Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Media And Its Impact On Society - 927 Words

As the world becomes a global village due to technology our society changes with it. We become more and more civilized that our way of life must change to match the changes in our world. One of the most common changes that have hit our today’s society is media. Media has penetrated through all barriers including our war fronts and areas where man never thought to have penetrated. As media develops through the years and technology expands more media outlets open and so the society has and continues to move away from the mainstream media (CBS, NBC, Fox News, CNN, ABC, etc.) to local media and different websites to get their news. The trust society had in Television and the mainstream media to provide true and uncontaminated reports has faded and therefore society is moving away from these to where they believe they can get news first hand. In this paper, I will attempt to explain why in today s media many people don t just rely on the major networks but go online for news (Lo cal, National, and Global). Could this be splintering our views and causing more anger? Should it be regulated? I will also attempt to express my opinion on what the business of news is becoming in the next ten years. Over the years Newspapers, journals, magazines and Television had been the main source of source of news for out American society. In recent years due to the advent of modern technology and the internet journalism has improved and most of the media outlet expanded the way they coverShow MoreRelatedThe Media And Its Impact On Society Essay1723 Words   |  7 Pagesonce said, â€Å"Whoever controls the media, controls the mind†. The Media have become one of the most dominant source of education of the 21st century. We could argue that most Americans use the media as their main source of information. The side effect of that is the fact that the media are very polarized. With the ongoing polarization, we could hypothesize that people would have been more politically educated and oriented if the media was not infiltrated. Mass media are expected to be educational.Read MoreThe Media And Its Impact On Society1678 Words   |  7 Pages When you are young you don t realize that what you are watching on the television is shaping many of your beliefs, distorting what is fictional and what is reality. The media plays a huge role in stereotyping black people compared to white people which has a major impact in how we view the people in our world. When we are watching tv or listening to the radio and it is constantly relating the color of a person s skin to their actions. This causes the audience to associate these actions with aRead MoreThe Impact of Media on Society853 Words   |  3 PagesHow much of an impact does the media have on your life? How many hours do you spend on the phone, watching television, or browsing the internet? Whether you choose to believe it or not, the media plays an enormous role in our everyday lives, and its impacts continues to stretch as technological advancements and other inn ovative creations come into place. One of the largest groups that the media affects, we fear is our children. As media continuously grows and undergoes changes, more and more childrenRead MoreThe Media And Its Impact On Society Essay1721 Words   |  7 Pagesonce said, â€Å"Whoever controls the media, controls the mind†. The Media have becoming one of the most dominant source of education of the 21st century. We could argue that most americans use the media as their main source of information. The side effect on that is the fact that the media is very polarized. With the ongoing polarization, we could hypothesize that people would have been more politically educated and oriented if the media was not infiltrated. Mass media is expected to be educational. PublicRead MoreMedia And Its Impact On Society Essay1625 Words   |  7 PagesMedia can be defined as â€Å"the means of communication as radio and television, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet, that reach or influence people widely† and is fully ingrained into our society. In fact, according to Nielsen’s Total Audience Report, during the 1st Quarter of 2016, American adults consumed media at a daily average of 10 hours and 39 minutes. Media not only entertains us and serves as an important agent of communication, but also plays a crucial role in the socialization of culturalRead MoreThe Impact Of Media On Society1435 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Mass media is a significant force in modern culture. Sociologists refer to this as a mediated culture where media reflects and creates the culture† (â€Å"The Role and Influence of Mass Media†, n.d, para.2). Media has affected to the most area of human life include relationship, education, careers, and entertainment. There were a lot of researches about the impacts of media to society from negative to positive effects; however, researchers were not pay attention to the impacts of media in inequalityRead MoreThe Media And Its Impact On Society1161 Words   |  5 PagesThe media plays a significant role in developing awareness on various different subjects. Without the media, people would be much less informed on many social and economic issues. The media can be credited for improvements in these sectors today as it engages the public to have an opinion of our on-going evolvements by releasing daily reports on such topics. In terms of charitable aid the media has greatly developed our awareness with a nature that influences us to feel sympathy for those less fortunateRead MoreMedia And Its Impact On Society1696 Words   |  7 Pages Media has an impact on many of the population’s everyday life. It comes to no surprise that the media i s closely related with body imaging. There are thousands of advertisements out in the media that depict images of beauty and physical attractiveness which are unrealistic. The masses see these images and think that they are achievable thus lowering the self-esteem of many. Many of these commercials and advertisements fall under the category of the following: weight loss, clothing, cosmetics andRead MoreMedia And Its Impact On Society Essay1903 Words   |  8 PagesMedia has been growing for a numerous amount of years, and it will only keep rising. You could say that nearly everyone around you has some sort of technological device or way in which they can access the media, these are what we call print, audio visual and on-line media. Print media includes things such as newspapers, magazines and even books, Audio visual media includes your TV, radio or even music and finally on-line media is mostly photos or videos that are spread over the internet. With theRead MoreThe Impact Of Med ia On Society1853 Words   |  8 Pages In twenty first century, media is unavoidable in society. Every human being is exposed to countless media images, advertisements, magazines, TV shows in their everyday lives. Media is everywhere, it’s hard to avoid and there’s no escaping from it. Almost every home in America has a cell phone, internet connection, or a television. If not, billboard signs, magazines, and store advertisements are everywhere in society. Media is designed to advertise, entertain, giving information

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The Battle Of The War - 1498 Words

Confederates enter the war with a belief that would also sustain them during war years and ultimately shape the south after the war, a durable belief in their invincibility. Even after major turning points of the war, diehard Rebels continued to express a resilient belief in their invincibility. They were unconquerable and they truly stuck it about because they expected to win. Their ethos; beliefs of being highly favored children of God, attitudes of invincibility (homegrown and those spread through propaganda), patriotism, masculinity, and veteran comradery - on many different levels help to shape the war and the New South. For many diehard Rebels, religion cultivated strong beliefs of victory and the mindset of being†¦show more content†¦The press was often fictitious on policy and tactics; the school weakened or closed, but the church usually remains constant and seemed to thrive on the emotional and physical sacrifices of wartime.†(19) Southern clergy suppor ted the war effort with actions as well as words. Many joined the ranks as chaplains and others as officers. Through literal interpretations of the Bible, many clergies pointed to the explicit typologies between Confederacy and Biblical Israel. Southern life bred a defense of honor and Yankees were mirror opposites of Southerners. Life in the South demanded grit and resourcefulness, working with one’s hands as well as settling differences the same way. â€Å"Southerners descended from â€Å"better stock† than Northerners.† (44) Men boasted of being able to whip ten Yankees and those that did not were deemed as cowards. â€Å"Union men were no match for southern steel.† (46) Confederate letters and diaries revealed that as the war went on the enemy was viewed with intensified hatred, prejudice, and fear. Diehard Rebels’ perception of winning the war was reaffirmed through images, music, and poetry that stereotyped Yankees as hypocritical refor mers, capitalist, money-grubbers, and sanctimonious. Countless stories circulated, through newspaper press and campfire stories, of Yankees destroying crops and railroads,

