Business research-Second cup Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business research-Second cup - Essay Example Every employee is trained by baristas (coffee experts) on the various aspects of coffee making, including selection of beans, crushing, roasting and other technical aspects connected with the processing of the beans. Hence, all the employees receive training in all aspects of coffee making, including knowledge about growing of coffee etc. (Starbucks Corporation: Competing in a global market, 2003). Starbucks lays special emphasis on building a unique culture with its people – it believes that its true strength are its employees and therefore, they are given good benefits and remuneration and also given stock options, or ownerships in the Company. (Starbucks Corporation: Competing in a global market, 2003). Starbucks does not offer franchises to anybody nor does it envisage doing franchisee business in the foreseeable future. In the North of America, majority of shops are bought, owned and operated by Starbucks itself; however, in exceptional cases, where real estate ownership may not be forthcoming, such as airport locations, grocery chains and major foodstuff establishments, the Company enters into licentiate agreements with Companies who provide access to these places. However, the shops are manned by Starbucks personnel themselves. (Business opportunities. 2007). The reasons why Starbucks do not franchise is because the franchisees may not be able to maintain the highest standards of quality and service which forms the bulwark of Starbucks’ reputation. However, their competitor, First Cup operates through a chain of franchisees. The main problem with franchisees is that consistency of franchises performance over all the territories have to be maintained, and a greater degree of control has to be established. Franchisee reporting also has to be delineated. The degree of autonomy and chain of command which is available to own staff cannot be extended for the

An Ecological Viewpoint On Pollution Environmental Sciences Essay

An Ecological Viewpoint On Pollution Environmental Sciences Essay Pollution is the effect of undesirable changes in our surroundings that have harmful effects on plants, animals and human beings. This occurs when only short term ecological gains are made at the cost of long term ecological benefits for humanity. During the last few decades we have polluted our air, water and land on which life itself depends with a variety of waste products. From an ecological point of view, pollutants can be classified as degradable or non-persistent pollutants which can be rapidly broken down by natural process.eg: domestic sewage, discarded vegetables etc., Slowly-degradable or persistent pollutants are pollutants that remain in the environment for many years in an unchanged condition and take decades or longer to degrade.eg:DDT(pesticides) and most plastics. Non-degradable pollutants cannot be degraded by natural processes. Once they are released into the environment they are difficult to eradicate and continue to accumulate.eg: toxic elements like lead or mercury and nuclear wastes. Pollution is a very wide topic. This thesis focuses on two major pollutions- air and water, and explains in detail the causes, effects and control measures. Air pollution occurs due to the presence of undesirable solid or gaseous particles in the air in quantities that are harmful to human health and the environment. The air may become polluted by natural causes such as volcanoes, which release ash, dust, sulphur and other gases, or by forest fires that are occasionally caused by lightening. However, unlike pollutants from human activity, naturally-occuring pollutants tend to remain in the atmosphere for a short time and do not lead to permanent atmospheric change. Air pollution began to increase in the beginning of the twentieth century with the development of transportation systems and large-scale use of petrol and diesel. These severe air quality problems due to the formation of petrochemical smog from the combustion residues of diesel and petrol engines were felt for the first time in Los Angeles. Pollution due to auto- exhaust remains a serious environmental issue in many developed and developing countries, including, India. The air pollution control act in India was passed in 1981 and the motor vehicle act for controlling air pollution was passed very recently. These laws are intended to prevent the air from becoming over polluted. The greatest industrial disaster leading to serious air pollution took place in Bhopal, where the extremely poisonous methyl isocyanides gas was accidently released from the Union Carbides pesticide manufacturing plant, on the night of December 2, 1984. The effects of this disaster on human health and the soil are felt even today. Lead is a major air pollutant that remains largely unmonitored and is emitted by vehicles. High lead levels have been reported in the ambient air in metropolitan cities. Leaded petrol is the primary source of air-borne lead emissions in Indian cities. The use of unleaded petrol is one way of reducing this pollutant. Pollutants are also found indoors from the infiltration of polluted outside air and from various chemicals used or produced inside buildings. The effects of air pollution on living organisms are adverse. Cigarette smoking is responsible for the greatest exposure to carbon monoxide. Exposure to air containing even 0.001% of carbon monoxide for several hours can cause coma and even death. Sulphur dioxide irritates the respiratory tissues; chronic exposure to it causes a condition similar to bronchitis. The acids can become attached to particles which, when inhaled, are very corrosive to the lungs. The widely talked changes in the ozone layer have serious implications for mankind. The effects on human health due to increased UV radiation are sunburn, cataract, aging of the skin and skin cancer. It weakens the immune system by suppressing the bodys resistance to certain infections like measles, chickenpox and other viral diseases that elicit rash and parasitic diseases like malaria introduced through the skin. UV rays also affect the ability of plants to capture light energy during the process of photosynthesis. This reduces the nutrient content and the growth of plants. This is seen especially in the case of legumes and cabbage. Air pollution can be controlled by two fundamental approaches: preventive techniques and effluent control. One of the effective means of controlling air pollution is to have proper equipment in place. This includes devices for removal of pollutants from the flue gases through scrubbers, closed-collection recovery systems, and the use of dry and wet collectors, filters, electrostatic precipitators and so on. Building higher smoke-stacks facilitates the discharge of pollutants as far away from the ground as possible. Industries should be carefully located so as to minimize the effects of pollution after considering the topography and the wind directions. The substitution of raw materials that cause more pollution with those that cause less pollution will also help. Water pollution is when the quality or composition of water changes directly or indirectly as a result of mans activities such that it becomes unfit for any purpose it is said to be polluted. Point sources of pollution are when a source of pollution can be readily identified because it has a definite source and place where it enters the water it is said to come from a point source. E.g.: municipal and industrial discharge pipes. Non-point sources of pollution are when a source of pollution cannot be readily identified, such as agricultural runoff, acid rain etc., There are several classes of common water pollutants. These are disease causing agents which include bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasitic worms that enter water from domestic sewage and untreated human and animal wastes. Large amounts of human waste in water increases the number of these bacteria, which cause gastrointestinal diseases. Other potentially harmful bacteria from human wastes may also be present in smaller numbers. Thus, the greater the amount of wastes in the water, the greater is the chance of contracting diseases. The third class of pollutants is inorganic plant nutrients. These are water -soluble nitrates and phosphates that cause the excessive growth of algae and other aquatic plants. The quantity of fertilizers applied in a field is often many times more than actually required by plants. The chemicals in fertilizers and pesticides pollute both soil and water. A fourth class of water pollutants is water- soluble inorganic chemicals, which are acids, salts and compounds of toxic metals such as mercury and lead. High levels of these chemicals can make the water unfit to drink, harm fish and other aquatic life, reduce crop yields and accelerate the corrosion of equipment that is in contact with this water. Another cause of water pollution is a variety of organic chemicals, which includes oil, gasoline, plastics, pesticides, cleaning solvents, detergents and many other chemicals. These are harmful to aquatic and human health. They enter the water directly from industrial activity, either from improper handling of chemicals in industries and usually from the improper and illegal disposal of chemical wastes. The foremost necessity of controlling water pollution is prevention. On the other hand, setting up effluent treatment plants to treat wastes can reduce the pollution load in the recipient water. The treated effluent can be reused for either gardening or cooling purposes, wherever possible. A few years ago a new technology, called the Root Zone Process has been developed by Thermax. This system involves running contaminated water through root zones of specially-designed reed beds. To conclude, the responsibility to prevent pollution lies in the hands of every individual. Some concepts that help individuals contribute towards a better quality of our environment and human life are: Try to plant trees wherever you can and more importantly take care of them. They reduce air pollution. From the mail you receive reuse as many envelopes as you can. Use pesticides in your home only when absolutely necessary and use them in small amounts. Some insect species help to keep a check on the populations of pest species. Reduce the use of fossil fuels by either walking short distances or using a car pool, sharing a bike or using public transport. This reduces air pollution. Shut off the lights and fans when not needed. Do not use aerosol spray products and commercial air-fresheners. They damage the ozone layer. Do not pour pesticides, paints, solvents, oil or other products containing harmful chemicals down the drain or onto the ground. Buy consumer goods in refillable glass containers instead of cans or throwaway bottles. Try to avoid asking for plastic carry bags when you buy groceries or vegetables or any other items. Use your own cloth bag instead. Set up a compost bit in your garden to produce manure and reduce use of fertilizers.

Poetry Of Sound :: essays research papers

Rhythm and How it affects Poetry. Poems usually begin with words or phrase which appeal more because of their sound than their meaning, and the movement and phrasing of a poem. Every poem has a texture of sound, which is at least as important as the meaning behind the poem. Rhythm, being the regular recurrence of sound, is at the heart of all natural phenomena: the beating of a heart, the lapping of waves against the shore, the croaking of frogs on a summer’s night, the whisper of wheat swaying in the wind. Rhythm and sound and arrangement –the formal properties of words—allow the poet to get beyond, or beneath the surface of a poem. Both of Charles Roberts poems "The Herring Weir" and "The Skater" emphasize poetic sound to express their themes. Assonance—the repetition of the same or similar vowel sound, especially in stressed syllables—can also enrich a poem. Assonance can be used to unify a poem as in Roberts' poem in which it emphasizes the thematic connection among words and unifies the poem’s ideas of the humanoid and nature. Roberts indirectly links certain words and by connecting these words, he calls attention to the imagery that helps communicate the poems theme of how different mother nature and humans can be. In addition to alliteration and assonance, poets create sound patterns with rhyme. The conventional way to describe a poem’s rhyme scheme is to chart rhyming words that appear at the ends of lines. Naturally, rhyme does not have to be subtle to enrich a poem. Rhyme can also be classified according to the position of the rhyming syllables in a line of verse. Poets, too, create rhyme by using repeated words and phrases. â€Å"The red flats are uncovered, mile on mile" (31). Me ter, the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that govern a poem’s lines, largely creates poetic rhythm. This gives readers the â€Å"beat† of the poem and approximates the sound of spoken language. A way of varying meter is to introduce a pause in the rhythm often created by a caesura--a â€Å"cutting† within a line. Both Brooks and Bradstreet use caesuras to complete individual thought and to add to the beat of the poem. Although the end of a line may mark the end of a metrical unit, it does not always coincide with the end of a sentence. Poets may choose to indicate a pause at this point, or they may continue, without a break, to the next line.

