement preparation and the information they contain. Accrual basis of accounting record the revenues when realized and incur expense when they occur. All the income and expenses are recorded in the accounting record when they actually occur not at the time when cash has flown in or out of the business activity. Therefore in accrual base accounting all the records are reported in the financial statements in the period to which they relate to. It is seen that accrual basis shows a profitable position where else cash basis indicates a loss. Cash basis doesn't indicate the time period for the recognition of revenue and occurrence of cost. It shows the cash inflows and outflows. For this purpose separate statement is prepared whish shows the cash position and named as Statement of Cash flow. Going concern assumption believes that business entities will remain in business for indefinite period of time. That the operations will continue in the future years.

Discuss how an organisation's competitive advantage can be enhanced Essay - 1

Discuss how an organisation's competitive advantage can be enhanced with the introduction of new technology - Essay Example Many companies nowadays are trying to manage their businesses with the comfort and efficiency brought by the use of new technology in their operation. However, it is not only those online companies that are directly under the influence of new technology. All organisations especially those that have very complex activities rely heavily on the use of new technology. The car manufacturing industry for instance is relying greatly on the cutting-edge technology in order to meet the requirements of their customers and the prevailing market trend. In addition, the mobile communication industry and other related industries are trying to elaborate the importance of technology in order to go along well with the recent trend and development of business activities and operations in their specific areas. It is therefore a common understanding that the implementation of new technology in an organisation brings forward specific advantages and one of them is the efficiency which the bottom line is j ust to enhance the operation in order to achieve organisational goals. In line with this, new technology is strongly associated with competitive advantage. Every organisation seems to be using advanced technology, but the question remains how exactly it brings them certain competitive advantage. ... None about new technology is mentioned as part of these strategies for competitive advantage. However, it is clear that nowadays, using either one of these generic strategies would mean integrating the idea of new and existing technology. In the case of Wal-Mart as renowned retailing company in the United States, its generic strategy is low-cost for its product offerings. However, part of the institution of this strategy in the organisation is its highly computerised value-chain management system especially for its multinational and highly globalised operation. This is to ensure that whatever it has started so far can be substantially enhanced to the fullest with the integration of new technology. Wal-Mart viewed new technology as essential part of its complex operation especially that it operates at a global setting and in order for it to become sustainable when it comes to its low-cost-product strategy. Toyota is known for its focus differentiation strategy. However, in the process of creating it, the use of new technology is integrated in its entire operation. Its high level of standard quality product does not only enhance its cost advantage over its competitors but it specifically tries to say something about the image of its brand. Its brand image is associated with high level of cutting-edge technology and this means a lot to its marketing effort, strategy and eventually competitive advantage. In the age of globalisation, competition has become fierce allowing every organisation to enhance communication of their product offerings (Wetherly and Otter, 2011). Thus, individuals are bombarded with different information. The best information prevails and it is

Effects of alum sludge and its application to farmland Research Paper

Effects of alum sludge and its application to farmland - Research Paper Example Even though I developed the insights within time constraints for completing the research, a reflection of the elements and further research has increased my knowledge and skills in completing a research report, a basis upon which I evaluate my research report. The most positive aspect of my experience in the research is completion of the research section. My preliminary research into the research identified significance of the results section and my efforts met the section’s role of describing collected data comprehensively. My results section described collected data from the experiment and offered necessary insights such as the optimal pH level for phosphorous absorption, 12, and negative effects of alum sludge on the level slaking and dispersion of soil. Data analysis section is another aspect of the experience that has highly positive (Ward, n.d.). The methods section however identifies the least positive aspects of the research experience. I was not able to incorporate essentials of the section’s elements such as definition of research design, research methods, data collection tools and their reliability and validity, as well as threats of researcher’s bias. My introduction into the report also failed to identify a research problem and research objectives and my literature review was not sufficient to establish a problem statement towards research questions and hypothesis into informed methodology (Rudestam and Newton, 2007; Gravetter and Forzano, 2010). Methodology section is the most significant area that I most plan to improve in because while it is core to the research process and determines validity and reliability of collected data besides the ability to collect desired data for analysis, the section was poorly developed. Even though its scope is wide, I have identified each of the aspects that must be considered for a proper methodology section. I therefore

