Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Slavery In The River Of Dark Dreams By Walter Johnson

slavery and the enslaved to achieve cotton’s global domination and earn the South’s economic title as the â€Å"Cotton Kingdom.† A major factor in the South’s economic rise was the expansion of slavery. During the first half of the 19th century, America began to acquire new territory. In â€Å"The River of Dark Dreams† by Walter Johnson, Johnson explains that with these new states, arguments about whether slavery should continue or be abolished altogether became more and more contentious. Given the Southern economy’s dependence on slave-produced cotton, Southern states vehemently pushed for slavery in the new states so the cotton industry could continue and expand. With this expansion, however, came a newer, harsher form of slavery— one that thrived†¦show more content†¦The South was not the sole benefactor from the wealth cotton generated— the entire country, including the â€Å"anti-slavery† North, benefitted and shared the wealth. The price of cotton in the North dictated the price placed on slaves, and the cotton produced in the South was shipped North to create textiles in Northern factories (Baptist 198). This network of wealth traveled all around the nation, linking Mississippi planters to Massachusetts manufactures and uniting the entire country’s dependence on and profit from slave labor (Johnson 11). While we can now see how slavery embodied and shaped modern American capitalism from analysis of Baptist and Johnson’s texts, it is even more important to emphasize that this form of capitalism did not end with slavery— it was re-packaged into the more furtive wage slavery after emancipation. In â€Å"Legends of Contract Freedom,† Amy Dru Stanley explains that the idea of the contract emerged from Enlightenment ideas of consent, exchange and, particularly, self-ownership . However, abolitionists reframed the concept of wage contract in such a manner that dissociated labor from the self, so that it could be sold without the connotations of slavery. Abolitionists did this by focusing on the idea that the enslaved could work, and in some cases even more productively, in contractShow MoreRelatedThe Half Has Never Been Told : Slavery And The Making Of American Capitalism Essay3355 Words   |  14 Pageslatest book, The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Makin g of American Capitalism (2014), this one sentence spawned a massive conversation online regarding the reality of slavery’s brutal nature and its standing in the economic development of, not only the South, but the nation. The incorporation of economics into the conversation on slavery dates back to 1965 with the publication of Eugene Genovese’s first book, The Political Economy of Slavery, wherein he argues that economic developmentRead MoreThe Culture of Slavery in Walter Johnsons Book, Soul by Soul1063 Words   |  4 PagesWalter Johnson examines the fluid nature of the domestic slave trade and its role in shaping a culture of slavery. Central to this culture was the fundamental reality that the slave person was a commodity to be bought and sold as the market demanded. Describe the effects of the practice of slave trading on the actors involved. How did the domestic slave trade help create the identities of slave, the slaveholder and the slave trader? How did t he activities of the slave pen help â€Å"make† race (bothRead MoreNineteen Years A Slave, By Solomon Northup, And Black Hawk Essay2336 Words   |  10 Pagescloser look at the differences in motivation behind African-American slavery and Native American displacement, as well as the varying degrees of opposition to both establishments throughout the country. Northup’s memoir and Black Hawk’s autobiography help to highlight major discrepancies in how African Americans and Native Americans were treated, and raise the question as to why so many whites in the North were opposed to slavery while the country was generally united on the subject of expelling NativeRead MorePower Structure During The Era Of Slavery Essay2305 Words   |  10 PagesKaran Singh Chetri Dr. Subarno Chatterjee M.A. English (Final) Power Structure During the Era of Slavery Roaring fear of the state of slavery during the late eighteenth century was not that it displaced only millions of poor African people from their homeland to the united states, but also founded the business of black body as a commodity which was inhuman and was politically, culturally, and socially all together well upholded for the next coming hundred years. This paper shall firstRead MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 Pagesappreciated. Most important, however, was the Rastafarian insistence that Africa was the promised land and that Jamaicans should look to Africa for their model of value rather than to Europe, which was seen as foolish and a painful reminder of slavery and oppression. Rasta was an offense to those who wanted to deny the African part of their heritage. And the truth is also that in Jamaica at that time the privileging of lighter-skinned people was standard practice. Rastas were confronting so manyRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesDesert and the Indian Ocean.11 The movement of Chinese and South Asians before 1820 was generally freer, dominated by traders and short-term debt arrangements. But slave raiding was still common in the waters of Southeast Asia and, like African slavery, grew increasingly common over the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries along with the growth in global commerce.12 Long-distance migration after the middle of the nineteenth century, by contrast, was mostly free. The transatlantic AfricanRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pages. Organization Theory Challenges and Perspectives John McAuley, Joanne Duberley and Phil Johnson . This book is, to my knowledge, the most comprehensive and reliable guide to organisational theory currently available. What is needed is a text that will give a good idea of the breadth and complexity of this important subject, and this is precisely what McAuley, Duberley and Johnson have provided. They have done some sterling service in bringing together the very diverse strands of work

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Animal Experimentation Should Be Banned - 874 Words

Animal Testing Animal experimentation has been used to test different chemicals in the cosmetic industry. These type of experiments have been banned in many places but are still occurring in countries such as Canada, United States, and Australia (Cole). Thousands of mice, pigs, rats, and rabbits die every year in the United States alone. In this paper, I argue that animal experimentation should be banned all over the world because it’s unreliable, cruel, and there are other options for testing Animal testing will not always be reliable. Testing on an animal instead of a human can be different in safety, performance, or possible reactions that cosmetic products or ingredients could have in a person (Cole). For example, animals won’t react to certain medication or drugs the same way humans do. This test can explain that animal and human reactions can be completely different. Since animal testing will not always be reliable, they are still being treated cruelly in the experimentation. An example of cruel punishment would be applying soap to the back of an animals skin to see if there is a reaction. Many other tests are ran on animals whcih include; eye irritation tests, acute oral toxicity tests, developmental toxicity test, etc. Companies use this different types of test to study if any of the chemicals or ingredients will affect the creature. Running test like these can not only ruin the animals skin it can also cause side effects or even lead to death.Show MoreRelatedAnimal Experimentation Should Be Banned1426 Words   |  6 Pagesjudged by the way its animals are treated.