Management Essay Example

Management Essay THE ROLE OF PROJECT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT IN INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PROJECT PORTFOLIO Name Institution Date THE ROLE OF PROJECT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT IN INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PROJECT PORTFOLIO Introduction The issue of whether project managers should adopt project portfolio management in the management of multiple projects or not has raised a lot of debates in organizations. It is evident that project managers find it difficult to manage multiple projects on their own without the help of project portfolio management which provides the capacity needed to effectively handle multiple projects. Some company executives insist that portfolio managers are not necessary and yet this not the case. Companies initiate multiple projects each and every day with high performance standards. Project managers do not have the capacity to coordinate and control multiple projects in a project portfolio without the help of project portfolio management (Mahajan 2009, p. 78). Project portfolio management is a new concept in project management that is yet to fully explored and utilized by many organizations. The effectiveness of a project portfolio can not be achieved without the expertise of a portfolio manager. The effectiveness of a project portfolio is very vital when an organization wants to meet its organizational and financial goals (Mahajan 2009, p. 134). Some project managers feel that their job is threatened with the introduction of project portfolio management. This is not the case because project portfolio management is only meant to complement the work of a project manager. This position paper will discuss why it is necessary for an organization to adopt project portfolio management when handling multiple projects. Project portfolio management plays a critical role in increasing the efficiency of a project portfolio. We will write a custom essay sample on Management specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Background Information It is important to first of all have some background information about project portfolio management before discussing why it is necessary in increasing the effectiveness of a project portfolio (Levin 2010, p. 93). Project portfolio management introduces a new system in portfolio management where all the technologies, methods and processes used in the management of multiple projects are centralized in one place. Each project in a project portfolio has unique characteristics that are analyzed and collectively managed by the project portfolio management office. Effective allocation and tracking of resources meant for multiple projects is not an easy task but this can be done by a portfolio manager who has the capability and tools to come up with an effective framework for managing multiple resources (Brunel 2006, p. 28). Project portfolio management is very essential in project-driven organizations and this is attributed to the fact that inter-related tasks need to be managed in a centralized manner. Project execution and decision making are the segments of project management that require the capabilities provided by project portfolio management. Project portfolio management provides project managers with the required capabilities necessary to handle multiple projects. Project portfolio management offers simple and cheap strategies that are needed in the execution of multiple projects. Some of the most important capabilities brought about by project portfolio management include pipeline management, resource management, change control, financial management and finally risk management (Brunel 2006, p. 59). The capabilities brought by project portfolio management are very critical in increasing the efficiency of a project portfolio (Rad 2006, p. 9). The work of project managers becomes simple with the adoption of project portfolio management. Project portfolio management provides the best platform for project managers to carry out their duties with minimum risks (Rad 2006, p. 49). The importance of project portfolio management can only be understood in this discussion by looking at the efforts being put in place by organizations to ensure that the project portfolio management office does its best in the management of multiple projects. There is a concerted effort by organizations to increase awareness on the importance of project portfolio management because of the critical role that project portfolio management plays towards the success of an organization (Kevin 2006, p. 143). Many organizations are now focused on improving their project portfolio by putting in place the necessary structures to facilitate the learning process. In order for project portfolio management to serve its purpose, there are certain things that need to be improved. To begin with, any initial information about a project portfolio should be gathered and reported through the recommended procedure. Organizations can also improve their project portfolio management by coming up with clear goals and objectives to guide their projects (Kevin 2006, p. 143). It is important for portfolio managers to develop asset portfolios for optimum resource utilization. Asset portfolios are normally linked to the organizational and financial goals of a project to enhance consistency when it comes to project portfolio management. The resources to be used for multiple projects are identified as early as possible to enable portfolio managers to come up with effective strategies for maximum utilization of resources. An initial assessment of a project portfolio helps portfolio managers to correct some of the mistakes that can affect the overall performance of a project portfolio (Morris 2010, p. 45). Portfolio balance is another aspect that is given special attention in project portfolio management. Portfolio managers communicate their recommendations to the relevant departments within the organization on a regular basis. It is always a challenge to choose the right projects using the right methods and this requires a professional portfolio manager who can carry out the task satisfactorily (Morris 2010, p. 9). Portfolio managers come up with proactive measures that bring high returns at the lowest risk possible. Facts about the Role of Project Portfolio Management Project portfolio management brings out the business value of a project by putting in place results oriented strategies (Grobys 2009, p. 176). All projects within an organization are directed in the right way to guide an organization to wards executing the right projects. Each project has a significant impact on the portfolio and this makes it necessary for portfolio managers to monitor the performance of each project. The overall success of a project portfolio depends on the contribution of all the projects within the portfolio. Portfolio managers determine whether a particular project is likely to have a negative impact on current and future projects (Grobys 2009, p. 176). It is necessary for portfolio managers to identify projects that depend on each other in advance in order for them to come up with the right strategies. Information overload is one thing that project portfolio managers avoid at all costs (Ibrahim 2011, p. 85). Portfolio managers work with the most important data as a way of avoiding onfusion. It is not easy to work on all projects and at the same time achieve the desired results. Project portfolio management was introduced to help organizations in handling multiple projects in an efficient manner. Each project has team leaders who constantly report to portfolio managers on a regular basis about the progress of individual projects. The process of evaluating projects is made effi cient by the right portfolio management systems (Brentani 2006, p. 109). The role of project portfolio management is to ensure that project portfolios achieve the expected results in the right way. Many organizations have discovered the importance of project portfolio management and that is the reason why new systems are being put in place to simplify the work of a project manager (Brentani 2006, p. 109). Project portfolio management software systems are chosen according to the objectives of a given organization. Project portfolio management software has important features that facilitate process evaluation, measurement of benefits and costs, progress reporting, capacity planning and the tracking of benefits. This system enables the company executives to make the right decisions when it comes to finances and business. An organization that is ready to adopt project portfolio management should have the characteristics necessary for effective utilization of the capabilities brought by project portfolio management (Brentani 2006, p. 110). A portfolio manager strictly follows and implements all kinds of standardization without any kind of bias (Moore 2009, p. 156). Project portfolio management improves processes as a way of enhancing the outcome of projects. Organizations should have processes that are properly defined for portfolio managers to have an easy time when they are trying to make improvements. Project portfolio management provides the necessary framework that helps an organization in managing change (Moore 2009, p. 34). Project Portfolio Management Discussion The issue of whether companies should adopt project portfolio management can only be discussed comprehensively by looking at both sides (Levin 2010, p. 93). According to the argument in this paper, project portfolio management is very vital when it comes to increasing the effectiveness of a project portfolio. To begin with, the failure of a project-oriented organization to adopt project portfolio management disconnects information technology with business (Brunel 2006, p. 9). Project portfolio management facilitates a closer alignment of information technology with business. Companies are able to get value for their massive investment in information technology because project portfolio management enables executives to monitor the entire project portfolio and decide on the viability of each project (Rad 2006, p. 49). T hrough project portfolio management, project managers can monitor the progress of multiple projects and ensure compliance with all specifications and standard. Project managers often face challenges when handling multiple projects without the help of project portfolio management because they can not receive detailed data on current and future projects. Organizations that are yet to adopt project portfolio management incur a lot of costs and at the same time experience a decrease in production (Rad 2006, p. 51). On the other hand, project portfolio management reduces costs and increases productivity through appropriate allocation of resources and asset reuse. Project portfolio management enables project managers to make business-based decisions that improve returns and minimize risks (Rad 2006, p. 1). Project managers who work without the help of project portfolio management find it difficult to predict the outcome of current and future projects. Project