Ludwig Van Beethoven The First Four Notes - 1432 Words

Ludwig van Beethoven Do you think you could identify a composer’s work is the first four notes of their piece? A note sequence of short, short, short, long describes one of the most iconic classical symphonies of all time. For most people in the world this German composer has made that possible with the amount of success he achieved in his career. This composer has influenced generations of music makers and listeners from the 1800’s to today. Undoubtingly one of the most influential, well-known, and talented composers of all time is Ludwig van Beethoven, who accomplished so much in his lifetime, with some of the most difficult obstacles. Today I’m going to dive into the life of Ludwig van Beethoven. I will be talking about his childhood, family, famous works, health issues, and his death. Ludwig van Beethoven was born on December 16th, 1770 in Bonn, Germany. Beethoven’s birth date isn’t an exact date because many had said that Beethoven’s father might have lied about his age to depict his son as a young child prodigy. The custom in Germany back then was to get your baby baptized the day after their birth. Beethoven was baptized on December 17th, 1770. Regardless of what date is Beethoven’s actual birthday, he always acknowledged the December 16th, 1770 as his date of birth. Ludwig van Beethoven was named after his grandfather who was a professional singer. Beethoven’s father was Johann van Beethoven. Johann was a musician who sang tenor, played piano, and violin. JohannShow MoreRelatedThe Classical Era And The Age Of Enlightenment1123 Words   |  5 PagesLudwig Van Beethoven was a musical masterpiece. He never let problems interfere with his work. He was born in the baroque period, lives a life of fifty-four years, and contributed so much romance in his life although never being married or having kids. Beethoven is well known for his work and will forever be known as a Romantic influencer. Beethoven dedicated his whole life to his music. He never let bad situations fully tear him apart from writing and playing music. The historical period that LudwigRead MoreThe Greatest Composer Ever By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart795 Words   |  4 Pagesand Violin Concerto all share a common trait. If you said Ludwig van Beethoven, you would be correct. One of the greatest composer ever, only to be rivaled by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He happened to be deaf when he created many of his famous works. Today, I am going to tell you about his childhood, early life, then to his later stages in life where he was deaf. But it was when he became deaf, he produced his greatest works of music. Ludwig was baptized on December 17, 1770 in Bonn Germany. ManyRead MoreLife Of The Composer : Ludwig Van Beethoven1597 Words   |  7 PagesLudwig Van Beethoven Music plays an important role in the human life through entertainment, inspiration, conveying messages that help to shape the moral fabric of the society through education, among others. This is made possible through identifying with and relating to the artiste’s or composer’s feelings and aspirations. In trying to understand the intentions for which a particular musical piece has been composed, it is normally prudent to study the life of a composer to better placeRead MoreClassical Music And The Era Of Music1646 Words   |  7 Pages Introduction If you were like me, when someone mentioned classical music or music for the heroic era you knew very little to nothing about the subject. The only thing you knew was that it was music from a long time ago and that Beethoven was the only artist you could name. So, let me enlighten you on what classical music is and the era it comes from. The term classical is something that has a wide and long-lasting appeal. In music, when a piece was written from between about 1750 to 1825 it wasRead MoreLudwig Van Beethoven, Composer Of All Time, And For Good Reason1459 Words   |  6 PagesLudwig van Beethoven is perhaps the most well known composer of all time, and for good reason. Born in the Classical era, Beethoven composed music that people could connect to and feel in a way that they had never experienced before. Beethoven was a great musical innovator as a result of his work as a composer, his assistance in the transition from the Classical era to the Romantic era of music, and his famous Ninth Symphony. Ludwig van Beethoven was born on either December 16th or 17th in the yearRead MoreJohann Von Beethoven : The Greatest Paradox Of The Realm Of Music1480 Words   |  6 PagesIn Bonn, on December of 1770, a child was born to a lower middle class Finnish couple; Johann and Maria. Given the name Ludwig after his grandfather, a choirmaster, this child would grow to continue the name of the musically inclined Beethoven family, and eventually supersede its reputation with his own genius. As a deaf composer and musician, Ludwig von Beethoven is one of the greatest paradoxes in the realm of music. From his upbringing, his triumph over his disability, and his world renownedRead MoreLudwig Van Beethoven : An Impact On Music733 Words   |  3 PagesLudwig Van Beethoven No other composer or musical artist has made as big of an impact on music as Ludwig Van Beethoven. He influenced many other composers, and made some of the most beautiful pieces that are still played today. It is truly amazing that he was able to master his craft and become questionably the greatest composer that has ever lived, despite having a condition that would seem to make composing music impossible. Beethoven, being born so long ago, does not have an exact recordedRead MoreLudwig Van Beethoven Left Behind A Legacy Of Musical Pieces2581 Words   |  11 Pagesof orchestral music, Ludwig van Beethoven left behind a legacy of musical pieces. Though Beethoven’s works spread throughout the globe, not many truly know what happened in his private life. Not only was he raised by an alcoholic father, but he also did not have a successful romantic life and even became deaf later in life. Beethoven, a musical prodigy, wrote hundreds of pieces of music and astounded the ears of mankind, yet lived a sorrowful life behind the scenes. Beethoven lived a traumatic childhoodRead MoreLudwig Van Beethoven : A Traumatic Childhood2468 Words   |  10 PagesBeethoven had a traumatic childhood, even if he grew up surrounded by music. Ludwig van Beethoven was born around December 16, 1770 and baptized on December 17 in Bonn, located in the now-nonexistent Electorate of Cologne (â€Å"Ludwig van Beethoven†). His parents, Johann van Beethoven and Maria Magdalena van Beethoven, had to bury two children before Ludwig and celebrated his successful birth. Maria bore Johann two more sons after Ludwig: Caspar Carl, born in 1774 and Nickolaus Johann, born in 1776 (â€Å"LudwigRead MoreThe Music Of Ludwig Van Beethoven1408 Words   |  6 PagesLudwig van Beethoven When I was 7 years old, my parents signed me up for music school. I did not want to go to music school, but they wanted me just to try. In first class we were just listening classical music and it really sounded boring. But when Beethoven’s fifth symphony came on, I fell in love with classical music and I wanted to study it even more. My sister was also in musical school and she played piano and when I came back from school, I was begging her to play me some of Beethoven’s pieces

A Journey Through Life By Zora Neale Hurston Essay

A Journey through Life Before You Find a Prince First, you must Have to Kiss A few Frogs.† This quote represents the story of a beautiful girl named Janie. The novel was written by an American folklorist and author, Zora Neale Hurston. Her novel titled Their Eyes Were Watching God, is about a sixteen-year-old who is under grandmother s care. Their Eyes Were Watching God gives a brief representation of the life that black slaves had to live. Through the black American culture, many slaves were force to sexual and physical abuse from their owners. This is the case of Janie s grandmother Nanny; she is raped by her master, and has a daughter named Leafy. Also, she is raped by her school teacher, and has Janie. After having Janie, Leafy rans away from home and never comes back, so Nanny transfers her hopes to Janie. Janie grows up with Nanny s perspective of life that makes her later on hate Nanny. She teaches Janie not to be attracted to love instead she wants Janie to seek for financial stability and p hysical protection. Indeed, Nanny s love for Janie is powerful; their economic background blinds her to see what Janie really wants. Nanny always wants the best for Janie, so she marries her to Logan Killicks, who is an old, unattractive, and wealthy farmer. Roughly a year later, Janie leaves her miserable life to marry a charismatic man whose name is Joe Starks. Years later, the charismatic and loving man disappears and becomes Janie s shadow. Soon after Joe s death,Show MoreRelatedZora Neale Hurston A Genius of the South Essay1664 Words   |  7 PagesZora Neale Hurston is a trailblazer. Back then people ridiculed her, but she felt the pride and dignity within herself. She was seen as an African-American grandmother in many images of black women writers (Showalter 221). Her talent for African-American literature excited the new readers who were constantly reading her literary works (â€Å"Hurston,† Feminist). Occasionally, both black and white supporters reviewed her books (McKay). She demonstrates a larger pattern of white American culture to be substantiallyRead MoreTheir Eyes Were Watching God Analysis Essay939 Words   |  4 PagesA Woman’s Journey to Self-discovery â€Å"She had waited all her life for something.† This quote is significant because it epitomizes the struggle of a woman to reach self-actualization. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston juxtaposes opposing places to emphasize the experience gained by the novel’s protagonist, Janie, in each respective location, and to emphasize the effect of that environment on Janie’s journey to attain her dreams. Through this comparison, the author explores the ideaRead MoreTheir Eyes Were Watching God1571 Words   |  7 PagesZora Neale Hurston and her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God During the Harlem Renaissance, African Americans experience a cultural exposure in literature art. It was a period of great achievement in African-American art and literature during the 1920s and 1930s. This surge gave birth to several authors, playwrights and dramatists, such as Zora Neale Hurston. Zora Neale Hurston is now considered among the foremost authors of that period, having published four novels, three nonfiction works, andRead MoreOprah Had No Eyes to See Her Make a Monstrosity1500 Words   |  6 PagesOprah Had No Eyes to See Her Make a Monstrosity Oprah’s movie did Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, an injustice when Oprah changed the entire purpose of the book. The changes made to characters, relationships, and the effects of symbolism makes the story unrecognizable. Their Eyes Were Watching God transforms into a love story and the title changes which alters the entire plot, even some settings change. Oprah truly slaughtered a work of art and her ignorance of the meaningRead More`` Their Eyes Were Watching God `` By Joseph Campbell961 Words   |  4 PagesJanie’s Journey The â€Å"hero’s journey†, coined by Joseph Campbell, is a pattern in the plot structure of literature, myths, and oral tradition in which the hero is consistently faced with similar obstacles and achieves many of the same goals. The first part of the hero’s journey is â€Å"The Call.† The hero is usually living a very comfortable and easy life, unaware of the journey ahead. The hero is then faced with a situation or dilemma which eventually causes them to seek change. The hero, at this pointRead More Powerful Symbols in Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston1407 Words   |  6 PagesPowerful Symbols in Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston       In 1937, upon the first publication of Their Eyes Were Watching God, the most influential black writer of his time, Richard Wright, stated that the novel carries no theme, no message, [and] no thought.   Wrights powerful critique epitomized a nations attitude toward Zora Neale Hurstons second novel. African-American critics read a book that they felt satisfied the white mans stereotype of African-American cultureRead MoreCritique of Oprah Winfreys Film Version of Their Eyes Were Watching God1771 Words   |  8 PagesOprah Winfrey lied on the opposite end of Zora Neale Hurston’s spectrum when she produced her atrocious rendition of Hurston’s stellar novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. She modified characters and symbols, altered the theme and relationships, and utterly desolated the significance of the title, making it almost unrecognizable to someone who has read the book. Winfrey totally eviscerated Hurston’s unsurpassed novel, extrapolating what she th ought important without going in depth in to the trueRead MoreThe Life of American Women in Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God895 Words   |  4 PagesZora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God is a novel illustrating the life of an African American woman that finds her voice through many trials and tribulations. At the heart of the story, Hurston portrays a protagonist who moves from a passive state to independence, from passive woman with no voice who is dominated by her husband to a woman who can think and act for herself. Hurston achieves the greater theme of Their Eyes Were Watching God, of self-expression and independence throughRead MoreRacial Issues : Mark Twain s Huckleberry Finn881 Words   |  4 Pagesearly 1860’s. Authors and artists found a way to incorporate the ways of life during this time into their work. One of the most famous pieces of literature that involves racism was Mark Twain s, Huckleberry Finn during the Reali sm period. The Harlem Renaissance happened 30 years after the publication of Twain’s Huck Finn, and their works still talked about problem with racism and segregation. Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston were two of the most influential African American writers during thisRead MoreThe Harlem Renaissance : The New Negro Movement1459 Words   |  6 Pagesidentity and self-expression through literary, musical, theatrical, and visual arts. The story behind this began in 1890 when African American slaves migrated from the rural South to the urban North as they thrashed their way to freedom. Most of them migrated to New York, particularly in the district of Harlem (Bolarinwa). Harlem was characterized as â€Å"not merely the largest Negro community in the world, but the first concentration in history of so many diverse elements of Negro life† (Bolarinwa). The Harlem

