Charles Dickens Essays (691 words) - Literature, Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens In 1812, one of the greatest writers of all time, according to many, was born to the name of Charles John Huffman Dickens. Charles Dickens' family was not well to do, and was a lower-middle class family with eight children, Charles being the second. He had a painful personal life from growing up all the way until his later years, which was mostly due to the fact of being poor. Dickens, however, brought himself financial success in his later years. Charles Dickens wrote all kinds of literary works in the form of short stories and novels. He also had many great classics. Dickens is thought by many to be the greatest English novelist ever to have written a book. Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England on February 7, 1812 to John and Elizabeth Dickens. When he was two years old, he and his family moved to London where Charles went to school. When he was twelve, he was taken out of school and sent to work in a London factory pasting labels on bottles of shoe polish for a mere six shillings per week, paying for part of the debt of the family. This job lasted only a few months, but for Dickens, it felt like an eternity. Until he was fifteen, he attended school off and on, and then dropped out. In 1934, after studying shorthand for 18 months, Dickens got a job as a newspaper reporter for the Evening Chronicle. Two years later, Dickens had his first work published named Sketches by Boz, which consisted of his works from the Evening Chronicle and Monthly Magazine. The 24 year old Charles Dickens then married Catherine Hogarth. Later that year, and clear through the next, Dickens had monthly writings, The Pickwick Papers, which brought his name to be commonplace in English households. After many writings, and ten children, in 1854, Catherin and Charles Dickens separated, and Charles continued to write novels and stories. On June 9, 1870, he died of a stroke half way through writing The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Dickens wrote a total of 20 novels, and many other nonfiction books, his first being Sketches by Boz. His second (The Pickcick Papers) brought him great fame. Oliver Twist was another monthly writing (1837-1839). He then made Nicholas Nickleby which was about schools and teachers who taught nothing and treated students poorly. All of these books were great successes, until he then made The Old Curiosity Shop, which is not very well respected. Dickens then wrote two nonfiction books one Barnaby Rudge, the other Martin Chuzlewit. He had many other writings, including many novels and his 5 Christmas stories, one being A Christmas Carol. After the Christmas stories, he wrote other work such as The Chimes, The Battle of Life, The Haunted Man, The Cricket on the Hearth, Dombey and Son, David Copperfield, Bleak House, Hard Times, and many others. These books took him from 1837-1848. The works Dickens made later in his life would turn out to be some of his best. Some of Charles Dickens' bests include A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities, and Great Expectations. A Christmas Carol takes place in 19th century England and it shows how Dickens hated greed. Ebenezer Scrooge, a greedy workaholic, is visited by three ghosts, and learns the error of his ways by becoming a warm, caring man. A Tale of Two Cities tells about the rulers in England and of how the French Revolution had an effect on them. This book was written in weekly installments in 1859. Great Expectations was, without a doubt, the most popular out of all of his works, and has stood the test of time. This book tells of a boy named Pip (in all his snobbishness) and how he lives based on his values of social standing and possessions. Charles Dickens was one of the major influences in English Literature today. He wrote many novels and stories that continue to impress us still today. Since Dickens took is real life situations and transformed them into writings, many of his books were like autobiographies. Dickens had a hard life, but he made a huge impact on modern society. Some of the best tales came from him and his writing style will never be matched. The stories of Charles Dickens will continue to live on in our society forever.

Genetic Engineering Debate essays

Genetic Engineering Debate essays New technologies are developing daily in our society. Revolutionary ideas and procedures are coming into use in a variety of different fields. One field of study involves genetic engineering. A number of applications for genetic engineering have already surfaced and they have proven to be beneficial in some areas but are highly controversial in others. Genetic engineering has become an important element in the realm of food production. Genetically modifying foods will help us reduce the use of synthetic pesticides which have been decreasing in effectiveness and have feed the Earths expanding population. Modified foods can help increase their resistance to pesticides and herbicides thereby decreasing use of these pollutant chemicals and allowing plants to naturally manufacture pesticides to keep insects away. It will also allow plants to grow under much harsher weather conditions and poor soil. This will lead to better yields and increased food production making it easier to feed all humans. Some critics, however, have doubts. They argue that genetically modified crops could transmit their modified genes to wild populations creating organisms against which humans may have no defense. Decreasing diversity in plant populations could make crops more susceptible to dangerous pathogens that could decimate their numbers. Another important argument revolves around the idea that people with food allergies and dietary conditions may have reactions to foods that contain dangerous substances due to modification that they may not previously have had. A second application of genetic engineering is in the field of gene therapy and treatment of genetic diseases through genetic modifications. Supporters of gene therapy believe that is the most reasonable and cost effective way to treat most genetic diseases because the treatment would only have to be administered once because the modification would be incorporated int...

Making Career Plans Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Making Career Plans - Essay Example As such, early career planning promotes personal and professional growth and paves the way to higher goals of attaining happiness and satisfaction. While my immediate goal after college is to enroll into Harvard College of management and get the degree, my major goals for the next 5-10 years broadly cater to getting experience in the service industry, especially in banking and investment and start my own consultancy firm. In my pursuit of excellence, I would use reflective practices to improve and improvise performance outcome. This would also help me to grow personally and professionally and help acquire new skills to suit the changing external environment. Moreover, I believe that I am the highly motivated person who would like to contribute to the national economy by creating new avenues of jobs and helping others in realizing their dreams. As an entrepreneur, I would not only be providing employment to many people but also contributing to the network of information that would create limitless opportunities for others who can exploit the knowledge for their personal and professional growth. In the highly competitive environment of current times, career plans provide a focused approach in selecting the best academic institute and acquire necessary skills for bright future. They also help provide new perspectives on issues and subjects and facilitate empowered decisions to meet the challenges of time. Moreover, specialized professional degree lends credence to the abilities and professional skills of individuals and provides huge opportunities for personal and professional growth. Thus, planning for my future in the field of early childhood education is vital ingredient my success in future. My immediate goal after college is to enroll for major in Early Childhood Education from Fort Myers Florida and get the degree.  

