China's Dangerous Overvaluation Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

China's Dangerous Overvaluation - Article Example Based upon labor costs and trade patterns, author is of the view that Yuan is certainly overvalued by approximately 15% suggesting that it’s time for China to take corrective measures. Author suggests measuring increasing labor costs as one of the indicators to measure how much the currency has appreciated and also cites the fact that labor costs have increased more than the overall profitability of the Chinese companies. Author indicates that any further appreciation in the currency would actually be more harmful for the country because the overall level of debt has been creeping up in the economy which would ultimately hurt the domestic consumption in China. Author suggests that to arrest the appreciation of Yuan, one way could be to allow domestic prices to adjust to the appreciated Yuan however; this may result into difficult economic consequences whereas rebalancing from investment to consumption is recommended as an easier way to manage Yuan. Probably one of the biggest weaknesses of the article is the absence of any figures and data based upon which author made the claims. Almost all the arguments are without any solid economic data and most arguments are relatively theoretical in nature. It would have been much better had the author used the real economic data to point out the appreciation trends in the value of Yuan against the major international currencies specially US Dollar. It is also critical to note that China has basically not highlighted as to how an appreciated Yuan have been benefiting Chinese economy in maintaining healthy trade surplus besides emerging as the leading export oriented economy in the world. An increase in the labor costs may not be one of the basic indicators of measuring the appreciation in Yuan. An increase in labor costs may also be due to the increasing specialization within the Chinese economy and the fact that Chinese workers may be gaining more advanced skills. Gaining more

Rori Rayes Advice Essay Example for Free

Rori Rayes Advice Essay At least not the way youd like it to smooth and easy, loving, exciting, fun, sexy? Maybe it would start out great, he might start out like Prince Charming, but then it all fades away and youre left with a guy whos only half-there? He forgets to call, forgets to show up on time, forgets your birthday? He forgets to make the reservation, forgets the directions, and asks you to pay for dinner? He only seems to want sex, and even then, he seems to have better things to do? AFFECTION and ATTENTION are things of the past? It feels awful when even one of these things happens. But when they all seem to happen at once, its TERRIFYING. I Know Just How This Feels I remember feeling as though the bottom had dropped out of everything. As though I must have been in a dream, and then suddenly found myself awake in the middle of a nightmare. Love Doesnt Have To Be Such Hard Work If you find yourself in the same kind of relationships with the same kind of difficult or emotionally unavailable man, over and over Relationships that dont work out, or are on-again, off-again with no real progress or closure Then theres a way you can turn all that around. I have a program that will teach you all about the reasons WHY you are attracting a certain type of man to you in your life, but also HOW you can make the relationship with this kind of man actually WORK. Heres where you can read all about it and see how you can transform your difficult relationship into a loving one permanently: Feel Safe With Him The thing that I had to learn to stop beating myself up about was that the nightmare kept happening over and over again. It was so PREDICTABLE. Id get with a man and go from dream to nightmare in nothing flat. Sometimes it took a week, sometimes two, sometimes a year. I felt absolutely helpless over my own romantic destiny. When I finally figured out that the same nightmare results were coming not from my luck or my looks, but from the same MISTAKES I was making over and over things started to change. I stepped back just enough to SEE things a bit more clearly. And I started to identify EXACTLY what my mistakes were. And then and it seemed like an overnight transformation I was finally able to take some control over what was happening to me. I almost instantly got totally different results: Instead of finding myself in the middle of a nightmare where I felt hurt most of the time, I found myself having fun I discovered I had CHOICES where I used to think the choice was all the mans I discovered I had some POWER over myself and my life that I didnt know I had I felt better

Virtual Reality - What It Is And How It Works :: essays research papers

Virtual Reality - What it is and How it Works Imagine being able to point into the sky and fly. Or perhaps walk through space and connect molecules together. These are some of the dreams that have come with the invention of virtual reality. With the introduction of computers, numerous applications have been enhanced or created. The newest technology that is being tapped is that of artificial reality, or "virtual reality" (VR). When Morton Heilig first got a patent for his "Sensorama Simulator" in 1962, he had no idea that 30 years later people would still be trying to simulate reality and that they would be doing it so effectively. Jaron Lanier first coined the phrase "virtual reality" around 1989, and it has stuck ever since. Unfortunately, this catchy name has caused people to dream up incredible uses for this technology including using it as a sort of drug. This became evident when, among other people, Timothy Leary became interested in VR. This has also worried some of the researchers who are trying to create very real applications for medical, space, physical, chemical, and entertainment uses among other things. In order to create this alternate reality, however, you need to find ways to create the illusion of reality with a piece of machinery known as the computer. This is done with several computer-user interfaces used to simulate the senses. Among these, are stereoscopic glasses to make the simulated world look real, a 3D auditory display to give depth to sound, sensor lined gloves to simulate tactile feedback, and head-trackers to follow the orientation of the head. Since the technology is fairly young, these interfaces have not been perfected, making for a somewhat cartoonish simulated reality. Stereoscopic vision is probably the most important feature of VR because in real life, people rely mainly on vision to get places and do things. The eyes are approximately 6.5 centimeters apart, and allow you to have a full-colour, three-dimensional view of the world. Stereoscopy, in itself, is not a very new idea, but the new twist is trying to generate completely new images in real- time. In 1933, Sir Charles Wheatstone invented the first stereoscope with the same basic principle being used in today's head-mounted displays. Presenting different views to each eye gives the illusion of three dimensions. The glasses that are used today work by using what is called an "electronic shutter". The lenses of the glasses interleave inflating air bladders in a glove, arrays of tiny pins moved by shape memory wires, and even fingertip piezoelectric vibrotactile actuators. The latter method uses tiny crystals that vibrate when

Teenage Abortion Essay -- Abortion Essays Research Papers

The subject of teenage abortion, is an emotionally charged one. The two major groups are completely opposite in their beliefs. Rather than discuss the emotional views of those groups, I have chosen to research, write, and conclude based on factual material, concerning teenage abortion. A discussion of abortion as a definition is explained medically, and in a small part the emotional effects on the participant. I have chosen to report in a factual not an emotional manner. The direct definition of abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by loss or destruction of the fetus before birth. ("Abortion") There are two types of abortion, spontaneous and induced. (Emmens 7) Spontaneous abortion occurs in the first trimester (first three months) of a pregnancy. (Emmens 7) This type of abortion is more commonly known as a miscarriage. (Emmens 7) "Miscarriages are usually attributed to an abnormality to the fetus." (Emmens, 7) Induced is the other type of abortion, the one creating a wide spread controversy throughout the United States and many other parts of the world. (Emmens, 7) Induced abortion is a procedure intended to terminate a suspected or known unwanted pregnancy. ("Abortion") The fetus is forced out of the uterus causing it to die. (Emmens, 7) There are only a few different ways that an induced abortion is performed. The most common technique is known as vacuum aspiration. ("Abortion") During the procedure the embryo or the fetus and the placenta is drawn into a tube by vacuum pressure. ("Abortion") Vacuum aspiration along with the other methods of abortion, are usually performed in the first trimester. ("Abortion") The procedure for second trimester abortion is a more risky and complicated procedure. ("Abortion") Thirty six percent of all teenage women who become pregnant choose to terminate their pregnancies by having abortions. (Meier,49) There are many reasons why teenagers decide that abortion is the best option for their own specific situations. "Some say they aren't ready for the kind of changes a baby would bring to their lives." (Meier,46) The top three reasons, teens and grown women alike, choose to have an abortion are: 1. A child would change the lives of all involved, drastically, in ways that many are not ready to handle. 2. A feeling of immaturity. 3. Financial problems, only to be made worse if a youngster was involved.(Planned)... ... to parental physical or psychiatric illness and/or drug and alcohol abuse. (Planned) Many are also frightened of what might be said and done to them. "There is evidence that teenagers who do not involve their parents believe, that involving their parents would not be in their best interests or are trying to protect their parents." (Planned) A strong majority of the teens having abortions already involve parents even if not required to do so by law. (Planned) Allowing teenage girls to have abortions is allowing them to go on with their lives. To pursue the many hopes and dreams of their childhood. It is allowing them to continue to be a child instead of raising one. As for the entire subject of teenage abortion, I am absolutely 100% pro-choice. I believe any women, young or old should have the right to choose, without legal strings attached. I would suggest a process of guidance be made available, should a women so choose. My thoughts are, an adult, maybe not a parent, but a pers on of legal age, should be available to give guidance because they care, not because they are bound to do so by law. In conclusion I do not believe Government should intrude in such personal matters. Teenage Abortion Essay -- Abortion Essays Research Papers The subject of teenage abortion, is an emotionally charged one. The two major groups are completely opposite in their beliefs. Rather than discuss the emotional views of those groups, I have chosen to research, write, and conclude based on factual material, concerning teenage abortion. A discussion of abortion as a definition is explained medically, and in a small part the emotional effects on the participant. I have chosen to report in a factual not an emotional manner. The direct definition of abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by loss or destruction of the fetus before birth. ("Abortion") There are two types of abortion, spontaneous and induced. (Emmens 7) Spontaneous abortion occurs in the first trimester (first three months) of a pregnancy. (Emmens 7) This type of abortion is more commonly known as a miscarriage. (Emmens 7) "Miscarriages are usually attributed to an abnormality to the fetus." (Emmens, 7) Induced is the other type of abortion, the one creating a wide spread controversy throughout the United States and many other parts of the world. (Emmens, 7) Induced abortion is a procedure intended to terminate a suspected or known unwanted pregnancy. ("Abortion") The fetus is forced out of the uterus causing it to die. (Emmens, 7) There are only a few different ways that an induced abortion is performed. The most common technique is known as vacuum aspiration. ("Abortion") During the procedure the embryo or the fetus and the placenta is drawn into a tube by vacuum pressure. ("Abortion") Vacuum aspiration along with the other methods of abortion, are usually performed in the first trimester. ("Abortion") The procedure for second trimester abortion is a more risky and complicated procedure. ("Abortion") Thirty six percent of all teenage women who become pregnant choose to terminate their pregnancies by having abortions. (Meier,49) There are many reasons why teenagers decide that abortion is the best option for their own specific situations. "Some say they aren't ready for the kind of changes a baby would bring to their lives." (Meier,46) The top three reasons, teens and grown women alike, choose to have an abortion are: 1. A child would change the lives of all involved, drastically, in ways that many are not ready to handle. 2. A feeling of immaturity. 3. Financial problems, only to be made worse if a youngster was involved.(Planned)... ... to parental physical or psychiatric illness and/or drug and alcohol abuse. (Planned) Many are also frightened of what might be said and done to them. "There is evidence that teenagers who do not involve their parents believe, that involving their parents would not be in their best interests or are trying to protect their parents." (Planned) A strong majority of the teens having abortions already involve parents even if not required to do so by law. (Planned) Allowing teenage girls to have abortions is allowing them to go on with their lives. To pursue the many hopes and dreams of their childhood. It is allowing them to continue to be a child instead of raising one. As for the entire subject of teenage abortion, I am absolutely 100% pro-choice. I believe any women, young or old should have the right to choose, without legal strings attached. I would suggest a process of guidance be made available, should a women so choose. My thoughts are, an adult, maybe not a parent, but a pers on of legal age, should be available to give guidance because they care, not because they are bound to do so by law. In conclusion I do not believe Government should intrude in such personal matters.

