Disadvantages of Monopoly Essay

†¢ Higher prices and lower output Monopolies often mean that prices will be higher and output lower than is the case for an industry where competition prevails. Firms in one industry are producing under conditions of perfect competition, while the other firm is operating under conditions of monopoly. The costs of production are the same for each industry. †¢ Excess profits High profits made by the monopolist are not necessarily an indication of efficient methods of production. The monopolist may, in fact, be using its market power to raise prices above marginal costs in order to increase its revenues. †¢ Higher costs and x-inefficiencies Under competition, firms strive to minimize their inputs to produce a given level of output. Firms do not necessarily have to produce at the minimum efficient scale to be technically efficient, as long as they produce at the lowest costs for their given scale of output. Firms which produce on the average cost curve are technically efficient or x-efficient. In other words, they produce at the lowest cost possible given their respective sizes. Competition normally implies that firms will be x-efficient. However, if firms are insulated from competition, as is the case for monopoly, then there is less incentive to minimize costs. Firms may instead adopt ‘expense preference’ behavior by investing in activities to maximize the satisfaction of senior managers, at the subsequent sacrifice of profitability. †¢ Price discrimination Monopolists as sole suppliers can discriminate between different groups of customers (based on their respective elasticity’s of demand) separated into different geographic or product segments. A monopolist can practice price discrimination in several ways: †¢ First-degree price discrimination. Often referred to as perfect price discrimination, this involves the monopolist charging each customer what he or she is willing to pay for a given product. By doing this the monopolist can increase revenue and erode any consumer surplus which consumers might enjoy. †¢ Second-degree price discrimination. The monopolist charges customers different prices based on their usage. In other words, consumers might be charged a high price for initial usage, but lower prices for subsequent units consumed. This type of pricing has been used in industries such as electricity, gas, water and telephony. †¢ Third-degree price discrimination. In this case, the monopolist separates customers into markets based on different demand elasticity’s. Customers with inelastic demand are charged higher prices than those with elastic demand. †¢ Restrictive practices Monopolists often use unfair practices to keep potential rivals out of the market. Even if rivals are successful in entering the market, the monopolist may choose to eliminate these firms by various restrictive price and non-price strategies such as predatory pricing and vertical restraints. †¢ Limited technical progress Some evidence suggests that technical progress is often slow when a single firm or group of firms dominates an industry. As they face no real competitive pressures, monopolists are under no real pressure to spend any abnormal profits earned on research and development of new product and processes, which is often seen as a risky investment. Consequently, technical progress in these industries is likely to be slow. Reference: http://classof1.com/homework-help/economics-homework-help/

High School and Graduation Essay

Graduation is a goal that everyone wants to accomplish in life. Whether it is from daycare, middle school, high school, or college, it’s a major accomplishment. Graduation from high school was something that I always looked forward to. The fact that it took twelve years of grading school to get a diploma made it more exciting and made me more anxious. Graduation also comes with an emotional impact. Especially when you’ve spent half of your life growing and learning to love your fellow classmates. From making best friends in kindergarten, to making pointless enemies in middle school. We never know how big of a deal it is until high school. That is when we realize that it starts the countdown of how many days that we have left with each other. We never really realize how much we will miss everyone and everything until the closer we approach graduation. Cherish every moment! The actual day of graduation contains the most emotion for some and most excitement for others. For me, it was both. I remember the exact feeling of waking up that morning. The smell of a huge breakfast meal aroused me. It was my day. I was beyond anxious and excited. Almost so anxious to the point of an anxiety attack but so excited to the point of a panic attack. Waking up and realizing that this was my first official day of a graduate was so amazing. I was going to college. I was getting the chance to fulfill my dreams. I remember walking into the kitchen and seeing the meal and looking at my momma and crying. I sure was going to miss this. The home cooked meals and family gatherings would be missed the most. After graduation, the summer before my new beginning, was different. I felt like an adult. My parents treated me more like an adult. Going out with friends and staying out late was great. I still remember going to Orientation at Ole Miss. Meeting new people and learning the campus. Not having to worry about high school and going to meet teachers was wonderful. Life was beginning for me! Graduating from high school has changed my life dramatically. I am now a freshman in college and I love it. My first week was amazing, everything was crazy. My legs are still sore as I type this. The University of Mississippi should be named the University of Hills. There are hills galore! It seems as if everything is always busy on campus. People running around like headless chicken. I also enjoy the freedom of college. No curfew is great! As far as family goes, I miss them like crazy! Phone calls from my mother comes in seem to come like every ten minutes. So, as far as graduating goes, it’s a great experience. Comes with many different emotions. Some good emotions and some bad emotions. We realize how much we actually care for your peers. It is always fun and a great learning experience to begin a new chapter in life. I will never forget my graduation day, from beginning to end. Walking across the stage with the biggest Kool-Aid smile, hearing loved ones scream and chant my name, and looking my principal, Mike Martin, in the eyes as he hand me my diploma telling me congratulations. I’ve learned to cherish every moment I spend with my peers. I never knew I’d miss something that I hated doing so much. As I said before, cherish EVERY moment!!

The causes of drug abuse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The causes of drug abuse - Essay Example al abuse, and emotional abuse/neglect in childhood, is a significant risk factor for many psychiatric disorders later in life, such as substance abuse†(Wang et al., p.1). Bitter life experiences are the major motivating factor for drug abuse. It is not necessary that a person starts drug abuse immediately after he suffers a painful experience. In many cases, bitter childhood experiences such as sexual abuse, lack of parental care etc can generate drug abuse like antisocial behaviors later in the life of a person. Physical as well as psychological problems can cause drug abuse. People with chronic diseases such as cancer, HIV, etc quite often take shelter in drug abuse to forget about the physical and mental pain caused by their diseases. Strained relationships and destruction of love affairs or dating relationships can also cause drug abuse like behavioral problems. Some people believe that drug uses can stimulate sexual energy. People, who are sexually impotent, often try to make use of drugs to improve their sexual energy or capabilities. Narcotic drugs create good feelings. There is the initial euphoric sensation that comes with taking the drug, and then there is the secondary effect associated with the type of drug used. If it is a stimulant, the initial euphoria is followed by inflated feelings of self-confidence and abundant energy; if it is a depressant, then the initial euphoria is followed by satisfaction and relaxation† (Ho). Unemployment, poverty and lack of living standards etc are other reasons for drug abuse. Nobody likes to lead a life in poverty. Everybody wants to lead a lavish life. Failure to get proper employment or raising the living standard often generates frustrations in the minds of the people. These frustrations often lead them towards drug abuse like behaviors. Improper knowledge about certain medicines or drugs often causes drug abuse. For example, marijuana is a controversial drug because of the arguments in favor and against it

Total shoulder replacement Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Total shoulder replacement - Research Paper Example For instance, sports-loving patients who have fully recovered from this condition are known to get back to their sporting activities that may include golf, tennis and swimming. Here it is important to first understand the idea behind the painful shoulder arthritis. This condition results from the disappearance of the normal smooth cartilage surface found in the shoulder. The smooth surface serves as the point over which the ball and the socket glide smoothly against one another. The loss of the cartilage covering consequent in a â€Å"bone on bone† joint and cause the great pain felt by patients. For these reason, replacement of the new surfaces comes handy for returning comfort. Human shoulder is comprised of three bones; humerus (the upper arm bone, scapula (the shoulder blade, and clavicle (the collarbone. The shoulder is made up of a ball- and –socket joint. Here, the ball/ head of the upper arm bone strategically fits into the shallow socket located in the shoulder blade. Glenoid is the name given to the socket. These bones have cartilages covering the areas where they make contact. The cartilage is made up of a smooth substance to help protect the bones and allow them move with ease. Synovial membrane, which is thin smooth tissue, covers the rest of the surfaces within the shoulder joint. For a healthy person, this membrane generates some fluid to lubricate the cartilage and prevents friction in the shoulder. The tendons and muscle surround the shoulder and offer stability and support. All these features make it possible for the shoulder to rotate in various ways than any other body joint. During the procedure, the Orthopaedic Surgeon surgically approaches the front part of the shoulder area through a 6† incision, but not without either a general or regional anesthesia. Here, the deltoid and pectoral muscles are first separated to allow access to the shoulder from a wider

Security Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Security Plan - Essay Example Hacking 6 Human Errors 7 Unauthorized Access 7 Information Destruction By Dissatisfied Employees 7 Electronic Threats To Organization’s Information Holdings 8 Organization’s Actual Threat For Information Holdings 9 Security Plan 9 Physical Countermeasures 10 Electronic Countermeasures 12 Human Countermeasures 15 Information Security Education And Awareness Program 16 Updating The Education And Awareness Program 18 Measures Used To Test The Efficacy Of Plan 19 Conclusion and Recommendations 20 References 21 Bibliography 24 Introduction With the rapid improvement in information system and exceptional development of internet, the information security has become a critical issue for every organization. Information is acknowledged as an important monetary asset for organizations, thus, it needs to be secured consequently. In present days, organizations are becoming greatly dependent on information system which clearly manages serious portion of organization’s fundamental activities. The role of technology has transformed from a validation tool to the center of main business (Aoufi, 2011). As the technology has improved, people have also become more aware regarding possible threats for information theft, cybercrime and other fraudulent activities. Thus, there is a need to strengthen the information security system in every organization by identifying and removing potential threats. ObjectivesObjectives The objective of this study is to identify and describe the risks of organizations information holdings with respect to physical, human and electronic threats. The study also illuminates a security plan for physical, human and electronic counter measures for reducing the information threats of a business organization situated in an Australian city. Besides, there is need for adequate education and awareness program for minimizing risks in the information system. A comprehensive information security education and awareness plan is developed in this paper which can help to enhance the information security. Scope The scope of information security is to support the safety, control and administration of organization’s valuable information. This study covers the areas such as known threats for organization’s security and several countermeasures which can help people to gain insight about maintaining strong information system in organization. Furthermore, the study describes the methods for developing education and training to employees for increasing knowledge and skill to avoid security problems. Physical Threat To Organization’s Information Holdings In this digital information age, physical threats can have significant impact on the information holdings of organizations. Thus, physical threats need adequate attention besides other cyber threats. The scope of physical threat is much inclusive compared to other threats in terms of financial loss. Physical threat can arise at any form and at any time. An organization can face the following physical threats for their information holdings (Bidgoli, 2006). Theft Theft is regarded as one of most common risks for organizations’ information holdings. Digital information can be physically stolen by people who come from security and Information Technology (IT) background. Outsiders might break or sneak into any organization’s network and steal information. Insiders also can enter into a part of organization for accessing information which they have no right to access or they may abuse access rights which are part of their tasks. Furthermore, physical assaults against rational security can simply be executed by experts (Lindstrom, 2003). Sabotage Sabotage is fairly similar to theft. Sabotage is intentional damage of information holdi

