Red and Mark Rothko Essay Example

Red and Mark Rothko Paper Roger Kimball’s essay â€Å"Inventing Mark Rothko† begins simply with a quote from Hamlet in which the Queen responds to Hamlet’s inquiry â€Å"Do you see nothing here? † by saying â€Å"Nothing at all; yet all that is I see† (Kimball 55). This enigmatic quote very succinctly sums up the enigma that is Mark Rothko, a Russia-American representative painter of New York School from 1950s to 1960s. Rothko’s signature style is distinctive combination of â€Å"abstractness, simplicity, and sensuous color† (Kimball 59) and misty rectangular fields of color and light. Although many critics, like Harold Rosenberg, disagree, Rothko fought the idea that his works were abstract for the entirety of his artistic career. To reference the quote from Hamlet, what did Rothko see in his art? What was his intention? Are these questions possible to answer? Using John Logan’s play Red as well as Rothko’s own essays on art and aesthetics, both a picture of Rothko’s vision and a rationalization of his insistence that his art is realism are possible to create and it is apparent that Rothko intended a separation between the art and the viewer and for the art to exist as an independent entity separate from human emotion that places art in the realm of abstraction. Yet in the documentary film Rothkos Rooms, ironically, Rothko also envisioned his art causing â€Å"the same religious experience as I had when I painted them† (Rooms). We will write a custom essay sample on Red and Mark Rothko specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Red and Mark Rothko specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Red and Mark Rothko specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It seems that, according to Rothko himself, what a viewer sees in a painting or what emotions the painting evokes has no bearing on the painting itself. These emotions within the admirer of art are often placed upon the art itself as a way to define the art. However, Rothko might argue that one is not able to define his paintings any more than one might be able to objectively define a human being (Rothko 63). The art itself is the evoker of emotions not the other way around. Rothko seems to have argued that his art has a specific, concrete meaning, which can be explained by the similarity between admiring the beauty of a woman and the beauty of a painting. Rothko wrote that the problem with speaking of art qualitatively—for instance giving a painting the quality â€Å"beautiful†Ã¢â‚¬â€creates a category for beauty itself to exist (Rothko 62). However, Kimball argues that beauty, like the concepts of â€Å"truth† and â€Å"morality† is an abstraction itself because these terms are â€Å"apart from concrete existence† (Kimball 60). He also argues that Rothko’s classic paintings are immediate (Kimball 60) because their meanings are concrete—they are purposed. Rothko’s paintings, Rothko himself might argue, exist with the force of human existence. In the Scene 4 of John Logan’s play the Red, Rothko yells at his assistant Ken, â€Å"you know the problem with those painters? It’s exactly what you said. They are painting for this moment right now. And that’s all. It’s nothing but zeitgeist art† (Logan 33). This representation of Rothko shows how Rothko himself might have differentiated his own art from the art of painters like Andy Warhol. Based on Rothko’s essay The Artists Dilemma and this quote from Logan’s play, Rothko would have argued that paintings like those of Warhol’s are the real abstractions because they are based on a particular moment in time. An individual moment, alienated from the whole history of time, is truly apart from concrete existence. Existence is more the totality of time, space, and history and Rothkos paintings are, as he seems to have suggested, as purposed as any living creature. In â€Å"The De-definition of Art† by Harold Rosenberg, he argues against this idea, saying that â€Å"[Rothko’s] were the first ‘empty’ paintings by an American to make an impact on the public, perhaps because his emotionally charged reds, blues, browns, black-greens succeeded in stirring up feelings—awe, anguish, release—too deeply buried to be brought to the surface by visual metaphors† (Rosenberg 105). With this definition, Rosenberg argues that the viewer and the painting itself are interconnected and the painting can hold no objective existence independent of the viewer. When the audience views the painting and experiences these emotions, it attaches these emotions to the painting. However, Rothko argued that to speak of art in this way—qualitatively—is to give these emotions themselves an independent existence (Rothko 62). Rosenberg called Rothko’s style an â€Å"all-embracing symbolic format† (Rosenberg 107). Rosenberg essentially equated Rothko’s paintings with a literary metaphor in which one thing—a painting in this instance—stands for something wholly different, acting as a symbol. Most dictionaries agree on the definition of the word â€Å"symbol† as a physical object that stands for an abstraction or a sign with some specific meaning. Rosenberg’s terminology may then not be totally off kilter. Does not Rothko himself argue that paintings often evoke particular abstract feelings in the admirer? In this way, are not paintings like symbols, standing in as physical objects for abstract emotions? —not exactly. To view art in this way is to say that the artist intended for an artwork to be symbolic of, let’s say, the sublime. Yet, the viewers, experiencing a piece for the first time, come naked in their emotions as a child experiencing the world for the first time. Whatever emotions the viewer might feel are a product of their own mind rather than a product of the art itself. This is where Rosenberg is most incorrect and where he diverges from Rothko’s apology of his art.

