Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Accuracy In Representation Of Theory Business Essay - Free Essay Example
Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1504 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Business Essay Type Narrative essay Did you like this example? It is the number one reason why millionaires and billionaires exist today. It is also to blame for homelessness and the self demise of countless individuals. What could possibly cause someone to suddenly abandon their quest for obscene wealth and take up humanitarian efforts in a third world country? According to Management, motivations can be thought of as the set of forces that energize, direct, and sustain behavior. (p. 240) The human race would have become extinct a long time ago if we did not possess some sort of internal drive to survive, and improve our quality of life. While we may recognize motivation and what spurs us into meaningful action, harnessing it in a way to promote higher levels of productivity is what keeps employers up at night. Satisfying the needs of each individual can work for or against an organization. Its important to understand the internal workings of an organization and how its leaders often struggle with satisfying the needs of each person within the organization. This paper will focus on the most effective motivational theory capable of instilling sustainable prosperity for its employees. iFiction is a business that started publishing electronic books written and marketed exclusively for owners of iPods, iPads, and iPhones. The business started off as a boutique publisher that catered to the socially elite, but later opened up to a more versatile readership of tech mongrels and affluent trend setters. Books and articles were written after requests were received from rich clients, while access to their products and services was viewed as restrictive to most. In an effort to reach a larger market, iFiction lowered the $50,000.00 membership fee by offering a basic membership for a meager one hundred dollars. As iFiction company grew, so did their clientele and respective revenue. Membership had grown tremendously over the following year, but many of the writers began losing interest in producing quality pieces. Inte rpersonal conflicts began to appear, where employees in different departments became increasingly segregated. Productivity spiraled down to an all time low in respect to mediocre content and lethargic workflow. Production had slipped enough for the sales and administrative departments to begin blaming each other for the diminished output. The culture within the business began to deteriorate to the point where drastic measures were taken by iFictions CEO Jose Stevens, when he faked a seizure during the companys televised annual meeting. iFictions spokesperson later claimed that the seizure was caused by a malignant brain tumor with ripple effects slowing production and sales. During the ensuing downtime the organization began to investigate ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness through increased motivation for excellence. A comprehensive incentive plan was introduced and quickly scrapped as decreased or increased compensation did not motivate employees. Duties and positions we re shuffled around as an effort to inject a breath of fresh air into employees who seemed burned out and unwilling to contribute meaningful effort. Specialists, consultants, and celebrities like Oprah were hired to develop a new program that would encourage renewed productivity. Even Steve Jobs had visited the business and contributed his thoughts on improving their productivity. Oddly enough, his assistant was the one who brought up an interesting point that ended up spurring change in the right direction. According to Blumenthals book, Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different, His fathers careful craftsmanship and commitment to the finest details made a deep impressionÃÆ'à ¢Ã ¢Ã¢â¬Å¡Ã ¬Ãâà ¦ His father also stressed the importance of doing things right (p.9-10). He went on to claim that if quality and pride was not an integral part of their service, they would not sleep well at night. Jobs assistant touched upon the basic principle used in Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. While each department had their own unique level of needs, it become apparent to iFictions senior management their issue was that of professional satisfaction and pride. This seemed to be too simple of a solution and instead a few different theories were applied to the situation with iFiction employees. The equity theory is sometimes ineffective because sources of motivation often focus on the individuals perceptions of how fairly they are treated in relation to others. The direction and persistence of work behavior parallels that of the job function ( Daft, Marcic, 2013, p. 493). The differing perspectives will allow a team to have input from many angles, however the platform for which each employee is working on is not equal to that of others. Equity would be applicable from an administrative level, however the theory loses its effectiveness when crossing from the tasks of an administrator as opposed to those of the production team or a salesperson. Problem solving is easier wi th multiple perspectives, as opposed to attempting to serve all through the same platform. The companys top leaders continued to research many theories, but substantial flaws were identified with the unique scenario in regards to iFiction employees. Herzbergs Two-factor Theory seems to work for some employees, but the hygiene factors and motivators were less applicable to identifying how to more effectively motivate employees. This theory was used to outline improvements but some employees were discouraged with the prospect of increased responsibility and autonomy within the characteristics of the job. If a single department were experiencing problems this theory may be more applicable, but the complexity and depth of the problem at iFiction needed a conceptual solution, one that focuses on the core values behind the needs of each individual. The essence of Maslows need hierarchy theory is that an individual is motivated to satisfy the most basic needs first (such as physiolog ical needs) and then, once those are satisfied, move to the next level (Hitt, Black, Porter, 2012, p. 243). This is entirely true with iFiction, the needs of the production, sales, and administrative employees were being met but the higher order needs presented in Maslows theory were not being addressed. The sales department had achieved massive growth through increased levels of esteem after meeting their basic sales goals. Additional growth was being realized until the production team began to submit low quality work which in turn flooded the companys administrative department. Credit card charge backs, complaint letters, and even litigation resulted from iFicitons decrease in quality. Maslows theory addressed the basic needs at all levels, from physiological to social and eventually self-actualization needs. The beauty of Maslows need hierarchy theory is that it encompasses not only the basic essentials of life, but it also touches upon the needs of employees to feel safe and secure, through acceptance and respect from other people. How can the production team expect to produce quality work unless they are personally fulfilled and are eligible to accomplish meaningful goals? It was necessary to shift the focus back to the skills and talent of each individual in the company. Communication between departments was also necessary, so each employee could showcase their talent and feed off of the success of one another. Once the individual identity of the employee was developed, they would then be able to better contribute to the success of the business. Individual recognition reinforced their accomplishments and self worth, boosting esteem and social status within the company. Improved recognition worked well with the sales force as well, with compensation and respect from colleagues taking the back seat to personal achievements realized through personal development. iFiction began to run more cohesively, with administrative employees working directly wit h production and the sales force, focusing on setting goals that would benefit not only the business, but also the employees. Professional satisfaction began to leave the workplace and infiltrate the personal lives of employees. Employees not only were financially secure, but also began to work on accomplishing industry firsts, such as being the first business to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016. iFiction has grown to become the worlds premier authority on well written documentaries, technical books, and social/economic news. The iFiction book titled Fact or iFiction is the worldwide number 2 best seller and is now being taught at most colleges and universities. Not only is iFiction the industry leader in the segments that it serves, it continues to grow through affiliated businesses and business partners who are eager to work with the international powerhouse. Google was once thought of as being the avant-garde and were studied for their success. Now Google is taking not es from iFiction on how to better cater to the needs of the employees while marketing their products and services to the masses. Maslows limitations are now being pushed to the point where the spiritual plane is now being discussed as the final piece necessary to top the pyramid of categories. There is a need for sustaining growth within companies rich with diversity within their workforce. Improved job design through Maslows needs hierarchy has allowed the next level of job fulfillment, one that goes beyond the superficial compensation of dollar bills. Self esteem, respect, belongingness, and self actualization is the currency of todays workforce. iFiction is a perfect example of how enriching the employee experience can prove to be profitable, and fulfilling at all levels. Donââ¬â¢t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Accuracy In Representation Of Theory Business Essay" essay for you Create order
Sunday, December 22, 2019
Reflection About Literacy - 1263 Words
The bridge to literacy is paved with the bricks of admonished concepts, and council. Literacy is simply a human invention to communicate with other humans and as such, requires a sherpa (or multiple) to guide the growing writer to a refined level of effective reading and writing. This ââ¬Å"sponsor of literacyâ⬠can be found among all readers and writers. They are the individuals who had nurtured growth in education and formed the bricks of your first step towards literacy. Through identifying and studying this process, an individual can proudly take the next step upward towards effective and refined writing. Through pain and agony, I was a very resistant child and most of my reading experiences were forced upon me. I remember having to do aâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The magazine cover displayed an Egyptian pyramid which instantly captured my imagination and created an insatiable appetite towards ancient structures. I had been so unfamiliar with associating enjoyment and literature that reading the photograph captions felt taboo, as if looking at pornography. I had begun asking my parents for books pertaining to Ancient Egypt for every holiday. I had discovered a bridge between my self interests and my literacy growth. I was so enthralled by such foreign concepts, delivered through academic text, that I had unknowingly begun to take the next step towards self-growth. â⬠¨ I learned that reading did not always have to be a daunting task limited to predetermined texts listed on some scholastic reading list. I realized that I had a profound interest in a specific subject and that reading literature pertaining to that subject was really not that bad. My focus and stamina began to grow, as well as my information retention. It was clear that there was a direct correlation to my personal interest and my reading ability. However, reading literature which was not related to my interests was still very daunting to me. I have found that if I could find som ething in a text to connect with, that my focus becomes a little more productive. â⬠¨ My writing development had also progressed due to this self-growth, although at a slower pace than my reading level. As an adolescent, the majority of my personal writings were graded assignments which wouldShow MoreRelatedReflection About Media Literacy Reflection1416 Words à |à 6 PagesMedia Literacy Reflection What was the most useful part of the week for you? Media education is an important aptitude for anybody today, particularly for more youthful ages, who are investing increasingly energy devouring the media. The Kaiser Family Foundation as of late found that people going from 8 to 18 years of age spend a normal of 7 hours and 38 minutes expending media. This is a hour and seventeen minutes longer daily than five years prior, a hop