Dispute Settlement (CIvil Suit) GP - Unit 2 Research Paper

Dispute Settlement (CIvil Suit) GP - Unit 2 - Research Paper Example pany is incorporate in State X, and the factory being used in State Z belongs to State X, therefore the company has the most real connection to the contract (Hillman, 2009). This implies that the state has the most jurisdictions over the case being heard. The closest and most real connection rule is used by courts to reasonably determine the party that has the biggest connection to the case being disputed. State X could also state that it is the one being sued, so it has a bigger confection that the other parties to the case. Conversely, the lawyers representing State Y would argue that proper law should be used to determine which country should hear the dispute. Commonly, proper law is the basic rule used to resolve most jurisdiction arguments, and it involves the terms used in the contractual argument (Frey and Frey, 2001). The parties in this case already agreed that all disputes regarding the agreement would be heard in State Y, which means that proper law gives State Y jurisdiction over the case. The Doctrine of Proper law is used to determine the intentions of the parties to a contract as to which jurisdiction should govern the dispute being resolved. This means that a court will look at the wording of the contract to determine what the parties intended the lawsuit to be decided. State Z would also argue for the closest and most real connection to the case when the dispute a as to where the jurisdiction of the case is argued. From the case facts, it is noted that the factory was to be built in State Z and burnt down in the said State. The Lawyers for the state would argue that since the contract involves building in State Z, and the events occurred in this state, there is the realest connection to the case, so the jurisdiction should be there’s. Finally, State Q would also argue that the closest and most implied connection is that the nationalities of the people killed in the tragedy came from its jurisdiction; therefore the dispute should be decided in

A letter to the editor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

A letter to the editor - Essay Example Although this has worked for the United Kingdom, the author of the article has presumed that it could also work in all the other developed countries. However, he has overlooked the fact that each country has its own distinct economic system, thus some economic strategies in one country might not be successful or apply in another country. In addition, the link between economic growth and deficit reduction, which the author’s argument base on, is disputed. When government spending reduces, as the author suggests, this does not guarantee that there will be economic growth due to the result of a reduced deficit. In some cases, reduced government spending might slow down economic growth, as the government cuts on spending on various goods and services. This might directly result in a contraction in the economy, and consequently a decline in public-sector employment, which will restrain economic growth or recovery. However, it is agreeable, as the author puts it, that the government should highly invest in areas such as education and infrastructure. To a greater extent, such investments by the government might lead to more employment opportunities and result in skilled workforce. For this reason therefore, the author should have considered suggesting a moderated cut on government spending, as extreme cut on government spending might have detrimental effects on the economy of the present and future

The Machinations of International Trade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Machinations of International Trade - Essay Example The UK has not ratified the Vienna Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (the Convention)2 which places the UK in an anomalous position vis-à  -vis its primary trading partners, often leading to pressure to accept the law of a contracting party that is a signatory to the Convention3. This has led to a marked difference between the approach in international trade law to contract termination and buyer remedies under the Convention, in contrast to the position under CIF and FOB contracts, where the role of documents is paramount to obligations of the trading parties4. Firstly, with regard to the certificate of origin, under CIF contracts, the part of the seller’s primary obligation is to ensure goods, deliver them to the shipping company and arrange for freight of goods5. Arguably most important is the bill of lading, which is essentially a transport document and covers movement by sea and constitutes documents of title and evidence as to who has the title, which is vital to obligations under CIF and FOB contracts6. If a bill of lading is consigned to a named party, they are known as â€Å"straight consigned†7. Moreover, bills of lading can be categorized according to the mode of transport specified under the contract8. For example, marine bills of lading cover shipment by sea and can be issued by the shipping company, captain or master of the vessel or party acting as agents for the carrier9. Alternatively, the â€Å"received for shipment† bill of lading pieces of evidence receipt of goods by the issuer, however, does not evidence that goods are en route10. Finally, â€Å"shipped on board† bills of lading constitute evidence.

Festivals and Events. The New Age Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Festivals and Events. The New Age - Essay Example This concept has become so popular in recent years, however, that there is now the danger of having a glut of such events that are aimed at the same demographic group (Santino, 2009). This has been a most interesting development in regards to the creation of even more specialized festivals and events that are truly unique to one particular geographical region. This is showing great signs of success and is likely to be a trend that will continue into the future. This report at three different such festivals and events in the nations of England, Wales, and Scotland. Focused on will be the background to such events, the type of tourist that is target, and its economic and tourism related benefits that are arising in the region as a result. 2. The Green Man Festival - Wales 2.1 Festival Background The Green Man Music Festival is generally held over a four day period in the Black Mountains of Wales. It has been in existence for only ten years and was formed in response to the increasing d esire to host a truly independent music festival within the region. It is quite an eclectic event that definitely appeals to a particular demographic group. The event was the brainchild one family from Wales, and the festival now truly takes on a family type atmosphere, as many of the visitors come year after year, creating a reunion type atmosphere. The festival itself is designed to have quite an intimate feel to it, yet it has multiple attractions and performers to keep things going around the clock. The location itself is also another unique component of the festival, as it is in the wilderness, yet is only 3 hours away from either London, Manchester, or Brighton, and only 90 minutes away from Bristol. The developers and designers of this particular festival wanted to provide a unique and different experience, realizing that not everyone can travel to multiple festivals each and every year. From the reality that this is one of the only festivals in the entire United Kingdom to h ave a 24-hour alcohol beverage license to the reality that they have developed many options for children to enjoy as well, the Green Man Festival has developed a truly niche market that has positioned itself for future growth despite its young age. 2.2 Linkage to Tourism Development (Visitor Numbers and Economic Impact) The Green Man Festival began as a small and intimate event on the Wales calendar, but today is by far the largest music festival in the country. The first year, the festival attracted 300 people, yet it received rave reviews from most in attendance, and the festival even had to move locations in its second year in order to accommodate all of the interest. Now in its tenth year, the Green Man Festival attracts more than 15,000 people annually, and its economic impact is felt far and wide. While the event itself has grown into four days of music and festivities, permission has recently been granted to allow attendees to remain on the festival ground for an entire seven days (Frost & Laing, 2013). This has allowed the surrounding areas in Wales to benefit from this tourist event as well, as thousands of travelers now descend on the region annually. The Green Man Festival is about more than just music. The organizers of the event have created an event that is known region wide as being non-corporate and ethnically minded. They have

Why We Need Horror Movies Essay Example for Free

Why We Need Horror Movies Essay In â€Å"Why We Crave Horror Movies,† Stephen King writes about horror movies, why we like them, and the purposes they serve us. One of the main reasons he makes in his essay is that he believes that there is a dark and sinister side to all people that craves to see the suffrage and despair of others and that this is why we need these movies. King says that these particular kinds of movies are good in the way that the purpose they serve is to satisfy those desires and urges. Given these two statements, it shows that even though we may have urges from time to time to cause harm or wish ill will that these films serve as a healthy release. King writes in his essay, â€Å"The potential lyncher is in almost all of us (excluding saints, past and present; but then, most saints have been crazy in their own ways), and every now and then, he has to be let loose to scream and roll around in the grass.† (110) This is simply a statement that ultimately we are just human beings expressing emotion. Although horror movies are almost always presented with people suffering horrible things like demons, possessions, and even death, they serve as a healthy release to feel the satisfaction for those desires. And they let us just cast aside our normal socially acceptable behaviors to just indulge them. Another statement King writes in his essay is that, â€Å"If we are all insane, then sanity becomes a matter of degree.† (110) This is a statement that says sanity is something that can be measured. If this is true then sanity is something that must be controlled in order to maintain civility in society. Horror movies for the normal average person as stated before simply serve as an outlet to release some bad desires; however, some people do take that desire beyond the movies and actually do go out and commit crimes and cause harm to others. To conclude, sanity is something that can be easily kept in check by most people, some not as much. And this is why we need an outlet such as movies like these to keep ourselves in check from causing actual damage and harm.

