Law Enforcement Agencies Essay Example for Free

Law Enforcement Agencies Essay Identify three federal law enforcement agencies. Roles and responsibilities and comparison of local and state law enforcement duties, functions, and their two main differences. The duties, functions, and responsibilities of Local Law Enforcement agencies are as follows: They are required to arrest law violators, perform routine patrol, investigates crimes, enforce traffic laws (including parking violations), provide crowd and traffic control for example parades and other huge public events. Today they also have duties such as: Performing the duties of coroners, tax assessors, tax collectors, keepers of county jails, court attendants, and executors of criminal and civil processes, as well as law enforcement officers. The duties, functions, and responsibilities of State Police Agencies are as follows: patrol small towns and state highways, regulate traffic, and have the primary responsibility to enforce some state laws. They also carry out many duties for local police agencies, such as the managing of state training academies, criminal identification systems, and crime laboratories. Some of the differences between the state and the local police are as follows: State police cooperates with an assortment of law enforcement agencies such as local police, the highway patrol, and park or forest rangers. Really the differences between a sheriff and a police officer vary slightly from state to state, which sometimes lead to confusion. Three federal law enforcement agencies are: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Administration or Agency (DEA), and the Alcohol Tobacco Firearms (ATF). â€Å"The FBI is a threat-based, intelligence driven national security organization, their principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Justice and a full member of the U.S. Intelligence Community,†(FBI 2010). These agents are â€Å"dedicated men and women of the DEA are working hard to investigate and arrest the traffickers of the dangerous drugs.† These agents also help keep our schools and neighborhoods safe and secure. The â€Å"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) seeks to reduce alcohol smuggling and contraband cigarette trafficking activity, divest criminal and terrorist organizations of monies derived from this illicit activity and significantly reduce tax revenue losses to the States,† (ATF 2010). These agents are also reducing violent crime, and enforcing the Federal explosives laws and regulations. These agents are working to enforce Federal firearms laws and regulations.  All these agents whether local, state or federal work together to protect the United Sates residents from all criminals activities.

Green supply chain management and logistics

Green supply chain management and logistics It has been rising in alertness of the surrounds in the last little decades. Other persons are attentive of the worlds environmental attempt such as overall temperate, poisonous import meeting, and falling in non-replenish property. The management has out movement to carry this problem to people. A number of organization react to this by relate green values to their rumba company, such as using green friendly raw material, reducing the usage of gasoline power, and using the recycle allow for covering. The green principle was complete to much section within society, including supply chain. Green supply chain management (GSCM) was rising in the last little period. This idea covers every stage in industrialized from the first to the last step of life cycle, i.e. starting product plan to recycle. Not just manufacturing, but GSCM can also be used to other business sector such as management, culture and services. The reason of this file was to describe the crash of green to the supply chain management. It started with the meaning of GSCM to the company in different levels or what factor that power the company to agree the GSCM. This factor can be regard as by different drive such as management, whole market, industry, competitor, and inside the company. Since GSCM can be convenient to a variety of areas within the company, this paper also talks about the performance of GSCM to several areas. In addition, some examples of GSCM submission were recognized to support the commencement. Introduction At the current time, many companies have in progress to accept main attempt just before launch Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) initiatives (Srivastava, 2008; Zhu et al., 2007). The concept of GSCM include green initiative in inbound logistics which counting green purchasing, eco-design, production, outbound logistics which counting reverse logistics. These initiatives engage supplies suppliers, service supplier, vendor, distributors and end users that successful mutually to decrease or get rid of poor green impact of their concert (Vachon and Klassen, 2006). The logistics industry manages the flows of goods, services and in order across consumers and supplier allowing the incorporation of supply chains in which victory in incorporate worldwide supply chains starts with the capacity of firm to move goods across boundaries swiftly, regularly and sensibly. An aggressive and capable logistics sector is central for all economy and is a vital element of do business. So, logistics management plays an important role in GSCM. This is support by Skjoett-Larsen in which he claim that with the fast development of the GSCM, the sense of green organization for the logistics industry has greater than before very much. then, the review done by Capgemini Press discharge show that the greening of the supply chain will have an increasing speak to on in logistics presentation such as network plan, transfer modes used, warehousing, collection of paraphernalia, business process, behaviours and sense of balance. so far, few company swiftness green ability as a make a choice part when choose 3rd celebrations Logistics (3PL) partner in which 46% of respondents thought that the result of supply chain operation on the surroundings was a issue alert when select 3PL (Capgemini Press Release). In order to take produce and services to consumers more environmentally, so, logistics service donor need to talk to extra care on green issue (Murphy and Poist, 2003; Sarkis et al., 2004). For example, United Parcel Service (UPS), a universal logistics service supplier uses route development software and an internet related organization in their logistics service procedure to reduce the release of greenhouse gas as well as to keep oil expenditure (Lin and Ho, 2008). incorporate green innovation into logistics armed is good-looking a significant issue for the logistic urban. Examples of Green Logistics Green transportation: The green transport refers to build up a type of oil with the smallest total pollution as the power to try to put into rehearsal the multi-transportation and part mode. Accurately, repair up the transport can in this way think the litter, inferior the price and lift the part level. Green storage: The green storage space refers to endorsement the urban development in the extension of goods-storing to keep the manpower fee, functioning the environmentally friendly goods to sterilize the storage space goods, receipt the process of centralized-stock to reduce the radicalization to the vicinity and reduce the poor result of the warehousing on the rest. Green packing: The green pack up refers to a type of product pack up that will not cause the green litter. The pack equipment should save the property and decrease the packing dismiss also, it is believed to be used and renew after use as well as live in little ground while bury in tell to be rotten only. Reverse logistics: The reverse logistics is dissimilar to the recognized supply chain, it assign to practically