Free Essays on Indian Givers

Question #4: Discuss the Native American contributions to the medical field. The Native Americans contributed enormously towards today’s medical field. Cures for today’s diseases have been traced as far back as to the Indians of America, yet still time after time, we have failed to recognize such achievements. For example, The Aztecs were probably the most advanced in understanding the human anatomy of any society in the world of the 16th century. Such knowledge came from human sacrifices they performed. They understood the role of the heart and blood circulation long before the new world. The doctors created a vocabulary then that now identifies almost all of the organs that the science of anatomy recognized today. Again, at the time The Aztecs were either parallel in regards to European organizations of the medicine or for the most part, surpassed them. For example, up till today there is no steel scalpel that has been made that cuts sharper than the obsidian implements of the Aztec surgeons. In fact, only today’s laser beam can cut a finer incision with less bleeding and less scarification. A second example of the instruments used by The Aztecs is bulbed syringe and rubber hoses that they used to give enemas with. The European doctors adopted both styles and continue to use them today. Even back then, Indian surgeons amputated limbs, prescribed artificial legs, and removed teeth such as today’s doctors perform. Malaria ravages more people than any other disease in many areas of the world. For most of human history, no effective cure or preventive existed for this disease. Europeans brought the disease to America and the Indians. When this occurred, the Indians rapidly found that one of their traditional medicines, Peruvian bark, presented relief from malaria. The bark contained quinine, which is the active ingredient in chloroquine. This introduction of quinine marked the beginning of modern pharmacology. ... Free Essays on Indian Givers Free Essays on Indian Givers Question #4: Discuss the Native American contributions to the medical field. The Native Americans contributed enormously towards today’s medical field. Cures for today’s diseases have been traced as far back as to the Indians of America, yet still time after time, we have failed to recognize such achievements. For example, The Aztecs were probably the most advanced in understanding the human anatomy of any society in the world of the 16th century. Such knowledge came from human sacrifices they performed. They understood the role of the heart and blood circulation long before the new world. The doctors created a vocabulary then that now identifies almost all of the organs that the science of anatomy recognized today. Again, at the time The Aztecs were either parallel in regards to European organizations of the medicine or for the most part, surpassed them. For example, up till today there is no steel scalpel that has been made that cuts sharper than the obsidian implements of the Aztec surgeons. In fact, only today’s laser beam can cut a finer incision with less bleeding and less scarification. A second example of the instruments used by The Aztecs is bulbed syringe and rubber hoses that they used to give enemas with. The European doctors adopted both styles and continue to use them today. Even back then, Indian surgeons amputated limbs, prescribed artificial legs, and removed teeth such as today’s doctors perform. Malaria ravages more people than any other disease in many areas of the world. For most of human history, no effective cure or preventive existed for this disease. Europeans brought the disease to America and the Indians. When this occurred, the Indians rapidly found that one of their traditional medicines, Peruvian bark, presented relief from malaria. The bark contained quinine, which is the active ingredient in chloroquine. This introduction of quinine marked the beginning of modern pharmacology. ...

Engage Students with Songs to Teach Metaphor and Simile

Engage Students with Songs to Teach Metaphor and Simile One way to engage students in the study of figurative language-specifically similes and metaphors- is to use examples from the songs they like. Teachers in grades 7-12 can point out how the  metaphors and similes in song lyrics allow  songwriters to communicate their innermost feelings. The metaphors and similes in songs help students to visualize comparisons that are  purposefully placed to convey attitude- Sad? Tears of a Clown. Happy? Walking on Sunshine. Dependable? Solid like a Rock.   If a teacher wants to teach similes and call attention to the  characteristic comparison word like, there is probably nothing more iconic then the song Like a Rolling Stone, the 1965  folk rock anthem by Nobel  laureate Bob Dylan. A more contemporary song example is   Let It Go from the Disney film Frozen where the Princess Elsa (voiced by  Idina Menzel) laments that The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside. Teachers can show how the songwriters chose similes to help listeners visualize the emotions of the singer, and both of these examples  use the word like in their poetic comparisons. For the explicit instruction of metaphors, there is  the 2015 country music hit by Keith Urban titled  John Cougar,  John Deere,  John 3:16  Ã‚  that  begins with a series of rapid-fire metaphors: Im a forty-five spinning on an old Victrola;  Im a two strike swinger, Im a Pepsi cola... There is also the classic rock and roll hit  Hound Dog, covered by Elvis Presley (1956) with its unflattering comparison to someone who is crying all the time... Here the metaphors are comparisons are direct but unusual: a singer to a record, a friend to a dog. These metaphors help the listener better understand the relationships in the songs. Caution: PG Language Only: While teachers can engage students by having them find similes and metaphors in the music they enjoy, the sharing of these songs in school must include high degrees of caution. There are several song lyrics that are explicit in their use of improper language, vulgarity, or profanity. There are also song lyrics that intentionally use metaphors and similes as coded language to send an implicit message that could be inappropriate for a middle school or high school class. If students will be allowed to share songs and lyrics in class, they must be prepared to share only those verses that are appropriate for use in class. In other words, PG lyrics only!   Here are two linked articles with songs that are already previewed for use in class that can be used to provide additional examples of both similes and metaphors in songs. Several of these song lyrics have already been analyzed to help teach about these key figures of speech: Article #1:Songs With Metaphors This article features 13 songs that can be used as models  for mini-lessons. The examples of metaphors in the lyrics are already analyzed for use in class. Songs include: ​Cant Stop the Feeling- by Justin TimberlakeH.O.L.Y. -Florida Georgia Line​Im Already There,  by LonestarThis is What You Came For -Rhianna Article #2:Songs With Similes This article features eight songs that can be used as models   or mini-lessons. The examples of similes in the lyrics are already analyzed for use in class. Songs include: Just Like Fire  -PinkStiches by  Shawn MendesExs Ohs by Elle King Common Core Connection Teachers still meet the literacy anchor standard in the Common Core for  English Language Arts when they use   song lyrics to address metaphors and similes: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.4Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone. Finally, using song lyrics is one way teachers can move away from the worksheet and show students the importance of metaphors and similes in their everyday lives. Research on motivating students also suggests that when students are given the opportunity to make a choice, their level of engagement increases. Increasing student engagement through choice and allowing them to  share how  songwriters from every musical genre use similes and metaphors may give students the practice they need to become  proficient in interpreting and analyzing figurative language in other kinds of texts.