Ukraine. United States Minitary Involvement Research Paper

Ukraine. United States Minitary Involvement - Research Paper Example However, due to the presence of common interest regarding the perpetuating and maintenance of International concord and the agreement to mutually fight terrorism has enabled the establishment of military cooperation. The fate of Ukraine is quite critically related to the security of the countries formed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and this has been responsible for the U.S. interests in Ukraine. On the other hand, it has been the intention of the defense policy of Ukraine to amalgamate with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and other similar Euro-Atlantic organizations, and this intention has been largely responsible for Ukraine’s appeasement to U.S. military involvement. Therefore, the United States of America has been actively taking part in supporting Ukraine in its journey towards the transformation into a strong nation. The U.S. Ukraine military relations have been quite beneficial and have enabled Ukraine to learn diverse defense approaches and techniques which have culminated in strengthening its position in the entire zone formed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The Office of Defense Cooperation of the U.S. works mutually with the Ukraine ministry of Defense to strengthen Ukrainian military by empowering it with latest military equipment and superb training. Ukraine was designated as an independent country on 25th of December 1991. The History of Ukraine dates back to approximately about 5000 BC and it is the largest of all the European nations with respect to territory. Ukraine has an ideal strategic location due to its position between the borders of the European Union on the east, border of Russia on the west, to the north it has the Belarus border and on its south The Black Sea. Ukraine has the longest border with Russia which is about 2063 kilometers long, and the shortest border with Slovakia which is merely 98 kilometers long. Ukraine is a united country in terms of political issues, and is a parliamenta ry presidential republic. In accordance to Ukrainian constitution, Ukraine is a democratic and a law abiding country. The constitution of Ukraine is the country’s fundamental law and like all democratic states, Ukrainian government consists of various political parties, the freedom of speech, an elected president, prime minister and a parliament. Only, the Ukrainian Parliament has the right to change an existing constitution or to adopt a new one. Before, June 1995, the fundamental law of Ukraine Soviet Socialist Republic was its Supreme Court but after June 1995, a constitutional agreement was signed by President Leonid Kuchma, until a proper constitution could be formulated. Therefore, in June 1996, first Ukrainian Constitution was adopted. Major adversary – United States of America is the major adversary for Ukraine in many ways. The national security of Ukraine is practically manhandled by United States military force. Latest military equipment used in Ukraine is a lso provided by the US and Ukraine receives a large amount of aid from the United States. Moreover, Ukraine receives Freedom Support Act assistance from the US. Since, the independence of Ukraine, it has received more than $3 billion dollars as aid from the US and this aid is used by Ukraine for economical, as well as political development. In December 2006, Ukraine signed a $45 million Threshold Program agreement with the United States.

Eco Fashion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Eco Fashion - Essay Example The focus of the paper "Eco Fashion" is on chemical use and pesticides use in the processing of raw materials for garments. Vogue notes that the earliest references in the past three decades with regard to sustainable fashion and ecofashion were made as early as 1990. Then, the New York Times headlined a story with regard to an emergent green movement in the world of fashion, as well as a new environmental push in fashion observed in Vogue not long after that. It was also in 1990 that a pioneer of the ecofashion movement, Katharine Hamnett, spoke before the United Nations with regard to the anomalies in the way garments were produced. The talk was specifically about the negative ecological impacts of those production and marketing processes for fashion and garments. Terms such as acid rain and children of the earth, as they pertain to fashion, also came into vogue. These point to the deep historical roots of ecofashion in the fashion literature. Fast forward to the present, and there are whole movements in countries in support of ecofashion, and awareness of the large negative impacts of mainstream fashion processes, including the production processes for garments, has reached an all-time high. For instance, in Sweden, government assets that promote ecofashion cite statistics with regard to the massive negative environmental toll of producing mainstream fabrics. The chemical trails from the dyes, bleaches and prints that are used to produce garments are said to be on par with the production. of wastes in petrochemical plants. Meanwhile tons of these garments end up becoming part of landfills and cause long-term havoc to the environment because of the chemicals that they contain. They also take a long time to totally decompose. This awareness in turn has been used to provide a boost for the creation of new ecofashion companies all over the world. In Sweden for instance, the first ecogarment firms were founded in 2004 (Quinn 2007). Among organic sources, the lite rature mentions hemp, cotton and bamboo as prime examples of organic materials that have become representative sources of fabrics in ecofashion (Rauf and Vescia 2009, p. 27). Recycling materials and the use of so-called â€Å"low-impact dyes†, or dyes that have a minimal environmental footprint, are also among the key concepts, materials and technologies that are associated with ecofashion (Lee 2009; Styles 2012). On the other hand, new ecofashion trends emphasize how current ecofashion has veered away from the symbolisms and the values associated with past eco-fashion waves. These include those that were produced by the counter-culture hippie movement of the 60's and 70's. Emerging ecofashion trends include that ecofashion has come to be embraced by the biggest mainstream fashion designers and brands, from Armani to Oscar de la Renta. Moreover, the focus of the new wave is on the aesthetics of the person wearing the apparel (Winge 2008, pp. 511-524). Elsewhere in the literat ure, sustainability and ecofashion have also come to be associated with fair trade too. Are the cotton farmers paid well and fairly? Are the supply chain processes optimized to