removal or recuperating the price by growth, managing and dominant the raw material, centre stock, final goods and relative in order starting customer put to start directly. Green innovation: The green development refers to recital the improvement such as information and statement knowledge, natural knowledge, monitor technology and a combination of correct technologies in the succession of logistics management. The request of the greater innovation enables the project to get better green management, strongly. However, about to Lin et al. (2009), green innovation is the build up more linked technology with study innovative knowledge by training and educating the employees to suit knowledge employees. These learn but, will only talk to the subject of green innovation in logistics as a centre of this study. It is plan that a green improvement in logistics is a excellent area of study and apply that have the promising to provide imperative income to the firm and the culture. Factors influencing to Introduce Green Supply Management Rapid changes in the business situation, including increased internationalisation and worldwide competition, but also social and environmental trends, such as climate change, population growth and aging, wealth accumulation and distribution, nutrition, health and education, affect companies supply chains in various ways, resulting in new and evolving desires on supply chain design. famous features of chief green supply chains comprise an accent on life cycle appraisal, asset competence, and waste reduction and service innovation and recycling. execute successfully, GrSCM stimulates product and service innovation, improve asset deployment, and deepens customer relationships and service levels through a shared focus on reducing misuse and price. Some examples to show the impact on supply chains Wal-Mart, which in 2005 launch a sweeping business sustainability strategy, recently set the goal of a 5% decrease in packaging by 2013. The retail giant expect the cut in packaging will save 667,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from incoming the impression. Moreover, the company anticipate $3.4 billion in direct savings and roughly $11 billion in savings diagonally the supply chain; Nestlà © employs an ongoing, company-wide sustainability program that has generate significant environmental and financial profit. The company has apply the plan to its use of product packaging by initiate an incorporated advance that favours source decrease, re-use, recycling, and energy recovery. In exacting, the companys packaging material savings between 1991 and 2006 led to $510 million in savings, worldwide, according to Nestlà ©s corporate website; Heineken committed to reduce fuel and electricity use through its Aware of Energy program. The company said in its 2006 sustainability story that it designed to reduce fuel and electricity costs by 15% between 2002 and 2010. At the time of the Diamond report, Heineken had achieved savings of 6%-even after the achievement of new breweries. Benefit of GSCM Speaking of greening the supply chain, one might think only banning toxic chemical matter usages or reducing release or waste to the situation. However, it is much more than just a plain reducing usage and litter. Accordingly, the profits are not limited only less poisonous consuming or less waste. The GSCM principle can be apply to all departments in the organization. The effect of GSCM expand to all area, both physically and imperceptibly. Some studies mention benefits of adopt GSCM, such as (Stevels, 2002). He established the benefits of GSCM to dissimilar roles of supply chain including environment and society in terms of different categories: material, immaterial, and sensation. For material, GSCM helps lower environmental load for environment, minor cost prices for supplier, lower cost for producer, lower cost of rights for customer, and less consumption of income for society. In terms of irrelevant, GSCM helps overcoming bigotry and doubt for environment, less rejects for supplier, easier to manufacture for producer, expediency and fun for customer, and better agreement for society. For passion, GSCM helps motivation of stakeholder for environment, better figure for supplier and producer, feel good and quality of life for customer, and make industry on the right path for society. He also provides example of company that were successfully adopt GSCM. In (Duber-Smith, 2005), he identified ten reasons that the company should accept the green: aim marketing, sustainability of resources, lowered costs/increased efficiency, product demarcation and competitive benefit, reasonable and supply chain pressures, adapt to directive and reducing risk, brand character, return on asset, employee morale, and the moral necessary. Implementation of Green From product lifecycle idea, the cycle starts at the conniving of product. According to (Srivastara, 2007), literatures connected to green design underline both environmentally mindful design and life cycle assessment. In designing a product, the designing team can alter the raw materials or substances used in the manufacturing to be less poisonous, more environmental gracious. Some terminologies are related to design for green such as design for environment or EcoDesign. An paradigm of green product is cross car. Due to the rising demand and falling amount of fuel, automobile manufacturers needed to redesign the engine that consumes no or less gas. Hybrid car has been initial from day to day. One article about automobile design is (McAuley, 2003), he discuss the green design of automobile, which tend to change to higher lightweight materials and less materials in vehicle design. In designing a product, the manufacturing company needs a high level of support with their suppliers. An example for the research on supplier-manufacturer cooperation in EcoDesign is (Stevels, 2002). He also offered two examples of successful green supply programme between manufacturer and suppliers. In manufacturing process, the company can be relevant green by several methods to reduce the energy and resource expenditure. This is where recycle and recycling are referred. Several papers provided green practices such as (Duber-Smith, 2005). He suggested some practices including reducing energy use, recycle and reuse, using environmental and harmless materials, minimize harmful emission, and minimize or remove waste. In a Chinese sugar manufacturer, Guitang Group can reduce the wastes and improve their financial performance by using waste from the upstream as raw materials for downstream production (Zhu Cote, integrate Green Supply Chain into An developing Eco-Industril Development: A Case Study of the Guitang Group, 2004). Further than design and manufacturing, other department in an organization are concerned with the green. Purchasing could become an main agent for change regarding ecological initiatives in the supply chain (Preuss, 2001). In (Walton, 1998) article, he conducted a qualitative study to survey the main areas for change to increase purchasings impact on situation. As mentioned prior, not only manufacturer, other supply chain roles got impact from GSCM also. For a largest dealer in the U.S., Wal-Mart has an interesting story of adopting GSCM to their organization. In October 2005, Wal-Mart CEO committed the company to 3 goals: to be supplied 100% by renewable energy; to make zero waste; and to sell products that maintain Wal-Marts resources and the situation, and Wal-Mart was launching a business sustainability strategy to considerably reduce the companys impact on the global environment and become the most competitive and innovative company in the world (Plambeck, 2007). In this study, she provide 8 practices occupied with 14 network partner. Barriers of Applying GSCM In (Zhu Cote, Integrating Green Supply Chain into An Embryonic Eco-Industril Development: A Case Study of the Guitang Group, 2004), they studied the addition of green supply in sugar industry. They mention three barriers: maintaining close relations with their main suppliers, obtain a larger market share through opposition with other market share through opposition with other familial sugar refineries by improving product quality and reducing costs, and ensuring the sustainability of their operations including reducing the environmental impact. At the same times, there are some research studied barriers of applying GSCM from suppliers perception. An example of suppliers barrier is (Wycherley, 1999), he conducted a qualitative study on the suppliers barriers of GSCM performance for an environmental-friendly figure products like the Body Shop. Successful Stories Several studies were tentative study about a company succeed in apply GSCM, various in dissimilar industry such as electronics, automobile, furniture, and packaging. An example of Electronics Company is Advanced Micro plans. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD ) wanted to be renowned as a sustainable organization. They required to better mage the risk of a would-be supply chain and work jointly with suppliers to identify option materials and gear to reduce environmental impact. Moreover, they were drove by their customers, investor, and non-governmental organization groups superficially (Trowbridge, 2001). In packaging Industry, results from review showed that green supply chain practice were absolutely related to operational concert. Also, the green supply chain practices were moving the portion of resources amongst 3 types of environmental technologies: pollution anticipation, pollution manages, and management system (Vachon, 2003). Conclusion Studies stress the force on supply chain design to supply products that are environmentally friendly in their source, production, release, usage and disposal. Not just for advertising purposes or green washing. While companies sometimes limit innovation to remote flagship products, benefit their reputation by association, the real brave is to normal them across active product range. Greening the supply chain is an industry issue that will only gain substance over the years to come. Utilising network design, optimisation and planning systems, which include, for instance, carbon footprint consideration, but also source, procurement and end-of-life, will therefore be a vital collaborator in greening the supply chain and provide supply chain executive with a transparent view of the whole supply chain. Although sustainability programs may vary by industry, the essential needs for intelligibility, communication and association are alike.

Developing Leadership Skills Using The Semco Case Study

Developing Leadership Skills Using The Semco Case Study Purpose of the report: The purpose of this report is to understand the relationship between Strategic Management and Leadership . The different Leadership styles used for identifying organisationss strategic decisions, the impact of the leadership theories on the organisatiton and the methods of developing leadership skills using the SEMCO case study . Introduction: In 1982, Ricardo Semler took control of Semler Company, a business founded and, until then, managed by his father, Antonio Curt Semler. At that time, the companys organizational structure, was as such of treating employees in a fatherly manner, especially by providing for their needs without giving them rights or responsibilities. A pyramidal hierarchy led by an autocratic leader. Then, Ricardo took over the relatively small manufacturing company from his father . And by renaming the company as SEMCO , eliminated all clerical positions,and implemented an insistent product diversification policy. Most observers predicted that these actions would wipe out the company. Leadership Styles: Leadership style is an approach of implementing plans, providing directions, and motivating people working towards the organisation. A leaders must be able to acquire certain strategies and must follow a certain style of leadership which suits the situation of the organisation. The following are the leadership style followed by Ricardo Semler and their evidence : Authoritarian Leadership (Autocratic): Authoritarian leaders, also known as  autocratic leader, provide clear outlook for what needs to be done, how it should be done, and when it should be done. These types of leaders take their decision on their own with little or no help from their subordinates or followers. There is also a clear distribution between the leader and the followers. The analysts found that decision making was less creative under authoritarian leadership. Authoritarian leadership is best applied to situations where there is little time for group decision making for a possible outcome or where the leader is the most knowledgeable member of the group. (Lewin et. al, 1939). While Ricardo Semler was in law school, in 1980s,his father Antonio Curt Semler decided to make Ricardo the president and then shortly left him for a long Europe vacation, saying only, Do what you need to do. When the senior executives of SEMCO insisted on waiting out the declining shipping industry, Ricardo decided to fire 60% of the top managers in a single afternoon. The departing executives wanted to return and while the frightened customers demanded their return, but Ricardo was determined and remained firm. Ricardo could not afford liquidation taking place in the company . Participative Leadership (Democratic): The democratic leadership style or participative leadership is a very open and its characterized style by having power and authority that is given equally among colleague of running a team. Ideas move freely and are discussed openly amongst the group. And discussion is relatively free-flowing. (Lewin et. al, 1939). SEMCO seeks the best by trusting their employees and to motivate them to apply their creativity in service of the whole enterprise. And to make some important decision related to the flow of work, which also includes the selection and election of their bosses. Employees are given a chance to express their feelings regarding the decision making process. Profit sharing also plays an important role in the organisation , which leads to very low employee turnover , and active involvement of all the employees. Employees are given a chance to select their managers which brings into good working condition in the organisation. Delegative Leadership (Laissez-Faire): In this leadership style the leader offers little or no guidance to the member of his team and leaves the decision making process on the team members, but the leader is responsible for the decisions made by his sub-ordinates. The leader allows the employees to take decisions if they can evaluate the condition and relies how the problem could be solved. (Lewin et. al, 1939). SEMCO encourages its employees to choose what, when and where they want to do it complete freedom is given to the employees for the task performance . About 3000 SEMCO employees set their own working hours and their salaries. Their supervisors are hired and reviwed by the subordinates. If the employees had spent Saturday afternoon in the office then they are encouraged to spent their Monday morning at the beach. There is no organisational chart as such in the organisation, no corporate value statement, no 5 year plan is implemented as most of the organisation does. The employees are not required to follow any dress code. There are no written rules or policy statements, as SEMCO is quite flexible. Impact of Leadership Styles: As Ricardo Semler followed the above mentioned leadership styles, the following are the impacts of these style on SEMCOs strategic decisions: The company has become more consistent and responsible. The turnover of the company had gone from $4million to $160million. Which is also considered as a highest growth. The annual sales had increased upto 24%. In 1982, there were just 90 employees working in the company, and by the year 2003 it went upto 3000 employees working for SEMCO. The overall staff strength has increased due to which the companys profit has increased. SEMCO has diversified into different business unit. The company has generated balance between short-term and long-term goals. The products are offered at fair prices. Customers are provided by variety of products and with a differentiated service styles. It had brought innovation and creativity. As it encourages every employees participation and the decisions are imposed from top-down management, good outcomes are brought due to motivated employees. 