Master of Business Administration – Semester

Linear programming Is a specific case of mathematical programming (mathematical optimization). More formally, linear programming is a technique for the optimization of a linear objective function, subject to linear equality and linear inequality constraints. (b) A toy company manufactures two types of dolls, a basic version doll- A and a deluxe version doll-B. Each doll of type B takes twice as long to produce as one of type A, and the company would have time to make maximum of 1000 per day. The supply of plastic Is sufficient to produce 1000 dolls per day (both A & B combined).The deluxe version requires a fancy dress for which there are only 500 per day available. If the company makes a profit of RSI 3. 0 and RSI 5 per doll, respectively on doll A and B, then how many of each doll should be produced per day in order to maximize the total profit. Formulate this problem. Mans. Let XSL and XX be the number of dolls produced per day of type A and B, respectively. Let the A require t hr s. So that the doll B require at hrs. So the total time to manufacture XSL and XX dolls should not exceed 20th hrs. Therefore, + text s 20th Other constraints are simple.Then the linear programming problem becomes: Maximize p = ex. ; 5 XA Subject to restrictions, XSL + XX 1500 (Plastic constraint) XX 600 (Dress constraint) And non-negatively restrictions 2. What are the advantages of Linear programming techniques? Mans. Advantages-? 1 . The linear programming technique helps to make the best possible use of available productive resources (such as time, labor, machines etc. ) 2. It improves the quality of decisions. The individual who makes use of linear programming methods becomes more objective than subjective. 3.It also helps in providing better tools for adjustment to meet changing conditions. 4. In a production process, bottle necks may occur. For example, in a factory some machines may be in great demand while others ay lie idle for some time. A significant advantage of linear programming is highlighting of such bottle necks. 5. Most business problems involve constraints like raw materials availability, market demand etc. Which must be taken into consideration. Just we can produce so many units of product does not mean that they can be sold. Linear programming can handle such situation also. 3.Write a note on Monte-Carlo simulation. Mans. Simulation is also called experimentation in the management laboratory. While dealing with business problems, simulation is often referred to as ‘Monte Carlo Analysis'. Two American mathematicians, Von Neumann and Ulna, in the late sass found a problem in the field of nuclear physics too complex for analytical solution and too dangerous for actual experimentation. They arrived at an approximate solution by sampling. The method they used had resemblance to the gambler's betting systems on the roulette table, hence the name ‘Monte Carlo' has stuck.Imagine a betting game where the stakes are based on correct pre diction of the number of heads, which occur when five coins are tossed. If it were only a question of one coin; most people know that there is an equal likelihood of a head or a tail occurring, that is the probability of a head is h. However, without the application of probability theory, it would be difficult to predict the chances of getting various numbers of heads, when five coins are tossed. Why don't you take five coins and toss them repeatedly.Note down the outcomes of each toss after every ten tosses, approximate the probabilities of various outcomes. As you know, the values of these probabilities will initially fluctuate, but they would tend to stabilize as the number of tosses are increased. This approach in effect is a method of sampling, but is not very invention. Instead of actually tossing the coins, you can conduct the experiment using random numbers. Random numbers have the property that any number is equally likely to occur, irrespective of the digit that has alread y occurred.

