Critical Success Factor Analysis Essay Example for Free

Critical Success Factor Analysis Essay This wasnt the case for AA. They had clear Organisational vision and views set out from the beginning. Their reason for the new system was to improve the standards of customer service for customer loyalty and to reduce their cost which is their organisational strategy.  This resulted in three main business requirements for the new IS. Development of a nationally-based system   Separation of the functions   The provision of a base for new products or services  AAs system was definitely a business-led system. They had the idea for AAHELP long before technology caught up enough for the system to be implemented. Their IS system was led by a long-term vision from way back. A lot could be contrasted during the implementation phase also. In AAs case, they used a phase-by-phase approach. Each phase would have a business case. This was to make the job of convincing the board easier. This proved useful not only in convincing the board, but also in that it allowed a certain degree of flexibility, as the system could be adapted in order to deal with the changes in the organisation more generally. This gradual incremental approach to the development meant that even though the overall time of the project took longer, the system was checked more thoroughly, and thus was much less likely to have problems later on when it would cost a lot more to fix.  This is shown very clearly in the Symons case. They hired ProSys to deliver the full system in one go. During implementation, they found a lot of costly errors such as differences in Numbering Systems, and changes to the system which cost them an additional à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½15,000. IT TEAM There were some differences between the two even in their I.T Team. Firstly, AA had their personal in-house I.T staff while Symons hired programmers. There are several benefits of in-house I.T staff. It takes shorter time for problems to be sorted out. Another difference was that the IT Team all worked in one location only. This built team spirit and encouraged formal and informal communications. Working so close together also meant that problems would be noticed, and sorted out much faster. Strategic Information Systems Planning Methodologies  The task of strategic information systems planning is difficult and often time organizations do not know how to do it. Strategic information systems planning is a major change for organizations, from planning for information systems based on users demands to those based on business strategy.  Vitale, et al. (1986) classifies SISP methodologies into two categories: impact and alignment. Impact methodologies help create and justify new uses of IT, while the methodologies in the alignment category align IS objectives with organizational goals. Impact Methodologies  Value Chain Analysis  A form analysing business activities. It helps in devising information systems which increase the overall profit available to a firm and identifying the potential for mutual business advantages of component businesses, in the same or related industries, available from information interchange. It concentrates on value-adding business activities and is independent of organizational structure. Strengths: It concentrates on direct value adding activities of a firm and thus pitches information systems right into the realm of value adding rather than cost cutting  Weaknesses: Basic concept of a value chain is difficult to apply to non-manufacturing organizations where the product is not tangible and there are no obvious raw materials. It also fails to address the developmental and implementation issues. Critical success factors analysis can be considered to be both an impact as well as an alignment methodology. Critical Success Factors (CSF) in the context of SISP are used for interpreting more clearly the objectives, tactics, and operational activities in terms of key information needs of an organization and its managers and strengths and weaknesses of the organizations existing systems. Critical success factors are limited areas of the business where if the result is satisfactory, will ensure successful competitive performance for the organisation Strengths: CSF analysis provides a very powerful method for concentrating on key information requirements of an organization, a business unit, or of a manager. This allows the management to concentrate resources on developing information systems around these requirements. Also, CSF analysis is easy to perform and can be carried out with few resources.  Weaknesses: CSF analysis by itself is not enough to perform comprehensive SISP because it does not define a data architecture or provide automated support for analysis. CSFs also focus primarily on management control and thus tend to be internally focused and analytical rather than creative

