Critique of Shindlers List essays

Critique of Shindlers List essays Schindler's List is one of the most powerful stories of all time. It tells the true story of the German businessman Oskar Schindler who comes to Poland looking for economic expansion with a new factory and leaves as a savior of more than 1,100 Jews. The Holocaust is truly one of the most devastating occurrences in history and is an incredibly hard topic to expand on. Thomas Keneally does an amazing job in writing what many wouldnt dare. The story starts out in the early stages of World War II. The German forces defeat the Polish with ease and within weeks the Jews are forced out of their homes to report to a train station, where their names are registered. People tease and yell at any Jew they see in the street. Oskar Schindler, a German businessman visits the ghetto. He wishes to see Itzhak Stern, a Jewish man is who good at accounting and used to own a pot-making factory. Jews are no longer allowed to own businesses, so Oskar makes a deal with Itzhak so he can work for Schindler. It is at this point where the reader cannot put the book down. All Jews are now forced to pack their things and move out of their homes by German soldiers. They are assigned new homes. The next morning, the people are gathered outside and information on their education and working experiences are reported. The way Keneally describes everything is truly haunting. Some of the Jews that can't be used for work are loaded into trucks and sent off to concentration camps. Oskar lives near the ghetto and he witnesses many of the pandemoniums and gets all teary eyed. It seems like under Sterns influence, I believe Schindler at this point truly shows signs of having a good heart and you can feel his sympathy for the Jews. Soon after this event thousands of Jews are shipped off on a train to a concentration camp. By mistake, Itzhak Stern is placed on a train because he forgot his working card. Oskar hears of this mistake and rushes down to the station and ...

Life of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Rocket Science Pioneer

Life of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Rocket Science Pioneer Konstantin E. Tsiolkovsky (September 17, 1857 –  September 19, 1935) was a scientist, mathematician, and theoretician whose work became the basis for the development of rocket science in the Soviet Union. During his lifetime, he speculated about the possibility of sending people into space. Inspired by science fiction writer Jules Verne and his stories of space travel,  Tsiolkovsky became known as the father of rocket science and dynamics whose work directly led to his countrys involvement in the space race. Early Years Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky was born on September 17, 1857 in Ishevskoye, Russia. His parents were Polish; they raised  17 children in the harsh environment of Siberia. They recognized the young Konstantins great interest in science, even as he suffered an attack of scarlet fever at the age of 10. This illness took away his hearing, and his formal schooling came to an end for a while, although he continued to learn by reading at home. Eventually, Tsiolkovsky was able to gain enough education to start college in Moscow. He finished his education and qualified to become a teacher, working in a school in a town called Borovsk. That is where he married Varvara Sokolova. Together, they raised two children, Ignaty and Lyubov. He spent much of his life living in Kaluga, a small village near Moscow. Developing the Principles of Rocketry Tsiokovsky began his development of rocketry by considering philosophical principles of flight. Over the course of his career, he ultimately wrote more than 400 papers on that and related subjects. His first works began in the late 1800s when he wrote a paper called Theory of Gases. In it, he examined the kinetics of gases, and then went on to study the theories of flight, aerodynamics, and the technical requirements for airships and other vehicles. Tsiokovsky continued exploring a variety of flight issues, and in 1903, he published The Exploration of Cosmic Space by Means of Reaction Devices. His calculations for achieving orbit, along with designs for rocket craft set the stage for later developments. He focused on specifics of rocket flight, and his rocket equation related the change in velocity for a rocket to the effective exhaust velocity (that is, how fast the rocket goes per unit of fuel it consumes). This came to be known as the specific impulse. It also takes into account the mass of the rocket at the beginning of launch and its mass when the launch is finished. He went on to work on solving problems in rocket flight, focusing on the role of rocket fuel in lofting a vehicle to space. He published the second part to his earlier work, where he discussed the effort a rocket must expend to overcome the force of gravity. Tsiolkovsky stopped working on astronautics prior to World War I and spent the post-war years teaching mathematics. He was honored for his earlier work on astronautics by the newly formed Soviet government, which supplied backing for his continued research. Konstantin Tsiolkovsky died in 1935 and all his papers became the property of the Soviet state. For a while, they remained a closely guarded state secret. Nonetheless, his work influenced a generation of rocket scientists around the world. Tsiolkovskys Legacy In addition to his theoretical work, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky developed aerodynamics test systems and studied the mechanics of flight. His papers covered aspects of dirigible design and flight, as well as the development of powered airplanes with light fuselages. Thanks to his deep research into principles of rocket flight, he has long been considered the father of rocket science and dynamics. Ideas based on his work informed later achievements by such well-known Soviet rocket experts as Sergei Korolev  - an aircraft designer who became the chief rocket engineer for the Soviet Unions space efforts. The rocket engineer designer Valentin Glushko was also a follower of his work, and later in the early 20th century,  German rocket expert Hermann Oberth was influenced by his research. Tsiolkovsky is also often cited as the developer of astronautic theory. This body of work deals with the physics of navigation in space. To develop that, he carefully considered the types of masses that could be delivered to space, the conditions they would face in orbit, and how both rockets and astronauts would survive in the conditions of low Earth orbit. Without his painstaking research and writing, its quite likely that modern aeronautics and astronautics would not have advanced as fast as it did. Along with Hermann Oberth and Robert H. Goddard, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky is considered one of the three fathers of modern rocketry. Honors and Recognition Konstantin Tsiolkovsky was honored during his lifetime by the Soviet government, which elected him to the Socialist Academy in 1913. A monument to the Conquerors of Space in Moscow contains a statue of him. A crater on the Moon is named for him, and among other more modern honors, there was a Google Doodle created to honor his legacy. He was also honored on a commemorative coin in 1987. Konstantin Tsiolkovsky Fast Facts Full Name: Konstantin  Eduoardovich TsiolkovskyOccupation: Researcher and theorist  Born: Sept. 17, 1857 in  Izhevskoye, Russian EmpireParents: Eduoard Tsiolkovsky, mother: name not knownDied: September 19, 1935 in  Kaluka, Former Soviet UnionEducation: self-educated, became a teacher; attended college in Moscow.Key Publications: Investigations of Outer Space by Rocket Devices  (1911), Aims of Astronauts (1914)Spouses Name: Varvara SokolovaChildren: Ignaty (son); Lyubov (daughter)Research Area: Principles of aeronautics and astronautics Sources Dunbar, Brian. â€Å"Konstantin E. Tsiolkovsky.† NASA, NASA, 5 June 2013, www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/rocketry/home/konstantin-tsiolkovsky.html.European Space Agency, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky. ESA, 22 October 2004, esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Exploration/Konstantin_TsiolkovskyPetersen, C.C. Space Exploration: Past, Present, Future. Amberley Books, England, 2017.