Letter From a Birmingham Jail Essay Example For Students

Letter From a Birmingham Jail Essay Outline1 Introduction1.1 Thesis2 Ethos3 Pathos4 Logos5 Conclusion Introduction It was back in the summer of 1963 when racism against African Americans racist terror was fiercest and at its peak in Birmingham, then dubbed as Bombingham by some locals. As the face of civil activism, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr was arrested while on the forefront of peaceful anti-segregation march. This letter was part of the stand which was branded as the Civil Rights Movement. Among the actions taken by the Civil Rights Movement included marches, bus boycotts, sit-ins and other kinds of demonstrations, all conducted in a non-violent form. Among his many famous pieces, The Birmingham letter was to be one of Martin Luther Kings powerful piece. While confined in jail, it is when he produced the extraordinary document. The Jim Crows administration never saw it coming. Martin Luther prudently makes use of ethos, pathos, and logos in combination with a direct argumentative plan when reinforcing his claims. Thesis The letter from Birmingham jail was written in response to the clergymen’s accusations on King and his people saying their action was â€Å"unjust and ill-informed†. It is in this letter where he strongly shows the critics why he is right while they are wrong. Ethos King precisely strengthens his views by using ethos in his â€Å"mission critical letter†. In the first paragraph, he refers to his oppressors as men of goodwill which articulates his respect for the administration. Additionally, he refers to them as,† My Dear Fellow Clergymen†. By so doing, he already equates himself with his critics. King proceeds to establish his credibility by mentioning, â€Å"I have the honor of serving as president of Southern Christian Leadership Conference†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬  (King, 2018). He also brings to their knowledge about his invitation to Birmingham via the conferences partner. By providing the Southern Christian Leadership Conference operations and the numerous affiliates, he further builds its ethos. Throughout the write-up, King portrays himself as a virtuous and holy being through his vast bible quotes. â€Å"†¦just as the Apostle Paul left his little village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to practically every hamlet and city of the Greco-Roman world, I too am compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my particular hometown.†(Rieder,2013). He also displays his wisdom while setting up his credibility by continually referring to great individuals in the face of history such as Socrates, Reinhold Niebuhr, Martin Buber among many others. He depicts a considerable knowledge of laws. He reiterates on the critical issue which is justice which is by consistently being delayed on the colored citizens. In his opinion, he cites justice as a God-given right, and it is being denied to him and his people. This illustration prompts him to quote other great leaders and philosophers such as Augustine Thomas Aquinas Paul Tillich. He justifies his opinion by the use of relevant court cases and situations in history. From this, the eight clergymen have a different viewpoint of understanding the Kings heated argument and from where it sprouts. Pathos Martin Luther King displays his prowess to capture the and engage his audience by involving them in the letter. He lets the readers imagine being in a similar situation like his. By doing this, he taps on their emotional switch and thus knows the information he relays onboard will not be taken lightly. Though used minimally, King lays pathos in a middle-placed paragraph. He probably uses the phrase, â€Å"if you have one shot at something, give it the best†. By putting the picture of a basic family structure (your mother, sister, your father, your brother, and sister) being subjected to mistreatment, rough handling and killing he makes the letter very emotional. .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1 , .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1 .postImageUrl , .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1 , .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1:hover , .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1:visited , .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1:active { border:0!important; } .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1:active , .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1 .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua09ad9ad9b576f2a9694cebe0c840be1:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: What is art ? EssayKings second illustration is when he brings the issue of lacking definite response to your child when they inquire why they cannot visit a public amusement park which has been advertised on Tv. It is beyond reasonable doubt something ironic. He tries to show the bewildered look that a kid receives on the revelation that they could not do things done by other kids. The innocence of a young kid is being taken hostage as seen from the example. â€Å"Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?†, this rhetorical question by a young kid as illustrated by King in his letter (King, 2018). This specific illustration indicates how segregation is slowly but steadily taking shape in young children. Logos Dr. Martin Luther, all through the letter uses logos to deepen his message.   He addresses the issue of justice, clearly outlining how they both mean. It is from his definition that he highlights that the segregation statutes are legal but unjust since they bring a sense of inferiority to the negros. He proceeds to mention a case of the clergymen commending the police for their well-done work in handling the demonstrators. King agrees that the police were right but then contrasts on why they were at good at work – handling peaceful demonstrators who were against the unjust segregation laws. Likewise, he uses a Hitler analogy on how he was doing legal things which were never just to the Jews. The readers will have a reflection of their action which might speed up change. King lays down his persuasive illustrations. Furthermore, he disproves the church’s position on the whole issue of segregation and further states his disappointment with the church. He argues that church leaders should lead in values and morals, whether lawful or not. He adds that church should act as a bridge between the society and the administration like seen in the past centuries when faith was so loud (Christians were God-intoxicated). His actions are also deemed as those of an extremist. He once again dives into his deep pool of wisdom by stating his content instead of dissatisfaction with being considered as an extremist. He compares himself with some extremists such as Jesus Thomas Jefferson. Amos John Bunyan Abraham Lincoln Was not Jesus an extremist in love? Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you. (King, 2018). He puts across that being an extremist for good is morally right. He states his joy in being quoted as an extremist in civil justice in the future. As part of his summary, he requests for God’s forgiveness in any case of over-statement while making his claims. He also seeks forgiveness if in his letter there is an understatement of truth. Conclusion Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a genius in linguistics from how he articulates his issues on the famous Letter from Birmingham jail. He makes use of ethos, pathos, and logos to speak his message to the leader. He outlines a point with the ethos and later uses pathos to support it. Once in a while, he engages the readers emotionally and mentally. The civil rights movement was also on the spotlight especially when he sought to inform the clergymen on the topic of justice and how it was being delayed (Rieder,2013). References Rieder, J. (2013). Gospel of freedom: Martin Luther King, Jr.s letter from Birmingham Jail and the struggle that changed a nation. King, M. L. (2018). Why we cant wait.