which the Kaiser Family Foundation puts downRead MoreReflection Paper About Literacy1154 Words à |à 5 Pagesbuilt the foundation of my road to literacy, to reach the reader and writer I am today I had to work hard throughout my academic career, mainly in elementary, middle, and high school. After preschool, elementary school seemed like a six year oldââ¬â¢s paradise, but that dream quickly crumbled as I learned that school included more than just recess. Fortunately, once I overcame the initial disappointment, elementary school proved to be the most crucial time for my literacy. The teachers helped their studentsRead MoreArticle, Critical Literacy in the Classroom by Ann S. Beck Shows the Need for Critical Thinking594 Words à |à 3 Pagesââ¬Å"Critical Literacy in the Classroomâ⬠(2005), was written by Ann S. Beck, an English teacher at Camosun College in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. This article explains that it is imperative for teachers to understand the concepts of critical literacy as well as to achieve a critical teaching approach. The authorââ¬â¢s main focus was to address and define the importance of teaching critical literacy as an educational practice by approaching dialogue (social act), reflection (critical literacy), and textualRead Mo reThe Benefits And Possibilities Of Coaching And Teacher Mentoring Essay1325 Words à |à 6 PagesThe purpose of this paper is to inform you, the administration, about the innumerable benefits and possibilities of coaching and teacher mentoring, as well as to familiarize you with an overview of three specific coaching models. These will include cognitive coaching, literacy coaching, and differentiated coaching, each of which have their own unique set of strengths and weaknesses. The coaching process and experience can help the school in countless ways, starting with the teachers and tricklingRead MoreLiteracy Is The Key For Future Success Essay948 Words à |à 4 PagesLiteracy is the key to future success. We have all heard this clichà ©, but as a future English teacher I passionately believe literacy is the key to success! When students become good readers, the door to a world of information is opened, and I want to see that door open for my students. As an English teacher who would like to work at the middle school level, I know the value of literacy and I hope to promote the best literacy practices in my classroom. This will not be an easy task, as readingRead MoreScience, Math, And Music Centers1634 Words à |à 7 Pages The three content areas that I will be focusing on is science, math, and music centers. The science to children is finding out about different things about the everyday world that is around the children. Science is an active open-ended search for children for new knowledge. The major goal is to foster and support the intellectual development that makes up a childââ¬â¢s preschool years. These developments include receptive and the childââ¬â¢s expressive language skills of the children, self-regulationRead MoreAdult Literacy and Community Development Essay1724 Words à |à 7 PagesMy vision in my work with VOC this year is to explore the intersection of adult literacy and community development. Through research, I hope to learn more about the connection between research and practice in writing for adult learners; through working with a community based organization I hope to deepen my knowledge and understanding of the impact and challenges of working in a literacy program and how this translates into overall goals of improving livelihoods and building a stronger communityRead MoreTeaching Philosophy and Rationale1001 Words à |à 4 Pagesenjoyable that it did not intimidate me to ask questions. No question was a silly question to encourage my learning. Through the highly motivating and thought provoking sessions in each lesson, there was always some useful idea to ponder and reflect about. The lessons would draw upon real life experiences across multiple disciplines that had application in life. There were multiple tools used in class to facilitate my learning ranging from audio-visuals, group discussions to actual hands on pragmaticRead MoreThe Utilization Of Storytelling As A Pedagogical Strategy1 689 Words à |à 7 Pagesfoster language skills and learnersââ¬â¢ motivation can be increased by being active learners and developing a constructive approach towards English language learning through taking part in storytellingââ¬â¢s activities. The role of storytelling in early literacy development: The history of storytelling may demonstrate the importance of using stories to educate children as well. Around 1899, storytelling started in the United Statesââ¬â¢ institutions. By 1927, storytelling has been adopted at most librariesRead MoreDifferent Methods Of Experience From Confucius1626 Words à |à 7 PagesRecently I came across a saying from Confucius, ââ¬Å"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.â⬠I have never quite come across a quote which is so analogous and relative to my life experiences, especially in a college class. I can literally translate the three methods to what I faced in this English class and it will seem as if they are indistinguishable. For me experience emerged
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Organisational Design Free Essays
string(108) " the boundaries between sources of added-value and strategic initiatives of the corporate parent\? â⬠www\." Nine tests of organisation design The weight of research and insight into organisational design is heavy and growing. Michael Goold and Andrew Campbell cut through the complexity and emerge with a new approach to organisation design which includes a rigorous framework for design choices based on nine key tests of organisational effectiveness. Michael Goold is a director of the Ashridge Strategic Management Centre. We will write a custom essay sample on Organisational Design or any similar topic only for you Order Now His research interests are concerned with corporate strategy and the management of multi-business companies, and he runs the Centreââ¬â¢s programme on Group Level Strategy. Product-market strategies What are the factors that should guide the choice of organisation design? There are many managerial rules of thumb about things such as spans of control and reporting relationships. In addition, academics and consultants have produced a huge amount of work on organisation design. But our research told us that managers still lack a practical and systematic framework to guide their organisation choices. An important purpose of our work has been to condense previous ideas on organisation design into a few core principles, on which to base a usable framework. Less an intellectual triumph than a practical checklist for addressing the most important issues, FIGURE 1: FRAMEWORK FOR ORGANISATION DESIGN GOOD DESIGN PRINCIPLES Specialisation principle Email: michael. goold Corporate strategy Co-ordination principle @ashridge. org. uk ORGANISATION DESIGN People Control and commitment principle Knowledge and competence principle Constraints Innovation and adaptation principle 4 DIRECTIONS FIT DRIVERS www. ashridge. com/directions The Ashridge Journal Summer 2002 Ashridge Business School http://www. ashridge. org. uk FIGURE 2: NINE TESTS FOR ORGANISATIONAL DESIGN Product-market strategies GOOD DESIGN TESTS Specialist cultures test Specialisation principle Andrew Campbell is a director of the Ashridge Strategic Management Centre and visiting professor at City University. Previously Redundant hierarchy test Knowledge and competence principle Market advantage test Corporate strategy Difficult links test Co-ordination principle Parenting advantage test ORGANISATION DESIGN People he was a Fellow in the Centre for Business Strategy People test Accountability test Constraints Control and commitment principle t the London Business School, and a consultant at Feasibility test Flexibility test FIT TESTS Innovation and adaptation principle McKinsey Co. Email: andrew. campbell our framework is grounded on some basic principles. The first and most important, the fit principle, embraces four drivers of fit ââ¬â productmarket strategies, corporate strategies, people and constraints. The other good design p rinciples are the specialisation principle, the co-ordination principle, the knowledge and competence principle, the control and commitment principle, and the innovation and adaptation principle (Figure 1). The principles are broad in nature and not always easy to convert into prescriptive guidance. They are more valuable in orienting managers than in resolving particular organisational dilemmas. However, as we worked with the principles, we found ways to convert them into some practical tests. Perhaps the most important contribution of this lies in the insights and understandings that the tests produce. The tests match the fit drivers and the good design principles. (See Figure 2). @ashridge. org. uk The fit tests One almost universally agreed proposition is that organisations need to be fit for purpose. Strategy, 5 DIRECTIONS www. ashridge. com/directions The Ashridge Journal Summer 2002 Ashridge Business School http://www. ashridge. org. uk Nine tests of organisation design therefore, should be a key driver of organisation design, and we have found it useful to distinguish between product-market strategies and corporatelevel strategy. But strategy is not the only driver of organisational design. At least as important are people. Many authorities counsel against designing an organisation around people, preferring to build around the strategy and change the people if necessary. However, people cannot always be changed and new ones with the required attitudes may be hard to find. So designs should take account of the people available to lead and work in them. Finally, organisation design is subject to various constraints, ranging from laws laid down by governments to organisational capabilities or resources that are deeply embedded. The people test: ââ¬Å"Does the design adequately reflect the motivations, strengths and weaknesses of the available people? â⬠The feasibility test: ââ¬Å"Does the design take account of the constraints that may make the proposal unworkable? The fit tests bring out the most important inputs that should guide organisation design choices. Provided the design has been selected with these inputs in mind, there should be no problem in passing the fit tests. However, organisation design choices are not always so rational. All too often, organisations evolve in ways that are not sufficiently related to the strategy of the compan y, or else pay scant attention to the limitations of managers who will fill key positions. In one company, we were told that the structure had always been primarily driven by the balance of All too often, organisations evolve in ways that are not sufficiently related to the strategy of the company, or else pay scant attention to the limitations of managers who will fill key positions. power between the four barons who ran the main divisions, resulting in business unit groupings that had little to do with the opportunities in the markets being served. Under these circumstances, the organisation will be a barrier to successful strategy implementation and will damage competitiveness. The fit tests ensure that organisations that are evidently not fit for purpose will be exposed, and that more suitable alternatives will be adopted. The good design tests The fit drivers lead to four fit tests: While the four drivers of the fit principle are The market advantage test: ââ¬Å"Does the design allocate sufficient management attention to the operating priorities and intended sources of advantage in each product-market area? â⬠recognised by most managers, we believe the good design principles and tests represent more of an advance. They synthesise the vast quantity of academic research and managerial experience about what makes an organisation work well into The parenting advantage test: ââ¬Å"Does the design allocate sufficient attention to the intended 6 DIRECTIONS few basic tests that should guide any organisation designer. The specialisation principle and co-ordination principle both concern the boundaries between sources of added-value and strategic initiatives of the corporate parent? â⬠www. You read "Organisational Design" in category "Papers" ashridge. com/directions The Ashridge Journal Summer 20 02 Ashridge Business School http://www. ashridge. org. uk units. The specialisation principle states that boundaries should exist to encourage the development of specialist skills, whereas the co-ordination principle emphasises that activities that need to be co-ordinated should be located within the boundaries of a single unit. Although these basic principles are clear, there are unfortunately often trade-offs between specialisation and co-ordination. A broadly-based product structure may give economies in purchasing and manufacturing, but be detrimental to the development of specialist products for particular