Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Americas Roadside Architecture of the 1950s

Googie and Tiki are examples of a Roadside Architecture, a type of structure that evolved as American business and the middle class expanded. Particularly after World War II, travel by car became part of the American culture, and a reactive, playful architecture developed that captured Americas imagination. Googie describes a futuristic, often flashy, Space Age building style in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. Often used for restaurants, motels, bowling alleys, and assorted roadside businesses, Googie architecture was designed to attract customers. Well-known Googie examples include the 1961 LAX Theme Building at the Los Angeles International Airport and the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington, which was built for the 1962 Worlds Fair. Tiki architecture is a fanciful design that incorporates Polynesian themes. The word tiki refers to large wood and stone sculptures and carvings found in the Polynesian islands. Tiki buildings are often decorated with imitation tiki and other romanticized details borrowed from the South Seas. One example of Tiki architecture is the Royal Hawaiin Estates in Palm Springs, California. Googie Features and Characteristics Reflecting high-tech space-age ideas, the Googie style grew out of the Streamline Moderne, or Art Moderne, the architecture of the 1930s. As in Streamline Moderne architecture, Googie buildings are made with glass and steel. However, Googie buildings are deliberately flashy, often with lights that would blink and point. Typical Googie details include: Flashing lights and neon signsBoomerang and palette shapesStarburst shapesAtom motifsFlying saucer shapesSharp angles and trapezoid shapesZig-zag roof lines Tiki Architecture Has Many of These Features Tikis and carved beamsLava rockImitation bamboo detailsShells and coconuts used as ornamentsReal and imitation palm treesImitation thatch roofsA-frame shapes and extremely steep peaked roofsWaterfallsFlashy signs and other Googie details Why Googie? Googie should not be confused with the Internet search engine Google. Googie has its roots in the mid-century modern architecture of southern California, an area rich with technology companies.  The Malin Residence or Chemosphere House designed by architect John Lautner in 1960 is a Los Angeles residence that bends mid-century modern stylings into Googie. This spaceship-centirc architecture was a reaction to the nuclear arms and space races after World War II. The word Googie comes from Googies, a Los Angeles coffee shop also designed by Lautner. However, Googie ideas can be found on commercial buildings in other parts of the country, most noticeably in the Doo Wop architecture of Wildwood, New Jersey. Other names for Googie include Coffee House ModernDoo WopPopuluxeSpace AgeLeisure Architecture Why Tiki? The word tiki should not be confused with tacky, although some have said that tiki is tacky! When soldiers returned to the United States after World War II, they brought home stories about life in the South Seas. The best-selling books Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl and Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener heightened interest in all things tropical. Hotels and restaurants incorporated Polynesian themes to suggest an aura of romance. Polynesian-themed, or tiki, buildings proliferated in California and then throughout the United States. The Polynesia fad, also known as Polynesian Pop, reached its height in about 1959 when Hawaii became part of the United States. By then, commercial tiki architecture had taken on a variety of flashy Googie details. Also, some mainstream architects were incorporating abstract tiki shapes into the streamlined modernist design. Roadside Architecture After President Eisenhower signed the Federal Highway Act in 1956, the building of the Interstate Highway System encouraged more and more Americans to spend time in their cars, traveling from state to state. The 20th century is filled with examples of roadside eye candy created to attract the mobile American to stop and buy. The Coffee Pot Restaurant from 1927 is an example of mimetic architecture. The Muffler Man seen in the opening credits is an iconic representation of roadside marketing still seen today. Googie and Tiki architecture is well-known in southern California and associated with these architects: Paul Williams, designer of thousands of mid-century modern homes in southern California, may be best known for the LAX Theme Building, shown on this page bathed in Walt Disney colored lightingJohn LautnerDonald Wexler, designer of many mid-century modern homes in Palm Springs, California, is known for designing the Royal Hawaiin Estates in the early 1960sEldon DavisMartin Stern, Jr.Wayne McAllister Sources LAX Theme Building designed by Paul Williams, Los Angeles airport photo by Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images (cropped)The Royal Hawaiian Estates, Palm Springs, California, photo  © Daniel Chavkin, courtesy Royal Hawaiian EstatesThe Malin Residence or Chemosphere House Designed by John Lautner, 1960, photo by ANDREW HOLBROOKE / Corbis Entertainment / Getty Images