portfolio management helps project managers in the identification of inter-project dependencies and prediction of project outcomes (Morris 2010, p. 71). The status of multiple projects can b e assessed by project portfolio management assessment strategies (Morris 2010, p. 122). It is necessary to adopt project portfolio management if there is need for a company to improve the effectiveness of its project portfolio. Despite this assertion, there are some arguments that do not support the idea of having portfolio managers in managing multiple projects (Levin 2010, p. 93). The first counter-argument is based on the opinion that portfolio management is only critical in determining whether the expected efficiency will be achieved or not. Poor handling of project portfolio management can lead to a situation where the level of overhead exceeds the benefits. The other reason why some organizations are reluctant to adopt project portfolio management is because it brings a cultural shift. Project portfolio management comes with new roles, processes, and corporate relationships that may take a lot of time for members within the organization to adapt to the new culture (Brunel 2006, p. 28). Portfolio management introduces the aspect of change management for effective balancing of new personnel, technologies and processes. The introduction of project portfolio management in projects that are ongoing can kill the project momentum because a lot of training is needed to familiarize the workers with the new systems. The possibility of a cultural resistance is what scares many organizations from adopting project portfolio management. The other argument on why project portfolio management is not necessary is that the business value of a project can be delayed as a result of over-engineered projects (Brunel 2006, p. 59). It is also not a guarantee that project portfolio management can deliver the desired result when it is implemented for the first time. It takes a lot of effort for project portfolio managers to make things perfect during the initial stages. Trying to change everything at once is one of the reasons why project portfolio management can end up failing (Ibrahim 2011, p. 5). Gradual implementation of new tools, processes and roles for a group of projects under project portfolio management is necessary when an organization wants to increase the effectiveness of a project portfolio (Morris 2010, p. 71). The final argument on why project portfolio management is not necessary in increasing the effectiveness of a project portfolio is based on the fact that some very important projects can be excluded even af ter the organization has spent a lot of resources and time to work on them (Rad 2006, p. 9). Despite these numerous claims against project portfolio management, it is important for organizations to clearly understand the importance of project portfolio management when it comes to achieving both financial and organizational goals. Conclusion It is important to reiterate the fact that portfolio managers play a very significant role in increasing the efficiency of a project portfolio. Project portfolio managers have a responsibility of ensuring that an organization runs multiple projects in the best way possible. Project portfolio managers consolidate projects that have similar needs and characteristics for effective planning and reporting. Project portfolio management saves the leadership in organizations a lot of money and time because it provides the highest level of management when handling multiple projects. The project portfolio of an organization can be compromised easily when a project portfolio management system is not in place (Levin 2010, p. 119). Through project portfolio management, the executive is able to receive information about all the projects that are in progress without much struggle. Portfolio managers have special attributes that play a critical role in improving the processes and strategies when an organization is in the process of handling multiple projects. An organization that is yet to implement project portfolio management is bound to face financial and organizational challenges on a regular basis (Levin 2010, p. 119). Organizations that want to improve the performance of their projects and at the same time maintain operational and financial stability should consider project portfolio management. This is can done through setting up a project portfolio management office and hiring competent portfolio managers to assist project managers in handling multiple projects. References Brentani, C 2006, Portfolio management in practice, Butterworth-Heinemann, London. Brunel, J 2006, Integrated wealth management: The new direction for portfolio managers, Euromoney Books, London. Grobys, K 2009, Portfolio management, Books on Demand, New York. Ibrahim, N 2011, Project portfolio management in philanthropic organizations, GRIN Verlag, New York Kevin, S 2006, Portfolio management, PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. , New York. Levin, G 2010, Interpersonal skills for portfolio, program, and project managers, Management Concepts Incorporated, London. Mahajan, A 2009, Portfolio Management: Theoretical and empirical studies, Global Indian Publications, New Delhi. Moore, S 2009, Strategic project portfolio management: Enabling a productive organization, John Wiley and Sons, New York. Morris, P 2010, The Wiley guide to project, program, and portfolio management, John Wiley and Sons, New York. Rad, P 2006, Project portfolio management: Tools and techniques, www. iil. com/Publishing, New York. Management Essay Example Management Essay THE ROLE OF PROJECT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT IN INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PROJECT PORTFOLIO Name Institution Date THE ROLE OF PROJECT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT IN INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PROJECT PORTFOLIO Introduction The issue of whether project managers should adopt project portfolio management in the management of multiple projects or not has raised a lot of debates in organizations. It is evident that project managers find it difficult to manage multiple projects on their own without the help of project portfolio management which provides the capacity needed to effectively handle multiple projects. Some company executives insist that portfolio managers are not necessary and yet this not the case. Companies initiate multiple projects each and every day with high performance standards. Project managers do not have the capacity to coordinate and control multiple projects in a project portfolio without the help of project portfolio management (Mahajan 2009, p. 78). Project portfolio management is a new concept in project management that is yet to fully explored and utilized by many organizations. The effectiveness of a project portfolio can not be achieved without the expertise of a portfolio manager. The effectiveness of a project portfolio is very vital when an organization wants to meet its organizational and financial goals (Mahajan 2009, p. 134). Some project managers feel that their job is threatened with the introduction of project portfolio management. This is not the case because project portfolio management is only meant to complement the work of a project manager. This position paper will discuss why it is necessary for an organization to adopt project portfolio management when handling multiple projects. Project portfolio management plays a critical role in increasing the efficiency of a project portfolio. We will write a custom essay sample on Management specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Background Information It is important to first of all have some background information about project portfolio management before discussing why it is necessary in increasing the effectiveness of a project portfolio (Levin 2010, p. 93). Project portfolio management introduces a new system in portfolio management where all the technologies, methods and processes used in the management of multiple projects are centralized in one place. Each project in a project portfolio has unique characteristics that are analyzed and collectively managed by the project portfolio management office. Effective allocation and tracking of resources meant for multiple projects is not an easy task but this can be done by a portfolio manager who has the capability and tools to come up with an effective framework for managing multiple resources (Brunel 2006, p. 28). Project portfolio management is very essential in project-driven organizations and this is attributed to the fact that inter-related tasks need to be managed in a centralized manner. Project execution and decision making are the segments of project management that require the capabilities provided by project portfolio management. Project portfolio management provides project managers with the required capabilities necessary to handle multiple projects. Project portfolio management offers simple and cheap strategies that are needed in the execution of multiple projects. Some of the most important capabilities brought about by project portfolio management include pipeline management, resource management, change control, financial management and finally risk management (Brunel 2006, p. 59). The capabilities brought by project portfolio management are very critical in increasing the efficiency of a project portfolio (Rad 2006, p. 9). The work of project managers becomes simple with the adoption of project portfolio management. Project portfolio management provides the best platform for project managers to carry out their duties with minimum risks (Rad 2006, p. 49). The importance of project portfolio management can only be understood in this discussion by looking at the efforts being put in place by organizations to ensure that the project portfolio management office does its best in the management of multiple projects. There is a concerted effort by organizations to increase awareness on the importance of project portfolio management because of the critical role that project portfolio management plays towards the success of an organization (Kevin 2006, p. 143). Many organizations are now focused on improving their project portfolio by putting in place the necessary structures to facilitate the learning process. In order for project portfolio management to serve its purpose, there are certain things that need to be improved. To begin with, any initial information about a project portfolio should be gathered and reported through the recommended procedure. Organizations can also improve their project portfolio management by coming up with clear goals and objectives to guide their projects (Kevin 2006, p. 143). It is important for portfolio managers to develop asset portfolios for optimum resource utilization. Asset portfolios are normally linked to the organizational and financial goals of a project to enhance consistency when it comes to project portfolio management. The resources to be used for multiple projects are identified as early as possible to enable portfolio managers to come up with effective