Photography Essays (991 words) - Optics, Single-lens Reflex Camera

Photography Photography Photography is a technique of producing permanent images on sensitized surfaces by means of the photochemical action of light or other forms of radiant energy. In today's society, photography plays important roles as an information medium, as a tool in science and technology, and as an art form, and it is also a popular hobby. It is essential at every level of business and industry, being used in advertising, documentation, photojournalism, and many other ways. Scientific research, ranging from the study of outer space to the study of the world of subatomic particles, relies heavily on photography as a tool. In the 19th century, photography was the domain of a few professionals because it required large cameras and glass photographic plates. During the first decades of the 20th century, however, with the introduction of roll film and the box camera, it came within the reach of the public as a whole. Today the industry offers amateur and professional photographers a large variety of cameras and accessories. See also Motion Picture. The Camera and Its Accessories Modern cameras operate on the basic principle of the camera obscura (see Historical Development, below). Light passing through a tiny hole, or aperture, into an otherwise lightproof box casts an image on the surface opposite the aperture. The addition of a lens sharpens the image, and film makes possible a fixed, reproducible image. The camera is the mechanism by which film can be exposed in a controlled manner. Although they differ in structural details, modern cameras consist of four basic components: body, shutter, diaphragm, and lens. Located in the body is a lightproof chamber in which film is held and exposed. Also in the body, located opposite the film and behind the lens, are the diaphragm and shutter. The lens, which is affixed to the front of the body, is actually a grouping of optical glass lenses. Housed in a metal ring or cylinder, it allows the photographer to focus an image on the film. The lens may be fixed in place or set in a movable mount. Objects located at various distances from the camera can be brought into sharp focus by adjusting the distance between the lens and the film. The diaphragm, a circular aperture behind the lens, operates in conjunction with the shutter to admit light into the lighttight chamber. This opening may be fixed, as in many amateur cameras, or it may be adjustable. Adjustable diaphragms are composed of overlapping strips of metal or plastic that, when spread apart, form an opening of the same diameter as the lens; when meshed together, they form a small opening behind the center of the lens. The aperture openings correspond to numerical settings, called f-stops, on the camera or the lens. The shutter, a spring-activated mechanical device, keeps light from entering the camera except during the interval of exposure. Most modern cameras have focal-plane or leaf shutters. Some older amateur cameras use a drop-blade shutter, consisting of a hinged piece that, when released, pulls across the diaphragm opening and exposes the film for about 1/30th of a second. In the leaf shutter, at the moment of exposure, a cluster of meshed blades springs apart to uncover the full lens aperture and then springs shut. The focal-plane shutter consists of a black shade with a variable-size slit across its width. When released, the shade moves quickly across the film, exposing it progressively as the slit moves. Most modern cameras also have some sort of viewing system or viewfinder to enable the photographer to see, through the lens of the camera, the scene being photographed. Single-lens reflex cameras all incorporate this design feature, and almost all general-use cameras have some form of focusing system as well as a film-advance mechanism. Camera Designs Cameras come in a variety of configurations and sizes. The first cameras, "pinhole" cameras, had no lens. The flow of light was controlled simply by blocking the pinhole. The first camera in general use, the box camera, consists of a wooden or plastic box with a simple lens and a drop-blade shutter at one end and a holder for roll film at the other. The box camera is equipped with a simple viewfinder that shows the extent of the picture area. Some models have, in addition, one or two diaphragm apertures and a simple focusing device. The view camera, used primarily by professionals, is the camera closest in design to early cameras that is still in widespread use. Despite the unique capability of the view camera, however, other camera types, because of their greater versatility, are more commonly used by both amateurs and professionals. Chief among

