Organizational training design

Organizational training design Introduction Organization training design is an activity that involves six key steps, namely, organization analysis, laying out training program objectives, creating a detailed lesson plan, creating a before, during and after matrix, evaluation rating and doing cost benefit calculations.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Organizational training design specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The outcome of the design process is a training program whose integration into an organization facilitates the realization of the organizations mission as it is outlined in its mission statement. According to WebFinance, a formal definition of an organization is a social unit made up of people who systematically work together with unity of purpose to achieve collective goals that reflect the mission of the organization (2010, 3). For the synthesis project, the process of organization training design is applied to Netsoft, a private sector company. Netsoft is a global telecommunications company that has it’s headquarter in the United States. It has one of its branches in Kenya, Netsoft Kenya, where a submarine fiber optic communications cable is to be installed that will link Africa with the rest of the world. The fiber optic cable is to bring a world of opportunities not only to the country but to the continent as well. Netsoft wants to seize this opportunity and increase its dominance in Africas internet market as a strategic move towards increasing its earnings. However, its five-telecommunication engineers in Kenya are not conversant with fiber optic technology that is already in use in the rest of the world (Kenya is a third-world country). The engineers are, however, individuals with high academic qualifications and with vast experience in telecommunication and its related fields. Thus, considering these facts the top management of the company has commissioned a one-day training program to teach the Keny an engineers on fiber optic technology. Discussion Organization analysis According to Miller and Osinski, organization analysis is one among the three levels of the needs assessment phase of designing an organizations training and development program (2002, 2).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The other two levels as given by the authors are task analysis and individual analysis whereas the other phases of designing an organizations training and development program are instructional objectives (2nd phase), design (3rd phase), implementation (4th phase) and evaluation (5th phase) (Miller and Osinski, 2002, 1-2). The purpose of the needs assessment phase is to aid a training manager set the objectives of the organizations training program. Therefore, by the end of the needs assessment phase the training manager has to have established if the training program is neces sary and if it is, what is it on and who are the participants. It is the idea that a properly conducted needs assessment phase reveals no conflicts between the interests of stakeholders and the objectives of the organizations training program. The objective as to why organizational analysis is undertaken is to improve the efficiency, performance and output of an organization (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 2011, 1). To achieve this objective the analysis procedure assesses the organizations systems, capacity and performance in an aim to create an understanding of the behavioral relationships, structures and technology in place and in use in an organization (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 2011, 1). In organizational training design, the theory and models underlying organizational analysis are customized so that the outcome of the procedure is concepts that form a strong basis on which to successfully implement an organizational training program. At the end of an organizational analysis pro cedure that is part of an organization training design, it is fundamental that 10 things be known.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Organizational training design specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The first is how the content of the training program affects the relationship between the organizations employees and its clients. The second is the degree to which the organizations suppliers, partners and clients need to be informed about the contents of the training program. The third thing is how well the training programs augment with the strategic needs of the organization. The fourth thing is whether to devote the organizations resources to the training program. The fifth thing is what input is necessary from the organizations mangers and peers in order for the training program to succeed. The sixth thing that needs to be known is the features of the organizations internal environment that can hamper the success of t he training program. The seventh thing that needs to be known is whether experts can be found who can aid in the formulation of the training program and who enlighten on the correlation between it and the business needs of the organization. The eighth thing that has to be known at the end of the organization analysis procedure that is part of an organization training design is the perception that employees have towards the training program. The perception should be described either as a waste of time, an opportunity, a reward, a punishment or even a combination of these. The ninth thing that has to be known is the section of people in the organization who are interested in the success of the training program. The tenth thing that needs to be known is whose support is critical to the success of the training program. In addition to these 10 things, Miller and Osinski point out that an organization analysis procedure should also identify global markets that are growing and economy stat e and its impacts on organizations operating costs and (2002, 3). How training program aligns with Netsoft’s strategic needs There is a need for the company to seize the opportunity presented by the submarine fiber optic cable as this is essential in aiding the company realize its mission which is to become a global leader in telecommunications.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The training program equips Netsofts Kenyan engineers with the knowledge and skills for designing, implementing and administering fiber optic networks. This paves the way for the company to assert its dominance on Africas internet market. Thus in this way the training program aligns with Netsoft’s strategic needs. Features of work environment that might interfere with the training A feature of the work environment that may interfere with Netsoft’s training program is lack of up-to-date training facilities. Considering that the training is to take place in third-world country getting state-of-the-art facilities to conduct the training can be a challenge. Another feature of the work environment that may interfere with the training is poor organizational culture at the branch. It is possible that the organizational culture in place at the companys Kenyan branch does not encourage or motivate its employees to learn new things and thus this might be a considerable hindrance . How employees will perceive training program The engineers and the other employees in Netsofts Kenyan branch should perceive the training program as an opportunity. If the training program is a success it is the green light for the company to make strategic moves that will enable it assert its dominance in the African Internet market. This means more earnings for the company, which in turns means likely salary increases for the engineers and other employees in Netsoft Kenya. Persons or groups interested in the success of the project The top management of Netsoft is interested in the success of the training program. This is because from it they can take hold of the opportunities presented by the submarine cable and make huge profits for the company at minimal costs. Training objectives The second key activity in organizational training design is setting the objectives of the training program, which can be thought of as sub-goals (SIL International, 1999, 1). The objectives of the t raining program are a byproduct of the needs assessment phase. To create a learning atmosphere it is very helpful that the participants of an organization’s training program understand the programs objectives. The objectives of an organization’s training program capture for each individual training activity in the program its purpose and expected outcome. Depending on a number of factors that include the structure of the organizations training program objectives can be set for the various training sessions and the overall program. It is imperative that trainees not only understand but as well accept and commit to realizing the training objectives set for a given organizations training program especially when the objectives double up too as the organizations goals. A training needs analysis is undertaken so that an organization’s employees can appreciate the need for a training program as well as why they need to learn. Thus, this is why it is a sound recommendat ion that the training objectives be a derivative of a training needs analysis. In addition to streamlining the learning process, training objectives facilitate the identification of certain outcome types that when measured evaluate the effectiveness of an organizations training program. The first of the three components of a training objective is a statement, which clearly describes to an employee what he or she is expected to do. The second of the three components of a training objective is a statement, which describes to the trainees the acceptable performance quality or level. The third of the three components of a training objective is a statement that describes to an employee for a given outcome the conditions under which he or she has to perform in to achieve it. It is important that a training objective always describe performances that are observable and measurable. Donald Kirkpatricks Four Level Evaluation Model is a useful procedure for judging an organizations training pr ogram (Big Dog Little Dog’s performance Juxtaposition, 2010, 1). The constituents of the model are four levels, namely, reaction, learning, behavior and results. In the reaction, level of the evaluation procedure a measurement is done of how the participants of an organizations training program react to the process of learning, that is, their perception towards the program. The measurement is done with the aid of attitude questionnaires that are filled by the participants. In the reaction level of the evaluation procedure measurement of three aspects is done. The first is the extent to which participants change their attitude resulting from the organizations training program. The second is the extent to which participants have improved their knowledge resulting from the organizations training program. The third is the extent to which participants have increased their knowledge because of the organizations training program. In the performance level of the evaluation procedure testing is done to determine the participant’s capabilities to utilize the skills they have acquired on the job place. In some cases, performance evaluation is done through observation only. In the results, level of the evaluation procedure the effectiveness of the organizations training program is measured. Objectives of Netsoft’s training program Using Kirkpatrick’s four level evaluation framework two reaction level objectives for Netsoft’s training program are: Create an understanding of what fiber optic technology is Enable participants appreciate its importance in realizing companys strategic needs and mission The three behaviors are: Understanding Appreciation Pro-activeness The