Sandro Botticelli biography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sandro Botticelli biography - Essay Example This can be seen in his first commission 'Fortitude' (1470), painted for the Merchants Guild in Florence. Despite this description of his painting style, he nevertheless produced strong images with an excellent attention to detail and good use of perspective though unlike many of that time he did not really concern himself with working out the exact details of either perspective or anatomy for that matter. This indifference with anatomy is one of the ways in which Bottacelli manages to produce the serene quality in many of figures in his paintings. Through the influence of Verocchio and the brothers Pollajuoli this idealism was combined with the naturalness of Masaccio. These qualities explain Botticelli's great influence over later painters. Botticelli's life was a retired one passed largely in very modest circumstances. We know, however that he was in the employ of the Medici and other prominent Florentine families from about 1483 to 1500. Although never inclined to frivolity he was yet influence by the worldly spirit of the age until Savonarola's powerful call to repentance aroused his moral nature and guided his powers, it now seems, into entirely new paths. He never knew how to take care of money and he died at last in need. Botticelli was too unassuming to sign and date his works in most instances, so that the order in time of his paintings has to be judged from the canvasses themselves. In 1470 Sandro started own workshop. Five years later, he painted the portrait (National Gallery, Washington) of Giuliano de' Medici, b rother of Lorenzo. In about 1478, Sandro, now in the favor of the Medici family, painted the enigmatic "Primavera (Spring)" (Uffizi, Florence). The work was commissioned by Lorenzo, son of Pierfrancesco de' Medici, a tormented and neurotic young man. The painting of "Primavera"- like "La Nascita di Venere (The Birth of Venus)" - was placed inside the Villa di Castello where Lorenzino lived. From this painting, a number of art historians have derived the iconography of the Florentine culture of Botticelli's day. Agnolo Poliziano, poet and tutor of Lorenzo de' Medici's sons (including Giovanni, future Pope Clemente X), with his lyric poems in which the wind teases nymphs in Arcadian woods, would appear to be the textual reference for Botticelli's mythology (Vasari 44). Other famous works by Botticelli include "Pallas and the Centaur", "Venus and Mars", and "The Birth of Venus". The figures certainly do not enact a known myth but rather are used allegorically to illustrate various aspe cts of love: in "Pallas," the subjugation of male lust by female chastity; in "Venus and Mars," a celebration of woman's calm triumph after man's sexual exhaustion; and in "The Birth of Venus," the birth of love in the world (Levey 103, 111). Whilst working for the Medici certainly conferred many rewards they were nevertheless a dangerous family to be round. The Renaissance, however, is not called that for nothing and along side the wars, killings and double dealings that punctuated that period was a real sense of a rebirth of ideas, science, art and philosophical thought. Key to this in Florence was the rediscovery of the philosophy of Plato, Aristotle, and Pythagoras, which fused together with some elements of eastern mysticism. This new philosophical ideal became known as Neoplatonism, which saw love, beauty,

Strengths And Weaknesses Of Policy Cycles Politics Essay

Strengths And Weaknesses Of Policy Cycles Politics Essay The term of policy seems to have broader meaning than what government should do or not to do. Bridgman and Davis (2000, as cited by Colebatch, 2009: 47) define policy as a course of action by government designed to achieve certain results. These series of action is started with thought, moving to actions, and ended with solution. In ideal world, policies are made by government, as representatives of pubic, to eliminate some of social problems. In reality, the policy process is more complex and in certain circumstance it fails to meet the stated goals. Problems throughout policy process mean that policy phase or policy cycle is not necessarily effective in achieving its objectives. However, separately from the weaknesses, policy cycle is a useful tool to guide policy maker in policy-making. This essay will describes the strengths of policy cycle as a tool in making a policy through a good process, and its weaknesses when facing a reality in the complex world. The Strengths The strength of policy cycle in policy process lies on its stages. Each stage in the policy cycle enables decision makers to identify problems, identify and evaluate alternative policies, and selecting the most appropriate strategy. Moreover, Althaus et al. (2007) suggest that policy cycle provide policy maker with an understanding about what they should do since every stage in policy cycle is clear and identifiable steps. As an illustration, in agenda setting stage, policy maker normally set the agenda by checking problems which have emerged and gained a lot of public attention and require government intervention. In this stage policy maker should know what and why there are prevailing problems surrounding certain issues. They also need to analyze social and political context and check whether current policy is effective for being applied to certain issue as well as get the general idea that will be involved in this policy. When a set of policy alternatives have been analyzed, the n ext stage is a decision making which is then followed by implementation. Policy cycle does not stop at policy implementation stage, but continued with evaluation in which the results decision that have been taken are monitored by all parties, both inside government and other groups outside government. Each of these stages can be seen separately and it makes possible for the policy maker to identify, revisit, and reanalyze which phase has been conducted in a wrong way. In addition, stages in policy cycle can be compared separately (Davis et al 1993). For instance, the evaluation stage allows the policy maker to make a comparison between the stated goal and result that have been achieved. The next strength of policy cycle is it is a tool to get more rational decision. The policy process often involves the interaction of many parties, ranging from government itself, researchers, media to politicians (Sabatier 2003). Each of these actors and institutions have different views on an issue and policy cycle accommodate all inputs from these parties and then analyzed more deeply to get the best strategy (Howlett and Ramesh 2003). For example, in the making of energy saving policy which is one of the sensitive sectors policy maker should have a coordination with many stakeholders outside government, such as trade and industry as the parties that concerned with the utilization of energy in production activities, the private sector which have interest with this issue since it relates with the reduction of working hours, and consumer protection as a representative body of the consumer voice. All options and alternative decisions given by all stakeholders are accommodated for dee p analysis before deciding the final choice. The process involves a variety of interests is seen as the strengths of the policy cycle because the decisions are more rational. Good decisions are not solely generated from the implementation of all stages in the policy cycle however policy-making without all stages has less chance of success. As argued by Michael Keating (1996, as cited by Sabatier, 2003) good process does not always bring good policy however bad process leads to bad outcome. Policy cycle is not a series of stages that are fixed from one stage to the next. To get the best possible decision, each stage in the policy cycle could be returned to the previous stage if it is found some mistakes or insufficiency data for decision making. In many cases, the cabinet might ask policy maker to revisit the process of identification and decision analysis because of lack of information received. In addition, the policy cycle stages can be performed repeatedly to get a good policy. For example, it is possible that policy instrument stage to be repeatedly found that if taken the wrong alternative. The Weaknesses Like other approach, the policy cycle has weaknesses. Firstly, it is difficult to generate a decision when external factors, such as politics has entered into the arena (Edward, 2001, as cited in Everett, 2003). In a democratic system, policy is taken not only by the one-governance but it will involve a lot of participant or political parties, as suggested by Davis et al. (1993, as cited in Everett, 2003) that most policies resulting from negotiations between interests. These political leader are not completely independent, they bring the party goals that often does not meet with the government goals. Leaders of the party could demonstrate their interests in almost every step of the policy-making process, either in the early stages such as agenda setting and decision-making which is sometimes led to take longer time to make a decision than what is expected. Not only in the agenda setting stage, these political leaders are also using the implementation process as one opportunity to br ing back the partys interests which are not accommodated in the early stages if they proposed alternative decision is not selected by the government (Howlett and Ramesh 2003). Furthermore Everett (2003) argue that even consultation, which is considered as the most important stage in policy cycle, cannot address controversy among political interest and sometimes fail to finish the policy process with concrete decision. She gives her case study on coal transport infrastructure location as an example of political influence in the content of policy. Secondly, it is un-doubtful that policy cycle is a tool to simplify policy process however this becomes less effective when the reality is more complex and challenging, as suggested by Everett (2003) that policy cycle is normative and impractical in decision making. This view is based on argument that policy process involves many hands from various level of government, and many of them are not addressing the same problem, or even have different ideas about what would be a good answer. All these different ideas and different interests are accommodated in the policy cycle, and sometimes they can slow decision making process or even change the decision. Moreover, good policy is not only determined by a series of stage but also quality of policy makers itself to analyze problems and choose the best strategy, pressures from interest groups, and political situations (Sabatier and Jenkins Smith 1993). It is therefore need more ability to understand activities and interaction of these differ ent parties than a set of stages. Finally, other thing that should be considered in policy process is urgency of policy. In certain circumstance, government should take a decision in a short time without passing all stages in policy cycle. For example, to anticipate the impact of the global financial crisis in Indonesia, the government issued fiscal stimulus policy to support the real sector activities. This policy was made à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹without doing the stages in the policy cycle such as coordination with local governments as one of the recipients of this aid. In addition, the scope of policy also becomes one of consideration that policy cycle is not necessarily applied in policy process. In certain circumstance, some of the issues that emerged were simple problems, it is therefore direct action is more appropriate rather than follow stages in policy cycle, but the same treatment cannot be applied for the problems that have a broader impact. In other words, policy cycle is not necessarily be u sed in every circumstance. Conclusion It is un-doubtful that the policy cycle is a tool to improve policy through effective series of stage. The stages in the policy cycle can provide a systematic framework to policy maker that helps them in the policy process. It also make possible for the policy maker to view each stage separately to determine the best strategy. However, it is arguable that the policy cycle can be applied in complex situations where a lot of interests enter to the arena and influence the policy process, such as politics. The other thing need to be point out is that urgency and scope of policy also become the other consideration whether policy cycle effectively explain the policy process. Despite the policy cycle has its weaknesses, every stage in policy cycle is useful tools in policy process but it does not necessarily meet the real process in decision-making.

