Monday, January 20, 2020
Dame Ragnell: Searching for the Truth Essay -- Arthurian Legends Lite
Dame Ragnell: Searching for the Truth Throughout the Arthurian legends, the role of the mysterious hag is one that continually appears. The hag is often associated with great magical power and revelations - both physical and psychological. In "The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell," Dame Ragnell is the magical hag that aids Arthur in his quest for the answer to the "Holy Female Question." It is ultimately because of the noble, chivalrous and courtly Sir Gawain, that the true identity of the hag can be revealed. While Dame Ragnell is not an evil character, the hag is ultimately a character of question. One must wonder how trustworthy the hag truly is when magic is involved. From other Arthurian legends, such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight we can see that the hag is a malevolent character who uses the hag image as a guise to fool others. In the end, the hag's real image is generally revealed along with her goal. Dame Ragnell is not a beautiful woman who has intentionally taken the form of a hag trying to deceive o thers like Morgana LeFey in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Dame Ragnell offers the truth to the men of the story and proves Sir Gawain to be as honorable as his reputation says he is. The story begins with Arthur hunting a stag in the forest. After the kill of the stag he stumbles upon a giant of a knight, Sir Gromer Somer Joure. In order to live, the knight makes a deal with Arthur. If he returns in a year and a day with an answer to the question "What do women want?" his life will be spared. Arthur and his confidant, Sir Gawain, ride throughout the land with two books. In these books they write down the answers they receive from women all over the land to Sir Gromer's question. Upon comparing their b... ...n cursed? Where is the proof of this curse? Apparently she can become fair at some point on her own. Does this mean she too practices magic? How do we know Sir Gromer and Dame Ragnell are not one in the same? How do we know Dame Ragnell is not really Morgana LeFey? Who IS Dame Ragnell? What exactly is her goal in this story? Does Dame Ragnell simply want to show the men with the highest power the way to fulfill a woman's true desire? Is she, like countless political women, plan to change things from the inside of hierarchy? Dame Ragnell may not have been quite the innocent maiden she was portrayed as in her marriage to Sir Gawain. The lessons she teaches, and the awareness she brings to the court of Arthur are definitely timeless lessons that human beings are constantly being taught. Never judge a book by its cover - you never know what it might really have to say.
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Book Review of a Thousand Splendid Suns
Book Review of A Thousand Splendid Suns 17th century Afghanistan poet Saib-e-Tabrizi wrote this commendatory poem after visiting Kabul. ââ¬ËEvery street of Kabul is enthralling to the eye; Through the bazaars, caravans of Egypt pass; One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs; And the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls. ââ¬â¢ In this world there are still many women say that they are suffering unfair treatment and demand for the right to vote, the right to manage.But to the women who had experienced two Afghanistan war (The first time Afghanistan war: from 1979 to 1989, the former Soviet Union armed invasion of Afghanistan. Second Afghanistan war: the second Afghanistan war in 2001 is based on United States-led coalition forces on October 7, 2001 for Afghanistan war cover to the Organization and the Taliban, for the United States on the revenge of the 911 incident, also marks the start of the war against terrorism. Not ended. ), the only thing what t hey want is to live.Khaled Hosseini has lived in the United States since he was fifteen years old and is an American citizen. His 2003 debut novel, The Kite Runner, was an international bestseller, selling more than 12 million copies worldwide. His second, A Thousand Splendid Suns, was released on May 22, 2007. In 2008, the book was the bestselling novel in Britain (as of April 11, 2008), with more than 700,000 copies sold. In 2006, he was appointed United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (Office) goodwill ambassadors, currently residing in Northern California.The Buffalo News says ââ¬ËHosseini's literary abilities are such that he is able to do what all great artists do: take individual stories and, through the alchemy of insight, compassion and expression, universalize themââ¬âthereby turning them into art. ââ¬â¢ For reasons why he wrote this novel, Khaled Hosseini is saying ââ¬Ë although life is filled with pain and bitterness but each a sad plot can let people see hope in the Sun. Each faces behind dusty has a soul. Dedicated to Afghanistan's women.In 2003, returning to Kabul I see wearing traditional female twos and threes to go masked costume in the streets, was trailing behind their children dressed in rags, begging passers-by give change. At that moment, I would like to know, where they have been taken to life. What they dream, hope and desire? Did they talk about love? Husband how man? Spread in Afghanistan in the years to 20 years of war, they lost what? I talked with many women in Kabul; their stories