Knowledge Management Models And Frameworks Commerce Essay

Knowledge Management Models And Frameworks Commerce Essay The purpose of this paper is to critically review the various knowledge management models and frameworks. The review found that various knowledge management models and frameworks varies in perspectives ranging from the basic assumption of the articulation and transfer of tacit and explicit knowledge to the more complex and complicated assumption that knowledge is intellectual capital and it is mechanistic in perspective as well as an important asset that has to be managed efficiently for firms success. In this paper, knowledge management models are divided into three categories: knowledge category models, intellectual capital models, and socially constructed models. Besides, two knowledge management frameworks will be discussed in this paper. Finally, a KM model and framework is tentatively suggested to act as a useful guide for further research and organizational application. Introduction Nowadays, the world is fully experiencing an era, namely: knowledge age or the knowledge economy. In knowledge economy, knowledge is the crucial commodity due to the rapidly technological advancement. The technological innovations are eliminating the gap between competing companies and the collective knowledge of the employees become the key factor in producing innovative and competitive products or services (Sunassee and Sewry, 2002). Since previously managers did not encourage diffusion and sharing of knowledge among employees, changing in mindset is required for managing the knowledge effectively. The knowledge-driven activities in organizations and of the broader economic and social life lead to the management of knowledge become very important (Sunassee and Sewry, 2002). In general, this managerial activity has been known as Knowledge Management (KM). Previous research on knowledge management indicates the existence of various definitions of knowledge management. According to Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995), knowledge management is the capability of a company to create new knowledge, disseminate it throughout the organization and embody it in products, services, and systems. Duffy (1999) defines knowledge management as the identification, growth and effective application of an organisations critical knowledge. Knowledge management has been defined in another term, which is an organized and explicit process to generate, renew, and apply knowledge to maximize an organizations knowledge-related effectiveness and returns from its knowledge assets (Wiig, 1997). Alavi and Leidner (1999) define knowledge management as a systemic and organizationally specified process for acquiring, organizing, and communicating both tacit and explicit knowledge of employees so that other employees may make use of it to be more effective and productive in thei r work. Besides, ODell et al., (1998) define knowledge management as a conscious strategy of getting the right knowledge to the right people at the right time and helping people share and put information into action in ways that strive to improve organizational performance. For instance, Beckman (1999) define knowledge management as the formalization of and access to experience, knowledge and expertise that create new capabilities, enable superior performance, encourage innovation and enhance customer value. In general, KM is the process of creating, storing, distributing, and applying knowledge. By reviewing the significance of knowledge management and the complexity of its nature, it is timely to try to understand the latest theories underlying knowledge and knowledge management. Hence, this paper will critically study the latest models and frameworks of knowledge management and discuss on the assumptions and views of each model and framework. The aim of this paper is to examine the current understanding of the theory and practice of the emerging field of knowledge management by critically evaluating existing knowledge management models and frameworks. Therefore, employers or practitioners in organizations can understand their concepts and improved approaches can be developed and applied to organization and to those who need to work and implement knowledge management. This paper will begin by presenting the aims and objectives and followed with a short discussion on the types of knowledge. This is followed with the discussion on some of the existing knowledge management models and frameworks. Types of Knowledge In todays competitive business environment, only the knowledge of an organization can provide the basis for organizational renewal and sustainable competitive advantages. Organizational knowledge can be classified into two distinctive types of knowledge: explicit and tacit. According to Polanyi (1967), explicit knowledge is the knowledge which is easily to formalize, transfer, and store; documented, articulated into formal language, formally expressible and easily to communicate; tacit knowledge is pertaining to ideas, feelings, and individual experience, which is more complicated and difficult to share with each others. Explicit knowledge is the fact and can be codified and transmitted in a systematic and formal language. It is usually data, which is internal to an organization and can be easily collected. Tacit knowledge is the personal experiences, context-specific knowledge that is difficult to formalize record or articulate. It actually resides in the heads of the people, behavior and perception (Frid, 2000). Examples are intuitions, hunches, insights, beliefs and values. Both tacit and explicit knowledge are needed for an organization to achieve greater performance (Sanchez et. al. 1996). Knowledge Management Models and Frameworks Knowledge Category Models These types of model categorize knowledge into discrete elements. One of the most renowned KM models fits into this category, the Knowledge Spiral model by Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995). This model presents a high level conceptual representation of the knowledge dimensions, namely tacit and explicit knowledge. The model makes a number of assumptions, namely: 1. Tacit knowledge can be transferred through a process of socialization (everyday comradeship) to become the tacit knowledge of others top left quadrant 2. Tacit knowledge can become explicit knowledge through a process of externalization (formalizing a body of knowledge) top right quadrant 3. Explicit knowledge can be transferred into tacit knowledge in others through a process of internalization (translating theories into practice) bottom left quadrant 4. Explicit knowledge can be transferred to explicit knowledge in others through a process of combination (combining existing theories) -bottom right quadrant. One criticism of the model is that knowledge transfer in organizations is much more complicated and convoluted than this simple matrix suggests. The model also assumes an integration of tacit and explicit knowledge; often this is not the case. This model is shown in figure no. 1 below. A simple but more elaborate version of Nonakas model is shown in figure no. 2 (Hedlund and Nonaka, 1993). This model assumes there are four different levels of carriers, or agents, of knowledge in organizations, namely the individual, the group, the organization and the inter-organizational domain (customers, suppliers, competitors, etc.). The above model is helpful by relating the carriers to the types of knowledge; it remains problematic in that it assumes the carriers, like the knowledge, can be simply separated. Another example of a knowledge category model is that of Boisot, (1998), as shown in figure no. 3. Boisots model considers knowledge as codified or uncodified, diffused or undiffused, within an organization. Boisot uses the term codified to refer to knowledge that can be readily prepared for transmission purposes (e.g. financial data). The term uncodified refers to knowledge that cannot be easily prepared for transmission purposes (e.g. experience). The term diffused refers to knowledge that is readily shared while undiffused refers to knowledge that is not readily shared. The model presents the following characteristics: 1. Knowledge categorized as both codified and undiffused is referred to as propriety knowledge. In this case, knowledge is prepared for transmission but is deliberately restricted to a selectively small population, on a need to know basis (e.g. projected profits, share price issues) top left quadrant 2. Knowledge that is relatively uncodified and undiffused is referred to as personal knowledge (e.g. perceptions, insights, experiences) bottom left quadrant knowledge that is both codified and diffused is referred to as public knowledge (e.g. journals, books, libraries) top right quadrant Knowledge which is relatively diffused but also uncodified is labeled common sense bottom right quadrant. Boisot, (1998) considers such knowledge as being built up slowly by a process of socialization, harboring customs and intuition. There are few similarities between Nonakas model and Boisots model. For example, Nonakas categorization of explicit and tacit knowledge has a degree of correspondence with Boisots reference to codified and uncodified knowledge. The horizontal dimension relates to the spread or diffusion of knowledge across the organization in both models. However, Boisots model experiences the same limitations as Nonakas model in that codified and uncodified are but two discrete categories of knowledge. In addition, the idea of diffused knowledge is rather general and it is not clear if it includes incorporating knowledge within the organization, as well as disseminating it. Figure No. 3-Knowledge Category Model (Boisot, 1998) Intellectual Capital Models Management gurus such as Drucker (1993) and Brooking (1997) and practitioner icons such as Edvinsson, (1997) elucidated the notion of Intellectual Capital (IC). Knowledge and capital have been linked together for many years. Knowledge is being capitalized as a resource comparable to land or oil. However, we also need to focus on the intangible elements which knowledge contains such as employee skills, experiences, patients, copyrights, brands, licensing opportunities, research and development, innovative use of assets such as databases, etc. (Quintas et al, 1997). As these type of elements are not normally recorded on the traditional organizational balance sheet they are referred to Intellectual Assets; hence the term Intellectual Capital. KM is actively concerned with the strategic outlook and operational tactics required for managing human centered, intellectual assets (Brooking, 1997). According to Peters (1992), KM can affect intellectual capital or as recognizing or rediscovering assets that the organization are not using to full potential, ultimately employees. As these approaches imply that the key areas of KM are the management of IC it is worth reviewing a typical IC model. The model, shown below in figure no. 5, is the Intellectual Capital model from Skandia Insurance which is adopted from Chase (1997), and Roos and Roos (1997). According to Edvinsson and Malone, (1997) intellectual capital concsists the applied experience, organizational technology, customer relationships and professional skills that provide Skandia with a competitive advantage in the