Starbucks have remained quite stable in carrying out its strategies Essay

Starbucks have remained quite stable in carrying out its strategies that have boosted its expansion across the globe - Essay Example In 1992, Starbucks experienced a tremendous amount of growth, which led to reaching up around 100 stores across United States. This was their major stimulus towards going to public and become a publically traded company. With the exceptional amount of growth in its business, Starbuck managed to satisfy on an average 35 million customer per week, which indicates the quality, taste and aroma of the coffee offered by Starbucks to its customers (Stanley, 2002). The mission statement of Starbucks provides a comprehensive insight to the overall purpose of the organization. Unlike the typical mission statements, Starbucks has strived to incorporate all those purposes which are extremely vital for existence of the business such as achievement of profitability, responsibility towards community and environment, product diversity and lastly but most importantly, fair and equitable treatment with its workforce (Hammers, 2003). Organizational Design Organizational design is influenced by the stra tegies that the top management of any organization designs for it as part of its future areas of operations. Other factors, which contribute in shaping up the good â€Å"fit† for organizational design, are nature of organization, its size life cycle, environment, culture, and technology (Daft, Murphy, & Willmot, 2007). There might be other factors as well but they vary organization to organization. Starbucks has implemented such a design structure in its organization, which helps facilitate the faster communication among employees and from customers to top management. The structure of the organization is developed in such a manner that it fosters meaningful and timely communication across the organization (Hitt, 2008). The top management of Starbucks controls the centralized decision making system of the organization from its headquarter located in Seattle. The other districts where the stores of Starbucks serve its customer are run under the district managers who are directl y reportable to the top managers at the Starbucks headquarters. Under district managers, store managers keep the track of all the store activities. Apart from store managers, there are duty supervisors who take the charge in the absence of the store managers. Baristas are the coffee servers who report to duty supervisors and store managers (Hitt, 2008). In this way, the complete organizational structure of Starbucks stands and facilitates the appropriate communication and decision-making among the employees from top management to the lower-tier employees. This organizational structure of Starbucks allows the employees to work with coordination and collaboration rather than competition. Employees are assigned their specific roles but they are questioned for their tasks to which they are accountable. Adaptive culture is promoted at Starbucks however; the information sharing among employees follows a formal hierarchical chain, which is the bottom-line towards developing a centralized o rganizational structure. Organizational Effectiveness The effectiveness of any organization is mainly shaped as to how its major goals are being accomplished. However, there is no stringent tool to measure the organizational effectiveness. The broad way of measuring the organizational

Design an Advertisement or a Web Site for the Cinema Essay Example for Free

Design an Advertisement or a Web Site for the Cinema Essay Design an advertisement or a web site for the cinema. Your advertisement or web site should be attractive and easy to update as films and timings change and be suitable for publication in various places. The application chosen To complete the task above, I used Microsoft Front page 2000. T his is a Desktop Publishing package and enabled me to create a web page, as specified in the task brief. This task required a DTP (Desktop publisher) as it is a web based project, in other words, the result could be published on the web. I used Front page, as it enabled me to easily update and modify the web page, this was also required in the specification. It is also easily published onto the World Wide Web, or the Internet, as long as I have the required web space necessary. I could have used Microsoft Word, which I have more knowledge about, and therefore would have been easier to use, but I felt that I would use Front page, as it automatically saves the web page as the required format for web publishing and also it is designed for my required purpose. Equally I could have used Microsoft publisher, also a desktop publisher, but as I have no previous experience using this program, I felt that I should use Front page. Software Advantages / Benefits Disadvantages / Drawbacks Front Page Specifically designed for Desktop Publishing, many features designed especially for Web publishing. Very complex to use, not much experience in using program. Word Very simple to use, can be used by beginners to experts, the more experience a user has with the program, the more complex the program can become. Primarily a Word-processing package, not designed for DTP. Publisher Desk Top Publisher, lots of templates for easy publishing, easy to update and insert images and text boxes etc. I have not go much experience in using this program, also it is quite difficult to use with no experience. Does not automatically save as html format. Big Ms Software Big M cinemas are currently running computers that can only run basic word processing packages, they may need to upgrade their software, for example a Microsoft Office suite may suit their needs as this can be basic and advanced depending on the skill of the user. Their printer software and drivers may also need updating as they have problems when sending things to be printed, they sometimes do not come out, as they should. Software available for use at home; Microsoft Office 2002; * Publisher * Word * Front Page 2002 * Access * Excel * PowerPoint To complete this project I will not need any other programs, I will need Microsoft Access, Excel and Front Page, and Word for this write up. Software I need to complete this project; Software Purpose and Advantages Front Page Specifically designed for Desktop Publishing, many features designed especially for Web publishing. Specific for my requirements also easy to update page and site, as specified in the requirements. Word Very simple to use, can be used by beginners to experts, the more experience a user has with the program, the more complex the program can become. Specific for Word processing that is what I need it for, in this write up. It incorporates many advanced features, e.g. table of contents, that otherwise would take along time to produce. Excel A very advanced spreadsheet program, which will enable me to make a accounting package, with the use of functions, macros and many other features specific to this program. Access This database software will enable me to complete task 3, a very advanced database program, enabling me to run queries, forms and to create letters to members depending on their interests. Hardware For this task the user would need a relatively fast computer, e.g. 300mhz or over, this would enable the user to use Front Page effectively. Any slower and the time needed for image handling, and even fast input of text maybe hindered. I could have used a slow home computer or those in the library with slower processors and older software. I decided to use the computers in the ICT department as they are adequately fast enough for my needs and will run all the software I need. School Computers Connected to a LAN (Local area network) Standard Qwerty Keyboard Standard PS/2 Mouse 15 Visual display unit (SVGA) 600MHz Celeron processor 6GB HDD A:\ Drive for 3.5 diskette Epson Stylus colour 850 Inkjet Hewlett Packard 2100 Laser jet Printer Epson Scanner 56K Modem My Home PC 333MHz Celeron Processor CDRW 8*4*8 and 10*8*32 with Nero 4 7.5GB HDD Standard Qwerty Keyboard Standard PS/2 Mouse 15 Visual display unit (SVGA) A:\ Drive for 3.5 diskette Epson Scanner Epson stylus colour 440 Inkjet 56K Modem Hardware Advantages / Benefits Disadvantages / Drawbacks School computers Fast processor, 600mhz, networked so I can access work from all computers, very efficient laser printers and colour printers. Some computers do not have Front Page, although this is Software, limited printer credits, and sometimes the internet connection is down. Big Ms Computers None, apparently. Capable of basic word processing. Many; too slow, trouble with printers, whole system out dated. Qwerty keyboard Most commonly used keyboard. Not as quick to type on as other keyboards, e.g. Natural keyboards. Home PC Linked to Internet, no sites are filtered, enables me to do extra project work, out of the time limit. No printer credits Slower processor than school, infected with virus, so has a tendency to crash. Does not have all the same software as school. Lacks new scanner etc. This system is similar to what Big M Cinemas may need to upgrade to, 600 MHz processors are adequately fast enough and will run every piece of software available today. Also the laser printers used at school may also be necessary for Big M cinemas to get high quality print outs and also quick printing. This would enable them to print out lots of very high quality leaflets, and information sheets in a very short amount of time. Using the software In designing a Web Page, as specified in the project requirements, I broke the steps down into smaller parts. Firstly I researched the films, included in my database, and selected some of the latest films. I then created 3 separate pages, Main page, Latest films and Ticket prices. I then created the main page, a very simple page, as outlined in Appendix 1, or the web page research. I then, very briefly explained the ticket prices, Standard Luxury and disabled, giving prices for each. The last page I created was the Latest film reviews, where I simply entered a block of text, or the review and a graphic into a table with two cells, giving a simple and easy reading review page. Data needed by the system The data needed by the Web page system, will be information such as film times, ticket prices, certificates of films, and corresponding pictures for the review of the film. This will also apply for the corresponding text for a certain film. When the data is put into the system, it will have to be correct. I made sure the data was correct by checking it previously. I also made sure when compiling the film reviews, obtained the text and graphic and the title of the film at the same time, so as not to make a mistake. I would have to make sure that information like the Certificate of the films, e.g. U, PG, 12, 15 and 18 was correct as this may be misleading if it was not. Film times were also important as if these were incorrect; people may turn up to the cinema at the wrong time. A lot of this data is included in the Film table on the Database, see Database. This information could be put onto the web page if I were to do this task as the extension. I will also check spelling of film nam es using a spell check tool. The ticket prices would also have to be correct to correspond with the Spreadsheet, as I only included standard seats in the spreadsheet, I would only have to make this price match, in this case à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5. System outputs This task should produce the following outputs, a printout of the Web page, as necessary in this project, to hand it in. Another output possible would be a booked ticket, if I had constructed a booking system on my website, this could be an extension task. I chose to keep my outputs limited to a printout, as this is all I had time to do during the project as time was limited. Systems like the spreadsheet and database will have many more outputs as these were required. Analysing the problem During my research, I found the user would like colourful and attractive, also easy to use web sites. The evidence to support this can be found in Appendix 1, although this is printed in greyscale, all the web sites are high in contrast and very colourful. They are all very simple to use but very complicated systems at the same time. I will be able to achieve a high contrast and colourful site, and make it simple to use, incorporating hyperlinks to each page but will not be able to create a complex system in the time limit. The stages of input, processing and output are shown in the flow diagram below; Types of system Output The system can output information in different formats e.g. using a VDU the information can be displayed on screen, also the information can be printed using many different types of printers e.g. laser or inkjet. Output devices Advantages/Benefits Disadvantages/Drawbacks Visual Display Unit Size can be altered on most programs e.g. percentage of view. Information can be changed on screen. Information cannot be amended by hand whereas a printout can be. Inkjet printer Colour or Black, good quality. Printouts enable information to be marked or easily amended. Very expensive, slower than laser printer. Laser printer Very fast printing, black, very high quality. No colour in some models, extremely expensive. Having looked at the system devices, I decided to use a VDU to change data on screen, which enabled me to change view and so on. To print documents entirely in black, I will use a laser printer for speed and quality of printing. For colour documents I will use the inkjet printed which will enable me to print in colour. One more system output is the image on a VDU, which the user of the system will be able to view. The information, and film reviews will be what is visible, depending on the page that the user is viewing. Data Storage The data will be stored on the school network and my home PC, in addition I will keep a back up on floppy disk. This is three methods of data storage, the hard drives of both computers, are a form of magnetic storage, this also applies for the floppy disk. If I were to make sure I would not lose my data, I could store it optically on a CD (compact disk). For security purposes, I could store all my work on a tape, a security procedure carried out on the school network weekly. Testing To make sure that the system works I will complete these tests; * Ask an impartial person, to use my system, for example, I could ask them to load up the home page, by opening the file in my area, Click the link to the reviews page and print it off, If they were successful I know my system is successful. * Results; I completed this test and the user was able to complete my request. * Ask another person to open the web page, again and click the link to the reviews page, again as before, but this time, highlight the review and graphic for panic room, copy it and paste it into Word, and print it off. * Results; I completed this test; it was also successful, proving my system is user friendly. Simple Documentation For this task, I will only complete a simple user documentation. As this Web page is very simple, and does not have any complex features or relations, it is very simple to use, and as there are no booking systems, or show times, it is not very complicated. * If the system has been uploaded to the Internet, * Type in the address bar; www.BigMCinemas.com * This will take the user to the home page, * Follow the links to either, the Latest film review page or the Ticket prices page. Latest Reviews; * Look at the film reviews, * Scroll down to access hidden ones, * Either, take the link back to the home page or to ticket prices. Ticket Prices; * Gather required information on ticket prices, * Either, take the link to the home page or latest reviews. This is an incredibly simple user documentation, but as the system is so simple to use, this is all that is required. If a booking system were incorporated, the user documentation would become more complex. Evaluation The benefits of the system The benefits of the system I have developed will be; * The user will be able to access Film reviews from any computer connected to the internet. * If I were to extend my site incorporating a booking system, the benefits for the user would be that they would be able to book online, and pay with a secure connection using their credit card. * Another advantage for the user, if they were to become a Friend of Big Ms Cinemas, they would be able to get benefits from using my system, as members may get a reduced price for tickets, and priority seats. * At current, the site is very simple, but another benefit, as it is web based and designed to be easily updated, I will be able to update the film reviews very quickly and easily. This is a benefit for the user as they are getting the latest reviews, and prices as soon as they come out. There may be drawback to my system, such as that at current it is very simple and may not provide all the information the user wants. For example, it only has reviews for a limited number of films, due to the time limit I had in making it. When using the system, which only has 3 different pages, the user may not get all the information they require, e.g. different prices for different seats, and discounts for members. I produced a very simple system and realised that I would need to spend a lot more time in planning and designing the site if it were to become viable to upload to the web and use as an active system. I would need to produce a booking page, with all the different seats and prices for each screen, and depending on the age Certificate, update the ticket prices, e.g. if a film was a 15, child prices would not need be included, and so on. A secure connection would need to be gained for Credit card payment, and I would need to produce a Membership form online, like that featured ion Appendix 2. as well as this I would need to increase the amount of reviews, and add Film times, and their certificates. I could have used a membership form that I could design and print out, and hand out at the Cinema chains, by hand. These forms could be returned in the post. This method is a lot slower and not so reliable, as sending letters is not 100% safe, they can easily be lost or misplaced. Alternative methods for my system; * (1) Instead of publishing my system on the Internet, I could put my parts of my system, as already exists into a newspaper. Many cinemas already advertise film times, and the names of all the films, in weekly newspapers. There are many drawbacks to this system. I would only be able to put in a small advert, due to a large cost for advertising, and I would only be able to include film times, certificates and screens showing certain films. It is a very effective method as it is available to a lot of people. * (2) I could also put my system onto Tele-text, instead of the internet; there are also many problems with this method. Tele-text is quite slow, the design and layout is very simple and not very eye-catching. Only certain information would be provided, as graphics for the reviews would not be possible. An advantage of this system is that it is very easily updated. If I had more time, I would have improved my system, and included a booking system, and improved my reviews page, I would also have included film times, different cinemas, certificates of the films, incorporated a membership application page and generally improved it, making it more complex, but regaining its simplicity. My system Alternative Method (1) Alternative method (2) Advantages Enables me to put all the information onto the system, including booking systems, film reviews and film times, and ticket prices that are easily accessible for anyone with access to a PC, with an internet connection. It is also very easy to update, enabling me to regularly keep the site posted and constantly bring up to date the film times and the screens on which they are showing. More people could access the information, as more people have access to newspapers than the internet. It is also a very good way of advertising as more people will see the information and in some aspects, it is quicker than using either my system or method 2, as it is very direct and the information is very easily obtained. By putting the system onto C-Fax, or Tele-text, I would be able to make the information available to any one with a Tele-text compatible television. This would be easily updateable, unlike alternative Method 1, which is only updateable when a new Paper is released. This system could also include a number for phone booking. Disadvantages There are not too many disadvantages to my system; it is a lot more comprehensive than both the alternative methods, as they are both limited. This system would not be very good, as it would only incorporate the film times, and titles. The first system, allows the user to read reviews and book online. Although this system could include a phone number for phone booking, this is a very successful method. Graphics could not be included, although reviews could. Ticket prices and links to other pages could also be provided. Hyperlinks could not be made, and the design and layout is very primitive on Tele-text. Summary The use of ICT If I compare my solution to ones that already exist then I can see that in many respects my system would be better, if I were to extend and improve it. These system already exist and are very successful, as shown in Appendix 1, showing the Odeons web site, a comprehensive example I would need to follow if I were to extend this particular project. Comparing my current system to systems like that on the Odeon page, I can see mine is very primitive, and not very good. The changes that have occurred due to the use of ICT and computers are, the increased ease in Booking Tickets, becoming a member, viewing reviews quickly and easily, and looking up film times, certificates and the price of various tickets. Computers have enabled many more people to access this information and increase the complexity of a system like this. The people that use the system would benefit from using it as it would save them time booking tickets or becoming a member. In some ways it increases security, and reliab ility, as a membership form sent in the post could be lost. The user would also find all the information they need in one place and at the same time, eliminating hassle in phoning up the cinema or buying a newspaper.

