Was Egyptian Medicine a Huge Leap Forward?

Medicine in Prehistoric times and medicine in Egyptian times have shown similarities. For example trephining was still used as a treatment, even though it was not really very helpful. There was still the belief in supernatural forces being the cause for someone being unwell, despite the fact that it was not true. They both also used charms which have no effect, yet they believed it would have effect towards the supernatural forces. There was also the fact that during these two time periods there never were any anatomies to gain insight on how the whole human body works. They both used herbs which do work if used correctly. However there were also quite a few steps forward of development in Egyptian medicine as they did have the embalming process which involved somewhat dissecting the body if only to remove the organs and not a full scale anatomy however they were closer to the truth with the ‘channel theory’ as we do have veins, arteries and capillaries that have similar qualities to channels. They also were more developed in civilisation as they believed in a hierarchy where doctors existed, meaning that there were people specifically trained in medicine with medical books; they would pass knowledge through writing which would preserve over time to help new doctors and they would also comment on the effectiveness of the treatment itself, helping the doctor to decide the best treatment for their patient. They were also more developed as they had trade which would mean resources unavailable in Egypt could be brought from other countries to their own if they were in need of certain herbs for medicine. They could also exchange knowledge and treatments with other countries to gain more insight into effective medicine and ineffective medicine. Despite a few similarities in Egyptian and Prehistoric medicine I do believe that the Egyptian’s did provide an important step forward in the development of medicine as they had not only come up with a fairly accurate theory for how the human body worked which would lead away from supernatural causes to some extent as it offered more logical reasons why. This was discovered during mummification which was a process that was closer to the anatomy we still do today which does teach a lot about the body and how it works. Their preservation techniques for medicine were also really important as they would serve as guides and mean that any tested and proven theories and recipes could then be used by others as education and treatments, which is similar to today also.

Hardware and Software

My system will require a basic hardware package that includes the ability to run access. This means that they will need a basic computer package including input devices such as the keyboard and mouse and an output device, which is a monitor. Addition things such as a scanner and printer can be added to expand the capability of the computer. This set-up with minimum requirements can be bought for a figure as little as à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½500, which is about the administration, costs for a small business anyway. It would need at least a 1 GB hard drive and have windows 2000. Windows two thousand is needed to run Access and word. Software Data-Power Data power has many basic features of a database software package. These include limited design functions. These design functions allow you to design different databases in a range of colours and layouts. It also contains some limited search or query functions. These include the ability to perform pre set searches on you database. However this is in contrast to the most up to date software which allows the user to develop there own search functions. This brings me to my first disadvantage with Data Power. This is that Data Power is a very competent programme but it's very outdated. Many pieces of software available are now more advanced and contain more features than Data Power. As a result of its age, many new computers are not compatible with the data power programme. This could increase the cost of hardware and limit the functionality of the programme. Data Power is also avoidably difficult when it comes to searching. It uses much of the outdated and widely unknown computer language. This means that the users of such a programme will have to have limited knowledge of computers. Also searches are very wide and on large databases may not be practical. Excel Excel is a number-processing piece of software. It uses spreadsheets and equations to calculate and test different situations imposed on figures and how they may affect each other. Excel is good for balancing books and stock control as well as a minor model tester. It also has the ability to be used as a database. It has filter functions and limited search functions. It can be easily applied to word mail merge function giving one advantage over other packages. As well as this, it is also found on most computer systems. It is a relatively up-to-date system and is compatible with most systems. Excel also offers very complex queries. These queries allow you to search a number of things up at once. This is much better that the data powers basic query functions. It has lookup functions. However excel has only one user interface option. in addition to this it has no reports function or forms function. Word The purpose of word in this database is to use mail merge. This allows me to fulfil part of the criteria that says that the hotel needs to be able to send special offers to its customers. Word allows you to construct formal letters and files that can be used by mail merge to create personalised files. This would make it easier for administrators to send out special offers. Chosen Software I have chosen to use access. Access adaptable. You can make your own user interface designs as well as it being compatible with a lot of computer formats. Other reasons for my choice of excel is that I have access to access so it will be easier for me to make the database on access. Another reason for this choice is that access offers a wide range of query functions. These will allow me to set up the complex queries that are needed to perform the task the database was made for.

Teen Suicide…Enough Is Enough

Teen Suicide†¦Enough Is Enough One day I will be getting a tattoo on my right shoulder that contains the phrase, â€Å"Live For More! † I want the words to be in an old-fashioned, yet fancy, script and the letters will be both black and bold. My reason behind that specific font is to make the phrase stand out as much as possible, so that whoever reads my arm can see exactly how meaningful life really is to me, as a teenager living in today’s highly competitive, responsible, and stress filled world! Teen suicide attempts and completions are at an all time high in these present days and there are many reasons contributing to its growth as years progress. I am sick of adolescents ending potentially happy and successful lives. Now is the time to address not only its growth and statistics throughout the years, but also to reveal the underlining causes and warning signs of suicide. Essentially, it is also the most opportune moment to discuss the many possible life saving solutions to end this serious, yet popular, problem. It is official that today teen suicide is at an all time high. Surveys have shown that more than 25 percent of high school students and 10 percent of college students have seriously considered taking certain actions to end their lives. This unfortunate problem has grown a rate four times that of 1950. In present days, girls are about twice as likely to attempt suicide, whereas boys are actually four times more likely to complete the act. To prove wrong the assumption that the problem is mostly based upon economic terms, statistics show that rich teens kill themselves as often as poor or middle-income adolescents. Statistics even state, â€Å"Today, an estimated 276,000 kids between the ages of 14 and 17 try killing themselves each year, and more than 5,000 succeed† (Roleff). Studies also show that, at one time or another, every person has already thought of or will think about suicide. These numbers are very disturbing, and yet they only partially convey the ultimate tragedy that each teen suicide victim truly contributes to the aching hearts of their family and community. The only possible way to stop this travesty starts with understanding the pain that the suicide holder possesses and to force them to understand that the juice really is not worth the squeeze. Due to these statistics, a culmination of confusion tends to ensue. The big question is, why are teenagers so willing and eager to end the most valuable thing that a person can possibly possess, which happens to be their life? I am sure you have asked yourself this question once before, I know I have. The truth is that stress is the most contributing factor to suicide. The fact is that growing up is more stressful in present times than it’s ever been before. Other reasons include the death of a loved one, overpopulation and the break down of family, obesity, increased parental pressure to excel, and the easy access to drugs, alcohol, and firearms. Personally, I view romantic relationships to also be a huge concern within this problem. It is commonly seen, that following a break-up, teens choose suicide to impose a point or to just cause the most severe form of guilt. Stress is the number one cause of depression. â€Å"Suicide is a major danger associated with depression. Because of the associated shame and secrecy with suicide, many fail to get or give help. † (Carpenter 353). There are three main warning signs and symptoms pertaining to the act of suicide. The first is behavioral changes, which include changes in eating and sleeping habits, social isolation, drinking or drug use, or the giving away of valued possessions. The second is personal changes, which includes the appearance of common moods associated with anger, anxiety, or depression. These moods lead to aggressiveness, hopelessness, hypersensitivity, boredom, or difficulty concentrating. The final symptom includes health problems, such as frequent headaches, weight loss or gain, or fatigue. â€Å"It has been proven that two-thirds of those who commit suicide give some warning signs first† (Gorman). It is really up to us†¦as friends, relatives, teachers, and parents to recognize these signals and symptoms. We must all work together to react and respond quickly and strongly, person to person! Furthermore, once we all understand the warnings and overall reasons behind teen suicide, many steps can be taken to prevent future cases. Overall the ultimate aim is to make suicide more difficult and less likely. Researchers say that suicidal impulses usually last only about fifteen minutes and making it past that time may be just enough to defuse the whole situation. This is obviously easier said than done! First of all, never keep suicide a secret. If there is ever suspicion, immediately seek parental assistance. â€Å"The use of a therapist is the most popular solution, yet sometimes money is a huge issue. In that case, get somebody involved whom you can fully trust, that will charge very little to nothing† (Manning). Another very simple prevention is the denying of availability of prescription drugs and alcohol by keeping them out of easy access. Since about half of all young people who kill themselves do it with guns kept at home, one solution is for parents to keep guns hidden and unloaded, with bullets stored separately† (Roleff). My personal solution would be that of bringing about the most apparent, yet hidden, importance and splendors within life. I would forcefully exp lain and emphasize that it is a blessing and privilege to be alive, and that people must make the most out of what they have. Of course it is easy enough to just give up, but there is really no point. Once you are gone then you can never again see the beauty of a sunset or the magic of growth in all living things, never again feel the excitement of a shooting star, never again smell the sweet scent of spring air, or never again experience the splendor of romance. After one is all said and done, then there is no coming back! Finally, I would ask once again†¦is the juice really worth the squeeze? Now is time for teens to stop committing the morbid sin of suicide! Cases have grown drastically throughout the years, mainly due to all of the stress that teens are forced to face each and everyday. The only true way to stop this grievous problem is to eliminate all depressants, such as alcohol and drugs, and to promote motivation and confidence to succeed no matter what obstacle stands in the way. The key is to live for more†¦to take what you have and make the most that you possibly can, which I do everyday of my life! If you ever prevent somebody from committing suicide, he or she may be upset with you for a while. But chances are they won’t be upset for too long. At least they will have a lifetime to change their mind!

Overview Of E-commerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5750 words

Overview Of E-commerce - Essay Example Many giant businesses are using e-marketing for quite sometimes now and many have been programmed with other automated businesses since 1990s. For example, at GE’s Aircraft division, the customer could order an aircraft part, get invoice and initiate delivery all within 45 minutes. However, such sophisticated systems require dedicated communication lines and expensive hardware. These costs have been cut to a great extent with the invention of internet. Generally, B2B exchanges can be sub-divided into three main categories. Consortia are primarily a collaboration of vendors dealing with a particular industry e.g. the consortium of Global Food Exchange. Private Marketplaces on the other hand are run by a single organization and is aided by its key suppliers. Wallmart and Dell are examples of Private Marketplace. ... , industry consortium is typically a Vertical market owned by the industry which allows buyers to procure services and goods from restricted participants. The aim of the industry consortium is to generate steady association with the industry with a view to establish a long term affiliation through contractual procurement. These industry consortium tend to bring together all the supply chains within the industry which in-turn bringing the profits back to the industry. The industry consortia provides a number of facilities e.g. systematic procurement process, auctions, pricing and RFQs mechanisms for profitability of the industry. Q 72 What is channel conflict? Give an example of how channel conflict can be avoided or lessened. Ans Channel conflict is a term used to describe the expulsion of channel partners e.g. suppliers or distributors from supply chain by a company to reach out for the customer directly. This may be achieved through the use of internet via e-commerce or through gen eral marketing. E-commerce provides a simple and economic solution for the businesses to directly contact their consumers and sell their brands without intermediaries. However, this simple solution also brings with it a great challenge. The customers can also interact with one another through internet and exchange ideas regarding product quality and price. This scenario forces the companies to fix a competitive price of the product or service without compromising on the quality. Over production by a company can also result in channel conflict. Similarly, newer editions of the products in the market, trend changes and wholesalers insolvency also cause channel conflict. Therefore, the stock clearance strategy of a company is of utmost importance for avoidance of channel conflict. There are

