The novel by Steinbeck Essay Example for Free

The novel by Steinbeck EssayOf Mice and Men, the novel by Steinbeck, frequently dramatises the never-ending action of back-to-back scenes. Consequently, the novel shares a strong sense of time, which is a formal element of most word-paintings. Steinbecks novel is not targeted at a selective reference in view of its vernacular dialogue and informal touch. Also considering the fast-paced action, Of Mice and Men is very adaptable to a movie version. Using heterogeneous devices up his sleeve, it is very important that the filmmaker gets across a sense of setting and colour in connection with characters thoughts and feelings. In preparing the final scene of the movie version of Of Mice and Men we were trying to focus on Lennies vulnerability in the outside world, the decline of Georges self-esteem with the demise of Lennie and how the setting and the environment (especially Lennies desired rabbits) reacted to the catastrophic conclusion. Our precise aims regarding filming techniq ue were to use a combination of low and high-angle shots, photographic camera FX to reflect the plot e. g. , dew, steam, fast/moderate paced camera, and deliberate exclusion of the camera from any part of the shot. For soundtracks/FX, we especially tried to imitate characters moods and feelings.Finally, suitable dialogue in calculated manner and appropriate timing re-enforced our essence of Lennies demise and Georges position. The establishing shots molest an audiences preliminary attention and directly convey a filmmakers purposes. This is because setting, colour, smell, movement and a characters intentions are all elements of this shot. In our film, George carries a great appeal to any audience and connects them with Lennies reality. In the first subjective shot, George scrambles onto his horses saddle and shoots past the ranch at top speed while camera does not linger on setting.I thought that because the camera does not linger on setting, an audience unaware of Steinbecks fina l plot might get mystified or puzzled as to why George acts so instinctively. We decided on this camera movement keeping in mind that George is very determined and sincere with his friend and he entrust do the best up to his ability to protect Lennie. The audience can now sense something will go wrong and George will try to military service Lennie to get out of the mess. This shot will prompt most audiences to form their own speculations of what is to happen next.

Importance of time Essay Example for Free

Importance of m EssayDo to the fact that I could not maintain promptness in a classroom environment I shall be writing an essay of the importance of promptity in the linked States Military. nowadays of course it seems kindred this would be easy to understand however I had managed to forget it and this shall explain it in this essay. Before you stooge understand how macrocosm punctual is central you essential understand what being punctual means. Punctuality is the characteristic of being able to complete a required task or fulfill a moral duty before or at a specific time. There is often an understanding that a small amount of advancedness is acceptable.. However in most cultures, such as Japanese society, or in the military there basically is no allowance. Some cultures strike an unspoken understanding that actual deadlines ar different from stated deadlines for example, it may be understood in a particular culture that people will turn up an hour by and by than a dvertised.In this case, since everyone understands that a 9 A.M. visualiseing will actually start around 10am, no-one is inconvenienced when everyone turns up at 10am. In cultures which value promptness, being late is tantamount(predicate) to showing disrespect for most others time and may be considered insulting. In such cases, punctuality may be enforced by social penalties, for example by excluding low-status latecomers from meetings enti commit. Being at the right place at the right time for any member of the Army is extremely essential to the defense of the entire United States of America.Its because of this that being on time is remarkably important. Dependability, accountability, consistency and discipline are all crucially related to being on time. Furthermore, promptness also shows that the unmarried Soldier aims high and has their priorities straight. However, being where one needs to be at the appointed time will always be one of the most important aspects of being a Soldier.This is why failure to be on time not only severely hinders mission capability and readiness, barely also place with unwrap a doubt cost unnecessary loss of life. It is important to realize that it is necessary for those in the Armed Forces are held to a higher standard. Being punctual in the military is important for many reasons, or so of which I shall describe, right now.One of the few reasons for punctuality in the military would be if individual is late for a guard or convoy that patrol or convoy might have to leave without that person, or maybe wait for them or cant leave without them and be late to a rally point in which it is possible that it would cost some onethere life for you being late being late to a convoy and could lead to dire consequences. Not necessarily to you but to your battle buddies you let down by not showing up.While they are on patrol, or convoying to another area, something could happen that could either need your expertise and training or they could just need another soldier to keep watch of their area and without you it would take more manpower from less people to do the job that you were supposed to do. Or maybe the patrol you were supposed to be on could be ambushed and your weapon, your eyes and your training could be what makes the difference between your patrol losing soldiers or not.It is possible that if you had been there your patrol could have seen the ambush with the extra set of eyes watching, or taken out the enemy with the extra soldier carrying a weapon he/she was trained to use. Now being late could be what makes you lose battle buddies that could have survived if you were there to help them in that situation. Even more possible is that your battle buddies are on a convoy and it could have been your eyes that notice the strange object in the road or the slight discoloration, or maybe the disheveled footing of the road ahead of you that could have prevented your convoy from running into an IED.Or in a nother situation one might be on their way to meet someone from another country and showing up late would be looked at as a dishonorable and that you didnt care about them or what they were trying to do. Also being late could also hinder your battle buddies at work. You being late makes your battle buddy who you are supposed to moderate stay later than he/she is supposed to, meaning that said person loses sleep time. Another reason might be because if you were going to relieve someone from duty on a guard duty it will make whoever your relieving have to stay at work.Therefor making them stay longer which hence makes them tired and sluggish. And because they are because they are tired and sluggish, it increases the high chance that whatever work that person does would be under par and not up to standards because of escape of sleep. Which on a guard post they might fall asleep and someone might slip in or pass along some classified information to the enemy without any difficulty.Al though the United States is not the only society that places a high regard on being on time, Americans in particular it would seem have been criticized in the past for being a highly time-oriented people, and some other cultures may not place the same take of importance on being punctual as exists in the UnitedStates today.This sense of being tied to a clock may strike some observers from other cultures as being downright psychotic, but the fact remains that the importance of being on time is an enormously important part of the American value system and it would be reasonable to suggest that this will not change.In addition, people who fail to be on time also leaven whether intentionally or not what may be considered as a callous disregard for other people and their time. In the United States, then, the importance of punctuality is well established and those who are even a few minutes late for say, a job interview, run the very real risk of losing out to lesser qualified candidate s simply because they were unable to find a place to park in time.Similarly, people who are consistently late will be viewed as unreliable by most employers and also run the risk of losing whatever employment they have managed to secure in the first place. Being on time is one thing, but being early is completely different. When youre assigned to be at an appointed place at an appointed time then there is no room for tardiness. Not only is it disrespectful to your co-workers in regards to making them stay later and putting them under the bus but also it is an integrity check and denotes your lack of responsibility. When you have a trend of being late none of your co-workers will feel as if they cant rely on you.

