The Sarbanes Oxley Act ( Sox ) - 969 Words

To: New Client From: Vanda Mallo, Financial Adviser Date: November 10, 2015 Subject: Important changes in the accounting field Due to my position as your Financial Adviser, it is my duty to explain to you some important changes in the accounting field and the legislation that brought about this change. In 2002 the U.S. Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX), a legislation put in place not only to improve the accuracy of corporate disclosures, but also to protect shareholders and the general public from accounting errors and fraudulent practices in all organizations. Although these organizations include corporations, small businesses, non-profit institutions, government bodies and any other entity where business is conducted,†¦show more content†¦This very important government agency, which consists of five commissioners from different political parties, not only oversees the SOX but also sets deadlines for compliance. Compliance is the most important change created by SOX to the accounting field, because it requires that all accounting be â€Å"in accordance with established guidelines or specifications, or the process of becoming so†. (Rouse, 2014) Compliance also means that rules established by industry regulations and government legislation are followed and honored by an organization, such as storing and retaining business records in IT systems, therefore to be in line with SOX, we principles and assumptions of accounting have been affected, such as the content and preparation of disclosure documents by public companies. I can assure you that we accept and abide by the regulations and guidelines put in place by SOX. Since compliance became our top priority, we utilize specific compliance software and IT compliance consultants, and along with our chief compliance officer (CCO), we will continue to serve our clients within these accounting compliance requirements. Business Ethics are believed to be the â€Å"study of proper business policies and practices regarding potentially controversial issues, such as corporate governance, insider trading, bribery, discrimination,

River Valley Civilizations of the Middle East Vocab Free Essays

1. Pastoralism- the practice of raising livestock 2. Bronze Metallurgy- the study of the chemicals of the metal Bronze 3. We will write a custom essay sample on River Valley Civilizations of the Middle East Vocab or any similar topic only for you Order Now Iron Metallurgy- the study of the chemicals of the metal Iron 4. Nile- gives people fresh water and is a major source for Egypt. The yearly activity is that it floods the river valley and moist fertile land is left behind. The resource the Nile has is the floodplain full of fertile land 5. Cataract- an unnavigable stretch of rapids and waterfalls 6. Delta- at one of the ends of rivers where the river spreads into many different streams 7. Silt- fine sand or clay that is easily carried by water 8. Papyrus- another type of paper that early civilizations used to write impotant info. It is thicker than paper 9. Irrigation- a process of saturating the land to be able to grow crops on it 10. Amun-Re- god of state and to whom common people turn to for adversity 11. Osiris- god of the underworld; his brother killed him and spread his body parts everywhere. His wife recovered them and gave him a proper burial. The gods were impressed and brought back to life Osiris, but as a spirit, or god of the underworld 12. Seth- god of chaos; brother of Osiris who killed Osiris 13. Horus- son of Osiris; associated with the pharaohs and the Sun 14. Ptah- the chief god of the ancient city of Memphis; he is a creator god and god of architecture and crafts 15. Isis- wife of Osiris; goddess that dealt with speaking to the dead, bring n]back the dead to life, curing the sick, and magic 16. Hathor- Cow- goddess of love and music 17. Ma’at- goddess of physical and moral law of Egypt, order and truth 18. Aten- god of the sun as in a solar disk that had rays coming towards earth which represented human hands reaching for ankh the pharaoh 19. Upper Egypt- up river or up the Nile river that reached the cataracts to Memphis 20. Lower Egypt- from Memphis to the delta part of the Nile River 21. Menes- king of Memphis in Lower Egypt 22. Theocracy- a type of government where the priest rules the name of God or a god 23. Pharaoh- an emperor that ruled Egypt 24. Vizier- a high official 25. Bureaucracy- a type of government where important decisions are decided by state officials rather than elected representatives 26. Hieroglyphics- Egypt’s writing that showed events that happened 27. Nubia- Country below Egypt that competed and fought with Egypt for land and who is more powerful 28. Old Kingdom- the first kingdom of Egypt were the Pharaohs forced workers to build huge pyramids 29. Middle Kingdom- Pharaohs became less powerful and they mostly were concerned about foreign affairs and they lived during a time of great prosperity or surplus 30. Intermediary Periods- the first intermediate period was between Egypt and Nubia. They both fought over land and about politics and they had five wars. The second one was the fight between Egypt and the Hyksos, or horse riding nomads. The Hyksos had bronze weapons that they obtained from Hittites and the Mesopotamians. Once again, they fought over land but in the end, Egypt obtained bronze weapons and pushed the hyksos out of Egypt. 31. New Kingdom- the Pharaohs in this era had lesser power than their ancestors, but they did build palaces, temples, and monumental statues to show off their power. They did work to extend the land occupancy of Egypt beyond the Nile delta. 32. Hyksos- horse-riding nomads who had bronze weapons obtained from the Hittites and the Mesopotamians. They dominated Egypt for a while, but Egypt finally obtained bronze weapons also and pushed the Hyksos out of Egypt. 33. Hatshepsut- First woman pharaoh who forced workers to build a statue of her 34. Fertile Crescent- the Middle East; the area where the land was very fertile to farm 35. Mesopotamia- the land between the rivers, or the land in-between the Tigris river and the Euphrates river 36. Tigris and Euphrates rivers- the significance of these rivers were that Mesopotamia had very little rainfall, but these rivers supplied a great amount of fresh water. The resources the rivers supplied were the ability to grow wheat, barley, and peas. 37. City-State- the early people had to control internal and external problems so they created a city-state. Within the city they controlled order and authority and prevented problems with urban citizens causing civil disorder. Externally from the city, you need a government to control foreign affairs such as agriculture in surrounding regions and authority in neighboring territories 38. Ur- a Sumerian city-state that dominated (with others) public affairs 39. Ziggurat- distinctive stepped pyramids that housed temples and altars to the principal local deity 40. Cuneiform- a form of writing used in Mesopotamia, Persia and Ugarit that involved wedged shapes on clay tablets 41. Sargon of Akkad- a talented administrator and a brilliant warrior who conquered all the cities of Sumeria. His life span was from 2370-2315 b. c. e 42. Epic of Gilgamesh- the story of a hero, who killed an evil monster, rescued Uruk from a ravaging bull and matched his wits to the gods. Enkidu, a cherished friend of Gilgamesh, offended the gods and he was sentenced to death. He wanted to cheat death and have a eternal life so he found a magical plant that granted that, but a serpent stole it and this made Gilgamesh realized the death is the ultimate fate for all human-beings 43. Hammurabi’s Code- if a person is an offender, or someone who does something morally wrong, he/she shall face a fierce punishment such as death, or cutting your hands off. 44. Sumeria- first civilization of Mesopotamia which prospered with its many different cities 45. Babylonia- dominated Mesopotamia because of its great culture. The king was Nebuchadnezzar who built famous buildings. Babylonia was great until the Assyrian empire took over 46. Assyria- they were interested in enforcing laws and expansion. After they took Babylonia, they expanded much of southwest Asia. They conquered Syria, Palestine, most of Anatolia, and most of Egypt. They believed in Hammurabi’s laws. King Assurbanipal had a library that saved great literature that survived to present day. 47. Neo Babylonia/Chaldean- a Babylon soldier named Nabopolassar wanted to overthrow Assyrian rule, but Egypt supported the Assyrians. There were many battles and Babylonia was starting to win and they captured the capital of Assyria. Meanwhile, Babylonia captured Jerusalem and there were peace treaties between the Cilician and the Syennesis leaders. In the end Babylonia dominated over Assyria 48. Hittites- they migrated to Anatolia where they imposed their languages and ruled the people there. They built a power kingdom which had close relations with Mesopotamia. They traded with Babylonia and Assyria and they adopted cuneiform writing. Later the Hittites conquered eastern Anatolia, northern Mesopotamia, and Syria all the down to Phoenicia. 9. Patriarchal- a type of government in which the eldest male has all the power and male descendants will get the power eventually. 50. Hebrew- a language and a religion that people from early times to present day practice 51. Phoenicians- an early Greek society. They did not have a monarchy, but rather different city-states with local kings. They interest in state building and their military. They deeply influenced other civilizations because of their industry and trade networks. They traded overland and they traded goods such as raw materials, or textiles, decorative items, pottery, etc. They also created their own alphabet which indicated their interest in literature, religion, and historical writings. 52. Indo-European- Common languages were Old Persian, Greek, and Latin in Europe because indo-Europeans migrated all over Eurasia. The origin of Indo-European was in present day Ukraine and southern Russia. They built their society in 4500 to 2500 b. e. c. They raised cattle, sheep, goats, and they domesticated horses. They used horses for wagons, carts, and chariots for travel. The Indo-Europeans migrated south, east, and west distributing their language. How to cite River Valley Civilizations of the Middle East Vocab, Essay examples

Compare And Contrast Seamus Heaneys Poems Digging And Follower Essay Example For Students

