Book Synopsis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Book Synopsis - Essay Example These mens lives have lessons for us today but also in a way parallel the lives of some of the most significant business leaders of the 20th and 21st centuries. Business leaders and generals and political leaders all lead high stress lives. Many people depend on them for everything and their decisions have enormous impact. It is therefore very useful to understand what works and what doesnt. One of the best things about this book is how it covers so much ground so quickly. It provides an excellent overview of a number of historical periods and places. This part was a very exciting read. I knew little about Xenophon for example and his style of leadership. That was a model which is not often written about. This general style is very important: so many historical figures were also students of history. What happened in the past is the best predictor of what will happen in the future. A limitation that seemed apparent was that while there are similarities between business and war they are not the exactly the same. Sam Walton is not Alexander the Great. If things go bad for Sam, he loses money. If things go bad for Alexander, he and his soldiers are killed and his country destroyed. There is an important difference. When Hank Greenberg was voted out of AIG by the board of directors because of some of the mistakes he made with management, his penalty wasnt exactly the same as Julius Caesars. Life and death are rarely at stake in the business world (although sometimes they are). Another limitation is that there is no real discussion of women. If organizations are better able to understand when women leaders are most effective, they may then be able to increase the number of women in the leadership ranks which would result in better organizational performance. Increasing the numbers of women in the workforce is important to organizations around the world. In particular, workforce diversity continues to be a focus of most large corporations. Having a chapter or

HR Policy and Guideline implementation to MEGlobal Human Resources Case Study

HR Policy and Guideline implementation to MEGlobal Human Resources - Case Study Example It has also been found in the study that global HR perspectives should be accommodative to people from diverse cultural backgrounds. This is very important since it helps people to identify with the organization. Introduction Managing human resources issues in organizations that are comprised of people from different nations is quite challenging as a result of the fact that the cultures of these people differ. Research has also shown the significance of human resources management especially in the changing global environment in which organisations operate. It can be seen that there ought to be rules in every organization hence the HRM policies in multi-national or international organisations ought to be standardised so as to be in a position to create fair working conditions among people from different cultures belonging to the organization. As such, this paper has been designed to analyse the case study of MEGlobal. The paper starts by describing the case study and this is followed by carrying out a critical analysis of what ought to be done in order to improve the HR policies in the company. Situational analysis MEGlobal is one of the leading producers and marketers of Glycol and it has offices in USA, Canada, Switzerland, China, Hong Kong and Dubai but the main manufacturing location is in western Canada. However, one of the offices has faces the situation that needs to be addressed without offending four of the employees who are labelled as having bad body odor and mouth odor to the point that it has become difficult for other people to conduct business. Being a multi ethnic office, the other problem is that the pantry smells of a variety of ethnic foods when they are microwaved. There is negative talk about these people who apparently are hardworking employees and very good in their respective jobs. In order to address the issue raised in the case study given, it is imperative to take a holistic approach so that there is no person who will feel side-lined. Significance of culture It is imperative to ensure that the organizational policies are designed to include aspects that are concerned with improving the welfare of the people in different ways. The policies should be designed in such a way that they address employee welfare issue solving conflicts as well as motivating the employees to put optimum effort in their operations. The aspect of culture should be given priority in as far as solving this particular case is concerned. According to Werner et al (2003), culture can be simply defined as a way of doing things by an identified group of people. There are two different forms of culture namely: culture of the local people as well as organizational culture. When HRM policies are being designed, these factors need to be taken into consideration. In this particular case, it can be noted that the convergence of different cultures is means that a holistic approach has to be taken when addressing the issue of â€Å"odour† among s ome of the employees. As noted, employees at MEGlobal come from different cultural backgrounds and what may appear to be unusual is common in other cultures. The concept of human resources management should be carefully taken into consideration in as far as dealing with the aspect of culture is concerned. â€Å"HRM is described as a system of philosophies, policies as well as practices that affect the people who work in the organization,† (Jackson et al 2001, p. 119). Since people are the most important asset

The elasticity of demand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The elasticity of demand - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the sensitivity of demand of a product with respect to changes in its own price is identified as the own price elasticity of demand. To state this alternatively, own price elasticity of demand is defined as the percentage change in demand per percentage change in the price of the product, other things remaining the same. Therefore, the own price elasticity of demand is expressed as the ratio of percentage change in demand and the percentage change in the price of the good in question. So, own price elasticity of demand for the good X with a per unit price PX shall be given by the expression: EPx = (percentage change in quantity demanded of X)/ (percentage change in PX). This can be calculated as either at a movement from a point on the demand curve to another, which is known as arc elasticity or as the limiting value of arc elasticity known as point elasticity of demand. However for changes assumed to be infinitesimally small, so that the movement is not perceptible and it is as if the consumer stays on the same point on the demand curve almost, we use the limiting value of arc elasticity of demand, known as point elasticity of demand. Since for all normal goods quantity demanded varies inversely with price, own price elasticity is always negative, though the extent to which demand varies inversely is not the same for all goods.