Effect Of Arab Spring On Arab Countries

Effect Of Arab Spring On Arab Countries The 18th and 19th century witnessed the colonisation of majority of Arab countries. The discovery of oil in Persia in 1908 subsequently in Saudi Arabia in 1938 has been one of the significant development in the Arab world. France, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy. Though most of these states gained independence in the 1950s and 1960s, but the region has traditionally been characterized by dictators, hereditary monarchies, long serving military regimes and autocrats. These forms of rule deprived these countries from the winds of change . 11. The Arab countries are mostly deprived of Human Rights,lack of freedom of public opinion and expression, fear of regimes, corruption, favouritism and nepotism. Transparency has receded giving way to all sorts of malpractices and misuse of power. All this led to economic degradation and a fall in national income in most of the Arab countries during the past 60 years. 2 The main reasons for Arab Spring in mostly affected countries are as under:- (a) Tunisia. The revolution was sparked by a youth setting himself ablaze due to poverty and the resultant confrontation with security forces. (b) Egypt. The movement was a call for better economic conditions and opposition to inheritance of power. (c) Libya It was against suppression and the rule of one man without any political institutions. (d) Yemen. it was against the dictatorship of one man and his tribe. (e) Syria. It was against family and sectarian dictatorship. 3. Though this revolution was triggered by different factors specific to their own unique socio-economic and political structures but they have one unifying factor that they have been all youth-led movements. 2. However the roots of the Arab Spring lay in the following factors:- (a) An entrenched dictatorship/autocracy/monarchy vs the peoples desire for freedom and democracy. (b) Widespread corruption on the part of the ruling elite. Frequent violation of human rights and brutal repression by the national security force. The rich poor divide getting wider. High cost of living that was constantly on the rise and low income. Lack of adequate job opportunities and the high rate of unemployment among the educated youth. Rejection of the idea of the inheritance of presidency. Social network media namely, facebook and twitter ,which served to rally the youth. 3. There has been a monarchical exception in the Arab Spring which makes one believe that monarchies could be more resilient during popular unrest. With the exception of Bahrain to an extent , other monarchies were not seriously affected. Arab Spring has brought to fore the role of monarchy in regime stability also. 2. The Arab Spring has altered the politics in the Arab world by bringing new political forces. The Islamists have emerged as political parties in Egypt and Tunisia. It can concluded that Islamists have been the real gainers of the undergoing socio-political transformation. Tunisia 2. In Tunisia, the formulation of a new constitution is by now under way after the termination of election for the Constituent Assembly in October 2011. Tunisia also witnessed the arrival of the Islamists in the power struggle after decades of alienation by Ben Ali. Tunisia was the first country to observe regime change when the Islamic An-Nahda party won the majority of votes. Hamadi Jebali, Secretary General of An-Nahda, is the new Prime Minister and the Islamic party is presently working in close alliance with Progressive Democratic Party. Though at present their roadmap is devoid of any Islamic rhetoric, it is concentrating more on the model of civic governance. The biggest challenge to Tunisian democracy is likely to be from the Salfists who represent the Islamic fundamentalists. Egypt 2. The Freedom and Justice Party, a political arm of Muslim Brotherhood ,has made a clean sweep in the Parliamentary elections,but the liberals failed to make an impact in the first ever fair election. The departure of the army from the helm of the affairs also brings to an end to the era of ruler-army nexus in Egypt. It is not only Muslim Brotherhood which gained ground, but there other Islamic groups like the Salafists have also risen to a considerable position and are dominating national politics. So far, the Islamists have adopted the strategy of adjustment . The surfacing of several liberal parties like Third Current, Free Egyptian Party, Egyptian Social Democratic Party and the Tagammu Party is a positive sign and signals evolution of a multi-party system which had been absent for decades. Presently Mohamed Morsi has been elected as the new president in June 2012 but he has grabbed unbridled power for himself , which has led to violent outburst from the masses in the country. Libya 2. The departure of Colonel Gaddafi after the involvement of the NATO set the stage for democratic practice in the country. In July, 2012, the election was held for the General National Congress, the first democratic election in Libya in half a century. In contrast to Egypt and Tunisia, in the Libyan election, liberal forces won the elections. The poor show of the Islamists may be accredited to the time-honored Sufi character of Libyan Islam and peoples non- proclivity towards Islamic brand of politics. In addition, during Gaddafis regime, most of Islamist never surfaced and were aslo not organised like Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt or An-Nahda of Tunisia. 3. The democratic process in Libya has been unsuccessful in bringing about the political solidity such as the one in Egypt or Tunisia. The country has turned out to be more delicate and vulnerable. It is also the tribal character of society in Libya that is causing disintegration and disorder of the social fabrics. Libyan society is now both horizontally and vertically disjointed and neo-tribalism has replaced the old national uniqueness and loyalty. Morocco 3. Political concessions approved by King Mohammed VI led to referendum on constitutional reforms. In dissimilarity with protesters in other countries, the Moroccans who initiated the Feb 20 movement for transformation have not voiced for the kings overthrow. Instead, their focal point has been on significant constitutional reforms, which restricts the powers of the king and consolidates the theory of separation of powers. The demonstrations right through the country have been generally peaceful and free of violent expression. 2. Similarly, in the recent elections too, the Islamist won the majority of seats and the King designated Abdelilah Benkirane, an Islamist figure, as Prime Minister. The delicate balance is to be seen between the monarchy and the new Islamists forces, and how they are adjusted in national politics. The King has by now initiated a major political reform capable of empowerment of the people. Syria 4. The Syrian National Council an opposition government formed in exile has not been recognized by the Western Arab nations due to the councils internal divisions. Syria was expelled from the Arab League after it agreed to a peace plan only to step up attacks on protesters. In late 2011 and early 2012, Syria agreed to allow league observers into the country but their presence did nothing to slow the violence. In February 2012, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to approve a resolution condemning President Assads unbridled crackdown on the uprising, but China and Russia, Syrias traditional patrons, blocked all efforts for stronger Security Council action. Iran, Syrias closest ally in the region, also doubled down on its support for Mr. Assad. The conflict is becoming more radicalized, homegrown Muslim jihadists, as well as small groups of fighters from Al Qaeda, have been taking a more prominent role and demanding a say in running the resistance. Recent months h ave witnessed the emergence of larger, more organized and better armed Syrian militant organizations pushing an agenda based on jihad. As the conflict has continued without resolution, the Assad regime has lost many key players, as growing numbers of high-ranking government and military officials have defected. In early August 2012, President Assad fired his prime minister, RiyadFarid Hijab who defected to neighboring Jordan. Days after Mr Hijabs defection, Mr Assad appointed a new prime minister, Wael Nader al-Halqi. 2. Except for Syria, nearly each country affected by the Arab Spring is steadily moving towards some sort of stability. The bloodiest upshot of the Arab Spring has been the incessant war in Syria. Syria is subject to Sunni-Alawite conflict but the Arab Spring has aggravated the crisis. The continuing civil war between Free Syrian Army, the main umbrella group for fighters the Syrian Army has resulted in the death of more than 30,000 people. By September 2012, 2,34,000 Syrian refugees had registered in neighboring countries about half of whom left during August.The end of continuing unrest is nowhere in sight  [1]  . The violent clashes between the regime and the rebels reflect the deep hatred between the Sunni majority and the ruling Alwite minority. Syrian civil war has all the potential to become the scene of an international conflict. So far, no endeavor, including the U.N.-Arab League Mission led by Kofi Annan, could contain this strife. Even the new U.N.-Arab League envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi confessed that he was not certain that he would be able to end the conflict. Yemen 5. President Saleh signed the GCC sponsored peace process on 23 Nov 11, in which he agreed to step down and set the stage for transfer of power to his vice president.A presidential election was held on 21 Feb 12 in which AbdRabbuh Mansur Al-Hadi (the only candidate) won 99.8% of vote. The new president has been mandated to lead a two year political transition process including a fully inclusive National Dialogue, constitutional electoral reforms ending with full Presidential Parliamentary elections in 2014  [2]  .In addition monetary assistance has been received from World Bank to improve the economic condition. The developments as of now put an end to more than 12 months of violence civil unrest across Yemen. 2. After the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) mediated an agreement between the opposition groups and President Abdullah Saleh to leave the Presidentship, Yemen underwent the Presidential election in February 2012 and acting President Abd Rabbuh Mansur al-Hadi won 99.8% of vote and was was elected as the President. But the elections have failed to amalgamate a society that is divided by cultural and tribal loyalties. The Houthis, an insurgent Shiite group, boycotted the elections which reflects the political division in Yemen and leaves enough room for trouble in future. In addition new governance could not rein in the new resurgent groups operating in the name of north-south and sectarian entity. Bahrain 5. Bahrains political arrangement has been unable to keep tempo with demands for representation for the majority Shia population and has almost responded to unrest with an iron fist  [3]  . King Hamad did attempt to provide some amount of economic concession by giving out financial relief to each Bahraini family also initiated judicial, security economic measures. However as per Amnesty report, these reforms appear to have scratched the surface as human rights crisis still continue  [4]  .During the unrest, the old sectarian fault lines between Shiites and Sunnis surfaced. To soothe anti-government protestors, the King dismissed several cabinet ministers and pardoned political prisoners, including the Shia opposition leader Hassan Mushaimaa, who had been in exile in Lebanon. 2. The condition in Bahrain can be seen in similarity to that in Syria where minority Sunnis rule over majority Shiites. It was GCC under the direction of Saudi Arabia which suppressed the revolt in Bahrain. Besides, Bahrain has also turned out to be a battle ground of power between Iran and Saudi Arabia.. 2. The situation at hand appears to be calm but one cannot rule out the likelihood of repetition in the near future because of the unpredictable nature of the region. Furthermore, Iran may endeavor to capitalise on the amplified sectarian tension. Jordan 5. Subsequent to the initial protest the government upturned the rise in fuel prices, but protestors still persisted with their demands for reforms. The King in an attempt to soothe the masses have dismissed three prime ministers from the time when the of Arab Spring started, finally paving way for Fayez al- Tarawneh to head the cabinet to deliver reform agenda  [5]  . Frequent and small scale protests and turmoil still continues in Jordan to keep the system off balance. Saudi Arabia 5. Saudi Arabia is also transiting through low level sectarian conflict. The Shiite minority in the eastern part is making recurrent protests seeking rights and freedom. The king dolled out economic concessions in the form of US $ 130 billion. Subsequently Municipal elections were held in Sep 2011. Reforms were also initiated for womens participation in municipal election in 2015 and for their nomination to Consultative Assembly. Oman 6. Political reforms were announced in reaction to the spate of protests. The most noteworthy reforms include the granting of Consultative Council (Majilis) of Oman ample legislative and audit powers  [6]  . Sultan Qaboos reorganized the Council of Ministers and replaced three top administration officials. A new body was also shaped to manage the countrys economy while Sultan Qaboos promised extra 50,000 jobs  [7]  . The generally affirmative Omani views of Sultan Qaboos, attached with the economic and supplementary political reform measures caused the unrest to subside. Kuwait 5. As a consequence of the protests that demanded political transparency and a clamp down on corruption within the government, the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, resigned on 29 Nov 2011. The government used financial generosity like budgets laden with subsidies and salary increases as well as used oppressive measures in terms of imprisonment which kept the public display of dissent relatively restricted. As Kuwait is a relatively wealthy society where it appears that most citizens do not want to risk their economic wellbeing to bring the downfall of Al Sabah rule  [8]  . 2. From the events as it unfolds in Arab world ,it can be generalized that the historic phenomenon of Arab Spring reflects the following which has wide implications for non- Arab countries also :- (a) The deep structural malisie of Arab society in general. (b) The democratic aspiration of the marginalised section of Arab society, particularly the youth, for a dignified livelihood, a kind of social, economic and political reform that ensures respect for individual identity, dignity and social equity. (c) The inspiration for this movement is deeply Arab-Islamic, rather than tradition of western democracy and therefore eventhough the movement aspires for democratic space but it does not necessarity imagine this democractic space in terms of western democratic values and principles. (d) It is the rainbow of multiple ideological currents vis islamism, nationalism, tribalism, sectarism and localism with each competing with each other for representation in future power-arrangement but also uniting for loosely defined national purpose against external challanges. (e) The movement is likely to have long term implication for the stability and security of the region. (f) The relatively peaceful, leaderless, unorganised but having mass element only reienforces the notion that people remains the motor of wider social and political changes and in the process totally delegitimise the violence-prone politics and discourses of radical/militant Islamic organisations in the name of islamic transformation of Muslim societies.

