Two Tramps In Mud Time Essays - British Poetry, Mud Time

Two Tramps In Mud Time Essays - British Poetry, Mud Time Two Tramps in Mud Time On the surface, "Two Tramps in Mud Time" seems to display Robert Frost's narrow individualism. The poem, upon first reading it, seems incongruent, with some of the ezzas having no apparent connection to the whole poem. The poem as a whole also does not appear to have a single definable theme. At one point, the narrator seems wholly narcissistic, and then turns to the power and beauty of nature. It is, however, in the final third of the poem where the narrator reveals his true thoughts to the reader, bringing resolution to the poem as a single entity, not merely a disharmonious collection of words. At the outset of the poem, the narrator gives a very superficial view of himself, almost seeming angered when one of the tramps interferes with his wood chopping: "one of them put me off my aim". This statement, along with many others, seems to focus on "me" or "my", indicating the apparrent selfishness and arrogance of the narrator: "The blows that a life of self-control/Spares to strike for the common good/That day, giving a loose to my soul,/I spent on the unimportant wood." The narrator refers to releasing his suppressed anger not upon evils that threaten "the common good", but upon the "unimportant wood". The appparent arrogance of the narrator is revealed as well by his reference to himself as a Herculean figure ezding not alongside nature, but over it: "The grip on earth of outspread feet,/The life of muscles rocking soft/And smooth and moist in vernal heat." Unexpectedly, the narrator then turns toward nature, apparently abandoning his initial train of thought. He reveals the unpredictability of nature, saying that even in the middle of spring, it can be "two months back in the middle of March." Even the fauna of the land is involved with this chicanery; the arrival of the bluebird would to most indicate the arrival of spring, yet "he wouldn't advise a thing to blossom." The narrator points to the conclusion that, while on the surface, things appear to be one thing, there is always something hidden below, much like "The lurking frost in the earth beneath..." In the final three ezzas of the poem, the "frost" within the narrator comes to the surface. The humility of the narrator comes to light, with the narrator saying that the tramps' right to chop wood for a living "was the better rightagreed." The narrator also says, "Except as a fellow handled an ax,/They had no way of knowing a fool," insomuch as admitting to his foolishness. On the surface, the poem seems to be two poems with diverging themes. However, Robert Frost guides there two apparently unrelated thoughts into one idea from the heart: "My object in living is to unite/My avocation and my vocation/As my two eyes make one in sight." Perhaps the narrator is the true Frost coming to the surface.

Learn Facts About the Geography of U.S. State of Iowa

Learn Facts About the Geography of U.S. State of Iowa Population: 3,007,856 (2009 estimate)Capital: Des MoinesBordering States: Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, WisconsinLand Area: 56,272 square miles (145,743 sq km)Highest Point: Hawkeye Point at 1,670 feet (509 m)Lowest Point: Mississippi River at 480 feet (146 m) Iowa is a state located in the Midwest of the United States. It became a part of the U.S. as the 29th state to be admitted into the Union on December 28, 1846. Today Iowa is known for its economy based on agriculture as well as food processing, manufacturing, green energy and biotechnology. Iowa is also considered one of the safest places to live in the U.S. Ten Geographic Facts to Know About Iowa 1) The area of present-day Iowa has been inhabited as long as 13,000 years ago when hunters and gatherers moved into the region. During more recent times, various Native American tribes developed complex economic and social systems. Some of these tribes include the Illiniwek, Omaha and Sauk. 2) Iowa was first explored by Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet in 1673 when they were exploring the Mississippi River. During their exploration, Iowa was claimed by France and it remained a French territory until 1763. At that time, France transferred control of Iowa to Spain. In the 1800s, France and Spain built various settlements along the Missouri River but in 1803, Iowa came under U.S. control with the Louisiana Purchase. 3) Following the Louisiana Purchase, the U.S. had a hard time controlling the Iowa region and built several forts throughout the area after conflicts like the War of 1812. American settlers then began moving to Iowa in 1833, and on July 4, 1838, the Territory of Iowa was established. Eight years later on December 28,1846, Iowa became the 29th U.S. state. 4) Throughout the rest of the 1800s and into the 1900s, Iowa became an agricultural state after the expansion of railroads across the U.S. After World War II and the Great Depression however, Iowas economy began to suffer and in the 1980s the Farm Crisis caused a recession in the state. As a result, Iowa today has a diversified economy. 5) Today, most of Iowas three million residents live in the states urban areas. Des Moines is the capital and largest city in Iowa, followed by Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Iowa City and Waterloo. 6) Iowa is divided into 99 counties but has 100 county seats because Lee County currently has two: Fort Madison and Keokuk. Lee County has two county seats because there were disagreements between the two about which would be the county seat after Keokuk was established in 1847. These disagreements led to the formation of a second court-designated county seat. 7) Iowa is bordered by six different U.S. states, the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers on the west. Most of the states topography consists of rolling hills and due to prior glaciations in some portions of the state, there are some steep hills and valleys. Iowa also has many large natural lakes. The largest of these are Spirit Lake, West Okoboji Lake and East Okoboji Lake. 8) Iowas climate is considered humid continental and as such it has cold winters with snowfall and hot and humid summers. The average July temperature for Des Moines is 86ËšF (30ËšC) and the average January low is 12ËšF (-11ËšC). The state is also known for severe weather during the spring and thunderstorms and tornadoes are not uncommon. 9) Iowa has a number of different large colleges and universities. The largest of these are Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa. 10) Iowa has seven different sister states - some of these include Hebei Province, China, Taiwan, China, Stavropol Krai, Russia and Yucatan, Mexico. To learn more about Iowa, visit the states official website. References Infoplease.com. (n.d.). Iowa: History, Geography, Population and State Facts- Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0108213.html Wikipedia.com. (23 July 2010). Iowa - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa

Human Brain and Computer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Human Brain and Computer - Essay Example Possibly, it can be said that the brain is better at doing some specific jobs and the computer is good at doing other jobs. This paper is intended to analyze the benefits and limitations of the metaphor "the brain is often compared to a computer" which is commonly used by many. Before getting into the details it is important to understand why such a comparison was made. Theoretically the brain is a machine just as the heart and kidney. It can be said that the brain is a computer (processor) with neural connections, programmed responses, and a data bank. It has sensors in the body that input information into the computer. It has an output to devices that perform actions, and the brain communicates with these devices through electrical and chemical channels. The comparison of the brain and the computer is a metaphor. In general metaphors are just used to help us better understand things. Or in other words metaphors are used to convey the idea that one thing is similar to another thing. They are useful for helping us understand things, such as mind/body interaction. Metaphors do not mean that both the things compared are one and the same neither is one thing is a substitute for the other. Since several processes in the brain are similar to the computer, it is commonly compared with each other. For instance, both brain and computers use electrical signals to transmit information. Both have a memory which tends to grow over time. With proper instructions given, both brain and computers can learn. Both work based on the energy present. Brain and computers are able to think logically and do math. There are also differences between brain and the computers. For instance, brain uses chemicals such as calcium and sodium to transmit information where as the computer uses electricity. Electrical signals generated in the brain travels much slower when compared to computers. A computer uses switches that are either on or off and works on the binary system, where as the brains do not have such a system. Memory of the brain generally grows by stronger synaptic connections but in a computer it is only possible by adding additional memory chips. The brain needs essential nutrients such as oxygen and sugar for working where as the computer only require electricity or a battery to keep working (faculty.washington.edu, N.D.). Though till date the technology had not grown to replace the brain with a computer, there have been several advantages with the development of this technology. For instance, today it is possible to use computer inputs as substitutes for other sensory inputs, and for outputs to limbs or devices to create movement of neurologically damaged limbs, control the environment by sensing the brain's electrical impulses, and even create limited forms of sight. Besides, great steps are being made in bionics, including artificial hearts that work for longer periods. In recent years study is under progress for replacements for muscle made from specialized ceramic or polymer materials that contract like muscles, which can be triggered by a computer. With this trend of advancement in technology, perhaps one day we could also replace computers with brain (Cole, 2003). A person can do many things which a computer cannot even attempt to do it. A brain beyond doubt has one thing that a computer doesn't and this is a major difference. A brain communicates with itself and the body

Patent and Trademarks in the UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Patent and Trademarks in the UK - Essay Example The first test is whether modifying the invention has a significant effect on the performance of the patented invention. The second test is whether an expert in that particular field of the invention would consider the language describing the patent as the strict essential for distinguishing the invention. Finally, there is a consideration whether it would not have have been obvious to an expert in a related field that the modification made on the invention would not have any effect on the patented invention. Later, these principles were affirmed in the case of Kirin-Amgen Inc and Others v. Hoechst Marion Roussel Limited and Others. 7 Crown, The Patents Rules and fees 2007 (as amended) Patents Legal Section, (2014). accessed 16th April 2015. 14 Thompson Reuters Legal Solution, Patents, trademarks, copyright and designs in the UK (England and Wales): overview Accessed 16th April 2015. 14 Ainurul R & Birgitte A, Are There "Institutional Failures" in Intellectual Property Marketplaces? Evidence from Information and Communication Technology Firms, (International Journal of Management, 2013) 723. 15 Mercer J, A mark of distinction: Branding and trademark law in the UK from the 1860s Business History 2010 52(1) 17. Accessed 16th April 2015. 16 The effects of globalization, technological advancement, and the ensuing business competition necessitate the need for individuals and businesses to protect their intellectual property against infringement.1 The legislation provides qualifications and procedure for registering patents and trademarks, as well as remedies for the proprietor in case of violation of right. This document focuses on the patent and trademark registration process. This study focuses on the situation in which the registrar may decline the registration of patents and trademarks if previous similar inventions or signs are available at the filing date.

The Malaysian Culture Essay Example for Free

The Malaysian Culture Essay Being a Muslim country, Malaysians are generally more conservative. Therefore, it is important that travellers take note of the various factors. (Do note that there are more factors but I felt that the ones below are more applicable to the business context for the Australian members.) 1. Dress appropriately – Ensure that your body is covered especially your chest, arms and legs to avoid unwanted attention and as a form of respect 2. Meeting and greeting – Don’t offer to shake hands unless you know the opposite party is fairly westernized. Even so, let them offer the hand shake first. Never shake hands with a woman unless they offer to do so first. 3. It is not recommended to show public displays of affection as it is considered inappropriate behaviour, especially with someone of the opposite sex. 4. Always use the right hand to pass or accept anything as the left is traditionally â€Å"dirty† because of its washroom connections. 5. As a form of respect, avoid alcohol and pork. Ensure that food items are â€Å"Halal† (meaning permissible for Muslims). It is acceptable to eat with your fingers (right hand only) 6. It is important that you respect your elders. In order to show a sign of respect when passing by an older person, younger people are expected to bow their heads.