Evidence Based Practice Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Evidence Based Practice - Coursework Example The implication is that evidence-based practice requires the clinicians to stay in touch with modest research literature and also use the information in their informed clinical decision-making processes. Moreover, EBP entails weighing values of the research evidence in relation to the clinical data and also taking into consideration the client’s informed consent. The bottom line is that clinicians should to identify what the literature recommends as the best practices and also sharing the knowledge with patients. During an emergency situation, evidenced based practice may be implemented in case a clinician has new information on how to manage and handle the health condition. Therefore, the staff plays a significant role in linking the clinical practice to the changes in the clinical research. In fact, emergency settings require more of evidence-based practice since research always bring new methods and strategies of handling health care situations and they might be even more effective than the traditional methods. According to Melnyk and Overholt (2014), clinicians engage in evidence-based practice in emergency setting when assessing wounds, injuries or other medical conditions that might require a high level of clinical

International Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International Management - Essay Example So what challenges do international firms face in a global marketplace? What is the nature, and role of INRP that impact international businesses? This essay explores the diverse elements of INRP in terms of the political, economic, cultural, ethical, and social environment prevalent in different countries; and analyses their impact on businesses with examples drawn from different countries, and trade. This paper concludes with a concise summary of the emerging global challenges to international trade, and business imperatives to overcome them. Globalization has wide encompassing connotations. Whilst the economic integration of businesses has rapidly grown, the political, social, and cultural interfaces across the borders continue to pose challenges to international trade. With maturing economy, institutional transformations become inevitable. In the nascent or emerging phases, economies are often unpredictable and volatile (Meyer, 2001, pp. 357-367). Managing investment and capital in such a market without an understanding of the economic regulations, and trade practices, could turn nightmarish. Scott (2002) categorized the governing institutions as â€Å"regulatory, normative, and cultural-cognitive.† Formal institutions are often characterized by rules, policies, and enforcement laws. Informal institutions on the other hand, are woven around norms, values, and mental models peculiar to a particular geographic region, or country (North, 1994). Such classifications are often useful in international business management for purposes of market analyses. Five decades ago, Hall (1960, pp. 87-96) enunciated five factors that affect bonding of global businesses, which are relevant even in modern day times. Brief interpretations from Hall’s article in the Harvard Business review are summarised below:- Nuances of time: Time has its own silent interpretations across national boundaries. For instance, a delay