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness The exact cause of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) is unknown. It is described as a consequence of mechanical and metabolic stress placed on skeletal muscle fibres. DOMS occurs as a result of microscopic tearing (micro trauma) of the muscle fibres and connective tissues. The extent of the tearing depends on the type of exercise and how vigorously the exercise is performed. Any new movements that a person is not accustomed to, may lead to DOMS. However eccentric muscle contractions seem to cause the most pain. Eccentric muscle movement is any movement that forces the muscle to contract while it lengthens. Contrary to popular belief, DOMS is not related to the buildup of lactic acid in the muscle that occurs after strenuous exercise. Even though lactic acid is a by-product of muscle metabolism, it is removed within the first hour after exercise and does not contribute to the symptoms of DOMS. During a workout, the skeletal muscle swells. The swelling is a result of an influx of white blood cells, prostaglandins, nutrients and fluids that flow into the muscle to repair any damage after a strenuous workout. This damage to the muscle occurs in the myofibrils and the influx of fluids is part of the normal process of repair and growth in the body. Metabolic stress seems to be to most plausible cause of DOMS, but what are these metabolic stresses and are the presence of these molecules necessarily the cause of DOMS? Is it reasonable to believe that the by-products of these cells can be related to the onset of muscle soreness? There is growing evidence that â€Å"free radicals† are a major contributing factor of DOMS. They are an unavoidable by-product of cellular metabolism. These molecules are highly reactive and unstable. The uncertainty of their role comes from the fact that they may not be present in high enough concentrations when DOMS is at its worst. The extreme increase of free radicals seems to occur after the peak decline in muscle function. A study done on the relationship between dehydration and DOMS, (Cleary, 2005), showed that increased body and muscle temperatures during exercise due to lack of fluid intake and dehydration, play a contributing role in micro trauma to the muscle fibres. The high muscle temperatures and resistance exercise result in the denaturing of proteins, and may affect the mechanical properties of the myofibrils, making them more susceptible to damage during eccentric activity. Dehydration and hyperthermia of the muscles may also lead to a disruption of the intercellular calcium regulation and overproduction of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which may also be a contributing factor to the micro-damage during exercise. Characteristics Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) can potentially be perceived as a love / hate relationship by many. A love relationship because DOMS can be viewed as a sign that yesterdays workout was rather effective, but a hate relationship because exercising again within the next day or two wont be comfortable. It can turn a simple walk up a flight of stairs into a painful five minute ordeal. DOMS is a phenomenon experienced by all individuals, no matter their fitness level. If an individual has recently begun exercising, or has just returned to exercising after a long break, they may soon become stiff and sore. This is a normal physiological response to increased exertion on any skeletal muscle. Characterized by an aching, dull pain in the affected muscle, typical symptoms may include:  Muscle tenderness, stiffness and / or soreness (may increase to the level of muscle pain)  Localised swelling (may be considered a cause and contributor to soreness)  Loss of mobility, reduced range of motion and resistance to stretching  Loss of muscle strength  Acute muscle spasms and twitches Symptoms begin to develop 24 48 hours after intense, unfamiliar exercise. The intensity of the symptoms will increase for the first 24 hours, reaching their peak within 72 hours. Thereafter they will begin to subside. Five to seven days after exercise, all symptoms should have disappeared. Muscle pain is not felt when the muscle is at rest, but rather when it is stretched, contracted or put under pressure. Not all symptoms may be present and they are independent of each other. The extent and duration of DOMS may vary from person to person, and the extent of DOMS is often related to the amount of resistance placed on the muscle during the prior exercise. Mechanisms Theodore Hough was the first to describe Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness in 1902. He described DOMS as â€Å"fundamentally the result of ruptures within the muscle†. Today this description is still considered broadly valid, but the cellular mechanisms and etiology are still not fully known. New research shows that there are many theories behind the phenomenon of DOMS, none of which have been fully proven or disproved. It has been suggested that the muscle soreness is a result of an acute inflammatory response, but subsequent research failed to substantiate this theory conclusively. The first theories to emerge attributed DOMS to lactic acid accumulation and oedema of the tissues due to increased hydrogen ions. This is now considered highly unlikely as there is evidence to refute this theory. It has been proven that lactic acid cannot be responsible for the development of muscle spasm and soreness. As stated earlier, it is removed from the muscle within an hour after intense exercise, and soreness only tends to develop 24 hours later. Soreness does not involve the rupture of whole muscle fibres. DOMS results from high tension in the contractile / elastic system in muscles from eccentric exercise. This tension causes the muscle fibres (myofibrils) and connective tissue to become structurally damaged or torn. Damage normally occurs from the ultrastructural disruptions of myofilaments at the z-line, a line that marks the boundary of adjacent sarcomeres. This leads to an imbalance of calcium levels and necrosis of damaged cells and surrounding tissue. Tissue damage and necrosis may be most directly related to the soreness that is experienced. Pain is experienced when the muscle is stretched or palpated because of the increased mechanical sensitivity of nociceptors. The onset of soreness is delayed because the mild inflammatory response that does result from nocioceptor sensitization, is a slow process. The relationship between damage, inflammation and soreness is not yet completely understood, and the most accepted clinical correlates associate DOMS with elevated plasma enzymes, myoglobinemia, and abnormal skeletal muscle histology. Although not fully proven, this theory is most often used to explain the relationship between the symptoms of DOMS and the mechanisms behind it.  