Teaching Philosophy Statement :: Education Educational Educating Essays

Teaching Philosophy Statement Teachers are key to the children’s future, what they teach students today will inevitably affect our tomorrow. I strongly want to be part in those children’s lives and decision making. I want to be a teacher because I feel it is important to ensure that children obtain a proper education. Teaching them daily will allow me the satisfaction in knowing that I personally have changed some child’s life. The environment of the classroom is very important for the education of children. If the atmosphere of the classroom is plain, it tends to express that education is boring and doesn’t produce any excitement. However, if the classroom has several bulletin boards and enticing educational pictures the children become interested and enthralled about leaning. I feel that the atmosphere is very important and I hope to have a classroom that is unique, with lots of interesting things on the walls of exiting places and remarkable people. I want children to not only hear what I’m talking about but to see and imagine the things I teach, this will help them to gain a better knowledge and understanding of the subject. The seating arrangement in the classroom is also very important. It is important that children not only interact with me but also with their peers. I want to place the student’s seats in small cluster of four; this will enable them to work together in small groups. This will also help the student’s to understand and comprehend the assignment better since they have partners there to help them and share their ideas. Since the students will be arranged into groups I will be able to walk around and give each of the group’s individual attention instead of observing the class as a whole. This group arrangement will benefit the children when we do projects, for example with reading they can take turns and share their personal views on the story with one another. When we assemble back together as a class the student’s will feel positive about their understanding and not be intimidated when they are called on to present their group views. This helps the children to feel confident about themselves and will help with their self-esteem as well. In my teaching style, I will be a mixture between traditional and facilitating. I will always be in complete control over my classroom, but I do not want to just lecture from the textbook all day. Teaching Philosophy Statement :: Education Educational Educating Essays Teaching Philosophy Statement Teachers are key to the children’s future, what they teach students today will inevitably affect our tomorrow. I strongly want to be part in those children’s lives and decision making. I want to be a teacher because I feel it is important to ensure that children obtain a proper education. Teaching them daily will allow me the satisfaction in knowing that I personally have changed some child’s life. The environment of the classroom is very important for the education of children. If the atmosphere of the classroom is plain, it tends to express that education is boring and doesn’t produce any excitement. However, if the classroom has several bulletin boards and enticing educational pictures the children become interested and enthralled about leaning. I feel that the atmosphere is very important and I hope to have a classroom that is unique, with lots of interesting things on the walls of exiting places and remarkable people. I want children to not only hear what I’m talking about but to see and imagine the things I teach, this will help them to gain a better knowledge and understanding of the subject. The seating arrangement in the classroom is also very important. It is important that children not only interact with me but also with their peers. I want to place the student’s seats in small cluster of four; this will enable them to work together in small groups. This will also help the student’s to understand and comprehend the assignment better since they have partners there to help them and share their ideas. Since the students will be arranged into groups I will be able to walk around and give each of the group’s individual attention instead of observing the class as a whole. This group arrangement will benefit the children when we do projects, for example with reading they can take turns and share their personal views on the story with one another. When we assemble back together as a class the student’s will feel positive about their understanding and not be intimidated when they are called on to present their group views. This helps the children to feel confident about themselves and will help with their self-esteem as well. In my teaching style, I will be a mixture between traditional and facilitating. I will always be in complete control over my classroom, but I do not want to just lecture from the textbook all day.