markets. A disaggregated geographical structure with many local units may support the special skills needed for different regions, but prevent effective co-ordination in product development or IT infrastructure. The difficult organisational problems arise when there are trade-offs between different ways of grouping responsibilities. In order to help with these trade-offs, we have developed two tests, which give more precision to the basic principles and make them more practically useful. business unit, with little or no contact with the rest of the company. Alternatively, instead of setting up a separate unit, it may be possible for the corporate parent to ensure that the specialist culture receives sufficient protection by flexing corporate policies and procedures or by giving it certain powers. The test focuses attention on the dangers of suppressing or damaging activities that fall outside the mainstream corporate culture, dangers which are easy to overlook. The difficult links test recognises that many co-ordination benefits can be achieved through spontaneous networking between units, but that others will be more difficult. For example, best practice sharing can often be left to networking between units, whereas the establishment of common technical standards is unlikely without a corporate policy which makes them mandatory. Organisation designers should focus only on the few co-ordination benefits that will be difficult: where networking will not deliver the benefits. For these difficult links, it is necessary to develop appropriate co-ordination mechanisms or interventions to overcome the difficulty, or to The specialist cultures test: ââ¬Å"Do any ââ¬Ëspecialist culturesââ¬â¢, units with cultures that need to be different from sister units and the layers above, have sufficient protection from the influence of the dominant culture? â⬠readjust the design so that the co-ordination lies within the responsibilities of a single unit. This test makes managers assess which co-ordination benefits will be difficult to achieve if left to the network, and to think through whether and how the difficulty can be overcome. The difficult links test: ââ¬Å"Does the organisation design call for any ââ¬Ëdifficult linksââ¬â¢, co-ordination benefits that will be hard to achieve on a networking basis, and does it include ââ¬Ësolutionsââ¬â¢ that will ease the difficulty? â⬠Together, the specialist cultures test and difficult links test give managers a powerful means of assessing the trade-offs between the benefits that can be gained from co-ordination and from specialisation. In the 1980s, IBM decided to set up its PC division as a very separate unit, free from the influence of the IBM corporate culture and The specialist cultures test questions whether the required specialist skills will thrive only if the managers concerned are insulated from the influence of other parts of the organisation. For example, sometimes the best way to develop and market a new product is to set it up as a separate policies. This promoted a specialist PC culture that was highly successful in bringing the new product to market rapidly. Using a similar logic, many commentators argued that, when faced with performance problems in the early 1990s, IBM should break up the whole company into separate, 7 DIRECTIONS www. ashridge. com/directions The Ashridge Journal Summer 2002 Ashridge Business School http://www. ashridge. org. uk Nine tests of organisation design independent units. Lou Gerstner, however, believed that the opportunity for IBM lay in providing integrated customer solutions. He therefore kept the company together. But he recognised that co-ordination between separate product divisions was not proving a satisfactory means of offering integrated solutions, due to conflicting divisional priorities and incompatible technologies. He therefore gave authority to IBM Sales and Distribution division and to a new unit, the Global Services division, to concentrate, respectively, on customer solutions and services, using both IBM and competitor products. These divisions have the power to offer a unified approach to customers and have dealt well with the previously difficult links between IBM divisions. At the same time, Gerstner has encouraged new business activities, such as Business Innovation Services, IBMââ¬â¢s e-business initiative, not to be bound by IBMââ¬â¢s traditional policies nd ways of doing things. IBMââ¬â¢s structure now takes account of both the difficult links and the specialist cultures tests. The difficult links and specialist cultures tests help managers to address the organisation design issues faced by companies such as IBM, where there are evident advantages both from specialisation and co-ordination. The tests identify the real trade-offs between co-ordination and specialisation and h elp managers to find ways of gaining the benefits of co-ordination without undermining the development of specialist skills. The knowledge and competence principle is mainly concerned with delegation. It states that responsibilities should be allocated to the person or team best placed to assemble the relevant knowledge and competence at reasonable cost. The practical test that follows from the principle is: This test is based on the premise that the default option should be to decentralise to operating units, only retaining responsibilities at higher levels if there is a knowledge and competence rationale. As we have argued in previous work, hierarchy can only be justified if it adds some value to the functioning of the organisation. 1 Questions about whether and how the hierarchy adds value have helped numerous companies to sharpen their thinking about the design of their headquarters, group and division levels. The redundant hierarchy test is a way of formalising these questions. The control and commitment principle concerns two challenges that arise in any decentralised organisation: how to maintain appropriate control and how to ensure high levels of motivation. Units should feel strong pressures to self-correct if they are failing to deliver, and parent-level managers to whom the units report should be able to identify problems easily and promptly. This leads to a further test: The accountability test: ââ¬Å"Does the design facilitate the creation of a control process for each unit that is appropriate to the unitââ¬â¢s responsibilities, economical to implement, and motivating for the managers in the unit? â⬠The accountability test focuses managers on the pressures that exist for a unit to self-correct. These depend on the relationships the unit has with ts internal and external customers, the performance measures for the unit, and the unitââ¬â¢s reporting relationship. Market-facing business units with arms-length customer relationships and bottomline performance measures are relatively easy to control and motivate. Corporate functions with no external customers, tied internal relationships and The redundant hierarchy test: â⠬Å"Are all levels in the hierarchy and all responsibilities retained by higher levels based on a knowledge and 8 DIRECTIONS subjective performance measures present more accountability problems. In a complex structure, it is all too easy to create a design that looks good on paper, but leaves unit managers de-motivated and unclear about their performance objectives, and competence advantage? â⬠www. ashridge. com/directions The Ashridge Journal Summer 2002 Ashridge Business School http://www. ashridge. org. uk parent managers unable to control those who report to them. The accountability test helps managers design units and establish performance measures that produce effective, low-cost controls that are highly motivating. The innovation and adaptation principle states that structures should be designed to innovate and adapt as uncertainties become clarified and environments change. An organisation design that is perfect for today is of little use if it cannot adapt to cope with the conditions of tomorrow. The principle yields our last test. under-attending to product or from underattending to geography? â⬠Often there is no clear The flexibility test: ââ¬Å"Will the design help the development of new strategies and be flexible enough to adapt to future changes? answer to these trade-offs, but making sure that the question is asked helps managers to find a reasonable balance between competing interests. By pointing out the trade-offs and weak points in a The test recognises that some structures allow for evolution and adaptation, whereas others build in rigidity and power bases that resist change. It ensures that the designer considers the changes which may be needed and whether the design will b e flexible enough to make them. chosen design, the tests help managers to be more thoughtful about problems that may occur and future changes that may be needed. The tests also help managers weigh the advantages and disadvantages of different designs and provide a rigorous analytical structure for making design choices. An organisation design that is perfect for today is of little use if it cannot adapt to cope with the conditions of tomorrow. Using the tests The purpose of the tests is to raise issues. Some can be addressed by refining the structure, by designing process solutions, or by appointing different managers. A key benefit from using the tests comes from the ideas for design improvements that they suggest. For example, a common problem is the creation of a layer of management, say a geographic region or a product group, without specifying what responsibilities should be retained by this layer and why. The redundant hierarchy test helps point out this design weakness, alerting managers to the need either to eliminate the layer or to define the responsibilities, skills, management processes and leadership style that is needed to make the layer a positive influence on performance. Some issues raised by the tests point to unavoidable trade-offs: ââ¬Å"do we lose more from The nine tests are the core around which we have built our new approach to organisation design. This article is drawn from Michael Goold and Andrew Campbellââ¬â¢s new book, Designing Effective Organizations (John Wiley Sons, 2002). REFERENCE 1. Goold, Michael; Campbell, Andrew and Alexander, Marcus. (1994). Corporate-level Strategy, John Wiley Sons and Goold, Michael; Pettifer, David and Young, David, ââ¬Å"Redefining the Corporate Centreâ⬠, European Management Journal, February 2001. 9 DIRECTIONS www. ashridge. com/directions The Ashridge Journal Summer 2002 Ashridge Business School http://www. ashridge. org. uk How to cite Organisational Design, Papers
Friday, December 6, 2019
Reform and Development of Health Care Services
Question: Discuss about the Reform and Development of Health Care Services. Answer: Introduction: The two health interventions that the Australian Medicare does not cover are- Medical surgeries for cosmetic reasons which are not clinically important and some dental services Ambulances services (2) The two health care services that have larger than normal co-pay system are: Medicines which are not in the list of Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme Chronic illness like Chronic Obstructive pulmonary Disease (1) The exclusion criteria for cosmetic surgeries are justified as these are accessed by public for personal pleasure and are not detrimental to health. Such services do not require skilled nursing care and is an essential care option only for rich members of society. However, it is not justified to exclude ambulances services from Medicare. It is an emergency service especially in remote areas where people cannot access medical services quickly (3). The large co-pays are not justified It only adds to economic burden and higher death rate among socioeconomically disadvantaged members of the society. Eventually it may increase the death and disability as observed in countries like China and India (1). Lowering the Medicare reimbursement rate for outpatient care is not appropriate. Since outpatient, care largely includes preventive and diagnostic services; rate fall may affect the long run health of uninsured individuals and its associated costs. The effect is significant in communities, which predominantly contains nonprofit hospitals. On the other hand, in profit hospitals, the share increases for outpatient care provided to the uninsured patients (2). Overall, it leads to public anger and vacuum in provision of health care services. References Eckermann S, Sheridan L. Supporting Medicare Health, Equity and Efficiency in Australia: Policies Undermining Bulk Billing Need to Be Scrapped. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy. 2016 Jul 20:1-4. Hussain R, Maple M, Hunter SV, Mapedzahama V, Reddy P, Hunter S. The Fly-in Fly-out and Drive-in Drive-out model of health care service provision for rural and remote Australia: benefits and disadvantages. Rural and remote health. 2015 Jul 19;15(3068). McCall C. Concerns raised over future of Medicare in Australia. The Lancet. 2016 Jul 23;388(10042):323.