What is Groupon and how does it work free essay sample

A flood of business came from this sector of the people with long working hours. Those people almost are the e-mail users. They need eating outside as they do not have much time to prepare food at home. They also need much more entertainment to release working pressure. So. the entertainment and restaurant sectors contributed the most typical deals to the Groupom Groupon make money by taking a 40 to 50% cut of all revenues generated from the daily deal. Groupon pay to the business after a deal and the business will not expend any money until customers redeem the groupon. If subscribers who purchased d deal that failed to each the minimum, their credit cards were not charged. Thus encourage subscribers to share a deal with friends. Once a formula works, Groupon attracts funds to entry. Then, Groupon copy it to other cities, then to other countries and now is all over the world. We will write a custom essay sample on What is Groupon and how does it work? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Question 2 What does Groupon do that makes businesses willing to pay for its services? Why are consumers attracted to Groupon offers? Communications with both subscribers and buyers It has software to check which deals are popular, sometimes the businesses will continue to otter a tanning Groupon when the deal was so successful. And teedback tool is made to encourage both subscribers and buyers to report back their experience in Groupon. Deep discount Businesses are willing to offer deep discount rate on products or services to attract new clients. When the deal is popular, Groupon can drive a large number of visitors to a store. Consumers have Interests in buying new products with a lower price. Groupon is helping people and thus developed Into a veritable city guide for customers to try something new and Interesting which hidden In clues. Tlmlng convenience Groupon expose or offer the limited time deals to consumers. Peer pressure has been a key factor in order to achieve the ultimate purchase of the deal. And get the customers to make a purchase quickly. And added convenience of location or place will inspire consumer buying. Referee bonus Groupon well use social e-mail meala groups Ilke lwltter ana FaceDooK to market itself to both businesses and consumers. The deal will be cancelled if it does not reach the minimum orders. And dollars will be rewarded if customers refer friends to purchase in Groupon. Thus encourage customers to share the deals by word of mouth to other potential consumers. Service grantee Groupon ensure that the restrictions (like 24 hours cancellation policy or fee or limit one per visit) put in place by the vending business would not interfere with their use of the Groupon. The most important point is Groupon promise to return the purchase, it is an escape clause help consumers out of situation where they feel the deal is not good. Skilled Sales Teams Generous commission is offered to the sales term. Face to face selling makes businesses willing to Join Groupon, especially during poor economy. Sales culture is by its sales-oriented project funded: Lefkofskys Lightbank VC firm and Echo Global Logistics and Innerworkings. No Financially Burden Businesses receive money from Groupon after the deals; businesses will not have any financial burden until the consumers redeem the Groupon. Consumers only pay by visa card and need not to pay immediately. Payment method is easy and convenient. Question 3 (300) At what stage of the industry life cycle is the collective buying market currently in? Please support your argument. The Industry life cycle helps us to analyze the effects of industry evolution on competitive forces. And there are five sequential stages, they are 1) embryonic, 2) growth, 3) shakeout, 4) mature and 5) decline. In the stage of mature, demand growth is low or zero while in the stage of mature, keen competition for market share and price-cutting and firms turn to cost-cutting and brand loyalty building. The collective buying industry is at the early stage of mature of the industry life cycle. Earnings and sales grow slower in mature industries than in growth and embryonic industries. A mature industry may be at its peak or Just past it. The collective buying markets growth has been massive over the past few years, is starting to mature, with merchants and group buying sites understanding that they eed to be more selective in the types of deals offered. And creating longer term relationships with successful merchants. And, competition is keen and narrowed the market share of the collective buying. The business model is simple, easy to copy and the collective buying become very popular that for it is an easy to entry business. The are many competitors, like DealOn, HomeRun, KGB deals, Tipper, Twangoo, BuyWithMe, Google Offers, and even the top five players in the market Groupon, Scoopon, LivingSocial, Cudo, and OurDeal generate over 80 per cent of the market revenue. It is being expected this trend to continue in 2013 with the disappearance of many smaller group buying sites. Apart from the US, though in the China once upon a time, booming with new collective buying companies, nearly half of collective buying sites closed now. The king of collective buying site Groupon, once was a growth stock, and its revenue rose Just 6% during the first nine months of 2013. The onllne coupon sellers Tunaamental posltlon Is clearly weak. Its net loss wlaenea, operating income fell and operations cash spending had been raised. Even Groupon turns to costing cutting due to profit lost. Question 4 (600) Using Porters five-force framework, describe the competitive environment of the collective buying industry. Do the industry profitability and the competitive environment change much between the period pre-Groupon and post-Groupon? Please discuss. There are some tendency for the five forces, they are: the more competition among firms in the industry; the lower the average profitability, the closer the substitutes for products, the lower the average profitability; the greater the bargaining power of buyers, the lower the average profitability for firms in an industry; if suppliers can ontrol supply and prices, they enjoy strong bargaining power over their customers; high profitability in an industry normally attracts new firms to enter. Pre-Groupon Porters five forces model Porter Force 1: Low Intensity of competition Sales grow is slow in this stage and distribution channels are not widespread. The competition is not keen. Some early collective buying sites like MobShop and Mercata attempted to use collective buying for consumer goods but they could not offer deep discount and then failed. Porter Force 2: Low Presence of substitute products Porter Force 3: Low Bargaining Power of buyer Porter Force 4: High Bargaining Power of suppliers Many businesses are too overwhelmed with the Groupon success stories. In additions, these local and small businesses do not understand the technology of the online deal market. Therefore, many small and local businesses, like restaurants, beauties, spa, health learning classes, are Just not in a position to bargain with Groupon. Porter Force 5: Ease of entry into an industry Post-Groupon Porters five forces model Porter Force 1: Intensity of Competition The keen competitors already have significant RD budget, customer base and user ehavior statistic data that they can easily leverage and compete aggressively. For instance Google, Facebook, Yahoo and Microsoft, who have already launched similar offerings. Even many small niche players know the niche very well like gluten free deals provider. The barriers to entry are so low in this market and any one can start a deals business. Porter Force 2: High Threat of substitute products Many channels can be players in the collective buying market apart from the emailing of coupons. For example a new model by Loopt Flips puts a complete U-turn from the Groupon model. First consumers get to pick the offer in and then Loopt reaches out to the business to sign the deal. Due to unlimited opportunity in this market so unlimited models will emerge. Porter Force 3: High Bargaining Power of Buyer There are tons of daily deal providers and consumers need to pay in advance of actual consumption of product or service thus there is no reason for consumers to purchase from Groupon. Porter Force 4: Low Bargaining Power of Suppliers As the market matures and many new entries come, more than likely the local merchants will have some says in the payment terms, the deal size and terms and he revenue share. Porter Force 5: Ease of Entry into an Industry High Threat of New Entrants Groupon, Living Social, Eversave and many others have almost identical web sites. With low capital requirements, minimal regulatory restrictions, no patents or intellectual property rights restrictions it is easy to enter the market. There are already more than 50 sites like Groupon. It seems like an easy to copy business model. Question 5 (600) Perform a SWOT analysis of Groupon. From the analysis (Q3-5), how viable is Groupon? Will this business survive in the long run or will it fade away? Why and why not? Please discuss. To identify major factors affecting Groupon, the following we will also to align organizational strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats, in order to formulate suitable corporate strategy. Strengths refer that Groupons advantages over others and weaknesses refer that Groupons disadvantages relative to others. While opportunities mean elements that Groupon could exploit to its advantage, and threats, are elements in the environment that could lead trouble for Groupon. Strengths- selling points of Groupon A strong brand name and management A public listed company in NASDAQ, USA, Groupon is launched in 2008 by Andrew Mason and the well known Chicago entrepreneur Eric Lefkofsk. And now Groupon is a global leader in local commerce, making it easy for people in more than 48 countries to search and discover great businesses at unbeatable prices. Groupons mission and promise Groupons mission is simple: to offer what customers want to do, see, buy and eat at an amazing price. Groupon promises to return the purchase if customers feel not good enough, thus customers feel safe and confident in buying from the Groupon. Effective communication and fast transaction Superior technology allows Groupon to better meet the needs of their customers. It has software to check which deals are popular, and feedback tool is made to encourage both subscribers and buyers to report back their experience in Groupon. Technology help the company manages over 7000 people and host more than 900 deals every day with 70 million subscribers in 46 countries. Convenience. Social media, the company core competencies, which are Hyper Local Marketing, E- commerce, and social networking. Growth rate Demand builds up and expands rapidly, market thus getting bigger Ralse Yuna $30 million in investment funds from ACCEL Partners Weaknesses Groupons daily-deals growth is largely played out in its most-established markets in the U. S. and Europe, and whatever growth it manages to acquire overseas will most likely widen its persistent losses. Opportunities The online market offers Groupon the ability to greatly expand their business. Groupon can market to a much wider audience for relatively little expense Greater innovation can help Groupon to produce unique products and services that meet customers needs Emerging markets are fast growing regions of the world that enable Groupon to quickly expand Emerging Markets (Groupon) has a significant mpact, so an analyst should put more weight into it. Emerging Markets (Groupon) will have a long-term positive impact on this entity, which adds to its value. International Expansion (Groupon) will have a long-term positive impact on the entity, which adds to its value. Threads Intensifying rivalries It indentify Groupon current problem. Groupon faces a quantitative and qualitative problem in its market. Currently, more competitors are arising. There is strong competition in the market from many big or small, imitator sites. The main competitors of Groupon are living social (backed by Amazon), Google offer, buy with e and the deal map. Due to this sales and profit will decrease. Grouopon need to find some different services with its competitors in order to enhance its competition ability. The demand reaches saturation Therefore, the industry is in necessary of ripe for the next wave of growth. Sustain, References: -Course guide, ppt notes, Wikipedia, Groupon formal website 1) In the stage of growth. Of the eat, drink and play the center of the market development Keeping with the youthful and happy nature of its brand, Groupon maintains a simple philosophy of treating its customers the way they like to be treated. When given a choice, customers are loyal to Groupon. Instead of targeting all customers, Groupon only needs to target new customers in order to grow their business rs Talllng to come up wltn compelling ways to earn a return on spenalng to turn those consumers into repeat customers. But Groupons biggest victims are the small businesses that get suckered in to accepting Groupons. Restaurants lose money on them because consumers flood the restaurants, order very low priced meals, strain waiters and cooks, get lousy service, and never return. had to take out a loan to cover its Groupon losses. will never, ever do it again.

