Kiswana Browne Essay

â€Å"She stared at the woman she had been and was to become.† — Kiswana Browne Mother-daughter relationships are complex and diverse. Some mothers and daughters are best friends, and others talk once a week. Some see each other weekly while others live in different cities or states. Kiswana Browne and her mother have a relationship like other mothers and daughters. She only wants the best for her daughter. They may fuss and they may argue, but they are more alike than they realize. Kiswana Browne, whose real name is Melanie, was born and raised in an affluent black suburb called Linden Hills. Like most people that graduate from high school, Kiswana went on to college to further her education. While in college, Kiswana was discovering her blackness and protesting for equality amongst black people. She changed her name and tried to wear an Afro, but her hair was so thin and fine-textured. She had to use lacquer so it would not lay flat. But before she had the chance to graduate from college, she dropped out and decided to move to Brewster Place to live with her p eople. Kiswana’s mother unexpectedly came to visit her at her new place. Kiswana is still afraid of her mother despite the fact that she has left her house and rejected her parents’ way of life. This is shown when she says, â€Å"Oh, God, it’s Mama!† She still feels the guilt that all the kids have when they do something against their parents will. Kiswana and he mother was not seeing eye-to-eye. Her mother did not want her to live in the poor community, but Kiswana has her mind set on being there with her people. She picks to live in a poor area of town, because she is trying to retaliate from the oppressions of the government and her families’ standards. In the beginning of the story, she sees her mother as distant and different. She believes that her mother is a sell out to her African heritage. Her mother assures her that she and Kiswana’s father are as concerned about the poor as much as she is. She also explains that they do not have t o live in Brewster Place to prove themselves to anyone. She cautions Kiswana that the long-awaited revolution will not materialize because society has moved to another phase. Instead, she suggests Kiswana to work within the system by becoming an assemblywoman or a civil liberties lawyer or by opening a freedom school in the neighborhood. She provides Kiswana with various ways of using her talents instead of allowing them to waste away in dead-end jobs. As Kiswana and her mother continue to argue about her new life in the poor area of town, it confirms all of Kiswana’s expectations of her mother’s disapproval. When her mother tells her she lives in a world of fantasy, Kiswana says that she is proud of her heritage and accuses her mother of being â€Å"a white man’s nigger who’s ashamed of being black†. Her mother then became angry with Kiswana and started to tell her about her family history. Yet after her mother explains her beliefs and concerns about her family, Kiswana begins to see the similarities between herself and her mother. After Mrs. Browne gave Kiswana a lesson about her family, she took off her shoe because they were hurting her feet. Bright red nail polish glared at Kiswana through the stockings. Her mother never really wore nail polish, but her husband talked her into. In the beginning of the story, Kiswana talked about how her friend was a foot man and how often she changed the color of her polish. Kiswana then thought, â€Å"I’ll be damned the young woman thought, feeling her whole face tingle. Daddy’s into feet! And she looked at the blushing woman on her couch and suddenly realized that her mother had trod through the same universe that she herself was now traveling. Kiswana was breaking no new trails and would eventually end up just two feet away on that couch. She stared at the woman she had been and was to become.† She learns that she is more like her mother than she ever imagined. Mothers and daughters go through situations similar to this a lot. The child thinks that they know everything, and things are to be done their way. They are not always right. Some individuals think that their parents are always against them and that they do not care about what they are doing in their life, but most of the time they are wrong. Some individuals also think that their parents have not gone through the things that they are going through, but some parents do. There is a saying â€Å"The apple does not fall far from the tree† and â€Å"L ike Mother, Like Daughter.† More than likely, you will act somewhat like your mother or father; you may also go through things that they went through. You never know.

Short Answer Responses

Short-Answer Responses 1. Based on your readings from Ch. 3 of the textbook and your personal experience, would you say that pop culture affects individuality? If so, how? Pop culture absolutely affects individuality. It permeates our society to where it shapes the actions and behaviors of whole communities. We are products of our environment for pop culture subversively guides our decisions, our morals, and influences heavily what we like and dislike.In reading the steps to starting to realize individuality from the book, oftentimes people do not stop to discern what values pop culture instills in society to be of their own true beliefs, and they are just going with what is popularly accepted (Ruggiero, 2009). It is a sort of voluntary conformity because of the desire to fit in, and pop culture’s influences are so subtle that many believe they are being individualistic when in fact they are living their lives per the dictates of pop culture. 2. Think back to your childhood an d the environment in which you were raised.How did those early childhood experiences influence the level of curiosity you have today? Considering that curiosity is an important element of creativity, identify techniques that can help you improve or regain your curiosity. Being raised in a large family meant there was usually someone available to answer questions as a child. If the first person was unavailable, the next was more accommodating. This encouragement of curiosity and the realization that persistence would lead to an answer is helpful in later life as it becomes the norm to question everything rather than accept it at face value.Although curiosity tends to wane as children grow into adulthood, there are several ways that people can regain their curiosity. Ruggiero (2009) stated â€Å"There are six specific techniques: a. Be observant b. Look for the imperfections in things c. Note your own and others dissatisfactions d. Search for causes e. Be sensitive to implications f. Recognize the opportunity in controversy† (p. 116). In other words: being aware of your surroundings and taking note of them, looking for ways that things could be improved, and recognizing that other people’s dissatisfaction probably means that a problem exists that needs a solution.To do this, the cause of the problem needs to be discovered and once a solution has been presented, the possible impact of the solution on the people involved should be taken into account. 3. One of the key controversies in psychology is nature versus nurture. Is this a problem or an issue? Explain. In psychology, nature versus nurture tends to be an issue more than a problem. Ruggiero (2009) declares that â€Å"A problem is a situation that we regard as unacceptable; where an issue is a matter about which intelligent, informed people disagree to some extent. Many psychologists believe that people behave as they do because of hereditary or inborn factors. This is where the â€Å"natureâ €  theory of human behavior comes into play. Other psychologists will argue that people think and behave as they do because of environmental factors, or simply put, because they were taught to do so. Nature versus nurture is clearly an issue because it is a matter that informed people, in this case psychologists, disagree to some extent as to what causes human behavior. 4. Identify three sources of information you may use when investigating a problem or issue.Compare steps you would take to refine the solutions to a problem with steps to refine resolutions of an issue. Three sources of information you may use when investigating a problem or issue include expert opinion, observational study, and research review. Because an issue and a problem are two different things, so are the steps taken to refine them. According to Ruggiero (2009), steps to refine your solution to a problem include: a. Working out the details b. Finding imperfections and complication c. Making improvement Step s to refine resolutions of an issue are: a.Deciding what action should be taken b. Recognizing and overcoming difficulties In both of these methods step one is similar, but it seems like deciding what action should be taken is more aggressive than working out the details. With step two, recognizing and overcoming difficulties seems like it would be more proactive in finding a resolution quicker than with finding imperfections and complications. Another comparative I noticed is that it takes more steps to refine a solution to a problem. Finding a resolution to an issue seems like an easier task than finding a solution to a problem. 5.Sometimes your ego can make it hard for you to receive criticism of your own solutions. Do you think some personality types are naturally better at receiving criticism than are others? What strategies can you use to be more receptive of criticism of your own ideas and solutions? Ego often gets in the way and makes it hard to receive criticism. There are multiple reasons this occurs. Once we have settled on an idea, we tend to take ownership with interest in that idea. The thought of someone finding flaw with it is often hard to swallow. However, criticism is an important part of problem solving because no solution is perfect.Additional, your perspective may be different from that of another person based on personal experiences, your interpretation of something you saw, read, or heard etc. Criticism, regardless of your personality type, is not easy for anyone to receive. What makes the difference is how a person responds to criticism. Perhaps an individual that has a high self-esteem would be more open to other ideas and be able to see the need to step back and review the idea objectively. There are two strategies that can be applied to overcome the natural reaction to defend your idea against criticism vs. ctively looking at it with an open mind. First, remind yourself that the feelings you may have to defend your idea are normal b ut you must disregard the initial reaction and force yourself to examine the idea critically. Second, use your ego to your benefit. When you are ready to give up and stop examining an idea, think about how you would feel if a flaw were to be pointed out. Visualize the situation, would you feel embarrassed. This visualization should provide a sufficient amount of motivation to subdue the ego in the â€Å"ME MONSTER† and continue to accept criticism and continue evaluating your deas. 6. When oversimplifying, a person distorts and misrepresents complex matters. How can you find and overcome oversimplifications in your arguments? To find oversimplifications in an argument, consider what important parts of the issue have not been addressed. Is the argument only focused on one point? To correct an oversimplification, state the argument in a way that considers all aspects of the matter accurately without distorting the facts to reflect a single point of view (Ruggiero, 2009).