Brown v Board of Education Essay -- Civil Rights Movement

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On the seventeenth day in May 1954 a decision was made which changed things in the United States dramatically. For millions of black Americans, news of the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education meant, at last, that they and their children no longer had to attend separate schools. Brown v. Board of Education was a Supreme Court ruling that changed the life of every American forever. In Topeka, Kansas, a black third-grader named Linda Brown had to walk one mile through a railroad switchyard to get to her black elementary school, even though a white elementary school was only seven blocks away. Linda's father, Oliver Brown, tried to enroll her in the white elementary school, but the principal of the school refused. Brown went to McKinley Burnett, the head of Topeka's branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and asked for help. The NAACP was eager to assist the Browns, as it had long wanted to challenge segregation in public schools. Other black parents joined Brown, and, in 1951, the NAACP requested an injunction that would forbid the segregation of Topeka's public schools (NAACP). The U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas heard Brown's case from June 25-26, 1951. At the trial, the NAACP argued that segregated schools sent the message to black children that they were inferior to whites; therefore, the schools were unequal. The Board of Education's defense was that, because segregation in Topeka and elsewhere pervaded many other aspects of life, segregated schools simply prepared black children for the segregation they would face during adulthood. The board also argued that segregated schools were not necessarily harmful to black children; great African Americans had overcome much more than just segregated schools and became very successful. The request for an injunction pushed the court to make a difficult decision. On one hand, the judges agreed with the Browns; saying that: â€Å"Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children...A sense of inferiority affects the motivation of a child to learn† (The National Center For Public Research). On the other hand, the precedent of Plessy v. Ferguson allowed separate but equal school systems for blacks and whites, and no Supreme Court ruling had overturned Plessy yet. Be... ...tock market among black Americans have rocketed since the 1980s. The political and economic force of that black middle class continues to bring America closer to the vision of racial equality that Dr. King might have dreamed of 50 years ago. The Supreme Court's May 17, 1954, ruling in Brown v Board of Education remains a landmark legal decision. This decision is huge not only because it changed the history of America forever but also because it was a huge step for blacks in the United States. This decision would eventually lead to the full freedom of blacks in America. Brown v Board of Education is the "Big Bang" of all American history in the 20th century. Works Cited Cozzens, Lisa. â€Å"Brown v Board of Education.† Watson.org. 1995 . NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. â€Å"Brown v Board of Education Matters to All Americans.† Brown Cronicles. 2003 . Patterson, James. â€Å"Brown v Board of Education: A Civil Rights Milestone and Its Troubled Legacy (Pivotal Moments in American History).† Oxford University Press., 2001. The National Center For Public Research. â€Å"Brown v Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954) (USSC+).† Supreme Court of The United States. 1982 .

My Summer Vacation in Florida Essays -- Summer Vacation Essays

Have you ever been on a vacation? To me a vacation is a time to be with friends or family. When I think of vacations, I think of packing, the flight or drive, and relaxation. Not only is it very exciting to go on a vacation, but you get closer to the people that go with you. Linda, my best friend's mom had asked me if I would want to go with their family to Florida. When she asked me I thought she was kidding, but when she said, "I need to know because if you are I need to get you a airplane ticket," I knew she was serious. I was so excited I could have kissed her. I was going to Florida with my best friend, Lisa, and her family. The people from Lisa's family that were going were Tina, Randy, Ashley, and Linda. Tina is Lis'?s sister, Randy is Tina?s husband and Ashley is Tina?s daughter. Linda is Lisa?s mom and she was the only one out of all Lisa?s family I knew. Going on a trip packing is defiantly a priority. The whole week before the trip I had began packing. I didn?t realize how many things I was going to need until I started packing. I packed two suit cases full of clothes, but I figured I?d rather have more clothes because you never know what the weather will be like. I packed cards, connect four, guess who, I pod, and food so we wouldn't be bored on the flight. When I was done packing my mom asked ? Are you moving out?? The night before leaving I couldn't sleep. When I woke up that morning it was a beautiful spring day. The sun was shining brightly, and the clouds in the sky looked like giant marshmallows. I was so excited because this was my first time going on a vacation. I had already put my suitcases and bags in my car the night before. After I said my goodbyes to my family, I was on my way. I met with Lisa a... ...icking because we didn?t want to miss our flight. Randy called the company where he had rented the van from and they came to pick us up. We made it to the airport just in time because when we walked in the airport they called our flight. This made us very relieved. The flight home went just as well as the flight there except this time I didn't have the butterflies. Overall going on a vacation is something I want to do more in the future. I learned many things from this vacation such as even though you go with some people you don't know as well, you get to know them and by the end of the vacation it's like you have known them your whole life. This vacation brought my friend Lisa and I closer because we experienced things together. Going on a vacation with someone makes your relationship stronger and you find out many different likes and dislikes about each other.

Symbolism in Lord of the Flies :: William Golding

Symbolism in Lord Of The Flies In Lord Of The Flies, by William Golding, there is an immense amount of symbolism. A major symbol mentioned multiple times was the pig's head and the beast. There were some other symbols including Piggy's Specs, human brutality, and death. Golding shows that when people are taken away from society they become more like animals and much less civilized. The first symbol, the pig's head, is depicted as "dim-eyed, grinning faintly, blood blackening between the teeth," and the "obscene thing" is covered with a "black blob of flies" that "tickled under his nostrils." As the image is further depicted the reader gains a sense of brutality shown through this one human action. Simon begins talking to the head and even though the conversation may have been a hallucination, Simon learns that the beast isn't an "external force" and the pig's head tells him, "Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hunt and kill! O You knew, didn't you? I'm part of you?" The gruesomeness of this symbol is once again shown at the end of the conversation when Simon faints after he sees the "blackness within, a blackness that spread." Another of the most important symbols used to present the theme of the novel is the beast. In the imaginations of the boys, the beast is a source of evil on the island. However, in reality, it represents the evil naturally present within everyone, which is causing life on the island to deteriorate. Simon begins to realize this even before his encounter with the Lord of the Flies, and during one argument over the existence of a beast, he attempts to share his insight with the others. Simon tells them, ?Maybe, O maybe there is a beast O What I mean is O maybe it's only us.? In response to Simon's statement, the other boys, who had once conducted their meetings with some sense of order, immediately begin to argue more fiercely. The crowd gives a ?wild whoop? when Jack rebukes Ralph, saying ?Bollocks to the rules! We're strong o we hunt! If there's a beast, we'll hunt it down! We'll close in and beat and beat and beat!? The boys fear of the beast and their desire to kill it shows that s ociety's rules once had power over them and has been loosened during the time they have spent without supervision on the island. The evil within the boys has more effect on their existence as they spend more time on the island, isolated from the rest of society, and this decline is portrayed by Piggy's Specs.