How To Detail Your Car Essay -- essays research papers

How to successfully detail your car. When you buy a new car it comes to you spotless, washed, polished, and dressed. After a while the bright shine of amorall begins to fade and that showroom shine is no longer at show room condition. French fries begin to gather, straw wrappers appear, the ever-present coffee stain on the carpeting and even animal hair collects all which demolishes the clean appearance of your prized automobile. When owning a new car you need to know how to reestablish that beautiful finish. The first thing you should know when detailing a car is the importance of washing and polishing the cars exterior, then comes the dreadful interior, after that is the detailed cleaning that makes or breaks the cars appearance. First you must pick a perfect day to detail your car, the weather must be fair the sun should be blocked by the occasional cloud or two and for your comfort it should be mildly warm out. Pull the car up to a shaded area close to a long garden with water pressure to spare. Make sure the windows are closed, and then begin to pre-rinse the car to get any easily removed dirt off of the car, not doing this will result in scratching of the paint when washing with soap. Second you should later up a nice bucket of car wash and with a knotted hair glove thoroughly scrub every inch of the cars paint and windows. If some of the dirt or squashed bugs from fast highway travel get some bleach-white car cleaner and with a bug pad apply the cleaner directly to...

Outcomes of divorce on children Essay

Divorce, while lengthy and sometimes hurtful, can be beneficial to the children and spouses. Children coming from situations of abuse and neglect actually benefit from the separation of parents. These parents may remain single or remarry, still studies have shown that the children have and are thriving in a way they were unable to before the separation. While there are exceptions to every rule, the divorce has become a positive alternative in some families. Children coming from homes where violence and abuse is an ordinary occurrence, are not only victims in their childhood, but are continually affected as adults. According to the Traumatogentic model, proposed by Dr. Finkelor (1987), the abused child produces a number of different psychological effects and long term behavioral changes. Leaving a child in such a situation would not only cause continual physical harm, but also the long term psychological problems. In such cases divorce is encouraged for the benefit of both the spouse being abused and the child involved. After divorce children have been shown to thrive in the new, abuse-free environment; showing improvements in their education, attitude, and overall social development. Another factor of positive divorce is the presence of neglect in the household. Accumulating information from the Attachment Theory proposed by John Bowlby in 1980, researchers have compiled evidence of the side effects of the lack of a secure attachment to caregivers at an early age. Because of rejection and inconsistent attention, among other forms of neglect, these children have â€Å"developed anxious, insecure or disorganized/disoriented attachments with their primary care providers† (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services). With two parents this neglect from one or both can turn to a feeling of hatred for one or both parents from the child. â€Å"This lack of secure attachment relationship then hinders the infant’s or toddler’s ability to explore his/her environment and develop feelings of competence† (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services). Divorce here is an apparent necessity to the children involved. Based on the long term effects of neglect from numerous studies, children are better with one parent that cares for them or a non-biological parent than two that do not accurately care for the child’s needs. While being exposed to the process of divorce, children have become aware that struggle is a normal part of marriage and have been able to use their parents as examples. In a study done by â€Å"Psychology Today†, twenty-eight college students were interviewed to see how their parents divorce influenced their own current and past relationships. The group was divided into three different groups according to their responses. The first group were named the â€Å"Modelers†. This group mimicked their parents relationship, continuing to be dysfunctional. The second group were the â€Å"Strugglers†, this group showed a cautiousness in trusting others and hesitancy in opening up to others. The third were the â€Å"Reconcilers†. These students strove to learn from their parents mistakes and the problems they witnessed, to create more successful relationships in their own lives. The group that the students fell into also had to do with the type of relationship they had with their parents before the breakup and after. It was found that the â€Å"modeler† group had â€Å"limited insight† to the problems that their parents were going through. The â€Å"strugglers† lost touch with their parents and received little support after the divorce. In contrast, â€Å"reconcilers† kept touch with their parents and were given positive reinforcement† (H. Parker). In these cases the students learned from their parents divorce by example. Neither regretting their parent’s decision nor harboring ill feelings toward them for the separation. Good communication between parents and children was key to a happy outcome post-divorce. In an interview done by Dr.  Joyce Arditti of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, fifty-eight young women who were raised by only their mother were asked their feelings on the situation. The women all agreed that the relationship between themselves and their mothers could never be closer. The relationships evolved into that of a best friendship rather than an authority figure and child. Although they are not the traditional mother-daughter relationships, they still provide support for the child in all the ways that a typical mother could and even go beyond that to the type of support that only a friend could provide. Growing up in a family with both parents present, was somewhat less than picture perfect in my own experiences. As a child, hearing constant arguing from both parents caused me to have a bias opinion on the parent doing the least amount of yelling or the parent that was fighting for my cause. This fighting being a constant in my life, made me wish that they would divorce, but because of personal religious reasons they have not. This, in turn, causes me to have apprehensions about marriage and doubt some of the stipulations that I was raised to associate with marriage. Divorce in my case would benefit my relationship with both parents and ease my own apprehensions about marriage. Divorce will always be a tough situation for the parents and children involved, but that does not mean that it has to be a negative one. The term divorce has been, in recent years, coined with a negative connotation. This however, is out-dated and one sided. With the recent studies and the help of psychologists, the term divorce has become somewhat less than taboo in our society today.

Underground and Sublime: How the Subterranean Context of a City Embodies a Unique Spatial Experience