† - Mahatma Gandhi. These famous words still ring true in today’s society as we struggle to overcome the scientific experimentation on animals. Animals have acted as the archstone of human civilization since the dawn of man, from a source of food, to companionship. However, in the past century, we have been blurring the line between environmental entitlement a nd environmental rape. Every member of the human race interacts and depends on animals, and we owe themRead MoreAnimal Experimentation Should Not Be Banned857 Words   |  4 Pagesmeaning about animal experimentation. Animal experimentation is the use of animals, mostly monkeys, on research. Reason being as to why monkeys is because monkeys are far more intelligent than other animals. Animals are stripped from the environment and are tested on so scientists can make products safe for humans. The big problem is that it is inhumane. Animal experimentation should and needs to be stopped because it is cruel, unethical, and not reliable. Having scientists test on animals is cruelRead MoreAnimal Testing Should Be Banned Animals For Operations For The Purpose Of Experimentation Or Scientific Research? Essay1073 Words   |  5 PagesFirst off Vivisection is the practice that uses living animals for operations for the purpose of experimentation or scientific research. In shorter words vivisection is a type of animal testing. Aristotle used animal testing in 384-322 BC(Hajar 1). This just shows animal testing has been going on for decades. Vivisection is viewed as a harmful abusive practice to animals. If their was a way to demolish vivisection in the future there would be other alternatives that would replace it. ScientistsRead MoreHow Do The Contributions Of Animal Testing To Global Medical1309 Words   |  6 Pagescontributions of animal testing to global medical science justify whether or not it should be banned? According to the Humane Society International (HSI), animal testing or animal experimentation for medical research refers to the experimentation on live animals for the purposes of investigation on diseases, medical treatments, or fundamental biology. Charles Gross, a former member of the History of Neuroscience committee of the global Society for Neuroscience, states that animals were used for improvingRead MoreAnimals for Research and Experimentation678 Words   |  3 Pages100 million animals are used for research and experimentation on around the world every year. Apart from all the benefits of animal testing there are many good reasons which support banning the experimentations on animals such as: animal cruelty, selfishness, and danger of using the experiments result. Therefore animal experimentation should be banned. These days, animal testing has brought a lot of issues in the society. The first and foremost argument that is presented against animal testing dealsRead MoreAnimal Experimentation Is Cruel And Needs1100 Words   |  5 PagesFreshman Seminar, Per. 1 4 May 2015 Animal Experimentation Animal experimentation is cruel and needs to be banned. It is another form of animal abuse. The animals are locked in cold, tiny cages in laboratories waiting in fear of what might happen next. The animals are being treated cruelly and being injected with substances that the scientists do not know if it will harm the animals. â€Å"Right now, millions of mice, rats, rabbits, primates, cats, dogs and other animals are locked inside cold barren cagesRead MoreEssay on Save the Animals: Say No to Animal Experimentation!1218 Words   |  5 Pagesfor animals before prescribing them to human beings. However, would it feel good to know that every year, hundreds of thousands of animals are captured from the wild and die just because of these said experiments? For many years now, scientists have been using animals for their laboratory experiments to produce new medicines. Although scientists have been using this process for many decades in the field of medicine, it is still a controversial issue for those who are pro animal experimentation andRead MoreAnimal Testing Should Be Banned848 Words   |  4 Pages As a society we have failed to notice, it’s everywhere. The animal testing footprint. Aeroguard, Chapstick, Michael Kors, Palmolive and Dettol: these common household brands all have the dark footprints of animal experimentation embedded into it. Each year over 6.5 million animals are brutally tested, killed or harmed in Australia and New Zealand, for many brands across the nation. You may think that Animal Testing has nothing to do with you but the real truth is, it does. It’s unavoidable toRead MoreThe Use Of Research On Cosmetics And Its Effects On Society1604 Words   |  7 PagesBlinded by Beauty On average, 26 million animals are used every year for the use of research on cosmetics. These tests should be banned for many obvious reasons such as it is clearly cruel and inhumane, they cost more than alternative methods, and they do not predict an accurate result due to the anatomical differences. Animals are being unfairly tortured and killed for research on ingredients that people are unknowingly using in their everyday lives. Here’s an important question to consider;Read MoreAnimal Experiments Or Torture?924 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"experiments.† This is the life many animals in biomedical research are forced to live . Nowadays, most of the animal experiments are conducted on mice, rats, fish, and other animals that are excluded from the Animal Welfare Act of 1966. Animal experiments cause psychological and physical harm to the animals with a complete lack of respect for their quality of life which is why they must be banned. The effect that biomedical research experiments have on these animals is detrimental. According to the

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Importance of Statistics in Business Free Essays

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan Auditing Intermediate Examination Autumn 2012 Module D Q. 1 5 September 2012 100 marks – 3 hours Additional reading time – 15 minutes Shahrukh and Company, Chartered Accountants, have conducted the statutory audit of the financial statements of Karim Limited, a listed company, for the year ended 30 June 2012 under the Companies Ordinance, 1984. The job incharge has drafted the following audit report: Auditors’ Report to the Members We have audited the annexed balance sheet of Karim Limited (the Company) as at 30 June 2012, and the related Income and Expenditure Account, Statement of Comprehensive Income, Cash Flow Statement and Statement of Changes in Equity together with the notes forming part thereof, for the year then ended and we state that we have obtained all the information and explanations which were necessary for the purposes of our audit. We will write a custom essay sample on Importance of Statistics in Business or any similar topic only for you Order Now It is the responsibility of the company’s management to establish and maintain a system of internal control and prepare and present the above said statements in conformity with the approved auditing standards and the requirements of the fourth schedule to the Companies Ordinance, 1984. Our responsibility is to audit these statements. We conducted our audit in accordance with the auditing standards as applicable in Pakistan. These standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable and limited assurance about whether the above statements are free of any misstatement. An audit includes examining evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the above said statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting policies and significant estimates made by management, as well as, evaluating the overall presentation of the above said statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion and, after due verification, we report that: (a) in our opinion, proper books of accounts have been kept by the company. (b) in our opinion: (i) the balance sheet and profit and loss account together with the notes thereon have been drawn up in conformity with the Companies Ordinance 1984, and are in agreement with the books of account and are further in accordance with accounting policies consistently applied; (ii) the expenditure incurred during the year was in ccordance with the objects of the Company; and (iii) the business conducted, investments made and the expenditure incurred during the year were for the purpose of the Company’s business; (c) in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the balance sheet, profit and loss account, statement