The Nature of Man, the Renaissance, and the Protestant Reformation Essa

Europe was a tumultuous region in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. In particular, the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation both introduced radical intellectual and religious ideas that challenged centuries of established doctrine. This period corresponded with a great surge in philosophical, political, and religious writing. Among the most influential thinkers of the time were the Italian humanist Leon Battista Alberti, the Florentine politician Niccolà ² Machiavelli, and the German monk Martin Luther. Alberti wrote in a time of humanist thought and economic prosperity, Machiavelli in a time of growing political instability and economic uncertainty in Italy, and Luther in a time dominated by an increasingly corrupt Catholic church. While Alberti’s good fortune is reflected in On the Family’s optimism, Machiavelli’s The Prince and Luther’s On Christian Liberty are direct reactions to the perceived crises the authors were witnessing, and both works were written with an obvious sense of urgency. These writers all put forward strongly worded and drastically different views of the fundamental nature of man. Alberti saw man as an active being seeking a classical education and a good family in which to raise children, Machiavelli perceived man as craving power and impossible to satisfy, and for Luther man was eternally sinful searching only for faith in God. More significant than their visions of human nature is the physical focus of that nature—body or soul—and how the origin of such a attitude was related to the period in which they were living. While Alberti’s vision of human nature focused on a man’s outward actions shaping his inner soul, Luther saw just the opposite, a man’s soul struggling to achieve what... ...lberti saw a great potential for man and wanted to outline his vision for others. Machiavelli saw man’s flaws and what it caused, and sought only a cold, practical solution without the nuisance of morals. Luther, devastated by the corruption of the ruling religious authority, wished to save Europe’s Christians from a way of life that would seal their fate as sinners. Works Cited Alberti. On the Family. Readings in Western Civilization 5: The Renaissance. Ed. Eric Cochrane and Julius Kirshner. The University of Chicago Press: Chicago, 1986. The Making of the West, Volume B: 1320-1830. Ed. Lynn Hunt, et al. Bedford/St. Martin's: New York, 2001. Luther, Martin. On Christian Liberty. Trans. W. A. Lambert. Fortress Press: Minneapolis, 2003. Machiavelli, Niccolà ². The Prince. Trans. Harvey C. Mansfield. The University of Chicago Press: Chicago, 1998.