Process Flow Chart

The Flow Process Chart In analysing processes, particular actions along the way are often significant, especially if you are looking to eliminate sources of waste (or muda, as the Japanese call it) such as having documents piling up in in-trays or materials being moved from pillar to post. How it works The Flow process Chart is a simple half-text, half-picture method of showing the steps in a process, using symbols to indicate the type of action being taken and text to give details of the action. The chart can selectively be used to show what happens to selected people, materials or equipment. [pic] Parts of a Flow Process Chart A particularly useful feature of the chart is that it can be drawn up as the process is happening. Thus you can follow a part around a factory floor, for example, noting how and when it is machined, stored, moved, etc. The table below shows many of the symbols that may be found in Flow Process Charts. |Symbol |Title |Description | |[pic] |Operation |A complex action or process (possibly described elsewhere), often | | | |changing something. |[pic] |Transport |Movement of people or things. May be accompanied by a distance | | | |measurement. | |[pic] |Delay |Idle time of people or machines, or temporary storage of materials. | |[pic] |Storage |Permanent storage of materials or other items. | |[pic] |Inspection |Checking of items to ensure correct quality or quantity. | [pic] |Combined operation |Overlay symbols for actions which combine types. Put the main activity | | | |outside. | |[pic] |Reject |Rejection of item. Parentheses show percentage of items rejected. Line to| | | |right l ead to consequent action. | |[pic] |Differentiated operation|Letter shows type of operation, e. g. C = clerical, | | | |M = machine, etc. |[pic] |State change |Description indicates change in state, for example a liquid cooling into | | | |a solid. | |[pic] |Alternating processes |Down-arrow indicates one of several possible actions. This can show | | | |alternative or simultaneous processes. | How to do it 1. Identify the process to be charted and the objective for charting it. 2. Identify the symbol set to be used. 3. Record the steps of the process as it happens, starting at the top of the page, with symbols on the left overlaying a vertical line with appropriate notes about what is happening to the right. Try to record significant activities which are generally of approximately equal size (unless the problem is at the detail level, do not try to capture too much detail). You can also make the diagram more useful by such tricks as numbering the different action types in sequence (for example so you can see how many times the item under examination was moved) and changing the direction of ovement arrows to show input or output activity. You can also put the time taken in each activity to the left of the symbol. [pic]Using the Flow Process Chart 4. If you are watching the process as it happens, you may want to repeat the analysis several times to ensure you have captured the normal chain of events. 5. Analyse the final chart, for example totalling times taken in non-value-adding activities such as storage, movement and inspection. Process Flow Chart The Flow Process Chart In analysing processes, particular actions along the way are often significant, especially if you are looking to eliminate sources of waste (or muda, as the Japanese call it) such as having documents piling up in in-trays or materials being moved from pillar to post. How it works The Flow process Chart is a simple half-text, half-picture method of showing the steps in a process, using symbols to indicate the type of action being taken and text to give details of the action. The chart can selectively be used to show what happens to selected people, materials or equipment. [pic] Parts of a Flow Process Chart A particularly useful feature of the chart is that it can be drawn up as the process is happening. Thus you can follow a part around a factory floor, for example, noting how and when it is machined, stored, moved, etc. The table below shows many of the symbols that may be found in Flow Process Charts. |Symbol |Title |Description | |[pic] |Operation |A complex action or process (possibly described elsewhere), often | | | |changing something. |[pic] |Transport |Movement of people or things. May be accompanied by a distance | | | |measurement. | |[pic] |Delay |Idle time of people or machines, or temporary storage of materials. | |[pic] |Storage |Permanent storage of materials or other items. | |[pic] |Inspection |Checking of items to ensure correct quality or quantity. | [pic] |Combined operation |Overlay symbols for actions which combine types. Put the main activity | | | |outside. | |[pic] |Reject |Rejection of item. Parentheses show percentage of items rejected. Line to| | | |right l ead to consequent action. | |[pic] |Differentiated operation|Letter shows type of operation, e. g. C = clerical, | | | |M = machine, etc. |[pic] |State change |Description indicates change in state, for example a liquid cooling into | | | |a solid. | |[pic] |Alternating processes |Down-arrow indicates one of several possible actions. This can show | | | |alternative or simultaneous processes. | How to do it 1. Identify the process to be charted and the objective for charting it. 2. Identify the symbol set to be used. 3. Record the steps of the process as it happens, starting at the top of the page, with symbols on the left overlaying a vertical line with appropriate notes about what is happening to the right. Try to record significant activities which are generally of approximately equal size (unless the problem is at the detail level, do not try to capture too much detail). You can also make the diagram more useful by such tricks as numbering the different action types in sequence (for example so you can see how many times the item under examination was moved) and changing the direction of ovement arrows to show input or output activity. You can also put the time taken in each activity to the left of the symbol. [pic]Using the Flow Process Chart 4. If you are watching the process as it happens, you may want to repeat the analysis several times to ensure you have captured the normal chain of events. 5. Analyse the final chart, for example totalling times taken in non-value-adding activities such as storage, movement and inspection.

The strategic management of human resources Essay

The strategic management of human resources - Essay Example This paper investigates the implementation of strategic human resource management (SHRM) integrating with the scope of linkages between SHRM and Corporate Strategy Process. To demonstrate the integration SHRM and corporate strategy process, strategic integration framework of Golden and Ramnujam's (1985) has considered as a base and evidences has been drawn from both global and UK corporate houses. The out6comes should provide support to the momentum for the HRM activity to accomplish an enhanced level of strategic integration with the corporate planning process. Evidence also supports that after integration HRM activities within the companies have gained a strategic status inside the business planning process. Yeung, A., & Brockbank, W., (1995) mentioned that a very important output of the planning process is a strategy for an organisation. The term strategy refers to what managers want the organisation to accomplish. A strategy positions the organisation in a particular place in the organisation's environment. On the other hand, human resource management (HRM) is the management function that deals with recruitment, placement, training, and development of organisation members. So, we can define strategic human resource management as the management process that involves an organisation's engaging in strategic planning and then acting on those plans by utilizing human resources to get better output and thus any organisation meet its goals. Managers always remember that most important resources are the people who supply the work, talent, creativity, and drive to the corporate strategy process. The Role of Strategic Management with the Corporate Strategy Process: Stephen, T, (1998) added that the corporate Strategy is the broad program for defining and achieving an organisation's objectives, the organisation's response to its environment over time. Basically, administrative tasks needed to put strategy into practice. The management process that involves an organisation engaging in strategic planning and then acting on those plans is known as strategic management. Strategic management provides a disciplined way for managers to make sense of the environment in which their organisation operates, and then to act. In broad terms, two phases are involved: 1. Strategic planning is the name we customarily give to the sense-making activity. This includes both the goal setting and the strategy-formulation processes that Hofer, C. W. Schendel, D., (1978) distinguished. 2. Strategy implementation is the name we customarily give to actions based on that kind of planning. This stage includes Hofer, C. W. Sch

The Development of Agriculture in Mesopotamia and the Comparison to Essay

The Development of Agriculture in Mesopotamia and the Comparison to Other Agricultural Hearths - Essay Example Still, Mesopotamian influences, along with those of China, provided the structure through which the agriculture of India was developed. The rise of agriculture in Mesoamerica was developed through an independent set of inventions. It is clearly, however, Mesopotamia that has the earliest development of agriculture in the world. The primary reasons for the Fertile Crescent to be the first to develope agriculture were due to time, environment, and increased populations that formed city-states. In discussing the nature of the development of agriculture in the Fertile Crescent, it is important to understand the way in which time is a factor in producing commodities for a civilization. In order to feed the people of the region, hunting gathering would have been the first form of communal food resourcing that would have been attempted. Because of the nature of the geography of the area, this was not an efficient system for gathering food and creating enough nourishment for the people. As m ore people gathered in concentric areas, it became clear that a different method of food production would be needed to satisfy the needs of so many people that had become a growing population. The problem in the geography was that the areas were mostly mountainous, covered with vast forests and brushwood.1 It was a better choice to create resources of food in more central areas, farms that could feed people rather than requiring them to go out into the world to find their food. The time required to hunt and gather was inefficient. Time is also relevant in relationship to the climate, the rains of the region more frequent and in a better balance for agriculture than they currently are for the area. It is likely, according to climatology history, that between the Ice Age and about 4000BCE the monsoon rains extended farther West, providing for a more moisture rich environment than currently exists.2 The environment was more conducive to planting, the land more rich in nutrients and the way in which growing needs were met. The world has changed a great deal and the answers to the reasons for questions of history often lie in greater conveniences available during those times in contrast to the way in which circumstances exist presently. Time period is relevant to the developments that existed as the collision of fertile circumstances provide for opportunities to develop. As the rains created a rich environment, the development of harnessing the rain through irrigation increased the level of farming that could be accomplished. The other way in which time is relevant is through the time it took for the agricultural culture to develop. Agriculture did not spring up during a period of a few hundred years. The development of agriculture was reflective of a period of more than a thousand years, the development emerging through a long period of time where single farmers moved to villages, which moved to towns, then moving and arranging themselves into city-states. This to ok a millennia of time for the processes of agriculture to begin to develop, the populations put into place, and solutions to the problems of resource allocation to be focused on growing and

Texts 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Texts 2 - Essay Example The model somehow mixes the inner and outer sings as well as many disciplines which can be seen by explaining that sociology, psychology and economics are major disciplines whereas parks and recreation, agriculture and transport are not the fields of study but are included as major disciplines in the model. The model actually is a puzzle between major and minor disciplines (Tribe, 1999) Also, we can say that marketing and business represent themselves as a problem. Marketing in general is considered a business function, it uses principles and guidelines from sociology and psychology as well as uses some of the business principles. Marketing is studied as a sub major in business and also, law is included in the business studies. So we can include these two as sub majors in the major discipline of business. "techniques required in business studies are derivative partly from the disciplines that contribute to them and partly from the world of business practice." Henkel’s analysis clearly explains aforementioned theories and states that in an alternate form that the validation of a part of its knowledge is outside of its academy (tribe, 1999). Tourism and business studies are the two emerging fields of studies and both of these fields collide or cooperate with each other in one way or the other. Hence, Tribe forces on the fact that there needs to be a new formulation of re interpretation of the model presented by Ritchie and Jafari since we need to incorporate business and marketing in the their model.Accommodating all the disciplines and departments under one heading of tourism studies is rather confusing and very difficult. We can say that we now need to divide the field of tourism studies into multiple fields, at least two and one of these two fields can be called tourism business studies whereas rest are still to be identified or incorporated into other fields of tourism studies. A tourism business study is a field of study mainly inspired from business