Leon Battista Albertis Treatise on Architecture

Leon Battista Albertis Treatise on ArchitectureDiscuss Albertis treatise on Architecture in relation to San Andrea in humannesstua. In particular, discuss the role of humanistic philosophy in his work giving careful attention to the question of proportionLeon Battista Alberti (1404-72) was a true Renaissance man. He was a gifted playwright, mathematician and sportsman trained in Law. As the person in charge of the constructions commanded by the Pope, he had the creator to write wholeness of the greatest works of the theory of architecture De Re Aedificatoria (On construction). Most of it was completed in 1452 and printed in 1485.In the Ten books of the Art of Building Alberti has explained the usefulness of a roof and wall for human. He said that it helps us to come close to one another and also grow together. Therefore we should be grateful to architects not only because they provides us a safe and welcome place but also for its many innovations, which are useful to both individu als and the unrestricted and the also provide our daily needs (page 3).Commissioned by Ludovico II Gonzaga, the church was begun in 1462 according to designs by Leon Battista Alberti on a site booked by a Benedictine monastery, of which the bell tower (1414) remains. The building, however, was finished only 328 years later. Though later changes and expansions altered Albertis design, the church is still considered to be one of Albertis most complete works.The purpose of the reincarnation building was to contain the pilgrims who visited it during the feast of Ascension when a vial, that the faithful argue contains the Blood of Christ, is brought up from the crypt below through and through a hole in the floor directly under the dome. According to tradition the Most Precious Blood was brought to Mantua by the Roman centurion Longinus and is preserved in the Sacred Vessels. It was held with high respect during the Renaissance which is only display on Holy Friday.Humanism is the studyi ng of the classics (Greek and Latin) and incorporating their ideas into ones own. It is the cultural movement of the Renaissance architecture. Most renaissance classical architecture shows more than clarity than the older ones, because it emphasizes clean lines, geometric shapes, symmetry. It argues whether that is more enlightened than medieval architecture. It was more thought out, perhaps more consistent, more systematic.Alberti had many philosophies when designing for buildings, and like the works of Vitruvius, created text that gave instruction on how to build, but saved main emphasis on the decoration and the exterior esthetics of the structure. One principle that Alberti m fruit drink use of was a system of Proportionality that he developed using systematic harmony of musical ratio, to bring on his buildings appealing. outlined as the precise and correct outline, conceived in the mind, made up of lines and angles, and perfected in the learned intellect and imagination, this theory and lineamenta were fundamental in Albertis process of design. Alberti believed that the Lineamenta stood as an outline and allowed proportions to be perceived in the design , where The very same numbers that cause sound to have that concinnitas, pleasing to the ears, can also contact the eyes and mind with wondrous delight. Reapplying emphasis on the humanistic approach to designThe tie with the humanistic style of design is a constant chemical group throughout Albertis ten books, and the beauty of Buildings also features heavily. Alberts definition, Beauty resides in a reasoned harmony of all the parts within a body, so that nil may be added, taken away, or altered, but for the worse. It is a great and holy matter, all our resources of skill and ingenuity will be taxed in achieving it and seldom is it granted even to Nature herself, to produce anything that is entirely complete and perfect in every respect. (VI, ii, 156).Albertis view of what Beauty is has connection t o the analogy of anthropomorphism, seeing Man as a component that uses energy to serve and do well. This philosophy maintains that Alberti believed that men were made in Gods image and likeness, creator of the universe, and through this thought, understood that what qualities fool a building beautiful opens the path to the route of all Knowledge and the original source of beauty to draw from, God himself.In his treatise nature is use as inspiration, where the reason of Nature permits an architect to investigate into the features of the natural world, including mans influence, to become better equipped to perceive and make use of Concinnitas, (which Alberti refers to as the spouse and individual of reason) to link presenting nature as the source of art in architecture and the nature based laws embedded in the outside world. As in the San Andrea, Mantua the faade of the church is exquisitely decorated with curves and flowing patterns on the ordered columns, drawing from Albertis tre atise and its guidance on how to not only create a building, but how to make its beauty reflect that of Gods love and NatureRefrencessacredarchitecture.org/authors/carroll_william_westfall/ -Carroll William Westfall(Journal entry 16)http//www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/S._Andrea.htmlMarvin Trachtenberg and Isabelle Hyman. Architecture from Prehistory to Post-Modernism. p295-6ReferencesTitle On the Art of Building in Ten BooksAuthor Leon Battista Alberti interpreter Joseph Rykwert, Neil Leach, Robert TavernorPublished by the MIT PressCambridge, MassachusettsLondon, Englandhttp//www.albertiefirenze.it/english/leon_battista_alberti/index.htmhttp//eng.archinform.net/projekte/4126.htm

Strategic Thinking And Swot Analysis Commerce Essay

Strategic Thinking And Swot Analysis Commerce examineIn this study, tog up outline is presented with elaborating the steps. Defining and articulating it roles in strategic prep and development steps argon likewise covered. Besides, it exemplified in the case of organisational murder for small and medium enterprises in Egypt. bring up which stands for an abbreviation of (strength, weakness, opportunity and threat) is an abstract that defined as method to examine organizations internal factors dealing with strengths and weaknesses, and its environmental opportunities and also the threats. SOWT abbreviation usually usance in the preliminary phase of decision making as a general tool which it designed for being preexistent to strategic broadcastning in unalike case and applications. (Johnson et al., 1989 Bartol et al., 1991). Based on some(a) former(a) definitions like Formisano (2003), SWOT Analysis quite a little be employ as a model, process, technique or fashion model t o generate information about those factors in organization by having many applications with possibility of being utilize in all the levels of the organization. So, SWOT can be defined as internal analysis of organisational potencys (what an operation does come up) and Weaknesses (what an operation does not do well) and as well as the external analysis of environmental Opportunities (potential favorable conditions for an operation) and Threats (potential unfavorable conditions for an operation) and it is a general tool at the initial stages of policy making and strategic planning and as well, it is a part of the latter stages of analyzing the mathematical process and planning for further development of the organization on. SWOT analysis is holdd as a technique in station to develop a planning process and solutions for the problems that are related with