Essay Examples on America and the Great Depression Essay Example

Essay Examples on America and the Great Depression Paper 1st Essay Sample on America and the Great Depression As the saying goes, money makes the world go ‘round. Many think of it as nothing more than an old saying, but in many ways it holds true. America, along with the rest of the world, learned this the hard way almost ninety years ago.In 1929 the stock market crashed, triggering the worst depression ever in U.S. history that lasted for about a decade. This period is known as the Great Depression. Do not let the name fool you, the only thing â€Å"great† about this period was just how widespread it was. The Great Depression is a defining moment in time for not only America but the rest of the world as well. This was a time that caused political, economic, and social unrest. Not only did the Great Depression cause worldwide panic, but it also caused a worldwide crisis unlike any before it. Although the popular belief is that the main cause was the crashing Stock Market in 1929, there were other major economic events that contributed just as much as the crash. As these events t ranspired, the state of economic crisis in the US began to skyrocket. One cause people tend to gloss over is overproduction, American businesses both industrious and agricultural alike found themselves producing much more than needed with the mindset that more products mean more profit. Huge supplies of goods were simply stockpiled in hopes that it would sell. This process was known as overproduction and created a huge problem for the United States.Agricultural production was rising dangerously high during the early 1920s. They were overproducing food since World War I to meet soldier demands. Herbert Hoover was the nation’s federal government food administer during the war, he strongly encouraged a rise in production due to Europe’s lacking production Before the war, U.S. farmers produced less than 690,000 bushels of wheat yearly, but by the war’s end, they were producing 945,000 bushels per year. After the war, the U.S. 2nd Essay Sample on America and the Great Depression We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on America and the Great Depression specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on America and the Great Depression specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on America and the Great Depression specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The Great Depression was a very hard time for many Americans. There were some factors that led to the Great Depression such as:stock market crash, the purchasing of goods declined, and the loss of trade with foreign countries.During the Great Depression, many people lost their jobs and were not able to support their families. They had to beg for money and even sleep in the streets. Many children didn’t handle this period of time well. Some children ran away from home to seek a better life. The country was in chaos during the Great Depression. One of the main causes of the Great Depression was the crash of the stock market. It was 1929, and Herbert Hoover had just been elected president. During the years before, the stock market had been good and everyone wanted their piece of the profits. Millions of people owned stock in different companies. Also, many people in various financial situations owned stock. It seemed to be a very easy way to make money. On September 3, 1929, the stock market hit a record high which resulted in more people buying stock but on October 24, 1929, that changed and the market slowly began to fall. The people who owned stocks initially didn’t panic because they thought the stocks would rise again like they did before. They were wrong this time. On October 29, the stock market crashed. Stock owners rushed to try to sell their stock, but nobody could buy them. This day became known as Black Tuesday. The crash of the stock market affected millions of Americans because companies depended on shareholders for support but now those shareholders had financial problems. Thousands of employees had to be fired because the companies could not afford to pay them. Many factories, mines, and businesses were forced to close their doors due to this crisis. America and the Great Depression America and the Great Depression America and the Great Depression Another cause of the Great Depression was the decline in purchasing goods. After the stock market crashed, people from all classes stopped making purchases. 3rd Essay Sample on America and the Great Depression The Great Depression started in 1929 and lasted ten years. It was a time of great suffrage for the American people because the economy failed miserably due to many complications. Hence, why it is difficult to determine the cause of The Great Depression, It was a chain reaction snowballing into a really big problem in dire need of a solution. The Great Depression took off after the Stock Market crashed in October 1929 also known as Black Tuesday, the day Wall Street went into a panic while wiping out millions of unfortunate investors. This contributed to what left America in ruins for a whole decade. In 1933, the nation had peaked unemployment rates as high as 25%. This was the most miserable decade America has ever seen. The Stock Market Crash of 1929 is said and speculated to have been the major economy killer of the 1930’s. But it was not the worst contributions to the Great Depression as it is not who did it first, but the one who had the greatest impact that is to take the blame. On Oct 24 1929 known as Black Thursday 16 million shares were traded. a couple days later on what was known as Black Tuesday 16 million more shares were traded by the panicked public. How did this affect the economy? Consequently, They were all wiped out. At the same time, Stock prices continued to rise. Moreover, this will affect banks majorly and at some point causing Bank to ultimately fail. America and the Great Depression America and the Great Depression America and the Great Depression As previously mentioned, The Stock Market Crash caused the closure of multiple banks. Moreover, when many panicked Americans insisted on getting loans out of debt. That caused banks to run out of money especially when the Government wasn’t helping with money. With so many people taking out their money, banks ultimately went dry, and the American people were not insured to have money. In the 1930’s, more than 9,000 banks had closed due to this. By 1933, $140 billion disappeared due to the banks failing.