2. Strategic Management and Leadership Theories: Strategic management  is used to establish a mission, values, vision, goals, objectives, roles and responsibilities of any organisation. There are various theories to identify and to formulate the above mentioned points for an organisation: Henry Fayol Taylor Peter Drucker Mintzberg Functions of Management Scienticfic Management Techniques Five forces Roles Planning Establishing Goals Setting Objectives Informarion seeker, maintain inter personel contacts Forward information to others Spokesperson Organising Optimum use of resourses for meeting goals Organising the task Motivates and direct the employees Maintain informational links . Commanding Reward system for meeting goals Motivating employees New projects are initiated, identifying business developing areas Decisions are taken together during crisis Resources allocator who decides who gets the schedule, budget and priorities. Negotiator who represents department during negotiations with unions and suppliers. Co-ordinating Measurement of good oblectives Controlling Developing skills by giving training Trait Theories: In Trait theories people become heir to certain qualities and traits which makes them better suited for leadership. Trait theories often categorize soem behavioral characteristics shared by leaders. Contingency Theories: According to the contingency theory no leadership is best suited for all the situation. It depends on the variables which are related to the environment the determines what particular leadership suits the situation. Situational Theories: In Situational theories the leaders choose the best possible action based upon various situations i.e. depending upon the types of situation. There may be different leadership styles suited for different decision making. Behavioural Theories: In Behavioural leadership theory the actions of the leaders are not Focussed on what they are from their mental qualities or internal states as the leaders are not made but they are born leaders. Participative Theories: In this type of leadership all the employees are encouraged to contribute their input as a part of the decision making team for an organisation. The leader also retains the right to allow inputs of others. Great Man Theories: As great leaders are born and not made, this theory portray thar great leaders are mythic, heroic and who are always designed to bring up leadership when needed. Management theories(Transactional): Transactional theories are based upon the system of rewards or punishments. For instance when the employees of an organisation are successful they are rewarded, and on the other had if the employees of the organisation fail , they are punished at the same time. Relationship Theories(Transformational): Transformational theories focus upon inter personal relationship between the leaders and followers. These types of leaders help the group members to be inspired and get them know the importance. These leaders are focused on group performance , but at the same time these leaders also expect that each employees should fulfil their own potential. 2.1 Link between Leadership Theories: The Strategic Management and Leadership theories can be linked by using Mckinseys 7-s Frame work. The McKinsey 7-s frame work model involves 7 interrelated factors which are further categorized as hard element and soft element. Hard elements are easy to identify or define the managements as it is related to the Managers which includes Strategy, Structure and System. Whereas Soft elements can be identified or defined as these are related to the Leaders which includes Shared values, Skills, Style and Staff. Strategy:  It is a plan of action or a widespread plan to help create a competitive advantage which also involves the way of maintaining this advantage. Structure: It is a basic hierarchy of an organisation which helps to understand who is responsible for what and who is suppose to answer to whom. Systems:It includes the daily activities and procedures of the employees who are assigned for task performance in the organisation. Shared Values:  These values are considered as the core values of the organisational, mostly ethical values. Style:  These are the style adopted by a leader in an organisation. Staff:  These are the members of the organisation who are categorized according to their capabilities.   Skills:  This helps in identifying the basic skills each employees possess in the organisation for performing different tasks. 2.2 Impact of Leadership Theories on Organisational and Leadership Strategy:

The Life Journey of an Artist :: Personal Narrative, Autobiographical Essay

The Life Journey of an Artist Throughout history the role of the artist has changed greatly. Looking through the annals of Art History, the time that we are in now is very different than any other. A profession that has always been looked at as just that, a profession, has become more of a life mission, of sorts. Very gradually the artist began working for his or her own benefit instead of for a benefactor or commission. Is this a good change or a bad one? Is this the inevitable evolution of art? Is life as an artist in this society worth the effort? These question are what face many young people like myself. Someone once said to me "mindless programmable beings the choices would be easy. We would all be doctors and lawyers. Those are obviously the most easily attained and most rewarded in our society. Going to college for medical or law for a few years seems to predestine you for, if nothing else, a fairly large paycheck and a nice house in the suburbs. The culmination of the American dream. So why, one would ask would anyone choose to be an (gasp!) artist? This is the dilemma that most art students face today. Should they be true to their personal and artistic values or should they assure their the ability to survive in a capitalist American society. A profession that, throughout history, has been considered that of an artisan, has changed. Artist were once respected for their talent and rewarded for their accomplishments. The artists of yesteryear were content to be commissioned to showcase their patron's visions. An artist who bows to a patron today is considered an artistic whore. They are said to not be true to themselves or their profession. People like designers and performing artists thus face a problem. In the artistic community they are not doing anything of value because they are buying into the system. But in the rest of the world they are grouped into 'artist' for their talents. And so they are left to float in the middle. But the point stands that they have a better chance of attaining the great American dream of happiness through monetary accomplishments. The artist who does not take into account the system in which we live, however does not have as good of a chance. Of course there are artists who have been true to themselves and are considered successes in our society.

