Essay example --

History / Educational Influences Marina City, as a modernist urban solution, was possible by Bertrand Goldberg because of his formal architectural training as well as his early practice and interaction with key architects. Exposure to architectural, socioeconomic, and cultural context that shaped modernist architecture developed him as an architect. Influence began early on from his physics teacher, George Vaubel, which inspired him with a lifelong love for logic and â€Å"reasoning backwards† and finding evidence for what was taught to him. Goldberg studied at the Cambridge School of Architecture and Landscape then at the Bauhaus in Berlin, Germany and lastly, at the Armour Institute of Technology in Chicago. He discovered architecture while studying at Harvard in 1930. The dean, Henry Frost, allowed Goldberg to study with his graduate studio as an undergraduate. During the Great Depression, Goldberg was studying at Harvard where debates with professors and fellow students centered on the political and soc ial problem, dealing with poverty. It unleashed and influenced his lifelong consciousness of social and political factors because he took social and political problems into consideration when designing. Harvard exposed Goldberg to the Beaux-Arts architecture and he desired to go to Paris to study but instead went to the Bauhaus after being advised. The Bauhaus introduced Goldberg to the new ideals of art and architecture. The Bauhaus emphasized on vision and spatial skills. Goldberg was greatly influenced by Mies van de Rohe and Josef Albers. Goldberg embraced â€Å"less is more† and was disciplined to work out details of the total design by creating an aesthetic out of structure and seeking alliance with an industrial world. At the B... ... solution of a central core and columns made the structure safe and efficient. The concrete also acted provided security against uplift because of concrete nature of heaviness. Mechanical systems were engineered within the floors which allowed for more spatial freedom. The efficient solution to the foundation was also achieved through engineering and the use of caissons. Construction initiated after structural issues were resolved. Machine and hand became the medium to create the building. While the tower crane allowed for the fast construction of Marina City, artisanship was also required. The use of formwork to create the petals require of artisanship while being mass produce implied machine. The hand work can be seen in the uneven surfaces were molding was required. Marina City became the biggest structural and residential building at the time of its completion.

Teen pregnancy Essay -- Social Issues, Sex Education, health

There are many risks that teenagers take when they decide to have a child at a young age. The baby, as well as the parents, may face long-time problems from the pregnancy. These problems may include school failure, poverty, and physical or mental illness. Babies born to teenagers are at greater risk for neglect and abuse than those of a woman. Teenage mothers may feel like they are being demanded to do the job and they may take their frustration out on the child (When 2000). It is proven that traditional approaches to reducing teenage pregnancy rates such as sex education class or better sexual health services are not effective on their own. (DiCenso. 2004) This research has generated increased interest in the effects of interventions that target the social disadvantage associated with early pregnancy and parenthood. A social disadvantage refers to social and economic difficulties such as poverty, unemployment, and discrimination, and is distributed unequally on the basis of soc io-demographic characteristics such as ethnicity, socio-economic position, educational level, and place of residence. (Anand, 2006) Being a teen parent not only affects the parent but it also affects the child. Children from homes run by teenage mothers have to face almost insurmountable obstacles in life. The incidents of depression and mental health problems, the lack of father figures, and the high rate of poverty often connected to children in homes run by teenage mothers put them at serious disadvantages when compared to children raised in nuclear families. Many people believe that the implementation of sex education in schools and the addition of more federal aid for single parents are major causes for the country's high rate of teen pregnanci... ...ncouraged to finish school if at all possible. This will increase the chances of obtaining a good paying job. There are programs that help teenage mothers complete their curriculum and obtain their diploma such as home bound teaching, and online courses. It is also important for parents and community support to encourage these teens to set realistic goals for their life and give them something to look forward to. It is important for them to know that this is not the end of the world and that they can make it and go far with the love and support of their family. So many teens fall by the wayside because their families give up on them. This is one of the worst things that can be done to them. They are already afraid and feeling alone and when their support system pulls out from under them that can cause major problems for them and possibly the baby as well. Teen pregnancy Essay -- Social Issues, Sex Education, health There are many risks that teenagers take when they decide to have a child at a young age. The baby, as well as the parents, may face long-time problems from the pregnancy. These problems may include school failure, poverty, and physical or mental illness. Babies born to teenagers are at greater risk for neglect and abuse than those of a woman. Teenage mothers may feel like they are being demanded to do the job and they may take their frustration out on the child (When 2000). It is proven that traditional approaches to reducing teenage pregnancy rates such as sex education class or better sexual health services are not effective on their own. (DiCenso. 2004) This research has generated increased interest in the effects of interventions that target the social disadvantage associated with early pregnancy and parenthood. A social disadvantage refers to social and economic difficulties such as poverty, unemployment, and discrimination, and is distributed unequally on the basis of soc io-demographic characteristics such as ethnicity, socio-economic position, educational level, and place of residence. (Anand, 2006) Being a teen parent not only affects the parent but it also affects the child. Children from homes run by teenage mothers have to face almost insurmountable obstacles in life. The incidents of depression and mental health problems, the lack of father figures, and the high rate of poverty often connected to children in homes run by teenage mothers put them at serious disadvantages when compared to children raised in nuclear families. Many people believe that the implementation of sex education in schools and the addition of more federal aid for single parents are major causes for the country's high rate of teen pregnanci... ...ncouraged to finish school if at all possible. This will increase the chances of obtaining a good paying job. There are programs that help teenage mothers complete their curriculum and obtain their diploma such as home bound teaching, and online courses. It is also important for parents and community support to encourage these teens to set realistic goals for their life and give them something to look forward to. It is important for them to know that this is not the end of the world and that they can make it and go far with the love and support of their family. So many teens fall by the wayside because their families give up on them. This is one of the worst things that can be done to them. They are already afraid and feeling alone and when their support system pulls out from under them that can cause major problems for them and possibly the baby as well.