Critical thinking questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Critical thinking questions - Assignment Example To enhance teamwork in the center, I would aim to focus on team building by ironing out all the issues raised to do with overloading, remuneration, communication and mistreatment. Establishing a suitable communication network would also help me strengthen my relationship with the subordinates. Building on the morals of the subordinates can also be achieved through fair remuneration, team building and also laying out a suitable communication mechanism that will help the employees feel appreciated. On the other hand, to deal with the limited resources, I would channel the resources that are available to the needy sectors of the health care unit that we cannot do without. The strategy would help cope with the limited resources available as we wait for the state to resolve the situation (Newell & Shanks, 2014). It would be a suitable approach for me by all means. To develop team-building skills, there is a need to understand ones mission, vision, and objectives. It allows the team leader to communicate effectively all the expectations of the team members. Moreover, it is this understanding that helps one to accommodate the ideas of other team players that have the same goal but come from a different sector (Chaffee, 2014). It is also important to learn to communicate ones expectations to others as well as their fears to help promote trust and understanding towards the attainment of the common goal. To create a suitable working environment, all the bad blood ought to be eliminated through apt communication. The continued assessment of the action plans will also help ensure that all team players do not deviate from the set goals of providing quality health care to the patients. Also, including the patient in the final decisions about their health care is crucial and should not be overlooked. Having the patients contribute towards their healthcare in case of children should also be involved. The key

The Logic of Suicide Terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Logic of Suicide Terrorism - Essay Example The Hotel Rwanda film is a co-production that focuses on political corruption, genocide and the repercussions of violent behavior. The film stars Don as hotelier Paul, who endeavors to salvage his colleague citizens from the ravage of the Rwandan genocide era. A brief review of the genocide entails that the war originated from the tension between the Hutu and the Tutsi whereby, bribes and other acts of corruption among the politicians were routine. As the political situation worsened in the country, civil wars erupted in the region hence, displacing a large number of families. On the other hand, Scott McConnell interviews Robert concerning the idea that probed him to write the book. Robert clearly reveals his wealth with the information he had pertaining to terrorism and violence in various parts of the world (Anthony 18). He claims that religion is not to be held accountable for most of the suicide-terrorist attacks. In the dialogue between Robert and the American conservative, Robert also discusses the American and Iraq differences. This shows that suicide-terrorist attacks were quite prone in the Islamic countries and America. Robert notes that in every occasion where a profession has created a suicide-terrorist movement, there is a religious difference between the occupier and the occupied community (Anthony 21). In conclusion, based on euphemism which is defined as a harmless phrase that substitutes an offensive one, we find that the film title used in this essay is euphemistic. The phrase Hotel Rwanda may mislead one to think that the film is correlated with a hotel in Rwanda while on the contrary; the term refers to the genocide era in Rwanda where many lives were lost due to mass killings.  

