Aushwitz Diary Essays - Holocaust Literature, Night,

Aushwitz Diary July 29, 1932 I went to a campaign speech I and heard Adolf Hitler campaigning for dictatorship for Germany. He was saying that his opponents say the National Socialists are not German at all, because they refuse to work with other political parties. I think every one should work together, I hope he doesnt win. I dont care for his ideas. December 25, 1932 Momma and Aunt Mildred made the best Christmas diner ever. I got a new suit from Papa and Mama. March 8, 1933 Hitler became the Dictator of Germany. It is a sad day for Jews, some of our friends and neighbors have been leaving to other countries, they say Germany will be ruined under Hitlers rule. Papa says things will not get that bad. March 14,1933 The Nazis invaded, they set fire to most of it. It was bad enough that we must wear stars on our shirts and our businesses were taken. March 15, 1933 My familys house was destroyed and we moved in with uncle Pincus. November 11, 1933 I'd heard rumors that Jews were going to Auschwitz. But I didn't know what Auschwitz means, I have heard rumors people are being kept in prison there, how can it be that Jews can be imprisoned without committing a crime. Mama is worried and papa and uncle Pincus are talking about escaping the city. November 14, 1933 We got the dreaded notice that we had been selected for resettlement farther east. There will be no time to escape from the soldiers. The train cars they took us in were actually cattle cars. We entered the cars and sat on our baggage. There was not very much room between us and the roof of the cattle car. We could not open them from the inside. The windows were small, open rectangles. Our car had from 100 to 120 people in it so it was quite crowded. We had some water and some food . The cars were sealed At night as we traveled, the train was filled with so many people that no matter where you turned you were almost face to face with the next person. There were no bathrooms on the train, only a bucket that was passed around. At times it smelled so badly, I thought I would be sick to my stomach. We heard gun shot, but did not know why these shots were fired, Then I heard an old man with a beard say that the SS troops were on the roofs of the cattle cars shooting past the windows to discourage people from sticking their heads out. The train is moving at a fairly great speed. There was no stopping. November 16, 1933 We traveled day and night. The train is cold and the smell is awful. November 19,1933 At four o'clock three days later one morning at dawn, we looked through the cracks in the cattle car. I saw the name Auschwitz in Polish. I was paralyzed. I didn't feel anything. When daylight came, they slid the car door open. All we heard was, Raus, raus, get out of here, get out of here! I had to crawl over people who had died from the cold and from lack of food and water. When they opened the doors to the cattle car, we jumped off as quickly as we could because we were under orders. We grabbed what we could and assembled outside. SS men with the skulls on their hats and collars stood in front of us stretched out at intervals about every ten feet. The SS officer in charge stood with his German shepherd. The officer had one foot propped up on a little stool. We lined up and filed by him, everyone that got of the train had to place their valuables in wooden crates. Whatever we had, we lost. Those who didnt give up their possessions willingly or quickly were beaten. Right there the selection took place, as each person passed by him, he pointed left or right. The thumb left and right was your destiny. The people sent to the left went to a large building , I could see the people to the left were mostly elderly or young children.

ObamaCare essays

ObamaCare essays The arguments for/against ObamaCare health care are extensive. This giant law has so many parts that the average American does not even know what is really in this bill. The main supporters argue the bill is constitutional. They believe it is constitutional on three different "powers" of congress under commerce/interstate activity, the necessary and proper clause and the taxing and general welfare clause. The health care industry is a two trillion dollar per year industry. People who support the bill for being constitutional believe that this bill is part of commerce. How could two trillion dollars not be commerce? It is an interstate activity that makes a lot of money. There is also another part of government that could also make this bill constitutional and that is under necessary and proper clause. Necessary and proper clause states that Congress can make laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the forgoing powers. So supporters believe this bill for national health care is necessary and proper. It's nothing outlandish they believe. The third argument for the ObamaCare being constitution is under congresses Taxing and General Welfare Clause. Supports find this a no brainer. Congress has the right to protect the general welfare of the people. So ObamaCare is helping the general welfare of the people. After all is that not what government is put in plac e to do? The bigger question is will that make government to strong and powerful? Most people who believe ObamaCare is unconstitutional would say yes. From the disagreeing side most would say if ObamaCare is not struck down it will give the government more power and the main question raised is, "What will congress also force us to do?" If they can force us to make decisions on our own health under commerce what else can they make us do and justify it under "commerce." People believe that congress has no constitutional right to force people to enter a ...

Perform a Detailed Task Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Perform a Detailed Task Analysis - Assignment Example For example if he is going for an educational vacation he should consider a place where there is access to books, internet and any other research tools he may require. If he is going for a recreational tour he might consider factors like the weather of the place of destination, the places to be ventured into and the security of the same. He also needs to conduct an economic analysis of the places to be visited in order to select the most convenient economical destination without compromising on the vocational goals (Kirwan, 1992) After identifying the place to visit based on the vocational goals, Sam should put down all the requirements in a hierarchical manner in order to make his trip a success. The most vital points to emphasize on include money allocation/distribution, gathering important personal effects, arranging for the day and time of departure, consulting with the travel agency and making other personal arrangements such as notifying colleagues and family members about the trip and any other party concerned. In order to avail for proper distribution of money, Sam must consider the amount of money he is going to spend on the trip and distribute it accordingly based on the travel budget. This will involve considerations on which means of transport to use and the cost on the same, where to stay and the funding for the various activities included in the vocation needs. This includes entertainment costs, agency costs among others (Shepherd, 2001). After deciding on how much to spend on each item, Sam should gather all the items listed in his travel schedule. This will include items such as a suitcase, clothing and other items related to his personal wellbeing. He should also gather all items necessary to meet his vocational goals such as books if he is going for an educational vocation. In order to be on schedule, Sam must identify the date for the trip and make the necessary arrangements with the parties involved. This will

