Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Analysis of The movie the terminator in aspects of reality and Essay
Analysis of The movie the terminator in aspects of reality and technology - Essay Example Traveling through time is not achievable. If one could travel through time and know the future, the movie would be more realistic. Although the movie does not portray reality, the movie offers a good prediction of the future regarding technology. Many technological advances that the movie predicts are not so far from reality as 2012 approaches. A scene in the movie shows the terminator shopping for guns in a gun store. He asked for a weapon that has not yet been invented. Although the weapon has not yet been invented in 1984, in 2029 the weapon is considered a weapon of choice. Overall, the movie the terminator is an unrealistic prediction as far as time travel, but an accurate assumption of what life was thought to be like in the year 2029. The terminator movie and its many series have become classic movies and blockbuster hits, offering viewers an action packed sci-fi thrill
Monday, October 28, 2019
The United States political system compared to The United Kingdom Essay Example for Free
The United States political system compared to The United Kingdom Essay The US and the United Kingdom are alike, although not as evidently, in many ways, and this likeness has contributed to their present relationship. History            The History of the United Kingdom is characterized by significant changes with each ruling Monarchy. In 1066, William, the Duke of Normandy was able to displace Harold II, the Saxon King (Emsworth 1-59). From then on, English History became filled with intrigues, and power struggles between members of the Monarchy. There was a time when no one was considered more powerful than the members of the Royal Line. It was during the reign of Henry III in the 13th century when the concept of the â€Å"Parliament†was created, when Simon de Montfort challenged the monarch (Emsworth 7). From then on, the branch evolved in power from what used very limited to the legislative and political whims of the monarchy at first, to its intermittent dissolutions and recalls during the reign of Charles I and Charles II, its survival of the battle between Catholicism and Protestantism, its increased influence in 1644, to to what it is today, a representative of the Sovereign (Emsworth 1-59). It was under the reign of George I when first â€Å"Prime Minister†was appointed (Emsworth 20). Although there were attempts to minimize the influence of this figure, it has continued to grow in power, together with the parliament. William IV was the last monarch who appointed a Prime Minister without the confidence of the Parliament and since then, the parliament had survived many changes in system and its influence in the government (Emsworth 1-59). The constitution of the United Kingdom, up to this day however, remains â€Å"unwritten†. Demographics            There were approximately 60.2 million people in the United Kingdom in mid-2005. The majority of the population, about 84% lived in England. There was an increase in the average age of the people from 34.1 years to 38.8 years. 1/5 of the nation’s population are below 16 and 1/6 are above 65. The ratio of males against females is almost equal. By mid-2005, the growth rate had increased from 0.3% to 0.6%. It is said that the population growth of the United Kingdom had been a result of natural change because there had been more births than death every year since 1901. However, this had changed because during the late 1990s, there had been an evident increase in the international migration which is a very significant factor that contributes to the increase in population (â€Å"Population Estimates: UK Population Grows to More than 60m.†). Executive            The Article II of the US Constitution states that the Executive power is held by the President of the United States who holds Office at a four-year term, together with the Vice President who is likewise elected at the same term. Whereas the US is Presidential in its system of government, the powers in the United Kingdom is dictated by the provisions of the Westminster System. As with any other country under the system, the executive power of the United Kingdom is theoretically held by the ceremonial figurehead or the monarch. At this time, the monarch in the United Kingdom is Queen Elizabeth II (â€Å"Politics of the United Kingdom†). But essentially, executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister as the head of the Government, the Cabinet and the Junior Ministers. Although theoretically, the powers of the executive are with Queen Elizabeth II, it is actually the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the Junior Ministers who exercise this power, but under the ceremonial authority of the Monarch (â€Å"Politics of the United Kingdom†). The term of the Prime Minister is limited to a maximum of five years, but such length could still be shortened or â€Å"dissolved†by the Sovereign or the monarch. This could be done only upon the Prime Minister’s request. Some cases such as the passage of Motion of No Confidence by the House of Commons or its rejection of a significant Government Agenda could also compel the resignation of the Prime Minister or the Dissolution of the Parliament (â€Å"Politics of the United Kingdom†). The term of the US Executive can also be shortened, that is, in cases when a President becomes disabled, dead or resigned (â€Å"The Constitution of the United States†). The term can also be shortened by impeachment. The twenty-fifth Amendment of the US Constitution says that he/she should be succeeded in Office by the Vice President if such cases would happen. After the Vice President, the line of succession includes the Speaker of the House of Representatives, President pro tempore and the Cabinet members. A Vice President can be replaced in case of disability, death or resignation by the appointment of the President of the United States. In case the Office of the Prime Minister becomes vacant, it is the Monarch who is responsible for the appointment, based on the Constitutional conventions. In such a case, the Monarch is expected to appoint an individual who is supported by the House of Commons (Emsworth 27). It is expected that the Prime Minister as head of the government could control the majority of members of House of Commons. This must be so as to ensure that there is no significant opposition against them because support must be made by the Cabinet regarding policies (Emsworth 27). As it is in any country under the Parliamentary form of government, there is an overlap between branches of the government, in this case, the executive and the legislative. Section 2 of Article 2 of the US Constitution explains the powers vested on the President of the United States. Based on this, the President has the power to command the Military of the whole of United States for the service of the country. In the United Kingdom, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is the Monarch. As it is, the British Armed Forces swear allegiance to the Sovereign Monarch only. But, it is the Prime Minister who holds the decision over the deployment of the British forces. In addition, the Prime Minister has the power to authorize Britain’s use of nuclear weapons. However, because in the UK political system, the power of the executive is dependent on the Parliament, even with such powers, the Prime Minister’s status is dependent on the general confidence of the Houses. As said earlier, it is expected that the Prime Minister could control majority of the House members (â€Å"Politics in the United Kingdom†). The President of the United States also has the power to create treaties, appoint ambassadors, ministers, consuls, judges and officers but only with the consent of the two-thirds of the senate. Still, the Congress may allow the President, the Courts of Law and the Head of the Departments to appoint inferior Officers (â€Å"The Constitution of the United States, Article II). In the United Kingdom, the members of the cabinet, as part of the executive, are considered responsible in the positive and negative implications of the government policies. As with the convention, all decisions of the cabinet must be a consensus and in cases of supposed inadequacy, the Prime Minister has the power to control the government by appointing and dismissing ministers on such grounds (Emsworth 40-41). The Ministers act as leaders of the different Government Departments which are usually composed of the Members of the Parliament or â€Å"peers†in the House of Lords (Emsworth 40). The US President would be responsible for providing the Congress information about the State of the Union, receiving of Ambassadors and Ministers, the execution of law and the commission of officers. This is based on Article II of the US Constitution. The counterpart of the State of the Union in the United Kingdom is the Westminister System’s annual Speech From the Throne. Here, the Head of the State, the Monarch addresses the parliament about the possible policies that are to be expected in the next year (â€Å"Politics in the United Kingdom†). Other than these, there is no written constitution to limit to the power of the executive or the Prime Minister as long as he/she holds the confidence of the legislature. Legislative Since the United Kingdom also has a parliamentary system of government, its executive is also founded on its legislature. In other words, the executive is fused with the legislature. There is no limitation in the government powers because there is no written constitution in the United Kingdom. In addition, there is no written document that formally separates the powers of the executive and legislative branches. The government of the United Kingdom has no limitation on its power in the legislature as long as it holds confidence. It is Parliament vote that is necessary to break the government power over the legislature. Just recently, Tony Blair, the current Prime Minister was defeated on a proposal involving the extension of the detainment of some terrorist suspects (â€Å"Politics of the United Kingdom†). On the other hand, the United States has a Constitution that clearly defines the separation of each government branch, that is, the Executive and the Legislative branches hold separate, equal powers.            Article I of the US Constitution states the powers and responsibilities of the Legislature. The US Legislative Powers is held by the Congress which consists of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives, with the former having the power to approve treaties and nominations by the President, and the latter having the power to originate revenue bills.            Similarly, the British Parliament is bicameral, composed of two Houses: The House of Commons and the House of Lords (Zulueta 209). While the United States has both its legislative houses democratically elected, in the United Kingdom, it is only the members of the House of Commons who are democratically elected (Zulueta 209). The members of the House of Lords are usually members of the aristocracy and attain hereditary power (Emsworth 34). In addition, members of the US legislature are representatives of each of the 50 states in the United States. In the same way, members of the UK legislature are representatives of constituencies, with boundaries determined by the Boundary Commissions (â€Å"Politics of the United Kingdom†).            As with the case in the US, bills and financial concerns, based on convention, originate in the House of Commons and not in the House of Lords (Emsworth 32). But, unlike that in the US, which constitution allows for equal powers between its two Houses, the House of Commons is considered as more powerful compared to the House of Lords (Zulueta 209). Although, historically, this may not be the case, the House of Commons is always superior to the House of Lords because this chamber is democratically elected and can be considered as a repository of the people’s rights (Zulueta 209). In terms of financial matters, taxation, supply bills, the House of Lords are barred from proposing amendments (â€Å"Politics of the United Kingdom†). It can be said too, that the legislature, particularly, the House of Commons holds power over the Prime Minister who is considered as the wielder of Executive power because of the dependence of the executive power on the support of the legislature.            