Isolation and Alienation of Troy in Wilsons Fences Essay -- August Wi

     Ã‚   August Wilson's Fences is a play about life, and an extended metaphor Wilson uses to show the disintegrating relationships between Troy and Cory and Troy and Rose. Troy Maxson represents the dreams of black America in a predominantly white world, a world where these dreams were not possible because of the racism and attitudes that prevailed. Troy Maxson is representative of many blacks and their "attitudes and behavior...within the social flux of the late fifties, in their individual and collective struggles to hew a niche for themselves in the rocky social terrain of postwar America" (Pereria, 37). Much of the tension in the play stems from Troy Maxson, and his inability to change, his, "refusal to accept the fact that social conditions are changing for the black man" (Pereria, 37). Troy's wife, Rose, recognizes this early on, saying to him, "Times have changed from when you was young, Troy. People change. The world's changing around you and you can't even see it" (Wilson, 40). This inability to change diversely affects Troy's relationship with his second son, Cory, who is a promising athlete. Sports provide the arena for the continuing conflict and foreshadows the characteristic that will eventually lead to Troy's downfall. There is a constant struggle between Troy and Cory because Troy will not allow his son to pursue his athletic dreams, telling him instead to keep his after-school job. This stems from Troy's past, when he was a promising baseball player who was prevented from playing because he was black. Troy's fears carry into the new generation when he prevents his son from pursuing a football scholarship because of his past, even though the world was changing at this time, and colored people were expanding into... ...: 2000. Web. 24 June 2015. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2903299?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents Nadel, Alan. May All Your Fences Have Gates: Essays on the Drama of August Wilson. University of Iowa Press, U.S.:1994. Web. 22 June 2015. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3042198?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents Pereira, Kim. August Wilson and the African American Odyssey. University Of Illinois Press, Chicago:1995. Web. 27 June 2015. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3042485?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents Shannon, Sandra G. The Dramatic Vision of August Wilson. Howard University Press, Washington D.C.:1995. Web. 29 June 2015. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2901368?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents Wilson, August. Fences. Penguin Books U.S.A. Inc., New York:1986. Wolfe, Peter. August Wilson: Twayne's United States Authors Series. Ed. Frank Day. Twayne Publishers, New York, 1999.

Case Study on Hr Planning Essay

It is the country†s best recognised energy brand. Centrica is a multinational company, with businesses in many countries. Centrica was formed in 1997 and consists of eight separate energy-related businesses, ranging from the supply of gas and electricity to consumers and organisations in the UK and Europe, to storage of gas for other providers, and drain and pipe work maintenance. The UK energy market is highly dynamic. Customers look for the best deals and are increasingly prepared to switch suppliers. In 2007, 900,000 customers switched energy providers. An energy company needs to show it is not just competitive on price, but that it can also provide the right levels of customer service to attract and retain customers. British Gas does not only supply gas but also deals with the installation and maintenance of domestic central heating and appliances. It provides a maintenance and breakdown service for electrical white goods and home wiring. Through the Dyno brand, British Gas also offers drain clearing services, plumbing and home security services. To deliver these services, British Gas needs high calibre staff. It employs more than 9,000 trained gas engineers to install and maintain central heating and gas appliances. This case study explores how British Gas manages the recruitment and selection of new employees. Page 2:  The role of human resource management Managing a successful large business involves acquiring, developing and maintaining a wide range of resources. These resources include materials, buildings, land, equipment, technology and, crucially, people. Any organisation needs good employees who have the right skills to achieve the company†s aims and objectives. Human resource management (HRM) is the business function that focuses on the people aspects of an organisation. It ensures the efficient management of people in the business. It is responsible for ensuring that an organisation has the right people to deliver its overall business plan. Meeting customer needs Centrica, the parent corporation of British Gas, has to deliver long term profitability. Its shareholders expect the business to show a return on their investment by making profits, now and in the future. British Gas needs to contribute to these profits. This means consistently meeting the needs of its customers with competitively priced products and services that give good returns to the company. Residential consumers across the country are the core customer base of British Gas. These customers expect top-class service at keen prices. If British Gas does not meet this standard, the company may lose business to competitors. To ensure customer satisfaction, British Gas engineers must have the technical skills to undertake work to the required standard and the people skills to deliver good customer service. Through its engineer recruitment team, the British Gas Academy must therefore ensure that the company attracts and retains the best engineers. This involves several complementary tasks. It requires planning to assess the future needs for skilled employees at British Gas. It requires a recruitment and selection programme to bring new people into the business. It requires a training operation to equip new recruits and existing employees with the right skills. Retaining people Importantly, British Gas must also ensure that it retains its best people. It is much more cost effective to retain trained and highly skilled staff than recruit and train up new people. British Gas seeks to retain people by offering a mix of financial and non-financial benefits. As well as good pay and a pension scheme, the company provides employees with the opportunity to buy shares in Centrica and it offers a great place to work and high-class training. Page 3:  Training As an expanding business, British Gas needed to increase its workforce to meet customer demand. At the end of 2002, British Gas established the British Gas Academy. The Academy has helped to develop and refocus training facilities to handle the extra training requirement in recruiting an additional 5,000 employees into the engineering workforce. * British Gas runs an intensive apprenticeship programme. This is delivered in training centres. Trainees should expect to qualify by year five. All domestic gas engineers become fully acquainted with the latest computer-aided diagnostic technology. There are also traineeships, which provide a way for new recruits to learn about the gas industry and gain relevant skills and qualifications. British Gas provides technical training for all its engineers throughout their careers. This ensures that its employees are kept up-to-date with new information and technologies to enable them to provide the best service possible. Training does not simply focus on technical skills and knowledge. Most employees have direct contact with customers, so it is important that they have good people skills. Awareness training is provided for employees across British Gas through an online learning package. Another programme is improving staff†s cultural awareness, particularly to support the growing international operations at British Gas. Page 4:  Workforce planning Workforce planning is the process of assessing a company†s current and future labour needs. The British Gas Academies must consider not just overall employee numbers but also the skills that will be required within the business. Workforce planning also involves managing any training and recruitment process to ensure the organisation has the right staff in place. Managers at British Gas conduct a programme of forecasting to predict how much the UK market for domestic gas engineering services will grow. This helps the company decide how many additional engineers it will need in the future. British Gas makes detailed forecasts of its demand for engineering personnel for one year in advance and makes more general estimates for a further two years into the future. Factors affecting workforce planning At British Gas, workforce requirements are driven by two different demands. First, there are contract customers that have service agreements with the company. Second, there are customers who call for one-off assistance if they have a specific problem. Demand for both these services has grown. In the last three or four years, the need for engineers has expanded accordingly. This has meant that it has had to recruit more staff. There are several other factors that influence workforce planning for British Gas. Engineering skills need to be constantly updated. Health and safety issues are also critically important in the gas industry. Health and safety regulations are changing all the time and EU regulations must also be considered. Apart from regular formal training to close skills gaps to ensure engineers stay up to date with technical matters, British Gas can alert engineers about technical changes via field radio or text messaging. Engineers can work all their careers in the field until they retire. Qualified engineers may spend up to 10 years gaining their skills, qualifications and experience. They have valued practical skills that are needed to deal with equipment and customers. However, British Gas also needs suitable people for promotion to higher roles, such as management jobs. It needs managers to plan, organise and co-ordinate the teams of engineers. It therefore needs to attract and recruit a wide range of people into the organisation. Page 5:  Recruitment As part of its workforce planning, British Gas implements a diversity and inclusion strategy using tailored action plans. This means it actively seeks new recruits from a wide range of backgrounds. The need to recruit a diverse engineering workforce is seen as critical by British Gas. It plans recruitment to ensure it has a socially inclusive workforce. This is important as it will enable British Gas to reflect the diversity of its customer base. For example, it is useful to have employees from different nationalities and backgrounds to communicate with customers that do not speak English as a first language. Recruiting more women engineers may help to attract female customers. British Gas has won a national award from the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) for its efforts to encourage and attract women into the engineering workforce and into plumbing and associated trades. To dispel the myth that only men can be good engineers, British Gas runs a Georgina and the Dragon campaign for children. What British Gas’ recruitment programmes  have achieved  is demonstrated by various awards during 2009: * British Gas  won awards from the Local Employment Partnership in the East Midlands. The awards for â€Å"Unlocking Talent†Ã‚  and the  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Outstanding LEP Achievement Award†Ã‚  recognise  the company’s recruitment work with the LEP and Jobcentre Plus in the region. * British Gas has been named in the 2009  Sunday Times’s 20 Best Big Companies to Work For. * The British Gas Academy won an award from Women into Science and Engineering (WISE). The award – Investor in WISE  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ rewarded the efforts British Gas makes  to promote science,  engineering and construction  to girls and young women. Advertising British Gas tries to appeal to a varied and diverse audience when promoting its apprenticeships. To advertise opportunities widely, British Gas uses specialist Sky channels like Parliamentary Projects TV, which focuses on careers, and Passion TV, which is aimed at the black community. In print media, it uses women’s magazines, publications targeted at ethnic minorities such as The Muslim Weekly as well as other careers directories for the same reason. Other channels include radio, newspapers,  British Gas website  (www. britishgasacademy. co. uk) and a DVD for schools. Recruiting gas engineers of the right level is important. Candidates for a British Gas apprenticeship must be at least 16 years old, and have a minimum of four GCSEs at grade C or above or equivalent (e. g. NVQs). However, they need more than academic qualifications, they must be able to show some aptitude for customer service, such as being able to listen to customers and understand their requirements. Application British Gas uses an online application form. To help British Gas decide an applicant’s suitability, this includes a value-based questionnaire. This requires responses to a series of statements about attitudes to work. There are 90 statements in all, and an applicant’s overall responses are rated green, amber or red. The colour reflects the attitudes the applicant has about work and people. This helps to show which roles a person is best suited to. British Gas does not take applicants with red ratings further as they may not show a ‘fit’ with the company requirements. However after an initial screening, green and amber applicants are invited to an interview and assessment centre for the final selection process. Here, candidates must show evidence of qualifications, ID and driving licence. Page 6:  Selection At the British Gas assessment centre the emphasis is very much upon ‘core competencies’ and ‘life skills’. Life skills are personal skills that are likely to affect the customer experience when someone is working in the field. British Gas engineers needs to show courtesy and politeness, for example. These are personal qualities that have a direct impact upon customer perception. Core competencies involve team working, interpersonal skills (such as dealing with people), motivation and responding to change. These are crucial skills that can affect the way an individual fits in and works within an organisation. Candidates attend the centre for a half-day assessment. This has three elements. The total scores from the three-part assessment help British Gas to decide who receives a job offer. Candidates are notified of the outcome within 14 days. All candidates can receive feedback. For those candidates offered a job, British Gas provides the usual job benefits including a van from the outset and a competitive starting salary. The new recruits then go on to benefit from the comprehensive programme of training through its Academy. This ensures that they are given the best start in their new careers. It also builds employee motivation and commitment to the company. Recruiting and selecting staff is an expensive process. By following a robust selection programme in this way, British Gas is able to ensure it gets the right people with the right skills. It also means it maximises the benefit from its investment. Page 7:  Conclusion Recruitment and selection at British Gas is driven by the need to maintain the competitive position of the company within the energy market. Domestic gas customers demand the very highest standards of service. They can be assured that British Gas engineers have high-level skills and expertise through its careful specification of entry qualifications followed by top quality training. British Gas also assesses the personal attributes of staff through role play and questionnaires as these influence customers’ perceptions of the service and the company. Great care is taken in determining the organisation’s future staffing needs. This drives the recruitment and selection process to ensure British Gas is seen as offering dynamic and exciting career paths for people of all backgrounds. By developing and nurturing its people, British Gas ensures that new recruits have the right qualities to help the business to compete.