Marketing Concentration within Extended Academic Programs (EAP) PowerPoint Presentation

Marketing Concentration within Extended Academic Programs (EAP) - PowerPoint Presentation Example This university offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) program through its EAP program. This BSBA has seven courses: accounting, banking and finance, General Business, marketing, information systems, international business, and management. The major marketing concentration this institution offers is the ‘General’ specialization. The other four concentrations are; Data mining and social marketing, healthcare marketing, call center/CRM and tourism/Sport. Due to the dynamic nature of today’s marketing environment, most universities and students are searching for courses and specializations that will assure them of immediate placements in the job market. Most of the concentrations in the Marketing specializations were designed to meet the dynamic and ever changing needs of the economy. Specializations like healthcare marketing; a rare and unique combination, was seen necessary to meet the needs of the dynamic healthcare environment due to the n umerous reforms that have been seen. Due to these facts, this paper provides a feasibility study that assesses UIW EAP’s ability and viability to offer healthcare marketing specialization within its BSBA Program. ... This paper provides a feasibility study assessing UIW EAP’s ability and viability to offer healthcare marketing specialization within its BSBA Program. Healthcare Marketing Healthcare marketing has provided an avenue through which advancements in health-protecting services like insurance and medicine can be widely known (Fortenberry, 2010). The current shift of provision of healthcare information from provider-dominated to patient-directed makes healthcare marketing a necessity in today’s world. According to Fortenberry (2011), success strategies in healthcare have their roots in result-based healthcare marketing (p. 87). Healthcare marketing provides an effective avenue through which healthcare entities can promote themselves through utilizing a variety of methods to entice their customers to purchase and consume their health products. In this information frenzy age, majority of people can self-diagnose themselves, a strategy which helps to reduce the strain on healthc are institutions (Vitberg, 2006). In this respect healthcare marketing is a necessity in this present age. Concerning UIW EAP’s ability and viability of offering healthcare marketing on top of its current general marketing concentration, the following aspects were realized. These facts were obtained from; interviews conducted where the students and lectures were involved, job searches, empirical research and through analysis of data within the city of San Antonio. Realization of Market Issues a. Likelihood of Finding a Job Of the specializations in marketing that is; data mining and social marketing, healthcare marketing, call center/CRM, general and tourism/Sport; healthcare marketing and tourism/sport marketing majors, offers high chances for undergraduates to find jobs in

Planet of the Apes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Planet of the Apes - Essay Example The film appeared five years later. The 60’s... On the one hand they were the years of recognition of the many immutable truths concerning freedom, conscience and human personality; that was the time of various anti-war movements, time when national, sexual and racial minorities started the fight for their freedom and rights; time of The Beatles, hippies; time when everywhere - in politics, economy, culture – everyone has felt the fresh breeze of changes. On the other hand, the Cold War, tense situation in Vietnam and Cuba, fingers of the leaders of the great powers on nuclear buttons... Time of the first steps in space exploration, when adults dreamed of the immense cosmos and all the kids wanted to become astronauts. The smile of Gagarin and the American flag in Neil Armstrong’s hands became the subject of peoples’ love and the apparent evidence of human omnipotence. This film is the essence of the 60’s: angry sarcasm and post-apocalyptic fiction; fight with restrictions, limitations, complexes and old authorities; space theme and prophecy of an imminent catastrophe, which will destroy human civilization. 1968 has forever changed the history of cinema. It was the year of 2001: A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick, War and Peace by Sergei Bondarchuk, Once Upon a Time in the West by Sergio Leone, Night of the Living Dead, George Romero, Rosemary’s Baby by Roman Polanski, Teorema Pier Paolo Pasolini and many others. The brilliant sci-fi picture of Franklin Schaffner came out the same year. The film, like all the above mentioned, influenced both the development of cinema in general and science fiction in particular. Now, more than 40 years after release, the film is becoming more and more prophetic. It up-ended the concept of the future progress of mankind. Schaffner’s film is not a total adaptation of the cult novel, but without a doubt, includes the main essence and meaning of socio-political satire of the author. It showed that human beings can’t overcome their animal instincts, their folly, â€Å"human nature† that pushes them to extermination of their own kind in brutal wars. We do not follow the path of evolution. A new-fashioned computer, cell phone, stylish outfit and even a red Ferrari will not make a human being a man, as makeup and Wu shoes will not make a human being a woman. Computers, inventions, machines are not civilization. They are the products of civilization. Civilization is a development of daily living that comes from the human brain, mind, heart and soul. The film shows that man in his development stuck in the Middle Ages. Not even in the times of ancient Greeks, who surpassed modern humans in spiritual development, but namely in the middle, dark ages. The Renaissance, it seems, was only a flash of light, when a man became aware that he was living wrong, but did not manage to keep on the right road and hit a loop road that leads to permanent self-destruction . The storyline is built around astronauts who get to an uncharted planet after an emergency landing of their spaceship. Initially, it seemed to them lifeless, but it was only at first glance. Soon, they find themselves in a strange, surreal world in which human beings, like slaves or wild animals, sit in cages of intelligent, talking apes. This makes one of them, Taylor, start a search for truth and answer many questions about the planet they landed. The film, masked as a science fiction one, in