Underground and sublime â€Å"The high gained from such subterraneous geographic expedition is so bally intense, there’s no demand for a goblet in this wonderland. Unequalled by anything on the surface degree, the bowls of the metropolis are a sight behold.† ( Graphotism, 1999 ) Modern infinite, in context of the metropolis and the experience of a metropolis inhabitant, has been reduced to a generalised position that can be described as ‘verticality’ . Gaston Bachelard ( 1969 ) presents his theory on verticalness through the mutual opposition of the basement and the loft, which in bend brings unequivocal penetrations into the really different phenomenological waies the imaginativeness perceives ; the House in our eyes is a concentrated building, constructed with upward impulse. It becomes an independent volume which provides us with a psychologically concrete nature. But within the house, infinite is opposed by the reason of the Attic and the unreason of the basement. If the House serves as a metaphor for a City, the rules are the same in that the Attic is representative of the rational attack taken to urban spacial design. Henri Lefebvre remarks in his book The Production of Space, â€Å"Verticality, and the independency of volumes with regard to the original land and it’s distinctive features, are, exactly, produced† . Equally long as we adhere to Verticality being the cardinal axis of the urban environment, our eyes lift above the immediate specificity of district on which it is built, ensuing in a homogeneous built environment, therefore an abstraction of world. The basement on the other manus, in the instance ‘The Underground’ , is perceived as a lost dimension, one which is defined by abstraction, but Bachelard points out that the phenomenology of populating a ‘cellar’ infinite places the dweller in a harmonious province with subterraneous forces and the unreason of digging. The position of a metropolis inhabitant on their immediate environment, one time populating an belowground infinite, is returned and further deepened, to the point that the imaginativeness is limitless within the foremost ‘dark entity’ . The essay will research what, why and how the subterraneous context of a metropolis embodies a alone spacial experience through an question into the Sublime. The relation of Sublime theory to civic substructure embedded in the metropolis resistance will supply the evidences to oppugn whether the thoughts of the Sublime are relevant, particularly in the instance of infinite designed without architectural theoretical purposes. Can infinite be more strictly empyreal if it isn’t deliberately designed to be empyreal? What â€Å"Whatever is fitted in any kind to excite the thoughts of hurting, and danger, that is to state, whatever is in any kind awful, or is familiar about awful objects or operates in a mode correspondent to terror is a beginning of the sublime ; that is, it is productive of the strongest emotion the head is capable of feeling.† ( Burke, 1990 ) Bachelard ( 1969 ) uses a short narration to explicate his theory on how belowground infinite ab initio induces a sense of fright in the topic provided by C G Jung in his book Modern Man in hunt of a Soul. â€Å" Here the witting Acts of the Apostless like a adult male who, hearing a leery noise in the basement, hastes to the Attic and, happening no burglars at that place decides, accordingly, that the noise was pure imaginativeness. In world, this prudent adult male did non make bold venture into the cellar.† The Underground is depicted as the more awful in the comparing of elevated infinite and subterraneous infinite due to the degrees of witting idea used to apologize fright. In which, brings us to a cardinal trait of the Sublime. Fear is an apprehensiveness of hurting or decease, therefore rendering the organic structure nullified of its powers of moving and concluding when subjected enter the resistance. ( Burke, 1990 ) Yet this poses a paradox when we consider different scenarios that involve the rite of come ining an belowground infinite. In some occasions, for case during wartime, adult male seeks the protection of the resistance to avoid hurting or decease. The sand trap outlook takes a figure of distinguishable signifiers, from which it is deserving noticing on their deficiency of basic design considerations including comfort, airing and visible radiation. This natural disposition towards subterranean brooding roots from the earliest signifier of shelter for adult male, the cave, and yet even now the design of belowground sand traps isn’t clearly different from a of course happening cave, proposing that we besides portion a sense of security alongside fright. There is besides the passion of wonder, even though it is the simplest of our passions, which can overmaster our frights and coerce us to follow the way to find. â€Å"When danger or strivings press excessively early, they are incapable of giving any delectation, and are merely awful ; but at certain distances, and with certain alterations, they may be, and they are delightful† . ( Burke, 1990 ) In kernel, it is the thoughts of hurting that are much more powerful than pleasance, therefore the thoughts of the empyreal emerge through awful experience, but necessarily our brushs result in pleasance. The journey undertaken by human existences with the wonder to dig deep into the unknown, the stairss taken to make a finish, particularly into deepnesss of the belowground apart from any above land spacial experience as the topic is confined from all about. A longing for the safety of the surface indicates feelings of anxiousness and claustrophobia, which could hold desperate effects, but it is precisely this fright that accordingly produces the extreme highs which will ever be attractive to the topic. ( Carlyle, 2000 ) Why â€Å"Adjusting to the extremes of silence and deafening noise, bright corridors and flip black stairwells and basically developing an confidant cognition of a labyrinthine system in which were one time ignored [ go ] gaps to underground frontiers.† ( Carlyle, 2000 ) The rite of traveling belowground entirely is empyreal ; as we descend into darkness our senses are aroused, awakened and heightened. Our attending to minute inside informations is increased within a confined infinite, like the sound of a rat scurrying along the tracks of the London Underground ; the physical boundaries are existent, seting the senses under unbelievable emphasis, go forthing the imaginativeness to widen into the overpowering darkness bring oning a strong sense of fright over normally undistinguished events. †When we know the full extent of any danger, when we accustom our eyes to it, a great trade of the apprehensiveness vanishes.† ( Burke, 1990 ) These all being corollaries of our human nature, we are nonvoluntary to these effects which in all facets are linked to Sublime Theory. Edmund Burke in his book A Philosophic Enquiry into the Beginning of our Ideas on the Sublime and the Beautiful, the distinctive features of the sublime are set out in parts and subdivision clear uping the theory of our passions and their genuine sourced. In relation to architecture, he supplies concise direction and review of the nature of empyreal infinite, but it is the direct personal experience and feelings he describes, the beginning of the sublime, which I endeavor to compare with the phenomenology of Underground infinite. â€Å"Stepping outside our prearranged traffic forms and established finishs, we find a metropolis laced with liminality, with border districts cutting across its bosom and making into its sky. We find a 1000 disappearing points, each unique, each alive, each pregnant with wealths and admirations and time.† ( Cook, 2009 ) Modernity has brought a huge clandestine underworld into metropolis degrees, cluttered with wrestling conveyance tunnels, telecommunication lines, the mail rail, sand traps and vaults. All of which are excavated from the Earth, falling into darkness, off from any beginning of natural visible radiation, which incurs that all light is unnaturally substituted. Shadows engulf infinite, making these disappearing points that Michael Cook, an urban adventurer who runs the website Vanishing Point, talks about in Geoff Manaugh’s The BLDG BLOG Book. The vanishing point besides refers to a point of eternity, which in Sublime footings refers to a delicious horror. Upon looking down a conveyance tunnel, in belowground civic architecture, there is no light lighting the terminal, there is merely darkness, which presents the pheonomenon of eternity, therefore our imaginativeness is free to widen to our panic, or pleasance. Ideas are able to reiterate in our head about boundlessly, like  "if you hold up a consecutive pole, with your oculus to one terminal, it will look extended to a length about incredible.† ( Burke, 1990 ) So even though the existent dimensions of an belowground tunnel make a sense of claustrophobia, they besides comprehend enormousness in the head of the object, non merely through the semblance of eternity but besides the cognition of the labyrinthine system that they inhabit. At this point, the entryway and the flight seem inexplicable, but the consequence of eternity on the imaginativeness switches hurting to pleasance. Greatness of the dimension has a powerful impact on the sublime, particularly in consideration to architecture. But it can be perceived in many ways, much of them opposing. For illustration Norberg-Schulz in his book Genius Loci describes â€Å"The Mountain, therefore, belongs to the Earth, but it rises toward the sky. It is ‘high’ , it is close to heaven† , and the cosmic relation it has in connexion Eden and Earth, connoting that the monumental graduated table of a mountain making out to the Eden is genuinely empyreal. On the other terminal of the spectrum, Burke explains the degree of minuteness’ mentioning to such things as the ‘infinite divisibility of matter’ . We are every bit confounded by smallness as enormousness. Although in footings of belowground infinite, illustriousness of dimension has its most dramatic consequence through alternate significances. Vastness of extent, in footings of length, tallness and deepness in peculiar, exaggerate perceptual experiences of the sheer measure of such infinites, even though we can non see them, which has a profound consequence on the head. Once we explore them for ourselves our civic agreeableness map are made tangible, and we know that, â€Å"Every clip we turn on the pat, draw the concatenation, pick up the telephone, there is an belowground motion ; a gurgle of H2O, an impulse along a wire.† ( Trench & A ; Hillman, 1985 ) As the beds are peeled away the venas of the metropolis are revealed, seting the belowground kingdom on a graduated table similar to the starry heavens in its impressiveness. ‘The great profuseness of things which are splendid’ , creates the widespread vision of the sublime. ( Burke, 1990 ) The most surpassing property to Underground infinite is darkness. Darkness being the most productive of the sublime, and the Underground being unable to tackle the power of the Sun, it descends into a fearful province overwhelmed by darkness. The theory of the empyreal stresses the importance that when you enter a edifice, to do objects most dramatic, they should be every bit different as possible to the object we have been most familiar with, which implies that our ocular variety meats must be put under the most stress to heighten our perceptual experiences of the sublime. ( Burke, 1990 ) This can be farther assisted by the nature of shadows which bring a degree of obscureness into drama. Burke uses characters of fright in human existences ; â€Å"how greatly dark adds to our apprehension, in all instances of danger, and how much the impressions of shades and hobs, of which none can organize clear thoughts, affect heads, which gave recognition to the popular narratives refering such kinds of beings.† Shadows reinstate the feeling of presence, but in a confined infinite lucidity is scarce and they become abstracted in the oculus of the topic, instantly striking panic in their bosom. ( Burke, 1990 ) Other than this type of visible radiation that may make a sublime atmosphere, the antonym of darkness, that is light that obliterates all objects through its pure appendage, will hold the same consequence as complete darkness. An illustration of this is a bolt of Lightning. It moves with such quickness and brightness, that our senses are overcome. Therefore, upon come ining a infinite a speedy passage from visible radiation to darkness or frailty versa, recreates this consequence in an atmospheric environment. ( Burke, 1990 ) Apart from the effects visible radiation has on the oculus of the topic, it is the combination of vision and sound which achieves the highest grade of the sublime, and is relevant to the design of tunnels. A tunnel is constructed by uninterrupted repeat which sight perceives as one point multiplied to eternity. â€Å"The oculus vibrating in all its parts must near near to the nature of what causes hurting, and accordingly must bring forth an thought of the sublime.† This is besides relevant to the sound of the Underground. Within the confines of all environing solid stuff walls, sound reverberates around the infinite, garnering impulse and arrives at the topic with inordinate volume, which has the ability to overmaster the psyche, suspending it in action and to make full it with panic. ( Burke, 1990 ) How â€Å"The tree drawn on the land by their shadows made the most profound feeling on me. This image grew in my imaginativeness. I so saw everything that was the most drab in nature. What did I see? The mass if objects detached in black against a visible radiation of utmost pallor.† ( Vidler, 1992 ) Modern architecture, particularly in the attack to belowground architecture, has often attempted to free itself of the threatening darkness which is so imperative to the theory of the sublime and voluminous in the nature of belowground infinite. This is due to a modernist theory led by Le Corbusier in the 20th century, which takes a stance on urban design as a corporate. Dark seemed to be a parasite to architecture and it was thought that transparence would â€Å"eradicate the sphere of myth, intuition, dictatorship and above all irrationality.† Architects concentrated on opening up metropoliss to circulation, visible radiation and air, labeling the profession as the ‘light-bringers’ when it came to planing belowground infinite in peculiar. ( Vidler, 1992 ) A specific illustration of this modernist theory being apparent in current architectural pattern is the Canary Wharf London Underground Station by Foster+Partners. Which I will compare with another modern-day resistance station, the Westminster Extension by Michael Hopkins to underground infinite taken with mention to sublimate theory. Canary Wharf London Underground Station is by far the largest station to be built in the recent Jubilee Line Extension act due to the context it uses, that being the former West India dock, therefore it benefits from the handiness of infinite. The sheer size of the infinite advocates illustriousness of dimension, yet its horizontal proportions don’t comply with empyreal theory. The edifice boasts its length bing to the tallness of the Canary Wharf Tower to Burke ( 1990 ) â€Å"an hundred paces of even land will ne'er work such an consequence as a tower an 100s paces tall.† Although the uniformity to plan, with equal proportions and design based on insistent entities, enhances the subject’s experience of enormousness within infinite. It besides shows similarities with the architecture of Gothic Cathedrals in that the technology on show is evocative of the winging buttress. In the survey of visible radiation and design inside informations, the station doesn’t seem to encompass any facets of natural belowground infinite by throw outing darkness from every cranny in the design. First of wholly, the chief focal point comprises of 3 swelling glass canopies whose premier map is to pull daylight deep into the infinite. But the dimensions of the infinite prevent these from holding a important consequence all twenty-four hours long, therefore the acceptance of bright unreal lighting reduces any transitional effects between the exterior and interior to about nil. In comparing, the station at Westminster begins with a significant descent into the deepnesss of the resistance, which has a ritualistic journey reminiscent of falling into a immense cavern. The difference here is in the dimensions of the infinite which is of verticalness, about falling off from street degree, past the subterraneous substructure, into the shadows of the underworld. This is augmented by the honestness of its building which contributes to the dramatic ambiance through sheer hardiness of technology. The unreal lighting used has been smartly situated in order to move functionally and atmospherically. The visible radiations act like a beacon that directs riders out of the station, as if they are returning to the daytime of street degree, but they besides create an astonishing atmosphere by projecting infinite consists of criss-crossing stations and beams between the falling shafts, which catch the visible radiation in apposition, which besides conflicts with the framing o f a bird-eye position on the station floor. Percepts of the infinite are improbably phenomenological, prosecuting the topic with the architecture and successfully switching the position from street degree to the resistance. In my sentiment the rules in which Michael Hopkins Architects have based their architecture upon, to a great extent implement the theories of the sublime into a rationalized design tantrum to function as a functional infinite, but besides an improbably atmospheric experience for the topic. On the contrary, Foster+ Partners’ attack to belowground infinite tantrums in with the to the full rational attack of modernist theory, which alternatively of tackling the qualities of visible radiation and rites that go in tandem with the experience of the resistance, transparence has claimed its triumph. Thereby, through an extended concurrence between empyreal theory and belowground infinite, in peculiar the civic architecture of metropolis degrees, many differentiations have been made that nexus empyreal theory to infinites that we have discussed, doing it enormously relevant. What distinguishes the infinites I have talked about from Architecture is its irrational nature in the fact that Earth is excavated to make a functional infinite. There is no seeable form to take into history when noticing on aesthetics of belowground infinite as one is surrounded by Earth. But it is exactly this that makes the irrational infinite of resistance more strictly empyreal than Architecture that tries to animate what irrational infinite has. Even though Westminster station applies much detailing with purpose to work empyreal traits, it will ne'er transgress the threshold, due merely to the fact that the rational procedure designers apply to plan, retreats from organic idea. The design of civic comf ortss is apparently free from rational idea because there is no demand to take the human experience into consideration. Therefore, it may stand as its ain separate entity, suspended in the resistance, beautiful because it has been designed to be beautiful.

