Tides Vs Boeing Case Study - 948 Words

In Tides v. Boeing Co., Matthew Neumann and Nicholas Tides were employed by the company’s SOX audit group. The employees allege that they were pressured by supervisors to provide reports giving favorable reviews to internal controls despite their concerns that said controls were vulnerable to manipulation by unauthorized users. Notwithstanding a published company policy prohibiting employees from speaking to the press, both employees provided information about what occurred to a newspaper reporter who incorporated the information in a published article. The Ninth Circuit held that the plaintiffs could not avail themselves to retaliation remedies in the SOX because â€Å"[l]eaks to the media are not protected.† The court articulated that SOX†¦show more content†¦In Department of Homeland Security v. MacLean, the primary issue presented to the Court was whether the WPA definition of â€Å"law† should be construed narrowly or broadly. The narrow interpretat ion is if law is limited to legislative law only, and the broad interpretation is if includes law created by an agency. The Transportation Security Administration (â€Å"TSA†) promulgated rules that place limitations disclosing â€Å"sensitive security information.† In Maclean, a federal air marshal publicly disclosed that the TSA decided to cut costs by scaling back the number of federal air marshals on long-distance flights. The federal air marshal revealed this to a reporter who subsequently published a story about it. Basing its decision on the text of the statute, the Court held that the numerous references to â€Å"law, rule, or regulation† in  § 2302 manifest that a reference only to â€Å"law† should be interpreted to exclude â€Å"rule† or â€Å"regulation.† Further, the Court elucidated that the Congress frequently mentions the phrase â€Å"law, rule, or regulation† throughout the statute. The text at issue refers only to â€Å"law† and the Court adduced a fundamental concept of statutory interpretation, which is that when the Congress includes certain language in one part of a statute, but excludes it from another part of the statute, it isShow MoreRelatedAirbus A3Xx8276 Words   |  34 PagesContents 1. Introduction 1. Purpose And Objective Of Report 2. Background Case 1. Analyzing Airbus’ Objectives 2. Analyzing Boeing 2. Capital Structure 1. Assumption Of No Interest Payments 3. Demand Forecast 1. Key Competitive Characteristics Of the Commercial Jet Aircraft Industry 2. Boeing’s Response 3. Forecasting Demand In The Very Large Aircraft (VLA) Market 4. Net Present Value Analysis 1. Data Given and Assumptions Made 1. FinancialRead MoreMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words   |  702 Pages1-800-CALL WILEY (225-5945). Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Hartley, Robert F., 1927Marketing mistakes and successes/Robert F. Hartley. —11th ed. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 978-0-470-16981-0 (pbk.) 1. Marketing—United States—Case studies. I. Title. HF5415.1.H37 2009 658.800973—dc22 2008040282 ISBN-13 978-0-470-16981-0 Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 PREFACE Welcome to the 30th anniversary of Marketing MistakesRead MoreDamodaran Book on Investment Valuation, 2nd Edition398423 Words   |  1594 Pagessuccessfully investing in and managing these assets lies in understanding not only what the value is but also the sources of the value. Any asset can be valued, but some assets are easier to value than others and the details of valuation will vary from case to case. Thus, the valuation of a share of a real estate property will require different information and follow a different format than the valuation of a publicly traded stock. 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Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesOrganizational Behavior Comprehensive Cases Indexes Glindex 637 663 616 623 Contents Preface xxii 1 1 Introduction What Is Organizational Behavior? 3 The Importance of Interpersonal Skills 4 What Managers Do 5 Management Functions 6 †¢ Management Roles 6 †¢ Management Skills 8 †¢ Effective versus Successful Managerial Activities 8 †¢ A Review of the Manager’s Job 9 Enter Organizational Behavior 10 Complementing Intuition with Systematic Study 11 Disciplines That Contribute toRead MoreManagement Course: Mba−10 General Management215330 Words   |  862 PagesManaging Change 121 121 147 147 Text 3. Why Organizations Change Text Cohen †¢ Effective Behavior in Organizations, Seventh Edition 14. Initiating Change 174 174 Text iii Cases 221 221 225 The Consolidated Life Case: Caught Between Corporate Cultures Who’s in Charge? (The)(Jim)(Davis)(Case) Morin−Jarrell †¢ Driving Shareholder Value I. Valuation 229 229 253 279 1. The Value−Based Management Framework: An Overview 2. Why Value Value? 4. The Value Manager Harvard BusinessRead MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesStudents achieve concept mastery in a rich, structured environment that’s available 24/7 Instructors personalize and manage their course more effectively with assessment, assignments, grade tracking, and more manage time better study smarter save money From multiple study paths, to self-assessment, to a wealth of interactive visual and audio resources, WileyPLUS gives you everything you need to personalize the teaching and learning experience.  » F i n d o u t h ow t o M A K E I T YO U R S  » Read MoreInternational Management67196 Words   |  269 PagesHodgetts, Fred Luthans, Jonathan Doh. 6th ed. 2006. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-07-811257-7 ISBN-10: 0-07-811257-5 1. International business enterprises—Management. 2. International business enterprises—Management—Case studies. I. Doh, Jonathan P. II. Hodgetts, Richard M. International management. III. Title. HD62.4.H63 2012 658 .049—dc22 2011002070 www.mhhe.com Dedicated in Memory of Richard M. Hodgetts A Pioneer in International Management Education iii Read MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pages 22/10/2007 11:54 Page 597 CASE STUDIES ECS8C_C01.qxd 22/10/2007 11:54 Page 598 ECS8C_C01.qxd 22/10/2007 11:54 Page 599 Guide to using the case studies The main text of this book includes 87 short illustrations and 15 case examples which have been chosen to enlarge speciï ¬ c issues in the text and/or provide practical examples of how business and public sector organisations are managing strategic issues. The case studies which follow allow the reader to extend

George Killed Lennie for Merciful Reasons Free Essays

Of Mice and Men: George Killed Lennie for Merciful Reasons A true friendship is one in which friends care deeply enough to anticipate one another’s needs and are willing to put their friend’s needs before their own. Their mutual love enables them to make sacrifices only to protect each other. In the novella, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, George killing Lennie is a merciful kill to save others from Lennie’s unintentional acts of aggression, to spare Lennie from suffering a cruel death, and instead ensuring a peaceful and quick departure one that will cause George the least regrets. We will write a custom essay sample on George Killed Lennie for Merciful Reasons or any similar topic only for you Order Now George begins to see a pattern of aggression coming from Lennie and wants to put it to an end because Lennie is hurting too many others unintentionally and he sees Lennie is quick to frustrate and panic and is lacking in the ability to control his violent reactions. Lennie has killed many mice, a pup, and finally a woman. Although Lennie may not want to kill any other living beings, it is in his nature to become aggressive and angry when frustrated. He typically believes he â€Å"Wasn’t doin’ nothing bad’ † (Steinbeck 9) with the mice and he was â€Å"Jus’ strokin’ it’ † (Steinbeck 9). He cannot contain his anger and that often leads to an unrestrained use of his strength. Because Lennie never has the intention to kill anything, he can feel an immense amount of guilt and remorse as seen when he runs out of the barn crying, â€Å"l done a real bad thing†¦ I shouldn’t of did that† (Steinbeck 92), after killing Curlers wife. Despite Lennie’s remorse, he does not grasp the severity and the consequences of his actions. This is not so much due to Lennie’s slowness but more because of George’s protective nature, preventing Lennie from ever having to face any consequences. Nonetheless, George sees that Lennie is unable to learn from his mistakes and fears the pattern is going to continue and that he is unable to change Lennie. George feels Justified in killing Lennie because he knows that in the long run he would be able to spare many other lives and prevent Lennie from all the pain and anguish from the remorse Lennie feels after his aggressions. George’s decision to kill his best friend is to prevent a horrific and undeserved fate that awaits Lennie unless there is some intervention. He does not want Lennie to be killed by Curley or sent to Jail. George clearly can sense Curleys anger and vindictive nature about Lennie killing his wife. It is quite apparent that Curley wants Justice and revenge and is determined to make Lennie suffer: â€Å"Curley’s face reddened. ‘I’m goin’†¦ I’m gonna shoot the guts outta that big bastard myself† (Steinbeck 98). Shooting Lennie in the gut would cause he him to slowly bleed to death, ensuring a long, painful death. Even if Curley is not to succeed in killing Lennie in this gruesome manner, the other likely outcome is that Lennie is sentenced and put in Jail for potentially a lifetime. Initially, in light of the possibility of Curlers revenge, George considers Jail to be a safe haven: â€Å"Guess†¦ We gotta tell the†¦ guys. I guess we gotta get ‘im an’ lock ‘Im up. We can’t let ‘im get away†¦ ‘ And he tries to reassure himselt, ‘Maybe they’ll lock ‘im up and be nice to ‘im† (Steinbeck 94 However, upon further consideration, George realizes that Lennie is incapable of living on his own and fending for himself in Jail and will not last. Either outcome would result in a miserable and slow death for Lennie, and George could not allow his to happen to his best friend. This is how he reaches the conclusion that it is necessary for George, himself, to kill Lennie in a humane fashion in order to give him a quick and peaceful death. By shooting Lennie himself, George minimizes his own pain for not letting Lennie die at the hands of a stranger and can also control Lennie’s last thoughts and feelings. Earlier on in the novella, Candy feels deep regret for not being the one to end his dogs life and he tells George, â€Å"l oughtta shot that dog myself†¦ I shouldn’t oughtta let no stranger shoot my dog† (Steinbeck 61). Candy and his dog were lifelong friends and companions, as were Lennie and George. Candys regret makes a lasting impression and Georges recognizes that he too cannot live letting anyone else take Lennie’s life. Moreover, he ensures that Lennie last moments are filled with Joyous thoughts as he strikes up a conversation about Lennie’s favorite topic: â€Å"And I get to tend the rabbits. † (Steinbeck 105) said Lennie, â€Å"An’ you get to tend the rabbits. â€Å"(Steinbeck 105) responded George, then â€Å"Lennie giggled with happiness. † (Steinbeck 105). And lastly, as George’s last act of friendship, he eassures Lennie with his final words that is he is not mad at Lennie nor that he’s ever been. This is to award Lennie with as much peace as a friend could. Overall, Lennie is in a much better place once he dies. He does not to suffer a long and painful death; he would not hurt any other humans or animals and is spared the resulting remorse. George feels great loss and is shaken afterward despite knowing he is Justified in actions. This is a compassionate homicide and George is a true friend. He looks out for Lennie’s needs and makes sacrifices to the end. How to cite George Killed Lennie for Merciful Reasons, Papers