three criteria are: Verbal quiz Paper quiz Observation The three conditions are: Teaching facilities are sufficient Participants agree that they have understood course material Quiz is the same for everyone Using Kirkpatrick’s four level evaluation framework two learning objectives for Nestsoft’s training program are: Participants are able to explain the underlying concepts of fiber optic technology Participants can outline the strengths and weaknesses of the technology The three behaviors are: Competency Understanding Mastering The three criterions are: Verbal quiz Paper quiz Observation The three conditions are: Teaching facilities are sufficient Participants agree that they have understood course material Quizzes are the same for everyone Using Kirkpatrick’s four level evaluation framework two performance objectives for Netsoft’s training program are: Participants are able to successfully design, implement and administer fiber optic networks Participants are able to troubleshoot faulty fiber optic networks The three behaviors are: Competency Understanding Mastering The three criterions are: Practical test Verbal quiz Observation The three conditions are Teaching facilities are sufficient Participan ts agree that they have understood course material Quiz and test is the same for everyone Using Kirkpatrick’s four level evaluation framework two results objectives for Netsoft’s training program are: Training program yields an acceptable ROI Training program yields an acceptable CBR Detailed Lesson Plan A detailed lesson plan contains a variety of components. These include course title, lesson title, lesson length, learning objectives, target audience, room arrangement, materials and equipment needed, evaluation and assignments as well as comments from the trainer (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 2011, 1). The course title is the subject heading of the field the trainer intends to teach. The course is derived from wide field of knowledge or specialization. The degree of extend of the content of a subject vary from one course to another. The inclusion of course title is important to the lesson plan because it communicates to the trainee the overall scope of knowledge to be covered by the different lesson sessions in that course. Lesson title states the scope of content to be covered in a single lesson session. The contents of a lesson title are a subset of course title. Lesson sessions act as building blocks of a course. Depending on the scope and complexity of title it can be divided into several lessons which are convenient to both the trainer and trainee. One of the main importances of having a lesson title is to delineate the content to be covered during the lesson. This avoids the chances of veering of from the intended content. Lesson length in a lesson plan details the duration which a single lesson will last. The lesson length will be determined by a number of factors: availability of time, complexity and scope of the subject and cost of executing the lesson. When deciding on the lesson length, there is need to determine when trainers are to avail themselves while the program is on course, the time constraints on the trainees, program brea ks for snacks, lunch and dinner as well as opportunities for practice and feedback. Some lessons may last full day while others are part time. Learning objectives are the thematic areas within a lesson the trainer intends to communicate and be grasped by the trainees. It is important to factor in the lesson plan the genre of the target audience. The target audience determines the level of communication and interaction between the trainer and trainees. The prerequisites encompass trainee and instructor. Trainee prerequisites refers to possible preparation requirements, necessary skills or the scope of knowledge needed to be trained on prior training sessions or successful completion of tests or certificate or degree programs. Instructor prerequisites points towards what is needed to be done to prepare for the session as well as other educational qualification necessary for the trainer. Before the lesson execution the room arrangement of the trainees is another important component to consider. For instance, the room could be arranged in fan-shape so that the trainees can clearly see the trainer as well as their peers. Fan-shape is also suitable for role play exercises that entail working and organization into groups of two or three. In the lesson plan the trainer ought to include the materials and equipments required. These materials and equipments act as aids to training and enhance the ability of the trainer to relay information effectively. The assortment of materials and equipments in any given set up vary, but, they may include a video cassette recorder (VCR), pens, overhead projector, transparencies, and VCR tapes with titles of the lesson. In the case of evaluation and assignments, role plays could be instituted. Comments imply on the overall appraisal of lesson outcomes and remarks on the way forward. Detailed lesson plan for Netsoft’s training program The detailed one-day lesson plan for Netsoft’s training program is shown in appendix A. B efore, during and after matrix The before, during and after training matrix is a table-like structure that serves two purposes. The first purpose is that it facilitates the diagnosis of problems that are associated with transfer of training. The second purpose is that it serves as an assurance that the transfer of training activity was done to completion. The constituent elements of the matrix are the training manager’s, trainer’s and the trainee’s responsibilities before, during and after learning has been transferred. Each of these elements is entered into its appropriate cell in the before, during and after training matrix. Figure 1 in appendix B shows an empty before, during and after training matrix. Before, during and after matrix for Netsoft’s training program The before, during and after matrix for Netsoft’s training program is shown in appendix C Evaluation rating By doing evaluation rating, a rating form is useful in measuring the behavio r of individual participants in an organizations training program. The rating form is usually accompanied with a corresponding rating scale. The rating form usually has a number of items for which the participants of the organizations training program get graded for. The measuring process of the evaluation rating activity usually has its designated period in which to measure the behaviors of the participants. In an example of an evaluation rating procedure it may be required that the sensitivity (which is the behavior) of a manager be measured using data collected for 3 months. Sensitivity in this case may be defined as the manager’s perception of the personal problems, needs and concerns of others. The rating scale may be 1 to represent always, 2 to represent usually, 3 to represent sometimes, 4 to represent seldom and 5 to represent never. To measure the behavior (sensitivity) a question can be put forward as to how many times in the three months the manager has elicited th e perceptions, feelings and concerns of other individuals? Using the rating scale the answer to this question can be 1 to imply that the manager over the past 3 months always elicited the perceptions, feelings and concerns of other individuals. Evaluation rating for Netsfoft’s training program The evaluation rating done here for Netsoft’s training program follows a 60 days assessment of level 3 (performance) objectives. In this rating, the behaviors to be measured are competency, understanding and mastering. Competency is how well vast a participant is with fiber optic technology. Understanding is how well a participant synthesizes the various concepts of fiber optic technology. Mastering is how well a participant retains the knowledge he or she as acquired on fiber optic technology. These three behaviors are measured on a scale of 1 to 3 such that 1 represents poorly, 2 represents fairly and 3 represents well. Depending on how a question is answered, a participant can only score one of these ratings. After answering all the questions, the average is taken and the participant’s level of competency, understanding and mastering determined. For competency the questions to be asked are: What is fiber optic? What is fiber optic technology? Which are the concepts that underlie the technology? For understanding the questions to be asked are: Explain the fundamental concepts underlying fiber optic technology Explain are the advantages of the technology? Explain are the disadvantages of the technology? Explain the standards that govern fiber optic technology For mastering, the questions to be asked are: Name the advantages of the fiber optic technology Name the disadvantages of the technology Name the networking standards that govern the technology Cost benefit calculation In the doing cost benefit calculations stage of the organizational training design two important values are determined which are the Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) and the return On Investment (ROI). These two values are calculated from the costs that an organization as incurred to successfully complete the training program and the benefits it has yielded. The BCR is a ratio that gives the magnitude of correlation between the costs an organization as incurred to the successfully complete the training program and the benefits it has yielded (Investopedia, ULC, 2011, 1). It is given as the quotient of the total benefits and total costs of an organizations training program. The ROI, sometimes given as a percentage, is a performance measure that evaluates the efficiency of an organizations investment, which in this case is the training program (Investopedia, ULC, 2011, 1). The ROI is given as the quotient of the net total benefits realized from an investment and the total costs of the investment. If the ROI is to be given as a percentage, 100 multiply the quotient. Cost Benefit calculations for Netsoft’s training program From the data given in part F of the synthesis project, the BCR for Netsoft’s training program is, BCR = Total benefits/Total costs = 329,201 / 164,863 = 1.9968. From the data given in part F of the synthesis project, the ROI for Netsoft’s training program is, ROI = ( Net total benefits/ total costs) 100 = ((329,201 164,863) / 164,863) 100 = 99.6816%. Conclusion The report’s main conclusion is that organization training is important in helping a company achieve its mission and goals and thus each stage of the organization training design process should be carried out properly. The goals to be attained as a result of an organization’s training program should be in line with the strategic needs of the organization in which the program is implemented. References Big Dog Little Dog’s performance Juxtaposition. (2010). Kirkpatrick’s four-level training evaluation model. Retrieved from nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/isd/kirkpatrick.html Investopedia, ULC. Benefit cost ratio. Retrieve d from investopedia.com/terms/b/bcr.asp#axzz1dWAsa79S Investopedia, ULC. Return on investment-roi. Retrieved from investopedia.com/terms/b/bcr.asp#axzz1dWAsa79S Miller, J. A. and Osinski, D. M. Training needs assessment. Retrieved from ispi.org/pdf/suggestedReading/Miller_Osinski.pdf SIL International. (1999) What is an objective. Retrieved from sil.org/lingualinks/literacy/ReferenceMaterials/glossaryofliteracyterms/WhatIsAnObjective.htm WebFinance. (2010). Organization. Retrieved from businessdictionary.com/definition/organization.html Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.(2011) Organizational analysis. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organizational_analysis Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.(2011) Lesson plan. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organizational_analysis