Compare And Contrast Seamus Heaneys Poems Digging And Follower Essay Seamus Heaneys poems, Digging and Follower portray to us the strong relationship between the father and son, as Heaney tends to look up to the elders in his family. Both poems create that pastoral type of atmosphere with the title, Digging suggesting to us digging into the past. Follower on the other hand gives us the image of the childs view of farming of imitating his fathers actions. The poems suggest the perfection of Heaneys father at manual labour, introducing someone for Heaney to look up to and admire. The poem Follower illustrates to us the strength and skill, which is processed in Heaneys father. The poem Digging suggests to us the great amount of immense skill needed to master working in the fields of the countryside. Both Digging and Follower tell us stories, which are similar and different in many ways. This poem Digging is quite similar to Follower as it shows how young Heaney looked up to his elders but in this poem he looks up to both his father and grandfather. Heaney sees his grandfather as now old, straining to dig flowerbeds. The poet recalls to himself of his father digging potato drills and even earlier his grandfather digging peat. Heaney knows he cant match men like them with a spade, knowing the pen is mightier for him, and he will dig into the past with it. Heaney also shows the skill and distinction needed in manual labour. The poet also illustrates to us their sense of work, as the father still digs in old age, and the grandfather, when working, would barely stop to drink. In the poem Follower it shows the skill involved in country life including being an expert, without breaking. This shows us what an accomplished farmer Heaneys father is. It also shows us the country life, by illustrating how much skill goes into a seemingly ordinary task such as ploughing a field. The sod rolled over without breaking doesnt only illustrate the skill in the country but the beauty as well. The idea of freshly ploughed soil, adds to the readers view of the country side as a beautiful place and so country life is also portrayed as something happy. Digging and Follower differ in their structures as Digging consists of a much looser structure than Follower. The first stanza consists of two lines, the second stanza consists of three lines and the third stanza consists of four lines. So the lengths of the stanzas in Digging vary quite a bit compared to the Follower. There is rhyme present in both poems but it is more frequent and powerful in Follower than Digging. Heres the rhyme in Digging, flowerbeds / away / drills / digging, and heres in Follower, round / eye / ground / exactly. In Digging, the first two stanzas have powerful rhyme but for the rest of the poem it simply dies out. Some of the rhyme words used are, sound / ground / down, suggesting strong rhyme. Generally the rhyme scheme used in Follower is ABAB meaning the first line rhymes with the third. In Digging the rhyme scheme in the beginning is AA BBB, but then the rhyme kind of dies out since not all the poem rhymes. Both Follower and Digging tend to use more of half rhyme rather than full rhyme, which doesnt make it intrusively obvious. The rhyme in both poems tends to give us a sense of rhythm to the poem. In other words it also emphasises the rhyme words bringing to us the connection between the rhyme words. Heaney uses more rhyme in Follower than in Digging because it gives a natural feeling to the poem and also helps in emphasising the fathers skill. In Digging there are some stressed and unstressed syllable words. Some of the stressed words are, Between finger thumb / squat pen rests snug gun. The words that are unstressed in that stanza are, my and my / the as a. In Follower some of the stressed syllables are, shoulders globed full sail strung, and some of the unstressed ones are, His like a. There are a variety of familiar poetic techniques used by Heaney in Digging and Follower. Assignment Poetry EssayIn both poems it is also shown the failures of the son not living up to his fathers examples, not continuing the family root, like old man could handle a spade / like his old man. This suggests that his grandfather and father dug, which has become like a family tradition, which is a metaphor as it is his familys in touch with the land. In Follower as well the son failed to follow the fathers example, as said, all I ever did was follow / nuisance, tripping. There is also a role reversal in Follower towards the end, when it isnt Heaney letting his father down but is in fact his father, my father keeps stumbling / will not go away. That type of role reversal, where the father is growing old doesnt happen in Digging making it a difference between the two poems. One of the differences between Digging and Follower is the fact that Follower uses a lot of figurative language like, globed. In both poems the son shows a lot of aspiration in both poems, for example, I ever did was follow / in his broad shadow round the farm, and in Digging, scatter new potatoes e picked / loving cool hardness in our hands. These examples from both poems tell us that he did show hope towards following his fathers life, but they simply couldnt do it anymore. They claimed that they didnt have the sort of talent their parents or grandfather did for this particular type of work. In Follower you would find two word sentences where as in Digging there none in sight. An expert, is the small phrase used Heaney which stands out due to being in the beginning of the second stanza and simply being only two words. The period after the two short words makes them stand out as something rather important. That two word sentence is like a subtitle gives us a hint of what the stanza is likely to be about. This one word sentence suggests to us that it is simply a fact Heaney grew up with and this idea of expertise makes it seem important. In the last sentence of the poem it begins with But, which should really only ever be used in the middle of a sentence. The use of this word suggests to us how significant Heaney sees this word to be, showing us how big the change has been, between the time he let his father down and when his father let him down. In Follower there is a pause between the single pluck and the explanation of what is being plucked. That helps us at the idea that such a small movement could have such a dramatic effect a single pluck // of reins, the sweating team turned around / and back into the land. His eye at an end of a line helps us feel the intensity and power of the gaze being described. Follower consists of six stanzas each consisting of about four lines. On the other hand Digging consists of nine stanzas of each containing different numbers of lines. Follower for example with a consistent number of lines keeps the poem flowing and helps the rhythm of the poem. Digging on the other hand doesnt has a specific layout which disrupts the flow of the poem slightly, and it also makes it slightly harder to read as well. I can come to the conclusion that both poems clearly show a great deal of similarities and differences, and both well written pieces give us a strong sense of the pastoral side of the world. Not to forget it shows us the strongly linked relationship between the father and the son and they way the son looks up to his father as a role model.

Should We Restrict Immigration in the U.S. Essay Example

Should We Restrict Immigration in the U.S.? Essay Should we restrict immigration in the U. S.? , the answer to that is quite simple, no. the real question is; is it necessary to restrict immigration in the U. S.? That answer is also quite simple, no. immigration has been a big topic since the early 1900’s once the immigrants really started coming over to the U. S. Ever since then people have been trying to restrict the flow of immigrants coming into this country. Evidence from the article states and shows that â€Å"we were and still are a nation of immigrants†, so what makes the difference now? It was once and still is a land where people in search of a better life come to find one. Immigrants are a very powerful benefit to the economy and very little evidence shows that they are negative, in which shows us that immigrants are helping the nation become a better place while also helping build a stronger economy. Evidence from the article shows that in the 1980’s alone, about 8. 7 million people poured into the U. S. , matching the great immigration decade of 1900-10. The United States traditional role was as a haven for the immigrants, why change now? Especially when the immigrant’s links to their old countries are boosting U. S. exports to such fast growing regions like Asia and Latin America. Immigrant’s effects on the U. S. are the positive that overcomes the negative. Many immigrant communities are cities whose strength was restored due to the fact that without the immigrants cities and neighborhoods would be suffering because of the shrinking tax base. Evidence shows people that even immigrants with less education are contributing to the economy as workers, consumers, and taxpayers. We will write a custom essay sample on Should We Restrict Immigration in the U.S.? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Should We Restrict Immigration in the U.S.? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Should We Restrict Immigration in the U.S.? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The immigrants have turned around many neighborhoods that were ready to fall into ruin. Even the ones that was ready to waste away, and decrease from a state of normality and prosperity. The immigrants also bring a global perspective and international contacts to insular American businesses. If the immigrants were on Americas land for hundreds of years then why would they choose now to restrict them from entering when they benefited to and from the country? What’s so different about them from back then until now? Considering the success of the past immigration. Why should the immigrants be discriminated by the nativists, when they are the one’s who’s helping when some of the same nativists discouraging them and depriving them from their confidence are the ones who weren’t even strong enough to work and help strengthen our economy. As a result immigration shouldn’t be restricted. Just the number of immigrants entering and leaving should be paid close attention to. Just think about it, is it wrong to say â€Å"no† to people wanting a better life for themselves and their families

Maintenance and Reversal of Anaesthesia Essay Example

Maintenance and Reversal of Anaesthesia Essay Example Maintenance and Reversal of Anaesthesia Essay Maintenance and Reversal of Anaesthesia Essay Maintenance and reversal of General Anaesthesia Effects of IV drugs used for induction of anaesthesia wears off after a few minutes and unconsciousness must still be maintained. This is achieved either through inhalational anaesthesia or IV infusion of a drug. i) Inhalational Anaesthesia Patient must receive a sufficient concentration of oxygen to prevent hypoxia, sufficient concentration of anaesthetic drug to ensure consciousness and sufficient flow of fresh gases to prevent hypercarbia. The anaesthetic drug used is maintained at an appropriate end-tidal concentration depending upon the patient, the surgical stimulus and concurrent use of analgesic drugs. In spontaneously breathing patients, inadequate anaesthesia for the intensity of the surgical stimulus results in an increased respiratory rate, reflex activity, increase in heart rate and blood pressure. This results in an increment of the anaesthetic drug concentration. In patients who are given neuromuscular blocking drugs and is ventilated, anaesthetists must anticipate the need for changes in the depth of anaesthesia as there might be a possibility that the depth of anaesthesia is inadequate and the patient is aware but unable to communicate this. ii) TIVA using propofol In this technique, appropriate brain concentration of propofol must be achieved and maintained to prevent awareness and respond to the surgery. This is done by giving the usual IV induction dose, followed by maintenance using a microprocessor controlled infusion pump. This is more reliable as it calculates the rate of infusion required to achieve a constant plasma concentration. Propofol can be used alone but it is always combined with IV opioids to prevent cardiovascular side-effects. Advantages of TIVA is the toxic effect of inhalational anaesthetics are avoided and better quality of recovery is claimed. Disadvantage is it may cause profound hypotension. Reversal of General Anaesthesia The two main priorities of reversal is the recovery of consciousness and maintenance of a patent airway. After surgery, the vapourizer will be turned off to eliminate the inhaled anaesthetic. If a circle system is used, then to speed up elimination of the anaesthetic, flow of oxygen is increased up to 10-15 L/min. There are two options in removing the ventilator is: a) Removing the tube while unconscious but there will be a high risk of gastric aspiration and may result in airway obstruction. ) Leaving the tube in place and wait for the patient to become fully conscious and remove it and quickly give oxygen supply to prevent hypoxic state. If necessary, before removing the tube, neostigmine can be given along with glycopyrrolate. This is to antagonize the effect of neuromuscular block given and block the unwanted muscarinic effects of neostigmine. The aim is to restore spontaneous ventilation before removal of the tracheal tube.

3 Cases of Insufficient Punctuation

3 Cases of Insufficient Punctuation 3 Cases of Insufficient Punctuation 3 Cases of Insufficient Punctuation By Mark Nichol Each of the following sentences is compromised by the lack of one or two punctuation marks, resulting in a potential for confusion among readers. Discussion following each example explains the flaw, and a revision demonstrates clearer sentence composition. 1. Move over millennials- this group is taking over the rental market. The imperative â€Å"move over,† followed by a word identifying who is to act according to the imperative to step aside, reads as if an unspecified audience is being told to change their location at a position above a certain demographic group. When a sentence begins with a directive and a modifier, separate the two sentence elements with a comma: â€Å"Move over, millennials- this group is taking over the rental market.† 2. This paper introduces a methodology based on industry-accepted frameworks that details all the steps firms need to take to conduct a comprehensive and compliant risk assessment. Here, the lack of agreement between frameworks and details signals that the verb does not apply to the noun, but their proximity still introduces a signal-to-noise obstacle, which would be amplified if the noun and verb did agree. To clarify that details pertains to methodology, not frameworks, bracket the modifying phrase â€Å"based on industry-accepted frameworks† with commas: â€Å"This paper introduces a methodology, based on industry-accepted frameworks, that details all the steps firms need to take to conduct a comprehensive and compliant risk assessment.† 3. Distribution and routes to market can be helped by implementing an automated digital portal although this is a bit more complex since it can have an impact on commission. This breathlessly barreling sentence benefits from a couple of inserted commas to signal nested subordinate clauses- the phrase beginning with since is subordinate to the one beginning with although, which in turn is subordinate to the main clause: â€Å"Distribution and routes to market can be helped by implementing an automated digital portal, although this is a bit more complex, since it can have an impact on commission.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Types of RhymeOne Sheep, Two Sheep, One Fish, Two Fish . . .Woof or Weft?