The Difficulty of Implementation of the Electronic Health Record and Research Paper

The Difficulty of Implementation of the Electronic Health Record and Ethical Dilemmas of Its Use - Research Paper Example The system can also be used for retrieval of the personal and medical history of the patient. The introduction of such systems has helped the doctors remain up to date about their patients in a much more accurate and easier way. There are many advantages of using the electronic medical record system. The data is centralized and whenever a need arises the data of the related patient can be accessed without any delay. The use of the electronic medical record system also helps when a doctor has suggested some tests for the patient. When the patient gets them done at a laboratory and there is any delay in the retrieval of the records in the printed form, the physician can access the reports through the electronic medical system and therefore there is no delay. It has been seen in many laboratories that there usually is a back log of reports to be printed and the introduction of the system can help get rid of this issue. If we compare the electronic medical record system with the paper re cording system the first major advantage that exists is the storage space. Paper filing system requires a lot of space while the electronic system has no issue (KUTNEY-LEE AND KELLY, 2011). Many physicians who practice privately are not so keen in using the electronic medical record system as they are of the view that as their practice is small and they already do not have a lot of patients, the system would be quite expensive for them and would not prove to be economical. There have been many studies conducted to identify whether the electronic system is effective and at the same cost effective across the whole of the medical circuit. It has been derived from all of the study that has been conducted that the electronic medical record system proves to be cost effective for only large hospitals whereas small clinics and private physicians will find it expensive and in some cases even hard on their finances. Despite many criticisms on the electronic medical record system, many big hos pitals have adopted the system and also connected with each other through a local area network. This corroboration between the hospitals will enhance the medical research that is being carried out as they can share information and data over a secure network without any fear of losing the data or the falling of data in the wrong hands. Some of the big hospitals who have many centers located in different areas use this system to the highest effectiveness as they share medical reports, medicinal data and other information over secure network. The carrying cost of files and paper work from one place to the other is reduced and the data is shared without any hassle and that too in real time. The sharing of the data is a lot easier through the Electronic medical recording system (WATKINS, HASKELL, LUNDBERG, BROKEL, WILSON AND HARDIKER, 2009). CRITICISM There are quite a lot of advantages of using the electronic medical record system but there are still some issues related to cost effectiv eness and security that has made hospital managements vary of implementing the Electronic medical recording system. The concern over security is one of the most pressing issues in the case of Electronic medical recording. The issue is a serious one as many practitioners as well as patients feel that the data is not safe as people have access to it in a much easier way as compared to the paper records (JHA, BURKE, DESROSCHES, JOSHI, KRALOVEC,

Role of the student in higher education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Role of the student in higher education - Essay Example This is also a right approach to ensure that students get the right knowledge so that they can be able to rely on themselves. On the other hand, this form of education will be instrumental in ensuring that the students acquire the necessary job related skills. On the other hands, it provides theoretical knowledge to apply to real work (Kay 2010). These institutions provide social and community incorporated education and hence reinforces the relevance of higher education towards national development. As a result, this strengthens job relevant skills and innovation skills. This will help especially in nursing due to technology influence (Mastrian et al. 2010). Therefore, it can be viewed as a way of making a connection between formal schooling and social/community learning (Baumann & Blythe, 2008). All these ideals help in shaping a career. Higher education is of essence to nursing student as it makes them professional, relevant, and follow regulation. Nursing education is paramount in higher education (HE). This will help in improving nursing knowledge before and after they get their licenses. This is because a difference exist in the practice nurses were educated in the 20th century. These skills are no longer up to quality as compared to the health care needs in the 21st century. This is because patient needs and care setting has become more involved. This has been the case due to the rise of chronic diseases such as diabetes and the ever-increasing aging population. Therefore, nurses need requires competencies to deliver high quality care (Chiarella & McInnes n.d.). Such competencies include leadership, health policy, system improvement, research and evidence based practice, and teamwork as well as collaboration (Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2010). Likewise, competency is needed in different areas. The HE will also help nurses to cater for increasing roles in healthcare and obtain necessary technological skills and data management system (IOM 2010). This will take place as they cooperate and coordinate care across teams of health professionals. On the other hand, nursing should be treated like a profession. In fact, in this decade nursing requires more skill, intelligence, and education. This is because the increasing demand for nurses calls them to have unique and attainments. In the past, uneducated, wicked women were allowed to take care of the sick as nurses. It is also necessary to note that the medical profession was against nurses acquiring education and awareness in the early years (DeNisco & Barker 2012). However, this has changed significantly with the acceptance of health care professionals having learned nurses. Hence, nursing need to be considered as a profession. This way the knowledge they earn will help them in linking theory to practice. Therefore, just as other profession requires a recognised higher education to be able to link theory to practice, the same should apply to nursing. In higher education, nurses get an opp ortunity to learn concepts and put it into practice. In such institutions, nurses get an opportunity to develop critical thinking to manage nursing care and service within a group of intellectuals when meeting the requirements of the patients. For example, they will be able to use the current technology in communicating with doctors in the theatre section. In addition, patient is most likely to be able to trust a nurse based on his or her competency (Price 2013). On the other han