Principles Of Strategic Management Abingdon-Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Principles Of Strategic Management Abingdon? Answer: Introducation Strategic management is regarded as the process of setting objectives for the business analyzing internal and external environment of the business so as to operate efficiently in the market. Further, it is a well-known fact that in the modern era the market where companies operate is full of challenges and this has the adverse impact on the businesses(Wang, et al., 2014). Therefore, effective strategies are must through which companies can easily manage their overall performance, and in turn, it acts as the development tool for the entire firm. The tools such as SWOT, Porter, pestle, etc. are mainly undertaken for analyzing internal and external environment of the businesses. They support in knowing the range of challenges present in external or internal that businesses will face and on the basis of the same it is possible to develop strategies. The present study carried out is based on AirAsia X which is Malaysian low-cost airline headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is considered to be one of the largest airlines regarding destination and fleet size. Various tasks have been covered in the report which involves SWOT, Porter of the company along with recommendations to enhance present performance Porter five forces analysis In the present scenario, analysis of industry competitiveness is essential for long-term sustainability of a company. Furthermore, the use of Porter five force models can assist organizations to analyze the overall extent to which external forces can impact the operations and activities(Takazawa, Takasuga, Doi, Saito, Shibata, 2016). Implementation of Porter Five force model supports businesses to understand and analyze the vital force which shapes the overall degree of competition within a particular industry. The application of porter framework on Air Asia is mentioned below as: Threat of new entrant - The threat of new entrants in the airline industry can be considered as weak, and the rationale behind this is the entry barriers present with the industry(Wang, et al., 2014). It can be asserted that massive investment, capital, and resources are required to enter the airline industry. Industries or sectors with low entry barrier make it very easy for new businesses to get into the industry(Vogel Gttel, 2013). However, it can be critically argued that the growing need and demand of travel among people in the world can encourage new businesses to enter the airline industry and compete with existing brands such as Air Asia. In such situations, the threat of new entry for the company like Air Asia can become very high. To deal with these types of situation, the brand will be required to carry out changes in its strategy and products at frequent interval. The approach will support Air Asia to maintain its existing market share in the airline industry(Stead Stea d, 2013). Considering the present situation of the market, it can be expressed that the industry has become saturated and this has resulted in creating obstacles for new companies regarding entering the industry. Rivalry of existing firm Intense competition among businesses or companies in the industry results in creating obstacles regarding achieving higher growth, profitability, and market share. Furthermore, customers are available with wide range of options to choose from and this result in affecting the overall sales and profits of companies(Hubbard, Rice, Galvin, 2014). At present, Air Asia is facing intense competition from the brand such as Tiger Airways, Jetstar Airways, and SilkAir. Any changes in the price and strategy of competitors force Air Asia to carry out modifications in its existing strategy and prices(Roy, 2014). At the same time, the brand is required to emphasize on areas such attaining the high degree of customer satisfaction and loyalty. The unique selling proposition of Air Asia is that it has adopted a low price strategy and this is helping the brand to attract more and more customers. However, the threat of competition within airline industry is very high, and thi s is a major challenge for the organization. Threat of substitute product The threat of substitute product within the airline industry is very high, and this has emerged as a major issue for all brands including Air Asia. The rationale behind this high threat of substitute product is that there are different modes of transportation available to the customers(Pereira Caetano, 2015). Customers can opt for services such as private transportation (road) and fast trains (rails) to go from one place to another. In addition to this, the substitute services are much cheaper than the services provided airlines industry. It sometimes acts as a motivational force and encourages people to buy substitute products instead of opting for the services offered by Air Asia(Rothaermel, 2015). The result of this is that the selected business enterprise is not able to attract the desired number of customers in the long run. Bargaining power of customer - In the airline industry, the bargaining power of customers is very high, and this is another threat for Air Asia. It can be expressed that at present, people or customers are available with wide range of options and alternatives to choose from. At the same time, the customers are not required to pay any additional cost of switching, and this makes it very easy for them to switch from one company to another(Peppard Ward, 2016) Air Asia is expected to offer attractive discounts and schemes to retain existing customers and attract new ones. In addition to this, the brand is also needed to ensure that the clients are provided with satisfactory services against the money which they have paid. In case satisfactory services are not offered then the customer may switch to other brands operating in the marketplace(Kumar, et al., 2017). Such situation will adversely affect the overall volume of sales and profitability. Bargaining power of supplier The suppliers within Airline industry includes fuel companies, manufacture of aircraft, food and catering providers, labour union, etc. Furthermore, it is almost impossible for businesses to carry out the smooth flow of all their activities and operations with getting adequate cooperation from the industry suppliers(Nerur, Rasheed, Pandey, 2016). Thus, it can be stated that the bargaining powers of the suppliers in the airline industry are very high. The result of this is that the suppliers can dominate Air Asia and other players over prices. Presently, the number of vendors present in the industry is less, and this is another reason behind high bargaining power of the supplier within the airline industry(Wong, Chung, Hsu, 2016). Swot In order to analyze the internal environment of business SWOT analysis as one of the tools is most effective as it highlights the key strength along with the weakness of the business that is present internally. Apart from this opportunities and threats are identified that are present in the external environment of the business. Considering the case of AirAsiaX where the company started its operations in the year 2001 with two old aircraft. No doubt the market where AirAsia X operates is highly competitive and regulated by different laws which organization is required to comply with(Morden, 2016). The government has introduced a large number of laws that company needs to be followed for sustaining the market for the longer period. The company has adopted strategy of offering services at low cost where organization has promised Now Everyone can Fly The organization has adopted low-cost carrier model and along with this cost-saving innovations are carried out on continuous basis where AirAsia X is considered to be the first airline to use the new Airbus A320 aircraft that was installed with sharklet wing tips. In order to understand the key strengths and weaknesses of the firm SWOT analysis of company has been carried that has been shown below: Strength - The main strength of AirAsia X is that it holds lowest unit cost in the industry and due to this reason organization is famous worldwide. AirAsia X is the only airline in the global market with CASK below USD4 cents(AirAsia, 2017). The shortest route on which company operates is of three and half hour. The company offers its wide range of services at a lower cost, and this allows in attracting the large number of customers towards its services in the market. The main competitor of the company is Asian full-service carriers which hold unit cost higher than the firm(CAPA, 2014). Another key strength of the organization is flexibility associated with its fleet. This supports in understanding the strong relationship between AirAsia X and the sister group named AirAsia. On a yearly basis, the fleet size of the company grows by seven, and it is expected to reach 98 by the end of the year 2024(Hunt, Petitt, Truong, 2016). AirAsia is regarded to be the leader in the long haul low -cost segment, and this is indicating that AirAsia X holds the capability to dominate the entire market. So, in this way, these are some of the main strengths of the company. Weaknesses - The main weakness of AirAsia X is that company is not able to earn adequate amount of profits in order to recover the major costs. No doubt, the organization operates on the wider basis, and all its operations are costly. From the last, three to four years company is not able to earn high profits(Jenkins Williamson, 2015). Different unprofitable markets of the company involve Paris, London, Delhi, Mumbai, etc. Further, main losses are suffered due to high oil prices along with the fluctuations in the market conditions. The stock price of the company has not performed as expected since IPO and it is another weakness of the company that has adversely affected its performance in the market(Homsombat, Lei, Fu, 2014). Lastly, the relationship between Air Asia and Air Asia is limited as some overlapping ownership exists, and this acts as hurdle at the time of operating. Opportunities - In the external environment where AirAsia X operates provides the wide range of opportunities to the business and it depends on the business how to take advantage of the same. One of the main opportunity is the restructuring of Malaysian airlines that can benefit an organization(Hill, Jones, Schilling, 2014). Flag carrier along with Malaysian airline is planning to cut jobs, and this plan will be implemented in the next nine months. There is a direct opportunity present for AirAsia X where the company can hire MAS employees and can operate on the different routes. MAS will not operate in the Europe market, and this will act as the main opportunity for the company. Another key opportunity is expansion in the Chinese market. At present country like China is one of the main markets for Malaysian based carriers market(Van De Vijver, Derudder, Witlox, 2014). The secondary cities of China are also expanding at the faster pace, and due to this, it is a feasible opportunity for AirAsia X to take expansion decision where Chinese market can be targeted. Lower fuel price is another opportunity where it can significantly allow to develop new routes and can assist in enhancing the profitability level(Harrison John, 2013). Considering the present situation, fuel cost accounts for 50% of the companys operation. So, the decline in the level of fuel expense can surely allow the company in enhancing its profits, and this can be utilized for expansion purpose. So, these are some of the main opportunities present with AirAsia X that can surely provide the competitive edge to the business in every possible manner. Threats- Intense competition in the industry is the main threat faced by AirAsia X at the time of operating in the market. The low-cost model of the company along with heavy reliance on transit traffic has allowed operating in the market. But in the near future, this model can act like the threat as other companies are also operating with better services at an affordable price(Hahn, 2013). This can lead to the decline in market share of the business. Fluctuation in the fuel price will also be the main threat for the company as it may increase in the near future. This will adversely affect profitability level of the business and company has to manage this issue in any possible manner. So, these are some of the main threats that can influence business operations Recommendations Expansion in china - One feasible option is present with AirAsia X to expand in the market of China, but it is recommended to the business to carry out external analysis as through this it is possible to know the range of opportunities present along with the threats that can adversely affect companys performance. No doubt the market of China is expanding at the faster pace where income level of people living in the society is up to the mark and on the basis of this they can easily afford services of AirAsia X. The present model of the company associated with low-cost can surely be beneficial in the China market where people will access the services of the company at a low cost. On a continuous basis, the external analysis needs to be carried out, and along with this, the company needs to modify its internal structure. Some special schemes can be introduced by the business at the time of expansion. The company has to ensure that its pricing strategies are appropriate and targeting the right locations will be profitable for the enterprise. US and Europe market - Considering the market of Europe and US where services of AirAsia X are not present. So, in this case, it is required for the company to carry out market analysis of both the nations so as to identify the range of opportunities present. Further, it is necessary to develop effective strategies as these markets are highly developed, and well-established players are present in the marke(Gamble Thompson Jr, 2014)t. So, it is recommended to introduce some unique services that can deliver more convenience to the customers. The company can analyze the strategies of the firms that are already operating in the market of the US and Europe. Through this, it will be possible for AirAsia X to successfully expand in these markets and in turn, the investment amount can be recovered in short period of time. Furthermore, it is recommended to carry out competitor analysis on the continuous basis so that actions of other companies may not adversely affect operations of AirAsia X in the new market where it will operate. Business class/services/safety It can be recommended that Air Asia can emphasize on introducing new services for the segment, i.e., business class. It can be expressed that at present, the brand has adopted low price strategy and it is mainly targeting people who fall under the middle and lower middle class of the society(Frynas Mellahi, 2015). Furthermore, intense competition in this particular segment has resulted in creating several obstacles for Air Asia regarding achieving higher sales and profitability. To deal with the challenge of increasing competition within the industry, the selected business enterprise can seek for introducing new services for a new market segment(Eden Ackermann, 2013). However, it is suggested that effective forecasting and market research should be carried out by Air Asia before introducing any new service. The rationale behind this is that it will help in reducing the risk associated with failure of new product/service in the market. It is suggested that the demand for airline services within businesses class has increased due to globalization and international expansion of companies. This type of situation is going to act as an opportunity for Air Asia regarding introducing new services in the marketplace. In addition to this, it will also assist the company in enhancing its existing market share along with increasing the volume of sales and profitability. It is suggested that Air Asia should also focus on improving overall safety and security measures in its airline services and flights. The result of this is that better safety and security will support in developing a strong sense of satisfaction among customers and will also encourage them to opt for the services offered by Air Asia. The company will be able to obtain a competitive advantage over the other brands operating in the airline industry. Digitalization expansion In the present scenario, digitalization has resulted in providing businesses with a potential platform to carry out marketing and promotion of products and services. Furthermore, the use of platforms such as social media and the internet can help companies to reach the target audience most conveniently. It can be recommended that Air Asia should emphasize on carrying out the expansion of its products and service over the various digital platform. The use of this strategy will support the company to reach international customers and cost-effectively attract them(Bettis, Ethiraj, Gambardella, Helfat, Mitchell, 2016). Social media tools will provide the company with an opportunity to interact with all people in the market and understand their changing need and demand. In addition to this, it will assist Air Asia to identify the issue issues or problems which are faced by the existing customers. Based on the information collected, the selected brand can carry o ut changes in existing services and strategies to acquire the higher degree of customer satisfaction in the long run(Andersen Andersson, 2017). Training and development programs can be offered to employees so that they can make efficient use of the digital platform and can contribute to the overall growth and development of Air Asia. Conclusion Based on the above study, it can be concluded that Air Asias low-cost strategy is the major strength of the company. Furthermore, the strategy has supported Air Asia in getting a competitive advantage over other airlines operating in the industry. It can be stated that quality services at a low price have resulted in developing a high degree of satisfaction among customers. The brand posses remarkable flexibility with its fleet and this is considered as another major strength of the brand. However, it can be argued that poor performance of the stock and lack of profitability has emerged as the biggest weaknesses of Air Asia. It can be inferred that the bargaining power of suppliers and customers is very high in the industry and this is a significant threat to Air Asia. On the other side of this, the threat to new entry is low because an enormous amount of capital and resources are required to enter and operate in the airline industry. It is recommended that Air Asia should focus more on international expansion and digitalization. References AirAsia. (2017, August 16). The Beginner's Guide to AirAsia : Hi, We're AirAsia! Retrieved September 17, 2017, from AirAsia: https://www.airasia.com/in/en/about-us/hi-we-are-airasia.page Andersen, T. J., Andersson, U. (2017). Multinational Corporate Strategy-Making: Integrating International Business and Strategic Management. In The Responsive Global Organization: New Insights from Global Strategy and International Business. United Kingdom: Emerald Publishing Limited. Bettis, R. A., Ethiraj, S., Gambardella, A., Helfat, C., Mitchell, W. (2016). Creating repeatable cumulative knowledge in strategic management. Strategic Management Journal, , 257-261. CAPA. (2014, September 25). AirAsia X SWOT: challenging times but first mover advantage and fleet flexibility are huge strengths. Retrieved September 17, 2017, from CAPA: https://centreforaviation.com/insights/analysis/airasia-x-swot-challenging-times-but-first-mover-advantage-and-fleet-flexibility-are-huge-strengths-188591 Eden, C., Ackermann, F. (2013). Making strategy: The journey of strategic management. United kingdom: Sage. Frynas, J. G., Mellahi, K. (2015). Global strategic management. United States: Oxford University Press, USA. Gamble, J. E., Thompson Jr, A. A. (2014). Essentials of strategic management. United States: Irwin Mcgraw-Hill. Hahn, R. (2013). ISO 26000 and the standardization of strategic management processes for sustainability and corporate social responsibility. . Business Strategy and the Environment , 442-455. Harrison, J. S., John, C. H. (2013). Foundations in strategic management. Delhi: Cengage Learning. Hill, C. W., Jones, G. R., Schilling, M. A. (2014). Strategic management: theory: an integrated approach. Delhi: Cengage Learning. Homsombat, W., Lei, Z., Fu, X. (2014). Competitive effects of the airlines-within-airlines strategyPricing and route entry patterns. . Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review , 1-16. Hubbard, G., Rice, J., Galvin, P. (2014). Strategic management. Australia: Pearson Australia. Hunt, J. N., Petitt, K., Truong, D. (2016). Efficiency Evaluation of Low-Cost Long-Haul Carriers in the Trans-Atlantic and Asia-Pacific Markets. International Journal of Aviation Systems, Operations and Training (IJASOT) , 34-48. Jenkins, W., Williamson, D. (2015). Strategic management and business analysis. Abingdon: Routledge. Kumar, R., Barth, M. C., Delle Monache, L., Ghude, S. D., Pfister, G., Naja, M., et al. (2017). An Overview of Air Quality Modeling Activities in South Asia. In Air Pollution in Eastern Asia: An Integrated Perspective (pp. 27-47). New York City: Springe. Morden, T. (2016). Principles of strategic management. Abingdon: Routledge. Nerur, S., Rasheed, A. A., Pandey, A. (2016). Citation footprints on the sands of time: An analysis of idea migrations in strategic management. . Strategic Management Journal , 1065-1084. Peppard, J., Ward, J. (2016). The strategic management of information systems: Building a digital strategy. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. Pereira, B. A., Caetano, M. (2015). A conceptual business model framework applied to air transport. . Journal of Air Transport Management , 70-76. Rothaermel, F. T. (2015). Strategic management. Uttar Pradesh: McGraw-Hill Education. Roy, A. M. (2014). Air Asia: what has made it Asia's largest budget airline?. Academy of Taiwan business management review , 28-32. Stead, J. G., Stead, W. E. (2013). Sustainable strategic management. New York: ME Sharpe. Takazawa, Y., Takasuga, T., Doi, K., Saito, M., Shibata, Y. (2016). Recent decline of DDTs among several organochlorine pesticides in background air in East Asia. . Environmental Pollution , 134-142. Van De Vijver, E., Derudder, B., Witlox, F. (2014). Exploring causality in trade and air passenger travel relationships: the case of Asia-Pacific, 19802010. . Journal of Transport Geography , 142-150. Vogel, R., Gttel, W. H. (2013). The dynamic capability view in strategic management: A bibliometric review. International Journal of Management Reviews, , 426-446. Wang, S. X., Zhao, B., Cai, S. Y., Klimont, Z., Nielsen, C. P., Morikawa, T., et al. (2014). Emission trends and mitigation options for air pollutants in East Asia. . Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics , 6571-6603. Wong, J. T., Chung, Y. S., Hsu, P. Y. (2016). Cargo market competition among Asia Pacific's major airports. . Journal of Air Transport Management , 91-98