Strengths and Opportunities of Walmart Essay Example for Free

Strengths and Opportunities of Walmart Essay Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart, is an American multinational retail corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the worlds third largest public corporation, the biggest private employer in the world with 2. 2 million employees and is the largest retailer in the world. Walmart is also one of the worlds most valuable companies. First of all, Walmart has good reputation for convenience and their low price strategy and these become their advantage to attract customers. Walmart reclaimed the top spot in the Fortune 500 in 2012 after slipping to No. last year. The retailer’s refocus on low prices continued to attract frugal shoppers into the discounters U. S. stores. Everyday Low Price (EDLP) is the cornerstone of the company strategy and their price focus has never been stronger. Today’s consumer seeks the convenience of one-stop shopping that they offer. From grocery and entertainment to sporting goods and crafts, Walmart provide the deep assortment that the customers appreciate. The company price investments across a broad assortment allow them to deliver a lower-priced market basket. Through Walmart’s localised and national market basket media campaigns, they show customers market by market that they are the low price leader on baskets of merchandise. In fiscal 2013, Walmart U. S. delivered a strong 1. 8 percent comp increase or an additional $4. 7 billion in comp store sales from last year. Net sales rose to $274. 5 billion, a 3. 9 percent increase and operating income grew by 5. 4 percent to $21. 5 billion. They are driving growth and meeting the customers’ needs by offering lower prices on a broad assortment of relevant merchandise. Each week, more than 245 million customers and members visit their 10,800 stores under 69 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries. By offering everyday low prices on a broad merchandise assortment, the company builds customer trust and resonates with consumers globally. Besides that, Walmart also has some successful cost leadership strategies. The strategies are efficiency in operations and distribution strategies, efficiency in supply chain management and the strong bargaining power. For fficiency in operations and distribution strategies: the Organisation Development (OD) strategies have helped Walmart achieve low prices- Walmart opens the stores outside of large cities and within 200 miles of existing stores. By bunching stores together in small areas, distribution costs are below average. Moreover, Walmart seeks to meet different customers’ needs with four main distinct retail options; these include supercenters, discount stores, Sam’s Club, and neighborhood markets. For the efficiency in supply chain management: Walmart is incredibly successful in managing its supply chain. The company applies the most reliable supply chain management system which is very efficient because almost all product data can be tracked to and from the manufacturer, warehouse, and the store shelf. Efficiency in supply chain system may save Walmart several million dollars as it can prevent losses from faulty product management. For the strong bargaining power: Walmart buys its products at rock-bottom prices, exchanges high purchase volumes for low cost while passing the savings onto its customers. The bargaining power of suppliers is weak. Many suppliers even give in to Walmart’s pressure because they depend on the discount retailer for the majority of their sales. Obviously, suppliers would do what Walmart wanted them to do if they hoped to maintain their sales. The cost leadership strategy enables Walmart to offer products at low price points. The company offers its grocery products at prices about 12% lower than the market. This strategy ensures a steady, recurring stream of customers for its goods, making Walmart synonymous with inexpensive and this keeps constant pressure on competitors. In addition, Walmart also has a focused strategy in place for human resource management and development. The employees are the key to Walmarts business and they are willing to invest time and money in training and developing them. They believe that the success of the business model relies on entrepreneurial employees who desire to learn and grow within the industry. They invest in the training and development of each employee, offering equal opportunities for learning at all levels. Training and development of employees provides a competitive advantage, enabling continual improvement of performance across the whole organisation. The employees must develop the knowledge, skills and abilities to serve, support and sell within the operating framework of their division. Therefore, the company’s goal is to expose employees to training that is specific to their area of responsibility and