Social Issues in the Criminal Justice Field Essay Example for Free

Social Issues in the Criminal Justice Field Essay All of society deals with social issues, either directly or indirectly. These can be problems or matters affecting all of society, usually in a negative manner. In the US, some predominant social issues include homelessness, domestic violence and gang violence. Criminal justice professionals face these types of issues daily. The criminal justice professional is always active and busy, dealing with countless amounts of criminal activity throughout the country. Every criminal justice professional has a job to do, to better their community and the society they work within. Homelessness is an unfortunate problem that will continue to grow if our society does not make it a national priority to address this issue in a systemic way. In the US more than 3.5 million people experience homelessness each year, which 20% of these families have children. (National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 2014.) The combination of the high cost of living, low-wage jobs, and high unemployment rates only worsen these problems and force countless Americans to choose between food, housing, and other expenses. Homelessness can end, by tackling its root causes and improving support services, such as TANF, housing vouchers and health care. Another crucial issue for criminal justice professionals is domestic violence. Domestic violence is abuse that happens in a personal relationship. It affects men and woman of any ethnic group, race, or religion; gay or straight; rich or poor; teen, adult or elderly. But most of its victims are women. In fact, 1 out of 4 women will be a victim at some point in their life. (U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2014.) Criminal justice professionals serve as a way out to victims of domestic violence; they help with counseling and can also support  the victim through shelter programs. They will also provide services to the perpetrators through voluntary and court mandated batterer intervention programs. As professionals committed to social justice, domestic violence is a social justice issue. One of the most difficult social issues we face as a country is gang violence. A gang is a group of people who claim a territory and use it to make money through illegal activities. Gangs are one of the leading factors for growth of violent crimes; gang violence has become increasingly deadly in the last several decades as a result of the introductions of automatic weapons and drive- by shootings. (Gang Violence and Gun Control, 2013.) Many gangs resort to violence, even homicide, to enforce loyalty and prevent members from leaving. Some criminal justice professionals specialize in gang violence and are only specifically assigned to gang violence crimes. Such specialized units are created in order to focus departmental resources, energy, and skills on specific community problems. The criminal justice system is a vital part of our society and we know that complete, effective, and fair operation of criminal justice system powers is crucial to ending violence, both for releasing individuals and for ending the worldwide epidemic of violence against one another in this human race. The public knows that the police cannot prevent every crime, nor arrest every criminal. However, they expect a criminal justice system, which is reliable, effective, and valued. It must deal with cases proficiently; fight crime in each state and each town in this country. Thus, the society needs criminal justice systems to protect, to discourage and to stop crime. Obviously, the idea of having a system is to ensure justice and equality throughout a social setting. It is a must that criminal justice professionals always stay active and busy, in order to keep up with the progressing crime rates and social issues. Every society has social issues, as these problems evolve, so do the jobs in the criminal justice profession. To remain a viable resource to the community and individuals, whether they are victims or perpetrators, criminal justice professionals must be willing to better the lives of the  people they touch. These social issues can end by tackling its root causes and improving support services. Criminal justice professionals are not the only ones that can help make a difference in these lives but also everyone in the society as a whole, when you come together, changes can happen. References Gang Violence and Gun Control, 2013 http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2013/01/gang_violence_and_gun_control.html U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2014 http://www.statisticbrain.com/domestic-violence-abuse-stats/ National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 2014 http://www.nlchp.org/

Essay --

Introduction There are two types of bacteria that cause Typhus, Rickettsia Typhi and Rickettsia Prowazekii. The form of Typhus depends on which type of bacteria has entered the body and caused the infection. Rickettsia Typhi causes Murine or Endemic Typhus. Endemic Typhus is unusual in the United States. When it is found, its usually seen in areas with poor hygiene and where the temperature is cold. Endemic typhus is sometimes called "jail fever." Murine Typhus typically occurs in the southeastern United States, often during the summer and fall. Risk factors for Murine Typhus include exposure to rat fleas or rat feces. Rickettsia Prowazekii causes both Epidemic Typhus and Brill-Zinsser disease. Brill-Zinsser disease is a far more mild form of Epidemic Typhus. It occurs when the disease re-activates in a person who was previously infected. It is more common in the elderly. Lice and fleas of flying squirrels spread the bacteria. There is no commercially available vaccine against either Endemic or E pidemic typhus. The name given the disease comes from the ancient Greek Typhus meaning smoky or hazy, denoting the condition of mind into which the victim soon lapses after developing his or her first symptoms. Symptoms of Murine or Endemic Typhus may include abdominal pain, backache, raging red rashes, an extremely high fever, hacking followed by a dry cough, headaches, nausea, vomiting and/or joint and muscle pain. Symptoms of Epidemic Typhus may include chills, confusion, Low blood pressure, stupor and/or sensitivity to light. Blood tests may show a low white blood cell count, anemia and low platelets. They may also show a high level of Typhus antibodies, low levels of albumin, low sodium levels and high liver enzymes. Typhus is often c... ...s of Typhus are limited, but the disease has the potential to re-emerge. For example, in Burundi, Africa refugee camps were afflicted in 1997-1998, when about half a million people received the illness. In China in 1999, more than five thousand six hundred people were afflicted following an earthquake. They were forced to live in poor, cold conditions making it the ideal place for a new breakout. In my opinion the United States should entirely rid itself of this disease, including all of the samples held in government labs to preserve as deadly war weapons. The government should also take necessary precaution all over the United States especially in shelters, habitually running tests and routinely ensuring the sanitization of shelters during a natural disaster. These preventive measures will almost guarantee the extermination of the disease in America all together.