Time I Learned a Lesson

While living in a state as hot as Arizona, not only do the football players have to drink a lot of water, but everyone else as well. The day I didn't taught me a lesson: Actions, good or bad, are followed with consequences. I thought my body would be perfectly fine without some water for the day but boy was I wrong. Just minutes before the incident, the only Item on my mind was how fun the rap concert would be the following night. Little did I know, I would not be attending.A late night trip to Albertson Isn't rare for my family as we forget things tie easily (and when I say we I mean I). I entered Albertson with a mental list of Ethylene, snacks, and Storage. Yet, I still made my way to the ice cream aisle as I seem to always be gravitated towards it. Him, what flavor sounds good? Ben and Jerry Peach Cobbler gets me every time! I reach out to grab that perfect concoction and smack! My body now lays lifeless on the floor as I blackout. Seconds, minutes, maybe hours later I become con scious. I make an effort to move my limbs but there's no use.My heavy eyelids have a arid time opening, I force them open and find myself in a hospital bed wearing one of those dresses I promised myself I'd never wear. My eyes find their way to the side of my bed where my motherly sits, pale skinned, and mouthing my name. Her voice finally registers Into my head as it translates from terrified to joyful. My very own nurse rushes In once I'm awake. She tries her hardest to talk slowly and uses hand gestures to explain why I'm here, why I'm lifeless, and why I'm wasn't eating my ice cream in the comfort of my own home.I had blacked out for several hours. Well that was an unexpected nap, I thought to myself. My nurse says the word dehydrated and it clicks my mental grocery list. There was Ethylene for my headache, snacks for nauseates, and Storage for extreme thirst. How could I be so stupid? The next day my life carried on normally: I woke up, ate, went to school, ate, napped, ate, di d my homework, ate, and slept. Of course there was a lot more water in my system compared to the day before, but drinking more water wasn't the lesson learned.I could have been testing and driving, or not completing a homework assignment but the point was the same; there were consequences to my every move. I could've been In a car accident or simply slotting In SAD with a bunch of kids I TLD know. It's your own choices that make you or break you In this life, what will you choose? And will you be prepared for the consequences that follow? BY excellencies English II- Period 3 A typical sight in the halls of Hamilton High School are the tall and built young men of was I wrong.Just minutes before the incident, the only item on my mind was how fun attending. A late night trip to Albertson isn't rare for my family as we forget things quite easily (and when I say we I mean l). I entered Albertson with a mental list of finally registers into my head as it translates from terrified to Joyfu l. My very own nurse rushes in once I'm awake. She tries her hardest to talk slowly and uses hand I could've been in a car accident or simply sitting in SAD with a bunch of kids I didn't know. It's your own choices that make you or break you in this life, what will you

Global Media and Constructivism

Global Media and Constructivism Media globalization plays a significant role in the global culture. It can be very convenient for people in different countries to exchange information. Also, the exchange of trade and products between the countries has become convenient and simple too. Nowadays, the rapid changes in technology have been increased to a new media platform, so the evolution of media is important to explore. From my view point, the globalization of media leads to better-informed citizens.Moreover, I agree with the statement that global media contributes to the creation of a global village because it can help share cultures, and constructivists can investigate global change and transformation. But the global village also has some disadvantages, like problems with political control of the media. Media globalization cannot be stopped. It is a result of new communications technology, and it is also the prerequisite and facilitator for all other forms of globalization. Because of new technology, such as the growth of satellite broadcasting, phone system and cross-border advertising, the way people accept information has changed.At first, people get information from newspapers and books, and then it evolved into the computer and Internet. The spread of the Internet and global communications media has expanded our information society into a global information society, and the one aspect of the globalization of the media is the multinational media company and market dominance. So, some people think that without mass media there would be no contemporary consumer society which means no globalization. In short, the media network cannot survive without the technological innovation.In addition, the media evolved from single to multiple, from national to the global, and also from developed areas to underdeveloped areas. Some people believe that the globalization of media does not lead to better- informed citizens because political control of the media, and people do not know the information that they find in the media or Internet is reliable or not. Idealism argues that â€Å"the most fundamental feature of society is social consciousness† (The Globalization of World politics, PP163).In short, idealism does not disregard the material forces such as media power, but the meaning of these material forces are not given by nature but driven by human interpretation. So, an idealist view of global media argues that people get their social consciousness not from natural truth, but from other people who create the information. For example, if the growing media monopolies and government deregulation have diminished the quantity, quality, and diversity of political content in the mass media, citizens never get the truth.Therefore, the globalization of media under government control can lead to worse- informed citizens. However, I think that the globalization of media can lead to better-informed citizens because it changes people’s percep tion and habits, and it also expands the horizons of people. According to the movie, â€Å"Global media for a global culture? † many years ago, there were no Asian people who knew the Christmas festival or Halloween, but these two western festivals have become two of the most popular festivals in China, Japan and Korea because the transnational media corporations came to Asia.As normative structure theory mentioned that â€Å"actors adhere to norms not only because of benefits and costs for doing so, but also because they are related to a range of self† (The Globalization of World politics, PP163). This is means the global media has an impact on culture, and these new beliefs not only constraint actors, they also constructed categories of meanings in their identities and interests, and define standards of appropriate conduct which can lead to better-informed citizens.Therefore, people can share similar culture and viewpoint which means the distance between the people b ecome closer. People in some underdeveloped areas can become democratic and liberal, and we can easier understand each other. Furthermore, I agree with the statement that global media contributes to the creation of a global village because transnational media corporations are attempting to establish operations in nations around the world, and people share the same information, culture and worldview. Institutional isomorphism (such as transnational media corporations) raises issues of growing homogeneity in world politics, international community and socialization processes† (The Globalization of World politics, PP163). For example, America's dominance in the entertainment industries (such as Disney, Time Warner) made it difficult for other cultures to produce and distribute their own cultural products. American popular culture, in addition, challenges authority and outmoded traditions.So, the media globalization affects the development of native culture and its people, especia lly the impact on teenagers. Teenagers in other nations have rejected their own cultural traditions. Instead, they want to wear American styles. Additionally, it is popular for people in other countries to sing in English rather than use their native tongue (â€Å"Globalization and Mass Media† P5). So, constructivists generally hold that identities shape interests (The Globalization of World politics, PP163).We know who we are because identities are social and are produced through interactions they can change. The global media change people’s identity, and the country is composed by the people, so the global media contributes to the creation of a global village. Therefore, â€Å"The internationalization of cultural business and cultural texts, as well as the remarkable worldwide proliferation of new communications technologies has undeniably influenced the global culture† (Hesmondhalgh, 2007:2).While global media contributes to the creation of a global village, it also creates social, political and security problems. Some people fear the globalization of media because although the Internet connects people on a global level, people can also use it to form small groups with diverse political agendas. For this reason, the Internet's lack of centralized control makes some governments reluctant to let their citizens have Internet access. For example, Singapore, China, and Saudi Arabia attempt to censor sites for political and religious reasons.I think that governmental concern about how people will use the Internet is well founded: â€Å"some media and journalists wantonly distorted the political facts or add extreme rhetoric, which cause the citizen of the decline in trust in government. Many public-sphere liberals find a malaise in American democracy about declining voter participation and public mistrust and cynicism toward government† (Democratizing Global Media: One World, Many Struggles, Robert A. Hackett, PP12).Moreover, â€Å"cr itical political economists and anti-globalization activists identify Western-based transnational media and ‘the organization of global information flows along free-market lines’ as agents of domination, eroding the ability of states to protect â€Å"autonomous information spaces† (Waisbord and Morris 2001: ix). Therefore, global media have been criticized for homogenizing global culture by disrupting national traditions. The Web creates a chaotic marketplace of cultures that allows the development of cultural imperialism, rather than uniting the world into one large and homogeneous global village.So, it is very common and necessary to know that nationally organized media are subject to varying degree of political control in some countries. In conclusion, a key factor in Internet evolution is the ability of citizens to easily communicate with each other. Globalized media means that people can get information quickly and easily, and that it can lead to a global vi llage where people share similarities and can create a more equal civilization. However, even though some people believe that the global media are enhancing the process of peace and democracy, it actually does not have completely transformative power.For example, the radical democrats endorse media role as â€Å"government watchdogs† and â€Å"public-sphere models† and they also expect a democratic media system to counteract power inequalities within the social order. Ultimately, global media has advantages and disadvantages, so we need more critical thinking about whether the information that we find in the media or Internet is reliable or not. Work cited David Held and Anthony McGrew, The Global Transformations Reader, UK: Polity Press, PP 216, 2000 McChesney Robert, â€Å"Global Media Neoliberalism and Imperialism Monthly Review†, 52. 0, P. 1, 2001 March Peterson, David, â€Å"The Global Media: An Interview with Edward S. Herman and Robert W. McChesney. ZMag azine†, 1997 June Robert A. Hackett, Democratizing Global Media: One World, Many Struggles, PP12 Siochru, S. O. Social consequences of the globalization of the media and communication sector: Some strategic considerations, Geneva: International Labour Office, 2004 Klotzer, Charles L, â€Å"The 10 Best-Censored Stories: Key Issues that the Mass Media Largely Ignore†, St. Louis Journalism Review, 34. 270, P. 30, 2004 October Kellner, D. Theorizing Globalization† in Sociological Theory, pp285-305, 2002 Bagdikian, 2000; McChesney, 1999; Herman & Chomsky, 1988 Ingmar Zielke, Neoliberalism, Media and Globalization Western Media Policies in the 1980s and their Implications, 2010, Gottingen Peter Singer, One World the ethics of globalization, United States of America: Yale University press, one community John Baylis, Steve Smith and Patricia Owens, The Globalization of World Politics, PP163, Oxford University Press Inc. New York 2011, ————†”——– Wang 6