Section 8 of the US Constitution enumerates the powers of the Congress. Generally, it states that the Congress has power to impose and collect taxes, borrow and pay debts for the general welfare. It also has the power to regulate trade with other nations and states, establish rules for naturalization and bankruptcies, regulate the value of money and provide punishments for crimes such as counterfeiting. Others include the establishment of post offices, constitution of tribunals and courts that are inferior to the Supreme Court, definition and punishment of laws, declaration of war, maintenance and provisions for the Armed Forces, and to create laws which are necessary for the carrying out of the provisions of the Constitution.            At this point in time, the most notable among the powers of the US legislature is its power to declare war. It is clear then, that the US Executive has the power only to command the Armed Forces but cannot declare war without the consent of the Congress. This is the same with the case of the UK, whose Prime Minister can only declare war upon the approval of the Parliament, with him of course, as its head.            Because there is no written constitution that guides the legislature, the UK legislature, can, too, by convention, have unlimited power and proposals can be easily approved as long as it has gained the support of the House of Commons (â€Å"Politics of the United Kingdom†). Judiciary            The US Judiciary is comprised of the Supreme Court and the federal courts established by the legislature. The Judges of the Supreme and the inferior courts are allowed to hold their offices during good behavior unless impeached. The salary of the judges cannot be reduced during office but may be increased (â€Å"The Constitution of the United States†).            The power of the US Judiciary extends to all cases arising from the Constitution, Laws and Treatises in the United States involving all US citizens, including ambassadors, ministers, consuls, and also any other issue that involves the State. While there are some cases in which the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction is regulated by the Congress (e.g. appellate jurisdiction), the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction cannot be amended by the Congress (â€Å"The Constitution of the United States†). Section two of the US Constitution states that criminal cases require trial by jury, except for impeachment cases. The jurisdiction of Federal courts is limited to the subject matter to which it is involved. In the US, a person who already holds Office in the government cannot hold another position, that is, the head of the Supreme Court cannot be the President. This was not the case in the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom, the head of the judiciary is the Lord Chief Justice (previously held by the Lord Chancellor). Prior to the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, the head of the judiciary had power that encompasses the executive, legislature and judiciary branches. But since the passage of the act, such powers have been divided to new posts such as the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and the Lord or Lady Speaker. The counterpart of the US Supreme Court in the UK is the House of Lords (Emsworth 42). Like that in the US, the jurisdiction of the UK Judiciary extends in all civil and criminal cases. But, unlike in the US where the Supreme Court is considered as the last resort, UK has the Privy Council that could also perform similar function but with less jurisdiction, most of which involving only minor matters. Elections It is the appointed Electors of each State that choose both the President and the Vice President of the United States. There is no indicated limit the selection of Electors except that it can only be as many as the number of Senators and Representatives in the Congress and that no Senator, Representative or any person that holds an Office of Trust or Profit could be considered as Elector (â€Å"The Constitution of the United States†).            During the election, the person with the highest number of votes is immediately chosen as President and the next highest is chosen as the Vice President. In case there is a tie, the Senate decides who holds the Office of the President and the Vice President with a quorum consisting of two-thirds of the States and majority of all the States (â€Å"The Constitution of the United States†).            Only a person who is a natural born Citizen of the United States at the time of the Adoption of the Constitution can run for President. In addition, the candidate must be at least 35 years of age and has completed at least 14 years of residence in the United States. A President cannot be elected thrice. The United States is composed of two Political Parties: the Republican and the Democrats (â€Å"The Constitution of the United States†).            The electoral system of the United Kingdom is done through the First-past-the-post system or the plurality voting system in which a candidate wins as long as he/she has the most votes regardless of whether he/she has the majority of votes. The UK is composed of three major parties: the Labor Party, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats (â€Å"Politics of the United Kingdom†).            The election of the Prime Minister is done by the members of the Parliament from among themselves. These members of the Parliament are elected by the Electors from different parliamentary districts (Emsworth 1-59). US-UK relations            More evident among any other reason for the alliance between the US and the UK is their common position at such times when there is a threat to international security. After all, most will remember how the US and the UK relationship flourished immediately at the end of the Cold War when the two nations, together with others, posed at the same side against Hitler. Just recently, the US and the UK were on the same ground against terrorism and the War in Iraq.            But it is interesting to note that such alliance can be traced back in history even before the US had its written Constitution. More importantly, the US-UK relationship can be said to be rooted to their political histories and ideologies.            The American concept of liberty, for example, can be traced to the British resistance to Absolute Monarchy in the 17th century. This concept of liberty highlighted the importance of the parliament particularly in its role in consenting to taxes, being the â€Å"people’s†representative, the concept of trial by jury, and the protection of citizens (Raymond 1-15).            The founding Fathers of the US were greatly influenced by the law-based state which is a British concept. The US documents, the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, for example, are based on the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights, the latter being the basis in writing the Constitution (Raymond 1-15).            It cannot be denied that the two countries’ shared experiences especially in wars and security issues have been a binding element in their relationship. But, more than anything, it is these similarities in concepts and ideologies, the US and the UK’s shared ideas about freedom, law, justice and experience that bind the nations together. Works Cited Emsworth. â€Å"UK Constitution and Government.†Boston, MA: Free Software Foundation, Inc. 2002. Politics of the United Kingdom. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 31 Mar 2007. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 1 Apr 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Politics_of_the_United_Kingdomoldid=119272844. â€Å"Population Estimates: UK Population Grows to More than 60m.†National Statistics. 2006. Directgov. 31 Mar 2007 http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/nugget.asp?ID=6. Raymond, R. â€Å"The US-UK Special Relationship in Hisotrical Context: Lessons of the Past.†US-UK Relations at the Start of the 21st Century. Ed. McCausland J and Stuart D. Carlisle, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, 2006. 1-15. â€Å"The Constitution of the United States.†National Archives. 29 March 2005 http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution_transcript.html. Zulueta, F. â€Å"Foundations and Dynamics of Political Science.†Manila: Academic Publishing Corporation. 2003.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
2001 A Space Odyssey :: Free Essays
2001: Space Odyssey Essay                         In the first 20 minutes of 2001: A Space Odyssey you see a group of monkeys going through evolution. The first change you see is that of a leader. In the beginning, each monkey did their own thing, and was not bound to any organization whatsoever. The monkeys did what they want when they wanted. Then the change begins. A single monkey, by himself, rises to the top of a cliff. He stands and screams. The other monkeys notice him screaming and began dancing and rejoicing. They scream and jump around, in what appears to be reverence for their new leader. Stanley Kubrick shows the change very simply, yet its message is still very clear. The monkeys had never shouted as loud or danced as much as they had previously in the film. Their actions confirm that something in fact had changed.           The second step shown in these monkey’s evolutionary progress is that now these animals appear to be goal oriented. Like mentioned previously, these monkeys had been working for themselves. They would do what ever they could to benefit themselves, get food, and have a nice place to sleep. Yet, once the changes begin and they have a leader, the monkeys begin to act as a group. They are more coordinated and it seems that their living style has changed from anarchy to monarchy. They attack a larger animal and kill it as a group. In turn, the raw meat is then split between the monkeys and everyone gets a share.      The third and probably most evident change is the monkey’s use of weaponry. One of the monkeys noticed a bone as he walked around the land. He picked it up and examined it. Then gradually he starts to hit it against the ground. The monkey starts to break other bones around him as he hits harder and harder. The discovery of the first weapon is made. 2001 A Space Odyssey :: Free Essays 2001: Space Odyssey Essay                         In the first 20 minutes of 2001: A Space Odyssey you see a group of monkeys going through evolution. The first change you see is that of a leader. In the beginning, each monkey did their own thing, and was not bound to any organization whatsoever. The monkeys did what they want when they wanted. Then the change begins. A single monkey, by himself, rises to the top of a cliff. He stands and screams. The other monkeys notice him screaming and began dancing and rejoicing. They scream and jump around, in what appears to be reverence for their new leader. Stanley Kubrick shows the change very simply, yet its message is still very clear. The monkeys had never shouted as loud or danced as much as they had previously in the film. Their actions confirm that something in fact had changed.           The second step shown in these monkey’s evolutionary progress is that now these animals appear to be goal oriented. Like mentioned previously, these monkeys had been working for themselves. They would do what ever they could to benefit themselves, get food, and have a nice place to sleep. Yet, once the changes begin and they have a leader, the monkeys begin to act as a group. They are more coordinated and it seems that their living style has changed from anarchy to monarchy. They attack a larger animal and kill it as a group. In turn, the raw meat is then split between the monkeys and everyone gets a share.      The third and probably most evident change is the monkey’s use of weaponry. One of the monkeys noticed a bone as he walked around the land. He picked it up and examined it. Then gradually he starts to hit it against the ground. The monkey starts to break other bones around him as he hits harder and harder. The discovery of the first weapon is made.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Scholarships for Artistic Students :: Argumentative Persuasive papers