High tensions in the contractile / elastic system of the muscle result in structural damage.  Cell membrane damage leads to disruption of calcium homeostasis causing necrosis that peaks between 24 48 hours after exercise.  Products of macrophage activity and intracellular contents accumulate in the interstitial fluid These stimulate the free nerve endings of sensory neurons in the muscles leading to the sensation of DOMS. Treatment A significantly effective treatment method has not yet been established to accelerate the recovery from DOMS. A variety of treatment strategies may assist in alleviating the symptoms and severity of DOMS. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen, appear to moderately inhibit the inflammatory response and thereby provide pain relief. It has, however, no positive effect on the muscle weakness associated with DOMS. The regular use of NSAIDs could also lead to adverse side effects, primarily upper gastrointestinal ulceration or bleeding due to mucosal damage. Homeopathy is a safe, natural treatment method with very few side effects. Traumeel is an effective homeopathic preparation used as an alternative to NSAIDs for the treatment of inflammatory conditions brought on by exercise-induced micro trauma and other sports injuries. In a double blind clinical trial involving 50 athletes, Jordaan (2005) tested certain inflammation markers such as serum creatine kinase, differential white blood cell levels and serum cortisol. The treatment group showed higher levels of plasma cortisol than the placebo group for up to 96 hours post exercise. Cortisol, a glucocorticoid, will have an anti-inflammatory effect and also slow the migration of phagocytic cells into the area. This effect was illustrated by a significantly lower mean monocyte count in the treatment group in the first 96 hours after exercise, implying reduced macrophage activity. Arnica is another homeopathic remedy that is often used in the treatment of DOMS, but both oral and topical admi nistration of Arnica has so far proven ineffective under clinical trial conditions. Acupuncture and dry needling have also been suggested as an effective treatment for DOMS. Studies show that the best results are achieved when the acupuncture needles are applied directly to the tender points. According to Robertshawe (2009), acupuncture is effective in reducing the perception of pain, but had no significant effect on participants mechanical pain threshold or muscle function after DOMS had been induced. Therapeutic options:  Therapeutic massage stimulates blood circulation to promote healing and repair. Massage has no effect on the improvement of muscle function, except to reduce muscle soreness and oedema.  Cryotherapy (icing) of the injured muscle seems to be the most effective way of reducing muscle pain related to DOMS.  Ultrasound and electrical current modalities has demonstrated little effectiveness in the reduction of symptoms.  Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy, (supersaturating the blood with O2), decreases the healing time of the damaged muscle fibres and connective tissue. Increasing blood oxygen levels leads to improved blood circulation, healing and repair. Exercise:  Light exercise with reduced eccentric movements, have an analgesic effect for the temporary relief of pain.  Gentle stretching has been proven to have little effect on muscle pain, but many athletes have claimed that it simply makes them â€Å"feel better†. Dietary options:  Research has emerged that Vitamin C plays a role in the repair of connective tissue, however this has not yet been proven in any clinical trials.  The use of anti-oxidants prior to exercise, in a fight against the free radical by-products of cellular metabolism, can reduce and possibility prevent DOMS.  Protease supplements have proved to be effective in the prevention and recovery of DOMS. Supplementation may facilitate muscle healing and promote restoration of contractile function. An experimental group demonstrated significantly superior recovery of contractile function and diminished effects of DOMS. Any muscle injury needs rest for the muscle fibres to heal effectively. Most treatment strategies do not promote rapid healing of the damaged tissue, even though they do alleviate the muscle soreness and pain. Exercise-induced muscle damage is a normal response; muscles attempt to protect themselves against repeated exercise sessions, to avoid serious tissue damage. It would appear that even though there are numerous therapies and treatments that are effective in reducing some of the symptoms of DOMS, none of them are able to completely alleviate all of the symptoms or successfully prevent the occurrence of DOMS. Until all the mechanisms of DOMS are better understood, the best cure would be prevention of DOMS by gradual introduction of novel exercise, especially after long periods of inactivity.