Monday, December 23, 2019

The Theory of Evolution Essay - 1353 Words

The ongoing scientific investigation of how exactly evolution occurred and continues to occur has been an argumentative idea amongst society since Darwin first articulated it over a century ago. The scientific basis of evolution accounts for happenings that are also essential concerns of religion; both religion and science focus on the origins of humans and of biological diversity. For instance, in the reading â€Å"Truth Cannot Contradict Truth,† Pope John Paul II, addressing the Pontifical Academy of Science, discussed the matter of God as creator of man. The Pope explains that men cannot relate to animals because men are superior. The reasoning for that is because God created humans under his likeness. What the church is saying about mankind†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"If no such variations exist, the population rapidly goes extinct because it cannot adapt to a changing environment† (O’Neil, 1998-2013). Scientists call this reproductive success.  "Within a specific environment context, one genotype will be better than another genotype in survival or reproduction for certain reasons having to do with the way its particular features relate to the environment or relate to other organisms within the population† (Futuyma, 2000-2014). The theory of evolution is explicable through various kinds of scientific research. In the science of paleontology, the history of life is studied. Paleontologists study fossils to learn the past ecologies, evolution, and the origins of humans. In order to understand the processes that have led to both the origination and destruction of organisms since life began, paleontologists incorporate both scientific knowledge and studies. Fossil findings are critically important for confirming predictions of evolution theory. Of the many discoveries that are made yearly to add depth to the understanding of evolution, an example is a recent discovery of a creature they named Tiktaalik. The Tiktaalik was uncovered to be a transitional animal between shallow-water fishes and limbed animals. The creature supports the idea that it emerged from both mammals and reptiles, suggesting that the two are related. These findings support prediction of evolution, contradicting the belief that GodShow MoreRelatedThe Theory Of Evolution And Evolution1685 Words   |  7 Pages â€Æ' Since Charles Darwin suggested the theory of evolution by natural selection in this best-known work, On the Origin of Species, controversy has followed. As a (computer) scientist, this student has no personal problem with the theory of evolution. However, since the debate of whether or not evolution actually exists is still alive and well today, a brief exploration of the arguments against is not only interesting, but also increasingly necessary. Why is there such disparity over this topic overRead MoreEvolution And Theory Of Evolution2859 Words   |  12 Pages come up with a variety of theories to answer the age old question, â€Å"Where do we come from?† The theory of evolution is just one of the many theories written over the centuries that attempts to answer this question; however, it holds the distinction of being the only theory accepted as scientifically true in today’s world. This paper will discuss the theory of evolution in detail; topics addressed include defining the theory of evolution and explaining how the theory has evolved over time, as wellRead MoreThe Theory of Evolution754 Words   |  4 PagesRunning Head: EVOLUTION The Theory of Evolution By Student’s Name Name of University Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution has been a topic of controversy since it was promulgated in the late 1800s. Nonetheless, its tenets remain strong, with many modern day scientists making discoveries that support Darwin’s theories of evolution, natural selection, and survival of the fittest. In The Origin of Species, Darwin calls the process of natural selection or survival of the fittest, the preservationRead MoreThe Theories Of The And Evolution756 Words   |  4 Pagesexplained the concept of growth and evolution, Freud theorized explanations for our suppressed cognition, Archimedes ran out of a bathtub yelling Eureka once he established the concept of density, and many other renowned scientists provided substantial theories to explain common associations within everyday life. These brilliant researchers gave reason to the term â€Å"why†. They provoked curiosity, established ideologies, and generated scientific laws that define logic. Evolution, adaptation, and developmentRead MoreThe Theories Of The Theory Of Evolution1802 Words   |  8 Pagesproduced mankind. However, the philosophical theory of evolution has no solid evidence, whereas creation can be proven. Science is supposed to be based on observation, right? The best theories satisfy the test of expe rimentation. No one can test if evolution happened. Non one can prove that evolution actually happened. But what evidence can we place against evolution? In 1859, Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species, introducing the theory of evolution. One hundred and fifty-six years laterRead MoreEvolution Versus Creation And The Theory Of Evolution1714 Words   |  7 PagesEvolution versus creation is one of the most controversial topics that have ever been exposed to the world. Scientist and creationist both argue that their perspective is more right than the other. In reality both sides don’t know the exact truth behind the creation of the world. Evolution is the process in which something changes into something different and typically resulting in it becoming more complex and better formed. Charles Darwin, an English naturalist and geologist, suggested a theoryRead MoreTheory of Evolution Essay1359 Words   |  6 Pagesso there was no need for evolution; hence, there was no sign of evolution from the beginning. Since sin came into the world, man has been deceived into thinking there is evolution. We are not talking abou t the theory of evolution that says man started from an amoeba or as an ape and eventually began to walk upright; not that evolution, but evolution in the sense of development. There are developments in the earth and therefore it can be considered as a form of evolution, but truly would it be classifiedRead MoreEvolution Of A Evolutionary Theory1500 Words   |  6 PagesEvolution is descent with modification, a phrase Darwin used in proposing the at Earth’s many species are descendants of ancestral species that were different The power of evolution as a unifying theory is its ability to explain and connect a vast array of observations about the living world. Aristotle believed that life forms could be arranged on a scale of increasing complexity. Each form of life, perfect and permanent, had its allotted space. Darwin argued that classification should be based onRead MoreThe Theory of Evolution Essay553 Words   |  3 PagesBiological evolution is the name for the changes in gene frequency in a population of a species from generation to generation. Evolution offers explanation to why species genetically change over years and the diversity of life on Earth. Although it is generally accepted by the scientific community, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution has been studied and debated for several decades. In 1859, Darwin published On The Origin of Species, which introduced the idea of evolutionary thought which he supportedRead MoreThe Theory Of Biological Evolution1192 Words   |  5 PagesSocial Darwinism is defined as the application of the theory of biological evolution to human affairs. It was used to justify and clarify many notions of nationalism and imperialism. Science played a huge role in the coming about of this new discovery but in reality, the society shaped the science of what it was about. Charles Darwin was the root of new era and was profound to come up with the theory of evolution. His theory had become one the fundamental unifying principles of modern biology and The Theory of Evolution Essay - 1353 Words There is no debate that the worlds first power of surviving relies on evolution, to a point where one does not have to look outside the box to witness it ... theyre sitting on it. Many have mistaken the term Evolution with a state of randomness, an improvement or even a biogenesis. Others have related it to the origins of the universe, a social Darwinism that resulted in a massive diversity regarding theory and ideology. While people choose to rest their bodies on a chair in attempt to find an answer to its definition, some have rested their minds and accepted the fact that it only means change over time. Its no question that life on earth is related through common descent and has been changing for a long time, yet the real conflict†¦show more content†¦history. It is now safe to say that Le Corbusier is to modern architecture what Christopher Columbus is to the world: the hero of the heroic period. Around that time, Le Corbusier was the dominant force in not only architectu ral schools, but all over the world. His name was pronounced by all tongues and people learned, studied and analyzed his innovations to a point where he became the obsession of everyone whose mind and heart connect to architecture. His name was the first letter of the architectural alphabet. Now what our parents have taught us all in our early childhood is not to believe everything we are told... I know, you too believed everything you were told. According to Wikipedia, modernism is: - The notion that Form follows function, meaning that the result of design should derive directly from its purpose - Simplicity and clarity of forms and elimination of unnecessary detail. - Materials at 90 degrees to each other. - Visual expression of structure (as opposed to the hiding of structural elements) - The related concept of Truth to materials, meaning that the true nature or natural appearance of a material ought to be seen rather than concealed or altered to represent something else. - Use ofShow MoreRelatedThe Theory Of Evolution And Evolution1685 Words   |  7 Pages â€Æ' Since Charles Darwin suggested the theory of evolution by natural selection in this best-known work, On the Origin of Species, controversy has followed. As a (computer) scientist, this student has no personal problem with the theory of evolution. However, since the debate of whether or not evolution actually exists is still alive and well today, a brief exploration of the arguments against is not only interesting, but also increasingly necessary. Why is there such disparity over this topic overRead MoreEvolution And Theory Of Evolution2859 Words   |  12 Pages come up with a variety of theories to answer the age old question, â€Å"Where do we come from?† The theory of evolution is just one of the many theories written over the centuries that attempts to answer this question; however, it holds the distinction of being the only theory accepted as scientifically true in today’s world. This paper will discuss the theory of evolution in detail; topics addressed include defining the theory of evolution and explaining how the theory has evolved over time, as wellRead MoreThe Theory of Evolution754 Words   |  4 PagesRunning Head: EVOLUTION The Theory of Evolution By Student’s Name Name of University Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution has been a topic of controversy since it was promulgated in the late 1800s. Nonetheless, its tenets remain strong, with many modern day scientists making discoveries that support Darwin’s theories of evolution, natural selection, and survival of the fittest. In The Origin of Species, Darwin calls the process of natural selection or survival of the fittest, the preservationRead MoreThe Theories Of The And Evolution756 Words   |  4 Pagesexplained the concept of growth and evolution, Freud theorized explanations for our suppressed cognition, Archimedes ran out of a bathtub yelling Eureka once he established the concept of density, and many other renowned scientists provided substantial theories to explain common associations within everyday life. These brilliant researchers gave reason to the term â€Å"why†. They provoked curiosity, established ideologies, and generated scientific laws that define logic. Evolution, adaptation, and developmentRead MoreThe Theories Of The Theory Of Evolution1802 Words   |  8 Pagesproduced mankind. However, the philosophical theory of evolution has no solid evidence, whereas creation can be proven. Science is supposed to be based on observation, right? The best theories satisfy the test of expe rimentation. No one can test if evolution happened. Non one can prove that evolution actually happened. But what evidence can we place against evolution? In 1859, Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species, introducing the theory of evolution. One hundred and fifty-six years laterRead MoreEvolution Versus Creation And The Theory Of Evolution1714 Words   |  7 PagesEvolution versus creation is one of the most controversial topics that have ever been exposed to the world. Scientist and creationist both argue that their perspective is more right than the other. In reality both sides don’t know the exact truth behind the creation of the world. Evolution is the process in which something changes into something different and typically resulting in it becoming more complex and better formed. Charles Darwin, an English naturalist and geologist, suggested a theoryRead MoreTheory of Evolution Essay1359 Words   |  6 Pagesso there was no need for evolution; hence, there was no sign of evolution from the beginning. Since sin came into the world, man has been deceived into thinking there is evolution. We are not talking abou t the theory of evolution that says man started from an amoeba or as an ape and eventually began to walk upright; not that evolution, but evolution in the sense of development. There are developments in the earth and therefore it can be considered as a form of evolution, but truly would it be classifiedRead MoreEvolution Of A Evolutionary Theory1500 Words   |  6 PagesEvolution is descent with modification, a phrase Darwin used in proposing the at Earth’s many species are descendants of ancestral species that were different The power of evolution as a unifying theory is its ability to explain and connect a vast array of observations about the living world. Aristotle believed that life forms could be arranged on a scale of increasing complexity. Each form of life, perfect and permanent, had its allotted space. Darwin argued that classification should be based onRead MoreThe Theory of Evolution Essay553 Words   |  3 PagesBiological evolution is the name for the changes in gene frequency in a population of a species from generation to generation. Evolution offers explanation to why species genetically change over years and the diversity of life on Earth. Although it is generally accepted by the scientific community, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution has been studied and debated for several decades. In 1859, Darwin published On The Origin of Species, which introduced the idea of evolutionary thought which he supportedRead MoreThe Theory Of Biological Evolution1192 Words   |  5 PagesSocial Darwinism is defined as the application of the theory of biological evolution to human affairs. It was used to justify and clarify many notions of nationalism and imperialism. Science played a huge role in the coming about of this new discovery but in reality, the society shaped the science of what it was about. Charles Darwin was the root of new era and was profound to come up with the theory of evolution. His theory had become one the fundamental unifying principles of modern biology and

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Positive Psychology †a Well Lived Life Free Essays