Ethical Business Behavior Essay

For this paper I will be discussing Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) using Anglo-American and Primark case studies as examples. First, I will discuss what is meant by ethical business behavior. Second, I will discuss how Anglo-American and Primark apply ethics into their business practices. Third, I will discuss what the costs and benefits are to an organization when they behave ethically. Finally, I will choose one component from Svennson & Woods’ model from â€Å"A Model of Business Ethics†, and discuss how it is relevant for Anglo-American. Ethical Business Behavior Ethical business behavior refers to an organizations actions and policies that are synergetic with â€Å"doing the right thing† (Sethi, 2003). Similar to the inherent laws of society that man has established that promote specific behaviors and actions that are deemed appropriate to build trust and relationships that last, it is similar in corporations. In order to operate ethically, organizations must also establish a clearly defined set of principles and a culture of ethical compliance that builds trust and confidence with their employees and their customers (Paine, 1994). Ethical business behavior is a combination of values and normative ethics, which drive an organization. Additionally, ethical business behavior is expected by society as a whole. Svennson & Woods write, â€Å"Society does have expectations of business and of its business leaders† (Svennson & Woods, 2008). Anglo-American and Primark are two companies that provide great strategies for practicing strong ethical business behaviors. Although both companies are in different industries, the fundamentals of their message of ethical compliance are similar in nature. Anglo American Anglo American, an international mining company operates throughout the world. According to the company, â€Å"It has extensive operations in Africa, where 76% of its employees live. It is also a major employer in Europe and employs nearly 7,000 people in the UK† (Anglo American, 2008). This company  is a major global producer and has an important role in this world economy. With the type of work this company does, and with the countries it operates in it is important for them to conduct their operations in an ethical manner. Anglo American applies corporate social responsibility through building communities in which they operate. According to the company’s ethical statement, â€Å"a long-term business such as ours will only thrive if it also takes into account the needs of other stakeholders such as governments, employees, suppliers, communities and customers.† (Anglo American, 2008) They also are focused on the safety of their employees. Operating in Africa can be dangerous at best and it is the responsibility of Anglo American to ensure its employees are working in a safe environment. The company has contributed to the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, which sets out principles and practices for ensuring that a company’s need to ensure the security of its employees and operations in volatile countries does not adversely impact upon the local population (Anglo American, 2008). Last, but not least, Anglo American is also dedicated to the environmental issues, combating corruption and promoting revenue transparency. Primark For Primark there business is to produce quality clothing items globally. The company is a part of the Associated British Foods (ABF), a diversified international food, ingredients and retail group. Primark has almost 200 stores across Ireland, the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Portugal (www.times100.uk.co/Primark). In relation to business ethics, Primark takes a strong position on their belief in their responsibility to be socially responsible and to practice strong ethical business decisions. As a producer of clothing with a global supply chain, Primark interacts with many 3rd party vendors from all across the world. The company has embraced the challenges of ensuring that all of its clothing supply sources come from an ethically driven manufacturing company (www.times100.uk.co/Primark). The company publicly stresses its ethical position in the following statement on its website, â€Å"As an international brand with a global supply chain we have a  responsibility to act ethically. We embrace this responsibility as an opportunity to be a great force for good. Primark is committed to providing the best possible value for our customers, but not at the expense of the people who make our products† (www.times100.uk.co/Primark). In addition, Primark takes many steps to ensure that ethical behavior occurs across its vast organization. As a global manufacturing company, Primark has over 600 major suppliers in over 16 countries, employing over 700,000 employees. Primark stresses the importance of human rights and appropriate employment conditions in all of their supplier locations as part of doing business with them. Primark also has an Ethical Trade Director whose job it is to oversee all global supplier operations and ensure ethical conditions exist in accordance to Primark standards. The Ethical Trade Director manages other ethics managers who are stationed across the globe to monitor all operations activities. Also, Primark is associated with being a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative which is a global network of companies, non government organizations, labor unions, and other organizations that focus on improving the lives of their workers across the globe (www.times100.uk.co/Primark). Primark bases its founding ethical principles on the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Code, which is an agency in the United Nations that combines representatives from governments, employers, and workers to help form the policies and programs for which they operate. Primark has also established its own corporate code of conduct that has been translated into 26 languages and is used at all locations to stress the importance of human rights, equality, and ethical behavior in the workforce (www.times100.uk.co/Primark). Costs and Benefits To Operating Ethically Every company has costs and benefits associated with doing business. Operating ethically also has its cost and benefits. First, when dealing with costs associated with doing business ethically, it’s important to note that competition must remain fair in order for social responsibility to develop. Friedman (1962, p. 133) contended that, ‘‘†¦ there is one and only one social responsibility of business – to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the  rules of the game, which is to say, engages in open and free competition, without deception or fraud†. Benefits of doing ethical business not only benefits the organization, but the customers, communities, and shareholders. In addition to these benefits, a strong ethical program promotes a strong public image, which is very important in today’s business climate. Murray and Vogel (1997) determined that when consumers were aware of the fact that an enterprise had made a great deal of effort to fulfill its social responsibilities, they were much more willing to purchase this enterprise’s products. Mohr and Webb (2005) asserted that an enterprise’s responsible behaviors had positive effects on consumers’ evaluation of this enterprise and their purchasing intention and that an enterprise’s lower level of ethics would significantly reduce this purchasing intention. Another benefit of doing ethical business is that not only it helps the business achieve its objectives of profits and reputation, but also helps manage other departments in the business. A business following ethics will have ethical programs that would identify values and would make sure that organizational behavior is in adherence to those values. This will be very useful for different other programs within the business such as quality management, strategic planning and diversity management (McNamara). Quality management places high importance on certain operating values for example trust among employees, reliability, measurement and feedback (McNamara). If a business has set ethical values the process of quality management will be more reliable and the business will be able to offer better quality to the consumers enhancing its image and increasing its profitability. Moreover ethics management techniques may be useful for managing strategic values such as expanding market share (M cNamara) and will make strategic decisions with utmost care while considering the broader effects. So ethics in business has a broader effect and is not limited to reputation, profits and growth. International Business with Integrity Svennson & Woods’ international business with integrity model from â€Å"A Model of Business Ethics† applies well to Anglo American due to the nature of mining operations in foreign nations and the environmental issues associated. It is expected that multi nationals’ corporations act ethically, not only because it is the right thing to do, but also it is within their power to do so. Svennson & Woods’ (2008) write, â€Å"Citizens of first world societies expect their corporations to display integrity in their international business dealings.† According to Anglo American, one of their goals is to â€Å"mine in ways that minimize environmental impacts is more expensive than extracting resources regardless of impact† (Anglo American, 2008). The Pebble Project in Alaska is a good example of the way that Anglo American takes account of the environment. There was some concerned that the mine could damage fish stocks and wildlife. Therefore, Anglo Am erican consulted widely and through a structured process with local people, politicians, businesses and especially indigenous people. Anglo American has made it clear that it will only seek to proceed with the project if it can be done without damage to the local fisheries (Anglo American, 2008). The environment is a major concern for people and governments around the world. Corporations have immense amount of pressure to produce goods to meet demand, but at the same time they have to be conscience about the environment. Countries around the world have laws governing environmental protection and there are several agencies to protect it. Conclusion To conclude, ethical business behavior is a combination of values and normative ethics, which drive an organization. Corporate social responsibility is important not only because it is the right thing to do, it also affects the stakeholders. Anglo American and Primark are examples of how major corporations can meet shareholder expectations, while conducting operations in an ethical manner. The costs and benefits associated with doing business ethically are important to take into consideration when reviewing ethics policies; however it is better to look at the long term benefits versus the short term costs. References: Anglo American. (2008). Business ethics and corporate social responsibility. Retrieved from http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/new-downloads-pop.php?getFile=cHJpbWFyay9wcmltYXJrXzE1X2Z1bGwucGRm Friedman, M. (1962). Capitalism and freedom. (p. 133). Chicago, Il: University of Chicago Press. Retrieved November 30, 2011 from http://www.hh.se/download/18.70cf2e49129168da0158000103376/2007+Model-of-Business-Ethics.pdf McNamara, C. (n.d.). Complete guide to ethics management: An ethics toolkit for managers. Retrieved from http://managementhelp.org/businessethics/ethics-guide.htm Primark. (2011). Providing consumers with ethically sourced garments. Retrieved from http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/new-downloads-pop.php?getFile=YW5nbG9fYW1lcmljYW4vYW5nbG9fYW1lcmljYW5fMTNfZnVsbC5wZGY Svensson, S., & Woof, S. (2008). A model of business ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, (77), 303-322: DOI 10.1007/s10551-007-9351-2. Retrieved November 30, 2011 from http://www.hh.se/download/18.70cf2e49129168da0158000103376/2007%2BModel-of-Business-Ethics.pdf Sethi, S. P.: 2003, _Globalization and the Good Corporation: A Need for Proactive Co-existence_, Journal of Business Ethics 43, 21-31. Paine, L. S.: 1994, ‘Managing for Organizational Integrity_, Harvard Business Review March/April, 106-117. Murray, K. B., & Vogel, C. M. (1997). Using a hierarchy of effects approach to gauge the effectiveness of CSR to generate goodwill towards the firm: Financial versus non-financial impacts. Journal of Business Research, 38(2), 141–160. Mohr, L. A., & Webb, D. J. (2005). The effects of corporate social responsibility and price on consumer responses. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 39(1), 121–147.