Data Centers Routing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Data Centers Routing - Research Paper Example It had been established that the traditional architectural networks failed to meet the basic requirements of information as well as communication technology in efficiently supporting business in the society with effectiveness. It is important to underscore the high costs that were associated with the ancient networking structural format (Abts & Kim, 2011). Maintenance of multiple networks made up of different architectures with each having its own unique characteristics, tools, and the set of technical skills always increases the costs of operation and decreases the adaptability to the highly dynamic business requirements. It is imperative to underscore the fact that data centers are mostly driven by a wide variety of computer services and this includes the search engines, online office together with social networking as well as information technology or even infrastructural outsourcing. The main motivation behind the increasing demand for data center network is for the firms to enjo y economy of scale arising from large amounts of data and connect many servers .The most important issue is how to connect a sizable number of servers with an efficient routing system. In this research, the concept of basic data routing will be explored to establish the possibilities of developing the most efficient and cost effective data center networks. There are various motivational factors as well as obstacles that surround the application of data center routing. The basic foundation of supporting many applications of the internet is pegged on data centers (Abts & Kim, 2011). This information technology concept is also instrumental in the operation of the enterprises and scientific operation. The principal challenge in this concept is how to develop a data intensive communication through a large scale data center routing that can link many servers in a system of computers. It has been found out that data center network’s server centric plays the role of being the host as well as

Managing and Improving Quality Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Managing and Improving Quality - Term Paper Example There are three performance improvement methodologies described in this paper. Six Sigma is one of the methodologies and was initiated by Motorola then publicized by General electric. It is a manufacturing methodology whose focus is on variance reduction via a problem solution approach in order to improve quality of output. Lean thinking which was pioneered by Toyota as the company’s key to success. The methodology aims at reducing waste in order to improve the performance of business via workflow improvement. Theory of Constraint is a methodology which focuses on constraints of the manufacturing system and stresses on quicker systems throughput in a system process. Comparison of performance Improvement Methodologies Agenda Six sigma Lean thinking Theory of constraints Theory Reduce variation Waste elimination Constraint management Targeted Organizations Manufacturing manufacturing Manufacturing spotlight problems Flow of work Systems limitation Applications Definitions Analyz ing Improving Controlling measuring Value recognition Recognizing value stream Perfection Pull and flow Recognizing limitations and exploiting them. Subordinate process Constraint elevation Cycle repetition Assumptions Problem existence Quick throughput Limited inventory Fluctuations Measurement of performance for managers. Quality improvement. Removal of waste improves the performance of business. Several but small improvements are preferable compared to systems analysis. Speed and volume emphasis. Use of existing systems. An independent process. Primary effect Output process is uniform Decreased flow time Quick throughput Use of Six Sigma in healthcare organizations Six Sigma offers healthcare organizations a structure for Quality improvement both as a measurement as an application. Six Sigma is important in a healthcare organization for viability reduction in clinical service delivery. The application of Six Sigma in healthcare is a quality improvement plan in the process of medi cation application. Its presentation in this methodology demonstrates the versatility of these quality improvements in the healthcare organizations. Six Sigma in QI plan is a concept in statistics that represents the differences in data which has been set about its mean. In healthcare organizations the process capability measures the mean of the process in relation to the closest patient specifications limit. Six sigma as a management methodology provides the healthcare organization with the ability to systematically reduce its current errors and defects occurrences to low levels. This is achieved with a specific goal of delivering services with minimum error for maximum opportunities. Therefore in healthcare services the QI plan for six sigma is consider as a measurement and a methodology as well. In the healthcare organizations Six Stigma is applied in reducing variation sources found in various process of the organization. These processes include patient treatment, billing, patie nt triage and technology use by employees. Six Sigma was chosen by the many healthcare organizations due to its ability to evaluate process capability in performing defect free in a case where the defect is defined as something that patient satisfaction. At the same time, Six Sigma helps in designing,

Mitigating Burnout and Stress through Transformational Leadership Article

Mitigating Burnout and Stress through Transformational Leadership - Article Example TL is defined as performance and leadership beyond expectations. Studies have shown that the application of TL leads to efficiency and reduction of job stress among employees. A study, by use of questionnaires, was carried out by customer care service employees (CCSEs) to determine the relationship between TS, burnout, and JS. The questionnaire, which covered questions on measurements, TL, JS and Job burnout, were distributed to sampled hotels, restaurants and pubs in the Lower Mainland of Canada. Pubs were eliminated from the survey owing to few accepting to be studied leaving a sample size of 33.8% and 66.2% for hotel and restaurant CCSEs respectively. The responses were analyzed statistically and different hypotheses tested against the responses resulting in varying relationships between the different types of leadership, JS and burn out. The results showed that JS was directly proportional to burnout and inversely proportional to TL. This, as a matter of fact, showed that TL approaches and methods are beneficial to organizations. The article states that both transformational and transactional leadership styles have advantages though it pointed out that TL produced better results on employees and lessened stress levels. To be an effective leader, therefore, I would adopt the TL style. The article shows how TL reduces JS and burnout in CCSEs. CCSEs are subjected to different types of work environments which expose them to higher levels of stress compared to workers in most other fields. If TL produced positive results on these employees, then it would most likely work on employees of any other industry. Effective leadership has more to do with being a leader than a being a manager.  

International Business in the News Write-Up Article

International Business in the News Write-Up - Article Example Information provided in this article blends well with the issues covered in class about the EU debt crisis in general. MAIN IDEAS IN THE ARTICLE In this article, Tzortzinis explores the current economic crisis in Greece since its inception, the role played by its ratification to the European Union Agreements and attempts that have been made to rescue the situation including political changes and proposed in the EU agreements. RELATION OF THE ARTICLE’S IDEAS TO MATERIALS DISCUSSED IN CLASS Tzortzinis provides an in-depth analysis of the economic situation in Greece and the actions that have been taken and currently being contemplated in rescuing the country’s economy from the eminent collapse. The author discusses the country’s economic crisis that has brought the Greek’s government down, increased social unrest, and eventually threatened not only the country’s future in the EU but also the future of the euro. This information closely relates to the video entitled â€Å"Greek Debt Crisis Adds New Gravity to U.S. Deficit.† Information of particular interest in this article revolves around the current attempts by the new Greece government to re-negotiate the bailout agreements reached by the previous government with the EU economic giants such as German and France. Tzortzinis discusses the debt restructuring deal reached by EU officials in March 2012 in which the private sector lenders are greatly involved. The discussion supports the discussion on the implication of the Greece economic crisis on the U.S. economy because the deal poses significant threat to the U.S. economy due to its economic interest within the Eurozone. It is argued that the debt restructuring deal does not have the potential to solve the country’s economy crisis. This is because the deal exposes opens the journey for the country to languish in a chain of debts with limited economic growth prospects. In the video, â€Å"Greek Debt Crisis Adds Ne w Gravity to U.S. Deficit.† Jacob Kirkegaard, one of the respondents to Judy Woodruff’s questions, expresses significant concerns on the restructuring deal reached by the European officials in which he says that it is likely to trigger a situation in the country’s economy similar to that of the U.S. 2008 financial crisis. According to Kirkergaard, the proposed bond issue strategy has far- reaching implications to the global financial system including the U.S. economy. As asserted by the economists in the video discuss, any default experienced in the Greek domestic banking system is likely to be experienced in other countries like Spain, Portugal and Ireland. These views are clearly expressed by Tzortzinis in his article. He expresses views that support the argument presented by Kirkergaard, in which the steps taken by the troika are unlikely to resolve the economic crisis in Greece simply because the country’s debts will continue to grow at the expense of the troika’s interests. Therefore, most of the information presented in the selected article tends to provide a strong background support to the ideas presented in the video watched in class and the class discussions on the potential impact of the Greek debt crisis on the U.S. economy. In the video featuring Professor David Cameron on the EU debt crisis, views similar to those presented by Tzortzinis arise in which the debt crisis faced by EU members

Vietnams Confucian Heritage and Its Impact on Governance Dissertation

Vietnams Confucian Heritage and Its Impact on Governance - Dissertation Example It is clear to anyone who has observed the evolution of the world over the years that communism is a failure that still blinds people in some places around the world and that all cronies of communism have not amounted to much anywhere in the world. In stark contrast to this, those governed by the Western Capitalists or those who have been defeated in war by the previously mentioned have fared much better. The stark contrasts between North and South Koreas, former East and West Germany and the future rise of Japan after the Second World War are a clear testimony to the fact that pure communism was an evil that needed checking and restraining. Although in the present post-Vietnam era the misguided Islamists around the world remain vocal and critical of the West, blaming it for all of their self – induced abject failures they have no answers to provide about why their own religious civilization has never amounted to anything anywhere around the world. Surely, a people who were th e followers of the last guidance from the Creator of the Universe should have been able to demonstrate something to the world instead of espousing loathing, revulsion and an utter backwardness. After all, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and no people can dump the reason for their failures on to others. Thus, it is likely that something broke down in Vietnam for it to have become a playground for superpowers, just as something distinctly rotten is apparent in Islamic societies. Economics and the distribution of resources have always profoundly influenced human societies and the world. Clearly, despite all attempts to blame the West for the paucity of Vietnam, it is the people of Vietnam and its leaders who must assume responsibility for its destruction when Vietnamese leadership sought to side with communism or capitalism instead of working for the good of the nation.