Running free essay sample

Two years ago when I was 13, I ran in National racing for handicapped people. We drove all the way up to Orlando, Florida from Baton Rouge, because my dad is afraid of airplanes. It took an extremely long time to get to our hotel, but when we got there we discovered that it was filled with people on wheel chairs and crutches. After we got checked in and had spent the night, we woke up to discover a massive array of the best free breakfast food I had ever seen. When we finished eating a massive amount of food, we went over to another building to get signed up. At this moment I was slightly anxious, in my past experiences with racing like this, there was no one I could relate too, would I have some one to talk to? Be friends with? Can I win the races? All of these questions were going through my mind. We will write a custom essay sample on Running or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As I wondered around amongst a bunch of annoying people they finally called my name and I went to get signed in. When I got in the other part of the building they gave me a number on this sheet of paper with the sponsors logo on it, and they went further back in the building to classify me into one of the disability levels they have. I don’t really remember what my class was, but I do remember the ways they tested you. First they did some mental test they consisted of things like putting to blocks on the table (one blue one red) and you have to decide which one was red, which I might add was the stupidest thing I had ever heard. Next they tried to see how far you can throw a base ball and a club. So this really lady stands about 10 feet in front of me, assuming I was mentally â€Å"special† and couldn’t throw a ball, and says â€Å"come on Jacob through the ball as far as you can.† She continued to assume things about me and I was starting to lose my temper with this, and she was blocking my way to throw the ball ( she deduced that none of the handicap people could throw it 10 feet.) So I decided throw it as hard as I could, even though she was in the way, I hit her in the head with a baseball, To me, I think she learned not to make quick assumptions about people. When I finished signing in, I went back to the hotel to get something to eat, and the food was amazing. I went to bed fairly early, because I didn’t really know what to expect or, if any of the competitors would be anything like me, but I wasn’t too worried about it, I have a way of not panicking even when I should be. I woke up early the next morning and got ready to go run. I ate a good breakfast of eggs, yogurt, milk, and bacon and started doing some push-ups. After that, I got in the car with my dad, who was really excited that I got to go to nationals he’s the competitor in the family , my mom, who just wanted me to have fun, and my brother, who was playing video games and didn’t care. So together as a family headed we down to the field to sing the National Anthem, get my official racing number, and wait for my events to start. When the races finally started I was in, 7 events, baseball throw, discuss, club, 100m , 20m, 60m, 200m, long jump. First they did the base ball which I won easily because the other people only threw it 6 feet. Then discuss came with the same situation. Finally the running came. It started with the 20m which is so short of a race that it was just a waste of time, although I did win. Then came the 60m, which was also really short but again I won without much trouble. Finally it got to the 100 and 200m and it was actually kind of a race, for those who don’t know, 200m is a really long race for a physical handicap race. I won all of the races and got this cool little wooden plague with gold plates on the side, one for each event I won/ Through all of this I’d say I learned 2 lessons, don’t make assumptions about people. To me this is a valuable lesson because people make assumptions about me all the time, such as when people call me â€Å"special† when I go to the movie theater. All of my experiences, especially this one have led me to the belief of not to make assumptions about people even if it seems obvious.

The Matrix Film Editing Techniques essays

The Matrix Film Editing Techniques essays Editing Techniques The Matrix The movie that I have chosen is called The Matrix. The Matrix is directed by brothers Andy and Larry Wachowskis. These directors have created themselves as innovative filmmakers who push the boundaries of live-action films, such movies like Star Wars and The Terminator, which showcase a unique visual style. The Wachowskis achieved this breakthrough on a display of techniques and digital effects, some never before seen in Hollywood films. Even though computer morphing technology had been used before in films such as The Abyss and The Teminator 2, but the Wachowskis were the first to use Flow-Mo, according to the Wachoskis, Flow-Mo is a time-bending digital effect that utilizes both computer-generated imagery and still photography. These are the types of predominate scenes that are used throughout the film. The term Flow-Mo refers to the technique used to create primary foreground subjects. For Flo-Mo, the Wachowski brothers wanted to be able to move a high-speed camera around subjects so that the scene will have a slow motion shot with a dynamic camera move. What made it so difficult was that the directors wanted to shoot very, very fast. A few high-end cameras have rates of 300 fps and then they explode at 301. The directors wanted the flexibility to choose frame rates at higher than 500 at will, with the ability to move the camera around the subject as if the scene was occurring at normal speeds. This simply was not possible with conventional technology. Then they would combine Flow-Mo with virtual backgrounds. The result, what is called virtual cinematography, which was something that seemed as natural as any real photography, but was completed almost entirely on the computer. The film itself is a complex story that aspires to mythology, focusing on a computer hacker named Neo (Keanu Reeves) who search...

