Saturday, October 12, 2019

Training , Development & Performance with Motivation Essay examples --

Training , Development & Performance with Motivation Training includes all forms of planned learning experiences and activities designed to make positive changes to performance and Motivation. Development approaches the individual and employees’ motivation from a different angle from that of training. While training is typically concerned with enabling the individual to contribute to meeting the objectives of the organization better, personal development is more concerned with enabling individuals to develop themselves in the way that best suits individual needs. The two, it is hoped, will come together. By helping individuals to develop themselves, they will be more inclined and better able to contribute to helping the organization meet its objectives. It is important to stress that the process of linking performance and training and development the process of appraisal and other forms of evaluation should be closely linked to training and development. If the organizations to achieve its objectives, it is essential to train and develop its people so they are best able to support the organization in working towards objectives. At the same time the individual needs to have the opportunity to be able to communicate employees’ own personal development needs to the organization through appraisal or personal development planning schemes. The Financial and non-financial can be no doubt that financial reward is perhaps the most significant factor in pe...

Friday, October 11, 2019

Business: International Trade and Comparative Advantage

HOMEWORK 11 (Last HW – Due 4/28) Read the Logitech case and answer the following questions. 1: In a world without trade, what would happen to the costs that American consumers would have to pay for Logitech’s products? 2: Explain how trade lowers the costs of making computer peripherals such as mice and keyboards. 3: Use the theory of comparative advantage to explain the way in which Logitech has configured its global operations. Why does the company manufacture in China and Taiwan, undertake basic R&D in California and Switzerland, design products in Ireland, and coordinate marketing and operations from California? : Who creates more value for Logitech – the 650 people it employs in California and Switzerland, or the 4,000 employees at its Chinese factory? What are the implications of this observation for the argument that free trade is beneficial? 5: Why do you think the company decided to shift its corporate headquarters from Switzerland to Fremont? 6: To what extent can Porter’s diamond help explain the choice of Taiwan as a major manufacturing site for Logitech? 7: Why do you think China is now a favored location for so much high-technology manufacturing activity?How will China’s increasing involvement in global trade help that country? How will it help the world’s developed economies? What potential problems are associated with moving work to China? In a world without trade, what would happen to the costs that American consumers would have to pay for Logitech’s products? In a world without trade, the costs that American consumers would have to pay would be very high. The product that the case study gives for an example, Wanda, retails for $40, of which only $3 is the production cost from China.This $3 cost would rise immensely if production was in the United States because the American economy demands high wages. Explain how trade lowers the costs of making computer peripherals such as mice and keyboards. I t is amazing to think that trade helps to lower the costs of a product. As we saw in the previous question, if the United States were to build a product entirely domestically, the retail price would not be feasible to most consumers. With trading in place it allows for economies of scale.The technology can be developed in one country, the ergonomics in another country, the production in another country, and the assembly in yet another country. The shipping costs are much less than it would be to perform these tasks in one country. This is called absolute advantage, where someone is great at one thing. With this in mind you will get a product that has the best resources available at the lowest cost, which is comparative advantage. Finally, specialization is where everyone is doing what they do best and pulling their resources together to make one incredible product.Use the theory of comparative advantage to explain the way in which Logitech has configured its global operations. Why d oes the company manufacture in China and Taiwan, undertake basic R&D in California and Switzerland, design products in Ireland, and coordinate marketing and operations from California? Logitech is very brilliant when it comes to comparative advantage. It does basic R&D work in Switzerland with 200 employees, its headquarters are in Fremont, California with 450 employees as well as some R&D, the ergonomic designs are developed in Ireland, and the products are manufactured in Taiwan and China.The comparative advantage is that it is the most cost effective to break up the business in many different countries that specialize in a certain job. Who creates more value for Logitech, the 650 people it employs in Fremont and Switzerland, or the 4,000 employees at its Chinese factory? What are the implications of this observation for the argument that free trade is beneficial? The 650 employees in Fremont, California and Switzerland create more value for Logitech. It is where all of the R&D an d designs are developed.The 4,000 employees of China add $3 to the Wanda product, which is almost nothing in comparison to the remaining $37. Free trade is beneficial because labor costs can be brought way down. Why do you think the company decided to shift its corporate headquarters from Switzerland to Fremont? America specializes in R&D. The headquarters were moved because of the company’s global marketing, finance, and logistics operations. That is what Americans do best. To what extent can Porter’s diamond help explain the choice of Taiwan as a major manufacturing site for Logitech?There are four parts to Porter’s diamond: (1) factor of endowments, which is a nation’s position in factors of production such as skilled labor or the infrastructure necessary to compete in a given industry; (2) demand conditions, which is the nature of home demand for the industry’s product or service; (3) relating and supporting industries, which is the presence or absence of supplier industries and related industries that are internationally competitive; (4) firm strategy, structure, and rivalry, which are the conditions governing how companies are created, organized, and managed and the nature of domestic rivalry.Taiwan’s factor of endowments was that it had a science-based Industrial Park in Hsinchu. The demand conditions were that the Taiwanese were already trained to deal with technology. The relating and supporting industries were that Taiwan was the best as building technology as the lowest cost. The firm strategy, structure, and rivalry were that Taiwan had no domestic rivalry; they provided the lowest cost. Why do you think China is now a favored location for so much high technology manufacturing activity? How will China’s increasing involvement in global trade help that country?How will it help the world’s developed economies? What potential problems are associated with moving work to China? Chinese laborers are some of the cheapest in the world. Even though the workers are not treated very well, they are starting to rise up and demand more wages. The increase in foreign trade for China has helped to increase their economy. The world’s developed economies will benefit because of the globalization of production. The potential problems are that Americans are losing jobs to foreign markets. E

