Biography of Bill Gates essays

Biography of Bill Gates essays Bill Gates, a young hacker with dreams to develop a software for computers. Computers for companies and computers for home users. He was not alone in this dream. He had a fellow friend to help him out, Paul Allen. His full name is William H. Gates. He is the chairman and chief executive of Microsoft. He was born on the 28th of October in 1955. Having more than fifty billion dollars, he is said to be the richest man alive today. He married a product manager at Microsoft, her name is Melinda French. Now that the intro is over lets see how it all began. In 1968 a company called Computer Center Corporation opened in Seattle. They were offering computing time at good rates. Gates who was at Lakeside Prep school got computing time because CCC made a deal with the school. Gates and his friends started exploring the new machine. It wasn't long that they started causing trouble. They caused the computers to crash many times and they seemed to find how to break the computers security system. They got caught by CCC when they were altering the files that recorded the amount of computer time they were using. CCC banned them from the computers for several weeks. Him and Paul Allen and two other hackers started the Lakeside Programmer Group in 1968. The group wanted to find a way to apply their computer skills in the world. Their first opportunity to do this was a direct result of their activity with the schools computer time. The CCC business was beginning to suffer because the systems weak security and the frequency that it crashed. The CCC was impressed with Gates and the other Lakeside Computer hackers. The CCC decided to hire the students to find bugs and expose weaknesses in the computer system. In return the CCC gave them unlimited time on the computers. They could not refuse. Although the group was hired just to find bugs, they also read any computer related material. They would pick new employees for new info. ...

Thegn - Anglo-Saxon Thegn or Thane

Thegn - Anglo-Saxon Thegn or Thane In Anglo-Saxon England, a thegn was a lord who held his land directly from the king in return for military service in time of war. Thegns could earn their titles and lands or inherit them. Initially, the thegn ranked below all other Anglo-Saxon nobility; however, with the proliferation of thegns came a subdivision of the class. There were kings thegns, who held certain privileges and answered only to the king, and inferior thegns that served other thegns or bishops. By a law of Ethelred II, the 12 senior thegns of any given hundred acted as a judicial committee that determined whether or not a suspect should be officially accused of a crime. This was evidently a very early precursor to the modern grand jury. The power of thegns declined after the Norman Conquest ​when lords of the new regime took control of most lands in England. The term ​thane persisted in Scotland until the 1400s in reference to a hereditary tenant of the crown who did not serve in the military. Alternate Spellings: thane Example: King Ethylgrihn called on his thegns to help defend against a Viking invasion.

Landscape Architecture Semester Project Term Paper

Landscape Architecture Semester Project - Term Paper Example The institute has original and unique experimental equipments for example vibration tables for earthquakes simulations, climatic chambers used for the purpose of testing of structural elements, components used in building as well as exterior and interiors. The institution is located at 37025’21†W. the CDP as analyzed by the United States Census Bureau has a total amounting to area of about 2.8 square miles which is equivalent to 7.3km2. this area in which this institution is constructed, experiences warm, however, not that much hot and dry summers, with no average monthly temperature measurements above 71.60 F. as described by Koppen Climate system, the institution possesses a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. The institution has a population of about 13810. As a client I will be crucial in ensuring that the core necessities for the building are communicated to various groups involved. I should make sure that the right questions concerning the construction are asked. Stanford University is a private research institute located at Stanford in California. It is also considered one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. It owns the highest undergraduate selectivity and the tops positions in various areas and measures in the United States. Leland Stanford established the institution in 1885. Stanford University is a private research institute located at Stanford in California. It is also considered one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. It owns the highest undergraduate selectivity and the tops positions in various areas and measures in the United States. Leland Stanford established the institution in 1885. Leland was the former governor and senator of United States. The institution was begun in 1891 as a coeducational and non-denominational institution. Stanford University struggled financially after Leland’s demise in the