Romeo and Juliet Costumes Essays

Romeo and Juliet Costumes Essays Romeo and Juliet Costumes Paper Romeo and Juliet Costumes Paper I picked this scene for my Costumes because I believe it was the main stepping stone for the rest of the story It pretty much determined the rest of their fate in the whole movie. For Romeo I chose to make Just a plain shirt because what he wore always looked simple but put together. I also dressed him In a pair of tights for the bottoms. For Juliet costume I looked at what was worn throughout both the 1968 movie and the 1996 movie. I also looked through what was worn In the Victorian era which Is hat Romeo and Juliet Is said to have taken place In. I ended up making a dress which looks like what you would averagely seen during that era. For Gullets mother I did the same thing I Just used a pattern that was Just a bit different and a different material. I based her costume off what she would have worn at the party since she wasnt present during the balcony scene which I had used for both Romeo and Gullets costumes.

Request for Proposals (RFP) Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Request for Proposals (RFP) - Assignment Example The research will then culminate in recommendations for improving the system. Some of the objectives for the study are as outlined below Online systems of education have to be improved regularly in order to incorporate new and emerging technologies that enhance the ability of the students to get the most from online courses. In the past few years, several systems such as Moodle and Socrates have emerged, each focusing on different aspects of online education. In addition, social media, video conferencing technologies, and messaging technologies such as Whatssap have also emerged as key elements in communication; hence, influencing education. It is crucial for online courses to incorporate all these elements in order to be more effective. The changing technological environment makes it necessary for online courses to be dynamic if they have to continue being relevant into the future. One key element is usability. This concerns the ability of students to access information about their courses and shares the information through various online platforms such as the website (Collins, Weber, &Zambrano, 2014). Such mediums of communication have to be responsive to the needs of the students besides making it easier for them to access and share course content. Online courses have become very popular today as more people gain access to the internet. In addition, the flexibility with which online education brings in terms of time and place of study has helped attract many students to use the online platform. However, changes in technology have made it necessary for providers of online courses to change their strategies from time to time to make the systems more responsive to the needs of students. In this regard, it is critical to improve the usability of online course programs to enhance communication and exchange of ideas among students as well as with the instructors(Collins, Weber, &Zambrano,

Venezuela Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Venezuela - Essay Example However, talking in regards to culture of the region, it is highly relevant to mention the fact that Venezuela presents a mix of various other cultures which comprises of European, African, Caribbean, Indian as well as North American (Crooker and Gritzner 10). A majority of the masses communicate in the Spanish language. While talking on the lines of the religion of the masses, it has to be said that a large majority of the people are members of the Roman Catholic Church. The major cities of the country of Venezuela are Caracas and Maracaibo and as of the year 2002, the population count stood at over 24,000,000. It has to be said that the country’s main products of agricultural nature are highly diversified in nature and comprise of rice, corn, vegetables, coffee and even dairy and meat products. The manufacturing outputs of the country comprises of textile, food based products. It also comprises of aluminium, steel and automobiles. The currency of the region is Bolivar whose valuation with regards to the US currency stands at around .14 USD for 1 Bolivar. Analysis It has to be said that for in-depth analysis of the risk as well as business attractiveness presented by the country of Venezuela, the analysis should be done while trying to analyze the political, economic, social and technological environment of the nation. Political While analyzing the political environment of the country of Venezuela, immediate focus of any researcher often shifts to the fact that the nation is often plagued with various kinds of political unrest and disturbances for a long period of time. Since the last couple of decades, the world has witnessed a pretty nasty picture emerging from the political theatre of the region (Nichols and Morse 78-79). The political scenario turned quite hostile towards America, when the late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez arrived in power since the year 1999. A staunch opponent of tactics and strategies implemented by the United States in regar ds to managing the South American nations, it can be said that the nation of Venezuela created a hostile environment in regards to political co operation between the two countries at the international level (US Dept. Of State, â€Å"US Relations with Venezuela†). Also while analyzing the upcoming political future for the nation, it has to be said that the passing away of the elected national president presents a high level of political instability as of the current times as well as the immediate future (Duddy, â€Å"Political Unrest in Venezuela†). Thus it can be analyzed that the scenario emerging from the political side of the country is quite vulnerable and instable in nature. Economic Venezuela is a country which is high on oil deposits. Hence, the country is dependent on its oil reserves, which contributes to 95% of the nation’s foreign exchange earnings. The GDP of the nation as of the year 2012 has been estimated at around 402.1 billion USD and is growing at the rate of 5.7%. It has to be said as a result of increase in spending by the government along with enhanced access to domestic credit, there was a tremendous rise of consumption which resulted in the arrival of high inflation level in the economy of the nation. Talking on a summary note, it has to be said that the economic environment of Venezuela is loaded with crisis arising from the arena of housing needs, food and electricity