market. One problem that can be associated with this model is the adoption of a scientific approach to knowledge. This is evident through the classification of knowledge as a commodity linking it to organization capital. This view of intellectual capital ignores the political and social aspects of KM. KM can be decomposed into objective elements rather than being socio-political phenomena from the view of intellectual capital. This is similar to the Nonaka and Takeuchi, (1995) approach. As befits a new area of inquiry, much analytical work is focused on categorizing, mapping and measuring of knowledge types and processes. Although this is helpful, the epistemological basis of the field cannot be ignored (McAdam and McCreedy, 1999). Hence, we need to embrace socially constructed models of KM. Figure No. 4-Intellectual Capital Model of KM (Chase, 1997) Socially Constructed Models This group of models assumes a wide definition of knowledge viewing it as being intrinsically linked within the social and learning processes of the organization. KM is concerned with the construction, capture, interpretation, embodiment, dissemination and use of knowledge. These components are represented in Demerests (1997) Knowledge Management model. The model is developed from the original work of Clark and Staunton, (1989) and Nonaka and Takeuchi, (1995). It can be compared to that of Jordan and Jones, (1997) who speak of knowledge acquisition, problem solving, dissemination, ownership and storage and that of Kruizinga et al. (1997) who include knowledge policy, infrastructure and culture. Firstly, the model emphasizes the construction of knowledge within the organization. The model assumes that constructed knowledge is then embodied. Next the embodied knowledge is disseminated throughout the organization. Ultimately the knowledge is used to gain economic value with regard to organizational outputs. The black arrows in figure no. 5 show the primary flow direction while the white arrows show the more recursive flows. Figure No. 5 -Knowledge Management Model Demerest, (1997) Demerests model is attractive in that it does not assume any given definition of knowledge but rather invites a more holistic approach to knowledge construction. However, it does imply a simplistic procession approach to the flow of knowledge transfer, while in reality this may be extremely rapid and circulatory. To overcome this gap a slightly modified version of Demerests model has been developed, figure no. 6. Firstly the model emphasizes the construction of knowledge within an organization where either a scientific or social paradigm may be adopted. The scientific view of knowledge takes a knowledge is truth view (Morgan, 1986). This view considers that knowledge is a body of facts and rational laws thus promoting a non-personal view of knowledge, skills and tasks (Lave and Wenger, 1991). On the other hand the social view of knowledge is concerned with the social and learning processes within an organization. However, this approach assumes that knowledge construction is inequality, conflict, domination, subordination and manipulation influences as well as more traditional behavioral questions associated with efficiency and motivation (Alvesson and Wilmott, 1996). Thus social knowledge construction is a dynamic process of contextuality rather than the assimilation of a body of facts. In th e McAdam and McCreedys (1999) model depicted in figure no. 6, knowledge construction is not limited to scientific inputs through explicit programmes but includes a process of social interaction. The implications of this broader concept of knowledge construction must be reflected in the embodiment/dissemination of knowledge as part of the organizations KM approach. There is little point in widening the concept of knowledge construction only to limit the embodiment and dissemination techniques used or to force existing techniques onto new knowledge. Attempting to do so will lead to disappointing results, frustration and a negative view to KM caused by the mismatch between conception and application. Knowledge usage must also be reflected via the knowledge initiatives installed in the organization. Demerest (1997) describes use (as deployed in figure no. 6) as the production of commercial value for the customer. While increasing commercial value is a key objective of KM, it is not the only objective. Therefore knowledge use must be employed through the application of a complementary approach for emancipatory enhancements and organization outputs. This will permit the organization to be viewed and reformed from different perspectives that will facilitate continuous innovation, thus creating the ultimate business benefits for the organization as a whole. While the interconnecting vectors (black arrows) show the primary flow of activity, more recursive arrows are added to reflect the circulating nature of activity flows, thus depicting that KM is not a simple sequential process. Figure No. 6-Modified Version of Demerests Knowledge Management Model (McAdam and McCreedy, 1999) Knowledge Management Frameworks Stankosky and Baldanza (2001) developed a knowledge management framework which addresses enabling factors such as learning, culture, leadership, organization and technology (refer to figure no. 7). This framework presents that knowledge management covers a wide range of disciplines that include cognitive science, communication, individual and organizational behavior, psychology, finance, economics, human resource, management, strategic planning, system thinking, process reengineering, system engineering, computer technologies and software and library science. This framework consists four major foundations of an organization which is important for knowledge management are leadership, organization structure, technology infrastructure and learning. The role of leadership is practicing strategic planning and systems thinking approaches, making best use of resources, fostering a culture that encourages open dialogue and team learning, and for encouraging and rewarding risk taking, learning and knowledge sharing. Organization structure should facilitate personal interactions and support communities of practice to capture tacit and explicit knowledge within the organization. Besides, organizational structure should facilitate trust among people within the organization and encourage free exchange of knowledge. Technology infrastructure allows exchange of information without formal structures. Technology infrastructure should enhance the efficient and effective capture of both tacit and explicit knowledge. It should also support knowledge sharing in the entire organization. Lastly, learning is responsible for managing information in order to build enterprise wide knowledge and use that knowledge to organizational learning, change and performance improvement. Figure No. 7-Basic Disciplines Underlying Knowledge Management and its Enabling Factors (Stankosky and Baldanza , 2001) Karadesh et al. (2009) developed a knowledge management framework that emphasizes on developing phases such as knowledge infrastructure, knowledge combination, knowledge filtering, knowledge repository, knowledge sharing, knowledge application, and finally, knowledge performance across the KM process (refer to figure no. 8). The first element is knowledge infrastructure, which relies on building the proper culture for Knowledge Management System and establishes the awareness of the importance of KM among the individuals in the organization. The second element is knowledge combination that functions as a temporary repository of collected information from the infrastructure phase. The third element is knowledge evaluation which is used to assess the knowledge based on the value; accuracy and relevance after the knowledge have been combined from different sources (Sunassee and Sewry, 2002). Knowledge filtering is the fourth element that prepares knowledge to be stored in the next phase, after going through classification, categorization and organization. The fifth element is knowledge repository that functions as storage for the knowledge collected in the past stages. It also can be viewed as organization memory and retention of knowledge assets. Knowledge sharing is a core process in the process of the KM that transfers and shares knowledge among the individuals in the organization. Knowledge application is the seventh element that applies and represents information to knowledge seekers in appropriate matter. The last element is knowledge performance which is used to evaluate every KM system, process, performance, and impact of KM. It is performing according to the organization goals and objectives. Figure No. 8-Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Management Process (Karadesh et al., 2009) Conclusion The review of existing knowledge management models and frameworks has seen a wide spectrum of viewpoints. Knowledge management has been seen from the categorical view in which knowledge are categorized into discrete elements as seen in Boisot, Nonaka, and Nonaka and Hedlunds models to the more complicated and complex perspective of knowledge that is mechanistic and socially constructed orientation (McAdam and McCreedys, 1999). Moreover, these knowledge management models have made reference to: first, the process of managing the flow knowledge; second, categorization models are mechanistic; third, the intellectual capital model assumed that intellectual capital are crucial assets in organization and should be manage efficiently for firms success; fourth, Demerests model is intrinsically linked with the social and learning process within organizations; McAdam and McCreedys model is slightly modified from Demerests model, which seeks to address the limitations by explicitly showing the influence of both social and scientific paradigms of knowledge construction, and extends the use element to cover both business and employee benefits. Stankosky and Baldanzas knowledge management framework emphasized that leadership, organization structure, technology infrastructure and learning are important foundations for knowledge management in an organization; finally, Karadesh et al.s knowledge management framework represents with extensive and detailed processes and tends to provide guidelines for executing KM successfully, save time and efforts and to avoid inaccuracies. Even though knowledge management models and frameworks have evolved from time to time, basically the models and frameworks provide a way of transforming managerial activities and guiding managerial efforts in managing knowledge in the organizations. The KM model and framework that are suggested to act as a useful guide for further research and organizational application is McAdam and McCreedys model and Karadesh et al.s framework. McAdam and McCreedys model combines scientific and socially constructed knowledge, and also the uses/benefits of KM are viewed as both emancipatory and as business oriented. Karadesh et al.s framework provides a broadest analysis of KM process that can be used to foster the development of organization knowledge and enhance the organizational impact of individuals throughout the organizations. Therefore, it is suggested that this model and framework could act as a useful guide for further research and literature evaluation in the area of knowledge management.