Facts and Geography of Honduras

Facts and Geography of Honduras Honduras is a country located in Central America on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It is bordered by Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador and has a population of just under eight million. Honduras is considered a developing nation and it is the second poorest country in Central America. History of Honduras Honduras has been inhabited for centuries by various native tribes. The largest and most developed of these were the Mayans. European contact with the area began in 1502 when Christopher Columbus claimed the region and named it Honduras (depths in Spanish) because the coastal waters surrounding the lands were very deep. In 1523, Europeans began to further explore Honduras when Gil Gonzales de Avila entered the then-Spanish territory. A year later, Cristobal de Olid established the colony of Triunfo de la Cruz on behalf of Hernan Cortes. Olid however, tried to establish an independent government and he was later assassinated. Cortes then formed his own government in the city of Trujillo. Shortly thereafter, Honduras became a part of the Captaincy General of Guatemala.Throughout the mid-1500s, native Hondurans worked to resist Spanish exploration and control of the region but after several battles, Spain took control of the area. Spanish rule over Honduras lasted until 1821 when the country gained its independence. Following its independence from Spain, Honduras was briefly under the control of Mexico. In 1823, Honduras joined the United Provinces of Central America federation which later collapsed in 1838.During the 1900s, Hondurass economy was centered on agriculture and particularly on United State s-based companies that formed plantations throughout the country. As a result, the countrys politics were focused on ways to maintain the relationship with the U.S. and keep foreign investments.With the onset of the Great Depression in the 1930s, Hondurass economy began to suffer and from that time until 1948, the authoritarian General Tiburcio Carias Andino controlled the country. In 1955, a government overthrow occurred and in 1957, Honduras had its first elections. However, in 1963, a coup took place and the military again ruled the country throughout much of the later 1900s. During this time, Honduras experience instability.From 1975 to 1978 and from 1978 to 1982, Generals Melgar Castro and Paz Garcia ruled Honduras, during which time, the country grew economically and developed much of its modern infrastructure. Throughout the rest of the 1980s and into the 1990s and 2000s, Honduras experienced seven democratic elections and in 1982, it developed its modern constitution. Government After more instability in the later 2000s, Honduras today considered a democratic constitutional republic. The executive branch is made up of the chief of state and the head of state - both of which are filled by the president. The legislative branch is comprised of the unicameral Congress of Congreso Nacional and the judicial branch is made up of the Supreme Court of Justice. Honduras is divided into 18 departments for local administration. Economics and Land Use Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America and has a highly uneven distribution of income. Most of the economy is based on exports. The largest agricultural exports from Honduras are bananas, coffee, citrus, corn, African palm, beef, timber shrimp, tilapia and lobster. Industrial products include sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products, and cigars. Geography and Climate Honduras is located in Central America along the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Oceans Gulf of Fonseca. Since it is located in Central America, the country has a subtropical climate throughout its lowlands and coastal areas. Honduras has a mountainous interior which has a temperate climate. Honduras is also prone to natural disasters like hurricanes, tropical storms, and flooding. For example, in 1998, Hurricane Mitch destroyed much of the country and wiped out 70% of its crops, 70-80% of its transportation infrastructure, 33,000 homes and killed 5,000 people. In addition in 2008, Honduras experienced severe flooding and almost half of its roads were destroyed. Facts Population: 7,989,415 (July 2010 estimate)Capital: TegucigalpaBordering Countries: Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El SalvadorLand Area: 43,594 square miles (112,909 sq km)Coastline: 509 miles (820 km)Highest Point: Cerro Las Minas at 9,416 feet (2,870 m)