Cleveland Apollo Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cleveland Apollo - Assignment Example This rampant concern about the ethical acquisition of antiquities has been the outcome of the widespread demands being made by the varied governments for the return of antiquities acquired by museums and collectors through unethical and illegal means and procedures, and the associated high profile trials. In that context the Cleveland Museum of Art’s acquisition of the statue of Apollo attributed to Praxiteles has attracted much controversy owing to the intriguing nature of its acquisition (Litt, 2010). Keeping in mind the existent ethics and international laws pertaining to the acquisitions of antiquities, it will certainly be apt to say that for the time the Cleveland Museum of Art must desist from displaying this statue of Apollo. The Cleveland Museum of Art acquired the controversial statue in 2004. Since then this statue has attracted much controversy. The museum is believed to have paid approximately $5 million to acquire this statue from Phoenix Ancient Art. This statut e is noted to be seen on an estate in Germany in the 30s and was noted to have stayed there before it was purchased by a Dutch antique collector in 1994 (Litt, 2010). After that the statute remained unseen for quite some time till it was traced to the Phoenix Ancient Art in 2002 (Cultural Heritage Resource, 2013). ... Thereby, the much plausible premise that ensues from the statement made by the Phoenix Ancient Art is that the firm was well aware of the statute’s past ownership history till it acquired it in 2002. This brings the acquisition of the Apollo statute by the Cleveland Museum of Art in direct confrontation with the established authorities and bodies of specialty, which have promulgated well specified ethical guidelines and ethical codes pertaining to the acquisition of antiquities. It will be academically quite insightful to delve into the guidelines published by these bodies of concern. The things is that any ethical museum or organization needs to stick to the guidelines ensuing from the UNESCO Convention aimed at prohibiting the unethical and illegal import and export of the cultural antiquities. As per the 1970 UNESCO Convention, the cultural antiquities need to be acquired in consonance with the international laws and the domestic laws imminent on the sale and purchase of su ch works of art (UNESCO, 2012)). Thereby, in a legal context this Convention debars the import of any antiquity into the United States of America that did not get out of the jurisdiction of its country of origin at a time that was not prior to the date when the restrictions were imposed, or any artifact that is not accompanied by an export license issued by its country of origin (Archaeological Institute of America (a), 2013). Now when one takes the UNESCO guidelines into consideration it does need to be mentioned that as per EC Regulation 3911/92, the export of any cultural antiquity that was traced in the jurisdiction of any EU member state in 1994 needs to be accompanied by an export license (Cultural Heritage Resource, 2013). This stands to be

Assignment #4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Assignment #4 - Essay Example Access to technology has given way to continuous improvement and set standards for excellent service delivery. Information services serve six different functions in the organization, namely; ensuring validity and reliability of data, storing and retrieving data, training support users, maintain data security, maintain communication and continuous improvement of the Information Services (John and Kenneth 388). In recent years, IS has gradually risen to become a core utility in healthcare organizations. This is because of its reliance in supporting transactions necessary for healthcare processes, performing measures that steer improvement, as well as making learning much easier by improving the communication process. IS helps healthcare organizations to maintain high degrees of accuracy of information while also supporting effective communication. IS also helps in makes it easy for organizations to store and retrieve data, process the data in to useful sets of information, and plays a big role in training other users. The benefits of IS to an organization are seen through customer satisfaction, and improvements in clinical as well as other units of the healthcare organization (John and Kenneth 383). The best way to implement Information Services is to view customers of the organization as services. All planning activities must be integrated with specific improvements in customer performance through improvements in patient

Historical Profile on Frank W. Notestein and Guttmacher Essay Example for Free

Historical Profile on Frank W. Notestein and Guttmacher Essay Demography is the scientific study of population size, structure(or composition), spatial distribution and development of human population overtime (McFalls, 2007). Therefore, the aim of this paper is to present a historical profile on Frank W. Notestein and Guttmacher Institute and their major contributions to the development of demography. In opening the paper began by defining demography. It will progress by introducing who Notestein was there after his contributions to development of demography. Furthermore, the paper will present a historical profile of the Guttmacher Institute. Finally, the organization’s contributions made to development of demography will be presented. A conclusion will then be drawn. Having defined what demography is the paper will now bring in who Notestein was there after his contributions to development of demography. Frank W. (Wallace) Notestein was born in Alma, Michigan in 1902, Notestein received his undergraduate degree from the College of Wooster in 1923. He received his PhD in Economics from Cornell University in 1927 and was an Economics instructor there from 1926-1927. From 1927 through 1928, Notestein worked abroad as a researcher of the Social Sciences Research Council. He began work for the Milbank Memorial Fund as a research assistant and then became a member of its technical staff from 1929 through 1936. In 1936, Notestein began as a Lecturer at Princeton University. At the same time, he developed and directed the Office of Population Research (OPR) at Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs with funding from the Milbank Memorial Fund. By 1941, Notestein had attained full professorship as the Director of the OPR and as a professor of Demography, holding both titles until his resignation in 1959. Notestein remained as Acting Director of the OPR for the fall 1959 term while his successor, Ansley J. Coale, took a vacation. After Notestein’s resignation, he remained involved at Princeton as a â€Å"Visiting Senior Demographer† through 1963. In addition, he was a â€Å"Visiting Lecturer in Public and International Affairs, â€Å"at Princeton beginning in 1968. He maintained both positions until June 1982.Notestein’s resignation from full professorship and director of the OPR at Princeton allowed him to become the president of the Population Council (PC) until 1968. Notestein had been a trustee of the PC since its establishment. Along with Notestein’s positions at Princeton and the PC, he was the organizer and  first director of the Population Division of the United Nations, 1946-1948. He chaired the Technical Advisory Committee on Population for the 1950 United States Census and was a member of the 1960 United States Census Committee. Notestein was a researcher of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Sociological Association, and the American Statistical Association. He was a member of the American Eugenics Society, the American Philosophical Society, the Council on Foreign Relations, the International Statistical Institute, the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, the Population Association of America, and the Century Association. Notestein married Daphne Limbach in 1927; they had no children. He passed away in 1983 Notestein’s Contributions to Demography, Frank W. (Wallace) Notestein contributed a lot to the science of demography and to a better understanding of population problems in world affairs, especially through his work on family planning and population control. The following are some of the major contributions he made to development of demography. He worked for the Milbank Memorial Fund, an endowed national foundation that supports nonpartisan analysis, study, and research on significant issues in health policy, as a research assistant and then became a member of its technical staff from 1929 through 1936. Here he worked on differential fertility, the total genetic contribution to the next generation (Alter, 1992) The OPR focused on the study of the interrelation of population growth and change in underdeveloped areas and on the social and psychological factors affecting fertility in the American family. When he was the president of the Population Council (PC ) until 1968. He helped to study and promote understanding of the scientific aspects of population change throughout the world by fostering scientific theory and research in social, economic and medical fields. As the organizer and first director of the Population Division of the United Nations, he advised India’s Minister of Health on population policies and beginning a population center for training and research on demography in India in 1955. In addition, as chairperson of the Technical Advisory Committee on Population for the 1950 United States Census and as a member of the 1960 United States Census Committee, Notestein was a co-editor of the Population Index, a bibliography of population literature that was the official publication of the Population Association of American  and the OPR from 1936-1957. He co-authored Controlled Fertility in 1940 and The Future Population of Europe and the Soviet Union in 1944, as we ll as authoring numerous journal publications. Moving on further, the paper will now present a historical profile of the Guttmacher Institute . The Guttmacher Institute traces its origins from the Center for Family Planning Program Development. It was founded in 1968 by Alan F. Guttmacher (1898-1974). At the time, he was president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, an obstetrician-gynecologist, an author and a leader in reproductive rights. By 1968, Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon had begun to call the publics attention to the problem of unplanned and unwanted childbearing and its consequences for individual women and men, their children and their communities both at home and abroad. Concurrently, the United States Congress was taking its first steps toward the development of an international population assistance program, as well as a versatile, national program aimed at providing equitable access to modern methods of birth control in the United States. By putting together nonpartisan social science research, policy analysis and public education, the Center hoped to provide a factual basis for the development of sound governmental policies and for public consideration of the sensitive issues involved in the promotion of reproductive health and rights. This purpose and commitment continue today [ http://www.guttmacher.org/sections/index.php] The Center was originally housed within the corporate structure of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). Its program, however, was independently developed and overseen by a National Advisory Council separate from the PPFA Board of Directors. Its early development was nurtured by Alan F. Guttmacher, an eminent obstetrician-gynecologist, teacher and writer who was PPFAs president for more than a decade until his death in 1974. The Center was renamed in Dr. Guttmachers memory, and the Guttmacher Institute incorporated as an entirely independent nonprofit policy research institute with its own Board in 1977. The Guttmacher Institute maintains offices in New York and Washington. Its current staff of 78 comprises demographers, social scientists, public policy analysts, editors, writers, communications specialists, and financial and technical personnel. A few of its employees have been with the organization for most of its existence, and an  affiliation that goes back 10 or 15 years is not unusual. The Institutes work is guided by a 40-member board made up of eminent professionals from a rich variety of disciplines, as well as civic leaders from across the United States and around the world. The Guttmacher Institutes annual budget of approximately $14 million is derived largely from private foundations, government agencies, multilateral organizations and individual contributions. Contributions To begin with the organization provided a factual basis for the development of sound governmental policies and for public consideration of the sensitive issues involved in the promotion of reproductive health and rights (Srinivasan, 1998) Also, the Guttmacher I supplied information that was more current than the data from the the Division of Reproductive Health of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion thereby providing reliable demographic information. They issued their report on 2005-May-19 which was based on 2001 2002 data. They found that the abortion rates in the U.S. continued to drop, although the rate of decrease has slowed since the early 1990s: the rate of abortion declined among women aged 15 to 44 from 21.3 in 2000 to 21.1 in 2001 and 20.9 in 2002. These are decreases of 0.8% a year .This compared with a rise in the number of abortions in the UK from 181,600 in 2003 to a record high of 185,400 in 2004 a 2% increase. Abortions for girls under 14 years of age increased by 6 %. (http://www.lifesite.net/Decline+in+Number+and/html) Bringing this discussion closer home, the Guttmacher Institute and Youth Vision Zambia partnered to collaborate on a project with the primary goal of increasing understanding among priority audiences of the incidence of unsafe abortion in Zambia, in an effort to improve access to sexual and reproductive health information and services and contribute to a reduction in the incidence of unsafe abortion. (http://www.yvz.org.zm/?page_id=75) Now in its fifth decade, the Guttmacher Institute remains committed to the mission and goals that led to its creation. For instance, the organization recently did some work on The Incidence of Induced Abortion in Uganda, where they concluded that unsafe abortion exacts a heavy toll on women in Uganda. To reduce unplanned pregnancy and unsafe abortion, and to improve womens health, increased access to contraceptive services is needed for all women.  (Ankungo, 2005) In conclusion, the paper has presented a historical profile on Frank W. Notestein and Guttmacher Institute and their major contributions to the development of demography. It can be concluded that both the person and the organization are significant to development of demography. For instance, Notstein’s study and research of the scientific aspects of population change throughout the world has fostered scientific theory and research in social, economic and medical fields. In terms of the institute, provides a factual starting point in demographic information and methods which aid governments in coming up with informed policies.