Communication Strategies for Leaders Essay

A leader must be able to communicate effectively. When asked to define leadership, theorists and practitioners alike frequently use the words â€Å"influence,† â€Å"inspire† and â€Å"transform,† all of which depend on communication, verbal and nonverbal. Leaders lead through their words and actions. This text focuses on both, thus the emphasis throughout on emotional intelligence, the ability to understand the self and others (Barrett, 2011). Effective leadership communication requires the ability to anticipate to the potential interruptions in the transmission of the message, appreciate the context, understand the audience, select the right medium and craft a clear message that allows the meaning to reach the specific receiver as intended (Barrett, 2011). In my quest to achieve superior communication leadership skills I have had the opportunity to assess and evaluate my effectiveness in communication leadership. This personal assessment has indicated I must become more strategic as strategy is the foundation on which any effective communication depends on. Leaders must be able to analyze their audience in every situation and design a communication strategy that facilitates accomplishing their communication. Communication is critical to every organization and for any aspiring leader. I plan to be strategic in developing a plan to be a more effective communicator by reaching out to external constituents as that is an area for communication improvement. Overall, effective communication strategy depends on ones thinking and planning strategically understanding your audience, and structuring your communication for different situations, delivery methods, and audiences to ensure that you connect with your audience and deliver your intended message (Barrett, 2011). III. As a leader and manager in my organization I take pride in being an effective leader and communication. I have been at my non-profit organization for the  past 6 years and have made significant improvement and learned to grow my communication skills. Owens (1998) mentions two key features of leadership which are: (1) the engagement of persons in a process that identifies them with goals, and (2) the potential to change the institutional environment (e.g. values, beliefs, etc.) by implementing diversity goals into the organizational culture. At the same time, I am a leader that promotes integrity to motivate ethical behavior across the entire organization. Also, it is important for me to create an open environment in which followers and employees feel free to speak up and come forward to me when any action needs to take place. Overall, I am always striving to be a better communicator in all situations as it teaches as I want to be recognized by others as a transformational leader. IV. Score Skill Area 3 Communication Strategy 2 Written Communication Skills 1 = substantial need to improve 3 Oral Communication Skills 2 = some need to improve 3 Ethos/Image 3 = little need to improve 3 Skills at Dealing with Others 4 = no need to improve at this time 3 Observation and Feedback Skills 3 Team Communications and Dynamics Skills 3 Skills at Dealing with Your Own Feelings 3 Internal Corporate Communication 2 External Corporate Communication I consider my oral public speaking skills to be my major strength when communicating to internal colleagues at my organization. I am always poised to conduct presentations and participate in public speaking engagements. I always maintain a sense of confidence and take pride in my public speaking skills. At the same time, I feel much more comfortable in situations where I can communicate effectively with my team members and demonstrate my dynamic skills to engage them effectively. I tend to be a coach and a motivator among my employees. I use different means to get my employees to want to be better at their duties and take full ownership of their tasks and goals. I also have a lot of confidence in being able to utilize my skills in dealing with others feelings and communicating with them solutions to help them with their particular situation. I would consider my interpersonal communication skills with external relations as an area for improvement. I tend to be an extrovert when it comes to public speaking and very confidant with communicating with large audiences but I tend to be introverted when it comes to communication in smaller groups or individual communication with members of external organizations. Barrett (2011) suggests that selecting the right spokesperson to deliver external messages can be almost as critical as the message themselves. I need to work on this part of my communication leadership by participating in more social and networking events to work on my confidence in communicating with external constituents. I also plan to travel more with my executive leadership team and attend meetings and events to get a better understanding of how to communicate more effectively in my external communication. Improvement Goal Action Steps to Achieve Goal (Program) Deadline Method to Measure Success Develop better oral communication skills with external corporate relations Attend more external corporate events and meetings with the executive team. Solicit feedback from executive team members concerning areas for improvement and change any behavior based on feedback Participate in more networking events with external constituents. December 31, 2013 Attend various events. Listen to the feedback given and start to implement that feedback in my future interactions. Achieved: No Further development of my written communication skills Solicit feedback from my supervisor and other employees about my written communication. Conduct more proofreading and be more strategic in my research. December 31, 2013 Compare written material from previous months. Have others review my written communication. Effective leadership communication requires the ability to anticipate to the potential interruptions in the transmission of the message, appreciate the context, understand the audience, select the right medium and craft a clear  message that allows the meaning to reach the specific receiver as intended (Barrett, 2011). I always maintain a sense of confidence and take pride in my public speaking skills. At the same time, I feel much more comfortable in situations where I can communicate effectively with my team members and demonstrate my dynamic skills to engage them effectively which include motivating and coaching. I would consider my interpersonal communication skills with external relations as an area for improvement. I tend to be an extrovert when it comes to public speaking and very confidant with communicating with large audiences but I tend to be introverted when it comes to communication in smaller groups or individual communication with members of external organizations. I have action steps in place to help me in my leadership development which include attending more external corporate events and meetings with the executive team. Solicit feedback from executive team members concerning areas for improvement and change any behavior based on feedback. Also, I plan to participate in more networking events with external constituents. References Aamodt, M. (2013). Industrial/Organizational Psychology: An applied approach. Seventh edition. Cox et. al (2007). Evaluating organizational-level work stress interventions: Beyond tradition methods. Work & Stress, 21, 348-362. Ebbers, L., Conover, K., Samuels, A. (2010). Leading from the middle: preparing leaders for new roles. New directions for Community Colleges.Wiley Periodicals. Frese, M (2009). The changing nature of work. In N. Chmiel (Ed.) An introduction to work and organizational psychology (2nd ed., pp. 397-413). Oxford: Blackwell publishing. Lawler, E.E. (2001). Organizing for high performance. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Owens, Robert. (1998). Organizational Behavior in Education (6th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

What Weapons and Transportation Machines Were Improved the Most Between World War One and World War Two?