Nursing Leadership Guide Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Nursing Leadership Guide - Essay Example Past experiences in the nursing arena has helped individuals learn and develop theories that are applicable to day to day practices in the health care. Nursing is a very dynamic field and new challenges emerge. These challenges require high level of preparedness. According to (Daly & Speed, 2004) a recurring theme of leadership in nursing that it is something that can be learned and applied to leadership challenges as they appear. Thus leaders in nursing should have passion, commitment and flexibility. Incompetence in leadership affects all professions. Nursing is not excluded. There are so many reported cases that can be related to leadership from nurses. The fact that the profession deals with society directly is a clear indication that there is need for high level of leadership. (Williams & Media, 2015) A case is reported in a medical journal concerning a supervising nurse from a local medical centre who found herself in trouble after giving her juniors freedom to plan their own working schedule. (Nurses) The writer of the articles explains how the nurse did not posses any authority in controlling the rest of the workmates. As a supervisor, he was expected to create weekly work schedules, compile daily reports on performance of the nurses among other responsibilities. The article’s main concern was one particular event in the hospital that shocked everyone. One morning, as everyone was reporting to work, the supervising staff was shocked to realize that she was the only nurse present at work. She got concerned and decided to call the rest of the nurses. On calling the nurses, they all claimed that they thought it was their day off. An urgent meeting was called that afternoon to discuss the issue. At the meeting, the management questioned the supervising nurse concerning what really happened that night. According to her, the previous day, she asked her juniors how they would wish to take their day off starting from the following day. Each

Strategic Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Strategic Marketing - Essay Example In the above statement, he emphasized on the imagination of people for bringing new product development with innovative technologies. In the gradual development of globalization, the technological advancement is one of the most vital factors. The process of globalization has led to change the thoughts, views and opinions of human beings and they become more capable of imagining which was once considered to impossible (Samli, 2011, p.125). The capability of imagination is the most powerful strength of mankind that has brought significant developments. Basically, the imagination acts as a tool for inspiration and it motivate people to be innovative. In this regard, Morgan has commented correctly that â€Å"imagination motivates people to climb mountains, to paints pictures and to win races† and people are applying their imagination in the field of business management (Morgan, 2001, p.79). The greatest innovation in the world is a successful outcome of imagination. People may pos sess necessary technological knowledge and expertise or necessary monetary requirement. No doubt that these factors are indispensible for product development but the first priory is creativity based on with the technological knowhow is applied for practical implications. Archytus of Taremtum, the great mathematician during 400 B.C. imagined and created a wooden bird which was able to fly. Finally, in 1950s, George C. Devol first invented and patented modern robot which was based on imagination developed by Archytus 400 B.C ago. There are also an ample numbers of such examples that proves that imagination is prime factors behind development of new products (Patel, 2011, p.5). Question 3 â€Å"Evaluation consumes high proposition of... The researcher states that in the process of strategic business management, evaluation is one of the most critical steps for any company. In the process of evaluation, the effectiveness of implemented strategies and performances of each responsible employee are assessed for further betterment of entire situations. The performance evaluation of each employee is helpful in identifying the areas of improvements though proper performance appraisal methods. These performance appraisal methods are also meant to offer promotions, higher remunerations and incentives. The process of evaluation affected time and energy of marketing executive that can be used for more productively. The task of marketing executives generally includes the development of marketing campaigns and promotions of products and services for generating higher amount of sales. Their tasks are very challenging and they have to use their creativity to attract the target audience and target market. Creativity comes from the i magination and for motivating the marketing executive to think creative marketing ideas, it is necessary to provide sufficient time and energy. In the evaluation process consumes the time and energy of each employee including marketing executive. Therefore, the management must consider such drawbacks of evaluation for marketing executives. William R. King have identified that performance appraisal of marketing executives are difficult to interpret as task of marketing like creating ideas cannot be directly quantify.

Behavior and Communication Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Behavior and Communication Paper - Essay Example The various awards and accolades received by the corporation attested to the exemplary commitment of the Starbucks to nurture the human spirit through the exemplary products being offered, as well as through serving the interests of its stakeholders. The types of communication that Starbucks uses for internal purposes include inter-office communication modes such as email, social networking sites (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, My Starbucks Idea), and through phone. Likewise, for external communication, its official website disseminates contact numbers through the ‘contact us’ portal where email, mail, phone, and customer service links are provided. Since the culture of the organization focuses on inclusion and diversity, as well as commitment to nurturing the human spirit, their types and modes of communication are consistent with the organization’s culture. Through open lines of communication in various modes and medium, Starbucks has signified a proactive and determined stance to generate inputs, comments, suggestions, and inquiries from its varied stakeholders (employees, customers, investors, shareholders, management, suppliers, and community members). Concurrently, their pronounced commitment for social and corporate responsibility also attests to the dedication to their organizational culture, as well as the values of diversity and inclusion being promoted. The information being made available to the public through their official website conforms to their commitment to the organization’s culture through signifying that all facets of operations, as well as the strategies designed to achieve their mission, vi sion, and goals are explicitly communicated to their stakeholders. The espoused values of taking extra care of their products, partners, employees, the environment, and the community, definitely align with the enacted

