The Arab-Israeli Conflict Protecting Democracy in the...

Standing in front of the Knesset, the Prime Minister-designate gives a stern welcome to his fellow legislators. â€Å"I do not stand here with the glee of victory, but with a sense of grave responsibility in testing times,† he says. What has brought Benjamin Netanyahu to the head of government in Israel is the need to bring peace, to bring about an end to violence, and to erase the misdeeds of the past and renew the spirit of cooperation and harmony in the Middle East. It is a task of mammoth proportions, rife with possibilities for failure, but one which is the responsibility of any government that is to be taken seriously by the international community to undertake. The peace that Israel seeks is often hampered by those who claim that the†¦show more content†¦There were over 200 pogroms in Russia in the four year period of 1881–1884 (Morris 4). These pogroms led to an ever increasing call for the Jews to find a place that they could be under their own sover eign rule, and many saw that place as Palestine (Morris 4). The beginnings of mass immigration to Palestine began when, according to Lesch and Tschirgi’s Origins and Development of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Herzl created the World Zionist Organization (WZO) in 1897. Among other things, the WZO helped immigrants to Palestine with purchasing land with the express intent of establishing a homeland there (Lesch and Tschirgi 5). With this immigration, Israel’s detractors have claimed that the Jews who did come to Palestine displaced those who were already there. According to Alan Dershowitz’s A Case for Israel, Professor Mohammad Abu Laila of the Al-Azhar University in Cairo has said that the Jews stole the land. M. Shahid Alam has said that the Zionists conceived their plan for a colonial-setter state and expelled the Palestinians. The reality of the situation is that the Jews who moved to Palestine bought the land, legally. The land purchase records show that ma ny of the landowners were absentees; living in Beirut or Damascus, they had no connection to the land and sold the land to the Jews. Also, Palestine was already vastlyShow MoreRelatedThe Arab Israeli Conflict Of Palestine Essay1198 Words   |  5 PagesThe Arab-Israeli conflict began in 1948, when the British Mandate over Palestine ended. Resulting in the proclamation that established the Jewish state in Eretz Israel. The conflict was a struggle between the Jewish state or Israel and the Arabs of the Middle East concerning the territory and control over Palestine. The geographical area and political status of Palestine has changed dramatically over the years, but the region as always been considered Holy Land. This Holy Land is sacred among theRead MoreThe Fall Of The Ottoman Empire1357 Words   |  6 PagesJanuary 10, 1920, pushed for a mandate system in the Middle East, replacing that of the Sykes-Picot. The mandates took away the sovereignty of the territory’s previous o wner and transferred controlment to individual states in the Allied Powers. France came to own Syria and modern-day Lebanon and both Iraq and Palestine became British territories. What was interesting was that the United States had a good reputation, according to the Middle East states, and rather receive supervision from the U.S.Read More Struggles Within the Middle East: United States Supplying Israel During the Yom Kippur War2171 Words   |  9 Pageseffort to create the best outcome for America in both the Middle East and the global theatre, the United States made the decision, knowing full well the possible consequences, to help supply Israel during the Yom Kippur War. On October 6th, 1973, during the Jewish holy day of atonement, Yom Kippur, a surprise attack transpired, catching Israel off-guard and potentially putting over sovereign nations in a precarious position pertaining to Middle Eastern foreign affairs. The governments of Egypt andRead MoreThe Conflict Between The Middle East Region3018 Words   |  13 Pagesincreasingly become more focused on the Middle East region. The United States continues view the Middle East as an area of instability in which the country’s economic interests, particularly oil, are often threatened and at risk. The on-going Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has lasted over sixty years, is a prime opportunity for the United States to take initiative in both protecting its interests in the Middle East region as well as forming stronger alliances with Arab states through the process of cooperationRead MoreIsrael Case Study1104 Words   |  5 Pageswar and conflict all the way from the Biblical time frame. Israel has literally gone from rags to riches in such a short time. Israel’s Political, Military and Economic structures have developed tenfold in contrast to other countries that where established four times longer. Through Israel’s military, the government backing, and their ability to adapt economically. Israel is holding their enemies at bay and rising to a super power country. Israel is the only Democracy in the Middle East. (MJLRead MoreIsrael Is A Technologically Advanced Market Economy1731 Words   |  7 Pages Israel is a Middle Eastern Country located along the eastern coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. It is surrounded by Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt, and lies at the crossroads of three continents: Asia, Europe, and Africa. Israel is a technologically advanced market economy. As of 2013, the country as a whole ranked 19th out of 187 nations on the UN s â€Å"Human Development Index†. It is considered a highly developed country. Metal, biomedical and electronic equipment, pharmaceuticals and chemicalsRead MoreThe Origins Of The United Nations1218 Words   |  5 Pagesmaintained ceasefire in Lebanon, brought a warlord to justice- in turn inspiring democracy in Liberia, aided millions of people that were displaced by conflict in Darfur, and began educating women in Afghanistan, just to name a few.† says Tim Wirth in February of 2007. In August of 2006, after the ceasefire was accepted, they immediately increased the number of peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, allowing the Israeli army to pull back. The Lebanese army was then able to deploy to the border and noRead MoreHorrific Treatment Women In The Middle East. Spring 2017.1718 Words   |  7 Pages Horrific Treatment Women in the Middle East Spring 2017 Sociology 102 Gerardo Matamoros Have you ever felt discriminated against for no reason? At some point in our lives we will encounter people that will discriminate us for irrelevant aspects. Plenty of people tend to discriminate against others when they feel threatened because of the persons’ intellect, or other factors that may make the person look inferior. Unfortunately, discrimination comes in differentRead MoreThe Syrian Civil War2000 Words   |  8 Pagesof an old conflict, the Islamist uprising of 1979-1982 in Syria. Furthermore, Assad does not recognize the Syrian Civil War as stemming from the Arab Spring. The total population of Syria is eighteen million, with diverse ethnicities: 74% Sunni Muslim, 16% other Muslims (including Alawites), and 10% are Christians. The diversity that exists in Syria allows al-Assad to promote the ideology of the Arab nationalist Baath party. Antigovernment movements broke out in early 2011 with the Arab Spring. TheRead MoreUnited States And Foreign Policy2415 Words à ‚  |  10 Pagesinternational problems, promoting democratic values and human rights, and furthering cooperative foreign trade and global involvement in international trade organizations (ushistory, 2013). One way the United States can secure the national security is by protecting the borders from terrorists, instead of spending money for foreign wars. The US should invest money to secure the border. Securing the border would require fewer troops and would utilize unmanned surveillance technology called the Predator B drone

Animal Farm By George Orwell - 1779 Words

Most people would think that a book named Animal Farm would be about something harmless, playful, or childish. The author George Orwell even subtitled the novella, â€Å"A Fairy Story.† However, Animal Farm carries a much deeper message than one might initially suppose. The story chronicles the development of a farm in England named, â€Å"The Manor Farm.† The animals of the farm are controlled and oppressed by Mr. Jones, the farmer, and his ranch-hands. One night, a pig by the name of Old Major, delivers a speech to the animals, telling them that he wishes to establish equality for all animals, and urges them to rebel against Mr. Jones. The rebellion is successful, with the pigs, being the most intelligence animals on the farm, assuming leadership. Old Major’s precepts are summarized in Seven Commandments, and the farm is renamed â€Å"Animal Farm.† Two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, vie for power, and eventually Snowball is evicted from the farm by Napoleo n. Napoleon and his fellow pig assistant Squealer gradually destroy the Seven Commandments and convert the farm into a totalitarian state. The novel ends with the animals realizing that the pigs have become humans. Animal Farm is actually a parody of the Soviet Union from its conception and how it was changed by dictator Joseph Stalin, who Napoleon the pig represents. George Orwell wrote Animal Farm from 1943 to 1944, in the later years of World War II (he worked as a British propagandist), and published the novel in 1945, as the war wasShow MoreRelatedAnimal Farm And George Orwell By George Orwell1034 Words   |  5 Pages Eric Arthur Blair, under the pseudonym of George Orwell, composed many novels in his lifetime that were considered both politically rebellious and socially incorrect. Working on the dream since childhood, Orwell would finally gain notoriety as an author with his 1945 novel Animal Farm, which drew on personal experiences and deeply rooted fear to satirically critique Russian communism during its expansion. Noticing the impact he made, he next took to writing the novel 1984, which similarly criticizedRead MoreAnimal Farm By George Orwell1397 Words   |  6 PagesAn important quote by the influential author of Animal Farm, George Orwell, is, â€Å"Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism.† George Orwell, a Democratic Socialist, wrote the book Animal Farm as an attack on the Communist country of Russia (â€Å"The Political Ideas of George Orwell,† worldsocialism.org). He had a very strong disliking of Communism and the Socialist party of Russia. However, he insisted on finding the truthRead MoreAnimal Farm, By George Orwell1545 Words   |  7 Pagesallow because an this elite institution of people often use this gear to dominate and oppress society. In George Orwell’s story, Animal Farm, Orwell demonstrates that education is a powerful weapon and is a device that can be used to at least one’s benefit. Living in a world where strength is a straightforward to benefit, the pigs quick use education to govern the relaxation of the animals on the farm to serve themselves worked to their advantage. This story in shows the underlying message that   firstRead MoreAnimal Farm By George Orwell944 Words   |  4 Pageslegs(Orwell 132). He carried a whip in his trotter(Orwell 133). In the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell, animals have the ability to talk and form their own ethos, Animalism. Animal Farm is an intriguing allegory by George Orwell, who is also th e author of 1984, includes many enjoyable elements. More knowledge of the author, his use of allegorical elements, themes, symbols, and the significance in the real world, allows the reader to get more out of this glance into the future. George OrwellRead MoreAnimal Farm by George Orwell1100 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction: Widely acknowledged as a powerful allegory, the 1945 novella Animal Farm, conceived from the satirical mind of acclaimed author George Orwell, is a harrowing fable of a fictional dystopia that critiques the socialist philosophy of Stalin in terms of his leadership of the Soviet Union. Tired of their servitude to man, a group of farm animals revolt and establish their own society, only to be betrayed into worse servitude by their leaders, the pigs, whose initial virtuous intentionsRead MoreAnimal Farm By George Orwell1538 Words   |  7 PagesMecca Animal Farm The Russian Revolution in 1917 shows how a desperate society can be turned into a military superpower filled with terror and chaos. George Orwell uses his book, Animal Farm, to parallel this period of time in history. This book is an allegory of fascism and communism and the negative outcomes. The animals begin with great unity, working toward a common goal. The government then becomes corrupted by the temptations of power. George Orwell uses the characters in Animal Farm to showRead MoreAnimal Farm, By George Orwell876 Words   |  4 Pagesrebellious animals think no man means freedom and happiness, but they need to think again. The animals of Manor Farm rebel against the farm owner, Mr. Jones, and name it Animal Farm. The animals create Animalism, with seven commandments. As everything seems going well, two of the animals get into a rivalry, and things start changing. Food starts disappearing and commandments are changed, and the power begins to shift. Father of dystopian genre, G eorge Orwell writes an interesting allegory, Animal FarmRead MoreAnimal Farm by George Orwell1175 Words   |  5 PagesAn enthusiastic participant in the Spanish civil war in 1936, George Orwell had a great understanding of the political world and made his strong opinions known through his enlightening literary works, many of which are still read in our modern era. Inspired by the 1917 Russian Revolution and the failed society it resulted in, Animal Farm by George Orwell is an encapsulating tale that epitomises how a free utopian society so idealistic can never be accomplished. The novella exemplifies how influencesRead MoreAnimal Farm, By George Orwell1089 Words   |  5 PagesIn George Orwell’s â€Å"Animal Farm†, the pigs as the farm leaders, use unknown language, invoke scare tactics and create specific laws, thereby enabling them to control other animals, to suit their greedy desires, and to perform actions outside their realm of power. Because of the pigsâ⠂¬â„¢ use of broad language, and the implementation of these tactics they are able to get away with avoiding laws, and are able to convince other animals into believing untrue stories that are beneficial to the pigs. The firstRead MoreAnimal Farm By George Orwell999 Words   |  4 PagesAnimal Farm Essay George Gurdjieff was an influential spiritual teacher in the early twentieth century. He references in the following quote that when one is uneducated he will always remain a slave. â€Å"Without self knowledge, without understanding the working and functions of his machine, man cannot be free, he cannot govern himself and he will always remain a slave.† (Gurdjieff) This ties in with how the animals are treated in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. Animal Farm is a novella about animals who