are real people and heart.When I began to write of the thousand splendid Suns (a Thousand Splendid Suns), I find myself constantly think of those full of toughness of Afghanistan women. I though they may not be thrown describing Laila or Mariam source of inspiration for the role of the story, however their voices, faces and life stories of perseverance has always haunted me, and about the novel, I had a most inspiring is from Afghani stan collective spiritual power of women. ââ¬â¢ Mariam (She is my favorite role in this book), the illegitimate child of a Herat businessman, is forced into a loveless marriage at age fifteen to a middle-aged Kabul shoemaker, Rasheed.He demands absolute obedience from his spouse, as well as strict observance of Islamic customs restricting the movement, appearance and attire of women. In the early years of their marriage, Rasheed's mandates run counter to the modernizing forces in Kabul, where many women hold professional jobs, teach at the university, or run for public office. But with the rise of the Taliban, a whole society falls into lockstep with these dictates of Sharia, traditional Muslim law.Laila, a woman young enough to be Mariam's daughter, becomes a reluctant member of this household, when her parents are killed in a bombing, and all her friends have either die d or departed from Kabul. Rasheed takes her on as a second wife, and his bullying and overbearing behavior gr ow all the worse as the two women band together to resist his authoritarian control over their lives. When they try to escape, an Afghani man betrays them at the bus station and takes Laila's hard-saved money. This makes Rasheed even more abusive.A few years later the Taliban come into town, and all the stereotypes of the Taliban are emphasized, as if Hosseini was given the charter to reinforce them. Mariam ends up killing Rasheed in trying to save Laila from being killed by him. So, Mariam is executed by the Taliban, who ââ¬Å"cannotâ⬠accept her story because of her being a woman. Thus, Mariam's woeful existence comes to end. Her whole life is a necklace of tragic events, pieced together one after another. And with her death, the reader is left with an enduring sense of sadness for M ariam, especially in the fact that Hosseini never did give her a break in her fictional life.As for Laila, she ends up traveling to Pakistan to marry her original love(r), eventually returning b ack to Kabul to work with an orphanage. The novel traces the trials and tribulations of Mariam and Laila as they struggle for survival, and eventually plan for a daring escape attempt that puts them at odds. Not only with Rasheed, but also with an entire society that sees them as little more than chattel. Hosseini skillfully develops the complexities and predicaments of his plot, which constantly intersects with political and social events in recent Afghan history.When I saw this book, thinking it may like The Kite Runner; finally, we will smile for the happy ending. But I was wrong. I was shocked when I read to Mariam lastly dead in order for Lailaââ¬â¢s escaping. In the past years, Mariam has been in a miserable life. A birth is being neighborsââ¬â¢ laugh at, played a trick on illegitimate. Once a month to see her father. Then, naively think can and live with the father, but has to face her mother's death and fatherââ¬â¢s betrayal. At the age of 15, she is arranged to mar ry Rasheed, a shoemaker from Kabul who is thirty years her senior Also is not out of the mother's grief is far to marry someone from distance. She turned to Jalil again,ââ¬â¢ tell them. Tell them you wonââ¬â¢t do thisââ¬â¢ Waiting. A silence fell over the room. Jalil kept twirling his wedding band, with a bruised, helpless look on his face. From inside the cabinet, the clock ticked on and on. â⬠When I saw here, I feel myself becoming Mariam, despite knowing the answer is ââ¬Ë no ââ¬Ë but also hope that their father would not do such cruel things. In Kabul, Mariam becomes pregnant seven successive times, but is never able to carry a child to term, and Rasheed gradually becomes more abusive. ââ¬Å"His powerful hands clasped her jaw.He shoved two fingers into her mouth and pried it open, then forced the cold, hard pebbles into it. Mariam struggled against him, mumbling, but he kept pushing the pebbles in, his upper lip curled in a sneer. ââ¬ËNow chew,ââ¬â¢ h e said. Through the mouthful of grit and pebbles, Mariam mumbled a plea. Tears were leaking out of the corners of her eyes. ââ¬ËCHEW! ââ¬â¢ he bellowed. A gust of his smoky breath slammed against her face. Mariam chewed. Something in the back of her mouth cracked. ââ¬â¢Good,ââ¬â¢ Rasheed said. His cheeks were quivering. ââ¬ËNow you know what your rice tastes like.Now you know what you've given me in this marriage. Bad food, and nothing else. ââ¬ËThen he was gone, leaving Mariam to spit out pebbles, blood, and the fragments of two broken molarsâ⬠. Beside the shortly peace time of weeding,, Mariam has always been that a dozen years of life. Full of cursing and render phase. Read here, how much I hope that she will be a turning point in life. She can have a happy life, a long time to heal he pain since childhood and adolescence. But life is often not as we expected. After Laila marry to Rasheed, Mariam's identity than wife more like a maid.Mariam also abhorred La ila, but after all, both they are poor women. So, when Mariam says ââ¬Å"There's