Beauty In The Media Media Essay

Beauty In The Media Media Essay Images of female bodies are everywhere. Women-and their body parts-sell everything from food to cars. Sex has become the selling point of a product, rather than the value of the product or service itself. Everywhere a person turns womens bodies are being graphically used to sell products. Popular film and television actresses are younger, taller and thinner all the time. Quite often they have to starve themselves, and will faint from hunger simply to maintain the body image that seems to be required for a standard of beauty that was set by media. These are the women that young girls are taught to idolize and emulate. Magazines published specifically for women are bursting with articles advising that if a woman can lose those twenty pounds and buy the right makeup and clothing, theyll have everything-a perfect marriage, great sex, loving children, and of course a rewarding career; all it takes is fitting into a mold. Beauty is no longer in the eye of the beholder, it is a set standard that can only be achieved by living up to impossible standards. Women attempt to change their attitudes and appearances to conform to a standard that through years of seeing images in magazines and on television have become normalized to the point where, often unconsciously, they are accepted ideas, values, and standards; for women far more than for men looks are crucial and more defining and it is hard to achieve and maintain the image that media has defined as beautiful. These values of attractiveness are being imposed on women, most of whom are larger and more mature than the actress and models shown, because women allow it to be so. Women allow themselves to try to fit a mold, to live up to that impossible standard. They allow themselves to believe that to be beautiful they have to act raunchy, dress slutty, and be thin, tall, and wear makeup; anything else is not attractive. Men on the other hand do not believe this to be true; as David, a young man in Ariel Levys book Female Chauvinist pigs, points out What girls dont understand is guys always want girls. If every girl dressed casually, youd still like girls(Levy Page 151). Women exhaust themselves living up to a standard they feel must be met in order to be liked, to be loved, or even to be wanted when the simple truth is they would be anyway. If this is the truth, why is it women do exhaust themselves? Some psychologists say the reasons are rooted in economics. Industries that present ideals that are difficult to achieve and maintain, are assured of growth and profits. Meaning, it is not a coincidence that youth and a slim figure are promoted in ads and media. By viewing these images repeatedly there begins to be hegemony, and therefore mentally women believe they actually do need the products that will help them achieve their goals of living up to the ever raising standard. This makes the stakes huge. By showing images of young, thin women made up with beauty products it makes the average women insecure about their own body, and how the male counterpart views the body of an average woman. Women that are insecure concerning their bodies are far more likely to purchase beauty products, new clothes, and diet aids. Research also indicates that constant exposure to images of young, thin, and often air-brushed female bodies is associated to loss of self-esteem, depression, and can lead to the development of unhealthy eating habits in young girls and women. The American research group Anorexia Nervosa Related Eating Disorders, Inc. reports that one out of every four college-aged women uses detrimental methods to control weight; including skipping meals, fasting, self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, and laxative abuse. The demands to be thin are also influencing young girls: statistics show that these extreme weight control measures are even being used by girls as young as five and six.   Many studies, such as one conducted by Marika Tiggemann and Levina Clark in 2006 titled Appearance Culture in Nine- to 12-Year-Old Girls: Media and Peer Influences on Body Dissatisfaction, indicate that almost half of all preadolescent girls desire to be thinner, and as a result have engaged in some form of unhealthy weight lose. Overall; research suggests that 90% of women are dissatisfied with their body image in some way. Media activist Jean Kilbourne comes to the concl usion that, Women are sold to the diet industry by the magazines we read and the television programs we watch, almost all of which make us feel anxious about our weight. Americans live in a media culture and when that media shows women who they ought to be and it is fed to women in a constant loop of ads, television, and billboards it is increasingly hard to escape. Conceivably the most disturbing factor is the fact that these media images of female attractiveness are unattainable to all but an extremely small percentage of women. When we look at popular icons of beauty it is clear just how unrealistic the standard is. For example, researchers generated a computer reproduction of a woman with the proportions of a Barbie-doll discovered that her back would be too frail to bear the weight of her upper body, additionally her body would be much too narrow to have any more than half a liver and a few centimeters of bowel. A  real woman with those proportions would experience chronic diarrhea and ultimately die from malnutrition. Yet the number of real life women and young girls who seek a similarly underweight body has become an epidemic, and unfortunately they can suffer equally devastating consequences to their health. Sadly, even womens magazines have ten and one-half  times more advertisments and articles promoting weight loss, and showing super thin and gorgeous women than mens magazines do. Furthermore, over three-quarters of the covers of womens magazines incorporate at least one message about how to change a womans appearance to please a man-by diet, cosmetic surgery, beauty products, or exercise. These magazines which ideally would promote