Monday, December 9, 2019

Essay on Strategic Information Systems for Business and Enterprise

Question: Write an essay on "Strategic Information Systems for Business and Enterprise". Answer: Introduction In the current time, business associations confront various significant issues so as to work their organizations in a viable way. In addition to this, keeping in mind the end goal to determine the real issues identified with the business, every single association is concentrating on the advancements. In today's technological period, business associations are receiving as well as executing advancements to perform their business exercises, to enhance their effectiveness, and to accomplish competitive advantages in a powerful way. Moreover, this examination paper is useful to express the significance and parts of the technologiesor innovations for the accomplishment of the business associations. Furthermore, the paper would also be useful to show that how new technologiesor innovations might be advantageous for the business associations with a specific end goal to perform all the business capacities in a precise way. In addition to this, the paper would also be advantageous to show the criteria that the business association ought to considerspecifying the structure as well asfeatures of a new system. Criteria Need to Consider Specify the Structure and Features of New System It is surely understood that the business association ought to embrace and actualize data framework according to the necessities and prerequisites of the business. Along with this, with a specific end goal to fulfill the fancied results, the structure and in addition components of the data framework must be according to the criteria of the business (Bidgoli, 2011).. On the premise of the given contextual analysis, it ought to be noted down that, Citizen's Gas Company (CGC) ought to actualize a successful and proper data framework so as to perform the long haul objectives and destinations of the business in a powerful way. In addition to this, CGC must consider pre-decided criteria keeping in mind the end goal to determine the structure and in addition elements of new data before actualizing the data framework. The foundation CGC must consider to express the structure and elements of new framework is depicted as underneath: Statistical Surveying: The CGC must consider statistical surveying as a critical standard keeping in mind the end goal to mean the structure and elements of new framework for the best possible usage of the framework. The principle purpose for it is that the statistical surveying would be useful to accumulate all the required information and data identified with the interest and supply of the item/benefit. In addition to this, an appropriate statistical surveying would likewise be useful to speak to the information that may affect the demand as well as supply of the products and services (Besnard, Gacek, and Jones, 2006). Along with this, with the assistance of statistical surveying, CGC would have the capacity to disengage all the components that have negative effect on the interest and additionally supply of the gas. Along these lines, by considering this measure into new framework, the firm would have the capacity to express the required amount of the gas in the three income classe s in a proper way. Cost/Benefit Analysis: The CGC should likewise consider cost/benefit analysis as essential criteria of the new framework. It is a direct result of the cost/benefit analysis assumes a huge part to assess the qualities and shortcomings of accessible choices that might be valuable to attest the exchanges, exercises, and utilitarian necessities of a business in a compelling and an appropriate way. On the other hand, with the assistance of cost/benefit analysis the firm would have the capacity to go to a choice that whether it firm ought to continue with a choice or not (Tou, 2012). Along with this, the cost/benefit analysis would be useful to speak to the regale that the firm can accomplish and costs that are identified with the execution of the framework. Supportability: Supportability is one noteworthy foundation that the firm should consider keeping in mind the end goal to indicate the structure and in addition elements of new framework. It is a direct result of the correct execution of another framework absolute relies on upon the backing of the general population of an association. For case, it all the administration and representatives of a business association would have the capacity to comprehend the framework then they would have the capacity to give bolster and understand all the critical elements of the framework to perform all the business exercises in a successful and an exact way. In addition to this, in the event that every one of the specialists of the firm would have the capacity to bolster the new framework then they would likewise of ready to perform their parts and obligations in an opportune way (Donnellan, Helfert, Kenneally, VanderMeer, Rothenberger, and Winter, 2015). On the other hand, if the representatives of the firm would not have the capacity to comprehend and bolster the framework then it would be dangerous for the accomplishment and in addition development of the association. In this circumstance, the new framework may make complexities for the firm and thus; it might impact the proficiency and execution of the firm adversely (Kroenke, Bunker, and Wilson, 2013). As a consequence, supportability is a vital paradigm that CGC must consider to detail the structure and elements of new framework. Every one of the representatives of the firm would have the capacity to comprehend the framework and perform every one of the exercises as needs be. This paradigm would be useful to enhance the precision level of the framework furthermore enhance the execution of the representatives in a powerful and a proper way. Information Processing Environment: Data processing environment is additionally an essential standard that requirements to consider in indicate the structure and components of another framework. It is a direct result of it assumes a noteworthy part to gather and also control information so as to turn out important data efficiently.In addition to this, information arranging prepares additionally imperative to gather, utilize, and reestablish accessible data to enhance the execution and proficiency of the framework in a successful and a proper way(Architecture Technology Corpor. 2013). The underneath given outline is useful to exhibit that how an information preparing procedure is useful to handle the information and to give valuable data to the business association on the premise of the accessible information. (Source: Oquendo, and Morrison, 2005) Turnaround: Quick turnaround is additionally a key measure that must be considered with a specific end goal to indicate the structure and components of new arrangement of CGC. Turnaround assumes a critical part so as to be familiar with the real amount of the item/benefit. The turnaround report gave by the new framework would be useful with a specific end goal to offer headings and direction to the level of computerization and to decrease the intricacy of the business (Gelinas, Dull, and Wheeler, 2014). In addition, with the assistance of turnaround report, the framework would have the capacity to perform multi-works and to do suitable making arrangements for the achievement and development of the association. Along these lines, the speedy turnaround would be helpful to give precise results and to satisfy the necessities of the associations in a viable and a convenient way. Along these lines, the turnover criteria into the new arrangement of the firm would be important to enhance the exactness, proficiency, execution, and to decrease the complexities, and information info prerequisites essentially (Parsons, and Oja, 2014). Exactness and Frequency: Accuracy and recurrence is likewise critical criteria that CGC must consider to signify the structure with components of new framework. The fundamental explanation for it is that precision would be useful to choose the required level of point of interest, nature of the information, and complication of the framework in a suitable and an exact way. Then again, with the assistance of this rule, the firm would likewise have the capacity to satisfy the interest and supply of the item/benefit according to the prerequisites and to decrease the boundaries so as to enhance the execution of the association and framework (Reiff-Marganiec, and Ryan, 2005). Aside from this, recurrence will assume a huge part to suggest the key headings and rules keeping in mind the end goal to enhance the level of computerization and to diminish the level of many-sided quality of the framework. On the premise of the above talk, it can be dismal that, these all are the most essential criteria that CGC must consider to indicate the components and structures of the new framework. These every one of the criteria would be useful to lessen the lack and to enhance the effectiveness of the association in a powerful and a critical way. Additionally, by considering these criteria, CGC would have the capacity to satisfy request and supply identified with the gas and to satisfy the necessities of three income classes according to their requests and in addition prerequisites (Daniel, 2011). Along these lines, CGC need to consider the above talked about criteria to enhance the execution, to decrease the hindrances, and to satisfy the necessities and prerequisites of its clients, to enhance the fulfillment level in, and to work the business in long-keep running in a viable way. Data That Should Be Incorporated Into New System to Provide Adequate Planning Capability On the premise of the given case situation, it ought to be noted down that, CGC is confronting a ton of issues with a specific end goal to work its business exercises. In addition, the arranging endeavors of CGC were inadequate to control the supply amid the gas year furthermore to introduce the data that was key to build up long haul contracts (Butler, Jones, Romanovsky, and Troubitsyna, 2006).. The firm was not able evaluation the real interest for gas. Thus, it lessened the deals furthermore expanded supply of the gas. Additionally, CGC chooses to plan and execute a data framework to diminish these issues and to assess gas free market activity in a viable and a fitting way. Then again, to give sufficient arranging ability, the firm should consolidate some imperative information into the new framework. This information is depicted as underneath: Clients: CGC ought to incorporate information identified with clients into its new framework to offer satisfactory arranging capacity. The fundamental explanation for it is that, with the assistance of this, the firm would have the capacity to perceive the genuine quantities of clients. Additionally, if the framework will use the information identified with clients then it is ready to extend the clients and to separate the clients into the classes on the premise of the use of the items/administrations (Pidduck, Mylopoulos, Woo, and Ozsu, 2003). Notwithstanding this, information identified with clients is imperative for the achievement of the association. The primary purpose for it is that a client base assumes a critical part so as to perceive the development variables and imminent of an association. Thus, the firm should consolidate information identified with the clients into the new framework to encourage the clients and to satisfy the prerequisites of the clients in a successful and a critical way. Climate: The association must fuse information identified with climate into new framework so as to give sufficient arranging ability. The primary purpose for it is that climate is an essential element that may impact the free market activity of an item/benefit (Ryan, Meyer, and Ehrich, 2004).. Alongside this, information identified with climate would be worthwhile to be familiar with the occasional interest of the items and administrations legitimately. For case, on the premise of the given case situation, it ought to be noted down that, gas use of CGC's clients connected with the climate. Along these lines, it can be said that, the information identified with climate must be fused into the framework so as to gauge the real request and to extend the occasional necessities for gas in a powerful and an exact way. Sales Forecast: The firm should join deals figures information into the new framework so as to give sufficient arranging ability. It is a result of offers estimate information of a firm is vital to extend the offers of the firm in up and coming years. Notwithstanding this, business figure information likewise assumes a noteworthy part with a specific end goal to discover the development rate and to appraise the future offers of an item/benefit. In addition, sales forecast information is imperative as a result of these information are fundamental to foresee the deals, to decide the yearly development rates, and to extend the deals in future time period in a precise way (Satzinger,Jackson, and Burd, 2011). Thus, CGC must incorporate deals gauge information into its new framework to give satisfactory arranging capability to the association. Demand of the Product/Service: The firm should incorporate information identified with the interest of the item or administration into the new framework to give sufficient arranging ability. The principle purpose for it is that these sorts of information would be useful to gauge the interest of the item or benefit and to supply the item/benefit in like manner (Stephens, and Meyers, 2013). Along these lines, information identified with the interest of the item/benefit should be fused to lessen the exhaustions and to satisfy the necessities of the clients in an appropriate way. Contract: CGC ought to fuse information identified with the agreement into its new framework to give sufficient arranging ability. On the premise of the given situation, it ought to be noted down that, the organization was obliged to pay for the gas volume that was indicated in the agreement, rather than the sum utilized. Along these lines, by considering the information identified with the agreement, the firm would have the capacity to gauge the measure of the gas that was utilized as a part of earlier year furthermore is capable to pay as needs be (Zowghi and Jin, 2014). Aside from this, these sorts of information would likewise be useful to mean the term and conditions, volumes, unit expenses, and installment conditions between the firm and suppliers. Along these lines, information identified with supplier contract would likewise be good to enhance the viability of the association. Capacity: with a specific end goal to give sufficient arranging ability, CGC must join information identified with capacity field limit into the new framework. It is a result of these sorts of information would be helpful to store and supply the gas according to the prerequisites of the clients (Glinz, and Heymans, 2009). Client Rate Structure: To give satisfactory arranging ability, CGC must incorporate information identified with client rate structure into the new arrangement of the firm. In addition, the client rate structure information re imperative in view of these sorts of information assume a noteworthy part to give month to month rate data of the income class level (Residential, Commercial, and Industrial classes) in an exact and a fitting way (Pablos, and Patricia, 2015). As a result, by including the information, the framework would be capable to offer intermittent rate changes fittingly. Priority System: CGC ought to incorporate a need framework into new framework to give sufficient arranging ability. It is a result of a need framework would be profitable to satisfy the crisis needs and prerequisites of the firm in a pre-decided time period (Chu, Chen, and Cheng, 2011). Conclusion On the premise of the above talk, it can be inferred that, CGC must consider all the above examined criteria to determine the structure and elements of new framework. Also, the firm should join all the above examined information into new framework to give sufficient arranging capacity to the achievement and development of the association. In addition to this, the new arrangement of the CGC would have the capacity to decide the interest and supply for gas, to finish the necessities of the clients, and to satisfy the prerequisites of the firm in a suitable way. References Architecture Technology Corpor. 2013. Computer Architecture Technology Trends. Elsevier. Besnard, D., Gacek, C., and Jones, C. 2006. Structure for Dependability: Computer-Based Systems from an Interdisciplinary Perspective. Springer Science Business Media. Bidgoli, H. 2011. MIS2 2nd ed. Cengage Learning. Butler, M., Jones, C., Romanovsky, A., and Troubitsyna, E. 2006.Rigorous Development of Complex Fault-Tolerant Systems.Springer. Chu, F., Chen, K., Cheng, C., 2011. Toward green cloud computing. ICUIMC '11 Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Ubiquitous Information Management and Communication Daniel, L.E., 2011. Digital Forensics for Legal Professionals: Understanding Digital Evidence from the Warrant to the Courtroom. Elsevier Donnellan, B., Helfert, M., Kenneally, J., VanderMeer, D., Rothenberger, M., and Winter, R. 2015. New Horizons in Design Science: Broadening the Research Agenda: 10th International Conference, DESRIST 2015, Dublin, Ireland, May 20-22, 2015, Proceedings. Springer. Gelinas, U.J., Dull, R.B., and Wheeler, P., 2014. Accounting Information Systems (10th ed.). USA: Cengage Learning. Glinz, M., and Heymans, P. 2009. Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality: 15th International Working Conference, REFSQ 2009 Amsterdam, The Netherlands, June 8-9, 2009 Proceedings. Springer Science Business Media. Kroenke, D., Bunker, D., and Wilson, D. 2013. Experiencing MIS.Pearson Higher Education AU. Oquendo, F., and Morrison, R. 2005.Software Architecture: 2nd European Workshop, EWSA 2005, Pisa, Italy, June 13-14, 2005, Proceedings. Springer Science Business Media. Pablos, O.D., and Patricia, 2015.Impact of Economic Crisis on Education and the Next-Generation Workforce.IGI Global. Parsons, J.J., and Oja, D. 2014. New Perspectives on Computer Concepts 2014, Comprehensive (17thed.). Cengage Learning. Pidduck, A.B., Mylopoulos, J., Woo, C.C., and Ozsu, M.T. 2003. Advanced Information Systems Engineering: 14th International Conference, CAiSE 2002 Toronto, Canada, May 27-31, 2002 Proceedings. Springer. Reiff-Marganiec, S., and Ryan, M.D. 2005. Feature Interactions in Telecommunications and Software Systems VIII. IOS Press. Ryan, M.D., Meyer, J., and Ehrich, H. 2004. Objects, Agents, and Features: International Seminar, Dagstuhl Castle, Germany, February 16-21, 2003, Revised and Invited Papers. Springer. Satzinger, J.W., Jackson, R.B., and Burd, S.D. 2011.Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World (6thed.). Cengage Learning. Stephens, M.P., and Meyers, F.E. 2013.Manufacturing Facilities Design and Material Handling.Purdue University Press. Tou, J.T. 2012.Advances in Information Systems Science, Volume 5.Springer Science Business Media. Zowghi, D., and Jin, Z. 2014. Requirements Engineering: First Asia Pacific Requirements Engineering Symposium, APRES 2014, Auckland, New Zealand, April 28-29, 2014, Proceedings. Springer.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Organisational Culture Jc Penney free essay sample

