BMW Entrepreneurial Structure Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

BMW Entrepreneurial Structure - Case Study Example The BMW Company can attribute most of its success to the strategy and the culture of the company and its orientation towards investing in new innovations. The company is largely based in Germany where a more beauracratic corporate culture is more dominant, but the BMW Company adopts a rare and interesting philosophy for the corporate culture which revolves around entrepreneurship. The company is ready to invest in research and development projects which focus on management as well as physical innovations to support its products and its image in the market. "BMW's 106,000 employees have become a nimble network of true believers with few hierarchical barriers to hinder innovation. From the moment they set foot inside the company, workers are inculcated with a sense of place, history, and mission. Individuals from all strata of the corporation work elbow to elbow, creating informal networks where they can hatch even the most unorthodox ideas for making better Bimmers or boosting profits ." (Edmondson, 2006) Moreover the people at the BMW Company do not have all the answers to the questions, and neither do they claim to do so. Instead they are pound to mention that they work towards determining all the correct questions so that the best possible solutions can be accurately determined. In interview with Laura Mazur, the CEO of BMW Helmut Panke mentioned that "'the most important role of senior management, not just the chief executive, is to understand that the brand isn't just a label that you can put on and take off. A brand is something that has to be authentic and has to be tied into the corporate culture of an organisation,' he explained. Panke discussed the company's unremitting focus on its premium brand approach, and why nothing is allowed to dilute it. He was adamant that success derives from three points: a strong brand, products that live up to what the brand stands for, and a corporate culture that fits into both of them." (Mazur, 2003) 2. Describe the challenges that BMW face in their organisational environment. The challenges that are faced by the BMW Company in their organizational environment pertain to the establishment of the corporate culture in the different regions of operations for the company and training the new recruits and employees to develop as per the corporate culture of the company. BMW has taken significant pointers and strategies from Japanese automobile manufacturers when it comes to managing the company and establishing a kaizen and entrepreneurship based culture and business procedures at the company. The company has been successful in implementing the corporate culture highlighting innovation and entrepreneurship in Germany, but the operations of the company in the UK at oxford and in the US face discrepancies. The US automobile industry is more oriented towards bureaucracy as the beauracratic and classical theories of management derived from the industry as apparent form Henry Fayol and Ford. In such an environment operating with an entrepreneurial and innovation bas ed culture has been a problem for the BMW operations in the US as well as on the UK. Other challenges that the company

Marketing cases Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Marketing cases - Essay Example The main macro-economic factors that influenced the Target’s performance during that period were the economic and social conditions that existed among the consumers. Due to the economic recession in 2008, there was a high unemployment level and an increased inflation, which had a direct connection with the sales outcome of the company. Along with this, the purchasing power of the consumers began to deteriorate due to the decline in the income of the sizable households. With the company’s products being viewed as expensive ones, it further impacted Target’s revenues. However, Walmart showed a far better growth due to its cheaper prices strategy hindering the Target’s upscale products. The Target’s â€Å"pay less† strategy was a risky one as it has to sustain its high-quality. That is, even while coping up with the changing economic conditions and its consumers’ attitude, it needs to focus on quality. However, it has successfully managed to overcome through the recession crisis and have switched towards a hopeful direction with this new strategy. Despite the high unemployment and increased inflation, Target takes an optimistic view in improving its sales through its new launches such as mini-grocery stores and up-and-up. By focusing on its ‘pay less’ part, Target has certainly pursued a best strategy by retaining the quality of its products even while emphasizing on the discount part. Expanding the advertising campaigns before focusing towards lower prices should have been the alternate strategy for Target during their decline in sales and revenue. As the company was keen on offering one stop shopping with lowered prices and improving the store’s infrastructure, it did not have enough time to analyze the consumers’ tendency towards their products, thereby missed formulating effective advertising strategies. Once they found the