Friday, November 29, 2019
Abolition essays
Abolition essays Abolition was the legal end of slavery. In 1820s most of our society supported that Africans be shifted back to Africa how they wished too. But about 1,400 African Americans considered American their home, but all of those people were free. In 1831, William Lloyd Garrison started his own newspaper called The Liberator in which he wrote about setting slaves free, without any payments to slaveholders. At First Garrison did not have much support but later on when his newspaper got more recognized he got more support. Unfortunally Garrison was hang on a rope by white people who opposed him. In 1829 a free black encouraged all African Americans to fight for freedom instead then wait for the government to change the laws. Not that many people really paid attention to him, but most still formed scores of antislavery. Frederick Douglass was an African American who knew how to read and write because of his owner, and he realized he could use that to be free. Frederick was inspired by Garri son and he became an enthusiastic reader of his newspaper, finally in 1847 he established his own newspaper called The North Star, which guided slaves to freedom. From the 1800 to the 1900 the slavery has changed a lot and it also almost equal on male and females. By 1830 most blacks spoke enough English to communicate unlike many years before and most of them were born in America. In the 1800s slaves lived in my opinion bad conditions they shared little small, overcrowded slave quarters, they didnt have much furniture only wooden chairs and tables. They worked on hefty plantations from early in the morning till late at night. There were some slaves that worked at the owners houses as maids or cooks. Which never had any time for them selves they were on call 24-7. By 1830s there was shortage of slaves on ships and in mills. Numerous numbers of women and children worked the identical jobs ...
Monday, November 25, 2019
Lehrack, Otto. First Battle Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam Havertown, PA Casemate, 2004
Lehrack, Otto. First Battle Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam Havertown, PA Casemate, 2004 The topic of this book was the very first battle in the Viet Nam conflict, as fought by the American marines against the North Vietnamese. The actual thesis was that the Viet Congs underestimation of the United States military forces ability to rapidly and effectively deploy and fight, pretty much lost the North Vietnamese the battle, despite the fact that their intelligence was detailed and available early. The evidence that supported the books thesis was borne out by many eye-witness accounts, on both sides of the conflict.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Lehrack, Otto. First Battle: Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam Havertown, PA: Casemate, 2004 specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The overall quality of this work was superior as it appeared very thorough and well-researched. It also was an interesting read. The value of this work could be considered to be of both historical and milita ry benefit, in terms of actual recorded events and military tactics and strategy. Battle planners and historians may also enjoy and benefit from reading this book. Even, for those who lost family members in this battle, it could prove to be a worthwhile read. Further, most exemplary was the authors research, including evaluation and review of command logs, along with perusal and analysis of the various interrogation and after-action reports. Then, too, the author spent much time on the actual battlefield, and also conducted interviews with various families and combatants on either side, from members of the Marine unit to the VC 1st Regiment. Lastly, his personal conversations with the participants at all levels, on both sides. Finally, his own Marine combat experience as an infantry company commander at that time speaks for itself. The quality of these sources were adequate and in some cases, superior. Everything appeared to corroborate the authors writing. This account is based upo n actual primary and some secondary research but also personal experience, of course, as mentioned earlier. Thus, the authors argument that the Viet Congs previous intelligence did not account for the rapid capability for the US marines to spearhead a most devastating and useful attack against them was quite creditable. Lehracks writing style and ability was such that the book was written clearly, and easy to read and follow, with plenty of action included, and sufficient background knowledge as gleaned from himself and his sources. As compared to our class activities, this student has observed that this reading was easier to get through than some others, and appeared to have adequate primary sources, as well as being sufficiently documented. A significant part of the appeal of this noteworthy book is due in part to its methodical you are there focus. The author places his audience right there in the geographical locale, at the particular time period, within the first two chapters. He therefore makes his point that the US slid right into this war, in increments, without much forethought, perhaps basing much action on current Cold War fears.Advertising Looking for report on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The highlights in the books account consist of the following events. A teen age North Vietnamese deserter informed the United States Marine commander that right near the village of Van Tuong, also located near another new US base, was in danger. For, encamped nearby was the 1st Viet Cong Regiment. Soon, intercepted radio chatter confirmed this fact. Since this situation was a direct threat to the base and, also presented the chance to decimate this slippery VC organization. So Lt Gen Walt determined to take the battle right to the enemy. His subordinate leader was named and it was the notable Colonel Oscar F. Peatross. The battalions to be employed were those at Chu Lai, the 3d Bn, Thi rd Marine Regiment, and the 2d Bn, 4th Marines. For reinforcements, Walt also requisitioned the amphibious 3d Bn, 7th Marines to join them, from the Philippines. A combined helicopter and amphibious assault was then employed. Secrecy and speed were and proved vital for success. So, in just three days, Starlite commenced. The Viet Cong then hurried to catch up and deployed anti-personnel mines, but these had no measurable effect. The battalions were able to land, leaving one unit in reserve. Tanks and UH-1 Huey gunships assisted in securing the hill off the beach, the first objective. Then, an enemy battalion had to be quickly routed, and additional assaults were launched. Corporal Robert OMalley, one of the primary heroes in the conflict, led his squad across a crucial trench and secured it, while fighting against scores of enemy. Although OMalley suffered numerous wounds, refused to stop and leave the battle. He managed to retrieve a number of his wounded troops. Then, the remainde r of India Company secured the village of An Cuong 2, which had been aiding and abetting the enemy. At about the same time, in the Hotel, 2/4, 1stLt Jenkins Marines managed to overcome an attack coming from the village of Nam Yen 3. LCpl Ernie Wallace cleverly and bravely discriminated the camouflaged enemy out from the local terrain, and dispatched at least 25 of them with his M60.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Lehrack, Otto. First Battle: Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam Havertown, PA: Casemate, 2004 specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another menacing machine gun nest was taken out by Cpl Dick Tonucci and one of his riflemen, PFC Ron Centers. They then proceeded to take out a second one, and also an enemy bunker. Then, a rifleman, LCpl J. C. Paul, provided covering fire for the wounded out in the open. He himself had been shot but had refused the medevac chopper. Unfortunately, he was hit with mortar rounds and small-arms fire, and eventually passed away, defending his men. There was significant collateral damage on another assault on Nam Yen 3, although the enemy themselves suffered significant casualties. Further Marine casualties took place as a supply convoy was ambushed. This happened again with yet another convoy. Choppers came to the rescue, but also came under heavy fire. Some friendly air fire support proved to provide some valuable support. With 200 or so wounded, the Marines suffered 54 mortal casualties. Nevertheless, all their forces- ground, air, ship, and artillery- managed to cause almost 700 dead Vietcong, the better part of several battalions. Both aviation and ground personnel had managed to dig in adequately, although much damage was suffered. Certainly, there were many heroes and military honors that day, for this first momentous battle. Thus, these Marines ended the Starlite Operation successfully and proved that they could fight guerri lla style, on yet another type of terrain, that of the jungle-heavy and swamp-laden vista of Viet Nam. And so began that lengthy and controversial conflict. Bibliography Lehrack, Otto. First Battle: Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam Havertown, PA: Casemate, 2004.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Pricing Tourism Services Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
Pricing Tourism Services - Case Study Example Then there is a set of dependent and independent variables. Price is a dependent variable with regard to demand and so is supply. Thus price plays a pivotal role in determining the equilibrium demand and supply. For instance the dependent variable of demand, viz. the availability of substitutes elsewhere such as those in Sydney influences this outcome. According to this outcome, the ACC must make a special effort to attract a variety of customers. The feasibility study provides just that information. The Adventure Climb Company's (ACC) supply curve is relatively inelastic perhaps because of the fact that supply doesn't respond to price changes and demand variations instantly (Gregory, 2007). In the first instance equilibrium demand for Brisbane Story Bridge climbs is determined by a number of factors such as the price of the product, consumers' incomes, the availability of substitutes, prices of those substitutes, the geographical proximity to the place where substitutes are available, the impact of weather patterns, interstate tax variabilities, supply constraints such as resource-mobility and consumers' preferences for variety. Equilibrium price is determined more or less by some of the same above factors in addition to the level of supply and the elasticity of supply. In other words the supply of Brisbane Story Bridge climbs is relatively inelastic (Rofail, 2002). Thi... S D P2P1 D S QuantityQ2 Q1 Q3This is illustrated by the above diagram. The market equilibrium is identical to the firm's equilibrium here. On the other hand the demand curve is rather elastic because consumers are able to respond to price with instantaneous effect. Thus the market equilibrium for the ACC is shown by the price, P1 where the quantity demanded and supplied is equal to Q1. This outcome would solve the problem of the ACC by identifying the consumer's willingness to pay P1 in Brisbane.Sydney and Brisbane are two separate regions and therefore the impact of selling walks across the Sydney Harbor Bridge on the business in Brisbane can be summarized as economically varied. For example when resources are separately managed to provide services in two different locations there can be quite strain on the scale of operations in each location. Assuming that the demand for walks in Sydney is constant or growing at a steady p0redictable pace, then the existing resources can be combined to pr oduce the best output. However, demand for walks in Sydney might be influenced by other external factors such as the existence of the Harbor as a place of extra attraction (www.igougo.com). Landmarks such as harbors with an international reputation are more likely to
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Research Paper
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) - Research Paper Example According to Ray (2011) there are 3 dimensions that significantly control the changes they include: customization, support and consultation. Most of the ERP systems are implemented in stages. For a large company, the project can take approximately 14 months and can require almost 150 consultants. Small companies can take months while implementing ERP while big and multinational companies can take several years. However, the implementation time can be reduced by employing customizations to fasten the process. ERP has the benefit of saving the companyââ¬â¢s time and its overall expenses. The organizationââ¬â¢s management can formulate decisions more quickly and with minimal errors. Through the realization of fewer errors, the data becomes reliable and clear within the entire organization (Ray, 2011). The system improves the organizationââ¬â¢s efficiency and subsequently its outputs quality (Ray, 2011). Through the smooth running of internal processes, improved outputs can be realized for example manufacturing and customer service. It necessitates the flexibility of an organization. The management software can assist the organization to adapt easily to changes due to the presence of less organizational structures that enhances its internal and external components. ERP promotes collaborations between varied business functions. In modern organizations, data can be in the form of emails, audio, video, files which require varied operations (Ray, 2011). ERP necessitates the employees to collaborate more effectively with the content without actually mastering their individual processes. The management software ensures real time achievement of information. ERP promotes a comprehensive view of the companyââ¬â¢s status in real time, which the upper level management can utilize in making proper decisions (Ray, 2011). The system ensures effective coding of an