Long Term Impact Of The Atlantic Slave Trade On The Economic Development Of Capitalism The WritePass Journal

Long Term Impact Of The Atlantic Slave Trade On The Economic Development Of Capitalism Introduction Long Term Impact Of The Atlantic Slave Trade On The Economic Development Of Capitalism Introduction Sea portsIndustrial revolutionBanking and insuranceUnequal terms of trade and plunderConclusion      Ã‚  Ã‚  References Related Introduction The Atlantic slave trade (AST) was a trade in human slaves that took place across the Atlantic Ocean from the 16th and on through the 19th century. It was a trade predominantly in African slaves from mainly the central and western regions of the continent, who were sold by African slave merchants and tribal leaders to European slave traders (Stearns 2001). The slaves were then transported to colonies in North and South America and were forced to work on plantations of coffee, tobacco, cocoa, cotton and sugar; in rice fields; in the construction industry; in silver and gold mines; or, in houses working as servants. The Atlantic slave trade was a result of among other factors, the shortage of labor in the American colonies and later in the United States which had large amounts of cheap land for European immigrants (Eltis 2000). These colonists of the New World sought to exploit these lands for export of produce from the New World to Europe among other resources for capital profit. A vast amount of labor was needed in the creation and sustenance of plantations as they required intense labor to grow tropical crops, harvest and process them.   With the challenge of finding a sufficient workforce among the native peoples and a large number dying from overwork and diseases, alternative sources of labor were sought resulting in this trade (Williams 1944). Herein we delve into the long term impact of this slave trade on the economic development of capitalism. Capitalism, in basic terms, is an economic system in which investment of capital (or money) is used to produce profits. Factors of production such as land, communications, factories and transport systems are privately owned by either individuals or corporations trading in a free market whose main feature is competition. The history of capitalism points to a number of possible sources, among them the Atlantic slave trade (Dobb 1946). Prior to its development, the world was under a system referred to as â€Å"feudalism† which was characterized by legal and military customs that flourished between the 9th and the 15th centuries, which structured society around relationships that were derived from the holding of land in exchange for labor or service (Hobsbawm 1999). There is debate on the economic contributions of the Atlantic slave trade to economic development of Europe with some economic historians having the view that the capital required came from within solely through industrial development and trade, arguing that profits from the slave trade were minimal, not enough to finance the economic development to industrial capitalism. The enslavement of Africans in this transatlantic trade, others however argue, was an essential component in the development of capitalism in the Western world of Europe and America and which now dominates as a global economic system (Richardson 1998). To this latter group, Europes economic development, to its height today (its modern level) was based, largely, on the slave trade which made international trade across the Atlantic viable for European nations (Eltis 2000). Slaves from the African coast were shipped to the plantations in the American colonies and the Caribbean, their labor used to produce raw materials which were shipped to Europe for Industrial processing and manufacture, and finally the products of European industry were distributed back to the African market or to the plantations for the purchase of slaves and their owners. However minimal the contribution of the trade in slaves was, its contribution to this international (transatlantic) trade as described cannot be downplayed and was a major contributor to the whole since, apart from slaves being bought and sold as a commodity for profit, their labor in the plantations was essential for the production of raw material benefiting the European industry (Eltis 2000). The choice of African slaves was backed by the huge value placed on the slaves due to several considerations including the fact that they often had experience of agriculture and thus would be useful in the exploits of plantation agriculture. They also were used to a tropical climate and were not affected greatly by ill health as other indentured servants and slaves of other origins were. This trait was also enhanced by the realization that the African slaves were resistant to tropical diseases and could better survive in the plantations which made them the better choice for service on the plantations (Dobb 1946). Africans given their varied origins on the continent and the variations in their ethnic compositions were valued for the exploitation as they could be managed and controlled better by being mixed up ethnically and by origin. This approach was useful in inhibiting solidarity among the slaves with the possibility of revolts and dissent. African slaves were also chosen for their black skin colour because they were very visible if they ran away and could easily be hunted down by local groups. These factors made the African slave a valuable component for plantation farming and therefore a valuable commodity as well in the Atlantic slave trade (Eltis 2000). Sea ports The Atlantic slave trade can be directly linked to the rise of many sea-ports, mainly Bristol and Liverpool in Britain; Nantes and Bordeaux, France; and Seville in Spain. These sea ports grew as a direct result of shipping and international trade (Rosenberg 1986). The transatlantic trade through shipping and ship building directly led to the growth of the great sea ports of Bristol, Liverpool and Glasgow which were trading centers as well, and by mid 18th century, there was hardly any British town without a connection to the Atlantic slave or colonial rule, with interlinks in trade and manufacture of goods for export to various markets across the Atlantic including the colonies in the Americas (Williams 1944). These sea ports were the gateways to the world markets essential for early trade especially across the Atlantic later inducing industrialization which also gained from the established trading patterns and channels (North 1973). Industrial revolution The accumulation of capital (wealth) in Britain that fueled the industrial revolution was made on the back on this slave trade beginning in the late 17th century (North 1973). The Atlantic slave trade also enhanced Europes development in technology such as the evolution of shipbuilding which was a consequence of their monopoly of sea commerce. The triangular trade gave a direct stimulus for the ship building industry in England with ships built for the slave trade seeking to combine capacity with speed in an effort to reduce mortality which was the main challenge for the slave traders (Williams 1944). Manufacturing centers or towns grew often in places that had connections to sea ports consequently leading to the Industrial revolution. An example is Manchester which was the first center of the revolution, and which grew on the back of the growth of the sea-port of Liverpool, a port from which slave trading ships set off from and through which it could reach the world market (Eltis 2000). The capital accumulation in Liverpool from the slave trade profits and exploitations of the labor of blacks led to the existence of Lancashire and thereby stimulated the rapid extension of Manchester as a manufacturing hub. This capital was poured back to Manchester to finance its industrialization whose strength lay in the manufacture of cotton goods for the African market and West Indies, for purchase by slaves. Goods manufactured were ferried to Atlantic markets by the slave vessels which also brought back raw materials that enabled such industrialization (O’Brien 1982). Cargo to Africa, the first leg of the journey, is illustrated to have included finery and ornaments, all kinds of cloth, hardware items, iron and other metal goods, guns and powder, household utensils, paper, spirits and tobacco from Britain and foreign nations, among other goods   destined for the use of African princes and kings (O’Brien 1982). This assortment typified slave traders cargo exchanged for slaves and their production stimulated capitalism by bringing great profits to England and providing employment for British labor. This trade also provided opportunities for allied trades including distribution which required ships and wagons for transport inland and between the continental coasts (North 1973). Processing of raw materials sourced from colonial territories also gave rise to new industries and further created employment. Among these raw materials was sugar that gave rise to the sugar refining industry which transformed crude brown sugar manufactured on plantations into white sugar for the world market which was more durable and could be better preserved (O’Brien 1982). The importance of the sugar refining industry increased with the spread of tea and coffee as a necessity of life rather than a luxury of kings. It was the slave and sugar trade that brought Bristol to the level of the second city of England in the 18th century (Eltis 2000). Profits from plantations that had slaves providing the labour was of major assistance to economic development in many ways such as the increasing of the general prosperity of the economy which became a boost to the industrialization process (Rosenberg 1986). This happened through the easing of credit difficulties of the new industrialists suffering from the lengthy turnover time (time to realise profits from an investment) with credit offerings, which were a vital factor to success and the profits from slavery and plantation farming (Hobsbawm 1999). These offerings enabled the industrialization process with financial bills, backed by plantation products like sugar and tobacco, which became a form of money and went into circulation. This plantation funds scenario helped to fill the absence of institutions offering credit in sufficient volumes (Rosenberg 1986). The maintenance of the slaves and their owners in the plantations provided a significant market as well for British industry, agricultural produce