A Philosophy of Worship

A Philosophy of Worship Free Online Research Papers It has been said that the purpose of the Christian life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. That is also the chief philosophy of Christian worship. The Christian is to glorify God in word, work and walk. The Christian is also to enjoy God forever. The Christian is to revel in the presence of God. The Christian is to sing His praises, remember the good gifts God has given and participate in God’s mission. In short, the Christian is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. PART I: DEFINITION OF WORSHIP Frank Segler says the word worship is derived from an Old English word weorthscipe. It means worthiness or worthy ship. The modern church uses this word to apply to giving God the recognition that He deserves. This word is inadequate in conveying the meanings that the Greek and Hebrew words used in scripture. Lee Campbell’ essay identifies some words that are frequently translated as worship. Though not always, the Greek word latreia is frequently translated as worship. This term, in Romans 9 and Hebrews 9, refers back to the Old Testament cultus. This was the false belief that killing disciples was service to God. It is also used in Romans 12:1, to mean that Christians should offer themselves as living sacrifices to God. Campbell says the Old Testament uses the words, shachach and aboda in reference to worship. The word aboda is used primarily in referring to serving in the temple . It is service oriented. Cleaning and preparing the temple for the sacrifices and rites associated with the daily operations of the temple. Segler says the word shachach means to â€Å"bow down† or â€Å"prostate oneself†. Segler says this is similar to the Greek word proskyneo. The words shachac and proskyneo are referring to one’s posture before God. Bowing down or prostrating one’s self is a show of submission and reverence. Honor is given to the one bowed before. Jesus used this word in John 4:24. The Hebrew word, shachach, is the word used in Exodus 34:14. This is where God gives the command â€Å"Do not worship any other gods.† Do not bow or humble one’s self before any other God. So there are at least several elements to worship. Sacrifice, service and recognizing that one is subservient to God are at least three of those elements. These can be seen as aspects of liturgy. Segler says this term is taken from the Greek word leitourgia. This word is similar in form to the word latreia. In the New Testament, the word referred to the work of priests in the old covenant (Luke 1:23). It included the preparation of the Temple and the sacrifice. It was an action word. In the New Testament, it refers to both the ministry of Christ and the worship of the church. Paul used this word when he referred to the offerings collected for Jerusalem Christians, for the assistance he received from others, the delivery of the Philippians’ gift and of ministry to the gentiles. For Campbell, this indicates that sacrifice and service are two essential elements of worship. There is one final word that needs to be defined, the Greek word ekklesia. It is a combination of two words and means to call out. It originally referred to the gathering of free citizens to make decisions and take action on behalf of the general welfare. Greek speaking Jews used the term to refer to the gatherings of the people of Israel. Greek speaking Christians used the term to refer to gatherings of Christians for worship. James Strong identifies this word as being translated church in the New Testament. Michael Hawn says the church then is made up of those called out of the world to make decisions and take action on behalf of the world. Worship then is best defined as ascribing to some idea, entity or person honor and glory. This is done by acts of service, sacrifice and submission. For the Christian, God should be the object of worship. Worship defies objective definition. It is best experienced. PART II: MEANING OF WORSHIP The interesting thing about worship is that there is no set biblical definition. The Bible describes the object of worship and the actions of worshippers without ever defining the word worship. The words translated as worship describe specific actions. Worship is occurring every moment of everyday in the lives of every person. Harold Best says this occurs whether the person is aware of this or not. Every action that is taken is in response to what the individual gives the most worth at that moment. This can be worship of the one true God or many false gods. Worship is not limited to specific religious activities. Worship speaks to the deepest expressions of one’s worldview. PART III: PURPOSE OF WORSHIP For Segler, worship then is the Opus Dei. The adoration of God is man’s highest privilege. God is to be worshipped for God’s glory alone. In true worship, God reveals Himself to man and man reveals his heart to God. That is why in John 4:24, Jesus says that there will come a time when man would worship God in Spirit and truth. There was coming a time when the sin that separated man from experiencing God fully would be done away with. In this case, a primary purpose of worship is celebration. Man celebrates the action of God in history. It could be the Jew remembering the exodus in the Passover meal or the deliverance from Haman in the feast of Purim. It is also the Christian remembering the shed blood of Christ in communion and the new life symbolized by baptism. For Segler, worship involves experiencing God in a dialogue. God reveals Himself to us through His actions, through the Bible, through fellow believers, in music, poetry and the Holy Spirit. Man responds to God in worship. God speaks and man either obeys or revels in the love revealed. Man responds to God with music, words, through actions of love for fellow man. In essence man responds to God through the life he lives. Worship involves an encounter with God. God confronts the worshipper. God’s presence is very real and not merely an emotional response. Giving is an essential aspect of worship. Worshippers are able to participate in the kingdom of God through the giving of their possessions. This is a remembrance of the sacrifices made in the Jewish system for an atonement of sin. Now the worshipper gives to show his appreciation for the work of Christ and out of obedience to God. Segler says: â€Å"Worship is primarily the offering of our total selves to God, our intellect, our feelings, our attitudes and our possessions.† PARTS IV: BIBLICAL AND HISTORICAL BASIS OF WORSHIP Worship began in the garden. Adam and Eve experienced a more intimate worship then most men ever will on this planet. They walked with God. God spoke in an audible voice. Adam worshipped God in his work. Adam was given the tasks of naming the animals and caring for the garden. This worship for Adam was his natural way of life before the fall. After the fall, it was no longer natural for Adam to worship. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve are hiding from God. They no longer are in dialogue with God. Worship is broken. God takes the first step. God makes clothes of animal skins, this involves a sacrifice. Adam and Eve are cast out of the garden, this involve submission. Adam is then punished to hard work, this is service. For the years after the fall, worship is primarily led by the patriarch of a family. In Genesis, Noah, Enoch and others found faithful are described as walking with God. They dialogued with God. They were passionate about a relationship with God. They lived lives that glorified God and they were intent on enjoying Him forever. Segler calls this period the patriarchal period. Worship included building altars and dedicating places and objects to God. Fathers taught their children how to worship and led the family if the worship of God. Genesis chapter 12 introduces Abraham. Abraham submitted to God. God promised to bless Abraham. Abraham worshipped God and Abraham taught his son, Isaac, to worship God. Abraham’s passion for God is seen in his willingness to sacrifice his son. (Genesis 22) After generations of dealing with the patriarchs, their descendants have become a large people. The descendents of Abraham find themselves slaves in Egypt. Moses is called by God to deliver these people. (Exodus 3) God now enters into a covenant with the nation of Israel. God says of this covenant: I will be your God and you will be my people. God gives His people the Ten Commandments. Obeying these commandments will identify the Israelites as worshippers of the true God. God institutes the sacrificial system. Segler says that God demanded sincere worship: â€Å"You shall not bow down to them or worship other Gods† (Exodus 20:5). God establishes the priesthood and ordains that offerings and sacrifices be acts of worship in the centralized location of the tabernacle. During the period of the judges, shrines to God were set up in various places. David established Jerusalem as the center for Jewish worship (2 Sam. 24:25). David desired to build a temple for God. God denied David this privilege. David had even drawn up plans for the temple (2 Sam. 7:2-3). Solomon, David’s son, was allowed to build the temple. Worship for the people of God is centered on the temple. The feasts, sacrifices and offerings are centered on the temple. Thus we see man serving God in the temple, sacrificing in the temple and submitting to God in the temple. Israel was not faithful to God and so God sent prophets to call her to repentance. The worship of god was neglected and false gods were worshipped. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the other prophets warn of God’s impending judgment for neglecting proper worship. As a result, Israel is conquered and led into captivity. It is in captivity that synagogues are formed and worship is no longer centered on Jerusalem and the temple. After 70 years of captivity, Israel is allowed to rebuild the temple and reestablish temple worship. Israel still uses the synagogue to supplement temple worship. Segler says that New Testament worship is rooted in Jewish practices. The first Christians were faithful Jews. From the beginning, the early church followed Jewish liturgy. Primarily the three forms of Christian worship were: worship in the temple, worship in the synagogue and worship in the home. In the book of Acts, Christians are found worshipping and meeting in the temple daily. As Christianity spreads throughout the empire, there is a pattern of Paul or Peter or another missionary first going to the local synagogue and preaching. After converts are made, they continue to meet in the synagogue or each other’s homes. Worship becomes centered on the local congregation and patterned on the synagogue form. As Segler points out, this includes less formality, an emphasis on teaching and more lay participation in worship. The early church followed the synagogue pattern of worship. Segler identifies these as element of the synagogue form: 1. Reading of the Scriptures and their interpretation. 