East Asia Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

East Asia Studies - Essay Example Although much of the regional transformation in the recent years has been so positive, principally in the economic sphere, various challenges abound, this challenges pose the risk to stability in this region. It is rather hard to count on which of the two; economic and security, could trigger stability in the region. The discourse of security and economic situations has been hugely dominated by the rise of China’s economy which has a huge role of the foreign affairs and has also transformed the geographic landscape of the region, which has sent the policy makers in the region searching for effective ways to cooperate, while still evading uncertainty concerning its future course. Another trend that is being overlooked in the region is Japan’s own steady transformation. The growth of China in the region accompanied by global political influence and rapidly growing defense expenditures has stirred up the public sentiment of Japan towards China. Additionally, situations at the Korean peninsula have been in recent years has become increasingly destabilizing security and the geographical flashpoint. Most importantly the continued growth of China’s economy and its current modernization has the great security concern in the region (Beeson 187). Another reason for tension in the region and its neighbors is the use of water due to the increased population pressure; the whole per capita water accessibility has declined by between forty and sixty per cent. This creates a security concern in the scramble for resource now that there is a great rise of China population and the great industrialization in Japan the great weather that is experienced in the region does not come to of help to the highly populated region. The currency crisis has also been a major concern of the East Asian region. This issue has been of concern for quite a long time spreading from Thailand and becoming more regional. This issue has brought about retrospect in the imbalances of t he structure of the economy of Thailand which exposes it to short term debt; this has in turn affected the currency values of the countries that have had the same experience such as Koreas, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines (Beeson 206-210). Amongst these countries, some of them such as Indonesia did experience great currency movements; with their currency facing up to 80% loss of its value. It is significant to note that this financial crisis had an influence on the regional institutional development, and it affected the reputation and standing of the major powers in various ways with Japan suffering the greatest damage of its regional leadership ambitions (Beeson 203-206). With much concern to the environment, the capacity of China has faced some greater challenges which are associated with the continued processes of economic developments, which have also been extended beyond the borders. There is some indication of the impact of the population of China on the East Asian co untries with the growing prices of commodities and resources such as Oil. The consumption of such commodities in China continues to rise which brings about the continued thinking of the significant development and significant future of the East Asian. Some sources argue that unless the externalities that are associated wi

Mystical experience Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Mystical experience - Assignment Example Such experiences are always spiritual, though they may not be; they are not limited to priests or monks. However, all individual religious experiences are entrenched in mystical states of consciousness, yet all mystical experiences are partially religious. Although mystical experiences occur commonly, they happen unbidden to someone perhaps once or severally in a lifetime. Mystical experiences are for example, those of oneness with nature and the deeper self, the mystic is always a tragic form, torn by the tensions between the soul and the body, between the spiritual and physical. He is beleaguered by his bodily chains that limit him to this meager realism; he is drawn to the elusive, he longs for the inspiring, for the best. He desires to free himself, to rise further. The world surrounding him is a dark, awful place, his spirit sores and soars, attempting to flee its worldly prison. William James identified four Mystical characteristics; Ineffability, where mystical states are more similar to states of feeling than intelligence, slightly shaded with fine nuances that are hard to express in their import and splendor to another. As a result, much mystical writing is filled with symbolism and paradoxes1. Noetic quality experiences are conditions of insight, knowledge, revelation, awareness, and illumination beyond the grab of the intelligence. There is knowledge of unity with the totality, of immorality of the soul, of immense truths. Space and time are exceeded. Transiency, mystical experiences fleet in linear time, even though they tend to be eternal. It is rare to maintain a mystical state for long hours. For instance, Eastern adepts are capable of sustaining prolonged stages of Samadhi, a mystical condition of one-pointed meditation; and some allegedly are able to maintain the highest states of nirvana. Passivity, the personal feels held by a greater power and swept up. This can be accompanied by a feeling of division from bodily consciousness, trance, or ph enomena like automatists, healing powers, voices, and visions. Such examples are viewed in Eastern thought as conditions of pseudo-enlightenment. Religious mysticism makes schools and accumulates traditions, much less common than people think. For example, in Christianity, mysticism is usually self-indulgent and ascetic in nature; in the Vedanta institution it is monistic, in the Sankhya institution it is dualistic. Since mystical experiences vary to a large degree, the mystical feeling of union, emancipation, and enlargement has no specific rational content on its own. Therefore, the non-mystic is ever gratified to confer a greater authority to the experience or to the mystic. Mystical consciousness simplifies the way in which truth is procured more significantly. The truth or validity-revealing character of a mystical experience as with other knowledge does not depend on the validity of the integrated theories such as those determined by the culture within which the experience is felt. The validity of the integrated speculation is relative to the know-how led to them earlier and the experiences which are made possible by themselves. It must be likely for the experience smash through the theories inclusive of the incorporated theories and make people to remake them. More positively, mysticism might help to liberate traditions from most of its deforming influences. Part II. Question 6 The life and works of St. Theresa of Avila In mid-life, St. Teresa underwent a deep conversion experience,