of comprehensive income, cash flow statement and statement of changes in equity together with the notes forming part thereof, conform with the approved accounting standards as applicable in Pakistan and give the information required by the Companies Ordinance, 1984, in the manner so required and respectively give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s affairs as at 30 June 2012; and (d) in our opinion, no zakat was deductible at source under the Zakat and Ushr Ordinance, 1980. Chartered Accountants Date: 01 September 2012 Required: Identify the errors in the above report vis-a-vis a standard statutory audit report. (Note: You are not required to redraft the report. ) (12 marks) Auditing Page 2 of 3 Q. 2 As the engagement partner, you have reviewed the audit working papers of Samarkand Limited (SL). The audit team has highlighted the following matters in the working papers. (a) Twenty percent of the company’s recorded turnover (revenue) comprises of cash sales. Proper records of cash sales have not been maintained. Consequently, the audit team was unable to design audit procedures to verify the cash sales. During the current year, the company changed the method of charging depreciation on its fixed assets from the straight line to the diminishing balance method. However, all the required disclosures have been included in the notes to the financial statements. The previous year’s financial statements were audited by another firm of chartered accountants which has issued an un-modified opinion on those financial statements. (b) (c) Required: Discuss the impact of each of the above matters on your audit report. (10 marks) Q. 3 You are currently in the planning phase of the audit of Mineral Water Limited (MWL) for the year ended 30 June 2012. The following information is available to you: Customer Segment Super markets Wholesalers Retailers Five star hotels No. of Customers 12 65 553 7 Balance 10 10-20 21-30 31-90 gt; 90 outstanding days days days days days †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Rs. in thousand†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 20,014 8,125 5,053 6,396 311 129 14,910 5,078 6,019 3,150 454 209 4,743 1,756 1,798 724 278 187 7,694 2,805 2,793 1,784 201 111 47,361 17,764 15,663 12,054 1,244 636 50% provision for doubtful debts has been made by MWL against balances outstanding for more than 30 days whereas the balances outstanding for more than 90 days have been fully provided. Required: (a) Indicate what would be the basis for selecting debtors for circularising positive and negative requests for confirmations. 06 mark) (b) Briefly explain as to how would you deal with a situation where a debtor confirms a balance which is different from the amount appear ing in the confirmation request. (08 mark) Q. 4 (a) Classification of certain items reported in the financial statements is based on the management’s intentions. In such a situation the auditor has to rely on management representations. Required: List the factors that the auditor should consider in evaluating the management’s intentions with regard to their future course of action, as stated in their written representations. (04 mark) (b) Briefly discuss how the auditor would deal with a situation where he is in doubt regarding the reliability of the written representations provided by the management of the company. (05 mark) Q. 5 List the substantive procedures that may be performed by an auditor to verify the following: (a) (b) (c) Bank reconciliation statements Payroll Raw material purchases (06 marks) (08 marks) (06 marks) Auditing Page 3 of 3 Q. 6 List the audit procedures that may be performed by the auditor in order to ensure that all events occurring between the date of the financial statements and the date of the auditor’s report that require adjustment of, or disclosure in, the financial statements are identified and appropriately reflected in the financial statements. (10 marks) Q. 7 Discuss the categories of threats that may be involved in each of the following independent situations and advise the partners of the concerned firm with regard to the possible course of action that may be followed, in each case. a) Burewala Bank Limited (BBL) is a listed audit client of Umer and Company, Chartered Accountants (UCC). BBL has granted a house loan of Rs. 5 million to a partner in UCC. (04 marks) Kamal was the audit manager during the last year’s annual audit of Faisalabad Textile Mills Limited (FTML). He has joined FTML as their Manager Finance, prior to the commencement of the current year’s audit. (08 marks) (b) Q. 8 Comment on each of the following independent situations with reference to the applicable rules and regulations. (a) Zaman is a partner in a firm of Chartered Accountants and holds 5,000 shares in Mardan Limited (ML). His firm has received an offer for appointment as auditors of Khanewal Limited (KL). ML and KL are subsidiaries of Dera Khan Limited (DKL). (03 marks) Bilal and Company has received an offer for appointment as auditors of IJK Limited. The total paid up capital of the company is Rs. 990 million whereas its ordinary share capital is Rs. 130 million. Faryal, the wife of a partner in Bilal and Company, is a director in LMN Limited which holds 50 million non-voting preference shares and 2 million ordinary shares in IJK Limited. Faryal also holds 10,000 shares in LMN Limited. The par value of both types of shares is Rs. 10 each. (04 marks) (b) Q. 9 List the important matters that are required to be included in an audit engagement letter. (06 marks) (THE END) How to cite Importance of Statistics in Business, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Minicase Raines and Warren Finance free essay sample

The disadvantage of using company collateral to back the bonds is, the asset used as collateral cannot be sold during the term of the bond and must maintain its value. 2. Seniority of the bond. The seniority of the bond is the order in which bonds will be paid in the event of bankruptcy. The more senior the bond, the higher priority of being paid if there is a bankruptcy, and the lower the coupon rate because the risk to the bond owner is lower. 3. The presence of a sinking fund. A sinking fund is an account set up by the trustee of the bonds. The trustee saves and pools money to purchase, pay off, or call bonds early. Setting up a sinking fund will lower the risk, thus lowering the coupon rate. The risk to the company is not having available funds to feed the trust. 4. A call provision with specified call dates and call prices. We will write a custom essay sample on Minicase Raines and Warren Finance or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A call provision could be included to call the bonds if interest rates drop substantially. The call provision will raises the coupon rate but protect you from paying a high rate for a long period in the event rates drop. 5. A deferred call accompanying the call provision. A deferred call accompanying the call provision would give the bond purchaser a protection period where the bond could not be called. Adding this provision will prohibit you from calling the bond for a set time (call period), and puts you at risk of paying a high interest rate for the deferred period. Therefore, you have a lower coupon rate than a call provision with no deferral period but still higher than a bond with no call provision at all. 6. A make-whole call provision. A make-whole call provision is the safest call for the investor and a lower coupon rate for you. The discount rate is based on the current Treasury rate plus a small-specified percentage. The investor is protected by being made whole if there is a call. 7. Any positive covenants for purchaser and some SS might consider. Positive covenants on bonds are proactive and reduce the coupon rate. Applying positive covenants to the bond makes it more attractive and secure to the investor by applying conditions that protect the investor’s interest. You may wish to consider a covenant to furnish your audited financial statements to the investors. This is something you already do and it would decrease the coupon rate. If you choose to secure with assets (see number 1), including a covenant to assure that the asset is in good