Contemporary issues in Multimedia and IT

Contemporary issues in Multimedia and IT Ethics are the principles that dictate right and wrong, and act as agents of decision making guidelines of behavior. On the other hand, laws are rules developed by an administrative system to combat crime. Most ethical issues are consequences of individuals trying to make decisions within or without the law that govern a system.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Contemporary issues in Multimedia and IT specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More When computers were first invented , scientists said that the whole of America would only need six computers for its operations. A couple of decades later, information highway has grown so fast that every household at least owns a computer. Computers have evolved from the bulky gadgets they used to be, to pocket size gadgets, making it easier for individuals to own. Businesses are run easily through computers, for instance shopping malls and food joints have created sites through which pe ople can select items and have them delivered to them. Marketing has been made easier as consultants don’t have to meet with their clients face to face. Introduction of e-learning in most academic institutions has helped create more learning opportunities while saving time and space. Academic research by students has been simplified because they no longer need to carry bulky books. Besides, many job opportunities have been created for information technology specialists. Just like any inventions, Information technology has its merits and demerits. Therefore, it is in order for governments to come up with strategies to regulate the use of information technology gadgets as a precautionary measure against information technology stress caused by security breach in the private or public network systems. Though the invention of internet networking has facilitated the transformation of the world into a global village, eminent threats on security of information systems is real. Thus, this reflective treatise analyses contemporary issues in information technology and multimedia. A big wave of positive change was seen in various fields such as education, business, and politics among others. Unfortunately, Criminals saw this as an opportunity for fraudulent deals. For instance, hackers, crackers and stalkers took advantage of this wave of change to unlawfully access private information that could harm companies (Moore, 2006, pp.101-105). In response, the government introduced the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. As stipulated by this law, trespassers of protected computers were to be prosecuted. The CFAA merged with the National Information Infrastructure Act to create a compact regulatory law on information technology. Given that dependence levels on technology have increased, the advances in data storage have made the process cheaper, hence are used by local retail firms to identify customers.Advertising Looking for essay on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For instance, the, major search firms such as Google, yahoo, and messenger generates more than 200million searches per year. Therefore, a lot of information can be found about an individual through their profiles and blogs. Information perceived as private can viewed in public social sites. This heightens ethical concerns because a lot of information is out and can be misused. These laws made it illegal for any unauthorized person to access private computer network for financial gains. CFAA in its current jurisdiction protects users and operators against computer related crimes such as obtaining national security information through illegal entry into Federal computers with the aim of harming the state, and for the benefit of another state. This law is punishable whether information was acquired or not. Besides, the law is clear on the illegal entry of a protected computer to access financial or credit information, includ ing credit card fraud (Solove and Schwartz, 2009, p. 43). Moreover, unauthorized access of any protected computer used by the Federal government or the government computer agencies is also included. It can be considered as treason if one is found hacking into the state’s security systems. Since data has become easily accessible, government security agencies have come up with detailed and advanced security systems. They can obtain information on suspects of terrorism and security threat. In the automated scan systems, possession of illegal weapon, drugs, and other material perceive harmful to the public can be detected. At global level, intentionally damaging, either through corrupting by viruses or physical destruction of a protected computer and worms program that can make information disappear or even disable a system intentionally is punishable in the International Law Court. Physical destruction includes trashing or removing some parts of the machine to put a halt to norm al functioning ability (Solove and Schwartz, 2009, p. 50). Illegal trafficking of passwords or any other information which can be used to gain access to a protected computer for whatsoever purpose is illegal. This law was mainly put to stop the hackers from cracking passwords and accessing information systems for information, and using them to corrupt the information systems. The above laws makes it illegal for one to access information without permission from the owner, the operator or the management information system, especially information on business operations or national defense. This covered all the data on atomic weapons manufacture and storage in the United States (Solove and Schwartz, 2009, p. 55).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Contemporary issues in Multimedia and IT specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The electronic communications privacy act is a law which was passed to regulate efficiency of Informatio n technology. This law makes it illegal to tap information without authorization. Besides, it protects information transmitted through wire, radio, electromagnetic waves, and optical wave tracks that affect business transactions of the state. Cyber Security Enhancement Act was passed together with the Homeland Security Act to increase penalties set in the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. CSEA reduced the thoroughness of privacy and made it easier for the ISP to hand over information to the government whenever the relevant authority suspects unlawful dealing in the local networks. This law passed harsh punishment on persons who knowingly committed computer crimes that resulted in physical injury or even death (Solove and Schwartz, 2009, p. 53).Those who have established their careers in business, should sensitize their employees ICT departments to safeguard the quality of the systems and hence protecting privacy of society. The digital millennium copyright act mainly protects programs a nd soft wares against piracy. This law was put in place to help people who operated their businesses online from having their products duplicated. This law promotes the sale of soft wares and programs that help parents control what their children view in the interne (Tim and Paul, 2004, p.46). Traditional laws can also be used to prosecute crimes committed on computers. For instance, Economic Espionage Act makes it illegal for one to steal information or ideas from another business through copyright or duplication for any reasons whatsoever. This law also spells out the boundaries of benefitting from other information systems in place by either competitors or perceived rival. The Virginia internet policy act advocates for freedom of information, penalties on persons who commit computer crimes, and protection of children from explicit pornographic materials and indecent images on the internet. Before, children were used by perverts to boost business and the websites at the expense of their rights. Another law is the software privacy and control act. This act deals with the criminals who register online under false identity, and commit online fraudulent crimes on the domain receptor. However, providing false information without getting involved in criminal activities is excused (Tim and Paul, 2004, p.46).Advertising Looking for essay on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Despite the numerous efforts by the government, internet criminals somehow find a new route in committing cyber crimes frequently. Factually, it is not very easy to detect a cyber crime until its consequences surface. Smarter hacking minds have developed complex ideas of invading the snares and traps constantly revised by the government information technology experts (Warren and Louis, 1989, pp.89-97). Even the most secured sites such as that of the homeland security and Microsoft report numerous attempts of hacking on their websites. Funnily, some of these crimes are only meant o draw attention and disapprove the security system of the targeted sites. In the recent part, a group in America threatened to close down face book site for what they called breach of personal privacy and stalking by the government. Hackers have decided to corrupt the system with graphic images, just for satisfaction of having control over this global site (Trout, 2007, p.43). This however does not mean tha t we are completely hopeless against finding solutions to deal with these intelligent minds who find pleasure in putting a halt to global growth and development on the facets of information exchange. The existing laws may not be perfect, by some how are effective in minimizing the intensity of information system abuse. In the recent past, many successful abuse cases have passed through the court system on sms or email abuse. Governments still deal with threats to life and properties sent via email, as punishable under traditional laws. Governments also need to introduce e-governance, like in Bangladesh, which make control and review of laws of the internet much easier to implement. Through this, governments will easily deal with the increasing innovative techniques of web piracy hacking and cracking (Tim and Paul, 2004, p.49). The implementation of these laws may be hindered by administrative obstacles. For instance, lack of trust and faith on a government by its citizens may make f ighting cyber crime a hectic procedure. Due to this, citizens may shy away from reporting instances of cyber crimes committed or fail to cooperate with the authority in investigations. However, the overhead cost of adopting e-governance is very heavy on most governments. With the current unfavorable economic climate, the priorities of most governments are to ensure costs of any project are within manageable limits. Besides, there is an inadequate specialized skill in information technology across the globe to monitor and constantly track the ever complex crimes undergoing metamorphosis. Reference List Moore, R. (2006) Cybercrime: Investigating High-Technology Computer Crime, 1st ed., Cincinnati, Ohio: Anderson Publishing Solove, D. and Schwartz, P. (2009) Privacy, Information, and Technology, 2nd Ed., New York, NY: Aspen Publishers Tim, J, and Paul, T. (2004) Hacktivism and Cyberwars, Alabama: Routledge Trout, B. (2007) Cyber Law: A Legal Arsenal for Online Business, New York: World Audience, Inc. Warren, R. and Louis, B. (1989) The Right to Privacy, 4 Harv. L. Rev. 193., Massachusetts: Harvard University Publications

Supporting Evidence Based Practices through Research Essay

Supporting Evidence Based Practices through Research - Essay Example To Student 1: I agree that Career Ladder, Nursing Research Mentors and the Research/EBP Council provide great opportunities and encouragement toward promoting organizational commitment, best practices in clinical environments and patient outcomes through in-depth research. There is no better moment than finding a solution to a patient’s health problem that has been plaguing him (or her) for years. It is most important that all nurses learn how to conduct research within a multitude of platforms available, such as electronic databases, online libraries, electronic journal repositories, and through reviewing cases histories (Melnyk&Fineout-Overholt 2011). I have found that research provides a good foundation in continuing to educate myself in those most common issues found in healthcare and to question what is currently in place so as to make it better. There are new drugs being tested all the time and a patient might finally obtain relief by being willing to try something new (Webb 2011). Using the NIRNM provides me with experience in learning and understanding the process of IRB approval and how I can do my own research using MEDline, CONHAL and Cochrane Review.