Cumberland Metal Industries Essay Example for Free

Cumberland Metal Industries Essay In its initial evaluation, the company believes that the new product, curled metal cushion pads, has a potential for increasing the company’s sales and profit and for diversifying the products it offers. Early demands for the product appear to be good, however an in-depth analysis of the marketing aspect is necessary before the company can introduce the product to the market. Situational Analysis Based on the two trials made, it is clear that the company is in possession of a product that is better than any of those currently available in the market. The question only is how much better this product is than the others already available. Based on the first trial performed, the product is 25% more efficient than its closest competitor in terms of feet of piles driven per hour. It also increases the efficiency of the operations by requiring less time for set changes of about 80%. Each set of the product also performs nineteen times better than said competitor. In the second trial, the product maintained its previous performance as far as feet driven per hour time for set changes is concerned. It surpassed its previous performance by performing forty-nine times better than its competitor. The efficiency and effectivity of the product translates to other forms of savings on the part of the user. First, the contractor or builder will decrease the cost of rental of the equipment used in the construction by at least 25%. If the workers’ compensation is computed based on the number of hours worked, the contractor or builder will incur savings amounting to 25% of the cost of labor. Aside from its efficiency the product can also decrease, on the part of the workers, the health risk usually associated with the use of asbestos and decrease employers’ expenses relating to workers’ health insurance in the long run. Actual figures of demand for the product are hard to calculate. Based on the assumptions made by Mr. Simpson that the construction industry will need to drive 290 million to 390 million feet of piles annually, the total demand for the product annually is around 174,000 (290,000,000/10,000 x 6) to 324,000 (390,000,000/10,000 x 6) pads annually. To penetrate the market, the company will need to convince the key players of the construction industry that it should use the product. The approval of the architecture/ consulting firms, engineering/construction contractors and independent contractors are a must since they are the ones that will actually use the products. Independent contractors could be targeted since they are more willing to try new products that can increase their profits. A positive review from this group can convince bigger firms to use the product. The approval of pile hammer manufacturers and pile hammer distributing/ renting companies will be good but not necessary. These two groups know that the use of the product will decrease their profits so they have motivation to not recommend the products to their customers. Pile hammer distributing/ renting companies can provide an efficient distribution channel and reduce the company’s distribution cost since the mechanism is already in place, but not having the approval of this group is not essential since other methods of distribution are available to the company. Once amount of demand for the product is large enough this group can later decide to offer the product to their customers. Recommendations Initially, the pricing used by the company should be based on the data provided by the first test since it is more conservative. It can gradually increase its prices if the performance of the second trial is confirmed by actual practice. Based on the first trial, the company should charge $167 per pad. This price is computed by multiplying the cost of each set with the number of sets required ($50 x 20 pads) and dividing the result with the no. f pads of curled metal cushion required (1000/6). By using this price, the consumer will incur the same amount of cost for cushion pads in a project whether it uses asbestos or the curled metal cushions; it is only the amount of cushion pads used that will vary. However, this price does not charge consumer for the additional benefits provided by the product, such as 25% decrease in the cost of renting equipment and wages of laborers. This will be the selling point of the product upon its introduction. It will be important for the company to concentrate on building the confidence of the key players of the industry, instead of maximizing the profits in the first few years of introducing the product. Marketing campaigns should be focused towards convincing the architecture/ consulting firms, engineering/construction contractors and independent contractors to use the products. It could try to market the products directly to these groups since renting companies may be hesitant to distribute products that will decrease the profits generated by the services they offered. Moreover, most contractors used their own pile hammers instead of renting, so distribution through these renting companies has limited reach. Independent contractors should be given particular attention, as far as efforts at direct selling is concerned, since these groups are more likely to try new methods that decreases their cost and increases their bottom line than the more established firms. When the reputation of the product is established, it can decide whether it will continue its direct approach or use the services of pile hammer distributing/ renting companies. For the reasons stated above, the demands of the Colerick Foundation Company should be accepted by the company since this would be the first of the company’s direct sales. In summary, I would like to recommend that the company sell its curled metal cushion pads for $167 each. The company should first focus in building the reputation of its product because of its innovative quality. One way of doing so is convincing the experts that it is better than anything else present in the market.