The Nature of Evil Essay Example for Free

The Nature of Evil Essay 1: That which is morally bad or wrong, or that which causes harm, pain, or misery. 2: A force that is believed to cause wicked or bad things to happen. 3 A very unpleasant or harmful situation or activity. The existence of evil has been puzzling philosophers and leaders of all major religions for hundreds of years. The problem of evil is particularly challenging because Christianity was committed to the existence of a God that controls everything but at the same time acknowledged the real existence of evil. Some religions have tried to deal with the problem of evil by saying that it doesnt exist. In Hindu teaching evil is said to have no real existence instead being dismissed as phenomena. William Golding wrote The Lord of the Flies just after the Second World War, having witnessed the evil of this war he lost the belief that humans have an innocent nature; even children he learned are essentially evil. The Lord of the Flies challenges readers to attempt to develop their own views about the existence of evil in the human race. I found this quite challenging and after much deliberation it is my opinion that evil is within every human being because we all have the potential to be evil and that it is only laws and the threat of punishment that keeps people from behaving in an evil manner. This I why Roger in The Lord of the Flies acts the way he does. My theory that evil is within every human is also expressed in The Lord of the Flies through symbolism. I think that The Beast symbolises the evil that resides within man. I think that the children on the island were all aware that there is a beast on the island, but they thought that it was an actual living thing and didnt realise that it lies within them and that it is in their soul and mind leading them to chaos because of a society with no adults. Only Simon understands what the beast really is, but he is killed when he tries to tell the boys about the beast. Many people believe that Simon from The Lord of the Flies was mad and it is very hard to determine the difference between madness and evil. I dont think that Simon is mad at all; in fact he seems to me the most sane and logical of all the boys on the island. He is the one who tries to show the boys that there is no beast on the island and that the beast is actually the boys themselves. The theme of madness is explored in William Poes novel The Tell Tale Heart. The Tell Tale Heart is a story of domestic violence and it is hard to understand why it ends in the killing of a man. I think that it may have been caused by the narrators fear of the old mans eye; the narrator describes this eye as being pale blue with a film over it, and resembling that of a vulture. Because it is a short story we do not know why the narrator is so scared of the eye, but it is my belief that he is not actually fearful of the eye, and that he has pretended that he is frightened of it to justify the killing. I think this because the syntax suggests that the narrator has only just thought of the eye as a justification for the killing of the old man. for it was not the old man who vexed me, but his evil eye I think that the killing of the old man was evil but the narrator himself is not evil. I dont think that the narrator is evil because although to me and many people it is implausible that a man would kill another man just because of the way his eye looks but to other people this may seem quite plausible. What may drive one person to kill is very different to what will drive another person to kill. I think that Roger from The Lord of the Flies is a sadist who enjoys in hurting and causing pain. This is obvious from very early on in the novel where he knocks over the littluns sand castles and throws stones at them. Even before this I was quite weary of Roger after Goldings description of him. a slight, furtive boy whom no one knew, who kept to himself with an inner intensity of avoidance and secrecy the shock of black hair, down his nape and low on his forehead, seemed to suit his gloomy face and made what had seemed at first an unsociable remoteness into something forbidding. In the end it is Roger who pushes the boulder that kills Piggy. He joins Jacks anarchist group and becomes Jacks right-hand man. In The Lord of the Flies I believe that Jack is the leader of anarchy on the island. From the start of the novel he does not like abiding by rules of any kind. He simply wants to hunt and have a good time. Not seeming to care about being rescued, Jack and his tribe are examples of how without order and discipline we would all turn into savages. However Jacks form of anarchism is at odds with how anarchism is defined in the dictionary where it is said to be the political theory that is opposed to all forms of government. Anarchists believe that the highest attainment of humanity is the freedom of individuals to express themselves, unhindered by any form of repression or control from without. They hold that the perfection of humanity will not be attained until all government is abolished and each individual is left absolutely free. Jack is an anarchist in the sense that he tries to abolish Ralphs form of government, but he then tries to control how other people think and behave by setting up his own tribe. In many ways Jacks tribe is a lot like Adolf Hitlers fascist government in Germany. The way Jack persuaded the boys on the island to join him are very similar to the way that Hitler got people to join the Nazi Party. Like Hitler, Jack was an alternative to democratic policy (Ralphs government) and promised the boys a fun time. Also one of the main appeals of the Nazi Party was their organised appearance with their marches and uniforms. I think that this was also one of Jacks appeals, for example, when Jack and his tribe applied war paint the other boys were in awe of them and wanted to join them. By making these comparisons I think that William Golding was showing how extreme political views such as fascism may work in the short term and may be fun but that it is democracy that achieves the greatest results. In the beginning of the novel Jack, still conditioned by the previous society he had been a part of; could not bear to kill a pig. As the plot progresses he becomes less and less attached to what goes on in the civilised world and he subsequently becomes more extreme. Near the end, he feels no shame about the deaths of Simon and Piggy, or his attempt to kill Ralph and he gets his wish as his anarchy defeats Ralphs order. I think that the novel shows the reader how easy it is to revert back to the evil nature that is within every man when not living in a civilised environment with rules and discipline.