provide opportunities for further learning and development for ongoing growth within the organisation. Opportunities Retail market growth in Walmart’s emerging markets gives an opportunity to the company. Retail markets grew by at least 5% on average in emerging markets in the last year, opening huge opportunities for Walmart’s revenue growth. The business currently operates in Brazil, Mexico, China and India markets. Since 2008 to 2012, the number of international locations has nearly doubled. Walmart International serves more than 105 million customers per week in 26 countries. The company’s portfolio provides a balance of growth with improved profitability and higher returns. In fiscal 2013, Walmart International contributed almost 30 percent of the company’s net sales, with an increase of 7. 4 percent from the prior year to $135. 2 billion. Besides that, the company operating income also grew 8. percent to $6. 7 billion. Walmart ended the year with 497 more new stores, totalling approximately 19 million square feet. As the largest retailer in the world, the retail market growth in its emerging markets has given Walmart a new reason to be successful. Another opportunity for Walmart is the concentration on grocery and food trends continue to grow. The perception that home-prepared foods are much healthier and an unmet desire to enjoy affordable, restaurant-type food at home have given food marketers the opportunity to recapture mealtime. The current trend of eating healthier food has resulted in higher demand for grocery products. Walmart’s largest part of the overall business food and grocery had successfully continued to gain share from the market from this trend. As the largest retailer in the world, Walmart has an opportunity to expand its grocery stores to earn more income from this trend. Besides that, the significant growth in the online grocery shopping has given an advantage to Walmart as Walmart had started to offer the customers the option to shop online using mobile devices since the year 2000. A 2012 Nielsen survey of consumers in 56 countries uncovered some fascinating insights on this trend. The number of people stating that they intend to buy food and beverages online grew 44% over the last two years and 26% of global respondents say they plan to purchase food and beverage products through an online connected device in the next three to six months. In addition, Online grocery sales are also expected to increase 9. 5 percent annually to become a $9. 4 billion industry in 2017, according to data from IBISWorld. The service fulfilled the customer desire for quick, easy, cost-efficient grocery shopping. Walmart is trying to expand their e-commerce operations with several tactics. One success of the company is the new search engine for walmart. com which delivers more relevant results to online shoppers and led to increased sales conversions. They are also testing some great innovations, such as same-day delivery of purchases from the company’s U. S. website. The company just expanded mobile self-checkout through their Scan and Goâ„ ¢ app. They have also launched a multi-year process to build the next generation global technology platform. Moreover, Walmart had also carried out many projects which will boost the companys public image. In the year 2012, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation’s charitable contributions surpassed $1 billion in cash and in-kind donations to positively impact local communities around the globe. This includes $1 billion in cash and in-kind gifts in the United States and $82. 2 million in cash and in-kind gifts in international markets. In addition, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Logistics employees volunteered more than 2. million hours, generating $18 million to U. S. nonprofits. At 20 June 2013, the Walmart Foundation announced $14 million in grants to provide more than 1. 7 million children and families with free meals and nutrition education programs. The grants will expand access to meals for children outside of school this summer and throughout the year, while also teaching families how to develop healthy, low-cost eating habits. Ethical sourcing is also practiced by the company. The foundation of Walmart’s business has always centered on helping people live better. This mission applies not only to their customers but also to the workers who make the products. The company collaborate with other retailers, brands, NGOs and government leaders to verify the products they sell are produced in a way that provides dignity and respect for workers in their supply chain. As the world’s largest retailer, they strive to positively influence global supply chain practices by raising their own standards and improving working conditions in the countries from which they source. These projects had successfully increased the company’s public image and community relations.