Class Consciousness and False Consciousness as Defined by Marx

Class Consciousness and False Consciousness as Defined by Marx Class consciousness and false consciousness are concepts introduced by Karl Marx that were later expanded by social theorists who came after him. Marx wrote about the theory in his book Capital, Volume 1, and again with his frequent collaborator, Friedrich Engels, in the impassioned treatise, Manifesto of the Communist Party. Class consciousness refers to the awareness by a social or economic class of their position and interests within the structure of the economic order and social system in which they live. In contrast, false consciousness is a perception of ones relationships to social and economic systems of an individual nature, and a failure to see oneself as a part of a class with particular class interests relative to the economic order and social system. Marxs Theory of Class Consciousness According to Marxist theory, class consciousness is an awareness of ones social and/or economic class relative to others, as well as an understanding of the economic rank of the class to which you belong in the context of the larger society. In addition, class consciousness involves an understanding of the defining social and economic characteristics and collective interests of your own class within the constructs of the given socio-economic and political order. Class consciousness is a core facet of Marxs theory of class conflict, which focuses on the social, economic, and political relationships between workers and owners within a capitalist economy. The precept was developed in conjunction with his theory on how workers might overthrow the system of capitalism and then go on to create a new economic, social, and political system based on equality rather than inequality and exploitation. The Proletariat vs. the Bourgeoisie Marx believed that the capitalist system was rooted in class conflict- specifically, the economic exploitation of the proletariat (workers) by the bourgeoisie (those who owned and controlled production). He reasoned that the system only functioned as long as the workers did not recognize their unity as a class of laborers, their shared economic and political interests, and the power inherent in their numbers. Marx argued that when workers came to understand the totality of these factors, they would achieve class consciousness, and this, in turn, would lead to a workers revolution that would overthrow the exploitative system of capitalism. Hungarian social theorist Georg Lukcs, who followed in the tradition of Marxist theory, expanded the concept by saying that class consciousness is an achievement that opposes individual consciousness and results from the group struggle to see the totality of social and economic systems. The Problem of False Consciousness According to Marx, before workers developed a class consciousness they were actually living with a false consciousness. (Though Marx never used the actual term, he did develop the ideas that it encompasses.) In essence, false consciousness is the opposite of class consciousness. Individualistic rather than collective in nature, it produces a view of oneself as a single entity engaged in competition with others of ones social and economic standing, rather than as part of a group with unified experiences, struggles, and interests. According to Marx and other social theorists who followed, false consciousness was dangerous because it encouraged people to think and act in ways that were counterintuitive to their economic, social, and political self-interests. Marx saw false consciousness as a product of an unequal social system controlled by a powerful minority of elites. The false consciousness among workers, which prevented them from seeing their collective interests and power, was created by the material relations and conditions of the capitalist system, by the ideology (the dominant worldview and values) of those who control the system, and by social institutions and how they function in society. Marx cited the phenomenon of commodity fetishism- the way capitalist production frames relationships between people (workers and owners) as relationships between things (money and products)- with playing a key role in producing false consciousness among workers. He believed that commodity fetishism served to obscure the fact that relations with regard to production within a capitalist system are actually relationships between people, and that as such, they are changeable. Building on Marxs theory, Italian scholar, writer, and activist Antonio Gramsci expanded the ideological component of false consciousness by arguing that a process of cultural hegemony guided by those holding economic, social, and cultural power in society produced a common sense way of thinking that embued the status quo with legitimacy. Gramsci noted that by believing in the common sense of ones age, a person actually consents to the conditions of exploitation and domination that one experiences. This common sense- the ideology that produces false consciousness- is actually a misrepresentation and misunderstanding of the social relationships that define the economic, social, and political systems. False Consciousness in a Stratified Society An example of how cultural hegemony works to produce false consciousness- that is true both historically and today- is the belief that upward mobility is possible for all people, regardless of the circumstances of their birth, as long as they choose to dedicate themselves to education, training, and hard work. In the U.S. this belief is encapsulated in the ideal of the American Dream. Viewing society and ones place within it based on the set of assumptions derived from common sense thinking results in a perception of being an individual rather than part of a collective. Economic success and failure rest squarely on the shoulders of the individual and do not take into account the totality of the social, economic, and political systems that shape our lives. At the time Marx was writing about class consciousness, he perceived class as the relationship of people to the means of production- the owners versus the workers. While the model is still useful, we can also think about the economic stratification of our society into different classes based on income, occupation, and social status. Decades worth of demographic data reveals that the American Dream and its promise of upward mobility is largely a myth. In truth, the economic class a person is born into is the primary determinant of how he or she will fair economically as an adult. However, as long as a person believes the myth, he or she will continue to live and operate with a false consciousness. Without a class consciousness, they will fail to recognize that the stratified economic system in which theyre operating was designed to afford only the bare minimum of money to workers while funneling huge profits to the owners, executives, and financiers at the top.

Book Review A Farewell to Arms essays

Book Review A Farewell to Arms essays A Farewell to Arms is about Frederick Henry, an American second lieutenant in the Italian army who falls in love with an English volunteer nurse named Catherine Barkley during the first World War. After Henry is wounded, he is sent the hospital where Catherine is stationed. This where their love affair begins. After healing, Henry returns to the war effort, only to later desert the Italian army. He escapes with Catherine who becomes pregnant with his child. She dies due to complications during birth and Henry finally realizes that death is the end of all things: something that we learn Catherine already knew but Henry was unwilling to acknowledge until after his love was gone. As far as being a war novel and a love story, the book was very well done. It mixes the combination of both love and violence very well. We are able to understand the feelings and messages sent in the conversations and scenes between Catherine and Henry and we are also able to interpret the raw, violent nature of war from the accounts given to the reader by Frederick Henry. One negative that does stand out in my mind is the blandness of the characters, Frederick Henry in particular. He is an unemotional character in my opinion and really detracts from the story, especially considering he is also the narrator. I believe that the book wouldve been better if told in the third-person omniscient point-of-view so that the qualities of character, or I should say the lack thereof, in Frederick Henry wouldnt show as strongly. One might disagree in saying that telling a story in the first-person point-of-view adds to the tone and feeling of the story. I agree, but not with this particular character. Ive read where Hemingway likes to add subtle symbols and understate events as if they were normal, every-day occurrences. For the most part, I enjoy those kinds of things in a book. But in this book, those things are too understated. Its nice ...