Scholarships for Artistic Students 1. Purpose College is an important part in continuing education and is also the best time for students to hone their skills and become the best in their field as possible. Inclusion of support, both financial and mental, is instrumental in achieving a college education, and should be given in equal amounts to both athletic and artistic students. But each year, numerous athletes around the United States are offered college scholarships to recognize them for their talent and to encourage them to play at the university awarding the scholarship. At the same time, the same amount of equally artistically talented students are left to pay for college themselves because they are not offered as many scholarships as athletes are. This unfair and unequal distribution of scholarships is a threat to college education of artistic students everywhere. It is a problem that occurs at every university in the United States, including Iowa State University, and it is a policy that needs to be changed so that colle ge is an equally beneficial period for athlete and artist alike. 2. Scope In this paper, I will be comparing information about the athletic and artistic scholarships offered at Iowa State University. As I do so, I will focus on the difference in number, criteria, and cash awarded by these scholarships. I will discuss the needs for the change of this policy, the ideas I have of how to change it, the benefits that will result from changing this policy, and how to implement these changes. 3. History and Needs According to a list of scholarships distributed by Iowa State itself, a greater number of athletic scholarships are offered by the college than there are artistic scholarships. With scholarships available in every sport played at Iowa State, the chances that an athlete will receive a scholarship are much higher than that of an artistic student. In fact, according to the information given by Iowa State, it is five times more likely that an incoming athletic student will receive more scholarships than an equally qualified art student will. The reason for such a difference is that mostly general scholarships are offered to artistic students, and these scholarships are offered to all students, including athletes, thus making the competition and chances of receiving such scholarships much harder. The scholarships offered by Iowa State should be in equal amounts, especially those that are focused on specifically art and athletics.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
BANKING ACADEMY OF VIETNAM Essay
History Berkshire Hathaway is a company that was initially set up as a textile manufacturer in 1839 by Oliver Chace. During that time, the company was based in Valley Falls, Rhode Island and operated under the name Valley Falls Company. It eventually merged with and used the name of another textile manufacturer, Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates (originally Berkshire Cotton Manufacturing Company, which was based in Massachusetts). The Hathaway name became part of the company in 1955, when a merger between the Hathaway Manufacturing Company and Berkshire was successfully agreed on. The Hathaway Manufacturing Company was then a textile business that successfully recovered from the textile decline and the Great Depression. The merger resulted in the company relocating its headquarters to New Bedford, Massachusetts and installing 15 factories that employed over 12,000 labourers. However, as the demand for textile continued to dwindle, seven of these locations eventually closed down with huge layoffs but not before it surpassed $120 million in revenue. Warren Buffett, the man who would become Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO, came into the picture in 1962, when he started purchasing Berkshire Hathaway shares. He was eventually able to buy enough shares to allow him to change the management and eventually gain control of the company. During Warren Buffett’s time, he still kept the company’s textile milling business but eventually, the company started investing in the insurance industry among other things. His purchase of the National Indemnity Company marked the company’s first venture into the insurance market, which proved to be very successful. The last Berkshire Hathaway plant was closed in 1985. Buffett continued to direct Berkshire Hathaway into other investments, which led them to owning brands such as Dairy Queen, Clayton Homes and MidAmerican Energy Holdings. Currently, Berkshire Hathaway stands as the most respected company (Forbes 2007) and currently has the world’s richest man as its CEO and largest shareholder. Berkshire Hathaway is also one of the few companies that have reached the $100,000 share price. Note as of 2012: Berkshire Hathaway (Berkshire or the group) is diversified holding company engaged primarily in the provision of insurance and reinsurance products and services. Additionally, the group is engaged in non-insurance businesses including utilities and energy, finance, manufacturing, service and retailing. Berkshire has overall 76 operating businesses. The group primarily operates in the US. It is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska and employs 270,858 people. The group recorded revenues of $143,688 million in the financial year ended December 2011 (FY2011), an increase of 5.5% over FY2010. The operating profit of the group was $15,314 million in FY2011, a decrease of 19.6% over FY2010. The net profit was $10,254 million in FY2011, a decrease of 20.9% over FY2010. The organisational chart is as follows: Company: Viet Tien Garment Joint Stock Corporation Vtec (Vietnam) Founders: Sam Bao Tai Industry: Garment History: Originally, the company was a private garment factory for ‘Thai Binduong Engineering Company@ – trading as Pacific Enterprise. There are 8 shareholder capital contributions by Mr. Bao Tai Ginseng – a Chinese businessman who acts as director. The factory area of 1,513 meter square with 65 sewing machines and about 100 workers. After the complete liberation of the south, the state takeover, nationalised and then assigned the Ministry of Light Industry (now the Ministry of Industry) to manage. In 1977, the Ministry of Industry recognized as state-owned enterprises and renamed the Viet Tien Garment Factory. In 1979, the factory burn and was a total loss. Getting help from other units, enthusiasm attached to workers and with the leadership of Viet Tien, the business was put back into operation and increasingly asserted its position on the market. Thanks to great efforts, the 103/CNN/TCLD discretion was given by the Ministry of Industry Enterprise. The Ministry of Industry Enterprise accepted and upgraded Tien garment company statues. In 1991, the Ministry of foreign economic relations of import and export license directly with foreign name is VIET TIEN GARMENT IMPORT-EXPORT COMPANY, abbreviated as VTEC (by license number on 102570 05/02/1991). In 1993, the company establishment licensing number 214/CNN-TCLD was given. Before 1995, the direct management the company is producing the nation’s garments. In May 1977, it was rename Viet Tien Garment Enterprise. With the development of the garment sector, the enterprise was change into a company and later a corporation. The name Viet Tien (Vietnam advancing forward) was kept under the wishes of the staff. At the request of the Vietnam Textile and Garment Group in Report No. 01 28/TDDM-TCLD in 2007 and the scheme of establishment of the company’s proposed May Vietnam Tien.Theo Organization Department – Personnel decisions to: Establish Vietnam Tien Garment Corporation on the basis of reorganisation Vietnam Tien Garment Company under the Vietnam Textile and Garment Group. Vietnam Tien Garment Corporation operating as a parent company – subsidiary located in the structure of the Vietnam Textile and Garment Group. The Vietnamese name given as Corporations Vietnam Tien Garment Joint Stock and the International Trade name: Viettien Garment Corporation (VTEC). At present VTEC has six enterprise and 14 affiliates over 20,000 workers. It specialises in the manufacturing of garments and the trading of maters and accessories for the garment sector, equipment and components, and import-export services. Its products are diverse and are sold at over 20 shops and 300 agents throughout the country. Note: As of 2012: Viet Tien garment Joint Stock Company established since 1976, is presently a production and trade company belonging to VINATEX, specialising in garment manufacture, trade of equipment, materials & accessories for garment industry. The company presently carries out business transactions with more than 60 customers in 20 countries over the world: Asia, Europe, USA, Australia and North America, etc. Specialises in shirts, trousers, suit, blouses, jackets, denim suits, coats, sweaters, trading in industrial garment Trading in electric, audio, light equipment, Forwarding, Shipping agency. KEY Employees Sources: http://www.thehistoryofcorporate.com/companies-by-industry/finance/berkshire-hathaway-corporations-history/ http://www.marketline.com/ ref 07E69A79-DC43-4A40-B015-C2C489E9E28F http://www.viettien.com.vn/modules.php?name=Content&opcase=viewcontent&mcid=128&menuid=12 http://en.news.vn/economy/company-and-names/23351-viet-tien-a-strong-brand-name-in-the-garment-sector.html With reference to the above case (you are strongly advice to research into the above company), you are to research and correlate to Viet Tien Garment. Prepare a brief report, citing relevant research, which addresses the following tasks: Task 1 Compare and contrast the different organisational structures and culture between Berkshire Hathaway and Viet Tien Garment1.1 Explain how the relationship between Berkshire Hathaway structure and culture can impact on the performance of the business1.2 Discuss the factors which influence individual behaviour at Berkshire Hathaway OR Viet Tien Garment.1.3 This part of your report should not exceed more than 1,000 words. Diagrams, charts, tables and appendixes are not to be included in the word count. Task 2 Using research and the facts presented in the case: Compare the effectiveness of different leadership styles with Berkshire Hathaway and to Viet Tien Garment2.1 Explain how organisational theory underpins the practice of management for with Berkshire Hathaway2.2 Evaluate the different approaches to management used by two organizations (Berkshire Hathaway and to Viet Tien Garment).2.3 This part of your report should not exceed more than 1,500 words. Diagrams, charts, tables and appendixes are not to be included in the word count. GRADING Passis achieved by meeting all the requirements defined in the assessment criteria. (Refer page 2 of the assignment brief) MeritIdentify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions. (M1) Characteristics / Possible Evidence – Use of comparative charts and sufficiently detailed to show that an effective approach to study and research has been applied to Berkshire Hathaway. Select and apply appropriate methods. (M2) Characteristics / Possible Evidence – relevant theories and techniques have been applied in leadership style and approaches to management especially related to Berkshire Hathaway sources sources are justified. DistinctionUse critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions (D1) Characteristics / Possible Evidence – creation has been used to generate and justify valid comments on approaches to different management and style of leadership of Berkshire Hathaway. Demonstrate convergent, lateral and creative thinking (D3) Characteristics / Possible Evidence – report has been prepared with care and clearly demonstrates the learners thinking, innovation and creative thought used. Presentation 1. The assignment should have a cover page that includes the assignment title, assignment number, course title, module title, Lecturer/tutor name and student’s name. Attach all the pages of assignment brief/cover sheet with your report and leave them blank for official use. 2. Ensure that authenticity declaration has been signed. 