Differences Between Bureaucrats And Aristocrats In Government :: essays research papers

Bureaucrats and aristocrats, the former evident in the government in the Tang dynasty (617-907) and the ladder pronoun in the government of Heian Japan. Both are different in many different aspects, such as within government, government structure, law, economy, and society.A bureaucrat can be defined by the following: an appointed government official with certain duties and responsibilities defined by disposition in the bureaucracy. A bureaucrat is more dependent on the government than an aristocrat because official power comes from official appointment through the bureaucracy (Class Lecture, Oct. 16, 97). Bureaucracy first replaced aristocracy in the Tang dynasty, under the rule of Empress Wu (625?-706?, r.690-706) bureaucracy was expanded by furthering expansion policies and supporting the examination system. Positions in government were filled through the examination system, and people who passed were called the literati. When one held this title of literati, you were considered intelligent and were considered to have high status (TA session, Oct. 28, 97). "They were a group of smart guys with a good education." (Steve, TA session, Oct. 28, 97). This of course deprived the hereditary aristocracy of power 'they had enjoyed during the period of division, when appointments had been made by recommendation, and opened government service to a somewhat wider class of people...' (Schirokauer, p.103). For the first time, men who entered office through examination could attain the highest office, even that of Chief Minister. Examination graduates earned (earn being the operative word) prestige, and even though officials still entered government by other means such as family connections, at the same time the literati and thus the bureaucrats were gaining authority, jurisdiction, and power. And thus, one could see this shifting of supremacy from the aristocracy to the bureaucracy.Government in the Tang dynasty was regulated by the Tang legal codes, a system of laws written by legalists which consisted of a system of rewards and severe punishments (TA session, Oct. 28, 97). These legal codes were administrative: reporting what the state could do and what the subjects could not do. This is an important point in that, this showed the subjects possessed little power, the Tang legal codes are the opposite of any laws of present day, these legal codes protected the government and not the people. Government needed the subjects only to provide for taxes (revenue), labour (grain) and military (soldiers) reasons. 'A dead subject was not as useful as a living subject.

Management and Steel Industry Essay

1. List and elaborate some strategic issues facing NUCOR. Key strategic issues challenging NUCOR include legislation related to climate change, fluctuating cost and supply of iron ore and scrap steel, increasing amount of steel imports, production technology improvements and economic weakness. Changes in legislation could have severe impacts on the firm’s numerous production facilities and could be costly to become compliant. The fluctuations in both the cost and supply of iron ore and scrap steel directly impact the firm’s profitability because it is difficult to pass those costs on to the customers due to the price-driven level of competition in the steel industry. The rise of low cost steel imports increases the domestic U.S. supply which puts pressure on NUCOR. The firm must stay at the front of technological advances for the production and processing of steel in order to stay competitive. Common for many firms and industries, economic weakness is an issue that challenges NUCOR’s strategy because it can impact the demand for its reputable high quality steel products. 2. What are the key elements of NUCOR’s low cost strategy? What factors have helped NUCOR achieve a low cost position? Key strategy elements for NUCOR: Conservative financial strength Team-based culture and decentralized operations Vertical integration Diversification Innovation – information technology, speed of design process Close proximity to important customers Financially stable employees – higher than average wages and non-discretionary incentive programs Employee empowerment Honesty and openness within the company No employee lay-offs Factors that have contributed to NUCOR’s low cost position: Strong, long-term relationships with outside parties for services such as research and development, purchasing recommendations, advertising, public relations, and  legal or environmental regulation compliance Stepping away from the steel industry’s tradition of equalized freight and offering all customers the sales terms of price plus actual shipping costs Not offering customers volume discounts Fleet of nearly 150 trucks for product delivery Vertical integration from joist manufacturing into steel production Steel production utilizing mini-mill technology Holding workstations responsible for identifying bottlenecks to increase efficiency Sophisticated computer program is used to compute accurate bids Improvements in the melting and casting processes for steel production including â€Å"continuous casters† Flat organizational hierarchy 3. Please apply Porter’s Five Forces model to the steel industry. While doing so, clearly identify who is behind each force and what the impact is of each force on the profitability of the industry (high/medium/low). At the end, also provide a summary of all the five forces and propose whether you think the steel industry is attractive or not. The bargaining power of buyers is high due to minimal product differentiation, low switching costs, excess capacity of steel production and large volume purchases. The threat of substitutes is medium because substitutes such as aluminum and plastic would not provide equivalent strength and durability but could still serve the same purpose as steel. The bargaining power of suppliers is low primarily due to the product being a commodity, high ratio of imported raw materials, and low switching costs. The threat of new entrants is low due to the trend toward consolidation and high amount of capital required to establish production/processing facilities capable of achieving economies of scale. Rivalry is intense because the steel industry is mature with little differentiation among products and mergers both in the U.S. and across the globe creating giant companies with deep pockets. Generally speaking, I think the steel industry is unattractive primarily due to its maturity, significant capital requirements and intense price-based competition that ultimately lead to low profitability. 4. What are NUCOR’s resources and capabilities? Resources: Team-based organizational culture Alliances with outside parties for support services Joint ventures with Physical locations of plants in proximity to key customers Loyal employees comprised of production workers, department heads, support and administrative staff, and senior management Innovative mini-mill technology Own fleet of nearly 150 trucks for distribution Computer program to generate bids Plants, mills, equipment, and machinery Reputation Financial capital Capabilities: Management’s philosophy and leadership skills Successful quality control process Flat organizational hierarchy and incentive program that keeps the workforce cooperative and productive Acquisition management Multidivisional coordination Speed of design process 5. Elaborate on some of the key lessons you have learnt from the case analysis. The most significant lesson I learned from this case analysis is that management style and culture can be key to being competitive. These really are the two things that will give NUCOR sustainable competitive advantage  because they are the most difficult to find and imitate. Building such an impressive employee loyalty takes time and cannot be replicated easily. In addition, the minimization of the corporate bureaucracy is something that makes employees at all levels feel comfortable and as if they are part of a family. I think there are many companies, including the one I work for that could really benefit from adopting this management style.