Living in Sin Free Essays

The poem tells the story of the lovers that starts just after the fairytale of their lives has ended. Actually, it reveals the continuation of relationship where fairytale usually cuts the story at the kisses and declaration of love followed by â€Å"The End† (a story of a Princess which has to wash dishes on a day after a romantic ball). It is important to point out that the speaker is not actually the woman spoken of in the poem. We will write a custom essay sample on Living in Sin or any similar topic only for you Order Now The narrator here depicts the events in this couple’s daily life. Yet, it is obviously a woman, due to the tone of the poem: how she sees the careless husband and notices household disorder. Being in variance with many modern text analysts, I must say that the poem ‘Living in Sin’ is completely autobiographic. It has been written by Adrienne Rich during the first months of her own marriage and conveys her own disappointment in what is left after the romantic prelude. To understand the poem one must notice that it is wholly built on the contrasts the author uses from sentence to sentence. The most evident contrast resides in the mood of the heroes: the indifferent, careless husband (‘he, with a yawn†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢) who seems not to notice the miserable surroundings and only shrugs his shoulders at the mirror admitting the piano out of tune, and the pensive and sad wife who is distressed with the routine circle of everyday cleaning and watching the back of her lover leaving each morning for the trivial cigarettes: â€Å" [he] rubbed at his beard, went out for cigarettes; while she, jeered by the minor demons, pulled back the sheets and made the bed and found a towel to dust the table-top†¦Ã¢â‚¬  . Adrienne Rich has been influenced by the popular image contrast of artist and his woman (generally, a family). Their married life goes in the studio, a huge room without walls or borders, without anything to confirm one’s privacy. Here we obviously see a family of artists where the woman has to play the subordinate role imposed by the society. As means to manipulate women into submitting to housekeeping roles, society promotes a male-dominant view. Most traditional societies expect all women to feign fulfillment in this biological role of a domestic apparatus. Therefore, like the woman in the poem, many women in society accept (although, quite reluctantly) this role of a home caretaker. The images of dusted furniture, dried cheese and empty bottles, overboiled pot etc. produce low, pessimistic tones of the poem – all these trifle seems to be powerful enough to spoil woman’s life and even to kill love: â€Å"By evening she was back in love again, though not so wholly but throughout the night she woke sometimes to feel the daylight coming like a relentless milkman up the stairs†. Here appears another pair of contrasting images: Day and Night that are parallel to Reality and Dream. This woman actually lives double life, enjoying night demonstrations of love and being not able to change the obtrusive tedium of the day which comes like the â€Å"relentless milkman† upon the creaking stair and ruins the fragile dreams of the romantic supper. The piano (summoned by him) seems to be out of tune just like their love. The grime at their window panes is as hard to remove as to bring back the brightness and romantics to the life. Comparatively, each of the household items is dingy. Everything illuminated by the day is out of this light in a paradoxical way – on the contrary, it strives for the night unconsciousness and inempiricalness. So, now it is possible to explain the name of the poem. â€Å"Living in Sin† means to face the day and not to do anything about it, just to see the things go on and to be afraid to make any changes. The woman submits to this role of absolute responsibility without resistance, keeping her resentment and anger to herself. Her constant expenditure of energy with no satisfactory results leads to disappointment. The heroine of the poem is completely unsatisfied but what with she is not quite sure†¦ We, as a reader, can only guess what exactly bothers her: a bunch of disappointing details or the whole picture of their relationship. I think that the last thing does. Everyday dusting, which she has to take around the studio, symolizes the ‘dusting’ of the relationship that is also needed to keep the love alive. Undoubtedly, family life needs refreshment not to be sepulchered by the lay of ‘dust’ and similar days. The woman’s futile efforts result in her â€Å"living in sin†. She sinfully accepts what society dictates and does not try to escape and improve her circumstances. By lettig this miserable life to continue, she denies herself and her individuality. And such self-sacrifice is the biggest sin for an artistic and thoughtful woman. How to cite Living in Sin, Essay examples