strategies for maximum utilization of resources. An initial assessment of a project portfolio helps portfolio managers to correct some of the mistakes that can affect the overall performance of a project portfolio (Morris 2010, p. 45). Portfolio balance is another aspect that is given special attention in project portfolio management. Portfolio managers communicate their recommendations to the relevant departments within the organization on a regular basis. It is always a challenge to choose the right projects using the right methods and this requires a professional portfolio manager who can carry out the task satisfactorily (Morris 2010, p. 9). Portfolio managers come up with proactive measures that bring high returns at the lowest risk possible. Facts about the Role of Project Portfolio Management Project portfolio management brings out the business value of a project by putting in place results oriented strategies (Grobys 2009, p. 176). All projects within an organization are directed in the right way to guide an organization to wards executing the right projects. Each project has a significant impact on the portfolio and this makes it necessary for portfolio managers to monitor the performance of each project. The overall success of a project portfolio depends on the contribution of all the projects within the portfolio. Portfolio managers determine whether a particular project is likely to have a negative impact on current and future projects (Grobys 2009, p. 176). It is necessary for portfolio managers to identify projects that depend on each other in advance in order for them to come up with the right strategies. Information overload is one thing that project portfolio managers avoid at all costs (Ibrahim 2011, p. 85). Portfolio managers work with the most important data as a way of avoiding onfusion. It is not easy to work on all projects and at the same time achieve the desired results. Project portfolio management was introduced to help organizations in handling multiple projects in an efficient manner. Each project has team leaders who constantly report to portfolio managers on a regular basis about the progress of individual projects. The process of evaluating projects is made effi cient by the right portfolio management systems (Brentani 2006, p. 109). The role of project portfolio management is to ensure that project portfolios achieve the expected results in the right way. Many organizations have discovered the importance of project portfolio management and that is the reason why new systems are being put in place to simplify the work of a project manager (Brentani 2006, p. 109). Project portfolio management software systems are chosen according to the objectives of a given organization. Project portfolio management software has important features that facilitate process evaluation, measurement of benefits and costs, progress reporting, capacity planning and the tracking of benefits. This system enables the company executives to make the right decisions when it comes to finances and business. An organization that is ready to adopt project portfolio management should have the characteristics necessary for effective utilization of the capabilities brought by project portfolio management (Brentani 2006, p. 110). A portfolio manager strictly follows and implements all kinds of standardization without any kind of bias (Moore 2009, p. 156). Project portfolio management improves processes as a way of enhancing the outcome of projects. Organizations should have processes that are properly defined for portfolio managers to have an easy time when they are trying to make improvements. Project portfolio management provides the necessary framework that helps an organization in managing change (Moore 2009, p. 34). Project Portfolio Management Discussion The issue of whether companies should adopt project portfolio management can only be discussed comprehensively by looking at both sides (Levin 2010, p. 93). According to the argument in this paper, project portfolio management is very vital when it comes to increasing the effectiveness of a project portfolio. To begin with, the failure of a project-oriented organization to adopt project portfolio management disconnects information technology with business (Brunel 2006, p. 9). Project portfolio management facilitates a closer alignment of information technology with business. Companies are able to get value for their massive investment in information technology because project portfolio management enables executives to monitor the entire project portfolio and decide on the viability of each project (Rad 2006, p. 49). T hrough project portfolio management, project managers can monitor the progress of multiple projects and ensure compliance with all specifications and standard. Project managers often face challenges when handling multiple projects without the help of project portfolio management because they can not receive detailed data on current and future projects. Organizations that are yet to adopt project portfolio management incur a lot of costs and at the same time experience a decrease in production (Rad 2006, p. 51). On the other hand, project portfolio management reduces costs and increases productivity through appropriate allocation of resources and asset reuse. Project portfolio management enables project managers to make business-based decisions that improve returns and minimize risks (Rad 2006, p. 1). Project managers who work without the help of project portfolio management find it difficult to predict the outcome of current and future projects. Project portfolio management helps project managers in the identification of inter-project dependencies and prediction of project outcomes (Morris 2010, p. 71). The status of multiple projects can b e assessed by project portfolio management assessment strategies (Morris 2010, p. 122). It is necessary to adopt project portfolio management if there is need for a company to improve the effectiveness of its project portfolio. Despite this assertion, there are some arguments that do not support the idea of having portfolio managers in managing multiple projects (Levin 2010, p. 93). The first counter-argument is based on the opinion that portfolio management is only critical in determining whether the expected efficiency will be achieved or not. Poor handling of project portfolio management can lead to a situation where the level of overhead exceeds the benefits. The other reason why some organizations are reluctant to adopt project portfolio management is because it brings a cultural shift. Project portfolio management comes with new roles, processes, and corporate relationships that may take a lot of time for members within the organization to adapt to the new culture (Brunel 2006, p. 28). Portfolio management introduces the aspect of change management for effective balancing of new personnel, technologies and processes. The introduction of project portfolio management in projects that are ongoing can kill the project momentum because a lot of training is needed to familiarize the workers with the new systems. The possibility of a cultural resistance is what scares many organizations from adopting project portfolio management. The other argument on why project portfolio management is not necessary is that the business value of a project can be delayed as a result of over-engineered projects (Brunel 2006, p. 59). It is also not a guarantee that project portfolio management can deliver the desired result when it is implemented for the first time. It takes a lot of effort for project portfolio managers to make things perfect during the initial stages. Trying to change everything at once is one of the reasons why project portfolio management can end up failing (Ibrahim 2011, p. 5). Gradual implementation of new tools, processes and roles for a group of projects under project portfolio management is necessary when an organization wants to increase the effectiveness of a project portfolio (Morris 2010, p. 71). The final argument on why project portfolio management is not necessary in increasing the effectiveness of a project portfolio is based on the fact that some very important projects can be excluded even af ter the organization has spent a lot of resources and time to work on them (Rad 2006, p. 9). Despite these numerous claims against project portfolio management, it is important for organizations to clearly understand the importance of project portfolio management when it comes to achieving both financial and organizational goals. Conclusion It is important to reiterate the fact that portfolio managers play a very significant role in increasing the efficiency of a project portfolio. Project portfolio managers have a responsibility of ensuring that an organization runs multiple projects in the best way possible. Project portfolio managers consolidate projects that have similar needs and characteristics for effective planning and reporting. Project portfolio management saves the leadership in organizations a lot of money and time because it provides the highest level of management when handling multiple projects. The project portfolio of an organization can be compromised easily when a project portfolio management system is not in place (Levin 2010, p. 119). Through project portfolio management, the executive is able to receive information about all the projects that are in progress without much struggle. Portfolio managers have special attributes that play a critical role in improving the processes and strategies when an organization is in the process of handling multiple projects. An organization that is yet to implement project portfolio management is bound to face financial and organizational challenges on a regular basis (Levin 2010, p. 119). Organizations that want to improve the performance of their projects and at the same time maintain operational and financial stability should consider project portfolio management. This is can done through setting up a project portfolio management office and hiring competent portfolio managers to assist project managers in handling multiple projects. References Brentani, C 2006, Portfolio management in practice, Butterworth-Heinemann, London. Brunel, J 2006, Integrated wealth management: The new direction for portfolio managers, Euromoney Books, London. Grobys, K 2009, Portfolio management, Books on Demand, New York. Ibrahim, N 2011, Project portfolio management in philanthropic organizations, GRIN Verlag, New York Kevin, S 2006, Portfolio management, PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. , New York. Levin, G 2010, Interpersonal skills for portfolio, program, and project managers, Management Concepts Incorporated, London. Mahajan, A 2009, Portfolio Management: Theoretical and empirical studies, Global Indian Publications, New Delhi. Moore, S 2009, Strategic project portfolio management: Enabling a productive organization, John Wiley and Sons, New York. Morris, P 2010, The Wiley guide to project, program, and portfolio management, John Wiley and Sons, New York. Rad, P 2006, Project portfolio management: Tools and techniques, www. iil. com/Publishing, New York.