Video games

Video games As the end of the 19th decade approached, video games were introduced. They were an expected hit. The video games industry is now a multi-billion dollar industry. They established and maintained a high rank in childhood leisure activities due to their abilityto attract children infront of a screen for very high number of hours. The idea of video games was flabbergasting since it developed certain positive characteristics which enhanced youngsters and developed them. However, Children addiction to video games increased overtime which concerned adults. They were worried that violent video games develop the sense of violence in their children. Doctors began their research which linked video games to increase in childrens violence. At first, the research was open to doubt but further research linked violence video games with development of violent characters. Recent research suggests that playing video games may affect some childrens physical functioning. Effects range from causing heart rate to blood pressure changes. However, serious physical effects are limited to a small number of players. Indeed, video games are a double edged sword which has its advantages and disadvantages. Recent studies showed that games are valuable considering health care. They were proven to be mentally and physically helpful to children as well as adults. Mental health professionals stress on the idea that some children may develop certain positive characteristics when playing video games. These characteristics are said to be very hard and long lasting to attain elsewhere. Some adults prefer their children to play video games since they feature some benefits instead of sitting without any form of interaction in front of the television. These benefits include the development of creativity. Better vision is some of the reported benefits to doctors who perform vision tests. Logical thinking and skills concerning problem solving will increase since children are always engaged with such issues in video games. Phsygological researchers report that youngsters playing video games show higher self confidence than children who dont/ this self confidence is achieved from they get when they succeed in the game. Furthermore, video games are linked with treating specific diseases. Research studies show that video games are somehow enhanced to treat people suffering from certain phobias. Treatment of fear of the dark and fear of heights has been reported to be the most effective. Doctors expose their patients to their fears through a controlled computerized game to treat them. Moreover, some video games help children develop their learning skills. These games are rather attractive due to their setting. They feature reading and writing tasks to help improve the Childs academic level. The biggest advantage of video games is its ability to entertain a child. When a child is not feeling good or is stressed video games will undoubtedly improve his phsycological state and drive him out of boredom. Children can socialize due to the fact that video games can be played in pairs. It is a great opportunity for kids to make friend by actually playing the game together of discussing t he game plot. Although video games show positive effects on children, video games have various disadvantages. Recent studies link children playing violent video games and behaving rather aggressively. According to NCTV research, 9 of every 12 studies considering violent games feature the idea that children are getting harmed by them. The scene of getting attached to violent video games stresses children and affects their brains. DR. Mathews a doctor in the Indiana University of School and Medicine reports that video games show an increase in emotional arousal and a decrease in the activities of areas which involve self controls, inhibition and attention. Dr. Mathews and his colleagues prove this fact through a simple test. They got 44 players and randomly assigned them to play a game. There were two games. The first one is the adrenaline pumping Need For Speed, the second is the violence included point of view shooter game Medal Of Honor. The players played the game for the 30 minutes. They were then immediately assigned to take MRIs of their brains. Negative effects were seen in youngsters playing the violent Medal Of Honor. The same effects were not seen in players who played Need For Speed. Video games have not been directly linked with mental illness. However, excess violent acts might cause this mental illness. Video games disadvantages are very similar to that of television since children are exposed to the same type of violence. However, researchers say that video games are supposedly more crucial since children are actually involved in violence performed in video games rather than just sitting inactively watching it on television. As technology develops, violence will develop as well since violence is much better portrayed now than 20 years ago through video games due to technology .In some games when a player is bombed, blood and bones are scattered illustrating his death and the effect of being bombed in real life. Children spending many numbers of hours playing v ideo games without getting in contact with no one else suffer from being shy and rather introvert as they see no one but the screen theyre playing on. Certified studies prove that as children encounter these violent acts on television or on video games, they are more likely to perform these acts. In conclusion, recommendations concerning video games must be conservative. According to researcher Jeanne Funk, a ban on video games is probably not in the childs best interests. Limiting playing time of video games and monitoring game selection according to developmental level and game content may be as vital as similar parental management of television privileges. Doctors and parents should also seek out inventive ways to increase the acceptance, popularity, and availability of games that are relatively sociable, educational, and fun. Every aspect has its pros and cons so is the law of nature. What we can do is try to uphold a balance and get the finest of what it has to offer, be it nature or technology

Essay --

In Limbo reside the unbaptized and the virtuous pagans, who, though not sinful, did not accept Christ. Limbo shares many characteristics with the Asphodel Meadows; thus the guiltless damned are punished by living in a deficient form of Heaven. Without baptism ("the portal of the faith that you embrace")[6] they lacked the hope for something greater than rational minds can conceive. Limbo includes green fields and a castle with seven gates to represent the seven virtues. The castle is the dwelling place of the wisest men of antiquity, including Virgil himself, as well as the Persian polymath Avicenna. In the castle Dante meets the poets Homer, Horace, Ovid, and Lucan; the Amazon queen Penthesilea; the mathematician Euclid; the scientist Pedanius Dioscorides; the statesman Cicero; the first doctor Hippocrates; the philosophers Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Averroes; the historical figures Lucretia, Lucius Junius Brutus, and Julius Caesar in his role as Roman general ("in his armor, f alcon-eyed");[7] mythological characters Hector, Electra, Camilla, Latinus, and Orpheus; and many othe...