Organisational Strategy at Flybe Essay

Introduction For the purposes of this report I have chosen Flybe as my main focus of discussion in the UK and European airline industry. Flybe is Europe’s largest regional airline with 162 routes, operating from a total of 53 departure points. In this report I will analyse why it has made sense for Flybe to build on their strengths of being a regional operator and how they have managed to find a niche in the crowded airline marketplace. I will also discuss their strategy for future growth and how they have chosen their battleground carefully. I will discuss in detail how Flybe is attempting to fulfil its mission statements of â€Å"Low Cost, But not at any cost† and â€Å"To give you safe, efficient and friendly service†(Flybe, 2008). Eye For Travel (2008) reports that Flybe’s financial reports for the year-ending 31 March 2008 show 46% increase in turnover to  £535.9m. There was also a profit before tax of  £53.4m. Flybe’s competitors such as EasyJet, Ryaniar and BMI Baby have not had such positive figures in these tough economic conditions. I have included in this report the capability analysis of Flybe, the stakeholders analysis and how Flybe can utilise its resources to gain competitive advantage. Relevant appendices and a bibliography are included at the end of the report. STRATEGIC CAPABILITY ANALYSIS FOR FLYBE Effectiveness of strategies used 2002-2008 The period 2002-2008 was significant for Flybe. It coincided with a major shift in strategy in response to market conditions. Flybe adopted the LCC business strategy in 2002 (Done, 2003). The author’s aim is to identify the strategies using the Bowman’s Strategy Clock (1995). Evaluation of strategies will be done using the TOWS matrix (see Appendix 1 for Flybe’s strengths and weaknesses). Low Cost No Frills Strategy The adoption of the LCC business model by Flybe as a strategy can arguably be described as the positioning approach. This strategy could not have been planned but was rather an emergent one following the downturn in profits  exacerbated by September the 11th event. A closer analysis of the Bowman’s Strategy Clock reveals that Flybe’s initial strategy was that of low price. According to Done (2003), Flybe’s restructuring process was geared towards competing with the established no-frills airlines. Competition with Ryanair and Easyjet was therefore inevitable, but was this strategy sustainable? How effective was this strategy? According to Grant (2005), to compete effectively with a low cost strategy a company should be having economies of scale, experience curve and a lead on the market. Datamonitor (2007), notes that Flybe has had a lot of experience in the aviation business. It enjoyed economies of scale in its operations. It had a lot of experience in the airline industry. What it did not have was the large market share when it decided to adopt the LCC model of operation. Upon further analysis one can safely argue that this was a major risk that Flybe took by entering into this short haul business. A TOWS matrix analysis of Flybe (Appendix 1) suggests that Flybe adopted an effective strategy because it had strengths like economies of scale, dedicated staff, capital and resources to explore the expanding low cost business. Flybe only needed to offer a competitive product similar to its competitors. As a potential entrant into the business, there was no deterrence from the established airlines to stop Fl ybe from entering the market. On that basis, Flybe can be said to have used an effective strategy. It is also important to look at the strategies that sustained Flybe once it entered the market. Flybe’s Business Strategies Rapid expansion Restructuring of Flybe was associated with the rapid expansion programme. Flybe chairman, Jim French, announced the completion of its five year plan of rapid expansion programme (Annual report of 2007). There was an increase in the number of aircraft, network and profits for the corporation for the period 2002-2007. Rapid expansion was mainly achieved by the acquisition of BA Connect, a subsidiary of British Airways. The acquisition made Flybe one of the largest European LCC (Done, 2007, Annual Report, 2007). This fitted  well with his strategy of competition with its established airlines. However, acquisitions carry their own risks such as human relations problems (that can arise after the acquisition), not easy to dispose of unwanted parts of the company, problems of clash of national cultures particularly where target if foreign and high risks if a wrong company is targeted (Lynch, 2003). Re-branding Flybe has been reframed into a recognisable product on the market. The Flybe brand has continued to grow with passenger volumes up from 4.7million to 7million in 2006 and 2007 respectively (Done, 2007). The forecast for year 2008 was predicted to an annual turnover in excess of  £500 million and passenger volumes of 10 million (Done, 2007). It is debatable that Flybe’s initial plan was to establish itself on the market as phase one of the programme. Against a background of heavy losses, Jim French took a risk that paid off by sustaining Flybe into existence considering the intensity of competition on the market against established brands like Ryanair and Easyjet. Sustaining Flybe on the market would have been the second phase. Flybe adopted a strictly no-frills strategy between 2002 and 2006. However, a shift in strategy has been noted from 2006 onwards. This strategy is that of differentiation. The Differentiation Strategy Examining Bowman’s Strategic Clock (Appendix 2), Flybe has now shifted its strategy to differentiation without a price premium. Its major competitors have continued with the no-frills approach, while Flybe has commenced on product differentiation. Datamonitor (2007) noted that product differentiation for Flybe is in frequent flier programmes, on board deli, business express travel and corporate users. As highlighted in the 2007 Annual Report Flybe became the first LCC to charge baggage handling. However, its competitors have copied this and are doing the same. The advantages of differentiation as highlighted in research and literature include creating value for the customer, gaining a market share and enticing customer loyalty to the offered product (Grant, 2005). Judging by Flybe’s  results in terms of profitability and growth in passenger figures it appears as if differentiation strategy is working. On the other hand, it should be noted that Debonair came unstuck wh en it employed this strategy. Parnell (2006) has reiterated Porters argument that a company needs to have either a Low Cost Strategy or Differentiation Strategy combined with a focus strategy. If this does not happen then businesses risk their potential to maximise on performance. Flybe at present appears to be pursuing both strategies of Low Cost and Differentiation. Other authorities have argued for the co-joined approach suggesting the importance of customer perception in terms of price and value (Bowman and Faulkner, 1997). The author argues that Flybe might be leading ahead of its competitors. When Michael Oleary, Chief Executive Officer of Ryanair, was asked