How does Jane Austen show her views on the marriage conventions of the nineteenth century Essay

First published in 1813, Pride and Prejudice has consistently been Jane Austen’s most popular novel. It portrays life in the genteel rural society of the day. Jane Austen is considered by many the first real novelist, she had a very unique style of writing when she wrote all of her books, this is what I believe appealed to her readers, the style that she used was described as ‘comedy of manners’. The comedy of manners satirizes the manners and affectations of a social class, often represented by stock characters, such as Mr. Collins. It has been the blueprint for romantic fiction in the writing world. Marriage is a pivotal theme in Pride and Prejudice, the conventions were different in the nineteenth century they were expected to marry for their own financial security. They also had to be married to a higher ranked man but within the same range of class, for example in the book when Charlotte Lucas marries Mr. Collins, they did not love each other but it suited them both to marry. Charlotte Lucas wanted a husband who could financially support her and Mr. Collins was on the hunt for a suitable young wife. He already had asked his cousin and main character in the book Elizabeth Bennet to marry him, she reluctantly disagreed but her mother was not concerned about her feelings, Mrs. Bennet wanted to see all her daughters married Austen uses a lot of different techniques through out the book, she uses a range of satire which is a form of humour where the writer or speaker tries to make the reader or listener have a negative opinion about someone, by laughing at them, making them seem ridiculous or foolish etc. Jane Austen also uses a lot of irony in this book it is a form of humour. When the speaker or writer says one thing but wants you to understand something different, they are being ironic, and example in the book would be where Mr. Bennet has a conversation with his wife about Bingley, he is a very satirical and ironic character because of his extreme politeness and playful innocence, which in result upset Mrs. Bennet. That provides humour for the reader as a result of her dramatic character. Mrs. Bennet’s character is not ironic in the least, but it is the blending of both characters that bring about the irony. Such foils points out to the readers the ridiculousness of human nature. One empathises with Mr. Bennet; his suffering and dissatisfaction is shown through his desire for privacy, his cynical view of mankind, irresponsibility towards his daughters and his indifference, resentment and sarcasm towards his wife. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that every man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters. These lines can be read as a statement of fact, Austen is saying that this is just how her contemporaries think, and it is very likely that many of her readers have nodded their agreement to this wise recognition. There is also a sense, however, that such a widely-held view runs the risk of stupidity: some men in possession of a good fortune may see no reason at all for taking a wife, and in any case are not likely to enjoy being viewed as a prize by mothers of eligible daughters. In Pride and Prejudice this is indeed how Mrs Bennet will treat Mr Bingley, and her insensitive presumption begins the novels comedy. Mrs. Bennet has a certain attitude towards marriage; I think Austen wrote Mrs. Bennet in to the story as someone who she is the total opposite too. I think Jane Austen expresses herself through Elizabeth in this novel, she saw herself as a revolutionary woman. In the words of Mrs. Bennet â€Å"If I can see one of my daughters happily married at Netherfield†¦ I shall wish for nothing more,† in this quote she is implying that she does not care about her daughters happiness, mainly for hers. She disguises it very well though, it is made out that she wants what is best for her daughters but she wants her own fortune when she is older. Mr. Collins’ attitude is to get married to a presentable woman in his standard of class. He firstly asks his cousin Elizabeth to marry him, she says no, but he continues to insist, finally he gets the point and asks her best friend to marry him. Mrs. Bennet wanted her daughters married and tries to encourage Elizabeth. Charlotte Lucas (Elizabeth’s best friend) accepts his proposal. I think that Mr. Collins asked Charlotte because I think he may want to make Elizabeth envy them. The quote I choose to make my point with is from chapter 19 and reads â€Å"May I hope, madam, for your interest with your fair daughter Elizabeth, when I solicit for the honour of a private audience with her in the course of this morning? Before Elizabeth had time for anything but a blush of surprise, Mrs. Bennet answered instantly, â€Å"Oh dear! -Yes-certainly. I am sure Lizzy will be very happy-I am sure she can have no objection, Come, Kitty, I want you upstairs.† And, gathering her work together, she was hastening away, when Elizabeth called out: â€Å"Dear madam, do not go. I beg you will not go. Mr. Collins must excuse me. He can have nothing to say to me that anybody need not hear. I am going away myself.† â€Å"No, no, nonsense, Lizzy. I desire you to stay where you are.† And upon Elizabeth’s seeming really, with vexed and embarrassed looks, about to escape, she added: â€Å"Lizzy, I INSIST upon your staying and hearing Mr. Collins.† Elizabeth would not oppose such and injunction-and a moment’s consideration making her also sensible that it would be wisest to get it over as soon and as quietly as possible, she sat down again and tried to conceal, by incessant employment the feelings which were divided between distress and diversion. Mrs. Bennet and Kitty walked off, and as soon as they were gone, Mr. Collins began.† Charlotte Lucas married Mr. Collins, I think her attitude is to be financially secure, I also think she is a little envious of her best friend Elizabeth. I think this quote portrays just that â€Å"The Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases and again during the chief of the day was Miss Lucas so kind as to listen to Mr. Collins. Elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her. â€Å"It keeps him in good humour,† said she, â€Å"and I am more obliged to you than I can express.† Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This was very amiable, but Charlotte’s kindness extended farther than Elizabeth had any conception of; its object was nothing else than to secure her from any return of Mr. Collins’s addresses, by engaging them towards herself.† Elizabeth has a very strong personality she is independent, and very strong headed. There are many quotes that I could select for this, but my selected quote would be â€Å"You are mistaken, Mr. Darcy, if you suppose that the mode of your declaration affected me in any other way, than as it spared me the concern which I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a more gentleman-like manner.† I chose this quote because this shows that she does not marry just for money, it is a very respectable deed. Darcy is a very arrogant and rich man; he seems to have a very odd relationship with Elizabeth. He is almost perfect in the eyes of a woman; he was rich, handsome, clever and witty. â€Å"And taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to Sir William- â€Å"indeed, sir, I have not any intention of dancing. I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner.† This quote shows how arrogant Darcy is. In conclusion I think that Austen’s final message regarding marriage is that one should not marry for money, but marry for love. She portrays herself in my opinion through Elizabeth and Darcy was a dream couple.