Monday, November 18, 2019
What is IR Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
What is IR Theory - Essay Example International Relation theory raises fundamentally empirical issues which can only be settled by analyzing the facts. Professor Martin Wight, in the 1960 April issue of international Relations, published a paper titled ââ¬Å"Why Is There No International Theory?â⬠The Professor believes that the sovereign state has, since the Reformation, been the focal point of Western political thought and experience (Morgenthau 63). The international theory is true to diplomatic experience, and is augmented when belief in progress is prevalent. According to this school of thought, if things remain as they were in the past, man would become desperate. This theory he referred to as ââ¬Å"the argument from desperationâ⬠. International relations is widely involves recurrence and repetition as international reality and international theory collide. International theory becomes a sort of philosophy of history as it involves the ultimate experience of national existence and national extinction. For national existence, every individual requires the protection of the state that represents them in the international community (Wight 38). This view considers a sovereign State to be the end of a political experience and activity. This juristic expression considers international politics to be an untidy extension of domestic politics. It is a systematic and continued balance of power between different players. International Relations is a transient subject with the modern society being in a state of transition. The past occurrences in one state relating with other states influences the future interactions that are likely to occur. Therefore, the theorizing of international relations is likened to a system of abstract propositions with a predictive function. In the view of this system, nations become stereotyped participators in stereotyped symmetric or asymmetric relations (Morgenthau 65). The modern society has emerged from a medieval society and is
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Strategies for Beginning an Export Business
Strategies for Beginning an Export Business Introduction Of Export Procedure For carrying an export, one must understand and analyze the market, by carry out the research. It is not prudent to for any individual to start export without knowing about the statistics and consumer needs of particular market. However the person is very enthusiastic but still there is always a probability to fail because at times they loss more and earn less out of it. In order to enter into the export market an individual has to take the help of intermediaries and has to give some percentage share as a part of commission, which means by giving a part of profit to intermediaries exporter is having less profit and as intermediaries enter into the contract the price for the customer would be increased. All export good are produced with high efficiency and standard of the quality should be maintained. There is cutthroat competition in the global market everybody wants to Sale its product. The customer always have an option of supplier, so the strategies needs to be adopted for becoming the expert salesman At times the product timely delivery becomes a challenge for exporter but is not due to exporters fault, go-slows, Dock strikes, etc; occurs almost allover the world. If someone is entering for the first time in the export market then, then he has to ensure the efficient fast delivery as per the promised made to the consignee about the consignment. Effective communication is the backbone of the accomplishment of any business. It may be internal or external must be comprehensive and immediate. Similarly communication plays vital role in export. When you are in doubt at that time you can e-mail or phone you client for immediate clarification. Failure in the market of export can be minimized by the use of research of the Global Market. Before going on large scale overseas operation first you have to start will small scale, so that experiment marketing often turns out to be cheaper. There are many thing required before starting a new business of export. So let us discuss the various preliminaries of Starting an export business Preliminaries Exercies Before Starting Export Business Establishment Of Business Organization. The First and the foremost question arise in the mind of potential exporter has to decide is about the business organization needed for the export purpose. It is very important decision an exporter has to take whether a business he has to run will be sole proprietary, partnership firm, HUF or a company. The establishment of healthy organization will depend upon. à Capability to raise finance as an exporter à Capacity to bear the risk as an exporter à Desire to implement the control over the business à Nature of regulatory structure applicable to you In case of sole proprietary business person has to go with the small business unit. It can be set up with minimum expense and legal formalities. The biggest disadvantage of the sole proprietary of the business is limited liability to raise the fund which restricts the growth, and owner also has the unlimited personal liability. To avoid this disadvantage, it is more advisable to start the partnership firm. The partnership firm can be set up with ease and economy. In Partnership firm experience and expertise of the partner is beneficial to the firm. The biggest disadvantage of partnership firm is that when the liability of the partner through joint or several, practically or as per the partnership deed ratio would be distributer among various partners. If your partner has unlimited liability, then this the major disadvantage of partnership firm of business organization is that conflict between the partners is a possible threat to the business. Procedure For Registration Of The Company. The company has to be registered under the company act 1956. Whether the company can be private Ltd or public ltd company. In private ltd company can be registered with minimum 2 Members and maximum up to 50.While in case of Public limited company can be registered with Minimum 7members and no limit for the maximum number of members. It can invite the shareholder or invite public to subscribe the share capital and permit to transfer the shares. The public ltd company has enormous potential to access the substantial funds as per the company law. Mode Of Operation: You may be a proprietor or a partner of a firm, Director of a Private or Public Limited Company or an executive or manager of a small or large size of company and wish to enter into overseas market for selling your products. If you are the manufacturer and would like to sell your products overseas, you may act as Manufacturer Exporter. If you would like to buy products from other manufacturers and sell them in overseas market, you may act as Merchant Exporter. If you are the manufacturer and along with your own products would like to sell products of other manufacturers also, you may act as Manufacturer and Merchant Exporter as well. Manufacturer Exporter means a person who export goods manufactured by him or intends to export such goods. Merchant Exporter means a person engaged in trading activity and exporting or intending to export goods. Importance Of Business Title. Giving the title to the business is always essential task for the exporter. Name or the Title of the business should be simple and meaningful. Title should be indicating the nature of business. Physical office should be at commercial complex and in clean and workable surrounding. After deciding the business title, company has to think about the trade name and logo which reinforces the organization name and image in the global market. Besides this letter head, telephone number, fax number banker name address etc are required. Note: Company has to open the current account in the name of company. It is advisable to open the bank account who is authorized to deal with foreign exchange. Selection Of Product And Company Selecting the product and the company plays a vital role for exporter. Exporter has to understand the demand and the trend of foreign market. Now the exporter has to procure or manufacture selected product at most competitive price. It should be easily available in sufficient quantity and possible to supply repeatedly and regularly. Moreover the product which is selected has to be as per the term of government policy various regulations in respect of selection of product for export. It is value addition if some has previous experience of selection of same commodities which is selected by you for export. Effective Business Correspondence Now the business correspondence should sound professional. For making a favorable and excellent impression all the e-mail should be send from the company domain and if any document or company profile is sent to client then has to be in nice envelope on which companys Name, physical address, phone no and fax details has to be there which gives the clear picture about the company to the client. The entire letter that is written and sends the client needs to be on the companys letter head. A hypothetical specimen export letter is given below: Ref: XYZ/NJK2009/ 20th Jan, 2010 The Purchase Manager M/s.XYZ Ltd. . (U.S.A.) Dear Sir, We are one of the leading exporters of a wide range of items including ABC for the last fifteen years. Our major buyers are..Europe and USA We are one of the registered export houses in India. We represent..15%.indian market andà the leading manufacturers of these items in India. These items are produced in collaboration with BID brands, the world famous company. We follow the ISI specifications. We believe that your company imports the items we export. We are enclosing herewith a copy of our brochure and price list for your perusal. We shall be glad to send you detailed literature/ samples of items that may be of interests to you. Yours sincerely, For JKL PVT Ltd. Director Encl: As above. Your letter should contain the following minimum information about your organization and products Type of organizations- i.e. proprietary, partnership, private limited or limited company and whether you are acting as manufacturer exporter or merchant exporter etc. Range specification and standards of your products and your manufacturing capacity. Whether you are holding any international standard certification for the products you manufacture. Types of consumers which are using your product in India Sales outlets Wholesalers, your own showrooms branch offices, representatives offices in India and abroad. Your sales turnover, including exports sales and Name and address of your bankers. Export Information You may collect the export information from reading various publications which are normally available with the Chambers of Commerce, Export promotin Councils, Banks and various other institutions engaged in international trade. Some private publications/ project reports are also available on certain fees. Export Commodity Selection While selecting the commodity for exports, consider the following points: Your own manufacturing capacity, if you are the manufacturer of a particular commodity. The availability of commodity from other manufacturers when you desire to act as a merchant exporter. The demand for the commodity in the importing country. The Government of Indias policy and regulations in respect of export of various commodities. The foreign Governments policy and regulations in respect of import of various commodities. Total profitability of such commodities considering cash incentives available, If any. The Import replenishment available, if any. Quota fixation, if any, in respect of such commodities in both the countries. Knowledge and experience of similar exporters in respect of the export of such commodities in various countries. Market Selection Target market should be selected after considering the various factors like scope of the product selected, political embargo, stability of demand, Obtaining Particulars Of Foreign Buyers You may obtain the particulars of foreign buyers from either of the following sources: Trade representatives of foreing Government in India as well as the Indian Trade representatives abroad. Various Export Promotion Councils and Commodity Boards and other Government and Semi-Government Agencies. International Trade Directories and International Yellow Pages Participating/Visiting in International Trade Fairs and exhibitions in India and abroad. Reading material i.e. various newspapers, weekly, fortnightly, monthly Trade Bulletins, Magazines, Journals published by various agencies like FIEO, ITPO, EP Councils, Commodity Boards and Chambers of Commerce etc. Advertising in Indian as well as foreign newspapers, magazines and journals. Relatives, friends