What constitutes a well-lived life? Defining the meaning of life and the conditions, traits and features of a well-lived life is a question that throughout history engrossed theologians, philosophers, artists and, more recently, positive psychologists. This essay outlines findings from a selection of the literature and research to answer this question with the aim of identifying whether happiness is the true sign and the ultimate goal and marker of a well-lived life. This review of the literature has yielded findings that possessing a disposition towards gratitude is not only indicated to be present in a well-lived life, but can enhance and improve mental, physical and spiritual life outcomes. We will write a custom essay sample on Positive Psychology – a Well Lived Life or any similar topic only for you Order Now The different research models used to explain, measure and identify the markers of a well-lived life are briefly outlined, and finally further research directions are indicated to expand understanding about how gratitude affects life satisfaction outcomes in specific populations. A challenge in researching this topic is that the literature describes happiness and well-lived in terms that are used by different researchers interchangeably and inconsistently. In this essay and in accordance with the literature reviewed, the terms happiness and the well-lived life are used synonymously. Definitions A problem with defining a well-lived life is that the terms well-being and happiness (Frey, 2011; Kristjansson, 2010), and the good life and happiness (Dunn Brody, 2008) are used by researchers interchangeably. Indeed Diener (2000) notes that the very term well-being has come to be known in common usage as happiness. Seligman (2011, pp 420) notes that sometimes the terms happiness and well-being define emotions whilst at other times refer to activities. This ambiguous terminology has caused some to criticize Positive Psychology but, as both Lazarus (2003) and Kristjansson (2010) point out, precise definitions to describe a well-lived life have also eluded philosophers and other academics for over 2,000 years. Imprecision of terminology aside, many have attempted to describe the conditions required to nurture a good or well-lived life. Some researchers have described the good life as one full of the hedonistic pursuit of frequent positive experiences (Lyubomirsky, Sheldon, Schkade, 2005). Others have described it in terms of the result of employing unique talents to achieve abundance (Seligman, 2002), whilst still others have argued that the good life involves personal growth (Bauer, McAdams, Sakaeda, 2005). Seligman (2002) argues that these descriptions are all valid because there are different pathways to happiness, although it is by combining them that one lives a full or well-lived life. He describes these pathways as the pleasant life, concerned with hedonistic pursuits, the good life, concerned with gratification of desire and the meaningful life, using ones talent to serve a higher purpose (Seligman Royzman, 2003). Research Findings And Challenges Early studies involved in identifying precisely what elements contribute to life satisfaction involved field research with participant self-reported satisfaction ratings recorded against a range of factors (Diener, 2000; Lazarus, 2003; Lyubomirsky et al. , 2005). Self reported satisfaction ratings are problematic because they are, as noted by Kristjansson (2010), by their very nature subjective. People in difficult situations can report themselves as living a good life, whereas people who are in happier circumstances can report themselves as having low life satisfaction. Additionally the factors used to measure life satisfaction are problematic because what some would consider critical to a well-lived life may be anathema to another (Bauer et al. , 2005) or not supported by the participants culture (Diener, 2000; Peterson, Ruch, Beermann, Park Seligman, 2007). Further research is indicated to firstly identify what factors are actually desired in a good life, rather than simply measuring and reporting happiness levels (Kristjansson, 2010). Diener’s (2000) and Peterson et al. 2007) findings appear to support Kristjansson’s suggestion (2010). Both research studies identified significant cross country differences not only in the rates of life satisfaction but also the factors rated as important to life satisfaction. The findings appear to indicate that individualistic cultures, or those that place high value on individual choice and desires, and collectivist cultures, where the needs of group are paramount, prioritise factors contributing to life satisfaction differently (Diener, 2000). By way of example, Diener (2000) notes that participants from collectivist cultures may sacrifice personal desires for the common good, and this is not a normative feature of individualistic cultures. Diener further notes that sacrifice in collectivist cultures may, in fact, benefit the individual by providing them with the knowledge they are performing their duty. The concept of personal sacrifice as a factor affecting life satisfaction does not appear to be studied in the literature reviewed for this essay. Despite the significance of the findings in both studies, the researchers note a limitation of their design is that is that they relied upon self-selected participants who were motivated enough to complete the survey (Diener, 2000; Peterson et al. , 2007). This may have resulted in bias. Conclusions concerning differences in cross cultural impacts upon life satisfaction levels and factors are not unanimous. A study conducted by Linley, Joseph, Harrington and Wood (2006) found no significant difference in life satisfaction ratings or factors amongst participants from different cultures, ages or gender. A limitation of this research however, as noted by the authors, is that the study only included a small number of countries with participants who could speak and respond in English (Linley et al. , 2006). It may well be that the participants who responded to the survey were Westernised. Linley et al. (2006) indicate that the study should be repeated using a multi-lingual questionnaire so that participants are drawn from a wider sample. The Social Component of a Well Lived Life Examining the literature outlining models related to a well-lived life yields important clues towards determining the ultimate signs of a well lived life. The three pathways model of a full life which includes the pleasant life of hedonistic pursuits, the good life full of desire gratification and the meaningful life (Seligman Royzman, 2003), has been criticized because the model could be applied to the non ethical, such as drug dealers, as well as those engaged in more ethical activities alike (Kristjansson, 2010). Seligman (2000) noted this as a possibility but argues this is not problematic because science is not concerned with morality. Morality aside, anti-social activities do not necessarily promote relationships and research indicates that a well lived life does indeed involve actions that promote positive social relationships (Bauer et al. , 2005; McCullough, Kimeldorf Cohen, 2008; Peterson et al. , 2007). One way that Kristjansson (2010) suggests that the thorny issue of morality and psychology could be overcome is by applying values to define those behaviours that fall outside of societal norms, although this may result in other issues if these norms are restrictive. Although Kristjansson is not a psychologist, the idea that a well-lived life should involve societal norms does seem to be supported by Diener (2000) who suggests that societal pressures do have some bearing upon individual life satisfaction reporting. Building on the concept that a life satisfaction includes a social component, Bauer et al. (2005) argue that a well lived life includes social experiences and the ability to ascribe those experiences to a positive meaning. They go on to explain that in psychological terms this translates to having a balance between social interactions and having positive feelings about them (Bauer et al. 2005). These findings imply that there is indeed a social element to a life well lived which is supported by further research. Peterson et al. (2007) found that the sociable character traits such as gratitude have strong effects upon life satisfaction. Indeed Peterson et al. (2007) note that social character traits such as gratitude are more strongly c orrelated with life satisfaction than the three pathways to happiness (Seligman Royzman, 2003, pp 153). Gratitude As with a well-lived life, gratitude is not easily defined (Wood, Froh Geraghty, 2010). Although gratitude is variously described as an emotion, a trait and an action, nevertheless the literature indicates that a grateful disposition tends to be positively associated with happiness and a well-lived life (McCullough, Emmons Tsang, 2002; McCullough et al. , 2008; Wood, Joseph Maltby, 2008). Typically, gratitude is described as a response that occurs after the receipt of something perceived as positive due to the prosocial actions of another (Emmons McCullough, 2003). Aware of the limitations of previous field research, Emmons and McCullough (2003) attempted to apply a study design that randomly assigned participants to different treatment conditions. They found a difference in mean well being scores across gratitude treatment groups from the comparison group, although less than expected, concluding that gratitude tended to increase psychological, social and spiritual well-being. One of the limitations noted in the study design (Emmons McCullough, 2003), however, was that the study period was only three weeks long which ay not have been long enough to identify changes in responses. This limitation has been commented upon by others (Lazarus, 2003). Indeed, Lazarus (2003) notes in particular that the lack of longitudinal studies in Positive Psychology studies concerning life satisfaction makes it difficult to identify causation and track precisely how different circumstances affect individuals, whatever the factors that contribute to a well lived l ife. Kristjansson (2010) notes that this is not a problem unique to studies of well-lived lives. Wood et al. 2010) noted that the definition of gratitude used in the Emmons and McCullough (2003) study did not include all of the things participants reported gratitude for that did not include a benefactor. He proposed that gratitude includes an eight level hierarchical life orientation including in ascending order; noticing and appreciating life could be worse, life is short, the present moment, engaging in ritual acts of thankfulness, admiring beauty, focusing on what one has, appreciating other people and reflecting upon what one has to be thankful for (Wood, et al. 2010). Using this expanded definition, Wood, linked gratitude to the Big Five traits, used to broadly describe human personality (Watson, Clark, Harkness, 1994) and that people who are grateful tend to be more agreeable, sociable, less neurotic, conscientious and extroverted. Commenting upon the benefits of gratitude, L yubomirsky et al. (2005) note that an attitude of gratitude appears to be incompatible with negative life feelings such as greed and envy. They note that appears to encourage individuals to reflect on experiences and social relationships in a positive way. It has also been suggested that gratitude appears to protect individuals from depression (Wood et al. , 2010) and support recovery from injury (Dunn Brody, 2008). Possible Future Research Directions The literature indicates several interesting areas for future research. The first, based on observations by Wood et al. (2010) is that there have been only a few studies studying the direct relationship between gratitude and happiness. Given the lack of longitudinal research to date as noted by Lazarus (2003) and alluded to by Emmons and McCullough (2003), it may well be promising to conduct intra-individual longitudinal research of the impact of gratitude on an individual’s perception of happiness when experiencing the normal stressors of daily living (Lazarus, 2003). It may also be useful to apply a longitudinal study to examine if the things that make one grateful change across cultures, ages and genders (Diener, 2000; Linley et al. , 2006; Peterson et al. 2007) although it would be highly recommended to avoid using self-selected participants in the study. Conclusion Defining a life well-lived and the factors associated with it is a problem that has defied easy explanation for philosophers and other academics across the ages. Much of the previous research has involved recording self-reporting by participants. Given this and the fact that the very nature of happiness and a life well lived is a subjective e xperience, it has been argued that a propensity for gratitude impacts on an individual’s ability to view their lives in a positive way, despite individual circumstances. It has also been argued that an attitude of gratefulness has several physical and mental benefits for the individual, although these studies have not yet examined precisely if the factors that make an individual grateful change across cultures and genders. Further research is indicated in this fascinating area, possibly using longitudinal studies to explore how gratitude enables individuals to view adverse circumstances differently over time. References Bauer, J. J. , McAdams, D. P. , Sakaeda, A. R. (2005). Interpreting the Good Life: Growth Memories in the Lives of Mature, Happy People. Journal Of Personality And Social Psychology, 88, 203-217. doi:10. 1037/0022-3514. 88. 1. 203 Diener, E. (2000). Subjective well-being: The science of happiness and a proposal for a national index. American Psychologist, 55(1), 34-43. Dunn, D. S. , Brody, C. (2008). Defining the good life following acquired physical disability. Rehabilitation Psychology, 53(4), 413-425. doi:10. 1037/a0013749 Emmons, R. A. , McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal Of Personality And Social Psychology, 84, 377-389. oi:10. 1037/0022-3514. 84. 2. 377 Kristjansson, K. (2010). Positive psychology, happiness, and virtue: The troublesome conceptual issues. Review Of General Psychology, 14(4), 296-310. doi:10. 1037/a0020781 Lazarus, R S. (2003). The Lazarus Manifesto For Positive Psychology And Psychology In General. Psychological inquiry, 14(2), 173-189. Linley, P. , Joseph, S. , Harrington, S. , Wood, A. M. (2006). Positive psychology: Past, present, and (possible) future. Journal Of Positive Psychology, 1(1), 3-16. doi:10. 1080/17439760500372796 Lyubomirsky, S. , Sheldon, K. M. , Schkade, D. 2005). Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review Of General Psychology, 9(2), 111-131. doi:10. 1037/1089-2680. 9. 2. 111 McCullough, M. E. , Emmons, R. A. , Tsang, J. (2002). The grateful disposition: A conceptual and empirical topography. Journal Of Personality And Social Psychology, 82(1), 112-127. doi:10. 1037/0022-3514. 82. 1. 112 McCullough, M. E. , Kimeldorf, M. B. , Cohen, A. D. (2008). An Adaptation for Altruism The Social Causes, Social Effects, and Social Evolution of Gratitude. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 17(4), 281-286. Peterson, C. , Ruch, W. , Beermann, U. , Park, N. , Seligman, M. P. (2007). Strengths of character, orientations to happiness, and life satisfaction. Journal Of Positive Psychology, 2(3), 149-156. doi:10. 1080/17439760701228938 Seligman, M. E. P. , Royzman, E. (2003). Happiness: The three traditional theories. Adapted and edited by Paul Quek. Retrieved from http://pq. 2004. tripod. com/happiness_three_traditional_theories. pdf Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Authentic Happiness. Nicholas Brealey Publishing. Retrieved July 27, 2012, from Ebook Library. Watson, D. , Clark, L. A. Harkness, A. R. (1994). Structures of personality and their relevance to psychopathology. Journal Of Abnormal Psychology, 103(1). 18-31. doi:10. 1037/0021-843X. 103. 1. 18 Wood. A. M. , Joseph, S, Maltby, J. (2008) Gratitude uniquely predicts satisfaction with life: Incremental validity above the domains and facets of the five factor model. Personality and Individual Differences, 45(1), pp 49–54 Wood, A. M. , Froh, J. J. , Geraghty, A. W. A. (2010) Gratitude and well-being: A review and theoretical integration. Clinical Psychology Review, 2010, Vol. 30(7), pp. 890-905. How to cite Positive Psychology – a Well Lived Life, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Biggest Challenges Facing Cisco Systems