nothing more I want. Everything I'd ever wished for as a little girl, you've already given me. You and your children have made me so very happy. It's all right, Laila jo. This is all right. Don't be sad. ââ¬Å"Laila could find no reasonable answer for anything Mariam said. But she rambled on anyway, incoherently, childishly, about fruit trees that awaited planting and chickens that waited rising. She went on about small houses in unnamed towns, and walks to trout filled lakes.And, in the end, when the words dried up, the tears did not, and all Laila could do was surrender and sob like a child over whelmed by an adult's unassailable logic. All she could do was roll herself up and bury her face one last time in the welcoming warmth of Mariam's lap. Later that morning, Mariam packed Zalmai a small lunch of bread and dried figs. For Aziza too she packed some figs, and a few cookies shaped like animals. Sh e put it all in a paper bag and gave it to Laila. ââ¬Å"Kiss Aziza for me,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Tell her she is the noon of my eyes and the sultan of my heart.Will you do that for me? â⬠I can not control my excitement and couldn't help but shed tears. This great Mariam, although she was so limited in education, her fate has been so bumpy. But she still pay her own life in exchange for the freedom of Laila . And finally, as she died lonely, was killed by Taliban with stones. Her fate was unfortunate. Her fate was always driven. Even if Her one day have mastered fate, ending is ironic. She is not demanding from fate what, a little happy, it will make them happy. ââ¬ËMariam wished for so much in those final moments.Yet as she closed her eyes, it was not regret any longer but a sensation of abundant peace that washed over her. She thought of her entry into this world, the harami child of a lowly villager, an unintended thing, a pitiable, regrettable accident. A weed. And ye t she was leaving the world as a woman who had loved and been loved back. She was leaving it as a friend, a companion, a guardian. A mother. A person of consequence at last. No. It was not so bad, Mariam thought, that she should die this way. Not so bad. This was legitimate end to a life of illegitimate beginnings. This paragraph for Mariam after her and Laila killed Rasheed, at the end of the execution ground inner monologue. ) Fate did not forgive her, but she eventually forgave fate. She was patience, she is great. Than Mariam, I personally think that Laila is much more fortunate. She was born in a wealthy family, has a good education. But war deprived this beauty girl of happy life. She was forced to separate from her lover- Tariq and all her families died because of the war. Due to be alone in the world, she was forced married Rasheed.The girl's life was completely changed because of the war. It is no doubt that she felled from heaven into hell. But luckily the nice girl met be auty minded Mariam. Because Rasheed found that the first child is not his own, also began to maltreat her. All the good luck seemed to give the Laila. After Mariam and Lailaââ¬â¢s escape failed, Laila met Tariq again on the streets of Kabul. Finally, Mariam and Laila killed their husband together. Mariam clocked all charges and let Laila peaceful leave with Tariq. Thanks author for Laila does a person know to be grateful. As she walks to her desk at the front of the class, Laila thinks of the naming game they'd played again over dinner the night before. It has become a nightly ritual ever since Laila gave Tariq and the children the news. Back and forth they go, making a case for their own choice. Tariq likes Mohammad. Zalmai, who has recently watched Superman on tape, is puzzled as to why an Afghan boy cannot be named Clark. Aziza is campaigning hard for Aman. Laila likes Omar . But the game involves only male names. Because if it's a girl, Laila has already named her. In the end of this novel, Laila with Tariq together go back to Kabul and set up a locally school. Laila do this in order to repay this piece of land and her Savior Mariam. Finally, I want to talk about on the Mariam and Laila common husband Rasheed. Mariam and Laila live in a patriarchal authoritarian society, where women must obey their fathers, husbands and sons, only a son can give them access to social status. Rasheed for their husbands, the ââ¬Å"me, and do not allow cursing, screaming, begging and howling, only the daily routine of playing and being hit. And that violence is a social and legal recognition. To a certain extent, we should not condemn Rasheed. Although he married to the pretty young girl Laila by telling lies, said Tariq is dead. Has a very oppressive side of his character. He was the victim of the system. He not only represents himself, mapped out a malformation of social moral values. In Afghanistan even more we don't know where in the world, there are many men are affe cted by social oppression and do the same cruel treatment of women and children.This book makes me sigh, how many injustices and tribulations a woman can bear. Originally Jalil like Nana, instead finally came into Nana seduce Jalil; just because have no child, ridiculed in a wife bear husband ridicule, irony and even beatings; to innocent little lives in the stomach, Laila can give up name node, you can discard face, She can give up everything that she can give up. Afghanistan woman in the face of suffering like a