International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)

International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) Definition The International Phonetic Alphabet is the most widely used system for representing the sounds of any language. A reproduction of the latest version of the International Phonetic Alphabet (2005) is available on the website of the International Phonetic Association. Abbreviation IPA Examples and Observations One of the most important achievements of phonetics in the past century has been to arrive at a system of phonetic symbols that anyone can learn to use and that can be used to represent the sounds of any language. This is the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).(Peter Roach, Phonetics. Oxford Univ. Press, 2004)Though they are primarily designed for representing speech sounds (objective physical events), the IPA symbols are naturally also widely used for representing the phonemes of particular languages. For example, the initial consonant of English think is phonetically the dental fricative [ÃŽ ¸] for most speakers, and so the phoneme realized in this way is commonly represented as /ÃŽ ¸/. But note carefully that a conventional phoneme symbol consisting of an IPA symbol in phoneme slashes may not in fact be pronounced in the way the IPA symbol would suggest; for example, the phoneme at the beginning of English red is customarily represented as /r/, for orthographical convenience, b ut probably no native speaker of English ever pronounces this word with the trill [r]. . . . An IPA symbol in square brackets is (or should be) intended to represent a real speech sound accurately; an IPA symbol in phoneme slashes is just a convenient way of representing some phoneme in some language and may not be a faithful guide to phonetic reality.(R.L. Trask, Language and Linguistics: The Key Concepts. Routledge, 2007) See Also AlphabetPhonemePhoneticsPhonologyPronunciationSchwaSpeechWriting System

Veterinary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Veterinary - Essay Example We can opt for three methods; 1) the conducting of face to face interviews, b) carrying out of telephone interviews and c) sending mailed questionnaires. However, with the advancement of state-of-the-art technologies, these methods can be applied through the internet and the utilization of contact centres. Conducting survey to the target group(s) and identification of at least three key areas of practice promotion that meet the needs of the local community Before a project or activity is to be lunched, it is important that there is an identification of the potential consumers and customers. It is best to consider that customers and consumers can be classified into categories: one is the individual customer and the other one is business organizations. Between the two, what would need intensive research is the individual consumer. For one the individual is unpredictable, and most of the time, they can only be considered as valid consumers once they have the budget and the preference fo r the products and services you are offering. ... farms and poultry). A classification of the community and locality that you are in, will greatly narrow down to whom should the survey be conducted. Design a survey that will tailor the extent of how your product and services will survive in the market. Or another way of looking at it would be, tailoring you r products and services to what the market in your locality needs. The focus of the survey therefore would be one; a) practices that will result to the greatest benefit of the locality that you are in and b) gaining the biggest monetary advantage from these best practices. Bringing the basics of marketing analysis into the context of health care and other health-related practices, physician practice promotion was be considered. Factors that have influenced and will influence consumer’s choice must be clearly evaluated in order to come up with programs that will increase income and revenue. When we talk about â€Å"medical marketing†, the concept covers a wide gamut of activities that are associated to practice promotion. Practice promotion has long been incorporated with activities such as practice literature, managed care initiates, through media advertising, conducting of patient seminars, among others. Market research and consumer surveys would point to the following key areas of practices (though may vary from places to places) are: animal vaccination, implementation of health insurance to pets, and to maintenance. Technologies would suggest that the most common and widely-used practice promotion would be advertisements. It communicates to the broadest number of people at the cheapest cost. Benefits of practice promotion through advertisements It has been

Feminist Film Criticism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Feminist Film Criticism - Essay Example The movie stars Zhang Ziyi, as the female protagonist Nitta Sayuri2, who, through a relentless desire to achieve her one and only goal in life3, has made it to the peak of her pursuit to be a geisha and eventually to become the mistress of the oki-ya4. The social position of the geisha is best described as something peculiar to the society of its source. This is so because their status in the traditional civilization is to some extent considered as indeterminate. This undefined portrayal of a geisha was successfully clarified in the film. As manifestly illustrated in the film, a geisha was given an unsurpassed status in the Japanese society. It evidently gave justice to the frequently mistaken position of a geisha with respect to their status in the populace. More often than not, a geisha is mistakenly perceived and identified as a "prostitute". However, this misconception was effectively dismissed as the film nearly reached its conclusion. The viewers correspondingly learned that a geisha is far more different from a prostitute. Although seen as somewhat rundown, the oki-ya is viewed as a house having significantly acceptable structure in the society. Comparatively similar to a boarding house, oki-ya is where the geisha and the geisha trainees stay and settle. As seen in the movie, a Geisha House is not as terrible and horrific as that of a brothel house where prostitutes are maintained. Its social structure as traditionally acknowledged in the Japanese culture gives a clear view how oki-ya is boldly accepted in the society. One becomes a geisha after an extensive training from the time she enters the oki-ya where she eventually turns into an apprentice, serving the mistress of the house by doing the domestic chores. Sayuri entered the oki-ya at the age of nine (9) and started as a servant for the "mother" of the house and to Hatsumomo5, the only geisha in the house. She was then prepared and trained to become a geisha with Pumpkin in a training school, learning the arduous arts of a geisha, which include, among others, dance and music; elaborate make-up of pale white faces and their enthralling red lips; wearing the kimono, pouring sake to reveal just a slight touch of the inner wrist, and the remarkable struggle with jealous rivals for the attention of men of the higher class. As the American anthropologist Dalby stated in her book, a geisha's position in the society is unavoidably vague. She wrote: "(m)arked as [a geisha] is by both high and low prestige, the Geisha and her place in Japanese culture remain elusively ambiguous." [172] The fundamental role of a geisha is to entertain men in business and politics in Japan. They were trained to function as the very amusing and gracious hostess, usually, in an important gathering which prominent men would throw. An essential part of bringing entertainment is through music and dancing where they show their talents as developed by the extensive training they underwent. "Each geisha is highly accomplished in particular skills such as playing the koto, dancing or singing, but they all train for years in the more general arts of caring for their guests (or, strictly speaking, clients). [Hendry, Taylor and Francis, 201] The geisha house or the oki-ya is controlled by

The article by Joachim Wambsganss Essay Example for Free

The article by Joachim Wambsganss Essay The article by Joachim Wambsganss discusses the nature and functions of gravitational lenses that both help and challenge our understanding of the celestial bodies in the universe. As the author rightly puts it, the sky is filled with many mirages and mysteries to be explored. The gravitational lenses make the universe into a palace of glasses where one images reflects into multiple images creating an illusory effect. It is curious to know the nature and functions of these gravitational lenses that both help and defy our understanding of the universe. . Gravitational lensing is a budding and promising area of study in astronomy. It helps astronomers to study the dark matters in the universe. It is also useful to investigate the structure of quasars, black holes and find earth like planets around other stars. Â  Gravitational light deflection was identified and accepted, though not accurately. Einstein was doubtful about it though he predicted that a foreground star could magnify the image of a background star as a result of gravitational lensing. More optimistic was the Swiss-American astrophysicist Fritz Zwicky with his predictions on lensing effects of galaxies. At last the speculation came to an end in 1979 when astronomers actually saw evidence of lensing. Generally light that comes from a celestial body goes straight. But when there is any object in between it deflects and the deviation causes many distortions to what we see in the space. It is interesting to note that any thing that possesses mass can serve like a lens. It need not emit light on its own. Four consequences of gravitational lensing are identified. They are: 1.Change of Position, 2. Magnification and Demagnification, 3.Deformation, 4. Multiplication. The perceptible location of star or galaxy changes because of the deflection of gravitational light Secondly, it is also possible to see the magnification of brightness of a star or quasar because of the deflection of light. Sometimes the light demagnifies. Thirdly, galaxies can appear long-drawn-out into arcs or bananas because of the deflection of light. Finally, the multiple images are the result of strong gravitational lensing. How Lensing Works The gravitational –lens system has three components embedded in the space. The distance source of light, an intervening mass that acts as a lens and an observer on the earth are the three which form a straight line. The distant source of light could be a star, quasar, or galaxy. The intervening mass that acts as a lens can be anything from a planet to a black hole. Light travels through the shortest distance, and it need not be a straight line always. Sometimes it can travel through a curve as well. The light bends when it reaches the curved space near a cosmic body. The degree of deflection depends on how close the rays get tot the body and on the mass of the body. The deflect ion angle is directly proportional to the mass and inversely proportional to the closest distance. Gravitational lenses are different from ordinary lenses in many ways. The ordinary lenses have a well-defined focal point whereas the gravitational varieties produce focal lines or surfaces. The typical gravitational lens also causes light rays to experience smaller deflections. The gravitational lensing is achromatic. When the lens system is asymmetric, i.e. when source, lens and observer are not in alignment, the lens has an oblong mass distribution – and the resulting ring breaks up into discrete variegated images. The lens magnifies different parts of the source by different amounts and the highest magnification occurs at caustic. When the alignment is very far off or the lens mass distribution is very spread out, the lensing is very weak. With the discovery of double quasar Q0957+ 561 gravitational lensing became an observable science. So far 64 double, triple and multiple quasars have been found. The CLASS (Cosmic Lens All-Sky Survey) project has mapped more than 10,000 radio sources and 17 multiply imaged systems. To identify whether it is real quasar or an illusion, observes have developed a checklist. They see whether the quasars lie at the same distance, whether their spectra is similar, whether there is any potential lens between the observer and the quasar and whether the brightness of each quasar fluctuates in the same way. When the galaxy lens is spherical it can distribute the light of background quasar or galaxy into a ring or circle called Einstein ring. About a dozen such rings are found. The important application of quasar lensing is to measure Hubble constant, which is a measure of size and expansion rate of universe. Multiple quasars can give insight into cosmological parameter called cosmological constant. It is essential to explain why the expansion of universe appears to be accelerating. The more is the expansion accelerated, the bigger the volume of space. Cosmological constant can not be more than 62 percent of the energy density of the universe. If the density is more, there could be more number of quasars. It supports smaller values of the cosmological constant. Quasars are unsteady by their nature and they tend to brighten and then dim on their own. Â  To distinguish microlensing fluctuations and intrinsic variability astronomers monitor multiple quasar systems. Â  In 1989 astronomers confirmed five multiple quasar systems. They conclude that innermost parts of quasar are hotter and bluer than outer parts. If lens is not single galaxy, but a cluster of galaxies then the image can be a kaleidoscope of strongly distorted arcs and arc lets. Studies on clusters of galaxies reveal that clusters are dominated by unseen dark matter. On an extremely large scale, the vast galaxy clusters of matter tend to be powerful lens. The wide spread shearing of galaxy images support the view that universe is giant cobweb of matter interspersed with voids. The article also focuses on MACHOs and Extra solar planets. MACHOs are collection of rogue planets, dead stars or black holes. However research says that the entire dark matter cannot be made entirely of MACHO. It also notes that stellar mass black holes may cause microlensing events. Stellar microlensing can even detect planets and the extra burst of brightening that might have been caused by planet candidates. Thus, the article ‘Gravity’s Kaleidoscope’ narrates interestingly how the study of illusions can lead us to the discovery of truth relating to celestial bodies in the universe.

Growing Up in I Stand Here Ironing Essay -- American Literature Tillie

Growing up The oppression of women by society has never been a secret. Many times it has been documented in works of literature, and one classical example of this occurrence is "I Stand Here Ironing" by Tillie Olsen. This story illustrates the consequences of oppression in women's lives. The story leads the reader on an exploratory journey to witness the neglect by Emily's extremely guilty mother. This is described by the children's cry when they are left with strangers, lacking attention and love due to the fact she is a single parent at a time where this was not commonly accepted in the community, causing a lot of emotional distress. The mother's pain and torment is apparent from the very beginning of the story. Her realization that she could have been a better mother, had it not been for the circumstances and life events which occurred following Emily's birth, such as the father who dealt with his parental responsibility by leaving - "Her father left me before she was a year old. I had to work her first six years when there was work, or I sent her home and to his relatives" (Olsen, 373). The mother does, however, continually "shift" back and forth, as the metaphor of "ironing" implies, to invoke pity from the reader and explain that there were other people, and factors which played a significant role in Emily's upbringing. Purposely organized in a non chronological way, it illustrates the shifting, which is the passing back and forth of Emily emotionally (allowing the nursery, school teacher, and hospital staff play the primary care giver) and physically (the baby-sitter, the father's family, etc) distress. Emily's mother seems to be constantly blaming her troubles and circumstances for the less than adequate ... ...one or more of the five senses of the reader. In this short story, the author uses literal language to call up a mental picture in the reader's mind. In the last line of Emily's story her mother says, "Only help Emily to know... that she is more than this dress on the ironing board, helpless before the iron" (Olsen, 373). The image, ironing a dress, compares to actually raising a child. The dress represents the child, the iron is the child's parents and society, and the ironing board is their expectations. The theme this image conveys is that children grow up to become individuals as a result of their interaction with their parents and society, their experiences, and their own insight, not simply being "ironed" in to society's preconceived model. Work Cited Olsen, Tillie. "I Stand Here Ironing." The Story and It’s Writer. Ed. Ann Charters. Boston: Bedford, 1999.