The Sand Creek Massacre

The Sand Creek Massacre Although the American general public in the 1860s believed that Native American Indians were nothing more then savages, there are a few cases where the general public were sympathetic to Native Americans. The Sand Creek Massacre is the most public example of where the United States government mistreated Indians, as well as an ideal example of where the public was outraged at the handling of Indians. The Sand Creek Massacre occurred on the 29th of November 1864 forty-two miles away from Fort Lyon Colorado, on this day friendly Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians were attacked by a group of Colorado militia led by a man called Colonel John Chivington. (History.com, n.d.) The Sand Creek Massacre was a horrific tragedy in which many terrible war crimes were committed. Important People Colonel Chivington is one of the most prominent figures of the Sand Creek Massacre. Colonel Chivington was the commanding officer of the Colorado Militia. Chivington was born in 1821; he later became a Methodist minister in 1844 who preached against slavery. When the Civil War started he signed on for a fighting commission, in 1862 Chivington had worked his way to the position of Major in the Colorado Volunteer Regiment. He was herald as a military hero for his role in battle of Glorietta Pass. (THE WEST, 2001) Tensions between whites and Indians were approaching its climax in the middle of Chivington political career. He openly opposed the idea of having peace talks with Native Americans. (THE WEST, 2001) Chivington was a known bigot, who was known to have said I have come to kill Indians, and believe it is right and honorable to use any means under Gods heaven to kill Indians. (A Closer Look, 2002) In August of 1864, he declared that the Cheyennes will have to be roundly whipped or completely wiped out before they will be quiet. I say that if any of them are caught in your vicinity, the only thing to do is kill them. (THE WEST, 2001) On November 29 of 1864 Colonel John M. Chivington lead a group of Colorado Militia of around 700-750 to attack the peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho Indian reservation, that had approximately only 500 men, women, and children. (Documents on the Sand Creek Massacre, 1864-1865) Colonel Chivington, in the interrogation by the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War had reported that there were about eleven (11) or twelve (12) hundred Indians: of these about seven hundred were warriors, and the remainder were women and children. (U.S., Congress, House of Representatives, 1865) When Chivington was questioned by the Committee on the Conduct of the War about the number of Indians killed including women and children killed he responded by saying I judge there were five hundred or six hundred Indians killed, and From all I could learn, I arrived at the conclusion that but few women or children had been slain. (U.S., Congress, House of Representatives, 1865) However the actual numbers are more likely around 105 women and children and 28 men, as well as mutilating the dead and wounded. (A Closer Look, 2002) Chivington was asked for what reason did he commit the attack and what led he believe that Black Kettles Cheyenne Indians were aggressive towards whites. To wh ich he replied My reason for making the attack on the Indian camp was, that I believed the Indians in the camp were hostile to the whites. That they were of the same tribes with those who had murdered many persons and destroyed much valuable property on the Platte and Arkansas rivers during the previous spring, summer and fall was beyond a doubt. (U.S., Congress, House of Representatives, 1865) In his testimony, Chivington was asked if he had any reason to suspect that Black Kettle and the Indians with him had been peaceful. Chivington responded by saying I had no reason to believe that Black Kettle and the Indians with him were in good faith at peace with the whites. (U.S., Congress, House of Representatives, 1865) This is in fact a boldfaced lie because several witnesses testified that Captain Soule and Lieutenant Cramer led a large contingency of Fort Lyon soldiers that confronted Chivington and told him that Black Kettle had surrendered. (U.S., Congress, House of Representatives , 1865) Eventually Chivington was court marshaled for his part in the massacre, nothing came of it because he was no longer part of the Army, and hence no charges were ever made. He did however lose his military and political power in Colorado, he moved back to Ohio where he attempted to run for a state legislature seat but was quickly shut out. He then moved to Denver where he became a deputy sheriff until his death in 1892. (THE WEST, 2001) Black Kettle was the Chief of the Southern Cheyenne. Black Kettle lived on an enormous area of land that reached from western Kansas to eastern Colorado which was given to the Indians on the conditions of the signing of Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851. The 1851 Fort Laramie Treaty defined territory for each tribal group in order to end intertribal rivalry and it permitted travelers and railroad workers on the Platte River Road. (Nd.gov,) However this treaty was broken after the discovery of gold at Pikes Peak in 1859. Instead of removing the unlawful settlers, the U.S. government forced the Southern Cheyenne to sign a new treaty forfeiting most of their lands, with the exception of the Sand Creek reservation. Even though the Sand Creek reservation was inhabit, not able to grow crops and not close to any herds of buffalo, Black Kettle was fearful of the United States Massive Military power and what would happen if they refused. Due to the lack of food and supplies, younger male Indians started to raid settlers and wagon trains. In the spring of 1864 a Colorado Militia group attacked a group of peaceful Cheyenne Indians. This horrid incident sparked Indian uprisings all over the Great Plains region. Black Kettle knowing