snowflake falls in General on other people's Windows, quietly melting, no sound, no moaning, only silent obedience of loneliness and despair.But suffering does not make them progressive annihilation, but shaped their great personality and will. Beset the outbreak of war, disease, families of the lost, which, on their face with a bear patiently the calm, give them the desire to live more strongly. Any suffering won't make them shaken confidence in life, because in their min d, have no ââ¬Å"disappointedâ⬠, not ââ¬Å"sadâ⬠. Unfortunately for it, they must endure, and it is still affordable. Normally I'm more of an action-adventure type reader when it comes to novels and recreational reading.But I was given the chance to read A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (author of The Kite Runner), so I decided to try something out of my normal genre. I am so glad I did. This is a stunning and moving novel of life and love in Afghanistan over a 30 year period. And the past Afghanistan in my eyes has been always associated with wars, the Taliban, Bin Laden, displacement, terrorists and Jihad. By the author and his beautiful writing, I saw Afghan are yearning for freedom, hope in the future In our society now, from the films, books or other media, we tend to see are both indifference of humanity in a little bit.And this book tells the inexcusable age, two Afghanistan unlikely friendships between a woman and not destroying love story. Husseini st roke light, sincere, simple, time spans forty or fifty years, depicting two different character actress: Mariam and Laila, struggling their tragic twists and turns of fate, their stories heavy despair and warm bright, behind the sad story of the stubborn looking good and hope not to be destroyed. Through it, we should realize, that human society still need to love and trust. Humanity just like the splendid suns will follow in every corner of the world.
Friday, January 3, 2020
Analyzing Three Levels Of Entrepreneurship Individual...
The model above is analyzing three levels of entrepreneurship: individual level, firm level and macro level. Entrepreneurial activity starts at the individual level and is always trackable a single person, which is the entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is induced by an individualââ¬â¢s skills, attitudes, motives and psychological ability. The entrepreneur as an individual is affected by the circumstances in which he or she is acting, as a result, entrepreneurial actions and motives are influenced by the business environment, cultural and institutional factors and macroeconomic conditions (Pirich, 2001). According to the model above the origin of entrepreneurship will be at the individual level, but the realization of it, is achievedâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Another reason is entrepreneurs can add to national income in form of higher tax revenues which can lead to higher government spending for other struggling sectors and human capital. Entrepreneurship can create social changes through their unique contributions to new goods and services by reducing the dependence on outdated systems and technologies in this way they improve the quality of life (Seth 2016). Looking at the equation; Economic Development = Economic Growth + Standard of Living (Seth, 2016) and findings above, we can see clearly the relation between the entrepreneurship and economic development. Entrepreneurship is having a positive impact on economic growth and standard of living and in this way, indirectly, is impacting positively the economic development. 2.2 SMEs Owned by Immigrant Entrepreneurs and Their Impacts in Economic Growth Issues related to what actually constitute medium or small scale enterprises are something of a major concern in most literature. Different categories of definitions have always been provided by different authors. SMEs have not been indeed spared with the definition problem that is commonly associated with concepts having numerous components. Different researchers define firms by size based on their own opinions. While others base their definitions on capital assets, others use turnover level and skill labor. Others also define SMEs based on production method and legal status of the business (Brzozowski,
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Cyber Security The New Wave Of Social Media - 1604 Words
Cyber Security If you were to look around a room of young adults or teens today, you would likely notice an eerie silence. A silence accompanied with most of these individuals staring down at their cellphones, the sound of conversation is exchanged for the sound of clicking keys. Itââ¬â¢s no secret; this generation relies on their phones and the internet much like food and water. Itââ¬â¢s a necessity. With the new wave of social media, which is being used by an alarming 78% of U.S. citizens, the internet is now a tool used by anyone and everyone (Statistics and Market Data on Cyber Crime). We are in the midst of an Internet evolution, with the internet expanding its boundaries and roles in our everyday lives. You can do anything fromâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦With such a prevalent and major problem, this cannot be taken lightly. As the internet has evolved over the past several years, so has cybercrime. The development of the internet over the last 20 years has made cybercrime mor e of