What Weapons and Transportation Machines were Improved the Most between World War One and World War Two? During World War One, tanks, guns, chemical weapons, bombs, airplanes, ships, submarines and grenades were used to kill. A lot of these weapons and machines were difficult to use, really easy to destroy, too heavy, didn't last too long, not accurate enough, and didn't shoot too far. The weapons and Transportation machines were improved in World War Two to make it easier to kill; therefore soldiers would kill more of the enemies. Also, if the machines were too easy to destroy, they improved them or eliminated them. New technologies were invented after World War One because the soldiers realized that they needed better strategies to kill the enemies without themselves getting injured and killed. Some of those technologies were used for defensive purposes as well. For example, the radar was a new technology that was used to identify where the enemies are so they could kill them, and the radar was used to identify when the enemies were attacking so that they could defend ahead of time. Transportation machines such as airplanes, tanks, submarines, ships, and weapons such as different types of guns were improved in World War Two. Airplanes, tanks, submarines, and ships used in World War One were improved for World War Two. Airplanes in World War One didn’t have as much technology as in World War Two and couldn’t fly a long distance in a short amount of time like the planes from World War Two used to fly. Airplanes in World War Two had more space for bombs on board and they had radars. Tanks in World War Two had more weight than in World War One, meaning that they had more metal on them so bullets wouldn’t damage the tanks easily. In World War One war most tanks would have a range of 25 miles[1], while in World War Two a tank could reach the range of 400km[2], which is 248. 5 miles. The armor inside the tank also increased, that’s why the tanks got heavier in World War Two. Submarines had more deck guns in World War Two because more guns were invented during World War Two[3]. The Radar was invented after World War One and before World War Two; therefore they installed the radar in the submarines for World War Two. The Submarines in World War Two had air conditioning and new battery-powered engines, which was not used in World War One either[4]. The ships in World War One didn’t have radars because the radar was invented after World War One. Ships in World War Two had the radars installed, got their speed increased, and the cannon range increased as well. The usage of machine guns in World War One brought new ideas to built better models of machine guns and submachine guns in World War Two. MP40 is a submachine gun that was produced from 1940 to 1945. The MP40 is an automatic gun, and it’s really accurate. Its effective range is 100 meters, and its rate of fire is 550 rounds per minute. 5] Another model of a commonly used submachine gun is the Thompson. This submachine gun was produced in 1921. The Thompson is an automatic gun as well. It is very accurate, and the fire rate is very high: 800-850 rounds per minute. Its effective range is 50 meters. [6] A very commonly used and successful machine gun is the SG-43, which was in service from 1943-1968. This machine gun was gas operated, and it wa s automatic. The machine guns in World War One were not gas operated and didn’t have the rate of fire that the machine guns from World War Two have. The rate of fire from the SG-43, which was used in World War Two, is 500-700 rounds per minute,[7] while a machine gun from World War One would only fire 400-600 small-calibre rounds per minute. [8] The performance of the rifles in World War One was really poor; therefore they improved some rifles and even made new models for World War Two. Rifles in World War One would usually fire only 15 rounds per minute. Their range was about 1,400 meters, but the accuracy could only be guaranteed at around 600 meters. [9] Before World War Two, the performance of the rifles was improved and new Rifles were created. The STG-44 was a gas-operated assault rifle that was developed during World War Two in 1942. Its effective range is 300 meters, but its fire rate was 500-600 rounds per minute. [10] The Karabiner 98k is a bolt-action rifle that was produced from 1935-1945. Its effective range with iron sights is 500 meters, and over 800 meters with optics. [11] The M1 Garand is a gas-operated semi-automatic rifle that was produced from 1936-1957. Its effective range was 402 meters. [12] All weapons and transportation machines such as airplanes, tanks, submarines, nd ships that were used in World War One had a poor performance; therefore they were improved before and during World War Two. Works Cited Day, V. , 14, A. , 1945. , produced, o. f. , & Army, m. t. (n. d. ). Rifle, Cal. .30 06, M1, Garand. GlobalSecurity. org – Reliable Security Information. Retrieved February 16, 2010, from: http://www. globalsecurity. org/military/systems/ground/m1garand. htm (February 6, 2010). StG 44. Retrieved Fe bruary 16, 2010 from Wikipedia website: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Stg_44 (February 16, 2010). Karabiner 98k. Retrieved February 16, 2010 from Wikipedia website: http://en. ikipedia. org/wiki/Kar98 (February 16, 2010) M1 Garand. Retrieved February 16, 2010 from Wikipedia website: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/M1_garand (February 16, 2010). MP 40. Retrieved February 16, 2010 from Wikipedia website: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/MP40 (February 14, 2010). Thompson submachine gun. Retrieved February 16, 2010 from Wikipedia website: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Thompson_submachine_gun First World War. com – Weapons of War: Rifles. (n. d. ). First World War. com – A Multimedia History of World War One. Retrieved March 3, 2010, from:  http://www. firstworldwar. om/weaponry/rifles. htm guns, 1. h. (n. d. ). First World War. com – Weapons of War: Machine Guns. First World War. com – A Multimedia History of World War One. Retrieved March 2, 2010, from: ht tp://www. firstworldwar. com/weaponry/machineguns. htm I, t. e. (n. d. ). World War One, The Submarine. World History International: World History Essays From Prehistory To The Present. Retrieved February 16, 2010, from: http://history-world. org/world_war_i_and_the_submarine. htm (January 4, 2010). SG-43 Goryunov. Retrieved February 16, 2010 from Wikipedia website: http://en. ikipedia. org/wiki/SG-43 Rusty coot. (2010) What is the difference between World War 1 submarines and World War 2 submarines?. Retrieved February 16, 2010 from WikiAnswers website: http://wiki. answers. com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_World_War_1_sub marines_and_World_War_2_submarines St. Christopher House & The Working Group Inc. (2004). World War II Tanks. Retrieved February 16, 2010, from The Valour and the Horror website: http://www. valourandhorror. com/DB/SPEC/WW2tanks. php (Thursday, February 13, 2003). WW1 Tanks & Cars. Retrieved February 16, 2010, from Mailer. fsu. edu website: ttp://mailer. fsu. edu/~akirk/tanks/ww1/WW1. html ———————– [1] Katya Kuersteiner, Witold J. Lawrynowicz, John Stevens, Auke Smit, John Wilson, (February 13, 2003). â€Å"WWI Tanks & Cars†. Retrieved February 16, 2010, from Mailer. fsu. edu website: http://mailer. fsu. edu/~akirk/tanks/ww1/WW1. html [2] (2004). â€Å"World War II Tanks†. Retrieved February 16, 2010, from The Valour and the Horror website: http://www. valourandhorror. com/DB/SPEC/WW2tanks. php [3] â€Å"World War One, The Submarine†. Retrieved February 16, 2010, from: http://history-world. org/world_war_i_and_the_submarine. htm [4] (2010). What is the difference between World War 1 submarines and World War 2 submarines? † Retrieved February 16, 2010 from WikiAnswers website: http://wiki. answers. com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_World_War_1_submarines_and_Wo rld_War_2_submarines [5] (February 16, 2010) â€Å"MP40†. Retrieved February 16, 2010 from Wikipedia website: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/MP40 [6] (February 14, 2010). â€Å"Thompson submachine gun†. Retrieved February 16, 2010 from Wikipedia website: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Thompson_submachine_gun [7] (January 4, 2010). â€Å"SG-43 Goryunov†. Retrieved February 16, 2010 from Wikipedia website: http://en. ikipedia. org/wiki/SG-43 [8] Michael Duffy, (22 August, 2009). â€Å"Weapons of War – Machine Guns†. Retrieved March 2, 2010, from: http://www. firstworldwar. com/weaponry/machineguns. htm [9] Michael Duffy, (22 August, 2009). â€Å"Weapons of War – Rifles† Retrieved March 2, 2010, from: http://www. firstworldwar. com/weaponry/rifles. htm [10] (February 6, 2010). â€Å"StG 44†. Retrieved February 16, 2010 from Wikipedia website: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Stg_44 [11] (February 16, 2010). â€Å"Karabiner 98k†. Retrieved February 16, 2010 from Wikipedia website: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Kar98

Costco History

The History of Costco Wholesale DeAna Castro Wilmington University MGT 6501 Abstract Costco is a members only, international retail chain discount warehouse Club. They combine high quality merchandise with low prices. Costco began in 1976 as Price Club and restructured in 1997 as Costco Wholesales. Costco’s passion, mission, and ethics have been the key to the leading membership warehouse retail giant to supply their customers with low prices. Their low cost business strategies and dedication to their employees, suppliers and shareholders have proven success. The History of CostcoThe history of Costco began in July, 1976, in San Diego, California, and its name was Price Club. It was cofounded by Sol and Robert Price. The newly designed business was the first ‘warehouse’ business of it’s kind. This retail business originally targeted other business owners, but blended retail and wholesale. Price Club had unbeatable low prices and sold bulk items. Three years later, 1979, Price Club expanded two new locations. They acquired 200,000 members and profited 1 million dollars. Price Cub showed a loss of profits the first year, but the expansion proved profitable.Jim Sinegal is a key player to the success of Costco because he started his career being mentored by Sol Price. He worked in the warehouse business at Price Club and another warehouse business called Fedmart, both owned by Sol Price. (Cardon). In 1983, Jim Sinegal and Jeff Brottman would open their own warehouse club near Seattle Washington, and it was called Costco (Daft, 2012 pp. 605). One year later, Costco expanded to nine warehouses in five states. It was not long before Price Club realized they could achieve larger cliental if they served a selected audience of ‘non-business’ members.This payed off by the year 1984, Price Club sales would be greater than one billion dollars and is the first company to achieve this mark in a six year period. Almost ten years later, 1 993, Costco and Price Club, would merge and become PriceCostco. This merge was nicely matched because they were very similar in business model and size. The combined companies included 206 locations and generated $16 billion in annual sales. Jim Sinegal would also become Costco’s President and chief executive (Priceviewer). The merger only lasted about four years and, in 1997, PriceCostco became Costco.Jim Sinegal remained President and chief executer (Carden, 2011). Costco’s Mission statement: To continually provide our members with quality goods and services at the lowest possible prices in order to achieve our mission we will conduct our business with the following Code of Ethics in mind: Obey the law, Take care of our members and our employees, and respect our vendors/suppliers. â€Å"If we do these four things throughout our organization, then we will realize our ultimate goal, which is to reward our shareholders. † Jim Sinegal. (Costco, 2011)Costco’ s operating philosophy is to keep costs down, and pass the savings on to their customers. To offer high quality brand name merchandise at prices below any other avenue of retail. They accomplish this several ways. They buy high volumes of merchandise directly from manufactures and not distributers. The merchandise is shipped directly to a selling warehouse and not a storage area, and this also reduces freight costs. Costco warehouses are located on sites where property costs are minimum not on high real estate locations. Merchandise, or stock, is placed directly on a selling floor and on the pallets that they are delivered on.By doing this, labor and handling, costs are reduced to save the customer money. Sales and service employees are kept at a minimal to also reduce overhead costs. Last, because Costco’s has such an incredibly large membership base they have influence and power to haggle prices with their manufacturers and suppliers. â€Å"Costco is able to offer lower pr ices and better values by eliminating virtually all the frills and costs historically associated with conventional wholesalers and retailers, including salespeople, fancy buildings, delivery, billing and accounts receivable.We run a tight operation with extremely low overhead which enables us to pass on dramatic savings to our members. † Jim Sinegal (corporate, 2012). Costco pride’s themselves as a leading warehouse/big box retailer. Sales volume exceeds that of their competition and they use a â€Å"consumer first† business model. This business model is a creative way that has expanded sales. Costco has developed additional ways to continue to save money for their customers. They did this by creating their own brand. Costco’s personal brand is ‘Kirkland Signature. Kirkland, Washington's the root of Costco and is where their headquarters is located. Kirkland Signature brand was introduced to Costco stores in 1995. It was designed to be equal or bette r quality than national brands. Kirkland Signature products include diapers, coffee, tires, clothing, film, housewares and more. (Priceviewer). Often, national brands are co- brands with Kirkland Signature products. Some manufactures realize the success and power of Costco and have agreed to manufacture products with the Kirkland Signature label. Some companies include Hanes and Whirlpool. Branch, 1999). â€Å"Costco continues to prove their â€Å"consumer first† business model, through the creation of new and unique business concepts, included Costco Pharmacy (1986) Produce and Bakery (1987), Optical labs (1987), 1-Hour Photo (1989), Hearing Aid Centers (1994), Costco Gas stations (1995), Costco business Centers (1996), Costco Travel (2000), Costco Home (2003), and Car Washes (2006)† (Walker, 2011). Costco’s structure and culture, meets customer needs further than low prices. Costco focuses on value of it’s products but also focuses on value of itâ€℠¢s employees.They believe that achieving a long term objectives of reducing employee turnover and enhancing employee satisfaction is beneficial. To accomplish this they hire employees at an above average hourly rate, they train and promote from within. Doing this, their employees feel loyalty and valued. Costco Continues to be financially successful today and has expanded internationally. Their mission and ethics have proved to be successful and beneficial to all