Theories Of Innovation And Change Management Essay

Theories Of Innovation And Change Management Essay Spending quality time surfing and researching the internet on Innovation and Change, I realized that there are uncountable theories and researches on innovation and change. From all indication, these researches and theories stated clearly that, innovation is inevitable because business and competition is constantly evolving, typically in the advanced technological tools and systems driven by the constant environment changes which is in line of the definition of Innovation the introduction of new and improved ways of doing things at work (West et al, 2003) or the successful exploitation of new ideas (Porter and Ketels, 2003) While there are many competing models and methods for change and innovation, applying any of them requires a consideration of the individuals or resources involved and the context within which they will be used When innovation is mentioned, it is important to recognize that one key element is people; people are the source of creativity, which is the basis for innovation. As we understand, Creativity is the means of generating new ideas and perspectives. One way to understand people as a source of creativity is to focus on their capabilities, skills, and motivations particularly those that are more likely to produce imaginative and artistic behavior. Leaders need to inspire, motivate and encourage staff to come out with new creative ideas, to reward people for good ideas. According Linda Holbeche; (2006), she does not believe that it is easy to combine the hard and Soft Changes (E and O Theory) as this will lead in mistrust of the orgainations leaders by their staff. The author, on the other hand, explains that organizations who have the skill and capabilities to resolve and combine the two theories will not only improvement or increase profitability and productivity but also put their employees on the adaptation phase for change.  This method will create positive organizational culture of change ownership by employees and will lead to a successful transformational change in the organization (Beer and Nohira, 1995). L. Holbeche (2006) mentioned that successful change occurs when people willingly change their behaviors. This is the same with Lewins force field analysis. With any planned change, works need to be prepared in order to predict the relative success of that change. What the management and leaders should do is to identify the restraining force which developed by Kurt Lewin, a pioneer in the field of social sciences, and alleviate the concerns by providing the people with adequate information about the impending change and its underpinning. According to Lewins force field analysis (1951), an issue is held in balance by the interaction of two opposing sets of forces those seeking to promote change (driving forces) and those attempting to maintain the status quo (restraining forces). force field analysis graphic What could be the utmost motivating factor in gaining employee buy-in is the fact that there will be role or position to be eliminated, and that the change can only enhance processes, eliminating resistance in the process. We to carefully examine the state of affairs of the business before we map up responses to organizational changes, as stated in the diagram above, some people would accept changes while others would decline then eventually resist. The life cycle of change resistance is a gradual process until you acquire at least 90% buy-in. Change leaders are challenged to manage the change towards survival though change might mean to alter existing systems, culture and processes. A clear strategy for this is to break down changes so that the people could absorb it little by little. This means to integrate the driving forces that could increase the rate of change acceptance. The company should look at initiating changes not only based on internal pressures but more emphasis is placed on opposing external pressures. Culture is essential to innovation in organizations as Dobni (2008) stated the objective to be modern, the facilities to support innovation, functional level habits necessary to impact an industry and value direction, and the surroundings to apply innovation (p. 540). With this, innovation could be viewed as contextual from an organizational culture viewpoint and the level to which a company can be modern will circumscribed by its culture. Dobni (2008, p. 543) provides another aspect that associates business culture with innovation through its industry direction. When it comes to change, there are three change phases according to the results of the research carried out by Prosci (2011). The first is preparing for change, the second, managing change and the last reinforcing change. if the three stages are effectively applied success is hence guaranteed. Self Leadership Assessment and Action Plan Self Leadership Assessment and Action Plan Having said all of these, it is evident that leaders should also be in a position to balance between employees freedom and responsibility. Leaders have to do this without domination or control while at the same time, showing concern over employees feelings and needs. There is a need to generously encourage their employees creativity and voice their own concerns, as argued by Amabile (1998) and Peltz, (1956). A successful leader is a great listener to staff concerns and problems. Respect, honesty and trust are key principles in the way I lead and guide my staff.   