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Analytical Reading “The Luncheon” by Somerset Maugham Essay

The text under analysis belongs to the pen of William Somerset Maugham, the one of the best known English writers of the 20th century. He was not only a novelist, but also one of the most successful dramatist and short-story writers. He was born in Paris in 1874. His parents died when he was very young. The boy was taken away from the French school, and went for his lessons daily to the apartment of the English clergyman at the church, then he was sent to England to attend school. In 1890 he went abroad and studied at the University of Heidelberg from which he returned to England in 1892 and became a medical student at St. Thomas’s hospital in London. After that Somerset decided to devote his life to literature. â€Å"I didn’t want to be a doctor. I didn’t want to be anything but a writer†. The technique of the short story had always interested Maugham. Somerset Maugham has written 24 plays, 19 novels and a large number of short stories. At the beginning of the text the narrator, who is the author’s mouthpiece here recognizes a woman with whom he had a lunch several years ago. Then he starts remembering that unforgettable evening: He was a young man, living in Paris and could barely keep body and soul together. She had read his book and wrote a letter to him, expressing her wish to have with him a little luncheon at Foyot’s – a very expensive restaurant. He couldn’t say no to a woman and invited her for lunch. He had only eighty francs to last him the rest of the month. To his horror she ordered one expensive dish after another. He paid the bill and was left with no money at all. However, at the end of the story, the narrator feels that he has finally had his revenge when he sees that the lady has put on a lot of weight. Compositionally the story falls into 3 parts. The story begins with the exposition, which extends over the first several paragraphs. At the beginning of the text the narra tor sees a woman at the theatre in many years since they first met and can hardly recognize her. Then the author presents a flashback to the past which goes to the last paragraph with a help of the sentence â€Å"Did I remember?† which allows us to know what had happened many years ago. Here we learn about the place of action and its time. The reader gets information  about the events, preceding the meeting of the main characters and also understands that the narrator was a very poor man. Then come complications, opened with the sentence: † She was not so young as I expected and in appearance imposing rather than attractive.† The action takes place in the restaurant. Here the reader learns more about the characters. The author describes how this lady enjoys the meal, ordering the most expensive dishes and he is wondering about the bill. The bill was finally paid and the narrator found himself with not a penny left in his pocket for the whole month. After it the author comes back to the present time and here comes the climax. Now, after 20 years had passed by, the narrator has had his revenge at last because â€Å"Today she weighs twenty-one stone†. This story is a first-person narrative. The dialogues are predominant in the complications – the biggest part of the text. The general atmosphere of the text is emotional and ironical (even the title â€Å"The Luncheon† is ironical, because the word â€Å"luncheon† means a â€Å"light snack†, but in fact it turned to be an abundant and very expensive meal), but also strained (â€Å"I watched the abandoned woman thrust them down her throat in large voluptuous mouthfuls, and in my polite way I discoursed on the condition of the drama in the Balkans.†; † Panic seized me. It was not a question now of how much money I should have left over for the rest of the month, but whether I had enough to pay the bill.†). The tone of this story is ironical. The author uses direct (â€Å"But I was flattered, and I was too young to have learned to say no to a woman†; â€Å"I watched the abandoned woman thrust them down her throat†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ) and indirect methods of characterization. The characters are presented through their actions, descriptions of the outward appearance and things that surround the characters. The waiter might be called a minor character. To my mind the woman is smart, gluttonous, selfish, cold, indiscreet. She is a villain who serves a foil to the protagonist. By constantly repeating her ironic expression † I never eat more than one thing † she emphasized the conflict between what she says and what she does. The author – the protagonist, is a poor, kind, honest and sincere man. The author’s style is vivid, clear and emotional. The author uses stylistic devices sparingly. In my opinion there is an external conflict in this story. The theme of this story is appearance against reality. Everything in the  story is not really what it seems to be. The narrator expected to have a little luncheon with a beautiful lady. But it turned to be an expensive meal with an unattractive woman. This woman repeats â€Å"I never eat anything for luncheon†, but eats everything she can. I think that the author’s message â€Å"the appearance is not yet the reality† is very important and relevant today.