Leadership Challenges in Virtual Teams Research Proposal

Leadership Challenges in Virtual Teams - Research Proposal Example This discussion explores that virtual teams have gained a lot of prominence in various institutions due to the proliferation of information technology in business. Therefore, medium, small and large organizations may adopt this approach to project work depending on their goals. This report descusses that The size and geographical dispersion of these companies warrants special attention in the study. These organizations select virtual teams in order to minimize cost and time wastage associated with bringing all members of the group together. Sometimes experts may be located in different areas, so virtualization allows professionals to make their contributions across great distances. The method also enhances decision making, productivity and response times to tasks. It adds flexibility to the work process and brings about innovation processes transnationally. When developing conceptual understandings of a problem, these groups often struggle to come to an agreement. It is difficult to control and monitor activities in these teams. Such groups must follow through on decisions in a structured way. The model is vulnerable to communication breakdowns, power struggles and mistrust. The distance between these team members creates challenges in project management. T echnophobia is a real problem for companies using virtual teams and so is cultural diversity. Issues concerning conflict management may also be difficult in this set up. 2. Problem statemen

Communication in Early Years Settings

Communication in Early Years Settings Introduction Communication is vital tool in all early years settings, it creates and developed positive relationships between all involved in looking after young children. Positive Relationships Respectful Relationships In order for a relationship to work there needs to be respect, this be fixated if everyone is treated equal and as an individual. Establishing a warm and welcoming environment is essential in developing respectful relationship. Albert Bandura believed that children watch the different ways in which individuals behave in their surroundings. Model is the name use to describe the people who are being watched. There are many powerful people that encircle children in society. These can be family members, friends, television characters or people in their school environment. Whether they are male or female, good or bad, the behaviour that these people demonstrate can be copied by children and display at a later date, whether appropriate or not. It may be more likely that a child will copy individuals that they think reflects them similarly, for example, behaviour display by people of the same gender. If a child is rewarded for positive behaviour it is possible that the child will maintain that pattern. It is important to reward a child for positive behaviour as it helps the child to build self-confidence, and to become aware of the difference between negative and positive behaviour. A child may seek endorsement fo r its behaviour from friends or family member. This endorsement is outside support, however, the emotion of excitement felt about the endorsement is of an inner support. A child desire to be approved of will always display behaviour which it thinks brings approval. Whether the support is negative or positive it’s not of great significance, if the support given outwardly is not equal the needs of the individual. There are lot of people that children may choose to identify with such as, family members, friends, or those on television. These distinct people have standard that a person could desire to have, which give them the incentive to want to identify with them. The result of this is the transformation of the behaviours, convictions, views and principles of the person trying to copy those people. Bandura, A. (1977). Social Learning Theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Meeting Individual Communication Needs There are other ways to communicate as to verbal communication; using alternative methods will be useful in an early years settings to meet the individual needs of communication of the child(ren), parent and colleagues. Using alternative communication methods also promote diversity and inclusion. Verbal communication can be used to inform parent about their childs day at the end of the session, in a meeting with colleagues to plan activities Share information and to communicate with children throughout the day and during activities. Written communication Letters can be send out the parents to inform them about any changes to their child’s setting and provide information keeping them up to date, letters can also be sent out to parents to gain permission to take their children on outings and events. Reports will often be in a written format. In early years setting reports will be written about a child’s safeguarding concerns, development and any incidents. Electronic With an advance in technology electronic newsletters will be set out to parents. Email can be sent between colleagues to organise meetings or share information. Phone Telephone communication is used to inform a parent if a child is sick or has had an accident. Staff in an early years setting might use the telephone as form of communication with other professionals or arrange a meeting. Sign Language sign language is used if the individual has problems with speech, language difficulties or hearing impairments, this is a face to face form of communication Makaton (a version of British Sign Language) is often used in order to communicate with young children. This might include using pictures symbols as well as signing Interpretation Interpretation is used to communicate with people who do not speak English; this can take be both verbal and written methods to make sure that any messages are passed on correctly. Relationship within Early Years Setting There is a range of relationships that are in an early years setting and they all play an important role in the successful learning and development of children Childrens friendship early year’s settings provides children with a place for social interaction children will develop friendships in their environment. The development of a childs social skills will be a factor of forming a child who as a respected member of adulthood. Child starts to enjoy the company from an early age and become aware of others. Developing friendships helps a childs personal, social, emotional development and confidence; therefore practitioners should encourage and support children while they play to promote sharing and cooperation. The Key Worker The Key Worker Relationship A key worker is a practitioner who is set to the meet the individual needs of a child. Making sure that every childs care is tailored to meet their individual needs; they ensure that the child is settled in the setting and that they have built a relationship with the child and their parents. For a key worker it is essential that they develop a close and strong relationship with the child. When in early years setting every child is assigned a key worker, this person will have the main connection with parent and child. The key worker system is very important for young babies as they are completely dependent on their careers as they will experience anxiety when separated from their parents, key workers should spend time with their key child to develop trust and the child feeling safe and secure. Stage Psychosocial Crisis Basic Virtue Age 1 Trust vs. mistrust Hope Infancy (0 to 1 1/2 2 Autonomy vs. shame Will Early Childhood (1 Â ½ to 3) 3 Initiative vs. guilt Purpose Play Age (3 to 5) 4 Industry vs. inferiority Competency School Age (5 to 12) 5 Ego identity vs. Role Confusion Fidelity