Managing Information Essay

Introduction With nearly 40 years’ experience has seen the industry change many times, and has always kept itself at the forefront of that change. Its reputation is a source of pride for all who work here, and it’s something we’re keen to preserve and develop the only way possible: through satisfying our clients. We have developed into a leading multidisciplinary contractor offering a truly comprehensive, integrated service to clients in development, construction, energy and many other sectors. (See appendix 1 for Organisational chart’s of company) My job role within the organisation is quiet a varied one in that my day to day activities are never quite the same, but to summarise my main duties include submitting monthly applications in line with the various contracts worked on for example NEC and JCT to name but a few, attending site progress meetings with a range of clients from the commercial / technical and construction departments, submitting internal applications and working progress, attending internal financial meetings with the Financial Director / Demolition Director and Management Accountant and producing a report with the inclusion of monthly forecasts, attending meetings with Contracts Managers and Estimating director to discuss and produce budget and target sheets, completion of contract sum analysis and end life forecasts which are then discussed and agreed by the Demolition Director, overseeing a wide variety of sub contractors from different construction disciplines used which requires the need to send out tend er packages, raising and awarding sub contract orders, raising of sub contract payments after assessing applications received. All the above assists in the monitoring of various contracts and ensures projects are delivered on time within budget and the client receives maximum satisfaction to secure future work opportunities. 1.0 Understand the Management of Information within the organisation 1.1 Critically assess information flow through a number of different channels within the organisation Throughout the organisation there is various different types of information used which is transferred throughout the organisation in several capacities. Information generally described as below: Production and Operational – Information on assets / quality / standards Financial Information – Profit / Costs / Margins / Cash Flow / Targets Internal Documentation – Purchase Orders / Delivery Notes / Invoices & Applications / Credit Notes / Departmental reports / Department Meetings and minutes / Hire Sheets / Plant Sheets and Information / Allocation Sheets and Plant Returns / Employees Records / Cost Books & Tender Information / Applications and Invoices (Client) All the above is aided with an Integrated Management System ‘This Integrated Management System outlines how Cuddy plans to satisfy the: Quality requirement of ISO9001:2008 (Quality Management System Specification) Health & safety requirements of OHSAS18001:2007 (Occupational Health & Safety Assessment Series 18001) Environmental requirements of ISO14001:2004 (Environmental Management Systems Specification) by operating a framework based on these requirements This Integrated Management System is intended to directly meet the requirements of the following legislation and regulations: Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 – Section 2(3) requires organisations to have a Health & Safety policy which should include: Statement of Intent (i.e. Health & Safety mission) Organisation (i.e. structure, roles & responsibilities) Arrangements (i.e. procedure and guidance) Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 – Regulation 5 requires organisations to have arrangements for undertaking effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of the preventive and protective health and safety measures. HSG65 Successful Health & Safety Management – This guidance outlines the management system requirements for implementing the arrangements required within regulation 5 of the Management of Health and Safety & Work Regulations 1999. This Integrated Management System will provide the mechanism for managing other legislative, regulatory and other policy requirements (e.g. risk assessment, training, etc).’ Above abstract taken from Cuddy To be read alongside the IMS as an aid is the following: Standard procedures Forms and Guidance Notes Standard Operating Procedures Certificates, Insurances, Licences Policy Statements Standard COSHH and Risk Assessments As touched on there are various different ways in which the information is transferred throughout the organisation with the use of electronic, hard copy and spoken for the various types, all this aids us to capture the different types of hard and soft information we need in order to ensure a project is a successful one. ‘Soft information includes feelings, perceptions, opinions; values on the other hand hard information includes verifiable data and knowledge.’ http://onemind.com/2010/03/07/hard-and-soft-information/ I have touched on how information is transferred internally and specifically in the office and from a manager’s point of view through various different capacities but haven’t gone into depth how information is transferred to the boys on the front line on site. As I currently see it within the company there is clear breakdown in communication from when we tender and win a job to what information is received on site and in particular how the site personnel are managed on that specific job In relation to what exactly we priced. This I believe is impacting on the duration we are taking to complete the job and impacting on the possibility of making the job as successful as possible, also this may have a negative effect on the company as whole whilst tendering for works in the future. As part of the IMS there are procedures in place (listed below), but neither allows for the manner and information to be transferred to site. To summarise from the information that is transferred needs to be clear, simple and set out in the way in which the site supervisor understands what is required in order to ensure the project is successful. Place for Enquiry, tender and contract review Project Delivery As a brief understanding in reference to specifically the Demolition Department we have an estimating director who will visit the sites which require pricing and produce a cost book document which is passed to the  demolition director and managing director for comment before submitting what they believe to be our most competitive tender and or bid. If we are lucky enough to be successful in winning that specific job the cost book along with the tender information will be passed to the relevant contracts manager and quantity surveyor in order to generate a budget / target sheet and an extent of works sheet. This is when the middle managers have the opportunity to raise any queries regarding the job with the estimating director or the demolition director on what exactly has been allowed and priced for. The next step in the current process is for the tender information to be copied and a site file produced and passed to the supervisor in order to carry out the works. The cost book, target / budget sheet is not passed onto site and this is just for reference between the middle managers and directors of the company for the protection of vital information. Therefore I propose we come up with a procedure that will allow the smooth transfer of information to site and give a clear indication of what exactly has been allowed in the tender. In setting this procedure I hope to bridge the gap between site and the information held at the office, and in doing so hold regular meetings with agendas, minutes disturbed. 1.2 Propose improvements to the flow of information within your area of responsibility, based on your organisational assessment Due to my job role being one in which I try to minimise cost and enhance value you for money, I believe in setting clear and simple targets to the Supervisors on site this will empower them and give them incentives and a clear understanding on what needs to be achieved in order to ensure the job awarded becomes a successful and profitable one. As mentioned previously in the current situation the Supervisors are given the tender information and briefly explained the job but in some senses are left to run the job with open ended targets and no clear sense of direction or management, this is turn is causing jobs to run over and us not maximising profitability. Currently the transfer of information from tender stage stops at the middle managers point. The reasons being for this is due to confidentiality of the information contained within the cost book and target / budget sheet and as managers there is information we do not want the site operatives to see. Therefore the first action in the procedure would be to hold a pre start meeting or  initial meeting or the like on site with the following being in attendance. The reason I have listed the below as typically they will be deciding factor on how well a job goes: Relevant Contracts Manager Relevant Quantity Surveyor Relevant Site Supervisor Within this meeting the job as a whole would be discussed briefly only. In demolition for example it is possible to break a general job up into the following categories: Site set up Asbestos Removal Soft Strip Demolition to top of slab Removal of slabs and foundations Crush material Clear Site As you can see from above generally there are a few different categories of work required to be carried out on a typical demolition job. Therefore I believe we should not choose to discuss the whole job in detail but targets given for each individual work activity only, as if we discuss the job in detail this may cause the supervisor to go into his / her shell and be intimidated before the job has even commenced. Therefore within this procedure it will be broken down into the specific work activities and depending on the size of the job these work activates could even be broken up into phases if need be. For example in the first pre start meeting or initial meeting the general site set up would be discussed and particular what is required in respect of cabins / welfare / heras fencing to name a few items and the location of where we intend to site up site. As it currently stands the contracts manager usually sets up the site but I believe if we have the supervisor on board early doors and allow him to have an input of the set up required / location this will give him a sense of pride and authority that he is in charge of the site. What site set up that’s required usually depends on the size of the site but typically this usually takes a week or longer and under current H&S and CDM Regulations 2007 no works are to commence unless the following are in place: Flushing toilets and running water and drainage systems. Washing Facilities with hot and cold water. Soap or other suitable means of cleaning. Towels or other suitable means of drying. Sufficient ventilation and lighting. Sinks large enough to wash face, hands and forearms. Drinking Water. Changing rooms and lockers. Rest Facilities and heating. After initial site set up has been completed another progress meeting will be held on site with a specific target laid out for the work activity in question. Generally on a demolition site Asbestos Removal usually has to take place before we can commence soft strip depending on what type of asbestos and in line with the specific site asbestos report in place. But for example if we take the job as a linear project and the soft strip cannot commence until after the asbestos, then within this meeting we discuss in length the asbestos removal and set a clear target with the input from the supervisor. Typical of example of this target could be again depending on size of the site but take for arguments sake we take it as the site is split up into 5 phases. Phase 1 -10 Men x 6 Weeks Phase 2-5 Men x 3 Weeks Phase 3 -8 Men x 5 Weeks Phase 4 -8 Men x 2 Weeks Phase 5 -6 Men x 6 Weeks The groundwork will put in by the middle managers to ensure the target above is in line with the cost book and or target / budget sheet, and in line with this procedure it will attempt to set it out as basic as possible in order to attempt to take as much pressure off as possible. Weekly progress meeting will be held after the initial meeting in order to reflect on the previous week’s activity. Within this meeting it will be an opportunity for the supervisor to assess his performance and the performance of his team on site, in doing so will be a self appraisal tool for the supervisor without knowing. It will also give the middle managers an update of current position in respect of the targets set out and give an opportunity to amend or change  anything that is not quiet working correctly and keep the things that are. The meetings will continue on a weekly basis with clear targets and open and frank discussions with input from all parties to create a sense of a team as I beli eve this will help with the running of the job. Constant communication will be held throughout on a daily basis to ensure all parties are aware of constant ongoing on site. When works have been completed the final action in the procedure would be to have a post contract meeting again with all parties where all the information is discussed /analysed / targets reviewed and the like. This will be handy in going forward and used as a tool to gather date / information. This information could be fed back to the estimating director and demolition director in order to have the full circle should a similar job arise in the future. The above will be written out in a clear procedure therefore should someone leave the company, or the job being transferred to someone else then everyone will be aware what is required of them. See Appendix 4 for proposed new Procedure By putting in place the above procedure it will aid with spoken, electronic and hard information and the transfer of. Spoken – Due to the nature of the procedure it encourages the daily dialogue between managers and the site supervisors. Hard Copies – Agendas and Minutes will be taken of all meetings taken placed, which will be updated electronically and distributed accordingly. Electronic – Targets will be collated and circulated, along with copy of the minutes. 2.0 Gather and Analyse information to make decisions to solve problems in your area of responsibility 2.1 Collect information from a wide range of sources to support management decision-making Site Managers / Supervisors Verbal examples from site managers / supervisors stating that the lack of information in respect of the scope / tender inclusions is having a negative impact on the overall performance of our jobs. As mentioned this is transferred verbally therefore we will have to take into account of its reliability and validity. As mentioned previously there is a clear breakdown in the flow of information  from when we price and win a job to the information passed onto site and the management of that information in order to make the job as successful as possible. This is readily backed up from verbal conversations with the site supervisors themselves who are unsure of what the extents of works are and the possible impact this is having on the duration of the projects? Specifically within the Construction Industry as a manager the below is at the forefront of every decision we make. The triangle illustrates the relationship between three primary forces in a project. Time is the available time to deliver the project, cost represents the amount of money or resources available and quality represents the fit-to-purpose that the project must achieve to be a success. http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/project-management-scope-triangle.html But ultimately the decisions we make from site level up the chain to the managing directors determine the outcome. Below is evidence that everyone makes decisions. Above it shows the impact and importance of decisions with regards to the Cuddy Group it is possible to split the three groups up into the following: High Value -Managing Directors and Directors Medium Value-Middle Managers e.g. Contracts Managers and Quantity Surveyors Low Value-Site Managers and Site Personnel Quiet often when making a decision we use past knowledge in order to aid and assist us. Past knowledge or the information that is generally contained within the brains of individuals is generally known as tacit knowledge. This knowledge is continually getting updated and revised depending on learning, experiences and insight. There are various different types of knowledge and this is summarised in various models. One of the widely accepted approaches to summarising knowledge management is the Nonaka & Takeushi, (see appendix 9 for web location) Below are a couple of diagrams showing the matrix. Nonaka & Takeuchi model the process of organisational knowledge creation as a spiral in which knowledge is amplified through these four modes of knowledge  conversion. Quote taken from class notes. Along with the specific project management matrix / flow and knowledge diagrams there is general management information available that will aid in decision making see below. Reliability and Validity Model (see appendix 9 for web location) Knowledge Classifications Model (see appendix 9 for web location) Good decisions make good projects, so what makes a good decision (and, hence, a good project)? The answer is, one that’s well planned. But then you run into the question of how long the decision-making process should take. Well, the last thing we need is a new formal methodology for decision-making—nothing would ever get done. That’s why I’d like to propose several useful rules you can apply to decision-making: Consider the importance of the decision. To determine the importance of a decision, ask yourself: What are the consequences for both the project and for you? In reality, how urgent is the decision? (Note that there’s a difference between important and urgent.) Ask yourself if there are more options. In other words, if you’re choosing between three options, ask yourself if there’s also a fourth option. Think about stakeholders’ opinions. Have you listened to the opinions of stakeholders in the decision? You should. Even though they may not like your ultimate decision, they’ll have to live with it. Concede the fact that you’re going to make some irrational decisions. We often make decisions almost by reflex, using a combination of experience, data analysis, gut feelings, fear, personal preference, and peer pressure. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t take into account your sense of self-preservation, the views of your team, or your recollections about why a previous project caused you grief. You just need to be aware that each new situation demands a clear point of view and a fresh decision; otherwise, the same mistakes will recur. Remember that even some small choices can have big consequences. Don’t underestimate the possibility that major consequences could result from seemingly insignificant choices you make along the way.  http://www.techrepublic.com/article/decisions-decisions-make-them-timely-wisely-and-responsibly/1049740 Along with the information above collated from the web I have also read the following text books / Management books. NLP Pocketbook (see appendix 10) Engaging Employees, A practical guide for busy leaders & managers (see appendix 10) Both books aid management and in particular with decision making. In respect of the NLP Pocketbook it produmitaly focus on yourself and your actions, It works on a SMART goal setting strategy. SMART goal setting is Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic and within a defined Time Frame. SSpecific and positive M Measurable and meaningful to you AAchievable and covering all areas of your life, stated in the present tense as if you have achieved it now RRealistic and right for you  TTimes and targeted, towards what you want. In addition to SMART goal setting, NLP incorporates a process called ‘creating a well-formed outcome. Creating a well-formed outcome involves asking a series of questions that will help you clarify your goal. They will help you to ascertain how important the goal is to you, how (if necessary) to revise it and make it more achievable. Well –formed outcome questions: Is the goal stated positively? What do you want? (Eg, wanting to increase company profits rather than a statement about reducing the loss) Can you start and maintain the process of achieving the goal by yourself, and keep it in your control? Does the goal include all the senses? How will you know you have achieved it? What will you feel, see and hear when you have achieved it? What will other people fee, see and say when you have achieved it? Is the context clearly defined? How long will it take? Who will be involved? Where will it take place? How will it be achieved? When do you want it? Have you checked that it is ecological or meaningful for you, ie is it worth the investment in time and money? Does the outcome fit in with your life and who you are? Does the goal keep those aspects of the present situation you want to preserve, ie are there positive elements you wish to maintain? Does it identify the resources you need – those you already have  or those you need to acquir e? What first step must you take? What are the next steps? Abstract directly taken from the NLP Pockebook. But in contrast to the above the Engaging Employees, A practical guide for busy leaders & managers text book focuses predominately on how to get the best out of your team. See contents page taken from the text book to back this up. Is starts with you Planning to communicate Understanding your audience Engaging people in change Face to face matters Team meetings; getting it together High Impact presentations Checking you’re getting through Effective email – at last The write stuff. 2.2 Analyse the information collected from a wide variety of sources, to inform decision-making Project Management Models When project managing a job in construction there are various different types of models that we are able to follow some of which I have given examples of but ultimately the primary focus specifically within the construction industry is the triangle between the three primary forces. Delivering the job on time, within budget to a high standard. Decision making model With the triangle in mind we all have to make decisions of variable impact and volume as is set out in the decision making model. With this in mind managing information and the decisions we make are key. ‘By not making a decision you’re making a decision to not make a decision’ taken from the ILM class notes. The decisions we make as a business ultimately determines how successful the outcome is, and in particular the flow of information within the company to aid our decision making is critical. Therefore before we make  any decisions we have to take into account the impact of the decisions we are making. Nonaka & takeuchi model When making a decision we usually take into account past experiences / doing otherwise defined as Tacit Knowledge. Under the Nonaka & Takeuchi model it explains the relationship and how we can turn Tacit Knowledge into Explicit knowledge which can be readily transmitted to others. Most common forms of explicit knowledge are manual, documents and procedures in our organisation we can relate to the ILM system and the various procedures in place. Please see below which makes good reading. The patent had attempted to be bought by a buyer in other words the tacit knowledge had attempted to be turned into explicit knowledge but due to it possibly not being documented correctly or the manner in which it was presented not being explained correctly it failed. Therefore the tacit knowledge that had been turned into explicit knowledge was little or no use to the buyer. We must bare this in mind if we are relying too heavily on explicit knowledge and in particular how reliable the knowledge is? In the same sense it’s possible to categorise Wikipedia as explicit knowledge but we have to take into account the source and what past experience or where the information originated from before using it to make a decision. ‘Bessemer steel process — Bessemer sold a patent for his advanced steel making process and was sued by the purchasers who couldn’t get it to work. In the end Bessemer set up his own steel company because he knew how to do it, even though he could not convey it to his patent users. Bessemer’s company became one of the largest in the world and changed the face of steel making.[15]’ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacit_knowledge Measuring Validity and Reliability model When gathering information to make a decision we must take in the validity and reliability of what we looking to achieve. Especially within the construction industry there is specific ways in which to measure or calculate something and this can be best described as the below. Reliability Reliability refers to how consistent a measuring device is. A measurement is said to be reliable or consistent if the measurement can produce similar  results if used again in similar circumstances. For example, if a speedometer gave the same readings at the same speed it would be reliable. If it didn’t it would be pretty useless and unreliable. Importantly reliability of self-report measures, such as psychometric tests and questionnaires can be assessed using the split half method. This involves splitting a test into two and having the same participant doing both halves of the test. If the two halves of the test provide similar results this would suggest that the test has internal reliability. http://www.holah.karoo.net/reliabilityandvalidity.htm In respect of validity this refers to the extent of what we are measuring and what we hope to measure. Validity This refers to whether a study measures or examines what it claims to measure or examine. Questionnaires are said to often lack validity for a number of reasons. Participants may lie; give answers that are desired and so on. It is argued that qualitative data is more valid than quantitative data. http://www.holah.karoo.net/reliabilityandvalidity.htm Both the reliability and validity have categories in themselves in which we can use to measure if they are achieving what we set out to achieve. To summarise we need to be mindful if we are using specific data or gathered information if it’s reliable and valid in terms of what we are hoping to achieve and fit for purpose. Information to Knowledge Management With respect of the next model it gives us an insight of how the ever evolving computer industry and in particular the capacity to store and distribute data / information is enabling personnel learning and also the capacity to make correct decision in going forward. Given an example that is relevant to the Cuddy group is the below. We are able to save / store and distribute raw facts and figures on a particular job and in doing so we are able to see if a job was successful in respect of profit? We then can move  on to give meaning to the obtained data in respect of information and give reasons why that job was successful? We then can analyse the derived information and understand what we did well on that job. This will then give us the wisdom going forward to know what to do for the best on other jobs. As mentioned evolving technology is aiding us with the transfer and storing of this information and aiding us with the capability of personnel learning. There are various examples and models that differ slightly some of which I have given examples but all cover the above. General Management Tools As the assignment is targeted at middle managers I have looked into the impact that decisions have and what to consider before making decisions? As a rule the following applies: Consider the importance of the decision Ask yourself if there are more options Think about stakeholders opinions Concede you’re going to make some irrational decisions Remember that even small choice have big consequences I also looked into how SMART goal setting and how to engage with employees. 2.3 Use this analysis of information to make and justify a management decision Using the analysis and the information collated along with the procedure I believe this will better the flow of information throughout the company. The triangle The procedure will aid with delivering the job on time within budget and to a high standard. Delivering the job on time – By having weekly meetings on site and the constant daily dialogue this should enable any problems to be caught at an early stage and thus giving time to nip in the bud the potential to impact on progress and in particular the end date which quiet often is key to a job being a successful one from a clients point of view. Within Budget – Due to the procedure allowing for a review of the target v actual on a weekly basis this will enable weekly monitoring of the budget to ensure everything is on track, atm there if only an allowance of monthly reporting and it’s possible for any job to change dramatically from month to month. High Standard – Again as the procedure allows for the contracts  manager / quantity surveyor to visit site at least once a week with the supervisor having chance to put his / hers views across together this should r aise standards. Decision making model In reference to the procedure this will reiterate the fact that everyone makes decisions especially as minutes will be keep, actions assigned and closed out as and when this occurs. Nonaka & Takeuchi Model With the procedure in place it will allow for smoother transfer of tacit knowledge into Explicit Knowledge. This will be done by taking minutes; monitoring progress against targets and reporting this information back to directors / managing directors in order to have the full cycle. Validity and Reliability Under the procedure progress meetings will be held on site this will allow us to audit and monitor the reliability and the validity of the information we are being told by the site manager / supervisor. This will be used as a checking tool before information is transferred around the company to directors and managing directors alike. Knowledge Management With the procedure set in place where minutes are taken / targets are monitored it will allow for us to save / store and distribute raw facts. Also with the weekly minutes we will be to give meaning to the obtained data for example why we missed out specific targets? Why we bettered targets? From this then we can analyse the information and understand how and why? This will then enable us to make the correct decisions in going forward. Along with the analysing the above models and information, I have taking account of why from a managers point of view why the procedure in place will aid with the running of jobs on site and the transfer of information. With regards to the current situation of producing the cost book that is translated to a target / budget sheet, this information will be little or no use to the supervisor for a number of reasons listed below: Information Overload – Due to the nature of the document this may cause confusion in the way the document is set out, therefore as set out in the procedure by breaking things the whole job down into specific tasks this will more than  likely take the pressure off and give a clear understanding of what is required and expected off of them. This is likely to make them less intimated and more confident as if they are clear More hands on and practical – The academic level of a supervisor generally is not the same as what we would normally expect from a middle manager in that the cost book / target and budget sheet will not be fit for purpose if passed onto the supervisor, therefore the information should be broken down so it is easily understood. Team ethos – As it currently stands the information is passed to the supervisor with no clear direction and management give, therefore by employing the proposed procedure this will then bridge the gap and increase the we are in it together approach. Why will meetings be held face to face? Sense of Importance – By making the effort to travel to site, as typically our sites are all of the United Kingdom then this will instil into the supervisor the confidence he needs in that he got your support should he need it. Ability – may not be able to use the computer therefore face to face will enable supervisors to have an opportunity to contribute their input without feeling intimidated Sense of importance – By holding the meetings face to face this will enable them to feel like they got you in their corner and in doing so should create a clear divide from site operatives to supervisors. Meetings more personnel – Generally meetings face to face are more personnel and can be structured better with agendas / minutes and the like assisting Why will the supervisor in respect of the site operatives be the only site member to be part of the meeting? Clear level of management between site operatives / supervisors and middle managers – This will empower the site supervisors and in doing have a clear barrier between the site operatives and himself. Self Worth – It will also give the site supervisor the self worth and mutual respect between himself and the middle manager, hopefully this should increase productivity as he is likely to want to do more for the middle manager if he believes he has the respect. Respect earns respect! Company generally uses agency Labour – As touched on previously due to the company operating throughout the company there is the need to employ agency labour, by having weekly meetings with the supervisor in attendance again this is creating a clear structure. How the meetings should be conducted? Ability – plenty of discussions questions to ensure supervisor gets points you’re making. Allow supervisor to have their say and input – By asking questions this will allow supervisor to have their say and input. Informally rather than formally, don’t want supervisor to feel under spotlight – Due to the nature of the construction industry and especially on site it is rather informal, therefore if the meetings are held in the same manner this should enable the middle line managers to get the most out of the supervisors. From analysing the various different models and combining with general middle management responsibilities I believe the procedure I have put in place will significantly help with the transfer of information from site to board level alike. 3.0 Disseminate information on a management decision, through the right organisational channels 3.1 Communicate information to team member or other colleagues to meet business objectives, using appropriate organisational channels In reference to the procedure set up this should allow for the constant communication of how a specific job is performing from site level to the board of directors and in particular through the correct organisational channel. To elaborate on the above; Site Supervisors will have constant dialogue with middle managers on a daily basis, with a weekly progress held on site to discuss performance. Munities of the meeting with be typed up and performance analysed with knowledge added to explain how performance is operating? Are we going to hit our target? Be on time? Within budget? To name a few of the questions answered? This will then in turn be disrupted to the relevant director, finance director and the management accountant. This will then be discussed on weekly basis in the departmental weekly progress meeting, and the fortnightly Trading Review meeting with finance with the relevant directors. This in turn then can be reported back to the MD by the relevant directors when board level meeting happens. As you can see from the procedure put in place we will allow for the reporting from site to board of directors level to be on a weekly basis rather than a monthly as is currently in place, this in turn will give us every opportunity possible to achieve the best possible  outcome in respect of the construction triangle. Delivering the job on time, within budget to a high standard. 3.2 Communicate information to stakeholders or customers to meet business objectives In reference to the procedure as mentioned previously this will allow for the constant flow of information from site to managing directors (stakeholders) to be done on a weekly basis. In respect of customers or clients quiet the construction triangle is key, therefore by having weekly progress meetings this information will be able to be fed back to the client, giving them the confidence that we are putting their needs first ‘the customer is always right ethos’