Practicum Action Inquiry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Practicum Action Inquiry - Essay Example This collaborative research project will be established with ten teachers from 20 schools in the vicinity of the campus. Identification of learning goals, construction of success criteria as well as the provision of descriptive feedbacks are important practices used in classrooms that enhance the achievement of students. While operating under the assessment of learning theme, teachers will be trained on how to develop learning goals and criteria of success as stipulated in the curriculum. Teachers will also be trained on how to implement positively descriptive feedback. On the other hand, the student will be trained on positive peer and self-assessment. Descriptive feedback is a major constituent of the growing success initiative. Self, peer, and teacher feedback before and after the assessment is submitted to the main descriptive feedback strategy. These strategies will be introduced by this practicum into classrooms for education department for the growing success initiative. According to Biggley (2012), descriptive feedback strategies have been proved to increase student skill development and achievement effectively long after the learner finishes the course. The approach to future assessment techniques for teachers is highly influenced by these skills. All participants in the inquiry will enjoy the benefit of personal, professional learning. All participants will be familiar with evaluation and assessment process. As the process will be progressing through the semester, participants will find themselves actively lesson planning on issues involving growing success more so descriptive feedback (Caro-Bruce, 2008). Transition of teachers to assessment for learning instructional model requires teamwork with fellow teachers to ensure effective student learning and skill development. Before the collaborative inquiry was implemented, competency levels of teachers varied. Collaborative inquiry utilization will help teachers acquire training on

Case assignment for sport facilities and venues Study

Assignment for sport facilities and venues - Case Study Example The dilemma being faced by Atkins is similar to the one faced by many expanding business organisations that is to decide whether or not expand their operations beyond a certain point in terms of cost and profitability. ... This growing seasonal demand versus the diminishing capacity is an operational challenge at Golden Shores.The problem remains that this demand is not permanent or steady through out the year.The aim would thus be for a profit sustainable methodology to apply to the capacity planning decision that faced operations management for the tennis facilities. Some statistical calculations Next pertaining to the query about the number of tennis courts which will be needed in July 2004 and its comparison to the present capacity as well as the way ahead for the planning for the next season in terms of capacity by Ms Atkins it is possible to show the following workings. These workings take into account the peak months of usage as well as the past use of the facility.The rate at which the demand is increasing and the cost of utilising 100% capacity of each court alongwith tariff management. It can be seen from Exhibit 3 that July and August are the peak months for Guest nights with the total court hours peaking to 2885 hours. The factors or the formula I would suggest for Ms Atkins would be to focus on capacity decisions which determine other measures of service management such as productivity, growth, change, and competition. GS tennis courts will have to as a part of the service industry provide services as and when they are demanded because it cannot be inventoried.The cost would the demand variability which will lead to alternating periods of idle service workers or facilities and consumer waits. This cost has to be subtracted as a trade off to the cost of idle resources versus consumer retention since a dissatisfied consumer base is likely to hurt the long-term profits and