Presidential versus Congressional Decision Making Essay

Presidential versus Congressional Decision Making - Essay Example The two divisions share in the course and each one of them plays a significant although dissimilar function. Presidential versus congressional decision making The issue of who formulates foreign policy does not contain a more accurate answer for a number of reasons. Foremost, United States foreign policy is not formed in a vacuity as some type of indissoluble whole with a solitary imposing design. Relatively, formulating foreign policy is a lengthened course concerning many actors and including dozens of personal policies towards diverse nations, constituencies, and operative problems. Subsequently, the composite course of establishing foreign policy makes it hard to come to a decision of who ought to be accredited with instigating or adjusting any meticulous foreign policy. The two divisions frequently interrelate and persuade each other. Beneath this state of affairs, it is complicated to trace a proposal back to its derivation, establish when an idea actually manipulates policy, a nd come to a decision when an adjustment generates a novel policy. ... One research categorized the epoch 1789-1829 as one of Presidential proposal (Mowbry, 2003), 1829-1898 as one of congressional dominance and 1899 in the course of the abrupt post World War II phase as one of mounting Presidential supremacy. A different research classified three epochs of congressional supremacy, 1837-1861, 1869-1897, and 1918-1936, with an additional one commencing toward the conclusion of the 1973 War in Vietnam. Following are fundamental ways the President or executive division can initiate or originally outline foreign policy. In these state of affairs, Congress is placed in the position of either acting in response optimistically to the President's proposal or requesting to amend or turn around the influence of his rank. Reacts to Foreign Occurrences. Government Proposal for Legislation. Concession of Intercontinental Accords. Statements of Policy. Implementation of Policy. Sovereign Action. Decisions and Statements of Policy. Directives of Legislation. The most significant characteristic of the president’s function is decision-making, and this power by all sort of things. It is fundamental to comprehend the ambiance in which the president formulates decisions. They ought to make decisions in strict restraints. There are frequently previous pledges formed by the government that necessitates it to use up money, guard allies, preserve overhauls, or guard rights (De Castro, 2000). The president is also stressed by the institutional capacities of the executive division, which is also a result of precedent decisions. Presidential Decision Making illustrates two organizational problems the President encounters. The interrelatedness of the matters

The Energy of the Future Essay Example for Free

The Energy of the Future Essay Alternative fuels are simply non-petroleum energy sources that are used to substitute petroleum products in supplying energy for engines while providing environmental benefits (DOE, 2005). The search for these fuels is the current trend since it is projected that fossil fuels, the source of petroleum products, would run out in the near future. Year 2005 was predicted as the peak of world oil production, after which, the world oil production would decline. By 2030, it is predicted that world oil production would be the same as the production before 1980; the only difference is that the population is higher thus the demand would be greater. This would then mean that there would be higher prices of oil products; thus the search for alternative fuels is essential (Life After the Oil Crash). In addition, the degradation of the environment calls for these alternatives to impede the possible series of catastrophic events One alternative fuel being widely promoted is the Biodiesel. It is a renewable fuel made from agricultural sources such as animal fat and vegetable oils. This is produced through the transesterification of the base oil by reacting it with an industrial alcohol and a catalyst to convert it to a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) fuel. In its pure form, also known as B100 or neat diesel, it is capable of powering an ordinary diesel engine, however, some blends are also produced such as the B5 (5% biodiesel and 95% diesel) and the B20 (20% biodiesel and 80% diesel). Most present diesel engines are compatible with running on biodiesel, however, manufacturer specifications should still be considered to avoid warranty violations. In terms of performance, biodiesel is comparable with ordinary diesel; though it has 2-8% less fuel economy, it gives better engine performance and lubrication (US EPA, 2006). Another alternative being promoted due to its potential and environment friendliness is the Hydrogen and the Fuel cell. Hydrogen is the most abundant and simplest element on earth; however, it is usually bonded with other elements to form other things such as water (H2O), hydrocarbons (CH4) and other organic matter making it unavailable (EERE, 2007). On the other hand, fuel cells are electrochemical devices that produce electricity by combining hydrogen or other hydrogen-containing fuels and oxygen. In contrast to batteries, fuel cells are different since it requires a continuous source of external fuel (OEE, 2007). The electricity produced will be used to power the engine. However, hydrogen is bulky and has a small amount of energy per volume; this means that storage techniques of this fuel are critical to its success. But still, hydrogen as a fuel is efficient since it is clean burning and fuel cell vehicles have a potential higher efficiency compared to gasoline vehicles (about 2-3 times more) (EERE, 2007). Another alternative fuel is the electricity. Electric vehicles have long been in use by some countries; however, it gained low popularity due to its disadvantages like higher cost, the size and weight of the battery, short distance covered and long charging time. Nevertheless, the search for alternative fuels has shifted the attention back to electric cars due to its environmental friendliness and its potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Researches are on their way to develop the battery system of the vehicle such that lighter and smaller batteries that could enable the car to reach almost 300 kilometers on one charging and last for 5-10 years could power the vehicle at acceleration and speeds similar to gasoline powered vehicles (OEE, 2007). The 2008 Tesla Roadster Electric Vehicle is a very interesting vehicle. It runs purely on electricity, can reach 60 mph in 3. 9 seconds, has a 135 mpg equivalent, covers 220 miles per charge, consumes less than $0. 02 per mile and has a built-in battery charging system that can be plugged into an outlet (Tesla Motors, 2008). Though this car is very interesting, I would not opt to buy this because it is very limited and has a selling price of $109,000. I think these are the reason why there still few of these around; they are very costly and are very limited. References Department of Energy. (2005). Alternative Fuels. Retrieved June 4, 2008, from http://www. doe. gov. ph/AF/Alternative%20Fuels. htm Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. (2007, November 20). Hydrogen. Retrieved June 4, 2008, from http://www. eere. energy. gov/afdc/fuels/hydrogen. html Life After the Oil Crash. Are We Running Out? I Thought There Was 40 Years of the Stuff Left. Retrieved June 4, 2008, from http://www. lifeaftertheoilcrash. net/ Office of Energy Efficiency. (2007, April 16). Fuel Cells and Hydrogen. Retrieved June 4, 2008, from http://www. oee. nrcan. gc. ca/transportation/fuels/hydrogen-fuelcells/hydrogen. cfm? attr=8 Tesla Motors. (2008). The 2008 Tesla Roadster. Retrieved June 4, 2008, from http://www. teslamotors. com/ US Environmental Protection Agency. (2006, October). Biodiesel. Retrieved June 4, 2008, from http://www. epa. gov/smartway/growandgo/documents/factsheet-biodiesel. htm