working condition would lower the coupon rate. 8. Any negative covenants for purchaser and some SS might consider. Negative covenants on bonds are restrictive and reduce the coupon rate. Applying negative covenants to the bond makes it more attractive to the investor but may hinder the operation by putting limitations on your business actions. You may want to consider a clause that you will not merge with another firm and that you will not issue any additional long-term debt. 9. A conversion feature. A conversion feature allows a bond to convert to stock and unless your company is planning to go public, this would not apply to you. If SS has any plans to go public, you should consider a conversion feature. This feature would benefit the bondholders if the company did go public and if included could lower the coupon rate. 10. A floating-rate coupon. A floating-rate coupon is much like an adjustable rate loan. The coupon rate, tied to a published rate such as the Treasury bill interest rate over a set period, is adjusted per a set schedule such as every six months. There is a disadvantage of doing this when rates are low but will be more attractive to the investor, thus a lower margin. A cap on how much the rate can be increased or decreased would be a good addition if you choose this option. This would be a consideration if you choose not to have a call provision.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Insomniac Games Inc. Development of Leadership Strategy

The change management and the effective leadership strategies play crucial roles in the positive financial outcomes. First of all, the management needs to develop the skills of timely recognition of the factors provoking the change and adoption of the regulating policies that are aimed at the practice of a novel business strategy that is necessary for the business survival.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Insomniac Games Inc.: Development of Leadership Strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More ‘Leadership of major change in an organization presents substantial challenges’ (McDeavitt et al. 2012, p. 141). Along with the recognition of the changing factors, it is important to organise the appropriate changes within the enterprise. The well-elaborated strategy is essential in the maintenance of business and the organisational prosperity. The given report provides the investigation of the current busines s strategy of the Insomniac Games Inc. The company is the software developer, and it is one of the most prominent representatives of the gaming industry. Design and software markets are exposed to the continuous changes following the technological advancement and the shifts in the customers’ preferences. The capabilities of managing changes are regarded as the core competencies in the industry. The competitive advantages consolidated through the processes included in the strategic plan are equal to the high level of the organisational attractiveness, customer loyalty, and the increase of income. Defining Leadership Nowadays, the researchers make the distinction between management and leadership. ‘In time terms, ‘management’ action is often focused on current plans and their delivery, and ‘leadership’ deals with change, adaptability and the future’ (Carnall Roebuck 2015, p. 9). Leadership involves inspiration, motivation, and the employe es encouraging for achievements while the effective management is focused merely on the fulfillment of the basic working processes. ‘In an organisational context, most agree that, at the very least, leaders set the tone for their organisation and, therefore, questions about their leadership immediately raise broader questions about the organisation, and potentially the teams that they lead being a reflection of their leadership’ (Carnall Roebuck 2015, p. 3). Effective leadership is highly demanded because it provokes the favorable outcomes for the organisation. Leaders are responsible for the financial and non-financial performance of the organisation to a great extent (Pasmore 2014, p. 3).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The efficiency of a leader’s operation is grounded in the sound and open way of interactions both with the individuals within the comp any and outside of it. For the motivation of the subordinates, the leader must understand his/her employees. In some cases, the poor organisational performance can be caused by ineffective leadership. The management of any organisation needs to adopt the leadership strategies that take into consideration the human factors and the other factors as well: financial, ethical, and legal. When all the aspects of the strategic decision-making are taken into account, the management becomes more efficient, and it helps to avoid the problems and systematic errors that can jeopardize the company’s stability and productivity. The modern environment in the market is dynamic and constantly changing. The management needs to be flexible and capable of transforming according to the conditions. An excellent leadership strategy includes the methods to adjustment to the rapidly changing environment. The leaders who show competence can assess the inner and outer strengths and weaknesses that beco me the basis for the strategy design. The strategic management is one of the crucial leadership methods. ‘Strategic management is all about identification and description of the actions that managers can undertake in order to achieve better performance and competitive advantage for their organisation’ (Atta-Panin 2013, p. 15). The important steps of any strategic management in face of technologic and dynamic changes in the market include correction or ‘establishing vision, mission, and values’; the comprehensive analysis of the strengths and weaknesses as well as the evaluations of the external factors; the elaboration of the problem-solving strategy; practicing of the strategic changes and ‘exercising accountability to shareholders’, the constant monitoring of performance (Carnall Roebuck 2015, p. 10). The leadership strategy also must be concerned with the adaptation to changes, the appropriate response to external and internal threats and e mergencies, and innovation support. Leadership is determined to guide the organisation through the changes process. Therefore, leaders must show the behaviour ‘needed to implement the business strategy and create the desired culture (skills, competencies, knowledge base)’ (Pasmore 2014, p. 3).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Insomniac Games Inc.: Development of Leadership Strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Through the strategic decisions, leaders must engage all their subordinates in the processes of change by the constant learning, developing, and informing. The considerations of all the factors that cause the changes in the market by leaders contribute to financial sustainability, high productivity levels, and business development. Technology and Change Management Strategies: Overview Change is commonly understood as ‘the replacement, alteration or transformation of a process or pheno menon’ (Braica 2013, p. 138). The triggers for change may be of both the internal and external character (Susman, Jansen Michael 2006). There is a great variety of causes that induce the organisational changes. The decline in sales and profitability are the most frequent ones. No matter what was the impetus for the organisational transformation, it is important to recognize, evaluate, and control all of the external and internal change factors. Therefore, the competitive change management strategy contributes to the organisational success and financial growth. Change management is meant to detect the ‘sources of resistance to change and providing ways to overcome them’ (Braica 2013, p. 138). The main activities involved in change management are the forecasting, evaluation, coordination, and control. The most vital activity involved in the strategic planning is forecasting. The changes happen frequently, and it often happens that the organization fails to plan an d execute these changes. When the organisational changes are reactive to the change in the external environment, it more often leads to failure. The greater opportunities for the success are influenced by the ‘proactive’ approach (Susman et al. 2006, p. 9). When a company anticipates and creates changes, there is more space and time created for the investigation of the potential problems and challenges. Thus, the proactive strategy supports the long-term survival in the market. ‘The received wisdom in much of the business world is that change has to be fast, large-scale and transformational if organizations are to survive’ (Burnes 2014, p. 303). The change management strategy must answer the questions of the reasons, extent and focus of transformation. The goals and objectives detection is also important. In the modern world, most of the changes affecting businesses are related to the technology advancement. The technologic evolvement influences the industr ies and affects their productivity and performance. The technology management is ‘a process, which includes planning, directing, control and coordination of the development and implementation of technological capabilities to shape and accomplish the strategic and operational objectives of an organization’ (Cetindamar, Phaal Probert 2009, p. 237).