Quality Improvement Plan Essay

For more than a decade, Via Christi has sponsored a variety of initiatives designed to improve the quality of care provided. These efforts have engaged staff, patients and physicians at all levels within the hospital to measure and improve the quality and safety of patient care. At times these initiatives have seen success and failures, but with the recent push for our â€Å"big aim† quality is the major focus. The physicians, nurses, other clinicians and administrative leaders overwhelmingly agreed that Via Christi should adopt the goal of reducing serious safety events by 80 percent over the next three years. Performance Measurement and Quality Improvement Performance measurement is known as the collecting and analysis of data to determine how an organization will reach its potential (The Joint Commission, 2013). Often this type of analysis is seen in engineering, with the recent push in Via Christi, Lean design and Six Sigma black belts have joined the team in quality. A good example of performance measurement is through The Joint Commission. They have outlined a set of performance development methodology that is considered the â€Å"gold standard† in health care today. By meeting these measure hospitals can function at an optimal level regarding quality care. â€Å"Quality improvement consists of systematic and continuous actions that lead to measurable improvement in health care services and the health status of targeted patient groups† (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). It would be hard to not have quality improvement and not have some type of performance measurement to guide the work. Therefore, you need quality improvement to have some type of quality measurement. Via Christi’s Mission, Services, Goals  Via Christi provides a wide range of services for the community, from rehab to acute care, with a new dedicated focus on long-term care. The mission of Via Christi is derived from the Sister of the Sorrowful Mother and the Sisters of St. Francis and reads as â€Å"Inspired by the Gospel and our Catholic tradition, we serve as a healing presence with special concern for our neighbors who are vulnerable† (Via Christi Hospitals, 2012). At this time Via Christi is embarking on a journey of â€Å"big aim†, which means decreasing serious safety events by eighty percent in three years. An example of how the hospital specifically will tackle this goal is with the work of our central line committee, which is comprised of nursing, Six Sigma black belt engineers, and physicians. This team is reviewing current process and implementing new concepts. Role of Consumers and Quality Indicators The role of patient, families, and friends is one of active engagement with Via Christi. As Via Christi launches into its â€Å"big aim† campaign there is a need for these individuals to help lead the changes through active participation. An example of this type of engagement is how a patient’s son perceived the care of his mother during a hospital stay. The son later contacted the unit manager and offered some feedback regarding the stay, as the unit manager listened she realized that the family had some valid points, such as the long time diabetic mother being allowed to do her own blood sampling and peritoneal dialysis treatments as she was use to at home. So often we take over for the patient in the name of policy, when we could have the patient as an active participant. Some of the external resources available to our community regarding quality indicators would be with The Leap Frog Group. Leap Frog follows quality indicators for hospitals and then issues a grade related to findings. Some of the specific quality indicators for Via Christi are related to central line infection rates, foreign bodies left after surgery and respiratory failure after a surgical procedure. Consumers can access this sight to obtain the information and then ask questions related to findings. This information helps the consumer to be more participative and informed. Feedback Used to Improve Quality At Via Christi, they are just starting to incorporate the consumer into the equation on quality care. The Clinical Practice Council has been formed with all of the various stakeholders to provide the feedback necessary on quality care. The group of physicians, nurses, hospital administrators, and consumers work to review core measures and clinical findings. This group will then make recommendation on how to help move the organization forward. The hospital is working towards being a high reliability organization, through high quality outcomes and patient satisfaction. Conclusion Via Christi serves a wide range of individuals from all generations. As this organization moves forward toward their â€Å"big aim† project of reducing the serious safety events by 80 percent in three years, the consumer will be at the helm helping to guide the decision with feedback, by active participation in councils and satisfaction surveys. All of this work will lead to high quality care being provided to all.

Aesthetic Education Essay

Friedrich Schiller wrote Letters on the Aesthetic Education of Man in 1793 for his friend the Danish Prince Friedrich Christian who had provided him with a stipend to help him through an illness. In 1795 the letters were published and the provide a worthwhile consideration of the nature of Aesthetics for us still today. The collection of twenty seven letters is not an easy read but it is worth persevereing to gain the insights of this great poet and playwright, friend of Goethe and inspiration for Beethoven and many artists, particularly in the Romantic era. The book touches upon a broad range of topics, some of which you do not normally associate with aesthetics. However the letters do consider the nature of Beauty and its relationship to art and man. For Schiller beauty seems to arise as a synthesis between opposing principles â€Å"whose highest ideal is to be sought in the most perfect possible union and equilibrium of reality and form†(Letter XVI, p 81). Schiller also discusses the nature of the ideal man and how the impulse for play interacts with man’s nature, especially his rational and sensuous aspects which form a juxtaposition within him. This juxtaposition is discussed at length with a synthesis described in terms that suggest a transcendance that culminates in our very humanity (Letters 18-20). Man and his nature is important to Schiller as his reason, but â€Å"The first appearance of reason in Man is not yet the beginning of his humanity. The latter is not decided until he is free,† (Letter XXIV, p 115). Through discussion of the work of art and the fine arts Schiller brings us closer to a conception of what art means to man and how important â€Å"Homo Ludens† is as a conception of man. Schiller admired classical Greece and its art and saw the role of history and freedom important in the discussion of the nature of art. Above all both as a poet and a thinker Schiller held the ideal of freedom to be sacrosanct. According to Schiller, freedom is attained when the sensual and rational in man are fully integrated but his aesthetic disposition is seen as coming from Nature. These letters provide a rich vein of ideas from which the thoughtful and attentive reader may find inspiration in consideration of the aesthetics and the nature of the work of art. Friedrich Schiller menulis Surat Pendidikan Estetika Manusia pada tahun 1793 untuk rakan Christian Friedrich Putera Denmark yang telah disediakan dengan wang saku untuk membantu beliau sakit. Pada tahun 1795 surat telah diterbitkan dan memberi pertimbangan berbaloi sifat Estetika untuk kita masih hari ini. Koleksi 27 surat tidak read mudah tetapi ia adalah bernilai persevereing untuk mendapatkan pandangan penyair dan pengarang drama hebat ini, rakan Goethe dan inspirasi untuk Beethoven dan ramai artis, terutamanya di era Romantik. Buku ini menyentuh kepada pelbagai topik, ada yang anda tidak lakukan biasanya bersekutu dengan estetika. Walau bagaimanapun, surat mempertimbangkan sifat Kecantikan dan hubungannya dengan seni dan manusia. Untuk kecantikan Schiller nampaknya timbul sebagai sintesis antara prinsip lawan â€Å"yang tertinggi sesuai perlu dicari dalam kesatuan mungkin yang paling sempurna dan keseimbangan realiti dan bentuk† (Surat XVI, p 81). Schiller juga membincangkan sifat manusia yang ideal dan bagaimana dorongan untuk permainan berinteraksi dengan alam semula jadi, manusia terutamanya aspek rasional dan sensasi yang membentuk saling bertindih dalam dirinya. Saling bertindih ini dibincangkan dengan panjang lebar dengan sintesis diterangkan dari segi yang mencadangkan transcendance yang memuncak dalam kemanusiaan kita (Huruf 18-20). Manusia dan alam adalah penting untuk Schiller sebagai alasan beliau, tetapi â€Å"Kemunculan pertama sebab dalam Man tidak lagi permulaan kemanusiaan. Terakhir ini tidak memutuskan sehingga dia adalah percuma,† (Surat XXIV, ms 115). Melalui perbincangan kerja seni dan seni halus Schiller membawa kita lebih dekat kepada konsep apa yang seni ertinya kepada manusia dan betapa pentingnya â€Å"Ludens Homo† adalah seperti konsep manusia. Schiller dikagumi klasik Greece dan seni dan melihat peranan sejarah dan kebebasan penting dalam perbincangan yang bersifat seni. Atas semua kedua-dua sebagai penyair dan pemikir Schiller diadakan ideal kebebasan untuk menjadi boleh dipertikaikan. Menurut Schiller, kebebasan dicapai apabila sensual dan rasional dalam manusia bersepadu sepenuhnya tetapi pelupusan estetik beliau dilihat sebagai datang dari Alam. Surat ini menyediakan darah yang kaya dengan idea-idea dari mana pembaca yang bernas dan penuh perhatian boleh mencari inspirasi dalam pertimbangan estetik dan sifat kerja seni. PENDAPAT NO 2: Although this type of reading can be challenging for the modern reader, I thoroughly enjoyed this thought-provoking book. If you enjoy philosophy and subscribe to a personal philosophy that an appreciation of beauty and learning through play are valuable, Schiller will appeal to you. Walaupun ini jenis membaca boleh mencabar bagi pembaca moden, saya telitimenikmati buku ini memprovokasi pemikiran. Jika kita menikmati falsafah dan melanggan kepada falsafah peribadi bahawa menghargai kecantikan dan pembelajaranmelalui permainan adalah berharga, Schiller akan merayu kepada kita. PENDAPAT NO 3:SUMMARY A generic summary of the argument in Friedrich Schiller’s Letters on the Aesthetic Education of Man would be: in order for a person to become a moral and rational being she must pass through an aesthetic education in which she harmonizes with herself and thus becomes Free to exercise her rational will univocally. The passage often quoted as a summation of Schiller’s major theme in this work is: â€Å"It is through Beauty that we arrive at Freedom. † This passage, since I first encountered it, has been one of the few essential thoughts I carry with me through life. My superficial knowledge of Schiller, through only this famous quote and the above general argument, has had a disproportionate effect on me. When Conor Heaton, a friend from Chicago, recommended Schiller’s Letters to me, I was thrilled for the opportunity to read the entirety of the work and to test my own personalized version of the idea against Schiller’s initial conception. Schiller, a German Romantic dramatist, poet, and essayist, wrote his Letters during the height of France’s Reign of Terror. Like so many other Romantic thinkers across the globe, Schiller cried for joy at the French Revolution’s liberation of the human spirit. But, like artists and thinkers generations before and after him, Schiller suffered great disappointment in the aftermath of the revolution when power and fear destroyed the ideals of Justice and Freedom that had sparked the revolution. In some ways his argument stems from the idea that if the revolutionaries were perfectly educated in the ideas of aesthetics they would have been able to escape their own power struggles and thus have been able to create a Just and Free French State. Instead, the French Revolutionaries, whose only education on and exposure to government came from the monarch they so despised, exponentially replicated the atrocities of the very kind they dethroned. In doing so they turned the country into an irrational, immoral mess. It is a theme not isolated to 1790’s France, and though Schiller was influenced by the events of his time, he is also picking up an ambitious argument first articulated in the Western tradition two thousand years before his time. The idea of an aesthetic education as essential to a moral and rational life was originally Plato’s. In setting out to create the ideal civilization in his Republic, Plato’s characters conclude that banning books and particular artists (including Homer) will be necessary to ensure that young men are properly trained to appreciate Beauty. Plato’s characters felt that scenes from The Iliad about conniving and jealous gods were bad influences on young men, who may look to the gods as examples. And works that espoused ideas or styles that did not create the harmony in the soul essential to becoming a fully realized Moral man were not worthy of being taught. While laying the groundwork for regarding Beauty as essential to the human experience, Plato also put forward the first argument for censorship. (If one finds themselves scoffing at this idea or comparing Plato to Hitler, it may be wise to remember that a major component of America’s current education system assumes that those being educated cannot decipher the language and tone of Huckleberry Finn without intolerable harm, or read of Holden Caulfield’s rampant moral downfall and sexual escapades without falling into decadence, and that 12 year olds cannot be closer than 100 yards from a condom without instigating rampant uncontrolled sexual orgies. Plato’s excuse is that he didn’t have the benefit of thousands of years of education research proving his instincts incorrect.) Schiller never grounds his ideas by discussing or suggesting particular texts that may be suitable for an aesthetic education. His tendency to speak in shifting abstractions has cost him a more prominent position in the greater philosophical tradition. But if The Aesthetic Education of Man is read as it was written – as an artist trying to convince the world that Art and Beauty are essential to a Free and Moral civilization – then it is a wonderful and essential work whose philosophical consistency is far less important than its general spirit. Schiller’s argument itself is also only a small component of why this text is so engaging. He never stops reaching. His every sentence embodies the Romantic belief that truth, pure Truth, is at our fingertips, and with persistence It can be held in our palms. His style fluctuates between art and philosophy. Schiller has no fear of spreading his ideas, and his grandiose style represents perfectly the abundance of thought that was flowing out of Romantic Germany during his lifetime. He makes grand and provocative historical claims: â€Å"The Romans, we know, had first to exhaust their strength in civil wars . . . before we see Greek art triumphing over the rigidity of their character . . . And among the Arabs too the light of culture never dawned until the vigor of their warlike spirit had relaxed (58). † He states complex ideas in beautiful little statements: â€Å"We know that Man is neither exclusively matter nor exclusively spirit. Beauty, therefore, [is:] the consummation of this humanity (77). † And there is much more beyond this in Schiller’s Letters. He propounds a theory of Beauty and just how it can harmonize mankind and allow moral and rational men to flourish, and so on.