All Quiet On The Western Front :: essays research papers

Remarque, Erich Maria. All Quiet On The Wester Front. Fawcett Crest; New York. 1958 Glaser, Rollin O. All Quiet On The Western Front Notes. Cliffs Notes, Inc.; Lincoln, Nebraska. 1990 Erich Maria Remarque Erich Maria Remarque was born in Osnabrà ¼ck, Westphalia, Germany on June 22, 1898. Being that his father was a book binder by trade, Erich was brought up in a fairly poor household. That did not stop him from receiving a wonderful education at his local “gymnasium'; (equivalent to an elementary school), then proceeding onto the University of Mà ¼nster. While attending there, he was drafted in to the German Army at a mere 18 years of age. He was wounded five times, then released. After returning home, he had a plethora of jobs including: a school master, a tombstone salesman, and even joined a “Gypsy caravan';. His searching for a profession then came to an end when he started writing articles for a Swedish car magazine. He became very well known in the areas of car racing and auto mechanics. He then used his literary skills to write novels that branched from his own personal reflections and experiences. He wrote several best-sellers including: All Quiet On The Western Front, Arch of Triumph, and The Black Obelisk. (contd.) Plot Summery Of: All Quiet On The Western Front All Quiet On The Western Front is a record of seven school chums that all enlist in the German Army after being urged by their school master Kantorek. These poor youth are forced to endure the debilitating effects of World War I, and represent the generation of men that were torn from youthfulness and serenity to face a world of survival horror. They become remnants of Europe’s degenerate youth from that time period. Over the period of years, they are slowly killed off, their once bright and cheerful youthfulness has been ripped from their beings, replaced with listlessness and hardened souls. The story is told in first person by a young man named, Paul Bà ¤umer. He is a very kind and sensitive lad, that wants to make a difference in the world. He has a hard time seeing how fighting against fellow man will make any sort of difference in the world. “He holds fast to a single vow: to fight against the principle of hate that meaninglessly pits young men of the same generation but different uniforms against each other..'; (Remarque, cover) Theme: A Broken And Sorrowful Youth