Do you think JC Penney was justified in appointing Mike Ullman, an outsider, as CEO instead of Vanessa Castagna, considering that Castagna was instrumental in turning around JC Penney in the early 2000s? Soon afterwards, Castagna left the company. What are the pros and cons of â€Å"bringing in an outsider† and promoting from within†? Discuss too the impact of such decisions on the morale of the employees. JC Penney is a mid range chain of American department stores, which was first started by James Cash Penney 1902, when he was offered a one third partnership in a new store with Guy Johnson and Thomas Callahan called The Golden Rule. The store was a dry goods and clothing store in Kemmerer, Wyoming and from here the chain spread rapidly throughout the United States changing its name to JC Penney in 1913 when James Penney took a greater ownership of the chain. At about this time several partners met at Salt Lake City to draft â€Å"The Penney Idea†, a set of business principles that were to guide the business from then on. We will write a custom essay sample on Organisational Culture Jc Penney or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Wikipedia. com viewed 9th September 2007. Over the years the chain of the department stores continued to grow through a system where the managers put equity into their stores giving them more control over what was sold. As a result the merchandising system was decentralised while all its competitors had a more centralised system allowing them to know what was in stock at any one time, what was moving and what was not; and to be able to advertise on a national basis. With the intense competition found in the retail sector in the late 1990s, JC Penney began to find its place in the market was under pressure and profits began to decline. At this stage it made the new appointments of Allen Questrom as the CEO and Vanessa Castagna as the new COO. Castagna came to JC Penneys with a great deal of merchandising experience gained from other retail chain stores. With this experience she helped Questrom turn around JCP by centralising the buying system, decreasing the number of lines sold, closing down non performing outlets and re-imaging the lines sold to the customers.This plus the selling of a number of the company’s other interests left it in a very good financial position avoiding what looked like possible disaster. These changes brought JCP into line with its competitors and in doing this Castagna showed excellent management skills. The share market also approved, as can been seen with shares rising from about $20 when she joined the company in 1999 to over $40 when she quit in March 2005, as can be seen in Diagram1. Diagram 1 http://investing. businessweek. com/research/stocks/charts/charts. sp? symbol=JCP viewed 9th September 2007. Even though Castagna showed great management skills she did not necessarily show the vision or leadership skills that were necessary to take JCP the next step further were it could attract, train and keep good staff as well as present a new image that would excite and attract new customers and ensure old customers kept coming back. Kotter (1996, pg 25) stated, â€Å"Management is a set of processes that can keep a complicated system of people and technology running smoothly.The most important aspects of management include planning, budgeting, organising, staffing, controlling, and problem solving. Leadership is a set of processes that creates organisations in the first place or adapts them to significantly changing circumstances. Leadership defines what the future should look like, aligns people with that vision, and inspires them to make it happen despite the obstacles. † When Myron E. Ullman joined JC Penney as Chairman and CEO late in 2004 he found that the company had maintained a rigid old world culture that discouraged new recruits and stifled creative thinking.Morale amongst employees was high, but only because the company had just avoided disaster and Ullman felt to increase morale and retain quality staff the culture within the organisation had to change dramatically. He had a vision to take the company to the industry leadership level through the â€Å"Long Term Plan† which has been updated over the last couple of years and can be summarised as follows: Annual Report (2006, Pg 4) †¢Develop strong enduring relationships with customers †¢Inspir e customers with our merchandise and services †¢Being the preferred choice for a retail career Establish JCP as the growth leader in the retail industry Unlike Castagna, Ullman has displayed high cognitive leadership abilities allowing him to see the underlying problems within JCP and act on them with innovative ideas. Of the five factors that make up Cognitive Intelligence, he shows high levels in all of them. †¢Experienced in retail industry. Gathered information about JCP before acting †¢Creativity was shown through in range of cultural change initiatives †¢Recognised when people are engaged with work they relate better to customers †¢Showed farsightedness through the â€Å"Long Term Plan† Putting 164 hrs into Retail Academy showed openness Ullman has proven that he is Strategic Leader as shown by Daft (2005, Pg 510-53). †¢His Mission was simple and it was to take the company to the Industry Leadership Level. This gave the organisation something to aim at for the future, established a standard of excellence and it reflected high ideals. †¢The Mission is in the form of the â€Å"Long Term Plan†. It defines the JCP’s character, core values, remains mostly constant over a five year period and provides a basis for creating the Mission. The strategy formulation is the cultural change initiatives that were required to build a customer focused culture. It was unfortunate that Castagna resigned from her position as the COO only some months after Ullman began in his role, as together, when considering their abilities, they would have made a very good team. However in light of the leadership skills and abilities that Ullman brought to JCP, it was a gamble that was worth the risk that the board took. Stone (2005, pg 192) lists the following advantages and disadvantages of promoting from within or outside an organisation: From OutsideAdvantages †¢Pool of Talent is bigger †¢New insights, skills and know-how can be introduced into the organisation †¢It is sometimes cheaper and easier hire employees †¢Outside employees are not members of existing cliques Disadvantages †¢Attracting and selecting new employees is more difficult †¢New employee adjustment and orientation takes longer †¢Morale may suffer among existing employees who have been passed over †¢Incumbent’s performance or personality is below what was expected or is acceptable From WithinAdvantages †¢Have knowledge of candidate’s strengths and weaknesses †¢Candidate already knows the organisation †¢Employee morale and motivation are enhanced †¢Return on investment in training and development is enhanced †¢Can generate a succession of promotions †¢Organisation needs to hire only entry level candidates Disadvantages †¢Employees may promoted beyond their level of competence †¢Employee infighting for promotions can affect morale †¢Inbreeding can stifle creativity and innovation †¢System can become bureaucratic Excellent training and development programs become necessary One would only image the impact on morale when the head on an organisation was sourced from outside the group and then to find the COO, whom it was widely expected to have taken on this role, to offer her resignation and leave. The mood at JCP which was quite high because of the recent turn aroun d in financial fortunes would dissipated very quickly. However the low morale that had resulted would have turned around once the cultural initiatives that were implemented started showing positive effects. Some analysts consider that culture change is driven from the top, whereas, others say that it is the system that drives change, not top management. Give your comments with reasons. DuBrin, Dalglish and Miller (2006, Pg. 429-30) define organisational culture, in three components: †¢The Artefact Level This includes the physical layout of the premises, the terminology, the signs, rituals and stories of the organisation. In the case of JC Penney, this would include such things as the expectation to always dress formally, the ban on decorating and personalising cubicles and the addressing of managers in a formal manner. The Value Level This is the individual’s sense of what ought to be, as distinct from what is. These are statements made about the organisation, what it does, and how it does it, which reflect the culture. The Penney Idea is an example of this, the document espousing values such as being agreeable, moral leadership, thriftiness and the need for employees to conduct themselves in a particular way both on the job and at home. †¢The Underlying Set of Assumptions These assumptions develop when values become so entrenched they are taken f or granted and are assumed to be unchangeable. After being in existence for over one hundred years JCP had entrenched values that would take concerted efforts to change. DuBrin, Dalglish and Miller (2006, Pg. 430) also identify four ways in which the organisational culture can be influenced: †¢The beliefs and values of the organisations founder. James C Penney bought his first shop in 1902, was the CEO until 1917 and remained as the Chairman of the Board until 1946 and after that as the Honorary Chairman until his death in 1971, Wikipedia. com viewed 9th September 2007.With this long connection and the organisation bearing his name it is easy to understand why the organisational culture had not changed and was one that reflected his ideals and that of a bygone era. †¢The social norms of the country in which the organisation first developed. According to the Annual Report 2006, Pg. 9, JCP has 1,026 stores in the USA and a further 7 stores in Puerto Rico. The South American influence can be seen in lines of clothing developed that are specifically aimed at the Hispanic population. Requirement to adapt to external pressures and the need to survive. In the case of JCP, changes in the culture began to come about from the near financial collapse in the late 1990s and the plummeting value of its shares on the stock market as can be seen on Diagram 1. It was first essential that the organisations procedures where brought up to industry standards. This was done by Questrom and Castagna and later in order to make JCP to an industry leader Ullman and team brought about significant changes in an attempt to completely revamp the culture. Internal Integration and problems with it. In 1922, the President of JCP Earl C. Sams was apparently critical of the informality of staff calling each other by their first names as he believed that it did not show enough dignity and respect. Although nothing was conveyed to the employees of JCP, they began the formal tradition of addressing each other by their surnames. Limerick and Cunnington (1993, Pg. 184) also states that, â€Å"We also do not assume that the founder or the CEO of an organisation has the unilateral control over culture.On the contrary, a host of individuals and interest groups are normally trying to shape the culture according to their vision or interests. But we do assert that CEOs in general, and founders in particular, form a very powerful, if not dominant, influence on corporate culture. † It can be seen James Penney had left a long lasting influence over the culture of the organisation, with his death in 1971, there was the opportunity for the CEO to change the culture, providing it was done in a careful and considerate manner in order for it to be taken seriously and not o offend employees. When Myron Ullman was appointed chairman and CEO, rather than make large encompassing changes he listened to employees, gathered ideas and spoke to other people who had been through the same process, and little by little he started making changes that had positive effects to the culture. The effect of these changes filtered through to the value placed on the company by the share market (which can be seen in Diagram 1), with shares rising from $40 per share at the time he took over as CEO to about $65 per share as 9th September 2007. Wha t are the lessons to be learned from the JC Penney culture change initiatives? What do you see as the key components in its having achieved it goals, at least in the near term? How can JC Penney keep the momentum of change rolling in its favour in the future? When Myron Ullman first joined JC Penney he wanted to create a customer focused culture and in trying to do so he came across significant opposition due to the ingrained culture that was very formal and rigid going back over one hundred years.Once having assessed JCP’s culture and being mindful on how it prided itself on its corporate tradition, Ullman set about making symbolic changes: He also started in-house training programs, which were not the norm in the retail industry due to the high turnover rates. The argument was that if training was provided employees would be more willing to invest their careers with JCP and as a result it would be a cure to the retention problem of high staff turnover. The programs were: †¢The Retail Program, which was like an intense graduate school on retail, strategy and team development for their managers.In these training groups it was reinforced that the members were the future of the organisation and it was also believed that the well trained managers helped train their subordinates. †¢The graduates of these programs would in turn take courses titles â€Å"Leading a Store† Another type of initiative that was introduced by Ullman was the repositioning of its brand, the first in its 105 year history, with the slogan â€Å"Every Day Matters† with all its employees trained in the new initiatives.The lessons learned from the culture change initiatives were, that although resistance by employees was met, if management were committed to and persisted with meaningful changes over the long term the culture can change and employees will become more positive in regard to positions which in turn should flow through to customers. The positive results to the initiatives can be seen in: †¢The second survey of employees which showed an increase job satisfaction from 67 per cent in 2005 up to 73 per cent in 2006. The increased ability to attract graduates from the best professional retail schools. The bottom line increased with Operating Profit going from $1,275mill in 2004 to $1,631mill in 2005 up to $1,922mill in 2006, Annual Report (2006, Pg 20). The key components in JCP having achieved its goal to date, has been having an effective leader and team who have: †¢Been patient so as to ensure that they listen, learn and understand the problems and issues that the organisation faces. To surround themselves with capable and trustworthy people who are able to perform their roles to the level that is required †¢While keeping a focus on what is trying to be achieved, making small but significant changes within the working environment to ensure improvement in job satisfaction. †¢Ensuring employees are equipped to perform their roles eg ongoing training. Daft (2005, Pg 564-69) gives a number techniques to maintain a healthy culture that could be used to maintain the momentum of change.They are: †¢Ceremonies, they are special events which are for the benefit of an audience, they reinforce specific values, create bonds and celebrate achievements. Eg. Celebrate certain milestones or achieving targets. †¢Stories which are repeated frequently and shared amongst employees, they can illustrate and reinforce important cultural values. The story can be factual or fictional and relate to JCP’s motto â€Å"Every Day Matters† †¢Symbols, can be an object, act, or event and convey cultural values. An example of this is the replacement of art with photos of employees and pictures of certain organisational sites on the corporate office walls. Specialised Language. The use of slogans or sayings can express key corporate values such as the â€Å"Every Day Matters† slogan. †¢Selection and Socialisation. Ensuring the right people are hired is essential then they must be socialised by instilling good values, high self esteem and confidence. †¢Daily Action. Leaders must signal and support important cultural values through daily actions. Employees learn what is valued most in a company by watching what attitudes and behaviours leaders pay attention to and reward, how they act in organisational crises and how their own behaviour match the companies values.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Revoulution essays