better self image, and encourage all body types actually help promote the insecurities that lead to women continuing a self destructive cycle. This image of beauty is seen everywhere. Television and movies also reinforce the significance of a skinny body as the measure of a womans worth. Most of the female characters in TV comedies are underweight, the characters that are above average in size, or even what the average woman would be, tend to be given negative comments from male characters as well as other female characters about their bodies; and often these negative comments are followed by audience laughter. Although women have come a long way and now have a greater knowledge of the body image that media force feeds the effect of the media still has a strong hold on mentality and the lengths women go to achieve the unattainable. Everywhere women look there are images of slim women wearing hardly anything at all with their hair and makeup completely done. One only has to go outside and look at the billboards, turn on a television, or open a newspaper or magazine to experience these types of images. In a recent Macys ad the cover shows the image of Santa Clause; the typical older gentleman dressed from head to toe, while a young, fiery redheaded Mrs. Clause (or perhaps Mistress Clause?) leans in to kiss dear old saint nick; who has a finger up to his lips to whisper silence. Ads like these promote that older men should be with younger women, that secret affairs are sexy, and that young pretty girls are objects of clandestine desires. Other ads do not even try to disguise the sexuality and blatantly flaunt it to the audience. In a recent Volvo ad the manufacture displays the interior of a car, highlighting the parking brake in full upright position; the caption reading We Are Just As Excited As You Are leading a woman viewer to think that she should be excited, and thankfully it is nothing to be ashamed of because the masculine image is also excited. Many advertisements go even further, an Italian coffee ad shows a couple nude, and heavily sexualized in a sea of coffee beans. Ariel Levy says women are not just accepting this supersexualised culture they are fuelling it (Levy), which seems to be the case when a simple look around produces women and young girls wearing next to nothing and women in ads wearing absolutely nothing at all by their own choice. This barrage of main stream media about tin bodies, dieting and a beauty standard tells ordinary women that they are forever in need of modification-and that the female body is merely an object to be perfected. Jean Kilbourne argues that the overwhelming presence of media images of painfully thin women means that real womens bodies have become invisible in the mass media. The real tragedy, Kilbourne concludes, is that many women internalize these stereotypes, and judge themselves by the beauty industrys standards. Women learn to compare themselves to other women, and to compete with them for male attention. This focus on beauty and desirability effectively destroys any awareness and action that might help to change that climate. Sex and beauty are tools to sell more products; the poor body image and low self esteem only help to further sell items to enhance appearances; and slowly this has become an acceptable practice. The way we talk and think about appearances could use a radical makeover.

The Minister’s Black Veil Essay -- Literary Analysis, Nathaniel Hawtho

In his various works, Nathaniel Hawthorne addresses the religious themes dominant in colonial Puritan society. For example, the beloved Mr. Hooper of Hawthorne’s parable The Minister’s Black Veil dons a black veil, a mysterious change which the Puritans believed â€Å"could portend nothing but evil† (Hawthorne 630). As a result, the Puritans isolate their minister. Even though the parable does show the Puritans’ harsh and superstitious reaction to the vagary of the minister, the veil itself symbolizes both the minister’s isolation from society and his connection to society through original sin. This veil and other symbols in Hawthorne’s works illustrate the universal truth that â€Å"all art is paradox.† Hawthorne approaches this notion in his novel The Scarlet Letter by placing contradictions at the heart of his art. The female protagonist, Hester Prynne, bears the societal burdens of adultery as she wears the scarlet letter â€Å"A. † Because of her suffering and struggle to find her place in society, Hester Prynne eventually receives redemption. However, Hester’s crime alters the lives of two others: Minister Dimmesdale and the physician Chillingworth, who both seek salvation, and by the end of the novel, all three redeem themselves. Nonetheless, the three would not have redeemed themselves had they not sinned. Through the contradictions of the true Christian model and his characters’ personalities, Hawthorne reveals that redemption is still possible even after one falls. Nathaniel Hawthorne paradoxically depicts Hester Prynne as the Christian model even though she is considered immoral. In Christian theology, Jesus is the physical representation of God and exemplifies the characteristics needed to attain salvation, so the way one could tel... ...this literary art to offer hope to the reader that redemption can be achieved after sin, and he effectively conveys this message through the contradictions of the Christian model and the personalities of his characters. In both The Scarlet Letter and The Minister’s Black Veil, Hawthorne explores isolation from society and connection to society by original sin through vagaries in religious characters, such as Dimmesdale and the minister Mr. Hooper. Through this paradox and those in his novel, Hawthorne reveals that life and human nature are paradoxes, for a person must struggle and face disappointment before he or she can truly find success and happiness. Moreover, a person can only redeem himself by understanding the consequences of sin through experience, and through these contradictions in his art, Hawthorne inspires his readers to find clarity from confusion.