The Findings Of Our Group Presentation Social Work Essay

The Findings Of Our Group Presentation Social Work Essay From the findings of our group presentation, it can be said that quality means doing things right, but the things which the operation needs to do right will vary according to the kind of operation. For example, in the hospital, quality could mean making sure that patents get the most appropriate treatment, that the treatment is carried out in a medically correct manner, it would also include such things as ensuring that the hospital is clean, and that the staff are well informed and friendly towards patients. Its not surprising that all operations regard quality as a particularly important object. In some ways quality is the most visible part of what an operation does. Furthermore, its some thing that a customer finds relatively easy to judge about the operation. By asking is it right or wrong? Is it the way its supposed to be? There is some thing fundamental about quality. Because of this, its clearly a major influence on customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Quality then is simple meeting the customer requirements, and this has been expressed in many ways:‘Fitness for purpose or use, ‘Conformance to requirements, and in many other ways. Clearly, part of the acceptability of a service will depend on its ability to function satisfactorily over a period of time, and it is this aspect of performance that is given the name reliability. It is the ability of the service to continue to meet the customer requirements. It is important to realize that the meeting the customer requirements definition of quality is not restrictive to the functional characteristics of services. A report on your contribution to the group and to the work that was presented I contributed a great deal in the planning and writing up of the presentation. Our group communicated amongst itself both efficiently and effectively. Although we gathered on only one occasion outside academic hours as a whole group, the meeting was extremely constructive as we were able to discuss and arrange the main sections of the presentation. My role within the group was to design the slides and research on the topic I was allocated as a member of the group. Firstly, I decided to research on the theory of variation and the Deming cycle, and attempted to link these theories to the results of the care quality commission report on the two care homes of our choice. The other role in the work of the group involved introducing the main points of the presentation and writing up on one of the key points in the conclusion. A report on how the group worked together Group work has been defined by various authors, however Kurland and Salmon (2003) states that for some group work is just another way of talking about teamwork, however, working in groups is often presented as a good way of dividing work and increasing productivity. It can also be argued that it allows for the utilization of the different skills, knowledge and experiences that people have, (Cory and Cory, 2002). Kurland and Salmon (2002) describes team work as partnership, therefore he goes to describe partnership working as a variety of arrangements with different purposes, time scales, structures, operating procedures and members between groups and the community as a whole. Lowndes (2002) adding that partnership/group working achieves what would be difficult or impossible for a single person to do on their own therefore collaborative working is also known as partnership working. However, (Wildridge et al, 2004) argues that partnership working is not in and of itself a good thing. Y alom (2005) claims that for a group work to be effective 10 characteristic should be present: Develop goals and plans, Enhance communication among members, Develop and maintain positive relationships among members, Solve problems and make decisions on a timely basis, Successfully manage conflict, Facilitate productive meetings, Clarify roles for team members, Operate in a productive manner, Exhibit effective team leadershipand Provide development opportunities for team members. Our group work lacked the communication skills, hence working in a group proved difficult. Donovan (2005) states that good communication is critical to effective teamwork; it is far more than talking and listening. It is sometimes a complex and puzzling process. However, effective communication is possible with the right approach, techniques and some practice. Our group could have worked better as a team. The main flaw was our inability to meet up, discuss ideas and become all aware as to which stage of drafting we are. We at times thought different things were occurring and we didnt all pull in the same direction until towards the end when editing the slides.[1] These are the sessions where we worked well as a group. When editing, we looked at the slides and any idea brought up by one of our group members were considered. This process happened several times and this ensured us that we were all happy with the final copy of our presentation. Another disappointing thing about our group was the lack of met deadlines. However, this directly came as a consequence as a lack of deadlines set. Although the work was shared between the group, it was much disorganised as to when it should be done. It was very difficult for this reason to know whether we were ahead or behind schedule with the only dates determined was the final deadline for all work (15/04/2010). My experience in group work has showed that there are many problems that accompany group work that is people dont pull their weight and one person who dont turn up leaving other person to complete the task. There are problems with time management as some people might not attend time set because of other commitment and lack of commitment towards the task resulting in people not doing what was given to them, this is a big de-motivation factor in group as it pulls the whole group down and effects work. The day we met for the first time to prepare our presentation, our strategy involved first gathering all information on Deming using research skills like using reputable sources from the Internet, newspaper and articles for the next meeting. On the first of three meeting we covered what points were relevant and how would we structure the presentation and had an agreement on the type of care home we will use for our presentation. The following week we gathered our research together and highlighted the important and relevant information and set our specific points for each person to cover and what to research, we also began our PowerPoint presentation. My point was to design the slides and prepare a clear explanation of the theory of variation and the Deming cycle. On the final week we brought in our final version on what each of us would cover and finalised the presentation and practice our presentation and corrected each other if there were any faults and gave inputs to each other on how they improve it even further. What I learnt in group work with my colleagues while preparing for presentation that people who have good decision making skills will set a vision of what need to be accomplished and setting a structure of how should we aim to achieve it. This part involves being good at making decisions, as it is very crucial part in-group work and a good academic skill to have. This motivates other to decisions rather then leaving it to the end, as it helpss set a goal to aim for. There are also couple of skills that are crucial they include setting prioritise, communicating between colleague and inter personal skills. For example giving constructive criticism like our group did when we were carrying out presentation to each other.[2] (Rose et al,1989) It could have been wise to adopt Tuckmans literature on group development, based on a meta-analysis of the complex models which had previously been developed. It has the virtue of being memorable, but the limitation of being rather rigid.[3](Tuckman, 1965) [1] Davis,B.G.(2009)(2nd ed.) Tools for teaching. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass [2] Brower,A.M.,Rose,S.D.(1989) Advances in Group work research. London: Eurospan/Haworth. [3] Tuckman,B. (1965) Developmental Sequence in Small Groups Psychological Bulletin 63 pp. 384-399