Of Love and Shadows essays

Of Love and Shadows essays An amazing work of fiction set in Latin America written by this talented writer is Of Love And Shadows, which was also adapted into a motion picture. This book among others demonstrated a great talent of Isabel Allende and also won her Book of the year awards in many countries. As in House of the spirits she reveals an awesome power of story telling. Of love and Shadows unfolds an entrancing tale of tragedy and excitement, of bravery and sacrifice, of family loyalty and state betrayal that is both overpoweringly moving and inspiring. From the very first sentence, Allende transports readers to a Latin American country in the grip of a military dictatorship. Considerately spoken is lust and love through the different characters in the novel, thereby giving hope in all readers to learn from. Through this novel, the reader can not only discover a special and hidden aspect of themselves and their lives, but also discover a hidden truth that most often can never be discovered in other attempts. Through relating with the characters, discoveries are made of our own virtues and missions that we seldom investigate. Not only are the characters important, but also the experiences and fairytales in which they hold dear to their hearts. Every character adds to the experiences of joys and sorrows in a country where anything can happen. Set in an a atmosphere of saturating uncertainty and fear, in a country of random arrests, sudden disappearances and summary executions, Isabel Allendes second novel tells of the passionate affair of two people prepared to risk everything for the sake of justice and truth and their fight for their love in the middle of Pinochets government, and what they do to survive. The grim reality of overcrowded morgues and crowded graves is differed with the colorful landscape of South America. Here are daringly drawn characters, such as Irenes willfully rude, immoral mother, Be...

3 Strategies for Combining Sentences

3 Strategies for Combining Sentences 3 Strategies for Combining Sentences 3 Strategies for Combining Sentences By Mark Nichol One approach to making prose more concise is to stitch together two related sentences by revising one so that it serves as a subordinate clause to the other rather than an independent statement. Here are three ways to accomplish this goal. 1. Firms are increasingly susceptible to noncompliance, as demonstrated by the stream of regulatory enforcement actions seen over recent years. These regulatory enforcement actions could have been avoided by taking an agile approach to managing the compliance requirements inventory. When a sentence repeats a noun phrase from a previous sentence, those statements are candidates for combination. Convert the second sentence to a subordinate clause, as shown here: â€Å"Firms are increasingly susceptible to noncompliance, as demonstrated by the stream of regulatory enforcement actions seen over recent years- actions that could have been avoided by taking an agile approach to managing the compliance requirements inventory.† 2. Crafting and managing these agreements is a unique and valuable skill. This is the case because the financial risks of violating their terms can be substantial. When an assertion is supported in a subsequent sentence by a statement that provides an explanation, splice the sentences by deleting the subject from the second one, as shown here: â€Å"Crafting and managing these agreements is a unique and valuable skill because the financial risks of violating their terms can be substantial.† 3. Uber continues to disrupt other geographies internationally, including London’s taxicab industry. Uber is now often also cited as an example of how disruptive technology is affecting established industries. When a subject is repeated in two consecutive sentences, it’s often possible to transform the first sentence into a parenthetical subordinate clause of the second one, as shown here: â€Å"Uber, which continues to disrupt other geographies internationally, including London’s taxicab industry, is now often also cited as an example of how disruptive technology is affecting established industries.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Compared "to" or Compared "with"?How to Punctuate Descriptions of ColorsUsing Writing Bursts to Generate Ideas and Enthusiasm

Marriage & Family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marriage & Family - Essay Example By the 19th century, it relaxed its ruling, accepting public cohabitation as sufficient excuse for the validity of a marriage. However, later in that century, the US again took an active role in controlling who was allowed to marry who, with certain populations prohibited from marrying. Marriage licences were requirements in the provision of certain federal benefits and privileges for legal dependents. For example, in distributing benefits to employees’ children such as medical insurance, the employees should first present marriage licenses as proof that their children were legally their own. The same goes for inheriting properties from partners. Spouses should be able to present a marriage license in order to claim inheritance from their deceased husbands/ wives. That meant that illegitimate children did not have a claim to their parents’ resources simply because they were borne out of wedlock. Nowadays, due to strong advocacy for children’s rights, a marriage l icense no longer has the power to strip â€Å"illegitimate† spouses and children from claiming their rights to an inheritance. This way, the government accedes to the reality that everyone should be given what is due them with or without the proof of a marriage license. Coontz’ claims that people need the state’s permission to marry may be easily interpreted as the state having authority over who a citizen should marry. In a sense, there is value in that, as it serves as protection for individuals who are not aware that the person they are marrying may already be married, hence, leaving him or her to be a second priority or an illegitimate spouse. One should be ensured that his or her marriage is valid or legal under the law to be protected of his or her marital rights. Being licitly married means being permitted by society, and not forbidden. It is possible to have a valid but not licit marriage. One example is a marriage between a legally married black

Thorr Motorcycles Inc. Perceptual maps marketing simulation Essay

Thorr Motorcycles Inc. Perceptual maps marketing simulation - Essay Example The using perceptual maps marketing simulation was a great experienced for me. The simulation taught me the importance of product differentiation and positioning. The company showcased in the simulation was called Thorr Motorcycles Inc.The company is dedicated to manufacturing motorcycles. The company holds a market share of 40% in an oligopoly marketplace. Perceptual maps are used in the simulation to develop a positioning strategy. A perceptual map is the visual representation of the customer’s perception of a brand. In the simulation I served the role of marketing manager. In the first round of the simulation I had to choose four marketing parameters to develop the positioning strategy. The first parameter I choose is price. Customers in all industries always pay close attention to the price of the product or service. The second parameter chosen was lifestyle image. A lot of customers in the motorcycle industry purchase motorcycles because of the image it represents. The th ird parameter I choose was service offering. A survey showed that customers perceive the service of Thorr Motorcycles to be poor. The final parameter I choose was quality engineering. Along with price quality is a very important attribute that all customers evaluate when making a purchase. The four parameters I choose were the optimal solution for the company. The second round of the simulation involved making some strategic decisions. I had to create a marketing plan that will reposition the CruiserThorr or launch a new motorcycle. The marketing budget for the plan was $13 million. One of the tools that were provided in the simulation in order to help me make a decision was a SWOT analysis. The four elements of a SWOT analysis are strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. One of the threats discussed in the SWOT is that fact that rising unemployment will decrease the expenditure in lifestyle products. The company’s competitors have low-cost motorcycles that are all geared to attract the younger customers. The CruiserThorr has penetrated the market well, but the product has reached the maturity stage of its product lifecycle. I decided against repositioning the CruiserThorr. My solution was introducing the RRoth model. The second step of round two was deciding the marketing mix of the company among the following four variables: price, place, services, and promotion. The marketing mix of a product can be used to implement a differentiation strategy. The price I chose was in the $13,000 to $15,000 range. At that price range the company will achieve maximum customer reach. The places I choose to sell the RRoth were distributors, dealers, and the internet. Young customers in the United States are using the internet more everyday to make purchases. In 2010 e-commerce sales in the US reached $153 billion. The services I decided to offer were training to dealers, customization options, and financial services. The promotion alternatives I decided to im plement were sponsor events such as Daytona, offer insurance and protection plans, hire celebrities for endorsement, and publicize through Hollywood films. The total costs of my marketing plan were $12,385,000. I achieved savings for the company of $615,000. In the third round of the simulation I had to create and rate the perceptual maps of both motorcycle products. The four attributes of the perceptual map of the CruiserThorr were lifestyle image, price, service offering, and quality engineering. My ratings on a scale of 1 to 10 for lifestyle image, price, service offering, and quality engineering were 10,7,6,9 respectively. The four variables I choose for the perceptual map of the RRoth were price, cool, service offerings and lifestyle image. The rating for price, cool service offering, and lifestyle image were 10,9,8,8. The simulation indicated that I should have added the parameter of quality engineering in the RRoth. A differentiation strategy is used to create a unique produc t that that has different attributes than the competition. A positioning strategy is different

Supervision Ad Leadership Notes Essay Example for Free

Supervision Ad Leadership Notes Essay * Management theory was first described over 100 years ago during the industrial revolution. Defined as coordination of human, material, technological, and financial resources needed for an organization to reach its goals. Management is multipurpose organ that manages a business and manage managers and manages workers and work. * 5 functions of manager’s job: planning, controlling, organizing, staffing, and leading, continuous improvement. * Top level managers (chief executive officers, presidents, senior vice presidents) plan and organize. First line or front line managers (foreman, crew chiefs, supervisors) involved in nitty gritty. Front line lead and control. Learning Observations- organizations that adapt and grow to cater to new markets and build on new ideas. Green thumb leadership- supportive rather than directive leadership to encourage employee innovation. Peter M. Senge mid 1990’s. must nurture employees to grow Judith estrin. Supportive, protect new initiatives, encouraging risk taking flexibility. Foster open communication lines between themselves and employees protect new ideas, eliminate threats to new idea generation. Learning leaders- active leaders of change that participate in co-inquiry. Patricia Fritts Distinctions between management and leadership Creating and agenda ;(management) planningbudgeting, steps for achieving each goal allocating the resources needed to complete those goals.(leadership) establish direction, develop a vision, and strategies Developing a human network for achieving the agenda;(management) organizing and staffing, structuring, staffing that structures with individuals, delegating responsibility to carry out a plan, providing policies and procedures, cerate methods to monitor implementation.(Leadership) aligning people, communicating the direction by words to influence the teams that understand the vision Executive plans;(management) controlling and problem solving, monitor results, identifying deviations, planning and organizing to solve problem.(Leadership) motivating and inspiring, energizing people to overcome obstacles. Outcomes;(Management)produces a degree of predictability and order, has potential to produce results by stakeholders. (Leaderships)produces change and produce change†¦things customers want. Attitudes towards goals(management)impersonal, functional, passive, believes goals arise out of reality.(leadership)personal and active attitude, goals arise from desire and imagination. Conceptions of work(manager) views work as a enabling process that combines people ideas.(leadership) looks for approaches to old problems, seeks high risk position. Relationship with others(managers) avoids solitary work activity, avoids conflict, prefer t work with others.(Leaders) Comfortable in solitary work activity, not conflict-averse, encourage close working relationships. Sense of self (managers) accepts life as it is, one-born. (Leaders) twice-born, questions life, struggle for sense of order. Eleven managerial Practices Informing, consulting and delegating, planning and organizing, problem solving and crisis management, clarifying roles and objectives, monitoring operations and environment, motivating, recognizing and rewarding, supporting and mentoring, managing conflict and team building, networking.