HR Policy and Guideline implementation to MEGlobal Human Resources Case Study

HR Policy and Guideline implementation to MEGlobal Human Resources - Case Study Example It has also been found in the study that global HR perspectives should be accommodative to people from diverse cultural backgrounds. This is very important since it helps people to identify with the organization. Introduction Managing human resources issues in organizations that are comprised of people from different nations is quite challenging as a result of the fact that the cultures of these people differ. Research has also shown the significance of human resources management especially in the changing global environment in which organisations operate. It can be seen that there ought to be rules in every organization hence the HRM policies in multi-national or international organisations ought to be standardised so as to be in a position to create fair working conditions among people from different cultures belonging to the organization. As such, this paper has been designed to analyse the case study of MEGlobal. The paper starts by describing the case study and this is followed by carrying out a critical analysis of what ought to be done in order to improve the HR policies in the company. Situational analysis MEGlobal is one of the leading producers and marketers of Glycol and it has offices in USA, Canada, Switzerland, China, Hong Kong and Dubai but the main manufacturing location is in western Canada. However, one of the offices has faces the situation that needs to be addressed without offending four of the employees who are labelled as having bad body odor and mouth odor to the point that it has become difficult for other people to conduct business. Being a multi ethnic office, the other problem is that the pantry smells of a variety of ethnic foods when they are microwaved. There is negative talk about these people who apparently are hardworking employees and very good in their respective jobs. In order to address the issue raised in the case study given, it is imperative to take a holistic approach so that there is no person who will feel side-lined. Significance of culture It is imperative to ensure that the organizational policies are designed to include aspects that are concerned with improving the welfare of the people in different ways. The policies should be designed in such a way that they address employee welfare issue solving conflicts as well as motivating the employees to put optimum effort in their operations. The aspect of culture should be given priority in as far as solving this particular case is concerned. According to Werner et al (2003), culture can be simply defined as a way of doing things by an identified group of people. There are two different forms of culture namely: culture of the local people as well as organizational culture. When HRM policies are being designed, these factors need to be taken into consideration. In this particular case, it can be noted that the convergence of different cultures is means that a holistic approach has to be taken when addressing the issue of â€Å"odour† among s ome of the employees. As noted, employees at MEGlobal come from different cultural backgrounds and what may appear to be unusual is common in other cultures. The concept of human resources management should be carefully taken into consideration in as far as dealing with the aspect of culture is concerned. â€Å"HRM is described as a system of philosophies, policies as well as practices that affect the people who work in the organization,† (Jackson et al 2001, p. 119). Since people are the most important asset

Issues Faced by Operations Managers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Issues Faced by Operations Managers - Essay Example Shortage of funds in financial market can create a problem for managers because supply of money in company leads to different financial activities. Continuous supply is very important for any company to operate. Managers also need to know that what their competitors are doing in the industry. They can't ignore competition around them in this dynamic world. Managers need to be informed that what they are doing in terms of Product development, Pricing, Marketing strategies and many more things. Any type of activity that the competitors do can create lots of problem for the managers. Every organization has an aim to be Global. Managers need to face many difficult situations when they are in foreign countries. They need to tackle certain factors for success when they are abroad. That includes Legal/Political Environment, Economic Environment and Cultural Environment. While going Global managers need to understand the Political and Legal uncertainties in the country they are doing their business. They should be aware of the Specific Legal laws of that country because if they don't know the Legal procedures of that country it can create many problems for them. Many countries have a history of unstable governments therefore managers face dramatically greater uncertainty as a result of political instability. For example the goal of one government is to nationalize the important sectors of the country where as the goal of the other government is to have free enterprises to promote free market economy. Economic environment can also affect manager's decision. The three most important factors in affecting manager decision are Fluctuating currency exchange rates, Inflation Rate and Tax policies. If the country has a high inflation rate in which they are operating can result in high productivity cost which can ultimately decrease their profits. Tax policies are the most concerning for managers. If tax policies are restrictive managers can face challenging situations. Managers need exact information of tax rules so that they can overcome with all the tax obligations.Managers also need to understand the culture of the country in which they are operating. Different countries have different cultures and managers must know they difference of each culture. This is very important factor for managers to take care of, because if they fail to understand the cultural values of that country they can't serve their products and services to the people of that country. For example if a company who is manufacturing Alcohol and is operating in USA and then they open a branch of their company in Saudia Arabia, But as Saudia Arabia is an Islamic State they can't sell the Alcohol in that country because they cultural and religious values doesn't allow them to drink, that can create huge problem for the managers of that company. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: Today's organizations are moving towards social responsibility. Managers have to be careful while going for socially responsible because being socially responsi