Adolescence (12 to 18) 6 Intimacy vs. isolation Love Young Adult (18 to 40) 7 Generativity vs. stagnation Care Adult hood (40 to 65) 8 Ego integrity vs. despair Wisdom Maturity (65) The importance of children developing trust within the first stage of life. Trust vs. Mistrust It is often asked whether the world is a secure environment or filled with unforeseen disaster about to take place. It is said that predicament seems to take place in life first year. Predicament is one of trust or mistrust. During this period the child is unsure regarding the environment they are living in .The child will look for comfort and security from its caregiver cover the feeling of doubt. For a child to develop the feeling of trust, the care given must be of consistency, security and certainty to help them to transfer to another relationship, which will empower them if threats occur. Succeeding at this point can be accomplished by strength and belief. When the feeling of trust is developed, the child can hold on to the belief that if a new predicament arises, there is reassurance that other people will be there to provide help. Fear will be developed if strength and belief have failed, e.g. If the care that is given is inhospitable unstable and unsecure. The child will deve lop the feeling of mistrust and lack of assurance in their environment, and not having the potential to make an impact in proceedings. The child will take with them, the fundamental feeling of mistrust to another relationship, this will cause them to be anxious and add to uncertainty, and a further sense of mistrust in their environment. Erikson, E. (1959), Theory of Psychology Development. Roles and Responsibilities of the key worker The key worker should be planning activities for their key child, they implement these activities during session time, while they are taking part in these activities they observe the childs participation, this promotes the childs learning a development through play, they also carry assessments of individual childrens development. As part of a key workers job, they carry out the personal needs of the child and communicate with parents on a regular basis. The Ecological system theory says human advancement is caused by various kinds of arrangement in their surroundings. This micro system’s setting is the direction that surrounds our lives. The people in our lives that have direct connection are educators, peers, family and neighbours. All are included in the micro system of which we socialise in. According to the theory, it is unlikely that we are simply recipient of the contact we have when interacting socially with those in the micro system surroundings, but we contribute to the creating of such surroundings. Brofenbrenner, U. (1917-2005). Effective Communication with Children It is important for the practitioners to communicate with children in a way that is appropriate such as; getting down to a childs level so they dont feel intimidated, demonstrate body language that is positive and welcoming and using language that is appropriate to a childs age and stage of development. Partnership with Parents Parents as Partners Parents are the people that know their child best, they provide knowledge to a childs particular interest and needs and this can be used to enhance the childs care. The key worker this the first person a parent will get to know, first impressions will be important in order to assure that they have made the right decision, it important to that the key worker is welcoming and friendly to parents, so that you are approachable. Admission to the Setting When parents entrust their child to an early years settings, the practitioner should work in partnership with parents to ensure that the information is specific to the child and is shared with all staff members so they are aware of the childs individual needs. Sharing of information about a childs illness, disabilities and allergies will make settling in easier for both the parent and child. Ways to involve parents within the setting Allows parents to explore the settings appropriately Child can show their parents things they like to play with Parents can see displays and examples of childrens work Sharing observation and planning with parents Invite parents to volunteer on outings Encourage parents to support learning and development by attending workshops and making contribution, e.g. from their own background. This is a social activity that provides parents with the opportunity to interact with practitioners and parents to build self-confidence. Effective Communication with Parent can be achieved through positive relationships. Ensuring time is allocated to communicate with parent when appropriate. Positive body language is demonstrated, show individual attention to parent and child, give detail and accurate information about a child interest and achievements and ensuring private and confidential matters are dealt with professionally. Multi-agency Working A number of professionals, working together with different knowledge and expertise sharing information, and provide a plan to support and benefit the child individual needs. Time, Communication and Professional background are barriers that can impact multi-agency working. It is best to plan meeting in advance that all involved are aware of the dates and can stick to them. Organizing a convenient time for all Professionals to meet can be very challenging. It is important to take time to listen to others when communicating. There are diverse languages and jargons that link to different Professional background which other professional who take care of children may not be familiar with. There are particular role and training for all professionals involved in the care of children and everyone may have different views and opinions of what is best for the child. It is vital for practitioners to take into account the professional perspective of other, and not always relying on what is familiar. The care and support for the child should take precedence by multi-agency. Confidentiality It is a legal requirement under The Data Protection Act 1998 to ensure all confidential documents and data must be stored in a secured place. These documents can also be kept in a secured location outside the setting. It is the Providers responsibility to ensure only professional and those who have the right to access secured confidential documents and information about children and staff should view them. It is important that Providers kept documents and get and share report (with parents and carers, and all relevant authority working with children such as, Ofsted, the police and social services as appropriate) for example, to identify if a child has additional need, if there are cause for concern regards to safeguarding or if emergency treatment has to be given to a child. This also ensures that the managing of the setting operates safely and efficiently, and making sure they are meeting the needs of all the children. Providers to ensure they have frequent dialogue flowing both way s with parents/carers and make available their child’s development records and file only. On request, providers should incorporate parents’ and or carers’ comments into children’s record. It is vital for Providers to make sure all staff comprehend the importance of protecting the privacy of the children they are caring for, and to upheld the legal requirements that states how to handle information that apply a child in ways that guarantee confidentiality. Ofsted must have Records readily available to them to access when requested. Data Protection Act (1998). Reference List Bandura, A. (1977) Social Learning Theory, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1917-2005). Data Protection Act (1998). Erikson, E. (1959).Theory of Psychology Development.