Question: Discuss about the Biggest Challenges Facing Cisco Systems. Answer: Introduction: Cisco Systems was founded in 1984 in California by a husband and wife team from Stanford University. The husband came up with a way of connecting two local area networks in the departments where he and his wife worked, which were 500 yards across campus. The company has acquired a number of companies and made several strategic partnerships that have catapulted it to one of the most successful companies in the world. Its first product was shipped in 1986 and was an AGS router. The company went public in 1990. It made its first acquisition in 1993. The company also launched Ethernet switch, which has over 25000 customers and 700000 installed all over the world (Cisco, 2017). Cisco is a multinational company as it produces different goods and services and supplies them to many companies. It has patents in different countries. However, the ownership remains in the host country, which is the USA. Cisco has fully-owned subsidiaries operating in other countries. Cisco has been able to do this in Asia and has made Singapore the headquarters and transferred advanced technology to them (Cisco, 2017). Cisco also has marketing superiority as a multinational and they have been able to be the world's best to network solutions provider. Cisco operates under high efficiency. They use high technology like cloud computing. Globalization of Business-Liberalism Theory The theory of liberalism sees globalization as the market-led expansion of modernization. Liberals emphasize why it is necessary to construct infrastructure in institutions to support globalization. This has led to technical standardization. Cisco Systems has standardized technology in all its Singapore branches. It has also enabled administrative harmonization. Cisco Systems has a very solid organization structure that has enabled this to happen (Pooja, 2014). There are also translation arrangements and the companys website can be translated to suit language needs. The supporters of this theory neglect the social forces that lie behind the creation of technological and institutional foundations. It is not a satisfaction to say that these developments are natural human drives that lead to economic growth and political liberalization (Pooja, 2014). There are structural authority disproportions in the promotion of globalization and shaping its course. Singapore is a strategic location for Cisco Systems in Asia as it has even located its Asian headquarters there. Economic factors in Singapore affect Ciscos Internationalization process. Singapores Strategic Location makes it convenient for Cisco Systems to access a very large market (Hawksford, 2017). The airport at Changi serves over 15 million passengers yearly. It has been classified as the best airport in the world for over 20 years. This provides businesses like Cisco Systems with easy access to all the major Asian markets. Singapore has a good business environment hence attracting a lot of companies and businesspersons. Cisco systems have therefore been able to set up business easily in Singapore and gain from the good business environment (Hawksford, 2017). Singapore has an outstanding tax system. The corporate and personal rates are low. The country follows a single tier tax policy (Ambashi, 2017). Due to this Cisco Systems is able to maximize profits, as taxes charged are reasonable. The country is a one-stop center for companies that seek to manage their Intellectual Property Assets. Singapore is a party to major intellectual property treaties like the world intellectual property organization and the Madrid protocol (Hawksford, 2017). Cisco Systems have been able to take advantage of this by registering their trademark and being able to protect their Intellectual Property. Singapore has ensured that its labor force is highly attractive and productive; Businesses are therefore able to get efficiency as they get excellent workers. This has enabled Cisco Systems to acquire a highly motivated and productive workforce (Hawksford, 2017). This has greatly contributed to the performance of the company, as the workforce is highly skilled hence, processes run smoothly and effectively Porters Diamond Theory applied to Cisco Systems The Porter Diamond Theory is designed to help us get an understanding of competitive advantage that nations possess because of the factors that are available to them. It also explains how governments are able to act as catalysts to improve the position of a country in a globally competitive environment. The theory gives suggestions that a country can create factor advantages for itself such as having skilled labour, having strong technology industry and ensuring support of the government in the economy (Macklon, 2015). The theory is represented by a figure that resembles four diamond points. These points are related determinants, which are theorized as deciding factors of a countrys comparative economic benefits (Macklin, 2015). These factors include; the strategy of a firm, structure and rivalry, supporting industries, demand and factor conditions. The strategy of the firm, its structure and rivalry refer to the aspect that competition results in companies that strive in getting ways to add production and to come up with technological innovations. Competition has made Cisco come up with great technological innovations that have given it a technological advantage (Macklon, 2015). The company has come up with cloud solutions, Internet of things and software defined networking. Related supporting industries in the model give reference to companies that facilitate innovation through exchanging ideas with companies in the same industry Cisco Systems has been able to innovate through exchanging ideas with companies like UBS (Macklon, 2015). In March 2017, UBS and Cisco to hosted a tech talk on Internet of Things and applications. The company also formed a partnership with The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore. Demand conditions refer to the characteristics of the customer base in terms of products and this enables innovation and improvement on products (Macklon, 2015). Cisco Systems has been able to achieve this by coming up with products that fit into customer needs and trends. Foreign companies can use various strategies to enter into foreign markets. Firms can export indirectly by using domestic agents in those countries who will be paid commissions to sell products or services (Chand, 2014). They can also employ the distribution services of companies that already exist in the respective markets and have established distribution systems. The company can do direct exportation of products or services. The company will have to do marketing analysis, establish contracts, handles supply-chain issues and documentation (CaligiuriBonache, 2016). The company assigns distributors based in the country as they have the necessary resources. In Licensing, a foreign licensor gives a local licensee with access to the entire infrastructure that the company needs in exchange for compensation. The firm licensed is given exclusive rights for producing and marketing a product or service for a certain period. The licensor gets a royalty on the product or service sale (Jain Singal, 2014). This method is advantageous as the firm is able to enter a new market without too many investments. Franchising can occur via product/ trade name or business format. It involves a licensing agreement where services offered by the franchise are replicated in the foreign country through a franchise (Zhao, ParkZhou, 2014).A joint venture is when the multi-national enters into an agreement with a local company in the target country. It can either be contractual or equity. In a contractual agreement, the two companies get into a partnership to share the cost of investment, any risk factors and profits. An equity venture involves the formation of a very separate entity and the local and multinational company share ownership and control. This may happen due to complex legal procedures in the foreign country and it greatly reduces the risk for the multi-national company (MarinorMarinora, 2014). The advantage of this is that the local company knows the market well and regulations. Direct investment involves a firm entering the foreign market through investing in a manufacturing facility. The company has to commit capital and management and can acquire an already existing foreign facility or build a completely new one (Chand, 2014). Direct investment is the best option but very risky as in case the venture does not succeed the company loses many funds. How Cisco Entered Singapore Market Cisco entered the Singapore market through direct investment in 1994 through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Cisco Systems International B.V. and Cisco International Limited that distribute its products. They have introduced leading technologies over the years and have transformed how the citizens work and learn. It created Singapores first internet home in the year 2000.The company also developed strategic partnerships. They collaborated with 15 schools through Cisco networking Academy and trained over 46000 students (Cisco, 2013). The company also opened new regional headquarters in Singapore in 2014.The office is located in the vibrant Changi Business Park and houses over 1000 employees. The second one is through joint ventures. Cisco formed an alliance with Singtel in 2001 to market and develop advanced technological services for the region. This was the first strategic partnership between a local carrier and an equipment vendor. The companies marketed products and services together to key customer accounts. This brought several telecommunications services to Singapore, for example, the companies developed IP and Virtual Private Networks together, DSL technology was introduced and new networks that integrated voice, data and video (Cisco,2013). The companies also carried out an exchange program where they briefed each other on product and technological directions. The Engineers working for SingTel were also able to gain work experience in Ciscos technical assistance centers. This venture was key to Cisco as SingTel had a large presence in more than 19 countries in the Asian region. (Singapore business review, 2013). International Business Challenges Faced by Cisco Systems Cisco Systems faces various challenges when doing International Business. The first risk faced by Cisco Systems is a political risk. This can include challenges in regulatory programs. Governments keep changing laws and this can greatly affect business (Verbeke, KanoYuan, 2016). Another business challenge is financial limitations. The economic environment keeps changing hence affecting revenues (Delventhal, 2017). Already there is a prediction in falls on revenues for 2017.The orders from service providers have slumped and there is a decline in the traditional switching market. Another challenge being faced by Cisco is competitive concerns. It faces the competition of switches and routers. The company has however been losing customers to rivals like Huawei Technologies. Their market for switching has gone down from 58% to 56.8% and the router market went down from 48.8% to 44.8%.This is a great concern as in previous years routers and switchers have accounted for half of its revenue (Sun,2016). The company also faces technological challenges. There is a rise in cloud networking that relies mostly on software. These are cost-efficient than the ones that were based on hardware. Cisco still sells traditional equipment and this has hurt demand. The company has been overtaken by Arista Networks who achieved a double-digit growth due to the sale of software cloud networking (Sun, 2016). Cisco then placed a lawsuit on Arista to slow them down and resulting in them being banned from importing some products. Cisco Systems need to incorporate the global compact principle and sustainable development goals into their strategies so that they uphold their responsibility to people and the environment to enable long-term success. The first principle states that companies must support and respect human rights protection. Cisco Systems must ensure that it respects the human rights of its employees and the society as a whole. The second Principle is making sure that the company does not take part in human rights abuses (Unglobalcompact, 2015). Cisco must ensure that all employees have rights and they should not also partner with any company that abuses human rights as this will lead to reputational risk and affects business negatively. The third principle advice companies to uphold freedom of association and recognize the right to collective bargaining. Cisco Systems must ensure that it allows its staff to join unions and that they representation by unions. The fourth principle speaks about the elimination of any forced labor (Unglobalcompact, 2015). Cisco Systems must not engage in any forced Labour. The fifth principle talks about child labor being abolished. The company should not engage in any form of child labor. The sixth principle advocates for eliminating discrimination in respect to employment or occupation. Cisco systems must ensure that it develops a corporate culture that brings all stakeholders together and does not discriminate in any way. The seventh principle speaks about companies taking a precautionary approach to any challenges faced in the environment (Unglobalcompact, 2015). Cisco Systems must approach such challenges in a professional manner and should ensure that its business does not harm the environment and they should have responsible recycling or disposal methods. Principle number eight speaks about companies undertaking initiatives to improve greater environmental responsibility. Employees at Cisco should, therefore, be educated on this and the company should generally be responsible towards the environment. The ninth principle encourages environmental friendly technologies. When expanding and applying technology to its business, they have to ensure that, they are not harming the environment (Unglobalcompact, 2015). The tenth principle advocates for companies to work against corruption. Cisco systems must ensure integrity among employees and when dealing with customers. The company must maintain a high integrity. Under the sustainable development goals, Cisco Systems will also have to apply some principles to its business. Under the Poverty goal, it states that companies should respect the rights of its workers and apply innovation to provide solutions to eradicate poverty (Unglobalcompact, 2015). Cisco Systems can implement this by ensuring they serve communities affected by poverty well through coming up with products and services that serve them. Another sustainability goal is Gender Equality. Companies are encouraged to empower women. Cisco Systems gives equal opportunities to both men and women. Affordable and clean energy should also be a key priority for businesses. Cisco System should be responsible in terms of any remittances (Unglobalcompact, 2015). Decent work and economic growth is another goal. Cisco Systems should provide its employees with decent work and ensure Singapores economic growth through its business activities. The company also has various green initiatives. Responsible Production and consumption by companies are key (Unglobalcompact, 2015). Cisco Systems has a power down system and phones are switched off after working hours and over the weekends. There is minimal paper wastage. Another SDG is Climate Action. Companies must ensure responsibility in greenhouse emissions as it greatly affects the climate. Cisco Systems must strive to ensure that it implements solutions so climate change (Unglobalcompact, 2015). Life below water and Life on Land should also be cared for. Cisco systems must ensure that nothing is done to harm these lives. References Ambashi, M. (2017). ASEAN as an FDI Attractor: How Do Multinationals Look at ASEAN? Caligiuri, P., Bonache, J. (2016). Evolving and enduring challenges in global mobility. Journal of World Business, 51(1), 127-141. Chand, S. (2014).How Multinational Corporations enter Into a Foreign Market. Retrieved 22 February 2014 from https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/business/how-multinational-corporations-enter-to-a-foreign-market-6-different-modes-of-entry/13168/ Cisco (2013). Cisco Celebrates 20 years in Singapore and Opens New Regional Headquarters. Retrieved 18 April 2013 from https://newsroom.cisco.com/press-release-content?articleId=1174422 Delventhal, S. (2017). The Challenge Facing Cisco in 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017 from https://www.investopedia.com/news/challenge-facing-cisco-2017/ Hawksford (2017).Why Chose Singapore? Retrieved 2017, N.d. from, https://www.guidemesingapore.com/incorporation/introduction/singapore-incorporation-advantages Jain, A. K., Singal, A. K. (2014). Mapping vulnerability: how emerging markets respond to multinationals. Journal of Business Strategy, 35(6), 41-48. Macklon, M. (2015). Porter Diamond. Retrieved 29 July 2015 from, https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/porter-diamond.asp Marinov, M., Marinova, S. (2013). Emerging Economy Multinationals: Successes and Challenges (p. 1). Palgrave Macmillan. Pooja (2014). Eight Theories of Globalization. Retrieved 17th November 2014, from https://www.politicalsciencenotes.com/articles/8-theories-of-globalization-explained/642 Singapore business review (2013).Cisco opens New Regional Headquarters in Singapore. Retrieved 17 April 2013 from, https://sbr.com.sg/information-technology/more-news/cisco-opens-new-regional-headquarters-in-singapore Sun, L (2016).The Three Biggest Challenges Facing Cisco Systems. Retrieved 18 October 2016 from, https://www.fool.com/investing/2016/10/18/the-3-biggest-challenges-facing-cisco-systems.aspx Unglobalcompact (2015). Partnerships: A Key Way to Implement the Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved 6 June 2015 from, https://www.unglobalcompact.org/take-action/partnerships/how-to-partner Verbeke, A., Kano, L., Yuan, W. (2016). Inside the regional multinationals: A new value chain perspective on subsidiary capabilities. International Business Review, 25(3), 785-793. Zhao, M., Park, S. H., Zhou, N. (2014). MNC strategy and social adaptation in emerging markets. Journal of International Business Studies, 45(7), 842-861.