Cultural Diversity in International Hospitality Management Essay

Diversity in hospitality industry: One of the biggest impacts of globalization for those managing companies and organization is dealing with a more culturally diverse pool of employees (Lim and Noriega, 2007). Lim and Noriega (2007) further argue that in a world where over 50% of world’s are owned and controlled by TNCs and MNCs they are bound to deal with workforces from different cultural backgrounds due to their cross boundary operations, their attempt to attract talent from various parts of globe, and at times governments’ pressure for greater diversity at workplace (Stanley, 2008). Stanley (2008) note that, the same rule of thumb applies to the hospitality industry, which has seen a surge in workforce diversity. Lim and Noriega (2007) advocate that rapid growth in the hospitality industry in areas such as East and Southeast Asia (e.g. China) have presented the hospitality MNCs such as Hilton and Sheraton with the much needed space to grow. Stanley’s (2008) study of international hotel chains in Asia continent reveals that Hilton is planning to add another 300 branches to its existing 50 branches in the region. According to a report by Xinhua (2008) many international hospitality organizations showed readiness to tap into the Chinese market in the face of the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Such aggressive battle for market share in this flourishing region has already made its mark on the labour market where there is a tight competition among these companies to attract the talented employees (Doherty et al, 2007). Doherty et al, (2007) argue that the real competition in the labour market is to absorb the kind of managers that are able to deal with employees from a different cultural background. Thus, the important task for these MNCs is to attract the type of management talent (often expatriates) who are able to deal with multicultural work environments while these managers receive the right king of support from the head office to overcome the type of problems these environments pose due to cultural differences (Zhang, 2010). The increasing importance of dealing with cultural differences, especially in management level has resulted in creation of a vast body of literature on this subject. One of the earliest  works on this subject were presented by Hofstede (1980) who introduced a conceptual framework that is based on 5 dimensions of; â€Å"power distance, individualism vs. collectivism, masculinity vs. femininity, uncertainty avoidance, and long term vs. short term orientation† (Hostede, 1980). Other theories of culture are developed by scholars such as Klutchhohn and Strodtbeck (1961) who introduced the cultural orientation framework and Hall (1971) who develop the cultural contexts concept. In the this paper the main aim of the author is to compare and contrast these three cultural concepts on the basis of their advantages, disadvantages and suitability to the management of Chinese employees in the context of hospitality industry. However, firstly this author is going to provide a brief introduction on culture and its various definitions as well as debating why it is important to understand culture and cultural differences. What is culture? Culture has been studied and analysed from various different perspective, which tend to provide varying, but yet at times similar definitions of this term. For instance, Keesing (1974) defines culture as â€Å"systems (of socially transmitted behaviour patterns) that serve to relate human communities to their ecological settings. These ways of life of communities include technologies and modes of economic organization, settlement patterns, modes of social grouping and political organization, religious beliefs and practices, and so on† (pp. 5). Binford (1968) provides the following definition: â€Å"Culture is all those means whose forms are not under direct genetic control . . . which serve to adjust individuals and groups within their ecological communities† (p. 323). Based on these interpretation culture can be defined as a group of behaviours and beliefs associated to a certain group that may reside in a certain geographical location. However, what make culture and cultural studies important is the perceived differences among between cultures and the implication of these differences for the world commerce. Solomon and Schell (2009) argue that â€Å"today it’s not uncommon to manage business functions in other countries with direct reporting relationships to functional teams in many countries; it’s also not unusual to interact with colleagues at home who have a variety of  backgrounds and diverse personal styles, all of which respond to different management techniques† (pp. 111). Morris (2011) also notes that understanding cultural differences is an important aspect of managing diverse pools of employees and asserts that â€Å"a (manager) who interprets employees from different cultural groups without awareness of cultural norms can miss or misread important signals in their communication†. Thus, so far it is established that cultural awareness is an integral and important part of management; the following sections will aim to review the previously mentioned cultural theories in the context of hospitality management of foreign or expatriate managers in China. Hofstede’s five dimensions: Hofstede’s (1980) five dimensions was produced on the back of many interviews and observations, and as evident from the title it is based on five dimensions (mentioned earlier) and assumes that cultures vary from one another on the basis of these five aspects. In trying to relate the five dimensions concept to the hospitality industry there are difficulties and confusions as the concept was developed on the back of interviews of employees who mainly worked in a similar industry (Newman, 1996). However, in trying to relate this concept to management of the Chinese hospitality companies’ managers can hugely benefit from the five dimensions; whether it is about learning how to lead and manage, motivate, resolve problems and etc. (Rogers, Hart and Miike, 2002). As it can be seen from the table below, countries do vary in the way they react to inequalities in distribution of power. As a result, the construct of the organizations vary depending on this very fact (Miroshnik, 2 001). Based on this observation, one of the major problems that a hospitality manager would face in China is getting the manager subordinate distance right. In other words, while in Western organizations and companies the management style is rather flat and two way communication is encouraged, in China the hierarchical management style