3. This is an individual assignment. 4. Content sheet with a list of all headings and page numbers. 5. A fully typed up professionally presented report document. Use 12 point Arial or Times New Roman script. 6. Your assignment should be word-processed and should not exceed from 2,500 to 3,000 words in length. 7. Use the Harvard referencing system. 8. Exhibits/appendices are outside this limit. 9. The assignment should be not contain a bibliography – but should contain a list of any references used in the assignment. NOTES TO STUDENTS for summission Check carefully the submission date and the instructions given with the assignment. Late assignments will not be accepted. Ensure that you give yourself enough time to complete the assignment by the due date. Do not leave things such as printing to the last minute – excuses of this nature will not be accepted for failure to hand-in the work on time. You must take responsibility for managing your own time effectively. If you are unable to hand in your assignment on time and have valid reasons such as illness, you may apply (in writing) for an extension. Failure to achieve a PASS grade will results in a REFERRAL grade being given. Take great care that if you use other people’s work or ideas in your assignment, you properly reference them in your text and any bibliography. NOTE: If you are caught plagiarizing, the University policies and procedures will apply. Prepared for: Ms. Le Thu Hanh The lecturer of ITP- F06B Course no: F06 Banking Academy, Hanoi Vietnam Prepared by: Hoang Nang Le Minh Registration No.: ITP F06-090 Submitted Date : Word Count : 3361 Table of content Executive Summary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.13 Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..14 1.1 Compare and contrast different organisational structures and culture†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦15 1.2 Explain how the relationship between an organisation’s structure and culture can impact on the performance of the business†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..17 1.3 Discuss the factors which influence individual behavior at work†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.20 2.1 Compare the effectiveness of different leadership styles in different organizations†¦..21 2.2 Explain how organizational theory underpins the practice of management†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..22 2.3 Evaluate the different approaches to management used by different organizations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦24 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.26 Reference†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦27 Executive Summary Viet Tien Garment Joint Stock Corporation Vtec and Berkshire Hathaway company is two big organisations with many organisational factors , have established for a larger number of purposes , they have many same points or other points in their structures , their ways of working . Viet Tien Garment produce clothes ( pants , shirts , sportswear , suits †¦ ) , in addition this company supply services of accessories and materials for garments . For a long time served Viet Nam customers with their products , Viet Tien Garment have built a famous situation and reputation in its own country . About Berkshire Hathaway company : in past Berkshire Hathaway produced textile fabrics , but after Warren Buffett became its CEO , this company started working on many various fields as insurance , financial services , jewellery †¦ Till now , Berkshire Hathaway is very famous not only because of its CEO (Warren Buffett ) but also because it worked probably very efficient , bring a lot of benefit s to its employees . Introduction Purposes / goals of doing this organisations and behaviour assignment : Practically find and analyze information about both companies ( Berkshire Hathaway and Viet Tien Garment Joint Stock Corporation ) which really exist in other countries , act at other fields ; to understand the relationship between organisational structures and culture , in addition we can comprehend different approaches to management and leadership , also gain knowledge from all outcomes in the textbook . For exp : Explain how the relationship between an organisation’s structure and culture can impact on the performance of the business , or compare the effectiveness of different leadership styles in different organisations †¦ Information and news in this assignment have given from trustable web sites which are official or popular with people . Berkshire Hathaway and Viet Tien Garment are so popular in its own country but it is not easy to collect all true information about them , or really underst and their business clearly . Therefore any comments / reports in this assignment may be right or wrong base on reader ‘s experience . This assignment just only cover a small part of Organisations and Behaviour textbook with a wider range when mentioned two big companies ( Berkshire Hathaway company and Viet Tien Garment ) as prime examples . 1.1 Compare and contrast different organisational structures and culture Each organisation have its own structure , culture which affect how it works and why it become a successful organisation or not . Structures and culture are very important with organisations because they have an impact on the way people look at each organisation , the adaptability of each organisation †¦ About Viet Tien Garment Joint Stock Corporation Vtec and Berkshire Hathaway company , both of them are successful when they chose their organisational structures and culture then apply it efficiently to their ways of working . Their organisational structures and culture are showing in the chart below : Organisations : Viet Tien Garment Berkshire Hathaway company Organisational structures Tall Centralisation Flat Decentralisation Organisational culture Role culture Task culture Role culture Compare and contrast – about organisational structures : Berkshire Hathaway have been controlled by CEO Warren Buffett and other directors as the highest level of management . They give orders to other subordinates . According to the 2010 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Report : â€Å" Berkshire’s operating businesses are managed on an unusually decentralized basis . There are essentially no centralized or integrated business functions ( such as sales , marketing , purchasing , legal or human resources ) and there is minimal involvement by Berkshire’s corporate headquarters in the day-to-day business activities of the operating businesses †. So their structure is flat and decentralisation – opposite with Viet Tien Garment Joint Stock Corporation . Nowadays , many organizations have an enhancement in their average span of control , diminishing management levels and then become flatter , so as that they can reduce demand for middle managers to handle or analyse information †¦ Berkshire Hathaway are going on this w ay very early , that ‘s true decision . Any costs , expense for middle process will be removed . The boss will have maximum benefit , and employees too . But this kind of organisation can make many people become the unemployed because they just use a small number of staffs / key employees who are skilled as their high requirements . The high amount of delegation the organisation have , more good qualities their employees must have . Viet Tien Garment , with their centralisation structure , can’t have some advantages as Berkshire Hathaway company , but they make many people have jobs . Viet Tien have a lot of branches , regular foreign customers and outlets ( inside and outside Viet Nam ) with many workers / employees in their factories . They really help Viet Nam government prevent the unemployment – not so efficient but that ‘s enough at this time . Therefore we can realize that Berkshire Hathaway and Viet Tien Garment Joint Stock Corporation have differen t structures , with many advantages and disadvantages †¦ In my opinion , if they can combine all kind of structures to balance the amount of advantages and disadvantages , then find out a suitable structure which increases their maximum proceeds , it will be very good for their organisations . Have too much ( or too low ) the amount of delegation , it isn’t stable ; should keep it in an average amount . Compare and contrast – about organisational culture : Berkshire Hathaway have task culture in some cases . When Berkshire Hathaway employees work in specific fields like insurance industry , they must do many short term and long term missions or projects so as that they can earn money from each finished products / accomplished missions †¦ Employees work with team mates in a group to finish their tasks on time . In addition , this company (Berkshire Hathaway ) have role culture . As a large company with many types of jobs and the work is predictable , role culture is very suitable for doing their business . CEO Warren Buffett had chosen this reasonable culture which agreeable to this company , he did many things in order to gradually made it become â€Å" the most respected company †(Forbes 2007) . Viet Tien Garment have role culture with the same reasons like Berkshire Hathaway . In a big organization with a lot of factories ( like Viet Tien Garment ) , task cultures are not suitable because of many reasons . Factors in tas k cultures are not suited to Viet Tien labours ( their behavior , their habits , †¦ ) and the way this company work . 1.2 Explain how the relationship between an organisation’s structure and culture can impact on the performance of the business How the relationship between Berkshire Hathaway’s structure and culture can impact on their performance of the business Organisation’s structures is the manifestation of ways that a company arrange itself and show its mode of working , so it can impact on the performance of organizations . Berkshire Hathaway’s structures are flat and decentralisation , that make this company may have many advantages or disadvantages when perform their business . To using these types of organisational structures , board of directors in Berkshire Hathaway company have chosen skilled employees / directors who can create true decisions when it is suitable , and understand all anything they must do for their company . â€Å" Berkshire Hathaway’s divisions and subsidiaries are, by Buffett’s admission, run with little or no oversight by Omaha headquarters. Each year he sends the CEOs a general letter outlining high-level goals and requires very few reports or status updat es. One-way communication of monthly and quarterly financial results is the primary method used by most of the business units to report to headquarters †( Francine , 2011 ) . Organisation’s culture is the style and the main image of an organisation , it shows us what the organisation aimed at and what are the special characteristic of that organization †¦ Therefore organisation’s culture always affect the performance of organizations . By using task culture and role culture , Berkshire Hathaway company can work easier than use any other types of culture . CEO Warren Buffett â€Å" said that Berkshire has created a strong â€Å"culture†over the years that would reject any attempt by an outsider to make changes that don’t reflect his way of doing business . †( Alex Crippen , 2013 ) . Each year this company with its culture has been widening so much , not only its size or number of employees but also its quality and quantity of produc tivity , revenue †¦ â€Å" Berkshire, of course, owns subsidiaries across a wide range of industries, from insurance to candy and beyond. It also holds investments in numerous companies . †(William L. Watts , 2013 ) . How the relationship between Viet Tien Garment’s structure and culture can impact on their performance of the business Viet Tien Garment’s structure always have an impact on their performance of the business like Berkshire Hathaway company . Viet Tien Garment’s structures are tall and centralization , so this company have been affected by its ways of arrangements . The performance of Viet Tien Garment ( especially their production capacity ) is showing in charts below : By using their organizational structures ( tall and centralization ) and organisational culture ( role culture ) , till now Viet Tien Garment have many employees , factories and departments in Viet Nam , with high production capacity , as the huge system which usually work hard under the terms of covenants and severe rules . If Viet Tien Garment haven’t arranged like that , this company can’t reach achievements currently . Because labour costs are low , they aren’t able to recruit talented employees or skilled workers who graduated from famous universities , therefore flat organization is not suitable for Viet Tien Garment ( in this company , just only people on the highest level of management can make decisions ) . They can’t choose a wide span of control . And of course , in fact they have not chosen . Using tall and centralization structure is the true way for Viet Tien to develop in future . With role culture , their workers are capable of producing goods together in factories – that ‘s reasonable method for a big company in garment industry like Viet Tien . 