Organizational Culture and Leadership Styles of Enron

Organizational Culture and Leadership Styles of Enron To begin, one should look at the background of Enron and how it became the largest energy trading company in the world (Needle, 2004) in less than two decades. Founded in 1985 in a merger between Houston Natural Gas and InterNorth, Enron expanded from pipelines to electricity and online trading. Enron was based in Houston, Texas and it built pipelines, power stations and gas plants in the USA and around the world; Kenneth Lay was the Chairman and CEO. According to the documentary film Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, the arrival of Jeffrey Skilling as CEO was a turning point in Enrons business activities. Skilling was a visionary initiator and he saw the future of Enron as a middleman in nationwide and global energy trading. The tide of energy deregulation in the 1990s made it possible for Enrons senior executives to convince investors, financial regulators, and the United States Government that its sale of financial instruments also known as derivatives was economically sound. ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE Organisational culture was one of the important aspects which played a crucial role in the downfall of Enron. Using Scheins layered conceptualisation of culture (Rollinson, 2008) one can begin by analysing the core of the culture also known as basic assumptions. In this layer, main desire of an organization is to create wealth for its shareholders, employees, and investors. As revealed in the documentary film, the management and trading floors were obsessed with value of the Enron stock from which wealth would be generated; people inside Enron literally did whatever they could to ensure that the stock kept rising to attract further investments. The next layer in Scheins model is values and beliefs. Here basis of reward and effort are in instantly recognised as an important aspect of Enron. As mentioned before, Enron paid large bonuses to employees and partners who performed their job exceptionally well. To receive these rewards some divisions of Enron falsified information regarding their financial performance. In this layer we also find trust and honesty which Enron did receive from its customers and employees until its downfall. In fact the shock and disbelief of its employees and customers evidently supports the notion that Enron was a respected business in the investor community and in the government. The final layer, artefacts and creations, are those most visible to the general public. As the 7th largest company in the USA there was relatively a lot of publicity regarding Enron as the leader in innovation having received the Fortune honour of Americas Most Innovative Company six years in a row. It became a norm on the trading floors to work overtime in hope of receiving bonuses. In the documentary, a local priest revealed how some employees came to see him for counselling as they felt that Enron was taking over their lives. Symbols of hierarchy were also explicit; Kenneth Lay, Skilling and most senior managers occupied large offices in the top floors while traders operated on the lower floors. Myths and stories is a very interesting aspect since senior management circulated stories regarding devilish trips inducing the idea of a macho culture where it is admirable to take risks. This furthered the notion that it was acceptable for people at all levels in the Enron hierarchy to t ake risks to expand the company. Last but not least, taboos were considered the few but strongly outspoken criticisms it received by few investors and journalists; these were ignored completely. This blunt ignorance played a major role in its downfall because it could still be in business today if it had responded to early criticism. LEADER There are a lot of definitions for the term Leader. One of the definition which suits the leader in this case study being A person who holds a dominant or superior position within its field, and is able to exercise a high degree of control or influence over others. Jeff skilling, the CEO of Enron has been depicted as the leader in this case. He was aggressive, intelligent and possessed exemplary leadership qualities which was incremental in creating a culture of aggression and incentivised competition in the organisation. He wanted to alter the way in which Energy was being traded. He succeeded in initiating a market for natural gas wherein it started being traded as stocks. He converted energy into a financial instrument and this led to Enron becoming the largest energy trader in North America. In the movie, Bethany has said that Jeff Skilling was an inspirational leader who inspired his work force and empowered them. He was a genius who controlled the working environment with his intelligence, asking employees to believe that they are the best group of employees and understand that they are associated with the best organization in the world. LEADERSHIP TRAITS Traits are distinguishing qualities or characteristics of a person, while character is the sum total of these traits. The more of these you display as a leader, the more your followers will believe and trust in you. The five leadership traits/leadership qualities are honest, forward-looking, competent, inspiring and intelligent. Jeff skilling was very much forward-looking in nature as he always wanted to make maximum out of the business and wanted Enron to be one of the largest organization in the world. He was inspirational to many people including the share holders, employees, media and even stock brokers/analyst. These people blindly followed him because of his charismatic leadership style. He was one the intelligent minds in Enron. Under his leadership the organisation transformed from a small energy market player to the biggest energy trading company in North America with a rapidly expanding global operations network. The company was being driven by the aggressive and individualistic attitude which was strongly ingrained in the system by Jeff Skilling and the policies of the management team for attaining short term profit. These were successful in achieving the results in hindsight but were seriously damaging the ethical balance in the system. His charisma had many dark side tendencies which overlooked the ethical side of the business leading the company to go down in a few years time frame. LEADERSHIP STYLE An influential definition of leadership states as follows: The process whereby one individual influences other group members towards the attainment of defined group, or organizational goals. (Barron Greenberg, 1990). The case of Enron singles out two individuals in particular with leadership qualities namely Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling. Group members may be considered to be the employees of Enron but in the documentary mentioned above, many say that the traders performing the day-to-day business activities are those most influenced by the CEO. From the quote one can also see that the traders desire to be known as the ones making the most money for the company and the desire for Lay and Skilling to be rich and influential are two goals which go well hand in hand. However it may be this mutual desire which blinded both partners and drove them to greed and illegality. It is now one turns to the role of leadership in the downfall of Enron. Although both Lay and Skilling essentially are managers appointed by those with the most shares in Enron, it is evident that during their tenure they possessed leadership qualities which affected their subordinates. Using first the descriptive approach to leadership (Rollinson 2008), one can observe that many people inside and outside the Enron admire Lay for his rise from a modest preacher family to a Washington-insider and CEO of a billion dollar company. In America, individualism is regarded as the predominant workplace culture and as CEO of Enron Lays influence was therefore significant. In essence Lay embodies the capitalist dream in the US in particular. Having received the leadership mantel Lay bluntly lied to his subordinates and investors regarding the financial state of Enron as it faced financial difficulties. This prolonged the period of debts and may be the reason to the speed of the eventual collapse. Jeffrey Skilling as well as being the appointed CEO possessed leadership qualities of a different kind. The functional approach to leadership (Rollinson 2008) shows that Skilling arguably acquired his leadership status as accredited with the visionary movement of Enron into the online trading medium. Ironically, it is likely that this new complex trading paved way for the accounting fraud to come and caused the downfall. An aspect perhaps less investigated but which also affects leadership is the idea of reciprocal causality (Rollinson 2008). The followers, in this case the employees; in return for their dedication to the leaders also demand something in return. It is acknowledged that many traders received large bonuses for creating wealth for the company. At best this gave employees incentive to work hard with dedication and work overtime and at worst it engaged some, in particular traders, in illegality as shown in the documentary with the California blackouts. 5.1 Transactional and transformational leadership In transactional leadership, the leader holds the power and has the control over his employees or followers. He provides incentives for followers to do what he wants. Hence, if an employee does what is desired, a reward will follow and he or she does not, a punishment or with holding of the reward will occur. In transformational leadership, positive changes can be observed in the followers. Transformational leaders are very energetic, enthusiastic and passionate by nature. They are generally concerned about the processes and are always involved in it to make it even better. These kinds of leader interact with their employees, take their suggestions into consideration and help them to succeed in their work. The best leadership is both transformational and transactional. Transformational leadership augments the effectiveness of transactional leadership; it does not replace transactional leadership, (Walsman, Bass, Yammarino, 1990). Transaction is an effective and necessary tool for leaders at all levels. Transformational leaders generally resort to the transactional style when they do not find a suitable solution for any of the problem faced. When the transformational leader sees him/her in a win-lose negotiation he tries to convert it into a win-win problem solving situation. If this is not possible, then he or she can display the transactional skills necessary as an effective negotiator, (Walsman, Bass, Yammarino, 1990). Transactional and transformational leadership are different from each other but still they are not mutually exclusive processes and different leaders may use both of these based on different situations. This may be termed as situational leadership where the leader re sponds differently under different circumstances showing the behaviour of both transactional and transformational leadership. Jeff Skilling demonstrated both these styles in his leadership. He was transactional in the sense that involved an exchange taking place between leader and follower. He wanted employees to believe on his words and made sure that each and every employee work according to his instructions and timelines, making sure that maximum output is achieved in the minimum time. For this, he kept on motivating employees by rewarding them for the work done. He was also simultaneously transformational where in the followers were motivated to transcend their own self interests for the good of the group, organization, or society. According to Jeff Skilling, certain elements like hiring the most talented people and providing them a challenging environment for them to perform to their best, flattening the traditional corporate hierarchy to encourage personal accountability, efficiency, and motivation, being first in new markets and adopting the best systems and technology are critical for maintaining an environment where innovation can thrive. 5.2 CHARISMATIC LEADERSHIP AND CULT In charismatic leadership, the leader has the ability to communicate and behave in such a basic and emotional way that the followers are inspired and motivated in a great way. Being charismatic may be difficult, but not impossible; because many people have the capability to communicate on a very powerful emotional level and they even include some personality traits. Charismatic leadership is not an essential to be an effective leader and more ever relying on charisma to lead can also be problematic. Jeff Skilling was one of the charismatic leaders, who lacked other leadership characteristics and skills (e.g. integrity), who led his followers into situations that turned out horribly. At Enron, Skilling aimed at developing a charisma aura around him. He did every possible thing to promote himself and his views which was consistent with the business. The employees at Enron, media and even the market analyst believed his words blindly without cross verifying or questioning any his argument or declaration made by him. Skilling and Lay were successful in controlling the minds of people. They were internally known as Darth Vader. Charisma is a powerful attribute in many cult leaders which is used in a negative way for self-serving and being destructive to others. Charisma is useful during the cult formation. Only an influential and strong-willed leader can convince others to follow him and belief his words. People misinterpret the quality of this cult leader and the leader foster them belief in his special qualities. At Enron, the leaders had the tendency of living in unusual wealth; this is a disparity that is used in reinforcing the intuition that the individuals possess extraordinary charisma, insight and abilities. The CEO led an ultra opulent life. A good example is Kenneth Lay, an executive leader of Enron; he had to pay a sum of $7 million for an apartment, which together with his wife transformed into a Venetian fortress with deep velvets, dark woods and a period sanctuary (Watkins Swartz, 2003). POWER AND INFLUENCE Leaders generally use two kinds of powers- Position power which is due to the position they hold in an organisation and Personal power. We can safely say that Skilling had both at his disposal. In terms of position, he would offer rewards to people who did a good job, hence demonstrating Reward power and also people would comply to his orders as they thought he was at a level of authority t make that request and they had to obey. This showed the use of legitimate power. Also due to the knowledge he had and what was demonstrated in the movie followers even looked up to him, this showed the use of expert power. He also used referent power which was the personal power he could use to influence people. People wanted to gain his approval as they admired him and were awed by his charismatic personality and were willing to do anything to stay in his good books or be commended by him. Skilling influenced people by rational persuasion and inspirational appeals by being logical in his arguments but also at the same time appealing to their values and getting their commitment as this was needed to prevent the whistle blowing of all the activities that were happening within Enron. All employees were part of the Enron game, which could only be done by showing them a better future for the organisation. FOLLOWERS Followers were in awe of Skilling. They drew a blind eye to everything wrong happening within Enron. The charismatic personality was having its effect on the people, and even though under normal situations they probably would have acted different, under Skillings leadership, they were committed and loyal. They wanted his approval, and they believed in the vision he showed them. They were unaware of the fact that they were being played. Skillings job was to get higher profits for all the stakeholders and that was exactly what he was trying to achieve. As mentioned in the movie, Enron captured the hearts and minds of stock analysts. Employees were very much surrounded by the healthy environment of the company and the stock price of Enron was an obsession among them. They believed that Jeff Skilling was the person responsible for this and thus followed his instructions to enjoy the benefits of the companys performance. They worked extra hours to fulfil the demand raised by Jeff Skilling as they were been promised bonuses and rewards for the completion of task on time. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Enhancement of leadership quality and skills of a leader within an organization is termed as leadership development. These skill enhancements results from experience and time spent within the organization. Jeff Skilling was one of the finest minds and that was the reason why Kenneth Lay recruited him and introduced him to Enron. He spent time understanding the essentials of Enron and followed the directions of Lay to get a grip on the organizational process. Soon he understood that the aura of Enron was based on the belief of the stakeholders who followed Enron strategy blindly. He, as a leader, made sure that the followers follow his words and work according to his strategy. For this he followed the transactional approach to make sure that every employee is giving his best effort to get the work done on time, so that he is eligible for rewards. At the same time he also added some transformational methods to make the employees feel that they are equally involved in organizations development. As per the movie, he even changed up his get up to look more vibrant. He also followed situational leadership methods to tackle different situation and keep everyone on the same track that whatever he is doing is for the betterment of the organization and its stakeholders. His leadership aura spread and everyone started feeling that whatever Skilling does is a stepping stone towards the success of Enron and everyone is going to be benefitted from his strategic move. He even became the CEO of company within a few years time frame. He developed, from an employee, to a successful leader who was considered as icon in US industries. This self-confidence of his increased over the period the time and he kept exploiting the resources to fulfil his dreams and soon the dark side of his charismatic leadership was exposed. CONCLUSION The reasons for the downfall of Enron were analysed from the leadership and ethical perspectives. The movie Enron The Smartest Guys in the room was a great source of information which helped in conducting an analysis about the cultural and leadership patterns in the organization. It was observed that Enron had an obligation to all its stakeholder but those were not met at the end. Enron executives made unethical and illegal decisions based on their personal benefit but those went totally wrong. The leaders job was to provide the vision for the group but it was done in an unethical manner. The view provided to the employees, media, stock analysts and external world was doctored unethically and improper practises were projected as the best business practises by the ubiquitous skills of Jeff Skilling and Kenneth Lay. The dark side of charismatic leadership was observed in the movie, where Jeff Skilling had a dream and ability to get the company to support that dream but he used his charismatic aura to influence people in wrong direction. He provided a self-manipulated framework by which the employees in the organization can achieve their dreams in the form of rewards and bonuses. But the companys culture did not allow the employees to challenge and question the ideas of Jeff Skilling. Rather they were given the target and timeliness and asked to achieve it by planning accordingly, in order to be eligible for rewards and bonuses. Enron did not allow dissent, people who suggeste d alternatives were castigated for not being team players. The leaders produced an environment of fear, stagnation and antipathy in the organization and this led to the downfall of the Enron.

Kinetic Sculpture :: Creative Writing Sculpture Essays

Kinetic Sculpture A six foot circular cast iron table is perfect to gather around for conversations. If one drops a glass on it there’s no doubt it will shatter. Tonight me and three kinetic sculptors will gather around the table to eat and discuss matters of sculpture. Where it is moving and what the best parts of it there are. Wm Dubin is on a plane from Ireland right now. He is an excellent craftsman who’s been around for a long time, since the abstract expressionist movements of the early 1950’s. His work is quite elusive, it has never been collected by anyone. He is somewhat like William Blake. He’s an older man now, he’s got hairy ears. Keeps to himself. People I’ve talked to say he can be found wandering the streets of industrial zones, top hat and cane just staring at the steel ghosts of the Irish industrial era. This is where he pulls most of his inspiration. Its always hard to please old people, they must have things their way, they’re just used to it. My guess is that he probably eats like an old factory worker. Mashed potatoes, stew, beef stuff that a factory worker eats after a hard days work. His sculptures look like industrial parks fit for a world of people a quarter inch tall. There is gears, motors, engines, and polished pipes that lead to unknown places. The constant sound of electricity and firing of pistons all in uniform motion. He has such skill at precision tuning he could have been an excellent machinist. He believes in balancing technical skill and creative intuition. In the 1950’s this was looked down upon by the schools and artists, due to the abstract expressionist movement. Dubin was considered the enemy, his sculptures were polished, technical, and functional and in a school were free expression and uselessness of methodical approaches were embraced Dubin was an outsider. Maybe this is why he keeps to himself. The American

Floating Armless :: Philosophy, God

In A Prayer for Owen Meany John Ivring uses several symbols to explore the themes of fate and divine control. Ivring describes several objects and characters as being armless to represent a sacrifice made by a divine influence. Owen Meany in particular is often described as being above the ground to represent what he sees as his position as God’s instrument. Owen is first described as being held in the air when attending Sunday school(p 2). Later in the book John repeatedly picks up Owen and raises him to a basketball hoop so he can practice a slam dunk that becomes known as â€Å"the shot.† Before Owen’s death he is once again lifted to a high window using the shot in order to protect a group of children below (p 612). Finally Owen floats above the pine trees after his death (p 615). In part, Owen’s repeated flight is practical. Practicing the shot gave Owen and John the ability to place the grenade on the windows. However, Owen’s flight, particularly after his death also alludes that Owen is closer to the heavens and reinforces his role as â€Å"God’s instrument (p 87)†. After Owen’s death, John points out that â€Å"†¦There were forces that contributed to our illusion of Owen’s weightlessness; they were forces that we failed to believe in-and they were also lifting up Owen Meany, taking him out of our hands. (p 617)† This suggests that Owen was being lifted be divine forces from childhood until they lifted him above the palm trees. Owen was confident throughout the novel throughout the novel that nothing happens by accident and that he was fated to die on July 8, 1968(p 607). Owen feels his death is a part of God’s plan and does not attempt to change his fate. This ties into the theme of divine control. He was carried by spiritual beings through his life to fulfill his role in saving the children. In A Prayer for Owen Meany many characters seem to suffer amputations. The Indian chief Watahantowet draws an armless totem when he sells his land(p 8). Owen amputates the stuffed armadillo’s claws to represent his guilt and grief after accidentally killing Tabitha Wheelwright (p 86). The Meanys’ nativity set features a one-handed Joseph and a three-legged cow (p 183). Tabitha’s dressmaker’s dummy is armless until Owen gives it the arms he removed from a statue of Mary Magdalene (p 553), one of which is later separated again from the dummy (p 555).