disparate internal and external factors and maximize the potential of strengths and opportunities as well as minimizing the ne gations of weakness and threats (Sharma Singh, 2010 Schermerhorn, 2006 Bennett, et al., 2003).The first step of SWOT analysis is a systematic evaluation of the organizations resources and capabilities. Strength in SWOT analysis is affiliated to warlike vantages and tell aparting competencies of the beau monde in its securities industry environment. But weaknesses can be considered as limitations that can affect the progress of the company in a damaging way. This evaluation includes identifying core competencies by considering special strengths which are excellent to the competitors. The core competency is a special strength which gives an organization a war-ridden advantage and it may be found in special fellowship or expertise, superior technologies, efficient manufacturing technologies, or unique product distribution systems, among many some other possibilities. Strategy formulation has an aim which is to form strategies that leverage core competencies for competitive ad vantage by constructing organizational strengths and minimizing the impact of weaknesses (Houben et al., 1999 Schermerhorn, 2006).Figure 1. SWOT Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats(Schermerhorn, 2006, p.88)Strengths Strength of an operation is the first internal element of the SWOT analysis. The strengths cover what an operation does well. The strengths may be being low-cost producer or high forest product producer. It depends on the perspective (Bennett, et al., 2003, p.2).Weaknesses The weakness of an operation is another internal element of the SWOT analysis. Examining weaknesses cover identifying what an operation does not do well. They moldiness be examined from the internal and external perspective of the operation. Usually all operations, regardless of size or profitability have weaknesses (Bennett, et al., 2003, p.2).Opportunities Opportunity is the first external element of the SWOT analysis. The opportunities cover any convenient situation in the business enterprises environment that the operation may gain an advantage form. The range can be from diversification and the use of rude(a) technologies to market trends and relationship developments. And usually all operations have some opportunities. It is important to analyze them well (Bennett, et al., 2003, p.2).Threats Another element of the SWOT analysis is the external threats. All operations can face threats and the threats can range from lower international prices to key relationships that have some problems. The operation of the organization must take some actions to prevent the external threats (Bennett, et al., 2003, p.2). SWOT analysis is used as inputs to generate possible strategies. And next step is to decide these strategies after the recognition and analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (Houben et al., 1999).2.1 SWOT Analysis StepsBased on Houben et al. (1999) as a first step in the development of a strategic planning system, business managers therefore commence with the identification and evaluation of these strategic factors which assist or hinder the company in reaching its full potential. Normally every company is confronted with a dynamic environment the relative importance of a strategic factor will change constantly, so the SWOT analysis is correspondingly to be of a permanent nature. The list of strategic factors can be used as a channel of departure for the actual strategic plan within a small or medium sized enterprise. It is a flexible instrument. The greatest advantage is that it helps managers of small and medium sized enterprises survey the different charge areas, gain insight into the significance within the framework of the company, and accordingly initiate suitable actions. Bartol et al. (1991) menti angiotensin-converting enzymed that responding to internal strengths and weaknesses is therefore an essential component of the strategic attention process. But success can only be progress tod in this wish to the extent that one is familiar with the opportunities and threats bequeathing from the external environment. The recognition of the internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats, takes place on the basis of a study, which called SWOT analysis. Generally no standard list of crucial factors which apply for all companies exists because of the specificity of this set. deep d take the framework of this study, however, we chose to concentrate solely on the internal business environment. This therefore only concerns the identification of strengths and weaknesses.Strengths thereby relate to the competitive advantages and other distinguishing competencies which can be exploited by the company on the market. A distinguishing competence is something which can be do very capably by a company. Weaknesses, on the other hand, are limitations which hinder the progress of a company in a certain direction. Weaknesses are those attributes of the org anization that impede achieving the target and limitations or deficiency in one or more resources or competencies relative to competitors that impedes a firms effective surgical operation. Opportunities are outside conditions that help to achieve the objective major situation in a firms environment. Key trends are one source of opportunities and identification of a previously overlooked market segment, changes in competitive or regulatory circumstances, technological changes, and improved buyer or supplier relationships could represent opportunities for the firm. Threats are also outside conditions that impede achieving the objective and impediments to the firms occurrent or desired position. The entrance of new competitors, slow market growth, increased bargaining power of key buyers or suppliers, technological changes, and new or revised regulations could represent threats to a firms success (Mintzberg and Quinn, 1991). harmonize Johnson et al. (1989) Bartol et al. (1991) tak ing strategic actions is advised for the organizations to preserve or sustain strengths, offset weaknesses, avert or mitigate threats, and capitalize on opportunities. Strategies can consider as the balancing act between the external environment like opportunities and threats and the internal capabilities of the firm such as strengths and weaknesses. Basically SWOT analysis is an extremely effective tool for understanding and decision-making for all sorts of situations in business and organizations.As a first step in the development of a strategic planning system, business managers should therefore commence with the identification and evaluation of these strategic factors which assist or hinder the company in reaching its full potential. Because every company is confronted with a dynamic environment, the relative importance of a strategic factor will change constantly, so this analysis is accordingly to be of a permanent nature. In identifying SWOT a particular factor is relevant o nly with reference to a specific objective. For example, a large cash balance is strength if the objective is expansion. If the objective is to discourage a hostile take-over, a large cash balance is a weakness. The SWOT analysis headings provide a good framework for reviewing strategy, position and direction of a company or business proposition, or any other idea. Completing a SWOT analysis is sometimes guileless and useful which can be used for business planning, strategic planning, competitor evaluation, marketing, business and product development and research reports (Houben et