Management Essays Management Coach

Management Essays Management Coach Management Coach Taking the role of a management coach, you have been requested to analyse the leadership style of a specific business leader. Outline the process of the individuals leadership through a period of change and critically evaluate the outcome of the leadership approach in the organisation. Support your briefing paper with reference to a significant range of leadership and organisational development theories. Leadership, management style, organisational and national culture, organisational structure communication, team management and ethic/values are likely to be addressed. Identify and evaluate how a knowledge of leadership and or and organisational development can improve a managers efficiency and effectiveness in managing an enterprise. You are encouraged to take a holistic perspective and provide a critique of contemporary research and practice. An essential part in the running of an organisation is directing the efforts of their members towards the goals and objectives. This involves the process of Leadership. In simple terms leadership can be interpreted as getting others to follow or getting people to do things willingly or more specifically, the use of authority in decision-making. This essay will consider theoretical accounts of leadership behaviour and compare them to the chosen leader. The organisation that has been chosen is the Disney Corporation. Since the company was formed there have been two charismatic, but strikingly different leaders. A few years ago the Walt Disney Company was famous for a little mouse, a collection of vintage animated films for children, and two aging theme parks. Today, the sun never sets on the Disney entertainment empire. Along with its animation business, creator of blockbusters such as Beauty and the Beast, Disney now owns three other studios. After a problematic start Disney has exported the park business to Japan and France. There are two new Disney cruise ships, Wonder and Magic, and 725 Disney stores at locations all around the world. The driving force behind Disneys metamorphosis has been Michael Eisner, who became CEO and chairman in 1984 after a brief but intense battle for the position (Wetlaufer, S. 2000). The founder of the organisation Walt Disney, employed the best talent available, and by means of his own drive and enthusiasm, encouraged them to reach new heights. Walt Disney strived to maintain absolute, unchallenged control over every detail of his empire. Employees worked under an autocratic visionary; they expected big ideas and decisions to come from the top. When Walt Disney died in 1966, the company floundered creatively and financially for years. There were competent, dedicated people in management and talented, hard-working artists in the creative departments, but there was no vision, no leadership (Hightower, D. 1993). The choice of Michael Eisner as CEO of Disney has been a triumph of creativity in American business. Choosing creativity over financial know-how was a tremendous risk, but it has paid off: in the past eight years, revenue has grown on averaged 25 percent annually, Disney stock has increased tenfold in value and the company has been transformed into the worlds most successful entertainment empire. For the first time in Disneys history, an outsider was going to run the company (Hightower, D. 1993). Leadership is different from management; company leaders in action illustrate the practice of leadership. It is not just leadership that is required, both management and leadership are needed. However, during times of high-stakes change, organisations will fail without widespread good leadership (Coyle, J. 2000). Managers promote stability within an organisation, while leaders press for change. An organisation requires leadership at all levels, from the Directors board down to the Shop floor and cleaners. However, leadership is not a uniform command, for example the Waitress on the Shop floor will not receive identical commands and relationships from their manager as someone working in the finance department would from his or her manager. There are different forms of leadership and behaviour from which managers can implement to what they feel best suits the situation. The type of leadership adopted at different levels is a crucial part in achieving the aims and objectives and thus the success of the company (Burnes, B. 2000). Webber (n.d.) defined the types of authority of leaders in organisations into three categories, (1) Traditional, authority is legitimised by custom, and belief in the right to rule. There are traditional proper right to rule, example of this is the sovereignty, the church or a paternalistic employer. (2) Charismatic organisations, authority is legitimised by the quality of the leader, there strengths, personality and inspiration. There is a need for some routine; with the demise of the leader the organisation can change structure unless another charismatic leader is found, (3) Bureaucratic organisations, authority is based on the acceptance of the formal rules, the law within the organisation, authority comes from the hierarchical position within the organisation, examples of this are the armed forces and schools (Webber (n.d.) cited in Mullins, L, 2005: 77). Transformational leaders are able to effectively communicate their vision to an organisation and provide an environment where individuals are empowered to achieve that vision. Instead of telling employees what to do, transformational leaders provide the tools that can help employees achieve greatness. A subset of transformational leadership is charismatic leadership, which is built on the idea that sheer force of personality can be enough to provide leadership to an organisation and inspire high levels of personal loyalty from employees to leaders. The Disney Company has had two charismatic leaders in its history: Walt Disney and Michael Eisner. Disneys tenure was followed by lacklustre performance at the company after his death, and none of the executives at the organisation possessed a personality strong enough to replace the founder (Mullins, L. 2005). The trait approach assumes that the leaders are outstanding through their specific personality traits, cognitive abilities, interpersonal styles and other ability factors that distinguish them. This concept implies that leaders are rather born than made. Grint (2000) argued, There is no hope for those of us, not born with certain gifts or talents for leadership (Grint, K. 2000). The research done by Fleischman and Harris (1962) found two explicit behaviours: consideration and task-orientation. The first factor, consideration, involves a high regard for the leaders subordinates, sharing ideas and incorporating the subordinates as close as possible into the area they are involved. The second one, task-orientation, is mainly connected with the production and ignoring the subordinates to a great extend (Fleischman and Harris (1962) cited in Grint, K. 2000). The relatively new concept of charismatic leadership is based on the belief that the leader can broaden the awareness and interest of his/her followers. Consequently, the aims of the leader are of greater importance and are placed prior to the personal goals. Steers (1996) defines charismatic leadership as a special quality that enables the leader to mobilise and sustain activity within an organisation through specific personal actions combined with perceived characteristics. Employees are motivated by charisma beyond their original expectations. This is done in three ways, awareness about certain key issues and processes are raised, organisational goals are placed above the own interests and adjusting the needs level, so they have a stronger drive for responsibility, challenge and personal growth (Steers, R, 1996:693). Strength in Grint (2000) theory is it does not introduce quantifiable factors; hence it cannot be treated as a rigid science, such as Mathematics. Grint says that leadership is essential an interpretative affair, it casts doubt upon those claiming scientific legitimations for their claims and buttresses an approach to leadership that firmly within the arts not the sciences. It is not a rigid formula that applies to all leaders (Grint, K. 2000). Therefore the more scientific our methods of analysis become, the less likely we are to understand leadership because it is not accessible to scientific approaches. Taking this statement into considerations, it is clear that the charismatic leadership approach is a significant development, since it does not try to quantify. Henry Mintzberg discussed that the behaviour is hard to reconcile, on the surface at least, with traditional notions of what top managers do. It is hard to fit the behaviour into categories like planning, organizing, contro lling, directing, or staffing (Henry Mintzberg Cited in Kotter. J 1999). Even when times are hard, work was fun and exciting, and this has been incorporated in Eisners management style. But there are limits to the autonomy. Senior management delegates authority, not autonomy, downward in the organisation. Sometimes in large companies, too much gets delegated, especially now that empowerment is the rage. Eisner stated I just believe that those with the most experience should be given the most opportunity to handle really tough situations, these situations can