Non Destructive Testing In The Aerospace Industry

Non Destructive Testing In The Aerospace Industry Since several years, technology has been improved tremendously and is still in a need for advancement due to the increasing growth of demands. In todays economy structures must remain for operation for such longer period than originally anticipated. The ageing effect on these structures is becoming significant. Non-destructive testing  (NDT) is a wide group of analysis techniques used in science and industry to evaluate the properties of a material, component or system without causing damage  Because NDT does not permanently alter the article being inspected, it is a highly-valuable technique that can save both money and time in product evaluation, troubleshooting, and research. Common NDT methods include  ultrasonic,  magnetic-particle,  liquid-penetrant,  radiographic and  eddy-current testing. NDT is a commonly-used tool in  forensic engineering,  mechanical engineering,  electrical engineering,  civil engineering,  systems engineering,  aeronautical engi neering,  medicine, and  art.(3) The development of Non destructive testing examines the techniques to verify the conditions of these structures and these developments are focused on extending the cost of maintenance of the existing structures. History: It may be said that NDT has been used from ancient times. The audible ring of a Damascus sword blade would show the indication of the strength of the metal in combat. This technique was also used by the early blacksmiths. They used to listen to the ring of different metals being shaped. The same technique was also used by early bell makers. Visual testing had been used for many years for a wide range of applications. Heat sensing was used to monitor thermal changes in materials and sonic tests were performed years ago(1). NDT by far is a visual testings which is the oldest mankind testing, this was used for visual checking knifes. The first use of NDT was done by a English man S.H.Saxby . who used compass for finding cracks in gun pipes in 1868.With a long established history in non-destructive testing (NDT), producing its first UV meter in the late 1960s (as Levy West Laboratories), AST is the market leader with the Levy Hill MkVI meter. NDT is well known as a part of industrial procedures, but it is also of importance in examinations of a more general interest in everyday life. In the aerospace industry, NDT can make the difference between life and death. Aircraft components are inspected before they are assembled into the aircraft and then they are periodically inspected throughout their useful life. Aircraft parts are designed to be as light as possible while still performing their intended function. This generally means that components carry very high loads relative to their material strength and small flaws can cause a component to fail. Since aircraft are cycled (loaded and unloaded) as they fly, land, taxi, and pressurize the cabin, many components are prone to fatigue cracking after some length of time. Even parts that are loaded well below the level that causes them to deform can develop fatigue cracks after being cycled for a long time. Cracking can also occur due to other things like a lightning strike. Aircraft have some protection against lightning strikes but occasionally they occur and can results in cracks forming at the strike location. The historical development of NDT is outlined for each technique. The second oldest method was the Acoustics it has been used by ancient time when man started making the pottery vessels. Table1. Table below shows a list of some of the key events in the chronology of NDT. (1) Year Chronology of Early Key Events in NDT 1800 First thermography observations by Sir William Herschel 1831 First Observation of electromagnetic induction by Michael Faraday 1840 First infrared image produced by Herschels son, John 1868 First reference to magnetic particle testing reported by S.H. Saxby, by observing how magnetized gun barrels affect a compass 1879 Early use of eddy currents to detect differences in conductivity, magnetic permeability, and temperature initiated by E. Hughes 1880-1920 Oil and whiting technique, forerunner of present-day penetrant test used for railroad axles and boilerplates 1895 X-rays discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen 1898 Radium discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie. 1922 Industrial Radiography for metals developed by Dr. H.H. Lester. 1927-28 Electric current induction/ magnetic field detection system developed by Dr. Elmer Sperry and H.C. Drake for the inspection of railroad track. 1929 Magnetic particle tests/ equipment pioneered by A.V. deforest and F.B. Doane. 1930 Practical uses for gamma radiography using radiumwere demonstrated by Dr. Robert F. Mehl 1935-40 Penetrant techniques developed by Betz, Doane , and deForest 1935-40 Eddy current developments by H. C. Knerr, C. Farrow, Theo Zuschlag, and Dr. F. Foerster 1940-44 Ultrasonic test metod developed in United States by Dr. Floyd Firestone 1942 First Ultrasound flaw detector using pulse-echo introduced by D.O. Sproule 1946 First portable ultrasonic thickness measuring instrument, the Audigage, was introduced by Branson 1950 Acoustic emission introduced as an NDT method by J. Kaiser Mid 1950s First ultrasonic testing immersion B and C scan instruments developed by Donald C. Erdman From the late 1950s to present, NDT has seen many developments, innovation, and growth. The roots of non-destructive testing began to take form prior to the 1920s. In the 1920s there was an awareness of some of some of the magnetic particle tests, the visual test and also X-radiography. Prior to World War II, design engineers were content to rely on unusually high safety factors which were usually built or engineered into many products. In addition, there were a significant number of catastrophic failures and other accidents relating to product inadequacies that bought the concern for system and component quality to the forefront. (1) Background History of Individual Testings: Magnetic Particle Test: Saxby used a magnetic compass to locate the defects and in homogeneities in gun barrels in 1868. Herring in 1879 obtained a patent in United States for the defection of defects in railway lines using a compass needle. Deliberate studies were carried out by A.V. de Forest in 1928 and 1929 of the use of magnetic particles for non-destructive testing of ferromagnetic materials. In 1936, Unger and Hilpert described in a patent in Germany at where the inspection of aircraft engine parts, engines for fatigue cracks are developed rapidly and the magnetic particle testing was made mandatory. The real breakthrough for magnetic particle testing came, in 1960s these methods was further greatly developed by C.Betz. Radiography: Wilhelm.Conrad. Roentgen discovered X rays in 8 November 1895 when it was observed by him that fluorescent glow of crystals on a table near the cathode ray tube. Later the penetrating radiations were characterized systematically which are emitted by cathode ray tubes. These represent the very first radiographs taken in 1896. He conducted a test on his own hunting rifle. Radiograph of the rifle showed some defects in the material and was the start of industrial radiography. Penetrant Test: It is a simple and effective method of examining surface areas for defects, cracks and discontinuities. Rubbing of carbon black on glazed pottery is one of the early surface inspections. Later on in 1940 magnetic particle method was introduced which is more sensitive. Many of the earlier developments were carried out by Magnaflux, IL USA. In 1942 it introduced Zyglo system where the fluorescent dyes were added to the liquid penetrant. The methods were formerly called The oil and whiting method and were used by the huge locomotives in the beginning of the 20th century.(13) Ultrasonic testing: Richardson proposed Echo ranging detection of objects at sea in 1912. Later, Lavengin developed a source of ultrasonic waves by using the piezoelectric effect with quartz crystals between steel plates. Future on experiments was carried out by Boyle and by Wood by using quartz piezoelectric transducers. The most simple and quick method came up in 1940 by Firestone. The method avoided many of the problems which were associated with standing wave formation. Then in 1942 Firestone was the first to use his own method for the sonar. The two German brothers H and J. Krautkramer did a lot of research of method and contributed for the development of method. Since their time method has gone through several phases of development. Eddy Current Test: Jean-Bernard Leon Foucault is generally credited with the first clear demonstration of eddy currents, by showing that electrical currents are set up in a copper disk moving in a non uniform magnetic field. Hughes is considered to have been the pioneer in using Eddy currents to inspect the metals. Eddy currents are also known as Induced currents which can only exist in conducting materials.(13) The use of NDT methods took place during the Second World War started from the testings of submarines and airplanes. During these years the use of NDT is seen in the inspection of nuclear power plant components, pressure vessels and car parts. Aim: To investigate the use of various NDT methods in industry. Objectives: To Conduct research on NDT and its applications To identify key components of an aircraft, where likely hood of crack is high. To test the components with appropriate NDT methods. To perform penetrant test to identify the cracks in a gear. Initial Plan As the project initiates with the major task of carrying out the background reading and researching, great amount of time has to be required to collect information about project. A great deal of time has been spent on background reading. Project requires thorough knowledge on NDT in aerospace and its classification. A detailed background reading has been done to understand the concept of NDT. Background reading has also been done on different types of NDT testings and its classifications. A detailed study has been done on the history of NDT. Background Reading: Non Destructive Testing (NDT) Non-destructive testing is the process by which materials, components or assemblies can be inspected without affecting their ultimate serviceability. It offers some important advantages over destructive testing processes such as mechanical testing. A destructive test must necessarily be on a sample basis. This is acceptable in many cases: to check that a batch of material is within specification, for example, or as a sample check on a large number of identical components. But a sample destructive test may not be feasible for a small number of high value components and in critical cases a 100% inspection may be required. Because of this, one key role of NDT is in assuring the quality of many manufacturing processes. NDT can also be used to test components which have been subjected to service conditions. A welded structure can be inspected to detect fatigue cracking. NDT results can further be used to aid decisions on the need for and timing of repairs. Suitable techniques, correctly applied, can be used to measure the depth of a fatigue crack. This, coupled with knowledge of the system stresses, the toughness of the material and the fatigue crack growth rate, can be used to determine if a cracked component can be left in service until the next planned overhaul period. These twin roles of NDT ensure that the technology will continue to play a fundamental role in materials testing.  Aircrafts are designed to withstand a certain amount of damage from cracking and corrosion without cause for concern, and NDT inspectors are trained to find the damage before it becomes a major problem.  The rigorous process used to design aircraft either allows for a certain amount of damage to occur before a part fails, or in many cases, a part can fail completely and performance of the aircraft will not be affected. The job of the NDT inspector is to find the damage while it is within acceptable limits.(5) Role of NDT Non destructive testing can be taken place at any transportation industry. The main aim is to consider the over view of all the terms of NDT and its applications and also to consider research on the optical methods. This is considered to be one of the important terms in the project. Another term is to do research on the optical methods which are implemented on the aircraft parts. (12) Types of methods: The number of NDT methods that can be used to inspect components and make whether the measurements are large and continues to grow. Researchers continue to find new ways of applying physics and other scientific disciplines to develop better NDT methods. However, there are six NDT methods that are used most often. These methods are visual inspection, penetrant testing, magnetic particle testing, electromagnetic or eddy current testing, radiography, and ultrasonic testing. These methods and a few others are briefly described below. (12) Visual and Optical Testing (VT)   Visual inspection involves using an inspectors eyes to look for defects. The inspector may also use special tools such as magnifying glasses, mirrors, or bore scopes to gain access and more closely inspect the subject area. Visual examiners follow procedures that range from simple to very complex. The principle behind Visual testing is the use of reflected or transmitted light from test object that is imagined with the human eye or other light-sensing device. VT finds its application in many industries ranging from raw materials to finished products and in-service inspection. VT can be inexpensive and simple with minimal training required. It has broad scope of uses and benefits. However VT can only evaluate surface conditions. Also effective source of illumination is required. (1) Penetrant Testing (PT) Test objects are coated with visible or fluorescent dye solution. Excess dye is then removed from the surface, and a developer is applied. The developer acts as blotter, drawing trapped penetrant out of imperfections open to the surface. With visible dyes, vivid colour contrasts between the penetrant and developer make bleed out easy to see. With fluorescent dyes, ultraviolet light is used to make the bleed out fluoresce brightly, thus allowing imperfections to be readily seen. (6) Figure1: Figure illustrating a simple Penetrant testing (8) The principle behind PT is that a liquid containing visible or fluorescent dye is applied to the surface and the fluid enters the discontinuities by capillary action. PT finds its application in virtually any solid non-absorbent material having uncoated surfaces that are not contaminated. PT is relatively easy and materials are inexpensive. It is extremely sensitive and very versatile. Also minimal training is required. Discontinuities can only be found on the surface. The surface condition must be relatively smooth and free of contaminants. (1) Magnetic Particle Testing (MT)HYPERLINK http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/MagParticle/cc_mpi_index.htm   This NDE method is accomplished by inducing a magnetic field in a ferromagnetic material and then dusting the surface with iron particles (either dry or suspended in liquid). Surface and near-surface imperfections distort the magnetic field and concentrate iron particles near imperfections, previewing a visual indication of the flaw. (6) Figure2. Figure illustrating the basic concept of Magnetic Particle Testing (9) The principle behind MT is that the test particle is magnetized and fine ferromagnetic particles are applied to the surface, hence aligning at discontinuity. MT finds its application in all ferromagnetic materials, for surface and subsurface discontinuities. It can be used in large and small parts. MT is relatively easy to use. Equipment and material is usually inexpensive. MT is highly sensitive and fast compared to PT. However in MT only surface and a few subsurface discontinuities can be detected. The test can be only done on ferromagnetic materials. (1) Electromagnetic Testing (ET) or Eddy Current Testing Electrical currents are generated in a conductive material by an induced alternating magnetic field. The electrical currents are called eddy currents because they flow in circles at and just below the surface of the material. Interruptions in the flow of eddy currents, caused by imperfections, dimensional changes, or changes in the materials conductive and permeability properties, can be detected with the proper equipment. Figure3: Figure illustrating Eddy Current Testing (10) The principle behind ET is that localised electric fields are induced into a conductive test specimen by electromagnetic induction. ET finds its application in virtually all conductive materials. All conductive materials can be examined for flaws, metallurgical conditions, thinning and conductivity. ET is quick, versatile, and sensitive. It can be no contacting. Also it can be easily adaptable to automation. However variables must be understood and controlled. (1) Radiography (RT)HYPERLINK http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Radiography/cc_rad_index.htm   Radiography involves the use of penetrating gamma or X-radiation to examine parts and products for imperfections. An X-ray generator or radioactive isotope is used as a source of radiation. Radiation is directed through a part and onto film or other imaging media. The resulting shadowgraph shows the dimensional features of the part. Possible imperfections are indicated as density changes on the film. Figure4: Figure illustrating the basic principle of Radiographic Testing (11) The principle behind RT is that a radiographic film is exposed when radiation passes through the test object. RT finds its application in most material, shapes and structures. RT is the most widely used and accepted volumetric examination. RT can used only on limited thickness based on material density. Also there is a possible threat of radiation hazard.(1) Ultrasonic Testing (UT)HYPERLINK http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Ultrasonics/cc_ut_index.htm   It uses transmission of high-frequency sound waves into a material to detect imperfections or to locate changes in material properties. The most commonly used ultrasonic testing technique is pulse echo, wherein sound is introduced into a test object and reflections (echoes) are returned to a receiver from internal imperfections or from the parts geometrical surfaces. Figure5: Figure illustrating the basic concept of Ultrasonic Testing (11) The principle behind UT is that high frequency sound pulses from a transducer propagate through the test material, reflecting at interfaces. Most materials can be examined if sound transmission and surface finish are good and shape is not complex. UT provides precise, high-sensitivity results quickly. Thickness information, depth, and type of flaw can be obtained from one side of the component. (1) Work to date As suggested by the project plan, the entire duration of the project is distributed variably as required by different tasks commencing from the basic research and reading. According to the project plan the research was done on few NDT techniques and some of the techniques are still under research, along with types of methods and its techniques. Necessary Future Work A more detailed and precise study of non destructive testings in aero industry is to be done. Project requires identifying various testings in Aerospace industry. A detailed study should be done on techniques and testings of NDT in Aerospace industry. A precise study of industrial applications and research should be done on optical methods. Key components of an aircraft should be identified and finally components may be tested by appropriate NDT methods. The main project work to be done is perform a Dye Penetrant Testing to identify cracks on gear. Dye penetrant inspection  (DPI), also called  liquid penetrant inspection  (LPI) or  penetrant testing(PT), is a widely applied and low-cost inspection method used to locate surface-breaking defects in all non-porous materials (metals, plastics, or ceramics). The penetrant may be applied to all non-ferrous materials. The main steps in Liquid Penetrant Inspection which are intended to be performed on the gear may be: Pre-cleaning: The test surface is to be cleaned to remove any dirt, paint, oil, grease or any loose scale that could keep the penetrant out of a defect. Application of Penetrant: The penetrant is to be then applied to the surface of the item which is to be tested.   Excess Penetrant Removal: The excess penetrant is to be then removed from the surface. Application of Developer: After excess penetrant has been removed a white developer is to be applied. Inspection: The inspection is to be done using visible light with adequate intensity for visible dye penetrant. Post Cleaning: The test surface is then to be cleaned after inspection and recording of defects. Summary It is clear that NDT has advantage from other inspection techniques as it does not make any changes to the article. It is a highly-valuable technique that can save both money and time in product evaluation, troubleshooting, and research. NDT is very useful in order to detect cracks in materials of magnitude in micrometers. (2) Its aerospace application includes detection of cracks caused due to corrosion, fatigue and their synergistic interactions. Crank shafts, frames, flywheels, crane hooks, shaft, steam turbine blades and fasteners are some of the components which are more vulnerable to fatigue so regular inspection is necessary via NDT method. Typical components which are inspected using NDT method by manufacture in order to maintain quality are turbine rotor disc and blades, aircraft wheels, castings, forged components and welded assemblies. One of the NDT methods is Eddy current technique which can be used to check tube, bar and wire and also this method is automatic and highly sophisticated.(3) It can be said that NDT method has to be carried out in order for the aircraft to operate safely during service time and avoid any accidental damage due to fatigue and corrosion.(2) In this report, a detailed explanation of NDT testings and techniques are explained. The uses of NDT in different industrial applications are explained and a precise study on optical methods is done. According to the project plan, next task would be to conduct research on NDT applications. List of Tables Table1: Table showing a list of some of the key events in the chronology of NDT List of figures Figure1: Figure illustrating a simple Penetrant testing Figure2. Figure illustrating the basic concept of Magnetic Particle Testing Figure3: Figure illustrating Eddy Current Testing Figure4: Figure illustrating the basic principle of Radiographic Testing Figure5: Figure illustrating the basic concept of Ultrasonic Testing