The Life and Influences of Albert Einstein Essay Example for Free

The Life and Influences of Albert Einstein Essay Sometimes in history, ironically, the greatest contributions to society come from the most inconceivable places. Undoubtedly, Albert Einstein contributed not only innovative thought to his time, but also aided in revolutionizing science especially in physics. His efforts, however, would not have been expected by historians if only his childhood was examined. Einstein was born March 14, 1879 to Herman and Pauline Einstein. Albert was the first child born to this young, Jewish couple. After a year, the couple moved to Munich where Einstein would spend the remainder of his childhood (Schulmann, par. 1). Like many children during this time, Einsteins childhood was a normal one, except that to his familys irritation, he learnt to speak at a late age (Schulmann, par. 1). His childhood was fortunate in that he was able to receive a high quality of education. By the age of five he was enrolled in a private school and by six he was receiving a full scale education at Petersschule, a Catholic school in Munich (Schulmann, par. 1). Einstein never shined in school and when attempting to apply to ETH, a school in Zurich, he was turned down because his exam results were insufficient (Schulmann, par. 2). Therefore, Einstein followed the advice of his rector and attended the Kantonsschule in the town of Aarau in order to improve his knowledge (Schulmann, par. 2). The remainder of Einsteins early life was marked by disappointment in that he was rejected from various schools and jobs. In between jobs, Einstein tutored in mathematics and physics and out of this grew Akademie Olympia, an organization devoted to scientific and philosophical questions (Schulmann, par. 3). This organization may have been the major origin for Einsteins transformation from average student to genius (Schulmann, par.3). It is important to understand that Einsteins innovations and theorys came at a time when science and technology was booming. Scientific revolutions were occurring with uncanny frequency in the disciplines of biology, invention, and chemistry due to the devotion of numerous, professional scientists. Charles Darwin, in 1859, wrote Origin of Species a philosophical breakthrough in biology in the theory of evolution. In 1879, the same year as Einsteins birth, Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. Finally, in 1908, Ernest Rutherford received a Nobel Prize for his earlier work on illustrating the atomic nucleus (Scientific Timeline). However, Einsteins innovative theology and contributions to science in quantum mechanics, the relationship between mass and energy, and the principle of equivalence may have advanced science further than anyone. Albert Einstein didnt invent anything. He didnt discover a new planet or star. He didnt produce something faster, bigger, or better (Wishinsky p. 1). He did however, see the world in a new way. He asked new questions about light, energy, space, time, mass, and gravity. He formulated new answers. He made scientists rethink their old theories and see new possibilities (Wishinsky p. 1). Einstein conducted many studies. A few of them are quantum mechanics, the relationship between mass and energy, and the principle of equivalence. Quantum mechanics is defined in Albert Einstein: the Rebel behind Relativity, by Jake Goldberg, as a theory of matter that describes the behavior of subatomic particles based on the idea that they have properties of both waves and particles. A man by the name of Planck researched this idea before Einstein. But, Einstein elaborated more on the idea that energy is emitted and absorbed by objects in tiny chunks called quanta (Goldberg p. 38). In Einsteins first paper that he wrote, he agreed with Plancks ideas (Goldberg p. 38). Einstein said that light is actually made up of quanta whose energy content, or size, depends on the frequency of the light. When the light on the metal was made more intense, the metal was bombarded by more quanta of the same size, none of which had the push to knock out electrons any faster. But when the frequency of the light was increased, bigger quanta were created that could knock out electrons at higher speeds (Goldberg p. 38). Even though, Einstein agreed with Planck, he did surpass him in the end because he was suggesting not only that energy is emitted and absorbed in tiny bundles, but that the light waves themselves are made up of energy bundles (Goldberg p. 39). Another study Einstein performed was the relationship between mass and energy. He discovered that the two are equivalent (Swisher p. 41). However, in the past, scientists had thought energy and mass were separate and had developed separate laws for each. With this new perspective, Einstein reasoned that if a body, a mass of something, gave off energy, then the size of the mass would diminish, according to the amount of energy given off (Swisher p. 43). He thought that this idea would hold true for all forms of energy: heat, light, or electricity. To make a formula, he used E to symbolize energy and again he used c, the constant of light. His formula E/c^2 calculates the amount of energy given off Einstein realized that the reverse is also true, that all mass is equivalent to energy. With this discovery, he was able to calculate the actual amount of conversion with the equation E=mc^2 (Swisher p. 43). A different study he did was discovering the principle of equivalence. He found out that the force of gravity was equivalent to the force produced by acceleration. (Parker p. 19). According to Einstein, there are two way to measure mass. One is the force by which gravity pulls on it the familiar weight here on Earth. The other is the force needed to make it accelerate (Parker p. 19). These two ways are known today as gravitational mass and inertial mass. Einstein reasoned that the mass of a large object such as the Sun would attract the energy in something weightless like light (Parker p. 19). Albert Einstein has been one of the few scientists to totally change mans view of the world (The New Book of Knowledge pg. 104). His face stares out from posters, mugs, and magazine ads-a somber, time-worn face beneath a wild mane of silvery hair. Hes a cartoonists dream-the model for the brilliant but dreamy professor, wrapped in complex thoughts, oblivious to the everyday world. (Heinrichs pg. 4) During the first half of this century Einstein set forth a number of theories about the physical world. These theories dealt with everything from the inside of an atom to the farthest regions of the universe. (The New Book of Knowledge pg. 104) Einsteins theories were created to prove that elements such as gravity, energy, matter, light, space, and time are all related to one another (The New Book of Knowledge pg. 104). Einstein worked out his theories in the laboratory of his mind. He had to use the most advanced kinds of mathematics to describe his ideas. These theories were so unusual and complicated the very few scientists could understand them at first. (The New Book of Knowledge pg. 104) After years of tests, experiments, and observations on Albert Einsteins theories, they were proven to be accurate (The New Book of Knowledge pg. 104). The theories not only explained what was already known, but they allowed scientists to predict what would happen. (The New Book of Knowledge pg. 104) One of the scientists efforts dealt with quantum mechanics. It aggravated Einstein that he could not figure out why light sometimes behaves like a particle and sometimes like a wave. Other scientists devised some answers to the particle-wave question and moved ahead to develop the field of quantum mechanics. One of the basic ideas was the uncertainty principle-the idea that one could never predict when an atom would release a quantum of light. Einstein could never accept this. I cannot believe that God would choose to play dice with the Universe, was his now-famous comment (Heinrichs pg. 29). As the years pass, scientists have used quantum mechanics to invent many advanced inventions (Heinrichs pg. 29). Einstein for instance had shown that light could be amplified. Further research in quantum mechanics produced the laser, a name that stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Now lasers have thousands of practical uses in medicine and industry (Heinrichs pg. 29). Another one of Albert Einsteins most famous efforts is the popular equation of E=mc^2 (Heinrichs pg. 6). This equation means that energy equals mass times the speed of light squared. Basically, it explains that physical material can be transformed into energy. This principle led to the splitting of the atom, which ushered in the nuclear age. (Heinrichs pg. 6). This effort especially had a huge affect on the world. This discovery led to the makings of nuclear weapons, the atomic bomb, during World War II. On the other hand, Einsteins most well-known effort, that has probably had the biggest affect on science and the world, is his theory of relativity (Heinrichs pg. 6). Its the notion that space and time are not firm, fixed, and unchanging, but relative-swelling and shrinking with ones point of view. (Heinrichs pg. 6) There have been two different theories of relativity. Both have had big influences on science (Parker pg. 26). Special relativity was accepted in a few years. It was in the mainstream of scientific events, and it answered questions that scientists were asking. And it had many uses in the main areas of research being carried out at that time, such as nuclear physics and quantum mechanics. (Parker pg. 26). Also, it is an everyday tool for physicists working on the makeup of matter and the forces that bind it together. (Parker pg. 26). Einstein continued research for laws of the universe until the end (Freeman, pg. 106). It will be many years before all his ideas can be followed through. But like Copernicus and Isaac Newton, he forced men to re-examine their world. Directly or indirectly, Einstein has already influenced many areas of the modern world-science, art, philosophy. (Freeman, pg. 106) Albert Einstein has become a popular figure throughout the years, even though only few people understand his works (Heinrichs pg. 4). His discoveries opened the door to the development of television, lasers, transistors, computer chips, nuclear power, and space exploration. (Heinrichs pg. 4) Also, Albert Einstein encouraged many people to exercise their imagination. Imagination, he once said, is more important than knowledge, knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. (Heinrichs pg. 5) Thanks to Einstein, science fiction took off in fantastic new directions. His theories paved the way for what-if? scenarios about time travel, time warps, black holes, and voyages to distant galaxies. (Heinrichs pg. 5) Einstein was one of our greatest geniuses, period according to Bran Ferren the cochairman and chief creative officer of Applied Minds in his statement in the September 2004 Discover, this declaration is extremely clairvoyant in its praise for Einstein; but, even geniuses make statements and errors that can send waves of controversy through the discipline. Einstein was not immune to making errors or falsifying research as was most noted in his attempts to prove a paralyzed universe. According to Karen Hunt of Discover In 1916 Einstein what he considered a glitch in his new theory of general relativity (Wright 2004, 50). Instead of attempting to revise his newly presented theory he allowed pride to taint his new findings. To account for these new findings Einstein So he invented a fudge factor, called lambda, that could function mathematically to hold the universe at a standstill (Wright 2004, 50). Einstein himself admitted that lambda was a fudge factor when he said in regards to the constant was not justified by our actual knowledge of gravitation (Wright 2004, 50). Albert Einstein is often attributed to quantum mechanics and few realize the science made more steps in his attempts to disprove it. In the 1920s quantum mechanics became the rage, and it advanced by leaps and bounds, thanks in large part to Einsteins persistent efforts to discredit it (Wright 2004, 53) As the theory progressed one would assume Einstein would begin to support the theory he indirectly helped prove, but Einstein was never one to follow the normal. He was quoted as saying The more success quantum theory enjoys, the sillier it looks (Wright 2004, 53). Einstein never gave his acceptance of the quantum theory but finally shifted focus to other things such as the unified theory. Although Einstein made many mistakes and even falsified data it was but to prove that he was human. Even in his errors he often made many discoveries and spurred on further research and investigation. In his opposition he would often be the primary contributor to the discovery as in the quantum theory. Even when Einstein was wrong, in many ways he was still right and scientist today still envy his ingenious mistakes Most scientist would give their eyeteeth to make even one of Einsteins mistake (Wright 2004, 50) according to theoretical physicist Fred Goldhaber. Who could possibly be such a mortal scientist yet possess the gift to be inspiring in his errors and revolutionary in his theories. Truly Albert Einstein was a remarkable scientist whose contributions to the scientific world continue to revolutionize the way we think. Einstein, although not a renowned inventor, has influenced many modern day inventions including: smoke detectors, x-rays, GPS, roads, computer monitors, fiber optic cable, and many pharmaceuticals just to name a few (Bodanis 2004, 32). His theory of relativity stretched much farther then just the scientific realm according to Walter Isaacson when he wrote Einsteins theory of relativity not only reshaped physics, it also jangled the underpinnings of society (Isaacon 2004, 14). Albert Einstein contributed so much to the scientific realms but he has influenced our society with his image being associated with the term genius and his name being forever engraved into history. His examples of abstract thinking, unmovable resolve, learning from mistakes, and his desire for knowledge produce a near perfect formula for a revolutionary. References Bodanis, David. Tinker, Thinker, Inventor of the Modern World. Discover Sept. 2004: 32-35. Goldberg, Jake. Albert Einstein. Danbury, Connecticut: Franklin Watts, 1996. Isaacson, Walter. No Mere Genius. Discover Sept. 2004: 12-14.