Revoulution essays By any criteria the years following the War of 1812, otherwise known as the Era of Good Feelings, must be considered a time of exceptional growth and development in the United States, but above all, it may be considered a time of evolution and ripening of American nationalism, unification, and economic prowess. The war of 1812 was a very problematic war. States did not fulfill their duties, while commanders and leaders were not informed or supplied enough to keep up the war. But what awakened during this time and afterwards is something much greater then victory. The war wasnt just about Britain holding land and impressing American sailors into their navy; it was a second war of independence. It was the first war as a united country, and it was a small new nation against a large European empire. That we survived woke us up, and let us know that we did have a nation. For the first time, we were united, not for a fight of our homes and freedoms, but for ideals (The Awakening of Ameri can Nationalism, AAN). The war of 1812 began long before war was declared. It began right after the war of Independence. The British were not too fond of us breaking away from their empire, and they soon figured out that many revolts were because we had fought and won. They taxed our merchants, and hassled our ships, but they crossed the line when they began to impress our sailors into their navy. They claimed that these people had deserted the royal navy and should be given back. Though they may have been right on a few occasions, it has been proven that many innocent people were forced to be in the royal navy. On June 22, 1807, the English frigate Leopard attacked the United States frigate Chesapeake, and took from her certain of her sailors who, the Leopards captain claimed, were British citizens. (John K. Mahon, The War of 1812) This is what broke the straw on the proverbial camels back. Many citizens wanted...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Definition and Examples of Sound Bites