Innovation and New Technology for Apple Inc - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theInnovation and New Technology for Apple Inc. Answer: Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology company which designs and sells consumer electronics, computer software and online services. It is headquartered in Cupertino, California. The hardware products manufactured by the company include iPhone smartphones, iPad tablet computers etc. It is the worlds largest information technology company and was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne in April, 1976 (Rawlinson, 2017). Black Berry Limited is a Canadian company which designs and markets smartphones tablets and services. Founded in 1984, it was considered as one of the most dominant smart phone suppliers in the world till it lost its dominant position due to its success of Android and iOS systems (Blackberry , 2017). In this literature search, opinions stated in various journal articles regarding the reasons why incumbents i.e. Blackberry are beaten by the challengers i.e. Apple Inc. in the business would be stated. According to Nish and Silcoff (2015) in 2007, Apple Inc. transformed the competition landscape by creating a transition in the scenario of smartphones from something which was functional to a product which was beautiful. More than 1 million iPhones were sold in the first three months in the summer of 2007. When the first iPhone was released, Black Berry decided to beat the competition by manufacturing a touchscreen iPhone killer, which turned to be a complete flop. Blackberry was great in creating phones and dominated the market before Apple Inc launched its first iPhone. It was successful in creating a permanent shift of the customers who used other phones towards it. BlackBerry dominated the market by creating devices for e-mails and phone calls but with the launching of App store by Apple Inc., it changed the definition of smartphone entirely. It is the top leader with the market share of 45 % while Black Berry has now fallen to 32 % of the market. With the introduction of iPhone, Black Berry has lost its charm in the cell phone market. To make it worst, its management has been in denial ever since. Its shrinking sales, lowered brand power and incompetency has sent it downward with the expulsion of co- CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Basille. According to the opinion of Arthur (2013) Black Berry had the chances to survive and grow but it took the wrong direction. It did not adapt itself to the changing demands of the customers. Apples strategy was to shift its business focus from just designing iPods to mobile phones to store music, surf the net and make calls too. As for the case of Black Berry, the problem was not that it had lack of ideas, rather it made the wrong choices and failed to adapt itself with the changing market conditions. As per the opinion of Winter (2014) when Steve Jobs introduced iPhone in 2007, it was a small and pocket able computer of its time. It was not only for calculating and processing data like a business phone but also had the features of running apps along with making calls and playing music. Apple Incs strategy was to outperform by creating desktop class architecture in its phones. Black Berry was not able to cope up with the competition since it only excelled at making phones having the features of making phone calls and processing data. iPhones not only allowed the users to make calls but also allowed them to play games, videos and handle those tasks which required a laptop earlier. Black Berry failed to grasp this and continued to manufacture the same phones which it was manufacturing earlier. Black Berry lacked in its features and it was slow in updating its Operating System. Unless Black Berry overhauled its phones, it did not find any decent buyers in the market. The reason behind its failure was to comprehend the true nature of the device called smart phones (Sag and Waller, 2015). According to Divya and Kumar (2016) Black Berry was slow in reacting to market changes. Earlier, people were comfortable using Qwerty keyboards which were easier to handle e-mails and instant messages. Eventually, with the emergence of Apple iPhone, they became comfortable with touch screen devices and their large screens which helped them to surf the net and the apps in a better way. Black Berry failed to notice this transition .The company was stuck to the idea of manufacturing phones with plastic keys with little scroll balls. They failed to notice that their phones with plastic keys were no longer desirable among the users. They now preferred sleek elegant devices with touch screens. However, the company tried to manufacture Black Berry 10 which was a touch screen device with a modern look and feel, but it was too late. Moreover, Apple had come up with iOS at that time and it grabbed the market in such a way that those users who even wanted to use Black Berry were left without the core services they needed. If BlackBerry would have designed beautiful and elegant devices at the right time, it would have regrown back, but unfortunately it did not. Furthermore, it also depicted disturbing regularities in its gadgets. For example, it launched its playbook tablet without an email client on board. It was the major reason behind shifting its market to Apple iPhones. It believed that its users would wait for its superior product or tolerate its limitations because of its brand value , but they did not. Apples approach towards its manufacturing and marketing strategies made it more popular amongst the users and they shifted from Black Berry phones to iPhones. Thus, Black Berry which was known for its assets and advantages , portrayed its reluctance to accept the changes and therefore failed to capture the market. Another mistake which Black Berry committed was it kept BBM locked to its own hardware. Also, Black Berry manufactured phones which had bad designs with strange names which affected its popularity amongst its users. Apple recognized the need to design sleek and elegant devices with their easy to hold rectangular shapes, but Black Berry refused to follow the trend. Black Berry manufactured devices which were square in shape with plastic keys and scroll balls. These devices looked absurd and did not even fit into the pockets of the users. Then why would they buy these phones? Afterwards, when the company designed the right model they called it Priv which sounded absurd , hence it did not appeal to the users in the market. Another reason for Black Berrys failure was that its devices were never fashionable and trendy enough to catch the attention of the targeted users specially the young section of the society while Apple was successful in catching their attention and grabbing the market. Black Berry boasted of its highly secured Black Berry Enterprise Server Platform which guaranteed that the content was secured and cannot be decoded or hacked. But with time the governments started demanding access in nations such as India and Pakistan . Also, several network problems were the cause of losing faith in the Black Berry devices (Sircar, 2017). Also, the evolving of the corporate culture which encouraged its employees to bring their personal phones was the reason behind the decline in the sale of devices meant for sole corporate purpose such as Black Berry. According to Gotz, Stieger and Reips (2017) Apple devices provided a complete package of tools ranging from games to productivity tools. Additionally, they were good looking and had an ease of use. On the other hand, Black Berry failed to introduce new operating system to match the new offerings from its competitor Apple. Black Berrys focus was on enterprises and not on its consumers. It found success through selling to IT departments of large corporations which gradually fainted with time. In the present scenario, the companies are too reluctant to use Black Berry devices because of their outdated operating systems and restricted service offerings. Although the success of Black Berry came from sale of its devices from huge corporations, they secured some place amongst the consumers. But they failed to develop it because of their devices looked ugly as compared to iPhones. It was seen as a professional device for accessing e-mails; hence it did not capture the attention of the youth and failed to survive. The features of the smart phones launched by Apple ranged from games to productivity tools and the users were able to transform their phones instantly (Johnson et al., 2012). On the other hand, the users failed to do this with the help of Black Berry OS because of its limited availability of apps. Even after Black Berry launched its first smart phone 6 years later than the first iPhone, the problem was that the QNX based Black Berry OS was not easy to use. It had the gesture based operating system which was not user friendly and thus did not catch the attention of the target users (Budd et al., 2015). Likewise, the BBOS 10 were inferior versions of Apple iOS which resulted in an incomplete app which was substandard as compared to its counterpart Apple. Also, its features were not as impressive as Apple. For example, the quality of the camera was not as good as that of iPhone. Thus Black Berry lacked innovation which was needed to break the market of iPhones (Bala, Sharma and Kaur, 2015). Black Berry was an expensive and overpriced device as compared to Apple. It catered to a particular set of users i.e. corporations while Apple catered to all types of users including corporations. So, its cost proved to be much more than its utility. SO, it couldnt compete with its counterpart in this context (C?p?tn? and Dr?ghescu, 2015). Another reason of the failure of Black Berry was that it failed to leverage the fame of BBM. With the emergence of WhatsApp which became a prime messaging platform for mobile users, it lost its popularity (Youssef, 2013). Thus, to conclude, Black Berry departed from the cell phone market due to its unwillingness to adapt itself to the changing market conditions, Adapt or die is the lesson which the companies must follow in the current scenario. Black Berry is an example of risk associated with technology sector. With the launch of Apple iPhones, the stock prices of Black Berry declined. However, it made attempts to come back but it was too late to capture the market. Therefore, the failure of Black Berry has become a case study about what happens when a tech giant fails to adapt itself to changing needs of the technology market. References Arthur, C. (2013) Why BlackBerry failed . The Guardian [online]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/05/why-blackberry-failed [Accessed 15th March, 2018]. Bala, K., Sharma, S. and Kaur, G. (2015) A Study on Smartphone based Operating System. International Journal of Computer Applications. 121(1), pp. 17-22. Blackberry (2017) About BlackBerry [online]. Available from: https://us.blackberry.com/company [Accessed 14th March, 2018]. Budd, N., Matulich, E., Breakwel, A., Liu , M.X., Schleper, C. and Murrian, R.M.(2015) The RIM BlackBerry PlayBook Disaster: B2B or B2C? Journal of Business Cases and Applications. 13(2015), pp. 1-11. C?p?tn?, G. and Dr?ghescu, F. (2015) Success Factors of New Product Launch: The Case of iPhone Launch. International Journal of Economics and Finance. 7(5), pp. 61-70. Divya , K. and Kumar, S.V.K. (2016) Comparative Analysis of Smart Phone Operating Systems Android, Apple IOS and Windows. International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Applied Science. 2(2),pp. 432-438. Gotz, F.M., Stieger, S. and Reips, U.D.(2017) Users of the main smartphone operating systems (iOS, Android) differ only little in personality. PLOS One . 12(5), pp. 1-18. Johnson, K., Li, Y., Phan, H., Singer, J. and Trinh, H.(2012)The Innovative Success that is Apple, Inc. Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. [online] Available from: https://mds.marshall.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1420context=etd [Accessed 15th March, 2018]. Nish, J.M. and Silcoff, S. (2015) The Inside Story of how the iPhone crippled BlackBerry. The Wall Street Journal [online]. Available from: https://www.wsj.com/articles/behind-the-rise-and-fall-of-blackberry-1432311912 [Accessed 14th March, 2018]. Rawlinson, N. (2017) History of Apple: The story of Steve Jobs and the company he founded. Macworld [online]. Available from: https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/apple/history-of-apple-steve-jobs-mac-3606104/ [Accessed 14th March, 2018]. Sag, M. and Waller, S.W. (2015) Promoting Innovation. IOWA Law Review. 100(2015), pp. 2223-2246. Sircar, S. (2017) The Crypto Wars: Interpreting The Privacy Versus National Security Debate From A Standards Perspective [online] Available from: https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/1043831/Sircar_georgetown_0076M_13737.pdf?sequence=1 [Accessed 15th March, 2018]. Winter, J.M. (2014) Success Factors of Mobile Business Ecosystems From Hardware-Centric to Content and Advertising Based Business Models[online] Available from: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/bitstream/handle/123456789/14467/lic_winter_juha_2014.pdf [Accessed 15th March, 2018]. Youssef, M.H.(2013) Strategic tensions within the smartphones industry: the case of BlackBerry. Education, Economy and Community. 2013(3),pp. 125-141.

Dogtooth Greek Understanding of Horror Films as a Separate Genre

Memory Memory and Short Term Memory Essay

Memory Memory and Short Term Memory Essay Memory: Memory and Short Term Memory Essay Types of Memory Plasticity: the brains ability to change as result of experience Plasticity is greatest during childhood However, plasticity persists throughout life It occurs by changing the pattern of connectivity between neurons Short term memory: memory for information currently help in current consciousness LIMITED CAPACITY Capacity of STM -this is also known as phonological memory it can be assessed using span tests Miller in 1956 suggested that span is 7 +/- 2 He denotes that these as meaningful chunks of information Capacity is not strictly related to meaningfulness of chunks because: Span length is lower polysyllabic words (skeleton, binoculars, etc) Span length is lower for phonologically similar words (map, cat, etc.) another thing that can influence span is the opportunity to rehearse the material span is reduced if participants are asked to silently mouth irrelevant speech while encoding a list This is known as: Articulatory suppression silently mouthing words while performing some other task. Developed by Baddeley Baddeley found that recall of word lists from STM is reduced for longer words and affected by articulatory suppression Span tasks involve two components: a phonological store and a rehearsal mechanism based on subvocal articulation that refreshes the memory store ALSO KNOWN AS: the phonological loop Articulatory suppression impairs the subvocal articulation that refreshes the memory store. How do STM and LTM interact? Atkinson and Shiffrin created the modal model of memory According to the MODAL MODEL information can only get into LTM, and get out of it again, VIA the short term system Model assumes that amount of time in STM predicts later learning STM is characterized as mostly verbal info. *** LOOK AT DIAGRAM IN BOOK -this model divides memory into very short-lived sensory registers a general purpose short-term store and LTM -HOWEVER, empirical memory does not support this model things don’t have to spend along time in STM for it to go to LT How it actually works! -STM is important for LTM BUT, contemporary components suggests that there are various components and each component is material specific Damage to a specific component will affect learning of that specific material rather than learning per se. -it has been suggested that there is a STM capacity for visuospatial information this suggests a role in visuospatial STM in long term learning of visual information Working memory: a system for the temporary storage and manipulation of information An extension of short term memory because you can manipulate info as well Emphasizes a wider role in cognition (reasoning, comprehension, etc.) WHEREAS, short term is often taken to imply a passive retention of material Thus, WM involves the retention and processing of info. In a limited capacity short-term store The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is responsible for refreshing info in the stores (rehearsal) –and manipulating that info E.g. using a list of #’s in STM to perform calculations In general, a network of regions are involved with conjoint activation of both frontal regions (involved in manipulating and retrieving information) and posterior regions (involved in storing of material). 1. Model of WM (Atkinson & Shiffron) Verbal memory vs. visuospatial memory a. Parts of STM that are specialized for these distinctions (mentioned above in STM section) The phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad are known as Slave Systems a. Central executive = TRANSFERS/TRANSFORMS information from either the loop or the sketchpad Thus, the central executive coordinates the slave systems, and cognition in general, by retrieving things from memory, specifying task goals, and initiating and terminating cognitive routines It is the interaction between the flexible executive system and the more specific processing routines that is the ESSENTIAL characteristic of a WM. Now how long term memory