that the organization is involved with to include, customers employees, suppliers/vendors and stockholders.What does organizational design truly mean? Have you considered how it can work best? If yes, how? If no, why not? Organizational design is a formal process for integrating people, information, and technology. Organizations are people that have a declaration of purpose, vision and strategy. This structure matches people to the purpose it seeks to achieve a common goal or purpose. It is designed to enhance communication , information, and resources to optimize human achievement. The end product is an integrated system of people and resources tailored to the specific direction of the organization.Organizational design basically is an execution of an administrative plan guided by a leader/leaders. The design of the organization can work best if the people work together as a team. It will also work best, if the mission, vision, strategy, purpose and needs of the organization are identified and the goals are achievable. Organizations also work best if it’s leader understands, guides and assures the process is followed and encourages creative thinking. If their is not an effective leader who does not have a mission, vision, strategy and followers, the organization can and will fail.Costco has proven to have a successful organizational design. Describe the â€Å"Trap of favored ways of thinking†? How did it impact your thinking? In Organizations ‘traps’ can be hazardous to thei r success. These traps can prohibit and restrict creativity, limits capabilities and limits ability to progress into the future. Some common traps are: Group Thinking- Productive conflict is critical if common traits are shared in a group because it prevents bad ideas from being implemented without discussion or consideration. Non productive conflict is not productive and can become a hostile situation.Group thinking is pervasive. â€Å"We have never done it like this before† If you always do what you do, you always get what you got. Be courages and attempt change. Make sure to make meaning changes. â€Å"You’re Gooder† syndrome- Respect is over emphasized to their authorities and lacks candor, honesty and courage. Inbred Culture When hiring employees is based on time, ore years of service and loyalty rather than exceptional performance. Problems will arise. The leadership chain of command will be incompetent and will breed more incompetence. Arbitrary Directive s and policies are determined by top management.If decisions and policies are made with randomness and for unknown reason then those are signs that indicates that the leader is disconnected and out of touch. This truly impacted my thinking because I was not aware and I learned many things! It made so much since why organizations struggle, fail and succeed. It caused many flashbacks to my military career, and also, my teachers, mentors and friends. When I think about this, in reference to Costco, any of these trapped ways of thinking could have jeopardized their success. â€Å"The Ugly Face† often stifles an organizations growth. How? Did you position to circumvent it in your design?The ugly face refers to organizations that exploit employees, the global economy, or the natural environment as instruments of domination that furthers selfish needs and dominance. Taking what they need and throwing or destroying what isn’t needed. â€Å"Whether by design or default, organi zations often have a large negative impact on our world. † (Morgan,1998 pp. 261). Pollutants, poisons and other cancer causing hazards are ingested or promoted by food and tobacco companies. Similar threats are caused from environmental pollutions that are legally and illegally dumped in water and land.Contaminated air, land and water hurt people causing cancer or other health problems and big corporations that cause these hazards are sometimes not penalized. These organizations place profits before human welfare. Foreign countries are easily manipulated by employment with hazards, disease, and degradation. Costco has circumvented many of the â€Å"ugly face† views by taking care or rewarding their customers, employees, and suppliers. They take care of their employees by giving them a substantially higher pay than other companies, they promote from within and they are rewarded and valued as people.Globally, Costco has expanded to foreign countries and has provided emplo yment and opportunities for others by creating employment, giving them higher above average salaries and valuing them as people with respect and appreciation. References Branch, S. (1999, 09 06). Inside the cult of costco. Fortune, 140(5), Retrieved from http://web. ebscohost. com/ehost/detail? [email  protected] Cardon, B. (n. d. ). Costco company history. Retrieved from http://goarticles. com/article/Costco-Company-History/4651134 Costco Wholesale Corporation SWOT Analysis. 2011) Costco Wholesale Corporation SWOT Analysis. Daft, R. (2013). Organizational theory & design. (11 ed. , pp. 54-61). Canada: South-Western, Cengage Learning. Walker, S. (2011, 05 16). The history of costco. Retrieved from http://www. vendor. com/_blog/VENDORCO_BLOG/post/The_Hisory_of_Costco Retrieved from http://www. costco. co. jp/eng/costco. htm Retrieved from http://phx. corporate-ir. net/phoenix. zhtml? c=83830=irol-homeprofile Retrieved from http://priceviewer. com/costco/costco. htm Retrieved from h ttp://www. referenceforbusiness. com/history2/91/Costco-Wholesale-Corporation. html

Cultural Critique on the Internet

Through the onset of industrialization, countries all over the world had experienced remarkable changes in its society. Sophisticated technologies, gadgets and facilities had been made available to man. These inventions, which are results of man’s work, pave the way to the society’s advancements. One of the most remarkable artifacts that the new milieu brought into picture is the internet.The advent of the internet came into vision â€Å"when people in the early 1960s saw great potential value in allowing computers to share information on research and development in scientific and military fields† (Brief History of the Internet). J. C. R. Licklider was said to be the pioneering person of the internet. In 1962, he proposed a global network of computers and work to develop it (Brief History of the Internet). The initial efforts of Licklider had inspired other people to participate in designing and bringing internet into a complete picture.The theory of pocket switc hing developed by Leonard Kleinrock ‘forms the basis of internet connections. ’ In the year 1969, ARPANET (initial name given to internet) was brought on line. It was first used to connect four Universities in the United States to provide a channel for research communication and exchange. Early times of internet use and connection were very complex. Furthermore, the used of the internet was only limited to education, government and research use.Commercial used of the internet was then prohibited. This prohibition was put to an end when the ‘dot-com boom’ in the second half of 1990’s hit the stock market and media (Gozzi Jr. 470). Investments for the commercialization of the internet were in demand during these years. It was also during these times when Microsoft had its ‘full scale entry into browser, server and Internet Service Provider market completed the shift t a commercially based Internet’ (A Brief History of the Internet).As seen today, the internet industry or the ‘dot-com’ economy is continuously growing and taking an advance step everyday. The definition as well as the description of the internet was finalized and passed as a resolution on October 24, 1995. The following statement provides the definition and description of the internet: RESOLUTION: The Federal Networking Council (FNC) agrees that the following language reflects our definition of the term â€Å"Internet†.