put a company or a division at risk (Eisner, M. cited in Wetlaufer, S. (2000). So autonomy has its place. Delegation has its place. But sometimes you have to push problems back up to the top. Otherwise, you just might bump into the biggest corporate problem of all. Eisner, M. (2002) described what the most important areas of management are (1) youve got to be an example. (2)Youve got to be there. (3)Youve got to be a nudge, which is another word for motivator, really. (4) And youve got to show creative leadership, you have to be an idea generator, all the time, day and night (Eisner, M. (2000) cited in Wetlaufer, S. 2000). Thats not really a role. Its an underlying responsibility, its always there. Leading by example also means showing a combination of enthusiasm and loyalty to the institution, and it certainly means demanding excellence in the organisation (Wetlaufer, S. 2000). The two fundamental challenges to a manager are to (1) figure out what to do despite uncertainty and an enormous amount of potentially relevant information. (2) Get things done through a large and diverse group of people despite having little direct control over most of them. These challenges have severe implications for the traditional management functions of planning, staffing, organizing, directing, and controlling. To tackle challenges, effective general managers rely on agenda setting and network building. The best ones assertively seek information (including bad news), skilfully ask questions, and seek out programs and projects that can help accomplish multiple objectives. When a new manager starts their role they spend a considerable amount of time establishing their agendas. Effective executives develop agendas that are made up of loosely connected goals and plans that address their long, medium, and short-term responsibilities (Kotter, J.1999). This pattern of network-building is typical of a managers role and is aimed at more than just direct subordinates. Managers develop cooperative relationships with and among peers, outsiders, their bosses boss, and their subordinates subordinates. Indeed, they develop relationships with (and sometimes among) any and all of the hundreds or even thousands of people on whom they feel in some way dependent. Just as they create an agenda that is different from, although generally consistent with, formal plans, they also create a network that is different from, but generally consistent with, the formal organisational structure (Kotter, J.1999). This networking commence as soon as Eisner was appointed, gaining valuable contacts within the organisation. Managers of organisations have responsibility to get the strategic intent right, not just for the advantage of the organisation. Drucker (1989) discussed the responsibility of management as being decisive not only for the enterprises itself, but for the Managements public standing.for the very future of our economic and social system and the survival of enterprise. The decisions that managers make, do not just affect the organisation, they have an affect on the whole of society, with ethical, environmental and social considerations. Misjudged and misguided strategies have in the past brought down organisations both financially and in their reputation, damaging the publics opinion of them (Drucker (1989) cited in Mullins 2005:214). Therefore strategic decisions are likely to affect the operational level of an organisation, which needs to be in tune with long term goals of the organisation. This factor is important in decision making; firstly if the operational level is not in line with the strategic level this can cause conflict and jeopardise the strategy, secondly it is at the operational of an organisation that the real strategy is achieved (Johnson G , Scholes, K 2004). The Walt Disney Company continues to prosper, by maintaining and ever improving quality standards across the board. Walt Disneys Employee Forum is a publication created not only to motivate employees but to discuss past, present, and future accomplishments of the company. Disneys large corporation has very detailed and clear segmentation, and strives for quality in every product. Others in the entertainments industry, including, for example, Time Warner, MCA, and DreamWorks, also have their own unique quality factors. It is this differentiation and distinctiveness that may be the key to their recognition for what they do, and why they are so good (Anonymous1997). Successful organisations are fluid, forever moving and adjusting to the market forces. From the previous years performance new goals are set, brining in innovative fresh activities that make the organisation more effective. These criteria include increased employee versatility/flexibility; increase of expertise; broadening of the market base; increasing production capacity; improved production economy; and the ability to respond to change. Although some of these decisions are at a strategic level, others will show results with the year. These can be measured to ensure that the strategies are working for the organisation (Mullins, L, 2005). Creativity can be one of the key drivers in business today. At the Walt Disney Company, creativity is not just a tool or a technique to increase productivity; it is the heart of the business. The creative process is practiced and nurtured at Disney, and the application of a similar approach could dramatically impact businesses in a multitude of industries (Hightower, D. 1993). Eisner stated that Disney is a company built on a powerful combination of institutionalised creative friction, an environment that produces a constant stream of ideas and good, old-fashioned common sense. Together, he stated conflict and common sense yield creativity, and creativity has a way of cleaning up the balance sheet and making the income statement shine very brightly (Eisner, M. cited in Wetlaufer, S. (2000). The opinion that all knowledge is viewed as objects to the organisation, and therefore can pass between different states, has contributed to the focus of knowledge management systems (KMS) that they should be externalised and merged with tacit forms of knowledge. This theory is backed up by Cohendet et al.s (1999) recent attention to the codification of experience, know-how and localised tacit knowledge Through the processes of conversion between employees triggers the process of intuiting, interpreting, and integrating them into the organisation (Cohendet et al 1999:523). Healthy organisations would like to be viewed as containing harmonious working relations, committed to working together towards the common goal. Conflict is a reality within the organisational climate; therefore conflict has to be managed. The most specific level the culture of the organisation can be seen as the aggregation of the cognitive interpretations of the organisation workforce, conflict can reveal itself. This conflict arises from the personalities and experience of the individuals, together with the interactions between employees that can cause distortion (Hamlin, B. et al 2000). Diversity is a great force toward creativity. For many, Disney has made its members, (that is what they call employees) a diverse group of people. The more diverse an organisation, the more diverse are the opinions that get expressed, which sometimes create friction, and friction slows down the machine. When the machine slows down, good things can happen. If it is just sliding along with no friction, you get the easy solution; you get mediocrity. We work very hard on getting diversity at the top of the organization, and like many organisations we still have room to improve. That will make us more creative. This diversity is not just about skin colour or ethnic background, it is diversity in point of view. They encourage individualism, wanting employees who view the world differently (Wetlaufer, S. 2000). This whole business starts with ideas that come out of an environment of supportive conflict, which is synonymous with appropriate friction. This is an environment where people are not afraid to speak their minds or be irreverent. Uninhibited discussion gets ideas, which can be look at, made better or just get rid of them (Eisner, M. cited in Wetlaufer, S. 2000). Corporate creativity requires an innately creative leader and the managerial capability to syndicate creativity at the organisational level (Hightower, D. 1993). Cultural descriptions distinguish one organisation from another, and influence the people in the company as individuals as well as company performance. Such culture is a diffuse and nebulous notion, encompassing the underlying values, beliefs and principles of the personnel as they are expressed within the management, structure and practices (B Fletcher, F  Jones, 1992). Although Trompenaars suggests that all societies view time in different ways which may in turn influence business activities. The American dream is the French nightmare. Americans generally start from zero and what matters is their present performance and their plan to make it in the future. This is noveau riche for the French who prefer the ancien pauvre; they have an enormous sense of the past. This clash in national culture between the organisation and the country it is in, was experienced by the Disney corporation when they first tried to expand into new markets (F, Trompenaars (n.d) cited in N, Brealey, 1993: 66). The Aston