The five most annoying ways to use an ellipsis - Emphasis

The five most annoying ways to use an ellipsis The five most annoying ways to use an ellipsis The three little innocent-looking dots of an ellipsis () probably carry more power to annoy and confuse your readers than any other punctuation mark. Apostrophe mistakes look harmless in comparison. Nobody seriously reads ‘orange’s 45p’ and assumes that the orange must own a small amount of loose change. Ellipses, by contrast, can completely change the tone and meaning of what you write. And people who misuse them often don’t realise what they’re doing. Here are five ways not to use an ellipsis. 1. Using them like a written erm Trailing off in the middle of sentences in spoken conversation is common and almost unavoidable. (Unless you’re Oscar Wilde – WB Yeats said Wilde was the first person he’d met who spoke in perfect sentences.) But it’s rarely necessary to do this in writing. In spoken conversation, you can rely on various cues to tell you whether the other person understands what you’re saying, and clarify as needed. But in writing, you need to be clear first time. Many writers use ellipses like written equivalents of ‘erm’ and ‘er’, but this can be confusing and frustrating for the reader. To avoid inadvertently creating a ‘fill in the blanks’ puzzle, force yourself to finish your sentences. This might mean you have to do a bit more work before pressing send – quite possibly work you were trying to avoid. But just console yourself with the knowledge that you’re sending out a little more good sense into the world. Compare these emails: ‘I haven’t had the full invitation to tender back yet whom do I talk to? no idea about the competitors haven’t started the tender not sure about our solution or details.’ ‘I haven’t received the full invitation to tender document yet. And I only know the bare bones of the solution we’re going to propose. At this stage, I don’t even know whom to talk to about getting all the necessary information (about costs, materials, people) together. Do you have any suggestions?’ Concrete writing like this will naturally take longer than simply typing the first things that come to mind. But the extra time you spend focusing on what you’re actually saying, and why, will help clarify your message both for you and your reader, and ultimately increase your chances of getting the kind of response you want. If you need to create a pause (a purposeful one, not an ‘erm’), consider using an en-dash instead of an ellipsis. It feels much more confident, especially when you need to link related parts of a sentence – like this. 2. Trailing off for no reason An ellipsis at the end of a sentence implies that the writer has trailed off. But why has the writer trailed off? Are they suggesting something? Does it represent a nudge or a wink? Those three little dots suggest something is going on, but give the reader no clue about what it might be. This can make otherwise straightforward sentences confusing and (occasionally) somewhat unsettling. Compare these sentences: ‘It’s not a problem for us to meet on Monday.’ ‘It’s not a problem for us to meet on Monday ’ The trailing off in the second example could suggest the writer is having doubts (perhaps it is a problem). Or maybe it expresses confusion about why a meeting is even necessary. Or, if the writer is a chronic ellipsis-abuser, it may mean nothing at all.  The reader must then judge what the meaning might be, or ask for clarification. If you’re unsure about meeting on Monday, say so and explain why. For example: ‘It’s not a problem for us to meet on Monday, but I’m not sure if that will be helpful because John won’t be here and we need his input.’ 3. Three is the magic number Some style guides recommend writing an ellipsis as three full stops: Some prefer three full stops with spaces between them: . . . And some tell you to use a special ellipsis character (PC shortcut: ALT+0133, Mac shortcut: ALT+semicolon): †¦ Whichever you use (we prefer three full stops without spaces, except on Twitter), all style guides agree that ellipses are three dots long. Not four, or two (and five is right out). You may see what appears to be a four-dot ellipsis at the end of some sentences (eg ‘And then John fell asleep .). This is in fact an ellipsis with a full stop at the end. You may also sometimes see three dots, a space and then a further dot (eg ‘And then John fell asleep .). Again, style guides vary on this. 4. Omitting crucial parts of a quotation You’ll often find that you need to condense quotes, and you can use an ellipsis to show that you’ve removed parts of the original. But be careful. To be completely transparent, you need to be sure that you’re not changing the meaning of what somebody has said. Take this remark from US President Coolidge and the often-quoted condensed version: ‘The chief business of the American people is business’ ‘The business of the American people is business’ This changes the meaning of his sentence. The original version says that business is the most important concern, whereas in the second it sounds as if business is the only important thing. 5. Implying you have more to say when you haven’t This is a very particular kind of trailing off, and possibly the most annoying of all. It often implies that what needs to be said is so obvious to the (knowledgeable) writer that it should be obvious to the reader, too. This can backfire badly – at worst, it can appear smug or condescending. For example: ‘That’s a good plan, but there are important considerations ’ This kind of ellipsis is more suited to enigmatic status updates on social media (’OMG some people are so annoying ’), not that we advocate that sort of thing. For business it’s better to spell things out. Ask yourself why you’re tempted to use an ellipsis, get the answer straight in your head, then politely say that instead: ‘That’s a good plan, but I’m worried about how expensive it is. We’re also working on so many other projects that I’m not sure we’ll have the time to spare’. Use with caution Like many of the best things in life, ellipses are fine when used well and in moderation, but troublesome when used recklessly. (OK, OK, we’re sounding like your dad now.) So keep using them, if you wish, but do so consciously. And if you catch yourself dot-dot-dotting to cop out of saying what you actually mean, take a moment’s pause. What is likely to be the most positive approach in the long run? At work, usually, clarity is king. Sure, overused ellipses are annoying but good writing at work is about far more than just airing our personal peeves. Its about communicating effectively and efficiently, in a way which informs, inspires and persuades others. Thats why weve distilled our 18 years experience working with over 40,000 professionals in every sector and industry into a 64-page guide, The Write Stuff. Its ideal if you write emails, reports, bids or any other business document. Download your free copy of The Write Stuff today.

Hospitality Property Operations Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Hospitality Property Operations - Assignment Example However, in reality, the previous stock is not fully utilized and wasted awfully and there is the overstock of supplies also been observed in the hotel of which some is spoiled as well. In order to maintain cleanliness and other satisfaction is driven parameters for the customers, the storeroom remains open all the time and everyone has the access to it. There is no proper placement of supply items in the storeroom rather there is a mess of supplies everywhere even in the telephone room. The supplies are not rightly used by the housekeeping staff like shampoos are used for cleaning the bathtub and furniture polish is used over Formica which though seems chemically effective but not the right way thus resulting in increased cost. Another issue is that things are not fully used that contributes to additional costs like everyday soap and shampoo is added to every washroom even previous is still there. Garbage bags of large size are often used that are half filled and thrown away despite using the smaller one to optimize their usage. The management structure needs to be autocratic and hierarchic to mold the behavior of the staff and to keep the check on them while using the supplies. A position may be created and the personnel may be dedicated full time for the purpose. There must be someone responsible for the storeroom and only limited access be provided to the staff. Another issue is that things are not fully used that contributes to additional costs like everyday soap and shampoo is added to every washroom even previous is still there. Garbage bags of large size are often used that are half filled and thrown away despite using the smaller one to optimize their usage.

Scenario of judgement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Scenario of judgement - Essay Example Emotional management is a self-explanatory term, however very difficult for a teen to understand. The emotions mixed with hormones create a nearly impossible to control mix of impulsivity and emotional uproar. This makes it much more likely for a teen to act on a whim, particularly when it comes to sex. The stigma attached to sex is overwhelming, and the teen in this situation cannot contain them, as their ability to manage these feelings is underdeveloped. Emotional perception and expression is the capacity to understand and recognize one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others, whether they are positive or negative. Teens in general have great difficulty in controlling their emotions. In this scenario, the girl thinks that she is â€Å"in love† with her boyfriend, but the most probable emotions that she is feeling are lust, as these physical and mental feelings are new and exciting. Also within this teen’s immaturity, she likely will not have a very h igh level of emotional understanding. This complex ability involves being capable of labeling emotions with words, comprehend the source and consequence of these new emotions and distinguish the connections in them. Teens’ emotions are highly volatile, often experiencing feelings WISE JUDGMENT SCENARIO 2 that they do not understand, or have a feasible explanation as to why these emotions are occurring in them. In this scenario, the teen girl believes she is â€Å"in love†, and is thus considering having sex without a firm grasp on the consequences of this sensation. This young teen girl’s emotional facilitation of thought can be used to contain these emotions, to allow her to make a better, decision that is more thoughtful. However, in all likelihood, she is simply too immature emotionally to be able to use this emotional facilitation. A very important characteristic of emotional intelligence is the ability for the teen to understand her diverse and often contra dictory feelings. These changes over the course of time in every individual, and it is doubtful that she will have a solid grasp of this concept until she is older and more emotionally mature. Within the realm of successful intelligence, Robert Sternberg (1996) believes that to be successful, you must think well creatively, practically, and analytically. Creative thinking is an inborn trait, in my opinion, that varies by individual. While some are creative in an abstract way, others’ creativity is more tangible. For many teens faced with the aspect of having sex, their creative thought often steers them to find a way to get away with it. The scenario of teens having sex is not a sign of practical thought processes. Given that their emotions and hormones are erratic, they are generally irrational thinkers, only giving cause for thought to the act of sex, not about the consequences of following through with it. In addition, on a practical level, most teens do not give much thou ght to the potential outcomes of having sex, such as a sexually transmitted disease or pregnancy. Analytical thinking is a difficult task for many teens, as it involves taking an in-depth WISE JUDGMENT SCENARIO 3 look at the situation, then making a decision. Given that teens are overall impulsive and irrational, analytical thought probably will not come to fruition in their minds until it is too late. Wisdom is a trait that comes with maturity, as being wise allows the

Thread Rolling Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Thread Rolling - Research Paper Example From this paper it is clear that the outcome of transferring the material molecules into thread shape instead of weakening through material removal is the thickening of the molecules at the threads critical parts, mostly in the roots and at the pitch diameter flank. The result of this all is an improvement of the quality of the thread form. Furthermore, the burnishing act that takes place at the steel dies results into a production of a magnificent micro-finish. The internal and external threads assembly is improved by the superior finish. It as well minimizes the wear between mating components thus a life extension results. A smooth finish as well results to an advantage of having rolled threaded components over the threaded components.As the discussion stresses the process involved in the thread rolling is known as the infeed roll threading. The thread types involved are pipe threads/ 600 thread type, machine screw type threads. The forms involved in the process are UNR, UNJ, AND U NC, for classes 1A, 2A, and 3A. The metric forms in the process of roll threading are DIN and ISO. The minimum size for the thread is 2mm, and maximum diameter is 63mm. The pitches in roll threading are fine, coarse and extra fine. The material hardness is cold rolling on depending material size and type. Roll threading results to flight safety threads and left and right hand while the volume that results is 1 to 100,000 pieces.