The Concept of Visit-Ability in terms of Disabled Building Access

Access for handicapped people to public infinites and installations has become an of import portion of the political and societal docket. The belief of the societal theoretical account of handicapped and elderly people have become the ideological hegemony of disablement policy devising and inclusive design practise in the 21stcentury in the Earth. Many professionals, public author, civil society administration and governmental bureaus are promoting different designs strategies for accessible edifice to all. The concrete awareness of what handicapped people faces in an incompatible built environment. Senior citizens, sooner will love to go on populating independently in their ain places as they age. However, excessively frequently, structural barriers of public infinites prevent those who acquires a physical damage from aging in a topographic point.The extended spread of unavailability in each state ‘s lodging stocks makes it hard for persons with disablements of all ages to see friends and relations ( lynott, 2008 ) . Each states are characterised by a design apartheid. The edifice form and design are engraved with the values of an able-bodies society. Therefore, from stairss into stores to absence of initiation cringles in public and civic edifice. The handicapped people have to personally confront the reinforced environment, which were ne'er designed to provide for a scope of bodily difference. This has form the nucleus value and the perceptual experience of some societal disablement critics to see the built environment as â€Å"disablist, that is projecting able- bodied † values which legitimise oppressive, bias and prejudiced practises against people strictly on the footing that they have physical or mental damage. Disability and ripening is a cardinal issues. In the following two decennaries, 1000000s of the public of the Earth will hold attain older age. Each states will be confronted with hard challenges in the reinforced environment including deficiency of sustainable, marketable, accessible and low-cost lodging ( Maisel, 2007 ) . Despite the fact that lodging, community and inclusive design affects everyone, the connectivity between people and the built environment has an of import impact on the handicapped people and the ageing public. Maisel stated that an inclusive lodging design or sole lodging design can either, mortify or ease the ability of the people to populate and age comfortably without any assistive mechanism. The most relentless job to handicapped persons, is substructures being unaccessible, including old public constructions and lodging. The most appealing and hereafter utile solution is acceptance of the construct of visit-ability and an inclusive and cosmopolitan design attack. A visit-able infinite or substructure has at least a wheelchair accessible entrywaies and land floor room accesss and corridors broad plenty for person in a wheelchair to go through through. A few metropoliss in the U.S. have adopted Torahs necessitating a certain sum of visit-able place building ( ADA 1990 ; Duarte & A ; Cohen 2007 ) . As the recent demographic displacement set out to increase the present deficiency of accessible substructures and an inclusive design, a turning subdivision of the public will confront challenges in handiness and serviceability of their habitation. Visit-ability, inclusive and cosmopolitan design, did non merely be given toward demand for more accessible lodging but, it besides makes out, that this demand broaden beyond multifamily lodging market ( Maisel, 2007 ) . Inclusive and cosmopolitan design attack reduces environmental barriers ( unaccessible to public edifice and conveyance system ) and besides saves cost for redevelopment in instances of future mobility damage. Maisel argues that when visit-ability is in topographic point, occupants in the community can welcome invitees who use wheelchairs or Walkers ( walking frames ) , or have some other mobility damage such as stiffness, failing or hapless balance. On future projections graduated table, visit-able, inclusive and universally designed places heighten sale and re-sale in an epoch where both the figure and the per centum of older people are turning quickly. Non-disabled purchasers are attracted to well-designed places that is inclusively designed to welcome their ripening, handicapped households and friends and supply easy-use convenience for themselves. Furthermore from a human psychological science ( emphasis ) position, all occupants find it easier to convey in babe saunterers, food market carts, or heavy furniture and in clip of impermanent disablements, i.e. broken leg or arm, surgery, etc. , can necessitate usage of an assistive wheelchair or other mobility device during the recovery/recuperating period. This can organize important incommodiousness in most bing habitation with unequal basic handiness characteristics. ( Seekins, 2006 ) . Gaining the additions and turning demand for more accessible lodging, many province and local legal powers of the developed states have joined visit-ability motion and advocated for an inclusive and cosmopolitan inclined designs. In fact, several municipalities and provinces across these states have already formalized and enacted visit-ability plans. With their common end of increasing the supply of accessible lodging, this visit-ability plan is being altered significantly. The three simple ways they tend to be different are the geographic countries they extend to, the range of characteristic they are being made up and the systematic programs by which they are implemented and enforced. For case, including extra architectural elements such as barricading for grab bars in bathroom walls and accessible environmental controls. Some visit-ability enterprises are mandatory, whereby builders and the home grounds are required by a edict or act to include visit-able characteristic during new building. Other plans are strictly voluntary or possibly ( Nasar & A ; Cowley, 2007 ) . Visit-able lodging is a cosmopolitan and inclusive design lodging construct that is developing quickly across North America and around the universe at big. One of the distinguishable about visit-able houses are such that, at same clip, it allows the place to be visited by friends and relations who are aging or hold disablements but besides allows these same people, a lodging pick to buy or go on to populate in as their demands alteration. ( Ringaert, 2007 ) . History of Visit-ability The construct of visit-ability originated in Europe but was initiated in the United State of America in 1986 by Eleanor Smith, a disablement right advocator. Visit-ability is a sustainable, low-cost, marketable, security and accessible design attack that moves towards individual household places, the highest desire is to acquire all new places non covered by the present entree ordinances â€Å"accessible enough† for a visitant with disablement. Therefore visit -able places tends to suit anyone and to supply entree to everyone, irrespective of some limitations to bing Torahs of disablement ( Smith, 1986 ) . New moves to unify handiness in a individual household lodging and public infinite is lifting and going important in the 21stcentury discourse on the demand for handiness for all. The Founder of this grassroots platform Eleanor Smith recalls, â€Å"That one twenty-four hours in 1986 while she was driving in her auto around her place metropolis in Atlanta US, she passed through many new lodging development and she observed that, those places had stairss at the entrywaies and all of a sudden, she looks at the place otherwise and thought that those houses could hold all had access.† ( NIDRR, 1999 ) . Concrete alteration promote the construct of visit-ability and work with the metropolis of Atlanta to go through the first visit-ability jurisprudence which makes it compulsory that all public lodging be accessible. Visit-ability became more see able throughout the 1990’s, as the construct was lodging fast. In 2001 and 2002, visit-ability came to the head as many other states has adopted it The Need and Evolution of Visit-ability Public infinite and handiness related issues are non limited to merely a few people, it adversely has an impact on a big figure of people, even the developed states like Canada, United States, United Kingdom etc. , who have mobility damage and hence go through barriers within their ain houses and public infinites. This public made up out of, but is non restricted to people who use assistive device. The information of statistical analysis from the handicapped Centre reveals that about 6.8millions of Americans occupants and about 8.7million of United Kingdom population make usage of the assistive devices to help their mobility ( DDA 1995 ; Laplante et Al. 2000 ) .Further surveies indicates that there will be an addition in the usage of mobility devices with the rapid rate of the aging public. ( Laplante et al. , 1992 ) . In common with the huge bulk of low-income states, non least in African, disabled and elderly people in Nigeria encounter a overplus of attitudinal ( deficiency of disablements issues by the general populace, etc. ) , institutional ( deficiency of entree to computing machine, cyberspace, information etc. ) and environmental barriers ( unaccessible to public edifice and conveyance system ) that impede and militate against their active societal inclusion within modern-day society. Many advocate groups and research workers sees visit-ability as a anchor towards carry throughing cosmopolitan design on a neighbourhood degree and a larger graduated table. In recognizing the deserving full intent of visit-ability in developing active communities and public infinites, Truesdale and Steinfeld ( 2002 ) argued, â€Å"Although less than the ideal of a universally designed place, visit-ability is truly cosmopolitan design engaged through inclusive design, community and vicinity planning. It guar antees that the basic degree of handiness will be put up in all the lodging and public infinite design, and it exposes chances for engagement in community life† . This instance analyze compliment resources for planing communities to accommodate societal diverseness and render just chances for all the occupants, or inclusive design. It centred on design of lodging to give handiness to people with disablements and aging in topographic point, while besides doing greater the comfortss and safety for all the occupants. This experience aims at doing alterations in the design practises. This is the cardinal aim of the inclusive design thought to grok that design for diverseness benefit all of us and our perceptual experience is been metamorphosed on differences as something about â€Å"them† ( Steinfield & A ; White, 2010 ) . Harmonizing to the late Bernard Isaac ( 1996, as cited in Clarkson et al. , 2003 ) he said â€Å"design for the immature and you exclude the old, design for the old and you include the young† .Presently, one billion people of the Earth have a noticeable grade of functional damage across Europe, and in other states, where the procedure is good advanced, big Numberss of the public have retired and embarking on new career and have quest to do full their longer life. This inclination will impact strongly on the markets and have across-the-board design deduction. ( Clarkson et al. , 2003 ) . When we look closely at mundane merchandise, we can rapidly detect where people may hold troubles utilizing them. Many of these troubles are as a consequence of design determinations made without respect to the user, as such this grounds are frequently superficial but fortunately, the replies may frequently be superficial excessively. For case if the flexible joints of a door grip is excessively little to open the door handily, it can be replace with a larger 1. However, physical composing of the public is altering fundamentally and basically. It is non adequate to look at those acquiring older, no affair how sound, tantrum and healthy we may suit or non experience at this point in clip, as clip goes on in our beloved life we will certainly travel through a lessening in our active and operational capableness. Our ability to take part activity in some action will be impaired e.g. through inadvertent injury or the natural ripening procedure, after achieving the age of mid-twentiess our organic structure of course begins to have on out ( Kirwood, 1999 ) .Our ability to larn, see, travel around freely diminishes ( Keates & A ; Clarkson, 2003 ) .Inclusive design is borne out of and physiques on an earlier attacks to plan for chiefly disabled and aged people with focal point on entree to the built environment. ( Coleman et al. , 2007 ) . The demand of visit-ability The demand of the construct of visit-ability is turning quickly on a planetary graduated table. Each state is endeavoring to implement the rudimentss, in order to do lodging and public infinites accessible to all, without any signifier of favoritism. Harmonizing to Rocky Marcoux, the commissioner for the section of metropolis development, metropolis of Milwaukee, W1 â€Å"when people have to go forth the vicinity because their house no longer meets their demand, its unneeded. It is a forced migration in a sense† . The laminitis of concrete alteration, Eleanor Smith in one of her aberrant bases on the necessity for lodging being accessible to all stated flatly and decidedly that â€Å"when we build houses, the houses are non meant to be habited by inanimate things but by homo who are likely be at that place for hundred old ages, more besides these things hurt cipher and they help a batch of people.† As population of the Earth additions and a high proportion of the public ages. There will certainly be an increase in demand, each state closes her rank and file in seeing to the turning demand and need for accomplishing inclusive lodging and community design through the acceptance of the construct of visit-ability. The demand of a visit able houses is lifting and a batch of states are traveling toward this way, in seeing to implementing bing handiness Torahs and implementing the execution of the Torahs. Though, as most of developed states strives to do up an environment that, is accessible to all without any signifier of prejudice. Some still lacks behind, United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, France, Norway are all in the frontline of this run but Norway is in front of other states of the Earth on the execution of accessible and inclusive design down to the community degree ( Bringa 2001 ; Smith et al. , 2007 ) . Regulation and Principle of Visit-ability Harmonizing to Walton d. Dutcher Jr. the Visit-ability Ordinance is a sensible thrust to necessitate minimal entree to places built with fiscal aid provided by the City. However, an embracing social position would be that anything less than an inclusive lodging and an accessible environment is, by default, discriminatory and biased. The visit-ability regulation requires all new places to be built with at least one entryway with no measure, and doors at least 32 inches broad. It besides requires, lever door grips, reinforced walls in ground-floor bathrooms so as to do it easier for an resident to put in grab bars, and the switches should non be any higher than 48 inches, and the Hallways should be 36 inches broad throughout the full chief floor. A visit-able house is non compulsory designated to hold the entire grade of handiness required by a awful disablement individual, it intentions is to make a place for anyone and to render basic entree features for all. The three fundamental rules of the construct of visit-ability are some cardinal characteristics of entree for all. New lodging units can be achieved at low cost, if implement at the earlier phase of building and good design are practised. Access and liveability for all is a civil right and a platform to better qualities of life and a limited figure of important characteristics will turn the magnitude of handiness comparable to a more across-the-board list of features. ( Maisel, 2006 ) . Challenges and Success of Visit-ability There are certain bing and recognised challenges to implementing visit-ability. From the place builders point of position, they have some frights and expostulations to the construct and rule of visit-ability, while some see it that it should be a voluntary action, others feels that it must be compulsory. ( National Association of Home Builders ( NAHB ) , 2003 ) . NAHB ( 2003 ) argues that the end-users ( place purchasers ) should be at autonomy to prefer the type of houses they want, non to be limited or constrained to accept characteristics they do non desire or necessitate now. Critics query the legality of regulations, cost of the plan and the practicableness of execution. The house builder ground that beside, the menace of the misdemeanor on place owners’ rights, accomplishing inclusive lodging and community design is excessively expensive and more besides negate architectural aesthetic qualities of a house ( Lawlor 2004 ; Myzek 1998 ) . Second, from the advocates’ positions, which antagonises the builders’ statement, that place builder non frequently request visit-ability and alteration should be reliable wholly on a free market system. They contend that most of place purchaser are non aware of the visit-ability motion and do non cognize that they could inquire for the basic visit-ability characteristics when constructing a new house. The advocators believes that the builders try to accommodate and fulfill themselves entirely by trying to determine the market to their ain belief and instead than merely reacting to the turning demands and demands of the market. ( State Building News, 2006 ) . The possible obstructions to the credence of new visit-ability plan are heighten by the deficiency of visit-able houses being built in communities that have long adopted the universal and inclusive design attacks. Several broad and specific policy issues embracing the construct of visit-ability must be harmonised to guarantee future success of accomplishing inclusive lodging and community design scheme. With consideration to these challenges, the visit-ability motion continues to come on, some of the indicant are the emerging measures, Torahs, federal, provinces Acts of the Apostless, public and bookmans outcry. As more people are being confronted with barriers in serviceability and handiness of their places, visit-ability references their demands and demands. Significance of Visit-ability These study works is to advance and construct on an inclusive design and community action undertakings that enhances the integrating of visit ­- ability lodging system. It is the believe that the development and acceptance of the construct of visit-ability toward inclusive lodging and community design is polar for everyone and more particularly, as it is in line with the aims of cosmopolitan design. One of the calculation and dramatic forces of construct of visit-ability toward accomplishing accessible lodging is that, it flexible, gives chances for the public to entree their friends, household members and neighbors and thereby, doing it useable and livable for all. Modern schemes for incorporating handiness characteristic are lifting. One of such is the compatibility and workability of the construct of visit-ability, inclusive and cosmopolitan design attack. The inclusion of basic entree at the start of building, reduces waste of resources, clip and energy dissipated, which could be needed for remodelling and house resettlement. Thus makes inventing vicinities designs inclusive, sustainable, marketable and low-cost. The mark of visit-ability differs from both entire handiness and cosmopolitan design but what is paramount is that on a short term agencies. Visit-ability is applicable and cheaper because the basic characteristic of visit-ability are integrated at the early phase of building. The purposes of visit-ability is great, it promotes the ability to age in one’s personal house, besides person has the ability to see 1s neighbour and presume an built-in portion of the community. Physical disablement issues, as more of civil and human right concerns, there are some bing and sensed obstructions to follow through visit-ability. As such it will be impossible for all the turning public to hold a positive attitude about their ability to remain on in their several places, as they ages, except if some of the bing barriers, Torahs and provinces limitations are looked into by the jurisprudence shapers.