W.H. Audens Musee des Beaux Arts and Pieter Bruegels The Fall of Icar

W.H. Auden's Musee des Beaux Arts and Pieter Bruegel's The Fall of Icarus W.H. Auden and Pieter Bruegel were both keen observers of the ordinary. In Bruegel’s painting â€Å"The Fall of Icarus†, he is able to look past the tragedy of the death of Icarus and focus on the simple scene surrounding the event. Auden’s poem, â€Å"Musee des Beaux Arts†, has the same qualities: it glazes over the nature of tragedy, and chooses to instead examine the fact that life goes on while disaster occurs. Arthur F. Kinney highlights this idea of calm in the face of tragedy in a critical essay entitled â€Å"Auden, Bruegel, and Musee des Beaux Arts†. Kinney explores Auden’s inspiration for the theme of the poem. The theme, Kinney explains, is not merely generated by â€Å"The Fall of Icarus†, but also two other Bruegel pieces. â€Å"The Numbering at Bethlehem† portays Joseph and Mary arriving at Bethlehem, while â€Å"The Massacre of the Innocents† shows a torturer and his horse in a town square. Both pieces conv ey the same main theme as â€Å"Musee des Beaux Arts†: the complex nature of a substantial event, contrasted with the simplicity of every day life. Each of the paintings reflects on human nature, in the context of apathy amidst tragedy. In his critical article â€Å"Auden, Bruegel, and Musee des Beaux Arts† Kinney asserts that â€Å"the same statement [is] made by two art forms†, and that Bruegel’s painting and the poem it inspired, â€Å"Musee des Beaux Arts†, â€Å"juxtapose the unique and the commonplace.† â€Å"The Fall of Icarus†, the only one of Bruegel’s paintings mentioned by name in Auden’s â€Å"Musee des Beaux Arts†, concludes the final octet of the poem. The plowman in the foreground, not the splashing legs of Icarus, is what the canvas is centered on. Bruegel’s focus on the sim... ... Works Cited Bible, King James Version. Luke 1-5. 12 Dec. 2005 . Auden, W. H. ""Musee Des Beaux Arts"" The Longman Anthology. Ed. David Damrosch. New York: Longman, 2003. 2789-2790. "Daedalus in Greek Mythology." Mythography: The Legend of Daedelus in Myth and Art. Loggia. 12 Dec. 2005 . Kinney, Arthur F. "Auden, Bruegel, and 'Musee des Beaux Arts'" 7: 529-531. EBSCOhost. Homer Babbidge Library, Storrs. 11 Dec. 2005. Keywords: Auden + Musee Des Beaux Arts. "Musee des Beaux Arts." 2003. Poetry Pages. 12 Dec. 2005 . Pieter, Bruegel. The Fall of Icarus. Musee des Beaux Arts. Pieter Bruegel Oil Paintings. 12 Dec. 2005 . Pieter, Bruegel. The Massacre of Innocents. Musee des Beaux Arts. Pieter Bruegel Oil Paintings. 12 Dec. 2005 . Pieter, Bruegel. The Numbering at Bethlehem. Musee des Beaux Arts. Pieter Bruegel Oil Paintings. 12 Dec. 2005 .