Best Practices of Mergers and Acquisitions

Running head: BEST PRACTICES OF MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS Mergers and Acquisitions: Best Practices for Success Abstract Mergers and acquisitions have become a growing trend for companies to inorganically grow a business within its particular industry. There are many goals that companies may be looking to achieve by doing this, but the main reason is to guarantee long-term and profitable growth for their business. Companies have to keep up with a rapidly increasing global market and increased competition. With the struggle for competitive advantage becoming stronger and stronger, it is almost essential to achieve these mergers. Through research I will attempt to dissect the best practices for achieving merger success. Mergers and Acquisitions: Best Practices for Success When companies are acquired or merged, people almost immediately start to focus on the differences in the companies. They also begin to pay attention to who are the winners and who are the losers. It is typical in an acquisition for the acquiring company to see itself as the winner, and the acquired company as the loser. The controlling company wants to impose changes and view those in the acquired company as highly resistant to change. It is clear that most mergers and acquisitions are primarily based on strategic, financial, or other objectives. However, ignoring a potential mismatch of people and cultures can lead to strategic and financial failure. In most mergers, serious consideration should be given to cultural and leadership style differences. The success of a merger or acquisition can be defined as the creation of synergy. But every merger and acquisition is a unique event, occurring in a unique environment that is subject to various influences. Analyzing a merger should begin by understanding the culture and core values of the business that is being acquired. Ashkenas, DeMonaco, and Francis (1998) observed that â€Å". . . it is increasingly important that executives learn how to manage the integration of acquisitions as a replicable process and not as a one time only event† (p. 166). DiGeorgio (2002) has researched this topic extensively through the mergers and acquisitions of Cisco and GE Capital. Cisco approaches mergers by â€Å". . . (a) doing [its] homework to select the right companies and (b) applying an effective reliable integration process once the deal is struck†(DiGeorgio, 2002, p. 138). Cisco has in the past turned down deals with companies which did not fit within its strategy. Cisco looks at deals from the following perspective (DiGeorgio, 2002): 1. Are our visions basically the same? 2. Can we produce quick wins for shareholders? 3. Can we produce long-term wins for all four constituencies – shareholders, customers, employees, and partners? 4. Is the chemistry right? 5. For large M&A, is there geographic proximity? (p. 138) GE Capital, on the other hand takes a more process-based approach to handling mergers. Since GE has performed plenty of mergers and it learns and grows from each one. The crux of its process is â€Å"[g]etting the right integration leader [which] constitutes 95 per cent of the success of an integration† (DiGeorgio, 2003, p. 139). This study highlights the importance of being proactive in pre-merger planning and offers advice to help ensure that the merger process will be a success. Within this paper, I plan to discuss the best practices companies can use to ensure a successful merger. These practices include timely merger planning, choosing the right leadership, focusing on corporate culture, communicating effectively, and engaging the staff, human resources, and middle management. Timely Merger Planning There is a lot of time and effort spent on finding good merger candidates and courting them only to fall through on the follow-up integration activities. As soon as serious discussions begin with a potential merger candidate, the integration planning efforts should begin. It is essential that acquisitions be assimilated into the parent as quickly and as smoothly as possible to minimize any losses in productivity and maximize opportunities between the two organizations. â€Å"There is good agreement that the first 100 days after a merger change set the tone, signal the troops about the real direction of the organization and its vitality†(DiGeorgio, 2003,p. 266) A slow integration process can actually worsen problems. Merger integration should not be treated as an after-thought. It is something that needs to be addressed uring the merger search and negotiations phase while there is time to minimize any negative impacts. Choosing the Right Leadership Choosing the right leadership, not only for the merger integrations, but also for the new combined company is important in terms of vision, mission, culture, and expectations. A leader should focus on the larger design of the new corporation. A leader has to resist the temptation to take the easy way out. It is not pleasant to deliver bad news or to be a naysayer, but it is necessary at times. It is also important for a leader to promote and ensure good morale. This starts with treating people with respect and listening to their opinions, rather than telling them what to do. â€Å"Leaders set the tone for the culture and for how relationships are going to unfold in the combined organization† (DiGeorgio, 2003, p. 260). Effective working relationships and increased trust developed among the senior executives will carry throughout the organization as a model of how the newly integrated organization will work. Senior executives need to establish the cultural rules of engagement in the new entity quickly and effectively. Company leaders should strive to provide as much transparency as possible to decision making and address employee concerns such as changes to roles and responsibilities, compensation and employee benefits as promptly and practical as can be performed. â€Å"Integration management is a full-time job and needs to be recognized as a distinct business function. . . † (Ashkenas et al. , 1998, p. 169). The role of the transition merger leader cannot be taken lightly. This person must make critical personnel, process, and structural decisions quickly. This role requires the mental tenacity to endure long meetings, tough questions, and low morale. The G. E. Pathfinder model as presented by Stopper (1999) suggests that it find an integration leader to direct these merger activities and get the necessary results done to have a successful integration. Stopper (1999) also suggests a few other skills and qualifications necessary to look for in this person which include experience in project planning and management, communication planning and implementation, expertise specific to acquisitions, and corporate culture familiarity. Research by Ashkenas (1998), on the other hand, believes a