a threat than ever (Glenny). New, faster ways to commit these crimes and techniques to obtain confidentiality by these masterminds are forming, and itââ¬â¢s making the internet a very dangerous place. As these criminal geniuses get smarter, users become more vulnerable and threats become more common. Since the internet began to really gain popularity and become more and more relevant in our lives, ââ¬Å"Web vulnerabilities increased from 4,644 in 2007 to 6,549 in 2014â⬠(Statistics and Market Data on Cyber Crime). The most up to date forms of web security cannot even keep up with the fraudulent ways of these criminals. Even though there are crimes that could be committed without the use of the internet, the internet provides these intelligent criminals with the information and tools to commit them with greater ease (Shinder). These criminals can acquire the information in a matter of mere seconds, leaving the internet user helpless and often unaware the attack even took place. Some cybercriminals are so talented, they commit these crimes out of ââ¬Å"the sheer enjoyment in manipulating or outsmarting othersâ⬠(Shinder). Governments all across the world may even seek out some of the worldââ¬â¢s top cybercriminals to help them prevent from
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Greek And Roman Art Essay - 1875 Words
The Greek Theater: nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;quot;The arts of the western world have been largely dominated by the artistic standards established by the Greeks of the classical periodquot; (Spreloosel 86). It is from the Greek word theatron, meaning a place for sitting, that we get our word theater. According to James Butler, quot;The Greeks were the first people to erect special structures to bring audiences and theatrical performers togetherquot; (27). quot;The theaters were normally located near a populated area at the bottom of or cut out of a carefully selected, sloping hillside overlooking a seascape, a plain, or a cityquot; (Butler 30). quot;They eventually with few exceptions consisted of three distinct parts: theatronâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The third distinct part of the theater was the skene (scene building). quot;The earliest scene buildings were very simple wooden structures quot; (Butler 31). quot; Originally, the skene was a dressing room; later it is believ ed to have borne a painted backdropquot; (Kennedy 1102). This area was known as the actors place. It was intended to provide a background against which actors could perform. quot;In Greek theater as we know it, the skene appears as a appendage, adjunct, breaking the perfect circularity of the designquot; (Arnott 13). nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Although the origin of the Greek theater is unclear, many historians believe that it developed out of religious ritual and its performances were connected to religious festivals. The performances were used to educate and entertain. quot;The theater is certainly not the same as it was in ancient Greece - but it has not changed completelyquot; (Taylor 8). This form of art has always had a Art has changed a great deal since it began many centuries ago. Centuries, however, are not necessary to notice the small changes that are evident even between cultures of similar times. Such is the case with the Greeks and Romans. Both cultures had exquisite pieces of art, but they were very different from each other. The amazing thing about art isShow MoreRelatedArt Of The Greeks And Romans1091 Words à |à 5 PagesYouth to Wisdom: Art of the Greeks and Romans ââ¬Å"The cityââ¬â¢s empire stretched from the western Mediterranean to the Black Sea, creating enormous wealthâ⬠(Art of the Ancient Mediterranean). Though that statement speaks to Greece under Athens governance of the 5th century B.C., it also accurately reflects the rule of the Roman Empire during the Roman Republic. Having conquered all around them, the Greeks and the Romans at the height of their empires governed vast territories, which allowed for the gatheringRead MoreAncient Greek And Roman Art1711 Words à |à 7 Pagesliterature and arts in fifteenth century Italy. Ancient culture played a big role in this new and exciting movement. It was the source of creativity for the new up-and-coming Italian artists, it set a platform of ideas for these new artists to use as a blueprint. Competing with ancient Greek and Roman art, Italian artists were aiming to emulate the achievements of the ancient culture and were looking for a new form of expression; therefore, they use d the ancient Greek and Roman art for inspirationRead MoreThe Art Of Swimming : Ancient Greeks And Romans1187 Words à |à 5 PagesI.) The art of swimming has been practiced since prehistoric times, some of the earliest recording of swimming going back to Stone Age cave dwellings from thousands upon thousands of years ago. Written documents can date to 2000 BCE. Some of the earliest allusions to swimming consist of the Iliad, the Gilgamesh, the Odyssey of Homer , the Bible, Beowulf and The Quran along with other religious along with non-religious documents. 