The Medieval Period essays

The Medieval Period essays The medieval period encompasses a long span of years when castles, churches and many other great buildings were built. The way the people of the time built tells us a lot about the lifestyle of the people, particularly the wealthy and each country reflects their own style of architecture. The Roman Empire had crumbled and Christianity was rising in strength. The world was in unrest and the architecture of the time reflects that. Furnishings had to be easy to move from place to place. Main rooms were relocated to the first floor, while the ground floor was used for storage or to keep the animals. There were not a lot of windows and the ones that were there were small. Sometimes they were decorated with stained glass that could be removed for safekeeping. During this time brick was used as a principle construction material and they also dressed their buildings in costly marbles. There was still a central hall that had numerous uses. Again the furniture was often being moved to accommodate these different purposes. A hammer beam roof was needed to span the huge space. Some places had stone vaulting that might be painted a deep blue with stars. This room had a large fireplace that might be decorated with carvings. It also had a tall hood on brackets. The walls were whitewashed over plaster that was applied to stonework. They also might have painted wooden wainscoting on the walls. Most of the wood was painted at this time. On the upper part of the wall you might have seen a frieze of figures or other decorations. The lower areas were kept for cloth hangings and the wealthy used tapestry. They even used them for bed covers and bed hangings. The floors were flagged with stone. They used wood on the upper floors. Green, bla ck, brown and yellow coloured ceramic tiles were also used for decoration. The lighting was rush lights and tallow candles. Fortification lessened when peace settled in (15t ...

Death and Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Death and Philosophy - Essay Example Nagel, interestingly, argues that it is not the death that is harm but rather the ending of life. He takes the a bit further by discussing prenatal life and life after death, almost equally qualifying the value of each "state" but fearful to arrive at a conclusion. Should we follow Nagel's premise, then the loss of life is the injury and the earlier loss of life compared to a later loss of life is far more injurious. Indeed, by way of example he states that a corpse can suffer no injury because the corpse is a dead being. Thus perhaps, in Nagel's world, there should be no such thing as a crime committed against a corpse. For example, because the person is dead, one cannot have violated the law because he desecrated a corpse. One can be found guilty, if he contributed to the cause of death only. Nagel's focal point is time. Thus when a person dies, they have been robbed of the extra time that they would have lived. Thus if a man lived 80 years, the harm is not so bad, but if the man lived only 20, the harm is egregious. Lacking here, is the discussion of what happens during that time. For example, if a man lives only 20 years, and becomes an astounding man, has he been robbed Nagel would probably argue in the affirmative. Conversely, if a man is 80 and has lived a life of no consequence, has he been harmed by being robbed of extra years Perhaps not. What if the person has spent 10 of those years suffering from a painful disease Has not death then rescued the person Finally, I am asked to explain which theory I prefer. I do not believe that one suffers by death. I agree with Rosenbaum in that once death has happened, there is no harm. Indeed, it is the path to death in which harm lays in wait. Many religions herald the notion that we choose our own exit from this world by our behavior during the time in it. Rosenbaum however offers an explanation that agrees with my religious values and my basic common sense. Once I am dead, I expect that to be it. Indeed, depending on my condition at death, I may find death to be a

Marks & Spencer plc Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Marks & Spencer plc - Research Paper Example The model starts on the premise that an organization is not just Structure, but consists of seven elements: Those seven elements are distinguished in so called hard S's and soft S's. The hard elements (green circles) are feasible and easy to identify. They can be found in strategy statements, corporate plans, organizational charts and other documentations. The four soft S's however, are hardly feasible. They are difficult to describe since capabilities, values and elements of corporate culture are continuously developing and changing. They are highly determined by the people at work in the organization. Therefore it is much more difficult to plan or to influence the characteristics of the soft elements. Although the soft factors are below the surface, they can have a great impact of the hard Structures, Strategies and Systems of the organization. Description(Waterman, R. Jr., Peters, T. and Phillips, J.R. "Structure Is Not Organisation" in Business Horizons, 23,3 June 1980. 14-26.) The Hard S's Strategy Actions a company plans in response to or anticipation of changes in its external environment. Structure Basis for specialization and co-ordination influenced primarily by strategy and by organization size and diversity. Systems Formal and informal procedures that support the strategy and structure. (Systems are more powerful than they are given credit) The Soft S's Style / Culture The culture of the organization, consisting of two components: Organizational Culture: the dominant values and beliefs, and norms, which develop over time and become relatively enduring features of organizational life. Management Style:... The 7-S-Model is better known as McKinsey 7-S. This is because the two persons who developed this model, Tom Peters, and Robert Waterman, have been consultants at McKinsey & Co at that time. They published their 7-S-Model in their article â€Å"Structure Is Not Organization† (1980) and in their books â€Å"The Art of Japanese Management† (1981) and â€Å"In Search of Excellence† (1982).Those seven elements are distinguished in so called hard S’s and soft S’s. The hard elements (green circles) are feasible and easy to identify. They can be found in strategy statements, corporate plans, organizational charts and other documentations.The four soft S’s however, are hardly feasible. They are difficult to describe since capabilities, values, and elements of corporate culture are continuously developing and changing. They are highly determined by the people at work in the organization. Therefore it is much more difficult to plan or to influence the characteristics of the soft elements. Although the soft factors are below the surface, they can have a great impact on the hard Structures, Strategies, and Systems of the organization.Effective organizations achieve a fit between these seven elements. This criterion is the origin of the other name of the model: Diagnostic Model for Organizational Effectiveness. In change processes, many organizations focus their efforts on the hard S’s, Strategy, Structure, and Systems. They care less for the soft S’s, Skills, Staff, Style and Shared Values.