Monday, November 25, 2019

My Business Essays

My Business Essays My Business Essay My Business Essay Name: Lecturer: Course: Date: My Business Nogales, Arizona is a city that borders Nogales, Sonora and Mexico (Jennings, 20). Since the city is based on agri-business that originates from farms in the Mexican agri-belt, the most favorable business to start due to the constant border migration is real estate and tourism. This would be favorable since the citizens crossing the border would require accommodation and would like to get to know the country they have crossed over for their own reasons. The reason for choosing the Real estate is the need of a dwelling for a number of immigrants that get to find greener pastures in the neighboring land that is the neighboring them. The other reason is that there is an opportunity to leverage assets that allows businesses to grow and creates a number of profitable opportunities (Jennings, 20). Due to the profitable opportunities available in the region, tourism becomes a valid business venture. The reason for selecting tourism is to enable the residents or tourists residing in real estate housing know their environment. Moreover, it is to boost tourism essence and beauty of the country. In both real estate and tourism, intense research is required to ensure a vast, broadened knowledge. Reading relevant articles that give an understanding of location that the real estate and tourism should be set up and understanding the markets expectation is a key need in all this venture of business. The kinds of people that live in Nogales are the main factor of consideration that in making the business relevant and quite necessary. The target people here are the immigrants and tourists that visit. However, this will be a success only if the employees that will be in perspective of this business understand four aspects of the home businesses. These aspects are marketing, finance, sales promotion and public relations. This will make the running of the real estate to be monitored on a constant basis as the tourism aspect is tackled on a gradual basis (Jennings, 21). The age group between twenty years and forty-five year are usually the working class. The retirement group is usually between fifty years plus. Therefore, to cater for all the group dynamics involved there are different rates set for both the groups. This will in essence attract both the age groups through the enticing rates set during the vacations and the rates set for the immigrants that will have no dwelling place for their families (Kleiner, 203). The demographics involved for the choice of such a businesses include the currency culture, income relevant, education levels, gender and the language and gender, if need arises. It is stated that the racial make-up of the city of Nogales is diverse. About ninety-three percent of the population is said to be Hispanic or Latino of a divergent racial background. As for the families, there are a number of households involved. Moreover, out of the entire household there is a forty percent chance that children under the age of eighteen live with their parents. There is also a fifty percent chance that married couples are living together and that seventeen percent is a non-family aspect. This aspect indirectly and directly affects the general income aspect that boosts the business venture that is involved. There are also the elderly that are in the range of the age of sixty-five plus years (Kleiner, 203). They are also in a number of households. Their income is usually their pension if the y are retired or probably retrenched. The immaculate fact here is that all these people in these households have a common ground to share a vacation and a place to have a shelter. The consideration of the income will eventually dictate the rates that will be involved in the real estate and the tourism aspect. The income rate per annum should be directly proportional to the per capital income for the city (Pride, 29). In addition, since there is about forty-five percent of the population below the poverty line, a valid and huge consideration requires the staff to cater for all the Nogales citizens. The result of delegation of such duties to staff members will ensure efficiency and fervency in the tourism section. The aspect of real estate with maintenance and provision for room services and any other form of legal services will keep the citizens of Nogales interested and their anticipation boosted. This is because the offers that will be provided will cater for all kinds of people in Nogales. My expected or estimated budget is about three hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the real-estate venture while for the tourism is estimated for about three hundred thousand dollars. This will enable both the businesses to start and merge as a unit at some point to accomplish its intended goal to cater for the groups of people. The set capital budget suggested is a calculated risk including the all the aspects that had been discussed earlier. These aspects include marketing, finance, sales promotion and public relations (McKeever, 30). To break down all the aspect involved and their budget in perspective is as follows: General capital for both the businesses will take an amount of three hundred thousand dollars. Marketing for both the business ventures will take an amount of fifty thousand dollars. The Finance will be allocated an amount of a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Sales promotion shall be allocated the same amount as public relations, that is, about seventy-five thousand dollars. The reason for such an allocation of resources is to cater for the number of expenses that are going to be a probable incurrence that will be for the intended use and other miscellaneous expenses. The General capital is usually an estimate that is usually or slightly lower than the intended cost or probably a little higher than the intended money that is usually set aside. This estimate is usually calculated in such a way incase there is a variance in an item that is essential and its price is different according to the follow up on the approved budget plan. This cannot be the only factor that affects the estimated capital. The other factor is depreciation and appreciation of goods and commodities in the society (Pride, 81). This in essence affects the initial plan, as there is fluctuation of the economical goods and services (Jennings, 29). The marketing amount has that set allocation since that would be more than enough to market the relevant aspects. This is because the facts involved are not as immense as involving the labor that is involved which bring us to Finance allocation. The labor involved may be a lot and in-order for the labor to be cost effective the workers have to be well paid to enable efficiency. Sales and Public relations have the same dividends since the aspect that involves motivation and sales requires meeting and convincing clients of the services offered. In conclusion, the business solution aspect and the start of business in Nogales, Arizona is quite possible so long as there is a thorough draft of business plan involved (Kleiner, 205). The other aspect is to back up the business plan is the intense research that entails assessment of the environment of interest, the population density, the market share and availability and finally the efficiency of the supply and demand. These aspects and other factors should have the capabilities to make a new market workable in terms of tackling the need of the people of Nogales in Arizona (McKeever, 35). Works cited: Jennings, M. M. Business: Its Legal, Ethical, and Global Environment. New York, NY: Cengage Learning. 2010. Print Kleiner, E. The successful business Plan: secrets and strategies. Palo Alto, CA: The Planning Shop. 2003. Print. McKeever, M. How to Write a Business Plan. Berkeley, CA: Nolo. 2010. Print Pride, W. M., Hughes, R. J. Jack R. Kapoor. Business. New York, NY: Cengage Learning. 2011. Print Zacharakis, A., Spinelli, S. Jeffry Timmons. Business Plans that Work: A guide for small business 2/E. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Professional. 2011. Print.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Book report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Book report - Essay Example He is, therefore, involved in trading of players betting the rise in transfer value. Mendes target for his trading of players is seeking to attract Euro. 85m (pounds. 67m) from investors beyond boundaries companies to buy stakes in Spain and Portugal (Conn, para1). From an economical perspective, Mendes is a critical entrepreneur. This is because he seeks and signs excellent players; producing excellent results as per a given football team. This, therefore, means that he is responsible for the production of a demand curve. The way Mendes does this is by convincing the players to sign up with him is incredible. This triggers the question, ‘Is Jorge Mendes the most powerful man in football?’ This paper seeks to review on leadership and economics in the football world in relation to effective football management. Mendes and his company name became famous over deals done involving Portugal’s top three clubs of which he managed to earn some multi-millions of pounds to England and Spain. The guardian sport reports that Mendes work as excellent achieved this summer following biggest moves of talent and money covering the whole European football transfer market (Conn, para3). From this report, it is evident that Mendes not only critically studies the activities of marker intermediaries but also accounts for the plurality of market mediation devices. By doing so, he manages to convince players to sign up with his company. While Mendes earning from the deals is not mentioned, there is a fact is he earned a lot of billions pound this summer. The main aim of Mendes is trade these players were to attract  £Euro 85 (pound67) targeting investors to buy stakes in Spain and Portugal. Transferring the players also benefits the team which sold him and the team player joins by making it famous (Conn , para2). Having been a nightclub owner and a friend of footballers to player’s broker, he mentioned his excellent remarks dominated from deals done by Portugal’s top three