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The technological changes create challenges and opportunities for production and promotion of products. The technological advancement can be regarded as value and the competitive advantage in the market. The changes and the strategies interactions are dynamic in nature. ‘It is true to say that change drives strategy as it is to say that strategy drives change’ (Burnes 2014, p. 306). The ‘dynamic capabilities are the ability to reconfigure, redirect, transform, and appropriately shape and integrate existing core competencies with external resources and strategic and complementary assets’ (Cetindamar et al. 2009, p. 238). The dynamic management emphasizes the importance of integration of the external factors with the internal organisational skills and the development of the competitive organisational environment. The efficient change and technology management strategies based on the dynamic approach build the sustainable business. However, the role of leaders hip is critical for the efficiency and the positive outcomes. The leadership strategy comprises all the mentioned approaches, aspects and techniques and becomes a cohesive force that leads the enterprise towards success. The External Environment: Gaming Industry Video games industry has a long history. However, the shift to the digital gaming development took place only a few decades ago (Research and Markets 2012). The industry experiences the rising popularity, and the expansion of the market takes place. ‘The game industry is quickly becoming a financial juggernaut’, the level of competition increases, and the companies need to make up new tricks to attract more customers and gain a larger profit (Egenfeldt-Nelsen, Smith Parajes Tosca 2012, p. 7). For the software developers in the industry, the issue of the collaboration with the gaming consoles manufacturers is of significant importance. The gaming machines are evolving through time as well. The newest models alwa ys attract great attention among the members of the gaming community, and the most popular models are often engaged in ‘console battles’ (Egenfeldt-Nelsen et al. 2012, p. 18). Sony, Sega, Microsoft, etc. are the most prominent representatives of the console development business. For the company that is concerned with the software development, the collaboration with the console manufacturer can be regarded as the contribution to the business success. Therefore, the choice of the right and successful partner is a part of strategic planning that determines the profitability of business to a great extent. The industry is constantly changing. The new informational and technological innovations emerge and require the developers to adjust to changes. For a long period, gaming included only the hardware and software programs, but, in the age of the internet, the online games gain popularity. Although the software development is still demanded, the companies need to consider the rapidly developing market of the online gaming as it provides a new direction for the organisational growth. The online gaming is a new source of profit as well. Therefore, the evolving in internet games development is beneficial. Mobile phones gaming applications, online subscriptions, cloud gaming, and freemium games are ‘financially promising’ (Egenfeldt-Nelsen et al. 2012, p. 16). The other trends that will likely change the gaming industry in the future include the merging of the social media with games, the virtual reality entertainment, and the virtual physical activities. A Brief History and Current Business Models of the Organisation: Insomniac Games Inc. Insomniac Games is the independent game developer founded in 1994 in the USA. The organisation is engaged in the development of games and digital design. The sales of the games elaborated by the company are the main source of profit. Recently the company has started the projects in the multiplatform and mobil e development. Insomniac Games Inc. is a medium-sized enterprise. The company has nearly two hundred people in staff. In 2014, the total net income of the organisation was equal to US $3.596.125 (Financial Information for Insomniac Games Inc. 2016). The first projects of the company were unsuccessful and faced a lot of criticism. Such projects as ‘Disruptor’ were regarded as a failure and even jeopardized organisational existence. However, the next projects were warmly accepted by the public and the gaming community. ‘Spyro and Dragon’ is one of the most recognized games created by Insomniac Games (Insomniac Games 2016). The franchise brought the company the large profits and the popularity among gamers around the globe. Insomniac Games lead the client-oriented business. They emphasize the importance of transparency and the ethical approach. The company is involved in the several charity programs and collaborations with the charity ventures. The Insomniac G ames’ approach is appealing to many clients and makes the company one of the most recognizable representatives in the visual design market. One of the main features of the Insomniac Games culture and philosophy is the emphasis on the independence that allows the designers to express their creativity freely. The company’s leaders attempt to maintain the sound relations with the staff members and create a friendly environment inside the organisation. Due to the positive working climate and the strong corporate culture, Insomniac Games Inc. was recognized as one of the most attractive workplaces in the USA. The Competitive Strategy Design Te given strategic planning states the short-term and long-term goals to achieve by Insomniac Games Inc. These objectives are expected to increase the products diversification, make the company more flexible and perceptive in the face of the current changes in the market, and increase the financial profit by the attraction of new custome rs and partners. The stages of the competitive change management strategy are: Movement in the direction of the online and virtual reality gaming development: investigation and analysis of the environment; articulation of goals and the preliminary distribution of funds; The partnership expansion: the establishment of relationships with the developers of the online gaming technologies (i.e. NVIDIA GRID); Education and training of personnel: elaboration of the programs that are aimed at the refinement and advancement of skills in online programming, and graphic content designing; The work on the new project: elaboration of the game concepts, designing, programming, editing, etc.; distribution of tasks, duties and responsibilities among the staff members; The pricing regulations: analysis of the economic balance in the market and the application of the new low-cost and flexible policies; The new projects advertising: Internet resources, social media, and printed editions; The new prod ucts production: distribution and sales. It is important to mention that the given plan is to be enforced within a year starting 1 February 2016. The results of the short-term objectives, such as the launching of the new