The benefits of Facebook Network

Nowadays social networks are so advanced in various ways; we then can communicate with friends easily on the internet. Social networks are well-known for everyone in the world who lives far away from each others in different countries. There are many programs we can use for communication, including Google, Hotmail, G-mail, Yahoo, Hi5, MSN, Skype, Facebook, and etc. At the moment, Facebook is so popular for most people especially teenagers. Using the Facebook has lots of benefits for everyone who loves making friends through networks. Firstly, Facebook has a lot of functions that is very popular and interesting nowadays. It’s like a friendship book. If you use Facebook, you can make your own profile. You also can find your old friends when you were at a primary or high school on Facebook networks by using only their names or their E-mail addresses. In addition, you can share your pictures or video clips to your friends on Facebook networks. You can post your messages you want on your Facebook wall. You can chat online realtime with your friends on Facebook. If you want to comment on your friend’s pictures, friend’s messages or friend’s video clips, you can do it easily. And your other friends can share their opinions and ideas with you. Facebook thus has many good choices for you to make friends on this particular social network. Secondly, the Facebook is outstanding for multifunction using. The Facebook is excellent for playing games with your friends even living apart from each other. There are various kinds of flash games you can enjoy and build up your own creative world. The News walls and activities can be created on the Facebook in order to share information and invite your friends or groups to participate corporately and creatively. Now, let’s ask yourself whether you are an enjoyable person with games and activities or not, if the answer is yes, the Facebook is then the suitable social network for you. Lastly, using the Facebook is good opportunities to learn languages, cultures, and business in the global networks. The Facebook network has more than 400 million users around the world, and it is growing everyday that helps the members to exchange languages and cultures while chatting or posting messages on the wall. And also you can learn slang words from the network such as HMU (Hit me up), Brb (Be right back) and etc. The Facebook will also be served as the business purposes by posting product pictures or advertisements on the Fan page. The Facebook network then helps us to learn other cultures, languages, and business without direct interaction to each others. Using the Facebook has various benefits for everyone. The Facebook has many good choices for you to make friends on this particular social network. If you are an enjoyable person with games and activities, the Facebook is the suitable social network for you. The Facebook network is the cheapest way to learn other cultures, languages, and business. Using the Facebook is more advantage than other old social networks.

Southwest Airlines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Southwest Airlines - Essay Example red of every individual employee while interacting with colleagues internally as well as their engagements with the external community, which includes but not limited to the business partners. The organizational code of ethics sums up a working culture that binds individuals from different backgrounds into delivering the core mandate of an organization to its clientele. The Southwest Airlines is one of the companies that has provided a structured, coded guidelines of conduct to its workforce as a way of ensuring that it offers quality services to the satisfaction of its customers, with eyes set on the ultimate prize of cultivating a mass of loyal customers (Kelly, 2008). With a slogan that that reads â€Å"Doing the right thing,† Southwest Airlines has tailored its code of ethics towards ensuring that honesty, integrity, and personal responsibility prevails in all of its services rendered by its employees and/or its co-partners. The binding codes of conduct and behavior guarantees above board engagements with customers and government officials with explicit conformity with the laws the land and those of international trade/business governing its operations (â€Å"Code of Ethics†). The code of ethics also clearly states the controls that regulate how individual employees are expected to respond to the different situations encountered while on duty. A law abiding company, Southwest Airlines recognizes the supremacy of the law, and as such gives it outright weight in situations where its code of ethics incidentally conflicts with the latter (â€Å"Code of Ethics†). In its endeavors to comply with Laws, Rules, and Regulations govern ing its operations, Southwest Airlines overtly prohibits insider trading, particularly the use of non-public information [valuable company information/asset] in gaining personal benefit either directly or indirectly. The company thus expects a high degree of responsibility from its employees in protecting information that relates to the