Explain the scientific method and scientism. What are the criticisms Essay

Explain the scientific method and scientism. What are the criticisms of scientism Are they effectrive - Essay Example Scientism, therefore, involves having the strong perception and belief in sciences and its outcomes. This paper seeks to discuss scientism basing on the critiques of the scientific method. Scientism gets the definition by critiques as a provisional worldview based on the realism of the universe and its significance. Most critiques argue that scientism seeks to derail humanity through questioning the boundaries about nature that science has already created (Black, 2009). This, in an example, means that although there exists many and different species of human in the globe, scientism focuses on their beliefs. It is in this respect, an individual can presume that scientism is focused on restricting human inquiry. Scientism, therefore, does not consider the improvement of live through science but rather question the idea of life itself (Margolis, 2003). Other critiques, moreover, put forward that even science itself cannot critique any aspects of the philosophy of scientism. This develops after one accepts that it is only through science that man gains knowledge. Summarily, these critiques of scientism are effective since they point out how the philosophy of scientism limits human inquiry. This means that when one shares the perspectives of scientism, they cannot have the zeal for further inquiry about

The Process of Benchmarking Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Process of Benchmarking - Term Paper Example The purpose of this paper is to examine how the process of benchmarking is important in financial decision making. An online quantitative research study of Jackson Health Care title Nurses downtime 2011 survey elucidates various aspects of benchmarking. This survey offers information that can be used by other organizations for comparison. Factors for comparison outlined in this survey include time spent in indirect care, issues that affect bedside nurse, recommendations on how to increase time spent on patients bedsides, job satisfaction among nurses, and ways to improve job satisfaction. Jackson Health Care has implemented strategies to improve these areas between 2009 and 2011and hence offers a credible basis for comparison. This article informed my understanding of benchmarking in that inequalities in relation to performance gaps are prevalent in healthcare and identifying these variances can help align processes in low performing institutions with those in organizations that perform highly. Subsequently, this article informed my understanding in that benchmarking can either be internal or external. External benchmarking is what is denoted as comparing the processes of an institution with another. Benchmarking involves the creation of specific objectives that ought to be achieved in a healthcare organization to achieve high levels of performance. In my organization, benchmarking can be used to assess the existing strategies under implementation and as mentioned earlier, compare them with those in other similar organizations. During this process, financial data relating to other organizations are collected and analyzed. It is only through this process that what needs to be done to improve performance in terms of finances can be identified and achieved in my organization. As Baker and Baker (2014) points out, "Benchmarking is used for opportunity assessment" (p. 220). In other words, benchmarking can help my organization to identify opportunities and

The Roots and Origins of Islamic Terrorism Essay Example for Free

The Roots and Origins of Islamic Terrorism Essay Since the 1970s terrorism against the US has been growing and on September 11th it became apparent that terrorism will be a major problem the US will face in the years ahead. The question this essay seeks to explore is: what is terrorism and what are some the causes of this anti-US terrorism? In order to find the causes of anti-US terrorism, this essay will research various academic works in an effort to find some explanations of what causes anti-US terrorism. I will examine a couple different hypothesis that try to explain the causes of terrorism, but my research I plan to argue that anti-US terrorism is rooted in political and social movements by angry Islamic fundamentalists who believe using non-conventional tactics are the most rational way to fight the US and the western powers. Terrorist groups, such as Al-Qaeda, do not see diplomacy with the US as an option to voice their demands because they see the US as a superpower that is unwilling to listen to their demands and also because most of the Arab governments are friends with the US. Because diplomacy is not an available option and there is an inability to formally fight the west militarily, terrorists groups have chosen to use non-traditional tactics to fight the west. Research into this issue is very important for political research because terrorism has become a major security issue for the US and other countries around the world. Also, research into the causes of terrorism is important because it is a tactic that non-state actors can and will be using the years ahead as a form of leverage against the US and the West. In my conclusion I will present some possible solutions how terrorism can hopefully be stopped in the future. Defining terrorism as one definite thing is not an easy task, but generally terrorism is considered to be non-conventional form of warfare that individuals or groups can use to fight for their agenda, whether it is a political, social, religious and/or economic cause. Terrorists use many non-conventional ways of fighting such as car bombs, keeping people hostage, and in some cases hijacking air planes. As a ‘weapon of the weak’, terrorism is deployed by groups to gain media attention and visibility as the first step in gaining ‘name recognition’ within the international community. (Nacos 1994). Through the publicity generated by their violence, terrorists seek to obtain the leverage, influence and power they otherwise lack to create political change on either a local or an international scale. The traditional laws of war do not apply  to terrorism, partly because terrorist groups do not abide to treaties on war, and also because terrorist groups use fear as their form of leverage, which is why it is okay for them to kill innocent people. In cases of groups such as Al-Qaeda killing innocent people is not considered a bad thing because to them there is a religious justification. Power has always played a crucial role in the international system and based on this principle we can believe that the struggle for power has a major influence on the decision of terrorist groups to commit acts of terrorism. (Sobeck Braithwaite 2005) In a study by David Sobek and Alex Braithwaite the two researchers hypothesize that as political, military, and diplomatic capabilities become concent rated into American and allied hands, the amount of terrorism directed against Americas interests will increase as a way to counter balance this power. Because terrorists are non-state actors they do not have access to conventional forms of fighting or the diplomatic channels that states use to resolve their disputes, they must use non-conventional forms of fighting. The choice to employ terrorist activities arises rationally from the environmental context within which these groups find themselves in, in that terrorism is the most cost-effective way for the terrorists to accomplish their goals. (Ajami 2001) The United States’ predominant position in the world affects the decision of terrorist groups to launch terrorist attacks against US interests internationally. As the United States becomes increasingly dominant, the amount of terrorism directed against it is likely to increase. Terrorism is seen by the terrorists as a counter-balancing mechanism. (Sobeck Braithwaite 2005) Increasing American dominance limits the ability of groups with revisionist views of the international system, such as that of the Palestinians, to be h eard, let alone changed. (Sobeck Braithwaite 2005) The options available for these groups to act are diplomacy, perhaps through a NGO or their home state if they are willing to listen, or terrorism, which is intended to create an instant response (Most Starr, 1989) From these choices, terrorist groups choose strategies that they see as rational that will maximize their expected outcome. (Sobeck Braithwaite 2005) This means that the decision to engage in terrorism relates directly to the expected efficacy of an action and the likely payoffs received if it is successful. For example the terrorist activities of 9/11 cost Al-Qaeda roughly 400,000  dollars and nineteen lives were lost in the process, but the outcome of causing thousands of deaths, several billion dollars of damage, and most importantly creating fear in the minds of millions of people world-wide was a very ‘cost-effective’ decision by Al-Qaeda to put world spotlight on their anti-US position. (Sobeck Braithwaite 2005) The desire to counter-balance the US and west and remove from the Middle East a long with belief that it possible has caused the creation of many terrorist groups since the 1970s. This anti-western feeling had been around for a long time, but the creation of Israel and the growing amount of western influence in the region really sparked terrorist movements in this time period. Groups such as Hezbollah, a Lebanese group that has been around since the 1980s, have realized that using non-conventional warfare, such as blowing up the US Embassy in Beirut, can be a way to fight and neutralize the conventional military superiority of a superpower. (Cannistraro and Giraldi 2007) This action seemed to be a victory for Hezbollah as US and French forces withdrew from the country after the bombing. This act of removing western countries using terrorism inspired other terrorist groups to try to fight Western influence in their home countries and to fight western countries in their homeland as see n by the attacks of 9/11 and the bombings in Madrid. It is a common misperception that terrorists are insane and not rational actors because they use tactics such as suicide, but this is not necessarily the case. Marc Sageman, a former CIA officer, studied the rationality of terrorists and found that the popular depictions of brainwashed or poor and uneducated terrorists are generally not true. He profiled 382 terrorists and his work reveals that terrorists are more likely to be normal, well-educated types with families and good professional-level jobs. (Sageman 2002) Most are middle or upper class and not poor, young, single, and/or deluded. (Sageman 2002) Only a small percentage had any religious education, and many, more than 70 percent, had some university education. (Sageman 2002) Sageman concluded that Al Qaeda and its associated groups are generally composed of men who are very well educated, well off, and stable. According to Vincent Cannistraro and Philip Giraldi terrorists act as they  do not because they are crazy but beca use they believe what they do will bring about change to the global political status quo. Terrorists see terrorism as a way to create power where there is none or to consolidate power where there is very little. (Hoffman 1998) For the global Salafist terrorists, the objective is to put an end to corrupt Arab regimes, replacing them with theocracies, and to bring and end to western influence from Muslim lands. For the regionally based groups such as Hamas, the purpose of terrorism is national liberation from occupying powers e.g. Israel. (Cannistraro and Giraldi 2007) It can also be argued that even though acts of terrorism are universally condemned, they stimulate media coverage of an issue and provide an opening for moderate organizations to ask the public to consider the legitimacy of what the terrorists are fighting for as a separate issue from the tactics the groups use i.e. it can be argued that the terrorism in Israel has increased awareness of poor conditions of the Palestinian people. (Adamson) Along with being a political movement, terrorism has now also become a sociological phenomenon in parts of the Muslim world and in the west. In parts of the Middle East terrorists groups begin to form when members of the society feel upset with their home government for working with the US or other reasons that make them feel outcast i.e. economic reasons, feeling less dignified than people of the west, etc. It usually takes a charismatic leader to take the frustration of the many outcast people and channel it into a movement. In the words of Eric Hoffer, it is usually â€Å"an externalizing hatemongering leader† who â€Å"manipulates the slime of discontented souls.† (Hoffer 1989) Terrorist group leaders, such as Osama Bin Laden, are considered to be a therapist for the group and they blame an external cause for their difficulties of the group and righteously justify aggression against the believed source i.e. the US. (Robins Post, 1997). Once members are recruited in to these groups, there is a clear fusing of individual identity and group identity, particularly among the more radical elements of each organization. This is true both for the Islamist terrorists of Hamas as well as Al Qaeda and the global Salafi jihad. (Post 2005) For members of these terrorist groups ‘success’ within the community is defined as fighting for ‘the cause,’ which can be thought of as political, social,  and religious growth of the groups beliefs. As young men adopt this view of success, their own self image becomes more intimately intertwined with the success of the organization. (Post 2005) With no other means to achieve status and ‘success,’ the organization’s success becomes central to individual identity and provides a â€Å"reason for living† for group members. (Post 2005) As an individual’s identity succumbs to the organization, there is no room for individuality, meaning no individual ideas, identity, and decision-making. At the same time self-perceived success becomes more and more linked to the organization This creates a cycle where group members have a direct need to increase the power and prestige of the group through increasingly dramatic and violent operations because this will increase their own perceived ‘success’ (Post 2005) This fusion with the group seems to provide the necessary justification for their actions and loss of responsibility to the individual. Guilt or remorse by the individual is not tolerated because the organization does not express it. This is intensified among Islamist groups who feel they have a moral obligation to the cause and a religiously sanctioned justification for their actions e.g. Jihad (Post 2005). In Europe and in the US terrorist groups have formed from a different social phenomenon. When Marc Sageman did his detailed study on 382 terrorists, he found some interesting information about the origins of many Al-Qaeda terrorists. Sageman found that the average al Qaeda–type terrorist has traveled, frequently studied in the West, and that many terrorists developed their radicalism while they were studying or working in the West. (Sageman 2002) He discovered that most terrorists entered into the jihadi cause from the bottom up, meaning that they volunteered and were not actively recruited. Sageman explains that these terrorists frequently drifted into radical mosques as an act of cultural assertion, often because they felt homesick or alienated from the dominant Western culture. Once there, they joined cliques or friendship groups of the like-minded people also searching for a new identity. (Sageman 2002) According to Sageman, â€Å"The groups are characterized by a sense of anomie, their social and political alienation eventually being attributed to the decadence, corruption, and immorality of the West.† The next step for these outcast individuals is to  join an organization that is doing something to combat and roll back the western values. Sageman concluded from his study that it is the â€Å"alienation arising from the misguided multiculturalism that treats Muslims like a group needing to be protected that creates its own sense of victimization.† (Sageman 2002) Another explanation that some might give to explain terrorism is that it is a psychological disorder that is caused by a pneumopathological consciousness that involves the construction of an imaginative â€Å"second reality† where terrorism has intended and magical effects. (Cooper 2005) This belief that terrorism is caused by a second reality says when individuals, who out of necessity exist within commonsensical or â€Å"first† reality attempt to live within the imaginative or fantasy-based second reality and characteristic frictions between the two arise. With respect to modern terrorism, the chief conflicts are between religious or spiritual realities and their symbolization and the realities of unfavorable living conditions in the Middle East relative to countries of the West. The tension between the first and second reality is brought to life by the perverse logic of this second reality that interprets murder as self-sacrifice according to this theory. (Cooper 200 5) No matter how pragmatically destructive these acts of political violence may be in commonsense terms, for the people existing imaginatively within a second reality, they â€Å"are sanitized by virtue of the fact that they are religiously symbolic. They are stripped of their horror by being invested with religious meaning.† (Juergensmeyer 1996) Of the different academic works I have looked into, this theory that terrorism is caused by a psychological disorder seems to be the least plausible. The problem with the theory is that it is not possible to test the psychological dysfunctions of the terrorists partly because of an internal belief in this theory that the terrorists are able to live in the ‘first reality.’ Also since other researchers such as Marc Sageman have done case studies that show that terrorists are rational and normal people, there is strong evidence that contradicts this theory. This theory does not take into account the strong evidence put forth by the other works I have  researched that convincingly explain how terrorism is a rational way for the terrorists to fight the west of social and political reasons. While it is true that some terrorists groups are fighting in the name of religion, most terrorists groups have used religion as a justification and cover up for doing violent acts that are politically and socially motivated. Overall, this belief that terrorism is caused by a pneumopathological consciousness does little in supporting my hypothesis. Some of the articles I read gave me support for my hypothesis that terrorism is caused by political and social forces. â€Å"The Long War† by Vincent Cannistraro and Philip Giraldi was one of the articles that supported my hypothesis. The general theme of the article was that social alienation from the West, revenge for previous blood debt, a desire to put an end to corrupt Arab regimes and replace them with theocracies along with bringing about a retreat of the West, particularly the United States, from Muslim lands is what causes terrorism. Also â€Å"Victim of Success† by David Sobeck and Alex Braithwaite supported my hypothesis because it explained terrorism as political maneuver by groups like Al Qaeda to counter balance the military and political superiority of the US. An article that supported my notion that terrorism also has social motivations was the case study of terrorists my Marc Sageman, which explain how social alienation by Muslims living in the west cau ses these groups to feel hatred toward the west and act on their feelings. With a better understanding of the political and social causes of terrorism better efforts should be made by US foreign policy makers to tackle these root causes. It will be difficult to stop Muslim extremists from feeling outcast from their home governments, but better efforts need to be made by people living in the west to understand Islam and the problems Muslims in the Middle East face. Also people in the west need to do a better job of helping Muslims living in the west to assimilate into western society so they do not feel social alienation. A lot of this social tension between Muslims and the west can possibly be fixed with better education of Islam in schools and less negative depictions of Muslims and the Middle East in the media. The political causes of terrorism will be a little bit more difficult to fix. It is not likely that the US will lessen its power, but the US could try to do more to change its policy that affects the millions of Muslims living in the Middle East. First, the US should stop this double-standard of promoting peace in Isreal, while at the same time giving full support militarily and economically to the Israeli government, which doing very little to help the Palestinians. Next, the US should try to stop supporting Arab governments which are very oppressive towards their people. Although it is unlikely, the US and US companies should try to reduce their presence in the Middle East because we are clearly not welcome and many of the people living in the area think we are exploiting them while also corrupting their way of life with our more liberal social values. Also what the US should do to help stop terrorism is to increase the legitimacy of using diplomacy in the region because doing so would make terrorism not the most rational option for these angry groups. The implications of US foreign policy in the Middle East are very important if we want to see terrorism come to an end. It is unfortunate that the Islamic fundamentalists had to resort to using terrorism to fight for their political and social causes, but if the US does more to understand their needs and frustrations of these peoples and also act on this information, then hopefully we will see an the end of this era of terrorism. References: Adamson, Fiona B. (2005). Globalization, Transnational Political Mobilization, and Networks of Violence. Cambridge Review of International Affairs, retrieved November 5, 2007, From Academic Search Premier database Ajami, F. (2001). The Uneasy Imperium: Pax Americana in the Middle East. How did this happen? Terrorism and the new war. Public Affairs Reports, Retrieved November 11, 2007, from Academic Search Premier database Cannistraro,Vincent; Giraldi,Philip.(2007). The Long War Mediterranean Q., (Duke University Press) Retrieved November 5, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Cooper, Barry. (2005). Terrorism and Globalization. Perspectives on Global Development and Technology. Retrieved November 5, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Hoffer, E. (1989). The true believer: Thoughts on the nature of mass movements. Harper and Rowe Perennial Library. Retrieved November 5, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Juergensmeyer, Mark (1996) The Worldwide Rise of Religious Nationalism. Journal of International Affairs. Retrieved November 5, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Most, B. and Starr, H. (1989). Inquiry, logic, and international politics. University of South Carolina Press. Retrieved November 11, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Nacos, B. (1994). Terrorism and the Media: From the Iran Hostage Crisis to the Oklahoma City Bombing. Columbia University Press. Retrieved November 5, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Post,Jerrold M. (2005). When Hatred Is Bred in the Bone: Psycho-Cultural Foundations of Contemporary Terrorism. Polit.Psychol. Retrieved November 5, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Robins, R Post, J (1997). Political paranoia: The psychopolitics of hatred. New Haven: Yale University Press. Retrieved November 11, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Sageman, Marc. (2002). Understanding Terror Networks. University of Pennsylvania Press. Retrieved November 5, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Sobek,David Braithwaite,Alex (2005). Victim of Success: American Dominance and Terrorism. Conflict Management and Peace Science. Department of Political Science, Louisiana State University Department of Political Science, Pennsylvania State University Retrieved November 11 2007, From Academic Search Premier database