ANALYSIS OF ADVERTISEMENT FEATURING WOMEN Assignment

ANALYSIS OF ADVERTISEMENT FEATURING WOMEN - Assignment Example Moreover, the purpose of advert on the ebay website is to let the audience comprehend of the great offer in the reduction of the price of the Black Velvet Whiskey. The advert on ebay is enhancing the buying of Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey even beyond the boundaries of Canada at a cheaper price than the usual normal rates. The advert looks appealing to the intended audience by inclusion of a beautiful woman in the advertisement to enhance the description picture in the mind of the audiences and entice the audience to buy the Black Velvet Whiskey The woman in the Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey in ebay website body is position to lie on a smooth Black velvet surface. Moreover, the woman is looking at the screen since the message is mainly to the audience to enhance the magnitude of the advertisement to the audience. The woman in the advert is wearing a beautiful black dress that resembles the velvet surface and the black dress is bear at the back. Moreover, the black accessories on the hand and ears add on the message of the advert, which is to simplify and make more people purchase the Black Velvet Whiskey. Therefore, Black Velvet Whiskey is one of the adverts that depict women as pure objects. In this advert, the woman is used to attract men’s attention to buy the Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey. The intention of the advert is to use the woman’s sexuality to sell the product.... Therefore, the purpose of the advert is for the company to get more men to buy their car parts. The advert becomes appealing to male audiences through using naked women in displaying the different parts in an automotive to attract more men to the company’s product. In the advert women have different postures where some are nakedly sitting on the car, others beside the automotive parts of the car while others lying on the ground. Some of the women are wearing undergarments that include bra and bikini while others covering a portion of their body with wool. Moreover, looking at the men featured in advert, all of them are fully dressed. Therefore, the advert use women sexuality to entice men into buying the car parts from the company hence, portraying women as just objects that only deserve to look at by men. Since, the purpose of the advert is to woo men in buying car automotive products, women posing naked in advert undermine the value of women in the society. Thus, the advert weakens the ability of women to be their own subject because their sexuality could only be used to the advantage of the automotive company. Hence, considering men in advert are not posing naked, this only mean women the advert relates women to pure objects, stripping off women their respects. Winter Fashion Collection Advert The H&M website featured women in advertising the women clothes, which are in fashion. The intended audiences in advertisement are women who are keen on the changing fashion trends. This is because the advertisements have different types of women trendy clothes such as jackets, trousers, tops, and scarfs. Moreover, the advertisement is trying to sell fashion trend clothes needed by women during winter clothes. The

Organizational communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Organizational communication - Essay Example In written communication, the body language of the author of the written document is not revealed to the readers of the document because of which the actual meanings and accent do not become clear. These are some of the main reasons why a presentation is more effective as compared to written communication. The disadvantages of relaying on a written document are less clarity of tone, lack of concept building due to absence of questions/answers session, and less clarity of information as compared to presentations. On the other hand, presentations provide a complete picture to the audience in a more coherent, interactive, and clear manner. From analyzing myself as a speaker, I can get an overview of my speaking strengths and weaknesses. For example, I can know how I can explain things to people. Similarly, I can learn the ways to present information to the audience more clearly. I can also know the areas in which I am deficient and need

New Balance Developing an Integrated CSR Strategy Essay

New Balance Developing an Integrated CSR Strategy - Essay Example The assessment was done based on the Corporate Citizenship Management Framework (CCMF). Four dimensions of CCMF Figure 1: Four Dimensions of CCMF (Source: Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship. â€Å"Corporate Citizenship Management Framework†) Overall Governance Strength Weakness History, Values and Integrity Vision and mission: CSR was the central theme of the company’s mission and vision. Impressive CSR initiatives. Transparency, accountability, domestic manufacturing and employee support. Lack of guidance to the managers Lack of linkage between the CSR goals and core business strategy. Improper communication with the society. The initiatives were not aligned and connected properly and lack evaluation by the management. Product and services Strength Weakness Product New Balance eliminated use of polyvinyl chloride from the footwear. Implementation of Green shoe store. Apparel division faced higher business growth pressures, environmental and social challeng es. Lack of system for assessing the life-cycle impact of products. Lack of education in the design team related to the environmentally preferred product. Unsuccessful in developing partnership. Operations Strengths Weakness Integration of CSR with operation. Initiatives in term of clear business value, increased productivity and reduced cost. Achievement of compliance with European Union REACH regulation. Partnering with British Leather Group. Reduction in volatile organic compound. Waste reduction, implementation of coaching program, green cleaners in US, enhancement in energy efficiency. Apparel, accessories and promotional items poses rick. Gap between CSR management in domestic operations and overseas supplier facilities. Lack of standards on short term contracts for hiring temporary workers. Community Support Strength Weakness Company’s intense belief in philanthropy. Volunteering by the employees Strong community support strategy. Awareness about programs and initiativ es. Strong system to measure returns on investment. Strategies involved with community are not aligned with the business strategy. Poor focus of community support strategy. Area of focus The areas of focus for the organization are as follows: The operational area especially the apparel and accessories section need to be more inclined to CSR. The education of the product developed team is necessary in order to design more environment friendly products. The overall governance should stress more on communication. Development of CSR strategy New Balance is strongly committed towards the corporate responsibility, which is recognized to be the main pillar of the value and mission on which the organization stands. This is also supported by the CEO, owner and other leaders of the organization. Moreover the company has a good deal of knowledge and experience. The company took several initiatives towards the CSR activities. The owners of the company were humble and were hesitant to talk about the social responsibility. This was the major reason that general public had very little information regarding the work of the company in this area. Moreover the executives of the company also need to evaluate the strategy from time to time. For this the company should implement proper communication of their CSR initiatives amongst the external and

VIRTUAL WORLDS, VIDEO GAMES &GAMES Research Paper

VIRTUAL WORLDS, VIDEO GAMES &GAMES - Research Paper Example It does mean that a great number of relationships are built on false ideas about the other, the identity created in order to support an ideal that the user has defined. The following paper will take a look at the identity of the user in relationship to social identity theory and in the way in which gender is utilized as an aspect of play. The paper first explores the nature of the created identity through examining the development of the avatar. The gaming avatar is the virtualized visual element that represents the online created identity. This includes the aspect of gender which is explored through the choices that are made and the reasons behind those choices. Finally, sexuality and the representation of the created identity as a shield to the real identity are discussed. This creates a discussion about how the online created identity reflects and also does not reflect the real self through social identity theory and a variety of other theories that have an impact on the topic. The use of the examples of Second Life and World of Warcraft to provide for two different types of games will round out the exploration of this paper. The final discussio n will include ideas of gender, sexuality, and the created online identity in order to form an analysis of the phenomenon. The avatar gives the individual the opportunity to define themselves through choices that are consciously made rather than imposed. The individual can become whomever they choose in the context of the game while using the tools that are provided in order to create the sense of identity that is intended within the game environment. The online game identity is a pure creation in which only what a person chooses to show will be revealed. This is not to say that elements of the true self will not come through, but it does mean that there is a great deal of control through which the development of the identity can be

Pain from Free Trade Spurs Second Thoughts by David Wessel and Bob Assignment

Pain from Free Trade Spurs Second Thoughts by David Wessel and Bob Davis - Assignment Example Mr. Alan S. Blinder a former Federal Reserve Board vice chairman along was a protagonist of free trade along with many other economists. Such a turnaround stems from the echoes of resentment among the employed middle class on the threat posed to their secure employment through the estimate â€Å"30 million and 40 million jobs are vulnerable†. Free trade was touted as good for American business and American consumers. American businesses were expected to do better from using the cheap labor in the developed worlds, while the America consumer would benefit from the lowering of costs. Yes, free trade has done that, but the average American consumers are losing employment from outsourcing of jobs that were not expected to leave the shores of the country. Manufacturing was anticipated as the major aspect of outsourcing, while the expectations were that white collar jobs were would not be affected. However, the actual story has been different along with outsourcing of manufacturing there has been a strong flow of white-collar jobs to countries like India and China, where the skill sets for these jobs are present and cost less. So why did this happen? It is not that free trade is bad, but the changes that would result were not truly anticipated, hence the preparations to face the challenge of change was not adequate. Mere retraining of employee skills is insufficient. The instilling of higher knowledge and skills has to go down to the grass root level, which means that appropriate changes to education have to be put in place.

Summary of Choosen Article (3-5 paragrphs) Research Paper

Summary of Choosen Article (3-5 paragrphs) - Research Paper Example In 1998 to 2000, 263 gastroenteritis outbreaks occurred and only 3 were a consequence of rotavirus. The main predisposing factor is unhygienic conditions. Prevention is through disinfection of environmental surfaces especially those contaminated with fecal matter (â€Å"Notes from the field,† 2011). In relation to the epidemiological triangle (agent, host, and environment) human acts as the reservoir for rotavirus is. The virus is transmitted through ingestion of fecal matter or fomites. Environment wise, the virus is found in temperate regions. The virus is transmitted through indirect contact since it enters the body through ingestion. Host factors that increase the chances of contacting the rotavirus include age whereby the most vulnerable are young children who have increased exposure to the virus. Additionally, the old people living in care home are at a risk (Anderson & Weber, 2004; (â€Å"Notes from the field,† 2011). The level of immunity affects the risk of infection. The old people and young children have low immunity and are at higher risk of contracting rotavirus. Additionally immune-deficient people have higher chances of contracting the virus. The low infection rates in adults as compare to children shows overall protective immunity is important in preventing infections. Pre-existing conditions that may increase the rotavirus infection include poor hygiene among residents and or staff in retirement home and care homes. Health Behaviors that can be used to prevent the disease include vaccinations and isolation. Moreover, proper hand washing is crucial in rotavirus infection and outbreak of rotavirus gastroenteritis (â€Å"Notes from the field,† 2011). The external conditions and influences affecting the spread of rotavirus include the waste disposal techniques. Biologically, use of disinfectants helps in elimination of the virus