Balanced Scorecard Study – Samsung

Kashun Davis TMAN 680 Fall 2012 Balanced Scorecard: Samsung Samsung is the technology-based organization that will be the subject for my Balanced Scorecard. Founded in 1938 in Seoul, South Korea, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. engages in the manufacture, distribution, and sale of finished electronic products and device solutions worldwide. They offer consumer products, including mobile phones, tablets, televisions, Blu-rays, DVD players, home theaters, multimedia players; home appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, etc; Laptops and personal computers.The company also designs and manufactures integrated circuits for digital information storage in consumer electronics. It has operations in Korea, U. S. , Europe, Asia, Africa, Africa and China. Because of the large size of the Samsung Corporation, I will focus on Samsung smartphones, one of their technology-intensive business units. The vision of Samsung: â€Å"Samsung is dedicated to developing innovative technologies and efficient processes that create new markets, enrich people's lives, and continue to make Samsung a digital leader. Their mission statement, â€Å"At Samsung, we follow a simple business philosophy: to devote our talent and technology to creating superior products and services that contribute to a better global society. Samsung’s net sales have risen from 158. 9 billion in 2007 to 220. 1 billion in 2011. Their total assets grew from 280. 8 billion in 2007 to 343. 7 billion in 2011. Unfortunately their total liabilities went from 181. 7 billion in 2007 to 202. 6 billion in 2011. Stockholder’s equity almost doubled from 80. billion in 2007 to 141. 1 billion in 2011. Samsung’s net income also increased from 12. 9 billion in 2007 to 21. 2 billion in 2011. It’s also not strange to see their employee base increase due to their explosive growth over this five-year time span. They had 254,000 employees in 2007 and now have over 344,000 employees in 2011 (â€Å"About Samsung,† 2010). Their electronics division has 190,500 employees at the end of 2011. With respect to the Smartphone business unit out of the 1. billion mobile phones sold worldwide in 2011, Samsung accounted for 330 million of those units. Their Galaxy S II sold more than 20 million units since its launch in 2011. In 2012, Samsung launched the Galaxy S III and expects to strengthen their brand and increase market share in the mobile phone arena (â€Å"About Samsung,† 2010). The balanced scorecard is defined as a management system that maps an organization’s strategic objectives into performance metrics in four perspectives: financial, internal processes, customers, and learning and growth (NetMBA, 2002).The four perspectives mentioned above construct the balanced scorecard framework. To create a balanced scorecard for Samsung’s Smartphone business division this framework has to be applied. First, I will assess the mission, vision, c hallenges, and partners of the company. The vision of Samsung: â€Å"Samsung is dedicated to developing innovative technologies and efficient processes that create new markets, enrich people's lives, and continue to make Samsung a digital leader. Their mission statement, â€Å"At Samsung, we follow a simple business philosophy: to devote our talent and technology to creating superior products and services that contribute to a better global society. Samsung not only makes smartphones, but they also create components like displays and integrated circuits that also go into competitor’s smartphones, such as Apple’s iPhone. Samsung’s competitors in the mobile phone market are Apple, Microsoft, Google, HTC, Nokia, and Blackberry. Samsung doesn’t make their own proprietary software and hardware as Apple, Google, and Blackberry.Samsung exclusively uses Google’s Android Mobile OS for their phones. Another challenge Samsung faces, is that their mobile phon es are not only in competition with other phones that have different software platforms, but they are in even stiffer competition with other phones that also use Google’s Android Mobile OS. This market in itself is very fragmented from the fact that more than 4,000 distinct smartphone models exist that uses the Android operating system (Valazco, 2012). Fortunately for Samsung they command 25. % of the smartphone manufacture market putting them on top. LG, Apple, Motorola, and HTC own 18. 4%, 16. 3%, 11. 2%, and 6. 