that even with the Civil War going on the whites still had a vastly superior military power, so in order to secure his tribes survival, Black Kettle went to Fort Weed, Colorado, where he was promised th at his tribe would be safe as long as they stayed on the Sand Creek reservation. (Black Kettle, 2001) Colonel Chivington however, attacked the Sand Creek reservation, by some miracle Black Kettle and his wife both survived the attack. Even having lived though the carnage at Sand Creek he continued to advocate peace with the U.S. After being moved to another reservation, Black Kettle signed the Medicine Lodge Treaty of 1867, which moved his people onto two smaller reservations in modern day Oklahoma. History tends to have a way of repeating itself. On the 27th of November 1868, just two days shy of the fourth anniversary. On this fateful day Lieutenant Colonel Custer attacked Black Kettles village and both Black Kettle and his wifes luck had run out and they were killed. (Black Kettle, 2001) The Battle of Sand Creek The Battle of Sand Creek, as the Rocky Mountain News called it, was stated that it was Among the brilliant feats of arms in Indian warfare, the recent campaign of our Colorado volunteers will stand in history with few rivals, and none to exceed it in final results. (Rocky Mountain News, p.1) Although Colonel Chivington portrayed the attack on the Sand Creek reservation as a battle in which there were, at the time of the attack, about eleven (11) or twelve (12) hundred Indians: of these about seven hundred were warriors (U.S., Congress, House of Representatives, 1865). However in truth there were only about 500 men, women and children according to John Smith in the village. (Smith, 1865) The Indians were in fact peaceful and tried to surrender. When the Indians first saw the soldiers, they rushed to go and get the United States Indian interpreter and special Indian agent John S. Smith who was stationed in the village in order to get intelligence on the Indians. Black Kettle ran this American flag up to the top of his lodge, with a small white flag tied right under it, as he had been advised to do in case he should meet with any troops out on the prairies. (Smith, 1865) That is a crystal clear picture of a peaceful group of Indians, the white flag of truce or peace is a near universal symbol. Regardless of this the soldiers attacked with artillery and then foot soldiers swept the Creek bed, killing every Indian they could find, often hunting down fleeing children. Kill them big and small, (Smith, 1865) Chivington was reported saying. After six hours, about 150 Indians, a quarter of the camps population, lay dead. The soldiers took three prisoners, all children. A doze n soldiers were killed, some apparently by friendly fire in the frenzy. (Smith, 1865) Much less then what Chivington who estimated that between three and four hundred of the savages got away with their lives, and taking into account the huge exaggeration of about eleven (11) or twelve (12) hundred Indians: of these about seven hundred were warriors at the camp. (U.S., Congress, House of Representatives, 1865). Atrocities The Sand Creek Massacre was packed full with scores of despicable atrocities. The Sand Creek Massacre in itself was horrific, more women and children were killed then actually warriors. Out of 150 dead Indians more than 70 percent were women and children. Seventy dead bodies lying there; the greater portion women and children. There may have been thirty warriors, old and young; the rest were women and small children of different ages and sizes. (Smith, 1865) This was said by John Smith a Native American interpreter in his congressional testimony. Furthermore there was massive mutilation to the corpses of the deceased Indians. In John Smiths testimony he declared I saw the bodies of those lying there cut all to pieces, worse mutilated than any I ever saw before; the women cut all to pieces. (Smith, 1865) When asked how they were cut? Smith replied With knives; scalped; their brains knocked out; children two or three months old; all ages lying there, from sucking infants up to warriors. (Smith, 1865) Even Mr. Smith half-breed son was not spared, even though several officers thought that the kid could be handy as a translator and guide. (Smith, 1865) Those are the more extreme, of course there was the usually spoils of war, or looting depending on who you ask. The Repercussions The Sand Creek Massacre forced the United States government to reconsider the treatment of Native Americans. Many members of congress started to look into the mistreatment of Indians and stated To maintain peace with the Indian, let the frontier settler treat him with humanity, and railroad directors see to it that he is not shot down by employees in wanton cruelty. In short, if settlers and railroad men will treat Indians as they would treat white men under similar circumstances, we apprehend but little trouble will exist. (New Directions, 1868) After the Sand Creek Massacre there were two major conflict category events that involved Indians happened, the Battle of Little Big Horn and the Wounded Knee Massacre. Many people in the United States do not know that the Sand Creek Massacre was a major turning point in the treatment of Native Americans. This is due to the Civil War that was in full swing at this point in time. Because of the Civil War the Indian problem, this is including the treatment and the general racism against Indians, took a backseat in favor of the issue of racism towards African Americans. The Sand Creek Massacre brought the issue of Indian mistreatment to Congresses front door. Sand Creek massacre History.com This Day in History 11/29/1864. (n.d.). History.com History Made Every Day American World History. Retrieved December 5, 2012, from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/-sand-creek-massacre (History.com, n.d.) PBS. (n.d.). PBS THE WEST John M. Chivington. PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved December 5, 2012, From http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/chivington.htm (THE WEST, 2001) Davis, S. L. (n.d.). Sand Creek Massacre: A Closer Look. BUFFALO SOLDIERS INDIAN WARS . Retrieved December 5, 2012, from http://www.buffalosoldier.net/SandCreekMassacre.htm (A Closer Look, 2002) Great Battle With Indians! The Savages Dispersed! 