Student Learning from Preparing and Discussing Two Briefing Papers Essay

Student Learning from Preparing and Discussing Two Briefing Papers - Essay Example The products involved the power generation, transmission, distribution, industrial and building systems, and transportation, while the regions consisted of Asia Pacific, Europe and America (Haberberg and Rieple, 2008). For this reason, Bernavik was recognized for creating a fundamentally different model that could be used to organize and manage a large company. Before Bernavik handed over to Goran Lindahl, in 1997, ABB had continued to achieve spectacular results in which its profits had increased nearly four times, its turnover had doubled, and its return and capital employed had also increased from 12% to 20%, from 1988. However, five years later, after Goran took over the management, ABB started experiencing loses. According to Haberberg and Rieple (2008), the company had a debt of more than $4billion and had suffered a loss of about $691 million within five years: its survival was hanging in the balance. When Bernavik was the CEO, the company purchased about 200 companies, which were successful and formed the basis of global leadership positions. However, the main problem arose after the company decided to purchase an American Industrial boiler manufacture called the Combustion Engineering. As stated by Haberberg and Rieple (2008), after ABB had purchased the company, it was declared that Combustion Engineering insulated its product using asbestos. ... According to Haberberg and Rieple (2008), minimal administration led to lack of standardization of products. The company had four headquarters and about six hundred spreadsheets were being used around the ABB, which made it difficult to share files. In addition, independence of the companies was extremely high. For instance, one factory decided to export transformers to Africa, which was not in its Charter. Moreover, CEO Lindahl contributed highly to the problems ABB was facing. First, he simplified the innovation structure to eight product based divisions, which dissolved the regional dimensions from the matrix. According to Haberberg and Rieple (2008), this caused unnecessary political debate and compromised solutions because the managers concentrated on reconciling the demands of the products and regional bosses. Additionally, Lindahl made a decision to exit the transportation and power generation businesses and closed eleven factories in Europe, which led to loss of about 10,000 jobs. Although this helped the company to make a profit, it affected the expansion and productivity of the company. In addition, other CEO’s who came after Lindahl did not do much to promote the growth of the ABB. For instance, Jurgen Dormann did not know much about the company and the problems it was experiencing by the time he was appointed the CEO. He set up pension funds for the former CEO’s Bernavik and Lindahl of $51 and $81 respectively, which affected the financial status of the company. According to Douglas and Wind (2010:568), success can only be obtained by developing marketing strategies and products that match the specific characteristics of the international markets. Adopting a uniform

Change and Continuity in Contemporary Business Essay - 1

Change and Continuity in Contemporary Business - Essay Example A smart enterprise would keep a close eye on the changes in competitive advantages of the organization and realign their strategies & policies such that the business revenues and market share can be sustained. Such enterprises grow globally by carefully choosing their countries/regions of expansion after analysis of the external & internal factors that can drive the competitive advantages of the company in those geographies. Ford Motors is one such smart enterprise that has been changing their strategies & policies to sustain the challenges posed by the local factors in a country by not only globalizing rapidly but also changing their strategies pertaining to their regions of operations. This report presents the internal and external factors and the corresponding responses by Ford Motors to sustain as well as grow their business globally. Balanced Score Card System developed by Kaplan and Norton via their book "Balanced Score-Card - Translating Strategy into Action" published in 1996 (Source: http://www.balancedscorecard.org/BSCResources/AbouttheBalancedScorecard/tabid/55/Default.aspx) Ford Motors was incorporated by Henry Ford in 1903 in Dearborn, Michigan, USA. Henry Ford is known to have adapted practices that were not popular in those days - like, doubling per day wages and reducing the shifts from 9 hours to 8 hours. It was the worker friendly policies that boosted productivity of Ford much ahead of their competition. Ford is known for their methods of large scale car manufacturing and management of huge workforces globally. In 1911, Henry Ford established the first production unit outside USA in the UK by converting a tram works at Trafford Park that is in south of Manchester. In 1920, after the Second World War, the famous Dagenham facility was established that formed the base for launch of Ford Motor Company Limited (UK) in 1929 that was the hub of the European Ford organization (till the time Ford Motor Company Europe was established much later in 1967). In 1971 Ford combined the US, Canadian and Mexican operations together and established the North Ameri can Automotive Operations. The Dagenham facility was one of the most productive in assembly plant in entire Europe which, however, was closed in 2001 amidst some local factors that reduced the economy advantages of Ford manufacturing in Britain while the manufacturing in Germany and other parts of Europe was much more economical. The primary reasons for Ford manufacturing closure in Dagenham was the insurgence of shop-floor militants that developed a powerbase disrupting production by launching almost continuous Guerrilla warfare while Germany offered much more peaceful and strike free industrialization proposition. Moreover, Ford Motor Company

Student Learning from Preparing and Discussing Two Briefing Papers Essay

Student Learning from Preparing and Discussing Two Briefing Papers - Essay Example The products involved the power generation, transmission, distribution, industrial and building systems, and transportation, while the regions consisted of Asia Pacific, Europe and America (Haberberg and Rieple, 2008). For this reason, Bernavik was recognized for creating a fundamentally different model that could be used to organize and manage a large company. Before Bernavik handed over to Goran Lindahl, in 1997, ABB had continued to achieve spectacular results in which its profits had increased nearly four times, its turnover had doubled, and its return and capital employed had also increased from 12% to 20%, from 1988. However, five years later, after Goran took over the management, ABB started experiencing loses. According to Haberberg and Rieple (2008), the company had a debt of more than $4billion and had suffered a loss of about $691 million within five years: its survival was hanging in the balance. When Bernavik was the CEO, the company purchased about 200 companies, which were successful and formed the basis of global leadership positions. However, the main problem arose after the company decided to purchase an American Industrial boiler manufacture called the Combustion Engineering. As stated by Haberberg and Rieple (2008), after ABB had purchased the company, it was declared that Combustion Engineering insulated its product using asbestos. ... According to Haberberg and Rieple (2008), minimal administration led to lack of standardization of products. The company had four headquarters and about six hundred spreadsheets were being used around the ABB, which made it difficult to share files. In addition, independence of the companies was extremely high. For instance, one factory decided to export transformers to Africa, which was not in its Charter. Moreover, CEO Lindahl contributed highly to the problems ABB was facing. First, he simplified the innovation structure to eight product based divisions, which dissolved the regional dimensions from the matrix. According to Haberberg and Rieple (2008), this caused unnecessary political debate and compromised solutions because the managers concentrated on reconciling the demands of the products and regional bosses. Additionally, Lindahl made a decision to exit the transportation and power generation businesses and closed eleven factories in Europe, which led to loss of about 10,000 jobs. Although this helped the company to make a profit, it affected the expansion and productivity of the company. In addition, other CEO’s who came after Lindahl did not do much to promote the growth of the ABB. For instance, Jurgen Dormann did not know much about the company and the problems it was experiencing by the time he was appointed the CEO. He set up pension funds for the former CEO’s Bernavik and Lindahl of $51 and $81 respectively, which affected the financial status of the company. According to Douglas and Wind (2010:568), success can only be obtained by developing marketing strategies and products that match the specific characteristics of the international markets. Adopting a uniform

The South was not in an economic position to wage a successful war Essay

The South was not in an economic position to wage a successful war. Thoroughly explain why they were not and judge if you think this had an impact on the overall course of the war - Essay Example Southerners even avoided participation in industrial revolution which was welcomed and accepted by the Northern regions. The industries and the economy of the North was quite diversified in nature as they were involved in the production of both finished as well as agricultural goods. Due to developed factories and industries, the North was able to develop arms and ammunition required to wage a war. The South was even dependant on the North for finished goods and when the war started, the south realized that they lacked the resources needed to fight the war and their current sources of earning wealth were not properly structured (Millett, 2012, p.18). South even experienced decrease in income as the importers of cotton such as the Great Britain started importing from other nations such as India in order to remain neutral to both the North and the South. This event clearly proves that the South did not have the money required to fight the