Analysis of the election results Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysis of the election results - Essay Example However with the support of the minorities within the US and the international support from nearly all over the world, Obama was able to defeat McCain hands down. He got more than 270 desired electoral votes and thus became the first African-American President of the United States of America. (Curry, 2008) Obama won because he presented a new world order. This was different to the one that George W. Bush brought to the superpower nation of the world. The Election results suggest that even those states where Republicans held majority, have been won by the Democrats. This indeed is a nice change and one that was in the waiting ever since Obama started his campaign some 21 months back. Obama thus brought a fresh initiative – one which will eventually change the world soon. Obama brings with him hopes and desires of the whole world and not just the Americans who live within America. (Luo, 2008) The challenges facing Obama are difficult since he has to take care of the crippling economy, the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan and a host of other issues happening on the national and global fronts. Thus I think Obama has won due to his sheer honesty, sincerity and loyalty with the way he has talked throughout his campaign. Now when 20th January 2009 arrives, he needs to show that whatever he talked all this while, he actually means the same. Obama needs to be different from the rest of the presidents who have served the American Presidential office. He must manifest something new and creative as he is indeed very different from the

School Fundings Tragic Flaws Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

School Fundings Tragic Flaws - Assignment Example The main message that the authors aim to reveal is the clear and distinct unequal allocation of funds for schools that are currently skewed towards higher income students rather than the neediest. The effect of the policies emerging from the three levels of government agencies is that educational funds that are supposed to be allocated equally tend to be distributed more to higher income pupils, highlighting disadvantaged educational benefits that are supposed to be equally received by students regardless of income level.The significance of the argument is seen in terms of the policies’ effect on teachers preferences for place of work High-poverty schools typically have less experienced teachers and high turnover rates, so the average teacher salary is much lower in those schools† (Casey and Rosa, 2008, 1). As shown, higher-poverty schools do not attract highly experienced teachers due to poor working conditions and the lower salary rates that come from the disparate all ocation of educational funding. In this regard, the pupils from high-poverty schools are exposed to teachers with lesser experiences and training and thereby, could compromise the level of instructions accorded to these students, when compared to lower-poverty schools that receive greater funding.One personally agrees with the author’s contention that there is a need to reevaluate and assess the disparities in educational funding accorded to school on a national level to justify allocation on an equal basis.

General Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

General Management - Essay Example 7 6. How Is Culture Transmitted To Employees Of An Organization? Explain The Four Primary Transmission Modalities And Provide Two Relevant Examples Of Each. 9 References 10 1. When Hedin Asks For Your Professional Advice, Will You Recommend All Outsiders Or A Mix Of Employees And Outsiders To Fill The Director Positions? Justify Your Answer With Sensible Arguments Supported By Examples. Directors play an imperative role in business management in the modern day context. They are not only responsible for determining the organizational policies, but are also accountable for the overall performance of the company. To be precise, evaluation of the organizational performance, planning of the organizational operations, executing the planning and re-evaluating the overall performance, i.e. the overall management functions are programmed and controlled by the directors (Wisconsin Rivers, n.d.). Therefore, it is quite important for the potential directors to be experienced and qualified to dea l with the challenges to organize and execute the management operations of the business. The directors for an organization can be recruited both from the external environment of the organization, i.e. an outsider and also from the internal environment of an organization, i.e. the employee of the organization (Mittal, 2007). ... On the similar context, recruiting employees of the organization as its director can raise the limitations of adequate and dependable qualifications and skills to perform the duty of the board of directors (Hermalin, 2004). Even in this case, it would be preferable to choose directors from internal as well as external environment which will mitigate the constraints of hiring only outside directors or internal directors with due consideration to their skills and qualifications in terms of academics and also in terms of personal traits. This in turn will reward enhanced performance of the organization. 2. Explain How Present Day Managers Convert Potential â€Å"Threats† Into â€Å"Opportunities†. You May Use Examples To Elaborate The Answer. In the modern day phenomenon, it is of no doubt that small businesses are facing remarkable stress in terms of increasing competition in almost every sector of the corporate world. In such a situation, it is quite certain that almost every manager will tend to grab the opportunities served by the business environment and mitigate the potential threats which are likely to obstruct the achievement of the organization. In order to face the challenges raised from steep competition, managers in the present day are becoming more focused on the conversion of potential â€Å"Threats† into expected â€Å"Opportunities† for their businesses (Hitt & Et. Al., 2010). Evidences have revealed that managers in the 21st century often apply strategies in order to convert potential â€Å"Threats† into advantageous â€Å"Opportunities†. Most of the strategies concentrate on the innovation and creation of fresh products and/or services with the assistance of modern technologies and greater emphasis on research and

Use of Azithromycin for Asthma Patients

Use of Azithromycin for Asthma Patients Does adding azithromycin to standard therapy for asthma patients with acute exacerbations improve symptom resolution? Background: ÂÂ  Asthma is presented as a chronic long term disease that causes inflammation, narrowing and mucus production in the lungs airways resulting in difficulty breathing. It is assumed to be initiated by genetics or environmental influences. Physical activities and other contributing factors can exacerbate asthmatic symptoms that include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tighten. Most patient symptoms occur at a rapid onset and requires immediate treatment. Asthma is not curable but symptoms can be controlled with appropriate therapy. Patients with asthma are given treatment based on the severity and frequency of symptoms. Therapy options include SABA, LABA, corticosteroids or leukotrienes and adjustments are made as needed. However, many patients still experience uncontrolled symptoms that effect their daily activities. Macrolide antibiotics such as azithromycin have been recently studied as adjunct therapy for asthmatics, due to their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Researchers are geared to believe that untreated bacterial infections within the lungs are the underlying influences of asthma related problems. Despite these findings, the issue is still being investigated as patients on traditional standard therapy are still experiencing unwanted symptoms. Literature Search A literature search was conducted utilizing the MEDLINE database of Pubmed using MESH terms asthma and azithromycin and MESH subheading therapy. The terms were combined using AND which returned 37 articles. The application of additional limitations of 5 years, randomize controlled trials and humans were applied which reduced the search total amount to 17 articles. Although 17 articles were retrieved during the search, each article was evaluated based on their relevancy and criteria, the above article was selected because it addressed the question at hand. Results AZIthromycin in Severe ASThma (AZISAST) was a randomized double-blinded placebo control trial conducted to determine if adding azithromycin to asthmatic patients as standard therapy would be statistically and clinically beneficial.ÂÂ   The trial was conducted from September 2011 to April 2014, as a United Kingdom multicenter study. The study consisted of individuals ages 18-75 that had been diagnosed with persistent asthma. Inclusion criteria consisted of patients whose current therapy included high doses of inhaled corticosteroids, inhaled long acting beta agonist LABAÂÂ   for six months prior to the study, two severe asthma exacerbations required systemic steroid therapy, or if they experienced a lower respiratory tract infection that required antibiotic treatment within a twelve month period2. Subjects were excluded if they had prolong QT interval, severe bronchiectasis, currently receiving macrolide treatment in past three months, laboratory abnormalities, pregnant or b reastfeeding and concomitant anti-IgE treatments2. Participants were randomly selected to receive to 250mg capsules of azithromycin (n=55) and a placebo (n=54) in combination with inhaled corticosteroids and LABAs for six months2. Subjects in both treatment groups were matched in respect to the baseline characteristics. The intervention instructed patients to take one capsule daily for five days and continue with one capsule three times a week with a total treatment period of twenty-six weeks. The primary outcome measured severe asthmatic episodes during the treatment phase in both groups, which was defined as hospitalization, emergency department visits, and the utilization of systemic corticosteroids for three days2. Secondary outcomes measured lung function (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF) quality of life (QOL) and asthma control score2. Analyzing the secondary outcomes, the azithromycin group reported a number of thirty exacerbations occurred in comparison to twenty-seven form the placebo group. (p=1.000)2. Additionally, azithromycin and placebo group experience two hospitalization admission due to exacerbations (p=1.000)2. Other efficacy outcomes showed there was no significant improvement in the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score between both groups. The treatment period lasted for six months and demonstrated no significant difference between the azithromycin group and the placebo group in relation to asthma exacerbations. The estimated primary endpoints without adjustments resulted in 0.71 (95% CI 0.52 to 0.97) in the azithromycin group and 0.80 (95% CI 0.59 to 1.07) in the placebo group with a p-value of 0.6002. With the addition of sensitivity analyses restricted to asthma exacerbations results were 0.55 (95% CI 0.38 to 0.78) in the azithromycin group and 0.52 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.75) in the placebo group with a p-value of 0.8472. Based on the aforementioned data, add-on therapy of azithromycin is statistically and clinically insignificant, as well as did not reduce the rate of asthma exacerbation in adults. Recommendations Although, the clinical trial failed to demonstrate that azithromycin was clinically /statistically significant in patients with asthma. This should not be a definite factor to rule out the therapeutic benefits azithromycin can have on patients with respiratory infections that contributes to asthma exacerbations. Developing an accurate interpretation from the study can be difficult considering the study focused on a small population and the duration of treatment was only twelve weeks. I would not recommend azithromycin as add-on therapy for patients with asthma due to it showed no improvement in comparison to patients receiving a placebo, as well as long-term use of a macrolide might lead to resistance. References Brusselle GG, VanderStichele C, Jordens P, et al. 2013. Azithromycin for prevention of exacerbations in severe asthma (AZISAST): a multicenter randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial Thorax 2013;68:322-329. 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2012-202698mm

Goodfellas Essay -- Movie Film Goodfellas Essays

Goodfellas (Goodfellas is the film adaptation of the non-fiction book ?Wiseguy?, written by Nicholas Pileggi. The film charts the rise and fall of Henry Hill?s thirty year career within the New York mafia. The film was released in 1990 and was directed by Martin Scorsese. Goodfellas stars Ray Liotta as Henry Hill, Lorraine Bracco as Karen Hill (Henry?s Wife), Robert Dc Niro as James Conway and Joe Pesci as Tommy DeVito. The film begins with one of the most horrific and sickening moments to appear in a film, the murder of Billy Batts. At this point the viewer knows nothing of the background events that run up to this scene. Additionally, the characters are not yet known, so there is no emotional baggage being carried with the characters that might detract from the degree of sickening violence contained within the scene. Even more shocking is the fact that the scene ends with the voiceover by Henry saying, ?As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster?. This statement seems absurd after witnessing such a callous murder, why would anybody want to be involved in such things? This is precisely what Scorsese wants the viewer to think, he has drawn the viewer in. Narration is an important mechanism that Scorsese employs throughout the film. The narration is carried out by both Henry and Karen Hill. What this tells the viewer is that the events being shown have already occurred. The narrators are telling the stoly in the past tense. This could have introduced a major problem, by having only Henry narrate throughout the film the viewer would know that He survived the lifestyle. Having Karen narrate as well has allowed Scorsese to introduce an element of doubt into the film, the viewer no longer knows whether e... ...ted when Tommy decides to kill Billy Batts for insulting him. Tommy knows that if it is discovered that he killed this ?made? man, a man that is effectively untouchable, he will be killed in return. Tommy goes ahead and kills him, if he does not his reputation will be irreparably damaged, and his reputation is his life. Scorsese underlines how low these characters are when Henry fmally sits in court and gives evidence against James Conway, his partner, and Paul Cicero, his boss. Henry is in effect a coward, he turns in these people rather than face the consequence of his actions. Henry is doing what he has always done, he looks out for himself. Bibliography The Internet Movie Database http://www.imdb.com EUFS: the film society http:/Iwww.eufs.orE.uk/fiIms/goodfellas.html Review from Cinemania 1994 http:llmembers.aol.com/tonywestoklpnvate/2oodfela.htm