500 Indians Killed Our Loss 9 Killed, 38 Wounded Full Particulars, . (1864, December 14). ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, p. 1. (Rocky Mountain News, p.1) Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). PBS THE WEST Documents on the Sand Creek Massacre (1864-1865). PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved December 5, 2012, from http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resources/archives/four/sandcrk.htm (Documents on the Sand Creek Massacre, 1864-1865) U.S., Congress, House of Representatives (1865) Massacre of the Cheyenne Indians, (Report on the Conduct of the War, 38 Cong., 2 sess.,p.101-108) Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1865 Retrieved from http://www.kclonewolf.com/History/SandCreek/sc-documents/sc-2JCCW.html (U.S., Congress, House of Representatives, 1865) Tribal Historical Overview The 1851 Fort Laramie Treaty. (n.d.). ND Studies. Retrieved December 5, 2012, from http://www.ndstudies.org/resources/IndianStudies/standingrock/1851treaty.html (Nd.gov, ) Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). PBS THE WEST Black Kettle. PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved December 5, 2012, from http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/blackkettle.htm (Black Kettle, 2001) Congressional Testimony of Mr. John S. Smith. (1865, March 14). UH Digital History. Retrieved December 5, 2012, from http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3psid=1150 (Smith, 1865)

Aristotles Concept of Tragedy Applied to Hamlet Essay -- William Shak

Aristotle’s Concept of Tragedy Applied to Hamlet Aristotle’s concept of a well written tragedy is that it is â€Å"†¦an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude, in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play, the form of action, not of narrative, through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions† (McManus). According to Aristotle, the plot is the â€Å"soul† of the tragedy from which the other parts such as characters, diction, thought, spectacle, and melody stem (McManus). Shakespeare skillfully applies Aristotle’s concept of tragedy, to Hamlet in various ways, dramatizing what may happen or â€Å"what is possible according to the law of probability or necessity (McManus). † Aristotle explains that the plot may be simple, â€Å"having a change of fortune† (catastrophe), or a complex plot, having both â€Å"reversal of intention† (peripeteia) and â€Å"recognition† (anagnorisis) along with the catastrophe (McManus). It is Aristotle’s belief that the complex plot is better. Aristotle would deem the plot of Hamlet as complex because it includes both peripeteia and anagnorsis which are combined to create the cause and effect chain. Peripeteia, as explained by Aristotle, happens when a character produces the opposite effect of which he intended to produce. There are several examples of this: Hamlet mistaking Polonius as the king and thereby killing him, the poison on the sword which was intended for Hamlet kills Laertes, the poison placed in the goblet by the King which was intended for Hamlet, the Queen drinks and dies. These incidents are also termed as tragic irony. Aristotle explains that an anagnorisis â€Å"is a.. . ...ess, murder, and death, certainly meets Aristotle’s standard of â€Å"an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude†(McManus). The incidents of the suicide of Ophelia and the untimely deaths of Hamlet’s father, Hamlet’s mother, Polonius, Larertes, and Hamlet himself accomplish the katharsis of emotions, â€Å"arousing fear and pity† in accordance with Astritotle’s theory of tragedy (McManus). Whether or not, if Aristotle would agree, let us not forget the tragedy of the †¦noble heart† of â€Å"†¦sweet prince† Hamlet. Bibliography Outline of Aristotle’s Theory of Tragedy in the Poetics Barbara F. McManus November 1999. November 20, 2008. http://www.cnr.edu/home/bmcmanus/poetics.html Hamlet, William Shakespeare. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Eds. Sarah Lawall and Maynard Mack, London: Norton 2002. 2829-2918

Roy Lichtenstein was the most visual of all The Pop Artist. Explain :: Art

Roy Lichtenstein was the most visual of all The Pop Artist. Explain why this may be true. Roy Lichtenstein led the way for pop artist’s and exploited it to the best that any artist could. Roy Lichtenstein led the way for pop artist’s and exploited it to the best that any artist could. Lichtenstein was born in New York in October 1923. Lichtenstein’s parents were middle class people, when he went to school art wasn’t on the curriculum. Although when he was young he did paint. Lichtenstein was and still is considered the most sophisticated pop artist around. Roy Lichtenstein was inspired by Picasso’s paintings; he studied them and learnt from them. In 1961 Roy Lichtenstein made use of the â€Å"Ben-Day dots†. This was the first time an artist had used this device. The â€Å"Ben-Day dots† were firstly mastered by Roy Lichtenstein. With the new invention of this device it made way for commercial use of it. Lichtenstein’s art was always fairly colorful and in most cases telling us a story. Reverie 1965: Roy Lichtenstein always enjoyed illustrating and implementing carton drawings into his work. Reflections of a Scream 1990: Reflections of a scream is illustrating to society how the world is today. The answer is Children. As you can see from the above two pieces of art, Roy Lichtenstein is a visual artist, the two pieces of art were created by the use of â€Å"Ben-day dots†, you will soon or if haven’t yet realized it Lichtenstein did all his art work using this device. The commercial