Britain and the Euro Zone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Britain and the Euro Zone - Essay Example Economically, Greece is ranked 32nd largest in the globe at around 312 billion U.S. dollars by nominal gross domestic product going by world bank statistics for the 2009-2010 financial year. Greece is ranked the 15th largest economy in the European Union, an organization that has 27 members. Greece was formally admitted, in June 2000, as a member of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union, commonly referred to as the Euro Zone. Amid reports of deliberate financial accounting records manipulation and misinformation practices, Greece has been subject to the worst crisis since 1974 (Lynn 2011). The Greece government revised its prediction of deficit from 3.7% to 12.7% of the GDP in 2009. In May 2010, the government’s deficit rose to a whooping 13.6% of the GDP – on e of the world’s highest. In November, 2010, Greece’s government deficit was estimated at close to 15.5% of the country’s GDP, public debt being set at close to 127% of the GDP (Ingrid and Papchristou 2009). Effectively, this is the largest deficit amongst the European Union member countries. As a result of this situation, international confidence in the country’s ability to pay back its debts got into a serious crisis. Following Greece’s deplorable and pitiable situation, the International Monetary Fund and the European Union offered an austerity package much to the fury of the Greek nationals. The situation has further led to public unrest and riots (Charter 2010). The European Central Bank in a bid to lift Greek back to its feet released a bailout package aimed at lowering the country’s public debt mountain (Lynn 2011; Castle and Ewing 2012). The measure was instituted after a balance was struck between the central bank’s adherence to EU laws and helping depressed EU governments. EU law forbids the central bank from offering monetary financing to the governments. In respect of the same, the ECB

Question 1. Impact of Language and cultural Diversity on Ammerica's Essay

Question 1. Impact of Language and cultural Diversity on Ammerica's Pluralistic Society - Essay Example By definition, a society is composed of a group of people who shares the same beliefs, values, interests, and activities. It can be an ethnic group, a community, or a country. In relation to this, there are also different types of society that exists and co-exists. One of these societies is the pluralistic type of society where power is distributed within the sub-groups in the society. Aside from distribution of power, a pluralistic society is also diverse such as the American society (Carroll and Buchholtz 6-8). In relation to this, the diverse languages present in the American pluralistic society had greatly affected the education system of America. The differences of language brought by studying within a majority culture bring difficulties to students that enter the American educational system. There have been an increasing number of students who speak other languages other than English which causes these students to be inarticulate in the English language. Also, due to the increa se of multilingual or non-English speaking students, the educational system must provide instructions in line with the mother language of the students. In this manner, the educational system must be reevaluated in order to provide the necessary instructions for all students. Also, the cultural diversity affects the American educational system because most of the time, the minority groups are continued to be taught with the curriculum that is not based on their culture. This is because the instruction materials, as well as the teachers, continue to teach through the usual American educational system. As a result, the student will eventually be affected in terms of his or her cultural behavior (Hardman, Drew, and Egan; Naylor 99). In relation to the business industry or the corporate world of America, the presence of language and cultural diversity also means that the workforce will be made up of different types of people. These differences encompass the different beliefs, cultural or ientation, gender, race, and ethnicity. Due to this, corporate America had used the term workplace diversity in order to cite such differences. Workplace diversity also plays a vital role in the manner of managing and handling employees from top to bottom. Also, workplace diversity, if managed properly, is an advantageous way of opening a company or an industry to a more diverse clientele. In order to gain optimum advantage of workplace diversity, managers have been trained with different diversity programs. Some of the few advantages of workplace diversity include acquisition of resources, advantage in the branch of marketing, and the ability to complement bilingual skill with the orthodox skills (Pride, Hughes, and Kapoor 252-254). There were also changes in America’s mass media during the time when the American society became more and more pluralistic. Many of the media outlets conceded that it was important to act upon the continuing pluralistic society of the United Stat es fairly. In this manner, changes were done in the attitude of the media in stereotyping. In the early 1980, many of the minority groups in America were represented falsely in movies, television, and even in novels and books. However, as the increase of language and cultural diversity occurred in the United States, many media outlets had employed and changed the perspectives on minority

United States Essay Example for Free

United States Essay My life is different today than what it was seven years ago. Seven years ago, I lived in my home country, Bangladesh, and now I am currently live in the United States of America. First of all, In Bangladesh, I was in middle school. Attending middle school wasn’t too hard. It was actually a bit fun. In middle school, I had less homework to do, and it was fairly since I did not have many responsibilities. Now I am in college, attending Macomb community college. I am getting really stressed out and having many types of difficulties. I am struggling to keep good grades and have lots of homework to do daily. I had many friends during my days in high school, but as I attended college, friends grew apart; now I am stuck with just a few. Secondly, I did not have any responsibilities seven years ago. But as an adult, now I have to learn to take care of many responsibilities and give my all to live successfully. I did not know how to even cook at the age of 15, but now I know how to cook pretty much everything. Finally, in Bangladesh, I did not need to drive since everything in my town was close. Living in America, on the other hand, I am forced to have transportation to get around. Therefore, I had to get my license to accomplish each day’s task. Many changes have occurred in the last seven years in my life; however, these changes made me live up and the face world daily.