about what his next challenge was he suggested differentiation strategy (Done, 2007). Whilst Flybe has got competitive advantage at present in respect of differentiation, other competitors have already started thinking about it because it is easy to copy. Jim French can be said to have used an effective strategy again. As shown in Appendix 1(TOWS matrix for Flybe in 2008), Flybe has used its strengths of fleet efficiency and competitive routes to take advantage of the growing and expanding LCC market. It has also used product differentiation and customer loyalty to exploit a large share on the growing market. By purchasing environmentally friendly aircraft, Flybe has managed to counter threat of global warming concerns. Product differentiation has been used to insulate Flybe from the competitive environment where Ryanair and Easyjet have a large stake. STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS FOR FLYBE Stakeholder pressures Stakeholder pressures played a significant role in terms of strategies that have been chosen by Flybe. The main stakeholders include shareholders, employees, customers, governments, suppliers, environmental pressure groups, unions, foreign governments, media, airports, local governments, directors, financial institutions and competitors. . The stakeholder pressure shall be examined using a power-interest matrix (Appendix 3). As power and interest moves towards high power and high interest segment, it is indicative of an increased level of stakeholder pressure. Appendix 3 represents three periods when Flybe decided to change its business model in 2002, a period of stability between 2002 and 2006 and finally when it started showing interest in the acquisition of BA Connect in 2006. Meeting the expectations and demands of all stakeholders has been described as almost impossible within literature (George, 2003). Pre-2002 period Flybe’s management was under considerable pressure from its main economic stakeholders. The company had gone for nearly three years without making any profits and with limited growth (Done, 2003). Pressure was mounting mainly from its shareholders for results in terms of profits. Tudway and Pascal (2006) pointed out that a shareholder’s perspective regarding responsibilities of directors as that of increasing shareholder value. Appendix 3 shows that there was a lot of pressure from financial institutions, creditors and share holding employees in the high interest- high power segment. Media had also started showing interest in what was happening at Flybe. Flybe’s competitors and suppliers were eager to find out what was happening in Flybe hence indicated in the low power- high interest segment. The resultant effect in terms of strategy was a change in management. Jim French was appointed the managing director and there was a change in the direction of the company. A positioning approach was adopted. Flybe announced its decision to establish itself as a LCC. The company was re-branded into Flybe. In that respect, stakeholder pressure was significant in influencing Flybe’s strategies. Between 2004 and 2006 there was a different kind of pressure as shown in appendix 3-1. There was a low interest from suppliers, media and the government with low power as well. There was high interest but with low power from competitors, unions, employees, pressure groups, creditors and financial institutions. Meanwhile Flybe had embarked on its strategy of rapid expansion. Heavy losses at BA Connect precipitated the move by Flybe  for a possible acquisition in 2006. The ultimate strategy was therefore fulfilled but the power-interest matrix also started showing a different picture before the acquisition (appendix 3-2). The government as a regulatory body had to come in with high interest and high power. Easyjet’s interest in BA Connect was blocked by the government paving the way for Flybe as the main competitor for the acquisition (Done, 2006). Media and environmental pressure groups also started getting involved towards the high interest and high power segment. Interests from secondary airports started to increase since they were going to profit from the acquisition. The resultant effect was the acquisition of BA Connect in 2007. Environmental pressure groups could be described as having played a significant role in Flybe’s decision to acquire smaller and environmentally friendly aircraft, the 78 seater Q400 turboprop aircraft. Flybe abandoned its initial interest in either Boeing or Airbus aircraft. Stakeholder pressure could be argued as having played a part, and still plays a significant part today. Stakeholder pressure is therefore a significant factor in firm strategies. However, not everybody’s demands will be effected by management. Some decisions will be taken at the expense of others. A power-interest matrix is a useful tool in stakeholder pressure assessment. RECENT STRATEGIC CHANGES THAT FLYBE HAS TAKEN Fit or Stretch future strategies Flybe achieved in its strategies of rapid expansion and re-branding the corporation within a short period of time. Change of business model, acquisition of BA Connect and differentiation strategies have all been aimed at gaining a substantial market share through positioning. The author argues that with its accelerated rate of growth Flybe now requires to consolidate its position on the market by focussing on its internal resources. Working on its core competencies, Flybe can still realise growth. The author therefore suggests that Flybe’s future strategies should be stretch based. Indeed, in the battle of the low cost carriers, Flybe have decided that an ambitious strategy is the best way that they can prosper. The acquisition of  BA Connect accelerates this strategy. Flybe’s rapid growth will enable them to spread their costs over a far greater range of activity and routes than ever before. This should enable them to continue to be able to offer low cost fares (Bizl ed, 2008). Evidence in literature and research asserts that the development of competitive advantage could be through looking at a firm’s resources and capabilities (Foss and Kaudsen, 2003; Barney, 2001). Appendix 4 is a value chain system for Flybe. A close examination of the value chain has led the author to conclude that Flybe has huge resources at its disposal and capabilities that it can develop into core competencies. As such, its future strategy should be based on the inside-out approach. Looking at the inbound activities, Flybe made the right decision in terms of aircraft acquisition. Flybe’s 78 seat Bombardier Q400 Turboprop and the Embraer 195 (which will be fully operational in 2009) have been heralded as an environmentally friendly fleet, its capacity suits the market. Flybe’s competitors have gone for bigger aircraft instead, despite the threat of public protests and impending legislation (Done, 2007). Flybe could possibly have a competitive advantage from its assets. Effective operations supported by its links with Exeter University in terms of learning and development could improve and cut down on costs. For the period 2007-2008 financial year about  £10-15m has been set aside for marketing the Flybe product. In 2007 Flybe