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Trends in the development of Intel after WW1 Assignment

Trends in the development of Intel after WW1 - Assignment Example In its replacement, he established a Central Intelligence Group to monitor his incoming cables, as well as supervise the duties that were being conducted by the disbanded OSS. The need to have a central intelligence agency led to the increase in missions and capabilities of the CIG. It is worth noting that most of the oversight was conducted by a committee known as the National Intelligence Authority which was made up Secretaries of War, Navy, and State, as well as the chief military adviser of the president. The National intelligence Authority played an integral role in ensuring that the unification process progressed on. Having thoughts of unifying the security system, the brains behind the National Security Act of 1947 strived to create National Security Council, a Secretary of Defense, a Central Intelligence Agency, and a constitutional Joint Chiefs of Staff that was bound by the principles of unity of intelligence, and unity of command. The Act guaranteed that statutory Joint Chiefs of Staff would not use the Prussian-style of leadership by creating an independent air force, and insisting that the CIA should not have law enforcement mandate. Additionally, the Act also dictated that the several divisions of intelligence within civilian departments and the armed forces would remain autonomous to the CIA. The fact that the Directors of the Central Intelligence could not have the full measure of authority to execute their duties has frustrated several of them; thus, leading to several reforms aimed at increasing their powers. These reforms have consistently been pushed forward by the National Security Council; however, they have faced several obstacles. In conclusion, there are several reforms aimed at improving the national intelligence; however, they face challenges since there are senior most people in the security docket who have specific changes that they cannot tolerate. This has led to the production of veto to any

Monday, November 18, 2019

Acheivements of Women in the US Army Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Acheivements of Women in the US Army - Essay Example When the government of the United States declared war on Germany during World War I in 1917, more than nine million men took up military jobs, and by the end of the war more than two million had been deployed outside the country. With such deployments, the impact of the country’s resolution to get into war was quickly felt by women, who then stepped in to fill the openings left in offices, factories and shops. With a steady increase in their numbers in the industries, women eventually made up over 20 percent of the workers during the war period in manufacturing of airplanes, electrical machinery and food. In the same period, they dominated jobs that were formerly the preserve of men (Earley 12). In that respect, this paper will describe the achievements of women in the United States Army from World War I to present. In 1916, the Women’s Naval Service organized the National Service School to offer training to women for national duty (Earley 21). The Army, Marine Corps an d Navy worked together to train women in their thousands for roles in times of national disaster and war. They learnt skills in food conservation, military drills and aerobics, telephone operations, signaling and manufacture of bandages and surgical dressings. The Army Signal Corps had more than 200 female telephone operators, christened the â€Å"Hello Girls†, who were deployed for overseas duty. ... They often found themselves in the warfront and lived in makeshift tents or bunkers that offered little or no comfort. They went through the horror of continuous artillery bombardment and mustard gas while caring for both civilians and soldiers. At the end of the war and after lengthy deliberations, Congress, in 1979, granted the operators of the Signal Corps military status (Earley 37). In World War II, more than 150,000 American female soldiers were serving in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). Apart from nurses and other noncombat female workers, the WAC members were the first women to serve within the United States Army ranks, even though both the public and army initially did not accept the concept of uniformed women (Weatherford 42). To the women’s achievement, military and political leaders realized the potential of the women to provide the desperately needed additional resources in the military sector. Given the opportunity, the women seized it and by the time the wa r ended, their contributions were acknowledged. Congresswoman Edith Rogers introduced a bill in 1941 to institute an army women’s corps that was distinct from the Army Nurse Corps. It was intended to extend to women serving in the war similar disability benefits, pensions and legal protection as the male soldiers. With the army’s reluctance to directly have women in its ranks, they settled on a compromise bill and established the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) to work alongside the army. Their only mandate was to provide the national defense with special skills and training of the nation’s women (Weatherford 46). No female officer could command men. WAAC’s Director was allocated the rank of

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Visiting Lake Manyara, Tanzania: History and wildlife