How Far Is Macbeth a Gothic Protagonist

How far is Macbeth a gothic protagonist? The gothic protagonist who is seen as the main character tries to overcome human limitations by making acting as god. Within the novel elements of Gothic is seen which is seen highly in the characters as well as other aspects. Shakespeare’s Macbeth consists of the central protagonist who is Macbeth himself. Thus, Macbeth is seemed as a gothic protagonist because he urges for a gothic goal which is often for more power. A gothic protagonist is known to have sharply contrasting qualities within the character.This is seen in Macbeth as we see the contrast between Good and evil which is a strong source of conflict within Macbeth. Macbeth’s character is deeply divided and this conflict works itself out in depth. The first act of the play offers an increasing insight into the complex interaction of good and evil in Macbeth’s mind. The â€Å"noble†, â€Å"valiant† and â€Å"loyal soldier† of the early scenes is tempted by the visions of future personal glory conjured by the witches and comes increasingly under their influence.The battle between these conflicting elements of Macbeth’s character becomes evident immediately after the first of the witches’ prophecies has come true, when he observes â€Å"this supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill, cannot be good†. The proposition that â€Å"Macbeth is a villain in whom there is little to admire† is an inadequate judgement of Macbeth’s character. Macbeth is not consciously and naturally malevolent, and there are many aspects of his character and his downfall which serve to support this.Macbeth was not only a victim of his own actions, but also of the human condition and the extremely powerful forces of both his wife and fate. Throughout the play the audience undoubtedly experiences feelings of horror at Macbeth, but we are also driven, through an understanding of his character, to admiration and sympathy. T his would not be the case if Macbeth was a totally vile and reprehensible villain, and thus the tragedy of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is clear. Macbeth was certainly no villain to begin with.He is introduced to us as a man of great honour, nobility and strength of morals. He is held in high regard by King Duncan, who addresses him as â€Å"valiant cousin, worthy gentleman†- so highly, in fact, that Macbeth is granted a promotion over Banquo (who seems to be of an extremely worthy and loyal character). But there is a fatal difference between Macbeth and Banquo- Macbeth’s ambition and lust for power. He is a man with an unsurpassable desire to advance himself.He himself identifies this quality while he contemplates an action that he is wholly repulsed by; â€Å"I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting Ambition which o’erleaps itself, And falls on th’ other. † This â€Å"Vaulting Ambition† is what makes Macbeth vulner able and leads him to commit possibly the most vile deed he can imagine, setting him on a path of destruction. There is a temptation to use the fact that he could comprehend the vileness of his deed as a reason as to why we should condemn Macbeth as even worse a villain.Gothic fiction is a form of literature that includes elements of both horror and romance. Most gothic fiction has things that are supernatural, includes feelings like guilt, sin, madness, settings usually in a castle or in dark caves, mystery, suspense, violence, a damsel in distress, and omens or dark curses. The play â€Å"Macbeth† by William Shakespeare is written in gothic literature, this is evident through an examination of the feelings of guilt, sin, madness, the battle between good and evil and omens and curses that take place throughout the play.Omens, curses, prophecies, supernatural beings, these are all things that are very common in gothic literature. Shakespeare uses these things to make the play seem darker and have more mystery to it. There are three witches in â€Å"Macbeth† and they make prophecies that will alter Macbeth’s future. They predict that three things will happen, one of them being â€Å"The power of man for none of woman born/ Shall harm Macbeth,† 4. 1, 91 & 92. Traditionally, characters in gothic fiction have their future predicted by some supernatural being; they use this knowledge to alter their life. Macbeth is no different.One would think that it is impossible to not be born from a woman, so Macbeth uses this to gain confidence that no one will ever be able to kill him. Later on in â€Å"Macbeth†, after the witches make the prophecy of Macbeth not being killed by man born of woman, he goes to battle with Macduff. Since it is said to be that Macbeth cannot be killed by man born of woman, Macbeth is told â€Å"Macduff was from his mother’s womb/ Untimely ripped,† 5. 8, 19 & 20. After being told this Macbet h decided to go to battle with Macduff and got killed, this shows that the prophecy did alter his life in a way he never saw coming.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