Evolution: Science and Religion Essay -- essays research papers fc

Evolution: Science and Religion In 1895 Charles Darwin published a book describing his theory of evolution, and his theory of the natural selection process. This theory caused much uproar in the religious community because Darwin’s theory went against the story of creation portrayed in the Holy Bible. His theory claimed that all life currently in place had evolved and adapted from a single organism in the beginning. Over time and by process of natural selection only the dominant species were left over while the other, less dominant species, went extinct. His theory, backed by scientific analysis, had dismissed the idea of a single deity creating all life on Earth. It is not like Darwin had a personal agenda against religion or anything, but he did create what would become the main evidence used by atheists to disprove the Bible. Now his theory is still theory, and is yet to be proven as a fact, but is still believed by much of the scientific society as a fact. The struggle between the religious and the athei stic will rage for many years, but where the battle will cause the most damage is in the American school system. The thesis of this paper is, teachers must be required to teach evolution; which is already in place in the American school system, but teachers cannot be allowed to teach evolution as a fact, or evidence disproving the existence of a god. On top of all of that, they must as well allow the expression of opposing viewpoints. In the American school system there is a constant separation of Church and State. This separation is undisputedly good for keeping the civil rights of students in order. By not allowing the pressures of church in schools, people of power cannot abuse their power for religious preferences. Richard W. Garnett wrote in an article, â€Å"†¦the ‘separation of church and state’ is crucial to any attractive vision of religious freedom (Garnett)†. Teaching children unproven belief as a fact is just as bad as the forcing of religious beliefs on a student. In the end teachers must learn the importance of teaching evolutionary theories as theory only, and never as actual fact.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The clash of creationism and evolution has begun once again. On one side sits the Christians and believers of the Holy Bible as a literal piece of history; on the other side sits scientists who dismantle any belief in any sort of God. The... ...whether you believe in a deity, or none at all; it will require some faith on your part (Johnson).† Works Cited Behe, Michael J. â€Å"The Concept of Gradual Evolution is Flawed.† Creationism vs. Evolution. Ed. By Bruno J. Leone. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 2002: 22. Branch, Glenn. â€Å"Creationists and the Grand Canyon.† Humanist Mar./April 2004: EBSCOhost. Seaside High School Lib., Seaside, OR 14 Oct. 2004 Garnett, Richard W. â€Å"Keep it to Yourself.† Commonweal Aug. 13 2004: EBSCOhost. Seaside High School Lib., Seaside, OR 14 Oct. 2004 Johnson, Matt. Personal Interview. 18 Jan. 2005 Klyce, Brig. â€Å"Evolution versus Creationism.† Panspermia. 14 Oct. 2004 Moore, Randy and Jay Hatch and Murray Jensen. â€Å"Twenty Questions: What Have the Courts Said about the Teaching of Evolution and Creationism in Public Schools?† Bioscience August 2003: EBSCOhost, Seaside High School Lib., Seaside, OR 29 September 2004 Sheler, Jeffrey. â€Å"The Pope and Darwin.† U.S. News and World Report 4 October 1996: EBSCOhost. Seaside High School Lib., Seaside, OR 29 September 2004 Wells, Jonathan. â€Å"Elusive Icons of Evolution.† Natural History April 2004: EBSCOhost. Seaside High School Lib., Seaside, OR 14 Oct. 2004

Aspects of Creative Work

Aspects of creative work: Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright A creative work is a manifestation of creative effort such as artwork, literature, music, paintings, and software. Creative works have in common a degree of arbitrariness, such that it is improbable that two people would independently create the same work. Creative works are part of property rights. A creative work depends on how you look at that particular art. Every art or craft is not creative for us or for everyone.When we say something is creative we always have some reference. If one says a building is creative we always compare it with all principles of design whether it is in harmony or contrast with the surroundings or if it is balanced or the whole building is in unity or not. I have tried to understand aspects of creative work by studying Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. In 1933, Kaufmann’s asked Frank Lloyd Wright to design a new weekend house in Bear Run, a stream which flows at 1298 feet above sea level and then breaks to fall about 20 feet.Kaufmann’s needed a year round weekend house, with all modern conveniences, away from the highway and closer to the waterfalls. Instead of designing a house which overlooks waterfalls, Wright designed a house on the waterfalls. Wright says,† I think you can hear the waterfall when you look at the design. 1 When Wright first drew sketch of the house he imagined a house with series of terraces or ledged which would appear to be mere extension to the cliff. These reinforced 1 Wright, in a conversation with Hugh Downs at Taliesin, copyright 1953 by the National Broadcasting Company.Aspects of creative work: Theory of Conservation Submitted by: Manasi Pundlik, Code: AC-0212 Page 1 concrete cantilevered terraces were anchored to the rock and thus it was placed between the rocky outcrop and the stream, parallel to an old wooden bridge. The house was conceived as a living space projecting above the falls and into the forest, simil ar to the ledges of rock along the cliffs, and beneath the stream. 