of New England and fish produce from Newfoundland. The profits obtained from the triangular trade were one of the main streams to the accumulation of capital to finance the Industrial revolution in England (O’Brien 1982). Banking and insurance With regard to the banking and insurance sector, Eric Williams (Williams 1944) cites several examples of immense personal wealth derived directly from the slave trade. David and Alexander Barclay, for instance, made vast amounts of money from the trade, later using this to set up Barclays Bank. Also directly associated and having its roots in the transatlantic slave trade is the Lloyds of London, which grew through profits from the trade from a small London coffee house to the worlds largest banking and insurance houses. In Capital and Slavery he wrote: â€Å"Many of the 18th century banks established in Liverpool and Manchester, the slaving metropolis and the cotton capital respectively, were directly associated with the triangular trade. Here, large sums were needed for the cotton factories and the canals which improved the means of communication between the two towns (p. 99, 1944). Insurance houses grew to cover risks in the international business related to shipping with merchants insuring their cargoes of goods and slaves against loss, as well as the perils in the harbors and colonial plantations (Williams 1944). Banks, through their involvement in the trade, also financed the adoption of modern techniques in the agricultural enterprise in Europe enabling the practice of extensive agriculture and large scale production (Williams 1944). There was a typical transition from trader to merchant and then on to banker in the time, transitions that came about as individuals who made profit from the slave and allied trade sought further investments and diversification of business (Hobsbawm 1999). Banking and insurance grew primarily through links with shipping and the international trade. Examples of these include the Heywood bank founded in 1773 in Liverpool whose founders had success in the merchant business. Another individual merchant-turned-banker was Thomas Leyland of Leyland and Roscoe and later Leyland and Bullins, considered as one among the most active traders of slaves in Liverpool with immense profits (Williams 1944). Away from Britain, the financial effect of the Atlantic slave trade ranged wide even touching the French St. Malo fishing industry which saw a revival with the opening up of markets in the French plantations that flourished through the labor of African slaves (O’Brien 1982). The triangular trade brought back indigo dyes from Africa, as well, heavily depended upon by the Portuguese (North 1973). The ripple effect of the Atlantic slave trade had consequences far and wide with Brazilian dyewoods, for example, being re-exported from Portugal into the Mediterranean, North sea and Baltic which were then passed on to the continental cloth industry in the 17th century. Despite the Portuguese making enormous profits from the slave trade, it was unfortunate for Portugal that much of this money rapidly passed on to the hands of the more developed nations to the west of Europe. This happened through the imbalance of trade with supply of loans, ships and trade goods to Portugal from these more developed nations which included Germany, Britain, Holland and France (Hobsbawm 1999). Unequal terms of trade and plunder By 1800, the dominance of Europe on the increasingly global economy was quite well established and organized under capitalism. The upper capitalist class in Europe with their control of trade internationally ensured that Africa specialized in exporting captive slaves through the 17th to the 19th century, and, through their exploitation in labor made huge profits that continued to be re-invested in Western Europe in the formation of companies, shipping, capitalist agriculture, technology, insurance and the manufacture of machines including the steam engine (Rosenberg 1986). The economic philosophy over this time had no open door policy and the colonial trade was a monopoly of the home country administered rigidly (Richardson 1998). The colonies were under obligation to send their produce to England and to only use English ships. They were not allowed to manufacture anything, even refine the sugar they produced and could buy nothing but British commodities, or foreign products only if they were imported from England. Under British imperialism, colonies were confined mainly for their agricultural exploitation with the only concession being the access to the home market (Richardson 1998). In America, the New York City slave trade involved the building and maintaining of ships that were involved in the trade between it, Europe, the Caribbean and Africa; financial service provision which entailed borrowing, lending and insuring the transport vessels; as well as advertisements of slave sale and purchase which was a major source of revenue for New York newspapers in the 18th century (North 1973). New York was made a prime center for the slave trade mainly due to its strategic geographical position, its network of inland waterways, as well as, its proximity to the colonial settlements in America, a significant nexus in the web (North 1973). Virtually all New York businesses were involved with slavery from the beginning, with the enterprise comprising a myriad of activities including the direct trading in slaves; use of slave labor in workshops engaged in various crafts; and in agriculture where slaves were involved in harvesting, processing and packaging foodstuffs for use in the Atlantic slave trade. It also involved the supply of grains, tools and manufactured foods to plantations in the West Indies and North America for the consumption of slaves (North 1973). The economy of the city in its entirety was built on slavery with almost everything grown or produced a result of slave labor. Products entailed luxury items such as cheese, tobacco, rum, sugar, cloth and butter and were carried on ships owned by slave traders. The system of unpaid labor in its enormity kept the stores well stocked and prices fairly low (Rosenberg 1986). With Britain and France far ahead, they ushered in industrial development and parliamentary democracy with attendant liberties (Rogowski 1989). Accumulation in Britain was later fed by the trade with India, though this foreign stream was secondary to the Atlantic slave trade and its exploitation was strengthened only with its loss of the American colonies (O’Brien 1982). Growth in capitalism during this period of the Atlantic trade reflects the combined influence of growth opportunities generated by the Atlantic slave trade in addition to the emergence of economic institutions which provided security to property rights to the broader society, enabling the freedom to gain entry into profitable businesses and ventures (Rogowski 1989). These economic (capitalist) institutions were also a result of the development of political institutions which constrained the power of the monarchies and allied groups. For these institutions to gain strength needed to bring about the economic change, there was need for a nascent bourgeoisie and this was contributed indirectly through the enriching of segments of the bourgeoisie (Rogowski 1989). The rise in trade across the Atlantic strengthened their commercial interests enabling them to demand and thereby obtain changes in the institutions which were a necessity for growth of capitalism (Eltis 2000). Profits from this international trade were substantial with the recipients becoming very rich going by the standards of the time, thereby gaining power in the political and social spheres, and challenging the dominance of the monarchies (Rogowski 1989). This was a significant contributor to development economically and for capitalist growth. Conclusion       The Atlantic slave trade’s contribution to the development of capitalism has resulted in the nations that previously engaged in it still retaining their dominance of international trade and politics, with very strong economies and political maturity. The Atlantic slave trade was not entirely responsible for the economic development of capitalism but is considered to have contributed to the accumulation of capital ploughed-back to generate further capital that drove the industrial revolution. The slave trade was just one of the components of the transatlantic trade which featured an exchange of a variety of goods and plantation produce for slaves on the African coast who were later exchanged for raw materials in plantations on the American colonies and mainly the West Indies. Economic change is gradual and has a cumulative effect and the commercial capitalism in the 18th century developed Europes wealth contributed through slavery and monopoly. This further helped to create industrial capitalism characteristic of the 19th century, which undid much of the dependence on the slave trade. The Atlantic slave trade both directly and indirectly gave rise to the capitalism that still dominates in the world economy to this day.   Ã‚  References Dobb, M., 1946. Studies in the Development of Capitalism. London: Routledge Kegan Paul. Eltis, D., and S. Engerman, 2000. â€Å"The Importance of Slavery and the Slave Trade to Industrializing Britain.† In: Journal of Economic History, 60, 123-144. Hobsbawm, E., 1999. Industry and Empire: From 1750 to the Present Day. New York: The New Press. North, D., and R. Thomas, 1973. The Rise of the Western World: A New Economic History. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK. O’Brien, Patrick K., 1982. â€Å"European Economic Development: The Contribution of the Periphery.† In: Economic History Review, 2nd ser., 35, 1-18. Richardson, R., 1998. The Debate on the English Revolution, 3rd Edition. Manchester; University of Manchester Press. Rogowski, R., 1989. Commerce and Coalitions: How Trade affects Domestic Political Alignments. Princeton; Princeton University Press. Rosenberg, Nathan and L. Birdzell Jr., 1986. How the West Grew Rich: The Economic Transformation of the Industrial World. New York; Basic Books. Rud ´e, G., 1972. Europe in the Eighteenth Century: Aristocracy and the Bourgeois Challenge. Cambridge MA; Harvard University Press. Stearns, P., 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth Edition.   Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. Williams, E., 1944. Capitalism and Slavery. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.