What is the Difference Between AC and DC :: electricity electric current

What is Current. First off, what is current. Current is expressed in a unit called Amps. Amps are a measurement of how many electrons pass per second. That is to say, a wire with 40 coulombs passing any point in a 2 seconds would be said to have 20 Amps of current (40 Coulombs (a unit of charge given as 6.24x1018 electrons) / time in seconds or in this case, 2 seconds. The Amp is also known as Coulombs per second) Another trick about current is that it is measured in the movement of the positive charge. Literally that is to say the current moves in oppostion to the electrons. This is because originally it was thought that the positive charge is what moved, both are viable, but in reality a positive charge is generally fixed since within an atom the electrons are migratory, while the protons and neutrons tend to be stationary. What is AC/DC? AC and DC literally stand for Alternating Current and Direct Current. Direct Current is very convenient and is used in many modern day utilities. For a circuit with DC the current is constanly in one direction, while the voltage remains constant. This makes for a simplistic circuit, for example a flashlight, The batteries are a source of electrochemical DC power and . However AC is called Alternating Current because the voltage changes from negative to positive a given number of times a second, this is also described as the frequency of the power. An example of this would be a motor ran by a hand crank. The inversing of charges creates a sinusoidal graph which looks something like figure 1 (given in radians). This makes for an unsteady power source and can often times be warped from the sinusoidal shape. So the main difference between AC and DC is the way the energy is transmitted. Why are we using Alternationg Current today? There are a few reason although mainly it was due to the technology of the late 1800's and early 1900's. Nikola Tesla being one of the leading scientists for Alternating Current, created a way to run engines and also convert AC Volts and Amps. He came up with this while he was supposedly in a park in Budhapest. He sat down and drew out the basic diagram of a motor run by a magnetic flux.

Original Writing Coursework – My Typical Work Experience Day

My first day of Work Experience began on 30th June, 2008. I woke up on that morning at 7am, feeling nervous and excited at the same time. My room was quite messy when I got up. I got out of bed, tidied up my bed and room, and went for my early morning shower. The shower was relaxing and refreshing as I stood under it and gathered my thoughts. It was a cool, windy day. I like windy days at times: It eases my nervousness and builds up excitement: at long last it was the much awaited first day at work. Soon enough, I was dressed. I took time as I did not know what to wear since I wanted to make a good impression on my first day at work. I was not wearing my school uniform (which I was used to wearing without thinking! ). I needed to be creative! Creativity first thing in the morning was not something I was used to! After throwing a few shirts and trousers randomly on my bed, I finally picked up a dark blue shirt with a pair of light blue trousers: blue being my favourite and lucky colour and of course socks which complimented my shoes. I think I looked reasonable: not too formal, not too casual: casual smart as the saying goes! I had cereal and waited anxiously for the bus. I became too anxious as I gave worried glances at the clock. The bus normally comes to pick me up at 7:50am. When 7:50am came and went, I panicked. I thought the bus wouldn't come. I did not wish to be late on my first day for work experience! It never gives a good impression, I had heard somewhere! It was a relief when at 8:10am the bus indeed came to pick me up. The journey from my home to school was calm and pleasant. The bus went through the busy and crowded Northern Approach motorway into the greenery, peaceful and lovely Victoria Park filled with trees, lakes and small cafes and benches. As I was going to school, I have been thinking about what it would feel to have a real job once my education was complete. I suddenly thought about the future. I did not know what job I will have in the future but I know what I will be working on: either in the Science industry or in the ICT industry. I had also, partly, been thinking what to do during the Summer Holidays, as it was getting nearer by the hour and in what way I could make use of this time which may be useful in my future career. I finally reached my workplace, which incidentally, was my own school. The school, where I was working, was called Oaklands and it was an international secondary school with many international students and staff. Oaklands is situated in Old Bethnal Green Road in Bethnal Green. As there are two buildings in the school, there was a long, green and white bridge which connected these buildings. One building is an old one and the other, recently built. It was very colourful and clean inside the building: many international flags were put up to make the students feel at ease in school. There were about 600 students and about 60 or 70 staff in the school that was supposed to be my work place for a week. The reception area is usually quiet as there are not many people coming to reception everyday. Angela's office is situated at the back of the main reception beside the waiting area. I reached my office and saw my supervisor, Angela. The office was quite disorganised as there were post-it notes, pictures and files all over the place. The room was as small as a pigeon hole: it could only fit two or three people. It gets crowded when more than three people come in. It was cold inside as there was an Air Conditioner on. Normally I would come to school as a student by 8:45am but I reached my workplace quite later than usual, at around 9:30am, as a member of staff at Oaklands School. Angela normally comes around 10am – 10:30am, but she came early at around 9:30am on that day to help me settle on the first day of work. We signed the work experience contract which was kept in my Work Experience record book. I had to bring the book every single day to work. Apart from signing the Work Experience contract, I had to fill in pages of records which were about how your first day went and how your other days went and what you had to do during the week. After the initial paperwork, I began my first day at work. Most of the time during Work Experience, I had to work on a computer to work on the school's newsletter, the Oak, updating and editing as I went along. Using Microsoft Publisher and Word, I started to add some pictures and notes on to the school's newsletter. Staff came by and went to check on Angela and me. Staff also checked on my progress with the newsletter, complimented my work and told me to keep going, which was encouraging. I was asked to take pictures and take small interviews about the new Year 7's joining Oaklands. When I was asked, I was frozen as ice. At home, I tried my hand on cameras and often ended up taking fuzzy pictures. Being asked to take photographs at work was a totally different ball game and I never really expected that. I declined the project because I felt that I needed more practice on taking photographs. My hands moved constantly and that is certainly not a good sign for a professional photographer! I wondered whether my declining would adversely affect the impression of my supervisor about my confidence level in trying or attempting something of a challenge. But then I thought that I would rather say yes to something that I felt comfortable in doing, especially on my first day at work. Angela had to label the envelopes for the letters she was going to send. I helped her labelling the envelopes which took a while (it took roughly about an hour to complete it) but I managed to finish it on time. I then had to go to the staff office to get the envelopes franked with First-Class postage. Later, I helped Angela out with cutting our school year's pictures and sticking them for the staff that needed them. There were about 120 students in our year. That also took a while to complete. The morning was almost over. It taught me already that tasks needed to be prioritised, tasks needed to be completed on time and with concentration. There was no time to be wasted or for fooling around. It was a professional atmosphere and one needed to be professional. Finally, I had my lunch at school. Usually I have lunch at home since I do half-day schools but by the time I finished the day, I was so hungry, I decided to have a big lunch that would fill my appetite. I could smell all the good food being cooked in the kitchen. I was feeling that I was getting distracted and perhaps it was a good idea to take a break or call it a day since I was supposed to do half days at work anyway. The food looked colourful and matched my instant imagination! The cafeteria was crowded because many students and staff (not just me), were starving. It was funny to think of myself as staff! I noticed that there had been changes in the cafeteria since the last time I was there. Near the windows, there are high seats and tables around the room thereby adding more seats. There is now a tray clearer in the cafeteria where we can put our finished lunches. I looked at the place and it all seemed different than usual! Perhaps it was because I was there not as a student but as an employee for the week. On my journey back home that day, I was immersed in thoughts: I always wondered how professionals have worked on their first day of their career whether in the corporate world, legal world, medical world, creative world or in the world of academia. I wondered how, after education and training, when a person finally becomes a professional, how does he or she feel on their first assignment or first piece of work or first day at work. When I look back at my Work Experience and think about these professionals, I can somewhat get a glimpse of the level of excitement and anticipation they must feel on their first day! I also think that one can only excel and do well in any field provided one is interested to learn and is dedicated to explore the subjects that are close to ones heart. For me a journey had started. I had a long way to go.