Tom Clancy Essay -- Essays Papers

Tom Clancy When choosing an author for my paper, I chose international suspense because I am very interested in foreign relations and the technology of modern day war. I have read stories by Edgar Allen Poe, with suspense and vivid imagery, which reminded me of Clancy's work. I decided to choose Tom Clancy because of his talent to weave such realistic tales of international suspense. Clancy creates the scenes in his books with such detail, it makes the reader feel like he/she is there. My first choice for this paper was Dr. Suess, but because he has passed away, I had to keep looking. I knew very little information about my author before writing this paper. I had read two of his books, but had no real knowledge of his personal life or past history. Tom Clancy, a successful American author of international suspense, has captured his love of military and technology and profitably employed it in the books he writes. The life of Thomas L. Clancy Jr. started like any other, but changed with the success of his work. He was born the year 1947, in the City of Baltimore, Maryland. His father was a postal carrier and also a store credit employer (Speace 98). Clancy spent his life educated in only Catholic schools. Because of this Clancy says, "I was never swept up in the drugs or music"(Cohen 2). He attended Loyola College in Baltimore Maryland, and earned a degree in English (Speace 98). At that time, Clancy then tried to enlist in the army. He was excused though, because of a case of myopia. "I thought I would have made a good tank commander"(Speace 99) , said Clancy, whose childhood dreams had been broken when he was kept from entering into the military. He then took on a career as an insurance agent in Baltimore Maryland, and kept that job until around 1973 (Speace 98). He then became a business owner from 1973 to the year 1980. In 1969, Clancy married a woman named Wanda Thomas, who was an eye surgeon and an insurance agency manager (Speace 98). They had four children, Michelle, Christine, Tom, and Kathleen, and a dog named Freddie (Cohen 115). They lived on 400 wooded acres in Maryland, along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Standing on the front lawn is a tank, given to him as a gift by his wife at the time (Schindehette 114). On the property there are also two tennis courts, two basketball courts, a full length football field and... ... go of your dreams when there are obstacles in the way. Works Cited Speace, Geri. NewsMakers. 1998 vol. New York, 1998. Cohen, Rich. "Master of War" Rolling Stone December 1994:114 Greenberg, Martin H. The Tom Clancy Companion. New York: Berkley Books, 1992. http://www.RedStorm Entertainment.com RedStorm Entertainment, 1999. Cerasini, Marc A. Tom Clancy's Fiction: The Birth of a Techno Thriller. New York: Berkley Books, 1991. Zaleski, Jeff. "The Hunt for Tom Clancy". Publishers Weekly 15 July 1998 Schindehette, Susan. "Storm Rising". People Magazine 15 June 1998: 141 Clancy, Tom. Op Center. New York: Berkley Publishing Corp., 1995 Clancy, Tom. Sum of All Fears. New York: Berkley Publishing Corp., 1992 Clancy, Tom. Red Storm Rising. New York: Putnam Books, 1986 Hitbrand, David. "Tom Clancy's Op Center". People Magazine 27 February 1995:12 "There's No Pot of Gold at the End of Clancy's ‘Rainbow Six'". The Washington Post 7 September 1998, Final ed Zinsser, John. "Clear and Present Sounds". Publishers Weekly 3 July 1998: pages N/A Maryles, Daisy. "Clancy's Latest Victory". Publishers Weekly 17 August 1998: pages N/A