is very dominant and the communications channels are normally top-down (Tuttle et al, 2009). Therefore, a manager who is used to a more democratic style of management is now faced with the reality of a wok place that does not support or understand this management model. One way of course would be to attempt to  change the culture and introduce a new management style into a multi-national hotel chain’s (e.g. Hilton) operations in China; however, as it can be seen from the past experiences cultural shifts are not as easy and fluent as one may like them to be (Choi et al, 2004). Thus, the easier and more effective approach in the short to medium term is to understand and embrace the local culture. For instance, a foreign or expatriate manager who is managing a multinational hospitality firm in China needs to understand the fact that China is a masculine and collective society where uncertainty is largely avoided and people have a very long term orientation in life and work and historically advocated great power distance (Li, 2008).  A glance at the table above shows that in a society like China low individualism that is inherent in the culture implies that individuals are more concerned about the harmony at work, for which they are willing to suppress their emotions, and the achievement of the group and respecting the traditions is an integral part of their work ethics. The most important aspect of this dimension ought to be that part of Chinese culture that emphasizes on ‘working for the intrinsic reward’. Although this trait is slowly diminishing in China as a result of globalization and emergence of a ‘global culture’ (Tuttle et al, 2009) the older generation still upholds these values. Thus, managers should be mindful of this mind-set when it comes to devising strategies to motivate the employees.   An interesting aspect of Hostede’s (1980) five dimensions is the masculinity vs. femininity issues. A lack of understanding of this factor can cause problems for managers and discontent among employees. Jacob (2005) postulates that in masculine societies tasks are developed and assigned base on their nature. In other words, tasks are either masculine or feminine and managers need to have a good appreciation of this fact before engaging in developing tasks and responsibilities. From a personal perspective this author can confirm that in China [still] there is a great degree of emphasis on masculinity and femininity and assigning a feminine task to a man can be considered offensive. This is especially true in case of hospitality industry where tasks such as housekeeping are considered to be predominantly feminine tasks. Cultural orientation: This concept was developed by Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck (1961) and was one of the first comparative cultural studies to look at cultures from a multi-dimensional perspective (Hills, 2002). This concept has been recognised and acknowledged for its psychological study of human values (Russo, 2000 and Hofstede, 2001) and its approach to value as an all-encompassing attribute that goes beyond the positive and negative of the attitudinal studies (Hills, 2002). Authors such as Segal et al, (1999) and Smith and Bond (1998) argue that this concept is not relevant to management as the authors did not specify the implication of this study for business management. Nonetheless, this author finds dimensions Two (person’s relationship to others people) and Six (the conception of space) relevant to management and to hospitality industry. These two dimensions are highly similar with that of Hofstede’s individualism vs. collectivism. Therefore, an understanding of this dimension would equip managers to deal with the dilemmas that may arise from dealing with those who operate under different value systems. For instance, in this case understanding that individual relationship with others in the organization is based on hierarchy and collective effort can be hugely advantageous. This is especially useful in task development where managers would focus more on cooperative (collective) as opposed to competitive (individual) tasks. Hall’s high vs. low context culture: This concept refers to the degree of formality that is applied in communications between members of society (Guffey, 2009). According to Solomon (2011) in high context societies a great deal of communication is non-verbal and the culture itself explains the situation as opposed to words. As such, in a high context society the choice of words one utters are very important and metaphorical statements are frequently used. Furthermore, in a high context society there is huge emphasis on distinguishing the insider from outsider; for instance, in China the word ‘Guanxi’ specifically refers to this issue (Xin and Pearce, 1996). Grainger (2002) argues that in a high context society such as China, one’s understanding and respect of the superiors’ position is the key to developing good relationships and creating opportunities. The same  principle applies to foreign or expatriate managers who are running hospitality or any other type of businesses in China. In an article titled â€Å"Gifts, Favours and Banquets: the art of social relationships in China† Yang (1994) reveals the secrets of developing meaningful and successful business relationships in Middle Kingdom and provides invaluable advice on how to engage in with officials and businessmen in a way accepted and understood in Chinese culture. Grainger (2002) provides a case study of the Roaring Dragon Hotel in South-West China and reveals how after the merger of the hotel with a European hospitality group some of the employees who were finding it difficult to work with the Western Manager use their Guanxi with the a Chinese senior manager to be transferred to a branch run by a local. Grainger (2002) further adds that many foreign managers in hospitality industry fail to secure good deals as they lack the expertise and right links to do so. There is no denial about the fact that in China favours are performed frequently, but only at the right price and to the right persons. The very concept of Guanxi is a euphemism for favouritism and subtle bribery (Yang, 1994). However, to a foreign manager the dilemma is how to go about asking for favours without exposing themselves or those who are able to provide the right opportunities (Park and Luo, 2001). Such situations perfectly highlight the importance of understanding different culture (Chinese in this instance) and finding ways of accommodating for the needs and requirements of that specific culture. In an article published in New York Times (2009) Selignon argues that many foreign managers do not understand the