Definition and Examples of Sound Bites A sound bite is a brief excerpt from a text or performance (usually ranging from a single word to a sentence or two) that is meant to capture the interest and attention of an audience. Also known as a grab or a clip. In recent presidential elections, said Craig Fehrman  in 2012, the average TV sound bite has dropped to a tick under eight seconds (The Boston Globe). In the 1960s, a 40-second sound bite was the norm. Examples and Observations From Other Writers From the late 1960s to the late 1980s, the place of oratory in U.S. public culture was shrinkingliterally. In 1968, the average sound bite in presidential election news coverage was more than 43 seconds long. In 1972, it dropped to 25 seconds. In 1976, it was 18 seconds; in 1980, 12 seconds; in 1984, just 10 seconds. By the time the 1988 election season rolled around, the size of the average sound bite had been reduced to less than 9 seconds. . . . By the end of the 1980s, . . . the time and space allotted to political oratory in the American mainstream media had already been incrementally eroded.(Megan Foley, Sound Bites: Rethinking the Circulation of Speech From Fragment to Fetish. Rhetoric and Public Affairs, Winter 2012)A day like today is not a day for sound bites, really. But I feel the hand of history upon our shoulders.(Prime Minister Tony Blair on arriving in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for the talks that produced the Good Friday Agreement, April 8, 1998Seeking to prod Congre ss to provide more money to help prevent layoffs from local and state governments, [President] Obama stressed how much better off private companies are doing in terms of hiring.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"The private sector is doing fine, he said, immediately giving Mitt Romney the same kind of bumper-sticker sound bite that Mr. Obama used against Mr. McCain four years ago. (Michael D. Shear, Republicans Take Aim at Obama’s ‘Doing Fine’ Comments. The New York Times, June 8, 2012) Over images of factory employees hard at work and smiling families, an announcer says, when a million jobs were on the line, every Republican candidate turned their back, even said, Let Detroit go Bankrupt.Then the commercial pivots to the president. Not him, says the announcer as a sound bite of the president plays. Don’t bet against the American auto industry, Mr. Obama is shown saying.(Jeremy W. Peters, Obama Goes After Republicans in New Michigan Ad. The New York Times, February 23, 2012)I am even told that you like your reading in short bursts now. Little chunks. Sound bites. Like that. Because you are busy. In a rush. Like to graze. Like cows. A bite here. A bite there. Too much to do. No time to spare. Under pressure. Bollocks. Lazy. Stupid. Finger out. Socks up.It was not always thus. Time was when an Englishman could happily gawp at a single sentence for an hour at a time. The ideal magazine essay took roughly as long to read as it took your umbrella to dry.(Michael B ywater, The Chronicles of Bargepole. Jonathan Cape, 1992) Sound Bites as Compressed Arguments As Peggy Noonan has explained so well, a sound bite is the culmination of good writing and a good argument. Ask not what your country can do ... or The only thing we have to fear ... represented the sharpest point of the speeches behind them. (John Dickerson, Dispatches From the Republican National Convention.Slate, August 30, 2012)The sound-bite should encapsulate the main point of the argument; the strongest opinion or reaction. Again there is a danger of distortion by over-emphasizing the already emphatic and polarizing a point of view, and this danger can only be eliminated by carefully explaining the context in which the remarks were made. (Andrew Boyd, Peter John Stewart, and Ray Alexander, Broadcast Journalism: Techniques of Radio and Television News, 6th ed. Focal Press, 2008) The Sound Bite Culture A sound bite society is one that is flooded with images and slogans, bits of information and abbreviated or symbolic messagesa culture of instant but shallow communication. It is not just a culture of gratification and consumption, but one of immediacy and superficiality, in which the very notion of news erodes in a tide of formulaic mass entertainment. It is a society anesthetized to violence, one that is cynical but uncritical, and indifferent to, if not contemptuous of, the more complex human tasks of cooperation, conceptualization, and serious discourse. . . . The sound bite culture . . . focuses on the immediate and the obvious; the near-term, and the particular; on identity between appearance and reality; and on the self rather than larger communities. Above all, it is a society that thrives on simplicity and disdains complexity.(Jeffrey Scheuer, The Sound Bite Society: How Television Helps the Right and Hurts the Left. Routledge, 2001) Television Journalism and Sound Bites In any campaign reform, it must be acknowledged that television news is an accomplice as well as a victim of the politicos. The sound bite is to television what the fang bite was to Dracula. The office seeker who has a thought that takes more than 30 seconds to express turns producers rabid. (Walter Goodman, Toward a Campaign of Substance in 92.  The New York Times, March 26, 1990)Television is the enemy of complexity. You rarely have time to express the fine points, the caveats, the context of your subject. Youre always being interrupted just as you try to make a larger point. What works best on a talk show is the snappy one-liner, the artful insult, the definitive declaration. What makes you look weak and vacillating is an acknowledgment that your case is not airtight, that the other side may have a valid point. (Howard Kurtz, Hot Air: All Talk, All The Time. Times Books, 1996)If news reporters and cameras are only there to be used by politicians as recording devices for their sc ripted soundbites, at best that is a professional discourtesy. At worst, if we are not allowed to explore and examine a politicians views, then politicians cease to be accountable in the most obvious way. (ITV news reporter Damon Green, quoted by Mark Sweney in Ed Miliband TV Interviewer Reveals Shame Over Absurd Soundbites. The Guardian, July 1, 2011) Sound-Bite Sabotage Sound-bite saboteurs on all sides of the aisle try to move the opinion of publics toward positions that are contrary to the best available data. Rather than communicating with publics to enable more informed decision making, sound-bite sabotage occurs when public and private leaders use the tools of public relations to discredit the importance of using data, engaging in scholarly inquiry, and supporting democratic deliberation.Seeing (hearing, reading, experiencing) sound-bite sabotage draws our attention to the commodification of political discourse rather than to the political spectacles constructed, to distract citizens from the communicative strategies mobilized by public and private elites. (Julie Drew, William Lyons, and Lance Svehla. Sound-Bite Saboteurs: Public Discourse, Education, and the State of Democratic Deliberation. SUNY Press, 2010) Alternate Spellings: sound-bite, soundbite

Thursday, November 21, 2019

How Do the NSC and APNSA Operate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

How Do the NSC and APNSA Operate - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the national security agency (NSA) is the U.S intelligence agency that has been given the responsibility of providing the United States government with encrypted information assurance and reading encrypted communication signals intelligence of other nations. The department that has been mandated with the duty to create and maintain secure computer network operations for the US government and prepare for impending network warfare. On the other hand, the assistant to the president for national security affairs   APNSA is the senior-most official in the executive office of the president who serves as the chief advisor stationed in the white house to the president of the United States on national security issues.   The person who seat in that chair also is a member of the national security council and is located in the west wing of the white house where he finds support from national security council staff that produces research, intel ligence, and briefings for the APNSA to review and present them to the president. The origin of NSA can be traced from 1917 after the Congress declared war on Germany in World War 1 during this time a code and cipher decryption unit was set up with its headquarters in Washington D.C. The NSA is responsible for the protection of U.S government communications and another information system, due to the growing practice of mass surveillance in the U.S. NSA collects all phone records of all Americans citizens that it uses in an analysis of the potential threat to the nation. However, NSA has no authority to conduct human source intelligence gathering although it is often portrayed doing so in popular culture and regions. Nevertheless, it remains its objective to coordinate and deconfliction of SIGINT components of otherwise non-SIGINT government organization. These organizations are prevented by law from engaging in such activities without the approval of the NSA through the secretary of defense. NSA has been reported to be doing the massive extent of the NSA’s spying both domestic and foreign that was revealed to the public in a series of detailed disclosures of internal NSA documents from June 2013 where most disclosures are said to have been leaked by former NSA contractor Edward snow den. Since everybody insists that they should have the privacy of what they do with their private lives, it is evident that with NSA there is nothing like privacy.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Describe this pic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Describe this pic - Essay Example The bottom part of the picture is broader than the top part and this gives the picture the ideal shape. The artist might have done this to give it a strong base for supportive purpose. From the information provided, the picture is the courtesy of Casey Campbell and some of the materials used are ink, watercolour, and charcoal. In essence, the abstract painting has colours and designs that do not resemble the physical objects. With this, the painting becomes harder to comprehend than representational painting. The desires and skills of the artist reveal the environment and time in, which he created the art. The striking styles reveal a lot of creativity. On a personal perceptive, the goal of the artist was to show how the colour, style, and form of the subject changed from time to time. This explains why the picture broadens its colour from one circle to the other. The artists took a lot of time making series of paintings from the same subject but different times of the day. This gives viewers a quick sense of understanding what is going into the artist’s mind (Elger and Uta 22). Typically, everyone seems to see the image in a similar manner. The artist established the need to use directional subjects and words that guide viewers through the description and analysis. The focal point of the picture is the circular figure, with different shapes. As previously mentioned, all circles have a strong base decorated in bold colours. The circles consist of space, line, shape, and light and dark colours arranged in similar designs. They consist of proportion, order, pattern, rhythm, and balance. The artist employed these elements to evoke the feeling of hope and direction to the viewers. From the picture, it is evident that many people recognize the artist’s accuracy and creativity to create the image. The primary purpose of the painting was to portray a captivating image. The picture does not fully evoke feelings or emotions.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Saving Belizes Barrier Reefs Essay Example for Free

