Comarch Business Model

The customers in this group are: Heinlein, Scrabbles, Renault, Naive, Coca-cola, Red Bull and more. Government: This unit provides a wide variety of solutions to different kind of customers from the Public Sector. The list of customers includes: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, The National Bank of Poland, Albanian State Police and more. ERP: The unit is dedicated to developing and implementing intuitive software solutions to help Seems optimize their business processes.Companies that use Compare's ERP systems are: Coca-cola, Neonate, Yves Richer, T- Comanche AS develops and delivers products and services specifically targeted at their groups of customers. Telecommunications: The products developed for electrification aim at increase the revenue of the companies and build strong relations with customers' clients and business partners. This portfolio of products is vast and goes from Customer, Revenue and Product Management to Application Integration Infrastr ucture.The main products developed for this sector are: Comanche Corporate Self Care: provides online ordering, data management and reporting for corporate customers; Comanche Central Product Management: simplifies IT architecture and speeds up new product launches by providing a single place for managing the product catalogue and product lifestyle. Comanche Service Quality Management: it gathers network, application and service statistics, aggregates it and presents it against service models.Finance: The products in the finance sector are evolving every year in order to accommodate the needs of the customers. Some of the products created are: Comanche credit process management: it is a system that supports transaction processing as well as the application approval, security valuation, customer risk assessment and credit approval. Comanche mobile insurance advisor: it covers the whole sales process – from identification of the customer and needs analysis through emulations an d quotations, investment advisory, to generation and signing of the proposal.Services: This specific set of products provides advanced IT solutions in order to boost a company's performance. The list of products comprises the following software and solutions: Comanche Enterprise Marketing Management: it provides customer-oriented companies with the ability to plan, execute and track cross- channel campaigns and to build attractive loyalty programs to engage customers by delivering highly relevant offers that encourage them to buy more and more.Comanche SEA: it offers IT solutions for the management of sales support and the work f sales representatives, integration solutions and services to communicate with business partners, as well as on-line Web applications for managing sales and trade marketing and business communication with contractors. Government: in this area Comanche specializes in the design, implementation and integration of advanced IT solutions for state administration offices, local government and the utilities supply market.Some of the software developed are: Comanche Gerri: this is a modern Polish ERP system for organization management which is adapted to the needs and requirements of public administration. It offers budgetary reporting facilities including budgetary accounting forms in printable or electronic versions. Public Electronic Service Platform: it is a portal solution aimed at public administration, local government, and fully and partly nationalized companies.The solution aims to ease procedures for clients of government agencies by making a wide range of Internet solutions available to them so that they can conduct their affairs without having to go in person to the offices concerned. ERP: this area of development of products is the flagship of Comanche. The software ND scalable to the unique needs of each company and industry. The signature software is called Comanche ALEUT. Comanche ALEUT: is a state-of-the-art management softwar e system which represents the end result of seventeen years of experience developing some of the most innovative IT solutions available worldwide.The software is designed to save the time of customers, reduce their costs, enable a streamline communication between departments, and to arm them with easy- to-use- reports for successful decision-making. The value proposition of the company and the features that make Comanche AS be unique in the market are various. They focus on the customer satisfaction and excellence in the products and services delivered. Comanche,in order to satisfy the requests of their clients, implements projects within the defined budget and schedule.The Polish company, with almost 20 years of industry experience, is able to understand the business and technological needs of their customers developing the best solutions for them. One of the key features of the products is the faster implementation and easier integration, reducing the risk level of each project. T he solutions developed are easily configurable and will develop along with the client's business. The adaptation of the products to the customers' needs makes Comanche be a reliable long-term partner.

Assess Nietzsche’s idea of the “Will to Power” Essay

Throughout his works, Friedrich Nietzsche develops a fundamental foundation which forms part of all his other concepts – this is his â€Å"Will to Power.† Being very much the centre of his philosophy, it is an extremely complex concept that has connections to all areas of his ideas, be it ethics, metaphysics or aesthetics. However, it does have several flaws. First of all, it goes against Nietzsche’s perspectivism and outright rejection of metaphysics. Suggesting that an objective metaphysical concept such as the Will to Power exists is tantamount to admitting failure at the first hurdle. Nietzsche never addresses this issue. In addition, the Will to Power as the sole part of life itself seems entirely counter-intuitive. Is it not clear that other things affect our judgment than the desire to overcome all others? He never really explains how the Will to Power is meant to be the ultimate moral goal, either. His philosophy here falls victim to the fact-value gap. Just because life is the Will to Power, it does not necessarily follow that we ought to follow it as our only ambition. The Will to Power is complicated further by Nietzsche’s automatic division of people into â€Å"masters† and â€Å"slaves.† Clearly, the Will to Power can not apply to the slaves, as that would be a contradiction in terms. This makes it extremely difficult to justify that the Will to Power in fact is life itself for everyone. The Will to Power is notoriously hard to define on itself, as it is inherently defined by both its causal principles and the effect of the doctrine itself. Nietzsche describes, in Beyond Good and Evil, a hierarchy of â€Å"drives† which are the core of human existence. Each of these drives is attempting to gain dominance over the other. This relationally constituted structure is the Will to Power. Likewise, every living being is imposing their Will to Power onto others. From this, it would follow that all actions are, in themselves, products of the Will to Power, be it procreation, alimentation or any action at all. No other variables affect our judgment. This, I disagree with. How can Nietzsche explain actions performed against your natural instinct? Yes, I can admit that (in Nietzsche’s view) it is morally wrong, but there is no categorical barrier which stops me from breaking those morals. Clearly, then, all actions cannot be derived from the Will to Power. Nietzsche introduces the Will to Power primarily in opposition to the old Christian values of compassion and piety, which he believes must be â€Å"reversed.† According to Nietzsche, Christians reject the Will to Power and suppress it completely, which in itself seems to contradict his definition of it. Nevertheless, he posits the Will to Power as the ultimate end of any moral system, not just Christianity. All systems of morals are â€Å"a sign-language for the Will to Power.† From these, we can assume that Nietzsche believes that because the Will to Power is life itself, then obviously all morals must also be the Will to Power. This is erroneous. Hume famously illustrated the fact-value gap many hundreds of years before Nietzsche’s time, yet he still seems unable to escape it. It does not follow that because life is the Will to Power, we ought to follow it blindly. Nietzsche never addresses how this is meant to work as an ultimate moral goal – he assumes that life would lead us there. Realistically, I don’t think this is reasonable. Quite clearly, our instincts do not always tell us to follow the Will to Power religiously, even in the animal kingdom (where perhaps we observe a more pure form of the instinct) where creatures have shown to be compassionate and willing to submit. Drawing from the Will to Power, Nietzsche posits his philosophical ideas. These are positive expressions of the Will to Power: the rejection of objectivity; the â€Å"New Philosopher† who is the embodiment of the Will to Power; the doctrine of Eternal Return (which is the ultimate embrace of the Will to Power); and his ultimate master/slave society where the WtP governs all and keeps the strong strong (whilst weakening the weak). I accept that these can generally be inferred from the Will to Power if it is valid, but it is this conditional that causes problems. Maudemarie Clark argued that Nietzsche’s whole philosophy was based on this If, but she also points out that this implies causality – something which Nietzsche radically objects to several times. This picks him out as the dogmatic philosopher he spends the first part of Beyond Good and Evil criticising – merely projecting his own view onto others. The Will to Power, again, seems absurd. Leading on from this is Nietzsche conception of metaphysics and epistemology. Nietzsche detests the metaphysicists (Plato and the Christians in particular) and argues that they are denying the Will to Power, and, therefore, life itself, by looking for answers in another realm. They are, he states, blinded by a â€Å"Will to Truth.† However, isn’t the Will to Power a metaphysical concept? I believe that Nietzsche’s description of it as all-encompassing makes this a distinct possibility. Not only does this undermine the Will to Power, but also, once again, Nietzsche’s entire philosophical doctrine. Another of Nietzsche’s problems with past philosophers, which is connected to the above point, is their obsession with an objective truth. He says that all we have which we can call â€Å"truths† are our interpretation of our own perspectives. So how can the Will to Power be anything but an interpretation from Nietzsche’s perspective? It cannot possibly be objective – this is against his epistemological principles! It is impossible to accept this. However, another interesting point by Clark is her theory of â€Å"omniperspectivism,† where there can be a theoretical objective truth if one was to see a situation from all possible perspectives. This would give the Will to Power a theoretical grounding, but still fails to establish it as the practical device which Nietzsche advocates it as. One final point to make is about Nietzsche’s morality – master and slave morality. He suggests that in a perfect society, the strong would live for their own existence only, exploiting the weak not only for their benefit, but also as an exertion of power. This solves the problem of the relative term â€Å"power† (as power only exists in relation to something less or more powerful). But, if life itself was the Will to Power, shouldn’t the weak have it as well? Wouldn’t they be living according to the same rules? This illustrates clearly the practical problem of the Will to Power, even in Nietzsche’s own morality. These points I believe show that the Will to Power, although inspiring theoretically, is absurd and impossible in practice. Nietzsche does not offer enough explanation for us to accept it as a serious philosophical concept, and it eventually displays the weaknesses of Nietzsche’s entire philosophy.