Thomas Pynchons Mason & Dixon and Gravitys Rainbow :: Mason Dixon

Thomas Pynchon's Mason & Dixon and Gravity's Rainbow ....."Snow-Balls have flown their Arcs..." These words begin the wondrous passage that introduces us to the world of Thomas Pynchon's latest masterpiece, Mason & Dixon. In an obvious parody of "A screaming comes across the sky," the opening of Gravity's Rainbow, Pynchon sets the mood and pace for the rest of the novel. In contrast to the mindless pleasures, hopeless desperation, and ubiquitous death that dominate virtually every page of his apocalyptic earlier work, this novel begins with a joyful snowball fight between children on the streets of eighteenth-century Philadelphia. Indeed, the rest of the novel generally maintains this playful and happy tone. Unlike the sexually disturbed and socially displaced isolates that make up Pynchon's cast of prior heroes (or more aptly "anti-heroes"), the book focuses on the relationship of two normal men, Jeremiah Dixon and Charles Mason, who form an incredible bond of friendship. Needless to say, this has lead critics to wonder precisely what has happened to Pynchon in the last twenty years. Has marriage softened the author? Is this a "kinder, gentler" Pynchon for the nineties? To some extent, the fact that critics are still scrambling to explain the extreme differences between his previous work and Mason & Dixon may explain the relative paucity of literary criticism available on the new book to date. .....I would like to take a small first step towards a better understanding of Mason & Dixon by considering Pynchon's conception of history, a theme which is crucial to both it and Gravity's Rainbow. In spite of all the differences, Mason & Dixon remains a scathing indictment of conventional history as true to Pynchon as any of his other works. Furthermore, beyond setting the mood and providing self-parody, the opening is the first of many passages which both link the book to Gravity's Rainbow, and suggest that beneath the happy surface of the novel lie omens of a bleak future. In this context, Mason & Dixon can be read as a meditation on the era in which the technology, philosophy, politics, and economics that plague the twentieth century were just being conceived. For Pynchon, modern history has a destructive trajectory like that of a rocket, a path that begins around the time Mason and Dixon are working on their line, and ends in the nightmarish world of Gravity's Rainbow. .....Despite the fact that most of Pynchon's views remain a matter of constant debate in literary circles, scholars of Gravity's Rainbow seem to agree that Pynchon views history with a harshly skeptical postmodern eye. Thomas Pynchon's Mason & Dixon and Gravity's Rainbow :: Mason Dixon Thomas Pynchon's Mason & Dixon and Gravity's Rainbow ....."Snow-Balls have flown their Arcs..." These words begin the wondrous passage that introduces us to the world of Thomas Pynchon's latest masterpiece, Mason & Dixon. In an obvious parody of "A screaming comes across the sky," the opening of Gravity's Rainbow, Pynchon sets the mood and pace for the rest of the novel. In contrast to the mindless pleasures, hopeless desperation, and ubiquitous death that dominate virtually every page of his apocalyptic earlier work, this novel begins with a joyful snowball fight between children on the streets of eighteenth-century Philadelphia. Indeed, the rest of the novel generally maintains this playful and happy tone. Unlike the sexually disturbed and socially displaced isolates that make up Pynchon's cast of prior heroes (or more aptly "anti-heroes"), the book focuses on the relationship of two normal men, Jeremiah Dixon and Charles Mason, who form an incredible bond of friendship. Needless to say, this has lead critics to wonder precisely what has happened to Pynchon in the last twenty years. Has marriage softened the author? Is this a "kinder, gentler" Pynchon for the nineties? To some extent, the fact that critics are still scrambling to explain the extreme differences between his previous work and Mason & Dixon may explain the relative paucity of literary criticism available on the new book to date. .....I would like to take a small first step towards a better understanding of Mason & Dixon by considering Pynchon's conception of history, a theme which is crucial to both it and Gravity's Rainbow. In spite of all the differences, Mason & Dixon remains a scathing indictment of conventional history as true to Pynchon as any of his other works. Furthermore, beyond setting the mood and providing self-parody, the opening is the first of many passages which both link the book to Gravity's Rainbow, and suggest that beneath the happy surface of the novel lie omens of a bleak future. In this context, Mason & Dixon can be read as a meditation on the era in which the technology, philosophy, politics, and economics that plague the twentieth century were just being conceived. For Pynchon, modern history has a destructive trajectory like that of a rocket, a path that begins around the time Mason and Dixon are working on their line, and ends in the nightmarish world of Gravity's Rainbow. .....Despite the fact that most of Pynchon's views remain a matter of constant debate in literary circles, scholars of Gravity's Rainbow seem to agree that Pynchon views history with a harshly skeptical postmodern eye.