I Think, Therefore I am Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

I Think, Therefore I am - Essay Example This means that he is allowing credibility to only his consciousness and cognitive powers, and not to that of any other objective audience. Indeed his method leaves no room for the derivation of a third-person truth, which would require the acknowledgement of premises beyond the perceiving being's conscious self. Descartes arrives into this insight into the nature of existence after undergoing the three 'waves' of doubt. The first of these brings up the fact that knowledge based on sensory inputs has not always been shown up as reliable. The second is a doubt that all that we experience and feel, indeed, our very existence itself maybe only a dream, because a lot of our thoughts that take place while dreaming, are not in fact real, but they are very similar to our waking thoughts. The third, and the most diabolical one of them all, is that we may be the subject of deception by an evil demonic force that presents to us as irrefutable knowledge, that which is not true at all. The conclusion of "I think, Therefore I am", has been criticized on various grounds.

Using Renewable Energy In Our Daily Lives Environmental Sciences Essay

Using Renewable Energy In Our Daily Lives Environmental Sciences Essay We all are concerned about our future with regard to the way we generate energy and power. Renewable energy is the process by which we use the radiant energy from the sun, wind, and hydropower etc. Unfortunately we are not using renewable energy in most cases and the methods by which we currently getting our raw materials for power and energy are simultaneously destroying our planet and depleting supplies of natural resources. The damages we have caused might take generations to reverse. Many of us who care wants to do something by raising their voice as we are on a threshold of change. Renewable energy resources are not only our way out of an environmental disaster; they could solve some of our economic woes. Many countries are embracing renewable energy and it has benefited n several ways. These benefits include saving consumers money and reducing unemployment. This is not a luxury that we pursue when the cost of gasoline goes up. Now is the time to convert our mode of transportation to clean electricity that we get from renewable sources. This is a necessity that is going to save the lives of future generations. We can survive the problems which we have created in order to power our world. The climate is changing and we have entire species of animals that are now extinct due to pollution. Lets look at the maximum possibilities as we are in the midst of a crisis therefore we must act according to what will benefit our generations. Aim Finding the main reasons for not using renewable energy in our daily lives. Objectives Literature Review Brief History Prior to the development of coal in the mid 19th century, all energy used was renewable, with the primary sources being human labor, animal power in the form of oxen, mules, and horses, water power for mill power, wind for grinding grain, and firewood. A graph of energy use in the United States up until 1900 shows oil and natural gas with about the same importance in 1900 as wind and solar played in 2010. By 1873, concerns of running out of coal prompted experiments with using solar energy.  Development of solar engines continued until the outbreak of World War I. The eventual importance of solar energy, though, was recognized in a 1911 Scientific American article: in the far distant future, natural fuels having been exhausted [solar power] will remain as the only means of existence of the human race. In the 1970s environmentalists promoted the development of alternative energy both as a replacement for the eventual depletion of oil, as well as for an escape from dependence on oil, and the first wind turbines appeared. Solar had always been used for heating and cooling, but solar panels were too costly to build solar farms until 1980.  The theory of peak oil was published in 1956. By 2008 renewable energy had ceased being an alternative, and more capacity of renewable energy was added than other sources in both the United States and in Europe. Renewable energy is becoming more and more prevalent around the world, but it is still not the dominant energy resource.  Renewable energy is derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly. In its various forms, it derives directly from the sun, or from heat generated deep within the earth. Included in the definition is electricity and heat generated from solar, wind, ocean, hydropower, biomass, geothermal resources, and biofuels and hydrogen derived from renewable resources. Renewable Energy as a replacement for Conventional Fuel Renewable energy replaces conventional fuels in four distinct areas:  electricity generation,  hot water/space heating,  motor fuels, and rural (off-grid) energy services: Power generation. Renewable energy provides 19% of electricity generation worldwide. Renewable power generators are spread across many countries, and wind power alone already provides a significant share of electricity in some areas: for example, 14% in the U.S. state of Iowa, 40% in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, and 20% in Denmark. Some countries get most of their power from renewables, including Iceland (100%), Norway (98%), Brazil (86%), Austria (62%), New Zealand (65%), and Sweden (54%). Heating.  Solar hot water  makes an important contribution to  renewable heat  in many countries, most notably in China, which now has 70% of the global total (180 GWth). Most of these systems are installed on multi-family apartment buildings and meet a portion of the hot water needs of an estimated 50-60 million households in China. Worldwide, total installed  solar water heating  systems meet a portion of the water heating needs of over 70 million households. The use of biomass for heating continues to grow as well. In Sweden, national use of biomass energy has surpassed that of oil. Direct geothermal for heating is also growing rapidly. Transport fuels. Renewable  biofuels  have contributed to a significant decline in oil consumption in the United States since 2006. The 93 billion liters of biofuels produced worldwide in 2009 displaced the equivalent of an estimated 68 billion liters of gasoline, equal to about 5% of world gasoline production In international public opinion surveys there is strong support for promoting renewable sources such as solar power and wind power, requiring utilities to use more renewable energy (even if this increases the cost), and providing tax incentives to encourage the development and use of such technologies. There is substantial optimism that renewable energy investments will pay off economically in the long term. Primary Source of Renewable Energy With so much dependency placed upon our natural resources to produce our much needed energy, scientists have been evaluating and producing renewable energy as an alternative to traditional energy sources.   Renewable energy is energy that can be reproduced in a short period of time.   The most prevalent forms of renewable energy are solar, wind, biomass, hydro power, geothermal and biofuels. http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTkYfRchpvKxiBs2AOvwdSSJzKy36CT7E2JMhOnxdD18HgVG7uyfw Wind An abundant source of renewable energy, wind power is used as a means of generating electricity.  Wind turbines  are capable of harnessing the power derived from the wind, converting kinetic energy into mechanical energy. A source of clean, green renewable energy, favourable climate conditions in Europe means wind energy is a highly viable method for electricity generation. And none more so than in the UK, with 40% of all wind energy in Europe blowing over the country. Solar In one form or another, solar power has been around for thousands of years. As a renewable source of free, green energy, technology has found a way of harnessing the suns energy via solar panels which are used either to generate electricity (solar photovoltaics) or to produce heat to warm water (solar thermal). A popular choice in a growing renewable energy market, solar technology doesnt generate greenhouse cases and is environmentally friendly. Biomass Biomass energy is produced from organic materials such as plants and animals, but the energy that is produced in this fashion is originally provided by the sun.   For example, plants absorb the suns energy through a process called photosynthesizes.   This energy is then passed on through the organism that eats the plant, creating biomass energy.   The most common forms used to generate biomass energy are wood, crops, manure and some rubbish. When these substances are burned, they give off energy as heat.   For example, if you have a  wood fuelled heating, you are generating renewable biomass energy.   This is not the only method of generating biomass energy; you can also create biomass energy by converting these substances into methane gases, ethanol and biodiesel fuels which can be translated more easily into our current methods of energy use. Geothermal Geothermal energy comes from the original Greek word Geo which means sun. Geothermal energy is derived from the heat that is given off by the Earth.   For example, steam energy or hot water that is generated by the Earth can be used to generate energy.   It is considered to be a renewable source of energy as the water in the Earth is replenished by regular rainfall and the heat used is regularly produced by the planet. Hydro Power Hydro energy is derived from the movement of water.   One form of  hydro power  is generated through the movement of water through turbines, such as water running through turbines in a Dam.   