al.1999).The strengths and weaknesses can be found in the in operation(p) company fields, or they may be a consequence of abnormal interaction between different fields. Furthermore, the strengths and the weaknesses of an aspect must be deliberate at different levels of the organization this can be at throng level, at individual company level or at product or market level. The evaluation of the perform ances of the sometime(prenominal) may not be neglected with the measuring of strengths and weaknesses because it provides historic insight into the strategy of the company previously implemented as well as the successes accordingly achieved (Glass, 1991). Historic investigations may not only be limited to the pure analysis of the paths followed by the company in the past and the results achieved, they must also devote attention to the reasons for this success. With the lists compiled, sort and group facts and ideas in relation to the objectives. It may be needful for the SWOT participants to select their five approximately important items from the list in order to gain a wider view. Clarity of objectives is a key to this process, as evaluation and elimination will be necessary to cull the wheat from the chaff. Although some aspects may require further information or research, a clear picture should, at this stage, start to emerge in response to the objectives (Johnson et al., 198 9 Bartol et al., 1991).3. SWOT Analysis and Strategic PlanningSWOT analysis is mainly part of the strategic planning process buy canvas on internal and external forces in the business environment of a company of organization. As a first step of a strategic planning system, the strategic factors that are related with the potential of the company, should be identified and evaluated. The identification and evaluation of the strategic factors helps to reach an actual strategic plan and as a result the managers are able to gain insight of internal and external nature of the company and establish suitable actions in order to reach good performance (Houben et al., 1999, p.2) In order to have good performance in strategic planning, the future objectives on the companys strength and the weaknesses of the company must be considered by the company. intrinsic strengths and weaknesses are the main components of the strategic management process but it must be reinforced with considering opportu nities and threats from the external environment.According to Hill and Roy (1997, p.46), SWOT analysis is one of the most straightforward approaches for analyzing the strategy of an organization. SWOT as it explained before, is the acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats which according to Zack (1999, p.126) SWOT framework is one of the well- cheatn approaches to define a strategy. Considering Zack, Hill and Roy statements about SWOT, it can conclude that this approach can be used in order to define and analyze organizations strategy. This analysis consists of two parts. First, we have to analyze the internal characteristics and capabilities of the organization, which analysis helps us to identify the strengths and the weaknesses that the organization has. In the second part, we have to analyze the external situations in the competitive environment, which this analysis helps us to identify the opportunities and the threats that the company may faces. After ident ification of these four factors, a strategy for the company can be presented. Based on Zack statement (1999, p. 127) strategy is the act of balancing between internal and external situations of a given organization. And a good strategy is the one which ensure a fit between external situations of the company with its own internal capabilities (Hill and Westbrook, 1997, p.47). This analysis was in power for at least 30 years. Zack (1999, p.128) believes that companies who have superior fellowship, can sustain their competitive advantage by the use of those knowledge in order to combine, coordinate, develop and exploit their resources and capabilities in a new way and burst than their competitors. Buckman Labs competed in certain markets based on its superior knowledge of how to apply its chemicals to solve the process treatment problems of its customers.After explaining SWOT framework in previous section, and talking about knowledge as a strategic asset and the sustainable competiti ve advantage which could be achieved through the application of the knowledge that exists in an organization, the author (Zack, 1999, p. 130) proposes that Firms need to perform a knowledge-based SWOT analysis, mapping their knowledge resources and capabilities against their strategic opportunities and threats to better understand their points of advantage and weakness. The outcome of this analysis could be a map that can help the organization to change its knowledge advantages and reduce its knowledge weaknesses. This map reveals the knowledgebase resources and capabilities of one organization and the knowledge that this organization needs in order to be competitive in the market by providing the products and services. As we mentioned earlier, we can thought of this as a knowledge strategy.Zack (1999, p.131) mentions trine steps that should be taken in order to describe the bring together between strategy and knowledge1. Organization needs to identify its strategic goals.2. Orga nization must evaluate the knowledge that it needs in order to achieve its strategic goals.3. Comparison between the knowledge that one organization has and the knowledge that one organization needs reveals the strategic knowledge gaps of that organization.A firm, according with its current knowledge, must identify the best product and market opportunities for exploiting that knowledge. For example, Most importantly, it recognized the difference and managed and developed its strategic knowledge accordingly (Zack, 1999, p.131).Therefore, we can consider the knowledge as an important strategic resource for sustaining the competitive advantage. There are 3 reasons why knowledge makes the advantage sustainable, as first that knowledge which is gained from organizational procedures through experience is unique and cannot easily be reproduced. Because acquiring this knowledge require competitors to engage in similar experiences which need time and money. Second is that, those firms which know more can learn more in comparison to their competitors who have just started to gather knowledge. Third reason is that, the integration between newly gained knowledge and the knowledge that the firm already has can create unique insights and more valuable knowledge that is difficult for the competitors to gain. These reasons all lead to a sustainable competitive advantage.Strategic management is a collection of decisions and actions that are taken by the business management to determine the long-term activities of the company. Basically strategic management has three elements (Houben et al., 1999, p.126), the formulation of a strategy the implementation of a strategy the take for and evaluation of the strategy. Internal and external environment analysis must be done before applying these stages. While analyzing of the internal and external environment will result in an overview of all opportunities and threats and also weaknesses and strengths will be reviewed and these are SW OT analysis results. If we want to define the internal and external environments, the external environment include the variables existing outside the company, they are in the short-term and not under the control of the company and they are from the context in which company