The Silicon Valley Technology

The Silicon Valley Technology simulation created a good opportunity for me to observe situations and expectation under a corporate environment. Through interactions with other managers and executives, I had experienced many issues regarding business operation and management that were mentioned in the class. I would like to share what I observed, encountered, and applied into four main topics: interpersonal communication, relationship management, influencing people, and decision-making process. Interpersonal communication technique played a crucial role in the SVT simulation. As a Director of Advanced Product, I had to report to the vice president and also pass information to other directors and managers. Our division worked closely because all of us knew each other from the same class. That basic trust was built quickly during the early stage of development. The Vice President of Advance Product made sure everyone’s voice and concern were included into every discussion to reduce blind spots. For example, I had a request to set aside at least 21 million dollars to fully develop the video products. The VP asked the Director of Product Development if she had the same budget plan or related concerns. This way, we could allocate the budget efficiently to prevent double-spending. We also set a basic norm to focus and respond appropriately when others were sharing important information. This active listening will help others to gain clear understanding of the situation, so I can take responsible actions. When I talked to the product managers about the shipping schedule, I would let them finish their talk first and try to suspend my judgments, and then repeat what I have heard to ensure correctness and share my point of views. What I observed was the way I received messages through multiple channels, the facial expressions, gestures and non-verbal language to clearly understand their points. Although our group communication was truly informative and supportive, I am aware of spending a lot of times in prioritizing the issues and exchanging information to the extent that I ran out of the time to come up with possible alternatives and had to make decisions hastily. What I could have done better was to avoid ambiguous communication and emotional involvement. When I suggested hiring new sales forces and establishing international offices in Europe, I did not provide a clear answer or data to support my ideas. When our discussion became heated, I felt that the greater the emotional involvement, the greater the likelihood of distortion. If I could eliminate these communication issues, I could have allocated more quality time to make better decisions and received fewer complaints about the deadline. Management of Relationship is one of the key functions in the SVT simulation. There were several situations where I had applied what I learned from the case study â€Å"Managing Your Boss. Even though everyone in our division knew each other already, I had no clues about their preferred working styles. It took me some times to figure them out. My VP was very energetic with a get-it-done attitude, but she intended to interrupt the discussions and instructed us to get to the main points directly. The other product manager was very down to earth and a detail-oriented person. For example, when I spoke to the VP about our target estimate for video products, I used bulleted points and data, such as the focus on global market expansion, hiring qualified sale engineers, and budget allocations. On the other hand, since the product manager is more detail-oriented, I would cover information in depth whenever possible. Thus, understanding your boss and peers would definitely enhance the efficiency. I also had experienced a paradox of information flow in two different directions. I usually received a lot of information from my region sale forces and supplied to my VP to make decisions. The upward flow of information, which was adapted by the VP, was a standard norm in Advance Product division. Besides, I could report both good news and negative surprises. When the level went up to the president and vice presidents, the flow of information went downward. There seemed to be much information was related to Advance Product but only known by the top management. When it comes to gaining supports from top management under Silicon Valley Technology, the best way to do it was through influencing people. For instance, in order to reduce employee turnovers and shipping costs, the production director and I tried to relocate the manufacturing factory to Indiana. However, unless there would be an additional budget and an action plan approved from the top management, this plan wouldn’t work out. Therefore, I went to the corporate library to look up the forecast of future regional sale growth and the shipment schedule predictions. I implemented influence tactic by persuading the VP with a complete budget plan and forecasts through an adequate levels of communication. The VP also chose the correct combination of influence tactics such as ingratiation and a rational plan for the president to be nfluenced. Finally, the committee meeting granted our request to include sufficient funds in the next year annual budget. What I observed was that the persuasion went smoothly because it was a simulation; there were not many arguments and push backs. It will not be as easy in real world settings. In addition, the another way to influence people was developing a network of resourceful people whom can be called upon for assistance, such as the special project manager who was in charge of the strategic planning for the future of the company. With deadlines in mind, the timeliness of decision making process became relatively important in SVT simulation. As a director, I have many decisions to make between my regional sales teams and international salespeople. Many of these decisions are programmed decisions, which are repetitive and routine. A routine procedure has been developed for handling them, such as a request from my Northwestern Sales Office to have rewards to celebrate the success of getting the biggest order from NorCal Power. In this case, I would follow the recognition policy to give them rewards. However, most decisions are non-programmed not only in SVT simulation, but also in the real world situations. These decisions were required by unique and complex management problems and were consisted of a complete process including a clear objective, resource allocations, time management and so on. In our first meeting of Advance Product with the VP, the product development directors and product managers, the VP urgently informed us that Flemming Inc. ould like to partner with AP to expand its market in Europe and a division decision was due before the committee meeting in 45 minutes. Under this time pressure, we quickly established specific goals, using this opportunity to increase market presence in Europe and to test out international markets of new home video products. We also identified problems that Flemming Inc. might steal our technology because SVT was mainly responsible for the R&D, not marketing and sales. It might delay our own R&D process since this partnership would receive most of the resources. Thirdly, although the VP was patient to include our voices and ideas, we spent a lot of time prioritizing issues and doing cost/benefit analysis to come up with only a few alternatives, such as asking Flemming Inc. to include our brand name on the future products, and increase our forecast revenue to almost double by 40%. But In the end of the discussion, we ran out the time to evaluate the alternatives and decision was made by the VP hastily since she had to go to the meeting and had the final say. After the VP left for the meeting, I reflected on our decision making process, which was inefficient in term of pre-work and time management. First, in the beginning, I did not have any information about Flemming Inc. since the information was from our President to only the VP as an urgent matter. Second, when the meeting was called, I was not informed of the agenda that would be discussed. As a result of that, time management generated the most impact on the decision making process. This could be improved by setting up a clear agenda before the meeting, obtaining extra information from the corporate library, and working out the cost-benefit analysis. These improvements would bring us to a reasonable expectation on what we were trying to achieve and would not waste time to brainstorm the pro and con during the meeting. Instead, the time we spent could work on evaluating the alternatives and choosing one. Eventually, we could have more time to make a group decision rather than relying on one person’s decision. Although there were many mistakes and learning opportunities during the decision making process, I was glad to have the managers and peers who were willing to listen and accept everyone’s ideas so we could quickly establish specific goals and identify the problems. Through the SVT simulation, it was a great experience for me because I had never worked in a corporate environment so I was impressed what I observed and experienced. Although the time wasn’t enough for me to apply what I have learned from the class, I could tell the importance of interpersonal communication and relationship management that. These techniques would definitely help me sharp my tactics of influencing people and then apply to the decision making process.

Managers

INTRODUCTIONManagers are one of the most important elements for an organization to be successful. Sometimes we refer them as the brains of an organization. They are the ones directing and controlling the works and staff of a department or an organization. They are vital in the states of affairs of an organization. How they perform and deal with people around them contributes to the welfare of the whole organization.It is very important to know that each manager knows his role and how to make it well. It is in their handling of work and how they deal with people around them that brings great significance to the success of their organization. They are very much the key to a successful organization. They are the criteria in which an organization ought to have success.  In this paper, we will try to unravel the responsibilities and functions of a manger. May this paper be a guide to all managers working in an organization.ROLE OF MANAGERSA manager must be well versed regarding the syst em of the organization he is working and he must convey to his people all matters regarding the system. It is important that the mangers have the knowledge of the system. He must relay such information to his people so that his people will know the flow of the system of the organization. A manager educates his people on the structure of the organization. A manager must also give emphasis on the work of their unit and the contributions it will give to the welfare of the whole organization.The knowledge of the group regarding their function is then vital in their performance and to the organization’s success. Educating his people regarding the system of the organization and the function of their unit must be the first focus of a manager. It is in this dissemination of information that shapes what and how the unit can contribute to the whole organization. A manager must always banner this state of mastery regarding the organization for him to function well and to be able to educ ate well his people.Managers must also inculcate to his people their value as a component of the system. This is very important in an organization in order for the employees to know their worth to the entire system. Employees need to know this thing because the idea of value plays a vital role in the performance in working in the system. When employees know their value, they are most likely to be inspired in working. The presence of value makes employees really connected to the system. This will enable them to see themselves as important parts of the whole system.Employees finding their value to the system of the organization will bring about the idea of being one with the system. This idea is a very powerful factor in the performance of employees. This makes them one with the system and will make them appreciate that what they will do will contribute to the welfare of the whole system and if they do well, the system’s success will also be their own success and vice versa. To inform the employees and make them appreciate their value to the system is one of the roles of the manager.A manager must also understand that his employees are different from each other. A manager must see every employee’s background (family, education, skills, abilities, etc.). This is not an act of ranking each employee but this is an act of looking at each of them and tries to discover and organize plan on how they will gel and complement each other. The manager must try to put each and every employee to a position where they can contribute to the organization as a whole.This role of the manager is very vital because it enables him to facilitate plans that would be so much beneficial to the organization’s welfare. Team work leads to success and how a manager puts together diverse people will be key to success. This is an art that a manager will have to master. This is like putting together a puzzle, a puzzle that leads to success.A manager loves learning. He is al ways open to growth and development in learning. This openness to growth and development is not only limited to his own self but also to his members and employees. A manager must provide a good learning condition not only for himself but also to his employees. He encourages education for those who have deficiencies in educational attainment. He also provides seminars and courses to his people for the advancement of learning such as personality development seminars, leadership seminars and the likes.Openness to learning is an act of adapting to the changing world. Knowledge always evolves and thus people must also adapt to its evolution. People’s minds are also dynamic and thus needs to be catered by new trainings and seminars. This is one great manifestation of a good manager, a manager that is in constant search for new ideas and methods, a practice that a manager must always look forward and do.A manager must understand a stable system and the interaction of people and the circumstances that work in. Performances of everyone depend on a stable system. When coaching an employee or correcting a mistake, it must be in a good manner that does not distract employee’s attention to work. It must come from an orderly manner and must not be an insult to the employee. AS good working atmosphere must always be in the mind of a manager and must not do away from it.Lessons will always take its effects in a manner of good coaching. People will always take suggestions for growth and development if it comes from a professional and even brotherly manner. Managers must not be the menace of the workplace instead and avenue to freely express one’s self and grow. This is very important in a manager’s role in an organization, a manager that makes learning easy and not a personal attack to someone.A manager must not rely always on authority of office. This means that he does not rely on power and does not use power to manipulate employees. Power creates difficulties for employees to work with. It sometimes makes employees feel that they are lesser persons than the manager. They at times lose the will to persevere in every endeavor when subjected to power and thus losses the will to do their job well.A manager must use knowledge in persuading an employee to a particular task. His personality as knowledgeable and open person will make an employee at ease in different situations. If an employee is at ease, this will then pave way to a more constructive learning process between an employee and a manager. Both feel something good in learning and both will then work hard and support each other in the organization’s aims.A manager must always study results of performances not only his own performance but the performances of his people. This is again an important task to do. This entails that a manager must always look not only to his accomplishments but also to the accomplishments and performance of his people. A manager must look if he had an employee that needs help. It is van inevitable part of an organization that someone will commit mistakes. If someone commits a mistake, that someone surely needs help. Help may come from simple things such as just rearranging tasks that somehow is too burdening to the employee or by just giving more explanation regarding the task involve.A manager must create trust to his employees. This presupposes an environment of freedom and innovation. Given that a manager must have trust to his people, this will then give way for his people to have confidence in themselves. This confidence will now give them an opportunity to innovate and create for the organization on what they deem important and vital for its success. Employees can now be part of the whole brain that runs an organization. This will not only lead to growth of every employee but also to the organization as a whole.A manager must not demand and expect perfection from his people. No one is perfect in this world and no employee can give a perfect accomplishment. A manger must understand this reality so that he can truly relate in good manner with his people. This is also an avenue to a more helping and cooperative way of doing work because everyone knows that they are not perfect and they need each other for them to achieve the goal of the organization as a whole.A manager must always listen and must always be objective in listening. In times of conflicts, managers will hear feedbacks from his people and it may contain degrading words for others employees. He must not judge instantly and must not take everything to be correct. His judgment on a certain matter must always be coupled with rational thinking. In this state, the organization will have a better inter human relationship that will always be key to success.A manager must also be engaged in informal conversations with his people not to judge them but just giving time to listen to them. This will promote a closer and free relationship be tween him and his people. This will also enable the manager to know his people’s plans and feelings and are vital to his decision making. This is a must for a manager for him not only to be able to be in a good relationship to his people but also in learning more about them because some of his people will work for a long time with him and good relationship is very much imperative. This will make them create better teamwork.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A manager must also know the benefits and losses that an organization may get from competition between employees and groups. Competition will always be present in an organization. This is a ubiquitous reality. It is important that a manager will know its effects, positive or negative. With this knowledge, the manager can easily make adjustments and comments if one competition is not fruitful. It is also important that a manager will always remind employees of sportsmanship in every competition in accomplishments. Everything must be done in good manner and everything must not be personalized when we refer to competition.CONCLUSIONA manager must always be a person who banners good traits and has the capability of handling people. This is very important for a manger to be successful. A manager must always be for development and growth not only for himself but also for his people. It is important that all of them will have further education and skill trainings. As a manager, you are not only a facilitator but also a teacher, friend and a brother at times. It is very important to banner all these traits.The betterment of an organization will always rely on the manager efficiency in facilitating works and the people around him. This is the demand that a manager must meet in order to be successful in his job. A successful manager will surely contribute big to the success of the organization and in return the success of all the people working under it. The manager’s role will always have a chained effect on the peo ple and organization in general.BIBLIOGRAPHYJohn Maxwell(1999). The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow. Maxwell Motivation.Change Management Basics: the Role of Managers and Supervisors.Role of Managers.