Madame Bovary And The Death Of Ivan Ilych Essay

What is the nature of man? Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary and Leo Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilych portray not only a glimpse of what man’s nature is, but also in so doing provide a criticism of it. Both works look into the life of people who want more out of life, and yet ironically what they desire only adds shallowness and not meaning to their existence. Whereas Flaubert’s Madam Bovary shows the depressing end of a woman consumed by passions, Tolstoy gives hope with a dying man’s last days where he gets an epiphany of what the nature of man should be. Emma is Madame Bovary, a young woman who lived in her world of romantic fantasy. She came from the country and read romantic novels when she was in the convent, and believed in earnest that love and marriage will make her happy. But after marrying a simple-minded and incompetent doctor Charles, she grows disillusioned as she sinks in the routine activities of daily life. She wanted romance, passion, excitement, and although her husband loves her and adores her, she wanted more. She wanted the latest trends in fashion and she felt that she was born unjustly to a lower class than was supposed to be for her, the aristocrat. But Emma does nothing to earn the admiration or the respect of the people she admired: she can copy their outward mannerism and clothes, but she does not have the refinement or the manners to be truly aristocratic. She merely believes in her fantasy world where the aristocrats live in luxury and a life of excitement. She was ambitious, but did not have any means to acquire her material cravings but for using her beauty and body. She gets into extramarital affairs because she finds her married life dull, even when she gives birth to a daughter. She does not take care of her daughter because she wanted a boy, and instead romps off with Rodolphe Boulanger, and does not care what other people say. She is oftentimes indiscreet and cares not of her reputation or her husband’s. Emma is self-centered and she had a sense of entitlement and superiority which had no basis but drove her to act without a thought to the consequences of her actions. She is, in a way, always likening herself to playing a role that sparks her imagination at the moment: a young woman being married to a foreign doctor, a middle class with a noble’s spirit, a bored wife having an affair, a lover, a woman of rich tastes. She could not accept that her reality was the norm and that her fantasies were exaggerated, dramatic ideals. When she was young she wanted the same romance she read in her romantic novels. When she became exposed to the high society at the ball she wanted to become like them. When she saw the melodramatic opera â€Å"Lucia de Lammemoor† she adopts the character and like her commits suicide. She drove herself to debt by buying expensive items which she sometimes gave as gifts to her lovers even when she had no means of paying for these in the first place. She signed promissory notes even when she did not understand them because the merchant Lheureux played with her fantasy that she was meant for the finest things in life. When her first lover leaves her, she is distraught and falls gravely ill. With her second affair she acts as the man, covering the costs for the affair and taking charge of where, when, and how they will meet. Her debts pile up as she purchases more and more to fill the gaping hole in her being. She believed she needed passion and excitement, but it seems that what she really needed was purpose and direction, for her life held no meaning. Her innocent tendency towards romance is transformed into full blown moral corruption as she was unable to hold herself together and keep her urges and desires under control. Emma is not productive, she has no desire to improve herself or her skills, and she does not nurture her relationships with her husband, her daughter, not even with her lovers. She just saw them as means of escape from her dull life, and when they fall short of her expectations she just drops them. When the consequences of her actions finally catch up on her and her world becomes smaller and smaller, she decides to play a role – that of a tragic heroine and kills herself with swallowing arsenic. She could not face up to the trouble that she has caused and decides to escape rather than take responsibility as she could not imagine a life of poverty and shame – although her whole life she was never wealthy and she lived a scandalous life with her known affairs. Up until then she saw her life differently – believed she had wealth, pride and breeding because that was what she wanted, but sadly these did not bring her the happiness she sought. Emma had a good life but was not able to appreciate it with her preoccupation with the things she did not have. By focusing her energies on her fantasies of wealth and romance she failed to live her life to the fullest, and for the most part it could be said that she was living in a dream and when she woke to find herself in the gravity of her real life situation, she killed herself to escape, but there was no going back to her fantasy world, and no redemption as even after her death her husband discovers her infidelity which kills him and her daughter sent off to work on a cotton mill. In her, we see the nature of man as ruled by emotions, desires and appetites, without caution or control, without compassion to others. Emma was not able to see and recognize the humanity in her, all the time she was acting out, even her motherly functions, her martyr facade. She never truly enjoyed life because she never saw anything and anyone beyond their appearances, and never learned to appreciate the little things that make life worthwhile. The theme of life and death is also examined in Leo Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilych, where he uses the characters to critique the artificial life that people live in society characterized by materialism and shallowness. Tolstoy puts forward a picture of society with striking honesty and insight: individuals do not behave as individuals but rather aspire to be like everybody else, trying to live a correct life as appropriated by norms, striving to have a comfortable life accentuated with material wealth even if their spiritual life and human relationships are dry and empty. With his narrative, Tolstoy then poses the question of what is important in life, how life should be led, and ultimately, how important life is and how people take it for granted by deluding themselves into believing they are exempt from death. Most of the characters in the story are portrayed as materialistic social climbers, who equated material wealth and position in society as determinants of success and happiness. Ivan, his wife and daughter, his supposed friends, all troubled themselves with appearances – they were preoccupied with proper decorum and attires, of looking well off, of having power over others. But these are all temporal, for these things do not really matter in the face of death. Ivan finds out that what is important is living one’s life according to one’s own vindication, not blindly following trends in society which results in a shallow, routine, meaningless life. He belatedly understood that empathy and recognizing the individual as an individual with thoughts and emotions rather than as subjects with mere faces is what mattered in life, that to live humanly is what gives life its meaning. Only Gerasim and his son are the ones in the story that have empathy and humanity in them – in Gerasim it is made obvious by his understanding that everybody, regardless of position or appearance, are all equal, with the same fate waiting for them in the end, especially when he said, â€Å"We shall all of us die, so why should I grudge a little trouble? †. The son, on the other hand, is the only one in Ivan household who showed any feelings for his dying father – he took his father’s hand and kissed it while crying. This can be taken as the boy was young; he was still innocent and not yet tainted with the demands of society. Ivan himself was dissatisfied with the boy because he behaved differently from him, his wife and daughter, but in his last days it was his son who showed him that there is a human soul in the world who regarded his life important. Also, this depiction of the innocence in childhood is mirrored in Ivan’s experiences: the only times he felt truly alive was when he was a boy, before he went to Law School. Being assimilated into society, he found that he trapped himself into a prison of standards, and lived a largely artificial life. Tolstoy showed that an artificial life is characterized by materialism and social climbing. At the beginning of the story, we find Ivan dead but his friends were chiefly concerned with the position that he will be vacating, the promotions and changes in the workplace and what they have to gain from it, all the while denying to themselves that they too will end up like Ivan sooner or later, that they will die eventually. They act as though they could live forever and concern themselves with the trivial everyday things. Even in his wake, his friends put a show of grievance because it was what was required of â€Å"friends†, but were more interested in playing bridge. They did not see the inevitability of death and suffering, of the hollowness of their lives. Peter Ivanovich, Ivan’s perceived closest friend, somehow felt disturbed and concerned, but rushed to quell these feelings because he reasoned he was alive and Ivan dead and there should be no reason to â€Å"hinder their spending the evening agreeably†. When he was still alive, Ivan himself saw how he had lived superficially in the way his doctors treated him, as though he was some subject whose sentence they hold in their hands, his life holding no real importance or meaning to the doctors. What mattered to the doctors was their perception of themselves that they feel important and significant by virtue of their occupation; that is what gave them satisfaction and purpose. Ivan himself acted the same way many times in his life – with the accused brought before him he reduced them to facts on paper and did not see them as individuals, he got married for it was expected of a man of his station and chose a bride not out of love or devotion but out of the social status it will benefit him. In the end, the story teaches that material wealth and position in society are not what matters. In the face of death, one looks back at the quality of life that he has led, and the most precious times would be the ones he felt most alive, when he was free and himself. The Death of Ivan Ilych and Madame Bovary teach us the nature of man as susceptible to fantasies of the happiness that wealth and material possessions can bring, but in reality these are more likely to corrupt us than give us real happiness. The nature of man is that of desire – desire to achieve in all aspects of life, and in this man should always apply himself to make himself a better person. However, desire for achievement is different from greed. Achievement should not only be limited to the professional and material aspects of life, but more importantly to the relationships with others. The meaning and purpose of life is not about the material achievement but how well one lived his life. Man’s nature reflects that of his society, and society that of man, as the individual is part of the whole and the whole consists of its parts. Both protagonists were deeply influenced by their time and what was regarded as important then. They have let others dictate, influence and take advantage of them, and by not taking responsibility d control over their lives they eventually found themselves in situations they did not dream of. This could have only come up to those who did not examine their actions and the kind of life they lead. Emma and Ivan believed that wealth and material things can bring happiness, but they both ended up dead – although here the stories’ protagonists differ. Whereas Emma chooses suicide to escape her suffering, Ivan comes to terms with his death and accepts it. Although Emma’s final act was of her own decision, we cannot say that she was finally taking things in her hands as before that she was always feeling hindered and trapped by her circumstances. She did not have a realization of what brought down her downfall, even in her final days she did not know what held meaning and not. Her suicide, like all her actions before, was an attempt at escaping reality, and this time she succeeded. Emma was not able to redeem herself, nor was she able to see what would make her life happy, but Ivan was changed and in his last days was able to make sense of his suffering. Tolstoy showed that no matter how sullen or materialistic a man behaved and lived, there is still hope for him to change as long as he lives. That man’s innate nature is towards living an authentic life, towards goodness, and that even if society is corrupt and superficial, pure love and humanity also exists, and it is always within us, and also in our capacity, to choose what kind of life to lead.