2. A recitation of the Shema (Deut. 6:4) 3. Psalms, Ten Commandments, Benediction and Amen. 4. Prayer 5. The prayer of sanctification. Synagogue worship still emphasized the feasts and celebrations of the Testament. Dr. Webber describes it as being event centered. Jewish worship is anchored on the exodus. It recalls the exodus and looks forward to the return to the Promised Land. These events are reenacted and celebrated over and over again. God is praised for His faithfulness and the congregants are encouraged to practice a sincere faith. Early Christian worship was also event oriented. The Christian church modified this form. The church substituted the Epistles and gospels for scripture readings. New Christian hymns replaced the Psalms and the ordinances of baptism and communion became center pieces of worship. Justin Martyr, in his Apology, described an early service in this way: And we afterwards continually remind each other of these things. And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost. And on the day called Sunday,76 all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability,77 and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given,78 and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the de acons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration In this description of an early worship service, the following elements are found: (1) Scripture is read, (2) The scripture is interpreted, (3) prayer, (4) communion and (5) an offering are taken. These elements are very similar to the worship of the synagogue. This simple form of worship developed over the centuries and became more formalized culminating in the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church centered on the Lord’s Supper. This Mass has remained very constant throughout the years. The reformation brought about a revolution of Christian worship. Three forms of worship came out of the reformation. Segler describes these as the Anglican, Reformed and Free Church forms. The Anglican form was similar to the Roman Catholic mass with the major differences being the use of the vernacular and the mass was no longer the repetition of the death of Christ. Instead the worshippers joined in the sacrifice offering their lives together with Christ’s. Calvin sought to simplify worship. Segler identifies four items that Calvin specifically wanted to reform. Calvin believed the spiritual presence of Christ was present in the Lord’s Supper. He suggested that it be celebrated once a month. Calvin wanted to introduce congregational singing in worship and he developed a hymnbook for this purpose. Calvin also wanted to start teaching theology to children and reform the churches’ view of marriage. The radical reformers and the puritan movements moved farther away from the liturgical form of worship. They wanted to return to primitive Christianity. Segler says these churches emphasized: the preaching of the Word, congregational participation and singing and a deemphasizing of the role of clergy. This is seen in the Anabaptists, Puritans and later Baptist churches. In America, the frontier was well suited to the Free Church form of worship. PART V: THEOLOGY OF WORSHIP In determining a theology of worship, the first principle one should look at is that worship is centered on God. Worship is not about man. The worshipper recognizes God primacy. This is emphasized by the words found in Genesis 1:1: â€Å"In the beginning God.† God is the creator. God existed before man. John Broadus says that if we were just spectators and not participants with God, worship would still be due God. We would still be drawn to worship God because of His wonderful works. Jonathan Edwards addresses this in his sermon: The End for Which God Created the World. â€Å"And thus we see how, not only the creature’s seeing and knowing God’s excellence, but also supremely esteeming and loving him, belongs to the communication of God’s fullness. And the communication of God’s joy and happiness, consists chiefly in communicating to the creature that happiness and joy which consists in rejoicing in God, and in glorious excellency; for in such joy God’s own happiness does principally consist. And in these things, knowing God’s excellency, loving God for it, and rejoicing in it, and in the exercise and expression of these, consists God’s honor and praise; so that these are clearly implied in that glory of God, which consists in the emanation of his eternal glory.† Worship is Christ centered. Jesus is the only mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5). It is only because of Christ that we are able to truly worship God. Jesus made possible reconciliation between man and God. This enables man to enter dialogue with God. Steve Pruitt says that it is Jesus’ shed blood on the cross that makes man’s sacrifice of praise possible. Man does not approach God on his own merit. Jesus provides access to the Father. Worship is not possible without the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables us to worship God. Jesus told the woman at the well that there was coming a time when men would worship in spirit and truth (John 2:24). The Holy Spirit is who enables us to worship in spirit. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God in the midst of the church. Segler says that The Holy Spirit creates the very desire to praise and worship God. After creating that desire, the Holy Spirit then empowers the congregation in worship. Worship is only made possible by the work of the Holy Spirit. Worship emphasizes the Word of God. The Bible is the written history of God’s people. It tells the story of God reaching down and working and being active in the lives of His people. The Bible gives assurance of faith and hope for tomorrow. The Bible must be central in the worship of God. Every sermon preached, every song sung, every part of the worship must be grounded in the Bible. It is important to remember that even though the church has the revelation of scripture for instruction on the proper worship of God, man must be careful to insure that he worships God truthfully. John Calvin, in his commentary on the passage in John 4, says this: â€Å"We are not to essay anything in religion rashly or unthinkingly. For unless there is knowledge present, it is not God we worship but a spectre or ghost. Hence all so-called good intentions are struck by a thunderbolt, which tells us that men can do nothing but err when they are guided by their own opinion without the Word or command of God† PART VI: THE VALUE OF WORSHIP Man must worship because it is good for him. Broadus says that only worship can satisfy the highest aspirations of man’s nature. When one looks at the wonders of nature, his soul seeks out something to worship. It is not adequate to worship the creation man seeks the creator. Broadus also says that worship comforts man. It is comforting, in the midst of tragedy, to know that God knows what He is doing. That by worshipping and submitting to God, man can rest in the words that â€Å"all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28).† The third reason for worshipping God is worship nourishes the soul. Worship with God meets man’s deepest needs. Segler says that worship gives man a sense of belonging. It resolves feelings of guilt, anxiety, meaninglessness, insecurity, loneliness, brokenness and grief. Worship fills man with the peace of God. PART VII: SUGGESTIONS FOR THE PRACTICE OF MEANINGFUL WORSHIP The church should consider the Lord’s Day the â€Å"eighth† day. It is the beginning of the new week and the consummation of the last week. In this manner worship is the foundation of life on earth and the promise of the consummation in heaven. Unfortunately over the last few centuries, worship has lost its’ center. Basically a speaker stands up for thirty to forty-five minutes and lectures the congregation. If there is no sermon there is a testimony or special presentation that acts like one. The other ingredient of worship is music. Christian worship has been reduced to two ingredients. There might be a prayer or two and an offering. Communion and baptism occur infrequently. How is this different from any Bible study? What sets this apart as the â€Å"eighth† day or the Lords’ Day? One can get together with friends, sing songs and read the Bible any day. Now admittedly the performance of the act is usually more proficient on Sunday in a formal service then at an informal Bible study. More skill does not always translate to a taste of heaven on earth. What the church needs to do is emphasize that God is meeting the church in a special way. There is a logic and order to the quiet elegance found in simple liturgies that could perhaps set apart the â€Å"eighth† day. The church begins by making the journey to His holy mountain. The congregation sings a song of entrance. A prayer of adoration is made. The church enters the presence of God and confesses sin, receives pardon. Praise is made for God’s redemption and man’s adoption into His holy family. The scripture is read aloud. It is read with life and conviction. All of scripture is read. Hopefully Psalms are sung. The ancient tradition of â€Å"passing the peace† is observed. Prayer is a major part of the service. In the presence of God, prayers of thanksgiving, adoration, petition and blessing are offered. Scripture readings are punctuated by praise and thanks to God. A sermon or homily is offered. Rather then being the focal point of the service it is now just one component. This emphasizes that corporate aspect of worship. No one individual fills a prominent role in the worship service. Instead, worship is corporate and centered on what Dr. Webber calls the table and the word. The service ends at the table of God. When God meets His people, God offers a feast. Jesus commanded the church to partake of communion till his return. This is a foreshadowing of the feast promised in heaven. This makes the â€Å"eighth† day service a true foretaste of the heaven to come. Research Papers on A Philosophy of WorshipCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementHip-Hop is ArtComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoDefinition of Export QuotasNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceThe Project Managment Office SystemInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesMind TravelHonest Iagos Truth through Deception