Moneygram Strategic Management Essay Example

Moneygram Strategic Management Essay Example Moneygram Strategic Management Paper Moneygram Strategic Management Paper Business administration and management characterizes the process of leading and directing the systems within an organization by exhausting available resources extensively so as to achieve the objectives of the business operation (Cemal, and Keskin, 2003). It most of the time includes the conceptualization of business plans and monitoring its execution for assessment and evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of the business transactions. Strategic management is the process of identifying and enumerating the aims of the organizations in order to come up with sound business policies and plans from which the profit of the business organization will be fully maximized (Appelbaum, St. Pierre Glavas, 1998). The advances in technology and the fast modernization of the world, in general, opened new and very promising avenues of business opportunities not just in an individual’s locale but also abroad. A lot of business-minded individuals from different countries with different nationalities and cultural orientation have and continuously defied the geographic boundaries that exist between continents. This is evident in the growing number of internationally-operating business firms all over the world run by entrepreneurs of varying race and culture. The information man has successfully rebelled against intercontinental borders and the challenge that confronts him the most, deals with how to fit and blend in the new cultural environment in which their businesses are situated. This paper presents critical analysis and discussions regarding the management strategies and options of the case of Moneygram in line with the money transfer market liberalization. As such, the business strategies of the company were examined along with the confounding variables that directly and indirectly affect the entire management and operations of the business enterprise. SWOT Analysis Strengths. Along with the Money transfer market liberalization Moneygram was granted exclusive markets weighing up to 50 grams instead of the 100 grams allowance. This opened possibilities for a 5% increase in revenue of the company.   Since the restructuring and the commercialization of the formerly state-owned business was made possible through legal changes on the overall structure of the services, the changes that transpired within the company are supported by the law. The company highlighted the improvements in the business aspect of the organization through modern technological infrastructure to modernize the company. These technologies make it possible for the business organization to function efficiently and serve the large customer-base who depends on the energy products and services of the general public as well as the commercial establishments in the region (Hunter, 2003). Extensive investments in automation and standardization of the management improved the quality of t he services offered and the value of customers being served.  Ã‚   Since the operations and projects initiated by the company are conducted and facilitated following the international standards, the products and services it offers are controlled and monitored with the aim to maintain quality and reliability through the certifications that the organization was able to earn. Weaknesses. However, the Money transfer market liberalization resulted to increased number of competitors in the domestic as well as in the international Money transfer market as entry of new firms into some postal activities along with finance and telephony services emerged which are characterized with privatization and competition. The changes in technology and consumer needs allowed greater market segmentation in line with logistics and express developments. Moreover, the wide array of services that the company is engaged in makes the management of the whole enterprise cumbersome. The Press Distribution Money transfer subdivision of the company was reported to lag in terms of earnings and productivity compared to the other Money transfer subdivisions which include the Money transfer communication, direct marketing, value added services, and Money transfer international that illustrated contributions to increased operational efficiency and productivity of Moneygram. Opportunities. With the Money transfer market liberalization, Moneygram was provided with opportunities for international Money transfer market penetration across the entire globe. This means increased number of customers for better profitability and revenues not just in the financial, express, and logistics market of the company but more security on its Money transfer division. The prospect of engaging and investing in various productive research initiatives and development endeavors will generate the company large return of investment. The company’s high asset value and economic worth may serve as a good compensation for development efforts of the organization to support and secure long-term plans and strategies. The success of these researches and development efforts will contribute to the business organization’s competitive advantage in the state energy industry. With the advances in technology, Moneygram can continue its investments on modernization to improve and broaden the available services as well as the customer satisfaction among the clientele through increased service quality and customer value. This could likely result to continuous increase of profit and revenues from the company’s Money transfer subdivisions and the needed improvement for the Press Subdivision to earn competitiveness for the benefit of the entire business operation. Threats. Existence of new market competitors addresses the possibility of better operations strategy from other companies in the Money transfer industry as the major intimidation to Moneygram. This highly threatens the entire effectiveness of the operations utilized by the company in addressing the needs of their customers. As such, business relations among customers and suppliers demands strategic selection of business options. Moreover, the development efforts and research initiatives and projects that the company invest in order to maintain continuous operation and competitive position call for wise selection of business opportunities as well as skilled leadership and risk management skills among its decision-makers. Macro-environment Analysis PEST Analysis. In relation to the liberalization of the Money transfer market across the globe, the political trends and characteristics illustrate a high probability of initiating the full implementation of the free market structure for the Money transfer market. This is in line with the successful liberalization of other goods and services internationally in order to eliminate economic frontiers between economies. The fulfillment of the Money transfer liberalization initiative is expected to result to increase of real potential competition among business firms involved in the Money transfer industry to experience (a) general decrease on the prices of the services offered, (b) greater quality of products and services variation, and (c) continuous innovation and development in product designs, services methods, as well as in production and distribution systems. As such the company could take advantage of its position as one of the leading most competitive Money transfer companies in the region to increase efficiency and productivity as well as customer satisfaction. The economic situation has long been characterized with highly active and dynamic exchange of goods and services through increased participation of business firms in line with the globalization trends. Contract management and outsourcing strategies have been the result of the complex and sophisticated demands of the market and the objectives of business companies to offer excellent customer value through quality products and services. Generally, the international market consist competitive and innovative businesses that are interconnected through partnerships and agreements. In this regard, Moneygram can develop further its diversification initiatives particularly in establishing chains of operations. Labor could be outsourced to cut expenditures and create opportunities for service innovation to strengthen the quality of the services offered The economic description of the region is reflective of the present socio-cultural trends that characterize its people. As active consumers of products and clients of services, the market was provided with the continuous supply of products and services that meets the complex needs and ever-changing requirements and specifications of the public. With the technological infrastructure that characterizes the operations of Moneygram, service quality and customer value and satisfaction can be increased. The services of the company should be in synch with the sophisticated lifestyle of the people through creating means of more efficient service delivery and innovative logistics. These market demands include quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. This further resulted to trends in technological advancement particularly on production and delivery of products and services to meet customer requirements and to increase the productivity and revenue of the businesses. Technological advancements in the form of effective tracking and monitoring equipment of the goods and services being delivered, heightened security efforts, and the utilization of the electronic media to transact highly demanded services online should be considered by the company to adapt with the modern social setting it operates in and meet the needs of the customers. For Moneygram, the management should be able to take means of identifying of the stakeholders, the priorities of the stakeholders; understanding of the stakeholders’ perspectives and incorporating the stakeholders’ perspectives to the future plans of the company (Smith, 2003). Moreover, the company should cultivate growing consumer markets to promote growth and development of the business organization. This will address the expansion possibilities of the organization to serve not only the locale consumers but also provide services to a larger customer base. As such international relations and the overall business practices and trends all over the world should be investigated so as to make sound decisions that will realize the goals of the company. Furthermore, the company should continue cultivating community relations and environmental efforts to increase market visibility and improve brand strength. These will be realized through community programs that will advertise the humanitarian causes of the company in the form of public releases (Crook, Ketchen and Charles, 2003). Charity and scholarship programs are good examples for the management to promote and improve community relation. Advertising messages that translates the environmental concerns that the company shares to the public is likewise advisable to take into account and undertake. Business Level Strategies. Service delivery is an interactive and dynamic process that from the consumers point of view is much more than a passive exchange of money for a particular service. Characteristics of services (e.g., intangibility, heterogeneity, simultaneity, and perishability) often require customers to be actively involved in helping to create the service value either by serving themselves or by cooperating and often working collaboratively with service personnel. In high-contact systems customers can influence the time of demand, the exact nature of the service, and the quality of service (Chase, 1978; Lovelock Young, 1979). If consumers somehow become better customers that is, more knowledgeable, participative, or productive the quality of the service experience will likely be enhanced for the customer and the organization (Bowers, Martin Luker, 1990). In this regard, the company needs to strengthen relationship with suppliers and increase market share. This effor t will result to parallel business interests that will contribute to the company as well as the suppliers’ business objectives (Henrik, 2003). Contract agreements and other business transactions should present advantages and benefits for both parties. Efficient delivery of products and services through premeditated and tactical supply chain management initiatives should be prioritized. As the nature of financial management become more and more complex in this information and efficient communication era of international business, finance managers face a wide array of challenges, opportunities and options for him or her to enhance the investing and financing activities of the organization as well as the inherent risks and circumstances of the decisions that will be made. The challenge now for companies is to explore the options and take advantage of the opportunities while taking caution in managing the risks (Macmenamin, 1999). As such, the company needs to keep operational expenses within budget to be able to devote the necessary financial resources to both exploration and marketing activities of the company. Financial management decisions that will supply for the internal and external business operations of the corporation should be closely monitored to be able to control the flow of cash. Investing on profit-generating projects as well as training-specific progra ms for the human resources of the company will ensure extended success(McCarthy, 2003). Moreover, Moneygram should enhance marketing campaigns and take advantage of company control over the international Money transfer industry competition. The company should initiate efforts to come up with sound advertising and promotional strategies that will bring the people closer. These will include projects and programs that will highlight the humanitarian mission of the company. The use of all available marketing and communications materials particularly the different forms of mass communication technologies will be necessary to realize these plans. Lastly, there is a need to improve technological innovations to increase efficiency as well as quality of the service. This will include investments on machineries and equipment that will necessitate the increased and efficient operation of the business organization’s management system. Financial assistance on human resources particularly to knowledgeable and skilled individuals should be accorded in order to improve the overall business operation as well as the engineering, monitoring, and control aspects of the business.

Profile of Demosthenes, the Greek Orator

Profile of Demosthenes, the Greek Orator Demosthenes, renowned as a great Greek orator and statesman, was born in 384 (or 383) B.C. He died in 322. Demosthenes father, also Demosthenes, was an Athenian citizen from the deme of Paeania who died when Demosthenes was seven. His mother was named Cleobule. Demosthenes Learns to Speak Publicly The first time Demosthenes made a speech in the public assembly was a disaster. Discouraged, he was fortunate to run into an actor who helped show him what he needed to do to make his speeches compelling. To perfect the technique, he set up a routine, which he followed for months until he had mastered oratory. Plutarch on the Self-Training of Demosthenes Hereupon he built himself a place to study in underground (which was still remaining in our time), and hither he would come constantly every day to form his action and to exercise his voice, and here he would continue, oftentimes without intermission, two or three months together, shaving one half of his head, that so for shame he might not go abroad, though he desired it ever so much. - Plutarchs Demosthenes Demosthenes as Speech Writer Demosthenes was a professional speech writer or logographer. Demosthenes wrote speeches against Athenians he believed guilty of corruption. His first Philippic was in 352 (it is named for the man Demosthenes opposed, Philip of Macedonia.) Aspects of Athenian Political Life Greek men of means were expected to contribute to the polis and so Demosthenes, who became active politically in c. 356 B.C., outfitted a trireme and, as choregus at Athens, he paid for a theatrical performance. Demosthenes also fought as a hoplite at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338. Demosthenes Gains Fame as an Orator Demosthenes became an official Athenian orator. As an  official orator, he warned against Philip  when the Macedonian king and father of Alexander the Great was beginning his conquest of Greece. Demosthenes three orations against Philip, known as the Philippics, were so bitter that today a severe speech denouncing someone is called a Philippic. Another writer of Philippics was Cicero, the Roman with whom Plutarch compares Demosthenes in Plutarchs Parallel Lives. There is also a fourth Philippic whose authenticity has been questioned. Death of Demosthenes Demosthenes troubles with the royal house of Macedon didnt end with Philips death. When Alexander insisted that the Athenian orators be delivered to him to be punished for treason, Demosthenes fled to a temple of Poseidon for sanctuary. A guard prevailed on him to come out. Realizing he was at the end of his rope, Demosthenes requested permission to write a letter. Permission was granted; the letter was written; then Demosthenes began to walk, quill pen in his mouth, to the door of the temple. He died before he reached it of a poison hed kept in his pen. Thats the story. Works Attributed to Demosthenes On the Accession of AlexanderAgainst AndrotionAgainst ApatouriusAgainst AphobusAgainst Aphobus 1Against Aphobus 2Against AristocratesAgainst Aristogiton 1Against Aristogiton 2Against Boeotus 1Against Boeotus 2Against CalliclesAgainst CallippusOn the ChersoneseAgainst CononOn the CrownAgainst DionysodorusErotic EssayAgainst EubulidesAgainst Evergus and MnesibulusExordiaOn the False EmbassyFuneral SpeechOn the HalonnesusAgainst LacritusAgainst LeocharesAgainst LeptinesLettersOn the Liberty of the RhodiansAgainst MacartatusAgainst MidiasAgainst Nausimachus and XenopeithesOn the Navy-BoardsAgainst NeaeraAgainst NicostratusAgainst OlympiodorusOlynthiac 1Olynthiac 2Olynthiac 3Against OntenorAgainst OntenorOn OrganizationAgainst PantaenetusOn the PeaceAgainst PhaenippusPhilips LetterReply to Philips LetterPhilippic 1Philippic 2Philippic 3Philippic 4Against PhormioFor PhormioAgainst PolyclesAgainst SpudiasAgainst Stephanus 1Against Stephanus 2Against TheocrinesAgainst TimocratesAgainst Timot heus On the Trierarchic CrownAgainst ZenothemisFor the Megalopolitans Available through The Internet Library.