World War II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

World War II - Essay Example ond World War was really a continuation of the former and many of the causes of the Second World War are to be found in the resentment over and the unfinished agenda of the First World War. An event as catastrophic and disastrous, as a world war, cannot be the result of any single event. Like a volcano that is simmering, till the inner pressures cause it to erupt, so too the simmering discontent of the German people, finally resulted in the Second World War. During the months and years after the First World War, political and economic events like the treaty of Versailles, the great economic depression of 1929 and the rise of Nazism, and Hitler’s ambitions for German expansion were some of the causes of the Second World War. The humiliating terms of the treaty of Versailles whipped up feelings of anger and frustration among the Germans. The heads of the British and French governments bowed before the anger of their people. â€Å"If these things are hardships for Germany, they are hardships which Germany has brought upon herself.† (Clemenceau, 1919) was the sentiment of the allies. The German army and navy was reduced, the map of Europe was redrawn, causing Germany to lose large tracts of her land, to countries like France, Poland, Belgium, Denmark and Czechoslovakia; and Germany was held solely responsible for the hardships and misery caused to the rest of the world. As Hitler’s popularity grew in a country still smarting under the humiliation of World War I and embattled with economic problems, Hitler began to increase the size of the army, building up weapons and aircraft as well as his navy. â€Å"We are all proud that through Gods powerful aid we have become once more true Germans."( Hitler, 1933) he told his fellow countrymen, after he became Chancellor. Britain and France were aware of this buildup but did nothing hoping that this would prevent the spread of communism from Russia to the west. When German troops entered Rhineland in 1936, Hitler’s

Yesterday Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Yesterday - Essay Example (Carchiolo, Longheu, & Malgeri 2002). This essay evaluates the functional efficiency of Web 2.0 technology in the classroom, with particular emphasis on Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) and Ning.com. Past research into Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSLC) argues that the implementation of such platforms in the classroom engenders an environment of positive interdependence, as students are motivated by a shared desire to succeed. (Kravcik et al., 2004) An article in Educational Technology & Society titled ‘An educational mobile blogging system for supporting collaborative learning’ (Huang, Huang & Jeng, 2009, Web) advanced methodological research for to determine the efficacy of implementing Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSLC) in collegiate educational environments. While typical conceptions of the classroom place the educational environment at direct odds with handheld devices such as cell-phones, ipods, and BlackBerry’s, this research argues that these devices might actually not be as detrimental to education as is commonly determined; when used in teacher-directed ways they might indeed have a positive benefit for the learning exper ience. The study took place among a group of collegiate sophomores in Taiwan: â€Å"There were 5 groups and each group was assigned a topic. The topics included Arrays, Stacks, Queues, Linked Lists and Tree.† (Huang, Huang & Jeng, 2009, Web) The study used web blogging through RSS feeds; that is, a twitter-like mechanism that updated quickly when students or the professor uploaded new information to the platform. The platform also stored these uploads in an accessible database. In essence, the professor would lecture in class, and periodically post discussion topics on the RSS server. The students then were able to collaboratively respond to the discussion topics and gain direct help and feedback on issues which they were confused. At the end of the

Entrepreneurship in the global evironment Essay

Entrepreneurship in the global evironment - Essay Example His entrepreneurial prowess is evident from his engineering work and being an inventor of dual cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner, roles that have made him allegedly over 1 billion pound rich. Dyson’s idea of vacuum cleaners started back in 1970 when he innovated his first product named the sea truck and later he invented the ball barrow, which resembled a modified wheelbarrow. Dyson faced some challenges in marketing his product in the United Kingdom since no distributor was willing to distribute his product because of fear that his vacuum cleaners would overtake the replacement cleaner bags. He then opted to launch his product in Japan where he made profitable returns and even won the international design fair prize in Japan, in 1991. As a result of manufacturers failing to sell his product, Dyson decided to take that as a challenge and set up his own company in 1993 in a small town named Malmebury. Luckily, in 2005, Dyson’s vacuum cleaners were leading in sales in the Un ited States and employment had increased in Malmebury by 1,200. Indeed, Dyson was awarded with the Queen’s award for enterprise for the outstanding growth and success abroad (Loch, 2008, pp 119,120). According to BBC News (2006), after dyson received a Knighthood, he told BBC that he is an entrepreneur who produces things that people want to buy. He adds that he has failed 5,126 times and has learnt that success alone teaches one nothing, but failures teach someone everything, since when one makes a mistake, he/she learns from that mistake to better on the product. According to BBC News (2006), by then, the company had 1400 staff in the United Kingdom and 4,000 workers placed in Malaysia plants. Therefore, Dyson is the best choice of an entrepreneur, since he has come a long way by putting his innovation into practice, beaten all odds of marketing, and failed numerous times before achieving the best and being contented with his products. Why James Dyson is classified as an en trepreneur According to Bolton (2004, p. 134), â€Å"Dyson is another entrepreneur who has challenged the industry giants with a revolutionary of vacuum cleaner, since his dual cyclone cleaner has a UK market share in excess of 50% and his international sales are prospering.† The main admirable aspect of Dyson as an entrepreneur is that he is always innovative and creative, thus focuses on what the customers want, and he always desires to improve his products. Dyson has also proved to be a risk taker, since he invested his resources on his dream of appropriate vacuum cleaners. Finally, he succeeded and his returns tell it all. Dyson’s idea of a vacuum cleaner started back in 1979 when he was only 31 years of age. At that time, he needed a machine that would separate particles from air. He faced many challenges, one of them being that manufacturers rejected his idea, since they did not want his machine to interfere with the replacement dust bags market. In 2000, Dyson m anaged to launch the dual cyclone cleaner that used battery to operate. He later launched a washing machine with the ability to spin and almost dry clothes. These were some of his achievements after being rejected by other manufacturers (Bolton, 2004 pp 135, 136). Dyson portrays the spirit of a true entrepreneur, since entrepreneurship is about opportunities and risks in business. Successful entrepreneurs usually spot an opportunity especially where others

Assignment 1 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 14

1 - Assignment Example in organizing intrusion and/or misuse scenarios by: utilizing known vulnerabilities and weak system points and analyzing system dependencies and weak points and then represent these weaknesses on. Attack trees establish an intuitive model that systematically describes the possible attack scenarios on a system and therefore forms the basis for threat analysis (Ghazizadeh & Zamani, 2012). Basically, the difference is in the two techniques used for encryption i.e. symmetric and public key encryption. Both the sender and the receiver in symmetric encryption share the same key to encrypt and decrypt a message. This is achieved using the secret key. In public key encryption, the sender and the receiver both have public and a private key. The private key is known only to the person who holds and the public key is known by other users. The difference between the two keys is that the secret key is used in symmetric encryption while the private key is used in public key encryption or asymmetric encryption (Brooks, 2005). Both parties i.e. sender and the receiver hold the secret key while private key is only held by one of the parties, each party has his own private key. A private key is generated for an asymmetric encryption algorithm which is retained by the owner while the accompanying public key is open for others to use for secure communications/authentication. The priva te key isn’t shared with any person. A secret key on the other hand is a single key used in symmetric encryption algorithm and is only shared between the communicating parties and kept secret from all the others. The key must be transmitted to or shared with all parties by sue of a method outside the communication link it is intended to secure. Biometrics are defined as metrics related to human characteristics. Biometrics authentication is a form of identification and access control used to identify persons in groups under surveillance. The identifiers use unique and measurable traits to label and

Strategies in Teaching L2 Writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategies in Teaching L2 Writing - Essay Example There is heightened cognitive interference when these procedures are jumbled with second language processing cognitive mechanisms. The degree of interference varies depending on a student’s proficiency level whereby students with a higher proficiency level have less interference, and the reverse holds true for students with a lower proficiency level. More often than not, L2 learners depend on their L1 writing to gain proficiency in their L2 writing; however, the extent of usage also varies based on the level of proficiency. L2 learners with a high proficiency level rely on their L1 writing skills less due to their heightened L2 knowledge, which in turn gives them the autonomy to sustain the writing process without the risk of a complete breakdown. This is far from the case for lower L2 proficiency learners, a factor that has triggered scholars’ interest in researching teaching strategies designed to help the former develop proficiency despite their drawbacks. These stra tegies vary among scholars; for example, for Cuming and Uzawa (1989), they included two distinct strategies- â€Å"lowering the standard†, and â€Å"keeping the standard†. The former allowed instructors to teach L2 writing within a reasonable timeframe while utilizing minimal mental effort; it included strategies such as simplification of syntax, and reduction of information among others. On the other hand, the latter strategy allowed instructors to teach L2 writing by maintaining the standards achieved by learners in L1 writing; it included strategies such as extensive revision (Uzawa, and Cuming, 1989). In contemporary society, technology continues to play a vital role in students’ acquisition of L2 writing. Explored in this essay is the use of technology in teaching L2 writing, impact of the educational environment, teaching strategies used for lower proficiency L2 writing learners, and the effect of peer and