Computer Culture essays

Computer Culture essays Computers have a great effect on the way we live our lives today. From writing documents to banking, computers are integrating themselves into our daily tasks more and more every day. There are several important aspects of the computer age, including the internet, banking and communications. The internet is the fastest growing economy in the world, mostly because of its ease of use, and its vast audience. For the last seven years, the internet has more than doubled in growth and profits every year. Every day, there are new companies being created and making profits over the internet. This is because of the low cost of setting up and advertising. The internet is also rapidly becoming the major means of purchasing for millions of people all over the world. This number is only going to increase as more people become computer literate. A major concern for people purchasing products or services over the internet is security. Most people think that using credit cards on the internet is unsafe, when in reality it is more safe than using it at a local grocery store or gas station. This is because when a person submits their credit card information over the internet, it is encrypted and sent securely, while when they use it at a grocery store, anyone can view the inform ation. New uses for the internet are being discovered all the time. For instance, the digital music revolution is in progress right now. There are major lawsuits being issued by major record labels against certain internet organizations such as Napster and MP3.com. Almost every person who knows about electronic music uses it, so this makes a major impact on the sales of CDs and cassettes. Other than electronic music, almost every other industry is benefiting from the internet. For instance, the internet auction company EBAY is one of the biggest companies in the world now. They offer the advertisement of products and services to be auctioned to everyone. This...

Types of Plots

Types of Plots Types of Plots Types of Plots By Mark Nichol How many plot types are there, and does it really matter? And if you write nonfiction, rather than fiction, why should you read this post? (I guess you’ll have to read the post to find out.) Throughout the years, writers have posited various opinions about how many distinct types of stories exist. Several of the more prominent theories follow: Three Types William Foster Harris, in The Basic Patterns of Plot, suggests that the three plot types are the happy ending, the unhappy ending, and tragedy. What’s the difference between the second and third types? A tragedy is distinguished from an unhappy ending partly by the magnitude of the outcome but mostly in that the lead character attempts to do something marked by excessive pride, overweening ambition, or another character flaw and that the outcome seems preordained by fate. Seven Types Christopher Booker, in The Seven Basic Plot Points: Why We Tell Stories, lists the plot types as Overcoming the Monster, the Quest, the Voyage and Return, Rags to Riches, and the Rebirth, as well as Comedy and Tragedy. At first glance, the last two terms seem more like genres than plots, but a comedy, though it might also fit into one of the other five types, is often marked by a standard array of miscues and misadventures, and, as intimated in the previous paragraph, a tragedy has a narrow focus: The protagonist tempts fate, and fate responds. Another septet, one that may seem slightly off topic, is a list of plot conflicts, but the items encapsulate basic storylines as well. In (somewhat arbitrary) order of increasing complexity, the duels are person versus fate (or God), person versus self, person versus person, person versus society, person versus nature, person versus the supernatural, and person versus technology. Twenty Types Ronald Tobias, in 20 Master Plots and How to Build Them, shares a score of story types. I won’t list them all (you can easily find them through an online search), but they range from the basic (the Quest) to the moderately complex (Revenge) to the more sophisticated (Metamorphosis) and beyond. Thirty-Six Types Georges Polti, in The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations, eschews the basics in favor of specific concepts including Daring Enterprise, Fatal Imprudence, and Erroneous Judgment, as well as several varieties of tales of love and sacrifice. (Again, the full roster is available by searching online.) Pigeonholing Plot Types Is it necessary for writers to consider these distinctions? Does one need to know the plot type of one’s story? Can’t you just write your story? You’re welcome to ignore categorization, but consider the benefits: By matching your story to one or more plot types, you can mine the traditions of that type (or those types). If you write a quest tale or a similar type whether set in a fantasy realm or in the real world without exploiting the rule of three, for example, it will lack the resonance of its forebears. You can, of course, defy expectations by avoiding clichà ©s, but if you give a name to the type of story you are telling, you are more likely to recognize opportunities to do so. But what does plot have to do with nonfiction? All stories even factual ones have a plot, and especially when you write narrative nonfiction, you should recognize the parameters you are following or exceeding. Is your profile of a person or a company or organization, or your account of an event or an incident, a tale of redemption, or one of hubris, or one of revolt against complacency or a predetermined path, or something else? Consider your story’s metaphorical and allegorical potential, and capitalize on its resemblance to other tales as you build it. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to use "on" and when to use "in"Latin Plural EndingsGrammatical Case in English

Utilitarianism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Utilitarianism - Assignment Example Utilitarianism extends to political ethics which introduces the problem of tyranny of majority. This is when the majority and powerful people make decisions that are affects the minority. The problem of tyranny of majority is not new as it has occurred in the past history. An example that serves this problem is Slavery of the black people by the majority Whites in the USA. This was a time where decisions were made by the white people as they were the majority natives. The decision made to use black people as slaves was an act against humanity and was morally incorrect. Later, black people like Martin Luther King saw a need to end this slavery and racism that affected his fellow minorities. It was not an easy battle but at the long end equality through democracy was achieve among every America citizen(Barden, 2001). The majority Americans gained from this slavery because the cheap labor boosted its economy. Today, America is the one of the most developed countries in the world. As some would argue slavery was for a good cause, however what about the oppressed slaves? As much as America benefited economically, the Blacks suffered tremendously (Barden, 2001). Therefore, it was not morally right for the majority right to oppress the minority even if the results benefitted the

Home depot in chile Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Home depot in chile - Case Study Example Home Depot adopted the international strategy, when it entered the Chilean market in 1998. As part of that strategy, it tried to implement the same practices and marketing strategies, which they carried out in its United States operations. In the case of international strategy, the firm transfers its core competencies and operational strategies to the foreign subsidiary. (Aswathappa 355). One of the key operational strategies of Home Depot in U.S. is sizably selling Do-It-Yourself (DIY) products, and they transferred the same to Chile. Instead of multidomestic strategy (which focuses on customizing the product according to the local market) and global strategy (which focuses on selling a product based on a globally formulated strategy), Home Depot adopted international strategy. As it was its first market expansion out of North America, Home Depot did not have any global strategy. Also, they avoided the multidomestic strategy and did not customize its products according to the Chilea n people. So, in line with the international strategy, Home Depot put more of DIY products on its shelves. However, this strategy of transferring the same practices to Chile did not work first because Chilean people were less willing than in the United States to repair their houses by themselves. b.

Franchise - Culture and Structure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Franchise - Culture and Structure - Essay Example It goes on to use the McKinsey 7-S model to examine the components of the business. The paper ends with the Strength-Weakness-Opportunity-&-Threat (SWOT) analysis of the company and concludes with a decision on the appropriateness of buying a Ferrari franchise. Organizational Design Marranello, a town near Bologna in northern Italy has been the home of Ferrari since the 1940s (Ferrari Factory Website, 2011). The central location at Marranello is made up of 45 buildings which houses the 3,000 employees of Ferrari who range from factory workers through to the top level management of Ferrari. Components relevant for the manufacture of Ferrari cars are imported from all over the world and assembled at the Northern Italian plant. From there, the various cars are shipped to different parts of the world where they are sold through agents and outlets. Ferrari dealers have three different packages that they can sell to customers: Ferrari Genuine, Ferrari Power & Ferrari Approved. In consideri ng purchasing a franchise, the options available include the reselling of these three Ferrari brands. Ferrari Genuine includes the sale of genuine spare parts for Ferrari cars. Ferrari Power is an insurance package and some related financial activities that ensure that Ferrari users are protected in cases of losses. Ferrari Approved on the other hand seeks to co-ordinate the interests of various Ferrari owners and link them with the company. Aside these three main brands, Franchise sellers can also provide various racing related services and sell some other Ferrari owned brands like fuels and racing related brands that have commercial value. The business environment of Ferrari has unique components and systems that work together to make it a leading racing and luxury car manufacturer. Goold & Campbell (2002) stated that there are nine components of organizations that define each and every business. They argue that a business is made up of structured systems and components that are d efined and laid out by the owners of the company. Aside these defined systems, there are emergent issues that affect the design of the organization. The nine components eventually lay down the definitive structure for a business. 1. Strategy: A business needs to operate in a given market in order to reach a given pool of consumers. In this quest, there are some competitors that might also target the same markets. In the case of Ferrari, it has evolved over the years to become a company that desires to stay at the forefront of research through maintaining a strong position in the motor-sport industry (Davenport & Beck, 2008). In other words, Ferrari desires to target upmarket clients around the globe to produce cars that have the best and most modern inputs and systems at premium prices. The emergent of new ideas in the industry helps them to change their ways of delivering their services at different point in time. The strength of the Ferrari strategy lies in the price of their cars , which are in the millions of dollars and are valuable even years after purchased because they easily become antiques. As a franchise owner, one will expect to sell these expensive cars to customers around the world that comes with high profit margins. In other words, a single sale that a franchise owner makes will bring in profits that hundreds or thousands of ordinary cars that a normal car dealer will make. These end users often use the cars for races which earn a lot of revenue since it comes with the sale of television rights and the