Employee Resistance And Management Of Organizational Change Essay

Employee Resistance And Management Of Organizational Change - Essay Example In most circumstances, when managers attempt to implement changes within an organization, they often do so in the belief that the changes are going to be accepted without question. This is because of the belief that has emerged in the corporate world that managers are the ones who know what is best for an organization and that any resistance to their policies is equivalent to insubordination (Phillips 1983, p.183). This is not always true because, in most circumstances, employees tend to resist only those changes that they deem to be against not only their interests but also of the organization as well. Therefore, when managers encounter change, most of them take a tough stance against those employees who are resisting and this essentially creates a stalemate within an organization because neither of the parties involved is willing to talk with the other concerning how to remedy the situation. A result of these circumstances is that even the most desired changes within an organizatio n cannot be implemented because management refuses to cater for the concerns raised by employees. The ability of employees to resist changes is often underestimated by managers and this leads to their choosing to take disciplinary action against those who offer resistance. While in some circumstances disciplinary action might work, there are others where such actions lead to the destruction of the relationship between management and employees as each of them chooses to disregard the opinion of the other.

Improvement methods Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Improvement methods - Term Paper Example Although lean thinking and mass customization are two commonly used methods of work improvement, they may differ in terms of the amount of improvement, suitability of use and the amount of time and effort spent. Engineers are involved in planning, designing and scheduling of production activities to achieve organizational performance and meet customer specifications at the required standards (Boer, Pedrazzoli, Bettoni & Sorlini, 2013). â€Å"Elimination of defects in standard product designs and manufacturing methods before production is just as important as eliminating defects during production. In fact, to achieve the quality levels, manufacturers must focus on identifying and correcting defects in underlying product designs and production methods, not simply inspect incoming materials or finished goods†(Leon, 2008, P. 61). Furthermore, engineers are involved in the maintenance of machines and setting production layout to eliminate a risk of errors, ensure optimal use of space and timely detection of defects. These engineering activities contribute to the elimination of waste and improve customer satisfaction. Mass customization refers to customer co-design process of products and services, which meet the needs of each individual customer with regard to certain product features (Boer et al., 2013, 7). The principle of mass customization focuses on the production of large quantity of a different variety of products to meet specific needs of each customer. â€Å"With mass customization, the customer expects to receive a product that exactly matches his specifications. According to market research such as by Piller et al., a customer is willing to pay 10% to 15% more than the price of a standard product in order to obtain a customized one. But a customer is definitely not willing to wait a longer time for that product† (Rautenstrauch, Seelmann-Eggebert & Turowski, 2012, 46). Mass customization processes require engineers to meet specific

Marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Marketing - Assignment Example This would be followed by a few recommendations for the company, which would mark the end of the discussion Industry Environment Porter Five Forces Model presents a good framework to explore the environmental and industry forces, which are affecting the marketing of the company. First, the rivalry against the existing competitors within the industry is high (Armstrong, Harker, Kotler & Brennan, pp. 19-22, 2009). Despite the fact that more than 500 independent bookshops have closed as of 2009 due to their inability to compete with the big bookstores, the barriers of borders are coming down and thus exposing companies like Waterstones, with the help of internet and others, to competition on an international level. Furthermore, currently, there are three big players in the market namely Waterstone’s, Amazon, and WH Smith; however, the problem here is that none of them has a considerable lead and in the absence of huge differences in size, these competitors would fuel the rivalry to greatest limits. Rivalry decreases when competitors are aiming for different market segments or different niches in the industry; however, it appears that all of the major competitors are trying to appeal to all of digital and traditional segments of the market, thus, intensifying the rivalry (Armstrong, Harker, Kotler & Brennan, pp. 19-22, 2009). ... tailers here is that they cannot achieve a high degree of differentiation for the books they sell since the product remains the same (Kotler & Armstrong, pp. 41-48, 2008). Due to low degree of differentiation, the competition rests on the price alone thus forcing the customer to look for better bargains. As mentioned in the case that UK booksellers are having the lowest profit margins because of excessive discounting to appeal to the customer as compared to the book retailers in Ireland, USA, Finland, Holland, and Ireland. The supplier power in the industry remains moderate. Four major companies namely Hachette Livre, Bertelsmann, Pearson, and HarperCollins hold more than 50 percent of the market share in the publishing industry. Many authors cannot get their books published, sold, or promoted if they do not have any association with big publishers. Furthermore, they also pose a strong threat for forward integration in the market. However, there power is moderate because they depend highly on these high street retailers for promotions and shelf space for both new and old authors and books. Furthermore, with well-established players in the industry, they have lesser options to get good bargains (Peter & Donnelly, pp. 122-123, 2010). The threat of substitutes is high due to the illegal and pirated books that are easily accessible on the internet through various websites. Furthermore, these substitutes cost way less than the original books; in many cases, these are free, thus increasing their attractiveness to great limits. Lastly, the threat of new entrants also remains moderately high. This is true because not only setting up a bookshop is relatively easy but also because lately many supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury and others have jumped into the industry with

Bacterial transformation and gene expression Lab Report

Bacterial transformation and gene expression - Lab Report Example This study looks into DNA as the blueprint of our life. Life without these molecules is not possible. DNA are transcribed into RNA and translated into proteins. These proteins are important for the biochemical functions of the cell. In bacteria, apart from DNA, there is extrachromosomal DNA called as plasmids. They are double stranded DNA which forms circles with size ranging from 1 kb to 200kb (kilobase). Plasmids are very advantageous for the genetic engineering. Plasmids code for many antibiotic regions and they have the ability to accept the gene of interest. The transformation of our gene of interest into the plasmid is called recombination and the bacteria are called recombinant bacteria. Thus plasmids can be used as cloning vehicles or vectors. These plasmids are not essential for the survival of bacteria, but in some instances, for survival in the different environments, they can provide some extra advantage. The best example is the survival of the bacterial cell in the prese nce of an antibiotic drug. Antibiotic resistant bacteria like Escherichia coli are used for the transformation of the gene of interest into the host cell. Transformation and cloning are the two important genetic engineering tools used for the expression of the foreign gene of interest in the given bacterial cell. Three conditions required for the transformation are: 1) the host into which the foreign DNA is inserted, 2) a method for the insertion of the DNA into the host cell, and 3) methods to identify the transformed cells and select them.

8 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

8 - Assignment Example It is observable that, the objective functions give the following results: The first objective function gives 8 and the second one gives -8. This is an indication that the two objective functions are not equivalent since they give dissimilar optimal values despite application of similar constraint values (Kathleen, 2001). Overhead costs refer to the circuitous (indirect) production costs. They are costs, which are chargeable to a cost unit by estimated basis. Similarly, overhead cost refers to the total cost of indirect materials, indirect labor and indirect expenses (Joel, 2004). The estimating method enables a share of the circuitous costs to be charged to each cost unit. It is notable that these charges are not identifiable specifically to the final product. For instance, these costs are chargeable on production centers, service cost centers and other non-production cost centers. Mr. Smith is right in calculating the marginal profit. It is evident that, he has used marginal costing (Joel, 2004). One of the principles guiding marginal costing rejects absorption of fixed costs into unit costs. In this case, factory overhead is a fixed expense, which cannot be absorbed to the rate per labor hour as Howie’s accountant suggests (Joel, 2004) However, it is notable that, the Howie’s opinion is applicable in absorption costing where fixed expenses are absorbed into unit costs (Joel,

Bacterial transformation and gene expression Lab Report

Bacterial transformation and gene expression - Lab Report Example This study looks into DNA as the blueprint of our life. Life without these molecules is not possible. DNA are transcribed into RNA and translated into proteins. These proteins are important for the biochemical functions of the cell. In bacteria, apart from DNA, there is extrachromosomal DNA called as plasmids. They are double stranded DNA which forms circles with size ranging from 1 kb to 200kb (kilobase). Plasmids are very advantageous for the genetic engineering. Plasmids code for many antibiotic regions and they have the ability to accept the gene of interest. The transformation of our gene of interest into the plasmid is called recombination and the bacteria are called recombinant bacteria. Thus plasmids can be used as cloning vehicles or vectors. These plasmids are not essential for the survival of bacteria, but in some instances, for survival in the different environments, they can provide some extra advantage. The best example is the survival of the bacterial cell in the prese nce of an antibiotic drug. Antibiotic resistant bacteria like Escherichia coli are used for the transformation of the gene of interest into the host cell. Transformation and cloning are the two important genetic engineering tools used for the expression of the foreign gene of interest in the given bacterial cell. Three conditions required for the transformation are: 1) the host into which the foreign DNA is inserted, 2) a method for the insertion of the DNA into the host cell, and 3) methods to identify the transformed cells and select them.

Issues in international politics (EU) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Issues in international politics (EU) - Essay Example This research essay will aim to offer and evaluate the EU’s role in its fight against international terrorism. In this research paper, I wish to stress that despite all these counter terrorism initiatives, the menace from terrorism remains one of the vital European issues and challenges, and EU’s anti-terrorism strategies are to be overhauled completely. (Prezelj 2007:16). Whether EU’s Anti –Terrorism is effective and efficient? - An Analysis Terrorism is not a new phenomenon, and it is a technique customarily used by a weaker section or actor against mighty or stronger one. Terrorism can referred as a by-product of the growth of democracy, as governments and leaders became subject to public pressure. The terrorism was first known to be used in the context of the French Revolution, and later it became very famous on 11 September 2011 happenings. With the establishment of the Terrorism, Radicalism, Extremism and international Violence group (TREVI group) in 1975 and with the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism (ECST) of 1977, the source of European co-operation on counter-terrorism can be recognised in the 1970s. (CEDAT: 115) There are many elements that make terrorist actions as unacceptable and unfair among them, the clandestine nature and the fact that the terrorists do not show themselves engage in open dispute and do not show themselves openly. The most abhorrent issue is killing of non-combatants or innocents. When killing an Israeli, a Palestine terrorist may argue that they are involved in a fight against all Israelis, including women and children as they would claim that they are involved in a battle against all Israelis. The same could be true for other terrorist groups, be they in Chechnya, Spain, Sri Lanka or Northern Island. (Mahncke & Monar 2006:14). EU has defined terrorism as the principal menace to European security, Terrorism is characterised as global in its scope and associated to aggressive religio us extremism. Europe is both a base for terrorism and a potential target. The menace of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction was also within the EU’s terrorist context. The most worsening scenario is if a terrorist group obtains and employs weapons of mass destruction, then the outcome will be of devastation. (Prezelj 2007:21) The real fact is that Anti-terrorist measures in EU are not supported by all member states, mainly due to differences in threat perception. For instance, UK and Spain may want to place terrorism as the core issue of the EU agenda and to arrive at an anti-terrorism measure that they conceive to be significant. However, for non-Spanish and non-British policy-makers, this may not be relevant and could be costly and far-reaching like the idea of data retention. (Mahncke & Monar 2006:40). Divergence in threat perception may also help to assist to demonstrate the difference in cooperation and speed in implementing EU-level anti-terrorism cooperati ve agreements. EU member states that does not visualize terrorism as a significant issue lags behind in implementing and approving new cooperation agreements and laws contrasted to nations where government witness populations that feel more intimidated by terrorism. Thus, it appears