online gaming projects and the employees’ education, are expected to be observed by the 1 July 2016. The fulfillment of the long-term objectives, such as a new product production, is time-consuming. Therefore, it will be possible to evaluate the outcomes and the strategic efficiency in December 2016. Throughout the process of the strategy application and practice, the organisational management should monitor the execution of the day-to-day operations and the integration of the newly established behaviour into the corporate culture. According to the short-term results, the leaders should take corrections in the plan if necessary. Implementation of Change Management Strategy Based on the listed objectives, the leaders of Insomniac Games Inc. must elaborate the values and the vision statement that can become the basis for the organisational motivation. The strategic decisions and activities involved in the leadership strategy are listed below: Generation of urgency for change, Creation of vision and mission statements based on the current and new values of the company, Promotion of the new values and vision within the company, communication with the employees regarding the issues of organisational transformation, Implementation of the strategy in practice; the emphasis is on the staff members’ education and motivation towards the goals achievement, Monitoring the ongoing business processes, the short-term and long-term results, According to the evaluation of the strategic outcomes, the leaders make corrections in the strategy and improve it, Sustaining of the positive results. ‘Generating urgency begins with recognizing the need for change,’ and it is the essential role of leadership (Susman et al. 2006, p. 30). At t his stage the leader weights and evaluates the importance of a particular project and its significance regarding the benefits of the company. The identification of priorities and initiatives takes place. The elaboration of the online game project is an urgent issue for Insomniac Games Inc. The need for the personnel training is interconnected with the project development, and it is thus urgent as well. At this stage, the managers draw attention to the change factors and allocate the funds and resources for the project execution. The main purpose of the vision statement is in the creation of the motivation and envisioning of the company’s future. At this stage, it is determined what a company should look like after change, what must be included or avoided throughout the process of the organisational transformation. The vision statement is the reflection of the company’s competitiveness. Through vision, organisations address its employees, partners, and consumers. Insomn iac Games Inc. sees its purpose in the creation of the original projects, and they care for the independent and distinct brand image. The vision statement thus must include these aspects, and it must address the clients and partners by focusing on the ethics of business and the uniqueness of products. The statement also must ‘be challenging and encourage firms to grow’ (Susman et al. 2006, p. 32). The vision has to be realistic and inspiring at the same time. The vision needs to include the concept of the personnel as the highest value, the significance of creative and friendly working environment for the increase of productivity to encourage Insomniac Games’ employees. During the period of change and adaptation of the new strategic policies, ‘reassuring statements should be made to employees to help them feel some level of security in the midst of change’ (Susman et al. 2006, p. 31). For the successful integration of the values and vision into the c orporate culture, the leaders need to maintain good communication with the employees. The next steps of the strategy (practicing, outcomes’ monitoring, and strategy corrections) ensure the organisation’s transition to change. ‘This step consists of empowering people by removing obstacles to change, reassuring that change is possible, planning activities and commitments, and managing structures’ (Susman et al. 2006, p. 36). The staff members execute their daily tasks aimed at the achievement of the planned objectives. The functioning must be consistent with the values and goals, and it is the duty of leaders to evaluate and control the consistency of organisational work at this stage. Following all the stages leads to the sustaining of the positive outcomes of the leadership and change management strategies. The plan must be adjusted through the process of the constant assessments and measurements. ‘Measurement should be considered during the planning of change and before any action is undertaken’ (Susman et al. 2006, p. 40). The measurements assist attaining goals more effectively. And the short-term achievements and efficient motivation provoke the lasting advantages in the market. Analysis of the Strategy ‘Small companies often have less control over key environmental elements than do their larger counterparts’ (Susman et al. 2006, p. 10). The competitive strategy is vital for the small and medium-sized enterprises because it contributes to the sustainability and survival of the business. Insomniac Games Inc. competes with the large enterprises in the gaming industry and the small highly competitive organisations as well. Following the new trends in the industry and the effective collaboration with the partners are crucial for the creation of the competitive advantage in the business. Sony Computer Entertainment, the producer of the PlayStation platform, has been the main Insomniac Games’ partner th roughout its history. In 2012, the company diversified the business by collaboration with Google and Apple. In 2013, Insomniac Games included Microsoft in the list of its partners as well. And the company plans the collaboration with the developer of the virtual reality device, Oculus Rift, in the future. The most important strategic decision for Insomniac Games is its further expansion in the mobile and online gaming. In the gaming industry, working solely with the console producers doesn’t meet the increasing demands of the modern consumers. Online gaming is the trend that gathers pace and evolves through time. By and by, it becomes dominating in the market. Neglecting of this fact jeopardizes the organisational ability to sustain business in the future. The technologic and informational changes in the external environment can be considered as the triggers for the organisational change. The consumer trends are one of the principal elements of the changes in the gaming indus try. The consideration of consumer trends by the organisation provokes the development of the competitive advantage. The other elements of the environmental change that must be considered include legislation, labor market, and product market (Susman et al. 2006, p. 10). The orientation towards the ‘innovation differentiation, marketing differentiation, and lowcost strategies’ are widely considered as the main features of each competitive strategy (Menguc, Auh Shih 2007, p. 315). It is especially recognizable in the online gaming industry that now experiences a rapid growth. The environment is dynamic and constantly changing, and it provides opportunities for expansion of the consumer attraction. The engagement in the online games developments put companies at the advantageous positions in the market. Esports and Cloud Gaming are the most popular trends nowadays. The exploration of these fields will expand Insomniac Games’ functionality and will contribute to the diversification of products. The collaboration with the Cloud Gaming and Esports technologies producers is a must for the increase of the competitiveness and is regarded as the innovative decision in the strategic planning. The openness towards the external environment, interrelations and collaborations with the other organisations serves as the business leverage (Susman et al. 2006, p. 10). Both customers and partners help to generate new ideas and improve the efficiency of the production and services. Communication with the shareholders contributes to the creation of the organisational image. It helps to understand the needs of the market and learn from the consumers’ feedback. Communication supports the