Brief interpretation and analysis of the advertisement Essay

Brief interpretation and analysis of the advertisement - Essay Example The execution style utilized is the slice of life. There is no direct or straight sell in the advertisement. What it does in a very subtle way is to associate Coke with the optimistic events in the lives of people. Comparison was used in terms of presenting the idea that for every negative thing that the world witnesses, there are more positive things that occur. The background music of the advertisement makes the advertisement more appealing. It gives life to the advertisement. However, since the people viewing the advertisement are busy reading the captions shown, the viewers can no longer appreciate the lyrics of the song. One’s attention becomes divided between the song and the messages being flashed in the advertisement. One thinks that it would have been better if an instrumental music was instead used. A positive point about the advertisement is that it is very relevant to the times. It talks of war, corruption and development of weapons which are signs of the times. One appreciates much the irony presented in the phrases. A negative point though is that the audience might get so absorbed with the deeper message of the advertisement that they might forget about the product being advertised. Another thing that one wants to change in the advertisement is the speed of the flashing of the messages. One is hardly finished yet with reading a message then another one is flashed again. The viewer is not given enough time to grasp the message. The target market for the brand is not very specific. It appeals to all ages, gender and nationalities. This same target market is being addressed to in the advertisement. The company chose this particular medium for the advertisement because it feels that it will be able to capture a larger market because of the universal theme that it presented. In this way, it is more cost effective for

History of Political Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

History of Political Philosophy - Essay Example However, the true objective of conservatism is to establish dignity, which is a social and psychological stipulation of discrepancy. Thus, the deceptions of conservatism in the current era will no longer be adequate because conservatisms are sophisticated especially in the current cultural society. On should accept conservatism as a guide to public policies because it is one of the significant driving forces towards building the American society where freedom, prosperity and opportunity flourish. However, it is significant to strike a balance between protection of civil rights and fundamental rights. There is a dramatic increase of conservatism in the public organizations and policy research organizations since the midst of 1990. The changes can be explained through the expansion of conservatism movement in the nation, the fall of communism and increased political democracies across the globe. Understanding cultural misunderstanding is significant because culture plays significant roles towards social and economic development. Behr (23) argues that conservatism movement is instrumental towards reorganizing and establishment of democracy across the globe. It continues to flourish the former communist nations, and it has played significant roles in numerous entities as well as h elping organizations to increase visibility. Socialism is an economic system of ownership. The central meaning involves common ownership of economic resources across the globe. Although, common sharing of resources does not make sense, but some commodities tend to be personal consumption. Common ownership means everyone has a right to participate in decision on the way global resources will be utilized. In this case, nobody can take personal control of the common shared resources beyond their personal possessions. Therefore, democratic control plays a significant role in socialism. This is where the government has powers to

Icons of America - A New Perspective Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Icons of America - A New Perspective - Essay Example One icon was the person who pulled America out of the great depression and changed the world history after World War II. The second through his sheer courage and total belief in social equality and justice fought for unifying the society of America towards justice and equality. Franklin D Roosevelt was the only president of America who served the longest consecutive terms as President of the country. With his New Deal he pulled American economy out of depression and stabilised it. Initially he kept America out of the war by stating that no American soldier should be sacrificed for the war fought by European nations. This statement was not to let the war prevail in the world. He knew the capacity and power of his own country and certainly did not think America to be a weak nation. Going ahead after the attack on pearl harbour and US commercial ship he declared war on Japan and three days later on Germany. He led the allies very successfully through the war and turned the war around su ccessfully. He died when the victory of the war was near. What makes FDR great? His speeches which brought the nation together at war time? His decisions which showed great vision of future? Or his stand on shaping the foreign policy of the nation which dominated the world politics for decades even after his death? What makes him iconic is the sheer definition of patriotism in the era. The times demanded Americans to come together and fight, be it the economic crisis or fighting the enemy who had destroyed their finest base and challenged their might. FDR was responsible in tying the nation together. He became the symbol of the unity of the nation. People believed in him and he stood by their trust and faith. The times demanded that he stood firm and face the challenge only to come out of it successfully. He accepted the challenge and proved that he can deliver. He stood the tests of time and acquired the iconic status he deserved on his sheer merit and capabilities. In the years to follow World War II, American society changed dramatically. The country played a very dominant role in the world politics and international relations. It was always known as the lane of opportunities but now the gates opened for more people to come in and settle down and help the country prosper more and more. America came to be known as cultural melting pot of the world indicating that people of all the races, colours, nationalities can stay together, work together and coexists in harmony, can rise to heights of career on merit and hard work. If this situation is considered then patriotism takes a different meaning. It now means a society which is open, social and welcoming. That definitely doesn’t mean losing identity, but it means more shades of various colours are now welcome to make the painting more beautiful. It also means that only we Americans provide the opportunity you deserve and are capable of giving you a better life. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his life to tea ch these values of humanity to American society and the world. He was a parishioner who worked tirelessly towards equality for African-American people in the society. He founded SCLC, led Montgomery Bus Boycott and various other movements for the social justice and equality. It is because of his ceaseless efforts, social justice an