Leaders and Managers Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Leaders and Managers - Term Paper Example This essay discusses that the role of a manager and a leader in the organizational setting are different with respect to their function within the group. Gomez-Mejia and Balkin describe a leader as an individual â€Å"that energizes people to contribute their best individually and in cooperation with other people†. The description or definition identifies key elements of the role that distinguishes a leader from a manager. Schein says leaders are responsible for creating and establishing the culture within an organization. Similarly, leaders foundationally and fundamentally form the mission of the organization and create the environment within the culture in which the operations of the organization will function. Generally, the term leader carries the mystic of a person with a larger than life personality and presence that is able to get others to do behave in certain ways. Whereas the depictions of such personalities describe a particular type of leader the basic trait of inf luencing others is applicable to the organizational setting. According to Maxwell, â€Å"Leadership is influence nothing more, nothing less†. His statement affirms that a leader’s primary function within an organization is to influence others giving direction and guidance to the activities within the organizational structure and culture. Leaders influence what decisions are made, how to implement the decisions chosen and assist in formulating strategies to divide the labor between the specialized work groups to meet the goals and objectives of the organization.... On the other hand, a manager’s presence and interaction with workers in the organization is vital for ensuring and maintaining a healthy culture. Another responsibility of his or her role is to make certain the processes within the organization are in alignment with the strategic goals. Using a face-to-face and hands-on approach according to Schein (2004) produces higher efficiency and cohesion within the organizational culture. He uses the term â€Å"visible management† inferring the importance of managers’ visible presence within the organizational culture and the significance of a manager’s accessibility for workers (p. 228). Management in the â€Å"New Millennium† as described by Gomez-Mejia and Balkin (2002, p. 4) and because of globalization and the decentralization of the organizational design is rendering the traditional manager ineffective in the current environment. The new environment does not allow a manager to perform his or her duties in isolation without human exchange and interaction (Schein, 2004). The system of management and managers in the present competitive and technological climate requires those in managing positions to develop additional skills for higher levels of efficiency in response to the evolving external and internal environments. Schein (2004) suggests three types of managers exist in an organization: 1) strategic, 2) tactical, and 3) operational (pp. 4-5). In his analysis the hierarchical design reflects a top down organizational structure with the strategic manager representing the senior executive level of managers or the upper level of management. In the role of a strategic manager one responsibility is to develop the strategic goals

Holiday Blues Essay Example for Free

Holiday Blues Essay Holidays filled with fun, family outings, shopping, Christmas Trees, and bringing in the New Year. It is not always like this for others. Holidays can be a very depressing time for others. When families get together you might want to pay attention to that loved one that maybe still grieving or going through lifes blows. It is hard to get into the grove of things when you look around and see that their is someone missing this year. Life is not the same without that person or persons. You are not so happy about another year going by and you havent made any significant progress in your life. It seems that nothing anyone can do to get you over this silent pain you are going through. Counseling could be one way of coping with this loss and trying to fill this void in ones life. Anti-depressants is another alternative. The best way I have found to beat the blues in combination of the above,if that is needed, is to bring yourself back to something you love to do. Be it listening to music, writing memoirs, singing, going out to a comedy. Just get yourself involved and loose yourself in your favorite past time to help alleviate the pressure. Remember not everyone is happy during the holidays. Try and look out for one another. You never know; all that person really needs to know is that someone has noticed them and had shown them that they really care. It is not only the teenagers we need to watch. We also need to watch the people that fall within the middle age group. So during the holiday fun and cheer look around to notice others that are not so happy. Cheer them up and show them that you care.

Ethics Essay Essay Example for Free

Ethics Essay Essay The theories of virtue, utilitarianism, and deontology are similar in some aspects but for the most part are very different. Each of the theories will be explained to show their differences and the type of person that would gravitate towards that theory. Through the explanations one would also be able to consider where there morals or ethics may lie but can also see themselves in each theory. The Virtue Theory, also know as Virtue Ethics, refers to the character of each person. This theory states that every person should try for excellence. The characteristics of each individual are made up from their environment that they are a part of. The theory would further suggest that it is not defined as a single moment in each individual’s life but their entire life as a whole. In thinking about the Virtue Theory, it can be explained by stating that each person needs to be the best they can and avoid the need or ability to hurt others. In Basic ethics: Basic ethics in action it talks about Aristotle and his view on virtue ethics to include characteristics or virtues of an individual. There are some that Aristotle would suggest to be the median or virtues such as courage, self-control, proper emotion, and friendliness to name a few. Reviewing these ideals of what characteristics a person should posses would or could be considered common traits of most individuals in the world today. In the simplistic form the virtue theory is about better one self and the other individuals that are around them. Deontology Theory states that there is a moral duty for one to act no matter the circumstances. This theory is furthered by the thought process of not thinking through any actions or the consequences but because it is action that is taken is right. â€Å"The word â€Å"deontology† comes from two Greek words, deion+ logos. Deion comes from the particle dei which means â€Å"must. † Logos (in this context) means â€Å"the account of† (Boylan, 2009). In breaking this down, it shows that is the account of the musts. In meaning one must act on the account of others or for themselves. Deontology theory can be seen within those persons that provide protection for another without question no matter the inherent danger. The will to act is shown through this theory such as that would be considered of the Spartan Army. The Spartan Army would not ask how many strong are the enemy but where the enemy is. Utilitarianism Theory is one that embodies the thought of taking care of the whole group and not the individual. This theory is a moral theory as we see wanting to make the group better. It can only be our morals to drive us to want what is best for a group. If one person is stronger in writing than another during the course of the project, then the weaker writer may ask the stronger one to take over. It is knowing your personal weakness and asking or foregoing your own glory to better the group that you are part of. One that can set aside their pride is a far better person and shows their true sense of morals. In thinking about a personal experience to be discussed in combination with one of these theories, I keep coming back to the theory of utilitarianism. The reason being that I know I have an alpha personality, meaning that I like to be in control and have the control. I tend to leave this part of me outside the classroom to have a clear head and to allow the learning teams to work more cohesive with the other members. It has been my experience that issues have arisen in each of the groups that I have been a part of. This is either due to lack of participation, inability to communicate or the plain fact of laziness. I have stopped from confronting the team member numerous times in order to keep the team moving in the right direction. Later in the class the issues continue to build and that is when I will confront the person and attempt to deal with the issue. I feel that in setting aside my alpha mentality and waiting to confront the individual is a way for the betterment of the learning team as whole.