had cash reserves in excess of  £136.2m compared to the same period the previous year (Annual Report, 2007). This is strength and Flybe should focus on building route growth, developing its brand and increasing its fleet efficiency. Claiming a core-competency in Flybe business should concentrate on improving passenger load factor, reputation index and operational efficiency (Pegels and Yang, 2000). This is achievable considering Flybe’s resources. More importantly, Flybe is currently taking an exceptional change of nearly  £6.5m by writing down the asset value of its BAE 146 aircraft (Bized, 2008). This is an essential part of their strategy to operate more efficiently, and in a more environmentally friendly fashion. Flybe’s new fleet will be one of the youngest in the world (Bized, 2008). The acquisition of BA Connect saw Flybe’s staff increase to over 3000 in a relatively short period (Done, 2007). This author argues that with such a vital resource the process of integration should focus on building a vision and culture that promotes the corporate brand of Flybe (Hatch and Schult, 2003). Nonetheless, post-merger integration will be critical to the success of Flybe. Learning and development for increased productivity and enhanced corporate image should focus on employees. Flybe has recently unveiled details about its project to build a 160-bedroom hotel at Exeter International Airport (This is Exeter, 2008). The hotel would be operated by a third party, with Flybe guaranteeing to fill 80 rooms a night with all its employees and those from other industry sectors attending training courses. This would be part of resource management. In January 2008, Flybe also announced a landmark franchise Agreement signed with Loganair (The Scottish regional airline). This is Flybe’s innovative philosophy and strategy of continuing to build a market-leading position as Europe’s largest regional airline following the acquisition of BA Connect in 2006. The flights commenced operations in October 2008 (Reuters, 2008). Flybe should now focus on organic growth. Research evidence has associated organic growth with stretch strategies (Leavy, 2003). However, a two-pronged approach has been suggested as a potentially effective strategy. The need to concentrate on resources while positioning a firm is considered as a dynamic and vibrant approach in the unpredictable market of today (Leavy, 2003). Flybe would be no exception to adopt such a strategy for the future. Flybe’s response to development on the market will determine the strategy to focus on. Jim French has not ruled out taking a predatory stance to opportunities that arise on the market. The author recommends a strategy based on stretch while keeping an eye on the industry structure. Other Future Strategy Options Flybe could consider the possibilities of mergers, alliances and sustained acquisitions of other businesses. Acquisition is where strategies are developed by taking over ownership of another organisation (Johnson, et al  2006). Flybe recently penned a three year exclusive contract with car rental firm Avis that will see both companies explore the possibility of integrating car hire with flight bookings (Skyscanner, 2008). However, Flybe would also have to consider the pros and cons of mergers and acquisitions. Another strategy option that Flybe could possibly consider would be stock market floatation, when the current market conditions and the economic situation become favourable. Conclusion As seen above, external factors either create threats or opportunities for firms in the industry. Industry structure analysis is vital to identify key drivers in the industry. Flybe has successfully chosen its strategies to date. It remains to be seen if future strategies will be as effective but the author has suggested a stretch based strategy while keeping an eye on the market. References Barney, J.B. (2001) â€Å"Is the resource based ‘view’ a useful perspective for Strategic management research? Yes.† Academy of Management Review 21, 41-56 Bized (2008) http://www.bized.co.uk/current/leisure Done, K. (2003) Companies UK: Flybe negotiates to join the big league [online] Financial times. London: Available from: http://ft.com/ftArticle?queryText=flybe&page=&y=6&drillDown=%2Bgaco. [Accessed 17 November 2007] Done, K. (2005) Companies UK: Walker trusts set Flybe on course for sale or float [online] financial times. London. Available from: http://search.ft.com/ftArticle?queryText=flybe&page=2&y=6&drilldown=%2Bgaco. [Accessed 17 November 2007) Done, K. (2006) BA sells regional unit to Flybe [online] FT.com site. London. Available from: http://search.ft.com/ftArticle?queryText=flybe&page=11&y=b&drillDown=%2Bgaco [Accessed 17 November 2007] Done, K. (2007) Regional airline sale costs BA  £105m. [online] FT.com site. London. Available from: http://search.ft.com/ftArticle?queryText=flybe&page=1&y=6&drillDown=%2Bgaco [Accessed 17 November 2007] Done, K. (2007) Flybe flies into loss [online] FT.com site. London. Available from: http://search.ft.com/ftArticle?queryText=flybe=&y6&drillDown=%2Bgaco [Accessed 17 November 2007] Done, K. (2007) Ryanair orders 27 Boeing jets. FT.com site [online] Available from: http://search.ft.com/ftArticle?queryText=flybe=&y6&drillDown=%2Baco [Accessed26 November 2007] Flybe (2008) Flybe official website. http://www.flybe.com Foss, N.J. and Kaudsen, T. (2003) â€Å"The resource-based tangle towards a sustainable explanation of competitive advantage.† Managerial and Decision Economics 24, 291-207. George, B. (2003) Managing Stakeholder vs Responding to Stakeholders. Strategy and Leadership. 31(6), 36-40. Grant, R.M. (2005) Contemporary Strategy Analysis. 5th ed. Blackwell Publishing. Australia. Hatch, M.J and Schult, M (2003) Bringing the Corporation into corporate branding. European Journal of Marketing. 37 (7/8), 1041-1064. Johnson, G; Scholes, K; Whittington, R (2006) Exploring Corporate Strategy – Texts and Cases, 7th edition. Prentice Hall, London Leavy, B. (2003) Assessing your strategic alternatives from both a market position and core competence perspective. Strategy and Leadership. 31 (6), 29-35. Lynch, R (2003) Corporate Strategy. 3rd Edn. Prentice Hall, London. Parnell, J.A. (2006) Generic strategies after two decades: a re-conceptualisation of competitive strategy. Management Decision. 44 (8), 1139-1154. Pegels, C.C. and Yang, B. (2000) The impact of managerial characteristics on strategic assets, management capabilities. Team Performance management: An Introduction Journal , 6 (5/6), 97-106. Reuters (2008) Flybe – Another new horizon for Flybe: NON-REG. http://www.reuters.com/article Skyscanner (2008) Flybe goes from strength to strength. http://news.skyscanner.net/articles/2008/07/000482-flybe This is Exeter (2008) Flybe unveils plans for a 160-bedroom hotel at city airport. http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/business/Flybe-unveils-plans-160-bedroom-hotel Tudway, R and A.M. (2006) Corporate Governance, Shareholder value and Societal expectation. Corporate Governance. 6 (3), 305-316. Transport Research Laboratory (2004) Airline Performance Indicators. Transport Research Laboratory, Wokingham. London.