Saving Belizes Barrier Reefs Essay Earth’s resources are not limitless, they have breaking points and natural properties can be threatened by a multitude of factors that can leave the area in ruins. The Belize Barrier Reef is such an area. It is a breathtaking natural system, home to a diverse array of life forms, which is being threatened by mankind and environmental factors. Conservation efforts can be put into action to ensure the continued existence of this site, but those efforts require financial backing. With proper monetary support, the increased conservation efforts can reverse the destruction on the reef. The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is a rich and diverse ecosystem that can be preserved for the enjoyment of generations to come. * The coastal area of Belize is the location of The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System. The reef is the largest of its kind within the northern hemisphere, stretching out over 200 miles along Belize’s coast. The reef contains many mangrove forests, large atolls, pristine lagoons, and approximately 450 sand cays. Additionally, the reef is home to a plethora of marine life which both directly and indirectly impacts this ecosystem and the diverse life contained within. The preservation of this site is crucial due to the abundant threatened species that make their home in the reef. Specifically, there are nearly a thousand species that inhabit the reef such as the loggerhead, green, and hawksbill sea turtles, the largest population of manatees in the world, and the American marine crocodile. Additionally, the reef system is home to numerous types of coral, sharks, barracuda, dolphins, angelfish, and several species of birds. The aquatic and plant life of the reef react and prosper through their connections; the reef and the vegetation within provide shelter and food for this array of life that live within (UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 1992-2012). * With the abundant life forms that exist within the reef, it is imperative that it be protected, yet the reef system is in danger as a result of huma n interference and climate issues. Because the world is a giant ecosystem, human mistreatment has led to imbalances on a dramatic level, such as fluctuating climate. This climate control issue is adversely affecting both  the water level in the reef and the organisms within. Tropical storms have been an issue as well as they threaten the coast with tidal waves and erosion, however the reef and mangrove cays do offer significant protection to the areas further inland (Young, 2008). According to World Resources Institute (2008), â€Å"Coral reefs and mangroves are highly interconnected habitats, physically supporting each other and providing habitat for many species. For example, mangroves filter sediment and pollutants from coastal runoff, supporting the clean water favored by corals. Many species important to fisheries and tourism rely upon mangrove habitat for part of their life-cycle† (p. 2). * With the delicate balance of this ecosystem and all it offers, it would stand to reason that locals would do everything possible to preserve the reef, yet that is not the case. In fact, locals and tourists are threatening this precious ecosystem and could cause its decline. Deforestation, oil drilling, and coastal development are all threats. In 2002 crude oil was discovered in Belize, igniting frenzy and attracting hundreds of prospectors. Additionally, the growing population and tourism industry has led to rapid development for both residential and commercial purposes (Young, 2008). â€Å"Over the last five decades, large-scale agriculture (citrus, bananas, sugar cane) and, more recently, large-scale aquaculture (shrimp and tilapia farming) have escalated at the expense of the forests. Coupled with rapid and increasing coastal development, illegal logging, and slash-and-burn agriculture, Belize is currently experiencing a deforestation rate that is twice that of Central America (2.3% vs. 1.2% annually)†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Young, 2008, para. 4). * Fortunately, others have realized the value of the reef system and have taken steps to protect it. â€Å"The preservation of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is critical to both its marine inhabitants and the local communities that depend on the site for their livelihoods† (Terracurve, 2009, para. 3). In 2009, the United Nation Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added the reef reserve system to their list of World Heritage in Danger sites. The UNESCO foundation hopes to spread the message that the Belize Reef System belongs to all people and its natural heritage and beauty should be protected (UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 1992-2012). Conservation efforts have also been put into play to ensure this world heritage sites continued existence. The department of fishery in Belize has recognized the need to reform the  national fisheries policy in an effort to control over fishing in the reefs, which is a substantial threat to the reef. Such reforms should help the over fished areas to rebuild, offer protection to the reefs and delicate coral, and add to the number of protected marine areas where fishing is not allowed (Wildlife Conservation Society, 2012). Conservation efforts for the Barrier Reef system still have a long way to go. Local Belize communities and their inhabitants are one group that can do much good towards the conservation of this national treasure. However, in order for this to happen the locals need to be educated on conservation and its benefits and become invested in the reefs. Although this is a challenge do to the extreme poverty that exists within Belize and the citizens’ access to educational information. Poverty greatly increases the instances of environmental misuse because those affected typically have greater worries than environmental conservation. In order to implement a conservation plan that includes involvement from local citizens, there must also be efforts made to boost the socio-economic standing of the citizens. Long term preservation of the reef could be financially beneficial to the Belize economy and better the citizen’s socio-economic standings. Additionally, allowing the citizens to work with the government officials towards making decisions concerning the reef will give them a sense of investment in the reef (Young, 2008). * Improving the socio-economic conditions in Belize and educating citizens is just a small step that can lead to more effective conservation efforts for the reef. That still leaves the issues of outside interference on the ecosystem such as oil drilling and deforestation. Although Belize has established a protection plan for certain land a sea areas, it is apparent that tighter restrictions are needed. In particular, oil drilling and deforestation are major issues that threaten the reef that should have increased restrictions placed on them. This will require increased monitoring and amendments to the protected area systems. Additionally, the three management teams which oversee the protected areas appear to all have different ideas concerning best conservation practices. For that reason it would make sense to unify the groups, leaving only one division to oversee the protected areas and enforce regulations (Meerman, 2004). Drastic measures to preserve the reef system need to be taken now, before it is too late. If conservation efforts are not increased, coral health and fish  populations will continue to decline and the mangrove cays will face extinction. As it stands, the shark population in the reef waters has already declined, which is an indicator as to the reefs health. The absence of sharks in the reefs allows the populations of barracudas and rays to increase and take control. These second rate predators can have damaging effects on the reefs if there numbers are not controlled, such as limiting the populations of parrot fish, conch, and lobster. Lobster is important in Belize as it is one of t he country’s major exports. Parrot fish play an integral role in the reef as well, they are plant eaters and there food source is algae. Without parrot fish and other plant eating fish eating the algae and keeping it in check, it will spread until the reef is consumed by it, which could be irreversible (Kryt Ward, 2008). The Barrier Reef Reserve System off of the coast of Belize is breathtaking example of nature’s beauty. Additionally, it is a precious natural system teaming with diverse life forms. Although climate and human interference have caused the reef to become an endangered site, it is not too late to reverse the effects of mistreatment. Education on conservation efforts and increased restrictions can greatly increase the reefs chances of survival for generations to come. Without these efforts, a precious natural resource will be lost, and the reef is most certainly worth preserving. References * Kryt, K. Ward, J. (2008). Trouble in paradise-the struggle to save Belize’s Glover’s atoll. Retrieved from http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/eij/article/trouble_in_paradise/ Meerman, J.C. (2004). Protected Areas Policy and System Plan: Protected Area System Assessment Analysis. Retrieved from http://biological-diversity.info/NPAPSP.htm * Terracurve. (2009). Help protect the Belize Barrier Reef with the support of the United Nations. Retrieved from http://www.terracurve.com/2009/07/01/help-protect-the-belize-barrier-reef-with-the-support-of-the-united-nations/ * UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (1992-2012). Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System. Retrieved from http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/764 Wildlife Conservation Society. (2012).

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Recent Wave of Hong Kong Immigrants into Vancouver :: Immigration Vancouver Prejudice Essays

The Recent Wave of Hong Kong Immigrants into Vancouver   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This paper is concerned with the recent wave of Hong Kong immigrants into Vancouver. The stage is set for this discussion by first explaining some background behind Canadian immigration policy and then discussing the history of Chinese immigrants in Vancouver. From these discussions we are informed that Canadian immigration policy was historically ethnocentric and only began to change in the late 1960s. It was at this point that we see a more multicultural group of immigrants into our nation. The history of Chinese immigration in Vancouver, and for that matter, Canada is not positive one. The experiences and prejudices which were developed over 100 years ago still colours the way in which we view one another.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The recent wave of Hong Kong immigrants began in the 1970s. This group is different from most others before it because of it's scale and the fact that they tend to be well-educated, affluent people. The result of their immigration into Vancouver has been a booming economy and social tension. With greater understanding and awareness on both sides we can alleviate the social tensions. Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is a school in Vancouver which is offering a four year immersion programme to its students. That in itself is not highly unusual in our bilingual nation, what is unusual is that the language of choice for the immersion programme is not French, it is Mandarin. The programme was voted in by parents who believed the Mandarin language to be more important to their children's futures in Vancouver than French. This situation shows quite effectively the transition which is taking place in Canada's third largest city. Vancouver is a city which is consistently looking more and more to the Pacific Rim nations, especially Hong Kong, for its economic and social connections.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Vancouver is the most asian Canadian city in outlook. At $1.3 Billion, British Columbia accounts for the greatest Asian investment of all the provinces. As the urban center of the province, Vancouver is the destination for most of this capital. With an Asian population of over 18%, perhaps it is not so surprising that so much Asian capital is invested in the city. The draw of Vancouver for Asians has numerous reasons including, security, an opportunity to continue business in Asia, and a feeling of welcome. The result is that the city is being completely rebuilt with asian money. As a consequence of this influx, all is not well, there are tensions within the city that have recently been surfacing. Before entering into this discussion, however, it is important to understand the context of immigration in Canada as well as the history of asian