Witness Report

EVAN 101 2/28/2013 Witness Report PART ONE – What method of evangelism did you use and how did you start the conversation? The method I chose to use to witness to a young lady, who has been a friend of the family for a long time, was the relational method. While at my grandson’s first birthday party I engaged in a conversation with a longtime friend of my daughters. She has a baby that is close to my grandson’s age. The first thing I did was give her a big welcoming hug. We haven’t seen her in about seven or eight years.She had expressed to me the importance of being a good mother. She talked about how she never let her daughter stay with anyone except for her dad. We talked about the nursery that is available at the church we attend. Because she is a single mother, I helped with her daughter as far as holding her and guiding her away from danger such as stairs and open doors to the restroom. I did this in hopes of building a trust so that she would feel c omfortable with going to church with us.We talked about how our church has purchased property and in the process of building a new church. I explained to her the many exciting activities the church has planned for the next couple of months. I believe the seed was planted many years ago when this young lady hung out at my house as a teenager with my daughter. She moved from the neighborhood to live with her dad and now we are reunited because we moved to a neighboring city. PART TWO – What was the reaction (questions/comments/statements) of the unbeliever?We talked about how she had decided not to have anymore children because of her contracting gestational diabetes, and having such a difficult high risk pregnancy. I assured her that each pregnany would be different. I also told her not to let herself be robbed of God’s blessing for her. My daughter’s friend seemed very interested in going to church with us. She had attended church with us in the past better neve r made a decision. Her focus seems to be that she wanted to raise her daughter in church. She said she didn’t want to leave her daughter with anyone in the nursery.I work with another lady in children’s church. Hopefully we will have established a more trusting relationship that she will feel comfortable enough to leave her with me. PART THREE – How did you conclude the conversation in order to follow up? To conclude our conversation, I offered her transportation if needed to attend church. I also told her if there was anything she needed in the mean time or if she just wanted to visit to let me know. After telling her how nice it was to see her I gave her another hug and she assured me that she was planning on visiting our church.

Ceo Duality Essays - Corporate Governance, Management, Corporate Law

Ceo Duality Essays - Corporate Governance, Management, Corporate Law Ceo Duality October 22,1999 Term Paper Separating the Board Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer: Pro and Con & Rebecca Hundley I Introduction Numerous reports on corporate governance have emphasised the desirability of increasing the number of outside directors on boards. An equally important and related issue is a growing insistence that the role of chairman and chief executive should be separate, though on this issue there is less unanimity in the U.S. than in other countries. Choosing the right Chief Executive officer is the key task for the board of directors. Pressure on chief executives to perform in ever decreasing time frames makes it essential that the CEO and the Board work closely together. An effective chief Executive will drive company strategy, lead the top team and fulfill shareholder ambitions . A good CEO will transform Board dynamics by keeping an open line of communication, placing a high value on Board input, and promoting the belief that management and the Board is working toward common goals. The average Board size is between eight and nine members. It used to be that Boards were constructed of executives with one or two non-executives; but trends are swiftly driving executives out of the boardroom as even the CEOs familiar role as chairman has been called into question. There has been a notable shift from executive director to non-executive director in the boardroom. The supposed advantages to these changes are to provide greater board independence from management, greater objectivity, and a representation of multiple perspectives. Bosch believes that the fundamental principle underlying this composition is accountability; if you have strong independent directors, a separation of the Chair/ Chief executive role will safeguard accountability . An opinion widely held is that separating the role of chairman from chief executive- would secure a board sufficient power to challenge CEO dominance. Although in many cases that rationale holds true, there are considerable benefits to CEO duality. Researchers have suggested that chairman/chief executive duality is a double-edged sword . While some stockholders are put off by the absence of board control and checks and balances, others are reassured by the presence of unity of command and the absence of potentially acrimonious conflict between strong-minded individuals. Finkelsein and DAveni found that a major factor in divining the success of this duality was the level of CEO informal power. Either perceptual or objective data can be used to measure informal CEO power. Although some researchers have used perceptual measures of power, power is a sensitive subject for many managers. In using perceptual measures, a researcher assumes that social actors are knowledgeable about power within their organizations; informants are willing to divulge what they know about power distributions; and such a questioning process II Advantages of CEO Duality When it comes to insiders versus outsiders on the board, a predominant role for insiders finds support more often, probably because insiders are more familiar with the issues, the technology, and the practice of the firm . Only they who are deeply involved and can make it work add value. It is simply not viable for twice removed outsiders, no matter how expert, to provide anything other than a cursory perspective and maybe act as an eventual deterrent to abuses of executive power. According to organizational theory, this CEO duality can establish strong, unambiguous leadership . By consolidating two of the most prestigious offices in a company stakeholders are often reassured, because it clarifies decision-making authority . An additional problem with nonduality is that it weakens and disrupts CEOs ability to manage the task environments their organization faces. For example, several laboratory studies suggested that the participation of constituencies who review negotiator action lead to less effective and more difficult negotiation processes. As a result, The reasons the positions of chairman and CEO are usually combined is that this provides a single focal point for company leadership(Anderson/Anthony) A powerful and effective CEO creates an image of stability and instills a sense of well being to its employees as well as its shareholders, projecting a clear sense of direction. III Negative aspects of CEO Duality When a companys chief executive officer is also the chairperson of its board, directors often have contrary objectives . Boards of directors are charged with ensuring that Chief Executive Officers

Where to Find Specific Types of Rocks and Minerals

Where to Find Specific Types of Rocks and Minerals Rocks and minerals are all around us. You can pretty much find interesting specimens in almost any natural environment but you have to know where to look and what to look for. If youre new to geology, there is no substitute for examining as many different rocks as possible to familiarize yourself with whats out there. This guide will give you a good idea of some of the best places to get started. Hunting Rocks: Beaches and Riverbeds Whether youre a kid or a grownup, one of the best hunting grounds for rocks is a beach. Ocean beaches boast a wide variety of specimens and since theyre spread out across large areas and renewed with every tide, youre pretty much assured of finding something interesting. Beaches are beginner-friendly. Just bring along some sunscreen, water, something to put your finds in, and youre basically good to go. Beach rocks tend to be of the harder rock varieties (igneous and metamorphic). They get a good grinding in the surf zone, so they tend to be fairly clean and smooth. However, since its not always possible to pinpoint their source of origin, beach rocks are known by geology fanciers as stones without context. A stone on the beach may have fallen from cliffs along the shore or have broken off of a submerged underwater outcrop; it may have even traveled downstream in a river from a great distance inland. River rocks are much more likely to originate near the riverbed and banks. River rocks tend to include more of the softer rock types, and the farther upstream you can go, the truer this is. If you plan to hunt river rocks, be sure to wear sturdy footwear and make sure youre not trespassing. Bedrock: Exposures and Outcrops While beaches and rivers are good places for beginners to launch their education in rock collecting, for a  more serious study of rocks, youll need to find exposed bedrock. Bedrock- or living rock- is an  intact formation that has not been broken away from its original body. A place of any kind where bedrock is lying out in the open ready for your hammer is called an exposure; a naturally occurring exposure is called an outcrop. Outcrops may be found at the beach or along a river bank. In fact, in many geographic regions, these are the only places to find them. For more, youll need to visit the hills or the mountains. If you take manmade sites into account, exposures are quite common. Building sites with their excavations are plentiful all over the country. Mines and quarries offer excellent exposures as well, and they have the advantage of being more permanent than excavation sites. The best bedrock exposures are generally found in road cuts, and amateurs and professionals alike rely on them heavily for their best finds. In civil engineering jargon, a cut or cutting  is the area from which soil and rock are removed to facilitate the building of a road. Road cuts have many good features: Theyre clean, especially when newTheyre easy to visit, alone or in a groupIf theyre on public property, hammering is generally not forbiddenThey expose rocks well, even soft rocksThey expose rocks in their context, including features and structures not visible in a hand specimen Hunting Minerals Minerals can generally be found wherever rocks are found. Thats a good starting point, but a mineral hunter needs to know more geology than the rock hunter. For instance, the mineral grains in rocks such as shale or basalt are too small to be viewed with a magnifier but even these rocks offer possibilities to those who know where to look and what to look for. Minerals grow in several main settings: Primary minerals form during the solidification of a melt.Evaporitic minerals form by precipitation out of concentrated solutions.Diagenetic minerals form at low and moderate temperatures during the consolidation of rock from sediment.Vein minerals form during injection of deep hot fluids.Metamorphic minerals form in solid rocks under prolonged heat and pressure. If you can recognize the signs of these settings, you can expect to find the typical minerals they give rise to. Even a plain-looking mudstone may have zones of alteration or contain veins or partings that reveal mineral nodules that formed during diagenesis. Rock Hunting Etiquette Unfortunately, many of the best places for rock and mineral hunting are on private property or in protected parks. Although many beaches are public parks, where collecting is prohibited, no one is likely to prosecute you for discreetly picking up a few pebbles- but use discretion. Road cuts are off limits wherever parking is not permitted, such as along a freeway. Railways are private property and should be avoided. Likewise, when visiting road cuts in a park- whether national or local- you should generally leave your hammer in the car. Most federal public lands, such as national forests, can be explored freely by amateurs, however, its forbidden for anyone to deface or remove any natural features- this includes rocks, and this includes you. For all other areas, the best rule of thumb is to leave the rocks looking no worse than you found them. Most excavation sites and rock quarries are on private property so youll need to get the owners permission before you start your collecting expedition. Due to liabilities, fear of property damage, and other concerns, the person who owns your hunting ground may have more reasons to say no than yes. Experienced, organized groups generally have the best shot at gaining admittance to private property, so if youre really serious, you might want to think about joining a club.