Howard Gardners Theory Of Human Intelligence Education Essay

Howard Gardners Theory Of Human Intelligence Education Essay This assignment will critically discuss the topic of integrated learning in the early primary curriculum with reference to the use of the outdoor learning environment. It will be based on my personal research that stemmed from the curriculum. Firstly, this assignment will discuss the outdoor learning day, which incorporated learning outdoors with a topic themed activity. Secondly, the assignment will discuss integrated learning and outdoor learning in relation to the foundation subject Design and Technology. Howard Gardners theory of human intelligence, suggests there are at least seven ways that people have of perceiving and understanding the world. Gardner labels each of these ways a distinct intelligence in other words, a set of skills allowing individuals to find and resolve genuine problems they face. Within the Curriculum, traditional schooling heavily favours the verbal-linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligences. Gardner suggests that a more balanced curriculum that incorporates the arts, self-awareness, communication, and physical education (Gardner, 1999) is needed. Brief outline to the project. The project theme which was chosen was that of habitats and materials with reference to The Three Little Pigs, as this was a popular story that we all knew well and thought we could do a great deal to facilitate childrens learning across the age ranges of the school. We collaborated as a group and decided the story could be changed and saw it possible to have a good link to the outdoor environment leading to using the natural environment to build habitats. We adapted the story to relate directly to the natural environment by The Three Little Pigs building their homes from twigs, leaves and mud as we thought this would be more beneficial and support questioning and investigation. Within the discussion we chose a shaded area in the school grounds to set the scene for our performance and we believed this would then help with the wow factor of the introduction to the activity. The most successful aspect of the session was, once we had gained confidence and had run through the activities with the children, this allowed us to reflect on what was working and the timing of the session. This enabled our group to adapt our idea and allowed us to engage the children more successfully. The children showed positive reactions when building homes for animals from outdoor resources (sticks, mud, leaves etc), however the session at the beginning was not as successful as we were not sure on timing, in which the initial group finished the set task earlier than expected. We then had adapted our intentions to create new extension activities for the children to do and we decided to carry out a hunt for other items to go in the homes we had made. From this experience we had to dis cuss ideas for other activities we could develop if this timing issue reoccurred. I was surprised how engaged the children were when we were performing the story of The Three Little Pigs. Some of the ideas children came up with when building the homes were unexpected such as making sure the home was waterproof and the creative thinking they used to do this, for example; we need to build underground or in a sheltered spot and they also suggested, making sure that the roof was covered in leaves to keep the animals warm, dry and camouflaged. From the Outdoor Learning Day we collaboratively discussed where we could take the theme of materials and habitats. After a long discussion we decided to draw on our personal talents within the foundation subjects and use them to develop lesson plans and resources. I decided to opt for Design and Technology, as I find this subject interesting and feel that it has a wide scope for learning. The National Curriculum proclaims that, During Key Stage One  pupils learn how to think imaginatively and talk about what they like and dislike when designing and making. They build on their early childhood experiences of investigating objects around them. They explore how familiar things work and talk about, draw and model their ideas. They learn how to design and make safely and could start to use ICT as part of their designing and making. (National Curriculum 1999) The main content area of the project. Integrated Learning is discussed and used with alternative phraseology such as Topic Based Work, Cross Curriculum and Creative Curriculum. In research, Integrated Learning studies are stated as Opportunities to enrich and enhance childrens learning and make connections across the curriculum (Rose 2009).Ofsteds grade descriptor of an outstanding curriculum states: The schools curriculum provides memorable experiences and rich opportunities for high-quality learning and wider personal development and wellbeing. The school may be at the forefront of successful, innovative curriculum design in some areas. A curriculum with overall breadth and balance provides pupils with their full entitlement and is customised to meet the changing needs of individuals and groups. (Rose 2009). The National Curriculum for Design Technology suggests that it provides opportunities to promote pupils spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. (National Curriculum 1999) There are highly tailored progra mmes for a wide range of pupils with different needs. Cross-curricular provision, including literacy, numeracy and ICT, is mainly outstanding and there is nothing less than good. As a result, all groups of pupils benefit from a highly coherent and relevant curriculum which promotes outstanding outcomes. (Rose 2009) The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (2010) explains The new curriculum is based on what is already happening in many schools to bring learning to life, and the structure reflects what other successful countries are doing with their national curricula. (Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency 2010). A quality curriculum should be broad and balanced a statement which was highlighted in the Education Reform Act 1988. Curriculum differs in each country, for example in New Zeland Te  Whariki  was developed by May and Carr to become the first national early childhood curriculum in New Zealand. This curriculum adopts a specifically socio-cultural perspective on learning that recognises the different social contexts in which children in New Zealand live and the social and interactive nature of learning. Carr and May (2000), discussed that the aim was the development of more complex and useful understanding, knowledge and skill attached to cultural and purposeful contexts. As discussed in Woods (2005) book Play, Learning and the Early Childhood Curriculum, the  Reggio approach,  from Italy, has developed a distinct pedagogy that places the emphasis on using multiple forms of expression and cross curricular links in learning to help children communicate their understanding and thinking, maintain their interest and explore to give value to activities. Practitioners see themselves as guides who are learning with the children and adopt a listening role that seeks to encourage thinking, negotiation and the exploration of difference, particularly in collaborative group work. Documenting the process of exploration as children work through a project is a key pedagogical activity which offers children a record of their process and progress through the project, and gives educators a detailed insight into childrens activities and learning. (Stephen, C. 2006).Reggio has developed the idea that children will develop their capacity to think, build and test theor ies through exploration and making links with prior knowledge and subjects. The Reggio approach believes that content knowledge is secondary to learning about how to learn, although specific contexts and bodies of knowledge may be the focus of the childrens investigations. Cross-curricular work offers a creative way to incorporate all strands of learning, developing the knowledge, skills and understanding of students while motivating them to learn through stimulating, wide-ranging and interconnected topics.(Wood 2005). It is particularly important to emphasise links between subjects to help children make sense of what they are learning. Cross curricular links are crucial to learning as learning depends on being able to make connections between prior knowledge and experiences and new information. Such connections help us make sense of our world and develop our capacity to learn. The human brain increases capacity by making connections with prior experiences which can be related to, therefore it is a crucial part of education to include experiences which the children can make their own connections. Within the curriculum the process of design may have wider applications in a future curriculum which will embrace features such as creativity on a more intens ive scale. Outdoor learning offers many opportunities for learners to deepen and contextualise their understanding within curriculum areas, and for linking learning across the curriculum in different contexts and at all levels. (Parkinson 2010) Research into this comes from the Primary Review which is a wide-ranging and independent enquiry into the condition and future of primary education in England. The review began in October 2006 and continued for two years, an interim report published in December 2007 on childrens learning emphasises the importance of thinking skills: Children think and reason largely in the same ways as adults, but they lack experience, and are still developing the ability to think about their own thinking and learning (meta-cognition). They need diverse experiences in the classroom to help them develop these skills. Learning in classrooms can be enhanced by developing meta-cognitive strategies. (Primary Review 2007) This development in the early years of children is important because of the large amount of brain growth that occurs in the first six years of life. It is vital that thinking skills are nurtured and developed in the early years to support more comprehensive learning when children are olde r. Teaching thinking skills to older children is a valid technique, however helping young children to develop these skills as they play is even more effective. From this it was also found that Cross Curricular Learning is a vital way to support childrens learning and will aid in progressing development in the classroom. Piagets theory is based on the idea that the developing child builds cognitive structures-in other words, mental maps, schemes, or networked concepts for understanding and responding to physical experiences within his or her environment. This can be reinforced by learning through Design and Technology in school which enables pupils to; appreciate the made world, the environments in which they live and work, the products they know about and use and the many communication systems that exist. (National Curriculum 1999) Making links between subjects also helps pupils to learn more effectively as it offers opportunities to apply skills and knowledge in meaningful and purposeful contexts. For example experiencing and describing processes in geography and science offer children relevant experiences and enhanced understanding. Strong links such as these can enhance learning in all subject areas as they help learners see the relevance, within a wider context, of the skills and knowledge they are acquiring in specific subjects. Since the cross-curricular nature of Design Technology needs to involve teachers working in collaboratively to ensure children have progression in their learning and development . This means creating and organising a structure for the management of Design Technology work and, for the effective organisation particularly in the planning and implementation stages which are crucial to its success. In relation to this concept, Palmer and Doyle discussed Education is not just learning kn owledge and skills, but the development of childrens learning capacity. Education is the development of thinking clearly and creatively, implementing their own plans and communicating their ideas to others in a variety of ways. (Sue Palmer and Galina Doyle, 2004) In support of this, making cross curricular links can help learners recognise how they are learning, such as was discovered in constructivist learning theory Constructivist Learning Theory promotes learner-centered study under the guidance of teachers.It has an important role in training students with the innovative capability and subject consciousness, while improving their qualities in human culture as well as in the ideological and ethical standards( TIAN Ye 2010). There are certain aspects of learning such as problem solving, reasoning, creative thinking that are used across the whole curriculum. During cross curricular work teachers can help learners recognise these underpinning skills and how they are used in differ ent contexts. The Design Technology National Curriculum demonstrates that, Opportunities for teaching and learning all these skills across the key stages can be identified when planning. Pupils can be encouraged to reflect on what and on how they learn, and how these skills can be applied to different subjects, different problems and real-life situations. (National Curriculum 1999) Recognition is an important step towards using such skills in a strategic, flexible and intentional way. Learning is enhanced by learners being aware of how thinking and learning occurs, which gives them increased control over their learning, however coherence must be taken into account to ensure lessons are taught with a meaningful outcome. Social constructivism is a variety of cognitive constructivism that stresses the nature of a broad range of learning. Vygotsky was a cognitive theorist, but rejected the assumption made by other cognitivists such as Piaget and Perry that it was possible to separate learning from its social context. He argued that all cognitive functions originate in, and must therefore be explained as products of, social interactions and that learning was not simply the incorporation and accommodation of new knowledge by learners; it was the process by which learners were integrated into a knowledge community. According to Vygotsky: Every function in the childs cultural development appears twice: first, on the social level and, later on, on the individual level; first, between people (interpsychological) and then inside the child (intrapsychological). This applies equally to voluntary attention, to logical memory, and to the formation of concepts. All the higher functions originate as actual relationships between individuals. (Vygotsky 1978 p. 57) Vygotsky accepted Piagets claim that learners respond not to external stimuli but to their interpretation of those stimuli. However, he argued that cognitivists such as Piaget had overlooked the essentially social nature of language. As a result, he claimed they had failed to understand that learning is a collaborative process. Vygotsky distinguished between two developmental levels (Vygotsky 1978 p. 85) The level of potential development, the zone of proximal development is the level of development that the learner is capable of reaching under the guidance of teachers or in collaboration with peers. The learner is capable of solving problems and understanding material at this level that they are not capable of solving or understanding at their level of actual development. The level of potential development is the level at which learning takes place. It comprises cognitive structures that are still in the process of maturing, but which can only mature under the guidance of or in coll aboration with others. Similarly in Literacy from the National Curriculum it is stated that children should; talk about matters of immediate interest. They listen to others and usually respond appropriately. They convey simple meanings to a range of listeners, speaking audibly, and begin to extend their ideas or accounts by providing some detail. (National Curriculum 1999) This valuable approach to learning can give pupils the option to choose their own questions, this gives ownership of control over work and increases commitment to it. The National Curriculum only gives teachers a small amount of flexibility in the way they plan to teach literacy as the structure of literacy hour itself is tightly defined. (Hayes 2004) Using an integrated approach to teaching and learning allows the teaching to be incorporated into a fun and different pedagogy and therefore allows the learning to become less structured, rigid and formal. Teaching Design Technology can be seen to require a cross-curricular and team approac h and ultimately a whole school approach. It has added implications for resourcing, for timetable changes and for different teaching and learning styles and strategies. (Sebba 2007) An activity using the collaborative learning theory, may include going on a treasure hunt and generally being outdoors and undertaking something different and new, which increases enjoyment and variety, thus having potential to enhance teacher-pupil relationships. Child centred teaching approaches, based on interpretations of Piagets work, were adopted with commitment by teachers in the late 1960s and 70s. Great imagination and care were put into providing varied and stimulating classroom environments from which children could derive challenging experiences.