Fifty Shades of Grey Essay Example for Free

Fifty Shades of Grey Essay Erotic romance by British author E. L. James. Set largely in Seattle, it is the first instalment in a trilogy that traces the deepening relationship between a college graduate, Anastasia Steele, and a young business magnate, Christian Grey. It is notable for its explicitly erotic scenes featuring elements of sexual practices involving bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, and sadism/masochism . The second and third volumes are titled Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, respectively. Fifty Shades of Grey has topped best-seller lists around the world, including the United Kingdom and the United States. [1][2] The series has sold over 65 million copies worldwide,[3] with book rights having been sold in 37 countries,[4] and set the record as the fastest-selling paperback of all time, surpassing the Harry Potter series.[5] Critical reception of the novel has been mixed. Plot Fifty Shades of Grey follows Anastasia Ana Steele, a 22-year-old college senior who lives with her best friend Kate Kavanagh; Kate writes for their colleges student paper. Because of illness, Kate persuades Ana to take her place and interview 27-year-old Christian Grey, an incredibly successful and wealthy young entrepreneur. Ana is instantly attracted to Christian, but also finds him intimidating. As a result she stumbles through the interview and leaves Christians office believing that it went badly. Ana tries to console herself with the thought that the two of them will probably not meet each other again. However she is surprised when Christian appears at Claytons, the largest independent hardware store in the Portland area, where she works. While he purchases various items including cable ties and rope, Ana informs Christian that Kate wants photographs to go along with her article about him. Christian leaves Ana with his phone number. Kate urges Ana to call Christian and arrange a photo shoot with their photographer friend Josà © Rodriquez. The next day Josà ©, Kate, and Ana arrive for the photo shoot at the hotel where Christian is staying and Christian asks Ana out for coffee. The two talk over coffee and Christian asks Ana if shes dating anyone, specifically Josà ©. When Ana replies that she isnt dating anyone, Christian begins to ask her about her family. During the conversation Ana learns that Christian is also single, but is not a hearts and flowers kind of guy. This intrigues Ana, especially after he pulls her out of the path of an oncoming cyclist. However, Ana believes that she is not attractive enough for Christian, much to the chagrin of Kate. After finishing her exams Ana receives a package from Christian containing first edition copies of Tess of the dUrbervilles, which stuns her. Later that night Ana goes out drinking with her friends and ends up drunk dialing Christian, who informs her that he will be coming to pick her up because of her inebriated state. Ana goes outside to get some fresh air, and Josà © attempts to kiss her but is stopped by Christians arrival. Ana leaves with Christian, but not before she discovers that Kate has been flirting with Christians brother, Elliott. Later Ana wakes to find herself in Christians hotel room, where he scolds her for not taking proper care of herself. Christian then reveals that he would like to have sex with her. He initially says that Ana will first have to fill out paperwork, but later goes back on this statement after making out with her in the elevator. Ana goes on a date with Christian where he takes her in his helicopter to his apartment. Once there, Christian insists that she sign a non-disclosure agreement forbidding her to discuss anything that they do together, which Ana agrees to sign. He also mentions other paperwork, but first takes her to a room full of BDSM toys and gear. There Christian informs her that the second contract will be one of dominance and submission and that there will be no romantic relationship, only a sexual one. The contract even forbids Ana from touching Christian or making eye contact with him. At this point, Christian realises that Ana is a virgin and agrees to take her virginity without making her sign the contract. The two then have sex. The following morning Ana and Christian once again have sex, and his mother, who arrives moments after their sexual encounter, is surprised by the meeting, having previously thought Christian was homosexual because she had never seen him with a woman. Christian later takes Ana out to eat, and he reveals to her that he lost his virginity at fifteen to one of his mothers friends and that his previous dominant/submissive relationships failed due to incompatibility. They plan to meet up again and Christian takes Ana home, where she discovers several job offers and admits to Kate that she and Christian have had sex. Over the next few days Ana receives several packages from Christian. These include a laptop to enable the two of them to communicate, since she has never previously owned a computer, and a more detailed version of the dominant/submissive contract. She and Christian email each other, with Ana teasing him and refusing to honour parts of the contract, such as only eating foods from a specific list. Ana later meets up with Christian to discuss the contract, only to grow overwhelmed by the potential BDSM arrangement and the potential of having a sexual relationship with Christian that is not romantic in nature. Because of these feelings Ana runs away from Christian and does not see him again until her college graduation, where he is a guest speaker. During this time, Ana agrees to sign the dominant/submissive contract. Ana and Christian once again meet up to further discuss the contract, and they go over Anas hard and soft limits. Ana is spanked for the first time by Christian; the experience leaves her both enticed and slightly confused. This confusion is exacerbated by Christians lavish gifts, and the fact that he brings her to meet his family. The two continue with the arrangement without Ana having yet signed the contract. After successfully landing a job with Seattle Independent Publishing, Ana further bristles under the restrictions of the non-disclosure agreement and the complex relationship with Christian. The tension between Ana and Christian eventually comes to a head after Ana asks Christian to punish her in order to show her how extreme a BDSM relationship with him could be. Christian fulfils Anas request, beating her with a belt, only for Ana to realize that the two of them are incompatible. Devastated, Ana leaves Christian and returns to the apartment she shares with Kate.