Zoe’s Tale PART III Chapter Twenty-Five

And so I went home, Consu gift in tow. John and Jane greeted me as I jumped off the Obin shuttle, all of us ending in a pile as I ran into Mom full speed and then we dragged Dad down with us. Then I showed them my new toy: the sapper field generator, specially designed by the Consu to give us a tactical advantage when Nerbros Eser and his friends came to call. Jane immediately took to it and started fiddling with it; that was her thing. Hickory and Dickory and I decided that in the end neither John nor Jane needed to know what it took for us to get it. The less they knew, the less the Colonial Union could charge them with at their treason trial. Although it looked like that might not happen – the Roanoke council did remove John and Jane from their posts once they revealed where they had sent me and who I was supposed to see, and had appointed Gretchen's dad Manfred in their place. But they had given Mom and Dad ten days to hear back from me before they informed the Colonial Union about what they'd done. I got back just under the wire and once they saw what I brought, weren't inclined to offer my parents to the tender affections of the Colonial Union judicial system. I wasn't going to complain about that. After I got Mom and Dad acquainted with the sapper field generator, I went for a walk and found Gretchen, reading a book on her porch. â€Å"I'm back,† I said. â€Å"Oh,† she said, casually flipping a page. â€Å"Were you gone?† I grinned; she hurled the book at me and told me that if I ever did anything like that again, she would strangle me, and that she could do it because she always was better in our defense courses than I was. Well, it was true. She was. Then we hugged and made up and went to find Magdy, so we could pester him in stereo. Ten days later, Roanoke was attacked by Nerbros Eser and about a hundred Arrisian soldiers, that being Eser's race. Eser and his soldiers marched right into Croatoan and demanded to speak to its leaders. They got Savitri, the administrative assistant, instead; she suggested that they go back to their ships and pretend their invasion never happened. Eser ordered his soldier to shoot Savitri, and that's when they learned how a sapper field can really mess with their weapons. Jane tuned the field so that it would slow down bullets but not slower projectiles. Which is why the Arrisian soldier's rifles wouldn't work, but Jane's flame thrower would. As did Dad's hunting bow. And Hickory's and Dickory's knives. And Manfred Trujillo's lorry. And so on. At the end of it Nerbros Eser had none of the soldiers that he'd landed with, and was also surprised to learn that the battleship he'd parked in orbit wasn't there anymore, either. To be fair, the sapper field didn't extend into space; we got a little help there from a benefactor who wished to remain anonymous. But however you sliced it, Nerbros Eser's play for the leadership of the Conclave came to a very sad and embarrassing end. Where was I in all of this? Why, safely squirreled away in a bomb shelter with Gretchen and Magdy and a bunch of other teenagers, that's where. Despite all the events of the previous month, or maybe because of them, the executive decision was made that I had had enough excitement for the time being. I can't say I disagreed with the decision. To be honest about it, I was looking forward to just getting back to my life on Roanoke with my friends, with nothing to worry about except for school and practicing for the next hootenanny. That was right about my speed. But then General Gau came for a visit. He was there to take custody of Nerbros Eser, which he did, to his great personal satisfaction. But he was also there for two other reasons. The first was to inform the citizens of Roanoke that he had made it a standing order that no Conclave member was ever to attack our colony, and that he had made it clear to non-Conclave races in our part of space that if any of them were to get it into their heads to make a play for our little planet, that he would personally be very disappointed. He left unsaid what level of retaliation â€Å"personal disappointment† warranted. It was more effective that way. Roanokers were of two minds about this. On the one hand, Roanoke was now practically free from attack. On the other hand, General Gau's declaration only brought home the fact that the Colonial Union itself hadn't done much for Roanoke, not just lately but ever. The general feeling was that the Colonial Union had a lot to answer for, and until it answered for these things, that Roanokers felt perfectly justified in not paying too close attention to the Colonial Union's dictates. Like, for example, the one in which Manfred Trujillo was supposed to arrest my parents and take them into custody on the charge of treason. Trujillo apparently had a hard time finding either John or Jane after that one came in. A neat trick, considering how often they were talking. But this folded into the other reason Gau had come around. â€Å"General Gau is offering us sanctuary,† Dad said to me. â€Å"He knows your mom and I will be charged with treason – several counts seem likely – and it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility that you'll be charged as well.† â€Å"Well, I did commit treason,† I said. â€Å"What with consorting with the leader of the Conclave and all.† Dad ignored this. â€Å"The point is, even if people here aren't in a rush to turn us in, it's only a matter of time before the CU sends real enforcement to come get us. We can't ask the people here to get into any more trouble on our account. We have to go, Zoe.† â€Å"When?† I asked. â€Å"In the next day,† Dad said. â€Å"Gau's ship is here now, but it's not like the CU is going to ignore it for long.† â€Å"So we're going to become citizens of the Conclave,† I said. â€Å"I don't think so,† Dad said. â€Å"We'll be among them for a while, yes. But I have a plan to get us somewhere I think you might be happy with.† â€Å"And where is that?† I asked. â€Å"Well,† Dad said. â€Å"Have you ever heard of this little place called Earth?† Dad and I spoke for a few more minutes, and then I walked over to Gretchen's, where I actually managed to say hello to her before I broke down in sobs. She gave me a hug and held me, and let me know it was okay. â€Å"I knew this was coming,† she said to me. â€Å"You don't do what you've done and then come back and pretend nothing has happened.† â€Å"I thought it might be worth a try,† I said. â€Å"That's because you're an idiot,† Gretchen said. I laughed. â€Å"You're an idiot, and my sister, and I love you, Zoe.† We hugged some more. And then she came over to my house and helped me and my family pack away our lives for a hasty exit. Word spread, as it would in a small colony. Friends came by, mine and my parents', by themselves and in twos and threes. We hugged and laughed and cried and said our good-byes and tried to part well. As the sun started to set Magdy came by, and he and Gretchen and I took a walk to the Gugino homestead, where I knelt and kissed Enzo's headstone, and said good-bye to him one last time, even as I carried him still in my heart. We walked home and Magdy said his good-bye then, giving me a hug so fierce that I thought it would crack my ribs. And then he did something he'd never done before: gave me a kiss, on my cheek. â€Å"Good-bye, Zoe,† he said. â€Å"Good-bye, Magdy,† I said. â€Å"Take care of Gretchen for me.† â€Å"I'll try,† Magdy said. â€Å"But you know how she is.† I smiled at that. Then he went to Gretchen, gave her a hug and a kiss, and left. And then it was Gretchen and me, packing and talking and cracking each other up through the rest of the night. Eventually Mom and Dad went to sleep but didn't seem to mind that Gretchen and I went on through the night and straight on until morning. A group of friends arrived in a Mennonite horse-drawn wagon to carry our things and us to the Conclave shuttle. We started the short journey laughing but got quiet as we came closer to the shuttle. It wasn't a sad silence; it was a silence you have when you've said everything you need to say to another person. Our friends lifted what we were taking with us into the shuttle; there was a lot we were leaving behind, too bulky to take, that we had given to friends. One by one all my friends gave me hugs and farewells, and dropped away, and then there was just Gretchen and me again. â€Å"You want to come with me?† I asked. Gretchen laughed. â€Å"Someone has to take care of Magdy,† she said. â€Å"And Dad. And Roanoke.† â€Å"You always were the organized one,† I said. â€Å"And you were always you,† Gretchen said. â€Å"Someone had to be,† I said. â€Å"And anyone else would have messed it up.† Gretchen gave me another hug. Then she stood back from me. â€Å"No good-byes,† she said. â€Å"You're in my heart. Which means you're not gone.† â€Å"All right,† I said. â€Å"No good-byes. I love you, Gretchen.† â€Å"I love you too,† Gretchen said. And then she turned and she walked away, and didn't look back, although she did stop to give Babar a hug. He slobbered her thoroughly. And then he came to me, and I led him into the passenger compartment of the shuttle. In time, everyone else came in. John. Jane. Savitri. Hickory. Dickory. My family. I looked out the shuttle window at Roanoke, my world, my home. Our home. But our home no longer. I looked at it and the people in it, some of whom I loved and some of whom I lost. Trying to take it all in, to make it a part of me. To make it a part of my story. My tale. To remember it so I can tell the story of my time here, not straight but true, so that anyone who asked me could feel what I felt about my time, on my world. I sat, and looked, and remembered in the present time. And when I was sure I had it, I kissed the window and drew the shade. The engines on the shuttle came to life. â€Å"Here we go,† Dad said. I smiled and closed my eyes and counted down the seconds until liftoff. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.