4% of the smartphone manufacture market respectively (â€Å"comscore reports July,† 2012). With respect to the balanced scorecard framework, a strategy map will assist with connecting the four perspectives and how they relate to each other. The strategic measures chosen for the Learning & Growth Perspective were chosen based on information listed in the Samsung’s annual report. Samsung’s employees have grown over the past few years. Samsung†™s social etwork presence is currently greater than their competitors, but there is always room for improvement. Samsung invested $8B USD in R&D, which this funnels down to organizational capital and learning from their competitors. With respect to the Internal Process Perspective $8B USD were invested into R&D for innovation. Customer Satisfaction is never perfect in any organization, thus leaving room for improvement. Not to mention customer satisfaction can translate into sales. Management of operations was chosen because process improvement is always needed in an organization.The customer perspective measurements are strengthening the brand, gaining OEM market share, and exceeding customer expectations. All of these links to financial success within the organization, thus focusing on these measures is vital to the growth Samsung expects to see in the future. Stockholder equity, net sales, and net income all affect the customer, internal, and learning & growth perspective measu res and vice versa. This provides a top to bottom and bottom to top flow balanced measures. Learning & Growth Perspective| Objective| Measure| Target| Initiative|Grow Human Capital| # Of Employees in Samsung Electronics Division| 200,000 employees| Aggressive Recruitment and Retention Program| Improve Information Capital| Social Networking Effectiveness| 6 Million Twitter Followers; 40 Million Facebook Likes| Aggressive & Interactive Social Networking Campaign| Build Organizational Capital| Submittal of Employee Ideas| 5,000 Employee Ideas Submitted| Conduct Organizational Learning Study of Samsung Mobile Division (Amiri, 2010)| Learn from our Competitors| Mobile OEM Market Share| Increase Mobile OEM Market Share by 20%| Analyze competitors customer base and meet the needs of that customer base through innovative mobile technology | Internal Process Perspective| Objective| Measure| Target| Initiative| Manage Innovations| Successful Research & Development Projects| Double R&D Project s| Allocate more capital to R&D projects and their implementation| Manage Customer Relations| Customer Satisfaction| Double and Sustain Customer Satisfaction scores| Aggressive ustomer service training for employees| Manage Operations| Value Added & Non-Value Added Operations| Increase Value Added Operations and Reduce/eliminate non-value added operations| Lean Six-Sigma Process Improvement Initiative (Qun, 2012)| Customer Perspective| Objective| Measure| Target| Initiative| Strengthen Samsung Smartphone Brand| Market Share| Increase Market Share| Aggressive Marketing Campaign| Gain Smartphone OEM Market Share| OEM Market Share| Increase Mobile OEM Market Share by 20%| Analyze competitors customer base and meet the needs of that customer base through innovative mobile technology| Exceeding customer needs and expectations| Customer Satisfaction Scores | Customer Retention| Double Customer satisfaction scores & retention | Customer Loyalty & Rewards Program | Customer Perspective| Obj ective| Measure| Target| Initiative|Increase Stockholder Equity| Stock Price| Increase from $489/share to $510/share| Increase Market Share| Increase Net Sales| Net Sales| Increase from 135B to 170B| Aggressive Marketing Campaign| Increase Net Income| Net Income| Increase by 15%| Make Operations Efficient and reducing costs| Sources About Samsung. (2010). Retrieved from http://www. samsung. com/us/aboutsamsung/corporateprofile/ourperformance/samsungprofile. html Amiri, A. , Jandghi, G. , Alvani, S. , Hosnavi, R. , & Ramezan, M. (2010). Increasing the Intellectual Capital in Organization: Examining the Role of Organizational Learning. European Journal Of Social Science,  14(1/2), 98-108. comscore reports July 2012 U. S. mobile subscriber market share. (2012, Sept 04). Retrieved from http://www. comscore. com/Insights/Press_Releases/2012/9/comScore_Reports_July_2012_US_Mobile_Subscriber_Market_Share NetMBA. (2002). Netmba business knowledge center.Retrieved from http://www. netmba. com/accounting/mgmt/balanced-scorecard/ Samsung Group. (2011). Samsung profile 2011. Retrieved from http://www. samsung. com/us/aboutsamsung/corporateprofile/download/Samsung_Profile_2011-EN-final-revise. pdf Qun, Z. , Irfan, M. , Khattak, M. , Abbas, J. , Xiaoning, Z. , & Shah, M. (2012). CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS FOR SUCCESSFUL LEAN SIX SIGMA IMPLEMENTATION IN PAKISTAN. Interdisciplinary Journal Of Contemporary Research In Business,  4(1), 117-124. Valazco, C. (2012, May 15). Techcrunch. Retrieved from http://techcrunch. com/2012/05/15/3997-models-android-fragmentation-as-seen-by-the-developers-of-opensignalmaps/