Contemporary Approaches to Management Essay

The contemporary approaches to management include: sociotechnical theory, quantitative management, organizational behavior, and systems theory. As defined in our text book, (retrieved from: https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/0077530667/pages/116411950) sociotechnical systems theory an approach to job design that attempts to redesign tasks to optimize operation of a new technology while preserving employees’ interpersonal relationships and other human aspects of the work. This idea developed in the 1950’s at London’s Tavistock Institute of Human Relations simply put means that happy employees equal productive employees. Quantitative management is a contemporary management approach that emphasizes the application of quantitative analysis to managerial decisions and problems (retrieved from: https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/0077530667/pages/116411950). Although this could be a useful approach, most managers do not implement it due to lack of understanding of the formulas required or because some of the everyday issues they deal with, cannot be put into a mathematical equation. However, it has proven to be a useful strategy in military operations and organization’s strategic planning. Our text defines organization behavior (retrieved from: https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/0077530667/pages/116411951 ) as a contemporary management approach that studies and identifies management activities that promote employee effectiveness by examining the complex and dynamic nature of individual, group, and organizational processes. Similar to the sociotechnical systems theory, this idea also emphasizes that the employee’s needs and well being can effect productivity. And the last of the approaches is systems theory defined as a theory stating that an organization is a managed system that changes inputs into outputs. (retrieved from : https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/0077530667/pages/116411951 ). This theory recognizes that are many factors that contribute to an organization’s productivity. The input being materials, labor and money are factors that can influence and affect the output (the final product a company sells). All organizations are open systems, which simply mean organizations that are affected by their environments and affect their environment. There are internal, external and competitive environments that make up a company’s macroenviroment. The internal environment refers to things (employees, materials and capital) inside the company. The external environment includes all forces outside the company’s walls, such as the economy, competitors and government. Finally, the competitive environment which is made up of competitors, suppliers and consumers. I would agree that all four approaches play a part in every organization. Depending on the type of business, one strategy may prove more effective than another but at some point the different approaches would be used for the many diverse issues organizations face. There are many similar concepts all company’s face (employees, environment, competition) and each approach has uses in all companies and within the macroenvironment. References: Title: Management (M Starts Here series–soft cover), 3rd ed. (2013) Author(s): Bateman and Snell Physical Book ISBN: 9780078029523 Publisher: McGraw Hill Digital book or physical text: Digital

Free Essays on Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

The Education for All Handicapped Children Act, which is now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), was first passed in 1975. Congress found that most handicapped children were not receiving an appropriate education. Believe it or not millions of children were excluded from school completely. This law was needed to assure that children with disabilities would receive free appropriate public Education (FAPE). These children were also in need of support services to help them learn and achieve their goals. Once IDEA was put into effect they had to come up with a way to properly disciple these children with special needs. In the IDEA reauthorization of 1997, Congress recognized that in certain instances school districts need to be more flexible with special educations students when dealing with discipline issues. A special needs child like any other can be suspended from school for their wrong doing. However, as of 1997, the laws stated that a child with disabilities can not be suspended from school without educational services for more than 10 consecutive days. This means that when a child is suspended they must be moved to an alternative setting which provides educational services, therapy, or anything stated under their individual IEP plan. If a child commits a larger crime they are allowed to be suspended for no longer than 45 days. All educational services must still be available to the child. The main reasons for a child with special needs being removed from their school setting for long periods of time would be due to bringing in dangerous weapons or guns or intentionally bringing, selling, or doing drugs at school or on school property. In this case the student is usually moved to an alternative setting for up to 45 days. Changing the setting of the child can be a decision made from the IEP team, without the authority of a Hearing Officer. Although, for a longer removal in placement as in ... Free Essays on Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Free Essays on Individuals with Disabilities Education Act The Education for All Handicapped Children Act, which is now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), was first passed in 1975. Congress found that most handicapped children were not receiving an appropriate education. Believe it or not millions of children were excluded from school completely. This law was needed to assure that children with disabilities would receive free appropriate public Education (FAPE). These children were also in need of support services to help them learn and achieve their goals. Once IDEA was put into effect they had to come up with a way to properly disciple these children with special needs. In the IDEA reauthorization of 1997, Congress recognized that in certain instances school districts need to be more flexible with special educations students when dealing with discipline issues. A special needs child like any other can be suspended from school for their wrong doing. However, as of 1997, the laws stated that a child with disabilities can not be suspended from school without educational services for more than 10 consecutive days. This means that when a child is suspended they must be moved to an alternative setting which provides educational services, therapy, or anything stated under their individual IEP plan. If a child commits a larger crime they are allowed to be suspended for no longer than 45 days. All educational services must still be available to the child. The main reasons for a child with special needs being removed from their school setting for long periods of time would be due to bringing in dangerous weapons or guns or intentionally bringing, selling, or doing drugs at school or on school property. In this case the student is usually moved to an alternative setting for up to 45 days. Changing the setting of the child can be a decision made from the IEP team, without the authority of a Hearing Officer. Although, for a longer removal in placement as in ...