exists and functions. The external variables are divided as direct and indirect environment. The elements or groups are directly influenced by the actions of the company are considered as the direct environment (industry environment), such as the shareholders, the government, the suppliers, the local authorities, the competitors, the clients, the creditors and the employees organizations. The general forces that have an impact on the long term decisions of the company are considered as indirect environment (macroenvironment) such as economic, socio-cultural, technological, political and juridical influences (Houben et al., 1999, p.126 Schermerhorn, 2006, pp.87-88).The variables of the internal environment within t he company belong to the business management of the company that does not have an influence in the short-term. These variables include the company structure, the company culture and the resources of the company. One of the three elements of strategic management was the formulation of a strategy and it is a process for the development of long-term plans, to respond to environmental opportunities and threats effectively by considering the strengths and weaknesses of the company (Houben et al., 1999, p.126). Figure.3.1.1 illustrates the SWOT analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.Companies need to take some specific actions to identify and understand their competitive strengths and weaknesses and the development of the competitive strategy depends on building a world(a) overview that considers the strengths and weaknesses. The strengths and weaknesses can place in the functional company fields, or can be a consequence of unusual interaction between different field s. In addition, the strengths and the weaknesses must be analyse at the different levels of the company such as organization, group, individual, company, product or market level (Houben et al., 1999).The current strategic position forms a very important point of departure for the development of a future strategy. It is very difficult to understand the current strategy if a formal planning system was previously absent. The studying of the competition, the current strategic prospects, performances from the past, the market possibilities and the market environment provide us with insight concerning information required for the indication of strengths and weaknesses. Where possible these strengths and weaknesses are to be correspond in objective terms. It must be commented that most strengths concern the capabilities of certain personnel members or the resources at hand. A distinction can accordingly be made according to the present product/market combinations. It is therefore sensibl e to make a distinction according to the extent to which these strengths and weaknesses are of a exact nature. As regards the critical factors, an attempt must be made to sort them on the basis of strengths (Johnson et al., 1989 Bartol et al., 1991).Good performances within a company are the results of chastise interaction of the business management with its internal and/or external environment. To operate successfully in this respect, the company must concentrate its future objectives on its strengths, man averting tendencies related to the companies weaknesses. Responding to internal strengths and weaknesses is therefore an essential component of the strategic management process. But success can only be achieved in this respect to the extent that one is familiar with the opportunities and threats resulting from the external environment. Mintzberg and Quinn (1991) explained the recognition of the internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats, t akes place on the basis of a SWOT-analysis. deep down the framework of this study, however, we chose to concentrate solely on the internal business environment. This therefore only concerns the identification of strengths and weaknesses. Companies must undertake specific actions in order to distinguish their competitive strengths and weaknesses. The strengths and weaknesses are found in the functional company fields, or they may be a consequence of abnormal interaction between different fields. Furthermore, the strengths and the weaknesses of an aspect are measured at different levels of the organization this can be at group level, at individual enterprise level or at product or market level.4. SWOT Analysis in PracticeIn this section we can overview the SWOT analysis of organizational performance of small and medium enterprises in Egypt through promoting the human factors in quality management systems. This analysis has been done by the survey results (the answers in the studied q uestionnaire) were analyzed by the SWOT method in order to identify the Egyptian manufacturing SMEs Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats, in order to generate information about their effectuate on organizational performance and to determine if there is a need to support systems for the organizations development or a need for system improvement (Shobery et al. 2010).This analysis the research police squad used as a guideline for developing the QMS model with focus on human factors. Egyptian manufacturing SMEs (Small-Medium Enterprises) have much strength and weaknesses, and many opportunities and threats which are generated from the business environment and have effects on the whole organization. Strengths of SMEs were confirmed by the results of the questionnaire and have supported, developed and promoted as a part of the basic alkali needed to achieve the criteria of the business excellence practices. Weaknesses indicated the problems and ineffective work systems wh ich need to be solved and improved gradually to get a new and better infrastructure (Shobery et al. 2010).In their research they figured it out that opportunities mainly increase the number of international markets open to Egyptian manufacturing SMEs. Threats are mainly generated through competitive situations from the international trading competitors and free trade areas (FTAs). There is an increase in the number of overseas competitors most of which have a higher potential for international trade than Egyptian firms. Generally, strengths and opportunities influence the organizations performance in positive ways and also support the development of a QMS. In contrast, the weaknesses and threats have negative effects on the organizational performance, which hamper a successful implementation of a QMS. Effects of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats on the organizational performance in Egyptian manufacturing SMEs are presented in Table 1 and Figure 2.Based on their findi ngs, a systematic schedule for the analysis of strengths and weaknesses is something constantly gaining popularity. Companies must undertake specific actions in order to distinguish their competitive strengths and weaknesses. History has shown this to be not particularly simple. Many companies only have vague ideas of the source of certain competencies and the extent to which they possess them. The absence of a global company overview prevents a clear picture being obtained. Despite these problems the development of a competitive strategy depends on having a global overview as regards strengths and weaknesses.5. ConclusionBy doing the SWOT analysis usually there are some ready expected advantages such as, an impetus to analyze a situation and develop suitable strategies and tactics, a basis for assessing core capabilities and competences, the evidence for, and cultural key to, change, a stimulus to participation in a group experience.