About Marcel Breuer, Bauhaus Architect and Designer

About Marcel Breuer, Bauhaus Architect and Designer You may recognize Marcel Breuers Wassily chair, but you know Breuers Cesca, the bouncy metal tubular dining room chair with the (often fake plastic) cane seat and back. An original B32 model is in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City Even today, you can buy them, because Breuer never took a patent on the design. Marcel Breuer was a Hungarian designer and architect who moved with and beyond the Bauhaus school of design. His steel tube furniture brought 20th century modernism to the masses, but his bold use of precast concrete enabled large, modern buildings to be built under budget. Background: Born: May 21, 1902 in PÃ ©cs, Hungary Full Name: Marcel Lajos Breuer Died: July 1, 1981 in New York City Married: Marta Erps, 1926-1934 Citizenship: Immigrated to the U.S. in 1937; naturalized citizen in 1944 Education: 1920: studied at Vienna Academy of Fine Arts1924: Master of Architecture, Bauhaus School in Weimer, Germany Professional Experience: 1924: Pierre Chareau, Paris1925-1935: Master of the Carpentry Shop, Bauhaus School1928-1931: Bund Deutscher Architekten (Association of German Architects), Berlin1935-1937: Partnership with British architect F.R.S. Yorke, London1937: Begins teaching at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Cambridge, Massachusetts1937-1941: Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer Architects, Cambridge, MA1941: Marcel Breuer and Associates, Cambridge (MA), NYC, and Paris Selected Architectural Works: 1939: Breuer House (own residence), Lincoln, Massachusetts1945: Geller House (Breuers first post-war bi-nuclear design), Long Island, NY1953-1968: St. Johns Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota1952-1958: UNESCO World Headquarters, Paris, France1960-1962: IBM Research Center, La Gaude, France1964-1966: Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City1965-1968: Robert C. Weaver Federal Building, Washington, DC1968-1970: Armstrong Rubber Company Headquarters, West Haven, Connecticut1980: Central Public Library, Atlanta, Georgia Best Known Furniture Designs: 1925: Wassily chair1928: Cesca chair also known as the B32 Selected Awards: 1968: FAIA, Gold Medal1968: Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Architecture1976: Grand Medalle dOr French Academy of Architecture Breuers Students at Harvard University: Philip JohnsonI.M. Pei Influences and Related People: Walter GropiusPaul Klee, Swiss artistLudwig Mies van der RoheRichard NeutraBreuer, along with Landis Gores, John Johansen, Philip Johnson, and Eliot Noyes, were known in New Canaan, Connecticut as The Harvard Five In the Words of Marcel Breuer: Source: Marcel Breuer papers, 1920-1986. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution But I dont want to live in a house which was in vogue twenty years ago.- Defining Modern Architecture [undated] ...objects have their different appearances as a result of their different functions. In that they should individually satisfy our needs, and not conflict with each other, they together give rise to our style....objects acquire a form corresponding to their function. In contrast to the arts and crafts (kunstgewerbe) conception where objects of the same function take on different forms as a result of variations and inorganic ornament.- On Form and Function at the Bauhaus in 1923 [1925] Sullivans statement form follows function needs a finish to the sentence but not always. Also here we have to use a judgment of our own good senses, also here we should not accept blindly the tradition.- Notes on Architecture, 1959 One needs no technical knowledge to conceive an idea but one does need technical ability and knowledge to develop this idea. But conceiving the idea and mastering the technique do not require the same abilities....The main thing is that we act at the point where something needed is lacking, and use the potential that we have at our disposal to find an economic and coherent solution.- On Form and Function at the Bauhaus in 1923 [1925] Thus modern architecture would exist even without reinforced concrete, plywood or linoleum. It would exist even in stone, wood and brick. It is important to emphasize this because doctrinaire and unselective use of new materials falsifies the basic principles of our work.- On Architecture and Material, 1936 There are two separate zones, connected only by the entrance hall. One is for common living, eating, sport, games, gardening, visitors, radio, for every days dynamic living. The second, in a separate wing, is for concentration, work and sleeping: the bedrooms are designed and dimensioned so that they may be used as private studies. Between the two zones is a patio for flowers, plants; visually connected with, or practically a part of, the living room and the hall.- On a Design of a Bi-Nuclear House, 1943 But what I value most of his achievements is his sense of interior space. It is a liberated spaceto be experienced not only by your eye, but felt by your touch: dimensions and modulations corresponding to your steps and movements, embracing the embracing landscape.- On Frank Lloyd Wright, 1959 Learn More: Who is Marcel Breuer?The Bauhaus, 1919–1933, The Metropolitan Museum of ArtA Bauhaus Life: Is Bauhaus Too International for America?Marcel Breuer Digital Archive at Syracuse University LibrariesThe Harvard Five in New Canaan by William D. Earls, Norton, 2006Saint Johns Abbey Church: Marcel Breuer and the Creation of a Modern Sacred Space by Victoria M. Young, University Of Minnesota Press, 2014 Sources: Marcel Breuer, Modern Homes Survey, National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2009; Biographical History, Syracuse University Libraries [accessed July 8, 2014]

Analyzing The Sopranos First Episode

Analyzing The Soprano's First Episode Perhaps a theme of the first episode of The Sopranos is the idea that even people who do bad things and kill others suffer stress and love their families just like anyone else. This is particularly emphasized with the periodic scenes with the psychiatrist and with the number of times depression is discussed. I imagine the tone of this show to be a dark comedy. As such, I would visually create a dark atmosphere with dim lighting and an overall gray hue. I would also make sure that actors’ performances are not too dramatic or poignant and I would emphasize the physical comedy, such as the scene in which Chris and Big Pussy struggle to get Emil’s body into a dumpster and end up just propping it up against the side. Additionally, sound and music choice has an enormous effect on tone. I would make sure that the accompanying score is light and not too emotional in order to ensure that the comedic aspect of the potentially dark show is not lost on viewers. Because I found the scene, as written, so amusing, I decided to analyze the one describe above in which Chris and Big Pussy try to dispose of Emil. In the show itself, I was underwhelmed by the physical humor of trying to toss the body into the dumpster. It makes realistic sense that the body would not be flung very high, but I imagined it flying higher which, for some reason, seems more humorous to me. As if they almost could have gotten the body in. Seeing the situation, however, it seems a little ridiculous that they’re even trying, which is likely the true intended humor. I found it a shame that they cut all of the rest of the messing with the body (though I notice that throughout the show, they have made many cuts to keep the action and story tight). Aside from this, the actor of Chris does a good job appearing very proud and determined (with his â€Å"sleeps with the fishes† quote) and Big Pussy sufficiently exasperated. This is emphasized by Big Pussy’s la bored breathing. I also found that the line change at the end of the scene shifted the power dynamic a bit. While the script made it seem like Big Pussy felt Chris was beneath him and unworthy of hearing an answer (â€Å"I’m gonna tell you?†) the show’s (â€Å"Why would you even ask that?†) is far less condescending. In terms of camera work, I love the way wide shots establish how high the trash bin is. Additionally, the cut to a shot of the body falling over when Big Pussy explains that there are differences in between the current situation and the one from The Godfather emphasizes the ridiculousness and humor in their own pathetic situation. In this respect, the camerawork allows the full extent of the comedy displayed by the actors to be blatantly obvious for the viewers. If I had to direct someone else in how to maintain consistency for the show, I would begin with maintaining the overall humorous tone. As a suspected before I even watched the episode, having a lighthearted soundtrack is paramount to keeping this dark series comical. Additionally, big contrasts in brightly lit shots and dark, shadowy ones in scenes of â€Å"normal† family fun versus scenes of murder, for example is also key to underscore the dichotomy in the characters’ own lives. In terms of performance, the show also hinges on Tommy successfully executing a depressive, anxious role blanketed by an often false-feeling, almost distracted kind of happiness serving as his self-proclaimed â€Å"sad clown† exterior. Carmela, meanwhile, should be simmering with sorrow, displeasure, and even anger as she watches her family her cheating husband, her distant daughter drift from her. There are a number of plot threads established in this first episode that could grow into a full story. To begin, Carmela’s relationship with her daughter should be followed. Additionally, viewers likely would want to see Tommy continue to visit a psychiatrist and see if the Prozac begins to work. (If it does, it would be good to see how that changes the way he acts.) It would be interesting to see whether Chris will ever earn Tormmy’s respect and then, of course, there’s the question of what Junior plans to do to â€Å"take care† of Tommy.