My Teaching Philosophy Statement :: Educational Philosophy

My Philosophy on Education As an education major at State College, I’ve decided to become a teacher for several reasons. As I progressed through elementary, middle, and high school, many of my teachers were great role models for me. This has inspired me to become a role model for someone in the near future. My love for science and math has also influenced my desire to teach and make a difference in a child’s life. I want to teach students the subjects that I love so much. I want the feeling that I helped a child accomplish or learn something they couldn’t understand. One of the main reasons I want to become an educator is because I feel education has really lost teachers who truly love teaching and those who truly love teaching and those who have the desire to make a difference. I feel I can really help make a difference in the education world and bring back the love to teach. My placement teachers and the teachers I have had throughout my life have definitely influenced my philosophy on education. Although my beliefs concerning education aren’t set in stone, I believe I have more of an Eclectic view on education. My beliefs tend to come from many of the different philosophies rather than one sole philosophy. One of the philosophical approaches I will take during my educational career is Perennialism. This is the traditional and conservative view, and its followers consider school to be an institution designed solely to develop students’ intellect. Perennialists generally follow the beliefs of Aristotle. The perennialist teacher must be a good reader and writer and encourage students to improve both of these skills. Three primary approaches to learning are stresses: didactic teaching of concepts such as, the operations and uses of mathematics; coaching of skills; and seminars in which various topics are discussed in depth t hrough the Socratic method. Along side of Perennialism, I will use Behaviorism. This will allow me to set rules and regulations to better prepare my students. This will benefit them because they will always be aware of circumstances of their behavior.

Coroprate Restructuring

Restructuring also conveys the certain information of the business decision to another party. It also can be because of poor performance, hence restructuring loud pull out the business entity from the parent company and make it a standalone company. Most occasions, restructuring is to correct the poor strategic decisions made in the past. The company we are going to talk about is â€Å"Sony† it is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation. Its diversified business is primarily focused on electronics, games, entertainment and financial services sectors.The first form of restructuring include divestitures, it is the sale of a business segment to another party. Sony has decided to sell off its AVIVA line of PC's in a move that effectively takes the Japan based company out of the PC market. This is a result of Sonny's poor sales performance, by doing this the organization get rid of a business entity that was pulling them down and it provides a sharper focus for the manage ment. Hence their shares would be increased as their drop their poor performance sector.Divestitures may arise due to negative synergy arising from poor decisions on past acquisition on poor decisions made during periods of high growth. Much evidence seems to show generally that by announcement of selling companies results in a positive share prices response. Spin off has been done recently by Sony as they have detached a business entity with TTS own assets and liability. It allows the management to focus on their core business. What it does is they debut independent company by detaching part of a parent company's assets and operations.They are trying to spin off their Titration TV. This is because of strong competition from both locally and internationally with Phillips and Samsung as their strong competitors. It allows the shareholders to have shares in both companies. The next method would be Carving Out. This method is very similar Spin off, with the difference being a very tech nical one which is the carving out of shares of the new many is offered to the public. It leads to lower premiums and higher gains for the buyers and for the sellers.They increase the likelihood of successfully closing the deal. Capturing these advantages would require them to look beyond the financial to understand the challenges ahead associated with the change. The carved out company trades as an independent company. Government owned company to private investors. The reason for prevarication is to increase efficiency, individual share ownerships and revenue for the government. In Japan, the Japan Post was a government owned corporation in Japan existed from 003 to 2007.It has over 400,000 employees throughout Japan was the nation's largest employer. As being a government-owned corporation, would allow more efficient and flexible use of the company's funds that would help revivalist Japan's economy, which was recovering from recessions in 1991. Prevarication also prevents corrupti on and patronage. This can be accomplished by the sale or lease. It can be accomplished by the government selling 100% of an enterprise, or selling 51%, or even by selling a minority stake as long as the private sector is given full managerial control.Another major step in restructuring is the leveraged buyout or leveraged restructuring, it would mean the takeover of a company using the acquired firm's assets and cash flow to obtain financing. These transactions are done by conglomerates selling off an unwanted subsidiary to private investors. Lobos also have been financed with high-yield debt or Junk Bonds and have also been done with the interest rate capped at a fixed level and interest costs above the cap added to the principal. For commercial banks, Lobos are attractive because these financing have large up-front fees.They also fill the gap in corporate lending created when large corporations begin using commercial paper and corporate bonds in place of bank loans. Sony used thi s method to acquire Metro-Golden-Mayer on September 23, 2004 which is a good deal for the company as a report suggests that they may reach $1 million to $million in 2005. Private Equity of firms or funds is to raise money from investors to invest the money in privately held companies. The sale of AVIVA to a local private equity fund after several strategic buyers balked at taking on the personal computer business.PC sales have been hurt globally by the growing sales of tablet devices. Worldwide shipments have fallen by 13. 