Human Adaptations to Extreme Cold

Human Adaptations to Extreme ColdAbstractHumans have successfully adapted to environmental idiomes, including native cold. A review of existing literature examining archaeological information, historical data, and current populations regarding human adaptation to cold stress (average annual temperature of -14C / 7F) yields try supporting distinctive morphological, physiological and behavioral traits that compensate for the stress. geomorphological adaptations fag end be seen in elongated and assigned os nasale passages (long narrow noses), which help inviolable and hydrate the air before it passes into the lungs and a decreased surface atomic number 18a to volume ratio and allowing the individuals to more easily maintain a normal core organic structure temperature. Physiological adaptations include increase ultra metabolous rate, which increases the amount of eubstance heat asseverated and a higher prevalence of type 1 diabetes, which whitethorn be a hereditary adapt ation that protects cells from freezing. Additionally behavioral adaptations can be observed in agriculture, knowingness of fickle environmental factors, and clothing. Traditional populations in sub-polar regions tend to be hunter foragers agriculture is limited to what can be cultivated in the short growing season. Some populations demonstrate acute awargonness of weather patterns, modifying their behaviors to minimize exposure to dangerous conditions while taking full advantage of more temperate periods. The author finds ample evidence of widely vary human adaptations to extremely cold environments which allow sub-arctic populations to survive more easily in their specific environments.Human Adaptations to Extreme ColdHumans have successfully adapted morphologically, physiologically, and behaviorally to environmental stress, including extreme cold. As a species, piece have survived Ice Ages which brought the intensely cold environment, normal for our polar and sub-polar regions, across oft of the planet. To record the wide variety of adaptations which have proven successful, the author explored existing literature analyzing data from archaeological, historical, and anecdotal sources, as well as from current populations. Because more teaching involving human populations exists for inhabitants of sub-polar regions than for any other extremely cold environments (except high-altitude locales where oxygen level is a significant contributing factor for adaptation and would complicate conclusions which power be drawn round adaptations to cold stress) the author focused there. Extreme cold is defined, in terms of environment, by examining monthly mean temperature charts provided online by the U.S. Navy (Guest, 2000). These data show that monthly mean temperatures at sub-polar locations, some(prenominal) north and south, range from -30C (-22F) in January to +5 C (+41F) in July, with daily variations from -40C (-40F) to +30C (+86F) yielding average annual tempe ratures -14C (7F). Ample evidence exists to support conclusions that morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations have occurred in response to the stress of existence in extremely cold environments.Morphological adaptations can be seen in elongated and narrowed nasal passages, broad pelves, and relatively short, stocky bodies. (Kennedy 2007 Hernandez, Fox, Garcia-Moro 1997). Fueguians and the Eskimos are the human groups with the narrowest and highest nasal apertures, displaying a combination of large nasal height and low nasal breadth values, while groups from equatorial field of battles have low, wide nasal passages (Hern, et al. 1997). Both groups lived and/or live in the sub-polar regions (one nearer the southern pole, one nearer the northern). Fueguians inhabited Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of South American after the rubbish sheets receded, 10,000 to 12,000 BP (before present). Un manage the sub-Arctic environment, which is cold and dry, the climate of Tierra del Fuego is extremely cold, rainy, foggy, and windy. Average temperatures are in line with our definition of extreme cold, but in addition the area receives 3000 mm (118 in) of rain each year and strong, persistent winds that blow off the glaciers, inducing a significant windchill affect. (Hern, et al. 1997, and references therein) took craniometric (measurments of the skull) measurements of 180 skulls from lead distinct tribal groups of the area and analyzed them in relation to Howells 28 craniometric series in order to increase the statistical significance of the sample. When all the measurements were plotted on a climate map, a strong correlation between increased nasal height combined with narrow breadth and extremely low temperatures is apparent. Researchers postulate that high, narrow nasal openings allow frigid air to be warmed by the mucous membranes lining the nasal cavity to prevent damage to delicate lung tissue, and kick upstairs the recovery of heat and mois ture from expired air. (Hern, et al. 1997)A nonher morphological adaptation supported by existing studies is a short, stocky body structure. Body proportions of humans and other energy-absorbing (i.e., warm-blooded) species have long been known to show significant correlations with climatic variables and their proxies. Specifically, two empirically derived ecogeographical rules, those of Bergmann (1847) and Allen (1877), state that within a widespread endothermic species, those in colder regions will tend to weigh more (Bergmanns rule) and be characterized by shorter appendages (Allens rule) than their conspecifics members of the very(prenominal) species in warmer climes. (Holliday and Hilton, 2010 and references therein). They also put forward colder-climate groups being characterized by broader pelves, and reference C.B Ruffs work from the early 1990s. Holliday and Hilton (2010) examine skeletal data from the Point Hope Inuit (another name for Eskimo) of North America. A total o f 173 individuals, 127 from the Tigara period (13th to 17th cytosine AD) and 46 from the Ipiutak period (100 BC to 500 AD) were metrical and analyzed relative to other Native North Americans, and samples from Europe, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa (from similar periods). ground on results from previous studies referenced, Holliday and Hilton concentrated their effort on measurements which have already been determined to vary with climate, specifically tree branch bones from the four major limb segments, femoral head diameter, skeletal trunk height (the summed dorsal body heights of T1-L5 plus sacral ventral length), and bi-iliac breadth pelvic width. (Holliday and Hilton, 2010). From the basic measurements, the authors computed seven ratios which are identified as indices for comparison. Results show that African samples provide the lowest indices while circumpolar populations show the highest, with European numbers in the middle. Neither of the groups measured specifically fo r this study (nor the third Native North American sample) is significantly different from the other, but marked variations exist between these groups and both of the African groups. Interestingly, results do not support the authors expectation that the Inuit and Europeans would show a discernible variation using the specific indices studied. However, the bi-iliac relative breadth index (pelvic breadth compared to assumed trunk height) did wear out these two groups distinctly. As a counter-point, it is noted that there are other factors which can affect overall stature, such as under-nutrition. In a jolting environment, maintaining sufficient nutritional intake is likely compromised, and so the shorter body may not be simply an adaptation to the extremely cold environment.Popular empty talk holds that a layer of body fat helps keep humans, and other mammals, warm. In his 2007 American Journal of Human Biology article, Human cold adaptation An unsheathed agenda Steegmann does not disagree he says, Fat insulates better than muscle per unit of thickness. However, in a fit person, muscle layers are usually much thicker than subcutaneous fat and consequently have higher absolute insulative value. Studies in the 1950s and 1960s (referenced in Elsner (1963) LeBlanc, 1954 Baker and Daniels, 1956 Daniels, et al, 1961) demonstrated that Caucasians with a thicker layer of body fat, as measured by flakefold, maintained core temperature, skin temperature, and metabolic rate more reliably when exposed to 15 C (59F) for two hours. However, in a similar study (Elsner, 1963) compared the skinfold thickness of eight hunter-gatherer groups (aborigines of central and northern Australia, Inuit of Canada, Eskimos, Alacaluf Indians of southern Chile, Lapps, Peruvian Indians, and Kalahari bushmen), and cold-acclimatized Norwegian students, with urban Caucasians as a control. Skinfold thickness was measured at ten locations abdomen, back (subscapular), calf, cheek, chin, iliac cre st, knee, pectoral, upper arm,and side. The urban Caucasian control group had higher values across the board, except for the cheek measurement. Of finical interest, Canadian Inuit, and Eskimos had amongst the lowest values not what