use of Ben-day dots† allows advertising to take posters to the next step. Advertising could now have large scale posters on buildings and relatively cost effective. Lichtenstein wanted his art work to relate to items and places to the outside world. Roy Lichtenstein had on many occasions gone into a comic book store and buys hundreds just so he could read them and hopefully get inspired from them. He was a realist, didn’t expect much from other people. â€Å"Whaam† was created in 1966; this was a time when tensions were high. The cartoon and comic heroes were playing a vital role. Lichtenstein took these actions and manipulated them to his own personal mind of thinking. In many situations the out come was one of action, he wanted to appeal to the younger generation. â€Å"Whaam† does this. Lichtenstein revolutionized art it self. He modernized art with the use of pop art. Out of the three most well known artist’s (Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein) Lichtenstein is the most visual out of them. Roy Lichtenstein Explosion 1965-6 Explosion 1965 another action piece of Lichtenstein’s art, he started

Human Resource Activities of Qantas Airways Essay

The Qantas Airways is the largest airline in Australia. Its Human Resource Management operates in the company in four major areas, which are business segments, corporate, shared services, development, and learning. This report gives limelight to the Qantas airways HRM and its role in ensuring perfect operations of the company. It further discusses change management and job analysis and design. The company has undergone intensive change management such as cutting of prices and labor costs in order to ensure high productivity, moderation of wages as well as the introduction of flexible structures through a versatile and motivated workforce. Moreover, the HRM is also responsible of ensuring that right people are hired and given necessary training under job analysis and design. However, despite the roles that the company has entrusted the HRM, there have been heightened cases of accidents and strikes from dissatisfied workers alleging that they are paid meager salaries. This shows a HRM gap in delivering its responsibilities. Therefore, the report further argues that the HRM has failed in its change management and job design and analysis strategy. In order to correct the situation, the report further proposes that the HRM change its training and communication model. As a means to an end, the report discusses some of the implications emerging from the HRM problems and ends with a comprehensive summary. Description of Qantas and their HRM Activities The Qantas Airways is Australia’s largest airline. It has a solid history as it began its business years back by transporting passengers and mails. Today, the company has expanded its operations in almost 140 destinations across the globe. It is Australia’s largest employers with around 37,000 employees. The human resource management operates in the company in four major areas, which are business segments, corporate, shared services, and development and learning. Under corporate level, the HRM is responsible for employees’ remuneration as well as benefits, the industrial relations of the airline with its competitors and development of the management. In the business segment level, the HR teams often collaborate with other business segments to ensure successful delivering of strategies that will ensure competitive advantage. Human resource has a major responsibility in the company and under shared services; the HRM is responsible of managing  workers records, supporting remuneration and recruitment process and managing employees’ compensation as well as coming up with strategic plans on staff travelling schedules and schemes (Belobaba, Odoni and Barnhart, 2009). Finally, under the learning and development level, the HRM comes up with training programs for employees to help them deliver their work effectively. HR Functions: Change Management and Job Analysis and Design at the Qantas Airways Discussion of Two HR functions in the Qantas Change Management The Qantas airline was formerly owned by the government hence did not perceive efficiency and profits as its prime goal (Rothkopf, 2009). After its privatisation in 1995, the HRM had to adopt various management practices in order to overcome the company’s external and internal influences. The HRM in their change management has emphasised on cutting costs and more so reduction of labour costs to guarantee heightened productivity, moderation of wages as well as the introduction of flexible structures through a versatile and motivated workforce (Marks, 2007). Cutting labour costs in the Qantas airways have involved strict measures from the HRM such as reducing wages and salaries through eliminating costly practices (Hernandez, 2011.). The Qantas airline HRM has undertaken immense changes in order to cope with diverse external and internal factors (Gillen and Morrison, 2005). Various factors led to changes in the HR management such as the need to have more profits in the company a nd the fact that the company was under government ownership. This means that the airline had maintained its authoritarian hierarchical structure, autocratic form of leadership, and strict procedures and rules (Hughes, 2012). In addition, the airline has been involved in a major change as far as training is concerned and in 2003, the HRM facilitated in the expansion of the company’s apprenticeship programme (Gunn, 1988). According to Kirkpatrick’s model of learning and training, training helps in ensuring affirmative results (Kearns, 2010). Job Analysis and Design Job design and analysis is the cornerstone of the Qantas HRM. Job analysis can be viewed as the hub of all human resource management activities that are needed for effective organizational functioning (Berman et al, 2009). Under job analysis, the HRM is responsible for planning, recruitment, selection, placement, and induction of workers (Berman et al, 2009). The procedures that are often supported by job analysis process include personnel selection, training, job evaluation as well as performance appraisal (Berman et al, 2009). In addition, the process of job analysis supports the Qantas organizational strategy in dealing with market competition and talent crisis. According to human resource theory, strategic HRM focuses on connecting all HR functions with organizational goals (Rothwell and Benscoter, 2012). The Qantas airline HRM in the process of job analysis determines various training needs of workers. Moreover, in job analysis process, the HRM determines on some of the things that affect behavior in the company. After job analysis process, the next step is job design, which aims at outlining and organizing duties, responsibilities, as well as tasks in a single unit in order to achieve particular objectives. Job design in the Qantas airways is essential in enabling effective feedback. In addition, training is an imperative part in job design in order to make sure that employees are conscious of their work demands. Training encompasses leadership training to employee orientation (Aulenbach, 2007). Development and training plays an imperative role in ensuring success of a company. Today, most organizations view training as an imperative role of human resource (Price, 2011). From research conducted, it is apparent that most organizations such as the Qantas airways are spending a lot of money on training with a belief that it will consequently give them a competitive advantage in both global and local market (Jackson, Schuler and Werner, 2011). According to human resource theory (Bacon et al, 2009), workers need maximum support from human resource function. In that case, the Qantas airways offer training to staff in order to motivate them as well as ensure competitive advantage in the company. Frances (2009) avows that training is imperative in ensuring imperative piloting skills. In 2009, the company opened approximately $10 million staff training centers in an effort to build on economies of scale. The HRM through job design help the workforce to make vital adjustments. Problem s and Implications Faced by Qantas Although the two major basic functions of HRM is to ensure successful change management and job analysis and design, the Qantas airline has undergone  through various challenges in these two areas. The HRM in their change management focused on cutting costs such as labor costs in order to increase productivity, ensure moderate workers’ salary and introduce flexible structures. However, they have failed in ensuring effective and non-biased change management. This is because, workers recently have been complaining of being paid meager salaries and even gone for strikes. Under change management, they should have ensured successful remuneration of employees. However, it is embarrassing to note that a reputable company like Qantas with such successful change management strategy has failed to take care of its employees. The unsolved salary issues have caused employee outcry and various scandals in the company. The pilots have been protesting over meager salaries and the union workers have continued to demonstrate over pay inequality arguing they are paid 25% less than their equals in Victoria (Hernandez, 2012). In a survey that was conducted in 2012, on three thousand Qantas employees, the workers expressed dissatisfaction with the management of the company mostly the HRM (McDonald, 2012). Serious staff challenges have continued threatening the company yet up to now the HRM is still reluctant to come up with a new change management model such as ADKAR model that will cater for the interests of workers and allow the company to focus activities on particular business results (Hiatt, 2006). Under Job analysis and design, it is apparent that the HRM made immense mistakes in choosing the right candidates. Despite heavy training programs that the HRM has invested in during job analysis and design process, it is only in 2008 that the company was involved in an in-flight incident, which caused ser ious injuries to passengers and death of 129 passengers due to specious commands (Frances, 2009). In addition, it is apparent that training has not had a positive impact in the company since in 2006, the Qantas Airways pilots failed to monitor their position hence ended up to the wrong runway. Moreover, in 2009, the company’s pilots failed to acknowledge and decided to overshoot their destinations by 150 miles (Frances, 2009). Frances (2009) alleges that captains in the company are not competent enough as they lacked knowledge on use of stick shaker and stall recovery thus causing serious accidents. It is hence clear that the HRM department leaves a lot to be desired as incidences have continued to intensify despite the company’s change management and job design and analysis strategy (Louise, 2011). With such a successful airline company, it is apparent that its HRM is ineffectual and has only led to losses than success. The company asserts that it is committed fully to developing its people, yet they do not seem to know how they can forge a beneficial relationship with its staff. There has been a lot of change in the company including cutting of costs, developing training programs, outsourcing working rules and regulations, collaborating with the unions yet the situation seem to be moving from bad to worse. It is apparent that the HRM has been incompetent in hiring the right personnel and dealing with employees. Implications to Stakeholders Various stakeholders include trade unions, government, shareholders, customers, community, business partners, employees, the media, and non-governmental organizations. They all have a major influence on the company’s performance and its strategy. The media coverage on wrong decisions in the Qantas have affected negatively on the company’s image. The problems discussed obviously imply that the HRM, shareholders, and business partners