Victorian Dinner Parties :: Victorian Era

Victorian Dinner Parties Victorian dinner parties where associated with the upper class, not usually the middle class, and were attended by eminent guests of status. Lord Steyne, a character from the novel Vanity Fair, would have been invited to many such parties were he a real person who lived in that Era. The Victorian hostess had to consider three main things: The Guests At Victorian dinner parties, the hostess invited guests from the upper class of society. Typically, she invited one guest of honor, an eminent gentleman (Margetson 73). She also looked to invite some guests with musical skills or entertaining abilities. The number of men and women had to be equal, since every gentleman was given charge of a single lady of similar rank whom he was to accompany into the dinning room. During the course of the night, he made sure that she had a pleasant time (Ferguson). Pairing men and women into such couples was easy for the hostess when her guest had a spouse -- since she was required by etiquette to invite the spouse of her guest in addition to him - but pairing was more difficult when she invited unmarried persons. When she had a single man at her party, the hostess had the duty of finding him a single woman to entertain; though this task was difficult because ladies did not accept invitations unless they had an escort already, for fear of being call ed "fast" (Margetson 73). The Setting Pairing the guests was not the sole concern of the Victorian hostess. She had to make sure her house was in order, in particular, her parlor and dinning room, since the party was set in those two areas. First, guests would assemble in the parlor, where the pairing took place. Then, starting with the highest-ranking guest, each man escorted his lady into the dinning room, which the hostess decorated with opulence. After dinner, the ladies went back into the parlor for tea or coffee, while the men stayed at the table, talking, drinking and smoking. Next, the men went to join the women in the parlor. The ones who were too inebriated stayed behind. During this final part of the occasion, guests amused themselves with card games, magic tricks, and musical entertainment (Ferguson) . The Dinner The Victorian hostess had a primary goal in mind when she held a dinner party, and that purpose was to flaunt her status. She aimed to impress her guests with elaborate dishes. Victorian Dinner Parties :: Victorian Era Victorian Dinner Parties Victorian dinner parties where associated with the upper class, not usually the middle class, and were attended by eminent guests of status. Lord Steyne, a character from the novel Vanity Fair, would have been invited to many such parties were he a real person who lived in that Era. The Victorian hostess had to consider three main things: The Guests At Victorian dinner parties, the hostess invited guests from the upper class of society. Typically, she invited one guest of honor, an eminent gentleman (Margetson 73). She also looked to invite some guests with musical skills or entertaining abilities. The number of men and women had to be equal, since every gentleman was given charge of a single lady of similar rank whom he was to accompany into the dinning room. During the course of the night, he made sure that she had a pleasant time (Ferguson). Pairing men and women into such couples was easy for the hostess when her guest had a spouse -- since she was required by etiquette to invite the spouse of her guest in addition to him - but pairing was more difficult when she invited unmarried persons. When she had a single man at her party, the hostess had the duty of finding him a single woman to entertain; though this task was difficult because ladies did not accept invitations unless they had an escort already, for fear of being call ed "fast" (Margetson 73). The Setting Pairing the guests was not the sole concern of the Victorian hostess. She had to make sure her house was in order, in particular, her parlor and dinning room, since the party was set in those two areas. First, guests would assemble in the parlor, where the pairing took place. Then, starting with the highest-ranking guest, each man escorted his lady into the dinning room, which the hostess decorated with opulence. After dinner, the ladies went back into the parlor for tea or coffee, while the men stayed at the table, talking, drinking and smoking. Next, the men went to join the women in the parlor. The ones who were too inebriated stayed behind. During this final part of the occasion, guests amused themselves with card games, magic tricks, and musical entertainment (Ferguson) . The Dinner The Victorian hostess had a primary goal in mind when she held a dinner party, and that purpose was to flaunt her status. She aimed to impress her guests with elaborate dishes.