20th-Century Genius Award Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

20th-Century Genius Award Paper - Essay Example Born in Swansea, Wales, on October 27, 1914, Thomas published his first book of poetry in 1934, in which he proved his prowess in the application of poetic diction, imagery, surrealism, and personal fantasy. Critics claim that since he was a hard drinking, unreliable chanter of his own poetry, he usually remained in dispute with the contemporary world. His works, published in his teenage between 1930 and 1934, portray the struggle between crisis of his life, like finding his own identity which is typical of teenage, and himself. His musical writing style was infatuated with the sound and rhythm of words, and their manifold meanings. The richness of meaning often became illogical, and the innovatory syntax depicting celestial and sexual descriptions made his poetry somewhat hard to understand. The themes of religious uncertainty and the cycle of life and death may have arisen from some catastrophic life events, like the marriage of his love and his relationship with his father. When h e travelled to London and Wales between 1934 and 1936, the years of publication of Eighteen Poems and Twenty-five poems respectively, he met a lot of literary personalities and started an affair with the poet and novelist, Pamela Hansford Johnson, who later on got married to the novelist C.P. Snow. This incident made Thomas a heart-broken hard drinker. Thomas had always felt a lot of difficulty in writing first-rate poetry and to be considered as a poet (Poetry Foundation, 2015). This also led him to plagiarize at times. Thomas started bringing elements of sadness, war, and financial failures in his poetry when he moved to a borrowed house in Wales with his wife. When Thomas married Caitlin Macnamara in 1937, they were impoverished. They moved to Laugharne, Wales and remained there till Thomas died in 1953. The monetary troubles that they encountered, like the recurrent borrowing of

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Implementing Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Implementing Strategies - Essay Example The leader supervises activities within the organization and helps the employees to accomplish their objectives through generating enthusiasm and motivating them, which is important in enhancing their productivity. Jimmy Collins has devised a model of "Level 5 Leadership"(Collins, 2001). This essay is an evaluation of my style of leadership using this hierarchy as the frame of reference, which includes an analysis of various strengths and weaknesses. The behavioral theory of leadership has also been discussed. At level one is the highly capable person but he can work best as an individual than in a team. This kind of leadership style is useful in situations where personal output is needed rather than team work. The may only be required to supervise in order to ensure that the product is of good quality without intervening in the production stage. In the University where I work as an Admission and Recruitment Supervisor, team work is highly appreciated to supplement personal capabilities. This is because there might happen to be some weaknesses in recruiting as an individual. I therefore have to demonstrate level two of Collin’s leadership style whereby I participate in team work, contributing my abilities in one of my role as a leader of the Marketing Steering Committee in order to create and maintain a positive and consistent image of the University in the community by creating an integrated marketing strategy that aligns all University academic and services departments’ ma rketing goals upon the University’s Strategic Priorities. As a leader of my team, I demonstrate a high level of management capability through creativity, flexibility and adaptation. I have the strength of initiating new innovative practices and experimentation with new ideas. I have strong planning capabilities whereby I demonstrate competence in selecting the team which has to have good

Monday, October 7, 2019

Revenue Recognition Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Revenue Recognition - Research Paper Example Modern financial accounting is highly dependent on double entry bookkeeping. However, the origin of double entry bookkeeping is not clearly known of yet literatures suggest that in almost every civilization, financial record keeping was followed. Franciscan Friar, Luca Pacioli is often associated with double entry bookkeeping because he published a book on the same in 1494. In the book, he spoke of debit and credit as well as of liabilities and assets. Pacioli also advised in the book about periodic profit calculation and yearly closing of books (Previts, Parker & Coffman, 1990). Around sixteenth century, noticeable changes were proposed and incorporated in the bookkeeping techniques for the purpose of recording various kinds of transactions. During this period, usage of specialized subsidiary books such as separate cash book increased greatly. By the end of seventeenth century, evolution of periodic preparation of financial statements was witnessed. Additionally, the eighteenth century marked personification of different accounts and transactions for rationalizing debit and credit rules that were applicable to abstract and impersonal accounts (Jones & Riahi-Belkaoui, 2010; Previts, Parker & Coffman, 1990). The period also pointed at evolution of three methods of treating fixed assets. Firstly, assets were carried forward in financial statements at original cost and difference between revenue payments and receipts was shown in profit and loss account. Secondly, fixed asset accounts were closed on the balancing date and the difference between debit and credit balance due to original cost and other expenditures was carried forward. The third method was to evaluate appreciation and/or depreciation in the asset value and the difference was reflected in profit and loss account. However, it was only around 1930s, the depreciation charges and methods became more evident in practice (Edwards, 2013). Post industrial revolution in nineteenth century, cost