Phy107 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Phy107 - Essay Example A blackbody emits infrared wavelengths at room temperature. As the temperature increases, the blackbody starts to emit visible light, starting from red to orange, yellow to white and blue with increasing temperature. When the blackbody turns white, it is already emitting ultraviolet radiation. Stefan's Law states that the total energy radiated by a blackbody per unit surface area is directly proportional to the fourth power of its absolute temperature. This means that as temperature increases, the wavelength of the radiation emitted decreases. Doppler Effect, or Doppler shift, happens when an observer is moving relative to the wave source - there is a change in the frequency of the wave perceived by the observer. This means that when we are approaching the wave source, we perceive a higher frequency. When we are receding from the wave source, we perceive a lower frequency. Spectroscopy refers to the dispersion of an object's light into its component colors. By analyzing the light emitted by an object, the physical properties of that object such as temperature, mass, luminosity and composition can be inferred by an astronomer. Continuous spectrum, as opposed to discrete spectrum, refers to energy at all wavelengths. It is emitted by warm objects. The spectrum of light with missing frequencies is called absorption spectrum. ... Continuous spectrum, as opposed to discrete spectrum, refers to energy at all wavelengths. It is emitted by warm objects. The spectrum of light with missing frequencies is called absorption spectrum. The missing frequencies correspond to wavelengths of light that were absorbed. 3. Explain how a beam of light passing through a diffuse cloud may give rise to both absorption and emission spectra. Suppose that a beam of light passes through a gas, some of the frequencies of the light will be absorbed by the gas. The rest of the frequencies will be able to pass through. When these surviving frequencies are dispersed through a prism, they will show a spectrum with gaps on it. The visible spectrum will correspond to the emission spectrum while the dark bands will correspond to the absorption spectrum. 4. List three properties of a star that can be determined from observations of its spectrum. a. Total energy that the star radiates b. Luminosity c. Surface temperature CHAPTER 5 1. List three advantages of reflecting telescopes over refractors. a. Refractors tend to be heavier overall than reflecting telescopes because of their longer solid tubes and require a larger housing and a more massive mount. b. Reflectors don't disperse color as most refractors are to one degree or another. c. In a refractor the lens can only be supported along the edge so that the path is clear for light to come through unobstructed. 2. How does Earth's atmosphere affect what is seen through an optical telescope The Earth's atmosphere is constantly moving, and different layers bend the light from a star in different directions, blurring our view from the ground. 3. What are the advantages of a CCD over a photograph The major advantages of CCD-based cameras are

FMC Green River case study Organizational Behavior Essay

FMC Green River case study Organizational Behavior - Essay Example In that case organizational change must be planned, monitored and controlled throughout its lifecycle, with completion occurring on full implementation and evaluation. Organizational change decisions are often complex, multi-faceted, and involve many different stakeholders with different priorities or objectives. Most people, when confronted with such a problem will attempt to use intuitive approaches to simplify complexity until the problem seems more manageable. In the process, important information may be lost, opposing points of view may be discarded, elements of uncertainty may be ignored -- in short, there are many reasons to expect that, on their own, individuals (either lay or expert) will often experience difficulty making informed, thoughtful choices about complex issues involving uncertainties and value tradeoffs. This fact, and the tendency of change issues to involve shared resources and broad constituencies, means that group decision processes are called for. These may have some advantages over individual processes: more perspectives may be put forward for consideration, the chances of having natural systematic thinkers involved is h igher, and groups may be able to rely upon the more deliberative, well-informed members. However, groups are also susceptible to the tendency to establish entrenched positions (defeating compromise initiatives) or to prematurely adopt a common perspective that excludes contrary information - a tendency termed "group think." (McDaniel's etal., 1999). For change management projects, decision makers may currently receive four types of technical input: modeling/monitoring, risk analysis, cost or cost benefit analysis, and stakeholders' preferences. However, current decision processes in Green River typically offer little guidance on how to integrate or judge the relative importance of information from each source. Also, information comes in different forms. While modeling and monitoring results are usually presented as quantitative estimates, risk assessment and cost-benefit analyses incorporate a higher degree of qualitative judgment by the project team. Structured information about st akeholder preferences must be presented to the decision-maker, and should be handled in a perfect manner that minimizes the difficulty of defending the decision process as reliable and fair. If the structured approaches are employed, they may be perceived as lacking the flexibility to adapt to localized concerns or faithfully represent minority viewpoints. As a result,