Organizational Commitment

Organizational Commitment and Communication Paper Week 3 COM/530 10/27/2011 Introduction A look at an organization’s communication and leadership styles can say a lot about the organization as a whole. Google has a relaxed atmosphere, where management allows workers to create their own schedules; and fosters creativity by allowing and encouraging their workers to explore side projects (Google Culture, 2011). What would happen if the leadership style were to change? This is one of the elements this paper will explore. A look will also be taken at: sources of power within the organization, the employee’s commitment to Google, how communication within Google relates to the worker, other motivational theories which would work at Google and how communication plays a part in the functioning of these theories. Different Leadership Styles Google has recently embarked on â€Å"Project Oxygen,† a plan to make a better manager (Bryant, 2011). An examination of data sets, compiled from employee surveys, awards given, and managers who performed well, was conducted. This resulted in Google wanting employees to feel empowered, know their managers were available, and have a better overall feeling about the work they did (Bryant, 2011). Google has made the shift to transformational leadership by inviting their employees to be more active in roles they play and working to develop managers that encourage creativity (Robbins, 2011). Having leader member exchange theory in practice at Google would serve to undermine Project Oxygen. This theory states managers have their trusted employees, who tend to get special considerations over other employees (Robbins & Judge, 2011). Having this theory in play, would only serve to drive a wedge between employees and employee supervisor relationships and reduce communication. The studies conducted by Google show employees want respect and equal opportunity from management (Bryant, 2011). Another example of a leadership style that would take away from Google’s goal would be the laissez-faire style of leadership, as employees have stated they don’t want weak willed passive managers (Bryant, 2011). Having a leader using this style would reduce the amount the employees spoke to this individual and cause disarray among the teams. Sources of Power at Google One might expect that Google, being a technical company, places a high importance on expert power as greater knowledge of writing computer code will mean more employees will come to that person for help. The company may have placed emphasis on this in the past, but has since discovered employees want to follow managers whom they like and identify with, which more closely relates to referent power (Robbins, 2011). As Robbins and Judge (2011) explain this type of power deals more with an employee having respect and admiration for their manager. Referent power will lead to employees communicating openly with their superiors and should influence a more positive attitude overall within the organization, as negative views and opinions will diminish among the workers. Legitimate power is also wielded by Google as they have employees who must complete work or they risk losing their jobs. This type of power serves to keep employees in line with company views and reduce negative communication within the organization as employees will not want to suffer the consequences. Reward power is also in use as employees are allowed to set up their own schedules and vie for more prominent positions (Google Culture, 2011). This power also serves to create a positive attitude by giving employees what they desire in the work environment. Employee Commitment and Communication Employees appear to have a strong organizational commitment to Google. Based on the freedoms granted to their employees, workers look to stay with Google out of affective commitment. This type of commitment suggests workers have an emotional attachment to the company and believe in the core values (Robbins, 2011). Google has a commitment to meeting the needs of the employee by modifying compensation packages to suit the employee, giving bonuses, and making the employee feel valued for what they do by providing other amenities most companies would not provide. Google has on site gymnasiums, chefs, laundry service, and shuttles (Google culture, 2011). By providing for employees, Google works towards establishing an emotional attachment. Open communication is encouraged and ideas are rewarded showing employees they have value in the eyes of Google. This communication is necessary to create a sense of freedom at work and allow for an open exchange of ideas. Different Motivational Theories Google could benefit from the use of self-determination theory as they look to empower their employees. This theory suggests workers want to feel they have free will in choosing their work activities and take joy in what they do without feeling it has become an obligation (Robbins, 2011). Communication plays an integral part in the application of this theory. Workers need to know they have choices within the work they do and that managers are available for discussion of changing roles or work activities. Google is a corporation that wants it employees to interact at all levels and across teams. This environment may be excellent for reinforcement theory, as this theory looks to reward positive actions immediately to ensure they are repeated and also to punish negative actions to ensure they are not repeated (Robbins, 2011). If open communication is encouraged and workers discuss goals they achieved and how they were rewarded for this, a general effect should be seen on surrounding employees. This means other employees should repeat the rewarded action to reap the rewards. The same can be said for actions which are negatively reinforced. A third and final motivational theory which would serve Google’s open form of communication is the equity theory. This theory looks at the motivation behind having a fair workplace (Robbins, 2011). Employees want to feel they are paid or otherwise compensated for their work based on experience and accomplishments. Communication is vital to this theory as the more open employees are with each other it provides the opportunity for salary and compensation to be discussed. As long as Google is handling their employees in an equal manner this should serve to show workers the more they work and strive to be better at their jobs, the more they can expect to earn. Conclusion Google has chosen to study their management styles that work best, â€Å"Project Oxygen;† and then train managers in tasks they have found work well for top performing managers. This has caused a shift towards transformational leadership. Google has found other types of management styles which are, for example, too strict are failing and causing high turnover (Bryant, 2011). As stated, having different types of leadership styles in use at Google, such as leader member exchange theory or laissez-faire style would undermine current goals and lead to poor communication within teams, leading to loss of faith in management. Google uses referent power, meaning employees have respect and admiration for their managers to keep employees happy (Robbins, 2011). The company also employs the use of rewards such as compensation packages suited to the employee and on site amenities (Google Culture, 2011) as rewards to keep employees happy. Google’s efforts appear to lead to an affective commitment to the organization as the employee develops an emotional attachment to their job (Robbins, 2011). Motivational theories such as: self-determination, reinforcement theory, and equity theory would most likely fit with in Google’s company culture. Each theory looks to place the emphasis on the employee through enriching their work experience or giving compensation. In short Google is looking to keep employees long term through positive work environments and structure. References Adam Bryant (2011, March 12). Google’s Quest to Build a Better Boss. New York Times Retrieved October 29, 2011, from http://www. nytimes. com/2011/03/13 /business/ 13hire. html? pagewanted=all, Google Culture. (2011). Google. Retrieved October 29, 2011, from www. google. com/about/corporate/company/culture. Robbins, S. P. , & Judge, T. A. (2011). Organizational behavior (14th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson- Prentice Hall.