Causes and consequences of World War 1

Causes and consequences of World War 1 World War 1 that sparked on 28th July 1914 was caused by a number of intertwined factors; the sparking day was when Archduke  Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Causes and consequences of World War 1 specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The death of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne triggered anger, conflicts, and hostility that had stockpiled for decades among tribes in Central Europe. The stockpiled conflicts and hostility had been built by diplomatic clashes among the then Great Powers (Austria-Hungarian Empire, Italy, France, Great Britain, Germany, and Russia); the failed diplomacy can be traced since 1867, they created and left high tensions among the nations. There are many versions that have been developed by historians and philosophers, however the most talked and agreed cause is the â€Å"One Thing Led to Another†. According to the con cept Austro-Hungarian wanted to partake disciplinary measures upon Balkans; however the German repelled them as they wanted greater power and international influence. The move by German did not go well with Britain Navy army who responded by Dreadnought and greater warships. France also desired to revenge against Germans following disastrous defeat in 1871; the defeat had created rising tension in France Army, they seemed to have been waiting for time to revenge. Japanese and Russian Military war in 1905 created the anxiety to restore some semblance of national prestige; the anxiety was high enough that it could be triggered to war. The trigger took effect on the 28th July 1914 when every nation seemed to take different stand on the occasion; despite the action, it’s true that the underlying pressures and conflicts only find their path to be expressed unfortunately through war. Factors that led inexorably to World War  1 can be summed up as militarism, alliances, nationalis m, and imperialism differences that prevailed among the early 20th century Great Powers. In Western Europe, the war went till early 1920 however in the eastern side the war ended on 11:00 am  GMT  on November 11, 1918. The aftermath of the war was felt in economic, social, and cultural arenas in Africa, Europe, and Asia; there were also some effects on those countries that never got involved directly. In a nutshell the effect can be classified as demolition of countries/territories, formation of international organizations that aimed at preventing any such future attacks, formation of new countries, creating of ideologies in people among others.Advertising Looking for term paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Before the end of war in 11th Nov. 1918, Germany lost approximately 523,000 people from hunger and war effect; during war there was what was referred to as blockade of Germany. Blockade of Germa ny was export restrictions by other war countries to Germany; Germany them depended on importation so the suffering was severe. In 1918, there was an outbreak of flue which was mistaken to be Spanish Flu; it is estimated that the viral disease claimed the lives of over 50 million people worldwide. The cost involved in the war were much and had an effect on the fighting countries at the expense of economic , social, and political development of the fighting nations. For example the United Kingdom expense made the country to be a net borrower with approximately 40% its government spending being financed from debts. Inflation in Germany, Russia, and United Kingdom doubled between 1914 and 1920. High inflation and strained government spending lead to deterioration of living standards (Divine, Breen, Fredrickson, 2006). How does Jim Crow emerge and evolve into the system of profound segregation? Jim Crow Laws are United States of America local laws enacted between 1876 and 1956; the laws were enacted with the aim of mandating de jure racial segregation. The laws led to the believe, treatments, and accommodation that Black Americans were separate but equal to their counterparts White Americans. According to the laws, Blacks were allowed to attend schools, have some economic activities, enjoy some social amenities but they were doing this not at the same facilities with the White Americans. They saw the introduction of some drinking places, public transport, segregation of restrooms for the whites and black Americans. The name Jim Crow is not aperson’s name as it is likely to suggest; it was the subject of a song by Thomas Dartmouth â€Å"Daddy† Rice. Thomas Dartmouth â€Å"Daddy† Rice performed in black face and aimed at denigrating blacks through his songs; the song suggest some satisfaction that slaves had by their very nature of being slaves in a mockery manner. The song gave the background of Jim Crow laws; in the laws as was legislated late r suggested that there was no need to have Black-White marriages and any other sexual contact among the two. In the event that a White was competing with a Black, the laws provided that the White has worn and should be crowned. In social and economic cycles, the interaction of the whites and Blacks was controlled by the laws that neither of the groups was allowed to cross the other party’s path.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Causes and consequences of World War 1 specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Jim Crow laws emerged in the period of 1865 to 1877 where federal laws provided rights to vote and contend for a seat to both White and Black Americans. However the Whites used paramilitary to intimidate and prevent the Blacks from voting; the end result was conservative white democrats dominating in every southern state. In 1877 national election, there were efforts to gain the support of the southerners; to g et the support of the black Jim Crow laws were legislated to create some segregation of black and white. The way the laws were enacted was in a manner likely to suggest that the blacks have been given some rights and privileges that they never enjoyed under the federal laws. The rights and privileges were seen as shadow of the Whites as it involved elements like being allowed to go to school, medical care, games, and clubs but the facilities were of lower class than the ones the White Americans went. This created tension among them where the whites were supported by the law to behave in a manner likely to suggest they are superior beings than the Blacks Americans. The civil rights act of 1964 declared most â€Å"separate but equal†Ã‚   (Jim Crow) laws as unconstitutional; the legislation aimed at creating an equal playing ground where both the whites and the Blacks would be regarded as Americans and not be treated differently. Despite the advocacy against the laws, there are some elements of its practice in South America where some whites believe the Blacks are the reason why they suffer thus they need to be treated differently(Divine, Breen, Fredrickson, 2006). Causes of the Great Depression and how New Deal programs attempt to solve the underlying flaws of the economy? Great Depression is termed as one of the worst economic downfall to have faced the United States of America; the depression was not caused by a single parameter but by combination of different factors. The causes of the depression are thought to include the stock market clash on October 29 1929; after the clash, two month down the lane stockholders lost approximately $40 billion dollars. In 1930, there were over 6000 American banks that failed; the failure was followed by huge losses as the banks had not insured their savings.Advertising Looking for term paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Those banks that survived were not willing to offer loan facilities thus the economic development and confidence in financial institutions was lost. With the stock market clash and the reduced loan facilities, the Americans were not willing to spend the little saving they had, the net effect was reduction in purchasing across the board. Other than the economic hardship of the 1929 and 1930, there was drought in Mississippi Valley in 1930 (the drought made the area be nicknamed â€Å"The Dust Bowl†) which made people not able to pay their taxes. When taxes are not paid, the government has no finances to spend in the countries development. As a policy to save domestic companies, the American government introduced a tax called Smoot-Hawley Tariff on imports, the tariff made importation expensive and trading countries shied off from trading with America, the net effect was economic retaliation. The New Deal policy was an American economic strategy between 1933 and 1936 under Pres ident Franklin D. Roosevelt to respond to Great Depression issues. The program aimed at implementing fast and efficient mechanisms to restore people’s living standards and gain confidence with the economy, the policy was working on 3R’s policy (Relief, Recovery, and Reform). Programs termed as relief focused on the poor and unemployed; under the program the government created jobs for them and looked for ways that people would become self reliant with their businesses. Under the recovery programs aimed at returning the challenged economy to its original state as a growing and strong world economy. Under the policies the government was writing off debts and financing institutions that have succumbed to the Great Depression. When recovery and relief programs were operating as had been planned, the government embarked on aggressive reforms in policies and institutions in the efforts to ensure such an occurrence will not occur. Some of the institutions addressed by reforms programs include the financial sector, insurances, and large multinationals and manufacturing companies. It was also agreed that policies enacted in the economy be vetted closely to ensure they are quality and can stand economic downturns (Divine, Breen, Fredrickson, 2006). Compare the leadership styles and policies of Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th United States President, he lived October 27, 1858  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ January 6, 1919; the leadership style adopted by the president was that that involved the people solve their own problems. He emphasized on equality in resources distribution, power, and opportunities for all citizens regardless their ethnic background. The leader emphasized on the need to conserve American Heritage; he is remembered for having managed to conserve f 5 national parks, 18 national monuments, and 150 National Forests. Although Theodore Roosevelt had no problem with other nationalists in America, he emphasized the need to Americanize. In most of his speech he made it clear that any nationalist who qualified and was willing to become an American was welcomed to do so but in the event someone does not want to become an American, then he was opposed to such a person being in the territory. During his time he made the role of a president felt in the economy where he used his character and knowledge to make decisions that had to be followed to the letter. He is one of American presidents who attended churches and believed in God; he thus advocated for just, integrity, and an economy without corruption. Franklin Roosevelt (January 30, 1882  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ April 12, 1945) was a charismatic leaders who addressed United States political and economic matters during the era of world war and economic crisis. His charisma was seen in how he physically got involved in matters of economic development and creating strong army in the country to protect its borders. According to the leaders style the government should act only as a wheel to an economy but the people were the real drivers of an economy. He redefined the role of government in an economy and advocated for social programs that aimed at addressing a certain social program. When making decisions, he was one president who wanted to be involved in every process however in his turn he involved his subordinates when making decisions. Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt ruled in different eras however their leadership styles have a lot in common. Both the presidents emphasized on the role the government should play to facilitate economic, social, and political development in the economy. Again they were cautious of the role that citizens play in the economic system of America. The main difference of the leaders is seen on how they approached making fast and quick decisions. Theodore Roosevelt never had the need to consult when coming up with a decision but made a decision and stood by it; the style can be termed to have some form of s oft dictatorship. On the other hand, Franklin Roosevelt believed in consultation; when making fast decisions, he would consult experts and never minded consulting his oppressors. As long as someone had what it took to improve the American economy, Franklin Roosevelt was willing to work with him or her (Divine, Breen, Fredrickson, 2006). Discuss the history of the working class movement from the end of the Civil war through the Taft-Hartley Act The end of American Civil wars in 1865 saw the emergence of labor movements; the movement were aimed at reducing oppression of workers and advocated for better packages and good working conditions. The first labor union was founded in 1866 called National Labor Union (NLU); it was followed by the Order of the Knights of St, Crispin in an year later. The movements were against the introduction of machinery in the shoes production industry; they claimed that the introduction would lead to loss of jobs. In 1870 with the development of railways tr ansport system, there was the emergence of Railroad brotherhoods; the movement aimed at addressing issues specific in the industry. They looked into issues like medical and insurance packages to drivers and conductors. In 1916, the consolidated their power and threatened to conduct a national strike; they included movements like   the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, the Order of Railway Conductors the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE). With the threat the government ordered for a ten hour pay for an eight hour day job. In 1935, New York Senator Robert F. Wagner sponsored a bill that seeks to allow private employers to react on their employees who formed labor unions. The bill seeks to protect employers from oppression from their employees although it came with some exemptions. The bill excluded employees who were covered by Railways labor Union, government employees, and agricultural employees. The second world war saw the developme nts of labor unions; during the time 36% American working class joined labor unions this was a rise from 8.7 million in 1940 to over 14.3 million in 1945. The end of Second World War in August 1945 came the wave of workers strikes demanding better salaries and better working conditions; the strikes were led by labor unions that negotiated on behalf of their members. In 1945 United Auto Workers Union  (UAW) sent their members (GM employees) to a strike; 180,000 employees participated in the national wide strike where they demanded better working conditions and wages. In January the following year, the striking GM employees were joined by almost half a million steelworkers, 150,000 packinghouse workers, and approximately 200,000 electrical workers and numerous other small industry employees. The 1945/1946 strengthened labor unions but weakened the economy. The United States government decided to enact a legislation which would be an improvement of Wagner Act; the law aimed at creati ng an alternative method of solving employment contracts disputes other than strikes; the bill was called the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 or Labor-Management Relations Act. Labor-Management Relations Act was sponsored by Senator  Robert Taft  and Representative  Fred Hartley; the act aimed at creating better platform where employers and employees would debate and solve their disputes in more diplomatic manner than striking. However the bill did not face-out workers striking right but outline some prohibited labor practices (Divine, Breen, Fredrickson, 2006). Reference Divine, A., Breen, H., Fredrickson, G. (2006). America Past and Present, Volume II (since 1865). New York: Longman

Flier vs. Flyer

Flier vs. Flyer Flier vs. Flyer Flier vs. Flyer By Mark Nichol Whether you post a flier or a flyer depends on whether you’re assigning a pilot to an air base or tacking a piece of paper to a bulletin board. Flyer, first attested hundreds of years ago, was the original agent-noun form of fly, with the obvious meaning of â€Å"something that flies.† Later, however, it came to be associated with swift objects, whether airborne or not. This description was widely employed to refer to various vehicles, including trains, planes, and automobiles, as well as boats and ships (and even a submarine, although the name was spelled Flier). Flyer is also another name for the architectural feature usually called the flying buttress, and it’s the appellation of hockey teams in the United States and throughout northern Europe. In addition, it is used in the sense of financial speculation (because such action is compared to a leap of faith), such as in the phrase â€Å"take a flyer.† However, although that spelling was commonly used as a synonym for pilot (though not until a quarter century after the advent of mechanized flight), the alternate spelling, for some reason, came to predominate in referring to airplane passengers hence, â€Å"frequent-flier miles.† Long before aviation as we know it first occurred, however, flyer, initially a slang term, became a widespread term for a single sheet of paper posted to advertise or inform. (One source mentions that it was first used to refer to notices in police stations, and that the term was associated with widespread dissemination analogous to a flock of birds taking flight.) Although both spellings are used for this sense, flyer is more common, as flier is the usual spelling in reference to air travel. Interestingly, two American authorities, Bryan A. Garner, author of Garner’s Modern American Usage, and the Associated Press Stylebook, recommend flier for all senses; however, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary allows that flyer is more common when referring to a leaflet, and popular usage bears this out. Analogous agent nouns are split in their spelling: Cry becomes crier (though cryer appears in some sources to refer to a court officer who makes proclamations and to a female hawk), but dry becomes dryer and fry becomes fryer. Prier, slier, and sprier are the preferred comparatives of pry, sly, and spry, but pryer, slyer, and spryer are acceptable. My recommendation for flyer/flier? I’m siding with Merriam-Webster’s, as usual: Pilots and passengers are fliers, and pamphlets are flyers. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Classes and Types of PhrasesLatin Words and Expressions: All You Need to KnowPunctuation Is Powerful

Placebo Effects of Caffeine on Cycling Performanc Coursework

Placebo Effects of Caffeine on Cycling Performanc - Coursework Example For instance, Clark et al conducted a research where subjects where divided in to three groups. However, his research could not provide correct results on the cause of placebo effect since half the subjects had prior knowledge that carbohydrates would increase their performance. The third group had prior knowledge that their drink could lead to improved performance hence the researcher could not control the findings of the research. The research study used a sample of seven cyclists and used both quantitative and qualitative methods of study. The cyclists were not aware that placebo capsules were administered since they thought it was caffeine. Two baseline and three experimental trials were used. The research is beneficial since it utilized semi-structured interviews to explore the symptoms of the capsules. The level of confidence error provided in the research is sufficient for us to conclude the findings are true. The research suffers from various theoretical and methodological limitations since cyclists were selected from well-trained competitive teams hence they could have increased their performance without use of caffeine. The subjects had prior literature from published research on the positive relationship of caffeine and cycling performance. The research method was flawed since it only selected only seven cyclists from the age of thirty to forty one years hence the sample surveyed was insufficient. Fo r instance, the power output of the fourth subject varied up to 20 percent between adjacent trials which the research has not explained the causes of the variance in the power output (Jackson 170). The subjected were exposed to three different conditions which are moderate dose, high dose and randomly assigned double blind basis hence the research study ignored the optimum control of the amount of caffeine which subjects could take.