Sell Your Troubled Websites :: Sell Websites Buy Websites

Sell Your Troubled Websites Reprinted with permission of VotanWeb.com You awaken one morning to the realization that the website you've poured so much time, energy and thought into; the dream that was once the preoccupation of your every waking moment has turned sour - what do you do? Market forces, changing consumer tastes, cash flow problems, or some unforeseen outside factor has brought you to the point of not being able to keep things going much longer. Do you, shut the doors and call it a day or declare bankruptcy? These options are certainly worth considering but though you weren't able to make it happen, does not necessarily mean that your business isn't valuable. If your website is failing, tough decisions need to be made. At the best of times, making objective decisions about something so close to you, something that you've put so much thought, energy, planning and dreaming into, can be challenging. Conditions such as these make it all the more difficult. Despite how things may appear at such a bleak moment, oftentimes failing websites are able to find buyers. Though it may seem unlikely, there are people and companies out there looking for opportunities to acquire failing or troubled websites. Here are seven good reasons why a buyer may seriously consider purchasing your website: The buyer may already have an existing website like yours and, by combining the two, be able to operate at lower cost. The buyer may have expertise in restructuring or repositioning websites, and has a plan to make your website profitable. The buyer may decide that it is more feasible to acquire your website, to invest in it and make it successful, than it would be to build a comparable website from the ground up. The buyer may have sufficient finance sources to carry the loss until your website becomes profitable. The buyer may have lower financial expectations and feel that, by lowering expenses and perhaps making a small investment, modest profits are achievable. The opportunity of a sale may, however, give rise to tangential issues needing consideration. It's very likely that by this point, in an effort to keep things going as long as possible, that you've incurred some personal liability for your website debts. You may even have pledged some personal assets as security. If the proceeds of selling your website won't be enough to pay off all your creditors in full, then you'll still be personally liable for the previous arrangements that you made.