Interview with Book Designer Nuno Moreira

Interview with Book Designer Nuno Moreira The Perfect Book Cover: An Interview with Graphic Designer Nuno Moreira â€Å"The perfect cover is seductive, mysterious, puzzling.†At Reedsy, we have the chance to work with exceptionally talented and creative people. Whether they express themselves in words or images, they are always striving for their creative output to reach a level of perfection that each of them defines and idealizes in a different way.Today, Nuno Moreira, a Portuguese graphic artist now residing in Tokyo, offers us what may be the â€Å"perfect† definition of a book cover. Before that, he outlines the differences between working for a publisher and working directly with an independent author; and explains how a lousy cover first got him into book design.But get to the â€Å"perfect cover† question. It’s worth it.Hi Nuno, great to have you here. You’re a freelance cover designer based in Tokyo, and work predominantly with independent authors and small presses. How did you first get into book design?Hi there, thank you for the opportunity. I starte d working with books and editorial design back in Portugal, in 2007, designing books for a handful of publishers, most of them no longer in activity nowadays. It all started because I was reading a book by Alejandro Jodorowsky and the cover was just horrible. I stopped and thought to myself: how can such provocative ideas be hidden behind such a lousy cover? So, I immediately put the book aside and wrote an email to the publisher. Months later I found myself working not for that publisher, but for two others and then things just gradually took from there. Basically, Jodorowsky is to blame for my book cover practice!I always loved reading and being surrounded by books and magazines and with time it only got worse (in a good sense of course). Since then I started art directing for Editorial Estampa - a publisher with over 50 years in Portugal - and then, slowly I started taking commissions from varied publishers and authors. These last 4 years I’ve been designing mostly for ind ependent presses and self-published authors in the US and UK.

How to Improve Your Reading Speed

How to Improve Your Reading Speed Sometimes, it can be a pleasure to read slowly, taking the time to pause on an extraordinary sentence or revisiting a passage on a previous page. But this type of reading is a luxury. As we all know, we can often benefit from reading certain documents more quickly. An average reading speed can range from 200 to 350 words per minute, but that rate can vary depending on the material and your reading experience. Its also important to understand what you are reading- even when you improve your speed. Here are a few tips to help you improve your reading speed. Reading Speed Tips Preview the material youre going to read. Look at main headings, chapter divisions, and other relevant material to develop clues about the structure of the work.Adjust your reading speed as you read the material. Slow down when you need to be sure that you comprehend a section of material. Speed up if you are already familiar with (or dont need to know) other sections.Readers can dramatically improve their reading speeds by taking in several words in the line of text at one time (instead of sounding out each word or focusing on each letter of the word). Computer programs like Ace Reader or Rapid Reader  are designed to help readers improve reading speeds with flashing letters and words. You may also want to learn more about other techniques.Another way to improve your reading speed is to focus on the key words in the sentences. A significant amount of reading time is wasted on conjunctions, prepositions, or articles (i.e. a, an, the, but, and, or, nor, but, etc.).Use a pacer like a pen or your finger- as a focal point to draw your eye across the line or down the page. A pacer can help you increase your speed and reduce re-reading. A pacer can also help you to keep track of what you are reading. Talk about what youve read. Some readers find that by talking about their reading with friends or fellow students, they are able to effectively synthesize the material.Determine a reading schedule that works for you. You may find that you cant concentrate on the material for more than an hour (or a half hour). Also, select a time of the day when you are alert and ready to read.Find a reading spot where interruptions or distractions will not disturb your reading.Practice. Practice. Practice. The best way to improve your reading speed is to practice reading. Try out some of these techniques, and then perfect the strategies that work best for you. Other Things to Consider Get your eyes checked. Reading glasses may help.Read everything. Dont miss out on vital information in your pursuit of speed.Dont re-read right away; it will slow you down. If you absolutely dont understand part of the reading selection, go back and review the material later.