1.3 Discuss the factors which influence individual behavior at work Have a lot of factors which influence individual behavior at work because individuals are very various . Firstly , perception is the important factor which always affect individual behavior . For example : If a worker think that his job is very good and his average wage is adequate ( although some other workers said that it isn’t true ) , he will do his affair in a merry mood , so he can reach excellent results easier than others . Each organization have its own culture and structures , therefore their employees must have suitable perception . If the perception of employees in the organization is fit for their jobs , their ways of working will have more originality , positive innovation †¦ After read many employee reviews of Berkshire Hathaway company , we can understand reasons which made this company successful : â€Å" I worked at Berkshire Hathaway as an intern . Very relaxed working environment . Management cares about new hires and tries to help .†– A former employee . â€Å" Nothing negative to share , one of the best work environments I have encountered in my career †– a former employee in San Francisco . Secondly , attitude is the conspicuous factor that usually influence individual behavior at work . When an employee go to work with a positive attitude , he can make other employees have good mood to do their jobs better . A positive attitude also create a cordial atmosphere in workplace , so all employees in a organization should have an active attitude while they work . But if an employee don’t know how to have an active attitude , what must he do ? His managers or directors have to solve this problem by suitable ways with each case . Buffett’s 2012 annual report have a paragraph : †Most of our managers are independently wealthy, and it’s therefore up to us to create a climate that encourages them to choose working with Berkshire over golfing or fishing. This leaves us needing to t reat them fairly and in the manner that we would wish to be treated if our positions were reversed †. Managers in Berkshire Hathaway company have been treated very kind , therefore they worked efficiently , make their company more successful day by day . 2.1 Compare the effectiveness of different leadership styles in different organizations Each leadership style have the effectiveness that always affect its organization . Warren E. Buffett is CEO of Berkshire Hathaway , in addition he is the famous billionaire investor in the world . Under control of this talented CEO , Berkshire Hathaway steadily become the successful company which works on many fields . Firstly , we can easily see that Warren Buffett inspires his employees to work hard . His subordinates usually think about how to earn money and become a famous billionaire investor like him . When CEO Warren Buffett manage Berkshire Hathaway company , â€Å" The share price of Berkshire Hathaway has grown from about the approximate range of $14 to $18 (of 1965) to $152,000 (in early 2013) in the 48 years that Warren Buffett has been in charge. Book value per share has grown by a staggering 587,000%. This immense success has included enormous success in both stock investing and in the management of the numerous businesses that Berkshire owns. It is therefore evident t hat Warren Buffett has been an absolutely extraordinary corporate manager, motivator and leader . †( Shawn C. Allen , 2013 ) Another famous CEO in the world is Michael Dell . â€Å" He filled a void in the market that would change how people buy computers and all the accessories. At the age of twenty-seven, he was the youngest Fortune 500 CEO. True, it was the company he founded, and not one where he climbed the ranks, but making the Fortune 500 list is an incredible accomplishment for long standing companies, let alone one that was barely eight years old. People close to Michael Dell say he is quite shy, which makes his rise to super-entrepreneur that much more incredible. In the early days, he was the only one doing the marketing and promotion, and he obviously served both the customers and the company well. And, even though he had retired from the company a few years ago, the board encouraged him to return †( Profile : Michael Dell , 2013 ) . In periods that Michae l Dell is CEO , his corporation have been widening a lot and help many people have modern jobs . 2.2 Explain how organizational theory underpins the practice of management The practice of management can be predicated by many organizational theories . Berkshire Hathaway company executed two theories : Frederick Taylor theory and Henri Fayol theory . Henri Fayol theory : The scalar chain of command : Follows Henri Fayol theory , Berkshire Hathaway arranged their organizational structures by the way in this theory as the chart below Division of work ( specialization ) : Each of Berkshire Hathaway employees have to focus on their jobs to be more efficient . More hard working in the same job , correspondingly more productive . We can see an employee review on Internet to comprehend these points : Name / function : Maintenance (Current Employee) I have been working at Berkshire Hathaway Pros – They really care about their employees. They listen to their employees. Benefits are great, management and front office go above the norm in making it an enjoyable place to work. Very happy here!! Cons – The working conditions are not exactly ideal. It is very loud, but appropriate ear protection is worn. The chemicals that are in the air, can’t be that good for your health in the long run, but it could be much worse. Advice to Senior Management – I wish I could come up with something, but I truly do think that the management is really on the right path in all that they are trying to accomplish. ESPIRIT DE CORPS : Berkshire Hathaway employees have been treated impartially and their managers usually create good feelings among employees . According to an analysis on Internet , 86% of employees recommend this company to a friend . Therefore we can see that Henri Fayol theory have a lot of principles which underpin the practice of management . Frederick Taylor theory : Employees , directors in Berkshire Hathaway clearly have their responsibility to do their work closely . Directors and managers help subordinates understand how to complete their tasks , and subordinates will do . Subordinates have to learn new methods from other employees then try to perform better . So that’s right ways to apply Taylor theory into workplace . 2.3 Evaluate the different approaches to management used by different organizations Berkshire Hathaway company 1. Structure : With its structures ( flat , decentralization ) , Berkshire Hathaway can save costs , expense from some middle processes , then use this money for doing other things . At the moment , many organizations are steadily changing their structures to become more flatter in order to gain more benefit . 2. Culture : Each organization have its own culture . With task culture and role culture , Berkshire Hathaway employees can complete tasks better because these types of culture really suitable for any fields which their company are controlling / working . If they use power culture , the boss will be very tired to manage the whole company , and all employees can’t meet their boss at the same time to take missions ( What should they do if their company have more than 5000 employees ? ) . So their organizational culture are task culture and role culture , that ‘s obvious . 3. Leadership : under control of CEO Warren Buffett and other skilled directors , Berkshire Hathaway became the most respected company (Forbes 2007) . Their decisions in management are punctual and rational , their employees have been trained to be more productive . Their employees also have been treated very kind . â€Å" During the 2012 fiscal year, Berkshire Hathaway held one annual directors meeting, one special meeting, and met twice by the directors’ unanimous consent. Each director attended all meetings of the board and all committee meetings on which he or she served. Directors received $900 for each meeting they attended in person and $300 for each meeting they attended by telephone †( Meredith Kliewer , 2013 ) . Berkshire Hathaway board of directors is very good at their leadership , therefore this company is successful till now . Viet Tien Garment 1. Structure : With its structures ( tall , centralization ) , Viet Tien Garment can’t have some advantages as Berkshire Hathaway company , but they make many people have jobs . Viet Tien have a lot of branches , regular foreign customers and outlets ( inside and outside Viet Nam ) with many workers / employees in their factories . They really help Viet Nam government prevent the unemployment . Their structures are very suitable with their ways of working and selling goods . 2. Culture : Their organisational culture ( role culture ) is the true decision , because this company have a lot of factories and workers in Viet Nam , and role culture can help its directors to control all of them . 3. Leadership : This company is still perform well without any scandals , so their leadership is good enough for working in future . Conclusion After analyses two big companies ( Berkshire Hathaway and Viet Tien Garment ) , we can comprehend about main ideas as the relationship between organisational structures and culture , or different approaches to management and leadership . Base on information about Viet Tien Garment and Berkshire Hathaway company , this project can analyse primary principles in factors of organisations , as the linkage between organisational culture and structure , or the effectiveness of different leadership styles in different organisations , how organisational theory underpins the practice of management †¦ Moreover , using information in many sources as articles , books and websites that have been recognised or found on Google Scholar , this record help us understand the relationship between organisational structure and culture , understand different approaches to management and leadership , have a lot of useful knowledge for using in real life , and comprehend many outcomes in the textbook . Reference 2010 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Report . 2010 . From http://retheauditors.com/2011/09/02/the-berkshire-hathaway-corporate-governance-performance/ Alex Crippen . 2013 . Warren Buffett: Berkshire Will Be the ‘Same’ Without Me . From http://www.cnbc.com/id/100707968