Leadership Process Essay

First Section Leadership is a process by which one person influences the thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors of others. Leaders set a direction for the rest of us; they help us see what lies ahead; they help us visualize what we might achieve; they encourage us and inspire us. Level 5 leadership refers to the highest level in a hierarchy of executive capabilities that we identified during our research. Leaders at the other four levels in the hierarchy can produce high degrees of success but not enough to elevate companies from mediocrity to sustained excellence. And while Level 5 leadership is not the only requirement for transforming a good company into a great one—other factors include getting the right people on the bus (and the wrong people off the bus) and creating a culture of discipline—our research shows it to be essential. Good-to-great transformations don’t happen without Level 5 leaders at the helm. They just don’t. (Traylor, 2001) The Level 5 leader sits on top of a hierarchy of capabilities and is, according to our research, a necessary requirement for transforming an organization from good to great. But what lies beneath? Four other layers, each one appropriate in its own right but none with the power of Level 5. Individuals do not need to proceed sequentially through each level of the hierarchy to reach the top, but to be a full-fledged Level 5 requires the capabilities of all the lower levels, plus the special characteristics of Level 5. (HBR, 2001) It differs from other leadership styles as the leaders come from the grass root of the organization. Meaning, it is the leader who has grown and developed from the ground level of the organization and has gradually escalated towards the top most level. This allows an employee to go through all phases and nurture to the top level of the organization i.e. CEO level. A few years ago in Strategy & Leadership, Michael Raynor debunked the premises on which the shareholder-first model rests, and a few months ago Michael Porter criticized the current belief that looking beyond the business is bad for business. In the January/February Harvard Business Review he argues that companies should be considering other stakeholders, and so generates economic value by creating societal value. These respected thinkers offer another answer to the question about the purpose of a business: the firm should see itself as an interdependent part of a community that consists of multiple stakeholders whose interests are integral to business success. In this view, an enterprise can be seen as a system of long-term cooperative relationships between affected parties. (Collins, 2001) These include the firm’s managers and employees, customers and clients, investors, suppliers, the towns, states and nations where the firm is located or sells goods and services and even future generations of stakeholders. In such a system, stakeholder influence generates pressure for the organization to behave in ethical and environmentally and socially responsible ways, and in turn, this interdependency helps the firm be sustainable and resilient. This alternative approach to leadership is variously referred to as ‘‘sustainable,’’ ‘‘Rhineland’’ or ‘‘honeybee’’ leadership. By sustainable we don’t just mean a firm is being green and socially responsible. Research and observations in over 50 firms around the world, including in many listed corporations, suggest that sustainable leadership requires taking a long-term perspective in making decisions; fostering systemic innovation aimed at increasing customer value; developing a skilled, loyal and highly engaged workforce; and offering quality products, services and solutions. (Caroselli, 2003) Second Section In 2005, Lee Scott, ex-CEO and President of Wal-Mart Stores and now Chairman of its Executive Committee, announced that the company would essentially adopt sustainable leadership principles going forward, although he did not use that term. Financial performance was solid, but the company was the target of many complainants – employees, local communities, suppliers, and environmentalists. Scott decreed that Wal-Mart, one of largest Fortune 500 corporations, would become more ethical, and more socially and environmentally responsible. The company would use its political might to benefit ordinary Americans in healthcare and energy savings, and make people’s lives better. Scott even advocated paying more for products from ethical suppliers – an extraordinary reversal by an enterprise built around a low-cost strategy. In the years since, Wal-Mart has experimented with environmentally-friendly stores and other socially-responsible measures. Interestingly, its bottom line has not suffered during this process, posting net sales increases for the past five years, according to Wal-Mart’s 2009 annual report. In recent months, in a move to improve the healthiness of its products, the firm announced plans to reduce the fat and salt in its house brand groceries and cut prices on fresh produce. (Shaw, 2005) A considerable body of evidence shows that sustainable practices are more likely to enhance business performance than the shareholder-first approach. First, various writers have examined and compared the Anglo/US system with its Rhineland counterpart, concluding that Rhineland principles are more sustainable and lead to better outcomes than the shareholder-first approach. Second, Avery and Bergsteiner have gathered extensive evidence for each of the individual practices in their pyramid model, showing how they are more likely to contribute to positive business outcomes than their counterparts under the shareholder-first model. For example, a major difference between shareholder-first and sustainable practices lies in whether they retain people or lay them off when times get difficult. Staff retention is regarded as a foundation element in the pyramid because conditions aimed at keeping staff can be initiated at any time. However, retaining staff supports various higher order outcomes in the pyramid; it allows knowledge to be retained, and supports quality, trust, and innovation, for example, and enhances financial performance, as well as staff and customer satisfaction. Similar cases can be made for the other 22 elements. (Cooke, 2008) What senior executive would reject these as legitimate goals for an enterprise seeking to both thrive and endure? To some cynics, sustainable leadership – a management approach aimed at delivering better and more sustainable returns, reducing unwanted employee turnover and accelerating innovation – sounds too good to be true. They dismiss it as just another form of humanistic management, merely good management practices, or as following old-fashioned values. There is some truth in each of these characterizations. Certainly, sustainable leadership embraces aspects of humanistic management in that it includes valuing people and considering the firm as a contributor to social well being. The individual practices of sustainable leadership are not new: B Warren Bennis advocated recruiting, training, and employing an effective top leadership team rather than just relying on the heroic CEO. He also proposed that firms become financially transparent as a step to becoming more ethical. B Peter Drucker wanted managers to promote change and allow innovations to come from all over the organization, thereby enabling ordinary people to make extraordinary things happen. B Stephen Covey urged using the knowledge and engagement of a firm’s employees. What is new is the understanding that these practices form a self-reinforcing leadership system that enhances the performance of a business and its prospects for survival. What is also significant is that sustainable leadership practices are diametrically opposed to the typical shareholder-first approach, which business schools, management journals, the media, and many practitioners continue to promote. (Branson, 2010) Sustainable leadership in practice Sustainably-led organizations have been identified across different sectors, countries, institutional contexts, and markets. Examples of successful enterprises that consistently embrace sustainable leadership principles abound, particularly among privately-held firms and SMEs. Unlisted companies displaying virtually all of the 23 characteristics of a sustainable enterprise include: in the USA, WL Gore & Associates (Goretexw and other products) and SAS (software); in Germany, Giesecke & Devrient (bank notes and securities) and Ka ¨rcher (cleaning solutions); and in Switzerland, Endress & Hauser (flow technologies) and Migros (retail conglomerate). However, it is likely to be more difficult for listed corporations or private equity groups to operate on sustainable principles because of the pressures on them to achieve short-term performance goals. Yet numerous listed enterprises manage to operate sustainably, if necessary by standing up to or managing their relationships with the financial markets. Well-known examples include Germany’s Munich Re from the finance industry; Colgate (consumer goods) based in the USA; Britain’s BT Group (telecommunications); the Thai construction corporation, Siam Cement Group, and its competitor from Switzerland, Holcim. (Streshly & Gray, 2010) Third Section There are many obstacles in changing to sustainable leadership. First, sticking with conventional wisdom is comfortable and easy – it’s business as usual. Second, change is disruptive and initially creates both financial and intangible costs, although as the Wal-Mart case shows these may not slow growth and profits. Third, most people disregard hard evidence and make their decisions on the basis of ideological beliefs. Managers are no exception to this human foible despite their training and experience in decision making. Fourth, major change involves risks, bringing with it the chance of a drop in short-term performance, so stakeholders need to be prepared to focus on the long term. Finally, radical change can take a long time to embed and then maintain. A major Australian bank converted from a shareholder-first strategy to a sustainable leadership model. The change took a decade to take hold, with outstanding results, but unraveled in only a few years to under a new CEO with a different agenda. The choice to adopt a more sustainable strategy, one that research and practice show leads to higher resilience and performance over the long term, remains in the hands of each executive team. Unfortunately, executives remunerated on a short-term basis may have no incentive for seriously pursuing long-term change, to the detriment of shareholders and other stakeholders. This is where the fundamental short-term focus of the shareholder-first or business-as-usual model begins to destroy shareholder value and endanger a firm’s very survival. (Brown, 2005) References Branson, D. M. (2010). The last male bastion: gender and the CEO suite in America’s public companies. Taylor & Francis. Brown, M. T. (2005). Corporate integrity: rethinking organizational ethics, and leadership. Cambridge University Press. Caroselli, M. (2003). The business ethics activity book: 50 exercises for promoting integrity at work. AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn. Collins, J. C. ( 2001). Good to great: why some companies make the leap–and others don’t. Harper Business. Cooke, P. (2008). Branding Faith: Why Some Churches and Non-Profits Make a Difference and Other’s Don’t. Gospel Light. Shaw, K. A. (2005). The intentional leader. Syracuse University Press. Streshly, W. A., & Gray, S. P. (2010). Leading Good Schools to Greatness: Mastering What Great Principals Do Well. Corwin Press. Traylor, P. S. (2001). IT Takes Two. CIO Magazine , Vol.15, No.4, November 15