Free Essays on Escape By Madness

Escape by Madness â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper,† by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, is a story of a husband’s attempt to cure his wife of her â€Å"temporary nervous depression†, by isolating her from her newborn, three miles from town, in a large mansion where she is to spend the majority of her time in a room alone, resting. Gilman shows the process of her mental demise as repression and supervision force her to withdraw inward and bottle her feelings. In the story, â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper,† Gilman illustrates the internal conflict the woman experiences by showing her struggles with her role and place in society. The nursemaid and the narrator’s sister- in -law keep their distance because they take for granted that her husband, a physician, knows what is best for her. John, her husband, decides that the â€Å"rest cure† is a necessary measure for a recovery from her nervous or postpartum depression. As Heather Kirk Thomas points out, the story â€Å"addresses Dr. S. Weir Michael’s famous rest cure and his treatment of . . . deliberating postpartum depression† (624). I take phosphates or phosphites-which ever it is-and tonics, and air and exercise, and journeys, and am absolutely forbidden to ‘work’ until I am well again. . . . I did write for a while in spite of them; but it does exhaust me a good deal-having to be so sly about it, or else meet with heavy opposition. (470 Gilman) This excerpt illustrates how her husband manipulates her life regulating her parsimoniously every hour of the day while she remains silent, preferring to sneak around behind his back rather than openly defy him. The trip to the colonial mansion is for her benefit. Therefore, she may â€Å"rest† while renovations are made to their house. The narrator’s husband treats her like a child; their relationship is father daughter, not man and wife. Clearly, this is a patriarchal society. Not only does her husband suppress her actions but he also ... Free Essays on Escape By Madness Free Essays on Escape By Madness Escape by Madness â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper,† by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, is a story of a husband’s attempt to cure his wife of her â€Å"temporary nervous depression†, by isolating her from her newborn, three miles from town, in a large mansion where she is to spend the majority of her time in a room alone, resting. Gilman shows the process of her mental demise as repression and supervision force her to withdraw inward and bottle her feelings. In the story, â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper,† Gilman illustrates the internal conflict the woman experiences by showing her struggles with her role and place in society. The nursemaid and the narrator’s sister- in -law keep their distance because they take for granted that her husband, a physician, knows what is best for her. John, her husband, decides that the â€Å"rest cure† is a necessary measure for a recovery from her nervous or postpartum depression. As Heather Kirk Thomas points out, the story â€Å"addresses Dr. S. Weir Michael’s famous rest cure and his treatment of . . . deliberating postpartum depression† (624). I take phosphates or phosphites-which ever it is-and tonics, and air and exercise, and journeys, and am absolutely forbidden to ‘work’ until I am well again. . . . I did write for a while in spite of them; but it does exhaust me a good deal-having to be so sly about it, or else meet with heavy opposition. (470 Gilman) This excerpt illustrates how her husband manipulates her life regulating her parsimoniously every hour of the day while she remains silent, preferring to sneak around behind his back rather than openly defy him. The trip to the colonial mansion is for her benefit. Therefore, she may â€Å"rest† while renovations are made to their house. The narrator’s husband treats her like a child; their relationship is father daughter, not man and wife. Clearly, this is a patriarchal society. Not only does her husband suppress her actions but he also ...

Free Essays on The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer â€Å"Boys will be boys,† is a quote that best describes Tom Sawyer, in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Tom is the typical American boy. He is always getting into something. Throughout the novel Tom matures into a young man. Tom was always a mischievous boy but he had a good heart. During a child’s adolescence he can mature from being a menace to a respectable man in society. Tom Sawyer was very immature at the beginning of the novel, but matured throughout his adventures. When Tom was in trouble and had to white wash his Aunt Polly’s fence, he used reverse psychology on his friends to make them want to do his work for him. Tom did not want to do the work, so he found a way to get someone to do it for him. This shows that he is smart, but that he is also very manipulative. Tom had an idol in one of his peers, Huckleberry Finn. Huck did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. He did not have to go to school, church or Sunday school if he did not want to. Tom and Huck became very good friends as the novel progressed. One night Tom and Huck decided to go to a graveyard to perform a ritual to get rid of warts, but they received more than they bargained for. The boys witnessed the murder of a young doctor that night. Injun Joe, the half-breed, was the murderer, however, he convinced Muff Potters, the town drunk, that he killed the young doctor. The boys are terrified by Injun Joe, so they made a pact not to say a word, â€Å"Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer swears they will keep mum about this and they wish they may fall down dead in their tracks if they ever tell and rot.† (Twain 70) Although this pact was made, Tom’s good or conscience comes into perspective. Tom cannot bear to let an innocent man hang. Tom breaks the pact with Huck and testifies in court. This shows great strength on Tom’s part. He went against his word, and risked facing Injun Joe. â€Å"When the half-... Free Essays on The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer Free Essays on The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer The Adventures of Tom Sawyer â€Å"Boys will be boys,† is a quote that best describes Tom Sawyer, in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Tom is the typical American boy. He is always getting into something. Throughout the novel Tom matures into a young man. Tom was always a mischievous boy but he had a good heart. During a child’s adolescence he can mature from being a menace to a respectable man in society. Tom Sawyer was very immature at the beginning of the novel, but matured throughout his adventures. When Tom was in trouble and had to white wash his Aunt Polly’s fence, he used reverse psychology on his friends to make them want to do his work for him. Tom did not want to do the work, so he found a way to get someone to do it for him. This shows that he is smart, but that he is also very manipulative. Tom had an idol in one of his peers, Huckleberry Finn. Huck did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. He did not have to go to school, church or Sunday school if he did not want to. Tom and Huck became very good friends as the novel progressed. One night Tom and Huck decided to go to a graveyard to perform a ritual to get rid of warts, but they received more than they bargained for. The boys witnessed the murder of a young doctor that night. Injun Joe, the half-breed, was the murderer, however, he convinced Muff Potters, the town drunk, that he killed the young doctor. The boys are terrified by Injun Joe, so they made a pact not to say a word, â€Å"Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer swears they will keep mum about this and they wish they may fall down dead in their tracks if they ever tell and rot.† (Twain 70) Although this pact was made, Tom’s good or conscience comes into perspective. Tom cannot bear to let an innocent man hang. Tom breaks the pact with Huck and testifies in court. This shows great strength on Tom’s part. He went against his word, and risked facing Injun Joe. â€Å"When the half-...