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Archaic Period ââ¬â 600-500 B.C -nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;stiff and rigid pose -nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;focused on anatomy -nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;archaic smile -nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Kouros, Kore ââ¬âRead MoreCompare Contrast Greek and Roman Art Essay651 Words à |à 3 PagesCompare Contrast Greek And Roman Art And Architecture Compare/Contrast Greek and Roman Art and Architecture Since the onset of Greek and Roman civilizations centuries ago we have seen the art and architectural worlds evolve into what we know them as today. In fact, many of the ancient Greek styles were duplicated by the Romans and modified to suit their needs. We can still see a lot of Greek and Roman influences in the present day, especially in the architectural world. Below I will cite someRead MoreEssay on Ancient Greek and Roman Art Styles in the Renaissance615 Words à |à 3 Pages The ââ¬Å"Renaissanceâ⬠was an important time following the Middle Ages. Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman art styles and ideas were revived during this period of time. Extravagant and detailed paintings were commissioned and featured mythological creatures from Greek and Roman culture. It was similar to an artistic revolution. One of the most famous painters from this period was Sandro Botticelli. Known for his detail included in his paintings, Botticelli went on to create paintings for influential f iguresRead MoreRoman Art Of Ancient Rome1707 Words à |à 7 PagesThe art of Rome is considered completed art of ancient society. Legitimately argue that, although Roman masters continued the tradition of Hellenic, yet the art of ancient Rome - an independent phenomenon, determined by the course and the course of historical events, and living conditions, and the originality of religious beliefs, character traits of the Romans, and other factors. Roman art as a special artistic phenomenon began to study only in the twentieth century is essentially realized onlyRead MoreHum100 - Artistic Themes from Ancient Cultures: Greece and Rome1237 Words à |à 5 Pageswithout looking at the Greek and Roman empires. Although similar, the Greek and Roman empires are two different cultures. They existed from 500 B.C.E. to 500 C.E. (Fiero, 2006). One constant in both cultures was their pursuit of perfection in their art and architecture. This paper will examine this pursuit of perfection in both cultures and how their impact is felt in the modern age. One of the most stunning facets of ancient Greece was the art that was created. The Greek artisans made the jumpRead MoreAncient Greek And Romes Impact On Western Literature1642 Words à |à 7 Pages The impact greek and roman culture had on western civilization The ancient Greeks and Romans were two of the greatest civilizations of the ancient world. The two civilizations thrived in their ancient environments which eventually led to a large amount of wealth within these two cultures. It is because of this that these ancient cultures were able to make a variety of advancements in literature, architecture, art and many other fields. These two civilizations also produced some of the ancient worldââ¬â¢s
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Jonas Brothers - Lines, Vines, and Trying Times free essay sample
There are those who dislike the Jonas Brothers because of their plastic nature as a band. The first songs from these brothers ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Year 3000â⬠and ââ¬Å"S.O.S.â⬠ââ¬â are criticized for meaningless lyrics that no one can relate to. At first, I did not like them either. Then their self-titled album was released, and I found something in their music that was interesting and different. But I knew they had yet to prove themselves as a credible band. With the latest album from this Disney pop rock trio, ââ¬Å"Lines, Vines, and Trying Times,â⬠the Jonas Brothers have proven they can transition from Disney pop and produce unique music. Starting with the exciting rock song, ââ¬Å"World War III,â⬠the group deviates from their previous music. The song à establishes them as a growing band that cannot be contained in a plastic pop genre. There are still those pop songs to intrigue their previous fan base, but there is so much more on this album. We will write a custom essay sample on Jonas Brothers Lines, Vines, and Trying Times or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The Jonas Brothers are really branching out. They even collaborated with Common in ââ¬Å"Dont Charge Me for the Crime,â⬠a truly captivating mix of rock and rap. In my opinion, the song shows that the Jonas Brothers are not afraid to take risks, a key factor in becoming a great band. To me, the song that pushed this Jonas Brothers album into the spotlight was ââ¬Å"Turn Right.â⬠Unlike their previous ballads (ââ¬Å"A Little Bit Longerâ⬠or ââ¬Å"When You Look Me in the Eyesâ⬠), this one actually reaches the heart. They keep it simple with a slow and steady beat. The most memorable factor for me is the touching lyrics people can connect with. It is, in my opinion, their best song. This album shows the Jonas Brothers true range and that they have what it takes to be one of the great bands of our time. I dont think they are quite there yet, but they should build off of the ideas they introduced in this album. Through some unique collaborations and by trying different sounds, they could conceivably become the next U2. As long as they build on it, ââ¬Å"Lines, Vines, and Trying Timesâ⬠could be the Jonas Brothers gateway to super stardom!