merger leader should have ability to facilitate integration activities, to help the acquired business understand processes of the new company, and to help his or her company understand the business that is being acquired. Leadership also needs to be held accountable for the success of the merger (DiGeorgio, 2002). The leader should have a sense of purpose and responsibility not only for his or her job but also for the company as well as the employees who work there. When leaders don’t exhibit this accountability, they can take a nonchalant attitude which can hinder any progress which has been made. Ensuring the appropriate leadership is in place from the start will present a successful blueprint for the outcome of the merger or acquisition. Focusing on Corporate Culture When companies merge there can be a clash of cultures, conflicting beliefs, and different norms. Organizational culture is important because it has been shown to have a significant impact on organizational performance. Cultures that support the missions, goals, and strategies of an organization provide a means for dealing with change and conflicts when they arise. â€Å"Cultural integration is ignored in the majority of business combinations† (Pekala, 2001, p. 32). Research has shown that because of cultural aspects, mergers often encounter difficulties in achieving the goals of the merger. While due diligence is performed on all of the financial aspects of a merger, one major reason that so many mergers fail is a lack of â€Å"cultural fit† (DiGeorgio, 2003, p. 259). Understanding how things are seen in the other cultures, learning mutual respect, and being open to exploring different points of view are the keys to the people factor in any merger or acquisition. â€Å"A sound M&A integration strategic plan is as cultural as it is structural and entails both the welding of hard assets and a delicate/neurosurgery of minds† (Brahy, 2006, p. 54). Corporate culture tends to be viewed as a company having casual Fridays or working alternate work schedules. However, it runs deeper than the external characteristics. Pekala (2001) suggests that â€Å"merger partners need to zero in on the basic ways that decisions get made in their companies and how different approaches can be combined in harmony† (p. 32). The organization’s culture is simply how things are done in the organization. It could be as simple as putting the customer first or driving for excellence in safety. The challenges encountered when merging two different cultures are that either one or the other (or both) needs to change. The issue, then, becomes not just culture awareness, but culture â€Å"change management† (LaMarsh, 2006, p. 9) during the integration period. Building a new culture that combines the best of both previous cultures makes the new organization better, stronger, and more competitive than either of the organizations can be on its own. One way to build a new culture is by having representatives from both companies or organizations list the principles that currently guide its behavior and attitu des. Once this has been captured, both groups can then combine their efforts into a discussion of what type of cultural behavior is necessary to ensure that the best of both worlds is fairly represented. Brahy (2006) even suggest the acquiring company learn another language to help the merging companies feel more at ease and are accepting of their individual culture and traditions. Top management, however, must support this new combined culture. Management cannot force people to work together to build a new culture. As DiGeorgio (2003) notes â€Å"leaders set the tone for the culture and for how relationships are going to unfold in the combined organization† (p. 260). Control over the new corporate culture is critical to the success of a merger. Achieving cultural synergy is possible, but it takes work and effort especially on the side of leadership. Communicating Effectively Communication plays a very critical role at the time of a merger. Communicating with the employees is very important as they should not feel that they have been kept in the dark. It should be remembered that they are the most important assets of an organization and also major stakeholders. Most people understand that mergers and acquisitions take place for business reasons. But it is important to communicate the specific reasons and benefits of the merger. People may not like it, but if they see that it has a legitimate purpose, and the benefits are clear, then there is less resentment and employees are more likely to accept it. Mergers and acquisitions breed uncertainty, ambiguity, and fear among employees. Rumors often begin in organizations before the announcement of any impending merger is formally announced. â€Å". . . Trying to hide bad news such as layoffs by not revealing further details . . can damage morale and lead to turnover† (Messmer, 2006, p. 15). A good communication plan can help avoid complications by ensuring that employees understand the reasons for the deal, the objectives the organization is trying to achieve, and the potential benefits for everyone involved. In mergers and acquisitions, employees typically want answers to the following basic questions: †¢Will I have a job in the new organization? †¢Will my pay, b enefits and work locations change? †¢Will this merger be good for my career? These and other questions must be addressed soon after an announcement is made since productivity can suffer the longer employees have uncertainty. Straightforward, concise, and timely communication assists in building employee commitment and focuses employees on the day-to-day operations of the organization. â€Å". . . Communication minimizes the negative reactions of the acquired employees† (Brahma, 2007, p. 8). The faster employees feel connected to the new organization, the faster they will begin working toward the business objectives and understand what is expected of them. Research shows that organizations using effective communication strategies achieve the best results in productivity and shareholder returns. A good communication strategy is critical to a successful merger or acquisition. A successful plan cannot be reactive but proactive and it has to be included as part of the original merger plans. Nikandrou, Papaleaxandris, and Bourantas (2000) assert that â€Å"frequent communication does not imply that management should communicate every little detail of the process . . . t rather means that management communicates its concerns about employees . . . † (p. 336). An effective communication plan must take into account many elements such as the unique needs of various stakeholders, such as managers, employees, investors, customers, suppliers, and surrounding communities, need to be identified and addressed. Successful mergers only happen when upper managers make themselves visible and accessible to