â€Å"Internet† refers to the global information system that — (i) is logically linked together by a globally unique address space based on the Internet Protocol (IP) or its subsequent extensions/follow-ons; (ii) is able to support communications using the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite or its subsequent extensions/follow-ons, and/or other IP-compatible protocols; and (iii) provides, uses or makes accessible, either publicly or privately, high level services layered on the communications and related infrastructure described herein (Leiner et al n. p).This technology grants mechanism to people throughout the globe to process and relay information without regard for geographic location. It has been a channel for communication, business, community operations and education. It opened the possibilities of on line learning and business negotiation and made the life of individuals to be modern and sophisticated. Through the onset of this technology, advancement in the society and man’s culture also took place. The benefits that this technology bring is said to be limitless and essential. However, at present times, people seem to abuse the used of the internet.Such abuse initiated the negative implications and harm of the said artifact to the society as a whole. The community had too much relied on the features of the internet. In an article written by Greenblatt, he argued that the rise of the internet had negatively affected traditional television (1 49). It is feared that the internet would eventually kill television as it does in the music industry and in the print media. Competition between traditional television and the internet arises. It was noted in the article of Greenblatt that people spend less time in viewing the television than they do in the net.Through on line streaming, watching sports, concert of artists, etc is now possible. It is showed that the traditional way of watching (i. e. with the use of television) had been altered due to internet boom. While it can be said that the presence of internet provides the benefit for individuals to watch programs in their most convenient time, it is still unfair because other industries suffer. Too much dependence of the public to the internet had brought the problem of unfair competition. People’s way of socializing was also altered through the used of the internet.The usual way of meeting and knowing a particular person had been changed. Most people use the internet to meet and socialize with new people. This has been made possible through the used of chat rooms as well as other internet sites like friendster. The value of having friends is not the main question being posed. The threat for such sites and chat rooms is the opportunity for on line prostitution and other crimes to take place (Clemmitt 450). The internet had (in no doubt) expanded prostitution, bringing it available not only on the area where a certain prostitute lives but also in nearby cities or town.The invention of the internet has also given rise to a new kind of addiction, which is online porn addiction where ‘there's no doubt that some people's porn consumption gets them in trouble — in the form of maxed-out credit cards, lost sleep, neglected responsibilities, or neglected loved ones’ (Martin F. Downs). Violent acts of children are also partly blamed on the internet. On line games which most children and youngsters play depict violence which eventually changes their psychological behavior.The increase in violent acts of these youngsters eventually contributes to an increase in crime. Early exposure of these youngsters to act of violence and other adult materials can bring unfavorable effect to their perception about the reality. Addiction to these on line games had also reduced their time for physical activities therefore bringing the problem of obesity. ‘Dr Robinson from the British Nutrition foundation said 40% of boys and 60% of girls were found to spend less than the recommended one hour per day in physical activity’ (BBC News).The most controversial and frightening contribution of the internet is the opportunity that it provides for act of terrorism. Terrorist are availing the opportunity to connect with the internet and used this artifact as a propaganda tool (Anderson 25). Since every machine that is connected to the internet is potentially a broad casting station, a printing press or a place of assembly, terro rists can now disseminate their information undiluted by the media and untouched by government censors. In the past, the al-Quaeda had benefited from the extensive use of the internet not until their network was intercepted.The following statement, which basically tackles on how terrorists’ actions were improved through the aid of the internet, was cited in Anderson’s work (2003). â€Å"Using the Internet for communication can increase speed of mobilization and allow more dialogue between members, which enhances the organization’s flexibility, since tactics can be adjusted more frequently. Individuals with a common agenda and goals can form subgroups, meet at a target location, conduct terrorist operations, and then readily determine their relationships and re-disperse† (27).Documents accessed through internet connection also provided the Al-Queada to obtain details regarding the design lay out of the World Trade Center which contributed to the success of making their plans. The Al-Queada group had developed their action in using the internet as a tool for terrorism. It is alarming to think that future terrorists would follow the step taken by the mentioned group and may even develop more powerful and sophisticated programs that would aid in the threat of terrorism. The internet had initiated the risk of cyber terrorism.Internet’s role in shaping today’s culture is indeed remarkable and at the same time threatening. Pioneers of this artifact may have the pure intention to bring the world in the state of modernization. However, it is sad to know that upon the onset of modernization comes the threat and harm that the internet posed. Overuse, misused and overdependence of people in this artifact will in no doubt bring several detrimental effects. As discussed from the examples above, actions of people as well as their cultural identity are negatively being altered by the mere presence of the internet.The internet’s original purpose of making information accessible, sharing this information in a fast pace and making long distance communication possible had been abusively used by some people therefore bringing a negative impact on the society’s culture. Our world nowadays is continuously progressing and accompanying this progress is the innovation of new artifacts. Truly, these new artifacts had taken a vital role in shaping our society’s culture as well as shaping the minds of people. These innovations would be more likely to be inevitable.Every new artifact is invented to somehow benefit and bring people a comfortable way of living, however, one should not overlook the harm that these new artifacts may bring. Every time that we take a step towards advancement comes the opportunity for societal and cultural change. These changes bring forth several issues and problems that are more likely to have negative outcomes. The internet has had its effects on society at present and it wil l have its effects in the future. The future of the internet is faced with the question on how management of change and evolution would be done.Let us not keep ourselves to be tongue tied and see how the negative outcomes abolish our cultural and societal identity. We should act on this matter. Work Cited Anderson, Alison. â€Å"Risk, Terrorism, and the Internet. † Knowledge, Technology & Policy 16 (2003): 24-33 BBC News, â€Å"Health Symptoms in Obese children. † 16 May 2008 . â€Å"Brief History of the Internet. † 28 May 2008 . Clemmitt, Marcia. â€Å"Prostitution debate. † CQ Researcher, May 23, 2008: CQ Researcher Online. Capella Lib. 29 May 2008 . Downs, Martin F. â€Å"Is pornography addictive. † 16 May 2008 . Greenblatt, Allan. â€Å"Television's future. † CQ Researcher, February 16, 2007: CQ Researcher Online. Capella Lib. 29 May 2008 . Leiner Barry M. , V. G. Cerf, D. D. Clark, R. E. Kahn, L. Kleinrock, D. C. Lynch, J. Postel, L. G. Roberts and S. Wolff. â€Å"Brief History of Internet. † 10 December 2003. Internet society. 