have been reluctant in solving the current crisis hence affecting the performance of the company. Because of the accidents reported, most consumers are not keen on using Qantas airline hence affecting profitability (BBC News, 2012). Additionally, the challenges in the company have also affected employees and consumers on grounds that they have lost confidence with the running of the company (Sandilands, 2011). The looming disagreement between Qantas and its pilots shows clearly that the HRM and business partners have failed in ensuring they contribute in effective management of the company. In addition, the Non-governmental organizations have failed in conflict resolution between the Qantas and its employees. It is apparent that the HRM, business partners, and non-governmental organizations involved have failed in coming up with rational solutions to ensure such current disputes do not develop into a major crisis. Instead of the company’s CEO, Alan Joyce holding productive talks, he has been busy making provocative comments in numerous heated exchanges. For instance, he condemned union members on issues regarding wages arguing that their talks and protests were baseless (Bamber, 2011). The union leaders in return criticized N senior managers and accused them of tarnishing the brand image of the company while they were awarding themselves hefty salaries. This hence implies that the  community as well as Union members have lost confidence on the company’s stakeholders and this in return has led to bad publicity and reduced profitability. Consequently, the media has given a wide coverage on the company’s latest controversies meaning that it is benefiting financially because of the developing story. It is upsetting to see Qantas’ employees go on strike due to poor management issues in a company owned by various stakeholders. The shareholders, business partners, the HRM, CEO, and Nongovernmental Organizations have a major role to play in ensuring issues in the company are resolved and the company goes back to its initial profitable situation. Therefore, they need to sit down and come up with a rational plan towards improvement (Bamber, 2011). Action plan and Recommendations With the increasing incidences, there is hence a need to come up with an action plan. First, all the stakeholders must meet to discuss on ways to solve the recent crisis. In the meeting, there will be change of communication and training model to more rational models that are employee oriented. The HRM will carry out the process and engage other stakeholders to give ideas on how salary and training issues ought to be handled. The change process will take place from 1st to 28th November in the company’s boardroom. To carry out the process, the employees will be interviewed in order to show some of the areas they would need change. The entire company’s workforce and managers will be given information concerning the changed plan. The recent problems involving HRM function has caused the company to suffer financially. The Qantas airline in their website asserts that, â€Å"Qantas is committed to providing meaningful jobs with competitive salaries and superior benefits† (Qantas, n.d). However, they have failed in fulfilling their promise as the strikes reported tell a different story. In addition, they allege that they â€Å"provide targeted, quality training to the Qantas group and assists in the development of skills† (Qantas, n.d). However, the accidents reported show a major gap in their training strategy. The HRM should revisit their training and communication model and make a change on it. It is time the company moved out of a market approach change strategy that only focus on making profits and focus on employee oriented approach that consider the interests of workers. With an effective training  model, there will be workshop and focus group sessions where employees air their grievances and come up with solutions to their problems (Frances, 2009). In addition, effective HRM communication should contribute successfully to teamwork, learning, innovation, safety, and productivity (Krizan et al, 2010). Moreover, the HRM should invest heavily on their pilot candidates and ensure that they get the right training. Coming up with a HR strategic oriented communication model is important in guaranteeing that employees are at par with requirements and needs of the company. This will help in discussing paramount issues affecting the running of the company. Once there is fit between communicat ion and training model in relation to the role of the HRM, the next step should be to come up with a tactical plan on how the HR will be managing their roles to ensure there are no more scandals. The HR needs to be involved fully in daily operations of the company to ensure alignment with needs of the employees. Moreover, the HRM should come up with performance management plan, which is imperative in following up on the performance of the staff members. The HRM should also be transparent in its strategy. This means that the company’s operational and strategic agenda should be communicated clearly to workers and must be accepted. This will ensure employees’ needs are met and there are no operational challenges. In addition, its mission should be shared with other shareholders to make sure they are on the right path to correcting the image of the company. Today’s HR models recognize on the fact that people do not leave their issues at home when they are going to work. For the company to be successful, it should focus on the needs of the workers whether personal or professional. This will motivate the workers to deliver quality work. In that case, there will be less accidents and remuneration problems in the company (Frances, 2009). In addition, in training sessions, the HR should focus on changing staff members’ attitude towards work and teach them on how to have a positive attitude. This will help in motivating workers and encouraging them to air their grievances through dialogue.