Conversation Analysis Definition and Examples

Conversation Analysis Definition and Examples In sociolinguistics, conversation analysis is the study of the talk produced in ordinary human interactions. Sociologist Harvey Sacks (1935-1975) is generally credited with founding the discipline. Also called talk-in-interaction  and  ethnomethodology. At its core, says Jack Sidnell, conversation analysis is a set of methods for working with audio and video recordings of talk and social interaction (Conversation Analysis: An Introduction, 2010). See Examples and Observations below. Also, see: Talking Together: Key Concepts in Conversation AnalysisAdjacency PairAsymmetry (Communication)Broken-Record ResponseConstructed DialogueConversationConversational GroundingConversational Implicature and ExplicatureConversationalizationCooperative OverlapCooperative PrincipleDialogueDirect SpeechDiscourse AnalysisDiscourse DomainDiscourse MarkerEcho UtteranceEditing TermIndexicalityInterlocutorMinor SentenceNonverbal CommunicationPausePhatic Communication and Solidarity TalkPoliteness StrategiesProfessional CommunicationPunctuation EffectRelevance TheoryRepairShort AnswerSpeech ActStyle-ShiftingTurn-Taking Examples and Observations [C]onversation analysis (CA) [is] an approach within the social sciences that aims to describe, analyze and understand talk as a basic and constitutive feature of human social life. CA is a well-developed tradition with a distinctive set of methods and analytic procedures as well as a large body of established findings. . . .At its core, conversation analysis is a set of methods for working with audio and video recordings of talk and social interaction. These methods were worked out in some of the earliest conversation-analytic studies and have remained remarkably consistent over the last 40 years. Their continued use has resulted in a large body of strongly interlocking and mutually supportive findings . . ..(Jack Sidnell, Conversation Analysis: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell, 2010The Aim of Conversation AnalysisCA is the study of recorded, naturally occurring talk-in-interaction. But what is the aim of studying these interactions? Principally, it is to discover how participants u nderstand and respond to one another in their turns at talk, with a central focus on how sequences of action are generated. To put it another way, the objective of CA is to uncover the often tacit reasoning procedures and sociolinguistic competencies underlying the production and interpretation of talk in organized sequences of interaction.(Ian Hutchby and Robin Wooffitt, Conversation Analysis. Polity, 2008 Adjacency PairsOne very common structure that has been identified [through conversation analysis] is the adjacency pair. This is an ordered pair of adjacent utterances spoken by two different speakers. Once the first utterance is spoken, the second is required. A few of the many adjacency pairs that have been identified are shown.SummonsanswerCan I get some help here?On my way.Offer - refusalSales clerk: May I help you find something?Customer: No thank you, Im just looking.Compliment  - acceptanceYour hair looks very lovely today.Thank you. I just had it cut.​(William OGrady, et al. Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction. Bedford, 2001Response to Criticisms of Conversational AnalysisMany people who take a look at CA from the outside are amazed by a number of superficial features of CAs practice. It seems to them that CA refuses to use available theories of human conduct to ground or organize its arguments, or even to construct a theory of its own. Furthermore, it seems unwilling to explain the phenomena it studies by invoking obvious factors like basic properties of the participants or the institutional context of the interaction. And finally, it seems to be obsessed with the details of its materials. These impressions are not too far off the mark, but the issue is why CA refuses to use or construct theories, why it refuses interaction-external explanations, and why it is obsessed with details. The short answer is that these refusals and this obsession are necessary in order to get a clear picture of CAs core phenomenon, the in situ organization of conduct, and especially talk-in-interaction. So CA is not a-theoretical but it has a different conception of how to theorize about social life.(Paul ten Have, Doing Conversation Analysis: A Practical Guide, 2nd ed. SAGE, 2007)

Primary source review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Primary source review - Essay Example The Author of this book uses the work of Leopold to support his argument about the relationship between human beings and the environment. The article by Leopold Thinking like a mountain is an old piece that was written back mid-20th century. The article presents the environmental balance that existed during this time of the historical period. As Leopold states, this was a time when the American deer population was over a hundred thousand. The article therefore provides a point with which to compare the status quo in the early 1950s with the current situation in America. This was a time when the society was more concerned with the environment and the people depended on it for survival. He makes a reference to the years of 1920s when the wolves had been removed from the mountains and the population of the deer had exploded. In his view, the natural ecosystem has a way of maintaining balance in a natural way without the control of human beings. This is an idea that many others in the contemporary society have to support. Schmitz (61) is one of the authors that have reflected on the concept of natural balance in the ecosy stem1. He states that when predators in a given natural ecosystem are eliminated there is likelihood that the population of the preys will grow uncontrollably. By subscribing to this idea, Schmitz seems to provide the same reason that Leopold provided as the reason why the population of deer had exploded on the mountain in America. The two authors seem to refer to the conservation strategies today that concentrate on eliminating the natural balance in ecosystem. Another major concern of this article is the role of the community with the ecosystem. In his idea about the concept of the community he terms brings out the idea that human beings are central to the ecosystem and their role is to promote an interdependent relationship with the ecosystem. However, he poses the idea that human beings despite their academic progress

The Invasion of Normandy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Invasion of Normandy - Research Paper Example This essay examines the Allied Forces invasion of Normandy. Within this spectrum of investigation specific consideration are given to events and statistics that are central to a comprehensive understanding of the events of D-Day. The essay reveals that the operation was nearly as large in logistical scope as it was in seminal importance to the Allied mission. Notably, rehearsals, planning, and covert operations led up to this extraordinary event that would become the largest invasion in military history. The planning for the operation had begun as early as April the year prior as the British General Montgomery outlined operations for an invasion of St. Paul’s Cathedral (Neillands). The invasion itself would become meticulously planned and rehearsed in the months leading up to the attack. One considers that in addition to the significant rehearsal that occurred the Allied Forces made a number of offensive operations as a means of deceiving the Axis Forces that other parts of Western Europe, specifically Northern France, would possibly be attacked. These attacks went under the name Operation Bodyguard and they were ultimately successful in diverting the German forces from the Normandy area, allowing the Allies a strategic advantage during the attack (Hakim). In addition to the rehearsals and deception that occurred before the invasion, the Allied Forces also developed specific new technology for attack. Most notable among the new technology was the ‘mulberry’. This was a mobile, pre-fabricated concrete harbor.

Most Important Cybersecurity Vulnerability Facing IT Managers Today Term Paper

Most Important Cybersecurity Vulnerability Facing IT Managers Today - Term Paper Example With the related elementary technique, that employs the transmission of the email SPAM formed to seem similar to it was derived through an officially authorized organization as well as in that way trapping us to go after a weblink to a wrong website that had been shaped to as well seem similar to it belonged to a valid organization, we could be trapped into sensational individual data and information regarding yourself that is also acknowledged as the Phishing (Rodriguez, 2007). The recompense was twofold. The executor of this act could go behind doesn't matter what economic capital we had like that our credit or debit card number, bank account, etc. or they could copy or steal an adequate amount of data and information from our computer to get hold of our identity. This category of online fraud is acknowledged as the identity theft. Identity theft possibly being even further shocking to the actual person for the reason that a hacker could make use of our individuality to open up cre dit and debit cards, bank accounts as well as carry out further negative activities and crimes concealed at the back of our identity (Rodriguez, 2007). Introduction to Phishing I believe phishing is the single most important cyber security vulnerability that IT managers are facing today. Actually, phishing is the process in which an authorized person tries to get access and use sensitive data and information such as usernames, personal information, credit card information and passwords by making use of deceptive and fake means as a trustworthy entity in an online and other internet supported communication. In addition, phishing is normally carried out through E-mail or through the instant messaging, as well as its generally directs... This essay stresses that IT managers are responsible for dealing with IT operations of an organization. In fact, business organizations heavily rely on IT in order to successfully operate their business. In this scenario, it is the responsibility of IT managers to implement strict security measures to ensure the secure execution of these IT operations. Given below are some of the important actions that can be taken to stop phishing. Information and data stealing is an extensively employed technique to industry intelligence. Through theft of personal infrastructure, plan credentials, officially permitted estimations, worker associated records, information robber’s proceeds from promotion to those who can want to make self-conscious or reason economic harm or to contestants. This paper has discussed some of the important aspects of phishing. In the past few years, phishing has become very common. In fact, there are many kinds of phishing and the basic purpose is to steal someone’s personal information using illegal ways. Without a doubt, organizations today heavily rely on their business data and information and for this they heavily rely on an IT department. So if this information is accessed by any unauthorized person it can be used for illegal purposes. In some cases, a business competitor can also hack this information to destroy the business of an organization. So it is essential for IT managers to keep them up to date with the latest knowledge of cyber vulnerabilities and be ready to implement solutions to deal with these vulnerabilities.

Critical Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Critical Review - Essay Example From this, five study cohorts were organized with each cohort grouped in two: one group receiving CBT and the other one receiving ST. Data on all participants assessed at baseline, post-treatment, 3 month, and 12-month follow-up on measures of symptoms, mood, self-esteem, insight, social functioning, and hospitalizations by research assistants blind to treatment group were treated with importance and analysed utilising the general linear models (GLM) comparing outcomes (continuous variables) across time for the two treatment groups and also for categorical outcomes. Primary results of the study which centre on the beliefs as to the severity of voices and global auditory hallucinations were measured utilising the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales for auditory hallucinations (PSYRATS) and the Belief about Voices Questionnaire—Revised (BAVQ-R), while the secondary outcomes which include psychotic symptoms, self-esteem, social functioning, insight, depression, and hospitalization we re measured through interview and self-report utilising Social Functioning Scale (SFS); the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II); the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES); and the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS). Results of the study indicate that both interventions are beneficial although on different outcomes: Enhanced ST was specifically effective in reducing auditory hallucinations, while group CBT was found specifically effective in reducing general psychotic symptoms. The inconsistency of these results with other recent group CBT studies – Barrowclough et al. (2006), Bechdolf et al. (2004) nor Wykes et al. (2005) – may be attributed to the basic differences of the participants in this study from those previous current studies which may have resulted to differences in a number of variables. More importantly, although enhance ST and group CBT have proven effective in different outcomes, the positive impact of enhanced ST on beliefs about auditory hallucinations

Is toleration necessary for citizenship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Is toleration necessary for citizenship - Essay Example Problems of toleration are generated by dislikes towards important differences manifesting in other individuals or groups, with subsequent interference in their activities. Hence toleration is defined as the â€Å"suspension of the power of interference towards disliked or disapproved differences† so long as no harm is caused to anyone by the existence of these differences (Galeotti, 1993: 587). The purpose of this paper is to examine the importance of toleration for citizenship. It will be determined whether political tolerance exercised by the government has an influence on the practise of toleration by citizens in society. The importance of the cultivation of friendship between diverse people for beneficial impact on toleration among citizens, and toleration towards sexual minorities and their inclusion will be discussed. The argument detailing how toleration and citizenship cannot be completely free from exclusion, the paradoxes in toleration and the contradictions in citizenship will serve to give a different perspective to the debate. In a planned or deliberate democracy, there is more expected from citizens than the mere silent toleration of attitudes and reasons that they dislike; especially if it is acknowledged that an important goal of democratic functioning is to find optimal and mutually agreeable solutions to problems and conflicts. Since citizens have to critically engage with each other, toleration pertaining to non-interference would not help for confrontational yet cooperative discussion. Further, when toleration is exercised by a majority, it may even be undemocratic. A deliberative theory of tolerance underscores how deliberation across differences can be both tolerant and democratic. â€Å"In a democracy, tolerance is exercised in resolving conflicts, and in making disagreements fruitful†(Bohman, 2003: 758, 762). Further, it is found that a