School points to convergence of organisational culture. An example of this is the work of Hickson et al which suggests that there is a relationship between factors such as size/technology and structures which transcends culture. A bureaucracy in all societies and bureaucratic structures are more likely to occur in particular sectors of the economy. Other Commentators have followed Kerr et al who suggest that industrial or post-industrial societies would in any case become more alike as they are developed in the future. The contrary argument that culture does matter when studying organisational behaviour can be seen in the work of Geert Hofstede. During his work Hofstede identified four dimensions of culture; power distance; uncertainty; avoidance; individualism; and masculinity (Hofstede, G 1980). Ensuring that Disney cast members are committed and motivated, and that they behave appropriately, is the most challenging part of Eisners role (Wetlaufer, S. 2000 a). There are various cultural and structural factors that have a direct affects on organisations that can impinge on the very success of the organisation. These are highlighted when an organisation attempts to redefine itself, to change their image in an attempt to maintain or to enhance their competitive capabilities (L Gratton, 1999). Creating a worldwide brand also means creating a common vision and, to create synergy among its businesses worldwide, Disney runs a program, Disney Dimensions, for senior executives drawn from every division of the company to ensure they work in a common aim. Eisner describes this program as a synergy boot camp. Participants have eight days of meetings, covering every aspect of the business. They dress up as Disney characters, oversee the catering, learn how beds are made and spend time in all the different Disney divisions learning what these do and how they work. Basically they are learning for 16 hours a day how to do every single job in the business (Wetlaufer, S. (2000 a). Disney entertains people, so an energised culture is encouraged. This is reinforced in weekly meetings that anyone could offer up an idea and gets other people to react to it. These are big, unruly, disruptive meetings, which supports institutionalised conflict. The honesty in the teams and culture is vital in this culture. This is in the environment where criticism goes up as well as down. In this culture where every one is equal, there is no pecking order it produces creativity (Wetlaufer, S. 2000). Managers achieve more indirect influence through symbolic methods. They use meetings, language, stories about the organisation, even architecture, in order to get some message across indirectly. The symbols of the Disney Corporation are everywhere, reinforcing the values to employees (Kotter, J.1999). An important aspect that adds to organisational effectiveness is synergy, when the whole performance is greater that the performance of the individual components, that the performance of the organisation outstrips the performance of the individual, this is positive synergy (Mullins. L. 2005).Positive synergy occurs when two or more processes or activities complement each other. The concept of synergy can be considered and implemented by changing the links that bind certain departments together, linking new departments together (Johnson G, , Scholes K, 2004). Mullins (2005) stated that his could lead to a broadly and powerfully defined culture which is strongly customer focused and capable of leap frogging the competition through continual and radical innovation (Mullins, L. 2005:256). Synergy occurs at Disney, because they all pull together. The products scream out for synergy. When launching a new product it is on the cover of our magazines, on the Disney channels around the world and displayed in the windows of the shops. All employees around the world know what is happening and are involved (Wetlaufer, S. 2000). Classical writers discussed the organisation in terms of its purpose, with its formal structure; the hierarchy of the organisation. The emphasis placed on planning work, achieving this through managing the technical requirements, and the presumption of logical and rational behaviour from within the organisation. Each individual classical writer puts forward their own interpretation of similar theories (Mullins, L 2005). Baker (1972) discussed these principals as it offered simple principals which claimed general application it also followed architectural and literary styles which emphasised formality, symmetry and rigidity (R Baker (1972) cited in Buchanan D and Huczynski A 1991: 430) The Disney Corporation treats its members with reverence, respecting the individuals diversity. However the uniform of its customer facing members demonstrates rigidity within the structure. Although the payment received from the employer is not the sole motivator it satisfies the contract of employment. Hegewisch (1991) wrote the pay packet is one of the most visible expression of the employment relationship, its main issue is the exchange between employer and employee, expressing a connection between the labour market, the individuals work and the performance of employing the organisation itself(Hegewisch (1991) cited in Beardwell I Holden L 1994 :500). The organisation pays employees well; their reasoning was to compensate employees enough so they didnt have to worry about money. This way, they argued, employees were made able to do their job, service the customer. Tom Peters focuses on this point when discussing closeness to the customer. To overspend on service people keeps customers happy and Disney knows what its customers like. It may cost Disney a lot and be unprofitable in the short run, but the company looks to the long run to keep those customers (Tom Peters cited in Anonymous1997). As the first leader in the Disney Corporation that is not a family member Michael Eisner has turned the organisation around. The success is world wide, with new products being launched continually. Michael Eisner style of leadership is completely the reverse of the way the organisation had been run. Ultimately, Michael Eisner is seeking to generate enthusiasm and involvement among Disney employees. Enthusiasm and involvement leads to motivated employees. This is achieved through reinforcing the culture of fun and innovation. The employees are paid well, to motivate them and to reduce financial worries that could impinge on their performance. Although creativity and innovation is encouraged it could be argued that the knowledge of the employees is viewed as objects to the organisation. Eisners leadership is transformational and charismatic. Transformational leaders provide the tools that can help employees achieve greatness. There are networks in place that increase the synergy within the organisation, all employees knows what the strategic plans are. Although the organisation has been reformed, we must not lose sight of the ultimate goal. Michael Eisner values the ideas of every individual and endeavours to offer a creative, fun environment in which they may ultimately see their ideas grow and take shape, adding to the Disney magic and of course, the bottom line Bibliography Beardwell I and Holden L,(1996) Human Resource Management Pitman Publishing, London Buchanan D, and Hucczynski A, (1991)Organisational Behaviour Prentice Hall, Padstow Burnes, B. (2000) (3rd Edition)  A Strategic Approach to Organisational Dynamics Pearson Education, Edinburgh Gratton, L (1999) Strategic Human Resource Management: Corporate Rhetoric and Human Reality.; Oxford University Press (UK), Oxford Grint, K. (2000) The Art of Leadership, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Hamlin, B. et al (2000) Organisational Change and Development,  Pearson Education, Edinburgh Hofstede G (1980) Cultures Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values, Pitman Publishing, London Johnson, G Scholes J (2004) (6th Edition) Exploring Corporate Strategy Prentice Hall, Hemmel Hempstead. Marchington M and Wilkinson A, (1997) Core Personnel and Development IPD publishing, London Rose M Industrial Behaviour (1978) Penguin Harmondsworth Steers,R. (1996) Motivation and Leadership at work McGraw-Hill Trompenaars F (1997)(2nd Edition) Riding the Waves of Culture, Nicholas Brealey London : Mullins, L (2005) (7th Edition) Management and Organisational Behaviour Prentice Hall, Pearson Education, Edinburgh Anonymous(1997) How Disney uses differentiation to maintain distinctive quality Strategic Direction.  Bradford: May 1997 Cohendet, Pet al (1999). Knowledge co-ordination, competence creation and integrated networks in globalised firms Cambridge Journal of Economics Coyle, J. (2000) John P. Kotter on What Leaders Really Do (An interview with the author) Human Resource Planning Vol.23,   Drucker, P. et al (1997) Looking ahead: implications of the present. Harvard Business Review, Sept-Oct 1997 v75 Fletcher, B   Jones, F (1992) Cultural Auditing Managerial Auditing Journal Hightower, D. (1993) Creativity is your business too! Planning Review.  Sep/Oct 1993. Vol.21, Kotter. J. (1999) What Effective General Managers Really Do. Harvard Business Review, March-April 1999 v77 Wetlaufer, S. (2000) Common Sense and Conflict An Interview with Disneys Michael Eisner. Harvard Business Review, Jan 2000 v78 Wetlaufer, S. (2000 a) Reinventing Disney Strategic Direction, Sep 2000.Vol.16,

Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird :: essays research papers

One of the principal aims of To Kill a Mockingbird is to subject the narrator to a series of learning experiences and then observe how much she profits from her experiences. There is rarely a chapter that does not teach Scout something new or does not build toward a new learning experience. So, one rewarding approach to the novel is throughout an examination of these experiences.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the largest view, Scout learns about (1) justice and injustice through the Tom Robinson trial; (2) prejustice and its effects on the processes of the law and society; (3) courage as manifested in ways others act; and (4) respect for individuality of the human being. On a smaller scale, Scout learns numerous things about numerous people; she becomes aware of the difficulty of being a lady, particularly when under dressed; and she learns when to fight and not to fight.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many of scouts learning experiences being in clearly insignificant scenes. Ultimately she must learn to respect the difference in behavior between vastly different people, especially when the behavior differs from the normal as radically as in the cases of Boo Radley, Mrs. Dubose, and the Cunninghams. So early in the novel, Scout in the novel, Scout is faced with some confusing experiences at school, where she confronts a teacher who dosen’t understand why she can read and where she meets Walter Cunningham. Later, Atticus explains to her that to judge a person you must try to see things from that person’s point of view. You must learn to walk aroun in his skin. Then you cab uderstand better why a person acts or belives what he does.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Only at the end of the novel does Scout finally learn to respect this saying. Until then, she remains curious and confused why Boo never came out of his house. In the meantime she goes through a series of maturing experiences. She learns how to see her from the teachers point of view; she tries to judge the Cunninghams and the Ewells from their side; she bears the insults of the town and particularly the apperent viciousness of Mrs. Duboes. From all of these, she learns to look at the individuality of the others!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For Scout, courage is most often something with physical act and involves personal danger. It is very difficult for Scout to see that greater courage is often required in other places of life. Scout learns that the greatest courage can be found in a situation where a person knows that he is going to lose and still continues to fight.

Four P’s of Redbox

4 P’s of Redbox: Product Redbox’s products consist of DVD, Blu-ray disc and video game rentals. Each of the discs come secured with a barcoded DVD case and are vended from a kiosk. These kiosks are self-serve, customer- interactive computer terminals that are available for public use. Each of Redbox’s kiosks can hold up to 200 titles and 630 discs. Redbox is known for their signature color, being red, displayed on both their kiosks and their product cases. The color red was chosen to stand out and assist in attracting customers. At these kiosks customers can browse the selection of DVD’s by categories such as genre, latest releases, most popular and alphabetical order. The rental period for the discs end at 9:00 the night after they were rented; and can be returned to any Redbox kiosk location regardless of where they were rented from. 4 P’s of Redbox: Place Like mentioned above, the DVD’s and video games are dispensed from Redbox kiosks. The kiosks can be found in grocery stores, pharmacies, mass retailers, convenience stores and fast food restaurants. There are approximately 31,500 kiosk locations across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. If a customer wants to know where the closest Redbox location is or is having trouble finding a Redbox location, they have two options; they can download the Redbox mobile app on their cell phone or text the word â€Å"FIND† to the number ‘727272’. According to the official Redbox website, 68% of the United States population lives within only a five minute drive of a kiosk, which is very convenient for the customer. 4 P’s of Redbox: Price The movie rentals originally started out at just $1 a day (including tax), but due to expenses the company has incurred, the movie rentals are now up to $1.20 a day. Blu-ray discs are $1.50 and video games are $2 per day. The DVD’s and video games can be purchased with only a debit or credit card. For every extra day the customer holds onto the disc, they will be charged for another rental period. The maximum rental period is 25 days, and the maximum rental charge is $25. So, once the maximum charge is reached, the disc becomes the owners to keep and does not need to be returned.4 P’s of Redbox: Promotion For promotion, Redbox offers their â€Å"Redbox Text Club† which sends out deals, freebies and free promo codes every month to customers who have signed up to receive text messages from them. Redbox also offers their â€Å"Refer-A-Friend Program†. With this program, individuals can receive rental credits for referring new cus tomers; these rental credits can then be redeemed and used towards getting a free rental. Individuals can also receive freebies, reviews, and the latest news from if they follow Redbox on Facebook. If customers decide to reserve a DVD or video game ahead of time, they can also receive rental credits and get their first reservation rental for free.

AsianAmericans and concentration camps in WWII essays

AsianAmericans and concentration camps in WWII essays In the early 1940s, there was evidence of Japanese-American loyalty and innocence, but the information was not always well known. This, coupled with the factors of war hysteria led to the legal upholding of concentration camps in Korematsu v. U.S. (1944). The injustice was clouded, most immediately by the war, and indirectly by racism at home. The sneak attack on Pearl Harbor left a permanent indent on the way Americans viewed the Japanese. Indeed, it was this one act which thrust the isolationist U.S. into the middle of the worlds biggest war. The brutal attack, so close to home, was viewed as sneaky and underhanded. This, added to the fact that the Japanese were rumored to have an amazingly effective spy system on Hawaii and the West Coast, led the Japanese-Americans to become highly suspected individuals. They were even a more immediate threat than communists, since they required an eventual takeover, and Germans, since they were preoccupied by numerous enemies. In addition, the Japanese-Americans were concentrated on the Western Coast and could thus organize better. There is also the chasm of culture; ignorance is the key to racism, and the average American knew very little of the lifestyle and customs of the Far East. This led to more suspicion. There were also facts going against the Japanese-Americans. According to the Munson Report, 98% of Japanese-Americans were loyal to the U.S. This is an impressive number; however, in times of war, 2% sabotaging on mainland America was a major threat. A more startling fact that tarnished the Japanese-American reputation was the fact that Japan was rumored to have an extremely effective spy system on the West Coast. There were even some conspiracy theorists that rationalized that the sneaky Japanese were merely waiting for the right time to strike, as they did at Pearl Harbor. The people were scared of the Japanese, and in a democracy, the people have a voice...