The Host Chapter 9: Discovered

I drove quickly through the I-10 junction as the sun fell behind me. I didn't see much besides the white and yellow lines on the pavement, and the occasional big green sign pointing me farther east. I was in a hurry now. I wasn't sure exactly what I was in a hurry for, though. To be out of this, I supposed. Out of pain, out of sadness, out of aching for lost and hopeless loves. Did that mean out of this body? I couldn't think of any other answer. I would still ask my questions of the Healer, but it felt as though the decision was made. Skipper. Quitter. I tested the words in my head, trying to come to terms with them. If I could find a way, I would keep Melanie out of the Seeker's hands. It would be very hard. No, it would be impossible. I would try. I promised her this, but she wasn't listening. She was still dreaming. Giving up, I thought, now that it was too late for giving up to help. I tried to stay clear of the red canyon in her head, but I was there, too. No matter how hard I tried to see the cars zooming beside me, the shuttles gliding in toward the port, the few, fine clouds drifting overhead, I couldn't pull completely free of her dreams. I memorized Jared's face from a thousand different angles. I watched Jamie shoot up in a sudden growth spurt, always skin and bones. My arms ached for them both-no, the feeling was sharper than an ache, blade-edged and violent. It was intolerable. I had to get out. I drove almost blindly along the narrow two-lane freeway. The desert was, if anything, more monotonous and dead than before. Flatter, more colorless. I would make it to Tucson long before dinnertime. Dinner. I hadn't eaten yet today, and my stomach rumbled as I realized that. The Seeker would be waiting for me there. My stomach rolled then, hunger momentarily replaced with nausea. Automatically, my foot eased off the gas. I checked the map on the passenger seat. Soon I would reach a little pit stop at a place called Picacho Peak. Maybe I would stop to eat something there. Put off seeing the Seeker a few precious moments. As I thought of this unfamiliar name-Picacho Peak-there was a strange, stifled reaction from Melanie. I couldn't make it out. Had she been here before? I searched for a memory, a sight or a smell that corresponded, but found nothing. Picacho Peak. Again, there was that spike of interest that Melanie repressed. What did the words mean to her? She retreated into faraway memories, avoiding me. This made me curious. I drove a little faster, wondering if the sight of the place would trigger something. A solitary mountain peak-not massive by normal standards, but towering above the low, rough hills closer to me-was beginning to take shape on the horizon. It had an unusual, distinctive shape. Melanie watched it grow as we traveled, pretending indifference to it. Why did she pretend not to care when she so obviously did? I was disturbed by her strength when I tried to find out. I couldn't see any way around the old blank wall. It felt thicker than usual, though I'd thought it was almost gone. I tried to ignore her, not wanting to think about that-that she was growing stronger. I watched the peak instead, tracing its shape against the pale, hot sky. There was something familiar about it. Something I was sure I recognized, even as I was positive that neither of us had been here before. Almost as if she was trying to distract me, Melanie plunged into a vivid memory of Jared, catching me by surprise. I shiver in my jacket, straining my eyes to see the muted glare of the sun dying behind the thick, bristly trees. I tell myself that it is not as cold as I think it is. My body just isn't used to this. The hands that are suddenly there on my shoulders do not startle me, though I am afraid of this unfamiliar place and I did not hear his silent approach. Their weight is too familiar. â€Å"You're easy to sneak up on.† Even now, there is a smile in his voice. â€Å"I saw you coming before you took the first step,† I say without turning. â€Å"I have eyes in the back of my head.† Warm fingers stroke my face from my temple to my chin, dragging fire along my skin. â€Å"You look like a dryad hidden here in the trees,† he whispers in my ear. â€Å"One of them. So beautiful that you must be fictional.† â€Å"We should plant more trees around the cabin.† He chuckles, and the sound makes my eyes close and my lips stretch into a grin. â€Å"Not necessary,† he says. â€Å"You always look that way.† â€Å"Says the last man on Earth to the last woman on Earth, on the eve of their separation.† My smile fades as I speak. Smiles cannot last today. He sighs. His breath on my cheek is warm compared to the chill forest air. â€Å"Jamie might resent that implication.† â€Å"Jamie's still a boy. Please, please keep him safe.† â€Å"I'll make you a deal,† Jared offers. â€Å"You keep yourself safe, and I'll do my best. Otherwise, no deal.† Just a joke, but I can't take it lightly. Once we are apart, there are no guarantees. â€Å"No matter what happens,† I insist. â€Å"Nothing's going to happen. Don't worry.† The words are nearly meaningless. A waste of effort. But his voice is worth hearing, no matter the message. â€Å"Okay.† He pulls me around to face him, and I lean my head against his chest. I don't know what to compare his scent to. It is his own, as unique as the smell of juniper or the desert rain. â€Å"You and I won't lose each other,† he promises. â€Å"I will always find you again.† Being Jared, he cannot be completely serious for more than a heartbeat or two. â€Å"No matter how well you hide. I'm unstoppable at hide-and-seek.† â€Å"Will you give me to the count of ten?† â€Å"Without peeking.† â€Å"You're on,† I mumble, trying to disguise the fact that my throat is thick with tears. â€Å"Don't be afraid. You'll be fine. You're strong, you're fast, and you're smart.† He's trying to convince himself, too. Why am I leaving him? It's such a long shot that Sharon is still human. But when I saw her face on the news, I was so sure. It was just a normal raid, one of a thousand. As usual when we felt isolated enough, safe enough, we had the TV on as we cleaned out the pantry and fridge. Just to get the weather forecast; there isn't much entertainment in the dead-boring everything-is-perfect reports that pass for news among the parasites. It was the hair that caught my eye-the flash of deep, almost pink red that I'd only ever seen on one person. I can still see the look on her face as she peeked at the camera from the corner of one eye. The look that said, I'm trying to be invisible; don't see me. She walked not quite slowly enough, working too hard at keeping a casual pace. Trying desperately to blend in. No body snatcher would feel that need. What is Sharon doing walking around human in a huge city like Chicago? Are there others? Trying to find her doesn't even seem like a choice, really. If there is a chance there are more humans out there, we have to locate them. And I have to go alone. Sharon will run from anyone but me-well, she will run from me, too, but maybe she will pause long enough for me to explain. I am sure I know her secret place. â€Å"And you?† I ask him in a thick voice. I'm not sure I can physically bear this looming goodbye. â€Å"Will you be safe?† â€Å"Neither heaven nor hell can keep me apart from you, Melanie.† Without giving me a chance to catch my breath or wipe away the fresh tears, she threw another at me. Jamie curls up under my arm-he doesn't fit the way he used to. He has to fold in on himself, his long, gangly limbs poking out in sharp angles. His arms are starting to turn hard and sinewy, but in this moment he's a child, shaking, cowering almost. Jared is loading the car. Jamie would not show this fear if he were here. Jamie wants to be brave, to be like Jared. â€Å"I'm scared,† he whispers. I kiss his night-dark hair. Even here among the sharp, resinous trees, it smells like dust and sun. It feels like he is part of me, that to separate us will tear the skin where we are joined. â€Å"You'll be fine with Jared.† I have to sound brave, whether I feel that way or not. â€Å"I know that. I'm scared for you. I'm scared you won't come back. Like Dad.† I flinch. When Dad didn't come back-though his body did eventually, trying to lead the Seekers to us-it was the most horror and the most fear and the most pain I'd ever felt. What if I do that to Jamie again? â€Å"I'll come back. I always come back.† â€Å"I'm scared,† he says again. I have to be brave. â€Å"I promise everything will be fine. I'm coming back. I promise. You know I won't break a promise, Jamie. Not to you.† The shaking slows. He believes me. He trusts me. And another: I can hear them on the floor below. They will find me in minutes, or seconds. I scrawl the words on a dirty shred of newsprint. They are nearly illegible, but if he finds them, he will understand: Not fast enough. Love you love Jamie. Don't go home. Not only do I break their hearts, I steal their refuge, too. I picture our little canyon home abandoned, as it must be forever now. Or if not abandoned, a tomb. I see my body leading the Seekers to it. My face smiling as we catch them there†¦ â€Å"Enough,† I said out loud, cringing away from the whiplash of pain. â€Å"Enough! You've made your point! I can't live without them either now. Does that make you happy? Because it doesn't leave me many choices, does it? Just one-to get rid of you. Do you want the Seeker inside you? Ugh!† I recoiled from the thought as if I would be the one to house her. There is another choice, Melanie thought softly. â€Å"Really?† I demanded with heavy sarcasm. â€Å"Show me one.† Look and see. I was still staring at the mountain peak. It dominated the landscape, a sudden upthrust of rock surrounded by flat scrubland. Her interest pulled my eyes over the outline, tracing the uneven two-pronged crest. A slow, rough curve, then a sharp turn north, another sudden turn back the other way, twisting back to the north for a longer stretch, and then the abrupt southern decline that flattened out into another shallow curve. Not north and south, the way I'd always seen the lines in her piecemeal memories; it was up and down. The profile of a mountain peak. The lines that led to Jared and Jamie. This was the first line, the starting point. I could find them. We could find them, she corrected me. You don't know all the directions. Just like with the cabin, I never gave you everything. â€Å"I don't understand. Where does it lead? How does a mountain lead us?† My pulse beat faster as I thought of it: Jared was close. Jamie, within my reach. She showed me the answer. â€Å"They're just lines. And Uncle Jeb is just an old lunatic. A nut job, like the rest of my dad's family.† I try to tug the book out of Jared's hands, but he barely seems to notice my effort. â€Å"A nut job, like Sharon's mom?† he counters, still studying the dark pencil marks that deface the back cover of the old photo album. It's the one thing I haven't lost in all the running. Even the graffiti loony Uncle Jeb left on it during his last visit has sentimental value now. â€Å"Point taken.† If Sharon is still alive, it will be because her mother, loony Aunt Maggie, could give loony Uncle Jeb a run for the title of Craziest of the Crazy Stryder Siblings. My father had been only slightly touched by the Stryder madness-he didn't have a secret bunker in the backyard or anything. The rest of them, his sister and brothers, Aunt Maggie, Uncle Jeb, and Uncle Guy, were the most devoted of conspiracy theorists. Uncle Guy had died before the others disappeared during the invasion, in a car accident so commonplace that even Maggie and Jeb had struggled to make an intrigue out of it. My father always affectionately referred to them as the Crazies. â€Å"I think it's time we visited the Crazies,† Dad would announce, and then Mom would groan-which is why such announcements had happened so seldom. On one of those rare visits to Chicago, Sharon had snuck me into her mother's hidey-hole. We got caught-the woman had booby traps every-where. Sharon was scolded soundly, and though I was sworn to secrecy, I'd had a sense Aunt Maggie might build a new sanctuary. But I remember where the first is. I picture Sharon there now, living the life of Anne Frank in the middle of an enemy city. We have to find her and bring her home. Jared interrupts my reminiscing. â€Å"Nut jobs are exactly the kind of people who will have survived. People who saw Big Brother when he wasn't there. People who suspected the rest of humanity before the rest of humanity turned dangerous. People with hiding places ready.† Jared grins, still study-ing the lines. And then his voice is heavier. â€Å"People like my father. If he and my brothers had hidden rather than fought†¦ Well, they'd still be here.† My tone is softer, hearing the pain in his. â€Å"Okay, I agree with the theory. But these lines don't mean anything.† â€Å"Tell me again what he said when he drew them.† I sigh. â€Å"They were arguing-Uncle Jeb and my dad. Uncle Jeb was trying to convince him that something was wrong, telling him not to trust anyone. Dad laughed it off. Jeb grabbed the photo album from the end table and started†¦ almost carving the lines into the back cover with a pencil. Dad got mad, said my mom would be angry. Jeb said, Linda's mom asked you all to come up for a visit, right? Kind of strange, out of the blue? Got a little upset when only Linda would come? Tell you the truth, Trev, I don't think Linda will be minding anything much when she gets back. Oh, she might act like it, but you'll be able to tell the difference.' It didn't make sense at the time, but what he said really upset my dad. He ordered Uncle Jeb out of the house. Jeb wouldn't leave at first. Kept warning us not to wait until it was too late. He grabbed my shoulder and pulled me into his side. Don't let 'em get you, honey,' he whispered. Follow the lines. Start at the beginning and follow the l ines. Uncle Jeb'll keep a safe place for you.' That's when Dad shoved him out the door.† Jared nods absently, still studying. â€Å"The beginning†¦ the beginning†¦ It has to mean something.† â€Å"Does it? They're just squiggles, Jared. It's not like a map-they don't even connect.† â€Å"There's something about the first one, though. Something familiar. I could swear I've seen it somewhere before.† I sigh. â€Å"Maybe he told Aunt Maggie. Maybe she got better directions.† â€Å"Maybe,† he says, and continues to stare at Uncle Jeb's squiggles. She dragged me back in time, to a much, much older memory-a memory that had escaped her for a long while. I was surprised to realize that she had only put these memories, the old and the fresh, together recently. After I was here. That was why the lines had slipped through her careful control despite the fact that they were one of the most precious of her secrets-because of the urgency of her discovery. In this blurry early memory, Melanie sat in her father's lap with the same album-not so tattered then-open in her hands. Her hands were tiny, her fingers stubby. It was very strange to remember being a child in this body. They were on the first page. â€Å"Do you remember where this is?† Dad asks, pointing to the old gray picture at the top of the page. The paper looks thinner than the other photographs, as if it has worn down-flatter and flatter and flatter-since some great-great-grandpa took it. â€Å"It's where we Stryders come from,† I answer, repeating what I've been taught. â€Å"Right. That's the old Stryder ranch. You went there once, but I bet you don't remember it. I think you were eighteen months old.† Dad laughs. â€Å"It's been Stryder land since the very beginning†¦Ã¢â‚¬  And then the memory of the picture itself. A picture she'd looked at a thousand times without ever seeing it. It was black and white, faded to grays. A small rustic wooden house, far away on the other side of a desert field; in the foreground, a split-rail fence; a few equine shapes between the fence and the house. And then, behind it all, the sharp, familiar profile†¦ There were words, a label, scrawled in pencil across the top white border: Stryder Ranch, 1904, in the morning shadow of†¦ â€Å"Picacho Peak,† I said quietly. He'll have figured it out, too, even if they never found Sharon. I know Jared will have put it together. He's smarter than me, and he has the picture; he probably saw the answer before I did. He could be so close†¦ The thought had her so filled with yearning and excitement that the blank wall in my head slipped entirely. I saw the whole journey now, saw her and Jared's and Jamie's careful trek across the country, always by night in their inconspicuous stolen vehicle. It took weeks. I saw where she'd left them in a wooded preserve outside the city, so different from the empty desert they were used to. The cold forest where Jared and Jamie would hide and wait had felt safer in some ways-because the branches were thick and concealing, unlike the spindly desert foliage that hid little-but also more dangerous in its unfamiliar smells and sounds. Then the separation, a memory so painful we skipped through it, flinching. Next came the abandoned building she'd hidden in, watching the house across the street for her chance. There, concealed within the walls or in the secret basement, she hoped to find Sharon. I shouldn't have let you see that, Melanie thought. The faintness of her silent voice gave away her fatigue. The assault of memories, the persuasion and coercion, had tired her. You'll tell them where to find her. You'll kill her, too. â€Å"Yes,† I mused aloud. â€Å"I have to do my duty.† Why? she murmured, almost sleepily. What happiness will it bring you? I didn't want to argue with her, so I said nothing. The mountain loomed larger ahead of us. In moments, we would be beneath it. I could see a little rest stop with a convenience store and a fast food restaurant bordered on one side by a flat, concrete space-a place for mobile homes. There were only a few in residence now, with the heat of the coming summer making things uncomfortable. What now? I wondered. Stop for a late lunch or an early dinner? Fill my gas tank and then continue on to Tucson in order to reveal my fresh discoveries to the Seeker? The thought was so repellent that my jaw locked against the sudden heave of my empty stomach. I slammed on the brake reflexively, screeching to a stop in the middle of the lane. I was lucky; there were no cars to hit me from behind. There were also no drivers to stop and offer their help and concern. For this moment, the highway was empty. The sun beat down on the pavement, making it shimmer, disappear in places. This shouldn't have felt like a betrayal, the idea of continuing on my right and proper course. My first language, the true language of the soul that was spoken only on our planet of origin, had no word for betrayal or traitor. Or even loyalty-because without the existence of an opposite, the concept had no meaning. And yet I felt a deep well of guilt at the very idea of the Seeker. It would be wrong to tell her what I knew. Wrong, how? I countered my own thought viciously. If I stopped here and listened to the seductive suggestions of my host, I would truly be a traitor. That was impossible. I was a soul. And yet I knew what I wanted, more powerfully and vividly than anything I had ever wanted in all the eight lives I'd lived. The image of Jared's face danced behind my eyelids when I blinked against the sun-not Melanie's memory this time, but my memory of hers. She forced nothing on me now. I could barely feel her in my head as she waited-I imagined her holding her breath, as if that were possible-for me to make my decision. I could not separate myself from this body's wants. It was me, more than I'd ever intended it to be. Did I want or did it want? Did that distinction even matter now? In my rearview mirror, the glint of the sun off a distant car caught my eye. I moved my foot to the accelerator, starting slowly toward the little store in the shadow of the peak. There was really only one thing to do.