and other contacts in foreign countries. Once the competition is assessed, you will know your position regarding- (a) the price which you can offer to the overseas buyer, (b) the terms of credit which you can offer, (c) the packaging, transportation, storage, distribution and after-sales-service methods you can adopt; and (d) the promotional efforts which you can offer in terms of publicity literature, visual publicity, advertisement, gifts etc. depending on the product. Negotiating With Prospective Buyers Export Order An order is a commercial transaction which is not only important to the exporter and importer, but it is also of concern to their respective countries, since it affects the balance of payment position of both the countries. It is therefore, not just a matter of product, manufacturing, packing, shipment and payment but also one of the concern to licensing authorities, exchange control authorities and banks dealing in export trade. The exporter is required to produce copies of export order to various Government departments/financial institutions e.g. obtaining export licenses when the product is covered under the restricted items or canalized items for exports, availing post-shipment finance and other incentives and dealing with inspection authorities, insurance underwriters, customs offices and exchange control authorities etc. for various purposes. Order Acceptance: The order acceptance is another important commercial document prepared by the exporter confirming the acceptance of order place by the importer. Under this document he commits the shipments of goods covered at the agreed price during a specified time. Sometimes, the exporter needs a copy of his order acceptance signed by the importer. The order acceptance normally covers the name and address of the indentor, name and address of the consignee, port of shipment, country of final destinations, the description of goods, quantity, price each and total amount of the order, terms of delivery, details of freight and insurance, mode of transport, packing and marking details, terms of payment etc. Export Price Quoting And Costing Although your product is of a good quality, you must give attention to its price and delivery terms. The buyer might have contacted other manufacturers or sellers of the same products like you in India and other countries and select a quality product of competitive price with prompt delivery. While quoting the price, alongwith the cost of product and your profit margin, consider the various expenses such as packing and labeling charges, inspection charges, transportation charges from the place of storage to the place of shipment, port commissioners charges, insurance charges, ocean freight charges, cost of documents and services, expected Bank charges for handling your documents, overseas agent commission or discount if the order is expected through agent or representative and other expenses which you will have to bear in the course of execution of the order. Export being a national necessity, the Government grants concession and assistance in various matters so as to make the product competitive in the overseas market. Therefore, while calculating the price, the following things are also required to be considered- (a) Fiscal incentives like tax concession for production of export goods and drawback of duty. (b) Financial assistance like cash subsidy to offset competition in overseas market. (c) Special incentive scheme like import replenishment licenses (d) General incentives like providing institutional arrangements for export promotion and training in exports, rewarding etc.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Kiel :: essays research papers
Kiel à à à à à Kiel is the capital of Schleswig-Holstein. Schleswig-Holstein is located in West Germany. Kiel is located at the head of Kieler Fà ¶rde which is an inlet of the Baltic Sea. During World War II three-fourths of the city was destroyed by bombs. Kiel was a major naval base during the war. Kiel's major industries now are shipbuilding and also building machines such as the diesel engine. They also manufacture electric and electronic products. Kiel also is known for brewing and the proccessing of food, such as fish. The medievel Church of St. Nicholas overlooks the Old Market which still survives from Old Town. It was built between1233-1244. The Old Market has been rebuilt in modern style and is used as a center for a network of shopping streets. There are no cars allowed in this area. A modern Cultural Center has replaced the castle that used to guard Old Town. The western shore of the Fà ¶rde is where the Kiel's famous Oceanographic Institute and the State Parliamen t are locacted. The Kieler Fà ¶rde is the best natural harbor on the Baltic. That is why it has been the principal base for the German Navy. In 1866 Kiel became part of Prussia. Kiel saw a rapid growth in population between 1866 and 1914. While the Nazi's were in control Hitler built up the Navy in Kiel. Kiel's economy got away from its large concern with the Navy and shipbuilding after the war. Kiel is the place that all German yachtsmen dream of. Kiel also has a nice sized university. The school offers a large array of subjects and was founded in 1665. Many of the students like to sail in there spare time. Kiel is also the home to one of Germany's largest indoor shopping centers. Kiel is also a popular place for Olympic sailing competitions. In 1994 the population of Kiel was 248,930. Kiel is the most economically important city in Schleswig-Holtstein, as well as the largest. Kiel was founded in 1242 and then in 1284 joined the Hanseatic League. Kiel aslo became the home of the d ukes of Holstein. Kiel was passed to Denmark in 1866. The sailors mutiny that started at the end of World War I started the socialist revolution in Germany. Kiel is the home of many museums, such as the oldest art gallery and Botanic Gardens in Germany. The sailing and yachting events of the 1972 summer Olympics were held in Kiel.
Monday, November 11, 2019
Learning experience Essay
When I think about ââ¬Å"Learning Experiences,â⬠I think of every situation someone finds themselves in as a learning experience. People have not traditionally used that phrase in relating to more formal learning interventions ââ¬â i. e. classroom, but from a learnerââ¬â¢s perspective, both formally and informally, thatââ¬â¢s exactly what is happening: learners are experiencing something that, hopefully, results in a change in thinking, understanding, or behavior afterwards. Learning experiences are a way to think about what a learning intervention might be (i.e. ââ¬â its design) in the context of desired end goals and outcomes. This can then inform our choices about how communication channels and modes, learning activities, and resources come together to best support the end goals and outcomes, and also how these channels and activities may evolve over time. Certainly in this context, a learning intervention is something that is much more than what has traditionally been thought of as ââ¬Å"content. â⬠In thinking about what is currently thought of as learning content, I think of something akin to a page from. a textbook (that has its doppelganger in web-based training) with which one ââ¬Å"readsâ⬠and then ââ¬Å"interactsâ⬠with in some way. That definition of learning content and learner interaction represents a very narrow and limited view of what a learning experience can be and usually limits the type of learning to that of recognizing or memorizing specific facts, procedures, and concepts exemplified in the deployment of web- based, self-directed individual learning experiences commonly called e-learning. Learning content can be thought of much more broadly and inclusively. This could mean that learning content could actually include not only the ââ¬Å"whatsâ⬠but the ââ¬Å"howsâ⬠of learning. For example, learning content in the context of learning experiences could contain a collection of specific content resources, content pointers, functional tools or tool pointers, activity descriptions, and assessments that, when brought together, embody a particular pedagogical model. In fact, the reverse could also be learning content ââ¬â a pedagogical model describing the types of learning resources, tools, and activities needed to achieve learning outcomes. So you could think of learning content as collections of pedagogical models and collections of resources that participate in shaping an individualââ¬â¢s learning experience that are aligned with learning outcomes and positive actions that stem from the experience. Another facet of learning content is the artifacts produced during the learning experience. Besides the description above, learning content models should also be collaborative or cooperative with resources and activities supporting the learners working together to produce a learning artifact. A learning artifact couldà be anything based on an authentic learning activity or experience such as a model, computer code, diagram or even the ubiquitous PowerPoint presentation. As these artifacts are created and evaluated during the learning process, they then become learning resources that can be used iteratively for others in similar or more advanced experiences. These ideas allow us to merge knowledge management and single/double loop organizational learning into our concept of learning content. Conceptually, this represents a shift from the typical view of content managed by a typical contentà management system, with the assumption that when content is simply presented to a learner that he or she will just ââ¬Å"learnâ⬠from it ââ¬â that somehow learning (and especially learning to do or understand) is transmitted from the content to the learner. With that view of content and of the learnerââ¬â¢s experience, then itââ¬â¢s no surprise that critics of the pedagogical merits of SCORM view it as being ââ¬Å"limited. â⬠When I think about learning experiences in the context of this effort by ADL, I define them as a model that will allow higher order learning outcomes to be realized. This can occur by expanding on ourà understanding of learning content to include specific collections of learning resources, tools, and activities guided by pedagogical models. This is sometimes conceived as a problem-based, collaborative-based approach shaped and tailored to meet specific learning goals but I believe it is even much more than that. Learning experiences as currently being thought of by ADL will be able to provide an interoperable and reusable means for design and/or self organization of learning activities that are pedagogically sound, allowing the attainment, assessment, and tracking of higher order learning outcomes.
Friday, November 8, 2019
Free Essays on Are We Getting Dumber
Are We Getting Dumber? It is obvious that today, with all of our technology, that school is easier or ââ¬Å"dumbed down.â⬠Information is now right at the fingertips of every student, all the elements need to write an A paper are just a mouse click away. In fact, simple technology seems to be the way we are gearing things. You cannot blame the fact that things are now easier on the students. The students did not decide how things were going to be taught or learned. Nor, did they decide to make it easier to learn. People like Neil Postman are the reason that this country has found itself in a bad place. People like him run down the self worth and self esteem of our countries people. Could a stupid society make space travel seem routine? Could a stupid society make it possible to save a persons life by giving him the heart valve of a pig or an ape? I do not think that anything remotely close to that would be possible in stupid society. So, Postman can write his books and have his say. Me personally I believe that they only dumb person in this society is Neil Postman. Our culture is not ââ¬Å"dumbed downâ⬠, now days everything is just easier to come by. I will not apologize for not doing this the hard way just because it seems smarter. U say ââ¬Å"Future Shlockâ⬠I say that future looks bright for our people.... Free Essays on Are We Getting Dumber Free Essays on Are We Getting Dumber Are We Getting Dumber? It is obvious that today, with all of our technology, that school is easier or ââ¬Å"dumbed down.â⬠Information is now right at the fingertips of every student, all the elements need to write an A paper are just a mouse click away. In fact, simple technology seems to be the way we are gearing things. You cannot blame the fact that things are now easier on the students. The students did not decide how things were going to be taught or learned. Nor, did they decide to make it easier to learn. People like Neil Postman are the reason that this country has found itself in a bad place. People like him run down the self worth and self esteem of our countries people. Could a stupid society make space travel seem routine? Could a stupid society make it possible to save a persons life by giving him the heart valve of a pig or an ape? I do not think that anything remotely close to that would be possible in stupid society. So, Postman can write his books and have his say. Me personally I believe that they only dumb person in this society is Neil Postman. Our culture is not ââ¬Å"dumbed downâ⬠, now days everything is just easier to come by. I will not apologize for not doing this the hard way just because it seems smarter. U say ââ¬Å"Future Shlockâ⬠I say that future looks bright for our people....