Diagnostic Models Essay Example for Free

Diagnostic Models Essay An organization is an open system that is in constant interaction with its environment, taking in raw materials, people, information, and energy, converting these into products or services, and exporting the latter back into the environment but these organization need to regularly undergo the diagnosis of the current performance of the organization so that interventionists should be able to know whether the organization is performing well or not and what changes has to be incorporated so that the main focus of organization to do excellence fulfilled. But it should be planned, systematic and explicit. Well-done assessments or diagnosis is done on the basis of diagnostic models depending upon which model a company adopts to diagnose. This article revolves around 11 diagnostic models that had been constructed keeping in mind the strategies for organization’s development but these models have limitations too. Models are: {draw:rect} Force Field Analysis (1951) Leavitt’s Model (1965). Likert System Analysis (1967) Open Systems Theory (1966) Weisbord’s Six-Box Model (1976) Congruence Model for Organization Analysis (1977) McKinsey 7S Framework (1981-82) Tichy’s Technical Political Cultural (TPC) Framework (1983) High-Performance Programming (1984) Diagnosing Individual and Group Behavior (1987). The Burke-Litwin Model of Organizational Performance Change Each model is unique in itself but there are issues with these models too i. e.there is more or less variables are missing from every model but B-L model of organization performance change has been conceived on the basis of theoretical and empirical literature on organizational behavior. Moreover this model also covered the variables which other model didn’t cover that means it is self sufficient model for diagnosis purpose. 1. Main issue of this article is that most of the models missed one or more important variables like no feedback loop is there, no consideration of environment, no standardized scale labels , key variables are relatively broad and undefined etc. There is doubt regarding support for the relationships among the variables constructed in model. Moreover model doesn’t address the role of external environment in bringing about the change in any of the variables (Leavitt’s model) There is no illustration to depict the framework (motivation, communication, interaction, decision making, goal setting, control, and performance) of Likert system analysis model which is based on four different types of management systems within organizations. These are Now Likert made the instrument to test the perception of employees based on above mentioned systems but the instrument did not have standardized scale labels such as â€Å"strongly agree,† â€Å"agree,† â€Å"neither agree nor disagree,† â€Å"disagree,† and â€Å"strongly disagree. † Instead, Likert provided customized scale labels for each question and resulted in minimum information. ‘Open system theory’ model overemphasis on variables within the organization and there is absence of any feedback from the environment even though this model assume that organization is dependent on environment. Formal system (policies and procedures the organization to claim) informal system (behaviors of employee which actually occurs) are missing from the six box model which unleashes the fact that this gap make an organization less effective. Also there is discrepancy between what organization is and what should be? TPC Model only highlights the questions regarding the diagnosis of technical, political and cultural components. The resources and outputs(variables) in the ‘Diagnosing Individual and Group Behavior’ model are linked by main line of influence and feedback loops which are not reciprocal and also the extensive usage of these lines make it difficult to understand the relationship between variables. Key variables are relatively broad and undefined (Force field analysis) In many models it is not clearly expressed whether variables are merely correlated or whether a cause and effect relationship between variables is thought to exist. Questions that article tried to answer are. Q1. What is the main purpose to construct the diagnostic models? Q2. What are the scopes of diagnosis and what is the problem related to narrow diagnosis? Q3. How diagnosis can be done in a systematic way? Q4. To what extend does the various mentioned diagnostic models are effective for organization? Q5. Why organization’s diagnosticians should not be rigid regarding adhering to one model (limited variables)? Q6. What are the different types of organizations and how do they function? Q7. What is congruency of model? Q8. What is political, technical and cultural dynamics related to diagnostic model? Q9. How nature of relationships between variables in various model differ? Q10. What are the key features of B-L Model that set it apart from other models? Q11. Why validation of any diagnostic model is vital? What are the procedure to validate a model? Q12. What are the findings of studies done on the variables of B-L diagnostic model? Q13. What is difference between path analysis and structural equation modeling? What are the key features of SEM that make it preferable procedure to validate a diagnostic model? Diagnostic models identify different vital organization’s variable. Variable are correlated i. e they are reciprocal or leave one way impact. Organization’s diagnosticians should not be rigid regarding adhering to one model. Assessment and improvement of organization depends upon the involvement of external environment in any diagnostic model. There is a fit between organization and environment i. e. what is and what should be done in an organization Validity of a diagnostic model is necessary before conceptualizing it along the empirical investigations. {text:list-item} B-L model covered all the variables in form of transformation and transitional along with environment and feedback loop after theoretical and empirical studies which is self sufficient model and keep it apart from other models, to adopt by any organization for diagnosis Key message of this article is that only theoretical and empirical studies are not feasible for conceptualizing any model but also validating it becomes necessary otherwise there could be one or more variables can be  missed out or they may also act as restraining forces in the path of excellence of any organization. According to me B-L model don’t have any loophole in it. There are several key features of B-L Model which set it apart from the other models are : {text:list-item}.