Changing Business Environment of Coca-Cola

Changing Business Environment of Coca-Cola Summary The objective of this research is to study and evaluate the changing business environment of Coca-Cola over the past 5 years. To understand what business environment is one should have a clear idea initially about business. Business can be referred to as an economic act performed by an organization to attain its goals regarding profit, production etc. Any company would be affected by the environment surrounding it. PankajMehra (2008) defined Business Environment as The set of external factors such as the economic factors, socio-cultural factors, government and legal factors, demographic factors, geophysical factors, which are uncontrollable in nature and effects the business decisions of a firm or company. The research thus conducts a PEST analysis of Coca-Cola as well as identifies the environmental and ethical factor affecting the company. After the analysis, suggestions were given that would help the company to cope up with the challenges and changes that is being faced in the cur rent business scenario. PankajMehra, Aspects of Business Environment, 2008, Omega Publications INTRODUCTION During the recent years, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of people who are interested in Business. This was triggered by the flourishing of Far Eastern economies and especially the progress of China. So it is quite important for students to have an idea about business environment so that they can easily understand how business decisions are made and what the impact of each decision is. Generally business environment is divided into two- Micro environment and Macro environment. Another way is to categorize business environment into General and Specific environments. However there exists only minimal difference between these categorizations. There is another approach which views an organization as open system. This is referred to as Systems Model of organization and its environment. Thus business of an organization is thus influenced by a number of external factors which include political, social, and technological and many more. Hence every organization is keenly observing these dynamic forces in order to equip themselves against contingencies. There are a number of methods that help an organization to analyze its surrounding environment. This includes SWOT, PEST, SLEPT etc. PEST analysis has been used in this study and also the ethical and environmental factors are identified. This report looks at the Multi-national beverage company Coca-Cola, the worlds most recognized brand. Coca-Cola is a multinational company operating in almost 200 countries or territories. It is a beverage company and is into the production and distribution of non-alcoholic drinks. The main brand of the company is the aerated drink Coca-Cola or Coke. The company at present owns more than 400 brands across seven continents. Due to this fact, the company is likely to be affected by the fluctuations in the business environment, globally as well as on each country. The company hence introduces innovative strategies and takes business decisions in order to cope up with the turbulent environment. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coca-Cola_Company John Kew, John Stredwick, (2005), Business environment: managing in a strategic context, CIPD Publishing ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND SOME FACTS Founded: 1886 Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Chairman and CEO: Muhtar Kent Revenue: USD 31.0 Billion (FY 2009) Employees: 92,400 (Oct 2009) Operations: 200 Countries http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coca-Cola_Company CORPORATE VISION MISSION Vision People: Be a great place to work where people are inspired to be the best they can be. Portfolio: Bring to the world a portfolio of quality beverage brands that anticipate and satisfy peoples desires and needs. Partners: Nurture a winning network of customers and suppliers, together we create mutual, enduring value. Planet: Be a responsible citizen that makes a difference by helping build and support sustainable communities. Profit: Maximize long-term return to shareowners while being mindful of our overall responsibilities. Productivity: Be a highly effective, lean and fast-moving organization Mission To refresh the world To inspire moments of optimism and happiness To create value and make a difference. http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/ourcompany/mission_vision_values.html DESCRIPTION The journey of Coca-Cola started when the syrup of Coca-Cola was mixed with soda. It was done in a pharmacy in Atlanta, USA. Even today, the company I headquartered in Atlanta. Thus the company began as a soda fountain beverage selling firm. It sold a glass of drink for five cents. The initial progress of the company was quite remarkable, but only when a solid and strong bottling system developed could it emerge as one of the largest corporations as of today. Coca-Cola functions as a franchised distribution system. Thus the company only produces the syrup and it is then sold off to thousands of bottlers around the world. As per the annual report of 2005, the company operates in more than 200 countries. The beverages which bear the trademarks or licenses of Coca-Cola account to almost 1.5 billion. It was declared that Coca-Cola became the first brand in United Kingdom to cross  £1 billion in yearly grocery sales in the year 2010. Coca-Cola today is the worlds most popular brand. The annual company report of 2006 stated that the second most recognized expression in the world after OK is Coca-Cola. The strength of the company lies in it branding. Coca-Colas branding strategy lies on three As- availability, acceptability and affordability. The company competes not only to every carbonated or soft drink available in the world but even considers water as its competitor. For it, every product that has a share in human liquid consumption is its rival. At present Coca-Cola serves almost one billion servings per day. That means every second 12500 bottles are being consumed. The company was able to achieve this only because they made use of the most finest and innovative technologies available. During these 125 years of existence, the company has gone through different strategic paradigm shifts that involve financial re-engineering to debts on offload bottling and from product expansion to progress through distribution. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coca-Cola_Company Brand Spotlight: Coca-Cola http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/ourcompany/historybottling.html http://www.scribd.com/doc/14306067/Coca-Cola Business Environment The business environment of an organization is situational. That means every organization have a unique environment of its own. Due to this fact, the external factors influencing the company would also be different. The systems model of an organization and its environment views the organization as an open system. This model advocates that there are two ways in which an organization communicates with its environment. It acquires inputs/ resources from the environment, transforms it into finished product/services and distributes the outputs back. These outputs are meant to meet the needs of customers (Figure 1.1). Environment Organization Environment Money Machinery People Technology Materials Conversion Goods Services Information Waste Figure 1.1: Systems Model John Kew, John Stredwick, (2005), Business environment: managing in a strategic context, CIPD Publishing Analyzing the environment It is not a difficult task for the organization to analyze the task environment as they will have good knowledge about their customers, suppliers etc. But analyzing the general environment is more complex. The different factors in the general environment will have to be first identified. One of the most popular tools for analysis is PEST. This method segregates the environment into four components: Political/legal Economic Socio-cultural Technological PEST analysis was later modified into PESTLE analysis. This was done by splitting the political and legal factors as well as by adding a new factor i.e. environment. The major reason behind this addition was the increasing concern over global warming and other ecological issues. By the year 2000, another method was introduced which was named STEEPLE. This method have a new factor i.e. ethics. This factor was added due to the growing awareness about corporate social responsibility and business ethics. John Kew, John Stredwick, (2005), Business environment: managing in a strategic context, CIPD Publishing Analysis of the environment of Coca-Cola Social Factors: Over the past 5 years the numbers of people who are conscious about their health have increased exponentially. This is especially true in USA where more and more people are practicing healthier lifestyles. Researches indicate that soda and other sweetened drinks are the chief calorie sources in the diet of an American. Due to this fact, doctors and nutritionists advice people to reduce the daily consumption of drinks like Coca-Cola since they can be harmful to their health. In USA, drinks like Coca-Cola and Pepsi were found to be the main reason for obesity among young children and women. Studies have also revealed that regular intake of Coke and the like products reduce the absorption of minerals like Calcium, Magnesium, Ascorbic acid, Riboflavin and Vitamin A. Thus the company is facing a setback from the home country itself. In 2005, many lawyers and environmentalists charged a lawsuit against Coca-Cola and other soft drinks industry for excessive selling of their brands in school s. Coca-Cola also faced much resistance from the Eastern countries where there was a high consumption of tea and other milk fermented drinks. So the company in 2010 introduced a new drink named Sprite Tea which was a mix of sprite and tea. Before that in 2008, it launched a tea brand named Yuang Ye and Jackie Chan was the brand ambassador of the product. This was launched in China and other eastern countries. In 2004, the company also launched a wellness drink in Japan for women. Apart from that there are number of social ventures into which the company is into. It is providing resources like books and scholarships to needy children. Apart from that it has introduced a program in Pakistan that is into providing basic education to children. In 2004, the company donated à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬50,000 to SOS Kinderdorf, a childrens charity organization in Austria. A sum of 1 million USD was also donated for awareness against HIV/AIDS in 2007. www.thecoca-colacompany.com//10/Coca-Cola_10-K_Item_01ab.pdf http://www.virtualvender.coca-cola.com/ft/index.jsp www.thecoca-colacompany.com//eu_business_social_review2005.pdf www.thecoca-colacompany.com//2007-2008_sustainability_review.pdf http://blog.7xpub.com/2010/02/heaven-earth.html http://www.docshare.com/doc/8487/An-Analysis-of-The-Coca-Cola-Companys-Markets Technological Factors Coca-Cola is always a pioneer institution in bringing out innovative technologies. In 2007, it came up with a new technology that would help customers to have ice-chilled coke wherever they want. This technology will work in such a way that when the cap of the bottle is opened, the mechanism inside will make ice out of the drink inside. The company also introduced this technology in 2008 with a new product called Sprite Super Chilled. In the same year, the company announced to use coolers and vending machines free of HFC in the venues of 2008 Olympic Games to show its commitment towards environment protection. The company developed this technology together with Green Peace. In the year 2009, the company introduced another technology into their vending machines. These Freestyle machines will be having touch screens and the customer can mix up to a variety of 100 drinks at a single time. Popsci.com has named this as the Most Advanced Soda Fountain Ever. In 2009 itself the company introduced bottles which are partially made from plants and hence can be recycled completely. This bottle also has a reduced carbon emission when compared with ordinary plastic bottles. The company has also introduced innovative technologies in the entertainment field. In 2006, the company installed Dhoom 2-Juke boxes in and around Delhi (India). A limited series of Coke bottles were then brought into the market whose labels contained specific codes. When these labels are swiped into the Juke boxes, the customers could see the exclusive visuals of Dhoom 2 movie. http://www.techdigest.tv/2007/09/new_technology_1.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1973430/cocacola_meets_technology_touch_screen.html www.greenpeace.org//en/news//coca-cola-to-champion-our-cool/ http://www.greentechnolog.com/2009/09/cocacolas_new_plant_bottle.html http://www.coca-colaindia.com/media/media_news_releases_detail.aspx?id=189 Economic Factors: The company went through a major economic phase in the past five years. The income tax payment has increased from 1.5 billion USD in 2006 to 1.9 billion USD in 2007. But the capital expenditures have also increased from 1.4 billion USD in 2006 to 2 billion USD in 2008. Still the company managed to have revenue of 31.9 billion USD in 2008. The above graph shows the fluctuations in the stock prices of Coke from September 2009 to February 2010. In 2008, the world faced the global economic crunch and this naturally had an impact on the company. The main reason for this was that 75% of companys sales is derived outside of North America. But, reports revealed that the company was not much affected by the economic downturn. The first quarterly results of 2009 showed that the sales have increased by 2 percent in USA and by 3 percent around the world. This was because the company positioned it well in the international markets. The company also had a remarkable increase in business in India. In 2009, the companys business increased by 31 percent in this country despite the various environmental protests against it. But the final quarter results of 2009 showed a decrease of 18 percent in the companys profit worldwide. In 2010, the company registered revenue of 7.53 billion US dollars in the first quarter. This shows that the company expects to have a bright year ahead. http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/16128/ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29161172/ http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Coca-Cola_Company_(KO) http://equityclock.com/pictures/CocaColaEnterprisesInc.TechnicalAnalysis_3A38/image_thumb_3.png Environmental Factors: The company has been accused of a number of environmental issues around the world. In India, Coca-Cola has been nicknamed even as Killer Coke in certain areas. It was feared that Coke contains hazardous levels of pesticides that could cause numerous health issues. A study conducted by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, revealed that Coke and Pepsi contains toxins like lindane, DDT, malathion etc. These pesticides if consumed could even result in Cancer or irreparable damage to immune system. CSE also found that the Coke that is sold in India contained 30 times the permitted level of pesticide residues as per European Union regulations. 1n 2005, the Kerala State government banned the production and selling of Coke but it was overturned by the state high court in the same year itself. The company was also blamed for over use of water resources and thus depleting the ground water table. The 16$ bottling plant in Kerala was shut down in 2004 due to severe decay in both quantity and quality of water in the surrounding areas. The plant there uses almost 900,000 litres of water every year for its purposes. According to the renowned environmentalist Vandana Shiva, it takes almost 9 litres of water to produce one litre of Coca-Cola. In the holy city of Varanasi, India, the Coca-Cola plant near the Ganges has been accused for emitting waste water which contained toxins into the river. The packaging of the bottles has also been a cause of concern to the public and alleges to have serious environment impact. The company still claims to be environmental friendly in all its ventures. The Coca-Cola environmental foundation is said to be actively participating in environment issues like waste management, recycling etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Coca-Cola http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/foundation_local.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CocaColaIndia.gif Political Factors: As far as the political factors are concerned, they affect the company in meager way. It is because the governmental activity which is the major part of political environment has a little impact over the company. Over the recent years the company met with a lot of protests in India and Middle East. Still it was able to outrival PepsiCo by a small percent. In the last century there have been issues in Israel regarding the construction of a plant over there. The company was accused of boycotting Israel in order to appease the Arab League. These still had an impact over the market of Middle East. The environmental laws have some impact over Coke and other companies operating in the same industry. Over the past two years, the government of India has introduced some modifications to the existing laws that are likely to affect Coke. But the company is introducing changes in the plants as well as implementing proper wastage handling system and this would reduce the impact of these laws. Tax system in India is a little complicated because it involves a variety of regulations. The license needs to be updated every time the production capacity is increased. This can pose certain problems to the company. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coca-Cola_Company Ethical factors: The Coca-Cola Company has been involved into a number of ethical issues over the past. The major controversies include those like violation of human rights and following unethical business practices. The company has been charged of monopolistic and other discriminatory practices which affected its goodwill. In 2005, the European Union found that the companys business methods suppressed competition and hence the company had to end its dealings with bars and shops for stocking its drinks. In the same year itself, Coca-Cola Export Corporation was charged a fine of 68 million dollars for unfair commercial practices. In the early 2000s the company was also criticized for racial discrimination in its US offices and had to pay a hefty fine of 192.5 million dollars. The company is also involved in a number of cases related to environmental degradation, ground water depletion, overuse of pesticides etc. in India. This had affected the reputation of Coca-Cola in India in a major way. http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/foundation_local.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Coca-Cola Conclusion To summarize it can be said that Coca-Cola Company has gone through a number of challenging situations in the past five years. The major challenge was the protests from the environmentalists for exploiting the resources. The company has tackled this issue to an extend by agreeing to the demands of the protesters and the governments. But it should put in more effort to get back the reputation it had in third world countries. Innovative technologies that are eco-friendly must be introduced. The company is now into more and more green initiatives which are a very positive sign. If such efforts continue, it would undoubtedly be the most reputed and recognized brand in the world. Recommendations In this current dynamic world scenario, its always best if the organization is well informed about the changes that are being taken place in its business environment. By this way the company can foresee the trends and come up with new strategies to cope up with them. It is recommended that Coca-Cola Company gives importance to some factors. These include: Introduce new programs aimed at public welfare and thus show their true concern for the society. Through this way try to be a model for other companies in following CSR activities. Follow the environmental regulations and norms properly. Make the public aware that the company has and is following strict environmental ethics. New technologies that produce superior quality products and that do not affect the environment must be invented. Understanding the exact needs of customers and try to find solutions to them in a harmless way. References Bibliography PankajMehra, Aspects of Business Environment, 2008, Omega Publications John Kew, John Stredwick, (2005), Business environment: managing in a strategic context, CIPD Publishing