Monday, December 2, 2019
Principles of Scientific Management Essay Example
Principles of Scientific Management Paper Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856 1915), is said to be the father of scientific management. Taylors theories on efficient management emerged in a late 19th century/early 20th Century context when industries were experiencing rapid growth in both size and complexity. His concepts form the basis of modern management as we know it today. This essay will examine fundamental aspects of the Scientific Management movement, and will look at how these key ideas are implemented in the modern day context of a 21st Century organisation. The company I have chosen is Vodafone, a global firm with an operation in NZ. More specifically, I will be looking at the Vodafone Call Centre and its management practices. Key aspects I will cover include Taylors scientific research, designed to discover the most efficient one best way of working, and how this aligns with Vodafones means of establishing the best practice benchmark. I will discuss Taylors scientific selection and training method and Vodafones application of this approach. Other aspects such as the role of the manager, employee motivation and employee satisfaction within Vodafone will be covered, with close reference to the ideas of Taylorism. The conclusion will summarize my observations. Scientific research is the starting block of Taylors Scientific Management theory. In order to achieve Taylors principle objective of maximising prosperity for both the employer and employee (Allen, et al. 2002), extensive research must be carried out to discover the best method and most reasonable time the task should be allocated, the one best way. The most efficient worker in the company was selected, and then examined on task. All of his unnecessary movements were eliminated until the fastest rate of task completion was achieved. We will write a custom essay sample on Principles of Scientific Management specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Principles of Scientific Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Principles of Scientific Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This technique is called time/motion study and was developed by both Taylor and Gilbreth (Wren, 1998). Through this scientific research, the First Class Man standard was established, to which all other workers were expected to meet on a daily basis (Allen, et al. 2003). At Vodafone, similar research is conducted by management to establish Best Practice. Information is sourced from Vodafone international and also from external companies with comparative roles. Hired consultants also provide research services to Vodafones call centre. From this information, customer statistics are derived, call cycles planned, and best practice (the Customer Service Representative [CSR] benchmark) is established. For example, multiple phone calls are timed and listened in on, and conclusions are then drawn by management as to which approaches and methods are most effective for the CSRs to use, relevant to different customer needs and personalities. One conclusion that has been drawn from this scientific research is that the time allowance of phone calls should be on average 4 min 10 sec. Best practice in the call centre is defined by four Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). First call resolution means resolving a customers issue in the first phone call, avoiding passing them around or having to call them back. The second KPI is Quality. CSRs phone calls are randomly listened in on by the manager who assesses performance. Next Best Activity refers to value adding. CSRs need to look up the customers profile and sell to them depending on their cellphone habits (for example, whether the customer texts or makes calls). The last KPI is retention, where managers analyse how well a CSR managers to retain a disgruntled customer. Taking into account Taylors research, the next step was to scientifically select, train and develop the most suitable workers for the respective task, rather than leaving the employee to autonomously adapt to their role (Melman, 2001). According to Taylor, everyone had the potential to perform at the first class standard for some job. It is the task of management to identify the most suitable job for each individual, and train them in that position (Allen, et al. 2002). At Vodafone, there is an entire management team solely devoted to training CSRs for call centre work. Their role includes running a 6 week induction training period of employees, including teaching the technology, sales plans, how to deal with difficult customers, how to engage customers and so on. They are trained to meet the benchmark established through Taylors research process. Part of the managers role is also to up skill existing employees based on their performance reviews. A 5-point rating scheme is used to assess performance, with one being a poor performer and five being outstanding. Taylors Scientific Management method requires managers to work closely with workers, developing and encouraging, as well as to evaluate their potential