Hydro power is considered a renewable energy source as the water is continuously cycled back through the plant or into nature. Biofuels Biofuels are a form of renewable energy derived from burning plant or animal substances, otherwise called combustion. One of the challenges to biofuels has been that it is not easily transferred into a liquid form which is the primary method used to fuel most cars and homes. Two of the most common strategies that are seed to produce biofuels includes: growing crops to produce ethanol and growing plants that produce biofuel oils. While these methods are effective sources of renewable energy, they are challenging to produce and maintain on a large scale. The basic feature of renewable energy is that it has the capacity to be regenerated and, as such, is virtually inexhaustible, besides being environmentally friendly. These are the two major properties that distinguish it from traditional energy sources. In recent years, these two features have pushed renewable energies to the forefront since, if current fossil fuel consumption rates are maintained, they would only be able to meet our energy needs for a few more decades before running out. The damage to the environment, on the other hand, caused by the burning of fossil fuels and the resulting climate changes, force us to consider alternative energy sources if we want to preserve the planet and guarantee the well-being of future generations. Advantages The advantages of renewable energy over traditional energy sources are many and are receiving ever greater recognition. Technological progress in recent years has contributed to making renewable energy ever cheaper and efficient in generating electricity. The main advantages of renewable energies are: They are inexhaustible, whereas fossil fuels are limited. They have less of an environmental impact than fossil fuel energy sources (coal, oil and gas), since they do not produce carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. They are less of a risk than nuclear energy. They provide energy independence to a country, given that their use does not depend on the import of fossil fuels (which only exist in certain regions of the world). They allow a country to develop certain areas within its borders. Disadvantages It is easy to recognise the environmental advantages of utilising the alternative and renewable forms of energy but we must also be aware of the disadvantages. One disadvantage with renewable energy is that it is difficult to generate the quantities of electricity that are as large as those produced by traditional fossil fuel generators. This may mean that we need to reduce the amount of energy we use or simply build more energy facilities. It also indicates that the best solution to our energy problems may be to have a balance of many different power sources. Another disadvantage of renewable energy sources is the reliability of supply. Renewable energy often relies on the weather for its source of power. Hydro generators need rain to fill dams to supply flowing water. Wind turbines need wind to turn the blades, and solar collectors need clear skies and sunshine to collect heat and make electricity. When these resources are unavailable so is the capacity to make energy from them. This can be unpredictable and inconsistent. The current cost of renewable energy technology is also far in excess of traditional fossil fuel generation. This is because it is a new technology and as such has extremely large capital cost. Research Methodology Findings and Results Reasons of not Using Renewable energy in Daily Lives   Time and time again, we have to explain to them why their reasoning is unfounded but still we find the same excuses wherever we go.   So we thought wed take a little time to dispel the four most common excuses for not utilizing solar power. Its Too Expensive Everyone seems to know that federal and state governments have significant financial incentives in place to help promote the adoption of solar power.    Even after these incentives, the average residential solar system costs between $10,000 and $30,000 and for most people, this represents a major capital investment.   As a result, most people stop there and say, I cant afford it.    What they dont know is that there are a number of financing options available to help ease the cost of solar.   For example, a number of solar installers offer  financing programs  , similar to small loan or mortgage, where there is little to no up front cost and finance the balance of the purchase price through a loan.   As a result, the homeowner does not have to come up with cash upfront but can amortize the cost of the solar system over time.   Whats great is that when you factor in a your reduced utility bill from solar and the amortization cost of the panels, this amount is most likely still less than your electric bill without solar power.   So you save immediately and that savings grows over time as electricity rates increase. There are also programs where you can  lease the panels  Ã‚  for little to no up front costs and you pay a small, manageable monthly fee over the term of the lease.   Again, the savings on your electric bill from the solar panels plus this leasing fee is still likely to be less than your current electric bill without solar.   There is also a mechanism called a  power purchase agreement  , which is a great option for larger projects, where the solar installer installs and owns the panels on the roof of your home/building but provides you electricity and simply charges you a flat fee for that electricity over the life of the agreement (typically 15-20 years).   That way you are guaranteed a set rate of electricity over a long period of time (protecting you from annual rises in electricity rates) and there is no up front cost to you. The moral of the story is that there are a lot of options for people to pay for solar panels. Gone are the days where you have to come up with all the money for solar panels up front. There are simply more ways than ever to finance and make the cost of solar work out beneficially for residential and commercial consumers alike. Solar Wont Work in cold climate Another really bad excuse. The average temperature in a climate region does not have an effect on solar panels.   In fact, solar panels are actually slightly more efficient at producing electricity in cold temperatures. The critical factor for solar panels is a concept called solar isolation which is the amount of sunlight that the solar cells receive. Obviously, the more the better so even if you live in a colder climate that is further north and receive ample amounts of sunlight, solar should work just fine for you. (If you want to learn more about how solar panels work, you can click  here  .) Remember, Germany, is which is farther north than just about any state in the U.S., is the world leader in solar photovoltaic energy with over 9,000 Megawatts.   Thats almost enough to cover the roofs of 2 million U.S. houses!    So dont worry if you live in a cold climate, just make sure that you receive plenty of sunshine. No Power if its cloudy A reasonable concern, but again, not a good reason to avoid solar power.   As stated above, its not temperature that affects the performance of solar panels, rather it is the amount sunlight received.   And even in the sunniest of locations, there are going to be days where there is cloud cover or rain (not to mentioned nightfall) and your solar panels performance may be compromised.   Not to worryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦you will not be left in the dark. Residential and commercial solar panels these days are almost always connected to the utility gridà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦it is called a grid-tie.   So, while your solar panels are exposed to the sun, the electricity they produce powers your house or building.   But when it is cloudy or nightfall, you will still be able to draw power for your home or building because you remain connected to the electrical grid. Another cool concept is what is called net metering.   In states that allow net metering, if your solar panels produce more electricity in a day than you are consuming, that extra electricity is fed back into the electric grid and can actually spin your electric meter backward.   As a result, at the end of the month, the electric company will take into account the electricity that you fed back in to the grid through your solar power system and you will only pay for the net amount of electricity that you consume. People do not know Where to Start Getting Solar The worst excuse of them all!   First of all, there is a tons of information on the Internet related to solar, so for starters you can get educated that way. However, we understand that there may be so much information that you are overwhelmed. Never fear, sites likeMyEnergySolution.com  Ã‚  take the mystery out of the solar process.  MyEnergySolution.com  contains all the information you need to know about how solar works, what to expect and even ideas to help finance your solar power system. With sites like  MyEnergySolution.com  , there is no excuse not to understand the key elements of going solar. But what about getting a solar installer?   How do I know who to pick?   Another great question.   You can obviously talk to friends who have installed solar power systems in their homes and ask for a reference.   But if you dont have references, solar energy matching services can also take much of the guess work out of selecting a solar installer.   There are several free matching services that connect you with pre-selected and highly reputable solar installers based.   The process is simple: you provide basic information on your location and project type and within minutes or up to 1-2 business days the qualified solar installers will contact you to bid on your project.   These services have saved homeowners time and the headache of dealing with poor quality installers.   For example, see  www.solar-energy-installers.com  . Critical Evaluation Conclusion and Recommendation We know that people have other reasons for not going solar and that is fine.   Choosing solar is a personal/business decision that can only be made by you. However too often, we have seen a number of friends and business associates avoid solar power based on the excuses above yet solar power could have been so value-added to their home or commercial project.   Our goal here is to hopefully de-bunk the biggest excuses that we have seen and help show that there are answers and solutions out there for your concerns.  