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
How to End a Story 3 Secrets to Writing a Captivating Ending
How to End a Story 3 Secrets to Writing a Captivating Ending How to End a Story: 3 Secrets to Writing a Captivating Ending Novel ideasare a dime a dozen. Ask any agent, publisher, editor, or movie producer. Itââ¬â¢s true. Everybodyââ¬â¢s got one, maybe more than one. Even you, am I right? Of my nearly 190 published books, more than two-thirds have been novels that started as ideas, so I know what most everybody in the business knows: The idea is the easy part. Want to know whatââ¬â¢s second easiest? Starting. I know. That one surprises you, because maybe youââ¬â¢re stuck. Youââ¬â¢ve been sitting on your great idea, idling in neutral for too long. So whatââ¬â¢s keeping you from getting going? Fear. But fear of what? Two things: The marathon of the middle- which is a topic for another day (itââ¬â¢s that tough, for me too, and that important) And coming up with an ending that does justice to that great idea of yours Thatââ¬â¢s why publishers rarely hand out contracts and advances to first time novelists before they see entire manuscripts. You may have the best novel idea since Chicken Soup for the Left Behind Amish Vampire. But until you prove you can finish- and I mean close that curtain with a resounding thud- all youââ¬â¢re getting from publishers is Fifty Shades of Wait and See. So how do you ensure your story doesnââ¬â¢t fizzle when it should be delivering a thrill? Need help writing your novel?Click here to download my ultimate 12-step guide. 1. Keep the End in Sight the Whole Way Donââ¬â¢t play the wishing game, hoping it will simply work itself out when the time comes. Whether youââ¬â¢re a meticulous outliner or write by the seat of your pants, have an idea where your story is going and think about your ending every day. How you expect the story to end should inform every scene, every chapter. It may change, evolve, grow as you and your characters experience the inevitable arcs, but never leave it to chance. And if you get near the end and worry somethingââ¬â¢s missing, that the punch isnââ¬â¢t there or that it doesnââ¬â¢t live up to the power of the other elements of your book, donââ¬â¢t rush it. Give it a few days, a few weeks if necessary. Read through everything youââ¬â¢ve written. Take a long walk. Think on it. Sleep on it. Jot notes about it. Let your subconscious work on it. Play what-if games. Be outrageous if you must. Force that ending to sing. Make it unforgettable. Musts Be generous with your readers. They have invested in you and your work the entire way. Give them a proper payoff. Donââ¬â¢t allow it to look rushed by not allowing it berushed. Make it unpredictable but fair. You want readers to feel they should have seen it coming- because you planted enough hints- but not feel hoodwinked. Never settle. If youââ¬â¢re not happy with every word, scuttle it until you are. If you have too many ideas for how it should end, donââ¬â¢t despair. Just make yourself find the best one. When in doubt, go not for the cleverest or most cerebral. Readers long to be moved. Go for the heart. Rewrite it until it shines. Iââ¬â¢ve long been on record that all writing is rewriting, and this is never more true than at the end of your novel. When do you know itââ¬â¢s been rewritten enough? When youââ¬â¢ve gone from making it better to merely making it different. 2. Nothing Can Follow the End This goes without saying. But I say it anyway, why? Because too many beginners think it appears sophisticated to leave things nebulous, or they want to save something crucial for the Epilogue. Avoid that mistake. Modern readers raised on television and movies like chronology- beginnings, middles, ends. They expect the end to do its job. Artsy types may think it hip to just stop and enjoy gassing on talk shows about how life isnââ¬â¢t so tidy. Well, terrific. Iââ¬â¢ve seen enough movies like that, and I can tell you that most people donââ¬â¢t like sitting there shaking their heads as the lights come up. They scowl at each other and say, ââ¬Å"Really? Thatââ¬â¢s it? Weââ¬â¢re to wonder what happens now?â⬠All that does for me as a novelist is to remind me that I have one job, and I recommit myself to doing it again every time. Invent a story world for my readers and deliver a satisfying experience for them. They have invested their time and money, believing I will uphold my end of the bargain- and that means a beginning, a middle, and an end. One that satisfies. That doesnââ¬â¢t mean every ending is happily-ever-after, everything tied in a neat bow. But the reader knows what happened, questions are answered, things are resolved, puzzles are solved. And because I happen to have a worldview of hope, my work will reflect that. If you write from another worldview, at least be consistent. End your stories with how you see life, but donââ¬â¢t just stop. That said, some stories end too neatly and then appear contrived. If they end too late, youââ¬â¢ve asked your reader to indulge you for too long. Be judicious. In the same way you decide when to enter and leave a scene, carefully determine when to exit your novel. 3. Donââ¬â¢t Forget Your Hero This may seem obvious, but Iââ¬â¢ve seen it violated. Your lead character should be center stage at the end. Everything he learned throughout all the complications that arose from his trying to fix the terrible trouble you plunged him into should by now have made him the person who rises to the occasion. Maybe to this point he has been flawed, weak, defeated. But his character arc is about to resolve and become complete. The action must happen on stage, not just be about or remembered or simply narrated. It canââ¬â¢t be resolved by a miracle or because he realizes something. He must act. Thatââ¬â¢s what makes a reader respond emotionally, and if it moves you when you write it, it will move your readers exponentially. See yourself as the captain of a mighty airline. Youââ¬â¢ve taken your readers on a long, eventful journey. Now bring it in for a landing. Need help writing your novel?Click here to download my ultimate 12-step guide. What will you do to ensure a great ending to your novel?
Monday, November 4, 2019
The British Mandate on Palestine Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
The British Mandate on Palestine - Research Paper Example An analysis of the British mandate of Palestine shows gross deception and disregard for the rule of law on the part of the British and their conduct in making promises. This is because the British made their promises prior to seeking the mandate over Palestine from the League of Nations creating a strong sense of discontentment from the parties involved except for France and Britain, who were the major gainers. The mandate, in its deceptive means, established a home for the Jewish people as it allowed the British to buy more land for the resettlement of the Jewish people returning from Europe. The land was only available in Palestine, where the British had the mandate in terms of colonial authority and the British showered the Jews with support as even the British government was in for them. In addition, in the establishment of the mandate, the British are shown to have had plenty of corruption, where Arab agents were used to drummingà up support for them. They were also used as se ntries to develop and establish borders for the British in their division of the land so that the region could be carved out, as was the agreement between them and the French. The British mandate for Palestine stands for deception and treachery against the Arabs and in favor of the Jews, whose fortunes were overturned due to the approval of the League of Nations for Britain to govern the region. The governance features of the British mandate for Palestine involves the major conflict that culminated from the deception of the British, where both Jews and Arabs believed that the British had promised Palestine to them. With this in mind, governing the lands was a difficult concept for the British as it resulted in war, where the Arabs enforced guerilla tactics to force out British forces. On the other hand, the British favored the Jews in many factors allowing governance on the Jewish part to flow smoothly as compared to the Arabs. In addition, due to the creation of a Jewish national homeland, there was the creation of a Jewish agency in Palestine to allow the Jews to administer the migration and their rule as independent people (ââ¬Å"The Jerusalem Fundâ⬠).
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Discussion Board 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Discussion Board 5 - Essay Example So I view technology mainly as the reason that a gap between knowledge and technology exists. After all, I have yet to see a 21st century kid who does not think Google holds the answers to the mysteries of the world and then some. Or an adult who does not have a tablet PC or a cellular phone that does not have the ability to download news and information at the swipe of a fingertip. Anybody who happens to be aged 70 and above these and is not computer literate will be out of luck in trying to gain more advance information and knowledge about things of particular interest to them. Indeed, I see this gap existing in my community everyday. With the younger generation impatiently trying to teach their grandparents about computers and how to access the web so they can get access to valuable information relating to their personal or medical care. It saddens me to see this gap constantly widening because technology has far outpaced the spread of knowledge already and has mistakenly allowed people to think that the two are actually growing at a simultaneous
Thursday, October 31, 2019
The Arab League's Role in the Syrian Civil War Article
The Arab League's Role in the Syrian Civil War - Article Example There is also the theme of government response and the consequences that such consequences carried. This theme makes it very important to discuss the overall concept of political authority and power utilization. This is because from every indication, the response of the government as an authority and holder of power was something that dragged the Syrian Civil War to levels it can currently be found (Zartman, 2012). Cooperation and interferences that were received both internally and externally from the Arab League were also highlighted as an important theme in the article. Finally, the future of Syria was an important theme raised in the article that leaves the reader thinking if there is any hope at all for Syria from the current position it finds itself. The major theoretical position outlined in the article was international relations. As explained by Carlsnaes (2012), international relations encompass the relationships that exists among countries as exemplified through the roles of sovereign states, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and even multinational corporations. The article clearly shows how each of these stakeholders played critical roles in the Syrian Civil War. Most of these roles were discussed under ââ¬Å"External cooperation and interferenceâ⬠section of the article and clearly outlined the positive and negative outcomes with international relations. By emphasizing more on the role of the Arab League, it is very easy for the reader to get a sense of urgency for change with ongoing development of Foreign Policy Analysis. This is because the author constantly expressed mixed feelings about the impact of the real roles of the Arab League as it was not very clear whether the Arab League re gistered their presence for the purpose of serving its long awaited ambition for independence and unity or whether the regional body was there to focus directly on stopping the war. Into the future, it is important that
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Convey the story Essay Example for Free