The Story of Amy Tan Essay Example for Free

The Story of Amy Tan Essay The story about Amy Tans mothers effort to converse in effective English with people in spite of her broken or fractured English is in fact very common. I think many immigrants face this problem. As they come from a different background their way of thinking results into different Englishes. America has the most number of Englishes of the world as you can find people from all over the world here. I have seen people who dont take other people seriously who speak Broken English or in a certain accent. People use different Englishes everywhere; Spanish people have Spanglish, which is a combination of Spanish and English, Indian people have Hinglish, which is combination of English with Hindi the native language of India and so on. English is a universal language it is spoken slightly different everywhere which causes people to have a tint of background in their English. Why shouldnt people have their own tint of background in their English? People from different countries have different culture, way of thinking and even accents which adds the tint of background in their English. There is no doubt English is going to be spoken differently around the world. English is not only spoken but also written in some cases differently around the world. Such as the word Color Asians and British would spell it as Colour. As a matter of fact, even the MS Word Spell Check has it highlighted it as this is an American Software and Americans dont spell it like that. The word Schedule is pronounced as Sheadule. If everyone was speaking the same English there wouldnt be any difference if you are from England, China or any other part of the world. Everyone would sound the same and would have the same ideology. The diversity in English is in fact a good thing it shows ones cultural background and adds uniqueness to every country. So its fine to have tint of background in your English. These tints in English develop different accents all over the world. Not only all over the world but also in America. There are different accents such as the people from Southern states have different accent than people from the Northern. Not matter the accent English is still communicable and can avoid language conflicts. Language conflicts occur when there is no common language of communication or in other words when there are people speaking different languages and not everyone is aware of each others language. My friends family is very secular it consists of Hindus, Muslims and Portuguese. There are about three different spoken languages. To avoid any language conflicts they use a common language such as English so that everyone can understand each other. There are some people who get affected by difference in English; they are usually students from other countries studying in American Schools. These students often struggle with grades in English in American Schools, which is due to different Englishes. Amy Tan talks about how she struggled with grades in English and got by easily in Math and Science. This is true in the case of Asians as they have natural inclination towards technical subjects. The worlds leading Electronic and IT companies are loaded with Asians due to their natural ability. Asians in American Schools are usually steered away from writing towards Math and Science, which is why there arent many Asians Americans representing American literature. Amy Tan was a victim of such steering towards math and science. Amy Tan was told by her former boss that English writing was not her best skill and she should hone her talents towards account management. But she took all of the disproving assumptions that people made of her in a rebellious way and she over came it and succeeded. Its very annoying when people judge you by your background. As in the case of Amy Tan having Chinese background she was steered towards math and science in spite of her liking towards English writing. My following story is similar in a sense that I was also judged by my background rather than my capabilities. I had just moved from India to Canada and was hit with some irrelevant judgments that people made of me due to my background. The first impression that I got from Canadians was that they werent aware that Indians were able to converse in fluent English as they can. I saw that people were trying to talk to me in a way that I would understand them as if I didnt know English. I immediately informed them I can very well converse in the same English that they speak. I was shocked due to peoples lack of knowledge about third world countries. Its just said that English is our second language, but as a matter of fact English was taught to us before than our own language. Although we lea rned our own language since birth, but we really started reading and writing our own language from grade 3. Whereas we started reading and writing English from Kindergarten level. My classmates in Canada used to ask me whether we do Computer Programming in our own language since English is not our first language to which I replied; Absolutely not, we use the same English as you do, it might be a little different the way we use it but its the same language. I was truly amazed by the lack of awareness that people have about countries where the first language is not English. I had to prove a point that people can be well acquainted with English even if their first language is not English. Like Amy Tan I didnt exactly have any kind of shame in my story, as she feels a sense of shame and pride in her story. She feels shame because of her mothers broken English and pride as its because of her she is a renowned writer; its because of her she became rebellious in her life, wanting to accomplish something, prove something! And she succeeded in her life she achieved what she wanted to achieve. Although, I did have some pride in my story as I managed to change lot of peoples opinion and made good friends for life and had one of the greatest time of my life in Canada. I would conclude by saying that although English is diversified around the world due to language attitudes, difference in accent, background, Englishes or even unawareness to some extent, Its still the most communicable or reachable language in the world. I feel English is more or less like cooking; the taste of the same food differs from region to region and every region adds its own flavor to it.

War On Iraq And The Bombing Of Pearl Harbor Essay Example for Free

War On Iraq And The Bombing Of Pearl Harbor Essay In July of 1941, Japanese assets were frozen in America, and the consequent cessation of shipment of oil, scrap iron, and other goods from the United States, Japans economy was in most severe straits and her power to wage war directly threatened and her ability to make war was becoming severely threatened by the ongoing embargoes against her. Japanese military planners estimated that reserves of oil, painfully accumulated in the late 1930s when the risk of just such a squeeze became evident, would last at most two years by which time it would be far too late to make a stand, militarily, against the United States in China or elsewhere. Somehow, Japan had found its way to a no good choices scenario, with acquiescence to American demands dooming Japan to a less than coequal status with the worlds dominant powers, or war with the United States sooner than later before supplies dwindled below practical abilities to make war. (Russett, 1997, p. 46). Diplomatic efforts proved useless when The United States, and the British and Dutch, would end the embargoes only as a response to Japanese withdrawal from air and naval bases in Indochina; and at this time the Japanese military began to consider war with the U. S. inevitable. Most of the Japanese elite were opposed to any settlement which would in effect have meant withdrawal from China which would also mean the increase of Western, particularly American influence, in precisely those ares which Japans ruling castes believed were the natural provinces of the Japanese Empire. (Russett, 1997, p. 47). While the Japanese military planned for war, the American government also planned for an escalation of hostilities: By autumn 1941, however, opinion was crystallizing in the highest levels of the American decision-making system this process was leading to war. Roosevelt informally polled his cabinet on the question of whether the country would support war against Japan and the result was that All members responded in the affirmative; with public support behind the war, conflict with Japan seemed immanent. (Russett, 1997, p. 50) By the beginning of December their attack was irrevocably set in motion. The Japanese conviction that war could not be limited to the British and Dutch had to be based wholly on inference. Yet it was a correct analysis and a solid conviction, as shown by the otherwise inexplicable risk they took at Pearl Harbor the attack ensured American popular support for the war in the Pacific, just as the moral argument against Hitler in Europe worked to fuel public support for the American entry into World War Two. (Russett, 1997, p. 51) Although ambiguity persists in the public perception of the contribution of the United States intelligence services to the build up toward the Iraqi War, official statements by high-ranking intelligence officials who served during the time period in question maintain a specific position: that the U. S. possessed credible information that Iraq maintained an arsenal of weapons of mass destruction and these weapons posed a potential threat to America. In point of fact when classified intelligence reports surfaced in 2002 which seemed to indicate that the United States had no reliable evidence before hostilities that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. (Official Rebuts Story of, 2003, p. A03). The question as to whether or not the war can be considered a fall-out of bad intelligence then, would seem to be a non-starter. The simple facts, despite leaked report of 2002, are that the intelligence agencies, including the CIA and the DIA posited and maintained the position through the buildup and afterward that Iraq posed a threat to the U. S. and that Iraq possessed illegal weapons of mass destruction. Since no weapons were found, there was obviously and most tragically a profound failure of intelligence. A failure so profound, in fact, that the blame for a catastrophe involving potentially hundreds of thousands of deaths and untold trillions of dollars should lie squarely on the intelligence gathering agencies who so grossly mishandled their responsibilities and led America into an unnecessary and dearly costly war. Works Cited Decosse, D. E. Authority, Lies, and War: Democracy and the Development of Just War Theory. Theological Studies, 67(2), 378+. (2006). Official Rebuts Story of Iraq Intelligence Shortcomings; Says Leaked Classified Report Was Misread regarding Weapons Program. The Washington Times, p. A03. (2003, June 7). Russett, B. M. No Clear and Present Danger: A Skeptical View of the United States Entry into World War II. Boulder,Colo. : Westview Press. (1997).