within their role. The manager must maximise a workers proficiency in their job, or failing this, must find the worker a better suited role within the company (Allen, et al. 2003). The managers role involves instruction cards, rosters, timekeeping and reporting. Workers productivity can then be analysed and compared, with high and low performers subsequently rewarded or punished (Melman, 2001). Vodafone call centre managers implement this method through daily, weekly and monthly reports. The Daily Dashboard includes and snapshot of the previous days KPI results, while weekly and monthly employee reports are more comprehensive, analysing performance, sick and annual leave figures, employee turnover and total quality results. If an employee is falling below 3 points in performance rating, the call centre manager will adopt Taylors approach, identifying the problems and fixing them in a process called performance managing. If the employee possesses good skills but is in the wrong job, secondments are offered, meaning the employee can be placed in another role for a fixed time to see how he/she operates in that role (for example, a telemarketer can work for three months in the faults service section). The Taylorist approach involves a distinct separation between the organisational structure, routine-technical planning, inspections and all other clerical work, and the labour itself. There is an equal share of work and responsibility given to manager and the labourer. While managers strategise and plan, workers actually perform the tasks (Allen, et al. 2002). Vodafone adopts this principle, and have numerous management teams who deal to different aspects of the company while the CSRs work on the phones. For example, management teams for training, forecasting customer activity, for statistics and research, development and employee satisfaction. Taylors primary method of motivation was monetary incentives. He claims that Scientific Management cannot work unless there are benefits for the worker. Tasks should be arranged in such a way that if a worker produces more, he can get paid more (Gabor, 2000). Additionally, rewards must be issued without delay, so the worker receives instant gratification and can tangibly measure the personal benefits of his labour (Taylor, 1967). Vodafone works on a pay-by-performance scheme, and salaries are increased or decreased at an annual review, depending on the individual workers quality performance record. Scholarships and international placements are among some of the rewards offered. However, in contrast to Taylors theory, Vodafone believes job satisfaction and alignment with the companys values are also important factors in achieving hard-working employees. Taylor proposed the concept of functional foremen, managers who defied the traditional military-style supervision of firms in his day. These managers did not have disciplinary power, so that their role meant supervision over some aspect of work, not the person. Disciplinary issues were left to a disciplinary committee, and managers were freed to focus on production and quality control (Clegg, S. Kornberger, M. Pitsus, T. , 2005). The Vodafone call center has a straightforward process of dealing with discipline. Minor incidents are dealt with by a call center manager, while more serious problems may be brought before the cue management team. A call centre manager has a span of control of eight CSRs, and as a values-based organisation, good will and equality is encouraged between worker and manager, so the nee d for discipline is ideally avoided altogether. Taylor incentivized suggestion schemes to encourage employees to give input on improvements they felt needed to be made. Employees should be given the full credit for the improvement and should be paid a cash premium as a reward for his ingenuity (Allen, et al. 2003, pg 107). Vodafones intranet has a staff Blog, where employees can keep up to date with what is happening in the managerial level of the company, and they are invited to give feedback or suggestions. Employees are praised for innovative suggestions and displays of initiative, and are rewarded with anything from free phones to an all expenses paid trip in the Asia/Pacific region, depending on their KPIs and annual performance reviews. The operation of the Vodafone call centre adopts many fundamental aspects of Scientific Management. Evidence of Taylors methods can be found throughout the organisation, in researching, selection and distribution of employees, call centre induction training programs and performance management programs. Management teams are put in place to scientifically monitor individual employees quality performance rates, customer service skills and job suitability. Taylors methods of motivating workers are evident in Vodafones incentive schemes and reward packages. Vodafone have implemented modern management styles into their operation to include a more humanistic approach, but as this essay has outlined, the basic principles of Taylors Scientific Management are still clearly evident in the framework of their organisation.
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