Difference Between Leadership and Management Essay Example for Free

Difference Between Leadership and Management Essay The difference between leadership and management is an interesting and often, misunderstood difference in sport and in society as well. First the definition of each of these terms needs to be examined and analyzed before the difference can be determined. According to www.dictionary .com, the definition of a manager is someone that has control or direction of something (institution.) Dictionary.com gives this definition for a leader: is a person that leads; lead is defined as going before to show the way; conduct or escort. From the definitions, there is a similarity but a big difference as well. In a sports setting, the manager’s mission is to establish a mission and have his workers/employees make the vision come to life the best they can while spending the least amount of money. The way this is operated and conducted is vital to the success of the sports program/organization and is dependent on the manager. For the most part, according to our module lecture, managers, â€Å"define,† some organizations by their â€Å"short-term† and â€Å"long-term† planning. Management is not only responsible for making sure everything they need done is taken care of, they are also liable for the continued success and growth of their organization. Managers are accountable for so much of the success, operation and mishaps that occur with an organization. Overall, management is an occupation. Leadership is a trait that every manager has to obtain, but leadership is also still a trait. Like our lecture explains, leadership is a behavioral process. It is something that has to be developed and is actually only visible in select figures in the sports industry.

AirAsia Information Systems

AirAsia Information Systems One of the best known frameworks done by Air Asia is offering the low airfares in the region. This concept is main focus to lower cost perpetually. As business environments become more competitive and in some cases more volatile, business organization have become more concerned about the price. Price is the key area of the marketing tools to generate revenues or profit. Internet pricing strategies are important as traditionally have been, this will lead to more price competition and price standardization. According to Quelch and Klein (1996) pointed out that the counteracting effects of the Internet on price. A vendor can use the internet to discriminate pricing globally. However, if they do not observe this precaution, consumers can quickly find out the price discrimination and opposition. 2.2 Information System Air Asia use computers in its core-information processing centre of marketing and distribution, reservations, sales, and telecommunications. Information technologies, such as computerized reservations systems, assist Air Asia in marketing and distributing. The information system link together to its departmental and outsider may be necessary for the efficiency and cost effectiveness. Reservation systems, depending on the software can be used to generate forecasts on expected departure, return and booking. Communications systems used at Air Asia have been substantially improved to incorporate features. The telephone systems help to transform the calls into important profit centre. The integration of information technologies may allow Air Asia to control its daily operations from a single integrated management system. 2 3.0 PEST ANALYSIS 3.1 Political / Legal PEST analysis assumes that the success of an organization is dependent on the way in which the organization manages its interaction with its external environment (Johnson et al., 2008). The environment presents the organization with series of challenges, risks and opportunities. Such a business would clearly be affected by changes in the political environment. One of the most obvious aspects is Government policies can have a huge impact on the Internet, and through the introduction of new policies and limit its development potential. For the entire e-commerce and commercial potential of the Internet, there are several issues need to be considered, these include an increase the security of transmissions across a network, legal issues, reduction of user dissatisfaction and confusion for the IT, develop the pricing structures for dissemination of information and reservations procedures (IvoryResearch 2010). Policies and procedures should be established to promote understanding of the legal liabilities. This will encourage the organization to minimize the legal risk. 3.2 Economic The Internet is not severely impacted by economic cycles. However, it is needs to be considered that the sales from the internet will be dramatically been affected by national and global economic changes. These include changes in net disposable income levels that can influence the business performance (CIPD 2010). If disposable income declines the clearly the effective demand is likely to go down. 3 3.3 Socio-Cultural Socio-Cultural changes are often long term in the impact but should be monitored all the same. Shift in values may for example affect general attitudes towards internet technologies, in which have a direct impact on information technology and airline industries respectfully. Attitude changes and demographic changes will change the market as well. Therefore, the ability of information technology to offer services at lower cost would deliver strong growth in airline market share. 3.4 Technological Technological change may affect the business outcomes in many ways. Simple issues such as the development of internet online booking system launch by Air Asia in recent year. This made Air Asia offer the ability to check in online and print out boarding passes online (Wikipedia 2010). There may influence the size of the potential market and the number of people able to travel to other countries. Increasing access to the internet may change the way in which the customers can booking the air ticket immediately, neither to wait long queue in the counter. Potential customers may also have changed expectations as a result of experiencing new technology. As a result, improved channel distribution has meant that, increasingly, customers are exposed to, and aware of the products in other parts of the world. 4 4.0 SWOT ANALYSIS SWOT analysis can play a valuable part in any strategic planning, it provide a simple framework and common language through which strategic options can be identified. 4.1 Strength Internet will help to access new customers globally and enables to simplify the procedure. Such as the integration of sales, marketing, travel distribution and the daily operation as well as provide special package for corporate travelers. 4.2 Weaknesses Hackers can hack into a particular data storage and access to the network. There is a crisis of identity and invasion of privacy issues. Hence, the digital security needs to be regulated. 4.3 Opportunities By using internet as a marketing tool to distributing electronic brochures and reservation forms via the Internet directly serve the consumers needs. This approach provides an important advantage for the industry to collect information and will help them better develop products and improving the quality of services. 4.4 Threats The competitive environment is improving and its impact on the aviation industries is widely recognized as being complex and highly segmented. Growing competition from other airlines carriers are entry into the marketplace. This increased downward pressure on fares of Internet and increasing level of competition in travel distribution. 