Chapter 3 The Knight Bus

Harry was several streets away before he collapsed onto a low wall in Magnolia Crescent, panting from the effort of dragging his trunk. He sat quite still, anger still surging through him, listening to the frantic thumping of his heart. But after ten minutes alone in the dark street, a new emotion overtook him: panic. Whichever way he looked at it, he had never been in a worse fix. He was stranded, quite alone, in the dark Muggle world, with absolutely nowhere to go. And the worst of it was, he had just done serious magic, which meant that he was almost certainly expelled from Hogwarts. He had broken the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry so badly, he was surprised Ministry of Magic representatives weren't swooping down on him where he sat. Harry shivered and looked up and down Magnolia Crescent. What, was going to happen to him? Would he be arrested, or would he simply be outlawed from the wizarding world? He thought of Ron and Hermione, and his heart sank even lower. Harry was sure that, criminal or not, Ron and Hermione would want to help him now, but they were both abroad, and with Hedwig gone, he had no means of contacting them. He didn't have any Muggle money, either. There was a little wizard gold in the money bag at the bottom of his trunk, but the rest of the fortune his parents had left him was stored in a vault at Gringotts Wizarding Bank in London. He'd never be able to drag his trunk all the way to London. Unless†¦ He looked down at his wand, which he was still clutching in his hand. If he was already expelled (his heart was. now thumping painfully fast), a bit more magic couldn't hurt. He had the Invisibility Cloak he had inherited from his father — what if he bewitched the trunk to make it feather-light, tied it to his broomstick, covered himself in the cloak, and flew to London? Then he could get the rest of his money out of his vault and†¦begin his life as an outcast. It was a horrible prospect, but he couldn't sit on this wall forever, or he'd find himself trying to explain to Muggle police why he was out in the dead of night with a trunk full of spell books and a broomstick. Harry opened his trunk again and pushed the contents aside, looking for the Invisibility Cloak — but before he had found it, he straightened up suddenly, looking around him once more. A funny prickling on the back of his neck had made Harry feel he was being watched, but the street appeared to be deserted, and no lights shone from any of the large square houses. He bent over his trunk again, but almost immediately stood up once more, his hand clenched on his wand. He had sensed rather than heard it: someone or something was standing in the narrow gap between the garage and the fence behind him. Harry squinted at the black alleyway. If only it would move, then he'd know whether it was just a stray cat or — something else. â€Å"Lumos,† Harry muttered, and a light appeared at the end of his wand, almost dazzling him. He held it high over his head, and the pebble-dashed walls of number two suddenly sparkled; the garage door gleamed, and between them Harry saw, quite distinctly, the hulking outline of something very big, with wide, gleaming eyes. Harry stepped backward. His legs hit his trunk and he tripped. His wand flew out of his hand as he flung out an arm to break his fall, and he landed, hard, in the gutter. There was a deafening BANG, and Harry threw up his hands to shield his eyes against a sudden blinding light†¦ With a yell, he rolled back onto the pavement, just in time. A second later, a gigantic pair of wheels and headlights screeched to a halt exactly where Harry had just been lying. They belonged, as Harry saw when he raised his head, to a triple-decker, violently purple bus, which had appeared out of thin air. Gold lettering over the windshield spelled The Knight Bus. For a split second, Harry wondered if he had been knocked silly by his fall. Then a conductor in a purple uniform leapt out of the bus and began to speak loudly to the night. â€Å"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this eve–â€Å" The conductor stopped abruptly. He had just caught sight of Harry, who was still sitting on the ground. Harry snatched up his wand again and scrambled to his feet. Close up, he saw that Stan Shunpike was only a few years older than he was, eighteen or nineteen at most, with large, protruding ears and quite a few pimples. â€Å"What were you doin' down there?† said Stan, dropping his professional manner. â€Å"Fell over,† said Harry. â€Å"‘Choo fall over for?† sniggered Stan. â€Å"I didn't do it on purpose,† said Harry, annoyed. One of the knees in his jeans was torn, and the hand he had thrown out to break his fall was bleeding. He suddenly remembered why he had fallen over and turned around quickly to stare at the alleyway between the garage and fence. The Knight Bus's headlamps were flooding it with light, and it was empty. â€Å"‘Choo lookin' at?† said Stan. â€Å"There was a big black thing,† said Harry, pointing uncertainly into the gap. â€Å"Like a dog†¦but massive†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He looked around at Stan, whose mouth was slightly open. With a feeling of unease, Harry saw Stan's eyes move to the scar on Harry's forehead. â€Å"Woss that on your ‘ead?† said Stan abruptly. â€Å"Nothing,† said Harry quickly, flattening his hair over his scar. If the Ministry of Magic was looking for him, he didn't want to make it too easy for them. â€Å"Woss your name?† Stan persisted. â€Å"Neville Longbottom,† said Harry, saying the first name that came into his head. â€Å"So — so this bus,† he went on quickly, hoping to distract Stan, â€Å"did you say it goes anywhere?† â€Å"Yep,† said Stan proudly, â€Å"anywhere you like, ‘long it's on land. Can't do nuffink underwater. â€Å"Ere,† he said, looking suspicious again, â€Å"you did flag us down, dincha? Stuck out your wand ‘and, dincha?† â€Å"Yes,† said Harry quickly. â€Å"Listen, how much would it be to get to London?† â€Å"Eleven Sickles,† said Stan, â€Å"but for firteen you get ‘ot chocolate, and for fifteen you get an ‘ot-water bottle an' a toofbrush in the color of your choice.† Harry rummaged once more in his trunk, extracted his money bag, and shoved some gold into Stan's hand. He and Stan then lifted his trunk, with Hedwig's cage balanced on top, up the steps of the bus. There were no seats; instead, half a dozen brass bedsteads stood beside the curtained windows. Candles were burning in brackets beside each bed, illuminating the wood-paneled walls. A tiny wizard in a nightcap at the rear of the bus muttered, â€Å"Not now, thanks, I'm pickling some slugs† and rolled over in his sleep. â€Å"You ‘ave this one,† Stan whispered, shoving Harry's trunk under the bed right behind the driver, who was sitting in an armchair in front of the steering wheel. â€Å"This is our driver, Ernie Prang. This is Neville Longbottom, Ern.† Ernie Prang, an elderly wizard wearing very thick glasses, nodded to Harry, who nervously flattened his bangs again and sat down on his bed. â€Å"Take ‘er away, Ern,† said Stan, sitting down in the armchair next to Ernie's. There was another tremendous BANG, and the next moment Harry found himself flat on his bed, thrown backward by the speed of the Knight Bus. Pulling himself up, Harry stared out of the dark window and saw that they were now bowling along a completely different street. Stan was watching Harry's stunned face with great enjoyment. â€Å"This is where we was before you flagged us down,† he said. â€Å"Where are we, Ern? Somewhere in Wales?† â€Å"Ar,† said Ernie. â€Å"How come the Muggles don't hear the bus?† said Harry. â€Å"Them!† said Stan contemptuously. â€Å"Don' listen properly, do they? Don' look properly either. Never notice nuffink, they don'.† â€Å"Best go wake up Madam Marsh, Stan,† said Ern. â€Å"We'll be in Abergavenny in a minute.† Stan passed Harry's bed and disappeared up a narrow wooden staircase. Harry was still looking out of the window, feeling increasingly nervous. Ernie didn't seem to have mastered the use of a steering wheel. The Knight Bus kept mounting the pavement, but it didn't hit anything; lines of lampposts, mailboxes, and trash cans jumped out of its way as it approached and back into position once it had passed. Stan came back downstairs, followed by a faintly green witch wrapped in a traveling cloak. â€Å"‘Ere you go, Madam Marsh,† said Stan happily as Ern stamped on the brake and the beds slid a foot or so toward the front of the bus. Madam Marsh clamped a handkerchief to her mouth and tottered down the steps. Stan threw her bag out after her and rammed the doors shut; there was another loud BANG, and they were thundering down a narrow country lane, trees leaping out of the way. Harry wouldn't have been able to sleep even if he had been traveling on a bus that didn't keep banging loudly and jumping a hundred miles at a time. His stomach churned as he fell back to wondering what was going to happen to him, and whether the Dursleys had managed to get Aunt Marge off the ceiling yet. Stan had unfurled a copy of the Daily Prophet and was now reading with his tongue between his teeth. A large photograph of a sunken-faced man with long, matted hair blinked slowly at Harry from the front page. He looked strangely familiar. â€Å"That man!† Harry said, forgetting his troubles for a moment. â€Å"He was on the Muggle news!† Stanley turned to the front page and chuckled. â€Å"Sirius Black,† he said, nodding. â€Å"‘Course ‘e was on the Muggle news, Neville. Where you been?† He gave a superior sort of chuckle at the blank look on Harry's face, removed the front page, and handed it to Harry. â€Å"You oughta read the papers more, Neville.† Harry held the paper up to the candlelight and read: BLACK STILL AT LARGE Sirius Black, possibly the most infamous prisoner ever to be held in Azkaban fortress, is still eluding capture, the Ministry of Magic confirmed today. â€Å"We are doing all we can to recapture Black,† said the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, this morning, â€Å"and we beg the magical community to remain calm.† Fudge has been criticized by some members of the International Federation of Warlocks for informing the Muggle Prime Minister of the crisis. â€Å"Well, really, I had to, don't you know,† said an irritable Fudge. â€Å"Black is mad. He's a danger to anyone who crosses him, magic or Muggle. I have the Prime Minister's assurance that he will not breathe a word of Black's true identity to anyone. And let's face it — who'd believe him if he did?† While Muggles have been told that Black is carrying a gun (a kind of metal wand that Muggles use to kill each other), the magical community lives in fear of a massacre like that of twelve years ago, when Black murdered thirteen people with a single curse. Harry looked into the shadowed eyes of Sirius Black, the only part of the sunken face that seemed alive. Harry had never met a vampire, but he had seen pictures of them in his Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, and Black, with his waxy white skin, looked just like one. â€Å"Scary-lookin' fing, inee?† said Stan, who had been watching Harry read. â€Å"He murdered thirteen people?† said Harry, handing the page back to Stan, â€Å"with one curse?† â€Å"Yep,† said Stan, â€Å"in front of witnesses an' all. Broad daylight. Big trouble it caused, dinnit, Ern?† â€Å"Ar,† said Ern darkly. Stan swiveled in his armchair, his hands on the back, the better to look at Harry. â€Å"Black woz a big supporter of You-Know-‘Oo,† he said. â€Å"What, Voldemort?† said Harry, without thinking. Even Stan's pimples went white; Ern jerked the steering wheel so hard that a whole farmhouse had to jump aside to avoid the bus. â€Å"You outta your tree?† yelped Stan. â€Å"‘Choo say ‘is name for?† â€Å"Sorry,† said Harry hastily. â€Å"Sorry, I — I forgot –â€Å" â€Å"Forgot!† said Stan weakly. â€Å"Blimey, my ‘eart's goin' that fast†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"So — so Black was a supporter of You-Know-Who?† Harry prompted apologetically. â€Å"Yeah,† said Stan, still rubbing his chest. â€Å"Yeah, that's right. Very close to You-Know-‘Oo, they say†¦anyway, when little ‘Arry Potter got the better of You-Know-‘Oo† — Harry nervously flattened his bangs down again — â€Å"all You-Know-‘Oo's supporters was tracked down, wasn't they, Ern? Most of 'em knew it was all over, wiv You-Know-‘Oo gone, and they came quiet. But not Sirius Black. I ‘eard he thought ‘e'd be second-in-command once You-Know-‘Oo ‘ad taken over. â€Å"Anyway, they cornered Black in the middle of a street full of Muggles an' Black took out ‘is wand and ‘e blasted ‘alf the street apart, an' a wizard got it, an' so did a dozen Muggles what got in the way. ‘Orrible, eh? An' you know what Black did then?† Stan continued in a dramatic whisper. â€Å"What?