Law in Practice UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Law in Practice UK - Essay Example Mr. David Balls, aged 41, has mentioned that he is married to Edwina Balls, 32 years of age. This couple has been married for a total of 8 years. On Valentine’s Day of 2011 (February 14th, to be exact), Edwina did not return home. A man named Harry Williams phoned Mr. Balls and informed him that he and Edwina had been having an affair for the past three months, and, in fact, she was asleep in his bed right now. David found out where Mr. Williams was calling from and he rushed out of his home to go to Harry’s house to confront him. David was driving from his home along Romford road and through the traffic lights (East) at Manor Park junction towards Ilford where Harry lives. At that moment, another driver came from the right and smashed into the driver’s side (offside) of his car. The police and the ambulance were alerted to the scene. David sustained bad bruising to his right leg but otherwise was unhurt. The other driver, however, had been thrown through her windscreen onto her own bonnet, and then onto the ground. The other driver—Katherine Buckingham, age 31 years old—sustained whiplash, a broken nose, concussion, and a badly bruised shoulder. Katherine also sustained cuts on her face and arms from the windscreen. Police officers told David that Katherine had not been wearing a seatbelt. Both drivers were breathalysed but neither was over the alcohol limit for driving. Everyone owes a duty of care to those affected by his or her actions and is liable in law for his or her negligence. Tort is the law that relates to civil wrongs, and in particular the laws relating to negligence. Personal injury is a particular form of negligence which can be brought to the courts on the part of the plaintiff. Mr. Balls does have a case for suing Ms. Buckingham, because personal injury consists of doing damage to s omeone’s person. However, Katherine may have a case when it comes to Mr. Balls running into her on the road, since what he did could be considered driving recklessly in a fit of passion—similar to how second-degree murder is not premeditated but is a crime of passion. Katherine might not be liable for David’s wrongdoing here, although she could be given a fine for not having worn her seatbelt. Here, the law of tort, negligence, and duty of care will be sufficiently explained. II. Law of Tort ‘Tort’ is the French word for a wrong. Torts are civil wrongs. Civil wrongs can be contrasted to criminal acts although one action might result in a potential liability for two claims, one civil and one criminal. If D runs into P on the road, D is liable to be prosecuted for civil sanctions such as fines, community penalties or imprisonment, which might be applied by the civil courts. But P can also sue D in the civil courts for any damages for the injury and lo ss that has been suffered. Negligence is a tort. III. Negligence, Liability for Negligence, and Defences Against Negligence The case of â€Å"Donoghue –v- Stephenson† (2011), set out the basic principles of negligence in English law (pp. 1). The case concerned food poisoning suffered by Mrs Donoghue whose bottled ginger beer was contaminated with the remains of a decomposed snail. As Mrs Donoghue didn’t buy the ginger beer (her friend did) she had no action in contract law (so she wasn’t a party to that contract). The case decided that, in English Law there must be and is a general conception of relations giving rise to a duty of care. The liability for negligence is based upon a general public sentiment of wrongdoing for which the offender pays. The case created the concept of negligence as an action in civil law allowing injured parties to sue wrongdoers for their loss and damage. To find a defendant liable for

Operations Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Operations Management - Assignment Example On the other hand, experimenting with the real world has not only proven to be expensive but is also dangerous and in most cases impossible. The Dry cleaning case study highlights one of the current issues and challenges affecting operations management in most industries. In the case study, the dry cleaner processes two pieces of suites by allowing suites to arrive with exponential time between the arrival times having a mean of G minutes and are at first served by server 1. After the completion of service at server 1, the jacket (one piece of the suite) is expected to go server 2 while the other parts (pants) goes to server 3. However, during the service at sever 2; the probability of the jacket being damaged is 0.05 while at the same time the probability of the pant being damaged at server 3 is 0.10. From server 2, the jackets enter into a queue for server 4 where suit parts are matched and reassembled. Management of waiting lines is a common challenge in operations management. As evidenced in the above case study, service systems normally face a number of problems such long queues of waiting lines due to the complexity and high levels of heterogeneity in the operations management processes (Barnes, 2008). ... rena Modeling in Service Systems Spreadsheet and Arena modeling programs are some of the simulation tools and techniques that are commonly being used to help solve the queuing problems in the contemporary services systems. In operations management, queue systems are not usually possible to analyze using mathematical or analytical formulas. Consequently simulation is currently one of the widely used means of analysis by most operation managers. With regard to the queue problem highlighted in the case study, both the two software tools can effectively be used as viable alternative techniques to experiment and find solutions to the issues affecting the service systems through abstraction. Generally, spreadsheet is currently one of the most accessible modeling tools that can be used for a wide range of applications and problem solutions in operations management. For example, the simulation modeling using spreadsheet can help explore the problems of long waiting lines and queues associate d with the dynamic service systems. In spreadsheet based simulation modeling, the technology used simply involves entering the model inputs into cells and viewing the output in other cells (Winston and Albright, 2007, p.124). In this regard, the input values are linked to the output values through chains of formulas and even scripts. Compared to Arena modeling, both some of the potential advantages of spreadsheet modeling include the fact that it is virtually available on any office computer and is normally very easy to use. Additionally, spreadsheet simulation modeling is relatively extensible particularly when using spreadsheet simulation modeling to solve the queue problem in service systems such as the one highlighted in the above dry cleaning case study. For example, one can easily add

Should Laws Governing Nursing Homes Be Changed Essay

Should Laws Governing Nursing Homes Be Changed - Essay Example It leads to abandonment of duties, and possible casualties are patients in need of special care 24 hours. Getting an all-round care should be the heart and center of nursing homes (Brickley, Lu & Wedig, n.d.). Changing the law is known to affect normal operation hence curtailing the norm. Freedom is a right in the bill of rights and as such should not have borders. Care facilities should be directed by government to ensure people using the facility access. The structure that changes due to the enactment of laws will drive uneasiness in the state of being of the care seekers. The outfit robs patients of the calm, which fosters the healing process (Connell, 2004). To conclude, nursing homes are imperative facilities within society. Laws governing the operation some of the times may hinder operation when changes are effected. With respect to rejection of the new law and discomfort felt by the care seekers, changing laws need cautious approach. The right approach to changing and implementing laws will be to involve all the stakeholders in the nursing facility. Brown, L., Hyer, K., & Polivka-West, L. (2007). A comparative study of laws, rules, codes and other influences on nursing homes disaster preparedness in the Gulf Coast states. Behav. Sci. Law, 25(5), 655-675.