5 B. Task 2 5.0 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM 5.1 Resource Management Training and development will concerned with the provision of learning, development and training opportunities which ensure that the employee has the skilled, motivated and committed it needs now and in the future. Air Asia stresses the training and development of the staff to keep abreast with changes. The normal one week on the job training is given to new employees. Training is ongoing for three months within the period of probation. Employee skills and knowledge will be upgraded with ongoing course using Air Asias academy (Idris, 2007). It ensures that the employee has the skilled to handle multiple jobs in the organization. For example, the ability of computers to store, handling, processing and dissemination of information has greatly improved the efficiency of Air Asia. Reduced the time from the paper-pushing functions, this can greatly enhance the opportunities for employee utilization in the quality of service that offer to the customers. The training will help the employee to facilitate the business mission of its organization through managed information and technology, in which they are trained to learn new skills and develop new capacity to respond to these changes in the organization. 5.1.1 Decision Making Developing Human Capital Air Asia will partners with Canadian Aviation Electronic to establish an aviation training centre and selected Kuala Lumpur as the location for its Southeast Asian training hub. Air Asia has locked a partnership with CAE for mutual benefits where CAE will provide pilot training for all of Air Asia current and future pilot in the region (Mywire.com 2010). These will improve the quality of training and human capital development within Air Asia. Partners with CAE will help the organization to develop high quality manpower in ensuring seamless business growth. 6 5.2 Information Technology Management The information technology has had a greater impact to display the products that can be seen worldwide especially useful for linking Air Asia with customers or business partners. It provides a worldwide distribution channel for information and ability to link market demand to production planning, and helps the management to communicate quickly with those at lower level. Air Asia have became the first in the world to introduce SMS booking where customers could book their seats, checked flight schedules, and obtain the latest promotional announcements through their mobile phones (Idris, 2007). 5.2.1 Decision Making Information Technology Air Asia keeps introducing innovative ways for online booking and ticket sales. It has locked a partnership with its IT vendors for mutual benefits where Air Asia can constantly improve the system while IT vendor learns to create innovative products according to customer requirements. It offers a wide and innovative range of distribution channels to make booking and traveling easier for its guests. 5.3 Customer Relationship Management Customer Relationship management is important to pursue mutual benefit among customers and vendors. Individual customers can enjoy the benefit, with appropriate advice on getting the best out of their purchase; while the organizations able to improve retention and profitability (Buttle, 2008). In fact, CRM enables to simplify the processes and close deal faster. In long term, customer relationships should be cultivated for Air Asia to maintain competitive advantage. 7 5.3.1 Decision Making Customer Relationship Air Asia has invented to new CRM system in year 2009. It has customized their service after sales by providing variety choice of service, such as hotel, hostel and car rental. In Air Asia website, we can see that information on travel destination, hotel, transport, climate and recommendations is provided to customer for decision making before purchase. 8 5.3 Area of Improvement Strategic information management and strategies effectiveness is a source of competitive advantage for Air Asia turn into their strength across a range of different product markets. A number of positions are normally can be improved to increase its competitive advantages and proficiency, in which enables Air Asia to achieve and maintain the business growth. 5.3.1 Service Organizations depend on their customers and therefore the organization should meet customer requirements and strive to exceed customer expectations. How customer expectations are the standard against which service is judge. Thats the mission. Therefore should understanding customer needs and expectations. In recent years, one of the most obvious aspects of Air Asia done is upgrade their online booking system and payment system to improve efficiency. This will enhance customer satisfaction, and achieve continual improvement of its performance in pursuit of organization objectives. But unfortunately, luggage does not always arrive or with something missing still always happened. So, how to trace the missing luggage in short period and minimize a similar case happened again. It can help Air Asia to improving the quality of products and services provided to the customer. 9 5.3.2 Strategic Alliance Air Asia introduced a first direct B2B engine to its agents in Asia, through one of its strategic partners, Citibank. The agents make immediate payment via a virtual Air Asia credit card through the internet based real inventory booking engine. The question is why; its formed up the strategic alliance between the parties? The popularity is business growth and get in on opportunities. The strategies adopted in a specific market. A gap emerges between what organization goals would like to achieve and what it can do with available resources and capabilities. Air Asia must adopt new technology to compete against traditional rivals, as well as entrants that build the latest technology enterprises. The gap can be bridged by the alliance. For example, in order to compete on a global scale and at the same time maintain its independence, Air Asia must make alliances in partnership together with others countries to use facilities, information system, produce components and distribution channels to meet a critical business need. In year 2004, Air Asia formed two joint ventures in Thailand and Indonesia. Why? Because Air Asia able to extend its marketing reach and build credibility with a particular target market. Its also giving the opportunities to access needed information and greater resources including specialized staff and technology, increase sales in an existing market and enhance technological capabilities through research and development underwritten by more than one party. Another approach is once business is established it has provided the Air Asia with the opportunity to gain new capacity and expertise. 10 5.3.3 Product Improvement Product improvement is the result of consistent, deliberate effort to move the developing organization to a higher level of capability. Product improvement entails developing and launching new products for sale in existing markets (Condensed GSAM Handbook, 2003). It also requires a planned and guided path to excellence, reaching various levels of improvement as intermediate goals along the way such as products with additional features, different packaging, different quality levels etc. For example, Air Asia Go Holiday and Air Asia Tune Hotels which offer travelers a comprehensive package. Many budget travelers prefer to book their air tickets and hotels together and Air Asia will offer its customers with the facility of online booking and reservations as they book their flights. In other words, the product will be improved as a natural consequence. Today, the Internet is firmly established as a marketing strategy. It becomes an integral part of the marketing tools for the digital distribution channels and e-store services (Hofacker, 2000). 11 6.0 Conclusion Since Air Asia entry the market, it is rapidly becoming the most popular airline and profitability organization. Why? Because it focuses on the strategic information system on ways of promoting and developing the product ranges. It is beneficial for Air Asia to combine new IT into the entire operation. It is generally accepted that information technology should be considered as strategic tools than tactical issues. We rely on information, it is not necessarily convenient mechanism to assist in decision-making and guide action. It is very important that the knowledge base to find a use of information. However, Air Asia will need to understand what is currently happening in the operating environment. (2680 words) 12