Oedipus Complex in Hamlet

Oedipus Complex in Hamlet In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet’s personality can be explained by the Oedipus Complex. Throughout the play there are many times where he proves that he has Oedipus Complex. Oedipus Complex was not around at the time that that Hamlet was written. It just shows that Shakespeare saw the same personality complex’ as Freud. Freud first named the Oedipus Complex Theory in his book , An Interpretation of Dreams, in 1899. Freud states â€Å"The child takes both of its parents, and more particularly one of them, as the object of its erotic wishes. Freud explains that it is normal to have sexual desires for the parent of the opposite sex. These are normal in children and usually dissipate after the age of five. When these sexual desires do not go away and they continue into adulthood this is when someone would be considered to have an Oedipus Complex. When there is a sexual desire for the mother, as Hamlet did, a rivalry is formed between the fat her and the son. Hamlet’s father is in a form of a ghost, that only he can communicate with. He was murdered while Hamlet was away at school. When he returns he finds his mother, Gertrude, remarried to his father’s brother Claudius.This infuriates Hamlet, and brings out his repressed Oedipus Complex. This drives Hamlet crazy. He is consumed and outraged by this incestuous marriage. Now I use the word incestuous because in those days it was considered incest to marry your husband’s brother. What needs to be explained is exactly what Hamlet it is upset over. It is to be assumed that he is outraged because Claudius has replaced his own father’s place next to his mother. This is not the case. Hamlet is upset because Claudius has taken his place next to his mother. Hamlet’s deepest wish is to be king and his mother, Gertrude, queen.Thus proving the Oedipus Complex theory further. Children will have feeling of hate toward the parent of the same sex this theory states. Hamlet has many hateful tendencies towards both of his fathers, Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, and Claudius. We know from reading the play that Hamlet’s father was not affectionate or spend any quality time with him. He spent a lot of time at war. Although he had anger towards him, he could never show it. He repressed it. For Claudius on the other hand, Hamlet’s feelings of hatred are expressed much more openly. Hamlet internally fights with his feelings towards Claudius.His father has come to him as a ghost, telling him that Claudius is responsible for his murder. Hamlet must avenge his father, but struggles to do so. Subconsciously, Hamlet identifies with Claudius. Hamlet envies Claudius for killing his father and taking his position next to Gertrude. This is everything Hamlet has subconsciously wanted to do. So in essence he cannot kill Claudius because, in part, he would be killing himself. Hamlet is consumed with thoughts of his mother having sexual relations with Claudius. A very significant part of the play is Act III Scene IV.This is where Hamlet and his mother meet in her closet. The closet is very meaningful because this signifies hiding. The bedroom is significant because this is where private situations occur. Maybe Shakespeare played out this important scene in the bedroom to show the sexual feelings Hamlet has for his mother. In this scene Hamlet confronts his mother about her relationship with Claudius. He does not come off as a son asking concerning questions towards his mother. He acts jealous while he asks her how she can stand to be touched by him. These are not normally son to mother questions.He is explicit in what he says and concentrates of her sexual acts between her and Claudius. You could explain it more as an obsession. At the end of this scene it is obvious that Hamlet is jealous of the attention Gertrude is giving Claudius. Hamlet, as a child, would have found pleasure in these feelings towards his moth er, but now it is a feeling of disgust. This further proves the Oedipus Complex Theory. Hamlet is so consumed with his mother’s relationship with Claudius. He in turns shows similar feelings towards Ophelia. He toys with her emotions as he feels Gertrude toys with his.Throughout the play Hamlet is struggling with his repressed feelings towards his mother, his hatred for his fathers, and avenging his father. The same reason he could never act out on his hatred for his father is the same reason he must avenge him. It is his moral code. He struggles with avenging his father though because he is so focused on the incestuous relationship between his mother and Claudius. He can’t truly avenge his father until Gertrude dies. At that time the Oedipus Complex is released and he is able to carry out his duties and kill Claudius.

Health assessment roper logan tienery

One draw of the field of nursing is the ability for nurses to individualize their care plans for their patients. In order to ensure that unique patients are able to get healthy, they need nursing care plans as unique as they are. This means assessment and evaluation of each patient before and during care.Nancy Roper's desire to become a nurse started in childhood, and as a result of her experiences and education, she, along with two of her colleagues, developed the Roper-Logan-Tierney Model of Nursing to assess patients' level of independence and provide the best ndividualized care for them. The Roper-Logan-Tierney Model for nursing is a theory of nursing care based on activities of daily living, which often abbreviated ADLs or ALs. The purpose of the theory is as an assessment used throughout the patient care. which is often used to assess how the life of a patient has changed due to illness , injury or admission to a hospital rather than as a way of planning for increasing independ ence and quality of life. This model is related to the lifespan of the Individual, identifying twelve activities f living: maintain a safe environment, communication, breathing, eating and drinking, elimination, washing and dressing, controlling temperature, mobilization, working and playing and sleeping.Each of it is influenced by five identified factors, which are biological, psychological, socio-culture, environment and politico economic This model is used in conjunction with the nursing process to Identify actual potential problems for the Individual and how nursing care can advance the patient along the dependence to Independence continuum.

Cause and Effects of Working in High School Essay

Sally is a junior in high school; she works 38 hours, she’s engaged in sports, and is slipping from honor roll. Sally has no personal life due to the fact that she works a job while in high school. It’s a miracle she even gets her homework done sometimes. There are many teenagers in America that have experienced the negative effects from working while in high school such as, no social life, less time spent on homework, and diminished academic success. A personal life is imperative to have in high school; working a job while a high school student creates less time to have one. Some jobs put people on call, so students wouldn’t be able to make plans with their friends due to the fact that they don’t know when they could be called into work. Some jobs put student workers on call, while others just require them to work long hours. The long hours that students are working, make it so that a schedule looks something like: school, work, then home. They eventually will have no time for hanging out with their beloved friends because work consumed their lives. Getting a job in high school could ruin a teen’s personal life. One of the most time consuming things about school is the homework. If a student is willing to come home from work and stay up till 3am trying to get their homework and projects done then they should be fine with a job. But most students like precious sleep. Work would limit a student on the amount of time they had to complete their homework. And if a student doesn’t do their homework then they’re grades will drop. Slipping grades is a big issue for athletic students. If a student has an ‘F’ they become ineligible to play sports. A job would cause a student to fail to complete their homework. A job would eventually cause a student to lose focus on their academics. With already slipping grades, a student with become very unsuccessful with their academics. They’ll have to drop AP and ho nors classes, switch diplomas, and some students may possibly lose scholarships to their dream colleges. Their academic success will diminish with a job. Sally is a key example of a student who was once very excellent at school, but got a job and became below average. The negative effects that harm a high school student’s education are, no personal time, less time spent on homework, and academic struggle.