Is Meteorology Science? Essay

Many books and academic articles describe Meteorology, the study of the Earth’s atmosphere, as a science. While this may have been unquestionably accepted by many students and even scientists, it may well be worth to examine the subject more closely and ask, is Meteorology really science? Encyclopedia Britannica (2006) defines science as â€Å"any system of knowledge that is concerned with the physical world and its phenomena and that entails unbiased observations and systematic experimentation†. Science does not regard unverified personal beliefs and opinions but instead rely on systematic methods of analysis. The scientific method, as this method is called, is generally attached to all fields of science through which facts and conclusions are derived. Accuracy and consistency also matter and thus, measurement is important in science. Science in its Latin origin scire means â€Å"to know† and as such reflects the objective of scientific studies: to know and understand phenomena that can be observed or detected. For Meteorology to qualify as a science, it should meet the premises that make up science itself. Meteorology can be considered as science in that it involves a study of the physical world. Meteorology studies the physical and observable aspects of the atmosphere such as the formation of rains, thunderstorms and clouds, and weather events such as rainbows, mirages and halos. Meteorology can be considered as science because it does not rely on personal beliefs and opinion but rather on measurable data and analytic observations. In Meteorology, analytic observations are developed based on the measurement of such variables as wind speed, air temperature, relative humidity, and barometric pressure. These observations and measurements are used to predict weather conditions. Meteorology can be considered as science in that it involves scientific methods. Meteorologists adhere to a meticulous system before they give weather forecasts. They make observations through satellites and radars so as to be able to collect the necessary data such as Is Meteorology Science? Page_#2 variations in temperature and pressure. These data will be analyzed and made into charts, maps and graphs which will be used to predict weather conditions (Encarta 2006). While Meteorology meets some of the requisites of science, it also has its loopholes that can disqualify it from being considered a science. In science, subjects must be examined, tested and verified. Meteorology comes short in this foundation because meteorologists cannot test the correctness of their hypothesis, which is commonly regarded as the weather forecast, unless the weather phenomenon has already occurred. Meteorology cannot be considered a science because it is lacking in the accuracy and consistency in the variable measured. The direction of the wind, for example is not precisely measurable and cannot be certainly predicted (Mill). Moreover the atmosphere itself, the main subject of Meteorology has no known boundary from the outer space. Meteorology cannot be considered a science because it falls short of the thoroughness in the scientific method. The scientific investigation does not precisely end with a conclusion or a finding but rather in a prediction which can be regarded merely as a theory. A guess, interpretation, theory and hypothesis are not science (Colby). As contented herein, Meteorology can be considered science in that it has met basic elements that make up science. However, it also has certain flaws that can disqualify it from being considered as such. Regardless of this, it is noteworthy that that the applications of Meteorology especially in weather forecasting have already been considered as among the contribution science can make and as such, Meteorology, with its ambiguity in some of its scientific elements can well be considered as an imperfect science. References Colby, K. M. , & Stoller, R. J. (1988). Cognitive Science and Psychoanalysis. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Retrieved October 2, 2006, from Questia database: http://www.questia. com/PM. qst? a=o&d=10104147 â€Å"Meteorology†. (2006). Retrieved September 30, 2006, from Microsoft ® Encarta ® Online Encyclopedia 2006: http://encarta. msn. com/text_761571037__1/Meteorology. html Mill, John Stuart. (n. d). The Logic of the Moral Sciences. Retrieved September 30, 2006, from http://www. la. utexas. edu/research/poltheory/mill/sol/sol. b06. c03. html â€Å"Science†. (2006). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved September 20, 2006, from Encyclop? dia Britannica Online: http://www. britannica. com/eb/article-9066286.