The Tourism Sector In Albania

The Tourism Sector In Albania Albania is a parliamentary republic, where the legislative power belongs to the Albanias Assembly and the head of the state is the President who is elected by the Assembly for a five year mandate with the right to be re-elected. The Council of Ministers is the highest executive and commanding organ which is directed by Prime Minister. According to Census 2011 preliminary results Albania has a population of 2,831,741 inhabitants in a surface of 28,748 sq km. Albania is located in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula. The country has a 750 km borderline with Montenegro to the North, Kosovo to the Northeast, Macedonia to the East, Greece to the South and Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea (Italy) to the West. Albania has Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by hot summers and mild winters with abundant rainfalls. The period from June to September is hot, while from October to May is cool and wet. The average annual temperature varies from + 15oC in the north to + 16.5oC in the south. The hottest month is July with an average temperature of + 25oC and the coldest month is January with an average of +6oC, although the record temperature has been -34oC. For almost 45 years the communist regime, which was installed in Albania after the Second World War, left the country aside the rest of the world being part of the communist bloc of the Eastern Europe. The communist regime of Tirana even went further by isolating Albanian people totally and brought the country to collapse. With the fall of communist regimes of the Eastern Europe, Albania was the last one to join the free world. A democratic system was setup in power in 1992. Due to governments commitment to a free market economy, the country undertook a programme of reforms and made great efforts to recover from the fall of communist regime. However, the collapse of the fraudulent pyramid schemes in 1997 and the instability that followed were a tremendous setback for Albania. But the country did pursuit its way toward its dream, to be part of the European community. Till there country has made a great progress. Two big achievements are accomplished, in June 2006, the Albanian Governm ent signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union (EU), the first step in the EU accession process and three years later, in April 2009, Albania became a NATO member country. Now country is looking to accessing negotiations to be an EU member country. A range of reforms are progressing markedly over the last decade to Albanias economy and administration such as reforms in infrastructure development, tax collection, property law, business administration, judiciary system. The country was largely spared from the severe fallout of the 2008-2009 financial crisis since its economy is not heavily integrated into the Euro-Atlantic system. Economic progress of the country has slowed but remained positive, in each year from 2009 to 2011. The governments main task is to maintain positive economic growth while preserving macroeconomic stability. Major challenges are the difficult fiscal and budgetary environment and the crises in the Eurozone, especially in neighboring Greece and Italy (major trading partners of Albania with a large presence in the banking sector and also host to roughly one million Albanian emigrants). In 2011, GDP was estimated to have reached close to $13 billion. Major contributors to GDP according to 2010 preliminary data were: service sector with 57.6% including trade, hotels, and restaurants (20.9%), transport (6.3%), communication (3.4%), and other services 27%; agriculture 20.3%; industry 11.3%; and construction 10.7%. In 2011 unemployment officially stood at 13.3%. Half of the workforce is considered self-employed in the agriculture sector. GDP per capita in 2011 is estimated to have reached $4,560. Although GDP per capita has steadily increased over the years, the country still ranks as one of the poorest countries in Europe according to major income indicators. Albania has put in place a liberal foreign investment regime, and the government is working to improve the business climate through fiscal and legislative reforms and infrastructure improvements. Foreign direct investment (FDI) has increased significantly over the last few years and in 2010 reached $1.1 billion, up from $262 million in 2005. Since 2005, the Government of Albania has invested more than $2 billion in the countrys main road corridors, and it has pledged to continue investing heavily in improving transportation infrastructure. Electricity supply has also improved due to investments in new transmission lines and new generation sources as well as the privatization of the distribution system, which is gradually increasing efficiency. The EU remains Albanias main trading partner, providing 64.1% of Albanias imports and receiving 72.5% of exports as of December 2011. Trade with Italy and Greece continues to represent the largest share of EU trade, with a combined 41.1% of imports and 58.3% of exports in 2011. Other major trading partners include Turkey, China, and Germany. The impact of CEFTA in Albanias trade with member countries has been small. 2.1.2 Tourism in Albania The Potentials for Tourism Development in Albania Albania is a small country but a beautiful and fascinating country with substantial tourism development potential. Albania has an attractive coastline and a rich cultural and natural heritage. As Tourism Strategy on Culture and Environment  [1]  has highlighted, country has a wide range of historic, cultural and natural attractions that are of great interest to international tourists. The same assessment is made to the countrys very rich culture and heritage by Culture Marketing Strategy  [2]  document, too, stressing that Albania has a very rich, distractive, and authentic culture and heritage from the Greco-Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and other historic periods up to the modern day. This assessment is mentioned also to verbatim comments from interviews with western tour operators and travel writers  [3]  , where one of them have citied that Albania is an archaeological site from tip to toe, going back to Illyrian settlements, Greek colonies, Roman occupation, not to ment ion the invasions from Goths, Bulgars, Byzantines, Crusaders of the Holy Roman Empire and Ottomans who all but stopped time in tracks. Evidence of these civilizations are everywhere in Albania, and its time to let the world see the great and wondrous sitesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦... Albania has 3 World Heritage Sites Butrint, Gjirokaster and Berat. Beaches are long and sandy with hot sunny summers with about 250 sunny days. The mountain areas offer opportunities for niche tourism activities like hiking, biking, canoeing etc. Plenty of National Parks and other natural reserves offer ecological experiences. Country offers beautiful and diverse landscapes and abundant and varied flora and fauna. Current tourism markets Since the late 1990s, after the 97 instability in the country and 99 war in Kosovo, tourism activities are increasing. As figures  [4]  show there is a considerable increasing number of international visitors after the year 2000, due to the improvement of regional and inner country political climate and enhance of the security in the country. A big impact to the increase of the flux of tourists from Kosovo has show the new highway linking Albania with Kosovo. Even this increasing numbers are impressive, the tourism sector in Albania cannot be regarded as being well developed. Infrastructure has been till late a major limitation. The government in power has evaluated the development of infrastructure as very important and is investing heavily in improvements  [5]  . Data from the table below shows that: Total foreign visitor traffic increased by 18.4% in 2010 compared to 2009 to 3,612,000 visits. Taking into consideration the crisis time this is an excellent performance for Albanian tourism. 33% were non-resident Albanians and 66.1% were foreign staying visitors in 2010. Much of the increase came from Kosovo. This is evident to see the impact that the new highway with brought to Albanian tourism, a clear indicator of strong growth created by improvements in infrastructure. According to MoTCYS data, for the year 2011 a total of some four million visitors entered in Albania. They included 2,734,000 foreign tourists and 1,267,000 non-resident Albanian nationality visitors. The figures demonstrate that the biggest increase of foreign tourists in 2010 was coming from Kosovo with 48.79% followed by Macedonia with 11.43% compared to 2009. The foreign tourists from western countries havent made such a big progress. Also, as can be seen, the number of non-resident Albanians has been increasing in 2008 and 2009, while in 2010 the figure has faced a decrease. From the table below can be seen the increasing number of visitors in July and August. Such a phenomenon is shaping drastically the seasonality of tourism in Albania. In 2010 the number of tourist that visited Albania in these two months was 55.44% compared to the number of all visitors. Also, another problem related to these figures is the high dependency in Balkan region tourist flow. This demonstrates that the tourists in July-August are coming only for sea and sand and populating only the coastal areas. Strategic directions for tourism at national level According to National Strategy for Tourism Development in Albania 2002 2012, developed with the assistance of GTZ, the main tourism products for Albanian tourism are defined sun and sea, business and special interest tourism  [6]  . While the Strategy and Action Plan for the Development of the Albanian Tourism Sector Based on Cultural and Environmental Tourism was developed within the directions and structure established by the 2002 Tourism Development Strategy 2002-2012 for Albania. This document provides a new orientation for the government to position Albania as an attractive destination for tourists seeking a unique experience which encourage them to discover Albanias culture and nature. Discovery of Albania is a presentation of a broad cross-section of Albanias history, nature, archaeology, living culture, cuisine and hospitality. The graphic below presents a simple schematic. Core and Specialised Tourism Products Source: Strategy for the Development of the Albanian Tourism Sector Based on Cultural and Environmental Tourism. Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports, UNDP December 2005 According to strategy document, Albanias core (primary) tourism product must be a general one that encourages visitors to discover the many facets of Albanias culture and nature. Albanias central product will be the discovery of Albania. The product is a presentation of a broad cross-section of Albanias history, nature, archaeology living culture, cuisine and hospitality. Visitors participating in this discovery will leave with a lasting impression of the diversity, complexity and beauty of culture and the land. This segment does not make a strong distinction between cultural, natural and other tourism products. Visitors in this segment tend to combine many different activities during their visits, and usually see the various natural and cultural activities as part of the process of discovering the destination. Referring to the major market segments mentioned above, the tourism resources in Albania are in favor and support the types of community-based tourism, i.e. nature-based tourism, adventure tourism and cultural tourism. Considering these tourism resources, the following types of activities can be developed: Nature: Visiting national parks and protected areas Viewing wildlife Seeing rare species Trekking, hiking Bicycle trips Education and learning Participation in local events; and River and lake exploring. Culture: Visiting cultural and heritage-related attractions Visiting museums and art centres Meeting with artists Meeting people from various ethnic nationalities Seeing local handicrafts and the process of making them Visiting scenic landmarks and religious sites Trying local food Participating in local traditional ceremonies and festivals Buying traditional crafts and local specialties. Potential to development Albania offers infinite potential to investors to take advantage of unexplored opportunities in tourism, and helping to develop this industry into a key strategic sector in the countrys economy. Albania has a young population, with a high level of instruction and able to communicate with foregners in defferent languagies. Albanian is located at short distances from the main European capital cities and albanians are friendly and very hospitable people. The improved Rinas international airport, and different ports from the north to the south easy the access to the country. The continuing improvement and development of the infrastructure in the country, is facilitating moving inside the country. Continuing improvements are being made to encourage investors to develop the infrastructure for tourism in Albania. Just like other countries in the Western Balkans, Albania has put into place legislation and investment initiatives designed to support the economic growth of the country compatible with European policies and working principles. The Albanian Government has made support of the current and future expansion of tourism a priority, with the goal of transforming the country into a Mediterranean tourist destination and placing it on the world map of tourism. In an effort to support the continuing development of the tourism industry in Albania and to make this country a tourist destination, the importance of the active engagement of the local and international Business Community and strong Partnerships between community based organizations, government and regional development agencies is a must. Internal transport is likely to remain a major limitation for tourism in the foreseeable future except perhaps for road transport along key highways where upgrading / reconstruction is already planned or committed. In the WEF Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, Albanias tourism infrastructure is rated in the bottom two in the region (See Table 2.2). In recent years there has been an increasing interest from incoming foreign tourists, especially with significant increasing numbers of international tourist groups generated from Croatia and Montenegro, organised in one or two days tours to Albania. Also Business and Trade tourism accounts a considerable number of foreign visitors. Neighbour countries, such as Italy, Greece especially are related to trade and business purpose of visit of their nationals. From the western tourists visiting Albania in 2006, are identified those arriving from Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Greece, USA, Canada, France, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Scandinavia, Switzerland, the neighbouring countries and regions (Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonian, Bulgaria), East Europe (Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia). Diaspora is another source for the inbound tourism, where the ethnic Albanians from Kosovo do count considerable numbers. The new road under construction from Milot (the crossroad to the highway Tirane-Shkoder) to Morini (the boarder-crossing point with Kosovo) will influence to increase the numbers of Kosovos citizens to access the Albanian coastal area. The market profile of visitors who enter to Albania by road from Muriqani and Hani i Hotit (the boarder-crossing points with Montenegro) with interest for Shkodra region for the year 2006 is as below: Foreigners who are living and working in Albania have also recently started to create an internal tourism demand. While there is no official record on domestic tourism in Albania, domestic tourism is the dominating form of tourism. This is mainly focussed on beach centred holidays. 1.3.2 National context for Tourism Development Albania has a great potential for tourism development based on its natural, cultural and human resources. The country has an attractive coastline, rich biodiversity with lagoons, lakes and the mountain areas each with unique flora and fauna, unspoiled nature and attractive scenery, cultural and historical sites and interesting traditional life-styles. The country therefore has the potential to develop the types of tourism products that are in demand from the international market in the Mediterranean region. Beside to the long and sandy beaches along the Adriatic coast and these rocky ones with crystal and clean sea waters of the Ionian coast, its natural and protected areas are basic for developing niche tourism activities such as eco-tourism and nature based activities. Such an activities can be hiking, trekking, walking, horseback-riding, river rafting, paragliding, mountain biking, climbing, canoeing, sightseeing, bird watching, fishing. Rural green and agri-tourism offers new opportunities for communities to benefit from tourism by offering visitor experiences based on traditional lifestyles. Albania also can offer cultural tourism through its archaeological sites and historic cities and villages. Albania is a short distance destination for Europe; it is within 3 hours of flying time of most major European cities and therefore is a short haul destination for the potentially huge European market, the World tourism Organisation predict that by 2020 the Mediterranean Region which includes Albania will be a hotspot for tourism, thus there is a great potential for Albania to develop and expand its tourism industry. On the other side, uncontrolled development in tourism areas has harmed the potential of these areas for tourism development. Even the measures taken by the government to legalise the illegal buildings are not considering for the moment those constructed in tourism areas, it is not clear what will be the measures taken in these areas to improve the environment by the harm of illegal buildings. Some significant measures are taken recently by the government. These measures, at the national level, encompass strategy and policy documents such as, the development of the Strategy for Cultural and Environmental Tourism in 2005 and the development of a new tourism website in 2006. A new Tourism Law (Nr.9734, dated 14.5.2007) was adopted by the parliament and a number of regulations approved by the government is thought to regulate the tourism sector development. Tourism development is the responsibility of the MoTCYS (Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports). NTA (National Tourism Agency) is an autonomous body outside the MoTCYS, being responsible for promotion activities through the production of promotional materials and participation in the international tourism fairs. The most attended fairs, regularly from years in Berlin (ITB) and London (WTM), and to RDA (Keln) from 2007. At the regional level, six tourist information offices are approved to be established in Tirana, Shkodra, Vlora, Saranda, Korà §a and Durres. At the national level there are operating two business Associations for Tourism Travel Agencies and one Association of Hotels. A GTZs project on Institutional building of tourism private sector in Albania is in the process for the time being with the aim to establish a strong representation for all the sectors involved in tourism, with the common interest providing services to the members as well as building relationship and cooperation with the public sector. Albanian Rourism Even the figures on tourist arrivals are growing considerably year after year in Albania, the country has remained highly dependant on summer holidays. Looking on the statistical data published recently in the websites of Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports (http://www.mtkrs.gov.al/) and of National Tourism Agency (http://www.akt.gov.al/akt/text.php?id=1lang=1), is easily evident that the number of visitors visiting Albania succeeded 2.5 million in 2008 and only for the period January August 2009 this figure was over passing 2.1 million. As reported by MTCYS, the number of visitors in 2008 (2.578.627 visitors) is compound as international visitors 1.330.138, from which 1.247.125 were overnight visitors and 83.013 same day visitors, and 1.248.489 visitors were Albanian nationals residing abroad. While the number of visitors for the period January August 2009 (2.111.981 visitors) is compound as 1.402.558 international visitors and 709.423 Albanian nationals residing abroad . But does this picture speak for real success in the development of Albanias tourism as a tourist destination visited by the western tourists? We have to bear in mind that the main reason for the development of tourism is attracting foreign visitors from countries with strong currencies. Tourism is considered a hidden export that brings money (hard currency) to the country. Referring to the Strategy and Action Plan for the Development of the Albanian Tourism Sector Based on Cultural and Environmental Tourism produced by Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports with the support of UNDP in 2005, Albania will specialize in attracting educated, independent travelers and specialized group travelers. The principal target markets will be upper-middle income individuals from Europe (primarily northern Europe and the United Kingdom) and North America. This segment represents the demographic segment with the highest willingness to pay for Albanias unique products, and whose spending patterns will most contribute to advancing development goals. Also, in this strategic document is specified that Albanias central product will be the discovery of Albania. The product is a presentation of a broad cross-section of Albanias history, nature, archaeology, living culture, cuisine and hospitality. Visitors participating in this discovery will leave with a lasting impr ession of the diversity, complexity and beauty of the culture and the land. The question is this: Are these kind of tourists visiting Albania contributing to this strategic direction? The answer is, NO.