Gamefowl Breeder

The establishment or â€Å"fixing† of such characteristics Is accomplished by repeated Infusions of those heartsickness without concern for genealogical purity or so called breed names. All which follows is merely an expansion and development of those principles. Throughout the following pages you will find the pronoun â€Å"l† used frequently. It Is strictly a style of writing. An informal conversation style, as If we were talking together, which makes for easier reading and clearer understanding.Definitely it is not a â€Å"know it all† attitude or any desire to pose as an authority. Rather it represents an honest expression of opinion based upon my own experiences. – Narragansett Chapter 1 The Uncertainties of Breeding The transmission of hereditary characteristics is beyond the comprehension of mankind. Our greatest scientists have identified, classified, named, and theorized upon the numerous factors involved, yet have never been able to create a livi ng organism or to predict with certainty what the various elements in combination would produce.Accordingly, it is no wonder that the most scientific practices result in failure, whereas an obscure and Improbable combination occasionally produces phenomenal results. An example of the latter comes to mind: (a) The Berg Blue Muffs which first were produced by a 16-year-old boy from a wild combination of game fowl. (b) The world's champion harness horse, Peter Manning, which was sired by an obscure young stallion mated to a slab sided mare which Warren Wright hitched to his wagon while delivering his yeast cakes. C) The Thomas W, Murphy family of â€Å"Abraham† fowl which resulted from a stolen nest mating of an unknown cook and a stray hen which hatched and raised her brood of chicks upon the grounds of Mr.. Murphy's neighbor, Abraham Strauss. Hence the name Abraham. These are but a few examples, no doubt you can enumerate many more. They are what I call â€Å"lottery ticketâ €  mating. You buy a lottery ticket for 50 cents and win a thousand dollars. Occasionally. But it can be done and has been done. It is the breeding practice followed by most cockers.Once in a great while they hit the jackpot, but 99% of the time they have to tear up the ticket and buy another one. From these examples you should recognize that there Is no sure fire formula for producing 100% winners. The most that we can hope to do is present a breeding system which on average will Improve your chances AT ruling above TTT level. 10 want extent you exceed sun bevel depends upon your personal qualifications of observation, selectivity and perseverance, remembering always that there are a hundred requirements for winning a cook fight, and a thousand ways to lose one.Breeding is only one of the many factors involved, but it is an important one, so lets see what we can do to improve our chances in that respect. Chapter 2 Things to Avoid I abhor the term PURE as applied to game fowl. In my 45 years experience I never found such to exist. Not genetically pure. You frequently hear reference to pure Hatch, or pure Keels, or pure Murphy. I knew intimately all three of these men during heir lifetimes yet never once did I ever hear one of them use the term pure when referring to his own or anyone else's fowl.They might say â€Å"this is what I call my number four yard, I've bred them together for several years along with their offspring, but they are coming small now and getting a bit fragile so I think next year I'll put another one of my socks in there to stiffen them up. † Or, â€Å"Walter sent me this cook which I've bred for a couple of years with good success. † But never † my pure No. 4 yard† or a â€Å"pure Keels cook. † They knew that such things did not exist, and never had existed, either on their yards or anyone else's.So many times people get a hen and a cook from a prominent breeder's yards and thereafter refer to them as p ure this, that or the other. That's crazy. The breeder himself, if he were honest, would not describe them in such terms. Just because both sides of the mating came from the same source does not make them pure. Far from it. Chances are that the prominent breeder has a dozen or more breeding yards on his place. Probably many of them are more or less related. Some may be inbred or lingered to a greater extent than the others. But it is a certainty that no two of them are the same, and not one of hem is pure.So how can the fowl you get from him be pure in the genetic sense and thereby be capable of transmitting characteristics with unfailing certainty? My great objection to the word pure is the harm it does to cockers who lean upon such erroneous term and rely upon those MIS-named fowl to transmit consistently the characteristics for which the family is noted. That's bad. Leads to all sorts of disappointments and loss of confidence. Breed Names Breed names are another one of my pet pee ves. People toss them around as if they were talking about some stable uniform substance like salt or sugar or soda.The truth is that such names so inaccurately describe the fowl being discussed as to be practically meaningless. A bird is referred to as being a pure Dad Glenn Whitehall, or a straight Albany, or an old-time Carney. The bird may be a good one, so far as that is concerned, but so far as his being what his name implied, it's dollars to doughnuts that the relationship does not exceed 10%. Here again the harm in using breed names is that it misleads others into thinking that they can procure the same good results as you have experienced simply by using a bird bearing the same breed name.The chances are that the two birds are not 5% related. For 32 years I was state distributor for Dodge automobiles. Upon countless occasions customers would come in and announce There's no need for you to give me a sales pitch, I know all about a Dodge. † So long as he was satisfied t here was no need to say witling, out ten truth was Tanat tender was not a nut, Dolt, Lemons, or engineering principle which was the same in this present Dodge as in the two or three he had owned previously. Only the name remained unchanged. The same situation exists in respect of breed names in game fowl.So, let's forget â€Å"breed names† and â€Å"purity† and examine the essential characteristics our brood fowl must possess, for such characteristics form a basis or foundation for this breeding system. Chapter 3 What to Look For Gameness Proper brood fowl must have many essential characteristics. Chief among them is that which commonly is called gameness. There has been so much written on this subject that I hate to mention it. All these three day tests, punishment tests, descriptive requirements have been worn threadbare. So I'll treat the subject here briefly and then drop it.If fowl do not measure up to my idea of gameness, I simply am not interested in them. Here it is: † An unquenchable determination to kill. † No matter what the conditions– ahead, behind, rattled, blinded, broken leg, no matter what. I want to see my brood cook ever and always trying to kill his opponent. All defensive fighting or â€Å"lying on his side, picking for an hour in a 120 degree sun† does not impress me at all. If he is not trying with all his heart every second to kill his opponent, regardless of all handicaps and circumstances, I Just am not interested. You can continue the discussion as long as you wish, but count me out.Proponents Let's start with the cook. Do you think with the acquisition of an ideal brood cook will be easy? Don't kid yourself. No matter how much money you spend, or how many high class events you attend, or how many top cockers you know, your chances of procuring an ideal brood cook on your first, second, or third attempt is very low. You could strike gold on your first claim, but the chances are that you will no t. But, don't give up. Persistence is one of the prime prerequisites of a successful breeder. In the first place the cook must be proponent. That is, he must be capable of passing along his own excellent qualities to his offspring.There is no way of determining whether or not a cook possesses this quality of proponents other than by trial and experience. No matter how marvelous a performer he is himself, if he does not pass along such qualities to his offspring he is of no value to you. I have seen countless instances, and probably you have too, where a fellow paid a big price for an outstanding performing cook only to have him produce nothing of merit. But because the fellow paid a big price for him he stuck with him year after year, and in the end it cost him many times the original price through using the worthless offspring.So be ever on the alert for this quality of proponents. A cook either has it or he hasn't. But if he does not have it, heave him right now. You can't change the situation, and you will only waste many years and much money by sticking by him, regardless of his source or price. The probabilities, and note that I say probabilities, for there is no certainty about it, are that a cook is more apt to be proponent if he is somewhat lingered or inbred rather tan Delving ten product AT a TLS cross. You wall nave to determine tens Trot ten man who bred him.Also you should ascertain if such cock's brothers, father, uncles on tot sides, etc. , If they did, your chances are improved. But if you find wide variations, where this fellow is merely an outstanding performer in a widely variable and commonplace family, you had better stop right there, for the probability of this guy reproducing himself is dim. Health Health. Robust, vigorous, teeming health. Big appetite. Easy mould. Ever aggressive. â€Å"Spring Busting Out All Over† type of health. It's one of the most important characteristics your brood cook can possess.Without it you are not go ing to be able to go very far in the breeding line before you break down. Peter Horrors use to pay more attention to a fowl's health record and that of his ancestors, and the conditions under which they where raised, than he did any other characteristic when selecting his brood stock. So give this feature great weight when selecting your own brood fowl. If you start out with some spindly, weak, thin feathered inbred â€Å"pure† cook of such and such a â€Å"breed name† you are not going to get very far. And the longer you stick with him the more time and money you are going to waste.Power More or less the same importance attaches to the feature of power. You can improve his quality by breeding to big strong brood hens, but each time you do it you are breeding away from the brood cook, thereby reducing his influence upon the line. Remember, what we are talking about now is the selection of a brood cook whose characteristics you wish to perpetuate. Accordingly, you shoul d start out with power as a prime prerequisite. It is a top requirement for a successful pit cook, so don't handicap yourself from the outset by selecting a brood cook which is deficient in this repeat.Cutting High on the list of priorities for a brood cook is that of cutting. If a cook does not have his quality I simply will not use him in the brood yard no matter how many other desirable qualifications he may possess. He may be healthy, game, strong as a bull, but if he is not a superior cutter I am not interested in using him in the brood yard. Butting is largely a matter of heel pinpointing a manner of striking. It is astonishing how many socks strike on the curve of the blade, or with their hocks or the bottom of their feet. Likewise, many socks never complete their stroke.They don't follow through. In baseball parlance they bunt, instead of swing. Their wings may make a great Mack which gives the erroneous impression of delivering a mighty blow, but their heels are bunting ins tead of swinging. Many times you will here someone say † now he is getting tired he will begin to cut. † And he does. But I always felt that such cutting was more the result of the adversary standing still or being immobile than it was of the first cook cutting better. In other words, he could hit a sitting duck but not one on the fly. I am not impressed by that sort of cutting.Any shooter can hit a tin can setting on a Thence post. I want ten Klan Tanat can â€Å"molten on ten TTYL. † It I for the eye to follow the movements of a cock's heels. At leas it is for me. But almost anyone can see the results of a blow. After each buckle or exchange of blows if you see that one cook appears to have shrunk about a pound, you can be sure that the opposing cook has done some effective cutting. â€Å"Look where he hits. † This is an obsession with me. If a cook does not look were he is hitting and strikes nothing, I want no part of him.So many socks have good leg act ion and strike properly but don't look were they are striking. They fan the air in all directions but hit nothing, wear themselves out and do no damage. On the other hand certain socks â€Å"draw a dead,† as gunners say, with every shot. If you are in the pit with him, or close by, you can see his eyes focus upon a certain portion his opponent's anatomy-head, breast, back- and strike within a quarter inch of where he is looking. It does not take many blows so directed to bring an opponent down. One such crack is more effective than a hundred wild failings in the air.Years ago old M. J. Bowen sent me a stag which had won seven times in short heels in his first season and was up for his eighth fight. I told M. J. To â€Å"cut it out† and send him to me, which he did. When the stag arrived I was gusted with him, long flat body, narrow shoulders, built Just like a duck. Nothing prepossessing about him. But when I sparred him I could see those beady eyes concentrate on a de finite spot every stroke he hit with marksmanship accuracy, and in no time at all he had my prize brood cook on the ropes. He taught me a lesson I have never forgotten.Weaknesses Rare is the cook which does not have a weakness of some sort. He may have a host of grand qualities, but if he has even one pronounced weakness his opponent is almost sure to find it and take advantage of it. The weakness could be any one of many: low- datedness, ducking,etc. You can breed out this weakness in time,but while doing so you are breeding out his good qualities as well. The result is that his influence in the line becomes lost entirely and you might Just as welling have started with him in the first place. You can't breed out the faults and remain the virtues.When one goes they all go. So in selecting your brood cook make sure he has no prominent weakness which you must get rid of. Chapter 4 Fighting Characteristics No two pope agree on how a cook should fight. Even after a fight is over they se ldom agree as to what enabled the one to win and caused the other to lose. One man is impressed by certain characteristics the other man by different ones entirely. The type of heel used causes further differences if opinion. Undoubtedly all of us are influenced by our early teachings. Subconsciously we remember what Uncle Ben or Old Man Smith told us years ago.Their teachings could be right or might well be wrong. I've seen men who've been fighting chickens for 60 years who were the poorest Judges of a cock's fighting form of anyone at pit side. Many times a man's wife sees more, is more realistic and factual, and is a far better Judge than the cocker himself. The latter is handicapped by prejudices and early teachings. The wife is not. She sees things as they are. Accordingly, it is vitally important for the cocker-breeder to develop a correct standard of fighting counterblasts AT Nils own. I T en does not ay tens – Tree Trot prejudice or sentiment- he is not going to get f ar.We have already discussed the important fighting characteristics of gameness, cutting, power, deliberate accurate striking, ability to remain punch, balance and the absence of any pronounced fighting weakness or fault. There are numerous features to be considered and evaluated. I call them my â€Å"check sit. † Before every mating season I go over them as they apply to each individual in the brood pens. They serve as reminders, for it is so easy to forget or overlook important requirements. 