all employees affected by the merger. All e mployees need to experience the buy-in and support of their leaders for the merger or acquisition. Leaders need to be prepared to communicate the answers they do have and be open to stating what answers they do not have yet (Terranova, 2006). For leaders and managers to maintain credibility and trust with employees, they must be open and honest in dealing with these problems rather than choosing not to communicate at all. Engaging Staff and Middle Management People issues are often the most sensitive but also overlooked aspects of mergers and acquisitions. Organizations fail to realize that people have the capability to make or break the deal. It is important for organizations to address the viability of the integration on the human resources front. There are key resources within the organization that can help in handling people issues namely the employees, human resources, and middle management. Frequently there are a lot of people who get overlooked in the acquisition process; specifically lower-level employees who may be able to offer valuable input. They are the people who produce the profits, represent the company, and, ultimately, are the ones that will make the combined company succeed. Proactively engaging the employees can cultivate change agents for the acquisition making the entire process more desirable for all parties involved. â€Å"Managing change is a systematic process that requires moving through a series of action steps to predict and address the risk caused by potential resistance† (LaMarsh, 2006, p. 59). The best way for leadership to actively involve employees is to engage in active feedback sessions. This could involve setting up meetings with key people from various groups in the organizations and soliciting feedback from them (Messmer, 2006). Another suggestion could be to set up a website answer board where employees can ask the integration team or top management questions anonymously and view answers to other questions that have been proposed. Retaining and motivating employees is a major challenge for the human resource department of organizations. Actively engaging human resources early in the process can ensure merger success. Human resource leaders can play a key role in helping senior management identify, involve, and assess the key executives and other critical talent who will be vital for the success of the new business. Human resources can help facilitate employee question and answer meetings and are the most knowledgeable about current policies and procedures. Human resource skills are essential for the facilitation and negotiation processes regarding combining pay and benefits. Human Resource skills are also needed for supporting, counseling, and coaching line managers, who have to supervise their functions during very difficult times. Middle management also plays an important role in ensuring the success of a merger or acquisition. Communications with the middle managers will help to not only alm their fears and concerns but also help them understand what is in store for them. If middle managers are not kept in the information loop, it can lead to false information getting out that could damage morale as well as increase turnover. They need to fully understand the benefits not only to the organization but also to them as individuals. Once concerns have been dealt with, middle managers should be h eld accountable for implementation of the change. Without this accountability, they ultimately will not have a desire to change their behavior. Middle managers should become a positive part of the change process and they should not feel as if it is another program or process that is being forced upon them. Middle managers are the leaders that lower-level employees will look to for timely, accurate information. If approval of the merger is given at this level, then those under them will more than likely not give their approval either. Conclusion Several important lessons have been learned from the merger research conducted throughout this paper. When a merging with another company, managers should be focused on uniting the two companies as quickly as possible. Management should also be aware of the importance of starting the integration planning as soon as a definitive merger candidate is determined. Another important aspect of the merger process is a commitment to change on the part of leadership. Management needs to assign appropriate leadership resources to complete the transition successfully. Communication is also very critical even when there is nothing new to say. It is impossible to over-communicate throughout the merger process. Employees have an almost insatiable desire for information, and misinterpretation of silence and rumors are very common. Mergers are seen as a way to solve problems but it also creates a new set of problems as well as opportunities. Success in mergers and acquisitions rests not only on good strategic and financial planning, but also in the analysis of people issues. Making mergers work successfully is a complicated process which involves not only combining two organizations together but also integrating the people of two organizations with different cultures, attitudes, and mindsets. To ensure success in mergers and acquisitions there needs to be timely merger planning, the right leadership, cultural integration, effective communication, and the involvement of staff and middle management. References Ashkenas, R. , DeMonaco, L. , & Francis, S. (1998). Making the Deal Real: How GE Capital Integrates Acquisitions. Harvard Business Review, 76(1), 165-178. Badrtalei, J. , & Bates, D. (2007). Effect of Organizational Cultures on Mergers and Acquisitions: The Case of Daimler Chrysler. International Journal of Management, 24(2), 303-317. Brahma, S. , & Srivastava, K. (2007). Communication, Executive Retention, and Employee Stress as Predictors of Acquisition Performance: An Empirical Evidence. ICFAI Journal of Mergers & Acquisitions, 4(4), 7-26. Brahy, S. (2006). Six solution pillars for successful cultural integration of international M&As. Journal of Organizational Excellence, 25(4), 53-63. DiGeorgio, R. (2002). Making mergers and acquisitions work: What we know and don't know — Part I. Journal of Change Management, 3(2), 134. DiGeorgio, R. (2003). Making mergers and acquisitions ork: What we know and don't know–Part II. Journal of Change Management, 3(3), 259. LaMarsh, J. (2006). What mergers miss. Journal of Corporate Accounting & Finance (Wiley), 17(2), 59-62. Messmer, M. (2006). Leadership Strategies During Mergers and Acquisitions. Strategic Finance, 87(7), 15-16. Pekala, N. (2001). Merger They Wrote: Avoiding a Corporate Culture Collision. Journal of Property Management, 66(3), 32. Stopper, W. ( 1999, July). Mergers and Acquisitions: Fulfilling the Promise. Human Resource Planning, 22(3), 6-7.

Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House Essays

Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House Essays Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House Essay Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House Essay A play serves as the authors tool for critiquing society. It is rare that a person encounters the ability to rise above accepted social beliefs. Some plays help to reflect controversial issues that the audience can relate to because they interact in the same situations every day.  Henrik Ibsen was a Norwegian writer who was known for his critical view upon society. A Dolls House was written in the late 19th Century, this era and its traits are echoed in his play in many ways. Ibsen provides unique analysis and reflection on issues his culture never thought as wrong. In the play he tackles womens rights as a matter of importance being neglected, acknowledging the fact that in 19th Century European life the role of the women to stay home, raise the children, and attend to her husband was unfair. Ibsen shows us this in A Dolls House constantly when Nora is being dominated and controlled by Helmer. Nora is called a number of names by Helmer throughout the play. These include little songbird, squirrel, lark, little featherhead, little skylark, little person, and little woman. Helmer seems to be particularly consistent about using the modifier little before the names he calls Nora. These are all usually followed by the possessive my, signalling Helmers belief that Nora belongs only to him. Analysing this type of language you could say that not only is it slightly insulting, the references to small animals, physically refer to Nora as something weak and helpless making her inferior to him. Ibsen has again shown us this accepted part of society on page 25 when Helmer directly says Oh Nora, Nora, how like a woman! Ibsen shows us the insolence and discourtesy women were expected to accept because despite these comments Nora, throughout the play, does not question or even comment until the play is coming to a close. At this point Nora decides to challenge her husband and the idea that he controls her thoughts and actions. This kind of rebellion was extremely rare and unusual at this time, But it is unheard of for so young a woman to behave like this! . Ibsen, you could say, was slightly ahead of his time with his opinions on women because later in the century there was the womans movement and their long and complex journey to liberation, freedom and equality. Being a playwright on a particularly social level, Ibsens work imitated and questioned recognized contemporary culture and their ethics and views. Another recognised expectation of society during the 19th Century was the need to hold out an appearance that you are the ideal family, living in others eyes as kind, wealthy and happy. This is shown in the play through the Helmers family life and their need to hold themselves to others expectations. One of the first things, although minor, to happen in the play is Nora giving the Porter a pound after he asks for a shilling, our first impressions are of her generosity, but we soon after discover that Nora knows she cannot afford this with her threatening financial situation. Therefore to a certain extent this was not an act of kind-heartedness but more of the realisation of the probable neglect from society if they did not portray themselves as the ideal family to others. Ibsen shows us a second example of social acceptance with Krogstad and his fear of unemployment. Krogstad is obviously desperate not to experience this, most likely due to the fact that he would be exiled from society and thought of as unsuccessful if he could not acquire work. Ibsen was able to write about this situation extremely accurately because in 1836 his father, who had been prosperous until that  time, went bankrupt, in that culture and at that time it proved as a disgrace profound enough to affect him and his children for the rest of their lives. Ibsen had a slightly alternative style of writing, compared to other play writes at the time, trying to be as realistic and precise as possible. After the 1848 revolution, a new modern perspective was starting to appear in the literary and dramatic world, challenging the romantic tradition. Ibsen was mastering and popularising the realist drama derived from this new perspective, A Dolls House could easily have been just another modern play with another comfortable moral lesson. However, when Nora tells Helmer that they must sit down and discuss all this that has been happening between us, the play diverges from the traditional form. Ibsen raises issues which have not previously been considered, but not in a point blank way, instead he manages to make A Dolls House interesting and thought provoking. Ibsens major target audience was the middle class, as he was brought up in similar circumstances he was able to portray the thoughts and feelings of middle class life accurately. Ibsen chose to use colloquial language to emphasize this style of realism and to help relate to his audience. Despite this Ibsen also managed to tactfully reveal that the middle class did in fact have some flaws, his realist drama disregarded a number of things, for example the tradition of the older male moral figure.

Tips for Submitting to Literary Magazines

Tips for Submitting to Literary Magazines As editor of the Maine Review, Im often asked what I look for in submissions. As a writer who has submitted to literary magazines, I know the process is fraught with anxiety, hope, and an occasional bit of dread. Its sad that theres no easier way for editors to discover excellent writing than through an impersonal submission process, and I hope that Let me say first that there would be no Maine Review, or New York Times, or Amazon.com without writers. Though writers often feel theyre at the bottom of the totem pole, the fact is that writing is actually the cornerstone of the entire industry. Be proud that youre a writer. As an editor, its a thrill for me to read a piece of writing that grabs me in the first paragraph, carries me along, and moves me in some waywhether to tears, laughter, or amazement that someone could so clearly express powerful feelings, ideas, and metaphors that I can deeply relate to as a fellow human being. Writing is powerful.   The process of writing can be powerful, healing, enraging, ennobling its one of the purest forms of self-expression because it comes straight from inspiration. What many writers ignore (or dont realize) is that theres a second part to the process, and that is craft. There are many excellent books on craft: Stephen Kings On Writing and Anne Lamotts Bird Over the years, Ive edited books in every genre, and Im amazed that some writers will write a novel without reading over it to tighten, focus, delete, and expand to make the book as compelling as possible.   Rewriting isnt always as fun as penning the first draft, but its what truly makes the story. That said, here are a few tips to keep in mind when submitting: 1. Find out what kind of work the lit mag publishes, and choose your submissions accordingly. You can often get a copy through your interlibrary loan system, or find previously published issues on the website. 2. Go deep. Readers love to experience what theyre reading, to relate to it on a visceral or emotional level. Gutsy writing is always appreciated. 3. Reading a piece through without noticing an error is a real joy for editors. I always suggest that writers have their work edited before submitting it anywhere. At least run the work through the spell checker, and fix what comes up. One or two typos doesnt mean the end of the world, but a piece that has numerous typos feels carelessly done, no matter how good the writing. 4. Follow instructions. Its amazing how many people, in every walk of life, fail to follow instructions. At the Review, we usually ask for a cover page along with a submission, so that we can easily keep track of a writers contact info. When were running a contest (deadline for the current contest is February 10th), we need a separate cover sheet to tag entries for the blind judging process. When we receive a submission that doesnt follow instructions, theres a tendency to assume that the writing might not be that good either even if thats often not true. Above all, enjoy the process of writing! Remember that editors love discovering the next great writer and it could be you. Good luck!