Discuss the claim that some areas of knowledge are discovered and Essay

Discuss the claim that some areas of knowledge are discovered and others are invented - Essay Example Discoveries have led to the development of the various disciplines in the educational systems today. Facts have been unleashed for every one to observe and use the knowledge to be efficient in the day to day operations (Maddox 1998 p 71). Both the knowledge acquired through invention and that acquired through discovery are significant for the advancement and sustainability of humans. This essay is a critique of the two kinds of knowledge. It presents the distinction as well as the relationships that exist between discovered and invented knowledge. The discovered knowledge helps people to predict the outcome of their actions. For example, the law of gravity that was discovered by Sir Isaac Newton helps people to understand why things always fall after being tossed away from the earth (Berlinski 2002 p 76). Such kind of discovered knowledge is amongst the fundamentals of a course such as physics. Other people who have discovered important knowledge include scientists Boyle and Charles who contributed to the discovery of gas laws and Michael Faraday who made several discoveries in physics amongst others (Donald 2005 p 57). In essence, these people did not change anything on what they discovered. What they did is just realizing how things work. On the other hand, inventions are usually accomplished after studying and understanding how things work. It leads to the development of theories that help people to work better. Many inventions can be combined to develop a complex unit, which is the basis for industrialization, medicine and other professions. For example, inventions of the alternating current theories by Steinmetz led to the development of electrical power generation; the law of electromagnetic induction invented by Michael Faraday was useful in developing the coils used in transformers and coils; invention of the integrated circuit by Jack Kilby was useful in development of electronic equipments that use electricity, and many other theories that

Related events and developments that span the years 1865 to the Research Paper

Related events and developments that span the years 1865 to the present - Research Paper Example But because of industrialization, the agricultural economy was eventually surmounted by a market economy (Jackson, 1998). Hence, this paper argues that one of the major changes in the American labor market for the past century has been the drastic transition in women’s responsibilities, from mostly unpaid domestic roles to a mixture of traditional unpaid roles and paid jobs. The important events outlined in this paper reveal the increasing participation of women in the labor market and the continuous shrinking of the pay gap between female and male employees. With the spread of industrialization, a new state of affair emerged. The common belief during that period was that males were more able to cope with the tough, competitive environment of the workplace. On the other hand, females were believed to be incapable of dealing with the demands of the outside world. They were not allowed to vote, were prohibited from getting a job, and were kept out of the public and political are nas (Hermann, 2006). Their obligation to society was to care for, nurture, and indoctrinate children. But all of these changed with the ratification of the 19th Amendment and the Equal Pay Act. ... Feminists began to demand persistently for more comprehensive and liberal legislation. The 19th Amendment protects the right of women to vote. Since the 1800s, women protested, lobbied, and appealed to acquire suffrage rights, but it took many years before they achieved their goal. By 1916, most of the leading suffrage groups joined together to demand a constitutional amendment (Severn, 1967). The House of Representatives endorsed the amendment on the 21st of May 1919, and immediately afterward, the Senate complied. The ratification was declared by Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby on the 26th of August 1920, radically transforming the entire American voting public permanently (Monroe, 1998). Approval and endorsement of the 19th Amendment implied that U.S. citizens should be granted the right to vote, regardless of gender. It took roughly four decades until Congress passed the amendment for approval. The women’s suffrage movement was already present during the mid-19th centu ry, during the Reconstruction era. Throughout these years, leaders of women’s rights movement campaigned for enclosure of universal suffrage in the Reconstruction amendments (Monroe, 1998). In spite of their attempts, these amendments ignored the issue of women’s suffrage. The development of territorial constitutions, alongside persistent negotiation of the western frontier, facilitated the continuous state-wide deliberation of women’s suffrage (Schwarzenbach & Smith, 2013). Due to the committed, continuous efforts of supporters of voting rights, women’s suffrage was ratified in the new constitutions of Washington, Utah, and Wyoming. State governments started to take into consideration suffrage

Organisational and Stakeholder Ethical Considerations Living under a Case Study

Organisational and Stakeholder Ethical Considerations Living under a Cloud - Case Study Example Ethical Organisational Culture Approach One of the approaches to analyse the case is through ethical organisation culture. Alvesson (2002, pp. 4) states that organisational culture refers to those shared rules that guide cognitive and behavioural aspects of membership to an organisation and the avenues through which they are developed and expressed hence a system of shared symbols and meanings. Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell (2010, pp. 17) state that the concept of ethical culture in an organisation means the values and norms that an organisation puts forward as appropriate conduct to guide its employees in decision making process in determining whether their response to ethical issues is right or wrong. In this approach, the formal and informal efforts developed by an organisation to guide its operations in respect to being ethical are analysed. The organisation under study here is Xstrata which we can establish that it has in the first place failed to tame its mining process emissi ons that have the potential of causing lead-poisoning to the surrounding community; â€Å"Homes, gardens and waterways have been contaminated, and a recent study found that more than one-tenth of young children have high levels of lead in their blood† (Marks 2009). ... Body, another resident, indicates that the firm has also failed to take responsibility of the poisoning claiming that the natural environment is the source. As Trevino and Nelson (2010, pp. 157) indicate it is the responsibility of the top management to guide organisations in the direction of ethical culture, something that is largely missing in Xstrata. Instead the management strives to shun ethics hence the rest of the firm follows suit (158). The leadership at Xstrata can be regarded as unethical since their cover-up actions and lack of responsibility indicate weakness in morality (161). This analysis indicates that the top management at Xstrata has failed to pursue ethical leadership; in one situation, an employee whose views on the source of lead pollution is contradictory to theirs, they let the interviewer know that the employee is presenting his personal views rather than what the firm stands for hence showing unethical leadership which is mutually exclusive with ethical orga nisational culture. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and stakeholder theories Approach Examining the CSR issues in Xstrata’s case is another way of analysing the case. Bueble (2009, pp. 5) is of the view that CSR refers to the strategy through which organisations achieve their commercial objectives in a manner that takes into consideration ethical values and respects individuals, communities and the environment. The stakeholder theory is a concept in CSR that maintains that organisations have responsibility and obligation towards constituent groups within the society (groups that may benefit or be harmed by organisational operations) other than

Justifications for Migratory Restrictions Essay

Justifications for Migratory Restrictions - Essay Example This provision is therefore applicable to all members of the UK society because the society is one that has promoted equality and fairness for generations. However, in recent times, the UK has come up with stringent and tough immigration laws that have prevented a lot of people from coming into Britain. One of the biggest area that these new immigration laws have affected is the area of family law. Many migrants can assert a right to live with their family members if they gain legal residence here. However, the UK laws make it difficult for their family members to come into Britain. There are some pointers in law that give the government authorities the right to block these migrations for family unifications. However, this contrasts with UK family law and European Union Human Rights laws. This paper evaluates the conflict between human rights/family law and national immigration laws which prevent family unification. It begins by examining the fundamental rights of individuals in term s of family structures and European Union human rights laws. It goes on to examine the reality of migration into the UK and how these laws affect human rights. The paper identifies the grounds on which the UK authorities reject persons seeking family unifications and its implications in European Law. The paper goes on to identify the possible requirements that migrants and refugees living in the UK can satisfy in order to get their rights to family unification honoured. Core Components of Family Law From inception, the family has been the main place that individuals make their first social contacts. They build upon their relationships with their families to grow, study and enter mainstream society. The family was the pillar for the social and religious development of individuals in the olden days. After the reformation in Europe and the renaissance of the 15th to 18th Century, the family structures got modified. Since these events challenged traditional institutions with empiricism and economic rationality, the structures of the family changed (Stevenson, 2005). The family became a vehicle for the economic as well as social integration of children into the society. Currently, the family still remains a major component of the development of individuals. The family acts as the agency through which a child learns basic values of the society as well as the outlet through which the new generations get prepared for structured education for a future occupation. Families also preserve certain cultural and social relationships between adults through marriage and other bonds (Stevenson, 2005). In the UK today, families continue to maintain an important role in the society. Although a lot has changed over the past fifty years, the family remains an important component of Britain. In 2008, the UK government made the following pronouncement: â€Å"Families are the bedrock of our society. They nurture children, hep to build strength, resilience and moral values in young pe ople and provide love and encouragement that helps them lead fulfilling livesCabinet Office, 2008). Thus, the primary role that families continue to play in Britain is to socialise the next generation and give them the necessary guidance to build a fulfilling adult life. Additionally, family structures enable adults to get to the peak of their emotional, financial and social life because it grants support and help to individual members of the society (Diduck, 2003). It is therefore important for the UK to keep family structures intact. Due to this, family law has evolved as an important component of law in Britain. Most people have a view of an idealised family system where there is a father, mother and children. However, the evolution in the social structures of Britain has caused the law to also evolve to

HR Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

HR - Assignment Example A work life Program is a critical element of the total rewards of an organization in its effort to retain, motivate and attract employees. Recently, the organization has been losing employees due to inadequate planning regarding their employees benefits. High employee turnaround may reduce the performance of an organization by increasing reducing quality as well as increasing training costs. A work life projects training is aimed at training employees need to balance between healthy management of work life and life outside work. Essentially, it is considerably challenging to meet the entirely the requirements at work as well as at workplace. Therefore, employees require an initiative or a process that guide them to ensure that they remain healthy and safe (Harris 34). The training project can be categorized into various categories including when an individual works, how much one works, where one works. The program is expected to empower employees with the necessary skills to balance the objectives of the organization with that of employees. Sometimes it is very challenging to balance the balance the goals of an organization. One of the main purposes of an organization is to maximize profit. Sometimes, some employers find it challenging to incur additional expenditures that are not directly related to the organization’s operational costs (Harris 34). The point of this training is to provide employees as well as potential employees with skills on how they can provide initiatives to the employees that will help them remain productive in their workplaces as well as in their personal life. In addition, the program will help employees effectively manage their time, health and safety to ensure that neither their work performance nor their home performance will be compromised. At the end of the training, learners are expected to