† said Harry. â€Å"Laughed,† said Stan. â€Å"Jus' stood there an' laughed. An' when reinforcements from the Ministry of Magic got there, ‘e went wiv em quiet as anyfink, still laughing ‘is ‘ead off. ‘Cos ‘e's mad, inee, Ern? Inee mad?† â€Å"If he weren't when he went to Azkaban, he will be now,† said Ern in his slow voice. â€Å"I'd blow meself up before I set foot in that place. Serves him right, mind you†¦after what he did†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"They ‘ad a job coverin' it up, din' they, Ern?† Stan said. â€Å"‘Ole street blown up an' all them Muggles dead. What was it they said ‘ad ‘appened, Ern?† â€Å"Gas explosion,† grunted Ernie. â€Å"An' now ‘e's out,† said Stan, examining the newspaper picture of Black's gaunt face again. â€Å"Never been a breakout from Azkaban before, ‘as there, Ern? Beats me ‘ow ‘e did it. Frightenin', eh? Mind, I don't fancy ‘is chances against them Azkaban guards, eh, Ern?† Ernie suddenly shivered. â€Å"Talk about summat else, Stan, there's a good lad. Them Azkaban guards give me the collywobbles.† Stan put the paper away reluctantly, and Harry leaned against the window of the Knight Bus, feeling worse than ever. He couldn't help imagining what Stan might be telling his passengers in a few nights' time. â€Å"‘Ear about that ‘Arry Potter? Blew up ‘is aunt! We ‘ad ‘im ‘ere on the Knight Bus, di'n't we, Ern? ‘E was tryin' to run for it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He, Harry, had broken wizard law just like Sirius Black. Was inflating Aunt Marge bad enough to land him in Azkaban? Harry didn't know anything about the wizard prison, though everyone he'd ever heard speak of it did so in the same fearful tone. Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper, had spent two months there only last year. Harry wouldn't soon forget the look of terror on Hagrid's face when he had been told where he was going, and Hagrid was one of the bravest people Harry knew. The Knight Bus rolled through the darkness, scattering bushes and wastebaskets, telephone booths and trees, and Harry lay, restless and miserable, on his feather bed. After a while, Stan remembered that Harry had paid for hot chocolate, but poured it all over Harry's pillow when the bus moved abruptly from Anglesea to Aberdeen. One by one, wizards and witches in dressing gowns and slippers descended from the upper floors to leave the bus. They all looked very pleased to go. Finally, Harry was the only passenger left. â€Å"Right then, Neville,† said Stan, clapping his hands, â€Å"whereabouts in London?† â€Å"Diagon Alley,† said Harry. â€Å"Righto,† said Stan. â€Å"‘Old tight, then.† BANG. They were thundering along Charing Cross Road. Harry sat up and watched buildings and benches squeezing themselves out of the Knight Bus's way. The sky was getting a little lighter. He would lie low for a couple of hours, go to Gringotts the moment it opened, then set off — where, he didn't know. Ern slammed on the brakes and the Knight Bus skidded to a halt in front of a small and shabby-looking pub, the Leaky Cauldron, behind which lay the magical entrance to Diagon Alley. â€Å"Thanks,† Harry said to Ern. He jumped down the steps and helped Stan lower his trunk and Hedwig's cage onto the pavement. â€Å"Well,† said Harry. â€Å"‘Bye then!† But Stan wasn't paying attention. Still standing in the doorway to the bus) he was goggling at the shadowy entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. â€Å"There you are, Harry,† said a voice. Before Harry could turn, he felt a hand on his shoulder. At the same time, Stan shouted, â€Å"Blimey! Ern, come ‘ere! Come ‘ere!† Harry looked up at the owner of the hand on his shoulder and felt a bucketful of ice cascade into his stomach — he had walked right into Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic himself. Stan leapt onto the pavement beside them. â€Å"What didja call Neville, Minister?† he said excitedly. Fudge, a portly little man in a long, pinstriped cloak, looked cold and exhausted. â€Å"Neville?† he repeated, frowning. â€Å"This is Harry Potter.† â€Å"I knew it!† Stan shouted gleefully. â€Å"Ern! Ern! Guess ‘oo Neville is, Ern! ‘E's ‘Arry Potter! I can see ‘is scar!† â€Å"Yes,† said Fudge testily, â€Å"well, I'm very glad the Knight Bus picked Harry up, but he and I need to step inside the Leaky Cauldron now†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Fudge increased the pressure on Harry's shoulder, and Harry found himself being steered inside the pub. A stooping figure bearing a lantern appeared through the door behind the bar. It was Tom, the wizened, toothless landlord. â€Å"You've got him, Minister!† said Tom. â€Å"Will you be wanting anything? Beer? Brandy?† â€Å"Perhaps a pot of tea,† said Fudge, who still hadn't let go of Harry. There was a loud scraping and puffing from behind them, and Stan and Ern appeared, carrying Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage and looking around excitedly. â€Å"‘Ow come you di'n't tell us ‘oo you are, eh, Neville?† said Stan, beaming at Harry, while Ernie's owlish face peered interestedly over Stan's shoulder. â€Å"And a private parlor, please, Tom,† said Fudge pointedly. â€Å"‘Bye,† Harry said miserably to Stan and Ern as Tom beckoned Fudge toward the passage that led from the bar. â€Å"‘Bye, Neville!† called Stan. Fudge marched Harry along the narrow passage after Tom's lantern, and then into a small parlor. Tom clicked his fingers, a fire burst into life in the grate, and he bowed himself out of the room. â€Å"Sit down, Harry,† said Fudge, indicating a chair by the fire. Harry sat down, feeling goose bumps rising up his arms despite the glow of the fire. Fudge took off his pinstriped cloak and tossed it aside, then hitched up the trousers of his bottle-green suit and sat down opposite Harry. â€Å"I am Cornelius Fudge, Harry. The Minister of Magic.† Harry already knew this, of course; he had seen Fudge once before, but as he had been wearing his father's Invisibility Cloak at the time, Fudge wasn't to know that. Tom the innkeeper reappeared, wearing an apron over his nightshirt and bearing a tray of tea and crumpets. He placed the tray on a table between Fudge and Harry and left the parlor, closing the door behind him. â€Å"Well, Harry,† said Fudge, pouring out tea, â€Å"you've had us all in a right flap, I don't mind telling you. Running away from your aunt and uncle's house like that! I'd started to think†¦but you're safe, and that's what matters.† Fudge buttered himself a crumpet and pushed the plate toward Harry. â€Å"Eat, Harry, you look dead on your feet. Now then†¦You will be pleased to hear that we have dealt with the unfortunate blowing-up of Miss Marjorie Dursley. Two members of the Accidental Magic Reversal Department were dispatched to Privet Drive a few hours ago. Miss Dursley has been punctured and her memory has been modified. She has no recollection of the incident at all. So that's that, and no harm done.† Fudge smiled at Harry over the rim of his teacup, rather like an uncle surveying a favorite nephew. Harry, who couldn't believe his ears, opened his mouth to speak, couldn't think of anything to say, and closed it again. â€Å"Ah, you're worrying about the reaction of your aunt and uncle?† said Fudge. â€Å"Well, I won't deny that they are extremely angry, Harry, but they are prepared to take you back next summer as long as you stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas and Easter holidays.† Harry unstuck his throat. â€Å"I always stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas and Easter holidays,† he said, â€Å"and I don't ever want to go back to Privet Drive.† â€Å"Now, now, I'm sure you'll feel differently once you've calmed down,† said Fudge in a worried tone. â€Å"They are your family, after all, and I'm sure you are fond of each other — er — very deep down.† It didn't occur to Harry to put Fudge right. He was still waiting to hear what was going to happen to him now. â€Å"So all that remains,† said Fudge, now buttering himself a second crumpet, â€Å"is to decide where you're going to spend the last two weeks of your vacation. I suggest you take a room here at the Leaky Cauldron and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Hang on,† blurted Harry. â€Å"What about my punishment?† Fudge blinked. â€Å"Punishment?† â€Å"I broke the law!† Harry said. â€Å"The Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry!† â€Å"Oh, my dear boy, we're not going to punish you for a little thing like that!† cried Fudge, waving his crumpet impatiently. â€Å"It was an accident! We don't send people to Azkaban just for blowing up their aunts!† But this didn't tally at all with Harry's past dealings with the Ministry of Magic. â€Å"Last year, I got an official warning just because a house-elf smashed a pudding in my uncle's house!† he told Fudge, frowning. â€Å"The Ministry of Magic said I'd be expelled from Hogwarts if there was any more magic there!† Unless Harry's eyes were deceiving him, Fudge was suddenly looking awkward. â€Å"Circumstances change, Harry†¦We have to take into account†¦in the present climate†¦Surely you don't want to be expelled?† â€Å"Of course I don't,† said Harry. â€Å"Well then, what's all the fuss about?† laughed Fudge. â€Å"Now, have a crumpet, Harry, while I go and see if Tom's got a room for you.† Fudge strode out of the parlor and Harry stared after him. There was something extremely odd going on. Why had Fudge been waiting for him at the Leaky Cauldron, if not to punish him for what he'd done? And now Harry came to think of it, surely it wasn't usual for the Minister of Magic himself to get involved in matters of underage magic? Fudge came back, accompanied by Tom the innkeeper. â€Å"Room eleven's free, Harry,† said Fudge. â€Å"I think you'll be very comfortable. just one thing, and I'm sure you'll understand†¦I don't want you wandering off into Muggle London, all right? Keep to Diagon Alley. And you're to be back here before dark each night. Sure you'll understand. Tom will be keeping an eye on you for me.† â€Å"Okay,† said Harry slowly, â€Å"but why?† â€Å"Don't want to lose you again, do we?† said Fudge with a hearty laugh. â€Å"No, no†¦best we know where you are†¦I mean†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Fudge cleared his throat loudly and picked up his pinstriped cloak. â€Å"Well, I'll be off, plenty to do, you know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Have you had any luck with Black yet?† Harry asked. Fudge's finger slipped on the silver fastenings of his cloak. â€Å"What's that? Oh, you've heard – well, no, not yet, but it's only a matter of time. The Azkaban guards have never yet failed†¦and they are angrier than I've ever seen them.† Fudge shuddered slightly. â€Å"So, I'll say good-bye.† He held out his hand and Harry, shaking it, had a sudden idea. â€Å"Er — Minister? Can I ask you something?† â€Å"Certainly,† said Fudge with a smile. â€Å"Well, third years at Hogwarts are allowed to visit Hogsmeade, but my aunt and uncle didn't sign the permission form. D'you think you could –?† Fudge was looking uncomfortable. â€Å"Ah,† he said. â€Å"No, no, I'm very sorry, Harry, but as I'm not your parent or guardian –â€Å" â€Å"But you're the Minister of Magic,† said Harry eagerly. â€Å"If you gave me permission†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No, I'm sorry, Harry, but rules are rules,† said Fudge flatly. â€Å"Perhaps you'll be able to visit Hogsmeade next year. In fact, I think it's best if you don't†¦yes†¦well, I'll be off. Enjoy your stay, Harry.† And with a last smile and shake of Harry's hand, Fudge left the room. Tom now moved forward, beaming at Harry. â€Å"If you'll follow me, Mr. Potter,† he said, â€Å"I've already taken your things up†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Harry followed Tom up a handsome wooden staircase to a door with a brass number eleven on it, which Tom unlocked and opened for him. Inside was a very comfortable-looking bed, some highly polished oak furniture, a cheerfully crackling fire and, perched on top of the wardrobe — â€Å"Hedwig!† Harry gasped. The snowy owl clicked her beak and fluttered down onto Harry's arm. â€Å"Very smart owl you've got there,† chuckled Tom. â€Å"Arrived about five minutes after you did. If there's anything you need, Mr. Potter, don't hesitate to ask.† He gave another bow and left. Harry sat on his bed for a long time, absentmindedly stroking Hedwig. The sky outside the window was changing rapidly from deep, velvety blue to cold, steely gray and then, slowly, to pink shot with gold. Harry could hardly believe that he'd left Privet Drive only a few hours ago, that he wasn't expelled, and that he was now facing two completely Dursley-free weeks. â€Å"It's been a very weird night, Hedwig,† he yawned. And without even removing his glasses, he slumped back onto his pillows and fell asleep.