2 Initial sketches of the house 2 Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, the house and its history, copyright 1993 by Dover Publications, Inc.Aspects of creative work: Theory of Conservation Submitted by: Manasi Pundlik, Code: AC-0212 Page 2 First floor plan Second floor Plan Aspects of creative work: Theory of Conservation Submitted by: Manasi Pundlik, Code: AC-0212 Page 3 Third floor plan There were four boulders on northern side of the stream, Wright placed living room floor above one of the boulder. Spaces inside the house were framed by five nearly equal bays. West bay defined the kitchen and two bed rooms above. Two middle bays after that formed the central space of the living room.Mrs. Kauffmann’s room was on first floor and a long gallery at the third level was provided above the living room in the middle bay. The Fourth bay or east bay defined sky lighted study area, principle entrance and stairs, while guest room was built over the eastern bay above the main entry and staircase. The fifth and the last bay encompassed the east living room terrace and the entrance loggia. South Elevation Aspects of creative work: Theory of Conservation Submitted by: Manasi Pundlik, Code: AC-0212 Page 4West Elevation The terrace besides the west living was cantilevered past the line of the west kitchen wall and thus the monotonous and simplistic expression of the bay module was avoided, enhancing the drama of cantilever. On the ground floor a pool kind of space was created this can be accessed by floating staircase. The pool was constructed as per clients wish, it could have been constructed anywhere, but Wright placed it in such a way that as if it is part of the stream. Floating staircase adds to the feeling of one big flowing space from where you cannot separate nature from the building.The cantilevers in the house already appeared everywhere at Bear Run, not just in the rock ledges, but in the long green leaves of the laurel and rhododendron. 3 Wright said that he saw them as a profoundly natural principle. With little sense of its latent poetry or expressive potential and with imagination the cantilever could be turned into the most romantic and free of all structural principles. These cantilevers appear as if they are the driving boards, their one end is anchored to the boulder and other end extends out into space with no vertical support underneath its free end.These series of cantilevers rest on three bolsters and they rise from the edge of the stream as if on tiptoe in support of the cantilevered slab of the first floor. Even if the house has an overriding strong horizontal force expressed through series of terraces it never feels out of place and it never tries to empower itself from the nature. The series of terraces appear as if they are floating on the stream. Even the material used for construction is justified in every sense.Sandstone used gels with the sur roundings which was quarried about 500 feet west of the waterfalls and due to the rough shifting manner it appeared as if they are coming out of the rocky outcrop. Wright was inspired from nature and by using glass in windows and walls he created a space which is inseparable from its surroundings. Glass gave different perspectives form inside as well as from outside. In the daytime it becomes very reflective and appears as mirror like surface created by still and clear pond water, while in the night glass appears as if it disappeared.The bold projecting cantilevers are made of reinforced concrete but they echo the rocky landscape. New material helped Wright to build large floating terraces. Even the colours which were used like the pale ochre colour given to the beams matched with the back of a fallen rhododendron leaf. 3 Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, the house and its history, copyright 1993 by Dover Publications, Inc. Aspects of creative work: Theory of Conservation Su bmitted by: Manasi Pundlik, Code: AC-0212 Page 5When Wright visited the site for first time every aspect of the building to be constructed was clear to him. He imagined and designed the house then and there itself in his mind. Every little detail in the house adds to the exquisite designing. The whole idea to live around the stream and not just look at it from a distance is fascinating. Mr. Kauffman loved the stream but no one ever thought of building a house there. Wright very modestly says that â€Å"by way of concentrated thought, the idea is likely to spring into life all at once and be completed eventually with the unity of a living organism. 4 Thus when I studied the architectural and structural aspects of Fallingwater I realized how the architect was inspired from the setting and how he imagined the building in first site visit and he never deviated from that imagination. His principle of organic architecture can be seen in every aspect of the building from choosing the site , designing flowing spaces which follow function too, to choosing right materials to express it. Use of natural material like sandstone so that the building becomes part of the landscape, and use of modern material like reinforced concrete for structural stability and strong and bold form of terrace.Entrance to the site was so thoughtful that while crossing the wooden bridge and approaching the entrance of the house you get a feeling of uphill journey into a private territory, even though the entrance was at an elevation only six inches higher than the bridge roadway. By understanding all these aspects one can realize the cultural significance of the building. After industrial evolution and emergence of modern architecture, concepts of cultural significance are changed. It doesn’t mean that we don’t respect our cultural heritage, but it forces us to understand significance in different erspective. These examples we study in Indigenous traditional architecture and that we study in modern architecture have very different significance. Modern architecture like Fallingwater has cultural significance because it shows us how lifestyle of India as well as whole world has changed over time. How architecture changed over time. How our culture and architecture evolved due to British rule and also due to exchange of ideas and culture. When we are studying about conservation all these aspects are very important to understand a building. Wright, in the Architectural Forum, 94 (Jan. 1951), p. 93 Aspects of creative work: Theory of Conservation Submitted by: Manasi Pundlik, Code: AC-0212 Page 6 Replica and memory: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, born in Richland Center, Wisconsin. His mother, Anna Lloyd Wright had a great influence in shaping of his life.. Things which he learned on his uncle’s farm helped him to relate to nature. The architectural style which he developed has a strong belongingness to nature.In initial practice Wright worked with Louis Sullivan and his principle of Form follows function is also seen in Wright’s work. Inspired from principles of Sullivan he created his own style inspired from nature i. e. Organic Architecture, an American style in architecture that even influenced the best European builders of the 20th century. For Wright, organic architecture should incorporate: †¢ †¢ †¢ Designs based on nature Natural building materials and, Architectural plans that integrate buildings with natureA classic example of organic architecture, Fallingwater, created in 1936, at Bear Run, Pennsylvania, showcases Wright’s skills and his command on his imagination. The client Mr. Kauffman wanted to build a weekend country house near Bear Run