Justifications for Migratory Restrictions Essay

Justifications for Migratory Restrictions - Essay Example This provision is therefore applicable to all members of the UK society because the society is one that has promoted equality and fairness for generations. However, in recent times, the UK has come up with stringent and tough immigration laws that have prevented a lot of people from coming into Britain. One of the biggest area that these new immigration laws have affected is the area of family law. Many migrants can assert a right to live with their family members if they gain legal residence here. However, the UK laws make it difficult for their family members to come into Britain. There are some pointers in law that give the government authorities the right to block these migrations for family unifications. However, this contrasts with UK family law and European Union Human Rights laws. This paper evaluates the conflict between human rights/family law and national immigration laws which prevent family unification. It begins by examining the fundamental rights of individuals in term s of family structures and European Union human rights laws. It goes on to examine the reality of migration into the UK and how these laws affect human rights. The paper identifies the grounds on which the UK authorities reject persons seeking family unifications and its implications in European Law. The paper goes on to identify the possible requirements that migrants and refugees living in the UK can satisfy in order to get their rights to family unification honoured. Core Components of Family Law From inception, the family has been the main place that individuals make their first social contacts. They build upon their relationships with their families to grow, study and enter mainstream society. The family was the pillar for the social and religious development of individuals in the olden days. After the reformation in Europe and the renaissance of the 15th to 18th Century, the family structures got modified. Since these events challenged traditional institutions with empiricism and economic rationality, the structures of the family changed (Stevenson, 2005). The family became a vehicle for the economic as well as social integration of children into the society. Currently, the family still remains a major component of the development of individuals. The family acts as the agency through which a child learns basic values of the society as well as the outlet through which the new generations get prepared for structured education for a future occupation. Families also preserve certain cultural and social relationships between adults through marriage and other bonds (Stevenson, 2005). In the UK today, families continue to maintain an important role in the society. Although a lot has changed over the past fifty years, the family remains an important component of Britain. In 2008, the UK government made the following pronouncement: â€Å"Families are the bedrock of our society. They nurture children, hep to build strength, resilience and moral values in young pe ople and provide love and encouragement that helps them lead fulfilling livesCabinet Office, 2008). Thus, the primary role that families continue to play in Britain is to socialise the next generation and give them the necessary guidance to build a fulfilling adult life. Additionally, family structures enable adults to get to the peak of their emotional, financial and social life because it grants support and help to individual members of the society (Diduck, 2003). It is therefore important for the UK to keep family structures intact. Due to this, family law has evolved as an important component of law in Britain. Most people have a view of an idealised family system where there is a father, mother and children. However, the evolution in the social structures of Britain has caused the law to also evolve to

Buseness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Buseness - Essay Example A business plan can help in identifying the underlying assets or liabilities of the business and also would bring into light the chances of the future business success or loss. It can also provide Micky McDonald with a financial analysis of the business of the future. A comparative analysis can also be made between owning and dumping the business. Therefore, in true sense Micky McDonald can take the decision on facts and figures rather than deciding whimsically (Saint Vincent College, â€Å"Importance of a Business Plan†). A business plan generally consists of the executive summary of the related ideas, the methodologies, the finances and various other aspects. In relation to the topic, it is very important to prepare a business plan in a very cautious manner. As the firm has been running in losses, it is quite significant to analyze the reasons for the failure of the business. The business plan should be in line with the failures of the firm in the previous period and its chances in the future. Actually the business plan should be based on the learning of the early failures of the business. A SWOT analysis and development of the value chain is very important in the business plan as they would act as a barometer for the success if the plan is accepted. Major emphasis should also be given on the distribution as it is one of the major focuses of a marketing firm. It should also make clear the objectives and the values of the firm. The dimensions to the business plans are infinite but the major focus should be on turning the sick business into a profit making one (Hadzima, â€Å"The Business Plan†). It is very important to have a business plan irrespective of the nature of the business being dynamic or static. In present day scenario, each and every business is operating in a dynamic environment. The business plan actually gives the business the much needed direction. The demand for the apparels used while snowboarding would be fluctuating but the