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Owl- Foolish or Wise

Ullu (owl) – Foolish or Wise? Today in ITPN class, a very interesting debate started but due to lack of time and due to some over excited people (mostly psychology stream kids, they speak so much! Are all psychology people gifted with feature like â€Å"I think after I speak,†? it’s so annoying) who have to speak on everything! The debate somehow could not finish properly. So, the house was divided on if â€Å"Ullu† was wise or foolish. Owl, who wakes up at night and sleeps during the day, is considered to be the poster boy of wisdom and smartness.In Hindu mythology owl has been bestowed with the honor of being the vehicle of goddess Saraswati. Now Saraswati is supposed to be the goddess of knowledge and music. So if we interpret it correctly, owl can be seen as the vehicle of knowledge, which I assume, is a very respectable thing to be. But then why does â€Å"ullu da patha† which means son of an owl is taken as an insult? So when someone is callin g you â€Å"ullu da patha† isn’t he indirectly calling you something truly respectable?But actual meaning of â€Å"ullu da patha† isn’t son of an owl, but when someone calls you â€Å"ullu da patha† what he’s trying to say is â€Å"I can’t abuse you properly right now†, and by properly I mean reaching mothers and sisters. That’s the reason it’s taken as an insult because we know the hidden meaning. We often hear people calling us â€Å"ullu† whenever we do something foolish. But what is that foolish thing which our poor owl does that people keep associating our foolish acts with his? Is it his gaze? Or his nocturnal sleeping habits? But what’s so wrong about sleeping in the daytime?If everyone is sleeping at night that does not mean our poor owl has to copy them. I think it somehow shows how our society sees things, if someone is not doing what majority is doing, he is labeled as stupid. Why are ever ybody expected to do same things? Walk the same path to success. Isn’t this stupid? (Doing things without thinking and follow what others do) Ask any science student today who is studying in school that what he wants to do after school? Answer would be the same, â€Å"I want to become an engineer and then do an MBA! Thank God, I am not running in this horse race. I guess, not everybody was so ignorant and somebody somehow realized that how wise our poor owl could be. I don’t know what was that person thinking when s/he made owl the vehicle of Saraswati and put our owl in the league of wise. I think what makes him wise, is the fact that he has the wisdom of the night. He knows what others don’t and he knows what other’s hide. He knows the secrets of the night. His uninterrupted gaze, his 360 degree vision, sees what lies in the dark, what happens in the underbelly.Maybe people had started calling him stupid, to hide their shame, they thought that by calli ng him stupid they would make him untrustworthy and nobody will trust his words. But they forgot that our poor owl needs to sleep too, he won’t tell their secrets to anybody because when the whole world daydreaming, our poor owl is actually dreaming in his sleep. So, if next time, someone calls you â€Å"ullu da patha,† don’t feel bad and think about the hidden meaning. Rather think about the respect that man is giving you unknowingly! -Shikhar Goel

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Participative Management Essay

The world today is filled up with working places and organizations. Every organization is putting its efforts to run the trade and commerce of the world. The top most organizations of the world such as Intel, Microsoft and IBM are the best because they have the best human resource. The human resource of a company plays the most vital role which pushes the organization to the zenith of their expectations. The main aspect of an organizations success is the team work and management of time and resources. According to Wikipedia, â€Å"Teamwork is the concept of people, working together cooperatively or as a team in order to accomplish the same goals and objectives†. A general dictionary defines teamwork as a â€Å"Cooperative or coordinated effort on the part of a group (sociology) of persons acting together as a team or in the interests of a common cause, unison for a higher cause, people working together for a selfless purpose, and so on.† Some things cannot be accomplished by people working all by them selves. Larger, more ambitious goals usually require a number of people work together with other people. Because of this obstacle, teamwork is a desired goal of many leading businesses and organizations today. Projects often require those people who can work together in order to accomplish a common goal. Although critics often argue that in the corporate business world teamwork has become an empty buzzword, or a form of corporate-speak. Effective collaborative skills (knowledge) are necessary to work well in an environment like this. As businesses and organizations become larger or more complicated. Many employers attempt to enhance their employees’ collaborative efforts through self-training, cross-training and conducting workshops in order to help people effectively work together in a group and accomplish shared goals. What is participative management? Participative management can be easily explained as â€Å"An open form of management where employees have a strong decision-making role†. Participative management is developed by managers who actively seek a strong cooperative relationship with their employees and colleagues. The advantages of participative management include increased productivity, improved quality, and reduced costs Once Ken Blanchard said, â€Å"None of us is as smart as all of us†. Participative (or participatory) management, otherwise known as employee involvement or participative decision making, encourages the involvement of stakeholders at all levels of an organization in the analyzing of problems, development of strategies and implementation of solutions. Employees are brought together to share in the decision-making process of the firms by participating in activities such as setting goals, determining work schedules and putting forward suggestions. Other forms of participative management include increasing the responsibility of employees (job enrichment); forming self-managed teams, quality circles, or quality-of-work-life committees; and soliciting survey feedback. Participative management, however, involves more than allowing employees to take part in making their own decisions too. It also involves management treating the ideas and suggestions of employees with consideration and respect. The most extensive form of participative management is direct emp loyee ownership of a company. Four processes influence participation. These processes create employee involvement as they are pushed down to the lowest levels in an organization. The farther down these processes move, the higher the level of involvement by employees. The four processes include: 1. Information sharing, which is concerned with keeping employees informed about the economic status of the company. 2. Training involves raising the skill levels of employees and offering development opportunities that allow them to apply new skills to make effective decisions regarding the organization as a whole. 3. Employee decision making, which can take many forms, from determining work schedules to deciding on budgets or processes. 4. Rewards, which should be tied to suggestions and ideas as well as performance. Benefits of participative management A participative management style offers various benefits at all levels of an organization. By creating a sense of ownership in a company, participative management instills a sense of pride and motivates employees to increase productivity in order to achieve their goals. Employees who participate in the decisions of the company feel like they are a big part of a team with a common goal and find their sense of self-esteem and creative fulfillment heightened which results in a brilliant motivation which increases the productivity of an individual. Managers who use a participative style find that employees are more receptive to change than in situations in which they have no voice or part. Changes are implemented more effectively when employees have input and make contributions to decisions. Participation keeps employees informed of upcoming events so they will be aware of potential changes. The organization can then place itself in a proactive mode instead of a reactive one, as managers are able to quickly identify areas of concern and turn to employees for solutions. Participation helps employees gain a wider view of the organization. Through training, development opportunities, and information sharing, employees can acquire the conceptual skills needed to become effective managers or top executives. It also increases the commitment of employees to the organization and the decisions they make. Creativity and innovation are two important benefits of participative management. By allowing a diverse group of employees to have input into decisions, the organization benefits from the synergy that comes from a wider choice of options. When all employees, instead of just managers or executives, are given the opportunity to participate, the chances is increased that a valid and unique idea will be suggested. Requirements of participative management A common misconception by managers is that participative management involves simply asking employees to participate or make suggestions or take part in making changes. Effective programs involve more than just a suggestion box. In order for participative management to work, several issues must be resolved and several requirements must be met. First, managers must be willing to relinquish some control to their workers; managers must feel secure in their position in order for participation to be successful. Often managers do not realize that employees’ respect for them will increase instead of decrease when they implement a participative management style where all of the employees are considered eligible to give suggestions. The success of participative management depends on effective planning and a slow, phased approach. Changing employees’ ideas about management takes time, as does any successful attempt at a total cultural change from a democratic or autocratic style of management to a participative style. Long-term employees may resist changes, not believing they will last. In order for participation to be effective, managers must be genuine and honest in implementing the program. Many employees will need to consistently see proof that their ideas will be accepted or at least seriously considered. The employees must be able to trust their managers and feel they are respected. . It is important to remember that the manager may not agree with every idea or suggestion given by an employee, how those ideas are received is critical to succeed in participative management. Participatory management does not work with employees who are passive or simply do not care about the organization. Many times employees do not have the skills or information necessary to make good suggestions or decisions too. In this case, it is important to provide them with information or training; so they can make informative choices about their field of expertise. One way to help employees engage in the decision-making process is by knowing their individual strengths and capitalizing on them. By guiding employees towards such areas in which they are knowledgeable, a manager can help to ensure their success. Managers should also give employees time to think about ideas or alternative decisions. Employees often do not do their most creative thinking on the spot and take little bit of more time. Another important element for implementing a successful participative management style is the visible integration of employees’ suggestions into the final decision or implementation of the decision. Employees need to know that they have made a contribution to the thought of the organization and should be appreciated for it. Offering employees a choice in the final decision is important because it increases their commitment, motivation, and job satisfaction. Sometimes even just presenting several alternatives and allowing employees to choose from them is as effective as if they thought of the alternatives themselves. The key is to build employee confidence so their ideas and decisions can become more creative and sound. Concerns Participative management is not a magic cure for all that ails an organization. Managers should carefully weigh the pros and the cons before implementing this style of management to their own. Managers must realize that changes will not take effect overnight and will require consistency and patience before employees will begin to see that the management is serious about employee involvement. Participative management is probably the most difficult style of management to practice. It is challenging not only for managers but for employees as well. Participative management programs can be threatened by office politics. Due to hidden agendas and peer pressure, employees may keep their opinions to themselves and refuse to tell a manager if they feel an idea will not work. A Manager also plays a part in politics when they implement participative management programs to impress their own bosses but have no intention of seeing them through. â€Å"The old structures are being reformed. As organizations seek to become more flexible in the face of rapid environmental change and more responsive to the needs of customers, they are experimenting with new, team-based structures† (Jackson & Ruderman, 1996). Why Team Building is necessary Teamwork is essential for competing in today’s global arena, where individual perfection is not as desirable as a high level of collective performances. In knowledge based enterprises, teams are the norm. A critical feature of this team is that they have a significant degree of empowerment or decision-making authority. There are many different kinds of teams: top management teams, focused task forces, self-directed teams, concurrent engineering teams, product/service development and/or launch teams, quality improvement teams, and so on. Team vs. Group Not all groups in organizations are teams, but all teams are groups. The difference between a team and a group is that a team is interdependent for overall performance. A group qualifies as a team, only if its members focus on helping one another to accomplish organizational objectives and goals. In today’s quickly changing business environments, teams have emerged as a requirement for the success of business. Therefore, managers and leads should constantly try to help groups become teams and facilitate the evolution of groups into teams. Vince Lombardi (1913-1970), football coach for the NFL, once said:  Ã¢â‚¬ People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses or the problems of modern society†. Importance of Teamwork The importance of teamwork is presented in every seminar you attend or business book you read. Without teamwork, houses take longer to build. Governments collapse. Without teamwork, people lose their inspiration and motivation. Importance of the world is known with team work and it has played a part in company turnarounds. Our teamwork training programs dispel the negative myths of teamwork while developing and encouraging the importance of teamwork that can be enjoyed by all parties involved in it. There are three main steps involved with instilling the importance of teamwork within a company environment: 1) Begin with the end in mind – Make a specific list of how your employees, customers and business as a whole will benefit, when they see the true importance of teamwork and team playing. Only then you can outline your objectives and goals which you have to achieve. 2) Make a plan – Do you have the resources to develop teamwork internally? Or, do you need to bring in some experts to assemble and conduct a customized training program for your business team? This is a critical decision on your part and a corporate training company would love the opportunity to discuss how a team would work after learning their outstanding training methods. 3) Quantify and monitor results – The results from teamwork can be measured but only if you have a defined process in place. This measuring process will be the fuel you will need to convince the management and the staff that ongoing efforts would be made to increase teamwork efficiency cordially. Once management and staff alike experience the importance of teamwork, they will be fueled to achieve even more and to touch the heights.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Authoritarian Approach to Management Essays