The approach I follow is a participatory approach in designing and planning the yearly plan, in welcoming opinions and suggestions, in recognizing staff efforts, in providing opportunities for performance development and career path under a collectively approved training/learning plan. Further, fairness is what I follow to treat staff without any biased feeling or favoring one over others. Despite the wealth of knowledge and experience gained over years as a manager, I believe that enhanced skills to enhance and strengthen my leadership skills. To enable myself to efficiently become a successful leader for others to follow and to enable a planned change, leaders need to possess the technical expertise and to select the right people to jointly plan and implement change. Nonetheless, the need for a shared understanding cannot be emphasized enough in the literature. This is the only way that a more open as well as more honest communication can be promoted. Eventually, concrete actions leading to attaining the planned changed can be thus developed through this. At an organizational level, the climate where shared understanding is the dominant norm, maximizing the fit among strategy, structure and purpose related to the impending change. However, there remains the fact that the readiness and the willingness of the people must be in existence to sustain the appropriate kind of work. Owing to this fact, I need to scientifically gain the right knowledge and path of how to become the role model. A feasible and doable action plan would involve: 1) creating an effective team within the division, 2) designing a double vision of the division with defined mission, 3) opening a flow of communication between senior/middle managers and staff (operations talk to program and vice versa), 4) creating recognition and award system based on staff performance and yearly assessment, 5) ensuring a healthy, supportive and creative environment among the division staff, 6) driving creativity, innovation and change within the division; and in every employee inside the organization wherein leaders cannot affect change and innovations alone, they need followers to implement and 7) proving record of respected and trusted leader; support building employees loyalty to the organization. These are namely my plan of action to further enhance and develop my leadership skills that are essential for my career development and for the organizational success. Once these skills are obtained, my performance and capabilities will be stronger as a leader that will lead me to overcome difficult challenges on the way be it internally or externally. I need to reiterate that if we have a trusted, transparent and open relationship between managers/leaders and staff that is built over years, staff will not react strongly against change. Next is to conduct innovation and change-centered exercising programs such as goal setting and process mapping. Organizational Innovation and Change-Related Training This training is designed on studying how to set goals from team and business levels. Such training instructs members how to set goals by using organizational goals, declaration of values and vision and mission statements. Learning how to create innovative goals in the workplace is primary of this program. Strategic innovation goal setting skills are the designed outcome of this training. This training is suitable for staff, professionals and managers, with a total exercising time of 4 hours. The studying goals of this training are: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Help the company develops and apply activity plan à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Identify the factors that influence ideal goals à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sequence the steps for putting organizational goals into action à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Applying visualization techniques Innovation and Change-Related Process Mapping Training Process applying represents a visual device used to show you the primary businesses. Process charts are also regarded as communication device, planning device and a device that effectively cuts cost for organizations. The benefits of this training is to enhance the knowing of procedures inner to the company and increases control groups knowing of the business and functional performance. Provided that procedures are the most effective way to manage the company, procedures then directly supports the organizational goal. By improving procedures, the company can enhance inner productivity, efficiency, variety and customer support. Through this, the company could generate useful analytic data in order to obtain conclusions, draw results and produce recommendations. This two-day training is suitable for professionals, program implementers, control associates, program planners, change professionals and enhancement teams. This exercising programs goals are as follows: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Improve efficiency and quality of work through determining critical areas of enhancement à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Rediscover primary procedures through analysis of organizational complications Conclusion In summary, there are many ideas and literature on change, innovation and leadership. Some can be implemented successfully while others cannot be actionable on reality.   Many factors control the need for change and change vary in nature like why,. Nevertheless, the most important factor of change that all research and books agreed upon is: the PEOPLE. The authors contemplated on how to correctly and effectively manage the peoples behaviors during a change. The relationship of trust, honesty and respect between leaders and employers, when this is felt within the organization, employees will welcome the change with less resistance be it soft or hard changes. Change is inevitable, particularly in the world of business. Change can cause both positive and negative results for any company. First, change means growth and improvement, thus it can help companies to focus on the different threats and opportunities which can be implemented and prevented inside the organization in order to ensure success and maintain position in the market and industry. On the other hand, change can also cause negative results for any company, particularly in the aspect of management. It can cause huge amount to be spent, at the same time great effort to be exerted in order to ensure that the change will not affect the behavior and attitudes of the employees and other important stakeholders towards the company.