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Dirt and Filth
Dirt and Filth Dirt and Filth Dirt and Filth By Maeve Maddox In todays paper I read: Moisture and filth on the video detection cameras lens can cause it not to detect cars I wondered why the speaker hadnt used the more appropriate word for the context: dirt. To me the word filth conveys something nastier than mere dirt, something not likely to make it to the lens of a camera suspended over traffic. For example, a mother means three very different things when she says: This room is messy. This room is dirty. This room is filthy! With messy one pictures scattered clothing, books, and papers, but nothing a quick tidying cant put to rights. With dirty come images of dusty furniture, smeared windows, and perhaps dried mud clumps on the floor. With filthy, however, the mind turns to fossilized half-eaten sandwiches, congealed pools of unrecognizable liquid, mysterious mattress stains, and ignored deposits from the family pet. A look at the etymology of both dirt and filth reveals pretty nasty origins for both. Dirt comes from an Old English word (dritan) meaning to defecate. In Middle English the noun drit meant excrement. The r and the i eventually traded places to form the modern spelling dirt. Linguists trace the word to the Latin word for diarrhea. Filth goes back to the Old English word for foul which was related to the Old High German word for rotten, the Gothic word for stinking, and the Latin word from which pus derives. I still think that what the traffic camera lens had on it was dirt. By the way, that stuff in your garden where the flowers grow isnt dirt. Its soil. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Wether, Weather, Whether"Confused With" and "Confused About"10 Writing Exercises to Tighten Your Writing
Monday, October 21, 2019
Marriage in the Postmodern Society
Marriage in the Postmodern Society Abstract The report presents the issue of marriage in the postmodern society. It carries out a comprehensive study on the status of the marriage institution in the 21st century by defining marriage under a postmodernist perspective: symmetrical family’s justifications and criticisms.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Marriage in the Postmodern Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It then shifts its focus to the factors that are currently either affecting, or threatening the validity and desirability of marriage, namely, the appeal of and availability as an option of singlehood, the increase in divorce, and cohabitation. Consequently, it is apparent that the marriage institution has definitely evolved in the 21st century society. The aforementioned variables are just but a few of the possible explanations. The question that remains is whether a universal gauge is in existence to which society should strive t o adhere in terms of the ideal marriage. If so, what is the standard? Since this is just a report, the paper avoids committing to any specific answer to that question thus opting to leave it to the reader’s exercise of action. Acknowledgement I would like to express my profound gratitude to my parents who have been very helpful in the compilation of this report by offering interesting insights on marriage that I shall share in the report as examples. I am also very grateful for the library resources including the large volumes of sociology textbooks and the internet, which were priceless sources of information and insights into the history of the marriage institution. The library staff members were much cordial. I am grateful for them having availed the facility for my use for both research and discussions. Finally, I would like to thank my professor who gave me constant feedback and guidance towards the completion of this report projects, as well as the respective group memb ers for their time and dedicated input into the project. Introduction Marriage refers to different things to the diverse people in different societies. However, all these diverse personalities throughout the world seem to converge into an agreement on one critical factor that marriage is a merger between two or more parties with the intention of establishing a family. Beyond this very general definition of marriage, there are numerous diverging opinions on what marriage consists of, ranging from same sex marriages to polyandrous marriages.Advertising Looking for report on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Circa 900BC, the world only knew one type of marriage, at least the Judeo-Christian history, which is the best documented type that indicates that marriage was between a man and a woman with the option of an increase in the number of wives if the man was wealthy enough to provide for them (New Advent Para. 2). This point introduces a very interesting yet somewhat underestimated or contemporarily downplayed variable in the marriage institution, which is the economic perspective. Research indicates that, in the past, marital unions were majorly determined on economic and social grounds rather than the emotional basis of marriages in the 21st century. According to the proponents of this school of thought, this qualifies to be the reason why the marriage institution today is highly unstable, as people no longer look at unions for their profitability purpose. In fact, today, if a woman singles out a wealthy male and targets such a man for his wealth, she shall be referred to derogatively as a gold digger. Conversely, arranged marriages of the past were very stable despite the lack of emotional basis. The proponents for this school of thought cite economical stability of the husband or the wife in cases where women had large fortunes as the cause of stability as opposed to unwise or u nprofitable unions based solely on love and affection, or on the notion of soul mates. Brief background into the history of marriage Marriage dates back into time immemorial. What becomes apparent as one transcends centuries looking is that, in the past, unions were strictly between a man and a woman who were monogamous. The notion of polygamy started later during the Abrahamic era. Even then, it was only in very special circumstances that the man could take more than one woman to wife. What has become known as polygyny or polygamy today began innocently enough as a permissiveness of society towards promiscuity among males (Sociology Guide Para. 3). This was a manifestation of the excesses of a patriarchal society. Men saw this patriarchal status as a justification of their superiority over women. Soon enough, the worth of women was diminished and equated to that of property. A wealthy man could take as many concubines as he pleased to his harem (this was the case in Arabic cultures ). In other cultures, this was manifested by the permissiveness of society towards male sexual expression, as it became acceptable for men to have affairs though it was a cardinal sin for a woman to be caught in a sexual transgression. The offence was punishable by death during Jesus’ time. It is interesting to note that, even then, men who were responsible for women committing adultery rarely suffered equal punishment. Another piece of evidence for this chauvinistic attitude is found in the meaning of the word ‘prostitution’, which originated from the Latin term, prostituta, which means a harlot or a woman who offers up her body indiscriminately, usually for money. Further evidence is in the term ‘male prostitute’, which only got attested in 1948 (Etymology Online Dictionary Para. 4).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Marriage in the Postmodern Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These examples are an indication of the evolution of the status of the marriage institution. In the past, dowry was a very significant part of marriage because the economical aspect was a critical decision maker. Chastity was also very crucial as evidenced by the number of â€Å"shotgun†weddings, which occurred on a very short notice when a certain male compromised a woman’s virtue. Variables that have contributed to the status of 21st century marriages Upon a fast tracking to the 21st century, marriage has become a fundamentally different institution from what it was in time immemorial. Today, people have a very different perspective concerning what they consider an ideal marriage (Cherlin ‘The Marriage-Go-Round’ 18). This case can be seen from the myriads of marriage types that have infiltrated the post modernist society. Some of these interesting developments in the marriage institution include same sex marriages, cohabitation (come-we-stay), polyand ry and polygamy, and open unions (whereby the partners are married to each other, but they are allowed to have other sexual partners and relationships without the bonds of matrimony). Other than these types of unions that have been formally recognised and even named and studied by sociologists, millions of married couples are having affairs from even the sixth month of the marriage. Such kinds of shocking news lead one to enquire, ‘why should we get married in the first place?’ This question is interesting. To source its answer requires one to travel back in time and look into traditional marriages. The reasons for marriage back in the days were interesting because they were politically, socially, or economically motivated except for the shotgun wedding scenarios. People married to form strategic alliances between kingdoms, families, or to benefit from the spouse’s fortune. They married because they were avoiding a scandal that was likely to ensue after having be en caught in a compromising situation or in honour of age-old promises between their predecessors whose promises usually consisted of conditions and a promise of a reward or sanction if the conditions addendum to such a promise were either complied with or defaulted upon respectively. In short, love and affection were rarely the reasons why people got married. Today, the society has completely turned around from these old motivations to marriage. People get married only when they are in love with each other or when they end up pregnant after having engaged in premarital sex and so marriage is hastily done in a bid to save face (Cherlin ‘The Marriage-Go-Round’ 27).Advertising Looking for report on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In short, the post modernist society has the traditional view towards marriage backwards because, whereas people in the past were accustomed to getting into matrimony as strangers and then growing into love with each other, today, people fall in love first after which they get into matrimony based on this love. The unequal distribution of wealth in the society, and specifically the gap between the rich and the poor, is also another significant factor in the analysis of post modernist society. Of course, this perspective requires a wider review of the economics of the post modernist society, specifically concerning the gender differences in wealth that are manifested in today’s society as compared to those in the past. This shall be the first factor that shall merit a discussion in this report. The Dynamics of Economic Balance The civil war in the early periods of the second half of the twentieth century in the United States of America is a magnificent example for use to expla in this factor of economics. At the time, civil rights activists and feminists came together to advocate for equality of men and women as they felt that the society was a reflection of the male chauvinism that was suffocating and insulting to women’s dignity and development as a sex since time immemorial (Sociologyweb Para. 5). This was a relevant complaint at the time because the society had always been rather private and silent on the status of women. Society was clearly patriarchal. However, since the industrial age and the intermittent