Hearts and Minds Essay Example for Free

Hearts and Minds Essay Movies and documentaries have a way of touching the lives of many. For the most part, they are geared towards the exhibition of truths that are hidden from other people. The documentary, â€Å"Hearts and Minds†, mirrored the numerous difficulties experienced by the Vietnamese in the hands of the American soldiers. The harsh realities shown by the American soldiers towards the Vietnamese was quite difficult to believe, for we all know how the Americans would care for any other individual. Directed by Peter Davis, the documentary showed different clips that prove the harsh attitude towards people at that time. Even the speech of former President Lyndon Johnson was shown in the said documentary. To give people a great feel of the said timeline, much of the most famous details during that particular time were shown. The type of music, clothes, and even some old archives were shown. In this manner, it would become easier for the audiences to understand what was being explained to them. I admire the montage feeling provided by the documentary. Together with the voice over, watching the documentary was like watching any other historical how. However, what sets it apart from the rest were the heartbreaking realities exhibited. I could not help but wonder as to how people were treated unfairly and how other people could bear causing pain to others. One of the scenes that caught my attention was the funeral of a soldier. Surrounding the coffin were grieving people, including the family and friends. However, for some reason, one grieving lady was stopped from following the coffin being laid to rest. This particular scene was contrasted with a clip showing the interview of the general who led the Vietnam War. Furthermore, there were several other interviews included in the documentary. Although I am not of Vietnamese, origin I was heartbroken by the difficulties experienced at that time. For the longest time, they experienced pain, both physical and emotional, while they struggled to raise their families accordingly. A particular scene exemplified the hardships endured by the Vietnamese during that particular time. The scene showed how the prisoners of the war were sitting restless and not paying attention to what their employer had in mind. I felt pity with the condition these people experienced, toppled by the excessive torture and inhumane humiliations provided by the American soldiers. After watching the documentary, one could not help but question what has been taught in class during our younger days. I was surprised at how the outcome of this war has been, including the participation that the American soldiers portrayed. However, due to the extensive information provided, some critics may also form their own conclusion as to how the said war was used as propaganda. On the other hand, it would be expected that some people would opt to be biased towards the Vietnamese and consider them to be victims of the American occupation. Regardless of everything that has been said, I believe that we all have our own perceptions towards things. Personally, I believe that the goal of this film was to show the other side of history that not everyone was aware of. In this manner, I would be able to form my own beliefs as to how people would be able to learn from these hurtful experiences. It is useless for us to keep on living in the past—we should all move forward in helping make a different in this lifetime. I must say that I recommend this film to everyone, especially those who are currently studying about the history of the United States.