Authoritarian Approach to Management Essays Authoritarian Approach to Management Paper Authoritarian Approach to Management Paper CASE STUDY ANALYSIS AN AUTHORITARIAN APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT This essay makes available an analysis of a case study pertaining to tribulations in human resources management and management technique at the Polk County Social Welfare Department. Patton, the new Director, manifest an exceedingly authoritarian management style. The analysis includes problem diagnosis, analysis and evaluation of alternative solutions, and recommendations for actions. Like Patton, administrators who adopt an authoritarian approach lay down clear rules for subordinates and expect them to obey not only the rules but the also the administrator with authority. An authoritarian style of leading uses outside incentives such as: rewards for obeying the rules and consequences for breaking them. An administrator who adopts this approach tends to lack affection and openness and values their own opinions over those of their lessors. The foremost objective of an authoritarian administrator is to increase overall conformity and they seek to accomplish this end through the use of outside enticements which often suggest obedience out of apprehension. Patton adapted to this way of managing because he was raised to respect and value work ethic. His parents were industrious and committed who believed in corporal reprimand. It was not difficult to understand why Patton adapted to the authoritarian approach to management. Authoritarian style is implemented when the person in charge tells his/her employees what is expected and how it should be done, without getting the advice of cohorts. A quantity of the suitable conditions to employ it is when you have all the information to get to the bottom of the dilemma, you are limited on time, and your workforce is well motivated. A number of people have a propensity to consider this style as a medium for screaming, using undignified words, and leading by intimidation and misusing their authority. The authoritarian style should more often than not be used on extraordinary circumstances. In an effort to achieve more commitment and motivation from your employees, Patton might try using the participative style. This style of authoritarian principal can lead to bitterness and contribute to the encouragement of insecurities. After all, rejecting suggestions of workers may be perceived as an aggressive or bossy approach. Participative style would allow Patton to include one or more employees in on the decision making process (determining what to do and how to do it). On the other hand, Patton would maintain the final decision making authority. Using this style is not an indication of weakness; rather it is an indication of strength that your employees will respect and admire. In this case Motivation Theory might help resolve some of Patton’s problems within his department. In Theory X and Theory Y, McGregor identifies two sets of assumptions about the nature of people: Theory X is a set of essentially negative assumptions about the nature of people and Theory Y is a set of positive assumptions about the nature of people. McGregor’s XY Theory is a valuable and undemanding reminder of the natural rules for managing people, which under the heaviness of everyday business are all too without difficulty elapsed. In lieu of the information presented in this analysis, conceivably the most evident characteristics of McGregors XY Theory and the easiest to exemplify are found in the behaviors of autocratic managers and organizations which use autocratic management styles such as Patton did in his role as a manager. It is part of the manager’s job to exercise authority, and there are cases in which this is the only method of achieving the desired results because subordinates do not agree that the ends are desirable. In reality, some theories are unrealizable in practice, but if managers put into action that employee will contribute to the organizational goals if they are treated as responsible and valued employees. Qualitative and Quantitative analysis can both be used in this situation; however, there are pros and cons associated with each taking into consideration the two types of data analysis form dissimilar, not compulsory, irreconcilable perspectives on quantity statistics. Nonetheless, I think that qualitative analysis is an absolute detailed description which allows for superior distinctions to be drawn. Likewise, a lack of understanding of practice organization and function has limited the effectiveness of attempts to change practice behaviors. Therefore, a qualitative analysis might be used with a cross-sectional study or multimethod approach that included direct observation of managers within the public welfare agency, questionnaires of employes, and semistructured participant observation of the organization. The goals of the qualitative component of the study might be to recognize and demonstrate the barriers to nd the opportunities for successful and well-organized management approaches. Finally, the extent to which leaders are able to manage change, develop consensus, and maintain loyalty will establish the success/failure of any organizational management idea or reorganization endeavor. One of the most noteworthy factors that impede success in organizations is lack of leadership. Continuous, attentiveness, self-evident leadership is very important for flourishing achievement o f organizational change.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

English Longbow - Hundred Years War

English Longbow - Hundred Years' War Longbow - Origins: While bows have been used for hunting and warfare for thousands of years, few achieved the fame of the English Longbow. The weapon first rose to prominence when it was deployed by the Welsh during the Norman English invasions of Wales. Impressed by its range and accuracy, the English adopted it and began conscripting Welsh archers into military service. The longbow ranged in length from four feet to in excess of six. British sources usually require the weapon to be longer than five feet to qualify. Longbow - Construction: Traditional longbows were constructed from yew wood which was dried for one to two years, with it slowly being worked into shape over that time. In some cases, the process could take as long as four years. During the period of the longbows use, shortcuts were found, such as wetting the wood, to speed up the process. The bow stave was formed from half of a branch, with the heartwood on the inside and the sapwood to the outside. This approach was necessary as the heartwood was able to better resist compression, while the sapwood performed better in tension. The bow string was typically linen or hemp. Longbow - Accuracy: For its day the longbow possessed both long range and accuracy, though seldom both at once. Scholars estimate the longbows range at between 180 to 270 yards. It is unlikely however, that accuracy could be ensured beyond 75-80 yards. At longer ranges, the preferred tactic to unleash volleys of arrows at masses of enemy troops. During the 14th and 15th centuries, English archers were expected to shoot ten aimed shots per minute during battle. A skilled archer would be capable of around twenty shots. As the typical archer was provided with 60-72 arrows, this permitted three to six minutes of continuous fire. Longbow - Tactics: Though deadly from a distance, archers were vulnerable, particularly to cavalry, at close range as they lacked the armor and weapons of the infantry. As such, longbow equipped archers were frequently positioned behind field fortifications or physical barriers, such as swamps, which could afford protection against attack. On the battlefield, longbowmen were frequently found in an enfilade formation on the flanks of English armies. By massing their archers, the English would unleash a cloud of arrows on the enemy as they advanced which would strike down soldiers and unhorse armored knights. To make the weapon more effective, several specialized arrows were developed. These included arrows with heavy bodkin (chisel) heads which were designed to penetrate chain mail and other light armor. While less effective against plate armor, they generally were able to pierce the lighter armor on knights mount, unhorsing him and forcing him to fight on foot. To speed up their rate of fire in battle, archers would remove their arrows from their quiver and stick them in the ground at their feet. This permitted a smoother motion to reload after each arrow. Longbow - Training: Though an effective weapon, the longbow required extensive training to use effectively. To make sure that deep pool of archers always existed in England, the population, both rich and poor, were encouraged to hone their skills. This was furthered by the government through edicts such King Edward Is ban on sports on Sunday which was designed to ensure that his people practiced archery. As the draw force on the longbow was a hefty 160–180 lbf, archers in training worked their way up to the weapon. The level of training required to be an effective archer discouraged other nations from adopting the weapon. Longbow - Usage: Rising to prominence during the reign of King Edward I (r. 1272–1307), the longbow became a defining feature of English armies for the next three centuries. During this period, the weapon aided in winning victories on the Continent and in Scotland, such as Falkirk (1298). It was during the Hundred Years War (1337–1453) that the longbow became legend after it played a key role in securing the great English victories at Crà ©cy (1346), Poitiers (1356), and Agincourt (1415). It was, however, the weakness of the archers, which cost the English when they were defeated at Patay in (1429). Beginning in the 1350s, England began to suffer a shortage of yew from which to make bow staves. After expanding the harvest, the Statute of Westminster was passed in 1470, which required each ship trading in English ports to pay four bow staves for each ton of goods imported. This was later expanded to ten bow staves per ton. During the 16th century, bows began to be replaced by firearms. While their rate of fire was slower, firearms required much less training and permitted leaders to quickly raise effective armies. Though the longbow was being phased out, it remained in service through the 1640s and was used by Royalist armies during the English Civil War. Its last use in battle is believed to have been at Bridgnorth in October 1642. While England was the only nation to employ the weapon in large numbers, longbow-equipped mercenary companies were used throughout Europe and saw extensive service in Italy.