Advantages and Disadvantages of Chromium Complexes

Advantages and Disadvantages of Chromium Complexes Chromium is one of the transition metal in periodic table that is known for its ability in improving one’s health condition by preventing diseases and gives treatment. However in human body, only very small amounts of chromium are required and they are often regarded as the essential trace element in human body. Back in 1950s, the uses of chromium as nutritional and medical enhancement to glucose metabolism was started when brewer’s yeast was suggested to contain a glucose tolerance factor (GTF) that prevented diabetes in experimental animals. (Schwarz k, Mertz W, 1959). It was only then this factor finally taken into consideration to be a biologically active form of trivalent chromium that could substantially lower the plasma glucose levels in diabetic mice based on studied done by Tuman RW and Doisy RJ in 1977. According to Fernando Guerrero and Martha Rodriguez-Moran, 2005, trivalent chromium (Cr3+) is an essential trace element required for the maintenance of normal glucose and fat metabolism. Because chromium potentiates the action of insulin, it was named from its recognition in the late 1950s as the glucose tolerance factor term that emphasizes its importance in glucose metabolism. Chromium is present in many foods, especially in liver, Brewer’s yeast, American cheese, w heat germ, vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, broccoli, and spinach, and is also present in alfalfa, brown sugar, molasses, dried beans, nuts, seeds, mushrooms, and animal fats. An organically dynamic type of chromium takes part in glucose digestion system by improving the impacts of insulin. Insulin is produced by particular cells in the pancreas in light of increasing blood glucose levels, for example, after eating. Insulin binds to insulin receptors on the surface of cells, which actuates the receptors and invigorates glucose uptake by cells. Blood glucose levels are prevented from being elevated when insullin interact with insulin receptors whereby insulin will provides cells with glucose. Apart from affecting carbohydrate (glucose) metabolism, metabolism of fat and protein is also influnced by insulin. Impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes which is also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus may occur as the consequences of decrease response to insulin or decreased insulin sensitivity. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by elevated blood glucose levels and insulin resistance. The precise structure of the biologically active form of chromium is not known. Recent research suggests that a low-molecular-weight chromium-binding substance (LMWCr) may enhance the response of the insulin receptor to insulin. The following is a proposed model for the effect of chromium on insulin action. First, the inactive form of the insulin receptor is converted to the active form by binding insulin. The binding of insulin by the insulin receptor stimulates the movement of chromium into the cell and results in binding of chromium to apoLMWCr, a form of the LMWCr that lacks chromium. Once it binds chromium, the LMWCr binds to the insulin receptor and enhances its tyrosine kinase activity. The ability of the LMWCr to activate the insulin receptor is dependent on its chromium content. The LMWCr may be released from the cell in order to terminate its effects when insulin levels drop due to normalization of blood glucose levels. More recent studies have indicated that chromium enhances insulin action by increasing the insulin-stimulated translocation of glucose transporters to the cell membrane (Chen G, Liu P, Pattar GR, et al, 2006). Apart from type 2 diabetes, effects of chromium supplementation on gestational diabetes had also been examined. Gestational diabetes occurs in about 2% of pregnant women and usually appears in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Adverse effects on the developing fetus must be prevent by tightly control the blood glucose levels in the body. Glucose tolerance usually turns back to normal after delivery. However, according to study, 30% to 40% of women who have had gestational diabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years. An observational study in pregnant women did not find serum chromium levels to be associated with measures of glucose tolerance or insulin resistance in late pregnancy, although serum chromium levels may not reflect tissue chromium levels. Women with gestational diabetes whose diets were supplemented with 4 mcg of chromium per kilogram of body weight daily as chromium picolinate for eight weeks had decreased fasting blood glucose and insulin levels com pared with those who took a placebo. However, insulin therapy rather than chromium picolinate was required to normalize severely elevated blood glucose levels. Trivalent compounds (Cr III) do not cause any serious damage to body tissue, in fact, it is an important component of a balanced human and animal diet and its deficiency is detrimental to the glucose and lipid metabolism in mammals. The limitation of chromium in its application in human health is that it may cause different side effect to different person. The controversy surrounding chromium supplementation is due to the variability of the results gain from the evaluation of the effect of chromium in patients with diabetes and without diabetes. Some of them experienced positive improvement but some are only indicate little or no benefit at all. Most of the concerns regarding the long-term safety of chromium supplementation arise from several studies in cell culture, suggesting chromium (III), especially in the form of chromium picolinate, may increase DNA damage. Several studies have demonstrated the safety of daily doses of up to 1,000 mcg of chromium for several months. However, t here have been a few isolated reports of serious adverse reactions to chromium picolinate. Kidney failure was reported five months after a six-week course of 600 mcg of chromium/day in the form of chromium picolinate, while kidney failure and impaired liver function were reported after the use of 1,200-2,400 mcg/day of chromium in the form of chromium picolinate over a period of four to five months. Individuals with pre-existing kidney or liver disease may be at increased risk of adverse effects and should limit supplemental chromium intake. In addition, the use of the supplements of chromium over a prolonged period of time may result in a risk of chromium poisoning. This is due to chromium’s nuclear affinity, tending to result in its accumulation within cells. High doses of chromium which is about 600-2400 ÃŽ ¼g will makes rare side effects may occur such as damage to the liver, kidney, and bone marrow as well as rhabdomyolysis and psychiatric disturbances in some cases. The y have also been related to chromosomal damage and increased incidence of cervical arch defects as they are capable of cleaving DNA. Similar complex coumpound with Chromium Chromium vs vandium and zinc Apart of chromium, other transition metal that is found to have ability to be used as anti diabetic agent is vanadium and zinc. More than 2 8% of world’s population is suffering from diabetes (Wild et al., 2004). It is a condition in which body do not produce a hormone called insulin which is necessary for the absorption of glucose in cells (Rother, 2007). Scientists are looking for alternative approaches for the treatment of diabetes (Nahas et al., 2009). The glucose level in the blood plasma is controlled by uses of vanadium and zinc in form of inorganic salts. Research shows that undesireable side effets often associated with the elements that are poorly absorbed in their organic forms and required high doses. Research has been conducted to prove that vanadium complexes with organic ligands to be less toxic with improved solubility and lipophilicity. Thera are a few number of vanadium complex which posses the insulin-mimetic properties that have been produced. The molecular mechanism responsible for the insulin-like effects of vanadium compounds have been shown to involve the activation of several key components of insulin-signaling pathways. It is interesting that the vanadium effect on these signaling systems is independent of insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase activity, but it is associated with enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate. Chromium supplementation significantly improved glycemia among patients with diabetes but do not show any significant effect on glucose metabolism in healthy individuals. Higher zinc intake has also been associated with a slightly lower risk of type 2 diabetes in women. Besides chromium and vanadium, there is also a strong connection between zinc and insulin. In fact, people with diabetes frequently have lower levels of zinc than those without diabetes. One reason for this is that diabetics tend to have increased excretion of zinc. Additionally, high blood sugar levels create significant oxidative stress. The use of antioxidants has been shown to help improve oxidation, while also enhancing the body’s response to insulin. Unfortunately, the risk of cardiovascular disease among diabetics is more difficult to address. Coronary heart disease is a major cause of death among people with type 2 diabetes. This, of course, is due in large part to obesity, but also to risk factors such as high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol levels, and an imbalanced ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol. Like chromium and vanadium, the body also can’t make zinc, so it must be taken from food sources. Zinc is stored in the muscles, blood cells, retina of the eye , skin, bone, kidney, liver, pancreas, and in men, prostate. Interestingly, zinc has long been an ingredient used in â€Å"older† insulins, such as Regular, NPH, and Lente. Zinc is also necessary for the formation of insulin in the pancreas’s beta cells. For these reasons, researchers have looked at the role of zinc supplementation in the prevention and treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Research shows that zinc, an essential trace element responsible for over 300 enzyme functions, can aid in normalizing the negative effects of diabetes mellitus. According to the study, zinc has been shown to mitigate the harmful effects of diabetes by improving glycemic control in type I and type II diabetes. Many of the enzyme systems in which zinc is a necessity for are involved with the metabolism of blood sugar, and therefore make zinc a natural catalyst for insulin secretion. The pancreas is an endocrine gland responsible for producing hormones like glucagon, somatostatin, and insulin. The beta cells that secrete insulin in the pancreas are also highly stored with zinc. The beta cells will suffer without the high concentrations of zinc. Fortunately, beta cells are equipped with their own special transporter called zinc transporter 8, which makes it easy for the beta cells to store the zinc. However, it is known that any metamorphosis of the genes in the zinc transporter 8 causes type 2 diabetes. It is also now known that antibodies against the zinc transporter are present in type 1 diabetic patients, which means that these antibodies are associated with type 1 diabetes. It is no wonder why zinc is as popular as it is for supplementation. In addition to mending the difficulties brought on by diabetes, zinc also serves to maintain a healthy immune system, controls hair loss, halts impotence, improves brain function, prevents loss of taste or smell, and much more. References Guerrero-Romero, F.; Rodrà ­guez-Morà ¡n, M. (2005). Complementary Therapies for Diabetes: The Case for Chromium, Magnesium, and Antioxidants. Archives of Medical Research 36 (3): 250–257 Massey, P. (2013). Diabetes and the Role of Dietary Supplements. Bioactive Food as Dietary Interventions for Diabetes. pp. 17–94. Schwarz K, Mertz W: Chromium (III) and the glucose tolerance factor. Arch Biochem Biophys 85: 292–295, 1959 Tuman RW, Doisy RJ: Metabolic effects of the glucose tolerance factor (GTF) in normal and genetically diabetic mice. Diabetes 26:820–826, 1977 Vincent JB. Elucidating a biological role for chromium at a molecular level. Acc Chem Res. 2000;33(7):503-510. Chen G, Liu P, Pattar GR, et al. Chromium activates glucose transporter 4 trafficking and enhances insulin-stimulated glucose transport in 3T3-L1 adipocytes via a cholesterol-dependent mechanism. Mol Endocrinol. 2006;20(4):857-870. Pattar GR, Tackett L, Liu P, Elmendorf JS. Chromium picolinate positively influences the glucose transporter system via affecting cholesterol homeostasis in adipocytes cultured under hyperglycemic diabetic conditions. Mutat Res. 2006;610(1-2):93-100 Wang H, Kruszewski A, Brautigan DL. Cellular chromium enhances activation of insulin receptor kinase. Biochemistry. 2005;44(22):8167-8175.