Free Essays on Prisoner of Azkaban

An Elegantly Woven Tapestry Plotlines in Prisoner of Azkaban In a way, it's true that there is no single central plot in Prisoner of Azkaban, because one candidate (Quidditch) lacks gravitas and another (Sirius v. Harry) proves to be an illusion. But in terms of what plotline drives the book, I would say it's the latter. We "know" from very early on that Sirius Black is trying to kill Harry, and we know there will be a confrontation at the endand there is. The only reason that we look back and say "that wasn't the main storyline" is that there's a twist. And that's why the story doesn't wrap up in the Shrieking Shack, even though that scene seems like it's going to be the climax. Beyond that, there is another focal point: the whole backstory of MWPP (and S). One of the many things I love about the book is that while Harry is going about his lifelighter things like wanting to go to Hogsmeade and playing Quidditch, heavier things like hearing his parents and coping with Dementorsthere is another drama mostly invisible to him (and to us, until the second reading): that of Lupin, Black, Snape, and, if you think about it, Pettigrew. We think the story is about Black trying to kill Harry, so the plot seems focused on that; but that's not what the story is about. It's about Sirius in a whole different way, and it's as much about Pettigrew, and right on out of the pages of this volume to Voldemort. The more I think about the plotting of PA, the more impressive it seems. JKR has all these threads going, and they're interwoven in amazing ways: -the most-important-to-Harry thread (Quidditch) -the emotional thread (Dementors/J&L). It is interwoven with Quidditch, without which Harry wouldn't keep hearing his parents' voices. -the drives-the-plot thread (Sirius trying to kill Harry), interwoven with the seemingly trivial thread of Harry trying to get into the village (key because of the Sirius plot, and because it in... Free Essays on Prisoner of Azkaban Free Essays on Prisoner of Azkaban An Elegantly Woven Tapestry Plotlines in Prisoner of Azkaban In a way, it's true that there is no single central plot in Prisoner of Azkaban, because one candidate (Quidditch) lacks gravitas and another (Sirius v. Harry) proves to be an illusion. But in terms of what plotline drives the book, I would say it's the latter. We "know" from very early on that Sirius Black is trying to kill Harry, and we know there will be a confrontation at the endand there is. The only reason that we look back and say "that wasn't the main storyline" is that there's a twist. And that's why the story doesn't wrap up in the Shrieking Shack, even though that scene seems like it's going to be the climax. Beyond that, there is another focal point: the whole backstory of MWPP (and S). One of the many things I love about the book is that while Harry is going about his lifelighter things like wanting to go to Hogsmeade and playing Quidditch, heavier things like hearing his parents and coping with Dementorsthere is another drama mostly invisible to him (and to us, until the second reading): that of Lupin, Black, Snape, and, if you think about it, Pettigrew. We think the story is about Black trying to kill Harry, so the plot seems focused on that; but that's not what the story is about. It's about Sirius in a whole different way, and it's as much about Pettigrew, and right on out of the pages of this volume to Voldemort. The more I think about the plotting of PA, the more impressive it seems. JKR has all these threads going, and they're interwoven in amazing ways: -the most-important-to-Harry thread (Quidditch) -the emotional thread (Dementors/J&L). It is interwoven with Quidditch, without which Harry wouldn't keep hearing his parents' voices. -the drives-the-plot thread (Sirius trying to kill Harry), interwoven with the seemingly trivial thread of Harry trying to get into the village (key because of the Sirius plot, and because it in...

CJ6 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

CJ6 - Essay Example Its evolution further included thief catchers and legislations but increase in crime rates let to establishment of a formal police force in the 17th century. Position of the sheriff was established with duties such as apprehension, tax collection, and management of public funds but crimes continued to increase. Texas Rangers was then formed in 1823 to protect settlers’ interest and became a lawful entity after 1870. Other agencies were also forms such as Federal Marshals (1989) and Metropolitan Police Force (1845). The current police system in the United States is however more complex, the most complex in the world, and exist at federal, state, county, local, and private levels. The federal branch is part of the executive government branch and enforces provisions of the US criminal code and consists of the FBI, ATF, US Marshals Service, Homeland Security, Customers and border Protection, Secret Service, Coast Guard, IRS, and US Postal Service. State police force exists in every state with limited jurisdiction of enforcing state laws in their states. Counties and municipals also have their police systems headed by county sheriffs and enforce laws within their geographical jurisdictions. The private police sector is another branch and is significant in apprehending

The Medium is the message - explore what Marshall McLuhan meant by Essay

The Medium is the message - explore what Marshall McLuhan meant by this statement, tie it to ways the Internet and telecommunica - Essay Example The medium is the message as a metaphor is important in understanding the new electronic media as well. One could well argue that the medium is the unconscious of the media. Every medium is encrypted with its own messages which in turn substantially influence the message or the content. It is through analyzing the shift from traditional media to the new electronic media; McLuhan understood the nuances of medium as the message. The purpose of the essay is to examine the major postulates of McLuhan’s theoretical leap and some of the responses to from other scholars against the new developments in media of the present world. McLuhan’s Conception of Medium Although, the sentence ‘medium is the message’ is apparently very simple; it has many complex connotations. At first, it is just equating the medium with the message. Secondly but most importantly, if medium is the message, all other messages become secondary or non-messages. Therefore, it stipulates that the medium is the primary message and whatever message is inscripted on it is not substantial or exist only in permanent reference to the message of the medium. McLuhan does not negate the existence of the message of the content; therefore, he asserts that â€Å"although the medium is the message, the controls go beyond the programming. The restraints are always directed to the ‘content’, which is always another medium† (305). It means that the message of the medium is primary and the message of the content withstand only with reference to the message. It is important to remember that every medium is the extension of human capabilities and different mediums alters different human capabilities in different ways. Medium is what is form in literature; it is not just capturing the content but reproduces it in many ways. As we cannot understand an art work without deconstructing the form, the message of a media can only be understood when we deconstruct the politics of i ts medium. It is widely observed that the communication revolution in the technological sphere has not yet turned out to be a communication revolution in the real world. Although, there exist actual potentials for disseminating information which is crucial to enhance democracy among the broad masses, the internet media world has not advanced much in this line. Not only the media has failed in deepening democracy in general but also is unable to substantiate democracy within itself. It is because of the fact that as a medium the new information communication technologies are necessarily fragmented and not amenable to deep contemplation. By and large, global media is controlled the big corporations which are even more wealthy than a number of countries in the Global South. The much celebrated ‘marketplace of ideas’ is no more considered as free as it appears. It is not just because of the fact that American media conglomerates have more corporate and monitory power. On th e other hand, the new media technologies as medium are highly amenable to corporatization and monopolization. Therefore, we never have a media world without monopolies; one monopoly will always be replaces with another. The emergence of terms such as public service broadcasting, alternative media, citizen’s journalism, and independent media centers and so on denotes both the phenomenal corporatization of media and the ongoing global