stream where he and his family can enjoy the fall. When Wright visited the site he had something different in mind. He knew that the Kauffmann’s loved the stream, so instead of designing a house which overlooks the stream he designed a house where you can live in the stream and enjoy every bit of it.The whole structure is built such that it never tries to empower itself from nature. It sits quietly on the rocks as if it belongs there. This dynamic building is suspended over a fall, which pours down from underneath one of Wright’s bold projecting terraces. The building seems to grow out of the landscape. Flowing spaces, extended terraces besides the living and dining rooms brought nature into the house. Even though a modern material like reinforced concrete was used for constructing terraces it merged with the surroundings as if they were part of the rocky site.Glass used for walls and windows, pale ochre coloured sandstone used all added belongingness. Sandstone used for construction was queried from nearby site Fallingwater is both integrated into the landscape and designed to echo the shapes of the landscape where it is nestled. Wright allows a boulder from the si te to penetrate the floor of the house, so that the natural rock foundation actually merges with the interior of the house. This boulder forms the living room fireplace. With this design element, Wright blends rock, fire and water.Aspects of creative work: Theory of Conservation Submitted by: Manasi Pundlik, Code: AC-0212 Page 7 Wright embeds his building supports into solid rock and even manages to build around nature, totally integrating his structure into the natural landscape. For instance, Wright actually built around a tree, incorporating the tree into the design of his building. The extreme union of human habitat and natural world is visible in the stairs that are suspended directly over the falls. These stairs go nowhere they simply allow people to experience the falls and be in direct contact with nature.Glass windows in the living room , extended beams on the second floor which act as trellis beams for first floor and all such small details emerge from Wrights inspiration of bringing nature into the building, so that the building is part of nature and the people living inside should also feel the same way. That is what organic architecture is. Replica – Dictionary Meaning: : an exact copy or model of something Memory: the faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information, a person or thing remembered, the length of time over which one can remember things. Every artist tries to interpret nature in its own way. Some get inspired from some form of flower or any form which exists in nature, some understand nature and try to relate their understanding of nature by reinterpreting it. Some try to interpret on paper, some by composing music, some by building, but basic concept is same to understand nature. In terms of architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright felt the need of relating his structures with the nature. He tried to interpret nature by evolving his architectural style which was close to nature.Replica means a model which is inspired from s omething which belongs to nature and had gone through a process of evolution. It can never be exactly same as the inspiration but the essence remains. When a model lacks spirit, essence and inspiration it is merely a copy. Replica cannot be studied in isolation of its context. Context, cultural significance is very important to understand from where the artist got its inspiration. 5 Ed. Catherine Soanes, Oxford dictionary thesaurus, Oxford university press, New York (2005) Aspects of creative work: Theory of Conservation Submitted by: Manasi Pundlik, Code: AC-0212 Page 8

Effective HRM and its impact on an organisation Essay

Effective human resource is instrumental for ensuring the sustainable success of the organisation as a whole. Human resource is the most important resource in any investment. This is because it is the force behind the conversion of other resource into profitable products of services to the company. The roles of human resource management are to recruit, training, engaging, and retaining a strong workforce for the organisation (Jackson & Mathis 2008, p. 56). As an important role of an effective human resource management, it must seek to ensure that it attracts and recruit the best candidates to suit the requirements of the organisation. This gives the organisation a competitive advantage of sustainable realisation of its strategic plan. The other function of effective HRM is to train workforce. A trained workforce serves the ultimate purpose of providing quality services to the organisation. It is due to this that the function of effective human resource management to train the workforce remains of great importance to the organisation (Bates 2002). In addition, training should entail instilling a strong respect and uphold of the company’s corporate culture to new employees. This promotes accountability and reduces conflicts of interest. Effective HRM should invest much resource in developing and executing an efficient employee engagement policy. Employee engagement functions to encourage employee commitment towards the execution of the mission and objectives of the organisation (Bates 2002). This has the implication engaging employees as a function of effective HRM is a crucial factor in enhancing the competitive profitability of the organisation. The last important function of effective HRM is retention of the best employees in the organisation. With a strong workforce, a company is assured of meeting the demands of its customers as well as the dictates of its strategic business plan (Sempere, Lillo, & Lajara 2002, p. 13). This is because such a workforce enjoys the competitive advantage of innovatively resolving company problems. On the other hand, retention of employees save the organisation the huge costs involved in employee recruitment and training process. Thus effective HRM plays a pivotal role in the success of a company. Strengths and weaknesses of online recruitment Online recruitment practices are increasing becoming common in the modern business world. The practice enjoys the advantage of convenience. Online recruitment involves the access of potential employees from an online database, evaluating their qualification, and choosing the most suited candidate (Starcke 1996). This has the implication that online recruitment saves the organisation time. Just to be appreciated is the fact that the process of traditional recruiting entails conducting physical interviews with the candidates, an act which no doubt wastes time. Moreover, time is