Short Story Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Short Story - Term Paper Example The reason was that she broke up the guy with whom she spent five years of her life. Each person from her circle knew about their relationship, and she was afraid to answer the questions that what happened? How did it happen? Why did it happen? After having 2 cups of coffee and sitting for hours, Linda ordered some food. It was the place where She was used to coming with her ex-boyfriend on a regular basis. It was the reason due to which she was quiet and was trying to accept the fact that now she is alone. She wanted to be with that guy, but the situation and circumstances didn’t allow them to further continue the relationship. Suddenly, her friend came across and sat next to her and started asking about her life and her boyfriend Alex. When, Linda tells the whole story of her breakup to her friend, her friend says, â€Å"oh! It was not expected at all from both of you. You guys were so good with each other. You should have given him one more chance it might have worked out. But, I think if you are ok with it then enjoy as you are having fun here.† Linda had no answer, she suddenly started feeling regretful and then her friend moves to another table. She was there to forget about everything related to him an d wanted to live normal life with no regrets. But her friend just criticized her and it was very painful for Linda. Meanwhile, her ordered food arrives at her table, and she started eating that food. Then, one more friend saw her and come to her table asks her that why she has her food alone? Why her boyfriend is not here today? Why was she not coming here for many days? Linda again tells her breakup story and reasons to leave him, and she mentioned that she was depressed too. In response, her friend says, â€Å"It seems you are happy after the breakup, I hardly caught you this much dressed and accessorized you are looking pretty than before. It seems you are celebrating your breakup now and with this speed soon you will be with another guy.

Financial Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Financial Plan - Essay Example Financial break-even point is defined as â€Å"the point where revenue equals expenses and profit is zero† (Smartacus Corporation, 2011, par. 1). For Dr. McDougall’s financial situation, assuming fixed cost = $2.8 and variable cost = $2, the number of units that must be sold to break-even is 3,800 units. The components of the cost of goods sold is calculated by establishing the â€Å"Beginning Finished Goods Inventory + Cost of Goods Manufactured = Finished Goods Available for Sale – Ending Finished Goods Inventory = Cost of Goods Sold† (Averkamp, 2011, par. 1). For Dr. McDougall’s financial performance, it could be assumed that the COGS was arrived at using this: Financial information could be used to determine the available resources which can be used in future plans and endeavors. For Dr. McDougalls’s future plans include the research and development of innovative products of similar natural ingredients in other preparations to cater to other cultural tastes. Therefore, financial information would serve as the gauge for decision-making and to design appropriate strategies that would achieve the defined goals. The relevant financial ratios to determine profitability and success are profitability ratios such as the gross profit margin (gross profit/sales) = 60%; operating profit margin (operating profit/sales) = 31%; and net profit margin (net income/sales) = 26%. These ratios define that there are substantial profits generated from the manufacture of food products that provide a successful measure of returns for the company. Averkamp, H. (2011). How do I calculate the cost of goods sold for a manufacturing company. Retrieved September 22, 2011, from Accounting Coach: http://blog.accountingcoach.com/manufacturing-cost-goods-sold/ Smartacus Corporation. (2011). Break-Even Analysis and Break-Even Point. Retrieved September 22, 2011, from college-cram.com:

Strategic management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 18

Strategic management - Essay Example This tool has proved to be effective for both business and non-business organizations. This paper aims at evaluating the concept of the Triple Bottom Lineand discussing whether this tool is of importance to businesses. When taking a first look at triple bottom line as a tool for measuring sustainability someone might have the opinion that it is a very naà ¯ve notion. However, this is not always the case when people get a complete understanding of how triple bottom line works and how it is used in measuring sustainability in various contexts (Milne & Gray 2013, p. 25). Triple bottom line has proved to be an effective method for measuring business sustainability and have been used by organizations with varying structure, strategies, and cultures. A business organization that uses triple bottom line as a tool for measuring their sustainability will obviously take into consideration the effect that their activities might have on the people that they are either directly or indirectly involved with. In this way they always have to make sure that all their stakeholders have a good opinion about them. Getting to know this is very important because stakeholders are the people who keep companies in business. Having unhappy stakeholders will definitely affect a business organization’s financial performance (Cohen, Smith & Mitchell 2008, p. 115). Therefore, before a firm focuses much on their financial performance they should make are that their stakeholders are comfortable with the way things are being done in the organization. Despite the fact that the concept of people bottom-line might be attractive, it should be noted that there is always a challenge when it comes to making decisions on how far a business organization should go in terms of making their stakeholders comfortable. It is also not easy when deciding which of the stakeholders should be included in this list and how far a company should go with

Physical Activity and Education Standards Essay Example for Free

Physical Activity and Education Standards Essay It is a matter of fact that with the increased accent on academic education, physical exercise programs are declining in public and private schools. Nowadays there are minimal opportunities for students to lead active life during school time. It was reported that the number of students who attend physical training every day had decreased to 29 percent in 1999 compared with 42% in 1990. It is possible to maintain ideal body weight and health due to physical education classes. Students must receive at least an hour of physical training daily. Such process should involve vigorous activity during 10-15 minutes daily. It is apparent that sport is available in public schools, although not all children like to attend these classes. (National Standards) It is necessary to design such physical activity for students which will firstly meet required standards and secondly arouse interest among children. The most interesting and exciting activity is school sports competitions, because they involve many kinds of physical activity and develop team spirit in participants. School competitions will involve all students who are physically fit and also who are weaker. The competitions will last two days and embrace different activities. The first day will pass through l team games such as basketball, volleyball for girls and football for boys. The second day will process through team competitions devoted to running: long-distance races, sprints, running on the spots, high jump and standing (running) broad jump. It is necessary to explain why such physical activity is chosen. The first reason is that students will demonstrate their competency in different movement forms and their proficiency in selected ones. The second reason is that during team activities students will demonstrate team spirit, responsible social and personal behavior. The last reason is that students are taught in such way to understand and to respect differences among students with different physical abilities.

the car :: essays research papers

Title ] Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec FAQ/Strategy Guideâ„ ¢ [ Platform ] PlayStation 2â„ ¢ [ Version ] v1.01 [ Authors ] Brett "Nemesis" Franklin / OrochiJin - Tim Garza [ E-Mail ] nemesis@flipmode.com / ExScanner@yahoo.com [ Plug ] http://nemmysresource.cjb.net [ Updated ] August 26th, 2001 The-chart-that-shows-what's-in-this-FAQ: i. Legal Stuff ii. Updates/Revision History 01. Driving Techniques †¢ Car Information †¢ Ultimate Car Setup Guide †¢ Car Upgrading Tips †¢ How to earn fast cash 02. General Strategies 03. Simulation Mode †¢ Getting Started †¢ License Test Guide †¢ Quick Prize Guide †¢ Race / Prize List †¢ Tuning Information 04. Arcade Mode †¢ Tracks 05. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) 06. Gameshark Codes =============================================================================== i. Legal Stuff =============================================================================== This FAQ can only appear on the following sites (w/out having to ask me): †¢ GameFAQS <www.gamefaqs.com> †¢ CoreMagazine <www.coremagazine.com> †¢ GameSages <www.gamesages.com> †¢ Vgstrategies.com <http://vgstrategies.about.com> †¢ GameShark.com <www.gameshark.com> †¢ FAQ Domain <http://nemmysresource.cjb.net> †¢ Happy Puppy <http://www.happypuppy.com> †¢ ZDNet/Videogames.com <http://www.videogames.com> ___________________________NOT WWW.FRESHBAKEDGAMES.COM_________________________ If anyone finds it on any other site or MegaGames.com, please inform me ASAP. E-Mail Address: nemesis@flipmode.com, ExScanner@yahoo.com Copyright:  © Copyright 2000-2001 Brett "Nemesis" Franklin and Tim Garza. This FAQ and everything included within this file cannot be reproduced in any way, shape or form (physical, electronical, or otherwise) aside from being placed on a freely-accessible, non-commercial web page in it's original, unedited and unaltered format. This FAQ cannot be used for profitable purposes (even if no money would be made from selling it) or promotional purposes. It cannot be used in any sort of commercial transaction. It cannot be given away as some sort of bonus, gift, etc., with a purchase as this creates incentive to buy and is therefore prohibited. =============================================================================== ii. Updates/Revision History =============================================================================== Version 1.01 (08/26/01) ------------------------- †¢ Added the Quick Prize List from Jeff Evans, which just lists each race and the car(s) you win from it. Very easy to use, thanks Jeff! Version 1.00 (08/19/01) ------------------------- †¢ Fully completed the "Race/Prize Guide", finally. Everything is now complete in the guide, save for a few things in the Arcade Mode section of the FAQ. I might add this stuff later, but it's doubtful. Version 0.57 (08/08/01) ------------------------- †¢ Added the Car List Sorted by Price Version 0.55 (07/28/01) ------------------------- †¢ Updated the Race/Prize List through Amatuer Mode Version 0.50 (07/23/01) ------------------------- †¢ Updated the "Ultimate Car Setups Guide" and updated the Race/Prize List Version 0.49 (07/20/01) ------------------------- †¢ Updated the "Ultimate Car Setups Guide" and updated the Race/Prize List, as well as the Arcade Mode section. Version 0.47 (07/18/01) ------------------------- †¢ Updated the "Ultimate Car Setups Guide" Version 0.46 (07/17/01) ------------------------- †¢ Updated the "Ultimate Car Setups Guide" and updated the Race/Prize List Version 0.45 (07/17/01) ------------------------- †¢ Updated the "Ultimate Car Setups Guide" with 4 new car setups, and added the Rally License Test guide Version 0.40 (07/17/01) ------------------------- †¢ Updated the "How To Win Fast Cash" section and the Race/Prize List