Battle of Zama in the Punic Wars

Battle of Zama in the Punic Wars The Battle of Zama was the deciding engagement of the Second Punic War (218-201 BC) between Carthage and Rome and was fought in late October 202 BC. After a string of early Carthaginian victories in Italy, the Second Punic War settled into a stalemate with Hannibals armies in Italy unable to deliver a deathblow again the Romans. Recovering from these setbacks, Roman forces achieved some success in Iberia before launching an invasion of North Africa. Led by Scipio Africanus, this army engaged a Carthaginian force led by Hannibal at Zama in 202 BC. In the resulting battle, Scipio defeated his famous foe and forced Carthage to sue for peace. Fast Facts: Battle of Zama Conflict: Second Punic War (218-201 BC)Dates: 202 BCArmies Commanders:CarthageHannibalapprox. 36,000 infantry4,000 cavalry80 elephantsRomeScipio Africanus29,000 infantry6,100 cavalryCasualties:Carthage: 20-25,000 killed, 8,500-20,000 capturedRome Allies: 4,000-5,000 Background With the beginning of the Second Punic War in 218 BC, the Carthaginian general Hannibal boldly crossed the Alps and attacked into Italy. Achieving victories at Trebia (218 BC) and Lake Trasimene (217 BC), he swept aside armies led by  Tiberius Sempronius Longus and  Gaius Flaminius Nepos. In the wake of these triumphs, he marched south looting the country and attempting to force Romes allies to defect to Carthages side. Stunned and in crisis from these defeats, Rome appointed Fabius Maximus to deal with the Carthaginian threat.   Hannibal. Public Domain Avoiding battle with Hannibals army, Fabius raided the Carthaginian supply lines and practiced the form of attritional warfare that later bore his name. Rome soon proved unhappy with Fabius methods and he was replaced by the more aggressive  Gaius Terentius Varro and Lucius Aemilius Paullus. Moving to engage Hannibal, they were routed at the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC. Following his victory, Hannibal spent the next several years attempting to build an alliance in Italy against Rome. As the war on the peninsula descended into a stalemate, Roman troops, led by Scipio Africanus, began having success in Iberia and captured large swaths of Carthaginian territory in the region. In 204 BC, after fourteen years of war, Roman troops landed in North Africa with the goal of directly attacking Carthage. Led by Scipio, they succeeded in defeating Carthaginian forces led by Hasdrubal Gisco and their Numidian allies commanded by Syphax at Utica and Great Plains (203 BC). With their situation precarious, the Carthaginian leadership sued for peace with Scipio. This offer was accepted by the Romans who offered moderate terms. While the treaty was being debated in Rome, those Carthaginians who favored continuing the war had Hannibal recalled from Italy. Scipio Africanus - detail of painting by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Scipio Africanus is shown releasing the nephew of the Prince of Nubia after he was captured by Roman soldiers. Walters Art Museum Carthage Resists During this same period, Carthaginian forces captured a Roman supply fleet in the Gulf of Tunes. This success, along with the return of Hannibal and his veterans from Italy, led to change of heart on the part of the Carthaginian senate. Emboldened, they elected to continue the conflict and Hannibal set about enlarging his army. Marching out with a total force of around 40,000 men and 80 elephants, Hannibal encountered Scipio near Zama Regia. Forming his men in three lines, Hannibal placed his mercenaries in first line, his new recruits and levies in the second, and his Italian veterans in the third. These men were supported by the elephants to the front and Numidian and Carthaginian cavalry on the flanks. Scipio's Plan To counter Hannibals army, Scipio deployed his 35,100 men in a similar formation consisting of three lines. The right wing was held by Numidian cavalry, led by Masinissa, while Laelius Roman horsemen were placed on the left flank. Aware that Hannibals elephants could be devastating on the attack, Scipio devised a new way to counter them. Though tough and strong, the elephants could not turn when they charged. Using this knowledge, he formed his infantry in separate units with gaps in between. These were filled with velites (light troops) which could move to allow the elephants to pass through. It was his goal to allow the elephants to charge through these gaps thus minimizing the damage they could inflict. Hannibal Defeated As anticipated, Hannibal opened the battle by ordering his elephants to charge the Roman lines. Moving forward, they were engaged by the Roman velites who drew them through the gaps in the Roman lines and out of the battle. In addition, Scipios cavalry blew large horns to frighten the elephants. With Hannibals elephants neutralized, he reorganized his infantry in a traditional formation and sent forward his cavalry. Attacking on both wings, the Roman and Numidian horsemen overwhelmed their opposition and pursued them from the field. Though displeased by his cavalrys departure, Scipio began advancing his infantry. This was met by an advance from Hannibal. While Hannibals mercenaries defeated the first Roman assaults, his men slowly began to be pushed back by Scipios troops. As the first line gave way, Hannibal would not allow it to pass back through the other lines. Instead, these men moved to the wings of the second line. Pressing forward, Hannibal struck with this force and a bloody fight ensued. Ultimately defeated, the Carthaginians fell back to the flanks of the third line. Extending his line to avoid being outflanked, Scipio pressed the attack against Hannibals best troops. With the battle surging back and forth, the Roman cavalry rallied and returned to the field. Charging the rear of Hannibals position, the cavalry caused his lines to break. Pinned between two forces, the Carthaginians were routed and driven from the field. Aftermath As with many battles in this period, exact casualties are not known. Some sources claim that Hannibals casualties numbered 20,000 killed and 20,000 taken prisoner, while the Romans lost around 2,500 killed and 4,000 wounded. Regardless of casualties, the defeat at Zama led to Carthage renewing its calls for peace. These were accepted by Rome, however the terms were harsher than those offered a year earlier. In addition to losing the majority of its empire, a substantial war indemnity was imposed and Carthage was effectively destroyed as a power.

art with twist Essays

art with twist Essays art with twist Essay art with twist Essay Name: Course: Instructor: Date: Mona Lisa’s Salvador Dali Alteration In 1954, Salvador Dali painted the Mona Lisa as a self-portrait. The alternation associated the painter’s facial features to the Original Mona Lisa. For instance, the Salvador Lisa painting exhibits a moustache and no central hair division, uncharacteristic of the original Mona Lisa. Additionally, the soft feminine hands are replaced by callous masculine hands that are not folded but holding many coins. Salvador prefers restricted color shades using only black and white unlike Leonardo’s painting. The eyes in the later painting are conspicuous while disproportional to each other. However, the later painting retains most original details in reference to the burst hair and neck. I choose the paint because of the contrast in emotions it creates to a viewer familiar with the original art piece. Salvador Dali is Spanish in decent and was born in May 1904. He was made to believe by he was the incarnate form of his brother who had died nine months before Salvador’s birth. With his mother’s encouragement, he pursued art in Madrid’s fine art institute earning recognition for his cubanism art style (Bennett 16). He was later expelled on claiming none of the faculty members was competent enough to examine him (Dali? et al. 201). However, he excelled to the extent of having exhibitions with acclaimed artists such as Picasso and Miro. More ever, Salvador’s painting illustrates a level of outrageousness in its distinctive features such as the moustache or hands. The beautiful mystic inherent in the original painting is replaced by disbelief from the hideous stare in Salvador’s painting. An audience of the later painting can deduce a cultural transformation during the period between the two art pieces. Where artists in Leonardo’s era were resp ected beauty freedom and mystic in comparison to Salvador’s era where self-perception and money are of preeminence given the addition of personal facial features with a handful of coins replacing the liberty of Mona Lisa’s hands. Leonardo da Vinci is the artist behind the original Mona Lisa. He exhibited great ingenuity during the renaissance age through his music, physics, paintings and literary works. Born in Italy in 1452, Leonardo acquired informal education in languages, art, and mathematics and related engineering fields while as an apprentice. His Father was a rich and practiced polygamy. He was born out of wedlock to a peasant young girl in Vinci Italy. Leonardo’s recognition in the early ages was mostly through his scientific and industrial inventions. The Mona Lisa was a project he undertook between 1504 and 1519 to paint a smiling woman. The painting is characterized by enigma given the smile and the stare where Leonardo darkens the shade on the lip as well as the eyelids. The painting is arguably Leonardo’s’ most favorite given he kept it until his death (Witteman 20). The enigma in the painting inspired artists such as Walter Pater to express better female mystique via painting. The oil colors where combined and brushed to create a background uncommon at that age complementing the appeal already existing in the smooth neck and burst. Mona Lisa has no sign of overlaying thus indicating Leonardo’s expertise in spite of his habit of leaving paintings unfinished. His paintings like the Mona Lisa demonstrated an integration of knowledge in geology, anatomy and color traits learnt while as an apprentice (Witteman 4). Salvador, replaces the sense of freedom in the original background by painting a grey almost turbulent shade. This can be explained as an attempt to create a satirical twist on the original painting. Work cited Bennett, L. (2005). Salvador Dali. Chicago, Ill: Heinemann Library. Dali?, Salvador, and Haakon Chevalier. The Secret Life of Salvador Dali?. New York: Dover Publications, 1993. Print. Galli, Letizia, and Leonardo. Mona Lisa: The Secret of the Smile. New York: Doubleday Book for Young Readers, 1995. Print. Witteman, Barbara. Leonardo Da Vinci. Mankato, Minn: Capstone, 2008. Print.