Still Be Neat | Delight in Disorder | Analysis

Still Be Neat | Delight in Disorder | Analysis Ben Jonsons poem, Still to Be Neat, and Robert Herricks poem, Delight in Disorder, both argue the themes of naturalness. While both poems have similar themes, their approach to the subject of art are opposite. Jonson uses a discreet approach, while Herrick is more up front and lighthearted. The structure, word choice, and diction of each poem helps further their argument of natural beauty. This is significant in showing how Jonson and Herricks poems both discuss the beauty in nature and art, and thus showing that being natural and carefree is preferable to meticulous concealment. The syntax of Still to Be Neat and Delight in Disorder aid in getting the theme across to the reader. Both poems are in the meter of iambic tetrameter. Stresses on the syllables in the words dress and the o in disorder show, in Herricks poem, that the order of the dress is the main argument of the poem. The syllables in the words neat and dressed are stressed to show the central subject of the poem. Jonsons poem is two stanzas while Herricks poem is only one stanza. In the first stanza of Jonsons poem, the speaker describes a woman with her makeup on and the second stanza describes a vision of the woman without her makeup. The single stanza of Herricks poem is a continuous thought that cannot be broken up. This shows that the speaker cannot think about anything else except the woman of the poem. Herricks one stanza consists of 14 lines that describe the sweet disorder the speaker mentions in line 1. The first 12 lines are very stretched rhymes that are a little chaotic. These lines r epresent the chaos of the clothes. Jonsons poem is 12 lines that has a weird rhyme at the beginning of the poem. The words dressed and feast do not rhyme as well as the rest of the rhymes in the poem. This could be stressing that the attention to details, in writing or in dressing, is not always important. Each poem consists of rhyming pairs throughout the whole poem. The consistent pairs represent the perfection women believe they must achieve. The playfulness of the rhymes present to the reader how Herrick and Jonson prefer that the attention to getting dressed should not be so serious. This is significant in showing that the structure of the poem adds to the themes of natural and carefree beauty. Herricks approach to the theme is more mischievous when being compared to Jonsons poem. Delight in Disorder is a cavalier poem, which justifies the use of playful alliteration such as winning wave (line 9). Line nine states Ribbons to flow confusedly; / A winning wave, deserving note. The alliteration gives the poem a lighthearted tone. The word winning means to conquer and wave means to sway to and fro (winning, wave, Oxford English Dictionary). The ribbons are waving in a neglectful manner that the speaker enjoys. This carefree manner can be seen throughout the whole poem. Words such as distraction, neglectful, confusedly, careless, and wild, describe the disorder of the clothes within the poem (lines 4, 7, 8, 11, 12). The words sweet, fine, winning, deserving, and tempestuous, describe the delight the speaker views within all the disorder (lines 1, 4, 9, 10). The whole poem is a sweet disorder due to its silly rhymes and its perfect rhyme at the end of the poem (line 1 and PJ Eme ry). The chaotic rhymes represent the disorder and the last couplet represents the sweetness of the disarray. Herricks playfulness reveals itself in the lines that describe pieces of clothing. The clothing brings the readers attention to body parts. For example, the speaker states A lawn about the shoulders thrown/ Into a fine distractioÃÅ'à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬n (lines 3-4). The piece of linen attracts the speaker to stare at the womans shoulders. The linen is not carefully put in place on the shoulders of the woman, but rather thrown about in a carefree manner. This use of heedlessness attracts the speaker the most because it is not precise. The word distractioÃÅ'à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬n is a distraction itself due to its spelling. It is a play with words that give the poem its good-humored tone. The speakers association with clothes and body parts give the poem a sexual tone. The speaker states A careless shoestring/Do more bewitch me than when art/ Is too precise in every part (lines 11, 13-14). Carelessly placed pieces of clothing attract the speaker to the woman. He would rather see a chaotic mes s of clothes thrown on rather than a neatly placed outfit. The negligence of the outfit is what attracts the speaker. This is significant in showing that the speaker feels the disorder in dressing is what makes the woman beautiful. Jonsons approach to the theme is less upfront. The speaker urges his love to show him her natural beauty rather than the facade she puts on every second of the day. The word still is throughout the whole first stanza. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word still means always and continuously without change. The speaker uses this word when saying Still to neat, still to dressed/ As you were going to a feast (lines 1-2). Being over-dressed all the time is not what attracts the speaker. The speaker states Give me a look, give me a face/ That makes simplicity a grace, which urges the speakers love to reveal her true beauty. He prefers the less complicated face over the one with makeup that hides the truth. Phrases and words such as simplicity, loosely flowing, free and sweet neglect are what attract the speaker the most (lines 8, 9, 10). These words describe a carefree approach to life that the speaker would favor his woman to live. Thus, showing that simplicity is preferab le than forced beauty. The speaker of Still to Be Neat does appreciate the physical appearance of a woman. In the last three lines of the poem the speaker says Such sweet neglect more taketh me/ Than all adulteries of art./ They strike mine eyes, but not my heart (lines 10-12). Although the makeup is appealing feature on the surface it does not affect the speakers heart, which really matters. The speaker is not satisfied with arts hid causes because they do not reveal the true nature of the woman (line 5). Physical beauty is not what the speaker seeks but seeks a deeper connection. This is significant in showing that beauty is not all it takes to win a mans heart. Both poems discuss art. Herrick refers to the art of dressing. Jonson refers to the art of dressing as well as the art of adultery. Jonson poems for a sexual tone in line 11 when the speaker states that the negligence of the clothes attract him more than the adulteries of art (line 11). This line shows how much power the art of dressing has on the speaker. Dressing playfully can prevent the speaker from cheating. Herrick finds a simple piece of clothing tempestuous due to its confusing manner (line 10). Both poets display the themes of nature and art are in association with clothing throughout each poem. The art of dressing should not be scrupulous order but a relaxed mess. Both Herrick and Jonson show in their poems that art is better when it is natural rather than concealing it to look perfect. Herrick takes a more mischievous route, while Jonson is more discreet but still shows a lighthearted side. Each poets approach varies but the message of natural beauty is consistent in both poems.