world wars had proven to the world that women too could get an education and manage to provide for their families in the absence of their men, the government had no justifiable excuse for continuing to undermine women’s capacities. Consequently, in the US, the Affirmative Action took effect. The results were reflected in the increased emphasis on the ‘girl child’s’ success. Women thrived. They went to school and g ot scholarships to college. The barriers to college entry were utterly destroyed. If anything, they got a more favourable treatment than their male counterparts did (Cherlin ‘Public and Private Families’ 84). The effects of this mollycoddling are now felt as society is filled with prosperous women who do not need to rely on men to survive. Suddenly, society is confronted with a phenomenon that has never before been manifested in such great proportions throughout history. Therefore, there is no hope for alluding to past solutions to apply them into the current problem. Initially, marriages were stable because the woman relied on the man for all and any expenses that she accrued as evidenced by age-old common law principles in matters such as bankruptcy of women whereby married women could not be adjudged bankrupt. In case a woman was actually bankrupt, her debts would be answered upon the head of her husband. Now, women can afford to stay single indefinitely because, whe n they age, they simply move out of their parents’ homes and get a personal apartment. This case means that parents no longer need to stress about supporting adult daughters. This situation on the other hand results in less pressure being exerted upon the daughters to get married. This factor advises the next segment of this report’s discussion. The appeal of and availability as an option of singlehood In the 21st century, there is nothing surprising or shocking about being a woman who is more than 40 years old, and not having a husband. Neither is it shocking for a man to be without a wife at a similarly advanced age. It is only an issue if the said adult still lives with his or her parents at that advanced age. Research indicates that, as time lapses and adults fail to marry, or get married at a particular point or a period in their lives usually when their peers are getting married, they are likely to remain single for the rest of their lives or marry when they are very old. The same case applies to newlyweds that are widowed shortly after their wedding day. In 1901, only one out of ten households contained a single individual contrary to one out of every three households today that have a single person (Sociologyweb Para. 6). Conversely, in 1971, two-thirds (2/3) of people in single households exceeded pensionable age, which is sixty -five for men and sixty for women. Today, only half of those in single households exceed the pensionable age. Apparently, more people prefer to remain single in the twenty-first century. There are various reasons proposed to explain these alarming figures, including that the rate of marriages is declining, with an increase in divorce and separation. Secondly, people are delaying marriage or opting to cohabit until they are older. To explain this situation, the age bracket between 25 and 44 is dominated with bachelors. However, beyond 65 years, the numbers are opposite, with doubled women relative to men who are s ingle at this point of their lives (Sociologyweb Para. 2). The explanation for this case is that women have a higher life expectancy. Nevertheless, the reasons why people are choosing to remain single deserve further discussion. The next segment carries out an in-depth analysis of divorce as a cause of singlehood, which is a factor that is affecting the institution of marriage in the twenty-first century. It is interesting that this next segment is double pronged because divorce too affects the institution of marriage. Therefore, the segment shall discuss it under both faucets. The Increased Rate of Divorce The available several causes of divorce include individualism; dissatisfaction of conjugal rights, independence of women, social and legal permissiveness, and mass media influence. Individualism Most cultures in the 21st century are very individualistic. If two individualistic individuals come together in marriage, they are likely to carry this trait into wedlock. It becomes mani fest in spending their time separate from each other with each pursuing personal interests. This case is especially common when the two individuals are career-oriented with distinct professional goals that are different but equally important to them. Alternatively, when the husband has this trait, it means that he spends most of his time at work and/or hiding behind the excuse of being the sole breadwinner as the justification for staying away from home for so long. This scenario usually culminates in the development of romantic relationships with females at work, which if discovered, could result in divorce. Women too are integrated in the career world. When they see their male colleagues, who may be married, carrying on in this lecherous manner, it serves as a strong reason against marriage. Dissatisfaction of conjugal rights Dissatisfaction of conjugal rights is usually the next step after the development or continued sustenance of individualism. The spouse shall then start eying attractive options at the place of work, usually out of the boredom of having had only one partner for an extended period. An interesting observation now is that the survival rate of a marriage usually has a lot to do with the past sexual experiences of the spouses. If the spouse was accustomed to jumping in and out of relationships on a monthly basis, it may only take one month after the wedding for such a person to cheat. On the other hand, if the spouse had a more disciplined outlook to relationships prior to getting married, it is likely to last longer before feelings of boredom invade his or her mind. Other parties become interesting candidates for adventurous affairs. However, this explanation is not absolute, as there are those couples whose past life was very promiscuous, yet they survived longer than their more chaste counterparts did. In the end, the determinant is usually the amount of diligence exercised by both spouses about making their marriage work. Independence of Women Independence affects marriage in two ways. First, since women are now employable and that they can comfortably make their own income, they can easily get out of an unhappy marriage, which is unlike the olden days. Traditionally, despite the horrendous treatment that the wife was receiving in her marital home, she stayed on because she had nowhere else. Going back to her maiden home was some sort of proof that she was a failure as a woman. However, concerning this point, it is interesting to note that illiterate women who have no skills to market may still find themselves enslaved to their husbands, even in the twenty-first century. This assertion is deductable from the countless accounts of abuse in the matrimonial home and a closer review of the victims’ personal credibility in terms of independence. The second dimension to independence is that women are more focused on their jobs today so much such that what was initially known as the â€Å"second shift†in the representation of the role a husband plays in the household after he comes home from work has been renamed the â€Å"third shift†for women. It is inclusive of their professional lives’ demands, household chores and childcare, and emotional needs and fulfilments. Women are finding themselves very involved in work that they hardly have the time to deal with the emotional drama that comes with being in the relationship. This case causes the relationship to suffer, with divorce rates escalating. Social and Legal Permissiveness Society and the law have become more accepting of divorce. Whereas it was initially almost impossible to divorce one’s spouse, today, divorce proceedings in court last for a month for the case to be settled. If anything, the only contentious issue is the distribution of the marital property or the prenuptial agreement, which is another interesting development in the twenty-first century marriage arrangements. The society blatantly encourages divorce for unhappy unions as evidenced by marriage therapists and married or divorced friends telling their troubled colleagues to leave their marriages. In the past, marital problems were dealt with rather than pushing them under the rug and/or being allowed to fester because people knew that they were stuck with each other. Therefore, they had to work things out, which is no longer the case and divorce is seen as the exit clause in the event of major marital differences. Mass media influence Celebrities, who unfortunately, are the people’s icons, record the highest rates of divorces. When girls and boys dream about their future spouses, they fantasise about celebrities. When such impressionable youths then see such celebrity couples getting divorced barely two months after the wedding, they are disillusioned and misinformed about the marriage institution. Over time, their entire perspective on marriage becomes ruined. That case has led to the outrageous permissiveness tha t infests the twenty first century in the first place because, thanks to the fast dispersal of information, centuries-old traditional values of marriage and the family institution are being eroded within hours of watching certain movies or news bit on the latest contemporary marriage that went awry. Cohabitation Most couples in the twenty first century are forming a pattern of cohabiting rather than getting married. Watching the TV Series, â€Å"Better with You†that is directed by James Burrows neatly covers such a situation as Ben (acted by John Cooke) and Maddie- Maddeline (acted by Jennifer Finnigan) have been cohabiting for nine years. When the sitcom begins, they call their arrangement a â€Å"Valid Life Choice†. Sixty percent of couples that start cohabiting for the first time eventually get married. Seven out of ten couples give the same address on their marriage license while 56 percent of these carry out religious wedding ceremonies (Cherlin ‘Public and Private Families’ 97). It is becoming a norm to move in together and blatantly engage in sexual relations before marriage. The reasons for this include the availability, affordability and increased efficiency of contraceptives, and the geographical separation from the traditional family set ups, which allow couples to live together while not married without censure from relatives and other older generational members in the society among others. Status of marriage in the post modernist society The marriages that are prevailing in the post modernist society seem to follow a certain pattern. They seem to be symmetrical in the role of men and women although the extent of this symmetry is highly debatable. It has been the cause of much contention among feminist groups. The evidence of this symmetry is made manifest in the interchangeable and flexible roles of man and wife and the professional lives of both spouses as both are usually engaged in a paid employment meaning that the husband often helps in the housework. In fact, it does not make sense to leave it all to the wife yet both were in the office throughout the day. Additionally, since the wife is making a relevant contribution to the family’s income, the husband may feel obligated to help in the house. This income contribution also means that the wife and husband both engage in decision-making. Finally, the wife and husband in a symmetrical marriage share common friends and leisure activities thus giving them time and opportunity to bond and build their relationship. Criticisms of this deduction are mostly voiced by feminist activists who state that helping in the home is irrelevant as men count ironing their clothes as a form of helping. Women are still the primary homemakers and child caregivers in the home. Therefore, symmetry cannot be said to be in effect. Additionally, women have an emotional toll that they have to bear solely. Their role cannot be said to be equal to that of the men. Co nclusion This report has carried out a comprehensive study of the marriage institution in the post modernist society by first looking into the history of marriage and then looking at the matters that have come up since time immemorial to distort marriage. These factors include economic liberation of women and the social and legal permissiveness towards divorce among others. The factors prove the inevitability of change in the marriage institution. Finally, it has looked at the symmetrical status of the twenty-first century marriages. In conclusion, it posits that marriage has evolved significantly since historical times and will only continue to do so as society continues to evolve. Cherlin, Andrew. The Marriage-Go-Round: The State of Marriage and the Family Today. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. Print. Cherlin, Andrew. Public and Private Families: An Introduction (Sixth edition). London: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print. Etymology Online Dictionary. etomologyonline.com, 2010. Web. New Ad vent. Catholod Encyclopedia: History of Marriage, 2009. Web. Sociology Guide. Marriage, Family, and Kinships, 2012. Web. Sociologyweb. Sociology Changes in the Family, 2013. Web.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Print Book Self-Publishing 101