Exam the Writing Process, Part 2

Exam #00711800 The Writing Process, Part 2 1. Write a composition using one of the topics listed below. Your composition should be three to five paragraphs long. It should contain an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Today I am writing to analyze the best way to prepare a meal. As a stay at home mom with two children me preparation is very important so as to have the meal ready on time and tasting good. I will be analyzing one of my kids favorite meals which is fried chicken and macaroni and cheese When preparing this meal I like to make sure that I have all the ingredients needed for this.Of course you will need fresh chicken drumsticks that I normally set out the morning of to ensure they are fully thawed out. You will also need 3 to 4 eggs, and cereal bowl filled half way with flour. Now for the macaroni and cheese you will need one box of pasta either elbow or shells. Those are the pasta that I choose to use but you can use any kind that you would like. You also need Velvee ta cheese and a stick of butter. To prepare the fried chicken I turn on my deep fryer and set it at 375 degrees. Next I take an empty bowl and crack open 3 eggs into it and use a fork whisk the eggs together.Then I take the drumsticks and dip them into the egg ensuring to fully coat the chicken. On full coated I roll the chicken in the flour fully coating it. Then I place the drumstick in to the fryer basket and repeat till I have at least 3 tree drumsticks to fry at one time. One I have what need in the basket I lower the basking into the heated cooking oil. I normally cook the drumsticks about 15 minutes a batch. I repeat all this until I cook the desired mount of chicken I need to feed my family which is about 6 to 8 drumsticks.Now to prepare the macaroni and cheese, you need to get out a medium size pot and fill 3 quarters full of water and place it on the stove and bring it to a boil. Once the water is at a full boil meaning the water is fully bubbling you add your pasta. Be su re to stir the pasta occasionally to make sure that the pasta is not sticking to the pot. After about 10 minutes of boiling take your spoon and check the pasta making sure they are soft enough to you taste be careful they will be hot if they’re not soft enough keep the boiling for 5 more minutes.While you’re waiting on your past grab your strainer and place it in the sink. Once you pasta is cooked take you pot from the heat and pour your contents into the strainer to get rid of the water. Next return you pasta to the pot add the sick of butter and 3 quarters of the stick of Velveeta cheese make sure you cut the cheese up into 1 inch squares. Stir all of the cheese and butter in until it’s all melted. That is how I prepare a simple yet satisfying meal for my family that takes roughly 45 minutes to prepare.Cooking meals like this saves money compared to going to restaurants all the time. I spend 15 dollars to make this rather than 25 to feed my family at McDonalds . If you’re either the cooker or the eater you get satisfaction by seeing your family enjoy the meal you prepared or enjoying the meal your loved one prepared. 2. Write a letter of complaint. Follow the rules for a business letter, and use the full-block style. Brandy Clay 1448A Alaska Ave Fort Campbell, Ky 42223 March 02, 2013 Customer Service The Salute Uniforms LLC 2724 Dorr Avenue Fairfax, Va, 22031Dear Sir or Madam: I have recently ordered a combat service identification badge for my husband from your website on February 22. I received the badge on March 1. As soon as I received the package it was noticed that the packaging had taken a beating while traveling through the mail. As soon as I opened the packaging it was apparent that the badge inside was damaged as well. When examined closer I discovered that the badge had snapped in two and the pins that are used to secure it to the uniform are bent in ways that they are not functional.I cannot find your return or exchange policy on your website. My order number is 637130. To resolve this problem, I would simply like an exchange of this combat service identification badge for another of same brand and model. I have ordered from you several times in the past and have had no issues with the merchandise or shipping. I understand that such problems as this sometimes occur with shipping. I look forward to hearing from you concerning the exchange. You can me at (830) 688-2396 or [email  protected] com. Sincerely, Brandy K. Clay

Malcolm X Essays - Politics, Counterculture Of The 1960s

Malcolm X Essays - Politics, Counterculture Of The 1960s Malcolm X Racism is a problem that the American people have grappled with since colonial times. The 1960's saw the rise of Martin Luther King, Jr and Malcolm X, who not only influenced the civil rights movement but attempted to solve the problem of racism in this country. On February 16, 1965, Malcolm X gave a speech called Not Just An American Problem, but a World Problem. In his speech he provides a theory on the relationship between media and racism called image making which still has validity today. On first reading, Malcolm's tone is angry and his theory on image making sounds absurd. He states: They (racists) use the press to get public opinion on their side. . . this is a science called image making. they hold you in check through this science of imagery. They even make you look down upon yourself, by giving you a bad image of yourself. Some of our own Black people who have eaten this image themselves and digested it until they themselves don't want to live in the Black community. Yet, current television programming seems to favor this idea. Local news programs continue to show colored communities as dangerous and gang-infested. They continually rely on the reports of these areas for the bulk of their news and overlook the positive images that residents of these areas try to create. For example, KNTV news continually reports on the thefts and shootings in East San Jose but does not make an effort to show how residents are dealing with these situations. The day a local East San Jose church helped sway the city council to put a streetlight on a very busy intersection, the news pre-empted the report with an accident on another East San Jose intersection. As a result, most people in these communities do not realize that they have power to change their area and have a great desire to move out of these areas. They have become prisoners who have bought into the image of East San Jose. Yet, local news programs are not the only ones to blame for image making; documentaries have played a part in the negative images of blacks. Malcolm X makes the claim that the negative image of communities in America are just a small part of the image making process. The documentary film has done the same for their African homeland. He states: They (the press) projected Africa in a negative image, a hateful image. They made us think that Africa was a land of jungles, a land of animals, a land of cannibals and savages. It was a hateful image. Current documentaries of Africa are still about their jungles and their tribes. Although they do not have a racist tone, the idea that African people are still uncivilized continues. The result is: Black people here in America who hated everything about us that was African. . . it was you who taught us to hate ourselves simply by shrewdly maneuvering us into hating the land of our forefathers and the people on that continent. These films do have an influence on today's society. From watching today's black TV, the actors on these shows make fun of these images. Recently, Martin Lawrence made fun of one of his friends; calling him a spear-thrower on his hit TV show. The larger problem that Malcolm X did not discuss in his speech is the result of the image making. The effectiveness of today's media on young minds is great. Only several years have passed since the introduction of a Black Barbie doll. The great action heroes are not colored but are white; only their sidekicks are colored, e.g., Lone Ranger and Tonto. Consequently, the serious Black actor is a precious commodity. It is the Black comedian who is more accepted in today's society because they are able to laugh about the negative black images. The white man, as Malcolm X might agree, would favor the comedian over the serious actor because white men do not want to be reminded about their crime. The comedian often supports the negative black images that the media has created: large lips, large buttocks, the criminal and the slave. Eddie Murphy is famous for his Mister Robinson character on Saturday Night Live. Robinson is a spoof on Mister Rogers; however, Robinson is a criminal. The image of the black man as a thief