The classics, Antigone and A Dolls House Essay Example for Free

The classics, Antigone and A Dolls House Essay To understand the relationships and the differences between two stories, one must analyze the story from beginning to end, noting which direction each story heading from the beginning. The plot must be closely looked upon as well as the actors and their actions. Antigone and A dolls house are very similar stories as they both tragic stories of betrayal and mind games. In Antigone, King Creon makes a statewide decree stating that Polynices, the traitor is not to receive a formal burial and is left to rot in the open, but his sister, Antigone, defies his decree even after her sister, Ismenes, refusal to aid in his burial. She buries Polynices and is caught. Soon a Sentry (military officer) arrives at the throne to give news to the king of the violation of his strict decree. The king threatens to take the life of the messenger if he does not come back with news of who has buried this traitor of his kingdom. Later, she is sentenced to be buried alive by King Creon even though she is about to marry the kings son, Haemon. After hearing of the sentencing, Tiresias comes to the throne to speak with the king, along side him, a small boy as an escort. This old prophet is a blind man that in the end of the story, is proven to see better than most able-bodied men of 30 years younger than that of himself. Tiresias proves to the king that gods are not on his side and Creon changes his mind. His final decision is too late. He leaves the throne to personally bury Polynices and speak with Antigone in the cave he sentenced her to die in. He finds that Antigone had hung herself and his own beloved son is no charging at him in full fury but then his blood is spilt at the mercy of his own blade. Meanwhile, back at the throne of King Creon, Eurydice is walking by a room where she hears men speaking of her dead son. She enters the room, where the kings cabinet awaits. She is told the news of her sons death and later takes her own life. Now Creon is all alone. Creon is man that is put into a tight predicament when he issues his decree. Creon is king and all in his kingdom are to obey his laws but what if he were to issue a law that goes against the gods laws. As king, any man would look like a weak fool if someone defied a direct order that he gave to an entire kingdom but what if later on, Creon was to reach the realization that his decree is seen as unjust by the gods as well as the people of his  kingdom. He is torn between looking weak to his entire kingdom by withholding his decree and having Polynices a proper burial service, or looking strong by going on with the death of his sons fiancà ¨e and be looked down upon by the people he serves. In A Dolls House, Nora Helmer runs into a very similar dilemma, which results in the odd twist at the end of the story. This story begins on Christmas Eve when Nora finds out that her husband Torvald has just received a promotion that will boost him to become bank manager. This excites Nora because some time back, her husband was very ill and was on the verge of death. Nora could not afford to keep her husband out of his deathbed so she forged her fathers signature on a contract that she and a man by the name of Krogstad had put together. Krogstad, an employee of Torvalds, has had a shady history and hasnt worked for Torvald long, but is willing to loan Nora the money to have her husband cured. Signing her fathers signature three days after his own death, Krogstad eventually finds out and is considering taking Nora to court because Krogstad has yet to be repaid for the loan. A woman, by the name of Mrs. Linde comes into town looking for employment and Nora recommended her to her husband. Torvald, considering getting rid of Krogstad because of his shady background, decided to replay Krogstad with Mrs. Linde and the rumor gets around the bank. Krogstad stops by and puts a letter in Torvalds box revealing to him the situation at hand. A doctor comes over later on and tells Nora that he is dying and Nora flirts with him trying to seduce him into maybe giving her the money but is interrupted when Krogstad is introduced to the scene. Krogstad meets Nora and tells her that she is going to be brought in front of a judge in a court of law if he looses his job. He would be loosing his only source of income and having children to feed, he would require Nora to pay him back so he intends to blackmail Nora for his job back. Torvald comes home and walks into his office and reads part of the letter. Enraged, Torvald comes out and finds Nora trying to leave. He stops her and goes off on a tantrum exclaiming how severely Nora has just ruined his life  but is interrupted by the maid who brings forth a letter from Krogstad that is addressed to Nora. Taking the letter, Torvald reads it and forgives her because Krogstad has had a change of heart. Previous to Krogsteads termination from the bank, Torvald promised his wife that he would take care of any repricutions from Krogsteads terminations but then falls back on his promise when he explains how Nora has ruined his life. She, in turn, sees what kind of person Torvald and hates what she finds. Nora then decides to leave her husband, family, and maid, to go out and educate herself about the world and her own personal character. Nora and Antigone both share some of the same character traits but they were revealed at opposite times in both of the stories. At the beginning of Antigone, Antigone makes a huge decision on how she is willing to die for her brothers burial procedure and at the end of A Dolls House, Nora makes her big decision about leaving everything she has ever known for her own sake, completely disregarding the needs of her family and prejudging that her husband will be able to take care of them alone, so she can go and have some time to herself to where she can find out who she really is. Creon is comparable to the character of Krogstad in A dolls house. In Antigone, Creon is the deciding factor of the outcome of the story and the same goes with Krogstad because all in all, he is the one that makes the decision whether he wants to bring his opposing character down or not. Creon made a decree stating that Polynices could not be buried and Krogstad made a decree saying that if he looses his job, he is taking Nora down with him. Together, they are both creating a fork in outcome of the stories. Mrs. Linde is like Ismene, Antigones sister, in the fact that they both offer their assistance in helping the main character of both stories towards the climax. Ismene is brought to the throne to speak of her sisters actions and she is truthful in what she says but she argues that Antigone should not be put to death. Mrs. Linde, being an old lover of Krogstad, is asked by Nora try and get Krogstad to not go through with his own decree. In summary, there are many things that bridge these two classic stories together. The stories are just told in reverse order. It can all be tracked from when the decree was made in each story. Antigone and A Dolls House are very much the same.