British Invasion Of Black Soul Music Music Essay

British Invasion Of Black Soul Music Music Essay In the early 1960s before the British invasion black soul music, Doo wop, Motown and RB dominated the American audiences. The 1960s saw the civil rights movement. In 1963, a march on Washington saw the passing of the civil rights act of 1964 which outlawed discrimination in public accommodations and employment. This followed with the assassination of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, spurring riots in 125 US cities in 1968, coinciding with the civil rights act of 1968. The 1960s saw Billboard change the name of its RB chart to Soul, but the term Soul had been used as a label since the mid 50s. It had its beginnings in the 1950s when Ray Charles exploited the gospel sound to create fusions of black religious and RB music with songs such as I got a woman based on the gospel song My Jesus is all the World. Sam Cooke also contributed a great deal to Soul. Cooke produced an almost unbroken sequence of hits from 1957 to 1964, the year of his death his music gave proof that anything was possible. This influenced artists who would later become global black Soul performers such as Aretha Franklin, The Falcons and James Brown. Groups such as The Angels, The Shirelles and The Righteous Brothers helped to popularize the music as mainstream. For much of the 1960s soul could be seen as the umbrella term for black popular music, which dominated American audiences in the early to mid 1960s. However one of the biggest success stories was the Detroit based Motown, which could be seen as pop soul which gave fame to names such as Diana Ross, Gladys Knight and Smokey Robinson. Tamla Motown was created by Berry Gordy Jr and although the stars were all black, you couldnt fully define it as black music as the intent was to make music palatable to white audiences. Gordy was also known to have controlled the performing styles and clothes in a way to prepare them for the wider mainstream audience. Amongst the most successful of his artist was Marvin Gaye, who was the first to take his artistic control over his recordings and repertoire. The East Coast DooWop and girl groups also made a contribution to African-American music during the 1960s. They were singers and groups whose origins were found on the street corners in the form of cappella groups found in many urban centres. With very rare exceptions, these groups did not write their own songs, but relied on their handlers to set up the recording sessions, pick the material, and produce the records. In fact, many of these behind-the-scenes people eventually became stars in their own right in the seventies. The influence of Doo Wop can be seen in soul music through groups such as William Robinsons, The Miracles who started a Doo Wop group whilst at school. White popular music of the UK developed into one of the most leading musics in the world. Through the 1950s there existed a barely understood American style. Rock and Roll. At the beginning of 1960 American pop music continued to set the patterns of the native musical efforts in the UK. The US contribution to the British charts was large and extremely important At this point- the twist was in full swing, Chubby Checker, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis dominated the British charts. After rock and roll, Britain returned to its traditional values with the likes of Cliff Richard and Living Doll which brought mums and dads along as well. For a short while in Britain at the end of the 1950s into the early 60s there was a revival of American Skiffle, made popular by Skiffle artist, Lonnie Donegan. Skiffle was the first attempt undertaken to appropriate American popular music. It was a growing interest in rural and urban blues. Many of these interests involved a conservative nostalgia for the authentic of some imagined yesteryear. Skiffle would later influence John Lennon and Paul Mcartney in their first band The Quarrymen and The Beatles. We can also see the influence of African American artists through British RB which developed as a major musical movement in the early 1960s, initially in London, but also in other urban centres in the UK, as predominately young white male musicians attempted to emulate the style and recordings of African American RB artists. We can see this influence through The Rolling Stones. Muddy Waters used song extension to transform 1940s Chicago Blues. This was achieved by reviving repertoire he had learnt and increasing amplification. 15 years later The Stones and subsequently Cream and Canned Heat followed his example in substance as well as spirit by themselves drawing from the same source. Thus The Stones recorded I Just want to make love to you and I cant be Satisfied. Blues songs and influences continued to surface in the Rolling Stones music throughout their long career. Cream made versions of the delta blues and Canned Heat took their inspiration from the delta bluesman Tommy Johnson. This song copying tradition played a big role in the pop music.- All these African American influences such as Skiffle, RB and Soul along with white American Rock and Roll gave way to Beat music or the Merseybeat. Bands who defined this genre were largely the Beatles but also Hermans Hermits and Gerry and the Pacemakers, to name a few. In Walter Everetts The Beatles as Musicians he describes their compositional style as imitations of buddy holly and RB techniques practised by the witty guitarist Chuck Berry, the energetic Little Richard, and the humorous and skilful coasters After the large success of the Merseybeat in the UK, it transformed over to the US led by The Beatles on the 7th of February 1964. This would be then followed by other beat, pop and rock groups. Among the most successful bands in the genre were the Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, The Kinks, Manfred Mann, The Animals, the Spencer Davis Group and The Who. Many of these bands dominated the UK and US charts from 1964, becoming a second wave of British Invasion acts in the US, and in the UK were central to the Mod subculture. Several of the bands and their members went on to become leading rock music performers of the late 1960s and early 1970s, helping to create sub-genres that included psychedelic, progressive and hard rock and making RB a key component of that music. However the British Invasion ended careers of black artists such as chubby checker and fats domino with only a handful surviving such as the Motown artists. However soul music did remain popular through evolved forms such as Funk which can be associated to James Brown. This later developed into Funk and Soul influenced by Phychedelic Rock. A good example would be the band Sly and the Family Stone and their album Stand! who were successful. However groups such as The Miracles and The Supremes found it hard to keep up with the changing trends and could never recover. Black music charted a musical path different from white rock. Although much black music crossed over to the pop charts, black performers did not share common ground with their white counterparts.-