Armstrong State University Admissions - Costs and More

Armstrong State University Admissions - Costs and More Armstrong Atlantic State University Admissions Overview: To apply to Armstrong State, students need to submit an application online, by following the directions on the schools website. Students must also submit test scores from either the SAT or ACT. While scores from both tests are accepted, slightly more students submit scores from the SAT. With an acceptance rate of 80%, the school is not considered selective, and students with high grades and test scores have a good shot of being admitted.   Will You Get In? Calculate Your Chances of Getting In  with this free tool from Cappex Admissions Data (2016): Armstrong State University Acceptance Rate: 80%Test Scores 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 450 / 550SAT Math: 440 / 530SAT Writing: - / -What these SAT numbers meanACT Composite: 19 / 23ACT English: 18  / 23ACT Math: 18  / 23What these ACT numbers mean Armstrong Atlantic State University Description: Armstrong Atlantic State University is a public, four-year institution in Savannah, Georgia. Located 25 miles from Tybee Island Beach, the 268-acre campus supports over 7,000 students with a student/faculty ratio of 18 to 1. Armstrong offers over 100 academic programs across its colleges of Education, Liberal Arts, Health Professions, Science and Technology, and Graduate Studies. Students are highly engaged outside of the classroom, and Armstrong is home to more than 80 student clubs and organizations including a Karate Club, Science Fiction/Fantasy Club, and the Philosophical Debate Group. The university also has a wide variety of intramural sports such as Inner Tube Water Polo, Sports Trivia, and a Corn Hole Tournament, as well an active Greek life with four fraternities and six sororities. The AASU Pirates compete in the NCAA Division II Peach Belt Conference (PBC); the universitys men’s and women’s tennis teams have recently won three Division II Championships. Enrollment (2016): Total Enrollment: 7,157  (6,397 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 34% Male / 66% Female74% Full-time Costs (2016 - 17): Tuition and Fees: $5,360 (in-state); $15,616 (out-of-state)Books: $1,573  (why so much?)Room and Board: $10,176Other Expenses: $3,587Total Cost: $20,696  (in-state); $30,952 (out-of-state) Armstrong Atlantic State University Financial Aid (2015- 16): Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 90%Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 79%Loans: 57%Average Amount of AidGrants: $6,199Loans: $5,878 Academic Programs: Most Popular Majors:  Biology, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, English, Health Sciences, Liberal Studies, Nursing, PsychologyWhat major is right for you?  Sign up to take the free My Careers and Majors Quiz at Cappex. Transfer, Graduation and Retention Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 74%Transfer Out Rate: 27%4-Year Graduation Rate: 13%6-Year Graduation Rate: 31% Intercollegiate Athletic Programs: Mens Sports:  Golf, Basketball, Baseball, Cross Country, Track and Field, TennisWomens Sports:  Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Tennis, Golf, Basketball Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics If You Like Armstrong ASU, You May Also Like These Schools: Applicants interested in a similar-sized school that is also located in Georgia should consider such schools as Valdosta State University, Emory University, Columbus State University, and Clayton State University. These schools vary in term of selectivity- Emory is quite selective, while the others are more accessible. Students interested in a school with a strong athletic program should consider  Flagler College, UNC Pembroke, Lander University, and Francis Marion University, all of which are in the same NCAA conference as Armstrong.

Saudi Arabia - Pestle Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Saudi Arabia - Pestle Analysis - Research Paper Example Political Factors After the recent uprisings in the Middle East, regime stability in the region is under serious threat. Even though there are no serious threats in the near future, Saudi Arabia’s long-term stability has been questioned. The country is facing a dual problem of responding to the pressures of a reform and also having to counter extremist violence in the region. Saudi Arabia has developed a strong Islamic self-identity. Numerous Islamist groups have known to have made the country their home and also they are being funded by affluent Saudis (BBC, 2012). Since recent extremist attacks, political reform has garnered great support. Even though there were elections held in 2005, democracy was not exercised to the fullest as political parties were banned and women were not allowed to vote. Protesters opposing in public call for the risk of arrests and it is from outside the country that the opposition functions. If there would be an uprising similar to the ones in the region, then that would mean disaster for political stability (BBC, 2012). In the near future, political stability is not threatened and the government has taken various steps to ensure citizens are happy. Government spending and wages have increased greatly in the last couple of years. Also, Saudi Arabia is the largest oil exporter in the world, its internal stability is of prime importance to international powers and hence international is expected to take all measures to ensure stability in the country (Zand, 2011). As mentioned, many reforms have been announced on all fronts by the government with a vision to strike balance between modernization and Islamic wisdom (Shaheen, 2010). Freedom of speech has come of age in the recent years, even though there are constraints. The Kingdom’s policies encourage foreign investment and active participation of foreign companies. There are no restrictions on the movement of capital in and out of the country. Foreign investments enjoy t he same benefits (such as tax exemptions, customs duties, etc) as that of national capital as long as they are in accordance with the Foreign Capital Investment Code. A drawback here is that investment should be economic development projects and should accompany technical knowledge (Saudia-Online, 2010). Overall, the country is politically stable and is attractive in business terms but businesses must closely keep an eye on the movements that can influence long-term political stability. Economic Factors The current business cycle stage of Saudi Arabia is that of a retrenchment and restructuring cycle similar to the one witnessed in between 1996 to 2002. In the earlier phase, major restructuring and reforms took place. The major focus of the government was to ensure that key driver of growth was the private sector.

Bioinspired tough structures Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Bioinspired tough structures - Literature review Example Their self-organization is also a contributing factor to the mechanical properties of biological materials together with the manner in which the structures are assembled at the molecular level. Nacre is one of the iridescent layer found in most mollusk shells. It has a high amount of mineral that makes it tough and also stiff. The toughness of nacre is three times harder than its mineral constituents. Nacre has thus become a biomimetic model due to this property since it is the only material with an enormous amplification of its toughness. In this work, different bio-inspired materials shall be analyzed basing on the mechanical and structural properties. The development process of various types of artificial shell will also be analyzed. It is expected that Nacre mineral constituent are in microscopic polygonal tablets and has an ability to slide over one another when loaded under tension. This property has made nacre become a quasi-ductile material with significantly increased toughness and damage tolerance. Natural and biological materials can depict a considerable combination of stiffness, strength, toughness and even low weight which cannot be matched by artificial materials. For this reason, researchers are turning to nature for different design of artificial structures. The high-performance structural materials produced by nature inspires the scientist in the natural design. Also their ability to combine the building blocks and even amplify its properties (Xia, 2015). Nacre currently serves as a sole biomimetic model in the new generation of composite materials. Nacre found in the mollusk shell serves to protect the soft body parts against the harsh environment and the predators. These shells are highly mineralized tissues with at least 95% of it being mineral content. As a result, they have high stiffness and hardness.