Learning Analysis

I wanted to apply for a job maintaining databases; however, the company I was applying for used a different program which I needed to learn before being considered for the application. Although I had no assurance of being hired, I bought the program and the book and resolved to learn the program on my own. Whether I get the job or not, I have learned something new to add to my rà ©sumà ©. In my Human Resources Management class, we were taught that the best way to gather information about the prospective applicant is to look at their rà ©sumà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s and that it is often the most used preselection tool. A rà ©sumà © that is complete and presents current information about one’s qualifications and skills will get the most points during selection (Newell & Scarborough, 2002). Moreover, it is also important that when a skill or expertise is listed on a rà ©sumà © it is actually verifiable and that one could demonstrate it if needed.This meant that if I really wanted that job, I should be able to master this program or be able to work with it before I submit that application letter. I approached the task with a sense of urgency since the deadline for the application was in a week. I recalled that in the recruitment process, it is important to have a time frame of the recruitment activities as sometimes the need for an applicant to the position is immediate (Newell & Scarborough, 2002), since the time frame for the application process was in a week, I figured the company must really be in a hurry to fill the job vacancy.A vacancy in the company can be brought about by external turnovers, where the employee voluntarily leave the company, or an internal turnover, where the employee is promoted to a higher position (Mathis & Jackson, 2006). Database administrators usually work alone and it is a very specific job that its job description is basically about how to enter and update information in the company’s database and based on this, I deduced t he former employee of the company I was setting my eyes on resigned. Voluntary resignations often occur because of the need for better paying jobs, job dissatisfaction, disagreement with the management and a whole lot more. However, it would be too much of me to think so far ahead about the reasons why the former database administrator left; it’s the case of counting the rotten eggs even before finding the hen.I was in the middle of my thoughts when I realized that I was not yet working on the program. So I proceeded to install the program on my computer and scanned the guidebook to familiarize myself with the icons and the layout of the interface. Setting up the program on my computer was easy; I followed the instructions carefully and installed the software tutor to help me. Then, I had the book of instructions and proceeded to punch out some commands and clicked on the icons on the screen in front of me. Then after 10 minutes, I realized I was not learning anything!I could not make heads or tails about what the program was about really, and it was like a tangle of senseless letters and numbers. Besides, my head was spinning from straining my eyes at the monitor and then looking at the guide book and asking help from the program tutor. In this predicament, I found myself looking back at the human resource management theories that I took up this semester at the university. HR concepts and theories are actually valuable instruments that would help organizations become productive (Ulrich& Brockbank, 2005)I remembered that motivating people to learn something new or to have them attend skills training is one of the most difficult tasks that an HR manager have to face. Research had found that employees willingly attend trainings and workshops since it would free them from their daily work routines, however, whether they learn anything from it or not has not been established (Kraiger & Ford, 2006). Although, researchers agree that an employee who have posit ive attitudes towards the training program would likely benefit more from the training while a negative attitude towards the training sessions would mean that the possibility of learning has already been blocked. Designing an effective training program should be based on motivation theories and adult learning.Motivation theories indicate that in order for the individual to accomplish a task, the goal itself should be one that the individual values (Mathis & Jackson, 2006). This would mean that the training should be one that is related to the work tasks of the employee and that it could be perceived as an opportunity for growth and development. Training activities should also be designed to provide opportunities for the participants to succeed and feel that they are competent, thus, if the skills training is about making performance evaluation instruments then the participants could be asked to make their own instrument and input can be given in how to make performance evaluations w hich would either validate the participants skills or teach them new ones.The needs theory of motivation also says that trainings should answer a need; this means that the employee will perceive the training as personally important to him/her if it satisfies a need. The need for growth, for achievement, for competence and for affiliation is answered by training programs. When an employee is required to attend a training workshop, it tells him that the company wants him to become better at his job, that they care about his personal quest for professional growth, and that the company is looking after their employees (Pfeffer &  Veiga, 1999). Aside from motivation, a key factor in effective training programs is adult learning theories.The effectiveness of trainings and workshops is measured by the amount of skills transferred from the training to the actual job (Kraiger & Aguinis, 2001). However, literature says that training effectiveness in terms of learning transfer has not been a dequately studied due to the difficulty of monitoring learning in the workplace. Adult learning theories suggests that adults learn experientially, that is by doing and applying what is being taught (Nkomo, Fottler & McAfee, 2005). Thus, if the skills being taught are customer service courtesy, it would be more effective if the skill is taught using role playing techniques and applying it to real life situations than if it was just taught using lectures.Moreover, learning happens in a continuum, one being effective learning and remembering and the other is end is forgetting and decay. Thus, trainings should be given periodically, it should not be a one-shot deal where you would expect that everything is learned and that it should not be repeated (Salas,  Cannon ­Bowers,  Rhodenizer  &  Bowers, 1999), however it makes no sense to train employees on something that they do not need or one that is not relevant to their jobs. After, this musings and theoretical exercise, I went back to my database program and begun learning it in a different approach.First off, I delegated a time for my learning schedule that is on the same time everyday, then I chose between the guide book or the tutor to help me since using both would be confusing and exhausting. From what I learned on adult learning, the training session should be interactive, one that I can work on and see concrete results or outputs, so settled for the tutor and ditched the guidebook. Second, on my first session, I read the introductory part of the program and had the tutorial run to give an overview of the program, because the HR texts said one must first understand what the training is for and where it could be used to make the person’s job easier or more meaningful.The tutorial was interactive so I got to associate the different commands with its specific functions and I remembered it easily because I could visualize the icon, no wonder programs have icons, it makes the manipulation of the program simpler. After several tutorials I then proceeded to work on the program on my own, I printed the sample exercises and then proceeded to work on the database using the exercises and if I could not make sense of it, I then asked the tutor for help.The best thing about the activities was that it worked on an actual data, although it was fictitious, I had something to work with and could treat them as real. What was gratifying was that every time I was able to complete an exercise and produce the output exactly as it was presented in the training program, I felt I accomplished something and I was sure that I was really learning. At present, I am still on the third chapter but it has been a good run, and that job application seems to be on the positive side since many of those who applied are also not familiar with the program.ReferencesKraiger, K. & Ford, J. K. (2006). The expanding role of workplace training: Themes and trendsinfluencing training research and practice.   In L. L. Koppes (Ed.), Historical perspectives in industrial and organizational psychology.   Mahwah, NJ:   Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Kraiger, K. & Aguinis, H. (2001). Training effectiveness: Assessing training needs, motivation,and accomplishments.   In M. London (Ed.), How people evaluate others in organizations:   Person perception and interpersonal judgment in I/O psychology.Mathis, R. & Jackson, J. (2006). Human resource management 11th   ed. Boston:Thomson/Southwestern.Newell, H. & Scarborough, H. (2002). HRM in Context – A Case Study Approach. London:Palgrave.Nkomo, S.,   Fottler, M. & McAfee, R. (2005). Applications in human resource management:Cases, Exercises, and Skill Builders 5th   ed. Boston: Thomson/Southwestern.Pfeffer,  J.,  &  Veiga,  J.F.  Ã‚  (1999).  Ã‚  Putting  people   first  for  organizational  success.   Academy  ofManagement  Executive,  13,  37 ­48.Salas,  E.,  Cannon ­Bowers,  J.,  Rhodeniz er,  L.,  &  Bowers,  C.  (1999).  Training  inorganizations:  Myths,  misconceptions,  and  mistaken  assumptions.  Research  in  Personneland  Human  Resources  Management,  17, 123 ­161.Ulrich, D.& Brockbank, W. (2005). The HR Value Proposition. Boston: Harvard BusinessSchool Press.