Office Grapevine Causes and Effects

Office Grapevine Causes and Effects A RESEARCH PAPER ON  OFFICE GRAPEVINE: AN INEVITABLE ASPECT OF AN ORGANIZATION Abstract: To hear something through the grapevine is to learn of something informally and unofficially by means of gossip and rumor. It is defined as â€Å"The informal transmission of information, gossip, or rumor from person to person or usually unrevealed source of confidential information.† Grapevine or gossip is unavoidable in the corporate environment. As employees jostle to reach the priced top spot, jealousy, now coupled with social networking, sparks off gossip. Grapevine arises from social communications, so it can be as fickle, mischievous, and dynamic and varied as people. Left to itself, a grapevine can inflict as much damage as a raging fire. The prudent manager’s skill lies in utilizing the office grapevine in a positive way so as to benefit the company he works for. The present article throws light on the nature of office grapevine, its causes effects. It also tries to explain the greener side of the office grapevine that is it can be considered up to some extent as healthy one can utilize it for the betterment of the company. Key words: Office grapevine, rumor, gossiping, managerial communication Introduction: Grapevine communication originated at the moment humans learned how to speak.   Grapevine communication in the office is the unofficial way of communication where the information usually spreads through rumors or gossip. It is not a communication in the actual sense but on the contrary, is a barrier to communication. We can say that it is the very nature of human being to talk about others. People working in any organization share their feelings, grievances, emotions with their colleagues. Through this, they get social personal satisfaction; which in turn increases job satisfaction. Thus, it is the inevitable part of the office communication. In the words of Keith Davis, â€Å"Grapevine is basically a channel of horizontal communication, for its only people working at the same level of hierarchy who can informally communicate with one another with perfect ease. It means gossip, usually gossip that spreads and covers a lot of ground (a lot of people), much like vines do. Further, we can say that competition is the root cause for this grapevine sort of communica tion. And the present age is full of competition where everyone wants to prove he/she the best. But not all the persons adopt the genuine way of achieving their aims. Some people engage themselves in the unfair practices like they may spread baseless rumors about the persons they envy thus prove the major hindrance in other’s path of success. If the office grapevine takes such a negative turn, it is certainly detrimental for the very existence of that concern. Grapevine communication is the informal communication network within an organization. The grapevine is used to spread information bypassing the formal communication structure. Just like the grapevine plant: it spreads in random ways and it goes where it can. The grapevine is formed by the individuals and groups in an organization. The people in the groups have something in common that links them together. A person can belong to one or more groups. Companies should not ignore the grapevine, be indifferent to it or try it kill it. Leaders should proactively communicate and inject as much authentic information into the system as they can. Regular interactions with employees are the best way to understand gossip and politics, and one must be prepared for this. Research Objectives: The main objectives for this research are To know the causes effects of the office grapevine. To know the importance of office grapevine. To find out the ways to overcome the adverse effects of the office grapevine. Scope of the study: The scope of the present study is limited to the understanding of the concept of office grapevine, its importance, its causes effects to the remedies to wash away its negative impacts. However, there cannot be fixed solutions to eradicate office grapevine. It may differ from concern to concern. There may be various factors responsible for office grapevine to happen. Research Methodology: The present study is a genuine attempt to find out the ways for transforming the negative effects of the office grapevine into the positive ones. Data collection: The investigation conducted is through desk research and purely based on secondary data available on World Wide Web. Research Findings: Features: Very speedy type of communication. It has benefits and backfires as well. No channel of communication is there as in the case of formal communication. It is a mix of reality and rumor, about 80% information flows through grapevine. Importance: The grapevine is useful as a supplement to formal channels of communication. It often travels more quickly than other channels and is usually more direct. The grapevine is present within all levels of staff. It exists because of a natural desire to know things and brings a sense of belonging to employees and managerial staff alike. It can create corporate identity and build teamwork. Although the grapevine can wreak havoc with misinformation, it can also be beneficial. In most cases, grapevine information holds at least a kernel of truth. Information from upper management that flows through the grapevine to lower-level employees can allow them to see, and possibly relate to, the struggles that management is facing. When employees have a sense (even if it is not entirely accurate) of these challenges, they can rise up and make suggestions or work to improve a situation of which they might not otherwise have been aware. Also, if trouble is on the horizon (according to the grapevine), it can give employees a chance to make plans and temper their reactions when the news is formally communicated to them. Types of Grapevine: Within the organization communication chains exist. The chain used by formal communication may be very rigid, following the chain of command or authority. However, the chain used by the grapevine tends to be very flexible. Four different chains/structures appear to dominate the grapevine network according to Keith Davis are: The Single Strand Chain: This is a simple concept to follow, A tells B, who tells C, who tells D and so on. Each person passes the information on to the next person. The longer the strand the more distortion and filtering affects the information being passed until the last person in the chain may find the information unrecognizable from the original message. Most inaccuracies occur in this chain. The Gossip Chain: In this illustration A simply tells everyone with whom they come in contact. This pattern is considered to be somewhat slow in moving the information. The Probability Chain: In this case A makes random contact with say F and C and passes on the information. They in turn randomly contact others in accordance with laws of probability. Some hear the information and some dont. In this structure, there is no definite pattern of communication. Information is randomly passed along to anyone willing to listen. They type of person who communicates in this manner might be a very outgoing and talkative type of individual. The Cluster Chain: Here A tells contacts, B and F, who may work with A. They may tell two or three other persons with whom they usually have close contact. Most predominant pattern is the cluster pattern. Selectivity is the basis for this pattern. In any organization, individuals will generally feel more comfortable with some fellow employees than with others and therefore only relay information to those in their informal social groups. This flow pattern results in information missing some individuals completely. Advantages: It’s fast in spreading the information Both men and women actively participate in passing information It builds relationship between people. Disadvantages: Grapevine communication has the potential to spread unnecessary gossip. It’s dangerous to the health of an organization if allowed to grow without monitoring. May result in character assassination and personal vilification of individuals. May provoke sudden unwanted and unexpected reactions from emotionally unstable people. Grapevine channel can be moderated but not eliminated. Causes for grapevine communication to occur: The grapevine consists basically of rumors and gossip and travels from person to person during breaks, lunch and in after-work gatherings. It can bypass security because of its ability to cross over organizational lines. The grapevine functions best in situations where formal communication is poor, yet it is a natural part of human behavior. This information channel increases in times of stress or uncertainty, and from the lack of formal news coming directly from the upper management of the company. Effects: The grapevine allows feelings to be expressed instead of bottled up. People need to talk about what is affecting them, and the grapevine allows this kind of expression. Employees and staff can communicate important topics using their own language, instead of the technical jargon used in formal communication channels. If managers can tap into the grapevine, they can learn a substantial amount about the issues and problems of their employees. It is a solid indicator of health, morale and productivity in the company. Warning of the grapevine communication: A large percentage of communication that travels the grapevine is true; however, it is difficult for one to discern fact from fiction through the grapevine. Management must effectively monitor the grapevine and jump in to correct inaccuracies or falsehoods. The grapevine is unstable and unreliable; it can fuel anxiety, conflict and misunderstanding in small or large group situations. Recommendations: Since grapevine activity increases during times of uncertainty, management must provide information through formal system of communication about key issues events that affect employees. Management should supply employees with steady flow of accurate, timely information; so to minimize the potential damage caused by the grapevine. The grapevine can be controlled with prompt, clear accurate information on the issues important to the employees. Direct memos, large group announcements intercom systems should be used. A company can appoint expert persons in the HR Department to listen to the grievances of the employees on prompt basis before the rumor mill gets momentum. The top management should try to gather all the possible information or rather facts regarding the rumors. If there is an external rumor, it is generally left to journalists, reporters or media. At such situations, the company should prepare a formal response depending upon the situation. While implementing any new plan or system within the organization, the management may leak the information about it to the key communicators in the company. Through this, the upper body can get to know how a new idea will be received; whether it will be welcomed or rejected strongly. If the feedback is positive, the management can go with their plan for implementation but if it is negative, the plan can be rethought pinpointed the problem areas. Conclusion: Dealing effectively with the grapevine is a challenge that will always be a part of a manager’s job. Those who are able to understand the power of the grapevine will be better prepared to utilize it to provide stability credibility in the work environment. Thus, office grapevine is a part parcel of any organization. The only thing is the skill of a manager who utilizes this informal type of communication for achieving the organizational goals. References: [1.] Fell Tim, ‘The Grapevine’; Vide Arts Group (2000) [2.] The Research Paper ‘I heard it through the grapevine’ by Peter Cook. [3.] www.wikipedia.org [4.] www.smallbusiness.chron.com [5.] www.articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com [6.] www.analytictech.com [7.] www.theofficegrapevine.co [8.] http://www.cuttingedgepr.com

Essay --

At the beginning, Nick Carraway, the protagonist, gives his backstory. He recently moved into a house he rented in West Egg, which is a district in long island. It is full of â€Å"new rich† (people who recently got their money.) East Egg, however, is full of people who were born rich. The people that live in these places are the same, but different. Nick lives near a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby. He lives in a huge mansion and is always throwing awesome parties. Nick goes to a dinner with his cousin from East Egg, Daisy, and her husband Tom Buchanan. At the dinner, Nick meets Jordan Baker, a pro golfer. Tom leaves the room for a phone call. The call is from his lover, Myrtle Wilson. Jordan leaves because she has a golf tournament the next day, and Daisy and Tom suggest that Nick and Jordan get into a relationship together. Nick goes home to see Gatsby outside staring a green dock light. Later, Tom and Nick are riding a train to New York, but Tom forces Nick to get off with him to the valley of ashes. He is going to George Wilson’s garage to see Myrtle Wilson. Tom brings her and Tom to an apartment he keeps just for his affair in New York. There they have a â€Å"party† with Myrtle’s sister, Catherine, and the McKees. They discuss rumors about Gatsby and get drunk. Tom gives Myrtle a dog. Later, she starts to talk about Daisy, and Tom gets angry and tells her to stop talking about her. She continues so she breaks her nose. Later, Nick is home when one of Gatsby’s servants brings him an invitation to his party. Nick goes to the party where he sees that Jordan is also there. While there, they hear people discussing Gatsby’s background and what they have heard. They try looking for Gatsby, but run into a man reading books in Gatsby’s libra... ... sees Gatsby outside of Daisy’s house. He tells Nick that Daisy was driving and he’s waiting to see if Tom is going to hurt Daisy. The next day, before Nick goes to work, he goes to Gatsby and finds out that he was at the Buchanan’s all night and nothing happened. Nick stays to talk with Gatsby about his love for Daisy. One of Gatsby’s servants tells him he wants to drain the pool, but Gatsby intends to use it soon. Nick later explains that when Wilson found out about Myrtle’s accident, he thought the other car belonged to her lover. So he tried to find out who owns the car. He knows that Tom knows whose car it is. Later, he shows up at Gatsby’s mansion. Gatsby is in his pool, on a raft, looking at the sky, when Wilson shoots him and then shoots himself. Nick shows up and sees Gatsby dead. For the funeral, Nick tries to get people to the funeral but nobody will go.

Beowulf :: Epic of Beowulf Essays

The epic poem, Beowulf, depicts the most heroic man of the Anglo-Saxon times. The hero, Beowulf, was an outstanding warrior with all the extraordinary values required by a hero. He was able to use his super-human physical strength and courage to put his people before himself. He encountered terrifying monsters and the most ferocious of beasts, but he never feared the threat of death. His leadership skills were excellent and he was able to boast about all his achievements. Beowulf was the ultimate epic hero who risked his life countless times for immortal glory and for the good of others. Common traits of an Anglo-Saxon warrior were physical strength, leadership skills and heroic stoicism, which Beowulf demonstrated throughout this poem. Beowulf was a hero in the eyes of his fellow men through his amazing physical strength. He fought in numerous battles and returned victorious from all but his last. One of those victorious battles, was the battle against Grendel, in which Beowulf fought against a monster that had killed many men. â€Å"He twisted in pain, and the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder snapped, muscle and bone split and broke† (31.389). Beowulf showed his great strength by ripping Grendel’s arm with his bare hands, which would be impossible for a regular human to do. When Beowulf fought Grendel's mother, who sought revenge for her son's death, he was able to defeat her as well. â€Å"From its scabbard, broke the chain on its hilt, and then savage, now, angry and desperate, lifted it high over his head and struck with all the strength he had left" (38.535). He was able to slay Grendel’s mother by slashing the monster's neck with a giant's sword that could only be lifted by a person as strong as Beowulf. After defeating Grendel’s mother, Beowulf decided to finish off Grendel by slashing the monster's neck with the giant sword. â€Å"Then struck off his head with a single swift blow. The body jerked for the last time, then lay still† (38.560). After Beowulf chopped off his head, he carried it from the ocean to Herot mead-hall with ease. The head was so enormously heavy that it would take four men to lift and carry it. Another trait of Beowulf was his ability to put his people’s welfare before his own. â€Å"Heard how Grendel filled night with horror and quickly commanded a boat fitted out, proclaiming that he’d go to that famous king, would sail across the sea to Hrothgar, now when he was needed† (23.