was expected from populations that acquire 70-75% of their caloric intake (see above) from animal fat. Additionally he measured the rectal temperature, metabolic rate, and skin temperature of his subjects during an eight-hour sleep period with ambient room temperature of 0 5C (32 41F) during which time they had only one thin blanket to wrap up in. Elsner reports that there was poor correlation between skinfold thickness and the measurements of interest during the overnight study. In support of these findings, from another study, Steegman (2007) reports results which demonstrate that Inuit traditionally had high muscle push-down stack and high work capacity, but low body fat. Aside from the subjective observation that the primitive groups had better sl eep than the control group, three sets of reactions emerged from Elsners study 1) Canadian Inuit, Eskimos, and Alacaluf Indians, and cold-acclimatized Norwegian students demonstrated high metabolic rates (measurement technique not defined) and warm extremities 2) Kalahari bushmen and aborigines from central Australia had stable or falling metabolic rate and army tank skin and 3) Peruvian Indians and Lapps had low rectal temperatures and higher extremity temperatures. So, while a thicker layer of body fat does not seem to be a human adaptation for survival in extremely cold environments, increased metabolic rate and some protective mechanism to keep extremities warm both appear likely. (Makinen, 2007)Physiological adaptations include increased basal metabolic rate, high protein/high fat/low carbohydrate nutritional requirements, and some evidence of variations in blood chemistry. (Westerterp-Plantenga 1999 Srivastava, Kumar 1991 Moalem, Storey, Percy, Peros, Perl 2004)An inverse rel ationship between BMR and mean annual temperature has been documented, which holds true even when controlled for differences in body size. (Snodgrass, et all 2005) In fact, Snodgrass, et al (2005) conducted all-encompassing research among the Yakut population in Siberia (sub-polar Asia) which supports the claim that increased basal metabolic rate is an important human adapation to the stress of an extremely cold environment. With a gross(a) and well-documented scientific process, participants in the Snodgrass study underwent measurements of core temperature, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and heart rate in a thermoneutral (23 27C) environment after a 12-hour fast. Results for basal metabolic rate (BMR) were predicted based on three standards drawn from a European population fat-free mass (FFM), surface area (SA), and body mass. In all three cases, for males and females, the Yakut BMR measured significantly higher than predicted values. The BMR of Yakut men and wom en were demonstrably elevated over their more southern-dwelling, European counterparts. Another metabolic adaptation might be seen in the increased incidence of compositors case 1 diabetes mellitus among northern Europeans. Moalem, et al (2004) Recent animal research has uncovered the sizeableness of the generation of elevated levels of glucose, glycerol and other sugar derivatives as a physiological means for cold adaptation. High concentrations of these substances depress the freezing point of body fluids and prevent the formation of ice crystals in cells through supercooling, thus acting as a cryoprotectant or antifreeze for vital organs as well as in their muscle tissue. Citing the example of cystic fibrosis conferring immunity to typhoid (salmonella typhi), the authors suggest that elevated blood glucose levels, such as are seen when the body does not produce insulin, may be the result of genetic mutation which gave an evolutionary advantage to inhabitants of cold climates ab out 14,000 years ago when world-wide temperatures dropped dramatically. Life expectancies then were short, so genetic adaptations that enhanced survival would have favored changes in the short term. Now that our life expectancies have increased to 70+ years, we can observe that such changes might have been beneficial then, but currently are causing dangerous health issues within the aging population.Traditional dietary intake of these populations of cold-dwellers depends completely on what is available at any given time. In 2004 Patricia Cochran, a native Inuit Alaskan, wrote on the traditional diet for Discovermagizine.com. Our meat was seal and walrus, marine mammals that live in cold water and have lots of fat. We used seal oil for our cooking and as a dipping sauce for food. We had moose, caribou, and reindeer. We hunted ducks, geese, and little land birds like quail, called ptarmigan. We caught crab and lots of fish-salmon, whitefish, tomcod, pike, and char. Our fish were cooke d, dried, smoked, or frozen. We ate frozen raw whitefish, sliced thin. The elders liked stinkfish, fish buried in seal bags or cans in the tundra and left to ferment. And fermented seal flipper, they liked that too. She reports that in the short summers the villagers would forage for roots, greens, and berries.. What the diet of the Far North illustrates, says Harold Draper, a biochemist and expert in Eskimo nutrition, is that there are no essential foods-only essential nutrients. And humans can get those nutrients from diverse and eye-opening sources. Inhabitants of extremely cold climates do not live to eat, they eat to live. The traditional Inuit diet, which seems to a western to be sorely lacking in fruits and vegetables, which the U.S. government insists are necessary for wellness, supplies all they need to maintain health in their sub-polar climate. Vitamin C, which is a vital divisor for healthy connective tissue, is found in raw animal organs, raw kelp, and even muktuk, whi ch is as rich in Vitamin C as orange juice, deoxyguanosine monophosphate for gram.Fat-soluble vitamins A and D are metabolically mined from cold-water fish and mammal fats and livers. Not surprising, then, that the traditional Inuit diet comprised 90% of its caloric intake from meat and fish, 50-70% of its calories specifically from wild animal fat fat is the source of not only calories but also necessary nutrients.This traditional Inuit diet based wholly on what food is available from hunting, fishing and forage-harvesting might be a behavioral/ pagan adaptation to the climate, while also encompassing metabolic/digestive adaptations. dapple morphological and physiological adaptations to environment take eons to manifest, some cultural and social adaptations may be apparent on a far shorter time scale. Steegmann (2007, and references therein) speaks about Richard K. Nelsons comparison of Kutchin natives of east-central Alaska to Eskimos, explaining Nelsons observation that Kutchin hunters keep moving if they lose their way, afraid if they stop they will sleep and freeze. Eskimo rest as needed and only run low to stay warm. He also noted that Eskimo had a complex understanding of weather prediction and were better equipped to plan accordingly and keep themselves safe. In both cases, Eskimos seem to practice higher survival skills and both behaviors are strongly directed by cultural traditions. Two very different responses to the same stimuli in similar environments, with potentially diametrically opposed results survival and death. Another surprising and non-intuitive variation in responses to the extreme cold of sub-polar life can be found in the clothing styles of arctic and some sub-arctic populations. According to Hern, et al. (1997) arctic inhabitants, such as the Inuit, wear clothing designed to protect them from the harsh cold, whereas the three Fuegian tribes they study, who lived at the southern tip of South America, are anecdotally described as alm ost naked throughout their lives. The Fuegian tribes are extinct, so no opportunities to explore their cultural adaptations to their extreme environment.Human adapation to the stress of an extremely cold environment, such as those of sub-polar regions, can be seen in morphological changes, physiological changes, and behavioral/cultural developments. Morphological changes include long, narrow nasal passages, to pre-warm icy air and protect fragile lung tissues and short, stocky body structure, which increases the body mass to surface area ratio, conserving body heat. Physiologically, increased basal metabolic rate is strongly supported as an adaptation, in a contemporary population, to the extremely cold climate of Siberia. An increased incidence of Type 1 diabetes in cold climates is suggested as a favorable mutation during the rapid onset of a mini Ice Age, but more studies would be needed to prove this as a lasting adaptation. Changes in metabolism and digestion in order to extrac t necessary nutrients from the limited food sources available in a sub-polar climate may be a physiological adaptation, but without studies to demonstrate a change in how the Inuit (or other sub-polar inhabitant) body processes food in order to extract necessary nutrients, it should be categorized as a behavioral/cultural adaptations. They eat to live, utilizing all food sources available. Other behavioral adaptations can be observed in a more precise weather awareness, perhaps, and clothing styles.