importance of building Guanxi not only with local authorities and business owners, but also with the employees. She goes on explaining that majority of Western managers follow the same practices that they would do back home and fail to understand the importance of building relationships with their subordinates. In Chinese context employee and manager relationship goes beyond the office hours and interactions expand to house visits, dinner gatherings and etc. (Yang, 1994). Therefore, to most hospitality managers deployed in China success or failure is a matter of understanding or failing to understand these differences. Understanding customers from their cultural perspective: Kandampully et al, (2001) postulate that hospitality managers in China are  predominantly dealing and catering for the Chinese customer, although the number of foreign customers in China is on the rise, which only adds to the diversity of the cultural differences that should be understood and accommodated. This point is confirmed by Reisinger and Turner (1997) who assert that: â€Å"Greater cross-cultural awareness, understanding, and acceptance of cultural differences is needed by tourism practitioners† (pp. 1). However, in a strictly Chinese context it is upon the foreign manager to gain insight into the needs and wants of the Chinese customers in order to meet or exceed their expectations. Park and Luo (2001) argue that to a foreign manager of a hospitality firm the main point of contact with the cultural requirements of the customers are the local employees. Thus, in order to understand the market and its requirements managers must be able to get through the first hurdle which is to get through the management issues they will face with their employees. Reisinger and Turner (1997) assert that â€Å"managers of services firms deployed to foreign countries have to deal with the perpetual dilemma of learning, understanding and adapting to what can best be described as untested waters; their failure or success solely depends on their ability to overcome the cultural one by one through continuous learning and adaptation†. Conclusion: Cultures as value systems that permeate human beings’ lives and determine how they behave, act and react are increasingly gaining in importance and over the past few decades a large body of literature has been developed to aid the commercial world in dealing with the ordeals of dealing with cultural differences and difficulties that arise from these cultural incongruities. This paper tried to highlight how an understanding of cultural differences can play a crucial role in helping foreign hospitality managers deployed in China to make a successful cultural transition across cultures. In the course of this paper it was discussed that culture as unwritten manuals of behavioural patterns play a significant role in how many interactions develop and flourish into meaningful relationships. Moreover, it was highlighted, through provision of real life examples, how a lack of understanding of cultural differences can limit or block the success of foreign managers in China. As a means of substantiating this argument this  paper looked at three different concepts (i.e. Hofstede’s five dimentions, Klutchohn and Strodtbeck’s cultural orientation and Hall’s cultural context) each one of which was studied and analysed in terms of its relevance to the context of management (hospitality specifically). In conclusion, this paper reveals that while the two concepts of Five Dimensions (Hofstede) and Cultural Context (Hall) carry greater fit and are more applicable to management issues than cultural orientation concept (Klutchohn and Strodtbeck). Nonetheless, overall impact of such concepts and cultural intelligence on facilitating successful cultural transition for managers cannot be over emphasized. As it was noted in this study in-depth cultural learning and transition not only allows managers to be more effective in managing their human resources, it will also allow them to negotiate access to better opportunities for greater development and profitability. Therefore, understanding cultures and finding ways of bridging the cultural gap is an essential when it comes to managing across cultures. In this way a manager would be able to improve his/her efficiency through understanding the host culture as well as reducing the risk of misunderstandings and possible disagreements that can otherwise be avoided. References: Grainger, S., (2002) â€Å"Guanxi Neglect at the Roaring Dragon in South-west China: The Demise of an International Management Contract†, Proceedings of the 15th Annual Conference of the Association for Chinese Economics Studies Australia (ACESA) Guffey, Mary Ellen (2009). Essentials of Business Communication. South-Western/ Cengage Learning Hills, M. D. (2002). Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck’s Values Orientation Theory. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, Unit 4. Retrieved from http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/orpc/vol4/iss4/3 1/11/2012 Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture’s Consequences: International differences in work related values. Beverly Hill, CA, Sage. Kluckhohn, F. R. & Strodtbeck, F. L. (1961). Variations in value orientations. Evanston, IL: Row, Peterson. Luo, Y. (1997) Guanxi: Principles, philosophies, and implications, Human Systems Management, 16: 43 – 51. Newman, K. L. (1996). â€Å"Culture and congruence: The fit between management practices and national culture.† Journal of International Business Studies 27(4): 753. Park, S. H. & Luo, Y. (2001), Guanxi and Organisational Dynamics: Organisational Networking in Chinese Firms, Strategic Management Journal, 22, pp 455 – 477. Russo, K. W. (Ed). (2000). Finding the middle ground: Insights and applications of the Value Orientations method. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press. Samovar, L. A. and Porter. R. E. (2004) Communication Between Cultures. 5th Ed. Thompson and Wadsworth. Segall, M. H., Dasen, P. R., Berry, J. W., & Poortinga, Y. H. (1999). Human behavior in global perspective: An introduction to cross-cultural psychology (2nd ed). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon Seligman, Scott D. (1999). Guanxi: Grease the wheels of China. China Business Review. Sep/Oct, Vol. 26 No. 5, pp 34-38. Smith, P. B., & Bond, M. H. (1998). Social psychology across cultures (2nd ed.). London, UK: Prentice Hall. Solomon, Michael (2011). Consumer Behavior: Buying, Having, and Being. Pearson/ Prentice Hall Yang, M. (1994) â€Å"Gifts, Favours and Banquets: the art of social relationships in China†. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