one of the most valuable resources in an organisation (Wuttke 2008, p. 34). This makes online recruitment to be of importance in saving time while getting the required talent. Other strength of online recruitments is cost effective and has provisions of variety of talents from across the globe. Online recruitment is entails the practice of candidate access at the click of the button, making less costly. On the other hand, the practice promotes diversity in an organisation as it provides the employer with a cross-cultural workforce from across the globe (Johannasen 2009). Such are instrumental in promoting innovation in the organisation. Nevertheless, online recruitment has a number of weaknesses. First, it opens a loophole for potential employment of unqualified candidates. Faking of certificates is not a new thing across the globe. Although the employer might realise of the certification problem, the costs and time incurred in facilitating the employment deal remains a major loss to the organisation (Younger 2007). Therefore, the practice fails to protect the authenticity of the information given by the candidates. Another weakness of online recruitment is that it involves too many candidates, an element that makes it demanding to make the right choice. Online job applications are quite many. Despite the specifications of qualification given by the employer many irrelevant applicants post their application. This means that the employer will be faced with the problem of sorting out numerous inappropriate and irrelevant candidates, an action that is no doubt time consuming (Jahannasen 2009). However, this can be easily resolved if clear description of job is made and the employers uses the candidate screening tools of the online job site board to limit candidate spam. Advantages of training and development to both organisation and individual Training and career development in an organisation is of great important to both the organisation and the individual. The organisation seeks to ensure the availability of reliable workforce to aid in the realisation of its strategic business plans. To achieve this goal, the company should train and development career (Wilson 2005). It is worth noting that different companies have different approaches to their businesses. Further, education seems to be the same for students of the same profession. This has the indication that the ultimate skill and experience enjoyed by employees reflect their training in a particular organisation (Wilson 2005, p. 102). Therefore, training and development will promote the effectiveness of the workforce in executing their duties. Another advantage of training and development is that it promotes employee commitment to the company mission and objective. Employee engagement practices are instrumental in promoting employee commitment to the mission and objectives of an organisation. According to the principles of effective human resource management, training of employees is one of the reliable tools of ensuring their satisfaction at the workplace (Bureau of Labour Statistics 2009). This is due to the fact that training eliminates the demoralisation aspects brought by failure to efficiently realise one’s expectations at the workplace. In addition, training gives employees an opportunity to achieve their professional career goals while earning a living. All these are important are important in meeting the social and economic responsibilities of both the individual and the organisation. Training and career development serves the important role of strengthening the reputation of an organisation. Reputation remains the best marketing tool for the products and services of any business. On the other side, the reputation of a company is defined by the effectiveness and reliability of its services to the customers (Aidele 2009, p. 76). This means that an organisation should have in place a strong workforce to meet its market demands. This calls for engaging in employee training and career development since such is vital tools in promoting innovative solving of problems. Still, providing training and development gives the organisation the competitive advantage of identifying the best talent for its workforce as it eliminates certification qualifications to engage in seeking actual capabilities of its employees. Why poor performance occurs and the strategies that can be used to overcome it Poor performance in an organisation is to be blamed to poor human resource management. This can be evident from failure of the HRM in its four main functions. Hiring discrimination practices which lead to recruitment of unqualified candidates compromises the reliability of the company workforce in providing quality services to the organisation. Another cause of poor performance is lack of training and engagement to employees (Booth 1993, p. 81). An informed and satisfied workforce gives reliable services to the company with a high degree of commitment. As an HRM function, employee engagement does not only promote commitment but also accountability of the employees in their duties. Therefore, poor performance can occur due to failure by the HRM in one or more of its functions namely; recruiting, training, engaging and retaining the best employees for the organisation. To overcome this problem, organisations should in formulating and implementing strong positive corporate culture to govern its human resource (Booth 1993, p. 89). This culture should dictate for giving employment opportunities on merit to mitigating incidence of recruiting unqualified and thus unreliable employees into the organisation. In addition, employee training must be given priority as it serves to equip the workforce with adequate knowledge on the operations and expectations of the organisation from them. This is important in mitigating operational mistakes of failures. Another strategy is employee engagement which seeks to enhance the commitment by employees to the mission and objectives of the organisation (Werner, Shuler, & Jackson 2008, p. 66). Most employees perform poorly due to failure by the company to care for their personal needs. However, the practice of employee engagement seeks to appreciate and address the social and economic concerns of individual employees as a way of ensuring their sustainable job satisfaction. The last strategy is striving to retain the best employees in an organisation. Most organisations lose reliable employees due to poor conflict resolution policies. This negates their sustainable development objectives, a problem that calls for implementation of an effective conflict resolution policies to eliminate resignations or conflict at workplace which compromises performance.