1 . Quickness. I emphasize quickness as opposed to reckless and purposeless speed.Quickness takes a variety of forms: (a) Quick to take advantage of an opening or opportunity. (b) Quick to beat opponent to the punch and keep him off balance. (c) Quick to get a second lick in the same buckle. What boxers term the 1-2 punch Many times it is this second lick, delivered when the opponent is off balance or motionless, which does he damage. (d) Quick to kick instantly on both his own and his opponent's bill hold. This is both an offensive and defensive move. All long heel men are acutely aware of the importance of this characteristic, since a single failure could bring disaster. E) Quickness is largely a matter of reflexes which can be sharpened by conditioning, but it is also inherited, so be mindful of is existence. 2. Fight High. It is an advantage of a cook to fight over on top of his adversary rather than being underneath him at all times. This refers not merely to the opening break but throughout the battle. Some socks naturally fight high, others tend to fight low. The style is largely inherited, so watch out for it when selecting your brood cook. 3. Reaching Out. Some socks reach out in front of them with their blows much farther than others. Hose are usually the ones which are â€Å"in† first. At present I am breeding a cook, in preference to one of his many brothers, solely because he reaches out so far with his blows. I first noticed this while catchin g him when he was still ugly and wild. Overtime I attempted to grab him he hit me not on my hand but on my elbow. He really reached out every shot. He did the same thing in his battle. Dropped his man the first shot. One time I was fighting a main against Tom Murphy who was the finest judge of a cock's fighting style I ever knew.After the main (which I won 5-4) he said to me, â€Å"l thought that second cook you fought was the best bird of the day. † I felt complimented but at that time was in the prejudiced â€Å"beauty† stage and replied,†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ rather preferred my fourth cook. † He cast a withering eye at me such as a school teacher might use upon a second grader, and said,† You did! Well I didn't That second cook of yours broke high, head back, feet way out front. That's the kind that an kill you with one lick and that's Just what happened. † It occurred years ago, but it was a lesson I never forgot. I hope to pass it along to you.It's what I mean when I said â€Å"you must develop a standard of fighting characteristics of your own, free from prejudice and sentiment. † 4. Finishing. Some socks tend to loaf once they get in front. That's bad. It gives the opponent a chance to recuperate and to even up the battle with an effective blow of Nils own. Once a cook gets out Toronto en snouts Tallow up to Nils advantage. Nils Is t e time for him to show his killer instinct and put his opponent away then and there. One well known cocker put it this way,†Any cook which knocks his opponent down then lets him get away is no cook at all. That is the time for the top cook to become doubly bitter and revengeful. If he doesn't, well, you heard what the man said. 5. High Head Years ago low-headiness was a common fault among shorten socks of the northeast. The advent of fast heels and greater acquaintanceship with long heel fighting was pretty well eradicated that defect though you still see occasional evidence of its exis tence. It is a serious fault. Avoid it. 6. Fight. Tom Foley who ran the famous pit at 7 SST. Marry Eave. , Troy, N,Y. Use to wrap up all these qualifications by using a single word. â€Å"Dimmit all,† he would say,† they can FIGHT. By that he meant that the cook was pushing the battle all the way, aggressive at all times, lashing out with straight line shots, landing in perfect balance, ready instantly to shoot again, cutting every fly, â€Å"sharpshooters† he used to call them, constantly moving about , never allowing himself to be a standing target. â€Å"l want to see him be doing something all the time,† he used to say,† I don't care what it is, but I want to see him be doing something and not Just standing around waiting to get killed. Tom didn't give one whoop for pedigrees, breed names, color, conformation, or anything else. He wasn't even too fussy about gameness.He wanted a cook that could FIGHT. 7. See For Yourself. Before concluding this c hapter on Fighting Characteristics, let's go back to the initial statement which said,†No two people seem to agree as to how a cook should fight. † You are the breeder. You are the open who must make the initial selection of brood stock and likewise all the subsequent selections which equally careful discrimination. How skillfully you do this depends upon your own personal observations and judgment. But one thing is certain: you must absolutely see the fowl fight yourself. You can,t depend upon others. No two of them will see the bird or the fight the same way.If you accept the Judgment of everyone, Dick, and Harry you will end up with a Hodge-podgy which can't lick anything. You, yourself must be consistent and persevering in what you are trying to accomplish in the brood yard. In order for you to do this you must absolutely see the individuals perform yourself and pass judgment on their qualifications for fitting into your line. Time after time I have visited a breeder who pointed with pride to a certain cook and said,†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ am setting side this cook to breed then he would go on and on as to the marvelous qualities the cook has exhibited the battle as described by the trainer or handler.The breeder has not seen the fight. I had. I would not have accepted the cook as a gift; for breeding, fighting, or anything else. Wouldn't have him on the place. Yet the breeder, accepting someone else's word, was going to breed him! The breeder did not know that I had seen the fight, nor did I tell him. Why start an argument and lose friends? But it does show the absolute necessity for you yourself to see the cook in action and appraise his qualities according to your own standards. Deliberate Striking This is closely related to â€Å"Look where he hits. How many times have you been miles out In Toronto, to 20, Ana all Tanat when, Dang! Ana well -Loretta alternate snot NAS dropped you cold? This was no accident, it happens all the time. It shows the val ue of deliberate striking. Pay attention to it when selecting your brood cook. Holding His Punch In all probability you have seen a great big fine looking cook, shoulders on him like an All American tackle, legs as big as a turkey, strong enough to pull a plough, yet at the ND of a few fittings could not lift his legs two inches from the ground, let alone cut or strike anything. No condition† some peptides comments. That's not it at all. Chances are that his inferior looking opponent who is whaling the daylights out of him is not in nearly as good physical shape. The difference between the two is a matter of back muscles. The homely looking bird has them. The big fine looking cook which is built like Apollo does not. The latter may well be able to pull a plough, but if he does not have well developed back muscles he is not going to kick very long. Which reminds me of the All Pro football player who went to a dude ranch.At the end of a four hour horseback ride the little scrawn y wrangler hopped off as spry as could be. The football player Just sat there. He was so sore and tired that he could not dismount, and would have been unable to stand if he had. The difference between the two men was that the alternating had saddle muscles and the football player did not. He was helpless even though he could have squashed the wrangler with one hand. This matter of back muscles seems to be a hereditary trait. You can't develop them a great deal through exercise or feeding. A cook either has them or he doesn't.You may be able to improve the deficiency by breeding the cook to hens which are well endowed in this respect, but it is much better to start off with a cook which does not have such a deficiency. The only sure way to determine this important characteristic is to see him or his brothers in action. The trait seems to run in families. If one brother is good or bad in such respect, the other brothers are apt to be the same. Where this appears to be a hereditary tr ait it is especially important for you to be sure that your brood cook is well developed in this respect. Balance Proper balance is another characteristic of great importance.It, too, is hereditary. A cook must be a great cutter and all that even though ill balanced, but he could do the job a lot easier if he were balanced properly. Besides, his sons very probably would inherit the bad balance without the old man's skill in cutting. Proper balance's difficult to describe in words. It has to do with the position of the bird's legs with respect to his body, the shape of the body and it's weight distribution, and a lot of other things. A duck's legs are set on ideally for swimming, but not for walking or striking. That gives you an exaggerated example.You look at enough game socks long enough with this thought in mind and pretty soon you'll be able to see which ones are well balanced and which ones are not. Some families are far better balanced than others. A poorly balanced bird is ap t to fall on his tail or his nose after delivering a blow, or land in a heap which is worse. He is a sitting duck for a well- balanced bird. On the other hand a properly balanced bird will deliver his blow, land in perfect balance ready instantly to strike again or avoid his opponent's blow. One of ten greatest Dressers I ever Knew placed great store on tens Pensacola centralists.He call it â€Å"balance† and was ever and always referring to it. We use to poke fun at him by saying â€Å"balance† when he was not around, but he impressed the importance of this feature upon me, and I hope I can do the same for you. The only way you can procure â€Å"balance† is to breed for it. You can't change it by feed or exercise. A bird either has it or doesn't have it from day one for as long as he lives. So start out by seeing that your brood cook is properly balanced, for a deficiency in this respect is difficult to breed out of a family, Just as it is difficult to breed ou t low headiness or ducking. Size I don't like to breed from a big cook.About 5-4 for a cook in fighting trim or 4-14 for a stag is as large as I care to go. This matter of size is different for hens, bought we will go into that later. I want the cook to be full of action, cutting ability, and all the other pit qualities to be described later. But size is not a primary factor provided he is solidly built. As an example, right now I am breeding a cook which fought at 4-4 as a stag. He was full of action and cut. But I would not think of breeding his sister who was proportionally as small for a female. Youth vs. Age Especially in the brood yard. I am a great believer in youth.You hear about the â€Å"grand old hen† and the â€Å"great $10,000 cook,† but most of the time your best performers will come from young stock. Some people term it in the percentage. I have the utmost respect for proven old producers, but most of the time age is a handicap. Certain mating of cook an d hen will turn out phenomenal offspring. But even in this case I would rather have the produce of their early years than after they were â€Å"getting along. † I have had a few such mating myself which I kept together for several years. Probably longer than I should. But in every case the quality of their offspring dropped noticeably with each passing year.In my opinion more good families have been â€Å"lost' through endeavoring to perpetuate them through the use of old parents than from any other reason. Accordingly, if you are fortunate enough to locate a truly superior combination, plan to carry them on through the use of vigorous offspring of their earlier years rather than â€Å"breeding back† to the original individuals after they have gone by. This is particularly true of the hen. She may look and act like a pullet, but her reproductive apparatus has deteriorated, even though you can't see it. For some reason or another the cook seems to last longer so far as reproductive qualities are concerned.Many times he turns out good ones as long as he remains vigorous and fertile. But such is not the case with the hen. My grand mentor,old Balance, absolutely refused to breed a hen after her fourth year. This theory or practice will offend many old timers, and they can hurl a barrage of evidence at me. But you can believe them or believe me. This has been my experience. Many times in the past I have tried to â€Å"revive† famous old families by breeding to the Queen Bee of the dynasty. The grand old hen who was now a eager. One time Lenin Law sent me such a hen.Many of her sons had won at Orlando which at that time conducted the premier cocking event in America. I could scarcely believe my good fortune. Bred her the finest young cook that I owned. What GE A Duncan AT weaklings! I guess Law Knew want en was long when en gave her to me. Hopefully in time you will have occasion to do a certain amount of inbreeding or line breeding. I endeavor to avoid intensive consanguineous mating as far as possible, but in time it catches up with you. Under such circumstances carry on with the best specimens of your young stock in the family. The younger the better. Don't â€Å"go back† to your old worn out originals.This is contrary to general practice, but it is definitely my recommendation. Chapter 5 Physical Characteristics Many writings on breeding game socks begin, and end, with a description of the physical characteristics a good brood cook should possess. These writers consider such requirements of primary importance. In their opinion they rank first. With me they rank last. Championship performers in all sports come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. With me it is only the performance which counts. Physical heartsickness are important only insofar as they enable the individual to perform more easily and effectively.We are not breeding fowl for beauty contests or to win a ribbon at the County fair, we are breed ing them to win in the pit. There are certain physical characteristics, however, which enable a cook to perform more easily and effectively. They are no guarantee that the cook will do the Job, but only that he is not handicapped physically in such effort. We will discuss them here briefly in order that you may be on the lookout for them. Body Personally I prefer a well-rounded body, where the keel bone is relatively short from rent to back, and also short from top to bottom.Such confirmation usually makes for good balance, the value of which has been discussed previously. I don't go for these excessively broad shouldered heavy breasted type with all the weight out front. The â€Å"flat iron† type. Such confirmation is a handicap to a cock's ability to cut. He is apt to straddle with his blows, since he can't â€Å"close in† with his shots due to that heavy breast getting in his way. Rather, I prefer for him to be built like a football-more or less pointed at both ends . Station I like for a cook to be above average station, but not excessively so.The length should be in the thigh bone, not in the shank or scaly part. Length in the thigh enables him to â€Å"reach out† farther. Likewise a pronounced bend at the hock Joint is essential. Somehow or another it seems to help in the cutting department. I never saw a cook whose legs were straight up and down like a stork's which could cut much. If a cook is somewhat knock-kneed that is alright too. It's not pretty to look at, but nearly every knock-kneed cook is a cutter. Some people are real fussy about having a cock's heels set down close to his feet. Probably that is O. K. But I never paid much attention to it.Other things were more important. One thing which is essential is for his legs to be set on him properly so that he is in perfect balance. This usually means that his legs are set pretty well forward. One good Judge expressed the same thing in reverse by saying, â€Å"l like to see plen ty of body behind his legs. † The old guy got me to start looking at a cook in the same way. Actually it is easier to see the amount of body behind the body than it is to see if the hip Joint is set well to the front. At least it is for me. Another thing which you might look for is the way he walks. If he puts one foot