28 May 2008 . Cultural Critique on the Internet Through the onset of industrialization, countries all over the world had experienced remarkable changes in its society. Sophisticated technologies, gadgets and facilities had been made available to man. These inventions, which are results of man’s work, pave the way to the society’s advancements. One of the most remarkable artifacts that the new milieu brought into picture is the internet.The advent of the internet came into vision â€Å"when people in the early 1960s saw great potential value in allowing computers to share information on research and development in scientific and military fields† (Brief History of the Internet). J. C. R. Licklider was said to be the pioneering person of the internet. In 1962, he proposed a global network of computers and work to develop it (Brief History of the Internet). The initial efforts of Licklider had inspired other people to participate in designing and bringing internet into a complete picture.The theory of pocket switc hing developed by Leonard Kleinrock ‘forms the basis of internet connections. ’ In the year 1969, ARPANET (initial name given to internet) was brought on line. It was first used to connect four Universities in the United States to provide a channel for research communication and exchange. Early times of internet use and connection were very complex. Furthermore, the used of the internet was only limited to education, government and research use.Commercial used of the internet was then prohibited. This prohibition was put to an end when the ‘dot-com boom’ in the second half of 1990’s hit the stock market and media (Gozzi Jr. 470). Investments for the commercialization of the internet were in demand during these years. It was also during these times when Microsoft had its ‘full scale entry into browser, server and Internet Service Provider market completed the shift t a commercially based Internet’ (A Brief History of the Internet).As seen today, the internet industry or the ‘dot-com’ economy is continuously growing and taking an advance step everyday. The definition as well as the description of the internet was finalized and passed as a resolution on October 24, 1995. The following statement provides the definition and description of the internet: RESOLUTION: The Federal Networking Council (FNC) agrees that the following language reflects our definition of the term â€Å"Internet†.â€Å"Internet† refers to the global information system that — (i) is logically linked together by a globally unique address space based on the Internet Protocol (IP) or its subsequent extensions/follow-ons; (ii) is able to support communications using the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite or its subsequent extensions/follow-ons, and/or other IP-compatible protocols; and (iii) provides, uses or makes accessible, either publicly or privately, high level services layered on the communications and related infrastructure described herein (Leiner et al n.p). This technology grants mechanism to people throughout the globe to process and relay information without regard for geographic location. It has been a channel for communication, business, community operations and education. It opened the possibilities of on line learning and business negotiation and made the life of individuals to be modern and sophisticated. Through the onset of this technology, advancement in the society and man’s culture also took place. The benefits that this technology bring is said to be limitless and essential.However, at present times, people seem to abuse the used of the internet. Such abuse initiated the negative implications and harm of the said artifact to the society as a whole. The internet has also brought succor to the lives of many people in economically less developed countries that have a somewhat substandard educational system. This is by way of accessing the on line learning materials of world-class universities around the world. They are able to access up-to-date information on almost all subjects and upgrade their knowledge.The community had too much relied on the features of the internet. In an article written by Greenblatt, he argued that the rise of the internet had negatively affected traditional television (149). It is feared that the internet would eventually kill television as it does in the music industry and in the print media. Competition between traditional television and the internet arises. It was noted in the article of Greenblatt that people spend less time in viewing the television than they do in the net. Through on line streaming, watching sports, concert of artists, etc is now possible.It is showed that the traditional way of watching (i. e. with the use of television) had been altered due to internet boom. While it can be said that the presence of internet provides the benefit for individuals to watch programs in thei r most convenient time, it is still unfair because other industries suffer. Too much dependence of the public to the internet had brought the problem of unfair competition. People’s way of socializing was also altered through the use of the internet. The usual way of meeting and knowing a particular person had been changed.Most people use the internet to meet and socialize with new people. This has been made possible through the use of chat rooms as well as other internet sites like friendster. The value of having friends is not the main question being posed. The threat for such sites and chat rooms is the opportunity for on line prostitution and other crimes to take place (Clemmitt 450). The internet had (in no doubt) expanded prostitution, bringing it available not only on the area where a certain prostitute lives but also in nearby cities or town.The invention of the internet has also given rise to a new kind of addiction, which is online porn addiction where ‘there' s no doubt that some people's porn consumption gets them in trouble — in the form of maxed-out credit cards, lost sleep, neglected responsibilities, or neglected loved ones’ (Martin F. Downs). Violent acts of children are also partly blamed on the internet. On line games which most children and youngsters play depict violence which eventually changes their psychological behavior.The increase in violent acts of these youngsters eventually contributes to an increase in crime. Early exposure of these youngsters to act of violence and other adult materials can bring unfavorable effect to their perception about the reality. Addiction to these on line games had also reduced their time for physical activities therefore bringing the problem of obesity. ‘Dr Robinson from the British Nutrition foundation said 40% of boys and 60% of girls were found to spend less than the recommended one hour per day in