Print Book Self-Publishing 101 In this day and age of Kindle and e-books, more and more novels and tomes are being read using an electronic device. However, many readers still relish the feel of the pages of a book, the independence from the limits of battery life, and the joy of browsing a bookstore for hidden treasures.Authors themselves feel the draw of holding a physical book in their hands as a tangible reminder of their creation! Furthermore, publishing a print book is a great idea from a business standpoint. With only electronic copies, how would book signings go? When you encounter a fan at an event, its easier to hand off a copy of your book than to do it electronically. Although many venues for electronic giveaways exist, an in-person exchange creates a unique impression on the reader.Print books still have a market, particularly for nonfiction works. And even today, print books still play a role in the electronic world, since many people order print books online to be shipped to them. Plus, having a pri nt book purchasing option provides a handy sales tool; when a print book is listed at $12.95 next to the e-book version for only $4.95, the customer feels he is getting a great deal on the electronic version!A wide range of book mediums is available, which can all benefit you in different ways in your book sales. But before you get to that point, you must consider the required steps for self-publishing your print book.Edit your workAuthors who publish under a publishing house have certain resources at hand, like in-house editors. As someone who is self-publishing, youll have to make sure your own text is polished and perfect.Even though great care and planning went into your text, its still a compilation of fragments composed under different thoughts and moods over the course of hundreds of writing sessions. And dont forget that even the most meticulous grammar nerds make typos.Tighten up your languageTake out words or even passages that dont add much to the book. Wordy language has put me off many books in my reading experience; its distracting, and it prevents me from getting lost in the story. And who has the time to read a book that doesnt draw you in? Take a look at the example below, and see which one gives you the point without wasting your valuable time:If Gabriel hadnt glanced out the window, he would have passed the evening in quiet solitude and ignorance in front of the fire, dog on his lap, drink in hand. He would have drifted away to sleep with nary a care in the world, not knowing that the rain was sweeping away his lawn furniture. Without looking outside that night, in the morning he would have discovered his front porch bare where previously there had been a table and chairs.orGabriel glanced up to see the rainwater gush through his yard, carrying away his patio table and chairs.Of course, there is a time and place for lengthy description, but the key to good writing is conciseness. Some experts suggest that your book should be half its length after a good round of editing.Use synonyms to vary your expressionsIn Dead Poets Society, we learn the following wisdom: Avoid using the word very because its lazy. A man is not very tired, he is exhausted. Dont use very sad, use morose. Language was invented for one reason, boys- to woo women- and, in that endeavor, laziness will not do. It also wont do in your essays.Ask for editing and proofreading helpWhen youve been staring at your text for so long, you can miss some glaring errors. You know what you want your text to read like, but what will your readers see? Ask a friend to take a look at your book. You can also hire a professional editor from an online service like ServiceScape. The investment will bring you peace of mind as well as a polished text.Copyrighting your bookYouve created your masterpiece after months- maybe years- of dedicated hard work. You certainly want to protect it by copyrighting your creation. Copyrighting secures your rights to distribute your book, adve rtise it, and reproduce it.Make sure to register your copyright with the Library of Congress at copyright.gov in case anyone should dispute your rights to your book. The process can take months, so dont wait for your copyright to go through before you submit your book for print or e-book. Once you obtain your copyright, youll include a copyright page inside your book indicating All rights reserved.The launchIf youre publishing in print and electronic versions, be aware that the two mediums offer production on different time tables. E-books offer a quicker production process with fewer steps. So, if youre going with both forms of your book, plan to launch according to the time needed to process your print book, since it will take longer than your electronic version.Some authors hold a soft launch for their e-books to gauge the critical reaction to their work before printing a hard copy, while other people like to produce both simultaneously to cater to both customers who prefer e-books and those who want a print copy.Holding an official book launch offers you as the author the chance to celeb rate your accomplishments with friends, colleagues, and other guests. This event also enables you to market your book and sell copies to adoring fans who will also ask you to sign them.Try to plan your book launch in conjunction with another event, such as a reunion, community celebration, or festival, since the crowds will already be there. Plan ahead, leaving plenty of time for possible delivery delays of your print copies.Think of the venue where your event will be held. Are you providing catering? Do you have a table for signing and selling your books? How many people are you expecting to attend? Will there be another form of entertainment offered in conjunction with your book launch? Perhaps you might employ a prominent figure to help promote your book to add increased interest in your event and even encourage the presence of media coverage.Offer stacks of sales flyers in case your guests are on the fence about buying your book. Include in your flyer a photo of the books cover, passages from the book, information about the author, and maybe a purchasing coupon. These can be simple to put together yourself, or you can hire a service to produce them, either in color or in black and white. Some services also offer an electronic version of the flyer so you can send them via email.If the books author is present at a book launch to sign copies, guests feel compelled to purchase a copy while they have the chance to secure the authors signature. Consider also offering a discount during the event to encourage additional sales.A book launch provides excellent exposure for your book. However, some authors wish to not be the center of attention or cant reach their intended audience in person. In that case, there are several other options for marketing and promoting your book.Marketing your bookWhen youre self-publishing, marketing can prove to be a difficult task, so you should start the process as soon as possible. When you have the delivery date for your print book , start your efforts to spread the word about your book. If you feel youre not up to the task, you can hire a publicist to do the heavy lifting for you.Create a web site. This is essential for any Internet marketing endeavor. Always add your URL to your e-mail signature; every email you send will serve as a piece of marketing material.If youre self-marketing, compose a list of potential buyers and their contact information. If you are marketing to a specific group, especially if youve written a nonfiction book, search online for relevant groups and stores that would be interested in selling your book.Local outletsMany bookstores sell books only from publishing houses, so youll need to get creative when coming up with places to market and sell your self-published book. Try the following marketing destinations:Hotel lobbies and transport centersMuseums and art galleriesWriters festivals and reading groupsLocally owned stores and gift shopsOther places might let you display sales flyer s or brochures about your book, such as libraries, newsstands, and community centers.Press releaseCompose a press release and send it to your local newspaper, journals, and other related publications. This costs you very little money and can provide excellent advertisement for your book. You might get a published book review out of the process, which is a free and effective way to generate sales.Media coverageContact your community radio station to read your press release, and provide the staff a copy of the book. You might even target a station that typically broadcasts art programs.Get your book reviewed. Many people base their book-buying decisions on recommendations from colleagues. Determine which reviewers will give you a favorable review in a short amount of time, and send them a copy. Remember that reviewers are not obliged to review every book they receive.Cost of printing: Is it a deal-breaker?Now lets talk about printing cost. In the past, authors had to shell out a massi ve upfront fee to print out hundreds (or even thousands) of copies of their books with the hope that they would all sell. Unfortunately, many of those books ended up in the landfill. Today, although print books do cost more to produce than electronic versions, there are services that can prevent you from having to spend a huge sum to print stacks of copies youre not sure will sell right away.One such service is called print on demand (POD). With this service, you send your text and cover art to a company that offers this service (Ingram Spark and CreateSpace are a couple of options). Then, when a potential reader buys a book from Barnes Noble, Amazon, or other online book retailer, the POD service prints one copy and sends it to the customer.Not only is this a cool service, but it also offers several benefits:You pay nothing upfront for printing.You dont have to store stacks of books.You wont have to ship your book every time someone orders a copy.There is much less waste of unsold books.No cumbersome reminder of the copies you have yet to sell.These POD companies offer this service for free (while just charging a small portion of each sale), so that makes your self-publishing load quite a bit lighter! Most significantly, it eases the pain many authors face when they shell out a high upfront printing cost for a huge print run.The task of self-publishing can be intimidating, but its not impossible at all. Remember that youre not alone when planning your book editing, printing, launch, and promotion; help can be found around every corner!
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