Music Essays History of Rhythm and Blues

Music Essays History of Rhythm and Blues History of Rhythm and Blues Rhythm and blues was considered strictly black music. Although I am not part of the American culture, I consider my cultural heritage to be somewhat related to this culture. The black culture is a phenomenal subject representing the life style, imagination and accomplishments of people. One of the most outstanding and unique characteristic that makes this culture one of a kind is the music it has produced. Music has a common characteristic that is unique to all cultures throughout the world. However, the music’s form, or style, every culture in history includes music as an important part of everyday life. The four most popular categories of Black music are Blues, Jazz, Gospel, and Rhythm and Blues. Blues is an African American music that transverses a wide range of emotions and musical styles which is expressed in songs that verse injustice or express longing for a better life and lost loves, jobs, and money. Jazz is music that consists of musical instruments such as saxophone s, flutes, and clarinets. Gospel music refers to African American Protestant vocal music that celebrates Christine Doctrine in emotive. Rhythm and Blues is a combination of the swinging rhythm of jazz and other â€Å"race† music with the lyrical content, sonic gestures, and with the format of the blues. Today I want to focus on Rhythm and Blues and the influence it has made on the black culture, and discuss the three major forms that made Rhythm and Blues distinguishable, and how it has change from jazzy/blues to hip hop/rap. Rhythm and Blues music or RB has a variety of different types of music. It is produced and supported primarily by blacks around the world. Beginning in the early 1940s, rhythm and blues music embraced genres as jump blues, club blues, black rock, and roll, doo wop, soul, Motown, funk, disco, and rap. It was first coined in 1949 by Jerry Wexler, who became prominent with Atlantic Records. Wexler used the term rhythm and blues as a synonym for black rock and roll in the early and mid 1950s. RB provided the single greatest influence on popular music worldwide for much of the second half of the 20th century. The influence was traced in forms of rock music, country and western, gospel music, and jazz as well as in a variety of non western form of music known as worldbeat. According to Joseph Machlis and Kristine Forney in their book The Enjoyment of Music, Rhythm and blues is known for its predominantly vocal genre, featuring a solo singer accompanied by a small group including piano, guitar, acoustic bass, drums, and tenor saxophone. Its harmonies and structure are drawn from twelve bar blues and thirty two bar pop song form. As the name implies, the style is characterized by a strong, driving beat, usually in a quadruple meter. As the influence of various styles of Rhythm and Blues, black urban values have permeated a wide variety of other cultures, most notable of contemporary Euro American youth. (599) According Christopher Handyside’s book Soul and RB. Handyside states that Rhythm and Blues (RB) was a name given to a fast paced style of music that was influenced by blues, gospel, and jazz. Handyside states that RB also owed its style to â€Å"jump blues.† Jump blues was popular in the 1930s and 1940s, and was usually played by a large band that featured drums, saxophone, and trumpet, stand up bass, guitar, and other horns as well as a singer. By the late 1940s, jump blues had developed into RB which took the form of shorter, catchier songs. Whereas jump blues often extended the songs with improvisation, RB tended to use smaller bands that featured drums, piano, guitar, and bass to generate the same energy and excitement as a larger band. One of the most significant characteristics shared by both jump blues and RB was the importance of a strong vocal singer. Handyside also states in the late 1940s than writer for the music magazine Billboard, Jerry Wexler, coined up t he name â€Å"rhythm and blues† when he was editing the charts at the trade journal Billboard and found that the record companies issuing black popular music considered the chart names to be demeaning. The magazine changed the charts name in its June 17, 1949, issue, having used the term rhythm and blues in news articles for the previous two years. Although the records that appeared on Billboards rhythm and blues chart thereafter were in a variety of different styles, the term was used to encompass a number of contemporary forms that emerged at that time. (4-5) Handyside states the origins of rhythm and blues originated from the sociological, industrial, and technological changes that took place in the Unites States just prior to and during World War II. Among theses changes was a widespread shift in American demographics. Popular music and new styles were created to meet the changing tastes of the demographic group, which lead to the development of urbane sounds of RB. These sociological changes of the World War II period were accompanied by two significant technological developments, the invention of the electric guitar in the late 1930s and the newly relatively affordable discovery of the German invented tape recorder. With these two inventions it simplified the recording process. Enterprising individuals were able to start independent record companies, since the major record companies in the United States had little interest in RB music. Newly formed independent companies began such as Atlantic, Chess, Specialty, and Modern were crucial for the production and distribution of RB recordings. According to online data form Encarta, another important industrial change was the rise of television in the United States in the late 1940s. For fear that television would make radio stations obsolete, many owners sold their radio stations. The new radio station owners turned to urbanized black Americans. These emergent black oriented radio stations allowed the new independent record companies to air the sounds of Rhythm and Blues to a black urban audience. Although the sounds of black urban music were being performed throughout the United States, the recordings of RB began on two coasts. Big band jazz musician Louis Jordon formed a small ensemble in 1938, which he eventually named the Tympany Five. Jordon recorded primarily in the up tempo beat using the horn driven style of the jump blues. The jump blues style he originated rapidly spread among black musicians, with distinctive regional variants emerging in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Memphis, Tennessee. Jordon influenced every RB artist in the 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s. There were two other styles of RB that were popular in the late 1940s and early 1950s. It was the instrumental strain on jump blues and featuring a coarse, honking tenor saxophone sound. (Encarta) In the early1950s the strains of Rhythm and Blues began to be directed towards teenagers instead of adults. The vocal group style of the 1940s had given way to the 1950s doo wop. As Handyside states Rhythm and Blues vocal groups or doo wop groups, were becoming more and more popular. It was called Doo wop because of the nonsense syllables the vocalists would often use. It featured close harmony singing at slower tempos. Artists such as the Five Keys, the Coasters and the Drifters, sang songs with lyric themes that voiced concerns of American teenagers. (13) Motown soul music in the 1960s saw three important styles of R&B; the Chicago soul, which was influenced by gospel music songs, the Motown sound, which combined songwriting with a straightforward vocal, and southern soul, which was the most gospel influence style of RB. Chicago soul was epitomized by the work of singer and songwriter Curtis Mayfield with the group the Impressions. Mayfield wrote songs of faith and inspiration which featured several different lead singers trading vocal lines in the call and response fashion. In 1959 the Motown record company was founded by former boxer turned musician Berry Gordy Jr. Gordy was so successful at developing a recognizable sound for Motown that the company name quickly began to be a designation for a genre of music. The music he produced had its roots in gospel, jazz, and rhythm and blues, but with the Mo-town Sound. Its success was also due in part to the songwriting efforts of Lamont Dozier and brothers Eddie and Brian Holland. Motown represented the sound of American youth through most of the 1960s and for an independent record company, achieved unprecedented success. The Motown artist of the 1960s included Diana Ross with vocal group the Supremes, the one and only, singer and songwriter Smokey Robinson with the group the Miracles, and the Temptations. The majority of Motown artist were vocal groups that updated the doo wop style of the 1950s with a heavy, even beat. Southern soul was originated by James Brown and Ray Charles. On many of the early soul records, Charles would take a traditional religious song and transform it into a secular paean to love. Handyside states Rhythm and Blue’s first true superstar and all around musical innovator was Ray Charles. It is not often that one can point to a single song and claim that it invented a new genre, but this was the case with Charles. In 1954 Charles hit song â€Å"I Got a Woman† was the popular notion of â€Å"soul† music. He took the gospel song â€Å"I Got Religion† and changed the lyrics from a song about God to a song about a woman. The music’s bouncing feel was straight out of church and had a strong sense of syncopation. By adding a gospel flavor to the music, Charles had reconnected RB with the spiritual roots and rhythms of African Americans. (11) Handyside states James Brown was a contemporary of Ray Charles. Browns innovations in soul music, style, and live performance had earned him the nickname â€Å"The Godfather of Soul.† Brown had a raspy, soulful voice that he combined with his fancy dance moves. By the mid 1960s he was taking soul in a whole new direction. He laid the ground work for what would be called funk music. Southern soul had remained a significant presence in popular music throughout the 1970s. (19) In the late 1960s at the height of soul music’s popularity, there were significant changes and cultural views began to be articulated by many black Americans. By the end of the 1970s, the soul/RB sound had been eclipsed by the music it had influenced, disco and funk. With the help of James Brown, funk music began to emerge in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Funk was a looser form of soul music. It was based around the groove of the bass guitar, funk songs would stretch out well past the usual three to four minutes of a soul song. According to Handyside, funk’s appeal was limited, and in the late 1960s, rock artist improvised and broke the rules they were also stretching their songs out into extended â€Å"jams.† Funk de-emphasized melody and harmony, bringing rhythm, it often had loud horn sections, scratchy guitar rhythms that extended into wild guitar solos, and was short on lyrical content. Funk musicians tended to favor one line sayings. This style was adopte d by a number of artists. Musicians synthesized the funk style with elements from white rock music. (33) Disco rivaled funk’s popularity in the early 1970s and surpassed it by the middle of the decade. Hanydside states, like funk, disco was a dance oriented style. It was born out of funk, mixed with the slick Philly Soul. It was named not for any particular characteristic of its music, but after the places where it was originally played, the discotheques. (38) By the mid 1970s funk’s grooves had been smoothed over to help create disco. In contrast to funk, disco was dominated by arrangements featuring strings and synthesizers to boost the important beats. Disco was viewed by many as a substantial treat to rock music. It gave rise to a handful of highly original ensembles, as Earth, Wind Fire and the Fatback Band. Although the craze for disco eventually waned, it was an important source of rhythms and sounds in hip hop, techno and house music. (39) According to online data from Encarta, in the late 1980s and 1990s disco gave way to other genres like hip hop and rap music. By the early 1990s, hip hop had become a major force in music. Hip hop began when DJs such as Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, and Africa Bambaataa would mix beats or â€Å"breaks† of funk and disco records so that people could dance to the beat continuously. In 1991 Mary J. Blige teamed up with producer Sean â€Å"Puff Daddy† Combs and added the hip hop attitude to RB. Blige was one of the first artists to blend urban, contemporary RB singing with hip hop beats, rhymes, and attitude. Machlis and Forney states that after a while people began to rhyme or â€Å"rap† over these beats. The first rap recording was â€Å"Rapper’s Delight,† by the Sugarhill Gang in 1979. The technological developments of the early 1980s, including the use of synthesizers and other electronic devices, paved the way for rap, a highly rhythmic style of musical patter that had been popular with New York audiences in the 1970s and later developed wider appeal. Run DMC was largely responsible for the commercialization of rap, their collaboration with Aerosmith on the cover recording of the 1977 hit song Walk This Way introduced the style to white audiences. A year later, conscious rap found its prominent voice in the group Public Enemy. Public Enemy produced several highly influential rap albums. Rap in its diversified forms has continued as one of the most popular types of African American music. (606-607) In the late 1980s rap’s controversial subgenres, gangsta rap raised with the debut album Straight Outta Compton. (Encarta) Machlis and Forney states gangsta rap of the 1990s has further disseminated the style through graphic descriptions of inner city realities. The violent shooting deaths of Tupac Shakur in 1996 and Notorious B.I.G in 1997, has highlighted the violence associated with this musical style. (607) Rhythm and blues did more than just influence other music. It allowed African Americans to sing about their own experiences in their own style and in their own words. Today it is still here in dance parties on Saturday night’s and in churches on Sunday morning. Rhythm and Blues and soul continue to thrive now even more so than rock ‘n’ roll, which dominated the mainstream for so many years. From the classic soul singing of artists such as D’Angelo and Maxwell, to Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, to the eclectic experiment of Andre’ of the hip hop group Outkast. These musicians carry on the tradition of earlier innovators such as Ray Charles, Prince, and Michael Jackson. R B has by far taken over in the 21st century. Although Rhythm and Blue was considered strictly black music, it is loved today by people of all races. One thing we all know is that music of all kinds is the expression of emotion. From folk songs, to religious chants; the range and diversity of music is almost incomprehensible. It has been said that the best way to learn about the people, and its culture, is to observe and listen to their music. Music is all powerful because it stimulates, manipulates and dissipates our moods through the emotions. Music, in our culture, functions in many ways; it can make work more enjoyable, create a fraternity among men, encourage a spirit of worship, and be an expression of emotion. Music can make hard work seem easier, or rather, make it tolerable. If you don’t believe me next time you drive past a house that is undergoing construction or anywhere people are doing hard manual labour, stop and listen for music. Quite often there is a radio blasting. Rhythm and blues music in the 21st century has been used to encourage a spirit of worship and to communicate with God. Many churches today begin their services with some form of worship music, whether it’s all through song or just playing of the Organ. In some form it’s designed to gear people’s minds to hear a word from God. My Church in particular has one hour of worship before the service begins. Although rhythm and blues is not a favorite listen to music by many, we can all agree that its style is the most powerful on earth depending on your age. It can make you fall in love, strike down an enemy, or weep for lost friends. Its style is also a source of reconciliation, exhilaration, and hope that never fails† I thank God for blessing many musicians with the gift of music, If it hadn’t been for one particular song I might be married to my husband today. Without music in everyday life, the world would be an extremely hostile and maybe even an ugly place to be. Music has become the most powerful freedom given by God. Works Cited Handyside, Chris. A History of Soul and RB. A history of American music. Oxford: Heinemann Library, 2006. Machlis, Joseph, Kristine Forney, The Enjoyment of Music: An Introduction to Perceptive Listening. New York: W.W. Norton, 2000. Rhythm and blues. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 17   May   2008. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9063492. Rhythm-and-Blues Music, Microsoft ® Encarta ® Online Encyclopedia 2008 http://encarta.msn.com 1997-2008 Microsoft Corporation.