Discussion Board Questions 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussion Board Questions 2 - Essay Example es (2008) is that the employer looks concerned about the job applicants an aspect that make potential employees to feel secured leading to an increase on the level of motivation thus enhancing their productivity. Similarly, realistic recruitment message helps the employers to hire committed and satisfied employees. This is based on the fact that the potential employees have various options implying that they are ready to work and are focused at attaining their own goals and those of their chosen organisation. One of the key characteristics of an effective promotion policy is that it should be clearly communicated. In this way, individuals relying on the promotion policies during their decision making process are able to make reliable and coherent decisions. Secondly, a reliable promotion policy must clearly define the opportunities and the responsibilities of the employees. This will not only avoid the confusion among the employees but also it will enable them to be focused at attaining their own goals as well as those of the organisations. An effective promotion policy must outline rules related to benefits, compensation, and advancement in the work places. As a result, workers will feel secured thus reducing the rate of labor turnover and cases of absenteeism thus enhancing productivity of an organisation. A decision maker should collect adequate information regarding the number of employees that are needed by an organisation to accomplish short term and long term goals. For instance, a newly established firm must take into consideration the high initial capital that calls for adequate staff to avoid high expenses that may reduce the initial profits. In the same way, decisions makers must consider the level of skills and competence that are needed to undertake a particular job. In this way, they will be in a position to hire qualified employees that posses relevant qualifications to undertake the outlined duties. To avoid legal difficulties during the initial

Is toleration necessary for citizenship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Is toleration necessary for citizenship - Essay Example Problems of toleration are generated by dislikes towards important differences manifesting in other individuals or groups, with subsequent interference in their activities. Hence toleration is defined as the â€Å"suspension of the power of interference towards disliked or disapproved differences† so long as no harm is caused to anyone by the existence of these differences (Galeotti, 1993: 587). The purpose of this paper is to examine the importance of toleration for citizenship. It will be determined whether political tolerance exercised by the government has an influence on the practise of toleration by citizens in society. The importance of the cultivation of friendship between diverse people for beneficial impact on toleration among citizens, and toleration towards sexual minorities and their inclusion will be discussed. The argument detailing how toleration and citizenship cannot be completely free from exclusion, the paradoxes in toleration and the contradictions in citizenship will serve to give a different perspective to the debate. In a planned or deliberate democracy, there is more expected from citizens than the mere silent toleration of attitudes and reasons that they dislike; especially if it is acknowledged that an important goal of democratic functioning is to find optimal and mutually agreeable solutions to problems and conflicts. Since citizens have to critically engage with each other, toleration pertaining to non-interference would not help for confrontational yet cooperative discussion. Further, when toleration is exercised by a majority, it may even be undemocratic. A deliberative theory of tolerance underscores how deliberation across differences can be both tolerant and democratic. â€Å"In a democracy, tolerance is exercised in resolving conflicts, and in making disagreements fruitful†(Bohman, 2003: 758, 762). Further, it is found that a

Globalization of World Financial Markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Globalization of World Financial Markets - Essay Example Research finding proving the detrimental effect ÃŽ ¿f liberalization on the financial system. The Wyplosz research paper says that the evidence based on studies ÃŽ ¿f the experience with liberalization in a sample ÃŽ ¿f 27 developing and developed economies seems to be converging to the view that liberalization contributes to both banking and currency crisis.A study by Eichengreen, Andrew Rose and Wyplosz (1995) found that the presence ÃŽ ¿f capital controls reduces the possibility ÃŽ ¿f a currency crisis. This result has been confirmed in a 1999 study by Marco Rossi (IMF working paper WP/99/66) for a sample that includes developing countriesAccording to Wyplosz study, liberalization ÃŽ ¿f financial markets may be desirable in the long term, but it is risky in the short to medium term, and developing countries should approach this as a delicate step calling for cautious policy reactions, according to a research study for the Group ÃŽ ¿f 24 on International Monetary Affairs, the devel oping country grouping at the IMF and the World Bank.In theory the liberalization ÃŽ ¿f capital accounts and financial markets, promoted and pushed by the International Monetary Fund and the international financial institutions (IFIs) is different from the push at the World Trade Organization for liberalization ÃŽ ¿f trade in financial services.However, whether it be through capital account liberalization or via the liberalization ÃŽ ¿f trade in financial services, the effect on developing countries could be the same.... According to Wyplosz study, liberalization f financial markets may be desirable in the long term, but it is risky in the short to medium term, and developing countries should approach this as a delicate step calling for cautious policy reactions, according to a research study for the Group f 24 on International Monetary Affairs, the developing country grouping at the IMF and the World Bank. In theory the liberalization f capital accounts and financial markets, promo ted and pushed by the International Monetary Fund and the international financial institutions (IFIs) is different from the push at the World Trade Organization for liberalization f trade in financial services. However, whether it be through capital account liberalization or via the liberalization f trade in financial services, the effect on developing countries could be the same, particularly in the absence f major reforms to the international monetary and financial systems. In and by itself, the study finds that liberalization does not pose a lethal threat to the balance-of-payments and may carry significant long-term gains. However, he also stated that the positive influence f liberalization is not easily confirmed and most recent studies find little or no effect though some early results suggest that fast growth and financial development go hand in hand, In the case f capital account liberalization, the peak to trough decline in the output gap exceeds 20 percent. No other shock ever seems responsible for such a massive contraction. The boom exceeds the bust in magnitude, but not in length. Thus liberalization brings about an overall gain in terms f output. With the increasing