Flexible Budgets Acc543

Flexible Budgets Team ACC/543 Professor Deborah Fitzgerald Thomas University of Phoenix 2010 Team B, You have done a great job on the assignment. I have noted some minor issues to help you on future assignments. Abstract The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the budget process. It analyzes flexible budgets, discusses the relationship between fixed and variable cost, explores the differences between static and flexible budgets, and how budgets assist in the cost-volume-profitability analysis. The Purpose of Flexible Budgets A budget is a tool used by businesses to plan for upcoming revenues and expenses.Businesses understand the difficulty of planning for the future. Circumstances inevitably arise that can change the outlook of a company’s financial picture overnight. Intelligent businesses look to increase flexibility. To do this, businesses explore the relationship between fixed and variable costs, incorporate techniques to transform static budgets, and use flex ible budgets to perform cost-volume-profit analysis. The relationship between fixed and variable costs used in a flexible budget A flexible budget is a statement of projected revenue and expenditure based on various levels of production.It shows how costs vary with different rates of output or at different levels of sales volume. The flexible budget responds to changes in activity and may provide a better tool for performance evaluation. It is driven by the expected cost behavior and cannot be prepared before the end of the period. A flexible budget adjusts the static budget for the actual level of output. It is more sophisticated and useful than a static budget. A flexible budget is compared to a company’s static budget to find variances between the levels of expected and actual spending. The following steps are used to prepare a flexible budget:   1.Determine the budgeted variable cost per unit of output. Also [Add comma here for clarity or to offset an afterthought from the rest of the sentence] determine the budgeted sales price per unit of output, if the entity to which the budget applies generates revenue. 2. Determine the budgeted level of fixed costs. 3. Determine the actual volume of output achieved (e. g. , units produced for a factory, units sold for a retailer, patient days for a hospital). 4. Build the flexible budget based on the budgeted cost information from steps 1 and 2, and the actual volume of output from step 3 (Caplan,  2009).Fixed  costs  are expenses that do not change as the activity of a business changes within the relevant period. For example, a  retailer  must pay rent and utility bills regardless of sales. Variable and fixed costs make up one of the two components of  total cost. Variable costs are expenses that do change as the activity of a business changes within the relevant period. The cost’s behavior determines whether it is fixed or variable. In a flexible budget, all costs are estimated. Variable costs are known as standard variable costs since they are the best estimate for production costs determined by management.Variable costs behave in a fixed manner when calculated on a per unit basis. Whether the number of estimate units sold increase or decrease the standard cost will remain the same. Total variable costs in relation to the number of units sold will behave in a variable manner because total variable costs increases or decreases based on the number of units sold. The differences between static and flexible budget A static budget is a budget that remains unchanged regardless of fluctuation in the volume of sales, expenses, or other relevant factors.Static budgets are produced for a given financial period and are compared to actual results. Consideration is not given to revenue changes effecting variable costs. The main budget of a company is generally a static budget, while the budgets associated with departments are more fluid (Byrne & Mather, 1997). Fluid budgets, a lso known as flexible budgets have the ability to adjust for changes in output levels or shifts in income. These budgets differ from static budgets in that they show projected expenses and revenue at a variety of levels (Edmonds, 2007).Like all budgets, the flexible budget establishes line items for expenses and revenue for a given period with a value assigned to each line. This budgeting approach allows for quick changes to line items in the event of unforeseen complications. A rigid, static budget that is based on a single set of projections, and doesn’t [Contractions are inappropriate in academic writing–write it out] readily permit adjustments could be seen as inefficient (Byrne & Mather, 1997). How a flexible budget lends itself to a cost-volume-profit analysis Flexible budgets are a very useful management tool.These types of tools can provide information needed for planning and performance evaluation. Flexible budgets are based on actual volume of activity [Add c omma here for clarity or to offset an afterthought from the rest of the sentence] which assists organizations with achieving desirable profit levels. â€Å"Managers may assess whether the company’s cash position is adequate by assuming different levels of volume. They may judge if the number of employees, amounts of materials, and equipment and storage facilities are appropriate for a variety of different potential levels of volume,† (Edmonds, 2007, p. 5).A flexible budget often compliments a cost volume profit (CVP) analysis. Both of these are tools that evaluate performance and benchmarking. It is helpful in understanding the relationships among cost, volume, and profit. Essentially CVP’s are an extension of the breakeven point. Using the CVP, a manager can calculate the breakeven point, which is a great indicator of a minimum production level. CVP goes further and shows how much to produce to earn a certain amount of profit. Also, CVP identifies the likely ch anges in profit whenever a key factor changes such as price, cost and quantity (Edmonds, 2007, p. ). Conclusion Budgets are useful and necessary tools used to plan for future saving and spending. Like everything in business, there is more than one way to achieve this. Knowledge of the relationships and techniques described in this paper are invaluable to a business. Once a business understands the process, it can increase flexibility. This allows a business to portray a more accurate financial picture and leads to more intelligent spending and a sustainable business plan.References Byrne, M. , & Mather, J. (1997). Managing the budget process. Club Management. Retrieved from https://ecampus. phoenix. edu Caplan, D. (2009). Flexible Budgeting. OSU. Retrieved from https://ecampus. phoenix. edu/secure/aapd/cwe/citation_generator/web_01_01. asp on 11/26/2010 Edmonds, T. P. (2007). Fundamental financial & managerial accounting concepts. Retrieved from https://ecampus. phoenix. edu Elmerra ji, J. (2010). How budgeting works for companies. Investopedia. Retrieved from http://www. investopedia. com/articles/07/budgetingforcompanies. asp

Definition of LSAT - Law School Admissions Test

Definition of LSAT - Law School Admissions Test What is the LSAT? The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is the law school admissions exam administered four times per year by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). All American Bar Association (ABA)-approved law schools, many non-ABA-approved law schools, and most Canadian law schools require an LSAT score from applicants. The test lasts four hours, which may seem long to prospective law students, but the LSAT pales in comparison to a two- or three-day bar exam, which law school graduates must pass in order to practice law. Content The LSAT consists entirely of multiple-choice questions with one un-scored writing exercise at the end. The multiple-choice questions are divided into five 35-minute sections: reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, two logical reasoning sections, and one un-scored â€Å"experimental† section that looks and feels exactly like one of the other four sections. The reading comprehension section asks examinees multiple-choice questions about passages that they have just read. Analytical reasoning questions have examinees reason deductively from statements or principles by engaging in logic games. In logical reasoning questions, examinees must analyze and complete arguments. At the end of test, examinees are required to provide a writing sample based on information provided in the final 35-minute period. LSAC sends the writing sample to every school that requests an LSAT score, but the writing sample does not count towards the score. Grading Examinees’ four scored multiple-choice sections are graded on a scale from 120 to 180. The median score is usually around 151 or 152 with about half of examinees scoring above these numbers and half scoring below. Scores are calculated on a curve, so the number of questions an examinee answers correctly (the raw score) is not the score that the examinee will achieve on the exam (the scaled score). Scaled scores are calculated individually for each exam, but have held relatively steady over the years. Additionally, examinees receive a percentile, which tells them what percentage of examinees they out scored during the test. Percentiles vary by exam administration, but a score of 151 or 152 will usually place the examinee in the 48th to 52nd percentile. Score Significance While there is no passing score per se, together with the law school applicant’s undergraduate grade point average (GPA), the LSAT score is one of the two most important factors that law schools consider when assessing applications. The median LSAT score of incoming 1Ls at a given school generally reflects the U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) ranking for that law school. For instance, Yale, which is in first place in the rankings and Harvard, which is tied for second, are tied for first place in terms of median LSAT scores. Both schools’ 1Ls entering in the fall 2014 semester scored a median of 173 on the LSAT. This means that half of these students earned lower than 173, and half scored higher than 173. Columbia, tied for fourth, and Stanford, tied for second, both had median LSAT scores of 172. These two scores of 172 and 173 usually represent percentiles of about 98.6% and 99.0% respectively. In other words, only about 1% or 1.4% of examinees will generally achieve a score high enough to attend these schools. Given these numbers, the relative importance of LSAT scores in determining an applicant’s chances at gaining admission to law school is not without its controversy.