Kurt Vonneguts Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions Essay

Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions Who would have ever thought the way a radioactive particle decays would relate to whether or not we have bad attitudes towards life? Who would have ever suspected that the structure of space-time would be so closely linked to whether or not we would marry rich wives? And who indeed would have ever expected that the properties of light might affect whether or not we go on homicidal rampages? Perhaps Kurt Vonnegut did. Could it be possible that a writer known more for his pictures of assholes than his knowledge of advanced physics actually centered some of the deepest concepts in his works on the philosophical implications of general relativity and quantum mechanics? Two of his greatest novels, Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions, both seem to hint at the relationship between modern physics and an idea philosophers call determinism. Vonnegut readers might well scratch their heads and flip through their copies of these books, searching the stories of the fragmented life of a war veteran and the deranged antics of a mad car salesman for a chapter on the Schrà ¶dinger wave equation they may have skipped. I freely admit that their search will be in vain, and that no truly concrete proof exists that Vonnegut based the ideas in these books on the latest discoveries of science. But I also contend that the parallels between Vonnegut’s work and advanced physics are a little too perfect to be a series of very lucky accidents. From this perspective, it seems likely that Vonnegut used ideas based on physics to support the idea of determinism in Slaughterhouse-Five and destroy it in Breakfast of Champions. But perhaps before arguing about the ways Von... ...e and what he saw made him more optimistic. Or maybe it was all due to copious consumption of the â€Å"little pill[s]† he takes to â€Å"cheer up† (Vonnegut, Breakfast of†¦ 4). Even Vonnegut might not know for certain. All that can be said with confidence is that Vonnegut’s idea of truth evolved between Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions, just like the theories and concepts of physics do even now. In the end, so too must all human knowledge die and be reborn. As Vonnegut might say (Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse†¦ 34), â€Å"So it goes.† Works Cited Rachels, James. Problems from Philosophy. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2005. Vonnegut, Kurt. Breakfast of Champions. New York: Dell Publishing, 1973. Vonnegut, Kurt. Slaughterhouse-Five. New York: Dell Publishing, 1969. Zukav, Gary. Dancing Wu-Li Masters. New York: William Morrow and Company, inc., 1979.

Keeping it Real :: Education Teaching Learning Essays

Keeping it Real Why teach students non-applicable skills? Why teach them using boring lessons that won't be memorable? Why not 'tap into students natural curiosities?' (Daniels and Bizar 1998). Throughout the readings, these were the underlying questions I repeatedly asked myself about education. I came to the conclusion that education must be authentic. As educators, we have to make students feel as if their education is a living, breathing thing. It's something alive that they can cultivate and grow. We have to constantly be assessing our teaching in order to find ways to keep education real for our students. I'm a firm believer that students come to class with a great deal to offer both peers and educators. They are resources that other students can access. They each have their own cultures, own communities, families, and life experiences that may differ from their peers'. As educators, we must utilize this, helping our students cultivate their own education from each others' and their own lives. Authentic education is just one way to help students 'access' each other in and out of the classroom. Authentic education is hands-on, real application to life. When students find information meaningful and relevant to their lives, or when they find their education practical and usable, they tend to engage more. Why not draw upon community resources, authors, artists, and other professionals outside of the classroom? This is just one way to get students involved in what's really going on in the world- which is where they spend a majority of their time. There are so many exposable issues in the real world that students can connect to in an English classroom. For example, today we are faced with ecological concerns and environmental issues in which action must be taken. There are also so many great writers that have written about nature and its fragile existence. Why not take students outdoors to read? Why not have them connect to nature, develop an appreciation for the environment, and learn at the same time?