Visiting Lake Manyara, Tanzania: History and wildlife Introduction Lake Manyara is a sparkling body of water that glitters in its glory. And indeed, Lake Manyara National Park has often been described as a gem amongst the Tanzania’s northern tourism circuit. The Park forms a vital part of the larger Tarangire – ecosystem and serves as a dry season refuge for migratory animals. The park is safely nestled between the lake on the eastern side and the Gregory Rift Escarpment on the West, offering dramatic scenery that change with the seasons. During the rainy season the lake fills up and the surroundings become lush and green. During the dry season the lake partly dries up leaving a broad rim of bright white salt residue, making equally beautiful scenery. The park includes a unique forest that is fed by underground streams, rivers and springs. The forest is located on the South – Western part of the park in Mbulu plateaus. It is an important evergreen catchment forest, a source of important permanent rivers of which some of them pou r their water in Lake Manyara thus bringing life to the park and the surrounding areas. The Park is home to the rare blue monkey and numerous bird species. It is quite simply, a MUST DO for bird-lovers and keen wildlife photographers. History The name Manyara is derived from the maasai word â€Å"emanyara† referring to the Finger Euphorbia plant (Euphorbia tirucalli) meaning a plant which is a succulent. The park was first declared as a Game Reserve in 1957 mainly to protect its rhino and elephant populations. Sadly, rhino does not exist anymore because of poaching. In 1960 it was officially declared a National Park covering only 100km2. It was later on extended to the southern part towards Magara River. Between 1972 and 1990, two farm units were acquired and added to the park thus bringing its size to 330km2. Currently the park is 648.7km2 in size following the annexation of the Marang’ Forest Reserve in 2009. Dry land is 428 km2 and 220km2 is the lake- the wetland area. At its full size the lake covers about 470km2. Location Lake Manyara National Park lies between 3020’S, 35050’E and 3049’S, 35044’E as well as 3035’S, 35053’E and 3033’S, 35032’E (South) and between E3533 and E3532 (East).Park is located approximately 111.5km (from clock tower to the main gate) south- west of Arusha city. The park has two gates; one is Iyambi in the southern part of the park connecting it with Tarangire, and the other is the main gate which is close to Mto wa Mbu town. Mto wa Mbu is a small densely populated busy town which is multi ethnic with different cultural values of interest for tourists while on their way to Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti. The town is the continuation of the main road to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. Elevation The altitude varies from 960m above the sea level at the edge of the lake to 1,600m above the sea level along the valley walls of the Gregory Rift. Rainfall Like other areas in Northern Tanzania, annual rainfall pattern consists of short rains between October and December, followed by a dry season in January and thereafter long rains from February to June with the highest rainfall in April. However, Manyara has an erratic and unreliable rainfall patterns, ranging from 250mm to 1600mm per annum. Lake Manyara is highly alkaline and shallow, without any outgoing rivers. Even in rainiest months the depth doesn’t reach more than 1.5m, almost dropping to zero in the dry season. The reason why the ground water forest can survive years of extreme drought is because of springs that emerge at the escarpment base. Temperature Temperature in Lake Manyara is fairly mild, being at its highest from December to February with a mean maximum of 340C. Temperatures are lower from June to July with a minimum of 110C. It can become a bit cold when it rains. Humidity Humidity in lake ranges from 45% to 85% Attractions Attractions of Lake Manyara National Park include a unique ground water forest that is fed by underground streams and the Great Rift Valley Escarpment. The park also lesser and greater pinkish flamingos, hot water springs, wild animals like rare blue monkey, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, elephant, lion, baboon, leopard, antelope, cheetah, dik-dik and many more. The park is endowed with about 400 species of birds and varieties of insects. On inland of the floodplain there is a narrow belt of acacia woodland. The park is favored by the legendary tree-climbing lions and impressively tusked elephants. Pairs of klipspringer are often seen silhouetted on the rocks above a field of searing hot springs that steams and bubbles adjacent to the lakeshore in the far south of the park. Tourism Activities Visitors can engage themselves in the following activities: Day Game Drive Night Game Drive Canoeing when the water level is sufficiently high Wilderness walking safaris Bird watching ( November-June) Bush meal Cultural tour or cultural program at Mto wa Mbu village ( outside the park) Accessibility By air Fly to Lake Manyara Airstrip, which is at the top of the escarpment. Your ground operator will pick you at the airstrip and drive to the park main gate which is about 3km. It is possible to arrange connection flights to the other game parks from there. If your time is limited, this is the ideal option. By road Lake Manyara National Park lies on the main road to and from Ngorongoro. The park may be accessed on way from Arusha, Ngorongoro or Babati. From Arusha, drive West on the main Dodoma road for 84km until you get to Makuyuni village and if you are from Babati drive Makuyuni as well. From here turn right [west] drive on the main road leading to Ngorongoro gate for 26.5km until you get to the town of Mto -wa- mbu. About 1km from the village centre you will see a well marked park entrance gate on your left. The four wheel vehicle is feasible for park game drive. Shopping Mto wa Mbu town is a good place to buy various souvenirs. Also there are various small restaurants which offer typical Tanzanian food and beverages. It is important to fill up your vehicle at one of the filling stations at Mto wa Mbu as there are no fuel stations in the park. Accommodation-Inside the park The park has facilities for accommodation which include public tourist houses (bandas), and campsites ideal for budget visitors (prior booking is required). However there is one luxury tree lodge and one tented camp which are privately owned. Accommodation-Outside the park Luxury tented camps and lodges are available on the rift wall overlooking the Lake. In addition, guest houses and campsites are available in the nearby Mto wa Mbu town. Best time The park can be visited all-year round, however the dry season (July- October) is good for watching large mammals. On the other hand, the wet season (November-June) is good for bird watching and canoeing. Bird life is outstanding all year round; however it is probably better from September to April when migratory birds arrive. Park rules and regulations Game drive is allowed between 0600h and 1800h. Conservation fee to be paid at the entrance gates. Fees are for 24hrs single entry. Foreign visitors pay in foreign currency (USD) Payment is made through credit or debit cards( Visa card, Master card TANAPA cards-Exim CRDB banks) Camping is only allowed at authorized sites Speed Limit is 50kph (30mph) on all roads Off road driving is strictly prohibited Harassment of animals is strictly prohibited Loud music and noise are not permitted Littering is strictly prohibited. Getting out of your vehicle is not allowed except at designated picnic sites, view points and campsites It is strictly prohibited to introduce or remove any natural objects, plants or archeological artifacts. Domestic pets are strictly not allowed. Fires are only allowed at designated camping sites â€Å"Put fire out after use†. You enter the park at your own risk. Park management will not be held responsible for loss of property, life or damage of the same under any circumstances. Weapons, traps, poison and items of similar nature are strictly not allowed into the park. All accidents must be reported immediately to park officials. Adhere to instructions from park officials. Park contacts: Email address- [emailprotected] Hotlines. +255 689062294, +255 767536137

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Do It Now ( Not Tommarow But T :: essays research papers

The Poem entitled “Do It Now (Not Tomorrow But Today) was written by Michael Barabash who was deemed as “The poet of optimism';. The poem is about life and symbolizes how we choose to use the time of the future, in a positive way. The future time is a crucial part of life, which can work to your advantage or disadvantage. Everyone is blessed with time, even though some have more advantages then others money wise and so on, we are all give time and can use it to our advantage. As the quote says in the third stanza “success obeys the everlasting now'; implying that time is of the essence and however we choose to use it, can greatly affect how your life plays out. A second quote states “The Future waits- the while our past recedes';, the past is nothing but memories and can’t be changed, while the future awaits for you to change it. However, you decide to change it reflects back on you and can determine whether you lead a successful life or not. Problems and boundaries will make changing the future the way you want harder, but every one faces those and the future presents time for you to over come them and move on in most instances. How you use the future can be so important, as the author states “ Today is ours, to find a better way, to live; to love; to labor and to play';. If you use the futures time to your advantage it can greatly help you “the now alone can furnish all our needs'; allowing you to accomplish whatever you want or set out to do in life. Allow you to attain things that will outweigh and help overcome the tribulation that might present itself in your future. Almost anyone who is successful in life has taken advantage of the future and used it to overcome things and get places.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Lead And Manage A Team Essay