U Got Screwed essays

U Got Screwed essays Kissimmee River System Past and Present Thirty years ago, the Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with the State of Florida began construction of a massive flood control project on the Kissimmee River in south central Florida. The flood control solution was the channelization of the river, converting its 103 plus miles of shallow, meandering river channel and floodplain to a geometric, essentially straight as an arrow. Historically, the Kissimmee River meandered approximately 103 miles within a one to two mile floodplain. The floodplain, approximately 56 miles long, sloped gradually to the south from an elevation of about 51 feet at lake Kissimmee to about 15 feet at lake Okeechobee; falling an average of about one third of a foot in elevation over each mile of the river. Under historic condition, river flows generally exceeded 250 cubic feet per second 95 percent of the time, while over bank flooding occurred when flows exceeded 1,400 cfs in the upper reaches to 2,000 cfs in the lower reaches. It is important to recognize at the outset that the 1961-71-flood control work on the Kissimmee River was a continuation of past federal concerns and the development of the river that began with the construction of federal law. George Orwell was not only a writer, but also an important political reformer. Orwell was born in India in 1903. He considered his family a "lower-middle class" family. He said this because his family was a part of the middle class, but had little money. His father worked for the British government and was able to be apart of the middle class without money. Orwell lived in Britain and went to boarding school there on scholarships. He was the poorest student among many wealthy children. Orwell felt like an outsider at the boarding schools he went to. The students were all kept in line by beatings. This was Orwell's first taste of dictatorship, being helpless under the rule of an ...