Three Islamic Leadership Principles Theology Religion Essay

Three Islamic Leadership Principles Theology Religion Essay This chapter elaborates and discusses elements which contribute on the literature review. This chapter started with review of the job performance, follows by the literature review on leadership and then literature review on Islamic Leadership. This literature was about the relationship between Islamic Leadership principles towards Job Performance. The literature was then compressed into the conceptual framework that represents the organizing concept of the study conducted by the researchers. 2.1 JOB PERFORMANCE According to the Murphy 1989, Job performance is defines as behaviors that have a relationship to the goals of the organization. Besides that, other definition of job performance as action and behaviors that control under each individual that contributes to the organizational s goals and measured by the individual level of proficiency (Campbell, 1990). Kane (1986) defined job performance as a record of outcomes achieved in carrying out the job function during the specified period. Alternatively, Rotundo (2000) argues that this definition includes a variety of job behaviors and that some behaviors contribute to the employees duties and responsibilities, while other behaviors still affect the goals of the organization but do not fall under duties and responsibilities. To understand the job performance is determine whether an individual job performance changes over time or still stable from year to year. Job performance can be improved by with leadership, training, work experience, and also by mentoring or coaching. Job performance have to be differentiated between other measures of performance that are sometimes used interchangeably or maybe incorrectly so. The often way to measure job performance is a leader rate his or her employees job performance (Rotundo Maria, 2002). Some research has shown that leadership integrates a great deal of information in these ratings. Performance measurement systems usually focus on the supervisor or manager as the rater of the job performance. As the leader, the challenge is determine on how it affect individual behavior and the work situations can be structured to achieve maximum employee job performance. Effective leadership generates improved motivation and effort. 2.2 LEADERSHIP Northouse (2011), said that being a leader is challenging, exciting plus rewarding, and carries a lot of responsibilities. A leader also should be fully aware of the followers and their interests, ideas, positions, attitudes, and motivations. Leadership is showing the way and helping or inducing others to pursue it. This includes envisioning a desirable future, promoting a clear purpose or mission, supportive values and intelligent strategies, and empowering and engaging those entire concerned (Gill, 2011). Allio (2009), in his article has listed the big five ideas; (1) good leaders have good character, (2) theres no best way to lead, (3) leaders must collaborate, (4) adaptability makes longevity possible and (5) leaders are self-made. However, a lot of the research in business and management has considered organizations as a religion neutral sphere, and as a result religion was not deemed worthy of study (Majeed, Khalid and Khan, 2011). As researchers keep on discussing about leadership, they only focused on Western business environment (Bass, 1999; Yukl, 2002; Fiedler, 1967; Stogdill, 1974). 2.3 ISLAMIC LEADERSHIP The Quran and hadith (the everyday actions and sayings of the Prophet) has explained about leadership qualities some fourteen centuries ago have only been discussed and emerged in the modern times. To thee a Book explaining All things, a Guide, a Mercy, And Glad Tidings to Muslims. (Al-Nahl, 16:89). And We appointed, from among them, leaders, giving guidance under Our command, so long as they persevered with patience and continued to have faith in Our Signs. (As-Sajdah 32:24). Abbas Ali (2005) mentioned in his book, Islamic Perspectives On Management and Organization, Islamic Leadership is a set of shared influence process. The Quran clearly calls for a leader to be flexible and approachable to followers and they comfort for commitment with the presence of these qualities within an organization. Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406) and Ibn Taimiya (1263-1328) opinion about leadership has been accepted. Ibn Khaldun (p,112) stated that several qualities are important for a leader like, tolerance towards weak, forgiveness of error, patience and hospitality toward guests. Lacking of these skills may decrease the quality of good leader. Next, Beekun and Badawi (1998), stated that, one of the definitions of Islamic Leadership is, the effort that takes by the leader to seeks the voluntary participations of followers in order to achieve the organizational objectives. Moreover, the leaders must be the role models in the organization and guide them in way of happiness in life (Abbasi, Rehman and Afsar, 2009). According to Moten (2011) he stated that the Western secular societies do not have a clear picture of leadership phenomenon from an Islamic Perspective. He added that there are several factors to describe reasons for the need of Islamic Leadership (Moten, 2011). Firstly, there is no distinction between the spiritual and temporal affairs in Islam whereby both lies down and moving together encircling all spheres of human life, (Moten, 2011). To strengthen this statement, Islam teachings according to Iqbal and Mohamad (1962), is not a departmental affair, it is neither mere thought, nor mere feeling, nor mere action; it is an expression of the whole man. Secondly, Moten (2011) points out, the need for implementation of the Islamic Leadership is because based on central concept of Islam i.e., tawhid (unity and sovereignty of Allah), refuse the power of control and command to anyone but Allah, the creator and Nourishes of the universe. To support his statement, Moten referred the Quran (3 :189, 6:57), the command rests with none but Allah to disclaim anyone who claims absolute right and power over anything. Next, Islam perceives that every individual and society activity is for the sake of Allah, Moten (2011). Relation between one creaturess with other creatures is built upon his distinctive relation to Allah. Thus, it is not a dyadic relationship between two believers but it is a triadic relationship in that each is relating to other through Allah as the intermediary, Moten (2011). After submitting the need for Islamic Leadership, Moten (2011) give his point of view on leadership in Islam. According to him, leadership in Islam is a process of communication and a moral activity between the equals directed towards reaching the organization goal, (Moten, 2011). He added, as the leader and the followers both understand the goal and actively joint together for the accomplishment of the goal, the accomplishment of that goal assumes the form of worship or ibadah, hence, the leadership in Islam can be seen as ibadah, (Moten, 2011). The Quran, Sunnah, and the jurisprudence give a comprehensive code of laws: social, moral, political, administrative, economic, civil, religious, and ethical to guide the Muslim leaders to run Islamic organizations appropriately and effectively (Aabed, 2006). Ali (2009) mentioned that, leader is obliged and illustrates a willingness to listen, openness, and concern in dealing with subordinates or follower. Islamic Leadership is defined as a group of leadership principles extracted from the Quran and the biography of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions, structured of good and ethical leadership essential to guide organizations appropriately and effectively. Moreover, it made up noblest Islamic traditions of science, worship, justice, and Ihsan(doing good) and to hammer these values in Muslim, (Khaliq, 2009; Khan, 2007). Besides that, Islam urged the leaders to pay attention to followers needs. It is because, it is trusteeship of Allah, a given responsibility given from him and a service to the mankind, (Toor, 2007). If Allah puts anyone in the position of authority over the Muslims affairs and he secludes himself (from them), not fulfilling their needs, wants, and poverty, Allah will keep Himself away from him, not fulfilling his need, want, and poverty (Sahih Muslim). Leadership is a responsibility which is shared by all adults in a Muslim society as Islam point of view (Mohsen, 2007). As pointed out clearly by Prophet Muhammad in one of the hadiths, Every one of you is a shepherd and everyone is responsible for what he is shepherd of (Bukhari and Muslim). There are some sign for a Muslim that considered good in implementing Islamic values (Abdul Hakim, 2011). Islamic ideas in performance emphasize a high standard of trust, honesty and reliability toward overall behavior. The employees daily activities should be conducted in the strictest obedience to Allah SWT commandments (Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Seidu). As mentioned by A. Hakim (2012), it is very important to understand the Islamic spiritual motivations, including faith, devoting and Islamic application rules. And they have to understand them completely (kaffah) spiritual motivation will give the urge to do the job as well as possible. Therefore, leadership development is one of the important subjects in Islamic teachings (Majeed, Khalid and Khan, 2011). From an Islamic perspective, followings are some of the key attributes for effective leadership; Justice (al Adl), Trust (al Amanah) and Honesty (al Sidq). The organization performance and goals will be achieved in terms of employee performance and there comfort for commitment with the presence of these qualities within an organization. Following are three principles of Islamic Leadership. 2.3.1 THREE ISLAMIC LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES Justice (al Adl) The management leaders must behave with team members equitable and fairly without any discrimination about their race, color or religion. Islam always called human being for doing justice to all. Besides that, the Quran also gives the direction to Muslims to be fair and just in any situation even if the decisions goes against their parents or themselves (Ather Syed Mohammad, Sobhani Farid Ahammad, 2007). Allah SWT says: O you, who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, aswitness to Allah, even as against yourselves or your parents or your kin and whether it be against rich or poor, for Allah protects both.(Surah An-Nisa, Verse-135). According to Imam Hasan (2011), the concept of justice flows directly from the law giver Himself, Allah (SWT) so that the council of jurists having the legislative function interpreted by the law by the direct source is the Quran and Hadith to come at a just decision on issues that beneficial to the community. These concepts from the merciful Allah (SWT) frees any individual from accusations as all decisions flow and are based on Allahs commands (Imam Hasan Qasim Okikiola, 2011). Trust (al Amanah) Trust plays an important role for a leader. Allah says in the Quran, Those who faithfully observe their trusts and their covenants, (23:08), and Surely Allah commands you to make over trusts to their owners and that when you judge between people you judge with justice; surely Allah admonishes you with what is excellent; surely Allah is Seeing, Hearing, (04:58), and O you who believe! Be not unfaithful to Allah and the Messenger, nor be unfaithful to your trusts while you know. (08:27). Leaders in organization should be a trustworthy person and can be relying on (Alhabshi et. al, 1994). According to Yunus Mohamad, (2011) amanah is from the word Aman that gives a means like peace, no fear or threat but in Islamic terminology it means honesty and fulfilling the rights of people and Allah SWT. Mohammad Yunus on May 02, 2011 Amanah is fulfilling responsibilities in a good manner, with all talent and potentials, it is an amanah but not fulfilling the responsibilities is a mistrust and deception. He it is that has made you inheritors in the earth: if, then, any do reject (Allah), their rejection (works) against themselves: their rejection but adds to the odium for the Unbelievers in the sight of their Lord: their rejection but adds to (their own) undoing. (Fatir, 35:39). Honesty (al Sidq) According to Beekun and Badawi (2012), honesty of the leaders is considered as to the extent that there is consistency between word and action. Leaders do what they say they are going to do. The Prophet Moses himself is labeled as strong and trustworthy by one of the damsels (as in chapter 28: 26) while the Prophet Joseph is cited as one who is truthful in the Holy Quran. (Chapter 12: 46) Similarly, the Prophet Muhammad during his youth used to be called  Sadiq  (the truthful) and  Amin  (the trustworthy). Kirkpatrick and Locke (1991), said successful leaders are open with their followers, do not violate confidences, discreet and or carelessly reveal potentially harmful information. As cited in Kirkpatrik and Locke (1991), Kouzes and Posner conclude: Honesty is absolutely important to leadership. If we are willing to follow a person, whether it is into a fight or into the boardroom, we first want to guarantee ourselves that the person is worth to be trusted. We need to know whether the person is being truthful, ethical, and principled. We want to be fully assured in the integrity of our leaders. 2.4 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK Table 2.1 below was summary of the independent and dependent variables of this research. The summary illustrates relationship between Principles of Islamic Leadership and Job Performance. Independent Variable Dependent Variable Islamic Leadership Principles: 1. Justice (al Adl) 2. Trust (al Amanah) 3. Honesty (al Siddiq) Job Performance Table 2.1: Independent variables and Dependent Variable Figure 2.2 below illustrate the conceptual framework for this study. This figure demonstrates the relationship between Islamic Leadership Principles toward Job Performance. Islamic Leadership Principles: Independent Variable Justice (al- Adl) Trust (al- Amanah) Job Performance Honesty (al Sidq) Dependent Variable Independent Variable Figure 2.2: Conceptual Framework 2.5 SUMMARY This chapter appraises the relationship between Islamic Leadership principles towards Job Performance and the conceptual framework that presents the organizing concept of this study. Chapter 3 will discuss about the methodologies used by the researchers in order to collect and analyze the data of the study.