Project Managers Are They Born Or Made Management Essay

Project Managers Are They Born Or Made Management Essay Can a person be born to undertake a specific role in life or are they moulded by both training and their experiences in life. This paper examines whether Project Managers have the innate skills to be a success or if they like many other professionals require training to become proficient in their chosen career. This paper will also examine whether there are particular personality traits that are required in order to be a successful Project Manager. With this information, organisations would then be in a better position to ascertain whether particular individuals are either suited or not to the role of a Project Manager and thereby ensuring that their Project Managers can bring projects to a successful conclusion. Introduction Dittman et al.,2004 use the Apollo 13 incident to illustrate the skills of a Project Manager. Gene Krantz, was the flight director of the Apollo 13 mission to the moon. With systems failing, a lack of power and a dwindling supply of oxygen he led his team to discover solutions against almost impossible odds. Krantz exhibited the characteristics and personality traits of a superstar Project Manager by leading his team to achieve a common goal of ensuring the safe return of the aircraft and the lives of the astronauts and in this instance the team could easily have resigned themselves to their fate or made an error in judgement (Dittman et al.,2004). However the team and its project leader relied on both their training and their instincts to ensure the safe return of the aircraft. It can be seen from this instance that the team leader instilled the thought into all of his team members that failure was not an option. This is an extreme example of the skills required of a Project Manager , but it asks the question were Gene Krantzs actions the product of training and experience or were they innate in his personality. With the rapid advances currently being made in information technology there has now become an increased need for Project Managers within the IT industry. The scale and number of projects has increased thereby increasing the risk associated with these projects. With this in mind the choosing of project managers with the required skills to ensure the successful completion of projects has become critical and organisations have recognized that the choosing of the right individual to lead a project can have a significant bearing on the success of the organisation. As can be seen above in the Apollo 13 example the role of the project leader was crucial to the success of the project. This paper will look at the necessary skills required to be an effective manager and whether these skills are inherent or whether they can be taught (Dittman et al.,2004). 1.0 Leadership Styles Studies have shown that there are primarily six main schools of leadership theory (Dulewicz Higgs, 2003;Handy, 1982; Partington, 2003) and these are as follows: 1. The Trait school 2. The Behavioural or Style school 3. The Contingency school 4. The Visionary or Charismatic school 5. The Emotional Intelligence School 6. The Competency school. 1.1 The Trait School This approach was popular up to the 1940s with the main idea being that effective leaders share common traits. This school of thought assumes that leaders are born, not made. The supporters of this school in attempting to identify the traits of effective leaders have focused on the following three main areas: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Abilities: hard management skills such as Time Management, Forecasting and Procurement à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Personality: such as self-confidence and emotional variables à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Physical appearance: Project Managers appearance and physical size Through his work at Henley Management College, Turner (1999) identified seven traits of effective project managers: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Problem-solving ability à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Results orientation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Energy and initiative à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Self-confidence à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Perspective à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Communication à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Negotiating ability. Turners identification of the above traits concentrate on the softer skills of Project Management with only the trait of Problem Solving being one that could possibly be taught and the others being skills of a nature more specific to an individual. 1.2 The Behavioural or Style School The behavioural or style school became popular from the 1940s to the 1960s. This school assumed that effective leaders would adopt certain styles or behaviours. This schools theory assumed, that effective leaders can be made and that the parameters include the following: 1. Concern for people or relationships 2. Concern for production 3. Use of authority 4. Involvement of the team in decision-making (formulating decisions) 5. Involvement of the team in decision-taking (choosing options) 6. Flexibility versus the application of rules. Parameter Blake and 1.3 The Contingency School The contingency school came into being during the 1960s and 1970s (Fiedler, 1967; House, 1971; Krech, et al., 1962; Robbins, 1997). Rather than seeking all encompassing theories of leadership that would apply in all situations, contingency theories suggested that what made an effective leader would depend on the situation that the leaders found themselves in. The supporters of this school had a tendency to follow similar patterns: 1. An assessment of the characteristics of the leader 2. An evaluation of the situation in terms of certain key contingency variables 3. The seeking of a match between the leader and the situation. One contingency theory that has proven popular is path-goal theory (House, 1971). The idea is the leader must help the team find the path to their goals and help them in that process. This theory identifies four distinct leadership behaviours: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Directive leaders à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Supportive leaders à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Participative leaders à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Achievement-oriented leaders. These must then be matched to environmental and subordinate contingency factors: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Environmental factors: Task structure Formal authority system Work group. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Subordinate factors: Locus of control Experience Perceived ability. 1.4 The Visionary or Charismatic School During the 1980s and 1990s, the visionary or charismatic school arose from the study of successful business leaders who were leading their organizations through change. Bass (1990) identified two types of leadership, transactional and transformational: Transactional leadership: This form of leadership rewards followers for meeting performance targets and managing by exception by taking action when tasks have not been undertaken in accordance with what was predicted 1.4.2 Transformational leadership: A Project Manager who displays this form of leadership would be charismatic, visionary and would engender pride, respect and trust. They would also provide motivation by creating high expectations, providing intellectual stimulation and challenging their team members with fresh ideas and approaches. They would also give consideration to individuals by showing them respect and paying personal attention to them. From a project management perspective, Keegan and den Hartog (2004) believed that a project managers leadership style needed to be more transformational than transactional, but did not find any evidence to confirm this. What they were able to conclude was that although there is a significant correlation between the managers leadership style and employees commitment and motivation, there does not exist a similar correlation for project managers. 1.4 The Emotional Intelligence School The emotional intelligence school has flourished since the late 1990s, and espouses the view that the leaders emotional intelligence has a greater impact on his or her success and the performance of his or her team than does the leaders intellectual capability (Goleman, Boyatzis, McKee, 2002). They identified six leadership styles: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Visionary à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Democratic à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Coaching à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Pacesetting à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Affiliative à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Commanding. Goleman, Boyatzis, and McKee (2002) say that the first four of these styles will engender a sense of teamwork, and usually lead to better performance in appropriate circumstances. They also stated that the last two styles can encourage dissonance, so these last two styles need to be used with care. Goleman, Boyatzis, and McKee, as well as other authors, have shown a clear correlation between the emotional intelligence and leadership style of managers and the performance of their organizations. 1.5 The Competency School The competency school of the 1990s has placed an emphasis on the competencies of effective leaders and seeks to identify them. This according to Turner et al. 2005 when taken at face value may appear to be a return to the trait approach. However, they also state that competencies can be learned, so leaders can be made, not just born. Further, different combinations of competencies can lead to different styles of leadership which can be appropriate in different circumstances thereby producing transactional leaders in situations of low complexity and transformational leaders in situations of high complexity (Turner et al., 2005). 2.0 Skills of a Project Manager A good project manager should have the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their job. A project manager can be defined as the person responsible for working with the project sponsor, the project team, and the other people involved in a project to meet project goals (Schwalbe, 2004). To become an IT project manager requires knowledge in the core skills such as time management, risk management, scope management, cost budgeting, and knowledge of IT systems (Dittman et al., 2004). They also stated that a project manager must have skills in addition to the basics of project management to succeed and that the skills required are the soft skills that have to do with getting things that you want done and adjudicating issues between people, managers, egos and agendas. Its basically how to get a job done without annoying people (Melymuka, 2000). These soft skills can include basic leadership and team building abilities that are needed for the team to complete the designated project and t he basic business skills that are necessary for a project manager to be successful in the IT world (Dittman et al., 2004). They also concluded that these could include the ability to communicate into measurable results, utilize financial skills to keep the project cost effective, and identify and predict trends in the project. The ability to communicate effectively is a pre-requisite in project management and it is essential for project managers to have the capacity to listen and understand the people on their project team as well as the customers of their project and by doing so, expectations and feedback can be easily passed on to the team and it will be easier to solve problems and complete tasks within the project (Dittman et al., 2004).. Dennis Johnson, an Assistant vice President at USAA stated that A project manager needs the ability to question without alienating to listen and watch peoples body language and really see whats happening (Melymuka, 2000) and this skill will enable a project manager to step away from a project and view issues from a different perspective. This subsequently enables a project manager to better communicate his ideas and plans with the team and also with his superiors within the organization. Relationship management is a skill that is important to have While managing projects a project manager should be capable of working with all levels within the organization and relationship management is an important skill to either inherently have or to learn. Relationship management can also include identifying the unique characteristics and abilities of each individual on the team and determine the most effective way to utilize them throughout the project (Dittman et al., 2004). A project manager will also need to know how to mobilize and coach the people on their team and establish trust within the project team. The project manager and the team must develop a level of trust and comfort with each other in single-minded pursuit of project goals (Kharbanda, 2003). This is based on the premise that project managers should be able to build and sustain relationships within their project team and throughout all levels of their organization. There are many skills a project manager may have that are argued to be ingrained in the human spirit, the largest of these being the ability to influence others (Dittman et al., 2004). Linda Pittinger, CEO of People3, states Its hard to find people who can influence others and create win-win situations (Melymuka, 2000). The project manager needs to have the ability to sell the value of the project to other people within the organization and must be able to persuade and influence team members to get their job done well and on time must also have the confidence, credibility, and commitment to overcome the obstacles when faced with the task of running an IT project (Dittman et al., 2004). Without the ability to influence people particularly those who may not be in full support of the project, a project manager will be more likely to fail. The ability to make decisions can be either learned or innate and it has been said that the best decision makers are the most experienced decision makers (Dittman et al., 2004).. As a manager and leader, every step you take required decision making skills. What makes it more challenging is the pressure to make the right decision is often very high (Canterucci, 2003). When faced with having to make the correct decision a Project Manager may often have to base this decision on past experience or pure instinct. Should a project manager be new to the field of project management they will not have accrued sufficient experience to make the correct decision but they will have the ability to judge based on their instinct if those instincts are of a project manager with those innate skills. As can be seen above many of the skills required to be an effective project manager are the softer skills of management and that to a large extent these skills can not generally be taught as they rely on the individuals personality. These softer skills however can be honed through time and experience so to some extent there is a degree of learning. 3.0 Personalities of a Project Manager In order to be an effective project manager a persons character and personality traits will play a key role. Dittman et al. 2004 asked the question Within an IT project management program, can people be really prepared for the trials and tribulations of dealing with people while managing a project? The use of personality tests, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, can assess whether an individual will make a good project manager. By undertaking these assessments, an individual can analyze their personality and connect their personality type with a particular type of career. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment is incredibly popular for doing just this. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is an assessment technique that gives the participant 4 individual letters that are designed to match their personality type. This classification is set out below: Extrovert v. Introvert, Sensing v. Intuitive, Thinking v. Feeling, and Judging v. Perceiving. The research database shows that leaders mostly fall into the ENTJ category (extrovert, intuitive, thinking, and judging). ENTJs are especially well-suited to be leaders and organization builders. They have the ability to clearly identify problems and innovative solutions for the short and long term well-being of an organization(BSM Consulting, 2000). A project manager would generally fall into the category of ESTJ. They are good at a lot of different things, because they put forth a tremendous amount of effort towards doing things the right way. They will be happiest in leadership positions, however, because they have a natural drive to be in charge. They are best suited for jobs which require creating order and structure (BSM Consulting, 2000). The Keirsey Temperament Sorter is another technique that can also be used to determine personal characteristics and aid people gain new understanding of their traits, motivations, and behaviours (AdvisorTeam, 2003). The temperament sorter is an assessment to analyze one specific aspect of ones personality: temperament. Temperament is a set of inclinations that each of us is born with, its a predisposition to certain attitudes and actions (AdvisorTeam, 2003). The four temperaments that people will fall into are artisans, guardians, idealists, and rationals. These groupings have the following characteristics: 1 Artisans value freedom and spontaneity. They want to be without constraint, at liberty to act on their impulses, play and create. Guardians value belonging to a group or community. They maintain stability through responsible, conservative, traditional behaviour. Idealists value personal growth, authenticity, and integrity. They yearn to develop themselves fully as individuals and to facilitate growth in others. Rationals value competence and intelligence. They strive to learn, know, predict, and control the resources in their environment. It has been shown through research that project managers and leaders will most likely fall into the category of either Rational or Guardian (Dittman et al., 2004). A Rational tends to be pragmatic and organized. Their organizational and coordinating skills tends to be highly developed, which means that they are likely to be good at systematizing, ordering priorities, generalizing, summarizing, and at demonstrating their ideas (Prometheus Nemesis, 1998). Guardians tend to be very specific in their communication and reliable when it comes to completing tasks. They also are very cooperative with implementing goals and good at supervision and protecting their subordinates. The Supervisor Guardian is the type of that most fits the personality of the project manager. Supervisor Guardians go by experience, not speculation and experimentation, and certainly not fantasy. They keep their feet firmly on the ground and make sure that those under their supervision do the same (Prometheus Nemesis, 1998). The personality assessments described above are good tools to examine an individuals personality type and compare it to that of the typical project manager career. Each assessment can be used separately or they can be used in conjunction to get the best results. Using these evaluations, it can be shown whether a person has the requisite skills to be a good project manager, and decisions can be made whether to put them in that role, whether they would need further training to be successful in the project manager role, or whether they would be best placed in a different career altogether. 4.0 Conclusion As can be seen an individuals personality can be measured or assessed using the techniques detailed above. These techniques enable organisations to eliminate individuals rather than select individuals as project managers. The methodology behind these techniques would indicate that project managers are born rather than made as the characteristics used to describe individuals are those of an innate nature rather than a derived or coached one. However on the other side of the equation the technical skills required by a Project Manager can be learned and need not necessarily be inherent in the individual. So it could also be concluded that a project manager can be made through learning alone. The leadership style theories above look at the science or art of project management depending on the school to which an individual ascribes to. If an individual is of the viewpoint that Project Managers are born with the innate capabilities to be a project manager then Project Managers have to be viewed as artists. However if the conclusion is that project managers can be taught and trained then they should possibly be viewed as scientists. These can be viewed as two conflicting views with those of a scientific inclination believing that project managers are made and those of a more artistic inclination believing that they are born. From the research undertaken above there is no definitive answer to this question. In the case of Project Management, where there are so many human variables there can be no comprehensive training course that will detail a case study for every given scenario. This would indicate that Project Managers can be and are made but that the best and most effective Project Managers are born.