Philosophical Anthropology, Human Nature and the Digital Culture :: Philosophy Philosophical Papers

Philosophical Anthropology, Human Nature and the Digital Culture ABSTRACT: Within contemporary Western philosophy, the issues of human nature and our place in the cosmos have largely been ignored. In the resulting vacuum, the various subcultures that have grown up around the digital computer (the so-called "digital culture") have been actively defining and shaping popular conceptions of what it means to be human and the place of humanity in the digital era. Here one finds an implicit view of human nature that includes recurrent themes such as: an emphasis on mind as information independent of the physical body, the obsolescence of the human body, the elimination of human particularity, the malleability of human nature, and the logic and orderliness of the computer as a metaphor for the cosmos. This view of human nature shares important characteristics with Cartesian and Christian views of human nature long rejected by philosophers. A renewal of the philosophical anthropology movement — devoted to the issues of human nature and humanity's pl ace in the cosmos — permits us to see the inadequacy of the conception of human nature implicit in the digital culture. What am I that I am a human being? What is my place in the nature of things? At the close of the twentieth century, facing the dawn of a new millennium, the goal of paidea or philosophy educating humanity might best be achieved by philosophy recovering and reaffirming its interest in these two anthropological questions. In this essay I defend this claim through an analysis of the view of human nature implicit in the digital culture. For the past several decades, while philosophers have largely ignored anthropological issues, the sub-cultures swirling around computers and other digital technologies have been busy shaping and defining the way in which human nature will be conceived in the next millennium. More often than not, however, these views of human nature are produced in a philosophical and critical vacuum with little thought given to what we as human beings are and what we might become. Philosophers must address this vacuum by renewing their responsibility to speak to these iss ues, once again taking up the work of articulating a philosophical anthropology and providing the guidance on these issues that they once did. Reflection on our nature as human beings and our place in the cosmos has a long tradition in philosophy throughout the world and has surely been a central concern in the history of Western philosophy.

Virginia Woolf Essay -- essays papers

An Author’s Brush Virginia Woolf is not unlike any other truly good artist: her writing is vague, her expression can be inhibited, and much of her work is up to interpretation from the spectator. Jacob’s Room is one of her novels that can be hard to digest, but this is where the beauty of the story can be found. It is not written in the blatant style of the authors before her chose and even writers today mimic, but rather Jacob’s Room appears more like a written painting than a book. It is as if Woolf appeared tired and bored of the black and white style of writing that dominated her culture and chose to use a paintbrush to write her story. This individualistic technique is essential to how Woolf creates a portrait of Jacob, the title character of the novel. The portrait the reader gets of Jacob is entirely questionable throughout the entire story, just like any understanding of a human in life is more about opinion than fact. This is how Woolf captures life, the reader’s view of Jacob is almost completely based on interpretations from other characters. These various assessments of Jacob form together to make the collective portrait of Jacob. Woolf states that â€Å"Multiplicity becomes unity, which somehow the secret of life† (147), the secret of the novel as well. The impressions of Jacob are from many different types of characters in the book. There are random people that we don’t even get the name of, Jacob’s own mother, those that love Jacob and even those whom Jacob love. All these impressions are woven on a common thread, that all human being’s have a need to break isolation and cherish attention, love and concreteness. Jacob’s mother, Betty Flanders, sets up her portrait of Jacob as a son that she has lost. Betty Fland... ...s less a true depiction of Jacob himself, but rather the people that tried to interpret him. Jacob's Room is not finally about Jacob, but about the world that forms him. Trying to understand Jacob is task that is just as difficult as finding a place for his empty shoes, at best those who felt closest to Jacob were just observers of his life, â€Å"observer(s)...choked with observations† (75). The portrait of Jacob created from the novel is less a portrait and more like a â€Å"cavern of mystery, endowing Jacob Flanders with all sorts of qualities he had not at all† (80). Our portrait of Jacob is painted to us by Virginia Woolf about the dubiety, skepticism and wonder over true human existence and if it is at all possible to achievew it. Jacob’s own room is exactly that, something so real and physical that is at the same time departed and lifeless. Bibliography:

Compensation Management Essay

Compensation does not refer, however, to other kinds of eployee rewards such as recognition ceremonies and achievement parties. The ultimate objectives of compensation administration are: efficient maintenance of a productive  workforce,  equitable pay, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations based on what companies can afford. The basic concept of compensation administration—compensation management—is rather simple: employees perform tasks for employers and so companies pay employees wages for the jobs they do. Consequently, compensation is an exchange or a transaction, from which both parties—employers and employees—benefit: both parties receive something for giving something. Compensation, however, involves much more than this simple transaction. From the employer’s perspective, compensation is an issue of both affordability and  employee motivation. Companies must consider what they can reasonably afford to pay their employees and the ramifications of their decisions: will they affect  employee turnover  and productivity? In addition, some employers and managers believe pay can influence employee work ethic and behaviour and hence link compensation to performance. Moreover social, economic, legal, and political forces also exert influence on compensation management, making it a complicated yet important part of managing a business. Compensation and Reward system plays vital role in a business organization. Since, among four Ms, i. e Men, Material, Machine and Money, Men has been most important factor, it is impossible to imagine a business process without Men. Advantages of Fair Compensation System: Therefore a fair compensation system is a must for every business organization. The fair compensation system will help in the following: 1. If an ideal compensation system is designed, it will have positive impact on the efficiency and results produced by workmen. 2. Such system will encourage the normal worker to perform better and achieve the standards fixed. 3. This system will encourage the process of job evaluation. It will also help in setting up an ideal job evaluation, which will have transparency, and the standards fixing would be more realistic and achievable. . Such a system would be well defined and uniform. It will be apply to all the levels of the organization as a general system. 5. The system would be simple and flexible so that every worker/recipient would be able to compute his own compensation receivable. 6. Such system would be easy to implement, so that it would not penalize the workers for the reasons beyond their control and would not result in exploitation of workers. 7. It will raise the morale, efficiency and cooperation among the workers. It, being just and fair would provide satisfaction to the workers. 8. Such system would help management in complying with the various labor acts. 9. Such system would also bring about amicable settlement of disputes between the workmen union and management. 10. The system would embody itself the principle of equal work equal wages. Encouragement for those who perform better and opportunities for those who wish to excel. Need for designing of compensation Policy: After going through the role and essentials of a sound compensation system, it becomes imperative that every business organization should be set up for itself a proper Compensation Policy. The Management of the organization must have well-designed Compensation Policy. The policy calls for deciding the criteria for promotions, up-gradations etc. It would also be necessary to fix up the standard expectations from each and every workmen/employee. The policy should determine the norms to be followed for Performance Appraisal or Job Evaluation. It should also chalk out the need for training, provisions for fringe benefits, welfare schemes etc. It must prescribe the manner in which such benefits would be extended and levels within the organization to which such benefits are extendable. The incentive schemes and its details, Pay package structure, Tax implications etc. are matters of concern while designing the compensation Policy. Importance of Compensation System: Money makes the mare go is the proverb. It holds good for all the factors participating in the business process expects its fair share of prosperity of the business. Compensation/ Reward System play a vital role in the business organization. And its importance can be very well ascertained as follows: 1. Sound Compensation/Reward System brings amicability and peace in the relationship of employer and employees. . The system brings out the best out of every employee in the organization. It aims at creating a healthy competition among them. And as such, encourages them to work hard and efficiently. 3. The system provides adequate opportunities to those who wish to perform better. The system provides growth and advancement opportunities to the deserving employees. 4. The system upholds the principle of equal wages. It provides transparency and parity too. 5. The perfect Compensation system provides platform for happy and satisfied workforce, this minimizes the labour turnover. The organization enjoys the stability. 6. The organization is able to retain the best talent by providing them adequate compensation thereby stopping them from switching over to another job. 7. The business organization can think of expansion and growth if it has the support of skillful, talented and happy workforce. 8. The sound Compensation system is hallmark of Organization’s success and prosperity. The success and stability of organization is measured with pay-package it provides to its employees. 9. Both employer and employees get benefited because of the sound Compensation System. 0. A sound Compensation System helps the organization keep pace with changing environment. It helps the organization to cope up with the wage levels in neighboring industries. 11. Sound Compensation System minimizes the complaints from the employees, provides them the congenial work environment to perform better and sets up for them the targets to be achieved. Definite targets help employees kn ow their role in the organization, which minimize wastage, and enhance overall efficiency. It also helps organization to reduce the cost of production and maximize profits The Compensation System Time RatePiece rate BonusProfit sharingIndirect Monetary Incentive Time Rate System: This system is divided into three categories. Time Rates Ordinary level High Wage LevelGraduated Time Rates Ordinary Level: It is calculated on time (daily, monthly, weekly etc. )The formula for calculation of salary is Rate per hour X Hours worked = Earnings (RPH X HW=E). High Wage Level: It is calculated on hourly basis put over time is not paid. The formula for calculation of salary is RPH X HW = E Graduate System: Payment: the basic is linked with dearness cost of living. The index of cost of living is varying and that is considered for calculating the remuneration. Formula: Basic Salary is Rs. 2,000/- and Cost of living Index (D. A) is 100% then, Rs 2000+100% of Rs 2000 as cost of living is added, thus total remuneration is Rs. 4000/-. It is after 6 months, cost of living index change 150%. Then basic salary + 150 % of basic salary si. e Rs 3,000/- will make it Rs, 5000. Piece Rate/ Payment Rate (Payment by Results) System of Piece Rate (Payment by Results) Straight Piece RatePiece ;amp; Time Combination Differential Piece Rate Taylor System Merrick System Gantt Task System Straight Piece Rate: Payment: Flat rate is applicable per unit, which is predetermined. The time spent is not considered. Formula: PPR X O = Earnings. Piece Rate and Time Rate Combinations: Payment: It is a dual rate system, designed to perfect inefficient workers. The worker is ensured to get the minimum payment. If the payment is calculated on the basis of piece rate guarantees and number of pieces fall below the minimum wages guaranteed, he is paid by time Rate. Differential Piece rate: Payment: In favour of piece rate system, minimum wages were assured. However, under this system, instead of combining time-rate and piece-rate, there are dual rates for different efficiency level. The purpose behind keeping high piece rate for higher efficiency is as the level of production increases, the cost per unit falls. Bonus: Bonus is given by the company to their employees as a reward. It is been fixed by the government i. e 8. 33%. Bonus encourages the employees to work hard. It is a motivating factor for the employees to improve their efficiency. Profit Sharing: Profit Sharing is the most motivating factor. When the company makes profit it gives some kind of share to their employees as an Annual increment. This helps to motive employees to work hard and get more increment. Indirect Monetary Incentive: Indirect Monetary Incentives like traveling allowance, HRA, Dearness allowance, medical facility etc. are very motivating for the employees. Elements or ingredients of a good wage plan: Before we discuss these two plans, it would be fruitful to know the ingredients of a good wage plan. These are:- 1. It should be easily understandable i. e all the employees should easily understand what they are to get for their work. They should be instructed in how the wage plan works. 2. It should be capable of easy computation i. e. it should be sufficiently simple to permit quick calculation. Mathematical tables may be supplied, by reference to which calculations can be quickly made. 3. It should be capable of effectively motivating the employees, i. e it should provide an incentive for work. If both the quality and quantity of work are to be stressed at the same time, a plan should be selected that will not unduly influence the worker to work too fast or to become careless about quality. . It should provide for remuneration to employees as soon as possible after the effort has been made. Daily or weekly payment of wage would be preferable to induce employees to work. 5. It should be relatively stable rather than frequently varying so that employees are assured of a stable amount of money. Reasons or factors affecting wage differentials: Wages differ in different employments or occupations, industries and loc alities, and also between persons in the same employment or grade. One therefore comes across such terms as occupational wage differentials. Wage differentials have been classified into three categories: First, the differentials that can be attributed to imperfections in the employment markets, such as the limited knowledge of workers in regard to alternative job opportunities available elsewhere, obstacles to geographical, occupational or inter-firm mobility of workers, or time lags in the adjustments of resource distribution and changes in the scope and structure of economic activities. Examples of such wage differentials are inter-industry; inter firm and geographical or inter-area wage differentials. Second, the wage differentials which originate in social values and prejudices and which are deeper and more persistent than economic factors. Wage differentials by sex, age, status or ethnic origin belong to this category. Third, occupational wage differentials, which would exist even if employment markets were perfect and social prejudices, were absent. Wage differential arises because of the following factors:- a. Difference in the efficiency of the labour, which may be due to inborn quality, education and conditions under which work may be done. . The existence of non-competing group due to difficulties in the way of the mobility of labour from low paid to high paid employments. c. Difference in the agreeableness or social esteem of employment. d. Differences in the nature of employment and occupations. Norms for Fixation of Wages in Industry: 1. While computing the minimum wages, the standard working class family should be considered as consisting of four consumption units and t he earnings of women, children and adolescents should be excluded. . The minimum food requirements should be determined on the grounds of a net intake of 2700 calories as laid down by Akroyd for a normal adult in India. 3. Clothing needs should be established on the basis of a per capita consumption of 16. 62 meters per year. 4. As regards housing, the minimum wages should be determined from the standpoint of the rent corresponding to the minimum area specified under the government Industrial Housing Scheme. 5. Miscellaneous expenditure on items such fuel, lighting etc. hould from 20 per cent of the total minimum wage. The resolution further prescribes that the authorities involved in the issue should justify any deviation from these norms. Retirement benefits related enactments in India: Employees’ Provident Fund Act The Act was passed with a view to making some provision for the future of the industrial worker after his retirement or for his dependents in case of his early death and inculcating the habit of saving among the workers. The object of the Act is to provide substantial security and timely monetary assistance to industrial employees and their families when they are in distress and or unable to meet family and social obligations and to protect them in old age, disablement, early death of the bread winner and in some other contingencies. The act provides for a scheme for the institution of Provident Fund for specified classes of employees. Accordingly, the Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme was framed under Section 5 of the Act, which came into force on 1st November, 1952. Main features of the Act The Act is applicable to factorize and other establishments engaged in specified industries classes of establishment, which have completed three years of their existence and employing 20 or more persons. The Act, however, does not apply to co-operative societies employing less than 50 persons and working without the aid of power. An establishment, which is not otherwise coverable under the Act, can be covered voluntarily with the mutual consent of the employer and the majority of the employees. Employees drawing a pay not exceeding Rs. 5000 per month (And now it is amended to Rs. 6500/- ecently) are eligible for membership of the fund. Every employee employed in or in connection with the fund from the date of joining the factory or establishment. The normal rate of contribution to the provident fund by the employees and the employers as prescribed in the Act is 10 percent of the pay of the employees. The term â€Å"wages† includes basic wage. Dearness allowance including cash value of food concession and retaining allowance, if any. Employees’ State Insurance Scheme The Employees’ State Insurance Scheme Act, 1948 is a pioneering measure in the field of social insurance in our country. This act came into force from 19th April, 1948. The Scheme under the Act aims at providing for certain cash benefits to employees in the case of sickness, maternity, employment injury and medical facilities in kind, and to make provisions for certain other matters in relations thereto. The term â€Å"employee† has wide connotation and would include within its scope functions of clerical, manual, technical and supervisory. Persons whose remuneration (excluding remuneration for overtime work) does not exceed Rs. 6500 a month are covered under the Act. The Act does not make any distinction between causal or temporary employees or between technical or non-technical employees. Employees employed directly by the principal employer and those employed by or through contractor. However, the definition of â€Å"employee† does not include any member of the Indian naval, military or air force. Compensation Structure and its components: One of the most vital factors the motivation, retention and the morale amongst the employees is the compensation system, policies and review philosophies of any organization. While the bargain able employees generally have their unions to negotiate or review terms with the Management-which are governed by the Long Term Settlements- the terms of the managerial employees are mostly seen to be at the mercy or the goodwill of the organization, reviews of which may or may not be regular or timely, or often do not seem to meet the expectations or logic of such employees. Management Compensation therefore, now plays a very significant part along with the working style and environment, empowerment etc. in the organization’s success strategy. While individual organizations may have differences in their methodologies based on factors best suited their perceived needs, some general directions are evident, and are discussed below. 1. Salary, Basic Salary or Consolidated Salary continues to remain as the major component of compensation, though Salary Scales are often discarded these days, or used only as guides. Individual Salary is generally decided initially using the Scale, but thereafter performance, contribution to targets or results generated determine the revisions periodically, which may vary widely from individual to individual. Salary broad handling is therefore, getting recognition and acceptance. 2. Grade wise flat Allowance is being considered generally, except where tax exemption benefits are still available, when they continue as separate components. Allowances may be linked to the Salary as a percentage or by slabs, but preference is for flat amounts, which do not increase automatically, and therefore increase could be discretionary, and therefore controllable. 3. Reimbursements of expenses incurred on Company work has become limited, and in line to conform to the tax laws. Being actual in most cases, they are not considered as a part of the compensation, unless it is provided towards personal benefits. 4. Annual payments: Bonus or Commission, and Leave travel are common features some tax reliefs apply for the latter. 5. Benefits generally comprise of mostly unfurnished company owned or leased accommodation, use of company or leased vehicles, medical coverage, retrial benefits covering Provident Fund, Pension or Superannuation and Gratuity, post-retrial medical assistance, easy loan schemes at low or zero interest rates for house building, cars or vehicles, furniture or utility items etc. enting employees owned housing, club entrance free reimbursement etc. Minor benefits could be provision of security, driver or gardening assistance, else of products or assets at a concessional rate, relocation and transfer expenses including admission etc. fees for children, credit card fees, phones etc. 6. Employee stock option schemes which has been popular in IT in dustry-,is not extensively used yet, not being tax advantageous to other industries, nor seen as being very attractive with lesser growth trends for their share values especially in the well-established older companies. 7. Most companies, as against earlier visible costs, use the â€Å"Total cost to the Company† concept as basis. Cost of the most benefits are averaged or computed on actual basis, and within the system of the overall cost, but with greater compliance to tax laws, this basket concept is on the wane. 8. Retiral benefits: Some in recognition of the past contribution of pensioners, and to partly offset the inflation post retirement practices periodic improvement in pensions, or a guaranteed grade minimum pension. 9. Performance Bonus that does not increase future liability is being given more as recognition of results generated. It requires transparent, balanced and fair systems and benchmarks, and also agrees targets by the managers in advance during planning and review discussions. 10. From the earlier grade oriented compensation system within reasonable boundaries, compensation often has to be somewhat tailor made for specialist or key contributors to retain them in the very volatile job market. 11. Compensation review periods have become annual generally and sometimes oftener, as compared to every three to five years earlier, in the fast changing market situation. Conclusion To summarize, the need to regularly carry out detailed compensation reviews both within and out of the organisation with full support and commitment from the top is essential. Openness and transparency are important to the managers in the very sensitive and personal issues of management i. e. remuneration, and therefore policies and practices should match. The remuneration and the system have to be fair and dynamic Dealing with human feelings still remains a competitively attractive feature.