Aims And Objectives Of Primark Economics Essay

Aims And Objectives Of Primark Economics Essay In June 1969, the first Penney’s store opened in Mary Street, Dublin. Within a year, four more stores were added – all in the Greater Dublin area. In 1971, the first large store outside Dublin was opened in Cork and by the end of that year there were 11 more stores in Ireland and one in Northern Ireland. Move into Great Britain By 1973, the number of stores had reached 18 in Ireland and Primark began trading in Great Britain with four out-of-town stores. The following year saw the opening of the first UK High Street stores in Derby and Bristol. In the next ten years, 18 stores were added in the UK and nine in Ireland, bringing the number of stores in the UK and Ireland to 22 each. Also in 1984, the first multiple acquisition took place with the purchase in Ireland of five Woolworth stores. PRIMARK OBJECTIVES AND AIMS To provide good quality products for the public; we want the public to realize we are a good company and just because our products are cheap, it doesnâ₠¬â„¢t mean that they are rubbish. We will achieve this by having our products made by people that know what they are doing and test them to check that they are good quality. To sell goods at reasonable prices; We want the public to have a wide range of options to them, so we offer them good quality products at reasonable prices; This will be achieved by looking at other stores, selling similar products, and making our prices lower than other places. To be friendly and helpful towards customers and staff; The public need to think that we are a friendly company; this will make them want to come to our store if they feel welcome. We will achieve this by greeting customers as soon as possible and making them feel welcomed. To treat everybody the same; The public need to feel like we treat everybody the same. The people with less money will be treated the same as people that have lots of money. PRIMARK’s AGM is the most important opportunity this year to put pressure on PRIMARK. T his annual shareholder meeting is when important decisions get made regarding PRIMARK’s policies and procedures. It is PRIMARK’s shareholders who take home the lion’s share of PRIMARK’s profits and who have the power to make PRIMARK introduce policies and procedures that will ensure the lives of workers are put ahead of PRIMARK’s pursuit of profits. So join us on Friday 5 December from 10.30 onwards to make your voice heard. We have seen how fearful PRIMARK is of us publicly shaming them, so please help us make sure their shareholders deliver justice to the workers making PRIMARK clothes.It beggars belief that PRIMARK has been caught on the back foot again. Just five months on from the BBC exposà © that highlighted the appalling conditions faced by Indian workers producing clothes for the famous high street store and PRIMARK has yet again been caught out disrespecting these workers. Join us on 5 December to hammer the nail in PRIMARK’s ethi cal coffin.

Value Chain Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Value Chain - Term Paper Example The company aims to achieve its mission and vision by fulfilling the needs of varied customers spread at different locations globally. The company ensures that it provides the best quality products at the best and affordable prices which are further accompanied with best services within the industry (Ashley Furniture Industries Inc, â€Å"A Proud History and Poised for a Formidable Future†). Thesis Statement The paper critically identifies the value chain activities practiced by Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc and briefly recommends on various core areas of the company in relation to value chain. Value Chain and Ashley Furniture The term ‘Value Chain’ was first coined by Michel Porter in his famous book ‘Competitive Advantage’ in 1985. The analysis of value chain identifies the activities performed by an organization and further relates them with the organization’s competitive strengths. Porter identifies primary and secondary activities as th e two major activities essential for value chain analysis. He further grouped the primary activities into five sub-heads including inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, marketing and sales and services which are concerned with the value creation as well as delivery of products. Similarly, secondary activities are also grouped into four sub-heads namely, human resource management, technology development, infrastructure and procurement. The secondary activities help organizations to enhance the efficiency and the effectiveness of the overall organizational operations (Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations, â€Å"The Value Chain†). The basic model of value chain is being represented below: Source: (Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations, â€Å"The Value Chain†) Primary Activities Inbound Logistics Ashley Furniture aims to produce world class durable furniture in attractive designs and affordable prices. Furthermore, the comp any ensures that by no means are its product qualities compromised; and customers receive value for their investment made in terms of durable and finished products. The company has partnered with best class suppliers for the supply of a variety of components required for the manufacturing of the furniture products. In addition to this, the company has the largest air-ride truck fleet in the industry which can be evident on the highways of Wisconsin (Wisconsin Manufactures and Commerce, â€Å"BPES-Ashley Furniture†). The tractors involved in the transportation of required components for the manufacturing process are equipped with auxiliary power units that result in less consumption of fuel almost by 10 percent. Additionally, the company is also striving to procure materials locally in order to reduce the cost of transportation and thereby offer its products at affordable prices to its discriminating customers (Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc, â€Å"Ashley World Class Furnit ure Company†). Operations Ashley Furniture has more than 250 acres operating space for manufacturing and distribution throughout the world. It has the biggest casegoods production related plant in the United States. The company sells furniture in more than 123 countries around the globe. The major regional manufacturing and