History - Globalization in China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5500 words

History - Globalization in China - Essay Example This perception has been disregarded by most Chinese who argue that they have learnt from their country’s long history that isolation often results to backwardness especially considering its vast population (Gerschenkron 842). Among the Chinese, globalization is often viewed as a double- edged sword which brings both challenges and opportunities, as well as advantages and disadvantages. Opportunities and advantages can be achieved in China in the wave of globalization through correct strategies and policies. As a matter of fact, China needs globalization more than any other country of the world considering its vast economic and population size (Huang 65). Since its contribution to the world is immense, its participation in globalization is not a one- way street. The country not only serves as one of the biggest markets for world’s products and services but also as one of the world’s greatest producers of goods and services. It should be noted that even though Chi nese economy integration into the world’s economy has deepened over the years, the issue of globalization in China is considerably controversial (Walter and Howie 107). The transitions and growth of the Chinese economy have been critical in integrating it into the world economy in the wave of globalization. ... Growth in the China context is the realization by the leaders of China after the death of Mao Zedong in 1976 that their country was developing and poor and therefore it was important to deliver sustained jobs and incomes in order to propel their country to success and to grip of world power (Naughton 103-4). Just like other countries that are experiencing globalization, China’s economy and the globalization process is linked to the political issues in the country. The rapid growth of the Chinese economy in the face of globalization and its deepening integration into the global economy can be greatly attributed to the policies that have been implemented by the Chinese government. The government has in the recent past have been setting incentives so as to enable the state firms to profit from the income that they earn on sales from transactions with other â€Å"clients† across the world, as well as their transactions with the state. It is worth noting that, in response to the globalization of the world’s financial system, the government of China has in recent times restructured the country’s banking system among other restructuring that aim at aligning the country’s financial system with the world’s, so as to benefit from globalization processes (Huang 178-9). More importantly, it should be noted that even though China has recorded a remarkable success in the globalization process, there is no general understanding of globalization among the Chinese. Majorly, the understanding of globalization among the Chinese revolves around the following three aspects. One, many of the Chinese elite tends to believe that the globalization trends are inevitable. To them, there is no alternative to globalization and all

HR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

HR - Essay Example ations on the base pay, which include external competition, employee equity, the Equal Pay Act of 1970, communication strategy, and use of point-factor rating and definition and evaluation of benchmark jobs. In the contingency pay reward structure, the main proposal is to disregard the current system in place (contribution pay) with a combination of Competence Related Pay and Individual Performance Related Pay reward schemes. The section also proposes several cost-cutting measures and exercises. Part three of the report highlights the non-financial rewards and an overall reward recommendation, including learning and development, performance management, career development, and work environment. Part four of the report contains all the possible alternative retention plans and cost cutting strategies that are applicable in MB’s environment, including Employment Stock Ownership Plan, time extension of paying bonuses, and enhancement of job designations. The fifth and final part of the business report concludes with specific recommendations on a cost-effective reward structure for MB that will enhance the commitment of the workers, raise the morale of the employees, and thus increase the profitability of the company. The combination of low profitability, a lack of performance culture, low morale, and commitment in MB is the result of embedded complacent attitude, irrelevant reward structure, and multiple shortcomings in HR practices multiplied by too hierarchical structure and remote location of departments from each other and the Head Office. The changes offered below are vital to stay afloat. 1. Increasingly popular in job evaluation is a method of combining of two analytical schemes: using point-factor rating to define and evaluate benchmark jobs (jobs which can be used as points of comparison for others), and evaluating the remaining jobs by means of analytical matching (Armstrong pg 254 - 263) 2. External competitiveness: it is necessary to operate exact