Concept of Time Portrayed in Art

Concept of Time Portrayed in Art Time is a determinant concept in forms of art where motion is a key factor in order for a narrative to be explored as it occurs, such as in video art, performance, and theatre. The concept of time is also an important parameter for a two-dimensional artwork, which can comprise time through movement or as a snapshot. On the basis of the above syllogism, this essay will determine the nature of time, through the moment, as a still/snapshot in a static artwork and as a sequence in forms of art such as performance. The concept of capturing time in art comprised subjects for contemporary artists such as demonstrated by Christiane Baumgartner and Marina Abramovic, whose works will be explored through this essay: how do two antithetical mediums, namely; printmaking and performance, deal with this same theme and what are the results of the two visual languages that arise in depicting the sense of time? The antithesis of time itself is not only a parameter which is reflected in the mediums themseleves, but also in the content. In other words, the antithesis is also portrayed on a theoretical level. While Christiane Baumgartner uses the illusion of the motion continuity and thus the illusion of time by freezing it, Marina Abramovic deals with the actual and real aspect of time by extending the duration of an occurrence. Hence, there is a differentiated perspective in depicting and presenting the real time and the illusion of it, with time consisting of a weaving of reality and deception. Introduction The issue of time comprises a parameter which, beside the natural sciences was also the object of research by predominately philosophy and anthropology and thereby the extension the art itself, as art was considered to be an essential cultural characteristic. In this essay, the concept of time will be presented via the perspective of perceiving time through the antitheses outlined above. Initially, time should be divided into two categories; such as in the philosophical and sociological frameworks; namely in its real form and in its non-real form that is not quite so obvious. For instance, acquirable time the procedure of measuring time periods, is completely different from the procedure of perceiving time as a representative of or bearer of consciousness. The existence and at the same time the non-existence (lack of obviousness) of time is an object of research for the artists so as to define the sense of time passing via numerous optical dimensions. The model of perceiving time is formed every time by the aesthetic view of the artist. Philosophy and sociology in many cases are related to the artists point of view and thus an interactive relationship in shaping or reconstructing thoughts, which include the phenomenon of time is developed. The contrariety in the approach on the other hand does not create gaps between the aspects of time but they assist in developing depth and assiduous assortment in determining time. However, the contrariety approach comprises a method of analysis; thus, within such a framework regarding contrariety in the perspective of the concept of time, art presents a visual codex and visual symbols and hence the antithesis in approaching and perceiving time can be comprehended. One very good example is the concept of the time sense as it is understood by most people, specifically time or, the symbol that represents time; the clock is an invention that accommodates humans to divide or to plan their everyday lives. On the other hand, there is an application of the above syllogism which is not an invention of the human civilisation but underlies biological or natural laws which is the concept of human age that accompanies human beings during their entire lives. These two antithetical examples could be characterized as external and internal time. The first one is determined by the sound that is produced by the second-hand and the other by the heartbeat. The parameter of their antithesis, however, does not preclude their interaction, but rather it is a matter of visual perspective of their characteristics (Rudolf Arnheim, Art and visual perception: a psychology of the creative eye, University of California Press, 2004). Time has had a significant influence in the world of visual arts. Artists have depicted various symbols for time in order to express its impact as a philosophical question that is reflected in the human existence, or important events in history in order to represent the passing of time. The antithesis will be the main subject of interest in this research and stillness-movement, internal-external time, and fluidity-futility will be some of the main points for analysis. The expressions of time concepts differ from artist to artist due to the different perspective each of them uses. Salvador Dali (1904-1989), the Spanish surrealist painter of the 20th century, created in 1931 the work The persistence of memory. Time is the theme here, from the melting watches to the decay implied by the swarming ants. The title of the painting suggests memorys ability to remain intact as time decays around it. Dali painted this work with the most imperialist fury of precision and the only nod to the real are the distant landscape golden cliffs in Catalonia, where he lived. (Alkis Xaralampidis, Art in 20th century, volume II, 1993). Furthermore, Fransis Alys (born 1959), a Belgian artist who lives and works in Mexico City, in his documented video performance Paradox of praxis I (Sometimes doing something leads to nothing) deals with the concept of time in a different way from surrealism. Alys in this work expresses the futility of time and effort. The artist pushes a large block of ice through the streets of Mexico City for six or seven hours until it melts. It is a film about transformation, but it is also about the futility of human endeavor. It is an epic kind of uselessness that turns his apparently meaningless effort into an almost heroic event; nothing to something. The subtitle of the work is ultimately an idea which speaks to the frustrated efforts of everyday Mexico City residents to improve their living conditions. (Mark Godfrey and Klaus Biensenbach, Fransis Alys: A story of deception, 2010). Performance too, which is very much related to the concept of time because of its nature, has presented a number of works which deal with the sense of time. As a time-based art primarily and by extension a media-based one owns its nature The work of Christiane Baumgartner Christiane Baumgartner was born in Leipzig, Germany in 1967. Her work deals mainly with specific aspects of time concepts; speed and standstill. The images are taken from her own video stills and the chosen format is that of monumental woodcut, mainly black and white. Her aim is to combine in a way two mediums; a traditional, printmaking, with a contemporary one, video art. As the artists herself states: Its about bringing together the different mediums of the video still and the woodcut, about combining the first and the latest reproduction techniques to produce an image (Catalogue Alan Cristea gallery, London 2011). What her subjects often deal with is the movement between figuration and abstraction and the space between with speed and the passage of time recurring themes throughout her work. What she is mostly interested in is the shifting within the woodcut and the way it changes the image and becomes a blurred, non-figurative image (Catalogue Alan Cristea gallery, London 2011). For instance, in 1 Sekunde (fig. 3) the image disappears at points and becomes blurred through the representation of speed. Other digital images are taken at a very low resolution, 3 dpi, and as a result the printmaking effect creates an abstract image, as occurs in Deutscher Wald (fig. 4). Speed, both in terms of subject matter and technique is something she has always been interested in. Many of her works are images taken from highways or tunnels because their inherent movement has been something that attracts her. Through this rationale are made works such as Lisbon II (fig. 5) or Solaris I (fig. 6). Technically, the final work is the result of a procedure that takes significant time. The first step is to film the subject in which she is interested in and afterwards, she selects an image from the film which she thinks is the appropriate for cutting. The main point is to figure out which image I will end up bringing into the world. I will devote so much time to making it and give it so much significance in terms of scale, that I have to choose it very carefully. The fact that I am using a technique in which it will be reproduced more than once further influence my decision. (Catalogue Alan Cristea gallery, London 2011) Her main subject of interest is urban development and how life is affected by the environment. This material world was produced for humans, but at the same time has made life become an aspect in which a main point is speed. Cars, computers, busy highways, and people running, are the common images that exist in big cities. That is why in her work bridges, tunnels, and roads appear so frequently. In a world which is governed by speed, Baumgartner tries to slow down the way information is processed, to better reflect the way people live nowadays. There is so much movement in our physical lives than 20 years ago. But also the time of information and communication has speed up in an extreme way. Because we are expecting such quick responses to our communications we miss the time for the thinking process and also to really prioritize. (philagrafika, blog, http://philagrafika.blogspot.com/2009/05/interview-christiane-baumgartner.html) By choosing woodcut as a medium of expression, she asserts that is it her way of representing the contemporary situation. Her prints, which take a long time to make, effectively slow down time by extending the moment of the constitution of the image from a brief second, which in this case is the video still, to entire months, until the final work is ready. Baumgartner has created a visual language which needs to be viewed from a certain distance from the work so the image can be revealed. This language is consisted of horizontal lines which cut the subject in pieces so as to produce the illusion of movement and speed. When the viewer stands close to the work what he or she observes is actually thick and thin linear forms that reflect the virtuosity of the printmaker at a technical level. However, when the viewer keeps a distance from the artwork, then the entire theme is revealed. Specifically, the motifs assist the observer to comprehend the utility of the medium in relation to the forms in presenting the illusion of movement and thus, time itself. The visual language that is used makes the work of Christiane Baumgartner representative of the contemporary point of view in depicting motion and time. This is a very common perspective not only in fine art but also in contemporary media and video art. The work of the artist is the result of the contemporary perspective in depicting issues and concepts of time, through a more simplified aesthetic. The simplicity in using the medium and by extension, the thematic development in a composition also reflects the will of the artist to establish a relationship between the steady artwork and the viewer. In other words, she is trying to make the visual ability of the viewer actively participate mentally in the world she reconstructs. Hence, the concept of time is a parameter that connects the artist and artwork with the visual and mental ability of the observer. This is a conceptual tool in order for the artwork to communicate the illusion of motion portrayed to real time. This kind of reality is a vital factor for human beings because it produces subconscious images and memories. Due to the fact that Christiane Baumgartners works deal with the conceptual aspect of time in unreal time, she contributes to perceiving this issue from a point of view that functions as an antithesis. In a two-dimensional space she creates the illusion of a three-dimensional theme and in the end she also adds a fourth dimension (time), so as to reveal both the theoretical background of the concept and the sociological extension of it as it is formed in the contemporary life. The social character of Christiane Baumgartners artwork reflects in a way the contemporary model of life. Although the real time remains the same, the contemporary life in the modern societies goes faster. The human itself has created the speed in order to compress life inside the urban environment. Time compresses a contemporary citizen like motion in art is displayed through compression of lines. If a viewer observes the rush hour in a city then he or she will realise how in a mental form, motion is similar or equal to time. Namely, a passing person is a parabolic symbol of passing time. This is why the immediacy of the medium is related to the complexity passing time. The steadiness or the immobility that the medium itself includes is altered by the motion that is depicted. In the same logic, the steadiness or the immobility of environment is altered by human motion itself. All these examples reflect the antithetical nature in perceiving time. In one print of Christiane Baumgartne r a close observation will be a starting point to perceive moving time in a still depiction while she underlines the fact that she uses a slow medium like woodcut to express a fast idea. The work of Marina Abramovic Performance art contrasts to the above perspective regarding time via a static or still medium. Performance is a branch of artistic expression whose basic elements that create its nature are time and space, the presence of which along with the active involvement of the artist and essentially, the audiences presence or interaction is vital. Performance as a visual art incorporates the characteristic of time as a dynamic aspect of its nature. Thus, the medium itself includes the reality of the duration of time as an important parameter which is used extensively by the performance artists. It is like a tool for the performer in depicting the issue or the concept of his interest by using his or her presence. Marina Abramovic, born in 1946 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, has been a representative artist since the 1970s, the starting point for her career in performing arts. Her work of this type of expression indicates her perspectives of many aspects of her personal experiences but mainly her intellectual enquiries. In many of her performances there are references to the concept of time regardless of the fact that time itself is included in the medium. For instance, in the Relation in movement (1977) Abramovic and Ulay moved in a circle direction repeatedly by driving around a square in Paris for hours. They kept driving until it got dark. The only existing lights were those of the car. There was continuity and duration to this action until the next morning. The couple had different tasks to accomplish; Ulay followed the back wheel and Abramovic loudly stated the number of the accomplished rounds. Additionally, the next morning revealed the black marks that the wheels had created in the ground a nd they tried to follow those marks. Another significant point which is not a usual one was the lack of audience. Only passers-by witnessed the event. The main idea of the performance was to present the repeated movement in physical and mental level. Namely, they presented in a symbolic way the minds circles around an idea or thought. The concept of time enters this performance as an idea that is divided into two subcategories: the obvious time that comprises the duration of the night that the performance took place, and the time which was emphasised every time Abramovic shouted the number of laps completed. In the first case, the artists dealt with time as a frame to present their performance which was main aspect of the length of the performance. In the second case, time took the form of the space and the movement together. In other words the artists defined on the basis of both space and movement the nature of time. Each lap comprised the value of time according to their perspective. The symbolism is still the same, but the gravity of the importance in perceiving time is not solid and this was determined by the artists. Marina A bramovic and Ulay on the basis of relation in movement developed another performance of relevance to the present research, entitled Relation in Time (1977). In Relation in time a static situation is described. The couple Abramovic and Ulay are sitting facing back to each other with their hair tied together as a symbol of their connection. The duration of their performance lasted 16 hours in a gallery without any audience and only during the 17th and hour were the audience allowed to watch the performance. The couple was still sitting motionless for this final hour. During all this time there were only few changes in their presence. According to Lilian Haberer their shared plait, their external connection, their umbilical cord, works loose as the hours pass. She continues in the same sense to explain that there is a contrast to the outward connectedness in their inward separateness, their different feelings (Lilian Haberer, Collection: Museum Ludwig, Cologne, Germany). Abramovic and Ulays approach is revealing because of the fact that time takes the form of destruction, ruination, spoilage and damage. As an example of this destructive operation of time, the couple presents the human relationship which is the main subject of their performance. The direct reference to the ugly face of time in the human life represents the inner fear of all human beings. This type of continuity causes the objects and the living creatures to age and become old. The relationships and the parameters that enrich them are also under the fear of spoilage. The old man as a symbol of the age of time has now given its place to the more conceptual ones. Like Abramovic and Ulay present, time is not an annoying feeling. The impact of time in living creatures as a natural procedure leads them to fall despite its ugliness. It is as natural as death itself in a symbolic or literal way. In the case of Abramovic, time no longer leads down a threatening path of aging, death and ending: it is reproducible (Klaus Biesenbach, Marina Abramovic: The artist is present) This approach concerning time also involves sociological and philosophical understandings. If we consider the philosophical nature of time as a route to death or a procedure that leads human beings to physical and mental decay, then it is a rational conclusion that it also affects human social unity. With sociological determination, this model of understanding time has a significant behavioral impact. This syllogism transforms the concept of time from an ordinary system of measuring into a system of interpreting life. The performance reveals these parameters and gives multiple dimensions in interpreting the inner intellectual process of social life as a diachronic phenomenon. The perspective that is created makes the viewer redefine his or her position in the society. Admittedly, this rationale is a main idea in many performances produced by Abramovic and the personal experiences make the philosophical inquires more obvious via art. In her latest performance at MoMA The artist is Present Abramovic performed the longest work in her performing career. She sat motionless for more than 700 hours in total, seven hours every day the museum was open, for more than 3 months. In this performance she was sitting silent and motionless at a table in the museums atrium inviting visitors to sit silently across from her for how long they chose to, making the performance interactive and becoming in this way participants in the artwork. She will not talk or respond to any of the participants, but their involvement in the process is essential and fundamental element for the work to be completed. The artist is present is one of her most representative time based works as it deals with the long duration and the passing time remaining motionless and speechless. Most of her works contain a kind of mystic energy from which she derives great power in order to concentrate and remain motionless. In Nightsea Crossing she describes staring into Ulays eyes and from a certain moment on seeing only a blue, blind, empty screen in front of her, like the length of her arm, to achieve an empty timeless stare. (Klaus Biesenbach, Marina Abramovic: The artist is present) The artist is present features, according to Biesenbach, as many of her works do, in the endless act of sitting, which is a central aspect to her art. Biesenbach continues: in contemporary times sitting has taken the form of political protest (Klaus Biesenbach, Marina Abramovic: The artist is present). Durational sitting is the principal of The artist is Present which finds Abramovic sitting at a table and waiting for the visitors to get involved in the occurrence. The table here has a symbolic and a parabolic meaning. It functions as a stage and at the same time refers to another motif in her work, which considers images from the ritual daily familial gathering during mealtimes and the routine of a motionless life as time passes and its marks become obvious. The main idea in this last performance is the impact of time in the contemporary life. How much time one disposes in order to participate in the artwork is a personal decision and it depends on the way people nowadays divide time. In a world that is governed by speed, every moment is important. Hence, how willing is each of us to let time pass by is a matter that Abramovics performance deals with. Abramovic says you have to give me your time in order to see the workà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Klaus Biesenbach, Marina Abramovic: The artist is present) and this is true in any aspect of contemporary life; we have to give time in order to do anything. Biesenbach underlines that while there is no empirical duration established for MoMAs visitors, the moment one sits in the chair, he or she participates in an unspoken agreement with the artist to enter into another perspective (Klaus Biesenbach, Marina Abramovic: The artist is present)