The English Civil War

The English Civil War The outbreak of the English Civil War in England between Charles I and Parliament changed its form of government dramatically. It was only a violent episode in the continuing revolution that was already occurring. The Civil War broke out because the two forms of government, the king and Parliament, could not be reconciled. It was a struggle between the bourgeois or the middle-class people and the aristocrats or gentry. It all started from disputes starting with the first Stuart, James I, who took over the monarch of England after the death of the last Tudor, Elizabeth, and led on with more disputes with James I's son, Charles I and Parliament. Many other people contributed to the start of the Civil War. As a result to Charles and Parliament's incapability to collaborate on each other's terms, the English Civil War had now started, in 1642. The war lasted for seven years and finally ended in 1649.King Charles II is portrayed wearing the robes of ...Great leaders have taken charge befo re, during, and after the Civil War and finally when it had ended; England had just experienced one of its biggest impacts in its history.The English Civil War broke out caused by many different reasons. Conflicts between James I and Charles I against Parliament had lead to the Civil War. One of the reasons that brought forth the Civil War was the Divine Right of Kings that James I introduced to Parliament, claming that the monarchs were chosen by God to rule on earth, therefore they should receive absolute power. To Parliament, this meant that they would have no space in order or making any decisions, with no power. The real conflict and dispute came from James I's son, Charles I and Parliament. Parliament had once approached Charles with the Nineteen Propositions' which were to end their disputes but...