Tax research problem Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tax problem - Research Paper Example Please prepare a memorandum to me addressing the tax consequences of receiving the $200,000 back-pay and damages award, and any gross up she might receive caused by the bunching effect of receiving the award in a single year. Be sure to cite any authority bearing on these questions. _____________________________________________________________________________ MEMORANDUM TO: S. Partner, C.P.A. FROM: J. Accountant RE: Brenda Broccoli In Brenda’s case, three facts must be considered: structured settlements are a possibility; there is one major tax advantage to having a structured settlement; and there is one major disadvantage to having a structured settlement. The structured settlement itself was devised 29 years ago in order to ensure that people who suddenly came into money due to a jury’s award would not have to suffer financial consequences that come with new-found wealth. â€Å"In 1982, Congress created†¦the structured settlement. Rather than paying [a] plainti ff with a single check of $1 million, defendant pays plaintiff $2 million in increments over the next twenty years. [S]preading the receipt over a long period of time [relegates]†¦settlement monies to periodic payments, creating the structured settlement tax subsidy.†1 One of the major problems that had been plaguing people who won large sums of money from jury trials included the fact that people would be subject to losing or spending all of their money in a very irresponsible fashion. This was partially due to the fact that many people simply were not prepared to deal with such large sums of money, had poor financial planning, and, as a result—would lose all of their settlements in a very short time. The best aspect of making sure that one gets a structured settlement for the payout of $200K is that, most likely, Brenda could maintain her current tax bracket instead of being taxed in the second-highest tax bracket in the country. â€Å"One significant advantage of a structured settlement is tax avoidance. With appropriate set-up, a structured settlement may significantly reduce the plaintiff's tax obligations as a result of the settlement, and may in some cases be tax-free.†2 What would be ideal is if Brenda’s settlement was tax-free. The specifics would have to be worked out with her tax lawyers, but perhaps they could set up a tax shelter in the Cayman Islands by setting up an account there and funneling the money there—either that or in Switzerland. Unfortunately, since all the money in a structured settlement isn’t received at one time, no big purchases can be made—such as buying a house. â€Å"One of the disadvantages to a structured settlement is that you cannot make any changes in the amount you receive or in your schedule of payments. That is why it is imperative when you agree to a structure, that you try†¦to anticipate what your needs will be over [time].†3 Of course, it would really depend upon the payout amount of the structured settlement as to what types of goods and services could be purchased based upon Brenda’s budget. It is recommended that Ms. Broccoli make full advantage of her tax lawyers, who specialize in this very same type of legal dilemma.

Video games Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Video games - Essay Example Infamous events have created widespread debates regarding the negative consequences of video game violence. For example, a national discussion began regarding what connection video games may have had to the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. Though many motivations were likely involved, it is not reasonable to identify precisely what motivated these teenagers to shoot their schoolmates and teachers but violent video games were mentioned as a contributing reason. With enhanced realism and the increasing tendency towards greater amounts of graphic aggression in games, people who play violent video games should be educated to the possible consequences. When video games first appeared around 35 years ago, they were simple and seemingly harmless. Atari introduced Pong during the 1970’s, a video game version of table tennis. Arcade games such as Pac-Man and Asteroids were popular in the 1980’s. The seemingly harmless nature of video games noticeably evolved to cartoon-like ghost chomping to blatant violence in the 1990’s. Mortal Kombat, the most popular game of 1993, featured accurate portrayals of human-like characters fighting bloody battles. The purpose of the player in the game, as the name suggests, was to kill the enemy. Violent games even more brutal than Mortal Kombat dominate the video game market today. Near the end of that 1980’s, a study tested 33 of Sega and Nintendo’s most popular video games determined nearly 80 percent were violent. (Dietz, 1998). The study also revealed that a troubling one-fifth of the games portrayed violence towards women. It has also been demonstrated that playing violent video games encourages the tendency of experiencing hostile thought patterns by means of the ‘semantic priming process.’ Current studies reveal that hostile behaviors occur during controlled studies using independent scientific methods and in daily life circumstances as well. The playing of violent video games un questionably was associated with an increase of violent behavior. Other studies were conducted which considered the video game patterns of university students throughout their four year career which demonstrated that when in a normal, dorm-room surroundings, playing violent video games over a four year period was the initiating factor in incidences of aggressive behavior. This increase happened, not just when playing of the game but during other aspects of their lives too. Both studies revealed that violent video games negatively affected a person’s current emotional condition and increases feelings of hostility. The similar findings of these studies give added credibility to the contention that exposure to violent video games promotes aggressive behavior. Though the inclination for increased violent behaviors cannot be scientifically proven on the basis of two studies, this evidence corroborates the results of similar research. (Calvert & Tan, 1994). When playing a video gam e that uses ‘first person’ interaction, the player typically chooses a character whose personality the player identifies with. By manipulating the action of their character a player usually tries to visualize the game from their character’s perspective. The player ‘becomes’ that character, which enhances the players enjoyment of the game. Anyone who has seen two teen boys, or their fathers, playing video games has witnessed them envisioning they are the character that they are controlling. The second rationale entails the