Basic resource for any organisation

Basic resource for any organisation Introduction: Information is basic resource for any organisation to its management. If the information is available on time its really effective for the management in its operations. The term information system usually refers to a system based on computer which is designed to support the operation, management and decision function. Management information system collects, transmit, process, store information and the system convert this data for management to make decisions and the strategy in the organisation. Reason for information system strategy First let me clear the misunderstanding for those who dont understand that whatever we do we have a strategy.im sure everything we do we have an objective to achieve that plan we make a plan that plan is strategy. Problem is strategy can be good or it can be bad or we may not have spotted that we can do much better if take the opportunity and environment into account. But there can be certain things give us a push to adopt a strategy and to achieve the better results for our business. There are two distinct phases, the first one is quantitative and the second one is qualitative. The first part we talk about the research of different organisations. In each organisation we will talk about different key stake holders in formulation of strategy process. This phase of the research will be started when different stakeholders will be interviewed over 100 interviews have been conducted so far. For the second phase the potential sample size will be every HEI in the UK. The first method tool which is being used to get samples in the first part is based on interviews and observation from which case studies are being created. The case studies created in part one will then be used to enlarge and increase upon present theory to grow a survey. This will be directed, using the results already recognized in qualitative research and different other organisations. This will bring the experimental sample to lots of other organisation which is adequate to learn any main defects in the survey. The second data-gathering tool will be a organized survey. The small size of the real people means that the survey can be given in all the organisations to at smallest three key stake holders or alliance frontrunners. Earl suggests a multiple methodology to formulate an information systems strategy. Earls multiple methodologies Earls multiple methodology provides a means of: Clarification of the business needs and strategy in information systems terms. Evaluation of current information systems provision and use. Innovation of new strategic opportunities. 1. Top down clarification Earls definition of a suitable method to clarify business needs in IS terms: ‘A methodology that is easily understood and used by line and general managers, it can cope with varying robustness of business strategy, it does not consume too much time or resource, it can be repeated as circumstances inevitably change and, as a result of these needs and because it could not achieve anything else, it points to directional IS needs and not detailed specifications. The ‘Critical Success factors approach meets many of the requirements of the definition. There are otherssee ‘Strategic Management and Information Systems Wendy Robson See ‘IT Strategy for Business Joe Peppard 2. Bottom Up evaluation Most organisations only have a vague understanding of the potential and capacity of their present IT systems. The technical perspective and backroom perception of IT may create a barrier. To understand the present systems a bottom up analysis is carried out. This involves an audit or survey. As well as the technical detail the user/specialist interface is examined. The value of the system to the organisation must also be ascertained. In this evaluation the following questions must be asked: How reliable is the system? How easy is it to maintain? How cost effective is it? What is the impact on the business? How easy is it to use? How often is it used? What is the state of our specialist user relationship? Other considerations might be the interactivity of the systems. These interactions and the evaluation can be shown graphically using systems maps or other means. The present systems can then be examined for strengths and weaknesses. The top-down business approach and the bottom-up systems approach do not provide an opportunity to exploit radical new ideas for exploiting the competitive advantage of IT. The business approach examines the ‘what and does not examine the ‘hows. The bottom-up approach is constrains radical thinking by the presence of the evaluation process and the strengths and weaknesses of the existing systems. A more detached approach is needed. 3. inside out thinking lateral thinking It is often inspiration and creativity that produces the bright spark ideas that can produce the beginnings of an IS strategy for competitive advantage. Ideas brought from unrelated sectors can often be successfully applied. The right atmosphere must be nurtured to produce this creativity. Runge suggests the following six characteristics associated with IT innovation|: The idea often emanates from a commercial manager. The idea was backed by a senior manager who became the project champion. The competitive advantage was added to an existing system; evolutionary process. The idea was developed outside of the IT control constraints. Customers were involved in the development. The application was given a high profile and was marketed. External Analysis The three legs of Earls multiple methodologies have considered IS strategy from an internal perspective. It is important to also view this strategy from an external point of view i.e. competitors, customers, consumers etc. There are techniques that can help clarify this approach. The SWOTmethod is a suitable candidate that explores both internal and external perspectives. A technique such as SWOT is useful when considering an external view of the three legs of the multiple strategies. Porters five forces model is a useful model for considering the external perspective on IS strategy. Boddy et al suggest that Porters model can be used to construct an IS strategy. Considerations when using the multiple methodologies. The use of methodologies does not mean a ‘cookbook attitude should be taken the implementation of strategies. Methodologies are useful overall frameworks but the context in which they are used needs consideration as well as experience. Experience suggests that: Significant differences existed in different firms; IS strategy formulation inherently seemed a more complex matter in some firms than others; and approaches in practice did not always match either the popular prescriptions or the accounts in case documented articles. Infrastructure-led may emphasise leg 2 bottom-up approach. Business-led may emphasise leg 1 top-down approach. Opportunity-led may emphasise leg 3 inside-out. Alternative approaches There are many other approaches in structuring IS strategy. One such approach is Porters five forces model. This is also useful in conjunction with Earls methodology. The following is reproduced from Body et al. IS changes the basis of competition: opportunities and threats Computer-based information systems are changing competitive conditions in many Indus-tries. There are many tools and techniques which can be used to analyse the relationship between strategy and information systems, depending on their purpose. In this book we can only illustrate one of these approaches, and the Five Forces model originally developed by Michael Porter seems the most appropriate to introduce. It can be used at the level of the individual firm to assess the possible impact of information systems on the competitive position of the firm. A comprehensive account of the many other perspectives on the topic will be found in Robson (1997). Figure 4.5 is based on Porters framework, and a show that IS represents an opportunity to secure a strategic advantage by using it to strengthen one or more of these forces. Similarly, it represents a competitive threat, if other organisations are able to use IS more effectively in these ways. Information systems and the threat of new entrants Managers can use IS on this force by using it to reduce the threat from new entrants by raising barriers, or by using it themselves to enter new markets. Using information systems to raise entry barriers The Caterpillar case illustrates that the manufacturer of the machine links the customer electronically with the service organisation. Because of that electronic link, it is not easy for a customer to go to another service organisation for repair and maintenance. This strengthens Caterpillars position as a manufacturer and as a service provider. The system is so complicated, advanced and expensive that it is hard for existing competitors to imitate. It is even more difficult for new entrants in this market to develop a similar system. The box gives two other examples. In the IS industry itself ‘setting the standard is very important to gaining a strong position. Most customers want to use equipment that has become established as the industry standard. Examples are Microsoft word-processing software, Intel computer chips and Netscape Internet browsers. It is very hard for new entrants to overcome these entry barriers, leading to a winner takes all situation in many sectors of the market. Using IS to enter markets more easily The Caterpillar case illustrates how the company uses its information system to attain a stronger position in the maintenance market. The system can strengthen the relationship with buyers of Caterpillar equipment and provide them with a broad after-sales service. Caterpillar becomes a stronger competitor of independent maintenance companies in new markets. Information systems and the threat of substitutes Companies can use information systems to alter this force by differentiating their products, or by creating new ones which they can use to threaten competitors. Using information systems to differentiate products and services The Caterpillar case shows the company using the information system mainly to improve the speed and quality of customer service. When the system notes deterioration the service starts immediately and the very capital-intensive machine will be repaired soon. This saves the customer a great deal of money. Other companies use the Internet to create and orchestrate active customer communities. Examples include Kraft (www.kraftfoods.com), Intel (www.intel.com), Apple (www.apple.com) and Harley Davidson (www.harley-davidson.com). Through these communities the companies become close to their customers. They can learn and innovate with product or service improvements that would otherwise be impossible. The research summary box below explains why it is essential for information service providers to differentiate their products. Using information systems to create new products and services Telephone and Internet banking are relatively new phenomena which have only become possible with new systems. The same is true of companies that use the power of database technology to offer new services in customer relationship management and direct market-in. Wide Internet access has generated a huge increase in businesses offering new services. These include electronic auctions, search engines, electronic retailers, electronic hubs (Data and Segev, 1999; Timmers, 2000; Kaplan, 2000), and Internet providers. Caterpillar created new maintenance services, and the next box gives another example. Information systems and the bargaining power of suppliers Increasing power of suppliers can increase their power by using information systems to track much more closely the costs of providing services to customers. They can set prices accordingly, or decide that they do not want a particular piece of business. For example, airlines use yield management systems to track actual reservations against traffic forecasts for any flight, and then adjust prices for the remaining seats to maximise revenue. Stepanekz (1999) reports how Weyerhaeuser Doors uses an Internet-based system to, amongst other things; manage orders from its distributors. This allows the company to manage its internal processes more efficiently, but also to assess much more accurately the value of each order, and the overall performance of its distributors. This enables it to refuse unprofitable orders, and to be more selective about the distributors which it supplies. Customer relationship management systems are a currently popular example of suppliers ability to track customers requirements more accuratel y, thus increasing the suppliers power over the customer. Decreasing power of suppliers Information systems can also be used the other way around. Customers can use information systems to strengthen their position in the marketplace at the expense of suppliers power. Ford and General Motors have set up electronic marketplaces and urge their suppliers to use that system to match their supply with the demand of Ford and GM. The Economist (6 November 1999) commented: Ford and GMs e-business revolution will not be confined to them alone. Their decision to go online will ripple through the 50,000 or so firms they trade with. The car makers are careful to say that none of their suppliers will be compelled to use their new portals, preferring simply to express that the benefits-cost savings, the access to new customers, the faster time to market, the sheer value of the information will make it an obvious choice. But the reality is different. Ford and GM are investing a lot in their e-business infrastructure and great hopes are riding on it. Suppliers that want to continue to do business the old way will rapidly become ex-suppliers and before long ex-companies. The next section about the use of information systems to change the power of buyers explores this theme further. This illustrates that information systems are increasingly inter-organisational phenomena, rather than hidden back-office systems. Inter-organisational systems can be used to co-operate as well as to compete with business partners, whether suppliers or customers. Powerful parties tend to urge less powerful ones to adopt their systems. Information systems and the bargaining power of buyers a good example of the balance of power being altered is when retail chains use modern communication technologies to make electronic links with their suppliers. Such systems reduce inventory costs and warehouse expenses and improve fulfilment time and information flows. For instance, they encouraged the further concentration of retailing firms which then had much more power over their suppliers. The retailers computer continually monitors its suppliers finished goods inventories, factory scheduling, and commitments against its schedule. The purpose is to ensure the stores always have adequate stocks. A supplier that is unwilling to join the system is likely to lose business. The box illustrates how Wal-Mart used this idea. More generally, buyers can use the web to access more suppliers, and to compare prices for standard commodities much more widely than was practical with earlier technologies. Information systems and the intensity of rivalry two ways of using information systems in the process of competitive rivalry are by reducing costs and through more effective management. Using IS to reduce costs On-line inventory systems make it possible to make radical changes in manufacturing supply systems. This greatly reduces inventory levels, and the costs associated with them. Car manufacturers are only invoiced for components when the completed assembly leaves the factory. When the system knows that X headlamps have been used, it passes the information to the component supplier. They send an (electronic) invoice for the components used, and supply replacements. There are similar systems in retailing, where suppliers like Unilever and Procter Gamble manage the inventory of their biggest customers. These inter-organisational systems reduce inventory costs but not only through lower inventory levels. They also reduce the need for working capital and allow a (smaller) purchasing department to focus on non-routine orders and strategic supply matters. The Internet enables large companies to transfer their purchasing operations to the web. Secure web sites connect suppliers, business partners and customers all over the world. This makes it easier for new suppliers to bid for a share of the available business, makes costs more transparent, and improves the administrative efficiency of the supply process. Using IS to enable more effective management A travel agents branch accounting system can now provide detailed patterns of business to managers, enabling them to monitor trends more closely, and to take better-informed pricing and promotional decisions. Another example is Ahold, a Dutch retailer, which achieved much greater performance in the supply chain by using its data-mining capability and knowledge extraction in its customer database. Management information systems can expand the span of control of individual managers, which can support the flattening of organisations. These examples show that information systems may become opportunities for creating, supporting or changing generic strategies. On the other hand competitors have similar opportunities there are also costs and risks associated with using information systems in this way. IS can also be a threat New entrants in the financial services sector have been able to introduce telephone bank-in through call centres very quickly. They were able to take advantage of the fact that they did not have an established branch network, and so could use the new technology very quickly. The technology worked to the disadvantage of established banks with many local offices. They found it costly to close branches. The technology was an advantage to the new, a disadvantage to the old. This illustrates a more general point that, for all the potential opportunities, IS can also be a threat. Information systems enable new competition Computer-based information systems represent opportunities for one business and threats to another company. In retailing, large chains have benefited at the expense of smaller shops, large suppliers have benefited at the expense of smaller ones, and large retailers have more power over suppliers. Any use of IS by one company to enter a new market, reduce costs and so on, is a potential threat to a competitor. They lose out if they have not seen the possibility, or have managed implementation less effectively. The London Stock Exchange is threatened by the fact that modern technology allows major institutions to trade shares directly, rather than use the market institution. The problem is increased by the fact that competing exchanges have implemented new information systems more effectively. They are likely to gain a larger share of a smaller market. Information systems place new demands on management time Implementing a major system takes a great deal of management time a cost that managers rarely include when evaluating investments. They require managers to look inward at (important) operational problems of staff, system design, and security. The danger is that they do not look at (even more important) issues of how to use the systems for strategic advantage. In other words: managers are often balancing between a ‘problem orientation and an ‘opportunity orientation. Senior management frequently underestimates the resources required to implement new information systems, especially of managing the many organisational implications. Implementing an information system successfully is difficult many research reports comment on the difficulties of implementing information systems. This is especially true of systems which involve many stakeholders with different interests or those which are innovative in other respects. They often take place in an uncertain environment, from a competitive as well as from a technological point of view. These uncertainties make it difficult to plan a change over a longer time. At the same time, the stakes are getting higher in terms of costs, people and other resources. Even when applications work, there may be downsides Managers often buy in expertise for development, operations and consultancy. These suppliers become the main experts of a companys IS resource. This dependency can be misused. Their lack of knowledge and insight in the organisation causes major problems. They have difficulty in negotiating successfully with the external providers and crucial company knowledge becomes the asset of other companies. References Achterberg, J.S., Gerrit, A. and Heng, M.S.H. (1991) Information systems research in the post-modern period. In Nissen, H.E., Klein, H.K. and Hirschheim, R. (eds.) Information Systems Research: Contemporary Approaches and Emergent Traditions. Elsevier Science Publishers BV, North Holland. Anderson, M. (1992) Implementing an information infrastructure strategy: the University of Edinburgh experience. University Computing Antill, L. (1991) Selection of a research method. In Nissen, H.E., Klein, H.K. and Hirschheim, R. (eds) Information Systems Research: Contemporary Approaches and Emergent Traditions. Elsevier Science Publishers BV, North Holland. Baroundi, J.J. and Orlikowski, W.J. (1988) A short form measure of user information satisfaction: pychometric evaluation and notes on use. Journal of Management Information Systems Boaden, R. and Lockett, G. (1991) Information technology, information systems and information management: definition and development. European Journal of Information Systems Breaks, M. (1991) Information systems strategies. British Journal of Academic Librarianship Burrell, G. and Morgan, G. (1979) Sociological Paradigms and Organisational Analysis: Elements of the Sociology of Corporate Life. Ashgate Publishers. Campbell, W.G. and Fiske, D. (1959) Convergent and discriminant validation by the multitrait- multimethod matrix. Psychological Bulletin Creswell, J.W. (1994) Research Design: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Sage Publications.Return to text Fitzgerald, E.P (1993) Success measures for information systems strategic planning. Journal of Strategic Information Systems Galliers, R.D. (1991) Strategic information systems planning: myths reality and guidelines for successful implementation. European Journal of Information Systems