Knowledge Work and Organization

Knowledge Work and Organization Introduction Many organizations in different sectors are using community of practice and innovation to improve on their productivity. Community of practice and innovation are interrelated in some ways. This study seeks to identify their similarities, differences and the effects each have on the organization. The last part explains the challenges that firms that participate in social networks face.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Knowledge Work and Organization specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Communities of Practice From the community’s point of view, communities of practice are groups of people who come together to meet a common goal. In the business perspective, it is a group of self-motivated people who follow laid out procedures and are challenged to train the persons working with them in order to improve their productivity (Wenger 2000, p.45). These communities of practice are responsible for the smooth r unning of the organization. Therefore, they are accountable using their knowledge and skills, are included in the planning of the budget of the organization, and provide the time schedule for the activities carried out in the organization. They have artifacts which are documents, websites and stories and the appointed member maintain them since they are useful in the organization (Kortum Lerner 2000, p.680). According to Fageberg, Mowery and Nelson (2005, p.362), the communities of practice combine three elements in defining competence. They are brought together by understanding the values of their community and every member is accountable to sustain the relationship between them. For a person to be competent in the community of practice, he/she has to be a trusted member and to engage in the activities of the community (Kortum Lerner 2000, p.688). The success of every group depends on the competence and the ability of the leader to engage the whole group in the process of meeting their goal. During the establishment of the community of practice, members should put in mind what will be bringing them together like the events, who will be leading the group, the projects, connectivity and membership. Unlike closed innovation, any person within or outside the organization can be involved in performing duties that will lead to the success of the organization (Robertson, Paul Langlois 1995, p.560). Innovation Innovation involves bringing valuable ideas into the firm. There are different types of innovation, the closed and open innovation. Open innovation is when those ideas come from inside or outside the firm and are meant to benefit the organization as a whole. Most of the people who create these ideas are from outside the firm and sometimes they are hired to educate employees in the organization on how to implement the ideas. Innovation in this case is the methods that organizations choose to use in response to the challenges in the business environment. They involve changing of the traditional practices of the organization to new practices with an aim of improving the productivity of the whole organization.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Innovation includes the introduction of machines and technology that in return requires trained personnel who are ready to apply their knowledge with the help of technology to achieve the objective of the firm (Trott Hartmann 2009, p.720). Open innovation principles states that the external research and development creates more value than the closed innovation. The organizations that use closed innovation believe that they have enough skills required to perform a particular task so they do not require help from outside the company. They believe that if they discover things for themselves, they will be the first to venture into the market. These companies are so self-centered and do n ot allow others to benefit from their ideas. This is totally contrary to what open innovators perceive (Dasgupta 2003, p.320). Innovation involves generation of ideas that are essential for an organization to maintain its position in the market. Therefore, it differs from the community of practice in that the community of practice follows the ideas that the innovators have already generated in operating the organization and maintaining their relationship. Innovation involves education, technology and training in the organization (Chesbrough 2006, p.111). The employees are trained on the use of new technologies in their practices to become competent and add productivity. Community of practice uses the ideas to meet the goals and objectives of the whole organization. Therefore, the community of practice requires innovation in their daily work. However, both innovation and community of practice involve learning and training in the performance (Francis 2000, p.34). Social capital is the ability to find, combine and utilize knowledge and skills of employees within and outside the organization. Just like open innovation, social capital involves employees from outside the individual organization. Social capital encompasses the information flows, exchange of knowledge, community of practice and all other connected networks that bring together stakeholders in an organization. These stakeholders include suppliers, regulators, employees, customers and partners that are all interested in different aspects of the organization. The social capital and community of services are interconnected since both involve innovative practices. The social capital is obtained from employee business networks and the profession.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Knowledge Work and Organization specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More An organization that is able to apply the social capital is always more productive that the one that has no social capital. Innovation is an essential aspect for the productivity of the firm. â€Å"Social capital provides benefits to both the individual and the group as a whole† (Burt Ronald 1992, p.45). Differences between open innovation and communities of practice Communities of practice are groups of people in organizations who converge, share ideas about performing a duty or meeting a goal and learns how to the duty better to get the best practices. Open innovation on the other hand involves identifying and bringing together internal and external resources and ideas to expand on their innovation strategy with an aim of maintaining the firm’s market position on getting new opportunities (Amina Roberts 2008, p. 359) Open innovation is a cognitive model researching, creating and interpreting innovation practices while the communities of practice are not a cognitive model. Communities are not restricted by the organization’s structure, they involve people a cross the geographical and organizational limits while the open innovation is limited by the structure of the organization and must follow the hierarchy. Similarities of the communities of practice and the open innovation The community of practice must use the technology while still sharing their ideas and learning more about those ideas. Similarly, open innovation involves the use technological practices to bring new ideas in an organization (Amina Roberts 2008, p. 354). Both communities of practice and open innovation involve a group of individuals in an organization and are aimed at improving the performance of the firm (Hardcastle 2011, p.52). The members of both communities of practice and the innovation group are from different professions and are not restricted to one organization but involve internal and external knowledge in the improvement of the firms performance. Communities of practice and open innovation involve the process of learning searching for information ab out how they can create new markets or future opportunities for the organization. Challenges Faced by the Organizations’ Social Networks As discussed earlier, the community of practice, the social capital and the practice-based networks depend so much on innovation. Innovation depends so much on the technology which most of the employees fear since they think that they will lose their jobs. The community of practice may come up with ideas that can cost the organization a lot of money and resources that the organization may not afford. The organization can be forced to borrow or hire the resources, which affect the budget and affect the productivity of the organization. The social groups in the organization require frequent training, which can also be costly to the organization (Francis 2000, p.40). Through innovation, the leaders in the organization may be over possessed with competition giving much pressure to the other employees and reduces their productivity. According to Chesbrough and Melissa (2007, p. 69), the community of practice in many cases asks for higher pay than the others since they have more responsibilities of changing the old practice of the organization to new improved processes. This is a major challenge for the organization. People perceive ideas differently therefore, for an organization to benefit fully from the community of practice and the social capital, the members involved must understand each other’s behavior. This will help them accommodate each other. The organization is responsible for the education and leadership of this individual in understanding each other and enhancing their knowledge (Chesbrough Melissa 2007, p.62). Conclusion Changes in technology around the world have improved the performance of organizations. Firms traditionally used the closed innovation in their research and development but today they have changed to open innovation. Communities of practice are also used in all organizations in all sec tors to develop ideas on increasing the productivity of the firm. However, companies are faced with so many challenges in the process of promoting their social groups. This is because the decision making process is slowed by a number of people whose perspective is different from policy makers but trust, negotiation and consultations bring the ideas together.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More List of References Amina, A and Roberts, J 2008, Knowing in action: Beyond communities of practice, Elsevier B.V, vol , 37, pp, 353–369. Burt, Ronald, S 1992, Structural holes: The social structure of competition, Harvard University Press, London. Chesbrough, H and Melissa M, 2007, Open innovation and strategy appleyard, California Management Review, vol.50, no.1, pp.57-76. Chesbrough, W 2006, Open innovation: the new imperative for creating and profiting from technology, Harvard Business Press, New York. Dasgupta, P 2003, Social capital and economic performance: Analytics, in foundations of social capital, Critical Studies In Economic Institutions, vol.2, no.1, pp.309–39. Fageberg, J, Mowery, D Nelson, R 2005, Oxford handbook of innovation, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Francis, F 2000, The great disruption: Human nature and the reconstruction of social order, Simon and Schuster, New York. Hardcastle, D 2011, Community practice: Theories and skills for social work ers, Oxford University Press, Oxford, Kortum, S and Lerner, J 2000, Assessing the contribution of venture capital to innovation, Journal of Economics, vol.31, no.2, pp.674–692. Robertson, Paul L. and Langlois, R 1995, Innovation, Networks, and Integration, Research Policy, vol. 24, pp.543-562. Trott, P and Hartmann, D 2009, Why Open Innovation is old wine in new bottles, International Journal of Innovation Management, vol.13, no.2, pp.715–736. Wenger, E 2000, Communities of practice and social learning systems, Sage, New York.