Rape culture an epidemic Professor Ramos Blog

Rape culture an epidemic Rape culture an epidemic This is important to me because this is the reality and daily fear for the majority of people, including women and children. This essay will benefit anybody who is afraid to tell their story, afraid to wear the â€Å"wrong† thing or to look at the wrong person, it is not your fault and this mindset that our societies have cultivated is not okay.   The Google definition of Rape culture is a society or environment whose prevailing social attitudes have the effect of normalizing or trivializing sexual assault and abuse. This is seen in our everyday lives, in our schools dress codes as young as elementary, todays fashion and in personal experiences for almost every women. This does not just affect our women but our men too. Not teaching what consent is, letting the mentality of â€Å"boys will be boys† not holding men accountable for their actions. Along with the double standards that stand as brick walls for both genders. As hard as we try and  maneuver our way through this horrible and problematic epidemic of rape culture, it is not only exhausting but also seems like a lost cause for most, that no matter how hard we try it doesnt seem we can rise above it. The lack of education on sexual harassment and violence is also not very helpful but most worry sum. When it comes to women especially or people who seem â€Å"weak† all basic respect and courtesy is thrown out the window. Dont be a distraction This phrase unfortunately has been heard a multitude of times to our young girls still in grade school and later in life. The debate on pros and cons of school dress codes is not new, but being said many times that dress codes specifically targets our young girls, this is not excusable.   In Brynne Thomas T.E.D talk â€Å"A life of rape culture† she talks about the first time she was Slut shamed in the first grade. The young girl pulled her shirt down to expose her shoulders and was pulled to the side by her teacher being told she shouldnt be exposing herself as so because of the wrong impression it was giving off and that this made her look slutty. Telling a young girl that having her shoulders out would give off the â€Å"wrong impression† is not only extremely damaging but also wildly inappropriate.   Insider.com has a whole article on dress codes targeting young girls, from wearing ripped jeans, shorts that are â€Å"too short†, having collar bones expos ed and even not wearing a bra. Which most of the punishments resulted in class suspension or student being sent home. One of the most troubling story was a high school principal in South Carolina telling students in regard to the legging policy that Ive told you this before, Im going to tell you this now, unless you are a size zero or two and you wear something like that, even though youre not fat, you look fat, ( Insider) not only shaming the girls for wearing comfortable full legged bottoms but also for their weight. Creating the mindset that we are just objects and that our comfort and more importantly our education is   to come secondary to the comfort of our male peers and instructors. In most cases female students are not the only ones concerned with this almost blatant objectification. San Benito High School in California Fifty students were sent home for wearing off the shoulder tops, which later resulted in a school wide protest where all genders came to school wearing th e â€Å" distracting† off the shoulder top. (Insider). The school later discussing with the students why they decided to protest and later announcing that the school would never blame female students for distracting others with their choice of clothing. The most common question in regards in how women dress is â€Å" Why would she wear that?† not â€Å" Why are you  sexualizing her for wearing that?† These are young girls that our society is telling to cover up, instead of telling our males to not get turned on by these young girls. But she was asking for it In the compilation of personal encounterments of survivors of rape culture â€Å"Not that bad† by Roxane Gay, one of the perspectives was of Aubrey Hirsch. Hirsch’s story about how she was berated by a known friend for taking her birth control publicly and being told that if she someone sees her than that would make her an easy target and letting her male peers think that there would be no repercussions for raping her (1) For those who do not know birth control is not only taken as a form of contraception but for a number of other reasons. Such as making menstrual cycles more manageable, controlling acne, reducing risk of ovarian cancer and cysts and maintaining weight. Birth control (pill form) must be taken everyday at the same time and preferably with food, just as any other form of long term medication. Taking birth control is not open invitation for being taken advantage of. In Hirschs case she did start taking her birth control to make her period more manageable. This attitude that â€Å"shes asking for it† may seem to be something that a â€Å"feminazi† would say blowing â€Å"innocent† phrases that are embedded in our psyche out of proportion such as â€Å"if he hits you it means he likes you†. Which may have a valid argument if not for North Carolina having a â€Å"loophole† making rape legal. In 1979   Northern Carolina supreme court passed a law stating that a woman can not be raped if she consented to sex even if later she revokes it. Meaning women can not legally revoke consent, the initial case was about a woman who said a date threatened to kill her if she didnt have sex with him.   The Supreme Court later found that: If the actual penetration is accomplished with the womans consent, the accused is not guilty of rape, although he may be guilty of another crime because of his subsequent actions.( NBC new)   Having your life on the line and feeling that the only way to come out of a situation a live is to give in to sex is not consent it is a ultimatum. This is the definition of rape culture normalizing sexual abuse.  Ã‚   According to the NSVRC ( National sexual violence research center) One in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives,and that One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years old. Young children are targeted just as much as women, being that only 12% of child sexual abuse is ever reported to the authorities (NSVRC). Then prove it!! Some scholars argue whether or not rape culture is a real epidemic or question its existence. For lawyer and writer Luke Gittos, he writes in this book â€Å"Why Rape Culture is a Dangerous Myth† that â€Å" Many of the ideas which persist around rape today attempt to attach certainty to statistics which are inherently open to interpretation† (1). Stating that statistics are not based on facts. Suggesting that statistics to be â€Å"open to interpretation† is a contradiction to what statistics are, based on scientific evidence. Another point that Gittos makes is that instead of siding with the victim we should have the sympathy for the predator. Using innocent until proven guilty, understandably so. However what would be sufficient evidence if a rape test kit was unable to get done? The victim typically does not pull out a phone to record the horrendous act and if a rape test kit is used within the preferred five days how long does it actually take to get results back? Reported by multiple news articles such as the Washington post and San Francisco chronicle   rape test kits have a tremendous wait time to actually be tested, decades of test still on shelves waiting to be tested. â€Å"In New York City, an estimated 17,000 kits went untested. In Houston, there were 6,000. In Detroit, Los Angeles and Memphis, there were more than 11,000 each. Over the past two decades, the â€Å"rape kit backlog† ( Washington post).† If DNA of the assailant is found but they argue that it was consensual sex the Rape kit does not do much to provide evidence that it was assault, only relying on if any other physical harm was done such as bruising or bleeding. The NSVRC provides that only 2-10% of rape reports are false and that rape is the most under reported crime being that only 63% of sexual assaults are reported. This is our problem In another narrative by Hirsch in â€Å" Not that bad† she shares that being an English teacher she has her students write fictional literacy that often end up being about rape. The most unfortunate truth about this is that the students do not see that they have the protagonist actually becomes the antagonist when they rape the damsel in distress. One of the most unsettling stories she shared was one if her students wrote about a couple at a party, the women was so drunk that she could not walk or stand the he proceeded to have sex with her (he rape her) (6). Later coming to light that this was a retelling of how this boy and his girlfriend got together. When Aubrey talked to her student he was at awe when she was discussing that the character in the story was raping the women. The man did not know he was a rapist because no one called him out on it and it did not fall under the typical image of rape. In the TED talk by Jackson Katz â€Å"Violence against women its a mens is sue, he argues that this rape culture epidemic is a not a â€Å"womens† issue but a societal problem. Bring up the bystander mentality when men let other men passively objectify women or make sexist statements and pass it off as â€Å" locker room talk† or â€Å" its just a joke†. Letting it be known that the main predator is the man but we dont feel that men have a part of fixing this problem. He calls out how  damaging this is not only for our women but also for our young men, having these toxic male role models. Seeing these men that treat our mothers our sisters like objects, he then learns that this is what a â€Å"man† does and subconsciously learning this behavior. Katz encourages men to be microphones for our women that society tries so incredibly hard to silence. In todays world a women can be saying the same thing a man is but only the man is heard, in order to fix this men need to start advocating for us just as they would for their mother or aunt or sister.   Annotated Bibliography    1.TEDxTalks. â€Å"A Life Of Rape Culture | Brynne Thomas | TEDxYouth@TCS.† YouTube, YouTube, 31 May 2015, youtube.com/watch?v=oYppe9kyUxY. Brynne talks about at a young age her eyes were opened to the rape culture we live in and hoe scary it was/is personally for her. I plan to use this to show how young we are when we are attacked for being girls. 2 Gay, Roxane. Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture. HarperCollins, 2018.   Professor Gay has created a compilation of real life stories from survivors of sexual abuse. Discussing how in our society we tend to blame the victims and the norm of sexual abuse promoting the ignorance of what is and what is not rape, sexual harassment or sexual abuse. Having multiple accounts of the predator being blind to the fact that they had just committed the unspeakable crime of rape. I will use this source to show how both genders are effected by our societal norms. 3 â€Å"Get Statistics.† Sexual Assault Statistics | National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), www.nsvrc.org/statistics. A resource page on sexual assaults, I plan to use this to show rape statistics. 4 Gittos, Luke. Why Rape Culture Is a Dangerous Myth: from Steubenville to Ched Evans. Imprint Academic, 2015. Gittos is British writer and lawyer, writing about the falsehood of rape culture.Discussing the topics of victim blaming and Personal life should stay personal. I plan to use this to show that there are still scholars who disbelieve the rape culture. 5 Gutierrez, Melody, and Kimberly Veklerov. â€Å"Efforts to Clear Californias Rape Kit Testing Backlog Fall Short.† San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2018, www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Efforts-to-clear-California-s-rape-kit-testing-12760627.php. This article is explaining the efforts of california to try and speed up the rape kit tests, and how so many kits have gone untested 6   Katz, Jackson. â€Å"Violence against Women Its a Mens Issue.† TED: Ideas Worth Spreading, ted.com/talks/jackson_katz_violence_against_women_it_s_a_men_s_issue?language=en#t-879841.Katz is a scholar discussing the how our rape culture is â€Å"not just womens problem that some good men help with†. Letting it be known that this is not a battle of sexis. I am using to show everyone has a part and is negatively influenced by this. Speaking out educating that men and boys are also victims.   Ã‚   7 Lakritz, Talia. â€Å"16 Times Students and Parents Said School Dress Codes Went Too Far.† INSIDER, INSIDER, 5 Oct. 2018, www.thisisinsider.com/school-dress-code-rules-controversy-2018-8. This article is showing how girls are targeted with school dress code, Iplan to use this to show how we as a society we sexualize our young girls 8 thamesvalleypoliceuk. â€Å"Tea and Consent.† YouTube, YouTube, 16 Nov. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZwvrxVavnQ. A video on what consent is, I plan to use this to explain how simple consent is 9 â€Å"This Loophole Fails to Protect Some Rape Victims in North Carolina.† NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/north-carolina-legal-loophole-says-women-can-t-withdraw-consent-n776026. This article shows the rape laws in North Carolina I plan to use this to show that our society does dismiss rape 10 â€Å"Years-Old Rape Kits Are Finally Being Tested. No One Can Agree on What to Do next.† The Washington Post, WP Company, www.washingtonpost.com/news/style/wp/2018/02/20/feature/decades-worth-of-rape-kits-are-finally-being-tested-no-one-can-agree-on-what-to-do-next/?noredirect=onutm_term=.8ccd186c7bce. I plan to use this article to show how many rape test kits go untested and how effective they are if tested.