diversification processes. Nowadays, the Internet resources provide the best ways for communication, promotion, and the novel projects launching. The pricing policies play a significant role in business marketing, products promotion, and development of the customer loyalty . A free-to-play (F2P) business model offers the beneficial pricing strategy. ‘Free game distribution provides a marketing and business approach for developers and publishers to monetize games’ (Harris 2014, par. 2). F2P is highly recommendable for Insomniac Games because it will help to attract new customers. Through the service, the gamers can try and assess the game and decide whether they want to purchase it for their PCs and consoles. The online service provides pricing strategy that is flexible and beneficial for both the customers and developers. The expansion of the organisational functionality can be appealing to the employees in case it is appropriately integrated into the values system. The demand for the development of the new format content will help to reveal the staff members’ creativity and will contribute to their professional growth. Insomniac Games strives to preserve its independence and considers it a significant part of the organisational cu lture. It can be considered as one of the internal factors that held the rate of the company’s products diversity low. Nowadays, the diversification is a necessity, and the expansion of partnership is vital. However, throughout the transition process, it is important to comply with the corporate philosophy conceptions, refine and transform them into a new value system. The alignment of all the organisational elements is necessary for the diversification of the products from the competitors. Leaders need to encourage their subordinated to generate the innovative ideas regarding the projects development and the working processes. The changes in the structure of the personnel relations may take place to ensure the excellent level of contribution to success. Leaders may increase the responsibility of the certain subjects, promote, and involve them in the training programs. ‘In order to encourage teamwork and idea sharing, it is important that employees feel equal with their peers,’ therefore, there must be the free flow of information at all the levels in the organisation (Susman et al. 2006, p. 19). A well-elaborated vision statement helps to maintain the feeling of equality, team cohesion, and involvement in the transition process. All the employees need to have the opportunity to discuss the current issues, exchange opinions, express themselves, and be recognized. The employees’ accountability is crucial for leadership strategy and is the most important factor inducing the organisational success. Conclusion Overall, the strategic management process in the Insomniac Games Inc. is comprised of scanning the internal and external environment, long-term and short-term objectives setting, assignment of the functional responsibilities, evaluation of performance and outcomes. The main objectives stated in the strategic plan are new project development, expansion of business functionality, services, and partnerships in the industry. The additi onal goals include personnel training, pricing regulations, and advertising. It is expected that by 1 February 2016, Insomniac Games Inc. will successfully release a new online game. Nowadays, online gaming industry remains unexplored for the company, and the decision to become an active participant in the new market has a purpose of prevention the financial and organisational declines in the future. It is claimed by many researchers in the gaming industry that online services are becoming dominant in the market. Therefore, the inclusion of the online gaming development into the company’s functional activities is a rational way to maintain the business survival and longevity. For the successful transition to the organisational change, the strategic leadership is elaborated. It will take at least seven steps to attain the sustainable results. The leadership is responsible for the creation of vision statement and integration of values into the corporate culture, motivation of e mployees, communication, the monitoring of the practice and activities included in the strategy, and the outcomes measuring. By evaluating the previous literature and research in the strategic change management and leadership management, it was proven that following aspects included in the strategy elaborated for Insomniac Games Inc. provides the high probability of the positive results achievement. Reference List Atta-Panin, J. 2013, ‘Leadership and strategic management’, GSTF International Journal on Business Review, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 14-21. Braica A. 2013, ‘Fundamentals of change management’, Studia Universitatis â€Å"Vasile Goldis† Arad. Seria stiinte economice, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 138-149. Burnes, B. 2014, Managing change, Pearson Education Limites, Harlow. Carnall, C. Roebuck, C. 2015, Strategic leadership development: Building world-class performance, Palgrave, New York. Cetindamar, D., Phaal, R. Probert, D. 2009, ‘Understanding tech nology management as a dynamic capability: a framework for technology management activities’, Technovation, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 237-246. Egenfeldt-Nelsen, S., Smith, J. Parajes Tosca S. 2012, Understanding video games, Routledge, New York. Financial information for Insomniac Games, Inc., Hoovers. Web. Harris, T. 2014, ‘Top 5 online gaming industry trends for 2015’, Internap. Web. Insomniac Games, 2016. Web. McDeavitt J., Wade K., Smith R. Worsowicz G. 2012, ‘Understanding change management’, Practice Management, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 141-143. Menguc, B., Auh, S. Shih, E. 2007, ‘Transformational leadership and market orientation: Implications for the implementation of competitive strategies and business unit performance’, Journal of Business Research, vol. 60, pp. 314-321. Pasmore, W. 2014, Developing a leadership strategy: a critical ingredient of organizational success. Web. Research and Markets: Cloud gaming – how will it change the game* identifies the growth engines that will encourage development of this new market segment 2012, M2 Presswire. Web. Susman, G., Jansen K. Michael, J. 2006, Innovation and change management in small and medium-sized manufacturing companies. Web. This essay on Insomniac Games Inc.: Development of Leadership Strategy was written and submitted by user Angelo C. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Biography of El Cid, Medieval Spanish Hero

Biography of El Cid, Medieval Spanish Hero El Cid (1045–July 10, 1099), whose birth name was Rodrigo Dà ­az de Vivar (or Bibar), is a Spanish national hero, a mercenary soldier who fought for the Spanish king Alfonso VII to liberate parts of Spain from the Almoravid dynasty and eventually captured the Muslim caliphate of Valencia and ruled his own kingdom. Fast Facts: El Cid Known For: National hero of Spain, mercenary soldier against Christian and Muslims, ruler of ValenciaBirth Name: Rodrigo Dà ­az de Vivar (or Bibar)Born: c. 1045 near Burgos, SpainParents: Diego Lainez and a daughter of Rodrigo AlvarezDied: July 10, 1099 in Valencia, SpainEducation: Trained in the Castilian court of Sancho IISpouse: Jimena (m. July 1074)Children: Cristina, Maria, and Diego Rodriguez Rodrigo Dà ­az de Vivar was born into a chaotic period in Spanish history when much of the southern two-thirds of the Iberian peninsula had been conquered by Islamic forces during the Arab conquest beginning in the 8th century CE. In 1009, the Islamic Umayyad Caliphate collapsed and disintegrated into competing city-states, called taifa. The northern third of the peninsula was broken into principalities- Leà ³n, Castile, Navarre, Barcelona, Asturia, Galacia, and others- who fought each other and their Arab conquistadors.  Islamic rule in Iberia varied from place to place, as did the borders of the principalities, but the last city to be liberated by the Christian Reconquista was the Emirate of Granada in 1492.   