The Dangers of Living with an Eating Disorder Essay -- Health Eating D

The Dangers of Living with an Eating Disorder Imagine waking up every morning, struggling to get out of bed. The room spins. Stumbling over to the mirror, you study and criticize every last inch of your body as the words â€Å"fat, ugly, worthless† echo in your head. You then stagger to the bathroom, using the wall to hold you up. You don’t remember the last time you ate a â€Å"normal† meal. Stepping on the scale will determine your mood for the day. If it has decreased since yesterday, you have succeeded; if it has stayed the same, or worse, gone up, those voices inside your head become stronger, telling you how useless you are. Throughout your day, you skip meals and avoid food at all costs, or binge on whatever food is in sight and secretly purge in bathrooms where nobody can hear you. Or like many women in this country, you flip-flop between both of these behaviors. For approximately seven million American women, this is their reality. This is the life of a woman with an eating disorder. â€Å"I needed to lose weight†¦fast,† said 18-year-old Liss of Boston. â€Å"So I started counting calories, and then counting meals, and then counting pounds, and then inches. I had lost 20 pounds in one month. Not too shabby I thought to myself. The weight loss became an obsession and it took over.† Liss’s story is all too common. What begins as a diet to â€Å"lose a few pounds† becomes an obsession. Young women across the country become fixated with numbers on the scale, numbers of calories, fat, carbohydrates, inches, etc. The two most dangerous eating disorders are bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. Bulimia is characterized as a disorder in which a person binges on large amounts of food, well past the point of fullness, and then purge... ...r because they feel as if their eating disorder defines them; they are nothing without it. â€Å"Ed wants you to think that he is your identity,† Schaefer said. â€Å"But that is a lie; you are not your eating disorder. You are [you]. He tells you that he is what makes you special.† Schaefer admits that she also believed that her eating disorder defined her at one point in her life as well. However, she then went on to learn that all it caused was â€Å"excruciating pain.† â€Å"Treating my eating disorder like relationship, not a condition or an illness, really worked for me,† Schaefer said. Schaefer also suggests journal writing and being surrounded with good supports. â€Å"In recovery, it was difficult to connect with Jenni at first,† Schaefer said. â€Å"But with lots of patience and persistence, I eventually found her, and I am thrilled to now be living a life without Ed.†

Julie

â€Å"BP is a multinational energy business that has 92,000 employees and operates in 175 countries. When a new chief executive was recruited internally at BP (Tony Hayward), he promised to improve the company’s disappointing performance by quickly changing its culture to become more innovative and responsive to its customers. † Q: How easy do you think it is for a new chief executive to change the culture of an organization quickly?Justify your answer with reference to BP &/or other businesses that you know. The BP Company has experienced a huge explosion at its Texas City Refinery in 2005, the oil spillage in Alaska in 2006 and also the Gulf of Mexico explosion in the BP oilfield in 2010, and these occurrences have had effects on the BP’s reputation and the business performance. As a new chief executive officer, Tony Hayward was recruited in June 2007 and he took over for BP's highly-respected former CEO Lord Browne.The new CEO of BP may be able to use his own leadership or management style to change the culture of the organization and also try to help the business to grow and improve better. However, the extent to which the effectiveness of his way of leading the business and how quickly it can be for change to eh business culture are depends upon different factors. Firstly, Tony Hayward uses the democratic and paternalistic leadership style to manage the business.Hayward was describing as a typical command and control organization that is overly focused on cost-cutting and consumed with firefighting. According to the website, Hayward had shared his opinion of the culture of the business and three major points with other members of senior management. He stated that the BP is having the leadership style that probably is too directive and doesn't listen sufficiently well. The top of the organization doesn't listen hard enough to what the bottom of the organization is saying.BP has a management style that has made a virtue out of doing more for less which in some cases is okay and might work, but it needs to be managed and deployed with great judgment and wisdom, and when it isn't, the BP may run into troubles. Another thing that Hayward is trying to say is that he thinks the BP should think more about the maintenance of a piece of equipment for a longer time period but not the short term benefit like cutting the cost, for example, it is not responsible to cut budgets related to safety and maintenance without thoroughly examining the impact on the risk of a catastrophic accident.At the same time, Hayward is well known and has experiences in the organization. If the workers can get involved more to the business so that this might lead to better decision making and he also want workers to feel more secure and happy in their jobs, since he hope to make the business to become more innovative. For example, in changing situations that demand a new way of thinking or a fresh solution, stuff input can be very helpful and valu able.These management strategies may lead the business to perform better, and if the whole business is having more motivation to work which on the other words means to become more responsive to its customers and furthermore, it may enable BP to raise it reputation and gain its public’s trust again. However, on the other hand, changing the corporative culture of the business can be very difficult and in reality, it take times for the business to get used to the changes before it moves on to the other stage of better business performance. There are also some other factors that can influence the leadership style.For example, if the employees of BP are more used to the leadership style of the previous CEO, although it is believed that management strategies can significant influence the whole business, but it might still lead to a bad or worse business performance or the resistance from the employees from accepting the changes in the culture of the business. The CEO of BP may not be able to change the business culture quickly or expecting a sudden change in the innovative ability of the business, most of the strategies take time to result in the good way and become effective for the whole business.Another factor is that because for the natural of the business, like its reputation has been influence by the serious occurrences that happened before and BP had also lost some public trusts, rather than trying to change negative aspect, it might be better and easier for them to concentrate on the positive aspects of the business and how it currently operates. Some of the external factors that will influence the leader’s ability may be the economic issue like recession, for example, the rapid decisions taken at a senior level may be needed to secure the survival of the business during the recession.There are also some problems associated with the change in organizational culture. Firstly, If the establishment of the new objectives and a mission statement is not clear or is not accurately reflecting the new values and attitudes that are to be adopted, these new aspects of the business all needed to be communicated to all the employees of BP, otherwise it might lead to a demotivation of the workforce of the whole business.Secondly, if the CEO of BP is unable to change the culture of the business in the quick way because of lack of training, so they may need to train staff in new procedures and new ways of working. If the people believe in the change and understand the benefits of it, then it will become more acceptable to them. In conclusion, it is possible for a new chief executive to change the culture of an organization and have positive influences if the CEO implement the right strategies and has set the objects clear and communicate well to the whole business.However, it takes time for the BP Company to accept or get used to the changes of the business culture in a short period of time. Therefore, if the CEO is able to avoid the pos sible negative influences that might affect the change in organizational culture and the factors that might have an impact on the BP’s performance, then the new CEO may be able to help BP to improve the company’s disappointing performance and achieve its main corporate objectives in the future.