Discuss the ideal knowledge management environment

In today's increasing competitive environment and the new economy of brick and click enterprises, knowledge management (KM) can be considered as a business integration discipline which endeavours, ‘to improve the performance of individuals and organisations by maintaining and leveraging the present and future value of knowledge assets' (Newman, B. , ; Conrad, K. W. , 1999, p. 2). While people have criticised information and knowledge management as the same thing, knowledge management is not a new practice but rather the interpretations of knowledge management and its frameworks have incessantly changed. Successful brick and click enterprises are those which frequently management knowledge and recognises knowledge as a source and integration tool to driving the growth and sustainability of business disciplines, and hence acknowledges the high uncertainties of change ‘between the input resources and the business performance outcomes, and, the gaps between the value these enterprises create and the value demanded by changing market conditions, consumer preferences, competitive offerings, changing business models, and, industry structures' (Malhorta, Y. 2004). However, the knowledge creation process does not necessarily lead to business improvements or value creation (Chen, C. J. , ; Huang, J. W. , 2007), but more on how knowledge is handled, circulated and applied within a virtual environment, enabling knowledge flows between the individual and its organisational culture. Therefore, it is the purpose of this essay to discuss the ideal environment, in which value can only be created when knowledge is dispersed and adequately applied where needed by use of knowledge management methods; furthermore it will acknowledge that a ‘well-developed knowledge management system would stimulate the creativity of each employee by providing exactly the knowledge that employee needs to be optimally creative' (Finneran, T. Online, No Date). You can read also Portfolio Management Quizzes In the new maturing economy the management of knowledge is a critical factor for the success and competitive advantage of any organisation; as is the generating of new knowledge to fulfil organisational objectives and to achieve greater business optimisation. According to Resnick, L. M. , (2004, p. 87), as contemporary organisations evolve to a more virtual structure, they lose and gain relationships among employees, managers, customers and suppliers on an irregular basics; and without practical management, the knowledge created through these relationships will be lost. Therefore, assembling an ‘effective knowledge management will enable organisations to protect themselves from the losses experienced when employees and partners terminate their relationship with the company' (Resnick, L. M. , 2004, p. 288).Business Management Study Guide While experts have argued that information and/or knowledge management practices is not only about the administration of information, but rather entails management requirements for knowledge management systems to be integrated to all aspects of the virtual environment; a well-constructed knowledge management system will impede the production and collaboration of creativity across all organisational subunits. Finneran, T. (Online, No date) describes knowledge management in a nut shell where ‘Knowledge Management envisions getting the Right Information within the Right Context to the Right Person at the Right Time for the Right Business Purpose'. This view suggests the ideal environment in which individuals or group knowledge should be effectively communicated across all organisational divisions in ways which directly impact on business performance. Essentially, the ideal knowledge management environment will cultivate and take advantage of existing and new knowledge through the implementation and combination of KM methodologies, best practices, frameworks, and technologies that will ultimately stimulate the development of creativity and innovative ideas of human beings. In essence, the basic concept of knowledge management is about sharing knowledge to leverage existing knowledge, stimulate innovation and to achieve operational effectiveness. As KM matures many companies will start to look at KM with a more holistic approach, but ‘research shows that although many companies have begun to develop some sort of knowledge management capabilities, very few (6%) have implemented knowledge management programs on an enterprise-wide scale' (Kidwell, J. J. , Vander Linde, K. M. , ; Johnson, S. L. , 2000, p. 30). The conception on KM best practises should not primarily focus on one single type of initiative for competitive advantage, but instead centre around building on the core business capabilities and processes around knowledge sharing. For instance, knowledge sharing can be achieved through the creation of a knowledge community aimed to capture knowledge from individuals and store in teams and the organisation; taking an institutional global approach in facilitating knowledge as needed and in breaking down the cultural barriers between organisation and its customers. Finneran, T. , (Online, No Date) suggest that ‘practitioners of Knowledge Management have found that a critical success factor in the implementation of knowledge management is the creation of a cultural environment that encourages the sharing of information'. Knowledge communities can be viewed as ‘Global communities of interest' which stimulates virtual and global interactions through common categories of interest, which are not bounded and tied up to by physical and organisational impediments. Several KM best practices and trends have emerged over the last few years and are forecasted to shape the way knowledge is to be managed. It includes the materialisation of technology solutions, the union of knowledge management with e-business, movement from limited KM projects to enterprise-wide project and increasing the use of KM to enhance innovation and of tactic knowledge rather than explicit knowledge. (Kidwell, J. J. , Vander Linde, K. M. , ; Johnson, S. L. , 2000, p. 29). Generally, knowledge can be very difficult to codify and can also be very highly subjective. Two type of knowledge which is recognised in KM are explicit and tactic, and when applied productively within an organisation it can help to increase competitive advantage through innovation and knowledge sharing. Ideally, tactic knowledge would better guide actions and make better informed decisions based on the ability utilise on perception, hands-on skills, experiences, know-hows, insights and so on. Tactic knowledge is personal, difficult to formalise, communicate and transfer; ultimately it is knowledge that is embedded within people in an organisation. Seonghee, K. , (1999) suggests that KM best practices draw on tactic knowledge for creativity and ‘ensures tasks effectiveness – that the right things are being done so that work unit could attain its objectives. It also provides for a kind of creative robustness — intuition and heuristic can often tackle tough problems that would otherwise be difficult to solve'. Functionally, knowledge management frameworks offer a myriad of possibilities for organisations and help to build the integrity of knowledge dispersal and application within an organisation, providing the countless benefits in applying a KM framework which builds on the concept of knowledge management in specifics to the organisational environment, its business processes and activities. With the paradigm shift and phenomenon of the need and understanding of knowledge management over the last several years, many experts have proposed a number of approaches to KM frameworks, each of which have only addressed certain aspects of knowledge management. Holsapple, C. W. , and Joshi, K. D. , (1999, p. ) broadly classifies KM frameworks into two categories; descriptive frameworks which attempts to characterise the nature of the KM phenomena with additional sub categories including board and specific frameworks to describe the whole of the KM phenomena, and prescriptive frameworks stipulates the methodologies for performing knowledge management. For instances, the ‘Core Capabilities and Knowledge Building' framework initiated by Leonard-Barton, D. (1995), and as described in Holsapple, C. W. , and Joshi, K. D. , (1999, p. 2) paper, focuses on the profundity in the characterisation of the KM phenomenon and therefore categorising it as a board framework. This KM framework introduced by Leonard-Barton (1995), encompasses four knowledge building activities that encircle the four core capabilities, which Leonard-Barton asserts is central to a knowledge based organisation (KBO). The four knowledge building activities aimed at knowledge creation and diffusion are acknowledged in the framework as: shared and creative problem solving, implementing and integrating new methodologies and tools, experimenting and prototyping, and importing and absorbing technologies from outside of the firm's knowledge. In addition, Leonard-Barton expresses that these four knowledge building activities are influenced by the core capabilities identified in the framework as being: the physical systems such as databases, employee knowledge and skills, managerial systems such as rewards and incentives systems, and the organisational values and norms (Holsapple, C. W. , & Joshi, K. D. , 1999, p. 2). This framework is used to better understand knowledge management and its characteristics of the implication in a KBO environment. Thus, the dynamic perspective on KM frameworks does not end with knowledge as a final solution, but instead emphasises on the continuous growth, renewal, exchange and communication processes. Hence KM frameworks can offer a structure, ‘for balancing the myriad of technologies and approaches that provide value, tying them together into a seamless whole. It helps analysts and designers better address the interests of stakeholders across interrelated knowledge flows and, by doing so, better enables individuals, systems and organisations to exhibit truly intelligent behavior in multiple contexts' (Newman, B. & Conrad, K. W. , 1999, p. 2). ‘Organisations are already realising that it does no good to have robust technology solutions if the existing culture prevents knowledge sharing, and conversely that it does little good to have pockets of robust knowledge sharing without some technological means of making knowledge widely accessible' (Kidwell, J. J. , Vander Linde, K. M. , & Johnson, S. L. , 2000, p. 30). Therefore, it should not be assumed that technology is the enabler of KM, but should be perceived as a vehicle for driving the concept of ‘knowledge diffusion' in a KM environment. Nowadays, the outlook of promising technological tools for KM can help to support and improve the process of knowledge transfer. Technological tools such as, search engines, storage media, groupware, web-based platforms, portals, emails and basic collaborative tools can help to facilitate and assist individuals and groups in the creation, retention and the diffusion of knowledge. Increasingly, the use of portals is being implemented in many corporate environments for the convenient storage of meta-data, and integration of collaborative tools, emails, into one application. Kidwell, J. J. , Vander Linde, K. M. , & Johnson, S. L. , (2000, p. 30) also makes an interesting statement which suggests ‘As organizations share their lessons learned about implementing knowledge management programs, some are discovering the interdependent nature of KM capabilities. They are finding that a balanced portfolio of knowledge management initiatives yields the best results and that excelling at technology-related capabilities does not preclude excelling at people- or process-related capabilities'. Additionally, as more brick and click enterprises grow, the harder it becomes to determine what technological tools, KM methods, and best practices are to be utilised in determining the needs of individuals, groups and the organisational culture, but ‘once sound strategies based on these essential principles are articulated, the requisite technologies are chosen, and information platforms and technology architectures are built accordingly', though it may sound simple it can not always guarantee the successful deployment of a KM system (Riley, T. B. , 2003, p. 4). In a learning environment KM should not be based on a technocentric approach to creating the ideal KM environment; but instead use technology as a facilitator to simulate knowledge sharing and creativity for the development of innovation. The virtual enterprise should aspire to revolutionise itself into a knowledge-based environment which continually should aim to create, acquire and transfer knowledge to the right person when and where required. In creating the ideal KM environment there are many tools, methods, frameworks, and techniques which can be applied in stimulating the creativity of each employee. However, the assortments of KM methodologies which can be found through examples of other virtual organisations and case studies, does not necessarily lead to business improvements or value creation when applied to one's own virtual enterprise; but more on how knowledge created is disseminated and applied across the organisational culture, between individuals and teams. In summary, KM is fast becoming a chief factor for organisations in determining their competitive advantage, and without a well-developed KM system or knowledge creation process will render the organisation from succeeding.