Action Learning Review

The Longwall department is responsible for the majority of coal production at the mine and hence, revenue for the business. The management group in this department consist of five staff members, with the Superintendent as the senior person reporting to the Mine Manager. As Technical Services Manager I am a member of the senior management team for the mine, and a peer to the Mine Manager. However, I have no direct authority over the Longwall department. Although it is suited to the approach, the Longwall department does not tend to operate effectively as a team.Whilst there is a clear annual performance target set by senior management, there will often be confusion amongst the group when they attend the mine’s planning meetings as to what the specific short term priorities for the department should be and the best way to achieve them. This confusion invariably leads to conflict in these meetings between group members, with individuals attempting to ensure that their specific ar ea of responsibility is not affected by the other’s individual priorities.There has been a high turnover of staff in the past year and the overall performance of the Longwall has been poor, with production results 40% below budget impacting significantly on the profitability of the business. Analysis The Longwall mining process is complex and to be successful requires reciprocal interdependence of tasks (Thompson, 1967). The engineers must work closely with the operations staff in the department through the planning and implementation stages to ensure safe and productive operations with minimal unplanned delays.This requirement of interdependence makes the Longwall process ideally suited to a team approach for management. Although it is a small group comprised of five staff with complementary skills, and a common production target for the year, the Longwall department does not currently satisfy the requirements of Katzenbach and Smith’s (1993) definition of a team. The y fail to define short term goals and work processes which would lead to achievement of the annual production target and, in addition, the group does not hold themselves mutually accountable for their performance.The lack of team approach towards these highly interdependent tasks leads to competing short term priorities within the group and results in poor overall performance. One of the key reasons that the Longwall department has failed to come together as a team is a lack of group cohesiveness (Shaw, 1981). The members of the group are heterogeneous (Managing People & Organisations, 2006), with different expertise and experience and as a result there is often competition and conflict (Raelin, 1985) with regards to the best approach to various tasks.This is potentially linked to the lack of specific short term goal setting completed within the group as they seek to avoid conflict because they lack the interpersonal skill of conflict resolution (Managing People & Organisations, 200 6). However, this conflict inevitably occurs when the group attends the mine’s planning meetings, as the individuals promote different priorities and ideas. If the group was more cohesive and co-operative, individuals would not feel threatened by other members and the heterogeneity of the group could be harnessed in a positive way through creative and flexible solutions to problems.For example one of the mining staff may have a different solution to an engineering problem which was not considered by the engineers. The lack of cohesiveness has led to a high turnover of staff over the past year. This means that Tuckman and Jensen’s (1977) life cycle of the group has had to return to the forming stage of the on a number of occasions and this in turn has hindered the development of group norms (norming stage) which would enhance co-operation within the group and is essential to achieve the required performance.This lack of progress through the group life cycle is also link ed to the level of competition between heterogeneous group members as they battle for power and influence in the group. The required short term goal setting and work approaches would be more easily achieved by a cohesive group. If the group was able to achieve the latter stages of the life cycle it is likely that group cohesiveness would be high and there would be significantly less staff turnover.The management processes at the mine currently manage individuals rather than teams (Hackman, 1990). This is linked to the Longwall department’s reluctance to embrace mutual accountability for performance and also the reluctance of the Superintendent to effectively lead the group as a team, as discussed below. Remuneration and bonuses are reviewed on the basis of individual performance, with little accountability for performance as part of a team. This leads individuals to â€Å"protect† themselves by making excuses and blaming others for poor performance.It also encourages i ndividuals to focus on the specific tasks and priorities that are linked to their individual performance rather than those best suited to the overall department’s performance, resulting in conflict and a lack of co-operation in the planning and implementation of tasks. On the basis of Thompson’s (2000) model, the Longwall department achieves two out of three essential conditions to be an effective team. The group has the requisite knowledge, skills and ability to complete the required tasks and their motivation to do so is evidenced by the long hours that each individual spends at work focussing on those tasks.However, as mentioned earlier, the group lacks co-ordination strategies such as short term goal setting and work method development which prevents them from developing into a real team. In addition, Thompson’s team effectiveness model also requires an appropriate environment in which the team can operate. As discussed earlier, the design of the team is app ropriate however the requisite organisational context and team culture are currently absent.As can be seen from the earlier analysis, the management of the Longwall mining process is well suited to a team approach, provided that the personnel are managed effectively as a team rather than as individuals in a group. On the basis of Katzenbach and Smith’s team performance curve (1992) the Longwall department is currently at the potential team stage. The individuals in the department have a clear annual production target and are all working hard to achieve it, however, they lack specific short term goals, a common working approach and an attitude of mutual accountability.To achieve the desired performance and meet the annual production targets, the team will need to move from the potential team stage to the real team stage. Improvement Planning From my analysis of the Longwall department I have identified three specific improvement opportunities that I would pursue if I was the M ine Manager to move the team from the potential team stage to the real team stage. Firstly I would look to improve the group’s specific competencies essential for effective teamwork through formal training and improve group cohesiveness through team building activities.Secondly I would implement a process to facilitate the setting of short term goals and work methods to achieve them. Finally I would modify the performance management system and remuneration packages for the individuals in the department to reflect a team based approach rather than individual management. However, prior to beginning the improvement processes I would begin calling the department the Longwall team so that they begin to identify themselves as a team rather than a workgroup or department.To improve the group’s task-related and interpersonal competencies, which are important for effective teamwork, I would organise for the group to go off site together for one week of formal training and team building exercises (Managing People & Organisations, 2006). This training may need to be ongoing. It is important that the group attends this training together so that they can begin to build mutual trust and respect and develop social capital (Lengnick-Hall and Lengnick-Hall, 2004).It is also essential that the training is held off site to ensure there are no distractions. One possible obstacle to carrying out this training is that taking the whole group offsite at the same time leaves the workforce with a lack of supervision or direction. To overcome this I would arrange the Superintendent of another area of the mine who has significant Longwall experience to cover the absence of Longwall Superintendent. I would also arrange for the mechanical and electrical engineers from the engineering department to provide coverage from an engineering perspective.The success of this training can be measured through an assessment process conducted by the training organisation at the end of the training program to examine the understanding and application of the concepts by the individuals in the group. A questionnaire completed by each member of the group would also be implemented to determine their perception of the applicability and success of the training. To facilitate the group’s setting of short term goals and work methods to achieve them, I would send them off site again for two days with an external facilitator.This forum would also include team building activities to break up the workshop and continue to promote team bonding. They would utilise the task-related competencies gained in the formal training process to develop and document short term goals based on achieving the annual production targets set by senior management. They would also be required to assess the potential obstacles and risks to achieving their short term goals and develop and document contingency plans to overcome those obstacles. It is essential that the team develops the goals togeth er so that they have ownership and commitment to achieving them.They need to ensure that the goals and work methods focus on performance not just togetherness (Katzenbach and Smith, 1992). Again, a potential obstacle to this process is taking the group offsite together leaving the workforce with a lack of supervision and direction. This would be addressed in the same manner as previously for the formal training. A second potential obstacle/risk to this process is the quality of the external facilitator. If this person does not have the appropriate skills to keep the workshop on track and the understanding of the desired outcomes, it is likely that the workshop will not be successful.To overcome this obstacle I would interview potential facilitators and seek references from others who have used them in the past. Once selected, I would ensure that the facilitator is very clear about the purpose of the workshop and the required documented outcomes. To measure the success of this worksh op I would review the documented short term goals to ensure that they will allow the team to meet the annual production target and I would also assess the adequacy and relevance of the contingency plans to overcome the identified obstacles and risks.A second measure will be whether or not the group achieves its self developed short term goals over the following weeks. To modify the performance management review system I would change it from an individual performance review by the Superintendent to a 360 degree review process. This review would be based on individual contribution to the team performance as viewed by other members of the team and will provide valuable feedback for individuals.I would also change the remuneration system for the individuals in the team to incorporate a bonus related to Longwall performance as a team measured on the basis of coal produced against targets (Gross 1995). This would encourage the team culture to develop with individuals supporting each other and keeping each other on track rather than pursuing individual priorities. One obstacle to this could be the feeling that some things which could impact Longwall production are out of the management team’s control, such as geological conditions.To overcome this I would document the potential influences on performance which are not controllable by the team and undertake to discount the production targets by a proportional amount to any performance impacts suffered to ensure that the bonus arrangement is not compromised. The measure of the success of this improvement strategy will be the achievement of production targets over the short and long term. References Gross, S. E. 1995, Compensation for teams: how to design and implement team-based reward programs, American Management Association, New York.Hackman, J. R. 1990, Groups that work (and those that don’t), Jossey-Bass, San Francisco. Katzenbach, J. & Smith, D. K. 1993, The wisdom of teams: creating the high perform ance organization, McGraw-Hill, London. Katzenbach, J. & Smith, D. 1992, ‘Why teams matter’, extract from The wisdom of teams: creating the high performance organization, in The McKinsey Quarterly, no. 3 of 1992, pp. 3-27. Lengnick-Hall, M. L. & Lengnick-Hall, C. A. 2004, ‘HR’s role in building relationship networks’, Academy of Management Review, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 53-63.Managing People and Organisations, 2006, Unit 5, pp. 1-56, AGSM MBA (Executive) Program. Raelin, J. 1985, The clash of cultures, Harvard Business School Press, Boston. Shaw, M. E. 1981, Group dynamics: the social psychology of small group behaviour, McGraw-Hill, New York Thompson, J. D. 1967, Organizations in action, McGraw-Hill, New York. Thompson, L. 2000, Making the team: a guide for managers, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River. Tuckman, B. & Jensen, M. 1977, ‘Stages of small group development’ Group and organisational studies, vol. 2.