Overcoming Bullying: King Essay Response Essay

​Bullying is a common problem effecting people ever. You can be bullied on any number of things; sexuality, style, opinion, and personality, just to name a few. Everyone deals with bullying in their own way. Some choose to ignore bullying and some choose to confront their bully head on. There are also some people who tell someone older and more experienced about their problems. Some of these methods are the right things to do, while others are not the advisable choice. I believe that everyone can come up with a suitable solution to this problem that benefits everyone involved. ​The easiest solution to this problem is to ignore the bully and hope that eventually the bully will grow bored and stop. This is not a very effective method for two fairly obvious reasons; one being that the bully may just come up with even more hurtful things to bombard you with, and the other being that if the bully chooses to leave you alone, he/she will just find a new victim to taunt, which doesn’t really solve any problems. ​The next best thing to do would be to inform an adult of what is going on and hope that they will be able to put a stop to hit. This is also not the most advisable method to stopping a bully because it will just anger the bully further. They will resent you for getting them into trouble. They might decide not to attack you in the sight of an adult but the bullying will grow worse when the two of you are alone. That doesn’t solve any problems and can in fact make things a lot worse. There is also a chance that the bully may bring some of their friends into the mix, so if caught him/her are not the one that stands accused of being a bully. ​The smartest action to take when putting a stop to bullying would be to confront the bully face to face. I’m not advising that anyone should fight because all violence does is cause problems. When being bullied I find that is best to discuss any issues with the bully so that matters can be straightened out and leave ever y party satisfied with the outcome. In some situations the bully may not realize that their actions are causing hurt feelings. When you confront the bully on these issues you show them how they are being hurtful so in the future they know not to say these things again. In other situations you may find that the bully is also being bullied by someone else and that in bullying you they are making themselves feel better about their situations. In  confronting them you discover this and that might prompt you to extend the hand of friendship, which would no doubt offer them moral support throughout their own difficult situation. ​Other people may feel like dealing with bullying in their own way. Some people find it easier to ignore the problem and hope that it goes away and others may think that bringing and adult into the situation will help solve the problem. Not every case of bullying is the same and not every method may be appropriate when dealing with certain cases of bullying. I believe that discussing your problems with the bully is the best solution and I try to do just that when I feel s though I am being picked on. Discussing a problem produces a solution beneficial to everyone and it is the step I recommend for anyone who is dealing with a bully. I hope that everyone will make this decision when confronting a bully, because it is the best way put an end to bullying. If everyone discusses the problems they are having with someone straight away violence wouldn’t be such a big issue, and I’m not just talking about violence between teenagers but violence between nations. If issues would be cleared up straight away there would be no need for violence and everyone could just get along. I believe that one day, if everyone discusses their problems and issues everyone will get along, putting an end to this unnecessary hurt. ​ ​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​

French English Relations in Canadian History Essay

Throughout the 20th Century in Canada there have been large amounts of tension and hostility between two of the largest ethnic groups, French and English Canadians. Both groups have attempted to gain the upper hand in battles over politics, language, religion, and culture. It is unfortunate that this bitter battle between Canadians is still taking place today. It is worth noting that the French make up 24% of Canada’s population, about 6. 5 million, 6. 2 million are living in Quebec. The three main historical events that have pushed relationships between French and English Canadians to the breaking point that ultimately led to violence and the threat of separation are the Manitoba School Question, Conscription in World War I, and the October Crisis. The Manitoba Schools Question began in 1890 with the abolishment of public funding to Catholic Schools, and ended with the Laurier-Greenway compromise in late 1896. â€Å"The 1870 Manitoba Act established a dual system of Protestant and Roman Catholic Schools† (Crunican, Paul E. Pg. 1). This meant that The Board of Education used public funding for both Protestant and Catholic Schools. In later years the French Roman Catholic population decreased rapidly as the English Protestant population increased, and became a large majority in Manitoba. Liberal Premier of Manitoba, Tomas Greenway abolished the Board of Education and public funding to Catholic schools in 1890 and erected a Department of Education under ministerial leadership. â€Å"Two Privy Council decisions, 1892 and early 1895, upheld the validity of the Manitoba law but affirmed the federal government’s power to restore the lost school privileges† (Crunican, Paul E.  Pg 1). The Federal election of 1896 was fought primarily on the issue of the Manitoba School Question and was won by Liberal leader Wilfred Laurier. He promised less abrasive and more effective â€Å"sunny ways† to approach the province. â€Å"The Laurier-Greenway Compromise of late 1896, promoting an amendment to the Schools Act in 1897, did not restore separate schools, but it did allow Catholic teachers to be employed in certain circumstances and it did give some religious-instruction privileges within public schools† (Crunican, Paul E.  Pg 1). This ended the Manitoba Schools Question and was a large cause of tension between both French and English Canadians. To this day it is seen as Canada’s most significant loss of French and Catholic rights outside of the province of Quebec. During World War I Canada contributed to the war effort by supplying ammunitions, war vehicles, and soldiers. Many French Canadians did not concern themselves with the war since Prime Minister Robert Borden had promised there would be no conscription. Three years into the war after the Battle of the Somme the number of casualties started to mount up and number of new recruits dwindled. â€Å"On May 18, 1917, Prime Minister Borden rescinded his earlier promise and introduced the Military Service Act, a conscription bill that would require all males between the ages of twenty and thirty-five be drafted† (Conscription Crisis of Canada 1917 pg 1). Citizens in Quebec were outraged as well as Henri Bourassa a well known French Canadian politician who actively opposed anything but voluntary service into the Canadian army. In an already fragile nation many believed this would tear the country in two and cause irreparable damage. The bill became law on August 29, 1917; it was met with two days of rioting and violence on the streets on Montreal. This left one citizen dead and dozens more wounded. â€Å"The worst incident occurred during Easter weekend in 1918† (Conscription Crisis of Canada 1917 pg 2). It broke out when a French Canadian young man failed to produce his conscription exemption papers to police. The riots were extremely violent and over 6,000 English speaking soldiers were deployed to Quebec, still the riots caused important destruction of property and resulted in over 150 civilian and military casualties† (Auger, Martin F. Pg 1). Despite conscription there was no significant increase in the number of troops in the Canadian army. The main reason for this was that many exemptions were being made on the grounds of religious and personal beliefs as well as men holding essential jobs. This further distanced Quebec from the rest of Canada and ushered in political efforts to try and separate the province and establish an independent state of Quebec. The October Crisis of 1970 again was the cause of major tensions and violence between French and English Canadians. Leading up to the October Crisis was the Quiet Revolution (1960) in Quebec. It had a profound effect on Quebec and helped to create Provincial funded education, healthcare, and a pension plan. There was also an emergence of minority movements such as gay rights, feminism, environmental awareness, public sector unions, and aboriginal rights. Some Quebec nationalists, however, eschewed the political movement and favoured a radical course of action† (Clement, Dominique pg1). The Front de liberation du Quebec (FLQ) terrorist organization emerged. The FLQ attempted to gain Quebec independence from the rest of Canada through violent acts of terrorism. â€Å"The conflict between the police and the FLQ, and the radicalism of the 1960s, set the context for the October Crisis† (Clement, Dominique pg 3). The FLQ’s attacks reached its climax on October 5, 1970 when they kidnapped James Cross a member of the British consulate in Montreal. One of the largest manhunts in Canadian history was organized, police conducted raids, arrests, and questionings. When the government refused to comply with the FLQ’s demands Pierre Laporte the provincial minister of labour was kidnapped. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau reacted by enacting the War Measures Act which relieved all Canadian citizens of their civil rights. â€Å"The next day, Pierre Laporte was found in the trunk of his car, murdered by the FLQ† (Clement, Dominique pg 5). Many Quebeckers were outraged by the government’s choice and the number of federal troops called into Quebec, while many outside Quebec supported the government’s decision. Around 500 civilians were arrested without warrant that had connections with Quebec nationalism, and anger and bitterness remains with them as they were wrongfully persecuted and oppressed. The crisis lasted around two months. â€Å"Cross was released on 3 December and his kidnappers were flown to Cuba, while Laporte’s killers were captured on 27 December and sent to jail† (Clement, Dominique pg 9). The October Crisis was Canada’s most heinous acts of terrorism and was critical to the degrading relationships between French and English Canadians. The 20th century is filled with conflicts between both French and English Canadian’s. The three key events that drove them apart were the Manitoba School Question, World War I Conscription, and the October Crisis. The most defining moment in history being the October Crisis. The extent to which was taken by the FLQ as well as the government continues to be remembered by Canadians and remains a sensitive topic for many. Whether or not this event will be the catalyst for future violence and the separation of Quebec is not known. But Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier understood the sensitive dynamic between French and English Canadian and continued to hope for a better future which is expressed in this quote â€Å"Two races share today the soil of Canada†¦. These people had not always been friends. But I hasten to say it†¦. There is no longer any family here but the human family. It matters not the language people speak, or the altars at which they kneel† (Laurier, Wilfrid).