Free St Augustine on Lying Essay

Free St Augustine on Lying Essay St Augustine on Lying In his book On Lying Saint Augustine analyzed the concept lie in all its aspects taking into the consideration intention of lying, moral side of liar, his will and circumstances which provoked lying. Without doubt, one can observe that philosopher indicated that strong will can prevent us from lying. Will is the possibility to make one's own decision, to choose one's own actions, to determine what is good and what is evil. Saint Augustine (2005, p. 390) affirmed that it would be unmoral to lie in any case, even if you want to rescue another life or to save one's own life. As we see he was not the supporter of lying. He supposed that the action with an evil moral object is never justified in any case. For there is no need to be afraid of any of those definitions, when the mind has a good conscience, that it utters that which to be true it either knows, or opines, or believes, and that it has no wish to make any thing believed but that which it utters (Augustine, 2005, p. 387). Saint Augustine distinguished such types of lying: lies in religion; lies that only damage and benefit nobody; lies that damage other people and benefit somebody; lies told for the delight of lying; lies told to satisfy others; lies that are harmful to nobody and that benefit someone; lies which are not harmful that save someone's life; lies that damage nobody and that save someone's chastity. Saint Augustine (2005, p. 383) supposed that jokes or mistakes are not lying because when we listened to jokes we feel that the tone of voice and mood of joker render that his intention is to make us laugh but not to deceit us. The philosopher emphasized the importance of intention of the speaker and told that even truth thought false by the speaker is a lie. Augustine stated that free will existed and people can choose to choose good (truth, sincerity) or to choose evil (lie). Man can choose a life of good will himself. According to Saint Augustine all kinds of lies are sinful in its entity and ruin moral principles of behaviour. Augustine claimed that a lie should never be told for any man's civil life (at the earth), since the value of such is one's everlasting (at the paradise) life.

Cold War paper essays

Cold War paper essays The role of America at the end of World War II was where the origins of policing the world originate. America had been engaged in a very costly war in terms of dollars as well as lives. But, despite the expense the United States came out of World War II better than any other nation that was involved. The Second World War was a battle between the Allied and Axis Powers. The Allied Powers consisted of the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, China, and France. This war was seen as the fight against Nazi Germany, and therefore resulted in a majority of the battles fought on German and Russian soil. The aftermath left the Soviet Union in bad shape. Close to twenty million Russians had died fighting the war, which accounted for about eight percent of their population. Conversely, none of the fighting was done on American soil, and while the United States suffered in terms of casualties it was nothing compared to the loss Russia had endured. Because the war would not end until the Axis Powers fully surrendered to the Allied Powers, the United States was forced to use the first atomic warfare in history. The atom bomb would later serve as America's greatest possession. Stalin, the Premier of the Soviet Union had always distrusted the American and English intentions. Because of Stalin's aggression and attitude pertaining to Soviet influence on Europe, the postwar stance on Russia had turned into a standoff. This became the origin of the Cold War. The Cold War, seen as a battle between communism and capitalism, was "in reality a more complex struggle over a broad range of ideological, economic, and strategic issues." (Henretta, 868) Over the next several years the United States would spend more money on military and defense than ever before. Several measures were taken to ensure that the same mistakes at the end of World War I would not be repeated. The first in a series of measures was a postwar conference in...

Anatomical features Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Anatomical features - Essay Example Radiometric analysis gives ‘Ardi’’s age as 4.4 million years, making her the oldest known hominid species to date. Ardi’s skeleton suggests a unique versatility and provides evidence of both biped and quadruped locomotion. The study of Ardi’s feet shows the markedly splayed big toe which facilitates the grasping of tree limbs, marking her as a quadruped in the trees. However, the presence of a small bone inside a foot tendon, which is absent in both chimps and gorillas, increases the rigidity of the big toe. This feature, in combination with other toe modification, promotes biped locomotion on the ground. Similarly, the pelvis shows both the large flaring upper bones which facilitate steady bipedality, and the lower pelvis which accommodates the huge hind limb muscles used in climbing like an ape. Again, unlike the strictly rigid wrist bones of chimps and gorillas, which are geared towards hanging from trees and knuckle-walking on the ground, Ardiâ⠂¬â„¢s highly flexible wrists and finger joints indicate that Ardi walked on her palms on tree limbs – like primitive apes. (Shreeve. October 1, 2009. National Geographic News). The most famous fossil remains of Australopithecus afarensis are the skeleton, "Lucy" found at Hadar, Ethopia, in 1974, the infant found at Dikika, Ethiopia, in 2006, and the 3.7 million years old footprints found in volcanic ash plus fossil bones found at Laetoli, Tanzania in 1978. The anatomical features in all these cases suggest that Australopithecus afarensis was capable of both bipedal and quadruped locomotion. Lucy’s long arm bones, and the ridge formed by the tendons attached to the humerus, indicate the strong chest and upper arm muscles required for tree climbing. However, her short, broad pelvis supported her upright body and her angled-in thigh bones maintained her weight directly above her knees – both optimum features for walking. Likewise, while Lucy’s compact,

Assess a market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Assess a market - Essay Example In above connection, Peattie asserted that the consumer purchase decision may not be influence by green marketing alone but also by other factors such as; Price, comfort, lifestyle, quality to name just but a few(Nobel, Teisl & Rubin, 2006). Therefore, emotive of green marketing may not be very effective because consumers are unlikely to forgo the above mentioned factors for the sake of purchasing eco-friendly products (Nobel, Teisl & Rubin, 2006). Peattie developed a useful tool for products and market analysis called Peattie framework that may help marketers to assess the performance of a product in the market (Bradley, 2007). The framework may be used in this case to evaluate where the two model of vehicles (Volkswagen and BMW vehicles) lies within Peattie framework. Additionally, the effects of having less foot print among the two vehicles selected have also been discussed in detail as well as how footprint may be eradicated (Nobel, Teisl & Rubin, 2006).The eradication of footpri nt may help to ensure that problem of global warming has been reduced significantly (Bishop, 2008). Assessment of where Volkswagen and BMW cars lie within the Peattie framework Peattie provided a substantial basis of evaluation of products with respect to how consumers make choices on the products that they may want to buy (Rakshita, 2011). It can be scrutinized that, much of online green marketing may not be very effective if other factors such as quality, convenience and prices are not taken into consideration (Rakshita, 2011).The two products selected for this assessment were Volkswagen vehicle manufactured in Japan and BMW vehicle manufactured in the United States. (Inderwildi & David, 20120). Research indicates that Volkswagen vehicle have been reported to release a lot of green house emission as compared to BMW (Inderwildi & David, 2012). Necessary measures have been put forth to reduce green house emission in order to make those vehicles more environmentally friendly (Inderwi ldi & David, 2012). In terms of quality and convenience Volkswagen car are more suitable though very expensive (Nobel, Teisl & Rubin, 2006). On the other hand in terms of prettiness and comfort BMW vehicles are more efficient and effective (Inderwildi & David, 2012). It can be observed that the consumer choice of a product depend not only on whether a product is environmentally friendly but also based on the factors within Peattie frame work as discussed herein(Inderwildi & David, 2012). Whether there are products which are better within Peattie framework? Patties framework indicate that the likelihood of a product to be in a better position depend on whether a product fulfills what the customer is looking for in product (Bradley, 2007). Therefore, between BMW and Volkswagen, BMW stand a better position within Peattie framework because the vehicle is not only ecological friendly but also provide what customers are looking for (Bradley, 2007). What should happen if Volkswagen and BMW cars have less foot print? Foot print may be defined as the product of car or a vehicle wheel base in square feet (Sim, 2009). The carbon footprint may help to determine an estimate of the annual world green house effect (Sim, 2009). Additionally, the model of a vehicle and carbon content of fuel used and annual driving mileage of each vehicle is taken into consideration when determining the carbon foot prints (Sim, 2009). The