1.1 -Explain the features of effective team performance The features of effective team performance is set up through positive leadership, this is something which is developed and nurtured. An effective team will work together, be focused and all the time supporting each other along the way to achieve and reach goals. For a team to be effective, each team member needs to be clear on their roles and responsibilities relating to their job. Team performance will be more effective if there is respect for the leader/manager and an understanding towards their job role and responsibility. The leader/manager should also be aware of the skills or weakness within the team and be able to provide support were necessary and also utilise their strengths. Training and support will enable staff to improve performance, develop confidence and lift spirit within the team. A leader should encourage any conflicts to be resolved through healthy, professional confrontation and willingly and openly negotiate necessary changes. Effective leaders are a bit like cheerleaders for the team, they encourage and support members who are committed and actively with their teams and engage those members who aren’t participating. 1.2 -Identify the challenges experienced by developing teams Lack of Diverse Skills and Interests: If a team consists of members with similar skills and interests, the purpose of the team may not be achieved. Consider the scope of the project before selecting team members to determine which skills and interests best serve the team. Choose team members who have a range of different skill sets and interests. Read more:  Explain the Features of Effective Team Performance Poor Communication When individuals work as part of a team, communication is a key. If a team member treats his role as an independent one, communication suffers. If the team leader doesn’t communicate with the team members, the office suffers. Hold team meetings to discuss expectations. Ask team members about their successes and challenges to gauge the level of communication. Supervisions are key as they are often a good tool to set objectives and measure success. Role Confusion Even though a team works together to achieve a goal, each person needs to know his specific role within the team. Otherwise, role confusion results. When team members lack an understanding of their specific roles or choose not to follow through with their roles, the team cannot develop as a cohesive and well-functioning unit. As a branch manager it is important that i ensure that i develop specific, well-defined roles for each team member. Explain each role, in detail, to each team member to avoid confusion. Monitor team members to make sure they adhere to their assigned role. 1.3 -Identify the challenges experienced by established teams Conflict Conflict can occur in work place for all sorts of reasons, however it can often occur in established teams. Often established teams can become quite friendly and personal issues can interfere or cause problems within the working environment, it is important for me as the branch manager that these are indentified and dealt with sooner rather than later as often it can become difficult to manage if it escalates. Norming Tuckman model refers to Forming – Storming – Norming and performing, Experienced teams can often get stuck in norming which is where everything becomes stagnant and just ticks over day to day. Day to day tasks are complete but nothing above and beyond, as the branch manager its my role to get the team from this stage to performing, this can be done through regular team meetings, supervisions. 1.4 -Explain how challenges to effective team performance can be overcome Working as a part of a team can be challenging depending on different personalities and working styles, however it can be just as rewarding, tasks can get completed quicker and the working environment can be fun and enjoyable. If not managed effectively the team will not function and there are some basic things to bare in mind. Clear job roles Regular team meetings Regular supervisions/appraisals Team building days All staff are aware of what we are working towards Manage performance effectively 1.5 -Analyse how different management styles may influence outcomes of team performance There are many management styles and i believe having one particular type all the time wont work, i find myself more of a democratic which is: Democratic style, the manager allows the employees to take part in decision-making: therefore everything is agreed upon by the majority. The communication is extensive in both directions (from employees to leaders and vice versa). This style can be particularly useful when complex decisions need to be made that require a range of specialist skills: for example, when a new ICT system needs to be put in place, and the upper management of the business is computer-illiterate. From the overall business’s point of view, job satisfaction and quality of work will improve, and participatory contributions from subordinates will be much higher. However, the decision-making process could be severely slowed down unless decision processes are streamlined. The need for consensus may avoid taking the ‘best’ decision for the business unless it is managed or limited. As stated above this does have its disadvantages as decisions can be slow and staff can become to involved in the managing of the business. Other types of management styles are: Consultative Persuasive Autocratic Chaotic Democratic is more my style but I will step into other styles should the need arise, however democratic style has its pros and cons, not all decisions can be made or involve the team and during these times conflict and anxiety may arise, it also has the potential to blur job role boundaries as staff may feel they are in a higher position than they actually are, I think its important during times staff can not be involved in decisions then other styles of management should explored, being stuck in one style can become predictive and staff may become complacent. A good style of management is also Autocratic this style of management is where the manager makes all the decisions and this can be an assertive style however it can make the staff  feel less involved in the day to day running of the business, it does have it pros – staff can feel well lead and managed with the business under control as the manager can come across confident. I think its important to move between the both styles depending on the situation, for example if you are disciplining someone the a more assertive style would be needed, where as if you are trying to reach targets or setting KPI’s then the democratic style would be more suited as you would involve the whole team and let everyone decide how the KPI’s would be achieved, staff are more likely to achieve targets if they are involved in the process. 1.6a &B -Analyse methods of developing and maintaining – trust / Accountability Trust develops from consistent actions that show staff you are reliable, cooperative and committed to team success. A sense of confidence in the workplace better allows employees to work together for a common goal. Trust does not always happen naturally, especially if previous actions make the employees question if you are reliable. Take stock of the current level of trust in the workplace, identifying potential roadblocks. An action plan to build positive relationships helps improve the overall work environment for all employees. Remain honest with your employees about both positive and negative aspects of the business. Expect your management team to maintain the same level of honesty with the employees. This sense of integrity makes your employees and colleagues more trusting of your actions Involve all employees in achieving company goals. Be transparent with your company’s mission and goals so all employees feel they are a valuable part of obtaining those objectives. Employees who feel management values them are more likely to instil trust in those leaders Value all input from your employees. Encourage employees at all levels to share their ideas for improving the company. Listen with an open mind even if you don’t ultimately choose to follow a suggestion made by an employee. Define the duties. Eighty percent of the job is specified by your job description and responsibilities. Twenty percent of your time, however, is spent helping colleagues and clients. Create an atmosphere where everyone bends over backward for the other person. A successful, trusted and well-respected team  member uses words like, absolutely or certainly when asked for help. Look for things that need to be done and do them without being asked! This is the true definition of teamwork. Be clear with prospective employees during the interview process. What are your expectations? Hold your existing employees and new hires to consistent standards, outlined in your policy manual. True teamwork demands that all employees are held to the same standards and, most importantly, do whatever is necessary to take care of the customer! Define your expectations in a workplace policy manual. A personnel policy and workplace manual should cover individual and team responsibilities. If you don’t already have one, or if you have one that needs updating, be sure it includes items such as: Job description Office and working hours Leave time Professional appearance, including body piercing, tattoos and hair color Salary Other benefits Outside employment Probationary periods Performance reviews Absenteeism Discipline Termination Be aware, however, that more important than defining your expectations: You need to be consistent in holding all employees to the same standard or else you will create an atmosphere of favouritism! Outline the time commitment and set aside adequate time for each task. It is not fair to assign or accept a responsibility and then have no time to accomplish the task. Be realistic about the timeframe, and make sure your team members are aware of the deadlines for each project they take on. Be careful to not overload your staff with too many commitments or too many interruptions. They will get discouraged and burned out. Instead, focus on delegating one task at a time, communicating the objective and timeframe clearly. Open the lines of communication by having an open-door policy. Manage by â€Å"walking around.†Ã‚  Know the concerns of your team and deal with them head on. Ignoring your staff’s concerns will NOT make them go away! Be positive in your approach and dependable in your attitude. Do not lose your temper. Instead, be reasonable and predicable. If you respond inappropriately, whether out of anger or insult, your team will remember the 10 percent of the time that you were out of control, not the 90 percent of the time that you did well! By following these steps and increasing the accountability of your office staff, you create trust and respect in the workplace. With these changes, your sense of teamwork and trust will grow, while decreasing your levels of stress and conflict 1.6 -Compare methods of addressing conflict within a team Be Aware when conflict occurs Knowing that conflict may and will occur is the first step to resolving it, especially if you know that certain team members may disagree with each other. By recognising that there will be conflict, a manager knows what to expect. Set the Ground Rules At the beginning set some ground rules in your first meeting. Be sure to address what process will be taken to address conflicts, as they are bound to rise and will need to be taken care of before they spiral out of control. Tell team members that everyone’s ideas are valid and that they shouldn’t be dismissed, even if you do not agree with them. Learn About Destructive Conflicts Conflict becomes destructive when no resolution is in sight or the issue cannot be resolved. A psychological model for explaining destructive patterns is the persecutor-victim-rescuer triangle. The persecutor would be the bad-guy or bully in this scenario, but the rescuer is also placing him or herself in a position of superiority over the supposed victim. Stop yourself if you see yourself slipping into any of these roles and also try to recognise it in your team. Stop Conflict when it Happens Conflict should be addressed immediately before it can grow. If a discussion  grows heated during a meeting, do not wait until the next meeting to address the issue. Instead, discuss the issue while in the meeting; even if members disagree, they are still able to see each other’s points of view. Get the Whole Story Be sure you understand the perspectives of every person involved. Conflicts arise when there are differences of opinion, but also due to miscommunication or misunderstanding. As the manager, you should get all the information you can in regards to the conflict so that you can resolve it efficiently and effectively. Meet for Resolutions If the conflict can’t be resolved during the initial meeting, set up a separate meeting with those that are having the conflicts, so that a resolution can be reached without getting the other team members involved and picking sides. Discuss Both Sides of a Perspective Even if you are inclined to agree with one side of the conflict, do not make a final judgment until each person has had their say. Ending a discussion without hearing each person out can escalate the problem. Explain the pros and cons of both ideas, so that both people can consider the opposing view. Make Compromise a Goal Compromising between parties is helpful, as it can allow for both conflicting parties the ability to use their ideas. Most times, points can be combined in order to make a better idea or solution.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Biography of Mahatma Gandhi †World History Essay

Biography of Mahatma Gandhi – World History Essay Free Online Research Papers Biography of Mahatma Gandhi World History Essay Mohandas K. Gandhi, known to most of the world as Mahatma Gandhi, changed the world with his fight for peace, fairness, and equality. He taught the world that violence is not the only way to create change. Through his own example he showed the world that non-violence is the best way to create change and that anyone, no matter who they are, can create change through strength of character and perseverance. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born and raised in a small suburb of Bombay, India called Porbandar on October 2, 1869. He was never a great student and always had a hard time in school. As was the custom at that time in India, he was married at the age of 13 to Kasturba and his father died when he was in only the tenth grade. He joined a college, but dropped out after just three months because he didn’t like it. He then decided to go to England to get a law degree, and in September of 1888 at the age of 18 he left for London. In 1891 he returned to India as planned with his law degree. Then, in 1893 he decided to go to South Africa for one year to assist another lawyer . When he saw the racial discrimination that that Indians in South Africa were subjected to he decided to stay in South Africa and fight for the rights for those Indians and ended up staying there for twenty years. It was there that he developed his famous non-violent civil disobedience technique called Satyagraha. Finally, in 1915, after he felt that he had achieved his goals in South Africa he returned to India and remained there until his death. South Africa was not the only place that Gandhi used his amazing skills to cause a change for the people. After returning to India he spent the rest of his life fighting for the independence of India and for religious and racial tolerance within India. Gandhi played an extremely major role in India’s fight for Independence. He taught the people his non-violent techniques through his many newspapers and taught the people to be able to support themselves without the help of the British. He organized boycotts on British goods and helped the Indian people show the British that they were unwanted and unneeded in India, but he never once allowed violence . If the people ever broke out in violence he would stop eating until the violence stopped. He was extremely loved by the Indian people and when they realized he was starving himself the fighting always stopped. He spent many years of his life in jail because of what he fought for, but felt that it was an honorable thing to go to ja il for what you believe in . Although Gandhi never fought in Europe, the things he fought for affected the Europeans greatly. At the time Britain was the country with the most land across the globe and India was one of its largest colonies. The loss of India from the British Empire greatly weakened Britain both in land and resources. They no longer had their stronghold to the east and could no longer so easily obtain resources like spices. Britain and France, throughout history have had an ongoing battle at who is the stronger country, and although Britain was the stronger country at the time, the loss of India helped France catch up by a large amount . Because of Gandhi the people of the world learned the importance of non-violence and of standing up for what you believe in, and that courage is not measured by physical strength. Because of Gandhi the face of the world was changed. The British Empire was greatly weakened and the Indian people were free to rule themselves. Although Gandhi achieved a tremendous amount of great things in his lifetime he died feeling that he had failed because he had not been able to create peace between Hindus and Muslims in India . â€Å"Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand†. Encarta.com. 2005. Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. 12 February 2005. . Iyer, Raghavan. â€Å"Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand†. The World Book Encyclopedia, Millennium 2000 Edition. World Book, Inc., Chicago, 2000. Pg. 25. â€Å"Mahatma Gandhi Archives†. Photokunst.com. 13 February 2005. . Sinha, Shall. â€Å"A Nutshell Biography of Mahatma Gandhi†. Ssinha.com. 13 February 2005. . â€Å"Timeline: From Empire to Commwealth†. BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 17 February 2005. . â€Å"Mahatma Gandhi Archives†. Photokunst.com. 13 February 2005. . Research Papers on Biography of Mahatma Gandhi - World History EssayPETSTEL analysis of IndiaEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenBringing Democracy to AfricaQuebec and Canada19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraCapital PunishmentBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XTrailblazing by Eric AndersonWhere Wild and West MeetRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and