Life of Nicias, Life of Crassus, Comparison of Crassus with Nicias

Life of Nicias, Life of Crassus, Comparison of Crassus with Nicias In his work, Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans, Plutarch selects some few individuals who had some outstanding characters or who achieved salient things in their lives. Amongst these noble Grecians and Romans are Nicias and Crassus. Plutarch expounds lives these two nobles and compares them as exposited in this paper.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Life of Nicias, Life of Crassus, Comparison of Crassus with Nicias specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Life of Nicias Nicias was amongst the three renowned, honest, and loving citizens in Athens according to what Aristotle noted. Moreover, he was a captain most of the time working with his master Captain Pericles but sometimes working alone. Fortunately, after Pericles passed away, Nicias fame and popularity propelled him to nobility for people loved him dearly. â€Å"†¦his gravity was neither severe nor odious, but mingled with a kind of modesty†¦which made them thereby the more to love and esteem him† (Plutarch 295). There appeared to be some fortune in all that Nicias did. He managed to overcome his closest rival Cleon, by use of subtle tactics. For instance, while Cleon was humorous, something that Nicias lacked, Nicias noted the weakness and, â€Å"crept into people’s favor with liberality, with charges of common plays†¦exceeding in cost and pleasant sports†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Plutarch 295). He had massive wealth. His simplicity and popularity ensured that he fitted in any group that he found himself. For instance, he would reward his cravers generously regardless of whether they are malicious or good-hearted. Through these tactics, orators could not find anything to accuse him for he did not even drink, engage in useless talk, or get involved in pleasures that would taint his reputation. In office he would busy himself with office issues; not meddling with other people’s business. Nicias simplicity and openne ss made him bring peace amongst Grecians something they call, Nicium peace even to date. His nature to create peace enabled him to stoop low before Gylippus who had taken hostage some Athenians; unfortunately, he was seized, taken in as a prisoner, and killed. Life of Crassus Crassus was a man of good character; however, accusations that he had defiled Licinia; a nun, tinted his reputation. â€Å"†¦vice of covetousness in Crassus that drowned many other goodly virtues in him† (Plutarch 333). It is unfortunate that one vice would destroy many of Crassus’ virtues. Nevertheless, despite this shortcoming, Crassus was a wealthy man through diligence, ‘by fire and blood.† He was a friendly person even to strangers; moreover, he would lend his friends interest-free money. Unfortunately, Cinna and Marius attacked Rome forcing Crassus, his father and brother to escape to Spain in a flight. Rumors had it that, some tyrants were looking for Crassus. In Spain, he lived in caves until Cinna died after eight months. He maneuvered his way back to Italy under Sylla.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Later he became part of Cesar’s reign in Rome where he worked under Pompey and became popular amongst Romans for he would lend them money and spend time with them in the market place. â€Å"To pleasure everyman; so that by this easy access and familiarity†¦he grew to exceed the gravity and majesty of Pompey† (Plutarch 340). At one time, he saved Cesar by lending him 838 talents to satisfy his creditors something that elevated Crassus to nobility; he became the governor and praetor of Gaul; however, Po attacked and overthrew him. Fortunately, the senate was offended, overruled this act, and restored Crassus. He achieved several feats like conquering Spartacus in Romania. However, later in his reign, Crassus fell into conflict with King Hyrodes and he was slew by Surena, one of the king’s men. His head â€Å"his head was brought the same night before the kings†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Plutarch 374). This marked the end of one Marcus Crassus. Nicias and Crassus Before comparing these, two noble men, it is important to note that, even though both were rich, Nicias’ wealth was more just than Crassus’ was. Nicias was a man of the people as aforementioned; he never did anything malicious; on the contrary, he purposed to do things that would benefit all. On his side, Crassus was unpredictable; at one time, he would be friendly, at the other cruel. He had a way of getting what he wanted. For instance, he admitted that â€Å"he came to be consul the second time by plain force and cruelty, having hired two murderers to kill Cato and Domitius† (Plutarch 378). Crassus was an enterprising person and he believed greatness was to be earned. On the other side, Nicias was a quiet charac ter and revered people regardless of their class and status. Whilst the Athenians forced Nicias to war against his wish, Crassus forced Romans into war against their wish. Therefore, â€Å"the commonwealth fell into misery by the one, brought into misery by the other† (Plutarch 380). These are some of the differences exhibited by this Grecian and Roman. Nevertheless, these two great men shared some traits. In his fight against Cleon, Nicias portrayed ambition similar to that of Crassus against Spartacus. Crassus died in the hands of Surena after falling apart with his enemies; he yielded himself to his enemies. Similarly, Nicias surrendered before his enemies in a bid to strike a peace deal; unfortunately, he died infamously. The bottom line is that, they al yielded to their enemies.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Life of Nicias, Life of Crassus, Comparison of Crassus with Nicias specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conclusion Nicias, a Grecian and Crassus, a Roman were both noble men in their times. They ruled differently with Nicias believing in peace while Crassus believed in fighting and violence to have his way. They were rich even though Nicias’ wealth was more just than that of Crassus. Nevertheless, they died similar death of yielding to their enemies. Plutarch. â€Å"Plutarch Selected Lives.† Mossman, Judith. (Ed). Wordsworth Classics of World Literature, 1994.

The Importance Of Providing A Quality-Learning Environment Essay

The Importance Of Providing A Quality-Learning Environment - Essay Example st motivating feature about her is that she is able to orient herself precisely in her classroom, meaning that she can develop knowledge and skills to enable her to pursue her studies further. Underlying concepts and principles associated with working with people MDVI When working with people with such impairments, multidisciplinary teams such as teachers need to consider several principles such as demonstrating a number of academic studies and writing skills that are most consistent to their physical challenge. Like in Sarah’s case, there should be a way to demonstrate an ability to relate a precise approach to the acquisition of new skills that will benefit her in respect to intervention and support strategies (Lee & MacWilliam, 2002). It is important to reflect upon several specialized practical and personal skills connected to mobility, independence, and orientation of different approaches used when working with people with MDVI. However, it is also recommended that one un derstands the ethical principles as they apply to dealing with this group of people. The skills taught should be of good quality and be transferable to wider fields of the context. There must be planning techniques and systems that acknowledge that MDVI individuals deserve better than just being relegated to teacher planning systems that do not consider personal contextual issues in their lives. It should be considered that young MDVI learners have numerous barriers to battle without educators putting more effort in their daily learning. This is the reason why teachers should set a goal to provide a cool learning environment by planning on a flexible individualized system of educating the learners. It helps to enhance the participation of an MDVI individual in learning since it helps the person... Working with a child or individual with multiple disabilities and visual impairments is not as easy as working with a normal person. Like in Sarah’s case, she has coloboma in her right eye and microphthalmia in her left but has a low hearing ability, that is why she uses Makaton to communicate. Students with related disabilities also need special systems such as   In this sense, some of these students come from poor backgrounds and may not afford such implements. This makes learning difficult since they cannot do without them. Further, educators, therapists, and fellow students need to use such tools in order to communicate to them, which may not be so easy. Impairments vary from child to child, and it may be a challenge to know how each child communicates his or her feelings. Failing to be understood, such children may lose motivation and this might affect their learning outcomes.Sarah needs assistance to take in her meals. Other students with multiple disabilities will as well require special equipment or help with feeding. Such assistive technologies like environmental control devices and adapted cups and spoons should be provided to motivate their eating skills.  Teachers sometimes find it hard to take care of such students, so they have to use many opportunities and examples to put in practice functional skills like self-feeding and dressing, within natural, meaningful, and relevant contexts of their daily learning.