Marketing †product, pricing &description Essay

Initial Product: The Company plans to pursue vigorously and at an accelerated rate the development, production and marketing of artificial lumbar disc . The goal would be apart from being superior to other products it should affordable for the masses in Canada keeping in mind that very few people rely on medical insurances and pay from their own pocket.. Emphasis would be on improving the reliability of the device, and also incorporating digital circuitry or sensors to monitor the position of the device after it has been implanted on to the patient. The company would also like to pay for any revision surgeries for the patients if required. We would also manufacture associated devices/instrumentation required for surgical procedures. Short term Product: In the second year of business the Spinal Dynamics would try to pursue development of a cervical (upper back) artificial disc based on the previous design but much smaller in size. Long Term Product: Plan would be to improve the lumbar artificial disc and come up with better device material, in order to make it more durable and wear resistant. We would also try to incorporate digital circuitry in order to monitor the position of the device post surgically. DESIGN PROTOTYPE The design would be similar to the current Charite disc by Depuy Spine . A polymer sliding core at the middle with two cobalt chrome end plate would be the basic construct design. KEY FEATURES & BENEFITS The strategic product benefit of Prime disc would be its being minimally invasive, ability to alleviate pain and capability to restore normal range of motion. The main benefit would be that the device would be manufactured in Canada, and thus would be first of its kind. Spinal Dynamics would also file for patent protection . It would be economically priced, in order to make it more affordable for the masses in Canada. PRICING PLANS The current market price for an artificial disc implant is approximately 5000USD-10,000USD. The aim of Spinal Dynamics is to minimize the cost of the implant, by manufacturing the implant in Canada at half of the existing price. The price per device would be approximately 1000USD. COMPETITIVE ASSESSMENT Companies Differentiators Medtronic De-puy Synthes Spine. Core Competency brand name Huge range of products Backed by Johnson&Johnson Established brand name Technology/Innovation Highly innovative Highly innovative Specialized in spinal areas Unique distribution NO NO NO PART C: OPERATIONS LOCATION & FACILITIES Spinal Dynamics would be renting a 1500 sq feet area for our office space in Toronto, Canada. The space would be divided into 10 cubicles, with two cabins for the presidents and the senior scientist. 15 Dell Inspiron Desktops would be bought and housed in each cubicle and cabins. An annual license from Abaqus and CATIA would be purchased, which could be renewed from time to time. Apart from these a high speed internet connection, an office LAN would be required. A back up system would be put in place to secure the data files every week. External hard disks and other data storage devices would be bought for this purpose Also a Plotter and two HP Laser printer would be bought. On a parallel level a small office place would be leased in U. S at Toledo, Ohio from where few team members would be working. This group would be dealing with testing and development of experimental protocol for the device. Both the groups would be communicating via emails , phone calls etc. This model would enable Spinal dynamics to save some cost on procuring expensive equipments for testing , and also they can work with various universities in and around Toledo. Apart from this there would be direct communication with experts like Dr Vijay Goel and Lisa Ferrara who all belong to the Advisory committee and currently reside in U. S. R&D Plans: Spinal Dynamics will produce artificial disc implants with the strategic product benefits of being minimally invasive, will alleviate pain and would restore normal range of motion. Spinal Dynamic’s unique product design is based upon extensive market research. Though some reverse engineering concepts would be applied to the pre-existing products in the market, the idea would be to incorporate the best features from all of them. CATIA CAD software in synchronization with ABAQUS an FEA tool would be used for design development. After the design concept is fully developed a prototype will be manufactured. The design team will comprise of 5 team members who will be proficient in CAD/FEA area, this team will be headed by The R&D head Dr Ahmad Faizan. 1) All initial manufacturing work would be done by S&S manufacturing a 3rd party prototype manufacturing company. 2) The design’s functionality would be tested by various experiments, namely using MTS simulator and other biomechanical-cadaveric studies. The protocols would be developed accordingly and approved by the management. The testing could be done at various universities at a much cheaper cost than buying costly equipments initially. 3) Clinical trials would be undertaken through hospitals under the guidance of physicians and patients who would be willing to participate in this trial. Legal aspects would be taken care of, in case the design does not work. The patient’s suitability to the trial would be selected based on the physician’s decision. 4) After the first four stages a pilot manufacturing would be undertaken, and 100 devices would be produced. 5) The device’s testing results would be submitted for FDA and other approvals and accordingly vigorous testing would be undertaken if the need be. 6) After formal approval we would plan to set up a state of art manufacturing shop floor, where the devices would be manufactured and sterile packed. Title Description Start Date Finish Date Remarks Priority/ Sequence Facility development Construction June 2008 Oct 2008 Very important/ First priority Product development Design & prototype June 2009 Should be started as soon as the facility is set up Testing Clinical Trial-short term and long term September 2010 Approvals Obtaining approvals October 2010 Pilot Test Initial Pilot test November 2010 Production Full fledged production.

Malaysian Rainforests Overview

Malaysian Rainforests Overview Southeast Asian rainforests, such as those that dominate the Malaysian region, are believed to be the oldest and some of the most biologically diverse forests in the world. However, they are now in danger of disappearing due to a number of human activities that threaten the ecosystem. Location The Malaysian rainforest eco-region extends across peninsular Malaysia to the extreme southern tip of Thailand. Characteristics Malaysian rainforests contain several different forest types throughout the region. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), these include lowland dipterocarp forest, hill dipterocarp forest, upper hill dipterocarp forest, oak-laurel forest, montane ericaceous forest, peat swamp forest, mangrove forest, freshwater swamp forest, heath forest, and forests that thrive on limestone and quartz ridges. Historical Extent of Habitat The extent of Malaysias land surface was forested before humans began clearing trees. Current Extent of Habitat Currently, forests cover about 59.5 percent of the total land area. Ecological Significance Malaysian rainforests support a vast diversity of plant and animal life, including approximately 200 mammal species (such as the rare Malayan tiger, Asian elephant, Sumatran rhinoceros, Malayan tapir, gaur, and clouded leopard), over 600 species of birds, and 15,000 plants. Thirty-five percent of these plant species are found nowhere else in the world. Threats The clearing of forest land by humans is the primary threat to the Malaysian rainforest ecosystem and its inhabitants. Lowland forests have been cleared to create rice fields, rubber plantations, oil palm plantations, and orchards. In conjunction with these industries, logging has boomed as well, and the development of human settlements further threatens the forests. Conservation Efforts WWF-Malaysias Forest for Life Programme works to improve forest preservation and management practices throughout the region, paying special attention to the restoration of degraded areas where critical forest corridors are required by wildlife for safe travel throughout their habitats. WWFs Forest Conversion Initiative works with producers, investors, and retailers around the world to ensure that expansion of oil palm plantations does not threaten High Conservation Value Forests. Get Involved Support the World Wildlife Funds efforts in establishing and improving protected areas by signing up as a Direct Debit Donor. Travel to WWFs project sites in Malaysia to help contribute to the local economy with your tourism dollars and exhibit global support of these conservation programs. You will help to prove that protected areas can generate income for the state governments without the need to exploit our natural resources unsustainably, explains WWF. Forest managers and timber products processors can join the Malaysia Forest and Trade Network (MFTN). When buying any wood product, from pencils to furniture to construction materials, be sure to check sources and, ideally, choose only certified sustainable products. Find out how you can help WWFs Heart of Borneo project by contacting: Hana S. HarunCommunications Officer (Malaysia, Heart of Borneo)WWF-Malaysia (Sabah Office)Suite 1-6-W11, 6th Floor, CPS Tower,Centre Point Complex,No.1, Jalan Centre Point,88800 Kota Kinabalu,Sabah, Malaysia.Tel: 6088 262 420Fax: 6088 242 531 Join the Restore and Kinabatangan - Corridor of Life initiatives to reforest the Corridor of Life in the Kinabatangan Floodplain. If your company would like to contribute to reforestation work, please contact the Reforestation Officer: Kertijah Abdul KadirReforestation OfficerWWF-Malaysia (Sabah Office)Suite 1-6-W11, 6th Floor, CPS Tower,Centre Point Complex,No.1, Jalan Centre Point,88800 Kota Kinabalu,Sabah, Malaysia.Tel: 6088 262 420Fax: 6088 248 697