Free Essays on Men In Education

We are two male pre-service teachers attending college at Southwestern University. Throughout our education we have noticed a lack of male teachers in the classroom. It has become evident through readings in our pre-service classes that the lack of male educators is more prevalent now than ever. A common hypothesis for the lack of male teachers that has been prominent in our readings is due to the stereotyped gender roles of teaching. We believe that the stereotyped roles in society play a larger factor in the shortage of male teachers. To assist our hypothesis we will first look at the role of the teacher. The roles of teachers in modern schools have become more complex due to the changing society. Not only are teachers expected but they are also expected to instruct their students about other cultures, how to behave, and now they are even expected to be parental figures for their students. For these reasons, much more is expected from educators, especially male, than in the past. The perceived stereotyped roles of each sex have also evolved. Men usually consider themselves a role model for their students more so than their female colleges while women usually consider the teaching and the education there first and foremost duty (Rodriguez p.4). The need for male models in schools seemed to be self-evident for many teachers; ‘children at the age of puberty would definetly need a father figure, and many of them’, said a female teacher in an interview. Some of the teachers mentioned that it is especially boys of single mothers who need a male model at school, while others talked more generally about children or young people. Some of them seemed to remember girls after having first mentioned boys (Lahelma et al, forthcoming,a). This is due to the fact that most children coming from single parent homes live without their father. Therefore the male teacher is placed into a parental role, especially at the lower grade levels. ... Free Essays on Men In Education Free Essays on Men In Education We are two male pre-service teachers attending college at Southwestern University. Throughout our education we have noticed a lack of male teachers in the classroom. It has become evident through readings in our pre-service classes that the lack of male educators is more prevalent now than ever. A common hypothesis for the lack of male teachers that has been prominent in our readings is due to the stereotyped gender roles of teaching. We believe that the stereotyped roles in society play a larger factor in the shortage of male teachers. To assist our hypothesis we will first look at the role of the teacher. The roles of teachers in modern schools have become more complex due to the changing society. Not only are teachers expected but they are also expected to instruct their students about other cultures, how to behave, and now they are even expected to be parental figures for their students. For these reasons, much more is expected from educators, especially male, than in the past. The perceived stereotyped roles of each sex have also evolved. Men usually consider themselves a role model for their students more so than their female colleges while women usually consider the teaching and the education there first and foremost duty (Rodriguez p.4). The need for male models in schools seemed to be self-evident for many teachers; ‘children at the age of puberty would definetly need a father figure, and many of them’, said a female teacher in an interview. Some of the teachers mentioned that it is especially boys of single mothers who need a male model at school, while others talked more generally about children or young people. Some of them seemed to remember girls after having first mentioned boys (Lahelma et al, forthcoming,a). This is due to the fact that most children coming from single parent homes live without their father. Therefore the male teacher is placed into a parental role, especially at the lower grade levels. ...

The UK Housing Market Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The UK Housing Market - Assignment Example There will be a realistic rise in the real estate prices i.e. the prices will not rise too fast.  There will be a realistic rise in the real estate prices i.e. the prices will not rise too fast.  (a) 5% tax on the sale price of each property means a considerable burden for the house-building firms. If such a tax is levied on house building firms, they are bound to pass it on to the retail buyers i.e. it will result is the increase in prices, which in turn means more costly proposition that will ultimately lead to decrease in demand. But some offers on the part of authorities like the offer of low-interest rates to the retail house buyer will help offset this decrease in demand (like in part-a above).  (b) If there’s a significant fall in the prices of construction material like bricks, mortar, and timber then that is definitely a piece of good news for the house building firms as well as the prospective buyers. This will make the housing market more lucrative and competi tive as this will lead to competition amongst the house building firms to offer best bargains to the buyers, which in turn will offer a range of choices for the buyer. This will ultimately result in a considerable reduction in prices. (c) The stamp duty is a must for any house property bought by any individual, as it is tax paid to the government. But supposing Gordon Brown makes an announcement on May 1, 2006, that stamp duty will be doubled w.e.f. then the very first impact it will have is a rush for registering the properties before June 1 and thereafter there’ll be a phase for a couple of months when there will be a fall in the number of property registrations. Thereafter it will not have much of an effect on the prices as such reason being it is not a factor directly affecting the existing prices, but it will lead to some lull in demand.  

Literature Review about the franchising in hospitality industry Term Paper

Literature Review about the franchising in hospitality industry - Term Paper Example Hotels’ operating budgets need to select the right markets for growth, the best partners with experience and the ability to handle different clients effectively while also developing partnerships with the franchisee and the local cultures. â€Å"In order to work effectively with local people, we need to examine their values, norms, beliefs, relationships, and many other cultural characteristics† (Shakerin, 2006, p.1). When large hotels desire to expand their businesses overseas to foreign markets, it makes sense to select local investors to operate their establishments so that better connections can be made with foreign clients. If these customer service elements were to be managed by corporate offices, expatriate costs and training costs could be quite large. Franchising allows opportunities to reduce these high costs by inviting investment from overseas and allowing like cultural leaders to run the business units. â€Å"Leaders expecting to be effective in multi-cultural environments have to develop awareness of different cultural dimensions most central to their customers† (Shriberg & Kumari, 2008, p.20). If Marriott Hotels, as one example, decided to expand their presence into India, it would make the most sense to inspire an Indian investor to take on the responsibility of managing a Marriott franchise. This type of local investor maintains the cultural awareness and social skills necessary to satisfy local customers more than an expatriate manager sent overseas to govern the hotel. Geert Hofstede described the elements of culture that drive local tastes and preferences. In individualistic societies, people are self-expressive and put their personal goals and interests ahead of others (Blodgett, Bakir & Rose, 2008). In collectivist countries, such as India, people are more family-oriented and tend to believe in the rights and needs of the group. These are important