East Goes West :: essays research papers

One of the first works of fiction written by an Asian immigrant to the United States, Kang's novel describes his early adulthood with a poignant humor that touches not only on his most positive experiences in a new country--such as being befriended by other Korean Americans--but also on some of his worst: the time when college classmates convinced him to run a race in long underwear. Kang, however, never forces us to feel sorry for him; simply by relating his experiences to us in a uniquely crafted language that reflects both his extensive literary training and his own quirky sense of style, Kang manages to win our sympathy for an obviously gifted young man who faces discrimination and hardship during his first years away from home His struggle was long and hard, but he made the reader see the full picture. The joys, the downfalls, and even the times where he thought he could just give up. By making us relate to him, the reader could understand what they so previously where obliviou s to. I responded very favorably to his view of Korean culture but found his criticism of American culture distasteful.I did not fully receive the effect of Kang's humor until reaching the final sentence of the story. Before the final scene, Kang's wit serves the purpose of elevating the Asian Han in the eyes of his audience, but ultimately, it has a more serious, lingering effect. Ironically, it reveals the life of this character to be tragic, hopeless, and not at all amusing. The final line, delivered by Han's mistress, dismisses him from his post, for she requested "a house servant, not a comedian" (2001). Kang thus suggests here that regardless of the amount of effort Han puts into his work and no matter how honest his intentions, he will never be taken seriously nor given a chance to assimilate and improve upon his mistakes. Although he was expected "to work from morning to night" and "had never had to work so hard in his life with no time to himself," his intentions were never regarded as anything but lazy and laughter provoking. Upon learning that he is to be fired, he offers one final, wholehearted attempt to please an unsatisfiable woman: "But hoping still to make good, I dragged the vacuum cleaner in to do the living room, my usual morning task. The girl as usual giggled when she saw me. East Goes West :: essays research papers One of the first works of fiction written by an Asian immigrant to the United States, Kang's novel describes his early adulthood with a poignant humor that touches not only on his most positive experiences in a new country--such as being befriended by other Korean Americans--but also on some of his worst: the time when college classmates convinced him to run a race in long underwear. Kang, however, never forces us to feel sorry for him; simply by relating his experiences to us in a uniquely crafted language that reflects both his extensive literary training and his own quirky sense of style, Kang manages to win our sympathy for an obviously gifted young man who faces discrimination and hardship during his first years away from home His struggle was long and hard, but he made the reader see the full picture. The joys, the downfalls, and even the times where he thought he could just give up. By making us relate to him, the reader could understand what they so previously where obliviou s to. I responded very favorably to his view of Korean culture but found his criticism of American culture distasteful.I did not fully receive the effect of Kang's humor until reaching the final sentence of the story. Before the final scene, Kang's wit serves the purpose of elevating the Asian Han in the eyes of his audience, but ultimately, it has a more serious, lingering effect. Ironically, it reveals the life of this character to be tragic, hopeless, and not at all amusing. The final line, delivered by Han's mistress, dismisses him from his post, for she requested "a house servant, not a comedian" (2001). Kang thus suggests here that regardless of the amount of effort Han puts into his work and no matter how honest his intentions, he will never be taken seriously nor given a chance to assimilate and improve upon his mistakes. Although he was expected "to work from morning to night" and "had never had to work so hard in his life with no time to himself," his intentions were never regarded as anything but lazy and laughter provoking. Upon learning that he is to be fired, he offers one final, wholehearted attempt to please an unsatisfiable woman: "But hoping still to make good, I dragged the vacuum cleaner in to do the living room, my usual morning task. The girl as usual giggled when she saw me.

Distance Learning Essay -- Education Technology Technological Papers

Distance Learning Distance learning (education) has become an integral part of the education process over the past few decades and is growing in popularity as technology advances.(Willis 1992) describes distance education (as) "the organizational framework andprocess of providing instruction at a distance. Distance education takes place when ateacher and student(s) are physically separated, and technology†¦(is) used to bridge theinstruction gap." (Coutts 1996). Furthermore, "distance learning activities are designedto fit the specific context for learning, the nature of the subject matter; intended learningoutcomes, needs and goals of the learner, the learner's environment and the instructional echnologies and methods." (American Council of Education 1996). According to Moore and Thompson (1990), there are essential elements needed for effective distance learning to take place: *Be prompt in coming online and insist students do the same. *Use a natural style of delivery; speak slowly and enunciate clearly. *Maintain spontaneity, avoid reading from a script. *Use visuals effectively. *Use frequent changes of pace to maintain interest. *Frequently draw participants into discussions. *Always refer to participants by name. *Give short concluding summaries of the concepts presented. *Provide structure by effectively using authority. *Control verbal traffic. *Provide socio-emotional support by integrating late group members and encouraging humor. *Establish a democratic atmosphere by sharing authority and asking for participation. *Create a sense of shared space and history. *Model appropriate behavior. *Seek and clarify a common definition of terms. *Set an appropriate pace (Mo... ...ournal of Distance Education . Moore, Michael G. & Thompson, Melody M. (1990) The Effects of Distance Learning. A Summary of Literature. (Research Monograph, Number 2). Southern Ohio Telecommunications Consortium. Moore, Michael G. (1989, June). Distance Education: A Learning System. Lifelong Learning. pg. 8--11. "Distance Education: A Learning System." Simonson, M. (1997). Distance Education: Does Anyone Really Want to Learn At A Distance. Contemporary Education, 68. Page 104--107. Willis, B. (1998, Jan-Feb). Effective Distance Education Planning: Lessons Learned. Educational Technology. Willis, B. (1994). Distance Education: Strategies and Tools. New Jersey:Educational Technology Publications. Willis B. (1992). Effective Distance Education: A Primer for Faculty and Administrators. Monograph Series in Distance Education. 2

American Book Company Essay

A public school system must tap its teachers in revealing the test results with the parents of their students and the community where they belong. The teachers of the public schools must be held responsible for sharing the test results of the children and explaining their implications. The more likely case is that the teachers are the ones who made and conducted the examinations so they are at a more advantageous position to give assessments of the results and give recommendations to the children’s parents. They will be more able to explain what might have been the factors that led to those test results. They can elaborate to the parents the learning development of their children and what they can personally contribute to aid the learning of the children. The test results will likewise indicate the rate of success of the curriculum being implemented. High test results likely mean that the objectives of the curriculum are being met and their execution is being made exceptionally. On the contrary, low test results will make the school administrators think about the over-all design of the curriculum and its implementation. The result of the tests will also provide hints on the kind of tinkering or adjustments that need to be done to the curriculum to make it a better one and more compatible to the needs of the learners. Question no. 2: One of the evaluative measures that is often used to assess the effectiveness of a program or curriculum is one that is centered on the achievement of the subject matters and the visible reactions of the learners towards the lessons incorporated in the program. The first factor is the extent by which the subject matters are made comprehensible and presented to the learners. This is because most of the tests given by the teachers put much stress to the knowledge gained about the subject matter. This idea promotes the students’ memorization and habit-formation. They must fully imbibe every lesson and incorporate them in their everyday routines – their habits. The learners must be able to reflect their learning by always being able to readily state the contents of every lesson and apply each principle in everything they do. The second factor is centered on the emotional reaction of the learners – the persons who are the most direct recipients of the program’s applications. This factor can be measured by looking at the way learners behave while being taught and while undergoing the evaluative measures. If the learners display favorable responses – if they participate actively during lessons, do not get bored while listening to the teacher’s features and radiate confidence after every session – the program may be said to have fulfilled its aims. If the learners display the opposite of the aforementioned behaviors, the program may need some modifications. References: Caswell, Hollis Leland. (1935). Curriculum development. New York, Cincinnati: American Book Company. Stevens, Marion Paine. (1931). The activities curriculum in the primary grades. Boston and New York : D. C. Heath and Company.