( Pollard 2008) This relates also to the Researching Effective Pedagogy in the Early Years (REPEY 2002) One of the key findings of this report concerns the development of thinking skills: it has been found that good outcomes for children were found to be linked to adult-child interactions that included sustained shared thinking and open-ended questioning to extend childrens thinking. Including adult modelling is often combined wit h sustained periods of shared thinking. Developing childrens own ideas and investigation activities often provided the best opportunities for adults to extend childrens thinking. In support of this in the research for The Effective Provision of Pre-School Education Project (EPPE project) sustained shared thinking is identified as one of the key features of high-quality provision, and is described as: Where two or more individuals work together in an intellectual way to solve a problem, clarify a concept, evaluate an activity or extend a narrative. Both parties must contribute to the thinking and it must develop and extend their understanding. (EPPE project 2003) The research found that the most effective settings encourage sustained shared thinking, which was most likely to occur when children were interacting one on one with an adult or with a single peer partner. Excellence and Enjoyment which can be developed through varying ways of learning, is a key factor within cross curricular and outdoor learning. Within these factors is the enquiry cycle however, it is vital that the enquiry is structured. This means that children at all levels of development can work in mixed groups to achieve their full potential. The Excellence and Enjoyment Document from the Department of Children Schools and Families (DSCF) claims that education is a critical stage in childrens development it shapes them for life. As well as giving them the essential tools for learning, primary education is about children experiencing the joy discovery, solving problems, being creative in writing, art, music, developing their self-confidence as learners and maturing socially and emotionally.(DCSF 2003) Outdoor experiences reinforce learning in the classroom by providing an environment to test out ideas and hypotheses and allowing pupils to extend their understanding of the real world. The social, economic, physical, cultural and mental environment in which we live seems to have a powerful effect on how we develop intellectually and physically (Barnes 2007) Education is more than the acquisition of knowledge it is improving young peoples understanding, skills, values and personal development which in turn can significantly enhance learning and achievement. Learning outdoors provides a framework for learning that uses surroundings and communities outside the classroom. This enables the pupils to develop communication skills and self confidence and allows them to construct their own learning and live successfully in the world that surrounds them. The Outward Bound Document (2012) hypothesised that outdoor experiences improve academic achievement as pupils are free to learn openly and outdoor learning can introduce children to a widening range of environments. The fact of the environment so clearly affects the brain development of other mammals might lead us to examine closely the relationship between the environments our children work in and their mental, physical and spiritual development(Barnes 2007). Overall learning outdoors provides challenges and the opportunity to take acceptable levels of risk. Giving young people responsibility for achieving these outcomes helps them to learn from their successes and failures. (Outdoors Manifesto 2006) The National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education (NACCCE) report inferred that creativity in education and learning should include, imaginative activity fashioned so as to produce outcomes that are both original and of value (Craft, A.; Cremin, T.; Burnard, P. and Chappell, K. 2007). The report includes that creativity should be more incorporated in the national curriculum, however creativity is not just related to the creative arts, music, art and dance it is about different ways of thinking. Creativity is about exploring different ways of doing things, such as asking what if..? questions and then looking for the answers. Being creative helps us to adapt and respond to a rapidly changing world. We dont know the challenges that the children we work with will grow up to face, but we do know that for them to meet these challenges they will need to be creative and imaginative. (Department for Education 2005) Children gain knowledge and develop with different learning styles, visual, auditory and kinesthetic, the outdoors environment reinforces this. Barnes argued that there are other important factors influencing creative development the teachers personal qualities the ethos of the school and the particular pedagogical style all impact on the learning of the child. (Barnes 2007). Creativity is about allowing individuals to follow their interests so that they become lost in a task or an idea. In relation to our group project the children could be encouraged to ask questions, collect materials to use within the class room and from this incorporating the findings into a scrapbook. Within the class room investigation this has a strong link with Design Technology and could include collages, paintings, designing, drama and other ways of developing their creative skills. The Excellence and Enjoyment Document supports this theory as Teachers found that when they actively planned for and responde d to pupils creative ideas and actions, pupils became more curious to discover things for themselves, were open to new ideas and keen to explore those ideas with the teacher and others. Promoting creativity is a powerful way of engaging pupils with their learning. (Department for Schools Children and Families 2003) Ofsted released documents in both 2004 and 2011 which concluded that many educational establishments recognised the importance of outdoors learning. Experience of the outdoors and wilderness has the potential to confer a multitude of benefits on young peoples physical development, emotional and mental health and well being and societal development. (OFSTED 2004 pg17) It is commonly known that children enjoy being outside and exploring new experiences, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the outdoor environment can be more than a place to burn off steam, with more educators and architects and designers embracing the ideas that outdoor play space provides chances for the highest level of development and learning. When used best, it can be a place for investigation, exploration and social interaction. (Child Care and Resource Unit, 2008). The Early Years Foundation Stage (2012) (EYFS) has also stated that young children need adults around them to value and enjoy the outdoors themselves in order to feel safe and secure, and this means there is a need for higher staff to child ratio allowing all children to receive the same support. In support of this it has been stated by Dillon et al (2006) that the fear and concern about  health  and  safety is a main issue about using outdoor provisions freely and meeting school curriculum requirements and the time used meeting these targets. Dillion also stated that the amount of time used for outdoor learning were affected by the shortages of time, resources and support and the wider changes within and beyond the education sector, affecting teachers and pupils experiences of outdoor learning. Moyles discusses the issues of how teachers view outdoor learning; the article researched into outdoor learning and it was suggested that Integrating indoor and outdoor teaching and learning experiences is less well developed. Outdoor experiences are somewhat problematic for some settings which have only very restricted or no outdoor facilities. The most effective practitioners are able to develop creative ways of ensuring field trips to local parks and playgrounds (Moyles et al 2002 pg140) Ideally both environments should the available simultaneously to the children through a seamless transition space and the children should be able to choose between indoor and outdoor spaces in free flow provision, which in turn allows children to make their own decisions building self development skills. This practise can also be used in relation to the curriculum and particularly Design Technology, as the variety of materials that can be collected and use differ greatly when looking at indoor and outdoor resources. The use of interactive communication technology can support all subjects, however with Design Technology and the outdoors it can be part of the planned approach to outdoor learning and can add value to the outcomes for children and young people. Experiences  recorded digitally, for example, can be  taken back into the classroom and used to reinforce and further expand on the experience itself. The EYFS states Outdoor learning complements indoor learning and is equally important. Play and learning that flow seamlessly between indoors and outdoors enable children to make the most of the resources and materials available to them and develop their ideas without unnecessary interruption. (EYFS Effective Practice: Outdoor Learning 2007) The outdoor environment usually offers more freedom and space to move, allowing development of gross motor skills. This is vital for young children to develop their coordination, build muscle mass and experiment with moving their bo dies. Research has shown that encouraging children to play outside may be a key way of increasing their levels of physical activity (Burdette, et. al., 2005). Gross motor skills can be developed better in the outdoors where there is space for children to move around as discussed by Parsons in his article, Young Children and Nature: Outdoor Play and Development, Experiences Fostering Environmental Consciousness, And the Implications on Playground Design (2011). Conclusion Overall from the literature I have read and discussed in relation to the outdoors, integrated learning and Design Technology, it can be seen that both cross curricular and outdoor learning have positive and negative aspects in childrens education, including safety precautions and child development. The outdoors can be seen to offer a perfect companion to provision indoors, used in addition to the outdoor environment as it enhances and extends what we are able to give children inside on the contrary it can be argued many settings do not get the opportunities to use the outdoors space appropriately (OFSTED 2004). Conversely I believe that even without adequate outdoor provision children can be taken outside the setting on walks and trips supported by EYFS (2012) Providers must provide access to an outdoor play area or, if that is not possible, ensure that outdoor activities are planned and taken on a daily basis.(DFES 2012) In summary children require a range of teaching techniques to ensure that they develop correct ways of thinking through problems and generally prepare them for the rest of their educational life. As can be seen the use of cross-curricular teaching and outdoor learning is a very useful way of promoting learning. By incorporating a topic which motivates and inspires the children (habitats and materials) into the childrens learning it allows them to make mental cognitive links and allows the children to develop problem solving, and also to develop the ability to make links between curricular subjects such as history, science, art, design and technology, literacy and geography. Promoting creativity in learning provides a new dimension to the curriculum by exciting the children about a subject, which then goes on to develop strong links with the child and the possibilities of learning. Overall the links between cross-curricular activities, linked with local area studies and finally incorp orating creative learning, all go to aid in improving the development of key techniques which a child needs for later life. In thinking about outdoor provision, the central idea that we must hold in our minds is that the outdoors is different to indoors, these differences are what make it special and important. As a professional I need to be clear about how the outdoors differs from the indoors, why children benefit from being outside and how the outdoors affects the ways in which young children learn. This thinking then gives us the key for what to provide and how to plan for the outdoor provision. The special nature of the outdoors fits the ways young children want to be, behave, learn and develop in so many ways. From creating both research and the resource file as a group, I have developed an in-depth understanding of teamwork and the importance of working collaboratively drawing on my own skills and those of others. I have a firm understanding that I need a breadth of subject knowledge to make coherent links between subjects. In reflection from the Outdoor Learning Day and the resource file I have recognised as a practitioner the importance of getting to know the strengths of the team I would be working with and therefore being able to discuss and support each other. As I learnt from the Outdoor Learning Day an issue that was challenging was that of having a whole school doing a similar activity with a wide age range and ability levels. In conclusion to this assignment I believe that integrated learning in the early primary curriculum both indoor and outdoor environments should complement each other. As a teacher I should make valid links between topics and use a wide variety of teaching techniques to enable children to meet all childrens needs helping them to develop and make progress at their own individual level. References Barnes, J. (2007) Cross-Curricular Learning 3-14. SBN-13:  978-0857020680  | Edition:  Second Edition Burdette, H., L., Witaker, R., C., (2005) Resurrecting free play in young children: looking beyond fitness and fatness to attention, affiliation and affect, American Medical Association, www.archpediatrics.com Cambridge Primary Review (2007) Children in primary schools: research on development, learning, diversity and educational needs Carr M. May H. (2000). Te Whariki: Curriculum voices. In H. Penn (Ed.) Early Childhood Services: theory, policy and practice. Buckingham: Open University Press. Craft, A.; Cremin, T.; Burnard, P. and Chappell, K. (2007). Developing creative learning through possibility thinking with children aged 3-7. In: Craft,