Language Acquisition in Children

Language Acquisition in Children The term language acquisition refers to the development of language in children. By age 6, children have usually mastered most of the basic vocabulary and grammar of their first language. Second language acquisition (also known as second language learning or sequential language acquisition) refers to the process by which a person learns a foreign language- that is, a language other than their mother tongue. Examples and Observations For children, acquiring a language is an effortless achievement that occurs: Without explicit teaching,On the basis of positive evidence (i.e., what they hear),Under varying circumstances, and in a limited amount of time,In identical ways across different languages. ... Children achieve linguistic milestones in parallel fashion, regardless of the specific language they are exposed to. For example, at about 6-8 months, all children start to babble ... that is, to produce repetitive syllables like bababa. At about 10-12 months they speak their first words, and between 20 and 24 months they begin to put words together. It has been shown that children between 2 and 3 years speaking a wide variety of languages use infinitive verbs in main clauses ... or omit sentential subjects ... although the language they are exposed to may not have this option. Across languages young children also over-regularize the past tense or other tenses of irregular verbs. Interestingly, similarities in language acquisition are observed not only across spoken languages, but also between spoken and signed languages. (Marà ­a Teresa Guasti, Language Acquisition: The Growth of Grammar. MIT Press, 2002) Typical Speech Timetable for English-Speaking Child Week 0 - CryingWeek 6 - Cooing (goo-goo)Week 6 - Babbling (ma-ma)Week 8 - Intonation patternsWeek 12: Single wordsWeek 18 - Two-word utterancesYear 2: Word endingsYear 2 ½: NegativesYear 2 ¼: QuestionsYear 5: Complex constructionsYear 10: Mature speech patterns (Jean Aitchison, The Language Web: The Power and Problem of Words. Cambridge University Press, 1997) The Rhythms  of Language At around nine months of age, then, babies start to give their utterances a bit of a beat, reflecting the rhythm of the language theyre learning. The utterances of English babies start to sound like te-tum-te-tum. The utterances of French babies start to sound like rat-a-tat-a-tat. And the utterances of Chinese babies start to sound like sing-song. ... We get the feeling that language is just around the corner.This feeling is reinforced by [an]other feature of language..: intonation. Intonation is the melody or music of language. It refers to the way the voice rises and falls as we speak. (David Crystal, A Little Book of Language. Yale University Press, 2010) Vocabulary Vocabulary and grammar grow hand in hand; as toddlers learn more words, they use them in combination to express more complex ideas. The kinds of objects and relationships that are central to daily life influence the content and complexity of a childs early language. (Barbara M. Newman and Philip R. Newman, Development Through Life: A Psychosocial Approach, 10th ed. Wadsworth, 2009)Humans mop up words like sponges. By the age of five, most English-speaking children can actively use around 3,000 words, and more are added fast, often quite long and complex ones. This total rises to 20,000 around the age of thirteen, and to 50,000 or more by the age of about twenty. (Jean Aitchison, The Language Web: The Power and Problem of Words. Cambridge University Press, 1997) The Lighter Side of Language Acquisition Child: Want other one spoon, Daddy.Father: You mean, you want the other spoon.Child: Yes, I want other one spoon, please, Daddy.Father: Can you say the other spoon?Child: Other ... one ... spoon.Father: Say other.Child: Other.Father: Spoon.Child: Spoon.Father: Other spoon.Child: Other ... spoon. Now give me other one spoon. (Martin Braine, 1971; quoted by George Yule in The Study of Language, 4th ed. Cambridge University Press, 2010)

Richard Branson Leadership Style and Philosophy Essay

Richard Branson Leadership Style and Philosophy - Essay Example The present research has identified that over the years the Virgin Group has always been famous for their focus on customer service. However, Branson’s theory asserts that their highest priority is in making their employees as comfortable as possible. The reasoning behind this theory is that when a company has happy and satisfied employees, the employees will be able to give their best in the production process. As a result, the products and services that are produced by such companies will be in accordance with the expectation of the customers. As a result, customers will be satisfied and will remain loyal to the brand. This implies that there will be higher profits, which simply mean that investors will also be highly rewarded for their investment. Despite the fact that the Virgin Group has businesses in various parts of the world, it is improper to refer to the Virgin Group as a multinational. This is because all their businesses operate separately with Branson serving as a major shareholder in all cases. He also acts as the chairman and public relations supremo in all cases. Branson believes in product departmentalization, which refers to dividing an organization into various departments depending on the kind of product or service that they produce. For the sake of flexibility and the highly changing business environment, Branson believes that business organizations can highly benefit from using organic structures. Their companies use various types of departmentalization such as geographic and customer departmentalization because of the independent nature of their companies. Richard Branson should consider more postmodern organizations. This is because globalization has led to a business environment where factors that affect the functioning of a business are more than just those that are dominant in the geographical area in which they operate. It gets to a moment that even the individual organizations will have to expand past their comfort zone for t he sake of growth and competitiveness. However, it should also be noted that globalization leads to a situation where cultures are crossing borders. This is an implication that business organization needs to be more flexible so that they can be able to adapt to the changes that are brought about by the growth of globalization.