Why You Shouldnt Use a Period When Text Messaging

Why You Shouldnt Use a Period When Text Messaging Have you ever ended up in a spat with someone after a text message conversation went awry? Has anyone ever accused your messages of being rude or insincere? This may sound a bit crazy, but a study found that using a period to end a texted sentence could be the problem. A team of psychologists at Binghamton University in New York conducted a study among the schools students and found that text message responses to questions that ended with a period were perceived as less sincere than those that did not. The study titled  Texting Insincerely: The Role of the Period in Text Messaging was published in  Computers in Human Behavior  in December 2015, and was led by  Associate Professor of Psychology Celia Klin. Previous studies and your own daily observations show that  most people do not include periods at the end of final sentences in text messages, even when they include them in the sentences that precede them. Klin and her team suggest that this occurs because  the rapid back-and-forth exchange enabled by texting resembles talking, so our use of the medium is closer to how we speak to each other than to how we write with each other. This means that when people communicate by text message they must use other methods to include the social cues that are included by default in spoken conversations, like  tone, physical gestures, facial and eye expressions, and the pauses we take between our words. (In sociology, we use the symbolic interaction perspective to analyze all the ways our daily interactions are loaded with communicated meaning.) There are many ways that we add these social cues to our textual conversations. Most obvious among them are emojis, which have become such a common part of our daily communicative lives that Oxford English Dictionary named the Face with Tears of Joy emoji as its 2015 word of the year. But of course, we also use punctuation like asterisks and exclamation points to add emotional and social cues to our texted conversations. Repeating letters to add emphasis to a word, like sooooooo tired, is also commonly used to the same effect.​ Klin and her team suggest that these elements add pragmatic and social information to the literal meaning of typed words, and so have become useful and important elements of conversation in our digitized, twenty-first-century lives. But a period at the end of a final sentence stands alone. In the context of texting, other linguistic researchers have  suggested that the period reads as finalas shutting down a conversationand that it is more commonly used at the end of a sentence that is meant to convey unhappiness, anger, or frustration. But Klin and her team wondered if this was really the case, and so they conducted a study to test this theory. Klin and her team had 126 students at their university rate the sincerity of a variety of exchanges,  presented as images of text messages on mobile phones. In each exchange, the first message contained a statement and a question, and the response contained an answer to the question. The researchers tested each set of messages with a response that ended with a period, and with one that did not.  One example  read, Dave gave me his extra tickets. Wanna come? followed by a response of Surepunctuated with a period in some instances, and not in others. The study also contained twelve other exchanges using different forms of punctuation, so as to not lead participants on to the intent of the study. Participants rated the exchanges from very insincere (1) to very sincere (7). The results show that people find final sentences that end with a period to be less sincere than those that are ended without punctuation (3.85 on the scale of 1-7, versus 4.06). Klin and her team observed that the period has taken on a particular pragmatic and social meaning in texting because its use is optional in this form of communication. That participants in the study did not rate use of the period as indicating a less sincere handwritten message seems to back this up. Our interpretation of the period as signaling a not entirely sincere message is unique to texting. Of course, these findings do not suggest that people are using periods intentionally to make the meaning of their messages less sincere. But regardless of intent, receivers of such messages are interpreting them that way. Consider that during an in-person conversation, a similar lack of sincerity might be communicated by not looking up from a task or other object of focus while responding to a question. Such behavior signals a lack of interest in or engagement with the person asking the question. In the context of texting, the use of a period has taken on a similar meaning. So if you want to ensure that your messages are received and understood with the level of sincerity you intend, leave the period off the final sentence. You might even consider upping the sincerity ante with an exclamation point. Grammar experts are likely to disagree with this recommendation, but its us social scientists who are more adept at understanding the shifting dynamics of interaction and communication. You can trust us on this, sincerely.

Assess the impact of Edward Snowden's revelations on the public image Essay

Assess the impact of Edward Snowden's revelations on the public image of GCHQ and the wider intelligence community - Essay Example ons have made efforts directed towards improving the level of their national security intelligence with an aim of ensuring that proper investigations, surveillance as well as supervision of security issues is undertaken to prevent terrorism attacks. In addition, some countries have resorted to the use of spy and other intelligence agencies that basically monitor groups that might have been suspected of terrorism activities. The issue of military strength between countries has also compelled governments and concerned stakeholders to undertake certain sensitive measures that would ensure that they monitor the military strength of rival countries and their level of security intelligence. These measures have included the use of spies and intelligence agencies that are usually sent to the rival countries to perform such missions. However, the major challenge that has been identified with regard to the use of spies emanates from the tension that occurs in the case that the rival country becomes aware of the spying activities within their military operations. In some cases, intelligence organizations have also undertaken roles geared towards ensuring that the level of security within internet is kept under proper surveillance by monitoring the activities that are performed in the internet by their respective populations. However, this has raised the question regarding the privacy of information of the populat ion owing to the fact that national intelligence organizations are usually provided with the authority to access any activity performed in the internet and other sources of media by a specific population. Many people have complained that by accessing personal information of the activities that are performed by individuals within the internet is a violation or a sense of intruding personal privacy. A case of revelations of an employee of an intelligence agency occurred when Edward Joseph Snowden revealed the activities the United States National Intelligence Agency

The First Crusade Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The First Crusade - Research Paper Example Indeed Pope Urban’s religious apparel often tends to shroud the true aspects of the First Crusade and the fact that Pope Urban himself was up to his own cause is often ignored. Indeed historians have interpreted the event of the First Crusade differently. The lack of any unique primary document on Pope Urban’s (II) motive for the crusade has laid the event open to interpretation. These interpretations revolve mainly around three points: a. the 11th century reform movement, b. the Seldjuk or Muslim threat to the Eastern Roman Orthodoxy, c. affirmation of Papacy on entire European Christendom. But an astute analysis of the event will reveal that all of these three causes had their, more or less, equal shares of influence on the First Crusade. Seldjuk’s Threat in the East as a Primary Cause of First Crusade Though there is a common tendency among the historians to underrate the Seljuk threat to the Eastern Christendom considering it as a secondary cause of the First Crusade and to view it as a mere excuse to move eastward, the Seljuk attack on the Byzantine Empire was no less important as a psychological motivation than other causes. In a concrete sense, it might be a mere excuse in Pope Urban’s political and religious scheme, but it was a demonic cause to usurp the commoners’ sacrificial emotion for the war in its essence. In fact, First Crusade was the product of the reincarnated commoners’ passion for a holy war against the infidel and the unfaithful that were commonly considered to be the Seldjuk during the late 11th century. The extremity of medieval religiosity to achieve ablution for sins, restored faith of the commoners in church, superiority of the Popes and the church’s victory of the Emperor- all together functioned to boost up the common people’s zeal to fight for the Holy Land and eastern Christendom against the invading Seldjuk. Even if Islam and Christianity coexist on the east bank of the Medi terranean Sea for more than three hundred years before the 1000s, as Thomas Asbridge’s claims, the increasing Seldjuk attacks on the Byzantine Empire, the defeat in Manzikert in 1077, the conquest of religiously important cities like Antioch and Nicaea, Turkish invasion and conquest of Anatolia, etc were severe blows on the 11th century Christendom that made the Western church reformers feel the pressure on the East and eventually provoked the superior papacy to successfully characterize the invaders as the infidel and unfaithful who must be challenged. In an article, Paul Crawford describes the crisis as following: â€Å"In 1071 the Turks met and crushed the Byzantine army at the Battle of Manzikert, near Armenia. As a result the entire heartland of the Empire, in Asia Minor, lay open and defenseless† (Crawford 2). The atrocities of the Seldjuk are reflected in a â€Å"Letter of Alexius to Count Robert of Flanders†: The holy places they desecrate and destroy in numberless ways, and they threaten them with worse treatment†¦For almost the entire land from Jerusalem to Greece, and the whole of Greece with its upper regions†¦and now almost nothing remains except Constantinople. (Alexius) East-West Schism as one of the Causes of First Crusade Indeed for Pope Urban II there was no