External Factors and the Real Estate

Assignment 1. 3 External Factors and the Real Estate Industry By Karen Chapman 11 November 2012 Assignment 1. 3 Index: 1. The demographic environment: 1. 1Cultural diversity trends and developmentsPage 3 1. 2Demographics of own area, vs. national demographics and trendsPage 3 2. The economic environment: 2. 1 The current economic environmentPage 3 2. 2 Socio-economic factorsPage 4 3. The political environmentPage 4 4. The technological environmentPage 5 5. The competitive environmentPage 5 6. The legal environment: 6. 1 Regulations pertaining to property ownershipPage 5 . 2 Regulations pertaining to land use controlsPage 6 6. 3 Other rules and regulationsPage 6 ConclusionPage 6 ReferencesPage 6 Assignment 1. 3 Introduction: The real estate industry is hugely affected by external factors, which have the effect of either having a positive or negative impact on us as real estate agents. When the economy is good houses sell and buyers are able to qualify for bonds. When the economy is in a downturn then houses stay on the market for a lot longer. Buyers are more reluctant to take the plunge and buy property.Repossessions increase and banks often become more reluctant to grant bonds. 1. The demographic environment 1. 1Prior to the repealing of the Group Areas Act the residential housing market was segmented by race. Each race group was legally only allowed to stay in certain areas and neighbourhoods. After the repealing of the Group Areas Act and the democratisation of South Africa after our first free and fair elections for all races in 1994, different race groups and ethnicities started living together in the same neighbourhoods for the first time.With South Africa being welcomed back into the international community we also now have more clients from around the world. This has also resulted in a major paradigm shift for estate agents – from serving one race group previously we are now dealing with clients from every race and ethnicity from both South Afric a and around the world. To be successful and effective, estate agents have had to learn to be sensitive to, and understand, different cultures and their customs.Buyers and sellers have also had to learn to be more tolerant towards the different cultures and norms of their neighbours. 1. 2The demographics of my â€Å"farm area† are representative of the national urban demographics and trends. 2. The economic environment 2. 1 The world economic crisis has also negatively impacted on the South African economy and this had had a direct negative impact on our housing market. Due to cut backs and layoffs many homeowners are finding it difficult to meet their bond commitments and as a result many homes are being repossessed by the banks.Buyers are also experiencing difficulties in obtaining bonds from banks one of the main reasons being that South African banks appear to fear further repercussions from the global credit crisis and continued job losses (up to 400 000 before the year end) House prices have continued to fall. Absa's senior property analyst Jacques du Toit said house prices dropped further in nominal terms in June, by 4,4% year-on- Assignment 1. 3 year, while in real terms, prices were down by 11,1% year-on-year in May. But the residential market is expected to improve early in 2013Mortgage stress has increased from 55 000 in the second quarter of 2011 to 155,000 in the second quarter of 2012. Severe mortgage stress, where bondholders are over 4 months in arrears, has almost doubled in a year and increased sharply in June to over 72 000 home owners from 55 000 in the first quarter. Despite the lower interest rates there are more sales in execution than ever before. Currently there are approximately 4 500 houses per month which are being sold forcibly through legal channels which includes sales in execution, insolvency sales and bank's voluntary distressed sales channels. . 2 With the global economic meltdown, retrenchments and unemployment have be come more and more of a reality in South Africa. With the increased unemployment levels, bondholders have become more hard-pressed to make payments and this has led to an increase in defaults and consequently repossessions. Other homeowners have tried to sell their properties as they have become more financially strapped. This has resulted in an over supply of properties on the market (a buyers market) and as a result some buyers are able to negotiate more favourable/lower prices on houses.Many buyers are also reluctant to buy because of economic uncertainty. (job loss/retrenchment). Banks stringent lending criteria have also prevented potential buyers from obtaining loans. The net result being that the property market has been severely negatively impacted. 3. The political environment: The change in the political environment in South Africa has also resulted in a change in the real estate industry. Agents had to previously deal with clients from one race group e. g. but with the re pealing of the Groups Areas Act we now deal with clients we previously never dealt with i. e. ifferent race groups, ethnicities and nationalities In 20 years, South Africa has achieved many successes, including greater political stability and greater economic freedom. Research Worldwide. com has just published results of its annual survey, which showed that property investments in South Africa showed an actual total return of 15,1% last year. South African commercial real estate outperformed sixteen other major countries. The real estate boom in South Africa and low interest rates continues to encourage homeowners to feel confident and spend buying those houses for sale, farms for sale and commercial property for saleAssignment 1. 3 4. The technological environment: Technology has become an integral part of Real Estate over the past few years. Property software programs have played – and will play an increasingly important role in the future of Real Estate. To remain competit ive real estate agencies need to use the latest technology to benefit their business. The real challenge is to find a software application (programme) that supports all facets of the industry, cutting out the need to duplicate day-to-day work.The world wide web enables estate agents to operate globally as properties can be viewed from anywhere in the world. An agent can create a virtual office in his car with a laptop, 3G connection and a cell phone. 5. The competitive environment: The real estate industry has often been perceived as an unprofessional industry because there have been no entry standards for those wishing to join the industry. However, this is changing as all real estate agents are now required to obtain the FETC: Real Estate Level 4 qualification to enable them to practice as agents.This has benefits for both the industry and clients – the industry will have knowledgeable and qualified/professional agents which will enable both buyers and sellers effectively. Qualified agents will be in high demand in the industry. 6. The legal environment 6. 1 Regulations pertaining to property: There are a number of acts that govern property ownership in South Africa: Sectional Titles Act 95 of 1986 Makes it possible for different persons to each own a portion of a building Companies Act 61 of 1973 Share block shares must be transferred in terms of the Companies ActShare Blocks Control Act 59 of 1980 Controls the operation of Share Block schemes Housing Development Schemes for Retired Persons Act 65 of 1988 Regulates the development and alienation (sale or lease) of accommodation in schemes which are â€Å"Housing Development Schemes† as defined by the Act The Estate Agencies Affairs Act 112 of 1976 Safeguards the interests of members of the public in their dealings with Estate Agents The Estate Agencies Affairs Board is a regulatory body established by the above Act. Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981