Arabica Coffee History and Facts

Arabica Coffee History and Facts The Arabica coffee bean is the Adam or Eve of all coffees, in that is likely the first type of coffee bean ever consumed. Arabica is by far the dominant bean used today, representing about 70 percent of global production. History of the Bean Its origins date back to about 1,000 BC in the highlands of the Kingdom of Kefa, which is present-day Ethiopia. In Kefa, the Oromo tribe ate the bean, crushed it and mixed it with fat to make spheres the size of ping-pong balls. The spheres were consumed for the same reason that coffee is consumed today, as a stimulant. The plant species Coffea Arabica got its name around the 7th century when the bean crossed the Red Sea from Ethiopia to present-day Yemen and lower Arabia, hence the term arabica. The first written record of coffee made from roasted coffee beans comes from Arab scholars, who wrote that it was useful in prolonging their working hours. The Arab innovation in Yemen of making a brew from roasted beans spread first among the  Egyptians  and  Turks, and later on, found its way around the world. Taste Arabica is considered the merlot of coffee, it has a mild taste, and to coffee drinkers, it can be described  to have a sweetness, that is light and airy, like the mountains it comes from. Well-known Italian coffee grower Ernesto Illy wrote in the June 2002 issue of Scientific American: Arabica is a medium-to low-wielding,  rather delicate  tree from five to six meters tall that  requires  a temperate climate and considerable growing care. Commercially grown coffee bushes are pruned to a height of 1.5 to 2 meters. Coffee made from arabica beans has an intense, intricate aroma that can be reminiscent of flowers, fruit, honey, chocolate, caramel or toasted bread. Its caffeine content never exceeds 1.5 percent by weight. Because of its superior quality and taste, arabica sells for a higher price than its hardy, rougher cousin​ Growing Preferences Arabica takes about seven years to mature fully. It grows best in higher altitudes but can be grown as low as sea level. The plant can tolerate low temperatures, but not frost.  Two to four years after planting, the arabica plant produces small, white, highly fragrant flowers. The sweet fragrance resembles the sweet smell of jasmine flowers. After pruning, berries begin to appear. The berries are dark green like the leaves until they begin to ripen, at first to yellow and then light red and finally darkening to a glossy, deep red. At this point, they are called â€Å"cherry† and are ready for picking. The prize of the berries are the beans inside, usually two per berry. Gourmet Coffee Gourmet coffees are almost exclusively high-quality mild varieties of arabica coffee, and among the best-known arabica coffee beans in the world. The gourmet growing regions include the Jamaican Blue Mountains, Colombian Supremo, Tarrazà º, Costa Rica, Guatemalan, Antigua and Ethiopian Sidamo. Typically, espresso is made from a blend of arabica and robusta beans. The robusta species of coffee of beans make up the 30 percent difference of global coffee bean production.

Answer quistion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Answer quistion - Essay Example An organization runs on the hardworking of the employees and if an employer cannot understand and study the needs and drive of a worker then the firm can result in utter failure. For example, My Dad was working as a marketing Executive of a well reputed organization and he was a very dedicated staff of the firm. He was performing averagely in his profession and his income was on commission basis. But he used to face problems when his sales were low which invariably resulted in lower income .He used to come up with serious problems in running the family and as a result demanded a basic salary from the company which was legible amount. The company refused for the same, even though dad was not the only one to come up with such a demand in the organisation.Ultimately his motivation to work reduced and he ended up resigning the job. Here we can see that, if employed needs and demands are not considered by an organization results can be devastating. Each employee is very crucial part of an organization, and their solely contribute to the success of an organization. The size of an organization is immaterial when it comes to the power of the employees. The case applies to both temporary and permanent employees of an organization.

Read 2 Article and Anwser the Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Read 2 Article and Anwser the Questions - Essay Example hand, and to be totally transparent about the firm’s activities and efforts towards addressing identified problems In the article, Nike has been proactive in ferreting out related problems and taking it upon itself to make use of its huge leverage against its shoe suppliers, to essentially force suppliers and subcontractors to play nice with their workers in the factories, for instance. In the case of Gap, even as the garments industry operates on a different dynamic, adhering to the standards set by the SA 800, and working closely with the auditors and being in touch constantly with the general public ought to help make their products more acceptable to society in general (Smith, Ansett and Erez). 2. Working with the auditors and being transparent to the public about the problems and initiatives relating to the sweat shops and the general work conditions among the suppliers and subcontractors are steps in the right direction. As the case suggests, the negative coverage has adverse impacts on brands, and consequently on revenues. Further to this, global firms have to put more resources aimed at genuine reform, and towards engaging its customers and other major stakeholders earnestly. At present the companies can make use of social media to reach out in a personal way to consumers and the general public (Smith, Ansett and Erez). 3. Where companies totally avoid sweat shops, the impacts are tied to higher costs from giving workers higher pay and providing genuinely for their welfare. In industries where companies compete on cost, the impacts of shunning sweatshops and the attendant rise in costs due to that may be substantial, and may imperil the future prospects of many firms, but the alternatives are mainly in the areas of losing customers due to poor work conditions and the heightened scrutiny of media and other concerned parties about those, leading to probable loss of customers and dwindling revenues and profits in the long run (Smith, Ansett and