Storms :: essays research papers

If you know where and when to look, you cantreat yourself to a colourful display of atmospherichaloes, spots and pillars. These images can tell yousomething about the clouds crash and possiblechanges in the weather. All of these images arecreated by light shining through cirrostratus clouds.These clouds occur at an altitude of 6,000-12,000metres. They appear as a thin sheet or layer(strata) that is pure white. The layer of cloud is sothin (only 100-450 metres) that is doesnt obscurethe sunlight or moon, so you should be suitable to seeyour shadow. Cirrostratus is made of many typesof ice crystals. However, four crystal shapes areresponsible for producing most of the commonlysee haloes-plate crystals, columns, cappedcolumns and bullets. The most open-and-shut halo isfound around the sun. If the layer of cirrostratus isextensive, youll see an entire ring. Within the layerof cloud, sunlight is striking and passing throughthe sides of randomly-oriented ice crystals. As thesunlight passes through each crystal, the lightchanges direction, or refracts. The radius of thehale depends on the amount of change in thedirection of the suns light. Usually this is 22degrees. Since the sun is 1/2 of a degree across,the radius of the halo is 44 sun-widths.Occasionally you may see a second halo at 46degrees from the sun (that is, with a radius of 92sun-widths). This is produced by sunlight passingthrough both the side and bottom of each crystal.Moonlight will likewise produce a halo, around themoon, with the proper layer of cirrostatus.Another common optical effect is known as "mocksuns" or "sun dogs" or "parhelia" (Greek for "withthe sun"). These bright spots on either side of thesun, outside of the halo, occur when sunlightpasses through the sides of capped columns,bullets and plate crystals, when these crystals arearranged with their sides vertical. The crystalswobble, distribute and smearing the colours of themock sun. You can see haloe s and mock sunsmore clearly if you block out your view of the realsun by holding your hired hand in front of it at armslength. Another spectactular optical effect is thesolar pillar. This is a vertical shaft of light the samecolour as the sun stretching upwards from the sunand is most often seen at sunset or sunrise. Itsproduced by sunlight reflecting of the base of plateand capped column crystals in the clouds.

Moral Ambiguity of Charlie in The Little Drummer Girl Essays -- Little

Moral Ambiguity of Charlie in The Little Drummer GirlIn George J. Lennards, John le Carre critical assessment of the ending of Little Drummer Girl, he claims that Charlie washstand not continue to act in the theater of the very...she can no longer return to the romantic fluff of Western middle class society. Charlies last line in the novel, the theater of the real, are I am inanimate (pp.659), which confirms Lennards statement. Charlie, an actress, by nature and craft is a coerced into a system of rules to infiltrate a terrorist ring, against her convictions. By playing upon Charlies insecurities and her need for acceptance, this scheme forms a kind of moral ambiguity and uncertainness inside Charlie. When it ends, her world is shattered, and she becomes dead in a figurative sense.The theater of the real forces Charlie to give a performance of a lifetime as her own life is at stake. In the beginning Charlie, willing and naive, accepts the script given to her by Joseph. Joseph him self, trains Charlie how to act in this scheme, much like an acting coach trains an inexperienced theatrical student. Along the way, Joseph gives her cardinal pieces of advice such as stay with the logic of the fiction...weaken and you will ruin the operation...well repair any damage (pp. 468), advice which Charlie does not closely follow. In a world that will be turn upside down for Charlie, Joseph is her one remaining constant. The people Charlie comes in contact with can be best described as characters or actors in fiction as well. The characters names change al most(prenominal) as frequently as Charlies views of her situation. The changing names give way to the belief that the characters, chthonian disguise, can not really be held responsible for their actions as they are in costume. As the novel progresses, Charlie also changes costumes much like a chameleon changes with its environment. When Charlies character is the Israelites, she is sympathetic to them likewise, when she is with the Palestinians, she takes on their beliefs, which in it self creates a chaos and provides substance to the theme of moral ambiguity in le Carres novel. Charlie begins her journey into moral ambiguity with the death of Michel, a Palestinian terrorist. Following her script carefully, Charlie infiltrates the terrorist ring, convincing them that she was Michels lover. Charli... ... into the real is futile (pp. 600). And so, Charlie enters back into the world of the real changed and alone, hitherto dead because she is unable to ever be the same. Charlies character deals with concerns of terrorism, the persuasive power of love and the moral ambiguity on both sides of the fence. Perhaps her most important discovery is when she realizes the cost of violence to those who preform it. Although Charlie is clearly the protagonist of the novel, she makes an important discover which seems to eliminate the conflict of moral ambiguity there is right-hand(a) and evil in everyone. This l esson affects Charlie in ways the writers of her script never could have known. Like the writers of a good novel, she has already begun to miss the character she has fallen in love with herself. Charlie now, nevery belongs in the theater of the real no in the real world she will no longer fit in either as she once did, Making her dead to herself and everyone who once knew her Le Carre leaves us with an image of Charlie preforming works of art in a theater for a real audience. Significantly because Charlies ambiguity of herself can best be seen by playing the characters of others.