Operation Market Garden: Battle of Arnhem

With German forces on the run following the Allied success at Normandy and the breakout and pursuit across France, Allied forces were staged to enter Germany in late summer 1944. Both Field Marshal Montgomery and General Bradley clamored to be given the priority of effort. General Eisenhower chose Montgomery’s Operation MARKET GARDEN as the plan for action. It called for airborne forces to open the route for a ground force to move more than sixty miles up a single road, ending up north of the Rhine River near Arnhem, Netherlands. By accomplishing this task, the German Ruhr industrial heartland would be within easy grasp. But the operation failed. The ground force did not make it to the last bridge; it was six more months before Allied forces crossed the Lower Rhine River near Arnhem. Between 17 and 26 September 1944, there were 17,000 Allied casualties including eighty percent of the 1st Airborne Division (UK). The historical evidence overwhelmingly shows that the British 1st Airborne Division lost the Battle of Arnhem because of poor planning. This paper will prove the failure of The Battle of Arnhem was not solely the fault of MG Roy Urquhart. Although this was his first command of such a division (being an â€Å"outsider†) could he have not completed his wartime mission any better despite having inexperienced leaders planning airborne operations, bad intelligence, allowing the Air Force to plan the DZs based off what was best for the air movement plan and poor execution. This paper examines MG Urquhart, the commander of 1st Airborne Division (UK). The 1st Airborne Division (UK) was made up of three brigades of infantry (two parachute, one glider borne), supporting artillery and anti-tank batteries and substantial Royal Engineer units, as well as supporting elements such as Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps units and 1st Independent Polish Brigade. The task of securing the Rhine Bridgehead fell to the 1st Airborne Division under the command of Major General Roy Urquhart. The Division was required to secure the road, rail and pontoon bridges over the Lower Rhine at Arnhem and hold them for two to three days until relieved by XXX Corps. Understand Despite the fact that the individual soldiers involved in Operation Market were, on the whole, well trained and disciplined, there were some limitations in the leadership that hurt the operation’s chances of succeeding. Major General Roy Urquhart was new to the airborne corps and Operation Market would be his first airborne operation. Montgomery and Brereton, who was the overall commander of the First Allied Airborne Army, both had little experience in airborne operations. LTG Browning, Brereton’s deputy, had experience in airborne operations, but it was limited to the staff level. Although the individual soldiers that would plan and carry out the Battle of Arnhem were well-trained, some of the key leaders had weaknesses that limited the ability of the operation to succeed. During the planning for Market Garden, Urquhart regarded it as the job of an airborne commander to get hold of as many transport aircraft as possible without sparring a thought for the other Divisions involved, and so he made a habit of lodging frequent requests with Corps HQ. One time he asked for a further 40 aircraft from Browning, who was doubtful that even a small number of these would materialize. Urquhart's account of the operation, he was told that â€Å"because of the limited number of aircraft available, he would have to go in three lifts† and that â€Å"his† plan had to be tailored to fit three lifts. Visualize From the beginning, however, Urquhart was severely restricted in how he could prepare and deploy his troops for the upcoming battle. The U. S. IX Troop Carrier Command were limited in their availability; with two more major drops taking place at the same time, there were insufficient carrier aircraft available to fly the entire division to the Netherlands in one lift. British commanders knew they were badly short of transport aircraft and the area near Arnhem was ill-suited for a landing. They decided they'll have to land in an open area eight miles (13 km) from the bridge. With more of his officers disagreeing with distance, Urquhart told his officers they will use the gliders to transport jeeps to make the travel to Arnhem. However, due to the ambush, most jeeps didn't arrive or was shot up and damaged beyond use. It has been opined that if he had been an experienced airborne commander, Urquhart may have been more determined to oppose the decision to land the whole Division 8 miles from the bridge, rather than drop the parachutists much closer to it. It is a point that those who knew the General would refute without difficulty. However it is true that his objection to the poor air plan could have been stronger than it was, but it must be remembered that Urquhart had to plan an entire operation in only seven days, and so when faced with stubborn opposition from fellow commanders he had little option but to accept the situation and move on. Nevertheless, these failings in the plan sealed the fate of Market Garden before it had begun. The initial airborne drops caught the Germans totally by surprise, and there was little resistance. MG Urquhart, later wrote that â€Å"ever since the first landing, General Bittrich commander of the II SS Panzer Corps and his staff had expected the British second lift. † He also wrote that the Germans had provided early warning measures for follow-on lifts and knew about the second lift 45 minutes before it reached the drop zone, which allowed them to divert anti-aircraft guns that were being used in the ground battle to the drop zone in order to oppose the landings. Lead One of the major problems encountered at Arnhem was the failure of the radio sets used; they either did not work, or ground conditions and the existence of so many areas full of trees often made radio links unworkable. Urquhart could visibly see that the 1st Para Brigade and the Divisional Units were going about their business without problems, but the 1st Airlanding Brigade were out of sight on LZ-S, and so he set out in his Jeep to verify that they were alright. It was at the HQ of Brigadier Hicks that Urquhart had heard that the Reconnaissance Squadron was forced to abandon its swift attack attempt on the Bridge after running into Battalion's Krafft's blocking line. The 1st Para Brigade could not be contacted by radio, and so Urquhart, growing increasingly anxious and impatient, made the fateful and very dangerous decision to set out in his Jeep to find the commander of the 1st Para Brigade, Brigadier Lathbury and warn him that no British forces would be at the bridge when his men arrived. Lathbury was paying a call on the 3rd Battalion when Urquhart caught up with him, but a hort time later the forward elements of the Battalion encountered the German blocking line. After the skirmish had ended, Urquhart returned to his Jeep to find that it had been hit by a mortar and his signals operator had been seriously wounded. Lathbury was unhappy with how his Brigade plan was progressing, while Urquhart realized that he was losing control of events and knew that he must get back to his HQ as soon as possible; unfortunately the area was now decidedly unsafe for either man to leave the protection of the 3rd Battalion. BG Lathbury was wounded and had to left behind with a Dutch family to get him to the hospital. Meanwhile, Urquhart and company pressed on until they could go no further. Anton Derksen and his family offered them shelter in their attic, which Urquhart reluctantly accepted. Almost immediately after the street was filled with soldiers of the Wehrmacht and several surrounded the house in which Urquhart was hiding, and they were followed by a self-propelled gun which came to a halt directly outside, though all were blissfully unaware of the General's presence. All Urquhart could think about was that he had to return to HQ as soon as possible, and he was quite prepared to destroy the SP gun using the few grenades they had at their disposal and then make a dash for it. He was dissuaded from doing so by his companions because they would certainly be killed or captured within moments. Urquhart could do nothing but wait in frustration until British troops caught up with him. It wasn't until morning on Tuesday 19th that the group were able to leave the house. On Monday 25th, Urquhart was told to withdraw his men from Oosterbeek at a time of his choosing. At 8am he radioed Major-General Thomas and said â€Å"Operation Berlin†, the codename for the withdrawal. It was not an easy thing to do as his Division was extremely weak at this time, and if the Germans sensed that a withdraw was in progress then they would rush in to cut them off from the River bank. Urquhart assessing his division and its capabilities, he developed a plan. His plan was excellent under the circumstances. Calling LTC Charles Mackenzie, his Chief of Staff, to work out the finer details, he said: â€Å"You know how they did it at Gallipoli, Charles? Well, we've got to do something like that†. Many years ago, Urquhart had studied the classic withdrawal from this First World War conflict. He remembered how great care was taken to maintain the illusion of defiance until the last moment, meanwhile the forward positions were thinned out and the force was evacuated from the beaches in good order, while the enemy were completely oblivious to it. The Division would withdraw from top to bottom, with those in the north leaving their positions first, and so on until everyone was out. There were so many wounded by this time that it was agreed that they could not be evacuated and so would stay behind, together with all medical staff, and take over the vacated positions, meanwhile the Light Regiment and XXX Corps would continue to fire their guns until the last moment. This way it appeared as if nothing had changed. When the senior officers assembled at Divisional HQ to hear the plan, Urquhart gave specific instructions that word of the withdrawal should not be given until it was almost time to depart, as with a day's fighting to still to endure the capture and subsequent interrogation of anyone who knew would place the entire operation in jeopardy. This plan was successful in allowing 2,000 men of the 1st Airborne Division to withdrawal and join Second Army southern bank of the Neder Rijn. In conclusion, despite having inexperienced leaders planning airborne operations, bad intelligence, allowing the Air Force to plan the DZs based off what was best for the air movement plan and poor execution, MG Urquhart displayed outstanding qualities of leadership and courage. Although, the initial planning and beginning phases of this is operation was full with flaws, MG Urquhart's leadership and planning after things went awry was without question. During the phase of the battle when 1st Parachute Brigade became separated from the rest of the Division he personally organized an operation for the relief of 1st Parachute Brigade and himself became involved in street fighting during this period. Later, when the remnants of the Division were withdrawn into a close perimeter, his defensive planning, and his determination were largely instrumental in ensuring the defense put up by the troops of his Division. During the withdrawal, his cool planning, foresight and initiative were responsible for 2,000 men of the Division rejoining their comrades of the Second Army on the southern bank of the Neder Rijn. The conduct of MG Urquhart throughout this operation was beyond praise.