Lorna Simpson: Manipulation of Spectatorship

Lorna Simpson is a highly recognized African-American artist who has expressed her creativity and skill through photography, and more recently, movies. She did her graduation in the School of Visual Arts in New York and her post graduation at the University of California in San Diego (ArtFacts.net, 2007). Her work is somewhat abstract and has a very subtle meaning. She usually uses literary elements such as metaphor, biography, portraiture and narrative fin her work. Many of her works deal with concepts of ‘blackness’ and ‘feminism’ (Armendi, 2001). Lorna Simpson became popular in the mid-1980s with her large scale black and white photographic works of art that combined photo and text in a novel manner. What is most characteristic about her work is that she always makes the spectator think, self-reflect, and finally arrive at the meaning of the work. This gives the viewer the thrill of having solved a puzzle. In the words of Marianne Kurylo-Litvak, â€Å"Simpson manipulates spectatorship by utilizing the Brechtian method of distanciation that relies on audience participation through speculative detachment†. (Kurylo-Litvak, 1998) General Style: Laura Simpson uses a technique commonly known as photo text, which combines figurative or nonfigurative photos and text. Usually, in the works of Lorna Simpson, the figures have their backs turned towards the viewer. Even when it is not so, they do not make eye contact with the viewer. Her female figures are simply dressed and do not follow evoke any open feelings as most figures in photography do.   But the author in a manipulative manner uses these obscure figures as a screen to portray the discrimination in our society of the black woman. She presents them with a sort of curious detachment that can be seen in investigative films. Sometimes, she uses pieces of texts along with the mural-size huge black and white images that give only partial meaning to her work. The rest of the meaning has to be pieced together by the thinking viewer. More recently, in her work that is being exhibited at Sean Kelly, one finds that Simpson has also given up the use of the human figure. Instead, she presents empty, urban and natural settings. The emptiness of these works seems to express human loss and desire in a very effective and powerful manner (Heartney, 1995). One finds that most of the works of Lorna Simpson focus on sadness. The texts seem to talk about the emptiness and loneliness in urban life. The totally unknown places in the photographs seem to symbolize the emptiness of relationshions in urban settings. The lack of color and polish in the black and white photographs creates a sense of mystery and helps to dig out faded memories within the viewer. Simpson often removes the background or the faces of her subjects so that she can remove any kind of identity to the image (Morgan, 1990). The power of the artist in bending the viewer to her angle is clear in the way she uses the black female body in her works. There is nothing much revealed about the model in the photographs. Even faces are hidden and this underlines in a subtle manner, the way black women have been seen across the ages – as de-faced bodies. Again, Simpson uses fragmented bodies to indicate vulnerability and domination. The viewer can see only some part of the body such as the back of the head,   or back of the body or an arm or a knee. This shows that the black women has never been fully portrayed to the extend that a viewer can understand her (Lorna Simpson for the sake of the viewer). Analysis of Specific Works: There is â€Å"The Car† showing a narrow street that is stretching beyond and arch-covered pathway. Somehow the included text makes it clear to the viewer that the narrator must be sitting within the auto that is parked clearnly in the foreground. The words â€Å"small cramped room within a room† together with other text suggests that maybe these random thoughts are coming to the author just before sex in the car (Heartney, 1995). There is   a series of black-and-white photographs titled â€Å"9 Props,† each of which focuses on a single object in an empty room – a solitary vase, cup or goblet. The text in each photograph refers to figures that are missing around these solitary objects. This allows the reader to understand that these images refer to earlier photographs by James Van Der Zee. Simpson, in a very fine and yet powerful manner indicates that the black middle class continues to be invisible. Lorna Simpson's photograph Waterbearer was reproduced in 1987.   A black woman with shabby hair is seen fro the back, pouring water from a jug and a plastic bottle, one in each hand. The text included in the photograph says: â€Å"She saw him disappear by the river They asked her to tell what happened Only to discount her memory†. While the figure of the woman is calm and lacks emotion, the language shows the emotional disturbance that this woman may be carrying. Here, Lorna Simpson allows the reader to consider the history of the black people and how the history can reveal subconsciously hidden memories. (Hooks, 1993). In 1989 Lorna Simpson made Guarded Conditions. It depicts a   braided black woman in working shoes. She is shown in three images with minor changes in her body position. This is then repeated in a serial manner. The work seems to indicate the model’s changing notions of her own identity (Marshall, 1989). The position of the feet and hair are slightly rearranged in these images and in the middle row of photographs, the right hand alternately embraces, then caresses the left arm. Along with the photo, there is a rhythm of the words â€Å"sex attacks skin attacks,† which titles the prints. Guarded Conditions has been intellectually interpreted by various artists (Copeland, 2005). In a December 1989 review, an art critic found a link between a newspaper article reporting the brutal beating and rape of a black woman by two white securing guards and the work â€Å"Guarded Conditions†. Three years later, a curator wrote that this picture portrays â€Å"a double-sided metonym of racial sufferance†(Copeland, 2005). In his view, the isolated body of the woman invokes â€Å"slave auctions, hospital examination rooms, and criminal line-ups,† while the duplication â€Å"of the turned-back figures †¦ calls up images of those women who stand guard against the evils of the world on the steps of black fundamentalist churches on Sunday mornings† (Copeland, 2005) Stack of Diaries, 1993, portrays a black and white photo of a stack of diary books; in the foreground tehre is a multileveled metal stand that holds stacked glass panels, with black-lettered text-fragments rendered in subtly distinct styles (bold script, italics, etc.) pressed into the glass. The different styles seem to imply the presence of different voices. The viewer is encouraged through these phrases to explore why the writer of the diaries has so much confusion in identities. In Twenty Questions   (A Sampler), Simpson shows a woman's back, her features hidden and masked by a lush har that is long enough to cover her neck revealing only the vulnerable shoulders and the upper back which is covered by a simple calico chemise. The questions included in the photo are: â€Å"Is she pretty as a picture† â€Å"Or clear as crystal† :Or pure as a lily† â€Å"Or Black as coal† â€Å"Or sharp as a razor†. Though the subject does not face the viewer, the viewer is forced to look at her judgmentally and the text is specifically aimed at encouraging the viewer to dig up recorded history and   past experiences in his brain to come up with an answer (Lorna Simpson by Okwui). Conclusion: Overall,   one finds that Simpson’s photo-text constructions are like puzzles inviting interested viewers to solve. There are clues provided by the text. Maybe the author was stifled in trying to express the subtle thoughts through text form. By including both picture and text in the imagery, Lorna Simpson grasps the viewers attention for a while, allows him to reflect on all possible meanings in the context of history and contemporary society and give unique interpretations that might also be based on his own personal experience. Her new works attract the viewer to dig out meanings that are hidden between symbolic pictures and fragments of text. Some people may accuse the author of allowing too much freedom to the viewer in interpretation. However, it cannot be denied that her works invite the viewer to examine closely, think deeply and finally give directions to arrive at conclusions that orient the viewer towards her own opinion. This is the effective manipulation of spectatorship as found in Lorna Simpson’s work of art Bibliography: Online Sources: Marshall, Peter (2007). More Work and Selected Links† ‘Guarded Conditions' (1989). http://photography.about.com/cs/photographersaz/a/aa021604_2.htm ArtFacts.net (2007). Lorna Simpson.http://www.artfacts.net/index.php/pageType/artistInfo/artist/2932 Print Journals: Copeland, Huey (2005). â€Å"Bye, Bye Black Girl†: Lorna Simpson's figurative retreat. Art Journal, Summer, 2005. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0425/is_2_64/ai_n15338133 Heartney, Eleanor (1995). Figuring absence – Lorna Simpson, photography, Sean Kelly gallery, New York, New York. Art in America, December 1995. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1248/is_n12_v83/ai_17860708 Marianne Kurylo-Litvak, The Art of Lorna Simpson: Challenging Preconceived Notions with Invisibility Imagery, thesis, Queens College, City University, 1998, 17. Decter, Joshua (1994). Lorna Simpson – Josh Baer Gallery, New York, New York. ArtForum, January 1994. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0268/is_n5_v32/ai_15143646 Hooks, Bell (1993).Lorna Simpson: Waterbearer – photograph. ArtForum. September 1993. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0268/is_n1_v32/ai_14580117 Morgan, Joan (1990). Lorna Simpson: words of art – photographer uses technique known as photo text. Essence, December 1990. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1264/is_n8_v21/ai_9132098 Books: Smith, Roberta (1990). Review/Art; Linking Words and Images Explosively. The New York Times. July 20, 1990. Armendi, De Nicole (2001). Lorna Simpson’s Public Sex Series: The Voyeuristic Presence and the Embodied Figure’s Absence. ATHANOR XIX. Rivelli’s Books. http://www.fsu.edu/~arh/events/athanor/athxix/AthanorXIX_armendi.pdf Lorna simpson by okwui Lorna simpson by for the sake of the viewer. Files used: Simpson-resourcepacket (Lorna Simpson by okwui) AthenorXIX_armendi Art_Journal_Summer_2005 Lorna Simpson for the sake of the viewer ;