Human equality does not trump that of Nature Essay -- Persuasive, W

My argument that I will make will be that the speaker arrives at the conclusion that he, as well as the human race, is equal to nature. Through the use of a series of examples, I will make my point that both the human race and nature are considered to be equal in array of aspects that are debatable. Through a series of questioning from the child that is reflected back to the child by the speaker, the speaker attempts to take a crack at the meaning of nature’s evidence. E.g. in section 6 the child poses a question which seems to be directed at the speaker, " what is this grass?" Fetching it to me with full hands; How could I answer the child? I do not know what it is any more than he."(99-100) The tone the speaker held was once jubilant and self-praising that ousted the need for criticism of natures grass or it’s flags, and stated " I celebrated myself, and sing myself, â€Å"(1) He does not question and analyze the world as it evolves and blossoms around him until he m oves from his loafing phase. Instead the speaker insists upon observing the motions of nature for example " I loafe and invite my soul, I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass."(4-5) This simple observation is not matched with any sort of debate from the speaker. Instead the speaker leans and loafs and does nothing but enjoy himself in the whims of the summer grass. In the speaker’s effortless state, I would claim that he is similar to a child who coddles in the act of doing nothing. This glorification of the speaker goes out on a whim and outstretches to welcome a deserving partner to join in the loafing as specified in section 5 " Loafe with me on the grass, loose the stop from your throat, not words not music or rhyme I want, not custom or lecture... ... life. The life of a human is then set to change regardless of nature’s input or any other human’s inputs for that matter because every human life holds different meanings and routines. Whitman drives my point home in saying â€Å"And to die is different from what anyone supposed and luckier†. (130) Whitman seems to be implying here that no one can predict the way one person will die and in that sense we are lucky to live a life that is left unobserved on a constant basis and to be at peace is a true gift to be cherished, which goes hand in hand with our death. In the end I would say the speaker has come to recognize nature as having some amount of power, but an equalitarian outlook on life seems to be a viewpoint that Whitman peers through by posing a series of questions that are open-ended and aimed at checking and balancing the power of both humans and nature. Human equality does not trump that of Nature Essay -- Persuasive, W My argument that I will make will be that the speaker arrives at the conclusion that he, as well as the human race, is equal to nature. Through the use of a series of examples, I will make my point that both the human race and nature are considered to be equal in array of aspects that are debatable. Through a series of questioning from the child that is reflected back to the child by the speaker, the speaker attempts to take a crack at the meaning of nature’s evidence. E.g. in section 6 the child poses a question which seems to be directed at the speaker, " what is this grass?" Fetching it to me with full hands; How could I answer the child? I do not know what it is any more than he."(99-100) The tone the speaker held was once jubilant and self-praising that ousted the need for criticism of natures grass or it’s flags, and stated " I celebrated myself, and sing myself, â€Å"(1) He does not question and analyze the world as it evolves and blossoms around him until he m oves from his loafing phase. Instead the speaker insists upon observing the motions of nature for example " I loafe and invite my soul, I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass."(4-5) This simple observation is not matched with any sort of debate from the speaker. Instead the speaker leans and loafs and does nothing but enjoy himself in the whims of the summer grass. In the speaker’s effortless state, I would claim that he is similar to a child who coddles in the act of doing nothing. This glorification of the speaker goes out on a whim and outstretches to welcome a deserving partner to join in the loafing as specified in section 5 " Loafe with me on the grass, loose the stop from your throat, not words not music or rhyme I want, not custom or lecture... ... life. The life of a human is then set to change regardless of nature’s input or any other human’s inputs for that matter because every human life holds different meanings and routines. Whitman drives my point home in saying â€Å"And to die is different from what anyone supposed and luckier†. (130) Whitman seems to be implying here that no one can predict the way one person will die and in that sense we are lucky to live a life that is left unobserved on a constant basis and to be at peace is a true gift to be cherished, which goes hand in hand with our death. In the end I would say the speaker has come to recognize nature as having some amount of power, but an equalitarian outlook on life seems to be a viewpoint that Whitman peers through by posing a series of questions that are open-ended and aimed at checking and balancing the power of both humans and nature.

Pompey :: essays research papers

Question: Account for Pompey’s rise to political prominence between 78- 62 BC. You are to examine and analyse political machinations of Pompey and attempt to explain how he managed to fulfil his ambition. You must establish a clear understanding of the complexities of the political situation and the effects of the Civil War. Gnaeus Pompeius Crassus, better known as Pompey, or Pompey the Great, was born on September the 20th, 106 BC. Pompey was a Roman general and statesman, the erstwhile ally of Julius Caesar, but later his arch rival for power. Pompey was born in Rome into a senatorial family, and established an impressive military record. He brought an end to the Servile War instigated by the slave Spartacus; cleared the Mediterranean Sea of pirates; conquered the kingdoms of Pontus, Armenia and Syria; and captured Jerusalem in 61 BC. He entered Rome in triumph, but encountered opposition from the Senate. Pompey then formed an alliance, commonly called the First Triumvirate, with Julius Caesar and Marcus Licinius Crassus. The career of Pompeius opened in fraud and violence. It was instigated, in war and peace, through illegality and treachery. Pompey was a great general, but a bad politician. Pompey helped to end the slave revolt of Spartacus in 72 BC. Because of his leadership abilities, Pompey was elected consul in 70 BC. However, he ran into opposition in the senate, especially from Marcus Crassus, and returned to leading the army to more conquests. Pompey was an opportunist, he worked by himself, all the while leading the senate to think that he was working with them. He manipulated the senate to make out that Caesar was dangerous. Pompey became the most powerful man in Rome. During the time of his political prominence, the senate was very weak. Because of Pompeys popularity with the public and his military ability, along with his opportunism, he rose to this political prominence by his political machinations. The Civil War between Gnaeus Marius and Lucius Sulla was a major factor that effected his political situation. Pompey was a young, confident man who had a habit to boast of the magnitude of his clientela, to advertise monarchs and nations bound to his personal allegiance. (Ad fam. 9, 9, 2: ‘regum ac nationum clientelis quas oestentare crebro solebat). Pompey had from Thrance to the Causasus and down to Egypt acknowledging his predominance. The worship of power, paid homage to Pompey as a god, a saviour and a benefactor, devising before long a novel title, ‘the warden of earth and sea’.

Avoiding the Alignment Trap in Intormation Technology Essay

An alarming pattern has surfaced in that many companies are concentrating on alignment and are finding that their performance is either declining or moving sideways. Companies are focusing on the wrong solutions with respect to their Information Technology problems, resulting in severe bottlenecks to growth. Companies need to learn how to break out of the trap and build IT organizations that allow for growth rather than obstruct it. Companies will need to be committed as doing so will require a continuous effort. The essential goal for these companies in order to succeed is to move IT into the upper-right quadrant, where they will be highly effective and highly aligned, and where IT appears to be enabling growth rather than inhibiting it. In order to move in this direction, it is my recommendation that the companies begin by installing local area networks locally, as well as a central database stored on a server to connect to head office. This option is economically feasible, will improve local efficiencies and will allow the sharing of resources and records. I would also recommend that the companies begin feasibility testing to explore the implementation of an internal ERP system to support global operations in the near future. Doing this will help companies to keep up with the competition. Current Situation Companies are getting caught in an â€Å"alignment trap† whereas they are spending large amounts of resources towards being highly aligned and not realizing the importance of being highly effective as well. There are four quadrants within which companies are being categorized with respect to their ability to be effective. They are being measured based on the ineffectiveness as far as completing projects on time and on budget, and the ineffectiveness of alignment to an important business objective. The first of these quadrants is â€Å"alignment trap†. Despite being highly aligned, the companies within this group are less effective in completing budgets on time and within the budget. Charles Schwab & Co. is currently in this position and as a result, continues to spend money on projects and seeing no growth. The second quadrant is â€Å"maintenance zone†. Companies in this quadrant are less aligned to major business objectives but are maintaining below average levels of growth even though they are less effective and spending more in IT as a result. In this zone, IT is not performing well, is not valued and is segregated from the company’s main functions. Management is budgeting enough to keep the system running, but IT is not providing any added value to the business. Third is the â€Å"well-oiled IT† quadrant which can be categorized as second best. In this group, companies are highly effective at bringing projects in on time and on budget. They are more focused on execution. Still, companies are less aligned meaning that their IT group does not fully understand the priorities of the business and where to spend the resources. Lastly, the â€Å"IT-enabled growth† quadrant is where all companies would like to be. This quadrant encompasses those companies who are not only highly effective at making IT projects successful, but are also highly aligned in relation to their business objectives. Examples of companies who have succeeded in this respect are Nestle, Wal-Mart, FedEx and Dell. The following are IT-related issues that organizations are currently facing as they attempt to align their business goals with IT technology: – Believing that alignment is the solution to their IT problems, companies are spending enormous amounts of money without solving any problems. – Various divisions are driving independent initiatives, each one designed to address its own competitive needs, resulting in complexity of IT systems (no standardization). As a result, costs increase and the fragmented divisions make it harder for managers to coordinate across business units. – Complexity in systems is making enhancements to systems and improvements to infrastructures more and more difficult to implement and potential benefits are left unused. – Redundant applications that perform the same or similar functions. – Outsourcing the wrong activities. – Data in multiple information systems are viewed as â€Å"garbage† and producing inconsistencies (i.e. salespeople are promoting products that are discontinued) – In companies similar to Charles Schwab & Co. for example: IT staff response have become slow and expensive; IT engineers are spending more time fixing bugs in the systems than ever before; and several big and ambitious projects are overdue and preventing the company from being competitive. Criteria The following criteria will be used to evaluate each of the alternatives: – IT spending must be aligned with the company’s growth strategies (need to reduce IT costs i.e. savings on software licensing costs where bleeding money, and head count). – Must be shared ownership and shared governance of IT projects. – Need to reduce complexity (or emphasize simplicity). – Increase efficiency (doing things in a cost effective way with no duplication of time and effort). – Economically feasible. – IT infrastructure to support networked operations in multiple locations. – Need to centralize and simplify the IT functions. – Need high effectiveness to achieve an objective through the use of: 1. simplicity (or reducing complexity) – by implementing companywide standards, replacing legacy systems, building new solutions on simplified and standardized infrastructure; 2. right sourcing – choosing the right source for a capability and maximizing effectiveness while minimizing cost; and 3. accountability – executives should get the information they need to measure the progress of IT and IT people should be held accountable for outcomes. – IT needs to be reliable, without excess complexity, and needs to deliver projects consistently with desired functionality, timing and cost. – IT systems need to run smoothly and reliably. – IT functions such as architecture and infrastructure need to be balanced with respect to the needs of the entire organization and those of individual businesses. – Need a good governance structure so as to set parameters to keep an organization on track (i.e. no more than four new technology releases per year).