Mastectomy for Ductal Carcinoma insitu, impact on patient Essay

Mastectomy for Ductal Carcinoma insitu, impact on patient - Essay Example In fact, DCIS accounts for approximately 20% of all new breast cancer and precancerous condition diagnoses (Clause Stowe & Carter 2001). With or without treatment, DCIS patients have a very high survival rate; and, for most women diagnosed with DCIS, it is not considered to be a life-threatening condition. Mastectomy is the preferred, and most effective, treatment option for DCIS patients (Katz et al. 2010). However, there is currently very little research regarding how patients are actually affected by choosing mastectomy to treat DCIS; and, since the number of new DCIS diagnoses is continuing to increase, much more research is needed. DCIS, also called intraductal carcinoma, is a condition whereby the cancer cells develop in the milk ducts of the breast and have not moved out of the duct into any of the surrounding tissue (National Institute of Health 2009). As mentioned above, there is disagreement as to whether or not DCIS should be called cancer; and, some experts often refer to it as "stage zero breast cancer" ( Harris & Morrow 2009). Even though DCIS itself is not considered to be harmful, it is a known risk factor for invasive breast cancer (Zuckerman 2009). While most DCIS patients do not develop invasive breast cancer, approximately two percent (2%) of DCIS cases show evidence of metastases and an even smaller percentage of cases do actually develop into invasive breast cancer (Cornfield et al. 2004). Certain biomarkers may help to identify whether DCIS patients are at high or low risk of developing invasive breast cancer; however, more research is necessary to make more accurate risk predictions (Welch et al. 2008). Currently, however, there is no way to determine or predict which DCIS cases will in fact develop into invasive breast cancer. This paper will try to determine the available information on the rationale for selecting this modality; explore literature regarding the physiological/biological basis of the treatment or how the treatment manage s the disease, critic the impact this treatment had on the individual and the nurses’ role in addressing this, and consider how the patients’ experience could have been improved. Discussion Overview: Even without treatment, most women diagnosed with DCIS do not go on to develop invasive breast cancer. DCIS patients that do opt for treatment have surgical options, the most common being lumpectomy (with or without radiation therapy) and mastectomy. Lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy and mastectomy have the same high survival rate of 96% and above; however, mastectomy does have a slightly lower recurrence rate than lumpectomy with radiation which has a lower recurrence rate than lumpectomy alone (Holmberg et al. 2008; Hughes et al. 2009). Other factors have been found to affect DCIS recurrence rates

Article Critique Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Critique - Article Example These articles have provided sufficient background information for the study. Key words are necessary in every research and should be stated in the research paper. Wilson et.al (2005) addressed the use cohorts or isolation to prevent or reduce the spread of MRSA in ICU’s. Willey et.al (2008) discusses the risk factors for MRSA in roommates who are infected with MRSA in acute-care hospitals. Fernandez et.al (2002), is focused on the role of patient isolation is the control of the spread of MRSA in acute care. Gholson, Landry and Ribner (1986) talks of modified versus strict isolation in prevention of MRSA spread. b. Research objectives Gholson, Landry and Ribner (1986) examine the various infection control methods to prevent the spread of MRSA. Wilson et.al (2005) and Fernandez et.al (2002) aims at determining whether patient, staff or visitor compliance with the isolation practices have effects on the nosocomial transmission of MRSA. Willey et.al (2008) investigates the differ ent risk factors for MRSA acquisition in those patients who are exposed to MRSA colonized roommate. Fernandez et.al (2002) evaluates the efficiency of the isolation practices towards the minimization of the spread of MRSA. ... This means that the research aimed at achieving all the set objectives. c. Planned behavior theory The four articles used the planned behavior theory in underpinning the study to determine the characteristics and behaviors of the patients before and after the study. The framework chosen is quite clear and well stated and fit well with the research objectives and problem. The theoretical framework for the study is well explained and referenced. For example, the author on the article about â€Å"Strict vs. modified isolation of prevention of transmission of MRSA† has used Infect Control 1986; 7(6):317-320 to reference the foundation of the study where all hospitalized patients suffering from MRSA were put in modified isolation precautions. The theoretical frameworks for the other studies apart from the study on â€Å"Isolation of patients in single rooms in order to reduce MRSA spread in ICUs† have been well referenced. d. Methods Independent and dependent variables The v ariables chosen in each study are highly linked to the research objectives as they were adopted to help the researchers in achieving the stated research objectives. All the four studies have chosen different study institutions for a given study period of 4- 12 months. Wilson et.al (2005) undertook a one year study in ICU’s and the variables were MRSA colonization as the independent variable and weekly screen as the dependent variable. Willey et.al (2008) used MRSA infection and infection control logs as the study variables. Gholson, Landry and Ribner (1986) used daily reviews of all organism and infection control program as it variables while Wilson et.al (2005) used infection control program and various isolation