Convey the story Essay Heloise and Abelard by James Burger has its place among the most famous biographies that were written about the pair of lovers who lived in Medieval Age, and which is based on the correspondence the two held. It opens a new perspective on the life of the Dark Ages, on its institutions and philosophies, and most of all, on its theology. The lovers who became the victims of the religious age they lived in, that could not admit their love, or any other type of love, for that matter, except religious love. The characters themselves are besides the initiators of free love, the ones who foresee the escape from the too rigid, rule-based religion of the Medieval centuries: ââ¬Å"Let us read after this the famous Colloquy of Erasmus, The Franciscan, and we will find repeated all the essential ideas of Heloise: Christ preached but one religion, the same for layfolk and monks; the Christian renounces the world and professes to live only for Christ, and St. Paul did not preach this doctrine for monks but for everyone; layfolk, even the married, are bound to chastity and poverty quite as much as monks; in short, the only rule binding the Christian is the Gospel. Once she has adopted this course, Heloises frank and direct reason would not let her stop. Carried away by her own logic she was to touch, one after the other, almost all the critical points on which the humanists and reformers of the sixteenth century are so insistent. Why forbid meat to monks? Meat in itself is neither good nor bad. Let us not attach religious importance to things which in fact have none. Nothing counts save what can lead us to the kingdom of God. Let us forget, then, these exterior practices common to truly pious souls and to hypocrites, It is only interior acts that really count for the Christian. The rest is Judaism. â⬠(Gilson, 132) Thus, the point that the story of Heloise and Abelard is trying to make, is that theirs was the one of the most tragic examples of the many failures of the Medieval Age, which persecuted through religion and rigid commandments, trough enclosing monasteries and punishments of all kind, instead of opening the road to what true spirituality means. The touching and tragic story of the lovers impresses because of the nobility of their thoughts and feelings, and also to the spectacular love story, which remains intense throughout their lives. Love is blended with the Christian doctrine, and the lovers try to find a bridge between the two, something that will only be found later in the history or religion, with the advent of humanism. 2. Explain who Heloise and Abelard were. What is their background and upbringing? What brings their paths together? Heloise and Abelard form one of the most famous couples known for their romantic love, so often compared to such immortal stories like that of Romeo and Juliet. However, their story is the real account of a twelfth century couple that lasted throughout the centuries both because of the unusual love story that united them, and also because of the startling sincerity and openness of the letters that favors a clear view of their characters and lives, and of the circumstances of the century they lived in. Pierre Abelard was a well-known philosopher and theologian of the Middle Ages, whose studies have been concerned with mainly with logic and dialectics in the early years, and then with ethics and theology later on in his life. Of the account he himself gives of his early life in the letter addressed to his friend Philintus, we find that in his early youth he discovered his ââ¬Å"natural genius for studyâ⬠, and became ââ¬Å"smitten with love for booksâ⬠, so much so that he decided to renounce at once the fortune that father had bestowed on him as his eldest son, to his brothers and to dedicate himself entirely to learning. His passion and ambition to become a great logician soon brought him notoriety inside the circles of scholars, and he stood out as one of the most reputed teachers of his time. It is in the midst of his glory as a philosopher that the event that will change his life forever occurs: he sees Heloise, the niece of a certain Fulbert. She is belongs to a lower social class than he but she is equal in all else to him: she is literate and very learned, perhaps even surpassing him in depth of thought and feeling. All these were unique and very rare qualities in a medieval woman. Abelard concocts the perfect means of making her acquaintance, with a clear intention to conquer her and make her his mistress. He talks to the uncle, and after having offered him a sum of money, he obtains the latterââ¬â¢s assent to instruct his daughter as her teacher. Heloise, who has reason enough to admire him for his knowledge and brilliant mind, soon falls in love with him and becomes his lover, without the slightest resistance. It is here that their fascinating but tragic story actually begins. 3. Who was William of Champeaux? Discuss his influence in the life of Abelard. Why did Abelard achieve both acclaim and notoriety? Abelard has been, because of his originality of thought, in controversy with many of the philosophers of the age, among these, William of Champeaux, who began by being his teacher, but who was soon outwitted in the lectures he gave by his student. This naturally created animosity between the two, and it became even more founded when Abelard started teaching himself, and drew to his side most of the students that formerly had been instructed by Champeaux: ââ¬Å"I put myself under the direction of one Champeaux, a professor who had acquired the character of the most skilful philosopher of his age, but by negative excellencies only as being the least ignorant! He received me with great demonstrations of kindness, but I was not so happy as to please him long; for I was too knowing in the subjects he discoursed upon, and I often confuted his notions. Frequently in our disputations I pushed a good argument so home that all his subtlety was not able to elude its force. It was impossible he should see himself surpassed by his scholar without resentment. It is sometimes dangerous to have too much merit. Envy increased against me in proportion to my reputation. â⬠( I) Abelard was many times an envied scholar, and later on, he was even accused of heresy for his ideas, by the enemies he always made in his circle. But, nevertheless, he became more and more notorious, because of the originality and novelty of his ideas, and especially because of his passion and ability for logic and argumentation. 4. How do Heloise and Abelard fall in love? What challenges must their relationship overcome? What were the consequences for both Abelard and Heloise? What is transcendent or universal about their love story? Together in the house of Heloiseââ¬â¢s uncle, under the assumed masks of teacher and student, Heloise and Abelard begin their love story. As it becomes clear from Abelardââ¬â¢s own confessions in the letters to her, and from the imputations she brings on him, in her turn, the beginning of their of their affair was due more to his lust and incontinence rather than to his feelings for her: ââ¬Å"Was it not the sole thought of pleasure which engaged you to me? And has not my tenderness, by leaving you nothing to wish for, extinguished your desires? Wretched Heloise! you could please when you wished to avoid it; you merited incense when you could remove to a distance the hand that offered it: but since your heart has been softened and has yielded, since you have devoted and sacrificed yourself, you are deserted and forgotten! â⬠(II) Heloise however, seems to have given herself completely to her feelings to him, from beginning to end of their love story. After they remained together for the space of a few months, but their love was son discovered by Heloiseââ¬â¢s uncle, who, enraged, demanded compensation from Abelard for his offense against the family honor. Abelard decides to marry Heloise, and when the latter becomes pregnant he sends her away to Britanny, to the care of his sister. The actual situation of the two lovers can not be fully comprehended without placing it in the Medieval context. Thus, it would perhaps seem natural to a modern reader that marriage be a solution for Abelard and Heloise, one that would confer legitimacy on their bond, both from the point of view of religion and from that of moral. However, this was not the case at all, for a few clear reasons. First of all, both Abelard and Heloise were both learned people, with such strict and high spiritual aspirations that they were incompatible with the idea of lay marriage. Abelard wanted for himself the kind of pure life that he admired in Saint Jerome or Seneca, and which would bring him the glory he longed for. For Heloise his glory would have been her glory too, so she was actually the one who withstood all she could the idea of marriage. In the strict sense of the world, according to the Medieval moral and religious laws, Abelard had the right to marry, without losing by this act the right to teach or his clerical dignity. The actual danger was that they, as all Medieval scholars, regarded marriage as a form of weakness and incontinence, that would inevitably and permanently drive a scholar away from his prayers and philosophical inquiries. Marriage was therefore considered degrading, and not a lot better than fornication for the ones who aspired to become theologians, because it had the same consequences ââ¬â surrendering to sensual pleasures and forgetting oneââ¬â¢s duty to God: ââ¬Å"If therefore laymen and pagans have lived thus, without the restrictions of a religious profession, how much the more is it your duty to do so, you who are a cleric and a canon, lest you should come to prefer shameful pleasures to the divine service, lest you cast yourself into the gulf of Charybdis and perish, lest you should destroy yourself in these obscenities to the mockery of the whole world. (III) It is precisely in this conflict between their great passion and their aspiration for spiritual heroism, that the tragedy of Heloise and Abelard begins, even more so, when we consider that the spiritual ideals they tried to attain were not imposed on them from the outside, but were their own, and therefore as powerful as their love. It is this context that makes possible the famous and extraordinary statement of Heloise to Abelard, in which she declares that she would rather be his mistress or his prostitute than his wife: ââ¬Å"You cannot but be entirely persuaded of this by the extreme unwillingness I showed to marry you, though I knew that the name of wife was honorable in the world and holy in religion; yet the name of your mistress had greater charms because it was freer. The bonds of matrimony, however honorable, still bear with them a necessary engagement and I was very unwilling to be necessitated to love always a man who would perhaps not always love me. â⬠(II) As she herself declares it, Heloise believed in the disinteresedness of love, and considered, ahead of the time she lived in, that marriage does nothing to preserve the purity of love, but, on the contrary, makes it the slave of ambition or other advantages that are not love itself. Love is not to be confused with mere life or be put under the same necessities as the latter, as it would happen in a marriage, and this is seemingly what the story of Heloise and Abelard signified: a love that surpassed in intensity and nobility the limitations of simple life: ââ¬Å"You have very justly observed in your letter that I esteemed those public engagements insipid which form alliances only to be dissolved by death, and which put life and love under the same unhappy necessity. ( )With what ease did you compose verses! And yet those ingenious trifles, which were but a recreation to you, are still the entertainment and delight of persons of the best taste. The smallest song, the least sketch of anything you made for me, had a thousand beauties capable of making it last as long as there are lovers in the world. Thus those songs will be sung in honor of other women which you designed only for me, and those tender and natural expressions which spoke your love will help others to explain their passion with much more advantage than they themselves are capable of. â⬠(IV) Heloise already takes pride in their love story as something universal that will be used as a ground for comparison for future couples who will be bound by so great a love. The two loved each other with such great ardor and nobility, that their love is pure in spite of their sin. In spite of Heloiseââ¬â¢s noble attitude that can not consent either to the loss of glory by the man she loves or to the degrading of noble and free love by binding it to the hearse of marriage, the two eventually contract a ââ¬Å"secret marriageâ⬠, a compromise imposed by Abelard, so as not to lose Heloise but at the same time, to maintain his respectfulness in public. Abelard sends his wife to the monastery of Argenteuil to avoid further rumors about their marriage, already dressing her in the nun habit, without knowing that she will wear it forever afterwards . The climax of these happenings comes with the barbaric act of revenge that Heloiseââ¬â¢s uncle commits. He bribes the servants of Abelard and these allow for someone to enter the room of their master by night and castrate him. This terrible and symbolic revenge is perhaps what made the love story between Heloise and Abelard legendary. Afterwards, they both retire in convents, Heloise being the first to put on the veil, at Abelardââ¬â¢s command, who not being able to posses her anymore, shuts her up from the world in his jealousy, so that she might never belong to anyone else. This is perhaps the greatest and incontestable act of love and sacrifice she performs for him, surrendering herself completely, and renouncing the greatest thing for him: not the world, as he thought, but him, the man she loved. Their love becomes transcendental and universal through the very passion that fettered them when they were together, but which also manifested itself in their acts of renouncement.
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