Network Protocol Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Network Protocol - Essay Example It is an admitted fact that computer technology has affected many parts of our life by playing a vital role. In addition, business organizations are adopting modern and innovative tools and technologies in order to survive in this ever-increasing competitive world. In fact, with the developments in information technologies, organizations are adopting the trend of building their IT infrastructure using already developed services rather than re-inventing the wheel. In view of the fact that it helps organizations reduce development costs and provide the system with greater adaptability as new services can be composed and existing services can be discarded in case of any change in business requirements or market conditions. In this regard, organizations are increasingly adopting Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) to build their IT infrastructure by dynamically composing loosely coupled services to perform their business operations. This research is aimed at exploring SOA and web service technology, focusing on its significance as compared to traditional distributed computing paradigms. In this paper, the significance of different protocols that form the basis of SOA and web services is also revealed and different frameworks and tools are discussed that provide the capabilities of development and integration. Keywords: Service-Oriented Architecture, XML, Web Service Description Language, Web services Introduction Service-oriented architectures (SOA) is a rising approach, promising, efficient and effective system that is loosely coupled, based on open standards, and is not bound to a special type of protocols. In this scenario, the operation of the organization, adopting SOA is run by invoking loosely coupled services often in an asynchronous or event driven style according to the requirements of the underlying business process (Papazoglou & Heuvel, 2007). Basically, the Web services have been very popular since 1999 and the most significant factor that forms the basis of success and popularity of web services is the truth that its backbone is XML (Suda, 2003). In addition, the Web Services work by defining web interfaces all the way through the usage of XML schema and a machine-readable specification called Web Services Description Language (WSDL) to describe the configuration of the input and output messages that are exchanged to invoke and consume the service (Wilkinson et al. , 2009). This paper will provide a brief description of SOA, web services and the advantages of web service technology over other traditional technologies. Basically, this research is aimed at exploring SOA and web service technology, focusing on its significance as compared to traditional distributed computing paradigms. In this paper, the importance of a wide variety of protocols that form the basis of SOA and web services is also revealed and different frameworks and tools are discussed that provide the capabilities of development and integration. Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) Service-oriented architecture (SOA) is an influential distributed computing architecture that facilitates a higher degree of abstraction in the development, deployment and operation of platform independent IT infrastructure. Additionally, the SOA involves the communication between service providers and service consumers for the consumption of hosted services. SOA provides with a scheme of architecting , implementing, installing, and administering the IT infrastructures, in which, business functionality is provided by reusable services with the help of interfaces which are defined separately from the service

Martin luther king jr Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Martin luther king jr - Research Paper Example Martin Luther King Jr. was born in January 15, 1929. His grandfather served Baptist Church in Atlanta from 1914 to 1931. After the death of his father, he served at the church as a co-pastor. At the age of 18, King became a Baptist minister. After completing his graduation in 1948 from Morehouse College, he attained his PhD degree from Boston University in systematic theology. King then served Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery as a pastor in 1954. King was also nominated as a member of the executive committee of the National Association. It was one of the major organizations who was working for the rights and advancement of Black people. One of the initial civil rights actions of Martin Luther King was when he led the Bus Boycott. A lady Rosa Parks refused to give her seat to a white man which resulted in this Boycott. King was leading the blacks in this Boycott, which was against the segregation in buses for black and white and it lasted over a year. Martin had to pay a lot for leading this Boycott as his house was bombed and he was jailed too but his efforts worked finally. He came out of the jail and the discrimination in the buses came to an end. Martin Luther King, in 1963, also organized a March consisting off 250,000 people. The aim of the march was to protest against discrimination in schools, employments etc. During this march, he delivered a famous speech titled as "I have a Dream". This resulted in a great achievement when, in 1964, a civil rights act was passed. He also made a major contribution in writing by becoming the author of five books. For his restless contribution against African-Americans segregation, King was awarded with noble prize only at the young age of thirty. He further proved himself to be a leader devoted to his objectives when he announced to donate the prize money for civil rights movement. He was

Paper for class MIS 2100 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Paper for class MIS 2100 - Essay Example Having qualified personnel who can utilize information systems is critical to the success and growth of an organization. As a student, I have realized how important it is for me to learn about these systems in order to guarantee success in the future business career. Secondly, prior to taking this class, I simply viewed business systems as tools used in businesses for daily operations. However, after taking this class, I have learnt that information systems are a major source of competitive advantage, especially in the current business environment. I have learnt that information systems help businesses reduce the cost of doing business, and this ensures that products and services are offered at a lower cost. Through information systems, businesses can be innovative and come up with new products and services that satisfy the needs of the market better and efficiently. Overall, by taking this class, I have learnt not only how to use information systems to carry out daily business activ ities but also use them to set the business ahead of the rest in the market. Finally, the MIS 2100 class has enabled me understand the ethical and social issues raised by information systems. By using technology to carry out business activities, organizations expose themselves to a great risk which may affect their operations and their relationship with the society. For instance, information systems pose major challenges on people’s privacy since personal information is exchanged through different computer systems before arriving at the final destination. Through this process, private information may be leaked to unauthorized parties, and this may lead to serious ethical problems. Through this class, I have learnt how to use such systems responsibly in order to avoid some of these ethical and social challenges. By taking this class, I have leant that although technology is beneficial to the business, it can cause serious problems if not well used. This might comprise the

Subway fast food Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Subway fast food - Essay Example The business opens up more than 500 outlets to its business every year. The company is the most prominent example of a successful franchising business that has grown hugely over the last 50 years of its operation all across the world. The mission of the company is maximizing the profitability of the business while delivering sustainable growth and improving shareholders value through the years of its operation. The vision of the company is to be the leading integrated group of food chains on the basis of consistently providing high quality food and delivering excellent customer service. The food chain business environment is evolving continuously as a most dynamic segment of the world business market. In this situation, Subway has also grown through its various innovative management processes and is driven majorly by the increasing demand of the consumers for healthy and fresh food as well as for premium exotic ingredients in the food preparations. The market for restaurants and food chains have gained considerable momentum through a balanced combination of far sighted marketing strategies and innovative product ranges successfully integrated with an aggressive and strong franchisee business system. Subway appeals to the consumers of all demographic areas mainly due to the healthy, fresh and green factors associated with its food range. Discussion Management is the process of using available people and material resources in businesses and organizations to achieve the desired results and objectives in the organization. The whole process of management starts with planning and is followed by organizing, staffing, leading and controlling in the organization with the aim of achieving a set of pre-defined goals for the organization. An effective management process embedded in the organizational structure is very critical for making the business successful. The process involves the proper deployment of different types of assets and resources available to the organizat ion like people resources, technological resources, financial and natural resources. According to Henri Fayol, There are five main management functions at all levels of an organization which are planning, directing, staffing, controlling and organizing. (Fayol 251) Planning Planning is an important part of the management process in any business. The process of planning in an organization starts by the identification of appropriate goals and objectives by the managers and then formulating a course of action to achieve the set objectives. The planning aspect of a business is critical in determining the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization. The process of planning also plays a critical role in the formulation of strategies in an organization. Subway, as a company follows an extensive procedure of planning management. The business uses different activities as a part of their planning process which includes setting up objectives, designing and introducing new schemes, launchi ng new product ranges and implementing an extensive process of market survey (Bloomberg BusinessWeek 2). The company conducts market survey on a regular basis to study the demand patterns of the consumers in the specific market and then designs and introduces new products and services to meet these demand variations. Organizing The process of organizing involves the managers designing effective work relationship structures between the different levels of the organization to facilitate an effective communication between them and thus increase the performance of the organization as a whole. The process of organizing is implemented to design the organization

Paper for class MIS 2100 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Paper for class MIS 2100 - Essay Example Having qualified personnel who can utilize information systems is critical to the success and growth of an organization. As a student, I have realized how important it is for me to learn about these systems in order to guarantee success in the future business career. Secondly, prior to taking this class, I simply viewed business systems as tools used in businesses for daily operations. However, after taking this class, I have learnt that information systems are a major source of competitive advantage, especially in the current business environment. I have learnt that information systems help businesses reduce the cost of doing business, and this ensures that products and services are offered at a lower cost. Through information systems, businesses can be innovative and come up with new products and services that satisfy the needs of the market better and efficiently. Overall, by taking this class, I have learnt not only how to use information systems to carry out daily business activ ities but also use them to set the business ahead of the rest in the market. Finally, the MIS 2100 class has enabled me understand the ethical and social issues raised by information systems. By using technology to carry out business activities, organizations expose themselves to a great risk which may affect their operations and their relationship with the society. For instance, information systems pose major challenges on people’s privacy since personal information is exchanged through different computer systems before arriving at the final destination. Through this process, private information may be leaked to unauthorized parties, and this may lead to serious ethical problems. Through this class, I have learnt how to use such systems responsibly in order to avoid some of these ethical and social challenges. By taking this class, I have leant that although technology is beneficial to the business, it can cause serious problems if not well used. This might comprise the