Leadership in organizational behavior Essay

Leadership is the process of influencing people and providing an environment for them to achieve team or organisational objectives. As a property, Leadership is the set of characteristics attributed to those who are perceived to use such influence successfully. Leadership involves neither force nor coercion. It is widely believed in the world of business that leadership is the key ingredient in the recipe for corporate achievement. Typically, when we speak of leaders we are referring to people who influence others without threat, using non-coercive means. In fact, this characteristic distinguishes a leader from a dictator. Whereas dictators get others to do what they want by using threats of physical force, leaders do not. Subordinates accept influence from leaders because they respect, like, or admire them as well as because they hold positions of formal authority (that is, leaders may have both position power and personal power). We need to caution against the everyday practice of using tile terms leader and manager interchangeably. The primary function of a leader is to create the essential purpose or mission of the organization and the strategy for attaining it. In contrast, the job of the manager is to implement that vision. He or she is responsible for achieving that end, taking the steps necessary to turn the leader’s vision into reality. The confusion between these two terms is understandable insofar as the distinction between establishing a mission and implementing it is often blurred in practice. This is because many leaders, such as top corporate executives, are frequently called upon not only to create a vision, but also to help implement it. Similarly, managers often are required to lead those who are subordinate to them while also carrying out their leader’s mission. With this in mind, it has been observed that too many so-called â€Å"leaders† get bogged down in the managerial aspects of their job, creating organizations that are â€Å"over managed and under lead. † Leadership Perspectives Goal Attainment : influence function of leadership and deals the mechanisms that motivate members’ behaviors towards the group’s goals. Adaptation : helps the group to define its goal in a way that is consistent with the demands of the environment in which operates. Integration : some mechanism must coordinate the activities of group members towards the common goal e. g – Communication and conflict resolution Maintenance : mechanism to maintain their morale and keep them interested in staying in the group THEORIES OF LEADERSHIP: There are three major approaches to leadership: a) trait theories, b) behavioral theories, c) situational theories. Trait theories highlight that there exists a finite set of individual traits or characteristics that distinguish successful from unsuccessful leaders. Behavioral theories highlight that the most important aspect of leadership is not the traits of the leader, but what the leader does in various situations. Successful leaders are distinguished form unsuccessful leaders by their particular style of leadership. Situational theories outlines that the effectiveness of the leader is not only determined by his or her style of behavior, but also by the situation surrounding the leadership environment. Situational factors include the characteristics of the leader and the subordinates, the nature of the task and the structure of the group. THE TRAIT APPROACH: ARE SOME PEOPLE REALLY â€Å"BORN LEADERS†? Common sense leads us to think that some people have more of â€Å"the right stuff’ than others, and are just naturally better leaders. And, if you look at some of the great leaders throughout history, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. , Alexander the Great, and Abraham Lincoln, to name just a few, it is clear that such individuals certainly have characteristics in common that differ from ordinary folks. The question is â€Å"what is it that makes great leaders so great? † Leaders have certain traits, e. g. Honesty and Integrity : Trustworthy ; reliable ; open Intelligence Self – Confidence : Trust in own abilities Emotional maturity Stress tolerance Task – relevant knowledge : knowledge of business, relevant technical matters Ambition and high energy : Desire for achievement ; tenacity ; initiative Desire to lead : leadership motivation – desire to exercise influence over others to reach shared goals Research suggest that traits contribute less than 10% of what makes a successful leader Leadership Grid (Robert R. Blake & Jane Mouton) Impoverished Mgmt (1,1): Exertion of minimum efforts to get the required work done is appropriate to sustain organization membership. Country Club Mgmt (1,9): Thoughtful attention to the needs of people for satisfying relationships leads to a comfortable organizational atmosphere and work tempo. Middle Of The Road Mgmt (5,5): Adequate organizational performance is possible through balancing the necessity to get out work with maintaining morale of the people at satisfying level. Authority Compliance (9,1): Efficiency in operational results from arranging conditions of work in such a way that human elements interfere to a minimum degree. Team Mgmt (9,9): Work accomplishment is from committed people; inter dependence through a common stake. In organization purpose leads to relationships of trust and respect. Managerial Grid: The five basic approaches to management identified by Black and Mouton are based on the two dimensions of concern of people and concern for production that are associated with leaders. A managerial grid is formed based on these two dimensions which are rated on 9 point scale. If manager is securing the lowest score on these two dimensions I,I is identified as impoverished style of managers who are low on both their concern of people and production, 1,9 or country club style is designated to those managers who are having high concern for people but low concern for production. The 5, 5 or the middle-of-the road style concerns the moderate levels of concern for both people and production. The 9,1 or task management style is one where there is a high concern for production but very little concern for people and finally, 9,9 or team management style is one where the manager has high concern for both people and production. According to Black and Mouton the one best style for all mangers is the 9,9 or team management style. Fiedler’s Model Effective groups depend on a proper match between a leader’s style of interacting with subordinates and the degree to which the situation gives control and influence to the leader. LEADER SITUATION MATCH A task oriented leader is appropriate for a very favorable or very unfavorable situation. Relationship oriented behavior is predicted to work best when situation is moderately favorable or unfavorable. /* only read Favorable Situation: The situation is considered as highly favorable if it possess a high level of positive interpersonal relations between leaders and members, a well defined task structures and a leaders perceive that they are bestowed with strong perceived positional power. In such type of situation the leader will have a great deal of control over situations and will simply have to make sure that he gives the necessary instructions to get the task done. There is no need for him to waste time talking to each employee in order to be perceived as friendly. A task-oriented style will be effective in such situation. Unfavorable Situation: The situation is considered as highly unfavorable if it possesses a low level of interpersonal relationship between leaders and members, a poorly defined task and a relatively a weak perceived power. The leader of a task-force committee which is appointed to solve problems encountered in the work setting is likely to find him in such a situation. In such type of situation, the leader is in highly vulnerable situations and there is no other way to enforce a strict discipline and order to bring the situation in normalcy than following relationship oriented style. Moderately Favorable Situation: Here the leader might find herself in a mixed situation. For instance, a manager might have good relationship with her workers, but the task structure and position power of the leader may be low. For example, a bank officer may have a good relationship staff member, but the task structure or the power to control the staff members (either to reward or punish members) is not strong enough. In such situations, the manager will be very successful and get the desirable results if he follows more of relationships oriented style than task oriented task style. */ PATH GOAL THEORY PATH GOAL THEORY believes that a leader can change subordinates expectancies by clarifying the path between the subordinates’ action and the outcome, which is the goal which the employee wants to achieve. Whether leader’s behavior can do so effectively also depends on situational factors. Path-Goal Leadership Model Path-Goal Leadership Behaviour Directive Leadership Behavior: This deals with planning, organizing, controlling and coordinating of subordinates activities by the leader. It is similar to the traditional dimension of initiating structure in that the leader’s emphasis is on letting the subordinates know what is expected of them. Supportive Leadership Behavior: This concerns giving support consideration to the needs of the subordinates, displaying concern for their well-being and welfare and creating a friendly and pleasant environment. Participative—a pattern in which the leader consults with subordinates, permitting them to participate in decision making. Achievement-oriented—an approach in which the leader sets challenging goals and seeks improvements in performance. The benefits to the company of the achievement-oriented leader approach include greater employee confidence and commitment, more employee decision making, increased employee creativity, more challenging objectives, and reduced supervision for employees who work best independently. SITUATIONAL FACTORS Employee Contingencies Locus of control A Participative leader is suitable for subordinates with internal locus of control. A directive leader is suitable for supportives for external locus of control. Self perceived ability Subordinates who perceive themselves as having high ability do not like directive leadership. Environmental Contingencies When working on a task that has a high structure, directive leadership is redundant and less effective. When a highly formal authority system is in place, directive leadership can again reduce worker’s satisfaction. When subordinates are in a team environment that offers great social support, the supportive leadership style becomes less necessary TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP Definition: It’s the process of leading for change rather than for stability. Transformational leaders Leading — changing the organisation to fit the environment Develop, communicate, enact a vision. It is exercised when the leader intellectually stimulates the subordinates, excites, arouses and inspires them to perform far beyond what they would have thought themselves capable of. By providing a new vision, the transformational leader transforms the followers into people who self-actualize. Charismatic leadership is central to transformational leaderships. These kinds of leaders guide or motivate their follower’s in the direction of established goals by clarifying role and task requirements. Transformational leaders arouse strong emotions. They also help transform their followers by teaching them, often serving as mentors. In so doing, transformational leaders seek to encourage followers to do their own thing. In contrast, charismatic leaders may keep their followers weak and highly dependent on them. A charismatic leader may be the whole show, whereas a transformational leader does a good job of inspiring change in the whole organization. Many celebrities, be they musicians, actors, or athletes, tend to be highly charismatic, but they do not necessarily have any transformational effects on their followers. As such, although some people may idolize certain rock stars, and dress like them, these celebrities’ charisma will unlikely stimulate their fans into making sacrifices that revitalize the world. When you think of it this way, its easy to see how charisma is just a part of transformational leadership.

Analysis of Elie Wiesels Night

The Holocaust has changed the lives of many people. The surviving people are talking a lot of terrible stories. Because their experience is too shocking to express in terms of words, many survivors are scared so that they can not tell their stories. Eli Wiesel overcomes this fear by publicly spreading the survival period of the Holocaust. His powerful and moving touch Night touched the hearts of many people and taught a good lesson to his readers. He teaches how the world can change in the worst case in a short time. He wants to make sure that if the world does not learn from the atrocities of the Holocaust, perhaps they will be able to learn something from Erie's own personal experience. The book Night by Elie Wiesel is a reminiscence of the Holocaust about the author's experience during the Holocaust. Elie Wiesel was born in Sighet in Transylvania in 1928. A book named Night is said by a boy named Eliezer. Eliezer is the representative of the author. Elie Wiesel said that the story is not about his experience, but most of the events in the novel are based on the life of Elie Wiesel. Elie and Eliezer's experience has subtle differences. This novel starts with Zeek in Transylvania. The night of Elie Wiesel is an iconic book whose headline represents the pain, pain, and most important death witnessed by childhood experience in the concentration camp in Elie Wiesel. Elie Wiesel, born in Shige in Transylvania, is from the Jews and is very interested in traditional Jewish religious studies. The Wiesel family (related to his three sisters, mother and father) was eradicated at Siguet's house and brought to Auschwitz as part of the massacre. Eli separated from his mother and three sisters at the Auschwitz concentration camp, surviving in Auschwitz, Buna, Buchenwald, Gleevitz. Eliezer Wiesel's night's reaction to the night 1. What is your writing? Night is autobiography of a man named Eliezer Wiesel. During World War II, autobiography was a very alarming record of Erie 's childhood camp in the Nazi of Auschwitz and Bouhenwald. In the evening it is a testimony to Erie Wiesel about his experience in the Holocaust, but Wiesel is not exactly the protagonist of this story. That night I was told by a boy named Eliezer called Eliezer, but the details separated Eliezer from the real Elie. The purpose of Elie Wiesel's Night Book is to analyze Night, an autobiographical record of terrible experience at Elie Wiesel's German concentration camp. Wiesel talks about the traumatic time of his life, whose purpose is to not let people forget the tragedy that others have to suffer. An important theme introduced at Night is that these devastating experiences have changed the view of life of the victims. By providing an abstract, criticism and certificate by the author Elie Wiesel, this

University Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

University Learning - Essay Example University degrees may range from undergraduate degree, post graduate degree, doctoral degree and master’s degree. All these qualifications help one to take charge of their future by building confidence and skills thereby opening up new opportunities to the graduand at whichever step in life. University students are always offered trainings that are tailored to meet the expectations of the job markets. They are equipped with skills required to meet the challenging demands of the job market according to Fleming J and Owens (2010) and Garcà ­a (2010). They engage in specific skill acquisition in a field that they have special interests in. It is a common practice for one to engage more vigorously in a field he is most interested rather than a field one has got no interests in. Going to a university exposes one to rich cultural and social diversity. Making friends from various regions and countries is something that is of paramount importance to the student. This makes the student ready for the international market. Attaining university education opens one to the international market and therefore one can work with international organizations like the World Food Programme, United Nations Organization and World Bank as noted by Enders and Fulton (2002). This advances his/her career further. Working in any of the international organizations will always result to increased earning potential, range of opportunities and a career that is rewarding. Graduates always tend to earn more than those who have only A level education (Direct.gov.uk, 2010). Taking into consideration the vast resources in universities including supporting industries and training and research facilities among many others, there are always practical trainings related to one’s field of study. Also there is a lot of collaboration between the industry players and universities in research work. This gives

Legalize Google Glasses while Driving Assignment

Legalize Google Glasses while Driving - Assignment Example They are efficient in enabling a driver to check on literally all features of a vehicle such as fuel levels, the GPS, weather and temperatures and such other features that normally require one to make eye contact from the road to the dashboard of the vehicle or on phone. There are thus profound advantages while using the glasses but critiques argue that the use is equally as dangerous as the concentration of a person definitely shifts from the road to the features on display on the glasses. Proponents of the legalization of the glasses argue that they are covered in the legislation on support to use of hands-free gadget while driving to minimize the likelihood of accidents. Fact: The head-mounted technology in use with the Google glasses are a great revolution in modern day but lawmakers are increasingly getting disturbed by the use of such computerized technology. In fact, the legislature in West Virginia is in the process of amending existing legal infrastructure to get the offense in use of Google glasses while driving. Cause: As many get disturbed with increased rates of accidents through use of cell phones while driving the support of such measures to ban completely the use of the phones while one drive would be instrumental in addressing the issue. Effect: It is likely to produce positive effects as required in reducing rates of road accidents by banning the use of the phones while on road. This would encourage the use of hands-free communication devices while driving. Summary: Melnick Meredith, â€Å"NTSB Calls for a National Ban on Cell Phones Behind the Wheel† 2011. Web. 26 March 2014. Melnick shows that risks of car crash increase greatly by the use of cell phones while driving.  

Key Technology Trends That Raise Ethical Issues Research Paper

Key Technology Trends That Raise Ethical Issues - Research Paper Example This paper presents an overview of ethical concerns that are caused by the information technology. The information technology brings about a number of ethical, social, and political issues. Additionally, ethical issues consist of both political and social issues. For instance, at present, customer service has turned out to be one of the most important organizational tasks or services which engender a large number of ethical challenges and issues. In many cases, the lack of education and training in the subject of internet use has made a large number of individuals to take part in activities that question their ethics. This paper will present an overview of key technology trends that raise various ethical issues. Basically, ethics is a set of rules and principles that tell the individual whether they are wrong or right, acting as free of charge ethical agents, from which people draw guidance while making decisions to direct their actions and behaviors. Without a doubt, the information technology (IT) has brought wonderful advantages and opportunities to business organizations as well as individuals. It has modernized and revolutionized all the fields of life. However, at the same time it has caused a wide variety of ethical issues for individuals, business organizations and cultures for the reason that they open new horizons for strong societal change, and as a result intimidate offered distributions of authority, capital, privileges, and responsibilities. In addition, similar to any other technologies, for instance, electricity, steam engines, the telephone, fax machine and the radio, information technology can be utilized to accomplish social development; on the other hand, it can also be used by the bad people to carry out illegal activities. For instance, they can use it to threaten cherished social values and commit crimes. In this scenario, the advancements in information technology will create advantages and opportunities for a large number of businesses and individuals as well as expenses for others. In addition, information technology has given a great deal more pressure to ethical issues through the developments in the Internet, electronic commerce (e-Commerce) and electronic business (e-Business). It is an admitted fact that the Internet and other similar digital technologies make it easier for the bad people to bring together, integrate, and dispense their criminal activities. Some of the cases that can cause various ethical issues and concerns can include misuse of data and information, giving a free rein to new concerns regarding the suitable utilization of customers’ information, the security of individual privacy, and the protection of intellectual property and rights. Sometimes, the staff members of an organization having extraordinary skills and knowledge can deceive IT resources and business systems by using fake information and records and redirecting money at a level unbelievable in the pre-computer age. Some of the other well-known and vital ethical concerns caused by the increasing use of information technology comprise setting up responsibility for the costs of information technology and business management systems, establishing standards and measures to ensure the security of systems’ quality that ensures the security and privacy of society and individuals, and maintaining values and foundations believed to be critical to the quality of life in an information culture.

Online Assingment Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Online Assingment - Article Example The New York Presbyterian hospital is the first hospital to test surgery that is designed only for type 2 diabetes. This study is designed to test if diabetes is better handled by surgery as opposed to the other medical treatment options that there are today. This is the first study available to those who are overweight or mildly obese and may open doors to new studies. Under guidelines that currently exist, bariatric surgery is used for the treatment of severe obesity or morbid obesity for people who have a body mass index of 35 or greater. Treatment is now available for patients with a body mass index as low as 26. The body mass index of a healthy person is 19 to 25 while those who are overweight have a body mass index of 26 to 29. Those who are obese have a body mass index that is above 30. Patients with a body mass index below 26 and above 35 are not permitted in the study because the health risks are too dangerous. Previous research has shown that gastric bypass surgery for thos e people with a body mass index of 35 or greater will benefit from the results to treat their type 2 diabetes.

Kanz Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Kanz - Essay Example It is the welfare of economic security, physical health, and emotional comfort of the people residing in the society. People have become very much concerned about the environmental impact and social responsibilities. They prefer taking services from those organisations that plays a significant role in the development of the society. Therefore in the present time it has become mandatory for the organization to experience and deliver various social welfare services. Kanz plays an important role in performing different social welfare activities for the society. The company puts immense effort in helping its organizational members to increase their effectiveness and efficiency in their work. Kanz is a leading brand of kids wear in Germany. The organization was founded in 1949. It is present in more than 35 countries of the world. The company sells designer collections of fashionable clothes for children of 0-12 years. Kanz is famous for its different style of clothes characterised with various themes, patterns and colours. This fashion company maintain a separate story for each style of clothes. The company considers the need of both mother and child in its product. The company manufactures products which are easy to wear, easy to use and compatible. Kanz does many other charitable programs for helping the poor children. Its charitable efforts contribute a lot in the welfare of the society. The organization takes a huge initiative in developing t he health care issues of the children. The company provides different types of training to its employees who help in enhancing the skills of the employees (Boxall, Purcell and Wright 2007). This type of social welfare has a huge contribution in developing the society. Kanz takes part in different types of social awareness program. Social collaborative service of the firm wider its welfare activities. The company makes donations in different child care centres. Kanz is involved in the business of children clothing. Therefore

Intelligence Failure and Politicization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Intelligence Failure and Politicization - Essay Example Intelligence failure in the US context is defined by Stephen Marrin as something that has a negative impact on the country’s national security as well as an unpredicted international incident that previously escaped intelligence gathering and came about as a surprise to the international community. An example of this, according to Marrin is the India nuclear weapon test. As can be gleaned, the concept of surprise is allied to the concept of intelligence failure because surprise can only occur as a result of the latter (2004 p. 657). Robert Gates, former CIA head, defined politicization in the context of intelligence operations as involving intentionally distorted analysis or judgment leaning and favouring a certain line of thinking despite insufficient evidence to support it (1992 p. 5). 2.0 Vietnam and the Tet OffensiveThe Vietnam War was a battle between the once French-ruled south and the Communist north. The US’ engagement in the Vietnam War was considered one of th e most controversial ever in its history marked by relentless protests at home and the mind-boggling defeat of its forces in the battlefield. Three of the articles examined by this paper dealt with, amongst others, the US engagement in the Vietnam War and the controversies surrounding the seeming failure of its intelligence units in predicting the extent of the strength of the North Vietnamese forces.James Wirtz’s article â€Å"Intelligence to Please? The Order of Battle Controversy during the War,† dealt with the issue of the controversy.... As can be gleaned, the concept of surprise is allied to the concept of intelligence failure because surprise can only occur as a result of the latter (2004 p. 657). Robert Gates, former CIA head, defined politicization in the context of intelligence operations as involving intentionally distorted analysis or judgment leaning and favouring a certain line of thinking despite insufficient evidence to support it (1992 p. 5). 2.0 Vietnam and the Tet Offensive The Vietnam War was a battle between the once French-ruled south and the Communist north. The US’ engagement in the Vietnam War was considered one of the most controversial ever in its history marked by relentless protests at home and the mind-boggling defeat of its forces in the battlefield. Three of the articles examined by this paper dealt with, amongst others, the US engagement in the Vietnam War and the controversies surrounding the seeming failure of its intelligence units in predicting the extent of the strength of the North Vietnamese forces. James Wirtz’s article â€Å"Intelligence to Please? The Order of Battle Controversy during the War,† dealt with the issue of the controversy of the disparity between the figures cited by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) in the Order of Battle and the ensuing clash between their respective analysts. The most controversial aspect of this controversy was the charge by Sam Adams, a junior CIA analyst, of the existence of â€Å"a conspiracy at the highest levels of American military intelligence† (1991 p. 239), an allegation that became highly publicised and was featured in magazines, television and in a subsequent Senate hearing for that issue. This allegation stemmed