Early Life El Cid was born Rodrigo Dà ­az de Vivar or Ruy Dà ­az de Vivar in the town of Vivar in the Castilian principality near Burgos, Spain in about 1045. His father was Diego Lainez, a soldier in the battle at Atapuerco in 1054, which was fought between the brothers King Ferdinand I of Leà ³n (Ferdinand the Great, ruled 1038–1065) and King Garcà ­a Snchez III of Navarre (r. 1012–1054). Some sources report that Diego was a descendant of Lain Calvo, a legendary duumvir (magistrate) in the Court of Ordoà ±o II (King of Galacia, ruled 914–924). Although her name is not known, Diegos mother was a niece of the Castilian diplomat Nuà ±o Alvarez de Carazo (1028–1054) and his wife Doà ±a Godo; she named her son after her father, Rodrigo Alvarez. Diego Laniez died in 1058, and Rodrigo was sent to be the ward of Ferdinands son Sancho who resided at his fathers court in Castile, then part of Leà ³n. There Rodrigo likely received formal schooling in the schools which had been built by Ferdinand, learning how to read and write, as well as training in the use of arms, horsemanship, and the art of the chase. He may have been trained to arms by Pedro Ansurez, a Castilian count (1037–1119), known to have been in residence at Ferdinands court at the time. Military Career In 1065, Ferdinand died and his kingdom was divided up between his sons. The eldest, Sancho received Castile; the second, Alfonso, Leà ³n; and the region of Galicia was carved out of the northwest corner to create a separate state for Garcà ­a. The three brothers proceeded to fight one another for the entire kingdom of Ferdinand: Sancho and Alfonso together fended off Garcia and then fought each other. El Cids first military appointment was as standard-bearer and commander of troops for Sancho. Sancho emerged victoriously and reunited their fathers possessions under his control in 1072. Sancho died childless in 1072, and his brother Alfonso VI (ruled 1072–1109) inherited the kingdom. Having fought for Sancho, Rodrigo now found himself in an awkward situation with the Alfonso administration. According to some records, the breach between Rodrigo and Alfonso was healed when Rodrigo married a woman named Jimena (or Ximena), a member of a high-ranking Asturian family in the mid-1070s; some reports say she was Alfonsos niece. A 14th-century romance written about El Cid said he killed Jimenas father the Count of Gomez de Gormaz in battle, after which she went to Ferdinand to beg for redress. When Ferdinand refused to pay, she demanded Rodrigos hand in marriage which he willingly gave. El Cids main biographer, Ramà ³n Menà ©ndez Pidal, thinks that is unlikely since Ferdinand died in 1065. Whoever she was and however their marriage came about, Ximena and Rodrigo had three children: Cristina, Maria, and Diego Rodriguez, all of whom married into royalty. Diego was killed at the battle of Consuega in 1097. Despite his presence serving as a magnet for Alfonsos opponents, Dà ­az served Ferdinand loyally for several years, while Ferdinand waged war against Almoravid invaders. Then, after leading an unauthorized military raid campaign into the Muslim-controlled taifa Toledo, which was a tributary kingdom of Leon-Castile, Dà ­az was exiled. Fighting for Saragossa Upon exile, Diaz went to the Muslim taifa Saragossa (also spelled Zaragoza) in the valley of the Ebro, where he served as a mercenary captain with considerable distinction. Saragossa was an independent Arab Muslim state in Al-Andalus, which at the time (1038–1110) was ruled by the Banu Hud.  He fought for the Huddid dynasty for almost ten years, scoring significant victories against both Muslim and Christian foes. Famous battles which El Cid is known for were the defeat of Count Berenguer Ramon II of Barcelona in 1082, and of King Sancho Ramirez of Aragon in 1084. When the Berber Almoravids invaded the peninsula in 1086, Alfonso recalled Diaz from exile. El Cid willingly returned and was instrumental in the defeat at Sagrajas in 1086. He stayed in favor with Alfonso for only a brief time: in 1089 he was exiled again. Rodrigo gained his nickname El Cid at some point during his military career, perhaps after his battles at Saragossa. The name El Cid is a Spanish dialect version of the Arabic word sidi, meaning lord or sir. He was also known as Rodrigo el  Campeador, the Battler. Valencia and Death After being exiled from Alfonsos court for the second time, El Cid left the capital to became an independent commander in the eastern part of the Iberian peninsula. He fought and extracted enormous amounts of tribute from the Muslim taifas, and, on June 15, 1094, he captured the city of Valencia. He successfully fought off two Almoravid armies who attempted to dislodge him in 1094 and 1097. He established himself as an independent prince in the region based at Valencia. Rodrigo Dà ­az de Vivar ruled Valencia until his death on July 10, 1099. The Almoravids recaptured Valencia three years later. El Cids Legends There are four documents which were written about El Cid during his lifetime or shortly thereafter. Two are Islamic, and three are Christian; none are likely to be unprejudiced. Ibn Alcama was a Moor from Valencia, who witnessed and wrote a detailed account of the loss of that province to El Cid called Eloquent Evidence of the Great Calamity. Ibn Bassam wrote a Treasury of the Excellences of the Spaniards, written in Seville in 1109. The Historia Roderici was written in Latin by a Catholic cleric sometime before 1110. The poem Carmen, written in Latin about 1090, extols the battle between Rodrigo and the Count of Barcelona; and the Poema del Cid, was written in Spanish about 1150. Later documents written long after El Cids life are even more likely to be fabulous legends rather than biographical sketches. Sources Barton, Simon. El Cid, Cluny and the Medieval Spanish Reconquista. The English Historical Review 126.520 (2011): 517–43.Barton, Simon and Richard Fletcher. The World of El Cid: Chronicles of the Spanish Reconquest. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2000.Fletcher, Richard A. The Quest for El Cid. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989.Pidal, Ramà ³n Menà ©ndez. La Espaà ±a Del Cid. Trans. Murray, John and Frank Cass. Abington, England: Routledge, 2016.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Valuing cultural diversity (by organizations, managers And HRMs Essay

Valuing cultural diversity (by organizations, managers And HRMs Support Role in Managing Cultural Diversity) - Essay Example Perspective is the belief and practices of management carried out with realisation of importance of diversity to a company (Ely and Thomas, 2001). With this view, Ely and Thomas (2001) developed three diversity perspectives, the discrimination-and-fairness perspective, access-and-legitimacy perspective and integration-and-learning perspective. According to Peters (2008), perspectives try to achieve the dual purpose of performance enhancement and social role of unity in diversity. However, the learning-and-effectiveness perspective wields greater importance in times of emergence of global business with diverse workforces. Learning-and-effectiveness perspective intends to achieve individual and organizational goals through creativity and learning of an individual employee in a flexible atmosphere (Thomas and Ely, 2001). As the ‘emerging paradigm of diversity’ it taps the true benefits of diversity (Thomas and Ely, 2001) in the long and short run (Dass and Parker, 1999 cited at Peters, 2008). The real awakening into the contemporary aspects of human resource management made a beginning with Hawthorne experiments (Trompenaaars and Hampden-Turner, 2004). Further studies like the Scanlon Plan, Mayo’s analysis, and the Managerial Grid Seminars of Robert Blake stressed the team-based or group nature of HRM (Trompenaaars and Hampden-Turner, 2004). Ely and Thomas (2001) through development of three perspectives provided the landmark rationale for diversity management in HR systems of organizations. Diversity has gained in importance in organisational life as companies become more diverse in terms of gender, race, ethnicity, age, and nationality (Shaw, Barret-Power cited in D’Netto and Sohal, 1999). Diversity is presence of differences in a social group. (Jackson, et.al, 1992 cited in D’Netto and Sohal, 1999). A diverse workforce shares difference