physical activity’ (BBC News).Moreover, child pornography on the internet is one of the bad practices that the internet has been able to cultivate. Aside from children being used as prostitutes, other young children also visit pornographic sites. This does untold psychological damage to these children as they do not know what is right and what is not. They are sometimes compelled to practice what they have seen, thereby contributing to the increasing level of moral decadence. Also the danger of teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and other forms of bad deeds has been blown out of proportion by exposure to the internet.The most controversial and frightening contribution of the internet is the opportunity that it provides for act of terrorism. Terrorist are availing the opportunity to connect with the internet and used this artifact as a propaganda tool (Anderson 25). Acts of terrorism can now be perpetuated now, easier than before with the use of the internet. The most benign way of this act is the production of malicious softwares i n the form of computer viruses, worms, Trojans and crawlers. This causes instability of these computer machines, to the detriment of the user.every machine that is connected to the internet is potentially a broad casting station, a printing press or a place of assembly, terrorists can now disseminate their information undiluted by the media and untouched by government censors. In the past, the al-Quaeda had benefited from the extensive use of the internet not until their network was intercepted. The following statement, which basically tackles on how terrorists’ actions were improved through the aid of the internet, was cited in Anderson’s work (2003).â€Å"Using the Internet for communication can increase speed of mobilization and allow more dialogue between members, which enhances the organization’s flexibility, since tactics can be adjusted more frequently. Individuals with a common agenda and goals can form subgroups, meet at a target location, conduct terr orist operations, and then readily determine their relationships and re-disperse† (27). Documents accessed through internet connection also provided the Al-Queada to obtain details regarding the design lay out of the World Trade Center which contributed to the success of making their plans.The Al-Queada group had developed their action in using the internet as a tool for terrorism. It is alarming to think that future terrorists would follow the step taken by the mentioned group and may even develop more powerful and sophisticated programs that would aid in the threat of terrorism. The internet had initiated the risk of cyber terrorism. Internet’s role in shaping today’s culture is indeed remarkable and at the same time threatening. Pioneers of the internet may have the pure intention to bring the world in the state of modernization.However, it is sad to know that upon the onset of modernization comes the threat and harm that the internet posed. Overuse, misuse an d overdependence of people in this technology will in no doubt bring several detrimental effects. As discussed from the examples above, actions of people as well as their cultural identity are negatively being altered by the mere presence of the internet. The world is increasingly been described as being ‘westernised’ since everyone, especially the youth, are increasingly turning to the way of life of the Americans and Europeans.The internet’s original purpose of making information accessible, sharing this information in a fast pace and making long distance communication possible had been abusively used by some people therefore bringing a negative impact on the society’s culture. Our world nowadays is continuously progressing and accompanying this progress is the innovation of new artifacts. Truly, these new artifacts had taken a vital role in shaping our society’s culture as well as shaping the minds of people. These innovations would be more likel y to be inevitable.Every new artifact is invented to somehow benefit and bring people a comfortable way of living, however, one should not overlook the harm that these new artifacts may bring. Every time that we take a step towards advancement comes the opportunity for societal and cultural change. These changes bring forth several issues and problems that are more likely to have negative outcomes. The internet has had its effects on society at present and it will have its effects in the future. The future of the internet is faced with the question on how management of change and evolution would be done.The internet has got the potential of turning the world to a single-culture, single language world. This would have far reaching effects as it would eliminate the numerous world cultures that have been built since the beginning of time. All the ancient civilizations are still visible today because they have been preserved in one way or the other. Because of this, people travel to the se locations as tourists. In this way, the memories are kept alive. The rate the internet craze is going, this trend is likely to be reversed since people can see these locations on the screens of their computers.Let us not keep ourselves to be tongue tied and see how the negative outcomes abolish our cultural and societal identity. We should act on this matter. Action, they say, is louder than voice. Work Cited Anderson, Alison. â€Å"Risk, Terrorism, and the Internet. † Knowledge, Technology & Policy 16 (2003): 24-33 BBC News, â€Å"Health Symptoms in Obese children. † 16 May 2008 . â€Å"Brief History of the Internet. † 28 May 2008 . Clemmitt, Marcia. â€Å"Prostitution debate. † CQ Researcher, May 23, 2008: CQ Researcher Online. Capella Lib.29 May 2008 . Downs, Martin F. â€Å"Is pornography addictive. † 16 May 2008 . Greenblatt, Allan. â€Å"Television's future. † CQ Researcher, February 16, 2007: CQ Researcher Online. Capella Lib. 29 M ay 2008 . Leiner Barry M. , V. G. Cerf, D. D. Clark, R. E. Kahn, L. Kleinrock, D. C. Lynch, J. Postel, L. G. Roberts and S. Wolff. â€Å"Brief History of Internet. † 10 December 2003. Internet society. 28 May 2008 .

Operations Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 12

Operations Management - Essay Example Service operation is a process that is concerned with the maintenance of daily operations that occur with in an organization. Service operation management makes sure that the daily activities of the business run normally without any interruptions. Service operations management focuses on the infrastructure and the daily activities that are used to deliver services for an organization. Some of the tasks that occur in service operation include fixing problems that occur in the organization, fulfilling the user needs and requests, resolving failures of the system, and undertaking routinely operational tasks. On the other hand, manufacturing operations are the tasks that an organization undergoes in order to produce a commodity. Manufacturing operations make sure that the production of the commodity that is needed has been successful. In addition to that, it makes sure that the quality of the goods or commodities needed are met. While service management focuses on the maintenance of the infrastructure and meeting the requests and orders of a client, manufacturing operations makes sure that the needed commodity is produced.Service operations deal with the services that are to be given to the organization while manufacturing operations deal with creating the goods that are needed for production in the organization. This is to imply that service operations deal with the intangible while manufacturing operations deal with the tangibles in an organization.