5 per cent over the past two years. Private equity firms will then try to improve the financial results and prospects of the company in the hope of reselling the company to another firm or cashing out via an PIP. In short with the sale of AVIVA too private company, Sony is able to use the fund to focus more on their primary core business as they were having problems with competing with personal computers overseas.However the most common method in restructuring is the laying off of workers. As Japan has lots of financial crisis the biggest lay off happen when they offload its PC business and its plans to lay off 5,000 workers by March 2015. This is very common around the world. This is to conscious use of permanent personnel reduction in an attempt to improve management as one of the preferred routes to turning around declining organization by cutting cost and improving organizational performance as a form to cutting cost.When budget is tightened, many managers will start to cut the training budget thinking that training is a luxury it would make their employees more marketable Hereford leaves the company for the better Jobs. However the layoff of workers is made harder with restrictions of the country. Mergers today are the survival of the fittest. Sony Mobile Communications ABA formerly known as Sony Ericson Mobile ABA. Telecommunications equipment company Ericson under the name of Sony Ericson.Ericson, which had been in the mobile phone ma rket for decades, and was the world's third largest cellular telephone handset marker was struggling with huge losses. This was mainly due to this fire and its inability to produce cheaper phones eke Monika hence the merger with Sony in 2001. Restructuring deals the organization to maintain its competitiveness in an evolving consumer electronics market. In order for Sony to maintains its position as a leader in the electronics industry pushing the limits of innovation with products and experiences exclusive to Sony.They would have to conduct and economic model of the processes of the organization, to give a detailed view of where and the value is created to ensure that resources can be funded to different part of the organization. It allows the organization like Sony to achieve market focus, invent new businesses and change the rules of competition through technology via breakthrough. These are steps to implement to increase market share in organization. A company would be stagnant unless they introduce new market or enhanced strategies to combat competition or to introduce themselves to reach new market.The need to increase asset base may lead to mergers. This will improve the capital of the organization, acquisitions can help an organization by ward off competition. Organizational leaders often find it necessary to change how their units operate for seasons like changing unit priorities, initiating new programs. A successful organizational requires careful advance preparation and planning that addresses programmatic needs, support services required to advance organizational goals and effective workforce planning and communication.Proper communication is very important when it comes to corporate restructuring, the workers should know their limitations and their options. It is very important for the company to follow the guidelines set by the governing country to minimize the PASTEL during their pursuit of corporate restructuring process. The results from the essay have revealed that there has been significant change in profitability post restructuring program.Like Sony, many companies have responded favorably that the corporate restructuring have helped the firms to have an increase in their profitability to make their shareholders happy. Overall the analysis has indicated that Sony have successfully implemented restructuring program. It is suggested that companies at the core level should identify the problems and accordingly plan for restructuring of the required processes for achieving success so hat they can enhance shareholder's value like implement the different processes Sony have implemented.

African American Slavery Essay

This paper intends to discuss the daily life of African American slaves in the nineteenth century. The first Africans landed in 1619 in Jamestown, Virginia. By this time numerous accounts of slave life were published. The origins of slavery in the United States can be traced to colonial America where there was an abundance of agricultural land but not enough labor. In responding to that, this paper will also discuss, first, the importance slavery played on the economic and political development of the United States; second it will explain the daily life of African American slaves; and lastly defending that slavery is not â€Å"a positive good†. In conclusion I will explain what led me to this topic, why this subject is important to world history and how it’s changed my perception. To begin with the most fundamental fact: Slaves were not things. Whatever the law said, they were in reality human beings. A plow could not be evasive at work tasks, or burn down the barn, or escape – nor would it bleed when whipped, or develop for self-protection an elaborate courteous politeness when dealing with a master. An indicate complex of informal customs and â€Å"rights† sprang up because the slave was a person†. The institution of slavery has played an important part in the economic and political development of the United States since colonial times. North America developed race-based plantation slavery. The colonization of North America could not of formed without the use African slaves. The demand for workers increased due to the tobacco cultivation. Unlike indentured servants, African slaves were not protected by the English common law. They could never be free, and their kids would be born into slavery. The English saw that African slaves were accustomed to heavy agriculture labor and unlike the Indians they were able to surpass various diseases that were spreading in Europe. â€Å"As the value of African workers increased the gradually ceased to be treated at indentured servants. First they became â€Å"servants for life,† and then subject of ever more elaborate â€Å"slave codes† the defined their legal position in detailed ways†¦.. By the end of the seventeenth century the distinction between black slaves and white servants had become sharply defined: Servants were humans; slaves were things†. As colonies began to develop, the need for labor increased. Tobacco became one of the important crops