Welcome To Hell :: essays research papers

We'll give you a free t-shirt if you fill out this credit card application... You can drive home in this brand new car, with no payments until 2000... It's so much easier to not worry about these details. We'll take care of them for you. All we ask is that you send in your payment every month like a good slave.No, no, don't read books. Libraries are closing more and more everyday anyway because they're obsolete, now superseded by television. That concept we taught you in grade school called "literacy" was just a lie, just like everything else we crammed down your throat. We just want to make life easy for you! We'll even give you pretty pictures and animation to protect you from that mean computer! Just you don't worry about that. We'll manage all the details for you for the low, low price of $99.95.The less you know, the better off we are. Job security. Think we're stupid? We are, but we can bullshit our way onto your desktop, because you're even stupider than we are. The truth is, you never knew you had a choice. You probably wouldn't even know there was such a thing as software, without which the computer can't operate, if it hadn't been for our constant reminders that you can upgrade the crap we sold you for the low, low price of $79.95. But it's worth it because you get a 30% increase in performance. That will actually impress you because we're competing with ourselves here.It's actually not that hard. After a late night and a hang over, we quickly code this crap and hire graphics professionals to candy coat it. Then we break anti-trust laws and cut every corner possible to shove it down your throat. Once we've got you convinced that we're the only people who make software, then we just have to make our code a little bit better, which isn't difficult considering how shitty it was in the first place, and then sell it to you again! The greatest part about this deal is that you'll buy it!We know that and we use it to our advantage, destroying all possible competition by using what we call Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt and we whisper little messages to you that you don't want the competition because it's "not well supported," which is just our fucked up way of saying that we've got everyone brainwashed into thinking that we're the only option.

Biological Effects Of Radiation :: essays research papers

The Biological Effects of Radiation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Whether the source of radiation is natural or man made, whether it is a small dose of radiation or a large dose, there will be some biological effects. Radiation causes ionizations of atoms, which will affect molecules, which may affect cells, which may affect tissues, and so on. Although most people tend to think of biological effects in terms of the effect of radiation on living cells, in actuality, ionizing radiation, by definition, interacts only with atoms by a process called ionization (Chandra p. 205). Thus, all biological damage effects begin with the consequence of radiation interactions with the atoms forming the cells.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Even though all subsequent biological effects can be traced back to the interaction of radiation with atoms, there are two mechanisms by which radiation ultimately affects cells. These two mechanisms are commonly called direct and indirect effects.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If radiation interacts with the atoms of the DNA molecule, or some other cellular component critical to the survival of the cell, it is referred to as a direct effect. Such interaction may affect the ability of the cell to reproduce and, thus, survive. If enough atoms are affected in such a way that the chromosomes do not replicate properly, or there is a significant alteration in the information carried by the DNA molecule, then the cell may be destroyed by â€Å"direct† interference with its life-sustaining system.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Indirect effects are caused by the reaction of radiation with the water that makes up the majority of the cells volume. When radiation interacts with water, it may break the bonds that hold the water molecule together. This produces fragments of hydrogen and hydroxyls. These fragments may recombine or they may interact with other fragments to form compounds, such as water, which would not harm the cell. It is when these fragments combine to form toxic substances, such as hydrogen peroxide, that the destruction of the cell results.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Biological effects of radiation are typically divided into two categories. The first category consists of exposure to â€Å"high doses of radiation over brief intervals of time† producing acute effects (Hall p. 15). The second category represents exposure to â€Å"low doses of radiation over extended periods of time† producing chronic or long term effects (Hall p.15). High doses tend to kill cells, while low doses tend to damage or change them. High doses can kill so many cells that tissues and organs are damaged.