in the new colonies. Western Europeans could not do the work alone so African slaves were brought to the new colonies to cultivate and care for the crops. Slaves became a crucial part in the development of the United States. In Virginia, slaves were considered the center of the economic process and that instead of a â€Å"society with slaves†; it became a â€Å"slave society. † â€Å"Slavery was the foundation of Virginia’s agricultural system and essential to its economic viability. Initially, planters bought slaves primarily to raise tobacco for export. By the last quarter of the 18th century, wealthy Virginia farmers were using slave labor in a diversified agricultural regime. Enslaved African Americans also worked as skilled tradesmen in the countryside and in the capital city of Williamsburg. Many also served as domestics in the households of wealthier white Virginians. † Slaves became essential in the growth of the economy. Slave life was not easy. African slaves lived under a wide variety of circumstances, such as; household servants, wagon driver, iron foundry worker, and skilled artisan. The majority of African slaves worked as farm laborers; growing cotton, tobacco, rice and other products. Some worked in large plantations or farms alongside their masters. Slaves worked from sunset to sunrise. Their masters kept a close eye on them. At night they had a curfew in their cabins, which was randomly inspected to ensure they didn’t escape. They had no right to leave their home without the permission of their master. African Americans come from a strong tradition of extended families, which was taken away from them when sold into slavery. Mothers and their children were separated from one another. The slave family was the most important institution for African Americans. Families, though oftentimes broken up, provided a foundation that prevented slaves from becoming completely demoralized. Most importantly, families provided slaves with a sense of community, not simply victimized individuals of oppression. â€Å"The family as a functional entity was outlawed and permitted to exist only when it benefited the slave-master. Maintenance of the slave family as a family unit benefited the slave-owners only when, and to the extent that such unions created new slaved could be exploited†. Slave owners often forcibly coupled men and women with the goal to produce healthy child slaves. â€Å"When you married, you had to jump over a broom three times†. Women symbols no less then men. â€Å"African slave woman: in the living quarters, the major responsibilities â€Å"naturally† fell to her. It was the woman who was charged with keeping the â€Å"home in order†. This role was dictated by the male supremacist ideology of white society in America; it was also woven into patriarchal traditions of Africa. As her biological destiny, the woman bore the fruits of procreation; as her social destiny, she cooked, sewed, washed, cleaned house, raised the children. Traditionally the labor of females, domestic work is supposed to complement and confirm their inferiority. † Woman were also alongside the men, from sun up to sun down. The start of their day begin with a bell ringing to wake them up at four o’clock in the morning and they are given a half an hour to get ready. Both men and woman work together, and the woman must work as steadily as the men and perform the same tasks as the men. Woman slaves who were pregnant were treated with no greater compassion and with no less severity than her man. Slave owners had a reserved punishment for woman that were pregnant; â€Å"She is compelled to lie down over a hole made to receive her corpulency, and is flogged with the whip, or beat with a paddle, which has hoes in it; at every stroke comes a blister†. In order for a black woman to function as a slave, they needed to annul themselves from being a woman and equal themselves to men. Slaves were treated with barbarous inhumanity. They often had to wear iron collars around their necks, drag heavy chains and weights at their feet while working in the fields to prevent runaways. Sometimes slave owners put them in stocks all day with gags in their mouths, causing their teeth to break off. Each day they were severely punished with whips. Slaves were tortured for the entertainment of their masters, they would get pepper rubbed into their cuts, burnt and beaten naked. The life African American slaves lived was cruel, although in time many were able to create a tolerable life and community for themselves. Virtually no one today defends slavery as a â€Å"positive good†. Slavery is evil. Today many historians have a controversy determining just what life was like under slavery. It is true that slavery brought riches to the port cities of Boston, New York, Charleston, and others. The wealth of America could not of been successful without the institution of slavery. The production of cotton does not just depend on soil or its climate but on the existence of domestic slavery. â€Å"Slavery is alike that sin and the shame of he American people†. Men, woman and children were robbed of their life, and there is no good in that. â€Å"This system is one of robbery and cruel wrong, from beginning to end†. This paper discussed the daily life of African American slaves in the nineteenth century. Along with that topic it explained the origins of slavery and its importance it played in the economic and political growth of the United States. From my research I learned how cruel and degrading the daily lives of African American slaves were. They were tormented and overworked. Their whole life was controlled by a man they called â€Å"master†. Women were treated with no greater compassion, they worked side by side with their men, and children who were born into slavery became slaves for life. I came upon this topic after taking a course called Building Community Through Diversity at Notre Dame de Namur this past semester. I became very interested in learning about slavery, white power, privilege, and race. To help me illuminate my topic I used both books and internet sources. It is important that everyone is educated about slavery, because never want history to repeat itself again. The institution of slavery was not a good thing but without institution of slavery the United States wouldn’t of been so rich in agriculture. African slaves played a major role in the growth of the United States, without the institution of slavery; tobacco, cotton and many other plantations would not of made nearly the amount it has done. In conclusion, the wealth of our nation bore with the institution of slavery.